cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Y90 PET/CT for imaging and quantifying Y90 dose in vivo

1986 Objectives Since Y90 emits β+ at low yields (branching ratio 32-34 ppm), PET could potentially be used to assess absorbed dose and spatial distribution of Y90 microspheres post-therapy. Our objectives are to establish clinical scan duration, measure Y90 spatial resolution, and evaluate accuracy of quantified Y90 PET images. Methods Five 60mL syringes containing 15mL 90YCl of known activities (corresponding to absorbed doses of 27, 43, 88, 146, 260 Gy) were scanned for 30min in list mode on a clinical PET/CT scanner with syringes (a) suspended in air, and (b) inserted into a block of solid water. In addition, a cylindrical (ID=22cm) water-filled phantom containing 2 cylinders (287mL) of known Y90 activity (absorbed doses 41 & 64 Gy) was scanned for 30min in list mode on the PET/CT scanner. A 1mm capillary tube containing Y90 was placed inside the phantom to measure the Y90 spatial resolution with scatter. In all three experiments, PET emission data was rebinned to 30, 20, 15, 10 min/bed and reconstructed using clinical protocol with F18 as radionuclide but decay-correction off. Reconstructed image quality at different scan durations was assessed to establish suitable scan duration. The mean PET signal of a central ROI in the cylinders and syringes were computed and corrected using 32 ppm β+ branching ratio to quantify PET-based Y90 activity [Bq/mL] and dose [Gy]. The accuracy of quantified Y90 PET images was evaluated for syringes in-air and cylinders in-scatter. Results PET acquisition times of ~15 min/bed was determined to be suitable for imaging patients with tumor doses >90 Gy. The Y90 PET spatial resolution in scatter was measured to be ~9.7 mm. The quantified Y90 PET images had an average accuracy (range) of 7% (2-13%) for the cylinders in-scatter, and 17% (3-25%) for the syringes in-air. The in-scatter and in-air PET images predicted β+ branching ratios of 33 and 36.4 ppm, respectively. Conclusions Y90 spatial distribution for tumor doses >90 Gy can be well assessed using ~15 min/bed PET scans. Absorbed doses from implanted Y90 microspheres can be estimated to an accuracy of ~10% using Y90 PET/CT images
New developments for integrated Schottky receivers in the terahertz regime

Here we present the preliminary and final designs of a low-mass, low-power, highly integrated Schottky diode based coherent receiver system suitable for deployment on cubesat or other small satellite platforms. Currently, coherent Schottky receivers are far too large and consume too much power to be considered for deployment on any smaller forms of space-based satellites. Using an already existing design for a modular 520-600 GHz receiver designed at JPL, we have used novel packaging methods to condense this receiver into an integrated system. This integrated receiver has shown to have a volume and power consumption significantly smaller than the current state of the art. We will further present the designs of a similar integrated receiver for the first excited state of water vapor operating at the 1040-1200 GHz range. Finally, we discuss future plans for the combined mixer system and its potential for use in cubesat interferometry systems.
Composition and stability of the vervet monkey milk microbiome.

The human milk microbiome is vertically transmitted to offspring during the postnatal period and has emerged as a critical driver of infant immune and metabolic development. Despite this importance in humans, the milk microbiome of nonhuman primates remains largely unexplored. This dearth of comparative work precludes our ability to understand how species-specific differences in the milk microbiome may differentially drive maternal effects and limits how translational models can be used to understand the role of vertically transmitted milk microbes in human development. Here, we present the first culture-independent data on the milk microbiome of a nonhuman primate. We collected milk and matched fecal microbiome samples at early and late lactation from a cohort of captive lactating vervet monkeys (N = 15). We found that, similar to humans, the vervet monkey milk microbiome comprises a shared community of taxa that are universally present across individuals. However, unlike in humans, this shared community is dominated by the genera Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Prevotella. We also found that, in contrast to previous culture-dependent studies in humans, the vervet milk microbiome exhibits greater alpha-diversity than the gut microbiome across lactation. Finally, we did not find support for the translocation of microbes from the gut to the mammary gland within females (i.e., "entero-mammary pathway"). Taken together, our results show that the vervet monkey milk microbiome is taxonomically diverse, distinct from the gut microbiome, and largely stable. These findings demonstrate that the milk microbiome is a unique substrate that may selectively favor the establishment and persistence of particular microbes across lactation and highlights the need for future experimental studies on the origin of microbes in milk.
Partisan: scaling the distributed actor runtime

We present the design of an alternative runtime system for improved scalability and reduced latency in actor applications called PARTISAN. PARTISAN provides higher scalability by allowing the application developer to specify the network overlay used at runtime without changing application semantics, thereby specializing the network communication patterns to the application. PARTISAN reduces message latency through a combination of three predominately automatic optimizations: parallelism, named channels, and affinitized scheduling. We implement a prototype of PARTISAN in Erlang and demonstrate that PARTISAN achieves up to an order of magnitude increase in the number of nodes the system can scale to through runtime overlay selection, up to a 38.07x increase in throughput, and up to a 13.5x reduction in latency over Distributed Erlang.
Impact of chemical treatment on the physiochemical and mechanical properties of kenaf fibers

