cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dry Process Pattern Transfer for X-Ray Mask Fabrication

This paper will describe our current X-Ray mask development efforts at ALO that have produced half-micron "device level" masks. It will focus on the pattern transfer phase of the mask fabrication process. This combines the use of Electron Beam writing strategies, wet etching, and 02 - RIE with a tri-level resist (PBS / Cr / S1400-23). Although the mask has no buried topography, the resist stencil must exhibit etched structures with vertical sidewalls and no undercutting of the transfer layer mask. This is made difficult by the need for overetch periods (≈30%) that are necessitated by pattern generated microloading effects in submicron geometries. An additional constraint involves the Au plating base beneath the tri-level layer, whose thickness integrity must be maintained prior to electroplating. This processing is carried out on a five-micron thick, three inch diameter free-standing boron nitride membrane substrate. This paper will also discuss some studies using a tri-level structure where RIE will define the mid-level and resist stencil layer. This area of study is one of several critical aspects of X-Ray mask technology that must be successfully developed to achieve 0.25 micron mask design rules.
An orally bioavailable spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor delays disease progression and prolongs survival in murine lupus.

Objective To assess whether R788, an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)–dependent signaling, could modulate disease in lupus-prone (NZB × NZW)F1 (NZB/NZW) mice via inhibition of Fc receptor (FcR) and B cell receptor signaling. Methods R788 was administered to NZB/NZW mice before and after disease onset. Proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen levels, and autoantibody titers were examined periodically, and overall survival and renal pathologic features were assessed following long-term treatment (24–34 weeks). The distribution and immunophenotype of various splenic T cell and B cell subpopulations were evaluated at the time of study termination. Arthus responses in NZB/NZW mice pretreated with R788 or Fc-blocking antibody (anti-CD16/32) were also examined. Results When R788 was administered prior to or after disease onset, it delayed the onset of proteinuria and azotemia, reduced renal pathology and kidney infiltrates, and significantly prolonged survival of lupus-prone NZB/NZW mice; autoantibody titers were minimally affected throughout the study. Dose-dependent reductions in the numbers of CD4+ activated T cells expressing high levels of CD44 or CD69 were apparent in spleens from R788-treated mice. Minimal effects on the numbers of naive T cells expressing CD62 ligand and total CD8+ T cells per spleen were observed following long-term drug treatment. R788 pretreatment resulted in reduced Arthus responses in NZB/NZW mice, similar to results obtained in mice pretreated with FcR-blocking antibody. Conclusion We demonstrate that a novel Syk-selective inhibitor prevents the development of renal disease and treats established murine lupus nephritis. These data suggest that Syk inhibitors may be of therapeutic benefit in human lupus and related disorders.
The Relevance of Personality for Political Participation

Many social scientists have been so impressed with the influence of the socio-cultural matrix on human behavior, that they have tended to see political and other participation as almost entirely determined by the social, economic, and cultural variables. The author believes political behavior cannot adequately be explained without somne understanding of the interplay among the intra psychic influences, the socio-cultural opportunities and demands, and the political behavior itself. Daniel J. Levinson teaches psychology at Harvard University.
Neonatal lymphocyte reactivity as an indicator of intrauterine bacterial contact.

Abstract The in-vitro response of neonatal lymphocytes to a microorganism was studied to determine whether it would serve as an indicator of intrauterine fœtal-antigen contact in infants born of mothers whose pregnancies were complicated by urinary-tract infection. The experimental model consisted of harvesting peripheral-blood lymphocytes from neonates born to two groups of mothers: those who were known to have had significant Escherichia coli bacteriuria or pyelonephritis at some time during gestation; and those who, on one occasion at least, had normal urine cultures, and were without documented disease of the urinary tract. The lymphocytes were grown in cell culture with autologous plasma and in the presence of a cell-free extract of E. coli as the stimulating antigen. On the fourth day, mitotic arrest was produced by colchicine, the cultures were harvested by centrifugation of the cellular sediments, and coverslips were treated with Wright's stain. Mitoses, estimated quantitatively, were considered the experimental endpoint and an indicator of an anamnestic immune response. Immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM) were measured by radial immunodiffusion. Significant mito- genesis was observed in all 10 cultures containing lympho- cytes from neonates born of mothers with bacilluria. These infants had a considerable degree of neonatal morbidity. In contrast, 9 out of 11 cultures containing lymphocytes from the second group of neonates, who had no birth complication, were non-reactive to the identical in-vitro antigen. Immunoglobulin levels generally were not raised in either experimental category and did not correlate with the mitogenic response. The results are consistent with the concept that maternal infection may result in tranplacental transfer of bacteria with adverse clinical consequences, and provide evidence that cellular reactivity, rather than humoral antibody, more directly reflects the antigenic exposure of the fŒtus.
Robust control of seismic structures using independent modal-space techniques

