Carbon Monitoring System Applications Framework: Lessons Learned from Stakeholder Engagement Activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sepulveda Carlo, E.; Escobar, V. M.; Delgado Arias, S.; Forgotson, C.

2017-12-01

The NASA Carbon Monitoring System initiated by U.S. Congress in 2010 is developing products that characterize and quantify carbon sources and sinks in the United States and the global tropics. In 2013, an applications effort was selected to engage potential end users and gather feedback about their data needs. For the past four years the CMS applications efforts has expanded and implemented a number of strategies to connect carbon scientists to decision-makers, contributing to the societal benefits of CMS data products. The applications efforts use crowd sourcing to collects feedback from stakeholders on challenges and lessons learned in the use of CMS data products. Some of the most common data needs from engaged organizations include above and below-ground biomass and fluxes in forestlands and wetlands, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all land use/cover and land use changes. Stakeholder organizations' needs for CMS data products support national GHG inventories following the Paris Agreement, carbon markets, and sub-national natural resources management and policies. The lessons learned report presents stakeholder specific applications, challenges, and successes from using CMS data products. To date, the most common uses of CMS products include: conservation efforts, emissions inventory, forestry and land cover applications, and carbon offset projects. The most common challenges include: the need for familiar and consistent products over time, budget constraints, and concern with uncertainty of modeled results. Recurrent recommendations from stakeholder indicate that CMS should provide high resolution (30m) and frequent data products updates (annually). The applications efforts have also helped identified success stories from different CMS projects, including the development of the GHG emissions inventory from Providence, RI, the improvement of the U.S. GHG Inventory though the use of satellite data, and the use of high resolution canopy cover maps for forestry, conservation, and ecosystem services applications in the tristate area of Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The presentation will discuss the applications framework methodology and strategy, as well as highlight some of the results and lessons learned from these applications efforts.

75 FR 61843 - Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-06

... management skill-building (including administrative funds used to carry out Development Services). (iv) Loan... organization's strategic direction, mission, or business operation and, thereby, its status as a Certified CDFI... Controlled by the Applicant, or shares common management officials with the Applicant as determined by the...

ROSE Version 1.0

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

Quinlan, D.; Yi, Q.; Buduc, R.

2005-02-17

ROSE is an object-oriented software infrastructure for source-to-source translation that provides an interface for programmers to write their own specialized translators for optimizing scientific applications. ROSE is a part of current research on telescoping languages, which provides optimizations of the use of libraries in scientific applications. ROSE defines approaches to extend the optimization techniques, common in well defined languages, to the optimization of scientific applications using well defined libraries. ROSE includes a rich set of tools for generating customized transformations to support optimization of applications codes. We currently support full C and C++ (including template instantiation etc.), with Fortran 90more » support under development as part of a collaboration and contract with Rice to use their version of the open source Open64 F90 front-end. ROSE represents an attempt to define an open compiler infrastructure to handle the full complexity of full scale DOE applications codes using the languages common to scientific computing within DOE. We expect that such an infrastructure will also be useful for the development of numerous tools that may then realistically expect to work on DOE full scale applications.« less

[Clinical application evaluation of Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Otolaryngology in Traditional Chinese Medicine].

PubMed

Liu, Yu-Qi; Liu, Meng-Yu; Li, Chun; Shi, Nan-Nan; Wang, Yue-Xi; Wang, Li-Ying; Zhao, Xue-Yao; Kou, Shuang; Han, Xue-Jie; Wang, Yan-Ping

2017-09-01

This study is to assess the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Otolaryngology in Traditional Chinese Medicine in clinical application and provide evidence for further guideline revision. The assessment was divided into applicability assessment and practicability assessment. The applicability assessment based on questionnaire survey and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners were asked to independently fill the Questionnaire for Applicability Assessment on the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practicability assessment was based on prospective case investigation and analysis method and the TCM practitioners-in-charge filled the Case Investigation Questionnaire for Practicability Assessment on the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The data were analyzed in descriptive statistics. 151 questionnaires were investigated for applicability assessment and 1 016 patients were included for practicability assessment. The results showed that 88.74% of them were familiar with the guidelines and 45.70% used them. The guidelines quality and related items were similar in applicability assessment and practicability assessment, and scored highly as more than 85.00% except the "recuperating and prevention". The results suggested that the quality of Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Otolaryngology in Traditional Chinese Medicine was high and could better guide the clinical practice. The "recuperating and prevention" part should be improved and the evidence data should be included in future guideline revision, so that the clinical utilization rate could be increased. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

"OZONE SOURCE APPORTIONMENT IN CMAQ'

EPA Science Inventory

Ozone source attribution has been used to support various policy purposes including interstate transport (Cross State Air Pollution Rule) by U.S. EPA and ozone nonattainment area designations by State agencies. Common scientific applications include tracking intercontinental tran...

Real-time hyperspectral imaging for food safety applications

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Multispectral imaging systems with selected bands can commonly be used for real-time applications of food processing. Recent research has demonstrated several image processing methods including binning, noise removal filter, and appropriate morphological analysis in real-time mode can remove most fa...

75 FR 59057 - Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Cotton Crop Insurance Provisions and Macadamia Nut Crop...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-27

... Crop Insurance Regulations, Cotton Crop Insurance Provisions and Macadamia Nut Crop Insurance... cotton and macadamia nuts that published March 30, 2010. DATES: Effective Date: September 27, 2010. FOR... Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Basic Provisions and applicable Crop Provisions, including the Cotton...

Efficient heuristics for maximum common substructure search.

PubMed

Englert, Péter; Kovács, Péter

2015-05-26

Maximum common substructure search is a computationally hard optimization problem with diverse applications in the field of cheminformatics, including similarity search, lead optimization, molecule alignment, and clustering. Most of these applications have strict constraints on running time, so heuristic methods are often preferred. However, the development of an algorithm that is both fast enough and accurate enough for most practical purposes is still a challenge. Moreover, in some applications, the quality of a common substructure depends not only on its size but also on various topological features of the one-to-one atom correspondence it defines. Two state-of-the-art heuristic algorithms for finding maximum common substructures have been implemented at ChemAxon Ltd., and effective heuristics have been developed to improve both their efficiency and the relevance of the atom mappings they provide. The implementations have been thoroughly evaluated and compared with existing solutions (KCOMBU and Indigo). The heuristics have been found to greatly improve the performance and applicability of the algorithms. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the applied methods and present the experimental results.

Uptake and effectiveness of systemic insecticides as influenced by application technique

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The use of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides such as Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam have been shown to be effective against different types of insects including sucking insect like aphids, whiteflies, scales and mealybugs. The most common forms of application of these neonicotinoid insecticides ha...

18 CFR 33.2 - Contents of application-general information requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... post-transaction corporate structures (including any pending authorized but not implemented changes... that the proposed transaction does not affect the corporate structure of any party to the transaction... application); (5) The identity of common officers or directors of parties to the proposed transaction (to be...

18 CFR 33.2 - Contents of application-general information requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... post-transaction corporate structures (including any pending authorized but not implemented changes... that the proposed transaction does not affect the corporate structure of any party to the transaction... application); (5) The identity of common officers or directors of parties to the proposed transaction (to be...

18 CFR 33.2 - Contents of application-general information requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... post-transaction corporate structures (including any pending authorized but not implemented changes... that the proposed transaction does not affect the corporate structure of any party to the transaction... application); (5) The identity of common officers or directors of parties to the proposed transaction (to be...

18 CFR 33.2 - Contents of application-general information requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... post-transaction corporate structures (including any pending authorized but not implemented changes... that the proposed transaction does not affect the corporate structure of any party to the transaction... application); (5) The identity of common officers or directors of parties to the proposed transaction (to be...

Serverification of Molecular Modeling Applications: The Rosetta Online Server That Includes Everyone (ROSIE)

PubMed Central

Conchúir, Shane Ó.; Der, Bryan S.; Drew, Kevin; Kuroda, Daisuke; Xu, Jianqing; Weitzner, Brian D.; Renfrew, P. Douglas; Sripakdeevong, Parin; Borgo, Benjamin; Havranek, James J.; Kuhlman, Brian; Kortemme, Tanja; Bonneau, Richard; Gray, Jeffrey J.; Das, Rhiju

2013-01-01

The Rosetta molecular modeling software package provides experimentally tested and rapidly evolving tools for the 3D structure prediction and high-resolution design of proteins, nucleic acids, and a growing number of non-natural polymers. Despite its free availability to academic users and improving documentation, use of Rosetta has largely remained confined to developers and their immediate collaborators due to the code’s difficulty of use, the requirement for large computational resources, and the unavailability of servers for most of the Rosetta applications. Here, we present a unified web framework for Rosetta applications called ROSIE (Rosetta Online Server that Includes Everyone). ROSIE provides (a) a common user interface for Rosetta protocols, (b) a stable application programming interface for developers to add additional protocols, (c) a flexible back-end to allow leveraging of computer cluster resources shared by RosettaCommons member institutions, and (d) centralized administration by the RosettaCommons to ensure continuous maintenance. This paper describes the ROSIE server infrastructure, a step-by-step ‘serverification’ protocol for use by Rosetta developers, and the deployment of the first nine ROSIE applications by six separate developer teams: Docking, RNA de novo, ERRASER, Antibody, Sequence Tolerance, Supercharge, Beta peptide design, NCBB design, and VIP redesign. As illustrated by the number and diversity of these applications, ROSIE offers a general and speedy paradigm for serverification of Rosetta applications that incurs negligible cost to developers and lowers barriers to Rosetta use for the broader biological community. ROSIE is available at http://rosie.rosettacommons.org. PMID:23717507

Validation and evaluation of common large-area display set (CLADS) performance specification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermann, David J.; Gorenflo, Ronald L.

1998-09-01

Battelle is under contract with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to design a Common Large Area Display Set (CLADS) for use in multiple Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) applications that currently use 19- inch Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs). Battelle engineers have built and fully tested pre-production prototypes of the CLADS design for AWACS, and are completing pre-production prototype displays for three other platforms simultaneously. With the CLADS design, any display technology that can be packaged to meet the form, fit, and function requirements defined by the Common Large Area Display Head Assembly (CLADHA) performance specification is a candidate for CLADS applications. This technology independent feature reduced the risk of CLADS development, permits life long technology insertion upgrades without unnecessary redesign, and addresses many of the obsolescence problems associated with COTS technology-based acquisition. Performance and environmental testing were performed on the AWACS CLADS and continues on other platforms as a part of the performance specification validation process. A simulator assessment and flight assessment were successfully completed for the AWACS CLADS, and lessons learned from these assessments are being incorporated into the performance specifications. Draft CLADS specifications were released to potential display integrators and manufacturers for review in 1997, and the final version of the performance specifications are scheduled to be released to display integrators and manufacturers in May, 1998. Initial USAF applications include replacements for the E-3 AWACS color monitor assembly, E-8 Joint STARS graphics display unit, and ABCCC airborne color display. Initial U.S. Navy applications include the E-2C ACIS display. For these applications, reliability and maintainability are key objectives. The common design will reduce the cost of operation and maintenance by an estimated 3.3M per year on E-3 AWACS alone. It is realistic to anticipate savings of over 30M per year as CLADS is implemented widely across DoD applications. As commonality and open systems interfaces begin to surface in DoD applications, the CLADS architecture can easily and cost effectively absorb the changes, and avoid COTS obsolescence issues.

Decision Aids Using Heterogeneous Intelligence Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-20

developing a Geocultural service, a software framework and inferencing engine for the Transparent Urban Structures program. The scope of the effort...has evolved as the program has matured and is including multiple data sources, as well as interfaces out to the ONR architectural framework . Tasks...Interface; Application Program Interface; Application Programmer Interface CAF Common Application Framework EDA Event Driven Architecture a 16. SECURITY

A Comparison of Linking and Concurrent Calibration under the Graded Response Model.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Seock-Ho; Cohen, Allan S.

Applications of item response theory to practical testing problems including equating, differential item functioning, and computerized adaptive testing, require that item parameter estimates be placed onto a common metric. In this study, two methods for developing a common metric for the graded response model under item response theory were…

47 CFR 1.9080 - Private commons.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... radiofrequency radiation) and maintaining the ability to ensure such compliance; and, (3) Retains direct... applicable technical and service rules, including requirements relating to radiofrequency radiation and...

[Advances in research and application of beta-tricalcium phosphate, collagen and beta-tricalcium phosphate/collagen composite in bone tissue engineering].

PubMed

Han, Xiang-Yong; Fu, Yuan-Fei; Zhang, Fu-Qiang

2007-02-01

Bone defects in oral and maxillofacial region was a common problem. To repair the defect, bone grafts including autograft, allograft and artificial bone graft were used in clinic despite of their disadvantages. Nowadays, bone tissue engineering has become a commonly used method to repair bone defect. This paper reviewed the application of beta-TCP, collagen and beta-TCP/collagen composite in bone tissue engineering. It was concluded that beta-TCP/collagen composite was a promising materials in bone tissue engineering.

Characteristics of Smartphone Applications for Nutrition Improvement in Community Settings: A Scoping Review1234

PubMed Central

Brimblecombe, Julie; Wycherley, Thomas Philip

2017-01-01

Smartphone applications are increasingly being used to support nutrition improvement in community settings. However, there is a scarcity of practical literature to support researchers and practitioners in choosing or developing health applications. This work maps the features, key content, theoretical approaches, and methods of consumer testing of applications intended for nutrition improvement in community settings. A systematic, scoping review methodology was used to map published, peer-reviewed literature reporting on applications with a specific nutrition-improvement focus intended for use in the community setting. After screening, articles were grouped into 4 categories: dietary self-monitoring trials, nutrition improvement trials, application description articles, and qualitative application development studies. For mapping, studies were also grouped into categories based on the target population and aim of the application or program. Of the 4818 titles identified from the database search, 64 articles were included. The broad categories of features found to be included in applications generally corresponded to different behavior change support strategies common to many classic behavioral change models. Key content of applications generally focused on food composition, with tailored feedback most commonly used to deliver educational content. Consumer testing before application deployment was reported in just over half of the studies. Collaboration between practitioners and application developers promotes an appropriate balance of evidence-based content and functionality. This work provides a unique resource for program development teams and practitioners seeking to use an application for nutrition improvement in community settings. PMID:28298274

Characteristics of Smartphone Applications for Nutrition Improvement in Community Settings: A Scoping Review.

PubMed

Tonkin, Emma; Brimblecombe, Julie; Wycherley, Thomas Philip

2017-03-01

Smartphone applications are increasingly being used to support nutrition improvement in community settings. However, there is a scarcity of practical literature to support researchers and practitioners in choosing or developing health applications. This work maps the features, key content, theoretical approaches, and methods of consumer testing of applications intended for nutrition improvement in community settings. A systematic, scoping review methodology was used to map published, peer-reviewed literature reporting on applications with a specific nutrition-improvement focus intended for use in the community setting. After screening, articles were grouped into 4 categories: dietary self-monitoring trials, nutrition improvement trials, application description articles, and qualitative application development studies. For mapping, studies were also grouped into categories based on the target population and aim of the application or program. Of the 4818 titles identified from the database search, 64 articles were included. The broad categories of features found to be included in applications generally corresponded to different behavior change support strategies common to many classic behavioral change models. Key content of applications generally focused on food composition, with tailored feedback most commonly used to deliver educational content. Consumer testing before application deployment was reported in just over half of the studies. Collaboration between practitioners and application developers promotes an appropriate balance of evidence-based content and functionality. This work provides a unique resource for program development teams and practitioners seeking to use an application for nutrition improvement in community settings. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

NIRP Core Software Suite v. 1.0

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

Whitener, Dustin Heath; Folz, Wesley; Vo, Duong

The NIRP Core Software Suite is a core set of code that supports multiple applications. It includes miscellaneous base code for data objects, mathematic equations, and user interface components; and the framework includes several fully-developed software applications that exist as stand-alone tools to compliment other applications. The stand-alone tools are described below. Analyst Manager: An application to manage contact information for people (analysts) that use the software products. This information is often included in generated reports and may be used to identify the owners of calculations. Radionuclide Viewer: An application for viewing the DCFPAK radiological data. Compliments the Mixture Managermore » tool. Mixture Manager: An application to create and manage radionuclides mixtures that are commonly used in other applications. High Explosive Manager: An application to manage explosives and their properties. Chart Viewer: An application to view charts of data (e.g. meteorology charts). Other applications may use this framework to create charts specific to their data needs.« less

Tactical Mission Command (TMC)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

capabilities to Army commanders and their staffs, consisting primarily of a user-customizable Common Operating Picture ( COP ) enabled with real-time... COP viewer and data management capability. It is a collaborative, visualization and planning application that also provides a common map display... COP ): Display the COP consisting of the following:1 Friendly forces determined by the commander including subordinate and supporting units at

The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) for Enhancing Access to Database Servers via the World Wide Web (WWW).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Machovec, George S., Ed.

1995-01-01

Explains the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) protocol as a set of rules for passing information from a Web server to an external program such as a database search engine. Topics include advantages over traditional client/server solutions, limitations, sample library applications, and sources of information from the Internet. (LRW)

Principal Component Analysis: Resources for an Essential Application of Linear Algebra

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pankavich, Stephen; Swanson, Rebecca

2015-01-01

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a highly useful topic within an introductory Linear Algebra course, especially since it can be used to incorporate a number of applied projects. This method represents an essential application and extension of the Spectral Theorem and is commonly used within a variety of fields, including statistics,…

Advances in solid state laser technology for space and medical applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byvik, C. E.; Buoncristiani, A. M.

1988-01-01

Recent developments in laser technology and their potential for medical applications are discussed. Gas discharge lasers, dye lasers, excimer lasers, Nd:YAG lasers, HF and DF lasers, and other commonly used lasers are briefly addressed. Emerging laser technology is examined, including diode-pumped lasers and other solid state lasers.

Primer for the Transportable Applications Executive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlson, P. A.; Emmanuelli, C. A.; Harris, E. L.; Perkins, D. C.

1984-01-01

The Transportable Applications Executive (TAE), an interactive multipurpose executive that provides commonly required functions for scientific analysis systems, is discussed. The concept of an executive is discussed and the various components of TAE are presented. These include on-line help information, the use of menus or commands to access analysis programs, and TAE command procedures.

Common IED exploitation target set ontology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russomanno, David J.; Qualls, Joseph; Wowczuk, Zenovy; Franken, Paul; Robinson, William

2010-04-01

The Common IED Exploitation Target Set (CIEDETS) ontology provides a comprehensive semantic data model for capturing knowledge about sensors, platforms, missions, environments, and other aspects of systems under test. The ontology also includes representative IEDs; modeled as explosives, camouflage, concealment objects, and other background objects, which comprise an overall threat scene. The ontology is represented using the Web Ontology Language and the SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language, which ensures portability of the acquired knowledge base across applications. The resulting knowledge base is a component of the CIEDETS application, which is intended to support the end user sensor test and evaluation community. CIEDETS associates a system under test to a subset of cataloged threats based on the probability that the system will detect the threat. The associations between systems under test, threats, and the detection probabilities are established based on a hybrid reasoning strategy, which applies a combination of heuristics and simplified modeling techniques. Besides supporting the CIEDETS application, which is focused on efficient and consistent system testing, the ontology can be leveraged in a myriad of other applications, including serving as a knowledge source for mission planning tools.

Different micromanipulation applications based on common modular control architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sipola, Risto; Vallius, Tero; Pudas, Marko; Röning, Juha

2010-01-01

This paper validates a previously introduced scalable modular control architecture and shows how it can be used to implement research equipment. The validation is conducted by presenting different kinds of micromanipulation applications that use the architecture. Conditions of the micro-world are very different from those of the macro-world. Adhesive forces are significant compared to gravitational forces when micro-scale objects are manipulated. Manipulation is mainly conducted by automatic control relying on haptic feedback provided by force sensors. The validated architecture is a hierarchical layered hybrid architecture, including a reactive layer and a planner layer. The implementation of the architecture is modular, and the architecture has a lot in common with open architectures. Further, the architecture is extensible, scalable, portable and it enables reuse of modules. These are the qualities that we validate in this paper. To demonstrate the claimed features, we present different applications that require special control in micrometer, millimeter and centimeter scales. These applications include a device that measures cell adhesion, a device that examines properties of thin films, a device that measures adhesion of micro fibers and a device that examines properties of submerged gel produced by bacteria. Finally, we analyze how the architecture is used in these applications.

Coaching for Success: A Residency Search Primer and Update for Preceptors and Faculty

PubMed Central

Adams, Alex J.; Ulbrich, Timothy R.; Soric, Mate M.

2015-01-01

Pharmacy residency programs have become increasingly competitive in recent years, and changes to the residency search and application process have altered the process for matching with a residency. In this article, major residency topics, from the benefits of residency training to searching for and ranking programs, are summarized. A discussion of tips and tricks for applying for residencies and interviewing for positions is included along with specific suggestions developed with data following the implementation of the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS). The article is organized in a question and answer format to help facilitate understanding of key concepts and common questions that may arise from applicants. Many changes have taken place in the residency search and application process in recent years, and the process of obtaining a residency is complex. Residency applicants and those advising applicants may find value in the answers to commonly asked residency application questions to help ensure the greatest chance of a successful residency match. PMID:26405338

[Resources and application of She's nationality wild medicinal plants].

PubMed

Lei, Hou-Xing; Li, Jian-Liang; Zheng, Song-Ming; Fan, Li-Hua; Li, Shui-Fu; Cheng, Wen-Liang; Hua, Jin-Wei; Yu, Hua-Li; Dai, De-Xiong; Xie, Yuan-Wei

2014-08-01

To make a thorough investigation of the common She's nationality wild medicinal plants resources in our country, including the species, the distribution, the folk application and the endemic medicinal plant species, Field surveyed was conducted with 25 She people mainly lived area (county, district or city) throughout the country, the folk prescription and treatment cases provided by She's medical personnel, the drug usage and dosage, the commonly used traditional She's medicine and drug samples were collected. And the distribution, growing environment of these plants were investigated, their characteristics, photographs, GPS data and track were record , and the fresh wax leaf or plants specimens were collected. In total 1 600 varieties of folk medicine of She's nationality, 450 disease names and 1 016 prescriptions were collected. 520 kinds of these medicinal plants were commonly used, growing mainly distributed in the southeastern China, about 200 meters above sea level to 1 500 meters. There are 5 First-Grade State protection wild plants (medicinal), 15 second-Grade State protection wild plants (medicinal), and 11 She characteristic medicinal plants in our study, they belong to 144 families, 312 genera 494 species, 2 subspecies, 17 varieties, 3 forms and 1 cultivated varieties of She's nationality. Folk medicine usage is different from the traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicine. This survey finds out the common She's nationality wild medicinal plants resources in China, including the species, the distribution, the folk application and commonly used drugs, and found the rare and endangered medicinal plants and the She's nationality endemic medicinal plants, which provides a basis for further development and use the traditional She's medicine resources.

Utilization of personal digital assistants (PDAS) by pediatric and emergency medicine residents.

PubMed

Khan, Abu N G A; Frank, Joshua; Geria, Rajesh; Davidson, Steven

2007-05-01

The objective of the present study was to investigate the current personal digital assistant (PDA) usage patterns of the residents and their interest in future PDA-based applications. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the Pediatrics (Peds) and Emergency Medicine (EM) residents in an urban teaching hospital. Data points included level of training, specialty of training, experience of use of different PDA devices, use of current software applications, and interest in future applications. A total of 60/74 (81%) eligible residents participated in the study. Palm (Palm Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) was the most commonly used operating system (82%). Among the PDA users, 82% reported using the device several times a day, and 16% used them a few times a week. The most commonly used applications included the simple calculator (81%), drug references (80%), medical calculators (75%), electronic textbooks (66%), and schedule and contact information (42%). In addition, residents showed interest in using PDA applications for procedure logs, patient tracking, and prescription writing. No significant differences were noted in the frequency and expertise of using PDAs between the Peds and EM residents (p = 0.29). Our data show current trends of use of PDAs by Peds and EM residents and their interest for future applications.

78 FR 67076 - Practices and Procedures

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-08

... as an attachment in any common electronic format, including word processing applications, HTML and PDF. If possible, commenters are asked to use a text format and not an image format for attachments...

Final Environmental Impact Statement. Permit Application by Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., Proposed Lake Erie Generating Station, Pomfret and Sheridan, New York,

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-12-01

unidentified grasses (Gramineae). The open field areas are commonly invaded by woody seedlings of shrub species including: silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), red...also formed an important segment of the shrub layer. The herbaceous layer of the hardwoods forest is dominated primarily by two common ground vines ...toothwort (Dentaria laciniata) were among the dominants. Woody seedlings of tree shrub species are also common in the herbaceous layer; of these, spicebush

Recovery of Silver and Cobalt from Laboratory Wastes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foust, Donald F.

1984-01-01

Procedures for recovering silver and cobalt from laboratory wastes (including those resulting from student experiments) are presented. The procedures are generally applicable since only common, inexpensive laboratory reagents are needed. (JN)

Digital Topographic Support System (DTSS).

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-07-29

effects applications software, a word processing package and a Special Purpose Product Builder ( SPPB ) in terms common to his Job. Through the MI, the...communicating with the TA in terms he understands, the applications software, the SPPB and the GIS form the underlying tools which perform the computations and...displayed on the monitors or plotted on paper or Mylar. The SPPB will guide the TA enabling him to design products which are not included in the applications

38 CFR 14.500 - Functions and responsibilities of General Counsel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... VETERANS AFFAIRS LEGAL SERVICES, GENERAL COUNSEL, AND MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS § 14.500 Functions and... construction or application of laws, including statutes, regulations, and decisional as well as common law. (c...

Ada Linear-Algebra Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klumpp, A. R.; Lawson, C. L.

1988-01-01

Routines provided for common scalar, vector, matrix, and quaternion operations. Computer program extends Ada programming language to include linear-algebra capabilities similar to HAS/S programming language. Designed for such avionics applications as software for Space Station.

Access Control of Web- and Java-Based Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tso, Kam S.; Pajevski, Michael J.

2013-01-01

Cybersecurity has become a great concern as threats of service interruption, unauthorized access, stealing and altering of information, and spreading of viruses have become more prevalent and serious. Application layer access control of applications is a critical component in the overall security solution that also includes encryption, firewalls, virtual private networks, antivirus, and intrusion detection. An access control solution, based on an open-source access manager augmented with custom software components, was developed to provide protection to both Web-based and Javabased client and server applications. The DISA Security Service (DISA-SS) provides common access control capabilities for AMMOS software applications through a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) and network- accessible security services for authentication, single sign-on, authorization checking, and authorization policy management. The OpenAM access management technology designed for Web applications can be extended to meet the needs of Java thick clients and stand alone servers that are commonly used in the JPL AMMOS environment. The DISA-SS reusable components have greatly reduced the effort for each AMMOS subsystem to develop its own access control strategy. The novelty of this work is that it leverages an open-source access management product that was designed for Webbased applications to provide access control for Java thick clients and Java standalone servers. Thick clients and standalone servers are still commonly used in businesses and government, especially for applications that require rich graphical user interfaces and high-performance visualization that cannot be met by thin clients running on Web browsers

Application of a General Polytomous Testlet Model to the Reading Section of a Large-Scale English Language Assessment. Research Report. ETS RR-10-21

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Yanmei; Li, Shuhong; Wang, Lin

2010-01-01

Many standardized educational tests include groups of items based on a common stimulus, known as "testlets". Standard unidimensional item response theory (IRT) models are commonly used to model examinees' responses to testlet items. However, it is known that local dependence among testlet items can lead to biased item parameter estimates…

UNIT 10.7 Electroblotting from Polyacrylamide Gels

PubMed Central

Goldman, Aaron; Speicher, David W.

2015-01-01

Transferring proteins from polyacrylamide gels onto retentive membranes is now primarily used for immunoblotting. A second application that was quite common up to about a decade ago was electroblotting of proteins for N-terminal and internal sequencing using Edman chemistry. This unit contains procedures for electroblotting proteins from polyacrylamide gels onto a variety of membranes, including polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and nitrocellulose. In addition to the commonly used tank or wet transfer system, protocols are provided for electroblotting using semidry and dry systems. This unit also describes procedures for eluting proteins from membranes using detergents or acidic extraction with organic solvents for specialized applications. PMID:26521711

Electroblotting from Polyacrylamide Gels.

PubMed

Goldman, Aaron; Ursitti, Jeanine A; Mozdzanowski, Jacek; Speicher, David W

2015-11-02

Transferring proteins from polyacrylamide gels onto retentive membranes is now primarily used for immunoblotting. A second application that was quite common up to about a decade ago was electroblotting of proteins for N-terminal and internal sequencing using Edman chemistry. This unit contains procedures for electroblotting proteins from polyacrylamide gels onto a variety of membranes, including polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and nitrocellulose. In addition to the commonly used tank or wet transfer system, protocols are provided for electroblotting using semidry and dry systems. This unit also describes procedures for eluting proteins from membranes using detergents or acidic extraction with organic solvents for specialized applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Apply Pesticides Correctly, A Guide for Commercial Applicators: Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health Related Pest Control.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wamsley, Mary Ann, Ed.; Vermeire, Donna M., Ed.

This guide contains basic information to meet the specific standards for pesticide applicators. The thrust of this document is the recognition and control of common pests. Included are those which directly affect man such as bees, roaches, mites, and mosquitoes; and those which destroy food products and wooden structures. Both mechanical and…

Technology and Curriculum Standards: How Well Do Internet-Based Learning Games Support Common Core Standards for Mathematics?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bingham, Teri; Ray, Jan

2013-01-01

In an effort to keep up with the new generation of digital learners, educators are integrating multiple forms of technology into their teaching, including online learning game applications. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which internet-based learning game applications selected by preservice teachers were aligned with the…

Applications of hydrogels in the nursery and during outplanting

Treesearch

Thomas D. Landis; Diane L. Haase

2012-01-01

Hydrogels have a variety of potential uses including application to plants in the nursery and at the time of outplanting. Absorptive capacity of these gels is influenced by their chemical and physical composition as well as the ion concentration of the liquid being absorbed. The most common uses for hydrogels in nurseries or during outplanting are incorporation or root...

VERA 3.6 Release Notes

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

Williamson, Richard L.; Kochunas, Brendan; Adams, Brian M.

The Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications components included in this distribution include selected computational tools and supporting infrastructure that solve neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, fuel performance, and coupled neutronics-thermal hydraulics problems. The infrastructure components provide a simplified common user input capability and provide for the physics integration with data transfer and coupled-physics iterative solution algorithms.

Applications of optical holography to applied mechanics.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aprahamian, R.

1972-01-01

This paper provides a brief summary of applications of optical holography and holographic interferometry to applied solid mechanics. Basic equations commonly used in fringe interpretation are described and used to reduce the data contained on holographic interferograms. A comparison of data obtained holographically with analytical prediction is given wherever possible. Applications contained herein include front surface physics, study of bomb breakup, transverse wave propagation, study of mode shapes of panels at elevated temperatures, nondestructive testing, and vibration analysis.

Gas-phase broadband spectroscopy using active sources: progress, status, and applications

PubMed Central

Cossel, Kevin C.; Waxman, Eleanor M.; Finneran, Ian A.; Blake, Geoffrey A.; Ye, Jun; Newbury, Nathan R.

2017-01-01

Broadband spectroscopy is an invaluable tool for measuring multiple gas-phase species simultaneously. In this work we review basic techniques, implementations, and current applications for broadband spectroscopy. We discuss components of broad-band spectroscopy including light sources, absorption cells, and detection methods and then discuss specific combinations of these components in commonly-used techniques. We finish this review by discussing potential future advances in techniques and applications of broad-band spectroscopy. PMID:28630530

Spacecraft Electrical Connector Selection and Application Processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iannello, Chris; Davis, Mitchell I; Kichak, Robert A.; Slenski, George

2009-01-01

This assessment was initiated by the NASA Engineering & Safety Center (NESC) after a number of recent "high profile" connector problems, the most visible and publicized of these being the problem with the Space Shuttle's Engine Cut-Off System cryogenic feed-thru connector. The NESC commissioned a review of NASA's connector selection and application processes for space flight applications, including how lessons learned and past problem records are fed back into the processes to avoid recurring issues. Team members were primarily from the various NASA Centers and included connector and electrical parts specialists. The commissioned study was conducted on spacecraft connector selection and application processes at NASA Centers. The team also compared the NASA spacecraft connector selection and application process to the military process, identified recent high profile connector failures, and analyzed problem report data looking for trends and common occurrences. The team characterized NASA's connector problem experience into a list of top connector issues based on anecdotal evidence of a system's impact and commonality between Centers. These top issues are as follows, in no particular rank order: electrically shorted, bent and/or recessed contact pins, contact pin/socket contamination leading to electrically open or intermittencies, connector plating corrosion or corrosion of connector components, low or inadequate contact pin retention forces, contact crimp failures, unmated connectors and mis-wiring due to workmanship errors during installation or maintenance, loose connectors due to manufacturing defects such as wavy washer and worn bayonet retention, damaged connector elastomeric seals and cryogenic connector failure. A survey was also conducted of SAE Connector AE-8C1 committee members regarding their experience relative to the NASA concerns on connectors. The most common responses in order of occurrence were contact retention, plating issues, worn-out or damaged coupling mechanisms, bent pins, contact crimp barrel cracking and torn seals. In addition to these common themes, responses included issues with markings, dimensional errors on the build, contact/socket damage (handling), manufacturing defects and customer misapplication and mishandling. The NESC team concluded that considering the large quantity and wide variety of connectors successfully flown on human and robotic space applications, the number of failures is quite low. However, "high profile" failures with significant cost, schedule, safety, and/or mission success impacts continue to occur. It was also concluded that connector failures occur throughout a system's life-cycle with the majority of connector issues application related. A number of recommendations were identified for improving NASA connector selection processes and overall space connector reliability and performance.

First International Conference on Ada (R) Programming Language Applications for the NASA Space Station, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bown, Rodney L. (Editor)

1986-01-01

Topics discussed include: test and verification; environment issues; distributed Ada issues; life cycle issues; Ada in Europe; management/training issues; common Ada interface set; and run time issues.

Acyl Meldrum's acid derivatives: application in organic synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janikowska, K.; Rachoń, J.; Makowiec, S.

2014-07-01

This review is focused on an important class of Meldrum's acid derivatives commonly known as acyl Meldrum's acids. The preparation methods of these compounds are considered including the recently proposed and rather rarely used ones. The chemical properties of acyl Meldrum's acids are described in detail, including thermal stability and reactions with various nucleophiles. The possible mechanisms of these transformations are analyzed. The bibliography includes 134 references.

The CST: Its Achievements and Its Connection to the Light Cone

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

Gross, Franz

since its inception in 1969, I have reviewed applications of the Covariant Spectator Theory (CST). The applications I discuss here include calculations of NN scattering, 3N bound states, electro- magnetic form factors of few-nucleon systems, and the recent successes in describing the dynamical generation of quark mass and the meson spectrum using a chirially invariant quark-antiquark interaction that includes confinement. Furthermore I will discuss the common origin of the Light Cone technique and the CST, which dates back to the 1970's.

The CST: Its Achievements and Its Connection to the Light Cone

DOE PAGES

Gross, Franz

2017-01-19

since its inception in 1969, I have reviewed applications of the Covariant Spectator Theory (CST). The applications I discuss here include calculations of NN scattering, 3N bound states, electro- magnetic form factors of few-nucleon systems, and the recent successes in describing the dynamical generation of quark mass and the meson spectrum using a chirially invariant quark-antiquark interaction that includes confinement. Furthermore I will discuss the common origin of the Light Cone technique and the CST, which dates back to the 1970's.

[Application and outlook of three-dimensional printing in prosthetic dentistry].

PubMed

Sun, Y C; Li, R; Zhou, Y S; Wang, Y

2017-06-09

At present, three-dimensional (3D) printing has been applied in many aspects in the field of prosthodontics, such as dental models, wax patterns, guide plates, dental restoration and customized implants. The common forming principles include light curing, sintering and melting-condensation, the materials include pure wax, resin, metal and ceramics. However, the printing precision and the strength of multi-material integrated forming, remains to be improved. In addition, as a technology by which the internal structure of a material can be customized manufacturing, further advantage of 3D printing used in the manufacture of dental restoration lies in the customization functional bionic micro-structures, but the related research is still in its infancy. The review briefly summarizes the commonly used 3D printing crafts in prosthetic dentistry, and details clinical applications and evaluations, provides references for clinical decision and further research.

Clinical Utilization of Repeated Open Application Test Among American Contact Dermatitis Society Members.

PubMed

Brown, Gabrielle E; Botto, Nina; Butler, Daniel C; Murase, Jenny E

2015-01-01

The repeated open application test (ROAT) provides useful information regarding allergens in suspected cases of allergic contact dermatitis; however, standardized methodology has not been established. The aim of this study was to assess how ROAT is used in clinical and research settings. We distributed a survey regarding ROAT practice to the American Contact Dermatitis Society and conducted a literature review of ROAT utilization in research. A total of 67 American Contact Dermatitis Society members participated in the survey. Respondents most frequently recommend application of leave-on products twice daily (46.0%) and rinse-off products once daily (43.5%). The most commonly used anatomical sites include the forearm (38.7%) and antecubital fossa (32.3%). Most respondents continue ROAT for 1 (49.2%) or 2 weeks (31.7%). Literature review of 32 studies (26 leave-on, 6 rinse-off) revealed that application frequency is most common at twice daily for both leave-on (96.2%) and rinse-off (50.0%) products. The most common anatomical site is the forearm (62.5%), with an overall study duration of 3 to 4 weeks (65.6%). When comparing ROAT clinical and research practice, the majority trend was consistent for leave-on product application frequency and anatomical site, but not for rinse-off product application frequency, or overall duration. Further research is needed to determine best practice recommendations.

Fifth Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odell, Steve L. (Compiler)

1990-01-01

The Fifth Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Space Applications brings together diverse technical and scientific work in order to help those who employ AI methods in space applications to identify common goals and to address issues of general interest in the AI community. Topics include the following: automation for Space Station; intelligent control, testing, and fault diagnosis; robotics and vision; planning and scheduling; simulation, modeling, and tutoring; development tools and automatic programming; knowledge representation and acquisition; and knowledge base/data base integration.

Spectroelectrochemistry: The Combination of Optical and Electrochemical Techniques.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heineman, William R.

1983-01-01

Two different techniques, electrochemistry and spectroscopy, can be combined for studying the redox chemistry of inorganic, organic, and biological molecules. Several commonly used spectroelectrochemical methods and their applications are described. Includes discussions of optically transparent electrodes, optical absorption/fluorescence…

32 CFR 651.54 - Introduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... for Significant Impacts Outside the United States) provide guidance for analyzing the environmental impacts of Army actions abroad and in the global commons. Army components will, consistent with diplomatic factors (including applicable Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) and stationing agreements), national...

32 CFR 651.54 - Introduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... for Significant Impacts Outside the United States) provide guidance for analyzing the environmental impacts of Army actions abroad and in the global commons. Army components will, consistent with diplomatic factors (including applicable Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) and stationing agreements), national...

32 CFR 651.54 - Introduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... for Significant Impacts Outside the United States) provide guidance for analyzing the environmental impacts of Army actions abroad and in the global commons. Army components will, consistent with diplomatic factors (including applicable Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) and stationing agreements), national...

32 CFR 651.54 - Introduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... for Significant Impacts Outside the United States) provide guidance for analyzing the environmental impacts of Army actions abroad and in the global commons. Army components will, consistent with diplomatic factors (including applicable Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) and stationing agreements), national...

What are the potential benefits of including latent storage in common wallboard?

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

Stovall, T.K.; Tomlinson, J.J.

1995-11-01

Previous work has shown that wallboard can be successfully manufactured to contain up to 30% phase-change material (PCM), or wax, thus enabling this common building material to serve as a thermal energy storage device. The PCM wallboard was analyzed for passive solar applications and found to save energy with a reasonable payback time period of five years. Further evaluations of the wallboard are reported in this paper. This analysis looks at potential applications of PCM wallboard as a load management device and as a comfort enhancer. Results show that the wallboard is ineffective in modifying the comfort level but canmore » provide significant load management relief. In some applications the load management strategy also serves to save a small amount of energy, in others there is a small energy penalty.« less

77 FR 38344 - Medallion Financial Corp.; Notice of Application

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-27

... increasing the maximum number of shares of Applicant's common stock (``Common Stock'') available for issuance... Amended Director Plan. Under the Amended Director Plan, a maximum of 200,000 shares of Applicant's Common... shares of Applicant's Common Stock that may be issued to any one Eligible Director. The Amended Director...

Applications of CRISPR/Cas System to Bacterial Metabolic Engineering.

PubMed

Cho, Suhyung; Shin, Jongoh; Cho, Byung-Kwan

2018-04-05

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR/Cas) adaptive immune system has been extensively used for gene editing, including gene deletion, insertion, and replacement in bacterial and eukaryotic cells owing to its simple, rapid, and efficient activities in unprecedented resolution. Furthermore, the CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system including deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) with inactivated endonuclease activity has been further investigated for regulation of the target gene transiently or constitutively, avoiding cell death by disruption of genome. This review discusses the applications of CRISPR/Cas for genome editing in various bacterial systems and their applications. In particular, CRISPR technology has been used for the production of metabolites of high industrial significance, including biochemical, biofuel, and pharmaceutical products/precursors in bacteria. Here, we focus on methods to increase the productivity and yield/titer scan by controlling metabolic flux through individual or combinatorial use of CRISPR/Cas and CRISPRi systems with introduction of synthetic pathway in industrially common bacteria including Escherichia coli . Further, we discuss additional useful applications of the CRISPR/Cas system, including its use in functional genomics.

Pharmaceutical Applications of Ion-Exchange Resins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elder, David P.

2005-04-01

The historical uses of ion-exchange resins and a summary of the basic chemical principles involved in the ion-exchange process are discussed. Specific applications of ion-exchange resins are provided. The utility of these agents to stabilize drugs are evaluated. Commonly occurring chemical and physical incompatibilities are reviewed. Ion-exchange resins have found applicability as inactive pharmaceutical constituents, particularly as disintegrants (inactive tablet ingredient whose function is to rapidly disrupt the tablet matrix on contact with gastric fluid). One of the more elegant approaches to improving palatability of ionizable drugs is the use of ion-exchange resins as taste-masking agents. The selection, optimization of drug:resin ratio and particle size, together with a review of scaleup of typical manufacturing processes for taste-masked products are provided. Ion-exchange resins have been extensively utilized in oral sustained-release products. The selection, optimization of drug:resin ratio and particle size, together with a summary of commonly occurring commercial sustained-release products are discussed. Ion-exchange resins have also been used in topical products for local application to the skin, including those where drug flux is controlled by a differential electrical current (ionotophoretic delivery). General applicability of ion-exchange resins, including ophthalmic delivery, nasal delivery, use as drugs in their own right (e.g., colestyramine, formerly referred to as cholestyramine), as well as measuring gastrointestinal transit times, are discussed. Finally, pharmaceutical monographs for ion-exchange resins are reviewed.

Two-electrode low supply voltage electrocardiogram signal amplifier.

PubMed

Dobrev, D

2004-03-01

Portable biomedical instrumentation has become an important part of diagnostic and treatment instrumentation, including telemedicine applications. Low-voltage and low-power design tendencies prevail. Modern battery cell voltages in the range of 3-3.6 V require appropriate circuit solutions. A two-electrode biopotential amplifier design is presented, with a high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR), high input voltage tolerance and standard first-order high-pass characteristic. Most of these features are due to a high-gain first stage design. The circuit makes use of passive components of popular values and tolerances. Powered by a single 3 V source, the amplifier tolerates +/- 1 V common mode voltage, +/- 50 microA common mode current and 2 V input DC voltage, and its worst-case CMRR is 60 dB. The amplifier is intended for use in various applications, such as Holter-type monitors, defibrillators, ECG monitors, biotelemetry devices etc.

47 CFR 24.2 - Other applicable rule parts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS... licensees in the personal communications services include the following: (a) Part 0. This part describes the... procedures concerning the marketing and importation of radio frequency devices, and for obtaining equipment...

Application of remote sensor data to geologic analysis of the Bonanza test site Colorado

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, K. (Compiler)

1975-01-01

Selected samples of anomalous surface features commonly associated with the various types of uranium deposits are presented and recommendations for sensor applications are given. The features studied include: epigenetic uranium ore roll type; precambrian basal conglomerate type; vein-type uranium deposits; pipe-structure or diatreme deposits; evaporitic uranium deposits. The hydrogeology of the Mosquito Range and the San Luis Valley is also examined.

Fourth Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odell, Stephen L. (Compiler); Denton, Judith S. (Compiler); Vereen, Mary (Compiler)

1988-01-01

Proceedings of a conference held in Huntsville, Alabama, on November 15-16, 1988. The Fourth Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Space Applications brings together diverse technical and scientific work in order to help those who employ AI methods in space applications to identify common goals and to address issues of general interest in the AI community. Topics include the following: space applications of expert systems in fault diagnostics, in telemetry monitoring and data collection, in design and systems integration; and in planning and scheduling; knowledge representation, capture, verification, and management; robotics and vision; adaptive learning; and automatic programming.

Spacecraft materials guide. [including: encapsulants and conformal coatings; optical materials; lubrication; and, bonding and joining processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Staugaitis, C. L. (Editor)

1975-01-01

Materials which have demonstrated their suitability for space application are summarized. Common, recurring problems in encapsulants and conformal coatings, optical materials, lubrication, and bonding and joining are noted. The subjects discussed include: low density and syntactic foams, electrical encapsulants; optical glasses, interference filter, mirrors; oils, greases, lamillar lubricants; and, soldering and brazing processes.

Pharmaceutical preparations. A review of drugs commonly used during the neonatal period.

PubMed

Faucher, M A; Jackson, G

1992-01-01

Certified nurse-midwives, whose responsibility includes care of the newborn in the first days of life, should be well versed in the commonly used pharmaceutical preparations in the neonatal period. This article reviews therapeutic uses and the pharmacodynamics of vitamin K, as well as the neonatal eye preparations for prophylaxis of infections (silver nitrate, tetracycline, and erythromycin ophthalmic ointments). Preparations used in caring for the umbilical cord, as well as the commonly prescribed antibiotics ampicillin and gentamicin, are discussed. The narcotic antagonist naloxone is also reviewed, along with commonly used medications for colic and thrush. The etiology and clinical conditions that require the application of these medications are considered.

Development of stable isotope mixing models in ecology - Dublin

EPA Science Inventory

More than 40 years ago, stable isotope analysis methods used in geochemistry began to be applied to ecological studies. One common application is using mathematical mixing models to sort out the proportional contributions of various sources to a mixture. Examples include contri...

Historical development of stable isotope mixing models in ecology

EPA Science Inventory

More than 40 years ago, stable isotope analysis methods used in geochemistry began to be applied to ecological studies. One common application is using mathematical mixing models to sort out the proportional contributions of various sources to a mixture. Examples include contri...

Development of stable isotope mixing models in ecology - Perth

EPA Science Inventory

More than 40 years ago, stable isotope analysis methods used in geochemistry began to be applied to ecological studies. One common application is using mathematical mixing models to sort out the proportional contributions of various sources to a mixture. Examples include contri...

Development of stable isotope mixing models in ecology - Fremantle

EPA Science Inventory

More than 40 years ago, stable isotope analysis methods used in geochemistry began to be applied to ecological studies. One common application is using mathematical mixing models to sort out the proportional contributions of various sources to a mixture. Examples include contri...

Development of stable isotope mixing models in ecology - Sydney

EPA Science Inventory

More than 40 years ago, stable isotope analysis methods used in geochemistry began to be applied to ecological studies. One common application is using mathematical mixing models to sort out the proportional contributions of various sources to a mixture. Examples include contri...

Application of Contact Mode AFM to Manufacturing Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giordano, Michael A.; Schmid, Steven R.

A review of the application of contact mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) to manufacturing processes is presented. A brief introduction to common experimental techniques including hardness, scratch, and wear testing is presented, with a discussion of challenges in the extension of manufacturing scale investigations to the AFM. Differences between the macro- and nanoscales tests are discussed, including indentation size effects and their importance in the simulation of processes such as grinding. The basics of lubrication theory are presented and friction force microscopy is introduced as a method of investigating metal forming lubrication on the nano- and microscales that directly simulates tooling/workpiece asperity interactions. These concepts are followed by a discussion of their application to macroscale industrial manufacturing processes and direct correlations are made.

Reliability of IGBT in a STATCOM for Harmonic Compensation and Power Factor Correction

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

Gopi Reddy, Lakshmi Reddy; Tolbert, Leon M; Ozpineci, Burak

With smart grid integration, there is a need to characterize reliability of a power system by including reliability of power semiconductors in grid related applications. In this paper, the reliability of IGBTs in a STATCOM application is presented for two different applications, power factor correction and harmonic elimination. The STATCOM model is developed in EMTP, and analytical equations for average conduction losses in an IGBT and a diode are derived and compared with experimental data. A commonly used reliability model is used to predict reliability of IGBT.

Utilizing Linked Open Data Sources for Automatic Generation of Semantic Metadata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nummiaho, Antti; Vainikainen, Sari; Melin, Magnus

In this paper we present an application that can be used to automatically generate semantic metadata for tags given as simple keywords. The application that we have implemented in Java programming language creates the semantic metadata by linking the tags to concepts in different semantic knowledge bases (CrunchBase, DBpedia, Freebase, KOKO, Opencyc, Umbel and/or WordNet). The steps that our application takes in doing so include detecting possible languages, finding spelling suggestions and finding meanings from amongst the proper nouns and common nouns separately. Currently, our application supports English, Finnish and Swedish words, but other languages could be included easily if the required lexical tools (spellcheckers, etc.) are available. The created semantic metadata can be of great use in, e.g., finding and combining similar contents, creating recommendations and targeting advertisements.

How should unmatched otolaryngology applicants proceed?

PubMed

Schwan, Josianna; Abaza, Mona; Cabrera-Muffly, Cristina

2015-10-01

To determine the attitudes of otolaryngology residency program directors and chairpersons toward unmatched residency applicants, including whether a surgical internship or research year is preferred in considering repeat applicants. Cross-sectional survey. Approval was obtained from the Colorado Multiple Institution Review Board. A 12-question Web-based survey was sent to otolaryngology residency program directors and chairpersons three times over a 6-week period. Responses collected from respondents were anonymous, with no identifying characteristics. Forty-five percent of those contacted responded to the survey. The most commonly recommended course of action for an unmatched applicant was completion of a general surgery intern year (43%) or a year of research (31%). Program directors were more likely than chairpersons to recommend a year of research (P value 0.014). Ninety-seven percent of the respondents felt it was important or essential to obtain new letters of recommendation. Respondents ranked poor interview skills as the most common reason for applicants remaining unmatched (29%). Otolaryngology residency match is even more competitive for previously unmatched applicants. Unmatched applicants should be advised to proceed with either a research year or postgraduate year 1 general surgery year. Before applying again, applicants should obtain new letters of recommendation, and the importance of improving poor interviewing skills should be emphasized by advisors. N/A. © 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Tandem Repeated Irritation Test (TRIT) Studies and Clinical Relevance: Post 2006.

