cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organ doses to adult patients for chest CT.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to estimate organ doses for chest CT examinations using volume computed tomography dose index (CTDI{sub vol}) data as well as accounting for patient weight. Methods: A CT dosimetry spreadsheet (ImPACT CT patient dosimetry calculator) was used to compute organ doses for a 70 kg patient undergoing chest CT examinations, as well as volume computed tomography dose index (CTDI{sub vol}) in a body CT dosimetry phantom at the same CT technique factors. Ratios of organ dose to CTDI{sub vol} (f{sub organ}) were generated as a function of anatomical location in the chest for the breasts, lungs, stomach, red bone marrow, liver, thyroid, liver, and thymus. Values of f{sub organ} were obtained for x-ray tube voltages ranging from 80 to 140 kV for 1, 4, 16, and 64 slice CT scanners from two vendors. For constant CT techniques, we computed ratios of dose in water phantoms of differing diameter. By modeling patients of different weights as equivalent water cylinders of different diameters, we generated factors that permit the estimation of the organ doses in patients weighing between 50 and 100 kg who undergo chest CT examinations relative to the corresponding organ doses received by amore » 70 kg adult. Results: For a 32 cm long CT scan encompassing the complete lungs, values of f{sub organ} ranged from 1.7 (thymus) to 0.3 (stomach). Organs that are directly in the x-ray beam, and are completely irradiated, generally had f{sub organ} values well above 1 (i.e., breast, lung, heart, and thymus). Organs that are not completely irradiated in a total chest CT scan generally had f{sub organ} values that are less than 1 (e.g., red bone marrow, liver, and stomach). Increasing the x-ray tube voltage from 80 to 140 kV resulted in modest increases in f{sub organ} for the heart (9%) and thymus (8%), but resulted in larger increases for the breast (19%) and red bone marrow (21%). Adult patient chests have been modeled by water cylinders with diameters between {approx}20 cm for a 50 kg patient and {approx}28 cm for a 100 kg patient. At constant x-ray techniques, a 50 kg patient is expected to have doses that are {approx}18% higher than those in a 70 kg adult, whereas a 100 kg patient will have doses that are {approx}18% lower. Conclusions: We describe a practical method to use CTDI data provided by commercial CT scanners to obtain patient and examination specific estimates of organ dose for chest CT examinations.« less
Facility Organizational and Facility Resident Characteristics in Nursing Homes Serving Residents With a Mental Health History

The prevalence of mental health disorders among nursing home residents has been noted. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics among nursing homes serving residents with a mental health history. A retrospective, cross-sectional design was conducted using the 2003 national Online Survey, Certification, and Reporting facility data merged with the resident-level Minimum Data Set resulting in 2,499 nursing homes. Across facilities, 22% of the total residents had a diagnosis of a mental disorder not including any form of dementia. Among those with a mental health history, 53% of facility residents had depression and 37% had schizophrenia.
Athermalizing Refractive Optics with Fluid Lenses

Astronomical optics may encounter a wide range of nighttime temperatures (~–10°C to +20°C) at mountaintop observatories. Complex refractive optics used in high-performance spectrographs and focal reducers may perform poorly at temperature extremes unless special care is taken in their design. Refocusing will not always restore image quality, and thermally induced focal length changes may introduce troublesome image motion. We describe the techniques that we have used to predict the thermal behavior of the Binospec Spectrograph, an instrument under development for the converted Multiple Mirror Telescope. This thermal analysis must account for (1) the change in optical power due to thermal expansion of the optical elements, (2) thermal variations in the refractive indices of the optical elements, and (3) element respacings due to the interplay between the thermal expansions of the optical elements and cell materials. Binospec's multiplets are fluid coupled to reduce the reflection losses that would occur at glass-air surfaces; to athermalize the Binospec optics, we form weak lenses in the optical coupling fluid within multiplets. The large variation of the coupling fluid's refractive index with temperature allows these weak fluid lenses to correct thermal changes in the optical elements and cell. This athermalization technique is attractive because it introduces no additional mechanical complexity.
Effects of Vertebral Body Changes on Cervical Spine Load Sharing

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of changes in the Young’s modulus of elasticity of the cancellous bone that occur due to the ageing process on the biomechanical behavior of the cervical spine. An anatomically accurate three-dimensional (3-D) nonlinear finite element model of the C4-C5-C6 cervical spinal unit was used. The inferior surface of the C6 vertebrae was fixed in all degrees of freedom, and external loads were applied to the top surface of the C4 vertebra. The model was exercised under an axial compressive force of 754 N. In addition, flexion and extension bending moments of 3.44 Nm were applied individually to the model. The effects of ageing on bone strength were simulated by decreasing the Young’s modulus of elasticity from 100 MPa in the healthy spine to 40 MPa in the degenerated spine. The degenerated spine was found to be more flexible than the healthy spine. In addition, the degenerated spine responded with increased forces in the outer anterior and posterior regions of the vertebral body. Furthermore, forces in the facet joints increased in the degenerated spine. In contrast, the middle region of the disc showed decreased forces. These increases in the forces leading to stress risers may explain the occurrence of osteophytes in the spine with age.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
A Model of the Distributional Incidence of State and Local Taxes

