cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Blood Preservation: Effect on in Vitro Protein Binding

In vitro plasma protein binding for phenytoin, meperidine, and bretylium tosylate was affected by the type of preserved human blood used for its estimation. Fresh heparinized plasma and serum gave equivalent fractions bound at the concentrations studied for all three drugs. However, the in vitro plasma binding of phenytoin and meperidine decreased ∼9-50% when estimated in fresh citrated plasma or commercially available lyophylized human serum at the concentration levels investigated. The fraction of bretylium tosylate bound to plasma protein decreased ∼30–40% when estimated in fresh citrated plasma but was unchanged when estimated in the lyophylized human serum.
Physiological, Nutritional, and Biochemical Bases of Corn Resistance to Foliage-Feeding Fall Armyworm

Three corn (Zea mays) germplasm lines [i.e., Ab24E (susceptible control), Mp708 (resistant control), and a locally selected partial inbred line FAW7050 (resistant)] were examined for Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistance. Nutritional [i.e., total protein content, amino acids, glucose, total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), protein to TNC (P/C) ratios] and biochemical (i.e., peroxidase and lipoxygenase 3) properties in the seedlings of these corn lines were examined to categorize resistance mechanisms to S. frugiperda. Physiological changes in photosynthetic rates also were examined in an attempt to explain nutritional and biochemical dynamics among corn germplasm lines and between insect-infested and noninfested corn plants within a germplasm line. Results indicated that S. frugiperda larvae survived better and developed faster in susceptible Ab24E than in resistant FAW7050 or Mp708. The three germplasm lines differed in resistance mechanisms to S. frugiperda, and the observed patterns of resistance were probably collective results of the P/C ratio and defensive proteins. That is, the susceptibility of Ab24E to S. frugiperda was due to a high P/C ratio and a low level of induced defensive compounds in response to insect herbivory, while the resistance of FAW7050 resulted from elevated defensive proteins following insect herbivory, low P/C ratio, and elevated defensive proteins in Mp708 contributed to its resistance to S. frugiperda. The elevated protein amounts in resistant Mp708 and FAW7050 following S. frugiperda injury were likely due to greater conversion of photosynthates to defensive proteins following the greater photosynthetic rates in these entries. Greater photosynthetic capacity in Mp708 and FAW7050 also led to higher amino acid and glucose contents in these two lines. Neither amino acid nor lipoxygenase 3 played a critical role in corn resistance to S. frugiperda. However, high inducibility of peroxidase may be an indicator of S. frugiperda susceptibility as observed elsewhere.
Theorizing and Engaging the Global Movement: From Anti-Globalization to Global Democratization

Critical research and theorizing on facets of the Anti-/Alter-Globalization Movement (AGM) has proliferated over the last two decades. Fewer accounts, however, have been written by scholar-activist...
Conductive Carbon Nanotube Composite Microprobes

able a new class of electrical elements ranging from transistors to interconnects. However, realizing the properties of individual CNTs in assemblies of CNTs has been a formidable challenge. Realistic applications of CNTs at the micrometer scale must employ thousands or millions of CNTs in a parallel fashion, yet, the understanding of the electromechanical behavior is still not mature enough. Most of the research so far has been either for sensing [2] or actuation applications, [3–6] whereas the potential benefits of CNTs in probing applications, where both mechanical integrity and electrical conduction is critical, have not been investigated as yet. Electromechanical probing applications continuously require smaller pitches, faster manufacturing, and lower electrical resistance. Achieving low-pitch structures without compromising elastic properties is a challenge with conventional techniques, such as in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based structures. CNT-based structures present a scalable manufacturing approach, in which thousands of probes can be fabricated in very short production times and by means of a full wafer batch fabrication mode, reducing the fabrication steps currently necessary with conventional methods, all of which can have significant cost benefits. Growth of vertically aligned CNTs (VA-CNTs) by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) [7,8] has created films and microstructures containing large numbers of CNTs aligned in parallel. Unfortunately, these high-temperature synthesis processes are typically optimized for growth from metal nanoclusters on silicon and ceramic substrates; whereas devices utilizing these CNTs will require a wider variety of substrates, including metals and plastics that cannot withstand the harsh processing conditions for high-yield CNT growth. To our knowledge, growth of VA-CNTs by thermal CVD with simultaneous ohmic contact on electrically conductive substrates has not yet been achieved and will remain a major challenge because of the apparent necessity of a buffer layer, such as Al2O3, SiO2, or MgO, for high-yield VA-CNT growth. Furthermore, weak mechanical adhesion to the substrate [7] and low bulk density [9] often prevent robust electrical and mechanical integration of CNTs under as-grown conditions. An emerging approach for device integration of VA-CNTs is to transfer the VA-CNTs from the growth substrate to a second “device” substrate. Full films of VA-CNTs have been transferred with a main emphasis on field-emission applications; however, the nature of interconnection to the CNTs and the lengthwise electrical and mechanical properties of the transferred films have not been assessed. CNTs have been previously embedded in an otherwise insulating matrix to form conducting composites, [10] but these are not aligned CNTs. Most of the work on CNT-based composites presented in the literature focuses on using CNTs as a reinforcement, or as a filler, in a polymeric matrix by dispersing and perhaps subsequently aligning single- or multiwalled CNTs (SWNTs or MWNTs, respectively) in the matrix.
Effect of structural design parameters on wafer level CSP ball shear strength and their influence on accelerated thermal cycling reliability

