Sample records for quick response qr

  1. Quick Response (QR) Codes for Audio Support in Foreign Language Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vigil, Kathleen Murray

    2017-01-01

    This study explored the potential benefits and barriers of using quick response (QR) codes as a means by which to provide audio materials to middle-school students learning Spanish as a foreign language. Eleven teachers of Spanish to middle-school students created transmedia materials containing QR codes linking to audio resources. Students…

  2. Pre-Service Teachers' Perception of Quick Response (QR) Code Integration in Classroom Activities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ali, Nagla; Santos, Ieda M.; Areepattamannil, Shaljan

    2017-01-01

    Quick Response (QR) codes have been discussed in the literature as adding value to teaching and learning. Despite their potential in education, more research is needed to inform practice and advance knowledge in this field. This paper investigated the integration of the QR code in classroom activities and the perceptions of the integration by…

  3. Using QR codes to enable quick access to information in acute cancer care.

    PubMed

    Upton, Joanne; Olsson-Brown, Anna; Marshall, Ernie; Sacco, Joseph

    2017-05-25

    Quick access to toxicity management information ensures timely access to steroids/immunosuppressive treatment for cancer patients experiencing immune-related adverse events, thus reducing length of hospital stays or avoiding hospital admission entirely. This article discusses a project to add a QR (quick response) code to a patient-held immunotherapy alert card. As QR code generation is free and the immunotherapy clinical management algorithms were already publicly available through the trust's clinical network website, the costs of integrating a QR code into the alert card, after printing, were low, while the potential benefits are numerous. Patient-held alert cards are widely used for patients receiving anti-cancer treatment, and this established standard of care has been modified to enable rapid access of information through the incorporation of a QR code.

  4. Testing Quick Response (QR) Codes as an Innovation to Improve Feedback Among Geographically-Separated Clerkship Sites.

    PubMed

    Snyder, Matthew J; Nguyen, Dana R; Womack, Jasmyne J; Bunt, Christopher W; Westerfield, Katie L; Bell, Adriane E; Ledford, Christy J W

    2018-03-01

    Collection of feedback regarding medical student clinical experiences for formative or summative purposes remains a challenge across clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of a quick response (QR) code-linked online feedback form improves the frequency and efficiency of rater feedback. In 2016, we compared paper-based feedback forms, an online feedback form, and a QR code-linked online feedback form at 15 family medicine clerkship sites across the United States. Outcome measures included usability, number of feedback submissions per student, number of unique raters providing feedback, and timeliness of feedback provided to the clerkship director. The feedback method was significantly associated with usability, with QR code scoring the highest, and paper second. Accessing feedback via QR code was associated with the shortest time to prepare feedback. Across four rotations, separate repeated measures analyses of variance showed no effect of feedback system on the number of submissions per student or the number of unique raters. The results of this study demonstrate that preceptors in the family medicine clerkship rate QR code-linked feedback as a high usability platform. Additionally, this platform resulted in faster form completion than paper or online forms. An overarching finding of this study is that feedback forms must be portable and easily accessible. Potential implementation barriers and the social norm for providing feedback in this manner need to be considered.

  5. Digital data for quick response (QR) codes of alkalophilic Bacillus pumilus to identify and to compare bacilli isolated from Lonar Crator Lake, India.

    PubMed

    Rekadwad, Bhagwan N; Khobragade, Chandrahasya N

    2016-06-01

    Microbiologists are routinely engaged isolation, identification and comparison of isolated bacteria for their novelty. 16S rRNA sequences of Bacillus pumilus were retrieved from NCBI repository and generated QR codes for sequences (FASTA format and full Gene Bank information). 16SrRNA were used to generate quick response (QR) codes of Bacillus pumilus isolated from Lonar Crator Lake (19° 58' N; 76° 31' E), India. Bacillus pumilus 16S rRNA gene sequences were used to generate CGR, FCGR and PCA. These can be used for visual comparison and evaluation respectively. The hyperlinked QR codes, CGR, FCGR and PCA of all the isolates are made available to the users on a portal https://sites.google.com/site/bhagwanrekadwad/. This generated digital data helps to evaluate and compare any Bacillus pumilus strain, minimizes laboratory efforts and avoid misinterpretation of the species.

  6. Digital data for quick response (QR) codes of alkalophilic Bacillus pumilus to identify and to compare bacilli isolated from Lonar Crator Lake, India

    PubMed Central

    Rekadwad, Bhagwan N.; Khobragade, Chandrahasya N.

    2016-01-01

    Microbiologists are routinely engaged isolation, identification and comparison of isolated bacteria for their novelty. 16S rRNA sequences of Bacillus pumilus were retrieved from NCBI repository and generated QR codes for sequences (FASTA format and full Gene Bank information). 16SrRNA were used to generate quick response (QR) codes of Bacillus pumilus isolated from Lonar Crator Lake (19° 58′ N; 76° 31′ E), India. Bacillus pumilus 16S rRNA gene sequences were used to generate CGR, FCGR and PCA. These can be used for visual comparison and evaluation respectively. The hyperlinked QR codes, CGR, FCGR and PCA of all the isolates are made available to the users on a portal https://sites.google.com/site/bhagwanrekadwad/. This generated digital data helps to evaluate and compare any Bacillus pumilus strain, minimizes laboratory efforts and avoid misinterpretation of the species. PMID:27141529

  7. QR Codes 101

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Crompton, Helen; LaFrance, Jason; van 't Hooft, Mark

    2012-01-01

    A QR (quick-response) code is a two-dimensional scannable code, similar in function to a traditional bar code that one might find on a product at the supermarket. The main difference between the two is that, while a traditional bar code can hold a maximum of only 20 digits, a QR code can hold up to 7,089 characters, so it can contain much more…

  8. The Mystery Behind the Code: Differentiated Instruction with Quick Response Codes in Secondary Physical Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Adkins, Megan; Wajciechowski, Misti R.; Scantling, Ed

    2013-01-01

    Quick response codes, better known as QR codes, are small barcodes scanned to receive information about a specific topic. This article explains QR code technology and the utility of QR codes in the delivery of physical education instruction. Consideration is given to how QR codes can be used to accommodate learners of varying ability levels as…

  9. Investigating the Use of Quick Response Codes in the Gross Anatomy Laboratory

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Traser, Courtney J.; Hoffman, Leslie A.; Seifert, Mark F.; Wilson, Adam B.

    2015-01-01

    The use of quick response (QR) codes within undergraduate university courses is on the rise, yet literature concerning their use in medical education is scant. This study examined student perceptions on the usefulness of QR codes as learning aids in a medical gross anatomy course, statistically analyzed whether this learning aid impacted student…

  10. An introduction to QR Codes: linking libraries and mobile patrons.

    PubMed

    Hoy, Matthew B

    2011-01-01

    QR codes, or "Quick Response" codes, are two-dimensional barcodes that can be scanned by mobile smartphone cameras. These codes can be used to provide fast access to URLs, telephone numbers, and short passages of text. With the rapid adoption of smartphones, librarians are able to use QR codes to promote services and help library users find materials quickly and independently. This article will explain what QR codes are, discuss how they can be used in the library, and describe issues surrounding their use. A list of resources for generating and scanning QR codes is also provided.

  11. QR Codes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lai, Hsin-Chih; Chang, Chun-Yen; Li, Wen-Shiane; Fan, Yu-Lin; Wu, Ying-Tien

    2013-01-01

    This study presents an m-learning method that incorporates Integrated Quick Response (QR) codes. This learning method not only achieves the objectives of outdoor education, but it also increases applications of Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML) (Mayer, 2001) in m-learning for practical use in a diverse range of outdoor locations. When…

  12. Research on pre-processing of QR Code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Haixing; Xia, Haojie; Dong, Ning

    2013-10-01

    QR code encodes many kinds of information because of its advantages: large storage capacity, high reliability, full arrange of utter-high-speed reading, small printing size and high-efficient representation of Chinese characters, etc. In order to obtain the clearer binarization image from complex background, and improve the recognition rate of QR code, this paper researches on pre-processing methods of QR code (Quick Response Code), and shows algorithms and results of image pre-processing for QR code recognition. Improve the conventional method by changing the Souvola's adaptive text recognition method. Additionally, introduce the QR code Extraction which adapts to different image size, flexible image correction approach, and improve the efficiency and accuracy of QR code image processing.

  13. Use of quick response coding to create interactive patient and provider resources.

    PubMed

    Bellot, Jennifer; Shaffer, Kathryn; Wang, Mary

    2015-04-01

    Since their creation more than 20 years ago, the proliferation of Quick Response (QR) codes has expanded tremendously. Little was found in the literature to support the innovative use of QR coding in the classroom or in health care provision. Thus, the authors created a doctoral-level practicum experience using QR coding to create interactive, individualized patient or provider resource guides. Short, descriptive surveys were used before and after implementation of the practicum experience to determine students' comfort level using QR technology, their knowledge base, ease of use, and overall satisfaction with the practicum. Students reported high levels of satisfaction with this exercise, and all agreed that use of QR coding could have important implications in the clinical environment. This practicum experience was a creative, practical, and valuable example of integrating emerging technology into individualized patient care. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

  14. Blending Classroom Teaching and Learning with QR Codes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rikala, Jenni; Kankaanranta, Marja

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this case study was to explore the feasibility of the Quick Response (QR) codes and mobile devices in the context of Finnish basic education. The interest was especially to explore how mobile devices and QR codes can enhance and blend teaching and learning. The data were collected with a teacher interview and pupil surveys. The learning…

  15. Location Based Service in Indoor Environment Using Quick Response Code Technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hakimpour, F.; Zare Zardiny, A.

    2014-10-01

    Today by extensive use of intelligent mobile phones, increased size of screens and enriching the mobile phones by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology use of location based services have been considered by public users more than ever.. Based on the position of users, they can receive the desired information from different LBS providers. Any LBS system generally includes five main parts: mobile devices, communication network, positioning system, service provider and data provider. By now many advances have been gained in relation to any of these parts; however the users positioning especially in indoor environments is propounded as an essential and critical issue in LBS. It is well known that GPS performs too poorly inside buildings to provide usable indoor positioning. On the other hand, current indoor positioning technologies such as using RFID or WiFi network need different hardware and software infrastructures. In this paper, we propose a new method to overcome these challenges. This method is using the Quick Response (QR) Code Technology. QR Code is a 2D encrypted barcode with a matrix structure which consists of black modules arranged in a square grid. Scanning and data retrieving process from QR Code is possible by use of different camera-enabled mobile phones only by installing the barcode reader software. This paper reviews the capabilities of QR Code technology and then discusses the advantages of using QR Code in Indoor LBS (ILBS) system in comparison to other technologies. Finally, some prospects of using QR Code are illustrated through implementation of a scenario. The most important advantages of using this new technology in ILBS are easy implementation, spending less expenses, quick data retrieval, possibility of printing the QR Code on different products and no need for complicated hardware and software infrastructures.

  16. Quick Response codes for surgical safety: a prospective pilot study.

    PubMed

    Dixon, Jennifer L; Smythe, William Roy; Momsen, Lara S; Jupiter, Daniel; Papaconstantinou, Harry T

    2013-09-01

    Surgical safety programs have been shown to reduce patient harm; however, there is variable compliance. The purpose of this study is to determine if innovative technology such as Quick Response (QR) codes can facilitate surgical safety initiatives. We prospectively evaluated the use of QR codes during the surgical time-out for 40 operations. Feasibility and accuracy were assessed. Perceptions of the current time-out process and the QR code application were evaluated through surveys using a 5-point Likert scale and binomial yes or no questions. At baseline (n = 53), survey results from the surgical team agreed or strongly agreed that the current time-out process was efficient (64%), easy to use (77%), and provided clear information (89%). However, 65% of surgeons felt that process improvements were needed. Thirty-seven of 40 (92.5%) QR codes scanned successfully, of which 100% were accurate. Three scan failures resulted from excessive curvature or wrinkling of the QR code label on the body. Follow-up survey results (n = 33) showed that the surgical team agreed or strongly agreed that the QR program was clearer (70%), easier to use (57%), and more accurate (84%). Seventy-four percent preferred the QR system to the current time-out process. QR codes accurately transmit patient information during the time-out procedure and are preferred to the current process by surgical team members. The novel application of this technology may improve compliance, accuracy, and outcomes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. A Learning Environment for English Vocabulary Using Quick Response Codes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Arikan, Yuksel Deniz; Ozen, Sevil Orhan

    2015-01-01

    This study focuses on the process of developing a learning environment that uses tablets and Quick Response (QR) codes to enhance participants' English language vocabulary knowledge. The author employed the concurrent triangulation strategy, a mixed research design. The study was conducted at a private school in Izmir, Turkey during the 2012-2013…

  18. Interactive QR code beautification with full background image embedding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Lijian; Wu, Song; Liu, Sijiang; Jiang, Bo

    2017-06-01

    QR (Quick Response) code is a kind of two dimensional barcode that was first developed in automotive industry. Nowadays, QR code has been widely used in commercial applications like product promotion, mobile payment, product information management, etc. Traditional QR codes in accordance with the international standard are reliable and fast to decode, but are lack of aesthetic appearance to demonstrate visual information to customers. In this work, we present a novel interactive method to generate aesthetic QR code. By given information to be encoded and an image to be decorated as full QR code background, our method accepts interactive user's strokes as hints to remove undesired parts of QR code modules based on the support of QR code error correction mechanism and background color thresholds. Compared to previous approaches, our method follows the intention of the QR code designer, thus can achieve more user pleasant result, while keeping high machine readability.

  19. Microparticles: Facile and High-Throughput Synthesis of Functional Microparticles with Quick Response Codes (Small 24/2016).

    PubMed

    Ramirez, Lisa Marie S; He, Muhan; Mailloux, Shay; George, Justin; Wang, Jun

    2016-06-01

    Microparticles carrying quick response (QR) barcodes are fabricated by J. Wang and co-workers on page 3259, using a massive coding of dissociated elements (MiCODE) technology. Each microparticle can bear a special custom-designed QR code that enables encryption or tagging with unlimited multiplexity, and the QR code can be easily read by cellphone applications. The utility of MiCODE particles in multiplexed DNA detection and microtagging for anti-counterfeiting is explored. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  20. Rethinking mobile delivery: using Quick Response codes to access information at the point of need.

    PubMed

    Lombardo, Nancy T; Morrow, Anne; Le Ber, Jeanne

    2012-01-01

    This article covers the use of Quick Response (QR) codes to provide instant mobile access to information, digital collections, educational offerings, library website, subject guides, text messages, videos, and library personnel. The array of uses and the value of using QR codes to push customized information to patrons are explained. A case is developed for using QR codes for mobile delivery of customized information to patrons. Applications in use at the Libraries of the University of Utah will be reviewed to provide readers with ideas for use in their library. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

  1. QR Codes: Taking Collections Further

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ahearn, Caitlin

    2014-01-01

    With some thought and direction, QR (quick response) codes are a great tool to use in school libraries to enhance access to information. From March through April 2013, Caitlin Ahearn interned at Sanborn Regional High School (SRHS) under the supervision of Pam Harland. As a result of Harland's un-Deweying of the nonfiction collection at SRHS,…

  2. Investigating the use of quick response codes in the gross anatomy laboratory.

    PubMed

    Traser, Courtney J; Hoffman, Leslie A; Seifert, Mark F; Wilson, Adam B

    2015-01-01

    The use of quick response (QR) codes within undergraduate university courses is on the rise, yet literature concerning their use in medical education is scant. This study examined student perceptions on the usefulness of QR codes as learning aids in a medical gross anatomy course, statistically analyzed whether this learning aid impacted student performance, and evaluated whether performance could be explained by the frequency of QR code usage. Question prompts and QR codes tagged on cadaveric specimens and models were available for four weeks as learning aids to medical (n = 155) and doctor of physical therapy (n = 39) students. Each QR code provided answers to posed questions in the form of embedded text or hyperlinked web pages. Students' perceptions were gathered using a formative questionnaire and practical examination scores were used to assess potential gains in student achievement. Overall, students responded positively to the use of QR codes in the gross anatomy laboratory as 89% (57/64) agreed the codes augmented their learning of anatomy. The users' most noticeable objection to using QR codes was the reluctance to bring their smartphones into the gross anatomy laboratory. A comparison between the performance of QR code users and non-users was found to be nonsignificant (P = 0.113), and no significant gains in performance (P = 0.302) were observed after the intervention. Learners welcomed the implementation of QR code technology in the gross anatomy laboratory, yet this intervention had no apparent effect on practical examination performance. © 2014 American Association of Anatomists.

  3. Experimental QR code optical encryption: noise-free data recovering.

    PubMed

    Barrera, John Fredy; Mira-Agudelo, Alejandro; Torroba, Roberto

    2014-05-15

    We report, to our knowledge for the first time, the experimental implementation of a quick response (QR) code as a "container" in an optical encryption system. A joint transform correlator architecture in an interferometric configuration is chosen as the experimental scheme. As the implementation is not possible in a single step, a multiplexing procedure to encrypt the QR code of the original information is applied. Once the QR code is correctly decrypted, the speckle noise present in the recovered QR code is eliminated by a simple digital procedure. Finally, the original information is retrieved completely free of any kind of degradation after reading the QR code. Additionally, we propose and implement a new protocol in which the reception of the encrypted QR code and its decryption, the digital block processing, and the reading of the decrypted QR code are performed employing only one device (smartphone, tablet, or computer). The overall method probes to produce an outcome far more attractive to make the adoption of the technique a plausible option. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed security system.

  4. Information retrieval based on single-pixel optical imaging with quick-response code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Yin; Chen, Wen

    2018-04-01

    Quick-response (QR) code technique is combined with ghost imaging (GI) to recover original information with high quality. An image is first transformed into a QR code. Then the QR code is treated as an input image in the input plane of a ghost imaging setup. After measurements, traditional correlation algorithm of ghost imaging is utilized to reconstruct an image (QR code form) with low quality. With this low-quality image as an initial guess, a Gerchberg-Saxton-like algorithm is used to improve its contrast, which is actually a post processing. Taking advantage of high error correction capability of QR code, original information can be recovered with high quality. Compared to the previous method, our method can obtain a high-quality image with comparatively fewer measurements, which means that the time-consuming postprocessing procedure can be avoided to some extent. In addition, for conventional ghost imaging, the larger the image size is, the more measurements are needed. However, for our method, images with different sizes can be converted into QR code with the same small size by using a QR generator. Hence, for the larger-size images, the time required to recover original information with high quality will be dramatically reduced. Our method makes it easy to recover a color image in a ghost imaging setup, because it is not necessary to divide the color image into three channels and respectively recover them.

  5. Security printing of covert quick response codes using upconverting nanoparticle inks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meruga, Jeevan M.; Cross, William M.; May, P. Stanley; Luu, QuocAnh; Crawford, Grant A.; Kellar, Jon J.

    2012-10-01

    Counterfeiting costs governments and private industries billions of dollars annually due to loss of value in currency and other printed items. This research involves using lanthanide doped β-NaYF4 nanoparticles for security printing applications. Inks comprised of Yb3+/Er3+ and Yb3+/Tm3+ doped β-NaYF4 nanoparticles with oleic acid as the capping agent in toluene and methyl benzoate with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the binding agent were used to print quick response (QR) codes. The QR codes were made using an AutoCAD file and printed with Optomec direct-write aerosol jetting®. The printed QR codes are invisible under ambient lighting conditions, but are readable using a near-IR laser, and were successfully scanned using a smart phone. This research demonstrates that QR codes, which have been used primarily for information sharing applications, can also be used for security purposes. Higher levels of security were achieved by printing both green and blue upconverting inks, based on combinations of Er3+/Yb3+ and Tm3+/Yb3+, respectively, in a single QR code. The near-infrared (NIR)-to-visible upconversion luminescence properties of the two-ink QR codes were analyzed, including the influence of NIR excitation power density on perceived color, in term of the CIE 1931 chromaticity index. It was also shown that this security ink can be optimized for line width, thickness and stability on different substrates.

  6. Security printing of covert quick response codes using upconverting nanoparticle inks.

    PubMed

    Meruga, Jeevan M; Cross, William M; Stanley May, P; Luu, QuocAnh; Crawford, Grant A; Kellar, Jon J

    2012-10-05

    Counterfeiting costs governments and private industries billions of dollars annually due to loss of value in currency and other printed items. This research involves using lanthanide doped β-NaYF(4) nanoparticles for security printing applications. Inks comprised of Yb(3+)/Er(3+) and Yb(3+)/Tm(3+) doped β-NaYF(4) nanoparticles with oleic acid as the capping agent in toluene and methyl benzoate with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the binding agent were used to print quick response (QR) codes. The QR codes were made using an AutoCAD file and printed with Optomec direct-write aerosol jetting(®). The printed QR codes are invisible under ambient lighting conditions, but are readable using a near-IR laser, and were successfully scanned using a smart phone. This research demonstrates that QR codes, which have been used primarily for information sharing applications, can also be used for security purposes. Higher levels of security were achieved by printing both green and blue upconverting inks, based on combinations of Er(3+)/Yb(3+) and Tm(3+)/Yb(3+), respectively, in a single QR code. The near-infrared (NIR)-to-visible upconversion luminescence properties of the two-ink QR codes were analyzed, including the influence of NIR excitation power density on perceived color, in term of the CIE 1931 chromaticity index. It was also shown that this security ink can be optimized for line width, thickness and stability on different substrates.

  7. Optical information authentication using compressed double-random-phase-encoded images and quick-response codes.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiaogang; Chen, Wen; Chen, Xudong

    2015-03-09

    In this paper, we develop a new optical information authentication system based on compressed double-random-phase-encoded images and quick-response (QR) codes, where the parameters of optical lightwave are used as keys for optical decryption and the QR code is a key for verification. An input image attached with QR code is first optically encoded in a simplified double random phase encoding (DRPE) scheme without using interferometric setup. From the single encoded intensity pattern recorded by a CCD camera, a compressed double-random-phase-encoded image, i.e., the sparse phase distribution used for optical decryption, is generated by using an iterative phase retrieval technique with QR code. We compare this technique to the other two methods proposed in literature, i.e., Fresnel domain information authentication based on the classical DRPE with holographic technique and information authentication based on DRPE and phase retrieval algorithm. Simulation results show that QR codes are effective on improving the security and data sparsity of optical information encryption and authentication system.

  8. What Are Those Checkerboard Things? How Quick Response Codes Can Enrich Student Projects

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tucker, Al

    2011-01-01

    Students enrolled in the author's commercial arts program design and publish the school's yearbook. For the 2010-2011 school year, the students applied Quick Response (QR) code technology to include links to events that occurred after the yearbook's print deadline, including graduation. The technology has many applications in the school setting,…

  9. Use Them ... or Lose Them? The Case for and against Using QR Codes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cunningham, Chuck; Dull, Cassie

    2011-01-01

    A quick-response (QR) code is a two-dimensional, black-and-white square barcode and links directly to a URL of one's choice. When the code is scanned with a smartphone, it will automatically redirect the user to the designated URL. QR codes are popping up everywhere--billboards, magazines, posters, shop windows, TVs, computer screens, and more.…

  10. [INVITED] Luminescent QR codes for smart labelling and sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ramalho, João F. C. B.; António, L. C. F.; Correia, S. F. H.; Fu, L. S.; Pinho, A. S.; Brites, C. D. S.; Carlos, L. D.; André, P. S.; Ferreira, R. A. S.

    2018-05-01

    QR (Quick Response) codes are two-dimensional barcodes composed of special geometric patterns of black modules in a white square background that can encode different types of information with high density and robustness, correct errors and physical damages, thus keeping the stored information protected. Recently, these codes have gained increased attention as they offer a simple physical tool for quick access to Web sites for advertising and social interaction. Challenges encompass the increase of the storage capacity limit, even though they can store approximately 350 times more information than common barcodes, and encode different types of characters (e.g., numeric, alphanumeric, kanji and kana). In this work, we fabricate luminescent QR codes based on a poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate coated with organic-inorganic hybrid materials doped with trivalent terbium (Tb3+) and europium (Eu3+) ions, demonstrating the increase of storage capacity per unit area by a factor of two by using the colour multiplexing, when compared to conventional QR codes. A novel methodology to decode the multiplexed QR codes is developed based on a colour separation threshold where a decision level is calculated through a maximum-likelihood criteria to minimize the error probability of the demultiplexed modules, maximizing the foreseen total storage capacity. Moreover, the thermal dependence of the emission colour coordinates of the Eu3+/Tb3+-based hybrids enables the simultaneously QR code colour-multiplexing and may be used to sense temperature (reproducibility higher than 93%), opening new fields of applications for QR codes as smart labels for sensing.

  11. QR code optical encryption using spatially incoherent illumination

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheremkhin, P. A.; Krasnov, V. V.; Rodin, V. G.; Starikov, R. S.

    2017-02-01

    Optical encryption is an actively developing field of science. The majority of encryption techniques use coherent illumination and suffer from speckle noise, which severely limits their applicability. The spatially incoherent encryption technique does not have this drawback, but its effectiveness is dependent on the Fourier spectrum properties of the image to be encrypted. The application of a quick response (QR) code in the capacity of a data container solves this problem, and the embedded error correction code also enables errorless decryption. The optical encryption of digital information in the form of QR codes using spatially incoherent illumination was implemented experimentally. The encryption is based on the optical convolution of the image to be encrypted with the kinoform point spread function, which serves as an encryption key. Two liquid crystal spatial light modulators were used in the experimental setup for the QR code and the kinoform imaging, respectively. The quality of the encryption and decryption was analyzed in relation to the QR code size. Decryption was conducted digitally. The successful decryption of encrypted QR codes of up to 129  ×  129 pixels was demonstrated. A comparison with the coherent QR code encryption technique showed that the proposed technique has a signal-to-noise ratio that is at least two times higher.

  12. Three-dimensional integral imaging displays using a quick-response encoded elemental image array: an overview

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Markman, A.; Javidi, B.

    2016-06-01

    Quick-response (QR) codes are barcodes that can store information such as numeric data and hyperlinks. The QR code can be scanned using a QR code reader, such as those built into smartphone devices, revealing the information stored in the code. Moreover, the QR code is robust to noise, rotation, and illumination when scanning due to error correction built in the QR code design. Integral imaging is an imaging technique used to generate a three-dimensional (3D) scene by combining the information from two-dimensional (2D) elemental images (EIs) each with a different perspective of a scene. Transferring these 2D images in a secure manner can be difficult. In this work, we overview two methods to store and encrypt EIs in multiple QR codes. The first method uses run-length encoding with Huffman coding and the double-random-phase encryption (DRPE) to compress and encrypt an EI. This information is then stored in a QR code. An alternative compression scheme is to perform photon-counting on the EI prior to compression. Photon-counting is a non-linear transformation of data that creates redundant information thus improving image compression. The compressed data is encrypted using the DRPE. Once information is stored in the QR codes, it is scanned using a smartphone device. The information scanned is decompressed and decrypted and an EI is recovered. Once all EIs have been recovered, a 3D optical reconstruction is generated.

  13. [The QR code in society, economy and medicine--fields of application, options and chances].

    PubMed

    Flaig, Benno; Parzeller, Markus

    2011-01-01

    2D codes like the QR Code ("Quick Response") are becoming more and more common in society and medicine. The application spectrum and benefits in medicine and other fields are described. 2D codes can be created free of charge on any computer with internet access without any previous knowledge. The codes can be easily used in publications, presentations, on business cards and posters. Editors choose between contact details, text or a hyperlink as information behind the code. At expert conferences, linkage by QR Code allows the audience to download presentations and posters quickly. The documents obtained can then be saved, printed, processed etc. Fast access to stored data in the internet makes it possible to integrate additional and explanatory multilingual videos into medical posters. In this context, a combination of different technologies (printed handout, QR Code and screen) may be reasonable.

  14. QR Codes in the Library: "It's Not Your Mother's Barcode!"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dobbs, Cheri

    2011-01-01

    Barcode scanning has become more than just fun. Now libraries and businesses are leveraging barcode technology as an innovative tool to market their products and ideas. Developed and popularized in Japan, these Quick Response (QR) or two-dimensional barcodes allow marketers to provide interactive content in an otherwise static environment. In this…

  15. Optical image encryption using QR code and multilevel fingerprints in gyrator transform domains

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Yang; Yan, Aimin; Dong, Jiabin; Hu, Zhijuan; Zhang, Jingtao

    2017-11-01

    A new concept of GT encryption scheme is proposed in this paper. We present a novel optical image encryption method by using quick response (QR) code and multilevel fingerprint keys in gyrator transform (GT) domains. In this method, an original image is firstly transformed into a QR code, which is placed in the input plane of cascaded GTs. Subsequently, the QR code is encrypted into the cipher-text by using multilevel fingerprint keys. The original image can be obtained easily by reading the high-quality retrieved QR code with hand-held devices. The main parameters used as private keys are GTs' rotation angles and multilevel fingerprints. Biometrics and cryptography are integrated with each other to improve data security. Numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the proposed encryption scheme. In the future, the method of applying QR codes and fingerprints in GT domains possesses much potential for information security.

  16. Evaluating QR Code Case Studies Using a Mobile Learning Framework

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rikala, Jenni

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of Quick Response (QR) codes and mobile devices in the context of Finnish basic education. The feasibility was analyzed through a mobile learning framework, which includes the core characteristics of mobile learning. The study is part of a larger research where the aim is to develop a…

  17. Optical encryption of digital data in form of quick response code using spatially incoherent illumination

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheremkhin, Pavel A.; Krasnov, Vitaly V.; Rodin, Vladislav G.; Starikov, Rostislav S.

    2016-11-01

    Applications of optical methods for encryption purposes have been attracting interest of researchers for decades. The most popular are coherent techniques such as double random phase encoding. Its main advantage is high security due to transformation of spectrum of image to be encrypted into white spectrum via use of first phase random mask which allows for encrypted images with white spectra. Downsides are necessity of using holographic registration scheme and speckle noise occurring due to coherent illumination. Elimination of these disadvantages is possible via usage of incoherent illumination. In this case, phase registration no longer matters, which means that there is no need for holographic setup, and speckle noise is gone. Recently, encryption of digital information in form of binary images has become quite popular. Advantages of using quick response (QR) code in capacity of data container for optical encryption include: 1) any data represented as QR code will have close to white (excluding zero spatial frequency) Fourier spectrum which have good overlapping with encryption key spectrum; 2) built-in algorithm for image scale and orientation correction which simplifies decoding of decrypted QR codes; 3) embedded error correction code allows for successful decryption of information even in case of partial corruption of decrypted image. Optical encryption of digital data in form QR codes using spatially incoherent illumination was experimentally implemented. Two liquid crystal spatial light modulators were used in experimental setup for QR code and encrypting kinoform imaging respectively. Decryption was conducted digitally. Successful decryption of encrypted QR codes is demonstrated.

  18. Facile and High-Throughput Synthesis of Functional Microparticles with Quick Response Codes.

    PubMed

    Ramirez, Lisa Marie S; He, Muhan; Mailloux, Shay; George, Justin; Wang, Jun

    2016-06-01

    Encoded microparticles are high demand in multiplexed assays and labeling. However, the current methods for the synthesis and coding of microparticles either lack robustness and reliability, or possess limited coding capacity. Here, a massive coding of dissociated elements (MiCODE) technology based on innovation of a chemically reactive off-stoichimetry thiol-allyl photocurable polymer and standard lithography to produce a large number of quick response (QR) code microparticles is introduced. The coding process is performed by photobleaching the QR code patterns on microparticles when fluorophores are incorporated into the prepolymer formulation. The fabricated encoded microparticles can be released from a substrate without changing their features. Excess thiol functionality on the microparticle surface allows for grafting of amine groups and further DNA probes. A multiplexed assay is demonstrated using the DNA-grafted QR code microparticles. The MiCODE technology is further characterized by showing the incorporation of BODIPY-maleimide (BDP-M) and Nile Red fluorophores for coding and the use of microcontact printing for immobilizing DNA probes on microparticle surfaces. This versatile technology leverages mature lithography facilities for fabrication and thus is amenable to scale-up in the future, with potential applications in bioassays and in labeling consumer products. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  19. Anticounterfeiting Quick Response Code with Emission Color of Invisible Metal-Organic Frameworks as Encoding Information.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yong-Mei; Tian, Xue-Tao; Zhang, Hui; Yang, Zhong-Rui; Yin, Xue-Bo

    2018-06-21

    Counterfeiting is a global epidemic that is compelling the development of new anticounterfeiting strategy. Herein, we report a novel multiple anticounterfeiting encoding strategy of invisible fluorescent quick response (QR) codes with emission color as information storage unit. The strategy requires red, green, and blue (RGB) light-emitting materials for different emission colors as encrypting information, single excitation for all of the emission for practicability, and ultraviolet (UV) excitation for invisibility under daylight. Therefore, RGB light-emitting nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) are designed as inks to construct the colorful light-emitting boxes for information encrypting, while three black vertex boxes were used for positioning. Full-color emissions are obtained by mixing the trichromatic NMOFs inks through inkjet printer. The encrypting information capacity is easily adjusted by the number of light-emitting boxes with the infinite emission colors. The information is decoded with specific excitation light at 275 nm, making the QR codes invisible under daylight. The composition of inks, invisibility, inkjet printing, and the abundant encrypting information all contribute to multiple anticounterfeiting. The proposed QR codes pattern holds great potential for advanced anticounterfeiting.

  20. What Are Those Checkerboard Things?: How QR Codes Can Enrich Student Projects

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tucker, Al

    2011-01-01

    Students enrolled in commercial arts program design and publish their school's yearbook. For the 2010-2011 school year, the students applied Quick Response (QR) code technology to include links to events that occurred after the yearbook's print deadline, including graduation. The technology has many applications in the school setting, and the…

  1. Three-dimensional quick response code based on inkjet printing of upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles for drug anti-counterfeiting

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    You, Minli; Lin, Min; Wang, Shurui; Wang, Xuemin; Zhang, Ge; Hong, Yuan; Dong, Yuqing; Jin, Guorui; Xu, Feng

    2016-05-01

    Medicine counterfeiting is a serious issue worldwide, involving potentially devastating health repercussions. Advanced anti-counterfeit technology for drugs has therefore aroused intensive interest. However, existing anti-counterfeit technologies are associated with drawbacks such as the high cost, complex fabrication process, sophisticated operation and incapability in authenticating drug ingredients. In this contribution, we developed a smart phone recognition based upconversion fluorescent three-dimensional (3D) quick response (QR) code for tracking and anti-counterfeiting of drugs. We firstly formulated three colored inks incorporating upconversion nanoparticles with RGB (i.e., red, green and blue) emission colors. Using a modified inkjet printer, we printed a series of colors by precisely regulating the overlap of these three inks. Meanwhile, we developed a multilayer printing and splitting technology, which significantly increases the information storage capacity per unit area. As an example, we directly printed the upconversion fluorescent 3D QR code on the surface of drug capsules. The 3D QR code consisted of three different color layers with each layer encoded by information of different aspects of the drug. A smart phone APP was designed to decode the multicolor 3D QR code, providing the authenticity and related information of drugs. The developed technology possesses merits in terms of low cost, ease of operation, high throughput and high information capacity, thus holds great potential for drug anti-counterfeiting.Medicine counterfeiting is a serious issue worldwide, involving potentially devastating health repercussions. Advanced anti-counterfeit technology for drugs has therefore aroused intensive interest. However, existing anti-counterfeit technologies are associated with drawbacks such as the high cost, complex fabrication process, sophisticated operation and incapability in authenticating drug ingredients. In this contribution, we developed a

  2. Optical image encryption based on real-valued coding and subtracting with the help of QR code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deng, Xiaopeng

    2015-08-01

    A novel optical image encryption based on real-valued coding and subtracting is proposed with the help of quick response (QR) code. In the encryption process, the original image to be encoded is firstly transformed into the corresponding QR code, and then the corresponding QR code is encoded into two phase-only masks (POMs) by using basic vector operations. Finally, the absolute values of the real or imaginary parts of the two POMs are chosen as the ciphertexts. In decryption process, the QR code can be approximately restored by recording the intensity of the subtraction between the ciphertexts, and hence the original image can be retrieved without any quality loss by scanning the restored QR code with a smartphone. Simulation results and actual smartphone collected results show that the method is feasible and has strong tolerance to noise, phase difference and ratio between intensities of the two decryption light beams.

  3. Self-Powered Forward Error-Correcting Biosensor Based on Integration of Paper-Based Microfluidics and Self-Assembled Quick Response Codes.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Mingquan; Liu, Keng-Ku; Singamaneni, Srikanth; Chakrabartty, Shantanu

    2016-10-01

    This paper extends our previous work on silver-enhancement based self-assembling structures for designing reliable, self-powered biosensors with forward error correcting (FEC) capability. At the core of the proposed approach is the integration of paper-based microfluidics with quick response (QR) codes that can be optically scanned using a smart-phone. The scanned information is first decoded to obtain the location of a web-server which further processes the self-assembled QR image to determine the concentration of target analytes. The integration substrate for the proposed FEC biosensor is polyethylene and the patterning of the QR code on the substrate has been achieved using a combination of low-cost ink-jet printing and a regular ballpoint dispensing pen. A paper-based microfluidics channel has been integrated underneath the substrate for acquiring, mixing and flowing the sample to areas on the substrate where different parts of the code can self-assemble in presence of immobilized gold nanorods. In this paper we demonstrate the proof-of-concept detection using prototypes of QR encoded FEC biosensors.

  4. Integration of QR codes into an anesthesia information management system for resident case log management.

    PubMed

    Avidan, Alexander; Weissman, Charles; Levin, Phillip D

    2015-04-01

    Quick response (QR) codes containing anesthesia syllabus data were introduced into an anesthesia information management system. The code was generated automatically at the conclusion of each case and available for resident case logging using a smartphone or tablet. The goal of this study was to evaluate the use and usability/user-friendliness of such system. Resident case logging practices were assessed prior to introducing the QR codes. QR code use and satisfactions amongst residents was reassessed at three and six months. Before QR code introduction only 12/23 (52.2%) residents maintained a case log. Most of the remaining residents (9/23, 39.1%) expected to receive a case list from the anesthesia information management system database at the end of their residency. At three months and six months 17/26 (65.4%) and 15/25 (60.0%) residents, respectively, were using the QR codes. Satisfaction was rated as very good or good. QR codes for residents' case logging with smartphones or tablets were successfully introduced in an anesthesia information management system and used by most residents. QR codes can be successfully implemented into medical practice to support data transfer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. DNA barcode goes two-dimensions: DNA QR code web server.

    PubMed

    Liu, Chang; Shi, Linchun; Xu, Xiaolan; Li, Huan; Xing, Hang; Liang, Dong; Jiang, Kun; Pang, Xiaohui; Song, Jingyuan; Chen, Shilin

    2012-01-01

    The DNA barcoding technology uses a standard region of DNA sequence for species identification and discovery. At present, "DNA barcode" actually refers to DNA sequences, which are not amenable to information storage, recognition, and retrieval. Our aim is to identify the best symbology that can represent DNA barcode sequences in practical applications. A comprehensive set of sequences for five DNA barcode markers ITS2, rbcL, matK, psbA-trnH, and CO1 was used as the test data. Fifty-three different types of one-dimensional and ten two-dimensional barcode symbologies were compared based on different criteria, such as coding capacity, compression efficiency, and error detection ability. The quick response (QR) code was found to have the largest coding capacity and relatively high compression ratio. To facilitate the further usage of QR code-based DNA barcodes, a web server was developed and is accessible at http://qrfordna.dnsalias.org. The web server allows users to retrieve the QR code for a species of interests, convert a DNA sequence to and from a QR code, and perform species identification based on local and global sequence similarities. In summary, the first comprehensive evaluation of various barcode symbologies has been carried out. The QR code has been found to be the most appropriate symbology for DNA barcode sequences. A web server has also been constructed to allow biologists to utilize QR codes in practical DNA barcoding applications.

  6. DNA Barcode Goes Two-Dimensions: DNA QR Code Web Server

    PubMed Central

    Li, Huan; Xing, Hang; Liang, Dong; Jiang, Kun; Pang, Xiaohui; Song, Jingyuan; Chen, Shilin

    2012-01-01

    The DNA barcoding technology uses a standard region of DNA sequence for species identification and discovery. At present, “DNA barcode” actually refers to DNA sequences, which are not amenable to information storage, recognition, and retrieval. Our aim is to identify the best symbology that can represent DNA barcode sequences in practical applications. A comprehensive set of sequences for five DNA barcode markers ITS2, rbcL, matK, psbA-trnH, and CO1 was used as the test data. Fifty-three different types of one-dimensional and ten two-dimensional barcode symbologies were compared based on different criteria, such as coding capacity, compression efficiency, and error detection ability. The quick response (QR) code was found to have the largest coding capacity and relatively high compression ratio. To facilitate the further usage of QR code-based DNA barcodes, a web server was developed and is accessible at http://qrfordna.dnsalias.org. The web server allows users to retrieve the QR code for a species of interests, convert a DNA sequence to and from a QR code, and perform species identification based on local and global sequence similarities. In summary, the first comprehensive evaluation of various barcode symbologies has been carried out. The QR code has been found to be the most appropriate symbology for DNA barcode sequences. A web server has also been constructed to allow biologists to utilize QR codes in practical DNA barcoding applications. PMID:22574113

  7. QR codes: next level of social media.

    PubMed

    Gottesman, Wesley; Baum, Neil

    2013-01-01

    The OR code, which is short for quick response code, system was invented in Japan for the auto industry. Its purpose was to track vehicles during manufacture; it was designed to allow high-speed component scanning. Now the scanning can be easily accomplished via cell phone, making the technology useful and within reach of your patients. There are numerous applications for OR codes in the contemporary medical practice. This article describes QR codes and how they might be applied for marketing and practice management.

  8. Teacher Candidates Implementing Universal Design for Learning: Enhancing Picture Books with QR Codes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Grande, Marya; Pontrello, Camille

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate if teacher candidates could gain knowledge of the principles of Universal Design for Learning by enhancing traditional picture books with Quick Response (QR) codes and to determine if the process of making these enhancements would impact teacher candidates' comfort levels with using technology on both…

  9. A novel use of QR code stickers after orthopaedic cast application.

    PubMed

    Gough, A T; Fieraru, G; Gaffney, Pav; Butler, M; Kincaid, R J; Middleton, R G

    2017-07-01

    INTRODUCTION We present a novel solution to ensure that information and contact details are always available to patients while in cast. An information sticker containing both telephone numbers and a Quick Response (QR) code is applied to the cast. When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code loads the plaster team's webpage. This contains information and videos about cast care, complications and enhancing recovery. METHODS A sticker was designed and applied to all synthetic casts fitted in our fracture clinic. On cast removal, patients completed a questionnaire about the sticker. A total of 101 patients were surveyed between November 2015 and February 2016. The questionnaire comprised ten binary choice questions. RESULTS The vast majority (97%) of patients had the sticker still on their cast when they returned to clinic for cast removal. Eighty-four per cent of all patients felt reassured by the presence of the QR code sticker. Nine per cent used the contact details on the cast to seek advice. Over half (56%) had a smartphone and a third (33%) of these scanned the QR code. Of those who scanned the code, 95% found the information useful. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that use of a QR code reassures patients and is an effective tool in the proactive management of potential cast problems. The QR code sticker is now applied to all casts across our trust. In line with NHS England's Five Year Forward View calling for enhanced use of smartphone technology, our trust is continuing to expand its portfolio of patient information accessible via QR codes. Other branches of medicine may benefit from incorporating QR codes as portals to access such information.

  10. Effect of Bromocriptine-QR (a Quick-Release Formulation of Bromocriptine Mesylate) on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects

    PubMed Central

    Gaziano, J. Michael; Cincotta, Anthony H.; Vinik, Aaron; Blonde, Lawrence; Bohannon, Nancy; Scranton, Richard

    2012-01-01

    Background Bromocriptine-QR (a quick-release formulation of bromocriptine mesylate), a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, is a US Food and Drug Administrration–approved treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A 3070-subject randomized trial demonstrated a significant, 40% reduction in relative risk among bromocriptine-QR-treated subjects in a prespecified composite cardiovascular (CV) end point that included ischemic-related (myocardial infarction and stroke) and nonischemic-related (hospitalization for unstable angina, congestive heart failure [CHF], or revascularization surgery) end points, but did not include cardiovascular death as a component of this composite. The present investigation was undertaken to more critically evaluate the impact of bromocriptine-QR on cardiovascular outcomes in this study subject population by (1) including CV death in the above-described original composite analysis and then stratifying this new analysis on the basis of multiple demographic subgroups and (2) analyzing the influence of this intervention on only the “hard” CV end points of myocardial infarction, stroke, and CV death (major adverse cardiovascular events [MACEs]). Methods and Results Three thousand seventy T2DM subjects on stable doses of ≤2 antidiabetes medications (including insulin) with HbA1c ≤10.0 (average baseline HbA1c=7.0) were randomized 2:1 to bromocriptine-QR (1.6 to 4.8 mg/day) or placebo for a 52-week treatment period. Subjects with heart failure (New York Heart Classes I and II) and precedent myocardial infarction or revascularization surgery were allowed to participate in the trial. Study outcomes included time to first event for each of the 2 CV composite end points described above. The relative risk comparing bromocriptine-QR with the control for the cardiovascular outcomes was estimated as a hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval on the basis of Cox proportional hazards regression. The statistical significance of any between

  11. Effect of bromocriptine-QR (a quick-release formulation of bromocriptine mesylate) on major adverse cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes subjects.

    PubMed

    Gaziano, J Michael; Cincotta, Anthony H; Vinik, Aaron; Blonde, Lawrence; Bohannon, Nancy; Scranton, Richard

    2012-10-01

    Bromocriptine-QR (a quick-release formulation of bromocriptine mesylate), a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, is a US Food and Drug Administrration-approved treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A 3070-subject randomized trial demonstrated a significant, 40% reduction in relative risk among bromocriptine-QR-treated subjects in a prespecified composite cardiovascular (CV) end point that included ischemic-related (myocardial infarction and stroke) and nonischemic-related (hospitalization for unstable angina, congestive heart failure [CHF], or revascularization surgery) end points, but did not include cardiovascular death as a component of this composite. The present investigation was undertaken to more critically evaluate the impact of bromocriptine-QR on cardiovascular outcomes in this study subject population by (1) including CV death in the above-described original composite analysis and then stratifying this new analysis on the basis of multiple demographic subgroups and (2) analyzing the influence of this intervention on only the "hard" CV end points of myocardial infarction, stroke, and CV death (major adverse cardiovascular events [MACEs]). Three thousand seventy T2DM subjects on stable doses of ≤2 antidiabetes medications (including insulin) with HbA1c ≤10.0 (average baseline HbA1c=7.0) were randomized 2:1 to bromocriptine-QR (1.6 to 4.8 mg/day) or placebo for a 52-week treatment period. Subjects with heart failure (New York Heart Classes I and II) and precedent myocardial infarction or revascularization surgery were allowed to participate in the trial. Study outcomes included time to first event for each of the 2 CV composite end points described above. The relative risk comparing bromocriptine-QR with the control for the cardiovascular outcomes was estimated as a hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval on the basis of Cox proportional hazards regression. The statistical significance of any between-group difference in the cumulative percentage of

  12. Binary image encryption in a joint transform correlator scheme by aid of run-length encoding and QR code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qin, Yi; Wang, Zhipeng; Wang, Hongjuan; Gong, Qiong

    2018-07-01

    We propose a binary image encryption method in joint transform correlator (JTC) by aid of the run-length encoding (RLE) and Quick Response (QR) code, which enables lossless retrieval of the primary image. The binary image is encoded with RLE to obtain the highly compressed data, and then the compressed binary image is further scrambled using a chaos-based method. The compressed and scrambled binary image is then transformed into one QR code that will be finally encrypted in JTC. The proposed method successfully, for the first time to our best knowledge, encodes a binary image into a QR code with the identical size of it, and therefore may probe a new way for extending the application of QR code in optical security. Moreover, the preprocessing operations, including RLE, chaos scrambling and the QR code translation, append an additional security level on JTC. We present digital results that confirm our approach.

  13. Embedding QR codes in tumor board presentations, enhancing educational content for oncology information management.

    PubMed

    Siderits, Richard; Yates, Stacy; Rodriguez, Arelis; Lee, Tina; Rimmer, Cheryl; Roche, Mark

    2011-01-01

    Quick Response (QR) Codes are standard in supply management and seen with increasing frequency in advertisements. They are now present regularly in healthcare informatics and education. These 2-dimensional square bar codes, originally designed by the Toyota car company, are free of license and have a published international standard. The codes can be generated by free online software and the resulting images incorporated into presentations. The images can be scanned by "smart" phones and tablets using either the iOS or Android platforms, which link the device with the information represented by the QR code (uniform resource locator or URL, online video, text, v-calendar entries, short message service [SMS] and formatted text). Once linked to the device, the information can be viewed at any time after the original presentation, saved in the device or to a Web-based "cloud" repository, printed, or shared with others via email or Bluetooth file transfer. This paper describes how we use QR codes in our tumor board presentations, discusses the benefits, the different QR codes from Web links and how QR codes facilitate the distribution of educational content.

  14. Leveraging Quick Response Code Technology to Facilitate Simulation-Based Leaderboard Competition.

    PubMed

    Chang, Todd P; Doughty, Cara B; Mitchell, Diana; Rutledge, Chrystal; Auerbach, Marc A; Frisell, Karin; Jani, Priti; Kessler, David O; Wolfe, Heather; MacKinnon, Ralph J; Dewan, Maya; Pirie, Jonathan; Lemke, Daniel; Khattab, Mona; Tofil, Nancy; Nagamuthu, Chenthila; Walsh, Catharine M

    2018-02-01

    Leaderboards provide feedback on relative performance and a competitive atmosphere for both self-guided improvement and social comparison. Because simulation can provide substantial quantitative participant feedback, leaderboards can be used, not only locally but also in a multidepartment, multicenter fashion. Quick Response (QR) codes can be integrated to allow participants to access and upload data. We present the development, implementation, and initial evaluation of an online leaderboard employing principles of gamification using points, badges, and leaderboards designed to enhance competition among healthcare providers. This article details the fundamentals behind the development and implementation of a user-friendly, online, multinational leaderboard that employs principles of gamification to enhance competition and integrates a QR code system to promote both self-reporting of performance data and data integrity. An open-ended survey was administered to capture perceptions of leaderboard implementation. Conceptual step-by-step instructions detailing how to apply the QR code system to any leaderboard using simulated or real performance metrics are outlined using an illustrative example of a leaderboard that employed simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance scores to compare participants across 17 hospitals in 4 countries for 16 months. The following three major descriptive categories that captured perceptions of leaderboard implementation emerged from initial evaluation data from 10 sites: (1) competition, (2) longevity, and (3) perceived deficits. A well-designed leaderboard should be user-friendly and encompass best practices in gamification principles while collecting and storing data for research analyses. Easy storage and export of data allow for longitudinal record keeping that can be leveraged both to track compliance and to enable social competition.

  15. QR encoded smart oral dosage forms by inkjet printing.

    PubMed

    Edinger, Magnus; Bar-Shalom, Daniel; Sandler, Niklas; Rantanen, Jukka; Genina, Natalja

    2018-01-30

    The use of inkjet printing (IJP) technology enables the flexible manufacturing of personalized medicine with the doses tailored for each patient. In this study we demonstrate, for the first time, the applicability of IJP in the production of edible dosage forms in the pattern of a quick response (QR) code. This printed pattern contains the drug itself and encoded information relevant to the patient and/or healthcare professionals. IJP of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)-containing ink in the pattern of QR code was performed onto a newly developed porous and flexible, but mechanically stable substrate with a good absorption capacity. The printing did not affect the mechanical properties of the substrate. The actual drug content of the printed dosage forms was in accordance with the encoded drug content. The QR encoded dosage forms had a good print definition without significant edge bleeding. They were readable by a smartphone even after storage in harsh conditions. This approach of efficient data incorporation and data storage combined with the use of smart devices can lead to safer and more patient-friendly drug products in the future. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Three-dimensional quick response code based on inkjet printing of upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles for drug anti-counterfeiting.

    PubMed

    You, Minli; Lin, Min; Wang, Shurui; Wang, Xuemin; Zhang, Ge; Hong, Yuan; Dong, Yuqing; Jin, Guorui; Xu, Feng

    2016-05-21

    Medicine counterfeiting is a serious issue worldwide, involving potentially devastating health repercussions. Advanced anti-counterfeit technology for drugs has therefore aroused intensive interest. However, existing anti-counterfeit technologies are associated with drawbacks such as the high cost, complex fabrication process, sophisticated operation and incapability in authenticating drug ingredients. In this contribution, we developed a smart phone recognition based upconversion fluorescent three-dimensional (3D) quick response (QR) code for tracking and anti-counterfeiting of drugs. We firstly formulated three colored inks incorporating upconversion nanoparticles with RGB (i.e., red, green and blue) emission colors. Using a modified inkjet printer, we printed a series of colors by precisely regulating the overlap of these three inks. Meanwhile, we developed a multilayer printing and splitting technology, which significantly increases the information storage capacity per unit area. As an example, we directly printed the upconversion fluorescent 3D QR code on the surface of drug capsules. The 3D QR code consisted of three different color layers with each layer encoded by information of different aspects of the drug. A smart phone APP was designed to decode the multicolor 3D QR code, providing the authenticity and related information of drugs. The developed technology possesses merits in terms of low cost, ease of operation, high throughput and high information capacity, thus holds great potential for drug anti-counterfeiting.

  17. Is QR code an optimal data container in optical encryption systems from an error-correction coding perspective?

    PubMed

    Jiao, Shuming; Jin, Zhi; Zhou, Changyuan; Zou, Wenbin; Li, Xia

    2018-01-01

    Quick response (QR) code has been employed as a data carrier for optical cryptosystems in many recent research works, and the error-correction coding mechanism allows the decrypted result to be noise free. However, in this paper, we point out for the first time that the Reed-Solomon coding algorithm in QR code is not a very suitable option for the nonlocally distributed speckle noise in optical cryptosystems from an information coding perspective. The average channel capacity is proposed to measure the data storage capacity and noise-resistant capability of different encoding schemes. We design an alternative 2D barcode scheme based on Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) coding, which demonstrates substantially better average channel capacity than QR code in numerical simulated optical cryptosystems.

  18. An In vitro evaluation of the reliability of QR code denture labeling technique.

    PubMed

    Poovannan, Sindhu; Jain, Ashish R; Krishnan, Cakku Jalliah Venkata; Chandran, Chitraa R

    2016-01-01

    Positive identification of the dead after accidents and disasters through labeled dentures plays a key role in forensic scenario. A number of denture labeling methods are available, and studies evaluating their reliability under drastic conditions are vital. This study was conducted to evaluate the reliability of QR (Quick Response) Code labeled at various depths in heat-cured acrylic blocks after acid treatment, heat treatment (burns), and fracture in forensics. It was an in vitro study. This study included 160 specimens of heat-cured acrylic blocks (1.8 cm × 1.8 cm) and these were divided into 4 groups (40 samples per group). QR Codes were incorporated in the samples using clear acrylic sheet and they were assessed for reliability under various depths, acid, heat, and fracture. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, test of proportion. The QR Code inclusion technique was reliable under various depths of acrylic sheet, acid (sulfuric acid 99%, hydrochloric acid 40%) and heat (up to 370°C). Results were variable with fracture of QR Code labeled acrylic blocks. Within the limitations of the study, by analyzing the results, it was clearly indicated that the QR Code technique was reliable under various depths of acrylic sheet, acid, and heat (370°C). Effectiveness varied in fracture and depended on the level of distortion. This study thus suggests that QR Code is an effective and simpler denture labeling method.

  19. An In vitro evaluation of the reliability of QR code denture labeling technique

    PubMed Central

    Poovannan, Sindhu; Jain, Ashish R.; Krishnan, Cakku Jalliah Venkata; Chandran, Chitraa R.

    2016-01-01

    Statement of Problem: Positive identification of the dead after accidents and disasters through labeled dentures plays a key role in forensic scenario. A number of denture labeling methods are available, and studies evaluating their reliability under drastic conditions are vital. Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the reliability of QR (Quick Response) Code labeled at various depths in heat-cured acrylic blocks after acid treatment, heat treatment (burns), and fracture in forensics. It was an in vitro study. Materials and Methods: This study included 160 specimens of heat-cured acrylic blocks (1.8 cm × 1.8 cm) and these were divided into 4 groups (40 samples per group). QR Codes were incorporated in the samples using clear acrylic sheet and they were assessed for reliability under various depths, acid, heat, and fracture. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, test of proportion. Results: The QR Code inclusion technique was reliable under various depths of acrylic sheet, acid (sulfuric acid 99%, hydrochloric acid 40%) and heat (up to 370°C). Results were variable with fracture of QR Code labeled acrylic blocks. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, by analyzing the results, it was clearly indicated that the QR Code technique was reliable under various depths of acrylic sheet, acid, and heat (370°C). Effectiveness varied in fracture and depended on the level of distortion. This study thus suggests that QR Code is an effective and simpler denture labeling method. PMID:28123284

  20. Durability of switchable QR code carriers under hydrolytic and photolytic conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ecker, Melanie; Pretsch, Thorsten

    2013-09-01

    Following a guest diffusion approach, the surface of a shape memory poly(ester urethane) (PEU) was either black or blue colored. Bowtie-shaped quick response (QR) code carriers were then obtained from laser engraving and cutting, before thermo-mechanical functionalization (programming) was applied to stabilize the PEU in a thermo-responsive (switchable) state. The stability of the dye within the polymer surface and long-term functionality of the polymer were investigated against UVA and hydrolytic ageing. Spectrophotometric investigations verified UVA ageing-related color shifts from black to yellow-brownish and blue to petrol-greenish whereas hydrolytically aged samples changed from black to greenish and blue to light blue. In the case of UVA ageing, color changes were accompanied by dye decolorization, whereas hydrolytic ageing led to contrast declines due to dye diffusion. The Michelson contrast could be identified as an effective tool to follow ageing-related contrast changes between surface-dyed and laser-ablated (undyed) polymer regions. As soon as the Michelson contrast fell below a crucial value of 0.1 due to ageing, the QR code was no longer decipherable with a scanning device. Remarkably, the PEU information carrier base material could even then be adequately fixed and recovered. Hence, the surface contrast turned out to be the decisive parameter for QR code carrier applicability.

  1. Consumer acceptance of a quick response (QR) code for the food traceability system: Application of an extended technology acceptance model (TAM).

    PubMed

    Kim, Yeong Gug; Woo, Eunju

    2016-07-01

    The objectives of this study are to apply the TAM using the addition of perceived information to individuals' behavioral intention to use the QR code for the food traceability system; and to determine the moderating effects of food involvement on the relationship between perceived information and perceived usefulness. Results from a survey of 420 respondents are analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study findings reveal that the extended TAM has a satisfactory fit to the data and that the underlying dimensions have a significant effect on consumers' intention to use the QR code for the food traceability system. In addition, food involvement plays a significant moderating function in the relationship between perceived information and perceived usefulness. The implications of this study for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. QR images: optimized image embedding in QR codes.

    PubMed

    Garateguy, Gonzalo J; Arce, Gonzalo R; Lau, Daniel L; Villarreal, Ofelia P

    2014-07-01

    This paper introduces the concept of QR images, an automatic method to embed QR codes into color images with bounded probability of detection error. These embeddings are compatible with standard decoding applications and can be applied to any color image with full area coverage. The QR information bits are encoded into the luminance values of the image, taking advantage of the immunity of QR readers against local luminance disturbances. To mitigate the visual distortion of the QR image, the algorithm utilizes halftoning masks for the selection of modified pixels and nonlinear programming techniques to locally optimize luminance levels. A tractable model for the probability of error is developed and models of the human visual system are considered in the quality metric used to optimize the luminance levels of the QR image. To minimize the processing time, the optimization techniques proposed to consider the mechanics of a common binarization method and are designed to be amenable for parallel implementations. Experimental results show the graceful degradation of the decoding rate and the perceptual quality as a function the embedding parameters. A visual comparison between the proposed and existing methods is presented.

  3. Digital data for Quick Response (QR) codes of thermophiles to identify and compare the bacterial species isolated from Unkeshwar hot springs (India)

    PubMed Central

    Rekadwad, Bhagwan N.; Khobragade, Chandrahasya N.

    2015-01-01

    16S rRNA sequences of morphologically and biochemically identified 21 thermophilic bacteria isolated from Unkeshwar hot springs (19°85′N and 78°25′E), Dist. Nanded (India) has been deposited in NCBI repository. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were used to generate QR codes for sequences (FASTA format and full Gene Bank information). Diversity among the isolates is compared with known isolates and evaluated using CGR, FCGR and PCA i.e. visual comparison and evaluation respectively. Considerable biodiversity was observed among the identified bacteria isolated from Unkeshwar hot springs. The hyperlinked QR codes, CGR, FCGR and PCA of all the isolates are made available to the users on a portal https://sites.google.com/site/bhagwanrekadwad/. PMID:26793757

  4. Digital data for Quick Response (QR) codes of thermophiles to identify and compare the bacterial species isolated from Unkeshwar hot springs (India).

