cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ACUTE RENAL FAILURE AND HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA FOLLOWING PNEUMOCOCCAL INFECTION

We present two cases of acute renal failure associated with a microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia following pneumococcal infections. In both children there was evidence of red cell T-poly-agglutinability (being manifest initially as discrepant A80 blood grouping). In one child pneumococci were isolated from the blood whilst in the other there was antigenic evidence of a recent pneumococcal infection. Both children had a period of oliguric renal failure requiring dialysis. Prostaglandin metabolism was shown to be normal in both children. Renal biopsy in one case showed evidence of exposure of the T antigen on the renal glomeruli, tubules and red cell casts. Pneumococci are known to produce the enzyme neuraminidase which has been implicated in T-activation. We suggest that T-activation following pneumococcal infection should be included in the spectrum of the Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome.
Modification of Female Onion Fly, Delia antiqua (Meigen), Reproductive Behavior by Male Paragonial Gland Extracts (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Egg depositional rates of onion flies, Delia antiqua(Meigen), injected thoracically with extracts of male paragonial glands were identical (14.5 eggs/female/ day) to those of normally mated females. Moreover, when continuously exposed to males, extract-injected females refused to mate and produced unfertilized eggs for the duration of the > 15- day experiment. For this normally monocoitic dipteran, <1 male equiv of paragonial secretion completely reproduced the ovipositional responses characteristic of normal mating, and this effect required no involvement of the genitalia or genital chamber. We suggest that the receptor for the active chemical (s) (sex peptide?) would be an excellent target for biorational insect control by sterilization. Moreover, these primer sex pheromones might play an important role in insect reproductive isolation and evolution.
The effects of management practices on union election returns

This paper examines the importance of management suppression tactics on union activity in the United States. NLRB data on individual certification elections which have recently become available for the period 1972–1976 are merged with structural, demographic, and industry characteristics of the 96 largest SMSAs to ascertain the role of strategy versus structure in explaining union outcomes. The measures of election-generated membership outcomes are voter participation, the margin of pro-union votes, and union wins. Union suppression practices under study include consent elections, election delays, formal objections after unions win a certification election, elections overruled because of management unfair labor practices, elections held by management petition, and the number of unfair labor practice charges per representation election. Five of the six measures of suppression are significant determinants of some facet of union expansion after adjusting for structural characteristics of the area work force.
Molecular Simulations of the Capsid Release and Membrane Binding Processes of Flock House Lytic Peptides

During the infection process, a virus particle encounters membrane barriers, which must be overcome in order for the viral genome to be delivered to the correct cellular location for viral transcription. While enveloped viruses have fusion peptides to facilitate this process, the mechanisms by which non-enveloped viruses cross these membranes barriers is poorly understood. Many non-enveloped virus contain a membrane lytic component to the viral capsid, which is sequestered on the capsid interior until a signal is received to externalize/activate the lytic component. One such model system is the Flock House virus (FHV), which is an animal virus of the nodaviridae family, which infects insects. FHV has a T=3 icosahedral capsid, and autocatalytic cleavage separates the lytic peptide (γ) from each of the 180 subunits. Lysosome leakage experiments have shown acidic conditions are critical for FHV membrane lysis. Using molecular simulation methods we have been investigating three aspects of this phenomena i) γ externalization form the capsid interior, ii) structural dynamics of γ in solution and iii) the interaction of γ with membranes. The externalization process has been investigated using steered MD simulations (SMD) under differing protonation states to mimic differing pH conditions. SMD simulations under acidic conditions exhibited structural transitions in the capsid distinct from neutral condition simulations. The structural dynamics of γ have been investigated using metadynamics simulations and indicate γ has a low barrier separating helical and disordered states. The influence of γ structure on membrane binding has been investigated using the MARTINI coarse-grained model to calculate binding free energies. These combined studies have provided new structural and thermodynamic insights into the post-entry stages of non-enveloped virus infection.
All but 49 Numbers are Wiener Indices of Trees

The Wiener index is one of the main descriptors that correlate a chemical compound’s molecular graph with experimentally gathered data regarding the compound’s characteristics. A long standing conjecture on the Wiener index ([4, 5]) states that for any positive integer \(n\) (except numbers from a given 49 element set), one can find a tree with Wiener index \(n\). In this paper, we prove that every integer \(n>10^8\) is the Wiener index of some short caterpillar tree with at most six non-leaf vertices. The Wiener index conjecture for trees then follows from this and the computational results in [8] and [5].
Transforming growth factor beta and progression of renal disease

