cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of recent technological advances on the trueness and precision of DXA to assess body composition

The introduction of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the 1980s for the assessment of areal bone mineral density (BMD) greatly benefited the field of bone imaging and the ability to diagnose and monitor osteoporosis. The additional capability of DXA to differentiate between bone mineral, fat tissue, and lean tissue has contributed to its emergence as a popular tool to assess body composition. Throughout the past 2 decades, technological advancements such as the transition from the original pencil-beam densitometers to the most recent narrow fan-beam densitometers have allowed for faster scan times and better resolution. The majority of reports that have compared DXA-derived body composition measurements to the gold standard method of body composition appraisal, the four-compartment model, have observed significant differences with this criterion method; however, the extent to which the technological advancements of the DXA have impacted its ability to accurately assess body composition remains unclear. Thus, this paper reviews the evidence regarding the trueness and precision of DXA body composition measurements from the pencil-beam to the narrow fan-beam densitometers.
INTERPERSONAL CORRELATES OF TRUST AND SELF-DISCLOSURE '

An individual's concept of and ability to self-disclose is in part a product of trust. The primary concern was evaluating the relation of interpersonal trust and self-disclosure and to examine the ...
Reliability of isokinetic and isometric measurement of leg strength on men with mental retardation

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of isokinetic and isometric measurement of strength for tests of knee extension and hip abduction on men with mental retardation (MR). In addition, the relationships between isokinetic measures of peak torque (PT) and total work (TW) and isometric peak torque were examined. Twenty-two men with mild to moderate MR were tested for isokinetic knee extension and hip abduction strength on a Musculoskeletal, Evaluation, Rehabilitation and Conditioning (MAREC) systems dynamometer at velocities of 60 and 30°/sec, respectively. Isometric peak torque was determined by an examiner using a Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester (NMMT). Intrarater correlation coefficients for the isokinetic PT and TW scores ranged from .97 to .99, whereas coefficients for isometric NMMT scores ranged from .97 to .98. Pearson correlation coefficients between PT and TW scores ranged from .76 to .93. Coefficients between isokinetic and isometric scores ranged from .43 to .73. These results indicate that highly reliable isokinetic and isometric measurements can be obtained on men with MR. Also, the relatively simple measurement of PT may be the isokinetic parameter of choice at the clinical setting. Moderate relationships between NMMT and isokinetic scores were found, indicating that the generalization of test scores from one test modality to another is not warranted.
Atrial septal aneurysms in infants and children

Interatrial septal aneurysm (IASA) has been detected with increasing frequency since the advent of two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). In this study, we investigated the prevalence, characteristics, and predisposing factors in IASA formation in 724 infants, children, and adolescents undergoing 2DE. Among this group, 12 patients had an IASA (prevalence = 1.7%). Eleven of the 12 patients had abnormal atrial hemodynamics as a result of either structural heart disease or significant supraventricular dysrhythmias. Follow-up 2DE performed in 10 of 12 patients, 1 to 48 months (mean 16.5 months) after the initial diagnosis, demonstrated diminution or resolution of the IASAs in those patients who had normal hemodynamics following surgical or spontaneous closure of their intracardiac defect, or medical control of their dysrhythmias. In contrast, IASAs became more prominent in those patients with persistent hemodynamic abnormalities. The high prevalence rate and subsequent involution of many IASAs in infants suggest that in the presence of abnormal atrial hemodynamics, the neonatal atrial septum may be prone to aneurysm formation because of inherent structural weaknesses of the neonatal septal tissue. In the absence of continued hemodynamic stress., the majority of these IASAs in infants resolve with maturational changes in the septum and normal cardiac growth.
Principles for Public Management Practice: From Dichotomies to Interdependence

In this essay we explore the relationship between management practices and a basic governance dilemma: how to manage flexibly and accountably. The challenge is both practical and theoretical. Managers must respond flexibly to the changing demands and expectations of the public and the everchanging nature of public problems, yet they must do so in a manner that provides accountability to the public and political overseers. A dichotomous approach to the study of leadership as management action and the governance structures within which managers operate has inhibited the search for a public management theory that reconciles the dilemma. Emphasis upon managers as leaders typically focuses on the flexible actions managers might take to overcome structural “barriers,” while emphasis upon governance structures typically focuses on the essential role of structure in ensuring accountability and restraining or motivating particular management efforts. The practicing manager, however, cannot deal with these aspects of the work separately. Managers must attend to demands for both flexible leadership action and structures that promise accountability. Anecdotal evidence provides illustrations of some of the ways that managers can integrate these demands. We suggest that these efforts point to an alternative theoretical framework that understands action and structure as mutually constitutive, creating a dynamic tension in which attention to one requires attention to the other.
Clinical experience with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, DL-serine-N2-isopropylhydrazide (RO 4-1038), in the treatment of hypertension

