cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-FF-T-294: Design and Validation of a Source Deployment Test for An Intra-Ocular Sr-90/Y-90 Brachytherapy Source

Purpose: To determine whether a well‐type ionization chamber can be used to verify proper source deployment of an approximately 2.5mm long 90Sr/90Y source pellet used to treat wet age‐related macular degeneration; to optimize the measurement geometry; and to verify that the apparatus functions as predicted by the model. Method and Materials: The Monte Carlo code MCNP5 was used to investigate optimal design parameters for a collimating well chamber insert intended to verify whether a 90Sr/90Y brachytherapy source is fully deployed to within 0.25mm of the stainless steel delivery cannula end plug. The source position for measurements was not known a priori with this resolution, so a precise retraction of the source for measured validation of the calculated data was not possible. An alternate method for validation of the MCNP5 model was devised to be substantially similar to the retracted source geometry but to allow corresponding measurements to be made in a well controlled geometry. As part of this investigation, a well chamber transfer standard for reference measurements was established and variations between production models of both straight reference cannulae and treatment cannulae were experimentally determined. Results: The Monte Carlo models indicated that a fully deployed source should generate between 16% and 20% of the open field straight cannula measurement used as a reference value. For the offset source measurements, the measured data concurred with MC values to within 1% (0.1% of the reference signal), thus validating the calculations. Measured variation between reference cannulae was ±0.3% and between clinical cannulae without the collimating insert was ±0.9%. Measurements were reproducible within ±0.2% standard deviation. Conclusion: This work validates the MCNP5 model used to calculate the signal range generated by an acceptably deployed 90Sr/90Y source in the collimating well chamber insert. Conflict of interest: This investigation was funded in part by NeoVista, Inc.
Hijacking transferrin bound iron: protein–receptor interactions involved in iron transport in N. gonorrhoeae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae has the capacity to acquire iron from its human host by removing this essential nutrient from serum transferrin. The transferrin binding proteins, TbpA and TbpB, constitute the outer membrane receptor complex responsible for binding transferrin, extracting the tightly bound iron from the host-derived molecule, and transporting iron into the periplasmic space of this Gram-negative bacterium. Once iron is transported across the outer membrane, ferric binding protein A (FbpA) moves the iron across the periplasmic space and initiates the process of transport into the bacterial cytosol. The results of the studies reported here define the multiple steps in the iron transport process in which TbpA and TbpB participate. Using the SUPREX technique for assessing the thermodynamic stability of protein–ligand complexes, we report herein the first direct measurement of periplasmic FbpA binding to the outer membrane protein TbpA. We also show that TbpA discriminates between apo- and holo-FbpA; i.e. the TbpA interaction with apo-FbpA is higher affinity than the TbpA interaction with holo-FbpA. Further, we demonstrate that both TbpA and TbpB individually can deferrate transferrin without energy supplied from TonB resulting in sequestration by apo-FbpA.
Value creation in bundling utility mergers: A corporate focus anomaly

Abstract Recent empirical studies have documented the significantly positive monotonic relationship between changes in corporate focus and firm value. Focus-decreasing activities such as diversifying mergers have been shown to diminish firm value while focus-increasing activities, including divestitures of unrelated assets, exhibit a value-enhancing effect. However, many of these studies follow the convention of excluding utilities as their regulated industry makes then incomparable to unregulated industries. Examining only utility mergers and acquisitions, this study finds that only those which occur between utilities operating in different primary lines of business (“bundling” mergers) experience significant increases in firm value. Consistent with other studies, conglomerate mergers lead to a substantial decrease in firm value. Horizontal and vertical mergers lead to insignificant wealth gains. These results present an anomaly to the corporate focus theory and indicate that the regulation of utilities creates value for related diversification - contrary to the monotonic relationship exhibited in unregulated industries.
Anti-proliferative activity and protection against oxidative DNA damage by punicalagin isolated from pomegranate husk

Ellagitannins are the most abundant polyphenols in pomegranate (Punica granatum) husk and contribute greatly towards its biological properties. A pre-enriched pomegranate husk powder was extracted with water and then further purified by an Amberlite XAD-16 column. Punicalagin (PC) anomers were eluted using a gradient of methanol and water. Fractions eluted with 20% and 25% methanol yielded 1.08 g of light brown powder (purity > 97%) from a total of 40 g of extract. This fraction was identified as PC by HPLC-UV using reference compounds and confirmed by FTICR-MS analysis. PC (10-40 µM) was found to significantly inhibit oxidative DNA products, about 70% inhibition at 40 µM (p=0.0017), resulting from Cu2+-catalyzed redox cycling of 4-hydroxy-17β-estradiol as analyzed by 32P-postlabeling. Evidence of high antioxidant activity of PC was also obtained based on ORAC assay (1556±79 µmol of TE/g), as well as by 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS)-, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging and ferrous ion-chelating activities (IC50=1.1, 17.1, 24 and 45.4 µg/ml, respectively). Further, PC exhibited strong anti-proliferative activity against the human lung, breast and cervical cancer cell lines. Together, these data suggest that PC can be isolated in its purified form by simple column chromatography, inhibits oxidative DNA damage and possesses high anti-proliferative activity.
Robotics and Gaming to Improve Ankle Strength, Motor Control, and Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy—A Case Study Series

