cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distortion mapping correction in aspheric null testing

ABSTRACT We describe methods to correct both symmetric and asymmetric distortion mapping errors induced by null testing elements such as holograms or null lenses. We show experimental resu lts for direct measurement and correction of symmetric mapping distortion, as well as an example result for analytical mapping performed using an orthogonal set of vector polynomials for asymmetric correction. The empirical determination of symmetric distortion is made via calculation from predicted and measured changes to aberrations induced via known changes to the testing point. 1. INTRODUCTION Aspheric primary mirrors are popular for astronomical telescope systems. These mirrors are polished to aspheric shapes to help minimize the overall length of the telescope system and provide additional optical correction for improved telescope performance. Optical testing with high accuracy is necessary, from as early a point in the fabrication process as is feasible, to efficiently converge to the proper finished optical surface. One potential obstacle encount ered when fabricating aspheric su rfaces is distortion present when imaging through null elements in the optical test. Dist ortion arises due to imperfect imaging through a null lens system and other optics in an interferometer or through a transmission CGH. The presence of distortion diminishes accuracy by mapping surface features to incorrect radial positions on the image plane. In this paper, we describe a method used to determine symmetric distortion which may prove practical for large asphere testing, as well as a more general correction method for asymmetric distortion. These techniques can be used to enable efficien t testing of aspheric optical surfaces.
HOMICIDE IN DETROIT The Role of Firearms

This study attempts to determine the role of firearms in accounting for the rising homicide rate of one city. Firearms were examined in relation to other weapons and subsequently firearm availability was examined in relation to other variables that could affect the rate of homicides. A majority of the increase in the homicide rate could be attributed to an increase in handgun murders. Firearm availability accounted for one-quarter of the rise in homicides.
Making trans parents visible: Intersectionality of trans and parenting identities

This article explores the self-reported parenting challenges of 50 transgender parents based on an online survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans parents in the United States. Many trans parents transitioned after forming a family, whereas others had children after or even during transition. They coordinated their transition with parenting responsibilities, and carefully managed their visibility in parenting settings to protect their children. This analysis focuses on the challenges that trans parents faced at the intersection of their parenting and trans identities. Although trans parents share many of the concerns of cisgender parents, they also face unique challenges that must often be navigated without extensive support. Revealing these challenges increases trans parents’ visibility in society, and could help therapists and school administrators become more sensitive to the intersectional identities of trans people and the stressors unique to trans parenting.
The ciliary proteome database: an integrated community resource for the genetic and functional dissection of cilia.

The ciliary proteome database: an integrated community resource for the genetic and functional dissection of cilia
A comparison of acute anterior cruciate ligament examinations Initial versus examination under anesthesia

The preoperative examination, the examination under anesthesia, and the findings at surgery were compared for acutely injured knees that were found at surgery to have anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. The pivot shift was initially positive in only 35% of the knees; however, under anesthesia 98% were positive. The Lachman test was initially positive in 99% of the knees, and under anesthesia, 100%. The anterior drawer sign was present initially in 70% of the knees, and under anesthesia this increased to 91%. Of the 37 patients with isolated ACL tears, only 20 (54%) had initially positive anterior drawer signs. In the knees in which secondary restraints to anterior-posterior motion were injured, this percentage increased to 69% in medial meniscus injury, 82% in lateral meniscus injury and 89.5% in rupture of the medial collateral ligament (MCL). The Lachman test seems relatively unaffected by associated ligamentous or meniscal injuries, but the end point in the Lachman test is absent in all complete ACL tears. The pivot shift phenomenon, which was demonstrable in 98% of patients when tested under anesthesia, may be diminished when there is a MCL injury or absent in partial ACL tears. Experience in performing the Lachman test and in appreciating the quality of the end point will give the examiner a high degree of accuracy in making the diagnosis of an ACL tear without resorting to anesthesia, arthroscopy, or arthrography in most patients.
Comparison of the theory and the practice of lower-hybrid current drive

The theory of rf-driven plasma currents is applied to the lower-hybrid experiments on the Princeton Large Torus, Princeton University, tokamak. Particular emphasis is placed on those experiments in which the plasma current was varying. The comparison between theory and experiment is made with respect to the efficiency with which rf energy was converted to poloidal magnetic field energy. Good agreement is found irrespective of whether the current was increasing, constant, or decreasing.
Molecular imaging: Measuring myocardial fatty acid metabolism with BMIPP SPECT.

Accurate early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a challenging clinical problem. Imaging myocardial fatty acid metabolism with β-methyl-p-[123I]-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid single-photon emission computed tomography was shown to improve the accuracy of ACS diagnosis in patients presenting with chest pain and might be a valuable technique in the emergency setting.
Physiology and pathophysiology of female sexual function and dysfunction.

