Contact material optimization and contact physics in metal-contact microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhenyin

Metal-contact MEMS switches hold great promise for implementing agile radio frequency (RF) systems because of their small size, low fabrication cost, low power consumption, wide operational band, excellent isolation and exceptionally low signal insertion loss. Gold is often utilized as a contact material for metal-contact MEMS switches due to its excellent electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. However contact wear and stiction are the two major failure modes for these switches due to its material softness and high surface adhesion energy. To strengthen the contact material, pure gold was alloyed with other metal elements. We designed and constructed a new micro-contacting test facility that closely mimic the typical MEMS operation and utilized this facility to efficiently evaluate optimized contact materials. Au-Ni binary alloy system as the candidate contact material for MEMS switches was systematically investigated. A correlation between contact material properties (etc. microstructure, micro-hardness, electrical resistivity, topology, surface structures and composition) and micro-contacting performance was established. It was demonstrated nano-scale graded two-phase Au-Ni film could possibly yield an improved device performance. Gold micro-contact degradation mechanisms were also systematically investigated by running the MEMS switching tests under a wide range of test conditions. According to our quantitative failure analysis, field evaporation could be the dominant failure mode for highfield (> critical threshold field) hot switching; transient thermal-assisted wear could be the dominant failure mode for low-field hot switching; on the other hand, pure mechanical wear and steady current heating (1 mA) caused much less contact degradation in cold switching tests. Results from low-force (50 muN/micro-contact), low current (0.1 mA) tests on real MEMS switches indicated that continuous adsorbed films from ambient air could degrade the switch contact resistance. Our work also contributes to the field of general nano-science and technology by resolving the transfer directionality of field evaporation of gold in atomic force microscope (AFM)/scanning tunneling microscope (STM).

"Mini", "Midi" and the Student.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edwards, Perry; Broadwell, Bruce

Mini- and midi-computers have been introduced into the computer science program at Sierra College to afford students more direct contact with computers. The college's administration combined with the Science and Business departments to share the expense and utilization of the program. The National Cash Register Century 100 and the Data General…

Direct assembling methodologies for high-throughput bioscreening

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Dévora, Jorge I.; Shi, Zhi-dong; Xu, Tao

2012-01-01

Over the last few decades, high-throughput (HT) bioscreening, a technique that allows rapid screening of biochemical compound libraries against biological targets, has been widely used in drug discovery, stem cell research, development of new biomaterials, and genomics research. To achieve these ambitions, scaffold-free (or direct) assembly of biological entities of interest has become critical. Appropriate assembling methodologies are required to build an efficient HT bioscreening platform. The development of contact and non-contact assembling systems as a practical solution has been driven by a variety of essential attributes of the bioscreening system, such as miniaturization, high throughput, and high precision. The present article reviews recent progress on these assembling technologies utilized for the construction of HT bioscreening platforms. PMID:22021162

Thermal contact conductance as a method of rectification in bulk materials

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

Sayer, Robert A.

2016-08-01

A thermal rectifier that utilizes thermal expansion to directionally control interfacial conductance between two contacting surfaces is presented. The device consists of two thermal reservoirs contacting a beam with one rough and one smooth end. When the temperature of reservoir in contact with the smooth surface is raised, a similar temperature rise will occur in the beam, causing it to expand, thus increasing the contact pressure at the rough interface and reducing the interfacial contact resistance. However, if the temperature of the reservoir in contact with the rough interface is raised, the large contact resistance will prevent a similar temperaturemore » rise in the beam. As a result, the contact pressure will be marginally affected and the contact resistance will not change appreciably. Owing to the decreased contact resistance of the first scenario compared to the second, thermal rectification occurs. A parametric analysis is used to determine optimal device parameters including surface roughness, contact pressure, and device length. Modeling predicts that rectification factors greater than 2 are possible at thermal biases as small as 3 K. Lastly, thin surface coatings are discussed as a method to control the temperature bias at which maximum rectification occurs.« less

Electrical injury from subway third rails: serious injury associated with intermediate voltage contact.

PubMed

Rabban, J; Adler, J; Rosen, C; Blair, J; Sheridan, R

1997-09-01

Railway and subway-associated electrical trauma is rare and typically involves high voltage (> 20,000) arc injuries. Not all rail systems utilize such high voltage. We report 16 cases of electrical trauma due to 600 V direct contact with subway 'third' rails. A case series of injured patients presenting to Shriners Burns Institute, Boston or Massachusetts General Hospital between 1970 and 1995 was retrospectively analyzed. A total of 16 cases was identified. Among seven subway workers, the mechanism of rail contact was unintentional by a tool, a hand or by falling; no deaths occurred. Among nine non-occupational victims, injuries involved suicide attempts, unintentional falls, or risk-taking behavior. This group suffered greater burn severity, operative procedures, and complications; three deaths occurred. This is the largest report series of direct electrical trauma from a subway third rail. The high morbidity and mortality from this 600 V contact suggests that the traditional classification of low voltage (< 1000 V) exposure can be subdivided to reflect the serious and lethal potential of intermediate range exposures compared to household range exposures (0-220 V).

Geothermal direct-heat utilization assistance. Quarterly report, January - March 1997

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

Lienau, P.

1997-04-01

This report summarizes geothermal technical assistance, R&D and technology transfer activities of the Geo-Heat Center at Oregon Institute of Technology for the second quarter of FY-97. It describes 176 contacts with parties during this period related to technical assistance with geothermal direct heat projects. Areas dealt with include geothermal heat pumps, space heating, greenhouses, aquaculture, equipment, economics and resources. Research activities are summarized on well pumping in commercial groundwater heat pump systems. A memorandum of understanding between the GHC and EIA is described. Work accomplishments on the Guidebook are discussed. Outreach activities include the publication of a geothermal direct usemore » Bulletin, dissemination of information, geothermal library, technical papers and seminars, and progress monitor reports on geothermal resources and utilization.« less

Genotypic characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from household contacts of tuberculosis patients in the Philippines.

PubMed

Sia, Irene G; Buckwalter, Seanne P; Doerr, Kelly A; Lugos, Sonia; Kramer, Rebecca; Orillaza-Chi, Ruth; Quelapio, Maria Imelda; Tupasi, Thelma E; Wengenack, Nancy L

2013-12-05

The Philippines has an extremely high rate of tuberculosis but little is known about M. tuberculosis genotypes and transmission dynamics in this country. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of household contacts who develop active TB due to direct transmission from an index case in that household. Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from household contacts of tuberculosis patients in the Philippines were characterized using restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis, spoligotyping, and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units - variable number tandem repeats typing (12-loci) to determine their utility in elucidating transmission in an area of high tuberculosis prevalence. Drug susceptibility patterns for these isolates were also determined. Spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing results matched in 10 (62.5%) of 16 index patient-household contact pairs while IS6110 fingerprints matched in only six (37.5%) pairs. Only 3/16 (18.8%) index patient-household contact pairs had identical drug susceptibility results. Strain typing of M. tuberculosis isolates from household contacts in the Philippines indicates that transmission of strains does not necessarily occur directly from the index patient living in close proximity in the same household but rather that community-based transmission also frequently occurs. Accurate susceptibility testing of all isolates is necessary to insure optimal care of both the index patients and any culture-positive household contacts.

Variables contributing to an excellent customer service management profile within the regulated electric utility industry: A comparison of self-concept with customer satisfaction for customer service management

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

Johnson, L.E.

1991-01-01

This research sought to address the relationship between self-concept and customer satisfaction: can customer satisfaction with a major electric utility be explained in terms of the self-reported, self-concept of the utility's managers The population to which the results of this study were generalized consisted of customer service managers in public electric utilities across the United States. In order to represent this population, a sample was selected consisting of customer service managers at a midwestern electric utility based in a large metropolitan area. Participants in this study were managers of four direct customer contact service organizations within six geographic division organizations.more » The methodology included comparisons of these four customer contact service organizations on twelve independent, self-concept variables and six customer satisfaction dependent variables using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Scheffe' tests, Chi-Square, and Stepwise multiple regression. The groups were found not to be significantly different and knowledge of the self-concept scores for managers will not increase the ability to predict customer satisfaction over no knowledge of self-concept scores.« less

Amelia Bedelia in the Library or Effective Communication for Leadership.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weinstein, Frances Ruth

This paper discusses ways in which how both formal and informal library leaders can utilize communication principles to persuade, motivate, and build positive employee relations. Noting that effective communication takes time, it is suggested that administrators talk with, not to, individual staff members, and that they (1) use direct eye contact;…

Therma motor

DOEpatents

Kandarian, R.