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of game-based robotic training of the ankle in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The design was a case study, 12 weeks intervention, with no follow-up. The setting was a university research laboratory. The participants were a referred sample of three children with cerebral palsy, age 7-12, all male. All completed the intervention. Participants trained on the Rutgers Ankle CP system for 36 rehabilitation sessions (12 weeks, three times/week), playing two custom virtual reality games. The games were played while participants were seated, and trained one ankle at-a-time for strength, motor control, and coordination. The primary study outcome measures were for impairment (DF/PF torques, DF initial contact angle and gait speed), function (GMFM), and quality of life (Peds QL). Secondary outcome measures relate to game performance (game scores as reflective of ankle motor control and endurance). Gait function improved substantially in ankle kinematics, speed and endurance. Overall function (GMFM) indicated improvements that were typical of other ankle strength training programs. Quality of life increased beyond what would be considered a minimal clinical important difference. Game performance improved in both games during the intervention. This feasibility study supports the assumption that game-based robotic training of the ankle benefits gait in children with CP. Game technology is appropriate for the age group and was well accepted by the participants. Additional studies are needed however, to quantify the level of benefit and compare the approach presented here to traditional methods of therapy.
THE CONTRASTING EFFECTS OF CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND RADIATION ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSES OF THE MOUSE

The immunosuppressant cyclophosphamide easily induces specific immunological tolerance in CBA mice, but is unable to produce an immunological defect in adult thymectomized animals. In contrast, lethal (and sublethal) irradiation does not induce tolerance but readily brings out the deficit of thymectomy. Furthermore, bone marrow cells which protect lethally irradiated animals do not prevent drug deaths. This sharp dichotomy indicates that the drug and radiation influence the lymphoid system by different mechanisms. It seems likely from the work of others that cyclophosphamide action is markedly dependent on rapid cell proliferation, while radiation is not. From this it follows that the cell which must be depleted to expose the immune defect of the thymectomized animal is a nonproliferating lymphoid element with the slow mitotic rate of the marrow stem cell.
Effects of the histamine H1 receptor antagonist and benztropine analog diphenylpyraline on dopamine uptake, locomotion and reward

Diphenylpyraline hydrochloride (DPP) is an internationally available antihistamine that produces therapeutic antiallergic effects by binding to histamine H1 receptors. The complete neuropharmacological and behavioral profile of DPP, however, remains uncharacterized. Here we describe studies that suggest DPP may fit the profile of a potential agonist replacement medication for cocaine addiction. Aside from producing the desired histamine reducing effects, many antihistamines can also elicit psychomotor activation and reward, both of which are associated with increased dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The primary aim of this study was to investigate the potential ability of DPP to inhibit the dopamine transporter, thereby leading to elevated dopamine concentrations in the NAc in a manner similar to cocaine and other psychostimulants. The psychomotor activating and rewarding effects of DPP were also investigated. For comparative purposes cocaine, a known dopamine transporter inhibitor, psychostimulant and drug of abuse, was used as a positive control. As predicted, both cocaine (15 mg/kg) and an equimolar dose of DPP (14 mg/kg) significantly inhibited dopamine uptake in the NAc in vivo and produced locomotor activation, although the time-course of pharmacological effects of the two drugs was different. In comparison to cocaine, DPP showed a prolonged effect on dopamine uptake and locomotion. Furthermore, cocaine, but not DPP, produced significant conditioned place preference, a measure of drug reward. The finding that DPP functions as a potent dopamine uptake inhibitor without producing significant rewarding effects suggests that DPP merits further study as a potential candidate as an agonist pharmacotherapy for cocaine addiction.
A Method of Seamless Transitions Between Grid-Tied and Stand-Alone Modes of Operation for Utility-Interactive Three-Phase Inverters

A method for the seamless transition of three-phase inverters switched between grid-tied and stand-alone modes of operation is presented in this paper. In this method, only the inverter current and voltage sensors are utilized, and no control over the grid-side static transfer switch is needed. The presented method contains two strategies for grid-tied-to-stand-alone and stand-alone-to-grid-tied transitions. In the stand-alone-to-grid-tied transition strategy, a novel algorithm is presented for estimating the grid angle nearly instantaneously, which allows the three-phase inverter to respond very quickly if the grid and point-of-common-coupling voltages are out of phase. This fast response allows the inverter to effectively eliminate the transient overcurrent that would normally occur if it was connected to the grid without first being synchronized. The fast response also allows the inverter to return to normal operation very quickly after such an event. The strategy for the seamless transition from grid-tied to stand-alone mode is also presented. These strategies have been verified through experiments, and the results are presented in this paper.
LATTICE SPIN MODELS AND NEW ALGORITHMS — A REVIEW OF MONTE CARLO COMPUTER SIMULATIONS