This article estimates a model to explain differences across states in the distributional incidence of state and local tax systems. The model emphasizes the role of distributional conflict in modifying the tax structure incentives resulting from changes in relative prices. The model is tested using 1985 data on states. The major finding is that deductibility has a positive effect on the progressivity of state and local tax systems and that the effect is strong enough to imply a progressive impact of deductibility on the combined federal-state-local tax system. Tastes for redistri bution as measured by political liberalism and welfare benefit levels, rather than the strength of particular interest groups or the composition of expenditures, are the other major factors explaining differences in progressivity.
Slow crack growth in cellulose film

A simple photographic method for measuring the slow crack growth in transparent polymer film is described. Framing speeds up to 100 per second have been achieved. Experimental data for a cellulose film with centrally located initial cuts indicate that for 0 < t < 0.8tb, the crack length c increases with time t according to where c0 is the initial cut size, K a constant, and tb the time to fracture.
Novel Si/cyanate ester nanocomposites with multifunctional properties

Abstract Polymer–matrix composites (PMCs) with dispersed Si nanoparticles have been fabricated and investigated for their dielectric and mechanical properties for the first time. It is found that Si nanofillers significantly enhance the dielectric constant of the nanocomposites while preserving the low loss tangent of the Bisphenol E cyanate ester (BECy) matrix. Meanwhile, incorporation of Si nanoparticles effectively stiffens the polymer, as manifested by the large increase in the storage modulus. Furthermore, the AC conductivity of the composite is observed to decrease under compressive mechanical stresses due to the piezoresistive effect of Si. Therefore, these novel Si/BECy nanocomposites simultaneously display mechanical load-carrying, electric energy-storing and stress-sensing capabilities, very promising for multifunctional devices such as structural capacitors.
FROM ELIZABETH GASKELL'S MARY BARTON TO HER NORTH AND SOUTH: PROGRESS OR DECLINE FOR WOMEN?

A SSESSMENTS OF ELIZABETH GASKELL’S two novels of social purpose typically conclude that North and South , published in 1855, is a more mature work stylistically and ideologically than Mary Barton , published in 1848. North and South is said to integrate the narrative modes of romance and realism more effectively than Mary Barton (Felber 63, Horsman 284), and to provide a more complicated narrative structure (Schor, Scheherezade 122–23), a more complex depiction of social conflicts (Easson 59 and 93) and a more satisfactory resolution of them (Duthie 84, Kestner 170). North and South is also said to deal with “more complex intellectual issues” (Craik 31). And the novel’s heroine, Margaret Hale, has been seen as Gaskell’s most mature creation — a woman who grows in self-awareness as she adapts to an alien environment (Kestner 164–166) and, unlike Mary Barton, becomes an active mediator of class conflicts (Stoneman 120), the central consciousness that brings together “the lessons of social change and romance” (Schor, Scheherezade 127). 1 The reconciliation of these conflicts she inspires through her influence over both mill owner and worker has been praised as a more effective and credible narrative resolution to the social problems depicted in the novel than the reconciliation between mill owner and worker in Mary Barton (David 36).
Tending Wounds: Elements of the Organizational Healing Process

The authors extend the metaphor of wound healing in medicine to organizations and propose a model of organizational healing. Organizational healing differs from resilience, hardiness, and recovery ...
Polycystic kidney syndrome in New Zealand White rabbits resembling human polycystic kidney disease

onckeberg’s medial calcific sclerosis. In the liver, mild chronic cholangitis with cholangiodysplasia and fibrosis was common. Anorexia and lethargy were the clinical signs most often reported. Conclusion. Clinicopathologic characterization of PKS in New Zealand White rabbits revealed similarities to both autosomal-dominant and autosomal-recessive polycystic kidney diseases of humans. Awareness of polycystic kidney syndrome in New Zealand White rabbits will allow investigators to avoid using affected animals in unrelated renal research. Prospective studies are needed to define the underlying cause(s) of polycystic kidney syndrome in New Zealand White rabbits, which may be an important new small animal model of human cystic kidney diseases. Developmental renal diseases of humans are relatively common. These include autosomal-recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), glomerulocystic kidney disease, renal dysplasia, familial nephronophthisis/medullary cystic disease, and medullary sponge kid
A Multi-GHz Multi-Channel Photonic Analog Data Processing System