    PubMed

    Rekadwad, Bhagwan N; Khobragade, Chandrahasya N

    2016-03-01

    16S rRNA sequences of morphologically and biochemically identified 21 thermophilic bacteria isolated from Unkeshwar hot springs (19°85'N and 78°25'E), Dist. Nanded (India) has been deposited in NCBI repository. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were used to generate QR codes for sequences (FASTA format and full Gene Bank information). Diversity among the isolates is compared with known isolates and evaluated using CGR, FCGR and PCA i.e. visual comparison and evaluation respectively. Considerable biodiversity was observed among the identified bacteria isolated from Unkeshwar hot springs. The hyperlinked QR codes, CGR, FCGR and PCA of all the isolates are made available to the users on a portal https://sites.google.com/site/bhagwanrekadwad/.

  5. Improving Inpatient Surveys: Web-Based Computer Adaptive Testing Accessed via Mobile Phone QR Codes.

    PubMed

    Chien, Tsair-Wei; Lin, Weir-Sen

    2016-03-02

    The National Health Service (NHS) 70-item inpatient questionnaire surveys inpatients on their perceptions of their hospitalization experience. However, it imposes more burden on the patient than other similar surveys. The literature shows that computerized adaptive testing (CAT) based on item response theory can help shorten the item length of a questionnaire without compromising its precision. Our aim was to investigate whether CAT can be (1) efficient with item reduction and (2) used with quick response (QR) codes scanned by mobile phones. After downloading the 2008 inpatient survey data from the Picker Institute Europe website and analyzing the difficulties of this 70-item questionnaire, we used an author-made Excel program using the Rasch partial credit model to simulate 1000 patients' true scores followed by a standard normal distribution. The CAT was compared to two other scenarios of answering all items (AAI) and the randomized selection method (RSM), as we investigated item length (efficiency) and measurement accuracy. The author-made Web-based CAT program for gathering patient feedback was effectively accessed from mobile phones by scanning the QR code. We found that the CAT can be more efficient for patients answering questions (ie, fewer items to respond to) than either AAI or RSM without compromising its measurement accuracy. A Web-based CAT inpatient survey accessed by scanning a QR code on a mobile phone was viable for gathering inpatient satisfaction responses. With advances in technology, patients can now be offered alternatives for providing feedback about hospitalization satisfaction. This Web-based CAT is a possible option in health care settings for reducing the number of survey items, as well as offering an innovative QR code access.

  6. Towards an Integrated QR Code Biosensor: Light-Driven Sample Acquisition and Bacterial Cellulose Paper Substrate.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Mingquan; Jiang, Qisheng; Liu, Keng-Ku; Singamaneni, Srikanth; Chakrabartty, Shantanu

    2018-06-01

    This paper addresses two key challenges toward an integrated forward error-correcting biosensor based on our previously reported self-assembled quick-response (QR) code. The first challenge involves the choice of the paper substrate for printing and self-assembling the QR code. We have compared four different substrates that includes regular printing paper, Whatman filter paper, nitrocellulose membrane and lab synthesized bacterial cellulose. We report that out of the four substrates bacterial cellulose outperforms the others in terms of probe (gold nanorods) and ink retention capability. The second challenge involves remote activation of the analyte sampling and the QR code self-assembly process. In this paper, we use light as a trigger signal and a graphite layer as a light-absorbing material. The resulting change in temperature due to infrared absorption leads to a temperature gradient that then exerts a diffusive force driving the analyte toward the regions of self-assembly. The working principle has been verified in this paper using assembled biosensor prototypes where we demonstrate higher sample flow rate due to light induced thermal gradients.

  7. Just in time? Using QR codes for multi-professional learning in clinical practice.

    PubMed

    Jamu, Joseph Tawanda; Lowi-Jones, Hannah; Mitchell, Colin

    2016-07-01

    Clinical guidelines and policies are widely available on the hospital intranet or from the internet, but can be difficult to access at the required time and place. Clinical staff with smartphones could use Quick Response (QR) codes for contemporaneous access to relevant information to support the Just in Time Learning (JIT-L) paradigm. There are several studies that advocate the use of smartphones to enhance learning amongst medical students and junior doctors in UK. However, these participants are already technologically orientated. There are limited studies that explore the use of smartphones in nursing practice. QR Codes were generated for each topic and positioned at relevant locations on a medical ward. Support and training were provided for staff. Website analytics and semi-structured interviews were performed to evaluate the efficacy, acceptability and feasibility of using QR codes to facilitate Just in Time learning. Use was intermittently high but not sustained. Thematic analysis of interviews revealed a positive assessment of the Just in Time learning paradigm and context-sensitive clinical information. However, there were notable barriers to acceptance, including usability of QR codes and appropriateness of smartphone use in a clinical environment. The use of Just in Time learning for education and reference may be beneficial to healthcare professionals. However, alternative methods of access for less technologically literate users and a change in culture of mobile device use in clinical areas may be needed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Improving Inpatient Surveys: Web-Based Computer Adaptive Testing Accessed via Mobile Phone QR Codes

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Background The National Health Service (NHS) 70-item inpatient questionnaire surveys inpatients on their perceptions of their hospitalization experience. However, it imposes more burden on the patient than other similar surveys. The literature shows that computerized adaptive testing (CAT) based on item response theory can help shorten the item length of a questionnaire without compromising its precision. Objective Our aim was to investigate whether CAT can be (1) efficient with item reduction and (2) used with quick response (QR) codes scanned by mobile phones. Methods After downloading the 2008 inpatient survey data from the Picker Institute Europe website and analyzing the difficulties of this 70-item questionnaire, we used an author-made Excel program using the Rasch partial credit model to simulate 1000 patients’ true scores followed by a standard normal distribution. The CAT was compared to two other scenarios of answering all items (AAI) and the randomized selection method (RSM), as we investigated item length (efficiency) and measurement accuracy. The author-made Web-based CAT program for gathering patient feedback was effectively accessed from mobile phones by scanning the QR code. Results We found that the CAT can be more efficient for patients answering questions (ie, fewer items to respond to) than either AAI or RSM without compromising its measurement accuracy. A Web-based CAT inpatient survey accessed by scanning a QR code on a mobile phone was viable for gathering inpatient satisfaction responses. Conclusions With advances in technology, patients can now be offered alternatives for providing feedback about hospitalization satisfaction. This Web-based CAT is a possible option in health care settings for reducing the number of survey items, as well as offering an innovative QR code access. PMID:26935793

  9. Classical stability of M/sup p/qr, Q/sup p/qr, and N/sup p/qr in d = 11 supergravity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yasuda, O.

    1984-09-24

    We investigate the classical stability of Freund-Rubin--type solutions M/sup p/qr (SU(3) x SU(2) x U(1)/SU(2) x U(1) x U(1)), Q/sup p/qr (SU(2) x SU(2) x SU(2)/U(1) x U(1)), and N/sup p/qr (SU(3) x U(1)/U(1) x U(1)) against relative dilatations between the coset directions. It is shown that M/sup p/qr is stable only for (98/243)< or =p/sup 2//q/sup 2/< or =(6358/ 4563), Q/sup p/qr is stable only for a certain region of p/sup 2//r/sup 2/ and q/sup 2//r/sup 2/, while N/sup p/qr is stable for any p/sup 2//q/sup 2/ against these small fluctuations.

  10. Three-dimensional polarization marked multiple-QR code encryption by optimizing a single vectorial beam

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Chao; Shen, Xueju; Hua, Binbin; Wang, Zhisong

    2015-10-01

    We demonstrate the feasibility of three dimensional (3D) polarization multiplexing by optimizing a single vectorial beam using a multiple-signal window multiple-plane (MSW-MP) phase retrieval algorithm. Original messages represented with multiple quick response (QR) codes are first partitioned into a series of subblocks. Then, each subblock is marked with a specific polarization state and randomly distributed in 3D space with both longitudinal and transversal adjustable freedoms. A generalized 3D polarization mapping protocol is established to generate a 3D polarization key. Finally, multiple-QR code is encrypted into one phase only mask and one polarization only mask based on the modified Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm. We take the polarization mask as the cyphertext and the phase only mask as additional dimension of key. Only when both the phase key and 3D polarization key are correct, original messages can be recovered. We verify our proposal with both simulation and experiment evidences.

  11. QR code for medical information uses.

    PubMed

    Fontelo, Paul; Liu, Fang; Ducut, Erick G

    2008-11-06

    We developed QR code online tools, simulated and tested QR code applications for medical information uses including scanning QR code labels, URLs and authentication. Our results show possible applications for QR code in medicine.

  12. Efficacy and Safety of Bromocriptine-QR in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    PubMed

    Liang, W; Gao, L; Li, N; Wang, B; Wang, L; Wang, Y; Yang, H; You, L; Hou, J; Chen, S; Zhu, H; Jiang, Y; Pan, H

    2015-10-01

    Bromocriptine-QR (quick release) is a novel treatment for type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine-QR in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed journals or as abstracts. We performed a comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to May 2015. Randomized controlled trials of bromocriptine-QR therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus were eligible. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of trials based on predefined inclusion criteria. Information was collected concerning basic study data, patient characteristics, efficacy and safety outcomes, and methodological quality. Bromocriptine-QR add-on therapy lowered hemoglobin A1c compared with placebo (weighted mean difference, - 6.52 mmol/mol; 95% CI, - 8.07 to - 4.97 mmol/mol). Bromocriptine-QR exhibited an increase in achieving an HbA1c level ≤ 53 mmol/mol (≤ 7.0%) (32.0 vs. 9.5%; odds ratio, 4.57; 95% CI, 2.42-8.62). Fasting plasma glucose was reduced with bromocriptine-QR compared with placebo (weighted mean difference,-1.04 mmol/l; 95% CI,-1.49 to-0.59 mmol/l). Moreover, bromocriptine-QR had neutral effects on postprandial glycemia, Body Mass Index (BMI), and lipid profile. Bromocriptine-QR had more gastrointestinal side effects of nausea and vomiting. Bromocriptine-QR had no increased risk of hypoglycemia, hypotension, or cardiovascular effects. Bromocriptine-QR therapy offers an alternative option to currently available antidiabetic agents for type 2 diabetes mellitus adults. Neither hypoglycemia nor other metabolic changes occur with this drug. More data for long-term efficacy and safety are needed for further observation. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  13. QR code-based non-linear image encryption using Shearlet transform and spiral phase transform

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, Ravi; Bhaduri, Basanta; Hennelly, Bryan

    2018-02-01

    In this paper, we propose a new quick response (QR) code-based non-linear technique for image encryption using Shearlet transform (ST) and spiral phase transform. The input image is first converted into a QR code and then scrambled using the Arnold transform. The scrambled image is then decomposed into five coefficients using the ST and the first Shearlet coefficient, C1 is interchanged with a security key before performing the inverse ST. The output after inverse ST is then modulated with a random phase mask and further spiral phase transformed to get the final encrypted image. The first coefficient, C1 is used as a private key for decryption. The sensitivity of the security keys is analysed in terms of correlation coefficient and peak signal-to noise ratio. The robustness of the scheme is also checked against various attacks such as noise, occlusion and special attacks. Numerical simulation results are shown in support of the proposed technique and an optoelectronic set-up for encryption is also proposed.

  14. Linear systems analysis program, L224(QR). Volume 2: Supplemental system design and maintenance document

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Heidergott, K. W.

    1979-01-01

    The computer program known as QR is described. Classical control systems analysis and synthesis (root locus, time response, and frequency response) can be performed using this program. Programming details of the QR program are presented.

  15. Raman spectroscopy: in vivo quick response code of skin physiological status

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vyumvuhore, Raoul; Tfayli, Ali; Piot, Olivier; Le Guillou, Maud; Guichard, Nathalie; Manfait, Michel; Baillet-Guffroy, Arlette

    2014-11-01

    Dermatologists need to combine different clinically relevant characteristics for a better understanding of skin health. These characteristics are usually measured by different techniques, and some of them are highly time consuming. Therefore, a predicting model based on Raman spectroscopy and partial least square (PLS) regression was developed as a rapid multiparametric method. The Raman spectra collected from the five uppermost micrometers of 11 healthy volunteers were fitted to different skin characteristics measured by independent appropriate methods (transepidermal water loss, hydration, pH, relative amount of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol). For each parameter, the obtained PLS model presented correlation coefficients higher than R2=0.9. This model enables us to obtain all the aforementioned parameters directly from the unique Raman signature. In addition to that, in-depth Raman analyses down to 20 μm showed different balances between partially bound water and unbound water with depth. In parallel, the increase of depth was followed by an unfolding process of the proteins. The combinations of all these information led to a multiparametric investigation, which better characterizes the skin status. Raman signal can thus be used as a quick response code (QR code). This could help dermatologic diagnosis of physiological variations and presents a possible extension to pathological characterization.

  16. Raman spectroscopy: in vivo quick response code of skin physiological status.

    PubMed

    Vyumvuhore, Raoul; Tfayli, Ali; Piot, Olivier; Le Guillou, Maud; Guichard, Nathalie; Manfait, Michel; Baillet-Guffroy, Arlette

    2014-01-01

    Dermatologists need to combine different clinically relevant characteristics for a better understanding of skin health. These characteristics are usually measured by different techniques, and some of them are highly time consuming. Therefore, a predicting model based on Raman spectroscopy and partial least square (PLS) regression was developed as a rapid multiparametric method. The Raman spectra collected from the five uppermost micrometers of 11 healthy volunteers were fitted to different skin characteristics measured by independent appropriate methods (transepidermal water loss, hydration, pH, relative amount of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol). For each parameter, the obtained PLS model presented correlation coefficients higher than R2=0.9. This model enables us to obtain all the aforementioned parameters directly from the unique Raman signature. In addition to that, in-depth Raman analyses down to 20 μm showed different balances between partially bound water and unbound water with depth. In parallel, the increase of depth was followed by an unfolding process of the proteins. The combinations of all these information led to a multiparametric investigation, which better characterizes the skin status. Raman signal can thus be used as a quick response code (QR code). This could help dermatologic diagnosis of physiological variations and presents a possible extension to pathological characterization.

  17. Utility of QR codes in biological collections

    PubMed Central

    Diazgranados, Mauricio; Funk, Vicki A.

    2013-01-01

    Abstract The popularity of QR codes for encoding information such as URIs has increased exponentially in step with the technological advances and availability of smartphones, digital tablets, and other electronic devices. We propose using QR codes on specimens in biological collections to facilitate linking vouchers’ electronic information with their associated collections. QR codes can efficiently provide such links for connecting collections, photographs, maps, ecosystem notes, citations, and even GenBank sequences. QR codes have numerous advantages over barcodes, including their small size, superior security mechanisms, increased complexity and quantity of information, and low implementation cost. The scope of this paper is to initiate an academic discussion about using QR codes on specimens in biological collections. PMID:24198709

  18. Utility of QR codes in biological collections.

    PubMed

    Diazgranados, Mauricio; Funk, Vicki A

    2013-01-01

    The popularity of QR codes for encoding information such as URIs has increased exponentially in step with the technological advances and availability of smartphones, digital tablets, and other electronic devices. We propose using QR codes on specimens in biological collections to facilitate linking vouchers' electronic information with their associated collections. QR codes can efficiently provide such links for connecting collections, photographs, maps, ecosystem notes, citations, and even GenBank sequences. QR codes have numerous advantages over barcodes, including their small size, superior security mechanisms, increased complexity and quantity of information, and low implementation cost. The scope of this paper is to initiate an academic discussion about using QR codes on specimens in biological collections.

  19. Using Quick Response Codes in the Classroom: Quality Outcomes.

    PubMed

    Zurmehly, Joyce; Adams, Kellie

    2017-10-01

    With smart device technology emerging, educators are challenged with redesigning teaching strategies using technology to allow students to participate dynamically and provide immediate answers. To facilitate integration of technology and to actively engage students, quick response codes were included in a medical surgical lecture. Quick response codes are two-dimensional square patterns that enable the coding or storage of more than 7000 characters that can be accessed via a quick response code scanning application. The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to explore quick response code use in a lecture and measure students' satisfaction (met expectations, increased interest, helped understand, and provided practice and prompt feedback) and engagement (liked most, liked least, wanted changed, and kept involved), assessed using an investigator-developed instrument. Although there was no statistically significant correlation of quick response use to examination scores, satisfaction scores were high, and there was a small yet positive association between how students perceived their learning with quick response codes and overall examination scores. Furthermore, on open-ended survey questions, students responded that they were satisfied with the use of quick response codes, appreciated the immediate feedback, and planned to use them in the clinical setting. Quick response codes offer a way to integrate technology into the classroom to provide students with instant positive feedback.

  20. A SNP panel and online tool for checking genotype concordance through comparing QR codes.

    PubMed

    Du, Yonghong; Martin, Joshua S; McGee, John; Yang, Yuchen; Liu, Eric Yi; Sun, Yingrui; Geihs, Matthias; Kong, Xuejun; Zhou, Eric Lingfeng; Li, Yun; Huang, Jie

    2017-01-01

    In the current precision medicine era, more and more samples get genotyped and sequenced. Both researchers and commercial companies expend significant time and resources to reduce the error rate. However, it has been reported that there is a sample mix-up rate of between 0.1% and 1%, not to mention the possibly higher mix-up rate during the down-stream genetic reporting processes. Even on the low end of this estimate, this translates to a significant number of mislabeled samples, especially over the projected one billion people that will be sequenced within the next decade. Here, we first describe a method to identify a small set of Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can uniquely identify a personal genome, which utilizes allele frequencies of five major continental populations reported in the 1000 genomes project and the ExAC Consortium. To make this panel more informative, we added four SNPs that are commonly used to predict ABO blood type, and another two SNPs that are capable of predicting sex. We then implement a web interface (http://qrcme.tech), nicknamed QRC (for QR code based Concordance check), which is capable of extracting the relevant ID SNPs from a raw genetic data, coding its genotype as a quick response (QR) code, and comparing QR codes to report the concordance of underlying genetic datasets. The resulting 80 fingerprinting SNPs represent a significant decrease in complexity and the number of markers used for genetic data labelling and tracking. Our method and web tool is easily accessible to both researchers and the general public who consider the accuracy of complex genetic data as a prerequisite towards precision medicine.

  1. A SNP panel and online tool for checking genotype concordance through comparing QR codes

    PubMed Central

    Du, Yonghong; Martin, Joshua S.; McGee, John; Yang, Yuchen; Liu, Eric Yi; Sun, Yingrui; Geihs, Matthias; Kong, Xuejun; Zhou, Eric Lingfeng; Li, Yun

    2017-01-01

    In the current precision medicine era, more and more samples get genotyped and sequenced. Both researchers and commercial companies expend significant time and resources to reduce the error rate. However, it has been reported that there is a sample mix-up rate of between 0.1% and 1%, not to mention the possibly higher mix-up rate during the down-stream genetic reporting processes. Even on the low end of this estimate, this translates to a significant number of mislabeled samples, especially over the projected one billion people that will be sequenced within the next decade. Here, we first describe a method to identify a small set of Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can uniquely identify a personal genome, which utilizes allele frequencies of five major continental populations reported in the 1000 genomes project and the ExAC Consortium. To make this panel more informative, we added four SNPs that are commonly used to predict ABO blood type, and another two SNPs that are capable of predicting sex. We then implement a web interface (http://qrcme.tech), nicknamed QRC (for QR code based Concordance check), which is capable of extracting the relevant ID SNPs from a raw genetic data, coding its genotype as a quick response (QR) code, and comparing QR codes to report the concordance of underlying genetic datasets. The resulting 80 fingerprinting SNPs represent a significant decrease in complexity and the number of markers used for genetic data labelling and tracking. Our method and web tool is easily accessible to both researchers and the general public who consider the accuracy of complex genetic data as a prerequisite towards precision medicine. PMID:28926565

  2. Structure-preserving and rank-revealing QR-factorizations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bischof, C.H.; Hansen, P.C.

    1991-11-01

    The rank-revealing QR-factorization (RRQR-factorization) is a special QR-factorization that is guaranteed to reveal the numerical rank of the matrix under consideration. This makes the RRQR-factorization a useful tool in the numerical treatment of many rank-deficient problems in numerical linear algebra. In this paper, a framework is presented for the efficient implementation of RRQR algorithms, in particular, for sparse matrices. A sparse RRQR-algorithm should seek to preserve the structure and sparsity of the matrix as much as possible while retaining the ability to capture safely the numerical rank. To this end, the paper proposes to compute an initial QR-factorization using amore » restricted pivoting strategy guarded by incremental condition estimation (ICE), and then applies the algorithm suggested by Chan and Foster to this QR-factorization. The column exchange strategy used in the initial QR factorization will exploit the fact that certain column exchanges do not change the sparsity structure, and compute a sparse QR-factorization that is a good approximation of the sought-after RRQR-factorization. Due to quantities produced by ICE, the Chan/Foster RRQR algorithm can be implemented very cheaply, thus verifying that the sought-after RRQR-factorization has indeed been computed. Experimental results on a model problem show that the initial QR-factorization is indeed very likely to produce RRQR-factorization.« less

  3. Impact of bromocriptine-QR therapy on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects on metformin.

    PubMed

    Chamarthi, Bindu; Ezrokhi, Michael; Rutty, Dean; Cincotta, Anthony H

    2016-11-01

    Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a substantially increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Bromocriptine-QR (B-QR), a quick release sympatholytic dopamine D 2 receptor agonist, is a FDA-approved therapy for T2DM which may provide CVD risk reduction. Metformin is considered to be an agent with a potential cardioprotective benefit. This large placebo controlled clinical study assessed the impact of B-QR addition to existing metformin therapy on CVD outcomes in T2DM subjects. 1791 subjects (1208 B-QR; 583 placebo) on metformin ± another anti-diabetes therapy at baseline derived from the Cycloset Safety Trial, a 12-month, randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in T2DM, were included in this study. The primary CVD endpoint evaluated was treatment impact on CVD event rate, prespecified as a composite of time to first myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina/congestive heart failure. Impact on glycemic control was evaluated as a secondary analysis. The composite CVD end point occurred in 16/1208 B-QR treated (1.3%) and 18/583 placebo treated (3.1%) subjects resulting in a 55% CVD hazard risk reduction (intention-to-treat, Cox regression analysis; HR: 0.45 [0.23-0.88], p = 0.028). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated a significantly lower cumulative incidence rate of the CVD endpoint in the B-QR treatment group (Log-Rank p = 0.017). In subjects with poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7.5) at baseline, B-QR therapy relative to placebo resulted in a significant mean %HbA1c reduction of -0.59 at week 12 and -0.51 at week 52 respectively (p < 0.001 for both) and a 10 fold higher percent of subjects achieving HbA1c goal of ≤7% by week 52 (B-QR 30%, placebo 3%; p = 0.003). These findings suggest that in T2DM subjects on metformin, BQR therapy may represent an effective strategy for reducing CVD risk. Cycloset Safety Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

  4. Ink-constrained halftoning with application to QR codes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bayeh, Marzieh; Compaan, Erin; Lindsey, Theodore; Orlow, Nathan; Melczer, Stephen; Voller, Zachary

    2014-01-01

    This paper examines adding visually significant, human recognizable data into QR codes without affecting their machine readability by utilizing known methods in image processing. Each module of a given QR code is broken down into pixels, which are halftoned in such a way as to keep the QR code structure while revealing aspects of the secondary image to the human eye. The loss of information associated to this procedure is discussed, and entropy values are calculated for examples given in the paper. Numerous examples of QR codes with embedded images are included.

  5. Nonlinear QR code based optical image encryption using spiral phase transform, equal modulus decomposition and singular value decomposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, Ravi; Bhaduri, Basanta; Nishchal, Naveen K.

    2018-01-01

    In this study, we propose a quick response (QR) code based nonlinear optical image encryption technique using spiral phase transform (SPT), equal modulus decomposition (EMD) and singular value decomposition (SVD). First, the primary image is converted into a QR code and then multiplied with a spiral phase mask (SPM). Next, the product is spiral phase transformed with particular spiral phase function, and further, the EMD is performed on the output of SPT, which results into two complex images, Z 1 and Z 2. Among these, Z 1 is further Fresnel propagated with distance d, and Z 2 is reserved as a decryption key. Afterwards, SVD is performed on Fresnel propagated output to get three decomposed matrices i.e. one diagonal matrix and two unitary matrices. The two unitary matrices are modulated with two different SPMs and then, the inverse SVD is performed using the diagonal matrix and modulated unitary matrices to get the final encrypted image. Numerical simulation results confirm the validity and effectiveness of the proposed technique. The proposed technique is robust against noise attack, specific attack, and brutal force attack. Simulation results are presented in support of the proposed idea.

  6. Reconstructing householder vectors from Tall-Skinny QR

    DOE PAGES

    Ballard, Grey Malone; Demmel, James; Grigori, Laura; ...

    2015-08-05

    The Tall-Skinny QR (TSQR) algorithm is more communication efficient than the standard Householder algorithm for QR decomposition of matrices with many more rows than columns. However, TSQR produces a different representation of the orthogonal factor and therefore requires more software development to support the new representation. Further, implicitly applying the orthogonal factor to the trailing matrix in the context of factoring a square matrix is more complicated and costly than with the Householder representation. We show how to perform TSQR and then reconstruct the Householder vector representation with the same asymptotic communication efficiency and little extra computational cost. We demonstratemore » the high performance and numerical stability of this algorithm both theoretically and empirically. The new Householder reconstruction algorithm allows us to design more efficient parallel QR algorithms, with significantly lower latency cost compared to Householder QR and lower bandwidth and latency costs compared with Communication-Avoiding QR (CAQR) algorithm. Experiments on supercomputers demonstrate the benefits of the communication cost improvements: in particular, our experiments show substantial improvements over tuned library implementations for tall-and-skinny matrices. Furthermore, we also provide algorithmic improvements to the Householder QR and CAQR algorithms, and we investigate several alternatives to the Householder reconstruction algorithm that sacrifice guarantees on numerical stability in some cases in order to obtain higher performance.« less

  7. Research and Trends in the Field of Technology-Enhanced Learning from 2006 to 2011: A Content Analysis of Quick Response Code (QR-Code) and Its Application in Selected Studies

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hau, Goh Bak; Siraj, Saedah; Alias, Norlidah; Rauf, Rose Amnah Abd.; Zakaria, Abd. Razak; Darusalam, Ghazali

    2013-01-01

    This study provides a content analysis of selected articles in the field of QR code and its application in educational context that were published in journals and proceedings of international conferences and workshops from 2006 to 2011. These articles were cross analysed by published years, journal, and research topics. Further analysis was…

  8. Two-dimensional QR-coded metamaterial absorber

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sui, Sai; Ma, Hua; Wang, Jiafu; Pang, Yongqiang; Zhang, Jieqiu; Qu, Shaobo

    2016-01-01

    In this paper, the design of metamaterial absorbers is proposed based on QR coding and topology optimization. Such absorbers look like QR codes and can be recognized by decoding softwares as well as mobile phones. To verify the design, two lightweight wideband absorbers are designed, which can achieve wideband absorption above 90 % in 6.68-19.30 and 7.00-19.70 GHz, respectively. More importantly, polarization-independent absorption over 90 % can be maintained under incident angle within 55°. The QR code absorber not only can achieve wideband absorption, but also can carry information such as texts and Web sites. They are of important values in applications such identification and electromagnetic protection.

  9. QR Code Mania!

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shumack, Kellie A.; Reilly, Erin; Chamberlain, Nik

    2013-01-01

    space, has error-correction capacity, and can be read from any direction. These codes are used in manufacturing, shipping, and marketing, as well as in education. QR codes can be created to produce…

  10. Effect of bromocriptine-QR therapy on glycemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus whose dysglycemia is inadequately controlled on insulin.

    PubMed

    Chamarthi, Bindu; Cincotta, Anthony H

    2017-05-01

    The concurrent use of an insulin sensitizer in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with inadequate glycemic control on basal-bolus insulin may help improve glycemic control while limiting further insulin requirement. Bromocriptine-QR (B-QR), a quick release, sympatholytic, dopamine D2 receptor agonist therapy for T2DM, is a postprandial insulin sensitizer. This study evaluated the effect of B-QR on dysglycemia in T2DM subjects with suboptimal glycemic control on basal-bolus insulin plus metformin. The effect of once-daily morning administration of B-QR on dysglycemia was evaluated in 60 T2DM subjects derived from the Cycloset Safety Trial, with HbA1c >7% on basal-bolus insulin plus metformin at baseline, randomized to B-QR (N = 44) versus placebo (N = 16) and completed 12 weeks of study drug treatment. The analyses also included a subset of subjects on high-dose insulin (total daily insulin dose (TDID) ≥70 units; N = 36: 27 B-QR; 9 placebo). Subjects were well matched at baseline. After 12 weeks of B-QR treatment, mean % HbA1c decreased by -0.73% relative to baseline (p < 0.001) and by -1.13 relative to placebo (p < 0.001). In the high-dose insulin subset, B-QR therapy resulted in % HbA1c reductions of -0.95 and -1.49 relative to baseline (p < 0.001) and placebo (p = 0.001) respectively. Secondary analyses of treatment effect at 24 and 52 weeks demonstrated similar influences of B-QR on HbA1c. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and TDID changes within each treatment group were not significant. More subjects achieved HbA1c ≤7 at 12 weeks with B-QR relative to placebo (36.4% B-QR vs 0% placebo, Fisher's exact 2-sided p = 0.003 in the entire cohort and 37% vs 0%, 2-sided p = 0.039 in the high-dose insulin subset). B-QR therapy improves glycemic control in T2DM subjects whose glycemia is poorly controlled on metformin plus basal-bolus insulin, including individuals on high-dose basal-bolus insulin. This glycemic impact occurred without

  11. Combating QR-Code-Based Compromised Accounts in Mobile Social Networks.

    PubMed

    Guo, Dong; Cao, Jian; Wang, Xiaoqi; Fu, Qiang; Li, Qiang

    2016-09-20

    Cyber Physical Social Sensing makes mobile social networks (MSNs) popular with users. However, such attacks are rampant as malicious URLs are spread covertly through quick response (QR) codes to control compromised accounts in MSNs to propagate malicious messages. Currently, there are generally two types of methods to identify compromised accounts in MSNs: one type is to analyze the potential threats on wireless access points and the potential threats on handheld devices' operation systems so as to stop compromised accounts from spreading malicious messages; the other type is to apply the method of detecting compromised accounts in online social networks to MSNs. The above types of methods above focus neither on the problems of MSNs themselves nor on the interaction of sensors' messages, which leads to the restrictiveness of platforms and the simplification of methods. In order to stop the spreading of compromised accounts in MSNs effectively, the attacks have to be traced to their sources first. Through sensors, users exchange information in MSNs and acquire information by scanning QR codes. Therefore, analyzing the traces of sensor-related information helps to identify the compromised accounts in MSNs. This paper analyzes the diversity of information sending modes of compromised accounts and normal accounts, analyzes the regularity of GPS (Global Positioning System)-based location information, and introduces the concepts of entropy and conditional entropy so as to construct an entropy-based model based on machine learning strategies. To achieve the goal, about 500,000 accounts of Sina Weibo and about 100 million corresponding messages are collected. Through the validation, the accuracy rate of the model is proved to be as high as 87.6%, and the false positive rate is only 3.7%. Meanwhile, the comparative experiments of the feature sets prove that sensor-based location information can be applied to detect the compromised accounts in MSNs.

  12. Combating QR-Code-Based Compromised Accounts in Mobile Social Networks

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Dong; Cao, Jian; Wang, Xiaoqi; Fu, Qiang; Li, Qiang

    2016-01-01

    Cyber Physical Social Sensing makes mobile social networks (MSNs) popular with users. However, such attacks are rampant as malicious URLs are spread covertly through quick response (QR) codes to control compromised accounts in MSNs to propagate malicious messages. Currently, there are generally two types of methods to identify compromised accounts in MSNs: one type is to analyze the potential threats on wireless access points and the potential threats on handheld devices’ operation systems so as to stop compromised accounts from spreading malicious messages; the other type is to apply the method of detecting compromised accounts in online social networks to MSNs. The above types of methods above focus neither on the problems of MSNs themselves nor on the interaction of sensors’ messages, which leads to the restrictiveness of platforms and the simplification of methods. In order to stop the spreading of compromised accounts in MSNs effectively, the attacks have to be traced to their sources first. Through sensors, users exchange information in MSNs and acquire information by scanning QR codes. Therefore, analyzing the traces of sensor-related information helps to identify the compromised accounts in MSNs. This paper analyzes the diversity of information sending modes of compromised accounts and normal accounts, analyzes the regularity of GPS (Global Positioning System)-based location information, and introduces the concepts of entropy and conditional entropy so as to construct an entropy-based model based on machine learning strategies. To achieve the goal, about 500,000 accounts of Sina Weibo and about 100 million corresponding messages are collected. Through the validation, the accuracy rate of the model is proved to be as high as 87.6%, and the false positive rate is only 3.7%. Meanwhile, the comparative experiments of the feature sets prove that sensor-based location information can be applied to detect the compromised accounts in MSNs. PMID:27657071

  13. Removal time and efficacy of Riddell Quick Release Face Guard Attachment System side clips during 1 football season.

    PubMed

    Gruppen, Tonia; Smith, Molly; Ganss, Andrea

    2012-01-01

    In the National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement, "Acute Management of the Cervical Spine-Injured Athlete," the technique recommended for face-mask (FM) removal is one that "creates the least head and neck motion, is performed most quickly, is the least difficult, and carries the least chance of failure." Industrial and technological advances in football helmet design and FM attachment systems might influence the efficacy of emergency FM removal. To examine the removal times and success rates of the Quick Release (QR) Face Guard Attachment System (Riddell Sports, Inc, Elyria, OH) throughout and at the conclusion of 1 season of play by a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III football team competing in the Midwest. Controlled laboratory study. College laboratory. A total of 69 randomly selected Revolution IQ (Riddell Sports, Inc) football helmets fitted with the QR system were used. Each helmet was secured to a spine board, and investigators attempted to remove both of the QR side clips from the helmet with the Riddell insertion tool. Dependent variables included total time for removal of both QR side clips from the FM and success rate for removal of both side clips. The overall success rate for removal of both clips was 94.8% (164/173), whereas the mean times for removal of both clips ranged from 9.92 ± 12.06 seconds to 16.65 ± 20.97 seconds over 4 trial sessions. We found no differences among mean times for trial sessions throughout the season of play among the same helmets or among different helmets (P > .05). Removal time and success rate of the Riddell QR were satisfactory during and after 1 season of play despite use in various temperatures and precipitation.

  14. Removal Time and Efficacy of Riddell Quick Release Face Guard Attachment System Side Clips During 1 Football Season

    PubMed Central

    Gruppen, Tonia; Smith, Molly; Ganss, Andrea

    2012-01-01

    Context In the National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement, “Acute Management of the Cervical Spine-Injured Athlete,” the technique recommended for face-mask (FM) removal is one that “creates the least head and neck motion, is performed most quickly, is the least difficult, and carries the least chance of failure.” Industrial and technological advances in football helmet design and FM attachment systems might influence the efficacy of emergency FM removal. Objective To examine the removal times and success rates of the Quick Release (QR) Face Guard Attachment System (Riddell Sports, Inc, Elyria, OH) throughout and at the conclusion of 1 season of play by a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III football team competing in the Midwest. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting College laboratory. Patients or Other Participants A total of 69 randomly selected Revolution IQ (Riddell Sports, Inc) football helmets fitted with the QR system were used. Intervention(s) Each helmet was secured to a spine board, and investigators attempted to remove both of the QR side clips from the helmet with the Riddell insertion tool. Main Outcome Measure(s) Dependent variables included total time for removal of both QR side clips from the FM and success rate for removal of both side clips. Results The overall success rate for removal of both clips was 94.8% (164/173), whereas the mean times for removal of both clips ranged from 9.92 ± 12.06 seconds to 16.65 ± 20.97 seconds over 4 trial sessions. We found no differences among mean times for trial sessions throughout the season of play among the same helmets or among different helmets (P > .05). Conclusions Removal time and success rate of the Riddell QR were satisfactory during and after 1 season of play despite use in various temperatures and precipitation. PMID:22889658

  15. Effects of Mode of Target Task Selection on Learning about Plants in a Mobile Learning Environment: Effortful Manual Selection versus Effortless QR-Code Selection

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gao, Yuan; Liu, Tzu-Chien; Paas, Fred

    2016-01-01

    This study compared the effects of effortless selection of target plants using quick respond (QR) code technology to effortful manual search and selection of target plants on learning about plants in a mobile device supported learning environment. In addition, it was investigated whether the effectiveness of the 2 selection methods was…

  16. Evaluation and implementation of QR Code Identity Tag system for Healthcare in Turkey.

    PubMed

    Uzun, Vassilya; Bilgin, Sami

    2016-01-01

    For this study, we designed a QR Code Identity Tag system to integrate into the Turkish healthcare system. This system provides QR code-based medical identification alerts and an in-hospital patient identification system. Every member of the medical system is assigned a unique QR Code Tag; to facilitate medical identification alerts, the QR Code Identity Tag can be worn as a bracelet or necklace or carried as an ID card. Patients must always possess the QR Code Identity bracelets within hospital grounds. These QR code bracelets link to the QR Code Identity website, where detailed information is stored; a smartphone or standalone QR code scanner can be used to scan the code. The design of this system allows authorized personnel (e.g., paramedics, firefighters, or police) to access more detailed patient information than the average smartphone user: emergency service professionals are authorized to access patient medical histories to improve the accuracy of medical treatment. In Istanbul, we tested the self-designed system with 174 participants. To analyze the QR Code Identity Tag system's usability, the participants completed the System Usability Scale questionnaire after using the system.

  17. The feasibility of QR-code prescription in Taiwan.

    PubMed

    Lin, C-H; Tsai, F-Y; Tsai, W-L; Wen, H-W; Hu, M-L

    2012-12-01

    An ideal Health Care Service is a service system that focuses on patients. Patients in Taiwan have the freedom to fill their prescriptions at any pharmacies contracted with National Health Insurance. Each of these pharmacies uses its own computer system. So far, there are at least ten different systems on the market in Taiwan. To transmit the prescription information from the hospital to the pharmacy accurately and efficiently presents a great issue. This study consisted of two-dimensional applications using a QR-code to capture Patient's identification and prescription information from the hospitals as well as using a webcam to read the QR-code and transfer all data to the pharmacy computer system. Two hospitals and 85 community pharmacies participated in the study. During the trial, all participant pharmacies appraised highly of the accurate transmission of the prescription information. The contents in QR-code prescriptions from Taipei area were picked up efficiently and accurately in pharmacies at Taichung area (middle Taiwan) without software system limit and area limitation. The QR-code device received a patent (No. M376844, March 2010) from Intellectual Property Office Ministry of Economic Affair, China. Our trial has proven that QR-code prescription can provide community pharmacists an efficient, accurate and inexpensive device to digitalize the prescription contents. Consequently, pharmacists can offer better quality of pharmacy service to patients. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  18. Use of QR and EAN-13 codes by older patients taking multiple medications for a safer use of medication.

    PubMed

    Mira, José Joaquín; Guilabert, Mercedes; Carrillo, Irene; Fernández, César; Vicente, Ma Asunción; Orozco-Beltrán, Domingo; Gil-Guillen, Vicente F

    2015-06-01

    Older persons following a prolonged complex drug regimen often make mistakes when taking their medication. Currently, the widespread use of tablets and smartphones has encouraged the development of applications to support self-management of medication. The aim of this study was to design, develop and assess an app that transforms medication-associated ean-13 (barcodes) and Quick Response codes (QR) into verbal instructions, to enable safer use of medication by the elderly patients taking multiple medications. Meetings were held in which participated a total of 61 patients. The results showed that patients appreciated the application and found it useful for safer use of medicines. The study results support the use of such technology to increase patient safety taking multiple medications safety. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. QR Codes as Finding Aides: Linking Electronic and Print Library Resources

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kane, Danielle; Schneidewind, Jeff

    2011-01-01

    As part of a focused, methodical, and evaluative approach to emerging technologies, QR codes are one of many new technologies being used by the UC Irvine Libraries. QR codes provide simple connections between print and virtual resources. In summer 2010, a small task force began to investigate how QR codes could be used to provide information and…

  20. 7 CFR 1486.206 - What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 10 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? 1486.206... Eligibility, Applications, and Funding § 1486.206 What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? (a) This fund was... responsiveness to time-sensitive marketing problems or opportunities, such as a change in an import regime or the...

  1. 40 CFR Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 - [Reserved

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false [Reserved] Q Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARATION, ADOPTION, AND SUBMITTAL OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 [Reserved] ...

  2. 40 CFR Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 - [Reserved

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false [Reserved] Q Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARATION, ADOPTION, AND SUBMITTAL OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 [Reserved] ...

  3. 40 CFR Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 - [Reserved

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false [Reserved] Q Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARATION, ADOPTION, AND SUBMITTAL OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 [Reserved] ...

  4. 40 CFR Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 - [Reserved

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false [Reserved] Q Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARATION, ADOPTION, AND SUBMITTAL OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 [Reserved] ...

  5. 40 CFR Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 - [Reserved

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false [Reserved] Q Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARATION, ADOPTION, AND SUBMITTAL OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS Appendixes Q-R to Part 51 [Reserved] ...

  6. Through-wall image enhancement using fuzzy and QR decomposition.

    PubMed

    Riaz, Muhammad Mohsin; Ghafoor, Abdul

    2014-01-01

    QR decomposition and fuzzy logic based scheme is proposed for through-wall image enhancement. QR decomposition is less complex compared to singular value decomposition. Fuzzy inference engine assigns weights to different overlapping subspaces. Quantitative measures and visual inspection are used to analyze existing and proposed techniques.

  7. Optical encryption and QR codes: secure and noise-free information retrieval.

    PubMed

    Barrera, John Fredy; Mira, Alejandro; Torroba, Roberto

    2013-03-11

    We introduce for the first time the concept of an information "container" before a standard optical encrypting procedure. The "container" selected is a QR code which offers the main advantage of being tolerant to pollutant speckle noise. Besides, the QR code can be read by smartphones, a massively used device. Additionally, QR code includes another secure step to the encrypting benefits the optical methods provide. The QR is generated by means of worldwide free available software. The concept development probes that speckle noise polluting the outcomes of normal optical encrypting procedures can be avoided, then making more attractive the adoption of these techniques. Actual smartphone collected results are shown to validate our proposal.

  8. A two-stage linear discriminant analysis via QR-decomposition.

    PubMed

    Ye, Jieping; Li, Qi

    2005-06-01

    Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) is a well-known method for feature extraction and dimension reduction. It has been used widely in many applications involving high-dimensional data, such as image and text classification. An intrinsic limitation of classical LDA is the so-called singularity problems; that is, it fails when all scatter matrices are singular. Many LDA extensions were proposed in the past to overcome the singularity problems. Among these extensions, PCA+LDA, a two-stage method, received relatively more attention. In PCA+LDA, the LDA stage is preceded by an intermediate dimension reduction stage using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Most previous LDA extensions are computationally expensive, and not scalable, due to the use of Singular Value Decomposition or Generalized Singular Value Decomposition. In this paper, we propose a two-stage LDA method, namely LDA/QR, which aims to overcome the singularity problems of classical LDA, while achieving efficiency and scalability simultaneously. The key difference between LDA/QR and PCA+LDA lies in the first stage, where LDA/QR applies QR decomposition to a small matrix involving the class centroids, while PCA+LDA applies PCA to the total scatter matrix involving all training data points. We further justify the proposed algorithm by showing the relationship among LDA/QR and previous LDA methods. Extensive experiments on face images and text documents are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

  9. 7 CFR 1486.206 - What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 10 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? 1486.206... Funding § 1486.206 What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? (a) This fund was established to address... time-sensitive marketing problems or opportunities, such as a change in an import regime or the removal...

  10. 7 CFR 1486.206 - What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 10 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? 1486.206... Funding § 1486.206 What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? (a) This fund was established to address... time-sensitive marketing problems or opportunities, such as a change in an import regime or the removal...

  11. 7 CFR 1486.206 - What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 10 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? 1486.206... Funding § 1486.206 What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund? (a) This fund was established to address... time-sensitive marketing problems or opportunities, such as a change in an import regime or the removal...

  12. Protection by Chrysanthemum zawadskii extract from liver damage of mice caused by carbon tetrachloride is maybe mediated by modulation of QR activity

    PubMed Central

    Seo, Ji Yeon; Lim, Soon Sung; Park, Jia; Lim, Ji-Sun; Kim, Hyo Jung; Kang, Hui Jung; Yoon Park, Jung Han

    2010-01-01

    Our previous study demonstrated that methanolic extract of Chrysanthemum zawadskii Herbich var. latilobum Kitamura (Compositae) has the potential to induce detoxifying enzymes such as NAD(P)H:(quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase 1 (EC 1.6.99.2) (NQO1, QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). In this study we further fractionated methanolic extract of Chrysanthemum zawadskii and investigated the detoxifying enzyme-inducing potential of each fraction. The fraction (CZ-6) shown the highest QR-inducing activity was found to contain (+)-(3S,4S,5R,8S)-(E)-8-acetoxy-4-hydroxy-3-isovaleroyloxy-2-(hexa-2,4-diynyliden)-1,6-dioxaspiro [4,5] decane and increased QR enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CZ-6 fraction caused a dose-dependent enhancement of luciferase activity in HepG2-C8 cells generated by stably transfecting antioxidant response element-luciferase gene construct, suggesting that it induces antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes through antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcriptional activation of the relevant genes. Although CZ-6 fraction failed to induce hepatic QR in mice over the control, it restored QR activity suppressed by CCl4 treatment to the control level. Hepatic injury induced by CCl4 was also slightly protected by pretreatment with CZ-6. In conclusion, although CZ-6 fractionated from methanolic extract of Chrysanthemum zawadskii did not cause a significant QR induction in mice organs such as liver, kidney, and stomach, it showed protective effect from liver damage caused by CCl4. PMID:20461196

  13. Protection by Chrysanthemum zawadskii extract from liver damage of mice caused by carbon tetrachloride is maybe mediated by modulation of QR activity.

    PubMed

    Seo, Ji Yeon; Lim, Soon Sung; Park, Jia; Lim, Ji-Sun; Kim, Hyo Jung; Kang, Hui Jung; Yoon Park, Jung Han; Kim, Jong-Sang

    2010-04-01

    Our previous study demonstrated that methanolic extract of Chrysanthemum zawadskii Herbich var. latilobum Kitamura (Compositae) has the potential to induce detoxifying enzymes such as NAD(P)H:(quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase 1 (EC 1.6.99.2) (NQO1, QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). In this study we further fractionated methanolic extract of Chrysanthemum zawadskii and investigated the detoxifying enzyme-inducing potential of each fraction. The fraction (CZ-6) shown the highest QR-inducing activity was found to contain (+)-(3S,4S,5R,8S)-(E)-8-acetoxy-4-hydroxy-3-isovaleroyloxy-2-(hexa-2,4-diynyliden)-1,6-dioxaspiro [4,5] decane and increased QR enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CZ-6 fraction caused a dose-dependent enhancement of luciferase activity in HepG2-C8 cells generated by stably transfecting antioxidant response element-luciferase gene construct, suggesting that it induces antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes through antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcriptional activation of the relevant genes. Although CZ-6 fraction failed to induce hepatic QR in mice over the control, it restored QR activity suppressed by CCl(4) treatment to the control level. Hepatic injury induced by CCl(4) was also slightly protected by pretreatment with CZ-6. In conclusion, although CZ-6 fractionated from methanolic extract of Chrysanthemum zawadskii did not cause a significant QR induction in mice organs such as liver, kidney, and stomach, it showed protective effect from liver damage caused by CCl(4).

  14. Aviation System Analysis Capability Quick Response System Report for Fiscal Year 1998

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ege, Russell; Villani, James; Ritter, Paul

    1999-01-01

    This document presents the additions and modifications made to the Quick Response System (QRS) in FY 1998 in support of the ASAC QRS development effort. this Document builds upon the Aviation System Analysis Capability Quick Responses System Report for Fiscal Year 1997.

  15. A QR Code Based Zero-Watermarking Scheme for Authentication of Medical Images in Teleradiology Cloud

    PubMed Central

    Seenivasagam, V.; Velumani, R.

    2013-01-01

    Healthcare institutions adapt cloud based archiving of medical images and patient records to share them efficiently. Controlled access to these records and authentication of images must be enforced to mitigate fraudulent activities and medical errors. This paper presents a zero-watermarking scheme implemented in the composite Contourlet Transform (CT)—Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) domain for unambiguous authentication of medical images. Further, a framework is proposed for accessing patient records based on the watermarking scheme. The patient identification details and a link to patient data encoded into a Quick Response (QR) code serves as the watermark. In the proposed scheme, the medical image is not subjected to degradations due to watermarking. Patient authentication and authorized access to patient data are realized on combining a Secret Share with the Master Share constructed from invariant features of the medical image. The Hu's invariant image moments are exploited in creating the Master Share. The proposed system is evaluated with Checkmark software and is found to be robust to both geometric and non geometric attacks. PMID:23970943

  16. A QR code based zero-watermarking scheme for authentication of medical images in teleradiology cloud.

    PubMed

    Seenivasagam, V; Velumani, R

    2013-01-01

    Healthcare institutions adapt cloud based archiving of medical images and patient records to share them efficiently. Controlled access to these records and authentication of images must be enforced to mitigate fraudulent activities and medical errors. This paper presents a zero-watermarking scheme implemented in the composite Contourlet Transform (CT)-Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) domain for unambiguous authentication of medical images. Further, a framework is proposed for accessing patient records based on the watermarking scheme. The patient identification details and a link to patient data encoded into a Quick Response (QR) code serves as the watermark. In the proposed scheme, the medical image is not subjected to degradations due to watermarking. Patient authentication and authorized access to patient data are realized on combining a Secret Share with the Master Share constructed from invariant features of the medical image. The Hu's invariant image moments are exploited in creating the Master Share. The proposed system is evaluated with Checkmark software and is found to be robust to both geometric and non geometric attacks.

  17. Time series forecasting using ERNN and QR based on Bayesian model averaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pwasong, Augustine; Sathasivam, Saratha

    2017-08-01

    The Bayesian model averaging technique is a multi-model combination technique. The technique was employed to amalgamate the Elman recurrent neural network (ERNN) technique with the quadratic regression (QR) technique. The amalgamation produced a hybrid technique known as the hybrid ERNN-QR technique. The potentials of forecasting with the hybrid technique are compared with the forecasting capabilities of individual techniques of ERNN and QR. The outcome revealed that the hybrid technique is superior to the individual techniques in the mean square error sense.

  18. UV-responsive polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers prepared by electrospinning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khatri, Zeeshan; Ali, Shamshad; Khatri, Imran; Mayakrishnan, Gopiraman; Kim, Seong Hun; Kim, Ick-Soo

    2015-07-01

    We report UV-responsive polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers for potential application for recording and erasing quick response (QR) codes. We incorporate 1‧-3‧-dihydro-8-methoxy-1‧,3‧,3‧-trimethyl-6-nitrospiro [2H-1-benzopyran-2,2‧-(2H)-indole] (indole) and,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethylspiro [2H-indole-2,3‧-[3H] phenanthr [9,10-b] (1,4) oxazine] (oxazine) into PVA polymer matrix via electrospinning technique. The resultant nanofibers were measured for recording-erasing, photo-coloration and thermal reversibility. The rate of photo-coloration of PVA-indole nanofibers was five times higher than the PVA-oxazine nanofibers, whereas the thermal reversibility found to be more than twice as fast as PVA-oxazine nanofibers. Results showed that the resultant nanofibers have very good capability of recording QR codes multiple times. The FTIR spectroscopy and SEM were employed to characterize the electrospun nanofibers. The UV-responsive PVA nanofibers have great potentials as a light-driven nanomaterials incorporated within sensors, sensitive displays and in optical devices such as erasable and rewritable optical storage.

  19. Improving performance of channel equalization in RSOA-based WDM-PON by QR decomposition.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiang; Zhong, Wen-De; Alphones, Arokiaswami; Yu, Changyuan; Xu, Zhaowen

    2015-10-19

    In reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA)-based wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON), the bit rate is limited by low modulation bandwidth of RSOAs. To overcome the limitation, we apply QR decomposition in channel equalizer (QR-CE) to achieve successive interference cancellation (SIC) for discrete Fourier transform spreading orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S OFDM) signal. Using an RSOA with a 3-dB modulation bandwidth of only ~800 MHz, we experimentally demonstrate a 15.5-Gb/s over 20-km SSMF DFT-S OFDM transmission with QR-CE. The experimental results show that DFTS-OFDM with QR-CE attains much better BER performance than DFTS-OFDM and OFDM with conventional channel equalizers. The impacts of several parameters on QR-CE are investigated. It is found that 2 sub-bands in one OFDM symbol and 1 pilot in each sub-band are sufficient to achieve optimal performance and maintain the high spectral efficiency.

  20. Single-intensity-recording optical encryption technique based on phase retrieval algorithm and QR code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Zhi-peng; Zhang, Shuai; Liu, Hong-zhao; Qin, Yi

    2014-12-01

    Based on phase retrieval algorithm and QR code, a new optical encryption technology that only needs to record one intensity distribution is proposed. In this encryption process, firstly, the QR code is generated from the information to be encrypted; and then the generated QR code is placed in the input plane of 4-f system to have a double random phase encryption. For only one intensity distribution in the output plane is recorded as the ciphertext, the encryption process is greatly simplified. In the decryption process, the corresponding QR code is retrieved using phase retrieval algorithm. A priori information about QR code is used as support constraint in the input plane, which helps solve the stagnation problem. The original information can be recovered without distortion by scanning the QR code. The encryption process can be implemented either optically or digitally, and the decryption process uses digital method. In addition, the security of the proposed optical encryption technology is analyzed. Theoretical analysis and computer simulations show that this optical encryption system is invulnerable to various attacks, and suitable for harsh transmission conditions.

  1. A QR code identification technology in package auto-sorting system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    di, Yi-Juan; Shi, Jian-Ping; Mao, Guo-Yong

    2017-07-01

    Traditional manual sorting operation is not suitable for the development of Chinese logistics. For better sorting packages, a QR code recognition technology is proposed to identify the QR code label on the packages in package auto-sorting system. The experimental results compared with other algorithms in literatures demonstrate that the proposed method is valid and its performance is superior to other algorithms.

  2. QR code based noise-free optical encryption and decryption of a gray scale image

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiao, Shuming; Zou, Wenbin; Li, Xia

    2017-03-01

    In optical encryption systems, speckle noise is one major challenge in obtaining high quality decrypted images. This problem can be addressed by employing a QR code based noise-free scheme. Previous works have been conducted for optically encrypting a few characters or a short expression employing QR codes. This paper proposes a practical scheme for optically encrypting and decrypting a gray-scale image based on QR codes for the first time. The proposed scheme is compatible with common QR code generators and readers. Numerical simulation results reveal the proposed method can encrypt and decrypt an input image correctly.

  3. Structural basis for high substrate-binding affinity and enantioselectivity of 3-quinuclidinone reductase AtQR

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hou, Feng; Miyakawa, Takuya; Kataoka, Michihiko

    2014-04-18

    Highlights: • Crystal structure of AtQR has been determined at 1.72 Å. • NADH binding induces the formation of substrate binding site. • AtQR possesses a conserved hydrophobic wall for stereospecific binding of substrate. • Additional Glu197 residue is critical to the high binding affinity. - Abstract: (R)-3-Quinuclidinol, a useful compound for the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals, can be enantioselectively produced from 3-quinuclidinone by 3-quinuclidinone reductase. Recently, a novel NADH-dependent 3-quinuclidionone reductase (AtQR) was isolated from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and showed much higher substrate-binding affinity (>100 fold) than the reported 3-quinuclidionone reductase (RrQR) from Rhodotorula rubra. Here, we report the crystalmore » structure of AtQR at 1.72 Å. Three NADH-bound protomers and one NADH-free protomer form a tetrameric structure in an asymmetric unit of crystals. NADH not only acts as a proton donor, but also contributes to the stability of the α7 helix. This helix is a unique and functionally significant part of AtQR and is related to form a deep catalytic cavity. AtQR has all three catalytic residues of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases family and the hydrophobic wall for the enantioselective reduction of 3-quinuclidinone as well as RrQR. An additional residue on the α7 helix, Glu197, exists near the active site of AtQR. This acidic residue is considered to form a direct interaction with the amine part of 3-quinuclidinone, which contributes to substrate orientation and enhancement of substrate-binding affinity. Mutational analyses also support that Glu197 is an indispensable residue for the activity.« less

  4. Efficient algorithms for computing a strong rank-revealing QR factorization

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gu, M.; Eisenstat, S.C.

    1996-07-01

    Given an m x n matrix M with m {ge} n, it is shown that there exists a permutation {Pi} and an integer k such that the QR factorization given by equation (1) reveals the numerical rank of M: the k x k upper-triangular matrix A{sub k} is well conditioned, norm of (C{sub k}){sub 2} is small, and B{sub k} is linearly dependent on A{sub k} with coefficients bounded by a low-degree polynomial in n. Existing rank-revealing QR (RRQR) algorithms are related to such factorizations and two algorithms are presented for computing them. The new algorithms are nearly as efficientmore » as QR with column pivoting for most problems and take O(mn{sup 2}) floating-point operations in the worst case.« less

  5. A Regularization Approach to Blind Deblurring and Denoising of QR Barcodes.

    PubMed

    van Gennip, Yves; Athavale, Prashant; Gilles, Jérôme; Choksi, Rustum

    2015-09-01

    QR bar codes are prototypical images for which part of the image is a priori known (required patterns). Open source bar code readers, such as ZBar, are readily available. We exploit both these facts to provide and assess purely regularization-based methods for blind deblurring of QR bar codes in the presence of noise.

  6. Technical Modification Within the Healthcare Industry: Improving Both the Efficacy of the National Drug Code Carrier and the Accessibility of Electronic Health Records to Reduce Adverse Drug Events

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-06-01

    with an EHR .................................................. 97 C. SWOT ANALYSIS OF USING QR CODES WITH THE NDC AND WITH EHRS...96 Figure 41. SWOT analysis ................................................................................... 99 xiii LIST OF...Coordinator for Health Information Technology OTC Over-the-Counter PHI Personal Health Information QR Quick Response SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses

  7. In vivo prophylactic activity of QR-435 against H3N2 influenza virus infection.

    PubMed

    Oxford, John S; Lambkin, Robert; Guralnik, Mario; Rosenbloom, Richard A; Petteruti, Michael P; Digian, Kelly; LeFante, Carolyn

    2007-01-01

    Prophylaxis against influenza infection can take several forms, none of which is totally effective at preventing the spread of the disease. QR-435, an all-natural compound of green-tea extract and other agents, has been developed to protect against a range of viral infections, including the influenza subtype H3N2. Several different QR-435 formulations were tested against the two influenza A H3N2 viruses (A/Sydney/5/97 and A/Panama/2007/99) in the ferret model. Most experiments included negative (phosphate-buffered saline) and positive (oseltamivir 5 mg/kg, twice daily) controls. QR-435 and the control were administered 5 minutes after intranasal delivery of the virus as prophylaxis against infection resulting from exposure to infected but untreated ferrets and for prevention of transmission from infected and treated ferrets to untreated animals. Effects of QR-435 on seroconversion, virus shedding, and systemic sequelae of infection (weight loss, fever, reduced activity) were evaluated. QR-435 prevented transmission and provided prophylaxis against influenza virus H3N2. Prophylaxis with QR-435 was significantly more than with oseltamivir in these experiments. Optimal in vivo efficacy of QR-435 requires a horseradish concentration of at least 50% of that in the original formulation, and the benefits of this preparation appear to be dose dependent. QR-435 is effective for both prevention of H3N2 viral transmission and prophylaxis. These preclinical results warrant further evaluation of its prophylactic properties against avian influenza virus infection in humans.

  8. Phenolic derivatives from soy flour ethanol extract are potent in vitro quinone reductase (QR) inducing agents.

    PubMed

    Bolling, Bradley W; Parkin, Kirk L

    2008-11-26

    The fractionation of soy flour directed by a cellular bioassay for induction of phase 2 detoxification enzymes was used to identify quinone reductase (QR) inducing agents. A phospholipid-depleted, 80% methanol-partitioned isolate from a crude ethanol extract of soy flour was resolved using normal phase medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC). Early eluting fractions were found to be the most potent QR inducing agents among the separated fractions. Fraction 2 was the most potent, doubling QR at <2 mug/mL. Further fractionation of this isolate led to the identification of several constituents. Fatty acids and sn-1 and sn-2 monoacylglycerols were identified, but were not highly potent QR inducers. Benzofuran-3-carbaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldeyde, 4-ethoxybenzoic acid, 4-ethoxycinnamic acid, benzofuran-2-carboxylic ethyl ester, and ferulic acid ethyl ester (FAEE) were also identified as QR inducing constituents of this fraction. FAEE was the most potent of the identified constituents, doubling QR specific activity at 3.2 muM in the cellular bioassay.

  9. Security authentication using phase-encoded nanoparticle structures and polarized light.

    PubMed

    Carnicer, Artur; Hassanfiroozi, Amir; Latorre-Carmona, Pedro; Huang, Yi-Pai; Javidi, Bahram

    2015-01-15

    Phase-encoded nanostructures such as quick response (QR) codes made of metallic nanoparticles are suggested to be used in security and authentication applications. We present a polarimetric optical method able to authenticate random phase-encoded QR codes. The system is illuminated using polarized light, and the QR code is encoded using a phase-only random mask. Using classification algorithms, it is possible to validate the QR code from the examination of the polarimetric signature of the speckle pattern. We used Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical test and Support Vector Machine algorithms to authenticate the phase-encoded QR codes using polarimetric signatures.