Abstract 1.1. The long-term effects of a typical monoamine oxidase inhibitor, DL-serine-N 2 -isopropylhydrazide monohydrochloride (RO 4-1038), alone or in combination with chlorothiazide were studied in 53 patients with moderate arterial hypertension. 2.2. There was a highly significant decrease in mean arterial pressure in both the supine and standing positions after 6 weeks of therapy, with a more marked response in the standing position. After prolonged administration, the hypotension was still significant. The addition of chlorothiazide did not appear to cause a significant further reduction in blood pressure. 3.3. Side effects of RO 4-1038 were mild and seldom necessitated discontinuation of therapy. No major toxicity was found. 4.4. No correlation was found between the increase in urinary tryptamine excretion and the hypotensive response in individual patients, which suggests that the antihypertensive effects of RO 4-1038 and similar compounds may be unrelated to their MAO inhibiting properties. 5.5. It is thought that RO 4-1038 is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of hypertension.
Atmospheric Mining in the Outer Solar System: Resource Capturing, Exploration, and Exploitation

Atmospheric mining in the outer solar system (AMOSS) has been investigated as a means of fuel production for high-energy propulsion and power. Fusion fuels such as helium 3 (He-3) and hydrogen can be wrested from the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune and either returned to Earth or used in-situ for energy production. 3He and hydrogen (deuterium, etc.) were the primary gases of interest, with hydrogen being the primary propellant for nuclear thermal solid core and gas core rocket-based atmospheric flight. A series of analyses were undertaken to investigate resource capturing aspects of AMOSS. These analyses included the gas capturing rate, storage options, and different methods of direct use of the captured gases. Additional supporting analyses were conducted to illuminate vehicle sizing and orbital transportation issues. While capturing 3He, large amounts of hydrogen and helium 4 (He-4) are produced. With these two additional gases, the potential exists for fueling small and large fleets of additional exploration and exploitation vehicles. Additional aerospacecraft or other aerial vehicles (UAVs, balloons, rockets, etc.) could fly through the outer-planet atmosphere to investigate cloud formation dynamics, global weather, localized storms or other disturbances, wind speeds, the poles, and so forth. Deep-diving aircraft (built with the strength to withstand many atmospheres of pressure) powered by the excess hydrogen or 4He may be designed to probe the higher density regions of the gas giants.
Order of Intron Removal Influences Multiple Splice Outcomes, Including a Two-Exon Skip, in a COL5A1 Acceptor-Site Mutation That Results in Abnormal Pro-α1(V) N-Propeptides and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type I

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) type I (the classical variety) is a dominantly inherited, genetically heterogeneous connective-tissue disorder. Mutations in the COL5A1 and COL5A2 genes, which encode type V collagen, have been identified in several individuals. Most mutations affect either the triple-helical domain of the protein or the expression of one COL5A1 allele. We identified a novel splice-acceptor mutation (IVS4-2A→G) in the N-propeptide-encoding region of COL5A1, in one patient with EDS type I. The outcome of this mutation was complex: In the major product, both exons 5 and 6 were skipped; other products included a small amount in which only exon 5 was skipped and an even smaller amount in which cryptic acceptor sites within exon 5 were used. All products were in frame. Pro-α1(V) chains with abnormal N-propeptides were secreted and were incorporated into extracellular matrix, and the mutation resulted in dramatic alterations in collagen fibril structure. The two-exon skip occurred in transcripts in which intron 5 was removed rapidly relative to introns 4 and 6, leaving a large (270 nt) composite exon that can be skipped in its entirety. The transcripts in which only exon 5 was skipped were derived from those in which intron 6 was removed prior to intron 5. The use of cryptic acceptor sites in exon 5 occurred in transcripts in which intron 4 was removed subsequent to introns 5 and 6. These findings suggest that the order of intron removal plays an important role in the outcome of splice-site mutations and provide a model that explains why multiple products derive from a mutation at a single splice site.
Inhibition of calmodulin and protein kinase C by amiodarone and other class III antiarrhythmic agents.