Oscilloscopes based on the Cathode Ray Tube technology have been the basis of conventional high speed data recording at analog bandwidths greater than 200 MHz. With the advent of high bandwidth optical fibers and fiber sensors, an alternate and eventually more economical method for high speed data recording is possible. In this approach, the combined broad band characteristics of the optical fiber and the electrooptical streak camera are utilized to extend bandwidth, to limit signal degradation, and to permit synchronous multi-channel high speed data recording.
The nuclear g -factors of the 5 2 − [523]↓ states in 237 Np and 239 Np and the level structure of 237 Np

Abstract The nuclear g -factors of the 59 keV level in 237 Np and the 75 keV level in 239 Np were measured by the α-γ perturbed angular correlation technique in a differential and integral measurement, respectively. Liquid sources were used to minimize perturbation by internal fields. The ratio of the g -factors is g 5 2 − ( 239 Np )/g 5 2 − ( 237 Np = 1.04±0.09 . The Np ions are expected to be in the 6 + valency state (5f 1 ). With a paramagnetic correction factor β estimated to be 1.68±0.11, ifg 5 2 − ( 237 Np ) = 0.762±0.060 and g 5 2 − ( 239 Np ) = 0.793±0.097 . The experimental values of the g -factors are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions of the Nilsson model. The γ-spectrum following the decay of 241 Am was studied with a Ge(Li) detector. The new results are discussed.
First Report of Root Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-10 on Canola in Washington State

Canola (Brassica napus L) production has gained renewed interest in Washington State over the past few years, primarily for the purpose of producing biofuel. Plants were observed to be showing symptoms of Rhizoctonia root rot and postemergence damping-off. In many cases, this was due to Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-1, which was previously documented (4). However, additional plants were occasionally observed that were stunted and had reduced vigor, but lacked the distinctive severe stem damage and postemergence damping-off, which are both symptoms of infection with R. solani AG-2-1. Isolates of R. solani AG-10 were collected from symptomatic plants or baited from root zone soil at various dryland production locations in eastern Washington, including sites near Colfax, Pullman, and Walla Walla. Initial identification was determined by quantitative (Q)-PCR using R. solani AG-10 specific primers (3). The identity was verified by sequencing random isolates identified by Q-PCR (GenBank Accessions Nos. JQ068147, JQ068148 and JQ068149). All sequenced isolates had 99% identity to previously reported isolates of R. solani AG-10. Six isolates were chosen to test pathogenicity on canola plants in the greenhouse. Sterilized oats were inoculated with each of six isolates of R. solani AG-10 and grown for 4 weeks. The soil was infested with ground oat inoculum (1% wt/wt) and spring canola cv. Sunrise was seeded into 3.8 × 21-cm containers. After 3 weeks of incubation at 15°C, plants were harvested and assessed. Emergence was reduced in the infested soil with 73 to 93% (average 81%) emergence compared with 100% emergence in the noninfested soil. There was no evidence of postemergence damping-off. However, all six isolates of R. solani AG-10 significantly reduced the plant height and top dry weights compared with the noninfested controls. The plant height in infested soil was 28 to 42% (average 34%) shorter and top dry weights were 37 to 70% (average 54%) lower than in noninfested soil. Roots of infected plants had a light brown discoloration along with reduced length and fewer lateral roots. Additional host plants were tested, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). There was no significant reduction in plant height or plant dry weight for any of these hosts. R. solani AG-10 was previously found to be weakly virulent on canola and other cruciferous hosts in Australia (1,2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani AG-10 causing disease on canola in Washington State. Reference: (1) R. K. Khangura et al. Plant Dis. 83:714, 1999. (2) G. C. MacNish et al. Australas. Plant Pathol. 24:252, 1995. (3) P. A. Okubara et al. Phytopathology 98:837, 2008. (4) T. C. Paulitz et al. Plant Dis. 90:829, 2006.
Attachment to Sports Conferences An Expanded Model of Points of Attachment Among Professional, Collegiate, and High School Football Fans

This study examined points of attachment (POA), or how sports fans experience multiple types of identification beyond team allegiance (e.g., identification with players, coaches, levels of sport, t...
Reduction of amputation rates among Alaska Natives with diabetes following the development of a high-risk foot program