Female sexual dysfunction is age-related, progressive, and highly prevalent, affecting 30%–50% of American women. While there are emotional and relational elements to female sexual function and response, female sexual dysfunction can occur secondary to medical problems and have an organic basis. This paper addresses the anatomy and physiology of normal female sexual function as well as the pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction. Although the female sexual response is inherently difficult to evaluate in the clinical setting, a variety of instruments have been developed to assess subjective measures of sexual arousal and function. Objective measurements, used in conjunction with the subjective assessment, help diagnose potential physiologic/organic abnormalities. Therapeutic options for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction, including hormonal, and pharmacological, are also addressed.
Efficacy and Safety of Remifentanil as an Alternative Labor Analgesic

The objective of this review was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of remifentanil in the management of labor pain. Although neuraxial analgesia is the best option during labor, alternative analgesic options are needed for patients with contraindications. Using a systematic literature search, clinical outcomes of remifentanil for labor pain have been summarized. Also, comparisons of remifentanil to other options including meperidine, epidural analgesia, fentanyl, and nitrous oxide are provided. Based on the literature review, remifentanil is associated with high overall maternal satisfaction and favorable side-effect profile. However, due to the low reporting of adverse events, large, randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate maternal and neonatal safety adequately and determine the optimal dosing needed to provide effective analgesia. While remifentanil is a feasible alternative for patients who cannot or do not want to receive epidural analgesia, administration should be monitored closely for potential adverse effects.
A Simple Area-Efficient Ripple-Rejection Technique for Chopped Biosignal Amplifiers

Chopping is an effective way to mitigate transistor flicker noise in biosignal amplifiers. However, chopping creates a ripple at the output of the amplifier, which is due to the upmodulated amplifier offset and flicker noise. Many techniques have been suggested in the literature to reduce these ripples. This brief presents a ripple-reduction technique that is far simpler than previous techniques, yet effective and area efficient while consuming no additional power. Simulations using a 65-nm complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor process show that the output ripples are attenuated by 78 dB, whereas all other performance parameters of the amplifier remain unchanged.
BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM NASAL AND TONSILLAR SAMPLES OF CLINICALLY HEALTHY ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN AND DOMESTIC SHEEP

Nasal and tonsillar samples were collected from 14 free-ranging clinically healthy Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) and 10 domestic sheep (Ovis aries). We identified 194 bacterial isolates, including 101 from bighorn and 93 from domestic sheep. Of these isolates, 115 were gram-positive and 79 were gram-negative. Staphylococcus species were the most numerous gram-positive organisms and had a higher incidence in samples from domestic than from bighorn sheep. In contrast Streptococcus species were present in higher numbers in samples from bighorn sheep. Pasteurella haemolytica, the most common gram-negative bacterium, was isolated from five of five tonsillar but from none of ten nasal samples of domestic sheep, and from seven of eight tonsillar and three of ten nasal samples of bighorn sheep. Most bacteria isolated were considered opportunistic pathogens. However, of the bacteria isolated, P. haemolytica, P. multocida, and Actinomyces pyogenes are most frequently associated with respiratory disease.
The Hubble Space Telescope star simulator test stand.

The star simulator test stand simulates the Hubble Space Telescope focal plane interface for the fine guidance sensor and the wave front sensor instruments. It serves as the alignment reference for those instruments relative to the kinematic mounting points geometry in the Space Telescope. This simulator is also used to perform ground calibration of the wave front sensor instruments; it permits measurement of the fine guidance sensor transfer function and allows demonstration of fine guidance sensor fine lock. The following subjects are covered: Space Telescope terms and coordinates, image quality, image positions and tolerances, image characteristics, mirror specifications, aperture stop requirements, visual magnitude and color temperature requirements, light source assembly description, simulated aberrations used for each wave front sensor, test capabilities, verification tests, and image stability requirements for the star simulator test stand.
Home–based businesses in the rural United States economy: differences in gender and financing

This paper reports the findings of a survey of 172 home–based businesses located in the rural midwestern USA. The results indicate that, unlike US businesses in general, rural home–based businesses are primarily owned by females and are primarily sole proprietorships. The pre–dominant industry is the production of crafts. Personal savings account for more of the initial financing than small businesses in general and most of the businesses surveyed began to earn profits within their first three years of operation. In an examination of the relationship between personal start–up capital and profits, we found that, like other small firms, home–based businesses financed from the owner&s personal funds outperform those that primarily sought outside financing. Finally, we show that the home–based businesses owned by females are larger than those owned by males. However, for most of the characteristics examined, there were few significant differences between the firms owned by females and those owned by males.
SU-GG-J-02: 3D Lung Tumor Motion Tracking Using MV Cone-Beam CT Acquisition with Synchronized Respiratory Monitoring