The disclosure is directed to a thermal motor utilizing two tapered prestressed parallel adjacent cylinders lengthwise disposed about one third in a coolant. Heat is applied to contacting portions of the cylinders outside the coolant to cause them to deform and turn. Heat sources such as industrial waste heat, geothermal hot water, solar radiation, etc. can be used.

Contact and non-contact ultrasonic measurement in the food industry: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taufiq Mohd Khairi, Mohd; Ibrahim, Sallehuddin; Yunus, Mohd Amri Md; Faramarzi, Mahdi

2016-01-01

The monitoring of the food manufacturing process is vital since it determines the safety and quality level of foods which directly affect the consumers’ health. Companies which produce high quality products will gain trust from consumers. This factor helps the companies to make profits. The use of efficient and appropriate sensors for the monitoring process can also reduce cost. The food assessing process based on an ultrasonic sensor has attracted the attention of the food industry due to its excellent capabilities in several applications. The utilization of low or high frequencies for the ultrasonic transducer has provided an enormous benefit for analysing, modifying and guaranteeing the quality of food. The contact and non-contact ultrasonic modes for measurement also contributed significantly to the food processing. This paper presents a review of the application of the contact and non-contact mode of ultrasonic measurement focusing on safety and quality control areas. The results from previous researches are shown and elaborated.

Magnetoelectric Energy Harvesting

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-20

materials to rotating or moving machinery , make it difficult to locate piezoelectric material devices in contact with the mechanical stress generator which...mechanical energy harvesting device and more particularly relates to such a device that has a magnetostrictive and piezoelectric component. (2...makes them a candidate as the active material in energy harvesting devices. By utilizing the direct piezoelectric (or pyroelectric) effect when

Large Deformation and Adhesive Contact Studies of Axisymmetric Membranes

PubMed Central

Laprade, Evan J.; Long, Rong; Pham, Jonathan; Lawrence, Jimmy; Emrick, Todd; Crosby, Alfred; Hui, Chung-Yuen; Shull, Kenneth R.

2013-01-01

A model membrane contact system consisting of an acrylic copolymer membrane and polydimethyl-siloxane substrate was utilized to evaluate a recently developed nonlinear large-deformation adhesive contact analysis. Direct measurements of the local membrane apex strain during non-contact inflation indicated that the neo-Hookean model provides an accurate measure of membrane strain and supports its use as the strain energy function for the analysis. A time dependent modulus emerges from the analysis, with principal tensions obtained from a comparison of predicted and experimental membrane profiles. A displacement controlled geometry was more easily modeled than the pressure controlled geometry, the applicability of the analysis was limited by wrinkling instabilities. The substantial viscoelastic behavior of these membranes made it difficult to describe the entire membrane with a single modulus, given the nonuniform deformation history of the membranes. Given the difficulty in determining membrane tension from the measured pressure and profile fits using the model, the peel energy was used as a simpler measure of adhesion. Using an analytical balance in the displacement controlled geometry, the membrane tension at the contact line was directly measured. Coupled with contact angle imaging, the peel energy was determined. For the model membranes studied, this peel energy described the membrane/substrate adhesive interactions quite well, giving well-defined peel energies that were independent of the detailed strain state of the membrane. PMID:23289644

Measuring tactile cues at the fingerpad for object compliances harder and softer than the skin

PubMed Central

Hauser, Steven C.; Gerling, Gregory J.

2016-01-01

Distinguishing an object’s compliance, into percepts of “softness” and “hardness,” is crucial to our ability to grasp and manipulate it. Biomechanical cues at the skin’s surface such as contact area and force rate have been thought to help encode compliance. However, no one has directly measured contact area with compliant materials, and few studies have considered compliances softer than the fingerpad. Herein, we developed a novel method to precisely measure the area in contact between compliant stimuli and the fingerpad, at given levels of force and displacement. To determine the method’s robustness, we conducted psychophysical and biomechanical experiments with human subjects. The results indicate that cues including contact area at stimulus peak force of 3 Newtons, force rate over stimulus movement and at peak force, displacement and/or time to reach peak force may help in discriminating compliances while the directional spread of contact area is less important. Between softer and harder compliances, some cues were slightly more evident, though not yet definitively. Based upon the method’s utility, the next step is to conduct broader experiments to distill the mixture of cues that encode compliance. The importance of such work lies in building haptic displays, for example, to render virtual tissues. PMID:27331072

Carbon dioxide capture from power or process plant gases

DOEpatents

Bearden, Mark D; Humble, Paul H

2014-06-10

The present invention are methods for removing preselected substances from a mixed flue gas stream characterized by cooling said mixed flue gas by direct contact with a quench liquid to condense at least one preselected substance and form a cooled flue gas without substantial ice formation on a heat exchanger. After cooling additional process methods utilizing a cryogenic approach and physical concentration and separation or pressurization and sorbent capture may be utilized to selectively remove these materials from the mixed flue gas resulting in a clean flue gas.

Formation of contact active antimicrobial surfaces by covalent grafting of quaternary ammonium compounds.

PubMed

Elena, Poverenov; Miri, Klein

2018-05-16

Different synthetic strategies for the formation of contact active antimicrobial materials utilizing covalent linkage of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) were reviewed. There is a demand to find methods that will prevent bacterial fouling without the release of antimicrobial agents, because biocides cause environment pollution and promote the development of bacteria resistance mechanisms. The contact active antimicrobial surfaces may provide a useful tool for this purpose. The covalent surface grafting of QACs seems to be a feasible and promising approach for the formation of safe and effective antimicrobial materials that could be utilized for medical devices, food industry, water treatment systems and other applications. This manuscript reviews covalent attachment of QACs to form contact active antimicrobial materials based on glass, metals, synthetic and natural polymers. The review emphasizes the description of different synthetic methods that are used for the covalent linkage. Direct covalent linkage of QACs to the material surfaces, a linkage via auxiliary nanoparticles (NPs), or spacers, controlled radical polymerization techniques and a linkage to pre-activated surfaces are discussed. The physico-chemical properties and biological activity of the modified surfaces are also described. This review does not cover non-covalent grafting of QACs and incorporation of QACs into a bulk material. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

MRI-based modeling for radiocarpal joint mechanics: validation criteria and results for four specimen-specific models.

PubMed

Fischer, Kenneth J; Johnson, Joshua E; Waller, Alexander J; McIff, Terence E; Toby, E Bruce; Bilgen, Mehmet

2011-10-01

The objective of this study was to validate the MRI-based joint contact modeling methodology in the radiocarpal joints by comparison of model results with invasive specimen-specific radiocarpal contact measurements from four cadaver experiments. We used a single validation criterion for multiple outcome measures to characterize the utility and overall validity of the modeling approach. For each experiment, a Pressurex film and a Tekscan sensor were sequentially placed into the radiocarpal joints during simulated grasp. Computer models were constructed based on MRI visualization of the cadaver specimens without load. Images were also acquired during the loaded configuration used with the direct experimental measurements. Geometric surface models of the radius, scaphoid and lunate (including cartilage) were constructed from the images acquired without the load. The carpal bone motions from the unloaded state to the loaded state were determined using a series of 3D image registrations. Cartilage thickness was assumed uniform at 1.0 mm with an effective compressive modulus of 4 MPa. Validation was based on experimental versus model contact area, contact force, average contact pressure and peak contact pressure for the radioscaphoid and radiolunate articulations. Contact area was also measured directly from images acquired under load and compared to the experimental and model data. Qualitatively, there was good correspondence between the MRI-based model data and experimental data, with consistent relative size, shape and location of radioscaphoid and radiolunate contact regions. Quantitative data from the model generally compared well with the experimental data for all specimens. Contact area from the MRI-based model was very similar to the contact area measured directly from the images. For all outcome measures except average and peak pressures, at least two specimen models met the validation criteria with respect to experimental measurements for both articulations. Only the model for one specimen met the validation criteria for average and peak pressure of both articulations; however the experimental measures for peak pressure also exhibited high variability. MRI-based modeling can reliably be used for evaluating the contact area and contact force with similar confidence as in currently available experimental techniques. Average contact pressure, and peak contact pressure were more variable from all measurement techniques, and these measures from MRI-based modeling should be used with some caution.

Contact detection for nanomanipulation in a scanning electron microscope.