We review Monte Carlo computer simulations of spin models — both discrete and continuous. We explain the phenomenon of critical slowing which seriously degrades the efficiency of standard local Monte Carlo algorithms such as the Metropolis algorithm near phase transitions. We then go onto describe in detail the new algorithms which ameliorate the problem of critical slowing down, and give their dynamical critical exponent values.
Bringing Mobility-Awareness to WLANs using PHY Layer Information

With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, mobile devices are soon becoming a preferred medium of Internet access in Wireless LANs (WLANs). Due to their smaller form factor, these truly mobile devices allow the users to access the wireless networks while undergoing different types of mobility, posing new challenges to wireless protocols. Current history-based protocols that maximize performance in static settings do not work well in mobile settings where wireless conditions change rapidly. Thus, today's WLANs need to be able to determine the type of the client's mobility and employ appropriate strategies in order to sustain high performance. While previous work tried to detect mobility using hints from sensors available in today's mobile devices, in this work, we demonstrate how different mobility modes can be distinguished by using physical layer information -- Channel State Information (CSI) and Time-of-Flight (ToF) -- available at commodity APs, with no modifications on the client side. In addition, we demonstrate how fine-grained mobility determination can be exploited to improve performance of client roaming, rate control, frame aggregation, and MIMO beamforming. Our testbed experiments show that our mobility classification algorithm achieves more than 92% accuracy in a variety of scenarios, and the combined throughput gain of all four mobility-aware protocols over their mobility-oblivious counterparts can be more than 100%.
Dependence of electrochemical properties of vanadium oxide films on their nano- and microstructures.

Platelet- and fibrillar-structured V2O5 films have been prepared by solution methods, and their electrochemical Li+ intercalation properties have been studied. Platelet film consists of 20−30 nm sized V2O5 particles with random orientation, whereas fibrillar film is comprised of randomly oriented fibers though most of them protrude from the substrate surface. These platelet- and fibrillar-structured films exhibit relatively larger surface area and shorter diffusion path for Li+ intercalation than plain thin film structure. The processing methods, the discharge capacity, and cyclic performance of these films are compared with those of the conventional plain structured film.
Interprocedural control flow analysis of first-order programs with tail-call optimization

Knowledge of low-level control flow is essential for many compiler optimizations. In systems with tail-call optimization, the determination of interprocedural control flow is complicated by the fact that because of tail-call optimization, control flow at procedure returns is not readily evident from the call graph of the program. This article shows how interprocedural control-flow analysis of first-order programs can be carried out using well-known concepts from parsing theory. In particular, we show that context-insensitive ( or zeroth-order) control-flow analysis corresponds to the notion of FOLLOW sets in context-free grammars, while context-sensitive (or first-order) control-flow analysis corresponds to the notion of LR(1) items. The control-flow information so obtained can be used to improve the precision of interprocedural dataflow analyses as well as to extend certain low-level code optimizations across procedure boundaries.
A Finite Element Computational Method for Gas Hydrate. Part I: Theory

A finite element scheme is presented to model the dissociation of gas hydrates in porous media by hot water injection. We show a complete derivation of the finite element formulation, including the associated mass and energy conservation equations capable of performing transient analysis of both conductive and convective heat transfer for gas and liquid flow in porous media. The scheme also includes the latent heat effect to accommodate the change of phase due to melting of hydrate. In the companion paper, Part II, this method is successfully applied to hydrate reservoirs.
An analysis of cache performance of multimedia applications

Multimedia applications are fast becoming one of the dominating workloads for modern computer systems. Since these applications normally have large data sets and seem to have little data-reuse, a commonly held belief is that they have poor memory behavior compared to traditional programs and that current cache architectures cannot handle them well. It is therefore important to quantitatively characterize the memory behavior of these applications in order to provide insights for future design and research of memory systems. However, very few results on this topic have been published. We analyze the cache behavior of a group of representative multimedia applications. These programs include a subset of the popular MediaBench suite and several large multimedia programs running on the Linux, Windows 98, and TruUnix operating systems. We performed extensive measurement and trace-driven simulation experiments. We then compared the memory utilization of these programs to that of the SPEC2000 applications. We found that multimedia applications actually have better cache behavior than SPEC2000 programs. The following three factors contribute to the high cache hit rates of multimedia applications: First, most multimedia applications apply block-partitioning algorithms to the input data and work on small blocks of data that easily fit in the cache. Second, within these blocks, there is significant data reuse as well as spatial locality. Third, a large number of references generated by multimedia applications are to their internal data structures, which are relatively small and can easily fit in reasonably sized caches.
Laboratory evaluation of single-lumen, dual-orifice combined spinal-epidural needles: effects of bevel orientation and modified technique.