PubMed

Reddy, Rasika; Maibach, Howard

2018-06-11

Single or multiple applications of irritants can lead to occupational contact dermatitis, and most commonly irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Tandem irritation, the sequential application of two irritants to a target skin area, has been studied using the Tandem Repeated Irritation Test (TRIT) to provide a more accurate representation of skin irritation. Here we present an update to Kartono's review on tandem irritation studies since 2006 [1]. We surveyed the literature available on PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and the UCSF Dermatology library databases since 2006. The studies included discuss the tandem effects of common chemical irritants, organic solvents, occlusion as well as clinical relevance - and enlarge our ability to discern whether multiple chemical exposures are more or less likely to enhance irritation.

Distributed processor allocation for launching applications in a massively connected processors complex

DOEpatents

Pedretti, Kevin

2008-11-18

A compute processor allocator architecture for allocating compute processors to run applications in a multiple processor computing apparatus is distributed among a subset of processors within the computing apparatus. Each processor of the subset includes a compute processor allocator. The compute processor allocators can share a common database of information pertinent to compute processor allocation. A communication path permits retrieval of information from the database independently of the compute processor allocators.

Defining Nano, Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine: Why Should It Matter?

PubMed

Satalkar, Priya; Elger, Bernice Simone; Shaw, David M

2016-10-01

Nanotechnology, which involves manipulation of matter on a 'nano' scale, is considered to be a key enabling technology. Medical applications of nanotechnology (commonly known as nanomedicine) are expected to significantly improve disease diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and subsequently reduce health care costs. However, there is no consensus on the definition of nanotechnology or nanomedicine, and this stems from the underlying debate on defining 'nano'. This paper aims to present the diversity in the definition of nanomedicine and its impact on the translation of basic science research in nanotechnology into clinical applications. We present the insights obtained from exploratory qualitative interviews with 46 stakeholders involved in translational nanomedicine from Europe and North America. The definition of nanomedicine has implications for many aspects of translational research including: fund allocation, patents, drug regulatory review processes and approvals, ethical review processes, clinical trials and public acceptance. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the field and common interest in developing effective clinical applications, it is important to have honest and transparent communication about nanomedicine, its benefits and potential harm. A clear and consistent definition of nanomedicine would significantly facilitate trust among various stakeholders including the general public while minimizing the risk of miscommunication and undue fear of nanotechnology and nanomedicine.

Possible Role of Common Spices as a Preventive and Therapeutic Agent for Alzheimer's Disease.

PubMed

Mirmosayyeb, Omid; Tanhaei, Amirpouya; Sohrabi, Hamid R; Martins, Ralph N; Tanhaei, Mana; Najafi, Mohammad Amin; Safaei, Ali; Meamar, Rokhsareh

2017-01-01

For centuries, spices have been consumed as food additives or medicinal agents. However, there is increasing evidence indicating the plant-based foods in regular diet may lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer disease. Spices, as one of the most commonly used plant-based food additives may provide more than just flavors, but as agents that may prevent or even halt neurodegenerative processes associated with aging. In this article, we review the role and application of five commonly used dietary spices including saffron turmeric, pepper family, zingiber, and cinnamon. Besides suppressing inflammatory pathways, these spices may act as antioxidant and inhibit acetyl cholinesterase and amyloid β aggregation. We summarized how spice-derived nutraceuticals mediate such different effects and what their molecular targets might be. Finally, some directions for future research are briefly discussed.

Possible Role of Common Spices as a Preventive and Therapeutic Agent for Alzheimer's Disease

PubMed Central

Mirmosayyeb, Omid; Tanhaei, Amirpouya; Sohrabi, Hamid R.; Martins, Ralph N.; Tanhaei, Mana; Najafi, Mohammad Amin; Safaei, Ali; Meamar, Rokhsareh

2017-01-01

For centuries, spices have been consumed as food additives or medicinal agents. However, there is increasing evidence indicating the plant-based foods in regular diet may lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer disease. Spices, as one of the most commonly used plant-based food additives may provide more than just flavors, but as agents that may prevent or even halt neurodegenerative processes associated with aging. In this article, we review the role and application of five commonly used dietary spices including saffron turmeric, pepper family, zingiber, and cinnamon. Besides suppressing inflammatory pathways, these spices may act as antioxidant and inhibit acetyl cholinesterase and amyloid β aggregation. We summarized how spice-derived nutraceuticals mediate such different effects and what their molecular targets might be. Finally, some directions for future research are briefly discussed. PMID:28250905

Common Filing Deficiencies in Abbreviated New Drug Applications Containing Clinical Endpoint Studies.

PubMed

Fermaglich, Lewis J; Chen, Ru; Kim, Carol Y; Chuh, Eunjung Esther; Thomas, Teena; Shetty, Daiva; Lee, Julia; Young, Johnny; Fan, Ying

2018-01-01

The objective of this report is to summarize common deficiencies identified in the filing reviews of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) with clinical endpoint bioequivalence studies and skin irritation, sensitization, and adhesion (I/S/A) studies received by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 2007 and 2017, to help applicants avoid common deficiencies, minimize "refuse-to-receive" (RTR) actions, "information requests," and ANDA approval delays. Multiple internal FDA databases were searched to evaluate and summarize common deficiencies identified in ANDA submissions containing clinical endpoint studies and skin I/S/A studies that required review by the Division of Clinical Review. A total of 275 ANDA submissions with filing reviews from January 2007 to June 2017 were analyzed in this report. Two hundred eighteen (79.3%) filing reviews contained one or more deficiencies. Seventy-nine (28.7%) ANDAs were issued RTR letters because of major clinical deficiencies, specifically bioequivalence and clinical deficiencies, accounting for 9% of overall identified deficiencies. Twenty-two other categories of deficiencies are summarized into 4 main categories: missing information related to the clinical studies other than data sets (38%), missing data sets (35%), formulation issues (12%), and organization/format issues (6%). The most common deficiency in the "missing information related to the clinical studies other than data sets" category was "missing clarification of information" (22%). We also noted that the Division of Filing Review has identified these same types of deficiencies since assuming responsibility of the filing assessment for ANDAs with clinical endpoint BE studies and skin I/S/A studies. In conclusion, to minimize "refuse-to-receive" actions, "information requests," and approval of ANDA delays for generic drug products, applicants should submit full clinical study reports, including all data sets for drug products recommending clinical studies.

47 CFR 0.493 - Non-radio common carrier applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Non-radio common carrier applications. 0.493 Section 0.493 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION GENERAL COMMISSION ORGANIZATION General....493 Non-radio common carrier applications. All such applications shall be filed at the Commission's...

77 FR 3754 - Boise Project Board of Control; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Comments...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-25

... design change that includes two horizontal Francis turbines and a single horizontal generator on a common shaft. The nameplate capacity of the project would increase from 650 kW to 1,100 kW, and the hydraulic...

Stepping Stones for People with Cognitive Disabilities and Low Digital Literacy.

PubMed

Lee, Steve

2017-01-01

The open source components presented have been designed for use by developers creating applications for people with cognitive disabilities or low digital literacy. They provide easy access to common online activities and include configurable levels of complexity to address varying preferences.

26 CFR 1.1502-77A - Common parent agent for subsidiaries applicable for consolidated return years beginning before...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 12 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Common parent agent for subsidiaries applicable... TAXES Regulations Applicable to Taxable Years Beginning Before June 28, 2002 § 1.1502-77A Common parent...) Scope of agency of common parent corporation. The common parent, for all purposes (other than the making...

Clinical application of adipose stem cells in plastic surgery.

PubMed

Kim, Yong-Jin; Jeong, Jae-Ho

2014-04-01

Adipose stem cells (ASCs) are a type of adult stem cells that share common characteristics with typical mesenchymal stem cells. In the last decade, ASCs have been shown to be a useful cell resource for tissue regeneration. The major role of regenerative medicine in this century is based on cell therapy in which ASCs hold a key position. Active research on this new type of adult stem cell has been ongoing and these cells now have several clinical applications, including fat grafting, overcoming wound healing difficulties, recovery from local tissue ischemia, and scar remodeling. The application of cultured cells will increase the efficiency of cell therapy. However, the use of cultured stem cells is strictly controlled by government regulation to ensure patient safety. Government regulation is a factor that can limit more versatile clinical application of ASCs. In this review, current clinical applications of ASCs in plastic surgery are introduced. Future stem cell applications in clinical field including culturing and banking of ASCs are also discussed in this review.

FY04 Advanced Life Support Architecture and Technology Studies: Mid-Year Presentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lange, Kevin; Anderson, Molly; Duffield, Bruce; Hanford, Tony; Jeng, Frank

2004-01-01

Long-Term Objective: Identify optimal advanced life support system designs that meet existing and projected requirements for future human spaceflight missions. a) Include failure-tolerance, reliability, and safe-haven requirements. b) Compare designs based on multiple criteria including equivalent system mass (ESM), technology readiness level (TRL), simplicity, commonality, etc. c) Develop and evaluate new, more optimal, architecture concepts and technology applications.

An Inexpensive Toroidal Solenoid for an Investigative Student Lab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferstl, Andrew; Broberg, John

2008-09-01

Magnetism and Ampère's law is a common subject in most calculus-based introductory physics courses. Many textbooks offer examples to calculate the magnetic field produced by a symmetric current by using Ampère's law. These examples include the solenoid and the toroidal solenoid (sometimes called a torus; see Fig. 1), which are used in many applications, including the study of plasmas.

Application-Program-Installer Builder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolgast, Paul; Demore, Martha; Lowik, Paul

2007-01-01

A computer program builds application programming interfaces (APIs) and related software components for installing and uninstalling application programs in any of a variety of computers and operating systems that support the Java programming language in its binary form. This program is partly similar in function to commercial (e.g., Install-Shield) software. This program is intended to enable satisfaction of a quasi-industry-standard set of requirements for a set of APIs that would enable such installation and uninstallation and that would avoid the pitfalls that are commonly encountered during installation of software. The requirements include the following: 1) Properly detecting prerequisites to an application program before performing the installation; 2) Properly registering component requirements; 3) Correctly measuring the required hard-disk space, including accounting for prerequisite components that have already been installed; and 4) Correctly uninstalling an application program. Correct uninstallation includes (1) detecting whether any component of the program to be removed is required by another program, (2) not removing that component, and (3) deleting references to requirements of the to-be-removed program for components of other programs so that those components can be properly removed at a later time.

Features of resilience

DOE PAGES

Connelly, Elizabeth B.; Allen, Craig R.; Hatfield, Kirk; ...

2017-02-20

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) definition of resilience is used here to organize common concepts and synthesize a set of key features of resilience that can be used across diverse application domains. The features in common include critical functions (services), thresholds, cross-scale (both space and time) interactions, and memory and adaptive management. We propose a framework for linking these features to the planning, absorbing, recovering, and adapting phases identified in the NAS definition. As a result, the proposed delineation of resilience can be important in understanding and communicating resilience concepts.

Features of resilience

USGS Publications Warehouse

Connelly, Elizabeth B.; Allen, Craig R.; Hatfield, Kirk; Palma-Oliveira, José M.; Woods, David D.; Linkov, Igor

2017-01-01

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) definition of resilience is used here to organize common concepts and synthesize a set of key features of resilience that can be used across diverse application domains. The features in common include critical functions (services), thresholds, cross-scale (both space and time) interactions, and memory and adaptive management. We propose a framework for linking these features to the planning, absorbing, recovering, and adapting phases identified in the NAS definition. The proposed delineation of resilience can be important in understanding and communicating resilience concepts.

General Monte Carlo reliability simulation code including common mode failures and HARP fault/error-handling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Platt, M. E.; Lewis, E. E.; Boehm, F.

1991-01-01

A Monte Carlo Fortran computer program was developed that uses two variance reduction techniques for computing system reliability applicable to solving very large highly reliable fault-tolerant systems. The program is consistent with the hybrid automated reliability predictor (HARP) code which employs behavioral decomposition and complex fault-error handling models. This new capability is called MC-HARP which efficiently solves reliability models with non-constant failures rates (Weibull). Common mode failure modeling is also a specialty.

The Application of Design to Cost and Life Cycle to Aircraft Engines.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

appearing in both columns include AGE (common and peculiar), transportation, management, and training. These cost elements are not usually large in...Proc. of install engine X CIP x Spare engine X Spare parts (base/depot) X Depot labor X Base labor X ECPs-mod/retro X X AGE (peculiar/common) X X...introduits de maniere aleatoire dans le cadre j’hypotheses. En outre les moteurs ou les sous-ensembles, compte tenu du suivi de leur age et de leur

Emerging Applications for High K Materials in VLSI Technology

PubMed Central

Clark, Robert D.

2014-01-01

The current status of High K dielectrics in Very Large Scale Integrated circuit (VLSI) manufacturing for leading edge Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) applications is summarized along with the deposition methods and general equipment types employed. Emerging applications for High K dielectrics in future CMOS are described as well for implementations in 10 nm and beyond nodes. Additional emerging applications for High K dielectrics include Resistive RAM memories, Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) diodes, Ferroelectric logic and memory devices, and as mask layers for patterning. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a common and proven deposition method for all of the applications discussed for use in future VLSI manufacturing. PMID:28788599

Skin-inspired hydrogel-elastomer hybrids with robust interfaces and functional microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuk, Hyunwoo; Zhang, Teng; Parada, German Alberto; Liu, Xinyue; Zhao, Xuanhe

2016-06-01

Inspired by mammalian skins, soft hybrids integrating the merits of elastomers and hydrogels have potential applications in diverse areas including stretchable and bio-integrated electronics, microfluidics, tissue engineering, soft robotics and biomedical devices. However, existing hydrogel-elastomer hybrids have limitations such as weak interfacial bonding, low robustness and difficulties in patterning microstructures. Here, we report a simple yet versatile method to assemble hydrogels and elastomers into hybrids with extremely robust interfaces (interfacial toughness over 1,000 Jm-2) and functional microstructures such as microfluidic channels and electrical circuits. The proposed method is generally applicable to various types of tough hydrogels and diverse commonly used elastomers including polydimethylsiloxane Sylgard 184, polyurethane, latex, VHB and Ecoflex. We further demonstrate applications enabled by the robust and microstructured hydrogel-elastomer hybrids including anti-dehydration hydrogel-elastomer hybrids, stretchable and reactive hydrogel-elastomer microfluidics, and stretchable hydrogel circuit boards patterned on elastomer.

www.common-metrics.org: a web application to estimate scores from different patient-reported outcome measures on a common scale.

PubMed

Fischer, H Felix; Rose, Matthias

2016-10-19

Recently, a growing number of Item-Response Theory (IRT) models has been published, which allow estimation of a common latent variable from data derived by different Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs). When using data from different PROs, direct estimation of the latent variable has some advantages over the use of sum score conversion tables. It requires substantial proficiency in the field of psychometrics to fit such models using contemporary IRT software. We developed a web application ( http://www.common-metrics.org ), which allows estimation of latent variable scores more easily using IRT models calibrating different measures on instrument independent scales. Currently, the application allows estimation using six different IRT models for Depression, Anxiety, and Physical Function. Based on published item parameters, users of the application can directly estimate latent trait estimates using expected a posteriori (EAP) for sum scores as well as for specific response patterns, Bayes modal (MAP), Weighted likelihood estimation (WLE) and Maximum likelihood (ML) methods and under three different prior distributions. The obtained estimates can be downloaded and analyzed using standard statistical software. This application enhances the usability of IRT modeling for researchers by allowing comparison of the latent trait estimates over different PROs, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression (PHQ-9) and Anxiety (GAD-7) scales, the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), PROMIS Anxiety and Depression Short Forms and others. Advantages of this approach include comparability of data derived with different measures and tolerance against missing values. The validity of the underlying models needs to be investigated in the future.

Metal-organic frameworks in chromatography.

PubMed

Yusuf, Kareem; Aqel, Ahmad; ALOthman, Zeid

2014-06-27

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) emerged approximately two decades ago and are the youngest class of porous materials. Despite their short existence, MOFs are finding applications in a variety of fields because of their outstanding chemical and physical properties. This review article focuses on the applications of MOFs in chromatography, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and other chromatographic techniques. The use of MOFs in chromatography has already had a significant impact; however, the utilisation of MOFs in chromatography is still less common than other applications, and the number of MOF materials explored in chromatography applications is limited. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Applications of FT-IR spectrophotometry in cancer diagnostics.

PubMed

Bunaciu, Andrei A; Hoang, Vu Dang; Aboul-Enein, Hassan Y

2015-01-01

This review provides a brief background to the application of infrared spectroscopy, including Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, in biological fluids. It is not meant to be complete or exhaustive but to provide the reader with sufficient background for selected applications in cancer diagnostics. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is a fast and nondestructive analytical method. The infrared spectrum of a mixture serves as the basis to quantitate its constituents, and a number of common clinical chemistry tests have proven to be feasible using this approach. This review focuses on biomedical FT-IR applications, published in the period 2009-2013, used for early detection of cancer through qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Military applications and examples of near-surface seismic surface wave methods (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

sloan, S.; Stevens, R.

2013-12-01

Although not always widely known or publicized, the military uses a variety of geophysical methods for a wide range of applications--some that are already common practice in the industry while others are truly novel. Some of those applications include unexploded ordnance detection, general site characterization, anomaly detection, countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and security monitoring, to name a few. Techniques used may include, but are not limited to, ground penetrating radar, seismic, electrical, gravity, and electromagnetic methods. Seismic methods employed include surface wave analysis, refraction tomography, and high-resolution reflection methods. Although the military employs geophysical methods, that does not necessarily mean that those methods enable or support combat operations--often times they are being used for humanitarian applications within the military's area of operations to support local populations. The work presented here will focus on the applied use of seismic surface wave methods, including multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and backscattered surface waves, often in conjunction with other methods such as refraction tomography or body-wave diffraction analysis. Multiple field examples will be shown, including explosives testing, tunnel detection, pre-construction site characterization, and cavity detection.

Improving Audio Quality in Distance Learning Applications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richardson, Craig H.

This paper discusses common causes of problems encountered with audio systems in distance learning networks and offers practical suggestions for correcting the problems. Problems and discussions are divided into nine categories: (1) acoustics, including reverberant classrooms leading to distorted or garbled voices, as well as one-dimensional audio…

Choosing the Right Database Management Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vockell, Edward L.; Kopenec, Donald

1989-01-01

Provides a comparison of four database management programs commonly used in schools: AppleWorks, the DOS 3.3 and ProDOS versions of PFS, and MECC's Data Handler. Topics discussed include information storage, spelling checkers, editing functions, search strategies, graphs, printout formats, library applications, and HyperCard. (LRW)

Air Pollution Data for Model Evaluation and Application

EPA Science Inventory

One objective of designing an air pollution monitoring network is to obtain data for evaluating air quality models that are used in the air quality management process and scientific discovery.^1.2 A common use is to relate emissions to air quality, including assessing ...

A Legal Brief--Unfulfilled Hiring Promises.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zirkel, Perry A.; Gluckman, Ivan B.

1988-01-01

Using a specific case, this article reviews some common areas of contract and tort law applicable to principals and employment practices in public and private schools. The question/answer format treats contract validity, negligent misrepresentation, and constitutionality issues involved in a case based on unfulfilled hiring promises. Includes four…

Not all GMOs are crop plants: non-plant GMO applications in agriculture

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In the time since the tools of modern biotechnology have become available, the most commonly applied and often discussed genetically modified organisms are genetically modified crop plants, although genetic engineering is also being used successfully in organisms other than plants, including bacteri...

Developing Supply Chain Management Program: A Competency Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sauber, Matthew H.; McSurely, Hugh B.; Tummala, V. M. Rao

2008-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to show the process of designing and measuring learning competencies in program development. Design/methodology/approach: The paper includes cross-sectoral comparisons to draw on programmatic and pedagogical strategies, more commonly utilized in vocational education, and transfer the application of these strategies into…

Analysis of phenolic compounds from corn, oat, and wheat bran extracts by LC-MS-PDA

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Phenolic compounds are among the most common secondary metabolites produced by plants and can exhibit a range of bioactive properties including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive. These natural products have applications in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and functional food or animal fe...

The Missing Stakeholder Group: Why Patients Should be Involved in Health Economic Modelling.

PubMed

van Voorn, George A K; Vemer, Pepijn; Hamerlijnck, Dominique; Ramos, Isaac Corro; Teunissen, Geertruida J; Al, Maiwenn; Feenstra, Talitha L

2016-04-01

Evaluations of healthcare interventions, e.g. new drugs or other new treatment strategies, commonly include a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) that is based on the application of health economic (HE) models. As end users, patients are important stakeholders regarding the outcomes of CEAs, yet their knowledge of HE model development and application, or their involvement therein, is absent. This paper considers possible benefits and risks of patient involvement in HE model development and application for modellers and patients. An exploratory review of the literature has been performed on stakeholder-involved modelling in various disciplines. In addition, Dutch patient experts have been interviewed about their experience in, and opinion about, the application of HE models. Patients have little to no knowledge of HE models and are seldom involved in HE model development and application. Benefits of becoming involved would include a greater understanding and possible acceptance by patients of HE model application, improved model validation, and a more direct infusion of patient expertise. Risks would include patient bias and increased costs of modelling. Patient involvement in HE modelling seems to carry several benefits as well as risks. We claim that the benefits may outweigh the risks and that patients should become involved.

DISCO-SCA and Properly Applied GSVD as Swinging Methods to Find Common and Distinctive Processes

PubMed Central

Van Deun, Katrijn; Van Mechelen, Iven; Thorrez, Lieven; Schouteden, Martijn; De Moor, Bart; van der Werf, Mariët J.; De Lathauwer, Lieven; Smilde, Age K.; Kiers, Henk A. L.

2012-01-01

Background In systems biology it is common to obtain for the same set of biological entities information from multiple sources. Examples include expression data for the same set of orthologous genes screened in different organisms and data on the same set of culture samples obtained with different high-throughput techniques. A major challenge is to find the important biological processes underlying the data and to disentangle therein processes common to all data sources and processes distinctive for a specific source. Recently, two promising simultaneous data integration methods have been proposed to attain this goal, namely generalized singular value decomposition (GSVD) and simultaneous component analysis with rotation to common and distinctive components (DISCO-SCA). Results Both theoretical analyses and applications to biologically relevant data show that: (1) straightforward applications of GSVD yield unsatisfactory results, (2) DISCO-SCA performs well, (3) provided proper pre-processing and algorithmic adaptations, GSVD reaches a performance level similar to that of DISCO-SCA, and (4) DISCO-SCA is directly generalizable to more than two data sources. The biological relevance of DISCO-SCA is illustrated with two applications. First, in a setting of comparative genomics, it is shown that DISCO-SCA recovers a common theme of cell cycle progression and a yeast-specific response to pheromones. The biological annotation was obtained by applying Gene Set Enrichment Analysis in an appropriate way. Second, in an application of DISCO-SCA to metabolomics data for Escherichia coli obtained with two different chemical analysis platforms, it is illustrated that the metabolites involved in some of the biological processes underlying the data are detected by one of the two platforms only; therefore, platforms for microbial metabolomics should be tailored to the biological question. Conclusions Both DISCO-SCA and properly applied GSVD are promising integrative methods for finding common and distinctive processes in multisource data. Open source code for both methods is provided. PMID:22693578

TU-AB-207-03: Tomosynthesis: Clinical Applications

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

Maidment, A.

2015-06-15

Digital Tomosynthesis (DT) is becoming increasingly common in breast imaging and many other applications. DT is a form of computed tomography in which a limited set of projection images are acquired over a small angular range and reconstructed into a tomographic data set. The angular range and number of projections is determined both by the imaging task and equipment manufacturer. For example, in breast imaging between 9 and 25 projections are acquired over a range of 15° to 60°. It is equally valid to treat DT as the digital analog of classical tomography - for example, linear tomography. In fact,more » the name “tomosynthesis” is an acronym for “synthetic tomography”. DT shares many common features with classical tomography, including the radiographic appearance, dose, and image quality considerations. As such, both the science and practical physics of DT systems is a hybrid between CT and classical tomographic methods. This lecture will consist of three presentations that will provide a complete overview of DT, including a review of the fundamentals of DT, a discussion of testing methods for DT systems, and a description of the clinical applications of DT. While digital breast tomosynthesis will be emphasized, analogies will be drawn to body imaging to illustrate and compare tomosynthesis methods. Learning Objectives: To understand the fundamental principles behind tomosynthesis, including the determinants of image quality and dose. To learn how to test the performance of tomosynthesis imaging systems. To appreciate the uses of tomosynthesis in the clinic and the future applications of tomosynthesis.« less

Drag Reduction Devices for Aircraft (Latest Citations from the Aerospace Database)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning the modeling, application, testing, and development of drag reduction devices for aircraft. Slots, flaps, fences, large-eddy breakup (LEBU) devices, vortex generators and turbines, Helmholtz resonators, and winglets are among the devices discussed. Contour shaping to ensure laminar flow, control boundary layer transition, or minimize turbulence is also covered. Applications include the wings, nacelles, fuselage, empennage, and externals of aircraft designed for high-lift, subsonic, or supersonic operation. The design, testing, and development of directional grooves, commonly called riblets, are covered in a separate bibliography.(Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Clock Agreement Among Parallel Supercomputer Nodes

DOE Data Explorer

Jones, Terry R.; Koenig, Gregory A.

2014-04-30

This dataset presents measurements that quantify the clock synchronization time-agreement characteristics among several high performance computers including the current world's most powerful machine for open science, the U.S. Department of Energy's Titan machine sited at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. These ultra-fast machines derive much of their computational capability from extreme node counts (over 18000 nodes in the case of the Titan machine). Time-agreement is commonly utilized by parallel programming applications and tools, distributed programming application and tools, and system software. Our time-agreement measurements detail the degree of time variance between nodes and how that variance changes over time. The dataset includes empirical measurements and the accompanying spreadsheets.

Health issues for surfers.

PubMed

Zoltan, Todd B; Taylor, Kenneth S; Achar, Suraj A

2005-06-15

Surfers are prone to acute injuries as well as conditions resulting from chronic environmental exposure. Sprains, lacerations, strains, and fractures are the most common types of trauma. Injury from the rider's own surfboard may be the prevailing mechanism. Minor wound infections can be treated on an outpatient basis with ciprofloxacin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Jellyfish stings are common and may be treated with heat application. Other treatment regimens have had mixed results. Seabather's eruption is a pruritic skin reaction caused by exposure to nematocyst-containing coelenterate larvae. Additional surfing hazards include stingrays, coral reefs, and, occasionally, sharks. Otologic sequelae of surfing include auditory exostoses, tympanic membrane rupture, and otitis externa. Sun exposure and skin cancer risk are inherent dangers of this sport.

Uterine Artery Embolization: An Analysis of Online Patient Information Quality and Readability with Historical Comparison.

PubMed

Murray, Timothy E; Mansoor, Tayyaub; Bowden, Dermot J; O'Neill, Damien C; Lee, Michael J

2018-05-01

Investigators aimed to assess online information describing uterine artery embolization (UAE) to examine the quality and readability of websites patients are accessing. A list of applicable, commonly used searchable terms was generated, including "Uterine Artery Embolization," "Fibroid Embolization," "Uterine Fibroid Embolization," and "Uterine Artery Embolisation." Each possible term was assessed across the five most-used English language search engines to determine the most commonly used term. The most common term was then investigated across each search engine, with the first 25 pages returned by each engine included for analysis. Duplicate pages, nontext content such as video or audio, and pages behind paywalls were excluded. Pages were analyzed for quality and readability using validated tools including DISCERN score, JAMA Benchmark Criteria, HONcode Certification, Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Gunning-Fog Index. Secondary features such as age, rank, author, and publisher were recorded. The most common applicable term was "Uterine Artery Embolization" (492,900 results). Mean DISCERN quality of information provided by UAE websites is "fair"; however, it has declined since comparative 2012 studies. Adherence to JAMA Benchmark Criteria has reduced to 6.7%. UAE website readability remains more difficult than the World Health Organization-recommended 7-8th grade reading levels. HONcode-certified websites (35.6%) demonstrated significantly higher quality than noncertified websites. Quality of online UAE information remains "fair." Adherence to JAMA benchmark criteria is poor. Readability is above recommended 7-8th grade levels. HONcode certification was predictive of higher website quality, a useful guide to patients requesting additional information. Copyright © 2018 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Invited article: Dielectric material characterization techniques and designs of high-Q resonators for applications from micro to millimeter-waves frequencies applicable at room and cryogenic temperatures.

PubMed

Le Floch, Jean-Michel; Fan, Y; Humbert, Georges; Shan, Qingxiao; Férachou, Denis; Bara-Maillet, Romain; Aubourg, Michel; Hartnett, John G; Madrangeas, Valerie; Cros, Dominique; Blondy, Jean-Marc; Krupka, Jerzy; Tobar, Michael E

2014-03-01

Dielectric resonators are key elements in many applications in micro to millimeter wave circuits, including ultra-narrow band filters and frequency-determining components for precision frequency synthesis. Distributed-layered and bulk low-loss crystalline and polycrystalline dielectric structures have become very important for building these devices. Proper design requires careful electromagnetic characterization of low-loss material properties. This includes exact simulation with precision numerical software and precise measurements of resonant modes. For example, we have developed the Whispering Gallery mode technique for microwave applications, which has now become the standard for characterizing low-loss structures. This paper will give some of the most common characterization techniques used in the micro to millimeter wave regime at room and cryogenic temperatures for designing high-Q dielectric loaded cavities.

Completion of Multiple Fellowships by Orthopedic Surgeons: Analysis of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Certification Database.

PubMed

DePasse, J Mason; Daniels, Alan H; Durand, Wesley; Kingrey, Brandon; Prodromo, John; Mulcahey, Mary K

2018-01-01

Orthopedic surgeons have become increasingly subspecialized, and recent studies have shown that American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Step II applicants are performing a higher percentage of their cases within their chosen subspecialties. However, these studies focused exclusively on surgeons who have completed a single fellowship; little data exist on those who pursue a second fellowship. All applicants to the ABOS Part II examination from 2004 to 2016 were classified by their self-reported fellowship training history using the ABOS Part II examination database. Trends in the number of applicants completing multiple fellowships and the types of fellowships combined were analyzed. In addition, cases performed by applicants who had performed multiple fellowships were analyzed to determine what percentage were within their chosen subspecialties. A total of 9776 applicants to ABOS Part II were included in the database from 2004 to 2016, including 444 (4.5%) applicants who completed more than one fellowship. There were 43 different combinations of fellowships; the most common additional fellowships were trauma (40.1%), sports medicine (38.7%), and joints (30.4%). The most common combinations were joints and sports medicine (10.6%) and foot and ankle and sports medicine (10.1%). A significant increase occurred in physicians training in both pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine (P=.02). The percentage of cases within the applicants' chosen specialties ranged from 91.4% in sports to 73.6% in tumor. Multiple fellowship applicants represent a small percentage of all applicants, and although subspecialization in orthopedics is increasing, no increasing trend toward multiple fellowships within this dataset was observed. However, the significant increase in applicants who combined pediatric orthopedic and sports medicine fellowships suggests an increasing interest in treating this increasing patient population in addition to social and economic factors. [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(1):e33-e37.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.

Method and system for dynamic probabilistic risk assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dugan, Joanne Bechta (Inventor); Xu, Hong (Inventor)

2013-01-01

The DEFT methodology, system and computer readable medium extends the applicability of the PRA (Probabilistic Risk Assessment) methodology to computer-based systems, by allowing DFT (Dynamic Fault Tree) nodes as pivot nodes in the Event Tree (ET) model. DEFT includes a mathematical model and solution algorithm, supports all common PRA analysis functions and cutsets. Additional capabilities enabled by the DFT include modularization, phased mission analysis, sequence dependencies, and imperfect coverage.

Sensors with centroid-based common sensing scheme and their multiplexing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berkcan, Ertugrul; Tiemann, Jerome J.; Brooksby, Glen W.

1993-03-01

The ability to multiplex sensors with different measurands but with a common sensing scheme is of importance in aircraft and aircraft engine applications; this unification of the sensors into a common interface has major implications for weight, cost, and reliability. A new class of sensors based on a common sensing scheme and their E/O Interface has been developed. The approach detects the location of the centroid of a beam of light; the set of fiber optic sensors with this sensing scheme include linear and rotary position, temperature, pressure, as well as duct Mach number. The sensing scheme provides immunity to intensity variations of the source or due to environmental effects on the fiber. A detector spatially multiplexed common electro-optic interface for the sensors has been demonstrated with a position and a temperature sensor.

40 CFR 63.10010 - What are my monitoring, installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... that emissions are controlled with a common control device or series of control devices, are discharged... parallel control devices or multiple series of control devices are discharged to the atmosphere through... quality control activities (including, as applicable, calibration checks and required zero and span...

40 CFR 63.10010 - What are my monitoring, installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... that emissions are controlled with a common control device or series of control devices, are discharged... parallel control devices or multiple series of control devices are discharged to the atmosphere through... quality control activities (including, as applicable, calibration checks and required zero and span...

Application of augmented reality for inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia: A technical note

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Efforts to apply augmented reality (AR) technology in the medical field include the introduction of AR techniques into dental practice. The present report introduces a simple method of applying AR during an inferior alveolar nerve block, a procedure commonly performed in dental clinics. PMID:28879340

Application of augmented reality for inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia: A technical note.

PubMed

Won, Yu-Jin; Kang, Sang-Hoon

2017-06-01

Efforts to apply augmented reality (AR) technology in the medical field include the introduction of AR techniques into dental practice. The present report introduces a simple method of applying AR during an inferior alveolar nerve block, a procedure commonly performed in dental clinics.

Introduction to the Application of Web-Based Surveys.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Timmerman, Annemarie

This paper discusses some basic assumptions and issues concerning web-based surveys. Discussion includes: assumptions regarding cost and ease of use; disadvantages of web-based surveys, concerning the inability to compensate for four common errors of survey research: coverage error, sampling error, measurement error and nonresponse error; and…

47 CFR 63.500 - Contents of applications to dismantle or remove a trunk line.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) EXTENSION OF LINES, NEW LINES, AND DISCONTINUANCE, REDUCTION, OUTAGE... which authorization is desired; (e) Proposed new tariff listing, if any, and difference, if any, between... service area affected including population and general character of business of the community; (g) Name of...

NMR analysis of biodiesel

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Biodiesel is usually analyzed by the various methods called for in standards such as ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is not one of these methods. However, NMR, with 1H-NMR commonly applied, can be useful in a variety of applications related to biodiesel. These include monit...

Training for Certification: Demonstration & Research Pest Control.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mississippi State Univ., State College. Cooperative Extension Service.

This Cooperative Extension Service publication from Mississippi State University is a training guide for commercial pesticide applicators. Focusing on agricultural pest control, this publication includes a full range of topics from uses of pesticides for agricultural animal pest control to the toxicity of common pesticides to fish and bees.…

Drying hardwood lumber

Treesearch

Joseph Denig; Eugene M. Wengert; William T. Simpson

2000-01-01

Drying Hardwood Lumber focuses on common methods for drying lumber of different thickness, with minimal drying defects, for high quality applications. This manual also includes predrying treatments that, when part of an overall quality-oriented drying system, reduce defects and improve drying quality, especially of oak lumber. Special attention is given to drying white...

Using Manipulatives To Teach Quantitative Concepts in Ecology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eyster, Linda S.; Tashiro, Jay Shiro

1997-01-01

Describes the use of manipulatives to teach the fundamental concept of limiting factors and presents a series of questions that can be used to test whether students are harboring some of the most common misconceptions about limiting factors. Includes applications to discussions of cultural eutrophication and vegetarianism. (JRH)

Application of Partial Least Squares (PLS) Regression to Determine Landscape-Scale Aquatic Resource Vulnerability in the Ozark Mountains

EPA Science Inventory

Partial least squares (PLS) analysis offers a number of advantages over the more traditionally used regression analyses applied in landscape ecology to study the associations among constituents of surface water and landscapes. Common data problems in ecological studies include: s...

The Changing Business Environment: Implications for Vocational Curricula. State-of-the-Art Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, E. Ray; Stallard, John J.

The widespread use of the micro/personal computer and related technological advancements are having important impacts on information management in the modern electronic office. Some of the most common software applications include word processing, spread sheet analysis, data management, graphics, and communications. Ancillary hardware/software…

Human Needs Theory: Applications for Music Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bates, Vincent C.

2009-01-01

In this article the author reviews needs theory as a field of research and scholarship, examines seven needs theories (including Nussbaum's capabilities approach), and synthesizes elements of all of these into a list he used tentatively and speculatively to analyze two common instructional practices in music education. The author's intent is to…

Evaluation of the impact of lime softening waste disposal in natural environments

EPA Science Inventory

Drinking water treatment residues (WTR), generated from the lime softening processes, are commonly reused or disposed of in a number of applications; these include use as a soil amendment or a subsurface fill. Recently questions were posed by the Florida regulatory community on w...

IMPROVED DETECTION OF HUMAN ENTERIC VIRUSES IN FOODS BY RT-PCR. (R826139)

EPA Science Inventory

Human enteric viruses (including hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs)) are now recognized as common causes of foodborne disease. While methods to detect these agents in clinical specimens have improved significantly over the last 10 years, applications to fo...

What are the potential benefits of including latent storage in common wallboard?

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

Stovall, T.K.; Tomlinson, J.J.

1992-07-01

Previous work has shown that wallboard can be successfully manufactured to contain up to 30% phase change material (PCM), or wax, thus enabling this common building material to serve as a thermal energy storage device. This material was analyzed for passive solar applications and found to save energy with a reasonable pay-back time period. Further evaluations of the wallboard are reported in this paper. This analysis looks at potential applications of PCM wallboard as a load management device and as a comfort enhancer. Results show that the wallboard is ineffective in modifying the comfort level but can provide significant loadmore » management relief with no energy penalty. Modifications to typical heating and air-conditioning control strategies were necessary for successful load management.« less

What are the potential benefits of including latent storage in common wallboard

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

Stovall, T.K.; Tomlinson, J.J.

1992-01-01

Previous work has shown that wallboard can be successfully manufactured to contain up to 30% phase change material (PCM), or wax, thus enabling this common building material to serve as a thermal energy storage device. This material was analyzed for passive solar applications and found to save energy with a reasonable pay-back time period. Further evaluations of the wallboard are reported in this paper. This analysis looks at potential applications of PCM wallboard as a load management device and as a comfort enhancer. Results show that the wallboard is ineffective in modifying the comfort level but can provide significant loadmore » management relief with no energy penalty. Modifications to typical heating and air-conditioning control strategies were necessary for successful load management.« less

Common commercial cosmetic products induce arthritis in the DA rat.

PubMed Central

Sverdrup, B; Klareskog, L; Kleinau, S

1998-01-01

Many different agents, including mineral oil and silicone, have the capacity to act as immunological adjuvants, i.e., they can contribute to the activation of the immune system. Some adjuvants, including mineral oil, are known to induce arthritis in certain strains of rats after intradermal injection or percutaneous application. The aim of this study was to determine if common commercial cosmetic products containing mineral oil could induce arthritis in the highly susceptible DA (Dark Agouti) rat. Intradermal injection of five out of eight assayed cosmetic products without further additives resulted in arthritis with synovitis. One of the products induced a very aggressive arthritis, which had declined after 5-9 weeks. When this product was also assayed for arthritogenicity upon percutaneous administration, it induced a mild and transient arthritis in 5 out of 10 DA rats, whereas control animals showed no clinical signs of joint involvement. No arthritic reaction was seen in rats after peroral feeding with the most arthritogenic product or by intravaginal application of Freund's adjuvants. Silicone gel implants in DA rats did not cause arthritis. We conclude that mineral oils included in common commercially available products retain their adjuvant properties and are arthritogenic in the presently investigated arthritis-prone rat strain. There is yet no evidence that mineral oils present in cosmetics may contribute to arthritis in humans, but we suggest that this question should be subject to further investigation. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 PMID:9417771

Taking stock of the CSHCN screener: a review of common questions and current reflections.

PubMed

Bethell, Christina D; Blumberg, Stephen J; Stein, Ruth E K; Strickland, Bonnie; Robertson, Julie; Newacheck, Paul W

2015-01-01

Since 2000, the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Screener (CS) has been widely used nationally, by states, and locally as a standardized and brief survey-based method to identify populations of children who experience chronic physical, mental, behavioral, or other conditions and who also require types and amounts of health and related services beyond those routinely used by children. Common questions about the CS include those related to its development and uses; its conceptual framework and potential for under- or overidentification; its ability to stratify CSHCN by complexity of service needs and daily life impacts; and its potential application in clinical settings and comparisons with other identification approaches. This review recaps the development, design, and findings from the use of the CS and synthesizes findings from studies conducted over the past 13 years as well as updated findings on the CS to briefly address the 12 most common questions asked about this tool through technical assistance provided regarding the CS since 2001. Across a range of analyses, the CS consistently identifies a subset of children with chronic conditions who need or use more than a routine type or amount of medical- and health-related services and who share common needs for health care, including care coordination, access to specialized and community-based services, and enhanced family engagement. Scoring algorithms exist to stratify CSHCN by complexity of needs and higher costs of care. Combining CS data with clinical diagnostic code algorithms may enhance capacity to further identify meaningful subgroups. Clinical application is most suited for identifying and characterizing populations of patients and assessing quality and system improvement impacts for children with a broad range of chronic conditions. Other clinical applications require further implementation research. Use of the CS in clinical settings is limited because integration of standardized patient-reported health information is not yet common practice in most settings or in electronic health records. The CS continues to demonstrate validity as a non-condition-specific, population-based tool that addresses many of the limits of condition or diagnosis checklists, including the relatively low prevalence of many individual conditions and substantial within-diagnosis variations and across-diagnoses similarities in health service needs, functioning, and quality of care. Copyright © 2015 Academic Pediatric Association. All rights reserved.

37 CFR 1.130 - Affidavit or declaration to disqualify commonly owned patent or published application as prior art.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... disqualify commonly owned patent or published application as prior art. 1.130 Section 1.130 Patents... or declaration to disqualify commonly owned patent or published application as prior art. (a) When... patent or published application are not identical but are not patentably distinct, and the inventions are...

[Clinical application evaluation of Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Dermatology in Traditional Chinese Medicine].

PubMed

Wang, Yue-Xi; Liu, Meng-Yu; Wang, Li-Ying; Shi, Nan-Nan; Zhao, Xue-Yao; Liu, Yu-Qi; Wang, Yan-Ping; Han, Xue-Jie

2017-09-01

To assess the quality and application effect of Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Dermatology in Traditional Chinese Medicine(Guidelines) through the applicability and applicability evaluation respectively. The questionnaire survey was adopted to evaluate the applicability of the Guidelines, including the utilization, quality, and clinical application conditions. The results showed that the familiarity rate and utilization rate of the Guidelines were 85.37%, 48.78%, respectively. The data showed that the familiarity and the utilization rates were different in the working staff with different professional titles. The evaluation level was the lowest given by the staff with junior professional title (70.97%, 29.03%) in comparison. The assessment showed the overall quality of the Guideline was good and slightly low level for the rationality scores of the other therapeutic methods as well as for the recuperation and prevention (80.49%, 85.37%), which was in line with the clinical compliance of the Guideline. The perspective observation of clinical cases was used for the applicability evaluation, including clinical compliance of the Guideline, effect evaluation, and comprehensive assessment, et al. The results showed that the safety score was the highest, followed by the economic issue and efficacy. For the comprehensive evaluation of the applicability, complete applicability accounted for 29.27%, and the general applicability accounted for 87.80%. It was showed in the three index scores of the applicability evaluation that the accumulative score 7-9 scores were 75.65%, 73.89%, 71.12%. Through the applicability and applicability evaluation, the Guideline was satisfactory in the overall quality, high in the safety of clinical application and good in efficacy and economic issues. There are some limits on the development method and technical issues in the Guideline, which is required to be supplemented in the revision. Additionally, the strategy study on the promotion of the Guideline should be enhanced so as to expedite the recognition and utilization of the Guideline. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Detection methods and performance criteria for genetically modified organisms.

PubMed

Bertheau, Yves; Diolez, Annick; Kobilinsky, André; Magin, Kimberly

2002-01-01

Detection methods for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are necessary for many applications, from seed purity assessment to compliance of food labeling in several countries. Numerous analytical methods are currently used or under development to support these needs. The currently used methods are bioassays and protein- and DNA-based detection protocols. To avoid discrepancy of results between such largely different methods and, for instance, the potential resulting legal actions, compatibility of the methods is urgently needed. Performance criteria of methods allow evaluation against a common standard. The more-common performance criteria for detection methods are precision, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, which together specifically address other terms used to describe the performance of a method, such as applicability, selectivity, calibration, trueness, precision, recovery, operating range, limit of quantitation, limit of detection, and ruggedness. Performance criteria should provide objective tools to accept or reject specific methods, to validate them, to ensure compatibility between validated methods, and be used on a routine basis to reject data outside an acceptable range of variability. When selecting a method of detection, it is also important to consider its applicability, its field of applications, and its limitations, by including factors such as its ability to detect the target analyte in a given matrix, the duration of the analyses, its cost effectiveness, and the necessary sample sizes for testing. Thus, the current GMO detection methods should be evaluated against a common set of performance criteria.

GISMO: A MATLAB toolbox for seismic research, monitoring, & education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, G.; Reyes, C. G.; Kempler, L. A.

2017-12-01

GISMO is an open-source MATLAB toolbox which provides an object-oriented framework to build workflows and applications that read, process, visualize and write seismic waveform, catalog and instrument response data. GISMO can retrieve data from a variety of sources (e.g. FDSN web services, Earthworm/Winston servers) and data formats (SAC, Seisan, etc.). It can handle waveform data that crosses file boundaries. All this alleviates one of the most time consuming part for scientists developing their own codes. GISMO simplifies seismic data analysis by providing a common interface for your data, regardless of its source. Several common plots are built-in to GISMO, such as record section plots, spectrograms, depth-time sections, event count per unit time, energy release per unit time, etc. Other visualizations include map views and cross-sections of hypocentral data. Several common processing methods are also included, such as an extensive set of tools for correlation analysis. Support is being added to interface GISMO with ObsPy. GISMO encourages community development of an integrated set of codes and accompanying documentation, eliminating the need for seismologists to "reinvent the wheel". By sharing code the consistency and repeatability of results can be enhanced. GISMO is hosted on GitHub with documentation both within the source code and in the project wiki. GISMO has been used at the University of South Florida and University of Alaska Fairbanks in graduate-level courses including Seismic Data Analysis, Time Series Analysis and Computational Seismology. GISMO has also been tailored to interface with the common seismic monitoring software and data formats used by volcano observatories in the US and elsewhere. As an example, toolbox training was delivered to researchers at INETER (Nicaragua). Applications built on GISMO include IceWeb (e.g. web-based spectrograms), which has been used by Alaska Volcano Observatory since 1998 and became the prototype for the USGS Pensive system.

Power Systems for Human Exploration Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cataldo, Robert L.

1998-01-01

Power system options were reviewed for their appropriateness to meet mission requirements and guidelines. Contending system technologies include: solar, nuclear, isotopic, electro-chemical and chemical. Mission elements can basically be placed into two categories; in-space transportation systems, both cargo and piloted; and surface systems, both stationary and mobile. All transportation and surface element power system requirements were assessed for application synergies that would suggest common hardware (duplicates of the same or similar design) or multi-use (reuse system in a different application/location), wherever prudent.

A Guide to Using STITCHER for Overlapping Assembly PCR Applications.

PubMed

O'Halloran, Damien M

2017-01-01

Overlapping PCR is commonly used in many molecular applications that include stitching PCR fragments together, generating fluorescent transcriptional and translational fusions, inserting mutations, making deletions, and PCR cloning. Overlapping PCR is also used for genotyping and in detection experiments using techniques such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). STITCHER is a web tool providing a central resource for researchers conducting all types of overlapping assembly PCR experiments with an intuitive interface for automated primer design that's fast, easy to use, and freely available online.

Steel Foil Improves Performance Of Blasting Caps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bement, Laurence J.; Perry, Ronnie; Schimmel, Morry L.

1990-01-01

Blasting caps, which commonly include deep-drawn aluminum cups, give significantly higher initiation performance by application of steel foils on output faces. Steel closures 0.005 in. (0.13 mm) thick more effective than aluminum. Caps with directly bonded steel foil produce fragment velocities of 9,300 ft/s (2.8 km/s) with large craters and unpredictable patterns to such degree that no attempts made to initiate explosions. Useful in military and aerospace applications and in specialized industries as mining and exploration for oil.

Direct analysis in real time-Mass spectrometry (DART-MS) in forensic and security applications.

PubMed

Pavlovich, Matthew J; Musselman, Brian; Hall, Adam B

2018-03-01

Over the last decade, direct analysis in real time (DART) has emerged as a viable method for fast, easy, and reliable "ambient ionization" for forensic analysis. The ability of DART to generate ions from chemicals that might be present at the scene of a criminal activity, whether they are in the gas, liquid, or solid phase, with limited sample preparation has made the technology a useful analytical tool in numerous forensic applications. This review paper summarizes many of those applications, ranging from the analysis of trace evidence to security applications, with a focus on providing the forensic scientist with a resource for developing their own applications. The most common uses for DART in forensics are in studying seized drugs, drugs of abuse and their metabolites, bulk and detonated explosives, toxic chemicals, chemical warfare agents, inks and dyes, and commercial plant and animal products that have been adulterated for economic gain. This review is meant to complement recent reviews that have described the fundamentals of the ionization mechanism and the general use of DART. We describe a wide range of forensic applications beyond the field of analyzing drugs of abuse, which dominates the literature, including common experimental and data analysis methods. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 37:171-187, 2018. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Using NERSC High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems for high-energy nuclear physics applications with ALICE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fasel, Markus

2016-10-01

High-Performance Computing Systems are powerful tools tailored to support large- scale applications that rely on low-latency inter-process communications to run efficiently. By design, these systems often impose constraints on application workflows, such as limited external network connectivity and whole node scheduling, that make more general-purpose computing tasks, such as those commonly found in high-energy nuclear physics applications, more difficult to carry out. In this work, we present a tool designed to simplify access to such complicated environments by handling the common tasks of job submission, software management, and local data management, in a framework that is easily adaptable to the specific requirements of various computing systems. The tool, initially constructed to process stand-alone ALICE simulations for detector and software development, was successfully deployed on the NERSC computing systems, Carver, Hopper and Edison, and is being configured to provide access to the next generation NERSC system, Cori. In this report, we describe the tool and discuss our experience running ALICE applications on NERSC HPC systems. The discussion will include our initial benchmarks of Cori compared to other systems and our attempts to leverage the new capabilities offered with Cori to support data-intensive applications, with a future goal of full integration of such systems into ALICE grid operations.

37 CFR 1.130 - Affidavit or declaration to disqualify commonly owned patent or published application as prior art.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... disqualify commonly owned patent or published application as prior art. 1.130 Section 1.130 Patents... or declaration to disqualify commonly owned patent or published application as prior art. (a) When.... patent or U.S. patent application publication which is not prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(b), and the...

Integrated Circuit-Based Biofabrication with Common Biomaterials for Probing Cellular Biomechanics.