Transforming growth factor beta and progression of renal disease. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is more frequent in African Americans compared to whites. Many factors may be responsible, including genetic differences, increased prevalence of risk factors, and socioeconomic factors; however, to date, these proposed genetic or environmental factors have not provided a satisfactory explanation for the increased risk of ESRD in African Americans. Because renal fibrosis is a correlate of progressive renal failure and a dominant feature of ESRD, and because transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β 1 ) can induce fibrosis and renal insufficiency, we explored the hypothesis that TGF-β 1 hyperexpression is more frequent in African Americans compared to whites. We tested our hypotheses by measuring TGF-β 1 levels in African Americans and white patients with ESRD, hypertension, and in normal patients. In hypertensive and normal patients, we also evaluated TGF-β 1 mRNA levels, and TGF-β 1 DNA polymorphisms. We demonstrated that circulating levels of TGF-β 1 are higher in African American ESRD patients, hypertensive patients, and normal control patients compared to their white counterparts. We also reported that TGF-β 1 mRNA levels are higher in hypertensives compared to normotensives. Our preliminary genetic analyses suggest that TGF-β 1 DNA polymorphisms may distinguish hypertensives from normotensives, and our laboratory is currently investigating racial differences in TGF-β 1 DNA polymorphisms. Our observations of hyperexpression of TGF-β 1 in African Americans suggest a mechanism for the increased prevalence of renal failure and hypertensive target organ damage in this population.
On the orbital dependence of the asteroidal collision process

Collision of asteroids with the main-belt asteroid population is considered with the effect of the impact kinetic energy taken into account. It is found that objects in eccentric orbits have a larger probability of destructive collision as compared to objects in orbits with mean values of eccentricity (equal to 0.15) and inclination (equal to 10 deg); also orbits with small semimajor axes (about 2.3 AU) are found to have peak values of the probability of destructive collision.
Empiric use of vancomycin during prolonged treatment-induced granulocytopenia. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with acute leukemia

Because gram-positive infections cause morbidity following intensive antileukemic chemotherapy, the effects of vancomycin versus placebo were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 60 adult patients with acute leukemia and first infectious fever during prolonged (mean of 32 days) granulocytopenia. Gram-positive sepsis was associated with first fever in 17 (28 percent) of the 60 patients. None of 31 patients randomly assigned to receive vancomycin demonstrated gram-positive infection, whereas 16 of 22 patients randomly assigned to receive placebo subsequently had gram-positive infection (seven had sepsis, and nine had local infections; p less than 0.005). All patients with gram-positive infection were then given vancomycin, and all showed prompt clinical responses. The predominant gram-positive organism causing infection was beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus epidermis (19 of 44 isolates). Patients randomly assigned to receive vancomycin had more rapid resolution of first infectious fever and fewer total febrile days during the granulocytopenic course than did patients randomly assigned to receive placebo. Although vancomycin had no effect on the presence or absence of documented fungal infection, patients treated with vancomycin received empiric amphotericin B for recurrent or persistent fever later (mean of 14 days after initial antibiotic coverage was begun) than did patients receiving placebo (mean of 9.9 days; p less than 0.005), and thus received fewer total days of empiric amphotericin B therapy (mean of 16.3 days) than did patients given placebo (mean of 24.6 days; p less than 0.01). These data demonstrate that empiric use of vancomycin reduces the morbidity of gram-positive infections following intensive antileukemic therapy and decreases the need for empiric use of toxic amphotericin B.
Stabilized fiber-end retroreflecting interferometer.

An end-point optical fiber interferometer using thin-film retroreflectors is introduced, which is very simple to construct and align. The use of single-mode and multimode fibers for illumination and signal reception, respectively, greatly increases optical efficiency and phase stability. In particular, measurements of essentially static phenomena are made possible. Limitations remaining on the use of thin-film retroreflectors as a coupling mechanism for interferometric fiber sensors are investigated. Error sources include finite numerical aperture effects, multiple beam interferences, and thermally pumped mechanical motions.
Recovery and rehabilitation following subarachnoid haemorrhage. Part I: outcome after inpatient rehabilitation

Background and purpose: Although subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a subtype of stroke, functional outcome following rehabilitation for SAH must be considered distinct from that of cerebral infarction because of the younger age and the difference in pathology and resultant neurologic deficits. The purposes of this study were to: (1) describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of SAH patients receiving rehabilitation; (2) describe functional outcomes following inpatient rehabilitation; and (3) investigate possible relationships between patient characteristics and functional outcomes. Methods : Retrospective chart review of SAH patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation. Functional Outcomes rated by the Functional Independence Measures (FIM). Analysis with descriptive and nonparametric statistics. Results : Eighty patients with SAH admitted to a rehabilitation unit with a mean age of 54 years. Fifty-seven had identified aneurysms as a cause of SAH. Seventy-four subjects (93%) presented with Hun...
Advantages of CO2 compared to R410a refrigerant of tribologically tested Aluminum 390-T6 surfaces

