cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous inferior epigastric artery pseudoaneurysm.

A case of spontaneous pseudoaneurysm of the inferior epigastric artery—diagnosed on Doppler sonography—is presented. A 19-year-old boy presented with a lump in the anterior abdominal wall. Clinically a smooth, nontender, and noncompressible mass was present above umbilicus to the right of midline. A bruit was heard over the swelling. Doppler sonography demonstrated an oval hypoechoic structure in the right rectus sheath with turbulent flow. The pseudoaneurysm could be traced to the inferior epigastric artery. Surgical excision of pseudoaneurysm was performed. Histopathology showed myxoid changes in the wall of the pseudoaneurysm with no inflammatory changes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2010
Optimal Price and Protection Period Decisions for a Product Under Warranty

This paper proposes and analyzes a model for maximizing the profit of a product sold under warranty. The decision variables assumed in the model are the price of the product and the length of the period throughout which the manufacturer is responsible for service. The paper focuses on the dependence of optimal profit on price and protection period for a realistic and general description of a warrantied product. Failures are stochastic and repairs are of constant cost. Demand depends exponentially on price and warranty duration. After an introduction and literature review, the basic model is presented and assumptions are made about the particular probability law governing product failures. The optimization procedure is then illustrated for certain values of input parameters. Finally, an extensive economic analysis of the sensitivity of the optimal solution to variations in input parameters is provided.
Reply to Comment on Moving screw dislocation in a piezoelectric bimaterial [phys. stat. sol. (b) 241, No. 4, 962 (2004)]

The original article to which this Reply refers was published in phys. stat. sol. (b) 238, No.1, 120-126 (2003) . The Comment referred to is published in phys. stat. sol. (b) 241, No.4, 962-964 (2004) . In their comment, Liu and Fang pointed out two errors in our recent paper [phys. stat. sol. (b) 238, 120 (2003)]. Here we give the corrected solution, based on Suo's superposition scheme and, as can be shown, equivalent to the one given by Liu and Fang. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis with screw fixation: why and how

Though DIP joint fusion can be successfully achieved with K-wires in both the osteoarthritic and rheumatoid patient, their use is often some-what of an inconvenience to the patient. They prohibit showering, may become infected, may back out and catch on clothing, and surely slowdown mobilization of the rest of the finger [1]. For optimal prehension, a modest amount of DIP joint flexion is required, however. Thus, one advantage of K-wires is that they allow fusion in 5 degrees to 10 degrees of flexion (Fig. 1). In the rheumatoid patient in particular, bone stock may be so com-promised that getting enough purchase with wires alone can be challenging. Since making the transition to the Herbert screw, hardware-related complications and patient dissatisfaction with obligatory postoperative functional limitations until union is achieved have been eliminated. Despite the fact that the fusion must occur without flexion-a necessity to ensure intramedullary placement of the screw-patients seem to adapt well (Fig. 2). One further potential disadvantage of screw fixation is the issue of size mismatch between phalanx and screw-especially in the small finger. Though cautious insertion is justified, precise technique allows use even in the small finger-a benefit when early motion is indicated; for example, when concomitant proximal interphalangeal (PIP) implant arthroplasty is performed in an adjacent digit. This device is contraindicated, obviously, if future PIP joint arthro-plasty is anticipated in the same finger (Fig. 3).
Laser and Lidar Technology Development for Highly Accurate Vertical Profiles of Vector Wind Velocity from Earth Orbit

We report progress, challenges, plans and our wish list for enabling a coherent-detection, 2-micron, pulsed, Doppler lidar system to measure winds from space.
Hemorrhagic complications of optic disc drusen and available treatment options.

Abstract Background Optic disc drusen typically are considered benign findings. However, optic disc drusen can manifest with hemorrhagic complications. Case Report A dilated fundus examination on a 27-year-old visually asymptomatic optometry student found a juxtapapillary hemorrhage one quarter of a disc diameter in size in the right eye, immediately off the superior nasal aspect of the disc. Bilateral disc drusen, confirmed by hyperreflectivity on ultrasonography, were also noted. Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography were diagnostic only for a deep isolated intra- and subretinal hemorrhage. Neither diagnostic modality could confirm the presence or absence of a choroidal neovascular membrane. Because of the asymptomatic nature, location of the hemorrhage, and lack of conclusive etiology, close monitoring was recommended. After 4 months, 75% of the hemorrhage had reabsorbed with no visual complications. Conclusions Optic disc drusen can cause ocular hemorrhages through several mechanisms. Although many are benign and self-limiting, it is important to understand available treatment modalities should vision be threatened.
Detecting Regional Events via Statistical Analysis of Geodetic Networks

