cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plant viability assay.

Abstract There is no single method in the long list given in Table 1 which can be used as an unequivocal criterion of viability. Many of the present methods of assay do correlate to various degrees with the final performance of the cell, tissue, organ, or the plant as a whole. Use of parallel viability tests indicating different cell functions is highly recommended. Great care should be taken to interpret the results of these assays. With several parallel tests, the validity of the interpretation can be enhanced, and in many cases, the interpretation may change considerably, depending upon the results from other tests, Since active transport systems have been implicated as one of the primary sites of freezing injury, more effort needs to be devoted to standardize viability assays based on this cell property. In general, the most popular viability assays for plants are based on biophysical rather than biochemical or metabolic functions. A specific test may be suited to a certain material more than another, yet our goal should be to devise a unique assay which will reflect the threshold of vitality versus death.
Clinical evaluation of systemic and local immune responses in cancer: time for integration

The immune system has a dual role in cancer development and progression. On the one hand, it can eradicate emerging malignant cells, but on the other hand, it can actively promote growth of malignant cells, their invasive capacities and their ability to metastasize. Immune cells with predominantly anti-tumor functionality include cells of the innate immune system, such as natural killer cells, and cells of adaptive immunity, such as conventional dendritic cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Immune cells with predominantly pro-tumor functionality include a broad spectrum of cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, such as type 2 neutrophils and macrophages, plasmacytoid DC, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T lymphocytes. The presence of immune cells with tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting activity in the cancer microenvironment and in peripheral blood is usually associated with good clinical outcomes and poor clinical outcomes, respectively. Significant advances in experimental and clinical oncoimmunology achieved in the last decade open an opportunity for the use of modern morphologic, flow cytometric and functional tests in clinical practice. In this review, we describe an integrated approach to clinical evaluation of the immune status of cancer patients for diagnostic purposes, prognostic/predictive purposes (evaluation of patient prognosis and response to treatment) and for therapeutic purposes.
Safety and efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction

Abstract Objectives To review our experience performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) on patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction with special attention paid to the risks of surgical complications and stone recurrence. Patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction with or without urinary diversion are at increased risk of urolithiasis, surgical complications, and recurrent stone disease. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the 23 patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction who underwent PNL at our institution. Neurologic lesions included spina bifida, traumatic spinal cord injury, exstrophy/epispadias, neonatal meningitis, stroke, and spine chondrosarcoma. Bladder management included ileal conduit (n = 8), intermittent catheterization (n = 7), indwelling catheter (n = 7), and ureterosigmoidostomy (n = 1). Results We performed 100 procedures on 47 renal units (17 bilateral, 7 with recurrent stones). Urinary tract infection/colonization was seen in 21 of 23 patients, most of whom had more than one organism. The stone-free rate was 96%. Six patients required three or more procedures, each had a complete staghorn calculus. In an average of 36 months of follow-up, 10 patients (46%) had recurrent stone disease requiring intervention, and 5 patients (23%) underwent repeat PNL. The stone composition analysis revealed mainly infection-related stones. Conclusions PNL in patients with neurogenic voiding dysfunction is safe and effective, with outcomes comparable to that of patients without such lesions. The complication rate is small but statistically significant. It is important to obtain adequate urine cultures, because renal pelvis and bladder culture data may differ and affect the outcome. Risk factors for recurrent stone disease include a high spinal cord lesion, indwelling urinary catheter, and ureterosigmoidostomy.
Revisiting the Zahavi–Brough/Sokolowski Debate

In 1999, Dan Zahavi’s Self Awareness and Alterity: A Phenomenological Investigation initiated a critique of the standard interpretation of the distinction between the second and third levels of Husserl’s analysis of time-constituting consciousness. At stake was the possibility of a coherent account of self-awareness (Zahavi’s concern), but also the possibility of prereflectively distinguishing the acts of consciousness (Brough and Sokolowski’s rebuttal of Zahavi’s critique). Using insights gained from Husserl’s Analyses Concerning Passive Synthesis rather than the work on time-consciousness, this paper provides a new, more precise vocabulary in which to carry on the debate, in the hopes of bringing it to a mutually satisfactory resolution. After briefly laying out the terms of the Zahavi–Brough/Sokolowski debate (Sect. 2), I then elaborate a three-fold distinction in consciousness from the Analyses (Sect. 3) and relate that back to the issue of objectivity in the debate (Sect. 4). I end by suggesting how this three-fold model from the Analyses helps us preserve the essentially tripartite structure (as Brough and Sokolowski insist we do) while not making one of these levels the object of another (in keeping with Zahavi’s critique) (Sect. 5).
Delta-Doping Effects on Quantum-Dot Solar Cells