Purpose: Raw cone‐beam CT data consists of projection images acquired sequentially during gantry rotation. For lungimaging, respiratory motion is recorded in the projections, but is lost during back‐projection reconstruction. The goal of this study was to measure the 3D respiratory motion of lungtumors from the raw MV cone‐beam CT (MVCBCT) projection data. Method and Materials: A respiratory signal was captured using an external surrogate (Anzai/Siemens) during MVCBCT acquisition (MVision, Siemens) and time‐synchronized with the projection data using the beam pulse signal. Projection images were processed to enhance anatomical structures then the lungtumor was segmented automatically. The tumor center‐of‐mass (COM) in the rotating coordinate system of the flat panel detector was computed for each projection frame. The respiratory signal amplitude was used to sort projections into 10 respiratory phase bins. Projections within each phase bin were analyzed in a pair‐wise manner by trigonometric triangulation yielding multiple measures of the tumor COM. A weighted average COM was computed for each phase, with greater weight given to measures obtained from projection pairs with larger angular perspective. Results: Tests on phantoms containing point structures validated the accuracy (2 mm) of the methodology. Clinical MVCBCT of a patient with two lungstumors yielded measures of the tumor centers' motion over the respiratory cycle, which agreed well with tumor motions measured from kV‐4DCT. Conclusion: The analysis presented here gleans additional dynamic 3D information that is unique from the time‐averaged 3D structure normally reconstructed in CBCT; and it is obtained without any additional radiation dose when CBCT is used for static IGRT. This method could prove useful for near real‐time calibration/verification of the correlation between surrogate and tumor respiratory motion immediately prior to 4D treatment delivery. It may also be used for automated online motion tracking during rotational dynamic treatment delivery.
Informative things: how to attach information to the real world

We describe a new method and implementation for managing information through the use of physical objects. In today’s networked world, the trend is toward working in a global virtual environment. To transfer information, users are responsible for finding an appropriate storage location, naming the information, selecting the transport mechanism, and setting the access permissions. Much of the time, these burdens are needless and, in fact, stand in the way of productive use of the networked environment. In many circumstances, a physical floppy disk is the ideal medium for transferring information, as it eliminates these complications. Our Informative Things approach provides a “floppy-like” user interface that gives the impression of storing information on physical objects. In reality, our system stores information in the network, associating pointers to information with objects in the physical world. By hiding these details, we simplify information management. By linking the physical and virtual worlds, we leverage users’ highly-developed ability to work in the real world.
Effect of a putative ERα antagonist, MPP, on food intake in cycling and ovariectomized rats

Estrogens exert many of their behavioral effects by binding to nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) proteins, ERα and ERβ. Recent studies involving ER knockout mice and selective ER agonists suggest that estradiol's anorexigenic effect is mediated via activation of ERα. To investigate this hypothesis, we examined whether the presumptive ERα antagonist, MPP, could block estradiol's anorexigenic effect. In the first series of experiments, the effects of MPP on food intake and uterine weight were monitored in ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with either a physiological dose of estradiol benzoate (EB) or a selective ERα agonist (PPT). In the final experiment, food intake was monitored following acute administration of MPP in ovarian-intact (cycling) female rats. Contrary to our hypothesis, MPP failed to attenuate either EB's or PPT's ability to decrease food intake and increase uterine weight in OVX rats. However, in ovarian-intact rats, a similar regimen of MPP treatment attenuated the phasic decrease in food intake that is associated with estrus. We conclude that MPP may be a useful tool to investigate the behavioral actions of endogenous estradiol, but may have limited utility in studying the behavioral effects of exogenous estradiol in OVX rats.
The role of the cytoskeleton in cellular adhesion molecule expression in tumor necrosis factor-stimulated endothelial cells.

Leukocyte infiltration is a hallmark of the atherosclerotic lesion. These cells are captured by cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs), including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), and E-selectin, on endothelial cells (EC). We examined the role of the actin cytoskeleton in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced translocation of CAMs to the cell surface. Human aortic EC were grown on 96-well plates and an ELISA was used to assess surface expression of the CAMs. TNF-α increased VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin by 4 h but had no affect on the expression of PECAM. A functioning actin cytoskeleton was important for VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression as both cytochalasin D, an actin filament disruptor, and jasplakinolide, an actin filament stabilizer, attenuated the expression of these CAMs. These compounds were ineffective in altering E-selectin surface expression. Myosin light chains are phosphorylated in response to TNF-α and this appears to be regulated by Rho kinase instead of myosin light chain kinase. However, the Rho kinase inhibitor, Y27632, had no affect on TNF-α-induced CAM expression. ML-7, a myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, had a modest inhibitory effect on the translocation of VCAM-1 but not on ICAM-1 or E-selectin. These data suggest that the surface expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 is dependent on cycling of the actin cytoskeleton. Nevertheless, modulation of actin filaments via myosin light chain phosphorylation is not necessary. The regulation of E-selectin surface expression differs from that of the other CAMs. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Specific Role of Isoflavones on Estrogen Metabolism in Premenopausal Women

