Sample records for button cell test

  1. Adhesion testing device

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    LaPeyronnie, Glenn M. (Inventor); Huff, Charles M. (Inventor)

    2010-01-01

    The present invention provides a testing apparatus and method for testing the adhesion of a coating to a surface. The invention also includes an improved testing button or dolly for use with the testing apparatus and a self aligning button hook or dolly interface on the testing apparatus. According to preferred forms, the apparatus and method of the present invention are simple, portable, battery operated rugged, and inexpensive to manufacture and use, are readily adaptable to a wide variety of uses, and provide effective and accurate testing results. The device includes a linear actuator driven by an electric motor coupled to the actuator through a gearbox and a rotatable shaft. The electronics for the device are contained in the head section of the device. At the contact end of the device, is positioned a self aligning button hook, attached below the load cell located on the actuator shaft.

  2. 17. Building 202, observation room for test cell, showing panel, ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    17. Building 202, observation room for test cell, showing panel, abort button, phones, and observation window. View looking northwest. - Rocket Engine Testing Facility, GRC Building No. 202, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

  3. Improved Tensile Adhesion Specimens for High Strength Epoxy Systems in Aerospace Applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Haddock, M. Reed; McLennan, Michael L.

    2000-01-01

    An improved tensile adhesion button has been designed and tested that results in higher measured tensile adhesion strength while providing increased capability for testing high strength epoxy adhesive systems. The best attributes of two well-established tensile button designs were combined and refined into an optimized tensile button. The most significant design change to the tensile button was to improve alignment of the bonded tensile button specimens during tensile testing by changing the interface between the tensile button and the tensile test machine. The established or old button design uses a test fixture that pulls from a grooved annulus or anvil head while the new button design pulls from a threaded hole in the centerline of the button. Finite element (FE) analysis showed that asymmetric loading of the established anvil head tensile button significantly increases the stress concentration in the adhesive, causing failure at lower tensile test loads. The new tensile button was designed to eliminate asymmetric loading and eliminate misalignment sensitivity. Enhanced alignment resulted in improved tensile adhesion strength measurement up to 13.8 MPa (2000psi) over the established button design. Another design change increased the capability of the button by increasing the threaded hole diameter allowing it to test high strength epoxy systems up to 85 MPa(less than 12,000 psi). The improved tensile button can be used in button- to-button or button-to-panel configurations.

  4. Comparative assessment of button cells using a normalized index for potential pollution by heavy metals.

    PubMed

    Moreno-Merino, Luis; Jiménez-Hernández, Maria Emilia; de la Losa, Almudena; Huerta-Muñoz, Virginia

    2015-09-01

    Many household batteries worldwide still end up in landfills or are incinerated due to inefficient collection and recycling schemes. Toxic heavy metals from improperly discarded button cells pose a serious risk to human health and the environment, as they can pollute air, soil and water. This paper analyses a series of button cells selected from batteries available on the retail market, and compares their polluting potential. A total of 64 batteries were subjected to chemical analyses of 19 elements - including metals and metalloids - , and energy density measurements. The samples were from four different brands of each of the four most common button cell technologies (alkaline, zinc-air, silver oxide and lithium). An energy-normalized index - the Weighted Potential Pollution Index (WPPI) - was proposed to compare the polluting potential of the different batteries. The higher the battery WPPI score, the greater the content in toxic elements and the lower the energy output. The results of the chemical composition and energy density varied depending on the construction technology of the button cells. However, significant differences in both variables were also found when comparing different brands within the same technology. The differences in WPPI values confirmed the existence of a significant margin to reduce the environmental impact of discarded button cells simply by avoiding the most polluting options. The choice of the battery with the most favourable WPPI produced a reduction in potential pollution of 3-53% for silver oxide batteries, 4-39% for alkaline, 20-28% for zinc-air and 12-26% for lithium. Comparative potential pollution could be assessed when selecting batteries using an energy-normalized index such as WPPI to reduce the environmental impact of improperly disposed button cells. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  5. Shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons: effect of water and saliva contamination.

    PubMed

    Sfondrini, Maria Francesca; Fraticelli, Danilo; Gandini, Paola; Scribante, Andrea

    2013-01-01

    The aim of this study was to assess the effect of water and saliva contamination on the shear bond strength and failure site of orthodontic brackets and lingual buttons. 120 bovine permanent mandibular incisors were randomly divided into 6 groups of 20 specimens each. Both orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons were tested under three different enamel surface conditions: (a) dry, (b) water contamination, and (c) saliva contamination. Brackets and buttons were bonded to the teeth and subsequently tested using a Instron universal testing machine. Shear bond strength values and adhesive failure rate were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey tests (strength values) and Chi squared test (ARI Scores). Noncontaminated enamel surfaces showed the highest bond strengths for both brackets and buttons. Under water and saliva contamination orthodontic brackets groups showed significantly lower shear strengths than disinclusion buttons groups. Significant differences in debond locations were found among the groups under the various enamel surface conditions. Water and saliva contamination of enamel during the bonding procedure lowers bond strength values, more with orthodontic brackets than with disinclusion buttons.

  6. Effect of blood contamination on shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons.

    PubMed

    Sfondrini, Maria Francesca; Gatti, Sara; Scribante, Andrea

    2011-07-01

    Our aim was to assess the effect of blood contamination on the shear bonding strength and sites of failure of orthodontic brackets and bondable buttons. We randomly divided 160 bovine permanent mandibular incisors into 8 groups of 20 specimens each. Both orthodontic brackets (Step brackets, Leone, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy) and bondable buttons (Flat orthodontic buttons, Leone, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy) were tested on four different enamel surfaces: dry; contamination with blood before priming; after priming; and before and after priming. Brackets and buttons were bonded to the teeth and subsequently tested using a Instron universal testing machine. Shear bonding strength and the rate of adhesive failures were recorded. Data were analysed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA), Scheffè tests, and the chi-square test. Uncontaminated enamel surfaces showed the highest bonding strengths for both brackets and buttons. When they were contaminated with blood, orthodontic brackets had significantly lower shear strengths than bondable buttons (P=0.0001). There were significant differences in sites of failure among the groups for the various enamel surfaces (P=0.001). Contamination of enamel by blood during bonding lowers the strength of the bond, more so with orthodontic brackets than with bondable buttons. Copyright © 2010 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. WADeG Cell Phone

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

    2009-09-01

    The on cell phone software captures the images from the CMOS camera periodically, stores the pictures, and periodically transmits those images over the cellular network to the server. The cell phone software consists of several modules: CamTest.cpp, CamStarter.cpp, StreamIOHandler .cpp, and covertSmartDevice.cpp. The camera application on the SmartPhone is CamStarter, which is "the" user interface for the camera system. The CamStarter user interface allows a user to start/stop the camera application and transfer files to the server. The CamStarter application interfaces to the CamTest application through registry settings. Both the CamStarter and CamTest applications must be separately deployed on themore » smartphone to run the camera system application. When a user selects the Start button in CamStarter, CamTest is created as a process. The smartphone begins taking small pictures (CAPTURE mode), analyzing those pictures for certain conditions, and saving those pictures on the smartphone. This process will terminate when the user selects the Stop button. The camtest code spins off an asynchronous thread, StreamIOHandler, to check for pictures taken by the camera. The received image is then tested by StreamIOHandler to see if it meets certain conditions. If those conditions are met, the CamTest program is notified through the setting of a registry key value and the image is saved in a designated directory in a custom BMP file which includes a header and the image data. When the user selects the Transfer button in the CamStarter user interface, the covertsmartdevice code is created as a process. Covertsmartdevice gets all of the files in a designated directory, opens a socket connection to the server, sends each file, and then terminates.« less

  8. Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets and Disinclusion Buttons: Effect of Water and Saliva Contamination

    PubMed Central

    Sfondrini, Maria Francesca; Fraticelli, Danilo; Gandini, Paola

    2013-01-01

    Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of water and saliva contamination on the shear bond strength and failure site of orthodontic brackets and lingual buttons. Materials and Methods. 120 bovine permanent mandibular incisors were randomly divided into 6 groups of 20 specimens each. Both orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons were tested under three different enamel surface conditions: (a) dry, (b) water contamination, and (c) saliva contamination. Brackets and buttons were bonded to the teeth and subsequently tested using a Instron universal testing machine. Shear bond strength values and adhesive failure rate were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey tests (strength values) and Chi squared test (ARI Scores). Results. Noncontaminated enamel surfaces showed the highest bond strengths for both brackets and buttons. Under water and saliva contamination orthodontic brackets groups showed significantly lower shear strengths than disinclusion buttons groups. Significant differences in debond locations were found among the groups under the various enamel surface conditions. Conclusions. Water and saliva contamination of enamel during the bonding procedure lowers bond strength values, more with orthodontic brackets than with disinclusion buttons. PMID:23762825

  9. Results from a Test Fixture for button BPM Trapped Mode Measurements

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

    Cameron,P.; Bacha, B.; Blednykh, A.

    2009-05-04

    A variety of measures have been suggested to mitigate the problem of button BPM trapped mode heating. A test fixture, using a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf and custom machined components, was assembled to validate the simulations. We present details of the fixture design, measurement results, and a comparison of the results with the simulations. A brief history of the trapped mode button heating problem and a set of design rules for BPM button optimization are presented elsewhere in these proceedings. Here we present measurements on a test fixture that was assembled to confirm, if possible, a subset of those rules: (1)more » Minimize the trapped mode impedance and the resulting power deposited in this mode by the beam. (2) Maximize the power re-radiated back into the beampipe. (3) Maximize electrical conductivity of the outer circumference of the button and minimize conductivity of the inner circumference of the shell, to shift power deposition from the button to the shell. The problem is then how to extract useful and relevant information from S-parameter measurements of the test fixture.« less

  10. Smoke alarm tests may not adequately indicate smoke alarm function.

    PubMed

    Peek-Asa, Corinne; Yang, Jingzhen; Hamann, Cara; Young, Tracy

    2011-01-01

    Smoke alarms are one of the most promoted prevention strategies to reduce residential fire deaths, and they can reduce residential fire deaths by half. Smoke alarm function can be measured by two tests: the smoke alarm button test and the chemical smoke test. Using results from a randomized trial of smoke alarms, we compared smoke alarm response to the button test and the smoke test. The smoke alarms found in the study homes at baseline were tested, as well as study alarms placed into homes as part of the randomized trial. Study alarms were tested at 12 and 42 months postinstallation. The proportion of alarms that passed the button test but not the smoke test ranged from 0.5 to 5.8% of alarms; this result was found most frequently among ionization alarms with zinc or alkaline batteries. These alarms would indicate to the owner (through the button test) that the smoke alarm was working, but the alarm would not actually respond in the case of a fire (as demonstrated by failing the smoke test). The proportion of alarms that passed the smoke test but not the button test ranged from 1.0 to 3.0%. These alarms would appear nonfunctional to the owner (because the button test failed), even though the alarm would operate in response to a fire (as demonstrated by passing the smoke test). The general public is not aware of the potential for inaccuracy in smoke alarm tests, and burn professionals can advocate for enhanced testing methods. The optimal test to determine smoke alarm function is the chemical smoke test.

  11. Electrochemical performance of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ electrolyte based proton-conducting SOFC solid oxide fuel cell with layered perovskite PrBaCo2O5+δ cathode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ding, Hanping; Xie, Yuanyuan; Xue, Xingjian

    2011-03-01

    BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ (BZCYYb) exhibits adequate protonic conductivity as well as sufficient chemical and thermal stability over a wide range of SOFC operating conditions, while layered perovskite PrBaCo2O5+δ (PBCO) has advanced electrochemical properties. This research fully takes advantage of these advanced properties and develops a novel protonic ceramic membrane fuel cell (PCMFC) of Ni-BZCYYb|BZCYYb|PBCO. The performance of the button cell was tested under intermediate-temperature range from 600 to 700 °C with humified H2 (∼3% H2O) as fuel and ambient air as oxidant. The results show that the open circuit potential of 0.983 V and the maximal power density of 490 mW cm-2 were achieved at 700 °C. By co-doping barium zirconate-cerate with Y and Yb, the conductivity of electrolyte was significantly improved. The polarization processes of the button cell were characterized using the complicated electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique. The results indicate that the polarization resistances contributed from both charge migration processes and mass transfer processes increase with decreasing cell voltage loads. However the polarization resistance induced by mass transfer processes is negligible in the studied button cell.

  12. Dietary supplementation with white button mushroom augments the protective immune response to Salmonella vaccine in mice

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    We previously showed that dietary white button mushrooms (WBM) enhanced natural killer cell activity and that in vitro WBM supplementation promotes maturation and function of dendritic cells (DC). The current study investigated whether WBM consumption would enhance pathogen-specific immune response ...

  13. End User Acceptance - Requirements or Specifications, Certification, Testing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jeevarajan, Judith

    2013-01-01

    NASA follows top level safety requirement of two-failure tolerance (t hree levels of controls or design for minimum risk) to all catastroph ic hazards in the design of safe li-ion batteries for space use. ? R igorous development testing at appropriate levels to credible offnominal conditions and review of test data. ? Implement robust design con trols based on test results and test again to confirm safety at the a ppropriate levels. ? Stringent testing of all (100%) flight batteries (from button cells to large batteries).

  14. Harvesting keratolimbal allografts from corneoscleral buttons: a novel application of cyanoacrylate adhesive.

    PubMed

    Lim, L T; Bhatt, P R; Ramaesh, K

    2008-11-01

    To describe an alternative and novel technique using cyanoacrylate glue to achieve successful limbal tissue dissection, from an organ culture media stored corneoscleral button, without an artificial anterior chamber. A donor corneoscleral button (leftover from penetrating keratoplasty) was divided into two equal semicircular halves. A thick layer of tissue adhesive (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) was spread on a sterile rubber block (the under surface of the donor punch). One half of the donor corneoscleral rim was placed epithelial side up on the adhesive and allowed to attach firmly to the block. This composite provided stability to the donor rim allowing lamellar dissection of the limbal tissue to be performed without damaging the limbal epithelium. Regular, partial-thickness limbal tissue was obtained. There was no histological evidence of glue or cellular toxicity of the harvested limbal stem cells. This harvested tissue had been grafted successfully in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency also undergoing keratoplasty. Tissue adhesive can be a simple, effective and useful tool in the dissection and harvesting of corneal limbal stem cell allografts from corneoscleral buttons stored in organ culture media.

  15. Novel method to avoid the open-sky condition in penetrating keratoplasty: covered cornea technique.

    PubMed

    Arslan, Osman S; Unal, Mustafa; Arici, Ceyhun; Cicik, Erdoğan; Mangan, Serhat; Atalay, Eray

    2014-09-01

    The aim of this study was to present a novel technique to avoid the open-sky condition in pediatric and adult penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Seventy-two eyes of 65 infants and children and 44 eyes of 44 adult patients were operated on using this technique. After trephining the recipient cornea up to a depth of 50% to 70%, the anterior chamber was entered at 1 point. Then, only a 2 clock hour segment of the recipient button was incised, and this segment was sutured to the recipient rim with a single tight suture. The procedure was repeated until the entire recipient button was excised and resutured. The donor corneal button was sutured to the recipient corneal rim. The sutures between the recipient button and the rim were then cut off, and the recipient button was drawn out. None of the patients operated on with this technique developed complications related to the open-sky condition. Visual acuities, graft failure rates, and endothelial cell loss were comparable with the findings of studies performed for conventional PK. The technique described avoids the open-sky condition during the entire PK procedure. Endothelial cell loss rates are acceptable.

  16. A PC parallel port button box provides millisecond response time accuracy under Linux.

    PubMed

    Stewart, Neil

    2006-02-01

    For psychologists, it is sometimes necessary to measure people's reaction times to the nearest millisecond. This article describes how to use the PC parallel port to receive signals from a button box to achieve millisecond response time accuracy. The workings of the parallel port, the corresponding port addresses, and a simple Linux program for controlling the port are described. A test of the speed and reliability of button box signal detection is reported. If the reader is moderately familiar with Linux, this article should provide sufficient instruction for him or her to build and test his or her own parallel port button box. This article also describes how the parallel port could be used to control an external apparatus.

  17. Emotive concept nouns and motor responses: attraction or repulsion?

    PubMed

    Freina, Laura; Baroni, Giulia; Borghi, Anna M; Nicoletti, Roberto

    2009-06-01

    We carried out three experiments aimed at testing whether hand posture affects the compatibility effect that Chen and Bargh (1999) found between a word's emotional connotation and arm movement direction. In the present study, participants responded by pressing two buttons: one placed near their body, the other far away. In Experiment 1, in which they pressed the response button with their hand open, RTs were shorter when participants pressed the far button for positive words and the near button for negative words, as if they simulated reaching for something good and avoiding something bad. However, in Experiments 2 and 3, in which participants pressed the response button with a tennis ball in their hand, RTs were shorter when participants pressed the near button for positive words and the far button for negative words, as if they simulated drawing a good thing closer and pushing a bad thing away. Results are discussed within the framework of theories on concept grounding in emotion and action systems.

  18. Effects of contamination by either blood or a hemostatic agent on the shear bond strength of orthodontic buttons

    PubMed Central

    Alkis, Huseyin; Turkkahraman, Hakan

    2013-01-01

    Objective To evaluate the effects of contamination by either blood or a hemostatic agent on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic buttons. Methods We used 45 freshly extracted, non-carious, impacted third molars that were divided into 3 groups of 15. Each tooth was etched with 37% phosphoric acid gel for 30 s. Human blood or the blood stopper agent was applied to the tooth surface in groups I and II, respectively. Group III teeth were untreated (controls). Orthodontic buttons were bonded to the teeth using light-curing composite resin. After bonding, the SBS of the button was determined using a Universal testing machine. Any adhesive remaining after debonding was assessed and scored according to the modified adhesive remnant index (ARI). ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey's test was used to determine significant differences in SBS and Fisher's exact test, to determine significant differences in ARI scores among groups. Results ANOVA indicated a significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). The highest SBS values were measured in group III (10.73 ± 0.96 MPa). The SBS values for teeth in groups I and II were significantly lower than that of group III (p < 0.001). The lowest SBS values were observed in group I teeth (4.17 ± 1.11 MPa) (p < 0.001). Conclusions Contamination of tooth surfaces with either blood or hemostatic agent significantly decreased the SBS of orthodontic buttons. When the contamination risk is high, it is recommended to use the blood stopper agent when bonding orthodontic buttons on impacted teeth. PMID:23671834

  19. Learning processes underlying avoidance of negative outcomes.

    PubMed

    Andreatta, Marta; Michelmann, Sebastian; Pauli, Paul; Hewig, Johannes

    2017-04-01

    Successful avoidance of a threatening event may negatively reinforce the behavior due to activation of brain structures involved in reward processing. Here, we further investigated the learning-related properties of avoidance using feedback-related negativity (FRN). The FRN is modulated by violations of an intended outcome (prediction error, PE), that is, the bigger the difference between intended and actual outcome, the larger the FRN amplitude is. Twenty-eight participants underwent an operant conditioning paradigm, in which a behavior (button press) allowed them to avoid a painful electric shock. During two learning blocks, participants could avoid an electric shock in 80% of the trials by pressing one button (avoidance button), or by not pressing another button (punishment button). After learning, participants underwent two test blocks, which were identical to the learning ones except that no shocks were delivered. Participants pressed the avoidance button more often than the punishment button. Importantly, response frequency increased throughout the learning blocks but it did not decrease during the test blocks, indicating impaired extinction and/or habit formation. In line with a PE account, FRN amplitude to negative feedback after correct responses (i.e., unexpected punishment) was significantly larger than to positive feedback (i.e., expected omission of punishment), and it increased throughout the blocks. Highly anxious individuals showed equal FRN amplitudes to negative and positive feedback, suggesting impaired discrimination. These results confirm the role of negative reinforcement in motivating behavior and learning, and reveal important differences between high and low anxious individuals in the processing of prediction errors. © 2017 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

  20. The floor effect: impoverished spatial memory for elevator buttons.

    PubMed

    Vendetti, Michael; Castel, Alan D; Holyoak, Keith J

    2013-05-01

    People typically remember objects to which they have frequently been exposed, suggesting that memory is a by-product of perception. However, prior research has shown that people have exceptionally poor memory for the features of some objects (e.g., coins) to which they have been exposed over the course of many years. Here, we examined how people remember the spatial layout of the buttons on a frequently used elevator panel, to determine whether physical interaction (rather than simple exposure) would ensure the incidental encoding of spatial information. Participants who worked in an eight-story office building displayed very poor recall for the elevator panel but above-chance performance on a recognition test. Performance was related to how often and how recently the person had used the elevator. In contrast to their poor memory for the spatial layout of the elevator buttons, most people readily recalled small distinctive graffiti on the elevator walls. In a more implicit test, the majority were able to locate their office floor and the eighth floor button when asked to point toward these buttons when in the actual elevator, with the button labels covered. However, identification was very poor for other floors (including the first floor), suggesting that even frequent interaction with information does not always lead to accurate spatial memory. These findings have implications for understanding the complex relationships among attention, expertise, and memory.

  1. Biomechanics of the Proximal Radius Following Drilling of the Bicipital Tuberosity to Mimic Cortical Button Distal Biceps Repair Technique.

    PubMed

    Oak, Nikhil R; Lien, John R; Brunfeldt, Alexander; Lawton, Jeffrey N

    2018-05-01

    A fracture through the proximal radius is a theoretical concern after cortical button distal biceps fixation in an active patient. The permanent, nonossified cortical defect and medullary tunnel is at risk during a fall eliciting rotational and compressive forces. We hypothesized that during simulated torsion and compression, in comparison with unaltered specimens, the cortical button distal biceps repair model would have decreased torsional and compressive strength and would fracture in the vicinity of the bicipital tuberosity bone tunnel. Sixteen fourth-generation composite radius Sawbones models were used in this controlled laboratory study. A bone tunnel was created through the bicipital tuberosity to mimic the exact bone tunnel, 8 mm near cortex and 3.2 mm far cortex, made for the BicepsButton distal biceps tendon repair. The radius was then prepared and mounted on either a torsional or compression testing device and compared with undrilled control specimens. Compression tests resulted in average failure loads of 9015.2 N in controls versus 8253.25 N in drilled specimens ( P = .074). Torsional testing resulted in an average failure torque of 27.3 Nm in controls and 19.3 Nm in drilled specimens ( P = .024). Average fracture angle was 35.1° in controls versus 21.1° in drilled. Gross fracture patterns were similar in compression testing; however, in torsional testing all fractures occurred through the bone tunnel in the drilled group. There are weaknesses in the vicinity of the bone tunnel in the proximal radius during biomechanical stress testing which may not be clinically relevant in nature. In cortical button fixation, distal biceps repairs creates a permanent, nonossified cortical defect with tendon interposed in the bone tunnel, which can alter the biomechanical properties of the proximal radius during compressive and torsional loading.

  2. Consortium Requirements Engineering Guidebook

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-12-01

    re- quirements among developers or contractors, acquisition managers, and users. A CoRE specification serves as both the test -to and design-to...that are used for the following purposes: (1) the button labeled SELF TEST allows the operator to check the FLMS’s output hardware while the system is...shut down; and (2) the button labeled RESET allows the system to be brought back into normal operation following a shutdown or testing as long as the

  3. A Jungle in There: Bacteria in Belly Buttons are Highly Diverse, but Predictable

    PubMed Central

    Hulcr, Jiri; Latimer, Andrew M.; Henley, Jessica B.; Rountree, Nina R.; Fierer, Noah; Lucky, Andrea; Lowman, Margaret D.; Dunn, Robert R.

    2012-01-01

    The belly button is one of the habitats closest to us, and yet it remains relatively unexplored. We analyzed bacteria and arachaea from the belly buttons of humans from two different populations sampled within a nation-wide citizen science project. We examined bacterial and archaeal phylotypes present and their diversity using multiplex pyrosequencing of 16S rDNA libraries. We then tested the oligarchy hypothesis borrowed from tropical macroecology, namely that the frequency of phylotypes in one sample of humans predicts its frequency in another independent sample. We also tested the predictions that frequent phylotypes (the oligarchs) tend to be common when present, and tend to be more phylogenetically clustered than rare phylotypes. Once rarefied to four hundred reads per sample, bacterial communities from belly buttons proved to be at least as diverse as communities known from other skin studies (on average 67 bacterial phylotypes per belly button). However, the belly button communities were strongly dominated by a few taxa: only 6 phylotypes occurred on >80% humans. While these frequent bacterial phylotypes (the archaea were all rare) are a tiny part of the total diversity of bacteria in human navels (<0.3% of phylotypes), they constitute a major portion of individual reads (∼1/3), and are predictable among independent samples of humans, in terms of both the occurrence and evolutionary relatedness (more closely related than randomly drawn equal sets of phylotypes). Thus, the hypothesis that “oligarchs” dominate diverse assemblages appears to be supported by human-associated bacteria. Although it remains difficult to predict which species of bacteria might be found on a particular human, predicting which species are most frequent (or rare) seems more straightforward, at least for those species living in belly buttons. PMID:23144827

  4. Archeological Survey and Testing in the Holy Cross Historic District, New Orleans, Louisiana. Volume 2

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-02-01

    467 Table 4 Personal Items from Shovel Tests, 160R130. SURF SURF SURF N15 N5 NO NO $5 S5 1 2 3 W20 El5 E20 W10 E20 EO Bone button, Type B-5 Ceramic...Table 4 . Personal Items from Shovel Tests, 160R130. S15 S20 S20 S25 S25 S30 S30 S30 S32.5 E5 E35 E20 E50 E25 E50 E35 E20 E35 Bone button, Type B-5...1 1 1 7 1 471 Table 4 Personal Items from Shovel Tests, 160R130. S30 S34 S35 S45 S50 TOTAL El0 E35 E30 E30 E55 Bone button, Type B-5 1 1 Ceramic

  5. Button fixation technique for Achilles tendon reinsertion: a biomechanical study.

    PubMed

    Awogni, David; Chauvette, Guillaume; Lemieux, Marie-Line; Balg, Frédéric; Langelier, Ève; Allard, Jean-Pascal

    2014-01-01

    Chronic insertional tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon is a frequent and disabling pathologic entity. Operative treatment is indicated for patients for whom nonoperative management has failed. The treatment can consist of the complete detachment of the tendon insertion and extensive debridement. We biomechanically tested a new operative technique that uses buttons for fixation of the Achilles tendon insertion on the posterior calcaneal tuberosity and compared it with 2 standard bone anchor techniques. A total of 40 fresh-frozen cadaver specimens were used to compare 3 fixation techniques for reinserting the Achilles tendon: single row anchors, double row anchors, and buttons. The ultimate loads and failure mechanisms were recorded. The button assembly (median load 764 N, range 713 to 888) yielded a median fixation strength equal to 202% (range 137% to 251%) of that obtained with the double row anchors (median load 412 N, range 301 to 571) and 255% (range 213% to 317%) of that obtained with the single row anchors (median load 338 N, range 241 to 433N). The most common failure mechanisms were suture breakage with the buttons (55%) and pull out of the implant with the double row (70%) and single row (85%) anchors. The results of the present biomechanical cadaver study have shown that Achilles tendon reinsertion fixation using the button technique provides superior pull out strength than the bone anchors tested. Copyright © 2014 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Investigation of low temperature solid oxide fuel cells for air-independent UUV applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moton, Jennie Mariko

    Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) will benefit greatly from high energy density (> 500 Wh/L) power systems utilizing high-energy-density fuels and air-independent oxidizers. Current battery-based systems have limited energy densities (< 400 Wh/L), which motivate development of alternative power systems such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). SOFC-based power systems have the potential to achieve the required UUV energy densities, and the current study explores how SOFCs based on gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) electrolytes with operating temperatures of 650°C and lower may operate in the unique environments of a promising UUV power plant. The plant would contain a H 2O2 decomposition reactor to supply humidified O2 to the SOFC cathode and exothermic aluminum/H2O combustor to provide heated humidified H2 fuel to the anode. To characterize low-temperature SOFC performance with these unique O2 and H2 source, SOFC button cells based on nickel/GDC (Gd0.1Ce0.9O 1.95) anodes, GDC electrolytes, and lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ or LSCF)/GDC cathodes were fabricated and tested for performance and stability with humidity on both the anode and the cathode. Cells were also tested with various reactant concentrations of H2 and O2 to simulate gas depletion down the channel of an SOFC stack. Results showed that anode performance depended primarily on fuel concentration and less on the concentration of the associated increase in product H2O. O 2 depletion with humidified cathode flows also caused significant loss in cell current density at a given voltage. With the humidified flows in either the anode or cathode, stability tests of the button cells at 650 °C showed stable voltage is maintained at low operating current (0.17 A/cm2) at up to 50 % by mole H2O, but at higher current densities (0.34 A/cm2), irreversible voltage degradation occurred at rates of 0.8-3.7 mV/hour depending on exposure time. From these button cell results, estimated average current densities over the length of a low-temperature SOFC stack were estimated and used to size a UUV power system based on Al/H 2O oxidation for fuel and H2O2 decomposition for O2. The resulting system design suggested that energy densities above 300 Wh/L may be achieved at neutral buoyancy with seawater if the cell is operated at high reactant utilizations in the SOFC stack for missions longer than 20 hours.

  7. Comparison of numeric keyboard and CRT line-labeled buttons for information access. [in computerized, area navigation system for aircraft

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Williams, D.

    1976-01-01

    Test were conducted to determine whether differences in speed and accuracy are experienced when using either line-labeled index buttons or a numeric keyboard for page selection in airborne CRT-display area navigation systems. The experiment was conducted with six airline pilots, each flying the same two simulated RNAV routes. Three pilot subjects used line-labeled buttons adjacent to the CRT screen, while three used a numeric keyboard for page access. The hypothesis of no differences in response times between the two modes of access could not be rejected.

  8. Revision ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using a suspension button fixation technique.

    PubMed

    Lee, Gregory H; Limpisvasti, Orr; Park, Maxwell C; McGarry, Michelle H; Yocum, Lewis A; Lee, Thay Q

    2010-03-01

    Revision ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction remains a challenging problem. The objective of this study was to biomechanically evaluate an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction technique using a suspension button fixation technique that can be used even in the case of ulnar cortical bone loss. An ulnar suspension fixation technique for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction can restore elbow kinematics and demonstrate failure strength comparable to that of currently available techniques. Controlled laboratory study. Nine pairs of cadaveric elbows were dissected free of soft tissue and potted. After simulating ulnar cortical bone loss, ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction was performed in 1 elbow of each pair using palmaris longus autograft and a 30-mm RetroButton suspended from the far (lateralmost) ulnar cortex. A docking technique was used for humeral fixation of the graft. Elbow valgus angle was quantified using a Microscribe 3DLX digitizer at multiple elbow flexion angles. Valgus angle was measured with the ulnar collateral ligament intact, transected, and reconstructed. In addition, load-to-failure testing was performed in 1 elbow of each pair. Release of the ulnar collateral ligament caused a significant increase in valgus angle at each flexion angle tested (P < .002). Reconstructed elbows demonstrated no significant differences in valgus angle from the intact elbow at all flexion angles tested. Load-to-failure tests showed that reconstructed elbows had an ultimate torque (10.3 + or - 5.7 N x m) significantly less than intact elbows (26.4 + or - 10.6 N x m) (P = .001). Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using a suspension button fixation technique reliably restored elbow kinematics to the intact state. Load-to-failure testing demonstrated comparable fixation strength to several historic controls of primary reconstruction techniques despite the simulated ulnar cortical bone loss. Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using a suspension button fixation technique can be considered in the case of ulnar cortical bone loss in a primary or revision setting.

  9. Disposable Electronic Cigarettes and Electronic Hookahs: Evaluation of Performance

    PubMed Central

    Williams, Monique; Ghai, Sanjay

    2015-01-01

    Introduction: The purpose of this study was to characterize the performance of disposable button-activated and disposable airflow-activated electronic cigarettes (EC) and electronic hookahs (EH). Methods: The airflow rate required to produce aerosol, pressure drop, and the aerosol absorbance at 420nm were measured during smoke-outs of 9 disposable products. Three units of each product were tested in these experiments. Results: The airflow rates required to produce aerosol and the aerosol absorbances were lower for button-activated models (3mL/s; 0.41–0.55 absorbance) than for airflow-activated models (7–17mL/s; 0.48–0.84 absorbance). Pressure drop was also lower across button-activated products (range = 6–12mm H2O) than airflow-activated products (range = 15–67mm H20). For 25 of 27 units tested, airflow did not have to be increased during smoke-out to maintain aerosol production, unlike earlier generation models. Two brands had uniform performance characteristics for all parameters, while 3 had at least 1 product that did not function normally. While button-activated models lasted 200 puffs or less and EH airflow-activated models often lasted 400 puffs, none of the models produced as many puffs as advertised. Puff number was limited by battery life, which was shorter in button-activated models. Conclusion: The performance of disposable products was differentiated mainly by the way the aerosol was produced (button vs airflow-activated) rather than by product type (EC vs EH). Users needed to take harder drags on airflow-activated models. Performance varied within models, and battery life limited the number of puffs. Data suggest quality control in manufacturing varies among brands. PMID:25104117

  10. Lithium-ion batteries for hearing aid applications. II. Pulse discharge and safety tests

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Passerini, S.; Coustier, F.; Owens, B. B.

    Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries were designed to meet the power requirements of hearing aid devices (HADs). The batteries were designed in a 312-button cell size, compatible with existing hearing aids. The batteries were tested to evaluate the design and the electrochemical performance, as they relate to a typical hearing aid application. The present report covers the pulse capabilities, cycle life and preliminary safety tests. The results are compared with other battery chemistries: secondary lithium-alloy and nickel-metal hydride batteries and primary Zn-air batteries. The cell AC impedance was stable over the frequency range between 1 and 50 kHz, ranging between 5 Ω at the higher frequency and 12 Ω at the lower extreme. Pulse tests were consistent with these values, as the cells were capable of providing a series of 100 mA pulses of 10-s duration. The safety tests suggest that the design is intrinsically safe with respect to the most common types of abuse conditions.

  11. Advanced air revitalization system testing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Heppner, D. B.; Hallick, T. M.; Schubert, F. H.

    1983-01-01

    A previously developed experimental air revitalization system was tested cyclically and parametrically. One-button startup without manual interventions; extension by 1350 hours of tests with the system; capability for varying process air carbon dioxide partial pressure and humidity and coolant source for simulation of realistic space vehicle interfaces; dynamic system performance response on the interaction of the electrochemical depolarized carbon dioxide concentrator, the Sabatier carbon dioxide reduction subsystem, and the static feed water electrolysis oxygen generation subsystem, the carbon dioxide concentrator module with unitized core technology for the liquid cooled cell; and a preliminary design for a regenerative air revitalization system for the space station are discussed.

  12. Experimental analysis of surface finish in normal conducting cavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zarrebini-Esfahani, A.; Aslaninejad, M.; Ristic, M.; Long, K.

    2017-10-01

    A normal conducting 805 MHz test cavity with an in built button shaped sample is used to conduct a series of surface treatment experiments. The button enhances the local fields and influences the likelihood of an RF breakdown event. Because of their smaller sizes, compared to the whole cavity surface, they allow practical investigations of the effects of cavity surface preparation in relation to RF breakdown. Manufacturing techniques and steps for preparing the buttons to improve the surface quality are described in detail. It was observed that even after the final stage of the surface treatment, defects on the surface of the cavities still could be found.

  13. Human factors in equipment development for the Space Shuttle - A study of the general purpose work station

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Junge, M. K.; Giacomi, M. J.

    1981-01-01

    The results of a human factors test to assay the suitability of a prototype general purpose work station (GPWS) for biosciences experiments on the fourth Spacelab mission are reported. The evaluation was performed to verify that users of the GPWS would optimally interact with the GPWS configuration and instrumentation. Six male subjects sat on stools positioned to allow assimilation of the zero-g body posture. Trials were run concerning the operator viewing angles facing the console, the console color, procedures for injecting rates with dye, a rat blood cell count, mouse dissection, squirrel monkey transfer, and plant fixation. The trials were run for several days in order to gage improvement or poor performance conditions. Better access to the work surface was found necessary, together with more distinct and better located LEDs, better access window latches, clearer sequences on control buttons, color-coded sequential buttons, and provisions made for an intercom system when operators of the GPWS work in tandem.

  14. Teaching Your Child How to Use 911

    MedlinePlus

    ... people accidentally push the emergency button on their cell phones. Others don't realize that 911 is for ... where you can be reached, such as your cell phone, pager, or work number. In the confusion of ...

  15. Take 3 Steps Toward Preventing Infections During Cancer Treatment

    MedlinePlus

    ... low white blood cell count (a condition called neutropenia) during your chemotherapy. Click on the appropriate button ... low white blood cell count (a condition called neutropenia) and infections during your chemotherapy. Learn More > Educational ...

  16. Mobile Phones: Potential Sources of Nickel and Cobalt Exposure for Metal Allergic Patients

    PubMed Central

    Mucci, Tania; Chong, Melanie; Lorton, Mark Davis; Fonacier, Luz

    2013-01-01

    The use of cellular phones has risen exponentially with over 300 million subscribers. Nickel has been detected in cell phones and reports of contact dermatitis attributable to metals are present in the literature. We determined nickel and cobalt content in popular cell phones in the United States. Adults (>18 years) who owned a flip phone, Blackberry®, or iPhone® were eligible. Seventy-two cell phones were tested using SmartPractice's® commercially available nickel and cobalt spot tests. Test areas included buttons, keypad, speakers, camera, and metal panels. Of the 72 cell phones tested, no iPhones or Droids® tested positive for nickel or cobalt. About 29.4% of Blackberrys [95% confidence interval (CI), 13%–53%] tested positive for nickel; none were positive for cobalt. About 90.5% of flip phones (95% CI, 70%–99%) tested positive for nickel and 52.4% of flip phones (95% CI, 32%–72%) tested positive for cobalt. Our study indicates that nickel and cobalt are present in popular cell phones. Patients with known nickel or cobalt allergy may consider their cellular phones as a potential source of exposure. Further studies are needed to examine whether there is a direct association with metal content in cell phones and the manifestation of metal allergy. PMID:24380018

  17. A wire scanner system for characterizing the BNL energy recovery LINAC beam position monitor system

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

    Michnoff R.; Biscardi, C.; Cerniglia, P.

    2012-04-15

    A stepper motor controlled wire scanner system has recently been modified to support testing of the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Collider-Accelerator department's Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) beam position monitor (BPM) system. The ERL BPM consists of four 9.33 mm diameter buttons mounted at 90 degree spacing in a cube with 1.875 inch inside diameter. The buttons were designed by BNL and fabricated by Times Microwave Systems. Libera brilliance single pass BPM electronic modules with 700 MHz bandpass filter, manufactured by Instrumentation Technologies, will be used to measure the transverse beam positions at 14 locations around the ERL. The wire scannermore » assembly provides the ability to measure the BPM button response to a pulsed wire, and evaluate and calibrate the Libera position measurement electronics. A description of the wire scanner system and test result data will be presented.« less

  18. Manifold seal structure for fuel cell stack

    DOEpatents

    Collins, William P.

    1988-01-01

    The seal between the sides of a fuel cell stack and the gas manifolds is improved by adding a mechanical interlock between the adhesive sealing strip and the abutting surface of the manifolds. The adhesive is a material which can flow to some extent when under compression, and the mechanical interlock is formed providing small openings in the portion of the manifold which abuts the adhesive strip. When the manifolds are pressed against the adhesive strips, the latter will flow into and through the manifold openings to form buttons or ribs which mechanically interlock with the manifolds. These buttons or ribs increase the bond between the manifolds and adhesive, which previously relied solely on the adhesive nature of the adhesive.

  19. Effect of dietary supplementation with white button mushrooms on host resistance to influenza infection and immune function in mice

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Previously we showed that mice fed white button mushrooms (WBM) had enhanced immune functions known to help the body’s antiviral defense. In this study, we tested if WBM could afford protection against viral infection. Young (4-mo) and old (22-mo) C57BL/6 mice were fed a diet containing 0, 2 per cen...

  20. Low-Cost Avoidance Behaviors are Resistant to Fear Extinction in Humans

    PubMed Central

    Vervliet, Bram; Indekeu, Ellen

    2015-01-01

    Elevated levels of fear and avoidance are core symptoms across the anxiety disorders. It has long been known that fear serves to motivate avoidance. Consequently, fear extinction has been the primary focus in pre-clinical anxiety research for decades, under the implicit assumption that removing the motivator of avoidance (fear) would automatically mitigate the avoidance behaviors as well. Although this assumption has intuitive appeal, it has received little scientific scrutiny. The scarce evidence from animal studies is mixed, while the assumption remains untested in humans. The current study applied an avoidance conditioning protocol in humans to investigate the effects of fear extinction on the persistence of low-cost avoidance. Online danger-safety ratings and skin conductance responses documented the dynamics of conditioned fear across avoidance and extinction phases. Anxiety- and avoidance-related questionnaires explored individual differences in rates of avoidance. Participants first learned to click a button during a predictive danger signal, in order to cancel an upcoming aversive electrical shock (avoidance conditioning). Next, fear extinction was induced by presenting the signal in the absence of shocks while button-clicks were prevented (by removing the button in Experiment 1, or by instructing not to click the button in Experiment 2). Most importantly, post-extinction availability of the button caused a significant return of avoidant button-clicks. In addition, trait-anxiety levels correlated positively with rates of avoidance during a predictive safety signal, and with the rate of pre- to post-extinction decrease during this signal. Fear measures gradually decreased during avoidance conditioning, as participants learned that button-clicks effectively canceled the shock. Preventing button-clicks elicited a sharp increase in fear, which subsequently extinguished. Fear remained low during avoidance testing, but danger-safety ratings increased again when button-clicks were subsequently prevented. Together, these results show that low-cost avoidance behaviors can persist following fear extinction and induce increased threat appraisal. On the other hand, fear extinction did reduce augmented rates of unnecessary avoidance during safety in trait-anxious individuals, and instruction-based response prevention was more effective than removal of response cues. More research is needed to characterize the conditions under which fear extinction might mitigate avoidance. PMID:26733837

  1. Automatic food detection in egocentric images using artificial intelligence technology.

    PubMed

    Jia, Wenyan; Li, Yuecheng; Qu, Ruowei; Baranowski, Thomas; Burke, Lora E; Zhang, Hong; Bai, Yicheng; Mancino, Juliet M; Xu, Guizhi; Mao, Zhi-Hong; Sun, Mingui

    2018-03-26

    To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm which can automatically detect food items from images acquired by an egocentric wearable camera for dietary assessment. To study human diet and lifestyle, large sets of egocentric images were acquired using a wearable device, called eButton, from free-living individuals. Three thousand nine hundred images containing real-world activities, which formed eButton data set 1, were manually selected from thirty subjects. eButton data set 2 contained 29 515 images acquired from a research participant in a week-long unrestricted recording. They included both food- and non-food-related real-life activities, such as dining at both home and restaurants, cooking, shopping, gardening, housekeeping chores, taking classes, gym exercise, etc. All images in these data sets were classified as food/non-food images based on their tags generated by a convolutional neural network. A cross data-set test was conducted on eButton data set 1. The overall accuracy of food detection was 91·5 and 86·4 %, respectively, when one-half of data set 1 was used for training and the other half for testing. For eButton data set 2, 74·0 % sensitivity and 87·0 % specificity were obtained if both 'food' and 'drink' were considered as food images. Alternatively, if only 'food' items were considered, the sensitivity and specificity reached 85·0 and 85·8 %, respectively. The AI technology can automatically detect foods from low-quality, wearable camera-acquired real-world egocentric images with reasonable accuracy, reducing both the burden of data processing and privacy concerns.

  2. Fixation of the Achilles tendon insertion using suture button technology.

    PubMed

    Fanter, Nathan J; Davis, Edward W; Baker, Champ L

    2012-09-01

    In the operative treatment of Achilles insertional tendinopathy, no guidelines exist concerning which form of fixation of the Achilles tendon insertion is superior. Transcalcaneal drill pin passage does not place any major plantar structures at risk, and the addition of a Krackow stitch and suture button to the fixation technique provides a significant increase in ultimate load to failure in Achilles tendon insertional repairs. Controlled laboratory study. The Achilles tendon insertions in 6 fresh-frozen cadaveric ankles were detached, and transcalcaneal drill pins were passed. Plantar dissection took place to evaluate the drill pin relationship to the plantar fascia, lateral plantar nerve and artery, flexor digitorum longus tendon, and master knot of Henry. The Achilles tendons were then repaired with a double-row suture anchor construct alone or with a suture button and Krackow stitch added to the double-row suture anchor construct. The repairs were then tested to maximum load to failure at 20 mm/min. The mode of failure was recorded, and the mean maximum load to failure was assessed using the Student t test for distributions with equal variance. Transcalcaneal drill pin passage did not place any selected anatomic structures at risk. The mean maximum load to failure for the suture bridge group was 239.2 N; it was 391.4 N for the group with the suture button (P = .014). The lateral plantar artery was the structure placed at greatest risk from drill pin placement, with a mean distance of 22.7 mm (range, 16.5-29.2 mm) between the pin and artery. In this laboratory study, transcalcaneal drill pin passage appeared to be anatomically safe, and the use of suture button technology with a Krackow stitch for Achilles tendon insertional repair significantly increased repair strength. Achilles tendon insertional repair with suture button fixation and a Krackow stitch may facilitate the earlier institution of postoperative rehabilitation and improve clinical outcomes.

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

    McCracken, Brewster

    Through funding from the Department of Energy’s Electricity Delivery and Reliability Office, Pecan Street Inc., in partnership with Austin Energy and Oncor, developed and tested third- party data access platforms and services for Green Button offerings and for other home energy use data providers. As more utilities seek to offer Green Button-compliant data to their customers, the question continually arises of how this data can be used to help customers better manage their energy use.

  4. Hot-Button Issues for Teachers: What Every Educator Needs to Know About Leadership, Testing, Textbooks, Vouchers, and More

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vairo, Philip D.; Marcus, Sheldon; Weiner, Max

    2007-01-01

    One of the tragedies of American education is that so many teachers do not understand or are unaware of educational issues and how they impact on their profession. There is a gap between teacher perceptions and reality and this book is a first step in closing that gap. Hot-Button Issues for Teachers is a timely, comprehensive book that addresses…

  5. CFD analysis of a solid oxide fuel cell with internal reforming: Coupled interactions of transport, heterogeneous catalysis and electrochemical processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Janardhanan, Vinod M.; Deutschmann, Olaf

    Direct internal reforming in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) results in increased overall efficiency of the system. Present study focus on the chemical and electrochemical process in an internally reforming anode supported SOFC button cell running on humidified CH 4 (3% H 2 O). The computational approach employs a detailed multi-step model for heterogeneous chemistry in the anode, modified Butler-Volmer formalism for the electrochemistry and Dusty Gas Model (DGM) for the porous media transport. Two-dimensional elliptic model equations are solved for a button cell configuration. The electrochemical model assumes hydrogen as the only electrochemically active species. The predicted cell performances are compared with experimental reports. The results show that model predictions are in good agreement with experimental observation except the open circuit potentials. Furthermore, the steam content in the anode feed stream is found to have remarkable effect on the resulting overpotential losses and surface coverages of various species at the three-phase boundary.

  6. 9 CFR 113.115 - Staphylococcus Aureus Bacterin-Toxoid.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... standard antitoxin produces a 50 percent hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells. (6) Incubate toxin-antitoxin... drawn rabbit red blood cells suspended in normal saline to each tube. Mix and incubate the combined... determining the size of the button produced by the unlysed red blood cells. (8) Determine the units of...

  7. 9 CFR 113.115 - Staphylococcus Aureus Bacterin-Toxoid.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... standard antitoxin produces a 50 percent hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells. (6) Incubate toxin-antitoxin... drawn rabbit red blood cells suspended in normal saline to each tube. Mix and incubate the combined... determining the size of the button produced by the unlysed red blood cells. (8) Determine the units of...

  8. 9 CFR 113.115 - Staphylococcus Aureus Bacterin-Toxoid.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... standard antitoxin produces a 50 percent hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells. (6) Incubate toxin-antitoxin... drawn rabbit red blood cells suspended in normal saline to each tube. Mix and incubate the combined... determining the size of the button produced by the unlysed red blood cells. (8) Determine the units of...

  9. 9 CFR 113.115 - Staphylococcus Aureus Bacterin-Toxoid.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... standard antitoxin produces a 50 percent hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells. (6) Incubate toxin-antitoxin... drawn rabbit red blood cells suspended in normal saline to each tube. Mix and incubate the combined... determining the size of the button produced by the unlysed red blood cells. (8) Determine the units of...

  10. 9 CFR 113.115 - Staphylococcus Aureus Bacterin-Toxoid.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... standard antitoxin produces a 50 percent hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells. (6) Incubate toxin-antitoxin... drawn rabbit red blood cells suspended in normal saline to each tube. Mix and incubate the combined... determining the size of the button produced by the unlysed red blood cells. (8) Determine the units of...

  11. °Enhancing High Temperature Anode Performance with 2° Anchoring Phases

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

    Walker, Robert A.; Sofie, Stephen W.; Amendola, Roberta

    2015-10-01

    Project accomplishments included developing and optimizing strength testing of aluminum titanate (ALT)-doped Ni-YSZ materials and identified the dopant levels that optimized mechanical strength and enhanced electrochemical performance. We also optimized our ability to fabricate electrolyte supported button cells with anodes consisting of powders provided by Fuel Cell Energy. In several instances, those anodes were infiltrated with ALT and tested with hydrogen for 30 hours at 800°C at an applied potential of 0.4 V. Our research activities were focused in three areas: 1) mechanical strength testing on as prepared and reducced nickel-YSZ structures that were either free of a dopant ormore » prepared by mechanically mixing in ALT at various weight percents (up to 10 wt%); 2) 24-hour electrochemical testing of electroylte supported cells having anodes made from Ni/YSZ and Ni/YSZ/ALT anodes with specific attention focused on modeling degradation rates; and 3) operando EIS and optical testing of both in-house fabricated devices as well as membrane electrode assemblies that were acquired from commercial vendors.« less

  12. Arthroscopically assisted reduction of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation using a single double-button device: Medium-term clinical and radiological outcomes.

    PubMed

    Issa, S-P; Payan, C; Le Hanneur, M; Loriaut, P; Boyer, P

    2018-02-01

    Double-button devices for endoscopic management of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation (ACJD) provide satisfactory short-term functional and radiological results. However, little exists in the literature regarding the long- and medium-term results of these implants, especially regarding the evolution of the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ). Satisfactory and steady long- and medium-term outcomes can be achieved in patients with acute ACJD undergoing endoscopically assisted ACJ repair using a single double-button device. A retrospective single-center study was conducted in patients with acute Rockwood III and IV ACJD treated endoscopically with a single double-button device from October 2008 to October 2010, allowing a minimum 5-year follow-up. Functional evaluation used Constant and Quick-DASH scores. Clinical evidence of dislocation recurrence was combined with bilateral Zanca views to assess coracoclavicular distance. Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis was evaluated on the Paxinos test and Zanca views. Nineteen of the 25 operated patients were seen at a mean 76.9±8.5 months' follow-up. Mean age was 34.4±8.3 years. Mean Constant and Quick-DASH scores were 96.2±5.1 and 0.9±1.6 points, respectively. Four patients had a recurrence of their initial dislocation, 3 of whom had positive Paxinos test, whereas the 15 patients without recurrence had a negative test (p=0.004). Five patients had radiological evidence of ACJ osteoarthritis: all 4 patients with recurrence and 1 without (p=0.001). Long- and medium-term radioclinical outcome of endoscopically assisted management of acute ACJD using a single double-button device seems to be satisfactory and steady over time. Recurrence of the initial dislocation appears to be related to onset of degenerative ACJ arthropathy. Therapeutic type IV-Retrospective case series. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  13. A Study of Selected Problems in Armor Operations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-11-01

    of external environmental cond~tions on the internal environment of a buttoned-up tank. Another effort was a study of problems in escape and...Test site configuration: Study II ......... ... IV-16 FIG. IVT4. Mean time to lay on target .... ........ .... IV-20 TABLES Chapter III Table III-I...L., and Ton, W. H. Study of the Psychological (and Associated Physiological) Effjcts on a Tank Crew Resulting From Being Buttoned Up, ARI Research

  14. LOW TEMPERATURE CATHODE SUPPORTED ELECTROLYTES

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

    Harlan U. Anderson; Fatih Dogan; Vladimir Petrovsky

    2002-03-31

    This project has three main goals: Thin Films Studies, Preparation of Graded Porous Substrates and Basic Electrical Characterization and testing of Planar Single Cells. This period has continued to address the problem of making dense 1/2 to 5 {micro}m thick dense layers on porous substrates (the cathode LSM). Our current status is that we are making structures of 2-5 cm{sup 2} in area, which consist of either dense YSZ or CGO infiltrated into a 2-5 {micro}m thick 50% porous layer made of either nanoncrystalline CGO or YSZ powder. This composite structure coats a macroporous cathode or anode; which serves asmore » the structural element of the bi-layer structure. These structures are being tested as SOFC elements. A number of structures have been evaluated both as symmetrical and as button cell configuration. Results of this testing indicates that the cathodes contribute the most to cell losses for temperatures below 750 C. In this investigation different cathode materials were studied using impedance spectroscopy of symmetric cells and IV characteristics of anode supported fuel cells. Cathode materials studied included La{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Co{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.8}O{sub 3} (LSCF), La{sub 0.7}Sr{sub 0.2}MnO{sub 3} (LSM), Pr{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.8}O{sub 3} (PSCF), Sm{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Co{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.8}O{sub 3} (SSCF), and Yb{sub .8}Sr{sub 0.2}Co{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.8}O{sub 3} (SSCF). A new technique for filtering the Fourier transform of impedance data was used to increase the sensitivity of impedance analysis. By creating a filter specifically for impedance spectroscopy the resolution was increased. The filter was tailored to look for specific circuit elements like R//C, Warburg, or constant phase elements. As many as four peaks can be resolved using the filtering technique on symmetric cells. It may be possible to relate the different peaks to material parameters, like the oxygen exchange coefficient. The cathode grouped in order from lowest to highest ASR is LSCF < PSCF < SSCF < YSCF < LSM. The button cell results agree with this ordering indicating that this is an important tool for use in developing our understanding of electrode behavior in fuel cells.« less

  15. Aniridia-related keratopathy: Structural changes in naïve and transplanted corneal buttons

    PubMed Central

    Stenevi, Ulf; Pedrosa Domellöf, Fátima

    2018-01-01

    Background To study structural changes in naïve and surgically treated corneas of aniridia patients with advanced aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK). Methods and findings Two naïve corneal buttons from patients with advanced ARK submitted to penetrating keratoplasty for the first time, one corneal button from an ARK patient that had undergone a keratolimbal allograft (KLAL), two corneal buttons from ARK patients who had previously undergone centered or decentered transplantation and were now retransplanted and two adult healthy donor control corneas were processed for immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against extracellular matrix components in the stroma and in the epithelial basement membrane (collagen I and IV, collagen receptor α11 integrin and laminin α3 chain), markers of fibrosis, wound healing and vascularization (fibronectin, tenascin-C, vimentin, α-SMA and caveolin-1), cell division (Ki-67) and macrophages (CD68) were used. Naïve ARK, KLAL ARK corneas and transplanted corneal buttons presented similar histopathological changes with irregular epithelium and disruption or absence of epithelial basal membrane. There was a loss of the orderly pattern of collagen lamellae and absence of collagen I in all ARK corneas. Vascularization was revealed by the presence of caveolin-1 and collagen IV in the pannus of all ARK aniridia corneas. The changes observed in decentered and centered transplants were analogous. Conclusions Given the similar pathological features of all cases, conditions inherent to the host seem to play an important role on the pathophysiology of the ARK in the long run. PMID:29889891

  16. Aniridia-related keratopathy: Structural changes in naïve and transplanted corneal buttons.

    PubMed

    Vicente, André; Byström, Berit; Lindström, Mona; Stenevi, Ulf; Pedrosa Domellöf, Fátima

    2018-01-01

    To study structural changes in naïve and surgically treated corneas of aniridia patients with advanced aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK). Two naïve corneal buttons from patients with advanced ARK submitted to penetrating keratoplasty for the first time, one corneal button from an ARK patient that had undergone a keratolimbal allograft (KLAL), two corneal buttons from ARK patients who had previously undergone centered or decentered transplantation and were now retransplanted and two adult healthy donor control corneas were processed for immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against extracellular matrix components in the stroma and in the epithelial basement membrane (collagen I and IV, collagen receptor α11 integrin and laminin α3 chain), markers of fibrosis, wound healing and vascularization (fibronectin, tenascin-C, vimentin, α-SMA and caveolin-1), cell division (Ki-67) and macrophages (CD68) were used. Naïve ARK, KLAL ARK corneas and transplanted corneal buttons presented similar histopathological changes with irregular epithelium and disruption or absence of epithelial basal membrane. There was a loss of the orderly pattern of collagen lamellae and absence of collagen I in all ARK corneas. Vascularization was revealed by the presence of caveolin-1 and collagen IV in the pannus of all ARK aniridia corneas. The changes observed in decentered and centered transplants were analogous. Given the similar pathological features of all cases, conditions inherent to the host seem to play an important role on the pathophysiology of the ARK in the long run.

  17. Collaborative Systems and Multi-user Interfaces: Computer-based Tools for Cooperative Problem Solving

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-10-31

    Reference Card Given to Participants) Cognoter Reference Select = LeftButton Menu = MiddleButton TitleBar menu for tool operations Item menu for item...collaborative tools and their uses, the Colab system and the Cognoter presentation tool were implemented and used for both real and posed idea organization...tasks. To test the system design and its effect on structured problem-solving, many early Colab/ Cognoter meetings were monitored and a series of

  18. Development of procedures for calculating stiffness and damping properties of elastomers in engineering applications. Part 4: Testing of elastomers under a rotating load. [resonance testing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Darlow, M. S.; Smalley, A. J.

    1977-01-01

    A test rig designed to measure stiffness and damping of elastomer cartridges under a rotating load excitation is described. The test rig employs rotating unbalance in a rotor which runs to 60,000 RPM as the excitation mechanism. A variable resonant mass is supported on elastomer elements and the dynamic characteristics are determined from measurements of input and output acceleration. Five different cartridges are considered: three of these are buttons cartridges having buttons located in pairs, with 120 between each pair. Two of the cartridges consist of 360 elastomer rings with rectangular cross-sections. Dynamic stiffness and damping are measured for each cartridge and compared with predictions at different frequencies and different strains.