The effects of delta-doping InAs quantum-dot (QD)-enhanced GaAs solar cells were studied both through modeling and device experimentation. Delta doping of two, four, and eight electrons per QD, as well as nine holes per QD, was used in this study. It was observed that QD doping reduced Shockley–Read–Hallrecombination in the QDs, which results in a reduced dark current and an improved open-circuit voltage over undoped QD devices. A voltage recovery of 121 mV was observed for the eight-electron sample compared with the undoped sample. QD doping had no positive effects on subbandgap photon collection but actually degraded bulk and QD response as doping levels were increased by limiting minority carrier collection through the QD region. Despite this, an absolute AM0 efficiency improvement of 1.41% was observed for the four-electron sample over the undoped QD device while maintaining a current enhancement.
Relating the dynamics of membrane mirrors to holographic wavefront correction

The Directed Energy Directorate is developing technologies for large space-based optical membrane telescopes. The goal is to develop technologies that will enable 20-meter or greater diameter telescopes, with areal densities of less than 1 kilogram per square meter. The challenge of building these precise structures is reduced by employing a diffractive wavefront controller, which will significantly relax the structural tolerances normally associated with conventional optical systems. A significant portion of the corrector's range and bandwidth can be consumed by structural disturbances. This survey will describe the relationship between the structural dynamics of a highly compliant, 11 inch diameter, planar optical aperture and the diffractive wavefront controller's ability to compensate for the resulting wavefront error. This overview should give the optical physicist and the opto-mechanical engineer a starting point to communicate system design and research needs.
IRET - A CCD Focal Plane Image Processor Chip

A focal-plane-array chip designed for real-time, general-purpose, image preprocessing is reported. A 48 X 48 pixel detector array and a 24 X 24 processing element processor array are monolithically integrated on the chip. The analog, charge-coupled device-based VLSI chip operates in the charge domain and has sensing, storing, and computing capabilities. It captures the image data and performs local neighborhood operations. It is digitally programmable and uses a single instruction, multiple data parallel architecture. Various image preprocessing tasks such as level shifting, gain adjustment, thresholding, smoothing, sharpening, and edge detection can be implemented. Frame-to-frame operations such as motion detection and tracking can be implemented as well. It can be programmed to perform A/D conversion prior to output. The chip was fabricated with a double-poly, double-metal process in a commercial CCD foundry. The prediction of the performance is based on numerical analysis and experimental results of testing a prototype charge-coupled computer. Operating at a modest clock frequency of 25 MHz, the chip is projected to achieve an internal throughput as high as 576 Mops with a 54 dB dynamic range (9-bit equivalent accuracy). The total power dissipation is estimated to be 20 mW. The total size of the 59-pad chip is 9.4 X 9.4 mm2.
The interaction between giant gaseous protoplanets and the primitive solar nebula

The manner in which a giant gaseous protoplanet becomes embedded in the primitive solar nebula determines surface boundary conditions which must be used in studying the evolution of such objects. On the one hand, if the system resembles a contact binary system, then the envelope of the protoplanet should approach the entropy of the surrounding nebula. On the other hand angular. momentum transfer by resonance and tidal effects between the nebula and the protoplanet may cause the nebula to exhibit a zone of avoidance near the protoplanet, thus inhibiting exchange of material. This problem has been studied with a computer program developed by D. N. C. Lin which simulates disk hydrodynamics by particle motions with dissipation. These studies suggest that for expected values of the protoplanet/protosun mass ratios, significant inhibition of mass exchange is likely, so that it is a reasonable next step to undertake protoplanet evolution studies with the imposition of minimum protoplanet surface temperatures.
Growth inhibition of subcutaneously transplanted hepatomas without cachexia by alteration of the dietary arginine-methionine balance

Previous studies have shown that alteration of the dietary arginine-methionine balance by use of synthetic L-amino acids inhibits tumor growth of a subcutaneously transplanted Morris hepatoma at the expense of maintaining body weight. However, L-methionine is susceptible to degradation and, therefore, may contribute to a deficiency state. The present studies were performed to determine whether growth of subcutaneous hepatoma transplants is inhibited, and body growth maintained, when rats are fed diets containing L-methionine in replacement of N-acetyl-L-methionine (NALM) for 28 days. Tumor-free and tumor-bearing rats fed a control diet, with amino acids replacing protein, had gains in body weight: 31.3 +/- 1.0 and 19.1 +/- 0.5 g (12% and 7%), respectively. Rats fed six experimental diets, with varying L-arginine-NALM balances, had body weight gains ranging from 18.4 +/- 0.3 to 26.7 +/- 0.9 g (7-10%). Tumor weight of control rats was 10.65 +/- 0.24% of body weight. Diets supplemented with L-arginine in combination with normal and deficient NALM decreased tumor weights by 35% and 38%, respectively, It is concluded that dietary replacement of L-methionine with NALM and supplementation with L-arginine inhibits growth of a subcutaneously transplanted Morris hepatoma in the absence of cachexia.
Characteristics of men and women completing cognitive/behavioral spouse abuse treatment