Background There is increasing evidence that dietary factors may play a role in the production, metabolism, and bioavailability of sex hormones and their impact on target tissues. The specific objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of supplementing a group of premenopausal women who were free of breast carcinoma with a dietary supplement of isoflavones (40 mg per day) in producing a change in steroid hormones and menstrual cycle length.
The Camassa–Holm–KP equations with compact and noncompact travelling wave solutions

Abstract In this paper, two variants of Camassa–Holm–KP equations are investigated. Compactons: solitons with the absence of infinite tails, solitons: nonlinear localized waves of infinite support, solitary patterns having infinite slopes or cusps, and plane periodic solutions are formally derived. The work highlights the qualitative change in the physical structures of the obtained solutions.
Self-reconfigurable multicell batteries

The traditional multicell battery design usually employs a fixed configuration to connect multiple cells in series and parallel during operation in order to achieve the required voltage and current. However, this fixed configuration results in low reliability, low fault tolerance, and nonoptimal energy conversion efficiency. This paper proposes a novel self-reconfigurable, multicell battery design. The proposed multicell battery can automatically configure itself according to the dynamic load/storage demand and the condition of each cell. The proposed battery can self-heal from failure or abnormal operation of single or multiple cells, self-balance from cell state variations, and self-optimize to achieve the optimal energy conversion efficiency. These features are achieved by a new cell switching circuit and a high-performance battery management system (BMS) proposed in this paper. The proposed design is validated by simulation and experiment for a 6×3-cell polymer lithium-ion battery. The proposed design is universal and can be applied to any type and size of battery cells.
Tigecycline Does Not Prolong Corrected QT Intervals in Healthy Subjects

We evaluated the effect of tigecycline (50-mg and 200-mg doses) on corrected QT (QTc) intervals and assessed safety and tolerability in a randomized, placebo-controlled, four-period crossover study of 48 (44 male) healthy volunteers aged 22 to 53 years. Fed subjects received tigecycline (50 mg or 200 mg) or placebo in a blinded fashion or an open-label oral dose of moxifloxacin (400 mg) after 1 liter of intravenous fluid. Serial electrocardiograms were recorded before, and for 96 h after, dosing. Blood samples for tigecycline pharmacokinetics were collected after each recording. QTc intervals were corrected using Fridericia's correction (QTcF). Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental methods with potential relationships examined using linear mixed-effects modeling. Adverse events were recorded. The upper limits of the 90% confidence interval for the mean difference between both tigecycline doses and placebo for all time-matched QTcF interval changes from baseline were <5 ms. The tigecycline concentrations initially declined rapidly and then more slowly. In the group given 50 mg of tigecycline, the pharmacokinetic parameters and means were as follows: maximum concentration of drug in serum (C(max)), 432 ng/ml; area under the concentration-time curve from time zero extrapolated to infinity (AUC0-∞), 2,366 ng · h/ml; clearance (CL), 21.1 liters/h; volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)), 610 liters; and terminal half-life (t(1/2)), 22.1 h. Proportional or similar values were found for the group given 200 mg of tigecycline. Linear mixed-effects modeling failed to show an effect on QTcF values by tigecycline concentrations (P = 0.755). Tigecycline does not prolong the QTc interval in healthy subjects. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01287793.
Structure, Stability, and Origin of (2×n) Phases on Si(100)

Phases with ($2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}n$) structure ($6lnl10$) can be formed on Si(100) by rapid quenching from high temperatures. The nominal (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7) phase has been investigated by high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction. The structure involves two atomic levels, is metastable, and decays with first-order kinetics. The structure can be explained by ordering of excess missing-dimer defects, which apparently are present on the surface with any of the standard surface preparation techniques for Si(100).
Shelf-to-canyon sediment-transport processes on the Eel continental margin (northern California)