We present an application of hidden Markov models (HMMs) to analysis of geodetic time series in Southern California. Our model-fitting method uses a regularized version of the deterministic annealing expectation-maximization algorithm to ensure that model solutions are both robust and of high quality. Using the fitted models, we segment the daily displacement time series collected by 127 stations of the Southern California Integrated Geodetic Network (SCIGN) over a two-year period. Segmentations of the series are based on statistical changes as identified by the trained HMMs. We look for correlations in state changes across multiple stations that indicate region-wide activity. We find that although in one case a strong seismic event was associated with a spike in station correlations, in all other cases in the study, time period strong correlations were not associated with any seismic event. This indicates that the method was able to identify more subtle signals associated with aseismic events or long-range interactions between smaller events.
Path for significant SBS suppression in fiber amplifiers

In recent years, a key approach for SBS suppression in fiber amplifiers for high power single frequency fiber lasers is based on designs of transverse acoustic properties in fibers. Although this approach provides some SBS suppressions, our new analysis considering the often omitted leaky acoustic modes demonstrates that it is fundamentally limited to SBS threshold increase of less than ten-fold in the most ideal case. We have established an acoustic mode solver based on simultaneous longitudinal and shear acoustic wave equations and rigorous boundary conditions. This enables us not only the capability of studying designs of arbitrary acoustic velocity profiles, but also finding leaky acoustic modes with their waveguide losses. In this work, we will demonstrate the applicability of acoustic modes and impact of leaky acoustic modes in SBS in fibers, especially those with transverse acoustic velocity profiles designed to suppress SBS. With consideration of the leaky acoustic modes, we have found that design of transverse acoustic velocity profiles only has a very limited SBS suppression in fibers with even the most optimized acoustic anti-guides. Longitudinal acoustic property profiling, on the other hand, can potentially provide well over two-orders of magnitude SBS suppression.
Pulsed-laser evaporation technique for deposition of thin films: Physics and theoretical model.

We have studied in detail the physical phenomena involved in the interaction of high-powered nanosecond excimer-laser pulses with bulk targets resulting in evaporation, plasma formation, and subsequent deposition of thin films. A theoretical model for simulating these laser-plasma--solid interactions has been developed. In this model, the laser-generated plasma is treated as an ideal gas at high pressure and temperature, which is initially confined in small dimensions, and is suddenly allowed to expand in vacuum. The three-dimensional expansion of this plasma gives rise to the characteristic spatial thickness and compositional variations observed in laser-deposited thin films of multicomponent systems. The forward-directed nature of the laser evaporation process has been found to result from anisotropic expansion velocities of the atomic species which are controlled by the dimensions of the expanding plasma.Based on the nature of interaction of the laser beam with the target and the evaporated material, the pulsed-laser evaporation (PLE) process can be classified into three separate regimes: (i) interaction of the laser beam with the bulk target, (ii) plasma formation, heating, and initial three-dimensional isothermal expansion, and (iii) adiabatic expansion and deposition of thin films. The first two processes occur during the time interval of the laser pulse, while the last process initiates after the laser pulse terminates. Under PLE conditions, the evaporation of the target is assumed to be thermal in nature, while the plasma expansion dynamics is nonthermal as a result of interaction of the laser beam with the evaporated material. The equations of compressible gas dynamics are set up to simulate the expansion of the plasma in the last two regimes. The solution of the gas-dynamics equations shows that the expansion velocities of the plasma are related to its initial dimensions and temperature, and the atomic weight of the species. Detailed simulations analyzing the salient features of the laser-deposition process have been carried out. The effects of various beam and substrate parameters including pulse energy density, substrate-target distance, irradiated spot size, and atomic mass of the species have been theoretically analyzed. This model predicts most of the characteristic experimental features of the laser evaporation and deposition of thin films. These characteristic features include (a) the effect of pulse energy density on atomic velocities, (b) the forward-directed nature of the deposit and its dependence on energy density, (c) spatial compositional variations in multicomponent thin films as a function of energy density, (d) dependence of the atomic velocities with atomic weights of various species in multicomponent films, (e) athermal non-Maxwellian-type velocity distribution of the atomic and molecular species, and (f) thickness and compositional variations as a function of substrate-target distance and irradiated spot size.
Entry from the Lipid Bilayer: A Possible Pathway for Inhibition of a Peptide G Protein-Coupled Receptor by a Lipophilic Small Molecule.

The pathways that G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands follow as they bind to or dissociate from their receptors are largely unknown. Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) is a GPCR activated by intramolecular binding of a tethered agonist peptide that is exposed by thrombin cleavage. By contrast, the PAR1 antagonist vorapaxar is a lipophilic drug that binds in a pocket almost entirely occluded from the extracellular solvent. The binding and dissociation pathway of vorapaxar is unknown. Starting with the crystal structure of vorapaxar bound to PAR1, we performed temperature-accelerated molecular dynamics simulations of ligand dissociation. In the majority of simulations, vorapaxar exited the receptor laterally into the lipid bilayer through openings in the transmembrane helix (TM) bundle. Prior to full dissociation, vorapaxar paused in metastable intermediates stabilized by interactions with the receptor and lipid headgroups. Derivatives of vorapaxar with alkyl chains predicted to extend between TM6 a...
The effects of an underwater fish observation technique on stream macroinvertebrates at two spatial scales

