cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inter- and intra-individual variation in DNA repair as measured by flow cytometric assays

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 1486 Reduced DNA repair activity may be a significant risk factor for several cancers and its routine measurement would enhance molecular epidemiologic studies of cancers. While several methods are available for the measurement of DNA repair activity, these are generally not amenable to rapid assessment of DNA repair activities. However, a newly developed flow cytometry-based protocol using Acridine Orange may be suitable for this analysis. This assay uses the alkaline-induced unwinding of DNA with measurement of the single: double DNA ratios by specific cell cycle phase. Fifty thousand cells can be assessed in approximately one minute. We evaluated this method with respect to the quantification of responses, repeatability, and inter- and intra-individual variation. Lymphocytes were obtained from four healthy volunteers who provided multiple blood samples over an approximately 1-month period. Lymphocytes were cultured and exposed to UV radiation (10 joules in 5 seconds), which induces the formation of bulky adducts and nucleotide excision repair activity. Damage and repair were measured multiple times over an approximately 3-hour period. DNA damage reached a maximum at 30-60 minutes after exposure in all subjects. Three parameters were used in the analysis. These included the rate of damage, maximum damage, and the rate of repair. Log transformations and percentage change were used to quantify repair rates. Within the same individual, log transformed data indicated similar repair rates following various doses of radiation and levels of DNA damage, suggesting a valid measurement of repair rates. Repeated analysis of single samples at the same dose indicated a low assay variation (CV<5%), including analysis within each phase of the cell cycle. Intra-individual variation was low (< 10%) for all phases of the cell cycle. There was substantial inter-individual variation in the rate of damage (CV=30-69%), maximal damage (CV=22-42%), and rates of DNA repair (CV=32-64%), depending upon the cell cycle phase. These results suggest this assay provides highly precise rapid measurements of DNA repair. The substantial inter-individual variation suggests the influence of various genetic and environmental factors. This method may aid in the identification of these factors and the relationships between DNA repair and cancer risk. Supported by R01-CA39742
958 Adapting a paediatric injury prevention program to reach older adults: results of a feasibility trial

Background Older adults will comprise one-quarter of the US population by 2030 and are known to suffer high rates of injuries in and around the home. Safety education and products prevent injuries but few models exist for reaching older adults. We adapted a mobile safety centre used to reach families with young children to serve older adults. Methods We partnered with a community-based senior centre that serves low-income, urban community-dwelling older adults. We developed new curriculum modules on older adult injury prevention topics, adapted existing educational exhibits, and expanded our safety product inventory to include products relevant to the safety needs of older adults. In January 2015, we enrolled participants from the senior centre and assessed their safety knowledge, beliefs and practices. Four safety sessions were offered between February to May and in June everyone toured the mobile safety centre and completed a post-test of comparable knowledge and belief items. General feedback was also solicited from participants. Results Teaching modules were developed on five separate topics: overview of injuries and older adults; fires, burns and scald burn injuries; poison prevention; pedestrian safety; and fall prevention. Thirty older adults enrolled in the program. Most (60%) attended all sessions; 6% attended only 2. Baseline knowledge was high (>90% correct) for smoke alarm resources, carbon monoxide (CO) sources and CO symptoms. Baseline to follow up knowledge gains occurred for proper response to a fire in the home (39% vs 73% correct) and most common cause of house fires in our area (53% to 84% correct). Beliefs and participant reactions to the sessions will also be shared. Conclusions Because the number of older adults is increasing in the US and they are over-represented in the injury burden, we need to find effective ways to reach them. Our experience demonstrates the feasibility of adapting an existing paediatric program to also serve older adults.
Research and Development Costs and Productivity in Biopharmaceuticals

This article characterizes the activities required to launch a new pharmaceutical molecule into the market, summarizes studies that have attempted to pinpoint the research and development costs incurred per approved new molecule, and analyzes the various critiques levied against published research and development (R&D) cost estimates. It finds that by any reckoning, R&D costs per approved molecule have risen sharply over time, most likely at a rate of approximately 7% per year after stripping out the effects of general economic inflation.
Comparative analysis of discretization methods in Bayesian networks

A key step in implementing Bayesian networks (BNs) is the discretization of continuous variables. There are several mathematical methods for constructing discrete distributions, the implications of which on the resulting model has not been discussed in literature. Discretization invariably results in loss of information, and both the discretization method and the number of intervals determines the level of such loss. We designed an experiment to evaluate the impact of commonly used discretization methods and number of intervals on the developed BNs. The conditional probability tables, model predictions, and management recommendations were compared and shown to be different among models. However, none of the models did uniformly well in all comparison criteria. As we cannot justify using one discretization method against others, we recommend caution when discretization is used, and a verification process that includes evaluating alternative methods to ensure that the conclusions are not an artifact of the discretization approach. An experiment was designed to evaluate the impact of commonly used discretization methods and number of intervals on the developed Bayesian Networks (BNs).The conditional probability tables, and hence, model predictions and management recommendations differed among models.None of the models did uniformly well in all comparison criteria.It is suggested that discretization be used with caution or be avoided, when possible, and the BN models be modified to accommodate continuous variables.A verification process is recommended that includes evaluating alternative methods to ensure that the conclusions are not an artifact of the discretization approach.
Comparison of operating curves of five-phase and three-phase induction machines of same size