PubMed

Sung, Chun-Yen; Yang, Chung-Yao; Yeh, J Andrew; Cheng, Chao-Min

2016-02-01

Recent advances in bioengineering have enabled the development of biomedical tools with modifiable surface features (small-scale architecture) to mimic extracellular matrices and aid in the development of well-controlled platforms that allow for the application of mechanical stimulation for studying cellular biomechanics. An overview of recent developments in common biomaterials that can be manufactured using integrated circuit-based biofabrication is presented. Integrated circuit-based biofabrication possesses advantages including mass and diverse production capacities for fabricating in vitro biomedical devices. This review highlights the use of common biomaterials that have been most frequently used to study cellular biomechanics. In addition, the influence of various small-scale characteristics on common biomaterial surfaces for a range of different cell types is discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Detection Angle Calibration of Pressure-Sensitive Paints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bencic, Timothy J.

2000-01-01

Uses of the pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) techniques in areas other than external aerodynamics continue to expand. The NASA Glenn Research Center has become a leader in the application of the global technique to non-conventional aeropropulsion applications including turbomachinery testing. The use of the global PSP technique in turbomachinery applications often requires detection of the luminescent paint in confined areas. With the limited viewing usually available, highly oblique illumination and detection angles are common in the confined areas in these applications. This paper will describe the results of pressure, viewing and excitation angle dependence calibrations using three popular PSP formulations to get a better understanding of the errors associated with these non-traditional views.

An assessment of the status and trends in satellite communications 1986-2000: An information document prepared for the Communications Subcommittee of the Space Applications Advisory Committee

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poley, W. A.; Stevens, G. H.; Stevenson, S. M.; Lekan, J.; Arth, C. H.; Hollansworth, J. E.; Miller, E. F.

1986-01-01

This is a response to a Space Applications Advisory Committee (SAAC) request for information about the status and trends in satellite communications, to be used to support efforts to conceive and recommend long range goals for NASA communications activities. Included in this document are assessments of: (1) the outlook for satellite communications, including current applications, potential future applications, and impact of the changing environment such as optical fiber networks, the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) standard, and the rapidly growing market for Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT); (2) the restrictions imposed by our limited spectrum resource; and (3) technology needs indicated by future trends. Potential future systems discussed include: large powerful satellites for providing personal communications; VSAT compatible satellites with onboard switching and having voice capability; large satellites which offer a pervasive T1 network service (primarily for video-phone); and large geostationary communications facilities which support common use by several carriers. Also, discussion is included of NASA particular needs and possible future systems. Based on the mentioned system concepts, specific technology recommendations are provided for the time frames of now - 1993, 1994 - 2000, and 2000 - 2010.

Reverse Engineering and Security Evaluation of Commercial Tags for RFID-Based IoT Applications.

PubMed

Fernández-Caramés, Tiago M; Fraga-Lamas, Paula; Suárez-Albela, Manuel; Castedo, Luis

2016-12-24

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a distributed system of physical objects that requires the seamless integration of hardware (e.g., sensors, actuators, electronics) and network communications in order to collect and exchange data. IoT smart objects need to be somehow identified to determine the origin of the data and to automatically detect the elements around us. One of the best positioned technologies to perform identification is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), which in the last years has gained a lot of popularity in applications like access control, payment cards or logistics. Despite its popularity, RFID security has not been properly handled in numerous applications. To foster security in such applications, this article includes three main contributions. First, in order to establish the basics, a detailed review of the most common flaws found in RFID-based IoT systems is provided, including the latest attacks described in the literature. Second, a novel methodology that eases the detection and mitigation of such flaws is presented. Third, the latest RFID security tools are analyzed and the methodology proposed is applied through one of them (Proxmark 3) to validate it. Thus, the methodology is tested in different scenarios where tags are commonly used for identification. In such systems it was possible to clone transponders, extract information, and even emulate both tags and readers. Therefore, it is shown that the methodology proposed is useful for auditing security and reverse engineering RFID communications in IoT applications. It must be noted that, although this paper is aimed at fostering RFID communications security in IoT applications, the methodology can be applied to any RFID communications protocol.

Reverse Engineering and Security Evaluation of Commercial Tags for RFID-Based IoT Applications

PubMed Central

Fernández-Caramés, Tiago M.; Fraga-Lamas, Paula; Suárez-Albela, Manuel; Castedo, Luis

2016-01-01

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a distributed system of physical objects that requires the seamless integration of hardware (e.g., sensors, actuators, electronics) and network communications in order to collect and exchange data. IoT smart objects need to be somehow identified to determine the origin of the data and to automatically detect the elements around us. One of the best positioned technologies to perform identification is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), which in the last years has gained a lot of popularity in applications like access control, payment cards or logistics. Despite its popularity, RFID security has not been properly handled in numerous applications. To foster security in such applications, this article includes three main contributions. First, in order to establish the basics, a detailed review of the most common flaws found in RFID-based IoT systems is provided, including the latest attacks described in the literature. Second, a novel methodology that eases the detection and mitigation of such flaws is presented. Third, the latest RFID security tools are analyzed and the methodology proposed is applied through one of them (Proxmark 3) to validate it. Thus, the methodology is tested in different scenarios where tags are commonly used for identification. In such systems it was possible to clone transponders, extract information, and even emulate both tags and readers. Therefore, it is shown that the methodology proposed is useful for auditing security and reverse engineering RFID communications in IoT applications. It must be noted that, although this paper is aimed at fostering RFID communications security in IoT applications, the methodology can be applied to any RFID communications protocol. PMID:28029119

Applications of Electromigration Techniques: Applications of Electromigration Techniques in Food Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wieczorek, Piotr; Ligor, Magdalena; Buszewski, Bogusław

Electromigration techniques, including capillary electrophoresis (CE), are widely used for separation and identification of compounds present in food products. These techniques may also be considered as alternate and complementary with respect to commonly used analytical techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), or gas chromatography (GC). Applications of CE concern the determination of high-molecular compounds, like polyphenols, including flavonoids, pigments, vitamins, food additives (preservatives, antioxidants, sweeteners, artificial pigments) are presented. Also, the method developed for the determination of proteins and peptides composed of amino acids, which are basic components of food products, are studied. Other substances such as carbohydrates, nucleic acids, biogenic amines, natural toxins, and other contaminations including pesticides and antibiotics are discussed. The possibility of CE application in food control laboratories, where analysis of the composition of food and food products are conducted, is of great importance. CE technique may be used during the control of technological processes in the food industry and for the identification of numerous compounds present in food. Due to the numerous advantages of the CE technique it is successfully used in routine food analysis.

Evaluation of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) Fellowship Program Website Content and Quality.

PubMed

Homer, Natalie; Yoon, Michael K

The qualities that applicants value in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowship programs have been studied, but the availability of this information on program websites has not yet been reviewed. The authors evaluated the availability of resident-valued ASOPRS fellowship program information on the Internet. The authors performed an Internet search of the 53 ASOPRS fellowship program websites and evaluated websites for 20 characteristics of interest to ASOPRS fellowship applicants such as teaching faculty, program description, rotation schedule, operative cases, and interview information. Of the 53 ASOPRS fellowship programs, 43 (81.1%) had a fellowship program-dedicated website. The fellowship websites contained a mean 7.6 characteristics (38.1%, range 0-15). Faculty listing, program description, and case diversity were the most commonly included data (74.4%, 72.1%, and 69.8%, respectively). Fellow selection process, interview information, and graduate job placement were least commonly included (7.0%, 2.3%, and 0.0%, respectively). There was no significant difference in website inclusiveness based on fellowship region or faculty number. Programs affiliated with an ophthalmology residency were more complete than those that were not (40.3% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.0098). This review found that most programs had websites and contained a reasonable number of characteristics. However, applicant-valued information regarding surgical volume, procedure variety, application information, and postgraduate employment history were often missing. American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship programs may improve match outcomes by providing and enhancing program websites with details that their applicants seek.

Reactive transport codes for subsurface environmental simulation

DOE PAGES

Steefel, C. I.; Appelo, C. A. J.; Arora, B.; ...

2014-09-26

A general description of the mathematical and numerical formulations used in modern numerical reactive transport codes relevant for subsurface environmental simulations is presented. The formulations are followed by short descriptions of commonly used and available subsurface simulators that consider continuum representations of flow, transport, and reactions in porous media. These formulations are applicable to most of the subsurface environmental benchmark problems included in this special issue. The list of codes described briefly here includes PHREEQC, HPx, PHT3D, OpenGeoSys (OGS), HYTEC, ORCHESTRA, TOUGHREACT, eSTOMP, HYDROGEOCHEM, CrunchFlow, MIN3P, and PFLOTRAN. The descriptions include a high-level list of capabilities for each of themore » codes, along with a selective list of applications that highlight their capabilities and historical development.« less

OSTA commonality analysis, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stolarik, E. G.

1981-01-01

The 13 OSTA disciplines are examined and the applications being performed under each discipline and the parameter requirements associated with the various applications are identified. It contains a variety of printouts from the commonality database built using DRS on the Vax. It also shows commonality of parameter requirements by discipline and by application.

Application of satellite data to tropic-subtropic moisture coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, Aylmer H.; Mcguirk, James P.

1987-01-01

Common tropical synoptic events, called moisture bursts, have been defined in terms of their appearance in infrared satellite imagery. Their synoptic and climatological behavior over the tropical North Pacific Ocean is described using data from four cool seasons, including the 1982 to 1983 El Nino winter and the January and May of 1979.

40 CFR 63.10010 - What are my monitoring, installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... emissions are controlled with a common control device or series of control devices, are discharged to the... devices or multiple series of control devices are discharged to the atmosphere through more than one stack... control activities (including, as applicable, calibration checks and required zero and span adjustments...

Perfluorooctane sulfonate plasma half-life determination and long term tissue distribution in beef cattle (Bos taurus)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is used in consumer products as a surfactant and is found in industrial and consumer waste which ends up in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). PFOS does not breakdown during WWTP processes and accumulates in the biosolids. Common practices include application of bi...

Calibration Experiments for a Computer Vision Oyster Volume Estimation System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, G. Andy; Kerns, G. Jay; Lee, D. J.; Stanek, Gary L.

2009-01-01

Calibration is a technique that is commonly used in science and engineering research that requires calibrating measurement tools for obtaining more accurate measurements. It is an important technique in various industries. In many situations, calibration is an application of linear regression, and is a good topic to be included when explaining and…

Right-Of-Way Pest Control. Bulletin 762.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swann, Charles W.

This training manual concerns the safe use of herbicides in rights-of-way. Included are sections on the impact of herbicides on non-target organisms such as in aquatic areas, on desirable vegetation, and on people and livestock. Descriptions are given of some common annual, biennial, and perennial weeds. The nature and application of herbicides…

Extraterrestrial Life: Processes, Implications, and Applications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Molyson, Joseph T.

Provided are background materials relating the study of extraterrestrial life to common biological principles. A history of the creation of the sun and earth is included, as well as a summary of one current theory regarding the origin of life on earth. Relationships are identified regarding possible origins of life on other planets. Factors…

Business and Technology Concepts--Business Computations. Teacher's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield. Dept. of Adult, Vocational and Technical Education.

This Illinois State Board of Education teacher's guide on business computations is for students enrolled in the 9th or 10th grade. The course provides a foundation in arithmetic skills and their applications to common business problems for the senior high school vocational business courses. The curriculum guide includes teacher and student…

RNA-Sequencing of Cercospora beticola DMI-sensitive and -resistant isolates after treatment with tetraconazole identifies common and contrasting pathway induction

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cercospora beticola causes Cercospora leaf spot of sugarbeet. Cercospora leaf spot management measures often include application of the sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) class of fungicides. The reliance on DMIs and the consequent selection pressures imposed by their widespread use has led to th...

Monitoring and application of reduced-risk pesticides for managing Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Tropical guava, Psidium guajava, is an important fruit crop that is rich in several nutrients including vitamin C. In the U. S. it is commonly cultivated in southern Florida, Texas and California. Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa Loew, is a key pest of tropical guava, causing significant yie...

Effect of polyester blends in hydroentangled raw and bleached cotton nonwoven fabrics on the adsorption of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (ADBAC), a cationic surfactant commonly employed as an antimicrobial agent, on hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics (applicable for wipes) including raw cotton, bleached cotton, and their blends with polyester (PES) were stu...

78 FR 34393 - Electronic Submission of Tobacco Product Applications and Other Information; Public Workshop...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-07

... manufacturers experienced with electronic Common Technical Document (eCTD); vendors of software used to support... electronic submission workshop will include discussion on eCTD, which is an International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) specification developed by ICH and its member parties. The eCTD provides an organizational...

Complex Adaptive Systems Based Data Integration: Theory and Applications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rohn, Eliahu

2008-01-01

Data Definition Languages (DDLs) have been created and used to represent data in programming languages and in database dictionaries. This representation includes descriptions in the form of data fields and relations in the form of a hierarchy, with the common exception of relational databases where relations are flat. Network computing created an…

From Compass to Hard Drive--Integrated Activities for Studying Magnets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dean, J.; Allwood, D. A.

2014-01-01

We describe a range of practical activities that allows students to investigate the properties and applications of magnets. The activities can be used in isolation or used together to build a rounded understanding of the subject area. The activities include simple demonstrations using common or inexpensive equipment, hands-on experiments for small…

Tetrazolium chloride as an indicator of pine pollen germinability

Treesearch

Stanton A. Cook; Robert G. Stanley

1960-01-01

Controlled pollination in forest tree breeding requires pollen of known germination capacity. Methods of determining pollen viability include germination in a hanging drop, in a moist atmosphere, on agar gel, or in a sugar solution (DUFFIELD, 1954; DILLON et al., 1957). Errors commonly arise in the application of these techniques because maximum...

Spray Toxicity and Risk Potential of 42 Commonly Used Formulations of Row Crop Pesticides to Adult Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

PubMed

Zhu, Yu Cheng; Adamczyk, John; Rinderer, Thomas; Yao, Jianxiu; Danka, Robert; Luttrell, Randall; Gore, Jeff

2015-12-01

To combat an increasing abundance of sucking insect pests, >40 pesticides are currently recommended and frequently used as foliar sprays on row crops, especially cotton. Foraging honey bees may be killed when they are directly exposed to foliar sprays, or they may take contaminated pollen back to hives that maybe toxic to other adult bees and larvae. To assess acute toxicity against the honey bee, we used a modified spray tower to simulate field spray conditions to include direct whole-body exposure, inhalation, and continuing tarsal contact and oral licking after a field spray. A total of 42 formulated pesticides, including one herbicide and one fungicide, were assayed for acute spray toxicity to 4-6-d-old workers. Results showed significantly variable toxicities among pesticides, with LC50s ranging from 25 to thousands of mg/liter. Further risk assessment using the field application concentration to LC1 or LC99 ratios revealed the risk potential of the 42 pesticides. Three pesticides killed less than 1% of the worker bees, including the herbicide, a miticide, and a neonicotinoid. Twenty-six insecticides killed more than 99% of the bees, including commonly used organophosphates and neonicotinoids. The remainder of the 13 chemicals killed from 1-99% of the bees at field application rates. This study reveals a realistic acute toxicity of 42 commonly used foliar pesticides. The information is valuable for guiding insecticide selection to minimize direct killing of foraging honey bees, while maintaining effective control of field crop pests. Published by Oxford University Press [on behalf of Entomological Society of America] 2015. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US.

Common hyperspectral image database design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Lixun; Liao, Ningfang; Chai, Ali

2009-11-01

This paper is to introduce Common hyperspectral image database with a demand-oriented Database design method (CHIDB), which comprehensively set ground-based spectra, standardized hyperspectral cube, spectral analysis together to meet some applications. The paper presents an integrated approach to retrieving spectral and spatial patterns from remotely sensed imagery using state-of-the-art data mining and advanced database technologies, some data mining ideas and functions were associated into CHIDB to make it more suitable to serve in agriculture, geological and environmental areas. A broad range of data from multiple regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is supported, including ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, thermal infrared, and fluorescence. CHIDB is based on dotnet framework and designed by MVC architecture including five main functional modules: Data importer/exporter, Image/spectrum Viewer, Data Processor, Parameter Extractor, and On-line Analyzer. The original data were all stored in SQL server2008 for efficient search, query and update, and some advance Spectral image data Processing technology are used such as Parallel processing in C#; Finally an application case is presented in agricultural disease detecting area.

Artist Material BRDF Database for Computer Graphics Rendering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashbaugh, Justin C.

The primary goal of this thesis was to create a physical library of artist material samples. This collection provides necessary data for the development of a gonio-imaging system for use in museums to more accurately document their collections. A sample set was produced consisting of 25 panels and containing nearly 600 unique samples. Selected materials are representative of those commonly used by artists both past and present. These take into account the variability in visual appearance resulting from the materials and application techniques used. Five attributes of variability were identified including medium, color, substrate, application technique and overcoat. Combinations of these attributes were selected based on those commonly observed in museum collections and suggested by surveying experts in the field. For each sample material, image data is collected and used to measure an average bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). The results are available as a public-domain image and optical database of artist materials at art-si.org. Additionally, the database includes specifications for each sample along with other information useful for computer graphics rendering such as the rectified sample images and normal maps.

Robust mislabel logistic regression without modeling mislabel probabilities.

PubMed

Hung, Hung; Jou, Zhi-Yu; Huang, Su-Yun

2018-03-01

Logistic regression is among the most widely used statistical methods for linear discriminant analysis. In many applications, we only observe possibly mislabeled responses. Fitting a conventional logistic regression can then lead to biased estimation. One common resolution is to fit a mislabel logistic regression model, which takes into consideration of mislabeled responses. Another common method is to adopt a robust M-estimation by down-weighting suspected instances. In this work, we propose a new robust mislabel logistic regression based on γ-divergence. Our proposal possesses two advantageous features: (1) It does not need to model the mislabel probabilities. (2) The minimum γ-divergence estimation leads to a weighted estimating equation without the need to include any bias correction term, that is, it is automatically bias-corrected. These features make the proposed γ-logistic regression more robust in model fitting and more intuitive for model interpretation through a simple weighting scheme. Our method is also easy to implement, and two types of algorithms are included. Simulation studies and the Pima data application are presented to demonstrate the performance of γ-logistic regression. © 2017, The International Biometric Society.

Morphology-related limitations of EVAR applicability in the treatment of AAA in West-Central Poland.

PubMed

Dzieciuchowicz, Łukasz; Tomczak, Jolanta; Strauss, Ewa; Oszkinis, Grzegorz

2018-05-14

To analyze the current applicability of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAAs) with indication for elective treatment in West-Central Poland. Computed tomography angiograms of 100 consecutive patients with infrarenal AAA deemed to require treatment were analyzed with an OsiriX DICOM viewer in 3D-MPR mode. Proximal neck diameter, length, angulation, shape, the presence of thrombus and calcification, distal neck diameter, and morphology of the iliac arteries were determined. Three sets of morphological criteria were established. The optimal criteria consisted of a non-conical proximal neck without moderate or severe calcification or thrombus, with a diameter of 18-28 mm, length of ≥15 mm, and β angulation of <60%; a distal neck with a diameter of ≥20 mm; a landing zone in the common iliac arteries with a length of ≥ 10 mm and diameter of ≤ 20 mm; and external iliac arteries with diameters of ≥7 mm. The suboptimal criteria included proximal neck diameters of 18-32 mm, neck lengths ≥10 mm, infrarenal neck angulations of up to 75˚, and common iliac artery diameters of up to 25 mm. Finally, the extended suboptimal criteria included proximal neck diameters of 16-34 mm and infrarenal neck angulations ≤90˚, without limits in the maximal diameter of the common iliac arteries. The median maximum aneurysm diameter was 61 mm. The optimal, suboptimal, and extended suboptimal criteria were met by 23%, 32%, and 53% of patients, respectively. The most common deviations were wide, conical, and angulated proximal necks and aneurysmal iliac arteries. The majority of patients with AAA deemed to be candidates for elective repair do not meet the most favorable criteria for EVAR. Availability of better endovascular solutions for conical, angulated, and wide necks and aneurysmal iliac arteries would likely expand EVAR applicability. Open repair remains a valid option. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An analysis of options available for developing a common laser ray tracing package for Ares and Kull code frameworks

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

Weeratunga, S K

Ares and Kull are mature code frameworks that support ALE hydrodynamics for a variety of HEDP applications at LLNL, using two widely different meshing approaches. While Ares is based on a 2-D/3-D block-structured mesh data base, Kull is designed to support unstructured, arbitrary polygonal/polyhedral meshes. In addition, both frameworks are capable of running applications on large, distributed-memory parallel machines. Currently, both these frameworks separately support assorted collections of physics packages related to HEDP, including one for the energy deposition by laser/ion-beam ray tracing. This study analyzes the options available for developing a common laser/ion-beam ray tracing package that can bemore » easily shared between these two code frameworks and concludes with a set of recommendations for its development.« less

STITCHER: A web resource for high-throughput design of primers for overlapping PCR applications.

PubMed

O'Halloran, Damien M

2015-06-01

Overlapping PCR is routinely used in a wide number of molecular applications. These include stitching PCR fragments together, generating fluorescent transcriptional and translational fusions, inserting mutations, making deletions, and PCR cloning. Overlapping PCR is also used for genotyping by traditional PCR techniques and in detection experiments using techniques such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). STITCHER is a web tool providing a central resource for researchers conducting all types of overlapping PCR experiments with an intuitive interface for automated primer design that's fast, easy to use, and freely available online (http://ohalloranlab.net/STITCHER.html). STITCHER can handle both single sequence and multi-sequence input, and specific features facilitate numerous other PCR applications, including assembly PCR, adapter PCR, and primer walking. Field PCR, and in particular, LAMP, offers promise as an on site tool for pathogen detection in underdeveloped areas, and STITCHER includes off-target detection features for pathogens commonly targeted using LAMP technology.

Physical properties of recycled PET non-woven fabrics for buildings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Üstün Çetin, S.; Tayyar, A. E.

2017-10-01

Recycled fibers have been commonly used in non-woven production technology for engineering applications such as textile engineering and civil engineering. Nonwovens including recycled fibers can be utilized in insulation, roofing and floor separation applications. In this study, physical performance properties such as drape, bending resistance, tensile strength, and breaking elongation values of non-woven fabrics consisting of v-PET (virgin) and r-PET (recycled) fibers in five different blend ratios are examined comparatively. The test results indicated that r-PET can be used in non-wovens for civil engineering applications such as insulation, roofing and floor separation fulfilling the acceptable quality level values.

Common spaceborne multicomputer operating system and development environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Craymer, L. G.; Lewis, B. F.; Hayes, P. J.; Jones, R. L.

1994-01-01

A preliminary technical specification for a multicomputer operating system is developed. The operating system is targeted for spaceborne flight missions and provides a broad range of real-time functionality, dynamic remote code-patching capability, and system fault tolerance and long-term survivability features. Dataflow concepts are used for representing application algorithms. Functional features are included to ensure real-time predictability for a class of algorithms which require data-driven execution on an iterative steady state basis. The development environment supports the development of algorithm code, design of control parameters, performance analysis, simulation of real-time dataflow applications, and compiling and downloading of the resulting application.

40 CFR 413.10 - Applicability: Description of the electroplating of common metals subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... electroplating of common metals subcategory. 413.10 Section 413.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS ELECTROPLATING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Electroplating of Common Metals Subcategory § 413.10 Applicability: Description of the electroplating of common...

MARVIN: a medical research application framework based on open source software.

PubMed

Rudolph, Tobias; Puls, Marc; Anderegg, Christoph; Ebert, Lars; Broehan, Martina; Rudin, Adrian; Kowal, Jens

2008-08-01

This paper describes the open source framework MARVIN for rapid application development in the field of biomedical and clinical research. MARVIN applications consist of modules that can be plugged together in order to provide the functionality required for a specific experimental scenario. Application modules work on a common patient database that is used to store and organize medical data as well as derived data. MARVIN provides a flexible input/output system with support for many file formats including DICOM, various 2D image formats and surface mesh data. Furthermore, it implements an advanced visualization system and interfaces to a wide range of 3D tracking hardware. Since it uses only highly portable libraries, MARVIN applications run on Unix/Linux, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows.

The Mechanical Robustness of Atomic-Layer- and Molecular-Layer-Deposited Coatings on Polymer Substrates

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

coatings include flexible liquid crystal displays, OLEDs , and photovoltaic modules.15 Additional applications include packaging for medical devices...copyright, see http://jap.aip.org/jap/copyright.jsp ics of TFT Technology on Flexible Substrates, Flexible Flat Panel Dis- plays, edited by G. P. Crawford...grade “Teonex Q65” is commonly used in the organic light emitting diode OLED field because it is both heat stabilized and coated with a scratch

The Chondrogenic Induction Potential for Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells between Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma and Common Chondrogenic Induction Agents: A Preliminary Comparative Study.

PubMed

Wang, Shan-Zheng; Chang, Qing; Kong, Xiang-Fei; Wang, Chen

2015-01-01

The interests in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and their application in stem cell therapy have contributed to a better understanding of the basic biology of the prochondrogenesis effect on bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs). We aimed at comparing the effect of autologous PRP with common chondrogenic induction agents (CCIAs) on the chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Rabbit BMSCs were isolated and characterized by flow cytometry and differentiated towards adipocytes and osteoblasts. The chondrogenic response of BMSCs to autologous PRP and CCIAs which included transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), dexamethasone (DEX), and vitamin C (Vc) was examined by cell pellet culture. The isolated BMSCs after two passages highly expressed CD29 and CD44 but minimally expressed CD45. The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potentials of the isolated BMSCs were also confirmed. Compared with common CCIAs, autologous PRP significantly upregulated the chondrogenic related gene expression, including Col-2, AGC, and Sox-9. Osteogenic related gene expression, including Col-1 and OCN, was not of statistical significance between these two groups. Thus, our data shows that, compared with common chondrogenic induction agents, autologous PRP can be more effective in promoting the chondrogenesis of BMSCs.

Magnesium-Based Micromotors: Water-Powered Propulsion, Multifunctionality, and Biomedical and Environmental Applications.

PubMed

Chen, Chuanrui; Karshalev, Emil; Guan, Jianguo; Wang, Joseph

2018-06-01

The new capabilities and functionalities of synthetic micro/nanomotors open up considerable opportunities for diverse environmental and biomedical applications. Water-powered micromachines are particularly attractive for realizing many of these applications. Magnesium-based motors directly use water as fuel to generate hydrogen bubbles for their propulsion, eliminating the requirement of common toxic fuels. This Review highlights the development of new Mg-based micromotors and discusses the chemistry that makes it extremely attractive for micromotor applications. Understanding these Mg properties and its transient nature is essential for controlling the propulsion efficiency, lifetime, and overall performance. The unique and attractive behavior of Mg offers significant advantages, including efficient water-powered movement, remarkable biocompatibility, controlled degradation, convenient functionalization, and built-in acid neutralization ability, and has paved the way for multifunctional micromachines for diverse real-life applications, including operation in living animals. A wide range of such Mg motor-based applications, including the detection and destruction of environmental threats, effective in-vivo cargo delivery, and autonomous release, have been demonstrated. In conclusion, the current challenges, future opportunities, and performance improvements of the Mg-based micromotors are discussed. With continuous innovation and attention to key challenges, it is expected that Mg-based motors will have a profound impact on diverse biomedical and environmental applications. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

(abstract) Experimental Results From Internetworking Data Applications Over Various Wireless Networks Using a Single Flexible Error Control Protocol

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kanai, T.; Kramer, M.; McAuley, A. J.; Nowack, S.; Pinck, D. S.; Ramirez, G.; Stewart, I.; Tohme, H.; Tong, L.

1995-01-01

This paper describes results from several wireless field trials in New Jersey, California, and Colorado, conducted jointly by researchers at Bellcore, JPL, and US West over the course of 1993 and 1994. During these trials, applications communicated over multiple wireless networks including satellite, low power PCS, high power cellular, packet data, and the wireline Public Switched Telecommunications Network (PSTN). Key goals included 1) designing data applications and an API suited to mobile users, 2) investigating internetworking issues, 3) characterizing wireless networks under various field conditions, and 4) comparing the performance of different protocol mechanisms over the diverse networks and applications. We describe experimental results for different protocol mechanisms and parameters, such as acknowledgment schemes and packet sizes. We show the need for powerful error control mechanisms such as selective acknowledgements and combining data from multiple transmissions. We highlight the possibility of a common protocol for all wireless networks, from micro-cellular PCS to satellite networks.

75 FR 57310 - American Capital, Ltd.; Notice of Application

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-20

... markets for the common stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Board, but in.... Under the Plan, a maximum of 750,000 shares of applicant's common stock, in the aggregate, may be issued to Non-employee Directors and options to purchase 93,750 shares of applicant's common stock may be...

Impact of excipient interactions on solid dosage form stability.

PubMed

Narang, Ajit S; Desai, Divyakant; Badawy, Sherif

2012-10-01

Drug-excipient interactions in solid dosage forms can affect drug product stability in physical aspects such as organoleptic changes and dissolution slowdown, or chemically by causing drug degradation. Recent research has allowed the distinction in chemical instability resulting from direct drug-excipient interactions and from drug interactions with excipient impurities. A review of chemical instability in solid dosage forms highlights common mechanistic themes applicable to multiple degradation pathways. These common themes include the role of water and microenvironmental pH. In addition, special aspects of solid-state reactions with excipients and/or excipient impurities add to the complexity in understanding and modeling reaction pathways. This paper discusses mechanistic basis of known drug-excipient interactions with case studies and provides an overview of common underlying themes. Recent developments in the understanding of degradation pathways further impact methodologies used in the pharmaceutical industry for prospective stability assessment. This paper discusses these emerging aspects in terms of limitations of drug-excipient compatibility studies, emerging paradigms in accelerated stability testing, and application of mathematical modeling for prediction of drug product stability.

Testing and failure analysis to improve screening techniques for hermetically sealed metallized film capacitors for low energy applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Effective screening techniques are evaluated for detecting insulation resistance degradation and failure in hermetically sealed metallized film capacitors used in applications where low capacitor voltage and energy levels are common to the circuitry. A special test and monitoring system capable of rapidly scanning all test capacitors and recording faults and/or failures is examined. Tests include temperature cycling and storage as well as low, medium, and high voltage life tests. Polysulfone film capacitors are more heat stable and reliable than polycarbonate film units.

Assessment and application of Reynolds stress closure models to high-speed compressible flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gatski, T. B.; Sarkar, S.; Speziale, C. G.; Balakrishnan, L.; Abid, R.; Anderson, E. C.

1990-01-01

The paper presents results from the development of higher order closure models for the phenomological modeling of high-speed compressible flows. The work presented includes the introduction of an improved pressure-strain correlationi model applicable in both the low- and high-speed regime as well as modifications to the isotropic dissipation rate to account for dilatational effects. Finally, the question of stiffness commonly associated with the solution of two-equation and Reynolds stress transport equations in wall-bounded flows is examined and ways of relaxing these restrictions are discussed.

A Survey of Thermal Decomposition of Solid Insulations and Its Relevance to Breakdown Mechanisms in Partial Vacuum

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-07-01

and a ductile, rubber compound ( EPDM ) utilized in applications requiring flexible insulation. These tests were typically performed in a vacuum or... EPDM ) rt7l materials, as indicated by the "x". In addition to the more common groups, data is included for a relatively new dielectric film (PBO

Making Sense of Student Feedback Using Text Analysis--Adapting and Expanding a Common Lexicon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santhanam, Elizabeth; Lynch, Bernardine; Jones, Jeffrey

2018-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to report the findings of a study into the automated text analysis of student feedback comments to assist in investigating a high volume of qualitative information at various levels in an Australian university. It includes the drawbacks and advantages of using selected applications and established lexicons. There has been…

Adaptation of the "Ten Questions" to Screen for Autism and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Uganda

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kakooza-Mwesige, Angelina; Ssebyala, Keron; Karamagi, Charles; Kiguli, Sarah; Smith, Karen; Anderson, Meredith C.; Croen, Lisa A.; Trevathan, Edwin; Hansen, Robin; Smith, Daniel; Grether, Judith K.

2014-01-01

Neurodevelopmental disorders are recognized to be relatively common in developing countries but little data exist for planning effective prevention and intervention strategies. In particular, data on autism spectrum disorders are lacking. For application in Uganda, we developed a 23-question screener (23Q) that includes the Ten Questions screener…

Effects of Midrotation Intensive Silviculture on Forest Soils in East Texas: First-Year Results

Treesearch

S.A. Wilson; K.W. Farrish; B.P. Oswald; H.M. Williams; J.L. Yeiser

2002-01-01

Intensive forest management is becoming increasingly common in east Texas.Included in intensive management are such practices as mid-rotation fertilization, prescribed fire, and herbicide application. There is insufficient information about the effects of these treatments on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties when applied at mid-rotation. The objectives...

Suggestions for Content Selection and Presentation in High School Computer Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Janet Mei-Chuen; Wu, Cheng-Chih

2007-01-01

Based on the findings from reviewing 32 textbooks in the past four years for Taiwan's Ministry of Education, we have identified common problems in the reviewed textbooks and analyzed their inadequacies. Typical problems include the Wintel bias, too much coverage of software application tools and too little of computer science concepts, too many…

Measurements over distributed high performance computing and storage systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Elizabeth; Myers, Tom

1993-01-01

A strawman proposal is given for a framework for presenting a common set of metrics for supercomputers, workstations, file servers, mass storage systems, and the networks that interconnect them. Production control and database systems are also included. Though other applications and third part software systems are not addressed, it is important to measure them as well.

Using Geospatial Techniques to Address Institutional Objectives: St. Petersburg College Geo-Demographic Analysis. IR Applications, Volume 27

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris, Phillip; Thrall, Grant

2010-01-01

Geographic analysis has been adopted by businesses, especially the retail sector, since the early 1990s (Thrall, 2002). Institutional research can receive the same benefits businesses have by adopting geographic analysis and technology. The commonalities between businesses and higher education institutions include the existence of trade areas, the…

Praedicere Possumus: An Italian web-based application for predictive microbiology to ensure food safety.

PubMed

Polese, Pierluigi; Torre, Manuela Del; Stecchini, Mara Lucia

2018-03-31

The use of predictive modelling tools, which mainly describe the response of microorganisms to a particular set of environmental conditions, may contribute to a better understanding of microbial behaviour in foods. In this paper, a tertiary model, in the form of a readily available and userfriendly web-based application Praedicere Possumus (PP) is presented with research examples from our laboratories. Through the PP application, users have access to different modules, which apply a set of published models considered reliable for determining the compliance of a food product with EU safety criteria and for optimising processing throughout the identification of critical control points. The application pivots around a growth/no-growth boundary model, coupled with a growth model, and includes thermal and non-thermal inactivation models. Integrated functionalities, such as the fractional contribution of each inhibitory factor to growth probability (f) and the time evolution of the growth probability (P t ), have also been included. The PP application is expected to assist food industry and food safety authorities in their common commitment towards the improvement of food safety.

Integration of Web-based and PC-based clinical research databases.

PubMed

Brandt, C A; Sun, K; Charpentier, P; Nadkarni, P M

2004-01-01

We have created a Web-based repository or data library of information about measurement instruments used in studies of multi-factorial geriatric health conditions (the Geriatrics Research Instrument Library - GRIL) based upon existing features of two separate clinical study data management systems. GRIL allows browsing, searching, and selecting measurement instruments based upon criteria such as keywords and areas of applicability. Measurement instruments selected can be printed and/or included in an automatically generated standalone microcomputer database application, which can be downloaded by investigators for use in data collection and data management. Integration of database applications requires the creation of a common semantic model, and mapping from each system to this model. Various database schema conflicts at the table and attribute level must be identified and resolved prior to integration. Using a conflict taxonomy and a mapping schema facilitates this process. Critical conflicts at the table level that required resolution included name and relationship differences. A major benefit of integration efforts is the sharing of features and cross-fertilization of applications created for similar purposes in different operating environments. Integration of applications mandates some degree of metadata model unification.

mHealth Application Areas and Technology Combinations*. A Comparison of Literature from High and Low/Middle Income Countries.

PubMed

Abaza, Haitham; Marschollek, Michael

2017-08-08

With the continuous and enormous spread of mobile technologies, mHealth has evolved as a new subfield of eHealth. While eHealth is broadly focused on information and communication technologies, mHealth seeks to explore more into mobile devices and wireless communication. Since mobile phone penetration has exceeded other infrastructure in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), mHealth is seen as a promising component to provide pervasive and patient-centered care. The aim of our research work for this paper is to examine the mHealth literature to identify application areas, target diseases, and mHealth service and technology types that are most appropriate for LMICs. Based on the 2011 WHO mHealth report, a combination of search terms, all including the word "mHealth", was identified. A literature review was conducted by searching the PubMed and IEEE Xplore databases. Articles were included if they were published in English, covered an mHealth solution/ intervention, involved the use of a mobile communication device, and included a pilot evaluation study. Articles were excluded if they did not provide sufficient detail on the solution covered or did not focus on clinical efficacy/effectiveness. Cross-referencing was also performed on included articles. 842 articles were retrieved and analyzed, 255 of which met the inclusion criteria. North America had the highest number of applications (n=74) followed by Europe (n=50), Asia (n=44), Africa (n=25), and Australia (n=9). The Middle East (n=5) and South America (n=3) had the least number of studies. The majority of solutions addressed diabetes (n=51), obesity (n=25), CVDs (n=24), HIV (n=18), mental health (n=16), health behaviors (n=16), and maternal and child's health (MCH) (n=11). Fewer solutions addressed asthma (n=7), cancer (n=5), family health planning (n=5), TB (n=3), malaria (n=2), chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=2), vision care (n=2), and dermatology (n=2). Other solutions targeted stroke, dental health, hepatitis vaccination, cold and flu, ED prescribed antibiotics, iodine deficiency, and liver transplantation (n=1 each). The remainder of solutions (n=14) did not focus on a certain disease. Most applications fell in the areas of health monitoring and surveillance (n=93) and health promotion and raising awareness (n=88). Fewer solutions addressed the areas of communication and reporting (n=11), data collection (n=6), telemedicine (n=5), emergency medical care (n=3), point of care support (n=2), and decision support (n=2). The majority of solutions used SMS messaging (n=94) or mobile apps (n=71). Fewer used IVR/phone calls (n=8), mobile website/email (n=5), videoconferencing (n=2), MMS (n=2), or video (n=1) or voice messages (n=1). Studies were mostly RCTs, with the majority suffering from small sample sizes and short study durations. Problems addressed by solutions included travel distance for reporting, self-management and disease monitoring, and treatment/medication adherence. SMS and app solutions are the most common forms of mHealth applications. SMS solutions are prevalent in both high and LMICs while app solutions are mostly used in high income countries. Common application areas include health promotion and raising awareness using SMS and health monitoring and surveillance using mobile apps. Remaining application areas are rarely addressed. Diabetes is the most commonly targeted medical condition, yet remains deficient in LMICs.

mHealth Application Areas and Technology Combinations.

PubMed

Abaza, Haitham; Marschollek, Michael

2017-01-01

With the continuous and enormous spread of mobile technologies, mHealth has evolved as a new subfield of eHealth. While eHealth is broadly focused on information and communication technologies, mHealth seeks to explore more into mobile devices and wireless communication. Since mobile phone penetration has exceeded other infrastructure in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), mHealth is seen as a promising component to provide pervasive and patient-centered care. The aim of our research work for this paper is to examine the mHealth literature to identify application areas, target diseases, and mHealth service and technology types that are most appropriate for LMICs. Based on the 2011 WHO mHealth report, a combination of search terms, all including the word "mHealth", was identified. A literature review was conducted by searching the PubMed and IEEE Xplore databases. Articles were included if they were published in English, covered an mHealth solution/intervention, involved the use of a mobile communication device, and included a pilot evaluation study. Articles were excluded if they did not provide sufficient detail on the solution covered or did not focus on clinical efficacy/effectiveness. Cross-referencing was also performed on included articles. 842 articles were retrieved and analyzed, 255 of which met the inclusion criteria. North America had the highest number of applications (n=74) followed by Europe (n=50), Asia (n=44), Africa (n=25), and Australia (n=9). The Middle East (n=5) and South America (n=3) had the least number of studies. The majority of solutions addressed diabetes (n=51), obesity (n=25), CVDs (n=24), HIV (n=18), mental health (n=16), health behaviors (n=16), and maternal and child's health (MCH) (n=11). Fewer solutions addressed asthma (n=7), cancer (n=5), family health planning (n=5), TB (n=3), malaria (n=2), chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=2), vision care (n=2), and dermatology (n=2). Other solutions targeted stroke, dental health, hepatitis vaccination, cold and flu, ED prescribed antibiotics, iodine deficiency, and liver transplantation (n=1 each). The remainder of solutions (n=14) did not focus on a certain disease. Most applications fell in the areas of health monitoring and surveillance (n=93) and health promotion and raising awareness (n=88). Fewer solutions addressed the areas of communication and reporting (n=11), data collection (n=6), tele-medicine (n=5), emergency medical care (n=3), point of care support (n=2), and decision support (n=2). The majority of solutions used SMS messaging (n=94) or mobile apps (n=71). Fewer used IVR/phone calls (n=8), mobile website/email (n=5), videoconferencing (n=2), MMS (n=2), or video (n=1) or voice messages (n=1). Studies were mostly RCTs, with the majority suffering from small sample sizes and short study durations. Problems addressed by solutions included travel distance for reporting, self-management and disease monitoring, and treatment/medication adherence. SMS and app solutions are the most common forms of mHealth applications. SMS solutions are prevalent in both high and LMICs while app solutions are mostly used in high income countries. Common application areas include health promotion and raising awareness using SMS and health monitoring and surveillance using mobile apps. Remaining application areas are rarely addressed. Diabetes is the most commonly targeted medical condition, yet remains deficient in LMICs. Schattauer GmbH.

OpenEIS. Developer Guide

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

Lutes, Robert G.; Neubauer, Casey C.; Haack, Jereme N.

2015-03-31

The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Office (BTO) is supporting the development of an open-source software tool for analyzing building energy and operational data: OpenEIS (open energy information system). This tool addresses the problems of both owners of building data and developers of tools to analyze this data. Building owners and managers have data but lack the tools to analyze it while tool developers lack data in a common format to ease development of reusable data analysis tools. This document is intended for developers of applications and explains the mechanisms for building analysis applications, accessing data, and displaying datamore » using a visualization from the included library. A brief introduction to the visualizations can be used as a jumping off point for developers familiar with JavaScript to produce their own. Several example applications are included which can be used along with this document to implement algorithms for performing energy data analysis.« less

An overview of remote sensing and geodesy for epidemiology and public health application.

PubMed

Hay, S I

2000-01-01

The techniques of remote sensing (RS) and geodesy have the potential to revolutionize the discipline of epidemiology and its application in human health. As a new departure from conventional epidemiological methods, these techniques require some detailed explanation. This review provides the theoretical background to RS including (i) its physical basis, (ii) an explanation of the orbital characteristics and specifications of common satellite sensor systems, (iii) details of image acquisition and procedures adopted to overcome inherent sources of data degradation, and (iv) a background to geophysical data preparation. This information allows RS applications in epidemiology to be readily interpreted. Some of the techniques used in geodesy, to locate features precisely on Earth so that they can be registered to satellite sensor-derived images, are also included. While the basic principles relevant to public health are presented here, inevitably many of the details must be left to specialist texts.

An Overview of Remote Sensing and Geodesy for Epidemiology and Public Health Application

PubMed Central

Hay, S.I.

2011-01-01

The techniques of remote sensing (RS) and geodesy have the potential to revolutionize the discipline of epidemiology and its application in human health. As a new departure from conventional epidemiological methods, these techniques require some detailed explanation. This review provides the theoretical background to RS including (i) its physical basis, (ii) an explanation of the orbital characteristics and specifications of common satellite sensor systems, (iii) details of image acquisition and procedures adopted to overcome inherent sources of data degradation, and (iv) a background to geophysical data preparation. This information allows RS applications in epidemiology to be readily interpreted. Some of the techniques used in geodesy, to locate features precisely on Earth so that they can be registered to satellite sensor-derived images, are also included. While the basic principles relevant to public health are presented here, inevitably many of the details must be left to specialist texts. PMID:10997203

Applying Jlint to Space Exploration Software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Artho, Cyrille; Havelund, Klaus

2004-01-01

Java is a very successful programming language which is also becoming widespread in embedded systems, where software correctness is critical. Jlint is a simple but highly efficient static analyzer that checks a Java program for several common errors, such as null pointer exceptions, and overflow errors. It also includes checks for multi-threading problems, such as deadlocks and data races. The case study described here shows the effectiveness of Jlint in find-false positives in the multi-threading warnings gives an insight into design patterns commonly used in multi-threaded code. The results show that a few analysis techniques are sufficient to avoid almost all false positives. These techniques include investigating all possible callers and a few code idioms. Verifying the correct application of these patterns is still crucial, because their correct usage is not trivial.

Using collective variables to drive molecular dynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiorin, Giacomo; Klein, Michael L.; Hénin, Jérôme

2013-12-01

A software framework is introduced that facilitates the application of biasing algorithms to collective variables of the type commonly employed to drive massively parallel molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The modular framework that is presented enables one to combine existing collective variables into new ones, and combine any chosen collective variable with available biasing methods. The latter include the classic time-dependent biases referred to as steered MD and targeted MD, the temperature-accelerated MD algorithm, as well as the adaptive free-energy biases called metadynamics and adaptive biasing force. The present modular software is extensible, and portable between commonly used MD simulation engines.

Publication misrepresentation among anesthesiology residency applicants.

PubMed

Neuman, Stephanie A; Long, Timothy R; Rose, Steven H

2011-03-01

Publication misrepresentation has been documented among applicants for residency positions in several specialties. However, these data are not available for anesthesiology applicants. Our purpose in this study was to document the prevalence of publication misrepresentation among applicants to a single anesthesiology residency, to compare anesthesiology publication misrepresentation data with similar data in other specialties, and to determine how often publication misrepresentation leads to an unfair competitive advantage in the application process. Applications to the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education anesthesiology core residency in Rochester, Minnesota, were reviewed for publication misrepresentations using Medline and PubMed databases, Mayo Clinic library databases, and/or review by a qualified medical librarian. Misrepresented publications underwent further review to identify fraudulent publications and/or citation errors that provide an unfair competitive advantage. The authors found that 2.4% of the applications (13 of 532) included fraudulent publications, 6.6% of the applications with at least 1 publication (13 of 197) included ≥1 that was fraudulent, and 2.9% of all cited publications (15 of 522) were fraudulent. In addition, 0.9% of the applications (5 of 532) contained a citation error that, although not grossly fraudulent, could have favorably affected the applicant's competitiveness for a residency position. Misrepresented publications were fairly common among anesthesiology residency applicants. However, only a small percentage of applicants listed misrepresented publications that were clearly fraudulent or contained a citation error that conferred a competitive advantage. Identification of fraudulent publications on Electronic Residency Application Service applications is important to maintain the integrity of the application process.

Elastography: current status, future prospects, and making it work for you.

PubMed

Garra, Brian S

2011-09-01

Elastography has emerged as a useful adjunct tool for ultrasound diagnosis. Elastograms are images of tissue stiffness and may be in color, grayscale, or a combination of the two. The first and most common application of elastography is for the diagnosis of breast lesions where studies have shown an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88 to 0.95 for distinguishing cancer from benign lesions. The technique is also useful for the diagnosis of complex cysts, although different scanners may vary in how they display such lesions. Recent advances in elastography include quantification using strain ratios, acoustic radiation force impulse imaging, and shear wave velocity estimation. These are useful not only for characterizing focal masses but also for diagnosing diffuse organ diseases such as liver cirrhosis. Other near term potential applications for elastography include characterization of thyroid nodules and lymph node evaluation for metastatic disease. Prostate cancer detection is also a potential application, but obtaining high-quality elastograms may be difficult. This area is evolving. Other promising applications include atheromatous plaque and arterial wall evaluation, venous thrombus evaluation, graft rejection, and monitoring of tumor ablation therapy. When contemplating the acquisition of a system with elastography in this rapidly evolving field, a clear picture of the manufacturer's plans for future upgrades (including quantification) should be obtained.

Topical Vehicle Formulations in the Treatment of Acne.

PubMed

Hoffman, Lauren K; Bhatia, Neal; Zeichner, Joshua; Kircik, Leon H

2018-06-01

Topical treatment is the mainstay of acne therapy. The most commonly prescribed topical medications for acne include benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and retinoids. Despite their effectiveness in treating mild to moderate acne vulgaris, these topical medications are found to be irritating, and are historically associated with poor tolerability and diminished patient adherence. Thus, choosing the right formulation that will be effective and well tolerated is essential. Novel formulations that optimize drug concentration and utilize improved delivery vehicles have helped to enhance the tolerability and efficacy, and allow for less frequent application or co-application of drugs that were previously considered incompatible. This article will review the goals of topical therapy for the treatment of acne, in addition to common therapies and their challenges. Advanced formulations and combination formulations of benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and tretinoin will also be discussed. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(6 Suppl):s6-10.

LTCP 2D Graphical User Interface. Application Description and User's Guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ball, Robert; Navaz, Homayun K.

1996-01-01

A graphical user interface (GUI) written for NASA's LTCP (Liquid Thrust Chamber Performance) 2 dimensional computational fluid dynamic code is described. The GUI is written in C++ for a desktop personal computer running under a Microsoft Windows operating environment. Through the use of common and familiar dialog boxes, features, and tools, the user can easily and quickly create and modify input files for the LTCP code. In addition, old input files used with the LTCP code can be opened and modified using the GUI. The application is written in C++ for a desktop personal computer running under a Microsoft Windows operating environment. The program and its capabilities are presented, followed by a detailed description of each menu selection and the method of creating an input file for LTCP. A cross reference is included to help experienced users quickly find the variables which commonly need changes. Finally, the system requirements and installation instructions are provided.

Diversity, Application, and Synthetic Biology of Industrially Important Aspergillus Fungi.

PubMed

Park, Hee-Soo; Jun, Sang-Cheol; Han, Kap-Hoon; Hong, Seung-Beom; Yu, Jae-Hyuk

2017-01-01

The filamentous fungal genus Aspergillus consists of over 340 officially recognized species. A handful of these Aspergillus fungi are predominantly used for food fermentation and large-scale production of enzymes, organic acids, and bioactive compounds. These industrially important Aspergilli primarily belong to the two major Aspergillus sections, Nigri and Flavi. Aspergillus oryzae (section Flavi) is the most commonly used mold for the fermentation of soybeans, rice, grains, and potatoes. Aspergillus niger (section Nigri) is used in the industrial production of various enzymes and organic acids, including 99% (1.4 million tons per year) of citric acid produced worldwide. Better understanding of the genomes and the signaling mechanisms of key Aspergillus species can help identify novel approaches to enhance these commercially significant strains. This review summarizes the diversity, current applications, key products, and synthetic biology of Aspergillus fungi commonly used in industry. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

TU-AB-207-01: Introduction to Tomosynthesis

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

Sechopoulos, I.