PubMed

Ru, Changhai; To, Steve

2012-07-01

Nanomanipulation systems require accurate knowledge of the end-effector position in all three spatial coordinates, XYZ, for reliable manipulation of nanostructures. Although the images acquired by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) provide high resolution XY information, the lack of depth information in the Z-direction makes 3D nanomanipulation time-consuming. Existing approaches for contact detection of end-effectors inside SEM typically utilize fragile touch sensors that are difficult to integrate into a nanomanipulation system. This paper presents a method for determining the contact between an end-effector and a target surface during nanomanipulation inside SEM, purely based on the processing of SEM images. A depth-from-focus method is used in the fast approach of the end-effector to the substrate, followed by fine contact detection. Experimental results demonstrate that the contact detection approach is capable of achieving an accuracy of 21.5 nm at 50,000× magnification while inducing little end-effector damage. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Silver-free Metallization Technology for Producing High Efficiency, Industrial Silicon Solar Cells

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

Michaelson, Lynne M.; Munoz, Krystal; Karas, Joseph

The goal of this project is to provide a commercially viable Ag-free metallization technology that will both reduce cost and increase efficiency of standard silicon solar cells. By removing silver from the front grid metallization and replacing it with lower cost nickel, copper, and tin metal, the front grid direct materials costs will decrease. This reduction in material costs should provide a path to meeting the Sunshot 2020 goal of 1 dollar / W DC. As of today, plated contacts are not widely implemented in large scale manufacturing. For organizations that wish to implement pilot scale manufacturing, only two equipmentmore » choices exist. These equipment manufacturers do not supply plating chemistry. The main goal of this project is to provide a chemistry and equipment solution to the industry that enables reliable manufacturing of plated contacts marked by passing reliability results and higher efficiencies than silver paste front grid contacts. To date, there have been several key findings that point to plated contacts performing equal to or better than the current state of the art silver paste contacts. Poor adhesion and reliability concerns are a few of the hurdles for plated contacts, specifically plated nickel directly on silicon. A key finding of the Phase 1 budget period is that the plated contacts have the same adhesion as the silver paste controls. This is a huge win for plated contacts. With very little optimization work, state of the art electrical results for plated contacts on laser ablated lines have been demonstrated with efficiencies up to 19.1% and fill factors ~80% on grid lines 40-50 um wide. The silver paste controls with similar line widths demonstrate similar electrical results. By optimizing the emitter and grid design for the plated contacts, it is expected that the electrical performance will exceed the silver paste controls. In addition, cells plated using Technic chemistry and equipment pass reliability testing; i.e. 1000 hours damp heat and 200 thermal cycles, with results similar to silver paste control cells. 100 cells have been processed through Technic’s novel demo plating tool built and installed during budget period 2. This plating tool performed consistently from cell to cell, providing gentle handling for the solar cells. An agreement has been signed with a cell manufacturer to process their cells through our plating chemistry and equipment. Their main focus for plated contacts is to reduce the direct materials cost by utilizing nickel, copper, and tin in place of silver paste. Based on current market conditions and cost model calculations, the overall savings offered by plated contacts is only 3.5% dollar/W versus silver paste contacts; however, the direct materials savings depend on the silver market. If silver prices increase, plated contacts may find a wider adoption in the solar industry in order to keep the direct materials costs down for front grid contacts.« less

The Efficacy of Cognitive Shock

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-21

as the doctrinal forms of tempo, momentum, and simultaneity are described in self - referential terms of operating against an enemy. This exploration...will process events different then those physically experiencing them. The manner in which time and space are processed , interpreted, and utilized...command and control nodes, logistics, and other capabilities not in direct contact with friendly forces.” Time retains an inward, self -oriented focus

Ballistic Anisotropic Magnetoresistance of Single-Atom Contacts.

PubMed

Schöneberg, J; Otte, F; Néel, N; Weismann, A; Mokrousov, Y; Kröger, J; Berndt, R; Heinze, S

2016-02-10

Anisotropic magnetoresistance, that is, the sensitivity of the electrical resistance of magnetic materials on the magnetization direction, is expected to be strongly enhanced in ballistic transport through nanoscale junctions. However, unambiguous experimental evidence of this effect is difficult to achieve. We utilize single-atom junctions to measure this ballistic anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR). Single Co and Ir atoms are deposited on domains and domain walls of ferromagnetic Fe layers on W(110) to control their magnetization directions. They are contacted with nonmagnetic tips in a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope to measure the junction conductances. Large changes of the magnetoresistance occur from the tunneling to the ballistic regime due to the competition of localized and delocalized d-orbitals, which are differently affected by spin-orbit coupling. This work shows that engineering the AMR at the single atom level is feasible.

NIOSH testimony to DOL on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed rule on electric power generation, transmission, and distribution; electrical protective equipment by J. D. Millar, November 28, 1989

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

Not Available

1989-11-28

The testimony concerns the support of NIOSH for the OSHA proposed rule on Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution. NIOSH in particular comments on control of hazardous energy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, line mechanics, and enclosed spaces. NIOSH estimates that 80 to 90% of the fatalities occurring in the industry occur among line mechanics. NIOSH strongly supports OSHA in applying the standard both electric utility companies and to power generation, transmission and distribution installations not under control of electric utilities. In addition to evaluating electrocutions to find effective ways for workers to avoid electrical injury or fatality, NIOSH has published recommendations formore » providing emergency medical care when workers do inadvertently contact electrical energy. NIOSH is not aware of any epidemiologic study which collected sufficient data to directly address the issue of successful resuscitation following contact with electrical energy. A review of pertinent epidemiologic studies and standard medical practice supports the NIOSH recommendation that workers who may contact energized electrical circuit work in pairs and that both members of the team be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.« less

Optimization of the Energy Level Alignment between the Photoactive Layer and the Cathode Contact Utilizing Solution-Processed Hafnium Acetylacetonate as Buffer Layer for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells.

PubMed

Yu, Lu; Li, Qiuxiang; Shi, Zhenzhen; Liu, Hao; Wang, Yaping; Wang, Fuzhi; Zhang, Bing; Dai, Songyuan; Lin, Jun; Tan, Zhan'ao

2016-01-13

The insertion of an appropriate interfacial buffer layer between the photoactive layer and the contact electrodes makes a great impact on the performance of polymer solar cells (PSCs). Ideal interfacial buffer layers could minimize the interfacial traps and the interfacial barriers caused by the incompatibility between the photoactive layer and the electrodes. In this work, we utilized solution-processed hafnium(IV) acetylacetonate (Hf(acac)4) as an effective cathode buffer layer (CBL) in PSCs to optimize the energy level alignment between the photoactive layer and the cathode contact, with the short-circuit current density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF) all simultaneously improved with Hf(acac)4 CBL, leading to enhanced power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) were performed to confirm that the interfacial dipoles were formed with the same orientation direction as the built-in potential between the photoactive layer and Hf(acac)4 CBL, benefiting the exciton separation and electron transport/extraction. In addition, the optical characteristics and surface morphology of the Hf(acac)4 CBL were also investigated.

Quantum point contacts for electrons on H-Si(111) surfaces using a Ga focused-ion beam for direct-write implant lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robertson, Luke D.; Kane, B. E.

Quantum point contacts (QPCs) realized in materials with anisotropic electron mass, such as Si, may exhibit valley filter phenomena leading to extreme sensitivity to single donor occupancy, and thus are of interest to measurement schemes for donor-based quantum information processing. To this end, we have developed ambipolar devices on a H-Si(111):Si(100)/SiO2 flip-chip assembly which utilize in-plane, degenerately doped n+ (P) and p+ (B) contacts to probe transport in a 2D electron system (2DES). In addition to providing electrostatic isolation of carriers, these p-type contacts can be used as lateral depletion gates to modulate the 2DES conductance, and if extended to the nanoscale can lead to 1D confinement and quantized conductance of the 2DES. In this talk, I will describe our efforts to use a Ga focused-ion beam for direct-write implant lithography to pattern QPCs and Ga nanowires on H-Si(111) surfaces. I will present low temperature (4.2K) conductance data collected on 30nm Ga nanowires to demonstrate their effectiveness as lateral depletion gates, and discuss on going measurements to confine and modulate the conductance of the 2DES using Ga QPCs.

Direct Contact Heat Exchange Interfacial Phenomena for Liquid Metal Reactors: Part II - Void Fraction

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

Abdulla, S.; Liu, X.; Anderson, M.H.