Class III antiarrhythmic agents may prolong refractoriness via modulation of ion channels, which may be sensitive to Ca2+ regulatory proteins or enzymes. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to quantitate the effects of several structurally diverse class III antiarrhythmic agents on calmodulin-regulated enzymes and protein kinase C activity, and to evaluate the ability of these agents and known calmodulin antagonists to prolong cardiac refractoriness in vivo. The rank order of potency (IC50;μM) of selected class III antiarrhythmic agents and reference calmodulin antagonists as inhibitors of calmodulin-regulated phosphodiesterase activity were: calmidazolium (0.12 μM)>amiodarone (0.62 μM)>desethylamiodarone (1.5 μM)>trifluoperazine (4.3 μM), bepridil (5 μM)>W-7 (7.5 μM), clofilium (13 μM). Similar concentration-related inhibition was evident in a second calmodulin-regulated system, inhibition of myosin light-chain phosphorylation and superprecipitation light-chain phosphorylation and superprecipitation of arterial actomyosin. Sotalol and tetraethylammonium were inactive at 100 μM. Protein kinase C activity was also inhibited by some of these agents; desethylamiodarone (IC50=11 μM) was more potent than the reference agent, H-7 (IC50=79 μM), or amiodarone (38% inhibition at 100 μM) and clofilium (32% inhibition at 100 μM). In vivo, the minimally effective doses required to increase ventricular effective refractory doses required to increase ventricular effective refractory periods in paced guinea pigs were (in mg/kg) bepridil, sotalol [1]>clofilium [3]>amiodarone [10]>W-7, desethylamiodarone [20]. No changes in refractory period were noted with maximum testable doses of calmidazolium or trifluoperazine. These studies show that some, but not all, class III antiarrhythmic agents are effective and potent calmodulin antagonists or protein kinase C inhibitors. Moreover, some calmodulin antagonists are effective at prolonging refractoriness in vivo. However, a lack of correlation between these agents suggests that these mechanisms are not solely responsible for the prolongation of refractoriness of all class III agents.
SU-GG-I-29: Comparison of Ellipsoidal and Cylindrical Breast Phantoms for Accuracy of Monte Carlo Dose Estimation in Cone Beam Breast CT

Purpose: Monte‐Carlo (MC) simulation was used to estimate doses for breast models derived from segmented CBCTimages of mastectomy breast specimens. The results were compared to those estimated for half‐ellipsoidal and cylindrical breast phantoms to investigate the accuracy in using them to represent real breasts in dose measurement or estimation. Method and Materials: A previously validated EGSnrc MC package was used to form a half cone beam to simulate cone beam CT at 80kVp. CBCTimages of 10 mastectomy breast specimens, covering a 130.5 mm diameter, 97.9 mm height, were segmented and binned into 100×100×75 image sets for MC simulation. Half‐ellipsoidal and cylindrical breast phantoms, both with a diameter of 13 cm and a height of 10cm and a breast density of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%, were constructed and used in MC simulation. DOSXYZnrc was used to track 2×108 incident photons to simulate 300 projection images over 360°. The resulting radiation dose was tallied for each voxel to study the dose distribution and average dose. Results: Our study indicates that average doses estimated for the segmented breast models were similar to those for the ellipsoidal phantoms but significantly different from those for the cylindrical phantoms. Dose distributions for the ellipsoidal and cylindrical phantoms were found to be similar along a radius in the coronal direction close to the chest. However, those along the rotating axis were found to be different. Doses for the cylindrical phantoms were found to be smaller by as much as 56% in the slice closest to the nipple. Conclusion: It was found that the ellipsoidal phantoms provided a better representation for patient breasts than the cylindrical phantoms in MC dose estimation. This indicates that an ellipsoidal phantom of same dimension and average density should be used in MC dose estimation or actual dose measurement.
The Effect of Grain Size on Fatigue Growth of Short Cracks

The influence of alloy grain size on growth rates of surface cracks 20 to 500 μm in length was studied in Al 7075-T6 specimens prepared in 12 and 130 μn grain sizes. Grain boundaries temporarily interrupt the propagation of cracks shorter than several grain diameters in length. Linear elastic fracture mechanics is inadequate to describe resulting average growth rates which must instead be characterized as a function of cyclic stress amplitude, σa, and alloy grain size as well as stress intensity range, σK. These observations are rationalized using two models, one that relates crack closure stress to alloy grain size, and a second that relates the development of microplasticity in a new grain in the crack path to grain size. In addition, growth rates were found to be faster in fully reversed loading than in tension-tension loading, especially in the large grained material. Evidence is presented to demonstrate that this is a consequence of the fatigue induced development of a compressive residual surface stress during tension-tension loading. These complex effects, and the role of grain size in determining short crack growth, are discussed.
Chiasmus, Artificial Memory, and the Arts of Arrangement

Few figures of classical rhetoric can claim more spatial relevance than “chiasmus,” the figure of symmetrical convergence used by poets, novelists, rhetoricians, mnemonicists and others. Is chiasmus a tool of literati who appropriate spatial forms to pull their plots to closure, or is there an independent architectural tradition of chiasmus? If one pulls together the clues about metonymy, the logic of arrangement, one can discover an intriguing link to Jacques Lacan’s similar design of the human psyche and his topological investigations. The Vitruvian sequence of venustas, utilitas and firmatas may suggest to some nothing more than an arbitrary division of architectural interests. Ritually, however, the relation of firmitas not just to material stability but to the traditional rituals required to secure buildings from both collapse and curse, even if figurative, offers connections to the chiastic design of foundation rites, where sacrifice secures the life and security of structure.
On the evolution of the Hysteriaceae and Mytilinidiaceae (Pleosporomycetidae, Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) using four nuclear genes.