2015-06-15

Digital Tomosynthesis (DT) is becoming increasingly common in breast imaging and many other applications. DT is a form of computed tomography in which a limited set of projection images are acquired over a small angular range and reconstructed into a tomographic data set. The angular range and number of projections is determined both by the imaging task and equipment manufacturer. For example, in breast imaging between 9 and 25 projections are acquired over a range of 15° to 60°. It is equally valid to treat DT as the digital analog of classical tomography - for example, linear tomography. In fact,more » the name “tomosynthesis” is an acronym for “synthetic tomography”. DT shares many common features with classical tomography, including the radiographic appearance, dose, and image quality considerations. As such, both the science and practical physics of DT systems is a hybrid between CT and classical tomographic methods. This lecture will consist of three presentations that will provide a complete overview of DT, including a review of the fundamentals of DT, a discussion of testing methods for DT systems, and a description of the clinical applications of DT. While digital breast tomosynthesis will be emphasized, analogies will be drawn to body imaging to illustrate and compare tomosynthesis methods. Learning Objectives: To understand the fundamental principles behind tomosynthesis, including the determinants of image quality and dose. To learn how to test the performance of tomosynthesis imaging systems. To appreciate the uses of tomosynthesis in the clinic and the future applications of tomosynthesis.« less

TU-AB-207-00: Digital Tomosynthesis

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

NONE

2015-06-15

Digital Tomosynthesis (DT) is becoming increasingly common in breast imaging and many other applications. DT is a form of computed tomography in which a limited set of projection images are acquired over a small angular range and reconstructed into a tomographic data set. The angular range and number of projections is determined both by the imaging task and equipment manufacturer. For example, in breast imaging between 9 and 25 projections are acquired over a range of 15° to 60°. It is equally valid to treat DT as the digital analog of classical tomography - for example, linear tomography. In fact,more » the name “tomosynthesis” is an acronym for “synthetic tomography”. DT shares many common features with classical tomography, including the radiographic appearance, dose, and image quality considerations. As such, both the science and practical physics of DT systems is a hybrid between CT and classical tomographic methods. This lecture will consist of three presentations that will provide a complete overview of DT, including a review of the fundamentals of DT, a discussion of testing methods for DT systems, and a description of the clinical applications of DT. While digital breast tomosynthesis will be emphasized, analogies will be drawn to body imaging to illustrate and compare tomosynthesis methods. Learning Objectives: To understand the fundamental principles behind tomosynthesis, including the determinants of image quality and dose. To learn how to test the performance of tomosynthesis imaging systems. To appreciate the uses of tomosynthesis in the clinic and the future applications of tomosynthesis.« less

TU-AB-207-02: Testing of Body and Breast Tomosynthesis Sytems

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

Jones, A.

2015-06-15

Digital Tomosynthesis (DT) is becoming increasingly common in breast imaging and many other applications. DT is a form of computed tomography in which a limited set of projection images are acquired over a small angular range and reconstructed into a tomographic data set. The angular range and number of projections is determined both by the imaging task and equipment manufacturer. For example, in breast imaging between 9 and 25 projections are acquired over a range of 15° to 60°. It is equally valid to treat DT as the digital analog of classical tomography - for example, linear tomography. In fact,more » the name “tomosynthesis” is an acronym for “synthetic tomography”. DT shares many common features with classical tomography, including the radiographic appearance, dose, and image quality considerations. As such, both the science and practical physics of DT systems is a hybrid between CT and classical tomographic methods. This lecture will consist of three presentations that will provide a complete overview of DT, including a review of the fundamentals of DT, a discussion of testing methods for DT systems, and a description of the clinical applications of DT. While digital breast tomosynthesis will be emphasized, analogies will be drawn to body imaging to illustrate and compare tomosynthesis methods. Learning Objectives: To understand the fundamental principles behind tomosynthesis, including the determinants of image quality and dose. To learn how to test the performance of tomosynthesis imaging systems. To appreciate the uses of tomosynthesis in the clinic and the future applications of tomosynthesis.« less

Infrared thermography for examination of paper structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiiskinen, Harri T.; Pakarinen, Pekka I.

1998-03-01

The paper industry has used IR cameras primarily for troubleshooting, where the most common examples include the examination of the condition of dryer fabrics and dryer cylinders and the analysis of moisture variations in a paper web. Another application extensively using IR thermography is non-destructive testing of composite materials. This paper presents some recently developed laboratory methods using an IR camera to examine paper structure. Specific areas include cockling, moisture content, thermal uniformity, mechanism of failure, and an analysis of the copying process.

Advanced space system concepts and their orbital support needs (1980 - 2000). Volume 4: Detailed data. Part 2: Program plans and common support needs (a study of the commonality of space vehicle applications to future national needs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bekey, I.; Mayer, H. L.; Wolfe, M. G.

1976-01-01

The methodology of alternate world future scenarios is utilized for selecting a plausible, though not advocated, set of future scenarios each of which results in a program plan appropriate for the respective environment. Each such program plan gives rise to different building block and technology requirements, which are analyzed for common need between the NASA and the DoD for each of the alternate world scenarios. An essentially invariant set of system, building block, and technology development plans is presented at the conclusion, intended to allow protection of most of the options for system concepts regardless of what the actual future world environment turns out to be. Thus, building block and technology needs are derived which support: (1) each specific world scenario; (2) all the world scenarios identified in this study; or (3) generalized scenarios applicable to almost any future environment. The output included in this volume consists of the building blocks, i.e.: transportation vehicles, orbital support vehicles, and orbital support facilities; the technology required to support the program plans; identification of their features which could support the DoD and NASA in common; and a complete discussion of the planning methodology.

Effects of sediment application on Nyssa aquatica and Taxodium distichum saplings

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grandy, Isabel; Messina, Linda; Anemaet, Evelyn R.; Middleton, Beth A.

2018-01-01

The decline of Taxodium distichum forests along the Gulf Coast of North America is partly due to elevation loss and subsequent flooding. In many coastal wetlands, a common approach for coastal restoration is to rebuild elevation through the application of dredge material, but this technique has not been used widely in coastal forests due to concerns of negatively impacting trees. This experiment explored growth responses of Nyssa aquatica and T. distichumsaplings to applications of low salinity dredge material (0.08 ± 0.001 ppt) in a greenhouse setting. Compared to controls, saplings of T. distichum grown in 7 and 15 cm sediment depths had greater final height, and increased stem and total biomass. In contrast, N. aquatica did not respond to sediment application. The absence of a negative response to sediment application in these two species indicates that dredge material application has the potential to improve the ecosystem health of sinking swamp forests by raising their elevation. We recommend that field trials applying sediment additions in coastal forests include careful monitoring of ecosystem responses, including seed bank expression, seedling regeneration, and root and canopy production.

Review of anthraquinone applications for pest management and agricultural crop protection.

PubMed

DeLiberto, Shelagh T; Werner, Scott J

2016-10-01

We have reviewed published anthraquinone applications for international pest management and agricultural crop protection from 1943 to 2016. Anthraquinone (AQ) is commonly found in dyes, pigments and many plants and organisms. Avian repellent research with AQ began in the 1940s. In the context of pest management, AQ is currently used as a chemical repellent, perch deterrent, insecticide and feeding deterrent in many wild birds, and in some mammals, insects and fishes. Criteria for evaluation of effective chemical repellents include efficacy, potential for wildlife hazards, phytotoxicity and environmental persistence. As a biopesticide, AQ often meets these criteria of efficacy for the non-lethal management of agricultural depredation caused by wildlife. We summarize published applications of AQ for the protection of newly planted and maturing crops from pest birds. Conventional applications of AQ-based repellents include preplant seed treatments [e.g. corn (Zea mays L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), wheat (Triticum spp.), millet (Panicum spp.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), pelletized feed and forest tree species] and foliar applications for rice, sunflower, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), turf, sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), sweet corn and nursery, fruit and nut crops. In addition to agricultural repellent applications, AQ has also been used to treat toxicants for the protection of non-target birds. Few studies have demonstrated AQ repellency in mammals, including wild boar (Sus scrofa, L.), thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus, Mitchill), black-tailed prairie dogs (Cyomys ludovicainus, Ord.), common voles (Microtus arvalis, Pallas), house mice (Mus musculus, L.), Tristram's jirds (Meriones tristrami, Thomas) and black rats (Rattus rattus L.). Natural sources of AQ and its derivatives have also been identified as insecticides and insect repellents. As a natural or synthetic biopesticide, AQ is a promising candidate for many contexts of non-lethal and insecticidal pest management. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

In campus location finder using mobile application services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fai, Low Weng; Audah, Lukman

2017-09-01

Navigation services become very common in this era, the application include Google Map, Waze and etc. Although navigation application contains the main routing service in open area but not all of the buildings are recorded in the database. In this project, an application is made for the indoor and outdoor navigation in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). It is used to help outsider and new incoming students by navigating them from their current location to destination using mobile application name "U Finder". Thunkable website has been used to build the application for outdoor and indoor navigation. Outdoor navigation is linked to the Google Map and indoor navigation is using the QR code for positioning and routing picture for navigation. The outdoor navigation can route user to the main faculties in UTHM and indoor navigation is only done for the G1 building in UTHM.

Caffeine-catalyzed gels.

PubMed

DiCiccio, Angela M; Lee, Young-Ah Lucy; Glettig, Dean L; Walton, Elizabeth S E; de la Serna, Eva L; Montgomery, Veronica A; Grant, Tyler M; Langer, Robert; Traverso, Giovanni

2018-07-01

Covalently cross-linked gels are utilized in a broad range of biomedical applications though their synthesis often compromises easy implementation. Cross-linking reactions commonly utilize catalysts or conditions that can damage biologics and sensitive compounds, producing materials that require extensive post processing to achieve acceptable biocompatibility. As an alternative, we report a batch synthesis platform to produce covalently cross-linked materials appropriate for direct biomedical application enabled by green chemistry and commonly available food grade ingredients. Using caffeine, a mild base, to catalyze anhydrous carboxylate ring-opening of diglycidyl-ether functionalized monomers with citric acid as a tri-functional crosslinking agent we introduce a novel poly(ester-ether) gel synthesis platform. We demonstrate that biocompatible Caffeine Catalyzed Gels (CCGs) exhibit dynamic physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, which can be tailored in shape, surface texture, solvent response, cargo release, shear and tensile strength, among other potential attributes. The demonstrated versatility, low cost and facile synthesis of these CCGs renders them appropriate for a broad range of customized engineering applications including drug delivery constructs, tissue engineering scaffolds, and medical devices. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

The Development and Acceptability of a Mobile Application for Tracking Symptoms of Heart Failure Among Older Adults.

PubMed

Portz, Jennifer Dickman; Vehovec, Anton; Dolansky, Mary A; Levin, Jennifer B; Bull, Sheana; Boxer, Rebecca

2018-02-01

Heart failure (HF) is common in older adults. With increases in technology use among older adults, mobile applications may provide a solution for older adults to self-manage symptoms of HF. This article discusses the development and acceptability of a HF symptom-tracking mobile application (HF app). The HF app was developed to allow patients to track their symptoms of HF. Thirty (N = 30) older adults completed an acceptability survey after using the mobile app. The survey used Likert items and open-ended feedback questions. Overall, the acceptability feedback from users was positive with participants indicating that the HF app was both easy to use and understand. Participants identified recommendations for improvement including additional symptoms to track and the inclusion of instructions and reminders. HF is common in older adults, and acceptability of mobile apps is of key importance. The HF app is an acceptable tool for older patients with HF to self-manage their symptoms, identify patterns, and changes in symptoms, and ultimately prevent HF readmission.

Glymes as Versatile Solvents for Chemical Reactions and Processes: from the Laboratory to Industry

PubMed Central

Tang, Shaokun; Zhao, Hua

2014-01-01

Glymes, also known as glycol diethers, are saturated non-cyclic polyethers containing no other functional groups. Most glymes are usually less volatile and less toxic than common laboratory organic solvents; in this context, they are more environmentally benign solvents. However, it is also important to point out that some glymes could cause long-term reproductive and developmental damages despite their low acute toxicities. Glymes have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic characters that common organic solvents are lack of. In addition, they are usually thermally and chemically stable, and can even form complexes with ions. Therefore, glymes are found in a broad range of laboratory applications including organic synthesis, electrochemistry, biocatalysis, materials, and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), etc. In addition, glyme are used in numerous industrial applications, such as cleaning products, inks, adhesives and coatings, batteries and electronics, absorption refrigeration and heat pumps, as well as pharmaceutical formulations, etc. However, there is a lack of comprehensive and critical review on this attractive subject. This review aims to accomplish this task by providing an in-depth understanding of glymes’ physicochemical properties, toxicity and major applications. PMID:24729866

Taking the Politics Out of Satellite and Space-Based Communications Protocols

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ivancic, William D.

2006-01-01

After many years of studies, experimentation, and deployment, large amounts of misinformation and misconceptions remain regarding applicability of various communications protocols for use in satellite and space-based networks. This paper attempts to remove much of the politics, misconceptions, and misinformation that have plagued spacebased communications protocol development and deployment. This paper provides a common vocabulary for communications; a general discussion of the requirements for various communication environments; an evaluation of tradeoffs between circuit and packet-switching technologies, and the pros and cons of various link, network, transport, application, and security protocols. Included is the applicability of protocol enhancing proxies to NASA, Department of Defense (DOD), and commercial space communication systems.

A general method for decomposing the causes of socioeconomic inequality in health.

PubMed

Heckley, Gawain; Gerdtham, Ulf-G; Kjellsson, Gustav

2016-07-01

We introduce a general decomposition method applicable to all forms of bivariate rank dependent indices of socioeconomic inequality in health, including the concentration index. The technique is based on recentered influence function regression and requires only the application of OLS to a transformed variable with similar interpretation. Our method requires few identifying assumptions to yield valid estimates in most common empirical applications, unlike current methods favoured in the literature. Using the Swedish Twin Registry and a within twin pair fixed effects identification strategy, our new method finds no evidence of a causal effect of education on income-related health inequality. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Common Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Applications in Cytology.

PubMed

Savic, Spasenija; Bubendorf, Lukas

2016-12-01

- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a well-established method for detection of genomic aberrations in diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive marker testing. - To review common applications of FISH in cytology. - The published literature was reviewed. - Cytology is particularly well suited for all kinds of FISH applications, which is highlighted in respiratory tract cytology with an increasing demand for predictive FISH testing in lung cancer. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is the gold standard for detection of predictive anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) rearrangements, and the same evaluation criteria as in histology apply to cytology. Several other gene rearrangements, including ROS proto-oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1), are becoming clinically important and share the same underlining cytogenetic mechanisms with ALK. MET amplification is one of the most common mechanisms of acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors and can be targeted by crizotinib. As genomic aberrations are a hallmark of malignant cells, FISH is a valuable objective ancillary diagnostic tool. In urinary tract cytology, atypical urothelial cells equivocal for malignancy are a common diagnostic dilemma and multitarget FISH can help clarify such cells. Diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma remains one of the most challenging fields in effusion cytology, and ancillary FISH is useful in establishing the diagnosis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is a morphology-based technique, and the prerequisite for reliable FISH results is a targeted evaluation of the cells in question (eg, cancer or atypical cells). Cytopathologists and cytotechnicians should therefore be involved in molecular testing in order to select the best material and to provide their morphologic expertise.

Comparative Clinical Efficacy between Electrodesiccation with Curettage and Application of 80% Phenol Solution in Treatment of Common Warts

PubMed Central

Dalimunthe, Dina Arwina; Siregar, Remenda; Tanjung, Chairiyah

2018-01-01

BACKGROUND: Common warts are skin diseases caused by human papillomavirus. Several treatment modalities available for common warts, two of them are electrodesiccation with curettage and application of 80% phenol solution. AIM: This study aims to compare clinical efficacy between these two modalities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Open clinical trial was conducted at Dr Pirngadi General Hospital Medan and H. Adam Malik General Hospital Medan from February to June 2013 on 17 patients with multiple common warts. Both treatments began and applied simultaneously on the same day on each patient. RESULTS: Cure rate was higher in electrodesiccation with curettage (76.5%, 100%) compared to the application of 80% phenol solution (11.8%, 64.7%) on three weeks and six weeks of follow up. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference of common warts cure rate between electrodesiccation with curettage and application of 80% phenol solution after three weeks (p < 0.001) and six weeks (p = 0.018) of treatment. CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, electrodesiccation with curettage has higher cure rate than the application of 80% phenol solution on the treatment of common warts. Further study is needed to find out the best concentration and time interval for application of phenol solution to improve its clinical efficacy as an alternative treatment of choice for common warts. PMID:29531597

An evaluative review of questionnaires recommended for the assessment of quality of life and symptom severity in women with urinary incontinence.

PubMed

Hewison, Ann; McCaughan, Dorothy; Watt, Ian

2014-11-01

To provide an up-to-date assessment of the quality of commonly recommended questionnaires for measuring symptom severity and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence and also to consider their application to practice. Urinary incontinence is a common problem for women. In addition to various physical symptoms, there is a known effect on quality of life. Psychometrically robust questionnaires are reported to be the best way to measure an individual's perceptions of symptom severity and quality of life, and a number of different ones are recommended for use in international and national guidance, which can be confusing for clinicians. Moreover, there are concerns over the applicability of some of these instruments in clinical practice. An evaluative review was carried out examining selected questionnaires measuring symptom severity and/or quality of life. Selection of questionnaires for inclusion in the review was based on the recommendations of evidence-based guidance, followed by systematic scrutiny of the characteristics of the individual recommended questionnaires. Thirteen questionnaires were included in the review, of which three appeared to 'outperform' the remainder in terms of their psychometric properties and other characteristics. This review provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the quality and applicability of the included questionnaires and offers the practitioner advice on which to select for use in practice. This review aims to help the practitioner choose a questionnaire based on a sound evaluation of the quality of the questionnaire and its applicability to the clinical setting. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

75 FR 4560 - Ocean Transportation Intermediary License Applicants

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-28

... license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier and Ocean Freight Forwarder--Ocean Transportation..., DC 20573. Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier--Ocean Transportation Intermediary Applicants: Doma... (Qualifying Individual), Rafia S. Waheed, President. Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier and Ocean Freight...

Operational Definition of Active and Healthy Aging (AHA): The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on AHA Reference Site Questionnaire: Montpellier October 20-21, 2014, Lisbon July 2, 2015.

PubMed

Bousquet, Jean; Malva, Joao; Nogues, Michel; Mañas, Leocadio Rodriguez; Vellas, Bruno; Farrell, John

2015-12-01

A core operational definition of active and healthy aging (AHA) is needed to conduct comparisons. A conceptual AHA framework proposed by the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing Reference Site Network includes several items such as functioning (individual capability and underlying body systems), well-being, activities and participation, and diseases (including noncommunicable diseases, frailty, mental and oral health disorders). The instruments proposed to assess the conceptual framework of AHA have common applicability and availability attributes. The approach includes core and optional domains/instruments depending on the needs and the questions. A major common domain is function, as measured by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). WHODAS 2.0 can be used across all diseases and healthy individuals. It covers many of the AHA dimensions proposed by the Reference Site network. However, WHODAS 2.0 does not include all dimensions proposed for AHA assessment. The second common domain is health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A report of the AHA questionnaire in the form of a spider net has been proposed to facilitate usual comparisons across individuals and groups of interest. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

75 FR 22891 - Notice of Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Foreign Air...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-30

... European Union via any point or points in any Member State and via intermediate points to any point or... by the Air Transport Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, and the United... point or points in any member of the European Common Aviation Area, including Norway; and (ii) other...

76 FR 42762 - Notice of Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Foreign Air...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-19

... authorized by the United States-European Union Air Transport Agreement (``U.S.-E.U. Agreement''), including... from any point(s) behind any Member State(s) of the European Community, via any point(s) in any Member... and any point(s) in any member of the European Common Aviation Area; (iii) other charters pursuant to...

Prescribed fire applications in Forest and Woodlands: Integration of models and field studies to guide fire use

Treesearch

Kevin C. Ryan; Eric Rigolot; Francisco C. Rego; Herminio Botelho; Jose A. Vega; Paulo M. Fernandes; Tatiana M. Sofronova

2010-01-01

Globally prescribed burning is widely used for agro-forestry, restoration, and conservation to modify species composition and stand structure. Commonly stated goals of prescribed burns include to reduce hazardous fuels, improve species’ habitat, reduce the potential for severe fires in the wildland urban interface or protect municipal watersheds. Treatments may focus...

Turbulence modeling needs of commercial CFD codes: Complex flows in the aerospace and automotive industries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Befrui, Bizhan A.

1995-01-01

This viewgraph presentation discusses the following: STAR-CD computational features; STAR-CD turbulence models; common features of industrial complex flows; industry-specific CFD development requirements; applications and experiences of industrial complex flows, including flow in rotating disc cavities, diffusion hole film cooling, internal blade cooling, and external car aerodynamics; and conclusions on turbulence modeling needs.

System for Performing Single Query Searches of Heterogeneous and Dispersed Databases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maluf, David A. (Inventor); Okimura, Takeshi (Inventor); Gurram, Mohana M. (Inventor); Tran, Vu Hoang (Inventor); Knight, Christopher D. (Inventor); Trinh, Anh Ngoc (Inventor)

2017-01-01

The present invention is a distributed computer system of heterogeneous databases joined in an information grid and configured with an Application Programming Interface hardware which includes a search engine component for performing user-structured queries on multiple heterogeneous databases in real time. This invention reduces overhead associated with the impedance mismatch that commonly occurs in heterogeneous database queries.

Controlling weeds with fungi, bacteria and viruses: a review

PubMed Central

Harding, Dylan P.; Raizada, Manish N.

2015-01-01

Weeds are a nuisance in a variety of land uses. The increasing prevalence of both herbicide resistant weeds and bans on cosmetic pesticide use has created a strong impetus to develop novel strategies for controlling weeds. The application of bacteria, fungi and viruses to achieving this goal has received increasingly great attention over the last three decades. Proposed benefits to this strategy include reduced environmental impact, increased target specificity, reduced development costs compared to conventional herbicides and the identification of novel herbicidal mechanisms. This review focuses on examples from North America. Among fungi, the prominent genera to receive attention as bioherbicide candidates include Colletotrichum, Phoma, and Sclerotinia. Among bacteria, Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas share this distinction. The available reports on the application of viruses to controlling weeds are also reviewed. Focus is given to the phytotoxic mechanisms associated with bioherbicide candidates. Achieving consistent suppression of weeds in field conditions is a common challenge to this control strategy, as the efficacy of a bioherbicide candidate is generally more sensitive to environmental variation than a conventional herbicide. Common themes and lessons emerging from the available literature in regard to this challenge are presented. Additionally, future directions for this crop protection strategy are suggested. PMID:26379687

Community health workers leading the charge on workforce development: lessons from New Orleans.

PubMed

Wennerstrom, Ashley; Johnson, Liljana; Gibson, Kristina; Batta, Sarah E; Springgate, Benjamin F

2014-12-01

Academic institutions and community organizations engaged community health workers (CHWs) in creating a community-appropriate CHW workforce capacity-building program in an area without a previously established CHW professional group. From 2009 to 2010, we solicited New Orleans-based CHWs' opinions about CHW professional development through a survey, a community conference, and workgroup meetings. Throughout 2011 and 2012, we created and implemented a responsive 80-h workforce development program that used popular education techniques. We interviewed CHWs 6 months post-training to assess impressions of the course and application of skills and knowledge to practice. CHWs requested training to develop nationally-recognized core competencies including community advocacy, addresses issues unique to New Orleans, and mitigate common professional challenges. Thirty-five people completed the course. Among 25 interviewees, common themes included positive impressions of the course, application of skills and community-specific information to practice, understanding of CHWs' historical roles as community advocates, and ongoing professional challenges. Engaging CHW participation in workforce development programs is possible in areas lacking organized CHW groups. CHW insight supports development of training that addresses unique local concerns. Trained CHWs require ongoing professional support.

GeoSymbio: a hybrid, cloud-based web application of global geospatial bioinformatics and ecoinformatics for Symbiodinium-host symbioses.

PubMed

Franklin, Erik C; Stat, Michael; Pochon, Xavier; Putnam, Hollie M; Gates, Ruth D

2012-03-01

The genus Symbiodinium encompasses a group of unicellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellates that are found free living or in hospite with a wide range of marine invertebrate hosts including scleractinian corals. We present GeoSymbio, a hybrid web application that provides an online, easy to use and freely accessible interface for users to discover, explore and utilize global geospatial bioinformatic and ecoinformatic data on Symbiodinium-host symbioses. The novelty of this application lies in the combination of a variety of query and visualization tools, including dynamic searchable maps, data tables with filter and grouping functions, and interactive charts that summarize the data. Importantly, this application is hosted remotely or 'in the cloud' using Google Apps, and therefore does not require any specialty GIS, web programming or data programming expertise from the user. The current version of the application utilizes Symbiodinium data based on the ITS2 genetic marker from PCR-based techniques, including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, sequencing and cloning of specimens collected during 1982-2010. All data elements of the application are also downloadable as spatial files, tables and nucleic acid sequence files in common formats for desktop analysis. The application provides a unique tool set to facilitate research on the basic biology of Symbiodinium and expedite new insights into their ecology, biogeography and evolution in the face of a changing global climate. GeoSymbio can be accessed at https://sites.google.com/site/geosymbio/. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

GeoSciML v3.0 - a significant upgrade of the CGI-IUGS geoscience data model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raymond, O.; Duclaux, G.; Boisvert, E.; Cipolloni, C.; Cox, S.; Laxton, J.; Letourneau, F.; Richard, S.; Ritchie, A.; Sen, M.; Serrano, J.-J.; Simons, B.; Vuollo, J.

2012-04-01

GeoSciML version 3.0 (http://www.geosciml.org), released in late 2011, is the latest version of the CGI-IUGS* Interoperability Working Group geoscience data interchange standard. The new version is a significant upgrade and refactoring of GeoSciML v2 which was released in 2008. GeoSciML v3 has already been adopted by several major international interoperability initiatives, including OneGeology, the EU INSPIRE program, and the US Geoscience Information Network, as their standard data exchange format for geoscience data. GeoSciML v3 makes use of recently upgraded versions of several Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and ISO data transfer standards, including GML v3.2, SWE Common v2.0, and Observations and Measurements v2 (ISO 19156). The GeoSciML v3 data model has been refactored from a single large application schema with many packages, into a number of smaller, but related, application schema modules with individual namespaces. This refactoring allows the use and future development of modules of GeoSciML (eg; GeologicUnit, GeologicStructure, GeologicAge, Borehole) in smaller, more manageable units. As a result of this refactoring and the integration with new OGC and ISO standards, GeoSciML v3 is not backwardly compatible with previous GeoSciML versions. The scope of GeoSciML has been extended in version 3.0 to include new models for geomorphological data (a Geomorphology application schema), and for geological specimens, geochronological interpretations, and metadata for geochemical and geochronological analyses (a LaboratoryAnalysis-Specimen application schema). In addition, there is better support for borehole data, and the PhysicalProperties model now supports a wider range of petrophysical measurements. The previously used CGI_Value data type has been superseded in favour of externally governed data types provided by OGC's SWE Common v2 and GML v3.2 data standards. The GeoSciML v3 release includes worked examples of best practice in delivering geochemical analytical data using the Observations and Measurements (ISO19156) and SWE Common v2 models. The GeoSciML v3 data model does not include vocabularies to support the data model. However, it does provide a standard pattern to reference controlled vocabulary concepts using HTTP-URIs. The international GeoSciML community has developed distributed RDF-based geoscience vocabularies that can be accessed by GeoSciML web services using the standard pattern recommended in GeoSciML v3. GeoSciML v3 is the first version of GeoSciML that will be accompanied by web service validation tools using Schematron rules. For example, these validation tools may check for compliance of a web service to a particular profile of GeoSciML, or for logical consistency of data content that cannot be enforced by the application schemas. This validation process will support accreditation of GeoSciML services and a higher degree of semantic interoperability. * International Union of Geological Sciences Commission for Management and Application of Geoscience Information (CGI-IUGS)

Changing the "Normal Range" for Blood Pressure from 140/90 to 130/Any Improves Risk Assessment.

PubMed

Fulks, Michael; Stout, Robert L; Dolan, Vera F

2015-01-01

Objective .- Redefine the "normal" reference range for blood pressure from <140/90 to one that more effectively identifies individuals with increased mortality risk. Method .- Data from the recently published 2014 CRL blood pressure study was used. It includes 2,472,706 life insurance applicants tested by Clinical Reference Laboratory from 1993 to 2007 with follow-up for vital status using the September 2011 Social Security Death Master File. Various upper limits of blood pressure (BP in mm Hg) were evaluated to determine if any was superior to the current, commonly used limit of 140/90 in identifying individuals with increased mortality risk. Results .- An alternative reference range using a systolic BP (SBP) <130 with any diastolic BP (DBP) included 84% of life insurance applicants. It had a lower mortality rate and narrower range of relative risk than <140/90, including 89% as many applicants but only 68% as many deaths. This pattern of lives and deaths was consistent across age and sex. Conclusion .- Switching to a "normal" reference range of SBP <130 offers superior risk assessment relative to using BP <140/90 while still including a sufficient percentage of the population.

Press coverage of the new psychology by the New York Times during the progressive era.

PubMed

Dennis, Paul M

2011-05-01

Press coverage of psychology by the New York Times was examined for the Progressive Era. Following a period in which psychology was associated with spiritualism, psychoanalysis, and the Emmanuel movement, the Times gave editorial preference to reports about psychology's applications. Reaching an audience that was both affluent and influential, the topics emphasized by the Times included the lie detector, psychological applications in the work place, mental tests, and child psychology. These areas reflected issues of social concern to Progressives, publicized the rise of the psychologist as expert, and aided psychology in its challenge to common sense.

Guidebook for analysis of tether applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carroll, J. A.

1985-01-01

This guidebook is intended as a tool to facilitate initial analyses of proposed tether applications in space. The guiding philosophy is that a brief analysis of all the common problem areas is far more useful than a detailed study in any one area. Such analyses can minimize the waste of resources on elegant but fatally flawed concepts, and can identify the areas where more effort is needed on concepts which do survive the initial analyses. The simplified formulas, approximations, and analytical tools included should be used only for preliminary analyses. For detailed analyses, the references with each topic and in the bibliography may be useful.

Circulating Cell Free Tumor DNA Detection as a Routine Tool for Lung Cancer Patient Management

PubMed Central

Vendrell, Julie A.; Mau-Them, Frédéric Tran; Béganton, Benoît; Godreuil, Sylvain; Coopman, Peter; Solassol, Jérôme

2017-01-01

Circulating tumoral DNA (ctDNA), commonly named “liquid biopsy”, has emerged as a new promising noninvasive tool to detect biomarker in several cancers including lung cancer. Applications involving molecular analysis of ctDNA in lung cancer have increased and encompass diagnosis, response to treatment, acquired resistance and prognosis prediction, while bypassing the problem of tumor heterogeneity. ctDNA may then help perform dynamic genetic surveillance in the era of precision medicine through indirect tumoral genomic information determination. The aims of this review were to examine the recent technical developments that allowed the detection of genetic alterations of ctDNA in lung cancer. Furthermore, we explored clinical applications in patients with lung cancer including treatment efficiency monitoring, acquired therapy resistance mechanisms and prognosis value. PMID:28146051

Buprenorphine: revisiting the efficacy of transdermal delivery system.

PubMed

Kitzmiller, Joseph P; Barnett, Christopher J; Steiner, Nathan S; Stoicea, Nicoleta; Kamar, Nawal; Luzum, Jasmine A; Mikulik, Eduard; Bergese, Sergio D

2015-01-01

Buprenorphine is a lipid-soluble pharmaceutic used in the management of chronic pain. It is a partial agonist at μ-opioid receptors, an antagonist at κ-opioid receptors, an agonist at δ-opioid receptors and a partial agonist at ORL-1 (nociceptin) receptors. An extensive literature search, including Google Scholar and Pubmed database, was conducted. Terms including and associated to 'efficacy of transdermal buprenorphine' were utilized to procure contemporary research articles in order to evaluate and compare the transdermal buprenorphine patch to commonly used traditional pain management medications. Transdermal buprenorphine has demonstrated better efficacy than conventional pain management pharmacotherapies. Side effects were similar to those associated with other opioids and included headache, dizziness, somnolence, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, pruritus and erythema. Similar to transdermal delivery systems used with other medication, transdermal buprenorphine was associated with application-site pruritus and application-site reactions. Transdermal buprenorphine has significant potential for managing chronic pain. In addition to increased convenience and efficacy, advantages of transdermal buprenorphine include decreased tolerance and decreased withdrawal.

Graphical Modeling Meets Systems Pharmacology.

PubMed

Lombardo, Rosario; Priami, Corrado

2017-01-01

A main source of failures in systems projects (including systems pharmacology) is poor communication level and different expectations among the stakeholders. A common and not ambiguous language that is naturally comprehensible by all the involved players is a boost to success. We present bStyle, a modeling tool that adopts a graphical language close enough to cartoons to be a common media to exchange ideas and data and that it is at the same time formal enough to enable modeling, analysis, and dynamic simulations of a system. Data analysis and simulation integrated in the same application are fundamental to understand the mechanisms of actions of drugs: a core aspect of systems pharmacology.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talcott, Stephen

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has many applications in food chemistry. Food components that have been analyzed with HPLC include organic acids, vitamins, amino acids, sugars, nitrosamines, certain pesticides, metabolites, fatty acids, aflatoxins, pigments, and certain food additives. Unlike gas chromatography, it is not necessary for the compound being analyzed to be volatile. It is necessary, however, for the compounds to have some solubility in the mobile phase. It is important that the solubilized samples for injection be free from all particulate matter, so centrifugation and filtration are common procedures. Also, solid-phase extraction is used commonly in sample preparation to remove interfering compounds from the sample matrix prior to HPLC analysis.

BIRD: A general interface for sparse distributed memory simulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rogers, David

1990-01-01

Kanerva's sparse distributed memory (SDM) has now been implemented for at least six different computers, including SUN3 workstations, the Apple Macintosh, and the Connection Machine. A common interface for input of commands would both aid testing of programs on a broad range of computer architectures and assist users in transferring results from research environments to applications. A common interface also allows secondary programs to generate command sequences for a sparse distributed memory, which may then be executed on the appropriate hardware. The BIRD program is an attempt to create such an interface. Simplifying access to different simulators should assist developers in finding appropriate uses for SDM.

Graphical Modeling Meets Systems Pharmacology

PubMed Central

Lombardo, Rosario; Priami, Corrado

2017-01-01

A main source of failures in systems projects (including systems pharmacology) is poor communication level and different expectations among the stakeholders. A common and not ambiguous language that is naturally comprehensible by all the involved players is a boost to success. We present bStyle, a modeling tool that adopts a graphical language close enough to cartoons to be a common media to exchange ideas and data and that it is at the same time formal enough to enable modeling, analysis, and dynamic simulations of a system. Data analysis and simulation integrated in the same application are fundamental to understand the mechanisms of actions of drugs: a core aspect of systems pharmacology. PMID:28469411

Evolving forecasting classifications and applications in health forecasting

PubMed Central

Soyiri, Ireneous N; Reidpath, Daniel D

2012-01-01

Health forecasting forewarns the health community about future health situations and disease episodes so that health systems can better allocate resources and manage demand. The tools used for developing and measuring the accuracy and validity of health forecasts commonly are not defined although they are usually adapted forms of statistical procedures. This review identifies previous typologies used in classifying the forecasting methods commonly used in forecasting health conditions or situations. It then discusses the strengths and weaknesses of these methods and presents the choices available for measuring the accuracy of health-forecasting models, including a note on the discrepancies in the modes of validation. PMID:22615533

46 CFR 502.271 - Special docket application for permission to refund or waive freight charges.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 9 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Special docket application for permission to refund or... docket application for permission to refund or waive freight charges. (a)(1) A common carrier or a shipper may file a special docket application seeking permission for a common carrier or conference to...

On the merging of optical and SAR satellite imagery for surface water mapping applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markert, Kel N.; Chishtie, Farrukh; Anderson, Eric R.; Saah, David; Griffin, Robert E.

2018-06-01

Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery from satellite platforms provide a means to discretely map surface water; however, the application of the two data sources in tandem has been inhibited by inconsistent data availability, the distinct physical properties that optical and SAR instruments sense, and dissimilar data delivery platforms. In this paper, we describe a preliminary methodology for merging optical and SAR data into a common data space. We apply our approach over a portion of the Mekong Basin, a region with highly variable surface water cover and persistent cloud cover, for surface water applications requiring dense time series analysis. The methods include the derivation of a representative index from both sensors that transforms data from disparate physical units (reflectance and backscatter) to a comparable dimensionless space applying a consistent water extraction approach to both datasets. The merging of optical and SAR data allows for increased observations in cloud prone regions that can be used to gain additional insight into surface water dynamics or flood mapping applications. This preliminary methodology shows promise for a common optical-SAR water extraction; however, data ranges and thresholding values can vary depending on data source, yielding classification errors in the resulting surface water maps. We discuss some potential future approaches to address these inconsistencies.

Detailed Modeling of Physical Processes in Electron Sources for Accelerator Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chubenko, Oksana; Afanasev, Andrei

2017-01-01

At present, electron sources are essential in a wide range of applications - from common technical use to exploring the nature of matter. Depending on the application requirements, different methods and materials are used to generate electrons. State-of-the-art accelerator applications set a number of often-conflicting requirements for electron sources (e.g., quantum efficiency vs. polarization, current density vs. lifetime, etc). Development of advanced electron sources includes modeling and design of cathodes, material growth, fabrication of cathodes, and cathode testing. The detailed simulation and modeling of physical processes is required in order to shed light on the exact mechanisms of electron emission and to develop new-generation electron sources with optimized efficiency. The purpose of the present work is to study physical processes in advanced electron sources and develop scientific tools, which could be used to predict electron emission from novel nano-structured materials. In particular, the area of interest includes bulk/superlattice gallium arsenide (bulk/SL GaAs) photo-emitters and nitrogen-incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond ((N)UNCD) photo/field-emitters. Work supported by The George Washington University and Euclid TechLabs LLC.

Integrating Personalized Technology in Toxicology: Sensors, Smart Glass, and Social Media Applications in Toxicology Research.

PubMed

Carreiro, Stephanie; Chai, Peter R; Carey, Jennifer; Chapman, Brittany; Boyer, Edward W

2017-06-01

Rapid proliferation of mobile technologies in social and healthcare spaces create an opportunity for advancement in research and clinical practice. The application of mobile, personalized technology in healthcare, referred to as mHealth, has not yet become routine in toxicology. However, key features of our practice environment, such as frequent need for remote evaluation, unreliable historical data from patients, and sensitive subject matter, make mHealth tools appealing solutions in comparison to traditional methods that collect retrospective or indirect data. This manuscript describes the features, uses, and costs associated with several of common sectors of mHealth research including wearable biosensors, ingestible biosensors, head-mounted devices, and social media applications. The benefits and novel challenges associated with the study and use of these applications are then discussed. Finally, opportunities for further research and integration are explored with a particular focus on toxicology-based applications.

Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorns for Energy Applications

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhichao; Han, Shuang; Wang, Chao; Li, Jianping; Xu, Guobao

2015-01-01

With the growth of the global economy and population, the demand for energy is increasing sharply. The development of environmentally a benign and reliable energy supply is very important and urgent. Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs), which have a horn-shaped tip at the top of single-walled nanotube, have emerged as exceptionally promising nanomaterials due to their unique physical and chemical properties since 1999. The high purity and thermal stability, combined with microporosity and mesoporosity, high surface area, internal pore accessibility, and multiform functionalization make SWCNHs promising candidates in many applications, such as environment restoration, gas storage, catalyst support or catalyst, electrochemical biosensors, drug carrier systems, magnetic resonance analysis and so on. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of SWCNHs in energy applications, including energy conversion and storage. The commonly adopted method to access SWCNHs, their structural modifications, and their basic properties are included, and the emphasis is on their application in different devices such as fuel cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries, Li-S batteries, hydrogen storage, biofuel cells and so forth. Finally, a perspective on SWCNHs’ application in energy is presented. PMID:28347092

ISRU Development Strategy and Recent Activities to Support Near and Far Term Missions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baird, Russell S.; Sanders, Gerald B.; Simon, Thomas M.

2003-01-01

The practical expansion of humans beyond low Earth orbit into near-Earth space and out into the solar system for exploration, commercialization, tourism, and colonization will require the effective utilization of whatever indigenous resources are available to make these endeavors economically feasible and capable of extended operations. This concept of ``living off the land'' is called In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). The resources available for ISRU applications vary widely, depending upon the location. However, there are resources, technologies, and processes that are common to multiple destinations and ISRU-related applications. These resources range from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor found in human habitats (surface & spacecraft) and in the Martian atmosphere, to water (ice and hydrated minerals) and various oxygen, carbon, and metal-bearing resources found on comets and asteroids, and in planetary surface materials at numerous destinations of interest (Moon, Mars, Titan, and Europa). Many parties are investigating the common technologies and processes to effectively extract and use these resources. This paper will discuss how ISRU is enabling for both near and far term human exploration missions, and present a summary of recent and on-going ISRU work sponsored by the NASA/Johnson Space Center. Technology development activities that will be described in detail include an advanced CO2 freezer acquisition system, a multi-fluid common bulkhead cryogenic storage tank, and a variety of microchannel chemical reactor concepts. Recent advanced Sabatier reactor concept development activities in preparation for later, end-to-end system testing will be described as well. This paper will also discuss an ISRU-based strategy to enable extensive robotic and human surface exploration operations and a related on-going demonstration program for a fuel cell based power plant for rover applications. Technology commonalities between ISRU, life support systems, and Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA), applications will also be presented.

3D tissue-like assemblies: A novel approach to investigate virus-cell interactions.

PubMed

Goodwin, Thomas J; McCarthy, Maureen; Cohrs, Randall J; Kaufer, Benedikt B

2015-11-15

Virus-host cell interactions are most commonly analyzed in cells maintained in vitro as two-dimensional tissue cultures. However, these in vitro conditions vary quite drastically from the tissues that are commonly infected in vivo. Over the years, a number of systems have been developed that allow the establishment of three-dimensional (3D) tissue structures that have properties similar to their in vivo 3D counterparts. These 3D systems have numerous applications including drug testing, maintenance of large tissue explants, monitoring migration of human lymphocytes in tissues, analysis of human organ tissue development and investigation of virus-host interactions including viral latency. Here, we describe the establishment of tissue-like assemblies for human lung and neuronal tissue that we infected with a variety of viruses including the respiratory pathogens human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS corona virus (SARS-CoV) as well as the human neurotropic herpesvirus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

3D Tissue-Like Assemblies: A Novel Approach to Investigate Virus-Cell Interactions

PubMed Central

Goodwin, Thomas J.; McCarthy, Maureen; Cohrs, Randall J.; Kaufer, Benedikt B.

2017-01-01

Virus-host cell interactions are most commonly analyzed in cells maintained in vitro as two-dimensional tissue cultures. However, these in vitro conditions vary quite drastically from the tissues that are commonly infected in vivo. Over the years, a number of systems have been developed that allow the establishment of three-dimensional (3D) tissue structures that have properties similar to their in vivo 3D counterparts. These 3D systems have numerous applications including drug testing, maintenance of large tissue explants, monitoring migration of human lymphocytes in tissues, analysis of human organ tissue development and investigation of virus-host interactions including viral latency. Here, we describe the establishment of tissue-like assemblies for human lung and neuronal tissue that we infected with a variety of viruses including the respiratory pathogens human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS corona virus (SARS-CoV) as well as the human neurotropic herpesvirus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) PMID:25986169

Metal-Element Compounds of Titanium, Zirconium, and Hafnium as Pyrotechnic Fuels

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-04

including ceramic materials in this role has been far less common. Following the development of boron carbide-based pyrotechnics in our laboratories, we...ameliorate these problems. Commercially available group 4 compounds containing hydrogen, boron , carbon, nitrogen, silicon, and phosphorus were obtained for...predicted behavior suggests that these compounds may be useful for a variety of pyrotechnic applications. 1. INTRODUCTION The recent use of boron

106-17 Telemetry Standards Chapter 1

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-07-01

Telemetry Standards , RCC Standard 106-17 Chapter 1, July 2017 1-1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction The Telemetry Standards address the here-to-date...generally devoted to a different element of the telemetry system or process . Chapters 21 through 28 address the topic of network telemetry. These...Commonly used terms are defined in standard reference glossaries and dictionaries. Definitions of terms with special applications are included when

TCA precipitation.

PubMed

Koontz, Laura

2014-01-01

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitation of proteins is commonly used to concentrate protein samples or remove contaminants, including salts and detergents, prior to downstream applications such as SDS-PAGE or 2D-gels. TCA precipitation denatures the protein, so it should not be used if the protein must remain in its folded state (e.g., if you want to measure a biochemical activity of the protein). © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Shock Tube Test for Energy Absorbing Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-13

rigid and lightweight foam material with a closed-cell structure, and a very high strength-to-weight ratio (7). It is commonly used as a sandwich...including application in helmet liners (8). Zorbium™ is the viscoelastic polyurethane foam used in military helmet suspension system pads (9). 8...viscoelastic polyurethane foam which shows strain rate dependent behavior when compressed. This is displayed by the significant difference in response

Short Tandem Repeat DNA Internet Database

National Institute of Standards and Technology Data Gateway

SRD 130 Short Tandem Repeat DNA Internet Database (Web, free access)   Short Tandem Repeat DNA Internet Database is intended to benefit research and application of short tandem repeat DNA markers for human identity testing. Facts and sequence information on each STR system, population data, commonly used multiplex STR systems, PCR primers and conditions, and a review of various technologies for analysis of STR alleles have been included.

NON-MENDELIAN ETIOLOGIC FACTORS IN NEUROPSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS: PLEIOTROPY, EPIGENETICS, AND CONVERGENCE

PubMed Central

Deutsch, Curtis K; McIlvane, William J

2013-01-01

The target article by Charney on behavior genetics/genomics discusses how numerous molecular factors can inform heritability estimations and genetic association studies. These factors find application in the search for genes for behavioral phenotypes, including neuropsychiatric disorders. We elaborate upon how single causal factors can generate multiple phenotypes, and discuss how multiple causal factors may converge on common neurodevelopmental mechanisms. PMID:23095384

Coherent perfect rotation theory: connections with, and consequences beyond, the anti-laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crescimanno, Michael; Andrews, James; Zhou, Chuanhong; Baker, Michael

2014-05-01

Coherent Perfect Rotation (CPR) phenomena are a reversible generalization of the anti-laser. By evaluating CPR in a broad variety of common optical systems, including optical cavities and DFB and DBR structures, we illustrate its unique threshold and resonance features. This study builds intuition critical to assessing the utility of CPR in optical devices, and we detail it in a concrete application.

Hormesis and medicine

PubMed Central

Calabrese, Edward J

2008-01-01

Evidence is presented which supports the conclusion that the hormetic dose–response model is the most common and fundamental in the biological and biomedical sciences, being highly generalizable across biological model, endpoint measured and chemical class and physical agent. The paper provides a broad spectrum of applications of the hormesis concept for clinical medicine including anxiety, seizure, memory, stroke, cancer chemotherapy, dermatological processes such as hair growth, osteoporosis, ocular diseases, including retinal detachment, statin effects on cardiovascular function and tumour development, benign prostate enlargement, male sexual behaviours/dysfunctions, and prion diseases. PMID:18662293

Gliadin Detection in Food by Immunoassay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grant, Gordon; Sporns, Peter; Hsieh, Y.-H. Peggy

Immunoassays are very sensitive and efficient tests that are commonly used to identify a specific protein. Examples of applications in the food industry include identification of proteins expressed in genetically modified foods, allergens, or proteins associated with a disease, including celiac disease. This genetic disease is associated with Europeans and affects about one in every 200 people in North America. These individuals react immunologically to wheat proteins, and consequently their own immune systems attack and damage their intestines. This disease can be managed if wheat proteins, specifically "gliadins," are avoided in foods.

Getting Funded

PubMed Central

Gill, Thomas M; McDermott, Mary M; Ibrahim, Said A; Petersen, Laura A; Doebbeling, Bradley N

2004-01-01

For aspiring clinical investigators, career development awards provide a primary mechanism for “getting funded.” The objective of this article is to provide information that will facilitate a successful application for a research career development award. Specifically, we discuss important issues that cut across the diverse array of awards, and we highlight the most common sources of funding, including the unique opportunities that are available for underrepresented minorities. The target audience includes junior faculty and fellows who are pursuing or considering a research career in academic medicine, as well as their mentors and program directors. PMID:15109347

Methods of three-dimensional electrophoretic deposition for ceramic and cermet applications and systems thereof

DOEpatents

Rose, Klint Aaron; Kuntz, Joshua D.; Worsley, Marcus

2016-09-27

A ceramic, metal, or cermet according to one embodiment includes a first layer having a gradient in composition, microstructure and/or density in an x-y plane oriented parallel to a plane of deposition of the first layer. A ceramic according to another embodiment includes a plurality of layers comprising particles of a non-cubic material, wherein each layer is characterized by the particles of the non-cubic material being aligned in a common direction. Additional products and methods are also disclosed.

Pressing needs of biomedical text mining in biocuration and beyond: opportunities and challenges

PubMed Central

Singhal, Ayush; Leaman, Robert; Catlett, Natalie; Lemberger, Thomas; McEntyre, Johanna; Polson, Shawn; Xenarios, Ioannis; Arighi, Cecilia; Lu, Zhiyong

2016-01-01

Text mining in the biomedical sciences is rapidly transitioning from small-scale evaluation to large-scale application. In this article, we argue that text-mining technologies have become essential tools in real-world biomedical research. We describe four large scale applications of text mining, as showcased during a recent panel discussion at the BioCreative V Challenge Workshop. We draw on these applications as case studies to characterize common requirements for successfully applying text-mining techniques to practical biocuration needs. We note that system ‘accuracy’ remains a challenge and identify several additional common difficulties and potential research directions including (i) the ‘scalability’ issue due to the increasing need of mining information from millions of full-text articles, (ii) the ‘interoperability’ issue of integrating various text-mining systems into existing curation workflows and (iii) the ‘reusability’ issue on the difficulty of applying trained systems to text genres that are not seen previously during development. We then describe related efforts within the text-mining community, with a special focus on the BioCreative series of challenge workshops. We believe that focusing on the near-term challenges identified in this work will amplify the opportunities afforded by the continued adoption of text-mining tools. Finally, in order to sustain the curation ecosystem and have text-mining systems adopted for practical benefits, we call for increased collaboration between text-mining researchers and various stakeholders, including researchers, publishers and biocurators. PMID:28025348

Experiments with microcomputer-based artificial intelligence environments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Summers, E.G.; MacDonald, R.A.

1988-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been experimenting with the use of relatively inexpensive microcomputers as artificial intelligence (AI) development environments. Several AI languages are available that perform fairly well on desk-top personal computers, as are low-to-medium cost expert system packages. Although performance of these systems is respectable, their speed and capacity limitations are questionable for serious earth science applications foreseen by the USGS. The most capable artificial intelligence applications currently are concentrated on what is known as the "artificial intelligence computer," and include Xerox D-series, Tektronix 4400 series, Symbolics 3600, VAX, LMI, and Texas Instruments Explorer. The artificial intelligence computer runs expert system shells and Lisp, Prolog, and Smalltalk programming languages. However, these AI environments are expensive. Recently, inexpensive 32-bit hardware has become available for the IBM/AT microcomputer. USGS has acquired and recently completed Beta-testing of the Gold Hill Systems 80386 Hummingboard, which runs Common Lisp on an IBM/AT microcomputer. Hummingboard appears to have the potential to overcome many of the speed/capacity limitations observed with AI-applications on standard personal computers. USGS is a Beta-test site for the Gold Hill Systems GoldWorks expert system. GoldWorks combines some high-end expert system shell capabilities in a medium-cost package. This shell is developed in Common Lisp, runs on the 80386 Hummingboard, and provides some expert system features formerly available only on AI-computers including frame and rule-based reasoning, on-line tutorial, multiple inheritance, and object-programming. ?? 1988 International Association for Mathematical Geology.