Ball shear testing is typically conducted in Wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) fabrication to estimate the strength of the solder ball attachment. Generally, the solder ball shear strength is dependent on the solder ball size, pad size, solder/pad interface treatment, reflow temperature and time. Solder ball strength is also a function of ram speed and height at which the ball is sheared with respect to the wafer. Recent investigations suggest that ball shear test is being used as an indicator for board level reliability of assemblies. In current market lead time for launching a new product is very short. Unfortunately, it takes several weeks to qualify a new product by board level qualification process. If there is a methodology through which one can predict the board level performance by extrapolating the wafer level test, it will save great amount of resources in testing and millions of dollars worth of testing time. In the first part of this study, we conducted a wafer level ball shear test. A DOE was created for varying wafer level structural parameters like solder ball size and type. Ball shear tests and Accelerated thermal cycling have similar failure signatures of compression on inner side and tension on outer side. Thus, for specific cases there is a possibility of correlating the two failure methodologies based on their failure signatures. Strain rate for ball shear test was determined based on shear speed and solder pad diameter. Strain rate for accelerated thermal cycling was determined based on difference in CTE between board and package. In this paper, results from ball shear test and accelerated thermal cycling are compared to find correlations for specific cases. The correlations derived from this study are statistical and empirical.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
NDE Assessment of PWSCC in Control Rod Drive Mechanism Housings

Studies being conducted at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington are focused on assessing the effectiveness of nondestructive examination (NDE) techniques for inspecting control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) nozzles and J-groove weldments. The primary objective of this work is to provide information to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) on the effectiveness of NDE methods as related to the in-service inspection of CRDM nozzles and J-groove weldments, and to enhance the knowledge base of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) through destructive characterization of the CRDM assemblies. In describing two CRDM assemblies removed from service, decontaminated, and then used in a series of NDE measurements, this paper will address the following questions: 1) What did each technique detect?, 2) What did each technique miss?, and 3) How accurately did each technique characterize the detected flaws? Two CRDM assemblies including the CRDM nozzle, the J-groove weld, buttering, and a portion of the ferritic head material were selected for this study. One contained suspected PWSCC, based on in-service inspection data and through-wall leakage; the other contained evidence suggesting through-wall leakage, but this was unconfirmed. The two CRDMs used in this study were cut from a pressure vessel head that has since been replaced. The selected NDE measurements follow standard industry techniques for conducting in-service inspections of CRDM nozzles and the crown of the J-groove welds and buttering. In addition, laboratory based NDE methods were employed to conduct inspections of the CRDM assemblies, with particular emphasis on inspecting the J-groove weld and buttering. This paper will also describe the NDE methods used and discuss the NDE results. Future work will involve using the results from these NDE studies to guide the development of a destructive characterization plan to reveal the crack morphology and a comparison of the degradation found by the destructive evaluation with the recorded NDE responses.© 2006 ASME
Health workers, quality of care, and child health: Simulating the relationships between increases in health staffing and child length

Objective One in three children globally is stunted in growth. Many of the conditions that promote child stunting are amenable to quality care provided by skilled health workers.
A proposal for a national program reporting beneficial drug responses, analogous to the existing program to detect adverse drug responses.

Summary Many countries have regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, not only to determine approval of drugs into the marketplace, but also to monitor their safety following the approval process. The logic for the latter role of these agencies is that several important changes occur in the patient population after the approval to market. These changes include the tremendous expansion in the numbers of patients, the removal of many exclusion criteria of co-existing diseases that may have been included in the clinical trials, and the fact that the treatment time for agents used chronically will now exceed any previous exposure time. All of these factors may contribute to the development of adverse drug responses (ADRs) that were not predictable or observable during the clinical trial phases. While the programs to monitor ADRs have important limitations such as the absence of a control group, they are extremely useful at determining possible associations between a drug and an adverse response that can now be used to generate hypotheses to be tested in a more proper and controlled set of trials. A similar system could, in principle, be used to monitor non-predictable serendipitous beneficial drug responses (BDRs) that would otherwise not be seen due to the same limitations of clinical trials in detecting ADRs. The system would expand data collection beyond clinical trials – which often can pick up BDRs of drugs such as minoxidil and sildenafil. This system of monitoring for BDRs would have the tremendous advantages of generating hypotheses derived from data obtained in humans with the disease and a drug-able molecule. The data obtained from this system of monitoring for BDRs could lead to new uses for old drugs as well as provide starting molecules that could be modified to treat diseases unrelated to the original indicated disease for the parent drug. The cost of creating and maintaining a BDR database are in-line with budgets of some of the projects funded by agencies such as the NIH or MRC. One possible feature is that the patient , rather than the doctor, does the majority of BDR reporting. Although lay-reporting would lead to false positives; repeated observations of a beneficial association would be a reasonable basis for further study in formal, professional clinical investigations. It is time to create the largest stage ever for serendipity to appear in biomedical research. After all, her previous appearances have marked some of science's most amazing discoveries.
Changes in lipoxygenase isozyme levels during soybean embryo development