  19. Diagnosing Tic Disorders

    MedlinePlus

    ... span class="tp-sr-only">Submit Button Submit Button Orange Button Solar Data Exchange | Energy Analysis | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    Orange Button Solar Data Exchange Orange Button Solar Data Exchange The new Orange Button Solar Data Exchange tool serves as an online resource for the solar industry to share, sell, or retrieve solar data and connect with colleagues. Screenshot image of Orange Button data website home page. The

  1. Far Forward Life Support System (FFLSS) Phase II

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2001-05-01

    button will clear audible, flashing , or constant red alarms. Pushing the Config button drops down to the Level 2 menu (bottom line of Figure 8). In...disabled. Again, with testing this audible noise can be disabled. The visual flashing or constant red cannot be disabled. Pushing Return goes back to Level...Calling PLOTPIXEL( x ,y) and PLOTLINE(xl,x2,yl,y2) is as simple as pushing the appropriate bytes (unsigned integers) onto the stack and jumping to the

  2. Tourette Syndrome (TS): Risk Factors and Causes

    MedlinePlus

    ... span class="tp-sr-only">Submit Button Submit Button Button Cell Battery Safety Act of 2011

    THOMAS, 112th Congress

    Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV

    2011-06-09

    Senate - 06/09/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

  3. Access to Button Cell Batteries Act of 2010

    THOMAS, 111th Congress

    Sen. Goodwin, Carte Patrick [D-WV

    2010-09-29

    Senate - 09/29/2010 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

  4. Illuminated push-button switch

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Iwagiri, T.

    1983-01-01

    An illuminated push-button switch is described. It is characterized by the fact that is consists of a switch group, an operator button opening and closing the switch group, and a light-emitting element which illuminates the face of the operator button.

  5. Beam Diagnostics of the Compton Scattering Chamber in Jefferson Lab's Hall C

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Faulkner, Adam; I&C Group Collaboration

    2013-10-01

    Upcoming experimental runs in Hall C will utilize Compton scattering, involving the construction and installation of a rectangular beam enclosure. Conventional cylindrical stripline-style Beam Position Monitors (BPMs) are not appropriate due to their form factor; therefore to facilitate measurement of position, button-style BPMs are being considered due to the ease of placement within the new beam enclosure. Button BPM experience is limited at JLAB, so preliminary measurements are needed to characterize the field response, and guide the development of appropriate algorithms for the Analog to Digital receiver systems. -field mapping is performed using a Goubau Line (G-Line), which employs a surface wave to mimic the electron beam, helping to avoid problems associated with vacuum systems. Potential algorithms include simplistic 1/r modeling (-field mapping), look-up-tables, as well as a potential third order power series fit. In addition, the use of neural networks specifically the multi-layer Perceptron will be examined. The models, sensor field maps, and utility of the neural network will be presented. Next steps include: modification of the control algorithm, as well as to run an in-situ test of the four Button electrodes inside of a mock beam enclosure. The analysis of the field response using Matlab suggests the button BPMs are accurate to within 10 mm, and may be successful for beam diagnostics in Hall C. More testing is necessary to ascertain the limitations of the new electrodes. The National Science Foundation, Old Dominion University, The Department of Energy, and Jefferson Lab.

  6. 116. ARAI Details of hot cell section of building ARA626. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    116. ARA-I Details of hot cell section of building ARA-626. Shows manipulator openings in operating face of hot cell, start/stop buttons, and other details. Norman Engineering Company 961/area/SF-626-E-6. Date: January 1959. Ineel index code no. 068-0626-10-613-102731. - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Army Reactors Experimental Area, Scoville, Butte County, ID

  7. 76 FR 54741 - Proposed Additions and Deletions

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-02

    ...-6823--Button, Silver Oxide, 1.55V. NSN: 6135-01-538-0997--Button, Lithium, 3V. NSN: 6135-01-452-8160--Button, Lithium, 3V. NSN: 6135-01-301-8776--Lithium, AA, 3.6V . NSN: 6135-01-246-0307--Button, Silver...

  8. Blue Button use by patients to access and share health record information using the Department of Veterans Affairs' online patient portal.

    PubMed

    Turvey, Carolyn; Klein, Dawn; Fix, Gemmae; Hogan, Timothy P; Woods, Susan; Simon, Steven R; Charlton, Mary; Vaughan-Sarrazin, Mary; Zulman, Donna M; Dindo, Lilian; Wakefield, Bonnie; Graham, Gail; Nazi, Kim

    2014-01-01

    The Blue Button feature of online patient portals promotes patient engagement by allowing patients to easily download their personal health information. This study examines the adoption and use of the Blue Button feature in the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) personal health record portal, My HealtheVet. An online survey presented to a 4% random sample of My HealtheVet users between March and May 2012. Questions were designed to determine characteristics associated with Blue Button use, perceived value of use, and how Veterans with non-VA providers use the Blue Button to share information with their non-VA providers. Of the survey participants (N=18 398), 33% were current Blue Button users. The most highly endorsed benefit was that it helped patients understand their health history better because all the information was in one place (73%). Twenty-one percent of Blue Button users with a non-VA provider shared their VA health information, and 87% reported that the non-VA provider found the information somewhat or very helpful. Veterans' self-rated computer ability was the strongest factor contributing to both Blue Button use and to sharing information with non-VA providers. When comparing Blue Button users and non-users, barriers to adoption were low awareness of the feature and difficulty using the Blue Button. This study contributes to the understanding of early Blue Button adoption and use of this feature for patient-initiated sharing of health information. Educational efforts are needed to raise awareness of the Blue Button and to address usability issues that hinder adoption. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  9. SurveyWiz and factorWiz: JavaScript Web pages that make HTML forms for research on the Internet.

    PubMed

    Birnbaum, M H

    2000-05-01

    SurveyWiz and factorWiz are Web pages that act as wizards to create HTML forms that enable one to collect data via the Web. SurveyWiz allows the user to enter survey questions or personality test items with a mixture of text boxes and scales of radio buttons. One can add demographic questions of age, sex, education, and nationality with the push of a button. FactorWiz creates the HTML for within-subjects, two-factor designs as large as 9 x 9, or higher order factorial designs up to 81 cells. The user enters levels of the row and column factors, which can be text, images, or other multimedia. FactorWiz generates the stimulus combinations, randomizes their order, and creates the page. In both programs HTML is displayed in a window, and the user copies it to a text editor to save it. When uploaded to a Web server and supported by a CGI script, the created Web pages allow data to be collected, coded, and saved on the server. These programs are intended to assist researchers and students in quickly creating studies that can be administered via the Web.

  10. Fleet Environmental | USFF

    Science.gov Websites

    Leadership Expand Leadership About NEPA Projects Expand NEPA Projects At Sea Expand At Sea Ashore Expand Ashore Stewards of the Sea Expand Stewards of the Sea Media Resources Expand Media Resources Contact NEPA Projects Button Environmental At Sea Button Environmental Ashore Button Energy Button Stewards of

  11. Electron-microscopic study of the secretion of the ependymal cells in the domestic cat (ependymin-beta cells).

    PubMed

    Gonzalez-Santander, R

    1979-01-01

    We have studied, by electron microscopy, the ultrastructural aspects of secretion (neurosecretion) of the ependyma of the third ventricle of the domestic cat. We have found cytoplasmic protrusions and isolated masses of cytoplasm, some with homogeneous cytoplasm and others with very dense granulation (protein-beta?). Axons, synaptic terminals and free secretory granules in the ventricular lumen were also seen. The existence of ependymin-beta cells (ependymocyte-beta) and axohormonal buttons is suggested. The ependymal cells are classified into seven types: (1) covering ependymocytes, (2) tanycyt ependymocytes, (3) secretory ependymocytes, (4) ependymocytes-beta, (5) neurosecretory ependymocytes, (6) neurosensorial ependymocytes (crown-like) and (7) supraependymal microgial ependymocytes. A neurohormonal hypothesis and the possible existence of one or more cerebral hormones (neurohormones) are suggested. These hormones would flow into the CSF through some of the ependymal cells (by microapocrine secretion, liberation of neurosecretion granules, or by axohormonal buttons): this could be the most important link in the endocrine system, assuring the functional unity throughout the ventricular system of the cerebrospinal axis which it winds through, although its basic influence is exercised) on the hypophysis level as a vertex of the classical endocrine system.

  12. --No Title--

    Science.gov Websites

    {margin:0;padding:0;border:0;outline:0;line-height:1.3;text-decoration:none;font-size:100%;list-style:none -state-disabled{cursor:default!important}.ui-icon{display:block;text-indent:-99999px;overflow:hidden -align:middle;text-align:center;overflow:visible}.ui-button,.ui-button:link,.ui-button:visited,.ui-button:hover

  13. Button battery intake as foreign body in Chinese children: review of case reports and the literature.

    PubMed

    Liao, Wenjing; Wen, Guangyi; Zhang, Xiaowen

    2015-06-01

    Button batteries have been recognized as one of the dangerous foreign bodies to children for more than 30 years, but few related studies have been published to give more concern in China. We reported 6 cases of button battery intake as foreign body in children. The Chinese literature on button battery as foreign body in children was reviewed. The interval between the accidental ingestion and battery removal ranged from 6 hours to 3 days. Two patients had no sequela, 3 patients had tracheoesophageal fistulas, and 1 patient had nasal septal perforation. Twenty-eight articles about button battery as foreign body in children were obtained by Chinese-language literature searches including 25 case reports, 2 health education articles, and 1 imaging article. In total, 172 cases of button battery intake as foreign body in children were identified, 23 and 10 of the 159 cases involving nasal button battery lodgment developed nasal septal perforation and nasal adhesion, respectively. Tracheoesophageal fistula was identified in 4 of the 12 ingestion cases. One case of button battery intake was in external auditory canal. A small number of children with button battery as foreign body were reported in China, which is 1 of the biggest countries with large population of children.

  14. Transient human auditory cortex activation during volitional attention shifting

    PubMed Central

    Uhlig, Christian Harm; Gutschalk, Alexander

    2017-01-01

    While strong activation of auditory cortex is generally found for exogenous orienting of attention, endogenous, intra-modal shifting of auditory attention has not yet been demonstrated to evoke transient activation of the auditory cortex. Here, we used fMRI to test if endogenous shifting of attention is also associated with transient activation of the auditory cortex. In contrast to previous studies, attention shifts were completely self-initiated and not cued by transient auditory or visual stimuli. Stimuli were two dichotic, continuous streams of tones, whose perceptual grouping was not ambiguous. Participants were instructed to continuously focus on one of the streams and switch between the two after a while, indicating the time and direction of each attentional shift by pressing one of two response buttons. The BOLD response around the time of the button presses revealed robust activation of the auditory cortex, along with activation of a distributed task network. To test if the transient auditory cortex activation was specifically related to auditory orienting, a self-paced motor task was added, where participants were instructed to ignore the auditory stimulation while they pressed the response buttons in alternation and at a similar pace. Results showed that attentional orienting produced stronger activity in auditory cortex, but auditory cortex activation was also observed for button presses without focused attention to the auditory stimulus. The response related to attention shifting was stronger contralateral to the side where attention was shifted to. Contralateral-dominant activation was also observed in dorsal parietal cortex areas, confirming previous observations for auditory attention shifting in studies that used auditory cues. PMID:28273110

  15. Severity of button batteries ingestions: data from French Poison Control Centres between 1999 and 2015.

    PubMed

    Labadie, Magali; O'Mahony, Elisabeth; Capaldo, Lise; Courtois, Arnaud; Lamireau, Thierry; Nisse, Patrick; Blanc-Brisset, Ingrid; Puskarczyk, Emmanuel

    2017-12-13

    Although the ingestion of button batteries is an infrequent situation, it leads to a significant risk of causing serious damage. This study was carried out to describe all the cases of button battery ingestion recorded by the French Poison Control Centers over 16 years. All the cases of button battery ingestion were recorded from 1 January 1999 to the end of June 2015, analysed (age, sex, number of ingested button batteries, clinical signs and treatments) and graded for severity according to the poisoning severity score. The incidence of button batteries ingestions was constant over the 16-year period, with an average of 266±98.5 cases per year and a total of 4030 cases. Nevertheless, 21 cases were severe and two deaths occurred. Interestingly, for the two patients who died, the battery was stuck in the oesophagus and they presented anorexia and/or dysphagia, abdominal pain and fever and in one case, a melena 3 weeks after ingestion. Importantly, these symptoms were observed even if the battery was expelled in one fatal case. Ingestions of button batteries still occur and may cause serious damage, especially in children, and if the button battery is stuck in the oesophagus as it might cause severe symptoms. Patients who have ingested a button battery must be directed to the emergency department for medical evaluation, even if the button battery has been expelled from the body and even more if gastrointestinal symptoms are present.

  16. A newly designed hydroxyapatite ceramic burr-hole button

    PubMed Central

    Kashimura, Hiroshi; Ogasawara, Kuniaki; Kubo, Yoshitaka; Yoshida, Kenji; Sugawara, Atsushi; Ogawa, Akira

    2010-01-01

    Conventional burr-hole buttons sometimes do not fit the burr hole well due to the curvature of the surrounding bone. An irregular surface at the border between the button and the surrounding skull may appear unaesthetic. The major problem is the difference between the curvature radius of the skull and the burr-hole button in contact with the skull. To solve this problem, the authors designed a button made of hydroxyapatite ceramic to snugly fit the burr hole. The specifications of this device and its clinical application are described here. PMID:20448795

  17. A newly designed hydroxyapatite ceramic burr-hole button.

    PubMed

    Kashimura, Hiroshi; Ogasawara, Kuniaki; Kubo, Yoshitaka; Yoshida, Kenji; Sugawara, Atsushi; Ogawa, Akira

    2010-03-24

    Conventional burr-hole buttons sometimes do not fit the burr hole well due to the curvature of the surrounding bone. An irregular surface at the border between the button and the surrounding skull may appear unaesthetic. The major problem is the difference between the curvature radius of the skull and the burr-hole button in contact with the skull. To solve this problem, the authors designed a button made of hydroxyapatite ceramic to snugly fit the burr hole. The specifications of this device and its clinical application are described here.

  18. Allelopathic effects of the aqueous extract of the leaf and seed of Leucaena leucocephala on three selected weed species

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishak, Muhamad Safwan; Sahid, Ismail

    2014-09-01

    A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the allelopathic effects of the aqueous extract of the leaf and seed of Leucaena leucocephala. The aqueous extracts were individually tested on three selected weed species, namely goatweed (Ageratum conyzoides), coat buttons (Tridax procumbens) and lilac tasselflower (Emilia sonchifolia). The allelopathic effects of the leaf and seed extracts on germination, shoot length, root length and fresh weight of each of the selected weed species were determined. Germination of goatweed, coat buttons and lilac tasselflower were inhibited by the aqueous extracts of both the leaf and seed of L. leucocephala and was concentration dependent. Different concentrations of the aqueous extracts showed various germination patterns on the selected weeds species. Seedling length and fresh weight of goatweed, coat buttons and lilac tasselflower were reduced in response to respective increasing concentrations of the seed extracts. Maximum inhibition by the aqueous seed extract was observed more on the root rather than the shoot growth. The aqueous seed extract at T3 concentration reduced root length of goatweed, coat buttons and lilac tasselflower by 95%, 86% and 91% (of the control) respectively. The aqueous seed extract showed greater inhibitory effects than that of the aqueous leaf extract.

  19. Modified coaxial wire method for measurement of transfer impedance of beam position monitors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, Mukesh; Babbar, L. K.; Deo, R. K.; Puntambekar, T. A.; Senecha, V. K.

    2018-05-01

    The transfer impedance is a very important parameter of a beam position monitor (BPM) which relates its output signal with the beam current. The coaxial wire method is a standard technique to measure transfer impedance of the BPM. The conventional coaxial wire method requires impedance matching between coaxial wire and external circuits (vector network analyzer and associated cables). This paper presents a modified coaxial wire method for bench measurement of the transfer impedance of capacitive pickups like button electrodes and shoe box BPMs. Unlike the conventional coaxial wire method, in the modified coaxial wire method no impedance matching elements have been used between the device under test and the external circuit. The effect of impedance mismatch has been solved mathematically and a new expression of transfer impedance has been derived. The proposed method is verified through simulation of a button electrode BPM using cst studio suite. The new method is also applied to measure transfer impedance of a button electrode BPM developed for insertion devices of Indus-2 and the results are also compared with its simulations. Close agreement between measured and simulation results suggests that the modified coaxial wire setup can be exploited for the measurement of transfer impedance of capacitive BPMs like button electrodes and shoe box BPM.

  1. View of button board which accommodates the 1200 button switches ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    View of button board which accommodates the 1200 button switches which manually control the indicating pilot lights on the model board. Not all switches are active, some switches were installed for a planned, but never constructed, system expansion. - Thirtieth Street Station, Load Dispatch Center, Thirtieth & Market Streets, Railroad Station, Amtrak (formerly Pennsylvania Railroad Station), Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

  2. A fast button surface defects detection method based on convolutional neural network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Lizhe; Cao, Danhua; Wu, Songlin; Wu, Yubin; Wei, Taoran

    2018-01-01

    Considering the complexity of the button surface texture and the variety of buttons and defects, we propose a fast visual method for button surface defect detection, based on convolutional neural network (CNN). CNN has the ability to extract the essential features by training, avoiding designing complex feature operators adapted to different kinds of buttons, textures and defects. Firstly, we obtain the normalized button region and then use HOG-SVM method to identify the front and back side of the button. Finally, a convolutional neural network is developed to recognize the defects. Aiming at detecting the subtle defects, we propose a network structure with multiple feature channels input. To deal with the defects of different scales, we take a strategy of multi-scale image block detection. The experimental results show that our method is valid for a variety of buttons and able to recognize all kinds of defects that have occurred, including dent, crack, stain, hole, wrong paint and uneven. The detection rate exceeds 96%, which is much better than traditional methods based on SVM and methods based on template match. Our method can reach the speed of 5 fps on DSP based smart camera with 600 MHz frequency.

  3. Suture Button Fixation Versus Syndesmotic Screws in Supination-External Rotation Type 4 Injuries: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

    PubMed

    Neary, Kaitlin C; Mormino, Matthew A; Wang, Hongmei

    2017-01-01

    In stress-positive, unstable supination-external rotation type 4 (SER IV) ankle fractures, implant selection for syndesmotic fixation is a debated topic. Among the available syndesmotic fixation methods, the metallic screw and the suture button have been routinely compared in the literature. In addition to strength of fixation and ability to anatomically restore the syndesmosis, costs associated with implant use have recently been called into question. This study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of the suture button and determine whether suture button fixation is more cost-effective than two 3.5-mm syndesmotic screws not removed on a routine postoperative basis. Economic and decision analysis; Level of evidence, 2. Studies with the highest evidence levels in the available literature were used to estimate the hardware removal and failure rates for syndesmotic screws and suture button fixation. Costs were determined by examining the average costs for patients who underwent surgery for unstable SER IV ankle fractures at a single level-1 trauma institution. A decision analysis model that allowed comparison of the 2 fixation methods was developed. Using a 20% screw hardware removal rate and a 4% suture button hardware removal rate, the total cost for 2 syndesmotic screws was US$20,836 and the total effectiveness was 5.846. This yielded a total cost of $3564 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) over an 8-year time period. The total cost for suture button fixation was $19,354 and the total effectiveness was 5.904, resulting in a total cost of $3294 per QALY over the same time period. A sensitivity analysis was then conducted to assess suture button fixation costs as well as screw and suture button hardware removal rates. Other possible treatment scenarios were also examined, including 1 screw and 2 suture buttons for operative fixation of the syndesmosis. To become more cost-effective, the screw hardware removal rate would have to be reduced to less than 10%. Furthermore, fixation with a single suture button continued to be the dominant treatment strategy compared with 2 suture buttons, 1 screw, and 2 screws for syndesmotic fixation. This cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that for unstable SER IV ankle fractures, suture button fixation is more cost-effective than syndesmotic screws not removed on a routine basis. Suture button fixation was a dominant treatment strategy, because patients spent on average $1482 less and had a higher quality of life by 0.058 QALYs compared with patients who received fixation with 2 syndesmotic screws. Assuming that functional outcomes and failure rates were equivalent, screw fixation only became more cost-effective when the screw hardware removal rate was reduced to less than 10% or when the suture button cost exceeded $2000. In addition, fixation with a single suture button device proved more cost-effective than fixation with either 1 or 2 syndesmotic screws.

  4. The Emerging Role of 3-Dimensional Printing in Rhinology.

    PubMed

    Stokken, Janalee K; Pallanch, John F

    2017-06-01

    Nasal septal perforations, particularly those that are large and irregular in shape, often present as challenging surgical dilemmas. New technology has allowed us to develop techniques using computed tomography imaging and 3-dimensional (3D) printers to design custom polymeric silicone septal buttons. These buttons offer patients an option that avoids a surgical intervention when standard buttons do not fit well or are not tolerated. Preliminary data suggest that buttons designed by 3D printer technology provide more comfort than standard commercially available or hand-carved buttons with equivalent reduction of symptoms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. The structure of affective action representations: temporal binding of affective response codes.

    PubMed

    Eder, Andreas B; Müsseler, Jochen; Hommel, Bernhard

    2012-01-01

    Two experiments examined the hypothesis that preparing an action with a specific affective connotation involves the binding of this action to an affective code reflecting this connotation. This integration into an action plan should lead to a temporary occupation of the affective code, which should impair the concurrent representation of affectively congruent events, such as the planning of another action with the same valence. This hypothesis was tested with a dual-task setup that required a speeded choice between approach- and avoidance-type lever movements after having planned and before having executed an evaluative button press. In line with the code-occupation hypothesis, slower lever movements were observed when the lever movement was affectively compatible with the prepared evaluative button press than when the two actions were affectively incompatible. Lever movements related to approach and avoidance and evaluative button presses thus seem to share a code that represents affective meaning. A model of affective action control that is based on the theory of event coding is discussed.

  6. Use of the Blue Button Online Tool for Sharing Health Information: Qualitative Interviews With Patients and Providers.

    PubMed

    Klein, Dawn M; Fix, Gemmae M; Hogan, Timothy P; Simon, Steven R; Nazi, Kim M; Turvey, Carolyn L

    2015-08-18

    Information sharing between providers is critical for care coordination, especially in health systems such as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where many patients also receive care from other health care organizations. Patients can facilitate this sharing by using the Blue Button, an online tool that promotes patients' ability to view, print, and download their health records. The aim of this study was to characterize (1) patients' use of Blue Button, an online information-sharing tool in VA's patient portal, My HealtheVet, (2) information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and (3) how providers and patients use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 VA patients, 10 VA providers, and 9 non-VA providers. Interviews focused on patients' use of Blue Button, information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and how patients and providers use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Qualitative themes were identified through iterative rounds of coding starting with an a priori schema based on technology adoption theory. Information sharing between VA and non-VA providers relied primarily on the patient. Patients most commonly used Blue Button to access and share VA laboratory results. Providers recognized the need for improved information sharing, valued the Blue Button printout, and expressed interest in a way to share information electronically across settings. Consumer-oriented technologies such as Blue Button can facilitate patients sharing health information with providers in other health care systems; however, more education is needed to inform patients of this use to facilitate care coordination. Additional research is needed to explore how personal health record documents, such as Blue Button reports, can be easily shared and incorporated into the clinical workflow of providers.

  7. Virtual button interface

    DOEpatents

    Jones, Jake S.

    1999-01-01

    An apparatus and method of issuing commands to a computer by a user interfacing with a virtual reality environment. To issue a command, the user directs gaze at a virtual button within the virtual reality environment, causing a perceptible change in the virtual button, which then sends a command corresponding to the virtual button to the computer, optionally after a confirming action is performed by the user, such as depressing a thumb switch.

  8. Widgets and Buttons

    MedlinePlus

    ... Home → Widgets and Buttons URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/widgets.html Widgets and Buttons To ... link the word MedlinePlus to the MedlinePlus homepage ( https://medlineplus.gov/ ). Search MedlinePlus : To put the MedlinePlus ...

  9. An evaluation of total and inhalable samplers for the collection of wood dust in three wood products industries.

    PubMed

    Harper, Martin; Muller, Brian S

    2002-10-01

    In 1998 the American Conference for Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) proposed size selective sampling for wood dust based on the inhalable fraction. Thus the proposed threshold limit values (TLVs) require the use of a sampler whose performance matches the inhalable convention. The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler has shown good agreement with the inhalable convention under controlled conditions, and the Button sampler, developed by the University of Cincinnati, has shown reasonable agreement in at least one laboratory study. The Button sampler has not been previously evaluated under wood working conditions, and the IOM has been shown to sample more mass than expected when compared to the standard closed-face cassette, which may be due to the collection of very large particles in wood working environments. Some projectile particles may be > 100 microm aerodynamic diameter and thus outside the range of the convention. Such particles, if present, can bias the estimates of concentration considerably. This study is part of an on-going research focus into selecting the most appropriate inhalable sampler for use in these industries, and to examine the impact of TLV changes. This study compared gravimetric analyses (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Method 0500) of side-by-side personal samples using the Button, IOM, and 37 mm closed-face cassette (CFC) under field-use conditions. A total of 51 good sample pairs were collected from three wood products industries involved in the manufacturing of cabinets, furniture, and shutters. Paired t-tests were run on each sample pair using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. The IOM and the CFC measured statistically different concentrations (p < 0.0005, n = 16). The IOM and Button measured statistically different concentrations (p = 0.020, n = 12). The Button and CFC did not measure statistically different concentrations of wood dust (p = 0.098, n = 23). Sampler ratios for IOM/CFC pairs ranged from 1.19-19 (median 3.35). Sampler ratios for IOM/Button pairs ranged from 0.49-163 (median 3.15). Sampler ratios for CFC/Button pairs ranged from 0.36-27 (median 1.2). In all cases, higher ratios were associated with higher concentrations. The median relative difference between the IOM's and CFC's is in accord with prior field studies in woodworking environments, and, taken together, the data imply a conversion factor greater than the 2.5 normally applied to CFC results to approximate inhalable values, as measured by the IOM. Raising the limit values by approximately 50% appears warranted for this particular situation of inhalable wood dust measured by the IOM. The IOM/Button and CFC/Button ratios were unexpectedly low, which may be due to the exclusion of very large particles, collected by the IOM and CFC samplers. Further work is required to explain these results.

  10. Virtual button interface

    DOEpatents

    Jones, J.S.

    1999-01-12

    An apparatus and method of issuing commands to a computer by a user interfacing with a virtual reality environment are disclosed. To issue a command, the user directs gaze at a virtual button within the virtual reality environment, causing a perceptible change in the virtual button, which then sends a command corresponding to the virtual button to the computer, optionally after a confirming action is performed by the user, such as depressing a thumb switch. 4 figs.

  11. EEG alpha activity and hallucinatory experience during sensory deprivation.

    PubMed

    Hayashi, M; Morikawa, T; Hori, T

    1992-10-01

    The relationship between hallucinatory experiences under sensory deprivation and EEG alpha activities was studied. Each of seven male students lived alone in an air conditioned, soundproof dark room for 72 hours. When hallucinatory experiences occurred, the students pressed a button at once. If they could not press the button during the experience, they were required to press it two times when the hallucinatory experience was finished. Spectral analysis was performed on the consecutive EEG samples from just before button-presses to 10 min. before them, and the average alpha band amplitudes were obtained for the four epochs (0-.5, .5-2, 2-5, 5-10 min.). For the single button-presses, the amplitude of alpha band increased 2 min. before the button-presses. Right-hemisphere EEG activation was observed in the occipital area for the double button-presses. The results suggest an association between the hallucinatory experiences under sensory deprivation and the amount of EEG alpha activity.

  12. How Is Pelvic Pain Diagnosed?

    MedlinePlus

    ... NICHD Research Information Find a Study More Information Pharmacology Condition Information NICHD Research Information Find a Study ... button to look inside the pelvis 4 Pelvic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, an imaging test that ...

  13. Inclusion Behavior During the Electron Beam Button Melting Test

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bellot, J. P.; Defay, B.; Jourdan, J.; Chapelle, P.; Jardy, A.

    2012-10-01

    The high mechanical performance of alloys developed for the manufacture of turbine disks depend upon the size and the number density of the inclusions. The electron beam button method has been practiced since the 1980s as a technique to quantify the cleanliness of the superalloys as well as to identify the nature and the size of the inclusions. The technique involves melting the sample into a hemispherical water-cooled crucible and the low density inclusions (mainly oxides) are concentrated by a combination of Marangoni and buoyancy forces into an area at the top surface of the button referred to as the raft. We have experimentally studied the behavior of oxide inclusions in special steels using both high definition video and infrared cameras. We have observed the inversion of the Marangoni effect due to the presence of sulfur, which leads to a positive temperature coefficient of the surface tension. A mathematical modeling has been carried out to simulate the turbulent fluid flow associated with the temperature field in the metallic pool of the button. The surface temperature profile has been successfully compared with the measured data. A post-processor numerical tool calculates the inclusion trajectories taking into account the turbulent fluctuation velocity by a stochastic approach. Hence, the behavior of a population of inclusions has been statistically studied, and the dependence of the capture efficiency on the inclusion size has been analyzed.

  14. The anesthetic management of button battery ingestion in children.

    PubMed

    Ing, Richard J; Hoagland, Monica; Mayes, Lena; Twite, Mark

    2018-03-01

    Injuries related to button battery ingestion are common in children. This review provides an outline of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and anesthetic implications in children who have ingested a button battery. A literature search was conducted in the United States National Library of Medicine PubMed database using the terms "button battery ingestion" and "children' and "removal" and "surgery" and "anesthesia". Ninety-six articles published in English were found from 1983-2017, and 62 of these articles were incorporated into this review. Additionally, the Internet was searched with the terms "button battery ingestion and children" to identify further entities, organizations, and resources affiliated with button battery ingestion in children. These additional sources were studied and included in this review. Button batteries are ubiquitous in homes and electronic devices. Since 2006, larger-diameter and higher-voltage batteries have become available. These are more likely to become impacted in the esophagus after ingestion and lead to an increase in severe morbidity and mortality due to caustic tissue injury. Children at the highest risk for complications are those under six years of age who have ingested batteries > 20 mm in diameter and sustain prolonged esophageal impaction at the level of the aortic arch with the negative pole oriented anteriorly. Anesthesiologists need to know about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, complications, and anesthetic management of children who have ingested button batteries.

  15. Use of the Blue Button Online Tool for Sharing Health Information: Qualitative Interviews With Patients and Providers

    PubMed Central

    Fix, Gemmae M; Hogan, Timothy P; Simon, Steven R; Nazi, Kim M; Turvey, Carolyn L

    2015-01-01

    Background Information sharing between providers is critical for care coordination, especially in health systems such as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where many patients also receive care from other health care organizations. Patients can facilitate this sharing by using the Blue Button, an online tool that promotes patients’ ability to view, print, and download their health records. Objective The aim of this study was to characterize (1) patients’ use of Blue Button, an online information-sharing tool in VA’s patient portal, My HealtheVet, (2) information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and (3) how providers and patients use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Methods Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 VA patients, 10 VA providers, and 9 non-VA providers. Interviews focused on patients’ use of Blue Button, information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and how patients and providers use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Qualitative themes were identified through iterative rounds of coding starting with an a priori schema based on technology adoption theory. Results Information sharing between VA and non-VA providers relied primarily on the patient. Patients most commonly used Blue Button to access and share VA laboratory results. Providers recognized the need for improved information sharing, valued the Blue Button printout, and expressed interest in a way to share information electronically across settings. Conclusions Consumer-oriented technologies such as Blue Button can facilitate patients sharing health information with providers in other health care systems; however, more education is needed to inform patients of this use to facilitate care coordination. Additional research is needed to explore how personal health record documents, such as Blue Button reports, can be easily shared and incorporated into the clinical workflow of providers. PMID:26286139

  16. Evaluation of Heat Dissipation in the BPM Buttons

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

    Pinayev,I.; Blednyhk, A.

    2009-05-04

    Growth of circulating current in the storage rings drastically increases heating of the beam position monitor (BPM) buttons due to the induced trapped modes is drastically increasing. Excessive heating can lead to the errors in the measuring of beam position or even catastrophic failures of the pick-up assembly. In this paper we present calculations of heat generated in the button for different geometries and materials. The obtained results are used for the optimization of the NSLS-II BPM buttons design.

  17. Comparative Study of button BPM Trapped Mode Heating

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

    Cameron,P.; Singh, O.

    2009-05-04

    The combination of short bunches and high currents found in modern light sources and colliders can result in the deposition of tens of watts of power in BPM buttons. The resulting thermal distortion is potentially problematic for maintaining high precision beam position stability, and in the extreme case can result in mechanical damage. We present a simple algorithm that uses the input parameters of beam current, bunch length, button diameter, beampipe aperture, and fill pattern to calculate a relative figure-of-merit for button heating. Data for many of the world's light sources and colliders is compiled in a table. Using themore » algorithm, the table is sorted in order of the relative magnitude of button heating.« less

  18. Effect of drivers' age and push button locations on visual time off road, steering wheel deviation and safety perception.

    PubMed

    Dukic, T; Hanson, L; Falkmer, T

    2006-01-15

    The study examined the effects of manual control locations on two groups of randomly selected young and old drivers in relation to visual time off road, steering wheel deviation and safety perception. Measures of visual time off road, steering wheel deviations and safety perception were performed with young and old drivers during real traffic. The results showed an effect of both driver's age and button location on the dependent variables. Older drivers spent longer visual time off road when pushing the buttons and had larger steering wheel deviations. Moreover, the greater the eccentricity between the normal line of sight and the button locations, the longer the visual time off road and the larger the steering wheel deviations. No interaction effect between button location and age was found with regard to visual time off road. Button location had an effect on perceived safety: the further away from the normal line of sight the lower the rating.

  19. Both common and specialty mushrooms inhibit adhesion molecule expression and in vitro binding of monocytes to human aortic endothelial cells in a pro-inflammatory environment

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in the United States as well as globally. Epidemiological studies show that regular fruit and vegetable consumption reduces CVD risk, in part, due to antioxidant activity and immunomodulation since oxidative stress and inflammation are features of atherogenesis. Accumulating evidence also shows that dietary fungi, viz., mushrooms, can protect against chronic disease by altering inflammatory environments such as those associated with CVD although most research has focused on specialty mushrooms. In this study, we tested the ability of both common and specialty mushrooms to inhibit cellular processes associated with CVD. Methods Human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were incubated overnight with control media with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) vehicle (1% v/v) or containing DMSO extracts of whole dehydrated mushrooms (0.1 mg/mL), which included Agaricus bisporus (white button and crimini), Lentinula edodes (shiitake), Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster), and Grifola frondosa (maitake). Monolayers were subsequently washed and incubated with medium alone or containing the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β (5 ng/mL) for 6 h to upregulate pro-atherosclerotic adhesion molecules (AM). AM expression was assayed by ELISA and binding of U937 human monocytes pre-loaded with fluorescent dye was determined. Results White button mushrooms consistently reduced (p < 0.05) VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin-1 expression, whereas other test mushrooms significantly modulated AM expression singly, collectively, or combinatorially. All mushrooms, however, significantly reduced binding of monocytes to both quiescent and cytokine-stimulated monolayers. Conclusion These data provide evidence that dietary mushrooms can inhibit cellular processes such as adhesion molecule expression and ultimate binding of monocytes to the endothelium under pro-inflammatory conditions, which are associated with CVD. As a result, these findings support the notion that dietary mushrooms can be protective against CVD. PMID:20637088

  20. Preventing battery ingestions: an analysis of 8648 cases.

    PubMed

    Litovitz, Toby; Whitaker, Nicole; Clark, Lynn

    2010-06-01

    Outcomes of pediatric button battery ingestions have worsened substantially, predominantly related to the emergence of the 20-mm-diameter lithium cell as a common power source for household products. Button batteries lodged in the esophagus can cause severe tissue damage in just 2 hours, with delayed complications such as esophageal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistulas, exsanguination after fistulization into a major blood vessel, esophageal strictures, and vocal cord paralysis. Thirteen deaths have been reported. The objective of this study was to explore button battery ingestion scenarios to formulate prevention strategies. A total of 8648 battery ingestions that were reported to the National Battery Ingestion Hotline were analyzed. Batteries that were ingested by children who were younger than 6 years were most often obtained directly from a product (61.8%), were loose (29.8%), or were obtained from battery packaging (8.2%). Of young children who ingested the most hazardous battery, the 20-mm lithium cell, 37.3% were intended for remote controls. Adults most often ingested batteries that were sitting out, loose, or discarded (80.8%); obtained directly from a product (4.2%); obtained from battery packaging (3.0%); or swallowed within a hearing aid (12.1%). Batteries that were intended for hearing aids were implicated in 36.3% of ingestions. Batteries were mistaken for pills in 15.5% of ingestions, mostly by older adults. Parents and child care providers should be taught to prevent battery ingestions. Because 61.8% of batteries that were ingested by children were obtained from products, manufacturers should redesign household products to secure the battery compartment, possibly requiring a tool to open it.

  1. Safe Energy Source in Battery-operated Toys for Children.

    PubMed

    Rossi, Alfredo; Vignola, Silvia; Nason, Francesca; Boschetti, Federica; Bramerio, Manuela; Bailini, Alessandro; Pinarello, Giordano

    2017-11-01

    Serious and even fatal consequences of disk batteries ingestion in children are well known. Among other applications, disk batteries are used to power small toys, from which they can be unexpectedly extracted and swallowed. We tested a new cell intended for little toys (green cell [GC]), after 6 and 12 hours of in vitro close contact with esophageal swine mucosa. The GC was compared with lithium and silver button batteries under the same experimental conditions. Tissues in contact with the GC did not show pH variations nor histological alterations after 6 and 12 hours. In such conditions, statistically significant differences were found between the GC and the lithium and silver batteries. So far, multidisciplinary medical effort has been driven to both emergency approach and subsequent operative strategies in children with ingested batteries. Our trial demonstrates the possibility to primarily prevent battery-induced damages by designing new-generation safe cells with no tissue toxicity to power little toys intended for children.

  2. Optics survivability support, volume 2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wild, N.; Simpson, T.; Busdeker, A.; Doft, F.

    1993-01-01

    This volume of the Optics Survivability Support Final Report contains plots of all the data contained in the computerized Optical Glasses Database. All of these plots are accessible through the Database, but are included here as a convenient reference. The first three pages summarize the types of glass included with a description of the radiation source, test date, and the original data reference. This information is included in the database as a macro button labeled 'LLNL DATABASE'. Following this summary is an Abbe chart showing which glasses are included and where they lie as a function of nu(sub d) and n(sub d). This chart is also callable through the database as a macro button labeled 'ABBEC'.

  3. Genetic Testing for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer

    MedlinePlus

    ... Submit Button Past Emails March 22nd is National Lynch Syndrome Awareness Day! Language: English (US) Español (Spanish) Recommend ... sure to tell your family members. What is Lynch Syndrome? Lynch syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome, meaning ...

  4. Lower complication rate and faster return to sports in patients with acute syndesmotic rupture treated with a new knotless suture button device.

    PubMed

    Colcuc, Christian; Blank, Marc; Stein, Thomas; Raimann, Florian; Weber-Spickschen, Sanjay; Fischer, Sebastian; Hoffmann, Reinhard

    2017-12-09

    Suture button devices for tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries provide semirigid dynamic stabilization, but complications including knot irritation have been reported. No randomized trials of the new knotless suture button devices have been performed. We hypothesized that knotless suture button devices eliminate knot irritation and facilitate quicker return to sports. This study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes, complication rates, and time to return to sports between a new knotless suture button device and syndesmotic screw fixation. This study included 54 patients treated for ankle syndesmotic injury from 2012 to 2014 with a knotless suture button device or syndesmotic screw fixation. Clinical outcomes were measured using the American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Society score, Foot and Ankle Disability Index, Olerud and Molander score, and visual analog scale for pain and function. Secondary outcome measures were the complication rate and time required to return to sports. Patients underwent clinical and radiological evaluations preoperatively and three times during the 1-year postoperative follow-up. 54 of 62 eligible patients were analyzed, median age 37 (18-60) and underwent the 1-year follow-up. The screw fixation and knotless suture button groups comprised 26 and 28 patients, respectively. The complication rate was significantly lower (p = 0.03) and time to return to sports was significantly shorter in the knotless suture button than screw fixation group (average, 14 versus 19 weeks, respectively; p = 0.006). No significant differences were identified in clinical outcomes or visual analog scale scores for pain and function between the groups. Age, injury mechanism, and body mass index did not significantly affect the time required to return to sports activities. The type of fixation was the only independent variable that reached statistical significance (p = 0.006). Syndesmotic screw fixation and the new knotless suture button device both resulted in good clinical results. Lower complication rate and the earlier time to return to sports make the new knotless suture button device recommendable especially for highly active patients. Randomized controlled trial, Level I.

  5. Assessment of pediatric Malone antegrade continence enema (MACE) complications: Effects of variations in technique.

    PubMed

    Saikaly, Sami K; Rich, Mark A; Swana, Hubert S

    2016-08-01

    The Malone antegrade continence enema (MACE) procedure is performed for patients with fecal incontinence and constipation who do not respond to medical therapy. The MACE procedure provides antegrade catheter access to the right colon and allows administration of enemas to help evacuate the bowel regularly. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for surgical complications in children who undergo the MACE procedure. Records from 97 pediatric patients who underwent MACE procedure were reviewed retrospectively. Data collected included age, sex, weight (obese/not obese), stomal location, presence of a permanent button/catheter in the stoma, open vs. laparoscopic surgery, and etiology of fecal incontinence/constipation. The complications reviewed included stomal stenosis, leakage, and stomal site infection. The relationships between the independent variables and complications were assessed using chi-square tests and Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Overall, 66 (68%) patients had at least one complication. Twenty-three (23.7%) patients developed stomal stenosis, and 27 (27.8%) patients had significant stomal leakage. Insertion of a stomal button/catheter device was associated with an increased risk of developing stomal leakage and stomal infection. The presence of a stomal button/catheter was also associated with a decreased risk of stomal stenosis (Figure). The non-intubated, imbricated sub-population, preteen patients (<12 years old) experienced more stomal leakage than teenage patients. In this subgroup, patients with umbilical stomas also experienced more leakage than patients with right lower quadrant (RLQ) stomas. The prevalence rates of stomal complications in our study were consistent with previously reported series. In our study, however, stomal leakage had a higher prevalence in comparison with stomal stenosis. This seems to be related to the heterogeneity of the study group, which contained two variants of the MACE procedure; non-imbricated, intubated MACE and imbricated, non-intubated MACE. The use of stomal buttons in conjunction with MACE has previously been reported without changes in complication rates. We found the use of stomal buttons/catheters to be associated with changes in the prevalence of stomal complications. Stomal complications are common in the MACE procedure. The use of a permanent stomal button/catheter is associated with changes in the rates of stomal complications. While many find an umbilical stomal site is more cosmetically appealing, there is an increased risk of leakage with imbricated, non-intubated stomas. In the non-intubated, imbricated sub-population, the MACE procedure results in a higher risk of stomal leakage in preteen patients in comparison with teenage patients. Copyright © 2016 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. 46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

  7. 46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

  8. 46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

  9. 46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

  10. Distal Attachment of Flexor Tendon Allograft: A Biomechanical Study of Different Reconstruction Techniques in Human Cadaver Hands

    PubMed Central

    Wei, Zhuang; Thoreson, Andrew R.; Amadio, Peter C.; An, Kai-Nan; Zhao, Chunfeng

    2014-01-01

    We compared the mechanical force of tendon-to-bone repair techniques for flexor tendon reconstruction. Thirty-six flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons were divided into three groups based upon the repair technique: (1) suture/button repair using FDP tendon (Pullout button group), (2) suture bony anchor using FDP tendon (Suture anchor group), and (3) suture/button repair using FDP tendon with its bony attachment preserved (Bony attachment group). The repair failure force and stiffness were measured. The mean load to failure and stiffness in the bony attachment group were significantly higher than that in the pullout button and suture anchor groups. No significant difference was found in failure force and stiffness between the pullout button and suture anchor groups. An intrasynovial flexor tendon graft with its bony attachment has significantly improved tensile properties at the distal repair site when compared with a typical tendon-to-bone attachment with a button or suture anchor. The improvement in the tensile properties at the repair site may facilitate postoperative rehabilitation and reduce the risk of graft rupture. PMID:23754507

  11. A Geant4 evaluation of the Hornyak button and two candidate detectors for the TREAT hodoscope

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark J.; McGregor, Douglas S.; Roberts, Jeremy A.

    2018-05-01

    The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminate background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Moreover, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.

  12. A Geant4 evaluation of the Hornyak button and two candidate detectors for the TREAT hodoscope

    DOE PAGES

    Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark; ...

    2018-02-05

    The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminatemore » background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Furthermore, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.« less

  13. Nasal foreign bodies in children: should they have a plain radiograph in the accident and emergency?

    PubMed

    Glynn, Fergal; Amin, Mohamed; Kinsella, John

    2008-04-01

    To determine the proportion of children with nasal foreign bodies who had button batteries as the foreign body. To describe the clinical care and outcome of those children with a button battery foreign body. A retrospective review of all children presenting to the accident and emergency room with a nasal foreign body or unilateral nasal discharge during a 6-month period was assessed. Forty-four children were included. The most common object found was a plastic bead (27%), followed by foam, paper, or tissue fragments (23%); food matter represented 15%. A button battery was found in 3 patients (7%); other foreign bodies included stones, buttons, crayons, erasers, and a pellet. Thiry-six (82%) had their foreign body removed without anesthetic and 8 (18%) required a general anesthetic. All 3 children with a button battery went undiagnosed until examination in the operating theater. Because there was no previous indication of the presence of a button battery in the 3 children, the removal of the foreign body under general anesthesia was scheduled for the following day. The removal of the button batteries would have been expedited had a plain radiograph been obtained, possibly resulting in less morbidity for our patients. We recommend a plain radiograph in all children presenting with a nonvisible foreign body or unilateral nasal discharge.

  14. Commonly consumed and specialty dietary mushrooms reduce cellular proliferation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Martin, Keith R; Brophy, Sara K

    2010-11-01

    Worldwide, over one million women will be newly diagnosed with breast cancer in the next year. Moreover, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the USA. An accumulating body of evidence suggests that consumption of dietary mushrooms can protect against breast cancer. In this study, we tested and compared the ability of five commonly consumed or specialty mushrooms to modulate cell number balance in the cancer process using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Hot water extracts (80°C for 2 h) of maitake (MT, Grifola frondosa), crimini (CRIM, Agaricus bisporus), portabella (PORT, Agaricus bisporus), oyster (OYS, Pleurotus ostreatus) and white button (WB, Agaricus bisporus) mushrooms or water alone (5% v/v) were incubated for 24 h with MCF-7 cells. Cellular proliferation determined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced up to 33% by all mushrooms, with MT and OYS being the most effective. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) reduction, an often used mitochondrion-dependent marker of proliferation, was unchanged although decreased (P > 0.05) by 15% with OYS extract. Lactate dehydrogenase release, as a marker of necrosis, was significantly increased after incubation with MT but not with other test mushrooms. Furthermore, MT extract significantly increased apoptosis, or programmed cell death, as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl end labeling method, whereas other test mushrooms displayed trends of ∼15%. The total numbers of cells per flask, determined by hemacytometry, were not different from control cultures. Overall, all test mushrooms significantly suppressed cellular proliferation, with MT further significantly inducing apoptosis and cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells. This suggests that both common and specialty mushrooms may be chemoprotective against breast cancer.

  15. The Blue Button Project: Engaging Patients in Healthcare by a Click of a Button.

    PubMed

    Mohsen, Mona Omar; Aziz, Hassan A

    2015-01-01

    The Blue Button project has become a way for many Americans to download their health records by just a click in any way that suits them, such as in print, on a thumb drive, or on their mobile devices and smartphones. Several organizations have developed and applied Blue Buttons on their websites to allow beneficiaries to securely access and view personal medical information and claims. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the significance of the Blue Button project in the field of health information management. Findings suggest that the project could empower and engage consumers and patients in a healthcare system by allowing access to medical records, thereby promoting better management and overall improvement of their healthcare. To date, the project has gained wide support from insurers, technology companies, and health providers despite the challenges of standardization and interoperability.

  16. BPM Button Optimization to Minimize Distortion Due to Trapped Mode Heating

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

    Cameron,P.; Blednyk, A.; Kosciuk, B.

    2009-05-04

    The outer circumference of a BPM button and the inner circumference of the button housing comprise a transmission line. This transmission line typically presents an impedance of a few tens of ohms to the beam, and couples very weakly to the 50 ohm coaxial transmission line that comprises the signal path out of the button. The modes which are consequently excited and trapped often have quality factors of several hundred, permitting resonant excitation by the beam. The thermal distortion resulting from trapped mode heating is potentially problematic for achieving the high precision beam position measurements needed to provide the sub-micronmore » beam position stability required by light source users. We present a button design that has been optimized via material selection and component geometry to minimize both the trapped mode heating and the resulting thermal distortion.« less

  17. The Blue Button Project: Engaging Patients in Healthcare by a Click of a Button

    PubMed Central

    Mohsen, Mona Omar; Aziz, Hassan A.

    2015-01-01

    The Blue Button project has become a way for many Americans to download their health records by just a click in any way that suits them, such as in print, on a thumb drive, or on their mobile devices and smartphones. Several organizations have developed and applied Blue Buttons on their websites to allow beneficiaries to securely access and view personal medical information and claims. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the significance of the Blue Button project in the field of health information management. Findings suggest that the project could empower and engage consumers and patients in a healthcare system by allowing access to medical records, thereby promoting better management and overall improvement of their healthcare. To date, the project has gained wide support from insurers, technology companies, and health providers despite the challenges of standardization and interoperability. PMID:26755898

  18. Distal splenorenal shunt

    MedlinePlus

    ... through your nose into your stomach to remove gas and fluids A pump with a button you can press when you need pain medicine As you are able to eat and drink, you will be given liquids and food. You may have an imaging test ...

  19. Esophageal button battery ingestions: decreasing time to operative intervention by level I trauma activation.

    PubMed

    Russell, Robert T; Griffin, Russell L; Weinstein, Elizabeth; Billmire, Deborah F

    2014-09-01

    The incidence of button battery ingestions is increasing and injury due to esophageal impaction begins within minutes of exposure. We changed our management algorithm for suspected button battery ingestions with intent to reduce time to evaluation and operative removal. A retrospective study was performed to identify and evaluate time to treatment and outcome for all esophageal button battery ingestions presenting to a major children's hospital emergency room from February 1, 2010 through February 1, 2012. During the first year, standard emergency room triage (ST) was used. During the second year, the triage protocol was changed and Trauma I triage (TT) was used. 24 children had suspected button battery ingestions with 11 having esophageal impaction. One esophageal impaction was due to 2 stacked coins. Time from arrival in emergency room to battery removal was 183minutes in ST group (n=4) and 33minutes in TT group (n=7) (p=0.04). One patient in ST developed a tracheoesophageal fistula. There were no complications in the TT group. The use of Trauma 1 activations for suspected button battery ingestions has led to more expedient evaluation and shortened time to removal of impacted esophageal batteries. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Evaluation of Cognitive Function of Children with Developmental Disabilities by means of Button-Press Task

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakazono, Shogo; Kobori, Satoshi

    The button-press task means that the subject observes a moving target and presses a button to stop it when the target enters a specified area on a computer display. Subjects perform normal task, suppressed task and delayed task. In the suppressed task, the moving target disappears at some point during the trial. In the delayed task, there is some lag time between the time of pressing button and of stopping target. In these tasks, subjects estimate the movement of the target, and press the button considering his/her own reaction time. In our previous study, we showed that cognitive and motor function was able to be evaluated by these tasks. In this study, we examined error data of children with developmental disabilities to evaluate the cognitive function, and investigated the learning processes. Moreover, we discussed the developmental stages by comparing the children with disabilities to normal control children, and we clarified the behavior characteristics of children with developmental disabilities. Asa result, it was shown that our evaluation method and system for the button-press task were effective to evaluate cognitive ability of children with developmental disabilities.

  1. Acromioclavicular joint dislocation: a Dog Bone button fixation alone versus Dog Bone button fixation augmented with acromioclavicular repair-a finite element analysis study.

    PubMed

    Sumanont, Sermsak; Nopamassiri, Supachoke; Boonrod, Artit; Apiwatanakul, Punyawat; Boonrod, Arunnit; Phornphutkul, Chanakarn

    2018-03-20

    Suspension suture button fixation was frequently used to treat acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation. However, there were many studies reporting about complications and residual horizontal instability after fixation. Our study compared the stability of ACJ after fixation between coracoclavicular (CC) fixation alone and CC fixation combined with ACJ repair by using finite element analysis (FEA). A finite element model was created by using CT images from the normal shoulder. The model 1 was CC fixation with suture button alone, and the model 2 was CC fixation with suture button combined with ACJ repair. Three different forces (50, 100, 200 N) applied to the model in three planes; inferior, anterior and posterior direction load to the acromion. The von Mises stress of the implants and deformation at ACJs was recorded. The ACJ repair in the model 2 could reduce the peak stress on the implant after applying the loading forces to the acromion which the ACJ repair could reduce the peak stress of the FiberWire at suture button about 90% when compared to model 1. And, the ACJ repair could reduce the deformation of the ACJ after applying the loading forces to the acromion in both vertical and horizontal planes. This FEA supports that the high-grade injuries of the ACJ should be treated with CC fixation combined with ACJ repair because this technique provides excellent stability in both vertical and horizontal planes and reduces stress to the suture button.

  2. How food cues can enhance and inhibit motivation to obtain and consume food.

    PubMed

    Colagiuri, Ben; Lovibond, Peter F

    2015-01-01

    Learning may play an important role in over-eating. One example is Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), whereby reward cues facilitate responding to obtain that reward. Whilst there is increasing research indicating PIT for food in humans, these studies have exclusively tested PIT under instrumental extinction (i.e. when the food is no longer available), which may reduce their ecological validity. To address this, we conducted two experiments exploring PIT for food in humans when tested under instrumental reinforcement. Participants first underwent Pavlovian discrimination training with an auditory cue paired with a chocolate reward (CS+) and another auditory cue unpaired (CS-). In instrumental training participants learnt to press a button to receive the chocolate reward on a VR10 schedule. In the test phase, each CS was presented whilst participants maintained the opportunity to press the button to receive chocolate. In Experiment 1, the PIT test was implemented after up to 20 min of instrumental training (satiation) whereas in Experiment 2 it was implemented after only 4 min of instrumental training. In both experiments there was evidence for differential PIT, but the pattern differed according to the rate of responding at the time of the PIT test. In low baseline responders the CS+ facilitated both button press responding and consumption, whereas in high baseline responders the CS- suppressed responding. These findings suggest that both excitatory and inhibitory associations may be learnt during PIT training and that the expression of these associations depends on motivation levels at the time the cues are encountered. Particularly concerning is that a food-paired cue can elicit increased motivation to obtain and consume food even when the participant is highly satiated and no longer actively seeking food, as this may be one mechanism by which over-consumption is maintained. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Modeling the impact of pedestrian behavior diversity on traffic dynamics at a crosswalk with push button

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Dong-Fan; Zhao, Xiao-Mei; Li, Xin-Gang; Zhu, Tai-Lang

    2016-01-01

    Crosswalk with push button is prevalent in lots of cities for the purpose of promoting the efficiency of the crosswalk, and thus the delays of both vehicles and pedestrians can be reduced. This strategy has been confirmed to be effective in several developed countries. However, it is a pity that application of push button is aborted in some cities in China. In this work, diverse behaviors of vehicles and pedestrians are analyzed and discussed. Then, a microscopic model is developed by incorporating the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians. Numerical simulations are performed to reveal the characteristics of traffic flow and the efficiency of the signal control strategy. Also, the impacts of risker proportion and button reaction time, as well as the impacts of various behaviors as mass behavior, the patience of pedestrian and push button habit are investigated. It is expected that the results will be helpful to the strategy design of a signalized crosswalk in such developing countries as China.

  4. Management of nasal septal perforation using silicone nasal septal button

    PubMed Central

    Mullace, M; Gorini, E; Sbrocca, M; Artesi, L; Mevio, N

    2006-01-01

    Summary Nasal septal perforation may present with various symptoms: epistaxis, crusting, secondary infection, whistling and nasal obstruction. Perforation may be treated by conservative pharmacological treatment or closed by surgical approach. A useful alternative is mechanical obturation, achieved inserting a prosthesis. The present report refers to a study on 15 patients (10 male, 5 female, mean age 38.5 years) treated by insertion of a one-piece or two-piece silicone septal button (Xomed). In the follow-up period, insertion of the nasal button reduced epistaxis, eliminated whistling during inspiration, and reduced nasal obstruction and crusting around the margin of the perforation. Contraindications are presence of acute infection with osteitis, chronic septal disease (Wegener), neoplasia and extremely large perforations. The latest buttons appear to be superior to the conventional type on account of plasticity and adaptability which offer greater conformity to the septum. This study also reveals that the new septal button is well tolerated by patients. PMID:18236638

  5. Delayed system response times affect immediate physiology and the dynamics of subsequent button press behavior.

    PubMed

    Kohrs, Christin; Hrabal, David; Angenstein, Nicole; Brechmann, André

    2014-11-01

    System response time research is an important issue in human-computer interactions. Experience with technical devices and general rules of human-human interactions determine the user's expectation, and any delay in system response time may lead to immediate physiological, emotional, and behavioral consequences. We investigated such effects on a trial-by-trial basis during a human-computer interaction by measuring changes in skin conductance (SC), heart rate (HR), and the dynamics of button press responses. We found an increase in SC and a deceleration of HR for all three delayed system response times (0.5, 1, 2 s). Moreover, the data on button press dynamics was highly informative since subjects repeated a button press with more force in response to delayed system response times. Furthermore, the button press dynamics could distinguish between correct and incorrect decisions and may thus even be used to infer the uncertainty of a user's decision. Copyright © 2014 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

  6. How to Use This Website | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

    Science.gov Websites

    , regional or national plant hardiness zone maps in three different resolutions using the following steps. To default printing menu option or button. Viewing the Map - Open Full Map Button c. Save Full Map Button can copy the e-mail address and paste it into a different e-mail client (e.g., Google Gmail, Yahoo

  7. Modification of Shirt Buttons for Retrospective Radiation Dosimetry after a Radiological Event

    PubMed Central

    Marino, Stephen A.; Johnson, Gary W.; Schiff, Peter B.; Brenner, David J.