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is currently being investigated as a viable alternative refrigerant due to its environmental advantages. Much research is still needed regarding thermodynamic, tribological, and design issues, yet CO2 is a promising environmentally friendly refrigerant. This study investigates the physical and chemical changes of aluminum alloy disks that occur with increased severity tribotesting in the presence of either R410a or CO2 refrigerants while submerged in POE lubricant. Visibly and through surface profilometry, this study clearly shows that R410a environment results in increased disk wear compared to CO2 environment. In addition, Auger Electron Spectroscopy analysis was conducted showing that the oxygen concentration tends to increase with testing duration for both R410a and, to a greater extent, CO2 tested samples. When Auger data were compared for the R410a submerged in POE, CO2 submerged in PAG, and CO2 submerged in POE, the CO2 tested samples had significantly higher oxygen concentrations. This indicates that CO2 refrigerant is promoting a strong oxygenated layer, which reduces wear.
Towards a History of Nineteenth-Century TheologyA Review Essay

LAUDE Welch has written the first truly significant history of nineteenthcentury Protestant thought in the English language. In fact, among the more recent works available in German, there is nothing really comparable to it, with the possible exceptions of Barth's Die protestantische Theologie (eleven chapters of which have been translated into English) and the great history by Emanuel Hirsch, which is on a different scale. In short, the appearance of this book is a publishing event of the highest significance for the theological world. Here, for the first time, the extraordinarily rich heritage of the nineteenth century, without which contemporary religious thought (Catholic as well as Protestant) cannot properly be understood, is made available in a singularly attractive and useful format. Although citing the best critical studies and monographs and often being guided by their interpretations, Welch works primarily with the original sources, offering fresh and creative interpretations of his own. His descriptive analyses of the major figures are economical in the use of language yet extraordinarily rich, finely textured, and very clearly developed. In place of extensive quotations, he catches in his own words the inner logic and distinctive mood of individual thinkers, whose positions are presented straightforwardly and sympathetically. The author has no axes to grind. Rather, he insists upon heeding "the actual theological intentions of the thinkers themselves." This he does to a remarkable degree, and it is the most distinctive feature of his book. In an introductory chapter on "The Problem of a History of NineteenthCentury Theology," Welch points out that all previous treatments of this subject
Gender differences in pattern of hip and lumbopelvic rotation in people with low back pain.

Background. Findings from previous studies suggest gender may affect the pattern of hip and lumbopelvic motion during a multisegmental movement. To date, no studies have examined movement patterns and low back pain symptom behavior during hip lateral rotation. Methods. Forty-six people (27 males and 19 females) with low back pain were examined. Three-dimensional kinematic data and low back pain symptoms were recorded during active hip lateral rotation. Percent of maximum lumbopelvic rotation was calculated for each 10% increment of maximum active hip lateral rotation. Findings. Men exhibited a greater percent of maximum lumbopelvic rotation (mean 49.3, SD 13.3) during the first 60% of hip lateral rotation than women (mean 36.2, SD 16.4) (P < 0.01). Nineteen (70.4%) of the men and seven (36.8%) of the women had pain with the hip lateral rotation test (P = 0.02). Interpretation. Men exhibited more lumbopelvic rotation in the early part of hip lateral rotation than women, and hip lateral rotation was more likely to be associated with symptoms in men than women. Greater lumbopelvic motion, earlier in hip lateral rotation, may make men more vulnerable to low back pain associated with hip lateral rotation. Factors that contribute to these gender differences should be investigated further. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Temperature along the axillary nerve during radiofrequency-induced thermal capsular shrinkage.

BackgroundThere have been reports of axillary nerve palsy after thermal capsular shrinkage with radiofrequency energy-generating devices. The exact cause of this is unknown.HypothesisThe temperature of the axillary nerve increases during shoulder capsular shrinkage at various degrees of shoulder abduction.Study DesignLaboratory study.MethodsFifteen cadaveric shoulders had fiberoptic thermometer probes placed at various points along the axillary nerve and major branches under the capsule. The shoulders underwent thermal capsular shrinkage with a radiofrequency energy-inducing device at various positions of abduction.ResultsWith the arm at the side, temperatures above 50°C (56°-61°C) were evident along the teres minor branch of the axillary nerve in 4 of 6 specimens. The increase in temperature was noted in the middle to posterior aspect of the inferior capsule. At 45° of abduction, 4 of 5 shoulders demonstrated increases in temperature greater or equal to 50°. Three of 4 shoulders tested at 90° of abductio...
Optokinetic nystagmus and afternystagmus in human beings: relationship to nonlinear processing of information about retinal slip