  10. High performance optical encryption based on computational ghost imaging with QR code and compressive sensing technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Shengmei; Wang, Le; Liang, Wenqiang; Cheng, Weiwen; Gong, Longyan

    2015-10-01

    In this paper, we propose a high performance optical encryption (OE) scheme based on computational ghost imaging (GI) with QR code and compressive sensing (CS) technique, named QR-CGI-OE scheme. N random phase screens, generated by Alice, is a secret key and be shared with its authorized user, Bob. The information is first encoded by Alice with QR code, and the QR-coded image is then encrypted with the aid of computational ghost imaging optical system. Here, measurement results from the GI optical system's bucket detector are the encrypted information and be transmitted to Bob. With the key, Bob decrypts the encrypted information to obtain the QR-coded image with GI and CS techniques, and further recovers the information by QR decoding. The experimental and numerical simulated results show that the authorized users can recover completely the original image, whereas the eavesdroppers can not acquire any information about the image even the eavesdropping ratio (ER) is up to 60% at the given measurement times. For the proposed scheme, the number of bits sent from Alice to Bob are reduced considerably and the robustness is enhanced significantly. Meantime, the measurement times in GI system is reduced and the quality of the reconstructed QR-coded image is improved.

  11. Cytoadhesion to gC1qR through Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 in Severe Malaria

    PubMed Central

    Magallón-Tejada, Ariel; Machevo, Sónia; Cisteró, Pau; Lavstsen, Thomas; Aide, Pedro; Jiménez, Alfons; Turner, Louise; Gupta, Himanshu; De Las Salas, Briegel; Mandomando, Inacio; Wang, Christian W.; Petersen, Jens E. V.; Muñoz, Jose; Gascón, Joaquim; Macete, Eusebio; Alonso, Pedro L.; Chitnis, Chetan E.

    2016-01-01

    Cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes to gC1qR has been associated with severe malaria, but the parasite ligand involved is currently unknown. To assess if binding to gC1qR is mediated through the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family, we analyzed by static binding assays and qPCR the cytoadhesion and var gene transcriptional profile of 86 P. falciparum isolates from Mozambican children with severe and uncomplicated malaria, as well as of a P. falciparum 3D7 line selected for binding to gC1qR (Pf3D7gC1qR). Transcript levels of DC8 correlated positively with cytoadhesion to gC1qR (rho = 0.287, P = 0.007), were higher in isolates from children with severe anemia than with uncomplicated malaria, as well as in isolates from Europeans presenting a first episode of malaria (n = 21) than Mozambican adults (n = 25), and were associated with an increased IgG recognition of infected erythrocytes by flow cytometry. Pf3D7gC1qR overexpressed the DC8 type PFD0020c (5.3-fold transcript levels relative to Seryl-tRNA-synthetase gene) compared to the unselected line (0.001-fold). DBLβ12 from PFD0020c bound to gC1qR in ELISA-based binding assays and polyclonal antibodies against this domain were able to inhibit binding to gC1qR of Pf3D7gC1qR and four Mozambican P. falciparum isolates by 50%. Our results show that DC8-type PfEMP1s mediate binding to gC1qR through conserved surface epitopes in DBLβ12 domain which can be inhibited by strain-transcending functional antibodies. This study supports a key role for gC1qR in malaria-associated endovascular pathogenesis and suggests the feasibility of designing interventions against severe malaria targeting this specific interaction. PMID:27835682

  12. Optimized and secure technique for multiplexing QR code images of single characters: application to noiseless messages retrieval

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trejos, Sorayda; Fredy Barrera, John; Torroba, Roberto

    2015-08-01

    We present for the first time an optical encrypting-decrypting protocol for recovering messages without speckle noise. This is a digital holographic technique using a 2f scheme to process QR codes entries. In the procedure, letters used to compose eventual messages are individually converted into a QR code, and then each QR code is divided into portions. Through a holographic technique, we store each processed portion. After filtering and repositioning, we add all processed data to create a single pack, thus simplifying the handling and recovery of multiple QR code images, representing the first multiplexing procedure applied to processed QR codes. All QR codes are recovered in a single step and in the same plane, showing neither cross-talk nor noise problems as in other methods. Experiments have been conducted using an interferometric configuration and comparisons between unprocessed and recovered QR codes have been performed, showing differences between them due to the involved processing. Recovered QR codes can be successfully scanned, thanks to their noise tolerance. Finally, the appropriate sequence in the scanning of the recovered QR codes brings a noiseless retrieved message. Additionally, to procure maximum security, the multiplexed pack could be multiplied by a digital diffuser as to encrypt it. The encrypted pack is easily decoded by multiplying the multiplexing with the complex conjugate of the diffuser. As it is a digital operation, no noise is added. Therefore, this technique is threefold robust, involving multiplexing, encryption, and the need of a sequence to retrieve the outcome.

  13. Fast heap transform-based QR-decomposition of real and complex matrices: algorithms and codes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grigoryan, Artyom M.

    2015-03-01

    In this paper, we describe a new look on the application of Givens rotations to the QR-decomposition problem, which is similar to the method of Householder transformations. We apply the concept of the discrete heap transform, or signal-induced unitary transforms which had been introduced by Grigoryan (2006) and used in signal and image processing. Both cases of real and complex nonsingular matrices are considered and examples of performing QR-decomposition of square matrices are given. The proposed method of QR-decomposition for the complex matrix is novel and differs from the known method of complex Givens rotation and is based on analytical equations for the heap transforms. Many examples illustrated the proposed heap transform method of QR-decomposition are given, algorithms are described in detail, and MATLAB-based codes are included.

  14. Computing rank-revealing QR factorizations of dense matrices.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bischof, C. H.; Quintana-Orti, G.; Mathematics and Computer Science

    1998-06-01

    We develop algorithms and implementations for computing rank-revealing QR (RRQR) factorizations of dense matrices. First, we develop an efficient block algorithm for approximating an RRQR factorization, employing a windowed version of the commonly used Golub pivoting strategy, aided by incremental condition estimation. Second, we develop efficiently implementable variants of guaranteed reliable RRQR algorithms for triangular matrices originally suggested by Chandrasekaran and Ipsen and by Pan and Tang. We suggest algorithmic improvements with respect to condition estimation, termination criteria, and Givens updating. By combining the block algorithm with one of the triangular postprocessing steps, we arrive at an efficient and reliablemore » algorithm for computing an RRQR factorization of a dense matrix. Experimental results on IBM RS/6000 SGI R8000 platforms show that this approach performs up to three times faster that the less reliable QR factorization with column pivoting as it is currently implemented in LAPACK, and comes within 15% of the performance of the LAPACK block algorithm for computing a QR factorization without any column exchanges. Thus, we expect this routine to be useful in may circumstances where numerical rank deficiency cannot be ruled out, but currently has been ignored because of the computational cost of dealing with it.« less

  15. 24 CFR 902.35 - Financial condition scoring and thresholds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... subindicators of financial condition indicator are: (1) Quick Ratio (QR). The QR compares quick assets to... include inventory. Current liabilities are those liabilities that are due within the next 12 months. A QR...

  16. 24 CFR 902.35 - Financial condition scoring and thresholds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... subindicators of financial condition indicator are: (1) Quick Ratio (QR). The QR compares quick assets to... include inventory. Current liabilities are those liabilities that are due within the next 12 months. A QR...

  17. 24 CFR 902.35 - Financial condition scoring and thresholds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... subindicators of financial condition indicator are: (1) Quick Ratio (QR). The QR compares quick assets to... include inventory. Current liabilities are those liabilities that are due within the next 12 months. A QR...

  18. 24 CFR 902.35 - Financial condition scoring and thresholds.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... subindicators of financial condition indicator are: (1) Quick Ratio (QR). The QR compares quick assets to... include inventory. Current liabilities are those liabilities that are due within the next 12 months. A QR...

  19. Quinone reductase (QR) inducers from Andrographis paniculata and identification of molecular target of andrographolide.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Yonglei; Ji, Long; Luo, Liping; Lu, Juan; Ma, Xiaoqiong; Ma, Zhongjun; Chen, Zhe

    2012-12-01

    In the present study, it was demonstrated that the petroleum extract of Andrographis paniculata (AP) had quinone reductase (QR) inducing activity, which might be attributed to the modification of key cysteine residues in Keap1 by Michael addition acceptors (MAAs) in it. To screen MAAs in AP, glutathione (GSH) was employed, and a LC/MS/MS method was implied. Three compounds, andrographoside, andrographolide, 14-deoxy-14,15-dehydroandrographolide were revealed could well conjugated with GSH. Then, andrographolide along with 4 new and 14 known compounds were isolated to conduct QR induction evaluation, and the CD (the concentration required to double the activity of QR) value of andrographolide is 1.43μM. The QR induce activity of andrographolide might be attributed to its targeting multiple cysteine residues in Keap1, therefore, the alkylation of Keap1 by andrographolide was further studied and the result showed that four cysteine residues: Cys77, Cys151, Cys273 and Cys368 were alkylated, which indicated that Keap1 is a potential target for the QR induce activity of andrographolide. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. 77 FR 17462 - Notice of Submission for OMB Review; Institute of Education Sciences; Quick Response Information...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-26

    ... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Submission for OMB Review; Institute of Education Sciences; Quick Response Information System (QRIS) 2012-2015 System Clearance SUMMARY: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Quick Response Information System (QRIS) consists of the Fast Response Survey...

  1. Automatic Blocking Of QR and LU Factorizations for Locality

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yi, Q; Kennedy, K; You, H

    2004-03-26

    QR and LU factorizations for dense matrices are important linear algebra computations that are widely used in scientific applications. To efficiently perform these computations on modern computers, the factorization algorithms need to be blocked when operating on large matrices to effectively exploit the deep cache hierarchy prevalent in today's computer memory systems. Because both QR (based on Householder transformations) and LU factorization algorithms contain complex loop structures, few compilers can fully automate the blocking of these algorithms. Though linear algebra libraries such as LAPACK provides manually blocked implementations of these algorithms, by automatically generating blocked versions of the computations, moremore » benefit can be gained such as automatic adaptation of different blocking strategies. This paper demonstrates how to apply an aggressive loop transformation technique, dependence hoisting, to produce efficient blockings for both QR and LU with partial pivoting. We present different blocking strategies that can be generated by our optimizer and compare the performance of auto-blocked versions with manually tuned versions in LAPACK, both using reference BLAS, ATLAS BLAS and native BLAS specially tuned for the underlying machine architectures.« less

  2. Mechanism and prognostic role of qR in V1 in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

    PubMed

    Waligóra, Marcin; Kopeć, Grzegorz; Jonas, Kamil; Tyrka, Anna; Sarnecka, Agnieszka; Miszalski-Jamka, Tomasz; Urbańczyk-Zawadzka, Małgorzata; Podolec, Piotr

    The presence of qR pattern in lead V 1 of the 12-lead surface ECG has been proposed as a risk marker of death in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We aimed to validate these findings in the modern era of PAH treatment and additionally to assess the relation of qR in V 1 to PAH severity. We also investigated the possible mechanisms underlying this ECG sign. Consecutive patients with PAH excluding patients with congenital heart defect were recruited between February 2008 and January 2016. A 12-lead standard ECG was acquired and analyzed for the presence of qR in V 1 and other potential prognostic patterns. Cardiac magnetic resonance and echocardiography were used for structural (masses and volumes) and functional (ejection fraction, eccentricity index) characterization of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles. Standard markers of PAH severity were also assessed. We enrolled 66 patients (19 males), aged 50.0±15.7years with idiopathic PAH (n=52) and PAH associated with connective tissue disease (n=14). qR in V 1 was present in 26(39.4%) patients and was associated with worse functional capacity, hemodynamics and RV function. The main structural determinants of qR in V 1 were RV to LV volume ratio (OR: 3.99; 95% CI: 1.47-10.8, p=0.007) and diastolic eccentricity index (OR: 15.0; 95% CI: 1.29-175.5, p=0.03). During observation time of 30.5±19.4months, 20 (30.3%) patient died, 13 (50%) patients with qR and 7 (17.5%) patients without qR pattern. Electrocardiographic determinants of survival were qR (HR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.21-7.4; p=0.02) and QRS duration (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04; p=0.01). Presence of qR in V 1 reflects RV dilation and diastolic interventricular septum flattening. It is a sign of advanced PAH and predicts the risk of death in this population. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Impact of Bromocriptine-QR Therapy on Glycemic Control and Daily Insulin Requirement in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Subjects Whose Dysglycemia Is Poorly Controlled on High-Dose Insulin: A Pilot Study.

    PubMed

    Roe, Erin D; Chamarthi, Bindu; Raskin, Philip

    2015-01-01

    The concurrent use of a postprandial insulin sensitizing agent, such as bromocriptine-QR, a quick release formulation of bromocriptine, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, may offer a strategy to improve glycemic control and limit/reduce insulin requirement in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients on high-dose insulin. This open label pilot study evaluated this potential utility of bromocriptine-QR. Ten T2DM subjects on metformin (1-2 gm/day) and high-dose (TDID ≥ 65 U/day) basal-bolus insulin were enrolled to receive once daily (morning) bromocriptine-QR (1.6-4.8 mg/day) for 24 weeks. Subjects with at least one postbaseline HbA1c measurement (N = 8) were analyzed for change from baseline HbA(1c), TDID, and postprandial glucose area under the curve of a four-hour mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT). Compared to the baseline, average HbA1c decreased 1.76% (9.74 ± 0.56 to 7.98 ± 0.36, P = 0.01), average TDID decreased 27% (199 ± 33 to 147 ± 31, P = 0.009), and MMTT AUC(60-240) decreased 32% (P = 0.04) over the treatment period. The decline in HbA(1c) and TDID was observed at 8 weeks and sustained over the remaining 16-week study duration. In this study, bromocriptine-QR therapy improved glycemic control and meal tolerance while reducing insulin requirement in T2DM subjects poorly controlled on high-dose insulin therapy.

  4. Computationally Efficient Adaptive Beamformer for Ultrasound Imaging Based on QR Decomposition.

    PubMed

    Park, Jongin; Wi, Seok-Min; Lee, Jin S

    2016-02-01

    Adaptive beamforming methods for ultrasound imaging have been studied to improve image resolution and contrast. The most common approach is the minimum variance (MV) beamformer which minimizes the power of the beamformed output while maintaining the response from the direction of interest constant. The method achieves higher resolution and better contrast than the delay-and-sum (DAS) beamformer, but it suffers from high computational cost. This cost is mainly due to the computation of the spatial covariance matrix and its inverse, which requires O(L(3)) computations, where L denotes the subarray size. In this study, we propose a computationally efficient MV beamformer based on QR decomposition. The idea behind our approach is to transform the spatial covariance matrix to be a scalar matrix σI and we subsequently obtain the apodization weights and the beamformed output without computing the matrix inverse. To do that, QR decomposition algorithm is used and also can be executed at low cost, and therefore, the computational complexity is reduced to O(L(2)). In addition, our approach is mathematically equivalent to the conventional MV beamformer, thereby showing the equivalent performances. The simulation and experimental results support the validity of our approach.

  5. Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness of the QuickDASH in Patients With Upper Limb Amputation.

    PubMed

    Resnik, Linda; Borgia, Matthew

    2015-09-01

    To examine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire in persons with upper limb amputation. Cross-sectional and longitudinal. Three sites participating in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Home Study of the DEKA Arm. A convenience sample of upper limb amputees (N=44). Training with a multifunction upper limb prosthesis. Multiple outcome measures including the QuickDASH were administered twice within 1 week, and for a subset of 20 persons, after completion of in-laboratory training with the DEKA Arm. Scale alphas and intraclass correlation coefficient type 3,1 (ICC3,1) were used to examine reliability. Minimum detectable change (MDC) scores were calculated. Analyses of variance, comparing QuickDASH scores by the amount of prosthetic use and amputation level, were used for known-group validity analyses with alpha set at .05. Pairwise correlations between QuickDASH and other measures were used to examine concurrent validity. Responsiveness was measured by effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM). QuickDASH alpha was .83, and ICC was .87 (95% confidence interval, .77-.93). MDC at the 95% confidence level (MDC95%) was 17.4. Full- or part-time prosthesis users had better QuickDASH scores compared with nonprosthesis users (P=.021), as did those with more distal amputations at both baseline (P=.042) and with the DEKA Arm (P=.024). The QuickDASH was correlated with concurrent measures of activity limitation as expected. The ES and SRM after training with the DEKA Arm were 0.6. This study provides evidence of reliability and validity of the QuickDASH in persons with upper limb amputation. Results provide preliminary evidence of responsiveness to prosthetic device type/training. Further research with a larger sample is needed to confirm results. Copyright © 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by

  6. Supporting Situated Learning Based on QR Codes with Etiquetar App: A Pilot Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Camacho, Miguel Olmedo; Pérez-Sanagustín, Mar; Alario-Hoyos, Carlos; Soldani, Xavier; Kloos, Carlos Delgado; Sayago, Sergio

    2014-01-01

    EtiquetAR is an authoring tool for supporting the design and enactment of situated learning experiences based on QR tags. Practitioners use etiquetAR for creating, managing and personalizing collections of QR codes with special properties: (1) codes can have more than one link pointing at different multimedia resources, (2) codes can be updated…

  7. Integrating the ODI-PPA scientific gateway with the QuickReduce pipeline for on-demand processing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Young, Michael D.; Kotulla, Ralf; Gopu, Arvind; Liu, Wilson

    2014-07-01

    As imaging systems improve, the size of astronomical data has continued to grow, making the transfer and processing of data a significant burden. To solve this problem for the WIYN Observatory One Degree Imager (ODI), we developed the ODI-Portal, Pipeline, and Archive (ODI-PPA) science gateway, integrating the data archive, data reduction pipelines, and a user portal. In this paper, we discuss the integration of the QuickReduce (QR) pipeline into PPA's Tier 2 processing framework. QR is a set of parallelized, stand-alone Python routines accessible to all users, and operators who can create master calibration products and produce standardized calibrated data, with a short turn-around time. Upon completion, the data are ingested into the archive and portal, and made available to authorized users. Quality metrics and diagnostic plots are generated and presented via the portal for operator approval and user perusal. Additionally, users can tailor the calibration process to their specific science objective(s) by selecting custom datasets, applying preferred master calibrations or generating their own, and selecting pipeline options. Submission of a QuickReduce job initiates data staging, pipeline execution, and ingestion of output data products all while allowing the user to monitor the process status, and to download or further process/analyze the output within the portal. User-generated data products are placed into a private user-space within the portal. ODI-PPA leverages cyberinfrastructure at Indiana University including the Big Red II supercomputer, the Scholarly Data Archive tape system and the Data Capacitor shared file system.

  8. β-carboline derivatives and diphenols from soy sauce are in vitro quinone reductase (QR) inducers.

    PubMed

    Li, Ying; Zhao, Mouming; Parkin, Kirk L

    2011-03-23

    A murine hepatoma (Hepa 1c1c7) cellular bioassay was used to guide the isolation of phase II enzyme inducers from fermented soy sauce, using quinone reductase (QR) as a biomarker. A crude ethyl acetate extract, accounting for 8.7% of nonsalt soluble solids of soy sauce, was found to double relative QR specific activity at 25 μg/mL (concentration required to double was defined as a "CD value"). Further silica gel column fractionation yielded 17 fractions, 16 of which exhibited CD values for QR induction of <100 μg/mL. The four most potent fractions were subfractionated by column and preparative thin layer chromatography, leading to the isolation and identification of two phenolic compounds (catechol and daidzein) and two β-carbolines (flazin and perlolyrin), with respective CD values of 8, 35, 42, and 2 μM. Western blots confirmed that the increases in QR activity corresponded to dose-dependent increases in cellular levels of NAD[P]H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 protein by these four QR inducers. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the ability of β-carboline-derived alkaloids to induce phase II enzymes.

  9. Impact of Bromocriptine-QR Therapy on Glycemic Control and Daily Insulin Requirement in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Subjects Whose Dysglycemia Is Poorly Controlled on High-Dose Insulin: A Pilot Study

    PubMed Central

    Roe, Erin D.; Chamarthi, Bindu; Raskin, Philip

    2015-01-01

    Background. The concurrent use of a postprandial insulin sensitizing agent, such as bromocriptine-QR, a quick release formulation of bromocriptine, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, may offer a strategy to improve glycemic control and limit/reduce insulin requirement in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients on high-dose insulin. This open label pilot study evaluated this potential utility of bromocriptine-QR. Methods. Ten T2DM subjects on metformin (1-2 gm/day) and high-dose (TDID ≥ 65 U/day) basal-bolus insulin were enrolled to receive once daily (morning) bromocriptine-QR (1.6–4.8 mg/day) for 24 weeks. Subjects with at least one postbaseline HbA1c measurement (N = 8) were analyzed for change from baseline HbA1c, TDID, and postprandial glucose area under the curve of a four-hour mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT). Results. Compared to the baseline, average HbA1c decreased 1.76% (9.74 ± 0.56 to 7.98 ± 0.36, P = 0.01), average TDID decreased 27% (199 ± 33 to 147 ± 31, P = 0.009), and MMTT AUC60–240 decreased 32% (P = 0.04) over the treatment period. The decline in HbA1c and TDID was observed at 8 weeks and sustained over the remaining 16-week study duration. Conclusion. In this study, bromocriptine-QR therapy improved glycemic control and meal tolerance while reducing insulin requirement in T2DM subjects poorly controlled on high-dose insulin therapy. PMID:26060825

  10. Optical information encryption based on incoherent superposition with the help of the QR code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qin, Yi; Gong, Qiong

    2014-01-01

    In this paper, a novel optical information encryption approach is proposed with the help of QR code. This method is based on the concept of incoherent superposition which we introduce for the first time. The information to be encrypted is first transformed into the corresponding QR code, and thereafter the QR code is further encrypted into two phase only masks analytically by use of the intensity superposition of two diffraction wave fields. The proposed method has several advantages over the previous interference-based method, such as a higher security level, a better robustness against noise attack, a more relaxed work condition, and so on. Numerical simulation results and actual smartphone collected results are shown to validate our proposal.

  11. Preclinical in vitro activity of QR-435 against influenza A virus as a virucide and in paper masks for prevention of viral transmission.

    PubMed

    Oxford, John S; Lambkin, Robert; Guralnik, Mario; Rosenbloom, Richard A; Petteruti, Michael P; Digian, Kelly; Lefante, Carolyn

    2007-01-01

    Prophylaxis against influenza is difficult, and current approaches against pandemics may be ineffective because of shortages of the two proven classes of antivirals in the face of a large-scale infection. Herbal/natural products may represent an effective alternative to conventional attempts to protect against infection by avian influenza virus. QR-435, an all-natural compound of green tea extract and other agents, has been developed to provide protection against a wide range of viral infections. The antiviral activities of several QR-435 preparations as well as QR-435 (1) green tea extract were tested against A/Sydney/5/97 and A/Panama-Resvir 17 strains of avian influenza virus H3N2 by means of an assay based on Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Toxic effects of QR-435 formulations on these cells were also evaluated as were the virucidal properties of a commercially available mask impregnated with QR-435. The efficacy of a QR-435/mask combination was compared with that of the QR control/mask combination, an untreated mask, and no mask. QR-435 had significant in vitro activity against H3N2 at concentrations that were not associated with significant cellular toxic effects. The antiviral activity of QR-435 (1) was similar to that of QR-435. Masks impregnated with QR-435 were highly effective in blocking the passage of live H3N2 virus. These preclinical results warrant further evaluation of the prophylactic use of QR-435 against viral infection in humans.

  12. Avoiding Communication in the Lanczos Bidiagonalization Routine and Associated Least Squares QR Solver

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-04-12

    Avoiding communication in the Lanczos bidiagonalization routine and associated Least Squares QR solver Erin Carson Electrical Engineering and...Bidiagonalization Routine and Associated Least Squares QR Solver 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d...throughout scienti c codes , are often the bottlenecks in application perfor- mance due to a low computation/communication ratio. In this paper we develop

  13. Impact on Student Motivation by Using a QR-Based U-Learning Material Production System to Create Authentic Learning Experiences

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chin, Kai-Yi; Lee, Ko-Fong; Chen, Yen-Lin

    2015-01-01

    This study developed a QR-based U-Learning Material Production System (QR-ULMPS) that provides teachers with an education tool to motivate college level students enrolled in a liberal arts course. QR-ULMPS was specifically designed to support the development of u-learning materials and create an engaging context-aware u-learning environment for…

  14. Aviation System Analysis Capability Quick Response System Report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roberts, Eileen; Villani, James A.; Ritter, Paul

    1998-01-01

    The purpose of this document is to present the additions and modifications made to the Aviation System Analysis Capability (ASAC) Quick Response System (QRS) in FY 1997 in support of the ASAC ORS development effort. This document contains an overview of the project background and scope and defines the QRS. The document also presents an overview of the Logistics Management Institute (LMI) facility that supports the QRS, and it includes a summary of the planned additions to the QRS in FY 1998. The document has five appendices.

  15. A fast new algorithm for a robot neurocontroller using inverse QR decomposition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Morris, A.S.; Khemaissia, S.

    2000-01-01

    A new adaptive neural network controller for robots is presented. The controller is based on direct adaptive techniques. Unlike many neural network controllers in the literature, inverse dynamical model evaluation is not required. A numerically robust, computationally efficient processing scheme for neutral network weight estimation is described, namely, the inverse QR decomposition (INVQR). The inverse QR decomposition and a weighted recursive least-squares (WRLS) method for neural network weight estimation is derived using Cholesky factorization of the data matrix. The algorithm that performs the efficient INVQR of the underlying space-time data matrix may be implemented in parallel on a triangular array.more » Furthermore, its systolic architecture is well suited for VLSI implementation. Another important benefit is well suited for VLSI implementation. Another important benefit of the INVQR decomposition is that it solves directly for the time-recursive least-squares filter vector, while avoiding the sequential back-substitution step required by the QR decomposition approaches.« less

  16. Optical identity authentication technique based on compressive ghost imaging with QR code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wenjie, Zhan; Leihong, Zhang; Xi, Zeng; Yi, Kang

    2018-04-01

    With the rapid development of computer technology, information security has attracted more and more attention. It is not only related to the information and property security of individuals and enterprises, but also to the security and social stability of a country. Identity authentication is the first line of defense in information security. In authentication systems, response time and security are the most important factors. An optical authentication technology based on compressive ghost imaging with QR codes is proposed in this paper. The scheme can be authenticated with a small number of samples. Therefore, the response time of the algorithm is short. At the same time, the algorithm can resist certain noise attacks, so it offers good security.

  17. Lithographically encoded polymer microtaggant using high-capacity and error-correctable QR code for anti-counterfeiting of drugs.

    PubMed

    Han, Sangkwon; Bae, Hyung Jong; Kim, Junhoi; Shin, Sunghwan; Choi, Sung-Eun; Lee, Sung Hoon; Kwon, Sunghoon; Park, Wook

    2012-11-20

    A QR-coded microtaggant for the anti-counterfeiting of drugs is proposed that can provide high capacity and error-correction capability. It is fabricated lithographically in a microfluidic channel with special consideration of the island patterns in the QR Code. The microtaggant is incorporated in the drug capsule ("on-dose authentication") and can be read by a simple smartphone QR Code reader application when removed from the capsule and washed free of drug. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  18. Use of the QR Reader to Provide Real-Time Evaluation of Residents' Skills Following Surgical Procedures.

    PubMed

    Reynolds, Kellin; Barnhill, Danny; Sias, Jamie; Young, Amy; Polite, Florencia Greer

    2014-12-01

    A portable electronic method of providing instructional feedback and recording an evaluation of resident competency immediately following surgical procedures has not previously been documented in obstetrics and gynecology. This report presents a unique electronic format that documents resident competency and encourages verbal communication between faculty and residents immediately following operative procedures. The Microsoft Tag system and SurveyMonkey platform were linked by a 2-D QR code using Microsoft QR code generator. Each resident was given a unique code (TAG) embedded onto an ID card. An evaluation form was attached to each resident's file in SurveyMonkey. Postoperatively, supervising faculty scanned the resident's TAG with a smartphone and completed the brief evaluation using the phone's screen. The evaluation was reviewed with the resident and automatically submitted to the resident's educational file. The evaluation system was quickly accepted by residents and faculty. Of 43 residents and faculty in the study, 38 (88%) responded to a survey 8 weeks after institution of the electronic evaluation system. Thirty (79%) of the 38 indicated it was superior to the previously used handwritten format. The electronic system demonstrated improved utilization compared with paper evaluations, with a mean of 23 electronic evaluations submitted per resident during a 6-month period versus 14 paper assessments per resident during an earlier period of 6 months. This streamlined portable electronic evaluation is an effective tool for direct, formative feedback for residents, and it creates a longitudinal record of resident progress. Satisfaction with, and use of, this evaluation system was high.

  19. Use of the QR Reader to Provide Real-Time Evaluation of Residents' Skills Following Surgical Procedures

    PubMed Central

    Reynolds, Kellin; Barnhill, Danny; Sias, Jamie; Young, Amy; Polite, Florencia Greer

    2014-01-01

    Background A portable electronic method of providing instructional feedback and recording an evaluation of resident competency immediately following surgical procedures has not previously been documented in obstetrics and gynecology. Objective This report presents a unique electronic format that documents resident competency and encourages verbal communication between faculty and residents immediately following operative procedures. Methods The Microsoft Tag system and SurveyMonkey platform were linked by a 2-D QR code using Microsoft QR code generator. Each resident was given a unique code (TAG) embedded onto an ID card. An evaluation form was attached to each resident's file in SurveyMonkey. Postoperatively, supervising faculty scanned the resident's TAG with a smartphone and completed the brief evaluation using the phone's screen. The evaluation was reviewed with the resident and automatically submitted to the resident's educational file. Results The evaluation system was quickly accepted by residents and faculty. Of 43 residents and faculty in the study, 38 (88%) responded to a survey 8 weeks after institution of the electronic evaluation system. Thirty (79%) of the 38 indicated it was superior to the previously used handwritten format. The electronic system demonstrated improved utilization compared with paper evaluations, with a mean of 23 electronic evaluations submitted per resident during a 6-month period versus 14 paper assessments per resident during an earlier period of 6 months. Conclusions This streamlined portable electronic evaluation is an effective tool for direct, formative feedback for residents, and it creates a longitudinal record of resident progress. Satisfaction with, and use of, this evaluation system was high. PMID:26140128

  20. Encryption of QR code and grayscale image in interference-based scheme with high quality retrieval and silhouette problem removal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qin, Yi; Wang, Hongjuan; Wang, Zhipeng; Gong, Qiong; Wang, Danchen

    2016-09-01

    In optical interference-based encryption (IBE) scheme, the currently available methods have to employ the iterative algorithms in order to encrypt two images and retrieve cross-talk free decrypted images. In this paper, we shall show that this goal can be achieved via an analytical process if one of the two images is QR code. For decryption, the QR code is decrypted in the conventional architecture and the decryption has a noisy appearance. Nevertheless, the robustness of QR code against noise enables the accurate acquisition of its content from the noisy retrieval, as a result of which the primary QR code can be exactly regenerated. Thereafter, a novel optical architecture is proposed to recover the grayscale image by aid of the QR code. In addition, the proposal has totally eliminated the silhouette problem existing in the previous IBE schemes, and its effectiveness and feasibility have been demonstrated by numerical simulations.

  1. Solving the scalability issue in quantum-based refinement: Q|R#1.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Min; Moriarty, Nigel W; Xu, Yanting; Reimers, Jeffrey R; Afonine, Pavel V; Waller, Mark P

    2017-12-01

    Accurately refining biomacromolecules using a quantum-chemical method is challenging because the cost of a quantum-chemical calculation scales approximately as n m , where n is the number of atoms and m (≥3) is based on the quantum method of choice. This fundamental problem means that quantum-chemical calculations become intractable when the size of the system requires more computational resources than are available. In the development of the software package called Q|R, this issue is referred to as Q|R#1. A divide-and-conquer approach has been developed that fragments the atomic model into small manageable pieces in order to solve Q|R#1. Firstly, the atomic model of a crystal structure is analyzed to detect noncovalent interactions between residues, and the results of the analysis are represented as an interaction graph. Secondly, a graph-clustering algorithm is used to partition the interaction graph into a set of clusters in such a way as to minimize disruption to the noncovalent interaction network. Thirdly, the environment surrounding each individual cluster is analyzed and any residue that is interacting with a particular cluster is assigned to the buffer region of that particular cluster. A fragment is defined as a cluster plus its buffer region. The gradients for all atoms from each of the fragments are computed, and only the gradients from each cluster are combined to create the total gradients. A quantum-based refinement is carried out using the total gradients as chemical restraints. In order to validate this interaction graph-based fragmentation approach in Q|R, the entire atomic model of an amyloid cross-β spine crystal structure (PDB entry 2oNA) was refined.

  2. [QR-Code based patient tracking: a cost-effective option to improve patient safety].

    PubMed

    Fischer, M; Rybitskiy, D; Strauß, G; Dietz, A; Dressler, C R

    2013-03-01

    Hospitals are implementing a risk management system to avoid patient or surgery mix-ups. The trend is to use preoperative checklists. This work deals specifically with a type of patient identification, which is realized by storing patient data on a patient-fixed medium. In 127 ENT surgeries data relevant for patient identification were encrypted in a 2D-QR-Code. The code, as a separate document coming with the patient chart or as a patient wristband, has been decrypted in the OR and the patient data were presented visible for all persons. The decoding time, the compliance of the patient data, as well as the duration of the patient identification was compared with the traditional patient identification by inspection of the patient chart. A total of 125 QR codes were read. The time for the decrypting of QR-Code was 5.6 s, the time for the screen view for patient identification was 7.9 s, and for a comparison group of 75 operations traditional patient identification was 27.3 s. Overall, there were 6 relevant information errors in the two parts of the experiment. This represents a ratio of 0.6% for 8 relevant classes per each encrypted QR code. This work allows a cost effective way to technically support patient identification based on electronic patient data. It was shown that the use in the clinical routine is possible. The disadvantage is a potential misinformation from incorrect or missing information in the HIS, or due to changes of the data after the code was created. The QR-code-based patient tracking is seen as a useful complement to the already widely used identification wristband. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  3. A multicenter, double-blind, safety study of QR-333 for the treatment of symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy. A preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Valensi, Paul; Le Devehat, Claude; Richard, Jean-Louis; Farez, Cherifo; Khodabandehlou, Taraneh; Rosenbloom, Richard A; LeFante, Carolyn

    2005-01-01

    QR-333, a topical compound that contains quercetin, a flavonoid with aldose reductase inhibitor effects, ascorbyl palmitate, and vitamin D(3), was formulated to decrease the oxidative stress that contributes to peripheral diabetic neuropathy and thus alleviate its symptoms. This proof-of-principle study assessed the efficacy and safety of QR-333 against placebo in a small cohort of patients with diabetic neuropathy. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial included 34 men and women (21-71 years of age) with Type 1 or 2 diabetes and diabetic neuropathy who applied QR-333 or placebo (2:1 ratio), three times daily for 4 weeks, to each foot where symptoms were experienced. Five-point scales were used to determine changes from baseline to endpoint in symptoms and quality of life (efficacy). Safety was assessed through concomitant medications, adverse events, laboratory evaluations, and physical examinations. QR-333 reduced the severity of numbness, jolting pain, and irritation from baseline values. Improvements were also seen in overall and specific quality-of-life measures. QR-333 was well tolerated. Eleven patients in the QR-333 group reported 23 adverse events (all mild or moderate); 4 in the placebo group reported 5 events (all moderate). One patient who applied QR-333 noted a pricking sensation twice, the only adverse event considered possibly related to study treatment. From this preliminary safety study, it appears that QR-333 may safely offer relief of symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and improve quality of life. These findings warrant further investigation of this topical compound.

  4. Evaluation of an Online Instructional Database Accessed by QR Codes to Support Biochemistry Practical Laboratory Classes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yip, Tor; Melling, Louise; Shaw, Kirsty J.

    2016-01-01

    An online instructional database containing information on commonly used pieces of laboratory equipment was created. In order to make the database highly accessible and to promote its use, QR codes were utilized. The instructional materials were available anytime and accessed using QR codes located on the equipment itself and within undergraduate…

  5. Induction of quinone reductase (QR) by withanolides isolated from Physalis pubescens L. (Solanaceae).

    PubMed

    Ji, Long; Yuan, Yonglei; Ma, Zhongjun; Chen, Zhe; Gan, Lishe; Ma, Xiaoqiong; Huang, Dongsheng

    2013-09-01

    In the present study, it was demonstrated that the dichloromethane extract of Physalis pubescens L. (DEPP) had weak potential quinone reductase (QR) inducing activity, but an UPLC-ESI-MS method with glutathione (GSH) as the substrate revealed that the DEPP had electrophiles (with an α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety). These electrophiles could induce quinone reductase (QR) activity, which might be attributed to the modification of the highly reactive cysteine residues in Keap1. Herein, four withanolides, including three new compounds physapubescin B (2), physapubescin C (3), physapubescin D (4), together with one known steroidal compound physapubescin (1) were isolated. Structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis and that of physapubescin C (3) was confirmed by a combination of molecular modeling and quantum chemical DFT-GIAO calculations. Evaluation of the QR inducing activities of all withanolides indicated potent activities of compounds 1 and 2, which had a common α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. QR Codes: Outlook for Food Science and Nutrition.

    PubMed

    Sanz-Valero, Javier; Álvarez Sabucedo, Luis M; Wanden-Berghe, Carmina; Santos Gago, Juan M

    2016-01-01

    QR codes opens up the possibility to develop simple-to-use, cost-effective-cost, and functional systems based on the optical recognition of inexpensive tags attached to physical objects. These systems, combined with Web platforms, can provide us with advanced services that are already currently broadly used on many contexts of the common life. Due to its philosophy, based on the automatic recognition of messages embedded on simple graphics by means of common devices such as mobile phones, QR codes are very convenient for the average user. Regretfully, its potential has not yet been fully exploited in the domains of food science and nutrition. This paper points out some applications to make the most of this technology for these domains in a straightforward manner. For its characteristics, we are addressing systems with low barriers to entry and high scalability for its deployment. Therefore, its launching among professional and final users is quite simple. The paper also provides high-level indications for the evaluation of the technological frame required to implement the identified possibilities of use.

  7. QR in V1--an ECG sign associated with right ventricular strain and adverse clinical outcome in pulmonary embolism.

    PubMed

    Kucher, Nils; Walpoth, Nazan; Wustmann, Kerstin; Noveanu, Markus; Gertsch, Marc

    2003-06-01

    To test the hypothesis that Qr in V(1)is a predictor of pulmonary embolism, right ventricular strain, and adverse clinical outcome. ECG's from 151 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism were blindly interpreted by two observers. Echocardiography, troponin I, and pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were obtained in 75 patients with pulmonary embolism. Qr in V(1)(14 vs 0 in controls; p<0.0001) and ST elevation in V(1)> or =1 mV (15 vs 1 in controls; p=0.0002) were more frequently present in patients with pulmonary embolism. Sensitivity and specificity of Qr in V(1)and T wave inversion in V(2)for predicting right ventricular dysfunction were 31/97% and 45/94%, respectively. Three of five patients who died in-hospital and 11 of 20 patients with a complicated course, presented with Qr in V(1). After adjustment for right ventricular strain including ECG, echocardiography, pro-brain natriuretic peptide and troponin I levels, Qr in V(1)(OR 8.7, 95%CI 1.4-56.7; p=0.02) remained an independent predictor of adverse outcome. Among the ECG signs seen in patients with acute pulmonary embolism, Qr in V(1)is closely related to the presence of right ventricular dysfunction, and is an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcome.

  8. Performance of low-rank QR approximation of the finite element Biot-Savart law

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, D A; Fasenfest, B J

    2006-01-12

    We are concerned with the computation of magnetic fields from known electric currents in the finite element setting. In finite element eddy current simulations it is necessary to prescribe the magnetic field (or potential, depending upon the formulation) on the conductor boundary. In situations where the magnetic field is due to a distributed current density, the Biot-Savart law can be used, eliminating the need to mesh the nonconducting regions. Computation of the Biot-Savart law can be significantly accelerated using a low-rank QR approximation. We review the low-rank QR method and report performance on selected problems.

  9. The minimal residual QR-factorization algorithm for reliably solving subset regression problems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Verhaegen, M. H.

    1987-01-01

    A new algorithm to solve test subset regression problems is described, called the minimal residual QR factorization algorithm (MRQR). This scheme performs a QR factorization with a new column pivoting strategy. Basically, this strategy is based on the change in the residual of the least squares problem. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that this basic scheme might be extended in a numerically efficient way to combine the advantages of existing numerical procedures, such as the singular value decomposition, with those of more classical statistical procedures, such as stepwise regression. This extension is presented as an advisory expert system that guides the user in solving the subset regression problem. The advantages of the new procedure are highlighted by a numerical example.

  10. QR-STEM: Energy and Environment as a Context for Improving QR and STEM Understandings of 6-12 Grade Teachers I. The Science

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lyford, M. E.; Myers, J. D.; Mayes, R. L.

    2009-12-01

    Numerous educational studies have documented serious shortcomings in student's quantitative reasoning (QR), understanding of science and ability to connect these to their daily lives. These have driven many reform efforts in teacher professional development. Historically, most of these efforts have focused on science or math and rarely on the science-society connection. For the past two years, a Wyoming Department of Education funded Math-Science Partnership (MSP) professional development program has created a collaboration of university and community college faculty and middle and high school teachers to address QR, science and social relevance in the context of energy and the environment. This professional development project is designed to: 1) improve teacher content knowledge (both in the sciences and math); 2) demonstrate the many social contexts in which science and QR are relevant and can be taught; 3) model effective science and QR classroom activities for teachers; 4) provide teachers with the opportunity to develop and test their own classroom materials; 5) foster the development of professional learning communities across the state; and 6) initiate discussions about curriculum across disciplinary boundaries. Over the course of four summer meetings, participants investigate a series of issues centered on energy and the environment, including transportation, electricity, biogeochemical cycles, Peak Oil, carbon sequestration and climate change. Each issue is approached in an interdisciplinary manner, where relevant aspects from the life sciences, earth sciences, chemistry and physics are addressed. An introductory presentation on the general theme kicks off each meeting to introduce the problem. Subsequent sessions are lead by faculty from the various scientific disciplines as well as math. During their sessions, university and community college faculty model active learning exercises for each issue. These activities weave together the relevant disciplinary

  11. QR in Child Grammar: Evidence from Antecedent-Contained Deletion

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Syrett, Kristen; Lidz, Jeffrey

    2009-01-01

    We show that 4-year-olds assign the correct interpretation to antecedent-contained deletion (ACD) sentences because they have the correct representation of these structures. This representation involves Quantifier Raising (QR) of a Quantificational Noun Phrase (QNP) that must move out of the site of the verb phrase in which it is contained to…

  12. Roots of success: Marketing strategies for the 21st Century

    Treesearch

    Ian Doescher

    2012-01-01

    As the demographic of gardeners and farmers changes, retail nurseries should update their marketing approach. This paper reviews best marketing practices and discusses marketing technologies, including quick response (QR) codes, websites, online marketing, and social media.

  13. Drug-laden 3D biodegradable label using QR code for anti-counterfeiting of drugs.

    PubMed

    Fei, Jie; Liu, Ran

    2016-06-01

    Wiping out counterfeit drugs is a great task for public health care around the world. The boost of these drugs makes treatment to become potentially harmful or even lethal. In this paper, biodegradable drug-laden QR code label for anti-counterfeiting of drugs is proposed that can provide the non-fluorescence recognition and high capacity. It is fabricated by the laser cutting to achieve the roughness over different surface which causes the difference in the gray levels on the translucent material the QR code pattern, and the micro mold process to obtain the drug-laden biodegradable label. We screened biomaterials presenting the relevant conditions and further requirements of the package. The drug-laden microlabel is on the surface of the troches or the bottom of the capsule and can be read by a simple smartphone QR code reader application. Labeling the pill directly and decoding the information successfully means more convenient and simple operation with non-fluorescence and high capacity in contrast to the traditional methods. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. The relationship of PON1 QR 192 and LM 55 polymorphisms with serum paraoxonase activities of Turkish diabetic patients.

    PubMed

    Altuner, Durdu; Ates, Ilker; Suzen, Sinan H; Koc, Gonul Varan; Aral, Yalcin; Karakaya, Asuman

    2011-11-01

    Paraoxonase (PON1) is a serum esterase responsible for the protection against xenobiotics toxicity such as paraoxon. Alterations in PON1 concentrations have been reported in a variety of diseases including diabetes mellitus (DM). It has been shown that the serum PON1 concentration and activity are decreased in patients with both type 1 and type 2 DM. This study aimed to investigate the lipid profiles and the relationship between PON1 activity and PON1, QR192 and LM55 polymorphisms in Turkish type 2 diabetic patients and non-diabetic control subjects. According to our results, RR variant had significantly higher PON activity than QQ and QR variants (p < 0.01) and LL variant had significantly higher PON activity than MM variant in both control and patient groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we found that PON1 192RR and 55LL genotypes are associated with higher PON activity than QQ and MM genotypes. This may be more protective to lipid peroxidation.

  15. Quick response airborne command post communications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blaisdell, Randy L.

    1988-08-01

    National emergencies and strategic crises come in all forms and sizes ranging from natural disasters at one end of the scale up to and including global nuclear warfare at the other. Since the early 1960s the U.S. Government has spent billions of dollars fielding airborne command posts to ensure continuity of government and the command and control function during times of theater conventional, theater nuclear, and global nuclear warfare. Unfortunately, cost has prevented the extension of the airborne command post technology developed for these relatively unlikely events to the lower level, though much more likely to occur, crises such as natural disasters, terrorist acts, political insurgencies, etc. This thesis proposes the implementation of an economical airborne command post concept to address the wide variety of crises ignored by existing military airborne command posts. The system is known as the Quick Response Airborne Command Post (QRAC Post) and is based on the exclusive use of commercially owned and operated aircraft, and commercially available automated data processing and communications resources. The thesis addresses the QRAC Post concept at a systems level and is primarily intended to demonstrate how current technology can be exploited to economically achieve a national objective.

  16. Updating QR factorization procedure for solution of linear least squares problem with equality constraints.

    PubMed

    Zeb, Salman; Yousaf, Muhammad

    2017-01-01

    In this article, we present a QR updating procedure as a solution approach for linear least squares problem with equality constraints. We reduce the constrained problem to unconstrained linear least squares and partition it into a small subproblem. The QR factorization of the subproblem is calculated and then we apply updating techniques to its upper triangular factor R to obtain its solution. We carry out the error analysis of the proposed algorithm to show that it is backward stable. We also illustrate the implementation and accuracy of the proposed algorithm by providing some numerical experiments with particular emphasis on dense problems.

  17. Video Shot Boundary Detection Using QR-Decomposition and Gaussian Transition Detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Amiri, Ali; Fathy, Mahmood

    2010-12-01

    This article explores the problem of video shot boundary detection and examines a novel shot boundary detection algorithm by using QR-decomposition and modeling of gradual transitions by Gaussian functions. Specifically, the authors attend to the challenges of detecting gradual shots and extracting appropriate spatiotemporal features that affect the ability of algorithms to efficiently detect shot boundaries. The algorithm utilizes the properties of QR-decomposition and extracts a block-wise probability function that illustrates the probability of video frames to be in shot transitions. The probability function has abrupt changes in hard cut transitions, and semi-Gaussian behavior in gradual transitions. The algorithm detects these transitions by analyzing the probability function. Finally, we will report the results of the experiments using large-scale test sets provided by the TRECVID 2006, which has assessments for hard cut and gradual shot boundary detection. These results confirm the high performance of the proposed algorithm.

  18. Induction of quinone reductase (QR) by withanolides isolated from Physalis angulata L. var. villosa Bonati (Solanaceae).

    PubMed

    Ding, Hui; Hu, Zhijuan; Yu, Liyan; Ma, Zhongjun; Ma, Xiaoqiong; Chen, Zhe; Wang, Dan; Zhao, Xiaofeng

    2014-08-01

    In the present study, the EtOAc extract of the persistent calyx of Physalis angulata L. var. villosa Bonati (PA) was tested for its potential quinone reductase (QR) inducing activity with glutathione (GSH) as the substrate using an UPLC-ESI-MS method. The result revealed that the PA had electrophiles that could induce quinone reductase (QR) activity, which might be attributed to the modification of the highly reactive cysteine residues in Keap1. Herein, three new withanolides, compounds 3, 6 and 7, together with four known withanolides, compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were isolated from PA extract. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques, including (1)H-, (13)C NMR (DEPT), and 2D-NMR (HMBC, HMQC, (1)H, (1)H-COSY, NOESY) experiments, as well as by HR-MS. All the seven compounds were tested for their QR induction activities towards mouse hepa 1c1c7 cells. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Experimental scrambling and noise reduction applied to the optical encryption of QR codes.

    PubMed

    Barrera, John Fredy; Vélez, Alejandro; Torroba, Roberto

    2014-08-25

    In this contribution, we implement two techniques to reinforce optical encryption, which we restrict in particular to the QR codes, but could be applied in a general encoding situation. To our knowledge, we present the first experimental-positional optical scrambling merged with an optical encryption procedure. The inclusion of an experimental scrambling technique in an optical encryption protocol, in particular dealing with a QR code "container", adds more protection to the encoding proposal. Additionally, a nonlinear normalization technique is applied to reduce the noise over the recovered images besides increasing the security against attacks. The opto-digital techniques employ an interferometric arrangement and a joint transform correlator encrypting architecture. The experimental results demonstrate the capability of the methods to accomplish the task.

  20. A convenient synthesis of tetrabenzo[de,hi,mn,qr]naphthacene from readily available 1,2-di(phenanthren-4-yl)ethyne.

    PubMed

    Mukherjee, Anupam; Pati, Kamalkishore; Liu, Rai-Shung

    2009-08-21

    We report here a convenient synthesis of tetrabenzo[de,hi,mn,qr]naphthacenes from 1,2-di(phenanthren-4-yl)ethynes through initial Brønsted acid-catalyzed hydroarylation, followed by FeCl(3)-oxidative coupling reactions. This new method is applicable to tetrabenzo[de,hi,mn,qr]naphthacenes bearing various alkyl substituents.

  1. Enhancing Chemical Inventory Management in Laboratory through a Mobile-Based QR Code Tag

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shukran, M. A. M.; Ishak, M. S.; Abdullah, M. N.

    2017-08-01

    The demand for a greater inventory management system which can provide a lot of useful information from a single scan has made laboratory inventory management using barcode technology more difficult. Since the barcode technology lacks the ability to overcome the problem and is not capable of providing information needed to manage the chemicals in the laboratory, thus employing a QR code technology is the best solution. In this research, the main idea is to develop a standalone application running with its own database that is periodically synchronized with the inventory software hosted by the computer and connected to a specialized network as well. The first process required to establish this centralized system is to determine all inventory available in the chemical laboratory by referring to the documented data in order to develop the database. Several customization and enhancement were made to the open source QR code technology to ensure the developed application is dedicated for its main purposes. As the end of the research, it was proven that the system is able to track the position of all inventory and showing real time information about the scanned chemical labels. This paper intends to give an overview about the QR tag inventory system that was developed and its implementation at the National Defence University of Malaysia’s (NDUM) chemical laboratory.

  2. A quantitative risk-assessment system (QR-AS) evaluating operation safety of Organic Rankine Cycle using flammable mixture working fluid.

    PubMed

    Tian, Hua; Wang, Xueying; Shu, Gequn; Wu, Mingqiang; Yan, Nanhua; Ma, Xiaonan

    2017-09-15

    Mixture of hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide shows excellent cycle performance in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) used for engine waste heat recovery, but the unavoidable leakage in practical application is a threat for safety due to its flammability. In this work, a quantitative risk assessment system (QR-AS) is established aiming at providing a general method of risk assessment for flammable working fluid leakage. The QR-AS covers three main aspects: analysis of concentration distribution based on CFD simulations, explosive risk assessment based on the TNT equivalent method and risk mitigation based on evaluation results. A typical case of propane/carbon dioxide mixture leaking from ORC is investigated to illustrate the application of QR-AS. According to the assessment results, proper ventilation speed, safe mixture ratio and location of gas-detecting devices have been proposed to guarantee the security in case of leakage. The results revealed that this presented QR-AS was reliable for the practical application and the evaluation results could provide valuable guidance for the design of mitigation measures to improve the safe performance of ORC system. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Quick concurrent responses to global and local cognitive information underlie intuitive understanding in board-game experts

    PubMed Central

    Nakatani, Hironori; Yamaguchi, Yoko

    2014-01-01

    Experts have the superior cognitive capability of quickly understanding complex information in their domain; however, little is known about the neural processes underlying this ability. Here, using a board game named shogi (Japanese chess), we investigated the brain activity in expert players that was involved in their quick understanding of board-game patterns. The frontal area responded only to meaningful game positions, whereas the temporal area responded to both game and random positions with the same latency (200 ms). Subsequent to these quick responses, the temporal and parietal areas responded only to game positions, with a latency of 700 ms. During the responses, enhanced phase synchronization between these areas was observed. Thus, experts first responded to global cognitive information that was specific to game positions and to local cognitive information that was common to game and random positions concurrently. These types of information were integrated via neural synchronization at the posterior areas. As these properties were specific to experts, much of the experts' advantage in understanding game positions occurred within 1 s of perception. PMID:25081320

  4. Randomized Trial of Smartphone-Based Evaluation for an Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship.

    PubMed

    Sobhani, Nasim C; Fay, Emily E; Schiff, Melissa A; Stephenson-Famy, Alyssa; Debiec, Katherine E

    2017-12-19

    We hypothesized that compared to paper evaluations, a smartphone-based quick response (QR) evaluation tool would improve timeliness of feedback, enhance efficacy of giving and receiving feedback, and be as easy to use. We performed a randomized controlled trial of student and instructor experience with two evaluation tools in the OB/GYN clerkship at University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM). Sites were randomized to the QR or paper tool; students at QR sites received individualized QR codes at the beginning of the clerkship. Instructors and students completed postintervention surveys regarding the evaluation tool and associated feedback. We compared responses between groups using chi-squared tests. Participating clerkship sites included primary, tertiary, private practice and institutional settings affiliated with the University of Washington in the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho region. Of the 29 OB/GYN UWSOM clerkship sites, 18 agreed to participate and were randomized. Of 29 eligible instructors, 25 (86%) completed the survey, with n = 18 using QR and n = 7 using paper. Of 161 eligible students, 102 (63%) completed the survey, with n = 54 using QR and n = 48 using paper. Compared to those using paper evaluations, instructors using QR evaluations were significantly more likely to agree that the evaluation tool was easy to understand (100% QR vs 43% paper, p = 0.002), the tool was effective in providing feedback (78% QR vs 29% paper, p = 0.002), and they felt comfortable approaching students with the tool (89% QR vs 43% paper, p = 0.002). Compared to those using paper evaluations, students using QR evaluations were less likely to agree the tool was effective in eliciting feedback (QR 43% vs paper 55%, p = 0.042). Instructors found QR evaluations superior to paper evaluations for providing feedback to medical students, whereas students found QR evaluations less effective for feedback. Copyright © 2017 Association of Program Directors in

  5. In vivo safety and tolerability study of QR-441(a) using three dose formulations and three routes of administration in chickens.

    PubMed

    Cummings, Timothy S; Guralnik, Mario; Rosenbloom, Richard A; Petteruti, Michael P; Digian, Kelly; Lefante, Carolyn

    2007-01-01

    The current study assessed the safety, tolerability, and palatability of the experimental drug QR-441(a) using three dose formulations and three routes of administration. A 4-day study was carried out using a total of 132 chickens. A total of 11 groups were formed (12 chickens per group) subjected to varying concentrations and routes of administration of QR-441(a). Chickens were given a high, medium, or low dose of QR-441(a) in either feed, water, or both for a period of 4 days. In addition, one group was dosed intranasally, one drop per nostril four times a day. Although no lesions were found to suggest toxicity or irritability, the medium- and high-dose water groups reduced their water intake. This reduction in water intake suggests that chickens may find the medium and high water doses unpalatable. There was no reduction in water intake in the low-dose water groups or in any of the formulated feed groups. There was also no evidence of toxicity or irritability in the nasal-dose group. These data support the use of the low, medium, and high doses in feed and the use of the low-dose concentration in water for the administration of QR-441(a). The data also suggest that QR-441(a) can be administered intranasally without the presence of any adverse events.

  6. Using QR Codes to Differentiate Learning for Gifted and Talented Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Siegle, Del

    2015-01-01

    QR codes are two-dimensional square patterns that are capable of coding information that ranges from web addresses to links to YouTube video. The codes save time typing and eliminate errors in entering addresses incorrectly. These codes make learning with technology easier for students and motivationally engage them in news ways.

  7. 20-GFLOPS QR processor on a Xilinx Virtex-E FPGA

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Walke, Richard L.; Smith, Robert W. M.; Lightbody, Gaye

    2000-11-01

    Adaptive beamforming can play an important role in sensor array systems in countering directional interference. In high-sample rate systems, such as radar and comms, the calculation of adaptive weights is a very computational task that requires highly parallel solutions. For systems where low power consumption and volume are important the only viable implementation is as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). However, the rapid advancement of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology is enabling highly credible re-programmable solutions. In this paper we present the implementation of a scalable linear array processor for weight calculation using QR decomposition. We employ floating-point arithmetic with mantissa size optimized to the target application to minimize component size, and implement them as relationally placed macros (RPMs) on Xilinx Virtex FPGAs to achieve predictable dense layout and high-speed operation. We present results that show that 20GFLOPS of sustained computation on a single XCV3200E-8 Virtex-E FPGA is possible. We also describe the parameterized implementation of the floating-point operators and QR-processor, and the design methodology that enables us to rapidly generate complex FPGA implementations using the industry standard hardware description language VHDL.

  8. Computing row and column counts for sparse QR and LU factorization

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gilbert, John R.; Li, Xiaoye S.; Ng, Esmond G.

    2001-01-01

    We present algorithms to determine the number of nonzeros in each row and column of the factors of a sparse matrix, for both the QR factorization and the LU factorization with partial pivoting. The algorithms use only the nonzero structure of the input matrix, and run in time nearly linear in the number of nonzeros in that matrix. They may be used to set up data structures or schedule parallel operations in advance of the numerical factorization. The row and column counts we compute are upper bounds on the actual counts. If the input matrix is strong Hall and theremore » is no coincidental numerical cancellation, the counts are exact for QR factorization and are the tightest bounds possible for LU factorization. These algorithms are based on our earlier work on computing row and column counts for sparse Cholesky factorization, plus an efficient method to compute the column elimination tree of a sparse matrix without explicitly forming the product of the matrix and its transpose.« less

  9. Evolutionary profiles derived from the QR factorization of multiple structural alignments gives an economy of information.

    PubMed

    O'Donoghue, Patrick; Luthey-Schulten, Zaida

    2005-02-25

    We present a new algorithm, based on the multidimensional QR factorization, to remove redundancy from a multiple structural alignment by choosing representative protein structures that best preserve the phylogenetic tree topology of the homologous group. The classical QR factorization with pivoting, developed as a fast numerical solution to eigenvalue and linear least-squares problems of the form Ax=b, was designed to re-order the columns of A by increasing linear dependence. Removing the most linear dependent columns from A leads to the formation of a minimal basis set which well spans the phase space of the problem at hand. By recasting the problem of redundancy in multiple structural alignments into this framework, in which the matrix A now describes the multiple alignment, we adapted the QR factorization to produce a minimal basis set of protein structures which best spans the evolutionary (phase) space. The non-redundant and representative profiles obtained from this procedure, termed evolutionary profiles, are shown in initial results to outperform well-tested profiles in homology detection searches over a large sequence database. A measure of structural similarity between homologous proteins, Q(H), is presented. By properly accounting for the effect and presence of gaps, a phylogenetic tree computed using this metric is shown to be congruent with the maximum-likelihood sequence-based phylogeny. The results indicate that evolutionary information is indeed recoverable from the comparative analysis of protein structure alone. Applications of the QR ordering and this structural similarity metric to analyze the evolution of structure among key, universally distributed proteins involved in translation, and to the selection of representatives from an ensemble of NMR structures are also discussed.

  10. An evaluation of the effect of JPEG, JPEG2000, and H.264/AVC on CQR codes decoding process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vizcarra Melgar, Max E.; Farias, Mylène C. Q.; Zaghetto, Alexandre

    2015-02-01

    This paper presents a binarymatrix code based on QR Code (Quick Response Code), denoted as CQR Code (Colored Quick Response Code), and evaluates the effect of JPEG, JPEG2000 and H.264/AVC compression on the decoding process. The proposed CQR Code has three additional colors (red, green and blue), what enables twice as much storage capacity when compared to the traditional black and white QR Code. Using the Reed-Solomon error-correcting code, the CQR Code model has a theoretical correction capability of 38.41%. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the effect that degradations inserted by common image compression algorithms have on the decoding process. Results show that a successful decoding process can be achieved for compression rates up to 0.3877 bits/pixel, 0.1093 bits/pixel and 0.3808 bits/pixel for JPEG, JPEG2000 and H.264/AVC formats, respectively. The algorithm that presents the best performance is the H.264/AVC, followed by the JPEG2000, and JPEG.