Abstract In order to improve the impact of kenaf fibers on crack resistance, durability and mechanical properties in concrete applications, kenaf fibers were treated by different inorganic chemicals (sodium hydroxide NaOH, potassium permanganate KMnO4, potassium dichromate K2Cr2O7, hydrogen peroxide H2O2, and sodium chlorite NaClO2). The characteristics of raw and chemically treated kenaf fibers were investigated through chemical composition analysis, moisture sorption test, scanning electron microscopy test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy test, thermogravimetric test, X-ray diffraction test, and single fiber tensile test. Compared to raw kenaf fibers, the hydrogen peroxide treatment increased the cellulose content in the fibers by about 40%; while their crystallinity increased by 26.8%. Correspondingly, the tensile strength of the fibers increased by 18.9%. The alkaline, potassium permanganate, and potassium dichromate treatments showed only a slight increase in these properties; whereas the increases were moderate with sodium chlorite treatment.
Sensory Patterns and Motor and Process Skills as Compared to Symptom Severity in Adult Patients With Schizophrenia

Date Presented 04/04/19 Schizophrenia affects millions of Americans. It comes with positive and negative symptoms, impaired cognition, functional deficits, and poor quality of life. Presently there is no cure for schizophrenia. Recovery of the affected individuals implies symptom management and environmental supports, which requires an improved understanding of occupational performance in the context of psychiatric symptoms. This study examined sensation, motor, and process skills in relation to symptoms of schizophrenia. Primary Author and Speaker: Lola Halperin
Mass mortality of echinoderms from abiotic factors

Accounts of mass mortalities of echinoderms washed ashore from storm-induced wave activity are mostly anecdotal. This chapter considers mass mortalities resulting from abiotic factors, occurring in a short period of time (minutes to several weeks), and killing a substantial number of individuals of a population. Mass mortalities from abiotic factors do not involve the specificity of or density dependency of biological interactions as may occur with predation or disease. For biologists, mass mortalities as disturbances have importance for other reasons. They affect population and community structure and may affect the evolution of life-history characteristics. Brongersma-Sanders listed an increase in temperature, covering with ash, flood waves, poisonous gases, and acidic water as injurious consequences of vulcanism. These would be in addition to actual destruction of the habitat.
Design of an adjustable wheelchair for table tennis participation

Purpose Physical activity and recreation are very important for people with disabilities and provide benefits for self-esteem, social relationships, employment, rehabilitation, and education. Para Table Tennis is an adaptive sport where participants compete in table tennis while sitting in a wheelchair. However, athletes generally use their everyday wheelchair instead of a device specifically designed for the sport. The specific support, movements, and posture needed to participate in table tennis at the highest level are different than general day-to-day mobility and a device could be optimized for the sport. This research describes the development of a wheelchair specifically designed for para table tennis. Materials and methods The design followed a participatory action design approach which identified the specific needs for a wheelchair to be used during para table tennis. Results Three design needs were identified which included 1) locking the casters in the forward direction, 2) ability to raise the seat height as high as possible while allowing the user's knees to fit under the table, and 3) adjustable seat angle which will allow some users to have anterior tilt to get their trunk even higher while other users could have posterior tilt for stability. A new chair meeting these needs was designed and prototyped. Conclusions Para table tennis has some specific requirements related to movements and posture which were improved by a new wheelchair design specific for the sport.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMany adaptive sports are improved with sport specific technology.A model client was used to develop a wheelchair specifically for adaptive table tennis.The height and angle of the seat of the new wheelchair can be adjusted for optimal stability and reach.The casters of the new wheelchair can be locked to allow only forward and backward motion.
Design and development of a Python-based interface for processing massive data with the LOAD ESTimator (LOADEST)

Abstract LOADEST is a program for estimating constituent loads in rivers and streams developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), but it does not have a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that facilitates processing of large amounts of data. Therefore, we present the LOAD ESTimation (LOADEST) Parallel Data Processing Interface (LPDPI). LPDPI is unique as it features an easy-to-use workflow for data download and water quality estimations for numerous stations and multiple constituents and is readily applicable to any station with both flow and water quality data available. LPDPI incorporates a parallel module for faster load estimation and can identify and fix errors that occur while running LOADEST by adjusting calibration and estimation data inputs. LPDPI also includes an extension to extract and filter LOADEST output to facilitate further data analysis and use of the data to calibrate hydrologic models. The tool is a standalone executable for Windows and can be readily used without any additional packages or software installation.
Religious Experience and the Modernist Novel

Acknowledgements 1. Churchgoing 2. God's afterlife 3. Henry James and the varieties of religious experience 4. Marcel Proust and the elementary forms of religious life 5. Franz Kafka and the hermeneutics of suspicion 6. Virginia Woolf and the disenchantment of the world 7. The burial of the dead Select bibliography Index Notes.
The apoptotic thanatotranscriptome associated with the liver of cadavers