Most soybean (Glycine max Merr.), cultivars accumulate three isozymes of lipoxygenase during embryo development. Studies were conducted to determine the levels of expression and accumulation of the individual lipoxygenase isozymes througout the development of soybean axes and cotyledons. Type I lipoxygenase activity (activity at pH 9.0 indicative of lipoxygenase 1) was not detectable in axes or cotyledons from seeds <6–7 mm in length, but lipoxygenase 1 activity and protein reached high levels at subsequent developmental stages. Type II activity (activity at pH 6.8 indicative of lipoxygenase 2 + 3) was detectable throughout development, with low levels early in development and high levels being present concommitant with lipoxygenase 1. The type II lipoxygenase activity in embryo tissues of seeds <6–7 mm in lenght was apparently not due to6lipoxygenases 2 and/or 3. Levels of all three lipoxygenase isozymes were coordinately regulated during soybean embryo development with higher levels generally expressed in axes than in cotyledons. The expression of these lipoxygenase isozymes appears similar to that of storage proteins and is coincident with the development of germination capability of soybean seeds.
Operation ARA: A computerized learning game that teaches critical thinking and scientific reasoning

Abstract Operation ARA (Acquiring Research Acumen) is a computerized learning game that teaches critical thinking and scientific reasoning. It is a valuable learning tool that utilizes principles from the science of learning and serious computer games. Students learn the skills of scientific reasoning by engaging in interactive dialogs with avatars. They are tutored by avatars with tutoring sessions that vary depending on how well students have responded to questions about the material they are learning. Students also play a jeopardy-like game against a feisty avatar to identify flaws in research and then generate their own questions to determine the quality of different types of research. The research examples are taken from psychology, biology, and chemistry to help students transfer the thinking skills across domains of knowledge. Early results show encouraging learning gains.
A novel probabilistically-guided context-sensitive crossover operator for clustering

Abstract A new probabilistically guided context-sensitive crossover operator for evolutionary clustering applications is proposed. The operator compares relevant sub-regions in partitions represented by two parents selected for mating, passing on to the offspring only high fitness sub-regions in the partition space. The use of the restricted growth function as the representation for the genotype makes it easier to do a meaningful cluster-wise comparison between two partitions. Clusters are compared using a statistical basis for spatial randomness on the assumption that natural groupings in data are compact and isolated and therefore spatially random within themselves. The proposed crossover operator has good exploitation properties and is heavily biased against an exploratory genetic search because it identifies and necessarily passes good schemas to the offspring. Statistical and runtime comparison with two related crossover methods is also presented on synthetic and real datasets and it is shown that the proposed crossover combines the diversity preserving characteristics of an unguided context-sensitive operator with the fast convergence properties of a greedy context-insensitive operator.
Clothing and Aesthetics: Perception of Form

Prior to and after 40 hours of visual exposure to, and discussion of, a wide range of costume body forms, 51 subjects were asked to respond to eight costume body forms varying in visual effect. Both pre- and post-responses included a description of each costume body form and a selection of the slides liked best and least. Descriptions were compared as to: (1) orientation of the observer to the whole form and (2) the morphologic-axiologic orientation. A majority of viewers increased in morphologic orientation and there was an increase in responses to the whole costume body form. A chi square test gave support to the hypothesis that viewers could separate their like or dislike of a costume body form from their descriptive consideration of that costume body form.
An Experimental Investigation of a Large, Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine: Effects of Venting and Capping

A novel, vertical-axis wind turbine has been developed for the use in powering cellular communication towers. The new turbine takes advantage of the elevated heights of existing towers to access relatively high-speed winds. The new turbine is designed to provide local power to the cellular communication system, the electronics are designed so that the turbine stores power in a battery system when excess power is generated. This stored power is utilized at times when the wind-speed is insufficient to power the communication system. A major opportunity exists for communication towers which are located away from grid-connected electricity. In these cases, the towers are often powered by diesel generators. Through the use of turbines, it is possible to greatly reduce the diesel-fuel consumption.Wind-tunnel tests have evaluated the potential for vented blades and blade capping for the improvement of power generation. It was found that while venting provides only marginal improvement, capping greatly increases ...
A Prime Ideal Principle in commutative algebra