One concept being considered for steam generation in innovative nuclear reactor applications, involves water coming into direct contact with a circulating molten metal. The vigorous agitation of the two fluids, the direct liquid-liquid contact and the consequent large interfacial area can give rise to large heat transfer coefficients and rapid steam generation. For an optimum design of such direct contact heat exchange and vaporization systems, detailed knowledge is necessary of the various flow regimes, interfacial transport phenomena, heat transfer and operational stability. In order to investigate the interfacial transport phenomena, heat transfer and operational stability of direct liquid-liquid contact, amore » series of experiments are being performed in a 1-d test facility at Argonne National Laboratory and a 2-d experimental facility at UW-Madison. Each of the experimental facilities primarily consist of a liquid-metal melt chamber, heated test section (10 cm diameter tube for 1-d facility and 10 cm 50 cm rectangle for 2-d facility), water injection system and steam suppression tank. This paper is part II which, primarily addresses results and analysis of a set of preliminary experiments and void fraction measurements conducted in the 2-d facility at UW-Madison, part I deals with the heat transfer in the 1-d test facility at Argonne National Laboratory. A real-time high energy X-ray imaging system was developed and utilized to visualize the multiphase flow and measure line-average local void fractions, time-dependent void fraction distribution as well as estimates of the vapor bubble sizes and velocities. These measurements allowed us to determine the volumetric heat transfer coefficient and gain insight into the local heat transfer mechanisms. In this study, the images were captured at frame rates of 100 fps with spatial resolution of about 7 mm with a full-field view of a 15 cm square and five different positions along the test section height. The full-field average void fraction increases rapidly to about 15% in these preliminary tests, with the apparent boiling length of less than 20 cm. The volumetric heat transfer coefficient between the liquid metal and water are compared to the CRIEPI data, the only prior data for direct contact heat exchange for these liquid metal/water systems. (authors)« less

APCVD hexagonal boron nitride thin films for passive near-junction thermal management of electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

KC, Pratik; Rai, Amit; Ashton, Taylor S.; Moore, Arden L.

2017-12-01

The ability of graphene to serve as an ultrathin heat spreader has been previously demonstrated with impressive results. However, graphene is electrically conductive, making its use in contact with electronic devices problematic from a reliability and integration perspective. As an alternative, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is a similarly structured material with large in-plane thermal conductivity but which possesses a wide band gap, thereby giving it potential to be utilized for directing contact, near-junction thermal management of electronics without shorting or the need for an insulating intermediate layer. In this work, the viability of using large area, continuous h-BN thin films as direct contact, near-junction heat spreaders for electronic devices is experimentally evaluated. Thin films of h-BN several square millimeters in size were synthesized via an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) method that is both simple and scalable. These were subsequently transferred onto a microfabricated test device that simulated a multigate transistor while also allowing for measurements of the device temperature at various locations via precision resistance thermometry. Results showed that these large-area h-BN films with thicknesses of 77-125 nm are indeed capable of significantly lowering microdevice temperatures, with the best sample showing the presence of the h-BN thin film reduced the effective thermal resistance by 15.9% ± 4.6% compared to a bare microdevice at the same power density. Finally, finite element simulations of these experiments were utilized to estimate the thermal conductivity of the h-BN thin films and identify means by which further heat spreading performance gains could be attained.

Wildlife contact analysis: Emerging methods, questions, and challenges

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cross, Paul C.; Creech, Tyler G.; Ebinger, Michael R.; Heisey, Dennis M.; Irvine, Kathryn M.; Creel, Scott

2012-01-01

Recent technological advances, such as proximity loggers, allow researchers to collect complete interaction histories, day and night, among sampled individuals over several months to years. Social network analyses are an obvious approach to analyzing interaction data because of their flexibility for fitting many different social structures as well as the ability to assess both direct contacts and indirect associations via intermediaries. For many network properties, however, it is not clear whether estimates based upon a sample of the network are reflective of the entire network. In wildlife applications, networks may be poorly sampled and boundary effects will be common. We present an alternative approach that utilizes a hierarchical modeling framework to assess the individual, dyadic, and environmental factors contributing to variation in the interaction rates and allows us to estimate the underlying process variation in each. In a disease control context, this approach will allow managers to focus efforts on those types of individuals and environments that contribute the most toward super-spreading events. We account for the sampling distribution of proximity loggers and the non-independence of contacts among groups by only using contact data within a group during days when the group membership of proximity loggers was known. This allows us to separate the two mechanisms responsible for a pair not contacting one another: they were not in the same group or they were in the same group but did not come within the specified contact distance. We illustrate our approach with an example dataset of female elk from northwestern Wyoming and conclude with a number of important future research directions.

Graphene-Based Three-Dimensional Capacitive Touch Sensor for Wearable Electronics.

PubMed

Kang, Minpyo; Kim, Jejung; Jang, Bongkyun; Chae, Youngcheol; Kim, Jae-Hyun; Ahn, Jong-Hyun

2017-08-22

The development of input device technology in a conformal and stretchable format is important for the advancement of various wearable electronics. Herein, we report a capacitive touch sensor with good sensing capabilities in both contact and noncontact modes, enabled by the use of graphene and a thin device geometry. This device can be integrated with highly deformable areas of the human body, such as the forearms and palms. This touch sensor detects multiple touch signals in acute recordings and recognizes the distance and shape of the approaching objects before direct contact is made. This technology offers a convenient and immersive human-machine interface and additional potential utility as a multifunctional sensor for emerging wearable electronics and robotics.

Self-running and self-floating two-dimensional actuator using near-field acoustic levitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Keyu; Gao, Shiming; Pan, Yayue; Guo, Ping

2016-09-01

Non-contact actuators are promising technologies in metrology, machine-tools, and hovercars, but have been suffering from low energy efficiency, complex design, and low controllability. Here we report a new design of a self-running and self-floating actuator capable of two-dimensional motion with an unlimited travel range. The proposed design exploits near-field acoustic levitation for heavy object lifting, and coupled resonant vibration for generation of acoustic streaming for non-contact motion in designated directions. The device utilizes resonant vibration of the structure for high energy efficiency, and adopts a single piezo element to achieve both levitation and non-contact motion for a compact and simple design. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed actuator can reach a 1.65 cm/s or faster moving speed and is capable of transporting a total weight of 80 g under 1.2 W power consumption.

Continuous control of spin polarization using a magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gifford, J. A.; Zhao, G. J.; Li, B. C.; Tracy, Brian D.; Zhang, J.; Kim, D. R.; Smith, David J.; Chen, T. Y.

2016-05-01

The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of a point contact between a Co/Cu multilayer and a superconductor tip varies for different bias voltage. Direct measurement of spin polarization by Andreev reflection spectroscopy reveals that the GMR change is due to a change in spin polarization. This work demonstrates that the GMR structure can be utilized as a spin source and that the spin polarization can be continuously controlled by using an external magnetic field.

Direct growth of graphene-dielectric bi-layer structure on device substrates from Si-based polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Hong-Kyu; Kim, Kyunghun; Min, Sung-Yong; Lee, Yeongjun; Eon Park, Chan; Raj, Rishi; Lee, Tae-Woo

2017-06-01

To facilitate the utilization of graphene films in conventional semiconducting devices (e.g. transistors and memories) which includes an insulating layer such as gate dielectric, facile synthesis of bi-layers composed of a graphene film and an insulating layer by one-step thermal conversion will be very important. We demonstrate a simple, inexpensive, scalable and patternable process to synthesize graphene-dielectric bi-layer films from solution-processed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) under a Ni capping layer. This method fabricates graphene-dielectric bi-layer structure simultaneously directly on substrate by thermal conversion of PDMS without using additional graphene transfer and patterning process or formation of an expensive dielectric layer, which makes the device fabrication process much easier. The graphene-dielectric bi-layer on a conducting substrate was used in bottom-contact pentacene field-effect transistors that showed ohmic contact and small hysteresis. Our new method will provide a way to fabricate flexible electronic devices simply and inexpensively.

Heat exchanger and method of making. [rocket lining

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fortini, A.; Kazaroff, J. M. (Inventor)

1980-01-01

A heat exchange of increased effectiveness is disclosed. A porous metal matrix is disposed in a metal chamber or between walls through which a heat-transfer fluid is directed. The porous metal matrix has internal bonds and is bonded to the chamber in order to remove all thermal contact resistance within the composite structure. Utilization of the invention in a rocket chamber is disclosed as a specific use. Also disclosed is a method of constructing the heat exchanger.

Advanced radiator concepts feasibility demonstration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhee, Hyop S.; Begg, Lester; Wetch, Joseph R.; Juhasz, Albert J.

1991-01-01

An innovative pumped loop concept for 600 K space power system radiators is under development utilizing direct contact heat transfer, which facilitates repeated startup/shutdown of the power system without complex and time-consuming coolant thawing during power startup. The melting/freezing process of Li in a NaK flow was studied experimentally to demonstrate the Li/NaK radiator feasibility during startup (thawing) and shutdown (cold-trapping). Results of the vapor grown carbon fiber/composite thermal conductivity measurements are also presented.

Advanced radiator concepts feasibility demonstration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhee, Hyop S.; Begg, Lester; Wetch, Joseph R.; Juhasz, Albert J.

An innovative pumped loop concept for 600 K space power system radiators is under development utilizing direct contact heat transfer, which facilitates repeated startup/shutdown of the power system without complex and time-consuming coolant thawing during power startup. The melting/freezing process of Li in a NaK flow was studied experimentally to demonstrate the Li/NaK radiator feasibility during startup (thawing) and shutdown (cold-trapping). Results of the vapor grown carbon fiber/composite thermal conductivity measurements are also presented.