Pressing needs of biomedical text mining in biocuration and beyond: opportunities and challenges

DOE PAGES

Singhal, Ayush; Leaman, Robert; Catlett, Natalie; ...

2016-12-26

Text mining in the biomedical sciences is rapidly transitioning from small-scale evaluation to large-scale application. In this article, we argue that text-mining technologies have become essential tools in real-world biomedical research. We describe four large scale applications of text mining, as showcased during a recent panel discussion at the BioCreative V Challenge Workshop. We draw on these applications as case studies to characterize common requirements for successfully applying text-mining techniques to practical biocuration needs. We note that system ‘accuracy’ remains a challenge and identify several additional common difficulties and potential research directions including (i) the ‘scalability’ issue due to themore » increasing need of mining information from millions of full-text articles, (ii) the ‘interoperability’ issue of integrating various text-mining systems into existing curation workflows and (iii) the ‘reusability’ issue on the difficulty of applying trained systems to text genres that are not seen previously during development. We then describe related efforts within the text-mining community, with a special focus on the BioCreative series of challenge workshops. We believe that focusing on the near-term challenges identified in this work will amplify the opportunities afforded by the continued adoption of text-mining tools. In conclusion, in order to sustain the curation ecosystem and have text-mining systems adopted for practical benefits, we call for increased collaboration between text-mining researchers and various stakeholders, including researchers, publishers and biocurators.« less

Pressing needs of biomedical text mining in biocuration and beyond: opportunities and challenges

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

Singhal, Ayush; Leaman, Robert; Catlett, Natalie

Text mining in the biomedical sciences is rapidly transitioning from small-scale evaluation to large-scale application. In this article, we argue that text-mining technologies have become essential tools in real-world biomedical research. We describe four large scale applications of text mining, as showcased during a recent panel discussion at the BioCreative V Challenge Workshop. We draw on these applications as case studies to characterize common requirements for successfully applying text-mining techniques to practical biocuration needs. We note that system ‘accuracy’ remains a challenge and identify several additional common difficulties and potential research directions including (i) the ‘scalability’ issue due to themore » increasing need of mining information from millions of full-text articles, (ii) the ‘interoperability’ issue of integrating various text-mining systems into existing curation workflows and (iii) the ‘reusability’ issue on the difficulty of applying trained systems to text genres that are not seen previously during development. We then describe related efforts within the text-mining community, with a special focus on the BioCreative series of challenge workshops. We believe that focusing on the near-term challenges identified in this work will amplify the opportunities afforded by the continued adoption of text-mining tools. In conclusion, in order to sustain the curation ecosystem and have text-mining systems adopted for practical benefits, we call for increased collaboration between text-mining researchers and various stakeholders, including researchers, publishers and biocurators.« less

Application and potential of capillary electroseparation methods to determine antioxidant phenolic compounds from plant food material.

PubMed

Hurtado-Fernández, Elena; Gómez-Romero, María; Carrasco-Pancorbo, Alegría; Fernández-Gutiérrez, Alberto

2010-12-15

Antioxidants are one of the most common active ingredients of nutritionally functional foods which can play an important role in the prevention of oxidation and cellular damage inhibiting or delaying the oxidative processes. In recent years there has been an increased interest in the application of antioxidants to medical treatment as information is constantly gathered linking the development of human diseases to oxidative stress. Within antioxidants, phenolic molecules are an important category of compounds, commonly present in a wide variety of plant food materials. Their correct determination is pivotal nowadays and involves their extraction from the sample, analytical separation, identification, quantification and interpretation of the data. The aim of this review is to provide an overview about all the necessary steps of any analytical procedure to achieve the determination of phenolic compounds from plant matrices, paying particular attention to the application and potential of capillary electroseparation methods. Since it is quite complicated to establish a classification of plant food material, and to structure the current review, we will group the different matrices as follows: fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and medicinal plants, beverages, vegetable oils, cereals, legumes and nuts and other matrices (including cocoa beans and bee products). At the end of the overview, we include two sections to explain the usefulness of the data about phenols provided by capillary electrophoresis and the newest trends. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Regulatory assessment of reproductive toxicology data.

PubMed

Davidson, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

This chapter outlines a regulator's personal approach to the assessment of reproductive toxicology data in the context of the assessment of the overall nonclinical data package for pharmaceutical agents. Using as a framework the International Conference on Harmonisation Common Technical Document headings, guidance is provided on the expectations of regulators for the presentation and discussion of the data by the applicant to facilitate the risk assessment process. Consideration is given to the use of reproductive toxicology data in the assessment process for both clinical trial applications (CTAs) and marketing authorization applications (MAAs). Suggestions for some guiding principles in drafting of the various product information documents (for example the Investigator's Brochure (IB) for CTAs and the Nonclinical Overview and Summary of Product Characteristics for MAAs) are included.

Exopolysaccharides enriched in rare sugars: bacterial sources, production, and applications.

PubMed

Roca, Christophe; Alves, Vitor D; Freitas, Filomena; Reis, Maria A M

2015-01-01

Microbial extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), produced by a wide range of bacteria, are high molecular weight biopolymers, presenting an extreme diversity in terms of chemical structure and composition. They may be used in many applications, depending on their chemical and physical properties. A rather unexplored aspect is the presence of rare sugars in the composition of some EPS. Rare sugars, such as rhamnose or fucose, may provide EPS with additional biological properties compared to those composed of more common sugar monomers. This review gives a brief overview of these specific EPS and their producing bacteria. Cultivation conditions are summarized, demonstrating their impact on the EPS composition, together with downstream processing. Finally, their use in different areas, including cosmetics, food products, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical applications, are discussed.

Angle-domain common imaging gather extraction via Kirchhoff prestack depth migration based on a traveltime table in transversely isotropic media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shaoyong; Gu, Hanming; Tang, Yongjie; Bingkai, Han; Wang, Huazhong; Liu, Dingjin

2018-04-01

Angle-domain common image-point gathers (ADCIGs) can alleviate the limitations of common image-point gathers in an offset domain, and have been widely used for velocity inversion and amplitude variation with angle (AVA) analysis. We propose an effective algorithm for generating ADCIGs in transversely isotropic (TI) media based on the gradient of traveltime by Kirchhoff pre-stack depth migration (KPSDM), as the dynamic programming method for computing the traveltime in TI media would not suffer from the limitation of shadow zones and traveltime interpolation. Meanwhile, we present a specific implementation strategy for ADCIG extraction via KPSDM. Three major steps are included in the presented strategy: (1) traveltime computation using a dynamic programming approach in TI media; (2) slowness vector calculation by the gradient of a traveltime table calculated previously; (3) construction of illumination vectors and subsurface angles in the migration process. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, which henceforce shows its potential application for subsequent tomographic velocity inversion and AVA.

Construction of multi-scale consistent brain networks: methods and applications.

PubMed

Ge, Bao; Tian, Yin; Hu, Xintao; Chen, Hanbo; Zhu, Dajiang; Zhang, Tuo; Han, Junwei; Guo, Lei; Liu, Tianming

2015-01-01

Mapping human brain networks provides a basis for studying brain function and dysfunction, and thus has gained significant interest in recent years. However, modeling human brain networks still faces several challenges including constructing networks at multiple spatial scales and finding common corresponding networks across individuals. As a consequence, many previous methods were designed for a single resolution or scale of brain network, though the brain networks are multi-scale in nature. To address this problem, this paper presents a novel approach to constructing multi-scale common structural brain networks from DTI data via an improved multi-scale spectral clustering applied on our recently developed and validated DICCCOLs (Dense Individualized and Common Connectivity-based Cortical Landmarks). Since the DICCCOL landmarks possess intrinsic structural correspondences across individuals and populations, we employed the multi-scale spectral clustering algorithm to group the DICCCOL landmarks and their connections into sub-networks, meanwhile preserving the intrinsically-established correspondences across multiple scales. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method can generate multi-scale consistent and common structural brain networks across subjects, and its reproducibility has been verified by multiple independent datasets. As an application, these multi-scale networks were used to guide the clustering of multi-scale fiber bundles and to compare the fiber integrity in schizophrenia and healthy controls. In general, our methods offer a novel and effective framework for brain network modeling and tract-based analysis of DTI data.

Knowledge-based control of an adaptive interface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lachman, Roy

1989-01-01

The analysis, development strategy, and preliminary design for an intelligent, adaptive interface is reported. The design philosophy couples knowledge-based system technology with standard human factors approaches to interface development for computer workstations. An expert system has been designed to drive the interface for application software. The intelligent interface will be linked to application packages, one at a time, that are planned for multiple-application workstations aboard Space Station Freedom. Current requirements call for most Space Station activities to be conducted at the workstation consoles. One set of activities will consist of standard data management services (DMS). DMS software includes text processing, spreadsheets, data base management, etc. Text processing was selected for the first intelligent interface prototype because text-processing software can be developed initially as fully functional but limited with a small set of commands. The program's complexity then can be increased incrementally. The intelligent interface includes the operator's behavior and three types of instructions to the underlying application software are included in the rule base. A conventional expert-system inference engine searches the data base for antecedents to rules and sends the consequents of fired rules as commands to the underlying software. Plans for putting the expert system on top of a second application, a database management system, will be carried out following behavioral research on the first application. The intelligent interface design is suitable for use with ground-based workstations now common in government, industrial, and educational organizations.

Recent technological developments on LGAD and iLGAD detectors for tracking and timing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pellegrini, G.; Baselga, M.; Carulla, M.; Fadeyev, V.; Fernández-Martínez, P.; García, M. Fernández; Flores, D.; Galloway, Z.; Gallrapp, C.; Hidalgo, S.; Liang, Z.; Merlos, A.; Moll, M.; Quirion, D.; Sadrozinski, H.; Stricker, M.; Vila, I.

2016-09-01

This paper reports the latest technological development on the Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) and introduces a new architecture of these detectors called inverse-LGAD (iLGAD). Both approaches are based on the standard Avalanche Photo Diodes (APD) concept, commonly used in optical and X-ray detection applications, including an internal multiplication of the charge generated by radiation. The multiplication is inherent to the basic n++-p+-p structure, where the doping profile of the p+ layer is optimized to achieve high field and high impact ionization at the junction. The LGAD structures are optimized for applications such as tracking or timing detectors for high energy physics experiments or medical applications where time resolution lower than 30 ps is required. Detailed TCAD device simulations together with the electrical and charge collection measurements are presented through this work.

Preliminary feasibility assessment for Earth-to-space electromagnetic (Railgun) launchers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rice, E. E.; Miller, L. A.; Earhart, R. W.

1982-01-01

An Earth to space electromagnetic (railgun) launcher (ESRL) for launching material into space was studied. Potential ESRL applications were identified and initially assessed to formulate preliminary system requirements. The potential applications included nuclear waste disposal in space, Earth orbital applications, deep space probe launchers, atmospheric research, and boost of chemical rockets. The ESRL system concept consisted of two separate railgun launcher tubes (one at 20 deg from the horizontal for Earth orbital missions, the other vertical for solar system escape disposal missions) powered by a common power plant. Each 2040 m launcher tube is surrounded by 10,200 homopolar generator/inductor units to transmit the power to the walls. Projectile masses are 6500 kg for Earth orbital missions and 2055 kg for nuclear waste disposal missions. For the Earth orbital missions, the projectile requires a propulsion system, leaving an estimated payload mass of 650 kg. For the nuclear waste disposal in space mission, the high level waste mass was estimated at 250 kg. This preliminary assessment included technical, environmental, and economic analyses.

Novel Biomaterials Used in Medical 3D Printing Techniques.

PubMed

Tappa, Karthik; Jammalamadaka, Udayabhanu

2018-02-07

The success of an implant depends on the type of biomaterial used for its fabrication. An ideal implant material should be biocompatible, inert, mechanically durable, and easily moldable. The ability to build patient specific implants incorporated with bioactive drugs, cells, and proteins has made 3D printing technology revolutionary in medical and pharmaceutical fields. A vast variety of biomaterials are currently being used in medical 3D printing, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. With continuous research and progress in biomaterials used in 3D printing, there has been a rapid growth in applications of 3D printing in manufacturing customized implants, prostheses, drug delivery devices, and 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The current review focuses on the novel biomaterials used in variety of 3D printing technologies for clinical applications. Most common types of medical 3D printing technologies, including fused deposition modeling, extrusion based bioprinting, inkjet, and polyjet printing techniques, their clinical applications, different types of biomaterials currently used by researchers, and key limitations are discussed in detail.

Reducing Mission Logistics with Multipurpose Cargo Transfer Bags

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baccus, Shelley; Broyan, James Lee, Jr.; Borrego, Melissa

2016-01-01

The Logistics Reduction (LR) project within Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) is tasked with reducing logistical mass and repurposing logistical items. Multipurpose Cargo Transfer Bags (MCTB) have been designed such that they can serve the same purpose as a Cargo Transfer Bag (CTB), the common logistics carrying bag for the International Space Station (ISS). After use as a cargo carrier, a regular CTB becomes trash, whereas the MCTB can be unfolded into a flat panel for reuse. Concepts and potential benefits for various MCTB applications will be discussed including partitions, crew quarters, solar radiation storm shelters, acoustic blankets, and forward osmosis water processing. Acoustic MCTBs are currently in use on ISS to reduce the noise generated by the T2 treadmill, which reaches the hazard limit at high speeds. The development of the AMCTB included identification of keep-out zones, acoustic properties, deployment considerations, and structural testing. Features developed for these considerations are applicable to MCTBs for all crew outfitting applications.

Multipurpose Cargo Transfer Bags fro Reducing Exploration Mission Logistics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baccus, Shelley; Broyan, James Lee, Jr.; Borrego, Melissa

2016-01-01

The Logistics Reduction (LR) project within the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) division is tasked with reducing logistical mass and repurposing logistical items. Multipurpose Cargo Transfer Bags (MCTB) have been designed such that they can serve the same purpose as a Cargo Transfer Bag (CTB), the common logistics carrying bag for the International Space Station (ISS). After use as a cargo carrier, a regular CTB becomes trash, whereas the MCTB can be unfolded into a flat panel for reuse. Concepts and potential benefits for various MCTB applications will be discussed including partitions, crew quarters, solar radiation storm shelters, acoustic blankets, and forward osmosis water processing. Acoustic MCTBs are currently in use on ISS to reduce the noise generated by the T2 treadmill, which reaches the hazard limit at high speeds. The development of the AMCTB included identification of keep out zones, acoustic properties, deployment considerations, and structural testing. Features developed for these considerations are applicable to MCTBs for all crew outfitting applications.

Development and Application of Integrated Optical Sensors for Intense E-Field Measurement

PubMed Central

Zeng, Rong; Wang, Bo; Niu, Ben; Yu, Zhanqing

2012-01-01

The measurement of intense E-fields is a fundamental need in various research areas. Integrated optical E-field sensors (IOESs) have important advantages and are potentially suitable for intense E-field detection. This paper comprehensively reviews the development and applications of several types of IOESs over the last 30 years, including the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), coupler interferometer (CI) and common path interferometer (CPI). The features of the different types of IOESs are compared, showing that the MZI has higher sensitivity, the CI has a controllable optical bias, and the CPI has better temperature stability. More specifically, the improvement work of applying IOESs to intense E-field measurement is illustrated. Finally, typical uses of IOESs in the measurement of intense E-fields are demonstrated, including application areas such as E-fields with different frequency ranges in high-voltage engineering, simulated nuclear electromagnetic pulse in high-power electromagnetic pulses, and ion-accelerating field in high-energy physics. PMID:23112663

Principles and applications of flow cytometry and cell sorting in companion animal medicine.

PubMed

Wilkerson, Melinda J

2012-01-01

Flow cytometry measures multiple characteristic of single cells using light scatter properties and fluorescence properties of fluorescent probes with specificity to cellular constituents. The use of flow cytometry in the veterinary clinical laboratory has become more routine in veterinary diagnostic laboratories and institutions (http://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/dmp/service/immunology/index.htm), and reference laboratories. The most common applications in small animal medicine includes quantitation of erythrocytes and leukocytes in automated hematology instruments, detection of antibodies to erythrocytes and platelets in cases of immune-mediated diseases, immunophenotyping of leukocytes and lymphocytes in immunodeficiency syndromes, or leukemias and lymphomas. DNA content analysis to identify aneuploidy or replicating cells in tumor preparations has not gained routine acceptance because of the variability of prognostic results. Other applications including cell sorting and multiplexing using microspheres are potential assays of the future once they become validated and the instrumentation footprint becomes more and more compact, less expensive, and easier to use.

Refractive Secondary Concentrators for Solar Thermal Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wong, Wayne A.; Macosko, Robert P.

1999-01-01

The NASA Glenn Research Center is developing technologies that utilize solar energy for various space applications including electrical power conversion, thermal propulsion, and furnaces. Common to all of these applications is the need for highly efficient, solar concentration systems. An effort is underway to develop the innovative single crystal refractive secondary concentrator, which uses refraction and total internal reflection to efficiently concentrate and direct solar energy. The refractive secondary offers very high throughput efficiencies (greater than 90%), and when used in combination with advanced primary concentrators, enables very high concentration ratios (10,0(X) to 1) and very high temperatures (greater than 2000 K). Presented is an overview of the refractive secondary concentrator development effort at the NASA Glenn Research Center, including optical design and analysis techniques, thermal modeling capabilities, crystal materials characterization testing, optical coatings evaluation, and component testing. Also presented is a discussion of potential future activity and technical issues yet to be resolved. Much of the work performed to date has been in support of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Solar Thermal Propulsion Program. The many benefits of a refractive secondary concentrator that enable efficient, high temperature thermal propulsion system designs, apply equally well to other solar applications including furnaces and power generation systems such as solar dynamics, concentrated thermal photovoltaics, and thermionics.

Common Problems of Mobile Applications for Foreign Language Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garcia Laborda, Jesus; Magal-Royo, Teresa; Lopez, Jose Luis Gimenez

2011-01-01

As the use of mobile learning educational applications has become more common anywhere in the world, new concerns have appeared in the classroom, human interaction in software engineering and ergonomics. new tests of foreign languages for a number of purposes have become more and more common recently. However, studies interrelating language tests…

47 CFR 76.1004 - Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Cable Programming § 76.1004 Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates. (a... common carrier or its affiliate that provides video programming by any means directly to subscribers. Any such provision that applies to a satellite cable programming vendor in which a cable operator has an...

47 CFR 76.1004 - Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Cable Programming § 76.1004 Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates. (a... common carrier or its affiliate that provides video programming by any means directly to subscribers. Any such provision that applies to a satellite cable programming vendor in which a cable operator has an...

47 CFR 76.1004 - Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Cable Programming § 76.1004 Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates. (a... common carrier or its affiliate that provides video programming by any means directly to subscribers. Any such provision that applies to a satellite cable programming vendor in which a cable operator has an...

47 CFR 76.1004 - Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Cable Programming § 76.1004 Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates. (a... common carrier or its affiliate that provides video programming by any means directly to subscribers. Any such provision that applies to a satellite cable programming vendor in which a cable operator has an...

47 CFR 76.1004 - Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Cable Programming § 76.1004 Applicability of program access rules to common carriers and affiliates. (a... common carrier or its affiliate that provides video programming by any means directly to subscribers. Any such provision that applies to a satellite cable programming vendor in which a cable operator has an...

Misrepresentation of academic accomplishments by applicants for gastroenterology fellowships.

PubMed

Sekas, G; Hutson, W R

1995-07-01

To determine whether two applicants who misrepresented their accomplishments in applications for gastroenterology fellowships reflected isolated incidents or whether misrepresentation was more wide-spread. Retrospective review of all 236 applications submitted for fellowship in a recent year for confirmation of research experience and cited publications. 138 applicants (58.5%) reported research experience during residency in a U.S. training program. Research activity could not be confirmed for 47 of 138 applicants (34.1%). Fifty-three applicants (22.4%) reported published articles, and 16 of these applicants (30.2%) misrepresented articles. Misrepresentation included citations of nonexistent articles in actual journals, articles in nonexistent journals, or articles noted as "in press." Misrepresentation on applications for gastroenterology fellowships was common. The following steps are recommended: 1) Fellowship programs should require that copies of all publications and letters of acceptance for manuscripts in press be submitted with fellowship applications; 2) applications should contain a statement to be signed by the applicant that the information provided is accurate; 3) persons writing letters of recommendation should verify the information being submitted by applicants; 4) medical students and residents should be taught that embellishment of curricula vitae constitutes misconduct; and 5) institutions and professional organizations should develop policies to deal with this problem.

Collaborative WorkBench for Researchers - Work Smarter, Not Harder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramachandran, Rahul; Kuo, Kwo-sen; Maskey, Manil; Lynnes, Christopher

2014-01-01

It is important to define some commonly used terminology related to collaboration to facilitate clarity in later discussions. We define provisioning as infrastructure capabilities such as computation, storage, data, and tools provided by some agency or similarly trusted institution. Sharing is defined as the process of exchanging data, programs, and knowledge among individuals (often strangers) and groups. Collaboration is a specialized case of sharing. In collaboration, sharing with others (usually known colleagues) is done in pursuit of a common scientific goal or objective. Collaboration entails more dynamic and frequent interactions and can occur at different speeds. Synchronous collaboration occurs in real time such as editing a shared document on the fly, chatting, video conference, etc., and typically requires a peer-to-peer connection. Asynchronous collaboration is episodic in nature based on a push-pull model. Examples of asynchronous collaboration include email exchanges, blogging, repositories, etc. The purpose of a workbench is to provide a customizable framework for different applications. Since the workbench will be common to all the customized tools, it promotes building modular functionality that can be used and reused by multiple tools. The objective of our Collaborative Workbench (CWB) is thus to create such an open and extensible framework for the Earth Science community via a set of plug-ins. Our CWB is based on the Eclipse [2] Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which is designed as a small kernel containing a plug-in loader for hundreds of plug-ins. The kernel itself is an implementation of a known specification to provide an environment for the plug-ins to execute. This design enables modularity, where discrete chunks of functionality can be reused to build new applications. The minimal set of plug-ins necessary to create a client application is called the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) [3]; The Eclipse RCP also supports thousands of community-contributed plug-ins, making it a popular development platform for many diverse applications including the Science Activity Planner developed at JPL for the Mars rovers [4] and the scientific experiment tool Gumtree [5]. By leveraging the Eclipse RCP to provide an open, extensible framework, a CWB supports customizations via plug-ins to build rich user applications specific for Earth Science. More importantly, CWB plug-ins can be used by existing science tools built off Eclipse such as IDL or PyDev to provide seamless collaboration functionalities.

Comparison of Self-Reported Data on Student Doctor Network to Objective Data of the National Resident Matching Program.

PubMed

Sura, Karna; Wilson, Lynn D; Grills, Inga S

2017-12-01

To compare matching outcomes between self-reporting on Student Doctor Network (SDN) and objective data from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Data were collected from SDN starting in the 2010 to 2011 academic year and extending to the 2015 to 2016 academic year. A total of 193 radiation oncology applicants had reported data during the period. A total of four applicants (2.1%) did not match and were excluded from the analysis. Applicants were compared with the NRMP charting outcomes of 2011, 2014, and 2016. US allopathic seniors comprised a majority of those reporting on SDN (95.2%). The majority of applicants (58.2%) self-reported in the later years between 2014 and 2016. Those reporting on SDN were more likely to be members of Alpha Omega Alpha (39.7% on SDN versus 27.5% in 2016 NRMP, 23.6% in 2014 NRMP, and 31.2% in 2011 NRMP) and had higher mean United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) step 1 and step 2 scores. Of the applicants, 81% matched within their top three ranked residencies on their match list. Common themes associated with reasons for their successful match included research experience, letters of recommendation, and away rotations. Common themes associated with advice given to future applicants were the importance of research, personality, and away rotations. Self-reporting on SDN does have a bias toward more successful radiation oncology applicants compared with the objective NRMP data. However, if self-reporting increases, SDN may serve as a reasonably accurate source of information for future applicants. Copyright © 2017 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Corrective Action Glossary

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

Not Available

1992-07-01

The glossary of technical terms was prepared to facilitate the use of the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) issued by OSWER on November 14, 1986. The CAP presents model scopes of work for all phases of a corrective action program, including the RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI), Corrective Measures Study (CMS), Corrective Measures Implementation (CMI), and interim measures. The Corrective Action Glossary includes brief definitions of the technical terms used in the CAP and explains how they are used. In addition, expected ranges (where applicable) are provided. Parameters or terms not discussed in the CAP, but commonly associated with site investigations ormore » remediations are also included.« less

The Use of Mobile Health Applications Among Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV: Focus Group Findings.

PubMed

Saberi, Parya; Siedle-Khan, Robert; Sheon, Nicolas; Lightfoot, Marguerita

2016-06-01

The objective of this study was to conduct focus groups with youth (18-29 years old) living with HIV (YLWH) to better understand preferences for mobile applications in general and to inform the design of a mobile health application aimed at improving retention and engagement in healthcare and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. We conducted four focus groups with YLWH to elicit the names and characteristics of applications that they commonly used, reasons they deleted applications, and the features of an ideal mobile health application. A diverse sample of youth (N = 17) with a mean age of 25 years, 88.2% male, and 29.4% African American participated in four focus groups. Positive attributes of applications included informative, simple, allowing for networking, timely updates, little overlap with other applications, unlimited access to entertainment, and with ongoing advancement. Participants identified several reasons for deleting applications, including engaging in excessive behaviors (e.g., spending money), for hook ups only, too many notifications or restrictions, occupied too much space on device, or required wireless connectivity or frequent updates. Participants suggested that a mobile health application that they would find useful should have the ability to connect to a community of other YLWH, readily access healthcare providers, track personal data and information (such as laboratory data), and obtain health news and education. Privacy was a key factor in a mobile health application for all participants. Researchers can use the information provided by focus group participants in creating mobile health applications for YLWH.

The Use of Mobile Health Applications Among Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV: Focus Group Findings

PubMed Central

Siedle-Khan, Robert; Sheon, Nicolas; Lightfoot, Marguerita

2016-01-01

Abstract The objective of this study was to conduct focus groups with youth (18–29 years old) living with HIV (YLWH) to better understand preferences for mobile applications in general and to inform the design of a mobile health application aimed at improving retention and engagement in healthcare and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. We conducted four focus groups with YLWH to elicit the names and characteristics of applications that they commonly used, reasons they deleted applications, and the features of an ideal mobile health application. A diverse sample of youth (N = 17) with a mean age of 25 years, 88.2% male, and 29.4% African American participated in four focus groups. Positive attributes of applications included informative, simple, allowing for networking, timely updates, little overlap with other applications, unlimited access to entertainment, and with ongoing advancement. Participants identified several reasons for deleting applications, including engaging in excessive behaviors (e.g., spending money), for hook ups only, too many notifications or restrictions, occupied too much space on device, or required wireless connectivity or frequent updates. Participants suggested that a mobile health application that they would find useful should have the ability to connect to a community of other YLWH, readily access healthcare providers, track personal data and information (such as laboratory data), and obtain health news and education. Privacy was a key factor in a mobile health application for all participants. Researchers can use the information provided by focus group participants in creating mobile health applications for YLWH. PMID:27214751

Comprehensive bactericidal activity of an ethanol-based hand gel in 15 seconds.

PubMed

Kampf, Günter; Hollingsworth, Angela

2008-01-22

Some studies indicate that the commonly recommended 30 s application time for the post contamination treatment of hands may not be necessary as the same effect may be achieved with some formulations in a shorter application time such as 15 s. We evaluated the bactericidal activity of an ethanol-based hand gel (Sterillium Comfort Gel) within 15 s in a time-kill-test against 11 Gram-positive, 16 Gram-negative bacteria and 11 emerging bacterial pathogens. Each strain was evaluated in quadruplicate. The hand gel (85% ethanol, w/w) was found to reduce all 11 Gram-positive and all 16 Gram-negative bacteria by more than 5 log10 steps within 15 s, not only against the ATCC test strains but also against corresponding clinical isolates. In addition, a log10 reduction > 5 was observed against all tested emerging bacterial pathogens. The ethanol-based hand gel was found to have a broad spectrum of bactericidal activity in only 15 s which includes the most common species causing nosocomial infections and the relevant emerging pathogens. Future research will hopefully help to find out if a shorter application time for the post contamination treatment of hands provides more benefits or more risks.

Process Variables and Design of Experiments in Liposome and Nanoliposome Research.

PubMed

Zoghi, Alaleh; Khosravi-Darani, Kianoush; Omri, Abdelwahab

2018-01-01

Liposomes vesicles consisting of one or more phospholipid bilayers are microcarriers used in numerous scientific disciplines. During the last decade, nanostructured liposomes, or nanoliposomes, have been utilized in biomedical investigations due to their unique characteristics including nanoscale size, sustained release, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The extensive literature covering the field of liposomology is an indication of increasing interests and applications in many areas, especially as carriers of active substances in nanomedicine, agriculture, food technology, and cosmetics. Nanoliposomes application as drug carriers resulted in more effective treatment of such diseases as cancers, atherosclerosis, infectious diseases and ocular disorders. In this communication, we will introduce commonly used methods for the preparation of liposome, pointing the therapeutic report of liposomes, and explaining the common process variables in liposome encapsulations. We will also review different screening methods and full and fractional factorial designs that impact independent variables in certain applications and the end-user response. We will review such key factors as encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, particles' biologic, structural and physicochemical properties, and lipid composition in an effort to provide a comprehensive guide for liposomologists in different fields of interest. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Applied Graph-Mining Algorithms to Study Biomolecular Interaction Networks

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks carry vital information on the organization of molecular interactions in cellular systems. The identification of functionally relevant modules in PPI networks is one of the most important applications of biological network analysis. Computational analysis is becoming an indispensable tool to understand large-scale biomolecular interaction networks. Several types of computational methods have been developed and employed for the analysis of PPI networks. Of these computational methods, graph comparison and module detection are the two most commonly used strategies. This review summarizes current literature on graph kernel and graph alignment methods for graph comparison strategies, as well as module detection approaches including seed-and-extend, hierarchical clustering, optimization-based, probabilistic, and frequent subgraph methods. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the major algorithms employed under each theme, including our recently published frequent subgraph method, for detecting functional modules commonly shared across multiple cancer PPI networks. PMID:24800226

Psychological issues in the evaluation and treatment of tension-type headache.

PubMed

Rosen, Noah L

2012-12-01

Tension-type headache is the most common headache disorder, affecting approximately 40 % of Americans within a one-year span. Although the most common form, episodic tension-type headache, is rarely impairing, more frequent tension-type headache can occur with significant disability and psychological comorbidity. Appreciating the psychological impact, assessing the associated biopsychosocial issues, and understanding patients' coping styles are important in forming an appropriate treatment plan and maximizing treatment outcomes. A range of psychological therapies including relaxation training, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback and mindfulness have demonstrated utility in treating chronic pain conditions and reducing the associated disability. This may be particularly applicable to special populations, including pediatric patients, pregnant patients and geriatric. Psychological assessment and treatment may be done conjointly with medication management and expands treatment options. There is great need to continue researching the effects of psychological treatments, standardizing interventions and making them available to the wider population.

Luminescent sensing and imaging of oxygen: Fierce competition to the Clark electrode

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Luminescence‐based sensing schemes for oxygen have experienced a fast growth and are in the process of replacing the Clark electrode in many fields. Unlike electrodes, sensing is not limited to point measurements via fiber optic microsensors, but includes additional features such as planar sensing, imaging, and intracellular assays using nanosized sensor particles. In this essay, I review and discuss the essentials of (i) common solid‐state sensor approaches based on the use of luminescent indicator dyes and host polymers; (ii) fiber optic and planar sensing schemes; (iii) nanoparticle‐based intracellular sensing; and (iv) common spectroscopies. Optical sensors are also capable of multiple simultaneous sensing (such as O2 and temperature). Sensors for O2 are produced nowadays in large quantities in industry. Fields of application include sensing of O2 in plant and animal physiology, in clinical chemistry, in marine sciences, in the chemical industry and in process biotechnology. PMID:26113255

The MGED ontology: a framework for describing functional genomics experiments.

PubMed

Stoeckert, Christian J; Parkinson, Helen

2003-01-01

The Microarray Gene Expression Data (MGED) society was formed with an initial focus on experiments involving microarray technology. Despite the diversity of applications, there are common concepts used and a common need to capture experimental information in a standardized manner. In building the MGED ontology, it was recognized that it would be impractical to cover all the different types of experiments on all the different types of organisms by listing and defining all the types of organisms and their properties. Our solution was to create a framework for describing microarray experiments with an initial focus on the biological sample and its manipulation. For concepts that are common for many species, we could provide a manageable listing of controlled terms. For concepts that are species-specific or whose values cannot be readily listed, we created an 'OntologyEntry' concept that referenced an external resource. The MGED ontology is a work in progress that needs additional instances and particularly needs constraints to be added. The ontology currently covers the experimental sample and design, and we have begun capturing aspects of the microarrays themselves as well. The primary application of the ontology will be to develop forms for entering information into databases, and consequently allowing queries, taking advantage of the structure provided by the ontology. The application of an ontology of experimental conditions extends beyond microarray experiments and, as the scope of MGED includes other aspects of functional genomics, so too will the MGED ontology.

A Proxy Design to Leverage the Interconnection of CoAP Wireless Sensor Networks with Web Applications

PubMed Central

Ludovici, Alessandro; Calveras, Anna

2015-01-01

In this paper, we present the design of a Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) proxy able to interconnect Web applications based on Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and WebSocket with CoAP based Wireless Sensor Networks. Sensor networks are commonly used to monitor and control physical objects or environments. Smart Cities represent applications of such a nature. Wireless Sensor Networks gather data from their surroundings and send them to a remote application. This data flow may be short or long lived. The traditional HTTP long-polling used by Web applications may not be adequate in long-term communications. To overcome this problem, we include the WebSocket protocol in the design of the CoAP proxy. We evaluate the performance of the CoAP proxy in terms of latency and memory consumption. The tests consider long and short-lived communications. In both cases, we evaluate the performance obtained by the CoAP proxy according to the use of WebSocket and HTTP long-polling. PMID:25585107

Superhydrophobic Materials for Biomedical Applications

PubMed Central

Colson, Yolonda L.; Grinstaff, Mark W.

2016-01-01

Superhydrophobic surfaces are actively studied across a wide range of applications and industries, and are now finding increased use in the biomedical arena as substrates to control protein adsorption, cellular interaction, and bacterial growth, as well as platforms for drug delivery devices and for diagnostic tools. The commonality in the design of these materials is to create a stable or metastable air state at the material surface, which lends itself to a number of unique properties. These activities are catalyzing the development of new materials, applications, and fabrication techniques, as well as collaborations across material science, chemistry, engineering, and medicine given the interdisciplinary nature of this work. The review begins with a discussion of superhydrophobicity, and then explores biomedical applications that are utilizing superhydrophobicity in depth including material selection characteristics, in vitro performance, and in vivo performance. General trends are offered for each application in addition to discussion of conflicting data in the literature, and the review concludes with the authors’ future perspectives on the utility of superhydrophobic surfaces for biomedical applications. PMID:27449946

MRI Segmentation of the Human Brain: Challenges, Methods, and Applications

PubMed Central

Despotović, Ivana

2015-01-01

Image segmentation is one of the most important tasks in medical image analysis and is often the first and the most critical step in many clinical applications. In brain MRI analysis, image segmentation is commonly used for measuring and visualizing the brain's anatomical structures, for analyzing brain changes, for delineating pathological regions, and for surgical planning and image-guided interventions. In the last few decades, various segmentation techniques of different accuracy and degree of complexity have been developed and reported in the literature. In this paper we review the most popular methods commonly used for brain MRI segmentation. We highlight differences between them and discuss their capabilities, advantages, and limitations. To address the complexity and challenges of the brain MRI segmentation problem, we first introduce the basic concepts of image segmentation. Then, we explain different MRI preprocessing steps including image registration, bias field correction, and removal of nonbrain tissue. Finally, after reviewing different brain MRI segmentation methods, we discuss the validation problem in brain MRI segmentation. PMID:25945121

How to locate & hire clinical/biomedical engineers, supervisors, managers & biomedical equipment technicians.

PubMed

Pacela, A F; Brush, L C

1993-01-01

This article has described the process and the resources available for locating and hiring clinical/biomedical engineers, supervisors, managers, and biomedical equipment technicians. First, the employer must determine the qualifications for the position, including job titles, descriptions, pay scales, and certification requirements. Next, the employer must find qualified applicants. The most common way to do this is to use "outside" contacts, such as help-wanted advertising, specialized job placement agencies, schools and colleges, military resources, regional biomedical societies, and nationwide societies. An "inside" search involves limited internal advertising of the position and using personal referrals for candidates. Finally, the employer must screen the applicants. The position description is the obvious first step in this process, but there are other pre-screening techniques, such as employment testing. Interviewing is the most common way to hire for job positions, but the interviewer needs to know about the position and ask the right questions. Post-interview screening is a final step to help determine the best job-person match.

A Survey of Complex Object Technologies for Digital Libraries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, Michael L.; Argue, Brad; Efron, Miles; Denn, Sheila; Pattuelli, Maria Cristina

2001-01-01

Many early web-based digital libraries (DLs) had implicit assumptions reflected in their architecture that the unit of focus in the DL (frequently "reports" or "e-prints") would only be manifested in a single, or at most a few, common file formats such as PDF or PostScript. DLs have now matured to the point where their contents are commonly no longer simple files. Complex objects in DLs have emerged from in response to various requirements, including: simple aggregation of formats and supporting files, bundling additional information to aid digital preservation, creating opaque digital objects for e-commerce applications, and the incorporation of dynamic services with the traditional data files. We examine a representative (but not necessarily exhaustive) number of current and recent historical web-based complex object technologies and projects that are applicable to DLs: Aurora, Buckets, ComMentor, Cryptolopes, Digibox, Document Management Alliance, FEDORA, Kahn-Wilensky Framework Digital Objects, Metadata Encoding & Transmission Standard, Multivalent Documents, Open eBooks, VERS Encapsulated Objects, and the Warwick Framework.

Risk management in the competitive electric power industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dahlgren, Robert William

From 1990 until present day, the electric power industry has experienced dramatic changes worldwide. This recent evolution of the power industry has included creation and multiple iterations of competitive wholesale markets in many different forms. The creation of these competitive markets has resulted in increased short-term volatility of power prices. Vertically integrated utilities emerged from years of regulatory controls to now experience the need to perform risk assessment. The goal of this dissertation is to provide background and details of the evolution of market structures combined with examples of how to apply price risk assessment techniques such as Value-at-Risk (VaR). In Chapter 1, the history and evolution of three selected regional markets, PJM, California, and England and Wales is presented. A summary of the commonalities and differences is presented to provide an overview of the rate of transformation of the industry in recent years. The broad area of risk management in the power industry is also explored through a State-of-the-Art Literature Survey. In Chapter 2, an illustration of risk assessment to power trading is presented. The techniques of Value-at-Risk and Conditional Value-at-Risk are introduced and applied to a common scenario. The advantages and limitations of the techniques are compared through observation of their results against the common example. Volatility in the California Power Markets is presented in Chapter 3. This analysis explores the California markets in the summer of 2000 including the application of VaR analysis to the extreme volatility observed during this period. In Chapter 4, CVaR is applied to the same California historical data used in Chapter 3. In addition, the unique application of minimizing the risk of a power portfolio by minimizing CVaR is presented. The application relies on recent research into CVaR whereby the portfolio optimization problem can be reduced to a Linear Programming problem.

Design of an Open Smart Energy Gateway for Smart Meter Data Management

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

Page, Janie; McParland, Chuck; Piette, Mary Ann

With the widespread deployment of electronic interval meters, commonly known as smart meters, came the promise of real-time data on electric energy consumption. Recognizing an opportunity to provide consumers access to their near real-time energy consumption data directly from their installed smart meter, we designed a mechanism for capturing those data for consumer use via an open smart energy gateway (OpenSEG). By design, OpenSEG provides a clearly defined boundary for equipment and data ownership. OpenSEG is an open-source data management platform to enable better data management of smart meter data. Effectively, it is an information architecture designed to work withmore » the ZigBee Smart Energy Profile 1.x (SEP 1.x). It was specifically designed to reduce cyber-security risks and provide secure information directly from smart meters to consumers in near real time, using display devices already owned by the consumers. OpenSEG stores 48 hours of recent consumption data in a circular cache using a format consistent with commonly available archived (not real-time) consumption data such as Green Button, which is based on the Energy Services Provider Interface (ESPI) data standard. It consists of a common XML format for energy usage information and a data exchange protocol to facilitate automated data transfer upon utility customer authorization. Included in the design is an application program interface by which users can acquire data from OpenSEG for further post processing. A sample data display application is included in the initial software product. The data display application demonstrates that OpenSEG can help electricity use data to be retrieved from a smart meter and ported to a wide variety of user-owned devices such as cell phones or a user-selected database. This system can be used for homes, multi-family buildings, or small commercial buildings in California.« less

JUPITER: Joint Universal Parameter IdenTification and Evaluation of Reliability - An Application Programming Interface (API) for Model Analysis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Banta, Edward R.; Poeter, Eileen P.; Doherty, John E.; Hill, Mary C.

2006-01-01

he Joint Universal Parameter IdenTification and Evaluation of Reliability Application Programming Interface (JUPITER API) improves the computer programming resources available to those developing applications (computer programs) for model analysis.The JUPITER API consists of eleven Fortran-90 modules that provide for encapsulation of data and operations on that data. Each module contains one or more entities: data, data types, subroutines, functions, and generic interfaces. The modules do not constitute computer programs themselves; instead, they are used to construct computer programs. Such computer programs are called applications of the API. The API provides common modeling operations for use by a variety of computer applications.The models being analyzed are referred to here as process models, and may, for example, represent the physics, chemistry, and(or) biology of a field or laboratory system. Process models commonly are constructed using published models such as MODFLOW (Harbaugh et al., 2000; Harbaugh, 2005), MT3DMS (Zheng and Wang, 1996), HSPF (Bicknell et al., 1997), PRMS (Leavesley and Stannard, 1995), and many others. The process model may be accessed by a JUPITER API application as an external program, or it may be implemented as a subroutine within a JUPITER API application . In either case, execution of the model takes place in a framework designed by the application programmer. This framework can be designed to take advantage of any parallel processing capabilities possessed by the process model, as well as the parallel-processing capabilities of the JUPITER API.Model analyses for which the JUPITER API could be useful include, for example: Compare model results to observed values to determine how well the model reproduces system processes and characteristics.Use sensitivity analysis to determine the information provided by observations to parameters and predictions of interest.Determine the additional data needed to improve selected model predictions.Use calibration methods to modify parameter values and other aspects of the model.Compare predictions to regulatory limits.Quantify the uncertainty of predictions based on the results of one or many simulations using inferential or Monte Carlo methods.Determine how to manage the system to achieve stated objectives.The capabilities provided by the JUPITER API include, for example, communication with process models, parallel computations, compressed storage of matrices, and flexible input capabilities. The input capabilities use input blocks suitable for lists or arrays of data. The input blocks needed for one application can be included within one data file or distributed among many files. Data exchange between different JUPITER API applications or between applications and other programs is supported by data-exchange files.The JUPITER API has already been used to construct a number of applications. Three simple example applications are presented in this report. More complicated applications include the universal inverse code UCODE_2005 (Poeter et al., 2005), the multi-model analysis MMA (Eileen P. Poeter, Mary C. Hill, E.R. Banta, S.W. Mehl, and Steen Christensen, written commun., 2006), and a code named OPR_PPR (Matthew J. Tonkin, Claire R. Tiedeman, Mary C. Hill, and D. Matthew Ely, written communication, 2006).This report describes a set of underlying organizational concepts and complete specifics about the JUPITER API. While understanding the organizational concept presented is useful to understanding the modules, other organizational concepts can be used in applications constructed using the JUPITER API.

Optical design of common aperture, common focal plane, multispectral optics for military applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, Nicholas Allan

2013-06-01

With recent developments in multispectral detector technology, the interest in common aperture, common focal plane multispectral imaging systems is increasing. Such systems are particularly desirable for military applications, where increased levels of target discrimination and identification are required in cost-effective, rugged, lightweight systems. During the optical design of dual waveband or multispectral systems, the options for material selection are limited. This selection becomes even more restrictive for military applications, where material resilience, thermal properties, and color correction must be considered. We discuss the design challenges that lightweight multispectral common aperture systems present, along with some potential design solutions. Consideration is given to material selection for optimum color correction, as well as material resilience and thermal correction. This discussion is supported using design examples currently in development at Qioptiq.

Detailed requirements document for common software of shuttle program information management system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Everette, J. M.; Bradfield, L. D.; Horton, C. L.

1975-01-01

Common software was investigated as a method for minimizing development and maintenance cost of the shuttle program information management system (SPIMS) applications while reducing the time-frame of their development. Those requirements satisfying these criteria are presented along with the stand-alone modules which may be used directly by applications. The SPIMS applications operating on the CYBER 74 computer, are specialized information management systems which use System 2000 as a data base manager. Common software provides the features to support user interactions on a CRT terminal using form input and command response capabilities. These features are available as subroutines to the applications.

Inorganic Photovoltaics Materials and Devices: Past, Present, and Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hepp, Aloysius F.; Bailey, Sheila G.; Rafaelle, Ryne P.

2005-01-01

This report describes recent aspects of advanced inorganic materials for photovoltaics or solar cell applications. Specific materials examined will be high-efficiency silicon, gallium arsenide and related materials, and thin-film materials, particularly amorphous silicon and (polycrystalline) copper indium selenide. Some of the advanced concepts discussed include multi-junction III-V (and thin-film) devices, utilization of nanotechnology, specifically quantum dots, low-temperature chemical processing, polymer substrates for lightweight and low-cost solar arrays, concentrator cells, and integrated power devices. While many of these technologies will eventually be used for utility and consumer applications, their genesis can be traced back to challenging problems related to power generation for aerospace and defense. Because this overview of inorganic materials is included in a monogram focused on organic photovoltaics, fundamental issues and metrics common to all solar cell devices (and arrays) will be addressed.

Liquid chromatography coupled to on-line post column derivatization for the determination of organic compounds: a review on instrumentation and chemistries.

PubMed

Zacharis, Constantinos K; Tzanavaras, Paraskevas D

2013-10-10

Analytical derivatization either in pre or post column modes is one of the most widely used sample pretreatment techniques coupled to liquid chromatography. In the present review article we selected to discuss the post column derivatization mode for the analysis of organic compounds. The first part of the review focuses to the instrumentation of post-column setups including not only fundamental components such as pumps and reactors but also less common parts such as static mixers and back-pressure regulators; the second part of the article discusses the most popular "chemistries" that are involved in post column applications, including reagent-less approaches and new sensing platforms such as the popular gold nanoparticles. Some representative recent applications are also presented as tables. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The application of computer assisted technologies (CAT) in the rehabilitation of cognitive functions in psychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence.

PubMed

Srebnicki, Tomasz; Bryńska, Anita

2016-01-01

First applications of computer-assisted technologies (CAT) in the rehabilitation of cognitive deficits, including child and adolescent psychiatric disorders date back to the 80's last century. Recent developments in computer technologies, wide access to the Internet and vast expansion of electronic devices resulted in dynamic increase in therapeutic software as well as supporting devices. The aim of computer assisted technologies is the improvement in the comfort and quality of life as well as the rehabilitation of impaired functions. The goal of the article is the presentation of most common computer-assisted technologies used in the therapy of children and adolescents with cognitive deficits as well as the literature review of their effectiveness including the challenges and limitations in regard to the implementation of such interventions.

Funding community medicines by exception: a descriptive epidemiological study from New Zealand.

PubMed

Rasiah, Dilky; Edwards, Richard; Crampton, Peter

2012-02-24

To assess rates of approval and identify factors associated with successful applications for funding to the New Zealand Community Exceptional Circumstances (CEC) scheme. Descriptive quantitative analysis of data in CEC applications database. The main outcome was initial application approval rate. Analysis included calculation of unadjusted and adjusted associations between potential determinants (for example patient age, gender) and outcomes using logistic regression analysis. All CEC applications with a decision about approval or decline 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2008 were included. Application numbers were high, but had reduced since 2001. A small number of medicines (11) and indications comprised about a third of the applications to the scheme. While some common applications were clearly outside the remit of the scheme, many applications were for patients who fitted the scheme's eligibility criteria. The overall initial application approval rate was 16% and the renewal application approval rate was 88%. Approval rates varied widely by type of medicine, therapeutic group and indication. After adjusting for other potential determinants there were no statistically significant differences in initial approval rates by gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status of the patient. There were however, significant differences in initial application approval by age of the patient, type of applicant doctor and by geographical location of the applicant doctor. There was no evidence that gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status of patients were factors associated with successful applications. However, applications for younger patients, those made by specialists, and those made by applying clinicians from the Auckland District Health Board area were more likely to be successful. It is possible that this may to some degree be appropriate, but requires further research.

Inter-clinician and intra-clinician reliability of force application during joint mobilization: a systematic review.

PubMed

Gorgos, Kara S; Wasylyk, Nicole T; Van Lunen, Bonnie L; Hoch, Matthew C

2014-04-01

Joint mobilizations are commonly used by clinicians to decrease pain and restore joint arthrokinematics following musculoskeletal injury. The force applied during a joint mobilization treatment is subjective to the individual clinician but may have an effect on patient outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review was to critically appraise and synthesize the studies which examined the reliability of clinicians' force application during joint mobilization. A systematic search of PubMed and EBSCO Host databases from inception to March 1, 2013 was conducted to identify studies assessing the reliability of force application during joint mobilizations. Two reviewers utilized the Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies (QAREL) assessment tool to determine the quality of included studies. The relative reliability of the included studies was examined through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) to synthesize study findings. All results were collated qualitatively with a level of evidence approach. A total of seven studies met the eligibility and were included. Five studies were included that assessed inter-clinician reliability, and six studies were included that assessed intra-clinician reliability. The overall level of evidence for inter-clinician reliability was strong for poor-to-moderate reliability (ICC = -0.04 to 0.70). The overall level of evidence for intra-clinician reliability was strong for good reliability (ICC = 0.75-0.99). This systematic review indicates there is variability in force application between clinicians but individual clinicians apply forces consistently. The results of this systematic review suggest innovative instructional methods are needed to improve consistency and validate the forces applied during of joint mobilization treatments. This is particularly evident for improving the consistency of force application across clinicians. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

77 FR 4854 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request and Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-31

... spousal applicant if the applicant claims a common-law marriage to the insured in a state in which such marriages are recognized, and no formal marriage documentation exists. SSA uses information we collect on... common-law marriage under state law. The respondents are applicants for spouse's Social Security benefits...

Mechanical therapy for low back pain.

PubMed

Guild, Donald Grant

2012-09-01

Physical therapy and manual medicine for low back pain encompass many different treatment modalities. There is a vast variety of techniques that physical therapists commonly use in the treatment of low back pain. Some of the therapies include, but are certainly not limited to, education, exercise, lumbar traction, manual manipulation, application of heat, cryotherapy, and ultrasonography. Many of these approaches are discussed specifically in this article. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.