ABSTRACTActive robust structural controls have been utilized in the control of aerospace structures for many years but they haveonly been recently investigated in the context of control for civil engineering structures. The results of an investigation of theutilization of these methods on building-like structures are presented in this paper. The closed-loop systems take into accountthe limited available actuation force and are inherently insensitive to parameter variations and modeling uncertainties.Independent Modal-Space Control (IMSC) is a structural control technique where the multi-input-multi-outputconfiguration-space system is transformed into a set of uncoupled single-input-single-output modal-space systems. A modalcontroller is designed for each modal-space system and the set of modal controllers is transformed back into configuration-space. By combining IMSC with robust control techniques such as LQGILTR or H, a robust structural control designtechnique is proposed in this paper. Robust IMSC techniques are employed for control of seismic structures where a smallnumber of actuators are used to control the first few modes of the structure.We have designed and implemented robust IMSC controllers on an experimental building-like structure. Thisstructure utilizes torque motor driven active tendons as actuators and rests on a shaking table which is capable of providing onedimensional base excitation similar to earthquake ground motion. A three input-three output model of the structure, includingthe torque motor actuators, was developed using experimental data. The experimental structural identification technique, basedon standard modal analysis methods, provides the mathematical model that describes the behavior of the structure. Anbased IMSC controller has been designed and implemented on this structure using a dSPACE control development system.The results show that the performance of the system is satisfactory in the presence of unmodeled dynamics, parametervariations, and disturbance inputs.Keywords: control systems, IMSC, robust control, seismic response control, structural control.1. INTRODUCTIONDesign practices in active seismic response control have come a long way since the concept of actively controlling abuilding was suggested by Kobori1 in 1986. Designs have been successfully implemented on actual buildings2 using classical
Ab initio methods for the optical properties of CdSe clusters

We have performed time-dependent density functional theory and $GW$/Bethe-Salpeter calculations of the optical properties of a series of CdSe clusters ranging in size from 10 to 82 atoms and passivated by fictitious atoms of half-integer charge. The two methods predict a different character of the optical excitations of the CdSe clusters. In time-dependent density functional theory, the lowest-energy excitation is mainly due to a single-level to single-level transition. In $GW$/Bethe-Salpeter, there is a strong mixture of several different transitions, which is attributed to excitonic effects. Furthermore, $GW$/Bethe-Salpeter calculations predict the presence of dark transitions (optically forbidden) before the first bright transition for all but one of the clusters studied, whereas time-dependent density functional theory predicts the presence of dark transitions for only the two largest clusters. In this paper, we plot and analyze the effective valence and empty state charge densities of these clusters. We determine that the mixing in transitions observed in the $GW$/Bethe-Salpeter calculations is mostly due to the Bethe-Salpeter kernel and not from the fact that quasiparticle wave functions are a linear combination of wave functions obtained from density functional theory. We calculate the radiative decay lifetime of the excitations, and we explain the selection rules that lead to the presence of dark transitions in two of the clusters: ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{17}{\mathrm{Se}}_{28}$ and ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{32}{\mathrm{Se}}_{50}$. Finally, we compare time-dependent density functional theory and $GW$/Bethe-Salpeter absorption spectra to that of Mie theory, which has recently been shown to yield surprisingly accurate results for Si clusters.
Interactive generation of digital anthropomorphic phantoms from XCAT shape priors

In SPECT imaging, patient respiratory and body motion can cause artifacts that degrade image quality. Developing and evaluating motion correction algorithms are facilitated by simulation studies where a numerical phantom and its motion are precisely known, from which image data can be produced. Previous techniques to test motion correction methods generated XCAT phantoms modeled from MRI studies and motion tracking but required manually segmenting the major structures within the whole upper torso, which can take 8 hours to perform. Additionally, segmentation in two dimensional MRI slices and interpolating into three dimensional shapes can lead to appreciable interpolation artifacts as well as requiring expert knowledge of human anatomy in order to identify the regions to be segmented within each slice. We propose a new method that mitigates the long manual segmentation times for segmenting the upper torso. Our interactive method requires that a user provide only an approximate alignment of the base anatomical shapes from the XCAT model with an MRI data. Organ boundaries from aligned XCAT models are warped with displacement fields generated from registering a baseline MR image to MR images acquired during pre-determined motions, which amounts to automated segmentation each organ of interest. With our method we can show the quality of segmentation is equal that of expert manual segmentation does not require a user who is an expert in anatomy, and can be completed in minutes not hours. In some instances, due to interpolation artifacts, our method can generate higher quality models than manual segmentation.
Lower cervical spine facet cartilage thickness mapping.