Although abuse in relationships is widespread and often escalates without intervention, the scant extant data indicate that people in abusive relationships often fail to complete treatment programs. We compared demographic characteristics, Male-Female Relations Inventory scores (MFRI), and selected MilIon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory I (MCMI-I) scale scores of men and women who did and did not complete an 8-session 4-week cognitive/behavioral group treatment program. The 16 completer men had lower scores on MCMI-I scales related to drug abuse as compared with the 18 noncompleter men. Court-referred men completed more often than other men. The 23 completer women also had lower scores on MCMI-I scales related to drug abuse than the 17 noncompleter women. Fewer of the completer women were employed and fewer had children than the noncompleter women. Scores on the MFRI were not different for completer or noncompleter men or women. Implications for interventions are discussed.
In Their Own Words: Best Practices for Advising Millennial Students about Majors

Utilizing generational theory, we explored the relationship between Millennial characteristics and students’ major selection and academic advising experiences. We conducted focus groups of students with senior standing at a private, midwestern university, and we utilized a closed coding technique to analyze the qualitative data. Consistent with documented Millennial traits, participants expressed a sense of specialness as well as conventional motivation, optimism, and a need to feel protected. The findings suggest that academic advisors should acknowledge and at times accommodate these Millennial characteristics when working with students. More specifically, we suggest a split-model advising system as a way to optimize the advising experiences of Millennial students.
The Effect of Chevrons on Crackle: Engine and Scale Model Results

GE and the USN continue to work together to find and develop practical techniques to reduce jet noise on tactical aircraft such as the F/A-18 E/F/G. Noise is an important issue for the Navy because of the harsh acoustic environment induced during operations of these aircraft on aircraft carriers and the impact to communities around Naval Air Bases and training sites. The noise generated by these systems is predominantly the noise generated by the exhaust plume due to the low bypass ratio of the engine and very high exhaust jet velocities. The main components of this jet noise are the jet mixing, shock and crackle noise. The present paper reports on progress, following Reference [1] with the F/A-18 E/F/G jet noise reduction program, which is currently focused on the USN near term goal of up to 3 dB reduction in the peak directivity direction. This goal also includes the reduction of the shock and crackle noise components. These goals are currently being pursued with nozzle plume mixing enhancement employing mechanical chevrons. These chevrons can be incorporated in the production version as a redesign of the F414 nozzle seals and do not involve the introduction of additional parts to the nozzle. This paper focuses on the effect of chevrons on the crackle noise component both in full scale on the F404 engine, and in small scale on the F414 engine nozzle in the twin configuration. The paper aims to make the case that this effect, which was first observed during ground engine testing of prototype chevrons, is a beneficial one in reducing/eliminating crackle which continues to be prevalent in high performance tactical aircraft engines today.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Staggered contracts and profitable entry deterrence: an application to professional sports

This paper examines an incumbent league's entry-deterrence strategies in a professional-sports market. The strategy of staggering long-term contracts offered to star players is analyzed and shown to reduce the wage bill of an incumbent league. However, if long-term contracting reduces player effort, the incumbent balances the benefits of a lower wage bill with the cost of reduced sales revenues. An optimal contract duration in the presence of such moral hazard is characterized in terms of the parameterization of the model. Extensions to the model are also discussed.
Playing and learning? Educational gaming for engineering education

Educational gaming has spurred a surge of interest in the educational arena. There exists now a renewed interest in the science of gaming and its application to education. The idea of having curricular materials that are just as 'fun' and hard to put down as games are needed as well as intriguing. The design and development of this type of tool to contain important and solid educational content is in even greater need by educational professionals. It is common to see students spending endless hours playing games while the same is not imaginable studying for a test. Games are engaging and fun and it is worthwhile researching their use in education. They provide the ability to process information quickly, utilize parallel processing and visual processing techniques, improve data organization, critical thinking and problem solving skills. These are just a few skills gained through playing games. The purpose of this paper is to present gaming as an educational tool and its use in engineering education. The paper will present and review tools that can be used in the development of educational games as well as present the materials education game (MEG) environment, this is an environment that was developed for use in a materials science educational game. This environment uses the principles of gaming for teaching a core concept in materials engineering.
Morphology of composites of semiconducting polymers mixed with C60

Abstract The morphology of polymer composite films of poly[2-methoxy,5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and buckminsterfullerene (C 60 ) has been systematically studied over a wide range of concentrations (10–81 wt.% of C 60 ) using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Phase separation in films prepared from solutions in 1,2-dichlorobenzene results in nano-scale crystallites of C 60 (dimensions approximately 10 nm or even less), embedded in amorphous MEH-PPV. A very fine bicontinuous network structure forms for MEH-PPV:C 60 compositions near 1:1 by weight. This homogeneous nanostructured network morphology in the polymer composites confirms the formation of a bulk heterojunction material as inferred from the improved optical and electronic properties of these composites in device applications.
Intraoperative Peripheral Rotary Atherectomy: Early and Late Clinical Results