Abstract – We examined the effects of snorkeling, a commonly used fish observation technique, on the distribution and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates at both the reach (i.e., 10 m) and patch scale (i.e.,< 1 m) within a southern Appalachian stream (North Carolina, USA). At the reach scale, we quantified increases in macroinvertebrate drift rates associated with snorkeling and used these values to calculate the percentage of the macrobenthos that drifted out of snorkeled reaches. We also used a simple decay model of macroinvertebrate drift to quantify patch scale effects of snorkeling. The model incorporated size specific macroinvertebrate settling rates to estimate the total number of benthic macroinvertebrates that entered the drift in response to snorkeling disturbance. We found that snorkeling consistently produced significant increases in the number of drifting macroinvertebrates. Nevertheless, these increases comprised a very small percentage (<1%) of the total number of organisms in the benthos, suggesting that snorkeling probably did not strongly affect macroinvertebrate assemblages at either the reach or patch scale. However, our analyses also indicated that snorkeling had a disproportionate effect on the drift of small ephemeropterans (4–5% entered the drift in response to snorkeling) relative to other macroinvertebrate taxa. Consequently, the microdistribution of early instar mayflies may have been altered within snorkeled reaches. We conclude that snorkeling related disturbance to the benthos should have a minimal effect on the behavior and distribution of most stream fishes at either the reach or patch scale. However, because snorkeling had a substantial effect on the drift of small mayflies, snorkeling may influence the behavior of fishes that depend on early instar mayflies as a primary food resource.Note
Robust Routing in Wireless Multi-Hop Networks

This paper introduces a robust approach to stochastic multi-hop routing for wireless networks when the quality of links is modelled through a reliability matrix R. Yielding to the practical constraint that link reliabilities have to be measured, we consider that R is random with known mean and variance. Thus, network utilities are also random quantities. Robust routing algorithms are then introduced to maximize an average utility subject to a variance constraint; or, alternatively, to minimize variance subject to a minimum utility yield. We prove that both problems can be solved by convex programming techniques. We further show that the robust routing optimization problems exhibit a separable structure enabling the proposal of routing protocols based on communication with one-hop neighbors only. Although the communication cost to compute the optimal routes is thus significantly reduced, we show that there is no performance penalty with respect to optimal routes computed by a centralized algorithm.
Language-Model Assisted Brain Computer Interface for Typing: A Comparison of Matrix and Rapid Serial Visual Presentation

Noninvasive electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) popularly utilize event-related potential (ERP) for intent detection. Specifically, for EEG-based BCI typing systems, different symbol presentation paradigms have been utilized to induce ERPs. In this manuscript, through an experimental study, we assess the speed, recorded signal quality, and system accuracy of a language-model-assisted BCI typing system using three different presentation paradigms: a 4 $\times$ 7 matrix paradigm of a 28-character alphabet with row-column presentation (RCP) and single-character presentation (SCP), and rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of the same. Our analyses show that signal quality and classification accuracy are comparable between the two visual stimulus presentation paradigms. In addition, we observe that while the matrix-based paradigm can be generally employed with lower inter-trial-interval (ITI) values, the best presentation paradigm and ITI value configuration is user dependent. This potentially warrants offering both presentation paradigms and variable ITI options to users of BCI typing systems.
Substitution of tyrosine for the proximal histidine ligand to the heme of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2: implications for the mechanism of cyclooxygenase activation and catalysis.

Prostaglandin H2 synthesis by prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGHS) requires the heme-dependent activation of the protein's cyclooxygenase activity. The PGHS heme participates in cyclooxygenase activation by accepting an electron from Tyr385 located in the cyclooxygenase active site. Two mechanisms have been proposed for the oxidation of Tyr385 by the heme iron: (1) ferric enzyme oxidizes a hydroperoxide activator and the incipient peroxyl radical oxidizes Tyr385, or (2) ferric enzyme reduces a hydroperoxide activator and the incipient ferryl-oxo heme oxidizes Tyr385. The participation of ferrous PGHS in cyclooxygenase activation was evaluated by determining the reduction potential of PGHS-2. Under all conditions tested, this potential (<−135 mV) was well below that required for reactions leading to cyclooxygenase activation. Substitution of the proximal heme ligand, His388, with tyrosine was used as a mechanistic probe of cyclooxygenase activation. His388Tyr PGHS-2, expressed in insect cells and pu...
Swinburne on providence

My review of Swinburne's elaborate and ingenious higher-good type theodicy will begin with an examination of his argument for why the theist needs a theodicy in the first place. After a preliminary sketch of his theodicy and its crucial free-will plank, its rational-choice theoretic arguments will be critically scrutinized.Richard Swinburne Providence and the Problem of Evil. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998). Pp. xiii + 263. £35.50 Hbk. £14.99 Pbk.
Analysis of particle-borne swine house odors