Summary Objective Finite element (FE) models of the cervical spine have been used with increasing geometric fidelity to predict load transfer and range of motion (ROM) for normal, injured, and treated spines. However, FE modelers frequently treat the facet cartilage as a simple slab of constant thickness, impeding the accuracy of FE analyzes of spine kinematics and kinetics. Accurate prediction of facet joint contact forces and stresses, ROM, load transfer, and the effects of facet arthrosis require accurate representation of the geometry of the articular cartilage of the posterior facets. Previous research has described the orientations of the facet surfaces, their size and aspect ratio, and mean and maximum thickness. However, the perimeter shape of the cartilaginous region and the three-dimensional distribution of cartilage thickness remain ill-defined. As such, it was the intent of this research to further quantify these parameters. Method Vertebrae from seven fresh-frozen unembalmed human cadavers were serially sectioned and the osteochondral interface and the articulating surface of each facet on each slice were identified. The cartilage thickness was recorded at nine equidistant points along the length of each facet. It was observed that facets tended to have elliptic or ovoid shapes, and best-fit ovoid perimeter shapes were calculated for each facet. The thickness distribution data were used to represent the entire three-dimensional cartilage distribution as a function of one variable, and a thickness distribution function was optimized to fit the thickness distribution. The antero-posterior and medial/lateral shifts of the thickness center relative to the geometric were calculated and reported. Results High correlation was observed between the ovoid perimeter shapes and the measured facet shapes in radial coordinates, indicating that the ovoid approximation is able to accurately represent the range of facet geometries observed. High correlation between the measured and fitted thickness distributions indicates that the fitting function used is able to accurately represent the range of cartilage thickness distributions observed. Conclusion Utilization of a more physiologic cartilage thickness distribution in FE models will result in improved representation of cervical spine kinematics and increased predictive power. The consistency observed in the thickness distribution function in this study indicates that such a representation can be generated relatively easily.
Atomic-scale analysis of liquid-gallium embrittlement of aluminum grain boundaries

Abstract Material strengthening and embrittlement are controlled by intrinsic interactions between defects, such as grain boundaries (GBs), and impurity atoms that alter the observed deformation and failure mechanisms in metals. In this work, we explore the role of atomistic-scale energetics on liquid-metal embrittlement of aluminum (Al) due to gallium (Ga). Ab initio and molecular mechanics were employed to probe the formation/binding energies of vacancies and segregation energies of Ga for 〈1 0 0〉, 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 1〉 symmetric tilt grain boundaries (STGBs) in Al. We found that the GB local arrangements and resulting structural units have a significant influence on the magnitude of the vacancy binding energies. For example, the mean vacancy binding energies for 〈1 0 0〉, 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 1〉 STGBs in the 1st layer was found to be −0.63, −0.26 and −0.60 eV, respectively. However, some GBs exhibited vacancy binding energies closer to bulk values, indicating interfaces with zero sink strength, i.e. these GBs may not provide effective pathways for vacancy diffusion. The results from the present work showed that the GB structure and the associated free volume also play significant roles in Ga segregation and the subsequent embrittlement of Al. The Ga mean segregation energies for 〈1 0 0〉, 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 1〉 STGBs in the 1st layer were found to be −0.21, −0.09 and −0.21 eV, respectively, suggesting a stronger correlation between the GB structural unit, its free volume and the segregation behavior. Furthermore, as the GB free volume increased, the difference in segregation energies between the 1st layer and the 0th layer increased. Thus, the GB character and free volume provide an important key to understanding the degree of anisotropy in various systems. The overall characteristic Ga absorption length scale was found to be about ∼10, 8 and 12 layers for 〈1 0 0〉, 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 1〉 STGBs, respectively. In addition, a few GBs of different tilt axes with relatively high segregation energies (between 0 and −0.1 eV) at the boundary were also found. This finding provides a new atomistic perspective for the GB engineering of materials with smart GB networks to mitigate or control liquid-metal embrittlement and more general embrittlement phenomena in alloys.
Nifedipine and the conditioning response

Abstract The effect of nifedipine (N) on conditioning was studied in 14 healthy sedentary men, aged 20 to 34 years. Subjects were ranked according to maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), paired, and 1 of each pair randomly assigned to take N, 20 mg, or placebo (C) 3 times daily. Exercise conditioning was 5 times/week for 6 weeks at >85% of maximal heart rate for both groups. Adherence to exercise was 81 % for the N and 82% for the C group. After training, the N group improved VO2 max from 41.4 ± 1.4 to 51.6 ± 2.0 ml/kg/min (p
Analytic solutions for Rayleigh-Taylor growth rates in smooth density gradients

The growth rate of perturbations on the shell of a laser fusion target can be estimated as ..sqrt..gk , where g is the shell acceleration and k is the transverse wave number of the perturbation. This formula overestimates the growth rate, and should be modified for the effects of density gradients and/or ablation of the unstable interface. The density-gradient effect is explored here analytically. With the use of variational calculus to explore all possible density profiles, the growth rate is shown to exceed ..sqrt..gk/(1+kL) , where L is a typical density-gradient scale length. Density profiles actually exhibiting this minimum growth rate are found.
OBSERVATION OF CAVITATION SCALE AND THERMODYNAMIC EFFECTS IN STATIONARY AND ROTATING COMPONENTS