Early and late clinical results of intraoperative peripheral atherectomy using the Auth Rotablator are analyzed. Twenty patients (15 males and 5 females age 39–89 years, mean 70 years) underwent 25 atherectomy procedures for peripheral arterial occlusive disease from August 1987 to October 1989. All patients underwent serial history, physical exam, and Doppler pressure measurements preoperatively and then post-operatively at 24 hours, one week, one month, and six months during a follow-up period of 15 to 41 months, mean 27 months. Preoperative and intraoperative completion follow-up arteriography was done in all cases and follow-up arteriography in 19 of 25 cases. Initial arteriographic success was achieved in 23/25 (92%) cases and in 39/41 (93%) arterial segments (superficial femoral artery 12/13, popliteal 14/15, tibial 12/13, profunda-femoral 1/1). Complications included intimal dissection (1), equipment breakage (2), minor emboli (3), major emboli with thigh skin loss (1), transient hemoglobinuria (4), wound hematoma (1), wound infection (1), and limb loss (1). Early thrombosis occurred in five cases to give an in-hospital success rate of 18/25 (72%). Primary patency was 66% at six months but only 12% at two years. Rotary atherectomy effectively recanalizes femoral, popliteal and tibial arteries. However, early thromboembolic complications occurred frequently, and the two year patency was dismal. Rotary atherectomy is not recommended for general use until problems of thromboemboli and intimal hyperplasia are solved.
Hydrolysis of guanosine and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphates by rat blood

Abstract Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity was measured in whole blood, plasma, and suspensions of platelets and erythrocytes from rats. In fresh whole blood, apparent phosphodiesterase activity was low, but it rose strikingly during the hour after blood withdrawal. The apparent phosphodiesterase activity in platelet-free plasma showed no such increase, but that in platelet-enriched plasma increased in parallel with that in whole blood. The apparent phosphodiesterase activity of blood or of platelet-enriched plasma also was increased markedly by sonication. The increase in rat blood phosphodiesterase activity with aging thus appeared to be due to damage of platelets. Most of the phosphodiesterase activity in rat erythrocytes and platelets was located in the soluble fraction of sonicated preparations, but the total enzyme activities from the two sources exhibited marked differences in substrate specificity. With erythrocyte preparations, the rate of hydrolysis of μM concentrations of cyclic AMP was approx. 50 times that of cyclic GMP, while with platelet preparations, cyclic GMP was hydrolyzed about 20 times faster than cyclic AMP at μM levels. The activity of phosphodiesterase in platelets was much greater than that in erythrocytes at all concentrations of both substrates.
Long Baseline Spatial Interferometer For The IR

Two high-precision and movable telescopes of 65 inch aperture are being constructed for long baseline infrared spatial interferometry (1). The telescopes are of novel design and emphasize the control of optical pathlengths and of telescope positions to a precision of about one micron. This will allow the relative phase of interference fringes to be determined over rather large angles of the sky and over some period of time, so that high precision astrometry as well as aperture synthesis can be done at wavelengths near 10 microns.
Doppler dispersion effects in matched filter detection and resolution

Conventional matched filters which use pseudorandom or noise-like waveforms attempt to compensate for the Doppler effect by cross-correlating the received waveforms with frequency shifted replicas of the transmitted waveform. However, frequency translation is only an approximation to the actual Doppler effect which is a time-expansion or time-compression of the waveform resulting from the continuous expansion or compression of the transit path. This paper investigates the effects of Doppler dispersion in matched filters which use frequency translation for Doppler compensation. It is found that the effects of Doppler dispersion are independent of the carrier frequency and negligible if the dispersion product, i.e., the absolute magnitude of the product of the signal bandwidth, duration, and delay rate, is less than unity. If the dispersion product is greater than unity the dispersion effects are serious. In the latter case the time and frequency resolution of the system are degraded and the output pulse is reduced in amplitude. The maximum improvement that can be obtained in the signal-to-noise power ratio is equal to the reciprocal of the delay rate magnitude. This maximum signal-to-noise gain is achieved when the time-bandwidth product of the receiver is chosen such that the dispersion product is approximately unity.
Radio science aspects of radar meteor observations: Where are we?