Gene expression investigations are well-established components of ante mortem studies with broad applications ranging from elucidating basic mechanisms responsible for normal physiological processes to discovering therapeutic targets in pathophysiological conditions. However, gene expression studies and their application in the medico-legal field are still in their infancy. Therefore, the present study focuses on RNA using PCR array in the analysis of gene expression associated with tissues taken from actual criminal cases. RNA was extracted from the liver tissues of bodies with PMIs between 6 and 48 h. The results demonstrated that mRNA was stable up to 48 h postmortem. Further, as cell death is an indispensable and necessary part of the biological life cycle, apoptotic gene expression profiles were investigated. The gene expression related to the programmed cell death found in body tissues after death is defined as the apoptotic thanatotranscriptome (thanatos-, Greek for death). On comparison of control and decaying tissues, the results show that with time, pro-apoptotic genes such as caspases are up-regulated and the expression of genes responsible for anti-apoptosis such as BCL2 and BAG3 were down-regulated. Thus, this current work gives a unique perspective of the apoptotic thanatotranscriptome that is affected after death. Up to the present time, gene expression in bodies from criminal cases has not been reported in literature using PCR array techniques. Thus, this thanatotranscriptome study provides insight into postmortem gene activity with potential applications in medico-legal investigations.
Shining a Light into the Darkness: How Cooperative Relay Communication Mitigates Correlated Shadow Fading

In a cellular network, connections between the Base Station (BS) and Mobile Stations (MS) may fail when the channel is in a deep fade. Shadow fading is large-scale fading which can cause significant received power loss for a wide area. This will lead to lost connections and/or packet loss which is harmful to mobile users, especially to those who are using real-time applications such as video conferencing. Cooperative communication is an efficient way to reduce outage and provide better Quality of Service (QoS) support for delay sensitive applications. A third station, which is often referred as a relay, can be used to forward signals between the BS and the MS. This paper focuses on a study of the performance of relay deployments under correlated shadow fading. We consider the downlink direction in a single cell deployment, for which the shadowing effect is modeled as an angle and distance based correlated shadowing. The received signal-to- noise ratio (SNR) is then calculated by assuming jointly Gaussian shadow fading at the MS. Simulation results show channel variations over time with fixed user speed under different relay deployments. These results demonstrate that a modest number of relays can improve the performance of real-time applications significantly.
Topical skin depigmentation agents: current products and discovery of novel inhibitors of melanogenesis

Novel topical dermatologic or cosme-ceutical agents are needed to treat cutaneous hyperpigmentation, since most currently available products typically contain hydroquinone (HQ), which has significant disadvantages. Although most studies have found HQ therapies to be efficacious, this compound is highly toxic and mutagenic to mammalian cells. Skin pigmentation results from the enzymatic conversion of tyrosine into melanin within the melanosomes of melanocytes, followed by transfer of the melanosomes into the keratinocytes of the epidermis. In order to identify novel inhibitors of skin pigmentation based on inhibition of tyrosinase, the key enzyme responsible for initiating melanogenesis, agent screening methods have been developed using both melanocyte cell cultures and cell-free enzymatic assays. An example of an HQ analog that demonstrates the desired activity in these assays is methyl gentisate (MG), which was discovered as an inhibitor of de novo melanogenesis in cultured melanocytes, with significantl...
Mechanical versus physiological determinants of swimming speeds in diving Brünnich's guillemots.

For fast flapping flight of birds in air, the maximum power and efficiency of the muscles occur over a limited range of contraction speeds and loads. Thus, contraction frequency and work per stroke tend to stay constant for a given species. In birds such as auks (Alcidae) that fly both in air and under water, wingbeat frequencies in water are far lower than in air, and it is unclear to what extent contraction frequency and work per stroke are conserved. During descent, compression of air spaces dramatically lowers buoyant resistance, so that maintaining a constant contraction frequency and work per stroke should result in an increased swimming speed. However, increasing speed causes exponential increases in drag, thereby reducing mechanical versus muscle efficiency. To investigate these competing factors, we have developed a biomechanical model of diving by guillemots (Uria spp.). The model predicted swimming speeds if stroke rate and work per stroke stay constant despite changing buoyancy. We compared predicted speeds with those of a free-ranging Brunnich9s guillemot (U. lomvia) fitted with a time/depth recorder. For descent, the model predicted that speed should gradually increase to an asymptote of 1.5-1.6 m s-1 at approximately 40 m depth. In contrast, the instrumented guillemot typically reached 1.5 m s-1 within 10 m of the water surface and maintained that speed throughout descent to 80 m. During ascent, the model predicted that guillemots should stroke steadily at 1.8 m s-1 below their depth of neutral buoyancy (62 m), should alternate stroking and gliding at low buoyancies from 62 to 15 m, and should ascend passively by buoyancy alone above 15 m depth. However, the instrumented guillemot typically ascended at 1.25 m s-1 when negatively buoyant, at approximately 1.5 m s-1 from 62 m to 25 m, and supplemented buoyancy with stroking above 25 m. Throughout direct descent, and during ascent at negative and low positive buoyancies (82–25 m), the guillemot maintained its speed within a narrow range that minimized the drag coefficient. In films, guillemots descending against high buoyancy at shallow depths increased their stroke frequency over that of horizontal swimming, which had a substantial glide phase. Model simulations also indicated that stroke duration, relative thrust on the downstroke versus the upstroke, and the duration of gliding can be varied to regulate swimming speed with little change in contraction speed or work per stroke. These results, and the potential use of heat from inefficient muscles for thermoregulation, suggest that diving guillemots can optimize their mechanical efficiency (drag) with little change in net physiological efficiency.
Effects of genotype, explant source, and plant growth regulators on indirect shoot organogenesis in Dieffenbachia cultivars