Abstract We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis for two families within the Pleosporomycetidae (Dothideomycetes), the Hysteriaceae, and the Mytilinidiaceae, using four nuclear genes, the ribosomal LSU and SSU, transcription elongation factor 1 α and the second largest RNA polymerase II subunit. Multigene phylogenies provide strong support for the monophyly of the Hysteriaceae and of the Mytilinidiaceae, both within the Pleosporomycetidae. However, sequence data also indicate that both families are not closely related within the subclass. Although core groups for many of the genera in the Hysteriaceae have been defined, Hysterium, Gloniopsis, and Hysterographium are polyphyletic, with affinities not premised on spore septation and pigmentation. Glonium is also polyphyletic, but along two highly divergent lines. The genus lies outside of the Hysteriaceae, and finds close affinities instead with the family Mytilinidiaceae, for which we propose Gloniaceae fam. nov. to accommodate the type, G. stellatum and related forms. The genus Psiloglonium is reinstated within the Hysteriaceae, with P. lineare, as type, to accommodate non-subiculate species, with apically obtuse didymospores. Farlowiella is removed from the Hysteriaceae, but remains within the Pleosporomycetidae. In contrast, despite divergent spore morphologies, the genera Mytilinidion and Lophium form a strongly supported clade, thus defining a highly monophyletic Mytilinidiaceae, adjacent to the Gloniaceae, for which we propose the Mytilinidiales ord. nov. The genus Ostreichnion, previously in the Mytilinidiaceae, is here transferred to the Hysteriaceae. It is concluded that the evolution of the hysterothecium occurred multiple times within the Pleosporomycetidae, and alone it is not a synapomorphic character state for the Hysteriaceae.
Modeling residential developed land in rural areas: A size-restricted approach using parcel data

In most land cover datasets, the classification of developed land is less accurate in rural areas than in urban areas, due to difficulties in identifying rural developed areas from remote sensing data. This inconsistency makes land cover data less reliable in rural settings, when employed for small area population estimation or for exploring processes such as urbanization. This research addresses this challenge, identifying rural developed land using ancillary variables such as terrain, road density and distance to roads. Predictive models are developed using residential parcel units as a spatial outcome variable. Although parcels are often the most spatially precise indicators of developed land, rural parcels can be very large, leading to high levels of heterogeneity within a parcel. To assess the effect of size on the relationships between the ancillary variables and the locations of rural residential land, parcels are categorized on size and size-restricted statistical models are run. Goodness-of-fit measures and the predictive power of the model improve with decreasing parcel size. A thorough model evaluation quantifies prediction accuracy and highlights rural residential areas with the highest probability of development. A subsequent validation using building footprints as indicators of actual development provides strong evidence that a size-restricted modeling approach improves the predictive power of the statistical model. This type of modeling framework thus has the potential to improve the accuracy of rural developed land classifications in land cover databases such as the U.S. National Land Cover Database (NLCD).
Cross-Cultural Studies of Attachment Organization: Recent Studies, Changing Methodologies, and the Concept of Conditional Strategies

Recent cross-cultural studies of individual differences in attachment organization are reviewed, and attention is drawn to new methods of assessment. In a speculative essay, the concept of the conditi
Kaposi sarcoma: review and medical management update

Despite recent advances in our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms involved, the true nature of Kaposi sarcoma remains an enigma. Four clinical variants have been described for the disease, differing in natural history, site of predilection, and prognosis. All forms of Kaposi sarcoma may manifest in the oral cavity and Kaposi sarcoma–associated virus appears essential to development of all clinical variants. The spectrum of therapeutic strategies is broad and selection of appropriate intervention mandates a thorough understanding of disease spread and the patient's symptomatology, as well as risks and benefits of therapy. This article provides an overview of epidemiology, subtypes, clinical course, pathogenesis, and management strategies for Kaposi sarcoma.
Vaginal Estrogen Creams: Use Patterns Among a Cohort of Women

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence, amount, and duration of use of vaginal estrogen cream among several birth cohorts of women from 1983 through 1992. DESIGN: Analyses are based on automated membership, pharmacy, and hospital discharge databases from Group Health Cooperative (GHC) of Puget Sound, a large health maintenance organization in Seattle, Washington. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 33,822 women, aged 45 years and older as of December 31, 1983, who were enrolled in GHC from 1983 to 1992 or who were enrolled at baseline and died in the following decade. RESULTS: About 24% of the cohort had filled at least one prescription for vaginal estrogen cream during 1983 through 1992, and about 60% of the users had more than one prescription filled. The annual birth cohort-specific prevalence of having filled one or more prescriptions for vaginal estrogen creams ranged between 1.6 and 8.2% across birth cohorts, whereas the average annual prevalence for the cohort was between 5.3 and 6.8%. The total amount, duration of use, and proportion of total estrogen exposure from creams increased with age of the birth cohort. Among the 733 women with intact uteri who were long-term cream users, 60.4% had no progestin prescriptions while averaging 22.1 tubes of estrogen cream. CONCLUSION: The prescription-filling patterns for estrogen in this cohort show an increase in the amount, years of use, and proportion of estrogen exposure from creams with the age of the birth cohort and extensive unopposed cream use among a small proportion of women with intact uteri. The systemic effects of vaginal estrogen cream among older postmenopausal women with urogenital atrophy deserve closer scrutiny.
Prediction of Unsteady Aerodynamic Coefficients at High Angles of Attack