Detailed understanding of the radio science of (HPLA and “classical”) radar headand trail-echo radar scattering is required to correctly interpret observations. This understanding depends on mutually informed modeling and observation techniques. Observations yield intra-pulse and pulse-to-pulse details of each event that, via modeling, suggests how the plasma surrounding the meteoroid-and that then forms the meteor trail-is generated and evolves. This in turn reveals insight into underlying physical processes such as sputtering, fragmentation, flaring, and terminal processes relative to the more traditional (differential) ablation view of how the meteoroid interacts with the atmosphere. Details of these processes remain a source of controversy demanding further investigation.
SU-E-T-288: Root Cause Analysis for a Wrong Isocenter Error

Purpose: This study is to explore root cause analysis (RCA) in the context of a departmental incident reporting system through a case report of a wrong isocenter. RCA of this incident provides a means to undercover and address underlying causal factors to prevent such an event in the future. Methods: The wrong isocenter error was detected on port films, making it a near-miss, but the potential impact was severe. Following the modified London Protocol for RCA, we interviewed all the staff involved, including the simulation and treatment therapists, the dosimetrist, the physicist and the physician. A timeline of events leading up to the incident and its discovery was created. We then generated a list of care delivery problems and associated contributing factors. Finally, solutions were identified to address the contributing factors and prevent future recurrences of such an incident. Results: Though not obvious at the outset of this RCA, the main care delivery problem turned out to be a misidentification of the ball-bearing (BB) location on the treatment planning CT. A metal wire used to mark a drain site was identified as an isocenter mark rather than the BB on the AP surface as intended. Contributing factors include: 1)no policy implemented regarding the location of BBs and metal wire; 2) wires with similar diameter and feature as BBs in CT images; 3)lack of communication when confusion and uncertainties exist. A solution was chosen to help visualize the drain site. When drain site needs to be marked, a marker different from the regular wire will be used (e.g. plastic washer). Conclusion: Through RCA of an incorrect isocenter placement case, we identified the causal factors and also proposed solutions. RCA is a crucial tool for incident learning. This case study serves as valuable guidance for this particular problem and for RCA more generally.
Ascending single-dose study of the safety profile, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of bosutinib coadministered with ketoconazole to healthy adult subjects.

Abstract Background Bosutinib (SKI-606) is an orally bioavailable, competitive tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively targets both Src and Abl tyrosine kinases. Bosutinib is metabolized primarily through the cytochrome P450 3A4 pathway. Inhibition of bosutinib metabolism by coadministration with the potent cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole could potentially increase plasma concentrations of bosutinib, allowing for the study of bosutinib tolerability at supratherapeutic concentrations in a healthy subject population. Objective This study assessed the safety profile, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of different dose combinations of bosutinib coadministered with ketoconazole in healthy adults, and determined whether supratherapeutic concentrations of bosutinib can be achieved with ketoconazole. Methods This was a randomized, Phase I, double-blind, placebo-controlled, sequential-group study conducted in healthy adults. Single oral doses of bosutinib 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 mg or placebo were administered with ketoconazole and food on day 1; daily single oral doses of ketoconazole 400 mg were administered on days –1 and 1 through 4. Results Forty-eight subjects were enrolled. Their mean (SD) age was 32.0 (10.7) years (range, 18–50 years). The majority of the subjects (n = 44 [92%]) were white, 2 (4%) were black or African American, and 2 (4%) were of other races. Bosutinib was associated with acceptable tolerability at doses from 100 to 600 mg, with adverse events either mild (n = 30 [63%]) or moderate (n = 12 [25%]) in severity; no subject discontinued treatment due to adverse events, and no serious events were reported. Mean (SD) values for bosutinib 100 to 600 mg ranged from 58.4 (13.3) to 426 (100) ng/mL for C max and 2980 (802) to 23,000 (4020) ng·h/mL for AUC 0–∞ ; mean AUC 0–24 and AUC 0–last ranged from 876 (234) to 7080 (1640) ng· h/mL and from 2740 (854) to 22,200 (3630) ng · h/mL, respectively. C max and AUC were linear and dose proportional. Mean C max at 600 mg was 2.1-fold higher than the steady-state C max previously observed for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia who received bosutinib 500 mg once daily with food. Conclusions Single doses of bosutinib up to 600 mg coadministered with multiple doses of ketoconazole were acceptably well tolerated in this small, selected group of healthy male volunteers. In addition, supratherapeutic exposure was achieved within this range for bosutinib when coadministered with ketoconazole. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00777530.
Heat transfer in two-component internal mist cooling: Part II. Mechanistic modeling

The prediction of a mechanistic, three-dimensional, two-phase flow model is compared with experimental heat transfer data presented in the experimental part of this study for steady, internal, nozzle-generated, gas/liquid mist flow in vertical channels. The mechanistic model is based on the modification of the KIVA-3V computer code. The KIVA-3V code has been modified to solve the heat conduction equation in the surrounding structure with either steady or pulsed heat generation simultaneously with the fluid transport equations, and allow modeling of the various channel geometries and droplet injection methods. Among the numerically examined operating and design parameters are: the liquid atomization nozzle design, heat flux, carrier gas velocity and inlet temperature, liquid mass fraction at inlet, and flow direction. Comparison is made between the experimental data for wall and fluid bulk temperatures and heat transfer coefficients, and the predictions of the numerical model. Overall, reasonable agreement is obtained for downward mist flow, in particular at moderate heat fluxes; at high heat fluxes, the model slightly underpredicts the local heat transfer coefficients. For upward mist flow, the model underpredicts the local heat transfer coefficients typically by about 20%, and appears to predict dryout at the test section exit earlier than experiment. Some parametric and sensitivity calculation results are also presented and discussed.
The Aftermath Of Organizational Decline: A Longitudinal Study Of The Strategic And Managerial Characteristics Of Declining Firms