  11. Development of 70 MW class superconducting generator with quick-response excitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miyaike, Kiyoshi; Kitajima, Toshio; Ito, Tetsuo

    2002-03-01

    The development of a superconducting generator had been carried out for 12 years under the first stage of a Super GM project. The 70 MW class model machine with quick response excitation was manufactured and evaluated in the project. This type of superconducting generator improves power system stability against rapid load fluctuations at the power system faults. This model machine achieved all development targets including high stability during rapid excitation control. It was also connected to the actual 77 kV electrical power grid as a synchronous condenser and proved advantages and high-operation reliability of the superconducting generator.

  12. Communication Avoiding Rank Revealing QR Factorization with Column Pivoting

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-05-03

    person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number...ParLab affiliates National Instruments, Nokia , NVIDIA, Oracle, and Samsung, and sup- port from MathWorks. We also acknowledge the support of the US...bounds from equation (1.3). In practice the QR factorization with column pivoting often works well, and it is widely used even if it is known to fail , for

  13. Timed Bromocriptine-QR Therapy Reduces Progression of Cardiovascular Disease and Dysglycemia in Subjects with Well-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

    PubMed

    Chamarthi, Bindu; Gaziano, J Michael; Blonde, Lawrence; Vinik, Aaron; Scranton, Richard E; Ezrokhi, Michael; Rutty, Dean; Cincotta, Anthony H

    2015-01-01

    Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients, including those in good glycemic control, have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Maintaining good glycemic control may reduce long-term CVD risk. However, other risk factors such as elevated vascular sympathetic tone and/or endothelial dysfunction may be stronger potentiators of CVD. This study evaluated the impact of bromocriptine-QR, a sympatholytic dopamine D2 receptor agonist, on progression of metabolic disease and CVD in T2DM subjects in good glycemic control (HbA1c ≤ 7.0%). 1834 subjects (1219 bromocriptine-QR; 615 placebo) with baseline HbA1c ≤ 7.0% derived from the Cycloset Safety Trial (this trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00377676), a 12-month, randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in T2DM, were evaluated. Treatment impact upon a prespecified composite CVD endpoint (first myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for angina/congestive heart failure) and the odds of losing glycemic control (HbA1c >7.0% after 52 weeks of therapy) were determined. Bromocriptine-QR reduced the CVD endpoint by 48% (intention-to-treat; HR: 0.52 [0.28-0.98]) and 52% (on-treatment analysis; HR: 0.48 [0.24-0.95]). Bromocriptine-QR also reduced the odds of both losing glycemic control (OR: 0.63 (0.47-0.85), p = 0.002) and requiring treatment intensification to maintain HbA1c ≤ 7.0% (OR: 0.46 (0.31-0.69), p = 0.0002). Bromocriptine-QR therapy slowed the progression of CVD and metabolic disease in T2DM subjects in good glycemic control.

  14. Effect of bromocriptine-QR on glycemic control in subjects with uncontrolled hyperglycemia on one or two oral anti-diabetes agents.

    PubMed

    Vinik, Aaron I; Cincotta, Anthony H; Scranton, Richard E; Bohannon, Nancy; Ezrokhi, Michael; Gaziano, J Michael

    2012-01-01

    To investigate the effect of Bromocriptine-QR on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes whose glycemia is poorly controlled on one or two oral anti-diabetes agents. Five hundred fifteen Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) subjects (ages 18 to 80 and average body mass index [BMI] of 32.7) with baseline HbA1c ≥ 7.5 and on one or two oral anti-diabetes (OAD) medications (metformin, sulfonylurea, and/or thiazolidinediones) were randomized 2:1 to bromocriptine-QR (1.6 to 4.8 mg/day) or placebo for a 24 week treatment period. Study investigators were allowed to adjust, if necessary, subject anti-diabetes medications during the study to attempt to achieve glycemic control in case of glycemic deterioration. The impact of bromocriptine-QR treatment intervention on glycemic control was assessed in subjects on any one or two OADs (ALL treatment category) (N = 515), or on metformin with or without another OAD (Met/OAD treatment category) (N = 356), or on metformin plus a sulfonylurea (Met/SU treatment category) (N = 245) 1) by examining the between group difference in change from baseline a) concomitant OAD medication changes during the study, and b) HbA1c and 2) by determining the odds of reaching HbA1c of ≤ 7.0% on bromocriptine-QR versus placebo. Significantly more patients (approximately 1.5 to 2-fold more; P<.05) intensified concomitant anti-diabetes medication therapy during the study in the placebo versus the bromocriptine-QR arm. In subjects that did not change the intensity of the baseline diabetes therapy (72%), and that were on any one or two OADs (ALL), or on metformin with or without another OAD (Met/OAD), or on metformin plus sulfonylurea (Met/SU), the HbA1c change for bromocriptine-QR versus placebo was -0.47 versus +0.22 (between group delta of -0.69, P<.0001), -0.55 versus +0.26 (between group delta of -0.81, P<.0001) and -0.63 versus +0.20 (between group delta of -0.83, P<.0001) respectively, after 24 weeks on therapy. The odds ratio of reaching Hb

  15. Embed dynamic content in your poster.

    PubMed

    Hutchins, B Ian

    2013-01-29

    A new technology has emerged that will facilitate the presentation of dynamic or otherwise inaccessible data on posters at scientific meetings. Video, audio, or other digital files hosted on mobile-friendly sites can be linked to through a quick response (QR) code, a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned by smartphones, which then display the content. This approach is more affordable than acquiring tablet computers for playing dynamic content and can reach many users at large conferences. This resource details how to host videos, generate QR codes, and view the associated files on mobile devices.

  16. The Effectiveness of Using Procedural Scaffoldings in a Paper-Plus-Smartphone Collaborative Learning Context

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Huang, Hui-Wen; Wu, Chih-Wei; Chen, Nian-Shing

    2012-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using procedural scaffoldings in fostering students' group discourse levels and learning outcomes in a paper-plus-smartphone collaborative learning context. All participants used built-in camera smartphones to learn new knowledge by scanning Quick Response (QR) codes, a type of…

  17. Timed Bromocriptine-QR Therapy Reduces Progression of Cardiovascular Disease and Dysglycemia in Subjects with Well-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

    PubMed Central

    Chamarthi, Bindu; Gaziano, J. Michael; Blonde, Lawrence; Scranton, Richard E.; Ezrokhi, Michael; Rutty, Dean; Cincotta, Anthony H.

    2015-01-01

    Background. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients, including those in good glycemic control, have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Maintaining good glycemic control may reduce long-term CVD risk. However, other risk factors such as elevated vascular sympathetic tone and/or endothelial dysfunction may be stronger potentiators of CVD. This study evaluated the impact of bromocriptine-QR, a sympatholytic dopamine D2 receptor agonist, on progression of metabolic disease and CVD in T2DM subjects in good glycemic control (HbA1c ≤7.0%). Methods. 1834 subjects (1219 bromocriptine-QR; 615 placebo) with baseline HbA1c ≤7.0% derived from the Cycloset Safety Trial (this trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00377676), a 12-month, randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in T2DM, were evaluated. Treatment impact upon a prespecified composite CVD endpoint (first myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for angina/congestive heart failure) and the odds of losing glycemic control (HbA1c >7.0% after 52 weeks of therapy) were determined. Results. Bromocriptine-QR reduced the CVD endpoint by 48% (intention-to-treat; HR: 0.52 [0.28−0.98]) and 52% (on-treatment analysis; HR: 0.48 [0.24−0.95]). Bromocriptine-QR also reduced the odds of both losing glycemic control (OR: 0.63 (0.47−0.85), p = 0.002) and requiring treatment intensification to maintain HbA1c ≤7.0% (OR: 0.46 (0.31−0.69), p = 0.0002). Conclusions. Bromocriptine-QR therapy slowed the progression of CVD and metabolic disease in T2DM subjects in good glycemic control. PMID:26060823

  18. A Simple, Efficient and Effective Modeling Approach to Determine Baseflow Based on Concentration-Discharge Relationships

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, F.; Miller, M. P.; Conklin, M. H.

    2017-12-01

    Concentration-discharge relationships in streamflow are a precursor for diagnosing endmember mixing. With a strong power-law relationship between concentration and discharge, previous studies have shown that conservative solute concentrations in streamflow can be explained by mixing of two endmembers, i.e., quick runoff (QR) and baseflow (BF). This current study showed that the unique concentration-discharge power-law curve provides two characteristic values of solute concentrations at extremely high and low flows and these envelope values can be used to aid two-endmember mixing models. In an example conducted in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB), daily specific conductance (SC) and discharge were strongly correlated by a power-law function on both rising and falling limbs from 1983 to 2015 (R2 > 0.9 for all years). The high envelope SC value in each year was directly used to characterize baseflow for that year, while the low envelope SC value was adjusted to represent quick runoff, a collective term for surface runoff and responsive shallow subsurface runoff. The peak flow was considered to be dominated by QR with only a small portion of BF. The ratio of minimum to maximum flows was used to calibrate the low envelope SC value. This ratio represents the least fraction of baseflow to total flow at the peak flow, as baseflow increases with total flow based on published studies. The SC value at the peak flow was considered to be a mixture of QR and BF with the minimum/maximum flow ratio as baseflow fraction and thus SC value in QR was determined with a mass balance equation. The baseflow fractions determined in two-endmember mixing models by this characterization of QR from 1983 to 2011 match those by Miller et al. [2014] very well (R2 = 0.96, slope = 1.07, intercept = -0.13). Baseflow fractions were slightly under-estimated by this approach mainly due to the fact that responsive shallow subsurface runoff was considered to be part of quick flow in this study

  19. Aviation System Analysis Capability (ASAC) Quick Response System (QRS) Test Report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roberts, Eileen; Villani, James A.; Ritter, Paul

    1997-01-01

    This document is the Aviation System Analysis Capability (ASAC) Quick Response System (QRS) Test Report. The purpose of this document is to present the results of the QRS unit and system tests in support of the ASAC QRS development effort. This document contains an overview of the project background and scope, defines the QRS system and presents the additions made to the QRS this year, explains the assumptions, constraints, and approach used to conduct QRS Unit and System Testing, and presents the schedule used to perform QRS Testing. The document also presents an overview of the Logistics Management Institute (LMI) Test Facility and testing environment and summarizes the QRS Unit and System Test effort and results.

  20. A tight and explicit representation of Q in sparse QR factorization

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ng, E.G.; Peyton, B.W.

    1992-05-01

    In QR factorization of a sparse m{times}n matrix A (m {ge} n) the orthogonal factor Q is often stored implicitly as a lower trapezoidal matrix H known as the Householder matrix. This paper presents a simple characterization of the row structure of Q, which could be used as the basis for a sparse data structure that can store Q explicitly. The new characterization is a simple extension of a well known row-oriented characterization of the structure of H. Hare, Johnson, Olesky, and van den Driessche have recently provided a complete sparsity analysis of the QR factorization. Let U be themore » matrix consisting of the first n columns of Q. Using results from, we show that the data structures for H and U resulting from our characterizations are tight when A is a strong Hall matrix. We also show that H and the lower trapezoidal part of U have the same sparsity characterization when A is strong Hall. We then show that this characterization can be extended to any weak Hall matrix that has been permuted into block upper triangular form. Finally, we show that permuting to block triangular form never increases the fill incurred during the factorization.« less

  1. Breaking the Code: The Creative Use of QR Codes to Market Extension Events

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hill, Paul; Mills, Rebecca; Peterson, GaeLynn; Smith, Janet

    2013-01-01

    The use of smartphones has drastically increased in recent years, heralding an explosion in the use of QR codes. The black and white square barcodes that link the physical and digital world are everywhere. These simple codes can provide many opportunities to connect people in the physical world with many of Extension online resources. The…

  2. A low noise stenography method for medical images with QR encoding of patient information

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patiño-Vanegas, Alberto; Contreras-Ortiz, Sonia H.; Martinez-Santos, Juan C.

    2017-03-01

    This paper proposes an approach to facilitate the process of individualization of patients from their medical images, without compromising the inherent confidentiality of medical data. The identification of a patient from a medical image is not often the goal of security methods applied to image records. Usually, any identification data is removed from shared records, and security features are applied to determine ownership. We propose a method for embedding a QR-code containing information that can be used to individualize a patient. This is done so that the image to be shared does not differ significantly from the original image. The QR-code is distributed in the image by changing several pixels according to a threshold value based on the average value of adjacent pixels surrounding the point of interest. The results show that the code can be embedded and later fully recovered with minimal changes in the UIQI index - less than 0.1% of different.

  3. Performance of low-rank QR approximation of the finite element Biot-Savart law

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, D; Fasenfest, B

    2006-10-16

    In this paper we present a low-rank QR method for evaluating the discrete Biot-Savart law. Our goal is to develop an algorithm that is easily implemented on parallel computers. It is assumed that the known current density and the unknown magnetic field are both expressed in a finite element expansion, and we wish to compute the degrees-of-freedom (DOF) in the basis function expansion of the magnetic field. The matrix that maps the current DOF to the field DOF is full, but if the spatial domain is properly partitioned the matrix can be written as a block matrix, with blocks representingmore » distant interactions being low rank and having a compressed QR representation. While an octree partitioning of the matrix may be ideal, for ease of parallel implementation we employ a partitioning based on number of processors. The rank of each block (i.e. the compression) is determined by the specific geometry and is computed dynamically. In this paper we provide the algorithmic details and present computational results for large-scale computations.« less

  4. Brief Pictorial Description of New Mobile Technologies Used in Cultural Institutions in Japan

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Awano, Yumi

    2007-01-01

    Many Japanese museums and other cultural institutions have been exploring ways to enrich visitors' experiences using new digital devices. This paper briefly describes some examples in Japan, ranging from a PDA, a mobile phone, podcasting, and an audio guide speaker-equipped vest to a Quick Response (QR) code on a brochure for downloading a short…

  5. Synthesis of Dibenzo[h,rst]pentaphenes and Dibenzo[fg,qr]pentacenes by the Chemoselective C-O Arylation of Dimethoxyanthraquinones.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Yusuke; Yamada, Kohei; Watanabe, Kentaro; Kochi, Takuya; Ie, Yutaka; Aso, Yoshio; Kakiuchi, Fumitoshi

    2017-07-21

    A convenient method for the syntheses of dibenzo[h,rst]pentaphenes and dibenzo[fg,qr]pentacenes via the ruthenium-catalyzed chemoselective C-O arylation of 1,4- and 1,5-dimethoxyanthraquinones is described. Dimethoxyanthraquinones reacted selectively with arylboronates at the ortho C-O bonds to give diarylation products. An efficient two-step procedure consisting of a Corey-Chaykofsky reaction and subsequent dehydrative aromatization afforded derivatives of dibenzo[h,rst]pentaphenes and dibenzo[fg,qr]pentacenes. Hole-transporting characteristics were observed for a device with a bottom-contact configuration that was fabricated from one of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

  6. Optical noise-free image encryption based on quick response code and high dimension chaotic system in gyrator transform domain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sui, Liansheng; Xu, Minjie; Tian, Ailing

    2017-04-01

    A novel optical image encryption scheme is proposed based on quick response code and high dimension chaotic system, where only the intensity distribution of encoded information is recorded as ciphertext. Initially, the quick response code is engendered from the plain image and placed in the input plane of the double random phase encoding architecture. Then, the code is encrypted to the ciphertext with noise-like distribution by using two cascaded gyrator transforms. In the process of encryption, the parameters such as rotation angles and random phase masks are generated as interim variables and functions based on Chen system. A new phase retrieval algorithm is designed to reconstruct the initial quick response code in the process of decryption, in which a priori information such as three position detection patterns is used as the support constraint. The original image can be obtained without any energy loss by scanning the decrypted code with mobile devices. The ciphertext image is the real-valued function which is more convenient for storing and transmitting. Meanwhile, the security of the proposed scheme is enhanced greatly due to high sensitivity of initial values of Chen system. Extensive cryptanalysis and simulation have performed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

  7. Algorithm 782 : codes for rank-revealing QR factorizations of dense matrices.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bischof, C. H.; Quintana-Orti, G.; Mathematics and Computer Science

    1998-06-01

    This article describes a suite of codes as well as associated testing and timing drivers for computing rank-revealing QR (RRQR) factorizations of dense matrices. The main contribution is an efficient block algorithm for approximating an RRQR factorization, employing a windowed version of the commonly used Golub pivoting strategy and improved versions of the RRQR algorithms for triangular matrices originally suggested by Chandrasekaran and Ipsen and by Pan and Tang, respectively, We highlight usage and features of these codes.

  8. Quick-release medical tape

    PubMed Central

    Laulicht, Bryan; Langer, Robert; Karp, Jeffrey M.

    2012-01-01

    Medical tape that provides secure fixation of life-sustaining and -monitoring devices with quick, easy, damage-free removal represents a longstanding unmet medical need in neonatal care. During removal of current medical tapes, crack propagation occurs at the adhesive–skin interface, which is also the interface responsible for device fixation. By designing quick-release medical tape to undergo crack propagation between the backing and adhesive layers, we decouple removal and device fixation, enabling dual functionality. We created an ordered adhesive/antiadhesive composite intermediary layer between the medical tape backing and adhesive for which we achieve tunable peel removal force, while maintaining high shear adhesion to secure medical devices. We elucidate the relationship between the spatial ordering of adhesive and antiadhesive regions to create a fully tunable system that achieves strong device fixation and quick, easy, damage-free device removal. We also described ways of neutralizing the residual adhesive on the skin and have observed that thick continuous films of adhesive are easier to remove than the thin islands associated with residual adhesive left by current medical tapes. PMID:23112196

  9. gC1qR expression in chimpanzees with resolved and chronic infection: Potential role of HCV core/gC1qR-mediated T cell suppression in the outcome of HCV infection

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yao Zhiqang; Shata, Mohamed Tarek; Tricoche, Nancy

    2006-03-15

    Chimpanzee is a unique animal model for HCV infection, in which about 50% of infections resolve spontaneously. It has been reported that the magnitude of T cell responses to HCV core in recovered chimpanzees is greater than that in chronically infected ones. However, the mechanism(s) by which the chimpanzees with resolved infection overcome core-mediated immunosuppression remains unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of HCV core on T cell responsiveness in chimpanzees with resolved and chronic HCV infection. We found that core protein strongly inhibited T cell activation and proliferation in chimpanzees with chronic infection, while this inhibition wasmore » limited in chimpanzees with resolved infection. Notably, the level of gC1qR, as well as the binding of core protein, on the surface of T cells was lower in recovered chimpanzees when compared to chimpanzees with chronic HCV infection. Intriguingly, the observed differences in gC1qR expression levels and susceptibility to core-induced suppression amongst HCV-chronically infected and recovered chimpanzees were observed prior to HCV challenge, suggesting a possible genetic determination of the outcome of infection. These findings suggest that gC1qR expression on the surface of T cells is crucial for HCV core-mediated T cell suppression and viral clearance, and that represents a novel mechanism by which a virus usurps host machinery for persistence.« less

  10. A parallel computer implementation of fast low-rank QR approximation of the Biot-Savart law

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, D A; Fasenfest, B J; Stowell, M L

    2005-11-07

    In this paper we present a low-rank QR method for evaluating the discrete Biot-Savart law on parallel computers. It is assumed that the known current density and the unknown magnetic field are both expressed in a finite element expansion, and we wish to compute the degrees-of-freedom (DOF) in the basis function expansion of the magnetic field. The matrix that maps the current DOF to the field DOF is full, but if the spatial domain is properly partitioned the matrix can be written as a block matrix, with blocks representing distant interactions being low rank and having a compressed QR representation.more » The matrix partitioning is determined by the number of processors, the rank of each block (i.e. the compression) is determined by the specific geometry and is computed dynamically. In this paper we provide the algorithmic details and present computational results for large-scale computations.« less

  11. Where is the exact origin of narrow premature ventricular contractions manifesting qR in inferior wall leads?

    PubMed

    Zheng, Cheng; Li, Jin; Lin, Jia-Xuan; Wang, Lu-Ping; Lin, Jia-Feng

    2016-04-04

    In recent years, radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA) has been established as an effective therapy for idiopathic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), however, its effect on the narrow PVCs (QRS duration < 130 msec) with qR pattern in inferior leads, may not been fully concluded. Characteristics of 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrophysiologic recordings were analyzed in 40 patients with symptomatic PVCs manifesting narrow QRS complex with qR pattern in inferior leads. The procedure of RFCA was performed based on pace mapping and activation mapping. Among the 40 patients with narrow PVCs, complete elimination of PVCs was achieved by RFCA in 35 patients during a median follow-up period of 23 months. Successful ablation was achieved on 19 patients at the sites where earliest Purkinje potentials were recorded in left ventricular anterosuperior septum, thus PVCs arising from left anterior fascicle (LAF) were confirmed, for these PVCs, the QRS morphology were right bundle branch and left posterior fascicle block (RBBB + LPFB) with rightward axis, the average QRS duration 116.07 ± 7.96 ms, R or rsR'in lead V1,with transition zone ahead of lead V1 in precordial leads. Another 16 successful RFCA were achieved by energy delivery at interleaflet triangle(ILT) between right coronary cusp(RCC) and left coronary cusp(LCC) where no Purkinje potentials were recorded, for narrow PVCs arising from the L-RCC ILT, the QRS morphology were similar to the PVCs arising from LAF but much narrower in QRS duration (100.44 ± 3.49 vs. 116.07 ± 7.96 ms, p < 0.05), they were also R or Rs in lead V1 with the transition zone ahead of lead V1. For 5 symptomatic narrow PVCs failed to the procedure of RFCA, their electrocardiographic characteristics showed that the narrowest QRS duration (91.80 ± 6.94 vs. 100.44 ± 3.49, 116.07 ± 7.96 ms, p < 0.05), rs or rS (r/s or r/S≦1) morphology in lead V1 with the precordial transition zone behind lead V3. Most of idiopathic PVCs of

  12. A virtual tour of geological heritage: Valourising geodiversity using Google Earth and QR code

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martínez-Graña, A. M.; Goy, J. L.; Cimarra, C. A.

    2013-12-01

    When making land-use plans, it is necessary to inventory and catalogue the geological heritage and geodiversity of a site to establish an apolitical conservation protection plan to meet the educational and social needs of society. New technologies make it possible to create virtual databases using virtual globes - e.g., Google Earth - and other personal-use geomatics applications (smartphones, tablets, PDAs) for accessing geological heritage information in “real time” for scientific, educational, and cultural purposes via a virtual geological itinerary. Seventeen mapped and georeferenced geosites have been created in Keyhole Markup Language for use in map layers used in geological itinerary stops for different applications. A virtual tour has been developed for Las Quilamas Natural Park, which is located in the Spanish Central System, using geological layers and topographic and digital terrain models that can be overlaid in a 3D model. The Google Earth application was used to import the geosite placemarks. For each geosite, a tab has been developed that shows a description of the geology with photographs and diagrams and that evaluates the scientific, educational, and tourism quality. Augmented reality allows the user to access these georeferenced thematic layers and overlay data, images, and graphics in real time on their mobile devices. These virtual tours can be incorporated into subject guides designed by public. Seven educational and interpretive panels describing some of the geosites were designed and tagged with a QR code that could be printed at each stop or in the printed itinerary. These QR codes can be scanned with the camera found on most mobile devices, and video virtual tours can be viewed on these devices. The virtual tour of the geological heritage can be used to show tourists the geological history of the Las Quilamas Natural Park using new geomatics technologies (virtual globes, augmented reality, and QR codes).

  13. Photoactive Self-Shaping Hydrogels as Noncontact 3D Macro/Microscopic Photoprinting Platforms.

    PubMed

    Liao, Yue; An, Ning; Wang, Ning; Zhang, Yinyu; Song, Junfei; Zhou, Jinxiong; Liu, Wenguang

    2015-12-01

    A photocleavable terpolymer hydrogel cross-linked with o-nitrobenzyl derivative cross-linker is shown to be capable of self-shaping without losing its physical integrity and robustness due to spontaneous asymmetric swelling of network caused by UV-light-induced gradient cleavage of chemical cross-linkages. The continuum model and finite element method are used to elucidate the curling mechanism underlying. Remarkably, based on the self-changing principle, the photosensitive hydrogels can be developed as photoprinting soft and wet platforms onto which specific 3D characters and images are faithfully duplicated in macro/microscale without contact by UV light irradiation under the cover of customized photomasks. Importantly, a quick response (QR) code is accurately printed on the photoactive hydrogel for the first time. Scanning QR code with a smartphone can quickly connect to a web page. This photoactive hydrogel is promising to be a new printing or recording material. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  14. Combined fast multipole-QR compression technique for solving electrically small to large structures for broadband applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jandhyala, Vikram (Inventor); Chowdhury, Indranil (Inventor)

    2011-01-01

    An approach that efficiently solves for a desired parameter of a system or device that can include both electrically large fast multipole method (FMM) elements, and electrically small QR elements. The system or device is setup as an oct-tree structure that can include regions of both the FMM type and the QR type. An iterative solver is then used to determine a first matrix vector product for any electrically large elements, and a second matrix vector product for any electrically small elements that are included in the structure. These matrix vector products for the electrically large elements and the electrically small elements are combined, and a net delta for a combination of the matrix vector products is determined. The iteration continues until a net delta is obtained that is within predefined limits. The matrix vector products that were last obtained are used to solve for the desired parameter.

  15. QR-STEM: Energy and Environment as a Context for Improving QR and STEM Understandings of 6-12 Grade Teachers II. The Quantitative Reasoning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mayes, R.; Lyford, M. E.; Myers, J. D.

    2009-12-01

    The Quantitative Reasoning in STEM (QR STEM) project is a state level Mathematics and Science Partnership Project (MSP) with a focus on the mathematics and statistics that underlies the understanding of complex global scientific issues. This session is a companion session to the QR STEM: The Science presentation. The focus of this session is the quantitative reasoning aspects of the project. As students move from understandings that range from local to global in perspective on issues of energy and environment, there is a significant increase in the need for mathematical and statistical conceptual understanding. These understandings must be accessible to the students within the scientific context, requiring the special understandings that are endemic within quantitative reasoning. The QR STEM project brings together interdisciplinary teams of higher education faculty and middle/high school teachers to explore complex problems in energy and environment. The disciplines include life sciences, physics, chemistry, earth science, statistics, and mathematics. These interdisciplinary teams develop open ended performance tasks to implement in the classroom, based on scientific concepts that underpin energy and environment. Quantitative reasoning is broken down into three components: Quantitative Literacy, Quantitative Interpretation, and Quantitative Modeling. Quantitative Literacy is composed of arithmetic concepts such as proportional reasoning, numeracy, and descriptive statistics. Quantitative Interpretation includes algebraic and geometric concepts that underlie the ability to interpret a model of natural phenomena which is provided for the student. This model may be a table, graph, or equation from which the student is to make predictions or identify trends, or from which they would use statistics to explore correlations or patterns in data. Quantitative modeling is the ability to develop the model from data, including the ability to test hypothesis using statistical

  16. The exonuclease activity of hPMC2 is required for transcriptional regulation of the QR gene and repair of estrogen-induced abasic sites.

    PubMed

    Krishnamurthy, N; Ngam, C R; Berdis, A J; Montano, M M

    2011-11-24

    We have previously reported that the expression of antioxidative stress enzymes is upregulated by trans-hydroxytamoxifen (TOT) in breast epithelial cell lines providing protection against estrogen-induced DNA damage. This regulation involves Estrogen Receptor β (ERβ) recruitment to the Electrophile Response Element (EpRE) and a novel protein, human homolog of Xenopus gene which Prevents Mitotic Catastrophe (hPMC2). We have also demonstrated that ERβ and hPMC2 are required for TOT-dependent recruitment of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and Topoisomerase IIβ (Topo IIβ) to the EpRE. Sequence analysis reveals that the C-terminus of hPMC2 encodes a putative exonuclease domain. Using in vitro kinetic assays, we found that hPMC2 is a 3'-5' non-processive exonuclease that degrades both single-stranded and double-stranded substrates. Mutation of two conserved carboxylate residues drastically reduced the exonuclease activity of hPMC2, indicating the relative importance of the catalytic residues. Western blot analysis of breast cancer cell lines for Quinone Reductase (QR) levels revealed that the intrinsic exonuclease activity of hPMC2 was required for TOT-induced QR upregulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays also indicated that hPMC2 was involved in the formation of strand breaks observed with TOT treatment and is specific for the EpRE-containing region of the QR gene. We also determined that the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is involved in the specificity of hPMC2 for the EpRE. In addition, we determined that the catalytic activity of hPMC2 is required for repair of abasic sites that result from estrogen-induced DNA damage. Thus, our study provides a mechanistic basis for transcriptional regulation by hPMC2 and provides novel insights into its role in cancer prevention.

  17. The exonuclease activity of hPMC2 is required for transcriptional regulation of the QR gene and repair of estrogen-induced abasic sites

    PubMed Central

    Krishnamurthy, Nirmala; Ngam, Caitlyn R.; Berdis, Anthony J.; Montano, Monica M.

    2011-01-01

    We have previously reported that the expression of antioxidative stress enzymes are upregulated by trans-hydroxytamoxifen (TOT) in breast epithelial cell lines providing protection against estrogen-induced DNA damage. This regulation involves Estrogen Receptor beta (ERβ) recruitment to the Electrophile Response Element (EpRE) and a novel protein, human homolog of Xenopus gene which Prevents Mitotic Catastrophe (hPMC2). We have also demonstrated that ERβ and hPMC2 are required for TOT-dependent recruitment of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and Topoisomerase IIβ (Topo IIβ) to the EpRE. Sequence analysis reveals that the C-terminus of hPMC2 encodes a putative exonuclease domain. Using in vitro kinetic assays, we found that hPMC2 is a 3'–5' non-processive exonuclease that degrades both single stranded and double stranded substrates. Mutation of two conserved carboxylate residues drastically reduced the exonuclease activity of hPMC2 indicating the relative importance of the catalytic residues. Western blot analysis of breast cancer cell lines for Quinone Reductase (QR) levels revealed that the intrinsic exonuclease activity of hPMC2 was required for TOT-induced QR upregulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIP) also indicated that hPMC2 was involved in the formation of strand breaks observed with TOT-treatment and is specific for the EpRE-containing region of the QR gene. We also determined that the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is involved in the specificity of hPMC2 for the EpRE. In addition, we determined that the catalytic activity of hPMC2 is required for repair of abasic sites that result from estrogen-induced DNA damage. Thus our study provides a mechanistic basis for transcriptional regulation by hPMC2 and provides novel insights into its role in cancer prevention. PMID:21602889

  18. Short rest between shift intervals increases the risk of sick leave: a prospective registry study.

    PubMed

    Vedaa, Øystein; Pallesen, Ståle; Waage, Siri; Bjorvatn, Bjørn; Sivertsen, Børge; Erevik, Eilin; Svensen, Erling; Harris, Anette

    2017-07-01

    The purpose of this study was to use objective registry data to prospectively investigate the effects of quick returns (QR, <11 hours of rest between shifts) and night shifts on sick leave. A total of 1538 nurses (response rate =41.5%) answered questionnaires on demographics and personality and provided consent to link this information to registry data on shift work and sick leave from employers' records. A multilevel negative binomial model was used to investigate the predictive effect of exposure to night shifts and QR every month for 1 year, on sick leave the following month. Exposure to QR the previous month increased the risk for sick leave days (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.066, 95% CI 1.022 to 1.108, p<0.01) and sick leave spells (IRR=1.059, 95% CI 1.025 to 1.097, p<0.001) the following month, whereas night shifts did not. 83% per cent of the nurses experienced QR within a year, and on average they were exposed to 3.0 QR per month (SD=1.6). Personality characteristics associated with shift work tolerance (low on morningness, low on languidity and high on flexibility) were not associated with sick leave, and did not moderate the relationship between QR and sick leave. We found a positive linear relationship between QR and sick leave. Avoiding QR may help reduce workers' sick leave. The restricted recovery opportunity associated with QR may give little room for beneficial effects of individual characteristics usually associated with shift work tolerance. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  19. Two case studies: QuietRock QR-530 drywall panels in new and remediated multifamily construction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tinianov, Brian D.

    2005-09-01

    Reliable acoustical isolation continues to be a high risk element of contemporary multifamily construction. Traditional construction techniques, offering potentially high acoustical performance, exist but may be compromised during typical construction or occupation. This paper presents two case studies using a new class of construction material-drywall panels employing constrained layer damping. QuietRock QR-530 damped gypsum board panels are used in a new construction project and as part of a remediation treatment. In a first study, QR-530 panels were used as a drywall alternative in a 2×6, semistaggered, framed wall separating luxury condominiums. Field evaluation per ASTM E36 revealed a normalized noise isolation class of 56. In a second case study, a single layer of QuietRock was applied directly to an existing single stud assembly in a resort hotel. Before and after testing yielded a change of 14 points, raising the noise isolation class from 36 to 50. This paper reviews the details of the test cases and the underlying physical principals of the subject materials.

  20. Farm Mapping to Assist, Protect, and Prepare Emergency Responders: Farm MAPPER.

    PubMed

    Reyes, Iris; Rollins, Tami; Mahnke, Andrea; Kadolph, Christopher; Minor, Gerald; Keifer, Matthew

    2014-01-01

    Responders such as firefighters and emergency medical technicians who respond to farm emergencies often face complex and unknown environments. They may encounter hazards such as fuels, solvents, pesticides, caustics, and exploding gas storage cylinders. Responders may be unaware of dirt roads within the farm that can expedite their arrival at critical sites or snow-covered manure pits that act as hidden hazards. A response to a farm, unless guided by someone familiar with the operation, may present a risk to responders and post a challenge in locating the victim. This project explored the use of a Web-based farm-mapping application optimized for tablets and accessible via easily accessible on-site matrix barcodes, or quick response codes (QR codes), to provide emergency responders with hazard and resource information to agricultural operations. Secured portals were developed for both farmers and responders, allowing both parties to populate and customize farm maps with icons. Data were stored online and linked to QR codes attached to mailbox posts where emergency responders may read them with a mobile device. Mock responses were conducted on dairy farms to test QR code linking efficacy, Web site security, and field usability. Findings from farmer usability tests showed willingness to enter data as well as ease of Web site navigation and data entry even with farmers who had limited computer knowledge. Usability tests with emergency responders showed ease of QR code connectivity to the farm maps and ease of Web site navigation. Further research is needed to improve data security as well as assess the program's applicability to nonfarm environments and integration with existing emergency response systems. The next phases of this project will expand the program for regional and national use, develop QR code-linked, Web-based extrication guidance for farm machinery for victim entrapment rescue, and create QR code-linked online training videos and materials for limited

  1. A quick response four decade logarithmic high-voltage stepping supply

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Doong, H.

    1978-01-01

    An improved high-voltage stepping supply, for space instrumentation is described where low power consumption and fast settling time between steps are required. The high-voltage stepping supply, utilizing an average power of 750 milliwatts, delivers a pair of mirror images with 64 level logarithmic outputs. It covers a four decade range of + or - 2500 to + or - 0.29 volts having an output stability of + or - 0.5 percent or + or - 20 millivolts for all line load and temperature variations. The supply provides a typical step setting time of 1 millisecond with 100 microseconds for the lower two decades. The versatile design features of the high-voltage stepping supply provides a quick response staircase generator as described or a fixed voltage with the option to change levels as required over large dynamic ranges without circuit modifications. The concept can be implemented up to + or - 5000 volts. With these design features, the high-voltage stepping supply should find numerous applications where charged particle detection, electro-optical systems, and high voltage scientific instruments are used.

  2. Evaluation of an electrocardiogram on QR code.

    PubMed

    Nakayama, Masaharu; Shimokawa, Hiroaki

    2013-01-01

    An electrocardiogram (ECG) is an indispensable tool to diagnose cardiac diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, myocarditis, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy. Since ECG patterns vary depend on patient status, it is also used to monitor patients during treatment and comparison with ECGs with previous results is important for accurate diagnosis. However, the comparison requires connection to ECG data server in a hospital and the availability of data connection among hospitals is limited. To improve the portability and availability of ECG data regardless of server connection, we here introduce conversion of ECG data into 2D barcodes as text data and decode of the QR code for drawing ECG with Google Chart API. Fourteen cardiologists and six general physicians evaluated the system using iPhone and iPad. Overall, they were satisfied with the system in usability and accuracy of decoded ECG compared to the original ECG. This new coding system may be useful in utilizing ECG data irrespective of server connections.

  3. Quality Traceability System of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Two Dimensional Barcode Using Mobile Intelligent Technology.

    PubMed

    Cai, Yong; Li, Xiwen; Wang, Runmiao; Yang, Qing; Li, Peng; Hu, Hao

    2016-01-01

    Currently, the chemical fingerprint comparison and analysis is mainly based on professional equipment and software, it's expensive and inconvenient. This study aims to integrate QR (Quick Response) code with quality data and mobile intelligent technology to develop a convenient query terminal for tracing quality in the whole industrial chain of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine). Three herbal medicines were randomly selected and their chemical two-dimensional barcode (2D) barcodes fingerprints were constructed. Smartphone application (APP) based on Android system was developed to read initial data of 2D chemical barcodes, and compared multiple fingerprints from different batches of same species or different species. It was demonstrated that there were no significant differences between original and scanned TCM chemical fingerprints. Meanwhile, different TCM chemical fingerprint QR codes could be rendered in the same coordinate and showed the differences very intuitively. To be able to distinguish the variations of chemical fingerprint more directly, linear interpolation angle cosine similarity algorithm (LIACSA) was proposed to get similarity ratio. This study showed that QR codes can be used as an effective information carrier to transfer quality data. Smartphone application can rapidly read quality information in QR codes and convert data into TCM chemical fingerprints.

  4. SOCS1 and SOCS3 Are Targeted by Hepatitis C Virus Core/gC1qR Ligation To Inhibit T-Cell Function

    PubMed Central

    Yao, Zhi Qiang; Waggoner, Stephen N.; Cruise, Michael W.; Hall, Caroline; Xie, Xuefang; Oldach, David W.; Hahn, Young S.

    2005-01-01

    T cells play an important role in the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We have previously demonstrated that the HCV core inhibits T-cell responses through interaction with gC1qR. We show here that core proteins from chronic and resolved HCV patients differ in sequence, gC1qR-binding ability, and T-cell inhibition. Specifically, chronic core isolates bind to gC1qR more efficiently and inhibit T-cell proliferation as well as gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production more profoundly than resolved core isolates. This inhibition is mediated by the disruption of STAT phosphorylation through the induction of SOCS molecules. Silencing either SOCS1 or SOCS3 by small interfering RNA dramatically augments the production of IFN-γ in T cells, thereby abrogating the inhibitory effect of core. Additionally, the ability of core proteins from patients with chronic infections to induce SOCS proteins and suppress STAT activation greatly exceeds that of core proteins from patients with resolved infections. These results suggest that the HCV core/gC1qR-induced T-cell dysfunction involves the induction of SOCS, a powerful inhibitor of cytokine signaling, which represents a novel mechanism by which a virus usurps the host machinery for persistence. PMID:16306613

  5. What controls the very quick runoff response in the Meuse basin?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouaziz, Laurène; Hrachowitz, Markus; Schellekens, Jaap; Weerts, Albrecht; Savenije, Hubert

    2017-04-01

    Currently, the hydrological model used in the operational forecasting system of the river Meuse is lumped and does not account for the heterogeneity of the landscape, topography and vegetation. Previous studies have shown the importance of model structure distribution in different hydrological response units (HRUs) to improve model simulations. These HRUs take into account the different dominant runoff generation processes that occur in different parts of the landscape. The conceptualization of a runoff response with a very rapid time scale is essential to model the rapid runoff generated by very high intensity rainfall events. The parameterization of this rapid runoff response in the different sub-catchments of the Meuse is very sensitive due to the non-linearity of this threshold process and to the spatio-temporal variability of high-intensity rain events. In this study, we formulate several hypotheses on what controls the very quick runoff response in the Meuse basin and we try to use additional sources of data to test the a-priori assumptions that we made in the conceptualization of the HRUs in our hydrological model and to facilitate model parameterization. We hypothesize that by using appropriate runoff signatures, we may be able to assess the importance of the threshold response in the different catchments. The selection of specific storm events is useful to split the runoff in different time scales to improve the a-priori estimation of the very rapid runoff parameterization. Linking these differences to topographic and physiographic properties of the catchment like soil texture and land use may help us to explain the difference in observed spatial patterns. Especially the assessment of the fraction of roads and paved areas that cross the different hydrological response units may help to explain the observed spatial patterns. Additionally, we believe that deriving permanent and temporary wet areas using the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI

  6. matK-QR classifier: a patterns based approach for plant species identification.

    PubMed

    More, Ravi Prabhakar; Mane, Rupali Chandrashekhar; Purohit, Hemant J

    2016-01-01

    DNA barcoding is widely used and most efficient approach that facilitates rapid and accurate identification of plant species based on the short standardized segment of the genome. The nucleotide sequences of maturaseK ( matK ) and ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase ( rbcL ) marker loci are commonly used in plant species identification. Here, we present a new and highly efficient approach for identifying a unique set of discriminating nucleotide patterns to generate a signature (i.e. regular expression) for plant species identification. In order to generate molecular signatures, we used matK and rbcL loci datasets, which encompass 125 plant species in 52 genera reported by the CBOL plant working group. Initially, we performed Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) of all species followed by Position Specific Scoring Matrix (PSSM) for both loci to achieve a percentage of discrimination among species. Further, we detected Discriminating Patterns (DP) at genus and species level using PSSM for the matK dataset. Combining DP and consecutive pattern distances, we generated molecular signatures for each species. Finally, we performed a comparative assessment of these signatures with the existing methods including BLASTn, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Jrip-RIPPER, J48 (C4.5 algorithm), and the Naïve Bayes (NB) methods against NCBI-GenBank matK dataset. Due to the higher discrimination success obtained with the matK as compared to the rbcL , we selected matK gene for signature generation. We generated signatures for 60 species based on identified discriminating patterns at genus and species level. Our comparative assessment results suggest that a total of 46 out of 60 species could be correctly identified using generated signatures, followed by BLASTn (34 species), SVM (18 species), C4.5 (7 species), NB (4 species) and RIPPER (3 species) methods As a final outcome of this study, we converted signatures into QR codes and developed a software matK -QR Classifier (http

  7. International Quick Response Forces

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-06-06

    RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL 22b. TELEPHONE (include Area Code) 22c O;FICE SYMBOL PROFE SOR JOHN B. HATTENDORF (401)8641 i13i 35 DD Form 1473. JUN 86...sooner - therein lies the utility of rapid response forces. 42 John F. Burns, "UN Peacekeeping Moves into Yugoslavia," The New York Times, March 15...more challenging and more resource intensive it becomes.44 - GEN John Shalikashvili Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff former Supreme Allied Commander

  8. Quick connect fastener

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Weddendorf, Bruce (Inventor)

    1994-01-01

    A quick connect fastener and method of use is presented wherein the quick connect fastener is suitable for replacing available bolts and screws, the quick connect fastener being capable of installation by simply pushing a threaded portion of the connector into a member receptacle hole, the inventive apparatus being comprised of an externally threaded fastener having a threaded portion slidably mounted upon a stud or bolt shaft, wherein the externally threaded fastener portion is expandable by a preloaded spring member. The fastener, upon contact with the member receptacle hole, has the capacity of presenting cylindrical threads of a reduced diameter for insertion purposes and once inserted into the receiving threads of the receptacle member hole, are expandable for engagement of the receptacle hole threads forming a quick connect of the fastener and the member to be fastened, the quick connect fastener can be further secured by rotation after insertion, even to the point of locking engagement, the quick connect fastener being disengagable only by reverse rotation of the mated thread engagement.

  9. Density conversion factor determined using a cone-beam computed tomography unit NewTom QR-DVT 9000.

    PubMed

    Lagravère, M O; Fang, Y; Carey, J; Toogood, R W; Packota, G V; Major, P W

    2006-11-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine a conversion coefficient for Hounsfield Units (HU) to material density (g cm(-3)) obtained from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT-NewTom QR-DVT 9000) data. Six cylindrical models of materials with different densities were made and scanned using the NewTom QR-DVT 9000 Volume Scanner. The raw data were converted into DICOM format and analysed using Merge eFilm and AMIRA to determine the HU of different areas of the models. There was no significant difference (P = 0.846) between the HU given by each piece of software. A linear regression was performed using the density, rho (g cm(-3)), as the dependent variable in terms of the HU (H). The regression equation obtained was rho = 0.002H-0.381 with an R2 value of 0.986. The standard error of the estimation is 27.104 HU in the case of the Hounsfield Units and 0.064 g cm(-3) in the case of density. CBCT provides an effective option for determination of material density expressed as Hounsfield Units.

  10. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine QR in type 2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Ramteke, Karuna Balwant; Ramanand, Sunita Jaiprakash; Ramanand, Jaiprakash B; Jain, Suyog Subhas; Raparti, Girish Tulsidas; Patwardhan, Milind Hari; Murthy, Mangala; Ghanghas, Ravi G

    2011-07-01

    Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder of endocrinal origin with multiorgan involement. Today's physician has a lot many options to choose for treating type 2 diabetes, but does not always manages to achieve optimal glycemic control. The newer drug bromocriptine acts by novel hypothalamic circadian rhythm resetting mechanism. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine QR in type 2 diabetes. 105 patients according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized into three groups by simple randomization. Group 1 received bromocriprine 2.4 mg once daily, group 2 received metformin 500 mg twice daily while group 3 received bromocriprine 1.6 mg daily and metformin 500 mg twice daily. Baseline measurement of fasting and postprandial blood sugar, HbA1(C) and BMI were followed up at 6(th) and 12(th) weeks. Safety evaluation was done by questioning the patient and also through routine hematological and biochemical parameters. Z test was used for analysis. Group 1 showed significant reduction in fasting and postprandial sugar and HbA(1c) at 12 weeks. While groups 2 and 3 showed even higher reduction in these parameters albeit with slightly more adverse drug events like nausea, vomiting compared to group 1. Bromocriptine QR is an effective and safe antidiabetic drug which can be employed as monotherapy or in conjuction with metformin to achieve and maintain optimal glycemic control.

  11. Reconstruction of Complex Network based on the Noise via QR Decomposition and Compressed Sensing.

    PubMed

    Li, Lixiang; Xu, Dafei; Peng, Haipeng; Kurths, Jürgen; Yang, Yixian

    2017-11-08

    It is generally known that the states of network nodes are stable and have strong correlations in a linear network system. We find that without the control input, the method of compressed sensing can not succeed in reconstructing complex networks in which the states of nodes are generated through the linear network system. However, noise can drive the dynamics between nodes to break the stability of the system state. Therefore, a new method integrating QR decomposition and compressed sensing is proposed to solve the reconstruction problem of complex networks under the assistance of the input noise. The state matrix of the system is decomposed by QR decomposition. We construct the measurement matrix with the aid of Gaussian noise so that the sparse input matrix can be reconstructed by compressed sensing. We also discover that noise can build a bridge between the dynamics and the topological structure. Experiments are presented to show that the proposed method is more accurate and more efficient to reconstruct four model networks and six real networks by the comparisons between the proposed method and only compressed sensing. In addition, the proposed method can reconstruct not only the sparse complex networks, but also the dense complex networks.

  12. Phytochemical analysis of the triterpenoids with cytotoxicity and QR inducing properties from the total tea seed saponin of Camellia sinensis.

    PubMed

    Li, Ning; Ma, Zhong-Jun; Chu, Yang; Wang, Ying; Li, Xian

    2013-01-01

    The tea seed triterpene saponin (TS) from Camellia sinensis was found to exhibit better antitumor activity in vivo in S180 implanted ICR mice and QR inducing activity for hepa lclc7 cells respectively compared with the total tea seed saponin (TTS), hydrolysate of the TTS and tea seed flavonoid glycosides (TF). By bioassay-guided isolation, the TS fraction was separated and seven major components were purified and identified as theasaponin E1 (1), theasaponin E2 (2), theasaponin C1 (3), assamsaponin C (4), theasaponin H1 (5), theasaponin A9 (6), and theasaponin A8 (7), among which compounds 4 and 5 were isolated from this genus for the first time. The antitumor bioassay of the isolated compounds showed that compounds 1, 2 and 3 exhibited potential activities against the human tumor cell lines K562 and HL60. Furthermore, compound 1 (the major constituent with a mass content of over 1%) showed significant QR inducing activity with an IR value of 4.2 at 4μg/ml. So it can be concluded that tea seed especially the compound 1 (theasaponin E1) could be used as an antitumor agent and a chemoprevention agent of cancer. The preliminary structure-activity relationship in the anti-tumor activity and QR inducing activity of tea saponins was discussed briefly. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Using nitrate to quantify quick flow in a karst aquifer

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Mahler, B.J.; Garner, B.D.

    2009-01-01

    In karst aquifers, contaminated recharge can degrade spring water quality, but quantifying the rapid recharge (quick flow) component of spring flow is challenging because of its temporal variability. Here, we investigate the use of nitrate in a two-endmember mixing model to quantify quick flow in Barton Springs, Austin, Texas. Historical nitrate data from recharging creeks and Barton Springs were evaluated to determine a representative nitrate concentration for the aquifer water endmember (1.5 mg/L) and the quick flow endmember (0.17 mg/L for nonstormflow conditions and 0.25 mg/L for stormflow conditions). Under nonstormflow conditions for 1990 to 2005, model results indicated that quick flow contributed from 0% to 55% of spring flow. The nitrate-based two-endmember model was applied to the response of Barton Springs to a storm and results compared to those produced using the same model with ??18O and specific conductance (SC) as tracers. Additionally, the mixing model was modified to allow endmember quick flow values to vary over time. Of the three tracers, nitrate appears to be the most advantageous because it is conservative and because the difference between the concentrations in the two endmembers is large relative to their variance. The ??18O- based model was very sensitive to variability within the quick flow endmember, and SC was not conservative over the timescale of the storm response. We conclude that a nitrate-based two-endmember mixing model might provide a useful approach for quantifying the temporally variable quick flow component of spring flow in some karst systems. ?? 2008 National Ground Water Association.

  14. Status and future plans for open source QuickPIC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    An, Weiming; Decyk, Viktor; Mori, Warren

    2017-10-01

    QuickPIC is a three dimensional (3D) quasi-static particle-in-cell (PIC) code developed based on the UPIC framework. It can be used for efficiently modeling plasma based accelerator (PBA) problems. With quasi-static approximation, QuickPIC can use different time scales for calculating the beam (or laser) evolution and the plasma response, and a 3D plasma wake field can be simulated using a two-dimensional (2D) PIC code where the time variable is ξ = ct - z and z is the beam propagation direction. QuickPIC can be thousand times faster than the normal PIC code when simulating the PBA. It uses an MPI/OpenMP hybrid parallel algorithm, which can be run on either a laptop or the largest supercomputer. The open source QuickPIC is an object-oriented program with high level classes written in Fortran 2003. It can be found at https://github.com/UCLA-Plasma-Simulation-Group/QuickPIC-OpenSource.git

  15. Quick clay and landslides of clayey soils.

    PubMed

    Khaldoun, Asmae; Moller, Peder; Fall, Abdoulaye; Wegdam, Gerard; De Leeuw, Bert; Méheust, Yves; Otto Fossum, Jon; Bonn, Daniel

    2009-10-30

    We study the rheology of quick clay, an unstable soil responsible for many landslides. We show that above a critical stress the material starts flowing abruptly with a very large viscosity decrease caused by the flow. This leads to avalanche behavior that accounts for the instability of quick clay soils. Reproducing landslides on a small scale in the laboratory shows that an additional factor that determines the violence of the slides is the inhomogeneity of the flow. We propose a simple yield stress model capable of reproducing the laboratory landslide data, allowing us to relate landslides to the measured rheology.

  16. Quick Clay and Landslides of Clayey Soils

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khaldoun, Asmae; Moller, Peder; Fall, Abdoulaye; Wegdam, Gerard; de Leeuw, Bert; Méheust, Yves; Otto Fossum, Jon; Bonn, Daniel

    2009-10-01

    We study the rheology of quick clay, an unstable soil responsible for many landslides. We show that above a critical stress the material starts flowing abruptly with a very large viscosity decrease caused by the flow. This leads to avalanche behavior that accounts for the instability of quick clay soils. Reproducing landslides on a small scale in the laboratory shows that an additional factor that determines the violence of the slides is the inhomogeneity of the flow. We propose a simple yield stress model capable of reproducing the laboratory landslide data, allowing us to relate landslides to the measured rheology.

  17. Enhancing Nursing and Midwifery Student Learning Through the Use of QR Codes.

    PubMed

    Downer, Terri; Oprescu, Florin; Forbes, Helen; Phillips, Nikki; McTier, Lauren; Lord, Bill; Barr, Nigel; Bright, Peter; Simbag, Vilma

    A recent teaching and learning innovation using new technologies involves the use of quick response codes, which are read by smartphones and tablets. Integrating this technology as a teaching and learning strategy in nursing and midwifery education has been embraced by academics and students at a regional university.

  18. QR Codes as Mobile Learning Tools for Labor Room Nurses at the San Pablo Colleges Medical Center

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Del Rosario-Raymundo, Maria Rowena

    2017-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of QR codes as mobile learning tools and examine factors that impact on their usefulness, acceptability and feasibility in assisting the nurses' learning. Design/Methodology/Approach: Study participants consisted of 14 regular, full-time, board-certified LR nurses. Over a two-week period,…

  19. QR-on-a-chip: a computer-recognizable micro-pattern engraved microfluidic device for high-throughput image acquisition.

    PubMed

    Yun, Kyungwon; Lee, Hyunjae; Bang, Hyunwoo; Jeon, Noo Li

    2016-02-21

    This study proposes a novel way to achieve high-throughput image acquisition based on a computer-recognizable micro-pattern implemented on a microfluidic device. We integrated the QR code, a two-dimensional barcode system, onto the microfluidic device to simplify imaging of multiple ROIs (regions of interest). A standard QR code pattern was modified to arrays of cylindrical structures of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Utilizing the recognition of the micro-pattern, the proposed system enables: (1) device identification, which allows referencing additional information of the device, such as device imaging sequences or the ROIs and (2) composing a coordinate system for an arbitrarily located microfluidic device with respect to the stage. Based on these functionalities, the proposed method performs one-step high-throughput imaging for data acquisition in microfluidic devices without further manual exploration and locating of the desired ROIs. In our experience, the proposed method significantly reduced the time for the preparation of an acquisition. We expect that the method will innovatively improve the prototype device data acquisition and analysis.

  20. Quality Traceability System of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Two Dimensional Barcode Using Mobile Intelligent Technology

    PubMed Central

    Cai, Yong; Li, Xiwen; Wang, Runmiao; Yang, Qing; Li, Peng; Hu, Hao

    2016-01-01

    Currently, the chemical fingerprint comparison and analysis is mainly based on professional equipment and software, it’s expensive and inconvenient. This study aims to integrate QR (Quick Response) code with quality data and mobile intelligent technology to develop a convenient query terminal for tracing quality in the whole industrial chain of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine). Three herbal medicines were randomly selected and their chemical two-dimensional barcode (2D) barcodes fingerprints were constructed. Smartphone application (APP) based on Android system was developed to read initial data of 2D chemical barcodes, and compared multiple fingerprints from different batches of same species or different species. It was demonstrated that there were no significant differences between original and scanned TCM chemical fingerprints. Meanwhile, different TCM chemical fingerprint QR codes could be rendered in the same coordinate and showed the differences very intuitively. To be able to distinguish the variations of chemical fingerprint more directly, linear interpolation angle cosine similarity algorithm (LIACSA) was proposed to get similarity ratio. This study showed that QR codes can be used as an effective information carrier to transfer quality data. Smartphone application can rapidly read quality information in QR codes and convert data into TCM chemical fingerprints. PMID:27780256

  1. How much domestic quick response manufacturing can a business afford?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Warburton, Roger D. H.; Warner, Steven B.

    2000-10-01

    Employment in the U.S. apparel industry has declined dramatically since the 1960s. Will it fall inexorably to zero, or is there some base level that can endure? If so, what strategic characteristics are required to survive? There is considerable interest in Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM), not only as a reason to support domestic manufacturing, but also as part of the larger goal of reducing supply chain costs. However, since Domestic Manufacturing is more expensive, why should anyone bother considering it? This paper presents an analytical model of a team approach that includes both domestic and offshore manufacturing. Despite the additional costs associated with U.S. manufacturing, our model predicts that including a domestic contractor is legitimate and cost effective. However, the alliance must be genuinely cooperative. A partnership has to be established early in the retailer's planning cycle, and the manufacturer should participate in the planning. Also, sharing data and making timely decisions imposes a strategic business approach, and the model allows us to describe the characteristic roles and capabilities required. Using this model for guidance, we anticipate that retailers will have the stock to satisfy more customers with fewer markdowns, while manufacturers will see increased margins and lower inventories.

  2. Sarcomere Length and Tension Changes in Tetanized Frog Muscle Fibers after Quick Stretches and Releases

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sugi, Haruo; Kobayashi, Takakazu

    1983-10-01

    The sarcomere length changes in tetanized frog muscle fibers in response to quick fiber length changes were examined along the fiber length with a high-sensitivity laser diffraction technique. The experiments were only performed with muscle fibers in which the uniform orientation and sarcomere length of the component myofibrils were well preserved during a tetanus. When the sarcomere length changes were recorded near the fixed fiber end, the delay of the onset of sarcomere length change in response to the applied fiber length change tended to be longer than that of the onset of tension changes recorded at the fixed fiber end. The magnitude of sarcomere length changes was larger near the moving fiber end than near the fixed fiber end. In the case of quick releases, the resulting sarcomere shortening tended to outlast the fiber shortening, so that the quick tension recovery started during the sarcomere shortening. These results indicate (i) that the tension changes in response to quick fiber length changes may not give direct information about the cross-bridge properties and (ii) that the viscoelastic multisegmental nature of muscle fibers should be taken into consideration in interpreting the tension responses to quick length changes.

  3. STAR adaptation of QR algorithm. [program for solving over-determined systems of linear equations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shah, S. N.

    1981-01-01

    The QR algorithm used on a serial computer and executed on the Control Data Corporation 6000 Computer was adapted to execute efficiently on the Control Data STAR-100 computer. How the scalar program was adapted for the STAR-100 and why these adaptations yielded an efficient STAR program is described. Program listings of the old scalar version and the vectorized SL/1 version are presented in the appendices. Execution times for the two versions applied to the same system of linear equations, are compared.

  4. Quick fuzzy backpropagation algorithm.

    PubMed

    Nikov, A; Stoeva, S

    2001-03-01

    A modification of the fuzzy backpropagation (FBP) algorithm called QuickFBP algorithm is proposed, where the computation of the net function is significantly quicker. It is proved that the FBP algorithm is of exponential time complexity, while the QuickFBP algorithm is of polynomial time complexity. Convergence conditions of the QuickFBP, resp. the FBP algorithm are defined and proved for: (1) single output neural networks in case of training patterns with different targets; and (2) multiple output neural networks in case of training patterns with equivalued target vector. They support the automation of the weights training process (quasi-unsupervised learning) establishing the target value(s) depending on the network's input values. In these cases the simulation results confirm the convergence of both algorithms. An example with a large-sized neural network illustrates the significantly greater training speed of the QuickFBP rather than the FBP algorithm. The adaptation of an interactive web system to users on the basis of the QuickFBP algorithm is presented. Since the QuickFBP algorithm ensures quasi-unsupervised learning, this implies its broad applicability in areas of adaptive and adaptable interactive systems, data mining, etc. applications.

  5. High-throughput fabrication of anti-counterfeiting colloid-based photoluminescent microtags using electrical nanoimprint lithography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Diaz, R.; Palleau, E.; Poirot, D.; Sangeetha, N. M.; Ressier, L.

    2014-08-01

    This work demonstrates the excellent capability of the recently developed electrical nanoimprint lithography (e-NIL) technique for quick, high-throughput production of well-defined colloid assemblies on surfaces. This is shown by fabricating micron-sized photoluminescent quick response (QR) codes based on the electrostatic directed trapping (so called nanoxerography process) of 28 nm colloidal lanthanide-doped upconverting NaYF4 nanocrystals. Influencing experimental parameters have been optimized and the contribution of triboelectrification in e-NIL was evidenced. Under the chosen conditions, more than 300 000 nanocrystal-based QR codes were fabricated on a 4 inch silicon wafer, in less than 15 min. These microtags were then transferred to transparent flexible films, to be easily integrated onto desired products. Invisible to the naked eye, they can be decoded and authenticated using an optical microscopy image of their specific photoluminescence mapping. Beyond this very promising application for product tracking and the anti-counterfeiting strategies, e-NIL nanoxerography, potentially applicable to any types of charged and/or polarizable colloids and pattern geometries opens up tremendous opportunities for industrial scale production of various other kinds of colloid-based devices and sensors.

  6. Quick-Connect Nut

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1999-01-01

    Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has developed a specially-designed nut, called the Quick-Connect Nut, for quick and easy assembly of components in the harsh environment of space, as in assembly of International Space Station. The design permits nuts to be installed simply by pushing them onto standard bolts, then giving a quick twist. To remove, they are unscrewed like conventional nuts. Possible applications include the mining industry for erecting support barriers, assembling underwater oil drilling platforms, fire-fighting equipment, scaffolding, assembly-line machinery, industrial cranes, and even changing lug nuts on race cars. The speed of assembly can make the difference between life and death in different aspects of life on Earth.