Objective. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing rapidly among Alaska’s Indian, Eskimo and Aleut populations. Approximately half the Native people with diabetes have no road access to hospitals or physicians, presenting a challenge in the attempt to prevent lower extremity amputation as a complication. In late 1998 funding became available for diabetes prevention and treatment among Native Americans. The tribal health corporations in Alaska decided to use a portion of this funding to implement a high-risk foot program to decrease the amputation rate. Program Design. The program initially involved a surgical podiatrist who provided training to local staff and performed preventive and reconstructive surgery on several patients with impending amputations. The program then provided training for a physical therapist to become a certified pedorthist. This individual established the long-term maintenance phase of the program by conducting diabetic foot clinics routinely at the Alaska Native Medical Center, a referral center in Anchorage. He also travels to other regions of the state to provide training for village and hospital-based health care providers and to conduct field clinics. A system was established in a common database management program to track the patients’ foot conditions. Patient education is emphasized. Results. The overall amputation incidence among all Alaska Native patients with diabetes decreased from 7.6/1,000 in the pre-program period (1996 to 1998) to 2.7/1,000 in the post-program period (1999-2001)(p<.001). The rate among Aleuts, who previously had the highest amputation incidence, decreased from 17.4/1,000 to 3.1/1,000 over the same time periods (p<.001). Among people who had had diabetes at least 10 years, the overall amputation incidence decreased from 16.4/1,000 to 6.8/1,000 (p=.021); among Aleuts the rate fell from 24.5/1,000 to 2.6/1,000 (p=.01). Conclusions. Though longer follow-up is needed, these data suggest that even in populations living in isolated regions, diabetic amputations can be prevented by a coordinated system to identify high-risk feet and provide preventive treatment and education in the context of a comprehensive diabetes management program in an integrated health system. Keywords: diabetes, amputations, Alaska Natives, foot care
Habitat use, movement, and growth of young-of-the-year Fundulus spp. in southern New Jersey salt marshes : Comparisons based on tag/recapture

We examined habitat use, movement, and growth of young-of-the-year (YOY) Fundulus heteroclitus and Fundulus luciae with a tag/recapture experiment in tide-dominated salt marshes to determine if movements from Spartina marsh surface can account for the occurrence of larger, older individuals in other habitats. Evaluation of the tagging techniques in laboratory experiments with YOY F. heteroclitus (15–35 mm TL) found that coded wire tags were retained at least up to 77 days. The high rates of recapture in the field also indicate that the tagging approach generally worked well. Of a total of 5748 YOY F. heteroclitus (14–40 mm TL) and 133 YOY F. luciae (17–40 mm TL) tagged, 56.0% and 74.4% were recaptured, respectively. Most (44%) YOY F. heteroclitus recaptured occurred at or near (0–5 m) the release site, but some were captured up to 299 m away up to 166 days after tagging. By comparison, movement of F. luciae was very limited, with 99% of recaptures occurring at the exact site of release after up to 66 days at liberty. These different movement patterns by YOY Fundulus indicate that species-specific behavior plays an important role in habitat selection. In addition, it appears that dispersal of YOY F. heteroclitus can help to explain the occurrence of larger individuals of this species in Phragmites-dominated marshes even though there is little evidence of use of this habitat by small YOY.
Gender and Labor Attachment: Do Within-Firms’ Relative Wages Matter?

This article addresses the issue of gender differences in labor attachment by testing for the role of intrafirm wage comparison. It makes use of a measure of firms’ relative wages. The results indicate that once the forward-looking behavior of workers is taken into account, women are actually more attached employees than men. Women’s attachment is also more affected by equity considerations. The analysis makes use of a dataset on short-tenure Italian workers.
Schooling, Child Labor, and the Returns to Healthcare in Tanzania

We study the effects of accessing better healthcare on the schooling and labor supply decisions of sick children in Tanzania. Using variation in the cost of formal-sector healthcare to predict treatment choice, we show that accessing better healthcare decreases length of illness and changes children’s allocation of time to school and work. Children attend school for more days per week—but not for more hours per day—as a result of accessing better healthcare. There are no significant effects on child labor, but the results suggest that time spent in physically strenuous activities such as farming and herding increases.
High Content Evaluation of Shear Dependent Platelet Function in a Microfluidic Flow Assay

The high blood volume requirements and low throughput of conventional flow assays for measuring platelet function are unsuitable for drug screening and clinical applications. In this study, we describe a microfluidic flow assay that uses 50 μL of whole blood to measure platelet function on ~300 micropatterned spots of collagen over a range of physiologic shear rates (50–920 s−1). Patterning of collagen thin films (CTF) was achieved using a novel hydrated microcontact stamping method. CTF spots of 20, 50, and 100 μm were defined on glass substrates and consisted of a dense mat of nanoscale collagen fibers (3.74 ± 0.75 nm). We found that a spot size of greater than 20 μm was necessary to support platelet adhesion under flow, suggesting a threshold injury size is necessary for stable platelet adhesion. Integrating 50 μm CTF microspots into a multishear microfluidic device yielded a high content assay from which we extracted platelet accumulation metrics (lag time, growth rate, total accumulation) on the spots using Hoffman modulation contrast microscopy. This method has potential broad application in identifying platelet function defects and screening, monitoring, and dosing antiplatelet agents.
An agent-based data-flow testing approach for Web applications