Abstract Study objectives: To evaluate the success rate of the spinal needle exiting through the spinal needle orifice in two commonly available single-lumen, dual-orifice combined spinal-epidural (CSE) needle kits, and to study the effects of the epidural needle bevel orientation and the modified insertion technique on its success rate. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Setting: Laboratory. Equipment: Two types of single-lumen, dual-orifice CSE needle kits: CSE-Q kit and CSE-S kit. Intervention: 20 anesthesiologists and nurse-anesthetists were assigned to select randomly from the two types of CSE kits (CSE-Q and CSE-S) . The epidural needle was then placed into a foam device simulating a patient's back and the associated spinal needle was inserted through the epidural needle with the epidural needle bevel oriented randomly upward, downward, left, and right, respectively. The procedures were performed before and after the modified technique was used. The modified technique consisted of (1) aligning the orifice/bevel of the spinal needle in the same direction as the epidural needle bevel, and (2) gently bending the hub of the spinal needle in the direction of the epidural needle bevel while advancing the spinal needle. Measurements and Main Results: Success rate of the spinal needle exiting through the spinal needle orifice was measured. Data were collected from 1600 attempts. The modified technique improved the success rate of spinal needle exiting through the spinal needle orifice from 67% to 94% for the CSE-Q kit and 50% to 81% for the CSE-S kit. Upward orientation of the epidural needle bevel further improved the success rate to 96% and 91% for CSE-Q and CSE-S kits, respectively. Conclusions: The spinal needle did not always exit through the spinal needle orifice in the CSE kits tested. CSE-Q kits performed better than CSE-S kits. Under the study conditions, the modified technique and the upward orientation of epidural needle bevel significantly improved the success rate of the spinal needle exiting through the appropriate spinal needle orifice.
Size, Liquidity, and the Cost of Equity

The inverse association of capitalization and performance is found to hold over a broader range of firms than has been previously studied. This result is found by merging data for listed United States firms with data for listed Australian companies, which are on average much smaller than their North American brethren. For the entire size spectrum and across listing locations, liquidity is found to be related to performance, adding support to the popular belief that it is (perhaps one of) the factor(s) missing from conventional tests of asset pricing. The results suggest that a lack of liquidity, rather than size per se, is a material contributor to the high cost of equity finance experienced by small companies. Some commentators attach much currency to proposals to subsidize small firms by enhancing the liquidity of their shares; the results reported here suggest that such subsidies may be effective.
Action experience alters 3-month-old infants' perception of others' actions

An intervention facilitated 3-month-old infants' apprehension of objects either prior to (reach first), or after (watch first) viewing another person grasp similar objects in a visual habituation procedure. Action experience facilitated action perception: reach-first infants focused on the relation between the actor and her goal, but watch-first infants did not. Infants' sensitivity to the actor's goal was correlated with their engagement in object-directed contact with the toys. These findings indicate that infants can rapidly form goal-based action representations and suggest a developmental link between infants' goal directed actions and their ability to detect goals in the actions of others.
A decomposition of the complexity of system development processes

Large scale system developments are notoriously expensive and time consuming with a poor record of success. Without eliminating the designers and engineers, we must find an automatable methodology to reduce both costs and development time, while improving the early testability of the design. A set of requirements for system specifications at many levels of abstraction is developed and exploited to support a large domain of system development processes. The formalization of development processes leads to inherently more manageable projects and is a necessity for an automated methodology.
InTray GC Medium Versus Modified Thayer-Martin Agar Plates for Diagnosis of Gonorrhea from Endocervical Specimens

A new self-contained medium system for the cultivation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was compared to modified Thayer-Martin medium for the diagnosis of gonorrhea from endocervical specimens. There was no difference in the ability of the two methods to support the growth of N. gonorrhoeae.
Computing the forward EEG solution of the multishell spherical head model for localizing electrical activity in the brain

Localization of electrical activity in the brain based on multichannel EEG measurement has been a problem of major interest in computational neuroscience. To compute the current dipole source within the brain a head volume conductor model is required which relates the EEG potentials to the underlying source. The most commonly used head model is a multishell conducting sphere whose forward solution requires a costly evaluation of an infinite sum of the Legendre polynomials. This paper presents a new algorithm which is a closed-form approximation to the exact solution. The resulting computation is accelerated by as much as sixteen times, and the approximation error is very small. A complete C-source code is provided to facilitate the application of this algorithm.
Tactical Services Provider: Best practices & lessons learned for securing the mobile wireless extension