  7. An embedded barcode for "connected" malaria rapid diagnostic tests.

    PubMed

    Scherr, Thomas F; Gupta, Sparsh; Wright, David W; Haselton, Frederick R

    2017-03-29

    Many countries are shifting their efforts from malaria control to disease elimination. New technologies will be necessary to meet the more stringent demands of elimination campaigns, including improved quality control of malaria diagnostic tests, as well as an improved means for communicating test results among field healthcare workers, test manufacturers, and national ministries of health. In this report, we describe and evaluate an embedded barcode within standard rapid diagnostic tests as one potential solution. This information-augmented diagnostic test operates on the familiar principles of traditional lateral flow assays and simply replaces the control line with a control grid patterned in the shape of a QR (quick response) code. After the test is processed, the QR code appears on both positive or negative tests. In this report we demonstrate how this multipurpose code can be used not only to fulfill the control line role of test validation, but also to embed test manufacturing details, serve as a trigger for image capture, enable registration for image analysis, and correct for lighting effects. An accompanying mobile phone application automatically captures an image of the test when the QR code is recognized, decodes the QR code, performs image processing to determine the concentration of the malarial biomarker histidine-rich protein 2 at the test line, and transmits the test results and QR code payload to a secure web portal. This approach blends automated, sub-nanomolar biomarker detection, with near real-time reporting to provide quality assurance data that will help to achieve malaria elimination.

  8. Excited-state absorption in tetrapyridyl porphyrins: comparing real-time and quadratic-response time-dependent density functional theory

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bowman, David N.; Asher, Jason C.; Fischer, Sean A.

    2017-01-01

    Threemeso-substituted tetrapyridyl porphyrins (free base, Ni(ii), and Cu(ii)) were investigated for their optical limiting (OL) capabilities using real-time (RT-), linear-response (LR-), and quadratic-response (QR-) time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods.

  9. Spatial Resolution Characterization for QuickBird Image Products 2003-2004 Season

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Blonski, Slawomir

    2006-01-01

    This presentation focuses on spatial resolution characterization for QuickBird panochromatic images in 2003-2004 and presents data measurements and analysis of SSC edge target deployment and edge response extraction and modeling. The results of the characterization are shown as values of the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) at the Nyquist spatial frequency and as the Relative Edge Response (RER) components. The results show that RER is much less sensitive to accuracy of the curve fitting than the value of MTF at Nyquist frequency. Therefore, the RER/edge response slope is a more robust estimator of the digital image spatial resolution than the MTF. For the QuickBird panochromatic images, the RER is consistently equal to 0.5 for images processed with the Cubic Convolution resampling and to 0.8 for the MTF resampling.

  10. A Quick Response Forecasting Model of Pathogen Transport and Inactivation in Near-shore Regions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, L.; Fu, X.

    2011-12-01

    Modeling methods supporting water quality assessments play a critical role by facilitating people to understand and promptly predict the potential threat of waterborne bacterial pathogens pose to human health. A mathematical model to describe and predict bacterial levels can provide foundation for water managers in making decisions on whether a water system is safe to open to the public. The inactivation (decay or die-off) rate of bacteria is critical in a bacterial model by controlling bacterial concentration in waters and depends on numerous factors of hydrodynamics, meteorology, geology, chemistry and biology. Transport and fate of waterborne pathogens in fresh water systems is an essentially three-dimensional problem, which requires a coupling of hydrodynamic equations and transport equations that describe the pathogen and suspended sediment dynamics. However, such an approach could be very demanding and time consuming from a practical point of view due to excess computational efforts. Long computation time may lead people unintentionally drinking or swimming in the contaminated water during the period before the predictive results of water quality come out. Therefore, it is very necessary to find a quick-response model to forecast bacterial concentration instantly to protect human health without any delay. Nearshore regions are the most commonly and directly used area for people in a huge water system. The prior multi-dimensional investigations of E. Coli and Enterococci inactivation in literature indicate that along-shore current predominated the nearshore region. Consequently, the complex dynamic conditions may be potentially simplified to one-dimensional scenario. In this research, a one-dimensional model system coupling both hydrodynamic and bacterial transport modules is constructed considering different complex processes to simulate the transport and fate of pathogens in nearshore regions. The quick-response model mainly focuses on promptly forecasting

  11. Measurement properties of the QuickDASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) outcome measure and cross-cultural adaptations of the QuickDASH: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Kennedy, Carol A; Beaton, Dorcas E; Smith, Peter; Van Eerd, Dwayne; Tang, Kenneth; Inrig, Taucha; Hogg-Johnson, Sheilah; Linton, Denise; Couban, Rachel

    2013-11-01

    To identify and synthesize evidence for the measurement properties of the QuickDASH, a shortened version of the 30-item DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) instrument. This systematic review used a best evidence synthesis approach to critically appraise the measurement properties [using COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN)] of the QuickDASH and cross-cultural adaptations. A standard search strategy was conducted between 2005 (year of first publication of QuickDASH) and March 2011 in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL. The search identified 14 studies to include in the best evidence synthesis of the QuickDASH. A further 11 studies were identified on eight cross-cultural adaptation versions. Many measurement properties of the QuickDASH have been evaluated in multiple studies and across most of the measurement properties. The best evidence synthesis of the QuickDASH English version suggests that this tool is performing well with strong positive evidence for reliability and validity (hypothesis testing), and moderate positive evidence for structural validity testing. Strong negative evidence was found for responsiveness due to lower correlations with global estimates of change. Information about the measurement properties of the cross-cultural adaptation versions is still lacking, or the available information is of poor overall methodological quality.

  12. The influence of education and income on responses to the QuickDASH questionnaire.

    PubMed

    Finsen, V

    2015-05-01

    We studied the influence of levels of income and education on QuickDASH scores. The scores were collected in a random sample of 1376 residents of Norway. The level of income was divided into four bands and level of education into five bands. The mean QuickDASH score for both men and women fell with every increase in education and income level. For women the mean score was 30 for those with the shortest education and 9 for those with the longest (p < 0.001). The corresponding figures for men were 19 and 7 (p < 0.01). The women with the lowest level of income had a mean score of 23, compared with 8 for women with the highest income level (p < 0.001). For men the corresponding mean scores were 20 and 5 (p < 0.001). Analysis of variance showed that age alone accounted for 16% of the variability of the scores among women and 7% among men. When levels of education and income were added to the analysis, these three factors accounted for 21% of the variability among women and 13% among men. We conclude that socioeconomic factors significantly influence QuickDASH scores. 3. © The Author(s) 2014.

  13. 78 FR 76711 - Royal City Charter Coach Lines Ltd.-Acquisition of Control-Quick Coach Lines Ltd. d/b/a Quick...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-18

    ... current ownership of Quick, and its wholly owned subsidiary Quick Coach Lines USA Inc. (Quick USA... passengers (MC-205116). Quick USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Quick. When Royal acquires control of Quick, it will also obtain control of Quick USA. Quick USA is currently inactive and does not provide any...

  14. Optically secured information retrieval using two authenticated phase-only masks.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiaogang; Chen, Wen; Mei, Shengtao; Chen, Xudong

    2015-10-23

    We propose an algorithm for jointly designing two phase-only masks (POMs) that allow for the encryption and noise-free retrieval of triple images. The images required for optical retrieval are first stored in quick-response (QR) codes for noise-free retrieval and flexible readout. Two sparse POMs are respectively calculated from two different images used as references for authentication based on modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm (GSA) and pixel extraction, and are then used as support constraints in a modified double-phase retrieval algorithm (MPRA), together with the above-mentioned QR codes. No visible information about the target images or the reference images can be obtained from each of these authenticated POMs. This approach allows users to authenticate the two POMs used for image reconstruction without visual observation of the reference images. It also allows user to friendly access and readout with mobile devices.

  15. Optically secured information retrieval using two authenticated phase-only masks

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Xiaogang; Chen, Wen; Mei, Shengtao; Chen, Xudong

    2015-01-01

    We propose an algorithm for jointly designing two phase-only masks (POMs) that allow for the encryption and noise-free retrieval of triple images. The images required for optical retrieval are first stored in quick-response (QR) codes for noise-free retrieval and flexible readout. Two sparse POMs are respectively calculated from two different images used as references for authentication based on modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm (GSA) and pixel extraction, and are then used as support constraints in a modified double-phase retrieval algorithm (MPRA), together with the above-mentioned QR codes. No visible information about the target images or the reference images can be obtained from each of these authenticated POMs. This approach allows users to authenticate the two POMs used for image reconstruction without visual observation of the reference images. It also allows user to friendly access and readout with mobile devices. PMID:26494213

  16. Optically secured information retrieval using two authenticated phase-only masks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Xiaogang; Chen, Wen; Mei, Shengtao; Chen, Xudong

    2015-10-01

    We propose an algorithm for jointly designing two phase-only masks (POMs) that allow for the encryption and noise-free retrieval of triple images. The images required for optical retrieval are first stored in quick-response (QR) codes for noise-free retrieval and flexible readout. Two sparse POMs are respectively calculated from two different images used as references for authentication based on modified Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm (GSA) and pixel extraction, and are then used as support constraints in a modified double-phase retrieval algorithm (MPRA), together with the above-mentioned QR codes. No visible information about the target images or the reference images can be obtained from each of these authenticated POMs. This approach allows users to authenticate the two POMs used for image reconstruction without visual observation of the reference images. It also allows user to friendly access and readout with mobile devices.

  17. System Characterization Results for the QuickBird Sensor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Holekamp, Kara; Ross, Kenton; Blonski, Slawomir

    2007-01-01

    An overall system characterization was performed on several DigitalGlobe' QuickBird image products by the NASA Applied Research & Technology Project Office (formerly the Applied Sciences Directorate) at the John C. Stennis Space Center. This system characterization incorporated geopositional accuracy assessments, a spatial resolution assessment, and a radiometric calibration assessment. Geopositional assessments of standard georeferenced multispectral products were obtained using an array of accurately surveyed geodetic targets evenly spaced throughout a scene. Geopositional accuracy was calculated in terms of circular error. Spatial resolution of QuickBird panchromatic imagery was characterized based on edge response measurements using edge targets and the tilted-edge technique. Relative edge response was estimated as a geometric mean of normalized edge response differences measured in two directions of image pixels at points distanced from the edge by -0.5 and 0.5 of ground sample distance. A reflectance-based vicarious calibration approach, based on ground-based measurements and radiative transfer calculations, was used to estimate at-sensor radiance. These values were compared to those measured by the sensor to determine the sensor's radiometric accuracy. All imagery analyzed was acquired between fall 2005 and spring 2006. These characterization results were compared to previous years' results to identify any temporal drifts or trends.

  18. Quick-setting concrete and a method for making quick-setting concrete

    DOEpatents

    Wagh, A.S.; Singh, D.; Pullockaran, J.D.; Knox, L.

    1997-04-29

    A method for producing quick setting concrete is provided comprising mixing a concrete dry mixture with carbonate solution to create a slurry, and allowing the slurry to cure. The invention also provides for a quick setting concrete having a predetermined proportion of CaCO{sub 3} of between 5 and 23 weight percent of the entire concrete mixture, and whereby the concrete has a compression strength of approximately 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi) within 24 hours after pouring. 2 figs.

  19. Quick-setting concrete and a method for making quick-setting concrete

    DOEpatents

    Wagh, Arun S.; Singh, Dileep; Pullockaran, Jose D.; Knox, Lerry

    1997-01-01

    A method for producing quick setting concrete is provided comprising hydrng a concrete dry mixture with carbonate solution to create a slurry, and allowing the slurry to cure. The invention also provides for a quick setting concrete having a predetermined proportion of CaCO.sub.3 of between 5 and 23 weight percent of the entire concrete mixture, and whereby the concrete has a compression strength of approximately 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi) within 24 hours after pouring.

  20. QR-decomposition based SENSE reconstruction using parallel architecture.

    PubMed

    Ullah, Irfan; Nisar, Habab; Raza, Haseeb; Qasim, Malik; Inam, Omair; Omer, Hammad

    2018-04-01

    Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful medical imaging technique that provides essential clinical information about the human body. One major limitation of MRI is its long scan time. Implementation of advance MRI algorithms on a parallel architecture (to exploit inherent parallelism) has a great potential to reduce the scan time. Sensitivity Encoding (SENSE) is a Parallel Magnetic Resonance Imaging (pMRI) algorithm that utilizes receiver coil sensitivities to reconstruct MR images from the acquired under-sampled k-space data. At the heart of SENSE lies inversion of a rectangular encoding matrix. This work presents a novel implementation of GPU based SENSE algorithm, which employs QR decomposition for the inversion of the rectangular encoding matrix. For a fair comparison, the performance of the proposed GPU based SENSE reconstruction is evaluated against single and multicore CPU using openMP. Several experiments against various acceleration factors (AFs) are performed using multichannel (8, 12 and 30) phantom and in-vivo human head and cardiac datasets. Experimental results show that GPU significantly reduces the computation time of SENSE reconstruction as compared to multi-core CPU (approximately 12x speedup) and single-core CPU (approximately 53x speedup) without any degradation in the quality of the reconstructed images. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. E-Learning QUICK Checklist

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Khan, Badrul

    2005-01-01

    "E-Learning QUICK Checklist" walks readers through the various factors important to developing, evaluating and implementing an open, flexible and distributed learning environment. This book is designed as a quick checklist for e-learning. It contains many practical items that the reader can use as review criteria to check if e-learning modules,…

  2. The National Shipbuilding Research Program. Development of a Quick TBT Analytical Method

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-08-16

    Development of a Quick TBT Analytical Method 09/25/2000 Page 3 of 38 Executive Summary Concern about the toxic effect of tributyltin have caused the...paints, developed in the 1960s, contains the organotin tributyltin ( TBT ), which has been proven to cause deformations in oysters and sex changes in...measured response (area counts) for tributyltin in deionized distilled water. Final Report – Development of a Quick TBT Analytical Method 09/25/2000

  3. Customized data container for improved performance in optical cryptosystems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vélez Zea, Alejandro; Fredy Barrera, John; Torroba, Roberto

    2016-12-01

    Coherent optical encryption procedures introduce speckle noise to the output, limiting many practical applications. Until now the only method available to avoid this noise is to codify the information to be processed into a container that is encrypted instead of the original data. Although the decrypted container presents the noise due to the optical processing, their features remain recognizable enough to allow decoding, bringing the original information free of any kind of degradation. The first adopted containers were the quick response (QR) codes. However, the limitations of optical encryption procedures and the features of QR codes imply that in practice only simple codes containing small amounts of data can be processed without large experimental requirements. In order to overcome this problem, we introduce the first tailor made container to be processed in optical cryptosystems, ensuring larger noise tolerance and the ability to process more information with less experimental requirements. We present both simulations and experimental results to demonstrate the advantages of our proposal.

  4. Inkjet-compatible single-component polydiacetylene precursors for thermochromic paper sensors.

    PubMed

    Yoon, Bora; Shin, Hyora; Kang, Eun-Mi; Cho, Dae Won; Shin, Kayeong; Chung, Hoeil; Lee, Chan Woo; Kim, Jong-Man

    2013-06-12

    Inkjet-printable diacetylene (DA) supramolecules, which can be dispersed in water without using additional surfactants, have been developed. The supramolecules are generated from DA monomers that contain bisurea groups, which are capable of forming hydrogen-bonding networks, and hydrophilic oligoethylene oxide moieties. Because of suitable size distribution and stability characteristics, the single DA component ink can be readily transferred to paper substrates by utilizing a common office inkjet printer. UV irradiation of the DA-printed paper results in generation of blue-colored polydiacetylene (PDA) images, which show reversible thermochromic transitions in specific temperature ranges. Inkjet-printed PDAs, in the format of a two-dimensional (2D) quick response (QR) code on a real parking ticket, serve as a dual anticounterfeiting system that combines easy decoding of the QR code and colorimetric PDA reversibility for validating the authenticity of the tickets. This single-component ink system has great potential for use in paper-based devices, temperature sensors, and anticounterfeiting barcodes.

  5. Quasi-radial wall jets as a new concept in boundary layer flow control

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Javadi, Khodayar; Hajipour, Majid

    2018-01-01

    This work aims to introduce a novel concept of wall jets wherein the flow is radially injected into a medium through a sector of a cylinder, called quasi-radial (QR) wall jets. The results revealed that fluid dynamics of the QR wall jet flow differs from that of conventional wall jets. Indeed, lateral and normal propagations of a conventional three-dimensional wall jet are via shear stresses. While, lateral propagation of a QR wall jet is due to mean lateral component of the velocity field. Moreover, discharged Arrays of conventional three-dimensional wall jets in quiescent air lead to formation of a combined wall jet at large distant from the nozzles, while QR wall jet immediately spread in lateral direction, meet each other and merge together very quickly in a short distance downstream of the jet nozzles. Furthermore, in discharging the conventional jets into an external flow, there is no strong interaction between them as they are moving parallel. While, in QR wall jets the lateral components of the velocity field strongly interact with boundary layer of the external flow and create strong helical vortices acting as vortex generators.

  6. The quick wins paradox.

    PubMed

    Van Buren, Mark E; Safferstone, Todd

    2009-01-01

    Many leaders taking on new roles try to prove themselves early on by going after quick wins--fresh, visible contributions to the business. But in the pursuit of early results, those leaders often fall into traps that prevent them from benefiting from their achievements. To succeed in their new positions, leaders must realize that the teams they have inherited are also experiencing change. Instead of focusing on an individual accomplishment, leaders need to work with team members on a collective quick win. In a study of more than 5,400 new leaders, the authors found that those who were struggling tended to exhibit five behaviors characteristic of people overly intent on securing a quick win. They focused too much on details, reacted negatively to criticism, intimidated others, jumped to conclusions, and micromanaged their direct reports. Some managed to eke out a win anyway, but the fallout was often toxic. The leaders who were thriving in their new roles, by contrast, shared not only a strong focus on results--necessary for early successes--but also excellent change-management skills. They communicated a clear vision, developed constructive relationships, and built team capabilities. They seemed to realize that the lasting value of their accomplishment would be the way they managed their teams through the transition. Collective quick wins established credibility and prepared them to lead their teams to harder-won victories. The authors provide a diagnostic tool for identifying opportunities for collective quick wins, and they share some advice for organizations: When grooming new leaders, don't just shore up their domain knowledge and technical skills; help them develop the change-management skills they will need as they settle in with their new teams.

  7. Origins location of the outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias exhibiting qrS pattern or QS pattern with a notch on the descending limb in lead V1.

    PubMed

    Lin, Cong; Zheng, Cheng; Zhou, De-Pu; Li, Xiao-Wei; Wu, Shu-Jie; Lin, Jia-Feng

    2017-05-15

    Ventricular outflow tract(VOT) ventricular arrhythmias(VAs) presenting qrS pattern or QS pattern with a notch on the descending limb in lead V1 were consistently thought of arising from the commissure between left and right coronary cusp (L-RCC) by previous studies. However, we found they could originate from other anatomic structures in VOT. This study aimed to investigate the exact origin of this kind VAs. Forty-nine patients of VOT premature ventricular contrations/ventricular tachycardia(PVCs/VT) with lead V1 presenting qrS pattern or QS pattern with a notch on the descending limb undergoing successful radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA) in our center were analyzed. 12-lead electrocardiogram(ECG) of these PVCs/VT were summarized. Among these PVCs/VT, 37 cases exhibited qrS morphology in lead V1, 12 cases presented QS pattern with a notch on the descending limb in the same lead. Based on the successful ablation sites, these PVCs/VT were divided into 2 groups: (1)Right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT) group (26 cases), and (2) Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) group(23 cases, 4 cases originating from the left coronary cusp(LCC), 2 from the right coronary cusp(RCC), 16 from the L-RCC, 1 from the area inferior to LCC(ILCC)). The ECG characteristics of each PVCs/VT were analyzed. Among these PVCs/VT, applying the precordial transitional zone index(TZ index) < 0 to predict LVOT origin was demonstrated with sensitivity of 95.65%, specificity of 96.15%, positive predicting value(PPV) of 95.65% and negative predicting value(NPV) of 96.15%. In LVOT group, further applying the r, R, m,or Rs morphology in lead I to predict L-RCC and RCC origin was demonstrated with sensitivity of 94.44%, specificity of 60.00%, PPV of 89.47% and NPV of 75.00%. Ventricular outflow tract PVCs/VT with lead V1 presenting qrS pattern or QS pattern with a notch on descending limb not only arising from L-RCC, but also RVOT, LCC, RCC and ILCC. Combining TZ index and QRS morphology in lead I

  8. Digitized forensics: retaining a link between physical and digital crime scene traces using QR-codes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hildebrandt, Mario; Kiltz, Stefan; Dittmann, Jana

    2013-03-01

    The digitization of physical traces from crime scenes in forensic investigations in effect creates a digital chain-of-custody and entrains the challenge of creating a link between the two or more representations of the same trace. In order to be forensically sound, especially the two security aspects of integrity and authenticity need to be maintained at all times. Especially the adherence to the authenticity using technical means proves to be a challenge at the boundary between the physical object and its digital representations. In this article we propose a new method of linking physical objects with its digital counterparts using two-dimensional bar codes and additional meta-data accompanying the acquired data for integration in the conventional documentation of collection of items of evidence (bagging and tagging process). Using the exemplary chosen QR-code as particular implementation of a bar code and a model of the forensic process, we also supply a means to integrate our suggested approach into forensically sound proceedings as described by Holder et al.1 We use the example of the digital dactyloscopy as a forensic discipline, where currently progress is being made by digitizing some of the processing steps. We show an exemplary demonstrator of the suggested approach using a smartphone as a mobile device for the verification of the physical trace to extend the chain-of-custody from the physical to the digital domain. Our evaluation of the demonstrator is performed towards the readability and the verification of its contents. We can read the bar code despite its limited size of 42 x 42 mm and rather large amount of embedded data using various devices. Furthermore, the QR-code's error correction features help to recover contents of damaged codes. Subsequently, our appended digital signature allows for detecting malicious manipulations of the embedded data.

  9. Mount St. Helens Quick Response Damage Assessment Using High-Altitude Infrared Photography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hinkle, Richard E.; Prill, James C.; Pruitt, John R.

    1981-11-01

    After the destructive volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, there was a need for a quick response damage assessment. Timeliness of the information was emphasized because of the need to immediately devise land man-agement plans for timber sale operations, rehabilitation efforts, fire protection activities, and areas to be preserved. High-altitude color-infrared photography was collected during May and June by the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-tion (NASA) Ames Research Center (ARC). Interpretation of the photography plus a helicopter trip into the area provided the basis for the construction of 58 map-registered overlays within a 3-week period. These overlays depicted in detail the damage to timber resources, the transportation network, and the watershed. Using the 14 timber loss overlays, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service personnel were able to digitize cells depicting ownership, degree of damage, and the preeruption cover classes. These digitized data provided such informa-tion as the total area affected within and outside the national forest, total timber acreage destroyed and damaged, the sizes of timber destroyed, and the acreage of barren land both before and after the eruption. The hydrology and transportation overlays provided information for an alert system to locate areas needing in-depth studies. These problem areas were then studied in detail on low-altitude color photography so that potential erosion sites could receive preventive treatments and essential access roads needed for fire control and timber salvage could be repaired.

  10. Genomics dataset of unidentified disclosed isolates.

    PubMed

    Rekadwad, Bhagwan N

    2016-09-01

    Analysis of DNA sequences is necessary for higher hierarchical classification of the organisms. It gives clues about the characteristics of organisms and their taxonomic position. This dataset is chosen to find complexities in the unidentified DNA in the disclosed patents. A total of 17 unidentified DNA sequences were thoroughly analyzed. The quick response codes were generated. AT/GC content of the DNA sequences analysis was carried out. The QR is helpful for quick identification of isolates. AT/GC content is helpful for studying their stability at different temperatures. Additionally, a dataset on cleavage code and enzyme code studied under the restriction digestion study, which helpful for performing studies using short DNA sequences was reported. The dataset disclosed here is the new revelatory data for exploration of unique DNA sequences for evaluation, identification, comparison and analysis.

  11. Quick Vegas: Improving Performance of TCP Vegas for High Bandwidth-Delay Product Networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chan, Yi-Cheng; Lin, Chia-Liang; Ho, Cheng-Yuan

    An important issue in designing a TCP congestion control algorithm is that it should allow the protocol to quickly adjust the end-to-end communication rate to the bandwidth on the bottleneck link. However, the TCP congestion control may function poorly in high bandwidth-delay product networks because of its slow response with large congestion windows. In this paper, we propose an enhanced version of TCP Vegas called Quick Vegas, in which we present an efficient congestion window control algorithm for a TCP source. Our algorithm improves the slow-start and congestion avoidance techniques of original Vegas. Simulation results show that Quick Vegas significantly improves the performance of connections as well as remaining fair when the bandwidth-delay product increases.

  12. Least squares QR-based decomposition provides an efficient way of computing optimal regularization parameter in photoacoustic tomography.

    PubMed

    Shaw, Calvin B; Prakash, Jaya; Pramanik, Manojit; Yalavarthy, Phaneendra K

    2013-08-01

    A computationally efficient approach that computes the optimal regularization parameter for the Tikhonov-minimization scheme is developed for photoacoustic imaging. This approach is based on the least squares-QR decomposition which is a well-known dimensionality reduction technique for a large system of equations. It is shown that the proposed framework is effective in terms of quantitative and qualitative reconstructions of initial pressure distribution enabled via finding an optimal regularization parameter. The computational efficiency and performance of the proposed method are shown using a test case of numerical blood vessel phantom, where the initial pressure is exactly known for quantitative comparison.

  13. A review of dopamine agonist therapy in type 2 diabetes and effects on cardio-metabolic parameters.

    PubMed

    Lamos, E M; Levitt, D L; Munir, K M

    2016-02-01

    Dopamine action appears to play a role in changes that are seen in obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Bromocriptine-QR (Quick Release), a dopamine agonist, is approved for use in treatment of type 2 diabetes. It has demonstrated modest improvement in glycemic parameters, cholesterol and weight in certain cohorts. Limited data using cabergoline, a long-acting dopamine agonist, also demonstrate glycemic efficacy. Additionally, bromocriptine-QR appears to have a favorable cardiovascular risk reduction. The direct mechanism by which bromocriptine-QR, or central dopamine agonism, achieves modest glycemic control and favorable cardio-metabolic profile is unclear. This relationship appears to be more complex than the historical explanation of "resetting" the circadian clock and may further be elucidated using data in individuals with hyperprolactinemia and prolactinoma. Copyright © 2015 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Porcine circovirus type 2 activates PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK pathways to promote interleukin-10 production in macrophages via Cap interaction of gC1qR

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Tongtong; Zhang, Xiujuan; Chen, Yu; Cui, Beibei; Li, Delong; Zhao, Xiaomin; Zhang, Wenlong; Chang, Lingling; Tong, Dewen

    2016-01-01

    Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection caused PCV2-associated diseases (PCVAD) is one of the major emerging immunosuppression diseases in pig industry. In this study, we investigated how PCV2 inoculation increases interleukin (IL)-10 expression in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). PCV2 inoculation significantly upregulated IL-10 expression compared with PCV1. Upon initial PCV2 inoculation, PI3K/Akt cooperated with NF-κB pathways to promote IL-10 transcription via p50, CREB and Ap1 transcription factors, whereas inhibition of PI3K/Akt activation blocked Ap1 and CREB binding to the il10 promoter, and decreased the binding level of NF-κB1 p50 with il10 promoter, leading to great reduction in early IL-10 transcription. In the later phase of inoculation, PCV2 further activated p38 MAPK and ERK pathways to enhance IL-10 production by promoting Sp1 binding to the il10 promoter. For PCV2-induced IL-10 production in macrophages, PCV2 capsid protein Cap, but not the replicase Rep or ORF3, was the critical component. Cap activated PI3K/Akt, p38 MAPK, and ERK signaling pathways to enhance IL-10 expression. In the whole process, gC1qR mediated PCV2-induced PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK activation to enhance IL-10 induction by interaction with Cap. Depletion of gC1qR blocked PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK activation, resulting in significant decrease in IL-10 production in PCV2-inoculated cells. Thus, gC1qR might be a critical functional receptor for PCV2-induced IL-10 production. Taken together, these data demonstrated that Cap protein binding with host gC1qR induction of PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK signalings activation is a critical process in enhancing PCV2-induced IL-10 production in porcine alveolar macrophages. PMID:26883107

  15. A QR accelerated volume-to-surface boundary condition for finite element solution of eddy current problems

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, D; Fasenfest, B; Rieben, R

    2006-09-08

    We are concerned with the solution of time-dependent electromagnetic eddy current problems using a finite element formulation on three-dimensional unstructured meshes. We allow for multiple conducting regions, and our goal is to develop an efficient computational method that does not require a computational mesh of the air/vacuum regions. This requires a sophisticated global boundary condition specifying the total fields on the conductor boundaries. We propose a Biot-Savart law based volume-to-surface boundary condition to meet this requirement. This Biot-Savart approach is demonstrated to be very accurate. In addition, this approach can be accelerated via a low-rank QR approximation of the discretizedmore » Biot-Savart law.« less

  16. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ adult asthma guidelines: a quick reference guide.

    PubMed

    Beasley, Richard; Hancox, Robert J; Harwood, Matire; Perrin, Kyle; Poot, Betty; Pilcher, Janine; Reid, Jim; Talemaitoga, Api; Thayabaran, Darmiga

    2016-11-18

    The purpose of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ Adult Asthma Guidelines is to provide simple, practical and evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, assessment and management of asthma in adults (aged 16 and over) in a quick reference format. The intended users are health professionals responsible for delivering asthma care in the community and hospital Emergency Department settings, and those responsible for the training of such health professionals.

  17. Transcriptional regulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate: quinone oxidoreductase in murine hepatoma cells by 6-(methylsufinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate, an active principle of wasabi (Eutrema wasabi Maxim).

    PubMed

    Hou, D X; Fukuda, M; Fujii, M; Fuke, Y

    2000-12-20

    Wasabi is a very popular pungent spice in Japan. This study examined the ability of 6-(methylsufinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MITC), an active principle of wasabi, to induce the cellular expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate: quinone oxidoreductase (QR) in Hepa 1c1c7 cells. The cells were treated with various concentrations of 6-MITC, and were then assessed for cell growth, QR activity and QR mRNA expression. The induction of QR activity and QR mRNA expression was time- and dose-responsive over a narrow range of 0.1-5 microM, with declining induction at higher concentrations due to cell toxicity. Furthermore, transfection studies demonstrated that the induction of transcription of the QR gene by 6-MITC involved an antioxidant/electrophile-responsive element (ARE/EpRE) activation. Our results suggest a novel mechanism by which dietary wasabi 6-MITC may be implicated in cancer chemoprevention.

  18. Using Perturbed QR Factorizations To Solve Linear Least-Squares Problems

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Avron, Haim; Ng, Esmond G.; Toledo, Sivan

    2008-03-21

    We propose and analyze a new tool to help solve sparse linear least-squares problems min{sub x} {parallel}Ax-b{parallel}{sub 2}. Our method is based on a sparse QR factorization of a low-rank perturbation {cflx A} of A. More precisely, we show that the R factor of {cflx A} is an effective preconditioner for the least-squares problem min{sub x} {parallel}Ax-b{parallel}{sub 2}, when solved using LSQR. We propose applications for the new technique. When A is rank deficient we can add rows to ensure that the preconditioner is well-conditioned without column pivoting. When A is sparse except for a few dense rows we canmore » drop these dense rows from A to obtain {cflx A}. Another application is solving an updated or downdated problem. If R is a good preconditioner for the original problem A, it is a good preconditioner for the updated/downdated problem {cflx A}. We can also solve what-if scenarios, where we want to find the solution if a column of the original matrix is changed/removed. We present a spectral theory that analyzes the generalized spectrum of the pencil (A*A,R*R) and analyze the applications.« less

  19. Quick Information Sheets.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wisconsin Univ., Madison. Trace Center.

    This compilation of "Trace Quick Sheets" provides descriptions, prices, and ordering information for products and services that assist with communication, control, and computer access for disabled individuals. Product descriptions or product sources are included for: adaptive toys and toy modifications; head pointers, light pointers, and…

  20. 20 CFR 416.1019 - Quick disability determination process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Quick disability determination process. 416....1019 Quick disability determination process. (a) If we identify a claim as one involving a high degree... the quick disability determination process pursuant to this section and § 416.1020(c). (b) If we refer...

  1. Quick action clamp

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Calco, Frank S. (Inventor)

    1991-01-01

    A quick release toggle clamp that utilizes a spring that requires a deliberate positive action for disengagement is presented. The clamp has a sliding bolt that provides a latching mechanism. The bolt is moved by a handle that tends to remain in an engaged position while under tension.

  2. 7 CFR 305.18 - Quick freeze treatment schedule.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Quick freeze treatment schedule. 305.18 Section 305.18... SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENTS Quick Freeze Treatments § 305.18 Quick freeze treatment schedule. (a) T110. (1) Initially, lower the commodity's temperature to 0 °F or below. (2) Hold...

  3. The PROMIS physical function correlates with the QuickDASH in patients with upper extremity illness.

    PubMed

    Overbeek, Celeste L; Nota, Sjoerd P F T; Jayakumar, Prakash; Hageman, Michiel G; Ring, David

    2015-01-01

    To assess disability more efficiently with less burden on the patient, the National Institutes of Health has developed the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function-an instrument based on item response theory and using computer adaptive testing (CAT). Initially, upper and lower extremity disabilities were not separated and we were curious if the PROMIS Physical Function CAT could measure upper extremity disability and the Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH). We aimed to find correlation between the PROMIS Physical Function and the QuickDASH questionnaires in patients with upper extremity illness. Secondarily, we addressed whether the PROMIS Physical Function and QuickDASH correlate with the PROMIS Depression CAT and PROMIS Pain Interference CAT instruments. Finally, we assessed factors associated with QuickDASH and PROMIS Physical Function in multivariable analysis. A cohort of 93 outpatients with upper extremity illnesses completed the QuickDASH and three PROMIS CAT questionnaires: Physical Function, Pain Interference, and Depression. Pain intensity was measured with an 11-point ordinal measure (0-10 numeric rating scale). Correlation between PROMIS Physical Function and the QuickDASH was assessed. Factors that correlated with the PROMIS Physical Function and QuickDASH were assessed in multivariable regression analysis after initial bivariate analysis. There was a moderate correlation between the PROMIS Physical Function and the QuickDASH questionnaire (r=-0.55, p<0.001). Greater disability as measured with the PROMIS and QuickDASH correlated most strongly with PROMIS Depression (r=-0.35, p<0.001 and r=0.34, p<0.001 respectively) and Pain Interference (r=-0.51, p<0.001 and r=0.74, p<0.001 respectively). The factors accounting for the variability in PROMIS scores are comparable to those for the QuickDASH except that the PROMIS Physical Function is influenced by other pain conditions while the QuickDASH is

  4. Rasch Model Analysis Gives New Insights Into the Structural Validity of the QuickDASH in Patients With Musculoskeletal Shoulder Pain.

    PubMed

    Jerosch-Herold, Christina; Chester, Rachel; Shepstone, Lee

    2017-09-01

    Study Design Cross-sectional secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study. Background The shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH) is a widely used outcome measure that has been extensively evaluated using classical test theory. Rasch model analysis can identify strengths and weaknesses of rating scales and goes beyond classical test theory approaches. It uses a mathematical model to test the fit between the observed data and expected responses and converts ordinal-level scores into interval-level measurement. Objective To test the structural validity of the QuickDASH using Rasch analysis. Methods A prospective cohort study of 1030 patients with shoulder pain provided baseline data. Rasch analysis was conducted to (1) assess how the QuickDASH fits the Rasch model, (2) identify sources of misfit, and (3) explore potential solutions to these. Results There was evidence of multidimensionality and significant misfit to the Rasch model (χ 2 = 331.09, P<.001). Two items had disordered threshold responses with strong floor effects. Response bias was detected in most items for age and sex. Rescoring resulted in ordered thresholds; however, the 11-item scale still did not meet the expectations of the Rasch model. Conclusion Rasch model analysis on the QuickDASH has identified a number of problems that cannot be easily detected using traditional analyses. While revisions to the QuickDASH resulted in better fit, a "shoulder-specific" version is not advocated at present. Caution needs to be exercised when interpreting results of the QuickDASH outcome measure, as it does not meet the criteria for interval-level measurement and shows significant response bias by age and sex. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(9):664-672. Epub 13 Jul 2017. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7288.

  5. QuickSmart: a basic academic skills intervention for middle school students with learning difficulties.

    PubMed

    Graham, Lorraine; Bellert, Anne; Thomas, Jenny; Pegg, John

    2007-01-01

    QuickSmart is a basic academic skills intervention designed for persistently low-achieving students in the middle years of schooling that aims to improve the automaticity of basic skills to improve higher-order processes, such as problem solving and comprehension, as measured on standardized tests. The QuickSmart instructional program consists of three structured, teacher- or teacher aide-directed, 30-minute, small-group lessons each week for approximately 26 weeks. In this study, 42 middle school students experiencing learning difficulties (LD) completed the QuickSmart reading program, and a further 42 students with LD took part in the QuickSmart mathematics program. To investigate the effects of the intervention, comparisons were made between the reading and mathematics progress of the intervention group and a group of 10 high-achieving and 10 average-achieving peers. The results indicated that although the standardized reading comprehension and mathematics scores of QuickSmart students remained below those of comparison students, they improved significantly from pretest to posttest. In contrast, the standardized scores of comparison students were not significantly different from pretest to posttest. On measures of response speed and accuracy gathered using the Cognitive Aptitude Assessment System (CAAS), QuickSmart students were able to narrow the gap between their performance and that of their high- and average-achieving peers. Implications are drawn regarding the importance of interventions that emphasize the automaticity of basic academic skills for students with learning difficulties.

  6. The CCTC Quick-Reacting General War Gaming System (QUICK) Users Manual. Volume 3. Weapon Allocation Subsystem

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-04-15

    analyst who is concerned with preparing the data base for a war game, selecting optional features of QUICK, designating control parameters, submitting...i/.,-j-t r? 70 ~ CoMPUIfE YsTIEM MANUAL CSM UM 9-77 VOLUME IIIC15 APRIL 1978 Lod COMMAND 9 \\.., & CONTROL 09 TECHNICAL . CENTER CCTC QUICK-REACTING...RECALC Mode ............................... 31 3.1.1.2 Non -RECALC Mode ........................... 31 3.1.1.3 Mode Selecti-n and JCL Consideration

  7. QUICK - An interactive software environment for engineering design

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Skinner, David L.

    1989-01-01

    QUICK, an interactive software environment for engineering design, provides a programmable FORTRAN-like calculator interface to a wide range of data structures as well as both built-in and user created functions. QUICK also provides direct access to the operating systems of eight different machine architectures. The evolution of QUICK and a brief overview of the current version are presented.

  8. Quick-change filter cartridge

    DOEpatents

    Rodgers, John C.; McFarland, Andrew R.; Ortiz, Carlos A.

    1995-01-01

    A quick-change filter cartridge. In sampling systems for measurement of airborne materials, a filter element is introduced into the sampled airstream such that the aerosol constituents are removed and deposited on the filter. Fragile sampling media often require support in order to prevent rupture during sampling, and careful mounting and sealing to prevent misalignment, tearing, or creasing which would allow the sampled air to bypass the filter. Additionally, handling of filter elements may introduce cross-contamination or exposure of operators to toxic materials. Moreover, it is desirable to enable the preloading of filter media into quick-change cartridges in clean laboratory environments, thereby simplifying and expediting the filter-changing process in the field. The quick-change filter cartridge of the present invention permits the application of a variety of filter media in many types of instruments and may also be used in automated systems. The cartridge includes a base through which a vacuum can be applied to draw air through the filter medium which is located on a porous filter support and held there by means of a cap which forms an airtight seal with the base. The base is also adapted for receiving absorbing media so that both particulates and gas-phase samples may be trapped for investigation, the latter downstream of the aerosol filter.

  9. Quickly updatable hologram images with high performance photorefractive polymer composites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsutsumi, Naoto; Kinashi, Kenji; Nonomura, Asato; Sakai, Wataru

    2012-02-01

    We present here quickly updatable hologram images using high performance photorefractive (PR) polymer composite based on poly(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVCz). PVCz is one of the pioneer materials for photoconductive polymer. PVCz/7- DCST/CzEPA/TNF (44/35/20/1 by wt) gives high diffraction efficiency of 68 % at E = 45 V/μm with fast response speed. Response speed of optical diffraction is the key parameter for real-time 3D holographic display. Key parameter for obtaining quickly updatable hologram images is to control the glass transition temperature lower enough to enhance chromophore orientation. Object image of the reflected coin surface recorded with reference beam at 532 nm (green beam) in the PR polymer composite is simultaneously reconstructed using a red probe beam at 642 nm. Instead of using coin object, object image produced by a computer was displayed on a spatial light modulator (SLM) is used as an object for hologram. Reflected object beam from a SLM interfered with reference beam on PR polymer composite to record a hologram and simultaneously reconstructed by a red probe beam. Movie produced in a computer was recorded as a realtime hologram in the PR polymer composite and simultaneously clearly reconstructed with a video rate.

  10. Evolutionary profiles from the QR factorization of multiple sequence alignments

    PubMed Central

    Sethi, Anurag; O'Donoghue, Patrick; Luthey-Schulten, Zaida

    2005-01-01

    We present an algorithm to generate complete evolutionary profiles that represent the topology of the molecular phylogenetic tree of the homologous group. The method, based on the multidimensional QR factorization of numerically encoded multiple sequence alignments, removes redundancy from the alignments and orders the protein sequences by increasing linear dependence, resulting in the identification of a minimal basis set of sequences that spans the evolutionary space of the homologous group of proteins. We observe a general trend that these smaller, more evolutionarily balanced profiles have comparable and, in many cases, better performance in database searches than conventional profiles containing hundreds of sequences, constructed in an iterative and computationally intensive procedure. For more diverse families or superfamilies, with sequence identity <30%, structural alignments, based purely on the geometry of the protein structures, provide better alignments than pure sequence-based methods. Merging the structure and sequence information allows the construction of accurate profiles for distantly related groups. These structure-based profiles outperformed other sequence-based methods for finding distant homologs and were used to identify a putative class II cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CysRS) in several archaea that eluded previous annotation studies. Phylogenetic analysis showed the putative class II CysRSs to be a monophyletic group and homology modeling revealed a constellation of active site residues similar to that in the known class I CysRS. PMID:15741270

  11. Unraveling fabrication and calibration of wearable gas monitor for use under free-living conditions.

    PubMed

    Yue Deng; Cheng Chen; Tsow, Francis; Xiaojun Xian; Forzani, Erica

    2016-08-01

    Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are organic chemicals that have high vapor pressure at regular conditions. Some VOC could be dangerous to human health, therefore it is important to determine real-time indoor and outdoor personal exposures to VOC. To achieve this goal, our group has developed a wearable gas monitor with a complete sensor fabrication and calibration protocol for free-living conditions. Correction factors for calibrating the sensors, including sensitivity, aging effect, and temperature effect are implemented into a Quick Response Code (QR code), so that the pre-calibrated quartz tuning fork (QTF) sensor can be used with the wearable monitor under free-living conditions.

  12. Security authentication with a three-dimensional optical phase code using random forest classifier: an overview

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Markman, Adam; Carnicer, Artur; Javidi, Bahram

    2017-05-01

    We overview our recent work [1] on utilizing three-dimensional (3D) optical phase codes for object authentication using the random forest classifier. A simple 3D optical phase code (OPC) is generated by combining multiple diffusers and glass slides. This tag is then placed on a quick-response (QR) code, which is a barcode capable of storing information and can be scanned under non-uniform illumination conditions, rotation, and slight degradation. A coherent light source illuminates the OPC and the transmitted light is captured by a CCD to record the unique signature. Feature extraction on the signature is performed and inputted into a pre-trained random-forest classifier for authentication.

  13. Quick spacecraft charging primer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Larsen, Brian Arthur

    2014-03-12

    This is a presentation in PDF format which is a quick spacecraft charging primer, meant to be used for program training. It goes into detail about charging physics, RBSP examples, and how to identify charging.

  14. 2015 QuickCompass of Sexual Assult-Related Responders: Statistical Methodology Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-02-01

    2015 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response- Related Responders Statistical Methodology Report Additional copies of this report...from: http://www.dtic.mil/ Ask for report by ADA630235 DMDC Report No. 2015-039 February 2016 2015 QUICKCOMPASS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION...Defense Research, Surveys, and Statistics Center (RSSC) 4800 Mark Center Drive , Suite 04E25-01, Alexandria, VA 22350-4000 ii Acknowledgments

  15. 28 CFR 8.6 - Quick-release authority.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...-release authority. Where the forfeiture proceedings are administrative, the Special Agent in Charge, prior to forfeiture, is authorized to release property seized for forfeiture. The property can be quick... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Quick-release authority. 8.6 Section 8.6...

  16. 28 CFR 8.6 - Quick-release authority.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Quick-release authority. 8.6 Section 8.6 Judicial Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FBI FORFEITURE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN STATUTES § 8.6 Quick-release authority. Where the forfeiture proceedings are administrative, the Special Agent in Charge, prior...

  17. 28 CFR 8.6 - Quick-release authority.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Quick-release authority. 8.6 Section 8.6 Judicial Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FBI FORFEITURE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN STATUTES § 8.6 Quick-release authority. Where the forfeiture proceedings are administrative, the Special Agent in Charge, prior...

  18. Diffusion Forecasting Model with Basis Functions from QR-Decomposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harlim, John; Yang, Haizhao

    2018-06-01

    The diffusion forecasting is a nonparametric approach that provably solves the Fokker-Planck PDE corresponding to Itô diffusion without knowing the underlying equation. The key idea of this method is to approximate the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation with a discrete representation of the shift (Koopman) operator on a set of basis functions generated via the diffusion maps algorithm. While the choice of these basis functions is provably optimal under appropriate conditions, computing these basis functions is quite expensive since it requires the eigendecomposition of an N× N diffusion matrix, where N denotes the data size and could be very large. For large-scale forecasting problems, only a few leading eigenvectors are computationally achievable. To overcome this computational bottleneck, a new set of basis functions constructed by orthonormalizing selected columns of the diffusion matrix and its leading eigenvectors is proposed. This computation can be carried out efficiently via the unpivoted Householder QR factorization. The efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm will be shown in both deterministically chaotic and stochastic dynamical systems; in the former case, the superiority of the proposed basis functions over purely eigenvectors is significant, while in the latter case forecasting accuracy is improved relative to using a purely small number of eigenvectors. Supporting arguments will be provided on three- and six-dimensional chaotic ODEs, a three-dimensional SDE that mimics turbulent systems, and also on the two spatial modes associated with the boreal winter Madden-Julian Oscillation obtained from applying the Nonlinear Laplacian Spectral Analysis on the measured Outgoing Longwave Radiation.

  19. Diffusion Forecasting Model with Basis Functions from QR-Decomposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harlim, John; Yang, Haizhao

    2017-12-01

    The diffusion forecasting is a nonparametric approach that provably solves the Fokker-Planck PDE corresponding to Itô diffusion without knowing the underlying equation. The key idea of this method is to approximate the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation with a discrete representation of the shift (Koopman) operator on a set of basis functions generated via the diffusion maps algorithm. While the choice of these basis functions is provably optimal under appropriate conditions, computing these basis functions is quite expensive since it requires the eigendecomposition of an N× N diffusion matrix, where N denotes the data size and could be very large. For large-scale forecasting problems, only a few leading eigenvectors are computationally achievable. To overcome this computational bottleneck, a new set of basis functions constructed by orthonormalizing selected columns of the diffusion matrix and its leading eigenvectors is proposed. This computation can be carried out efficiently via the unpivoted Householder QR factorization. The efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm will be shown in both deterministically chaotic and stochastic dynamical systems; in the former case, the superiority of the proposed basis functions over purely eigenvectors is significant, while in the latter case forecasting accuracy is improved relative to using a purely small number of eigenvectors. Supporting arguments will be provided on three- and six-dimensional chaotic ODEs, a three-dimensional SDE that mimics turbulent systems, and also on the two spatial modes associated with the boreal winter Madden-Julian Oscillation obtained from applying the Nonlinear Laplacian Spectral Analysis on the measured Outgoing Longwave Radiation.

  20. EPA QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES

    EPA Science Inventory

    EPA Quick Reference Guides are compilations of information on chemical and biological terrorist agents. The information is presented in consistent format and includes agent characteristics, release scenarios, health and safety data, real-time field detection, effect levels, samp...

  1. New, Novice or Nervous? The "Quick" Guide to the "No-Quick-Fix"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Teaching History, 2016

    2016-01-01

    "Teaching History" presents "New, Novice or Nervous (NNN)" for those new to the published writings of history teachers. Each problem newcomers wrestle with is one other teachers have wrestled with too. Quick fixes do not exist. But in others' writing, there is something better: "conversations in which other history…

  2. Control Scheme for Quickly Starting X-ray Tube

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakahama, Masayuki; Nakanishi, Toshiki; Ishitobi, Manabu; Ito, Tuyoshi; Hosoda, Kenichi

    A control scheme for quickly starting a portable X-ray generator used in the livestock industry is proposed in this paper. A portable X-ray generator used to take X-ray images of animals such as horses, sheep and dogs should be capable of starting quickly because it is difficult for veterinarians to take X-ray images of animals at their timing. In order to develop a scheme for starting the X-ray tube quickly, it is necessary to analysis the X-ray tube. However, such an analysis has not been discussed until now. First, the states of an X-ray tube are classified into the temperature-limited state and the space-charge-limited state. Furthermore, existence of “mixed state” that comprises both is newly proposed in this paper. From these analyses, a novel scheme for quickly starting an X-ray generator is proposed; this scheme is considered with the characteristics of the X-ray tube. The proposed X-ray system that is capable of starting quickly is evaluated on the basis of experimental results.

  3. Emergency face-mask removal effectiveness: a comparison of traditional and nontraditional football helmet face-mask attachment systems.

    PubMed

    Swartz, Erik E; Belmore, Keith; Decoster, Laura C; Armstrong, Charles W

    2010-01-01

    Football helmet face-mask attachment design changes might affect the effectiveness of face-mask removal. To compare the efficiency of face-mask removal between newly designed and traditional football helmets. Controlled laboratory study. Applied biomechanics laboratory. Twenty-five certified athletic trainers. The independent variable was face-mask attachment system on 5 levels: (1) Revolution IQ with Quick Release (QR), (2) Revolution IQ with Quick Release hardware altered (QRAlt), (3) traditional (Trad), (4) traditional with hardware altered (TradAlt), and (5) ION 4D (ION). Participants removed face masks using a cordless screwdriver with a back-up cutting tool or only the cutting tool for the ION. Investigators altered face-mask hardware to unexpectedly challenge participants during removal for traditional and Revolution IQ helmets. Participants completed each condition twice in random order and were blinded to hardware alteration. Removal success, removal time, helmet motion, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Time and 3-dimensional helmet motion were recorded. If the face mask remained attached at 3 minutes, the trial was categorized as unsuccessful. Participants rated each trial for level of difficulty (RPE). We used repeated-measures analyses of variance (α  =  .05) with follow-up comparisons to test for differences. Removal success was 100% (48 of 48) for QR, Trad, and ION; 97.9% (47 of 48) for TradAlt; and 72.9% (35 of 48) for QRAlt. Differences in time for face-mask removal were detected (F(4,20)  =  48.87, P  =  .001), with times ranging from 33.96 ± 14.14 seconds for QR to 99.22 ± 20.53 seconds for QRAlt. Differences were found in range of motion during face-mask removal (F(4,20)  =  16.25, P  =  .001), with range of motion from 10.10° ± 3.07° for QR to 16.91° ± 5.36° for TradAlt. Differences also were detected in RPE during face-mask removal (F(4,20)  =  43.20, P  =  .001), with participants reporting average

  4. Emergency Face-Mask Removal Effectiveness: A Comparison of Traditional and Nontraditional Football Helmet Face-Mask Attachment Systems

    PubMed Central

    Swartz, Erik E.; Belmore, Keith; Decoster, Laura C.; Armstrong, Charles W.

    2010-01-01

    Abstract Context: Football helmet face-mask attachment design changes might affect the effectiveness of face-mask removal. Objective: To compare the efficiency of face-mask removal between newly designed and traditional football helmets. Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: Applied biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Twenty-five certified athletic trainers. Intervention(s): The independent variable was face-mask attachment system on 5 levels: (1) Revolution IQ with Quick Release (QR), (2) Revolution IQ with Quick Release hardware altered (QRAlt), (3) traditional (Trad), (4) traditional with hardware altered (TradAlt), and (5) ION 4D (ION). Participants removed face masks using a cordless screwdriver with a back-up cutting tool or only the cutting tool for the ION. Investigators altered face-mask hardware to unexpectedly challenge participants during removal for traditional and Revolution IQ helmets. Participants completed each condition twice in random order and were blinded to hardware alteration. Main Outcome Measure(s): Removal success, removal time, helmet motion, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Time and 3-dimensional helmet motion were recorded. If the face mask remained attached at 3 minutes, the trial was categorized as unsuccessful. Participants rated each trial for level of difficulty (RPE). We used repeated-measures analyses of variance (α  =  .05) with follow-up comparisons to test for differences. Results: Removal success was 100% (48 of 48) for QR, Trad, and ION; 97.9% (47 of 48) for TradAlt; and 72.9% (35 of 48) for QRAlt. Differences in time for face-mask removal were detected (F4,20  =  48.87, P  =  .001), with times ranging from 33.96 ± 14.14 seconds for QR to 99.22 ± 20.53 seconds for QRAlt. Differences were found in range of motion during face-mask removal (F4,20  =  16.25, P  =  .001), with range of motion from 10.10° ± 3.07° for QR to 16.91° ± 5.36° for TradAlt. Differences also were detected

  5. Human anti-HIV IgM detection by the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test.

    PubMed

    Guillon, Geraldine; Yearwood, Graham; Snipes, Casey; Boschi, Daniel; Reed, Michael R

    2018-01-01

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many public health jurisdictions continue to advocate for the most sensitive rapid HIV test that is available. Currently, the recommendation is to utilize tests that can detect HIV infection biomarkers within 30 days of infection, when initial immune responses are mounted. The infected patient's IgM response is often used to detect acute infection within a 20-25 days window after infection. This requirement applies to lab-based testing with automated analyzers and rapid, point of care (POC) testing used for screening in a non-clinical setting. A recent study has demonstrated that POC tests using a Protein A-based detection system can detect samples with predominantly HIV-1 IgM reactivity (Moshgabadi et al., 2015). The OraQuick ADVANCE ® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test (OraQuick ADVANCE ®) also uses Protein A as the detection protein in the antibody-binding colloidal gold conjugate, so it is expected that the OraQuick ADVANCE ® Test will also detect samples with predominantly IgM reactivity. This report definitively demonstrates that the OraQuick ADVANCE ® Test can detect IgM antibodies during an acute infection window period of approximately 20-25 days after infection, and is therefore suitable for use in testing environments requiring adherence to current CDC recommendations.

  6. Solenoid hammer valve developed for quick-opening requirements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wrench, E. H.

    1967-01-01

    Quick-opening lightweight solenoid hammer valve requires a low amount of electrical energy to open, and closes by the restoring action of the mechanical springs. This design should be applicable to many quick-opening requirements in fluid systems.

  7. QuickPol: Fast calculation of effective beam matrices for CMB polarization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hivon, Eric; Mottet, Sylvain; Ponthieu, Nicolas

    2017-02-01

    Current and planned observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization anisotropies, with their ever increasing number of detectors, have reached a potential accuracy that requires a very demanding control of systematic effects. While some of these systematics can be reduced in the design of the instruments, others will have to be modeled and hopefully accounted for or corrected a posteriori. We propose QuickPol, a quick and accurate calculation of the full effective beam transfer function and of temperature to polarization leakage at the power spectra level, as induced by beam imperfections and mismatches between detector optical and electronic responses. All the observation details such as exact scanning strategy, imperfect polarization measurements, and flagged samples are accounted for. Our results are validated on Planck high frequency instrument (HFI) simulations. We show how the pipeline can be used to propagate instrumental uncertainties up to the final science products, and could be applied to experiments with rotating half-wave plates.

  8. 7 CFR 305.7 - Quick freeze treatment requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 5 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Quick freeze treatment requirements. 305.7 Section 305.7 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENTS § 305.7 Quick freeze treatment...

  9. Quick Phases of Infantile Nystagmus Show the Saccadic Inhibition Effect

    PubMed Central

    Harrison, James J.; Sumner, Petroc; Dunn, Matt J.; Erichsen, Jonathan T.; Freeman, Tom C. A.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose. Infantile nystagmus (IN) is a pathological, involuntary oscillation of the eyes consisting of slow, drifting eye movements interspersed with rapid reorienting quick phases. The extent to which quick phases of IN are programmed similarly to saccadic eye movements remains unknown. We investigated whether IN quick phases exhibit ‘saccadic inhibition,' a phenomenon typically related to normal targeting saccades, in which the initiation of the eye movement is systematically delayed by task-irrelevant visual distractors. Methods. We recorded eye position from 10 observers with early-onset idiopathic nystagmus while task-irrelevant distractor stimuli were flashed along the top and bottom of a large screen at ±10° eccentricity. The latency distributions of quick phases were measured with respect to these distractor flashes. Two additional participants, one with possible albinism and one with fusion maldevelopment nystagmus syndrome, were also tested. Results. All observers showed that a distractor flash delayed the execution of quick phases that would otherwise have occurred approximately 100 ms later, exactly as in the standard saccadic inhibition effect. The delay did not appear to differ between the two main nystagmus types under investigation (idiopathic IN with unidirectional and bidirectional jerk). Conclusions. The presence of the saccadic inhibition effect in IN quick phases is consistent with the idea that quick phases and saccades share a common programming pathway. This could allow quick phases to take on flexible, goal-directed behavior, at odds with the view that IN quick phases are stereotyped, involuntary eye movements. PMID:25670485

  10. Classification enhancement for post-stroke dementia using fuzzy neighborhood preserving analysis with QR-decomposition.

    PubMed

    Al-Qazzaz, Noor Kamal; Ali, Sawal; Ahmad, Siti Anom; Escudero, Javier

    2017-07-01

    The aim of the present study was to discriminate the electroencephalogram (EEG) of 5 patients with vascular dementia (VaD), 15 patients with stroke-related mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 15 control normal subjects during a working memory (WM) task. We used independent component analysis (ICA) and wavelet transform (WT) as a hybrid preprocessing approach for EEG artifact removal. Three different features were extracted from the cleaned EEG signals: spectral entropy (SpecEn), permutation entropy (PerEn) and Tsallis entropy (TsEn). Two classification schemes were applied - support vector machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbors (kNN) - with fuzzy neighborhood preserving analysis with QR-decomposition (FNPAQR) as a dimensionality reduction technique. The FNPAQR dimensionality reduction technique increased the SVM classification accuracy from 82.22% to 90.37% and from 82.6% to 86.67% for kNN. These results suggest that FNPAQR consistently improves the discrimination of VaD, MCI patients and control normal subjects and it could be a useful feature selection to help the identification of patients with VaD and MCI.

  11. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ child and adolescent asthma guidelines: a quick reference guide.

    PubMed

    Asher, Innes; McNamara, David; Davies, Cheryl; Demetriou, Teresa; Fleming, Theresa; Harwood, Matire; Hetaraka-Stevens, Lorraine; Ingham, Tristram; Kristiansen, John; Reid, Jim; Rickard, Debbie; Ryan, Debbie

    2017-12-01

    The purpose of the New Zealand Child and adolescent asthma guidelines: a quick reference guide is to provide simple, practical, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, assessment and management of asthma in children and adolescents in New Zealand, with the aim of improving outcomes and reducing inequities. The intended users are health professionals responsible for delivering asthma care in the community and hospital emergency department settings, and those responsible for the training of such health professionals.

  12. Pin-Retraction Mechanism On Quick-Release Cover

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Macmartin, Malcolm

    1994-01-01

    Quick-release cover includes pin-retraction mechanism releasing cover quickly from lower of two sets of pin connections holding cover. Cover released at top by pulling lever as described in "Lever-Arm Pin Puller" (NPO-18788). Removal of cover begins when technician or robot pulls upper-pin-release lever. Cover swings downward until tabs on lower pins are pulled through slots in their receptacles. Lower pins are then free.