The capacity for indirect shoot organogenesis of leaf and root explants of four Dieffenbachia cultivars were examined on a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS; Physiol Plant 15:473–495, 1962) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators in 112 combinations. Callus formation was only observed from leaf explants on MS supplemented with 1–10 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.5–1.0 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) regardless of cultivars. The combination of 5 μM TDZ and 1 μM 2,4-D resulted in the greatest callus formation frequency among the four cultivars tested. Significant differences in callus and shoot formation from leaf explants were also observed among cultivars. Cultivars Camouflage, Camille, Octopus, and Star Bright produced green nodular, brown nodular, yellow friable, and green compact calli with corresponding maximum callus formation frequencies of 96%, 62%, 54%, and 52%, respectively. A maximum of 6.7 shoots/callus was observed in cv. Camouflage, followed by cvs. Camille and Star Bright at 3.7 and 3.5, respectively. Calli of cv. Octopus displayed no capacity for shoot organogenesis. Regardless of cultivar, callus formation was not observed on root explants. Regenerated shoots were successfully acclimatized in a shaded greenhouse condition with 100% survival.
The significance, development and progress of high-throughput combinatorial histone code analysis

The physiological state of eukaryotic DNA is chromatin. Nucleosomes, which consist of DNA in complex with histones, are the fundamental unit of chromatin. The post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones play a critical role in the control of gene transcription, epigenetics and other DNA-templated processes. It has been known for several years that these PTMs function in concert to allow for the storage and transduction of highly specific signals through combinations of modifications. This code, the combinatorial histone code, functions much like a bar code or combination lock providing the potential for massive information content. The capacity to directly measure these combinatorial histone codes has mostly been laborious and challenging, thus limiting efforts often to one or two samples. Recently, progress has been made in determining such information quickly, quantitatively and sensitively. Here we review both the historical and recent progress toward routine and rapid combinatorial histone code analysis.
Well-posedness and sharp uniform decay rates at the L2(Ω)-Level of the Schrödinger equation with nonlinear boundary dissipation

We prove that the Schrodinger equation defined on a bounded open domain of $$ \mathbb{R}^{n} $$ and subject to a certain attractive, nonlinear, dissipative boundary feedback is (semigroup) well-posed on L2(Ω) for any n = 1, 2, 3, ..., and, moreover, stable on L2(Ω) for n = 2, 3, with sharp (optimal) uniform rates of decay. Uniformity is with respect to all initial conditions contained in a given L2(Ω)-ball. This result generalizes the corresponding linear case which was proved recently in [L-T-Z.2]. Both results critically rely—at the outset—on a far general result of interest in its own right: an energy estimate at the L2(Ω)-level for a fully general Schrodinger equation with gradient and potential terms. The latter requires a heavy use of pseudo-differential/micro-local machinery [L-T-Z.2, Section 10], to shift down the more natural H1(Ω)-level energy estimate to the L2(Ω)-level. In the present nonlinear boundary dissipation case, the resulting energy estimate is then shown to fit into the general uniform stabilization strategy, first proposed in [La-Ta.1] in the case of wave equations with nonlinear (interior and) boundary dissipation.
Selective Mutism: A Team Approach to Assessment and Treatment in the School Setting

The school nurse plays a pivotal role in the assessment and treatment of selective mutism (SM), a rare disorder found in elementary school children. Due to anxiety, children with SM do not speak in uncomfortable situations, primarily the school setting. Diagnosis of SM is often missed in the formative years because the child does speak at home. Early diagnosis and treatment provide the key to addressing this rare disorder. The school nurse plays a critical role as a member of the Instructional Support Team (IST). The school nurse, as team liaison, provides communication between parents, school staff, and medical personnel. School nurses make a difference by advocating for the child with SM and possessing the necessary knowledge to effectively intervene. This article discusses a team approach to the assessment and treatment of SM and the role of the school nurse in the school setting.
Peripheral blood elements found in an Egyptian mummy: a three-dimensional view