Leveraging the Defense Information Systems Agency's (DISA) experience on the Tactical Services Provider (TSP) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD), this paper analyzes the security weaknesses and vulnerabilities of mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) in the TSP architecture and explains DISA's approach to deploying an integrated, multi-layer Information Assurance (IA) solution. Specifically, this paper addresses the protection of user traffic, security of network access and authentication. In addition, this paper provides an analysis of existing IA policy and requirements as they apply to TSP and identifies DISA's approach to meeting these requirements.
Transcriptional Regulation of Vibrio cholerae Hemagglutinin/Protease by the Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein and RpoS

Vibrio cholerae secretes a Zn-dependent metalloprotease, hemagglutinin/protease (HA/protease), which is encoded by hapA and displays a broad range of potentially pathogenic activities. Production of HA/protease requires transcriptional activation by the quorum-sensing regulator HapR. In this study we demonstrate that transcription of hapA is growth phase dependent and specifically activated in the deceleration and stationary growth phases. Addition of glucose in these phases repressed hapA transcription by inducing V. cholerae to resume exponential growth, which in turn diminished the expression of a rpoS-lacZ transcriptional fusion. Contrary to a previous observation, we demonstrate that transcription of hapA requires the rpoS-encoded σs factor. The cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (CRP) strongly enhanced hapA transcription in the deceleration phase. Analysis of rpoS and hapR mRNA in isogenic CRP+ and CRP− strains suggested that CRP enhances the transcription of rpoS and hapR. Analysis of strains containing hapR-lacZ and hapA-lacZ fusions confirmed that hapA is transcribed in response to concurrent quorum-sensing and nutrient limitation stimuli. Mutations inactivating the stringent response regulator RelA and the HapR-controlled AphA regulator did not affect HA/protease expression. Electrophoretic mobility shift experiments showed that pure cAMP-CRP and HapR alone do not bind the hapA promoter. This result suggests that HapR activation of hapA differs from its interaction with the aphA promoter and could involve additional factors.
Low cost actuator and sensor for high-fidelity haptic interfaces

This paper describes a novel motor and encoder concept that is designed to reduce cost. The new design uses a low-cost stepper motor and a low-resolution optical encoder, together with high speed digital signal processing to achieve high torque levels with low ripple, as well as accurate position and velocity sensing. While more involved electronics and signal processing are required, the cost of these components continue to decrease compared to that of motors and sensors, making the overall proposed design feasible and economical. Data from a prototype implementation demonstrate the promise of this design.
EEG localization accuracy improvements using realistically shaped head models

A model of the head must be used in making estimates of the locations of electrical sources in the brain using electroencephalograms (EEGs) measured on the scalp. In part, the accuracy of these estimates is dependent on how accurately the model represents the actual head. In most work performed to date, spherical models of the head have been used. This paper presents results in which the estimates of source location are made in realistically shaped head models. Techniques for accurately and conveniently developing realistically shaped head models from CTs, MRIs, X-rays, and/or physical measurements are also presented. Realistically shaped head models are developed for three subjects with electrical sources implanted at known locations in the brain. Localization accuracy is found to be significantly better in the realistically shaped bead models than in spherical models if EEGs with good signal-to-noise ratio are used.
Spatial operator approach to flexible manipulator inverse and forward dynamics

This study extends to flexible multibody manipulators the recent results of the author (1989) on the use of spatially recursive filtering and smoothing techniques for robot arm dynamics. The configuration analyzed is that of a mechanical system of flexible bodies joined together by articulated joints. The inverse and forward dynamics problems are solved using the techniques of spatially recursive Kalman filtering and smoothing. The algorithms are easily developed using a set of identities associated with mass matrix factorization and inversion. The identities are easily derived using a spatial operator algebra developed by the author. >
Drag-Free Control Design for the ST7 Disturbance Reduction System Flight Experiment

* Senior Aerospace Engineer, Flight Dynamics Analysis Branch, Code 595, Senior Member AIAA. † Associate Branch Head, Flight Dynamics Analysis Branch, Code 595, Senior Member AIAA. ‡ Aerospace Engineer, Flight Dynamics Analysis Branch, Code 595, Member AIAA The ST7 Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) is tasked to maintain the spacecraft’s position with respect to two free-floating test masses (better than 10nm/√Hz along the sensitive axis) while limiting the residual accelerations of those test masses to below 3x10-14 (1 + [f/3 mHz]2) m/s2/√Hz over the frequency range of 1 to 30 mHz. This paper describes the design and analysis of control systems for the 18-DOF mode of the ST7-DRS. This mode is the dual drag-free mode (nominal mission mode) in which dragfree control is used to establish drag-free motion of both test masses in the measurement band. The designs for the spacecraft attitude control system (ACS), drag-free control system (DFCS), and suspension control system of the test masses are included. The nominal performance of the system is evaluated and presented in terms of frequency and time domain results. It is shown that the current design meets all requirements with margins.
Optimization of peptide arrays for studying antibodies to hepatitis C virus continuous epitopes