  13. QuickCash: Secure Transfer Payment Systems

    PubMed Central

    Alhothaily, Abdulrahman; Alrawais, Arwa; Song, Tianyi; Lin, Bin; Cheng, Xiuzhen

    2017-01-01

    Payment systems play a significant role in our daily lives. They are an important driver of economic activities and a vital part of the banking infrastructure of any country. Several current payment systems focus on security and reliability but pay less attention to users’ needs and behaviors. For example, people may share their bankcards with friends or relatives to withdraw money for various reasons. This behavior can lead to a variety of privacy and security issues since the cardholder has to share a bankcard and other sensitive information such as a personal identification number (PIN). In addition, it is commonplace that cardholders may lose their cards, and may not be able to access their accounts due to various reasons. Furthermore, transferring money to an individual who has lost their bankcard and identification information is not a straightforward task. A user-friendly person-to-person payment system is urgently needed to perform secure and reliable transactions that benefit from current technological advancements. In this paper, we propose two secure fund transfer methods termed QuickCash Online and QuickCash Offline to transfer money from peer to peer using the existing banking infrastructure. Our methods provide a convenient way to transfer money quickly, and they do not require using bank cards or any identification card. Unlike other person-to-person payment systems, the proposed methods do not require the receiving entity to have a bank account, or to perform any registration procedure. We implement our QuickCash payment systems and analyze their security strengths and properties. PMID:28608846

  14. QuickCash: Secure Transfer Payment Systems.

    PubMed

    Alhothaily, Abdulrahman; Alrawais, Arwa; Song, Tianyi; Lin, Bin; Cheng, Xiuzhen

    2017-06-13

    Payment systems play a significant role in our daily lives. They are an important driver of economic activities and a vital part of the banking infrastructure of any country. Several current payment systems focus on security and reliability but pay less attention to users' needs and behaviors. For example, people may share their bankcards with friends or relatives to withdraw money for various reasons. This behavior can lead to a variety of privacy and security issues since the cardholder has to share a bankcard and other sensitive information such as a personal identification number (PIN). In addition, it is commonplace that cardholders may lose their cards, and may not be able to access their accounts due to various reasons. Furthermore, transferring money to an individual who has lost their bankcard and identification information is not a straightforward task. A user-friendly person-to-person payment system is urgently needed to perform secure and reliable transactions that benefit from current technological advancements. In this paper, we propose two secure fund transfer methods termed QuickCash Online and QuickCash Offline to transfer money from peer to peer using the existing banking infrastructure. Our methods provide a convenient way to transfer money quickly, and they do not require using bank cards or any identification card. Unlike other person-to-person payment systems, the proposed methods do not require the receiving entity to have a bank account, or to perform any registration procedure. We implement our QuickCash payment systems and analyze their security strengths and properties.

  15. Quick-disconnect coupling/filter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jankowski, F.

    1977-01-01

    Two-part coupling system for hose lines combines both connection and filter in one fitting. Flared fittings make coupling less prone to leakage, and reduced number of components speeds operation. These features may make coupler useful with liquid-bulk carriers, where materials (e.g., milk, cooking oil, and liquid sugar) must be transferred quickly from vehicle to storage facility.

  16. Quick returns and night work as predictors of sleep quality, fatigue, work-family balance and satisfaction with work hours.

    PubMed

    Dahlgren, Anna; Tucker, Philip; Gustavsson, Petter; Rudman, Ann

    2016-01-01

    Quick returns (intervals of <11 h between the end of one shift and the start of the next) are associated with short sleeps and fatigue on the subsequent shift. Recent evidence suggests that shift workers regard quick returns as being more problematic than night work. The current study explored quick returns and night work in terms of their impact on sleep, unwinding, recovery, exhaustion, satisfaction with work hours and work-family interference. Data from the 2006 cohort of Swedish nursing students within the national Longitudinal Analysis of Nursing Education (LANE) study were analysed (N = 1459). Respondents completed a questionnaire prior to graduation (response rate 69.2%) and 3 years after graduation (65.9%). The analyses examined associations between frequency of quick returns and night work and measures taken in year three, while adjusting for confounding factors (in year three and prior graduation). Frequency of quick returns was a significant predictor of poor sleep quality, short sleeps, unwinding, exhaustion, satisfaction with work hours and work-to-family interference, with higher frequency predicting more negative outcomes. Quick returns did not predict recovery after rest days. Frequency of night work did not predict any of the outcomes. In conclusion, quick returns were an important determinant of sleep, recovery and wellbeing, whereas night work did not show such an association.

  17. Quick Attach Docking Interface for Lunar Electric Rover

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schuler, Jason M.; Nick, Andrew J.; Immer, Christopher; Mueller, Robert P.

    2010-01-01

    The NASA Lunar Electric Rover (LER) has been developed at Johnson Space Center as a next generation mobility platform. Based upon a twelve wheel omni-directional chassis with active suspension the LER introduces a number of novel capabilities for lunar exploration in both manned and unmanned scenarios. Besides being the primary vehicle for astronauts on the lunar surface, LER will perform tasks such as lunar regolith handling (to include dozing, grading, and excavation), equipment transport, and science operations. In an effort to support these additional tasks a team at the Kennedy Space Center has produced a universal attachment interface for LER known as the Quick Attach. The Quick Attach is a compact system that has been retro-fitted to the rear of the LER giving it the ability to dock and undock on the fly with various implements. The Quick Attach utilizes a two stage docking approach; the first is a mechanical mate which aligns and latches a passive set of hooks on an implement with an actuated cam surface on LER. The mechanical stage is tolerant to misalignment between the implement and the LER during docking and once the implement is captured a preload is applied to ensure a positive lock. The second stage is an umbilical connection which consists of a dust resistant enclosure housing a compliant mechanism that is optionally actuated to mate electrical and fluid connections for suitable implements. The Quick Attach system was designed with the largest foreseen input loads considered including excavation operations and large mass utility attachments. The Quick Attach system was demonstrated at the Desert Research And Technology Studies (D-RA TS) field test in Flagstaff, AZ along with the lightweight dozer blade LANCE. The LANCE blade is the first implement to utilize the Quick Attach interface and demonstrated the tolerance, speed, and strength of the system in a lunar analog environment.

  18. Quick-Connect, Slow-Disconnect Bolt

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Weddendorf, Bruce

    1995-01-01

    Proposed bolt functions similarly to device described in article "Quick-Connect, Slow-Disconnect Nut" (MFS-28833). Bolt installed in standard threaded hole simply by pushing it into hole. Once inserted, bolt withdrawn only by turning it in conventional way.

  19. Simultaneous multiple non-crossing quantile regression estimation using kernel constraints

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Yufeng; Wu, Yichao

    2011-01-01

    Quantile regression (QR) is a very useful statistical tool for learning the relationship between the response variable and covariates. For many applications, one often needs to estimate multiple conditional quantile functions of the response variable given covariates. Although one can estimate multiple quantiles separately, it is of great interest to estimate them simultaneously. One advantage of simultaneous estimation is that multiple quantiles can share strength among them to gain better estimation accuracy than individually estimated quantile functions. Another important advantage of joint estimation is the feasibility of incorporating simultaneous non-crossing constraints of QR functions. In this paper, we propose a new kernel-based multiple QR estimation technique, namely simultaneous non-crossing quantile regression (SNQR). We use kernel representations for QR functions and apply constraints on the kernel coefficients to avoid crossing. Both unregularised and regularised SNQR techniques are considered. Asymptotic properties such as asymptotic normality of linear SNQR and oracle properties of the sparse linear SNQR are developed. Our numerical results demonstrate the competitive performance of our SNQR over the original individual QR estimation. PMID:22190842

  20. Quick Facts for 2013-2014

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Alabama State Department of Education, 2014

    2014-01-01

    The Alabama Department of Education presents "Quick Facts," an annual snapshot of general state statistics, facts about public schools, the State Board of Education, and general financial data. The data presented in this report covers the school year 2013-2014.

  1. PARENT Quick Blind Round-Robin Test Report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Braatz, Brett G.; Heasler, Patrick G.; Meyer, Ryan M.

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established the Program to Assess the Reliability of Emerging Nondestructive Techniques (PARENT) whose goal is to investigate the effectiveness of current and novel nondestructive examination procedures and techniques to find flaws in nickel-alloy welds and base materials. This is to be done by conducting a series of open and blind international round-robin tests on a set of piping components that include large-bore dissimilar metal welds, small-bore dissimilar metal welds, and bottom-mounted instrumentation penetration welds. The blind testing is being conducted in two segments, one is called Quick-Blind and the other is called Blind. Themore » Quick-Blind testing and destructive analysis of the test blocks has been completed. This report describes the four Quick-Blind test blocks used, summarizes their destructive analysis, gives an overview of the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques applied, provides an analysis inspection data, and presents the conclusions drawn.« less

  2. QUICK - AN INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENT FOR ENGINEERING DESIGN

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schlaifer, R. S.

    1994-01-01

    QUICK provides the computer user with the facilities of a sophisticated desk calculator which can perform scalar, vector and matrix arithmetic, propagate conic orbits, determine planetary and satellite coordinates and perform other related astrodynamic calculations within a Fortran-like environment. QUICK is an interpreter, therefore eliminating the need to use a compiler or a linker to run QUICK code. QUICK capabilities include options for automated printing of results, the ability to submit operating system commands on some systems, and access to a plotting package (MASL)and a text editor without leaving QUICK. Mathematical and programming features of QUICK include the ability to handle arbitrary algebraic expressions, the capability to define user functions in terms of other functions, built-in constants such as pi, direct access to useful COMMON areas, matrix capabilities, extensive use of double precision calculations, and the ability to automatically load user functions from a standard library. The MASL (The Multi-mission Analysis Software Library) plotting package, included in the QUICK package, is a set of FORTRAN 77 compatible subroutines designed to facilitate the plotting of engineering data by allowing programmers to write plotting device independent applications. Its universality lies in the number of plotting devices it puts at the user's disposal. The MASL package of routines has proved very useful and easy to work with, yielding good plots for most new users on the first or second try. The functions provided include routines for creating histograms, "wire mesh" surface plots and contour plots as well as normal graphs with a large variety of axis types. The library has routines for plotting on cartesian, polar, log, mercator, cyclic, calendar, and stereographic axes, and for performing automatic or explicit scaling. The lengths of the axes of a plot are completely under the control of the program using the library. Programs written to use the MASL

  3. A Quick Reference on Magnesium.

    PubMed

    Bateman, Shane W

    2017-03-01

    This article serves as a quick reference on the distribution, handling, and supplementation of magnesium. It also lists the manifestations and causes of magnesium deficit and provides criteria for the diagnosis of a magnesium deficit. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Quick-release connector module

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sedig, Albert R. (Inventor)

    1995-01-01

    A multi-bay electrical connector is described, of the type that has a frame (12, FIG. 2 ) with cavities (14) that each holds a separate module 20, which enables quick withdrawal of a single module from the frame and its quick replacement. A lock arm (42) is slidable along a first side (50) of a first cavity, and has at least one lock lug (80). A first module has a barrier part (70) that lies inward of the lock lug, which prevents outward movement of the first module out of the frame cavity. The lock arm can be moved to an unlocked position wherein the barrier part on the module lies inward of a gap (84) in the lock arm to permit the module to be pulled out of the frame cavity and later inserted therein. A latch (54) is slidable on the frame in directions (A, B) perpendicular to the sliding movement of the lock arm, and has an abutment (112, FIG. 5 ) that abuts a shoulder (114) on the lock arm to keep the lock arm in its unlocked position until the latch is released.

  5. X-ray structural studies of quinone reductase 2 nanomolar range inhibitors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pegan, Scott D.; Sturdy, Megan; Ferry, Gilles

    Quinone reductase 2 (QR2) is one of two members comprising the mammalian quinone reductase family of enzymes responsible for performing FAD mediated reductions of quinone substrates. In contrast to quinone reductase 1 (QR1) which uses NAD(P)H as its co-substrate, QR2 utilizes a rare group of hydride donors, N-methyl or N-ribosyl nicotinamide. Several studies have linked QR2 to the generation of quinone free radicals, several neuronal degenerative diseases, and cancer. QR2 has been also identified as the third melatonin receptor (MT3) through in cellulo and in vitro inhibition of QR2 by traditional MT3 ligands, and through recent X-ray structures of humanmore » QR2 (hQR2) in complex with melatonin and 2-iodomelatonin. Several MT3 specific ligands have been developed that exhibit both potent in cellulo inhibition of hQR2 nanomolar, affinity for MT3. The potency of these ligands suggest their use as molecular probes for hQR2. However, no definitive correlation between traditionally obtained MT3 ligand affinity and hQR2 inhibition exists limiting our understanding of how these ligands are accommodated in the hQR2 active site. To obtain a clearer relationship between the structures of developed MT3 ligands and their inhibitory properties, in cellulo and in vitro IC{sub 50} values were determined for a representative set of MT3 ligands (MCA-NAT, 2-I-MCANAT, prazosin, S26695, S32797, and S29434). Furthermore, X-ray structures for each of these ligands in complex with hQR2 were determined allowing for a structural evaluation of the binding modes of these ligands in relation to the potency of MT3 ligands.« less

  6. QUICK DISCONNECT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

    DOEpatents

    None

    1962-08-14

    A remotely actuated quick-dlsconnect electrical connector which comprises a pair of mating portrons releasably retained together by a bayonet- type joint with a rotatable sleeve on one of the mating portions providing for engagement and disengagement of the joint is described. A lanyard with ends passed through fulcrums and affixed to the sleeve erfects rotation of the sleeve and disengages the joint. (AEC)

  7. Perovskite Solar Cell Stability Workshop: Quick Look Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-08-12

    Commercialization of Perovskite PV – Markets, Concerns, Opportunities” by Dirk Weiss, First Solar , USA j. “Expectations for PV Product Testing Today” by Sarah...Perovskite Solar Cell Stability Workshop Quick-Look Report Held by the Office of Naval Research at University...Workshop Summary, 11-12 Aug 2016 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Perovskite Solar Cell Stability Workshop: Quick-Look Report 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S

  8. Converting Panax ginseng DNA and chemical fingerprints into two-dimensional barcode.

    PubMed

    Cai, Yong; Li, Peng; Li, Xi-Wen; Zhao, Jing; Chen, Hai; Yang, Qing; Hu, Hao

    2017-07-01

    In this study, we investigated how to convert the Panax ginseng DNA sequence code and chemical fingerprints into a two-dimensional code. In order to improve the compression efficiency, GATC2Bytes and digital merger compression algorithms are proposed. HPLC chemical fingerprint data of 10 groups of P. ginseng from Northeast China and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence code as the DNA sequence code were ready for conversion. In order to convert such data into a two-dimensional code, the following six steps were performed: First, the chemical fingerprint characteristic data sets were obtained through the inflection filtering algorithm. Second, precompression processing of such data sets is undertaken. Third, precompression processing was undertaken with the P. ginseng DNA (ITS2) sequence codes. Fourth, the precompressed chemical fingerprint data and the DNA (ITS2) sequence code were combined in accordance with the set data format. Such combined data can be compressed by Zlib, an open source data compression algorithm. Finally, the compressed data generated a two-dimensional code called a quick response code (QR code). Through the abovementioned converting process, it can be found that the number of bytes needed for storing P. ginseng chemical fingerprints and its DNA (ITS2) sequence code can be greatly reduced. After GTCA2Bytes algorithm processing, the ITS2 compression rate reaches 75% and the chemical fingerprint compression rate exceeds 99.65% via filtration and digital merger compression algorithm processing. Therefore, the overall compression ratio even exceeds 99.36%. The capacity of the formed QR code is around 0.5k, which can easily and successfully be read and identified by any smartphone. P. ginseng chemical fingerprints and its DNA (ITS2) sequence code can form a QR code after data processing, and therefore the QR code can be a perfect carrier of the authenticity and quality of P. ginseng information. This study provides a theoretical

  9. Exploring FlyBase Data Using QuickSearch.

    PubMed

    Marygold, Steven J; Antonazzo, Giulia; Attrill, Helen; Costa, Marta; Crosby, Madeline A; Dos Santos, Gilberto; Goodman, Joshua L; Gramates, L Sian; Matthews, Beverley B; Rey, Alix J; Thurmond, Jim

    2016-12-08

    FlyBase (flybase.org) is the primary online database of genetic, genomic, and functional information about Drosophila species, with a major focus on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. The long and rich history of Drosophila research, combined with recent surges in genomic-scale and high-throughput technologies, mean that FlyBase now houses a huge quantity of data. Researchers need to be able to rapidly and intuitively query these data, and the QuickSearch tool has been designed to meet these needs. This tool is conveniently located on the FlyBase homepage and is organized into a series of simple tabbed interfaces that cover the major data and annotation classes within the database. This unit describes the functionality of all aspects of the QuickSearch tool. With this knowledge, FlyBase users will be equipped to take full advantage of all QuickSearch features and thereby gain improved access to data relevant to their research. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  10. Quick Prototyping of Educational Software: An Object-Oriented Approach.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wong, Simon C-H

    1994-01-01

    Introduces and demonstrates a quick-prototyping model for educational software development that can be used by teachers developing their own courseware using an object-oriented programming system. Development of a courseware package called "The Match-Maker" is explained as an example that uses HyperCard for quick prototyping. (Contains…

  11. Estimation of the biphasic property in a female's menstrual cycle from cutaneous temperature measured during sleep.

    PubMed

    Chen, Wenxi; Kitazawa, Masumi; Togawa, Tatsuo

    2009-09-01

    This paper proposes a method to estimate a woman's menstrual cycle based on the hidden Markov model (HMM). A tiny device was developed that attaches around the abdominal region to measure cutaneous temperature at 10-min intervals during sleep. The measured temperature data were encoded as a two-dimensional image (QR code, i.e., quick response code) and displayed in the LCD window of the device. A mobile phone captured the QR code image, decoded the information and transmitted the data to a database server. The collected data were analyzed by three steps to estimate the biphasic temperature property in a menstrual cycle. The key step was an HMM-based step between preprocessing and postprocessing. A discrete Markov model, with two hidden phases, was assumed to represent higher- and lower-temperature phases during a menstrual cycle. The proposed method was verified by the data collected from 30 female participants, aged from 14 to 46, over six consecutive months. By comparing the estimated results with individual records from the participants, 71.6% of 190 menstrual cycles were correctly estimated. The sensitivity and positive predictability were 91.8 and 96.6%, respectively. This objective evaluation provides a promising approach for managing premenstrual syndrome and birth control.

  12. The Scientific Image in Behavior Analysis.

    PubMed

    Keenan, Mickey

    2016-05-01

    Throughout the history of science, the scientific image has played a significant role in communication. With recent developments in computing technology, there has been an increase in the kinds of opportunities now available for scientists to communicate in more sophisticated ways. Within behavior analysis, though, we are only just beginning to appreciate the importance of going beyond the printing press to elucidate basic principles of behavior. The aim of this manuscript is to stimulate appreciation of both the role of the scientific image and the opportunities provided by a quick response code (QR code) for enhancing the functionality of the printed page. I discuss the limitations of imagery in behavior analysis ("Introduction"), and I show examples of what can be done with animations and multimedia for teaching philosophical issues that arise when teaching about private events ("Private Events 1 and 2"). Animations are also useful for bypassing ethical issues when showing examples of challenging behavior ("Challenging Behavior"). Each of these topics can be accessed only by scanning the QR code provided. This contingency has been arranged to help the reader embrace this new technology. In so doing, I hope to show its potential for going beyond the limitations of the printing press.

  13. QuickFF: A program for a quick and easy derivation of force fields for metal-organic frameworks from ab initio input.

    PubMed

    Vanduyfhuys, Louis; Vandenbrande, Steven; Verstraelen, Toon; Schmid, Rochus; Waroquier, Michel; Van Speybroeck, Veronique

    2015-05-15

    QuickFF is a software package to derive accurate force fields for isolated and complex molecular systems in a quick and easy manner. Apart from its general applicability, the program has been designed to generate force fields for metal-organic frameworks in an automated fashion. The force field parameters for the covalent interaction are derived from ab initio data. The mathematical expression of the covalent energy is kept simple to ensure robustness and to avoid fitting deficiencies as much as possible. The user needs to produce an equilibrium structure and a Hessian matrix for one or more building units. Afterward, a force field is generated for the system using a three-step method implemented in QuickFF. The first two steps of the methodology are designed to minimize correlations among the force field parameters. In the last step, the parameters are refined by imposing the force field parameters to reproduce the ab initio Hessian matrix in Cartesian coordinate space as accurate as possible. The method is applied on a set of 1000 organic molecules to show the easiness of the software protocol. To illustrate its application to metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), QuickFF is used to determine force fields for MIL-53(Al) and MOF-5. For both materials, accurate force fields were already generated in literature but they requested a lot of manual interventions. QuickFF is a tool that can easily be used by anyone with a basic knowledge of performing ab initio calculations. As a result, accurate force fields are generated with minimal effort. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  14. Enhanced anti-counterfeiting measures for additive manufacturing: coupling lanthanide nanomaterial chemical signatures with blockchain technology

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kennedy, Zachary C.; Stephenson, David E.; Christ, Josef F.

    The significant rise of additive manufacturing (AM) in recent years is in part due to the open sourced nature of the printing processes and reduced cost and capital barriers relative to traditional manufacturing. However, this democratization of manufacturing spurs an increased demand for producers and end-users to verify the authenticity and quality of individual parts. To this end, we introduce an anti-counterfeiting method composed of first embedding engineered nanomaterials into features of a 3D-printed part followed by non-destructive interrogation of these features to quantify a chemical signature profile. The part specific chemical signature data is then linked to a securitized,more » distributed, and time-stamped blockchain ledger entry. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, lanthanide-aspartic acid nanoscale coordination polymers (Ln3+- Asp NCs) / poly(lactic) acid (PLA) composites were formulated and transformed into a filament feedstock for fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. In the present case, a quick-response (QR) code containing the doped Ln3+-Asp NCs was printed using a dual-extruder FDM printer into pure PLA parts. The QR code provides a searchable reference to an Ethereum-based blockchain entry. The QR code physical features also serve as defined areas to probe the signatures arising from the embedded Ln3+-Asp NCs. Visible fluorescence emission with UV-excitation was quantified in terms of color using a smartphone camera and incorporated into blockchain entries. Ultimately, linking unique chemical signature data to blockchain databases is anticipated to make the costs of counterfeiting AM materials significantly more prohibitive and transactions between those in the supply chain more trustworthy.« less

  15. Studying quick coupler efficiency in working attachment system of single-bucket power shovel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duganova, E. V.; Zagorodniy, N. A.; Solodovnikov, D. N.; Korneyev, A. S.

    2018-03-01

    A prototype of a quick-disconnect connector (quick coupler) with an unloaded retention mechanism was developed from the analysis of typical quick couplers used as intermediate elements for power shovels of different manufacturers. A method is presented, allowing building a simulation model of the quick coupler prototype as an alternative to physical modeling for further studies.

  16. Quercetin interferes with iron metabolism in Leishmania donovani and targets ribonucleotide reductase to exert leishmanicidal activity.

    PubMed

    Sen, Gargi; Mukhopadhyay, Sibabrata; Ray, Manju; Biswas, Tuli

    2008-05-01

    The possibility of developing antileishmanial drugs was evaluated by intervention in the parasite's iron metabolism, utilizing quercetin (Qr) under in vivo conditions, and identifying the target of this lipophilic metal chelator against Leishmania donovani. Interaction between Qr and serum albumin (SA) was studied by using the intrinsic fluorescence of Qr as a probe. The effect of treatment with Qr and SA on the proliferation of amastigotes was determined by evaluating splenic parasite load. Disintegration of parasites in response to combination treatment was assessed from ultrastructural analysis using a transmission electron microscope. Quenching of the tyrosyl radical of ribonucleotide reductase (RR) in treated amastigotes was detected by an electron paramagnetic resonance study. Treatment with a combination of Qr and SA increased bioavailability of the flavonoid and proved to be of major advantage in promoting the effectiveness of Qr towards the repression of splenic parasite load from 75%, P < 0.01 to 95%, P < 0.002. Qr-mediated down-regulation of RR (P < 0.05), catalysing the rate-limiting step of DNA synthesis in the pathogens, could be related to the deprivation of the enzyme of iron which in turn destabilized the critical tyrosyl radical required for its catalysing activity. Results have implications for improved leishmanicidal action of Qr in combination with SA targeting RR and suggest future drug design based on interference with the parasite's iron metabolism under in vivo conditions.

  17. Simulation of mixing in the quick quench region of a rich burn-quick quench mix-lean burn combustor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shih, Tom I.-P.; Nguyen, H. Lee; Howe, Gregory W.; Li, Z.

    1991-01-01

    A computer program was developed to study the mixing process in the quick quench region of a rich burn-quick quench mix-lean burn combustor. The computer program developed was based on the density-weighted, ensemble-averaged conservation equations of mass, momentum (full compressible Navier-Stokes), total energy, and species, closed by a k-epsilon turbulence model with wall functions. The combustion process was modeled by a two-step global reaction mechanism, and NO(x) formation was modeled by the Zeldovich mechanism. The formulation employed in the computer program and the essence of the numerical method of solution are described. Some results obtained for nonreacting and reacting flows with different main-flow to dilution-jet momentum flux ratios are also presented.

  18. Self-Alining Quick-Connect Joint

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lucy, M. H.

    1983-01-01

    Quick connect tapered joint used with minimum manipulation and force. Split ring retainer holds locking ring in place. Minimal force required to position male in female joint, at which time split-ring retainers are triggered to release split locking rings. Originally developed to assemble large space structures, joint is simple, compact, strong, lightweight, self alining, and has no loose parts.

  19. Quick-Change Optical-Filter Holder

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Leone, Peter

    1988-01-01

    Dark slide and interlock protect against ambient light. Quick-change filter holder contains interlocking mechanism preventing simultaneous removal of both dark slide and filter drawer. Designed for use with Band pass optical filters in 10 channels leading to photomultiplier tubes in water-vapor lidar/ozone instrument, mechanism can be modified to operate in other optical systems requiring optical change in filters.

  20. 46 CFR 153.284 - Characteristics of required quick closing valves.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 46 Shipping 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Characteristics of required quick closing valves. 153.284 Section 153.284 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) CERTAIN BULK... and Equipment Piping Systems and Cargo Handling Equipment § 153.284 Characteristics of required quick...

  1. 46 CFR 153.284 - Characteristics of required quick closing valves.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 46 Shipping 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Characteristics of required quick closing valves. 153.284 Section 153.284 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) CERTAIN BULK... and Equipment Piping Systems and Cargo Handling Equipment § 153.284 Characteristics of required quick...

  2. Rapid Phosphoproteomic Effects of Abscisic Acid (ABA) on Wild-Type and ABA Receptor-Deficient A. thaliana Mutants*

    PubMed Central

    Minkoff, Benjamin B.; Stecker, Kelly E.; Sussman, Michael R.

    2015-01-01

    Abscisic acid (ABA)1 is a plant hormone that controls many aspects of plant growth, including seed germination, stomatal aperture size, and cellular drought response. ABA interacts with a unique family of 14 receptor proteins. This interaction leads to the activation of a family of protein kinases, SnRK2s, which in turn phosphorylate substrates involved in many cellular processes. The family of receptors appears functionally redundant. To observe a measurable phenotype, four of the fourteen receptors have to be mutated to create a multilocus loss-of-function quadruple receptor (QR) mutant, which is much less sensitive to ABA than wild-type (WT) plants. Given these phenotypes, we asked whether or not a difference in ABA response between the WT and QR backgrounds would manifest on a phosphorylation level as well. We tested WT and QR mutant ABA response using isotope-assisted quantitative phosphoproteomics to determine what ABA-induced phosphorylation changes occur in WT plants within 5 min of ABA treatment and how that phosphorylation pattern is altered in the QR mutant. We found multiple ABA-induced phosphorylation changes that occur within 5 min of treatment, including three SnRK2 autophosphorylation events and phosphorylation on SnRK2 substrates. The majority of robust ABA-dependent phosphorylation changes observed were partially diminished in the QR mutant, whereas many smaller ABA-dependent phosphorylation changes observed in the WT were not responsive to ABA in the mutant. A single phosphorylation event was increased in response to ABA treatment in both the WT and QR mutant. A portion of the discovery data was validated using selected reaction monitoring-based targeted measurements on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. These data suggest that different subsets of phosphorylation events depend upon different subsets of the ABA receptor family to occur. Altogether, these data expand our understanding of the model by which the family of ABA receptors directs

  3. Combining Quick-Turnaround and Batch Workloads at Scale

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Matthews, Gregory A.

    2012-01-01

    NAS uses PBS Professional to schedule and manage the workload on Pleiades, an 11,000+ node 1B cluster. At this scale the user experience for quick-turnaround jobs can degrade, which led NAS initially to set up two separate PBS servers, each dedicated to a particular workload. Recently we have employed PBS hooks and scheduler modifications to merge these workloads together under one PBS server, delivering sub-1-minute start times for the quick-turnaround workload, and enabling dynamic management of the resources set aside for that workload.

  4. Steric antisense inhibition of AMPA receptor Q/R editing reveals tight coupling to intronic editing sites and splicing

    PubMed Central

    Penn, Andrew C.; Balik, Ales; Greger, Ingo H.

    2013-01-01

    Adenosine-to-Inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a post-transcriptional mechanism, evolved to diversify the transcriptome in metazoa. In addition to wide-spread editing in non-coding regions protein recoding by RNA editing allows for fine tuning of protein function. Functional consequences are only known for some editing sites and the combinatorial effect between multiple sites (functional epistasis) is currently unclear. Similarly, the interplay between RNA editing and splicing, which impacts on post-transcriptional gene regulation, has not been resolved. Here, we describe a versatile antisense approach, which will aid resolving these open questions. We have developed and characterized morpholino oligos targeting the most efficiently edited site—the AMPA receptor GluA2 Q/R site. We show that inhibition of editing closely correlates with intronic editing efficiency, which is linked to splicing efficiency. In addition to providing a versatile tool our data underscore the unique efficiency of a physiologically pivotal editing site. PMID:23172291

  5. 3D assembly of upconverting NaYF4 nanocrystals by AFM nanoxerography: creation of anti-counterfeiting microtags

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sangeetha, Neralagatta M.; Moutet, Pierre; Lagarde, Delphine; Sallen, Gregory; Urbaszek, Bernhard; Marie, Xavier; Viau, Guillaume; Ressier, Laurence

    2013-09-01

    Formation of 3D close-packed assemblies of upconverting NaYF4 colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) on surfaces, by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanoxerography is presented. The surface potential of the charge patterns, the NC concentration, the polarizability of the NCs and the polarity of the dispersing solvent are identified as the key parameters controlling the assembly of NaYF4 NCs into micropatterns of the desired 3D architecture. This insight allowed us to fabricate micrometer sized Quick Response (QR) codes encoded in terms of upconversion luminescence intensity or color. Topographically hidden messages could also be readily incorporated within these microtags. This work demonstrates that AFM nanoxerography has enormous potential for generating high-security anti-counterfeiting microtags.Formation of 3D close-packed assemblies of upconverting NaYF4 colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) on surfaces, by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanoxerography is presented. The surface potential of the charge patterns, the NC concentration, the polarizability of the NCs and the polarity of the dispersing solvent are identified as the key parameters controlling the assembly of NaYF4 NCs into micropatterns of the desired 3D architecture. This insight allowed us to fabricate micrometer sized Quick Response (QR) codes encoded in terms of upconversion luminescence intensity or color. Topographically hidden messages could also be readily incorporated within these microtags. This work demonstrates that AFM nanoxerography has enormous potential for generating high-security anti-counterfeiting microtags. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed experimental procedures for the synthesis of upconverting NaYF4 nanocrystals and their transmission electron microscopy images. KFM and AFM images corresponding to the assembly of positively charged β-NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+ nanocrystals from water suspensions by AFM nanoxerography. Photoluminescence spectra of β-NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+ nanocrystals

  6. Quick Tips Guide for Small Manufacturing Businesses

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Small manufacturing businesses can use this Quick Tips Guide to be better prepared for future extreme weather events. This guide discusses keeping good records, improving housekeeping procedures, and training employees.

  7. 48 CFR 42.708 - Quick-closeout procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Indirect Cost Rates 42.708 Quick-closeout procedure. (a... waive the 15 percent restriction based upon a risk assessment that considers the contractor's accounting...

  8. Four-dimensional key design in amplitude, phase, polarization and distance for optical encryption based on polarization digital holography and QR code.

    PubMed

    Lin, Chao; Shen, Xueju; Li, Baochen

    2014-08-25

    We demonstrate that all parameters of optical lightwave can be simultaneously designed as keys in security system. This multi-dimensional property of key can significantly enlarge the key space and further enhance the security level of the system. The single-shot off-axis digital holography with orthogonal polarized reference waves is employed to perform polarization state recording on object wave. Two pieces of polarization holograms are calculated and fabricated to be arranged in reference arms to generate random amplitude and phase distribution respectively. When reconstruction, original information which is represented with QR code can be retrieved using Fresnel diffraction with decryption keys and read out noise-free. Numerical simulation results for this cryptosystem are presented. An analysis on the key sensitivity and fault tolerance properties are also provided.

  9. Using tablet assisted Social Stories™ to improve classroom behavior for adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

    PubMed

    Kim, Mi-Seon; Blair, Kwang-Sun Cho; Lim, Kyoung-Won

    2014-09-01

    The present study examined the use of tablet assisted Social Stories™ intervention for three high school students with severe intellectual disabilities whose problem behavior interfered with their learning and caused classroom disruptions. A multiple probe design across participants was employed to test the impact of the tablet assisted SS on the participants' target behaviors. During intervention, the participants read the Social Stories that were created on Prezi and accessed via Quick Response (QR) codes using a Galaxy Tap smart tablet before participating in an academic period. Data indicated that the SS intervention decreased disruptive behavior and increased academic engagement in all three participants. All three demonstrated generalization of behaviors to a nontargeted academic period and maintenance of improved behaviors at the 2-week follow-up. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Validated Metrics of Quick Flow Improve Assessments of Streamflow Generation Processes at the Long-Term Sleepers River Research Site

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sebestyen, S. D.; Shanley, J. B.

    2015-12-01

    There are multiple approaches to quantify quick flow components of streamflow. Physical hydrograph separations of quick flow using recession analysis (RA) are objective, reproducible, and easily calculated for long-duration streamflow records (years to decades). However, this approach has rarely been validated to have a physical basis for interpretation. In contrast, isotopic hydrograph separation (IHS) and end member mixing analysis using multiple solutes (EMMA) have been used to identify flow components and flowpath routing through catchment soils. Nonetheless, these two approaches are limited by data from limited and isolated periods (hours to weeks) during which more-intensive grab samples were analyzed. These limitations oftentimes make IHS and EMMA difficult to generalize beyond brief windows of time. At the Sleepers River Research Watershed (SRRW) in northern Vermont, USA, we have data from multiple snowmelt events over a two decade period and from multiple nested catchments to assess relationships among RA, IHS, and EMMA. Quick flow separations were highly correlated among the three techniques, which shows links among metrics of quick flow, water sources, and flow path routing in a small (41 ha), forested catchment (W-9) The similarity in responses validates a physical interpretation for a particular RA approach (the Ekhardt recursive RA filter). This validation provides a new tool to estimate new water inputs and flowpath routing for more and longer periods when chemical or isotopic tracers may not have been measured. At three other SRRW catchments, we found similar strong correlations among the three techniques. Consistent responses across four catchments provide evidence to support other research at the SRRW that shows that runoff generation mechanisms are similar despite differences in catchment sizes and land covers.

  11. JOC Be Nimble, JOC Be Quick

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schreyer, Paul R.

    2012-01-01

    Given our aging and crowded schools, today's administrators have to focus their attention on modernizing facilities. The Job Order Contracting (JOC) procurement method allows school administrators to complete a large number of high quality maintenance projects quickly with a single, competitively bid contract. The JOC process fits schools' unique…

  12. Quick Dissection of the Segmental Bronchi

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nakajima, Yuji

    2010-01-01

    Knowledge of the three-dimensional anatomy of the bronchopulmonary segments is essential for respiratory medicine. This report describes a quick guide for dissecting the segmental bronchi in formaldehyde-fixed human material. All segmental bronchi are easy to dissect, and thus, this exercise will help medical students to better understand the…

  13. Low-health literacy flashcards & mobile video reinforcement to improve medication adherence in patients on oral diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension medications.

    PubMed

    Yeung, Denise L; Alvarez, Kristin S; Quinones, Marissa E; Clark, Christopher A; Oliver, George H; Alvarez, Carlos A; Jaiyeola, Adeola O

    To design and investigate a pharmacist-run intervention using low health literacy flashcards and a smartphone-activated quick response (QR) barcoded educational flashcard video to increase medication adherence and disease state understanding. Prospective, matched, quasi-experimental design. County health system in Dallas, Texas. Sixty-eight primary care patients prescribed targeted heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes medications INTERVENTION: Low health literacy medication and disease specific flashcards, which were also available as QR-coded online videos, were designed for the intervention patients. The following validated health literacy tools were conducted: Newest Vital Sign (NVS), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy Medicine-Short Form, and Short Assessment of Health Literacy-50. The primary outcome was the difference in medication adherence at 180 days after pharmacist intervention compared with the control group, who were matched on the basis of comorbid conditions, targeted medications, and medication class. Medication adherence was measured using a modified Pharmacy Quality Alliance proportion of days covered (PDC) calculation. Secondary outcomes included 90-day PDC, improvement of greater than 25% in baseline PDC, and final PDC greater than 80%. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the effect of potential confounders on the primary outcome. Of the 34 patients receiving the intervention, a majority of patients scored a high possibility of limited health literacy on the NVS tool (91.2%). The medication with the least adherence at baseline was metformin, followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers. At 180 days after intervention, patients in the intervention group had higher PDCs compared with their matched controls (71% vs. 44%; P = 0.0069). The use of flashcards and QR-coded prescription bottles for medication and disease state education is an innovative way of improving adherence to diabetes, hypertension, and heart

  14. Low–health literacy flashcards & mobile video reinforcement to improve medication adherence in patients on oral diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension medications

    PubMed Central

    Yeung, Denise L.; Alvarez, Kristin S.; Quinones, Marissa E.; Clark, Christopher A.; Oliver, George H.; Alvarez, Carlos A.; Jaiyeola, Adeola O.

    2017-01-01

    Objective To design and investigate a pharmacist-run intervention using low health literacy flashcards and a smartphone-activated quick response (QR) barcoded educational flashcard video to increase medication adherence and disease state understanding. Design Prospective, matched, quasi-experimental design. Setting County health system in Dallas, Texas. Participants Sixty-eight primary care patients prescribed targeted heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes medications Intervention Low health literacy medication and disease specific flashcards, which were also available as QR-coded online videos, were designed for the intervention patients. The following validated health literacy tools were conducted: Newest Vital Sign (NVS), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy Medicine–Short Form, and Short Assessment of Health Literacy–50. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the difference in medication adherence at 180 days after pharmacist intervention compared with the control group, who were matched on the basis of comorbid conditions, targeted medications, and medication class. Medication adherence was measured using a modified Pharmacy Quality Alliance proportion of days covered (PDC) calculation. Secondary outcomes included 90-day PDC, improvement of greater than 25% in baseline PDC, and final PDC greater than 80%. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the effect of potential confounders on the primary outcome. Results Of the 34 patients receiving the intervention, a majority of patients scored a high possibility of limited health literacy on the NVS tool (91.2%). The medication with the least adherence at baseline was metformin, followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers. At 180 days after intervention, patients in the intervention group had higher PDCs compared with their matched controls (71% vs. 44%; P = 0.0069). Conclusion The use of flashcards and QR-coded prescription bottles for medication and disease state education

  15. Towards a numerical run-out model for quick-clay slides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Issler, Dieter; L'Heureux, Jean-Sébastien; Cepeda, José M.; Luna, Byron Quan; Gebreslassie, Tesfahunegn A.

    2015-04-01

    Highly sensitive glacio-marine clays occur in many relatively low-lying areas near the coasts of eastern Canada, Scandinavia and northern Russia. If the load exceeds the yield stress of these clays, they quickly liquefy, with a reduction of the yield strength and the viscosity by several orders of magnitude. Leaching, fluvial erosion, earthquakes and man-made overloads, by themselves or combined, are the most frequent triggers of quick-clay slides, which are hard to predict and can attain catastrophic dimensions. The present contribution reports on two preparatory studies that were conducted with a view to creating a run-out model tailored to the characteristics of quick-clay slides. One study analyzed the connections between the morphological and geotechnical properties of more than 30 well-documented Norwegian quick-clay slides and their run-out behavior. The laboratory experiments by Locat and Demers (1988) suggest that the behavior of quick clays can be reasonably described by universal relations involving the liquidity index, plastic index, remolding energy, salinity and sensitivity. However, these tests should be repeated with Norwegian clays and analyzed in terms of a (shear-thinning) Herschel-Bulkley fluid rather than a Bingham fluid because the shear stress appears to grow in a sub-linear fashion with the shear rate. Further study is required to understand the discrepancy between the material parameters obtained in laboratory tests of material from observed slides and in back-calculations of the same slides with the simple model by Edgers & Karlsrud (1982). The second study assessed the capability of existing numerical flow models to capture the most important aspects of quick-clay slides by back-calculating three different, well documented events in Norway: Rissa (1978), Finneidfjord (1996) and Byneset (2012). The numerical codes were (i) BING, a quasi-two-dimensional visco-plastic model, (ii) DAN3D (2009 version), and (iii) MassMov2D. The latter two are

  16. High Pressure Quick Disconnect Particle Impact Tests

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rosales, Keisa R.; Stoltzfus, Joel M.

    2009-01-01

    NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) performed particle impact testing to determine whether there is a particle impact ignition hazard in the quick disconnects (QDs) in the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) on the International Space Station (ISS). Testing included standard supersonic and subsonic particle impact tests on 15-5 PH stainless steel, as well as tests performed on a QD simulator. This paper summarizes the particle impact tests completed at WSTF. Although there was an ignition in Test Series 4, it was determined the ignition was caused by the presence of a machining imperfection. The sum of all the test results indicates that there is no particle impact ignition hazard in the ISS ECLSS QDs. KEYWORDS: quick disconnect, high pressure, particle impact testing, stainless steel

  17. Efficient QR sequential least square algorithm for high frequency GNSS precise point positioning seismic application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barbu, Alina L.; Laurent-Varin, Julien; Perosanz, Felix; Mercier, Flavien; Marty, Jean-Charles

    2018-01-01

    The implementation into the GINS CNES geodetic software of a more efficient filter was needed to satisfy the users who wanted to compute high-rate GNSS PPP solutions. We selected the SRI approach and a QR factorization technique including an innovative algorithm which optimizes the matrix reduction step. A full description of this algorithm is given for future users. The new capacities of the software have been tested using a set of 1 Hz data from the Japanese GEONET network including the Mw 9.0 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Station coordinates solution agreed at a sub-decimeter level with previous publications as well as with solutions we computed with the National Resource Canada software. An additional benefit from the implementation of the SRI filter is the capability to estimate high-rate tropospheric parameters too. As the CPU time to estimate a 1 Hz kinematic solution from 1 h of data is now less than 1 min we could produced series of coordinates for the full 1300 stations of the Japanese network. The corresponding movie shows the impressive co-seismic deformation as well as the wave propagation along the island. The processing was straightforward using a cluster of PCs which illustrates the new potentiality of the GINS software for massive network high rate PPP processing.

  18. Development and evaluation of porcine cysticercosis QuickELISA in Triturus EIA analyzer.

    PubMed

    Handali, Sukwan; Pattabhi, Sowmya; Lee, Yeuk-Mui; Silva-Ibanez, Maria; Kovalenko, Victor A; Levin, Andrew E; Gonzalez, Armando E; Roberts, Jacquelin M; Garcia, Hector H; Gilman, Robert H; Hancock, Kathy; Tsang, Victor C W

    2010-01-01

    We evaluated three diagnostic antigens (recombinant GP50, recombinant T24H, and synthetic Ts18var1) for cysticercosis and found that all three performed well in detecting cysticercosis in humans and pigs in several assay formats. These antigens were adapted to a new antibody detection format (QuickELISA). With one single incubation step which involves all reactants except the enzyme substrate, the QuickELISA is particularly suited for automation. We formatted the QuickELISA for the Triturus EIA analyzer for testing large numbers of samples. We found that in QuickELISA formats rGP50 and rT24H have better sensitivity and specificity than sTs18var1 for detecting porcine cysticercosis.

  19. LittleQuickWarp: an ultrafast image warping tool.

    PubMed

    Qu, Lei; Peng, Hanchuan

    2015-02-01

    Warping images into a standard coordinate space is critical for many image computing related tasks. However, for multi-dimensional and high-resolution images, an accurate warping operation itself is often very expensive in terms of computer memory and computational time. For high-throughput image analysis studies such as brain mapping projects, it is desirable to have high performance image warping tools that are compatible with common image analysis pipelines. In this article, we present LittleQuickWarp, a swift and memory efficient tool that boosts 3D image warping performance dramatically and at the same time has high warping quality similar to the widely used thin plate spline (TPS) warping. Compared to the TPS, LittleQuickWarp can improve the warping speed 2-5 times and reduce the memory consumption 6-20 times. We have implemented LittleQuickWarp as an Open Source plug-in program on top of the Vaa3D system (http://vaa3d.org). The source code and a brief tutorial can be found in the Vaa3D plugin source code repository. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - quick-relief drugs

    MedlinePlus

    ... away if you have this side effect. Oral Steroids Oral steroids (also called corticosteroids) are medicines you take by ... might have to take them for longer. Oral steroids include: Methylprednisolone Prednisone Prednisolone Alternative Names COPD - quick- ...

  1. [Efficiency of KAT-quick P.f. test (KAT medical, SAR) among the populations of drug-resistant parasites].

    PubMed

    Rabinovich, S A; Le, Dines Kong; Nguen, Van Ha; Morozov, E N; Toropov, D E; Kukina, I V; Maksakovskaia, E V; Iakovenko, M A; Chalyĭ, V F; Fandeev, V A; Pozdniakova, E A; Nikitiuk, Iu E; Sergiev, V P

    2006-01-01

    The KAT-Quick P.f. test (KAT Medical, South African Republic) is based on the detection of protein HPR II produced by trophozoites and young gametocytes of P. falciparum. This test was conducted by the authors in the distribution areas of P. falciparum strains differing in the spectrum of drug resistance. Five hundred and forty-nine blood samples from febrile patients in Vietnam (n=84), Sierra Leone (n=41), Nigeria (n=14), Tanzania (n=8), Kenya (n=5), and Tadjikistan (n=397) were tested. Microscopy served as a primary control. Detection of P. falciparum DNA, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with included primers (nested PCR) of the most sensitive modification of PCR was a final control. The efficiency of the KAT-Quick P.f. test was estimated as a ratio of the number of its positive results to those of PCR. It was equal to 98-95%. The KAT-Quick P.f. test revealed no false-positive case associated with the genome of the parasite. The specificity of the test was determined as a ratio of the number of its negative (no P. falciparum) results to those of PCR. The blood samples from patients with vivax malaria and from those with nonmalarial fever were investigated. There was no cross reaction of the KAT-Quick P.f. test system for P. falciparum with that for P. vivax. The KAT-Quick P.f. test yielded no positive reaction with the blood from patients with non-malarial fever. Drug resistance depending on the spectrum of specific drugs caused its emergence may be determined by one or several mechanisms that are ultimately determined by one, the key mechanism. Thus, the findings suggest that multidrug resistance of P. falciparum does not trigger the occurrence of changes in its surface antigen--HRPII that is responsible for the efficiency of the KAT-Quick P.f. test. These may be also extrapolated to other rapid tests patterned after the same principle.

  2. Quick Assessment of Literacy in Primary Care: The Newest Vital Sign

    PubMed Central

    Weiss, Barry D.; Mays, Mary Z.; Martz, William; Castro, Kelley Merriam; DeWalt, Darren A.; Pignone, Michael P.; Mockbee, Joy; Hale, Frank A.

    2005-01-01

    PURPOSE Current health literacy screening instruments for health care settings are either too long for routine use or available only in English. Our objective was to develop a quick and accurate screening test for limited literacy available in English and Spanish. METHODS We administered candidate items for the new instrument and also the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) to English-speaking and Spanish-speaking primary care patients. We measured internal consistency with Cronbach’s α and assessed criterion validity by measuring correlations with TOFHLA scores. Using TOFLHA scores <75 to define limited literacy, we plotted receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves and calculated likelihood ratios for cutoff scores on the new instrument. RESULTS The final instrument, the Newest Vital Sign (NVS), is a nutrition label that is accompanied by 6 questions and requires 3 minutes for administration. It is reliable (Cronbach α >0.76 in English and 0.69 in Spanish) and correlates with the TOFHLA. Area under the ROC curve is 0.88 for English and 0.72 for Spanish versions. Patients with more than 4 correct responses are unlikely to have low literacy, whereas fewer than 4 correct answers indicate the possibility of limited literacy. CONCLUSION NVS is suitable for use as a quick screening test for limited literacy in primary health care settings. PMID:16338915

  3. Traffic incident management quick clearance laws : a national review of best practices.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2008-12-01

    Constituting Quick Clearance Laws, three types of general legislation Move Over, Driver Removal, and Authority Removal laws - support concurrent Quick Clearance operations intended to enhance motorist and responder safety, as well as reduce...

  4. How quickly do breast screeners learn their skills?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nevisi, Hossein; Dong, Leng; Chen, Yan; Gale, Alastair G.

    2017-03-01

    The UK's Breast Screening Programme is 27 years old and many experienced breast radiologists are now retiring, coupled with an influx of new screening personnel. It is important to the ongoing Programme that new mammography readers are quickly up to the skill level of experienced readers. This raises the question of how quickly the necessary cancer detection skills are learnt. All breast screening radiologists in the UK read educational training sets of challenging FFDM images (the PERFORMS® scheme) yearly to maintain and improve their performance in real life screening. Data were examined from the PERFORMS® annual scheme for 54 new screeners, 55 screeners who have been screening for one year and also for more experienced screeners (597 screeners). Not surprisingly, significant differences in cancer detection rate were found between new readers and both of the other groups. Additionally, the performance of 48 new readers who have now been screening for about a year and have taken part twice in the PERFORMS® scheme were further examined where again a significant difference in cancer detection was found. These data imply that cancer detection skills are learnt quickly in the first year of screening. Information was also examined concerning the volume of cases participants read and other factors.

  5. Quick-disconnect harness system for helmet-mounted displays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bapu, P. T.; Aulds, M. J.; Fuchs, Steven P.; McCormick, David M.

    1992-10-01

    We have designed a pilot's harness-mounted, high voltage quick-disconnect connectors with 62 pins, to transmit voltages up to 13.5 kV and video signals with 70 MHz bandwidth, for a binocular helmet-mounted display system. It connects and disconnects with power off, and disconnects 'hot' without pilot intervention and without producing external sparks or exposing hot embers to the explosive cockpit environment. We have implemented a procedure in which the high voltage pins disconnect inside a hermetically-sealed unit before the physical separation of the connector. The 'hot' separation triggers a crowbar circuit in the high voltage power supplies for additional protection. Conductor locations and shields are designed to reduce capacitance in the circuit and avoid crosstalk among adjacent circuits. The quick- disconnect connector and wiring harness are human-engineered to ensure pilot safety and mobility. The connector backshell is equipped with two hybrid video amplifiers to improve the clarity of the video signals. Shielded wires and coaxial cables are molded as a multi-layered ribbon for maximum flexibility between the pilot's harness and helmet. Stiff cabling is provided between the quick-disconnect connector and the aircraft console to control behavior during seat ejection. The components of the system have been successfully tested for safety, performance, ergonomic considerations, and reliability.

  6. Fluorescent Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) as a Highly Sensitive and Quickly Responsive Chemical Sensor for the Detection of Antibiotics in Simulated Wastewater.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Xian-Dong; Zhang, Kun; Wang, Yu; Long, Wei-Wei; Sa, Rong-Jian; Liu, Tian-Fu; Lü, Jian

    2018-02-05

    A Zn(II)-based fluorescent metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized and applied as a highly sensitive and quickly responsive chemical sensor for antibiotic detection in simulated wastewater. The fluorescent chemical sensor, denoted FCS-1, exhibited enhanced fluorescence derived from its highly ordered, 3D MOF structure as well as excellent water stability in the practical pH range of simulated antibiotic wastewater (pH = 3.0-9.0). Remarkably, FCS-1 was able to effectively detect a series of sulfonamide antibiotics via photoinduced electron transfer that caused detectable fluorescence quenching, with fairly low detection limits. Two influences impacting measurements related to wastewater treatment and water quality monitoring, the presence of heavy-metal ions and the pH of solutions, were studied in terms of fluorescence quenching, which was nearly unaffected in sulfonamide-antibiotic detection. Additionally, the effective detection of sulfonamide antibiotics was rationalized by the theoretical computation of the energy bands of sulfonamide antibiotics, which revealed a good match between the energy bands of FCS-1 and sulfonamide antibiotics, in connection with fluorescence quenching in this system.

  7. Comparative evaluation of NeQuick and IRI models over Polar Regions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pietrella, Marco; Nava, Bruno; Pezzopane, Michael; Migoya-Orue, Yenca; Scotto, Carlo

    2016-04-01

    In the framework of the AUSPICIO (AUtomatic Scaling of Polar Ionograms and Cooperative Ionospheric Observations) project, the ionograms recorded at Hobart (middle latitude), Macquarie Island, Livingstone Island and Comandante Ferraz (middle-high latitude) and those recorded at the ionospheric observatories of Casey, Mawson, Davis, and Scott Base (Antarctic Polar Circle), have been taken into account to study the capability of NeQuick-2 and IRI-2012 models in predicting the behavior of the ionosphere, mainly in the polar region. In particular, the applicability of NeQuick-2 and IRI-2012 models was evaluated under two different modes: a) as assimilative models ingesting the foF2 and hmF2 measurements obtained from the electron density profiles provided by the Adaptive Ionospheric Profiler (AIP); b) as climatological models taking as input F10.7 solar activity index. The results obtained from the large number of comparisons made for each ionospheric observatory when NeQuick-2 and IRI-2012 models work according to the two modes above mentioned, reveal that the best description of the ionosphere electron density at the polar regions is provided when peak parameter data are ingested in near-real-time into NeQuick-2 and IRI-2012 models which, indeed, are not always able to represent efficiently the behavior of the ionosphere over the polar regions when operating in long term prediction mode. The statistical analysis results expressed in terms of root mean square errors (r.m.s.e.) for each ionospheric observatory show that, outside the Antarctic Polar Circle (APC), NeQuick-2 performance is better than the IRI-2012 performance; on the contrary, inside the APC IRI-2012 model performs better than NeQuick-2.

  8. Disease management strategy for macadamia quick decline

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Trees infected with Macadamia Quick Decline (MQD) exhibit excessive sap bleeding from the trunk, frass from ambrosia beetle feeding, orange fruiting bodies of the fungus Nectria rugulosa and yellowing and browning of the leaves within the tree canopy. MQD threatens commercial and residential product...

  9. Quickly Approximating the Distance Between Two Objects

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hammen, David

    2009-01-01

    A method of quickly approximating the distance between two objects (one smaller, regarded as a point; the other larger and complexly shaped) has been devised for use in computationally simulating motions of the objects for the purpose of planning the motions to prevent collisions.

  10. QUICK RELEASABLE DRIVE

    DOEpatents

    Dickson, J.J.

    1958-07-01

    A quick releasable mechanical drive system suitable for use in a nuclear reactor is described. A small reversible motor positions a control rod by means of a worm and gear speed reducer, a magnetic torque clutch, and a bell crank. As the control rod is raised to the operating position, a heavy coil spring is compressed. In the event of an emergency indicated by either a''scram'' signal or a power failure, the current to the magnetic clutch is cut off, thereby freeing the coil spring and the bell crank positioner from the motor and speed reduction gearing. The coil spring will immediately act upon the bell crank to cause the insertion of the control rod. This arrangement will allow the slow, accurate positioning of the control rod during reactor operation, while providing an independent force to rapidly insert the rod in the event of an emergency.

  11. Quick-connect threaded attachment joint

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lucy, M. H.; Messick, W. R.; Vasquez, P.

    1979-01-01

    Joint is self-aligning and tightens with only sixty-five degrees of rotation for quick connects and disconnects. Made of injection-molded plastics or cast or machined aluminum, joint can carry wires, tubes, liquids, or gases. When two parts of joint are brought together, their shapes align them. Small projections on male section and slots on female section further aid alignment; slight rotation of male form engages projections in slots. At this point, threads engage and male section is rotated until joint is fully engaged.

  12. A quick SEED tutorial

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Ringler, Adam; Evans, John R.

    2015-01-01

    A number of different government-funded seismic data centers offer free open-access data (e.g., U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), and Data Management System), which can be freely downloaded and shared among different members of the community (Lay, 2009). To efficiently share data, it is important that different data providers follow a common format. The Standard for the Exchange of Earthquake Data (SEED) provides one such format for storing seismic and other geophysical data. The SEED format is widely used in earthquake seismology; however, SEED and its structure can be difficult for many first-time users (ourselves included). Below is a quick tutorial that outlines the basic structure of SEED format. This write-up is in no way intended to replace the comprehensive SEED manual (Ahern et al., 2009), and instead of going into the details of any specific part of the SEED format we refer the reader to the manual for additional details. The goal of this write-up is to succinctly explain the basic structure of SEED format as well as the associated jargon, as most commonly used now, in a colloquial way so that novice users of SEED can become more familiar with the format and its application quickly. Our goal is to give the reader the necessary background so that when problems or questions about SEED format arise they will have some understanding of where they should look for more details or from where the problem might be stemming. As a secondary goal, we hope to help the reader become familiar with the SEED manual (Ahern et al., 2009), which contains detailed information about all aspects of the SEED format.

  13. Learning from near misses: from quick fixes to closing off the Swiss-cheese holes.

    PubMed

    Jeffs, Lianne; Berta, Whitney; Lingard, Lorelei; Baker, G Ross

    2012-04-01

    The extent to which individuals in healthcare use near misses as learning opportunities remains poorly understood. Thus, an exploratory study was conducted to gain insight into the nature of, and contributing factors to, organisational learning from near misses in clinical practice. A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed which included semi-structured interviews with 24 participants (16 clinicians and 8 administrators) from a large teaching hospital in Canada. This study revealed three scenarios for the responses to near misses, the most common involved 'doing a quick fix' where clinicians recognised and corrected an error with no further action. The second scenario consisted of reporting near misses but not hearing back from management, which some participants characterised as 'going into a black hole'. The third scenario was 'closing off the Swiss-cheese holes', in which a reported near miss generated corrective action at an organisational level. Explanations for 'doing a quick fix' included the pervasiveness of near misses that cause no harm and fear associated with reporting the near miss. 'Going into a black hole' reflected managers' focus on operational duties and events that harmed patients. 'Closing off the Swiss-cheese holes' occurred when managers perceived substantial potential for harm and preventability. Where learning was perceived to occur, leaders played a pivotal role in encouraging near-miss reporting. To optimise learning, organisations will need to determine which near misses are appropriate to be responded to as 'quick fixes' and which ones require further action at the unit and corporate levels.

  14. Successful removal of football helmet face-mask clips after 1 season of use.

    PubMed

    Scibek, Jason S; Gatti, Joseph M; McKenzie, Jennifer I

    2012-01-01

    Whereas many researchers have assessed the ability to remove loop straps in traditional face-mask attachment systems after at least 1 season of use, research in which the effectiveness of the Riddell Quick Release (QR) Face Guard Attachment System clip after 1 season has been assessed is limited. To examine the success rate of removing the QR clips after 1 season of use at the Football Championship Subdivision level. We hypothesized that 1 season of use would negatively affect the removal rate of the QR clip but repeated clip-removal trials would improve the removal rate. Retrospective, quasi-experimental design. Controlled laboratory study. Sixty-three football helmets from a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I university located in western Pennsylvania used during the 2008 season were tested. Three certified athletic trainers (2 men, 1 woman; age = 31.3 ± 3.06 years, time certified = 9.42 ± 2.65 years) attempted to remove the QR clips from each helmet with the tool provided by the manufacturer. Helmets then were reassembled to allow each athletic trainer to attempt clip removal. The dependent variables were total left clips removed (TCR-L), total right clips removed (TCR-R), and total clips removed (TCR). Success rate of clip removal (SRCR) also was assessed. Percentages for TCR-L, TCR-R, and TCR were 100% (189 of 189), 96.30% (182 of 189), and 98.15% (371 of 378), respectively. A paired-samples t test revealed a difference between TCR-R and TCR-L (t(188) = 2.689, P = .008, μ(d) = 0.037, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.064, 0.010). The percentage for SRCR was 96.30% (n = 182), whereas SRCR percentages for trials 1, 2, and 3 were 95.24% (n = 60), 98.41% (n = 62), and 95.24% (n = 60), respectively, and did not represent a difference (F(2,186) = 0.588, P = .56, 95% (CI) = 0.94, 0.99). Our results indicated favorable and consistent success rates for QR clip removal after 1 season of use. Whereas the QR clip is an advancement in face

  15. Quick application/release nut with engagement indicator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wright, Jay M. (Inventor)

    1992-01-01

    A composite nut is shown which permits a fastener to be inserted or removed from either side with an indicator of fastener engagement. The nut has a plurality of segments, preferably at least three segments, which are internally threaded, spring loaded apart by an internal spring, and has detents on opposite sides which force the nut segments into operative engagements with a threaded member when pushed in and release the segments for quick insertion or removal of the nut when moved out. When the nut is installed, end pressure on one of the detents presses the nut segments into operative engagement with a threaded member where continued rotation locks the structure together with the detents depressed to indicate positive locking engagement of the nut. On removal, counterclockwise rotation of the nut relieves the endwise pressure on the detents, permitting internal springs to force the detents outward and allowing the nut segments to move outward and separate to permit quick removal of the fastener.