The steady state operating curves of three design variants of a five-phase induction machine are assessed and compared to a standard three-phase induction machine of the same size which is taken as the basis for the comparison. The performance in terms of torque, power factor, stator current and efficiency are analyzed for different load conditions. The operating curves are determined by means of an electrical model that includes the effects of the third-harmonic component of the airgap induction, iron saturation and magnetic losses as well. The electrical parameters used in this model are obtained analytically. Based on the data of the machines considered, it is shown that five phase machines can have a slightly better performance than an equivalent three-phase machine, even when they have less conductor volume in the stator and rotor windings. The results also show that five-phase machines considered can present a higher peak torque and thus a better overload capacity.
Odd Pareto families of distributions for modeling loss payment data

A three-parameter generalization of the Pareto distribution is presented with density function having a flexible upper tail in modeling loss payment data. This generalized Pareto distribution will be referred to as the Odd Pareto distribution since it is derived by considering the distributions of the odds of the Pareto and inverse Pareto distributions. Basic properties of the Odd Pareto distribution (OP) are studied. Model parameters are estimated using both modified and regular maximum likelihood methods. Simulation studies are conducted to compare the OP with the exponentiated Pareto, Burr, and Kumaraswamy distributions using two different test statistics based on the ml method. Furthermore, two examples from the Norwegian fire insurance claims data-set are provided to illustrate the upper tail flexibility of the distribution. Extensions of the Odd Pareto distribution are also considered to improve the fitting of data.
An Examination of the Appropriateness of an Adapted Version of the Family Interaction Macro-coding System Psychological Control Scale

Parental psychological control is associated with a host of negative youth outcomes, including internalizing symptoms and aggression. Measuring parental psychological control, however, is not witho...
Novel approach to study fish oil oxidation using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract The oxidative degradation of omega-3 fatty acids-rich fish oil was investigated by 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. The intensities of key distinct spectral signals corresponding to bis-allylic (RBAG) and terminal methyl groups (RO3TG) from omega-3 fatty acid residues were monitored in relation to the sn-2 glycerol peak from triacylglycerols, in fish oil oxidized under various conditions. Under oxygen-rich conditions and accelerated oxidation, RBAG and RO3TG decreased sharply over time, whereas under oxygen-limited conditions, they remained unchanged throughout the entire length of the storage, demonstrating that the method has a practical applicability for comparing storage conditions and antioxidants behaviors. At ambient temperature and limited oxygen availability, the NMR indicators declined steadily only after the initial period in which they increased. It was hypothesized that sn-2 hydrolysis followed by initiation of oxidation via electron transfer and decarboxylation may be responsible for these observations.
The Experiential Niche: or, on the Difference Between Smartphone and Passenger Driver Distraction

It is sometimes argued that since it would be absurd to outlaw passenger conversation, we should not regulate the presumably equivalent act of using the phone while driving. To reveal the spuriousness of this argument and to help urge drivers to refrain from using the phone while behind the wheel, we must draw on two decades of data on smartphone-induced driving impairment, and we need to consider ideas from both the postphenomenological and embodied cognition perspectives. In what follows, I expand on the notion of the “cognitive niche” (that is, the idea that our cognitive processes are facilitated by our human-built environments) and develop the corollary notion of the “experiential niche” to describe how our surroundings can prompt a particular phenomenological quality and organization to our lived experience. I argue that conceiving of the car as a cognitive-experiential niche is useful for articulating the crucial differences between passenger and smartphone conversation and helps make the case that we must regulate smartphone use while driving.
Abstract 19463: Temporal Regulation of Retinoic Acid Enriches Left Ventricular Cardiomyocytes From Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Retinoic acid (RA) plays a pivotal role during the heart development; RA needs to be inactive during the early cardiac mesoderm formation, but late-stage surplus of RA is critical for the cardiac looping and formation of the ventricular myocardium. We hypothesized that mimicking the in vivo RA signaling during human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation could lead to enriched left ventricular myocytes. H9 human ESCs were differentiated to cardiac lineage by treatment with Activin A, BMP4 and bFGF (ABF, control) for the first three days (d1-4). This lead to >70% brachyury+ mesoderm formation, and >80% of the mesodermal cells became cTnT+ cardiac myocytes. RA was inhibited for 24 hrs on d1 with a pan-retinoic acid receptor antagonist, and later activated with exogenous RA (1μM) for three days from d6-9 (Ri-ABF-RA). At d14, the Ri-ABF-RA cardiac myocytes showed >4-fold higher expression of ventricular markers, IRX4 and HRT2 , compared to control (n=3, p 29) at ≥d30. This is in line with enrichment of the left ventricular myocytes in Ri+ABF+RA compared to mixed populations of nodal, atrial and ventricular myocytes in ABF. Maximum upstroke velocity was faster in Ri-ABF-RA cardiomyocytes compared to ABF (540±460 vs. 36±26 μV/sec, n>31), pointing to higher Na channel density in Ri-ABF-RA compared to control. Taken together, the data demonstrate that early RA inhibition followed by late RA activation of hESCs leads to enrichment of the left ventricular cardiomyocytes. The de novo cardiomyocytes better represent the left ventricle, and may serve as a specific platform for cardiac regeneration and drug screen for the left ventricular myocardium.
Reduction in call handling time in transportation service industry using lean Six Sigma DMAIC methodology