Electrical Nanocontact Between Bismuth Nanowire Edges and Electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murata, Masayuki; Nakamura, Daiki; Hasegawa, Yasuhiro; Komine, Takashi; Uematsu, Daisuke; Nakamura, Shinichiro; Taguchi, Takashi

2010-09-01

Three methods for attaching electrodes to a bismuth nanowire sample were investigated. In the first and second methods, thin layers of titanium and copper were deposited by ion plating under vacuum onto the edge surface of individual bismuth nanowire samples that were encapsulated in a quartz template. Good electrical contact between the electrodes and the nanowire was achieved using silver epoxy and conventional solder on the thin-film layers in the first and second methods, respectively. In the third method, a low-melting-point solder was utilized and was also successful in achieving good electrical contact in air atmosphere. The connection methods showed no difference in terms of resistivity temperature dependence or Seebeck coefficient. The third method has an advantage in that nanocontact is easily achieved; however, diffusion of the solder into the nanowire allows contamination near the melting point of the solder. In the first and second methods, the thin-film layer enabled electrical contact to be more safely achieved than the direct contact used in the third method, because the thin-film layer prevented diffusion of binder components.

Field Tests of the Magnetotelluric Method to Detect Gas Hydrates, Mallik, Mackenzie Delta, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craven, J. A.; Roberts, B.; Bellefleur, G.; Spratt, J.; Wright, F.; Dallimore, S. R.

2008-12-01

The magnetotelluric method is not generally utilized at extreme latitudes due primarily to difficulties in making the good electrical contact with the ground required to measure the electric field. As such, the magnetotelluric technique has not been previously investigated to direct detect gas hydrates in on-shore permafrost environments. We present the results of preliminary field tests at Mallik, Northwest Territories, Canada, that demonstrate good quality magnetotelluric data can be obtained in this environment using specialized electrodes and buffer amplifiers similar to those utilized by Wannamaker et al (2004). This result suggests that subsurface images from larger magnetotelluric surveys will be useful to complement other techniques to detect, quantify and characterize gas hydrates.

Moving contact lines on vibrating surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solomenko, Zlatko; Spelt, Peter; Scott, Julian

2017-11-01

Large-scale simulations of flows with moving contact lines for realistic conditions generally requires a subgrid scale model (analyses based on matched asymptotics) to account for the unresolved part of the flow, given the large range of length scales involved near contact lines. Existing models for the interface shape in the contact-line region are primarily for steady flows on homogeneous substrates, with encouraging results in 3D simulations. Introduction of complexities would require further investigation of the contact-line region, however. Here we study flows with moving contact lines on planar substrates subject to vibrations, with applications in controlling wetting/dewetting. The challenge here is to determine the change in interface shape near contact lines due to vibrations. To develop further insight, 2D direct numerical simulations (wherein the flow is resolved down to an imposed slip length) have been performed to enable comparison with asymptotic theory, which is also developed further. Perspectives will also be presented on the final objective of the work, which is to develop a subgrid scale model that can be utilized in large-scale simulations. The authors gratefully acknowledge the ANR for financial support (ANR-15-CE08-0031) and the meso-centre FLMSN for use of computational resources. This work was Granted access to the HPC resources of CINES under the allocation A0012B06893 made by GENCI.

What part of the total care consumed by type 2 diabetes patients is directly related to diabetes? Implications for disease management programs.

PubMed

van Dijk, Christel E; Verheij, Robert A; Swinkels, Ilse C S; Rijken, Mieke; Schellevis, François G; Groenewegen, Peter P; de Bakker, Dinny H

2011-10-01

Disease management programs (DMP) aim at improving coordination and quality of care and reducing healthcare costs for specific chronic diseases. This paper investigates to what extent total healthcare utilization of type 2 diabetes patients is actually related to diabetes and its implications for diabetes management programs. Healthcare utilization for diabetes patients was analyzed using 2008 self-reported data (n=316) and data from electronic medical records (EMR) (n=9023), and divided whether or not care was described in the Dutch type 2 diabetes multidisciplinary healthcare standard. On average 4.3 different disciplines of healthcare providers were involved in the care for diabetes patients. Ninety-six percent contacted a GP-practice and 63% an ophthalmologist, 24% an internist, 32% a physiotherapist and 23% a dietician. Diabetes patients had on average 9.3 contacts with GP-practice of which 53% were included in the healthcare standard. Only a limited part of total healthcare utilization of diabetes patients was included in the healthcare standard and therefore theoretically included in DMPs. Organizing the care for diabetics in a DMP might harm the coordination and quality of all healthcare for diabetics. DMPs should be integrated in the overall organization of care.

Homeless Veterans' Use of Peer Mentors and Effects on Costs and Utilization in VA Clinics.

PubMed

Yoon, Jean; Lo, Jeanie; Gehlert, Elizabeth; Johnson, Erin E; O'Toole, Thomas P

2017-06-01

The study compared health care utilization and costs among homeless veterans randomly assigned to peer mentors or usual care and described contacts with peer mentors. Homeless patients at four Department of Veterans Affairs clinics were randomly assigned to a peer mentor (N=195) or to usual care (N=180). Administrative data on utilization and costs over a six-month follow-up were combined with peer mentors' reports of patient contacts. Most patients (87%) in the peer mentor group had at least one peer contact. Patients in this group spent the largest proportions of time discussing housing and health issues with peer mentors and had more outpatient encounters than those in usual care, although differences were not significant. No other between-group differences were found in utilization or costs. Although significant impacts of peer mentors on health care patterns or costs were not detected, some patients had frequent contact with peer mentors.

Intranasal oxytocin and a polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor gene are associated with human-directed social behavior in golden retriever dogs.

PubMed

Persson, Mia E; Trottier, Agaia J; Bélteky, Johan; Roth, Lina S V; Jensen, Per

2017-09-01

The oxytocin system may play an important role in dog domestication from the wolf. Dogs have evolved unique human analogue social skills enabling them to communicate and cooperate efficiently with people. Genomic differences in the region surrounding the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have previously been associated with variation in dogs' communicative skills. Here we have utilized the unsolvable problem paradigm to investigate the effects of oxytocin and OXTR polymorphisms on human-directed contact seeking behavior in 60 golden retriever dogs. Human-oriented behavior was quantified employing a previously defined unsolvable problem paradigm. Behaviors were tested twice in a repeated, counterbalanced design, where dogs received a nasal dose of either oxytocin or saline 45min before each test occasion. Buccal DNA was analysed for genotype on three previously identified SNP-markers associated with OXTR. The same polymorphisms were also genotyped in 21 wolf blood samples to explore potential genomic differences between the species. Results showed that oxytocin treatment decreased physical contact seeking with the experimenter and one of the three polymorphisms was associated with degree of physical contact seeking with the owner. Dogs with the AA-genotype at this locus increased owner physical contact seeking in response to oxytocin while the opposite effect was found in GG-genotype individuals. Hence, intranasal oxytocin treatment, an OXTR polymorphism and their interaction are associated with dogs' human-directed social skills, which can explain previously described breed differences in oxytocin response. Genotypic variation at the studied locus was also found in wolves indicating that it was present even at the start of dog domestication. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spinoff 1978

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haggerty, James J.

1978-01-01

Spinoff '78 is the annual report of NASA's Technology Utilization Program, which is charged with promoting and stimulating the practical application of government-sponsored aerospace technology. The report is organized in three sections: 1) Aerospace Aims; 2) Technology Twice Used; and 3) Technology Utilization. Section 1 outlines NASA's major programs in space exploration, aeronautical research and technology application, and describes the potential benefits of a direct nature that are accruing from these efforts. Section 2 contains a representative sampling of the indirect benefits resulting from the secondary use of aerospace technology in industry and the economy. Section 3 details the nationwide activities of the Technology Utilization Program in encouraging the broadest possible secondary use of new technology emerging from aerospace programs. The latter section also includes a list of regional NASA officials and others who can be contacted by those seeking NASA technical information or assistance.

Direct Laser Writing of Nanophotonic Structures on Contact Lenses.