Experimental measurements are presented on cavitation performance effects for a venturi test section and a centrifugal pump. Theoretical expectations and comparisons with previous investigators' data are discussed. The following general conclusions are drawn: (1) Significant scale effects were found for all degrees of cavitation, and for both venturi and pump. The direction of the effects is consistent with present literature. (2) Certain of these effects can be correlated in terms of Reynolds' number; however, Reynolds' number alone is not a sufficient correlating parameter.
Steroid Δ4-5β-reductase in human mammary tumors

Steroid delta 4-5 alpha- and delta 4-5 beta-reductase activity was determined in 16 human mammary tumors and 8 DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors using a spectrophotometric assay. Steroid delta 4-5 alpha-reductase was present in all tumors investigated while delta 4-5 beta-reductase was detected in only 6 estrogen receptor negative human breast tumors and absent in all estrogen receptor positive human breast tumors as well as in all rat mammary tumors. Further support for the presence of delta 4-5 beta-reductase was established by using a dual-labelling technique consisting of incubating tumor slices with [14C] testosterone and adding [3H] etiocholanolone, [3H] testosterone and [3H]-5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone at the end of the reaction. Following extraction and chromic acid oxidation, 4-androstenedione, 5 beta-androstanedione and 5 alpha-androstanedione were isolated and purified, and the constancy of the 14C/3H ratio was used as proof of 5 alpha-reductase and 5 beta-reductase. These results were shown to be consistent with the data obtained using the spectrophotometric assay.
How to Build Successful iPad Programs in Health Science Libraries: A Tale of Two Libraries

The Harriet F. Ginsburg Health Sciences Library at University of Central Florida's College of Medicine (UCF COM) and the Health Professions Division (HPD) Library at Nova Southeastern University developed iPad programs to expand library services, promote more frequent use of library e-resources, and redefine the roles of academic health sciences libraries, academic medical librarians, and faculty-library relationships. Although both libraries’ iPad initiatives had similar beginnings, their paths diverged. Each library's program led to larger initiatives at both institutions. iPads are now incorporated in classrooms and clinical settings with the libraries as the center of deployment, instruction, and support.
Polyamines Biological modulators of membrane fusion

Abstract The effect of polyamines on the kinetics of Ca2+- and Mg2+-mediated membrane fusion was studied by following the intermixing of the contents of vesicles composed of phosphatidate/phosphatidylserine/ phosphatidylethanolamine/cholesterol (1:2:3:2). Addition of polyamines at specific concentration ranging from 40 to 400 μM promoted aggregation of the vesicles. In addition, low levels of spermine (50–100 μM) enhanced both Ca2+ - and Mg2+-mediated fusion. The initial fusion rate of this membrane system increased more than 200-fold when fusion was initiated by Ca2+ after 5 min pre-incubation of vesicles with 50 μM spermine. These results indicate that in addition to their other known effects on cellular metabolism, polyamines may be involved in modulating intracellular membrane fusion.
BK Gene Disruption Enhances Acute Renal Vascular Response to Angiotensin II

Renal vascular resistance is involved in the regulation of blood pressure through its contribution to the overall peripheral resistance and role in salt/fluid balance. Renal vascular tone is determined by the equilibrium between vasoconstrictive and vasodilative forces in renal arterial smooth muscle cells, where Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and BK channels are functionally coupled. In the present study, we investigated the role of BK in the maintenance of arterial blood flow and in its response to Angiotensin II (ANG II) stimulation. To this end, we used BK knockout (BK-/-) mice and ultrasound imaging to measure renal and aortic blood flow. In right renal arteries, peak systolic blood flow velocities (PSV) were similar in wild type, wt (502±122 mm/s, n=5) and BK-/- (482±64 mm/s, n=4) mice. End-diastolic velocities (EDV) also showed no differences (EDVwt=180±125 mm/s vs. EDVBK-/-=181±135 mm/s). Renal arterial resistive indexes (RI=[PSV-EDV]/PSV) appeared to be at the same level (RIwt=0.63±0.11, n=5 vs. RIBK-/-=0.63±0.05, n=4). Likewise, in abdominal aorta there were no significant differences in PSV, EDV, and RI. After administration of ANG II to wt mice (s.c., 500 ng/g body weight), right renal arterial PSV was reduced to 30.9±5.5% (n=6) of its initial value and recovered to 77.7±7.9% after 1 h. Remarkably, in BK-/- (n=3) PSV was reduced to 15.9±0.4%, and only recovered to 37.6±0.4% within the same time frame. Our findings show that loss of BK function does not cause alterations in basal arterial blood flow but critically potentiates the vasoconstrictor action of ANG II in renal arteries. Supported by NIH.
How does superoxide dismutase protect against tumor necrosis factor: a hypothesis informed by effect of superoxide on "free" iron.