Intact peripheral blood elements were found within an intracranial mass, possibly eithern an antemortem subdural hematoma or a postmortem blood clot, removed from a 2200-year-old Egyptian female mummy. Surface topographies of neutrophils and lymphocytes were similar. Some erythrocytes partially retained their biconcave disk shape; others were spherical. Individual platelets exhibited pseudopodia.
Biochemistry and pharmacology of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase inhibitors: LY309887 and lometrexol

Lometrexol, a tight-binding antifolate inhibitor of the purine de novo enzyme glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT), was the first GARFT inhibitor to be investigated clinically. Unexpected observations of delayed cumulative toxicity prompted a search for a second generation antimetabolite with a more favorable biochemical, pharmacological and toxicological profile. LY309887, 6R-2′,5′-thienyl-5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid, had 9-fold greater potency to inhibit GARFT (Ki = 6.5 nM) compared to lometrexol. Like lometrexol, LY309887 was activated by folypolyglutamate synthetase, however, it had a lower first order rate constant. In vitro and in vivo data were consistent with these observations: polyglutamation of LY309887 was less extensive compared to lometrexol and livers of mice accumulated fewer polyglutamates of LY309887 than polyglutamates of lometrexol. The affinities of these two compounds for isoforms of human folate receptors (FR) were compared. Lometrexol had a 6-fold higher affinity for FRα than LY309887 and both compounds had higher affinity for the α isoform compared to the β isoform. The selectivity of LY309887 for FRα (β(Ki)/α(Ki) = 10.5) was twice that of lometrexol's (β/α = 5.0). Lometrexol and LY309887 were potent cytotoxic compounds against the human leukemia cell line CCRF-CEM with IC50's of 2.9 nM and 9.9 nM, respectively. In vivo, LY309887 was more potent than lometrexol at inhibiting tumor growth in the C3H mammary murine tumor model and several tumor xenografts. Excellent efficacy was achieved by both compounds in several colon xenografts. In two pancreatic human xenografts, LY309887 achieved greater efficacy than lometrexol. In summary, the biochemical and pharmacological properties of lometrexol and LY309887 support the hypothesis that these antifolates will have clinical activity against human solid tumors. LY309887 is a second generation GARFT inhibitor with biochemical and pharmacological properties which distinguish it from lometrexol and suggest that it will have broad antitumor activity, a different pharmacokinetic profile and produce less toxicity than lometrexol in cancer patients.
Radar performance degradation with in-band OFDM communications system interference

Summary form only given. New technology and innovations are giving rise to novel and diverse wireless systems. Unfortunately, as these systems come to fruition worldwide, the already crowded spectrum becomes even more congested due to the high-speed data links offered by systems like WiMAX and LTE. Spectral crowding is acutely problematic in S-Band (2000-4000 MHz), where favorable propagation characteristics make spectrum attractive to both long-range radar and communication systems. The widespread deployment of 4G cellular systems (for example LTE) has the potential to cause widespread interference with existing radar systems, such as those used for weather surveillance. Ideally, these two systems would peacefully coexist in adjacent bands, but the non-constant modulus nature of 4G OFDM waveforms and the relatively high peak-to-average power ratios can lead to intermittent transmitter saturation, resulting in both in-band and adjacent-band interference to a radar receiver. Their intermittent nature and wide bandwidth make interfering OFDM waveforms difficult to eliminate at the radar receiver. The first instinct when dealing with an interfering signal is often to apply a notch filter in an attempt to mitigate the interfering signal's impact on the system. This talk assesses the effectiveness of this instinctive solution. The impact of OFDM interference on a simulated weather radar system is presented, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of applying a notch filter to mitigate an interfering OFDM signal. As part of this assessment, radar performance data, probability of detection statistics, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are presented. This type of assessment will help quantify this first instinct solution and help define the trade space for radar system engineers and spectrum managers when considering interference mitigation techniques. Successful mitigation of both in-band and adjacent-channel OFDM interference should not only improve current radar system performance, but it will also allow mission requirements to be met in a crowded spectrum.
How the Mass Media Use Numbers to Tell a Story: The Case of the Crack Scare of 1986

Scholars, notably Joel Best and Milo Schield, have emphasized the importance of incorporating social construction into the study of quantitative literacy. Studying social construction involves examining how numbers are produced, how they travel into the mass media, and how the media use them to depict a social problem or discuss an issue. This article presents a case study in the last of these. It asks in particular how important numbers really are in media constructions of a social problem. It focuses on the “Crack Scare” of 1986 in the United States and a classic study in social construction, Orcutt and Turner’s “Shocking Numbers and Graphic Accounts.” Drawing upon a sample of articles from the New York Times and Newsweek, it argues that the way the media told stories about the Crack Scare actually sidelined numbers, rather than emphasizing them. Numbers are not always as important as some claim them to be.
A Load-Based Depth-Sensing Indentation Technique for Damage Assessment of Thermal Barrier Coatings