PubMed

AlQattan, Bader; Yetisen, Ali K; Butt, Haider

2018-04-24

Contact lenses are ubiquitous biomedical devices used for vision correction and cosmetic purposes. Their application as quantitative analytical devices is highly promising for point-of-care diagnostics. However, it is a challenge to integrate nanoscale features into commercial contact lenses for application in low-cost biosensors. A neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1064 nm, 3 ns pulse, 240 mJ) in holographic interference patterning mode was utilized to produce optical nanostructures over the surface of a hydrogel contact lens. One-dimensional (925 nm) and two-dimensional (925 nm × 925 nm) nanostructures were produced on contact lenses and analyzed by spectroscopy and angle-resolve measurements. The holographic properties of these nanostructures were tested in ambient moisture, fully hydrated, and artificial tear conditions. The measurements showed a rapid tuning of optical diffraction from these nanostructures from 41 to 48°. The nanostructures were patterned near the edges of the contact lens to avoid any interference and obstruction to the human vision. The formation of 2D nanostructures on lenses increased the diffraction efficiency by more than 10%. The versatility of the holographic laser ablation method was demonstrated by producing four different 2D nanopattern geometries on contact lenses. Hydrophobicity of the contact lens was characterized by contact angle measurements, which increased from 59.0° at pristine condition to 62.5° at post-nanofabrication. The holographic nanostructures on the contact lens were used to sense the concentration of Na + ions. Artificial tear solution was used to simulate the conditions in dry eye syndrome, and nanostructures on the contact lenses were used to detect the electrolyte concentration changes (±47 mmol L -1 ). Nanopatterns on a contact lens may be used to sense other ocular diseases in early stages at point-of-care settings.

Effects of Grip-Force, Contact, and Acceleration Feedback on a Teleoperated Pick-and-Place Task.

PubMed

Khurshid, Rebecca P; Fitter, Naomi T; Fedalei, Elizabeth A; Kuchenbecker, Katherine J

2017-01-01

The multifaceted human sense of touch is fundamental to direct manipulation, but technical challenges prevent most teleoperation systems from providing even a single modality of haptic feedback, such as force feedback. This paper postulates that ungrounded grip-force, fingertip-contact-and-pressure, and high-frequency acceleration haptic feedback will improve human performance of a teleoperated pick-and-place task. Thirty subjects used a teleoperation system consisting of a haptic device worn on the subject's right hand, a remote PR2 humanoid robot, and a Vicon motion capture system to move an object to a target location. Each subject completed the pick-and-place task 10 times under each of the eight haptic conditions obtained by turning on and off grip-force feedback, contact feedback, and acceleration feedback. To understand how object stiffness affects the utility of the feedback, half of the subjects completed the task with a flexible plastic cup, and the others used a rigid plastic block. The results indicate that the addition of grip-force feedback with gain switching enables subjects to hold both the flexible and rigid objects more stably, and it also allowed subjects who manipulated the rigid block to hold the object more delicately and to better control the motion of the remote robot's hand. Contact feedback improved the ability of subjects who manipulated the flexible cup to move the robot's arm in space, but it deteriorated this ability for subjects who manipulated the rigid block. Contact feedback also caused subjects to hold the flexible cup less stably, but the rigid block more securely. Finally, adding acceleration feedback slightly improved the subject's performance when setting the object down, as originally hypothesized; interestingly, it also allowed subjects to feel vibrations produced by the robot's motion, causing them to be more careful when completing the task. This study supports the utility of grip-force and high-frequency acceleration feedback in teleoperation systems and motivates further improvements to fingertip-contact-and-pressure feedback.

Overutilization of ambulatory medical care in the elderly German population?--An empirical study based on national insurance claims data and a review of foreign studies.

PubMed

van den Bussche, Hendrik; Kaduszkiewicz, Hanna; Schäfer, Ingmar; Koller, Daniela; Hansen, Heike; Scherer, Martin; Schön, Gerhard

2016-04-14

By definition, high utilizers receive a large proportion of medical services and produce relatively high costs. The authors report the results of a study on the utilization of ambulatory medical care by the elderly population in Germany in comparison to other OECD countries. Evidence points to an excessive utilization in Germany. It is important to document these utilization figures and compare them to those in other countries since the healthcare system in Germany stopped recording ambulatory healthcare utilization figures in 2008. The study is based on the claims data of all insurants aged ≥ 65 of a statutory health insurance company in Germany (n = 123,224). Utilization was analyzed by the number of contacts with physicians in ambulatory medical care and by the number of different practices contacted over one year. Criteria for frequent attendance were ≥ 50 contacts with practices or contacts with ≥ 10 different practices or ≥ 3 practices of the same discipline per year. Descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression were applied. Morbidity was analyzed by prevalence and relative risk for frequent attendance for 46 chronic diseases. Nineteen percent of the elderly were identified as high utilizers, corresponding to approximately 3.5 million elderly people in Germany. Two main types were identified. One type has many contacts with practices, belongs to the oldest age group, suffers from severe somatic diseases and multimorbidity, and/or is dependent on long-term care. The other type contacts large numbers of practices, consists of younger elderly who often suffer from psychiatric and/or psychosomatic complaints, and is less frequently multimorbid and/or nursing care dependent. We found a very high rate of frequent attendance among the German elderly, which is unique among the OECD countries. Further research should clarify its reasons and if this degree of utilization is beneficial for elderly people.

Longitudinal assessment of anti-PGL-I serology in contacts of leprosy patients in Bangladesh

PubMed Central

van der Zwet, Konrad; van Hooij, Anouk; Wilson, Louis; Oskam, Linda; Faber, Roel; van den Eeden, Susan J. F.; Pahan, David; Alam, Khorshed; Richardus, Jan Hendrik; Geluk, Annemieke

2017-01-01

Background Despite elimination efforts, the number of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) infected individuals who develop leprosy, is still substantial. Solid evidence exists that individuals living in close proximity to patients are at increased risk to develop leprosy. Early diagnosis of leprosy in endemic areas requires field-friendly tests that identify individuals at risk of developing the disease before clinical manifestation. Such assays will simultaneously contribute to reduction of current diagnostic delay as well as transmission. Antibody (Ab) levels directed against the M.leprae-specific phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) represents a surrogate marker for bacterial load. However, it is insufficiently defined whether anti-PGL-I antibodies can be utilized as prognostic biomarkers for disease in contacts. Particularly, in Bangladesh, where paucibacillary (PB) patients form the majority of leprosy cases, anti-PGL-I serology is an inadequate method for leprosy screening in contacts as a directive for prophylactic treatment. Methods Between 2002 and 2009, fingerstick blood from leprosy patients’ contacts without clinical signs of disease from a field-trial in Bangladesh was collected on filter paper at three time points covering six years of follow-up per person. Analysis of anti-PGL-I Ab levels for 25 contacts who developed leprosy during follow-up and 199 contacts who were not diagnosed with leprosy, was performed by ELISA after elution of bloodspots from filter paper. Results Anti-PGL-I Ab levels at intake did not significantly differ between contacts who developed leprosy during the study and those who remained free of disease. Moreover, anti-PGL-I serology was not prognostic in this population as no significant correlation was identified between anti-PGL-I Ab levels at intake and the onset of leprosy. Conclusion In this highly endemic population in Bangladesh, no association was observed between anti-PGL-I Ab levels and onset of disease, urging the need for an extended, more specific biomarker signature for early detection of leprosy in this area. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ISRCTN61223447 PMID:29228004

Longitudinal assessment of anti-PGL-I serology in contacts of leprosy patients in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Richardus, Renate A; van der Zwet, Konrad; van Hooij, Anouk; Wilson, Louis; Oskam, Linda; Faber, Roel; van den Eeden, Susan J F; Pahan, David; Alam, Khorshed; Richardus, Jan Hendrik; Geluk, Annemieke

2017-12-01

Despite elimination efforts, the number of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) infected individuals who develop leprosy, is still substantial. Solid evidence exists that individuals living in close proximity to patients are at increased risk to develop leprosy. Early diagnosis of leprosy in endemic areas requires field-friendly tests that identify individuals at risk of developing the disease before clinical manifestation. Such assays will simultaneously contribute to reduction of current diagnostic delay as well as transmission. Antibody (Ab) levels directed against the M.leprae-specific phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) represents a surrogate marker for bacterial load. However, it is insufficiently defined whether anti-PGL-I antibodies can be utilized as prognostic biomarkers for disease in contacts. Particularly, in Bangladesh, where paucibacillary (PB) patients form the majority of leprosy cases, anti-PGL-I serology is an inadequate method for leprosy screening in contacts as a directive for prophylactic treatment. Between 2002 and 2009, fingerstick blood from leprosy patients' contacts without clinical signs of disease from a field-trial in Bangladesh was collected on filter paper at three time points covering six years of follow-up per person. Analysis of anti-PGL-I Ab levels for 25 contacts who developed leprosy during follow-up and 199 contacts who were not diagnosed with leprosy, was performed by ELISA after elution of bloodspots from filter paper. Anti-PGL-I Ab levels at intake did not significantly differ between contacts who developed leprosy during the study and those who remained free of disease. Moreover, anti-PGL-I serology was not prognostic in this population as no significant correlation was identified between anti-PGL-I Ab levels at intake and the onset of leprosy. In this highly endemic population in Bangladesh, no association was observed between anti-PGL-I Ab levels and onset of disease, urging the need for an extended, more specific biomarker signature for early detection of leprosy in this area. ClinicalTrials.gov ISRCTN61223447.