An Overview on Additive Manufacturing of Polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasiuk, Iwona; Abueidda, Diab W.; Kozuch, Christopher; Pang, Siyuan; Su, Frances Y.; McKittrick, Joanna

2018-03-01

We present an overview on additive manufacturing (AM), also called three-dimensional printing, with a focus on polymers. First, we introduce the AM concept. Next, we outline several AM processes, including their advantages and limitations, and list common polymers that are used in commercial printers. Then, we state various AM applications and present two examples. We conclude with a global view of the AM field, its challenges, and future directions.

Mechanism of Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) Sensitivity of Reactive Powders and Its Mitigation

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-14

motivated by both safety requirements for handling flammable gas mixtures and convenience of using spark discharge as a controlled energy igniter for...On the other hand, experimental tests of ESD ignition sensitivity for non-aerosolized powders are among the most commonly used safety assessments...materials, including nanomaterials for a variety of applications. Current protocols used for ESD ignition sensitivity testing, e.g., described in

Hyperspectral imaging for food processing automation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Bosoon; Lawrence, Kurt C.; Windham, William R.; Smith, Doug P.; Feldner, Peggy W.

2002-11-01

This paper presents the research results that demonstrates hyperspectral imaging could be used effectively for detecting feces (from duodenum, ceca, and colon) and ingesta on the surface of poultry carcasses, and potential application for real-time, on-line processing of poultry for automatic safety inspection. The hyperspectral imaging system included a line scan camera with prism-grating-prism spectrograph, fiber optic line lighting, motorized lens control, and hyperspectral image processing software. Hyperspectral image processing algorithms, specifically band ratio of dual-wavelength (565/517) images and thresholding were effective on the identification of fecal and ingesta contamination of poultry carcasses. A multispectral imaging system including a common aperture camera with three optical trim filters (515.4 nm with 8.6- nm FWHM), 566.4 nm with 8.8-nm FWHM, and 631 nm with 10.2-nm FWHM), which were selected and validated by a hyperspectral imaging system, was developed for a real-time, on-line application. A total image processing time required to perform the current multispectral images captured by a common aperture camera was approximately 251 msec or 3.99 frames/sec. A preliminary test shows that the accuracy of real-time multispectral imaging system to detect feces and ingesta on corn/soybean fed poultry carcasses was 96%. However, many false positive spots that cause system errors were also detected.

Annual Glyphosate Treatments Alter Growth of Unaffected Bentgrass (Agrostis) Weeds and Plant Community Composition

PubMed Central

Ahrens, Collin W.; Auer, Carol A.

2012-01-01

Herbicide resistance is becoming more common in weed ecotypes and crop species including turfgrasses, but current gaps in knowledge limit predictive ecological risk assessments and risk management plans. This project examined the effect of annual glyphosate applications on the vegetative growth and reproductive potential of two weedy bentgrasses, creeping bentgrass (CB) and redtop (RT), where the glyphosate resistance (GR) trait was mimicked by covering the bentgrass plants during glyphosate application. Five field plots were studied in habitats commonly inhabited by weedy bentgrasses including an agricultural hayfield, natural meadow, and wasteland. Results showed that annual glyphosate treatment improved bentgrass survivorship, vegetative growth, and reproductive potential compared with bentgrass in unsprayed subplots. In the second year of growth, RT plants had an 86-fold increase in flower number in glyphosate-treated subplots versus controls, while CB plants had a 20-fold increase. At the end of the three year study, plant community composition had changed in glyphosate-treated subplots in hayfield and meadow plots compared to controls. Soils in subplots receiving glyphosate had higher nitrate concentrations than controls. This is the first study to mimic the GR trait in bentgrass plants with the goal of quantifying bentgrass response to glyphosate selection pressure and understanding the impacts on surrounding plant communities. PMID:23226530

Cerenkov imaging - a new modality for molecular imaging

PubMed Central

Thorek, Daniel LJ; Robertson, Robbie; Bacchus, Wassifa A; Hahn, Jaeseung; Rothberg, Julie; Beattie, Bradley J; Grimm, Jan

2012-01-01

Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) is an emerging hybrid modality that utilizes the light emission from many commonly used medical isotopes. Cerenkov radiation (CR) is produced when charged particles travel through a dielectric medium faster than the speed of light in that medium. First described in detail nearly 100 years ago, CR has only recently applied for biomedical imaging purposes. The modality is of considerable interest as it enables the use of widespread luminescence imaging equipment to visualize clinical diagnostic (all PET radioisotopes) and many therapeutic radionuclides. The amount of light detected in CLI applications is significantly lower than other that in other optical imaging techniques such as bioluminescence and fluorescence. However, significant advantages include the use of approved radiotracers and lack of an incident light source, resulting in high signal to background ratios. As well, multiple subjects may be imaged concurrently (up to 5 in common bioluminescent equipment), conferring both cost and time benefits. This review summarizes the field of Cerenkov luminescence imaging to date. Applications of CLI discussed include intraoperative radionuclide-guided surgery, monitoring of therapeutic efficacy, tomographic optical imaging capabilities, and the ability to perform multiplexed imaging using fluorophores excited by the Cerenkov radiation. While technical challenges still exist, Cerenkov imaging has materialized as an important molecular imaging modality. PMID:23133811

Lost by Design.

PubMed

Ciacci, Luca; Reck, Barbara K; Nassar, N T; Graedel, T E

2015-08-18

In some common uses metals are lost by intent-copper in brake pads, zinc in tires, and germanium in retained catalyst applications being examples. In other common uses, metals are incorporated into products in ways for which no viable recycling approaches exist, examples include selenium in colored glass and vanadium in pigments. To determine quantitatively the scope of these "losses by design", we have assessed the major uses of 56 metals and metalloids, assigning each use to one of three categories: in-use dissipation, currently unrecyclable when discarded, or potentially recyclable when discarded. In-use dissipation affects fewer than a dozen elements (including mercury and arsenic), but the spectrum of elements dissipated increases rapidly if applications from which they are currently unrecyclable are considered. In many cases the resulting dissipation rates are higher than 50%. Among others, specialty metals (e.g., gallium, indium, and thallium) and some heavy rare earth elements are representative of modern technology, and their loss provides a measure of the degree of unsustainability in the contemporary use of materials and products. Even where uses are currently compatible with recycling technologies and approaches, end of life recycling rates are in most cases well below those that are potentially achievable. The outcomes of this research provide guidance in identifying product design approaches for reducing material losses so as to increase element recovery at end-of-life.

BioSAVE: display of scored annotation within a sequence context.

PubMed

Pollock, Richard F; Adryan, Boris

2008-03-20

Visualization of sequence annotation is a common feature in many bioinformatics tools. For many applications it is desirable to restrict the display of such annotation according to a score cutoff, as biological interpretation can be difficult in the presence of the entire data. Unfortunately, many visualisation solutions are somewhat static in the way they handle such score cutoffs. We present BioSAVE, a sequence annotation viewer with on-the-fly selection of visualisation thresholds for each feature. BioSAVE is a versatile OS X program for visual display of scored features (annotation) within a sequence context. The program reads sequence and additional supplementary annotation data (e.g., position weight matrix matches, conservation scores, structural domains) from a variety of commonly used file formats and displays them graphically. Onscreen controls then allow for live customisation of these graphics, including on-the-fly selection of visualisation thresholds for each feature. Possible applications of the program include display of transcription factor binding sites in a genomic context or the visualisation of structural domain assignments in protein sequences and many more. The dynamic visualisation of these annotations is useful, e.g., for the determination of cutoff values of predicted features to match experimental data. Program, source code and exemplary files are freely available at the BioSAVE homepage.

BioSAVE: Display of scored annotation within a sequence context

PubMed Central

Pollock, Richard F; Adryan, Boris

2008-01-01

Background Visualization of sequence annotation is a common feature in many bioinformatics tools. For many applications it is desirable to restrict the display of such annotation according to a score cutoff, as biological interpretation can be difficult in the presence of the entire data. Unfortunately, many visualisation solutions are somewhat static in the way they handle such score cutoffs. Results We present BioSAVE, a sequence annotation viewer with on-the-fly selection of visualisation thresholds for each feature. BioSAVE is a versatile OS X program for visual display of scored features (annotation) within a sequence context. The program reads sequence and additional supplementary annotation data (e.g., position weight matrix matches, conservation scores, structural domains) from a variety of commonly used file formats and displays them graphically. Onscreen controls then allow for live customisation of these graphics, including on-the-fly selection of visualisation thresholds for each feature. Conclusion Possible applications of the program include display of transcription factor binding sites in a genomic context or the visualisation of structural domain assignments in protein sequences and many more. The dynamic visualisation of these annotations is useful, e.g., for the determination of cutoff values of predicted features to match experimental data. Program, source code and exemplary files are freely available at the BioSAVE homepage. PMID:18366701

An Overview of Interrater Agreement on Likert Scales for Researchers and Practitioners

PubMed Central

O'Neill, Thomas A.

2017-01-01

Applications of interrater agreement (IRA) statistics for Likert scales are plentiful in research and practice. IRA may be implicated in job analysis, performance appraisal, panel interviews, and any other approach to gathering systematic observations. Any rating system involving subject-matter experts can also benefit from IRA as a measure of consensus. Further, IRA is fundamental to aggregation in multilevel research, which is becoming increasingly common in order to address nesting. Although, several technical descriptions of a few specific IRA statistics exist, this paper aims to provide a tractable orientation to common IRA indices to support application. The introductory overview is written with the intent of facilitating contrasts among IRA statistics by critically reviewing equations, interpretations, strengths, and weaknesses. Statistics considered include rwg, rwg*, r′wg, rwg(p), average deviation (AD), awg, standard deviation (Swg), and the coefficient of variation (CVwg). Equations support quick calculation and contrasting of different agreement indices. The article also includes a “quick reference” table and three figures in order to help readers identify how IRA statistics differ and how interpretations of IRA will depend strongly on the statistic employed. A brief consideration of recommended practices involving statistical and practical cutoff standards is presented, and conclusions are offered in light of the current literature. PMID:28553257

Highly Sensitive GMO Detection Using Real-Time PCR with a Large Amount of DNA Template: Single-Laboratory Validation.

PubMed

Mano, Junichi; Hatano, Shuko; Nagatomi, Yasuaki; Futo, Satoshi; Takabatake, Reona; Kitta, Kazumi

2018-03-01

Current genetically modified organism (GMO) detection methods allow for sensitive detection. However, a further increase in sensitivity will enable more efficient testing for large grain samples and reliable testing for processed foods. In this study, we investigated real-time PCR-based GMO detection methods using a large amount of DNA template. We selected target sequences that are commonly introduced into many kinds of GM crops, i.e., 35S promoter and nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator. This makes the newly developed method applicable to a wide range of GMOs, including some unauthorized ones. The estimated LOD of the new method was 0.005% of GM maize events; to the best of our knowledge, this method is the most sensitive among the GM maize detection methods for which the LOD was evaluated in terms of GMO content. A 10-fold increase in the DNA amount as compared with the amount used under common testing conditions gave an approximately 10-fold reduction in the LOD without PCR inhibition. Our method is applicable to various analytical samples, including processed foods. The use of other primers and fluorescence probes would permit highly sensitive detection of various recombinant DNA sequences besides the 35S promoter and NOS terminator.

A risk evaluation model and its application in online retailing trustfulness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Ruyi; Xu, Yingcheng

2017-08-01

Building a general model for risks evaluation in advance could improve the convenience, normality and comparability of the results of repeating risks evaluation in the case that the repeating risks evaluating are in the same area and for a similar purpose. One of the most convenient and common risks evaluation models is an index system including of several index, according weights and crediting method. One method to build a risk evaluation index system that guarantees the proportional relationship between the resulting credit and the expected risk loss is proposed and an application example is provided in online retailing in this article.

Tribological Properties of a Pennzane(Registered Trademark)-Based Liquid Lubricant (Disubstituted Alkylated Cyclopentane) for Low Temperature Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Venier, Clifford; Casserly, Edward W.; Jones, William R., Jr.; Marchetti, Mario; Jansen, Mark J.; Predmore, Roamer E.

2002-01-01

The tribological properties of a disubstituted alkylated cyclopentane, Pennzane (registered) Synthesized Hydrocarbon Fluid X-1000, are presented. This compound is a lower molecular weight version of the commonly used multiply alkylated cyclopentane, Pennzane X-2000, currently used in many space mechanisms. New, lower temperature applications will require liquid lubricants with lower viscosities and pour points and acceptable vapor pressures. Properties reported include: friction and wear studies and lubricated lifetime in vacuum; additionally, typical physical properties (i.e., viscosity-temperature, pour point, flash and fire point, specific gravity, refractive index, thermal properties, volatility and vapor pressure) are reported.

Algorithmic commonalities in the parallel environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcanulty, Michael A.; Wainer, Michael S.

1987-01-01

The ultimate aim of this project was to analyze procedures from substantially different application areas to discover what is either common or peculiar in the process of conversion to the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP). Three areas were identified: molecular dynamic simulation, production systems (rule systems), and various graphics and vision algorithms. To date, only selected graphics procedures have been investigated. They are the most readily available, and produce the most visible results. These include simple polygon patch rendering, raycasting against a constructive solid geometric model, and stochastic or fractal based textured surface algorithms. Only the simplest of conversion strategies, mapping a major loop to the array, has been investigated so far. It is not entirely satisfactory.

Nondestructive evaluation of defects in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ngo, Andrew C. Y.; Goh, Henry K. H.; Lin, Karen K.; Liew, W. H.

2017-04-01

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are increasingly used in aerospace applications due to its superior mechanical properties and reduced weight. Adhesive bonding is commonly used to join the composite parts since it is capable of joining incompatible or dissimilar components. However, insufficient adhesive or contamination in the adhesive bonds might occur and pose as threats to the integrity of the plane during service. It is thus important to look for suitable nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques to detect and characterize the sub-surface defects within the CFRP composites. Some of the common NDT techniques include ultrasonic techniques and thermography. In this work, we report the use of the abovementioned techniques for improved interpretation of the results.

Definition of boundary and initial conditions in the analysis of saturated ground-water flow systems - An introduction

USGS Publications Warehouse

Franke, O. Lehn; Reilly, Thomas E.; Bennett, Gordon D.

1987-01-01

Accurate definition of boundary and initial conditions is an essential part of conceptualizing and modeling ground-water flow systems. This report describes the properties of the seven most common boundary conditions encountered in ground-water systems and discusses major aspects of their application. It also discusses the significance and specification of initial conditions and evaluates some common errors in applying this concept to ground-water-system models. An appendix is included that discusses what the solution of a differential equation represents and how the solution relates to the boundary conditions defining the specific problem. This report considers only boundary conditions that apply to saturated ground-water systems.

Initial response of loblolly pine and competition to mid rotation fertilization and herbicide application in the gulf coastal plain

Treesearch

Hal O. Liechty; Conner Fristoe

2010-01-01

Application of N and P to mid-rotation loblolly pines (Pinus taeda L.) stands is a common silvicultural practice used to increase crop tree production in the Gulf Coastal Plain. Mid-rotation applications of herbicides or combined applications of herbicide and fertilizer are a less common practice. We applied herbicide (1.17 l imazapyr and 0.23 l...

Region Templates: Data Representation and Management for High-Throughput Image Analysis

PubMed Central

Pan, Tony; Kurc, Tahsin; Kong, Jun; Cooper, Lee; Klasky, Scott; Saltz, Joel

2015-01-01

We introduce a region template abstraction and framework for the efficient storage, management and processing of common data types in analysis of large datasets of high resolution images on clusters of hybrid computing nodes. The region template abstraction provides a generic container template for common data structures, such as points, arrays, regions, and object sets, within a spatial and temporal bounding box. It allows for different data management strategies and I/O implementations, while providing a homogeneous, unified interface to applications for data storage and retrieval. A region template application is represented as a hierarchical dataflow in which each computing stage may be represented as another dataflow of finer-grain tasks. The execution of the application is coordinated by a runtime system that implements optimizations for hybrid machines, including performance-aware scheduling for maximizing the utilization of computing devices and techniques to reduce the impact of data transfers between CPUs and GPUs. An experimental evaluation on a state-of-the-art hybrid cluster using a microscopy imaging application shows that the abstraction adds negligible overhead (about 3%) and achieves good scalability and high data transfer rates. Optimizations in a high speed disk based storage implementation of the abstraction to support asynchronous data transfers and computation result in an application performance gain of about 1.13×. Finally, a processing rate of 11,730 4K×4K tiles per minute was achieved for the microscopy imaging application on a cluster with 100 nodes (300 GPUs and 1,200 CPU cores). This computation rate enables studies with very large datasets. PMID:26139953

Revisiting Social Network Utilization by Physicians-in-Training.

PubMed

Black, Erik W; Thompson, Lindsay A; Duff, W Patrick; Dawson, Kara; Saliba, Heidi; Black, Nicole M Paradise

2010-06-01

To measure and compare the frequency and content of online social networking among 2 cohorts of medical students and residents (2007 and 2009). Using the online social networking application Facebook, we evaluated social networking profiles for 2 cohorts of medical students (n  =  528) and residents (n  =  712) at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Objective measures included existence of a profile, whether it was made private, and whether any personally identifiable information was included. Subjective outcomes included photographic content, affiliated social groups, and personal information not generally disclosed in a doctor-patient encounter. We compared our results to our previously published and reported data from 2007. Social networking continues to be common amongst physicians-in-training, with 39.8% of residents and 69.5% of medical students maintaining Facebook accounts. Residents' participation significantly increased (P < .01) when compared to the 2007 data. Individuals in the 2009 cohort had significantly more "friends" (P < .01), belonged to more "groups" (P < .01), and were more likely to limit public access to their profiles through the use of privacy settings (P < .01) than the individuals in the 2007 cohort. Online social networking application use by physicians-in-training remains common. While most now limit access to their profiles, personal profiles that still allow public access exhibited a few instances of unprofessional behavior. Concerns remain related to the discovery of content in violation of patient privacy and the expansive and impersonal networks of online "friends" who may view profiles.

Preclinical pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling and simulation in the pharmaceutical industry: an IQ consortium survey examining the current landscape.

PubMed

Schuck, Edgar; Bohnert, Tonika; Chakravarty, Arijit; Damian-Iordache, Valeriu; Gibson, Christopher; Hsu, Cheng-Pang; Heimbach, Tycho; Krishnatry, Anu Shilpa; Liederer, Bianca M; Lin, Jing; Maurer, Tristan; Mettetal, Jerome T; Mudra, Daniel R; Nijsen, Marjoleen Jma; Raybon, Joseph; Schroeder, Patricia; Schuck, Virna; Suryawanshi, Satyendra; Su, Yaming; Trapa, Patrick; Tsai, Alice; Vakilynejad, Majid; Wang, Shining; Wong, Harvey

2015-03-01

The application of modeling and simulation techniques is increasingly common in preclinical stages of the drug discovery and development process. A survey focusing on preclinical pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) analysis was conducted across pharmaceutical companies that are members of the International Consortium for Quality and Innovation in Pharmaceutical Development. Based on survey responses, ~68% of companies use preclinical PK/PD analysis in all therapeutic areas indicating its broad application. An important goal of preclinical PK/PD analysis in all pharmaceutical companies is for the selection/optimization of doses and/or dose regimens, including prediction of human efficacious doses. Oncology was the therapeutic area with the most PK/PD analysis support and where it showed the most impact. Consistent use of more complex systems pharmacology models and hybrid physiologically based pharmacokinetic models with PK/PD components was less common compared to traditional PK/PD models. Preclinical PK/PD analysis is increasingly being included in regulatory submissions with ~73% of companies including these data to some degree. Most companies (~86%) have seen impact of preclinical PK/PD analyses in drug development. Finally, ~59% of pharmaceutical companies have plans to expand their PK/PD modeling groups over the next 2 years indicating continued growth. The growth of preclinical PK/PD modeling groups in pharmaceutical industry is necessary to establish required resources and skills to further expand use of preclinical PK/PD modeling in a meaningful and impactful manner.

Evaluation of Degradation Properties of Polyglycolide and Its Potential as Delivery Vehicle for Anticancer Agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noorsal, K.; Ghani, S. M.; Yunos, D. M.; Mohamed, M. S. W.; Yahya, A. F.

2010-03-01

Biodegradable polymers offer a unique combination of properties that can be tailored to suit nearly any controlled drug delivery application. The most common biodegradable polymers used for biomedical applications are semicrystalline polyesters and polyethers which possess good mechanical properties and have been used in many controlled release applications. Drug release from these polymers may be controlled by several mechanisms and these include diffusion of drug through a matrix, dissolution of polymer matrix and degradation of the polymer. This study aims to investigate the degradation and drug release properties of polyglycolide (1.03 dL/g), in which, cis platin, an anticancer agent was used as the model drug. The degradation behaviour of the chosen polymer is thought to largely govern the release of the anticancer agent in vitro.

Exopolysaccharides enriched in rare sugars: bacterial sources, production, and applications

PubMed Central

Roca, Christophe; Alves, Vitor D.; Freitas, Filomena; Reis, Maria A. M.

2015-01-01

Microbial extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), produced by a wide range of bacteria, are high molecular weight biopolymers, presenting an extreme diversity in terms of chemical structure and composition. They may be used in many applications, depending on their chemical and physical properties. A rather unexplored aspect is the presence of rare sugars in the composition of some EPS. Rare sugars, such as rhamnose or fucose, may provide EPS with additional biological properties compared to those composed of more common sugar monomers. This review gives a brief overview of these specific EPS and their producing bacteria. Cultivation conditions are summarized, demonstrating their impact on the EPS composition, together with downstream processing. Finally, their use in different areas, including cosmetics, food products, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical applications, are discussed. PMID:25914689

Developing the mental health workforce: review and application of training approaches from multiple disciplines.

PubMed

Lyon, Aaron R; Stirman, Shannon Wiltsey; Kerns, Suzanne E U; Bruns, Eric J

2011-07-01

Strategies specifically designed to facilitate the training of mental health practitioners in evidence-based practices (EBPs) have lagged behind the development of the interventions themselves. The current paper draws from an interdisciplinary literature (including medical training, adult education, and teacher training) to identify useful training and support approaches as well as important conceptual frameworks that may be applied to training in mental health. Theory and research findings are reviewed, which highlight the importance of continued consultation/support following training workshops, congruence between the training content and practitioner experience, and focus on motivational issues. In addition, six individual approaches are presented with careful attention to their empirical foundations and potential applications. Common techniques are highlighted and applications and future directions for mental health workforce training and research are discussed.

Automated quantitative micro-mineralogical characterization for environmental applications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, Kathleen S.; Hoal, K.O.; Walton-Day, Katherine; Stammer, J.G.; Pietersen, K.

2013-01-01

Characterization of ore and waste-rock material using automated quantitative micro-mineralogical techniques (e.g., QEMSCAN® and MLA) has the potential to complement traditional acid-base accounting and humidity cell techniques when predicting acid generation and metal release. These characterization techniques, which most commonly are used for metallurgical, mineral-processing, and geometallurgical applications, can be broadly applied throughout the mine-life cycle to include numerous environmental applications. Critical insights into mineral liberation, mineral associations, particle size, particle texture, and mineralogical residence phase(s) of environmentally important elements can be used to anticipate potential environmental challenges. Resources spent on initial characterization result in lower uncertainties of potential environmental impacts and possible cost savings associated with remediation and closure. Examples illustrate mineralogical and textural characterization of fluvial tailings material from the upper Arkansas River in Colorado.

Research and application of microbial enzymes--India's contribution.

PubMed

Chand, Subhash; Mishra, Prashant

2003-01-01

Enzymes have attracted the attention of scientists world over due to their wide range of physiological, analytical and industrial applications. Although enzymes have been isolated, purified and studied from microbial, animal and plant sources, microorganisms represent the most common source of enzymes due to their broad biochemical diversity, feasibility of mass culture and ease of genetic manipulation. With the advent of molecular biology techniques, a number of genes of industrially important enzymes has been cloned and expressed in order to improve the production of enzymes, substrate utilization and other commercially useful properties. Special attention has been focused on enzymes isolated from thermophiles due to their inherent stability and industrial applications. In addition, a variety of methods have been employed to modify enzymes for their industrial usage including strain improvement, chemical modifications, modification of reaction environment, immobilization and protein engineering. A wide range of applications of enzymes in different bioprocess industries is discussed.

A highly reliable, high performance open avionics architecture for real time Nap-of-the-Earth operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harper, Richard E.; Elks, Carl

1995-01-01

An Army Fault Tolerant Architecture (AFTA) has been developed to meet real-time fault tolerant processing requirements of future Army applications. AFTA is the enabling technology that will allow the Army to configure existing processors and other hardware to provide high throughput and ultrahigh reliability necessary for TF/TA/NOE flight control and other advanced Army applications. A comprehensive conceptual study of AFTA has been completed that addresses a wide range of issues including requirements, architecture, hardware, software, testability, producibility, analytical models, validation and verification, common mode faults, VHDL, and a fault tolerant data bus. A Brassboard AFTA for demonstration and validation has been fabricated, and two operating systems and a flight-critical Army application have been ported to it. Detailed performance measurements have been made of fault tolerance and operating system overheads while AFTA was executing the flight application in the presence of faults.

Applications of 3D-EDGE Detection for ALS Point Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, H.; Lin, X. G.; Zhang, J. X.

2017-09-01

Edge detection has been one of the major issues in the field of remote sensing and photogrammetry. With the fast development of sensor technology of laser scanning system, dense point clouds have become increasingly common. Precious 3D-edges are able to be detected from these point clouds and a great deal of edge or feature line extraction methods have been proposed. Among these methods, an easy-to-use 3D-edge detection method, AGPN (Analyzing Geometric Properties of Neighborhoods), has been proposed. The AGPN method detects edges based on the analysis of geometric properties of a query point's neighbourhood. The AGPN method detects two kinds of 3D-edges, including boundary elements and fold edges, and it has many applications. This paper presents three applications of AGPN, i.e., 3D line segment extraction, ground points filtering, and ground breakline extraction. Experiments show that the utilization of AGPN method gives a straightforward solution to these applications.

RootJS: Node.js Bindings for ROOT 6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beffart, Theo; Früh, Maximilian; Haas, Christoph; Rajgopal, Sachin; Schwabe, Jonas; Wolff, Christoph; Szuba, Marek

2017-10-01

We present rootJS, an interface making it possible to seamlessly integrate ROOT 6 into applications written for Node.js, the JavaScript runtime platform increasingly commonly used to create high-performance Web applications. ROOT features can be called both directly from Node.js code and by JIT-compiling C++ macros. All rootJS methods are invoked asynchronously and support callback functions, allowing non-blocking operation of Node.js applications using them. Last but not least, our bindings have been designed to platform-independent and should therefore work on all systems supporting both ROOT 6 and Node.js. Thanks to rootJS it is now possible to create ROOT-aware Web applications taking full advantage of the high performance and extensive capabilities of Node.js. Examples include platforms for the quality assurance of acquired, reconstructed or simulated data, book-keeping and e-log systems, and even Web browser-based data visualisation and analysis.

Applications of software-defined radio (SDR) technology in hospital environments.

PubMed

Chávez-Santiago, Raúl; Mateska, Aleksandra; Chomu, Konstantin; Gavrilovska, Liljana; Balasingham, Ilangko

2013-01-01

A software-defined radio (SDR) is a radio communication system where the major part of its functionality is implemented by means of software in a personal computer or embedded system. Such a design paradigm has the major advantage of producing devices that can receive and transmit widely different radio protocols based solely on the software used. This flexibility opens several application opportunities in hospital environments, where a large number of wired and wireless electronic devices must coexist in confined areas like operating rooms and intensive care units. This paper outlines some possible applications in the 2360-2500 MHz frequency band. These applications include the integration of wireless medical devices in a common communication platform for seamless interoperability, and cognitive radio (CR) for body area networks (BANs) and wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for medical environmental surveillance. The description of a proof-of-concept CR prototype is also presented.

Selection and characterization of Euglena anabaena var. minor as a new candidate Euglena species for industrial application.

PubMed

Suzuki, Kengo; Mitra, Sharbanee; Iwata, Osamu; Ishikawa, Takahiro; Kato, Sueo; Yamada, Koji

2015-01-01

Euglena gracilis is a microalgae used as a model organism. Recently, mass cultivation of this species has been achieved for industrial applications. The genus Euglena includes more than 200 species that share common useful features, but the potential industrial applications of other Euglena species have not been evaluated. Thus, we conducted a pilot screening study to identify other species that proliferate at a sufficiently rapid rate to be used for mass cultivation; we found that Euglena anabaena var. minor had a rapid growth rate. In addition, its cells accumulated more than 40% weight of carbohydrate, most of which is considered to be a euglenoid specific type of beta-1-3-glucan, paramylon. Carbohydrate is stored in E. anabaena var. minor cells during normal culture, whereas E. gracilis requires nitrogen limitation to facilitate paramylon accumulation. These results suggest the potential industrial application of E. anabaena var. minor.

Mars power system concept definition study. Volume 1: Study results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Littman, Franklin D.

1994-01-01

A preliminary top level study was completed to define power system concepts applicable to Mars surface applications. This effort included definition of power system requirements and selection of power systems with the potential for high commonality. These power systems included dynamic isotope, Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) regenerative fuel cell, sodium sulfur battery, photovoltaic, and reactor concepts. Design influencing factors were identified. Characterization studies were then done for each concept to determine system performance, size/volume, and mass. Operations studies were done to determine emplacement/deployment maintenance/servicing, and startup/shutdown requirements. Technology development roadmaps were written for each candidate power system (included in Volume 2). Example power system architectures were defined and compared on a mass basis. The dynamic isotope power system and nuclear reactor power system architectures had significantly lower total masses than the photovoltaic system architectures. Integrated development and deployment time phasing plans were completed for an example DIPS and reactor architecture option to determine the development strategies required to meet the mission scenario requirements.

OAST Space Theme Workshop. Volume 3: Working group summary. 4: Software (E-4). A. Summary. B. Technology needs (form 1). C. Priority assessment (form 2)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Only a few efforts are currently underway to develop an adequate technology base for the various themes. Particular attention must be given to software commonality and evolutionary capability, to increased system integrity and autonomy; and to improved communications among the program users, the program developers, and the programs themselves. There is a need for quantum improvement in software development methods and increasing the awareness of software by all concerned. Major thrusts identified include: (1) data and systems management; (2) software technology for autonomous systems; (3) technology and methods for improving the software development process; (4) advances related to systems of software elements including their architecture, their attributes as systems, and their interfaces with users and other systems; and (5) applications of software including both the basic algorithms used in a number of applications and the software specific to a particular theme or discipline area. The impact of each theme on software is assessed.

Emerging trends in geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI): potential applications for environmental epidemiology.

PubMed

VoPham, Trang; Hart, Jaime E; Laden, Francine; Chiang, Yao-Yi

2018-04-17

Geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI) is an emerging scientific discipline that combines innovations in spatial science, artificial intelligence methods in machine learning (e.g., deep learning), data mining, and high-performance computing to extract knowledge from spatial big data. In environmental epidemiology, exposure modeling is a commonly used approach to conduct exposure assessment to determine the distribution of exposures in study populations. geoAI technologies provide important advantages for exposure modeling in environmental epidemiology, including the ability to incorporate large amounts of big spatial and temporal data in a variety of formats; computational efficiency; flexibility in algorithms and workflows to accommodate relevant characteristics of spatial (environmental) processes including spatial nonstationarity; and scalability to model other environmental exposures across different geographic areas. The objectives of this commentary are to provide an overview of key concepts surrounding the evolving and interdisciplinary field of geoAI including spatial data science, machine learning, deep learning, and data mining; recent geoAI applications in research; and potential future directions for geoAI in environmental epidemiology.

On the application of frequency selective common mode feedback for multifrequency EIT.

PubMed

Langlois, Peter J; Wu, Yu; Bayford, Richard H; Demosthenous, Andreas

2015-06-01

Common mode voltages are frequently a problem in electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and other bioimpedance applications. To reduce their amplitude common mode feedback is employed. Formalised analyses of both current and voltage feedback is presented in this paper for current drives. Common mode effects due to imbalances caused by the current drives, the electrode connections to the body load and the introduction of the body impedance to ground are considered. Frequency selective narrowband common mode feedback previously proposed to provide feedback stability is examined. As a step towards multifrequency applications the use of narrowband feedback is experimentally demonstrated for two simultaneous current drives. Measured results using standard available components show a reduction of 62 dB for current feedback and 31 dB for voltage feedback. Frequencies ranged from 50 kHz to 1 MHz.

A systematic review of digital interactive television systems and their applications in the health and social care fields.

PubMed

Blackburn, Steven; Brownsell, Simon; Hawley, Mark S

2011-01-01

We conducted a systematic review of the applications and technical features of digital interactive television (DITV) in the health and social care fields. The Web of Knowledge and IEEE Xplore databases were searched for articles published between January 2000 and March 2010 which related to DITV systems facilitating the communication of information to/from an individual's home with either a health or social care application. Out of 1679 articles retrieved, 42 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for review. An additional 20 articles were obtained from online grey literature sources. Twenty-five DITV systems operating in health and social care were identified, including seven commercial systems. The most common applications were related to health care, such as vital signs monitoring (68% of systems) and health information or advice (56% of systems). The most common technical features of DITV systems were two-way communication (88%), medical peripherals (68%), on-screen messaging (48%) and video communication (36%). Digital interactive television has the potential to deliver health and social care to people in their own homes. However, the requirement for a high-bandwidth communications infrastructure, the usability of the systems, their level of personalisation and the lack of evidence regarding clinical and cost-effectiveness will all need to be addressed if this approach is to flourish.

Integrated Payload Data Handling Systems Using Software Partitioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, Alun; Hann, Mark; Wishart, Alex

2015-09-01

An integrated Payload Data Handling System (I-PDHS) is one in which multiple instruments share a central payload processor for their on-board data processing tasks. This offers a number of advantages over the conventional decentralised architecture. Savings in payload mass and power can be realised because the total processing resource is matched to the requirements, as opposed to the decentralised architecture here the processing resource is in effect the sum of all the applications. Overall development cost can be reduced using a common processor. At individual instrument level the potential benefits include a standardised application development environment, and the opportunity to run the instrument data handling application on a fully redundant and more powerful processing platform [1]. This paper describes a joint program by SCISYS UK Limited, Airbus Defence and Space, Imperial College London and RAL Space to implement a realistic demonstration of an I-PDHS using engineering models of flight instruments (a magnetometer and camera) and a laboratory demonstrator of a central payload processor which is functionally representative of a flight design. The objective is to raise the Technology Readiness Level of the centralised data processing technique by address the key areas of task partitioning to prevent fault propagation and the use of a common development process for the instrument applications. The project is supported by a UK Space Agency grant awarded under the National Space Technology Program SpaceCITI scheme. [1].

Evaluation of the impact of lime softening waste disposal in natural environments.

PubMed

Blaisi, Nawaf I; Roessler, Justin; Cheng, Weizhi; Townsend, Timothy; Al-Abed, Souhail R

2015-09-01

Drinking water treatment residues (WTR), generated from the lime softening processes, are commonly reused or disposed of in a number of applications; these include use as a soil amendment or a subsurface fill. Recently questions were posed by the Florida regulatory community on whether lime WTR that contained a small percentage of other treatment additives could appropriately be characterized as lime WTR, in terms of total element content and leachability. A study was done using a broad range of leaching tests, including a framework of tests recently adopted by the United States-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and tests that were modified to account for scenario specific conditions, such as the presence of natural organic matter (NOM). The results of these additional leaching tests demonstrated that certain applications, including disposal in a water body with NOM or in placement anaerobic environment, did result in increased leaching of elements such as Fe, and that a site specific assessment should be conducted prior to using WTR in these types of applications. This study illustrates the importance of leaching test selection when attempting to provide an estimation of release in practice. Although leaching tests are just one component in a beneficial use assessment and other factors including aquifer and soil properties play a significant role in the outcome, leaching tests should be tailored to most appropriately represent the scenario or reuse application being evaluated. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aerogels Derived from Polymer Nanofibers and Their Applications.

PubMed

Qian, Zhenchao; Wang, Zhen; Zhao, Ning; Xu, Jian

2018-03-08

Aerogels are gels in which the solvent is supplanted by air while the pores and networks are largely maintained. Owing to their low bulk density, high porosity, and large specific surface area (SSA), aerogels are promising for many applications. Various inorganic aerogels, e.g., silica aerogels, are intensively studied. However, the mechanical brittleness of common inorganic aerogels has seriously restricted their applications. In the past decade, nanofibers have been developed as building blocks for the construction of aerogels to improve their mechanical property. Unlike traditional frameworks constructed by interconnected particles, nanofibers can form chemically cross-linked and/or physically entangled 3D skeletons, thus showing flexibility instead of brittleness. Therefore, excellent elasticity and toughness, ultralow density, high SSA, and tunable chemical composition can be expected for the polymer nanofiber-derived aerogels (PNAs). In this review, recent research progress in the fabrication, properties, and applications of PNAs is summarized. Various nanofibers, including nanocelluloses, nanochitins, and electrospun nanofibers are included, as well as carbon nanofibers from the corresponding organic precursors. Typical applications in supercapacitors, electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, flexible electrodes, oil absorbents, adsorbents, tissue engineering, stimuli-responsive materials, and catalyst carriers, are presented. Finally, the challenges and future development of PNAs are discussed. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Imaging Strategies for Tissue Engineering Applications

PubMed Central

Nam, Seung Yun; Ricles, Laura M.; Suggs, Laura J.

2015-01-01

Tissue engineering has evolved with multifaceted research being conducted using advanced technologies, and it is progressing toward clinical applications. As tissue engineering technology significantly advances, it proceeds toward increasing sophistication, including nanoscale strategies for material construction and synergetic methods for combining with cells, growth factors, or other macromolecules. Therefore, to assess advanced tissue-engineered constructs, tissue engineers need versatile imaging methods capable of monitoring not only morphological but also functional and molecular information. However, there is no single imaging modality that is suitable for all tissue-engineered constructs. Each imaging method has its own range of applications and provides information based on the specific properties of the imaging technique. Therefore, according to the requirements of the tissue engineering studies, the most appropriate tool should be selected among a variety of imaging modalities. The goal of this review article is to describe available biomedical imaging methods to assess tissue engineering applications and to provide tissue engineers with criteria and insights for determining the best imaging strategies. Commonly used biomedical imaging modalities, including X-ray and computed tomography, positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, optical imaging, and emerging techniques and multimodal imaging, will be discussed, focusing on the latest trends of their applications in recent tissue engineering studies. PMID:25012069

Continent-Wide Estimates of Antarctic Strain Rates from Landsat 8-Derived Velocity Grids and Their Application to Ice Shelf Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alley, K. E.; Scambos, T.; Anderson, R. S.; Rajaram, H.; Pope, A.; Haran, T.

2017-12-01

Strain rates are fundamental measures of ice flow used in a wide variety of glaciological applications including investigations of bed properties, calculations of basal mass balance on ice shelves, application to Glen's flow law, and many other studies. However, despite their extensive application, strain rates are calculated using widely varying methods and length scales, and the calculation details are often not specified. In this study, we compare the results of nominal and logarithmic strain-rate calculations based on a satellite-derived velocity field of the Antarctic ice sheet generated from Landsat 8 satellite data. Our comparison highlights the differences between the two commonly used approaches in the glaciological literature. We evaluate the errors introduced by each code and their impacts on the results. We also demonstrate the importance of choosing and specifying a length scale over which strain-rate calculations are made, which can have large local impacts on other derived quantities such as basal mass balance on ice shelves. We present strain-rate data products calculated using an approximate viscous length-scale with satellite observations of ice velocity for the Antarctic continent. Finally, we explore the applications of comprehensive strain-rate maps to future ice shelf studies, including investigations of ice fracture, calving patterns, and stability analyses.

Using Weather Data and Climate Model Output in Economic Analyses of Climate Change

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

Auffhammer, M.; Hsiang, S. M.; Schlenker, W.

2013-06-28

Economists are increasingly using weather data and climate model output in analyses of the economic impacts of climate change. This article introduces a set of weather data sets and climate models that are frequently used, discusses the most common mistakes economists make in using these products, and identifies ways to avoid these pitfalls. We first provide an introduction to weather data, including a summary of the types of datasets available, and then discuss five common pitfalls that empirical researchers should be aware of when using historical weather data as explanatory variables in econometric applications. We then provide a brief overviewmore » of climate models and discuss two common and significant errors often made by economists when climate model output is used to simulate the future impacts of climate change on an economic outcome of interest.« less

[Human rhinovirus diseases--epidemiology, treatment and prevention].

PubMed

Stock, Ingo

2014-02-01

Human rhinoviruses (HRV) are non-enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses of the genus Rhinovirus in the family Picornaviridae. They are the most common causative agents of acute diseases of the upper respiratory tract (e. g., common cold), but they also cause acute lower respiratory tract illness, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia. In addition, human rhinoviruses are known to cause exacerbations of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The treatment of HRV-induced diseases is usually symptomatic and supportiv, a generally recommended antiviral therapy does not exist. For the treatment of the common cold, there are numerous preparations and applications. However, only a few of these agents and measures have been shown to be suitable to reduce the severity of symptoms or to shorten the duration of illness. The risk of acquiring an HRV infection can be reduced by strict adherence to suitable hygiene measures. An effective vaccine is not yet available.

Integrated circuits for accurate linear analogue electric signal processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huijsing, J. H.

1981-11-01

The main lines in the design of integrated circuits for accurate analog linear electric signal processing in a frequency range including DC are investigated. A categorization of universal active electronic devices is presented on the basis of the connections of one of the terminals of the input and output ports to the common ground potential. The means for quantifying the attributes of four types of universal active electronic devices are included. The design of integrated operational voltage amplifiers (OVA) is discussed. Several important applications in the field of general instrumentation are numerically evaluated, and the design of operatinal floating amplifiers is presented.

Clindamycin phosphate-tretinoin combination gel revisited: status report on a specific formulation used for acne treatment.

PubMed

Del Rosso, James Q

2017-03-01

Topical agents, including retinoids and antibiotics, are commonly used to treat acne vulgaris (AV) and remain as components of acne treatment guidelines. Approved topical combination formulations offer the advantages of established efficacy, decreased frequency of application, and improved convenience for patients. This article discusses both clindamycin phosphate (CP) and tretinoin (Tret) as components of a topical aqueous-based combination gel that has been shown to be effective, safe, and well tolerated for treatment of facial AV. Clinically relevant considerations with use of this treatment are also discussed, including therapeutic advantages and potential limitations.

Advances in interpretation of subsurface processes with time-lapse electrical imaging

USGS Publications Warehouse

Singha, Kaminit; Day-Lewis, Frederick D.; Johnson, Tim B.; Slater, Lee D.

2015-01-01

Electrical geophysical methods, including electrical resistivity, time-domain induced polarization, and complex resistivity, have become commonly used to image the near subsurface. Here, we outline their utility for time-lapse imaging of hydrological, geochemical, and biogeochemical processes, focusing on new instrumentation, processing, and analysis techniques specific to monitoring. We review data collection procedures, parameters measured, and petrophysical relationships and then outline the state of the science with respect to inversion methodologies, including coupled inversion. We conclude by highlighting recent research focused on innovative applications of time-lapse imaging in hydrology, biology, ecology, and geochemistry, among other areas of interest.

Advances in interpretation of subsurface processes with time-lapse electrical imaging

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

Singha, Kamini; Day-Lewis, Frederick D.; Johnson, Timothy C.

2015-03-15

Electrical geophysical methods, including electrical resistivity, time-domain induced polarization, and complex resistivity, have become commonly used to image the near subsurface. Here, we outline their utility for time-lapse imaging of hydrological, geochemical, and biogeochemical processes, focusing on new instrumentation, processing, and analysis techniques specific to monitoring. We review data collection procedures, parameters measured, and petrophysical relationships and then outline the state of the science with respect to inversion methodologies, including coupled inversion. We conclude by highlighting recent research focused on innovative applications of time-lapse imaging in hydrology, biology, ecology, and geochemistry, among other areas of interest.

An Application Server for Scientific Collaboration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cary, John R.; Luetkemeyer, Kelly G.

1998-11-01

Tech-X Corporation has developed SciChat, an application server for scientific collaboration. Connections are made to the server through a Java client, that can either be an application or an applet served in a web page. Once connected, the client may choose to start or join a session. A session includes not only other clients, but also an application. Any client can send a command to the application. This command is executed on the server and echoed to all clients. The results of the command, whether numerical or graphical, are then distributed to all of the clients; thus, multiple clients can interact collaboratively with a single application. The client is developed in Java, the server in C++, and the middleware is the Common Object Request Broker Architecture. In this system, the Graphical User Interface processing is on the client machine, so one does not have the disadvantages of insufficient bandwidth as occurs when running X over the internet. Because the server, client, and middleware are object oriented, new types of servers and clients specialized to particular scientific applications are more easily developed.

Mobile recommender application for promoting electricity saving among Iraqis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabri, Manhal Isam; Hussain, Azham

2017-10-01

Mobile utilization has rapidly expanded due to its feasibility in executing different applications that can be used in solving everyday problems. Common issues in daily life include electricity saving. In Iraq, the Ministry of Power seriously faces such issue. This is because most households have lack access to information regarding to sufficient power consumption, as well as applications that educate about such saving. Therefore, this study aims at developing a mobile application for Iraqi to help them understand the basis for reducing electricity consumption based on the meter data supplied by the users for square meter along with the active devices and period of usage. The proposed mobile application was evaluated by 50 households from the perspective of ease of use, usefulness, ease of learning, and satisfaction. The obtained result showed that majority of the participants found the application to be ease to use, useful, easy to learn, and were satisfied with its functionalities. The study findings provide some insights about the importance of using mobile application for promoting households in Iraq to manage their power consumption behavior.

Not just fun and games: applications of virtual reality in the identification and rehabilitation of cognitive disorders of the elderly.

PubMed

Cherniack, E Paul

2011-01-01

To outline the evidence in the published medical literature suggesting the potential applications of virtual reality (VR) for the identification and rehabilitation of cognitive disorders of the elderly. Non-systematic literature review. VR, despite its more common usage by younger persons, is a potentially promising source of techniques useful in the identification and rehabilitation of cognitive disorders of the elderly. Systems employing VR can include desktop and head-mounted visual displays among other devices. Thus far, published studies have described VR-based applications in the identification and treatment of deficits in navigational skills in ambulation and driving. In addition, VR has been utilised to enhance the ability to perform activities of daily living in patients with dementia, stroke, and Parkinson's Disease. Such investigations have thus far been small, and unblinded. VR-based applications can potentially offer more versatile, comprehensive, and safer assessments of function. However, they also might be more expensive, complex and more difficult to use by elderly patients. Side effects of head-mounted visual displays include nausea and disorientation, but, have not been reported specifically in older subjects.

Tocopherols and Tocotrienols in Common and Emerging Dietary Sources: Occurrence, Applications, and Health Benefits.

PubMed

Shahidi, Fereidoon; de Camargo, Adriano Costa

2016-10-20

Edible oils are the major natural dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively known as tocols. Plant foods with low lipid content usually have negligible quantities of tocols. However, seeds and other plant food processing by-products may serve as alternative sources of edible oils with considerable contents of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Tocopherols are among the most important lipid-soluble antioxidants in food as well as in human and animal tissues. Tocopherols are found in lipid-rich regions of cells (e.g., mitochondrial membranes), fat depots, and lipoproteins such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Their health benefits may also be explained by regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, and modulation of cell functions. Potential health benefits of tocols include prevention of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic ailments. Although deficiencies of tocopherol are uncommon, a continuous intake from common and novel dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols is advantageous. Thus, this contribution will focus on the relevant literature on common and emerging edible oils as a source of tocols. Potential application and health effects as well as the impact of new cultivars as sources of edible oils and their processing discards are presented. Future trends and drawbacks are also briefly covered.

Tocopherols and Tocotrienols in Common and Emerging Dietary Sources: Occurrence, Applications, and Health Benefits

PubMed Central

Shahidi, Fereidoon; de Camargo, Adriano Costa

2016-01-01

Edible oils are the major natural dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively known as tocols. Plant foods with low lipid content usually have negligible quantities of tocols. However, seeds and other plant food processing by-products may serve as alternative sources of edible oils with considerable contents of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Tocopherols are among the most important lipid-soluble antioxidants in food as well as in human and animal tissues. Tocopherols are found in lipid-rich regions of cells (e.g., mitochondrial membranes), fat depots, and lipoproteins such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Their health benefits may also be explained by regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, and modulation of cell functions. Potential health benefits of tocols include prevention of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic ailments. Although deficiencies of tocopherol are uncommon, a continuous intake from common and novel dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols is advantageous. Thus, this contribution will focus on the relevant literature on common and emerging edible oils as a source of tocols. Potential application and health effects as well as the impact of new cultivars as sources of edible oils and their processing discards are presented. Future trends and drawbacks are also briefly covered. PMID:27775605

Pressing needs of biomedical text mining in biocuration and beyond: opportunities and challenges.

PubMed

Singhal, Ayush; Leaman, Robert; Catlett, Natalie; Lemberger, Thomas; McEntyre, Johanna; Polson, Shawn; Xenarios, Ioannis; Arighi, Cecilia; Lu, Zhiyong

2016-01-01

Text mining in the biomedical sciences is rapidly transitioning from small-scale evaluation to large-scale application. In this article, we argue that text-mining technologies have become essential tools in real-world biomedical research. We describe four large scale applications of text mining, as showcased during a recent panel discussion at the BioCreative V Challenge Workshop. We draw on these applications as case studies to characterize common requirements for successfully applying text-mining techniques to practical biocuration needs. We note that system 'accuracy' remains a challenge and identify several additional common difficulties and potential research directions including (i) the 'scalability' issue due to the increasing need of mining information from millions of full-text articles, (ii) the 'interoperability' issue of integrating various text-mining systems into existing curation workflows and (iii) the 'reusability' issue on the difficulty of applying trained systems to text genres that are not seen previously during development. We then describe related efforts within the text-mining community, with a special focus on the BioCreative series of challenge workshops. We believe that focusing on the near-term challenges identified in this work will amplify the opportunities afforded by the continued adoption of text-mining tools. Finally, in order to sustain the curation ecosystem and have text-mining systems adopted for practical benefits, we call for increased collaboration between text-mining researchers and various stakeholders, including researchers, publishers and biocurators. Published by Oxford University Press 2016. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US.

How Informative are the Plastic Surgery Residency Websites to Prospective Applicants?

PubMed

Hashmi, Asra; Policherla, Rohan; Campbell, Hector; Khan, Faraz A; Schumaier, Adam; Al-Mufarrej, Faisal

To evaluate the comprehensiveness of plastic surgery program websites. American Medical Association interactive database was accessed for the list of integrated plastic surgery programs, in June 2015. Since then, 67 plastic surgery program websites were accessed and searched for the presence or absence of 31 criteria, which were further grouped into 5 categories: First, program contact information; second, training and research; third, program setup; fourth, benefits and facilities; and fifth, information for applicants. Programs were categorized based on US census bureau designated regions, and number of residency positions available. One-way ANOVA test was used for comparison. Only 25% (17) program website had information available on more than two-thirds (21 or more of 31) of the criteria. The 3 least factors commonly available by program websites were: operative log (10%), contract (10%), and information on night float (25%). The 3 most commonly available factors included: coordinator information (92%), number of residents (92%), and comprehensive faculty list (88%). Less than 50% of the programs provided information regarding fellowship opportunities, active and previous research projects, and operative logs. There was no difference in amount of information on program websites when analyzed for program size or program geographic location. Programs should consider revising their websites to include aforementioned 31 criteria. This would make applicants and potential resident physicians better informed of the programs before the interview process such that they would be more likely to apply to only those programs that match their specific aspirations. Copyright © 2016 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A methodology for commonality analysis, with applications to selected space station systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Lawrence Dale

1989-01-01

The application of commonality in a system represents an attempt to reduce costs by reducing the number of unique components. A formal method for conducting commonality analysis has not been established. In this dissertation, commonality analysis is characterized as a partitioning problem. The cost impacts of commonality are quantified in an objective function, and the solution is that partition which minimizes this objective function. Clustering techniques are used to approximate a solution, and sufficient conditions are developed which can be used to verify the optimality of the solution. This method for commonality analysis is general in scope. It may be applied to the various types of commonality analysis required in the conceptual, preliminary, and detail design phases of the system development cycle.