  16. Clean Air Markets - Quick Facts and Trends

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The Quick Facts and Trends module is part of a suite of Clean Air Markets-related tools that are accessible at http://camddataandmaps.epa.gov/gdm/index.cfm. The Quick Facts and Trends module provides charts and graphs depicting national trends in emissions and heat input. The user can view, for example, data pertaining to the top annual and ozone season emitters of a selected pollutant, the number of units and facilities in a particular state, and trends in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions.EPA's Clean Air Markets Division (CAMD) includes several market-based regulatory programs designed to improve air quality and ecosystems. The most well-known of these programs are EPA's Acid Rain Program and the NOx Programs, which reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)-compounds that adversely affect air quality, the environment, and public health. CAMD also plays an integral role in the development and implementation of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR).

  17. Exploring the Effectiveness of Curriculum Provided Through Transmedia Books for Increasing Students' Knowledge and Interest in Science

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ponners, Pamela Jones

    Transmedia books are new and emerging technologies which are beginning to be used in current classrooms. Transmedia books are a traditional printed book that uses multiple media though the use of Quick Response (QR) codes and augmented reality (AR) triggers to access web-based technology. Using the transmedia book Skills That Engage Me students in kindergarten through second grade engage in curriculum designed to introduce science skills and careers. Using the modified Draw-a-Scientist Test (mDAST), observations and interviews, researchers analyzed pre and post data to describe changes students have about science and scientists. Future study may include the development and validation of a new instrument, Draw a Science Student, and examining the mDAST checklist with the intention of updating the parameters of what is considered positive and negative in relationship with work a scientist conducts.

  18. On-farm quick tests for estimating nitrogen in dairy manure.

    PubMed

    Van Kessel, J S; Reeves, J B

    2000-08-01

    Manure nutrient analyses performed rapidly on the farm could be useful for nutrient management programs. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate six quick tests for their accuracy in estimating total manure N or NH4+-N. The quick tests included the hydrometer, electrical conductivity meter and pen, reflectometer, Agros N Meter, and Quantofix-N-Volumeter. The hydrometer was used to estimate total N, while the remaining tests were used to estimate NH4+-N. Samples (107) were collected from dairy farms in five northeastern states. Samples were analyzed for total N and NH4+-N by traditional laboratory methods and using each of the quick tests. Manure compositions ranged from 1.4 to 38.6% dry matter (DM), 0.9 to 9.5 kg/m3 total N, and 0.3 to 4.7 kg/m3 NH4+-N. The estimated concentration of total N or NH4+-N determined by each quick test was regressed against laboratory-determined values. The hydrometer did not estimate total N accurately. The strongest relationship for estimation of NH4+-N was with the Quantofix-N-Volumeter followed by the Agros N Meter, the reflectometer, and the electrical conductivity meter and pen. When the samples were split into high (>12%) and low (< or =12%) DM groups, in all cases the r2 for the regression equation was higher for the low DM group than for the high DM group. The Agros N Meter, the reflectometer, and the conductivity meter and pen did not perform well for the high DM group. These data indicate that several quick tests are viable options for measuring NH4+-N concentrations in dairy slurries and solids.

  19. An engineering and economic evaluation of quick germ-quick fiber process for dry-grind ethanol facilities: analysis.

    PubMed

    Rodríguez, Luis F; Li, Changying; Khanna, Madhu; Spaulding, Aslihan D; Lin, Tao; Eckhoff, Steven R

    2010-07-01

    An engineering economic model, which is mass balanced and compositionally driven, was developed to compare the conventional corn dry-grind process and the pre-fractionation process called quick germ-quick fiber (QQ). In this model, documented in a companion article, the distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) price was linked with its protein and fiber content as well as with the long-term average relationship with the corn price. The detailed economic analysis showed that the QQ plant retrofitted from conventional dry-grind ethanol plant reduces the manufacturing cost of ethanol by 13.5 cent/gallon and has net present value of nearly $4 million greater than the conventional dry-grind plant at an interest rate of 4% in 15years. Ethanol and feedstock price sensitivity analysis showed that the QQ plant gains more profits when ethanol price increases than conventional dry-grind ethanol plant. An optimistic analysis of the QQ process suggests that the greater value of the modified DDGS would provide greater resistance to fluctuations in corn price for QQ facilities. This model can be used to provide decision support for ethanol producers. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Unprecedented Cell-Selection Using Ultra-Quick Freezing Combined with Aquaporin Expression

    PubMed Central

    Kato, Yasuhiro; Miyauchi, Takayuki; Abe, Youichiro; Kojić, Dušan; Tanaka, Manami; Chikazawa, Nana; Nakatake, Yuhki; Ko, Shigeru B. H.; Kobayashi, Daisuke; Hazama, Akihiro; Fujiwara, Shoko; Uchida, Tatsuya; Yasui, Masato

    2014-01-01

    Freezing is usually used for preservation and storage of biological samples; however, this process may have some adverse effects such as cell membrane damage. Aquaporin (AQP), a water channel protein, has been suggested to play some roles for cryopreservation although its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here we show that membrane damage caused by ultra-quick freezing is rescued by the expression of AQP4. We next examine if the expression of AQP combined with ultra-quick freezing can be used to select cells efficiently under freezing conditions where most cells are died. CHO cells stably expressing AQP4 were exclusively selected from mixed cell cultures. Having identified the increased expression of AQP4 during ES cell differentiation into neuro-ectoderm using bioinformatics, we confirmed the improved survival of differentiated ES cells with AQP4 expression. Finally we show that CHO cells transiently transfected with Endothelin receptor A and Aqp4 were also selected and concentrated by multiple cycles of freezing/thawing, which was confirmed with calcium imaging in response to endothelin. Furthermore, we found that the expression of AQP enables a reduction in the amount of cryoprotectants for freezing, thereby decreasing osmotic stress and cellular toxicity. Taken together, we propose that this simple but efficient and safe method may be applicable to the selection of mammalian cells for applications in regenerative medicine as well as cell-based functional assays or drug screening protocols. PMID:24558371

  1. Social Media, Education and Data Sharing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    King, T. A.; Walker, R. J.; Masters, A.

    2011-12-01

    Social media is a blending of technology and social interactions which allows for the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Social media started as conversations between groups of people, now companies are using social media to communicate with customers and politicians use it to communicate with their constituents. Social media is now finding uses in the science communities. This adoption is driven by the expectation of students that technology will be an integral part of their research and that it will match the technology they use in their social lifes. Students are using social media to keep informed and collaborate with others. They have also replaced notepads with smart mobile devices. We have been introducing social media components into Virtual Observatories as a way to quickly access and exchange information with a tap or a click. We discuss the use of Quick Response (QR) codes, Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), unique identifiers, Twitter, Facebook and tiny URL redirects as ways to enable easier sharing of data and information. We also discuss what services and features are needed in a Virtual Observatory to make data sharing with social media possible.

  2. An Ontology-Based, Mobile-Optimized System for Pharmacogenomic Decision Support at the Point-of-Care

    PubMed Central

    Miñarro-Giménez, Jose Antonio; Blagec, Kathrin; Boyce, Richard D.; Adlassnig, Klaus-Peter; Samwald, Matthias

    2014-01-01

    Background The development of genotyping and genetic sequencing techniques and their evolution towards low costs and quick turnaround have encouraged a wide range of applications. One of the most promising applications is pharmacogenomics, where genetic profiles are used to predict the most suitable drugs and drug dosages for the individual patient. This approach aims to ensure appropriate medical treatment and avoid, or properly manage, undesired side effects. Results We developed the Medicine Safety Code (MSC) service, a novel pharmacogenomics decision support system, to provide physicians and patients with the ability to represent pharmacogenomic data in computable form and to provide pharmacogenomic guidance at the point-of-care. Pharmacogenomic data of individual patients are encoded as Quick Response (QR) codes and can be decoded and interpreted with common mobile devices without requiring a centralized repository for storing genetic patient data. In this paper, we present the first fully functional release of this system and describe its architecture, which utilizes Web Ontology Language 2 (OWL 2) ontologies to formalize pharmacogenomic knowledge and to provide clinical decision support functionalities. Conclusions The MSC system provides a novel approach for enabling the implementation of personalized medicine in clinical routine. PMID:24787444

  3. An ontology-based, mobile-optimized system for pharmacogenomic decision support at the point-of-care.

    PubMed

    Miñarro-Giménez, Jose Antonio; Blagec, Kathrin; Boyce, Richard D; Adlassnig, Klaus-Peter; Samwald, Matthias

    2014-01-01

    The development of genotyping and genetic sequencing techniques and their evolution towards low costs and quick turnaround have encouraged a wide range of applications. One of the most promising applications is pharmacogenomics, where genetic profiles are used to predict the most suitable drugs and drug dosages for the individual patient. This approach aims to ensure appropriate medical treatment and avoid, or properly manage, undesired side effects. We developed the Medicine Safety Code (MSC) service, a novel pharmacogenomics decision support system, to provide physicians and patients with the ability to represent pharmacogenomic data in computable form and to provide pharmacogenomic guidance at the point-of-care. Pharmacogenomic data of individual patients are encoded as Quick Response (QR) codes and can be decoded and interpreted with common mobile devices without requiring a centralized repository for storing genetic patient data. In this paper, we present the first fully functional release of this system and describe its architecture, which utilizes Web Ontology Language 2 (OWL 2) ontologies to formalize pharmacogenomic knowledge and to provide clinical decision support functionalities. The MSC system provides a novel approach for enabling the implementation of personalized medicine in clinical routine.

  4. Quick mixing of epoxy components

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dunlap, D. E., Jr.

    1981-01-01

    Two materials are mixed quickly, thoroughly, and in precise proportion by disposable cartridge. Cartridge mixes components of fast-curing epoxy resins, with no mess, just before they are used. It could also be used in industry and home for caulking, sealing, and patching. Materials to be mixed are initially isolated by cylinder wall within cartridge. Cylinder has vanes, with holes in them, at one end and handle at opposite end. When handle is pulled, grooves on shaft rotate cylinder so that vanes rotate to extrude material A uniformly into material B.

  5. QuickProbs—A Fast Multiple Sequence Alignment Algorithm Designed for Graphics Processors

    PubMed Central

    Gudyś, Adam; Deorowicz, Sebastian

    2014-01-01

    Multiple sequence alignment is a crucial task in a number of biological analyses like secondary structure prediction, domain searching, phylogeny, etc. MSAProbs is currently the most accurate alignment algorithm, but its effectiveness is obtained at the expense of computational time. In the paper we present QuickProbs, the variant of MSAProbs customised for graphics processors. We selected the two most time consuming stages of MSAProbs to be redesigned for GPU execution: the posterior matrices calculation and the consistency transformation. Experiments on three popular benchmarks (BAliBASE, PREFAB, OXBench-X) on quad-core PC equipped with high-end graphics card show QuickProbs to be 5.7 to 9.7 times faster than original CPU-parallel MSAProbs. Additional tests performed on several protein families from Pfam database give overall speed-up of 6.7. Compared to other algorithms like MAFFT, MUSCLE, or ClustalW, QuickProbs proved to be much more accurate at similar speed. Additionally we introduce a tuned variant of QuickProbs which is significantly more accurate on sets of distantly related sequences than MSAProbs without exceeding its computation time. The GPU part of QuickProbs was implemented in OpenCL, thus the package is suitable for graphics processors produced by all major vendors. PMID:24586435

  6. Near-Centenarian Makes Friends Quickly in New Home

    MedlinePlus

    ... Senior Living Near-Centenarian Makes Friends Quickly in New Home Past Issues / Summer 2009 Table of Contents ... 2008. Alice has already made friends at her new home. Frequent luncheon partners and home residents Beatrice ...

  7. Focusing on cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: an introduction to bromocriptine QR.

    PubMed

    Bell, David S

    2012-09-01

    Cardiovascular risk reduction is a key priority in patients with diabetes. The relationship between glycemic control and macrovascular outcomes, such as the benefit of intensive glucose control and the importance of postprandial or fasting blood glucose, is still under debate. A number of pharmacologic options are available to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and these options have differing evidence for their cardiovascular safety. In this article, the novel agent bromocriptine quick release is discussed. Recently approved, this once-daily treatment provides glycemic control as monotherapy or in combination with other antihyperglycemic medications and has been shown in a prospective phase 3 safety study to not increase cardiovascular risk. Therefore, bromocriptine quick release increases the range of options available to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without increasing cardiovascular risk.

  8. Evaluation of quick-dry asphalt paving seal (QDAPS).

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1987-10-01

    Quick-Dry Asphalt Paving Seal (QDAPS) manufactured for Texas Refinery Corp. Fort Worth, Texas. : According to the manufacturer, the primary use for this product is "a moisture resistant preventative maintenance asphalt coating for coating and sealing...

  9. Quick release engine cylinder

    DOEpatents

    Sunnarborg, Duane A.

    2000-01-01

    A quick release engine cylinder allows optical access to an essentially unaltered combustion chamber, is suitable for use with actual combustion processes, and is amenable to rapid and repeated disassembly and cleaning. A cylinder member, adapted to constrain a piston to a defined path through the cylinder member, sealingly engages a cylinder head to provide a production-like combustion chamber. A support member mounts with the cylinder member. The support-to-cylinder mounting allows two relationships therebetween. In the first mounting relationship, the support engages the cylinder member and restrains the cylinder against the head. In the second mounting relationship, the cylinder member can pass through the support member, moving away from the head and providing access to the piston-top and head.

  10. An Experimental Examination of Quick Writing in the Middle School Science Classroom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Benedek-Wood, Elizabeth; Mason, Linda H.; Wood, Philip H.; Hoffman, Katie E.; McGuire, Ashley

    2014-01-01

    A staggered A-B design study was used to evaluate the effects of Self- Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) instruction for quick writing in middle school science across four classrooms. A sixth-grade science teacher delivered all students' writing assessment and SRSD instruction for informative quick writing. Results indicated that performance…

  11. Dairy manure nutrient analysis using quick tests.

    PubMed

    Singh, A; Bicudo, J R

    2005-05-01

    Rapid on-farm assessment of manure nutrient content can be achieved with the use of quick tests. These tests can be used to indirectly measure the nutrient content in animal slurries immediately before manure is applied on agricultural fields. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of hydrometers, electrical conductivity meter and pens, and Agros N meter against standard laboratory methods. Manure samples were collected from 34 dairy farms in the Mammoth Cave area in central Kentucky. Regression equations were developed for combined and individual counties located In the area (Barren, Hart and Monroe). Our results indicated that accuracy in nutrient estimation could be improved if separate linear regressions were developed for farms with similar facilities in a county. Direct hydrometer estimates of total nitrogen were among the most accurate when separate regression equations were developed for each county (R2 = 0.61, 0.93, and 0.74 for Barren, Hart and Monroe county, respectively). Reasonably accurate estimates (R2 > 0.70) were also obtained for total nitrogen and total phosphorus using hydrometers, either by relating specific gravity to nutrient content or to total solids content. Estimation of ammoniacal nitrogen with Agros N meter and electrical conductivity meter/pens correlated well with standard laboratory determinations, especially while using the individual data sets from Hart County (R2 = 0.70 to 0.87). This study indicates that the use of quick test calibration equations developed for a small area or region where farms are similar in terms of manure handling and management, housing, and feed ration are more appropriate than using "universal" equations usually developed with combined data sets. Accuracy is expected to improve if individual farms develop their own calibration curves. Nevertheless, we suggest confidence intervals always be specified for nutrients estimated through quick testing for any specific region, county, or farm.

  12. Quick-Response Thermal Actuator for Use as a Heat Switch

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cepeda-Rizo, Juan

    2010-01-01

    This work improves the performance of a heat switch, or a thermal actuator, by delivering heat to the actuator in a more efficient manner. The method uses a heat pipe as the plunger or plug instead of just using a solid piece of metal. The heat pipe could be one tailored for fast transient thermal response.

  13. Violence Prevention. A Center Quick Training Aid.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    California Univ., Los Angeles. Center for Mental Health in Schools.

    Safe schools, violence prevention, and conflict resolution are all major concerns in addressing barriers to learning. This quick training aid presents a brief set of resources to guide those providing an in-service training session on violence prevention in schools. The packet contains a brief introduction to the topic with key talking points,…

  14. Water/Ice Heat Sink With Quick-Connect Couplings

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lomax, Curtis; Webbon, Bruce

    1996-01-01

    Report presents additional detailed information on apparatus described in "Direct-Interface, Fusible Heat Sink" (ARC-11920). Describes entire apparatus, with special emphasis on features of quick-disconnect couplings governing flow of water under various operating conditions and plumbing configuration.

  15. The 1975 Insecticide, Herbicide, Fungicide Quick Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Page, Bill G.; Thomson, W. T.

    This is a quick guide for choosing a chemical to use to control a certain pest on a specific crop. Information in the book was obtained from manufacturers' labels and from the USDA and FDA pesticide summary. The book is divided into four parts: (1) insecticides, (2) herbicides, (3) fungicides, and (4) conversion tables. Each of the first three…

  16. Quick Reads: Using Ipads to Explore Parabolas

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bixler, Sharon G.

    2014-01-01

    An iPad® can be used to teach students to graph parabolas with ease and grasp vocabulary quickly. Parabolas come to life for students in this easily implemented activity described in this article. Teachers can use this tool in a fun and interactive way to not only address these graphing and vocabulary concepts but also introduce and explore…

  17. Quick-Guides to Inclusion: Ideas for Educating Students with Disabilities, Second Edition

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Giangreco, Michael F., Ed.; Doyle, Mary Beth, Ed.

    2007-01-01

    Now for the first time ever, the bestselling, teacher-trusted "Quick-Guides to Inclusion" are available in a single updated and revised volume -- complete with seven all-new Quick-Guides. A resource for busy K-12 teachers who need fast, friendly, and practical guidance on including students with disabilities in general education classrooms, this…

  18. DNA fingerprinting of Chinese melon provides evidentiary support of seed quality appraisal.

    PubMed

    Gao, Peng; Ma, Hongyan; Luan, Feishi; Song, Haibin

    2012-01-01

    Melon, Cucumis melo L. is an important vegetable crop worldwide. At present, there are phenomena of homonyms and synonyms present in the melon seed markets of China, which could cause variety authenticity issues influencing the process of melon breeding, production, marketing and other aspects. Molecular markers, especially microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are playing increasingly important roles for cultivar identification. The aim of this study was to construct a DNA fingerprinting database of major melon cultivars, which could provide a possibility for the establishment of a technical standard system for purity and authenticity identification of melon seeds. In this study, to develop the core set SSR markers, 470 polymorphic SSRs were selected as the candidate markers from 1219 SSRs using 20 representative melon varieties (lines). Eighteen SSR markers, evenly distributed across the genome and with the highest contents of polymorphism information (PIC) were identified as the core marker set for melon DNA fingerprinting analysis. Fingerprint codes for 471 melon varieties (lines) were established. There were 51 materials which were classified into17 groups based on sharing the same fingerprint code, while field traits survey results showed that these plants in the same group were synonyms because of the same or similar field characters. Furthermore, DNA fingerprinting quick response (QR) codes of 471 melon varieties (lines) were constructed. Due to its fast readability and large storage capacity, QR coding melon DNA fingerprinting is in favor of read convenience and commercial applications.

  19. Genomics dataset on unclassified published organism (patent US 7547531).

    PubMed

    Khan Shawan, Mohammad Mahfuz Ali; Hasan, Md Ashraful; Hossain, Md Mozammel; Hasan, Md Mahmudul; Parvin, Afroza; Akter, Salina; Uddin, Kazi Rasel; Banik, Subrata; Morshed, Mahbubul; Rahman, Md Nazibur; Rahman, S M Badier

    2016-12-01

    Nucleotide (DNA) sequence analysis provides important clues regarding the characteristics and taxonomic position of an organism. With the intention that, DNA sequence analysis is very crucial to learn about hierarchical classification of that particular organism. This dataset (patent US 7547531) is chosen to simplify all the complex raw data buried in undisclosed DNA sequences which help to open doors for new collaborations. In this data, a total of 48 unidentified DNA sequences from patent US 7547531 were selected and their complete sequences were retrieved from NCBI BioSample database. Quick response (QR) code of those DNA sequences was constructed by DNA BarID tool. QR code is useful for the identification and comparison of isolates with other organisms. AT/GC content of the DNA sequences was determined using ENDMEMO GC Content Calculator, which indicates their stability at different temperature. The highest GC content was observed in GP445188 (62.5%) which was followed by GP445198 (61.8%) and GP445189 (59.44%), while lowest was in GP445178 (24.39%). In addition, New England BioLabs (NEB) database was used to identify cleavage code indicating the 5, 3 and blunt end and enzyme code indicating the methylation site of the DNA sequences was also shown. These data will be helpful for the construction of the organisms' hierarchical classification, determination of their phylogenetic and taxonomic position and revelation of their molecular characteristics.

  20. DNA Fingerprinting of Chinese Melon Provides Evidentiary Support of Seed Quality Appraisal

    PubMed Central

    Gao, Peng; Ma, Hongyan; Luan, Feishi; Song, Haibin

    2012-01-01

    Melon, Cucumis melo L. is an important vegetable crop worldwide. At present, there are phenomena of homonyms and synonyms present in the melon seed markets of China, which could cause variety authenticity issues influencing the process of melon breeding, production, marketing and other aspects. Molecular markers, especially microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are playing increasingly important roles for cultivar identification. The aim of this study was to construct a DNA fingerprinting database of major melon cultivars, which could provide a possibility for the establishment of a technical standard system for purity and authenticity identification of melon seeds. In this study, to develop the core set SSR markers, 470 polymorphic SSRs were selected as the candidate markers from 1219 SSRs using 20 representative melon varieties (lines). Eighteen SSR markers, evenly distributed across the genome and with the highest contents of polymorphism information (PIC) were identified as the core marker set for melon DNA fingerprinting analysis. Fingerprint codes for 471 melon varieties (lines) were established. There were 51 materials which were classified into17 groups based on sharing the same fingerprint code, while field traits survey results showed that these plants in the same group were synonyms because of the same or similar field characters. Furthermore, DNA fingerprinting quick response (QR) codes of 471 melon varieties (lines) were constructed. Due to its fast readability and large storage capacity, QR coding melon DNA fingerprinting is in favor of read convenience and commercial applications. PMID:23285039

  1. International Space Station Increment-2 Quick Look Report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jules, Kenol; Hrovat, Kenneth; Kelly, Eric

    2001-01-01

    The objective of this quick look report is to disseminate the International Space Station (ISS) Increment-2 reduced gravity environment preliminary analysis in a timely manner to the microgravity scientific community. This report is a quick look at the processed acceleration data collected by the Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS) during the period of May 3 to June 8, 2001. The report is by no means an exhaustive examination of all the relevant activities, which occurred during the time span mentioned above for two reasons. First, the time span being considered in this report is rather short since the MAMS was not active throughout the time span being considered to allow a detailed characterization. Second, as the name of the report implied, it is a quick look at the acceleration data. Consequently, a more comprehensive report, the ISS Increment-2 report, will be published following the conclusion of the Increment-2 tour of duty. NASA sponsors the MAMS and the Space Acceleration Microgravity System (SAMS) to support microgravity science experiments, which require microgravity acceleration measurements. On April 19, 2001, both the MAMS and the SAMS units were launched on STS-100 from the Kennedy Space Center for installation on the ISS. The MAMS unit was flown to the station in support of science experiments requiring quasisteady acceleration data measurements, while the SAMS unit was flown to support experiments requiring vibratory acceleration data measurement. Both acceleration systems are also used in support of the vehicle microgravity requirements verification. The ISS reduced gravity environment analysis presented in this report uses mostly the MAMS acceleration data measurements (the Increment-2 report will cover both systems). The MAMS has two sensors. The MAMS Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment Sensor Subsystem, which is a low frequency range sensor (up to 1 Hz), is used to characterize the quasi-steady environment for payloads and

  2. Detection of antistripping additives with quick bottle test.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1980-01-01

    Several variations of the quick bottle test were evaluated to determine the procedure having the best repeatability. Naphtha was selected over kerosene and white gas as the solvent for use in the test, and room temperature was selected over 140F as...

  3. 20 CFR 416.1019 - Quick disability determination process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Quick disability determination process. 416.1019 Section 416.1019 Employees' Benefits SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME... disagreement between the disability examiner and the medical or psychological consultant, the State agency will...

  4. Quick actuating closure

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    White, III, Dorsey E. (Inventor); Updike, deceased, Benjamin T. (Inventor); Allred, Johnny W. (Inventor)

    1989-01-01

    A quick actuating closure for a pressure vessel 80 in which a wedge ring 30 with a conical outer surface 31 is moved forward to force shear blocks 40, with conical inner surfaces 41, radially outward to lock an end closure plug 70 within an opening 81 in the pressure vessel 80. A seal ring 60 and a preload ramp 50 sit between the shear blocks 40 and the end closure plug 70 to provide a backup sealing capability. Conical surfaces 44 and 55 of the preload ramp 50 and the shear blocks 40 interact to force the seal ring 60 into shoulders 73 and 85 in the end closure plug 70 and opening 81 to form a tight seal. The end closure plug 70 is unlocked by moving the wedge ring 30 rearward, which causes T-bars 32 of the wedge ring 30 riding within T -slots 42 of the shear blocks 40 to force them radially inward. The end closure plug 70 is then removed, allowing access to the interior of the pressure vessel 80.

  5. 7 CFR 1486.206 - What is the Quick Response Marketing Fund?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... Marketing Fund must identify specific market access issues that also face time constraints. Application... responsiveness to time-sensitive marketing problems or opportunities, such as a change in an import regime or the...

  6. 20 CFR 404.1619 - Quick disability determination process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Quick disability determination process. 404.1619 Section 404.1619 Employees' Benefits SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND... that is fully favorable to the individual or if there is an unresolved disagreement between the...

  7. Cell intrinsic modulation of Wnt signaling controls neuroblast migration in C. elegans.

    PubMed

    Mentink, Remco A; Middelkoop, Teije C; Rella, Lorenzo; Ji, Ni; Tang, Chung Yin; Betist, Marco C; van Oudenaarden, Alexander; Korswagen, Hendrik C

    2014-10-27

    Members of the Wnt family of secreted signaling proteins are key regulators of cell migration and axon guidance. In the nematode C. elegans, the migration of the QR neuroblast descendants requires multiple Wnt ligands and receptors. We found that the migration of the QR descendants is divided into three sequential phases that are each mediated by a distinct Wnt signaling mechanism. Importantly, the transition from the first to the second phase, which is the main determinant of the final position of the QR descendants along the anteroposterior body axis, is mediated through a cell-autonomous process in which the time-dependent expression of a Wnt receptor turns on the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling response that is required to terminate long-range anterior migration. Our results show that, in addition to direct guidance of cell migration by Wnt morphogenic gradients, cell migration can also be controlled indirectly through cell-intrinsic modulation of Wnt signaling responses.

  8. The NASA master directory: Quick reference guide

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Satin, Karen (Editor); Kanga, Carol (Editor)

    1989-01-01

    This is a quick reference guide to the NASA Master Directory (MD), which is a free, online, multidisciplinary directory of space and Earth science data sets (NASA and non-NASA data) that are of potential interest to the NASA-sponsored research community. The MD contains high-level descriptions of data sets, other data systems and archives, and campaigns and projects. It provides mechanisms for searching for data sets by important criteria such as geophysical parameters, time, and spatial coverage, and provides information on ordering the data. It also provides automatic connections to a number of data systems such as the NASA Climate Data System, the Planetary Data System, the NASA Ocean Data System, the Pilot Land Data System, and others. The MD includes general information about many data systems, data centers, and coordinated data analysis projects, It represents the first major step in the Catalog Interoperability project, whose objective is to enable researchers to quickly and efficiently identify, obtain information about, and get access to space and Earth science data. The guide describes how to access, use, and exit the MD and lists its features.

  9. Straight talk with...Jonathan Quick. Interview by Roxanne Khamsi.

    PubMed

    Quick, Jonathan

    2013-09-01

    In April 2012, an e-mail announcing the impending closure of the Global Health Council following the cancellation of its annual conference sent shockwaves through its community of 325 organizational members spanning 39 countries. For 40 years, the Alexandria, Virginia-based nonprofit had acted as an umbrella organization for stakeholders that include some of the world's most prominent medical institutions and drug companies. As the June 2012 closure of the GHC approached, several members stepped in to rescue the operation, including Jonathan Quick, a family physician and CEO of Management Sciences for Health, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based outfit that works to strengthen health systems and infrastructure around the globe. In January, a new GHC board was elected, with Quick at the helm. In the ensuing months the board members have built the organization back up-albeit as a leaner and more targeted operation. This past summer, they launched a revamped website (www.globalhealth.org) and are looking ahead to convening GHC members at the UN General Assembly on 18 September in New York, where the discussion of Millennium Development Goals will take place. As Nature Medicine went to press, the relaunched GHC was in the midst of recruiting for its first staff position, executive director. Roxanne Khamsi spoke with Quick about the health of the organization.

  10. Development and quality evaluation of quick cooking dhal-A convenience product.

    PubMed

    Sethi, Shruti; Samuel, D V K; Khan, Islam

    2014-03-01

    Owing to rapid urbanization and more women joining the workforce, use of ready-to-eat and ready-to-use convenience foods is gaining increasing popularity. Women require dhal that cooks fast and increases in volume when cooked. In an attempt to prepare quick cooking dhal from pigeon pea, variety UPAS 120 was milled, pre-treated with sodium chloride solution (1%), flaked and dried. The quick cooking dhal was packed in three packaging materials, namely, high molecular weight high density polyethylene (HMHDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and laminated pouches. The quality evaluation of the prepared flakes with respect to the cooking quality attributes, changes in proximate composition, free fatty acid (FFA) and peroxide value (PV) were carried out during storage at ambient temperature (8-36°C) at regular intervals for a period of 10 months. During storage, quick cooking dhal packed in laminated pouches performed better than samples stored in other pouches with respect to the changes in the overall quality and acceptability of the product.

  11. The PROMIS Global Health Questionnaire Correlates With the QuickDASH in Patients With Upper Extremity Illness.

    PubMed

    Stoop, Nicky; Menendez, Mariano E; Mellema, Jos J; Ring, David

    2018-01-01

    The objective of this study is to evaluate the construct validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health instrument by establishing its correlation to the Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire in patients with upper extremity illness. A cohort of 112 patients completed a sociodemographic survey and the PROMIS Global Health and QuickDASH questionnaires. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the association of the QuickDASH with the PROMIS Global Health items and subscales. Six of the 10 PROMIS Global Health items were associated with the QuickDASH. The PROMIS Global Physical Health subscale showed moderate correlation with QuickDASH and the Mental Health subscale. There was no significant relationship between the PROMIS Global Mental Health subscale and QuickDASH. The consistent finding that general patient-reported outcomes correlate moderately with regional patient-reported outcomes suggests that a small number of relatively nonspecific patient-reported outcome measures might be used to assess a variety of illnesses. In our opinion, the blending of physical and mental health questions in the PROMIS Global Health makes this instrument less useful for research or patient care.

  12. Combining R gene and quantitative resistance increases effectiveness of cultivar resistance against Leptosphaeria maculans in Brassica napus in different environments

    PubMed Central

    Mitrousia, Georgia K.; Sidique, Siti Nordahliawate M.; Qi, Aiming; Fitt, Bruce D. L.

    2018-01-01

    canker than NK Grandia (QR). Analysis of the relationship between severity of stem canker and weather data among the 13 sites in the three growing seasons showed that increased severity of stem canker was associated with increased rainfall during the phoma leaf spot development stage and increased temperature during the stem canker development stage. Further analysis of cultivar response to environmental factors showed that cultivars with both an Rlm gene and QR (e.g. DK Cabernet, Adriana and Excel) were less sensitive to a change in environment than cultivars with only Rlm genes (e.g. Capitol, Bilbao) or only QR (e.g. DK Grandia). These results suggest that combining R gene and QR can provide effective, stable control of phoma stem canker in different environments. PMID:29791484

  13. Information Regarding the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test

    MedlinePlus

    ... you”), a disposal bag and phone numbers for consumer support. This approved test uses oral fluid to ... step instructions, and there is also an OraQuick Consumer Support Center to assist users in the testing ...

  14. Aluminum nanostructures with strong visible-range SERS activity for versatile micropatterning of molecular security labels.

    PubMed

    Lay, Chee Leng; Koh, Charlynn Sher Lin; Wang, Jing; Lee, Yih Hong; Jiang, Ruibin; Yang, Yijie; Yang, Zhe; Phang, In Yee; Ling, Xing Yi

    2018-01-03

    The application of aluminum (Al)-based nanostructures for visible-range plasmonics, especially for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), currently suffers from inconsistent local electromagnetic field distributions and/or inhomogeneous distribution of probe molecules. Herein, we lithographically fabricate structurally uniform Al nanostructures which enable homogeneous adsorption of various probe molecules. Individual Al nanostructures exhibit strong local electromagnetic field enhancements, in turn leading to intense SERS activity. The average SERS enhancement factor (EF) for individual nanostructures exceeds 10 4 for non-resonant probe molecules in the visible spectrum. These Al nanostructures also retain more than 70% of their original SERS intensities after one-month storage, displaying superb stability under ambient conditions. We further achieve tunable polarization-dependent SERS responses using anisotropic Al nanostructures, facilitating the design of sophisticated SERS-based security labels. Our micron-sized security label comprises two-tier security features, including a machine-readable hybrid quick-response (QR) code overlaid with a set of ciphertexts. Our work demonstrates the versatility of Al-based structures in low-cost modern chemical nano-analytics and forgery protection.

  15. Successful Removal of Football Helmet Face-Mask Clips After 1 Season of Use

    PubMed Central

    Scibek, Jason S.; Gatti, Joseph M.; McKenzie, Jennifer I.

    2012-01-01

    Context Whereas many researchers have assessed the ability to remove loop straps in traditional face-mask attachment systems after at least 1 season of use, research in which the effectiveness of the Riddell Quick Release (QR) Face Guard Attachment System clip after 1 season has been assessed is limited. Objective To examine the success rate of removing the QR clips after 1 season of use at the Football Championship Subdivision level. We hypothesized that 1 season of use would negatively affect the removal rate of the QR clip but repeated clip-removal trials would improve the removal rate. Design Retrospective, quasi-experimental design. Setting Controlled laboratory study. Patients or Other Participants Sixty-three football helmets from a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I university located in western Pennsylvania used during the 2008 season were tested. Intervention(s) Three certified athletic trainers (2 men, 1 woman; age = 31.3 ± 3.06 years, time certified = 9.42 ± 2.65 years) attempted to remove the QR clips from each helmet with the tool provided by the manufacturer. Helmets then were reassembled to allow each athletic trainer to attempt clip removal. Main Outcome Measure(s) The dependent variables were total left clips removed (TCR-L), total right clips removed (TCR-R), and total clips removed (TCR). Success rate of clip removal (SRCR) also was assessed. Results Percentages for TCR-L, TCR-R, and TCR were 100% (189 of 189), 96.30% (182 of 189), and 98.15% (371 of 378), respectively. A paired-samples t test revealed a difference between TCR-R and TCR-L (t188 = −2.689, P = .008, μd = 0.037, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.064, −0.010). The percentage for SRCR was 96.30% (n = 182), whereas SRCR percentages for trials 1, 2, and 3 were 95.24% (n = 60), 98.41% (n = 62), and 95.24% (n = 60), respectively, and did not represent a difference (F2,186 = 0.588, P = .56, 95% CI = 0.94, 0.99). Conclusions Our results indicated favorable and

  16. Quick and clean cloning.

    PubMed

    Thieme, Frank; Marillonnet, Sylvestre

    2014-01-01

    Identification of unknown sequences that flank known sequences of interest requires PCR amplification of DNA fragments that contain the junction between the known and unknown flanking sequences. Since amplified products often contain a mixture of specific and nonspecific products, the quick and clean (QC) cloning procedure was developed to clone specific products only. QC cloning is a ligation-independent cloning procedure that relies on the exonuclease activity of T4 DNA polymerase to generate single-stranded extensions at the ends of the vector and insert. A specific feature of QC cloning is the use of vectors that contain a sequence called catching sequence that allows cloning specific products only. QC cloning is performed by a one-pot incubation of insert and vector in the presence of T4 DNA polymerase at room temperature for 10 min followed by direct transformation of the incubation mix in chemo-competent Escherichia coli cells.

  17. Quick-sealing design for radiological containment

    DOEpatents

    Rampolia, Donald S.; Speer, Elmer

    1990-01-01

    A quick-sealing assembly and method for forming an adhesive seal on opposite sides of a mechanical seal for a flexible containment bag of the type used for working with radioactively contaminated objects. The assembly includes an elongated mechanical fastener having opposing engaging members affixed at a predetermined distance from each of the elongated edges, with an adhesive layer formed between the mechanical fastener and the elongated edge such that upon engagement of the mechanical fastener and adhesive layers to opposing containment fabric, a neat triple hermetic seal is formed.

  18. Quick-sealing design for radiological containment

    DOEpatents

    Rampolla, Donald S.; Speer, Elmer

    1991-01-01

    A quick-sealing assembly and method for forming an adhesive seal on opposite sides of a mechanical seal for a flexible containment bag of the type used for working with radioactively contaminated objects. The assembly includes an elongated mechanical fastener having opposing engaging members affixed at a predetermined distance from each of the elongated edges, with an adhesive layer formed between the mechanical fastener and the elongated edge such that upon engagement of the mechanical fastener and adhesive layers to opposing containment fabric, a neat triple hermetic seal is formed.

  19. The impact of expired and empty quick-relief asthma inhalers: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's Asthma Inhaler Design Survey.

    PubMed

    Storms, William W; Tringale, Mike; Ferro, Thomas J

    2015-01-01

    Despite the available treatments, asthma remains a serious illness, with a considerable socioeconomic burden associated with a high number of unscheduled visits to the emergency department (ED). Poor adherence and inadequate inhaler technique are contributing factors to poor asthma management and control. The Asthma Inhaler Design Survey assessed the behaviors, attitudes, needs, and preferences of patients with asthma and their caregivers with regard to quick-relief inhaler usage and device design. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America invited 19,157 adult patients and parents of children with asthma to take part in an online survey that focused on previous asthma diagnosis, symptom severity, and quick-relief and controller medication use. Opinions were also collected. Data from 590 respondents (366 adults; 224 children) were included in the final analysis. Relief inhalers were needed and found to be past the expiration date by 284 of 561 (50.6%) and relief inhalers were found to be empty by 270 of 560 (48.2%). Of the empty inhaler group, 28 of 270 (10.4%) had to visit the ED for treatment, 18 of 270 (6.7%) missed work or school for an unscheduled physician office visit, and 54 of 270 (20%) went without treatment. Although 78.5% indicated that they had at least two quick-relief inhalers nearby, these were not always easily accessible. Few respondents (194/578 [33.6%]) indicated that they and/or their child were very confident that they were using their inhaler properly, even though the majority had received some instruction. When asked what they would do to improve satisfaction with their quick-relief inhalers, 173 of 558 (31%) responded that they would add a dose counter. Unnecessary health care utilization and avoidable loss of time at work or school were associated with the lack of full availability of properly functioning quick-relief inhalers when needed. Adding a dose counter was the most frequently cited response for improving satisfaction with quick

  20. Identity of the immunomodulatory proteins from garlic (Allium sativum) with the major garlic lectins or agglutinins.

    PubMed

    Clement, Fatima; Pramod, Siddanakoppalu N; Venkatesh, Yeldur P

    2010-03-01

    Garlic (Allium sativum), an important medicinal spice, displays a plethora of biological effects including immunomodulation. Although some immunomodulatory proteins from garlic have been described, their identities are still unknown. The present study was envisaged to isolate immunomodulatory proteins from raw garlic, and examine their effects on certain cells of the immune system (lymphocytes, mast cells, and basophils) in relation to mitogenicity and hypersensitivity. Three protein components of approximately 13 kD (QR-1, QR-2, and QR-3 in the ratio 7:28:1) were separated by Q-Sepharose chromatography of 30 kD ultrafiltrate of raw garlic extract. All the 3 proteins exhibited mitogenic activity towards human peripheral blood lymphocytes, murine splenocytes and thymocytes. The mitogenicity of QR-2 was the highest among the three immunomodulatory proteins. QR-1 and QR-2 displayed hemagglutination and mannose-binding activities; QR-3 showed only mannose-binding activity. Immunoreactivity of rabbit anti-QR-1 and anti-QR-2 polyclonal antisera showed specificity for their respective antigens as well as mutual cross-reactivity; QR-3 was better recognized by anti-QR-2 (82%) than by anti-QR-1 (55%). QR-2 induced a 2-fold higher histamine release in vitro from leukocytes of atopic subjects compared to that of non-atopic subjects. In all functional studies, QR-2 was more potent compared to QR-1. Taken together, all these results indicate that the two major proteins QR-2 and QR-1 present in a ratio of 4:1 in raw garlic contribute to garlic's immunomodulatory activity, and their characteristics are markedly similar to the abundant Allium sativum agglutinins (ASA) I and II, respectively. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Quick and Easy Rate Equations for Multistep Reactions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Savage, Phillip E.

    2008-01-01

    Students rarely see closed-form analytical rate equations derived from underlying chemical mechanisms that contain more than a few steps unless restrictive simplifying assumptions (e.g., existence of a rate-determining step) are made. Yet, work published decades ago allows closed-form analytical rate equations to be written quickly and easily for…

  2. A Quick-Test for Biochar Effects on Seed Germination ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Biochar is being globally evaluated as a soil amendment to improve soil characteristics (e.g. soil water holding, nutrient exchange, microbiology, pesticides and chemical availability) to increase crop yields. Unfortunately, there are no quick tests to determine what biochar types are most effective at improving soil characteristics amenable for higher crop yields. Seed germination is a critical parameter for plant establishment and may be a quick indicator of biochar quality. We adapted Oregon State University Seed Laboratory procedures to develop a “quick-test” for screening the effects of biochar on seed germination. We used 11.0 cm rectangular x 3.5 cm deep containers fitted with blotter paper. The paper was premoistened with reverse-osmosis water, followed by placement of seeds (25 in a uniform 5 x 5 vacuum-assisted pattern, and biochar mixtures). A Norfolk and Coxville soil series from South Carolina were used. A total of 18 biochars were evaluated that were produced from 6 feedstocks (pine chips, poultry litter, swine solids, switchgrass, and two blends of pine chips and poultry litter); with biochar from each feedstock made by pyrolysis at 350, 500 and 700 ̊ C. Crops were cabbage, cucumber, onion, ryegrass and tomato. Preliminary results from the test indicated differences in seed germination due to soil type and possibly soil x biochar feedstock interactions. Other measurements including shoot dry weight per plate and pH of the soil+ biochar mixtur

  3. The role of bromocriptine-QR in the management of type 2 diabetes expert panel recommendations.

    PubMed

    Garber, Alan J; Blonde, Lawrence; Bloomgarden, Zachary T; Handelsman, Yehuda; Dagogo-Jack, Samuel

    2013-01-01

    To review available data on the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine-QR (BQR) and to consider its role in the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Published literature reporting the efficacy and safety of BQR in the treatment of T2DM was reviewed, including peer-reviewed abstracts and poster presentations. BQR is an oral hypoglycemic agent with a novel mechanism of action that appears to involve enhancement of morning central nervous system (CNS) dopaminergic activity, resulting in improved insulin sensitivity and reduced hepatic glucose output. Adjunctive treatment with BQR in the dosing range of 1.6 to 4.8 mg/d may result in a mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) reduction in glycated hemoglobin (A1c) levels of 0.69% (0.97%, 0.41%). Treatment with BQR appears to be associated with minimal intrinsic risk of hypoglycemia, and does not appear to be associated with clinically significant adverse effects on weight, triglycerides, free fatty acids, or blood pressure. The favorable cardiovascular risk profile of BQR suggests that it may be useful in the treatment of patients with T2DM with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or who have significant risk factors for CVD. However, knowledge of the efficacy and safety of BQR is limited by the relatively small clinical trials database. As a result, there is currently insufficient information on the safety and efficacy of adjunctive BQR in T2DM patients being treated with several common diabetes regimens (e.g., thiazolidinediones, insulin).

  4. Systematic review of the relationship between quick returns in rotating shift work and health-related outcomes.

    PubMed

    Vedaa, Øystein; Harris, Anette; Bjorvatn, Bjørn; Waage, Siri; Sivertsen, Børge; Tucker, Philip; Pallesen, Ståle

    2016-01-01

    A systematic literature search was carried out to investigate the relationship between quick returns (i.e., 11.0 hours or less between two consecutive shifts) and outcome measures of health, sleep, functional ability and work-life balance. A total of 22 studies published in 21 articles were included. Three types of quick returns were differentiated (from evening to morning/day, night to evening, morning/day to night shifts) where sleep duration and sleepiness appeared to be differently affected depending on which shifts the quick returns occurred between. There were some indications of detrimental effects of quick returns on proximate problems (e.g., sleep, sleepiness and fatigue), although the evidence of associations with more chronic outcome measures (physical and mental health and work-life balance) was inconclusive. Modern societies are dependent on people working shifts. This study systematically reviews literature on the consequences of quick returns (11.0 hours or less between two shifts). Quick returns have detrimental effects on acute health problems. However, the evidence regarding effects on chronic health is inconclusive.

  5. Summary of Proton Test on the Quick Logic QL3025 at Indiana University

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Katz, Richard

    1998-01-01

    This issue of the Programmable Logic Application Notes is a compilation of topics: (1) Proton irradiation tests were performed on the Quick Logic QL3025 at the Indian University Cyclotron facility. The devices, tests, and results are discussed; (2) The functional failure of EEPROM's in heavy ion environment is presented; (3) the Act 1 architecture is summarized; (4) Antifuse hardness and hardness testing is updated; the single even upset (SEU) response of hardwired flip-flops is also presented; (4) Total dose results of the ACT 2 and ACT 3 circuits is presented in a chart; (5) Recent sub-micron devices testing of total dose is presented in a chart along with brief discussion; and (6) a reference to the WWW site for more articles of interest.

  6. Program helps quickly calculate deviated well path

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gardner, M.P.

    1993-11-22

    A BASIC computer program quickly calculates the angle and measured depth of a simple directional well given only the true vertical depth and total displacement of the target. Many petroleum engineers and geologists need a quick, easy method to calculate the angle and measured depth necessary to reach a target in a proposed deviated well bore. Too many of the existing programs are large and require much input data. The drilling literature is full of equations and methods to calculate the course of well paths from surveys taken after a well is drilled. Very little information, however, covers how tomore » calculate well bore trajectories for proposed wells from limited data. Furthermore, many of the equations are quite complex and difficult to use. A figure lists a computer program with the equations to calculate the well bore trajectory necessary to reach a given displacement and true vertical depth (TVD) for a simple build plant. It can be run on an IBM compatible computer with MS-DOS version 5 or higher, QBasic, or any BASIC that does no require line numbers. QBasic 4.5 compiler will also run the program. The equations are based on conventional geometry and trigonometry.« less

  7. Every Place Counts Leadership Academy : transportation toolkit quick guide

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2016-12-01

    This is a quick guide to the Transportation Toolkit. The Transportation Toolkit is meant to explain the transportation process to members of the public with no prior knowledge of transportation. The Toolkit is meant to demystify transportation and he...

  8. 20 CFR 404.1619 - Quick disability determination process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 20 Employees' Benefits 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Quick disability determination process. 404... disability determination process. (a) If we identify a claim as one involving a high degree of probability... determination process pursuant to this section and § 404.1620(c). (b) If we refer a claim to the State agency...

  9. A Quick-Test for Biochar Effects on Seed Germination

    EPA Science Inventory

    Biochar is being globally evaluated as a soil amendment to improve soil characteristics (e.g. soil water holding, nutrient exchange, microbiology, pesticides and chemical availability) to increase crop yields. Unfortunately, there are no quick tests to determine what biochar type...

  10. 78 FR 68096 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Quick...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-13

    ... Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Quick Turnaround... Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL- ETA, Office of Management and Budget, Room... authority for the ETA to conduct quick turnaround surveys on Workforce Investment Act (WIA) related issues...

  11. Delineation of a quick clay zone at Smørgrav, Norway, with electromagnetic methods under geotechnical constraints

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalscheuer, Thomas; Bastani, Mehrdad; Donohue, Shane; Persson, Lena; Aspmo Pfaffhuber, Andreas; Reiser, Fabienne; Ren, Zhengyong

    2013-05-01

    In many coastal areas of North America and Scandinavia, post-glacial clay sediments have emerged above sea level due to iso-static uplift. These clays are often destabilised by fresh water leaching and transformed to so-called quick clays as at the investigated area at Smørgrav, Norway. Slight mechanical disturbances of these materials may trigger landslides. Since the leaching increases the electrical resistivity of quick clay as compared to normal marine clay, the application of electromagnetic (EM) methods is of particular interest in the study of quick clay structures. For the first time, single and joint inversions of direct-current resistivity (DCR), radiomagnetotelluric (RMT) and controlled-source audiomagnetotelluric (CSAMT) data were applied to delineate a zone of quick clay. The resulting 2-D models of electrical resistivity correlate excellently with previously published data from a ground conductivity metre and resistivity logs from two resistivity cone penetration tests (RCPT) into marine clay and quick clay. The RCPT log into the central part of the quick clay identifies the electrical resistivity of the quick clay structure to lie between 10 and 80 Ω m. In combination with the 2-D inversion models, it becomes possible to delineate the vertical and horizontal extent of the quick clay zone. As compared to the inversions of single data sets, the joint inversion model exhibits sharper resistivity contrasts and its resistivity values are more characteristic of the expected geology. In our preferred joint inversion model, there is a clear demarcation between dry soil, marine clay, quick clay and bedrock, which consists of alum shale and limestone.

  12. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Quickly Resolve Symptoms Associated with EBV-Induced Infectious Mononucleosis in Patients with Atopic Predispositions.

    PubMed

    Kazama, Itsuro; Miura, Chieko; Nakajima, Toshiyuki

    2016-02-14

    Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical syndrome most commonly associated with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In adults, the symptoms can often be severe and prolonged, sometimes causing serious complications. Analgesic or antipyretic drugs are normally used to relieve the symptoms. However, there is no causal treatment for the disease. Two cases of adult patients with atopic predispositions developed nocturnal fever, general fatigue, pharyngitis and lymphadenopathy after an exacerbation of atopic symptoms or those of allergic rhinitis. Due to the positive results for EBV viral-capsid antigen (VCA) IgM and negative results for EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG, diagnoses of infectious mononucleosis induced by EBV were made in both cases. Although oral antibiotics or acetaminophen alone did not improve the deteriorating symptoms, including fever, headache and general fatigue, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as tiaramide or loxoprofen, completely improved the symptoms quickly after the initiation. In these cases, given the atopic predispositions of the patients, an enhanced immunological response was likely to be mainly responsible for the pathogenesis of the symptoms. In such cases, NSAIDs, that are known to reduce the activity of EBV, may dramatically improve the deteriorating symptoms quickly after the initiation. In the present cases, the immunosuppressive property of these drugs was considered to suppress the activity of lymphocytes and thus provide the rapid and persistent remission of the disease.

  13. Vulnerability of Quick Disconnect Connectors to Carbon Fibers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Meyers, J. A.

    1979-01-01

    Unprotected quick disconnect electrical connectors were exposed to fibers of 3mm, 7mm, and 12mm lengths. The average exposure to failure was determined. Results indicate that when the fiber length divided by the airgap is less than one, multiple fibers are required to bridge the gap, and the exposure time to failure rises rapidly.

  14. EGL-20/Wnt and MAB-5/Hox Act Sequentially to Inhibit Anterior Migration of Neuroblasts in C. elegans

    PubMed Central

    Josephson, Matthew P.; Chai, Yongping; Ou, Guangshuo; Lundquist, Erik A.

    2016-01-01

    Directed neuroblast and neuronal migration is important in the proper development of nervous systems. In C. elegans the bilateral Q neuroblasts QR (on the right) and QL (on the left) undergo an identical pattern of cell division and differentiation but migrate in opposite directions (QR and descendants anteriorly and QL and descendants posteriorly). EGL-20/Wnt, via canonical Wnt signaling, drives the expression of MAB-5/Hox in QL but not QR. MAB-5 acts as a determinant of posterior migration, and mab-5 and egl-20 mutants display anterior QL descendant migrations. Here we analyze the behaviors of QR and QL descendants as they begin their anterior and posterior migrations, and the effects of EGL-20 and MAB-5 on these behaviors. The anterior and posterior daughters of QR (QR.a/p) after the first division immediately polarize and begin anterior migration, whereas QL.a/p remain rounded and non-migratory. After ~1 hour, QL.a migrates posteriorly over QL.p. We find that in egl-20/Wnt, bar-1/β-catenin, and mab-5/Hox mutants, QL.a/p polarize and migrate anteriorly, indicating that these molecules normally inhibit anterior migration of QL.a/p. In egl-20/Wnt mutants, QL.a/p immediately polarize and begin migration, whereas in bar-1/β-catenin and mab-5/Hox, the cells transiently retain a rounded, non-migratory morphology before anterior migration. Thus, EGL-20/Wnt mediates an acute inhibition of anterior migration independently of BAR-1/β-catenin and MAB-5/Hox, and a later, possible transcriptional response mediated by BAR-1/β-catenin and MAB-5/Hox. In addition to inhibiting anterior migration, MAB-5/Hox also cell-autonomously promotes posterior migration of QL.a (and QR.a in a mab-5 gain-of-function). PMID:26863303

  15. II-VI colloidal quantum-dot/quantum-rod heterostructures under electric field effect and their energy transfer rate to graphene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zahra, H.; Elmaghroui, D.; Fezai, I.; Jaziri, S.

    2016-11-01

    We theoretically investigate the energy transfer between a CdSe/CdS Quantum-dot/Quantum-rod (QD/QR) core/shell structure and a weakly doped graphene layer, separated by a dielectric spacer. A numerical method assuming the realistic shape of the type I and quasi-type II CdSe/CdS QD/QR is developed in order to calculate their energy structure. An electric field is applied for both types to manipulate the carriers localization and the exciton energy. Our evaluation for the isolated QD/QR shows that a quantum confined Stark effect can be obtained with large negative electric filed while a small effect is observed with positive ones. Owing to the evolution of the carriers delocalization and their excitonic energy versus the electric field, both type I and quasi-type II QD/QR donors are suitable as sources of charge and energy. With a view to improve its absorption, the graphene sheet (acceptor) is placed at different distances from the QD/QR (donor). Using the random phase approximation and the massless Dirac Fermi approximation, the quenching rate integral is exactly evaluated. That reveals a high transfer rate that can be obtained with type I QD/QR with no dependence on the electric field. On the contrary, a high dependence is obtained for the quasi-type II donor and a high fluorescence rate from F = 80 kV/cm. Rather than the exciton energy, the transition dipole is found to be responsible for the evolution of the fluorescence rate. We find also that the fluorescence rate decreases with increasing the spacer thickness and shows a power low dependence. The QD/QR fluorescence quenching can be observed up to large distance which is estimated to be dependent only on the donor exciton energy.

  16. Correcting names of bacteria deposited in National Microbial Repositories: an analysed sequence data necessary for taxonomic re-categorization of misclassified bacteria-ONE example, genus Lysinibacillus.

    PubMed

    Rekadwad, Bhagwan N; Gonzalez, Juan M

    2017-08-01

    A report on 16S rRNA gene sequence re-analysis and digitalization is presented using Lysinibacillus species (one example) deposited in National Microbial Repositories in India. Lysinibacillus species 16S rRNA gene sequences were digitalized to provide quick response (QR) codes, Chaose Game Representation (CGR) and Frequency of Chaose Game Representation (FCGR). GC percentage, phylogenetic analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) are tools used for the differentiation and reclassification of the strains under investigation. The seven reasons supporting the statements made by us as misclassified Lysinibacillus species deposited in National Microbial Depositories are given in this paper. Based on seven reasons, bacteria deposited in National Microbial Repositories such as Lysinibacillus and many other needs reanalyses for their exact identity. Leaves of identity with type strains of related species shows difference 2 to 8 % suggesting that reclassification is needed to correctly assign species names to the analyzed Lysinibacillus strains available in National Microbial Repositories.

  17. Immunochromatographic diagnostic test analysis using Google Glass.

    PubMed

    Feng, Steve; Caire, Romain; Cortazar, Bingen; Turan, Mehmet; Wong, Andrew; Ozcan, Aydogan

    2014-03-25

    We demonstrate a Google Glass-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) reader platform capable of qualitative and quantitative measurements of various lateral flow immunochromatographic assays and similar biomedical diagnostics tests. Using a custom-written Glass application and without any external hardware attachments, one or more RDTs labeled with Quick Response (QR) code identifiers are simultaneously imaged using the built-in camera of the Google Glass that is based on a hands-free and voice-controlled interface and digitally transmitted to a server for digital processing. The acquired JPEG images are automatically processed to locate all the RDTs and, for each RDT, to produce a quantitative diagnostic result, which is returned to the Google Glass (i.e., the user) and also stored on a central server along with the RDT image, QR code, and other related information (e.g., demographic data). The same server also provides a dynamic spatiotemporal map and real-time statistics for uploaded RDT results accessible through Internet browsers. We tested this Google Glass-based diagnostic platform using qualitative (i.e., yes/no) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. For the quantitative RDTs, we measured activated tests at various concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL for free and total PSA. This wearable RDT reader platform running on Google Glass combines a hands-free sensing and image capture interface with powerful servers running our custom image processing codes, and it can be quite useful for real-time spatiotemporal tracking of various diseases and personal medical conditions, providing a valuable tool for epidemiology and mobile health.

  18. Quick-Mixing Studies Under Reacting Conditions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Leong, May Y.; Samuelsen, G. S.

    1996-01-01

    The low-NO(x) emitting potential of rich-burn/quick-mix/lean-burn )RQL) combustion makes it an attractive option for engines of future stratospheric aircraft. Because NO(x) formation is exponentially dependent on temperature, the success of the RQL combustor depends on minimizing high temperature stoichiometric pocket formation in the quick-mixing section. An experiment was designed and built, and tests were performed to characterize reaction and mixing properties of jets issuing from round orifices into a hot, fuel-rich crossflow confined in a cylindrical duct. The reactor operates on propane and presents a uniform, non-swirling mixture to the mixing modules. Modules consisting of round orifice configurations of 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 18 holes were evaluated at a momentum-flux ratio of 57 and jet-to-mainstream mass-flaw ratio of 2.5. Temperatures and concentrations of O2, CO2, CO, HC, and NO(x) were obtained upstream, down-stream, and within the orifice plane to determine jet penetration as well as reaction processes. Jet penetration was a function of the number of orifices and affected the mixing in the reacting system. Of the six configurations tested, the 14-hole module produced jet penetration close to the module half-radius and yielded the best mixing and most complete combustion at a plane one duct diameter from the orifice leading edge. The results reveal that substantial reaction and heat release occur in the jet mixing zone when the entering effluent is hot and rich, and that the experiment as designed will serve to explore satisfactorily jet mixing behavior under realistic reacting conditions in future studies.

  19. Modular Building Supplement: A Quick, Quality Solution for Schools.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Goodmiller, Brian D.; Schendell, Derek G.

    2003-01-01

    This supplement presents three articles on modular construction that look at: "Fast Track Expansion for a New Jersey School" (involving a modular addition); "Precast Construction Helps Schools Meet Attendance Boom" (precast concrete components are quick, durable, and flexible); and "Airing HVAC Concerns" (poor indoor air quality in prefabricated…

  20. Health Implications of Adults' Eating at and Living near Fast Food or Quick Service Restaurants.

    PubMed

    Jiao, J; Moudon, A V; Kim, S Y; Hurvitz, P M; Drewnowski, A

    2015-07-20

    This paper examined whether the reported health impacts of frequent eating at a fast food or quick service restaurant on health were related to having such a restaurant near home. Logistic regressions estimated associations between frequent fast food or quick service restaurant use and health status, being overweight or obese, having a cardiovascular disease or diabetes, as binary health outcomes. In all, 2001 participants in the 2008-2009 Seattle Obesity Study survey were included in the analyses. Results showed eating ⩾2 times a week at a fast food or quick service restaurant was associated with perceived poor health status, overweight and obese. However, living close to such restaurants was not related to negative health outcomes. Frequent eating at a fast food or quick service restaurant was associated with perceived poor health status and higher body mass index, but living close to such facilities was not.

  1. Quick Estimation Model for the Concentration of Indoor Airborne Culturable Bacteria: An Application of Machine Learning.

    PubMed

    Liu, Zhijian; Li, Hao; Cao, Guoqing

    2017-07-30

    Indoor airborne culturable bacteria are sometimes harmful to human health. Therefore, a quick estimation of their concentration is particularly necessary. However, measuring the indoor microorganism concentration (e.g., bacteria) usually requires a large amount of time, economic cost, and manpower. In this paper, we aim to provide a quick solution: using knowledge-based machine learning to provide quick estimation of the concentration of indoor airborne culturable bacteria only with the inputs of several measurable indoor environmental indicators, including: indoor particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ), temperature, relative humidity, and CO₂ concentration. Our results show that a general regression neural network (GRNN) model can sufficiently provide a quick and decent estimation based on the model training and testing using an experimental database with 249 data groups.