    2010-01-01

    Preliminary results are presented for a personal radiation dosimeter in the form of a clothing button to provide gamma-ray dose estimation for clinically significant external radiation exposures to the general public due to a radiological incident, such as a Radiological Dispersal Device. Rods of thermoluminescent material (LiF:Mg,Ti and LiF:Mg,Cu,P) were encapsulated in plastic “buttons”, attached to shirts, and subjected to three cycles of home or commercial laundering or dry cleaning, including ironing or pressing. The buttons were subsequently exposed to doses of 137Cs gamma rays ranging from 0.75 to 8.2 Gy. The rods were removed from the buttons and their light output compared to their responses when bare or to the responses of a set of calibration rods of the same type and from the same manufacturer. In all three of the comparisons for LiF:Mg,Ti rods the relative responses of the rods in buttons changed by 2-6% relative to the same rods before cleaning. In both comparisons for LiF:Mg,Cu,P rods, the response of laundered rods was 1-3% lower than for the same rods before cleaning. Both these materials are potential candidates for button dosimeters. PMID:21451325

  8. Esophageal button battery ingestion in children.

    PubMed

    Şencan, Arzu; Genişol, İncinur; Hoşgör, Münevver

    2017-07-01

    Button battery lodged in the esophagus carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to present cases of patients with esophageal button battery ingestion treated at our clinic and to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Records of patients admitted to our hospital for foreign body ingestion between January 2010 and May 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases with button battery lodged in the esophagus were included in the study. Patient data regarding age, sex, length of time after ingestion until admission, presenting clinical symptoms, type and localization of the battery, management, and prognosis were analyzed. Among 1891 foreign body ingestions, 71 were localized in the esophagus, and 8 of those (11.2%) were cases of button battery ingestion. Mean age was 1.7 years. Admission was within 6 hours of ingestion in 5 cases, after 24 hours had elapsed in 2, and 1 month after ingestion in 1 case. All patients but 1 knew the history of ingestion. Prompt endoscopic removal was performed for all patients. Three patients developed esophageal stricture, which responded to dilatation. Early recognition and timely endoscopic removal is mandatory in esophageal button battery ingestion. It should be suspected in the differential diagnosis of patients with persistent respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.

  9. Thermocron iButton and iBBat temperature dataloggers emit ultrasound.

    PubMed

    Willis, Craig K R; Jameson, Joel W; Faure, Paul A; Boyles, Justin G; Brack, Virgil; Cervone, Tom H

    2009-10-01

    Thermocron iButton dataloggers are widely used to measure thermal microclimates experienced by wild animals. The iBBat is a smaller version of the datalogger, also commercially available, that is used to measure animal skin or core body temperatures when attached externally or surgically implanted. Field observations of bats roosting under a bridge suggested that bats avoided locations with iButtons. A heterodyne bat detector revealed that the dataloggers emitted ultrasound which was detectable from a distance of up to 30 cm. We therefore recorded and quantified the acoustic properties [carrier frequency (Hz) and root mean square sound pressure level (dB SPL)] of iButton and iBBat dataloggers. All units emitted a 32.9 kHz pure tone that was readily picked up with a time expansion bat detector at a distance of 1 cm, and most were detected at a distance of 15 cm. The maximum amplitude of iButton dataloggers was 46.5 dB SPL at 1.0 cm-a level within the range of auditory sensitivity for most small mammals. Wrapping iButtons in plastic insulation severely attenuated the amplitude of ultrasound. Although there was a statistically significant reduction in rates of warming and cooling with insulation, this effect was small and we suggest that insulation may be a viable solution to eliminate unwanted ultrasonic noise in instances when small delays in thermal response dynamics are not a concern. We recommend behavioural studies to assess if the electronic signals emitted by iButtons are disturbing to small mammals.

  10. Soft and wet actuator developed with responsible high-strength gels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harada, S.; Hidema, R.; Furukawa, H.

    2012-04-01

    Novel high-strength gels, named double network gels (DN gels), show a smart response to altering external electric field. It was reported that a plate shape of the DN gel bends toward a positive electrode direction when a static (DC) electric field is applied. Based on this previous result, it has been tried to develop a novel soft and wet actuator, which will be used as an automatically bulging button for cellar phones, or similar small devices. First, a bending experiment of a hung plate-shape DN gel was done, and its electric field response was confirmed. Second, the response of a lying plate-shape DN gels was confirmed in order to check the bulging phenomena. The edge of three plate-shape gels that was arranged radially on a plane surface was lifted 2mm by applying DC 8V. This system is a first step to make a gels button. However the critical problem is that electrolysis occurs simultaneously under electric field. Then, the water sweep out from gels, and gels is shrinking; They cause the separation between aluminum foil working as electrode and gels. That is why, a flexible electrode should be made by gels completely attached to the gels. As a third step, a push button is tried to make by a shape memory gels (SMG). The Young's modulus of the SMG is dramatically changed by temperature. This change in the modulus is applied to control the input-acceptable state and input-not-acceptable states of the button. A novel push button is proposed as a trial, and its user-friendliness is checked by changing the size of the button. The button is deformed by pushing and is back to original shape due to the property of shape memory. We believe the mechanism of this button will be applied to develop new devices especially for visually impaired persons.

  11. Serious complications after button battery ingestion in children.

    PubMed

    Krom, Hilde; Visser, Margot; Hulst, Jessie M; Wolters, Victorien M; Van den Neucker, Anita M; de Meij, Tim; van der Doef, Hubert P J; Norbruis, Obbe F; Benninga, Marc A; Smit, Margot J M; Kindermann, Angelika

    2018-07-01

    Serious and fatal complications after button battery ingestion are increasing worldwide. The aim of this study is to describe serious complications after battery ingestion in children in the Netherlands.All pediatric gastroenterologists in the Netherlands performing upper endoscopies were asked to report all serious complications after battery ingestion in children (0-18 years) between 2008 and 2016 retrospectively.Sixteen serious complications were reported: death after massive bleeding through esophageal-aortal fistula (n = 1), esophageal-tracheal fistula (n = 5), stenosis after (suspected) perforation and mediastinitis (n = 5), (suspected) perforation and mediastinitis (n = 3), vocal cord paralysis (n = 1), and required reintubation for dyspnea and stridor (n = 1). The median time interval between ingestion and presentation was 5 (IQR 2-258) h. All children were ≤ 5 (median 1.4; IQR 0.9-2.1) years. Vomiting (31.3%), swallowing/feeding problems (31.3%), and fever (31.3%) were the most common presenting symptoms; however, 18.8% of the patients were asymptomatic (n = 1 missing). All batteries were button batteries (75% ≥ 20 mm; 18.8% < 20 mm; n = 1 missing). The batteries were removed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (50%) and rigid endoscopy (37.5%) or surgically (12.5%). Sixteen serious complications occurred after small and large button batteries ingestion between 2008 and 2016 in both symptomatic and asymptomatic children in the Netherlands. Therefore, immediate intervention after (suspected) button battery ingestion is required. What is Known: • Button battery ingestion may result in serious and fatal complications. • Serious and fatal complications after button battery ingestion are increasing worldwide. What is New: • Sixteen serious complications after button battery ingestion occurred during 2008-2016 in children in the Netherlands. • Serious complications were also caused by small batteries (< 20 mm) in the Netherlands and also occurred in asymptomatic Dutch children.

  12. Common agents used to unblock blood clots within tympanostomy tubes: an ex vivo study and review of literature.

    PubMed

    Burke, Emily L; Walvekar, Rohan R; Lin, James; Hagan, Joseph; Kluka, Evelyn A

    2009-12-01

    To determine the efficacy of common solutions used to dissolve blood clots blocking tympanostomy tubes (TTs) of differing lengths and diameters. An ex vivo experimental study. Ear models were built by the study investigator. Tympanostomy tubes were inserted into the models and blocked with blood clots. Test solutions were applied to the blood clots, and time for clearance was recorded via microscopic visual confirmation. Richards T-tube had higher odds of unclogging than collar button tubes (odds ratio: 2.37, 95% confidence intervals 1.02-5.54, p=0.042). Vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide were most effective for Richards T-tubes and collar button tubes, respectively. Common solutions (vinegar and hydrogen peroxide) were more effective than antibiotic drops in clearing blood clot blocking TTs.

  13. Cursor Control Device Test Battery

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Holden, Kritina; Sandor, Aniko; Pace, John; Thompson, Shelby

    2013-01-01

    The test battery was developed to provide a standard procedure for cursor control device evaluation. The software was built in Visual Basic and consists of nine tasks and a main menu that integrates the set-up of the tasks. The tasks can be used individually, or in a series defined in the main menu. Task 1, the Unidirectional Pointing Task, tests the speed and accuracy of clicking on targets. Two rectangles with an adjustable width and adjustable center- to-center distance are presented. The task is to click back and forth between the two rectangles. Clicks outside of the rectangles are recorded as errors. Task 2, Multidirectional Pointing Task, measures speed and accuracy of clicking on targets approached from different angles. Twenty-five numbered squares of adjustable width are arranged around an adjustable diameter circle. The task is to point and click on the numbered squares (placed on opposite sides of the circle) in consecutive order. Clicks outside of the squares are recorded as errors. Task 3, Unidirectional (horizontal) Dragging Task, is similar to dragging a file into a folder on a computer desktop. Task 3 requires dragging a square of adjustable width from one rectangle and dropping it into another. The width of each rectangle is adjustable, as well as the distance between the two rectangles. Dropping the square outside of the rectangles is recorded as an error. Task 4, Unidirectional Path Following, is similar to Task 3. The task is to drag a square through a tunnel consisting of two lines. The size of the square and the width of the tunnel are adjustable. If the square touches any of the lines, it is counted as an error and the task is restarted. Task 5, Text Selection, involves clicking on a Start button, and then moving directly to the underlined portion of the displayed text and highlighting it. The pointing distance to the text is adjustable, as well as the to-be-selected font size and the underlined character length. If the selection does not include all of the underlined characters, or includes non-underlined characters, it is recorded as an error. Task 6, Multi-size and Multi-distance Pointing, presents the participant with 24 consecutively numbered buttons of different sizes (63 to 163 pixels), and at different distances (60 to 80 pixels) from the Start button. The task is to click on the Start button, and then move directly to, and click on, each numbered target button in consecutive order. Clicks outside of the target area are errors. Task 7, Standard Interface Elements Task, involves interacting with standard interface elements as instructed in written procedures, including: drop-down menus, sliders, text boxes, radio buttons, and check boxes. Task completion time is recorded. In Task 8, a circular track is presented with a disc in it at the top. Track width and disc size are adjustable. The task is to move the disc with circular motion within the path without touching the boundaries of the track. Time and errors are recorded. Task 9 is a discrete task that allows evaluation of discrete cursor control devices that tab from target to target, such as a castle switch. The task is to follow a predefined path and to click on the yellow targets along the path.

  14. Characterization of the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency and after transplantation of cultured allogeneic limbal epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    Chen, Peng; Zhou, Qingjun; Wang, Junyi; Zhao, Xiaowen; Duan, Haoyun; Wang, Yao; Liu, Ting; Xie, Lixin

    2016-09-01

    The objective of this study was to characterize the changes that occur in the cornea during Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD) and on the corneal surface after transplantation of ex vivo cultured allogeneic limbal epithelial transplantation (CALET). Forty-one pannus were analyzed to characterize the changes found in the cornea in LSCD. Nineteen impression cytology samples, including 14 pannus and five corneal buttons, obtained during subsequent procedures from patients who had undergone CALET were examined to assess the effect of CALET and to determine the long-term fate of donor cells. The presence of donor and recipient epithelial cells in each sample was determined by short tandem repeat (STR) amplification and fluorescent-multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Phenotypic analysis of the epithelium was performed by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. The expression of lineage markers was similar between pannus and conjunctivae, but not to corneas. Objective long-term benefits from the transplantation were recorded in most cases. After CALET, the lineage markers in the excised corneal buttons and pannus showed a limbus phenotype. DNA analysis of the 19 cases showed no donor cells present on the ocular surface beyond three months after CALET. LSCD was characterized by ingrowth of abnormal, inflamed tissue with a conjunctival phenotype. CALET was a useful technique for restoring the ocular surface in LSCD. However, such benefits did not necessarily correlate with survival of measurable numbers of donor cells on the ocular surface. The absence of donor DNA beyond three months raises questions regarding the period of ongoing immunosuppression and the origin of the regenerated corneal epithelium.

  15. Limb-kinetic apraxia affects activities of daily living in Parkinson’s disease: a multi-center study

    PubMed Central

    Foki, T.; Vanbellingen, T.; Lungu, C.; Pirker, W.; Bohlhalter, S.; Nyffeler, T.; Kraemmer, J.; Haubenberger, D.; Fischmeister, F. Ph. S.; Auff, E.; Hallett, M.; Beisteiner, R.

    2017-01-01

    Background and purpose Impaired dexterity (fine hand movements) is often present in Parkinson’s disease (PD), even at early to moderate disease stages. It has a detrimental impact on activities of daily living (ADL) such as buttoning, contributing to reduced quality of life. Limb-kinetic apraxia, a loss of the ability to make precise, independent but coordinated finger and hand movements, may contribute to impaired dexterity even more than bradykinesia per se. However, the impact of limb-kinetic apraxia on ADL remains controversial. Our aim was to identify the strongest predictor of buttoning and unbuttoning in PD. It was hypothesized that coin rotation (a surrogate of limb-kinetic apraxia) represents the most important determinant. Methods Sixty-four right-handed, early to moderate PD patients were recruited from three movement disorder centers (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–3). Buttoning, unbuttoning and coin rotation (right and left hand) represented the target tasks. Motor impairment was assessed according to the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Results Multiple linear regression analysis showed that coin rotation with the right hand was the only significant predictor of buttoning (P < 0.001) and unbuttoning (P = 0.002). Notably, measures of bradykinesia or overall motor impairment did not represent significant predictors. Conclusions Constituting the novel key finding, limb-kinetic apraxia seems to be particularly relevant for ADL requiring dexterity skills in PD, even at early to moderate disease stages. Our results prompt research into the pathophysiological background and therapeutic options to treat limb-kinetic apraxia. The simple coin rotation test provides valuable information about ADL-related dexterity skills. PMID:27132653

  16. Meal Microstructure Characterization from Sensor-Based Food Intake Detection.

    PubMed

    Doulah, Abul; Farooq, Muhammad; Yang, Xin; Parton, Jason; McCrory, Megan A; Higgins, Janine A; Sazonov, Edward

    2017-01-01

    To avoid the pitfalls of self-reported dietary intake, wearable sensors can be used. Many food ingestion sensors offer the ability to automatically detect food intake using time resolutions that range from 23 ms to 8 min. There is no defined standard time resolution to accurately measure ingestive behavior or a meal microstructure. This paper aims to estimate the time resolution needed to accurately represent the microstructure of meals such as duration of eating episode, the duration of actual ingestion, and number of eating events. Twelve participants wore the automatic ingestion monitor (AIM) and kept a standard diet diary to report their food intake in free-living conditions for 24 h. As a reference, participants were also asked to mark food intake with a push button sampled every 0.1 s. The duration of eating episodes, duration of ingestion, and number of eating events were computed from the food diary, AIM, and the push button resampled at different time resolutions (0.1-30s). ANOVA and multiple comparison tests showed that the duration of eating episodes estimated from the diary differed significantly from that estimated by the AIM and the push button ( p -value <0.001). There were no significant differences in the number of eating events for push button resolutions of 0.1, 1, and 5 s, but there were significant differences in resolutions of 10-30s ( p -value <0.05). The results suggest that the desired time resolution of sensor-based food intake detection should be ≤5 s to accurately detect meal microstructure. Furthermore, the AIM provides more accurate measurement of the eating episode duration than the diet diary.

  17. Meal Microstructure Characterization from Sensor-Based Food Intake Detection

    PubMed Central

    Doulah, Abul; Farooq, Muhammad; Yang, Xin; Parton, Jason; McCrory, Megan A.; Higgins, Janine A.; Sazonov, Edward

    2017-01-01

    To avoid the pitfalls of self-reported dietary intake, wearable sensors can be used. Many food ingestion sensors offer the ability to automatically detect food intake using time resolutions that range from 23 ms to 8 min. There is no defined standard time resolution to accurately measure ingestive behavior or a meal microstructure. This paper aims to estimate the time resolution needed to accurately represent the microstructure of meals such as duration of eating episode, the duration of actual ingestion, and number of eating events. Twelve participants wore the automatic ingestion monitor (AIM) and kept a standard diet diary to report their food intake in free-living conditions for 24 h. As a reference, participants were also asked to mark food intake with a push button sampled every 0.1 s. The duration of eating episodes, duration of ingestion, and number of eating events were computed from the food diary, AIM, and the push button resampled at different time resolutions (0.1–30s). ANOVA and multiple comparison tests showed that the duration of eating episodes estimated from the diary differed significantly from that estimated by the AIM and the push button (p-value <0.001). There were no significant differences in the number of eating events for push button resolutions of 0.1, 1, and 5 s, but there were significant differences in resolutions of 10–30s (p-value <0.05). The results suggest that the desired time resolution of sensor-based food intake detection should be ≤5 s to accurately detect meal microstructure. Furthermore, the AIM provides more accurate measurement of the eating episode duration than the diet diary. PMID:28770206

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

    Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark

    The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminatemore » background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Furthermore, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.« less

  19. Response-Related Potentials during Semantic Priming: The Effect of a Speeded Button Response Task on ERPs

    PubMed Central

    van Vliet, Marijn; Manyakov, Nikolay V.; Storms, Gert; Fias, Wim; Wiersema, Jan R.; Van Hulle, Marc M.

    2014-01-01

    This study examines the influence of a button response task on the event-related potential (ERP) in a semantic priming experiment. Of particular interest is the N400 component. In many semantic priming studies, subjects are asked to respond to a stimulus as fast and accurately as possible by pressing a button. Response time (RT) is recorded in parallel with an electroencephalogram (EEG) for ERP analysis. In this case, the response occurs in the time window used for ERP analysis and response-related components may overlap with stimulus-locked ones such as the N400. This has led to a recommendation against such a design, although the issue has not been explored in depth. Since studies keep being published that disregard this issue, a more detailed examination of influence of response-related potentials on the ERP is needed. Two experiments were performed in which subjects pressed one of two buttons with their dominant hand in response to word-pairs with varying association strength (AS), indicating a personal judgement of association between the two words. In the first experiment, subjects were instructed to respond as fast and accurately as possible. In the second experiment, subjects delayed their button response to enforce a one second interval between the onset of the target word and the button response. Results show that in the first experiment a P3 component and motor-related potentials (MRPs) overlap with the N400 component, which can cause a misinterpretation of the latter. In order to study the N400 component, the button response should be delayed to avoid contamination of the ERP with response-related components. PMID:24516556

  20. Ways to measure body temperature in the field.

    PubMed

    Langer, Franz; Fietz, Joanna

    2014-05-01

    Body temperature (Tb) represents one of the key parameters in ecophysiological studies with focus on energy saving strategies. In this study we therefore comparatively evaluated the usefulness of two types of temperature-sensitive passive transponders (LifeChips and IPTT-300) and one data logger (iButton, DS1922L) mounted onto a collar to measure Tb in the field. First we tested the accuracy of all three devices in a water bath with water temperature ranging from 0 to 40°C. Second, we evaluated the usefulness of the LifeChips and the modified iButtons for measuring Tb of small heterothermic mammals under field conditions. For this work we subcutaneously implanted 14 male edible dormice (Glis glis) with transponders, and equipped another 14 males with data loggers to simultaneously record Tb and oxygen consumption with a portable oxygen analyzer (Oxbox). In one individual we recorded Tb with both devices and analyzed recorded Tb patterns. LifeChips are able to measure temperature within the smallest range from 25 to 40°C with an accuracy of 0.07±0.12°C. IPTT-300 transponders measured temperature between 10 and 40°C, but accuracy decreased considerably at values below 30°C, with maximal deviations of nearly 7°C. An individual calibration of each transponder is therefore needed, before using it at low Tbs. The accuracy of the data logger was comparatively good (0.12±0.25°C) and stable over the whole temperature range tested (0-40°C). In all three devices, the repeatability of measurements was high. LifeChip transponders as well as modified iButtons measured Tb reliably under field conditions. Simultaneous Tb-recordings in one edible dormouse with an implanted LifeChip and a collar-mounted iButton revealed that values of both measurements were closely correlated. Taken together, we conclude that implanted temperature-sensitive transponders represent an appropriate and largely non-invasive method to measure Tb also under field conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Exploring Virtual Worlds with Head-Mounted Displays

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-02-01

    docking problem is important both to biochemists attempting to understand how proteins and nucleic acids work, and to chemists doing analytic drug design...then depressing the mouse button he is able to manipulate the methotrexate. A. long as the mouse button is depressed the methotrexate will follow the... depressing the mouse button outside of the drug’s "grabbing" volume. In this mode, both molecules move in concert. When the active site is positioned to

  2. Identifying predictive factors for long-term complications following button battery impactions: A case series and literature review.

    PubMed

    Eliason, Michael J; Melzer, Jonathan M; Winters, Jessica R; Gallagher, Thomas Q

    2016-08-01

    To complement a case series review of button battery impactions managed at our single military tertiary care center with a thorough literature review of laboratory research and clinical cases to develop a protocol to optimize patient care. Specifically, to identify predictive factors of long-term complications which can be used by the pediatric otolaryngologist to guide patient management after button battery impactions. A retrospective review of the Department of Defense's electronic medical record systems was conducted to identify patients with button battery ingestions and then characterize their treatment course. A thorough literature review complemented the lessons learned to identify potentially predictive clinical measures for long-term complications. Eight patients were identified as being treated for button battery impaction in the aerodigestive tract with two sustaining long-term complications. The median age of the patients treated was 33 months old and the median estimated time of impaction in the aerodigestive tract prior to removal was 10.5 h. Time of impaction, anatomic direction of the battery's negative pole, and identifying specific battery parameters were identified as factors that may be employed to predict sequelae. Based on case reviews, advancements in battery manufacturing, and laboratory research, there are distinct clinical factors that should be assessed at the time of initial therapy to guide follow-up management to minimize potential catastrophic sequelae of button battery ingestion. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  3. Lateral clavicle fracture with coracoclavicular ligament injury: a biomechanical study of 4 different repair techniques.

    PubMed

    Alaee, Farhang; Apostolakos, John; Singh, Hardeep; Holwein, Christian; Diermeier, Theresa; Cote, Mark P; Beitzel, Knut; Imhoff, Andreas B; Mazzocca, Augustus D; Voss, Andreas

    2017-07-01

    To investigate the biomechanical performance of four different methods used for coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstruction in a lateral clavicle fracture repair. Native displacement, translation, and rotation at the acromioclavicular joint of 24 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were tested. A reproducible fracture in the lateral third of the clavicle was created by dissecting both CC ligaments. Each specimen was then repaired with plate fixation of the fracture and the following CC repair technique: (1) Cortical button. (2) Suture anchor and plate button. (3) Suture anchor no plate button, and (4) Suture around coracoid. All reconstructed specimens were then re-tested for displacement, translation, and load to failure, and compared to their native results. Groups 1 and 3 were investigated for rotational load. There was no difference in load to failure between the repaired groups (p: ns). Group 1 showed less superior and anterior translations (p < 0.05). Group 2 showed significantly less superior translation (p = 0.003), but no significance with anterior and posterior translations to the native joint. Group 3 showed less superior and posterior translations (p = 0.005 and p = 0.039). Anterior and posterior translations were increased in group 4 (p < 0.05). The biomechanical analyses did not show any significance in load to failure or displacement after cyclic loading among the study groups. All repairs were effective in preventing superior translation. Groups 1 and 2 demonstrated increased horizontal stability compared to the native state. All 4 methods are clinically viable options for CC ligament repair.

  4. Drying kinetics and characteristics of combined infrared-vacuum drying of button mushroom slices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Salehi, Fakhreddin; Kashaninejad, Mahdi; Jafarianlari, Ali

    2017-05-01

    Infrared-vacuum drying characteristics of button mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus) were evaluated in a combined dryer system. The effects of drying parameters, including infrared radiation power (150-375 W), system pressure (5-15 kPa) and time (0-160 min) on the drying kinetics and characteristics of button mushroom slices were investigated. Both the infrared lamp power and vacuum pressure influenced the drying time of button mushroom slices. The rate constants of the nine different kinetic's models for thin layer drying were established by nonlinear regression analysis of the experimental data which were found to be affected mainly by the infrared power level while system pressure had a little effect on the moisture ratios. The regression results showed that the Page model satisfactorily described the drying behavior of button mushroom slices with highest R value and lowest SE values. The effective moisture diffusivity increases as power increases and range between 0.83 and 2.33 × 10-9 m2/s. The rise in infrared power has a negative effect on the ΔE and with increasing in infrared radiation power it was increased.

  5. New, Efficient, and Reliable Air Electrode Material for Proton-Conducting Reversible Solid Oxide Cells.

    PubMed

    Huan, Daoming; Shi, Nai; Zhang, Lu; Tan, Wenzhou; Xie, Yun; Wang, Wanhua; Xia, Changrong; Peng, Ranran; Lu, Yalin

    2018-01-17

    Driven by the demand to minimize fluctuation in common renewable energies, reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) have drawn increasing attention for they can operate either as fuel cells to produce electricity or as electrolysis cells to store electricity. Unfortunately, development of proton-conducting RSOCs (P-RSOCs) faces a major challenge of poor reliability because of the high content of steam involved in air electrode reactions, which could seriously decay the lifetime of air electrode materials. In this work, a very stable and efficient air electrode, SrEu 2 Fe 1.8 Co 0.2 O 7-δ (SEFC) with layer structure, is designed and deployed in P-RSOCs. X-ray diffraction analysis and High-angle annular dark-filed scanning transmission electron microscopy images of SEFC reveal that Sr atoms occupy the center of perovskite slabs, whereas Eu atoms arrange orderly in the rock-salt layer. Such a special structure of SEFC largely depresses its Lewis basicity and therefore its reactivity with steam. Applying the SEFC air electrode, our button switches smoothly between both fuel cell and electrolysis cell (EC) modes with no obvious degradation over a 135 h long-term test under wet H 2 (∼3% H 2 O) and 10% H 2 O-air atmospheres. A record of over 230 h is achieved in the long-term stability test in the EC mode, doubling the longest test that had been previously reported. Besides good stability, SEFC demonstrates great catalytic activity toward air electrode reactions when compared with traditional La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ air electrodes. This research highlights the potential of stable and efficient P-RSOCs as an important part in a sustainable new energy power system.

  6. Button batteries

    MedlinePlus

    Swallowing batteries ... These devices use button batteries: Calculators Cameras Hearing aids Penlights Watches ... If a person puts the battery up their nose and breathes it further in, ... problems Cough Pneumonia (if the battery goes unnoticed) ...

  7. Poisoning: First Aid

    MedlinePlus

    ... Plants Foreign bodies such as watch or button batteries How you treat someone who may have been ... have applied medicated patches or swallowed a button battery. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately ...

  8. Vascular ring complicates accidental button battery ingestion.

    PubMed

    Mercer, Ronald W; Schwartz, Matthew C; Stephany, Joshua; Donnelly, Lane F; Franciosi, James P; Epelman, Monica

    2015-01-01

    Button battery ingestion can lead to dangerous complications, including vasculoesophageal fistula formation. The presence of a vascular ring may complicate battery ingestion if the battery lodges at the level of the ring and its important vascular structures. We report a 4-year-old boy with trisomy 21 who was diagnosed with a vascular ring at the time of button battery ingestion and died 9 days after presentation due to massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding from esophageal erosion and vasculoesophageal fistula formation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Graphical User Interface for a Remote Medical Monitoring System: U.S. Army Medic Recommendations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-11-01

    screens. The majority of medics (70%) also wanted a name lis! screen that, when tapped , would go to an individual patient screen. In the name list...button has been pushed. Tapping on thaI button would prompt the user to enter the password. Tapping on the light button would illuminate the screen...a summary of current local weather conditions would be dis- played in the lower ! eft of the screen. In the lower right of this map screen is

  10. Evaluation of EA-934NA with 2.5 percent Cab-O-Sil

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Caldwell, Gordon A.

    1990-01-01

    Currently, Hysol adhesive EA-934NA is used to bond the Field Joint Protection System on the Shuttle rocket motors at Kennedy Space Center. However, due to processing problems, an adhesive with a higher viscosity is needed to alleviate these difficulties. One possible solution is to add Cab-O-Sil to the current adhesive. The adhesive strength and bond strengths that can be obtained when 2.5 percent Cab-O-Sil is added to adhesive EA-934NA are examined and tested over a range of test temperatures from -20 to 300 F. Tensile adhesion button and lap shear specimens were bonded to D6AC steel and uniaxial tensile specimens (testing for strength, initial tangent modulus, elongation and Poisson's ratio) were prepared using Hysol adhesive EA-934NA with 2.5 percent Cab-O-Sil added. These specimens were tested at -20, 20, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, and 300 F, respectively. Additional tensile adhesion button specimens bonding Rust-Oleum primed and painted D6AC steel to itself and to cork using adhesive EA-934NA with 2.5 percent Cab-O-Sil added were tested at 20, 75, 125, 200, and 300 F, respectively. Results generally show decreasing strength values with increasing test temperatures. The bond strengths obtained using cork as a substrate were totally dependent on the cohesive strength of the cork.

  11. The role of consolidation in learning context-dependent phonotactic patterns in speech and digital sequence production.

    PubMed

    Anderson, Nathaniel D; Dell, Gary S

    2018-04-03

    Speakers implicitly learn novel phonotactic patterns by producing strings of syllables. The learning is revealed in their speech errors. First-order patterns, such as "/f/ must be a syllable onset," can be distinguished from contingent, or second-order, patterns, such as "/f/ must be an onset if the vowel is /a/, but a coda if the vowel is /o/." A metaanalysis of 19 experiments clearly demonstrated that first-order patterns affect speech errors to a very great extent in a single experimental session, but second-order vowel-contingent patterns only affect errors on the second day of testing, suggesting the need for a consolidation period. Two experiments tested an analogue to these studies involving sequences of button pushes, with fingers as "consonants" and thumbs as "vowels." The button-push errors revealed two of the key speech-error findings: first-order patterns are learned quickly, but second-order thumb-contingent patterns are only strongly revealed in the errors on the second day of testing. The influence of computational complexity on the implicit learning of phonotactic patterns in speech production may be a general feature of sequence production.

  12. High current capacity electrical connector

    DOEpatents

    Bettis, Edward S.; Watts, Harry L.

    1976-01-13

    An electrical connector is provided for coupling high current capacity electrical conductors such as copper busses or the like. The connector is arranged in a "sandwiched" configuration in which a conductor plate contacts the busses along major surfaces thereof clamped between two stainless steel backing plates. The conductor plate is provided with a plurality of contact buttons affixed therein in a spaced array such that the caps of the buttons extend above the conductor plate surface to contact the busses. When clamping bolts provided through openings in the sandwiched arrangement are tightened, Belleville springs provided under the rim of each button cap are compressed and resiliently force the caps into contact with the busses' contacting surfaces to maintain a predetermined electrical contact area provided by the button cap tops. The contact area does not change with changing thermal or mechanical stresses applied to the coupled conductors.

  13. The IAT shows no evidence for Kandinsky's color-shape associations.

    PubMed

    Makin, Alexis D J; Wuerger, Sophie M

    2013-01-01

    In the early twentieth century, the Bauhaus revolutionized art and design by using simple colors and forms. Wassily Kandinsky was especially interested in the relationship of these two visual attributes and postulated a fundamental correspondence between color and form: yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. Subsequent empirical studies used preference judgments to test Kandinsky's original color-form combinations, usually yielding inconsistent results. We have set out to test the validity of these postulated associations by using the Implicit Association Test. Participants pressed one of two buttons on each trial. On some trials they classified shapes (e.g., circle or triangle). On interleaved trials they classified colors (e.g., blue or yellow). Response times should theoretically be faster when the button mapping follows Kandinsky's associations: For example, when the left key is used to report blue or circle and the right is used for yellow and triangle, than when the response mapping is the opposite of this (blue or triangle, yellow or circle). Our findings suggest that there is no implicit association between the original color-form combinations. Of the three combinations we tested, there was only a marginal effect in one case. It can be concluded that the IAT does not support Kandinsky's postulated color-form associations, and that these are probably not a universal property of the visual system.

  14. An EOG-Based Human-Machine Interface for Wheelchair Control.

    PubMed

    Huang, Qiyun; He, Shenghong; Wang, Qihong; Gu, Zhenghui; Peng, Nengneng; Li, Kai; Zhang, Yuandong; Shao, Ming; Li, Yuanqing

    2017-07-27

    Non-manual human-machine interfaces (HMIs) have been studied for wheelchair control with the aim of helping severely paralyzed individuals regain some mobility. The challenge is to rapidly, accurately and sufficiently produce control commands, such as left and right turns, forward and backward motions, acceleration, deceleration, and stopping. In this paper, a novel electrooculogram (EOG)-based HMI is proposed for wheelchair control. Thirteen flashing buttons are presented in the graphical user interface (GUI), and each of the buttons corresponds to a command. These buttons flash on a one-by-one manner in a pre-defined sequence. The user can select a button by blinking in sync with its flashes. The algorithm detects the eye blinks from a channel of vertical EOG data and determines the user's target button based on the synchronization between the detected blinks and the button's flashes. For healthy subjects/patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), the proposed HMI achieved an average accuracy of 96.7%/91.7% and a response time of 3.53 s/3.67 s with 0 false positive rates (FPRs). Using only one channel of vertical EOG signals associated with eye blinks, the proposed HMI can accurately provide sufficient commands with a satisfactory response time. The proposed HMI provides a novel non-manual approach for severely paralyzed individuals to control a wheelchair. Compared with a newly established EOG-based HMI, the proposed HMI can generate more commands with higher accuracy, lower FPR and fewer electrodes.

  15. Development of an automated speech recognition interface for personal emergency response systems

    PubMed Central

    Hamill, Melinda; Young, Vicky; Boger, Jennifer; Mihailidis, Alex

    2009-01-01

    Background Demands on long-term-care facilities are predicted to increase at an unprecedented rate as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age. Aging-in-place (i.e. aging at home) is the desire of most seniors and is also a good option to reduce the burden on an over-stretched long-term-care system. Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERSs) help enable older adults to age-in-place by providing them with immediate access to emergency assistance. Traditionally they operate with push-button activators that connect the occupant via speaker-phone to a live emergency call-centre operator. If occupants do not wear the push button or cannot access the button, then the system is useless in the event of a fall or emergency. Additionally, a false alarm or failure to check-in at a regular interval will trigger a connection to a live operator, which can be unwanted and intrusive to the occupant. This paper describes the development and testing of an automated, hands-free, dialogue-based PERS prototype. Methods The prototype system was built using a ceiling mounted microphone array, an open-source automatic speech recognition engine, and a 'yes' and 'no' response dialog modelled after an existing call-centre protocol. Testing compared a single microphone versus a microphone array with nine adults in both noisy and quiet conditions. Dialogue testing was completed with four adults. Results and discussion The microphone array demonstrated improvement over the single microphone. In all cases, dialog testing resulted in the system reaching the correct decision about the kind of assistance the user was requesting. Further testing is required with elderly voices and under different noise conditions to ensure the appropriateness of the technology. Future developments include integration of the system with an emergency detection method as well as communication enhancement using features such as barge-in capability. Conclusion The use of an automated dialog-based PERS has the potential to provide users with more autonomy in decisions regarding their own health and more privacy in their own home. PMID:19583876

  16. Surgical treatment of pectoralis major muscle rupture with adjustable cortical button.

    PubMed

    Pochini, Alberto de Castro; Rodrigues, Marcus de Souza Barbosa; Yamashita, Larissa; Belangero, Paulo Santoro; Andreoli, Carlos Vicente; Ejnisman, Benno

    2018-01-01

    To assess the tendon reconstruction technique for total rupture of the pectoralis major muscle using an adjustable cortical button. Prospective study of 27 male patients with a mean age of 29.9 (SD = 5.3 years) and follow-up of 2.3 years. The procedure consisted of autologous grafts taken from the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons and an adjustable cortical button. Patients were evaluated functionally by the Bak criteria. The surgical treatment of pectoralis major muscle tendon reconstruction was performed in the early stages (three weeks) in six patients (22.2%) and in 21 patients (77.8%), in the late stages. Patients operated with the adjustable cortical button technique obtained 96.3% excellent or good results, with only 3.7% having poor results (Bak criteria). Of the total, 85.2% were injured while performing bench press exercises and 14.8%, during the practice of Brazilian jiu-jitsu or wrestling. All weight-lifting athletes had history of anabolic steroid use. The early or delayed reconstruction of ruptured pectoralis major muscle tendons with considerable muscle retraction, using an adjustable cortical button and autologous knee flexor grafts, showed a high rate of good results.

  17. [Autoshaping of a button-push response and eye movement in human subjects].

    PubMed

    Kimura, H; Fukui, I; Inaki, K

    1990-12-01

    Two experiments were conducted with human subjects to investigate the similarities and differences between animal and human behaviors under autoshaping procedures. In these experiments, light served as CS, and display on TV served as US. Whether the pushing button response or gazing response to CS could be obtained in human subjects under Pavlovian conditioning procedure was examined. In Experiment 1, uninstructed naive subjects were placed in a room containing a push-button and a TV display. Within the experimental sessions, the push-button was lit for 8 s as CS, and then paired with the display of a soft pornographic program on TV for 10 s. The result indicated that the modeling of pushing button promoted the increase of response probability among the subjects. The trials conducted after the rest period indicated an increase of response probability. In Experiment 2, a 4 cm square translucent panel was lit for 20 s as CS, and then paired with the display of a computer graphic picture on TV for 8 s as US. Some subjects started gazing at the CS for several seconds. These results indicated that some subjects could acquire the gazing response under the autoshaping procedure.

  18. Measuring Up: Assessment Issues for Teachers, Counselors, and Administrators.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wall, Janet E., Ed.; Walz, Garry R., Ed.

    This book attempts to promote improved understanding of assessment concepts by addressing the broad expanse of issues facing educators as they go about their duties and fulfill their responsibilities in schools and classrooms. The chapters in the book address some of the "hot button" issues related to testing and assessment in our nation's…

  19. Deformation of Cases in High Capacitance Value Wet Tantalum Capacitors under Environmental Stresses

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Teverovsky, Alexander

    2016-01-01

    Internal gas pressure in hermetic wet tantalum capacitors is created by air, electrolyte vapor, and gas generated by electrochemical reactions at the electrodes. This pressure increases substantially with temperature and time of operation due to excessive leakage currents. Deformation of the case occurs when the internal pressure exceeds pressure of the environments and can raise significantly when a part operates in space. Contrary to the cylinder case wet tantalum capacitors that have external sealing by welding and internal sealing provided by the Teflon bushing and crimping of the case, no reliable internal sealing exists in the button case capacitors. Single seal design capacitors are used for high capacitance value wet tantalum capacitors manufactured per DLA L&M drawings #04003, 04005, and 10011, and require additional analysis to assure their reliable application in space systems. In this work, leakage currents and case deformation of button case capacitors were measured during different environmental test conditions. Recommendations for derating, screening and qualification testing are given. This work is a continuation of a series of NEPP reports related to quality and reliability of wet tantalum capacitors.

  20. Synthesis and characterization of novel Ce{sub 0.8}Sm{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.9}Ir{sub 0.03}Co{sub 0.07}O{sub 3−δ} perovskite material and possible application as a cathode for low–intermediate temperature SOFCs

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

    Njoku, Chima Benjamin; Ndungu, Patrick Gathura, E-mail: ndungup@ukzn.ac.za

    2015-08-15

    Highlights: • Ce{sub 0.8}Sm{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.9}Ir{sub 0.03}Co{sub 0.07}O{sub 3−δ} was synthesized using sol–gel methods. • Material was thoroughly characterized using Raman, FTIR, XRD, HRTEM, SEM, and TGA. • Electrochemical performance showed the materials are a promising new cathode material for low temperature SOFC. - Abstract: A novel perovskite material, Ce{sub 0.8}Sm{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.9}Ir{sub 0.03}Co{sub 0.07}O{sub 3−δ} was synthesized using a sol–gel technique. The materials were calcined at temperatures of 800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C and then characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle sizes andmore » crystallite sizes increased with increasing calcination temperature and formed perovskite type materials with some separate magnetite and iridium oxide. The powders were used to assemble button cells using samarium doped ceria as the electrolyte and NiO/SDC as the anode materials. The electrochemical properties were investigated using a Fiaxell open flanges test set-up and a Nuvant™ Powerstat-05 potentiostat/galvanostat. The Ce{sub 0.8}Sm{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 0.9}Ir{sub 0.03}Co{sub 0.07}O{sub 3−δ} cathode material calcined at 1000 °C exhibited the most promising performance, with a maximum power density of 0.400 W/cm{sup 2}, a current density of 0.8 A/cm{sup 2}, and a corresponding area specific resistance of 0.247 Ωcm{sup 2} at 500 °C. The button cells were reasonably stable over15 h.« less

  1. Capacitors with low equivalent series resistance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lakeman, Charles D. E. (Inventor); Fuge, Mark (Inventor); Fleig, Patrick Franz (Inventor)

    2011-01-01

    An electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) in a coin or button cell configuration having low equivalent series resistance (ESR). The capacitor comprises mesh or other porous metal that is attached via conducting adhesive to one or both the current collectors. The mesh is embedded into the surface of the adjacent electrode, thereby reducing the interfacial resistance between the electrode and the current collector, thus reducing the ESR of the capacitor.

  2. Soft robot design methodology for `push-button' manufacturing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paik, Jamie

    2018-06-01

    `Push-button' or fully automated manufacturing would enable the production of robots with zero intervention from human hands. Realizing this utopia requires a fundamental shift from a sequential (design-materials-manufacturing) to a concurrent design methodology.

  3. MedlinePlus FAQ: Disease or Condition Information

    MedlinePlus

    ... on the Health Topics button on the MedlinePlus homepage. You can also find the Health Topics button ... MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs For Developers U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 ...

  4. Development of non-keyboard input device checklists through assessments.

    PubMed

    Woods, Valerie; Hastings, Sarah; Buckle, Peter; Haslam, Roger

    2003-11-01

    An assessment of non-keyboard input devices (NKID) was conducted to identify factors for good design in relation to operation, performance and comfort. Twenty-seven NKID users, working in health and safety, evaluated eight devices that included mice, trackballs and a joystick mouse. The factors considered important for good design were: (1) comfortable hand and finger position, (2) adequate control, (3) intuitive and easy to use, (4) ease of device, button and trackball movement, (5) good interaction with software, (6) provision of suitable accessories. Mice were rated more favourably than trackballs or the joystick mouse. The design of the standard 2-button mouse (D4) was considered most desirable to use; the 3-button mouse (D1) and 3-button curved mouse (D8) were also favoured. Assessment data and comments were drawn together with previously published research to produce useful tools for NKID purchasing (i.e. Device Purchasing Checklist) and assessment (i.e. Device Assessment Checklist).

  5. Using BYOD (bring your own device) in lesson.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naissoo, Tiina

    2015-04-01

    We live in rapidly advancing world. Our homes and offices are conquered by new technological achievements. School is a part of the society and many students use smartphones and tablet pc`s every day. Also they are very skillful with smartphones. It is very important that school and teachers give them advice how to manage in such miracle world and how to use this kind of equipment in studies. In the other hand teachers complain about their hand-operation, concentration and self-expression skills. So it is very important to use exercises for developing these skills. Also, when you do something practically, then you should do it actively and then it will be fixed better. I have made a lesson plan for learning animal and plant cell structures. First students need to read about cell structures and make animal and plant cell models using rope, noodles and different buttons. Then they used their smartphones and made a video where they explain meaning of the rope, noodles and buttons and what are the common share and differences between animal and plant cell. Example of the student videos you can see here: http://youtu.be/SH5oCpDRJPg https://docs.google.com/a/gag.ee/file/d/0Bz4muZaQGXADVlNrYTNkc2VxbE0/edit In feedback they said that it was very interesting and educational practical task. It was only one example how to use BYOD. In Gustav Adolf Grammar School we use BYOD a lot in different subjects. In today's school it's really important to link modern technology, surrounding environment and learning.

  6. Minimally invasive reconstruction of acute type IV and Type V acromioclavicular separations.

    PubMed

    Katsenis, Dimitris L; Stamoulis, Dimitris; Begkas, Dimitris; Tsamados, Stamatis

    2015-04-01

    The goal of this study was to evaluate the midterm radiologic, clinical, and functional results of the early reconstruction of the severe acromioclavicular joint dislocation using the flipptack fixation button technique. Between December 2006 and December 2009, one hundred thirty-five consecutive patients with acromioclavicular joint separations were admitted to the authors' institution. Fifty patients were included in the study. According to Rockwood classification, 29 (58%) dislocations were type IV and 21 (42%) were type V. Surgery was performed at an average of 4.2 days (range, 0-12 days) after dislocation. All dislocations were treated with the flipptack fixation button technique. All patients were evaluated at a final postoperative follow-up of 42 months (range, 36-49 months). The clinical outcome was assessed using the Constant score. The functional limitation was assessed using the bother index of the short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment. Radiographs taken immediately postoperatively and at the final follow-up assessed acromioclavicular joint reduction, coracoclavicular distance, and joint arthrosis. At the final follow-up, mean Constant score was 93.04 (range, 84-100). The average (±SD) short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment bother index was 20.88±8.95 (range, 2.0-49). No statistically significant difference was found between the acromioclavicular joint dislocation type and the clinical result (P=.227; chi-square, 6.910, Kruskal Wallis test). The regression of the coracoclavicular distance at final follow-up was not statistically significant (P=.276; chi-square, 6.319, Kruskal Wallis test). The flipptack fixation button technique is an effective alternative for the treatment of severe acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Because all objectives of the treatment were obtained, the results do not deteriorate over time. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

  7. The role of amniotic membrane extract eye drop (AMEED) in in vivo cultivation of limbal stem cells.

    PubMed

    Baradaran-Rafii, Alireza; Asl, Niloufar Shayan; Ebrahimi, Marzieh; Jabbehdari, Sayena; Bamdad, Shahram; Roshandel, Danial; Eslani, Medi; Momeni, Maryam

    2018-01-01

    Limbal stem cell transplantation (LSCT) is the definitive treatment for total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). This study evaluates the anatomical and visual outcomes of a surgical technique supplemented by amniotic membrane extract eye drop (AMEED) for in vivo cultivation of limbal stem cells (LSCs). One small limbal block (2 × 1 mm) harvested from the contralateral healthy eye was transferred to the diseased eye, which had been already covered by cryopreserved amniotic membrane (N = 20). The patients were categorized into case and control groups. AMEED was administered postoperatively only for patients in the case group (N = 14). Sequential penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was performed in 4 eyes of the case group for optical clarity. Visual acuity, epithelial healing, corneal clarity and regression of conjunctivalization/vascularization were evaluated after surgery. The corneal buttons of post-PKP eyes were evaluated for LSC markers. In the case group, the mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/400 before surgery, which improved to 20/40 and 20/50 at the last follow-up in eyes with and without PKP, respectively. Epithelial defects healed in all eyes of the case group during 2 weeks after surgery. Corneal conjunctivalization/vascularization regressed dramatically in all patients of the case group 2-3 months after surgery. In PKP cases, all transplanted corneas were clear at the last follow-up. LSC markers were expressed on the surface of all trephined corneal buttons. All eyes in the control group developed persistent epithelial defect. This study suggests that amniotic membrane extract may be helpful for in vivo cultivation of limbal stem cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Modified Labial Button Technique for Maintaining Occlusion After Caudal Mandibular Fracture/Temporomandibular Joint Luxation in the Cat.

    PubMed

    Goodman, Alice E; Carmichael, Daniel T

    2016-03-01

    Maxillofacial trauma in cats often results in mandibular symphyseal separation in addition to injuries of the caudal mandible and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Caudal mandibular and TMJ injuries are difficult to access and stabilize using direct fixation techniques, thus indirect fixation is commonly employed. The immediate goals of fixation include stabilization for return to normal occlusion and function with the long-term objective of bony union. Indirect fixation techniques commonly used for stabilization of caudal mandibular and temporomandibular joint fracture/luxation include maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) with acrylic composite, interarcade wiring, tape muzzles, and the bignathic encircling and retaining device (BEARD) technique. This article introduces a modification of the previously described "labial reverse suture through buttons" technique used by Koestlin et al and the "labial locking with buttons" technique by Rocha et al. In cases with minimally displaced subcondylar and pericondylar fractures without joint involvement, the labial button technique can provide sufficient stabilization for healing. Advantages of the modified labial button technique include ease of application, noninvasive nature, and use of readily available materials. The construct can remain in place for a variable of amount of time, depending on its intended purpose. It serves as an alternative to the tape muzzle, which is rarely tolerated by cats. This technique can be easily used in conjunction with other maxillomandibular repairs, such as cerclage wire fixation of mandibular symphyseal separation. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate a modified labial button technique for maintaining occlusion of feline caudal mandibular fractures/TMJ luxations in a step-by-step fashion.

  9. The validity, reliability, and utility of the iButton® for measurement of body temperature circadian rhythms in sleep/wake research.

    PubMed

    Hasselberg, Michael J; McMahon, James; Parker, Kathy

    2013-01-01

    Changes in core body temperature due to heat transfer through the skin have a major influence on sleep regulation. Traditional measures of skin temperature are often complicated by extensive wiring and are not practical for use in normal living conditions. This review describes studies examining the reliability, validity and utility of the iButton®, a wireless peripheral thermometry device, in sleep/wake research. A review was conducted of English language literature on the iButton as a measure of circadian body temperature rhythms associated with the sleep/wake cycle. Seven studies of the iButtton as a measure of human body temperature were included. The iButton was found to be a reliable and valid measure of body temperature. Its application to human skin was shown to be comfortable and tolerable with no significant adverse reactions. Distal skin temperatures were negatively correlated with sleep/wake activity, and the temperature gradient between the distal and proximal skin (DPG) was identified as an accurate physiological correlate of sleep propensity. Methodological issues included site of data logger placement, temperature masking factors, and temperature data analysis. The iButton is an inexpensive, wireless data logger that can be used to obtain a valid measurement of human skin temperature. It is a practical alternative to traditional measures of circadian rhythms in sleep/wake research. Further research is needed to determine the utility of the iButton in vulnerable populations, including those with neurodegenerative disorders and memory impairment and pediatric populations. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Herbal Extracts That Reduce Ocular Oxidative Stress May Enhance Attentive Performance in Humans.

    PubMed

    Cho, Hohyun; Kwon, Moonyoung; Jang, Hyojung; Lee, Jee-Bum; Yoon, Kyung Chul; Jun, Sung Chan

    2016-01-01

    We used herbal extracts in this study to investigate the effects of blue-light-induced oxidative stress on subjects' attentive performance, which is also associated with work performance. We employed an attention network test (ANT) to measure the subjects' work performance indirectly and used herbal extracts to reduce ocular oxidative stress. Thirty-two subjects participated in either an experimental group (wearing glasses containing herbal extracts) or a control group (wearing glasses without herbal extracts). During the ANT experiment, we collected electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) data and measured button responses. In addition, electrocardiogram (ECG) data were collected before and after the experiments. The EOG results showed that the experimental group exhibited a reduced number of eye blinks per second during the experiment and faster button responses with a smaller variation than did the control group; this group also showed relatively more sustained tension in their ECG results. In the EEG analysis, the experimental group had significantly greater cognitive processing, with larger P300 and parietal 2-6 Hz activity, an orienting effect with neural processing of frontal area, high beta activity in the occipital area, and an alpha and beta recovery process after the button response. We concluded that reducing blue-light-induced oxidative stress with herbal extracts may be associated with reducing the number of eye blinks and enhancing attentive performance.

  11. 78 FR 27995 - Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-13

    ... fragments, 29 historic ceramic sherds, 1 prehistoric ceramic sherd, 128 unmodified faunal bone fragments, 1 modified deer rib, 3 bone buttons, 4 chipped stone flakes, 2 wooden buttons, 1 historic clay pipe bowl...

  12. Button battery ingestion: the Greek experience and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Amanatidou, Virginia; Sofidiotou, Vassiliki; Fountas, Kostas; Kalostou, Angeliki; Tsamadou, Athina; Papathanassiou, Vassiliki; Neou, Polyxeni

    2011-03-01

    Foreign body ingestion is a common cause of admission in the pediatric emergency room. In the past, button batteries accounted for less than 2% of the foreign bodies ingested by small children, but in the last 2 decades, they show a rapidly increased frequency. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential risk after button battery ingestion in relation with the clinical manifestations and to perform a treatment-observation protocol in accordance with the international procedure. In a prospective observational analysis from November 2007 through February 2008, 31 cases of button battery ingestion were recorded by the Greek Poison Information Center. The interval between the accidental ingestion and first medical contact ranged from 5 minutes to 10 days. After initial evaluation including clinical examination and radiological localization of the foreign body, all cases were treated as outpatients. Reported complications included "black stools" in 9% and diarrhea in 3% of cases. In 1 case, the battery was endoscopically removed. The role of primary care physicians in informing the public about the potential danger of button battery digestion is crucial. Pediatricians should educate the parents about this hazard, as part of the routine guidelines for childproofing at home. Once again, prolepsis is the best policy.

  13. Reliability and validity of food portion size estimation from images using manual flexible digital virtual meshes

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The eButton takes frontal images at 4 second intervals throughout the day. A three-dimensional (3D) manually administered wire mesh procedure has been developed to quantify portion sizes from the two-dimensional (2D) images. This paper reports a test of the interrater reliability and validity of use...

  14. Evaluation of the potential use of probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum 299v in lactic fermentation of button mushroom fruiting bodies.

    PubMed

    Jabłońska-Ryś, Ewa; Sławińska, Aneta; Radzki, Wojciech; Gustaw, Waldemar

    2016-01-01

    The available literature does not provide data on the application of probiotic strains in mushroom processing. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential to use the L. plantarum 299v strain with documented probiotic properties in the process of lactic fermentation of button mushroom fruiting bodies (Agaricus bisporus). Fresh button mushroom fruiting bodies and cultures of lactic acid bacteria L. plantarum Ib and a probiotic strain L. plantarum 299v were the material analysed. Sensory evaluation was performed with a 5-point scale, an instrumental method of colour measurement based on the CIA L*a*b* scale, total phenolic compounds were determined with the Folin method, antioxidant properties were assayed with the DPPH radical test, and reducing power was determined using the FRAP method. After a week-long lactic fermentation, the pH value in the samples declined to a level of 3.6 (L. plantarum Ib) and 3.75 (L. plantarum 299v); these values persisted or decreased slightly during the period of maturation of the fermented samples under refrigeration. Fermented mushrooms were assigned high grades in the organoleptic evaluation. The colour analysis revealed significant changes in the values of the L*a*b* parameters in the fermented product, in comparison with fresh mushrooms. Blanching contributed to a significant decrease in the content of total phenolic compounds in the mushroom fruiting bodies and to a decline in antioxidant activity. Mushrooms fermented with the probiotic strain were characterised by higher phenolic compound content and higher antioxidant activity. L. plantarum 299v strain with documented probiotic properties can be applied in fermentation of button mushroom fruiting bodies. Products obtained with the use of both strains were characterised by good sensory properties. The type of strain used in the lactic fermentation of mushroom fruiting bodies had an effect on the phenolic compound content and antioxidant properties of the final product.

  15. Modeling and test of a kinaesthetic actuator based on MR fluid for haptic applications.

    PubMed

    Yang, Tae-Heon; Koo, Jeong-Hoi; Kim, Sang-Youn; Kwon, Dong-Soo

    2017-03-01

    Haptic display units have been widely used for conveying button sensations to users, primarily employing vibrotactile actuators. However, the human feeling for pressing buttons mainly relies on kinaesthetic sensations (rather than vibrotactile sensations), and little studies exist on small-scale kinaesthetic haptic units. Thus, the primary goals of this paper are to design a miniature kinaesthetic actuator based on Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid that can convey various button-clicking sensations and to experimentally evaluate its haptic performance. The design focuses of the proposed actuator were to produce sufficiently large actuation forces (resistive forces) for human users in a given size constraint and to offer a wide range of actuation forces for conveying vivid haptic sensations to users. To this end, this study first performed a series of parametric studies using mathematical force models for multiple operating modes of MR fluid in conjunction with finite element electromagnetism analysis. After selecting design parameters based on parametric studies, a prototype actuator was constructed, and its performance was evaluated using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. It measured the actuator's resistive force with a varying stroke (pressed depth) up to 1 mm and a varying input current from 0 A to 200 mA. The results show that the proposed actuator creates a wide range of resistive forces from around 2 N (off-state) to over 9.5 N at 200 mA. In order to assess the prototype's performance in the terms of the haptic application prospective, a maximum force rate was calculated to determine just noticeable difference in force changes for the 1 mm stoke of the actuator. The results show that the force rate is sufficient to mimic various levels of button sensations, indicating that the proposed kinaesthetic actuator can offer a wide range of resistive force changes that can be conveyed to human operators.

  16. Identification and topographic localization of metallic foreign bodies by metal detector.

    PubMed

    Muensterer, Oliver J; Joppich, Ingolf

    2004-08-01

    Exact localization of ingested metal objects is necessary to guide therapy. This study prospectively evaluates the accuracy of foreign body (FB) identification and localization by metal detector (MTD) in a systematic topographic fashion. Patients who presented after an alleged or witnessed metal FB ingestion were scanned with an MTD. In case of a positive signal, the location was recorded in a topographic diagram, and radiographs were obtained. The diagnostic accuracy of the MTD scan for FB identification and topographic localization was determined by chi(2) analysis, and concordance was calculated by the McNemar test and expressed as kappa. A total of 70 MTD examinations were performed on 65 patients (age 6 months to 16 years); 5 patients were scanned twice on different days. The majority had swallowed coins and button batteries (n = 41). Of these, 29 items were correctly identified, and 11 of 12 were correctly ruled out (coins and button batteries: sensitivity, 100% [95% Confidence Interval 95% to 100%]; specificity, 91.7% [95% CI 76% to 100%], kappa = 0.94). When all metallic objects were included, 41 of 46 were correctly identified, and 22 of 24 were correctly ruled out (sensitivity, 89.1% [95% CI 80% to 98%]; specificity, 91.7% [95% CI 81% to 100%], kappa = 0.78). Five miscellaneous objects were not identified (sensitivity for items other than coins and button batteries 71% [95% CI 49% to 92%], kappa = 0.56). Localization by MTD was correct in 30 of 41 identified objects (73%). The error rates of junior and senior pediatric surgery residents did not differ significantly (P =.82). Ingested coins and button batteries can be safely and accurately found by metal detector. For these indications, the MTD is a radiation-free diagnostic alternative to conventional radiographs. Other items, however, cannot be ruled out reliably by MTD. In these cases, radiographic imaging is still indicated.

  17. Insertion of Balloon Retained Gastrostomy Buttons: A 5-Year Retrospective Review of 260 Patients

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

    Power, Sarah, E-mail: sarahpower28@yahoo.co.uk; Kavanagh, Liam N.; Shields, Mary C.

    Radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG) is an established way of maintaining enteral nutrition in patients who cannot maintain nutrition orally. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of primary placement of a wide bore button gastrostomy in a large, varied patient population through retrospective review. All patients who underwent gastrostomy placement from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2009 were identified. 18-Fr gastrostomy buttons (MIC-Key G) were inserted in the majority. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 4.5 years. A total of 260 patients (M:F 140:120, average age 59.2 years) underwent gastrostomy during the study period.more » Overall success rate for RIG placement was 99.6 %, with success rate of 95.3 % for primary button insertion. Indications included neurological disorders (70 %), esophageal/head and neck malignancy (21 %), and other indications (9 %). Major and minor complication rates were 1.2 and 12.8 %, respectively. Thirty-day mortality rate was 6.8 %. One third of patients underwent gastrostomy reinsertion during the study period, the main indication for which was inadvertent catheter removal. Patency rate was high at 99.5 %. The maximum number of procedures in any patient was 8 (n = 2), and the average tube dwell time was 125 days. Primary radiological insertion of a wide bore button gastrostomy is a safe technique, with high success rate, high patency rate, and low major complication rate. We believe that it is feasible to attempt button gastrostomy placement in all patients, once tract length is within limits of tube length. If difficulty is encountered, then a standard tube may simply be placed instead.« less

  18. The joint Simon effect depends on perceived agency, but not intentionality, of the alternative action

    PubMed Central

    Stenzel, Anna; Dolk, Thomas; Colzato, Lorenza S.; Sellaro, Roberta; Hommel, Bernhard; Liepelt, Roman

    2014-01-01

    A co-actor's intentionality has been suggested to be a key modulating factor for joint action effects like the joint Simon effect (JSE). However, in previous studies intentionality has often been confounded with agency defined as perceiving the initiator of an action as being the causal source of the action. The aim of the present study was to disentangle the role of agency and intentionality as modulating factors of the JSE. In Experiment 1, participants performed a joint go/nogo Simon task next to a co-actor who either intentionally controlled a response button with own finger movements (agency+/intentionality+) or who passively placed the hand on a response button that moved up and down on its own as triggered by computer signals (agency−/intentionality−). In Experiment 2, we included a condition in which participants believed that the co-actor intentionally controlled the response button with a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) while placing the response finger clearly besides the response button, so that the causal relationship between agent and action effect was perceptually disrupted (agency−/intentionality+). As a control condition, the response button was computer controlled while the co-actor placed the response finger besides the response button (agency−/intentionality−). Experiment 1 showed that the JSE is present with an intentional co-actor and causality between co-actor and action effect, but absent with an unintentional co-actor and a lack of causality between co-actor and action effect. Experiment 2 showed that the JSE is absent with an intentional co-actor, but no causality between co-actor and action effect. Our findings indicate an important role of the co-actor's agency for the JSE. They also suggest that the attribution of agency has a strong perceptual basis. PMID:25140144

  19. The joint Simon effect depends on perceived agency, but not intentionality, of the alternative action.

    PubMed

    Stenzel, Anna; Dolk, Thomas; Colzato, Lorenza S; Sellaro, Roberta; Hommel, Bernhard; Liepelt, Roman

    2014-01-01

    A co-actor's intentionality has been suggested to be a key modulating factor for joint action effects like the joint Simon effect (JSE). However, in previous studies intentionality has often been confounded with agency defined as perceiving the initiator of an action as being the causal source of the action. The aim of the present study was to disentangle the role of agency and intentionality as modulating factors of the JSE. In Experiment 1, participants performed a joint go/nogo Simon task next to a co-actor who either intentionally controlled a response button with own finger movements (agency+/intentionality+) or who passively placed the hand on a response button that moved up and down on its own as triggered by computer signals (agency-/intentionality-). In Experiment 2, we included a condition in which participants believed that the co-actor intentionally controlled the response button with a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) while placing the response finger clearly besides the response button, so that the causal relationship between agent and action effect was perceptually disrupted (agency-/intentionality+). As a control condition, the response button was computer controlled while the co-actor placed the response finger besides the response button (agency-/intentionality-). Experiment 1 showed that the JSE is present with an intentional co-actor and causality between co-actor and action effect, but absent with an unintentional co-actor and a lack of causality between co-actor and action effect. Experiment 2 showed that the JSE is absent with an intentional co-actor, but no causality between co-actor and action effect. Our findings indicate an important role of the co-actor's agency for the JSE. They also suggest that the attribution of agency has a strong perceptual basis.

  20. A worldwide experience of the management of battery failures and chronic device retrieval of the Nanostim leadless pacemaker.

    PubMed

    Lakkireddy, Dhanunjaya; Knops, Reinoud; Atwater, Brett; Neuzil, Petr; Ip, John; Gonzalez, Elkin; Friedman, Paul; Defaye, Pascal; Exner, Derek; Aonuma, Kazutaka; Doshi, Rahul; Sperzel, Johannes; Reddy, Vivek

    2017-12-01

    The Nanostim leadless pacemaker (LP) met the primary endpoints in an investigational device exemption trial, and was shown to be fully retrievable percutaneously. In October 2016, St Jude Medical issued a worldwide alert of a battery malfunction that caused lost pacing output and LP communication. To report the battery failure mechanism and incidence and the worldwide patient management, including device retrieval experiences. The affected LP battery is a custom lithium-carbon monofluoride cell. These were returned after failure and underwent analysis assessing electronics and battery performance. Data were collected in ongoing clinical studies when LPs were abandoned or retrieved. Of 1423 LPs implanted worldwide, there were 34 battery failures, occurring at 2.9 ± 0.4 years with no instances of associated patient injury. Analysis of returned batteries revealed an increase in battery resistance caused by insufficient electrolyte availability at the cathode/anode interface. A total of 66 of 73 retrieval attempts were successful (90.4%; implant duration range: 0.2-4.0 years). The LP docking button was inaccessible in 6 patients, and the docking button detached from the LP during retrieval in 1 patient. There was 1 case of arteriovenous fistula and another case of the LP docking button migrating into the pulmonary artery. There were also 115 non-LP retrieval patients after the advisory who received an additional pacemaker, with no adverse device-to-device interactions reported. As with standard pacers, LPs can have critical battery failures. Chronic retrieval of LPs is safe and efficacious. Copyright © 2017 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. The IAT shows no evidence for Kandinsky's color-shape associations

    PubMed Central

    Makin, Alexis D. J.; Wuerger, Sophie M.

    2013-01-01

    In the early twentieth century, the Bauhaus revolutionized art and design by using simple colors and forms. Wassily Kandinsky was especially interested in the relationship of these two visual attributes and postulated a fundamental correspondence between color and form: yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. Subsequent empirical studies used preference judgments to test Kandinsky's original color-form combinations, usually yielding inconsistent results. We have set out to test the validity of these postulated associations by using the Implicit Association Test. Participants pressed one of two buttons on each trial. On some trials they classified shapes (e.g., circle or triangle). On interleaved trials they classified colors (e.g., blue or yellow). Response times should theoretically be faster when the button mapping follows Kandinsky's associations: For example, when the left key is used to report blue or circle and the right is used for yellow and triangle, than when the response mapping is the opposite of this (blue or triangle, yellow or circle). Our findings suggest that there is no implicit association between the original color-form combinations. Of the three combinations we tested, there was only a marginal effect in one case. It can be concluded that the IAT does not support Kandinsky's postulated color-form associations, and that these are probably not a universal property of the visual system. PMID:24062709

  2. Method Development for the Determination of Free and Esterified Sterols in Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).

    PubMed

    Hammann, Simon; Vetter, Walter

    2016-05-04

    Ergosterol is the major sterol in button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) and can occur as free alcohol or esterified with fatty acids (ergosteryl esters). In this study, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode (GC/MS-SIM) was used to determine ergosterol and ergosteryl esters as well as other sterols and steryl esters in button mushrooms. Different quality control measures were established and sample preparation procedures were compared to prevent the formation of artifacts and the degradation of ergosteryl esters. The final method was then used for the determination of ergosterol (443 ± 44 mg/100 g dry matter (d.m.)) and esterified ergosterol (12 ± 6 mg/100 g d.m.) in button mushroom samples (n = 4). While the free sterol fraction was vastly dominated by ergosterol (∼90% of five sterols in total), the steryl ester fraction was more diversified (nine sterols in total, ergosterol ∼55%) and consisted primarily of linoleic acid esters.

  3. Changes in non-volatile taste components of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) during different stages of freeze drying and freeze drying combined with microwave vacuum drying.

    PubMed

    Pei, Fei; Shi, Ying; Gao, Xingyang; Wu, Fangning; Mariga, Alfred Mugambi; Yang, Wenjian; Zhao, Liyan; An, Xinxin; Xin, Zhihong; Yang, Fangmei; Hu, Qiuhui

    2014-12-15

    Button mushroom slices were dehydrated using freeze drying (FD) or FD combined with microwave vacuum drying (FMVD), and the non-volatile component profiles were studied. The results showed that the level of non-volatile components in button mushroom firstly increased during sublimation of FD/FMVD process and then fell during desorption in FD process and MVD in FMVD process. Compared to FD products, the contents of soluble sugars and polyols in FMVD products were relatively low, whereas the contents of total free amino acids were significantly higher, close to the level of fresh mushroom. However, there was no significant difference in the contents of 5'-nucleotides and organic acids between FD and FMVD products. The equivalent umami concentration (EUC) values for FD and FMVD products did not differ from fresh, indicating that both drying methods could effectively preserve MSG (monosodium glutamate)-like components in button mushroom. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. What Orthopaedic Operating Room Surfaces Are Contaminated With Bioburden? A Study Using the ATP Bioluminescence Assay.

    PubMed

    Richard, Raveesh Daniel; Bowen, Thomas R

    2017-07-01

    Contaminated operating room surfaces can increase the risk of orthopaedic infections, particularly after procedures in which hardware implantation and instrumentation are used. The question arises as to how surgeons can measure surface cleanliness to detect increased levels of bioburden. This study aims to highlight the utility of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence technology as a novel technique in detecting the degree of contamination within the sterile operating room environment. What orthopaedic operating room surfaces are contaminated with bioburden? When energy is required for cellular work, ATP breaks down into adenosine biphosphate (ADP) and phosphate (P) and in that process releases energy. This process is inherent to all living things and can be detected as light emission with the use of bioluminescence assays. On a given day, six different orthopaedic surgery operating rooms (two adult reconstruction, two trauma, two spine) were tested before surgery with an ATP bioluminescence assay kit. All of the cases were considered clean surgery without infection, and this included the previously performed cases in each sampled room. These rooms had been cleaned and prepped for surgery but the patients had not been physically brought into the room. A total of 13 different surfaces were sampled once in each room: the operating room (OR) preparation table (both pre- and postdraping), OR light handles, Bovie machine buttons, supply closet countertops, the inside of the Bair Hugger™ hose, Bair Hugger™ buttons, right side of the OR table headboard, tourniquet machine buttons, the Clark-socket attachment, and patient positioners used for total hip and spine positioning. The relative light units (RLUs) obtained from each sample were recorded and data were compiled and averaged for analysis. These values were compared with previously published ATP benchmark values of 250 to 500 RLUs to define cleanliness in both the hospital and restaurant industries. All surfaces had bioburden. The ATP RLUs (mean ± SD) are reported for each surface in ascending order: the OR preparation table (postdraping; 8.3 ± 3.4), inside the sterilized pan (9.2 ± 5.5), the inside of the Bair Hugger™ hose (212.5 ± 155.7), supply closet countertops (281.7 ± 236.7), OR light handles (647.8 ± 903.7), the OR preparation table (predraping; 1054 ± 387.5), the Clark-socket attachment (1135.7 ± 705.3), patient positioners used for total hip and spine positioning (1201.7 ± 1144.9), Bovie machine buttons (1264.5 ± 638.8), Bair Hugger™ buttons (1340.8 ± 1064.1), tourniquet machine buttons (1666.5 ± 2144.9), computer keyboard (1810.8 ± 929.6), and the right side of the OR table headboard (2539 ± 5635.8). ATP bioluminescence is a novel method to measure cleanliness within the orthopaedic OR and can help identify environmental trouble spots that can potentially lead to increased infection rates. Future studies correlating ATP bioluminescence findings with microbiology cultures could add to the clinical utility of this technology. Surfaces such as the undersurface of the OR table headboard, Bair Hugger™ buttons, and tourniquet machine buttons should be routinely cleansed as part of an institutional protocol. Although correlation between ATP bioluminescence and clinical infection was not evaluated in this study, it is the subject of future research. Specifically, evaluating microbiology samples taken from these environmental surfaces and correlating them with increased bioburden found with ATP bioluminescence technology can help promote improved surgical cleaning practices.

  5. Key Aroma Compounds in Lippia dulcis (Dushi Button).

    PubMed

    Schmitt, Rainer; Cappi, Michael; Pollner, Gwendola; Greger, Veronika

    2018-03-14

    An aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) applied on aroma extracts prepared from the edible flower Dushi Button ( Lippia dulcis) resulted in the detection of 34 odor-active compounds. The highest flavor dilution (FD) factors were determined for methyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone, an unknown caramel-like compound, and vanillin. Quantitative measurements performed by application of stable isotope dilution assays (SIDA), followed by a calculation of odor activity values (OAVs), resulted in the revelation of 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone, linalool, myrcene, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, methyl 2-methylbutanoate, and ( Z)-3-hexenal as important contributors to the flavor of Dushi Buttons.

  6. Investigations of the historic textiles excavated from Ancient Ainos (Enez - Turkey) by multiple analytical techniques

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akyuz, Sevim; Akyuz, Tanil; Cakan, Banu; Basaran, Sait

    2014-09-01

    Some metal ornamented textile specimens and a textile button, excavated from Ancient Ainos (Enez - Turkey), have been investigated using FTIR and EDXRF spectrometry, for the purpose of material identification. FTIR spectral results indicated that textiles were made from partially degummed Bombyx mori silk. The IR spectral investigation of the textile button revealed that some cellulose fillings were used inside the button. The EDXRF analysis of the metal ornaments showed that they were silver plated copper. Surface morphology of the textiles and the metal ornaments were investigated by SEM images. It was shown that textile fibers were highly degraded.

  7. Hybrid: Braking

    Science.gov Websites

    Button Stopped button highlighted subbanner graphic: gray bar STOPPED When the vehicle is stopped engine when additional power is needed. It also acts as a generator, converting energy from the engine or engine instantly when needed. Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor

  8. Armpits, Belly Buttons and Chronic Wounds: The ABCs of Our Body Bacteria

    MedlinePlus

    ... Wounds: The ABCs of Our Body Bacteria Inside Life Science View All Articles | Inside Life Science Home Page Armpits, Belly Buttons and Chronic Wounds: ... Other Findings About Our Resident Microbes This Inside Life Science article also appears on LiveScience . Learn about related ...

  9. Design of heart rate monitor based on piezoelectric sensor using an Arduino

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Setyowati, Veni; Muninggar, Jodelin; Shanti. N. A, Made R. S.

    2017-01-01

    Reading of result heart rate using an acoustic stethoscope needs a particular skill, quiet environment, and hearing sensitivity. This project had the purpose design of a user-friendly automatic heart rate monitor and especially in a noisy area which to eliminate problems and incorrect reading of result. The liquid crystal display shows a heart rate as a result of measurements. The design of the heart rate monitor has two main parts; the signal recorder that a piezoelectric sensor, a filter, and an amplifier as recorder. The second parts was Arduino microcontroller with reinforced. Besides, three supporting buttons provided as the manual switches, the ‘on’, the ‘start’, and ‘reset’ buttons. The values acquired from the heart rate monitor indicate that those were on the Vernier BPS-BTA value range. The measurement error factor of the heart rate monitor then compared to the Vernier BPS-BTA test device was 3.15%. Besides, the value of statistical independent-test indicates that there is no significant difference (P = 0.971) between the heart rate monitor device and the Vernier BPS-BTA. In conclusion, this device was ready to be used because it has almost the same accuracy with the standart device.

  10. Sensory Feedback Training for Improvement of Finger Perception in Cerebral Palsy

    PubMed Central

    Alves-Pinto, Ana; Aschmann, Simon; Lützow, Ines; Lampe, Renée

    2015-01-01

    Purpose. To develop and to test a feedback training system for improvement of tactile perception and coordination of fingers in children and youth with cerebral palsy. Methods. The fingers of 7 probands with cerebral palsy of different types and severity were stimulated using small vibration motors integrated in the fingers of a hand glove. The vibration motors were connected through a microcontroller to a computer and to a response 5-button keyboard. By pressing an appropriate keyboard button, the proband must indicate in which finger the vibration was felt. The number of incorrect responses and the reaction time were measured for every finger. The perception and coordination of fingers were estimated before and after two-week training using both clinical tests and the measurements. Results. Proper functioning of the developed system in persons with cerebral palsy was confirmed. The tactile sensation of fingers was improved in five of seven subjects after two weeks of training. There was no clear tendency towards improvement of selective use of fingers. Conclusion. The designed feedback system could be used to train tactile perception of fingers in children and youth with cerebral palsy. An extensive study is required to confirm these findings. PMID:26124965

  11. Sensory Feedback Training for Improvement of Finger Perception in Cerebral Palsy.

    PubMed

    Blumenstein, Tobias; Alves-Pinto, Ana; Turova, Varvara; Aschmann, Simon; Lützow, Ines; Lampe, Renée

    2015-01-01

    Purpose. To develop and to test a feedback training system for improvement of tactile perception and coordination of fingers in children and youth with cerebral palsy. Methods. The fingers of 7 probands with cerebral palsy of different types and severity were stimulated using small vibration motors integrated in the fingers of a hand glove. The vibration motors were connected through a microcontroller to a computer and to a response 5-button keyboard. By pressing an appropriate keyboard button, the proband must indicate in which finger the vibration was felt. The number of incorrect responses and the reaction time were measured for every finger. The perception and coordination of fingers were estimated before and after two-week training using both clinical tests and the measurements. Results. Proper functioning of the developed system in persons with cerebral palsy was confirmed. The tactile sensation of fingers was improved in five of seven subjects after two weeks of training. There was no clear tendency towards improvement of selective use of fingers. Conclusion. The designed feedback system could be used to train tactile perception of fingers in children and youth with cerebral palsy. An extensive study is required to confirm these findings.

  12. 78 FR 32081 - Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries a.s. Airplanes

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-29

    ... Injection System WATER INJECTION circuit ON breakter. TCL TQ=min. 60% WATER INJECTION/ON push- Push and hold till amber button. WATER INJECTION signal comes on (on the front control panel) Before throttling back power: WATER INJECTION/OFF push- Push and check amber button. WATER INJECTION signal extinguishes...

  13. Adapting the eButton to the abilities of children for diet assessment

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Dietary assessment is fraught with error among adults and especially among children. Innovative technology may provide more accurate assessments of dietary intake. One recently available innovative method is a camera worn on the chest (called an eButton) that takes images of whatever is in front of ...

  14. James Webb Telescope

    Science.gov Websites

    . solarsystem mobile thumbnail solarystem mobile button Webb will monitor the weather and atmospheres of the mobile thumbnail exoplanets-weather mobile button Webb will search for signs of life-sustaining water on planets beyond our solar system, and help us learn how planets form. blackholes mobile thumbnail

  15. The Haida Button Blanket.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Johnson, Vesta

    In the Haida nation, there are two phratries, Eagle and Raven, divided into a number of clans sharing one or more emblems. These emblems, inherited from the mother's line, adorn the button blankets which are the traditional ceremonial robes that serve to identify the family of the wearer. Written instructions and diagrams guide students in…

  16. Real time simulation application to monitor the stability limit of power system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hartono, Kuo, Ming-Tse

    2017-06-01

    If the power system falls into an unsteady state, there will be voltage collapse in which the power system will be separated into small systems. Identifying the stability reserve in conformity with a certain practical operation condition is very important for the system management and operation. In fact, the global power system issue has caused serious outages due to voltage collapse such as in the United States-Canada in August 14, 2003; South London in August 28, 2003; southern Sweden and eastern Denmark in September 23, 2003; and Italy on September 28, 2003, and in Vietnam where power system problem led to power loss on 17 May 2005, 27 December 2006, 20 July 2007, and 10 September 2007. The analysis shows that the phenomenon is related to the loss of system stability. Thus, the operational system as well as the power system designs should be studied related to the issue of the system stability. To study the static stability of the power system, different approximate standards, called pragmatic criteria, were examined. Markovits has investigated the application of the standard of dP/dd to test the stability of the power button and dq/dU to check the voltage stability of the load button [1]. However, the storage stability when calculating standard dP/d d is usually much larger than the reserves when calculating standard dq/dU [1]. This paper presents a method to build a possible operation region in the power plane of load bus which works in comply with the stability limit to evaluate the stability reserve of the power system. This method is used to build a program to monitor the stability reserve of IEEE 39 Bus Power System in real time. To monitor the stability reserve of IEEE 39 nodes power system, articles based on the standard dq/dU was used to calculate the assessment. When using standard dq/dU to check for voltage stability load button, the amount of storage stability can be calculated by the following steps: first, transformed replacement scheme Masonry on the schematic rays of the source and node load stability was examined by using Gaussian elimination algorithm [1, 2, 3], then on the basis of ray diagrams the construction work, allowed domain of spare capacity load capacity in space and storage stability for the load button were determined. The GS-ODT program was built on the basis of Gaussian elimination algorithm and stable domain construction work algorithm for Masonic load button by dQ/dU pragmatic criteria. The GS-ODT program has a simple interface and easy to use with the main function is to identify the allowed domain for the load button and thus can assess visually stable reserve still according to the load capacity of the nodes of the IEEE 39 nodes power system in real-time.

  17. Microbiological contamination in digital radiography: evaluation at the radiology clinic of an educational institution.

    PubMed

    Malta, Cristiana P; Damasceno, Naiana Nl; Ribeiro, Rosangela A; Silva, Carolina Sf; Devito, Karina L

    2016-12-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the contamination rate of intra and extraoral digital X ray equipment in a dental radiology clinic at a public educational institution. Samples were collected on three different days, at two times in the day: in the morning, before attending patients, and at the end of the day, after appointment hours and before cleaning and disinfection procedures. Samples were collected from the periapical X-ray machine (tube head, positioning device, control panel and activator button), the panoramic X- ray machine (temporal support, bite block, control panel and activator button), the intraoral digital system (sensor), and the digital system computers (keyboard and mouse). The samples were seeded in different culture media, incubated, and colony forming units (CFU/mL) counted. Biochemical tests were performed for suspected colonies of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Gramnegative bacilli (GNB). Fungi were visually differentiated into filamentous fungi and yeasts. The results indicated the growth of fungi and Staphylococcus fromall sampling locations. GNB growth was observed from all sites sampled from the intraoral X-ray equipment. On the panoramic unit, GNB growth was observed in samples from activator button, keyboard and mouse. In general, a higher number of CFU/mL was present before use. It can be concluded that more stringent protocols are needed to control infection and prevent X-ray exams from acting as vehicle for cross contamination. Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica.

  18. Signal Selector, Spectrum Receivers and Touch Panel Control for the SATCOM Signal Analyzer.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-06-01

    that the entire system may be exercised in a test mode with the push of a single button. Normally test functions are divided into separate areas so that...source. The major com- ponents of the SS include power dividers and RF switches. The second of the two modules is the Spectrum Receiver (SR). Four... dividers and adjustable attenuators may be mounted on the opposite side of the panel. Component size is res- tricted on the panel back side due to a two

  19. Evaluation of sampling methods for toxicological testing of indoor air particulate matter.

    PubMed

    Tirkkonen, Jenni; Täubel, Martin; Hirvonen, Maija-Riitta; Leppänen, Hanna; Lindsley, William G; Chen, Bean T; Hyvärinen, Anne; Huttunen, Kati

    2016-09-01

    There is a need for toxicity tests capable of recognizing indoor environments with compromised air quality, especially in the context of moisture damage. One of the key issues is sampling, which should both provide meaningful material for analyses and fulfill requirements imposed by practitioners using toxicity tests for health risk assessment. We aimed to evaluate different existing methods of sampling indoor particulate matter (PM) to develop a suitable sampling strategy for a toxicological assay. During three sampling campaigns in moisture-damaged and non-damaged school buildings, we evaluated one passive and three active sampling methods: the Settled Dust Box (SDB), the Button Aerosol Sampler, the Harvard Impactor and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Bioaerosol Cyclone Sampler. Mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were exposed to particle suspensions and cell metabolic activity (CMA), production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) were determined after 24 h of exposure. The repeatability of the toxicological analyses was very good for all tested sampler types. Variability within the schools was found to be high especially between different classrooms in the moisture-damaged school. Passively collected settled dust and PM collected actively with the NIOSH Sampler (Stage 1) caused a clear response in exposed cells. The results suggested the higher relative immunotoxicological activity of dust from the moisture-damaged school. The NIOSH Sampler is a promising candidate for the collection of size-fractionated PM to be used in toxicity testing. The applicability of such sampling strategy in grading moisture damage severity in buildings needs to be developed further in a larger cohort of buildings.

  20. Quantified histopathology of the keratoconic cornea.

    PubMed

    Mathew, Jessica H; Goosey, John D; Bergmanson, Jan P G

    2011-08-01

    This study systematically investigated and quantified histopathological changes in a series of keratoconic (Kc) corneas using a physiologically formulated fixative to not further distort the already distorted diseased corneas. Twelve surgically removed Kc corneal buttons were immediately preserved and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy using an established corneal protocol. Measurements were taken from the central cone and peripheral regions of the host button. The sample size examined ranged in length from 390 to 2608 μm centrally and 439 to 2242 μm peripherally. The average corneal thickness was 437 μm centrally and 559 μm peripherally. Epithelial thickness varied centrally from 14 to 92 μm and peripherally from 30 to 91 μm. A marked thickening of the epithelial basement membrane was noted in 58% of corneas. Centrally, anterior limiting lamina (ALL) was thinned or lost over 60% of the area examined, whereas peripheral cornea was also affected but to a lesser extent. Histopathologically, posterior cornea remained undisturbed by the disease. Anteriorly in the stroma, an increased number of cells and tissue debris were encountered, and some of these cells were clearly not keratocytes. It is concluded that Kc pathology, at least initially, has a distinct anterior focus involving the epithelium, ALL, and anterior stroma. The epithelium had lost its cellular uniformity and was compromised by the loss or damage to the ALL. The activity of the hitherto unreported recruited stromal cells may be to break down and remove ALL and anterior stromal lamellae, leading to the overall thinning that accompanies this disease.

  1. Performance of personal inhalable aerosol samplers in very slowly moving air when facing the aerosol source.

    PubMed

    Witschger, O; Grinshpun, S A; Fauvel, S; Basso, G

    2004-06-01

    While personal aerosol samplers have been characterized primarily based on wind tunnel tests conducted at relatively high wind speeds, modern indoor occupational environments are usually represented by very slow moving air. Recent surveys suggest that elevated levels of occupational exposure to inhalable airborne particles are typically observed when the worker, operating in the vicinity of the dust source, faces the source. Thus, the first objective of this study was to design and test a new, low cost experimental protocol for measuring the sampling efficiency of personal inhalable aerosol samplers in the vicinity of the aerosol source when the samplers operate in very slowly moving air. In this system, an aerosol generator, which is located in the centre of a room-sized non-ventilated chamber, continuously rotates and omnidirectionally disperses test particles of a specific size. The test and reference samplers are equally distributed around the source at the same distance from the centre and operate in parallel (in most of our experiments, the total number of simultaneously operating samplers was 15). Radial aerosol transport is driven by turbulent diffusion and some natural convection. For each specific particle size and the sampler, the aerosol mass concentration is measured by weighing the collection filter. The second objective was to utilize the new protocol to evaluate three widely used aerosol samplers: the IOM Personal Inhalable Sampler, the Button Personal Inhalable Aerosol Sampler and the 25 mm Millipore filter holder (closed-face C25 cassette). The sampling efficiencies of each instrument were measured with six particle fractions, ranging from 6.9 to 76.9 micro m in their mass median aerodynamic diameter. The Button Sampler efficiency data demonstrated a good agreement with the standard inhalable convention and especially with the low air movement inhalabilty curve. The 25 mm filter holder was found to considerably under-sample the particles larger than 10 micro m; its efficiency did not exceed 7% for particles of 40-100 micro m. The IOM Sampler facing the source was found to over-sample compared with the data obtained previously with a slowly rotating, freely suspended sampler in a low air movement environment. It was also found that the particle wall deposition in the IOM metallic cartridge was rather significant and particle size-dependent. For each sampler (IOM, Button and C25) the precision was characterized through the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the aerosol concentration obtained with identical samplers in a specific experiment. The average RSD was 14% for the IOM Sampler, 11% for the Button Sampler and 35% for the 25 mm filter cassette. A separate set of experiments, performed with the Simplified Torso showed that in very slowly moving air a personal sampler can be adequately evaluated even when it is not attached to a body but freely suspended (confirming the data reported previously).

  2. Occurrence of Internal Stipe Necrosis of Cultivated Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) Caused by Ewingella americana in Korea

    PubMed Central

    Jhune, Chang-Sung; Cheong, Jong-Chun; Yun, Hyung-Sik; Cho, Weon-Dae

    2009-01-01

    The internal stipe necrosis of cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) is caused by the bacterium Ewingella americana, a species of the Enterobacteriaceae. Recently, Ewingella americana was isolated from cultivated white button mushrooms in Korea evidencing symptoms of internal stipe browning. Its symptoms are visible only at harvest, and appear as a variable browning reaction in the center of the stipes. From these lesions, we isolated one bacterial strain (designated CH4). Inoculation of the bacterial isolate into mushroom sporocarps yielded the characteristic browning symptoms that were distinguishable from those of the bacterial soft rot that is well known to mushroom growers. The results of Gram stain, flagellal staining, and biochemical tests identified these isolates as E. americana. This was verified by pathogenicity, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and the results of an analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences and the fatty acids profile. This is the first report of the isolation of E. americana from cultivated white button mushrooms in Korea. PMID:23983509

  3. Grindability of cast Ti-Hf alloys.

    PubMed

    Kikuchi, Masafumi; Takahashi, Masatoshi; Sato, Hideki; Okuno, Osamu; Nunn, Martha E; Okabe, Toru

    2006-04-01

    As part of our systematic studies characterizing the properties of titanium alloys, we investigated the grindability of a series of cast Ti-Hf alloys. Alloy buttons with hafnium concentrations up to 40 mass% were made using an argon-arc melting furnace. Each button was cast into a magnesia-based mold using a dental titanium casting machine; three specimens were made for each metal. Prior to testing, the hardened surface layer was removed. The specimens were ground at five different speeds for 1 min at 0.98 N using a carborundum wheel on an electric dental handpiece. Grindability was evaluated as the volume of metal removed per minute (grinding rate) and the volume ratio of metal removed compared to the wheel material lost (grinding ratio). The data were analyzed using ANOVA. A trend of increasing grindability was found with increasing amounts of hafnium, although there was no statistical difference in the grindability with increasing hafnium contents. We also found that hafnium may be used to harden or strengthen titanium without deteriorating the grindability.

  4. The Button Project

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Armstrong, Charley

    2005-01-01

    In this article, the author describes The Button Project. It started as a dream, a need to educate future generations about the Holocaust, to teach tolerance, and to remember the past. Under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Peoria, a small band of people joined together with the goal of teaching people about the Holocaust so that it will…

  5. Utility of eButton images for identifying food preparation behaviors and meal-related tasks in adolescents

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Food preparation skills may encourage healthy eating. Traditional assessment of child food preparation employs self- or parent proxy-reporting methods, which are prone to error. The eButton is a wearable all-day camera that has promise as an objective, passive method for measuring child food prepara...

  6. 31. VIEW OF A WORKER HOLDING A PLUTONIUM 'BUTTON.' PLUTONIUM, ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    31. VIEW OF A WORKER HOLDING A PLUTONIUM 'BUTTON.' PLUTONIUM, A MAN-MADE SUBSTANCE, WAS RARE. SCRAPS RESULTING FROM PRODUCTION AND PLUTONIUM RECOVERED FROM RETIRED NUCLEAR WEAPONS WERE REPROCESSED INTO VALUABLE PURE-PLUTONIUM METAL (9/19/73). - Rocky Flats Plant, Bounded by Indiana Street & Routes 93, 128 & 72, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

  7. "Urgency tip": a portable patient-activated device for objective measurement of urinary urgency.

    PubMed

    Kobayashi, Hideki; Araki, Isao; Tsuchida, Takayuki; Zakoji, Hidenori; Mikami, Yuki; Takeda, Masayuki; Kiyohiro, Noriaki

    2007-03-01

    For clinical practice and research of overactive bladder syndrome, it is essential to evaluate urgency symptoms in daily life. We have developed a portable patient-activated device to record bladder sensations. This electronic device is pocket-size and light, with five grading buttons and another button for cancellation.

  8. 46 CFR 121.510 - Recommended emergency broadcast instructions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Immediate Danger to Life or Property. (4) Say: “THIS IS (INSERT VESSEL'S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL'S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL'S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL'S CALL SIGN), OVER.” (5) Release the microphone button briefly and... 16 VHF and 2182 kHz on SSB are for emergency and calling purposes only.) (3) Press microphone button...

  9. Enhancing stability of essential oils by microencapsulation for preservation of button mushroom during postharvest

    PubMed Central

    Alikhani-Koupaei, Majid; Mazlumzadeh, Meisam; Sharifani, Mohamadmehdi; Adibian, Mohamad

    2014-01-01

    Fresh button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus L.) are sensitive to browning, water loss, and microbial attack. The short shelf-life of mushrooms is an impediment to the distribution and marketing of the fresh product. Essential oils outstand as an alternative to chemical preservatives and their use in foods meets the demands of consumers for natural products. To resolve controlled release of oil and increase in antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, the oil was incorporated into microcapsules. Effects of microcapsulated thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on quality of fresh button mushroom were compared. Physicochemical qualities were evaluated during 15 days of storage at 4 ± 0.5°C. All treatments prevented product weight loss and decrease in polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activities during storage. Color and firmness, microbiological analysis, and total phenolic content caused the least change. With use of microencapsulated oils, mushrooms were within acceptable limits during 10 days of storage. Microencapsulated rosemary oil produced the highest beneficial effects and has potential to improve quality of button mushrooms and extend shelf-life. PMID:25473510

  10. Further miniaturisation of the Thermochron iButton to create a thermal bio-logger weighing 0.3 g.

    PubMed

    Virens, Josef; Cree, Alison

    2018-06-05

    Thermochron iButtons are commonly used by thermal biologists to continuously measure body temperature from animals. However, if unmodified, these devices are of a size that limits their use with very small animals. To allow iButtons to be used to study smaller species, methods to miniaturise them by 61% have been previously described. We present a method to reduce iButton mass by a further 71%. The modified devices have a shorter battery life, but the minimum size of vertebrates able to carry the devices is reduced from 28.9 g to 6.6 g, if the arbitrary, yet widely cited, maximum of 5% body mass for attached devices is adhered to. We demonstrate the application of our method by recording surface temperatures of captive and wild skinks and show that captive cockroaches weighing 0.8 g are also able to carry the device. We believe this to be the first time that temperature data have been recorded from an insect in this way. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  11. Utility of eButton images for identifying food preparation behaviors and meal-related tasks in adolescents.

    PubMed

    Raber, Margaret; Patterson, Monika; Jia, Wenyan; Sun, Mingui; Baranowski, Tom

    2018-02-24

    Food preparation skills may encourage healthy eating. Traditional assessment of child food preparation employs self- or parent proxy-reporting methods, which are prone to error. The eButton is a wearable all-day camera that has promise as an objective, passive method for measuring child food preparation practices. This paper explores the feasibility of the eButton to reliably capture home food preparation behaviors and practices in a sample of pre- and early adolescents (ages 9 to 13). This is a secondary analysis of two eButton pilot projects evaluating the dietary intake of pre- and early adolescents in or around Houston, Texas. Food preparation behaviors were coded into seven major categories including: browsing, altering food/adding seasoning, food media, meal related tasks, prep work, cooking and observing. Inter-coder reliability was measured using Cohen's kappa and percent agreement. Analysis was completed on data for 31 participants. The most common activity was browsing in the pantry or fridge. Few participants demonstrated any food preparation work beyond unwrapping of food packages and combining two or more ingredients; actual cutting or measuring of foods were rare. Although previous research suggests children who "help" prepare meals may obtain some dietary benefit, accurate assessment tools of food preparation behavior are lacking. The eButton offers a feasible approach to food preparation behavior measurement among pre- and early adolescents. Follow up research exploring the validity of this method in a larger sample, and comparisons between cooking behavior and dietary intake are needed.

  12. Effects of temperature and pressure on the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell running on steam reformate of kerosene

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

    Chick, Lawrence A.; Marina, Olga A.; Coyle, Christopher A.

    2013-08-15

    A button solid oxide fuel cell with a La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 cathode and a nickel-YSZ anode was tested over a range of temperatures from 650 to 800°C and a range of pressures from 101 to 724 kPa. The fuel was simulated steam-reformed kerosene and the oxidant was air. The observed increases in open circuit voltages (OCV) were accurately predicted by the Nernst equation. Kinetics also increased, although the power boost due to kinetics was about two thirds as large as the boost due to OCV. The total power boost in going from 101 to 724 kPa at 750°C and 0.8 volts wasmore » 66%. Impedance spectroscopy demonstrated a significant decrease in electrodic losses at elevated pressures. Complex impedance spectra were dominated by a combination of low frequency processes that decreased markedly with increasing pressure. A composite of high-frequency processes also decreased with pressure, but to a lesser extent. An empirical algorithm that accurately predicts the increased fuel cell performance at elevated pressures was developed for our results and was also suitable for some, but not all, data reported in the literature.« less

  13. Brain fingerprinting classification concealed information test detects US Navy military medical information with P300

    PubMed Central

    Farwell, Lawrence A.; Richardson, Drew C.; Richardson, Graham M.; Furedy, John J.

    2014-01-01

    A classification concealed information test (CIT) used the “brain fingerprinting” method of applying P300 event-related potential (ERP) in detecting information that is (1) acquired in real life and (2) unique to US Navy experts in military medicine. Military medicine experts and non-experts were asked to push buttons in response to three types of text stimuli. Targets contain known information relevant to military medicine, are identified to subjects as relevant, and require pushing one button. Subjects are told to push another button to all other stimuli. Probes contain concealed information relevant to military medicine, and are not identified to subjects. Irrelevants contain equally plausible, but incorrect/irrelevant information. Error rate was 0%. Median and mean statistical confidences for individual determinations were 99.9% with no indeterminates (results lacking sufficiently high statistical confidence to be classified). We compared error rate and statistical confidence for determinations of both information present and information absent produced by classification CIT (Is a probe ERP more similar to a target or to an irrelevant ERP?) vs. comparison CIT (Does a probe produce a larger ERP than an irrelevant?) using P300 plus the late negative component (LNP; together, P300-MERMER). Comparison CIT produced a significantly higher error rate (20%) and lower statistical confidences: mean 67%; information-absent mean was 28.9%, less than chance (50%). We compared analysis using P300 alone with the P300 + LNP. P300 alone produced the same 0% error rate but significantly lower statistical confidences. These findings add to the evidence that the brain fingerprinting methods as described here provide sufficient conditions to produce less than 1% error rate and greater than 95% median statistical confidence in a CIT on information obtained in the course of real life that is characteristic of individuals with specific training, expertise, or organizational affiliation. PMID:25565941

  14. Measurement of global functional performance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using rheumatology function tests

    PubMed Central

    Escalante, Agustín; Haas, Roy W; del Rincón, Inmaculada

    2004-01-01

    Outcome assessment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes measurement of physical function. We derived a scale to quantify global physical function in RA, using three performance-based rheumatology function tests (RFTs). We measured grip strength, walking velocity, and shirt button speed in consecutive RA patients attending scheduled appointments at six rheumatology clinics, repeating these measurements after a median interval of 1 year. We extracted the underlying latent variable using principal component factor analysis. We used the Bayesian information criterion to assess the global physical function scale's cross-sectional fit to criterion standards. The criteria were joint tenderness, swelling, and deformity, pain, physical disability, current work status, and vital status at 6 years after study enrolment. We computed Guyatt's responsiveness statistic for improvement according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) definition. Baseline functional performance data were available for 777 patients, and follow-up data were available for 681. Mean ± standard deviation for each RFT at baseline were: grip strength, 14 ± 10 kg; walking velocity, 194 ± 82 ft/min; and shirt button speed, 7.1 ± 3.8 buttons/min. Grip strength and walking velocity departed significantly from normality. The three RFTs loaded strongly on a single factor that explained ≥70% of their combined variance. We rescaled the factor to vary from 0 to 100. Its mean ± standard deviation was 41 ± 20, with a normal distribution. The new global scale had a stronger fit than the primary RFT to most of the criterion standards. It correlated more strongly with physical disability at follow-up and was more responsive to improvement defined according to the ACR20 and ACR50 definitions. We conclude that a performance-based physical function scale extracted from three RFTs has acceptable distributional and measurement properties and is responsive to clinically meaningful change. It provides a parsimonious scale to measure global physical function in RA. PMID:15225367

  15. Electrical Generation for More-Electric Aircraft Using Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

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

    Whyatt, Greg A.; Chick, Lawrence A.

    This report examines the potential for Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) to provide electrical generation on-board commercial aircraft. Unlike a turbine-based auxiliary power unit (APU) a solid oxide fuel cell power unit (SOFCPU) would be more efficient than using the main engine generators to generate electricity and would operate continuously during flight. The focus of this study is on more-electric aircraft which minimize bleed air extraction from the engines and instead use electrical power obtained from generators driven by the main engines to satisfy all major loads. The increased electrical generation increases the potential fuel savings obtainable through more efficient electricalmore » generation using a SOFCPU. However, the weight added to the aircraft by the SOFCPU impacts the main engine fuel consumption which reduces the potential fuel savings. To investigate these relationships the Boeing 787­8 was used as a case study. The potential performance of the SOFCPU was determined by coupling flowsheet modeling using ChemCAD software with a stack performance algorithm. For a given stack operating condition (cell voltage, anode utilization, stack pressure, target cell exit temperature), ChemCAD software was used to determine the cathode air rate to provide stack thermal balance, the heat exchanger duties, the gross power output for a given fuel rate, the parasitic power for the anode recycle blower and net power obtained from (or required by) the compressor/expander. The SOFC is based on the Gen4 Delphi planar SOFC with assumed modifications to tailor it to this application. The size of the stack needed to satisfy the specified condition was assessed using an empirically-based algorithm. The algorithm predicts stack power density based on the pressure, inlet temperature, cell voltage and anode and cathode inlet flows and compositions. The algorithm was developed by enhancing a model for a well-established material set operating at atmospheric pressure to reflect the effect of elevated pressure and to represent the expected enhancement obtained using a promising cell material set which has been tested in button cells but not yet used to produce full-scale stacks. The predictions for the effect of pressure on stack performance were based on literature. As part of this study, additional data were obtained on button cells at elevated pressure to confirm the validity of the predictions. The impact of adding weight to the 787-8 fuel consumption was determined as a function of flight distance using a PianoX model. A conceptual design for a SOFC power system for the Boeing 787 is developed and the weight estimated. The results indicate that the power density of the stacks must increase by at least a factor of 2 to begin saving fuel on the 787 aircraft. However, the conceptual design of the power system may still be useful for other applications which are less weight sensitive.« less

  16. Napoleon's Buttons: Teaching the Role of Chemistry in History

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Samet, Cindy; Higgins, Pamela J.

    2005-01-01

    A course designed on the theme of Napoleon's Buttons, which states that there is a connection between the chemical structure of a compound and its pivotal moments in history affecting the development of society is explained. Students liked the book choice for the course because the focus was not on straight chemistry, but the intersection of…

  17. Designing a Machinery Control System (MCS) Security Testbed

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-09-01

    IO LAB” button and verify the display looks as follows: 95 Figure F22 . “Ready State” (and start state)of the DIOL as displayed at the HMI...After verification that the HMI screen looks like Figure F22 , click on the “Back to Home Screen” button and return to the HMI “Home” screen as seen

  18. 78 FR 66099 - Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-04

    ... every year (a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the better eye... showing that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the requirement specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b... click the search button. When the new screen appears, click on the blue ``Comment Now!'' button on the...

  19. Peach fruit set and buttoning after spring frost

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A spring frost occurred on 29 Mar. 2015 at the USDA-ARS Byron station after three weeks of blooming when most fruitlets were forming. Due to severe fruitlet drop, the overall fruit set on a scale of 0-9 was substantially reduced, from 5.61 averaged in 2014 to 2.61 in 2015. In addition, buttons (abno...

  20. Mechanical Design of Metal Dome for Industrial Application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jin-Chee Liu, Thomas; Chen, Li-Wei; Lin, Nai-Pin

    2018-02-01

    In this paper, the mechanical design of metal domes is studied using finite element analysis. The snap-through behavior of a practical button design that uses a metal dome is found. In addition, the individual click ratio and maximum force for a variety of metal domes are determined. This paper provides guidance on button design for industrial engineers.

  1. Tube support

    DOEpatents

    Mullinax, Jerry L.

    1988-01-01

    A tube support for supporting horizontal tubes from an inclined vertical support tube passing between the horizontal tubes. A support button is welded to the vertical support tube. Two clamping bars or plates, the lower edges of one bearing on the support button, are removably bolted to the inclined vertical tube. The clamping bars provide upper and lower surface support for the horizontal tubes.

  2. The Newport Button: The Large Scale Replication Of Combined Three-And Two-Dimensional Holographic Images

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cowan, James J.

    1984-05-01

    A unique type of holographic imagery and its large scale replication are described. The "Newport Button", which was designed as an advertising premium item for the Newport Corporation, incorporates a complex overlay of holographic diffraction gratings surrounding a three-dimensional holographic image of a real object. The combined pattern is recorded onto a photosensitive medium from which a metal master is made. The master is subsequently used to repeatedly emboss the pattern into a thin plastic sheet. Individual patterns are then die cut from the metallized plastic and mounted onto buttons. A discussion is given of the diffraction efficiencies of holograms made in this particular fashion and of the special requirements of the replication process.

  3. FAST BUS Test Box (LAIKA) (Engineering Materials)

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

    Not Available

    1983-01-01

    The assembly drawing AD 135-518-00-RO, and the drawings referenced thereon, provide the data and specifications for constructing the LAIKA Test Box. Some drawings are not available, although they are listed on the material lists included. The assembly is a manual tester for FAST BUS modules, both masters and slaves. FAST BUS signals are generated by means of switches or push buttons and provide the state of the bus lines by lighting LED's. The box acts as either a master or slave - depending upon the module under test. It also acts as an ATC to test the arbitration logic ofmore » a master or ATC device.« less

  4. Which button will I press? Preference for correctly ordered counting sequences in 18-month-olds.

    PubMed

    Ip, Martin Ho Kwan; Imuta, Kana; Slaughter, Virginia

    2018-04-16

    Correct counting respects the stable order principle whereby the count terms are recited in a fixed order every time. The 4 experiments reported here tested whether precounting infants recognize and prefer correct stable-ordered counting. The authors introduced a novel preference paradigm in which infants could freely press two buttons to activate videos of counting events. In the "correct" counting video, number words were always recited in the canonical order ("1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6"). The "incorrect" counting video was identical except that the number words were recited in a random order (e.g., "5, 3, 1, 6, 4, 2"). In Experiment 1, 18-month-olds (n = 21), but not 15-month-olds (n = 24), significantly preferred to press the button that activated correct counting events. Experiment 2 revealed that English-learning 18-month-olds' (n = 21) preference for stable-ordered counting disappeared when the counting was done in Japanese. By contrast, Experiment 3 showed that multilingual 18-month-olds (n = 24) preferred correct stable-ordered counting in an unfamiliar foreign language. In Experiment 4, multilingual 18-month-olds (N = 21) showed no preference for stable-ordered alphabet sequences, ruling out some alternative explanations for the Experiment 3 results. Overall these findings are consistent with the idea that implicit recognition of the stable order principle of counting is acquired by 18 months of age, and that learning more than one language may accelerate infants' understanding of abstract counting principles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

  5. Effect of Complete Syndesmotic Disruption and Deltoid Injuries and Different Reduction Methods on Ankle Joint Contact Mechanics.

    PubMed

    LaMothe, Jeremy; Baxter, Josh R; Gilbert, Susannah; Murphy, Conor I; Karnovsky, Sydney C; Drakos, Mark C

    2017-06-01

    Syndesmotic injuries can be associated with poor patient outcomes and posttraumatic ankle arthritis, particularly in the case of malreduction. However, ankle joint contact mechanics following a syndesmotic injury and reduction remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of a syndesmotic injury and reduction techniques on ankle joint contact mechanics in a biomechanical model. Ten cadaveric whole lower leg specimens with undisturbed proximal tibiofibular joints were prepared and tested in this study. Contact area, contact force, and peak contact pressure were measured in the ankle joint during simulated standing in the intact, injured, and 3 reduction conditions: screw fixation with a clamp, screw fixation without a clamp (thumb technique), and a suture-button construct. Differences in these ankle contact parameters were detected between conditions using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Syndesmotic disruption decreased tibial plafond contact area and force. Syndesmotic reduction did not restore ankle loading mechanics to values measured in the intact condition. Reduction with the thumb technique was able to restore significantly more joint contact area and force than the reduction clamp or suture-button construct. Syndesmotic disruption decreased joint contact area and force. Although the thumb technique performed significantly better than the reduction clamp and suture-button construct, syndesmotic reduction did not restore contact mechanics to intact levels. Decreased contact area and force with disruption imply that other structures are likely receiving more loads (eg, medial and lateral gutters), which may have clinical implications such as the development of posttraumatic arthritis.

  6. How preschoolers and adults represent their joint action partner's behavior.

    PubMed

    Sacheli, Lucia Maria; Meyer, M; Hartstra, E; Bekkering, H; Hunnius, S

    2017-10-24

    We investigated the cognitive mechanisms underlying turn-taking joint action in 42-month-old children (Experiment 1) and adults (Experiment 2) using a behavioral task of dressing a virtual bear together. We aimed to investigate how participants represent a partners' behavior, i.e., in terms of specific action kinematics or of action effects. The bear was dressed by pressing a smaller and a bigger button. In the Action-response task, instructions asked participants to respond to the partner by pressing the same or opposite button; in the Action-effect task they had to respond to the partner's action effect by dressing the bear with the lacking part of the clothing, which in some cases implied pressing the same button and in other cases implied pressing the opposite button. In 50% of the trials, the partner's association between each button and the ensuing effect (dressing the bear with t-shirt or pants) was reversed, while it never changed for participants. Both children and adults showed no effect of physical congruency of actions, but showed impaired performance in the Action-effect task if their partner achieved her effect through a different action-effect association than their own. These results suggest that, when encoding their partner's actions, agents are influenced by action-effect associations that they learnt through their own experience. While interference led to overt errors in children, it caused longer reaction times in adults, suggesting that a flexible cognitive control (that is still in development in young children) is required to take on the partner's perspective.

  7. Suture Button Fixation Treatment of Chronic Lisfranc Injury in Professional Dancers and High-Level Athletes.

    PubMed

    Charlton, Timothy; Boe, Chelsea; Thordarson, David B

    2015-12-01

    Chronic Lisfranc injury is a subtle and severe injury in high-level athletes, including dancers. This patient population is generally intolerant of intra-articular screw fixation and can develop significant post-traumatic arthritis with potentially career ending complications. Flexible fixation with suture-button devices provides potential restoration of physiologic motion at the joint, with appropriate support for healing that may facilitate return to en pointe activities for dancers. We hypothesized that the suture-button device would restore motion at the Lisfranc joint and allow for return to activities in this particular population without the limitations and complications of rigid fixation. We operated on seven dancers and high-level athletes with diagnosed Lisfranc injuries by installing a suture-button device. All patients had failed conservative management after late presentation. They were allowed to return to sport in 6 months, preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) foot scores were obtained, and patients were followed for a minimum of 15 months. All seven returned to full activities in 6 months, with radiographic evidence of fixation and no complications to date. AOFAS foot scores improved from an average of 65 preoperatively to an average of 97 postoperatively at latest follow-up. It is concluded that flexible fixation with suture-button type device represents a viable alternative to screw fixation or fusion that may allow dancers and athletes to return to previous levels of activity after Lisfranc injury. This case series represents to our knowledge the first application of this device to a unique population that requires flexibility at the Lisfranc joint for performance.

  8. Materiales en Marcha para el Esfuerzo Bilingue-Bicultural (Materials on the March for the Promotion of Bilingualism/Biculturalism, August 1973).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    San Diego City Schools, CA.

    This newsletter is designed to promote the concept of bilingual-bicultural education. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Elementary Art in the Push-Button Era, (2) Games Pupils Play (and Teachers Too), (3) Field-Testing Favorites, (4) Sample Lesson on Mayan Culture, and (5) Using RAF Charts in Science and Reading. Included is a…

  9. Regional Changes in Word-Production Laterality after a Naming Treatment Designed to Produce a Rightward Shift in Frontal Activity

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Crosson, Bruce; Moore, Anna Bacon; McGregor, Keith M.; Chang, Yu-Ling; Benjamin, Michelle; Gopinath, Kaundinya; Sherod, Megan E.; Wierenga, Christina E.; Peck, Kyung K.; Briggs, Richard W.; Rothi, Leslie J. Gonzalez; White, Keith D.

    2009-01-01

    Five nonfluent aphasia patients participated in a picture-naming treatment that used an intention manipulation (opening a box and pressing a button on a device in the box with the left hand) to initiate naming trials and was designed to re-lateralize word production mechanisms from the left to the right frontal lobe. To test the underlying…

  10. Smart Adaptive Socket to Improve Fit and Relieve Pain in Wounded Warriors

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-10-01

    applications were developed for wireless interaction with the socket system firmware. A control algorithm was designed and tested. Clinical trial...interface, Dynamic segmental volume control, Wireless connection, Pressure control system. 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18...charging jack, and power button are included in the design. A Bluetooth 4 radio is also included to allow for advanced user control via smartphone. The

  11. Non Destructive Seal Testing Polymeric Tray

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-10-01

    School of Enviromental and Biological Science Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903 Principal Investigator...plate to accept new tray • Insert tray • Push “Continue” button • Lower upper compression plate and hold in position (80 psig) • Raise bottom...John J. Kingman Rd. Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6221 Contractor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED FOOD TECHNOLOGY

  12. Spicing Things up by Adding Color and Relieving Pain: The Use of "Napoleon's Buttons" in Organic Chemistry

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bucholtz, Kevin M.

    2011-01-01

    For some students, organic chemistry can be a distant subject and unrelated to any courses they have seen in their college careers. To develop a more contextual learning experience in organic chemistry, an additional text, "Napoleon's Buttons: 17 Molecules That Changed History," by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson, was incorporated as a…

  13. Miniature Two-Axis Joystick Controller

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hollow, R.

    1983-01-01

    Novel movable-button-actuated self-centering controller uses optoelectronics to produce X and Y signals for aircraft control. In addition to be extremely compact, device puts our voltages having high signal-to-noise ratio, especially at critical center position where in many controllers this ratio is poorest. Combination of new saddle-shaped button and positive centering gives "feel" and "breakout" met with pilot approval.

  14. --No Title--

    Science.gov Websites

    :#ccc;text-align:center;padding:5px}.upper_button{text-align:right;padding-bottom:5px}.side_button[type ;width:175px;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;overflow:hidden}.left_head_title_alt{float:left;width:175px ;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:16px;margin-top:3px;padding-top:0}.left_head_add

  15. Genome sequence of the button mushroom Agaricus bisporus reveals mechanisms governing adaptation to a humic-rich ecological niche

    Treesearch

    Emmanuelle Morin; Annegret Kohler; Adam R. Baker; Marie Foulongne-Oriol; Vincent Lombard; Laszlo G. Nagy; Robin A. Ohm; Aleksandrina Patyshakuliyeva; Annick Brun; Andrea L. Aerts; Andrew M. Bailey; Christophe Billette; Pedro M. Coutinho; Greg Deakin; Harshavardhan Doddapaneni; Dimitrios Floudas; Jane Grimwood; Kristiina Hild& #233; n; Ursula K& #252; es; Kurt M. LaButti; Alla Lapidus; Erika A. Lindquist; Susan M. Lucas; Claude Murat; Robert W. Riley; Asaf A. Salamov; Jeremy Schmutz; Venkataramanan Subrananian; Han A.B. W& #246; sten; Jianping Xu; Daniel C. Eastwood; Gary D. Foster; Anton S.M. Sonnenberg; Daniel Cullen; Ronald P. de Vries; Taina Lundell; David S. Hibbett; Bernard Henrissat; Kerry S. Burton; Richard W. Kerrigan; Michael P. Challen; Igor V. Grigoriev; Francis Martin

    2012-01-01

    Agaricus bisporus is the model fungus for the adaptation, persistence,and growth in the humic-rich leaf-litter environment. Aside from its ecological role, A. bisporus has been an important component of the human diet for over 200 y and worldwide cultivation of the "button mushroom" forms a multibillion dollar...

  16. Don't wear that button out!

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jue, Brian J.; Bice, Michael D.

    2013-07-01

    As students explore the technological tools available to them for learning mathematics, some will eventually discover what happens when a function button is repeatedly pressed on a calculator. We explore several examples of this, presenting tabular and graphical results for the square root, natural logarithm and sine and cosine functions. Observed behaviour is proven and then discussed in the context of fixed points.

  17. A burr hole button to secure the electrode cable in depth electrode placement. Technical note.

    PubMed

    Kamiryo, T; Laws, E R

    1997-05-01

    A simple magnetic resonance imaging-compatible buttonlike device was devised to fix a depth electrode cable securely in the burr hole used for its insertion during surgery for depth electrode placement. The button is tightly fixed in the burr hole and it holds the cable without allowing protrusion or tension on the wound.

  18. Using Buttons to Better Manage Online Presence: How One Academic Institution Harnessed the Power of Flair

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dority Baker, Marcia L.