Abstract In this paper, we offer a general Prime Ideal Principle for proving that certain ideals in a commutative ring are prime. This leads to a direct and uniform treatment of a number of standard results on prime ideals in commutative algebra, due to Krull, Cohen, Kaplansky, Herstein, Isaacs, McAdam, D.D. Anderson, and others. More significantly, the simple nature of this Prime Ideal Principle enables us to generate a large number of hitherto unknown results of the “maximal implies prime” variety. The key notions used in our uniform approach to such prime ideal problems are those of Oka families and Ako families of ideals in a commutative ring, defined in (2.1) and (2.2). Much of this work has also natural interpretations in terms of categories of cyclic modules.
The sagittal band: Anatomic and biomechanical study

Forty-eight digits from 12 human adult fresh-frozen and formalin-preserved cadaveric hands were used to study the anatomy and biomechanics of the sagittal band (SB) and to investigate the mechanism of its injury. The SB was observed to be part of a complex retinacular system in proximity to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint collateral ligaments and the palmar plate. Dynamic changes in SB fiber orientation were observed with different positions of the MCP and wrist joints. The fibers were perpendicular (0 degrees ) to the extensor tendon in neutral position, distally angulated 25 degrees at 45 degrees of MCP flexion, and 55 degrees with full flexion. Swan-Ganz catheter measurements were obtained deep to the SB in varying positions of the MCP joint. The average pressure generation was greatest (50 mm Hg) during full MCP joint flexion and least (30 mm Hg) during 45 degrees flexion. When MCP joint radial or ulnar deviation was added the average measurement was greatest (57) in neutral MCP position and least (35 mm Hg) in 45 degrees flexion. Serial sectioning of the ulnar SB produced no extensor tendon instability. Partial proximal but not distal sectioning of the radial SB produced tendon subluxation. Complete sectioning of the radial SB produced tendon dislocation. Wrist flexion increased tendon instability after radial SB sectioning. We conclude that (1) extensor tendon instability following SB disruption is most common in the long finger and least common in the small finger; (2) ulnar instability of the extensor tendon is due to partial or complete radial SB disruption, (3) the degree of extensor tendon instability is determined by the extent of SB disruption, (4) proximal rather than distal SB compromise contributes to extensor tendon instability, (5) great forces are inflicted on the SB while the MCP joint is in full extension or less frequently in full flexion, which may be the mechanism of its injury, and (6) wrist flexion contributes to extensor tendon instability after SB disruption and may exacerbate the severity of its injury.
The Threat to “Un-Moderate”: Moroccan Islamists and the Arab Spring

Across the Islamic world, Islamist groups have chosen to join popular protests stemming from the 2011 Arab Spring. In Morocco, however, an exception emerged. The country’s main Islamist opposition political party – the Justice and Development Party (hizb al-a’dala wa al-tanmia) – declined invitations to join demonstrations organized by the February 20th Movement for Change. Under what conditions do Islamist movements support Arab Spring uprisings? Why did the PJD choose to stay outside these protests demanding greater reform? The PJD, some scholars argue, did not support Arab Spring unrest because it is a co-opted Islamist movement. In contrast, I argue that the PJD refused to join the protests because it thought it could leverage them to its advantage. By threatening the Moroccan regime to leave formal party politics for the street, the Islamist party used the unrest to increase its bargaining power, sideline its rivals, and win its policy demands. This threat to “un-moderate” empowered the PJD to get what it wanted from the regime during the Arab Spring.
The first reported case of human ciguatera possibly due to a farm-cultured salmon

This study is an individual case report of an imported cultured salmon which may have caused ciguatera. The individual's documented clinical symptoms, along with our immunological tests and bioassays (hemolytic, mouse toxicity and guinea-pig atrial assays) of the salmon extracts, strongly suggest that the salmon may have contained a ciguatoxin-like toxin (or toxins). The unique ability of the toxin(s) to block the sodium channel of the guinea-pig atrium, however, distinguishes it from ciguatoxin-1 isolated from moray eel liver.
PAIRED COMPARISONS OF COLOR DIFFERENCES.

A group of 11 observers judged total color differences between a number of pairs of Munsell colors. The analysis of the judgments made for each observer and the group was carried out by three statistical methods, the Scheffe method, the Morrissey–Gulliksen matrix method and the modified Thurstone–Mosteller method. The three methods give essentially the same results, but the Scheffe method is preferred because it allows a more detailed treatment of the observational data. Some order and orientation effects arising from the manner of presentation of the color pairs were found to be significant. The relationship between the judgments and their statistical estimates for different rating scales is investigated and a nonlinear relation is found to hold for the case where the rating scale is too coarse for the given set of color samples.
Genetic variation in Hawaiian Drosophila. VIII. Heterozygosity and genic changes in isolated populations of D. engyochracea.