Abstract To investigate the processes by which sediment is supplied to the head of a submarine canyon, an instrumented tripod and a mooring were deployed in the northern thalweg of the Eel Canyon during autumn and winter 1999–2000. This was done as part of the STRATAFORM program, and in combination with a long time-series benthic-tripod data collection on the Eel continental shelf. Sediment-resuspension events on the shelf were forced by waves, and near-bottom suspended-sediment concentrations (SSC) were enhanced during the Eel River flood season. Periodic SSC fluctuations in intermediate waters (corresponding to water depths equal to the shelf-break depth) were predominantly recorded at semidiurnal tidal frequencies, associated with decreases of water salinity and increases of temperature. Within the Eel Canyon, increases of water turbidity were not directly related to the Eel River discharge, but they were linked to the occurrence of storms. This relationship was evident in the bottom-boundary-layer measurements at 120 m depth in the canyon head, although farther down-thalweg (280 m depth), significant increases of near-bottom SSC associated with storm events were recorded also. The highest SSC measured within the canyon coincided with a highly energetic storm on 28 October 1999, in the absence of any river flood event, but associated with a down-canyon density-driven flow. On the shelf at 60 m depth, near-bottom SSC during this storm event reached extremely high concentrations (>10 g l−1), characteristic of fluid-mud suspensions. The across-shelf sediment transport near the bottom showed a persistent off-shelf direction through the entire recording period, while the along-shelf transport fluctuated in direction, but resulted in net transport toward the Eel Canyon head. Within the canyon, near-bottom sediment fluxes were continuously directed down-canyon, while the across-canyon flux was negligible. Sediment fluxes through intermediate slope waters (above the canyon rims) were directed toward the north, following the orientation of the adjacent shelf-break. Results from this field study have identified some of the major processes controlling the off-shelf sediment export in the Eel continental margin, and corroborate previous findings that a substantial portion of the Eel River sediment discharged on the shelf can be exported into the Eel submarine canyon.
Transmission electron microscopy study of Al/Al2O3 composites fabricated by reactive metal infiltration

The microstructure of Al/α-Al2O3 composites made by infiltrating molten Al into dense mullite preforms has been characterized using transmission electron microscopy. The growth of the Al/Al2O3 composites was found to proceed through three stages. Initially, Al infiltrates into a dense mullite preform through grain boundary diffusion, and reacts with mullite at grain boundaries to form a partial reaction zone. Then, a complete reaction takes place in the reaction region between the partial reaction zone and the full reaction zone to convert the dense mullite preform to a composite of α-Al2O3 (matrix) and an Al-Si phase (thin channels). Finally, the reduced Si from the reaction diffuses out of the Al/Al2O3 composite through the metal channels, whereas Al from the molten Al pool is continuously drawn to the reaction region until the mullite preform is consumed or the sample is removed from the molten Al pool. Based on the observed microstructure, infiltration mechanisms have been discussed, and a growth model of the composites is proposed in which the process involves repeated nucleation of Al2O3 grains and grain growth.
A technique for open renal biopsy in children.

Abord par division musculaire anterolateral. Le pole inferieur du rein est eleve dans la plaie par 2 sutures de maintien, une biopsie conique est prelevee et les sutures de maintien sont tirees sur le site de biopsie pour l'hemostase
THE BIOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND TAXONOMY OF SOME LYGAEIDAE OF SOUTHWEST AUSTRALIA (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA)*

Biological, ecological and distributional data are presented for 25 species of southwest Australian Lygaeidae. Numerous host plant associations are discussed. These species are segregated in 19 genera and 6 subfamilies. Attention is drawn to the association of terrestrial litter-inhabiting assemblages with particular soil types, particularly white sand areas. The position of the 7th abdominal spiracle in Lepionysius Ashlock, previously used for tribal position, is shown to be variable. A seasonal differential between 2 species of Cyminae occurring on the same host is discussed. The first description is given of the macropter of Darwinocoris australicus Slater. A key is presented to the southwest Australian species of Udeocoris Bergroth, and a discussion of the significance of wing polymorphism in species of the genus. Geographic variation in Coleocoris ocellatus Gross is treated, with a discussion of the adaptive value of the “coleopteroid” wing for insects living in xeric habitats.
Approaches to Reducing Radiation Dose from Radionuclide Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) plays a vital role in the evaluation and management of patients with coronary artery disease. However, because of a steep growth in MPI in the mid 2000s, concerns about inappropriate use of MPI and imaging-related radiation exposure increased. In response, the professional societies developed appropriate-use criteria for MPI. Simultaneously, novel technology, image-reconstruction software for traditional scanners, and dedicated cardiac scanners emerged and facilitated the performance of MPI with low-dose and ultra-low-dose radiotracers. This paper provides a practical approach to performing low-radiation-dose MPI using traditional and novel technologies.
Whole-body vibration knowledge survey of U.S. occupational safety and health professionals.