Heat exchanger and method of making. [bonding rocket chambers with a porous metal matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fortini, A.; Kazaroff, J. M. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A heat exchanger of increased effectiveness is disclosed. A porous metal matrix is disposed in a metal chamber or between walls through which a heat-transfer fluid is directed. The porous metal matrix has internal bonds and is bonded to the chamber in order to remove all thermal contact resistance within the composite structure. Utilization of the invention in a rocket chamber is disclosed as a specific use. Also disclosed is a method of constructing the heat exchanger.

[Eye contact in adult patients with Asperger syndrome].

PubMed

Roy, M; Wolfgang, D

2015-05-01

It is unclear if individuals with autism spectrum disorders rarely hold direct eye contact because eyes are unimportant for them, or if it is actively avoided. The aim of the current investigation was to gain a better understanding for their views on direct eye contact by exploring adult patients with Asperger syndrome. 63 adult patients with Asperger syndrome (28 females, 35 males, 21 - 62 years old) were explored about using and sensing direct eye contact by means of a standardised questionnaire. 87 % of investigated patients depict direct eye contact as being disagreeable. They describe it as arduous and distracting. Therefore they mostly actively avoid direct eye contact. The here gained knowledge about aversion towards direct eye contact in individuals with autism should lead to a stronger understanding and acceptance of this problem in the non-autistic population. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Dose-response effects for depression and Schizophrenia management on hospital utilization in Illinois Medicaid: a multivariate regression analysis.

PubMed

Berg, Gregory D; Donnelly, Shawn; Warnick, Kathleen; Medina, Wendie; Miller, Mary

2014-07-03

The prevalence of schizophrenia and depression in the United States is far higher among Medicaid recipients than in the general population. Individuals suffering from mental illness, including schizophrenia and depression, also have higher rates of emergency department utilization, which is costly and may not generate the positive health outcomes desired. Disease management programs strive to help individuals suffering from chronic illnesses better manage their condition(s) and seek health care in the appropriate settings. The objective of this manuscript is to estimate a dose-response impact on hospital inpatient and emergency room utilizations for any reason by Medicaid recipients with depression or schizophrenia who received disease management contacts. Multivariate regression analysis of panel data taken from administrative claims was conducted to test the hypothesis that increased contacts lower the likelihood of all-cause inpatient admissions and emergency room visits. Subjects included 6,274 members of Illinois' non-institutionalized Medicaid-only aged, blind or disabled population diagnosed with depression or schizophrenia. The statistical measure is the odds ratio. The odds ratio association is between the monthly utilization indicators and the number of contacts (doses) a member had for each particular disease management intervention. Higher numbers of intervention contacts for Medicaid recipients diagnosed with depression or schizophrenia were associated with statistically significant reductions in all-cause inpatient admissions and emergency room utilizations. There is a high correlation between depression and schizophrenia disease management contacts and lowered all-cause hospital inpatient and emergency room utilizations.

Evaluating the impact of direct and indirect contact on the mental health stigma of pharmacy students.

PubMed

Nguyen, Elizabeth; Chen, Timothy F; O'Reilly, Claire L

2012-07-01

Contact with mental health consumers has shown to be a promising strategy to address mental health stigma, particularly in the context of pharmacy education. This research aimed to compare the effectiveness of a direct (face-to-face) contact intervention with an indirect (film based) contact intervention in reducing the mental health stigma of pharmacy students. A two-group, non-randomized, comparative study was conducted with third year pharmacy students (n = 198) allocated to the direct contact arm and fourth year pharmacy students (n = 278) allocated to the indirect contact arm. Baseline and immediate post-intervention data were collected using a validated 39 item survey instrument to assess the impact of the interventions on mental health stigma as well as attitudes towards providing mental health pharmaceutical services. Participants in the direct contact group showed a significant improvement in 37 out of 39 survey items and participants in the indirect contact group showed a significant improvement in 27 out of 39 items (P < 0.05). While direct contact had a stronger impact than indirect contact for 22 items (P < 0.05), for numerous key measures of mental health stigma the impact of the two contact interventions was equivalent. Both indirect and direct contact may positively impact mental health stigma. While the strength of the stigma-change process may be heightened by face-to-face interactions, the largely positive impact of indirect contact suggests that stigma reduction may depend less on the medium of contact but more on the transcendent messages contributed by the consumers facilitating the contact experience.

Contact angle and detachment energy of shape anisotropic particles at fluid-fluid interfaces.

PubMed

Anjali, Thriveni G; Basavaraj, Madivala G

2016-09-15

The three phase contact angle of particles, a measure of its wettability, is an important factor that greatly influences their behaviour at interfaces. It is one of the principal design parameters for potential applications of particles as emulsion/foam stabilizers, functional coatings and other novel materials. In the present work, the effect of size, shape and surface chemistry of particles on their contact angle is investigated using the gel trapping technique, which facilitates the direct visualization of the equilibrium position of particles at interfaces. The contact angle of hematite particles of spherocylindrical, peanut and cuboidal shapes, hematite-silica core-shell and silica shells is reported at a single particle level. The spherocylindrical and peanut shaped particles are always positioned with their major axis parallel to the interface. However, for cuboidal particles at air-water as well as decane-water interfaces, different orientations namely - face-up, edge-up and the vertex-up - are observed. The influence of gravity on the equilibrium position of the colloidal particles at the interface is studied using the hematite-silica core-shell particles and the silica shells. The measured contact angle values are utilized in the calculations of the detachment and surface energies of the hematite particles adsorbed at the interface. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

21 CFR 882.1570 - Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Powered direct-contact temperature measurement... HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Diagnostic Devices § 882.1570 Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device. (a) Identification. A powered direct...

21 CFR 882.1570 - Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Powered direct-contact temperature measurement... HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Diagnostic Devices § 882.1570 Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device. (a) Identification. A powered direct...

21 CFR 882.1570 - Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Powered direct-contact temperature measurement... HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Diagnostic Devices § 882.1570 Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device. (a) Identification. A powered direct...

A High-Performing Direct Carbon Fuel Cell with a 3D Architectured Anode Operated Below 600 °C.

PubMed

Wu, Wei; Zhang, Yunya; Ding, Dong; He, Ting

2018-01-01

Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) are highly efficient power generators fueled by abundant and cheap solid carbons. However, the limited triple-phase boundaries (TPBs) in the fuel electrode, due to the lack of direct contact among carbon, electrode, and electrolyte, inhibit the performance and result in poor fuel utilization. To address the challenges of low carbon oxidation activity and low carbon utilization, a highly efficient, 3D solid-state architected anode is developed to enhance the performance of DCFCs below 600 °C. The cell with the 3D textile anode framework, Gd:CeO 2 -Li/Na 2 CO 3 composite electrolyte, and Sm 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 cathode demonstrates excellent performance with maximum power densities of 143, 196, and 325 mW cm -2 at 500, 550, and 600 °C, respectively. At 500 °C, the cells can be operated steadily with a rated power density of ≈0.13 W cm -2 at a constant current density of 0.15 A cm -2 with a carbon utilization over 85.5%. These results, for the first time, demonstrate the feasibility of directly electrochemical oxidation of solid carbon at 500-600 °C, representing a promising strategy in developing high-performing fuel cells and other electrochemical systems via the integration of 3D architected electrodes. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Linking social and pathogen transmission networks using microbial genetics in giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis).

PubMed

VanderWaal, Kimberly L; Atwill, Edward R; Isbell, Lynne A; McCowan, Brenda

2014-03-01

Although network analysis has drawn considerable attention as a promising tool for disease ecology, empirical research has been hindered by limitations in detecting the occurrence of pathogen transmission (who transmitted to whom) within social networks. Using a novel approach, we utilize the genetics of a diverse microbe, Escherichia coli, to infer where direct or indirect transmission has occurred and use these data to construct transmission networks for a wild giraffe population (Giraffe camelopardalis). Individuals were considered to be a part of the same transmission chain and were interlinked in the transmission network if they shared genetic subtypes of E. coli. By using microbial genetics to quantify who transmits to whom independently from the behavioural data on who is in contact with whom, we were able to directly investigate how the structure of contact networks influences the structure of the transmission network. To distinguish between the effects of social and environmental contact on transmission dynamics, the transmission network was compared with two separate contact networks defined from the behavioural data: a social network based on association patterns, and a spatial network based on patterns of home-range overlap among individuals. We found that links in the transmission network were more likely to occur between individuals that were strongly linked in the social network. Furthermore, individuals that had more numerous connections or that occupied 'bottleneck' positions in the social network tended to occupy similar positions in the transmission network. No similar correlations were observed between the spatial and transmission networks. This indicates that an individual's social network position is predictive of transmission network position, which has implications for identifying individuals that function as super-spreaders or transmission bottlenecks in the population. These results emphasize the importance of association patterns in understanding transmission dynamics, even for environmentally transmitted microbes like E. coli. This study is the first to use microbial genetics to construct and analyse transmission networks in a wildlife population and highlights the potential utility of an approach integrating microbial genetics with network analysis. © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2013 British Ecological Society.