In this paper, we present a load-based micro-indentation technique for evaluating material mechanical property as well as degradation evaluation and debonding/spallation detection of thermal barrier coating (TBC) materials. Comparing to the current prevailing nano/micro-indentation methods, which require precise measurements of the indentation depth and load, the proposed technique only measures indentation load and the overall indentation displacement (i.e. including load-induced displacement of the loading apparatus). Coupled with a multiple-partial unloading procedure during the indentation process, this technique results in a load-depth sensing indentation system capable of determining Young’s modulus of metals, superalloys, and single crystal matrices, and stiffness of coated material systems with flat, tubular, or curved architectures. This micro-indentation technique can be viewed as a viable non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique for determining as-manufactured and process-exposed metal, superalloy, single crystal, and TBC-coated material properties. This technique also shows promise for the development of a portable instrument for on-line, in-situ NDE and mechanical properties measurement of structural components.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
A data based strategy implementation framework for companies in the restaurant industry

Abstract The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory investigation of strategy implementation in multi-unit restaurant firms. A preliminary model comprised of ten variables was developed on the basis of a review of the theory and prescription about implementation. Qualitative research methods were used to collect and analyze the data from three firms. The findings of this investigation included 14 propositions and a new framework consisting of 14 variables which explain the associations between the variables found to be integral to implementation in the three firms.
Methodologies for Modeling of Solidification Microstructure and Their Capabilities

During the last decade, solidification modeling has known a sustained development effort, supported by academic as well as industrial research. The driving force behind this undertaking was the promise of predictive capabilities that will allow process and material improvement. The most significant recent rogress has been incorporation of transformation kinetics, for both the liquid/solid and the solid/solid transformation, in the macro-transport models. The results of these efforts have materialized in a proliferation of publications and commercial software, some of which have penetrated the industry. Numerous claims are made regarding modeling methods accuracy and capabilities. They include prediction of casting defects, of microstructure length scale and composition, and even of mechanical properties. A reality test of these claims is the subject of the present paper.The methodologies for macro transport-transformation kinetics modeling (MT-TK), and therefore for prediction of microstructural evolution, can be broadly classified as being based on the continuum approach (deterministic), or on the stochastic (probabilistic) approach, or, more recently, on a combined approach. Originally the MT-TK analysis was performed for the liquid/solid transformation. Subsequently, it has been extended to the solid/solid transformation, thus resulting in prediction of room temperature microstructure. Specifically, it has been attempted to predict features like microsegregation, microstructure length scale, fraction of phases, structural transitions, hardness, microhardness, and tensile properties. The success of these efforts is critically reviewed in the paper.
A History of the Early Korean Kingdom of Paekche – By Jonathan W. Best

Paekche was a small state in the southwestern corner of the Korean Peninsula that flourished from at least the fourth century C.E. to its annexation by the neighboring state of Silla in southeaster...
Ostracism and Public Policy

Ostracism means being ignored and excluded. Like bullying, ostracism causes pain and distress. Its targets either attempt compensatory behavior, aimed at being likeable and included, or they retali...
MOCVD of alumina-silica oxidation resistant coatings on carbon fibers

Abstract Carbon (graphite) fibers have been coated with amorphous alumina-silica (Al2O3)x (SiO2)y thin films by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using [Al(OSiEt3)3]2 as a single-source precursor. The adhesion of the alumina-silica films to the carbon fibers and/or the films' flexibility is a function of the residual carbon content in the film, as controlled by the carrier gas composition ( Ar O 2 ). Aluminum matrix-carbon fiber composites have been prepared. While the alumina-silica thin film coatings successfully prevent both oxidation of the fiber and reaction between the fiber substrate and aluminum matrix, no wetting occurs. Use of an interfacial reaction in addition to the (Al2O3)x (SiO2)y film does lead to wetting and the formation of a stable composite.
Is digoxin a drug of the past

Digoxin has been the cornerstone of the treatment of heart failure for more than 2 centuries. Now that newer therapies have been introduced that reduce the mortality rate in heart failure and recent trials have failed to prove the same for digoxin, its use has significantly decreased. But a careful review of the multiple pharmacologic actions of digoxin and closer analysis of the results of recent trials suggest that digoxin may in fact continue to be an effective treatment for heart failure.
Frequency responses of two- and three-tone distortion product otoacoustic emissions in Mongolian gerbils