Abstract Problem Whole-body vibration (WBV) is an occupational issue of concern due to adverse health effects or simple discomfort and annoyance. Unlike in Europe, WBV is an emerging topic in the U.S. safety and health (S&H) professional community. We hypothesized that at least one-half of the U.S. occupational S&H professionals knew little or nothing about WBV. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study (survey) of WBV knowledge among members of the American Society of Safety Engineers. A Likert scale (1-none to 5-expert) was used to determine WBV topic knowledge levels (KL1-5). Results Analysis of 2,764 responses revealed that 69.5% of the participants self-reported a less than basic WBV understanding. The WBV KL1-5 mean for all participants was 1.94 ± 1.00, corresponding to an awareness of WBV without a depth of understanding. Summary Many at-risk U.S. workers may not be supported by occupational S&H professionals with adequate WBV knowledge. Impact on Industry A significant number of U.S. workers may be exposed to unhealthy levels of whole-body vibration. However, the U.S. occupational safety and health community is generally unprepared to anticipate, monitor, and control the whole-body vibration hazard.
Control of multiple robotic arms engaged in cooperative manipulation and assembly operations

An approach to the control of robots engaged in cooperative manipulation and assembly operations is presented. The techniques uses transducers to measure constraint reactions created in the resulting closed-chain multirobot configuration by relative trajectory errors between manipulators. A structural analysis formulation is then utilized to determine the magnitude of these errors, followed by active control compensation to eliminate them. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by computer simulation. >
Simulating Memory Impairment for Child Sexual Abuse

The current study investigated effects of simulated memory impairment on recall of child sexual abuse (CSA) information. A total of 144 adults were tested for memory of a written CSA scenario in which they role-played as the victim. There were four experimental groups and two testing sessions. During Session 1, participants read a CSA story and recalled it truthfully (Genuine group), omitted CSA information (Omission group), exaggerated CSA information (Commission group), or did not recall the story at all (No Rehearsal group). One week later, at Session 2, all participants were told to recount the scenario truthfully, and their memory was then tested using free recall and cued recall questions. The Session 1 manipulation affected memory accuracy during Session 2. Specifically, compared with the Genuine group's performance, the Omission, Commission, or No Rehearsal groups' performance was characterized by increased omission and commission errors and decreased reporting of correct details. Victim blame ratings (i.e., victim responsibility and provocativeness) and participant gender predicted increased error and decreased accuracy, whereas perpetrator blame ratings predicted decreased error and increased accuracy. Findings are discussed in relation to factors that may affect memory for CSA information.
Biochemical and genetic analyses of the U5, U6, and U4/U6 x U5 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have purified the yeast U5 and U6 pre-mRNA splicing small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) by affinity chromatography and analyzed the associated polypeptides by mass spectrometry. The yeast U5 snRNP is composed of the two variants of U5 snRNA, six U5-specific proteins and the 7 proteins of the canonical Sm core. The U6 snRNP is composed of the U6 snRNA, Prp24, and the 7 Sm-Like (LSM) proteins. Surprisingly, the yeast DEAD-box helicase-like protein Prp28 is stably associated with the U5 snRNP, yet is absent from the purified U4/U6 x U5 snRNP. A novel yeast U5 and four novel yeast U4/U6 x U5 snRNP polypeptides were characterized by genetic and biochemical means to demonstrate their involvement in the pre-mRNA splicing reaction. We also show that, unlike the human tri-snRNP, the yeast tri-snRNP dissociated upon addition of ATP or dATP.
Remaking the Pitch: Reuse Strategies in Entrepreneurs’ Pitch Decks

Research problem: Examines how Korean entrepreneurs in an entrepreneurship program revised their English-language slide decks for their competitive presentations (“pitches”) by reusing content from professional communication genres, including their own documents and feedback from potential stakeholders in their target markets. Research question: As entrepreneurs learn to pitch ideas to unfamiliar markets, how do they revise their slide decks by reusing content from other professional communication genres? Specifically, what strategies do they follow when reusing content? Literature review: The professional communication literature demonstrates that reuse tends to take place in documentation cycles where documents are set in interaction with each other and that reuse itself involves rhetorical choices. Yet such reuse strategies have not been examined in existing studies of entrepreneurial pitches in marketing and technology commercialization. Methodology: In an exploratory qualitative study, researchers textually analyzed 14 sets of five related document genres in the archives of an entrepreneurship program. These genres represented a full cycle of activity: application to the program, initial pitches, initial feedback from program personnel, detailed feedback from representative stakeholders in the target market, and revised pitches. Interviews and surveys of program personnel further contextualize the data. Results and conclusions: Entrepreneurs reused content from professional communication genres, including those that they had generated as well as those generated by market stakeholders. However, reuse went simply beyond accepting and copying feedback; as they learned to make their pitch arguments, these entrepreneurs had to weigh this feedback and engage with it critically. This reuse can be characterized as Accepting (repeating verbatim or in close paraphrase); Continuing (extending lines of argument); and Resisting (rebutting lines of argument). These findings suggest that entrepreneurs need all three strategies as they refine their pitches for their target markets.
Gynecologic brachytherapy I: Proper incorporation of brachytherapy into the current multimodality management of carcinoma of the cervix