Abstract Dust from the air of a swine confinement building was collected with an electrostatic precipitator made of glass. The odorous compounds were extracted from the dust with wet diethyl ether. Acids were removed from the ether with sodium carbonate solution, converted to decyl esters, and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. Phenols were next removed from the ether by passage through a column containing sodium hydroxide. The phenols were quantified by gas chromatography of their trimethylsilyl esters. Carbonyls were converted to trichlorophenylhydrazones and quantified by gas chromatography. Results of typical analyses are presented, and the mechanism by which dust amplifies the odor of swine house air is discussed.
Probing the structures of bimetallic Sn/Rh(111) surfaces: Alkali-ion scattering and x-ray photoelectron diffraction studies

We have investigated the bimetallic Sn/Rh(111) system formed by vapor deposition of Sn on a Rh(111) single-crystal surface by applying two powerful structural probes: alkali-ion scattering spectroscopy (ALISS) and x-ray photoelectron diffraction. For initial submonolayer exposures, the surface structure responsible for the observed $(\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{n}/\mathrm{R}\mathrm{h}(111)$ low-energy electron diffraction pattern is explored and its alloy nature is established. The ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ ALISS results indicate that the formation of this surface alloy is produced by the replacement of top-layer Rh atoms by Sn atoms. The resultant alloy surface can be strictly two dimensional if the annealing temperature is high enough $(g~1300\mathrm{K}).$ This surface alloy is buckled with the Sn atoms displaced upward from the Rh surface plane by $0.29\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05\AA{}.$ In addition, x-ray photoemission spectroscopy core-level measurements have been performed on this surface alloy at grazing exit angles and these are compared with results on the analogous Sn/Pt(111) surface alloy. Binding energy shifts of $\ensuremath{-}0.4$ and -0.6 eV for the Rh $3d$ and Sn $3d$ core levels, respectively, were observed for the Rh-Sn alloy compared to the pure elements. A shift of $\ensuremath{-}0.3\mathrm{eV}$ was also seen for the valence-band centroid upon alloying. From temperature-programmed desorption studies it was determined that CO adsorption is decreased on the Sn/Rh surface alloy, but with only a small (4 kcal/mol) decrease in the adsorption energy. The growth mechanism of the Sn film in the Sn/Rh(111) bimetallic system was also probed. The vapor deposition of Sn on Rh(111) at 300 K does not form epitaxial clean Sn films or pure Sn clusters but rather forms a random alloy of increasing thickness.
(η5‐Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)trimethyltitanium as a precursor for the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene

An equimolar mixture of Cp*Ti(CH3)3 (2) and Ph3C+[B(C6F5)4]− (1) forms a highly active and syndioselective catalyst for the polymerization of styrene, producing 96% syndiotactic polystyrene (PS) at an activity of 0.91 × 107 g PS (mol Ti)−1 (mol styrene)−1 h−1. Both activity and syndioselectivity can be increased using tri–isobutylaluminum (TIBA) to scavenge the system. ESR measurements indicate that the polymerization proceeds via titanium(IV) intermediates. Catalysts derived from 2/methylaluminoxane (MAO) as well as Cp*TiCl3/MAO also function as syndioselective styrene polymerization catalysts, but are less active than the ‘cationic’; system derived from 1 and 2.
Mechanism of aldosterone-induced increase of K+ conductance in early distal renal tubule cells of the frog.

Isolated early distal tubule cells (EDC) of frog kidney were incubated for 20–28 hr in the presence of aldosterone and then whole-cell K+ currents were measured at constant intracellular pH by the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. Aldosterone increased barium-inhibitable whole-cell K+ conductance (gK+) threefold. This effect was reduced by amiloride and totally abolished by ouabain. However, aldosterone could still raisegK+ in ouabain-treated cells in the presence of furosemide. We tested whether changes in intracellular pH (pH i ) could be a signal for cells to regulategK+. After removal of aldosterone, the increase ingK+ was preserved by subsequent incubation for 8 hr at pH 7.6 but abolished at pH 6.6. In the complete absence of aldosterone, incubation of cells at pH 8.0 for 20–28 hr raised pH i and doubledgK+. Using the patch-clamp technique, three types of K+-selective channels were identified, which had conductances of 24, 45 and 59 pS. Aldosterone had no effect on the conductance or open probability (P o) of any of the three types of channels. However, the incidence of observing type II channels was increased from 4 to 22%. Type II channels were also found to be pH sensitive,P o was increased by raising pH. These results indicate that prolonged aldosterone treatment raises pH i and increasesgK+ by promoting insertion of K+ channels into the cell membrane. Channel insertion is itself triggered by raising both pH i and increasing the activity of the Na+/K+ pump in early distal cells of frog kidney.
Navigation in Mazes By a Grey Seal, Halichoer Us Gr Yp Us (Fabricius)