Abstract The manganese-containing mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is induced by TNF and protects against the necrotic effect of this cytokine. Yet TNF does not increase production of O2− in mitochondria. How is this to be reconciled? TNF is known to increase production of arachidonate, by activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Arachidonate will be converted to the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxide by lipoxygenase. O−2 increases “free” iron by oxidizing [4Fe-4S] clusters of dehydratases, such as aconitase. Ferrous iron in turn reacts with alkyl hydroperoxides, in an analogue of the Fenton reaction, to produce alkoxyl radicals: which can initiate the oxidation of polyunsaturated lipids by a free radical chain reaction. MnSOD protects against TNF by decreasing O2− attack on [4Fe-4S] clusters and thus lowering free iron. Inhibitors of PLA2 and of lipoxygenase should also protect by decreasing fatty acyl hydroperoxides and they are known to do so. Cells having little mitochondrial MnSOD, or cells unable to induce that defensive enzyme in response to TNF, will consequently have relatively high levels of “free” iron in that organelle; leading to enhanced lipid peroxidation. Such cells will be preferentially killed by this cytokine.
Gene regulation: expression and silencing coupled.

The RNA interference pathway can inhibit the expression of specific genes. It now seems that an essential component of the silencing process is the gene-expression machinery itself.
Continuous Amorphization of Zr-Based Alloys by Controlled Mechanical Intermixing

Binary Zr-(Cu, Ni, Al) alloys were mechanically intermixed by cold-rolling stacks of elemental foils. The results indicate that solid-state amorphization is initiated if the grain size of the Zr-Cu and Zr-Ni alloys falls below a critical value. Amorphization was not observed for the Zr-Al alloy. These results are in accordance to the predictions of a model for solid-state amorphization. The comparison with the results on a quaternary Zr-Cu-Ni-Al alloy indicate the influence of multicomponent alloying on the glass-forming ability of Zr-rich alloys by mechanical working.
International Liquidity and the Balance of Payments of a Reserve-Currency Country

I. The framework of a simpre gold-exchange standard, 572. — II. The system's response to changes in the gold content of reserves, 573. — III. The stability of the system, 579. — IV. Implications for policy, 582. —Appendix: piivate balances and the stability of the system, 583.
Hemoglobin deaconess a new deletion mutant: β131 (H9) glutamine deleted

Summary Hemoglobin Deaconess was detected as a band migrating in the position of fetal hemoglobin when an hemolyzate was electrophoresed on cellulose acetate at pH 8.4. This abnormal hemoglobin also migrates between Hb S and C on citrate agar electrophoresis at pH 6.2. Chemical characterization of this mutant hemoglobin shows glutamine is deleted at position 131 in the β-chain. Initial data indicates that the stripped hemoglobin has a reduced oxygen affinity with a Hill constant of n=2.0.
Reforming the law in action through empirically grounded civil commitment guidelines.

Some assumptions that guided the national task force in developing the Guidelines for involuntary Civil Commitment are identified and discussed. The task force's multidisciplinary membership is seen as enhancing the credibility of the suggested reforms. The task force developed guidelines instead of a model law, avoiding disputes about the philosophical basis of commitment laws and providing local jurisdictions the liberty to adapt the task force's recommendations to suit local conditions. Both the problems identified and the suggestions offered by the guidelines were based on the empirical experience of local commitment systems. Communication among the components of civil commitment systems was seen as crucial to reform and as achievable through a recommended structural change.
Quadratic extensions of number fields with elementary abelian 2-prim K2(OF) of smallest rank

Abstract This paper deals with number fields F for which the 2-primary subgroup of K2(OF), the Milnor K-group of the ring of integers of F, is of a particularly simple type, namely number fields that have the following property: F is totally real and the 2-primary subgroup of K 2 (O F ) is elementary abelian of smallest rank possible. A criterion is given for when a quadratic extension of such a number field again has property (∗). It is also proved that for any number field with property (∗) there exist infinitely many quadratic extensions that again have this property. Moreover, a family of number fields that have property (∗) and that have additional interesting properties with respect to units and class number is exhibited.
Diversity of Alticinae in Oaxaca, Mexico: A preliminary study (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

This is a preliminary study of the diversity of the Flea Beetles (Alticinae) of the Mexican state of Oaxaca based on fieldwork by the author in 1991, 1997, and 2010, the literature, and specimens in several institutional collections. The number of genera and species for Mexico as well as for Oaxaca increased significantly from previous studies. There are now 625 species in 90 genera recorded from Mexico with 275 species in 68 genera recorded from Oaxaca. There are 113 species known only from the state of Oaxaca and another 38 species known only from Oaxaca and the surrounding states. Oaxaca has a relatively high diversity as well as a high percentage of endemism. This study also demonstrates the effects of how even a small amount of fieldwork together with extracting specimen data from institutional collections can significantly increase the total faunistic and diversity knowledge of an area. A complete list of the genera and species known from Oaxaca is included.
Ileocolic intussusception presenting as acute duodenal obstruction