The paper reviews the use of DMAIC six sigma methodology in a selected transportation cab service industry to improve customer satisfaction levels. The DMAIC comprises of five phases define, measure, analyse, improve and control. Various tools were used in the five phases starting with the voice of customer (VOC) matrix and project charter. Cause and effect diagram was used to find out the potential factors behind the high waiting time. Brainstorming sessions were also conducted to get a better sense of the high call handling time and suggestions were put forth to improve them. SMED analysis was also done to gauge the different changeover elements in the company. The average queue length for the 1st shift came down to 3.6 from 4.433 resulting in an estimated annual profit of $29250 annually.
A New Research Agenda: Instructional Practices of Activists Mobilizing for Science.

ABSTRACTRecently, many scientists and science advocates have taken the responsibility to mobilize for the sake of science. With fake news or “alternative facts” on the rise, many scientists and science supporters are determined to protect the credibility of science and promote evidence-based policy-making. At the core of these mobilization efforts is teaching: making science accessible to the public and policy makers in ways that mitigate false information. This paper argues that communication scholars can contribute to this important conversation through exploring instructional aspects of science activism. The paper proposes potential areas of investigation focused on intersections among science, mobilization, teaching, and learning. To do so, such research will involve scientists and nonscientists, as well as lifelong and first-time activists, in negotiating instructional practices to mobilize for science.
Aneurysmal bone cyst of the clavicle: a series of 13 cases.

Background Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign but locally aggressive bone tumor occurring most commonly in the first 2 decades of life. The clavicle is a rare location for tumors, and ABCs of the clavicle have been sparsely described in the literature. We present the largest known series of ABCs of the clavicle to describe this rare condition. Methods Patients were identified retrospectively from an orthopedic oncology database to obtain demographic, diagnostic, and treatment information. A literature search was performed to identify all English language reports of ABC of the clavicle. Results We identified 13 patients with ABC of the clavicle, 77% of which were in the acromial end. Most patients (77%) presented with pain or swelling or both. The initial treatment in 11 patients was by curettage, with or without allograft bone packing, and 1 underwent resection/reconstruction of the lateral clavicle. Seven patients (58%) had 1 or more recurrences at an average of 6 months, for which 2 were treated with partial resection of the clavicle. Conclusions ABC of the clavicle is a rare condition that we found to occur most frequently in the acromial end of the bone. Most patients were initially treated with curettage and showed a higher rate of recurrence than in other locations. The unique anatomy of the clavicle makes resection a feasible and very functional option, especially if the coracoclavicular ligaments can be preserved. However, the potential resulting deformity may cause patients to opt for a less aggressive and, consequently, less effective treatment method.
29 – Blunt Trauma Models: Fractures, Chest Trauma, Head Injury, Soft-Tissue Trauma, and Abdominal Trauma

Blunt trauma can produce a variety of injuries to any number and combination of human organs and tissues. The severity and consequences of such injuries can vary from innocuous to debilitating to fatal. A variety of animate and inanimate models have been developed and employed to improve our understanding of the mechanisms, consequences, and potential therapeutics involved in the life of the injured patient. Because of the variety of potential injuries and the various issues under consideration, few standard models of injury exist. The surgical researcher studying blunt trauma should have a keen sense of the nature of his or her question. The model or models chosen (or developed) should provide the required reproducibility, objectivity, and quantifiability to provide measurable endpoints sufficient to provide meaningful answers.
Effects of Hormone Therapy on List and Story Recall in Post-Menopausal Women

Background/Study Context: A number of longitudinal randomized controlled trials (LRCT) have used free verbal recall tests to study the effects of post-menopausal estrogen hormone therapy (HT) on ep...
Wide Bandwidth and Low Driving Voltage Vented CMUTs for Airborne Applications