In recent years, Web applications (WAs) have grown so quickly that they have already become crucial to the success of businesses. However, since they are built on Internet and open standard technologies, WAs possess their own unique features, such as dynamic behaviors, heterogeneous representations, and novel data handling mechanisms. These features provide concrete support to the success of WAs, but they bring new challenges to researchers and developers, especially in regard to testing WAs and ensuring their quality. Testing approaches for non-WAs have to be extended to handle these features before they are used in WA testing. This paper presents an agent-based approach to perform data-flow testing of WAs. More precisely, the data-flow testing will be performed by autonomous test agents at the method level, object level, and object cluster level, from low abstraction level to high abstraction level. In the process of the recommended data-flow testing, an agent-based WA testing system (WAT) will automatically generate and coordinate test agents to decompose the task of testing an entire WA into a set of subtasks that can be accomplished by test agents. The test agents, rooted in the Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) model, cooperate with each other to complete the testing of a WA. An example is used to show the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Three-phase percolative silver-BaTiO3-epoxy nanocomposites with high dielectric constants

A three-phase epoxy-based composite with randomly distributed silver nanoparticles and BaTiO3 particles was synthesized. By the incorporation of silver nanoparticles into the epoxy resin, the dielectric properties of the resin were significantly enhanced, and this provided an ideal host for further mixing with BaTiO3 to prepare high-dielectric-constant, polymer-based dielectrics with high dielectric strength. The devices that adopted these composites demonstrated high relative dielectric constants of approximately 450, 110 times higher than that of the epoxy matrix, with a dielectric strength of 5 kV/mm at room temperature. These nanocomposites were found to be potentially useful for embedded capacitor applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 967–971, 2006
A high-pressure-high-temperature chromatographic apparatus for the measurement of vapor-liquid equilibria

Abstract A new gas-liquid partition-chromatography (GLPC) apparatus for the measurement of vapor-liquid equilibrium data at elevated temperatures and pressures is described. Improvements made in existing chromatographic techniques include the use of a high-pressure tandem proportioning pump to give precise control of the carrier-gas flow rate and low pressure drops, a high-pressure ionization chamber to detect the injection of very dilute radioactive solute gases, and the use of a microcomputer to provide instantaneous integration and very precise retention times of the chromatographic peaks. The apparatus extends GLPC to higher temperatures, higher pressures and higher measured K values than in previous work. Infinite-dilution K values for n -butane in the methane- n -decane system at 344.3 K were determined, up to 14.3 MPa. The results compare favorably with literature data.
An XML-based schema definition for model sharing and reuse in a distributed environment

This research leverages the inherent synergy between structured modeling and the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to facilitate model sharing and reuse in a distributed environment. This is accomplished by providing an XML-based schema definition and two alternative supporting architectures. The XML schema defines a new markup language referred to as the Structured Modeling Markup Language (SMML) for representing models. The schema is based on the structured modeling paradigm as a formalism for conceiving, representing and manipulating a wide variety of models. Overall, SMML and supporting architectures allow different types of models, developed in a variety of modeling platforms to be represented in a standardized format and shared in a distributed environment. The paper demonstrates the proposed SMML through two case studies.
Identification of biochemical pathways for the metabolism of oxidized low-density lipoprotein derived aldehyde-4-hydroxy trans-2-nonenal in vascular smooth muscle cells

Oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) generates high concentrations of unsaturated aldehydes, such as 4-hydroxy trans-2-nonenal (HNE). These aldehydes are mitogenic to vascular smooth muscle cells and sustain a vascular inflammation. Nevertheless, the processes that mediate and regulate the vascular metabolism of these aldehydes have not been examined. In this communication, we report the identification of the major metabolic pathways and products of [(3)H]-HNE in rat aortic smooth muscle cells in culture. High-performance liquid chromatography separation of the radioactivity recovered from these cells revealed that a large (60-65%) proportion of the metabolism was linked to glutathione (GSH). Electrospray mass spectrometry showed that glutathionyl-1,4 dihydroxynonene (GS-DHN) was the major metabolite of HNE in these cells. The formation of GS-DHN appears to be due aldose reductase (AR)-catalyzed reduction of glutathionyl 4-hydroxynonanal (GS-HNE), since inhibitors of AR (tolrestat or sorbinil) prevented GS-DHN formation, and increased the fraction of the glutathione conjugate remaining as GS-HNE. Gas chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectroscopy of the metabolites identified a subsidiary route of HNE metabolism leading to the formation of 4-hydroxynonanoic acid (HNA). Oxidation to HNA accounted for 25-30% of HNE metabolism. The formation of HNA was inhibited by cyanamide, indicating that the acid is derived from an aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-catalyzed pathway. The overall rate of HNE metabolism was insensitive to inhibition of AR or ALDH, although inhibition of HNA formation by cyanamide led to a corresponding increase in the fraction of HNE metabolized by the GSH-linked pathway, indicating that ALDH-catalyzed oxidation competes with glutathione conjugation. These metabolic pathways may be the key regulators of the vascular effects of HNE and oxidized LDL.
On the motion of a flexible shallow spherical shell in orbit