The incidence of carcinoma of the cervix has continuously declined over the past decades because of effective screening. The international Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) clinical staging, though universally used, is considered inadequate either to determine the type of treatment or to predict treatment outcome. Over the last 10 years, treatment of cervical cancer has become increasingly sophisticated with advances in external beam and brachytherapy in the radiotherapeutic management of this carcinoma. In particular, brachytherapy plays a major role in enhancing both local control and survival. Experience to data suggests that either high-dose-rate (HDR) or low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy, when properly applied, can be effective and give similar rates of local control with minimal complications. This article analyzes the current literature regarding treatment techniques of radiotherapy with special emphasis on brachytherapy integration to optimize radiotherapy treatment outcome.
EQUIVALENCE OF THE LAGRANGIAN AND HAMILTONIAN BRST CHARGES FOR THE BOSONIC STRING IN THE HARMONIC AND CONFORMAL GAUGES

We consider the BRST formalism for the bosonic string in arbitrary gauges, both from the Hamiltonian and from the Lagrangian point of view. In the Hamiltonian formulation we construct the BRST charge Q(H) following the Batalin-Fradkin-Fradkina-Vilkovisky (BFFV) formalism in phase space. In the Lagrangian formalism, we use the Noether procedure to construct the BRST charge Q(L) in configuration space. We then discuss how to go from configuration to phase space and demonstrate that the dependence of Q(L) on the gauge fixing disappears and that both charges become equal. We work through two gauges in detail: the conformal gauge and the de Donder (harmonic) gauge. In the conformal gauge one must use equations of motion, and a simple canonical transformation is found which exhibits the equivalence. In the de Donder gauge, nontrivial canonical transformations are needed. Our results overlap with work by Beaulieu, Siegel and Zwiebach on the de Donder gauge, but since we only require BRST invariance and not anti-BRST invariance, we need simpler field redefinitions; moreover, we stay off-shell.
Body composition analysis of chickens by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was evaluated as a method for measuring the body composition of growing broiler chickens. A total of 130 chickens, ranging in weight from 400 to 3,290 g, were scanned using a DXA instrument (Lunar DPX-L). Single whole-body scans were acquired and analyzed using pediatric total body research software (neonatal mode) or small animal total body research software (detail or high resolution mode). The DXA measurements provided readings of total tissue mass, percentage fat, fat tissue mass, lean tissue mass, and bone mineral content. After scanning, the bodies of the chickens were frozen, then, after removing the feathers, homogenized for chemical determination of fat, water, and protein content. By chemical analysis, the whole body fat content of the chickens ranged from 2.8 to 27.2%, giving rise to DXA R values (ratio of attenuation coefficients) ranging from 1.415 to 1.339. The accuracy of DXA for measuring total body fat was a function of the scanning program and mode and also the size of the bird. The best agreement between DXA and chemical measurements of percentage body fat were obtained when chickens weighing more than 2,000 g were scanned using either the small animal-detail mode or neonatal mode. None of the scan modes proved to be accurate for measuring the fat content of birds weighing less than 2,000 g. The DXA measurement of lean mass of chickens was found to be highly correlated with both total body protein (R2 = 0.90) and total body water (R2 = 0.93), but was of little value for predicting percentage values for either. The ratio of DXA bone mineral content to total body ash was 0.77; however, the correlation (R2) between the two was only 0.46. These results suggest that although the DXA technique is potentially useful for measuring body composition of chickens, considerable refinement is needed prior to routine application.
Middle Powers and American Foreign Policy: Lessons from Irano‐U. S. Relations, 1962–77

By examining the lessons of Irano-US. relations, the article contends that a post-Cold War American foreign policy relying on middle powers can achieve American security interests while avoiding the potential for excessive entanglements arising from a direct role. The effective implementation of this policy is argued to be consistent with the promotion of regional stability and the diffusion of democracy.
Brachial artery ligation with total graft excision is a safe and effective approach to prosthetic arteriovenous graft infections

Objective While autogenous arteriovenous access is preferred, prosthetic arteriovenous grafts (AVG) are still required in a large number of patients. Infection of AVGs occurs frequently and may cause life-threatening bleeding or sepsis. Multiple treatment strategies have been advocated (ranging from graft preservation to excision with complex concomitant reconstructions), indicating a lack of consensus on appropriate management of infected AVGs. We undertook this study to evaluate if, in the setting of anastomotic involvement, brachial artery ligation distal to the origin of the deep brachial artery accompanied by total graft excision (BAL) is safe and effective. Methods All prosthetic arteriovenous graft infections managed by a single surgeon between 1995 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were identified from a computerized vascular registry, and data were obtained via patient charts and the electronic medical record. Results We identified 45 AVG infections in 43 patients. Twenty-one patients (49%) demonstrated arterial anastomotic involvement and were treated with BAL; these form the cohort for this analysis. Mean patient age was 53.2 (SD 9.5) years. The primary etiologies for end stage renal disease (ESRD) were hypertension (29%), HIV (24%), and diabetes (19%). An upper arm AVG was present in 95% of patients; one (5%) had a forearm AVG. The majority of grafts were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (90%). Follow-up was 100% at 1 month, 86% at 3 months, and 67% at 6 months. No ischemic or septic complications occurred in the 21 patients who underwent BAL. Conclusion BAL is an effective and expeditious method to deal with an infected arm AVG in frequently critically ill patients with densely scarred wounds. In the short term, BAL appears to be well tolerated without resulting ischemic complications. Further study with longer duration of follow-up is necessary to ascertain whether BAL results in definitive cure, or whether patients may ultimately manifest ischemic changes and require additional intervention.
A classical problem revisited: Rheology of nematic polymer monodomains in small amplitude oscillatory shear