The frequency responses of distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAEs) were investigated in adult Mongolian gerbils. The main goal was to investigate in this species the extent to which DPOAE measurements might be useful in estimating cochlear frequency-tuning characteristics. Specifically, this study investigated the parameter space for generation of DPOAEs to determine those regions, if any, where the emission responses gave “simple” frequency responses, i.e., responses similar in form to typical neural responses. At the same time, it was desired to determine in this species the existence, extent, and nature of the more complex three-tone emission frequency responses as observed in some other species [e.g., Martin et al., Hearing Res. 136, 105–123 (1999)]. In the present work, two-tone frequency response curves (f2/f1 ratio functions) were obtained by varying the lower frequency, f1, while holding the f2 frequency and both amplitudes (L1,L2) constant. Only for frequencies, f2, near 8 kHz did the re...
Validation of spectral domain optical coherence tomographic Doppler shifts using an in vitro flow model.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a ranging technique based on low-coherence interferometry, which has been applied to structural imaging of the eye.1 Spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) uses advances in broadband low-coherence light sources and high-speed linear array detector technologies, acquiring complete 1024 pixel A-scans in a single spectrometer measurement.2,3 Reflectance intensities are frequency encoded in the raw SD-OCT fringe pattern. Fourier analysis of SD-OCT yields more than reflectance data. Doppler signals from all points within the reflectance data set are also produced and have recently been used to measure retinal blood flow.4,5 The real (or power) component of the Fourier transform of SD-OCT data produces an A-scan, and Doppler measurements are contained in the imaginary (or phase) component. 5,6 However, the dynamic range of SD-OCT Doppler measurements is limited to low velocities by spectrometer limitations. High velocities produce large Doppler shifts that physically manifest as rapid translation of the associated carrier frequency across the face of the spectrometer. Because of this, structural measurements of moving back-scattering sources and SD-OCT Doppler measurements are limited by the A-scan rate, which limits the ability of the charge-coupled device (CCD) to capture moving carrier waves without blur.5 The purpose of the present study was to validate SD-OCT Doppler velocity measurements under well-controlled conditions in an in vitro laminar flow model.
A new 1+ state in 26Al

Abstract Study of the 24Mg(3He,p)26Al reaction leads to a new Jπ = 1+ assignment to the state at 1 852 keV. This state, to which a very strong transition was observed, most probably belongs to the ( d 5 2 ) −4 (2 s 1 2 ) 2 shell- model configuration.
Radiofrequency magnetic field gradient echoes have reduced sensitivity to susceptibility gradients

The amplitudes of gradient-echoes produced using static field gradients are sensitive to diffusion of tissue water during the echo evolution time. Gradient-echoes have been used to produce MR images in which image intensity is proportional to the self-diffusion coefficient of water. However, such measurements are subject to error due to the presence of background magnetic field gradients caused by variations in local magnetic susceptibility. These local gradients add to the applied gradients. The use of radiofrequency (RF) gradients to produce gradient-echoes may avoid this problem. The RF magnetic field is orthogonal to the offset field produced by local magnetic susceptibility gradients. Thus, the effect of the local gradients on RF gradient-echo amplitude is small if the RF field is strong enough to minimize resonance offset effects. The effects of susceptibility gradients can be further reduced by storing magnetization longitudinally during the echo evolution period. A water phantom was used to evaluate the effects of background gradients on the amplitudes of RF gradient-echoes. A surface coil was used to produce an RF gradient of between 1.3 and 1.6 gauss/cm. Gradient-echoes were detected with and without a 0.16 gauss/cm static magnetic field gradient applied along the same direction as the RF gradient. The background static field gradient had no significant effect on the decay of RF gradient-echo amplitude as a function of echo evolution time. In contrast, the effect of the background gradient on echoes produced using a 1.6 gauss/cm static field gradient is calculated to be significant. This analysis suggests that RF gradient-echoes can produce MR images in which signal intensity is a function of the self-diffusion coefficient of water, but is not significantly affected by background gradients.
Gene mapping in the idiopathic generalized epilepsies: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, epilepsy with grand mal seizures, and early childhood myoclonic epilepsy.

Idiopathic generalized epilepsies, i.e., juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), childhood absence epilepsy, and epilepsy with grand mal [generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS)], are the most common genetic epilepsies. Linkage studies using Bf, HLA serologic, and DNA markers by three independent investigators, one from Los Angeles and two from Berlin, have localized the JME locus to the short arm of chromosome 6 (6p). Because members of the same JME family have the same JME phenotype of childhood absence epilepsy, epilepsy with grand mal (GTCS) seizures, or early childhood myoclonic epilepsy (ECME), our observations give evidence for a single-locus etiology in 6p for JME and for at least some of the childhood absence seizures, epilepsy with grand mal (GTCS) seizures, and ECME. Studies should now address whether locus heterogeneity exists within childhood absence epilepsy, epilepsy with grand mal (GTCS) seizures, or ECME. Markers linked to JME (Bf, HLA serologic, and DNA markers in the DQ region) can be used to resolve etiologic heterogeneity. Using such markers, both linked and unlinked forms of phenotypes that are clinically indistinguishable may be detected and provide evidence for etiologic heterogeneity. Studies should also concentrate on narrowing the JME locus to 2 to 3 cm by screening families with recombinant events using RFLPs, candidate genes, and new expressed sequences on chromosome 6.
Design of data format converters using two-dimensional register allocation

In many DSP applications, data format converters (DFC's) are used to permute the data transferred between processing modules. In VLSI implementations, these converters consume a large amount of the given resources, especially area. Previous methods on the synthesis of data format converters have focused on optimizing the number of registers. Also, two-dimensional register allocation schemes have been proposed to reduce the area of the DFC's. In this work, we present another two-dimensional register allocation scheme where the aim is to optimize the number of registers as well as reduce the number of interconnections by maximizing the reuse of the interconnections previously made during the synthesis procedure. Such a strategy also leads to a reduction in the number of multiplexers used. We show, using automated layout results, that the proposed allocation scheme results in lower area DFC's than the previously proposed ones.
A schauder decomposition and weakly singular integral equations in Lp