A mathematical model for the motion of a large, flexible shallow spherical shell in a circular orbit is presented. For small elastic displacements and attitude angles the linearized equations for the roll and yaw (out-of-plane) motions completely separate from the pitch (in-plane) and elastic motions. However, the pitch and only the axisymmetric elastic modes are seen to be coupled in the linear range. With the shell's symmetry axis following the local vertical, the structure undergoes a static deformation under the influence of gravity and inertia. Further, the pitch and roll motions are unstable due to the unfavorable moment of inertia distribution. A rigid lightweight dumbbell with heavy tip masses and connected to the shell at its apex by a spring loaded double gimbal joint is proposed to gravitationally stabilize the structure. It is noted that the dumbbell motion can excite only those elastic modes having one nodal diameter. A sensitivity study of the system response characteristics to the key system parameters is carried out.
Parallel-flow slotted sieve tray efficiency

Abstract Parallel-flow trays incorporating slotted sieve tray decks were originally developed for air separation applications. They are still used for that purpose and also in a wide range of chemical and petrochemical separations. The present paper outlines the main features of the trays, including the liquid flow-path arrangement and the slotting pattern that is typically used. The results of an experimental study are presented in which the tray efficiency was measured by using a 6.1 m diameter air-water tray simulator. The system used was acetone stripped from water by air. This is a convenient system because the slope of the equilibrium line is close to unity and so the results are relevant to distillation systems. For purposes of comparison, trays were tested both with and without a slotted tray deck. In the latter case, severe liquid maldistribution was evident. The measured tray efficiencies of the slotted and unslotted trays were found to be similar when no outlet weirs were used, but the slotted tray had a lower froth height and pressure drop. Theory was used to predict the point efficiencies for the two trays and to show that the slotted tray had a larger enhancement of tray efficiency over point efficiency than the unslotted tray. The measured tray efficiencies divided by the calculated point efficiencies were compared with theoretical predictions and reasonable agreement was demonstrated.
The effects of task and information asymmetry on business process redesign

Abstract The effective design of business processes is a subject of considerable importance to corporations today. Our research develops a theoretical framework for process design that is aimed at providing practical guidelines for process managers. The abundance of context-specific case studies which exist today share many success stories but provide little in terms of a general methodological approach. In this paper, we describe our general framework for the analysis and design of business processes. We outline a typical business process and critically evaluate typical pre- and post-reengineering process design issues. Explicit aspects of our analysis address workflow design, task bundling, technological enablers, and performance-based incentives. We examine the effects of task size asymmetry and performance information asymmetry on the optimal process design. Our results indicate that, with increased asymmetry, certain types of process designs become more desirable. Furthermore, we look at the interaction between job asymmetry and other process design factors such as knowledge intensity and level of job customization. Finally, we show when asymmetry can cause process reengineering efforts to complement the classic performance-based incentive compensation model. Practical implications of our results are illustrated for a variety of process design cases.
Biomechanical comparison of contemporary clavicle fixation devices.

Purpose Because recent studies have shown that malunited or nonunited clavicle fractures treated nonsurgically have poor outcomes, early fixation of certain clavicle shaft fractures using contemporary implants has become more common. Little is known about the physiologic loading of these implants. This study was designed to observe the biomechanical behavior and strength of implants used for fixation of the clavicle shaft. Methods We used synthetic clavicle bones that were produced in 2 pieces to replicate the conditions of a transverse fracture. Ten specimens per group were tested using 3 clavicle fixation constructs: precontoured clavicle plates with unicortical locking, precontoured clavicle plates with bicortical nonlocking screws, and intramedullary Rockwood clavicle pins. Two loading conditions were used: cantilever bending and 3-point bending. Results For cantilever bending, both plate groups failed by fracture at the most medial screw hole. The pin group was unable to resist the small torque associated with off-axis loading. The pin group failed at a lower maximum load, which occurred with a greater maximum displacement. The pin group was also less stiff than the plate group. In the 3-point bending test, the pin group was significantly more flexible and achieved higher failure loads than the plate groups. There were no significant differences between the unicortical and bicortical screws for any of the measured variables with either loading condition. Conclusions Both locking and nonlocking constructs appear to provide similar rigid fixation under the tested mechanical conditions. The intramedullary pin can provide high resistance to failure loads in situations when rigidity and rotational stiffness are not required. Intramedullary pin fixation appears to be inadequate where rotational stiffness is required.
SU-F-19A-09: Propagation of Organ at Risk Contours for High Dose Rate Brachytherapy Planning for Cervical Cancer: A Deformable Image Registration Comparison