In four normal human subjects we measured eye movements during full-field optokinetic stimulation (10–220 deg/s) and determined the relationship among retinal-slip velocity (drum velocity minus slow-phase eye velocity), the slow-phase velocity of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and the initial value of the slow-phase velocity of optokinetic afternystagmus (OKAN) measured in darkness. OKN and OKAN were maximum (63–84 and 11–19 deg/s, respectively) when retinal slip ranged from 30–100 deg/s. For higher values of retinal slip, OKN and OKAN fell (in 3 subjects) or reached a plateau (in the fourth). The amplitude of OKAN in human beings was much less than that reported in monkeys. The shape, however, of the curve relating retinal slip to the amplitude of OKAN was similar to that of monkeys. Furthermore, in both cases the curve resembles that obtained by plotting the results of experimental recordings of neural discharge in the nucleus of the optic tract as a function of retinal slip. These results imply that the processing of visual information for generation of OKAN is similar in monkeys and human beings but that the gain of the system is much less in human beings. We also found that fixation of a small target during optokinetic stimulation nearly completely prevented the development of OKAN while fixation of a small target for short periods after optokinetic stimulation did not alter the pattern of decay of OKAN. Thus, fixation may actively prevent the coupling of visual information into the velocity-storage mechanism.
Self-diffusion and the defect structure of cadmium sulfide

Cd and S tracer diffusivities were measured in undoped and In-doped CdS crystals as a function of temperature, the partial pressure of Cd or S2, and In concentration. Above 700°C and under high Cd pressures, sulfur diffuses by a vacancy mechanism involving the doubly ionized vacancy V··s; this vacancy is also the major electrically active point defect and is the commonly reported double donor in CdS. Under these conditions, Cd diffusion occurs by singly ionized Cd interstitials, these interstitials being the fastest moving point defects, but only a minority as donors compared to S vacancies. Under high S2 pressures, sulfur diffuses by the interstitial mechanism involving the neutral Si× interstitials. Cd diffusion under these conditions is controlled by doubly ionized Cd vacancies. Experiments on indium-doped samples show that at moderate-to-high Cd pressures In is incorporated with the release of an equal number of electrons into the conduction band, whereas at low Cd pressures, the incorporation occurs with the creation of doubly ionized native acceptors. These acceptors are most probably the Cd vacancies responsible for Cd diffusion in this range of Cd pressures. The absolute mobilities of V··s, V″Cd and (InCd VCd)′ have been determined, assuming [V″Cd] > [S″i]. For Cd·i and Si× a separation of diffusivities into mobilities and concentrations was not possible. Estimates for the position of the acceptor levels of VCd are obtained.
Maternal Health Care Problems in Rural Communities, Korea

[In recent years, overall health conditions in Korea seem to be gradually improving along with the relatively rapid growth of the national economy and the continuing efforts of social development. The rural health situation, however, is still far behind that of many other developing nations.The author especially made an attempt not only to describe the maternal health care problems such as mortality, morbidity, and utilization of health care services which exist today in rural communities of South Korea, but also to make suggestions as to the ways of improving the conditions of the health care services.]
Identifying gifted adolescents using personality characteristics: Dabrowski's overexcitabilities

An exploratory study was conducted to determine the potential of overexcitability assessment as a method for identifying giftedness beyond traditional means. Overexcitability (i.e. an intensified way of experiencing the world) can occur in five areas: psychomotor, sensual, imaginational, intellectual, and emotional, and are assessed using the Overexcitability Questionnaire. In a group of high school students, discriminant analyses indicated that overexcitability (OE) profiles in the areas of psychomotor, intellectual, and emotional overexcitabilities differentiated between gifted and nongifted students. Approximately 35% of the nonidentified students had the same profile as the gifted subjects suggesting the potential of OE profiles for use in the identification of gifted students. Linguistic and cultural issues are discussed, as well as, the implications for research and instructional practice.
Are There Gender Differences in the Relationship between Academic Performance and Social Behavior

A growing body of research suggests that peer-related communication skills and experiences may facilitate academic achievement, especially in the college environment. However, there is substantial evidence that men and women differ in peer-related interaction skills and patterns, suggesting that there may be gender differences in the relationship between academic performance and interaction with peers. Thus far, only one study has systematically examined this gender difference: that of Nezlek, Wheeler, and Rets. In their 1990 work, they reported data that they interpreted as supporting the existence of gender differences in the relationship between the scholastic performance of college students and aspects of their social interactions. The current article presents a reanalysis of their data, snowing that there are no gender differences in the relationship between academic achievement and social participation. This article also reports a study assessing gender differences in relationships between academic performance and loneliness, communication skills, and social acceptance. Participants (208 college students) completed the revised UCLA loneliness scale, tasks assessing five communication skills, and sociometric measures providing multiple indices of social acceptance. Cumulative grade point averages (GPAs) were obtained from the university registrar. Although several significant associations were detected between CPA and the loneliness and communication skill measures, no gender differences in the associations were found. The results are discussed in terms of relationships between the orientations that students exhibit toward peers and their studies.
The impact of requirements on software quality across three product generations