The ability of a grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, to navigate a variety of obstacle courses was examined under light and dark conditions in a 6.1 m diameter tank. Four maze patterns were constructed by varying the positions of 18 vertical rods in the tank. One hundred trials were conducted, each consisting of a 2 minute light phase followed by a 2 minute dark phase. The order of presentation of the maze patterns was randomly determined. All trials were monitored for sound. A phosphorescent tag was attached to the seal to allow monitoring of its movements in the dark. The mazes differentially modified the seal's path of travel. Average rates of movement were determined under four conditions: light with no maze present - 108 cm/sec; light with a maze present - 65 cm/sec; dark with no maze present - 15 cm/sec; and, dark with a maze present - 14 crn/sec. The seal displaced 7 obstacles in the light and 17 in the dark. Trials in the dark with errors had a significantly higher mean distance traveled than those without errors: x = 21.6 m vs x = 16.2 m, p<.05. Clicks, clusters of clicks, and hisses were recorded, mostly in the dark. There was a negative correlation between sound production and improved navigational ability. It is suggested the seal relied upon visual orientation in the light, and on tactile cues provided by the vibrissae coupled with memory in the dark.
Measuring Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide from Space: The GOSAT and OCO-2 Missions

The Japanese Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) is providing new insight into atmospheric carbon dioxide trends. The NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory–2 (OCO-2) Mission will build on this record with increased sensitivity resolution, and coverage.
History of minimally invasive spine surgery

Patients prefer minimally invasive techniques because such techniques reduce recovery times and provide cosmetic benefits. Reviewing the history of minimally invasive surgery helps us understand the advances in spine surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery has adopted techniques from several fields to better treat spinal disorders. Minimally invasive spine surgery has been influenced by advances in lasers, endoscopy, and image guidance systems. Discogenic disorders have been treated by using chemonucleolysis, automated percutaneous discectomy, and intradiscal thermoablation. Endoscopic techniques have been used to treat spinal disorders. Thoracoscopes and laparoscopes have been used to perform anterior release of scoliotic or kyphotic deformities and to perform transthoracic microsurgical discectomies. The role of spinal thoracoscopy has expanded to include corpectomy, vertebral reconstruction with internal fixation, hardware application, and resection of neurogenic, spinal, and paraspinal tumors. Advances in interbody fusion cage technology have generated a great deal of interest in laparoscopic techniques. Image-guided systems are widely used in intracranial surgery and have been adapted to facilitate screw placement since the middle 1990s. The use of image-guided systems for pedicle screw placement has improved placement accuracy. The system relies on precise localization of the pedicles with computed tomography. Minimally invasive surgery is designed for "conventional" operations involving extensive anatomic dissections performed via small incisions; it yields shorter recovery times and less morbidity.
Miniaturized, low-cost IFOG IMU for tactical weapon applications

Honeywell, under contract to the US Air Force, has developed a 25 cubic-inch IFOG IMU brassboard which demonstrated performance of < deg/hr bias stability, < 0.05 deg/(root) hr random noise and < 250 ppm scale factor accuracy over the full military temperature range. To overcome the size constraint of 25 cubic-inch, the three-axis IFOG optical cluster was configured with the minimum IMU configuration having only eight optical components. Special loop-closure signal processing was developed to accommodate all three- axis sensor electronics within a single 3.4-inch electronic board. To achieve the IMU cost target of < 6000 dollars, the design utilizes a very lowest cost optical components such as an 830nm light source along with a 1300 nm single- mode fiber sensing coil. Further cost reduction was realized through the robust design which provides very relaxed gyro assembly tolerances. The 25 cubic-inch IFOG IMU will have sufficient performance, small size, ruggedness for high-g launch, and low unit production cost to be suitable for use in a wide variety of tactical weapon systems.
Recent progress on nitrogen/carbon structures designed for use in energy and sustainability applications

Heteroatom modification represents one of the largest studied areas of research related to nanostructured carbon materials, with integrated applications stretching from energy production and storage to sustainability and medical uses. While a wide variety of dopants (boron, phosphorus, iodine, fluorine, etc.) have been studied, doping carbon structures with nitrogen ad-atoms has arguably experienced the greatest progress and brought the most attention over the last several years. Research in this field has conclusively demonstrated that nitrogen doping is an effective way to tailor the properties of carbon and tune the material for various applications of interest. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advances in the last half decade on state-of-the-art carbon modification with nitrogen heteroatoms. Improvements in well-established fabrication/modification processes are discussed as well as novel strategies. Additionally, recent theoretical and experimental findings related to the benefits and effects of nitrogen modification for specific applications in the energy and environmental fields are reviewed.
The value of creativity in business process reengineering

The researcher embarked on a longitudinal case study of Caterpillar, Inc. (located in Peoria, IL) to explore the drivers behind successful business process reengineering (BPR). Caterpillar believes that positive business outcomes can be directly tied to adherence to a systematic BPR methodology and creativity training. The methodology Caterpillar uses is called Business Process Simplification and Improvement (BPS/I). The case examines the link between the BPS/I methodology and Couger's variant model to identify creative opportunities for the organization.
Approximate techniques in solving optimal camera placement problems

While the theoretical foundation of optimal camera placement has been studied for decades, its practical implementation has recently attracted significant research interest due to the increasing popularity of visual sensor network. The discrete camera placement problem is NP-hard and many approximate solutions have been independently studied. The goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive framework in comparing the merits of these techniques. We consider two general classes of camera placement problems and adapt some of the most commonly used approximation techniques in solving them. The accuracy, efficiency and scalability of each technique are analyzed and compared in depth. Extensive experimental results are provided to illustrate the strength and weakness of each method.
Research on the clinical usefulness of the Rorschach: 2. The assessment of cerebral dysfunction.