Purpose: To compare the performance of two deformable image registration (DIR) algorithms for contour propagation and to evaluate the accuracy of DIR for use with high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy planning for cervical cancer. Methods: Five patients undergoing HDR ring and tandem brachytherapy were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent CT simulation and replanning prior to each fraction (3–5 fractions total). CT-to-CT DIR was performed using two commercially available software platforms: SmartAdapt, Varian Medical Systems (Demons) and Velocity AI, Velocity Medical Solutions (B-spline). Fraction 1 contours were deformed and propagated to each subsequent image set and compared to contours manually drawn by an expert clinician. Dice similarity coefficients (DSC), defined as, DSC(A,B)=2(AandB)/(A+B) were calculated to quantify spatial overlap between manual (A) and deformed (B) contours. Additionally, clinician-assigned visual scores were used to describe and compare the performance of each DIR method and ultimately evaluate which was more clinically acceptable. Scoring was based on a 1–5 scale—with 1 meaning, “clinically acceptable with no contour changes” and 5 meaning, “clinically unacceptable”. Results: Statistically significant differences were not observed between the two DIR algorithms. The average DSC for the bladder, rectum and rectosigmoid were 0.82±0.08, 0.67±0.13 and 0.48±0.18, respectively. The poorest contour agreement was observed for the rectosigmoid due to limited soft tissue contrast and drastic anatomical changes, i.e., organ shape/filling. Two clinicians gave nearly equivalent average scores of 2.75±0.91 for SmartAdapt and 2.75±0.94 for Velocity AI—indicating that for a majority of the cases, more than one of the three contours evaluated required major modifications. Conclusion: Limitations of both DIR algorithms resulted in inaccuracies in contour propagation in the pelvic region, thus hampering the clinical utility of this technology. Further work is required to optimize these algorithms and take advantage of the potential of DIR for HDR brachytherapy planning.
A review on the current state of urine cytology emphasizing the role of fluorescence in situ hybridization as an adjunct to diagnosis

Urinary cytology has a significant role in the detection and surveillance of patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC), which has a high morbidity rate in the United States. Examination of the urine is a comprehensive screen of both the upper and lower urinary tract and is ideal for detecting both primary bladder UC and synchronous or metachronous, multifocal UCs that commonly occur because of a "field effect." This field effect is the result of both clonal and random genetic abnormalities that have resulted from exposure to carcinogens (most frequently in tobacco smoke) in conjunction with the individual's ability to repair DNA damage. Although urinary cytology has high specificity for the detection of UC, its sensitivity is relatively low, especially for more prevalent low-grade tumors. Consequently, several urine-based tests have been investigated, some of which are available commercially and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. However, these tests also have their limitations and often have lower specificity than urinary cytology. Consequently, urinary cytology, which is a noninvasive, cost-effective test, continues in mainstream use because of its ability to detect high-grade, flat lesions that can be difficult to detect clinically and that often have more aggressive biologic behavior.
Competing for Secrecy in the MISO Interference Channel

A secure communication game is considered for the two-user MISO Gaussian interference channel with confidential messages, where each transmitter aims to maximize the difference between its secrecy rate and the secrecy rate of the other transmitter. In this novel problem, the weaker link tries to minimize the extra secret information obtained by its adversary, while the stronger link attempts to maximize it. We provide an information theoretic formulation for this non-cooperative zero-sum game scenario and determine that, under the assumption of Gaussian signaling at the transmitters, there exists a unique Nash equilibrium solution for the proposed problem. Moreover, we obtain in closed-form the optimal strategies (beamformers) at the transmitters that result in the Nash equilibrium. While the NE strategies are achievable in one shot when full channel state information is available at the transmitters (CSIT), we also propose an iterative step-by-step algorithm that converges to the NE point, but only requires limited CSIT. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the analytical findings and to study the role of different channel parameters on the NE strategies.
Autofluorescent cells in rat brain can be convincing impostors in green fluorescent reporter studies

Cell transplant and gene therapies are promising approaches to many disorders of the nervous system. In studies involving cell transplants to the brain or nervous system, expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) is commonly used to label cells, allowing their identification and histological assessment even after long post-operative survival times. Techniques employing viral tracing or reporter genes also commonly use GFP to label cells. Here, we document the presence of a subpopulation of green autofluorescent cells in the cortex and hippocampus of formaldehyde fixed, cryosectioned rat brains aged 3-9 months. Using standard microscopic fluorescence imaging techniques, we acquired clear images of green autofluorescent cells, complete with extensive processes, which appear to be well integrated into the host tissue. Treatment of brain sections with sodium borohydride followed by cupric sulfate in ammonium acetate buffer reduced background and cellular autofluorescence throughout sections but, especially in hippocampus, did not eliminate considerable green fluorescence in a subset of neurons. This autofluorescence was weak and would therefore pose a problem only when cells weakly express GFP or when few labeled cells survive. We suggest that investigators be aware of the potential for false positives, especially if the cells expressing GFP are expected to migrate widely from the transplant site. Parallel sections from naive brains should regularly be processed and imaged alongside experimental brain sections, and anti-GFP immunohistochemistry should be performed to ensure that true GFP+ signals are imaged instead of endogenous autofluorescent neurons.
Simulating Freight Traffic between Atlantic Canada and Québec to Support Pavement Management on New Brunswick’s Regional Highways