In a previous case study, we presented data demonstrating the impact that a well-written and well-reviewed set of requirements had on software defects and other quality indicators between two generations of an Intel product. The first generation was coded from an unorganized collection of requirements that were reviewed infrequently and informally. In contrast, the second was developed based on a set of requirements stored in a Requirements Management database and formally reviewed at each revision. Quality indicators for the second software product all improved dramatically even with the increased complexity of the newer product. This paper will recap that study and then present data from a subsequent Intel case study revealing that quality enhancements continued on the third generation of the product. The third generation software was designed and coded using the final set of requirements from the second version as a starting point. Key product differentiators included changes to operate with a new Intel processor, the introduction of new hardware platforms and the addition of approximately fifty new features. Software development methodologies were nearly identical, with only the change to a continuous build process for source code check-in added. Despite the enhanced functionality and complexity in the third generation software, requirements defects, software defects, software sightings, feature commit vs. delivery (feature variance), defect closure efficiency rates, and number of days from project commit to customer release all improved from the second to the third generation of the software.
ASSOCIATION OF INDOLE ANALOGUES TO DEFATTED HUMAN SERUM ALBUMIN.

Abstract The association constants of l -tryptophan, skatole, 3-indolepropionate, tryptamine and acetyl- l -tryptophan to defatted human serum albumin have been determined at two temperatures by dialysis equilibrium. These constants are generally different from those reported for nondefatted albumin. When thermodynamic values are assigned to the hydrophilic groups of the indolylethylene stem, Δ S u - d (the entropy change for the association after entropies of mixing and segment disorientation are subtracted) averaged 20e.u. less and Δ H ∘6 kcal. per mole less for the association to defatted albumin than to nondefatted albumin. For the indolylethylene stem Δ S u - d and Δ H ∘ were the same for defatted and nondefatted albumin. The pH of maximum binding of l -tryptophan shifted 1 unit higher after the albumin was defatted. With the defatted albumin an abrupt decrease in binding with pH for all compounds was found in the pH region 9.5–11.0, depending on the temperature. This decrease in binding was inversely related to the 3rd to 5th power of the H + concentration. Electrostatic effects were less in the associations to the defatted albumin than to the nondefatted albumin. Albumin reconstituted with fatty acid bound l -tryptophan similar to nondefatted albumin but not in all respects.
Reactive flow modeling of recent embedded gauge and metal acceleration experiments on detonating PBX-9404 and LX-17

Abstract The ignition and growth model of the reactive flow during shock initiation and detonation wave propagation in the heterogeneous solid explosives PBX-9404 and LX-17 is compared to recent embedded particle velocity and stress gauge measurements in detonating PBX-9404 and Fabry-Perot free surface velocity measurements of thin metal plates accelerated by detonating PBX-9404 and LX-17. The overall agreement between the numerical calculations and the various experimental records, which have time resolutions in the nanosecond regime, is very good. The regions of disagreement emphasize some of the processes involved in reactive flow and metal acceleration that are not fully understood and directions for future experimental and modeling work. These new experimental and calculational results are also compared to some previously reported back surface particle velocity gauge and free surface velocity measurements for detonating PBX-9404. The experimental records and the numerical results clearly demonstrate ...
A flux-limiting scheme for solution of the Eikonal evolution equation

A finite-difference scheme is derived for numerical solution of the eikonal scalar-field front propagation equation. The numerical scheme is implemented for the description of the dynamics of a flame surface propagating through a vortical flow field. Attributes of the numerical scheme are its accuracy and numerical stability when large velocity fluctuations in the flow are present, and the absence of explicit artificial viscosity.
Sole Use of Sucrose in Human Sperm Cryopreservation

Glycerol alone or in combination with other additives is one of the most widely used and successful cryoprotectants for human sperm. The glycerol method requires rigorous post thaw sample washing for use in ART and this may lead to low sperm yield from oligospermic samples. In this study the feasibility of the use of sucrose in sperm cryopreservation was explored. Sucrose as cryoprotectant was combined with direct plunging of sample into liquid nitrogen (vitrification) as a freezing method. Sucrose treated sperm from normozoospermic and severly oligozoospermic samples underwent rapid freeze and thaw. Motility and viability were evaluated before freezing (after sucrose equilibration) as well as post freezing (after thaw). The 100 mM concentration of sucrose showed better cryoprotectant features compared to that of higher concentrations (200-1000 mM). Sucrose (100 mM)treated sperm maintained low but acceptable motility (30%) and satisfactory viability (60%) after freezing and thawing. The cryoprotectant capacity of sucrose for normozoospermic and oligozoospermic samples were identical. The sucrose method utilizes rapid freezing of a micro volume of sample and thus quickly freezes, thaws, and maximizes recovery of the sperm from the sample.
A Psychometric Investigation of the Rigorous Eating Scale