Accurate and in-depth mapping of antibody responses is of great value in vaccine and antibody research. Using hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a model, we developed an affordable and high-throughput microarray-based assay for mapping antibody specificities to continuous antibody epitopes of HCV at high resolution. Important parameters in the chemistry for conjugating peptides/antigens to the array surface, the array layout, fluorophore choice and the methods for data analysis were investigated. Microscopic glass slide pre-coated with N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-ester (Slide H) was the preferred surface for conjugation of aminooxy-tagged peptides. This combination provides a simple chemical means to orient the peptides to the conjugation surface via an orthogonal covalent linkage at the N- or C-terminus of each peptide. The addition of polyvinyl alcohol to printing buffer gave uniform spot morphology and improved sensitivity and specificity of binding signals. Libraries of overlapping peptides covering the HCV E1 and E2 glycoprotein polypeptides (15-mer, 10 amino acids overlap) of 6 major HCV genotypes and the entire polypeptide sequence of the prototypic strain H77 were synthesized and printed in quadruplets in the assays. The utility of the peptide arrays was confirmed using HCV monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to known continuous epitopes and immune sera of rabbits immunized with HCV antigens. The methods developed here can be easily adapted to studying antibody responses to antigens relevant in vaccine and autoimmune research.
Nozzle Plume Impingement on Spacecraft Surfaces: Effects of Surface Roughness

An experimental and numerical effort was undertaken to assess the effects of a cold-gas (To =300 K) nozzle plume impinging on simulated spacecraft surfaces. The nozzle flow impingement is investigated experimentally using a nanonewton resolution force balance and numerically using the direct simulation Monte Carlo numerical technique. The Reynolds number range investigated in this study is from approximately 2 to 350 using nitrogen propellant. The thrust produced by the nozzle was first assessed on a force balance to provide a baseline case. Subsequently, aluminum plates were attached to the same force balance parallel to the plume flow to simulate spacecraft surfaces in proximity to the thruster. Three plates were used, an electropolished plate with smooth surface and two rough surface plates with equally spaced rectangular and triangular grooves. A 15% degradation in thrust was observed both experimentally and numerically for the plate relative to the free plume expansion case. The effect of surface roughness on thrust was found to be small due to molecules backscattered from the plate to the nozzle plenum wall. Additionally, the influence of surface roughness in the diverging part of the nozzle on thrust was examined numerically and found to be significant at Reynolds numbers less than 10.
Delayed Channel Access for IEEE 802.11e Based WLAN

In this paper we investigate the effect of interaction between the EDCA prioritized channel access mechanism defined in the IEEE 802.11e draft standard and the improved asynchronous data service defined in both the 802.11e draft standard and current TGn proposals and identify a significant negative impact on system performance. Based on network traffic characteristics, we introduce an algorithm, Delayed Channel Access (DCA), to address the system performance problem originating from this interaction. Using a simulator developed for TGn proposals, we validate that the DCA improves the system performance significantly and hence effectively addresses the issues that have been identified.
Athlete brand image: scale development and model test

The purpose of this study was to propose and test a conceptual Model of Athlete Brand Image (MABI) that is based on Keller's Customer-based Brand Equity framework (1993). The MABI consists of three dimensions which are crucial in developing consumer brand equity for athletes: athletic performance, attractive appearance, and marketable lifestyle. Athletic performance consists of four subdimensions: athletic expertise, competition style, sportsmanship, and rivalry. Attractive appearance consists of physical attractiveness, symbol, and body fitness. Marketable lifestyle consists of life story, role model, and relationship effort. To test this model, the Scale of Athlete Brand Image (SABI) was developed. A total of 427 college students were surveyed to test the model. Based on the result from two-step Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Model (SEM) test, MABI and SABI were modified and revised. In the final model, MABI shows a reasonable fit to the data and SABI is psychometrically acce...
Forensic Investigation of a Sulfate-Heaved Project in Texas

This paper focuses on the cause, possible solutions, and future prevention of pavement heave at a new construction project. We speculated that heaving on the east side of the project was caused by a reaction between the lime stabilizer and minerals in the soil. Because of a difference in soil chemistry, the west side of the project (which was still under construction) did not show evidence of heaving. A forensic investigation was initiated to test our hypothesis. The findings of the investigation concluded that the cause of the heaving on the east side of the road was related to the formation of the expansive mineral, ettringite. Ettringite formed due to the reaction of the lime stabilizer with seams of high sulfate soil on the east side. Laboratory testing did not find any effective stabilizer for the high-sulfate soils on the east side. Therefore, reconstruction would involve removing and replacing the treated layer with a select material that has less than 2,000 ppm sulfates. Test results indicate that there was no threat of sulfate heave on the west side. District personnel had performed the field conductivity tests to evaluate and monitor the concentration of the sulfate content on the remaining project. The treatment of 3%/72-h mellowing period/3% lime treatment was employed on the west side. The whole project has been completed for 1 year and no heave has been observed.
Digital Multimedia Instruction: Past, Present, and Future.