This paper presents a novel method to increase the bandwidth (BW) of airborne capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs). This method introduces a gaseous squeeze film as a damping mechanism, which induces a stiffening effect that lowers the pull-in voltage and improves the sensitivity. The optimal behavior of this stiffening effect versus the damping mechanism can be controlled by creating optimized fluidic trenches of various heights within the gap. The fractional BW can be controlled from 0.89% to 8.1% by adjusting the trench height while lowering the pull-in voltage to less than 54 V at the gap height of 1.0 $\mu \text{m}$ . To achieve the largest sensitivity and lowest pull-in voltage at a given BW, we have developed a multi-parameter optimization method to adjust all combinations of design parameters. A novel multiple hard-mask process flow has been developed to enable fabrication of CMUTs with different cavity and trench heights on the same wafer. These devices provided an equivalent noise pressure level of 4.77 $\mu $ Pa/ $\surd $ Hz with 6.24-kHz BW for 7.6- $\mu \text{m}$ deep fluidic trenches and 4.88 $\mu $ Pa/ $\surd $ Hz with 7.48-kHz BW for 14.3- $\mu \text{m}$ deep fluidic trenches. This demonstration of the wide-BW CMUTs with high sensitivity and low pull-in voltage makes them applicable to medical and thermoacoustic imaging, nondestructive testing, and ultrasonic flow metering.
Through space into the flesh: Mapping inscriptions of anti-black racist and ableist schooling on young people’s bodies

This article responds to the deadly consequences of the ongoing anti-Black racist and ableist educational settings in the United States, including the continuous historical trauma they create in th...
Management of Change

The dynamics of the international and hemispheric systems, which have and continue to determine the political, economic and social realities now shaping our world have taxed the resourcefulness of governments and organizations everywhere to marshal their human resource in order to optimize the resultant opportunities and requirements. In the particular case of the OAS, the challenge consists in matching the resourcefulness and versatility of its machinery to the immediacy of the transformations of the circumstances in the execution of its mandate, in a manner consistent with its vocation and purpose.
Survey and Performance Study of Emerging LPWAN Technologies for IoT Applications

Energy efficiency and scalability continue to be key considerations for the development of low cost wireless networks for meeting the needs of the emerging world of Internet of Things (IoT). Recent developments in low power wide area networks (LPWAN) promise to meet these requirements by achieving long communication ranges at low data rates without increasing the energy cost. Consequently, LPWANs are rapidly gaining prominence in the development of IoT networks in comparison to legacy WLANs that use multihop mesh networking for increasing connectivity and coverage. Inspired by this trend, we review and evaluate various recently developed LPWAN technologies and present key performance measures of LoRa (Long Range), which is a leading LPWAN technology.
Opioid-Limiting Regulation: Effect on Patients Undergoing Knee and Shoulder Arthroscopy.

Purpose To determine the effect prescription-limiting legislation passed in Rhode Island has had on opioids prescribed following arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery at various time points, up to 90 days postoperatively. Methods All patients undergoing the 3 most common arthroscopic procedures at our institution (anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, partial meniscectomy, and rotator cuff repair) were included. Patients were selected from 2 6-month study periods (prepassage and postimplementation of the law). The state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database was queried for controlled substances filled in the perioperative period (from 30 days preoperatively to 90 days postoperatively). Multiple logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of chronic (>30 days) opioid use. Results The morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prescribed in the initial postoperative script decreased from 319.04 (∼43 5-mg oxycodone tablets) in the prepassage to 152.45 MMEs (∼20 5-mg oxycodone tablets) in the postimplementation group (P Conclusions State opioid-limiting legislation reduced cumulative MMEs following arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery in the first 30 days. Further research assessing the impact of this legislation on postoperative pain control, patient satisfaction, and functional outcomes following surgery is warranted. Level of Evidence Level III, case-control study.
Monitoring changes in knee surface morphology after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery using 3Dsurface scanning.

Abstract Study design Prospective case series. Background After surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, recovery to pre-injury levels of knee function is challenging. Postoperative edema and muscle atrophy are common roadblocks to full function and are evident in changes to the surface morphology of the knee. There are currently few accessible objective tools to accurately track these morphological changes. Objectives We aimed to determine if 3D surface scanning can be used to monitor changes in the external shape of the knee after surgery and throughout the rehabilitation process. Methods Thirty participants had 3D surface scans taken of their knee, along with questionnaire-based functional outcomes prior to surgery (baseline), and at two-week, six-week, 12-week, and 26-week timepoints post-surgery. Volumetric changes relative to pre-op were assessed using generalized linear growth models for key anatomical regions and correlated with functional outcomes. Results Significant swelling of the patella region compared to baseline was evident immediately after surgery (14%, p Conclusion We demonstrate the use of 3D surface scanning as a method for capturing detailed measurements of knee surface morphology after surgery. Significant changes in external morphology are evident during the rehabilitation process.
A Finite-Time Stable Observer for Relative Attitude Estimation