We revisit the classical problem of the viscoelastic response of nematic (liquid crystal) polymers to small amplitude oscillatory shear. A multiple time scale perturbation analysis is applied to the Doi–Hess mesoscopic orientation tensor model to describe key features observed of longtime experiments, both physical (Moldenaers and Mewis, J Rheol, 30:567–584, 1986; Larson and Mead, J Rheol, 33:1251–1281, 1989b) and numerical (herein). First, there is a very slow time scale drift in the envelope of oscillations of the major director; we characterize the mean director angle and the envelope of oscillation. Second, there are bistable asymptotic orientational states, distinguished in that they are precisely the zero-stress orientational distributions noted in Larson and Mead (J Rheol, 33:185–206, 1989a). Third, the drift dynamics and asymptotic mean director angle are determined by the initial orientation of the director, not by material properties; we characterize the domain of attraction of each bistable state. Finally, the director drift leads to a predicted longtime decrease in the storage and loss moduli, consistent with experimental observations.
Studying Interfacial Transport With Evanescent Wave-Based Particle Velocimetry and Thermometry

Interfacial phenomena due to surface forces are important in microfluidic devices with their relatively large surface areas and small volumes. Most experimental studies of interfacial transport estimate flow velocities from the motion of tracer particles less than 1 μm in diameter, and assume that the particle displacements over a known interval are due to the fluid velocity field. This talk discusses some of our research on measuring fluid velocities in Poiseuille and electrokinetically driven flows over the first ∼0.5 μm next to the solid wall from the motion of an ensemble of O(105 ) fluorescent spheres as small as 100 nm illuminated by evanescent waves. Because the evanescent-wave intensity decays exponentially with wall-normal distance, the particle-wall separation can be determined from the brightness of each particle image, and used to estimate the steady-state distribution of the tracers near the fluid-solid interface. Recently, evanescent-wave illumination has been combined with fluorescence thermometry, where water temperature fields are estimated from changes in the intensity of the emissions from aqueous solutions of temperature-sensitive fluorophores. The Poiseuille flow of a fluorescein solution through a heated channel at a Reynolds number of 8.3 was illuminated with evanescent waves to obtain the solution temperature at an average distance of 74 nm from the wall. The temperature results obtained over three different regions were in good agreement with numerical predictions of the wall surface temperature, even in the presence of temperature differences exceeding 15 °C over the 1 mm width of the channel.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase I/II trial.

PURPOSEA phase I/II trial of docetaxel, cisplatin, fluorouracil (5-FU), and leucovorin (TPFL5) induction chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).PATIENTS AND METHODSTwenty-three previously untreated patients with stage III or IV SCCHN and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group functional status less than or equal to 2 were treated with TPFL5. Postchemotherapy home support included intravenous fluids, prophylactic antibiotics, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Docetaxel dose was escalated to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). Fifteen patients were treated with three cycles of TPFL5 at MTD. Patients who achieved either a partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) to three cycles of TPFL5 then received definitive twice-daily radiation therapy. Toxicity and clinical and pathologic response to TPFL5 were assessed.RESULTSTwenty-three patients received a total of 69 cycles of TPFL5. The MTD was determined to be docetaxel 60 m...
Genetic Control of Monoterpene Biosynthesis in Mints (Mentha: Lamiaceae)

The genetic basis of plant monoterpene composition has been the subject of detailed investigation, most notably an extensive series of crossing experiments performed on species of mints (Mentha) by M.J. Murray and his coworkers. This research, which began in the 1950s, identified a number of genes regulating the production of the principal essential oil components in Mentha.1,2 More recently, Croteau and associates have examined the biosynthesis of the major monoterpenes of the commercial Mentha species (peppermint, native spearmint and Scotch spearmint). Using both in vivo and in vitro experimental systems,3-5 the sequence of intermediates has been established and the relevant enzymes have been isolated and characterized. In the last year, a gene encoding a key enzyme of the pathway has been isolated, sequenced and functionally expressed in a bacterial host.6
Justifying "wholesale slaughter"

(1975). Justifying “Wholesale Slaughter”. Canadian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 245-258.