This study looks at the strategic and managerial consequences of organizational decline. Comparisons were made among 49 firms filing for bankruptcy and between those firms and a matched sample of n...
Absolute activity quantitation from projections using an analytical approach: comparison with iterative methods in Tc-99m and I-123 brain SPECT

Estimates of SPECT activity within certain deep brain structures could be useful for clinical tasks such as early prediction of Alzheimer's disease with Tc-99m or Parkinson's disease with I-123; however, such estimates are biased by poor spatial resolution and inaccurate scatter and attenuation corrections. We compared an analytical approach (AA) of more accurate quantitation to a slower iterative approach (IA). Monte Carlo simulated projections of 12 normal and 12 pathologic Tc-99m perfusion studies, as well as 12, normal and 12 pathologic I-123 neurotransmission studies, were generated using a digital brain phantom and corrected for scatter by a multispectral fitting procedure. The AA included attenuation correction by a modified Metz-Fan algorithm and activity estimation by a technique that incorporated Metz filtering to compensate for variable collimator response (VCR), IA-modeled attenuation, and VCR in the projector/backprojector of an ordered subsets-expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm. Bias and standard deviation over the 12 normal and 12 pathologic patients were calculated with respect to the reference values in the corpus callosum, caudate nucleus, and putamen. The IA and AA yielded similar quantitation results in both Tc-99m and I-123 studies in all brain structures considered in both normal and pathologic patients. The bias with respect to the reference activity distributions was less than 7% for Tc-99m studies, but greater than 30% for I-123 studies, due to partial volume effect in the striata. Our results were validated using I-123 physical acquisitions of an anthropomorphic brain phantom. The IA yielded quantitation accuracy comparable to that obtained with IA, while requiring much less processing time. However, in most conditions, IA yielded lower noise for the same bias than did AA.
Thermal injury effects on intestinal crypt cell proliferation and death are cell position dependent.

We examined the effects of thermal injury on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and death. We recorded histologically identifiable mitotic and apoptotic crypt cells in relation to cell positi...
Geochemistry of the Mesoproterozoic Lakhanda shales in southeastern Yakutia, Russia: implications for mineralogical and provenance control, and recycling

Abstract Shales of the Lakhanda Group of Late Mezoproterozoic age (1050–1000 Ma) from the southeastern Siberian craton in Russia have been analyzed for major elements and a number of trace elements, including the REE's. Shales along the Maya River formed as platform sediments in a deeper shelf facies, whereas, shales along the Belaya River formed in more active and open environments of an upper shelf carbonate ramp. The log of most elemental compositions to Al2O3 ratios are the same in the Maya and Belaya River samples, suggesting a similar source rock composition for rocks in the two areas. The log of SiO2, MgO, Na2O, K2O, Rb, Ba, and Ni to Al2O3 ratios are significantly higher and the log of TiO2 to Al2O3 ratios are significantly lower in shales from the Belaya River than the Maya River sections. The CIA (chemical index of alteration) is thus significantly lower in the Belaya shales than the Maya shales, suggesting less weathering of the in the Belaya shales than the Maya shales. The ICVs (Index of Compositional Variability=Fe2O3+K2O+Na2O+CaO+MgO+TiO2/Al2O3) of the Lakhanda shales are less than 1, suggesting that they are compositionally mature and were likely dominated by recycling. Several samples have ICV>1, suggesting some first cycle input. The low K2O/Al2O3 ratios of these shales suggest that minimal first cycle alkali feldspar was present in the initial source. Most shales of the Lakhanda plot parallel and along the A–K line in A–CN–K plots suggestive of intense chemical weathering (high CIA) and do not indicate any clear-cut evidence of K-metasomatism or direct weathering back to the original source. If K-metasomatism produced these rocks, then they could have formed from tonalites to basalts. If weathering produced these rocks then they could have been produced from varied amounts of mostly granodiorite to granite. Elemental ratios critical of provenance (La/Sc, La/Cr, La/Co, Th/Sc, Th/Cr, Th/Co, and Eu/Eu*) are not significantly different between the Maya River and Belaya River shales, and the ratios are similar to fine-fractions derived from the weathering of mostly granitoids and not basic rocks. The Eu/Eu*, Th/Sc and low K2O/Al2O3 ratios of most shales suggest weathering from mostly a granodiorite source rather than a granite source, consistent with a source from old upper continental crust. Some samples at the bottom of the Belaya River section contain very low Eu/Eu* (0.35), suggesting significant input of first cycle detritus from highly differentiated granitoids similar to those from the Aldan Shield.
Electrostatics and the Gating Pore of Shaker Potassium Channels