In this paper, a Schauder decomposition in Lp is used to obtain numerical solutions for the Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. Considerations are also given to weakly singular integral equations and two dimensional weakly singular integral equations.
Membrane Depth-Dependent Energetic Contribution of the Tryptophan Side Chain to the Stability of Integral Membrane Proteins

Lipid solvation provides the primary driving force for the insertion and folding of integral membrane proteins. Although the structure of the lipid bilayer is often simplified as a central hydrophobic core sandwiched between two hydrophilic interfacial regions, the complexity of the liquid-crystalline bilayer structure and the gradient of water molecules across the bilayer fine-tune the energetic contributions of individual amino acid residues to the stability of membrane proteins at different depths of the bilayer. The tryptophan side chain is particularly interesting because despite its widely recognized role in anchoring membrane proteins in lipid bilayers, there is little consensus about its hydrophobicity among various experimentally determined hydrophobicity scales. Here we investigated how lipid-facing tryptophan residues located at different depths in the bilayer contribute to the stability of integral membrane proteins using outer membrane protein A (OmpA) as a model. We replaced all lipid-contac...
Effect of inhomogeneities on the fluctuation-induced cusp in the specific heat of high temperature superconductors

Abstract We consider the effect of inhomogeneities on the electronic specific heat in high temperature superconductors. We find that a modest spread in the transition temperature of the sample can significantly alter the detailed shape of the specific heat curve of the high temperature superconductors. Our results indicate that only very accurate measurements near T c can yield unambiguous thermodynamic information such as the fluctuation dimensionality and the number of components in the superconducting order parameter.
Paleomagnetic evidence for non-apenninic origin of the sila nappes (Calabria)

The magnetization of Lower Permian rocks from Sila has a mean direction D = 56.5°, I= +20.4° with α95 = 9.1° after correction for Upper Neogene tilting. A further correction for the attitude of the nappes after their Middle Miocene emplacement establishes paleolatitudes consistent with those from the Lower Permian Tethys. The remarkable internal consistency of the data has not supported the distinction of units with opposite vergences within the Sila crystalline nappes. The declination indicates that the Sila massif has rotated counter-clockwise by about 90° relative to the Apennines, Sardinia and the Southern Alps and therefore the well-known Apenninic rotation alone does not account for the total change of direction in tectonic transport. Accordingly, the structural trends of tectonic phases older than the emplacement time of the Calabrian nappes should no longer be referred to present-day geographic coordinates. The post-Late Cretaceous motion relative to the north Calabrian Apennines enhances the geotectonic role of the northern boundary of the Calabrian—Peloritan arc, since its sinistral-shear character permits both tectonic transport from the west and counter-clockwise motion during tectonic transport.
SOX10 expression in malignant melanoma, carcinoma,and normal tissues

Sry-related HMg-Box gene 10 (SOX10) is a nuclear transcription factor that plays an important role in melanocytic cell differentiation. It has been shown to be a sensitive marker of melanoma including spindle and desmoplastic subtypes. We assessed its frequency of expression in melanoma, carcinoma, benign nevi, and non-neoplastic tissues with routine immunohistochemistry for SOX10. The 109 primary melanoma included 49 epithelioid, 19 spindle cell, 22 desmoplastic, and 19 mixed spindle cell/desmoplastic melanoma. All primary, except 8 desmoplastic melanoma, and 11 metastatic melanoma were strongly and diffusely nuclear SOX10-positive. Six desmoplastic melanoma had ≤10% cells positive, and 2 were <50% positive, all of 3+ intensity. Eighteen of 149 (12%) breast carcinoma were SOX10-positive. All 24 ovarian, 23 endometrial, 26 lung, and 25 colon carcinoma were SOX10-negative. All 43 benign nevi, 18 dysplastic nevi, 68 non-neoplastic and benign skins, and all 56 non-neoplastic breast tissue were SOX10-positive. The sensitivity and specificity for SOX10 in the diagnosis of melanoma are 1.0 and 0.93, respectively; the positive and negative predictive values are 0.87 and 1.0, respectively. SOX10 is a sensitive, specific marker for melanoma. As benign nevi also express SOX10, it cannot be used to differentiate between benign and malignant pigmented skin lesions. Only a small number of breast carcinoma (12%), and breast lobules, express SOX10; no carcinoma of the ovary, endometrium, lung, or colon expressed SOX10.
SRAM read current variability and its dependence on transistor statistics

Our study breaks down the dependence of SRAM read current (Iread) variability (σIread) into constituting pass-gate (PG) and pull down (PD) NMOS transistor variability. We report a bottoms-up model for σIread including feedback in stacked transistors and discuss its implications on SRAM performance.