    2013-01-01

    This article provides a case study of how the University of Nebraska College of Law and Schmid Law Library use "buttons" to manage Law College faculty members' and librarians' online presence. Since Google is the primary search engine used to find information, it is important that librarians and libraries assist Web site visitors in…

  19. --No Title--

    Science.gov Websites

    fixme{background-color:#ff0}.container-fluid{padding:0;margin:0}.hp{font-family:Roboto," }.hp-hero-text{position:absolute;text-shadow:1px 1px 1px rgba(150,150,150,1)}.hp-hero h2{color:#fff}.hp -hero button{color:#e3e3e3;font-size:10px;background:transparent;border:none}.hp-hero button:hover,.hp

  20. Stimulus-dependent deliberation process leading to a specific motor action demonstrated via a multi-channel EEG analysis

    PubMed Central

    Henz, Sonja; Kutz, Dieter F.; Werner, Jana; Hürster, Walter; Kolb, Florian P.; Nida-Ruemelin, Julian

    2015-01-01

    The aim of the study was to determine whether a deliberative process, leading to a motor action, is detectable in high density EEG recordings. Subjects were required to press one of two buttons. In a simple motor task the subject knew which button to press, whilst in a color-word Stroop task subjects had to press the right button with the right index finger when meaning and color coincided, or the left button with the left index finger when meaning and color were disparate. EEG recordings obtained during the simple motor task showed a sequence of positive (P) and negative (N) cortical potentials (P1-N1-P2) which are assumed to be related to the processing of the movement. The sequence of cortical potentials was similar in EEG recordings of subjects having to deliberate over how to respond, but the above sequence (P1-N1-P2) was preceded by slowly increasing negativity (N0), with N0 being assumed to represent the end of the deliberation process. Our data suggest the existence of neurophysiological correlates of deliberative processes. PMID:26190987

  1. Self-Organization of Temporal Structures — A Possible Solution for the Intervention Problem

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    von Lucadou, Walter

    2006-10-01

    The paper presents an experiment that is a conceptual replication of two earlier experiments which demonstrate entanglement correlations between a quantum physical random process and certain psychological variables of human observers. In the present study button-pushes were used as psychological variables. The button-pushes were performed by the subject with his or her left or right hand in order to "control" (according to the instruction) a random process that could be observed on a display. Each button-push started the next random event which, however, in reality, was independent of the button-pushes. The study consists of three independent sets of data (n = 386) that were gained with almost fee same apparatus in three different experimental situations. The first data set serves as reference. It was an automatic control-run without subjects. The second set was produced mainly by subjects who asked for taking part in a para-psychological experiment and who visited the "Parapsychological Counseling Office" in Freiburg especially for this purpose. Most of them were highly motivated persons who wanted to test their "psi ability". In this case the number of runs could be selected by the subjects before the experimental session. The third set of data (of the same size) was collected during two public exhibitions (at Basel and at Freiburg) where the visitors had the opportunity to participate in a "PK experiment". In this case the number of trials and runs was fixed in advance, but the duration of the experiment was dependent of the speed of button-pushes. The results corroborate the previous studies. The specific way how the subjects pushed the buttons is highly significantly correlated with the independent random process. This correlation shows up for the momentarily generated random events as well as for the previous and the later runs during the experimental session. In a strict sense, only the correlations with the future random events can be interpreted as non-local correlations. The structure of the data, however, allows the conclusion, that all observed correlations can be considered as entanglement-correlations. The number of entanglement-correlations was significantly higher for the highly motivated group (data set 2) than for the unselected group of the exhibition participants (data set 3). The latter, however, where not completely unsuccessful: A subgroup who showed "innovative" behavior also showed significant entanglement-correlations. It could further be shown, that the structure of the matrix of entanglement-correlations is not stable in time and changes if the experiment is repeated. In comparison with previous correlation-experiments, no decline of the effect size was observed. These results are in agreement with the predictions of the "Weak Quantum Theory (WQT)" and the "Model of Pragmatic Information (MPI)". These models interpret the measured correlations as entanglement-correlations within a self-organizing, organizationally closed, psycho-physical system that exist during a certain time-interval (as long as the system is active). The entanglement-correlations cannot be considered as a causal influence (in the sense of a PK-Influence) and thus are called "micro-synchronicity". After a short introduction (1.), the question is discussed how non-local correlations can be created in psycho-physical systems (2.). In chapter (3.) the description of the experimental setting is given and the apparatus (4.) and randomness test of the random event generator (5.) are described. Additionally, an overview of the structure of the data is given (6.) and the analysis methods are described (7.). In chapter (8.) the experimental hypotheses are formulated and the results are reported (9.). After the discussion of the results (10.) the conclusions (11).) of the study are presented.

  2. Repair of Double Head Pectoralis Major Tendon Avulsion into its Native Footprint Using Bi-cortical EndoButtons and Tendon Sliding Technique.

    PubMed

    Prabhu, Jagadish; Faqi, Mohammed Khalid; Alkhalifa, Fahad; Tayara, Bader Kamal; Awad, Rashad Khamis

    2017-01-01

    Injuries to the pectoralis major muscle are relatively infrequent. The mechanism of injury is usually an eccentric shortening of the pectoralis major under heavy load, such as when performing a bench press exercise. We report a case that presented to us with a history of sudden pain in the left pectoral region while doing heavy bench press exercise. The patient sustained a type III D pectoralis muscle -tendon avulsion. Surgical repair was done through a bi-cortical tendon sliding technique using two cortical buttons. In this article we describe our modifications to the previously described surgical technique for the pectoralis major tendon repair using the EndoButton and tension - slide technique, aiming to overcome the possible complications.

  3. Fixation of unstable type II clavicle fractures with distal clavicle plate and suture button.

    PubMed

    Johnston, Peter S; Sears, Benjamin W; Lazarus, Mark R; Frieman, Barbara G

    2014-11-01

    This article reports on a technique to treat unstable type II distal clavicle fractures using fracture-specific plates and coracoclavicular augmentation with a suture button. Six patients with clinically unstable type II distal clavicle fractures underwent treatment using the above technique. All fractures demonstrated radiographic union at 9.6 (8.4-11.6) weeks with a mean follow-up of 15.6 (12.4-22.3) months. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Penn Shoulder Score, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores were 97.97 (98.33-100), 96.4 (91-99), and 95 (90-100), respectively. One patient required implant removal. Fracture-specific plating with suture-button augmentation for type II distal clavicle fractures provides reliable rates of union without absolute requirement for implant removal.

  4. Management of foreign body ingestions in children: button batteries and magnets.

    PubMed

    Kodituwakku, Ronan; Palmer, Sarah; Paul, Siba Prosad

    2017-04-27

    Foreign body ingestion and foreign body aspiration commonly affect young children between 6 months and 6 years. A large number of these events remain unwitnessed and asymptomatic while the swallowed foreign body traverses the gastrointestinal tract and is passed in the stool. Recent literature has shown an increase in morbidity associated with button battery and (neomydium) magnet ingestions in children, particularly over the last decade. Early identification and management in a time critical manner is required in cases where button batteries get lodged in the oesophagus or multiple magnets are swallowed. Deaths, although rare, have been reported with these dangerous foreign body ingestions in children where diagnoses were delayed. Nurses through their direct contact with children in different clinical settings play a vital role in managing foreign body ingestions.

  5. Type of Primary Nb₅Si₃ and Precipitation of Nbss in αNb₅Si₃ in a Nb-8.3Ti-21.1Si-5.4Mo-4W-0.7Hf (at.%) Near Eutectic Nb-Silicide-Based Alloy.

    PubMed

    McCaughey, Conor; Tsakiropoulos, Panos

    2018-06-07

    The Nb-silicide-based alloy of near eutectic composition (at.%) Nb-21.1Si-8.3Ti-5.4Mo-4W-0.7Hf (alloy CM1) was studied in the cast and heat-treated (1500 °C/100 h) conditions. The alloy was produced in the form of buttons and bars using three different methods, namely arc-melting, arc-melting and suction casting, and optical floating zone (OFZ) melting. In the former two cases the alloy solidified in water-cooled copper crucibles. Buttons and suction-cast bars of different size, respectively of 10 g and 600 g weight and 6 mm and 8 mm diameter, were produced. The OFZ bars were grown at three different growth rates of 12, 60 and 150 mm/h. It was confirmed that the type of Nb₅Si₃ formed in the cast microstructures depended on the solidification conditions. The primary phase in the alloy CM1 was the βNb₅Si₃. The transformation of βNb₅Si₃ to αNb₅Si₃ had occurred in the as cast large size button and the OFZ bars grown at the three different growth rates, and after the heat treatment of the small size button and the suction-cast bars of the alloy. This transformation was accompanied by subgrain formation in Nb₅Si₃ and the precipitation of Nb ss in the large size as cast button and only by the precipitation of Nb ss in the cast OFZ bars. Subgrains and precipitation of Nb ss in αNb₅Si₃ was observed in the small size button and suction-cast bars after the heat treatment. Subgrains formed in αNb₅Si₃ after the heat treatment of the OFZ bars. The partitioning of solutes and in particular of Mo and Ti was key to this phase transformation. Subgrain formation was not necessary for precipitation of Nb ss in αNb₅Si₃, but the partitioning of solutes was essential for this precipitation.

  6. Field comparison of three inhalable samplers (IOM, PGP-GSP 3.5 and Button) for welding fumes.

    PubMed

    Zugasti, Agurtzane; Montes, Natividad; Rojo, José M; Quintana, M José

    2012-02-01

    Inhalable sampler efficiency depends on the aerodynamic size of the airborne particles to be sampled and the wind speed. The aim of this study was to compare the behaviour of three personal inhalable samplers for welding fumes generated by Manual Metal Arc (MMA) and Metal Active Gas (MAG) processes. The selected samplers were the ones available in Spain when the study began: IOM, PGP-GSP 3.5 (GSP) and Button. Sampling was carried out in a welding training center that provided a homogeneous workplace environment. The static sampling assembly used allowed the placement of 12 samplers and 2 cascade impactors simultaneously. 183 samples were collected throughout 2009 and 2010. The range of welding fumes' mass concentrations was from 2 mg m(-3) to 5 mg m(-3). The pooled variation coefficients for the three inhalable samplers were less than or equal to 3.0%. Welding particle size distribution was characterized by a bimodal log-normal distribution, with MMADs of 0.7 μm and 8.2 μm. For these welding aerosols, the Button and the GSP samplers showed a similar performance (P = 0.598). The mean mass concentration ratio was 1.00 ± 0.01. The IOM sampler showed a different performance (P < 0.001). The mean mass concentration ratios were 0.90 ± 0.01 for Button/IOM and 0.92 ± 0.02 for GSP/IOM. This information is useful to consider the measurements accomplished by the IOM, GSP or Button samplers together, in order to assess the exposure at workplaces over time or to study exposure levels in a specific industrial activity, as welding operations.

  7. Anterior capsulotomy with an ultrashort-pulse laser.

    PubMed

    Tackman, Ramon Naranjo; Kuri, Jorge Villar; Nichamin, Louis D Skip; Edwards, Keith

    2011-05-01

    To assess the precision of laser anterior capsulotomy compared with that of manual continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC). Asociación Para Evitar La Ceguera en México IAP, Hospital Dr. Luis Sánchez Bulnes, Mexico City, Mexico. Nonrandomized single-center clinical trial. In patients presenting for cataract surgery, the LensAR Laser System was used to create a laser anterior capsulotomy of the surgeon's desired size. Capsule buttons were retrieved and measured and then compared with buttons retrieved from eyes having a manually torn CCC. Deviation from the intended diameter and the regularity of shape were assessed. When removing the capsule buttons at the start of surgery, the surgeon rated the ease of removal on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = required manual capsulorhexis around the whole diameter; 10 = button free floating or required no manual detachment from remaining capsule during removal). The mean deviation from the intended diameter was 0.16 mm ± 0.17 (SD) for laser anterior capsulotomy and 0.42 ± 0.54 mm for CCC (P=.03). The mean absolute deviation from the intended diameter was 0.20 ± 0.12 mm and 0.49 ± 0.47 mm, respectively (P=.003). The mean of the average squared residuals was 0.01 ± 0.03 and 0.02 ± 0.04, respectively (P=.09). The median rating of the ease of removal was 9 (range 5 to 10). Laser anterior capsulotomy created a more precise capsule opening than CCC, and the buttons created by the laser procedure were easy to remove at the beginning of cataract surgery. Copyright © 2011 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Demonstration Testing of Plastic Media Blasting (PMB) at LetterKenny Army Depot.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-01-10

    media can typically be purchased in three grades; Type I (polyester), Type II ( urea formaldehyde ), and Type III ( melamine formaldehyde ). The hardness of...outlet for waste thermoset resin from button making operations. As plastic media is synthetic, the~properties of plastic oedia can be controlled to a...After the oven comes to temperature, the parts are heated for an appropriate time, usually several hours, to pyrolyze the organic resin coating. The

  9. BPMs with Precise Alignment for TTF2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Noelle, D.; Priebe, G.; Wendt, M.; Werner, M.

    2004-11-01

    Design and technology of the new, standardized BPM-system for the warm sections of the TESLA Test Facility phase II (TTF2) are presented. Stripline- and button-BPM pickups are read-out with an upgraded version of the AM/PM BPM-electronics of TTF1. The Stripline-BPMs are fixed inside the quadrupole magnets. A stretched wire measurement was used to calibrate the electrical axis of the BPM wrt. to the magnetic axis of the quadrupole.

  10. The control system of a 2kW@20K helium refrigerator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pan, W.; Wu, J. H.; Li, Qing; Liu, L. Q.; Li, Qiang

    2017-12-01

    The automatic control of a helium refrigerator includes three aspects, that is, one-button start and stop control, safety protection control, and cooling capacity control. The 2kW@20K helium refrigerator’s control system uses the SIEMENS PLC S7-300 and its related programming and configuration software Step7 and the industrial monitoring software WinCC, to realize the dynamic control of its process, the real-time monitoring of its data, the safety interlock control, and the optimal control of its cooling capacity. At first, this paper describes the control architecture of the whole system in detail, including communication configuration and equipment introduction; and then introduces the sequence control strategy of the dynamic processes, including the start and stop control mode of the machine and the safety interlock control strategy of the machine; finally tells the precise control strategy of the machine’s cooling capacity. Eventually, the whole system achieves the target of one-button starting and stopping, automatic fault protection and stable running to the target cooling capacity, and help finished the cold helium pressurization test of aerospace products.

  11. Connected cane: Tactile button input for controlling gestures of iOS voiceover embedded in a white cane.

    PubMed

    Batterman, Jared M; Martin, Vincent F; Yeung, Derek; Walker, Bruce N

    2018-01-01

    Accessibility of assistive consumer devices is an emerging research area with potential to benefit both users with and without visual impairments. In this article, we discuss the research and evaluation of using a tactile button interface to control an iOS device's native VoiceOver Gesture navigations (Apple Accessibility, 2014). This research effort identified potential safety and accessibility issues for users trying to interact and control their touchscreen mobile iOS devices while traveling independently. Furthermore, this article discusses the participatory design process in creating a solution that aims to solve issues in utilizing a tactile button interface in a novel device. The overall goal of this study is to enable visually impaired white cane users to access their mobile iOS device's capabilities navigation aids more safely and efficiently on the go.

  12. Heterogeneous electrolyte (YSZ-Al 2O 3) based direct oxidation solid oxide fuel cell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thokchom, J. S.; Xiao, H.; Rottmayer, M.; Reitz, T. L.; Kumar, B.

    Bilayers comprised of dense and porous YSZ-Al 2O 3 (20 wt%) composite were tape cast, processed, and then fabricated into working solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The porous part of the bilayer was converted into anode for direct oxidation of fuels by infiltrating CeO 2 and Cu. The cathode side of the bilayer was coated with an interlayer [YSZ-Al 2O 3 (20 wt%)]: LSM (1:1) and LSM as cathode. Several button cells were evaluated under hydrogen/air and propane/air atmospheres in intermediate temperature range and their performance data were analyzed. For the first time the feasibility of using YSZ-Al 2O 3 material for fabricating working SOFCs with high open circuit voltage (OCV) and power density is demonstrated. AC impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to characterize the membrane and cell.

  13. Is the Go/No-Go Lexical Decision Task Preferable to the Yes/No Task with Developing Readers?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Moret-Tatay, Carmen; Perea, Manuel

    2011-01-01

    The lexical decision task is probably the most common laboratory visual word identification task together with the naming task. In the usual setup, participants need to press the "yes" button when the stimulus is a word and the "no" button when the stimulus is not a word. A number of studies have employed this task with developing readers;…

  14. Supplemental Archeological Investigations of Lower Bayou Teche, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-08-01

    Ruler end (brass)1 ____ Buckle 1__________ Brass and inlaid shell button 1____ Chain 2 71 Cosmetic cap - gild brass inlaid with shell 1I____ 185...Molded stemnware fragment ____ _____ _____ Unidentified ______ ______1 Perfume/ Cosmetic Bottle Fragment Milk glass 2 Melted Glass Aqua1 Unidentified...major portion of the recovery (n = 122). Other metal artifacts included 2 safety pins, 1 cosmetic cap made of gilt brass inlaid with shell, 3 buttons

  15. Distinct dynamical patterns that distinguish willed and forced actions.

    PubMed

    Garcia Dominguez, Luis; Kostelecki, Wojciech; Wennberg, Richard; Perez Velazquez, Jose L

    2011-03-01

    The neural pathways for generating willed actions have been increasingly investigated since the famous pioneering work by Benjamin Libet on the nature of free will. To better understand what differentiates the brain states underlying willed and forced behaviours, we performed a study of chosen and forced actions over a binary choice scenario. Magnetoencephalography recordings were obtained from six subjects during a simple task in which the subject presses a button with the left or right finger in response to a cue that either (1) specifies the finger with which the button should be pressed or (2) instructs the subject to press a button with a finger of their own choosing. Three independent analyses were performed to investigate the dynamical patterns of neural activity supporting willed and forced behaviours during the preparatory period preceding a button press. Each analysis offered similar findings in the temporal and spatial domains and in particular, a high accuracy in the classification of single trials was obtained around 200 ms after cue presentation with an overall average of 82%. During this period, the majority of the discriminatory power comes from differential neural processes observed bilaterally in the parietal lobes, as well as some differences in occipital and temporal lobes, suggesting a contribution of these regions to willed and forced behaviours.

  16. Double-button Fixation System for Management of Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

    PubMed Central

    Torkaman, Ali; Bagherifard, Abolfazl; Mokhatri, Tahmineh; Haghighi, Mohammad Hossein Shabanpour; Monshizadeh, Siamak; Taraz, Hamid; Hasanvand, Amin

    2016-01-01

    Background: Surgical treatments for acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation present with some complications. The present study was designed to evaluate the double-button fixation system in the management of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Methods: This cross sectional study, done between February 2011 to June 2014, consisted of 28 patients who underwent surgical management by the double-button fixation system for acute AC joint dislocation. Age, sex, injury mechanism, dominant hand, side with injury, length of follow up, time before surgery, shoulder and hand (DASH), constant and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and all complications of the cases during the follow up were recorded. Results: The mean age of patients was 33.23±6.7 years. Twenty four patients (85.71%) were male and four (14.28%) were female. The significant differences were observed between pre-operation VAS, constant shoulder scores and post-operation measurements. There were not any significant differences between right and left coracoclavicular, but two cases of heterotrophic ossifications were recorded. The mean follow-up time was 16.17±4.38 months. Conclusion: According to the results, the double-button fixation system for management of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation has suitable results and minimal damage to the soft tissues surrounding the coracoclavicular ligaments. PMID:26894217

  17. Does order matter? Investigating the effect of sequence on glance duration during on-road driving

    PubMed Central

    Roberts, Shannon C.; Reimer, Bryan; Mehler, Bruce

    2017-01-01

    Previous literature has shown that vehicle crash risks increases as drivers’ off-road glance duration increases. Many factors influence drivers’ glance duration such as individual differences, driving environment, or task characteristics. Theories and past studies suggest that glance duration increases as the task progresses, but the exact relationship between glance sequence and glance durations is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of glance sequence on glance duration among drivers completing a visual-manual radio tuning task and an auditory-vocal based multi-modal navigation entry task. Eighty participants drove a vehicle on urban highways while completing radio tuning and navigation entry tasks. Forty participants drove under an experimental protocol that required three button presses followed by rotation of a tuning knob to complete the radio tuning task while the other forty participants completed the task with one less button press. Multiple statistical analyses were conducted to measure the effect of glance sequence on glance duration. Results showed that across both tasks and a variety of statistical tests, glance sequence had inconsistent effects on glance duration—the effects varied according to the number of glances, task type, and data set that was being evaluated. Results suggest that other aspects of the task as well as interface design effect glance duration and should be considered in the context of examining driver attention or lack thereof. All in all, interface design and task characteristics have a more influential impact on glance duration than glance sequence, suggesting that classical design considerations impacting driver attention, such as the size and location of buttons, remain fundamental in designing in-vehicle interfaces. PMID:28158301

  18. Arthroscopic Latarjet Techniques: Graft and Fixation Positioning Assessed With 2-Dimensional Computed Tomography Is Not Equivalent With Standard Open Technique.

    PubMed

    Neyton, Lionel; Barth, Johannes; Nourissat, Geoffroy; Métais, Pierre; Boileau, Pascal; Walch, Gilles; Lafosse, Laurent

    2018-05-19

    To analyze graft and fixation (screw and EndoButton) positioning after the arthroscopic Latarjet technique with 2-dimensional computed tomography (CT) and to compare it with the open technique. We performed a retrospective multicenter study (March 2013 to June 2014). The inclusion criteria included patients with recurrent anterior instability treated with the Latarjet procedure. The exclusion criterion was the absence of a postoperative CT scan. The positions of the hardware, the positions of the grafts in the axial and sagittal planes, and the dispersion of values (variability) were compared. The study included 208 patients (79 treated with open technique, 87 treated with arthroscopic Latarjet technique with screw fixation [arthro-screw], and 42 treated with arthroscopic Latarjet technique with EndoButton fixation [arthro-EndoButton]). The angulation of the screws was different in the open group versus the arthro-screw group (superior, 10.3° ± 0.7° vs 16.9° ± 1.0° [P < .001]; inferior, 10.3° ± 0.8° vs 15.7° ± 0.9° [P < .0001]). The angulation of the EndoButtons was 5.7° ± 0.5°; this was different from that of open inferior screws (P = .003). In the axial plane (level of equator), the arthroscopic techniques resulted in lateral positions (arthro-screw, 1.5 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .001]; arthro-EndoButton, 0 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .0001]) versus the open technique (0.9 ± 0.2 mm medial). At the level of 25% of the glenoid height, the arthroscopic techniques resulted in lateral positions (arthro-screw, 0.3 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .001]); (arthro-EndoButton, 0.7 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .0001]) versus the open technique (1.0 ± 0.2 mm medial). Higher variability was observed in the arthro-screw group. In the sagittal plane, the arthro-screw technique resulted in higher positions (55% ± 3% of graft below equator) and the arthro-EndoButton technique resulted in lower positions (82% ± 3%, P < .0001) versus the open technique (71% ± 2%). Variability was not different. This study shows that the position of the fixation devices and position of the bone graft with the arthroscopic techniques are statistically significantly different from those with the open technique with 2-dimensional CT assessment. In the sagittal plane, the arthro-screw technique provides the highest positions, and the arthro-EndoButton technique, the lowest. Overall, the mean position of the bone block with the open Latarjet technique in the axial plane is slightly medial to the joint line, as recommended. Conversely, with the arthroscopic techniques, the bone grafts are more lateral with a slight overhang. The main differences are observed in the dispersion of the values (more extreme positions) with the arthro-screw technique, given the acknowledged limitations. Despite the statistical significance, the clinical significance of these differences is yet unknown. Level III, retrospective comparative study. Copyright © 2018 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Cable Tester Box

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lee, Jason H.

    2011-01-01

    Cables are very important electrical devices that carry power and signals across multiple instruments. Any fault in a cable can easily result in a catastrophic outcome. Therefore, verifying that all cables are built to spec is a very important part of Electrical Integration Procedures. Currently, there are two methods used in lab for verifying cable connectivity. (1) Using a Break-Out Box and an ohmmeter this method is time-consuming but effective for custom cables and (2) Commercial Automated Cable Tester Boxes this method is fast, but to test custom cables often requires pre-programmed configuration files, and cables used on spacecraft are often uniquely designed for specific purposes. The idea is to develop a semi-automatic continuity tester that reduces human effort in cable testing, speeds up the electrical integration process, and ensures system safety. The JPL-Cable Tester Box is developed to check every single possible electrical connection in a cable in parallel. This system indicates connectivity through LED (light emitting diode) circuits. Users can choose to test any pin/shell (test node) with a single push of a button, and any other nodes that are shorted to the test node, even if they are in the same connector, will light up with the test node. The JPL-Cable Tester Boxes offers the following advantages: 1. Easy to use: The architecture is simple enough that it only takes 5 minutes for anyone to learn how operate the Cable Tester Box. No pre-programming and calibration are required, since this box only checks continuity. 2. Fast: The cable tester box checks all the possible electrical connections in parallel at a push of a button. If a cable normally takes half an hour to test, using the Cable Tester Box will improve the speed to as little as 60 seconds to complete. 3. Versatile: Multiple cable tester boxes can be used together. As long as all the boxes share the same electrical potential, any number of connectors can be tested together.

  20. BPM Breakdown Potential in the PEP-II B-factory Storage Ring Collider

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

    Weathersby, Stephen; Novokhatski, Alexander; /SLAC

    2010-02-10

    High current B-Factory BPM designs incorporate a button type electrode which introduces a small gap between the button and the beam chamber. For achievable currents and bunch lengths, simulations indicate that electric potentials can be induced in this gap which are comparable to the breakdown voltage. This study characterizes beam induced voltages in the existing PEP-II storage ring collider BPM as a function of bunch length and beam current.

  1. An ergonomics study of thumb movements on smartphone touch screen.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Jinghong; Muraki, Satoshi

    2014-01-01

    This study investigated the relationships between thumb muscle activity and thumb operating tasks on a smartphone touch screen with one-hand posture. Six muscles in the right thumb and forearm were targeted in this study, namely adductor pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor pollicis longus, first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and extensor digitorum. The performance measures showed that the thumb developed fatigue rapidly when tapping on smaller buttons (diameter: 9 mm compared with 3 mm), and moved more slowly in flexion-extension than in adduction-abduction orientation. Meanwhile, the electromyography and perceived exertion values of FDI significantly increased in small button and flexion-extension tasks, while those of APB were greater in the adduction-abduction task. This study reveals that muscle effort among thumb muscles on a touch screen smartphone varies according to the task, and suggests that the use of small touch buttons should be minimised for better thumb performance.

  2. Paper-based piezoelectric touch pads with hydrothermally grown zinc oxide nanowires.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiao; Wang, Yu-Hsuan; Zhao, Chen; Liu, Xinyu

    2014-12-24

    This paper describes a new type of paper-based piezoelectric touch pad integrating zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs), which can serve as user interfaces in paper-based electronics. The sensing functionality of these touch pads is enabled by the piezoelectric property of ZnO NWs grown on paper using a simple, cost-efficient hydrothermal method. A piece of ZnO-NW paper with two screen-printed silver electrodes forms a touch button, and touch-induced electric charges from the button are converted into a voltage output using a charge amplifier circuit. A touch pad consisting of an array of buttons can be readily integrated into paper-based electronic devices, allowing user input of information for various purposes such as programming, identification checking, and gaming. This novel design features ease of fabrication, low cost, ultrathin structure, and good compatibility with techniques in printed electronics, and further enriches the available technologies of paper-based electronics.

  3. A Cultural Resources Survey Testing, and Geomorphic Examination of Ditches 10, 12 and 29, Mississippi County, Arkansas

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-04-01

    cattails (Tpha latifi’i)ia), various grape vines (Vitis sp.), Button bush (Cenhalanthus occi- !entaIis), and Hibiscus (Hibiscus sp.). The latter were an...had developed and continue to work with important methods of locational analysis (Chisolm 1970; Dacey 1966; Morrill 1962, 1968; Vining 1955) and...Aasen INTRODUCTION Changes in the Holocene vegetation have not been widely studied in the southern Midwest . Palynological studies of two locations

  4. A Keyboard for Underwater Performance Assessment Battery Testing

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-11-08

    Applied Engineering . This four button underwater keyboard uses only a small portion of the boards capacity. The cable is connected to the I/O 32 board via a...H.O., by Applied Engineering ) require special programming to work with the IO 32 board. If the boards are accessed directly from Apple Basic with the... Applied Engineering , 1988) is presented in the Appendix. This program will work with either the enhanced or the unenhanced version of the Apple lie. 6

  5. Electrophysiological Correlates of the Threshold to Detection of Passive Motion: An Investigation in Professional Volleyball Athletes with and without Atrophy of the Infraspinatus Muscle

    PubMed Central

    Salles, José Inácio; Cossich, Victor Rodrigues Amaral; Amaral, Marcus Vinicius; Monteiro, Martim T.; Cagy, Maurício; Motta, Geraldo; Velasques, Bruna; Piedade, Roberto; Ribeiro, Pedro

    2013-01-01

    The goal of the present study is to compare the electrophysiological correlates of the threshold to detection of passive motion (TTDPM) among three groups: healthy individuals (control group), professional volleyball athletes with atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle on the dominant side, and athletes with no shoulder pathologies. More specifically, the study aims at assessing the effects of infraspinatus muscle atrophy on the cortical representation of the TTDPM. A proprioception testing device (PTD) was used to measure the TTDPM. The device passively moved the shoulder and participants were instructed to respond as soon as movement was detected (TTDPM) by pressing a button switch. Response latency was established as the delay between the stimulus (movement) and the response (button press). Electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) activities were recorded simultaneously. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and subsequent post hoc tests indicated a significant difference in latency between the group of athletes without the atrophy when compared both to the group of athletes with the atrophy and to the control group. Furthermore, distinct patterns of cortical activity were observed in the three experimental groups. The results suggest that systematically trained motor abilities, as well as the atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle, change the cortical representation of the different stages of proprioceptive information processing and, ultimately, the cortical representation of the TTDPM. PMID:23484136

  6. Environmental contamination with rhinovirus and transfer to fingers of healthy individuals by daily life activity.

    PubMed

    Winther, Birgit; McCue, Karen; Ashe, Kathleen; Rubino, Joseph R; Hendley, J Owen

    2007-10-01

    Rhinovirus infection may be acquired by inoculation of virus on fingertips to conjunctiva or nose (self-inoculation). The virus contaminating the fingertips may come from hand contact with someone with a cold or from virus in mucus on environmental surfaces. This study was designed to assess rhinovirus contamination of surfaces by adults with colds and rhinovirus transfer from surfaces to fingertips during normal daily activities. Fifteen adults with natural rhinovirus colds stayed overnight in a local hotel. Ten touched sites in each room were tested for rhinovirus RNA using RT-PCR. Transfer to fingertips of five subjects was examined by drying 10 microl of virus-containing mucus from each subject onto light switches, telephone dial buttons and telephone handsets. After an interval of 1 or 18 hr the subject flipped the light switch, pressed the button, held the handset. Fingertip rinses were tested for virus. Thirty five percent of the 150 environmental sites in the rooms were contaminated. Common virus-positive sites were door handles, pens, light switches, TV remote controls, faucets, and telephones. Rhinovirus was transferred from surfaces to fingertips in 18/30 (60%) trials 1 hr after contamination and in 10/30 (33%) of trials 18 hr (overnight) after contamination. Adults with colds commonly contaminate environmental surfaces with rhinovirus; virus on surfaces can be transferred to a fingertip during normal daily activities. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  7. Emergency Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry Using Different Materials

    PubMed Central

    Sholom, S; DeWitt, R; Simon, SL; Bouville, A; McKeever, SWS

    2011-01-01

    Several materials were tested as possible individual emergency dosimeters using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) as means to assess the exposure. Materials investigated included human nails, business cards and plastic buttons. The OSL properties of these materials were studied in comparison with those of teeth. Most samples revealed OSL signals only after exposure to ionizing radiation; some samples of business cards, however, displayed a strong initial “native” signal (i.e. existing in the samples prior to irradiation). The sensitivity (minimum measurable dose) of the samples was found to vary significantly from sample to sample of the same material and was in the range from several tens of mGy to a few dozens of Gy. The dose response curves were linear for doses below 10 Gy. Fading of the OSL signals was estimated for different lenghts of times and found to be ~95%, 45%, 30% and 15% for samples of teeth, business cards, buttons and nails, respectively, following storage at room temperature in the dark for a period of 3 weeks after exposure. For samples stored under routine laboratory light, fading was much faster and the radiation-induced signals almost disappeared after a few hours of such illumination. It was concluded that the tested materials could be used in triage situations to detect and estimate the possible overexposure of individuals if the measurements can be performed soon enough after exposure. PMID:22125409

  8. Emergency Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry Using Different Materials.

    PubMed

    Sholom, S; Dewitt, R; Simon, Sl; Bouville, A; McKeever, Sws

    2011-12-01

    Several materials were tested as possible individual emergency dosimeters using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) as means to assess the exposure. Materials investigated included human nails, business cards and plastic buttons. The OSL properties of these materials were studied in comparison with those of teeth. Most samples revealed OSL signals only after exposure to ionizing radiation; some samples of business cards, however, displayed a strong initial "native" signal (i.e. existing in the samples prior to irradiation). The sensitivity (minimum measurable dose) of the samples was found to vary significantly from sample to sample of the same material and was in the range from several tens of mGy to a few dozens of Gy. The dose response curves were linear for doses below 10 Gy. Fading of the OSL signals was estimated for different lenghts of times and found to be ~95%, 45%, 30% and 15% for samples of teeth, business cards, buttons and nails, respectively, following storage at room temperature in the dark for a period of 3 weeks after exposure. For samples stored under routine laboratory light, fading was much faster and the radiation-induced signals almost disappeared after a few hours of such illumination. It was concluded that the tested materials could be used in triage situations to detect and estimate the possible overexposure of individuals if the measurements can be performed soon enough after exposure.

  9. Solid versus Liquid Particle Sampling Efficiency of Three Personal Aerosol Samplers when Facing the Wind

    PubMed Central

    Koehler, Kirsten A.; Anthony, T. Renee; Van Dyke, Michael

    2016-01-01

    The objective of this study was to examine the facing-the-wind sampling efficiency of three personal aerosol samplers as a function of particle phase (solid versus liquid). Samplers examined were the IOM, Button, and a prototype personal high-flow inhalable sampler head (PHISH). The prototype PHISH was designed to interface with the 37-mm closed-face cassette and provide an inhalable sample at 10 l min−1 of flow. Increased flow rate increases the amount of mass collected during a typical work shift and helps to ensure that limits of detection are met, particularly for well-controlled but highly toxic species. Two PHISH prototypes were tested: one with a screened inlet and one with a single-pore open-face inlet. Personal aerosol samplers were tested on a bluff-body disc that was rotated along the facing-the-wind axis to reduce spatiotemporal variability associated with sampling supermicron aerosol in low-velocity wind tunnels. When compared to published data for facing-wind aspiration efficiency for a mouth-breathing mannequin, the IOM oversampled relative to mannequin facing-the-wind aspiration efficiency for all sizes and particle types (solid and liquid). The sampling efficiency of the Button sampler was closer to the mannequin facing-the-wind aspiration efficiency than the IOM for solid particles, but the screened inlet removed most liquid particles, resulting in a large underestimation compared to the mannequin facing-the-wind aspiration efficiency. The open-face PHISH results showed overestimation for solid particles and underestimation for liquid particles when compared to the mannequin facing-the-wind aspiration efficiency. Substantial (and statistically significant) differences in sampling efficiency were observed between liquid and solid particles, particularly for the Button and screened-PHISH, with a majority of aerosol mass depositing on the screened inlets of these samplers. Our results suggest that large droplets have low penetration efficiencies through screened inlets and that particle bounce, for solid particles, is an important determinant of aspiration and sampling efficiencies for samplers with screened inlets. PMID:21965462

  10. Biomechanical evaluation of a transtibial pull-out meniscal root repair: challenging the bungee effect.

    PubMed

    Cerminara, Anthony J; LaPrade, Christopher M; Smith, Sean D; Ellman, Michael B; Wijdicks, Coen A; LaPrade, Robert F

    2014-12-01

    A common treatment for posterior meniscal root tears is transtibial pull-out repair, which has been biomechanically reported to restore tibiofemoral contact mechanics to those of the intact knee. Biomechanical data suggest that there is significant displacement of the repaired meniscal root with cyclic loading, which may be responsible for the poor healing and meniscal extrusion demonstrated in some clinical studies. The purpose of this study was to quantify the time-zero displacement of the posterior meniscal root in response to cyclic loading after transtibial pull-out repair and to quantify the individual contributions to displacement of the following: (1) suture elongation, (2) button-bone interface, and (3) meniscus-suture interface. The meniscus-suture interface was hypothesized to result in significantly more displacement than the button-bone interface or suture elongation. Descriptive laboratory study. Transtibial pull-out repair of the posterior medial meniscal root was performed in 6 porcine knees, and cyclic displacement was measured using a loading protocol representative of postoperative rehabilitation. Displacement from (1) suture elongation, (2) the button-bone interface, and (3) the meniscus-suture interface was determined by cyclically loading 6 specimens for each construct using the same loading protocol to determine the contribution of each component to the overall displacement of the repair construct. After 1000 cycles, the repair construct displaced by a mean of 3.28 mm (95% CI, 2.07-4.49). The meniscus-suture component (mean, 2.52 mm; 95% CI, 2.21-2.83) displaced significantly more than the button-bone component (mean, 0.90 mm; 95% CI, 0.64-1.15; P = .006) and suture elongation component (mean, 0.71 mm; 95% CI, 0.36-1.06; P = .006) after 1000 cycles. Displacement of the button-bone and suture elongation components was not significantly different after 1000 cycles (P = .720). There was substantial displacement of the posterior medial meniscal root repaired with the transtibial pull-out technique under a cyclic loading protocol simulating postoperative rehabilitation. The meniscus-suture interface contributed to significantly more displacement than the button-bone interface and suture elongation in the transtibial pull-out repair construct. The results provide a framework for optimizing the transtibial pull-out repair technique. Future studies should focus on improving suture fixation strength within the meniscus-suture interface. © 2014 The Author(s).

  11. Evaluation of tooth-click triggering and speech recognition in assistive technology for computer access.

    PubMed

    Simpson, Tyler; Gauthier, Michel; Prochazka, Arthur

    2010-02-01

    Computer access can play an important role in employment and leisure activities following spinal cord injury. The authors' prior work has shown that a tooth-click detecting device, when paired with an optical head mouse, may be used by people with tetraplegia for controlling cursor movement and mouse button clicks. To compare the efficacy of tooth clicks to speech recognition and that of an optical head mouse to a gyrometer head mouse for cursor and mouse button control of a computer. Six able-bodied and 3 tetraplegic subjects used the devices listed above to produce cursor movements and mouse clicks in response to a series of prompts displayed on a computer. The time taken to move to and click on each target was recorded. The use of tooth clicks in combination with either an optical head mouse or a gyrometer head mouse can provide hands-free cursor movement and mouse button control at a speed of up to 22% of that of a standard mouse. Tooth clicks were significantly faster at generating mouse button clicks than speech recognition when paired with either type of head mouse device. Tooth-click detection performed better than speech recognition when paired with both the optical head mouse and the gyrometer head mouse. Such a system may improve computer access for people with tetraplegia.

  12. Automatic motor task selection via a bandit algorithm for a brain-controlled button

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fruitet, Joan; Carpentier, Alexandra; Munos, Rémi; Clerc, Maureen

    2013-02-01

    Objective. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on sensorimotor rhythms use a variety of motor tasks, such as imagining moving the right or left hand, the feet or the tongue. Finding the tasks that yield best performance, specifically to each user, is a time-consuming preliminary phase to a BCI experiment. This study presents a new adaptive procedure to automatically select (online) the most promising motor task for an asynchronous brain-controlled button. Approach. We develop for this purpose an adaptive algorithm UCB-classif based on the stochastic bandit theory and design an EEG experiment to test our method. We compare (offline) the adaptive algorithm to a naïve selection strategy which uses uniformly distributed samples from each task. We also run the adaptive algorithm online to fully validate the approach. Main results. By not wasting time on inefficient tasks, and focusing on the most promising ones, this algorithm results in a faster task selection and a more efficient use of the BCI training session. More precisely, the offline analysis reveals that the use of this algorithm can reduce the time needed to select the most appropriate task by almost half without loss in precision, or alternatively, allow us to investigate twice the number of tasks within a similar time span. Online tests confirm that the method leads to an optimal task selection. Significance. This study is the first one to optimize the task selection phase by an adaptive procedure. By increasing the number of tasks that can be tested in a given time span, the proposed method could contribute to reducing ‘BCI illiteracy’.

  13. Correlation Between Corneal Button Size and Intraocular Pressure During Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Keratoplasty.

    PubMed

    Choi, Mihyun; Lee, Yong Eun; Whang, Woong-Joo; Yoo, Young-Sik; Na, Kyung-Sun; Joo, Choun-Ki

    2016-03-01

    To evaluate changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in recipient and donor eyes during femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty (FLAK) and to assess for differences in the diameter of trephinated corneal buttons according to changes in pressure. Twenty porcine whole eyes (recipient model) and 20 porcine-corneoscleral rims (donor model) were prepared, and anterior chamber pressures were measured using a fiberoptic sensing device (Opsens, Quebec, Canada) during the femtosecond laser corneal cutting process. To determine the diameter of corneal buttons, 10 porcine whole eyes (recipient model) and 12 corneoscleral rims (donor model) of each baseline IOP were cut with the femtosecond laser programmed to the following pattern: "vertical side cut"; 1200 μm (depth), 8 mm (diameter). Digital photographs were obtained using microscopy and subsequently analyzed. The IOP (mean ± SD) for the recipient model was 10.2 (±0.9) mm Hg at baseline and ranged from 96.6 (±4.5) to ∼138.4 (±3.8) mm Hg during the corneal cutting process. This shows that the maximum IOP during FLAK increased 13.5 times compared with baseline. In the donor model, the mean pressure elevation from baseline artificial anterior chamber (AAC) pressure to corneal cutting was 15.8 (±5.4) mm Hg. This showed a positive correlation with baseline IOP [correlation coefficient (CC) = 0.827, P = 0.006]. As the baseline IOP in the recipient eye increased, trephinated corneal button size was reduced by up to 3.9% in diameter (CC = -0.945, P = 0.015). In addition, in donor eyes, the diameter was decreased by up to 11.7% as the baseline AAC pressure increased (CC = -0.934, P = 0.006). During the FLAK procedure, the IOP increases in both recipient and donor eyes. The diameter of the trephinated donor and recipient corneal buttons was decreased as the initial baseline IOP increased. Ophthalmic surgeons can determine the AAC pressure based on the baseline IOP in the recipient patient.

  14. Digital Load Control Applied to Full-Scale Airframe Fatigue Tests

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-05-01

    CONTINUED) WAIT 1 TICK 1/60 SECOND 152 AFFDL-TR-79-3011 FUNCTION ICHECK START DECLARE COMMON AREAS DEFINE SWITCH PATTERNS FOR KILL & MOLD OPTIONAL...TRACE FEATURE RESET ICHECK 0 YES ET IHECKES- KILL OR HOLD ? " ANYBAKRUDRQET? ISYES RETURNAR 5PROGRAMNO RUNNABLE ? 53 AFFDL-TR-79-3011 SUBROUTINE IAIR (I...RETURN C C ERROR RETURNS 998 IDRTR=-i RETURN END C C FUNCTION ICHECK C PURPOSE IS TO CHECK FOR C KILL, STOP, GO REQUESTS FROM CONSOLE OR BUTTONS C AND

  15. Investigation of Optically Induced Avalanching in GaAs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-06-01

    by Bovino , et al 4 to increase the hold off voltage. The button switch design of Fig. 4c has been used by several researchers5 ’ 7 to obtain the...ul Long flashover palh Figure 3b. 434 Optical Jlatlern a. Mourou Switch b. Bovino Switch c. Button Switch Figure 4. Photoconductive Switches...Technology and Devices Laboratory, ERADCOM (by L. Bovino , et. all) 4 • The deposition recipe for the contacts is 1) 50 ANi (provides contact to GaAs

  16. Design and Implementation of an Operations Module for the ARGOS paperless Ship System

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-06-01

    A. OPERATIONS STACK SCRIPTS SCRIPTS FOR STACK: operations * BACKGROUND #1: Operations * on openStack hide message box show menuBar pass openStack end... openStack ** CARD #1, BUTTON #1: Up ***** on mouseUp visual effect zoom out go to card id 10931 of stack argos end mouseUp ** CARD #1, BUTTON #2...STACK SCRIPTS SCRIPTS FOR STACK: Reports ** BACKGROUND #1: Operations * on openStack hie message box show menuBar pass openStack end openStack ** CARD #1

  17. Sealing Penetrating Eye Injuries Using Photoactivated Bonding

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-09-30

    on  corneal tissue. To evaluate inflammation all 15 rabbits will be euthanized with  phenobarbital . The  10 corneoscleral button of tissue will be...will be euthanized with  phenobarbital . The  corneoscleral button of tissue will be removed and divided into portions for paraffin and frozen sections

  18. Study of Psychological (and Associated Physiological) Effects on a Tank Crew Resulting from Being Buttoned Up

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1976-10-01

    should he made for either ixiternal storage or a means of voiding the urinal in a storage container in the compartment’. Development of-Adequate...upper temperature ranges fu- critical components of the M60 tank under desert storage and operational conditions. He found that the Wet Bulb Globe...five-gallon cans on the outside turret bustle racks. If buttoned-up operations for extended periods of time are envisioned, a built-in water storage

  19. Energy Saving in Electric Lighting for the United States Army.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-10-05

    these reasons. Avoid devices such as power saving buttons which are to be placed in the sockets of incandescent bulbs. They are merely half-wave...using the button or a long-life bulb. Another device to avoid is the pulse or transient suppressor. This device, essentially a voltage clipper...arranged In a geo- metric pattern. It is used to shield a lamp from Lumen: A unit of light output from a lamp. view at certain angles to avoid glare from

  20. How actions shape perception: learning action-outcome relations and predicting sensory outcomes promote audio-visual temporal binding

    PubMed Central

    Desantis, Andrea; Haggard, Patrick

    2016-01-01

    To maintain a temporally-unified representation of audio and visual features of objects in our environment, the brain recalibrates audio-visual simultaneity. This process allows adjustment for both differences in time of transmission and time for processing of audio and visual signals. In four experiments, we show that the cognitive processes for controlling instrumental actions also have strong influence on audio-visual recalibration. Participants learned that right and left hand button-presses each produced a specific audio-visual stimulus. Following one action the audio preceded the visual stimulus, while for the other action audio lagged vision. In a subsequent test phase, left and right button-press generated either the same audio-visual stimulus as learned initially, or the pair associated with the other action. We observed recalibration of simultaneity only for previously-learned audio-visual outcomes. Thus, learning an action-outcome relation promotes temporal grouping of the audio and visual events within the outcome pair, contributing to the creation of a temporally unified multisensory object. This suggests that learning action-outcome relations and the prediction of perceptual outcomes can provide an integrative temporal structure for our experiences of external events. PMID:27982063

  1. How actions shape perception: learning action-outcome relations and predicting sensory outcomes promote audio-visual temporal binding.

    PubMed

    Desantis, Andrea; Haggard, Patrick

    2016-12-16

    To maintain a temporally-unified representation of audio and visual features of objects in our environment, the brain recalibrates audio-visual simultaneity. This process allows adjustment for both differences in time of transmission and time for processing of audio and visual signals. In four experiments, we show that the cognitive processes for controlling instrumental actions also have strong influence on audio-visual recalibration. Participants learned that right and left hand button-presses each produced a specific audio-visual stimulus. Following one action the audio preceded the visual stimulus, while for the other action audio lagged vision. In a subsequent test phase, left and right button-press generated either the same audio-visual stimulus as learned initially, or the pair associated with the other action. We observed recalibration of simultaneity only for previously-learned audio-visual outcomes. Thus, learning an action-outcome relation promotes temporal grouping of the audio and visual events within the outcome pair, contributing to the creation of a temporally unified multisensory object. This suggests that learning action-outcome relations and the prediction of perceptual outcomes can provide an integrative temporal structure for our experiences of external events.

  2. Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of Monokaryotic Progeny Strains of Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

    PubMed Central

    Kwon, Hyuk Woo; Choi, Min Ah; Yun, Yeo Hong; Oh, Youn-Lee; Kong, Won-Sik

    2015-01-01

    To promote the selection of promising monokaryotic strains of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) during breeding, 61 progeny strains derived from basidiospores of two different lines of dikaryotic parental strains, ASI1038 and ASI1346, were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing of the intergenic spacer I (IGS I) region in their rDNA and by extracellular enzyme assays. Nineteen different sizes of IGS I, which ranged from 1,301 to 1,348 bp, were present among twenty ASI1346-derived progeny strains, while 15 different sizes of IGS I, which ranged from 700 to 1,347 bp, were present among twenty ASI1038-derived progeny strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the IGS sequences revealed that different clades were present in both the ASI10388- and ASI1346-derived progeny strains. Plating assays of seven kinds of extracellular enzymes (β-glucosidase, avicelase, CM-cellulase, amylase, pectinase, xylanase, and protease) also revealed apparent variation in the ability to produce extracellular enzymes among the 40 tested progeny strains from both parental A. bisporus strains. Overall, this study demonstrates that characterization of IGS I regions and extracellular enzymes is useful for the assessment of the substrate-degrading ability and heterogenicity of A. bisporus monokaryotic strains. PMID:25892920

  3. Investigation of He-W interactions using DiMES on DIII-D

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Doerner, R. P.; Rudakov, D. L.; Chrobak, C. P.; Briesemeister, A. R.; Corr, C.; De Temmerman, G.; Kluth, P.; Lasnier, C. J.; McLean, A. G.; Pace, D. C.; Pitts, R. A.; Schmitz, O.; Thompson, M.; Winters, V.

    2016-02-01

    Tungsten button samples were exposed to He ELMing H-mode plasma in DIII-D using 2.3 MW of electron cyclotron heating power. Prior to the exposures, the W buttons were exposed to either He, or D, plasma in PISCES-A for 2000 s at surface temperatures of 225-850 °C to create a variety of surfaces (surface blisters, subsurface nano-bubbles, fuzz). Erosion was spectroscopically measured from each DiMES sample, with the exception of the fuzzy W samples which showed almost undetectable WI emission. Post-exposure grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering surface analysis showed the formation of 1.5 nm diameter He bubbles in the surface of W buttons after only a single DIII-D (3 s, ˜150 ELMs) discharge, similar to the bubble layer resulting from the 2000 s. exposure in PISCES-A. No surface roughening, or damage, was detected on the samples after approximately 600 ELMs with energy density between 0.04-0.1 MJ m-2.

  4. eButton: A Wearable Computer for Health Monitoring and Personal Assistance

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Mingui; Burke, Lora E.; Mao, Zhi-Hong; Chen, Yiran; Chen, Hsin-Chen; Bai, Yicheng; Li, Yuecheng; Li, Chengliu; Jia, Wenyan

    2014-01-01

    Recent advances in mobile devices have made profound changes in people's daily lives. In particular, the impact of easy access of information by the smartphone has been tremendous. However, the impact of mobile devices on healthcare has been limited. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases are still initiated by occurrences of symptoms, and technologies and devices that emphasize on disease prevention and early detection outside hospitals are under-developed. Besides healthcare, mobile devices have not yet been designed to fully benefit people with special needs, such as the elderly and those suffering from certain disabilities, such blindness. In this paper, an overview of our research on a new wearable computer called eButton is presented. The concepts of its design and electronic implementation are described. Several applications of the eButton are described, including evaluating diet and physical activity, studying sedentary behavior, assisting the blind and visually impaired people, and monitoring older adults suffering from dementia. PMID:25340176

  5. A novel wearable smart button system for fall detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhuang, Wei; Sun, Xiang; Zhi, Yueyan; Han, Yue; Mao, Hande

    2017-05-01

    Fall has been the second most cause of accidental injury to death in the world. It has been a serious threat to the physical and mental health of the elders. Therefore, developing wearable node system with fall detecting ability has become increasingly pressing at present. A novel smart button for long-term fall detection is proposed in this paper, which is able to accurately monitor the falling behavior, and sending warning message online as well. The smart button is based on the tri-axis acceleration sensor which is used to collect the body motion signals. By using the statistical metrics of acceleration characteristics, a new SVM classification algorithm with high positive accuracy and stability is proposed so as to classify the falls and activities of daily living, and the results can be real-time displayed on Android based mobile phone. The experiments show that our wearable node system can continuously monitor the falling behavior with positive rate 94.8%.

  6. Field evaluation of personal sampling methods for multiple bioaerosols.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chi-Hsun; Chen, Bean T; Han, Bor-Cheng; Liu, Andrew Chi-Yeu; Hung, Po-Chen; Chen, Chih-Yong; Chao, Hsing Jasmine

    2015-01-01

    Ambient bioaerosols are ubiquitous in the daily environment and can affect health in various ways. However, few studies have been conducted to comprehensively evaluate personal bioaerosol exposure in occupational and indoor environments because of the complex composition of bioaerosols and the lack of standardized sampling/analysis methods. We conducted a study to determine the most efficient collection/analysis method for the personal exposure assessment of multiple bioaerosols. The sampling efficiencies of three filters and four samplers were compared. According to our results, polycarbonate (PC) filters had the highest relative efficiency, particularly for bacteria. Side-by-side sampling was conducted to evaluate the three filter samplers (with PC filters) and the NIOSH Personal Bioaerosol Cyclone Sampler. According to the results, the Button Aerosol Sampler and the IOM Inhalable Dust Sampler had the highest relative efficiencies for fungi and bacteria, followed by the NIOSH sampler. Personal sampling was performed in a pig farm to assess occupational bioaerosol exposure and to evaluate the sampling/analysis methods. The Button and IOM samplers yielded a similar performance for personal bioaerosol sampling at the pig farm. However, the Button sampler is more likely to be clogged at high airborne dust concentrations because of its higher flow rate (4 L/min). Therefore, the IOM sampler is a more appropriate choice for performing personal sampling in environments with high dust levels. In summary, the Button and IOM samplers with PC filters are efficient sampling/analysis methods for the personal exposure assessment of multiple bioaerosols.

  7. Comparison of specimen adequacy and smear quality in oral smears prepared by manual liquid-based cytology and conventional methods

    PubMed Central

    Shukla, Surabhi; Einstein, A; Shukla, Abhilasha; Mishra, Deepika

    2015-01-01

    Background: Liquid-based cytology (LBC), recommended in the mass screening of potentially malignant cervical and oral lesions, suffers from high cost owing to the use of expensive automated devices and materials. Considering the need for cost-effective LBC techniques, we evaluated the efficacy of an inexpensive manual LBC (MLBC) technique against conventional cytological technique in terms of specimen adequacy and smear quality of oral smears. Materials and Methods: Cytological samples were collected from 21 patients using a cytobrush device. After preparation of a conventional smear, the brush containing the remaining sample was immersed in the preservative vial. The preserved material was processed by an MLBC technique and subsequently, direct smears were made from the prepared cell button. Both conventional and MLBC smears were stained by routine Papanicolaou technique and evaluated by an independent observer for the thickness of the smear, cellular distribution, resolution/clarity of cells, cellular staining characteristics and the presence of unsatisfactory background/artifacts. Each parameter was graded as satisfactory; or satisfactory, but limited; or unsatisfactory. Chi-square test was used to compare the values obtained (significance set at P ≤ 0.05). Results: MLBC technique produced a significant number of satisfactory smears with regard to cell distribution, clarity/resolution, staining characteristics and background/artifacts compared to conventional methods. Conclusions: MLBC is a cost-effective cytological technique that may produce oral smears with excellent cytomorphology and longer storage life. PMID:26980958

  8. Re-Engineering the United States Marine Corps’ Enlisted Assignment Model (EAM)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-06-01

    and Execution button opens the switchboard in Figure 12. This form accesses all of the VBA code that is associated with this form and the code that...the prototype to prompt the user and to inform him of what he is about to do. Each of the buttons that are on these forms is connected to an SQL ...into the field for building a rule are the values 2;3;4;5;6;7. The user can enter an SQL statement that would determine the values or the user could

  9. ALLTEM System User’s Manual, Munitions Management Projects, ALLTEM Multi-Axis Electromagnetic Induction System Demonstration and Validation, Version 1.0

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-05

    Alarm button. Under the GPS frame are two smaller frames. On the left is a frame with buttons labeled Tractor Guidance and Acquisition Error... GPS ) and the Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) data. 5.2 Using the Data Acquisition Simulator Software The simulator and a practice set... acquisition for one polarity of the TX (33ms dead band for relay switching + 33 ms of waveforms). When the GPS is being used this is usually “1”, but may be

  10. Barefoot running does not affect simple reaction time: an exploratory study

    PubMed Central

    Snow, Nicholas J.; Blair, Jason F.L.; MacDonald, Graham Z.

    2018-01-01

    Background Converging evidence comparing barefoot (BF) and shod (SH) running highlights differences in foot-strike patterns and somatosensory feedback, among others. Anecdotal evidence from SH runners attempting BF running suggests a greater attentional demand may be experienced during BF running. However, little work to date has examined whether there is an attentional cost of BF versus SH running. Objective This exploratory study aimed to examine whether an acute bout of BF running would impact simple reaction time (SRT) compared to SH running, in a sample of runners naïve to BF running. Methods Eight male distance runners completed SRT testing during 10 min of BF or SH treadmill running at 70% maximal aerobic speed (17.9 ± 1.4 km h−1). To test SRT, participants were required to press a hand-held button in response to the flash of a light bulb placed in the center of their visual field. SRT was tested at 1-minute intervals during running. BF and SH conditions were completed in a pseudo-randomized and counterbalanced crossover fashion. SRT was defined as the time elapsed between the light bulb flash and the button press. SRT errors were also recorded and were defined as the number of trials in which a button press was not recorded in response to the light bulb flash. Results Overall, SRT later in the exercise bouts showed a statistically significant increase compared to earlier (p < 0.05). Statistically significant increases in SRT were present at 7 min versus 5 min (0.29 ± 0.02 s vs. 0.27 ± 0.02 s, p < 0.05) and at 9 min versus 2 min (0.29 ± 0.03 s vs. 0.27 ± 0.03 s, p < 0.05). However, BF running did not influence this increase in SRT (p > 0.05) or the number of SRT errors (17.6 ± 6.6 trials vs. 17.0 ± 13.0 trials, p > 0.05). Discussion In a sample of distance runners naïve to BF running, there was no statistically significant difference in SRT or SRT errors during acute bouts of BF and SH running. We interpret these results to mean that BF running does not have a greater attentional cost compared to SH running during a SRT task throughout treadmill running. Literature suggests that stride-to-stride gait modulation during running may occur predominately via mechanisms that preclude conscious perception, thus potentially attenuating effects of increased somatosensory feedback experienced during BF running. Future research should explore the present experimental paradigm in a larger sample using over-ground running trials, as well as employing different tests of attention. PMID:29666760

  11. Omission P3 after voluntary action indexes the formation of action-driven prediction.

    PubMed

    Kimura, Motohiro; Takeda, Yuji

    2018-02-01

    When humans frequently experience a certain sensory effect after a certain action, a bidirectional association between neural representations of the action and the sensory effect is rapidly acquired, which enables action-driven prediction of the sensory effect. The present study aimed to test whether or not omission P3, an event-related brain potential (ERP) elicited by the sudden omission of a sensory effect, is sensitive to the formation of action-driven prediction. For this purpose, we examined how omission P3 is affected by the number of possible visual effects. In four separate blocks (1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks), participants successively pressed a right button at an interval of about 1s. In all blocks, each button press triggered a bar on a display (a bar with square edges, 85%; a bar with round edges, 5%), but occasionally did not (sudden omission of a visual effect, 10%). Participants were required to press a left button when a bar with round edges appeared. In the 1-stimulus block, the orientation of the bar was fixed throughout the block; in the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks, the orientation was randomly varied among two, four, and eight possibilities, respectively. Omission P3 in the 1-stimulus block was greater than those in the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks; there were no significant differences among the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks. This binary pattern nicely fits the limitation in the acquisition of action-effect association; although an association between an action and one visual effect is easily acquired, associations between an action and two or more visual effects cannot be acquired concurrently. Taken together, the present results suggest that omission P3 is highly sensitive to the formation of action-driven prediction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Internal fixation of distal tibiofibular syndesmotic injuries: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chen; Ma, Xin; Wang, Xu; Huang, Jiazhang; Zhang, Chao; Chen, Li

    2013-09-01

    No consensus had been reached about the optimal method for syndesmotic fixation. The present study analysed syndesmotic fixation based on the highest level of clinical evidence in order to obtain more reliable results. Medline, Embase and Cochrane database were searched through the OVID retrieval engine. Manual searching was undertaken afterward to identify additional studies. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) and prospective comparative studies were selected for final inclusion. Study screening and data extraction were completed independently by two reviewers. All study characteristics were summarized into a table. The extracted data were used for data analysis. Twelve studies were finally included: six of them were RCTs, two were quasi-randomized studies and four were prospective comparative studies. Four comparisons with traditional metallic screw were identified in terms of bioabsorbable screws, tricortical fixation method, suture-button device as well as non-fixation choice in low syndesmotic injuries. Both absorbable screws and the tricortical fixation method showed almost no better results than traditional quadricortical metallic screw (p > 0.05). Additionally, existing studies could not illustrate their efficiency of reducing hardware removal rate. The suture button technique had significantly better functional score (p = 0.003), ankle motion (p = 0.02), time to full weightbearing (p < 0.0001) and much less complications (p = 0.0008) based on short and intermediate term follow-up data. Transfixation in low syndesmotic injuries showed poorer results than the non fixed group in all outcome measurements, but didn't reach a significant level (p > 0.05). The present evidence still couldn't find superior performance of the bioabsorbable screw and tricortical fixation method. Their true effects in decreasing second operation rate need further specific studies. Better results of the suture-button made it a promising technique, but it still needs long-term testing and cost-efficiency studies. The patients with low syndemotic injuries should be well assessed before fixation determination and the indication of screw placement in such conditions needs to be further defined.