Various experiments have suggested that the S4 segment in voltage-dependent Na(+) and K(+) channels is in contact with a solvent-accessible cavity. We explore the consequences of the existence of such a cavity through the electrostatic effects on the gating currents of Shaker K(+) channels under conditions of reduced ionic strength S. We observe that approximately 10-fold reductions of intracellular S produce reductions of the measured gating charge of approximately 10%. These effects continue at even lower values of S. The reduction of gating charge when S is reduced by 10-fold at the extracellular surface is much smaller (approximately 2%). Shifts of the Q(V) curve because of a reduced S are small (<10 mV in size), which is consistent with very little fixed surface charge. Continuum electrostatic calculations show that the S effects on gating charge can be explained by the alteration of the local potential in an intracellular conical cavity of 20-24-A depth and 12-A aperture, and a smaller extracellular cavity of 3-A depth and the same aperture. In this case, the attenuation of the membrane potential at low S leads to reduction of the apparent gating charge. We suggest that this cavity is made by a bundle of transmembrane helices, and that the gating charge movement occurs by translocation of charged residues across a thin septum of approximately 3-7 A thickness.
A Precision High-Voltage Current Sensing Circuit

This paper presents a precision current sensor featuring a high voltage, high gain (~ 140 dB), and low input offset ( < 1 mV) current sense amplifier. This amplifier does not require offset trimming even for low offset applications. It is a single stage amplifier that has a common gate pMOS differential input pair, which makes it inherently stable. This amplifier topology allows for a wide input common-mode range, thus increasing the versatility of current sensing circuit.
Learning dictionaries of stable autoregressive models for audio scene analysis

In this paper, we explore an application of basis pursuit to audio scene analysis. The goal of our work is to detect when certain sounds are present in a mixed audio signal. We focus on the regime where out of a large number of possible sources, a small but unknown number combine and overlap to yield the observed signal. To infer which sounds are present, we decompose the observed signal as a linear combination of a small number of active sources. We cast the inference as a regularized form of linear regression whose sparse solutions yield decompositions with few active sources. We characterize the acoustic variability of individual sources by autoregressive models of their time domain waveforms. When we do not have prior knowledge of the individual sources, the coefficients of these autoregressive models must be learned from audio examples. We analyze the dynamical stability of these models and show how to estimate stable models by substituting a simple convex optimization for a difficult eigenvalue problem. We demonstrate our approach by learning dictionaries of musical notes and using these dictionaries to analyze polyphonic recordings of piano, cello, and violin.
Simulation Based Approach To Modeling Product And Process Interactions

Summary form only as given. The major corporate goals of any enterprise are to make more profit, increase its market share and provide workforce stability among others. To achieve these goals in a global, highly dynamic and very competitive environment, it is absolutely necessary that a company keeps on enlarging its technological, systems and methodology envelope to minimize unit cost, reduce lead time and improve quality of products right at the product development stage. To accomplish these tasks, some innovative technologies, methodologies and systems have to be developed and integrated. For these things to happen, it is necessary that one understands the underlying phenomenon of product development. In this paper, the authors' objectives are to capture the product process interactions. They study the impact of various product design and process alternatives on cost, quality and lead time. For this purpose, they develop a simulation model which is coded in SIMAN. They illustrate the concepts using a case study of a journal bearing system.
Accurate and robust molecular crystal modeling using fragment-based electronic structure methods

Accurately modeling molecular crystal polymorphism requires careful treatment of diverse intra- and intermolecular interactions which can be difficult to achieve without the use of high-level ab initio electronic structure techniques. Fragment-based methods like the hybrid many-body interaction QM/MM technique enable the application of accurate electronic structure models to chemically interesting molecular crystals. The theoretical underpinnings of this approach and the practical requirements for the QM and MM contributions are discussed. Benchmark results and representative applications to aspirin and oxalyl dihydrazide crystals are presented.
Angiotensin II-mediated posttranslational modification of nNOS in the PVN of rats with CHF: role for PIN

An increased sympathetic drive is an adverse characteristic in chronic heart failure (CHF). The protein expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)- and hence nitric oxide (NO)-mediated sympathoinhibition is reduced in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rats with CHF. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of nNOS downregulation remain(s) unclear. The aim of the study was to reveal the underlying molecular mechanism for the downregulation of nNOS in the PVN of CHF rats. Sprague-Dawley rats with CHF (6–8 wk after coronary artery ligation) demonstrated decreased nNOS dimer/monomer ratio (42%), with a concomitant increase in the expression of PIN (a protein inhibitor of nNOS known to dissociate nNOS dimers into monomers) by 47% in the PVN. Similarly, PIN expression is increased in a neuronal cell line (NG108) treated with angiotensin II (ANG II). Furthermore, there is an increased accumulation of high-molecular-weight nNOS-ubiquitin (nNOS-Ub) conjugates in the PVN of CHF rats (29%). ANG II treatment in NG108 cells in the presence of a proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin, also leads to a 69% increase in accumulation of nNOS-Ub conjugates immunoprecipitated by an antiubiquitin antibody. There is an ANG II-driven, PIN-mediated decrease in the dimeric catalytically active nNOS in the PVN, due to ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic degradation in CHF. Our results show a novel intermediary mechanism that leads to decreased levels of active nNOS in the PVN, involved in subsequent reduction in sympathoinhibition during CHF, offering a new target for the treatment of CHF and other cardiovascular diseases.
Design, fabrication, and testing of a bistable electromagnetically actuated microvalve