Drosophila engyochracea, an endemic Hawaiian fly found only in two, finite populations in Volcano National Park, has extensive electrophoretic heterozygosity on a par with that found in species with much wider distributions. A study of six polymorphic loci in both populations over an 18-month period revealed that the population in the more xeric environment is more dynamic genetically as well as more variable. In addition, genetic changes at one locus, Pgm, are correlated to changes in an environmental moisture parameter. These findings confirm that migration is not necessary to maintain genetic variation in isolated populations and demonstrate that D. engyochracea gene pools are susceptible to errors in Hardy-Weinberg equilibria during specific seasonal periods.
Risk factors for unsuccessful prehospital laryngeal tube placement.

Abstract Introduction Laryngeal tube (LT) airways are commonly used in the prehospital setting, but there are limited data on clinical success rates across emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. We aimed to determine factors associated with unsuccessful LT placement in the prehospital setting. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all King LT placement attempts by prehospital providers in 35 ground advanced life support EMS agencies and one air medical critical care service with 17 rotorwing bases, between January 1, 2006 and August 31, 2011. Success of King LT placement and patient, procedural, and agency factors present were identified using descriptive statistics. Factors associated with unsuccessful laryngeal tube placement were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results During the study period, we observed 511 attempts at laryngeal tube placement by paramedics or prehospital nurses in 477 patients. Unsuccessful LT placement occurred in 15.1% of first attempts and 9.9% of cases overall. The majority (79.2%) of first attempts occurred as a rescue airway after unsuccessful endotracheal intubation attempt(s), in patients with non-traumatic complaints (70.9%) and in cardiac arrest (60.8%). Gag reflex (OR 4.08, 95% CI 1.72–9.67), ground (versus air) EMS agency (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.07–5.79), and male gender (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.04–3.46) were associated with unsuccessful LT placement in our multivariable model. Conclusion The laryngeal tube is an effective airway management tool for both advanced life support and critical care prehospital providers. Gag reflex, ground (versus air) EMS agency, and male gender were associated with unsuccessful laryngeal tube placement by prehospital personnel.
Insights into enzyme structure and dynamics elucidated by amide H/D exchange mass spectrometry

Abstract Conformational changes and protein dynamics play an important role in the catalytic efficiency of enzymes. Amide H/D exchange mass spectrometry (H/D exchange MS) is emerging as an efficient technique to study the local and global changes in protein structure and dynamics due to ligand binding, protein activation–inactivation by modification, and protein–protein interactions. By monitoring the selective exchange of hydrogen for deuterium along a peptide backbone, this sensitive technique probes protein motions and structural elements that may be relevant to allostery and function. In this report, several applications of H/D exchange MS are presented which demonstrate the unique capability of amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry for examining dynamic and structural changes associated with enzyme catalysis.
Managing employee perceptions of the psychological contract over time: the role of employer social accounts and contract fulfillment

This study proposed and tested relationships pertaining to employee perceptions of psychological contract type over time. Using a longitudinal design, we examined the mediated role that adequacy of social accounts and psychological contract fulfillment play in determining the development of contract perceptions. More specifically, our model posits that perceptions of contract type will influence employee perceptions of the adequacy of social accounts that are offered by the organization and its agents to explain job-related decisions. These initial perceptions of social accounts at Time 1 were expected to impact perceptions of psychological contract fulfillment at Time 2 (6 months later) and psychological contract fulfillment was proposed to be positively associated with perceptions of a relational psychological contract. Results support the mediating roles of social accounts and psychological contract fulfillment in determining perceptions of contract type over time. Practical implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elementary and Composite Defects of Striped Patterns

Labyrinthic patterns are observed both in systems where the uniform states are metastable, as a result of a front instability, and in systems displaying a cellular instability, when the band of excited Fourier modes is wide enough to support resonant interactions between modes lying on different shells. We show that the phase formalism is a suitable description for low-density labyrinthic patterns with a relatively long range correlation and is capable of describing both its smooth and singular structures. The point defects of roll patterns, the concave and convex disclinations, and the line singularities or phase grain boundaries across which the wavevector makes an order one transition, are found to be singular and weak solutions of the Cross-Newell phase diffusion equation, which take account of their energetics as well as their topologies.
Radiation damage effects in channeling applications

Typical intensities of proton beams extracted from high energy (GeV) accelerators are 1012 to 1013 protons per acceleration cycle or pulse. Targets counting rates for experiments which count individual particles are around 106 Hz. Thus, there are usually sufficient protons available to split the beam a number of times and deliver protons to several experiments simultaneously.
Searching for the “Unleader”: Organizational Member Views on Leading Self-Managed Groups