  13. The negative effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the acute phase of electrochemical esophageal burn induced by button battery ingestion.

    PubMed

    Aydin, Atakan; Aktas, Samil; Hafiz, Gunter; Kabakas, Fatih; Erer, Metin; Bilgic, Bilge

    2004-07-01

    Ingestion of button battery, if lodges in esophagus, causes mucosal destruction in esophagus and may damage surrounding tissues due to electrochemical reactions which may lead to esophagus perforation, tracheosefageal fistula and other serious problems. We designed an experimental study to test the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on battery induced electrochemical tissue damage in the esophagus of a rabbit model and possible change with duration of contact time. Button batteries were inserted in esophagus of 40 rabbits which were divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 had 15 min of duration of contact time of battery in esophagus, while Groups 3 and 4 had 30 min. Groups 1 and 3 had hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 3 days; Groups 2 and 4 did not. At the end of 3rd day all animals were sacrified and samples were taken from the esophagus for determination of malondialdehyde levels and for histopathological examination to compare: mucosal destruction, muscular layer involvement, perforation and tracheal involvement between groups. Malondialdehyde levels, mucosal destruction, muscular layer involvement, perforation and tracheal involvement were significantly higher in groups which had 30 min of contact time compared to groups which had 15 min. The same assessments were significantly higher in Group 1 (15 min of contact time with hyperbaric oxygen therapy) compared to Group 2 (15 min of contact time without hyperbaric oxygen therapy). However, the difference between Group 3 (30 min of contact time with hyperbaric oxygen therapy) and Group 4 (30 min of contact time, no hyperbaric oxygen therapy) was not significant. Our study demonstrated that if contact time is 15 min HBO had an additive adverse effect to electrochemically burned esophagus by increasing free radicals and eventually tissue damage. However, if the contact time is 30 min its adverse effect is shielded by huge electrochemical destruction due to long contact time.

  14. Age-related slowing of response selection and production in a visual choice reaction time task

    PubMed Central

    Woods, David L.; Wyma, John M.; Yund, E. William; Herron, Timothy J.; Reed, Bruce

    2015-01-01

    Aging is associated with delayed processing in choice reaction time (CRT) tasks, but the processing stages most impacted by aging have not been clearly identified. Here, we analyzed CRT latencies in a computerized serial visual feature-conjunction task. Participants responded to a target letter (probability 40%) by pressing one mouse button, and responded to distractor letters differing either in color, shape, or both features from the target (probabilities 20% each) by pressing the other mouse button. Stimuli were presented randomly to the left and right visual fields and stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) were adaptively reduced following correct responses using a staircase procedure. In Experiment 1, we tested 1466 participants who ranged in age from 18 to 65 years. CRT latencies increased significantly with age (r = 0.47, 2.80 ms/year). Central processing time (CPT), isolated by subtracting simple reaction times (SRT) (obtained in a companion experiment performed on the same day) from CRT latencies, accounted for more than 80% of age-related CRT slowing, with most of the remaining increase in latency due to slowed motor responses. Participants were faster and more accurate when the stimulus location was spatially compatible with the mouse button used for responding, and this effect increased slightly with age. Participants took longer to respond to distractors with target color or shape than to distractors with no target features. However, the additional time needed to discriminate the more target-like distractors did not increase with age. In Experiment 2, we replicated the findings of Experiment 1 in a second population of 178 participants (ages 18–82 years). CRT latencies did not differ significantly in the two experiments, and similar effects of age, distractor similarity, and stimulus-response spatial compatibility were found. The results suggest that the age-related slowing in visual CRT latencies is largely due to delays in response selection and production. PMID:25954175

  15. A novel cobalt-free layered GdBaFe 2O 5+ δ cathode for proton conducting solid oxide fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ding, Hanping; Xue, Xingjian

    While cobalt-containing perovskite-type cathode materials facilitate the activation of oxygen reduction, they also suffer from problems like poor chemical stability in CO 2 and high thermal expansion coefficients. In this research, a cobalt-free layered GdBaFe 2O 5+ δ (GBF) perovskite was developed as a cathode material for protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) based on proton conducting electrolyte of stable BaZr 0.1Ce 0.7Y 0.2O 3- δ (BZCY7). The button cells of Ni-BZCY7|BZCY7|GBF were fabricated and characterized using complex impedance technique from 600 to 700 °C. An open-circuit potential of 1.007 V, maximum power density of 417 mW cm -2, and a low electrode polarization resistance of 0.18 Ω cm 2 were achieved at 700 °C. The results indicate that layered GBF perovskite is a good candidate for cobalt-free cathode material, while the developed Ni-BZCY7|BZCY7|GBF cell is a promising functional material system for solid oxide fuel cells.

  16. Comparison of alphabetical versus categorical display format for medication order entry in a simulated touch screen anesthesia information management system: an experiment in clinician-computer interaction in anesthesia.

    PubMed

    Marian, Anil A; Dexter, Franklin; Tucker, Peter; Todd, Michael M

    2012-05-29

    Anesthesia information management system (AIMS) records should be designed and configured to facilitate the accurate and prompt recording of multiple drugs administered coincidentally or in rapid succession. We proposed two touch-screen display formats for use with our department's new EPIC touch-screen AIMS. In one format, medication "buttons" were arranged in alphabetical order (i.e. A-C, D-H etc.). In the other, buttons were arranged in categories (Common, Fluids, Cardiovascular, Coagulation etc.). Both formats were modeled on an iPad screen to resemble the AIMS interface. Anesthesia residents, anesthesiologists, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (n = 60) were then asked to find and touch the correct buttons for a series of medications whose names were displayed to the side of the entry screen. The number of entries made within 2 minutes was recorded. This was done 3 times for each format, with the 1st format chosen randomly. Data were analyzed from the third trials with each format to minimize differences in learning. The categorical format had a mean of 5.6 more drugs entered using the categorical method in two minutes than the alphabetical format (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.5 to 6.8, P < 0.0001). The findings were the same regardless of the order of testing (i.e. alphabetical-categorical vs. categorical - alphabetical) and participants' years of clinical experience. Most anesthesia providers made no (0) errors for most trials (N = 96/120 trials, lower 95% limit 73%, P < 0.0001). There was no difference in error rates between the two formats (P = 0.53). The use of touch-screen user interfaces in healthcare is increasingly common. Arrangement of drugs names in a categorical display format in the medication order-entry touch screen of an AIMS can result in faster data entry compared to an alphabetical arrangement of drugs. Results of this quality improvement project were used in our department's design of our final intraoperative electronic anesthesia record. This testing approach using cognitive and usability engineering methods can be used to objectively design and evaluate many aspects of the clinician-computer interaction in electronic health records.

  17. Acute high-grade acromioclavicular dislocations treated with triple button device (MINAR): Preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Cano-Martínez, José Antonio; Nicolás-Serrano, Gregorio; Bento-Gerard, Julio; Picazo-Marín, Francisco; Andrés-Grau, Josefina

    2016-11-01

    Describe the clinical and radiological results of triple button device in the treatment of high-grade AC dislocations (Rockwood, type V) and assess whether improves vertical and horizontal stability compared to the techniques previously described. This retrospective study included 39 patients with type V acromioclavicular dislocations treated with Twin Tail TightRope™ system (triple button device). Of the 39 patients, 33 (26 men and 7 women) were able to participate in clinical and radiographic follow up. At the time of surgery, the mean age was 25years±7(range, 17-49). All patients underwent bilateral-weighted Zanca (CC distance) and Alexander view (AC distance) as well as the Constant Score (CS) and Acromioclavicular Joint Instability Scoring System (ACJI). Radiological and clinical outcome was assessed during routine follow-up examinations preoperatively, postoperatively, 1, 3, 6 months and every year after the surgery. The presence of calcification, degenerative changes, mobilization of implants and bone resorption were also assessed. After a mean follow up of 25±4months (range 14-38), the results of the Constant (CS) were 94.1±5,5 (range 76-100) and test ACJI 87.3±9,8 (range 65-100), showing no significant differences with the uninjured shoulder (CS 95.8±2.5, range 83-100; ACJI 94.1±3.7, range 80-100). At final review, we observed that preoperative coracoclavicular distance (Zanca View) improved from 21,75±1.97mm to 8,73mm±0.75 and the acromioclavicular distance (Alexander View) from 12,65mm±1.99 to 0,35±0.3mm. Compared with healthy shoulder, these differences were not significant. There was no loss of reduction with this system in the vertical plane. 4 patients (12.12%) revealed signs of posterior instability with worse clinical test results. The presence of degenerative joint changes (6,06%), calcifications (27,2%) or mobilization of the implant (18,18%) was not associated with worse clinical outcomes. Twin Tail device using minimally invasive technique improves stability in the vertical and, specially in the horizontal plane relative to the previously described techniques without increasing number of complications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Pathophysiology of esophageal impairment due to button battery ingestion.

    PubMed

    Völker, Johannes; Völker, Christine; Schendzielorz, Philipp; Schraven, Sebastian P; Radeloff, Andreas; Mlynski, Robert; Hagen, Rudolf; Rak, Kristen

    2017-09-01

    The increased use of button batteries with high energy densities in devices of daily life presents a high risk of injury, especially for toddlers and young children. If an accidental ingestion of a button battery occurs, this foreign body can become caught in the constrictions of the esophagus and cause serious damage to the adjacent tissue layers. The consequences can be ulcerations, perforations with fistula formation and damage to the surrounding anatomical structures. In order to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology after ingestion, we carried out systematic studies on fresh preparations of porcine esophagi. The lithium button battery type CR2032, used most frequently in daily life, was exposed in preparations of porcine esophagi and incubated under the addition of artificial saliva at 37 °C. A total of eight esophagi were analysed by different methods. Measurements of the pH value around the battery electrodes and histological studies of the tissue damage were carried out after 0.5-24 h exposure time. In addition, macroscopic time-lapse images were recorded. Measurements of the battery voltage and the course of the electric current supplemented the experiments. The investigations showed that the batteries caused an electrolysis reaction in the moist environment. The positive electrode formed an acidic and the negative electrode a basic medium. Consequently, a coagulation necrosis at the positive pole, and a deep colliquation necrosis at the minus pole occurred. After an exposure time of 12 h, tissue damage caused by the lye corrosion was observed on the side of the negative electrode up to the lamina muscularis. The corrosion progressed up to the final exposure time of 24 h, but the batteries still had sufficient residual voltage, such that further advancing damage would be expected. Button battery ingestion in humans poses an acute life-threatening danger and immediate endoscopic removal of the foreign body is essential. After only 2 h exposure time, significant damage to the tissue could be detected, which progressed continuously to complete esophageal perforation. The primary prevention of battery ingestion is therefore of particular importance. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Correlating bilayer tablet delamination tendencies to micro-environmental thermodynamic conditions during pan coating.

    PubMed

    Zacour, Brian M; Pandey, Preetanshu; Subramanian, Ganeshkumar; Gao, Julia Z; Nikfar, Faranak

    2014-06-01

    The objective of this study was to determine the impact that the micro-environment, as measured by PyroButton data loggers, experienced by tablets during the pan coating unit operation had on the layer adhesion of bilayer tablets in open storage conditions. A full factorial design of experiments (DOE) with three center points was conducted to study the impact of final tablet hardness, film coating spray rate and film coating exhaust temperature on the delamination tendencies of bilayer tablets. PyroButton data loggers were placed (fixed) at various locations in a pan coater and were also allowed to freely move with the tablet bed to measure the micro-environmental temperature and humidity conditions of the tablet bed. The variance in the measured micro-environment via PyroButton data loggers accounted for 75% of the variance in the delamination tendencies of bilayer tablets on storage (R(2 )= 0.75). A survival analysis suggested that tablet hardness and coating spray rate significantly impacted the delamination tendencies of the bilayer tablets under open storage conditions. The coating exhaust temperature did not show good correlation with the tablets' propensity to crack indicating that it was not representative of the coating micro-environment. Models created using data obtained from the PyroButton data loggers outperformed models created using primary DOE factors in the prediction of bilayer tablet strength, especially upon equipment or scale transfers. The coating micro-environment experienced by tablets during the pan coating unit operation significantly impacts the strength of the bilayer interface of tablets on storage.

  20. Results of minimal invasive coracoclavicular fixation by double button lift-up system in Neer type II distal clavicle fractures.

    PubMed

    Dedeoğlu, Süleyman Semih; İmren, Yunus; Çabuk, Haluk; Çakar, Murat; Arslan, Samet Murat; Esenyel, Cem Zeki

    2017-01-01

    We aimed to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes of indirect fracture reduction performed by coracoclavicular fixation with minimal invasive double button lift-up system in Neer type IIa unstable fractures of distal clavicle. 22 patients with Neer type 2 distal clavicle fracture were enrolled in that prospective study. All patients underwent indirect reduction and osteosynthesis performed by coracoclavicular fixation with minimal invasive double button lift-up system. Postoperative follow-up was carried out clinically and radiologically with plain X-rays and utilization of Constant and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment (ASES) shoulder scores. Mean follow-up time was 15 months. A standard sling was applied for 2 weeks, postoperatively. Rehabilitation program was started on postoperative day 1. Mean age was 39 (range: 21-60), 18 of the patients were male. Right dominant extremity was affected in 14 patients. Mean duration of the surgical intervention was 40 min (range: 30-55 min). Mean union time was found to be 14 weeks (range: 7-21 weeks). Mean postoperative ASES and Constant scores were 79.9 (66.9-88.3) and 82.2 (71-100), respectively. The duration of return to normal daily activities were found to be 4.5 months. Any loss of reduction, AC joint arthrosis, and clavicular shortening were not detected in X-rays. This study has demonstrated that indirect osteosynthesis performed by coracoclavicular fixation with double button lift-up system in the treatment of unstable Neer type IIa fractures of the distal clavicle had successful clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes.

  1. Esophageal lesions following button-battery ingestion in children: Analysis of causes and proposals for preventive measures.

    PubMed

    Lahmar, J; Célérier, C; Garabédian, E N; Couloigner, V; Leboulanger, N; Denoyelle, F

    2018-04-01

    To study recent cases of esophageal injury due to button-battery ingestion in children presenting in pediatric ENT emergency departments of the Paris area of France (Île-de-France region), in order to propose appropriate preventive measures. A retrospective descriptive single-center study included all children under 15 years of age, presenting in pediatric ENT emergency departments between January 2008 and April 2014 for button-battery ingestion with esophageal impaction requiring emergency removal. Twenty-two boys and 4 girls, with a median age of 25 months, were included. Twenty-five of the 26 batteries had diameters of 20mm or more. Median esophageal impaction time was 7 hours 30 minutes (range, 2 to 72 hours). The complications rate was 23%. Mean hospital stay cost was €38,751 (range, €5130-119,737). The origin of the battery was known in 23 of the 26 cases: remote control without screw-secured compartment (42.3%), open battery pack (15.4%), children's toy (15.3%), camera (7.7%), watch (1 case) and hearing aid without screw-secured compartment (1 case). Esophageal lesions due to ingestion of button-batteries in children are almost always due to batteries larger than 20mm in diameter, mostly from devices with a poorly protected compartment, or batteries that are not individually packaged. These lesions cause serious complications in a quarter of cases and their management entails high health costs. Legislation requiring screw-secured compartments and individual blisters for batteries could have prevented 69.2% of the ingestions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  2. User interface customization on Endoscopy Department Mini-PACS and its impact on examination workflow

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osada, Masakazu; Kaise, Mitsuru; Ozeki, Takeshi; Tsunakawa, Hirofumi; Tsunakawa, Kiyoshi; Takayanagi, Takashi; Suzuki, Nobuaki; Miwa, Jun; Ohta, Yasuhiko; Kanai, Koichi

    1999-07-01

    We have proposed a new user interface with workflow customization, implemented and evaluted in Endoscopy Department Mini-PACS that has been introduced and routinely used for two years at Toshiba General Hospital. We have set some task at endoscopy image acquisition units during examinations for two different types of user interfaces and compared performance. One is a command-button based operation using a remote control, and another is that with eight graphic buttons which are displayed on a CRT monitor and can be customized. Results of the two-year study show that mean number of input diagnosis codes per examination with graphic and customized interface is significantly greater than that with conventional interface. Also, mean time to complete one upper gastric endoscopy examination with new user interface is about 17 percent less than that with conventional interface. These result suggest that systems with the visualized and customized operation and feedback encourages physicians to use more functions and to compete tasks more efficiently than systems with conventional command-button based user interfaces.

  3. Concepts for multi-IFU robotic positioning systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miziarski, Stan; Brzeski, Jurek; Bland Hawthorn, Joss; Gilbert, James; Goodwin, Michael; Heijmans, Jeroen; Horton, Anthony; Lawrence, Jon; Saunders, Will; Smith, Greg A.; Staszak, Nicholas

    2012-09-01

    Following the successful commissioning of SAMI (Sydney-AAO Multi-object IFU) the AAO has undertaken concept studies leading to a design of a new instrument for the AAT (Hector). It will use an automated robotic system for the deployment of fibre hexabundles to the focal plane. We have analysed several concepts, which could be applied in the design of new instruments or as a retrofit to existing positioning systems. We look at derivatives of Starbugs that could handle a large fibre bundle as well as modifications to pick and place robots like 2dF or OzPoz. One concept uses large magnetic buttons that adhere to a steel field plate with substantial force. To move them we replace the gripper with a pneumatic device, which engages with the button and injects it with compressed air, thus forming a magnet preloaded air bearing allowing virtually friction-less repositioning of the button by a gantry or an R-Theta robot. New fibre protection, guiding and retraction systems are also described. These developments could open a practical avenue for the upgrade to a number of instruments.

  4. Early event-related brain potentials that reflect interest for content information in the media.

    PubMed

    Adachi, Shinobu; Morikawa, Koji; Nittono, Hiroshi

    2012-03-28

    This study investigated the relationship between event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to abridged content information in the media and the subsequent decisions to view the full content. Student volunteers participated in a task that simulated information selection on the basis of the content information. Screenshots of television clips and headlines of news articles on the Web were used as content information for the image condition and the headline condition, respectively. Following presentation of a stimulus containing content information, participants decided whether or not they would view the full content by pressing a select or a reject button. When the select button was pressed, participants were presented with a television clip or a news article. When the reject button was pressed, participants continued on to the next trial, without viewing further. In comparison with rejected stimuli, selected stimuli elicited a larger negative component, with a peak latency of ∼250 ms. The increase in the negative component was independent of the type of visual stimulus. These results suggest that interest toward content information is reflected in early-stage event-related brain potential responses.

  5. Investigation of He–W interactions using DiMES on DIII-D

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

    Doerner, R. P.; Rudakov, D. L.; Chrobak, C. P.

    Here, tungsten button samples were exposed to He ELMing H-mode plasma in DIII-D using 2.3 MW of electron cyclotron heating power. Prior to the exposures, the W buttons were exposed to either He, or D, plasma in PISCES-A for 2000 s at surface temperatures of 225–850 °C to create a variety of surfaces (surface blisters, subsurface nano-bubbles, fuzz). Erosion was spectroscopically measured from each DiMES sample, with the exception of the fuzzy W samples which showed almost undetectable WI emission. Post-exposure grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering surface analysis showed the formation of 1.5 nm diameter He bubbles in themore » surface of W buttons after only a single DIII-D (3 s, ~150 ELMs) discharge, similar to the bubble layer resulting from the 2000 s. exposure in PISCES-A. No surface roughening, or damage, was detected on the samples after approximately 600 ELMs with energy density between 0.04–0.1 MJ m –2.« less

  6. Investigation of He–W interactions using DiMES on DIII-D

    DOE PAGES

    Doerner, R. P.; Rudakov, D. L.; Chrobak, C. P.; ...

    2016-01-22

    Here, tungsten button samples were exposed to He ELMing H-mode plasma in DIII-D using 2.3 MW of electron cyclotron heating power. Prior to the exposures, the W buttons were exposed to either He, or D, plasma in PISCES-A for 2000 s at surface temperatures of 225–850 °C to create a variety of surfaces (surface blisters, subsurface nano-bubbles, fuzz). Erosion was spectroscopically measured from each DiMES sample, with the exception of the fuzzy W samples which showed almost undetectable WI emission. Post-exposure grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering surface analysis showed the formation of 1.5 nm diameter He bubbles in themore » surface of W buttons after only a single DIII-D (3 s, ~150 ELMs) discharge, similar to the bubble layer resulting from the 2000 s. exposure in PISCES-A. No surface roughening, or damage, was detected on the samples after approximately 600 ELMs with energy density between 0.04–0.1 MJ m –2.« less

  7. Three dimensional CFD modeling and experimental validation of a single chamber solid oxide fuel cell fed by methane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, H. T.; Le, M. V.; Nguyen, T. A.; Nguyen, T. A. N.

    2017-06-01

    The solid oxide fuel cell is one of the promising technologies for future energy demand. Solid oxide fuel cell operated in the single-chamber mode exhibits several advantages over conventional single oxide fuel cell due to the simplified, compact, sealing-free cell structure. There are some studies on simulating the behavior of this type of fuel cell but they mainly focus on the 2D model. In the present study, a three-dimensional numerical model of a single chamber solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is reported and solved using COMSOL Multiphysics software. Experiments of a planar button solid oxide fuel cell were used to verify the simulation results. The system is fed by methane and oxygen and operated at 700°C. The cathode is LSCF6482, the anode is GDC-Ni, the electrolyte is LDM and the operating pressure is 1 atm. There was a good agreement between the cell temperature and current voltage estimated from the model and measured from the experiment. The results indicate that the model is applicable for the single chamber solid oxide fuel cell and it can provide a basic for the design, scale up of single chamber solid oxide fuel cell system.

  8. Development of procedures for calculating stiffness and damping of elastomers in engineering applications. Part 5: Elastomer performance limits and the design and test of an elastomer damper

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tecza, J. A.; Darlow, M. S.; Smalley, A. J.

    1979-01-01

    Tests were performed on elastomer specimens of the material polybutadiene to determine the performance limitations imposed by strain, temperature, and frequency. Three specimens were tested: a shear specimen, a compression specimen, and a second compression specimen in which thermocouples were embedded in the elastomer buttons. Stiffness and damping were determined from all tests, and internal temperatures were recorded for the instrumented compression specimen. Measured results are presented together with comparisons between predictions of a thermo-viscoelastic analysis and the measured results. Dampers of polybutadiene and Viton were designed, built, and tested. Vibration measurements were made and sensitivity of vibration to change in unbalance was also determined. Values for log decrement were extracted from the synchronous response curves. Comparisons were made between measured sensitivity to unbalance and log decrement and predicted values for these quantities.

  9. Characterization of the Goubau line for testing beam diagnostic instruments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, S. Y.; Stulle, F.; Sung, C. K.; Yoo, K. H.; Seok, J.; Moon, K. J.; Choi, C. U.; Chung, Y.; Kim, G.; Woo, H. J.; Kwon, J.; Lee, I. G.; Choi, E. M.; Chung, M.

    2017-12-01

    One of the main characteristics of the Goubau line is that it supports a low-loss, non-radiated surface wave guided by a dielectric-coated metal wire. The dominant mode of the surface wave along the Goubau line is a TM01 mode, which resembles the pattern of the electromagnetic fields induced in the metallic beam pipe when the charged particle beam passes through it. Therefore, the Goubau line can be used for the preliminary bench test and performance optimization of the beam diagnostic instruments without requiring charged particle beams from the accelerators. In this paper, we discuss the basic properties of the Goubau line for testing beam diagnostic instruments and present the initial test results for button-type beam position monitors (BPMs). The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical estimations, which indicates that Goubau line allows effective testing of beam diagnostic equipment.

  10. Automatic multiple-sample applicator and electrophoresis apparatus

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Grunbaum, B. W. (Inventor)

    1977-01-01

    An apparatus for performing electrophoresis and a multiple-sample applicator is described. Electrophoresis is a physical process in which electrically charged molecules and colloidal particles, upon the application of a dc current, migrate along a gel or a membrane that is wetted with an electrolyte. A multiple-sample applicator is provided which coacts with a novel tank cover to permit an operator either to depress a single button, thus causing multiple samples to be deposited on the gel or on the membrane simultaneously, or to depress one or more sample applicators separately by means of a separate button for each applicator.

  11. Prediction of SOFC Performance with or without Experiments: A Study on Minimum Requirements for Experimental Data

    DOE PAGES

    Yang, Tao; Sezer, Hayri; Celik, Ismail B.; ...

    2015-06-02

    In the present paper, a physics-based procedure combining experiments and multi-physics numerical simulations is developed for overall analysis of SOFCs operational diagnostics and performance predictions. In this procedure, essential information for the fuel cell is extracted first by utilizing empirical polarization analysis in conjunction with experiments and refined by multi-physics numerical simulations via simultaneous analysis and calibration of polarization curve and impedance behavior. The performance at different utilization cases and operating currents is also predicted to confirm the accuracy of the proposed model. It is demonstrated that, with the present electrochemical model, three air/fuel flow conditions are needed to producemore » a set of complete data for better understanding of the processes occurring within SOFCs. After calibration against button cell experiments, the methodology can be used to assess performance of planar cell without further calibration. The proposed methodology would accelerate the calibration process and improve the efficiency of design and diagnostics.« less

  12. Survey of mercury, cadmium and lead content of household batteries.

    PubMed

    Recknagel, Sebastian; Radant, Hendrik; Kohlmeyer, Regina

    2014-01-01

    The objective of this work was to provide updated information on the development of the potential impact of heavy metal containing batteries on municipal waste and battery recycling processes following transposition of the new EU Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC. A representative sample of 146 different types of commercially available dry and button cells as well as lithium-ion accumulators for mobile phones were analysed for their mercury (Hg)-, cadmium (Cd)- and lead (Pb)-contents. The methods used for preparing the cells and analysing the heavy metals Hg, Cd, and Pb were either developed during a former study or newly developed. Several batteries contained higher mass fractions of mercury or cadmium than the EU limits. Only half of the batteries with mercury and/or lead fractions above the marking thresholds were labelled. Alkaline-manganese mono-cells and Li-ion accumulators, on average, contained the lowest heavy metal concentrations, while zinc-carbon batteries, on average, contained the highest levels. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Influence of Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) on quality and refrigerated storage stability of patties prepared from sutchi catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus).

    PubMed

    Nayak, Prakash Chandra; Raju, C V; Lakshmisha, I P; Singh, Rajkumar Ratankumar; Sofi, Faisal Rashid

    2015-06-01

    The ability of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) in changing physical, chemical, microbial and sensory properties of fish patties prepared from sutchi catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) was investigated. Two batches of fresh patties were prepared, one batch was treated with 15 % button mushroom (TP) and other batch was a control (CP) without mushroom. The patties were packed in polythene bags and stored under refrigerated condition (6 ± 2 ºC) without adding any preservatives for the estimation of storage stability. The analyses of patties were conducted at regular intervals of 3 days. The results showed that, Peroxide value, Thiobarbituric acid value, Free fatty acids increased significantly in CP at the end of 12 days whereas the TP was within the acceptable limit up to 16 days. Total volatile base nitrogen and Trimethylamine nitrogen also showed a similar trend. The Total plate count and Aerobic spore formers showed an increasing trend in CP when compared to TP. The sensory scores showed that the overall acceptability of CP were lower than TP, which was acceptable even after 16 days of storage. The present study showed that, the quality and storage stability of TP were observed to be in good condition up to 16 days and started deteriorating 20th day onwards, whereas the CP were acceptable only up to 12 days. Therefore it can be recommended that, addition of 15 % of button mushroom to sutchi catfish patty not only increases the nutritional quality but also increases the shelf life of patties under refrigerated storage.

  14. What Kind of Capsule Endoscope Is Suitable for a Controllable Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope? Experimental Study Using a Porcine Stomach Model for Clinical Application (with Videos)

    PubMed Central

    Ota, Kazuhiro; Nouda, Sadaharu; Takeuchi, Toshihisa; Iguchi, Munetaka; Kojima, Yuichi; Kuramoto, Takanori; Inoue, Takuya; Shindo, Yasunori; Uesugi, Kenshiro; Fujito, Yoshiaki; Nishihara, Hironori; Ohtsuka, Naotake; Higuchi, Kazuhide

    2015-01-01

    Background We have been developing the Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope (SPCE) that allows for controllability from outside of the body and real-time observation. What kind of capsule endoscope (CE) is suitable for a controllable SPCE is unclear and a very critical point for clinical application. We compared observing ability of three kinds of SPCEs with different viewing angles and frame rates. Methods Eleven buttons were sewed in an excised porcine stomach. Four examiners controlled the SPCE using PillCamSB2, -ESO2, and -COLON2 (Given Imaging Ltd., Israel), for 10 minutes each with the aim of detecting as many buttons and examining them as closely as possible. The ability to find lesions was assessed based on the number of detected buttons. The SPCE-performance score (SPS) was used to evaluate the ability to examine the lesions in detail. Results The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 detected 11 [interquartile range (IQR): 0], 10.5 (IQR, 0.5), and 8 (IQR, 1.0) buttons, respectively. The SPCE-ESO2 and -COLON2 had a significantly better ability to detect lesions than the -SB2 (p < 0.05). The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 had significantly different SPS values of 22 (IQR, 0), 16.5 (IQR, 1.5), and 14 (IQR, 1.0), respectively (p < 0.05 for all comparisons; SPCE-SB2 vs. -ESO2, -SB2 vs. -COLON2, and -ESO2 vs. -COLON2). Conclusions PillCamESO2 is most suitable in different three CEs for SPCE for examining lesions in detail of the stomach. PMID:26447694

  15. What Kind of Capsule Endoscope Is Suitable for a Controllable Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope? Experimental Study Using a Porcine Stomach Model for Clinical Application (with Videos).

    PubMed

    Ota, Kazuhiro; Nouda, Sadaharu; Takeuchi, Toshihisa; Iguchi, Munetaka; Kojima, Yuichi; Kuramoto, Takanori; Inoue, Takuya; Shindo, Yasunori; Uesugi, Kenshiro; Fujito, Yoshiaki; Nishihara, Hironori; Ohtsuka, Naotake; Higuchi, Kazuhide

    2015-01-01

    We have been developing the Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope (SPCE) that allows for controllability from outside of the body and real-time observation. What kind of capsule endoscope (CE) is suitable for a controllable SPCE is unclear and a very critical point for clinical application. We compared observing ability of three kinds of SPCEs with different viewing angles and frame rates. Eleven buttons were sewed in an excised porcine stomach. Four examiners controlled the SPCE using PillCamSB2, -ESO2, and -COLON2 (Given Imaging Ltd., Israel), for 10 minutes each with the aim of detecting as many buttons and examining them as closely as possible. The ability to find lesions was assessed based on the number of detected buttons. The SPCE-performance score (SPS) was used to evaluate the ability to examine the lesions in detail. The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 detected 11 [interquartile range (IQR): 0], 10.5 (IQR, 0.5), and 8 (IQR, 1.0) buttons, respectively. The SPCE-ESO2 and -COLON2 had a significantly better ability to detect lesions than the -SB2 (p < 0.05). The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 had significantly different SPS values of 22 (IQR, 0), 16.5 (IQR, 1.5), and 14 (IQR, 1.0), respectively (p < 0.05 for all comparisons; SPCE-SB2 vs. -ESO2, -SB2 vs. -COLON2, and -ESO2 vs. -COLON2). PillCamESO2 is most suitable in different three CEs for SPCE for examining lesions in detail of the stomach.

  16. Structural characterization, electrical conductivity and open circuit voltage studies of the nanocrystalline La10Si6O27 electrolyte material for SOFCs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jena, Paramananda; Jayasubramaniyan, S.; Patro, P. K.; Lenka, R. K.; Sinha, Amit; Muralidharan, P.; Srinadhu, E. S.; Satyanarayana, N.

    2018-02-01

    Nanocrystalline La10Si6O27 apatite-type sample was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Thermal behavior, phase, structure, morphology and elemental composition of La, O and Si of the synthesized La10Si6O27 sample were investigated through TG/DTA, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and SEM-EDX measurements respectively. Formation of phase purity of the nanocrystalline La10Si6O27 sample was confirmed by analysing the measured X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern using Rietveld refinement and the calculated average crystallite size of the La10Si6O27 sample was found to be 33 nm. The electrical conductivity of the sintered La10Si6O27 pellet was investigated as a function of temperature ranging from 200 to 800 °C under air and it was found to be 1.92 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 800 °C. The chemical stability of La10Si6O27 powder under oxidizing and reducing atmospheres was confirmed from the analysis of the measured XRD pattern and Raman spectral results. Open circuit potential of a button cell, made up of the La10Si6O27 sample, was tested up to 800 °C with both oxygen and hydrogen at opposite sides of the cell and was found to 1 V. Hence, the results demonstrate that La10Si6O27 could be a promising solid electrolyte material for the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications.

  17. Apparatus for encapsulating a photovoltaic module

    DOEpatents

    Albright, Scot P.; Dugan, Larry M.

    1995-10-24

    The subject inventions concern various photovoltaic module designs to protect the module from horizontal and vertical impacts and degradation of solar cell efficiency caused by moisture. In one design, a plurality of panel supports that are positioned adjacent to the upper panel in a photovoltaic module absorb vertical forces exerted along an axis perpendicular to the upper panel. Other designs employ layers of glass and tempered glass, respectively, to protect the module from vertical impacts. A plurality of button-shaped channels is used around the edges of the photovoltaic module to absorb forces applied to the module along an axis parallel to the module and direct moisture away from the module that could otherwise penetrate the module and adversely affect the cells within the module. A spacer is employed between the upper and lower panels that has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equivalent to the coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the panels.

  18. Performance Evaluation of Speech Recognition Systems as a Next-Generation Pilot-Vehicle Interface Technology

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Arthur, Jarvis J., III; Shelton, Kevin J.; Prinzel, Lawrence J., III; Bailey, Randall E.

    2016-01-01

    During the flight trials known as Gulfstream-V Synthetic Vision Systems Integrated Technology Evaluation (GV-SITE), a Speech Recognition System (SRS) was used by the evaluation pilots. The SRS system was intended to be an intuitive interface for display control (rather than knobs, buttons, etc.). This paper describes the performance of the current "state of the art" Speech Recognition System (SRS). The commercially available technology was evaluated as an application for possible inclusion in commercial aircraft flight decks as a crew-to-vehicle interface. Specifically, the technology is to be used as an interface from aircrew to the onboard displays, controls, and flight management tasks. A flight test of a SRS as well as a laboratory test was conducted.

  19. The impairment of learning and memory and synaptic loss in mouse after chronic nitrite exposure.

    PubMed

    Chen, Yongfang; Cui, Zhanjun; Wang, Lai; Liu, Hongliang; Fan, Wenjuan; Deng, Jinbo; Deng, Jiexin

    2016-12-01

    The objective of this study is to understand the impairment of learning and memory in mouse after chronic nitrite exposure. The animal model of nitrite exposure in mouse was created with the daily intubation of nitrite in adult healthy male mice for 3 months. Furthermore, the mouse's learning and memory abilities were tested with Morris water maze, and the expression of Synaptophysin and γ-Synuclein was visualized with immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Our results showed that nitrite exposure significantly prolonged the escape latency period (ELP) and decreased the values of the frequency across platform (FAP) as well as the accumulative time in target quadrant (ATITQ) compared to control, in dose-dependent manner. In addition, after nitrite exposure, synaptophysin (SYN) positive buttons in the visual cortex was reduced, in contrast the increase of γ-synuclein positive cells. The results above were supported by Western blot as well. We conclude that nitrite exposure could lead to a decline in mice's learning and memory. The overexpression of γ-synuclein contributed to the synaptic loss, which is most likely the cause of learning and memory impairment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1720-1730, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  20. Full-Scale Accelerated Pavement Testing of Warm-Mix Asphalt (WMA) for Airfield Pavements

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-01-01

    software and Pavement Engineering Utility (PSEVEN) were used 50 ft 65 ft 130 ft 24 ft Item 3 Sasobit ® Item 4 Evotherm 3G Item 1 HMA... Evotherm 3G Air Top Mid-depth Bottom Target temperature = 109 ºF ERDC/GSL TR-14-3 25 The target pavement temperature for this study was 109 ºF, and it is...the locations of the I-buttons and their layout in relation to the vents. 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 HMA Foamed Asphalt Sasobit Evotherm 3G Av er ag e

  1. METEOSAT studies of clouds and radiation budget

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Saunders, R. W.

    1982-01-01

    Radiation budget studies of the atmosphere/surface system from Meteosat, cloud parameter determination from space, and sea surface temperature measurements from TIROS N data are all described. This work was carried out on the interactive planetary image processing system (IPIPS), which allows interactive manipulationion of the image data in addition to the conventional computational tasks. The current hardware configuration of IPIPS is shown. The I(2)S is the principal interactive display allowing interaction via a trackball, four buttons under program control, or a touch tablet. Simple image processing operations such as contrast enhancing, pseudocoloring, histogram equalization, and multispectral combinations, can all be executed at the push of a button.

  2. 20 mm lithium button battery causing an oesophageal perforation in a toddler: lessons in diagnosis and treatment.

    PubMed

    Soccorso, Giampiero; Grossman, Ole; Martinelli, Massimo; Marven, Sean S; Patel, Kirtik; Thomson, Mike; Roberts, Julian P

    2012-08-01

    Swallowed button batteries (BB) which remain lodged in the oesophagus are at risk of serious complications, particularly in young children. The authors report a 3-year-old child, who rapidly developed an oesophageal perforation, following the ingestion of a 20-mm lithium BB which was initially mistaken for a coin. A thoracotomy and T-tube management of the perforation led to a positive outcome. BBs (20 mm) in children should be removed quickly and close observation is required as the damage initiated by the battery can lead to a significant injury within a few hours.

  3. Hiroshima neutron fluence on a glass button from near ground zero.

    PubMed

    Fleischer, R L; Fujita, S; Hoshi, M

    2001-12-01

    A decorative glass button that was uncovered at a location that is 190 +/- 15 m from directly beneath the atomic explosion at Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 has been scanned for induced fission tracks produced mostly by the thermal neutrons from the bomb due to interactions with the trace uranium that is normally present in silicate glasses. In surveying 4.14 cm2 at 500x magnification, 28 tracks were seen. From a calibration irradiation in a nuclear reactor we infer that the neutron fluence in 1945 was 5.7(+/-1.1) x 10(11) cm(-2); and, allowing for shielding by the structure in which the button was probably located, the free-air (i.e., outside) value is estimated as 1.5(+/-0.5) x 10(12) cm(-2). A limit has been placed on possible fading of the radiation-damage tracks that could increase the fluence by at most a factor of 1.27. The values bracket the calculated value of 9 x 10(11) given in DS86 but are higher than the 3.6 x 10(11) inferred from induced radionuclides for the distance given. The difference is, however, within the observed variability of the two types of results.

  4. Toward virtual anatomy: a stereoscopic 3-D interactive multimedia computer program for cranial osteology.

    PubMed

    Trelease, R B

    1996-01-01

    Advances in computer visualization and user interface technologies have enabled development of "virtual reality" programs that allow users to perceive and to interact with objects in artificial three-dimensional environments. Such technologies were used to create an image database and program for studying the human skull, a specimen that has become increasingly expensive and scarce. Stereoscopic image pairs of a museum-quality skull were digitized from multiple views. For each view, the stereo pairs were interlaced into a single, field-sequential stereoscopic picture using an image processing program. The resulting interlaced image files are organized in an interactive multimedia program. At run-time, gray-scale 3-D images are displayed on a large-screen computer monitor and observed through liquid-crystal shutter goggles. Users can then control the program and change views with a mouse and cursor to point-and-click on screen-level control words ("buttons"). For each view of the skull, an ID control button can be used to overlay pointers and captions for important structures. Pointing and clicking on "hidden buttons" overlying certain structures triggers digitized audio spoken word descriptions or mini lectures.

  5. Influence of productivity and processing method on physicochemical characteristics of white button mushrooms in Brazil.

    PubMed

    Zied, Diego Cunha; Penachio, Sara Maciel; Dias, Eustáquio Souza; de Almeida Minhoni, Marli Teixeira; Ferraz, Rafael Augusto; Vieites, Rogério Lopes

    2014-11-01

    The white button mushroom is the edible fungus most commonly cultivated and commercialized in Brazil and worldwide. This work assesses the productivity of the different strains ABI 07/06 and ABI 06/05 of Agaricus bisporus grown under the conditions normally employed by growers in the southeast of Brazil, and the influence of four different chemical conservation methods on the physicochemical characteristics and storage properties of the fruit bodies. The productivities of strains ABI 07/06 and ABI 06/05 of white button mushrooms were found to be comparable. The colorimetric characteristics and chemical compositions (fat, fiber and protein contents) of the mushroom strains were similar, and these parameters were not influenced significantly by the conservation processes. Texture was negatively affected by all processing methods employed. It was concluded that chemical methods of processing mushrooms were not fully effective and novel alternative technologies should be considered by mushroom processors in Brazil. Some methods of mushroom storage using chemicals such as sodium metabisulfite are harmful to the human organism, so processing using autoclaving may be the best form of conservation of canned mushrooms. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

  6. Dual-Band Dual-Mode Button Antenna for On-Body and Off-Body Communications.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xiu Yin; Wong, Hang; Mo, Te; Cao, Yun Fei

    2017-08-01

    A dual-band dual-mode button antenna for body centric communications is presented. At the lower band, a spiral inverted-F antenna is designed with omnidirectional radiation pattern for on-body communication. At the upper band, the high-order mode of the inverted-F antenna is utilized together with a metal reflector to realize broadside radiation for off-body communication. For demonstration, a prototype is implemented. The measured peak gains on the phantom at the lower and upper bands are -0.6 and 4.3 dBi, respectively. The antenna operating on the phantom has measured efficiencies of 46.3% at the lower band and 69.3% at the upper band. The issue of specific absorption rate (SAR) is studied. The maximum transmitted power under the SAR regulation of 1.6 W/kg is found to be 26.4 dB·m, which is high enough for body centric communications. In addition, the transmission performance between two proposed antennas mounted on the body is investigated by measuring the transmission loss. With an overall miniaturized size, the robust button antenna could be integrated in clothes and be a potential candidate for wireless body area network applications.

  7. World Wide Web Metaphors for Search Mission Data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Norris, Jeffrey S.; Wallick, Michael N.; Joswig, Joseph C.; Powell, Mark W.; Torres, Recaredo J.; Mittman, David S.; Abramyan, Lucy; Crockett, Thomas M.; Shams, Khawaja S.; Fox, Jason M.; hide

    2010-01-01

    A software program that searches and browses mission data emulates a Web browser, containing standard meta - phors for Web browsing. By taking advantage of back-end URLs, users may save and share search states. Also, since a Web interface is familiar to users, training time is reduced. Familiar back and forward buttons move through a local search history. A refresh/reload button regenerates a query, and loads in any new data. URLs can be constructed to save search results. Adding context to the current search is also handled through a familiar Web metaphor. The query is constructed by clicking on hyperlinks that represent new components to the search query. The selection of a link appears to the user as a page change; the choice of links changes to represent the updated search and the results are filtered by the new criteria. Selecting a navigation link changes the current query and also the URL that is associated with it. The back button can be used to return to the previous search state. This software is part of the MSLICE release, which was written in Java. It will run on any current Windows, Macintosh, or Linux system.

  8. Haptic Stylus and Empirical Studies on Braille, Button, and Texture Display

    PubMed Central

    Kyung, Ki-Uk; Lee, Jun-Young; Park, Junseok

    2008-01-01

    This paper presents a haptic stylus interface with a built-in compact tactile display module and an impact module as well as empirical studies on Braille, button, and texture display. We describe preliminary evaluations verifying the tactile display's performance indicating that it can satisfactorily represent Braille numbers for both the normal and the blind. In order to prove haptic feedback capability of the stylus, an experiment providing impact feedback mimicking the click of a button has been conducted. Since the developed device is small enough to be attached to a force feedback device, its applicability to combined force and tactile feedback display in a pen-held haptic device is also investigated. The handle of pen-held haptic interface was replaced by the pen-like interface to add tactile feedback capability to the device. Since the system provides combination of force, tactile and impact feedback, three haptic representation methods for texture display have been compared on surface with 3 texture groups which differ in direction, groove width, and shape. In addition, we evaluate its capacity to support touch screen operations by providing tactile sensations when a user rubs against an image displayed on a monitor. PMID:18317520

  9. Haptic stylus and empirical studies on braille, button, and texture display.

    PubMed

    Kyung, Ki-Uk; Lee, Jun-Young; Park, Junseok

    2008-01-01

    This paper presents a haptic stylus interface with a built-in compact tactile display module and an impact module as well as empirical studies on Braille, button, and texture display. We describe preliminary evaluations verifying the tactile display's performance indicating that it can satisfactorily represent Braille numbers for both the normal and the blind. In order to prove haptic feedback capability of the stylus, an experiment providing impact feedback mimicking the click of a button has been conducted. Since the developed device is small enough to be attached to a force feedback device, its applicability to combined force and tactile feedback display in a pen-held haptic device is also investigated. The handle of pen-held haptic interface was replaced by the pen-like interface to add tactile feedback capability to the device. Since the system provides combination of force, tactile and impact feedback, three haptic representation methods for texture display have been compared on surface with 3 texture groups which differ in direction, groove width, and shape. In addition, we evaluate its capacity to support touch screen operations by providing tactile sensations when a user rubs against an image displayed on a monitor.

  10. Voluntary and Involuntary Movements Widen the Window of Subjective Simultaneity.

    PubMed

    Arikan, B Ezgi; van Kemenade, Bianca M; Straube, Benjamin; Harris, Laurence R; Kircher, Tilo

    2017-01-01

    Forming a coherent percept of an event requires different sensory inputs originating from the event to be bound. Perceiving synchrony aids in binding of these inputs. In two experiments, we investigated how voluntary movements influence the perception of simultaneity, by measuring simultaneity judgments (SJs) for an audiovisual (AV) stimulus pair triggered by a voluntary button press. In Experiment 1, we manipulated contiguity between the action and its consequences by introducing delays between the button press and the AV stimulus pair. We found a widened window of subjective simultaneity (WSS) when the action-feedback relationship was time contiguous. Introducing a delay narrowed the WSS, suggesting that the wider WSS around the time of an action might facilitate perception of simultaneity. In Experiment 2, we introduced an involuntary condition using an externally controlled button to assess the influence of action-related predictive processes on SJs. We found a widened WSS around the action time, regardless of movement type, supporting the influence of causal relations in the perception of synchrony. Interestingly, the slopes of the psychometric functions in the voluntary condition were significantly steeper than the slopes in the involuntary condition, suggesting a role of action-related predictive mechanisms in making SJs more precise.

  11. Voluntary and Involuntary Movements Widen the Window of Subjective Simultaneity

    PubMed Central

    Arikan, B. Ezgi; van Kemenade, Bianca M.; Straube, Benjamin; Harris, Laurence R.; Kircher, Tilo

    2017-01-01

    Forming a coherent percept of an event requires different sensory inputs originating from the event to be bound. Perceiving synchrony aids in binding of these inputs. In two experiments, we investigated how voluntary movements influence the perception of simultaneity, by measuring simultaneity judgments (SJs) for an audiovisual (AV) stimulus pair triggered by a voluntary button press. In Experiment 1, we manipulated contiguity between the action and its consequences by introducing delays between the button press and the AV stimulus pair. We found a widened window of subjective simultaneity (WSS) when the action-feedback relationship was time contiguous. Introducing a delay narrowed the WSS, suggesting that the wider WSS around the time of an action might facilitate perception of simultaneity. In Experiment 2, we introduced an involuntary condition using an externally controlled button to assess the influence of action-related predictive processes on SJs. We found a widened WSS around the action time, regardless of movement type, supporting the influence of causal relations in the perception of synchrony. Interestingly, the slopes of the psychometric functions in the voluntary condition were significantly steeper than the slopes in the involuntary condition, suggesting a role of action-related predictive mechanisms in making SJs more precise. PMID:28835813

  12. Accuracy assessment of land surface temperature retrievals from Landsat 7 ETM + in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica using iButton temperature loggers and weather station data.

    PubMed

    Brabyn, Lars; Zawar-Reza, Peyman; Stichbury, Glen; Cary, Craig; Storey, Bryan; Laughlin, Daniel C; Katurji, Marwan

    2014-04-01

    The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are the largest snow/ice-free regions on this vast continent, comprising 1% of the land mass. Due to harsh environmental conditions, the valleys are bereft of any vegetation. Land surface temperature is a key determinate of microclimate and a driver for sensible and latent heat fluxes of the surface. The Dry Valleys have been the focus of ecological studies as they arguably provide the simplest trophic structure suitable for modelling. In this paper, we employ a validation method for land surface temperatures obtained from Landsat 7 ETM + imagery and compared with in situ land surface temperature data collected from four transects totalling 45 iButtons. A single meteorological station was used to obtain a better understanding of daily and seasonal cycles in land surface temperatures. Results show a good agreement between the iButton and the Landsat 7 ETM + product for clear sky cases. We conclude that Landsat 7 ETM + derived land surface temperatures can be used at broad spatial scales for ecological and meteorological research.

  13. Stability study of cermet-supported solid oxide fuel cells with bi-layered electrolyte

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xinge; Gazzarri, Javier; Robertson, Mark; Decès-Petit, Cyrille; Kesler, Olivera

    Performance and stability of five cermet-supported button-type solid oxide fuel cells featuring a bi-layered electrolyte (SSZ/SDC), an SSC cathode, and a Ni-SSZ anode, were analyzed using polarization curves, impedance spectroscopy, and post-mortem SEM observation. The cell performance degradation at 650 °C in H 2/air both with and without DC bias conditions was manifested primarily as an increase in polarization resistance, approximately at a rate of 2.3 mΩ cm 2 h -1 at OCV, suggesting a decrease in electrochemical kinetics as the main phenomenon responsible for the performance decay. In addition, the initial series resistance was about ten times higher than the calculated resistance corresponding to the electrolyte, reflecting a possible inter-reaction between the electrolyte layers that occurred during the sintering stage. In situ and ex situ sintered cathodes showed no obvious difference in cell performance or decay rate. The stability of the cells with and without electrical load was also investigated and no significant influence of DC bias was recorded. Based on the experimental results presented, we preliminarily attribute the performance degradation to electrochemical and microstructural degradation of the cathode.

  14. Identification of microbes from the surfaces of food-processing lines based on the flow cytometric evaluation of cellular metabolic activity combined with cell sorting.

    PubMed

    Juzwa, W; Duber, A; Myszka, K; Białas, W; Czaczyk, K

    2016-09-01

    In this study the design of a flow cytometry-based procedure to facilitate the detection of adherent bacteria from food-processing surfaces was evaluated. The measurement of the cellular redox potential (CRP) of microbial cells was combined with cell sorting for the identification of microorganisms. The procedure enhanced live/dead cell discrimination owing to the measurement of the cell physiology. The microbial contamination of the surface of a stainless steel conveyor used to process button mushrooms was evaluated in three independent experiments. The flow cytometry procedure provided a step towards monitoring of contamination and enabled the assessment of microbial food safety hazards by the discrimination of active, mid-active and non-active bacterial sub-populations based on determination of their cellular vitality and subsequently single cell sorting to isolate microbial strains from discriminated sub-populations. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.97; p < 0.05) between the bacterial cell count estimated by the pour plate method and flow cytometry, despite there being differences in the absolute number of cells detected. The combined approach of flow cytometric CRP measurement and cell sorting allowed an in situ analysis of microbial cell vitality and the identification of species from defined sub-populations, although the identified microbes were limited to culturable cells.

  15. Cell water balance of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during its post-harvest lifetime studied by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging.

    PubMed

    Donker, H C; Van As, H

    1999-04-19

    A combination of quantitative water density and T2 MRI and changes therein observed after infiltration with 'invisible' Gd-DTPA solution was used to study cell water balances, cell water potentials and cell integrity. This method was applied to reveal the evolution and mechanism of redistribution of water in harvested mushrooms. Even when mushrooms did not lose water during the storage period, a redistribution of water was observed from stipe to cap and gills. When the storage condition resulted in a net loss of water, the stipe lost more water than the cap. The water density in the gill increased, probably due to development of spores. Deterioration effects (i.e. leakage of cells, decrease in osmotic water potential) were found in the outer stipe. They were not found in the cap, even at prolonged storage at 293 K and R.H.=70%. The changes in osmotic potential were partly accounted for by changes in the mannitol concentration. Changes in membrane permeability were also indicated. Cells in the cap had a constant low membrane (water) permeability. They developed a decreasing osmotic potential (more negative), whereas the osmotic potential in the outer stipe increased, together with the permeability of cells.

  16. Evaluation of force-torque displays for use with space station telerobotic activities

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hendrich, Robert C.; Bierschwale, John M.; Manahan, Meera K.; Stuart, Mark A.; Legendre, A. Jay

    1992-01-01

    Recent experiments which addressed Space Station remote manipulation tasks found that tactile force feedback (reflecting forces and torques encountered at the end-effector through the manipulator hand controller) does not improve performance significantly. Subjective response from astronaut and non-astronaut test subjects indicated that force information, provided visually, could be useful. No research exists which specifically investigates methods of presenting force-torque information visually. This experiment was designed to evaluate seven different visual force-torque displays which were found in an informal telephone survey. The displays were prototyped in the HyperCard programming environment. In a within-subjects experiment, 14 subjects nullified forces and torques presented statically, using response buttons located at the bottom of the screen. Dependent measures included questionnaire data, errors, and response time. Subjective data generally demonstrate that subjects rated variations of pseudo-perspective displays consistently better than bar graph and digital displays. Subjects commented that the bar graph and digital displays could be used, but were not compatible with using hand controllers. Quantitative data show similar trends to the subjective data, except that the bar graph and digital displays both provided good performance, perhaps do to the mapping of response buttons to display elements. Results indicate that for this set of displays, the pseudo-perspective displays generally represent a more intuitive format for presenting force-torque information.

  17. Bayesian network interface for assisting radiology interpretation and education

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duda, Jeffrey; Botzolakis, Emmanuel; Chen, Po-Hao; Mohan, Suyash; Nasrallah, Ilya; Rauschecker, Andreas; Rudie, Jeffrey; Bryan, R. Nick; Gee, James; Cook, Tessa

    2018-03-01

    In this work, we present the use of Bayesian networks for radiologist decision support during clinical interpretation. This computational approach has the advantage of avoiding incorrect diagnoses that result from known human cognitive biases such as anchoring bias, framing effect, availability bias, and premature closure. To integrate Bayesian networks into clinical practice, we developed an open-source web application that provides diagnostic support for a variety of radiology disease entities (e.g., basal ganglia diseases, bone lesions). The Clinical tool presents the user with a set of buttons representing clinical and imaging features of interest. These buttons are used to set the value for each observed feature. As features are identified, the conditional probabilities for each possible diagnosis are updated in real time. Additionally, using sensitivity analysis, the interface may be set to inform the user which remaining imaging features provide maximum discriminatory information to choose the most likely diagnosis. The Case Submission tools allow the user to submit a validated case and the associated imaging features to a database, which can then be used for future tuning/testing of the Bayesian networks. These submitted cases are then reviewed by an assigned expert using the provided QC tool. The Research tool presents users with cases with previously labeled features and a chosen diagnosis, for the purpose of performance evaluation. Similarly, the Education page presents cases with known features, but provides real time feedback on feature selection.

  18. The Cognitive Side of M1

    PubMed Central

    Tomasino, Barbara; Gremese, Michele

    2016-01-01

    The primary motor cortex (M1) is traditionally implicated in voluntary movement control. In order to test the hypothesis that there is a functional topography of M1 activation in studies where it has been implicated in higher cognitive tasks we performed activation-likelihood-estimation (ALE) meta-analyses of functional neuroimaging experiments reporting M1 activation in relation to six cognitive functional categories for which there was a sufficient number of studies to include, namely motor imagery, working memory, mental rotation, social/emotion/empathy, language, and auditory processing. The six categories activated different sub-sectors of M1, either bilaterally or lateralized to one hemisphere. Notably, the activations found in the M1 of the left or right hemisphere detected in our study were unlikely due to button presses. In fact, all contrasts were selected in order to eliminate M1 activation due to activity related to the finger button press. In addition, we identified the M1 sub-region of Area 4a commonly activated by 4/6 categories, namely motor imagery and working memory, emotion/empathy, and language. Overall, our findings lend support to the idea that there is a functional topography of M1 activation in studies where it has been found activated in higher cognitive tasks and that the left Area 4a can be involved in a number of cognitive processes, likely as a product of implicit mental simulation processing. PMID:27378891

  19. Event segmentation improves event memory up to one month later.

    PubMed

    Flores, Shaney; Bailey, Heather R; Eisenberg, Michelle L; Zacks, Jeffrey M

    2017-08-01

    When people observe everyday activity, they spontaneously parse it into discrete meaningful events. Individuals who segment activity in a more normative fashion show better subsequent memory for the events. If segmenting events effectively leads to better memory, does asking people to attend to segmentation improve subsequent memory? To answer this question, participants viewed movies of naturalistic activity with instructions to remember the activity for a later test, and in some conditions additionally pressed a button to segment the movies into meaningful events or performed a control condition that required button-pressing but not attending to segmentation. In 5 experiments, memory for the movies was assessed at intervals ranging from immediately following viewing to 1 month later. Performing the event segmentation task led to superior memory at delays ranging from 10 min to 1 month. Further, individual differences in segmentation ability predicted individual differences in memory performance for up to a month following encoding. This study provides the first evidence that manipulating event segmentation affects memory over long delays and that individual differences in event segmentation are related to differences in memory over long delays. These effects suggest that attending to how an activity breaks down into meaningful events contributes to memory formation. Instructing people to more effectively segment events may serve as a potential intervention to alleviate everyday memory complaints in aging and clinical populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

  20. Problems of internalization: a button is a button is-not.

    PubMed

    Rockwell, Shelley

    2014-01-01

    Analysts hope to help the patient internalize a relationship with the analyst that contrasts with the original archaic object relation. In this paper, the author describes particular difficulties in working with a patient whose defenses and anxieties were bulimic, her movement toward internalization inevitably undone. Several issues are considered: how does the nonsymbolizing patient come to internalize the analyst's understanding, and when this does not hold, what is the nature of the patient's subsequent methods of dispersal? When the patient can maintain connection to the analyst as a good object, even fleetingly, in the depressive position, the possibility of internalization and symbolic communication is increased. © 2014 The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, Inc.