This article reviews the background and technology features of digital multimedia instruction, an instruction which offers window-based graphics. Benefits and limitations of digital multimedia instruction are discussed. The applications and future trends are described. The major areas of applications are identified: education, training, and entertainment.
Effect of Traffic Load Input Level on Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design

This study investigated the effect of the input level of axle load spectra on performance predictions obtained with the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). Traffic monitoring data collected from 50 weigh-in-motion (WIM) stations distributed across the state of Ohio were analyzed to obtain site-specific and regional axle load spectra. The site-specific axle load spectra were calculated for each axle group (single, tandem, tridem, and quad) and truck class (Classes 4 through 13). The regional axle load spectra were developed on the basis of statewide averages and cluster analysis. The statewide average was calculated with information from all sites, whereas the cluster averages were created on the basis of Class 9 tandem axles. Baseline designs for new flexible pavements were defined in the MEPDG for each of the WIM sites having available data, and site-specific, statewide average, cluster average, and MEPDG default axle load spectra were used to assess the impact of the input level of axle...
Exposure-resilient extractors

An exposure-resilient extractor is an efficient procedure that, from a random variable with imperfect min-entropy, produces randomness that passes all statistical tests including those that have bounded access to the random variable, with adaptive queries that can depend on the string being tested. More precisely, EXT : {0, 1}/sup n/ /spl times/ {0, 1}/sup d/ /spl rarr/ {0, 1}/sup m/ is a (k, /spl epsi/)-exposure resilient extractor resistant to q queries if, when the min-entropy of x is at least k and y is random, EXT(x, y) looks /spl epsi/-random to all statistical tests modeled by oracle circuits of unbounded complexity that can query q bits of x. We construct, for any /spl delta/ < 1, a(k, /spl epsi/)-exposure resilient extractor with query resistance n/sup /spl delta//, k = n - n/sup /spl Omega/(1)/, /spl epsi/ = n/sup -/spl Omega/(1)/, m = n/sup /spl Omega/(1)/ and d = O(log n).
Flexible spin-orbit torque devices

We report on state-of-the-art spintronic devices synthesized and fabricated directly on a flexible organic substrate. Large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was achieved in ultrathin ferromagnetic heterostructures of Pt/Co/MgO sputtered on a non-rigid plastic substrate at room temperature. Subsequently, a full magnetic reversal of the Co was observed by exploiting the spin orbit coupling in Pt that leads to a spin accumulation at the Pt/Co interface when an in-plane current is applied. Quasi-static measurements show the potential for operating these devices at nano-second speeds. Importantly, the behavior of the devices remained unchanged under varying bending conditions (up to a bending radius of ≈ ±20–30 mm). Furthermore, the devices showed robust operation even after application of 106 successive pulses, which is likely sufficient for many flexible applications. Thus, this work demonstrates the potential for integrating high performance spintronic devices on flexible substrates, which could lead to ma...
An Anatomical Study of the Greater Trochanter Starting Point for Intramedullary Nailing in the Skeletally Immature

Trochanteric entry femoral nails have been increasing in popularity in the pediatric population for stabilization in fractures and osteotomies. The proper position for entry point in the coronal plane has been well studied; however, the sagittal plane in the pediatric population has not yet been well characterized. Eighty-eight cadaveric femora ages 8-20 years were studied in an apparent neck-shaft angle (ANSA) position, with distal condyles flat on …
Failure Analysis on Crack of High Temperature Header in 300MW Power Stati on Boiler

Through the methods of microscope analysis,mechanical analysis,chemical analysis,metallographic examination and scanning electron microscope,the causes resulting in tee joint crack of high temperature header in 300MW power station boiler were analyzed.The results indicate that the tee joint crack is the reheat crack.Excessive welding residual stress and unreasonable structure are the primary inducement for tee joint crack.
The early days of PEG and PEGylation (1970s-1990s).