  2. Geophysical characterization of areas prone to quick-clay landslides using radio-magnetotelluric and seismic methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Shunguo; Malehmir, Alireza; Bastani, Mehrdad

    2016-05-01

    Landslides attributed to quick clays have not only considerable influences on surface geomorphology, they have caused delays in transportation systems, environmental problems and human fatalities, especially in Scandinavia and North America. If the subsurface distributions of quick clays are known, potential damages can be mitigated and the triggers of landslides can better be studied and understood. For this purpose, new radio-magnetotelluric (RMT) and seismic data were acquired in an area near the Göta River in southwest Sweden that contains quick clays and associated landslides. High-resolution data along 4 new lines, in total 3.8 km long, were acquired and merged with earlier acquired data from the site. Velocity and resistivity models derived from first breaks and RMT data were used to delineate subsurface geology, in particular the bedrock surface and coarse-grained materials that overlay the bedrock. The latter often are found underlying quick clays at the site. Comparably high-resistivity and sometimes high-velocity regions within marine clays are attributed to a combination of leached salt from marine clays or potential quick clays and coarse-grained materials. The resistivity and tomographic velocity models suggest a much larger role of the coarse-grained materials at the site than previously thought, but they also suggest two different scenarios for triggering quick-clay landslides at the site. These scenarios are related to the erosion of the riverbank, increased pore-pressure and surface topography when close to the river and human activity when away from the river and where bowl-shaped bedrock surrounds the sediments.

  3. Ionospheric Correction Based on Ingestion of Global Ionospheric Maps into the NeQuick 2 Model

    PubMed Central

    Yu, Xiao; She, Chengli; Zhen, Weimin; Bruno, Nava; Liu, Dun; Yue, Xinan; Ou, Ming; Xu, Jisheng

    2015-01-01

    The global ionospheric maps (GIMs), generated by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) during a period over 13 years, have been adopted as the primary source of data to provide global ionospheric correction for possible single frequency positioning applications. The investigation aims to assess the performance of new NeQuick model, NeQuick 2, in predicting global total electron content (TEC) through ingesting the GIMs data from the previous day(s). The results show good performance of the GIMs-driven-NeQuick model with average 86% of vertical TEC error less than 10 TECU, when the global daily effective ionization indices (Az) versus modified dip latitude (MODIP) are constructed as a second order polynomial. The performance of GIMs-driven-NeQuick model presents variability with solar activity and behaves better during low solar activity years. The accuracy of TEC prediction can be improved further through performing a four-coefficient function expression of Az versus MODIP. As more measurements from earlier days are involved in the Az optimization procedure, the accuracy may decrease. The results also reveal that more efforts are needed to improve the NeQuick 2 model capabilities to represent the ionosphere in the equatorial and high-latitude regions. PMID:25815369

  4. Chemopreventive effects of Furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-inducible genotoxicity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hwang, Yong Pil; Han, Eun Hee; Choi, Jae Ho

    2008-05-01

    1-Furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone (FPP-3) is an anti-inflammatory agent with a propenone moiety and chemically synthesized recently. In this study, we examined the chemopreventive effect of FPP-3 on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced genotoxicity in MCF-7 cells. FPP-3 reduced the formation of the DMBA-DNA adduct. DMBA-induced CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 gene expression and enzyme activity were inhibited by FPP-3. It inhibited DMBA-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivation and DMBA-inducible nuclear localization of the AhR. Induction of detoxifying phase II genes by chemopreventive agents represents a coordinated protective response against oxidative stress and neoplastic effects of carcinogens. Transcription factor NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates antioxidant response elementmore » (ARE) of phase II detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QR). FPP-3 increased the expression and enzymatic activity of GST and QR. Moreover, FPP-3 increased transcriptional activity of GST and QR. GST and QR induction and Nrf2 translocation by FPP-3 were blocked by the PKC inhibitor Goe6983, and the p38 inhibitor SB203580. These results reflected a partial role of PKC{delta} and p38 signaling in FPP-3-mediated GSTA and QR induction through nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Classically, chemopreventive agents either inhibit CYP metabolizing enzyme or induce phase II detoxifying enzymes. These results suggest that FPP-3 has a potent protective effect against DMBA-induced genotoxicity through modulating phase I and II enzymes and that it has potential as a chemopreventive agent.« less

  5. Health Implications of Adults' Eating at and Living near Fast Food or Quick Service Restaurants

    PubMed Central

    Jiao, J; Moudon, A V; Kim, S Y; Hurvitz, P M; Drewnowski, A

    2015-01-01

    Background: This paper examined whether the reported health impacts of frequent eating at a fast food or quick service restaurant on health were related to having such a restaurant near home. Methods: Logistic regressions estimated associations between frequent fast food or quick service restaurant use and health status, being overweight or obese, having a cardiovascular disease or diabetes, as binary health outcomes. In all, 2001 participants in the 2008–2009 Seattle Obesity Study survey were included in the analyses. Results: Results showed eating ⩾2 times a week at a fast food or quick service restaurant was associated with perceived poor health status, overweight and obese. However, living close to such restaurants was not related to negative health outcomes. Conclusions: Frequent eating at a fast food or quick service restaurant was associated with perceived poor health status and higher body mass index, but living close to such facilities was not. PMID:26192449

  6. [Comparison of the quick Gram stain method to the B&M modified and favor methods].

    PubMed

    Osawa, Kayo; Kataoka, Nobumasa; Maruo, Toshio

    2011-01-01

    The Gram stain is an established method for bacterial identification, but the time needed to carry out this stain is 2-3 min. We attempted to shorten this time and stained a total of 70 clinical specimens isolated from using the Bartholomew & Mittwer (B&M) modified or Favor methods with a 3 s duration for washing and staining steps. Results were plotted and analyzed using a Hue Saturation Intensity (HSI) model. The range based on a plot of the two methods with the HSI model was presented as a reference interval. Our results indicated that 100% (35/35) of strains were Gram positive and 97.1% (34/35) were Gram negative for the quick B&M modified method. In the quick Favor method, 80.0% (28/35) were Gram positive and 68.6% (24/35) of strains were Gram negative. We propose that the quick B&M modified method is equivalent to the standard Gram staining method and is superior to the quick Favor method.

  7. Connector acts as quick coupling in coaxial cable application

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brejcha, A. G., Jr.

    1966-01-01

    Quick-coupling connector whose inner shells are threaded to the cable ends and whose outer shells have tracks that register in channels machined in the inner shells are rotated 45 deg to effect a locking of the coupling. This connector faithfully reproduces excellent electrical characteristics no matter how frequently assembled and disassembled.

  8. Quick Estimation Model for the Concentration of Indoor Airborne Culturable Bacteria: An Application of Machine Learning

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Zhijian; Li, Hao; Cao, Guoqing

    2017-01-01

    Indoor airborne culturable bacteria are sometimes harmful to human health. Therefore, a quick estimation of their concentration is particularly necessary. However, measuring the indoor microorganism concentration (e.g., bacteria) usually requires a large amount of time, economic cost, and manpower. In this paper, we aim to provide a quick solution: using knowledge-based machine learning to provide quick estimation of the concentration of indoor airborne culturable bacteria only with the inputs of several measurable indoor environmental indicators, including: indoor particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration. Our results show that a general regression neural network (GRNN) model can sufficiently provide a quick and decent estimation based on the model training and testing using an experimental database with 249 data groups. PMID:28758941

  9. A rapid, naked-eye detection of hypochlorite and bisulfite using a robust and highly-photostable indicator dye Quinaldine Red in aqueous medium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dutta, Tanoy; Chandra, Falguni; Koner, Apurba L.

    2018-02-01

    A ;naked-eye; detection of health hazardous bisulfite (HSO3-) and hypochlorite (ClO-) using an indicator dye (Quinaldine Red, QR) in a wide range of pH is demonstrated. The molecule contains a quinoline moiety linked to an N,N-dimethylaniline moiety with a conjugated double bond. Treatment of QR with HSO3- and ClO-, in aqueous solution at near-neutral pH, resulted in a colorless product with high selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limit was 47.8 μM and 0.2 μM for HSO3- and ClO- respectively. However, ClO- was 50 times more sensitive and with 2 times faster response compared to HSO3-. The detail characterization and related analysis demonstrate the potential of QR for a rapid, robust and highly efficient colorimetric sensor for the practical applications to detect hypochlorite in water samples.

  10. Quick-Connect/Disconnect Joint For Truss Structures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sprague, Benny B.

    1991-01-01

    Simple connector used for temporary structures and pipes. Truss connector joins and aligns structural members. Consists of two sections, one flanged and other with mating internal groove. When flanged half inserted in groove, moves lever of trigger mechanism upward. Cone then shoots into grooved half. Attached without tools in less than 2 seconds and taken apart just as quickly and easily. Developed for assembling structures in outer space, also useful for temporary terrestrial structures like scaffolds and portable bleachers. With modifications, used to join sections of pipelines carrying liquids or gases.

  11. Measuring Nurses' Value, Implementation, and Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice: Further Psychometric Testing of the Quick-EBP-VIK Survey.

    PubMed

    Connor, Linda; Paul, Fiona; McCabe, Margaret; Ziniel, Sonja

    2017-02-01

    The Quick-EBP-VIK is a new instrument for measuring nurses' value, implementation, and knowledge of EBP. Psychometric testing was conducted in two parts. Part 1 describes the tool development and validity testing which resulted in the development of a 25-item survey after receiving ≥0.80 Item-Level Content Validity Index for both clarity and relevance. Part 2 describes psychometric testing was necessary to assess additional types of validity and reliability. The purpose of this paper is to further describe the psychometric testing of the Quick-EBP-VIK survey instrument. This descriptive study was designed to assess test-retest reliability, internal consistency and construct validity via a web-based survey. The survey instrument was e-mailed to all nurses at the study hospital. Nurses who responded to the first survey (Wave 1) received another e-mail invitation to complete the survey instrument again (Wave 2) for the purpose of assessing the test-retest reliability of the instrument. A total of 1,177 deliverable e-mails were sent to all nursing staff at one free standing pediatric hospital with Magnet ® designation in the northeast. A total of 382 nurses returned completed surveys, indicating a 32.5% response rate for Wave 1. A total of 131 nurses responded to Wave 2 indicating a response rate of 34.3%. The intraclass correlation coefficients for the items included in the final instrument ranged from 0.43 to 0.80 and were deemed sufficient. These represent a sufficient intraclass correlation coefficient. The Cronbach's Alpha values for each of the three domains are all higher than 0.7 indicating that the items of each of the measurement dimension are internally consistent. However, the composite reliability of the third domain was slightly lower than 0.7 when using Raykov's Rho. The Quick-EBP-VIK instrument has gone through rigorous comprehensive testing and has demonstrated good psychometric properties. © 2016 Sigma Theta Tau International.

  12. 53. Same view. A slight raise and a quick drop ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    53. Same view. A slight raise and a quick drop was employed to remove the jammed mortised member. - Wabash & Erie Canal, Lock No. 2, 8 miles east of Fort Wayne, adjacent to U.S. Route 24, New Haven, Allen County, IN

  13. QuickProbs 2: Towards rapid construction of high-quality alignments of large protein families

    PubMed Central

    Gudyś, Adam; Deorowicz, Sebastian

    2017-01-01

    The ever-increasing size of sequence databases caused by the development of high throughput sequencing, poses to multiple alignment algorithms one of the greatest challenges yet. As we show, well-established techniques employed for increasing alignment quality, i.e., refinement and consistency, are ineffective when large protein families are investigated. We present QuickProbs 2, an algorithm for multiple sequence alignment. Based on probabilistic models, equipped with novel column-oriented refinement and selective consistency, it offers outstanding accuracy. When analysing hundreds of sequences, Quick-Probs 2 is noticeably better than ClustalΩ and MAFFT, the previous leaders for processing numerous protein families. In the case of smaller sets, for which consistency-based methods are the best performing, QuickProbs 2 is also superior to the competitors. Due to low computational requirements of selective consistency and utilization of massively parallel architectures, presented algorithm has similar execution times to ClustalΩ, and is orders of magnitude faster than full consistency approaches, like MSAProbs or PicXAA. All these make QuickProbs 2 an excellent tool for aligning families ranging from few, to hundreds of proteins. PMID:28139687

  14. In situ two-dimensional imaging quick-scanning XAFS with pixel array detector.

    PubMed

    Tanida, Hajime; Yamashige, Hisao; Orikasa, Yuki; Oishi, Masatsugu; Takanashi, Yu; Fujimoto, Takahiro; Sato, Kenji; Takamatsu, Daiko; Murayama, Haruno; Arai, Hajime; Matsubara, Eiichiro; Uchimoto, Yoshiharu; Ogumi, Zempachi

    2011-11-01

    Quick-scanning X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements were performed in transmission mode using a PILATUS 100K pixel array detector (PAD). The method can display a two-dimensional image for a large area of the order of a centimetre with a spatial resolution of 0.2 mm at each energy point in the XAFS spectrum. The time resolution of the quick-scanning method ranged from 10 s to 1 min per spectrum depending on the energy range. The PAD has a wide dynamic range and low noise, so the obtained spectra have a good signal-to-noise ratio.

  15. Influence of eating quickly and eating until full on anthropometric gains in girls: A population-based, longitudinal study.

    PubMed

    Ochiai, H; Shirasawa, T; Nanri, H; Nishimura, R; Hoshino, H; Kokaze, A

    2017-11-01

    In examining childhood overweight/obesity, there is a need to consider both eating quickly and eating until full. This longitudinal study investigated the influence of eating quickly and/or eating until full on anthropometric variables and becoming overweight/obese among Japanese schoolgirls. Study participants were fourth-grade schoolgirls (aged 9 or 10 years) in Ina Town, Japan. Physical examinations and a questionnaire survey were performed at baseline (fourth grade) and after 3 years (seventh grade). Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured in the physical examinations, while the data on eating quickly and eating until full were collected in the questionnaire survey. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used to compare the differences in each anthropometric variable between fourth and seventh grade among groups. Data on 425 non-overweight/obese schoolgirls in fourth grade were analyzed. Gains in anthropometric variables (body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio) from fourth to seventh grade were significantly larger in the "eating quickly and eating until full" group than in the "not eating quickly and not eating until full" group. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the gains between the "eating quickly or eating until full" group and the "not eating quickly and not eating until full" group. The proportion of overweight/obese girls in seventh grade was higher in the "eating quickly and eating until full" group than in the other groups. Eating quickly and eating until full had a substantial impact on excess gains in anthropometric variables among schoolgirls, suggesting that modifying these eating behaviors may help prevent non-overweight/obese girls from the excess gains. Accordingly, school health programs need to focus on not eating quickly and/or not eating until full to prevent overweight/obesity; it is necessary to emphasize "the risk of overweight/obesity associated with these eating

  16. Development and evaluation of the quick anaero-system-a new disposable anaerobic culture system.

    PubMed

    Yang, Nam Woong; Kim, Jin Man; Choi, Gwang Ju; Jang, Sook Jin

    2010-04-01

    We developed a new disposable anaerobic culture system, namely, the Quick anaero-system, for easy culturing of obligate anaerobes. Our system consists of 3 components: 1) new disposable anaerobic gas pack, 2) disposable culture-envelope and sealer, and 3) reusable stainless plate rack with mesh containing 10 g of palladium catalyst pellets. To evaluate the efficiency of our system, we used 12 anaerobic bacteria. We prepared 2 sets of ten-fold serial dilutions of the 12 anaerobes, and inoculated these samples on Luria-Bertani (LB) broth and LB blood agar plate (LB-BAP) (BD Diagnostic Systems, USA). Each set was incubated in the Quick anaero-system (DAS Tech, Korea) and BBL GasPak jar with BD GasPak EZ Anaerobe Container System (BD Diagnostic Systems) at 35-37 degrees C for 48 hr. The minimal inoculum size showing visible growth of 12 anaerobes when incubated in both the systems was compared. The minimal inoculum size showing visible growth for 2 out of the 12 anaerobes in the LB broth and 9 out of the 12 anaerobes on LB-BAP was lower for the Quick anaero-system than in the BD GasPak EZ Anaerobe Container System. The mean time (+/-SD) required to achieve absolute anaerobic conditions of the Quick anaero-system was 17 min and 56 sec (+/-3 min and 25 sec). The Quick anaero-system is a simple and effective method of culturing obligate anaerobes, and its performance is superior to that of the BD GasPak EZ Anaerobe Container System.

  17. [Better performance of Western blotting: quick vs slow protein transfer, blotting membranes and the visualization methods].

    PubMed

    Kong, Ling-Quan; Pu, Ying-Hui; Ma, Shi-Kun

    2008-01-01

    To study how the choices of the quick vs slow protein transfer, the blotting membranes and the visualization methods influence the performance of Western blotting. The cellular proteins were abstracted from human breast cell line MDA-MB-231 for analysis with Western blotting using quick (2 h) and slow (overnight) protein transfer, different blotting membranes (nitrocellulose, PVDF and nylon membranes) and different visualization methods (ECL and DAB). In Western blotting with slow and quick protein transfer, the prestained marker presented more distinct bands on nitrocellulose membrane than on the nylon and PVDF membranes, and the latter also showed clear bands on the back of the membrane to very likely cause confusion, which did not occur with nitrocellulose membrane. PVDF membrane allowed slightly clearer visualization of the proteins with DAB method as compared with nitrocellulose and nylon membranes, and on the latter two membranes, quick protein transfer was likely to result in somehow irregular bands in comparison with slow protein transfer. With slow protein transfer and chemiluminescence for visualization, all the 3 membranes showed clear background, while with quick protein transfer, nylon membrane gave rise to obvious background noise but the other two membranes did not. Different membranes should be selected for immunoblotting according to the actual needs of the experiment. Slow transfer of the proteins onto the membranes often has better effect than quick transfer, and enhanced chemiluminescence is superior to DAB for protein visualization and allows highly specific and sensitive analysis of the protein expressions.

  18. Transmembrane protein MIG-13 links the Wnt signaling and Hox genes to the cell polarity in neuronal migration

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Xiangming; Zhou, Fanli; Lv, Sijing; Yi, Peishan; Zhu, Zhiwen; Yang, Yihong; Feng, Guoxin; Li, Wei; Ou, Guangshuo

    2013-01-01

    Directional cell migration is a fundamental process in neural development. In Caenorhabditis elegans, Q neuroblasts on the left (QL) and right (QR) sides of the animal generate cells that migrate in opposite directions along the anteroposterior body axis. The homeobox (Hox) gene lin-39 promotes the anterior migration of QR descendants (QR.x), whereas the canonical Wnt signaling pathway activates another Hox gene, mab-5, to ensure the QL descendants’ (QL.x) posterior migration. However, the regulatory targets of LIN-39 and MAB-5 remain elusive. Here, we showed that MIG-13, an evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein, cell-autonomously regulates the asymmetric distribution of the actin cytoskeleton in the leading migratory edge. We identified mig-13 as a cellular target of LIN-39 and MAB-5. LIN-39 establishes QR.x anterior polarity by binding to the mig-13 promoter and promoting mig-13 expression, whereas MAB-5 inhibits QL.x anterior polarity by associating with the lin-39 promoter and downregulating lin-39 and mig-13 expression. Thus, MIG-13 links the Wnt signaling and Hox genes that guide migrations, to the actin cytoskeleton, which executes the motility response in neuronal migration. PMID:23784779

  19. Order of accuracy of QUICK and related convection-diffusion schemes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Leonard, B. P.

    1993-01-01

    This report attempts to correct some misunderstandings that have appeared in the literature concerning the order of accuracy of the QUICK scheme for steady-state convective modeling. Other related convection-diffusion schemes are also considered. The original one-dimensional QUICK scheme written in terms of nodal-point values of the convected variable (with a 1/8-factor multiplying the 'curvature' term) is indeed a third-order representation of the finite volume formulation of the convection operator average across the control volume, written naturally in flux-difference form. An alternative single-point upwind difference scheme (SPUDS) using node values (with a 1/6-factor) is a third-order representation of the finite difference single-point formulation; this can be written in a pseudo-flux difference form. These are both third-order convection schemes; however, the QUICK finite volume convection operator is 33 percent more accurate than the single-point implementation of SPUDS. Another finite volume scheme, writing convective fluxes in terms of cell-average values, requires a 1/6-factor for third-order accuracy. For completeness, one can also write a single-point formulation of the convective derivative in terms of cell averages, and then express this in pseudo-flux difference form; for third-order accuracy, this requires a curvature factor of 5/24. Diffusion operators are also considered in both single-point and finite volume formulations. Finite volume formulations are found to be significantly more accurate. For example, classical second-order central differencing for the second derivative is exactly twice as accurate in a finite volume formulation as it is in single-point.

  20. Molecular Evolution of Slow and Quick Anion Channels (SLACs and QUACs/ALMTs)

    PubMed Central

    Dreyer, Ingo; Gomez-Porras, Judith Lucia; Riaño-Pachón, Diego Mauricio; Hedrich, Rainer; Geiger, Dietmar

    2012-01-01

    Electrophysiological analyses conducted about 25 years ago detected two types of anion channels in the plasma membrane of guard cells. One type of channel responds slowly to changes in membrane voltage while the other responds quickly. Consequently, they were named SLAC, for SLow Anion Channel, and QUAC, for QUick Anion Channel. Recently, genes SLAC1 and QUAC1/ALMT12, underlying the two different anion current components, could be identified in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression of the gene products in Xenopus oocytes confirmed the quick and slow current kinetics. In this study we provide an overview on our current knowledge on slow and quick anion channels in plants and analyze the molecular evolution of ALMT/QUAC-like and SLAC-like channels. We discovered fingerprints that allow screening databases for these channel types and were able to identify 192 (177 non-redundant) SLAC-like and 422 (402 non-redundant) ALMT/QUAC-like proteins in the fully sequenced genomes of 32 plant species. Phylogenetic analyses provided new insights into the molecular evolution of these channel types. We also combined sequence alignment and clustering with predictions of protein features, leading to the identification of known conserved phosphorylation sites in SLAC1-like channels along with potential sites that have not been yet experimentally confirmed. Using a similar strategy to analyze the hydropathicity of ALMT/QUAC-like channels, we propose a modified topology with additional transmembrane regions that integrates structure and function of these membrane proteins. Our results suggest that cross-referencing phylogenetic analyses with position-specific protein properties and functional data could be a very powerful tool for genome research approaches in general. PMID:23226151

  1. Molecular Evolution of Slow and Quick Anion Channels (SLACs and QUACs/ALMTs).

    PubMed

    Dreyer, Ingo; Gomez-Porras, Judith Lucia; Riaño-Pachón, Diego Mauricio; Hedrich, Rainer; Geiger, Dietmar

    2012-01-01

    Electrophysiological analyses conducted about 25 years ago detected two types of anion channels in the plasma membrane of guard cells. One type of channel responds slowly to changes in membrane voltage while the other responds quickly. Consequently, they were named SLAC, for SLow Anion Channel, and QUAC, for QUick Anion Channel. Recently, genes SLAC1 and QUAC1/ALMT12, underlying the two different anion current components, could be identified in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression of the gene products in Xenopus oocytes confirmed the quick and slow current kinetics. In this study we provide an overview on our current knowledge on slow and quick anion channels in plants and analyze the molecular evolution of ALMT/QUAC-like and SLAC-like channels. We discovered fingerprints that allow screening databases for these channel types and were able to identify 192 (177 non-redundant) SLAC-like and 422 (402 non-redundant) ALMT/QUAC-like proteins in the fully sequenced genomes of 32 plant species. Phylogenetic analyses provided new insights into the molecular evolution of these channel types. We also combined sequence alignment and clustering with predictions of protein features, leading to the identification of known conserved phosphorylation sites in SLAC1-like channels along with potential sites that have not been yet experimentally confirmed. Using a similar strategy to analyze the hydropathicity of ALMT/QUAC-like channels, we propose a modified topology with additional transmembrane regions that integrates structure and function of these membrane proteins. Our results suggest that cross-referencing phylogenetic analyses with position-specific protein properties and functional data could be a very powerful tool for genome research approaches in general.

  2. Disaster Response and Planning for Libraries.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kahn, Miriam B.

    Providing a customized disaster response plan to assist libraries in quick recovery, this resource also outlines step to minimize damage and protect materials before trouble strikes. The first section of the book, "Response," contains information how to handle small jobs in-house and suggestions for working with contractors--with an…

  3. Quick response small catchment monitoring techniques for comparing postfire rehabilitation treatment effectiveness

    Treesearch

    Peter R. Robichaud; Robert E. Brown

    2003-01-01

    Increased runoff and erosion commonly occur after wildfires with the onset of precipitation events. Various erosion mitigation treatments are often used after wildfires to reduce flooding and sedimentation. The effectiveness of these treatments has not been well documented in the literature; therefore we undertook a rapid response approach (within four weeks following...

  4. Relationships between eating quickly and weight gain in Japanese university students: a longitudinal study.

    PubMed

    Yamane, Mayu; Ekuni, Daisuke; Mizutani, Shinsuke; Kataoka, Kota; Sakumoto-Kataoka, Masami; Kawabata, Yuya; Omori, Chie; Azuma, Tetsuji; Tomofuji, Takaaki; Iwasaki, Yoshiaki; Morita, Manabu

    2014-10-01

    Many cross-sectional studies have reported a relationship between overweight/obesity and eating quickly, but there have been few longitudinal studies to address this relationship in younger populations. The purpose of this prospective longitudinal study was to investigate whether eating quickly was related to being overweight in Japanese university students. Of 1,396 students who underwent a general examination and completed questionnaires at the start of university and before graduation, 1,314 students (676 male and 638 female) of normal body composition [body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg m(-2) ] at baseline were included in the analysis. The questionnaires included speed of eating and other lifestyle factors. After a 3-year follow-up, the students whose BMIs were ≥ 25 kg m(-2) were defined as overweight. In this study, 38 participants (2.9%) became overweight. In the logistic regression analysis, the risk of being overweight was increased in males [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.77; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33-5.79; P < 0.01] and in those who ate quickly at baseline (OR: 4.40; 95% CI: 2.22-8.75; P < 0.001). Eating quickly may predict risk of being overweight in Japanese university students. Copyright © 2014 The Obesity Society.

  5. On Organizing Quick Change-Over Mass Production

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Petrushin, S. I.; Gubaidulina, R. H.; Gruby, S. V.; Nosirsoda, Sh C.

    2016-04-01

    The terms "type of production" and "coefficient of assigning operations" are analyzed. A new method of calculating the optimum production plan based on profit projections is suggested. We recommend using the cycle time values as initial data for designing and developing technology. On the basis of existing techniques used to convert productions we suggest a new approach to production change-over with the service life of manufacturing facilities equal to the time to product’s obsolescence. The factors to maximize profits using this change-over method are indicated, with maximum profits being a condition for the organization of quick change-change mass production.

  6. Aqua-Aura QuickDAM (QDAM) 2.0 Ops Concept

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nidhiry, John

    2015-01-01

    The presentation describes the Quick Debris Avoidance Maneuver (QDAM) 2.0 process used the Aqua and Aura flight teams to (a) reduce the work load and dependency on staff and systems; (b) reduce turn-around time and provide emergency last minute capabilities; and (c) increase burn parameter flexibility. The presentation also compares the QDAM 2.0 process to previous approaches.

  7. Asthma Patients in US Overuse Quick-Relief Inhalers, Underuse Control Medications

    MedlinePlus

    ... patients in US overuse quick-relief inhalers, underuse control medications Published Online: December 13, 2013 Asthma exacerbations ... are at lower risk for exacerbations. Therefore, asthma control is the goal of asthma management for patients ...

  8. Scratch Your Brain Where It Itches: Math Games, Tricks and Quick Activities, Book D-1 Algebra.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brumbaugh, Doug

    This resource book for algebra contains games, tricks, and quick activities for the classroom. Categories of activities include puzzlers, patterns, manipulatives, measurement, graphing, and a section that contains reproducible statement and value cards. Twenty one puzzle problems, four pattern activities, and 11 quick activities that engage…

  9. How to Achieve Competence in English: A Quick Reference Handbook.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Johnson, Eric W.

    Written to provide a quick, simple, practical reference, this handbook contains explanations and examples of the use of English. Entries, arranged alphabetically, may be as specific as "bibliography,""colons,""dashes,""footnotes," and "prefixes" or as general as articles on cliches, books, figurative language, frame tests, grammar, and plagiarism.…

  10. [Variables effecting casting accuracy of quick heating casting investments].

    PubMed

    Takahashi, H; Nakamura, H; Iwasaki, N; Morita, N; Habu, N; Nishimura, F

    1994-06-01

    Recently, several new products of investments for "quick heating" have been put on the Japanese market. The total casting procedure time for this quick heating method involves only one hour; 30-minutes waiting after the start of mixing before placing the mold directly into the 700 degrees C furnace and 30-minutes heating in the furnace. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two variables effecting casting accuracy using these new investments. The effect of thickness of the casting liner inside the casting ring and the effect of waiting time before placing the mold into the 700 degrees C furnace were evaluated. A stainless-steel die with a convergence angle of 8 degrees was employed. Marginal discrepancies of the crown between the wax patterns and castings were measured. The size of the cast crown became larger when the thickness of the ring liner was thick and when the waiting time before placing the mold into the furnace was long. These results suggest that these new investments have the advantage of providing sound castings using short-time casting procedures. However, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the casting conditions for obtaining reproducible castings.

  11. Virtual endoscopy using spherical QuickTime-VR panorama views.

    PubMed

    Tiede, Ulf; von Sternberg-Gospos, Norman; Steiner, Paul; Höhne, Karl Heinz

    2002-01-01

    Virtual endoscopy needs some precomputation of the data (segmentation, path finding) before the diagnostic process can take place. We propose a method that precomputes multinode spherical panorama movies using Quick-Time VR. This technique allows almost the same navigation and visualization capabilities as a real endoscopic procedure, a significant reduction of interaction input is achieved and the movie represents a document of the procedure.

  12. STS-2 Induced Environment Contamination Monitor (IECM): Quick-Look Report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, E. R. (Editor)

    1982-01-01

    The STS-2/induced environment contamination monitor (IECM) mission is described. The IECM system performance is discussed, and IECM mission time events are briefly described. Quick look analyses are presented for each of the 10 instruments comprising the IECM on the flight of STS-2. A short summary is presented.

  13. Development of a bone-fixation prosthetic attachment. [with quick-disconnect coupling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Owens, L. J.

    1975-01-01

    An artificial limb attached directly to the bone by a quick-disconnect coupling was tested in-place at a California medical rehabilitation center. Its design concept and development, made possible by multiple spinoffs of aerospace technology, are discussed.

  14. Immunochromatographic Diagnostic Test Analysis Using Google Glass

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    We demonstrate a Google Glass-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) reader platform capable of qualitative and quantitative measurements of various lateral flow immunochromatographic assays and similar biomedical diagnostics tests. Using a custom-written Glass application and without any external hardware attachments, one or more RDTs labeled with Quick Response (QR) code identifiers are simultaneously imaged using the built-in camera of the Google Glass that is based on a hands-free and voice-controlled interface and digitally transmitted to a server for digital processing. The acquired JPEG images are automatically processed to locate all the RDTs and, for each RDT, to produce a quantitative diagnostic result, which is returned to the Google Glass (i.e., the user) and also stored on a central server along with the RDT image, QR code, and other related information (e.g., demographic data). The same server also provides a dynamic spatiotemporal map and real-time statistics for uploaded RDT results accessible through Internet browsers. We tested this Google Glass-based diagnostic platform using qualitative (i.e., yes/no) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. For the quantitative RDTs, we measured activated tests at various concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL for free and total PSA. This wearable RDT reader platform running on Google Glass combines a hands-free sensing and image capture interface with powerful servers running our custom image processing codes, and it can be quite useful for real-time spatiotemporal tracking of various diseases and personal medical conditions, providing a valuable tool for epidemiology and mobile health. PMID:24571349

  15. How Quickly Can Attention Affect Form Perception?

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-11-01

    8217.O6/ N I ’P. * 1 . wlll25 iI u i A.i’ .:--. % % Ar Wl % -% W %* ----------- *, U" 1 % AFHRL-TR-87-28 INc IL FIECopy ON 1AIR FORCE 141 HOW QUICKLY CAN...After- a [ruit variible interval, four, 1 -likc target fiquris Wert, presented, one at each location, loll owedi by ti/asks. (hi ol server th/er idi...C cue is presented near the target, can also be. Oltai li/i Wi tih d~ p( rifrte at1Xiiti IFil, g1) 1 onS~ii t iifIt [LTaC tic(’ This argues that sucih

  16. TESS Data Processing and Quick-look Pipeline

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fausnaugh, Michael; Huang, Xu; Glidden, Ana; Guerrero, Natalia; TESS Science Office

    2018-01-01

    We describe the data analysis procedures and pipelines for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). We briefly review the processing pipeline developed and implemented by the Science Processing Operations Center (SPOC) at NASA Ames, including pixel/full-frame image calibration, photometric analysis, pre-search data conditioning, transiting planet search, and data validation. We also describe data-quality diagnostic analyses and photometric performance assessment tests. Finally, we detail a "quick-look pipeline" (QLP) that has been developed by the MIT branch of the TESS Science Office (TSO) to provide a fast and adaptable routine to search for planet candidates in the 30 minute full-frame images.

  17. 78 FR 48464 - Comment request for Information Collection for Quick Turnaround Surveys of All Statutes and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-08

    ... employment and training or related activities. Each survey will be designed on an ad hoc basis and will focus... basis. ETA will make every effort to coordinate the quick turnaround surveys with other research it is... Collection for Quick Turnaround Surveys of All Statutes and Programs for Which the Employment and Training...

  18. A Quick and Easy Simplification of Benzocaine's NMR Spectrum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carpenter, Suzanne R.; Wallace, Richard H.

    2006-04-01

    The preparation of benzocaine is a common experiment used in sophomore-level organic chemistry. Its straightforward procedure and predictable good yields make it ideal for the beginning organic student. Analysis of the product via NMR spectroscopy, however, can be confusing to the novice interpreter. An inexpensive, quick, and effective method for simplifying the NMR spectrum is reported. The method results in a spectrum that is cleanly integrated and more easily interpreted.

  19. Functionalization of quantum rods with oligonucleotides for programmable assembly with DNA origami

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Doane, Tennyson L.; Alam, Rabeka; Maye, Mathew M.

    2015-02-01

    The DNA-mediated self-assembly of CdSe/CdS quantum rods (QRs) onto DNA origami is described. Two QR types with unique optical emission and high polarization were synthesized, and then functionalized with oligonucleotides (ssDNA) using a novel protection-deprotection approach, which harnessed ssDNA's tailorable rigidity and denaturation temperature to increase DNA coverage by reducing non-specific coordination and wrapping. The QR assembly was programmable, and occurred at two different assembly zones that had capture strands in parallel alignment. QRs with different optical properties were assembled, opening up future studies on orientation dependent QR FRET. The QR-origami conjugates could be purified via gel electrophoresis and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. Assembly yields, QR stoichiometry and orientation, as well as energy transfer implications were studied in light of QR distances, origami flexibility, and conditions.The DNA-mediated self-assembly of CdSe/CdS quantum rods (QRs) onto DNA origami is described. Two QR types with unique optical emission and high polarization were synthesized, and then functionalized with oligonucleotides (ssDNA) using a novel protection-deprotection approach, which harnessed ssDNA's tailorable rigidity and denaturation temperature to increase DNA coverage by reducing non-specific coordination and wrapping. The QR assembly was programmable, and occurred at two different assembly zones that had capture strands in parallel alignment. QRs with different optical properties were assembled, opening up future studies on orientation dependent QR FRET. The QR-origami conjugates could be purified via gel electrophoresis and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. Assembly yields, QR stoichiometry and orientation, as well as energy transfer implications were studied in light of QR distances, origami flexibility, and conditions. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental conditions, DNA origami blueprint and

  20. A deconvolution extraction method for 2D multi-object fibre spectroscopy based on the regularized least-squares QR-factorization algorithm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Jian; Yin, Qian; Guo, Ping; Luo, A.-li

    2014-09-01

    This paper presents an efficient method for the extraction of astronomical spectra from two-dimensional (2D) multifibre spectrographs based on the regularized least-squares QR-factorization (LSQR) algorithm. We address two issues: we propose a modified Gaussian point spread function (PSF) for modelling the 2D PSF from multi-emission-line gas-discharge lamp images (arc images), and we develop an efficient deconvolution method to extract spectra in real circumstances. The proposed modified 2D Gaussian PSF model can fit various types of 2D PSFs, including different radial distortion angles and ellipticities. We adopt the regularized LSQR algorithm to solve the sparse linear equations constructed from the sparse convolution matrix, which we designate the deconvolution spectrum extraction method. Furthermore, we implement a parallelized LSQR algorithm based on graphics processing unit programming in the Compute Unified Device Architecture to accelerate the computational processing. Experimental results illustrate that the proposed extraction method can greatly reduce the computational cost and memory use of the deconvolution method and, consequently, increase its efficiency and practicability. In addition, the proposed extraction method has a stronger noise tolerance than other methods, such as the boxcar (aperture) extraction and profile extraction methods. Finally, we present an analysis of the sensitivity of the extraction results to the radius and full width at half-maximum of the 2D PSF.

  1. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Quickly Resolve Symptoms Associated with EBV-Induced Infectious Mononucleosis in Patients with Atopic Predispositions

    PubMed Central

    Kazama, Itsuro; Miura, Chieko; Nakajima, Toshiyuki

    2016-01-01

    Case series Patient: Female, 24 • Male, 35 Final Diagnosis: EBV-induced infectious mononucleosis Symptoms: Fever • general malaise • lymphadenopathy Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Physical examination and serological testing Specialty: Infectious diseases Objective: Rare co-existance of disease or pathology Background: Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical syndrome most commonly associated with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In adults, the symptoms can often be severe and prolonged, sometimes causing serious complications. Analgesic or antipyretic drugs are normally used to relieve the symptoms. However, there is no causal treatment for the disease. Case Report: Two cases of adult patients with atopic predispositions developed nocturnal fever, general fatigue, pharyngitis and lymphadenopathy after an exacerbation of atopic symptoms or those of allergic rhinitis. Due to the positive results for EBV viral-capsid antigen (VCA) IgM and negative results for EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG, diagnoses of infectious mononucleosis induced by EBV were made in both cases. Although oral antibiotics or acetaminophen alone did not improve the deteriorating symptoms, including fever, headache and general fatigue, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as tiaramide or loxoprofen, completely improved the symptoms quickly after the initiation. Conclusions: In these cases, given the atopic predispositions of the patients, an enhanced immunological response was likely to be mainly responsible for the pathogenesis of the symptoms. In such cases, NSAIDs, that are known to reduce the activity of EBV, may dramatically improve the deteriorating symptoms quickly after the initiation. In the present cases, the immunosuppressive property of these drugs was considered to suppress the activity of lymphocytes and thus provide the rapid and persistent remission of the disease. PMID:26874639

  2. Advanced control for photoautotrophic growth and CO2-utilization efficiency using a membrane carbonation photobioreactor (MCPBR).

    PubMed

    Kim, Hyun Woo; Marcus, Andrew K; Shin, Jeong Hoon; Rittmann, Bruce E

    2011-06-01

    A membrane carbonation (MC) module uses bubbleless gas-transfer membranes to supply inorganic carbon (C(i)) for photoautotrophic cyanobacterial growth in a photobioreactor (PBR); this creates the novel MCPBR system, which allows precise control of the CO(2)-delivery rate and minimal loss of CO(2) to the atmosphere. Experiments controlled the supply rate of C(i) to the main PBR by regulating the recirculation rate (Q(R)) between the module of MC chamber and the main PBR. The experiments evaluated how Q(R) controls the CO(2) mass transport in MC chamber and how it connects with the biomass production rate, C(i) concentration, pH in the PBR, and CO(2)-utilization efficiency. The biomass production rate and C(i) concentration increased in response to the C(i) supply rate (controlled by Q(R)), but not in linear proportion. The biomass production rate increased less than C(i) due to increased light limitation. Except for the highest Q(R), when the higher C(i) concentration caused the pH to decrease, CO(2) loss to gas ventilation was negligible. The results demonstrate that this MCPBR offers independent control over the growth of photoautotrophic biomass, pH control, and minimal loss of CO(2) to the atmosphere.

  3. Quick setting water-compatible furfuryl alcohol polymer concretes

    DOEpatents

    Sugama, Toshifumi; Kukacka, Lawrence E.; Horn, William H.

    1982-11-30

    A novel quick setting polymer concrete composite comprising a furfuryl alcohol monomer, an aggregate containing a maximum of 8% by weight water, and about 1-10% trichlorotoluene initiator and about 20-80% powdered metal salt promoter, such as zinc chloride, based on the weight of said monomer, to initiate and promote polymerization of said monomer in the presence of said aggregate, within 1 hour after mixing at a temperature of -20.degree. C. to 40.degree. C., to produce a polymer concrete having a 1 hour compressive strength greater than 2000 psi.

  4. Dialysis catheter associated cardiac tamponade: quick diagnosis by extemporaneous echocardiography.

    PubMed

    Ervo, R; Angeletti, S; Turrini Dertenois, L; Cavatorta, F

    2008-01-01

    We report a case of pericardial tamponade associated with over the wire exchange of a central venous catheter (CVC) for hemodialysis (HD). The complication was quickly diagnosed due to an extemporaneous echocardiogram with a linear probe, before other laboratory and radiologic tests could detect it. The described approach allowed a suitable therapy with a positive result.

  5. The Psychologist Said Quickly, “Dialogue Descriptions Modulate Reading Speed!”

    PubMed Central

    Stites, Mallory C.; Luke, Steven G.; Christianson, Kiel

    2012-01-01

    The current study investigates whether the semantic content of a dialogue description can affect reading times on an embedded quote to determine if the speed at which a character is described as saying a quote influences how quickly it is read. Yao and Scheepers (2011) previously found that readers were faster to read direct quotes when the preceding context implied that the talker generally spoke quickly, an effect attributed to perceptual simulation of talker speed. The current study manipulated the speed of a physical action performed by the speaker independently from character talking rate to determine if these sources have separable effects on perceptual simulation of a direct quote. Results showed that readers spent less time reading direct quotes described as being said quickly compared to slowly (e.g., John walked/bolted into the room and said energetically/nonchalantly, “I finally found my car keys”), an effect that was not present when a nearly identical phrase was presented as an indirect quote (e.g., John…said energetically that he finally found his car keys). The speed of the character’s movement did not affect direct quote reading times. Furthermore, fast adverbs were themselves read significantly faster than slow adverbs, an effect we attribute to implicit effects on the eye movement program stemming from automatically activated semantic features of the adverbs. Our findings add to the literature on perceptual simulation by showing that these effects can be instantiated with only a single adverb, and are strong enough to override effects of global sentence speed. PMID:22927027

  6. Design of a Lunar Quick-Attach Mechanism to Hummer Vehicle Mounting Interface

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Grismore, David A.

    2010-01-01

    This report presents my work experiences while I was an intern with NASA (National Aeronautic and Space Administration) in the Spring of2010 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida as a member of the NASA USRP (Undergraduate Student Research Program) program. I worked in the Surface Systems (NE-S) group during the internship. Within NE-S, two ASRC (Arctic Slope Regional Corporation) contract engineers, A.J. Nick and Jason Schuler, had developed a "Quick-Attach" mechanism for the Chariot Rover, the next generation lunar rover. My project was to design, analyze, and possibly fabricate a mounting interface between their "Quick-Attach" and a Hummer vehicle. This interface was needed because it would increase their capabilities to test the Quick Attach and its various attachments, as they do not have access to a Chariot Rover at KSC. I utilized both Pro Engineer, a 3D CAD software package, and a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) known as a FAROarm to collect data and create my design. I relied on hand calculations and the Mechanica analysis tool within Pro Engineer to perform stress analysis on the design. After finishing the design, I began working on creating professional level CAD drawings and issuing them into the KSC design database known as DDMS before the end of the internship.

  7. NeQuick 2 and IRI Plas VTEC predictions for low latitude and South American sector

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ezquer, R. G.; Scidá, L. A.; Migoya Orué, Y.; Nava, B.; Cabrera, M. A.; Brunini, C.

    2018-04-01

    Using vertical total electron content (VTEC) measurements obtained from GPS satellite signals the capability of the NeQuick 2 and IRI Plas models to predict VTEC over the low latitude and South American sector is analyzed. In the present work both models were used to calculate VTEC up to the height of GPS satellites. Also, comparisons between the performance of IRI Plas and IRI 2007 have been done. The data correspond to June solstice and September equinox 1999 (high solar activity) and they were obtained at nine stations. The considered latitude range extends from 18.4°N to -64.7°N and the longitude ranges from 281.3°E to 295.9°E in the South American sector. The greatest discrepancies among model predictions and the measured VTEC are obtained at low latitudes stations placed in the equatorial anomaly region. Underestimations as strong as 40 TECU [1 TECU = 1016 m-2] can be observed at BOGT station for September equinox, when NeQuick2 model is used. The obtained results also show that: (a) for June solstice, in general the performance of IRI Plas for low latitude stations is better than that of NeQuick2 and, vice versa, for highest latitudes the performance of NeQuick2 is better than that of IRI Plas. For the stations TUCU and SANT both models have good performance; (b) for September equinox the performances of the models do not follow a clearly defined pattern as in the other season. However, it can be seen that for the region placed between the Northern peak and the valley of the equatorial anomaly, in general, the performance of IRI Plas is better than that of NeQuick2 for hours of maximum ionization. From TUCU to the South, the best TEC predictions are given by NeQuick2. The source of the observed deviations of the models has been explored in terms of CCIR foF2 determination in the available ionosonde stations in the region. Discrepancies can be also related to an unrealistic shape of the vertical electron density profile and or an erroneous prediction of

  8. Topside Electron Density Representations for Middle and High Latitudes: A Topside Parameterization for E-CHAIM Based On the NeQuick

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Themens, David R.; Jayachandran, P. T.; Bilitza, Dieter; Erickson, Philip J.; Häggström, Ingemar; Lyashenko, Mykhaylo V.; Reid, Benjamin; Varney, Roger H.; Pustovalova, Ljubov

    2018-02-01

    In this study, we present a topside model representation to be used by the Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM). In the process of this, we also present a comprehensive evaluation of the NeQuick's, and by extension the International Reference Ionosphere's, topside electron density model for middle and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Using data gathered from all available incoherent scatter radars, topside sounders, and Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation satellites, we show that the current NeQuick parameterization suboptimally represents the shape of the topside electron density profile at these latitudes and performs poorly in the representation of seasonal and solar cycle variations of the topside scale thickness. Despite this, the simple, one variable, NeQuick model is a powerful tool for modeling the topside ionosphere. By refitting the parameters that define the maximum topside scale thickness and the rate of increase of the scale height within the NeQuick topside model function, r and g, respectively, and refitting the model's parameterization of the scale height at the F region peak, H0, we find considerable improvement in the NeQuick's ability to represent the topside shape and behavior. Building on these results, we present a new topside model extension of the E-CHAIM based on the revised NeQuick function. Overall, root-mean-square errors in topside electron density are improved over the traditional International Reference Ionosphere/NeQuick topside by 31% for a new NeQuick parameterization and by 36% for a newly proposed topside for E-CHAIM.

  9. Automatic Co-Registration of QuickBird Data for Change Detection Applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bryant, Nevin A.; Logan, Thomas L.; Zobrist, Albert L.

    2006-01-01

    This viewgraph presentation reviews the use Automatic Fusion of Image Data System (AFIDS) for Automatic Co-Registration of QuickBird Data to ascertain if changes have occurred in images. The process is outlined, and views from Iraq and Los Angelels are shown to illustrate the process.

  10. Performance of Quick Sequential (Sepsis Related) and Sequential (Sepsis Related) Organ Failure Assessment to Predict Mortality in Patients with Acute Pyelonephritis Associated with Upper Urinary Tract Calculi.

    PubMed

    Fukushima, Hiroshi; Kobayashi, Masaki; Kawano, Keizo; Morimoto, Shinji

    2018-06-01

    The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock Task Force proposed a new definition of sepsis based on the SOFA (Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment) score and introduced a novel scoring system, quickSOFA, to screen patients at high risk for sepsis. However, the clinical usefulness of these systems is unclear. Therefore, we investigated predictive performance for mortality in patients with acute pyelonephritis associated with upper urinary tract calculi. This retrospective study included 141 consecutive patients who were clinically diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis associated with upper urinary tract calculi outside the intensive care unit. We evaluated the performance of the quickSOFA, SOFA and SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) scores to predict in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit admission using the AUC of the ROC curve, net reclassification, integrated discrimination improvements and decision curve analysis. A total of 11 patients (8%) died in the hospital and 26 (18%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. The AUC of quickSOFA to predict in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit admission was significantly greater than that of SIRS (each p <0.001) and comparable to that of SOFA (p = 0.47 and 0.57, respectively). When incorporated into the baseline model consisting of patient age, gender and the Charlson Comorbidity Index, quickSOFA and SOFA provided a greater change in AUC, and in net classification and integrated discrimination improvements than SIRS for each outcome. Decision curve analyses revealed that the quickSOFA and SOFA incorporated models showed a superior net benefit compared to the SIRS incorporated model for most examined probabilities of the 2 outcomes. The in-hospital mortality rate of patients with a quickSOFA score of 2 or greater and a SOFA score of 7 or greater, which were the optimal cutoffs determined by the Youden index, was 18% and 28%, respectively. SOFA and

  11. 2013 Vehicle Theft Prevention Quick Reference Guide for the Law Enforcement Community

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2013-08-01

    "This and future versions of the Vehicle TheftPrevention Quick Reference Guide for the Law Enforcement Community will provide comprehensive information for vehicle lines. The parts-marking requirements have been : extended to include: : all passe...

  12. Quick probabilistic binary image matching: changing the rules of the game

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mustafa, Adnan A. Y.

    2016-09-01

    A Probabilistic Matching Model for Binary Images (PMMBI) is presented that predicts the probability of matching binary images with any level of similarity. The model relates the number of mappings, the amount of similarity between the images and the detection confidence. We show the advantage of using a probabilistic approach to matching in similarity space as opposed to a linear search in size space. With PMMBI a complete model is available to predict the quick detection of dissimilar binary images. Furthermore, the similarity between the images can be measured to a good degree if the images are highly similar. PMMBI shows that only a few pixels need to be compared to detect dissimilarity between images, as low as two pixels in some cases. PMMBI is image size invariant; images of any size can be matched at the same quick speed. Near-duplicate images can also be detected without much difficulty. We present tests on real images that show the prediction accuracy of the model.

  13. A review of automatic patient identification options for public health care centers with restricted budgets.

    PubMed

    García-Betances, Rebeca I; Huerta, Mónica K

    2012-01-01

    A comparative review is presented of available technologies suitable for automatic reading of patient identification bracelet tags. Existing technologies' backgrounds, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, are described in relation to their possible use by public health care centers with budgetary limitations. A comparative assessment is presented of suitable automatic identification systems based on graphic codes, both one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D), printed on labels, as well as those based on radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. The analysis looks at the tradeoffs of these technologies to provide guidance to hospital administrator looking to deploy patient identification technology. The results suggest that affordable automatic patient identification systems can be easily and inexpensively implemented using 2D code printed on low cost bracelet labels, which can then be read and automatically decoded by ordinary mobile smart phones. Because of mobile smart phones' present versatility and ubiquity, the implantation and operation of 2D code, and especially Quick Response® (QR) Code, technology emerges as a very attractive alternative to automate the patients' identification processes in low-budget situations.

  14. A Review of Automatic Patient Identification Options for Public Health Care Centers with Restricted Budgets

    PubMed Central

    García-Betances, Rebeca I.; Huerta, Mónica K.

    2012-01-01

    A comparative review is presented of available technologies suitable for automatic reading of patient identification bracelet tags. Existing technologies’ backgrounds, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, are described in relation to their possible use by public health care centers with budgetary limitations. A comparative assessment is presented of suitable automatic identification systems based on graphic codes, both one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D), printed on labels, as well as those based on radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. The analysis looks at the tradeoffs of these technologies to provide guidance to hospital administrator looking to deploy patient identification technology. The results suggest that affordable automatic patient identification systems can be easily and inexpensively implemented using 2D code printed on low cost bracelet labels, which can then be read and automatically decoded by ordinary mobile smart phones. Because of mobile smart phones’ present versatility and ubiquity, the implantation and operation of 2D code, and especially Quick Response® (QR) Code, technology emerges as a very attractive alternative to automate the patients’ identification processes in low-budget situations. PMID:23569629

  15. Act quickly, decide later: long-latency visual processing underlies perceptual decisions but not reflexive behavior.

    PubMed

    Jolij, Jacob; Scholte, H Steven; van Gaal, Simon; Hodgson, Timothy L; Lamme, Victor A F

    2011-12-01

    Humans largely guide their behavior by their visual representation of the world. Recent studies have shown that visual information can trigger behavior within 150 msec, suggesting that visually guided responses to external events, in fact, precede conscious awareness of those events. However, is such a view correct? By using a texture discrimination task, we show that the brain relies on long-latency visual processing in order to guide perceptual decisions. Decreasing stimulus saliency leads to selective changes in long-latency visually evoked potential components reflecting scene segmentation. These latency changes are accompanied by almost equal changes in simple RTs and points of subjective simultaneity. Furthermore, we find a strong correlation between individual RTs and the latencies of scene segmentation related components in the visually evoked potentials, showing that the processes underlying these late brain potentials are critical in triggering a response. However, using the same texture stimuli in an antisaccade task, we found that reflexive, but erroneous, prosaccades, but not antisaccades, can be triggered by earlier visual processes. In other words: The brain can act quickly, but decides late. Differences between our study and earlier findings suggesting that action precedes conscious awareness can be explained by assuming that task demands determine whether a fast and unconscious, or a slower and conscious, representation is used to initiate a visually guided response.

  16. Antibody neutralization of cell-surface gC1qR/HABP1/SF2-p32 prevents lamellipodia formation and tumorigenesis

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Beom-Chan; Hwang, Hyun-Jung; An, Hyoung-Tae; Lee, Hyun; Park, Jun-Sub; Hong, Jin; Ko, Jesang; Kim, Chungho; Lee, Jae-Seon; Ko, Young-Gyu

    2016-01-01

    We previously demonstrated that cell-surface gC1qR is a key regulator of lamellipodia formation and cancer metastasis. Here, we screened a monoclonal mouse antibody against gC1qR to prevent cell migration by neutralizing cell-surface gC1qR. The anti-gC1qR antibody prevented growth factor-stimulated lamellipodia formation, cell migration and focal adhesion kinase activation by inactivating receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in various cancer cells such as A549, MDA-MB-231, MCF7 and HeLa cells. The antibody neutralization of cell-surface gC1qR also inhibited angiogenesis because the anti-gC1qR antibody prevented growth factor-stimulated RTK activation, lamellipodia formation, cell migration and tube formation in HUVEC. In addition, we found that A549 tumorigenesis was reduced in a xenograft mouse model by following the administration of the anti-gC1qR antibody. With these data, we can conclude that the antibody neutralization of cell-surface gC1qR could be a good therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. PMID:27363031

  17. Field comparison of OraQuick® ADVANCE Rapid HIV-1/2 antibody test and two blood-based rapid HIV antibody tests in Zambia

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Zambia’s national HIV testing algorithm specifies use of two rapid blood based antibody assays, Determine®HIV-1/2 (Inverness Medical) and if positive then Uni-GoldTM Recombigen HIV-1/2 (Trinity Biotech). Little is known about the performance of oral fluid based HIV testing in Zambia. The aims of this study are two-fold: 1) to compare the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) under field conditions of the OraQuick® ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 (OraSure Technologies, Inc.) to two blood-based rapid antibody tests currently in use in the Zambia National Algorithm, and 2) to perform a cost analysis of large-scale field testing employing the OraQuick®. Methods This was a operational retrospective research of HIV testing and questionnaire data collected in 2010 as part of the ZAMSTAR (Zambia South Africa TB and AIDS reduction) study. Randomly sampled individuals in twelve communities were tested consecutively with OraQuick® test using oral fluid versus two blood-based rapid HIV tests, Determine® and Uni-GoldTM. A cost analysis of four algorithms from health systems perspective were performed: 1) Determine® and if positive, then Uni-GoldTM (Determine®/Uni-GoldTM); based on current algorithm, 2) Determine® and if positive, then OraQuick® (Determine®/OraQuick®), 3) OraQuick® and if positive, then Determine® (OraQuick®/Determine®), 4) OraQuick® and if positive, then Uni-GoldTM (OraQuick®/Uni-GoldTM). This information was then used to construct a model using a hypothetical population of 5,000 persons with varying prevalence of HIV infection from 1–30%. Results 4,458 participants received both a Determine® and OraQuick® test. The sensitivity and specificity of the OraQuick® test were 98.7 (95%CI, 97.5–99.4) and 99.8 (95%CI, 99.6–99.9), respectively when compared to HIV positive serostatus. The average unit costs per algorithm were US$3.76, US$4.03, US$7.35, and US$7.67 for Determine®/Uni-GoldTM, Determine®/OraQuick®, OraQuick

  18. Evaluating the performance of the quick CSF method in detecting contrast sensitivity function changes

    PubMed Central

    Hou, Fang; Lesmes, Luis Andres; Kim, Woojae; Gu, Hairong; Pitt, Mark A.; Myung, Jay I.; Lu, Zhong-Lin

    2016-01-01

    The contrast sensitivity function (CSF) has shown promise as a functional vision endpoint for monitoring the changes in functional vision that accompany eye disease or its treatment. However, detecting CSF changes with precision and efficiency at both the individual and group levels is very challenging. By exploiting the Bayesian foundation of the quick CSF method (Lesmes, Lu, Baek, & Albright, 2010), we developed and evaluated metrics for detecting CSF changes at both the individual and group levels. A 10-letter identification task was used to assess the systematic changes in the CSF measured in three luminance conditions in 112 naïve normal observers. The data from the large sample allowed us to estimate the test–retest reliability of the quick CSF procedure and evaluate its performance in detecting CSF changes at both the individual and group levels. The test–retest reliability reached 0.974 with 50 trials. In 50 trials, the quick CSF method can detect a medium 0.30 log unit area under log CSF change with 94.0% accuracy at the individual observer level. At the group level, a power analysis based on the empirical distribution of CSF changes from the large sample showed that a very small area under log CSF change (0.025 log unit) could be detected by the quick CSF method with 112 observers and 50 trials. These results make it plausible to apply the method to monitor the progression of visual diseases or treatment effects on individual patients and greatly reduce the time, sample size, and costs in clinical trials at the group level. PMID:27120074

  19. Amperometric monitoring of quercetin permeation through skin membranes.

    PubMed

    Rembiesa, Jadwiga; Gari, Hala; Engblom, Johan; Ruzgas, Tautgirdas

    2015-12-30

    Transdermal delivery of quercetin (QR, 3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), a natural flavonoid with a considerable antioxidant capacity, is important for medical treatment of, e.g., skin disorders. QR permeability through skin is low, which, at the same time, makes the monitoring of percutaneous QR penetration difficult. The objective of this study was to assess an electrochemical method for monitoring QR penetration through skin membranes. An electrode was covered with the membrane, exposed to QR solution, and electrode current was measured. The registered current was due to electro-oxidation of QR penetrating the membrane. Exploiting strict current-QR flux relationships diffusion coefficient, D, of QR in skin and dialysis membranes was calculated. The D values were strongly dependent on the theoretical model and parameters assumed in the processing of the amperometric data. The highest values of D were in the range of 1.6-6.1×10(-7)cm(2)/s. This was reached only for skin membranes pretreated with buffer-ethanol mixture for more than 24h. QR solutions containing penetration enhancers, ethanol and l-menthol, definitely increased D values. The results demonstrate that electrochemical setup gives a possibility to assess penetration characteristics as well as enables monitoring of penetration dynamics, which is more difficult by traditional methods using Franz cells. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Different kernel functions due to rainfall response from borehole strainmeter in Taiwan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yen Chen, Chih; Hu, Jyr Ching; LIu, Chi Ching

    2014-05-01

    In order to realize reasons inducing earthquakes, project of monitoring of the fault activity using 3-component Gladwin Tensor Strainmeter (GTSM) has been initiated since 2003 in Taiwan, which is one of the most active seismic regions in the world. Observed strain contains several different effects within including barometric, tidal, groundwater, precipitation, tectonics, seismic and other irregular noise. After removing the response of tides and air pressure on strain, we still can find some anomalies highly related to the rainfall in short time in days. The strain response induced by rainfall can be separated into two parts as observation in groundwater, slow response and quick response, respectively. Quick response reflects the strain responding to the load of falling water drops on the ground surface. A kernel function shows the continual response induced by unit precipitation water in time domain. We split the quick response from data removing tidal and barometric response, and then calculate the kernel function by use of deconvolution method. More, an average kernel function was calculated to reduce the noise level. There are five of the sites installed by CGS Taiwan were selected to calculate kernel functions for individual sites. The results show there may be different on rainfall response in different environmental settings. In the case of stations site on gentle terrain, kernel function for each site shows the similar trend, it rises quickly to maximum in 1 to 2 hrs, and then goes down near to zero gently in period of 2-3 days. But in the case of sites settled side by the rivers, there will be 2nd peak of function when collected water in the catchment flows along by the sites related to the hydrograph of creeks. More, landslides will occur in some sites in hazard of landslide with more rainfall stored on, just like DARB in ChiaYi. The curve of kernel function will be controlled by landslides and debris flows.