  1. Pectoralis Major Repair With Unicortical Button Fixation And Suture Tape.

    PubMed

    Sanchez, Anthony; Ferrari, Marcio B; Frangiamore, Salvatore J; Sanchez, George; Kruckeberg, Bradley M; Provencher, Matthew T

    2017-06-01

    Although injuries of the pectoralis major muscle are generally uncommon, ruptures of the pectoralis major are occasionally seen in younger, more active patients who participate in weightlifting activities. These injuries usually occur during maximal contraction of the muscle, while in extension and external rotation. In the case of a rupture, operative treatment is advocated especially in young, active patients regardless of the chronicity of the injury. Various surgical techniques for reattachment of the avulsed tendon have been described, but bone tunnel and suture anchor repair techniques are most widely used. In this Technical Note, we present our preferred technique for acute pectoralis major rupture repair involving use of cortical buttons for tendon stump-to-bone fixation.

  2. Free Bone Plug Quadriceps Tendon Harvest and Suspensory Button Attachment for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Todor, Adrian; Caterev, Sergiu; Nistor, Dan Viorel; Khallouki, Youssef

    2016-06-01

    The most commonly used autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are the bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring tendons. Each has its advantages and limitations. The bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft can lead to more donor-site morbidity, and the hamstring autograft can be unpredictable in size. The quadriceps tendon, with or without a bone block, has been described as an alternative graft source and has been used especially in revision cases, but in recent years, it has attracted attention even for primary cases. We report a technique for harvesting a free bone quadriceps tendon graft and attaching an extracortical button for femoral fixation for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

  3. Tactile Data Entry System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Adams, Richard J.

    2015-01-01

    The patent-pending Glove-Enabled Computer Operations (GECO) design leverages extravehicular activity (EVA) glove design features as platforms for instrumentation and tactile feedback, enabling the gloves to function as human-computer interface devices. Flexible sensors in each finger enable control inputs that can be mapped to any number of functions (e.g., a mouse click, a keyboard strike, or a button press). Tracking of hand motion is interpreted alternatively as movement of a mouse (change in cursor position on a graphical user interface) or a change in hand position on a virtual keyboard. Programmable vibro-tactile actuators aligned with each finger enrich the interface by creating the haptic sensations associated with control inputs, such as recoil of a button press.

  4. AUTOMATIC HAND COUNTER

    DOEpatents

    Mann J.R.; Wainwright, A.E.

    1963-06-11

    An automatic, personnel-operated, alpha-particle hand monitor is described which functions as a qualitative instrument to indicate to the person using it whether his hands are cold'' or hot.'' The monitor is activated by a push button and includes several capacitor-triggered thyratron tubes. Upon release of the push button, the monitor starts the counting of the radiation present on the hands of the person. If the count of the radiation exceeds a predetermined level within a predetermined time, then a capacitor will trigger a first thyratron tube to light a hot'' lamp. If, however, the count is below such level during this time period, another capacitor will fire a second thyratron to light a safe'' lamp. (AEC)

  5. Production Maintenance Infrastructure

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

    Jason Gabler, David Skinner

    2005-11-01

    PMI is a XML framework for formulating tests of software and software environments which operate in a relatively push button manner, i.e., can be automated, and that provide results that are readily consumable/publishable via RSS. Insofar as possible the tests are carried out in manner congruent with real usage. PMI drives shell scripts via a perl program which is charge of timing, validating each test, and controlling the flow through sets of tests. Testing in PMI is built up hierarchically. A suite of tests may start by testing basic functionalities (file system is writable, compiler is found and functions, shellmore » environment behaves as expected, etc.) and work up to large more complicated activities (execution of parallel code, file transfers, etc.) At each step in this hierarchy a failure leads to generation of a text message or RSS that can be tagged as to who should be notified of the failure. There are two functionalities that PMI has been directed at. 1) regular and automated testing of multi user environments and 2) version-wise testing of new software releases prior to their deployment in a production mode.« less

  6. Thermodynamic stability of perovskite and lanthanum nickelate-type cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cetin, Deniz

    The need for cleaner and more efficient alternative energy sources is becoming urgent as concerns mount about climate change wrought by greenhouse gas emissions. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are one of the most efficient options if the goal is to reduce emissions while still operating on fossil energy resources. One of the foremost problems in SOFCs that causes efficiency loss is the polarization resistance associated with the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) at the cathodes. Hence, improving the cathode design will greatly enhance the overall performance of SOFCs. Lanthanum nickelate, La2NiO4+delta (LNO), is a mixed ionic and electronic conductor that has competitive surface oxygen exchange and transport properties and excellent electrical conductivity compared to perovskite-type oxides. This makes it an excellent candidate for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. It has been previously shown that composites of LNO with Sm0.2Ce0.8O2-delta (SDC20) as cathode materials lead to higher performance than standalone LNO. However, in contact with lanthanide-doped ceria, LNO decomposes resulting in free NiO and ceria with higher lanthanide dopant concentration. In this study, the aforementioned instability of LNO has been addressed by compositional tailoring of LNO: lanthanide doped ceria (LnxCe 1-xO2,LnDC)composite. By increasing the lanthanide dopant concentration in the ceria phase close to its solubility limit, the LNO phase has been stabilized in the LNO:LnDC composites. Electrical conductivity of the composites as a function of LNO volume fraction and temperature has been measured, and analyzed using a resistive network model which allows the identification of a percolation threshold for the LNO phase. The thermomechanical compatibility of these composites has been investigated with SOFC systems through measurement of the coefficients of thermal expansion. LNO:LDC40 composites containing LNO lower than 50 vol%and higher than 40 vol% were identified as being suitable to incorporate into full button cell configuration from the standpoint of thermomechanical stability and adequate electrical conductivity. Proof-of-concept performance comparison for SOFC button cells manufactured using LNO: La 0.4Ce0.6O2-delta composite to the conventional composite cathode materials has also been provided. This thermodynamics-based phase stabilization strategy can be applied to a wider range of materials in the same crystallographic family, thus providing the SOFC community with alternate material options for high performance devices.

  7. Mechanical and bond strength properties of light-cured and chemically cured glass ionomer cements.

    PubMed

    McCarthy, M F; Hondrum, S O

    1994-02-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanical and bond strength properties of a commercially available light-cured glass ionomer cement and of a chemically cured glass ionomer cement. Sixty recently extracted human molars were randomly divided into six equal groups, and the bond strengths of the two cement types were evaluated at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days. Stainless steel lingual buttons were bonded to prepared enamel surfaces, and the samples were placed in a water bath at 37 degrees C until testing. The shear bond strength of each sample was determined with a universal testing instrument. The mechanical strength properties of the two cements were then evaluated. The transverse flexural strength, compressive strength, rigidity, and diametral tensile strength were tested for each cement at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days. The results of the mechanical property strength tests were then compared with the results of the bond strength tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  8. A preliminary empirical evaluation of virtual reality as an instructional medium for visual-spatial tasks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Regian, J. Wesley; Shebilske, Wayne; Monk, John M.

    1993-01-01

    We explored the training potential of Virtual Reality (VR) technology. Thirty-one adults were trained and tested on spatial skills in a VR. They learned a sequence of button and knob responses on a VR console and performed flawlessly on the same console. Half were trained with a rote strategy; the rest used a meaningful strategy. Response times were equivalent for both groups and decreased significantly over five test trials indicating that learning continued on VR tests. The same subjects practiced navigating through a VR building, which had three floors with four rooms on each floor. The dependent measure was the number of rooms traversed on routes that differed from training routes. Many subjects completed tests in the fewest rooms possible. All subjects learned configurational knowledge according to the criterion of taking paths that were significantly shorter than those predicted by a random walk as determined by a Monte Carlo analysis. The results were discussed as a departure point for empirically testing the training potential of VR technology.

  9. Reviews

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    2008-11-01

    WE RECOMMEND Ideas, Evidence and Argument in Science Fantastic DVD packed with classroom activities LabQuest Datalogger hits all the right buttons The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory A book that is better than its title lets on Light Strip SEP proves yet again that simple equipment is best Teaching Radioactivity Multimedia resource gets hands-on with radioactivity WORTH A LOOK Sunshine DVD of the sci-fi film includes insightful commentary track Peltier Cell Unit SEP equipment is useful but unusually pricey 100 Things to Spot in the Night Sky Data cards are packed with astronomical facts Light Sensor SEP unit is only useful for one specific experiment Windmill Generator Classroom-sized windmill does not sell wind power The Number Devil A 'mathematical adventure' book for young children

  10. Multichannel electrochemical microbial detection unit

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilkins, J. R.; Young, R. N.; Boykin, E. H.

    1978-01-01

    The paper describes the design and capabilities of a compact multichannel electrochemical unit devised to detect and automatically indicate detection time length of bacteria. By connecting this unit to a strip-chart recorder, a permanent record is obtained of the end points and growth curves for each of eight channels. The experimental setup utilizing the multichannel unit consists of a test tube (25 by 150 mm) containing a combination redox electrode plus 18 ml of lauryl tryptose broth and positioned in a 35-C water bath. Leads from the electrodes are connected to the multichannel unit, which in turn is connected to a strip-chart recorder. After addition of 2.0 ml of inoculum to the test tubes, depression of the push-button starter activates the electronics, timer, and indicator light for each channel. The multichannel unit is employed to test tenfold dilutions of various members of the Enterobacteriaceae group, and a typical dose-response curve is presented.

  11. Mechanism of failure of the Cabrol procedure: A computational fluid dynamic analysis.

    PubMed

    Poullis, M; Pullan, M

    2015-12-01

    Sudden failure of the Cabrol graft is common and frequently fatal. We utilised the technique of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis to evaluate the mechanism of failure and potentially improve on the design of the Cabrol procedure. CFD analysis of the classic Cabrol procedure and a number of its variants was performed. Results from this analysis was utilised to generate further improved geometric options for the Cabrol procedure. These were also subjected to CFD analysis. All current Cabrol and variations of the Cabrol procedure are predicated by CFD analysis to be prone to graft thrombosis, secondary to stasis around the right coronary artery button. The right coronary artery flow characteristics were found to be the dominant reason for Cabrol graft failure. A simple modification of the Cabrol geometry is predicated to virtually eliminate any areas of blood stasis, and graft failure. Modification of the Cabrol graft geometry, due to CFD analysis may help reduce the incidence of graft thrombosis. A C shaped Cabrol graft with the right coronary button anastomosed to its side along its course from the aorta to the left coronary button is predicted to have the least thrombotic tendency. Clinical correlation is needed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Grasp specific and user friendly interface design for myoelectric hand prostheses.

    PubMed

    Mohammadi, Alireza; Lavranos, Jim; Howe, Rob; Choong, Peter; Oetomo, Denny

    2017-07-01

    This paper presents the design and characterisation of a hand prosthesis and its user interface, focusing on performing the most commonly used grasps in activities of daily living (ADLs). Since the operation of a multi-articulated powered hand prosthesis is difficult to learn and master, there is a significant rate of abandonment by amputees in preference for simpler devices. In choosing so, amputees chose to live with fewer features in their prosthesis that would more reliably perform the basic operations. In this paper, we look simultaneously at a hand prosthesis design method that aims for a small number of grasps, a low complexity user interface and an alternative method to the current use of EMG as a preshape selection method through the use of a simple button; to enable amputees to get to and execute the intended hand movements intuitively, quickly and reliably. An experiment is reported at the end of the paper comparing the speed and accuracy with which able-bodied naive subjects are able to select the intended preshapes through the use of a simplified EMG method and a simple button. It is shown that the button was significantly superior in the speed of successful task completion and marginally superior in accuracy (success of first attempt).

  13. Assessing microstructures of the cornea with Gabor-domain optical coherence microscopy: pathway for corneal physiology and diseases.

    PubMed

    Tankam, Patrice; He, Zhiguo; Chu, Ying-Ju; Won, Jungeun; Canavesi, Cristina; Lepine, Thierry; Hindman, Holly B; Topham, David J; Gain, Philippe; Thuret, Gilles; Rolland, Jannick P

    2015-03-15

    Gabor-domain optical coherence microscopy (GD-OCM) was applied ex vivo in the investigation of corneal cells and their surrounding microstructures with particular attention to the corneal endothelium. Experiments using fresh pig eyeballs, excised human corneal buttons from patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (FED), and healthy donor corneas were conducted. Results show in a large field of view (1  mm×1  mm) high definition images of the different cell types and their surrounding microstructures through the full corneal thickness at both the central and peripheral locations of porcine corneas. Particularly, an image of the endothelial cells lining the bottom of the cornea is highlighted. As compared to healthy human corneas, the corneas of individuals with FED show characteristic microstructural alterations of the Descemet's membrane and increased size and number of keratocytes. The GD-OCM-based imaging system developed may constitute a novel tool for corneal imaging and disease diagnosis. Also, importantly, it may provide insights into the mechanism of corneal physiology and pathology, particularly in diseases of the corneal endothelium.

  14. Pandemic Flu

    MedlinePlus

    ... Address What's this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Influenza Types Seasonal Avian Swine Variant Pandemic Other Pandemic Influenza Language: English (US) Español Recommend on Facebook Tweet ...

  15. Diarrhea and Swimming

    MedlinePlus

    ... Health International Recreational Water RWIs, Swimmer Hygiene, & Behavioral Science Historical CDC Manuals Health Promotion Materials Brochures Buttons & Banners Fact Sheets Infographics Clean It Up, Swimmers Make a ...

  16. [Outcomes and complications of Tightrope button plate for repairing acromioclavicular dislocation].

    PubMed

    Zuo, Yong-Xiang; Ma, Zi-Ping

    2017-10-25

    To study the clinical outcome and complications of Tightrope button plate for repairing acromioclavicular dislocation of Rockwood type III to V. From May 2014 to December 2016, 17 patients with acromioclavicular dislocation of type III-V were treated with Tightrope button plate including 10 males and 7 females with an average age 39.8 years old ranging from 20 to 68 years old. Four patients were treated with arthroscopy and 17 patients were treated with mini-invasive by X-ray assisted. Shoulder function, X-ray and complications after operation were assessed. All patients were followed up for 5 to 23 months with a mean of 10.8 months. All patients got satisfying reduction immediately postoperatively. Among them, 1 case of clavicle end wound foreign body reaction, rupture, effusion, healing after the second suture; 1 case of foreign body granuloma formation at the end of clavicle were resected and removed at 4 months after operation; 3 cases loss reduction(less than 50% of acromioclavicular joint). No coracoid fracture and suture breakage observed. The shoulder mobility was restored in 15 cases at 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively, and the shoulder adhesion in 2 cases was delayed to 5 to 7 months after operation. The Constant scores were improved from 46.9±6.0 preoperatively to 92.7±4.0 at the final follow-up. X-ray evaluation of postoperative coracoclavicular tunnel location, patients' coracoclavicular tunnel with mini-invasive fluoroscopy all closed to the ideal position (across the clavicle vertically through the coracoid base center), while different degree of tunnel position deviation were observed in arthroscopic patients. Tightrope button plate for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation had advantages of minimally invasive, effective, good clinical results, the majority of common complications does not affect efficacy. Small incision X-ray method can provide more satisfactory and reliable tunnel location.

  17. Imaging button battery ingestions and insertions in children: a 15-year single-center review.

    PubMed

    Pugmire, Brian S; Lin, Tom K; Pentiuk, Scott; de Alarcon, Alessandro; Hart, Catherine K; Trout, Andrew T

    2017-02-01

    Recent studies have shown an increase in morbidity associated with button battery ingestions in children. To perform a comprehensive, imaging-focused review of all patients with confirmed button battery ingestions/insertions imaged at our institution in the last 15 years. Radiology reports from Jan. 1, 2000, to July 12, 2015, were searched for the terms "battery" and "batteries." Confirmed cases of battery ingestion/insertion for which images were available were reviewed. Cases were reviewed for imaging studies performed, imaging findings, patient demographics, clinical history and management. Two pediatric gastroenterologists reviewed endoscopic images and graded mucosal injuries in selected cases. Two hundred seventy-six cases were reviewed. All patients were imaged with radiography, 19 with fluoroscopy (6.8%), and 4 with CT (1.4%). Batteries retained in the esophagus (n = 27, 9.8%) were larger in diameter on average than those that had passed distally (22.1 ± 3.3 mm vs. 13.7 ± 1.6 mm, P<0.0001). Battery diameter ≥20 mm was associated with esophageal impaction (P<0.0001) and higher grade esophageal injury (P<0.0001). Mean battery diameter was greater for patients with grade 1 or higher mucosal injury than for patients with no mucosal injury (22.1 ± 2.1 mm vs. 14.7 ± 4.5 mm, P<0.0001). Sixteen percent (4/25) of patients with grade ≥1 esophageal injury had batteries in the stomach on initial imaging. Five patients (1.8%) had serious clinical complications (e.g., esophageal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistula). Button batteries >20mm in diameter warrant increased clinical scrutiny due to higher likelihood and severity of injury. Implementation of recent pediatric gastroenterology societal guidelines will likely lead to a substantial increase in the number of CT and MRI examinations.

  18. The effect of standard and high-fluence corneal cross-linking (CXL) on cornea and limbus.

    PubMed

    Richoz, Olivier; Tabibian, David; Hammer, Arthur; Majo, François; Nicolas, Michael; Hafezi, Farhad

    2014-07-22

    When treating peripheral ectatic disease-like pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD), corneal cross-linking with UV-A and riboflavin (CXL) must be applied eccentrically to the periphery of the lower cornea, partly irradiating the corneal limbus. Here, we investigated the effect of standard and double-standard fluence corneal cross-linking with riboflavin and UV-A (CXL) on cornea and corneal limbus in the rabbit eye in vivo. Epithelium-off CXL was performed in male New Zealand White rabbits with two irradiation diameters (7 mm central cornea, 13 mm cornea and limbus), using standard fluence (5.4 J/cm(2)) and double-standard fluence (10.8 J/cm(2)) settings. Controls were subjected to epithelial removal and riboflavin instillation, but were not irradiated with UV-A. Following CXL, animals were examined daily until complete closure of the epithelium, and at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Animals were killed and a corneoscleral button was excised and processed for light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. For both irradiation diameters and fluences tested, no signs of endothelial damage or limbal vessel thrombosis were observed, and time to re-epithelialization was similar to untreated controls. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed no differences in the p63 putative stem cell marker expression pattern. Even when using fluence twice as high as the one used in current clinical CXL settings, circumferential UV-A irradiation of the corneal limbus does not alter the regenerative capacity of the limbal epithelial cells, and the expression pattern of the putative stem cell marker p63 remains unchanged. This suggests that eccentric CXL may be performed safely in PMD. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

  19. Microprocessor-based cardiopulmonary monitoring system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1978-01-01

    The system uses a dedicated microprocessor for transducer control and data acquisition and analysis. No data will be stored in this system, but the data will be transmitted to the onboard data system. The data system will require approximately 12 inches of rack space and will consume only 100 watts of power. An experiment specific control panel, through a series of lighted buttons, will guide the operator through the test series providing a smaller margin of error. The experimental validity of the system was verified, and the reproducibility of data and reliability of the system checked. In addition, ease of training, ease of operator interaction, and crew acceptance were evaluated in actual flight conditions.

  20. The Pharmaceutical Capping Process-Correlation between Residual Seal Force, Torque Moment, and Flip-off Removal Force.

    PubMed

    Mathaes, Roman; Mahler, Hanns-Christian; Vorgrimler, Lothar; Steinberg, Henrik; Dreher, Sascha; Roggo, Yves; Nieto, Alejandra; Brown, Helen; Roehl, Holger; Adler, Michael; Luemkemann, Joerg; Huwyler, Joerg; Lam, Philippe; Stauch, Oliver; Mohl, Silke; Streubel, Alexander

    2016-01-01

    The majority of parenteral drug products are manufactured in glass vials with an elastomeric rubber stopper and a crimp cap. The vial sealing process is a critical process step during fill-and-finish operations, as it defines the seal quality of the final product. Different critical capping process parameters can affect rubber stopper defects, rubber stopper compression, container closure integrity, and also crimp cap quality. A sufficiently high force to remove the flip-off button prior to usage is required to ensure quality of the drug product unit by the flip-off button during storage, transportation, and until opening and use. Therefore, the final product is 100% visually inspected for lose or defective crimp caps, which is subjective as well as time- and labor-intensive. In this study, we sealed several container closure system configurations with different capping equipment settings (with corresponding residual seal force values) to investigate the torque moment required to turn the crimp cap. A correlation between torque moment and residual seal force has been established. The torque moment was found to be influenced by several parameters, including diameter of the vial head, type of rubber stopper (serum or lyophilized) and type of crimp cap (West(®) or Datwyler(®)). In addition, we measured the force required to remove the flip-off button of a sealed container closure system. The capping process had no influence on measured forces; however, it was possible to detect partially crimped vials. In conclusion, a controlled capping process with a defined target residual seal force range leads to a tight crimp cap on a sealed container closure system and can ensure product quality. The majority of parenteral drug products are manufactured in a glass vials with an elastomeric rubber stopper and a crimp cap. The vial sealing process is a critical process step during fill-and-finish operations, as it defines the seal quality of the final product. An adequate force to remove the flip-off button prior to usage is required to ensure product quality during storage and transportation until use. In addition, the complete crimp cap needs to be fixed in a tight position on the vial. In this study, we investigated the torque moment required to turn the crimp cap and the force required to remove the flip-off button of container closure system sealed with different capping equipment process parameters (having different residual seal force values). © PDA, Inc. 2016.

  1. Impact of Donor Age on Corneal Endothelium-Descemet Membrane Layer Scroll Formation

    PubMed Central

    Bennett, Adam; Mahmoud, Shahira; Drury, Donna; Cavanagh, H. Dwight; McCulley, James P.; Petroll, W. Matthew; Mootha, V. Vinod

    2014-01-01

    Objectives To correlate corneal endothelium-Descemet membrane layer (EDM) parameters of scroll tightness with donor age, endothelial cell density, and history of diabetes. Methods EDM scrolls were harvested from 26 corneoscleral buttons using the SCUBA technique by a cornea-fellowship trained ophthalmologist masked to donor age. Two independent outcome parameters were used to characterize the scrolling severity of successfully harvested tissue: scroll width and tendency for EDM scroll formation (referred to as scroll rating on a 1 to 4 scale: incomplete scroll formation to tightly-scrolled). Results Mean donor age was 59 ± 17years (15–69). Mean endothelial cell density of EDM scroll was 2451 ± 626 cells/mm2 mm (range: 1307 – 3195). Using stepwise linear regression, a significant correlation was found between scroll width and donor age (R = 0.497, P < 0.05). Additionally, a significant inverse correlation was found between scroll width and endothelial cell density (R = −0.605, P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between a donor history of diabetes and the parameters of scrolling tendency. Conclusions Our data suggests that using older donors reduces EDM scroll tightness. PMID:25603436

  2. Riot Control Agents

    MedlinePlus

    ... Submit What's this? Submit Button Facts About Riot Control Agents Interim document Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir What riot control agents are Riot control agents (sometimes referred to ...

  3. Nobody Reads Billboards!

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Walker, Joseph J.; Lotz, Condit

    1982-01-01

    The authors describe an incidental learning approach using supplementary reading sources such as bumper stickers, t-shirts, and novelty buttons to encourage gifted students' analysis and synthesis skills. (CL)

  4. Direct manipulation of virtual objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, Long K.

    Interacting with a Virtual Environment (VE) generally requires the user to correctly perceive the relative position and orientation of virtual objects. For applications requiring interaction in personal space, the user may also need to accurately judge the position of the virtual object relative to that of a real object, for example, a virtual button and the user's real hand. This is difficult since VEs generally only provide a subset of the cues experienced in the real world. Complicating matters further, VEs presented by currently available visual displays may be inaccurate or distorted due to technological limitations. Fundamental physiological and psychological aspects of vision as they pertain to the task of object manipulation were thoroughly reviewed. Other sensory modalities -- proprioception, haptics, and audition -- and their cross-interactions with each other and with vision are briefly discussed. Visual display technologies, the primary component of any VE, were canvassed and compared. Current applications and research were gathered and categorized by different VE types and object interaction techniques. While object interaction research abounds in the literature, pockets of research gaps remain. Direct, dexterous, manual interaction with virtual objects in Mixed Reality (MR), where the real, seen hand accurately and effectively interacts with virtual objects, has not yet been fully quantified. An experimental test bed was designed to provide the highest accuracy attainable for salient visual cues in personal space. Optical alignment and user calibration were carefully performed. The test bed accommodated the full continuum of VE types and sensory modalities for comprehensive comparison studies. Experimental designs included two sets, each measuring depth perception and object interaction. The first set addressed the extreme end points of the Reality-Virtuality (R-V) continuum -- Immersive Virtual Environment (IVE) and Reality Environment (RE). This validated, linked, and extended several previous research findings, using one common test bed and participant pool. The results provided a proven method and solid reference points for further research. The second set of experiments leveraged the first to explore the full R-V spectrum and included additional, relevant sensory modalities. It consisted of two full-factorial experiments providing for rich data and key insights into the effect of each type of environment and each modality on accuracy and timeliness of virtual object interaction. The empirical results clearly showed that mean depth perception error in personal space was less than four millimeters whether the stimuli presented were real, virtual, or mixed. Likewise, mean error for the simple task of pushing a button was less than four millimeters whether the button was real or virtual. Mean task completion time was less than one second. Key to the high accuracy and quick task performance time observed was the correct presentation of the visual cues, including occlusion, stereoscopy, accommodation, and convergence. With performance results already near optimal level with accurate visual cues presented, adding proprioception, audio, and haptic cues did not significantly improve performance. Recommendations for future research include enhancement of the visual display and further experiments with more complex tasks and additional control variables.

  5. Factors influencing the reinforcing value of fruit and unhealthy snacks.

    PubMed

    Vervoort, L; Clauwaert, A; Vandeweghe, L; Vangeel, J; Van Lippevelde, W; Goossens, L; Huybregts, L; Lachat, C; Eggermont, S; Beullens, K; Braet, C; De Cock, N

    2017-12-01

    The present study investigated the reinforcing value of healthy and unhealthy snack food in adolescents (n = 108, aged 14-16 years). Moderation by access to different foods, sex and the personality trait reward sensitivity is tested. In a computerized Food Reinforcement Task, adolescents could earn portions of a healthy and an unhealthy snack following an identical progressive reinforcement schedule for both food types. Reinforcing value of food was indexed by the number of button presses for each food type. Participants were allocated randomly to two-order condition: fruit-snack versus snack-fruit. Reward sensitivity was assessed with the Dutch age-downward version of Carver and White's BIS/BAS scale. Results showed that the reinforcing value of an unhealthy snack is higher than that of fruit, with participants making more button presses for unhealthy snacks, M = 1280.40, SD = 1203.53, than for fruit, M = 488.04, SD = 401.45, F(1,48) = 25.37, p < 0.001. This effect is stronger in boys (β = -1367.67) than in girls (β = -548.61). The effect is only present in the snack-fruit condition, not in the fruit-snack condition, indicating that access to food moderates the effect of food type. There is no evidence for moderation by reward sensitivity. Results point to the importance of simultaneously increasing barriers to obtain unhealthy food and promoting access to healthy food in order to facilitate healthy food choices.

  6. International Space Station alpha remote manipulator system workstation controls test report

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ehrenstrom, William A.; Swaney, Colin; Forrester, Patrick

    1994-05-01

    Previous development testing for the space station remote manipulator system workstation controls determined the need for hardware controls for the emergency stop, brakes on/off, and some camera functions. This report documents the results of an evaluation to further determine control implementation requirements, requested by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), to close outstanding review item discrepancies. This test was conducted at the Johnson Space Center's Space Station Mockup and Trainer Facility in Houston, Texas, with nine NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut as operators. This test evaluated camera iris and focus, back-up drive, latching end effector release, and autosequence controls using several types of hardware and software implementations. Recommendations resulting from the testing included providing guarded hardware buttons to prevent accidental actuation, providing autosequence controls and back-up drive controls on a dedicated hardware control panel, and that 'latch on/latch off', or on-screen software, controls not be considered. Generally, the operators preferred hardware controls although other control implementations were acceptable. The results of this evaluation will be used along with further testing to define specific requirements for the workstation design.

  7. International Space Station alpha remote manipulator system workstation controls test report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ehrenstrom, William A.; Swaney, Colin; Forrester, Patrick

    1994-01-01

    Previous development testing for the space station remote manipulator system workstation controls determined the need for hardware controls for the emergency stop, brakes on/off, and some camera functions. This report documents the results of an evaluation to further determine control implementation requirements, requested by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), to close outstanding review item discrepancies. This test was conducted at the Johnson Space Center's Space Station Mockup and Trainer Facility in Houston, Texas, with nine NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut as operators. This test evaluated camera iris and focus, back-up drive, latching end effector release, and autosequence controls using several types of hardware and software implementations. Recommendations resulting from the testing included providing guarded hardware buttons to prevent accidental actuation, providing autosequence controls and back-up drive controls on a dedicated hardware control panel, and that 'latch on/latch off', or on-screen software, controls not be considered. Generally, the operators preferred hardware controls although other control implementations were acceptable. The results of this evaluation will be used along with further testing to define specific requirements for the workstation design.

  8. Automated method for determining Instron Residual Seal Force of glass vial/rubber closure systems.

    PubMed

    Ludwig, J D; Nolan, P D; Davis, C W

    1993-01-01

    Instron Residual Seal Force (IRSF) of glass vial/rubber closure systems was determined using an Instron 4501 Materials Testing System. Computer programs were written to process raw data and calculate IRSF values. Preliminary experiments indicated both the appearance of the stress-deformation curves and precision of the derived IRSF values were dependent on the internal dimensions and top surface geometry of the cap anvil. Therefore, a series of five cap anvils varying in shape and dimensions were machined to optimize performance and precision. Vials capped with West 4416/50 PURCOAT button closures or Helvoet compound 6207 lyophilization closures were tested with each cap anvil. Cap anvils with spherical top surfaces and narrow internal dimensions produced more precise results and more uniform stress-deformation curves than cap anvils with flat top surfaces and wider internal dimensions.

  9. Earthdata User Interface Patterns: Building Usable Web Interfaces Through a Shared UI Pattern Library

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Siarto, J.

    2014-12-01

    As more Earth science software tools and services move to the web--the design and usability of those tools become ever more important. A good user interface is becoming expected and users are becoming increasingly intolerant of websites and web applications that work against them. The Earthdata UI Pattern Library attempts to give these scientists and developers the design tools they need to make usable, compelling user interfaces without the associated overhead of using a full design team. Patterns are tested and functional user interface elements targeted specifically at the Earth science community and will include web layouts, buttons, tables, typography, iconography, mapping and visualization/graphing widgets. These UI elements have emerged as the result of extensive user testing, research and software development within the NASA Earthdata team over the past year.

  10. Presentation and management of nasal foreign bodies at a tertiary children's hospital in an American metro area.

    PubMed

    Scholes, Melissa A; Jensen, Emily L

    2016-09-01

    To examine rates of otolaryngology intervention in children presenting to our emergency department with nasal foreign bodies, factors associated with otolaryngology involvement, rates of complications, and details on nasal button battery exposure. All patients presenting with a nasal foreign body to Children's Hospital Colorado from 2007 to 2012 were identified. Factors leading to referral to otolaryngology and operative intervention were examined, as well as complications. 102 patients were included. 36 (35%) patients were referred to the otolaryngology clinic, of which 58.9% required operating room intervention. 66 (64.7%) children had their nasal foreign bodies removed in the emergency room, however 30 (45%) of these were removed by an otolaryngology resident or attending physician. Overall, 64.7% of nasal foreign bodies required removal by otolaryngology. Of the 15 objects removed in the operating room, six were button batteries. No septal perforations occurred as a result of nasal button battery exposure. Multivariable logistic regression showed two significant predictors of OR removal: age and disc shaped objects. While emergency department providers are comfortable attempting removal of nasal foreign bodies, there was a high rate of otolaryngology intervention. Based on this data, there is a need to educate emergency room providers on nasal anatomy and techniques for nasal foreign body removal. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. A survey of fiber-positioning technologies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, Greg; Brzeski, Jurek; Miziarski, Stan; Gillingham, Peter R.; Moore, Anna; McGrath, Andrew

    2004-09-01

    A wide range of positioning technologies has been exploited to flexibly configure fiber ends on the focal surfaces of telescopes. The earliest instruments used manual plugging, or glued buttons on the focal plane. Later instruments have used robotic fisherman-round-the-pond probes and articulated armsto position fibres, each probe or arm operated by its own motors, or buttons on fiber ends moved by pick-and-place robotic positioners. A positioner using fiber spines incorporating individual actuators operating over limited patrol areas is currently being manufactured and a derivative proposed for future large telescopes. Other techniques, using independent agents carrying the fiber ends about the focal plane have been prototyped. We describe these various fiber positioning techniques and compare them, listing the issues associated with their implementation, and consider the factors which make each of them suitable for a given situation. Factors considered include: robot geometries; costs; inherent limits to the number of fibers; clustering of targets; serial and parallel positioning and reconfiguration times; adaptability to curved focal surfaces; the virtues of on-telescope versus off-telescope configuration of the field, and suitability for the various telescope foci. The design issues include selection of actuators and encoding systems, counterbalancing, configuration of fiber buttons and their associated grippers, interchanging field plates, and the need for fiber retractors. Finally we consider the competing technologies: fiber and reflective image slicer IFUs, multislit masks and reconfigurable slits.

  12. Swine Influenza/Variant Influenza Viruses

    MedlinePlus

    ... Address What's this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Influenza Types Seasonal Avian Swine Variant Pandemic Other Information on Swine Influenza/Variant Influenza Virus Language: English (US) Español Recommend ...

  13. Laboratory arc furnace features interchangeable hearths

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Armstrong, J. L.; Kruger, O. L.

    1967-01-01

    Laboratory arc furnace using rapidly interchangeable hearths gains considerable versatility in casting so that buttons or special shaped castings can be produced. It features a sight glass for observation.

  14. 49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

  15. 49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

  16. 49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

  17. 49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

  18. 49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

  19. Cell Phone Ring Suppression and HUD Caller ID: Effectiveness in Reducing Momentary Driver Distraction under Varying Workload Levels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nowakowski, C.; Friedman, D.; Green, P.

    2001-10-01

    The purpose of the current experiment is to provide a preliminary driving simulator assessment of several hands-free design solutions with regard to the task of answering the phone while driving. Specifically, the following questions were examined: (1) Does the location of a caller ID display and the phone buttons (two HUD (Head Up Display) locations vs. phone cradle) affect either the time to answer the phone or driving performance; (2) Does the presence or absence of a ring affect either the time to answer the phone or driving performance; (3) Does increased driving workload (visual demand) affect either the time to answer the phone or driving performance; (4) What were the initial driver reactions to a HUD-based call timer.

  20. Administration of CREON® pancrelipase pellets via gastrostomy tube is feasible with no loss of gastric resistance or lipase activity: an in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Shlieout, George; Koerner, Andreas; Maffert, Mario; Forssmann, Kristin; Caras, Steven

    2011-01-01

    In clinical practice, the need sometimes arises to administer pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy via gastrostomy tube (G-tube) by mixing the pellets contained in the capsules with soft food. The objective of this study was to identify G-tubes that allow administration of pancrelipase gastro-resistant pellets without clogging, sticking, pellet damage or loss of enteric coating integrity. In this in vitro study, CREON® (pancrelipase) Delayed-Release Capsules were opened and the pellets sprinkled onto a small amount of baby food of pH <4.5 (applesauce and bananas manufactured by both Gerber and Beech-Nut). The mixture was stirred gently and after 15 minutes poured into a 35 mL syringe and pushed slowly (~15 mL in 10-15 seconds) through a G-tube. Pellets were collected and the tube flushed with water. G-tubes were inspected visually for clogging/sticking and damage to pellets was assessed. If there was none with all four foods, pellet integrity (gastric resistance and lipase activity) was assessed by an in vitro dissolution method with a 2-hour gastric simulation step. The activity required to confirm integrity was ≥80% of actual US Pharmacopeia lipase activity per capsule. G-tubes initially tested were Kimberly-Clark MIC Bolus® size 14 French (Fr) and upwards and Kimberly-Clark MIC-KEY® 14 Fr and upwards. Following successful testing, assessment of Bard® Tri-Funnel 18 Fr and Bard® Button 18 Fr G-tubes was carried out. Based on the absence of clogging, sticking and visible damage to pellets, and the maintenance of pellet integrity, administration of CREON® pancrelipase pellets was feasible through the following G-tubes: Kimberly-Clark MIC Bolus® size 18 Fr, Kimberly-Clark MIC-KEY® 16 Fr, Bard® Tri-Funnel 18 Fr and Bard® Button 18 Fr. Lipase activity met the predetermined specification and was ≥90% for all four tubes and all four foods, with no differences versus untreated pellets (i.e. pellets not mixed with baby food or pushed through a G-tube). These data apply to all CREON® pancrelipase capsule formulations, regardless of their strength in lipase units, as pellet composition, size and quality are identical. CREON® pancrelipase pellets can be mixed with baby food of pH <4.5 and administered via the following G-tubes without clogging, sticking or visible pellet damage, and with no loss of gastric resistance or lipase activity: Kimberly-Clark MIC Bolus® size 18 Fr and larger, Kimberly-Clark MIC-KEY® 16 Fr and larger, Bard® Tri-Funnel 18 Fr and larger and Bard® Button 18 Fr and larger.

  1. Genital injury

    MedlinePlus

    ... or buttons. It is important to rule out sexual abuse, rape, and assault. The health care provider should ... and: Pain, bleeding, or swelling A concern about sexual abuse Problems urinating Blood in the urine

  2. MedlinePlus Tour

    MedlinePlus

    ... captioning, click the CC button on the lower right-hand corner of the player. Video player keyboard shortcuts Transcript Welcome to MedlinePlus, the consumer health information website from the National Library of ...

  3. Home Energy Saver

    Science.gov Websites

    Help | About | Privacy | Media Room | Feedback Start Describe Compare Upgrade Learn Error: Your Session Timed Out, Please click the start button to restart. Write down your session id. Environmental

  4. Programmable diagnostic devices made from paper and tape.

    PubMed

    Martinez, Andres W; Phillips, Scott T; Nie, Zhihong; Cheng, Chao-Min; Carrilho, Emanuel; Wiley, Benjamin J; Whitesides, George M

    2010-10-07

    This paper describes three-dimensional microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (3-D microPADs) that can be programmed (postfabrication) by the user to generate multiple patterns of flow through them. These devices are programmed by pressing single-use 'on' buttons, using a stylus or a ballpoint pen. Pressing a button closes a small space (gap) between two vertically aligned microfluidic channels, and allows fluids to wick from one channel to the other. These devices are simple to fabricate, and are made entirely out of paper and double-sided adhesive tape. Programmable devices expand the capabilities of microPADs and provide a simple method for controlling the movement of fluids in paper-based channels. They are the conceptual equivalent of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) widely used in electronics.

  5. Usability testing of ANSWER: a web-based methotrexate decision aid for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Decision aids are evidence-based tools designed to inform people of the potential benefit and harm of treatment options, clarify their preferences and provide a shared decision-making structure for discussion at a clinic visit. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are considering methotrexate, we have developed a web-based patient decision aid called the ANSWER (Animated, Self-serve, Web-based Research Tool). This study aimed to: 1) assess the usability of the ANSWER prototype; 2) identify strengths and limitations of the ANSWER from the patient’s perspective. Methods The ANSWER prototype consisted of: 1) six animated patient stories and narrated information on the evidence of methotrexate for RA; 2) interactive questionnaires to clarify patients’ treatment preferences. Eligible participants for the usability test were patients with RA who had been prescribed methotrexate. They were asked to verbalize their thoughts (i.e., think aloud) while using the ANSWER, and to complete the System Usability Scale (SUS) to assess overall usability (range = 0-100; higher = more user friendly). Participants were audiotaped and observed, and field notes were taken. The testing continued until no new modifiable issues were found. We used descriptive statistics to summarize participant characteristics and the SUS scores. Content analysis was used to identified usability issues and navigation problems. Results 15 patients participated in the usability testing. The majority were aged 50 or over and were university/college graduates (n = 8, 53.4%). On average they took 56 minutes (SD = 34.8) to complete the tool. The mean SUS score was 81.2 (SD = 13.5). Content analysis of audiotapes and field notes revealed four categories of modifiable usability issues: 1) information delivery (i.e., clarity of the information and presentation style); 2) navigation control (i.e., difficulties in recognizing and using the navigation control buttons); 3) layout (i.e., position of the videos, text, diagrams and navigation buttons); 4) aesthetic (i.e., the colour, look and feel of the online tool). Conclusions Although the SUS score indicated high usability before and after major modification, findings from the think-aloud sessions illustrated areas that required further refinement. Our results highlight the importance of formative evaluation in usability testing. PMID:24289731

  6. An investigation of leg and trunk strength and reaction times of hard-style martial arts practitioners.

    PubMed

    Donovan, Oliver O; Cheung, Jeanette; Catley, Maria; McGregor, Alison H; Strutton, Paul H

    2006-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate trunk and knee strength in practitioners of hard-style martial arts. An additional objective was to examine reaction times in these participants by measuring simple reaction times (SRT), choice reaction times (CRT) and movement times (MT). Thirteen high-level martial artists and twelve sedentary participants were tested under isokinetic and isometric conditions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Response and movement times were also measured in response to simple and choice auditory cues. Results indicated that the martial arts group generated a greater body-weight adjusted peak torque with both legs at all speeds during isokinetic extension and flexion, and in isometric extension but not flexion. In isokinetic and isometric trunk flexion and extension, martial artists tended to have higher peak torques than controls, but they were not significantly different (p > 0.05). During the SRT and CRT tasks the martial artists were no quicker in lifting their hand off a button in response to the stimulus [reaction time (RT)] but were significantly faster in moving to press another button [movement time (MT)]. In conclusion, the results reveal that training in a martial art increases the strength of both the flexors and extensors of the leg. Furthermore, they have faster movement times to auditory stimuli. These results are consistent with the physical aspects of the martial arts. Key PointsMartial artists undertaking hard-style martial arts have greater strength in their knee flexor and extensor muscles as tested under isokinetic testing. Under isometric testing conditions they have stronger knee extensors only.The trunk musculature is generally higher under both conditions of testing in the martial artists, although not significantly.The total reaction times of the martial artists to an auditory stimulus were significantly faster than the control participants. When analysed further it was revealed that the decrease in reaction time was due to the movement time component of the total reaction time.The training involved for the practice of the hard-style martial arts increases the strength of muscles involved in kicking. This increased strength is not seen in the trunk muscles. Furthermore, martial artists have a faster response time; the cause of which appears to be only the faster movement time.

  7. An Investigation Of Leg And Trunk Strength And Reaction Times Of Hard-Style Martial Arts Practitioners

    PubMed Central

    Donovan, Oliver O; Cheung, Jeanette; Catley, Maria; McGregor, Alison H.; Strutton, Paul H.

    2006-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate trunk and knee strength in practitioners of hard-style martial arts. An additional objective was to examine reaction times in these participants by measuring simple reaction times (SRT), choice reaction times (CRT) and movement times (MT). Thirteen high-level martial artists and twelve sedentary participants were tested under isokinetic and isometric conditions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Response and movement times were also measured in response to simple and choice auditory cues. Results indicated that the martial arts group generated a greater body-weight adjusted peak torque with both legs at all speeds during isokinetic extension and flexion, and in isometric extension but not flexion. In isokinetic and isometric trunk flexion and extension, martial artists tended to have higher peak torques than controls, but they were not significantly different (p > 0.05). During the SRT and CRT tasks the martial artists were no quicker in lifting their hand off a button in response to the stimulus [reaction time (RT)] but were significantly faster in moving to press another button [movement time (MT)]. In conclusion, the results reveal that training in a martial art increases the strength of both the flexors and extensors of the leg. Furthermore, they have faster movement times to auditory stimuli. These results are consistent with the physical aspects of the martial arts. Key Points Martial artists undertaking hard-style martial arts have greater strength in their knee flexor and extensor muscles as tested under isokinetic testing. Under isometric testing conditions they have stronger knee extensors only. The trunk musculature is generally higher under both conditions of testing in the martial artists, although not significantly. The total reaction times of the martial artists to an auditory stimulus were significantly faster than the control participants. When analysed further it was revealed that the decrease in reaction time was due to the movement time component of the total reaction time. The training involved for the practice of the hard-style martial arts increases the strength of muscles involved in kicking. This increased strength is not seen in the trunk muscles. Furthermore, martial artists have a faster response time; the cause of which appears to be only the faster movement time. PMID:24376366

  8. Usability testing of ANSWER: a web-based methotrexate decision aid for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Li, Linda C; Adam, Paul M; Townsend, Anne F; Lacaille, Diane; Yousefi, Charlene; Stacey, Dawn; Gromala, Diane; Shaw, Chris D; Tugwell, Peter; Backman, Catherine L

    2013-12-01

    Decision aids are evidence-based tools designed to inform people of the potential benefit and harm of treatment options, clarify their preferences and provide a shared decision-making structure for discussion at a clinic visit. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are considering methotrexate, we have developed a web-based patient decision aid called the ANSWER (Animated, Self-serve, Web-based Research Tool). This study aimed to: 1) assess the usability of the ANSWER prototype; 2) identify strengths and limitations of the ANSWER from the patient's perspective. The ANSWER prototype consisted of: 1) six animated patient stories and narrated information on the evidence of methotrexate for RA; 2) interactive questionnaires to clarify patients' treatment preferences. Eligible participants for the usability test were patients with RA who had been prescribed methotrexate. They were asked to verbalize their thoughts (i.e., think aloud) while using the ANSWER, and to complete the System Usability Scale (SUS) to assess overall usability (range = 0-100; higher = more user friendly). Participants were audiotaped and observed, and field notes were taken. The testing continued until no new modifiable issues were found. We used descriptive statistics to summarize participant characteristics and the SUS scores. Content analysis was used to identified usability issues and navigation problems. 15 patients participated in the usability testing. The majority were aged 50 or over and were university/college graduates (n = 8, 53.4%). On average they took 56 minutes (SD = 34.8) to complete the tool. The mean SUS score was 81.2 (SD = 13.5). Content analysis of audiotapes and field notes revealed four categories of modifiable usability issues: 1) information delivery (i.e., clarity of the information and presentation style); 2) navigation control (i.e., difficulties in recognizing and using the navigation control buttons); 3) layout (i.e., position of the videos, text, diagrams and navigation buttons); 4) aesthetic (i.e., the colour, look and feel of the online tool). Although the SUS score indicated high usability before and after major modification, findings from the think-aloud sessions illustrated areas that required further refinement. Our results highlight the importance of formative evaluation in usability testing.

  9. Design of Smart Home Systems Prototype Using MyRIO

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ratna Wati, Dwi Ann; Abadianto, Dika

    2017-06-01

    This paper presents the design of smart home systems prototype. It applies. MyRIO 1900 embedded device as the main controller of the smart home systems. The systems include wireless monitoring systems and email based notifications as well as data logging. The prototype systems use simulated sensor such as temperature sensor, push button as proximity sensor, and keypad while its simulated actuators are buzzer as alarm system, LED as light and LCD. Based on the test and analysis, the smart home systems prototype as well as the wireless monitoring systems have real time responses when input signals are available. Tbe performance of MyRIO controller is excellent and it results in a stable system.

  10. Foreign object - inhaled

    MedlinePlus

    ... can easily inhale small foods (nuts, seeds, or popcorn) and objects (buttons, beads, or parts of toys) ... foods such as hot dogs, whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, food with bones, or hard candy to children ...

  11. OHD/HL: Presentations

    Science.gov Websites

    enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Science Research and Collaboration Hydrology River Forecasts, January 2002 AMS Short Course on Quantitative Precipitation Estimation and Forecasting

  12. Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) in Pigs

    MedlinePlus

    ... Address What's this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Influenza Types Seasonal Avian Swine Variant Pandemic Other Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) in Pigs Language: English (US) Español ...

  13. Facts about Anencephaly

    MedlinePlus

    ... for Prevention Birth Defects are Common, Costly, and Critical Videos & Podcasts Buttons Prevent to Protect PACT Quiz ... front part of the brain (forebrain) and the thinking and coordinating part of the brain (cerebrum). The ...

  14. The NCEP Mission

    Science.gov Websites

    code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request Local forecast by "City, St" City , St Go Search NCEP Go Current Hazards Watches/Warnings Outlooks National Current Conditions

  15. 45 CFR 73.735-602 - Permissible activities.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... political management or political campaigns or using official authority or influence to interfere with an... or button; (4) Participate in the nonpartisan activities of a civic, community, social, labor, or...

  16. 45 CFR 73.735-602 - Permissible activities.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... political management or political campaigns or using official authority or influence to interfere with an... or button; (4) Participate in the nonpartisan activities of a civic, community, social, labor, or...

  17. Gastrostomy feeding tube - bolus

    MedlinePlus

    ... jaw muscles. Feeding Your Child With the Gravity Method Your provider will show you the best way ... the button. Feeding Your Child With the Syringe Method Your provider will teach you the best way ...

  18. Drug Facts

    MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools

    ... Numbers and Websites Search Share Listen English Español Information about this page Click on the button that ... about drug abuse, addiction, and treatment. Watch Videos Information About Drugs Alcohol Bath Salts Cocaine Heroin Marijuana ...

  19. Mercuric oxide poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    Mercuric oxide may be found in some: Button batteries (batteries containing mercury are no longer sold in the ... long-term injury Any person who swallowed a battery will need immediate x-rays to make sure ...

  20. 78 FR 60248 - Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 183-Austin, Texas; Notification of Proposed Production Activity...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-01

    ...; input/output assemblies; electromagnetic interference support walls; bumpers; adhesives; sleeves; rubber... shroud assemblies; mechanism bases; storage; busbars; button dim links; electromagnetic interference fans...

  1. FastStats: Viral Hepatitis

    MedlinePlus

    ... Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Viral Hepatitis Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir Data are for the U.S. Morbidity Number of new hepatitis A cases: 1,239 (2014) Number of new ...

  2. Button battery injuries in the pediatric aerodigestive tract.

    PubMed

    Ettyreddy, Abhinav R; Georg, Matthew W; Chi, David H; Gaines, Barbara A; Simons, Jeffrey P

    2015-12-01

    Children with a button battery impaction present with nonspecific symptoms that may account for a delay in medical care. We conducted a retrospective study of the clinical presentation, management, and complications associated with button battery ingestion in the pediatric aerodigestive tract and to evaluate the associated long-term morbidity. We reviewed the medical records of 23 patients who were treated for button battery impaction at our tertiary care children's hospital from Jan. 1, 2000, through July 31, 2013. This population was made up of 14 boys and 9 girls, aged 7 days to 12 years (mean: 4 yr). Patients were divided into three groups based on the site of impaction; there were 9 impactions in the esophagus and 7 each in the nasal cavity and stomach. We compiled information on the type and size of each battery, the duration of the impaction, presenting symptoms, treatment, and outcomes. The mean duration of battery impaction was 40.6, 30.7, and 21.0 hours in the esophagus, nasal cavity, and stomach, respectively. We were able to identify the specific type of battery in 13 cases; 11 of these cases (85%) involved a 3-V 20-mm lithium ion battery, including all cases of esophageal impaction in which the type of battery was identified. The most common presenting signs and symptoms were vomiting (n = 7 [30%]), difficulty feeding (n = 5 [22%]), cough (n = 5), and bloody nasal discharge (n = 5); none of the presenting signs and symptoms predicted the severity of the injury or the outcome. The median length of hospital stay was far greater in the esophageal group (12 days) than in the nasal and stomach groups (1 day each; p = 0.006). Battery impaction in the esophagus for more than 15 hours was associated with a significantly longer postoperative hospital stay than impaction for less than 15 hours (p = 0.04). Esophageal complications included strictures (n = 5), perforation (n = 3), and tracheoesophageal fistula formation (n = 2). Clinicians should consider battery impaction in the upper aerodigestive tract as an emergency that can lead to significant long-term morbidity, and therefore immediate surgical intervention is required.

  3. Correlates of stimulus-response congruence in the posterior parietal cortex.

    PubMed

    Stoet, Gijsbert; Snyder, Lawrence H

    2007-02-01

    Primate behavior is flexible: The response to a stimulus often depends on the task in which it occurs. Here we study how single neurons in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) respond to stimuli which are associated with different responses in different tasks. Two rhesus monkeys performed a task-switching paradigm. Each trial started with a task cue instructing which of two tasks to perform, followed by a stimulus requiring a left or right button press. For half the stimuli, the associated responses were different in the two tasks, meaning that the task context was necessary to disambiguate the incongruent stimuli. The other half of stimuli required the same response irrespective of task context (congruent). Using this paradigm, we previously showed that behavioral responses to incongruent stimuli are significantly slower than to congruent stimuli. We now demonstrate a neural correlate in the PPC of the additional processing time required for incongruent stimuli. Furthermore, we previously found that 29% of parietal neurons encode the task being performed (task-selective cells). We now report differences in neuronal timing related to congruency in task-selective versus task nonselective cells. These differences in timing suggest that the activity in task nonselective cells reflects a motor command, whereas activity in task-selective cells reflects a decision process.

  4. Preparation and Characterization of Anode-Supported YSZ Thin Film Electrolyte by Co-Tape Casting and Co-Sintering Process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Q. L.; Fu, C. J.; Chan, S. H.; Pasciak, G.

    2011-06-01

    In this study, a co-tape casting and co-sintering process has been developed to prepare yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte films supported on Ni-YSZ anode substrates in order to substantially reduce the fabrication cost of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Through proper control of the process, the anode/electrolyte bilayer structures with a size of 7.8cm × 7.8cm were achieved with good flatness. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation indicated that the YSZ electrolyte film was about 16 μm in thickness, highly dense, crack free and well-bonded to the anode support. The electrochemical properties of the prepared anode-supported electrolyte film was evaluated in a button cell mode incorporating a (LaSr)MnO3-YSZ composite cathode. With humidified hydrogen as the fuel and stationary air as the oxidant, the cell demonstrated an open-circuit voltage of 1.081 V and a maximum power density of 1.01 W/cm2 at 800°C. The obtained results represent the important progress in the development of anode-supported intermediate temperature SOFC with reduced fabrication cost.

  5. Information for Caregivers

    MedlinePlus

    ... learned that a PHR saves time, energy, and money. And it saved my life! A woman's Facebook ... Doctor’s Visit A Reference Guide Blue Button Resources Mobile PHRs Blog FAQ © 2018 AHIMA, All Rights Reserved | ...

  6. Common Privacy Myths

    MedlinePlus

    ... learned that a PHR saves time, energy, and money. And it saved my life! A woman's Facebook ... Doctor’s Visit A Reference Guide Blue Button Resources Mobile PHRs Blog FAQ © 2018 AHIMA, All Rights Reserved | ...

  7. National Centers for Environmental Prediction

    Science.gov Websites

    code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request Local forecast by "City, St" City , St Go Search NCEP Go Current Hazards Watches/Warnings Outlooks National Current Conditions

  8. FastStats: Obesity and Overweight

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Obesity and Overweight Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir ... Percent of adults aged 20 and over with obesity: 37.9% (2013-2014) Percent of adults aged ...

  9. Simple force feedback for small virtual environments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schiefele, Jens; Albert, Oliver; van Lier, Volker; Huschka, Carsten

    1998-08-01

    In today's civil flight training simulators only the cockpit and all its interaction devices exist as physical mockups. All other elements such as flight behavior, motion, sound, and the visual system are virtual. As an extension to this approach `Virtual Flight Simulation' tries to subsidize the cockpit mockup by a 3D computer generated image. The complete cockpit including the exterior view is displayed on a Head Mounted Display (HMD), a BOOM, or a Cave Animated Virtual Environment. In most applications a dataglove or virtual pointers are used as input devices. A basic problem of such a Virtual Cockpit simulation is missing force feedback. A pilot cannot touch and feel buttons, knobs, dials, etc. he tries to manipulate. As a result, it is very difficult to generate realistic inputs into VC systems. `Seating Bucks' are used in automotive industry to overcome the problem of missing force feedback. Only a seat, steering wheel, pedal, stick shift, and radio panel are physically available. All other geometry is virtual and therefore untouchable but visible in the output device. In extension to this concept a `Seating Buck' for commercial transport aircraft cockpits was developed. Pilot seat, side stick, pedals, thrust-levers, and flaps lever are physically available. All other panels are simulated by simple flat plastic panels. They are located at the same location as their real counterparts only lacking the real input devices. A pilot sees the entire photorealistic cockpit in a HMD as 3D geometry but can only touch the physical parts and plastic panels. In order to determine task performance with the developed Seating Buck, a test series was conducted. Users press buttons, adapt dials, and turn knobs. In a first test, a complete virtual environment was used. The second setting had a plastic panel replacing all input devices. Finally, as cross reference the participants had to repeat the test with a complete physical mockup of the input devices. All panels and physical devices can be easily relocated to simulate a different type of cockpit. Maximal 30 minutes are needed for a complete adaptation. So far, an Airbus A340 and a generic cockpit are supported.

  10. Numerical investigations of failure in EB-PVD thermal barrier coating systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Glynn, Michael L.

    Thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems are used in high temperature applications in turbine engines. TBCs are applied on superalloy substrates and are multilayered coatings comprised of a metallic bond coat, a thermally grown oxide (TGO) and a ceramic top coat. They provide thermal protection for the superalloy substrate and are considered to hold the greatest potential for increased operating temperatures. Failure of the TBC system most commonly occurs as a result of large scale buckling and spallation. The buckling is a consequence of many small-scale delaminations that arise in the top coat above local imperfections in the TGO, and durability of the TBC system is governed by a sequence of crack nucleation, propagation and coalescence. The numerical investigations that are employed in this dissertation are used to determine the stress development near the imperfections and are based on microstructural observations and measured material properties of TBC test buttons supplied by GE Aircraft Engines. The test buttons were subject to thermal cycling at GE and cycled to different percentages of TBC life. Numerical simulations of two different types of TBC tests are used to show that the top coat out-of-plane stress increases with a decrease of the substrate radius of curvature and a decrease in the heating rate. An inherent scaling parameter in the TBC system is identified and used to demonstrate that the stress developed in the top coat is governed by the evolution of an imperfection in the TGO. The effect of a martensitic phase transformation in the bond coat, related to a change in bond coat chemistry, is shown to significantly increase the top coat out-of-plane tensile stress. Finally, a subsurface crack is simulated in the top coat and used to determine the influence of the bond coat on failure of the TBC system. While the bond coat inelastic properties are the most important factors in determining the extent of the crack opening displacement, the bond coat martensitic phase transformation governs when the crack propagates. The crack propagates during heat-up when the martensitic phase transformation is included, and it propagates during cool-down when the transformation is not included.