A review of research on the use of the Rorschach in the assessment of cerebral dysfunction indicated that the Rorschachs of patients with cerebral dysfunction do not manifest any characteristic response in terms of percentages, ratios, or any unique response to any one of the stimulus determinants of the blots (color, shading, the stimulus for movement). The patient with cerebral dysfunction does manifest a unique style of thinking; responses tend to be concrete, perseverative, and stereotypic. This finding is similar to that found with schizophrenics where research, summarized by Frank in 1990, also indicated no uniquely 'objective' response style but reflected a unique cognitive style. These two reviews taken together suggest that the better way to use Rorschach data in clinical work is as an opportunity to assess patients' thinking as opposed to the Rorschach being used as a psychometric device, yielding 'numbers.'
Low birth weight babies are not at increased risk of primary tooth caries.

Article Title and BibliographicInformation Is there an association between low birth weight and caries in the primary dentition? Shulman JD. Caries Res 2005;39(3):161-7. Level of Evidence 3b Purpose/Question Whether or not being born with low birth rate is associated with higher dental caries prevalence in the primary dentition. Source of Funding Not mentioned Type of Study/Design Case-control study
Stabilization of the pendulum on a rotor arm by the method of controlled Lagrangians

Obtains feedback stabilization of an inverted pendulum on a rotor arm by the "method of controlled Lagrangians". This approach involves modifying the Lagrangian for the uncontrolled system so that the Euler-Lagrange equations derived from the modified or "controlled" Lagrangian describe the closed-loop system. For the closed-loop equations to be consistent with available control inputs, the modifications to the Lagrangian must satisfy "matching" conditions. The pendulum on a rotor arm requires an interesting generalization of our earlier approach which was used for systems such as a pendulum on a cart.
Mobile monitoring for distributed infrastructures

Efficient maintenance of distributed infrastructures requires accurate and up-to-date information to ensure reliable service. Existing monitoring techniques commonly rely on either data collected at scattered points or on costly manual inspection of suspect components by service personnel. Implementation of mobile robots for continuous autonomous monitoring of these infrastructures can provide a cost-effective means of gaining accurate information for maintenance planning. This paper offers a discussion on key system-level issues that must be addressed in any mobile monitoring project. These issues include: (a) economic analysis of incorporating mobile robotics into existing maintenance strategies, (b) the ability of the autonomous robot to negotiate diverse and unstructured environment, and (c) the feasibility of integrating needed sensors into a robotic platform. The example application examined in this paper is an autonomous robotic platform that monitors underground power cables for incipient failures.
Vaccine and Monoclonal Antibody That Enhance Mouse Resistance to Candidiasis

Previously we showed that antibodies specific for the glycan β-1,2-mannotriose [β-(Man)(3)] on the cell surface of Candida albicans protect mice against disseminated candidiasis (H. Xin, S. Dziadek, D. R. Bundle, and J. E. Cutler, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 105:13526-13531, 2008). Furthermore, six 14-mer peptides that are within the N-terminal portion of C. albicans wall proteins were conjugated to the glycan in an attempt to create immunogenic glycopeptide conjugates. By a dendritic cell (DC)-based immunization approach, all were immunogenic and three of the six conjugates induced a high degree of protection in mice. Interestingly, whereas all six peptides induced antibody responses when used alone to pulse DCs for subsequent immunizations, three peptides induced protection, and one in particular, peptide Fba (derived from fructose-bisphosphate aldolase), induced robust protective responses and is the focus of the current work. Fba peptide is not restricted by the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II), as it induced anti-Fba antibodies in mice of different H-2 haplotypes and in rabbits. Furthermore, the peptide induced protection against disease caused by different C. albicans strains. Partial protection was achieved when alum was used in place of DCs for Fba immunizations. The passive transfer of immune sera from Fba-vaccinated mice, but not immune serum preabsorbed with fungal cells, conferred protection in naive mice. This result, along with our finding that a monoclonal antibody specific for the peptide, E2-9 (IgM), protected mice against candidiasis, provide strong evidence that antibodies contribute to protection. Our work demonstrates the utility of cell wall peptides alone or as glycopeptides in vaccines designed for the induction of immunity against candidiasis and monoclonal antibodies as a rapid immunoprotective approach against the disease.
Theta power in the EEG of alcoholics.