Molecular commonality detection using an artificial enzyme membrane for in situ one-stop biosurveillance.

PubMed

Ikeno, Shinya; Asakawa, Hitoshi; Haruyama, Tetsuya

2007-08-01

Biodetection and biosensing have been developed based on the concept of sensitivity toward specific molecules. However, current demand may require more levelheaded or far-sighted methods, especially in the field of biological safety and security. In the fields of hygiene, public safety, and security including fighting bioterrorism, the detection of biological contaminants, e.g., microorganisms, spores, and viruses, is a constant challenge. However, there is as yet no sophisticated method of detecting such contaminants in situ without oversight. The authors focused their attention on diphosphoric acid anhydride, which is a structure common to all biological phosphoric substances. Interestingly, biological phosphoric substances are peculiar substances present in all living things and include many different substances, e.g., ATP, ADP, dNTP, pyrophosphate, and so forth, all of which have a diphosphoric acid anhydride structure. The authors took this common structure as the basis of their development of an artificial enzyme membrane with selectivity for the structure common to all biological phosphoric substances and studied the possibility of its application to in situ biosurveillance sensors. The artificial enzyme membrane-based amperometric biosensor developed by the authors can detect various biological phosphoric substances, because it has a comprehensive molecular selectivity for the structure of these biological phosphoric substances. This in situ detection method of the common diphosphoric acid anhydride structure brings a unique advantage to the fabrication of in situ biosurveillance sensors for monitoring biological contaminants, e.g., microorganism, spores, and viruses, without an oversight, even if they were transformed.

Standardized Modular Power Interfaces for Future Space Explorations Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oeftering, Richard

2015-01-01

Earlier studies show that future human explorations missions are composed of multi-vehicle assemblies with interconnected electric power systems. Some vehicles are often intended to serve as flexible multi-purpose or multi-mission platforms. This drives the need for power architectures that can be reconfigured to support this level of flexibility. Power system developmental costs can be reduced, program wide, by utilizing a common set of modular building blocks. Further, there are mission operational and logistics cost benefits of using a common set of modular spares. These benefits are the goals of the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Modular Power System (AMPS) project. A common set of modular blocks requires a substantial level of standardization in terms of the Electrical, Data System, and Mechanical interfaces. The AMPS project is developing a set of proposed interface standards that will provide useful guidance for modular hardware developers but not needlessly constrain technology options, or limit future growth in capability. In 2015 the AMPS project focused on standardizing the interfaces between the elements of spacecraft power distribution and energy storage. The development of the modular power standard starts with establishing mission assumptions and ground rules to define design application space. The standards are defined in terms of AMPS objectives including Commonality, Reliability-Availability, Flexibility-Configurability and Supportability-Reusability. The proposed standards are aimed at assembly and sub-assembly level building blocks. AMPS plans to adopt existing standards for spacecraft command and data, software, network interfaces, and electrical power interfaces where applicable. Other standards including structural encapsulation, heat transfer, and fluid transfer, are governed by launch and spacecraft environments and bound by practical limitations of weight and volume. Developing these mechanical interface standards is more difficult but an essential part of defining physical building blocks of modular power. This presentation describes the AMPS projects progress towards standardized modular power interfaces.

Computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound imaging: basic principles, glossary of terms, and patient safety.

PubMed

Cogbill, Thomas H; Ziegelbein, Kurt J

2011-02-01

The basic principles underlying computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound are reviewed to promote better understanding of the properties and appropriate applications of these 3 common imaging modalities. A glossary of frequently used terms for each technique is appended for convenience. Risks to patient safety including contrast-induced nephropathy, radiation-induced malignancy, and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis are discussed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Practical advantages of evolutionary computation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fogel, David B.

1997-10-01

Evolutionary computation is becoming a common technique for solving difficult, real-world problems in industry, medicine, and defense. This paper reviews some of the practical advantages to using evolutionary algorithms as compared with classic methods of optimization or artificial intelligence. Specific advantages include the flexibility of the procedures, as well as their ability to self-adapt the search for optimum solutions on the fly. As desktop computers increase in speed, the application of evolutionary algorithms will become routine.

Transverse Diode Pumping of Solid-State Lasers

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-05-29

more common apertures (laser rod end and cavity end mirror ) leads to a thin-film coating damage issue. The transverse pumped geometry avoids the...proprietary one-half inch square cooler developed for high-power adaptive optics mirror applications. The laser performance observed, with up to 35 watts of...including the development of active mirrors capable of sustaining high power loadings. As part of those efforts, TTC has developed a small (one-half inch

Automated Detection of a Crossing Contact Based on Its Doppler Shift

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

contacts in passive sonar systems. A common approach is the application of high- gain processing followed by successive classification criteria. Most...contacts in passive sonar systems. A common approach is the application of high-gain processing followed by successive classification criteria...RESEARCH MOTIVATION The trade-off between the false alarm and detection probability is fundamental in radar and sonar . (Chevalier, 2002) A common

What is 'fascia'? A review of different nomenclatures.

PubMed

Schleip, Robert; Jäger, Heike; Klingler, Werner

2012-10-01

There are many different definitions of fascia. Here the three most common nomenclatures are compared, including that of the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology (1998), the definition included in the latest British edition of Gray's Anatomy (2008) and the newer and more comprehensive terminology suggested at the last international Fascia Research Congress (2012). This review covers which tissues are included and excluded in each of these nomenclatures. The advantages and disadvantages of each terminology system are suggested and related to different fields of application, ranging from histology, tissue repair, to muscular force transmission and proprioception. Interdisciplinary communication involving professionals of different fields is also discussed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Session management for web-based healthcare applications.

PubMed Central

Wei, L.; Sengupta, S.

1999-01-01

In health care systems, users may access multiple applications during one session of interaction with the system. However, users must sign on to each application individually, and it is difficult to maintain a common context among these applications. We are developing a session management system for web-based applications using LDAP directory service, which will allow single sign-on to multiple web-based applications, and maintain a common context among those applications for the user. This paper discusses the motivations for building this system, the system architecture, and the challenges of our approach, such as the session objects management for the user, and session security. PMID:10566511

Announcement—guidance document for acquiring reliable data in ecological restoration projects

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stapanian, Martin A.; Rodriguez, Karen; Lewis, Timothy E.; Blume, Louis; Palmer, Craig J.; Walters, Lynn; Schofield, Judith; Amos, Molly M.; Bucher, Adam

2016-01-01

The Laurentian Great Lakes are undergoing intensive ecological restoration in Canada and the United States. In the United States, an interagency committee was formed to facilitate implementation of quality practices for federally funded restoration projects in the Great Lakes basin. The Committee's responsibilities include developing a guidance document that will provide a common approach to the application of quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) practices for restoration projects. The document will serve as a “how-to” guide for ensuring data quality during each aspect of ecological restoration projects. In addition, the document will provide suggestions on linking QA/QC data with the routine project data and hints on creating detailed supporting documentation. Finally, the document will advocate integrating all components of the project, including QA/QC applications, into an overarching decision-support framework. The guidance document is expected to be released by the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office in 2017.

Crystalline-silicon reliability lessons for thin-film modules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ross, Ronald G., Jr.

1985-01-01

Key reliability and engineering lessons learned from the 10-year history of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Flat-Plate Solar Array Project are presented and analyzed. Particular emphasis is placed on lessons applicable to the evolving new thin-film cell and module technologies and the organizations involved with these technologies. The user-specific demand for reliability is a strong function of the application, its location, and its expected duration. Lessons relative to effective means of specifying reliability are described, and commonly used test requirements are assessed from the standpoint of which are the most troublesome to pass, and which correlate best with field experience. Module design lessons are also summarized, including the significance of the most frequently encountered failure mechanisms and the role of encapsulant and cell reliability in determining module reliability. Lessons pertaining to research, design, and test approaches include the historical role and usefulness of qualification tests and field tests.

Designing a Mobile Health Application Prototype for the Management of Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome.

PubMed

Griffith, Janessa

2017-01-01

The design of an early mobile health application (app) prototype to manage interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, a chronic condition characterized by recurrent pain/discomfort in the bladder and pelvic floor, is described. The purpose of this app prototype is to help people who have IC/PBS manage and learn what triggers their symptoms. Another aim of this research was to provide an example of how sex and gender could be included into the design of a health information system. Based on a literature search of common symptoms and challenges faced by people living with IC/PBS, the researcher created an app prototype design including many features: resources for relaxation, mental health, intimacy, pregnancy, and daily life; reminders for appointments, and medication; logs for diet, activity, sleep, pain, menstruation; and a link to a public washroom locator. This prototype will later undergo usability and content evaluation.

Security techniques for prevention of rank manipulation in social tagging services including robotic domains.

PubMed

Choi, Okkyung; Jung, Hanyoung; Moon, Seungbin

2014-01-01

With smartphone distribution becoming common and robotic applications on the rise, social tagging services for various applications including robotic domains have advanced significantly. Though social tagging plays an important role when users are finding the exact information through web search, reliability and semantic relation between web contents and tags are not considered. Spams are making ill use of this aspect and put irrelevant tags deliberately on contents and induce users to advertise contents when they click items of search results. Therefore, this study proposes a detection method for tag-ranking manipulation to solve the problem of the existing methods which cannot guarantee the reliability of tagging. Similarity is measured for ranking the grade of registered tag on the contents, and weighted values of each tag are measured by means of synonym relevance, frequency, and semantic distances between tags. Lastly, experimental evaluation results are provided and its efficiency and accuracy are verified through them.

PV Reliability Development Lessons from JPL's Flat Plate Solar Array Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ross, Ronald G., Jr.

2013-01-01

Key reliability and engineering lessons learned from the 20-year history of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Flat-Plate Solar Array Project and thin film module reliability research activities are presented and analyzed. Particular emphasis is placed on lessons applicable to evolving new module technologies and the organizations involved with these technologies. The user-specific demand for reliability is a strong function of the application, its location, and its expected duration. Lessons relative to effective means of specifying reliability are described, and commonly used test requirements are assessed from the standpoint of which are the most troublesome to pass, and which correlate best with field experience. Module design lessons are also summarized, including the significance of the most frequently encountered failure mechanisms and the role of encapsulate and cell reliability in determining module reliability. Lessons pertaining to research, design, and test approaches include the historical role and usefulness of qualification tests and field tests.

Transport and breakdown analysis for improved figure-of-merit for AlGaN power devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coltrin, Michael E.; Kaplar, Robert J.

2017-02-01

Mobility and critical electric field for bulk AlxGa1-xN alloys across the full composition range (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are analyzed to address the potential application of this material system for power electronics. Calculation of the temperature-dependent electron mobility includes the potential limitations due to different scattering mechanisms, including alloy, optical polar phonon, deformation potential, and piezoelectric scattering. The commonly used unipolar figure of merit (appropriate for vertical-device architectures), which increases strongly with increasing mobility and critical electric field, is examined across the alloy composition range to estimate the potential performance in power electronics applications. Alloy scattering is the dominant limitation to mobility and thus also for the unipolar figure of merit. However, at higher alloy compositions, the limitations due to alloy scattering are overcome by increased critical electric field. These trade-offs, and their temperature dependence, are quantified in the analysis.

Applicability of geochemical techniques and artificial sweeteners in discriminating the anthropogenic sources of chloride in shallow groundwater north of Toronto, Canada.

PubMed

Khazaei, Esmaeil; Milne-Home, William

2017-05-01

Elevated levels of chloride concentration due to anthropogenic activities including the road salts, septic effluent and agricultural sources are common in shallow groundwater of the recent glacial deposits north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Identifying suitable techniques for discriminating the source of the chloride concentration helps to better plan the protection of groundwater in the area. This paper examines the applicability of geochemical techniques with emphasis on Panno et al. (Ground Water 44: 176-187, 2006) and Mullaney et al. (2009) graphical approaches for discriminating the sources of chloride with known causes of impacts. The results indicated that the graphical methods developed using Cl - , Br - and/or total nitrogen (N) could identify the combined sources of road salts and septic systems. However, discriminating between the road salts, septic effluent or agricultural sources needs to be complemented by other techniques including the artificial sweeteners and isotope tracers.

Road following for blindBike: an assistive bike navigation system for low vision persons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grewe, Lynne; Overell, William

2017-05-01

Road Following is a critical component of blindBike, our assistive biking application for the visually impaired. This paper talks about the overall blindBike system and goals prominently featuring Road Following, which is the task of directing the user to follow the right side of the road. This work unlike what is commonly found for self-driving cars does not depend on lane line markings. 2D computer vision techniques are explored to solve the problem of Road Following. Statistical techniques including the use of Gaussian Mixture Models are employed. blindBike is developed as an Android Application and is running on a smartphone device. Other sensors including Gyroscope and GPS are utilized. Both Urban and suburban scenarios are tested and results are given. The success and challenges faced by blindBike's Road Following module are presented along with future avenues of work.

Recent Developments and Applications of the CHARMM force fields

PubMed Central

Zhu, Xiao; Lopes, Pedro E.M.; MacKerell, Alexander D.

2011-01-01

Empirical force fields commonly used to describe the condensed phase properties of complex systems such as biological macromolecules are continuously being updated. Improvements in quantum mechanical (QM) methods used to generate target data, availability of new experimental target data, incorporation of new classes of compounds and new theoretical developments (eg. polarizable methods) make force-field development a dynamic domain of research. Accordingly, a number of improvements and extensions of the CHARMM force fields have occurred over the years. The objective of the present review is to provide an up-to-date overview of the CHARMM force fields. A limited presentation on the historical aspects of force fields will be given, including underlying methodologies and principles, along with a brief description of the strategies used for parameter development. This is followed by information on the CHARMM additive and polarizable force fields, including examples of recent applications of those force fields. PMID:23066428

Integrating QoS and security functions in an IP-VPN gateway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Kuo-Pao; Chang, Shu-Hsin; Lin, Kuan-Ming; Pen, Mau-Jy

2001-10-01

IP-based Virtual Private Network becomes more and more popular. It can not only reduce the enterprise communication cost but also increase the revenue of the service provider. The common IP-VPN application types include Intranet VPN, Extranet VPN, and remote access VPN. For the large IP-VPN market, some vendors develop dedicated IP-VPN devices; while some vendors add the VPN functions into their existing network equipment such as router, access gateway, etc. The functions in the IP-VPN device include security, QoS, and management. The common security functions supported are IPSec (IP Security), IKE (Internet Key Exchange), and Firewall. The QoS functions include bandwidth control and packet scheduling. In the management component, policy-based network management is under standardization in IETF. In this paper, we discuss issues on how to integrate the QoS and security functions in an IP-VPN Gateway. We propose three approaches to do this. They are (1) perform Qos first (2) perform IPSec first and (3) reserve fixed bandwidth for IPSec. We also compare the advantages and disadvantages of the three proposed approaches.

An instrumentation amplifier based readout circuit for a dual element microbolometer infrared detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Waal, D. J.; Schoeman, J.

2014-06-01

The infrared band is widely used in many applications to solve problems stretching over very diverse fields, ranging from medical applications like inflammation detection to military, security and safety applications employing thermal imaging in low light conditions. At the heart of these optoelectrical systems lies a sensor used to detect incident infrared radiation, and in the case of this work our focus is on uncooled microbolometers as thermal detectors. Microbolometer based thermal detectors are limited in sensitivity by various parameters, including the detector layout and design, operating temperature, air pressure and biasing that causes self heating. Traditional microbolometers use the entire membrane surface for a single detector material. This work presents the design of a readout circuit amplifier where a dual detector element microbolometer is used, rather than the traditional single element. The concept to be investigated is based on the principle that both elements will be stimulated with a similar incoming IR signal and experience the same resistive change, thus creating a common mode signal. However, such a common mode signal will be rejected by a differential amplifier, thus one element is placed within a negative resistance converter to create a differential mode signal that is twice the magnitude of the comparable single mode signal of traditional detector designs. An instrumentation amplifier is used for the final stage of the readout amplifier circuit, as it allows for very high common mode rejection with proper trimming of the Wheatstone bridge to compensate for manufacturing tolerance. It was found that by implementing the above, improved sensitivity can be achieved.

A Novel Lentinula edodes Laccase and Its Comparative Enzymology Suggest Guaiacol-Based Laccase Engineering for Bioremediation

PubMed Central

Wong, Kin-Sing; Cheung, Man-Kit; Au, Chun-Hang; Kwan, Hoi-Shan

2013-01-01

Laccases are versatile biocatalysts for the bioremediation of various xenobiotics, including dyes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. However, current sources of new enzymes, simple heterologous expression hosts and enzymatic information (such as the appropriateness of common screening substrates on laccase engineering) remain scarce to support efficient engineering of laccase for better “green” applications. To address the issue, this study began with cloning the laccase family of Lentinula edodes. Three laccases perfectio sensu stricto (Lcc4A, Lcc5, and Lcc7) were then expressed from Pichia pastoris, characterized and compared with the previously reported Lcc1A and Lcc1B in terms of kinetics, stability, and degradation of dyes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Lcc7 represented a novel laccase, and it exhibited both the highest catalytic efficiency (assayed with 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [ABTS]) and thermostability. However, its performance on “green” applications surprisingly did not match the activity on the common screening substrates, namely, ABTS and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. On the other hand, correlation analyses revealed that guaiacol is much better associated with the decolorization of multiple structurally different dyes than are the two common screening substrates. Comparison of the oxidation chemistry of guaiacol and phenolic dyes, such as azo dyes, further showed that they both involve generation of phenoxyl radicals in laccase-catalyzed oxidation. In summary, this study concluded a robust expression platform of L. edodes laccases, novel laccases, and an indicative screening substrate, guaiacol, which are all essential fundamentals for appropriately driving the engineering of laccases towards more efficient “green” applications. PMID:23799101

Engineering Stem Cells for Biomedical Applications

PubMed Central

Yin, Perry T.; Han, Edward

2018-01-01

Stem cells are characterized by a number of useful properties, including their ability to migrate, differentiate, and secrete a variety of therapeutic molecules such as immunomodulatory factors. As such, numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have utilized stem cell-based therapies and demonstrated their tremendous potential for the treatment of various human diseases and disorders. Recently, efforts have focused on engineering stem cells in order to further enhance their innate abilities as well as to confer them with new functionalities, which can then be used in various biomedical applications. These engineered stem cells can take on a number of forms. For instance, engineered stem cells encompass the genetic modification of stem cells as well as the use of stem cells for gene delivery, nanoparticle loading and delivery, and even small molecule drug delivery. The present Review gives an in-depth account of the current status of engineered stem cells, including potential cell sources, the most common methods used to engineer stem cells, and the utilization of engineered stem cells in various biomedical applications, with a particular focus on tissue regeneration, the treatment of immunodeficiency diseases, and cancer. PMID:25772134

Novel Biomaterials Used in Medical 3D Printing Techniques

PubMed Central

Tappa, Karthik; Jammalamadaka, Udayabhanu

2018-01-01

The success of an implant depends on the type of biomaterial used for its fabrication. An ideal implant material should be biocompatible, inert, mechanically durable, and easily moldable. The ability to build patient specific implants incorporated with bioactive drugs, cells, and proteins has made 3D printing technology revolutionary in medical and pharmaceutical fields. A vast variety of biomaterials are currently being used in medical 3D printing, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. With continuous research and progress in biomaterials used in 3D printing, there has been a rapid growth in applications of 3D printing in manufacturing customized implants, prostheses, drug delivery devices, and 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The current review focuses on the novel biomaterials used in variety of 3D printing technologies for clinical applications. Most common types of medical 3D printing technologies, including fused deposition modeling, extrusion based bioprinting, inkjet, and polyjet printing techniques, their clinical applications, different types of biomaterials currently used by researchers, and key limitations are discussed in detail. PMID:29414913

Heparin-Mimicking Polymers: Synthesis and Biological Applications

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Heparin is a naturally occurring, highly sulfated polysaccharide that plays a critical role in a range of different biological processes. Therapeutically, it is mostly commonly used as an injectable solution as an anticoagulant for a variety of indications, although it has also been employed in other forms such as coatings on various biomedical devices. Due to the diverse functions of this polysaccharide in the body, including anticoagulation, tissue regeneration, anti-inflammation, and protein stabilization, and drawbacks of its use, analogous heparin-mimicking materials are also widely studied for therapeutic applications. This review focuses on one type of these materials, namely, synthetic heparin-mimicking polymers. Utilization of these polymers provides significant benefits compared to heparin, including enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects as a result of fine-tuning heparin-binding motifs and other molecular characteristics. The major types of the various polymers are summarized, as well as their applications. Because development of a broader range of heparin-mimicking materials would further expand the impact of these polymers in the treatment of various diseases, future directions are also discussed. PMID:27739666

Oximetry using multispectral imaging: theory and application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacKenzie, Lewis E.; Harvey, Andrew R.

2018-06-01

Multispectral imaging (MSI) is a technique for measurement of blood oxygen saturation in vivo that can be applied using various imaging modalities to provide new insights into physiology and disease development. This tutorial aims to provide a thorough introduction to the theory and application of MSI oximetry for researchers new to the field, whilst also providing detailed information for more experienced researchers. The optical theory underlying two-wavelength oximetry, three-wavelength oximetry, pulse oximetry, and multispectral oximetry algorithms are described in detail. The varied challenges of applying MSI oximetry to in vivo applications are outlined and discussed, covering: the optical properties of blood and tissue, optical paths in blood vessels, tissue auto-fluorescence, oxygen diffusion, and common oximetry artefacts. Essential image processing techniques for MSI are discussed, in particular, image acquisition, image registration strategies, and blood vessel line profile fitting. Calibration and validation strategies for MSI are discussed, including comparison techniques, physiological interventions, and phantoms. The optical principles and unique imaging capabilities of various cutting-edge MSI oximetry techniques are discussed, including photoacoustic imaging, spectroscopic optical coherence tomography, and snapshot MSI.

Photoaligning and photopatterning technology: applications in displays and photonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chigrinov, Vladimir

2016-03-01

The advantages of LC photoalignment technology in comparison with common "rubbing" alignment methods tend to the continuation of the research in this field. Almost all the criteria of perfect LC alignment are met in case of azo-dye layers. Nowadays azo-dye alignment materials can be already used in LCD manufacturing, e.g. for the alignment of monomers in LCP films for new generations of photonics and optics devices. Recently the new application of photoaligned technology for the tunable LC lenses with a variable focal distance was proposed. New optically rewritable (ORW) liquid crystal display and photonics devices with a light controllable structure may include LC E-paper screens, LC lenses with a variable focal distance etc. Fast ferroelectric liquid crystal devices (FLCD) are achieved through the application of nano-scale photo aligning (PA) layers in FLC cells. The novel photoaligned FLC devices may include field sequential color (FSC) FLC with a high resolution, high brightness, low power consumption and extended color gamut to be used for PCs, PDAs, switchable goggles, and new generation of switchable 2D/3D LCD TVs, as well as photonics elements.

Implications of the Java language on computer-based patient records.

PubMed

Pollard, D; Kucharz, E; Hammond, W E

1996-01-01

The growth of the utilization of the World Wide Web (WWW) as a medium for the delivery of computer-based patient records (CBPR) has created a new paradigm in which clinical information may be delivered. Until recently the authoring tools and environment for application development on the WWW have been limited to Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) utilizing common gateway interface scripts. While, at times, this provides an effective medium for the delivery of CBPR, it is a less than optimal solution. The server-centric dynamics and low levels of interactivity do not provide for a robust application which is required in a clinical environment. The emergence of Sun Microsystems' Java language is a solution to the problem. In this paper we examine the Java language and its implications to the CBPR. A quantitative and qualitative assessment was performed. The Java environment is compared to HTML and Telnet CBPR environments. Qualitative comparisons include level of interactivity, server load, client load, ease of use, and application capabilities. Quantitative comparisons include data transfer time delays. The Java language has demonstrated promise for delivering CBPRs.

Heparin-Mimicking Polymers: Synthesis and Biological Applications.

PubMed

Paluck, Samantha J; Nguyen, Thi H; Maynard, Heather D

2016-11-14

Heparin is a naturally occurring, highly sulfated polysaccharide that plays a critical role in a range of different biological processes. Therapeutically, it is mostly commonly used as an injectable solution as an anticoagulant for a variety of indications, although it has also been employed in other forms such as coatings on various biomedical devices. Due to the diverse functions of this polysaccharide in the body, including anticoagulation, tissue regeneration, anti-inflammation, and protein stabilization, and drawbacks of its use, analogous heparin-mimicking materials are also widely studied for therapeutic applications. This review focuses on one type of these materials, namely, synthetic heparin-mimicking polymers. Utilization of these polymers provides significant benefits compared to heparin, including enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects as a result of fine-tuning heparin-binding motifs and other molecular characteristics. The major types of the various polymers are summarized, as well as their applications. Because development of a broader range of heparin-mimicking materials would further expand the impact of these polymers in the treatment of various diseases, future directions are also discussed.

Not all GMOs are crop plants: non-plant GMO applications in agriculture.

PubMed

Hokanson, K E; Dawson, W O; Handler, A M; Schetelig, M F; St Leger, R J

2014-12-01

Since tools of modern biotechnology have become available, the most commonly applied and often discussed genetically modified organisms are genetically modified crop plants, although genetic engineering is also being used successfully in organisms other than plants, including bacteria, fungi, insects, and viruses. Many of these organisms, as with crop plants, are being engineered for applications in agriculture, to control plant insect pests or diseases. This paper reviews the genetically modified non-plant organisms that have been the subject of permit approvals for environmental release by the United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service since the US began regulating genetically modified organisms. This is an indication of the breadth and progress of research in the area of non-plant genetically modified organisms. This review includes three examples of promising research on non-plant genetically modified organisms for application in agriculture: (1) insects for insect pest control using improved vector systems; (2) fungal pathogens of insects to control insect pests; and (3) virus for use as transient-expression vectors for disease control in plants.

An Empirical Determination of Tasks Essential to Successful Performance as a Chemical Applicator. Determination of a Common Core of Basic Skills in Agribusiness and Natural Resources.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Daniel R.; And Others

To improve vocational educational programs in agriculture, occupational information on a common core of basic skills within the occupational area of the chemical applicator is presented in the revised task inventory survey. The purpose of the occupational survey was to identify a common core of basic skills which are performed and are essential…

Planar/dpiX common military avionics AMLCDs: roadmap and production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wanner, John; Gard, Allen; Roselle, Paul; Lewis, Alan

2000-08-01

This paper reviews the current production approach and status at Planar and dpiX utilizing a common design architecture within a family of cockpit AMLCD displays. The present status of low volume production requirements to support military applications, as well as the unique display formats and performance requirements dictated by the specific cockpit applications has resulted in a manufacturing approach requiring common TFT substrate design flexibility and the use of a common foundation for the assembly of AMLCD displays suitable for a variety of high performance military cockpits.

Low volume undiluted Btk application against heavy gypsy moth population densities in southern Corsica

Treesearch

Robert A. Fusco; Jean-Claude Martin

2003-01-01

Low volume undiluted applications of Bacillus thuringiensis are common and efficacious against coniferous forest pests such as pine processionary moth and spruce budworm, but have not been common practice against deciduous forest pests due to coverage issues.

47 CFR 101.701 - Eligibility.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... intra-company television communication for management, network supervision, or other internal carrier... applicant if it is in a parent-subsidiary relationship, or both are commonly controlled, or they have any common officers or management employees. (c) Applications for stations or frequencies that will be used...

Development and application of a database of food ingredient fraud and economically motivated adulteration from 1980 to 2010.

PubMed

Moore, Jeffrey C; Spink, John; Lipp, Markus

2012-04-01

Food ingredient fraud and economically motivated adulteration are emerging risks, but a comprehensive compilation of information about known problematic ingredients and detection methods does not currently exist. The objectives of this research were to collect such information from publicly available articles in scholarly journals and general media, organize into a database, and review and analyze the data to identify trends. The results summarized are a database that will be published in the US Pharmacopeial Convention's Food Chemicals Codex, 8th edition, and includes 1305 records, including 1000 records with analytical methods collected from 677 references. Olive oil, milk, honey, and saffron were the most common targets for adulteration reported in scholarly journals, and potentially harmful issues identified include spices diluted with lead chromate and lead tetraoxide, substitution of Chinese star anise with toxic Japanese star anise, and melamine adulteration of high protein content foods. High-performance liquid chromatography and infrared spectroscopy were the most common analytical detection procedures, and chemometrics data analysis was used in a large number of reports. Future expansion of this database will include additional publically available articles published before 1980 and in other languages, as well as data outside the public domain. The authors recommend in-depth analyses of individual incidents. This report describes the development and application of a database of food ingredient fraud issues from publicly available references. The database provides baseline information and data useful to governments, agencies, and individual companies assessing the risks of specific products produced in specific regions as well as products distributed and sold in other regions. In addition, the report describes current analytical technologies for detecting food fraud and identifies trends and developments. © 2012 US Pharmacupia Journal of Food Science © 2012 Institute of Food Technologistsreg;

Tethys: A Platform for Water Resources Modeling and Decision Support Apps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, J.; Swain, N. R.

2015-12-01

The interactive nature of web applications or "web apps" makes it an excellent medium for conveying complex scientific concepts to lay audiences and creating decision support tools that harness cutting edge modeling techniques. However, the technical expertise required to develop web apps represents a barrier for would-be developers. This barrier can be characterized by the following hurdles that developers must overcome: (1) identify, select, and install software that meet the spatial and computational capabilities commonly required for water resources modeling; (2) orchestrate the use of multiple free and open source (FOSS) projects and navigate their differing application programming interfaces; (3) learn the multi-language programming skills required for modern web development; and (4) develop a web-secure and fully featured web portal to host the app. Tethys Platform has been developed to lower the technical barrier and minimize the initial development investment that prohibits many scientists and engineers from making use of the web app medium. It includes (1) a suite of FOSS that address the unique data and computational needs common to water resources web app development, (2) a Python software development kit that streamlines development, and (3) a customizable web portal that is used to deploy the completed web apps. Tethys synthesizes several software projects including PostGIS, 52°North WPS, GeoServer, Google Maps™, OpenLayers, and Highcharts. It has been used to develop a broad array of web apps for water resources modeling and decision support for several projects including CI-WATER, HydroShare, and the National Flood Interoperability Experiment. The presentation will include live demos of some of the apps that have been developed using Tethys to demonstrate its capabilities.

[Clinical application evaluation of Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Pediatrics in Traditional Chinese Medicine].

PubMed

Liu, Meng-Yu; Yang, Wei; Wang, Li-Ying; Zhao, Xue-Yao; Wang, Yue-Xi; Liu, Yu-Qi; Han, Xue-Jie; Lv, Ai-Ping

2017-09-01

Clinical application evaluation research of Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Pediatrics in Traditional Chinese Medicine intends to evaluate the quality level and clinical application of the guideline. A questionnaire and prospective case survey methods were used to evaluate the applicability evaluation based on the clinician questionnaire and the application evaluation based on clinical case observation. The applicability evaluation, familiarity and utilization rate of doctors' guidelines were 85.06%, 62.76%; Sort by technical grade, intermediate grade doctors have a higher familiarity rate and utilization rate, while the junior grade doctor's is lower; Guide quality level of applicability evaluation, other items' rational percentage are better than 96% except the items of health preserving and prevention and other treatment is relatively low; Items' applicable percentage of applicability evaluation are more than 91% except the item of guide simplicity. Comprehensive applicability evaluation, The percentage of the guideline applicable to clinical practice accounted for 94.94%. The consistency rate of syndrome differentiation and clinical application is more than 96% in addition to prescription medication, other treatments and health preserving and prevention of the guidelines apply consistency of application evaluation. The percentage of good treatment effect accounted for 92.96% of application effect evaluation. The safety percentage is 99.89% and economy is 97.45%. The research shows that of Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases of Pediatrics in Traditional Chinese Medicine quality level is good and is basically applicable to pediatric clinical practice which can be used as a standardized recommendation of pediatric common diseases' treatment specification. A small part of the guidelines are not applicable and need to be further consummated. Health preserving and prevention and other treatment of the guideline need to be revised. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Physical and Clinical Evaluation of Hip Spica Cast applied with Three-slab Technique using Fibreglass Material

PubMed Central

Bitar, KM; Ferdhany, ME; Saw, A

2016-01-01

Introduction: Hip spica casting is an important component of treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and popular treatment method for femur fractures in children. Breakage at the hip region is a relatively common problem of this cast. We have developed a three-slab technique of hip spica application using fibreglass as the cast material. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the physical durability of the spica cast and skin complications with its use. Methodology: A retrospective review of children with various conditions requiring hip spica immobilisation which was applied using our method. Study duration was from 1st of January 2014 until 31st December 2015. Our main outcomes were cast breakage and skin complications. For children with hip instability, the first cast would be changed after one month, and the second cast about two months later. Results: Twenty-one children were included, with an average age of 2.2 years. The most common indication for spica immobilisation was developmental dysplasia of the hip. One child had skin irritation after spica application. No spica breakage was noted. Conclusion: This study showed that the three-slab method of hip spica cast application using fibreglass material was durable and safe with low risk of skin complications. PMID:28553442

Selective detection of trace nitroaromatic, nitramine, and nitrate ester explosive residues using a three-step fluorimetric sensing process: a tandem turn-off, turn-on sensor.

PubMed

Sanchez, Jason C; Toal, Sarah J; Wang, Zheng; Dugan, Regina E; Trogler, William C

2007-11-01

Detection of trace quantities of explosive residues plays a key role in military, civilian, and counter-terrorism applications. To advance explosives sensor technology, current methods will need to become cheaper and portable while maintaining sensitivity and selectivity. The detection of common explosives including trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-N-methylnitramine, and trinitroglycerin may be carried out using a three-step process combining "turn-off" and "turn-on" fluorimetric sensing. This process first detects nitroaromatic explosives by their quenching of green luminescence of polymetalloles (lambda em approximately 400-510 nm). The second step places down a thin film of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) while "erasing" the polymetallole luminescence. The final step completes the reaction of the nitramines and/or nitrate esters with DAN resulting in the formation of a blue luminescent traizole complex (lambda(em) = 450 nm) providing a "turn-on" response for nitramine and nitrate ester-based explosives. Detection limits as low as 2 ng are observed. Solid-state detection of production line explosives demonstrates the applicability of this method to real world situations. This method offers a sensitive and selective detection process for a diverse group of the most common high explosives used in military and terrorist applications today.

MSiReader: an open-source interface to view and analyze high resolving power MS imaging files on Matlab platform.

PubMed

Robichaud, Guillaume; Garrard, Kenneth P; Barry, Jeremy A; Muddiman, David C

2013-05-01

During the past decade, the field of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has greatly evolved, to a point where it has now been fully integrated by most vendors as an optional or dedicated platform that can be purchased with their instruments. However, the technology is not mature and multiple research groups in both academia and industry are still very actively studying the fundamentals of imaging techniques, adapting the technology to new ionization sources, and developing new applications. As a result, there important varieties of data file formats used to store mass spectrometry imaging data and, concurrent to the development of MSi, collaborative efforts have been undertaken to introduce common imaging data file formats. However, few free software packages to read and analyze files of these different formats are readily available. We introduce here MSiReader, a free open source application to read and analyze high resolution MSI data from the most common MSi data formats. The application is built on the Matlab platform (Mathworks, Natick, MA, USA) and includes a large selection of data analysis tools and features. People who are unfamiliar with the Matlab language will have little difficult navigating the user-friendly interface, and users with Matlab programming experience can adapt and customize MSiReader for their own needs.

Astrometry of Single-Chord Occultations: Application to the 1993 Triton Event

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olkin, Catherine B.; Elliot, J. L.; Bus, Schelte J.; McDonald, Stephen W.; Dahn, Conrad C.

1996-01-01

This paper outlines a method for reducing astrometric data to derive the closest approach time and distance to the center of an occultation shadow for a single observer. The method applies to CCD frames, strip scans or photographic plates and uses a set of field stars of unknown positions to define a common coordinate system for all frames. The motion of the occulting body is used to establish the transformation between this common coordinate system and the celestial coordinate system of the body's ephemeris. This method is demonstrated by application to the Tr6O occultation by Triton on 1993 July 10 UT. Over an interval of four nights that included the occultation time, 80 frames of Triton and Tr6O were taken near the meridian with the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) 61-inch astrometric reflector. Application of the method presented here to these data yields a closest approach distance of 359 +/- 133 km (corresponding to 0.017 +/- 0.006 arcsec) for the occultation chord obtained with the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO). Comparison of the astrometric closest approach time with the KAO light-curve midtime shows a difference of 2.2 +/- 4.1 s. Relative photometry of Triton and Tr6O, needed for photometric calibration of the occultation light curve, is also presented.

Decal Process Document and Catalog

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

The Decal Process Document and Catalog, JSC 27260 is the standard flight decal catalog, complete with illustrations and part numbers. As hardware developers identify labels that have common applicability across end items, these labels can be evaluated for "standard decal classification" and entered into the decal catalog for general use. The hardware developer must have a label design that meets current, applicable labeling requirements, and submit to the Decal Design and Production Facility (DDPF) as a standard label candidate. Upon approval, the label will be added to the decal catalog. The Decal Process Document and Catalog provides a selection of decals from which the NASA and NASA contractor customers can easily order. The decals shown in the catalog have been previously produced and have released engineering/fabrication drawings on file in the (DDPF). A released drawing is required before a decal can be produced or placed into the catalog. Some decals included in the catalog have a common applicability and are used in various NASA vehicles/habitats. It is the intent of the DDPF to maintain this catalog as a "living document" to which decals/placards can be added as they are repeatedly used. The advantage of identifYing flight decals in this catalog is that a released drawing is already in place, and the products will be flight certified.

MSiReader: An Open-Source Interface to View and Analyze High Resolving Power MS Imaging Files on Matlab Platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robichaud, Guillaume; Garrard, Kenneth P.; Barry, Jeremy A.; Muddiman, David C.

2013-05-01

During the past decade, the field of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has greatly evolved, to a point where it has now been fully integrated by most vendors as an optional or dedicated platform that can be purchased with their instruments. However, the technology is not mature and multiple research groups in both academia and industry are still very actively studying the fundamentals of imaging techniques, adapting the technology to new ionization sources, and developing new applications. As a result, there important varieties of data file formats used to store mass spectrometry imaging data and, concurrent to the development of MSi, collaborative efforts have been undertaken to introduce common imaging data file formats. However, few free software packages to read and analyze files of these different formats are readily available. We introduce here MSiReader, a free open source application to read and analyze high resolution MSI data from the most common MSi data formats. The application is built on the Matlab platform (Mathworks, Natick, MA, USA) and includes a large selection of data analysis tools and features. People who are unfamiliar with the Matlab language will have little difficult navigating the user-friendly interface, and users with Matlab programming experience can adapt and customize MSiReader for their own needs.

Employer-employee relations.

PubMed

Copeland, J D

1993-09-01

As an employer, a veterinarian must be vigilant to protect the rights of both job applicants and employees. Federal and state statutes guarantee that applicants and employees will not be subjected to discrimination in any aspect of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, and termination of employment. An employer may not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, or physical disability. In addition, common law tort actions give employees powerful causes of action be against those employers who injure employees. More than ever, employers must be diligent in obeying the law. Employers must also take measures to protect themselves from employee claims by instituting risk management plans and purchasing adequate insurance coverage.

Enrichment and characterization of ferritin for nanomaterial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghirlando, Rodolfo; Mutskova, Radina; Schwartz, Chad

2016-01-01

Ferritin is a ubiquitous iron storage protein utilized as a nanomaterial for labeling biomolecules and nanoparticle construction. Commercially available preparations of horse spleen ferritin, widely used as a starting material, contain a distribution of ferritins with different iron loads. We describe a detailed approach to the enrichment of differentially loaded ferritin molecules by common biophysical techniques such as size exclusion chromatography and preparative ultracentrifugation, and characterize these preparations by dynamic light scattering, and analytical ultracentrifugation. We demonstrate a combination of methods to standardize an approach for determining the chemical load of nearly any particle, including nanoparticles and metal colloids. Purification and characterization of iron content in monodisperse ferritin species is particularly critical for several applications in nanomaterial science.

[Research progress in mechanisms and clinical application for blonanserin and lurasidone in improving cognitive function of schizophrenia].

PubMed

Zheng, Qi; Liu, Bangshan; Xu, Shuyin; Liao, Mei; Zhang, Yan; Li, Lingjiang

2017-04-28

Cognition deficit is one of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia, including abstract thinking and memory, and attention deficits. Previous studies have suggested that the improvement of cognition is very important for the recovery of disease and social function for the patients. Recent studies indicated that two new atypical antipsychotics, blonanserin and lurasidone, are expected to improve the cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia. This review introduces pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, mechanisms of blonanserin and lurasidone in the improvement of cognitive impairment and progress in their clinical application for schizophrenia. We hope that this review could guide clinical use of antipsychotics and provide new directions for future studies.

Development of user guidelines for ECAS display design, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dodson, D. W.; Shields, N. L., Jr.

1978-01-01

Experiment computer application software (ECAS) display design and command usage guidelines were developed, which if followed by spacelab experiments, would standardize methods and techniques for data presentation and commanding via ECAS. These guidelines would provide some commonality among experiments which would enhance crew training and flight operations. The guidelines are applicable to all onboard experiment displays, whether allocated by ECAS or a dedicated experiment processor. A brief description of the spacelab data display system characteristics and of the services provided by the experiment computer operating system is included. Guidelines concerning data presentation and layout of alphanumeric and graphic information are presented along with guidelines concerning keyboard commanding and command feedback.

In vivo imaging of middle-ear and inner-ear microstructures of a mouse guided by SD-OCT combined with a surgical microscope

PubMed Central

Cho, Nam Hyun; Jang, Jeong Hun; Jung, Woonggyu; Kim, Jeehyun

2014-01-01

We developed an augmented-reality system that combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) with a surgical microscope. By sharing the common optical path in the microscope and OCT, we could simultaneously acquire OCT and microscope views. The system was tested to identify the middle-ear and inner-ear microstructures of a mouse. Considering the probability of clinical application including otorhinolaryngology, diseases such as middle-ear effusion were visualized using in vivo mouse and OCT images simultaneously acquired through the eyepiece of the surgical microscope during surgical manipulation using the proposed system. This system is expected to realize a new practical area of OCT application. PMID:24787787

MBE growth of VCSELs for high volume applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jäger, Roland; Riedl, Michael C.

2011-05-01

Mass market applications like laser computer mouse or optical data transmission based on vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) chips need a high over all yield including epitaxy, processing, dicing, mounting and testing. One yield limitation for VCSEL structures is the emission wavelength variation of the substrate surface area leading to the fraction on laser chips which are below or above the specification limits. For most 850 nm VCSEL products a resonator wavelength variation of ±2 nm is common. This represents an average resonator thickness variation of much less than 1% which is quite challenging to be fulfilled on the entire processed wafer surface area. A high over all yield is demonstrated on MBE grown VCSEL structures.

Powder-based 3D printing for bone tissue engineering.

PubMed

Brunello, G; Sivolella, S; Meneghello, R; Ferroni, L; Gardin, C; Piattelli, A; Zavan, B; Bressan, E

2016-01-01

Bone tissue engineered 3-D constructs customized to patient-specific needs are emerging as attractive biomimetic scaffolds to enhance bone cell and tissue growth and differentiation. The article outlines the features of the most common additive manufacturing technologies (3D printing, stereolithography, fused deposition modeling, and selective laser sintering) used to fabricate bone tissue engineering scaffolds. It concentrates, in particular, on the current state of knowledge concerning powder-based 3D printing, including a description of the properties of powders and binder solutions, the critical phases of scaffold manufacturing, and its applications in bone tissue engineering. Clinical aspects and future applications are also discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel Bioreactor Platform for Scalable Cardiomyogenic Differentiation from Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Embryoid Bodies.

PubMed

Rungarunlert, Sasitorn; Ferreira, Joao N; Dinnyes, Andras

2016-01-01

Generation of cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a common and valuable approach to produce large amount of cells for various applications, including assays and models for drug development, cell-based therapies, and tissue engineering. All these applications would benefit from a reliable bioreactor-based methodology to consistently generate homogenous PSC-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) at a large scale, which can further undergo cardiomyogenic differentiation. The goal of this chapter is to describe a scalable method to consistently generate large amount of homogeneous and synchronized EBs from PSCs. This method utilizes a slow-turning lateral vessel bioreactor to direct the EB formation and their subsequent cardiomyogenic lineage differentiation.

Conformal fractal antenna and FSS for low-RCS applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varadan, Vijay K.; Vinoy, K. J.; Jose, K. A.; Varadan, Vasundara V.

2000-06-01

On many situations the reduction of radar cross section (RCS) is of continued strategic interest, especially with aircraft and missiles. Once the overall RCS of the vehicle is reduced, the reflections from the antennas can dominate. The commonly known approaches to RCS reduction may not be applicable for antennas, and hence special techniques are followed. These include configuring the antennas completely conformal, and using band pass frequency selective surfaces. The use fractal patterns have shown to result in such band pass characteristics. The overall RCS of a typical target body is experimentally found to be reduced when these screens are used. The paper presents the experimental result on the transmission and backscatter characteristics of a fractal FSS screen.

Design and construction of a cost-efficient Arduino-based mirror galvanometer system for scanning optical microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Jen-Feng; Dhingra, Shonali; D'Urso, Brian

2017-01-01

Mirror galvanometer systems (galvos) are commonly employed in research and commercial applications in areas involving laser imaging, laser machining, laser-light shows, and others. Here, we present a robust, moderate-speed, and cost-efficient home-built galvo system. The mechanical part of this design consists of one mirror, which is tilted around two axes with multiple surface transducers. We demonstrate the ability of this galvo by scanning the mirror using a computer, via a custom driver circuit. The performance of the galvo, including scan range, noise, linearity, and scan speed, is characterized. As an application, we show that this galvo system can be used in a confocal scanning microscopy system.

Clinical applications of MS-based protein quantification.

PubMed

Sabbagh, Bassel; Mindt, Sonani; Neumaier, Michael; Findeisen, Peter

2016-04-01

Mass spectrometry-based assays are increasingly important in clinical laboratory medicine and nowadays are already commonly used in several areas of routine diagnostics. These include therapeutic drug monitoring, toxicology, endocrinology, pediatrics, and microbiology. Accordingly, some of the most common analyses are therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressants, vitamin D, steroids, newborn screening, and bacterial identification. However, MS-based quantification of peptides and proteins for routine diagnostic use is rather rare up to now despite excellent analytical specificity and good sensitivity. Here, we want to give an overview over current fit-for-purpose assays for MS-based protein quantification. Advantages as well as challenges of this approach will be discussed with focus on feasibility for routine diagnostic use. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Telehealth on advanced networks.

PubMed

Wilson, Laurence S; Stevenson, Duncan R; Cregan, Patrick

2010-01-01

We address advanced Internet for complex telehealth applications by reviewing four hospital-based broadband telehealth projects and identifying common threads. These projects were conducted in Australia under a 6-year research project on broadband Internet applications. Each project addressed specific clinical needs and its development was guided by the clinicians involved. Each project was trialed in the field and evaluated against the initial requirements. The four projects covered remote management of a resuscitation team in a district hospital, remote guidance and interpretation of echocardiography, virtual-reality-based instructor-student surgical training, and postoperative outpatient consultations following pediatric surgery. Each was characterized by a high level of interpersonal communication, a high level of clinical expertise, and multiple participants. Each made use of multiple high-quality video and audio links and shared real-time access to clinical data. Four common threads were observed. Each application provided a high level of usability and task focus because the design and use of broadband capability was aimed directly to meet the clinicians' needs. Each used the media quality available over broadband to convey words, gestures, body movements, and facial expressions to support communication and a sense of presence among the participants. Each required a complex information space shared among the participants, including real-time access to stored patient data and real-time interactive access to the patients themselves. Finally, each application supported the social and organizational aspects of their healthcare focus, creating and maintaining relationships between the various participants, and this was done by placing the telehealth application into a wider functioning clinical context. These findings provide evidence for a significantly enhanced role for appropriate telemedicine systems running on advanced networks, in a wider range of clinical applications, more deeply integrated into healthcare systems.

Comparison of skin hydration in combination and single use of common moisturizers (cream, toner, and spray water).

PubMed

Yuanxi, Li; Wei, Hua; Lidan, Xiiong; Li, Li

2016-01-01

This study aims to assess the moisturization in combination or single use (including seven general applications) of three common moisturizers: cream, toner, and spray water. Groups were set as C: cream only; T: toner only; C+T, T+C: cream or toner applied successively within a few minutes; C-T, C-S: cream applied with repeated toner or spray water every 2 h; T-T: toner applied with repeated toner every 2 h; and N: untreated group. Outcomes were the change in skin hydration from baseline at 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after applications. All treated zones displayed a significantly higher degree of hydration compared with the untreated zone ( p < 0.05). For normal skin (hydration value at baseline >35 a.u.), C-T led to greatest hydration change rate compared with others, followed by C+T, T+C, and C. Those three applications exhibited analogous hydration at each test point ( p > 0.05). The hydration rate of C-S differed slightly from T-T, followed by those four mentioned above, with T being the last. For dry skin (hydration value at baseline <35 a.u.), no statistical significance could be detected between C-T zone and C+T, T+C, and C zones ( p > 0.05), the other results were identical. When cream and toner were applied successively, the application order has little effect on skin hydration. The application of cream only was an effective and brief way to achieve favorable moisturization especially for dry skin. As a complement, repeated application of toner rather than spray water is efficacious for skin hydration.

Applicability of common stomatal conductance models in maize under varying soil moisture conditions.