The increasing adoption of the self-managed work group approach in organizations has created apuzzling paradox for leadership practice: How does one lead those that are supposed to lead themselves? Employee views at several organizational levels within a production plant that uses a self-managed work system are presented. The data were obtained from direct observation combined with another rather unique methodological approach (a variation of the nominal group technique; see Delbecq, Van de Ven, & Gustafson, 1975). This method of collection enabled each employee participating in the research to identify the specific behaviors he/she felt were important. Furthermore, employees rated, according to importance, a combined list of behaviors identified by a number of participating employees. Implications and conclusions are offered concerning the unique type of leader required in this new type of work system-the “unleader.”
Generalized analytical technique for the synthesis of unequally spaced arrays with linear, planar, cylindrical or spherical geometry

An effective method for optimizing the performance of a fixed current distribution, uniformly spaced antenna array has been to adjust its element positions to provide performance improvement. In comparison with the default uniform structure, this approach yields performance improvements such as smaller sidelobe levels or beamwidth values. Additionally, it provides practical advantages such as reductions in size, weight and number of antenna elements. The objective of this paper is to describe a unified mathematical approach to nonlinear optimization of multidimensional array geometries. The approach utilizes a class of limiting properties of sinusoidal, Bessel or Legendre functions that are dictated by the array geometry addressed. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated by its generalized application to synthesis of rectangular, cylindrical and spherical arrays. The unified mathematical approach presented below is a synthesis technique founded on the mathematical transformation of the desired field pattern, followed by the application of limiting forms of the transformation, and resulting in the development of a closed form expression for the element positions. The method offers the following advantages over previous techniques such as direct nonlinear optimization or genetic algorithms. First, it is not an iterative, searching algorithm, and provides element spacing values directly in a single run of the algorithm, thereby saving valuable CPU time and memory storage. Second, It permits the array designer to place practical constraints on the array geometry, (e.g., the minimum/maximum spacing between adjacent elements)
The large temporal horn: MR analysis in developmental brain anomalies versus hydrocephalus.

PURPOSE To utilize MR to delineate the morphologic abnormalities of the temporal horn and adjacent structures in patients with congenital brain anomalies and to differentiate these findings from the temporal horn alterations in obstructive hydrocephalus. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-six patients were included in this retrospective study, including eight with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), four with lissencephaly (lis), four with lobar holoprosencephaly (holo), as well as 20 with isolated obstructive hydrocephalus due to tumor (17 patients) or aqueductal stenosis (three patients). Twenty patients with normal scans were included as controls. RESULTS Coronal plane image analysis showed that 75% of patients with brain anomalies had enlargement of the temporal horns, most prominently involving the inferolateral aspects of the ventricle (8/8 ACC, 4/4 lis, 0/4 holo). Hippocampal formations were small in 62% (6/8 ACC, 3/4 lis, 1/4 holo). An abnormal, vertical orientation (incomplete inversion) of the hippocampal formations was observed in 82% (8/8 ACC, 4/4 lis, 1/4 holo). Focal thinning of the white matter lateral to the temporal horn was seen in 50% (8/8 ACC, 0/4 lis, 0/4 holo). All patients with isolated obstructive hydrocephalus showed enlargement of the temporal horns, most pronounced in the superior-lateral region. Hippocampal formations showed normal, horizontal orientation (complete inversion) and were of normal size in 17 of 20 patients; the only exceptions included patients with severe hydrocephalus where the hippocampi were flattened along the inferior margin of the temporal horn. Temporal lobe white matter was normal in the 17 patients with mild or moderate hydrocephalus: diffuse white matter thinning inferolaterally was observed in the three patients with severe hydrocephalus. Distinct differences were present in the morphology of the temporal horn and surrounding brain in congenital brain disorders compared with those in patients with hydrocephalic. The anomalous brains showed enlargement as a result of incomplete development, and the hydrocephalic brains showed enlargement as a result of increased intraventricular pressure. CONCLUSION Temporal horn enlargement in lissencephaly and agenesis of the corpus callosum should not be misinterpreted as hydrocephalus. Analysis of temporal lobe morphology will allow differentiation if doubt exists.
Fast analysis of transient electromagnetic scattering phenomena using the multilevel plane wave time domain algorithm