Background: In this study, the magnitude and spatial distribution of theta power in the resting EEG were examined to explore the changes in the neurophysiological status of the alcoholic brain. Some state- and trait-related issues of theta power increases in the EEG of alcoholics were also examined. Methods: Absolute theta (3–7 Hz) power in eyes-closed EEGs of 307 alcohol-dependent subjects and 307 age- and gender-matched unaffected controls were compared by using a repeated-measures ANOVA for the entire region and three subregions (frontal, central, and parietal) separately. Supplementary to the main analysis, the effect of three clinical variables on absolute theta power was examined separately for each gender by using correlation and regression analyses. Gender differences in the theta log power difference between alcoholics and controls were explored by using regional repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Increased absolute theta power was seen in alcohol-dependent subjects at all scalp locations. The theta log power increase in male alcoholics was prominent at the central and parietal regions and in female alcoholics at the parietal region when compared with the respective matched controls. Correlation of drinking variables with log theta power exhibited no group-specific differences. Conclusions: Increased tonic theta power in the EEG may reflect a deficiency in the information-processing capacity of the central nervous system in alcoholics. The theta power increase may also be an electrophysiological index of the imbalance in the excitation-inhibition homeostasis in the cortex. It is likely that the theta power increase is a trait-related phenomenon and is expressed to differing degrees in the two genders.
A Seat at the Table: Huston Smith in Conversation with Native Americans on Religious Freedom – Edited by Huston Smith (ed.)

Book reviewed: A Seat at the Table: Huston Smith in Conversation with Native Americans on Religious Freedom, Huston Smith (ed.), University of California Press 2006 (0-520-24439-7), xxi + 232 pp., hb $24.95
A survey of Alabama eye care providers in 2010-2011.

State level information regarding eye care resources can provide policy makers with valuable information about availability of eye care services. The current study surveyed ophthalmologists, optometrists and vision rehabilitation providers practicing in Alabama. Three mutually exclusive provider groups were identified, i.e., all ophthalmologists, optometrists, and vision rehabilitation providers working in Alabama in 2010. Eligible providers were contacted in 2010 and 2011 and information was requested regarding provider demographics and training, practice type and service characteristics, and patient characteristics. Descriptive statistics (e.g., means, proportions) were used to characterize provider groups by their demographic and training characteristics, practice characteristics, services provided and patients or clients served. In addition, county level figures demonstrate the numbers and per capita ophthalmologists and optometrists. Ophthalmologists were located in 24 of Alabama’s 67 counties, optometrists in 56, and 10 counties had neither an ophthalmologist nor an optometrist. Overall, 1,033 vision care professionals were identified as eligible to participate in the survey: 217 ophthalmologists, 638 optometrists, and 178 visual rehabilitation providers. Of those, 111 (51.2%) ophthalmologists, 246 (38.6%) optometrists, and 81 (45.5%) rehabilitation providers participated. Most participating ophthalmologists, optometrists, and vision rehabilitation providers identified themselves as non-Hispanic White. Ophthalmologists and optometrists estimated that 27% and 22%, respectively, of their patients had diabetes but that the proportion that adhered to eye care guidelines was 61% among ophthalmology patients and 53% among optometry patients. A large number of Alabama communities are isolated from eye care services. Increased future demand for eye care is anticipated nationally given the aging of the population and decreasing numbers of providers; however, Alabama also has a high and growing prevalence of diabetes which will result in greater numbers at risk for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.
New connections between Greek Tragedy and Japanese Noh theater

(1996). New connections between Greek Tragedy and Japanese Noh theater. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas, pp. 1260-1265.
Rheological and Sensory Properties of Reduced-Fat Processed Cheeses Containing Lecithin

Reduced fat processed cheeses were prepared with granular or hydrogenated soy lecithin. Trained sensory panelists (n = 11) determined that reduced-fat cheeses containing lecithin were more similar in texture attributes to full-fat control cheeses than reduced fat cheeses without lecithin (P<0.05). Consumer flavor and acceptance scores (n =60) for cheeses with lecithin were not different from control cheeses, but texture acceptance scores for cheeses with lecithin were higher than scores for reduced fat control cheeses (P.0.05). Cheeses containing lecithin were less elastic than reduced fat control cheeses as determined by sensory panels and instrumental percent creep recovery. Lecithin improved processed cheese texture without negatively affecting acceptance.
Work Activities and the Onset of First-Time Low Back Pain among New York City Fire Fighters

In a prospective study of first-time low back pain among New York City fire fighters, a total of 115 cases and 109 randomly selected controls were interviewed by telephone between December 1988 and July 1989 to examine the role of recent work activities in the onset of first-time low back pain. After adjusting for known risk factors and off-duty activities, statistically significant high-risk work activities included operating a charged hose inside a building (odds ratio (OR) = 3.26), climbing ladders (OR = 3.18), breaking windows (OR = 4.45), cutting structures (OR = 6.47), looking for hidden fires (OR = 4.32), and lifting objects > or = 18 kg (OR = 3.07). Low-risk activities included connecting hydrants to pumpers (OR = 0.36), pulling booster hose (OR = 0.19), and participating in drills (OR = 0.09) or physical training (OR = 0.16). When further adjusted for exposure to smoke (OR = 13.59), a surrogate for severity of alarms, the ORs associated with high-risk activities were no longer significant. This, however, does not diminish the role of activities in the onset of low back pain. Instead, it suggests an inseparable role for activities and environmental hazards. To examine this, the risk of low back pain was measured within five work zones sequential in time relative to location and distance from a structural fire. The risk gradually increased as the fire fighter moved away from the firehouse (OR = 0.10) and closer to the site of fire (OR = 3.91).
Optical Detectors and Receivers