The nonlinear indicial response method is used to model the unsteady aerodynamic coefficients in the low speed longitudinal oscillatory wind tunnel test data of the 0.1 scale model of the F-16XL aircraft. Exponential functions are used to approximate the deficiency function in the indicial response. Using one set of oscillatory wind tunnel data and parameter identification method, the unknown parameters in the exponential functions are estimated. The genetic algorithm is used as a least square minimizing algorithm. The assumed model structures and parameter estimates are validated by comparing the predictions with other sets of available oscillatory wind tunnel test data.
A, B, D cells and a fourth cell type in long-term cultures of fetal rat pancreas.

Whole pancreases from fetal rats of 13 days and 18 days gestation were explanted onto rayon grids and grown in organ culture. Cultures were fixed in Bouin’s fluid, sectioned and stained with the fluorescent antibody techniques for glucagon and insulin, aldehyde fuchsin for B cells, pseudoisocyanin for D cells and a silver technique for the fourth cell type. The 13-day explants were fixed after 10 days in culture. A, B and D and the fourth cell type were seen, indicating that precursors of all four endocrine cell types must be present in the fetal pancreas shortly after the formation of the pancreatic bud (11 days). Further, the presence of these four cell types in the walls of tubules in these cultures indicates the tubules as the site of origin of all the endocrine tissue. The 18-day explants were collected every other day of culture from 2 to 30 days in a long-term experiment. A number of large islets with well granulated B cells was still present after 30 days of culture. The relative abundance of cell types at different stages was estimated as follows: 18-day fetal controls, A>B=4>D; after 2 to 10 days in culture, B>A⩾4>D; after 18 to 30 days in culture, B>D>A>4.
Upper Extremity Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Treatment Perspective

Numerous terms, including repetitive-stress injuries and cumulative-trauma disorders, have been used to describe what is now commonly termed work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The etiology of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is multifactorial and includes physical, individual, and psychosocial factors that contribute to the presenting symptoms. Prolonged positioning away from the ideal posture will affect neural and other soft tissues in the upper extremity. Abnormal postures and positions may result in chronic nerve compression or may shorten muscles and, if the muscle crosses over a nerve, compression may occur. These postures may also contribute to muscle imbalance. A thorough clinical evaluation is necessary to identify all sites of nerve compression, muscle imbalance, and factors affecting patient symptoms so that appropriate intervention can be instituted. Management must include patient education, postural correction, and a specific physical therapy program to address the multiple levels of nerve compression and cervicoscapular muscle imbalance. In addition to physical therapy intervention, behavioral modification at home and at work may be necessary for successful management.
Strategy execution through executive process innovation: a longitudinal case example and research model

This article will describe a two-year longitudinal case study that features attempts to improve strategy execution at the business unit level through executive process innovation. The firm is a disguised $120 million steel manufacturing business unit of a larger corporation. This article will describe how one key executive process designed to manage strategic initiatives was used as the catalyst for improvement in strategy execution, continued enterprise development and end results. The article will then offer a research model that will allow academics to better research strategy execution guided by a key executive process at the business unit level of analysis.
Inference about weighted kappa in the non-null case

The accuracy of the large sample standard error of weighted kappa appropriate to the non-null case was studied by computer simulation. Results indi cate that only moderate sample sizes are required to test the hypothesis that two independently de rived estimates of weighted kappa are equal. How ever, in most instances the minimal sample sizes re quired for setting confidence limits around a single value of weighted kappa are inordinately large. An alternative, but as yet untested procedure for set ting confidence limits, is suggested as being poten tially more accurate.
NTA directed protein nanopatterning on DNA Origami nanoconstructs.

Precisely patterning proteins and other molecules at the nanoscale is crucial to future biosensing and optoelectronic applications. One- and two-dimensional DNA nanoconstructs have proven to be useful scaffolds for nanopatterning. This paper demonstrates the application of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) forming chelate complexes to localize histidine (His) tagged proteins via Ni2+ ions onto DNA based structures. Particularly, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was directed to specific surface locations on a designed DNA Origami nanoconstruct, and the resulting EGFP nanopattern was visualized using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Critical behavior of the kinetic Ising model on Sierpinski carpets

Abstract The kinetic Ising model on the fractal Sierpinski carpets is studied using a renormalization-group transformation within the Migdal approximation. For the dimensionality 1.896 the values z E = 1.83, z F = 3.915, for the dynamic exponent and λ E = 1.63, λ F = 0.92, for the magnetic field are found at different fixed points.
Electroabsorption multiple quantum well modulators for high-frequency applications