Traffic loading for pavement deterioration should be modeled as a dynamic indicator based on trip distribution derived from spatial economics. The estimation of modal distribution of trips and land development has been the main focus of integrated land use and transport models. However, no connection with transportation asset management has been established. This paper proposes the use of spatial economic simulation to forecast freight-traffic distribution to improve pavement-deterioration modeling. A case study of trade flows between Canada’s Atlantic Provinces and Quebec is used to show the pitfall of current management models in estimating rates of deterioration, underfunding maintenance, and rehabilitation strategies. It was found that a total cost of $25 million could maintain adequate levels of condition under the current performance modeling; however, such a budget is inadequate when performance is based on forecasted truck traffic. It was also found that aggregation of pavements in a few homogeneous groups resulted in the inability to prioritize investments considering the economic relevance of the road in the region. This study suggests the use of individual deterioration models for strategic roads.
Preaching, community, and convergence: Use of old and new media by progressive Indonesian Islamic leaders

The role of religious leaders in countries with very large Muslim populations such as Indonesia continues to attract world attention. However, mainstream media often focus on fundamentalist Muslim clerics. What seems to be missing from these narratives is efforts by moderate Muslim leaders to thwart fundamentalism by improving their communication style and their use of media and technology in order to reach young people as well as the wider community. This article explores the communication approaches and methods favored by Indonesian Islamic leaders—including use of both conventional and cutting-edge technology—to communicate with their followers. Interviews with 10 Muslim leaders were conducted in order to better understand their rich experiences. Findings suggest that Islamic preachers have embraced new technology and new media to communicate with their followers and attract a younger audience.
Why “modal” interpretations of quantum mechanics don't solve the measurement problem

According to “modal” interpretations of quantum mechanics, an observable Q can possess a definite value even when the quantum state is not an eigenstate of Q. In this paper, I discuss some interpretive difficulties faced by modal theorists. First, expanding upon Albert and Loewer, I identify two reasons why real-life measurements are never ideal, and I discuss why these considerations bode ill for modal interpretations. Second, I show that modal interpretations provide a less satisfactory explanation of “interference” effects than is provided by pilot-wave interpretations.
Using Variation Theory with Metacognitive Monitoring To Develop Insights into How Students Learn from Molecular Visualizations

Molecular visualizations have been widely endorsed by many chemical educators as an efficient way to convey the dynamic and atomic-level details of chemistry events. Research indicates that students who use molecular visualizations are able to incorporate most of the intended features of the animations into their explanations. However, studies also suggest that learning from visualizations is imperfect. In this study a new theoretical framework, variation theory, was used to examine learning and understanding based on students’ reported experience of variation while viewing visualizations. Student metacognition was examined to gain insight into how students recognized variation between their mental models and the visualization models. Results from this study provide visual evidence of a transitional state of understanding in which students’ previous conceptions merge with new conceptions learned from the visualizations. However, limitations in students’ ability to monitor their understanding made unpackin...
An overview of electro-osmosis in fuel cell polymer electrolytes

Electro-osmosis, the transport of water with protons, in polymer electrolyte fuel cell membranes is important because it effects water management within an operating cell on both a global and local level. The electro-osmotic drag coefficient is the number of water molecules transported per proton and is a quantitative measure of the extent to which electro-osmosis occurs in a given polymer electrolyte. The methods for which electro-osmotic drag coefficients have been determined are reported. An effort is made to report proton electro-osmotic drag coefficients extensively, while a few non-proton cation electro-osmotic drag coefficients have been chosen for illustrative purposes. The results reported have implications for fuel cell performance and in the development and characterization of new polymer electrolyte membranes.
Chain Ownership, Organizational Size, and Editorial Role Perceptions

This study examined the relationship between chain ownership and editorial role perceptions to illuminate the impact of chain ownership on content. Based on 258 questionnaires returned by a nation-wide sample of daily newspaper editors, the study found the editors of chain-owned newspapers to be more likely than their independent counterparts to subscribe to activist role perceptions. The tendency toward activist values increased as the size of the chain increased. Further, in general, editors of larger news organizations tended to subscribe to activist values more than did editors in smaller organizations.
Determining economic replenishment intervals for linear trend in demand

Abstract In this note a simple method is given for determining economic replenishments of an item having linear trend in demand. The method requires solution of only one cubic equation for the first replenishment. Each subsequent replenishment interval requires solution of a quadratic equation. An example is given to illustrate the method.