Relative motion estimation of one rigid body with respect to another is a problem that has immediate applications to formations and maneuvers involving multiple unmanned vehicles or collision avoidance between vehicles. A finite-time stable observer for relative attitude estimation of a rigid object using onboard sensors on an unmanned vehicle, is developed and presented here. This observer assumes sensor inputs from onboard vision and inertial sensors, with the vision sensors measuring at least three points on the object whose relative locations with respect to a body-fixed frame on the object are also assumed to be known. In the absence of any measurement noise, the estimated relative attitude is shown to converge to the actual relative pose in a finite-time stable manner. Numerical simulations indicate that this relative attitude observer is robust to persistent measurement errors and converges to a bounded neighborhood of the true attitude.
Automated Event Identification from System Logs Using Natural Language Processing

Legacy methods of troubleshooting and root-cause analysis in networks involve time-consuming manual analysis of log files to understand and debug faults. Logs track system states and ensure that critical events are recorded to help troubleshooting and root cause analysis. Log files and their corresponding entries are ubiquitous and are important sources of information for interpreting system state. As methods have improved, many automated log collection and reporting systems have been developed to ease the burden on system administrators. With the increased pervasiveness of machine learning, this technology is capable of changing the way newer network management systems are built. We propose an event identification and management framework based on natural language processing concepts. Our system processes events in a log file as a natural language sequence and builds models of the extracted events to be used in various online or post-processing scenarios. We demonstrate how text categorization and sentence similarity concepts can be used to automatically identify events in logs. We also illustrate the advantages of our event extraction framework in different use cases and how our system helps to make network troubleshooting and management more efficient.
Stealth Governance: Shareholder Agreements and Private Ordering

Corporate law has embraced private ordering -- tailoring a firm’s corporate governance to meet its individual needs. Firms are increasingly adopting firm-specific governance through dual-class voting structures, forum selection provisions and tailored limitations on the duty of loyalty. Courts have accepted these provisions as consistent with the contractual theory of the firm, and statutes, in many cases, explicitly endorse their use. Commentators too support private ordering for its capacity to facilitate innovation and enhance efficiency. Private ordering typically occurs through firm-specific charter and bylaw provisions. VC-funded startups, however, frequently use an alternative tool – shareholder agreements. These agreements, which have largely escaped both judicial and academic scrutiny, highlight the extent to which rights and responsibilities in the corporation should be the subject of private contract. This Article offers the first broad-based analysis of shareholder agreements, detailing the scope of issues to which they are addressed and identifying the challenges that they pose for corporate governance. Focusing on the use of shareholder agreements by VC-funded startups, the Article recognizes the broad role played by shareholder agreements in structuring and coordinating investors’ economic rights, but it argues that using shareholder agreements for corporate governance, what this Article terms “stealth governance,” sacrifices critical corporate law values. These concerns are particularly problematic for the growing number of unicorns that have substantial economic impact but whose governance structures are shielded from the transparency and price discipline of the public capital markets. This Article argues that stealth governance is inappropriate for corporations and instead advocates a uniform structural approach to corporate law that would limit private ordering to the charter and bylaws. It further critiques the use of shareholder agreements to evade statutory limits on charter and bylaw provisions, arguing that, to the extent existing limits are undesirable, they should be the subject of legislative reform. A prior draft of this Article was posted with the working title of “Private Ordering and the Role of Shareholder Agreements.”
Adjudication Developments 2020

The paper analyzes the developments in administrative adjudication in 2020. It was prepared for the Developments in Administrative Law 2020 Program at the annual ABA Administrative Law Conference.
Impacts of a Resident Camp Experience on the Lives of Military-Connected Youth