  11. Numerical analysis of the beam position monitor pickup for the Iranian light source facility

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shafiee, M.; Feghhi, S. A. H.; Rahighi, J.

    2017-03-01

    In this paper, we describe the design of a button type Beam Position Monitor (BPM) for the low emittance storage ring of the Iranian Light Source Facility (ILSF). First, we calculate sensitivities, induced power and intrinsic resolution based on solving Laplace equation numerically by finite element method (FEM), in order to find the potential at each point of BPM's electrode surface. After the optimization of the designed BPM, trapped high order modes (HOM), wakefield and thermal loss effects are calculated. Finally, after fabrication of BPM, it is experimentally tested by using a test-stand. The results depict that the designed BPM has a linear response in the area of 2×4 mm2 inside the beam pipe and the sensitivity of 0.080 and 0.087 mm-1 in horizontal and vertical directions. Experimental results also depict that they are in a good agreement with numerical analysis.

  12. Smart home design for electronic devices monitoring based wireless gateway network using cisco packet tracer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sihombing, Oloan; Zendrato, Niskarto; Laia, Yonata; Nababan, Marlince; Sitanggang, Delima; Purba, Windania; Batubara, Diarmansyah; Aisyah, Siti; Indra, Evta; Siregar, Saut

    2018-04-01

    In the era of technological development today, the technology has become the need for the life of today's society. One is needed to create a smart home in turning on and off electronic devices via smartphone. So far in turning off and turning the home electronic device is done by pressing the switch or remote button, so in control of electronic device control less effective. The home smart design is done by simulation concept by testing system, network configuration, and wireless home gateway computer network equipment required by a smart home network on cisco packet tracer using Internet Thing (IoT) control. In testing the IoT home network wireless network gateway system, multiple electronic devices can be controlled and monitored via smartphone based on predefined configuration conditions. With the Smart Ho me can potentially increase energy efficiency, decrease energy usage costs, control electronics and change the role of residents.

  13. Successive approximation algorithm for beam-position-monitor-based LHC collimator alignment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Valentino, Gianluca; Nosych, Andriy A.; Bruce, Roderik; Gasior, Marek; Mirarchi, Daniele; Redaelli, Stefano; Salvachua, Belen; Wollmann, Daniel

    2014-02-01

    Collimators with embedded beam position monitor (BPM) button electrodes will be installed in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) during the current long shutdown period. For the subsequent operation, BPMs will allow the collimator jaws to be kept centered around the beam orbit. In this manner, a better beam cleaning efficiency and machine protection can be provided at unprecedented higher beam energies and intensities. A collimator alignment algorithm is proposed to center the jaws automatically around the beam. The algorithm is based on successive approximation and takes into account a correction of the nonlinear BPM sensitivity to beam displacement and an asymmetry of the electronic channels processing the BPM electrode signals. A software implementation was tested with a prototype collimator in the Super Proton Synchrotron. This paper presents results of the tests along with some considerations for eventual operation in the LHC.

  14. Neural correlates of short-term memory in primate auditory cortex

    PubMed Central

    Bigelow, James; Rossi, Breein; Poremba, Amy

    2014-01-01

    Behaviorally-relevant sounds such as conspecific vocalizations are often available for only a brief amount of time; thus, goal-directed behavior frequently depends on auditory short-term memory (STM). Despite its ecological significance, the neural processes underlying auditory STM remain poorly understood. To investigate the role of the auditory cortex in STM, single- and multi-unit activity was recorded from the primary auditory cortex (A1) of two monkeys performing an auditory STM task using simple and complex sounds. Each trial consisted of a sample and test stimulus separated by a 5-s retention interval. A brief wait period followed the test stimulus, after which subjects pressed a button if the sounds were identical (match trials) or withheld button presses if they were different (non-match trials). A number of units exhibited significant changes in firing rate for portions of the retention interval, although these changes were rarely sustained. Instead, they were most frequently observed during the early and late portions of the retention interval, with inhibition being observed more frequently than excitation. At the population level, responses elicited on match trials were briefly suppressed early in the sound period relative to non-match trials. However, during the latter portion of the sound, firing rates increased significantly for match trials and remained elevated throughout the wait period. Related patterns of activity were observed in prior experiments from our lab in the dorsal temporal pole (dTP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the same animals. The data suggest that early match suppression occurs in both A1 and the dTP, whereas later match enhancement occurs first in the PFC, followed by A1 and later in dTP. Because match enhancement occurs first in the PFC, we speculate that enhancement observed in A1 and dTP may reflect top–down feedback. Overall, our findings suggest that A1 forms part of the larger neural system recruited during auditory STM. PMID:25177266

  15. Caregiving for Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementia

    MedlinePlus

    ... What's this? Submit Button Caregiving for Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a related Dementia Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form ...

  16. Faststats: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)* Recommend on Facebook Tweet ... visits Number of visits to physician offices with attention deficit disorder as the primary diagnosis: 10.9 ...

  17. Tourette Syndrome: Help Stop Bullying

    MedlinePlus

    ... Submit Button Past Emails Tourette Syndrome: Help Stop Bullying Language: English (US) Español (Spanish) Recommend on Facebook ... you can increase acceptance by helping to stop bullying of children with TS. Bullying doesn’t just ...

  18. Head Lice: Information for Parents

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    ... Address What's this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Information For: Parents Schools Listen to audio/Podcast Related ... General Public. Contact Us Parasites Home Head Lice Information for Parents Language: English (US) Español (Spanish) Recommend ...

  19. 16 CFR 1501.3 - Exemptions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... exempt from this regulation (§§ 1500.18(a)(9) and 1501.4 below): (a) Balloons; (b) Books and other... clothing and accessories, such as shoe lace holders and buttons; (e) Grooming, feeding, and hygiene...

  20. Research of Medication Use during Pregnancy

    MedlinePlus

    ... Podcasts and Videos Buttons CDC’s Work Pregnancy Homepage Research Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir CDC and ... registration. Studies from the Centers for Birth Defects Research and Prevention CDC funds the Centers for Birth ...

  1. FastStats: Anemia or Iron Deficiency

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Anemia or Iron Deficiency Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share ... visits Number of visits to emergency departments with anemia as the primary hospital discharge diagnosis: 188,000 ...

  2. FastStats: Self-Inflicted Injury/Suicide

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury Recommend on Facebook Tweet ... Tables, table 17 [PDF – 676 KB] Mortality All suicides Number of deaths: 44,193 Deaths per 100, ...

  3. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Vaccines

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir ... an international network of vaccine safety experts. SIDS deaths declined due to recommendations to put infants on ...

  4. 36 CFR 1192.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 1192.127 Sleeping compartments. (a) Sleeping compartments required to be... controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be mounted no more than 48 inches, and no less than...

  5. 36 CFR 1192.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 1192.127 Sleeping compartments. (a) Sleeping compartments required to be... controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be mounted no more than 48 inches, and no less than...

  6. Facts about Microcephaly

    MedlinePlus

    ... input class="button submit" name="commit" type="submit" value="Submit" /> Information For… Media Policy ... and Severe Microcephaly Comparison The images are in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions. As a matter of ...

  7. FastStats: Oral and Dental Health

    MedlinePlus

    ... What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Oral and Dental Health Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir Data ... States, 2016, table 60 [PDF – 9.8 MB] Dental visits Percent of children aged 2-17 years ...

  8. Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases

    MedlinePlus

    ... news labs links & resources hpv overview why vaccinate posters buttons and banners videos someone you love flu ... such thing as stomach flu pregnancy and flu posters meningitis overview why vaccinate CDC and meningitis Stiletto ...

  9. General Information about MRSA in Healthcare Settings

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit Button General Information About MRSA in Healthcare Settings Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir In ... at Risk, and How is MRSA Spread in Healthcare Settings? MRSA is usually spread by direct contact ...

  10. FastStats: Heart Disease

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Heart Disease Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir Data are ... the U.S. Morbidity Number of adults with diagnosed heart disease: 28.1 million Percent of adults with diagnosed ...

  11. 36 CFR 1192.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 1192.127 Sleeping compartments. (a) Sleeping compartments required to be... controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be mounted no more than 48 inches, and no less than...

  12. 36 CFR 1192.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 1192.127 Sleeping compartments. (a) Sleeping compartments required to be... controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be mounted no more than 48 inches, and no less than...

  13. Visual Basic VPython Interface: Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prayaga, Chandra

    2006-12-01

    A simple Visual Basic (VB) to VPython interface is described and illustrated with the example of a charged particle in a magnetic field. This interface allows data to be passed to Python through a text file read by Python. The first component of the interface is a user-friendly data entry screen designed in VB, in which the user can input values of the charge, mass, initial position and initial velocity of the particle, and the magnetic field. Next, a command button is coded to write these values to a text file. Another command button starts the VPython program, which reads the data from the text file, numerically solves the equation of motion, and provides the 3d graphics animation. Students can use the interface to run the program several times with different data and observe changes in the motion.

  14. Modeling Auditory-Haptic Interface Cues from an Analog Multi-line Telephone

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Begault, Durand R.; Anderson, Mark R.; Bittner, Rachael M.

    2012-01-01

    The Western Electric Company produced a multi-line telephone during the 1940s-1970s using a six-button interface design that provided robust tactile, haptic and auditory cues regarding the "state" of the communication system. This multi-line telephone was used as a model for a trade study comparison of two interfaces: a touchscreen interface (iPad)) versus a pressure-sensitive strain gauge button interface (Phidget USB interface controllers). The experiment and its results are detailed in the authors' AES 133rd convention paper " Multimodal Information Management: Evaluation of Auditory and Haptic Cues for NextGen Communication Dispays". This Engineering Brief describes how the interface logic, visual indications, and auditory cues of the original telephone were synthesized using MAX/MSP, including the logic for line selection, line hold, and priority line activation.

  15. A Single-Channel EOG-Based Speller.

    PubMed

    He, Shenghong; Li, Yuanqing

    2017-11-01

    Electrooculography (EOG) signals, which can be used to infer the intentions of a user based on eye movements, are widely used in human-computer interface (HCI) systems. Most existing EOG-based HCI systems incorporate a limited number of commands because they generally associate different commands with a few different types of eye movements, such as looking up, down, left, or right. This paper presents a novel single-channel EOG-based HCI that allows users to spell asynchronously by only blinking. Forty buttons corresponding to 40 characters displayed to the user via a graphical user interface are intensified in a random order. To select a button, the user must blink his/her eyes in synchrony as the target button is flashed. Two data processing procedures, specifically support vector machine (SVM) classification and waveform detection, are combined to detect eye blinks. During detection, we simultaneously feed the feature vectors extracted from the ongoing EOG signal into the SVM classification and waveform detection modules. Decisions are made based on the results of the SVM classification and waveform detection. Three online experiments were conducted with eight healthy subjects. We achieved an average accuracy of 94.4% and a response time of 4.14 s for selecting a character in synchronous mode, as well as an average accuracy of 93.43% and a false positive rate of 0.03/min in the idle state in asynchronous mode. The experimental results, therefore, demonstrated the effectiveness of this single-channel EOG-based speller.

  16. Dynamic fMRI of a decision-making task

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Manbir; Sungkarat, Witaya

    2008-03-01

    A novel fMRI technique has been developed to capture the dynamics of the evolution of brain activity during complex tasks such as those designed to evaluate the neural basis of decision-making under different situations. A task called the Iowa Gambling Task was used as an example. Six normal human volunteers were studied. The task was presented inside a 3T MRI and a dynamic fMRI study of the approximately 2s period between the beginning and end of the decision-making period was conducted by employing a series of reference functions, separated by 200 ms, designed to capture activation at different time-points within this period. As decision-making culminates with a button-press, the timing of the button press was chosen as the reference (t=0) and corresponding reference functions were shifted backward in steps of 200ms from this point up to the time when motor activity from the previous button press became predominant. SPM was used to realign, high-pass filter (cutoff 200s), normalize to the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) Template using a 12 parameter affine/non-linear transformation, 8mm Gaussian smoothing, and event-related General Linear Model analysis for each of the shifted reference functions. The t-score of each activated voxel was then examined to find its peaking time. A random effect analysis (p<0.05) showed prefrontal, parietal and bi-lateral hippocampal activation peaking at different times during the decision making period in the n=6 group study.

  17. A novel technique for performing a tongue-lip adhesion-the tongue suspension technique.

    PubMed

    Mann, Robert J; Neaman, Keith C; Hill, Brian; Bajnrauh, Robert; Martin, Matthew D

    2012-01-01

    The tongue-lip adhesion has undergone several modifications in an attempt to reduce surgical complications and failure rates. Current techniques rely on the use of a button at the tongue base for suspension, which raises concerns about possible aspiration and interference with oral motor function and bottle-feeding. A new technique for tongue-lip adhesion is proposed that adds a tongue suspension to the standard surgical adhesion. A total of 22 patients with Pierre Robin sequence who received a tongue-lip adhesion via a tongue suspension technique were reviewed. The surgical technique differs from the standard surgical approach by the use of a suture weave across the base of the tongue instead of a standard button to suspend the tongue anteriorly. Average age at the time of tongue-lip adhesion was 13.9 days, with a mean operative time of 88.8 minutes. A marked improvement in postoperative oxygenation was seen in the majority of patients. One dehiscence occurred secondary to a traumatic postoperative extubation, eventually requiring a tracheostomy for subglottic stenosis. A technical innovation for performing a tongue-lip adhesion using a tongue suspension in conjunction with a standard transverse adhesion of the lip is described. The advantage of the tongue-lip adhesion with suspension includes immediate postoperative extubation, as well as removal of concerns regarding button aspiration and possible interference in early developmental oral motor function and bottle-feeding. This technique is reproducible, expanding the craniofacial surgeon's armamentarium for the management of difficult airways in Pierre Robin sequence.

  18. Green nanoemulsion-laden glyphosate isopropylamine formulation in suppressing creeping foxglove (A. gangetica), slender button weed (D. ocimifolia) and buffalo grass (P. conjugatum).

    PubMed

    Lim, Chaw Jiang; Basri, Mahiran; Omar, Dzolkhifli; Abdul Rahman, Mohd Basyaruddin; Salleh, Abu Bakar; Raja Abdul Rahman, Raja Noor Zaliha

    2013-01-01

    Pesticides are developed with carriers to improve their physicochemical properties and, accordingly, the bioefficacy of the applied formulation. For foliar-applied herbicide, generally less than 0.1% of the active ingredient reaching the target site could reduce pesticide performance. Recently, a carrier of nanoemulsion consisting of oil, surfactant and water, with a particle size of less than 200 nm, has been shown to enhance drug permeability for skin penetration in pharmaceutical delivery systems. In the present work, the aim was to formulate a water-soluble herbicide, glyphosate isopropylamine (IPA), using a green nanoemulsion system for a biological activity study against the weeds creeping foxglove, slender button weed and buffalo grass. The nanoemulsion formulations displayed a significantly lower spray deposition on creeping foxglove (2.9-3.5 ng cm(-2) ), slender button weed (2.6-2.9 ng cm(-2) ) and buffalo grass (1.8-2.4 ng cm(-2) ) than Roundup(®) (3.7-5.1 ng cm(-2) ). The visible injury rates of weeds treated with the nanoemulsion formulations were statistically equivalent to those relating to Roundup(®) at 14 days after treatment, with a control range of 86.67-96.67%. It was hypothesised that the significant difference in spray deposition with equal injury rates can be attributed to enhanced bioactivity of the nanoemulsion formulations. This initial discovery could be the platform for developing better penetration of agrochemical formulations in the future. Copyright © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.

  19. Coracoclavicular stabilization using a suture button device for Neer type IIB lateral clavicle fractures.

    PubMed

    Cho, Chul-Hyun; Jung, Jae-Hoon; Kim, Beom-Soo

    2017-05-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic and clinical outcomes of coracoclavicular (CC) stabilization using a suture button device for Neer type IIB lateral clavicle fractures. Eighteen consecutive patients with Neer type IIB fractures were treated with CC stabilization using a TightRope device (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA). The mean follow-up period was 46.6 months (range, 24-75 months). Radiologic outcomes were assessed using serial plain radiographs. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale pain score; University of California, Los Angeles score; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score; and subjective shoulder value. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were also evaluated. Of the 18 cases, 17 (94.4%) showed complete bony union. The mean final visual analog scale pain score was 1.1; University of California, Los Angeles score, 31.3; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, 88.6; and subjective shoulder value, 88.5%. Four complications were observed: (1) intraoperative coracoid process fracture, (2) nonunion, (3) delayed union, and (4) shoulder stiffness. The case with a coracoid process fracture during coracoid tunnel generation was converted to the K-wire tension band technique. CC stabilization using a suture button device for Neer type IIB lateral clavicle fractures yielded satisfactory radiologic and clinical outcomes. The major advantage of this technique is that implant removal is not required. Copyright © 2017 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Computational Assessment of a 3-Stage Axial Compressor Which Provides Airflow to the NASA 11- by 11-Foot Transonic Wind Tunnel, Including Design Changes for Increased Performance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kulkarni, Sameer; Beach, Timothy A.; Jorgenson, Philip C.; Veres, Joseph P.

    2017-01-01

    A 24 foot diameter 3-stage axial compressor powered by variable-speed induction motors provides the airflow in the closed-return 11- by 11-Foot Transonic Wind Tunnel (11-Foot TWT) Facility at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. The facility is part of the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel, which was completed in 1955. Since then, upgrades made to the 11-Foot TWT such as flow conditioning devices and instrumentation have increased blockage and pressure loss in the tunnel, somewhat reducing the peak Mach number capability of the test section. Due to erosion effects on the existing aluminum alloy rotor blades, fabrication of new steel rotor blades is planned. This presents an opportunity to increase the Mach number capability of the tunnel by redesigning the compressor for increased pressure ratio. Challenging design constraints exist for any proposed design, demanding the use of the existing driveline, rotor disks, stator vanes, and hub and casing flow paths, so as to minimize cost and installation time. The current effort was undertaken to characterize the performance of the existing compressor design using available design tools and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes and subsequently recommend a new compressor design to achieve higher pressure ratio, which directly correlates with increased test section Mach number. The constant cross-sectional area of the compressor leads to highly diffusion factors, which presents a challenge in simulating the existing design. The CFD code APNASA was used to simulate the aerodynamic performance of the existing compressor. The simulations were compared to performance predictions from the HT0300 turbomachinery design and analysis code, and to compressor performance data taken during a 1997 facility test. It was found that the CFD simulations were sensitive to endwall leakages associated with stator buttons, and to a lesser degree, under-stator-platform flow recirculation at the hub. When stator button leakages were modeled, pumping capability increased by over 20 of pressure rise at design point due to a large reduction in aerodynamic blockage at the hub. Incorporating the stator button leakages was crucial to matching test data. Under-stator-platform flow recirculation was thought to be large due to a lack of seals. The effect of this recirculation was assessed with APNASA simulations recirculating 0.5, 1, and 2 of inlet flow about stators 1 and 2, modeled as axisymmetric mass flux boundary conditions on the hub before and after the vanes. The injection of flow ahead of the stators tended to re-energize the boundary layer and reduce hub separations, resulting in about 3 increased stall margin per 1 of inlet flow recirculated. In order to assess the value of the flow recirculation, a mixing plane simulation of the compressor which gridded the under-stator cavities was generated using the ADPAC CFD code. This simulation indicated that about 0.65 of the inlet flow is recirculated around each shrouded stator. This collective information was applied during the redesign of the compressor. A potential design was identified using HT0300 which improved overall pressure ratio by removing pre-swirl into rotor 1, replacing existing NASA 65 series rotors with double circular arc sections, and re-staggering rotors and the existing stators. The performance of the new design predicted by APNASA and HT0300 is compared to the existing design.

  1. Determination of anti-inflammatory activities of standardised preparations of plant- and mushroom-based foods.

    PubMed

    Gunawardena, Dhanushka; Shanmugam, Kirubakaran; Low, Mitchell; Bennett, Louise; Govindaraghavan, Suresh; Head, Richard; Ooi, Lezanne; Münch, Gerald

    2014-02-01

    Chronic inflammatory processes contribute to the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases. In search of anti-inflammatory foods, we have systematically screened a variety of common dietary plants and mushrooms for their anti-inflammatory activity. A selection of 115 samples was prepared by a generic food-compatible processing method involving heating. These products were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity in murine N11 microglia and RAW 264.7 macrophages, using nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as pro-inflammatory readouts. Ten food samples including lime zest, English breakfast tea, honey-brown mushroom, button mushroom, oyster mushroom, cinnamon and cloves inhibited NO production in N11 microglia, with IC50 values below 0.5 mg/ml. The most active samples were onion, oregano and red sweet potato, exhibiting IC50 values below 0.1 mg/ml. When these ten food preparations were retested in RAW 264.7 macrophages, they all inhibited NO production similar to the results obtained in N11 microglia. In addition, English breakfast tea leaves, oyster mushroom, onion, cinnamon and button mushroom preparations suppressed TNF-α production, exhibiting IC50 values below 0.5 mg/ml in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In summary, anti-inflammatory activity in these food samples survived 'cooking'. Provided that individual bioavailability allows active compounds to reach therapeutic levels in target tissues, these foods may be useful in limiting inflammation in a variety of age-related inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, these foods could be a source for the discovery of novel anti-inflammatory drugs.

  2. Endothelial quality of pre-cut posterior corneal lamellae for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty with a stromal rim (DMEK-S): two-year outcome of manual preparation in an ocular tissue bank.

    PubMed

    Krabcova, Ivana; Studeny, Pavel; Jirsova, Katerina

    2013-06-01

    To assess the quantitative and qualitative parameters of pre-cut posterior corneal lamellae for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty with a stromal rim (DMEK-S) prepared manually in the Ocular Tissue Bank Prague. All 65 successfully prepared pre-cut posterior corneal lamellae provided for grafting during a 2-year period were analyzed retrospectively. The lamellae, consisting of a central zone of endothelium-Descemet membrane surrounded by a supporting peripheral stromal rim, were prepared manually from corneoscleral buttons having an endothelial cell density higher than 2,500 cells/mm(2). The live endothelial cell density, the percentage of dead cells, the hexagonality and the coefficient of variation were assessed before and immediately after preparation as well as after 2 days of organ culture storage at 31 °C. Altogether, the endothelium of 57 lamellae was assessed. Immediately after preparation, the mean live endothelial cell density was 2,835 cells/mm(2) and, on average, 1.8 % of dead cells were found. After 2 days of storage, the cell density decreased significantly to 2,757 cells/mm(2) and the percentage of dead cells to 1.0 %. There was a significant change in the mean hexagonality and the coefficient of variation after lamellar preparation and subsequent storage. The amount of tissue wasted during the preparation was 23 %. The endothelial cell density of posterior corneal lamellae sent for DMEK-S was higher than 2,700 cells/mm(2) in average with a low percentage of dead cells; 65 pre-cut tissues were used for grafting during a 2-year period.

  3. Development of pneumatic actuator with low-wave reflection characteristics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, H.; Tsung, T. T.; Jwo, C. S.; Chiang, J. C.

    2010-08-01

    This study aims at the development of a less reflective electromagnetic pneumatic actuator often used in the anechoic chamber. Because a pneumatic actuator on the market is not appropriate for use in such a chamber and a metallic one has high dielectric constant which generates reflective electromagnetic waves to influence test parameters in the chamber. The newly developed pneumatic actuator is made from low dielectric constant plastics with less reflective of electromagnetic. A turbine-type air motor is used to develop the pneumatic actuator and a employ Prony tester is used to run the brake horsepower test for the performance test of pneumatic actuator. Test results indicate that the pneumatic actuator in the minimal starting flow is 17 l/min, and it generates a brake horsepower of 48 mW; in the maximum flow is 26 l/min, it generates a brake horsepower of 108 mW. Therefore, it works with a torque between 0.24 N-m and 0.55 N-m, and such a torque will be sufficient to drive the target button.

  4. How to Create a Personal Health Record

    MedlinePlus

    ... learned that a PHR saves time, energy, and money. And it saved my life! A woman's Facebook ... Doctor’s Visit A Reference Guide Blue Button Resources Mobile PHRs Blog FAQ © 2018 AHIMA, All Rights Reserved | ...

  5. NCHHSTP Atlas

    MedlinePlus

    ... disease and a combined set for all diseases. Social Determinants of Health Slide Sets County-level data on poverty, income, ... Hepatitis Slideset HIV Slideset STD Slideset Tuberculosis Slideset Social Determinants of Health Slideset Buttons AtlasPlus Application File Formats Help: How ...

  6. FastStats: Exercise or Physical Activity

    MedlinePlus

    ... What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Exercise or Physical Activity Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir Data are ... adults aged 18 and over who met the Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic physical activity: 51.7% Percent ...

  7. Novel Third-Law Demonstration.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lonc, William

    1995-01-01

    Presents an easy method to demonstrate Third-Law interactions using identical button magnets sliding along a smooth (nonmagnetic) knitting needle. Explains the gravitational and magnetic interactions in the case of horizontal and vertical positions of the needle. (JRH)

  8. 36 CFR § 1192.127 - Sleeping compartments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 1192.127 Sleeping compartments. (a) Sleeping compartments required to be... controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be mounted no more than 48 inches, and no less than...

  9. OHD - OHD Staff

    Science.gov Websites

    Site Map News Organization Search NWS All NOAA Go Local forecast by "City, St" Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Front Office OWP

  10. OHD - Data Systems

    Science.gov Websites

    Site Map News Organization Search NWS All NOAA Go Local forecast by "City, St" Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Front Office OWP

  11. OHD - Additional Links

    Science.gov Websites

    Site Map News Organization Search NWS All NOAA Go Local forecast by "City, St" Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Front Office OWP

  12. OHD - Current history

    Science.gov Websites

    Site Map News Organization Search NWS All NOAA Go Local forecast by "City, St" Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Front Office OWP

  13. OHD - Field Support

    Science.gov Websites

    Site Map News Organization Search NWS All NOAA Go Local forecast by "City, St" Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Front Office OWP

  14. FastStats: Home Health Care

    MedlinePlus

    ... Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Home Health Care Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir Data are ... Data Alzheimer’s disease Characteristics and Use of Home Health Care by Men and Women Aged 65 and Over [ ...

  15. 77 FR 46024 - Foreign-Trade Zone 8-Toledo, OH; Notification of Proposed Production Activity, Whirlpool...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-02

    ..., AC motors, power supplies, heater tubs, LED light assemblies, triple level and push button switches, control panels, printed circuit boards, power cords, wire harnesses, EMI filters, pressure sensors...

  16. Special Supplement: School Library Media Month.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    School Library Media Activities Monthly, 1986

    1986-01-01

    Describes specific activities for promoting the services of the school library during School Library Media Month in April. Illustrations of and instructions for making promotional buttons, bookmarks, book jackets, banners, flags and puzzles are provided. (EM)

  17. Experimental and numerical study of drill bit drop tests on Kuru granite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fourmeau, Marion; Kane, Alexandre; Hokka, Mikko

    2017-01-01

    This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of Kuru grey granite impacted with a seven-buttons drill bit mounted on an instrumented drop test machine. The force versus displacement curves during the impact, so-called bit-rock interaction (BRI) curves, were obtained using strain gauge measurements for two levels of impact energy. Moreover, the volume of removed rock after each drop test was evaluated by stereo-lithography (three-dimensional surface reconstruction). A modified version of the Holmquist-Johnson-Cook (MHJC) material model was calibrated using Kuru granite test results available from the literature. Numerical simulations of the single drop tests were carried out using the MHJC model available in the LS-DYNA explicit finite-element solver. The influence of the impact energy and additional confining pressure on the BRI curves and the volume of the removed rock is discussed. In addition, the influence of the rock surface shape before impact was evaluated using two different mesh geometries: a flat surface and a hyperbolic surface. The experimental and numerical results are compared and discussed in terms of drilling efficiency through the mechanical specific energy. This article is part of the themed issue 'Experimental testing and modelling of brittle materials at high strain rates'.

  18. Design of temperature detection device for drum of belt conveyor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Li; He, Rongjun

    2018-03-01

    For difficult wiring and big measuring error existed in the traditional temperature detection method for drum of belt conveyor, a temperature detection device for drum of belt conveyor based on Radio Frequency(RF) communication is designed. In the device, detection terminal can collect temperature data through tire pressure sensor chip SP370 which integrates temperature detection and RF emission. The receiving terminal which is composed of RF receiver chip and microcontroller receives the temperature data and sends it to Controller Area Network(CAN) bus. The test results show that the device meets requirements of field application with measuring error ±3.73 ° and single button battery can provide continuous current for the detection terminal over 1.5 years.

  19. The detection of blood on dental surgery surfaces and equipment following dental hygiene treatment.

    PubMed

    McColl, E; Bagg, J; Winning, S

    1994-01-22

    The Kastle-Meyer technique, a forensic test for blood, has been employed to assess the frequency and potential routes of contamination by blood between patients, staff and equipment during routine dental hygiene treatment. Fifty treatment sessions were studied and units were cleaned between patients according to the current hospital protocol. The surfaces most frequently contaminated after treatment were the 3-in-1 syringe buttons (40%), protective bibs (22%), tap handles (20%), light handles (18%) and operating cart handles (16%). Following cleaning of the units, the surfaces remaining contaminated were the 3-in-1 syringes (10%), tap handles (4%) and cart handles (2%). Modifications to the cross-infection control protocol have been made to eliminate these sources of contamination.

  20. User Interface Considerations for Collecting Data at the Point of Care in the Tablet PC Computing Environment

    PubMed Central

    Silvey, Garry M.; Lobach, David F.; Macri, Jennifer M.; Hunt, Megan; Kacmaz, Roje O.; Lee, Paul P.

    2006-01-01

    Collecting clinical data directly from clinicians is a challenge. Many standard development environments designed to expedite the creation of user interfaces for electronic healthcare applications do not provide acceptable components for satisfying the requirements for collecting and displaying clinical data at the point of care on the tablet computer. Through an iterative design and testing approach using think-aloud sessions in the eye care setting, we were able to identify and resolve several user interface issues. Issues that we discovered and subsequently resolved included checkboxes that were too small to be selectable with a stylus, radio buttons that could not be unselected, and font sizes that were too small to be read at arm’s length. PMID:17238715

  1. Computerized measures of finger tapping: effects of hand dominance, age, and sex.

    PubMed

    Hubel, Kerry A; Reed, Bruce; Yund, E William; Herron, Timothy J; Woods, David L

    2013-06-01

    Computerized measures of digit tapping rate were obtained over 3 successive, 10-sec. periods in the right and left index fingers, from a community sample of 1,519 participants (ages 18 to 65 years; 607 men, 912 women). Differences between the dominant and non-dominant hands were found for tapping rate, movement initiation, and button down times, and the decline in tapping rate over the successive, 10-sec. periods. Declines were found in tapping rate in older participants in association with increased intertap variability. Men had higher tapping rates than women in all age ranges. The computerized finger tapping test is an efficient and precise measure of tapping speed and kinetics of potential utility in research and clinical studies of motor performance.

  2. Al13-pillared anatase TiO2 as a cathode for a lithium battery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, X. D.; Ma, C. L.; Wang, Y. D.; Li, H. D.

    2004-11-01

    Al13-pillared anatase TiO2 is used as a cathode of a lithium battery for the first time. First, a layered titanium dioxide with cationic surfactant ions of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA+) in the interlayers is synthesized by self-assembly. Then, pillared TiO2 is obtained by exchange of polyoxo cations of aluminium, [Al13O4(OH)24(H2O)12]7+, with CTA+ and subsequent calcination at 300 °C for 1 h in the air. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and surface area (BET) methods are used to characterize the layered and pillared forms of titanium dioxide. A lithium battery with the Al13-pillared TiO2 as the cathode and Li metal foil as the anode is studied within the 1-2.2 V voltage range. The specific capacity of the closed button cell (size 2025) that is delivered on the initial discharge reached 191.4 mA h g-1 at the rate of 25 mA g-1. The cell shows good cycling performance over 50 cycles.

  3. High-quality cell block preparation from scraping of conventional cytology slide: a technical report on a modified cytoscrape cell block technique.

    PubMed

    Choi, Y I; Jakhongir, M; Choi, S J; Kim, L; Park, I S; Han, J Y; Kim, J M; Chu, Y C

    2016-12-01

    Immunocytochemistry (ICC) on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded cell blocks is an ancillary tool commonly recruited for differential diagnoses of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) samples. However, the quality of conventional cell blocks in terms of adequate cellularity and evenness of distribution of cytologic material is not always satisfactory for ICC. We introduce a modified agarose-based cytoscrape cell block (CCB) technique that can be effectively used for the preparation of cell blocks from scrapings of conventional FNAC slides. A decoverslipped FNAC slide was mounted with a small amount of water. The cytological material was scraped off the slide into a tissue mold by scraping with a cell scraper. The cytoscrape material was pelleted by centrifugation and pre-embedded in ultra-low gelling temperature agarose and then re-embedded in conventional agarose. The final agarose gel disk was processed and embedded in paraffin. The quality of the ICC on the CCB sections was identical to that of the immunohistochemical stains on histological sections. By scrapping and harvesting the entirety of the cytological material off the cytology slide into a compact agarose cell button, we could avoid the risk of losing diagnostic material during the CCB preparation. This modified CCB technique enables concentration and focusing of minute material while maintaining the entire amount of the cytoscrape material on the viewing spot of the CCB sections. We believe this technique can be effectively used to improve the level of confidence in diagnosis of FNAC especially when the FNAC slides are the only sample available.

  4. What Is a Mammogram and When Should I Get One?

    MedlinePlus

    ... Statistics What CDC Is Doing Research African American Women and Mass Media Campaign Public Service Announcements Print Materials Buttons and Badges Stay Informed Cancer Home What Is a Mammogram? Language: English (US) Español ( ...

  5. Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth: Vasectomy

    MedlinePlus

    ... Birth Data NCHS Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth - V Listing Recommend on Facebook ... What's this? Submit Button Related Sites NCHS Listservs Surveys and Data Collection Systems Vital Statistics: Birth Data ...

  6. Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs

    MedlinePlus

    ... What's this? Submit Button Past Emails Salmonella and Eggs Language: English (US) Español (Spanish) Recommend on Facebook ... Dizziness when standing up. Safe Handling Tips for Eggs from Backyard Poultry Shell eggs may become contaminated ...

  7. New Data on Autism: Five Facts to Know

    MedlinePlus

    ... this? Submit Button Past Emails New Data on Autism: Five Facts to Know Language: English (US) Español ( ... Tweet Share Compartir Many children are living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and they need services and ...

  8. Resolve to Prevent or Delay Type 2 Diabetes

    MedlinePlus

    ... Submit Button Past Emails The Surprising Truth About Prediabetes Language: English (US) Español (Spanish) Recommend on Facebook ... and what you can do to stay healthy. Prediabetes Is a Big Deal Don’t let the “ ...

  9. Leading Causes of Death in Males United States, 2010

    MedlinePlus

    ... Submit What’s this? Submit Button Leading Causes of Death in Males and Females, United States Recommend on ... and previous listings for the leading causes of death for males and females in the United States. ...

  10. Haptic interface for vehicular touch screens.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2013-02-01

    Once the domain of purely physical controls such as knobs, : levers, buttons, and sliders, the vehicle dash is rapidly : transforming into a computer interface. This presents a : challenge for drivers, because the physics-based cues which : make trad...

  11. 75 FR 76020 - Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Devices for Treating Dysphagia and Dysphonia

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-12-07

    ... patents and patent applications intended for licensure disclose or cover a system, device and method for... device allows the patient coordinate muscular movement with a button press to permit volitional...

  12. OHD/HL - National Weather Hydrology Laboratory

    Science.gov Websites

    Organization Search NWS All NOAA Go Local forecast by "City, St" Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Science Research and Collaboration Hydrology

  13. 11 Things to Know about Cerebral Palsy

    MedlinePlus

    ... Button Past Emails 11 Things to Know about Cerebral Palsy Language: English (US) Español (Spanish) Recommend on Facebook ... and families living with CP. Early Signs of CP From birth to 5 years of age, a ...

  14. Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Virus

    MedlinePlus

    ... When Planning Fairs Key Facts for People Exhibiting Pigs at Fairs News & Highlights Materials & Resources Publications & Resources ... What's this? Submit Button Influenza Types Seasonal Avian Swine Variant Pandemic Other Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Virus ...

  15. Design and Manufacturing Criteria for Beam Position Monitor (BPM) of Taiwan Photon Source (TPS)

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

    Hsueh, H. P.; Chang, C. C.; Hsu, S. N.

    2010-06-23

    There are quite some considerations when the button feedthrough is designed and manufactured in a new 3rd generation synchrotron light source like the to-be-constructed TPS. It is the responsibility of the button feedthrough designer to design a feedthrough with the lowest probable HOM problem. It is also required for the designer to analyze the consequences for each possible mechanical error during manufacturing and therefore set standards of tolerance. We have been using MAFIA to optimize the design of feedthrough including flange type on bending chamber section and primary BPM on insertion device section. We also have set some criteria formore » feedthrough manufacturing, inspection, and welding based on hands-on experience on feedthrough electrical properties measuring, sorting, inspection, and laser welding. Here we will present the MAFIA results, electrical measurement results, and laser welding results and analysis. Criteria based on these results will also be presented.« less

  16. Sleep deprivation influences some but not all processes of supervisory attention

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jennings, J. R.; Monk, T. H.; van der Molen, M. W.

    2003-01-01

    Does one night of sleep deprivation alter processes of supervisory attention in general or only a specific subset of such processes? Twenty college-aged volunteers, half female, performed a choice reaction time task. A cue indicated that compatible (e.g., right button, right-pointing arrow) or incompatible (e.g., left button, right-pointing arrow) responses were to be given to a stimulus that followed 50 or 500 ms later. The paradigm assessed response inhibition, task-shifting skill, and task strategy-processes inherent in supervisory attention. Performance, along with heart rate, was assessed for 12 hr following normal sleep or a night of complete sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation altered neither preparation for task shifting nor response inhibition. The ability to use preparatory bias to speed performance did decrease with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation appears to selectively affect this supervisory attention process, which is perceived as an active effort to cope with a challenging task.

  17. Freedom, choice, and the sense of agency

    PubMed Central

    Barlas, Zeynep; Obhi, Sukhvinder S.

    2013-01-01

    The sense of agency is an intriguing aspect of human consciousness and is commonly defined as the sense that one is the author of their own actions and their consequences. In the current study, we varied the number of action alternatives (one, three, seven) that participants could select from and determined the effects on intentional binding which is believed to index the low-level sense of agency. Participants made self-paced button presses while viewing a conventional Libet clock and reported the perceived onset time of either the button presses or consequent auditory tones. We found that the binding effect was strongest when participants had the maximum number of alternatives, intermediate when they had medium level of action choice and lowest when they had no choice. We interpret our results in relation to the potential link between agency and the freedom to choose one’s actions. PMID:24009575

  18. Voice Based City Panic Button System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Febriansyah; Zainuddin, Zahir; Bachtiar Nappu, M.

    2018-03-01

    The development of voice activated panic button application aims to design faster early notification of hazardous condition in community to the nearest police by using speech as the detector where the current application still applies touch-combination on screen and use coordination of orders from control center then the early notification still takes longer time. The method used in this research was by using voice recognition as the user voice detection and haversine formula for the comparison of closest distance between the user and the police. This research was equipped with auto sms, which sent notification to the victim’s relatives, that was also integrated with Google Maps application (GMaps) as the map to the victim’s location. The results show that voice registration on the application reaches 100%, incident detection using speech recognition while the application is running is 94.67% in average, and the auto sms to the victim relatives reaches 100%.

  19. A button - type beam position monitor design for TARLA facility

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gündoǧan, M. Tural; Kaya, ć.; Yavaş, Ö.

    2016-03-01

    Turkish Accelerator and Radiation Laboratory in Ankara (TARLA) facility is proposed as an IR FEL and Bremsstrahlung facility as the first facility of Turkish Accelerator Center (TAC). TARLA is essentially proposed to generate oscillator mode FEL in 3-250 microns wavelengths range, will consist of normal conducting injector system with 250 keV beam energy, two superconducting RF accelerating modules in order to accelerate the beam 15-40 MeV. The TARLA facility is expected to provide two modes, Continuous wave (CW) and pulsed mode. Longitudinal electron bunch length will be changed between 1 and 10 ps. The bunch charge will be limited by 77pC. The design of the Button-type Beam Position Monitor for TARLA IR FEL is studied to operate in 1.3 GHz. Mechanical antenna design and simulations are completed considering electron beam parameters of TARLA. Ansoft HFSS and CST Particle Studio is used to compare with results of simulations.

  20. Sleep deprivation influences some but not all processes of supervisory attention.

    PubMed

    Jennings, J R; Monk, T H; van der Molen, M W

    2003-09-01

    Does one night of sleep deprivation alter processes of supervisory attention in general or only a specific subset of such processes? Twenty college-aged volunteers, half female, performed a choice reaction time task. A cue indicated that compatible (e.g., right button, right-pointing arrow) or incompatible (e.g., left button, right-pointing arrow) responses were to be given to a stimulus that followed 50 or 500 ms later. The paradigm assessed response inhibition, task-shifting skill, and task strategy-processes inherent in supervisory attention. Performance, along with heart rate, was assessed for 12 hr following normal sleep or a night of complete sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation altered neither preparation for task shifting nor response inhibition. The ability to use preparatory bias to speed performance did decrease with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation appears to selectively affect this supervisory attention process, which is perceived as an active effort to cope with a challenging task.

  1. Design and Manufacturing Criteria for Beam Position Monitor (BPM) of Taiwan Photon Source (TPS)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsueh, H. P.; Chang, C. C.; Hsu, S. N.; Huang, I. T.; Chen, Y. B.; Kuan, C. K.; Hsiung, G. Y.; Chen, J. R.

    2010-06-01

    There are quite some considerations when the button feedthrough is designed and manufactured in a new 3rd generation synchrotron light source like the to-be-constructed TPS. It is the responsibility of the button feedthrough designer to design a feedthrough with the lowest probable HOM problem. It is also required for the designer to analyze the consequences for each possible mechanical error during manufacturing and therefore set standards of tolerance. We have been using MAFIA to optimize the design of feedthrough including flange type on bending chamber section and primary BPM on insertion device section. We also have set some criteria for feedthrough manufacturing, inspection, and welding based on hands-on experience on feedthrough electrical properties measuring, sorting, inspection, and laser welding. Here we will present the MAFIA results, electrical measurement results, and laser welding results and analysis. Criteria based on these results will also be presented.

  2. Automating analog design: Taming the shrew

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Barlow, A.

    1990-01-01

    The pace of progress in the design of integrated circuits continues to amaze observers inside and outside of the industry. Three decades ago, a 50 transistor chip was a technological wonder. Fifteen year later, a 5000 transistor device would 'wow' the crowds. Today, 50,000 transistor chips will earn a 'not too bad' assessment, but it takes 500,000 to really leave an impression. In 1975 a typical ASIC device had 1000 transistors, took one year to first samples (and two years to production) and sold for about 5 cents per transistor. Today's 50,000 transistor gate array takes about 4 months from spec to silicon, works the first time, and sells for about 0.02 cents per transistor. Fifteen years ago, the single most laborious and error prone step in IC design was the physical layout. Today, most IC's never see the hand of a layout designer: and automatic place and route tool converts the engineer's computer captured schematic to a complete physical design using a gate array or a library of standard cells also created by software rather than by designers. CAD has also been a generous benefactor to the digital design process. The architect of today's digital systems creates the design using an RTL or other high level simulator. Then the designer pushes a button to invoke the logic synthesizer-optimizer tool. A fault analyzer checks the result for testability and suggests where scan based cells will improve test coverage. One obstinate holdout amidst this parade of progress is the automation of analog design and its reduction to semi-custom techniques. This paper investigates the application of CAD techniques to analog design.

  3. Intrinsic motivations drive learning of eye movements: an experiment with human adults.

    PubMed

    Caligiore, Daniele; Mustile, Magda; Cipriani, Daniele; Redgrave, Peter; Triesch, Jochen; De Marsico, Maria; Baldassarre, Gianluca

    2015-01-01

    Intrinsic motivations drive the acquisition of knowledge and skills on the basis of novel or surprising stimuli or the pleasure to learn new skills. In so doing, they are different from extrinsic motivations that are mainly linked to drives that promote survival and reproduction. Intrinsic motivations have been implicitly exploited in several psychological experiments but, due to the lack of proper paradigms, they are rarely a direct subject of investigation. This article investigates how different intrinsic motivation mechanisms can support the learning of visual skills, such as "foveate a particular object in space", using a gaze contingency paradigm. In the experiment participants could freely foveate objects shown in a computer screen. Foveating each of two "button" pictures caused different effects: one caused the appearance of a simple image (blue rectangle) in unexpected positions, while the other evoked the appearance of an always-novel picture (objects or animals). The experiment studied how two possible intrinsic motivation mechanisms might guide learning to foveate one or the other button picture. One mechanism is based on the sudden, surprising appearance of a familiar image at unpredicted locations, and a second one is based on the content novelty of the images. The results show the comparative effectiveness of the mechanism based on image novelty, whereas they do not support the operation of the mechanism based on the surprising location of the image appearance. Interestingly, these results were also obtained with participants that, according to a post experiment questionnaire, had not understood the functions of the different buttons suggesting that novelty-based intrinsic motivation mechanisms might operate even at an unconscious level.

  4. Corrosion casts of big bubbles formed during deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

    PubMed

    Feizi, Sepehr; Kanavi, Mozhgan Rezaei; Kharaghani, Davood; Balagholi, Sahar; Meskinfam, Masoumeh; Javadi, Mohammad Ali

    2016-11-01

    To characterize the walls of big bubbles formed during deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using the corrosion casting technique. Fresh corneoscleral buttons with normal transparency and without any known eye diseases (n = 11) were obtained from 11 human donors. A 20-gauge needle was used to inject a solution of 20 % polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) immediately beneath the corneal endothelium to form big bubbles in eight corneoscleral buttons. In the second experiment on three corneoscleral buttons, a big bubble was first formed by air injection beneath the endothelium. Thereafter, 20 % PVA was injected into the bubble space. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the surfaces of the casts, which replicated the walls of the big bubbles. A type-1 bubble was formed in all corneas. In one cornea, one type-1 bubble was initially formed centrally, and while it was enlarged, an eccentric type-2 bubble appeared. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the casts of type-1 bubbles had two distinct surfaces. The anterior surface demonstrated several holes or pits, depending on the material used for the bubble formation, whereas the posterior surface exhibited an uneven surface. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the type-2 cast were more or less similar. A communication measuring 531.9 µm in length and 171.4 µm in diameter was found between the two bubbles. The corrosion casting technique provides a permanent three-dimensional record of the potential spaces and barriers in the posterior corneal stroma, which explains several features associated with big-bubble DALK.

  5. Hunting influences the diel patterns in habitat selection by northern pintails Anas acuta

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Casazza, Michael L.; Coates, Peter S.; Miller, Michael R.; Overton, Cory T.; Yparraguirre, Daniel R.

    2012-01-01

    Northern pintail Anas acuta (hereafter pintail) populations wintering within Suisun Marsh, a large estuarine managed wetland near San Francisco Bay, California,USA, have declined markedly over the last four decades. The reasons for this decline are unclear. Information on how hunting and other factors influence the selection of vegetation types and sanctuaries would be beneficial to manage pintail populations in SuisunMarsh. During 1991-1993, we radio-marked and relocated female pintails (individuals: N = 203, relocations: N = 7,688) within Suisun Marsh to investigate habitat selection during the non-breeding months (winter). We calculated selection ratios for different vegetation types and for sanctuaries, and examined differences in those ratios between hunting season (i.e. hunting and non-hunting), age (hatchyear and after-hatch-year), and time of day (daylight or night hours). We found that diel patterns in selection were influenced by hunting disturbance. For example, prior to the hunting season and during daylight hours, pintails selected areas dominated by brass buttons Cotula coronopifolia, a potentially important food source, usually outside of sanctuary boundaries. However, during the hunting season, pintails did not select brass buttons during daylight hours, but instead highly selected permanent pools, mostly within sanctuaries. Also, during the hunting season, pintails showed strong selection for brass buttons at night. Sanctuaries provided more area of permanent water pools than within hunting areas and appeared to function as important refugia during daylight hours of the hunting season. Wildlife managers should encourage large protected permanent pools adjacent to hunted wetlands to increase pintail numbers within wetland environments and responsibly benefit hunting opportunities while improving pintail conservation.

  6. Control of a nursing bed based on a hybrid brain-computer interface.

    PubMed

    Nengneng Peng; Rui Zhang; Haihua Zeng; Fei Wang; Kai Li; Yuanqing Li; Xiaobin Zhuang

    2016-08-01

    In this paper, we propose an intelligent nursing bed system which is controlled by a hybrid brain-computer interface (BCI) involving steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) and P300. Specifically, the hybrid BCI includes an asynchronous brain switch based on SSVEP and P300, and a P300-based BCI. The brain switch is used to turn on/off the control system of the electric nursing bed through idle/control state detection, whereas the P300-based BCI is for operating the nursing bed. At the beginning, the user may focus on one group of flashing buttons in the graphic user interface (GUI) of the brain switch, which can simultaneously evoke SSVEP and P300, to switch on the control system. Here, the combination of SSVEP and P300 is used for improving the performance of the brain switch. Next, the user can control the nursing bed using the P300-based BCI. The GUI of the P300-based BCI includes 10 flashing buttons, which correspond to 10 functional operations, namely, left-side up, left-side down, back up, back down, bedpan open, bedpan close, legs up, legs down, right-side up, and right-side down. For instance, he/she can focus on the flashing button "back up" in the GUI of the P300-based BCI to activate the corresponding control such that the nursing bed is adjusted up. Eight healthy subjects participated in our experiment, and obtained an average accuracy of 93.75% and an average false positive rate (FPR) of 0.15 event/min. The effectiveness of our system was thus demonstrated.

  7. [Psychomotor reaction in primates placed in ballistic flight in rockets].

    PubMed

    Grandpierre, R; Chatelier, G

    1968-01-01

    Psychomotor reactions have been studied in Nemestrina Macaques during flights in rockets in which there were periods of weightlessness lasting about 10 minutes. The animals had undergone motor conditioning and responded to a light signal by pressing on a button placed on a panel where there were four other undifferentiated buttons. The lighting of the panel and pressing on the different buttons in reply was recorded with respect to time. Movement was observed by film recording, and electrical activity of the brain was kept under observation by six different recordings of the cortex. Activity of stretching and bending muscles of the legs was recorded, as well as breathing, and heart activity was recorded on an electrocardiogram. These psychological parameters were transmitted to the earth by long-distance measurement during the entire flight. The recordings made it possible to confirm that the absence of the sensation of weight seems to reduce the alertness of the animals. This fact had already been observed in Wistar's rat and cat. The sensor-psychomotor responses undergo important individual variations and depend on the motivation of the subjects. A very well motivated one reacted after a short period of adaption, as it did in the laboratory: one that was much less motivated would not work until after weightlessness has ended, and showed signs of drowsiness. These observations made during the flights in rockets confirm those of Chambers et al., Harris et al., Lilly et al. made in immersion studies; they show the important role of weight in maintaining alertness, but that changes of psychomotor activity are particularly related to motivation.

  8. The transverse penile pedicled flap urethroplasty: description of a simplified technique for the dissection of the Fascio-cutaneous flap.

    PubMed

    Shittu, O B; Sotunmbi, P T

    2015-06-01

    Urethroplasty is often required for long urethral strictures or urethral strictures that have recurred after repeated urethral dilatations or urethrotomy. The transvers penile skin pedicled flap is very versatile for the reconstruction of long urethral stricture. However the meticulous sharp dissection required to develop it takes a long time to do and may be associated with button hole injuries to the vascular pedicle and the penile skin. We describe a simplified technique of raising the flap which does not require sharp dissection and is very quick to accomplish. Technique involves using a circumcising distal penile shaft skin incision to de-glove the penis by blunt dissection. The skin substitute, adequate to give appropriate urethra calibre is similarly dissected bluntly along with its vascular pedicle from the proximal penile skin. The techniques used to facilitate successful blunt dissection are described. In 9 adults with long, multiple urethral strictures, the average time to develop the flap was 15 minutes and complication have been limited to temporary urethro-cutaneous fistula at the ventral part of the circular skin closure. These fistulae closed on conservative treatment. No patient suffered button-hole injuries to either the vascular pedicle or the penile skin. This modification to the standard sharp dissection is very quick to accomplish. It also avoids the creation of button-hole injuries to either the vascular pedicle or the penile skin. It should make the use of this versatile flap more attractive in the reconstruction of long urethral strictures in those who may wish to use this option for reconstruction of long urethral strictures.

  9. Knowledge of response location alone is not sufficient to generate social inhibition of return.

    PubMed

    Welsh, Timothy N; Manzone, Joseph; McDougall, Laura

    2014-11-01

    Previous research has revealed that the inhibition of return (IOR) effect emerges when individuals respond to a target at the same location as their own previous response or the previous response of a co-actor. The latter social IOR effect is thought to occur because the observation of co-actor's response evokes a representation of that action in the observer and that the observation-evoked response code subsequently activates the inhibitory mechanisms underlying IOR. The present study was conducted to determine if knowledge of the co-actor's response alone is sufficient to evoke social IOR. Pairs of participants completed responses to targets that appeared at different button locations. Button contact generated location-contingent auditory stimuli (high and low tones in Experiment 1 and colour words in Experiment 2). In the Full condition, the observer saw the response and heard the auditory stimuli. In the Auditory Only condition, the observer did not see the co-actor's response, but heard the auditory stimuli generated via button contact to indicate response endpoint. It was found that, although significant individual and social IOR effects emerged in the Full conditions, there were no social IOR effects in the Auditory Only conditions. These findings suggest that knowledge of the co-actor's response alone via auditory information is not sufficient to activate the inhibitory processes leading to IOR. The activation of the mechanisms that lead to social IOR seems to be dependent on processing channels that code the spatial characteristics of action. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Intrusions of a drowsy mind: neural markers of phenomenological unpredictability.

    PubMed

    Noreika, Valdas; Canales-Johnson, Andrés; Koh, Justin; Taylor, Mae; Massey, Irving; Bekinschtein, Tristan A

    2015-01-01

    The transition from a relaxed to a drowsy state of mind is often accompanied by hypnagogic experiences: most commonly, perceptual imagery, but also linguistic intrusions, i.e., the sudden emergence of unpredictable anomalies in the stream of inner speech. This study has sought to describe the contents of such intrusions, to verify their association with the progression of sleep onset, and to investigate the electroencephalographic processes associated with linguistic intrusions as opposed to more common hypnagogic perceptual imagery. A single participant attended 10 experimental sessions in the EEG laboratory, where he was allowed to drift into a drowsy state of mind, while maintaining metacognition of his own experiences. Once a linguistic intrusion or a noticeable perceptual image occurred, the participant pressed a button and reported it verbally. An increase in the EEG-defined depth of drowsiness as assessed by the Hori system of sleep onset was observed in the last 20 s before a button press. Likewise, EEG Dimension of Activation values decreased before the button press, indicating that the occurrence of cognitively incongruous experiences coincides with the rapid change of EEG predictability patterns. EEG hemispheric asymmetry analysis showed that linguistic intrusions had a higher alpha and gamma power in the left hemisphere electrodes, whereas perceptual imagery reports were associated with a higher beta power over the right hemisphere. These findings indicate that the modality as well as the incongruence of drowsiness-related hypnagogic experiences is strongly associated with distinct EEG signatures in this participant. Sleep onset may provide a unique possibility to study the neural mechanisms accompanying the fragmentation of the stream of consciousness in healthy individuals.

  11. Activate/Inhibit KGCS Gateway via Master Console EIC Pad-B Display

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ferreira, Pedro Henrique

    2014-01-01

    My internship consisted of two major projects for the Launch Control System.The purpose of the first project was to implement the Application Control Language (ACL) to Activate Data Acquisition (ADA) and to Inhibit Data Acquisition (IDA) the Kennedy Ground Control Sub-Systems (KGCS) Gateway, to update existing Pad-B End Item Control (EIC) Display to program the ADA and IDA buttons with new ACL, and to test and release the ACL Display.The second project consisted of unit testing all of the Application Services Framework (ASF) by March 21st. The XmlFileReader was unit tested and reached 100 coverage. The XmlFileReader class is used to grab information from XML files and use them to initialize elements in the other framework elements by using the Xerces C++ XML Parser; which is open source commercial off the shelf software. The ScriptThread was also tested. ScriptThread manages the creation and activation of script threads. A large amount of the time was used in initializing the environment and learning how to set up unit tests and getting familiar with the specific segments of the project that were assigned to us.

  12. Petrina White | Oregon State University Extension Service

    Science.gov Websites

    the "Get a new challenge" button which displays below the challenge text. Math question: * 6 + 6 = Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4. Send e-mail

  13. A study of speech interfaces for the vehicle environment.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2013-05-01

    Over the past few years, there has been a shift in automotive human machine interfaces from : visual-manual interactions (pushing buttons and rotating knobs) to speech interaction. In terms of : distraction, the industry views speech interaction as a...

  14. Tremor

    MedlinePlus

    ... clothes with Velcro fasteners or using button hooks Cooking or eating with utensils that have a larger handle Using a sippy cup to drink Wearing slip-on shoes and using shoehorns When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your provider if your tremor: Is worse ...

  15. 46 CFR 160.021-2 - Type.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... having a friction striking material on its top which may be exposed for use by pulling a tear strip. The flare is ignited by scraping the friction striker on top of the cap against the igniter button on top of...

  16. 46 CFR 160.021-2 - Type.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... having a friction striking material on its top which may be exposed for use by pulling a tear strip. The flare is ignited by scraping the friction striker on top of the cap against the igniter button on top of...

  17. 46 CFR 160.021-2 - Type.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... having a friction striking material on its top which may be exposed for use by pulling a tear strip. The flare is ignited by scraping the friction striker on top of the cap against the igniter button on top of...

  18. 46 CFR 160.021-2 - Type.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... having a friction striking material on its top which may be exposed for use by pulling a tear strip. The flare is ignited by scraping the friction striker on top of the cap against the igniter button on top of...

  19. Foreign body in the nose

    MedlinePlus

    ... such as marbles), crayon pieces, erasers, paper wads, cotton, beads, button batteries, and disc magnets. A foreign ... DO NOT search the nose with cotton swabs or other tools. This may ... into the nose. DO NOT use tweezers or other tools to remove ...

  20. 46 CFR 160.021-2 - Type.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... having a friction striking material on its top which may be exposed for use by pulling a tear strip. The flare is ignited by scraping the friction striker on top of the cap against the igniter button on top of...

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