External modulation of cw laser radiation by multiple quantum well electroabsorption modulators will potentially play an important role in rf photonic links, especially at high microwave frequencies and millimeter waves. InAsP/GaInP MQW on InP and GaInAs/InAlAs MQW on GaAs modulators have been grown by MBE and fabricated into p-i-n modulators. Performance with -26 dB link efficiency without amplification, 5 dB insertion loss, 15 mW of optical power and 17 GHz bandwidth has been experimentally demonstrated. Extension to 100 GHz bandwidth with -39 dB link efficiency (without amplification) can be expected. Traveling wave modulators and on-chip impedance matching of p-i-n modulators have been designed, fabricated and evaluated. Traveling wave modulators with flat frequency response over 40 GHz have been experimentally demonstrated.
Making culture visible: reflections on corporate ethnography

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and reflect on the experience as corporate ethnographers working in (and for) a large, multinational company with a remit to study and articulate “the culture of the firm.” Design/methodology/approach – The research relied heavily on interviews and some (participant) observation carried out periodically – in North America, Europe and Asia – over an eight-year period. Findings – The authors discuss how the studies were produced, received, and occasionally acted on in the firm and the realization over time of the performativity of the work as both expressive and constitutive of firm’s culture. Research limitations/implications – The increasing entanglement in the organization raises questions regarding emic and etic perspectives and the possibility (or impossibility) of “enduring detachment” or “going native” and the associated, often unintended consequences of being both outsiders and insiders. Practical implications – The authors start with the premise th...
Numerical modeling of heat and mass transfer in starch systems

A set of coupled heat, mass, and pressure transfer system of equations was solved using the finite element method, to study the drying of model starch food systems. The models were tested by comparing the predicted temperature and moisture results with experimental data during the drying of a starch and a starch-fructose food model at drying temperatures of 48 and 88°C. Simulation results from the heat and mass transfer (HM) model and the heat, mass, and pressure (HMP) transfer model indicated that an additional transfer of moisture due to pressure gradients exist, and should be considered, for accurate prediction of temperature and moisture transfer during high temperature drying.
Primary hepatic malignant lymphoma: Its occurrence in a patient with chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B viral infection

A patient with hepatitis B induced chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis had hepatocellular carcinoma and poorly differentiated lymphocytic malignant lymphoma localized in the liver. Whereas a close relationship between hepatitis B viral infection, chronic active hepatitis, macronodular cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma is now recognized, no such association has been reported with primary hepatic malignant lymphoma, which is a distinctly rare entity. In a large autopsy population that we reviewed systemic malignant lymphoma rarely occurred in association with cirrhosis. Such an association has been noted in other studies, however. We speculate half if an association exists between malignant lymphoma and cirrhosis it might have an immunologic basis such as seen in certain autoimmune diseases.
Electronic Verification at the Kennedy Space Center

This document reviews some current applications of Electronic Verification and the benefits such applications are providing the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). It also previews some new technologies, including statistics regarding performance and possible utilization of the technology.
Infrared absorption study of metal oxides in the low frequency region (700-240 cm−1)

Abstract The characteristic frequencies of oxides of 52 metals have been studied in the region 700-240 cm−1. Data for oxides of metals of different valence states and the frequencies of polymorphic forms of several oxides are presented. A particle size of 10 μ or smaller was found to give the best representative spectrum.
Being Better or Getting Better? Social and Temporal Comparisons as Coping Mechanisms in Close Relationships

How do partners in close relationships evaluate the broader implications of their specific problems? Prior research suggests that partners evaluate their relationships through social and temporal comparisons. The current study expanded on this work in two ways. First, within-subject analyses examined whether partners use comparisons strategically, engaging in more favorable comparisons with respect to more threatening problems. Results confirmed that spouses generally perceive themselves to be better off than other couples and generally expect their problems to remain stable over time. However, within-subject analyses revealed that, with respect to more severe problems, spouses were less likely to perceive themselves as superior but more likely to perceive those problems as improving over time. Second, sample and longitudinal data were used to examine the accuracy of partners’ comparisons. Consistent with predictions, social comparisons were associated with actual standing within the sample, whereas tempo...
A theoretical analysis of etched grating couplers for integrated optics

Grating couplers provide an attractive method for the excitation of optical thin-film waveguides. We present here a perturbation analysis of etched or deposited grating couplers based upon both the transmission line and the Green's Function approaches, which predict the coupling efficiency, the output radiation beamwidth, the angular dependence of excitation, and the intensities of the other orders of the diffracted beams as functions of the grating periodicity, grating groove depth, and excitation direction. It is found that the maximum excitation efficiency is 81 percent, that high efficiency can be achieved by excitation from the substrate, and that higher efficiency is obtained when the radiation leakage to the side orders is minimized.
Hydrologic variability, water chemistry, and phytoplankton biomass in a large floodplain of the Sacramento River, CA, U.S.A.