Children and adolescents in U.S. military families experience several challenges such as multiple relocations, being separated from a service member parent, the deployment of a service member parent to a war zone, changing peer groups, and fear of death/injury of a service member parent. These unique attributes of being a military-connected child can be somewhat attenuated with programs specifically designed for this population. Using Positive Youth Development (PYD) as the theoretical underpinning, the purpose of this study was to explore the impacts of a week-long resident camp specifically designed for youth of injured, ill, or fallen service members—a much understudied group.An end-of-camp survey intended to determine if attending camp had an impact on three pre-conceived constructs (self-confidence, connections to others, positive coping skills) provided secondary data which were analyzed in this study. More than 3,000 youth ages 8 to 15 years old completed the questionnaire. Demographic information collected was limited to gender and age. Initially, an EFA was conducted to determine if the intended constructs were indeed measured. Following this, t-tests and ANOVAs were applied as appropriate to the data.The EFA determined that four constructs were measured by the survey (selfconfidence, peer connections, coping skills, and perceived counselor support [adult/child relationships])—all dimensions of PYD. Some age and gender differences were also found. The study findings suggest that military-related camp programs be implemented that target boys with active programming and intentional down-time activities (e.g., informal conversations and interactions) to help them create and develop friendships. In addition, by continuing to provide opportunities that are both novel and challenging to campers, staff can help young people to develop a sense of competence and confidence in their ability to take on new activities. As younger campers struggle with positive coping skills, staff have an opportunity to engage the youngsters in conversations and corrective actions to help them develop and practice positive coping strategies. Lastly, the data show that returning to camp for multiple years makes a difference in some aspects of PYD for campers. This suggests that camps may wish to encourage campers to return for several consecutive years; this may conflict with camps that have waiting lists of potential campers and wish to limit the number of times a child may return in an effort to serve more children.Subscribe to JPRA
Evaluation of Permittivity and Thickness Gaging for Anisotropic Dielectric Coatings by the Method of Surface Electromagnetic Waves

The widespread use of anisotropic composite dielectric coatings operating in the microwave range in various science-intensive areas has led to the search and selection of effective methods for radio wave nondestructive testing of their electrophysical parameters. The existing approaches based on estimating the reflection and transmission coefficients of electromagnetic waves have low accuracy and reliability in assessing the components of the complex permittivity tensor and the thickness of such coatings and fail to take into account the frequency dispersion of these coatings and their placement on a metal substrate. In this paper, we propose an original method for local evaluation of the components of the complex dielectric permittivity tensor taking into account their frequency dispersion, as well as the thickness of anisotropic dielectric coatings on a metal substrate using radial surface electromagnetic waves of the microwave range. The method is based on solving inverse problems to determine the components of the dielectric permittivity tensor and the thickness of the coatings from the frequency and angular dependences of the field attenuation coefficient of the radial surface electromagnetic wave excited in the sample under study. The numerical and field experiments have shown that for a measurement frequency band of 9–13.5 GHz, the errors in the estimates of anisotropy coefficients are no more than 10% with a confidence level of 0.95. The statistical limit of the resolution of the magnitude off anisotropy in the dielectric permittivity is introduced and substantiated; this makes it possible to evaluate the ability of the method to distinguish two close values of any pair of components of the dielectric constant tensor. Numerical and field experiments have shown that the method can ensure estimation of these values when the difference between them is 0.2–0.3% or less in the frequency range of 9–13.5 GHz.
Normal Distal Excursion of the Peroneus Brevis Myotendinous Junction

ABSTRACT A low-lying peroneus brevis muscle belly has been described as a risk factor for the development of peroneal tendon pathology, but this finding has primarily been described based on cohorts with pre-existing clinical findings. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to evaluate the frequency of apparently abnormal low-lying muscle bellies from a series of subjects without clinical or imaging findings of peroneal tendon pathology. One hundred consecutive MRIs were reviewed with measurement of the distance from the distal peroneal myotendinous junction to the tip of the fibula. This distance was observed to be 23.9 ± 8.8 mm (10.8-55.4 mm; 95% confidence interval 22.2-26.7 mm). If one assumed that a myotendinous junction within 2 cm of the distal tip of fibula represented an abnormal low-lying muscle, then we observed 37% of extremities without clinical or radiographic evidence of peroneal tendon pathology that would be considered anatomically “abnormal.” When a low-lying muscle belly was defined as occurring within 2 cm of the distal tip of the fibula, then a probability analysis of our data distribution found a 32.6% probability for individuals to have an “abnormally” low-lying muscle belly. These results indicate that what has traditionally been defined intraoperatively as an abnormally low-lying peroneus brevis muscle belly might simply represent intraoperative confirmation bias of relatively normal structural anatomy.
Modeling and analyzing massive terrain data sets

With recent advances in terrain-mapping technologies such as Laser altimetry (LIDAR) and ground based laser scanning, millions of georeferenced points can be acquired within short periods of time. However, while acquiring and georeferencing the data has become extremely efficient, transforming the resulting massive amounts of heterogeneous data to useful information for different types of users and applications is lagging behind, in large part because of the scarcity of robust, efficient algorithms for terrain modeling and analysis that can handle massive data sets acquired by different technologies and that can rapidly detect and predict changes in the model as the new data is acquired.
Chemical and Instrumental Approaches to Cheese Analysis