In this paper, I will review the subjects of optical detectors and optical receivers. I will do this from both a historical perspective and looking ahead toward useful progress that may occur in the future. I will focus, at times, on the lessons learned while performing my own research and development activities, and on how and why the technology has changed. I will share a few anecdotes, which will shed some light on the innovation process-at least as I experienced it.
Direction-Finding Results for a Vector Sensor Antenna on a Small UAV

On small platforms, angle-of-arrival (AOA) estimation of an E-M signal can be accomplished with colocated antennas measuring multiple components of the propagating wave. An electrically small vector sensor (VS) antenna constructed above and below the wing of a small UAV measures three components of the propagating wave. Determining the AOA involves fitting known "calibration" AOAs and corresponding antenna response to a modeled response. The least-squares calibration approach described here determines the azimuth and elevation AOAs for sources located at typical elevation angles to within a few degrees, agreeing with the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB). These results justify the use of small VS antennas to do direction finding (DF) in high SNR environments
Molecular Architecture of a Eukaryotic DNA Replication Terminus-Terminator Protein Complex

DNA replication forks pause at programmed fork barriers within nontranscribed regions of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes of many eukaryotes to coordinate and regulate replication, transcription, and recombination. The mechanism of eukaryotic fork arrest remains unknown. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the promiscuous DNA binding protein Sap1 not only causes polar fork arrest at the rDNA fork barrier Ter1 but also regulates mat1 imprinting at SAS1 without fork pausing. Towards an understanding of eukaryotic fork arrest, we probed the interactions of Sap1 with Ter1 as contrasted with SAS1. The Sap1 dimer bound Ter1 with high affinity at one face of the DNA, contacting successive major grooves. The complex displayed translational symmetry. In contrast, Sap1 subunits approached SAS1 from opposite helical faces, forming a low-affinity complex with mirror image rotational symmetry. The alternate symmetries were reflected in distinct Sap1-induced helical distortions. Importantly, modulating protein-DNA interactions of the fork-proximal Sap1 subunit with the nonnatural binding site DR2 affected blocking efficiency without changes in binding affinity or binding mode but with alterations in Sap1-induced DNA distortion. The results reveal that Sap1-DNA affinity alone is insufficient to account for fork arrest and suggest that Sap1 binding-induced structural changes may result in formation of a competent fork-blocking complex.
Effect of a finite collection aperture on autocorrelation light-scattering spectroscopy*

We have discussed the effect of using a finite aperture in the collection optics of autocorrelation light-scattering experiments. Finite-aperture broadening has no substantial effect on the central Rayleigh component in the absence of external fields. However, such effects are very important for Brillouin and electrophoretic light-scattering experiments. Finite-aperture effects cannot explain the discrepancy between the measurements by Berge et al. and Jamieson and Walton of the mutual diffusion coefficient of the carbon disulfide-acetone system.
Global gene expression analysis of the shoot apical meristem of maize (Zea mays L.)

*Summary All above-ground plant organs are derived from shoot apical meristems (SAMs). Global analyses of gene expression were conducted on maize (Zea mays L.) SAMs to identify genes preferentially expressed in the SAM. The SAMs were collected from 14-day-old B73 seedlings via laser capture microdissection (LCM). The RNA samples extracted from LCM-collected SAMs and from seedlings were hybridized to microarrays spotted with 37 660 maize cDNAs. Approximately 30% (10 816) of these cDNAs were prepared as part of this study from manually dissected B73 maize apices. Over 5000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) (about 13% of the total) were differentially expressed (P < 0.0001) between SAMs and seedlings. Of these, 2783 and 2248 ESTs were up- and down-regulated in the SAM, respectively. The expression in the SAM of several of the differentially expressed ESTs was validated via quantitative RT-PCR and/or in situ hybridization. The up-regulated ESTs included many regulatory genes including transcription factors, chromatin remodeling factors and components of the gene-silencing machinery, as well as about 900 genes with unknown functions. Surprisingly, transcripts that hybridized to 62 retrotransposon-related cDNAs were also substantially up-regulated in the SAM. Complementary DNAs derived from the LCM-collected SAMs were sequenced to identify additional genes that are expressed in the SAM. This generated around 550 000 ESTs (454-SAM ESTs) from two genotypes. Consistent with the microarray results, approximately 14% of the 454-SAM ESTs from B73 were retrotransposon-related. Possible roles of genes that are preferentially expressed in the SAM are discussed.
Power attacks on secure hardware based on early propagation of data

The early propagation effect found in many logic gates is a potential source of data-dependent power consumption. We show that the effect and the corresponding power dependency can be targeted for successful power analysis attacks in cryptographic hardware. Many of the current balanced gate designs did not directly consider the effect and are vulnerable to power analysis attacks.