The Yolo Bypass, a large, managed floodplain that discharges to the headwaters of the San Francisco Estuary, was studied before, during, and after a single, month-long inundation by the Sacramento River in winter and spring 2000. The primary objective was to identify hydrologic conditions and other factors that enhance production of phytoplankton biomass in the floodplain waters. Recent reductions in phytoplankton have limited secondary production in the river and estuary, and increased phytoplankton biomass is a restoration objective for this system. Chlorophyll a was used as a measure of phytoplankton biomass in this study. Chlorophyll a concentrations were low (<4 μg l−1) during inundation by the river when flow through the floodplain was high, but concentrations rapidly increased as river inflow decreased and the floodplain drained. Therefore, hydrologic conditions in the weeks following inundation by river inflow appeared most important for producing phytoplankton biomass in the floodplain. Discharges from local streams were important sources of water to the floodplain before and after inundation by the river, and they supplied dissolved inorganic nutrients while chlorophyll a was increasing. Discharge from the floodplain was enriched in chlorophyll a relative to downstream locations in the river and estuary during the initial draining and later when local stream inflows produced brief discharge pulses. Based on the observation that phytoplankton biomass peaks during drainage events, we suggest that phytoplankton production in the floodplain and biomass transport to downstream locations would be higher in years with multiple inundation and draining sequences.
Molecular Pathways: Turning Proteasomal Protein Degradation into a Unique Treatment Approach

Cancer treatment regimens have evolved from single cytotoxic substances affecting all proliferative tissues toward antibodies and kinase inhibitors targeting tumor-specific pathways. Treatment efficacy and cancer survival have improved overall, and side effects have become less frequent. The ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated proteasomal protein degradation is the most critical pathway to regulate the quantity of signal proteins involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. These processes are, as well as protein recycling, highly regulated and offer targets for biomarker and drug development. Unspecific proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib and carfilzomib have shown clinical efficacy and are approved for clinical use. Inhibitors of more substrate-specific enzymes of degradation processes are being developed and are now in early clinical trials. The novel compounds focus on the degradation of key regulatory proteins such as p53, p27(Kip1), and s-catenin, and inhibitors specific for growth factor receptor kinase turnover are in preclinical testing.
Genome-Wide Allelotypes of Familial Pancreatic Adenocarcinomas and Familial and Sporadic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms

Purpose: Most familial cancer susceptibility genes are tumor suppressor genes that are biallelically inactivated in familial neoplasms through somatic deletion of the wild-type allele. Identifying the genomic losses that occur in pancreatic neoplasms, particularly those that occur in familial and precursor neoplasms, may help localize the genes responsible for pancreatic cancer susceptibility. Experimental Design: Normal and neoplastic tissue DNA was isolated from fresh-frozen surgically resected tissues from 20 patients with primary familial pancreatic adenocarcinoma (defined as having at least one first-degree relative with pancreatic cancer), 31 with sporadic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), and 7 with familial IPMNs using laser capture microdissection. Microdissected DNA was whole genome amplified using multiple strand displacement. Genome-wide allelotypes were determined using 391 microsatellite markers. The accuracy of microdissection and fidelity of the whole genome amplification were determined by comparing the genotypes of microdissected primary pancreatic cancers to the genotypes of xenografts derived from these cancers and by comparing the results of amplified to nonamplified specimens. Results: The concordance of genotypes between LCM whole genome amplified primary pancreatic cancers and their corresponding pancreatic cancer xenograft DNAs was 98%. Among the 20 primary familial pancreatic adenocarcinomas, we found a high prevalence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) with an average fractional allelic loss (FAL) of 49.9% of an aggregate of 2,378 informative markers. The level of FAL in the IPMNs (10%) was significantly lower than in the pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The most common locus of LOH in the IPMNs was at 19p (LOH at 24% of markers). The regions of frequent allelic loss observed in the familial pancreatic cancers were similar to those found in sporadic pancreatic cancers. Conclusions: The allelic loss patterns of familial and sporadic pancreatic cancers and IPMNs provide clues as to the genomic locations of tumor suppressor genes inactivated in these neoplasms.
A jury of your peers: quality, experience and ownership in Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a highly successful example of what mass collaboration in an informal peer review system can accomplish. In this paper, we examine the role that the quality of the contributions, the experience of the contributors and the ownership of the content play in the decisions over which contributions become part of Wikipedia and which ones are rejected by the community. We introduce and justify a versatile metric for automatically measuring the quality of a contribution. We find little evidence that experience helps contributors avoid rejection. In fact, as they gain experience, contributors are even more likely to have their work rejected. We also find strong evidence of ownership behaviors in practice despite the fact that ownership of content is discouraged within Wikipedia.
Dissolution of Basaltic Glass: Effects of pH and Organic Ligands