Abstract The idea to conjugate PEG [poly(ethylene glycol)] to a protein, i.e., to “PEGylate” a protein, was first proposed by Prof. Frank Davis (Rutgers Univ.) in the late 1960s. He wanted to make the new recombinant proteins less immunogenic in our bodies, and thereby enhance their circulation and activity lifetimes. He thought that if he could conjugate a hydrophilic polymer to the “new” protein, it might not be recognized by the immune system as a foreign molecule. This article is a contribution to the Zwitterionic Special Issue as a personal commentary tracing the story of PEGylation from its beginning with Dr. Davis through a current day post-script. Statement of significance The author knows (or knew) personally most of the early workers in the fields of PEG, PEGylation and non-fouling surfaces, and he has also been personally active in the field since its early days.
Minimum Ethical and Legal Absolutes in Foreign Trade

Foreign trade is an area about which much has been written. The majority of economists, going back to Adam Smith, have generally concluded that trade is good, and that it should be free and unhampered, at least most of the time. The reasoning behind their conclusion is almost always utilitarian-based. Free and unrestricted trade is good because the majority benefits, or because the gains from trade exceed the losses. In economic terms, one would say that trade is a positive-sum game. Economists -- or more likely, politicians -- who say that trade should be restricted generally try to make a special case for some special interest that has come to the legislature seeking protection. The approach in this chapter is distinctively different from what one would find in a standard economics textbook. While utilitarian approaches will be used to illustrate various points, the flaws inherent in any utilitarian approach are many. In fact, utilitarian arguments will be shown to be fatally flawed. Ethical arguments based on utilitarian approaches will be shown to be inferior to a rights approach. I will show that trade protectionism, in any form, must necessarily violate individual rights. I will also attempt to fill a gap in the trade literature which, until now, has almost always failed to view trade from the perspective of individual rights.A bibliography with links to more than 100 articles on international trade is also included.
Performance-portable autotuning of OpenCL kernels for convolutional layers of deep neural networks

We present a portable and highly-optimized Deep Neural Network (DNN) algorithm and its implementation techniques. Our approach is a novel combination of existing HPC techniques that methodically applies autotuning as well as data layout and low-level optimizations that achieve performance matching and/or exceeding what is possible with either reverse engineering and manual assembly coding or proprietary vendor libraries. The former was done inside the maxDNN implementation and the latter is represented by cuDNN. Our work may be directly applied to the most time consuming part of DNN workflow, namely the training process which often needs a restart when it stagnates due to, for example, diminishing gradients and getting stuck in local minima. With the result of performance tests on a consumer-grade GPU with the latest High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) stack, our methodology can match a server grade hardware at a fraction of the price. Another tuning sweep on a new GPU architecture from a different vendor also attests to the portability of our approach and the quality of our implementation.
Application of Molluscan Analyses to the Reconstruction of Past Environmental Conditions in Estuaries

Molluscs possess a number of attributes that make them an excellent source of past environmental conditions in estuaries: they are common in estuarine environments; they typically have hard shells and are usually well preserved in sediments; they are relatively easy to detect in the environment; they have limited mobility as adults; they grow by incremental addition of layers to their shells; and they are found in all the major environments surrounding estuaries—terrestrial, freshwater, brackish, and marine waters. Analysis of molluscan assemblages can contribute information about past changes in sea level, climate, land use patterns, anthropogenic alterations, salinity, and other parameters of the benthic habitat and water chemistry within the estuary. High-resolution (from less than a day to annual) records of changes in environmental parameters can be obtained by analyzing the incremental growth layers in mollusc shells (sclerochronology). The shell layers retain information on changes in water temperature, salinity, seasonality, climate, river discharge, productivity, pollution and human activity. Isotopic analyses of mollusc shell growth layers can be problematic in estuaries where water temperatures and isotopic ratios can vary simultaneously; however, methods are being developed to overcome these problems. In addition to sclerochronology, molluscs are important to Holocene and Pleistocene estuarine palaeoenvironmental studies because of their use in the development of age models through radiocarbon dating, amino acid racemization, uranium-thorium series dating, and electron spin resonance (ESR) dating.
Obstructive sleep apnea: Is it a biomarker of metabolic health in obesity

Abstract Context The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases with obesity, and OSA has been linked to increased cardiovascular risk via hypoxemia and sleep disruption. Objective and Main Outcome Measure(s) We hypothesized that if OSA contributes to cardio-metabolic risk, then 1) obese individuals with OSA will have more cardio-metabolic disease, and 2) patients with OSA who are non-adherent to CPAP treatment will have a greater incidence of cardio-metabolic abnormalities. Design, setting and patients We prospectively recruited obese patients (n = 83; BMI 49 ± 9 kg/m 2 ). All patients had polysomnography and were stratified by 1) the absence/presence of OSA, and 2) metabolic health. Detailed CPAP reports were analyzed for compliance and OSA severity in 38 subjects. Results OSA by polysomnography was present in 69% of patients. While 79% of patients with OSA and 54% without OSA were categorized as MAO (χ2 = 5.47, p Conclusions OSA is not independently associated with overall cardio-metabolic health and insulin resistance in obese patients, even when accounting for treatment compliance. The strongest predictors of the obese metabolic healthy phenotype in OSA patients are age, gender and BMI.
Overthinking and Other Minds: The Analysis Paralysis

Although many cases of knowledge require careful, conscious deliberation, knowledge of other minds is different, for it requires in some sense that we not think too much about it. The primary way t...