A psychometric analysis of the Rigorous Eating Scale was carried out based on data of Smead from 1986 and also from 1987 by Smead and Boyd. This 13-item scale was designed to measure hunger, deprivation, and restraint in eating style and used in both of the foregoing studies to investigate the relationship between dieting and eating style and scoring higher on measures of subclinical symptoms of anorexia and bulimia. This brief report highlights internal consistency reliability, factor structure, and item-criterion correlations. Results indicate appropriately high reliability, but inadequate factor structure. Item-criterion correlations suggest several aspects of eating style which may be important to include in similar scales of the future.
Novel thermally enhanced power package

Heat generated in microelectronic devices as a result of dissipated power is a major issue in power electronics applications resulting in elevated application PC board temperatures. In order to minimize the down ward heat transfer to the application board an efficient method enabling the upward flow of heat from the silicon die to the top of the microelectronic package and subsequently transferred to the environment via forced convection needs to be employed [1]. The problem is that most of the current packaging technologies have a very poor junction-to-top thermal resistance so it is very difficult to have a substantial portion of the heat flowing to the top of the device [2]. In this paper we present a novel power package design that enables heat conduction to the top surface of the microelectronic package through the use of a high thermal conductivity path which reduces by more than a factor of ten the junction-to-top thermal resistance compared to standard solutions. The thermal resistance junction-to-top is found to be as low as 1 C/W, which is comparable with thermal resistance junction to board. This allows for a significant portion of the dissipated energy in the die to be conducted to the topside of the package where natural or forced convection can transfer the heat to the air. We discuss the design, manufacturability, performance and reliability of the package as well as thermal measurements which demonstrates the ability of the package to dissipate the heat. We also compare this solution with existing solution sin the marketplace.
Clinical trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a word of caution concerning choice of outcome measures.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a challenging and frustrating disease for clinicians and patients confronted with this clinical entity, since it is associated with a dismal ∼3-yr median survival from the time of diagnosis 1 and an effective treatment regimen is yet to be determined. The lack of an effective treatment option has encouraged investigation of new treatment regimens, and promising agents are being investigated in several clinical trials worldwide. Despite aggressive, worldwide collaborations in pursuit of an effective regimen, significant progress is still needed to recommend a specific treatment regimen for IPF 2. While recent publications have provided insights regarding appropriate outcome measures chosen as end points for IPF clinical trials, results from these studies have either (unfortunately) been negative or merely provided positive signals and generated hypotheses that deserve to be investigated further in well-designed studies 3–6. Investigators who are involved in planning IPF studies face daunting challenges in selecting outcome measures that will appropriately allow statistical assessment of clinically meaningful effects or outcomes. Clinicians reviewing the IPF literature are confronted with equally daunting challenges in interpreting the clinical and statistical importance of these findings and applying this knowledge in the clinical care of their patients. Both the investigator and the clinician interpreting the results need to understand how IPF disease severity and progression are best measured in order to provide the most convincing and interpretable study evidence. The 2000 International Consensus statement for IPF diagnosis and treatment suggests measures with promise for measuring IPF disease extent and potential for measuring change, but it is clear that validated outcome measures were not known when the document was drafted 1. Investigators involved in the largest IPF trial conducted to date recently reported an apparent lack of appropriate IPF outcome measures 6. They reported …
Improved tumor contrast achieved by single time point dual-reporter fluorescence imaging.

In this study, we demonstrate a method to quantify biomarker expression that uses an exogenous dual- reporter imaging approach to improve tumor signal detection. The uptake of two fluorophores, one nonspecific and one targeted to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were imaged at 1 h in three types of xenograft tumors spanning a range of EGFR expression levels (n ¼ 6 in each group). Using this dual-reporter imaging methodology, tumor contrast-to-noise ratio was amplified by >6 times at 1 h postinjection and >2 times at 24 h. Furthermore, by as early as 20 min postinjection, the dual-reporter imaging signal in the tumor correlated significantly with a validated marker of receptor density (P < 0.05, r ¼ 0.93). Dual-reporter imaging can improve sensitivity and specificity over conventional fluorescence imaging in applications such as fluorescence-guided surgery and directly approximates the receptor status of the tumor, a measure that could be used to inform choices of biological therapies. © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). (DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.17.6.066001)
Tackling obesity and its complications in secure settings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the incidence of obesity and its complications in secure psychiatric settings; and to assess changes in body mass index (BMI). Design/methodology/approach – Electronic patient records were used to determine levels of obesity and weight change over a three-year period. BMI levels were related to status, medication and patient characteristics. Findings – The incidence of obesity (34 per cent) in the sample (n=351) was higher than in the general population. One-third of patients were on medication for hyperlipidaemia and 10 per cent were diagnosed with type II diabetes. Patients on regular antipsychotic drugs and sodium valproate and who were less active had higher BMIs. Gender differences over a three-year period showed a tendency for women's weight to continue to increase which may be linked to lower levels of engagement in activities of moderate or vigorous intensity. Originality/value – Previous surveys using secure psychiatric populations have been point...
Cooperation as communicative accomplishment: A symbolic interaction analysis of an improvised Jazz Concert