We present a case of ileocolic intussusception in a 5-month-old male infant with associated type III malrotation who presented with acute duodenal obstruction. The clinical presentation and initial radiologic studies suggested a midgut volvulus. The intussuceptum was incarcerated within the paraduodenal recess, causing extrinsic duodenal compression with complete obstruction. The intussusception was surgically reduced and a Ladd's procedure with appendectomy was performed. No intrinsic duodenal pathology was found at surgery. The infant's recovery was uneventful. The relationship between intussception, paraduodenal hernias, and anomalies of intestinal rotation and fixation are discussed.
Biomechanical Comparison of Volar Fixed-Angle Locking Plates for AO C3 Distal Radius Fractures: Titanium Versus Stainless Steel With Compression

Purpose To determine biomechanical differences between a fixed-angle locking volar titanium plate (VariAx; Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI) and a fixed-angle compression locking volar stainless steel plate (CoverLoc Volar Plate; Tornier, Amsterdam, Netherlands) in the fixation of simulated AO C3 distal radius fractures. Methods Eighteen cadaveric upper extremities (9 matched pairs) with an average age of 54 years were tested. A 4-part AO C3 fracture pattern was created in each specimen. The fractures were reduced under direct vision and fixed with either the fixed-angle locking volar titanium plate or the fixed-angle compression locking volar stainless steel plate. Motion tracking analysis was then performed while the specimens underwent cyclic loading. Changes in displacement, rotation, load to failure, and mode of failure were recorded. Results The fragments, when secured with the fixed-angle compression locking stainless steel construct, demonstrated less displacement and rotation than the fragments secured with the fixed-angle locking titanium plate under physiological loading conditions. In the fixed-angle compression locking stainless steel group, aggregate displacement and rotation of fracture fragments were 5 mm and 3° less, respectively, than those for the fixed-angle locking titanium group. The differences between axial loads at mechanical failure and stiffness were not statistically significant. The compression locking stainless steel group showed no trend in mode of failure, and the locking titanium plate group failed most often by articular fixation failure (5 of 9 specimens). Conclusions The fixed-angle compression locking stainless steel volar plate may result in less displacement and rotation of fracture fragments in the fixation of AO C3 distal radius fractures than fixation by the fixed-angle locking volar titanium plate. However, there were no differences between the plates in mechanical load to failure and stiffness. Clinical relevance Fixation of distal radius AO C3 fracture patterns with the fixed-angle compression locking stainless steel plate may provide improved stability of fracture fragments.
Sensory system device for suture-manipulation tension measurement for surgery

In this paper, we describe a sensor-based device for suture-manipulation tension measurement for surgical purposes. The main purpose of this device is to protect the surgeon from applying the excessive force in making suture knots for any kind of surgery. This excessive tension might lead to skin rupture, tissue damage, and suture cut, etc. It is a simple device that can be used to train the new surgeons before working on real stitching on the human body, or used for future robotic system to perform delicate stitching and do plastic operations. We have used two-way visualization of suture tension using MATLAB GUI (tension vs. time) and LCD (numerical value-Newton) display on the device. The device is equipped with special phonic warning system using HCS12 microcontroller. When tension reaches to certain threshold (depends on the suture category), warning system starts alarming.
Measuring the VC-Dimension Using Optimized Experimental Design

VC-dimension is the measure of model complexity (capacity) used in VC-theory. The knowledge of the VC-dimension of an estimator is necessary for rigorous complexity control using analytic VC generalization bounds. Unfortunately, it is not possible to obtain the analytic estimates of the VC-dimension in most cases. Hence, a recent proposal is to measure the VC-dimension of an estimator experimentally by fitting the theoretical formula to a set of experimental measurements of the frequency of errors on artificially generated data sets of varying sizes (Vapnik, Levin, & Le Cun, 1994). However, it may be difficult to obtain an accurate estimate of the VC-dimension due to the variability of random samples in the experimental procedure proposed by Vapnik et al. (1994). We address this problem by proposing an improved design procedure for specifying the measurement points (i.e., the sample size and the number of repeated experiments at a given sample size). Our approach leads to a nonuniform design structure as opposed to the uniform design structure used in the original article (Vapnik et al., 1994). Our simulation results show that the proposed optimized design structure leads to a more accurate estimation of the VC-dimension using the experimental procedure. The results also show that a more accurate estimation of VC-dimension leads to improved complexity control using analytic VC-generalization bounds and, hence, better prediction accuracy.
Type III: 'The Theory of the Observer'