A bistable electromagnetically actuated microvalve was designed, processed, and tested. The valve was designed to control a water flow of 0.05-0.5 /spl mu/s from a reservoir at a pressure of 1-2000 Pa. The two valve components were fabricated in silicon, the upper piece comprises an electroplated gold coil, and the lower piece is an Ni/Fe alloy beam. The bistable capability was achieved by balancing the elastic forces on the beam with the magnetic forces due to a 46-/spl mu/m-thick rolled magnetic foil. The design includes the flow through the orifice, squeeze film damping due to beam motion, beam elasticity, and electromagnetics. The microvalve was tested for power consumption, flow rate, time response, Ni/Fe alloy composition, and magnetic foil properties. The valve operates at 1-2 V in both air and water.
Predictors of performance-based measures of instrumental activities of daily living in nondemented patients with Parkinson’s disease

Few studies have examined instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs) in nondemented Parkinson's disease (PD), and the majority of these studies have used report-based measures, which can have limited validity. The present study had two main goals: (a) to examine the performance of nondemented PD patients on two performance-based measures of iADLs, which are considered more objective functional measures, and (b) to examine the cognitive, motor, and psychiatric correlates of iADL impairment in PD. Ninety-eight nondemented PD patients and 47 healthy older adults were administered performance-based measures that assess the ability to manage medications (Medication Management Ability Assessment) and finances (University of California, San Diego, UCSD, Performance-based Skills Assessment), the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale to assess global cognitive functioning, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III to assess motor symptom severity, and the Geriatric Depression Scale to assess depressive symptoms. Nondemented PD patients demonstrated significantly impaired scores relative to the healthy comparison group on the performance-based measure of financial management, but there were no significant group differences in medication management. Global cognitive functioning, motor severity, and depressive symptoms did not correlate with scores on either of the functional measures, except for a small correlation between depressive symptoms and financial management. The two performance-based measures of iADL functioning did not correlate with one another. These findings suggest that medication and financial management may not be predicted based on global cognitive functioning and that iADLs may not be represented by a single construct. Furthermore, these findings suggest the potential need for a multidimensional approach to assessing iADLs.
Storage management in virtual tree machines

Many parallel algorithms, particularly divide-and-conquer algorithms, may be structured as dynamic trees of tasks. In general, as parallelism increases, storage requirements also increase. A sequential program keeps storage requirements small by finishing one task (or procedure invocation) before going on to another, so that the entire task tree is never in existence at any one time. This corresponds to a depth-first expansion of a tree of tasks. On the other hand, a breadth-first expansion often produces a higher degree of parallelism, but also may produce an exponential growth in storage requirements. The resources (processors and memory) of a given system can be matched by alternating between depth-first and breadth-first expansion. The author's approach is to determine how much storage would have been available to a task in a sequential system, and to ensure that at least as much storage is available to the task when it is executed in a distributed system. >
Cardiac MRI assessment of myocardial perfusion

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity around the globe. Assessment of myocardial perfusion to diagnose ischemia is commonly performed in symptomatic patients prior to referral for cardiac catheterization. Among other noninvasive imaging modalities, cardiac MRI (CMR) is emerging as a highly sensitive and specific test for myocardial ischemia and infarction. Resting perfusion on CMR is used to evaluate for microvascular obstruction, which is shown to predict adverse left ventricular remodeling and cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction. This article summarizes the current understanding of CMR perfusion.
Necrotizing gastritis associated with Clostridium septicum in a rabbit

Clostridium septicum is the causative agent of histotoxic infections, including malignant edema and braxy (necrotizing abomasitis) in several animal species. The carcass of a 2-year-old, female New Zealand white rabbit with a history of acute depression and obtundation followed by death was received at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (San Bernardino, California) for necropsy and diagnostic workup. No gross lesions were detected at necropsy. Microscopically, there was moderate to severe, multifocal fibrinonecrotizing, transmural gastritis with numerous intralesional Gram-positive, sporulated rods, and disseminated thrombosis of the brain, lungs, heart, and liver, with occasional intravascular rods. The rods observed within the gastric wall and thrombi in the stomach and lung were positive for C. septicum by immunohistochemical staining. However, this microorganism was not isolated from stomach content. Clostridium septicum should be included in the list of possible etiologies of gastritis in rabbits.