The computational complexity of classical marching-on-in-time (MOT) methods for solving time domain integral equations (TDIEs) pertinent to the analysis of transient scattering phenomena involving perfectly conducting targets grows as O(N/sub t/N/sub s//sup 2/) (N/sub t/ and N/sub s/ denote the number of temporal and spatial degrees of freedom (DOF) of the electric current on the target). This scaling law impedes the application of these schemes to the analysis of large-scale scattering phenomena. The recently developed plane wave time domain (PWTD) algorithm permits the rapid evaluation of transient wave fields generated by temporally bandlimited sources and hence the acceleration of marching on in time based TDIE solvers. Previously, we described a two-level PWTD enhanced TDIE solver for analyzing electromagnetic scattering from perfectly conducting targets; the computational complexity of this algorithm scales as O(N/sub t/N/sub s//sup 1.5/logN/sub s/). Here, a multilevel PWTD scheme for rapidly evaluating electric fields due to temporally bandlimited electric current sources is described. In addition, a multilevel PWTD enhanced TDIE solver for analyzing electromagnetic scattering from perfectly conducting scatterers using O(N/sub t/N/sub s/log/sup 2/N/sub s/) CPU resources is outlined. Last, the accuracy and CPU/memory efficiency of this solver are demonstrated by analyzing transient scattering from electrically large bodies.
Protein switches identified from diverse insertion libraries created using S1 nuclease digestion of supercoiled-form plasmid DNA.

We demonstrate that S1 nuclease converts supercoiled plasmid DNA to unit-length, linear dsDNA through the creation of a single, double-stranded break in a plasmid molecule. These double-stranded breaks occur not only in the origin of replication near inverted repeats but also at a wide variety of locations throughout the plasmid. S1 nuclease exhibits this activity under conditions typically employed for the nuclease's single-stranded nuclease activi- ty. Thus, S1 nuclease digestion of plasmid DNA, unlike analogous digestion with DNaseI, effectively halts after the first double-stranded break. This property makes easier the construction of large domain insertion libraries in which the goal is to insert linear DNA at a variety of locations throughout a plasmid. We used this property to create a library in which a circularly permuted TEM1 b-lactamase gene was inserted throughout a plasmid containing the gene encoding Escherichia coli ribose binding protein. Gene fusions that encode allosteric switch proteins in which ribose modulates b-lactamase catalytic activity were isolated from this library using a combination of a genetic selection and a screen. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2535-2543.
Blurring Boundaries: Bisexual Versus Lesbian and Heterosexual Women's Self-Assessed Creativity

People who self-categorize as bisexual pose a challenge to a simplistic notion of linear separability/discreteness, as indicated by beliefs that “bisexuality does not exist.” The authors thus examined whether by blurring intergroup boundaries that challenge monosexuality, bisexual women would evince higher levels of self-assessed creativity. Bisexual women's self-assessed creativity was higher than lesbian and heterosexual women's. The latter two groups’ levels were similar (accounting for socioeconomic status). This finding is optimistic to the extent that not fitting easily into group norms might create an opportunity to perceive oneself favorably while challenging heterosexist and monosexist beliefs.
Installation of ion implantation beam line for 3 MV Tandem Pelletron

An MeV energy beam line for ion implantation of carbon and silicon to fashion optically-active nanocrystals has been constructed at the Ion Beam Modification and Analysis Laboratory at the University of North Texas (UNT). The implantation line is at 15° and consists of a set of slits to define the beam, a doublet quadrupole focusing lens, a 40 kV electrostatic ion beam raster scanner and target chamber for 2 cm diameter circular implants. A 1.95 m drift section between the scanner and target is sufficient to accommodate 10 MeV carbon and silicon ions. It was determined that the separation between the slits and quadrupole should be at least 10 cm to achieve point-to-parallel focusing in the beam line. It was also determined that, for a slit opening of 2 mm, the distance between the upstream bending magnet and the analyzing slit should be at least 20 cm to allow only single isotopes of carbon to pass into the beam line.
Where are the clinical role models

The public's increasing dissatisfaction with the medical profession is being expressed more openly1,2: "My doctor doesn't talk to me; he always seems hurried and uninterested in me as a person." "I have seen so many doctors since being admitted; I am totally confused. No one has taken the time to explain what is happening to me, and no one seems to care. Who is in charge here anyhow?" Health professionals hear such comments all too often when patients feel bewildered in an increasingly complex world of medical technology. The problem is not a new one. In the early 1970s, first-year medical students at a prestigious US medical school were asked to conclude their first patient interview by asking for advice on how to become a good doctor. Unexpectedly, every patient suggested that students should learn to always treat patients as human beings. The clear implication: the patients felt that
Use of Immunohistochemical Markers to Confirm the Presence of Vas Deferens in Vasectomy Specimens

CD10 has recently been described as a marker that can distinguish wolffian duct derivatives from mullerian remnants but has yet to be tested in vasectomy specimens. We sought to determine if CD10 and pankeratin could corroborate the presence of vas deferens (VD). For the study, 103 consecutive vasectomy specimens were immunohistochemically analyzed for CD10, pankeratin, and CD31 expression in luminal and basal layer cells. In all cases with optimal epithelial histologic features (92/103), CD10 demonstrated intense apical membranous expression in all VD and weak basal cytoplasmic staining in about 98% of cases. Pankeratin demonstrated cytoplasmic and membranous expression in apical and basal layers in 99% of VD. In cases with suboptimal epithelial histologic features (11/103), the detection of epithelia was 100% for CD10 and pankeratin. Our data show that CD10 and pankeratin can be used to confirm the presence of VD in vasectomy specimens in which the epithelial histologic features are suboptimal.
Carcinoid tumors of the rectum