Weick (1983) suggests that understanding prototypical cases of organizational communication increases our understanding beyond the event itself. In Weick (1990) he further argues that the jazz orchestra is one such case. Following Weick's call, this is a study of a jazz concert performed by a zero‐history group of seasoned professionals. The performance was videotaped, and one of the musicians acted as a participant‐informant, explaining instant‐by‐instant interpretive processes through the course of the concert. The two forms of data, videotape and participant‐informant, are analyzed in light of Couch's (1986) theory of elementary forms and Miller, Hintz, and Couch's (1975) theory of the elements of sociation.
Antidepressant-like effects of cortical deep brain stimulation coincide with pro-neuroplastic adaptations of serotonin systems.

Background Cortical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising therapeutic option for treatment-refractory depression, but its mode of action remains enigmatic. Serotonin (5-HT) systems are engaged indirectly by ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) DBS. Resulting neuroplastic changes in 5-HT systems could thus coincide with the long-term therapeutic activity of vmPFC DBS. Methods We tested this hypothesis by evaluating the antidepressant-like activity of vmPFC DBS in the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model of depression ( n = 8–13 mice/group). Circuit-wide activation induced by vmPFC DBS was mapped with c-Fos immunolabeling. The effects of chronic vmPFC DBS on the physiology and morphology of genetically identified 5-HT cells from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were examined with whole-cell recording, somatodendritic three-dimensional reconstructions and morphometric analyses of presynaptic boutons along 5-HT axons. Results Acute DBS drove c-Fos expression locally in the vmPFC and in several distal monosynaptically connected regions, including the DRN. Chronic DBS reversed CSDS-induced social avoidance, restored the disrupted balance of excitatory/inhibitory inputs onto 5-HT neurons, and reversed 5-HT hypoexcitability observed after CSDS. Furthermore, vmPFC DBS reversed CSDS-induced arborization of 5-HT dendrites in the DRN and increased the size and density of 5-HT presynaptic terminals in the dentate gyrus and vmPFC. Conclusions We validate a new preclinical paradigm to examine cellular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like activity of vmPFC DBS and identify dramatic circuit-mediated cellular adaptations that coincide with this treatment. These neuroplastic changes of 5-HT neurons might contribute to the progressive mood improvements reported in patients treated with chronic courses of cortical DBS.
Hemodynamic evoked response of the sensorimotor cortex measured noninvasively with near-infrared optical imaging

We have performed a noninvasive bilateral optical imaging study of the hemodynamic evoked response to unilateral finger opposition task, finger tactile, and electrical median nerve stimulation in the human sensorimotor cortex. This optical study shows the hemoglobin-evoked response to voluntary and nonvoluntary stimuli. We performed measurements on 10 healthy volunteers using block paradigms for motor, sensory, and electrical stimulations of the right and left hands separately. We analyzed the spatial/temporal features and the amplitude of the optical signal induced by cerebral activation during these three paradigms. We consistently found an increase (decrease) in the cerebral concentration of oxy-hemoglobin (deoxy-hemoglobin) at the cortical side contralateral to the stimulated side. We observed an optical response to activation that was larger in size and amplitude during voluntary motor task compared to the other two stimulations. The ipsilateral response was consistently smaller than the contralateral response, and even reversed (i.e., a decrease in oxy-hemoglobin, and an increase in deoxy-hemoglobin) in the case of the electrical stimulation. We observed a systemic contribution to the optical signal from the increase in the heart rate increase during stimulation, and we made a first attempt to subtract it from the evoked hemoglobin signal. Our findings based on optical imaging are in agreement with results in the literature obtained with positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Learning simulation through team projects

For several years, team projects have been an integral part of the simulation course at the department of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. We believe that team projects are an effective tool for learning how to perform simulation. In this paper, we present a brief summary of research on cooperative learning from the field of education research. Based on findings from that research, we present the procedure we follow in assigning, running, and evaluating team projects during an academic semester. We analyze students' responses to a survey on their preference and perceived value of the team project as conducted in this course. Two student papers, published in this conference, provide for examples of completed team projects.
Robust adaptive neurofilters with or without online weight adjustment