Overcoming the complexity of cheese matrix to reliably analyze cheese composition, flavor, and ripening changes has been a challenge. Several sample isolation or fractionation methods, chemical and enzymatic assays, and instrumental methods have been developed over the decades. While some of the methods are well established standard methods, some still need to be researched and improved. This chapter reviews the chemical and instrumental methods available to determine cheese composition and monitor biochemical events (e.g., glycolysis, lipolysis, and proteolysis) during cheese ripening that lead to the formation of cheese flavor. Chemical and enzymatic methods available for analysis of cheese composition (fat, protein, lactose, salt, nitrogen content, moisture, etc.) are presented. Electrophoretic, chromatographic, and spectroscopic techniques are also reviewed in the light of their application to monitor cheese ripening and flavor compounds. Novel instrumental methods based on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy that are currently being researched and applied to cheese analysis are introduced.
Gestational trophoblastic disease: origin of choriocarcinoma, invasive mole and choriocarcinoma associated with hydatidiform mole, and some immunologic aspects.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on choriocarcinoma arising during pregnancy that is accompanied by a fetus. It is observed that gestational choriocarcinoma invariably originates as a sequel to hydatidiform mole, abortion, term gestation, or ectopic pregnancy, rather than having its origin within the conceptus during the course of the pregnancy. Most choriocarcinoma following normal pregnancy arise from bits of residual adherent trophoblast, focal placenta accreta, placental giant cells, or normal intravascularly growing trophoblast of the placental site. The events leading to the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma includes the delivery of the products of conception, abortion, term gestation, or molar pregnancy, followed by abnormal uterine bleeding or symptoms produced by metastatic disease. The determination of the presence of and the quantity of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is significantly important in the detection, diagnosis, follow-up, and in the monitoring of therapy of patients with choriocarcinoma. The extensive and detailed pathologic examination of the placenta of term or near-term gestations in patients harboring the disease makes it possible to gain essential information and insight into the time of the development of choriocarcinoma and the manner in which it develops.
The Self in Post-Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory

This article relates a theory of the duplex self constituted by consciousness and experienced as “I” and “me” to the various post-Freudian interpretations of the self.
Redistribution and Optimal Monetary Policy: Results and Open Questions

What are the properties of optimal fiscal and monetary policies with heterogeneous agents? This is a pressing question, given the wealth of evidence on heterogeneity in cash holdings and labor income. Yet, until recently it remained largely unexplored. In this paper, I show that with heterogeneity the Friedman rule is optimal only if positive nominal interest rates do not ameliorate constraints on redistribution. With an empirically plausible cross-sectional correlation between money holdings and labor income, the Friedman rule is optimal if the government favors redistribution to the poor. I discuss these findings and propose several directions for future research.
A New Shipbuilding Measurement Tool—Photogrammetry for Measuring Circularity of Submarine Hulls

Abstract : Photogrammetry is the art, science, and technology used in the interpretation of coordinate data about physical objects by the measurement and analysis of photographic images. The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics utilizes photogrammetry primarily, in measuring the as-built circularity (out-of-roundness) of the TRIDENT Class pressure hull cylinders. Various other mechanical methods had been used in the past for measuring hull circularities; but the unique features and capabilities of photogrammetry proved itself well to meet demanding shipyard needs. pressure hull cylinders, The large awkward shape of submarine in combination with the flexibility and ease of the photogrammetric technique, makes photogrammetry a productive tool for Electric Boat's shipbuilding applications.
Barriers to the wide adoption of electric vehicles: A literature review based discussion

As a promising alternative toward green transportation, the electric vehicle (EV) technology is regaining attention from the public. A technology emerged more than a century ago, EV failed in its several encounters with the gas powered cars and the efforts to penetrate the market. Though much progress has been made in the past decade, the wide adoption of EVs is still in question. Through a review of EV's history, an extensive summary of factors reported in literature, and our own discussion of EV as a disruptive innovation, we explore the barriers of EVs' wide adoption from multiple perspectives in hope to shed lights on the successful diffusion of EVs in the near future.
Multi-celled liquid dampers to eliminate annoying floor vibrations

It is often quite difficult to eliminate annoying floor motion that results from human activity. Many past methods have proven to be either ineffective or economically and architecturally prohibiting. Although tuned mass dampers (TMDs) have been used to control floor movement, their success has been limited. This is primarily because peak floor vibration amplitudes are usually less than 1 mm (0.040 in.) and dampers require a much greater amplitude to dissipate energy. This paper presents a multi-celled liquid damping device supported on a steel plate together with the necessary mass that appears to be an effective solution
Impact of D-SPECT imaging system on Mayo Clinic nuclear cardiology efficiency project