Dissolution of powdered glass from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii (ca 51% SiO2) was studied in a fluidized-bed, flow-through reactor at room temperature in both dilute HCl and organic ligand-bearing solutions (citrate and oxalate) to determine the effects of pH and organic acids on the dissolution rate. Dissolution was non-stoichiometric in both HCl and organic solutions; however, the relative release rates of various ions and the composition of leached layers or secondary phases are functions of pH and organic ligand concentration and type. In HCl solutions, the minimum glass dissolution rate, as assessed from the Na leaching rate, was 7.4 × 10–12 gm cm–2 sec–1, comparable with previous results, and was virtually independent of pH. Addition of citrate and oxalate increased the non-stoichiometry of dissolution. At pH 7, the overall rate of glass dissolution decreased (by as much as 5 times) at low ligand concentrations ( < 1 mM ), but increased by as much as five times at higher concentration (3 mM). High ligand concentrations do increase the release rate of some elements, especially multivalent cations, such as Fe3+, which form strong organic complexes, by as much as 100 times.
Interpretation of an urban scene using multi-channel radar imagery

Four channel, SLAR imagery was studied by a group of individuals having no previous experience with either SLAR imagery or the urban area under scrutiny. This tactic was used because it was desired to define the nature of training needed when introducing people to radar imagery of urban scenes. Responses resulting from interpretations based on standard photointerpretation methods were subjected to a Chi-square analysis to determine the level of significance of the interpretations. For the urban scene studied, and for the two wavelengths (X /3.0 cm/ and L /23.0 cm/ Band) and polarizations (HH and HV) used, several types of urban land use were easily and accurately identified. It is shown that little formal training is required for obtaining quite high interpretation accuracies from multi-channel radar images of some urban scenes.
Rotation Velocities and Radial Electric Field in the Plasma Edge

Reprinted by permission of Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim: http://www.interscience.wiley.com
Modeling the Vulcanization Reaction of Silicone Rubber

Characterization of the vulcanization process of silicone rubber was achieved through the modeling of dynamic DSC tests. The Kissinger equation and the Kamal-Sourour model were used to determine kinetic parameters that fit the experimental data. The technique allows for the determination of the activation energy through Kissinger's model, which is then used to mathematically determine the other five parameters for the Kamal-Sourour model. This novel technique finds a physically meaningful activation energy. The method generates a single set of parameters that accurately models all scanning rates tested (1, 2.5, 5, and 10 K/min). Five formulations of liquid silicone rubber as well as one solid silicone rubber were tested and modeled. For each material, the models generated fitting parameters that were in agreement with the dynamic DSC scans. The models were used to compare the processing of the liquid and solid silicone rubber. The characterization of both materials demonstrates the lower processing time, temperatures, and energy consumption when processing liquid silicone rubber, as compared to processing of hard silicone rubber. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:675–683, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.
CFD of multiphase flow in packed‐bed reactors: I. k‐Fluid modeling issues

The Eulerian k-fluid CFD model was used to simulate the macroscale multiphase flow in packed beds. The geometric complexity of the bed structure is resolved by statistically describing the porosity distribution. The complicated multiphase interactions are computed using the Ergun type of formula developed based on bench-scale hydrodynamic experiments. The work is presented in two sequential articles. Part I discusses implementation issues of the k-fluid CFD model for packed beds. The drag exchange coefficients are obtained from the model of Holub et al. for the particle-fluid interfaces Xks and from the model of Attou et al. (1999) for the gas–liquid interface, Xgl. The effect of particle external wetting on flow distribution was incorporated into the model through the capillary pressure evaluated by either the J-function of Leverett (1941) for air–water or by the expression of Attou and Ferschneider (1999) for other fluids. In the framework of CFDLIB, the choice of the grid size and boundary conditions are discussed. An appropriate relationship between the section size and variance of the sectional porosity distribution was used for flow simulation. Part II discusses the extensive numerical results, and the CFD model is compared with experimental data in the literature.
Automated geostatistical seafloor classification—principles, parameters, feature vectors, and discrimination criteria

Abstract A geostatistical method for automated seafloor classification is developed and applied to bathymetrie data for a 150 × 100 km area at 26 °N on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The objective of seafloor classification is to characterize seafloor properties quantitatively, and to use such spatial characteristics to distinguish roughness provinces, and geologic and morphologic units automatically. The method presented here is based on the calculation of directional variograms as spatial structure functions. Parameters determined from filtered variogram functions are used to compose feature vectors, which are shown to be characteristic of morphologic prototypes and surface roughness types, and therefore facilitate a classification. Discrimination criteria include spacing and strike of abyssal hill terrain, smoothness resulting from sediment cover, and parameters related to complexity and morphological significance of abyssal hills and their slopes. Complications of automating the process concern robustness of parameter estimation, optimal window size, and subselection of data. By moving the classification operation through the study area and color-coding property classes, seafloor classification maps are obtained. The concepts of characteristic parameters, feature vectors and discrimination criteria are illustrated in applications to bathymetric data from the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Resultant classification maps are presented, with classes including roughness provinces and morphologic units.