This paper proposes the use of risk-sensitive criteria for synthesizing a neurofilter that is adaptive to adaptation-worthy environmental parameters and robust to adaptation-unworthy ones. Two types of robust adaptive neurofilter are presented, one requires online weight adjustment and the other does not. A robust adaptive neurofilter without online weight adjustment is a time lagged recurrent network (TLRN) synthesized from realizations of the signal and measurement processes at typical values of the adaptation-worthy environmental parameters in a priori off-line training with respect to a risk-sensitive training criterion. A robust adaptive neurofilter with online weight adjustment consists of a signal estimator, a measurement predictor and a weight transformer, the former two being TLRNs and the latter a feedforward ANN. The nonlinear and linear weights of the signal estimator and measurement predictor are used as their long and short-term memories respectively. The linear weights of the measurement predictor are adjusted online by risk-sensitive or H/sup /spl infin// algorithms, and then transformed into the linear weights of the signal estimator by the weight transformer.
Spatio-temporal analysis of wildfire ignitions in the St Johns River Water Management District, Florida

We analyse the spatio-temporal structure of wildfire ignitions in the St Johns River Water Management District in north-eastern Florida. We show, using tools to analyse point patterns (e.g. the L-function), that wildfire events occur in clusters. Clustering of these events correlates with irregular distribution of fire ignitions, including lightning and human sources, and fuels on the landscape. In addition, we define a relative clustering index that summarizes the amount of clustering over various spatial scales. We carry our analysis in three steps: purely temporal, purely spatial, and spatio-temporal. Our results show that arson and lightning are the leading causes of wildfires in this region and that ignitions by railroad, lightning, and arson are spatially more clustered than ignitions by other accidental causes.
The Enzymes of Honey: Examination by Ionexchange Chromatography, Gel Filtration, and Starch-Gel Electrophoresis

SUMMARYCrude dialysed enzyme concentrates from several bulk honeys, comb honeys, and a ‘honey’ produced by sugar-feeding of caged bees, have been examined by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration through Sephadex G-200 and starch-gel electrophoresis with a high-resolution enzyme assay procedure.Ion-exchange chromatography divided crude honey α-glucosidase preparations into 3–9 closely spaced components. A preparation containing no plant constituent, obtained by sugar-feeding caged bees, was relatively unstable. Its α-glucosidase showed only a single very sharp elution peak from DEAE-cellulose; the α-glucosidase elution pattern of a preparation from honey stored by a free-flying colony of bees resembled that from a sample of bulk honey.All honey α-glucosidase preparations examined showed single bands of activity by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, with approximate molecular weights about 51 000. Molecular weight of the amylase is about 24 000; for honey glucose oxidase two fractions were obtained,...
Combining Mercury Intrusion and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurements Using Percolation Theory

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation time distributions are frequently combined with mercury intrusion capillary pressure (MICP) measurements to allow determination of pore or pore throat size distributions directly from the NMR data. The combination of these two measurements offers an advantage over high-resolution imaging techniques in terms of cost and measurement time, and can provide estimates of pore sizes for pores below imaging resolution. However, the methods that are typically employed to combine NMR and MICP measurements do not necessarily honor the way in which the two different measurements respond to the size distribution and connectivity of the pore system. We present a method for combining NMR and MICP data that is based on percolation theory and the relationship between bond occupation probability and the probability that a bond is part of a percolating cluster. The method yields results that compare very well with pore sizes measured by high-resolution microtomography, and provides particular improvement in media with broad pore size distributions and large percolation thresholds.
Dynamics of Omnidirectional IPMC Sensor: Experimental Characterization and Physical Modeling

Typical ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) sensors are in the shape of beams, and only respond to stimuli acting perpendicular to the beam plane. In this paper, we present a novel, omnidirectional, tubular IPMC sensor that responds to all stimuli perpendicular to the tube axis. With one common inner electrode and four outer electrodes, the tubular IPMC sensor provides four routes of common-ground current outputs. With a custom-made setup, the response of each sensor route is characterized under tip deflection in different orientations at frequencies 1–20 Hz, which verifies the sensor's omnidirectional sensing capability and shows little mechanoelectrical coupling between neighboring sensor routes. An analytical dynamic model, in the form of an infinite-dimensional transfer function, is developed for the sensor, which captures the internal ion-transport physics and the effect of contact resistance. Experimental results show that the proposed model is able to capture the tubular sensor dynamics. Finally, the original model is reduced to a finite-dimensional one, based on which an inversion algorithm is used to reconstruct the mechanical stimulus given the sensor output. The effectiveness of the reconstruction approach is demonstrated experimentally.