2052 Objectives This study evaluates the efficiency of the D-SPECT (SPECTrum Dynamics) solid state detector camera comparing to the two existing Anger SPECT (Philips) conventional photo multiplier tube gamma cameras in a high volume outpatient myocardial perfusion imaging center. Methods Myocardial perfusion imaging studies at Mayo Clinic Arizona are based on a two-day technetium-based protocol. The rest images are acquired the first afternoon, with the stress images completed the following morning. Patients were imaged for 20 seconds per stop for 32 stops on the dual-headed A-SPECT cameras with a total acquisition time of approximately 20 minutes. The images were reconstructed with a Butterworth filter. A 2- minute acquisition was selected on the D-SPECT camera and the images were reconstructed with an iterative OSEM filter. One resting position and two differing stress positions were acquired on both systems. About 15 patients were stressed with additional 15 patients began their resting studies each day during the time studies. A total of 240 patient exams were timed. Results With the D-SPECT system, the total time decreased from 6:24 to 4:10. Rest imaging times went from 19 minutes to 8 minutes (58% decrease). Stress imaging times decreased by 63% from 38 minutes to 15 minutes. Due to improved resolution of the D-SPECT images, the need for repeat imaging dropped 89%. Image quality is improved based on the new technology and patient satisfaction is higher with shortened imaging time and improved comfort of the D-SPECT camera. Conclusions Multiple modifications as part of an overall Nuclear Cardiology efficiency project have dramatically reduced time commitments while improving image quality. The greatest contributor to this change has been the use of a single D-SPECT system replacing two A-SPECT systems
Spillover of tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) herbivory onto willow bioenergy crops in an agricultural landscape

The circumstances and potential for insects to damage perennial bioenergy crops is not well understood in the United States. In this study, we evaluated the spillover and herbivory of eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum) from host trees onto short rotation coppice (SRC) willow bioenergy crops (Salix sp.). Host trees were all in the Rosaceae family and included Prunus americana, Prunus virginiana and Malus sp. Willow showed greater leaf herbivory with increasing proximity to a defoliated host tree, suggesting that tent caterpillars spilled-over to willow after denuding their host. More tent caterpillar herbivory was associated with greater mortality of willow. This study suggests that landscape context and spatial position of host trees is important to the early establishment of a willow bioenergy crop.
On the Influence of Traction Coefficient on the Cage Angular Velocity in Roller Bearings

The influence of different traction models on the dynamic performance of a radially loaded cylindrical roller bearing is investigated by means of a dynamic model of the bearing assembly. Two simplified traction curves along with two viscoelastic rheological models are employed to estimate the traction coefficient of MIL-L-7808-type lubricant between the roller and the races. The cage rotational speed as a function of traction forces between the roller and the races is calculated for a wide range of rotational speeds and bearing loads. Comparison of the simulation results to those of published experimental measurements reveals that the dynamic model with an appropriate viscoelastic rheological model is capable of realistically predicting the dynamic response of rolling elements under various operating conditions. However, in the case of low sliding velocities, employing a simplified traction curve may lead to acceptable results. The dynamic model was further extended to study the cage wear rate, and the re...
Diffuse high-energy neutrino searches in AMANDA-II and IceCube: results and future prospects

The AMANDA-II data collected during the period 2000-2003 have been analysed in a search for a diffuse flux of high-energy extra-terrestrial muon neutrinos from the sum of all sources in the Universe. With no excess events seen, an upper limit of Eν2 ×s dNν/dEν < 7.4 × 10-8 GeV cm-2 s-1 sr-1 was obtained. The sensitivity of the diffuse analysis of IceCube 9 string for 137 days of data is calculated to be Eν2 × dNν/dEν < 1.3 × 10-7 GeV cm-2 s-1 sr-1. No excess events are observed, which confirms the AMANDA-II upper limit.
Bayesian analysis of censored data

We consider consistency of the posterior in the context of right censored data. We establish posterior consistency when the distribution of the lifetime has a Dirichlet distribution and also investigate the case when the prior is generated through a prior for the distribution of the observable (Z,Δ). We also show that a naive extension of these methods to interval censored data leads to peculiar estimates.
Nontranscriptional regulation of SYK by the coactivator OCA-B is required at multiple stages of B cell development.

Summary OCA-B was originally identified as a nuclear transcriptional coactivator that is essential for antigen-driven immune responses. The later identification of a membrane bound, myristoylated form of OCA-B suggested additional, unique functions in B cell signaling pathways. This study has shown that OCA-B also functions in the pre-B1-to-pre-B2 cell transition and, most surprisingly, that it directly interacts with SYK, a tyrosine kinase critical for pre-BCR and BCR signaling. This unprecedented type of interaction—a transcriptional coactivator with a signaling kinase—occurs in the cytoplasm and directly regulates SYK stability. This study indicates that OCA-B is required for pre-BCR and BCR signaling at multiple stages of B cell development through its nontranscriptional regulation of SYK. Combined with the deregulation of OCA-B target genes, this may help explain the multitude of defects observed in B cell development and immune responses of Oca-b −/− mice.