PubMed

Wang, Qiuling; He, Qijin; Zhou, Guangsheng

2018-07-01

In the context of climate warming, the varying soil moisture caused by precipitation pattern change will affect the applicability of stomatal conductance models, thereby affecting the simulation accuracy of carbon-nitrogen-water cycles in ecosystems. We studied the applicability of four common stomatal conductance models including Jarvis, Ball-Woodrow-Berry (BWB), Ball-Berry-Leuning (BBL) and unified stomatal optimization (USO) models based on summer maize leaf gas exchange data from a soil moisture consecutive decrease manipulation experiment. The results showed that the USO model performed best, followed by the BBL model, BWB model, and the Jarvis model performed worst under varying soil moisture conditions. The effects of soil moisture made a difference in the relative performance among the models. By introducing a water response function, the performance of the Jarvis, BWB, and USO models improved, which decreased the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) by 15.7%, 16.6% and 3.9%, respectively; however, the performance of the BBL model was negative, which increased the NRMSE by 5.3%. It was observed that the models of Jarvis, BWB, BBL and USO were applicable within different ranges of soil relative water content (i.e., 55%-65%, 56%-67%, 37%-79% and 37%-95%, respectively) based on the 95% confidence limits. Moreover, introducing a water response function, the applicability of the Jarvis and BWB models improved. The USO model performed best with or without introducing the water response function and was applicable under varying soil moisture conditions. Our results provide a basis for selecting appropriate stomatal conductance models under drought conditions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Lightweight I/O Scheme to Facilitate Spatial and Temporal Queries of Scientific Data Analytics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tian, Yuan; Liu, Zhuo; Klasky, Scott; Wang, Bin; Abbasi, Hasan; Zhou, Shujia; Podhorszki, Norbert; Clune, Tom; Logan, Jeremy; Yu, Weikuan

2013-01-01

In the era of petascale computing, more scientific applications are being deployed on leadership scale computing platforms to enhance the scientific productivity. Many I/O techniques have been designed to address the growing I/O bottleneck on large-scale systems by handling massive scientific data in a holistic manner. While such techniques have been leveraged in a wide range of applications, they have not been shown as adequate for many mission critical applications, particularly in data post-processing stage. One of the examples is that some scientific applications generate datasets composed of a vast amount of small data elements that are organized along many spatial and temporal dimensions but require sophisticated data analytics on one or more dimensions. Including such dimensional knowledge into data organization can be beneficial to the efficiency of data post-processing, which is often missing from exiting I/O techniques. In this study, we propose a novel I/O scheme named STAR (Spatial and Temporal AggRegation) to enable high performance data queries for scientific analytics. STAR is able to dive into the massive data, identify the spatial and temporal relationships among data variables, and accordingly organize them into an optimized multi-dimensional data structure before storing to the storage. This technique not only facilitates the common access patterns of data analytics, but also further reduces the application turnaround time. In particular, STAR is able to enable efficient data queries along the time dimension, a practice common in scientific analytics but not yet supported by existing I/O techniques. In our case study with a critical climate modeling application GEOS-5, the experimental results on Jaguar supercomputer demonstrate an improvement up to 73 times for the read performance compared to the original I/O method.

Applying for ethical approval for research: the main issues.

PubMed

Gelling, Leslie

2016-01-13

The need to obtain research ethical approval is common to all research involving human participants. This approval must be obtained before research participants can be approached and before data collection can begin. The process of ethical review is one way that research participants can be confident that possible risks have been considered, minimised and deemed acceptable. This article outlines some of the main issues researchers should consider when planning an application for research ethical approval by answering the following six questions: 'Do I need research ethical approval?', 'How many applications will I need to make?', 'Where should I apply for research ethical approval?', 'What do I need to include in my application?', 'What do research ethics committees look for?' and 'What other approvals might I need?' Answering these questions will enable researchers to navigate the ethical review process.

Sensors, Volume 1, Fundamentals and General Aspects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grandke, Thomas; Ko, Wen H.

1996-12-01

'Sensors' is the first self-contained series to deal with the whole area of sensors. It describes general aspects, technical and physical fundamentals, construction, function, applications and developments of the various types of sensors. This volume deals with the fundamentals and common principles of sensors and covers the wide areas of principles, technologies, signal processing, and applications. Contents include: Sensor Fundamentals, e.g. Sensor Parameters, Modeling, Design and Packaging; Basic Sensor Technologies, e.g. Thin and Thick Films, Integrated Magnetic Sensors, Optical Fibres and Intergrated Optics, Ceramics and Oxides; Sensor Interfaces, e.g. Signal Processing, Multisensor Signal Processing, Smart Sensors, Interface Systems; Sensor Applications, e.g. Automotive: On-board Sensors, Traffic Surveillance and Control, Home Appliances, Environmental Monitoring, etc. This volume is an indispensable reference work and text book for both specialits and newcomers, researchers and developers.

Developing the Mental Health Workforce: Review and Application of Training Approaches from Multiple Disciplines

PubMed Central

Lyon, Aaron R.; Stirman, Shannon Wiltsey; Kerns, Suzanne E. U.; Bruns, Eric J.

2011-01-01

Strategies specifically designed to facilitate the training of mental health practitioners in evidence-based practices (EBPs) have lagged behind the development of the interventions themselves. The current paper draws from an interdisciplinary literature (including medical training, adult education, and teacher training) to identify useful training and support approaches as well as important conceptual frameworks that may be applied to training in mental health. Theory and research findings are reviewed, which highlight the importance of continued consultation/ support following training workshops, congruence between the training content and practitioner experience, and focus on motivational issues. In addition, six individual approaches are presented with careful attention to their empirical foundations and potential applications. Common techniques are highlighted and applications and future directions for mental health workforce training and research are discussed. PMID:21190075

The Open Source DataTurbine Initiative: Streaming Data Middleware for Environmental Observing Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fountain T.; Tilak, S.; Shin, P.; Hubbard, P.; Freudinger, L.

2009-01-01

The Open Source DataTurbine Initiative is an international community of scientists and engineers sharing a common interest in real-time streaming data middleware and applications. The technology base of the OSDT Initiative is the DataTurbine open source middleware. Key applications of DataTurbine include coral reef monitoring, lake monitoring and limnology, biodiversity and animal tracking, structural health monitoring and earthquake engineering, airborne environmental monitoring, and environmental sustainability. DataTurbine software emerged as a commercial product in the 1990 s from collaborations between NASA and private industry. In October 2007, a grant from the USA National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Cyberinfrastructure allowed us to transition DataTurbine from a proprietary software product into an open source software initiative. This paper describes the DataTurbine software and highlights key applications in environmental monitoring.

Migration of legacy mumps applications to relational database servers.

PubMed

O'Kane, K C

2001-07-01

An extended implementation of the Mumps language is described that facilitates vendor neutral migration of legacy Mumps applications to SQL-based relational database servers. Implemented as a compiler, this system translates Mumps programs to operating system independent, standard C code for subsequent compilation to fully stand-alone, binary executables. Added built-in functions and support modules extend the native hierarchical Mumps database with access to industry standard, networked, relational database management servers (RDBMS) thus freeing Mumps applications from dependence upon vendor specific, proprietary, unstandardized database models. Unlike Mumps systems that have added captive, proprietary RDMBS access, the programs generated by this development environment can be used with any RDBMS system that supports common network access protocols. Additional features include a built-in web server interface and the ability to interoperate directly with programs and functions written in other languages.

User Centred Design and Nosocomials in Surgical ICUs: A Mobile Application for Peer Monitoring and Training in Hand Hygiene.

PubMed

Kariyawasam, Nadish; Wong, Ming Chao; Turner, Paul

2017-01-01

Nosocomial infections are a global public health risk. In low and middle-income countries the problem is acute with very high infection rates commonly contributing to poor patient outcomes including mortality. Organisational, cultural, and individual factors have been identified in these high rates, with poor hand hygiene compliance amongst clinicians a major risk factor. New approaches to achieving clinician behaviour change are required. User-centred approaches have proven effective to engage and support changes in clinician behaviours through the use of electronic tools. This paper reports on the experience of co-designing and implementing a mobile application with clinicians to enhance hand hygiene compliance. The peer monitoring and training supported by the application aims to directly contribute to evidence on reductions in infection rates in two surgical ICUs in Sri Lanka.

Simplified Deployment of Health Informatics Applications by Providing Docker Images.

PubMed

Löbe, Matthias; Ganslandt, Thomas; Lotzmann, Lydia; Mate, Sebastian; Christoph, Jan; Baum, Benjamin; Sariyar, Murat; Wu, Jie; Stäubert, Sebastian

2016-01-01

Due to the specific needs of biomedical researchers, in-house development of software is widespread. A common problem is to maintain and enhance software after the funded project has ended. Even if many tools are made open source, only a couple of projects manage to attract a user basis large enough to ensure sustainability. Reasons for this include complex installation and configuration of biomedical software as well as an ambiguous terminology of the features provided; all of which make evaluation of software laborious. Docker is a para-virtualization technology based on Linux containers that eases deployment of applications and facilitates evaluation. We investigated a suite of software developments funded by a large umbrella organization for networked medical research within the last 10 years and created Docker containers for a number of applications to support utilization and dissemination.

Superhydrophobic materials for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Falde, Eric J; Yohe, Stefan T; Colson, Yolonda L; Grinstaff, Mark W

2016-10-01

Superhydrophobic surfaces are actively studied across a wide range of applications and industries, and are now finding increased use in the biomedical arena as substrates to control protein adsorption, cellular interaction, and bacterial growth, as well as platforms for drug delivery devices and for diagnostic tools. The commonality in the design of these materials is to create a stable or metastable air layer at the material surface, which lends itself to a number of unique properties. These activities are catalyzing the development of new materials, applications, and fabrication techniques, as well as collaborations across material science, chemistry, engineering, and medicine given the interdisciplinary nature of this work. The review begins with a discussion of superhydrophobicity, and then explores biomedical applications that are utilizing superhydrophobicity in depth including material selection characteristics, in vitro performance, and in vivo performance. General trends are offered for each application in addition to discussion of conflicting data in the literature, and the review concludes with the authors' future perspectives on the utility of superhydrophobic biomaterials for medical applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The theory and design of piezoelectric/pyroelectric polymer film sensors for biomedical engineering applications.

PubMed

Brown, L F

1989-01-01

The unique properties of piezoelectric/pyroelectric polymers offer many new opportunities for biomedical engineering sensor applications. Since their discovery nearly 20 years ago, the polymer films have been used for many novel switching and sensor applications. Despite the prodigious exposure from many recent publications describing piezo film applications, methods of sensor fabrication and circuit interfacing still elude most engineers. This paper is presented as a tutorial guide to applying piezo polymers to biomedical engineering applications. A review of the fundamentals of piezoelectricity/pyroelectricity in piezo polymers is first presented. Their material properties are contrasted with piezoelectric ceramic materials. Some advantages and disadvantages of the films for biomedical sensors are discussed. Specific details on the fabrication of piezo film sensors are presented. Methods are described for forming, cutting, and mounting film sensors, and making lead connections. A brief discussion of equivalent circuit models for the design and simulation of piezoelectric/pyroelectric sensors is included, as well as common circuit interface techniques. Finally, several sources are recommended for further information on a variety of biomedical sensor applications.

Urinary Biomarker, Dermal, and Air Measurement Results for 2,4-D and Chlorpyrifos Farm Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

PubMed Central

Thomas, Kent; Dosemeci, Mustafa; Hoppin, Jane A.; Sheldon, Linda; Croghan, Carry; Gordon, Sydney; Jones, Martin; Reynolds, Stephen; Raymer, James; Akland, Gerald; Lynch, Charles F.; Knott, Charles; Sandler, Dale P.; Blair, Aaron; Alavanja, Michael

2010-01-01

Epidemiologic studies increasingly rely on improved exposure assessments to characterize pesticide exposures in agricultural populations. A subset of private pesticide applicators in the AHS epidemiological cohort was monitored around the time of their agricultural use of 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos to assess exposure levels and potential exposure factors. Measurements included pre- and post-application urine samples, and patch, hand wipe, and personal air samples. Broadcast or hand spray application methods were used by applicators for 2,4-D products. Chlorpyrifos products were applied using spray applications and in-furrow application of granular products. Geometric mean (GM) values for 69 2,4-D applicators were 7.8 and 25 µg/L in pre- and post-application urine, respectively (p < 0.05 for difference); 0.39 mg for estimated hand loading; 2.9 mg for estimated body loading; and 0.37 µg/m3 for concentration in personal air. Significant correlations were found between all media for 2,4-D. GM values for 17 chlorpyrifos applicators were 11 µg/L in both pre- and post-application urine for the 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol metabolite, 0.28 mg for body loading, and 0.49 µg/m3 for air concentration. Only 53% of the chlorpyrifos applicators had measureable hand loading results; their median hand loading was 0.02 mg. Factors associated with differences in 2,4-D measurements included application method and glove use; and, for hand spray applicators, use of adjuvants, equipment repair, duration of use, and contact with treated vegetation. Spray applications of liquid chlorpyrifos products were associated with higher measurements than in-furrow granular product applications. This study provides information on exposures and possible exposure determinants for several application methods commonly used by farmers in the cohort and will provide information to assess and refine exposure classification in the Agricultural Health Study. Results may also be of use in pesticide safety education for reducing exposures to applied pesticides. PMID:19240759

Statistical software applications used in health services research: analysis of published studies in the U.S

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background This study aims to identify the statistical software applications most commonly employed for data analysis in health services research (HSR) studies in the U.S. The study also examines the extent to which information describing the specific analytical software utilized is provided in published articles reporting on HSR studies. Methods Data were extracted from a sample of 1,139 articles (including 877 original research articles) published between 2007 and 2009 in three U.S. HSR journals, that were considered to be representative of the field based upon a set of selection criteria. Descriptive analyses were conducted to categorize patterns in statistical software usage in those articles. The data were stratified by calendar year to detect trends in software use over time. Results Only 61.0% of original research articles in prominent U.S. HSR journals identified the particular type of statistical software application used for data analysis. Stata and SAS were overwhelmingly the most commonly used software applications employed (in 46.0% and 42.6% of articles respectively). However, SAS use grew considerably during the study period compared to other applications. Stratification of the data revealed that the type of statistical software used varied considerably by whether authors were from the U.S. or from other countries. Conclusions The findings highlight a need for HSR investigators to identify more consistently the specific analytical software used in their studies. Knowing that information can be important, because different software packages might produce varying results, owing to differences in the software's underlying estimation methods. PMID:21977990

Physicochemical and microbiological effects of long- and short-term winery wastewater application to soils.

PubMed

Mosse, K P M; Patti, A F; Smernik, R J; Christen, E W; Cavagnaro, T R

2012-01-30

Application of winery wastewaters to soils for irrigation of various crops or landscapes is a common practice in the wine industry. In this study, we sought to investigate the effects of this practice, by comparing the physicochemical and microbiological soil properties in paired sites that differed in having had a history of winery waste application or not. We also compared the effects of a single application of untreated winery wastewater, to application of treated winery wastewater (sequencing batch reactor) and pure water to eliminate the effects of wetting alone. Long-term application of winery wastes was found to have significant impacts on soil microbial community structure, as determined by phospholipid fatty acid analysis, as well as on many physicochemical properties including pH, EC, and cation concentrations. (13)C NMR revealed only slight differences in the nature of the carbon present at each of the paired sites. A single application of untreated winery wastewater was shown to have significant impacts upon soil respiration, nitrogen cycling and microbial community structure, but the treated wastewater application showed no significant differences to wetting alone. Results are discussed in the context of sustainable winery wastewater disposal. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Commonality of Ground Systems in Launch Operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quinn, Shawn M.

2008-01-01

NASA is examining the utility of requiring a certain degree of commonality in both flight and ground systems in the Constellation Program. While the benefits of commonality seem obvious in terms of minimizing upfront development and long-term operations and maintenance costs, success in real, large-scale engineering systems used to support launch operations is relatively unknown. A broad literature review conducted for this paper did not yield a single paper specifically addressing the application of commonality for ground systems at any launch site in the United States or abroad. This paper provides a broad overview of the ground systems, captures historical and current application of commonality at the launch site, and offers suggestions for additional research to further develop commonality approaches.

DICCCOL: Dense Individualized and Common Connectivity-Based Cortical Landmarks

PubMed Central

Zhu, Dajiang; Guo, Lei; Jiang, Xi; Zhang, Tuo; Zhang, Degang; Chen, Hanbo; Deng, Fan; Faraco, Carlos; Jin, Changfeng; Wee, Chong-Yaw; Yuan, Yixuan; Lv, Peili; Yin, Yan; Hu, Xiaolei; Duan, Lian; Hu, Xintao; Han, Junwei; Wang, Lihong; Shen, Dinggang; Miller, L Stephen

2013-01-01

Is there a common structural and functional cortical architecture that can be quantitatively encoded and precisely reproduced across individuals and populations? This question is still largely unanswered due to the vast complexity, variability, and nonlinearity of the cerebral cortex. Here, we hypothesize that the common cortical architecture can be effectively represented by group-wise consistent structural fiber connections and take a novel data-driven approach to explore the cortical architecture. We report a dense and consistent map of 358 cortical landmarks, named Dense Individualized and Common Connectivity–based Cortical Landmarks (DICCCOLs). Each DICCCOL is defined by group-wise consistent white-matter fiber connection patterns derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. Our results have shown that these 358 landmarks are remarkably reproducible over more than one hundred human brains and possess accurate intrinsically established structural and functional cross-subject correspondences validated by large-scale functional magnetic resonance imaging data. In particular, these 358 cortical landmarks can be accurately and efficiently predicted in a new single brain with DTI data. Thus, this set of 358 DICCCOL landmarks comprehensively encodes the common structural and functional cortical architectures, providing opportunities for many applications in brain science including mapping human brain connectomes, as demonstrated in this work. PMID:22490548

Customised City Maps in Mobile Applications for Senior Citizens.

PubMed

Reins, Frank; Berker, Frank; Heck, Helmut

2017-01-01

Map services should be used in mobile applications for senior citizens. Do the commonly used map services meet the needs of elderly people? - Exemplarily, the contrast ratios of common maps in comparison to an optimized custom rendered map are examined in the paper.

Evaluation of the impact of lime softening waste disposal in ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Drinking water treatment residues (WTR), generated from the lime softening processes, are commonly reused or disposed of in a number of applications; these include use as a soil amendment or a subsurface fill. Recently questions were posed by the Florida regulatory community on whether lime WTR that contained a small percentage of other treatment additives could appropriately be characterized as lime WTR, in terms of its total element content and leachability. A study was done using a broad range of leaching tests, including a framework of tests recently adopted by the United States-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and tests that were modified to account for scenario specific conditions, such as the presence of natural organic matter (NOM). The results of these additional leaching tests demonstrated that certain applications, including disposal in a water body with NOM or in placement anaerobic environment, did result in increased leaching of elements such as Fe, and that a site specific assessment should be conducted prior to using WTR in these types of applications. This study illustrates the importance of leaching test selection when attempting to provide an estimation of release in practice. Although leaching tests are just one component in a beneficial use assessment and other factors including aquifer and soil properties play a significant role in the outcome, leaching tests should be tailored to most appropriately represent the scenario or reuse ap

Image correlation and sampling study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Popp, D. J.; Mccormack, D. S.; Sedwick, J. L.

1972-01-01

The development of analytical approaches for solving image correlation and image sampling of multispectral data is discussed. Relevant multispectral image statistics which are applicable to image correlation and sampling are identified. The general image statistics include intensity mean, variance, amplitude histogram, power spectral density function, and autocorrelation function. The translation problem associated with digital image registration and the analytical means for comparing commonly used correlation techniques are considered. General expressions for determining the reconstruction error for specific image sampling strategies are developed.

SERDP and ESTCP Expert Panel Workshop on Research and Development Needs for the Environmental Remediation Application of Molecular Biological Tools

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-10-01

used to infer metabolic rates in marine systems. For example, there is evidence from both pure cultures and environmental samples that rbcL...It includes many useful bioinformatics features such as constructing a neighbor-joining tree for a subset of sequences, downloading a subset of...further provide software that allow users to extract useful information from sequences. The most commonly used feature is probe/primer design

Proceedings of the 1974 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Wheat-Yield Conference

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pitts, D. E.; Barger, G. L.

1975-01-01

The proceedings of the 1974 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Wheat-Yield Conference are presented. The state of art of wheat-yield forecasting and the feasibility of incorporating remote sensing into this forecasting were discussed with emphasis on formulating common approach to wheat-yield forecasting, primarily using conventional meteorological measurements, which can later include the various applications of remote sensing. Papers are presented which deal with developments in the field of crop modelling.

A method to incorporate interstitial components into the TPS gynecologic rigid applicator library.

PubMed

Otal, Antonio; Richart, Jose; Rodriguez, Silvia; Santos, Manuel; Perez-Calatayud, Jose

2017-02-01

T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended as the imaging modality for image-guided brachytherapy. In locally advanced cervical carcinoma, combined endocavitary and interstitial applicators are appropriate (Vienna or Utrecht). To cover extensive disease, Template Benidorm (TB) was developed. Treatment planning system applicator libraries are currently unavailable for the Utrecht applicator or the TB. The purpose of this work is to develop an applicator library for both applicators. The library developed in this work has been used in the Oncentra Brachytherapy TPS, version 4.3.0, which has a brachytherapy module that includes a library of rigid applicators. To add the needles of the Utrecht applicator and to model the TB, we used FreeCAD and MeshLab. The reconstruction process was based on the points that the rigid section and the interstitial part have in common. This, together with the free length, allowed us to ascertain the position of the tip. In case of the Utrecht applicator, one of the sources of uncertainty in the reconstruction was determining the distance of the tip of needle from the ovoid. In case of the TB, the large number of needles involved made their identification time consuming. The developed library resolved both issues. The developed library for the Utrecht and TB is feasible and efficient improving accuracy. It allows all the required treatment planning to proceed using just a T2 MRI sequence. The additional use of specific free available software applications makes it possible to add this information to the already existing library of the Oncentra Brachytherapy TPS. Specific details not included on this manuscript will be available under request. This library is also currently being implemented also into the Sagiplan v 2.0 TPS.

Foundations of low-temperature plasma physics—an introduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Keudell, A.; Schulz-von der Gathen, V.

2017-11-01

The use of plasmas as a reactive mixture of ions, electrons and neutrals is at the core of numerous technologies in industry, enabling applications in microelectronics, automotives, packaging, environment and medicine. Recently, even the use of plasmas in medical applications has made great progress. The dominant character of a plasma is often its non equilibrium nature with different temperatures for the individual species in a plasma, the ions, electrons and neutrals. This opens up a multitude of reaction pathways which are inaccessible to conventional methods in chemistry, for example. The understanding of plasmas requires expertise in plasma physics, plasma chemistry and in electrical engineering. This first paper in a series of foundation papers on low temperature plasma science is intended to provide the very basics of plasmas as a common starting point for the more in-depth discussion of particular plasma generation methods, plasma modeling and diagnostics in the other foundation papers. In this first paper of the series, the common terminology, definitions and main concepts are introduced. The covered aspects start with the basic definitions and include further plasma equilibria, particle collisions and transport, sheaths and discharge breakdowns.

Toward development of mobile application for hand arthritis screening.

PubMed

Akhbardeh, Farhad; Vasefi, Fartash; Tavakolian, Kouhyar; Bradley, David; Fazel-Rezai, Reza

2015-01-01

Arthritis is one of the most common health problems affecting people throughout the world. The goal of the work presented in this paper is to provide individuals, who may be developing or have developed arthritis, with a mobile application to assess and monitor the progress of their disease using their smartphone. The image processing algorithm includes finger border detection algorithm to monitor joint thickness and angular deviation abnormalities, which are common symptoms of arthritis. In this work, we have analyzed and compared gradient, thresholding and Canny algorithms for border detection. The effect of image spatial resolution (down-sampling) is also investigated. The results calculated based on 36 joint measurements show that the mean errors for gradient, thresholding, and Canny methods are 0.20, 2.13, and 2.03 mm, respectively. In addition, the average error for different image resolutions is analyzed and the minimum required resolution is determined for each method. The results confirm that recent smartphone imaging capabilities can provide enough accuracy for hand border detection and finger joint analysis based on gradient method.

ALFA: The new ALICE-FAIR software framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Turany, M.; Buncic, P.; Hristov, P.; Kollegger, T.; Kouzinopoulos, C.; Lebedev, A.; Lindenstruth, V.; Manafov, A.; Richter, M.; Rybalchenko, A.; Vande Vyvre, P.; Winckler, N.

2015-12-01

The commonalities between the ALICE and FAIR experiments and their computing requirements led to the development of large parts of a common software framework in an experiment independent way. The FairRoot project has already shown the feasibility of such an approach for the FAIR experiments and extending it beyond FAIR to experiments at other facilities[1, 2]. The ALFA framework is a joint development between ALICE Online- Offline (O2) and FairRoot teams. ALFA is designed as a flexible, elastic system, which balances reliability and ease of development with performance using multi-processing and multithreading. A message- based approach has been adopted; such an approach will support the use of the software on different hardware platforms, including heterogeneous systems. Each process in ALFA assumes limited communication and reliance on other processes. Such a design will add horizontal scaling (multiple processes) to vertical scaling provided by multiple threads to meet computing and throughput demands. ALFA does not dictate any application protocols. Potentially, any content-based processor or any source can change the application protocol. The framework supports different serialization standards for data exchange between different hardware and software languages.

Integration science and distributed networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landauer, Christopher; Bellman, Kirstie L.

2002-07-01

Our work on integration of data and knowledge sources is based in a common theoretical treatment of 'Integration Science', which leads to systematic processes for combining formal logical and mathematical systems, computational and physical systems, and human systems and organizations. The theory is based on the processing of explicit meta-knowledge about the roles played by the different knowledge sources and the methods of analysis and semantic implications of the different data values, together with information about the context in which and the purpose for which they are being combined. The research treatment is primarily mathematical, and though this kind of integration mathematics is still under development, there are some applicable common threads that have emerged already. Instead of describing the current state of the mathematical investigations, since they are not yet crystallized enough for formalisms, we describe our applications of the approach in several different areas, including our focus area of 'Constructed Complex Systems', which are complex heterogeneous systems managed or mediated by computing systems. In this context, it is important to remember that all systems are embedded, all systems are autonomous, and that all systems are distributed networks.

Application of random effects to the study of resource selection by animals

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gillies, C.S.; Hebblewhite, M.; Nielsen, S.E.; Krawchuk, M.A.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Frair, J.L.; Saher, D.J.; Stevens, C.E.; Jerde, C.L.

2006-01-01

1. Resource selection estimated by logistic regression is used increasingly in studies to identify critical resources for animal populations and to predict species occurrence.2. Most frequently, individual animals are monitored and pooled to estimate population-level effects without regard to group or individual-level variation. Pooling assumes that both observations and their errors are independent, and resource selection is constant given individual variation in resource availability.3. Although researchers have identified ways to minimize autocorrelation, variation between individuals caused by differences in selection or available resources, including functional responses in resource selection, have not been well addressed.4. Here we review random-effects models and their application to resource selection modelling to overcome these common limitations. We present a simple case study of an analysis of resource selection by grizzly bears in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains with and without random effects.5. Both categorical and continuous variables in the grizzly bear model differed in interpretation, both in statistical significance and coefficient sign, depending on how a random effect was included. We used a simulation approach to clarify the application of random effects under three common situations for telemetry studies: (a) discrepancies in sample sizes among individuals; (b) differences among individuals in selection where availability is constant; and (c) differences in availability with and without a functional response in resource selection.6. We found that random intercepts accounted for unbalanced sample designs, and models with random intercepts and coefficients improved model fit given the variation in selection among individuals and functional responses in selection. Our empirical example and simulations demonstrate how including random effects in resource selection models can aid interpretation and address difficult assumptions limiting their generality. This approach will allow researchers to appropriately estimate marginal (population) and conditional (individual) responses, and account for complex grouping, unbalanced sample designs and autocorrelation.

Application of random effects to the study of resource selection by animals.

PubMed

Gillies, Cameron S; Hebblewhite, Mark; Nielsen, Scott E; Krawchuk, Meg A; Aldridge, Cameron L; Frair, Jacqueline L; Saher, D Joanne; Stevens, Cameron E; Jerde, Christopher L

2006-07-01

1. Resource selection estimated by logistic regression is used increasingly in studies to identify critical resources for animal populations and to predict species occurrence. 2. Most frequently, individual animals are monitored and pooled to estimate population-level effects without regard to group or individual-level variation. Pooling assumes that both observations and their errors are independent, and resource selection is constant given individual variation in resource availability. 3. Although researchers have identified ways to minimize autocorrelation, variation between individuals caused by differences in selection or available resources, including functional responses in resource selection, have not been well addressed. 4. Here we review random-effects models and their application to resource selection modelling to overcome these common limitations. We present a simple case study of an analysis of resource selection by grizzly bears in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains with and without random effects. 5. Both categorical and continuous variables in the grizzly bear model differed in interpretation, both in statistical significance and coefficient sign, depending on how a random effect was included. We used a simulation approach to clarify the application of random effects under three common situations for telemetry studies: (a) discrepancies in sample sizes among individuals; (b) differences among individuals in selection where availability is constant; and (c) differences in availability with and without a functional response in resource selection. 6. We found that random intercepts accounted for unbalanced sample designs, and models with random intercepts and coefficients improved model fit given the variation in selection among individuals and functional responses in selection. Our empirical example and simulations demonstrate how including random effects in resource selection models can aid interpretation and address difficult assumptions limiting their generality. This approach will allow researchers to appropriately estimate marginal (population) and conditional (individual) responses, and account for complex grouping, unbalanced sample designs and autocorrelation.

Predicting Resident Performance from Preresidency Factors: A Systematic Review and Applicability to Neurosurgical Training.

PubMed

Zuckerman, Scott L; Kelly, Patrick D; Dewan, Michael C; Morone, Peter J; Yengo-Kahn, Aaron M; Magarik, Jordan A; Baticulon, Ronnie E; Zusman, Edie E; Solomon, Gary S; Wellons, John C

2018-02-01

Neurosurgical educators strive to identify the best applicants, yet formal study of resident selection has proved difficult. We conducted a systematic review to answer the following question: What objective and subjective preresidency factors predict resident success? PubMed, ProQuest, Embase, and the CINAHL databases were queried from 1952 to 2015 for literature reporting the impact of preresidency factors (PRFs) on outcomes of residency success (RS), among neurosurgery and all surgical subspecialties. Due to heterogeneity of specialties and outcomes, a qualitative summary and heat map of significant findings were constructed. From 1489 studies, 21 articles met inclusion criteria, which evaluated 1276 resident applicants across five surgical subspecialties. No neurosurgical studies met the inclusion criteria. Common objective PRFs included standardized testing (76%), medical school performance (48%), and Alpha Omega Alpha (43%). Common subjective PRFs included aggregate rank scores (57%), letters of recommendation (38%), research (33%), interviews (19%), and athletic or musical talent (19%). Outcomes of RS included faculty evaluations, in-training/board exams, chief resident status, and research productivity. Among objective factors, standardized test scores correlated well with in-training/board examinations but poorly correlated with faculty evaluations. Among subjective factors, aggregate rank scores, letters of recommendation, and athletic or musical talent demonstrated moderate correlation with faculty evaluations. Standardized testing most strongly correlated with future examination performance but correlated poorly with faculty evaluations. Moderate predictors of faculty evaluations were aggregate rank scores, letters of recommendation, and athletic or musical talent. The ability to predict success of neurosurgical residents using an evidence-based approach is limited, and few factors have correlated with future resident performance. Given the importance of recruitment to the greater field of neurosurgery, these data provide support for a national, prospective effort to improve the study of neurosurgery resident selection. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Progress of Interoperability in Planetary Research for Geospatial Data Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hare, T. M.; Gaddis, L. R.

2015-12-01

For nearly a decade there has been a push in the planetary science community to support interoperable methods of accessing and working with geospatial data. Common geospatial data products for planetary research include image mosaics, digital elevation or terrain models, geologic maps, geographic location databases (i.e., craters, volcanoes) or any data that can be tied to the surface of a planetary body (including moons, comets or asteroids). Several U.S. and international cartographic research institutions have converged on mapping standards that embrace standardized image formats that retain geographic information (e.g., GeoTiff, GeoJpeg2000), digital geologic mapping conventions, planetary extensions for symbols that comply with U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee cartographic and geospatial metadata standards, and notably on-line mapping services as defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). The latter includes defined standards such as the OGC Web Mapping Services (simple image maps), Web Feature Services (feature streaming), Web Coverage Services (rich scientific data streaming), and Catalog Services for the Web (data searching and discoverability). While these standards were developed for application to Earth-based data, they have been modified to support the planetary domain. The motivation to support common, interoperable data format and delivery standards is not only to improve access for higher-level products but also to address the increasingly distributed nature of the rapidly growing volumes of data. The strength of using an OGC approach is that it provides consistent access to data that are distributed across many facilities. While data-steaming standards are well-supported by both the more sophisticated tools used in Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing industries, they are also supported by many light-weight browsers which facilitates large and small focused science applications and public use. Here we provide an overview of the interoperability initiatives that are currently ongoing in the planetary research community, examples of their successful application, and challenges that remain.

Forensic issues in medical evaluation: competency and end-of-life issues.

PubMed

Soliman, Sherif; Hall, Ryan C W

2015-01-01

Decision-making capacity is a common reason for psychiatric consultation that is likely to become more common as the population ages. Capacity assessments are frequently compromised by misconceptions, such as the belief that incapacity is permanent or that patients with dementia categorically lack capacity. This chapter will review the conceptual framework of decision-making capacity and discuss its application to medical decision-making. We will review selected developments in capacity assessment and recommend an approach to assessing decision-making capacity. We will discuss the unique challenges posed by end-of-life care, including determining capacity, identifying surrogate decision-makers, and working with surrogate decision-makers. We will discuss clinical and legal approaches to incapacity, including advance directives, surrogate decision-makers, and guardians. We will discuss the legal standards based on which surrogates make medical decisions and outline options for resolving disagreements between clinical staff and surrogate decision-makers. We will offer recommendations for approaching decision-making capacity assessments. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

RNA-seq Data: Challenges in and Recommendations for Experimental Design and Analysis.

PubMed

Williams, Alexander G; Thomas, Sean; Wyman, Stacia K; Holloway, Alisha K

2014-10-01

RNA-seq is widely used to determine differential expression of genes or transcripts as well as identify novel transcripts, identify allele-specific expression, and precisely measure translation of transcripts. Thoughtful experimental design and choice of analysis tools are critical to ensure high-quality data and interpretable results. Important considerations for experimental design include number of replicates, whether to collect paired-end or single-end reads, sequence length, and sequencing depth. Common analysis steps in all RNA-seq experiments include quality control, read alignment, assigning reads to genes or transcripts, and estimating gene or transcript abundance. Our aims are two-fold: to make recommendations for common components of experimental design and assess tool capabilities for each of these steps. We also test tools designed to detect differential expression, since this is the most widespread application of RNA-seq. We hope that these analyses will help guide those who are new to RNA-seq and will generate discussion about remaining needs for tool improvement and development. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Luminescent sensing and imaging of oxygen: fierce competition to the Clark electrode.

PubMed

Wolfbeis, Otto S

2015-08-01

Luminescence-based sensing schemes for oxygen have experienced a fast growth and are in the process of replacing the Clark electrode in many fields. Unlike electrodes, sensing is not limited to point measurements via fiber optic microsensors, but includes additional features such as planar sensing, imaging, and intracellular assays using nanosized sensor particles. In this essay, I review and discuss the essentials of (i) common solid-state sensor approaches based on the use of luminescent indicator dyes and host polymers; (ii) fiber optic and planar sensing schemes; (iii) nanoparticle-based intracellular sensing; and (iv) common spectroscopies. Optical sensors are also capable of multiple simultaneous sensing (such as O2 and temperature). Sensors for O2 are produced nowadays in large quantities in industry. Fields of application include sensing of O2 in plant and animal physiology, in clinical chemistry, in marine sciences, in the chemical industry and in process biotechnology. © 2015 The Author. Bioessays published by WILEY Periodicals, Inc.

The common engine concept for ALS application - A cost reduction approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bair, E. K.; Schindler, C. M.

1989-01-01

Future launch systems require the application of propulsion systems which have been designed and developed to meet mission model needs while providing high degrees of reliability and cost effectiveness. Vehicle configurations which utilize different propellant combinations for booster and core stages can benefit from a common engine approach where a single engine design can be configured to operate on either set of propellants and thus serve as either a booster or core engine. Engine design concepts and mission application for a vehicle employing a common engine are discussed. Engine program cost estimates were made and cost savings, over the design and development of two unique engines, estimated.

Less common applications of monoliths III. Gas chromatography

PubMed Central

Svec, Frantisek; Kurganov, Alexander A.

2008-01-01

Porous polymer monoliths emerged about two decades ago. Despite this short time, they are finding applications in a variety of fields. In addition to the most common and certainly best known use of this new category of porous media as stationary phases in liquid chromatography, monolithic materials also found their applications in other areas. This review article focuses on monoliths in capillaries designed for separations in gas chromatography. PMID:17645884

Neisseria gonorrhoeae molecular typing for understanding sexual networks and antimicrobial resistance transmission: A systematic review.

PubMed

Town, Katy; Bolt, Hikaru; Croxford, Sara; Cole, Michelle; Harris, Simon; Field, Nigel; Hughes, Gwenda

2018-06-01

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) is a significant global public health concern due to rising diagnoses rates and antimicrobial resistance. Molecular combined with epidemiological data have been used to understand the distribution and spread of NG, as well as relationships between cases in sexual networks, but the public health value gained from these studies is unclear. We conducted a systematic review to examine how molecular epidemiological studies have informed understanding of sexual networks and NG transmission, and subsequent public health interventions. Five research databases were systematically searched up to 31st March 2017 for studies that used sequence-based DNA typing methods, including whole genome sequencing, and linked molecular data to patient-level epidemiological data. Data were extracted and summarised to identify common themes. Of the 49 studies included, 82% used NG Multi-antigen Sequence Typing. Gender and sexual orientation were commonly used to characterise sexual networks that were inferred using molecular clusters; clusters predominantly of one patient group often contained a small number of isolates from other patient groups. Suggested public health applications included using these data to target interventions at specific populations, confirm outbreaks, and inform partner management, but these were mainly untested. Combining molecular and epidemiological data has provided insight into sexual mixing patterns, and dissemination of NG, but few studies have applied these findings to design or evaluate public health interventions. Future studies should focus on the application of molecular epidemiology in public health practice to provide evidence for how to prevent and control NG. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Earth Science Computational Architecture for Multi-disciplinary Investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, J. W.; Blom, R.; Gurrola, E.; Katz, D.; Lyzenga, G.; Norton, C.

2005-12-01

Understanding the processes underlying Earth's deformation and mass transport requires a non-traditional, integrated, interdisciplinary, approach dependent on multiple space and ground based data sets, modeling, and computational tools. Currently, details of geophysical data acquisition, analysis, and modeling largely limit research to discipline domain experts. Interdisciplinary research requires a new computational architecture that is optimized to perform complex data processing of multiple solid Earth science data types in a user-friendly environment. A web-based computational framework is being developed and integrated with applications for automatic interferometric radar processing, and models for high-resolution deformation & gravity, forward models of viscoelastic mass loading over short wavelengths & complex time histories, forward-inverse codes for characterizing surface loading-response over time scales of days to tens of thousands of years, and inversion of combined space magnetic & gravity fields to constrain deep crustal and mantle properties. This framework combines an adaptation of the QuakeSim distributed services methodology with the Pyre framework for multiphysics development. The system uses a three-tier architecture, with a middle tier server that manages user projects, available resources, and security. This ensures scalability to very large networks of collaborators. Users log into a web page and have a personal project area, persistently maintained between connections, for each application. Upon selection of an application and host from a list of available entities, inputs may be uploaded or constructed from web forms and available data archives, including gravity, GPS and imaging radar data. The user is notified of job completion and directed to results posted via URLs. Interdisciplinary work is supported through easy availability of all applications via common browsers, application tutorials and reference guides, and worked examples with visual response. At the platform level, multi-physics application development and workflow are available in the enriched environment of the Pyre framework. Advantages for combining separate expert domains include: multiple application components efficiently interact through Python shared libraries, investigators may nimbly swap models and try new parameter values, and a rich array of common tools are inherent in the Pyre system. The first four specific investigations to use this framework are: Gulf Coast subsidence: understanding of partitioning between compaction, subsidence and growth faulting; Gravity & deformation of a layered spherical earth model due to large earthquakes; Rift setting of Lake Vostok, Antarctica; and global ice mass changes.

Moral status, justice, and the common morality: challenges for the principlist account of moral change.

PubMed

Hodges, Kevin E; Sulmasy, Daniel P

2013-09-01

The theory of principlism elaborated by Beauchamp and Childress in Principles of Biomedical Ethics has become extremely influential in bioethics. The theory employs the idea of the common morality as a foundation for the principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. According to this account, the content of the common morality is universal and constant, while variability in morals is due to the fact that the issue of who is included within the scope of moral status evolves over time. This suggests that issues of moral status are not part of the common morality at all, and this presents a conundrum: questions of moral status seem central to any substantive account of justice, and any conception of the common morality that excludes moral status therefore seems inadequate for supporting a robust principle of justice. We argue that proponents of common morality theory are left with four options: (1) making moral status a part of the objective common morality and ignoring evidence that views about moral status do seem to vary over time and place; (2) excluding justice from the substantive content of the common morality; (3) taking common morality to be an imperfect approximation of an independently justified and universal foundationalist ethic against which the common morality is judged; or (4) weakening claims about the universality of common morality, thereby allowing the common morality to support a variety of principles of justice applicable only within particular communities that have specified the scope of moral status. We suspect that proponents of common morality theory will not view any of these options favorably, which raises questions about the ultimate contribution of that account.

47 CFR 63.701 - Contents of application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Contents of application. 63.701 Section 63.701 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) EXTENSION OF LINES, NEW LINES, AND DISCONTINUANCE, REDUCTION, OUTAGE AND IMPAIRMENT OF SERVICE BY COMMON CARRIERS; AND GRANTS OF RECOGNIZED PRIVATE...

47 CFR 63.701 - Contents of application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Contents of application. 63.701 Section 63.701 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) EXTENSION OF LINES, NEW LINES, AND DISCONTINUANCE, REDUCTION, OUTAGE AND IMPAIRMENT OF SERVICE BY COMMON CARRIERS; AND GRANTS OF RECOGNIZED PRIVATE...

Volumetric Collection Efficiency and Droplet Sizing Accuracy of Rotary Impactors

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-01

commonly associated with drift from agrochemical applications, another less com‐ mon application is vector control, which relies on the movement of...droplet sizes are commonly less than 40 m (Mount, 1998). With potential increases in overall exposure levels from agrochemical ap‐ plication as well as

78 FR 14121 - Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for Strategies Targeting...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-04

... Solicitation for Grant Applications for Strategies Targeting Characteristics Common to Female Ex-Offenders... will be targeted to females, but must also be open to eligible male ex-offenders. Strategies Targeting Characteristics Common to Female Ex-Offenders grants [[Page 14122

TERA-MIR radiation: materials, generation, detection and applications III (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereira, Mauro F.

2016-10-01

This talk summarizes the achievements of COST ACTION MP1204 during the last four years. [M.F. Pereira, Opt Quant Electron 47, 815-820 (2015).]. TERA-MIR main objectives are to advance novel materials, concepts and device designs for generating and detecting THz and Mid Infrared radiation using semiconductor, superconductor, metamaterials and lasers and to beneficially exploit their common aspects within a synergetic approach. We used the unique networking and capacity-building capabilities provided by the COST framework to unify these two spectral domains from their common aspects of sources, detectors, materials and applications. We created a platform to investigate interdisciplinary topics in Physics, Electrical Engineering and Technology, Applied Chemistry, Materials Sciences and Biology and Radio Astronomy. The main emphasis has been on new fundamental material properties, concepts and device designs that are likely to open the way to new products or to the exploitation of new technologies in the fields of sensing, healthcare, biology, and industrial applications. End users are: research centres, academic, well-established and start-up Companies and hospitals. Results are presented along our main lines of research: Intersubband materials and devices with applications to fingerprint spectroscopy; Metamaterials, photonic crystals and new functionalities; Nonlinearities and interaction of radiation with matter including biomaterials; Generation and Detection based on Nitrides and Bismides. The talk is closed by indicating the future direction of the network that will remain active beyond the funding period and our expectations for future joint research.

Increases in wintertime PM2.5 sodium and chloride linked to snowfall and road salt application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolesar, Katheryn R.; Mattson, Claire N.; Peterson, Peter K.; May, Nathaniel W.; Prendergast, Rashad K.; Pratt, Kerri A.

2018-03-01

The application of salts and salty brines to roads is common practice during the winter in many urban environments. Road salts can become aerosolized, thereby injecting sodium and chloride particulate matter (PM) into the atmosphere. Here, data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency Chemical Speciation Monitoring Network were used to assess temporal trends of sodium and chloride PM2.5 (PM < 2.5 μm) at 25 locations across the United States to investigate the ubiquity of road salt aerosols. Sodium and chloride PM2.5 concentrations were an average of three times higher in the winter, as compared to the summer, for locations with greater than 25 cm of average annual snowfall. Winter urban chloride PM2.5 concentrations attributed to road salt can even sometimes rival those of coastal sea spray aerosol-influenced sites. In most snow-influenced cities, chloride and sodium PM2.5 concentrations were positively correlated with snowfall; however, this relationship is complicated by differences in state and local winter maintenance practices. This study highlights the ubiquity of road salt aerosols in the United States and their potential impact on wintertime urban air quality, particularly due to the potential for multiphase reactions to liberate chlorine from the particle-phase. Since road salt application is a common practice in wintertime urban environments across the world, it is imperative that road salt application emissions, currently not included in inventories, and its impacts be investigated through measurements and modeling.

Natural and surfactant modified zeolites: A review of their applications for water remediation with a focus on surfactant desorption and toxicity towards microorganisms.

PubMed

Reeve, Peter J; Fallowfield, Howard J

2018-01-01

The objective of this review is to highlight the need for further investigation of microbial toxicity caused by desorption of surfactant from Surfactant Modified Zeolite (SMZ). SMZ is a low cost, versatile permeable reactive media which has the potential to treat multiple classes of contaminants. With this combination of characteristics, SMZ has significant potential to enhance water and wastewater treatment processes. Surfactant desorption has been identified as a potential issue for the ongoing usability of SMZ. Few studies have investigated the toxicity of surfactants used in zeolite modification towards microorganisms and fewer have drawn linkages between surfactant desorption and surfactant toxicity. This review provides an overview of natural zeolite chemistry, characteristics and practical applications. The chemistry of commonly used surfactants is outlined, along with the kinetics that drive their adsorption to the zeolite surface. Methodologies to characterise this surfactant loading are also described. Applications of SMZ in water remediation are highlighted, giving focus to applications which deal with biological pollutants and where microorganisms play a role in the remediation process. Studies that have identified surfactant desorption from SMZ are outlined. Finally, the toxicity of a commonly used cationic surfactant towards microorganisms is discussed. This review highlights the potential for surfactant to desorb from the zeolite surface and the need for further research into the toxicity of this desorbed surfactant towards microorganisms, including pathogens and environmental microbes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quality Issues Identified During the Evaluation of Biosimilars by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.

PubMed

Cilia, Mark; Ruiz, Sol; Richardson, Peter; Salmonson, Tomas; Serracino-Inglott, Anthony; Wirth, Francesca; Borg, John Joseph

2018-02-01

The aim of this study was to identify trends in deficiencies raised during the EU evaluation of the quality part of dossiers for marketing authorisation applications of biosimilar medicinal products. All adopted day 120 list of questions on the quality module of 22 marketing authorisation applications for biosimilars submitted to the European Medicines Agency and concluded by the end of October 2015 was analysed. Frequencies of common deficiencies identified were calculated and summarised descriptions included. Frequencies and trends on quality deficiencies were recorded and presented for 22 biosimilar applications. Thirty-two 'major objections' for 9 products were identified from 14 marketing authorisation applications with 15 raised for drug substance and 17 for drug product. In addition, 547 'other concerns' for drug substance and 495 for drug product were also adopted. The frequencies and trends of the identified deficiencies together with their impact were discussed from a regulatory perspective and how these impact key manufacturing processes and key materials used in the production of biosimilars. This study provides an insight to the regulatory challenges prospective companies need to consider when developing biosimilars; it also helps elucidate common pitfalls in the development and production of biosimilars and in the submission of dossiers for their marketing authorisations. The results are expected to be of interest to pharmaceutical companies but also to regulators to obtain consistent information on medicinal products based on transparent rules safeguarding the necessary pharmaceutical quality of medicinal products.

Precision Blasting Techniques For Avalanche Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, Kevin M.

Experimental firings sponsored by the Center For Snow Science at Alta, Utah have demonstrated the potential of a unique prototype shaped charge device designed to stimulate snow pack and ice. These studies, conducted against stable snow pack, demonstrated a fourfold increase in crater volume yield and introduced a novel application of Shock Tube technology to facilitate position control, detonation and dud recovery of manually deployed charges. The extraordinary penetration capability of the shaped charge mechanism has been exploited in many non-military applications to meet a wide range of rapidpiercing and/or cutting requirements. The broader exploitation of the potential of the shaped charge mechanism has nevertheless remained confined to defence based applications. In the studies reported in this paper, the inimitable ability of the shaped charge mechanism to project shock energy, or a liner material, into a highly focussed energetic stream has been applied uniquely to the stimulation of snow pack. Recent research and development work, conducted within the UK, has resulted in the integration of shaped charge technology into a common Avalauncher and hand charge device. The potential of the common charge configuration and spooled Shock Tube fire and control system to improve the safety and cost effectiveness of explosives used in avalanche control operations was successfully demonstrated at Alta in March 2001. Future programmes of study will include focussed shock/blast mechanisms for suspended wire traverse techniques, application of the shaped charge mechanism to helibombing, and the desig n and development of non-fragmenting shaped charge ammunition formilitary artillery gun systems.

Batteries used to Power Implantable Biomedical Devices

PubMed Central

Bock, David C.; Marschilok, Amy C.; Takeuchi, Kenneth J.; Takeuchi, Esther S.

2012-01-01

Battery systems have been developed that provide years of service for implantable medical devices. The primary systems utilize lithium metal anodes with cathode systems including iodine, manganese oxide, carbon monofluoride, silver vanadium oxide and hybrid cathodes. Secondary lithium ion batteries have also been developed for medical applications where the batteries are charged while remaining implanted. While the specific performance requirements of the devices vary, some general requirements are common. These include high safety, reliability and volumetric energy density, long service life, and state of discharge indication. Successful development and implementation of these battery types has helped enable implanted biomedical devices and their treatment of human disease. PMID:24179249

Batteries used to Power Implantable Biomedical Devices.

PubMed

Bock, David C; Marschilok, Amy C; Takeuchi, Kenneth J; Takeuchi, Esther S

2012-12-01

Battery systems have been developed that provide years of service for implantable medical devices. The primary systems utilize lithium metal anodes with cathode systems including iodine, manganese oxide, carbon monofluoride, silver vanadium oxide and hybrid cathodes. Secondary lithium ion batteries have also been developed for medical applications where the batteries are charged while remaining implanted. While the specific performance requirements of the devices vary, some general requirements are common. These include high safety, reliability and volumetric energy density, long service life, and state of discharge indication. Successful development and implementation of these battery types has helped enable implanted biomedical devices and their treatment of human disease.

Robust Feature Matching in Terrestrial Image Sequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbas, A.; Ghuffar, S.

2018-04-01

From the last decade, the feature detection, description and matching techniques are most commonly exploited in various photogrammetric and computer vision applications, which includes: 3D reconstruction of scenes, image stitching for panoramic creation, image classification, or object recognition etc. However, in terrestrial imagery of urban scenes contains various issues, which include duplicate and identical structures (i.e. repeated windows and doors) that cause the problem in feature matching phase and ultimately lead to failure of results specially in case of camera pose and scene structure estimation. In this paper, we will address the issue related to ambiguous feature matching in urban environment due to repeating patterns.