Just as the maestro creates harmony with the notes issued from the orchestra, we are able to exist in harmony even with our own diametrically opposed views of reality. In the world of engineering management one view provides us the necessary depth to articulate specifications for design, but, at the expense of understanding the whole. The other view provides us the necessary breadth to bind the limits of our requirements, but at the expense of saturating the design with unnecessary information. The duality of the two views creates paradoxical barriers that must be overcome. This paper explores historically the generalization of the two views, and describes the quandary of these views and their impact to the final solution. Additionally, the paper postulates that bridging or unifying the two views is unproductive, but a third view is possible, a view that actually exists by virtue of the two opposing views and acts as the catalyst for change regardless of the existence of the paradox. This third view, for the purpose of this paper will be labeled as type III, exist through harmony and as such is a condition of the first two views, yet is separate and distinct of both types. In this paper a thesis of the philosophical construct mat describes the type III worldview is provided.
The history of Korean school music education

Music education does not exist independently, but is influenced by changes in society. Music educators must be responsive to those influences. By relating music education to political, economic, social, cultural and educational developments in the Republic of Korea during the period from 1945 to 2005, this article aims to put that education in a historical and social context. During those 60 years, Korean school music education has changed considerably in response to the development of government, economy, culture and general education in Korean society. Music curricula and textbooks have been transformed seven times in response to changes in Korean public life. The most substantial changes may be summarized as follows: (1) as the political influence on music education lessened, educators deemphasized moral development and stressed the development of aesthetic perception and sensitivity; (2) the nation's economic growth contributed to the provision of adequate music programs; (3) as music education became...
The Membrane-Associated Guanylate Kinase Protein MAGI-1 Binds Megalin and Is Present in Glomerular Podocytes

Abstract . The transmembrane endocytic receptor glycoprotein 330/megalin (hereafter referred to as megalin) is localized to the apical membrane domain of epithelial cells, where it is involved in the uptake of proteins from extracellular sources. The cytoplasmic domain of megalin contains amino acid motifs that have the potential to bind to other proteins, which may influence its localization or function. The yeast two-hybrid system was used to search for proteins that bind to the cytoplasmic tail of megalin, and a protein fragment from a mouse embryonic cDNA library that contained a single PDZ domain was identified. This protein, which was named g lycoprotein 330- as sociated p rotein (GASP), appears to be a truncated mouse counterpart of the human and rat proteins atrophin-1-interacting protein-1 and synaptic scaffolding molecule, respectively. The interaction of GASP with megalin is mediated by the PDZ domain of GASP binding to the DSDV motif found at the carboxyl-terminus of megalin. A mutant version of megalin that lacks the terminal valine is unable to bind to GASP, illustrating the PDZ domain-dependent interaction between these two proteins. A close homolog of GASP, i.e. , membrane-associated guanylate kinase with inverted orientation-1 (MAGI-1), is more ubiquitous in its tissue distribution (including kidney) and is also able to specifically bind to megalin via its fifth PDZ domain. Immunofluorescence studies of adult kidney revealed that MAGI-1 is expressed in the glomerulus of the kidney, in a manner that parallels the expression of the podocyte-specific protein glomerular epithelial protein 1. Western analysis of endogenous MAGI-1 from glomerular preparations suggests that it is associated with the cytoskeleton and seems to be expressed in a different form, compared with cell line-derived endogenous MAGI-1. The association of megalin with MAGI-1 may allow the assembly of a multiprotein complex, in which megalin may serve a nonendocytic function in glomerular podocytes.
Multimodal temporal pattern mining

This paper proposes an approach for mining multimodal temporal patterns from multiple synchronous signal sequences generated by different modalities. The instances of the temporal patterns suffer from noise and non-linear temporal warping. There are non-pattern signal segments separating the instances of the temporal patterns in the whole signal sequences. Hidden Markov models with thresholds of supports are trained to capture the sub-patterns in each modality. The sub-patterns have overlaps and can be stitched together to form complete temporal patterns. The temporal information of the instances of the patterns in different modalities is then utilized to discover the multimodal temporal patterns.
Controller design (from scratch) using approximate dynamic programming

Selected adaptive critic (AC) methods are known to implement approximate dynamic programming for determining (approximately) optimal control policies for nonlinear plants. The present research focuses on an AC method known as dual heuristic programming (DHP). There are many issues related to stability that are yet to be addressed for the case of online training of controllers. Nevertheless, now that the operational aspects of the DHP method are becoming refined and better understood it is instructive to carry out empirical research with the method, to inform theoretical research being carried out in parallel. In particular it is seen as useful to explore the important correspondences between the form of a utility function and the resulting controllers designed by the DHP method. The task of designing a steering controller for a 2-axle terrestrial autonomous vehicle is the basis of the empirical work reported here. Three different utility functions are crafted each incorporating additional control objectives. The controllers designed by the DHP method are correspondingly different-but in each case, the resulting controllers have responses that 'look and feel' like ones a human designer might have designed.
Quality colonoscopy: A matter of time, technique or technology?