Abstract The clinical and pathologic characteristics of 147 cases of carcinoid tumor of the rectum are presented. It was found that rectal carcinoids are seen most frequently in patients older than forty years. The lesions were usually asymptomatic and were found incidentally by a clinical examiner or proctologist. Forty-six patients (30 per cent) had carcinoid palpable to digital examination and palpability was directly proportional to the size of the lesion. Histologically, the rectal carcinoids were not different from carcinoids found elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Histologic study of the primary lesion gave no clue to the likelihood of metastasis. The frequent multicentricity of origin seen in carcinoid tumors of the small intestine was not evident for the rectal carcinoid, nor was there an increased frequency of associated malignant tumors of different histologic types. Treatment consisted of fulguration, local excision or radical operation. Local excision showed no advantage over fulguration for lesions less than 1 cm. in diameter. Lesions between 1 to 2 cm. are best treated by local excision because a more adequate specimen can be obtained for histologic study to determine possible muscular invasion by carcinoid cells. Lesions measuring 2 cm. or larger are more likely to metastasize and require radical therapy. There were no deaths among the 139 patients who were treated with curative procedures. The only patients who died from carcinoid tumor originating in the rectum were three who had had widespread metastasis when first examined and had received only palliative therapy.
Robotic versus laparoscopic versus open surgery in morbidly obese endometrial cancer patients — A comparative analysis of total charges and complication rates

Abstract Objective To compare the complications and charges of robotic vs. laparoscopic vs. open surgeries in morbidly obese patients treated for endometrial cancer. Methods Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2011. Chi-squared, Wilcoxon rank sum two-sample tests, and multivariate analyses were used for statistical analyses. Results Of 1087 morbidly obese (BMI ≥40kg/m 2 ) endometrial cancer patients (median age: 59years, range: 22 to 89), 567 (52%) had open surgery (OS), 98 (9%) laparoscopic (LS), and 422 (39%) robotic surgery (RS). 23% of OS, 13% of LS, and 8% of RS patients experienced an intraoperative or postoperative complication including: blood transfusions, mechanical ventilation, urinary tract injury, gastrointestinal injury, wound debridement, infection, venous thromboembolism, and lymphedema (p Conclusions In morbidly obese endometrial cancer patients, minimally invasive robotic or laparoscopic surgeries were associated with fewer complications and less days of hospitalization relative to open surgery. Compared to laparoscopic approach, robotic surgeries had comparable rates of complications but higher charges.
Winner-take-all spatial light modulator.

An optical winner-take-all spatial light modulator has been implemented with very-large-scale integrated-circuit/liquid-crystal device technology. One-dimensional arrays varying in size from 2 to 64 units and a 32 × 32 unit two-dimensional array have been fabricated and have demonstrated winner-take-all behavior. These devices have potential uses in optical implementations of correlators, associative memories, and unsupervised learning systems.
INPP4B Is a Tumor Suppressor in the Context of PTEN Deficiency

Enzymes (PI3K and PTEN) controlling cellular levels of 3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides are known as important drivers or suppressors of tumorigenesis in various cancers. In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Kofuji and colleagues and Chew and colleagues identify the lipid phosphatase INPP4B as a context-specific tumor suppressor that controls phosphoinositide levels and AKT2 activation in PTEN-deficient cells.
Professional quality assurance in laboratory medicine: what about the competency of laboratory directors?

The comments of clinical physicians regarding patients to whom they attend are typically written in the medical record and, therefore, are visible to many colleagues. Clinicians making an incorrect diagnostic or therapeutic recommendation or a procedural error are often promptly identified and counseled. They sometimes become defendants in malpractice cases as a result of their actions. Such comments also apply to the largely diagnostic specialties of anatomic pathology and radiology. Specialists in those fields provide written reports that are reviewed by many other physicians, and, if erroneous diagnostic conclusions lead to an adverse outcome for the patient, the case is again typically brought to attention and reviewed to assess the clinical competence of the pathologist or radiologist.1,2 However, what about a clinical laboratory director (LD) who provides advice to clinicians on laboratory test selection or interpretation? With the exception of those coming from clinically engaged directors of transfusion medicine and coagulation laboratories, the recommendations of laboratory medicine specialists are not usually recorded in written form. As a result, information provided by clinical LDs is usually not easily reviewed by other parties. Occasionally, a close professional colleague, who is disinclined to point out mistakes by a fellow staff member, may know of the error but not report it. Figure 1 shows a cycle wherein clinicians must first determine independently which tests are appropriate for addressing a particular differential diagnosis. They then independently assess the diagnostic significance of the …