Quality colonoscopy is defined by the detection of adenomatous polyps at least 25% of the time in men and 15% of the time in women. Recent studies highlight the importance of key aspects of high quality colonoscopy. These include the amount of time spent examining the mucosa or withdrawal time, the quality of withdrawal technique and new technologies which seek to maximize the detection of colonic neoplasia. This review summarizes the latest evidence regarding the role of time, technique and technology in shaping the quality of colonoscopy.
Cytochrome P450 variations in different ethnic populations.

Introduction: Variability of drug response is an important consideration in clinical medicine. A major determinant of drug response variability is hepatic cytochrome P450 oxidase (CYP450)-mediated drug metabolism. Advances in genetics permits genotyping large numbers of patients to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which may result in variant CYP450 enzyme expression and/or activity. New SNPs with functional impacts are constantly being identified which further explain variability in CYP450 phenotype. Areas covered: The racial/ethnic distribution of selected CYP450 (CYP1A2, P2C8/9/19, 2D6 and 3A4/5) SNPs are reviewed with an emphasis on the agreement between genotype and phenotype. The reader will gain insight into the SNP distribution by racial/ethnic group and the corresponding relationship between important, highly prevalent, SNPs and their impact on metabolic phenotype. Expert opinion: Racial/ethnic differences in metabolic phenotype can be explained by differences in SNP distribution. H...
Stages and rates of normal development in the holostean fish, Amia calva

Thirty-one stages in the normal development of the “living fossil” bony fish, Amia calva, are morphologically defined so as to identify the length of time after fertilization. Experiments were conducted and their results recorded in a study of morphogenetic cell movements in early embryos of this species, as reported previously (Ballard, '84) and in a paper that follows this one in this volume. Rates of progress through these stages are charted at several fairly constant temperatures. External and internal cell displacements from late cleavage to early organogenesis are described from living material and serial sections. Apperarance and changes in organogenesis are also described from dissections of all later stages to the time of disappearance of the yolk and onset of feeding, and they are correlated with earlier published descriptions which were based on specimens inadequately defined by body length or time from fertilization or hatching.
An image-based pavement distress detection and classification

This paper presents a pavement segmentation and crack detection system from pavement images with complicated background information. The proposed method consists of three steps. In the first step, a Support Vector Machine, which shows a high degree of accuracy in classifying data, was employed to classify the image into two categories: a pavement group and a background group. In the second step, the crack was extracted by a fractal thresholding. Finally, a Radon Transform was applied to the crack image to classify the cracks into four different types. The experimental results show that the proposed system is robust and can effectively be used in pavement images with complicated background components such as trees, houses, etc.
The First 45 Amino Acids of SopA Are Necessary for InvB Binding and SPI-1 Secretion

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium encodes two type III secretion systems (TTSSs) within pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) and island 2 (SPI-2). These type III protein secretion and translocation systems transport a panel of bacterial effector proteins across both the bacterial and the host cell membranes to promote bacterial entry and subsequent survival inside host cells. Effector proteins contain secretion and translocation signals that are often located at their N termini. We have developed a ruffling-based translocation reporter system that uses the secretion- and translocation-deficient catalytic domain of SopE, SopE78-240, as a reporter. Using this assay, we determined that the N-terminal 45 amino acid residues of Salmonella SopA are necessary and sufficient for directing its secretion and translocation through the SPI-1 TTSS. SopA1-45, but not SopA1-44, is also able to bind to its chaperone, InvB, indicating that SPI-1 type III secretion and translocation of SopA require its chaperone.
Effect of urea on the kinetics of ligand combination reactions of hemoglobins A and H, αSH chains and myoglobin

Abstract In O 2 equilibrium studies of hemoglobin it was observed that the presence of urea increases f 50 † and decreases co-operativity. The results were interpreted on the basis of unfolding and swelling of the peptide chains. The results of the present kinetic investigation indicate that while the CO combination rate constants for α SH chains, hemoglobin H and myoglobin do not change with increasing concentrations of urea, the corresponding rate constants for deoxy hemoglobin A increase continuously with urea concentration. At urea concentrations of 4 m or more, the reaction time course becomes biphasic. The fast component of the reaction time course yields CO combination rate constants which are in close agreement with the rate constants of dimeric and monomeric hemoglobins. These results indicate that up to 4 m -urea the kinetic and equilibria parameters increase due to weakened constraints imposed by intersubunit contacts and bonds. At higher urea concentrations Hb 4 is significantly dissociated into dimers and monomers, and hence the high ligand affinity and decreased co-operativity of the system. The implications of higher ligand combination rate constants of the deoxyhemoglobin tetramer in the presence of urea on the reaction mechanism are discussed.