Is hand hygiene before putting on nonsterile gloves in the intensive care unit a waste of health care worker time?--a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Rock, Clare; Harris, Anthony D; Reich, Nicholas G; Johnson, J Kristie; Thom, Kerri A

2013-11-01

Hand hygiene (HH) is recognized as a basic effective measure in prevention of nosocomial infections. However, the importance of HH before donning nonsterile gloves is unknown, and few published studies address this issue. Despite the lack of evidence, the World Health Organization and other leading bodies recommend this practice. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of HH before donning nonsterile gloves prior to patient contact. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of health care workers entering Contact Isolation rooms in intensive care units was performed. Baseline finger and palm prints were made from dominant hands onto agar plates. Health care workers were then randomized to directly don nonsterile gloves or perform HH and then don nonsterile gloves. Postgloving finger and palm prints were then made from the gloved hands. Plates were incubated and colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria were counted. Total bacterial colony counts of gloved hands did not differ between the 2 groups (6.9 vs 8.1 CFU, respectively, P = .52). Staphylococcus aureus was identified from gloves (once in "hand hygiene prior to gloving" group, twice in "direct gloving" group). All other organisms were expected commensal flora. HH before donning nonsterile gloves does not decrease already low bacterial counts on gloves. The utility of HH before donning nonsterile gloves may be unnecessary. Copyright © 2013 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Multi-range force sensors utilizing shape memory alloys

DOEpatents

Varma, Venugopal K.

2003-04-15

The present invention provides a multi-range force sensor comprising a load cell made of a shape memory alloy, a strain sensing system, a temperature modulating system, and a temperature monitoring system. The ability of the force sensor to measure contact forces in multiple ranges is effected by the change in temperature of the shape memory alloy. The heating and cooling system functions to place the shape memory alloy of the load cell in either a low temperature, low strength phase for measuring small contact forces, or a high temperature, high strength phase for measuring large contact forces. Once the load cell is in the desired phase, the strain sensing system is utilized to obtain the applied contact force. The temperature monitoring system is utilized to ensure that the shape memory alloy is in one phase or the other.

Tactical Sensors for Dispersed TNF (Tactical Nuclear Force) Units. Appendix 1.Tactical Sensory Survey.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-30

activating a separate transmitter, audible alarm, or contact closure. This sensor is compatible with any device that utilizes an input pulse or...transmitter, audible alarm, or contact closure. This sensor is compatible *i with any device that utilizes an output to produce an alarm. 110-4769-002. This...used to generate an alarm by activating a separate transmitter, audible alarm, or contact closure. This sensor is compatible with any device that

The Extended Contact Hypothesis: A Meta-Analysis on 20 Years of Research.

PubMed

Zhou, Shelly; Page-Gould, Elizabeth; Aron, Arthur; Moyer, Anne; Hewstone, Miles

2018-04-01

According to the extended contact hypothesis, knowing that in-group members have cross-group friends improves attitudes toward this out-group. This meta-analysis covers the 20 years of research that currently exists on the extended contact hypothesis, and consists of 248 effect sizes from 115 studies. The aggregate relationship between extended contact and intergroup attitudes was r = .25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [.22, .27], which reduced to r = .17, 95% CI = [.14, .19] after removing direct friendship's contribution; these results suggest that extended contact's hypothesized relationship to intergroup attitudes is small-to-medium and exists independently of direct friendship. This relationship was larger when extended contact was perceived versus actual, highlighting the importance of perception in extended contact. Current results on extended contact mostly resembled their direct friendship counterparts, suggesting similarity between these contact types. These unique insights about extended contact and its relationship with direct friendship should enrich and spur growth within this literature.

Direct contact as a moderator of extended contact effects: cross-sectional and longitudinal impact on outgroup attitudes, behavioral intentions, and attitude certainty.

PubMed

Christ, Oliver; Hewstone, Miles; Tausch, Nicole; Wagner, Ulrich; Voci, Alberto; Hughes, Joanne; Cairns, Ed

2010-12-01

Cross-group friendships (the most effective form of direct contact) and extended contact (i.e., knowing ingroup members who have outgroup friends) constitute two of the most important means of improving outgroup attitudes. Using cross-sectional and longitudinal samples from different intergroup contexts, this research demonstrates that extended contact is most effective when individuals live in segregated neighborhoods having only few, or no, direct friendships with outgroup members. Moreover, by including measures of attitudes and behavioral intentions the authors showed the broader impact of these forms of contact, and, by assessing attitude certainty as one dimension of attitude strength, they tested whether extended contact can lead not only to more positive but also to stronger outgroup orientations. Cross-sectional data showed that direct contact was more strongly related to attitude certainty than was extended contact, but longitudinal data showed both forms of contact affected attitude certainty in the long run.

Controlling direct contact force for wet adhesion with different wedged film stabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Meng; Xie, Jun; Shi, Liping; Huang, Wei; Wang, Xiaolei

2018-04-01

In solid–liquid–solid adhesive systems, wedged films often feature instability at microscopic thicknesses, which can easily disrupt the adhesive strength of their remarkable direct contact force. Here, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was employed to tune the instability of adhesion in wedged glass–water–rubber films, achieving controllable direct contact. Experimental results showed that the supplement of SDS molecules significantly weakened the direct contact force for wet adhesion and eliminated it at high concentrations. The underlying reason was suggested to be the repulsive double-layer force caused by SDS molecules, which lowers the instability of the wedged film and balances the preload, disrupting the direct contact in wet adhesion.

Efficient charge-carrier extraction from Ag₂S quantum dots prepared by the SILAR method for utilization of multiple exciton generation.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaoliang; Liu, Jianhua; Johansson, Erik M J

2015-01-28

The utilization of electron-hole pairs (EHPs) generated from multiple excitons in quantum dots (QDs) is of great interest toward efficient photovoltaic devices and other optoelectronic devices; however, extraction of charge carriers remains difficult. Herein, we extract photocharges from Ag2S QDs and investigate the dependence of the electric field on the extraction of charges from multiple exciton generation (MEG). Low toxic Ag2S QDs are directly grown on TiO2 mesoporous substrates by employing the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The contact between QDs is important for the initial charge separation after MEG and for the carrier transport, and the space between neighbor QDs decreases with more SILAR cycles, resulting in better charge extraction. At the optimal electric field for extraction of photocharges, the results suggest that the threshold energy (hνth) for MEG is 2.41Eg. The results reveal that Ag2S QD is a promising material for efficient extraction of charges from MEG and that QDs prepared by SILAR have an advantageous electrical contact facilitating charge separation and extraction.

Silicon MINP solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olsen, L. C.; Addis, F. W.; Miller, W. A.

1985-01-01

The MINP solar cell concept refers to a cell structure designed to be a base region dominated device. Thus, it is desirable that recombination losses are reduced to the point that they occur only in the base region. The most unique feature of the MINP cell design is that a tunneling contact is utilized for the metallic contact on the front surface. The areas under the collector grid and bus bar are passivated by a thin oxide of tunneling thickness. Efforts must also be taken to minimize recombination at the surface between grid lines, at the junction periphery and within the emitter. Results of both theoretical and experimental studies of silicon MINP cells are given. Performance calculations are described which give expected efficiencies as a function of base resistivity and junction depth. Fabrication and characterization of cells are discussed which are based on 0.2 ohm-cm substrates, diffused emitters on the order of 0.15 to 0.20 microns deep, and with Mg MIS collector grids. A total area AM 1 efficiency of 16.8% was achieved. Detailed analyses of photocurrent and current loss mechanisms are presented and utilized to discuss future directions of research. Finally, results reported by other workers are discussed.

Photo-stimulated low electron temperature high current diamond film field emission cathode

DOEpatents

Shurter,; Roger Philips, Devlin [Los Alamos, NM; David James, Moody [Santa Fe, NM; Nathan Andrew, Taccetti [Los Alamos, NM; Jose Martin, Russell [Santa Fe, NM; John, Steven [Los Alamos, NM

2012-07-24

An electron source includes a back contact surface having a means for attaching a power source to the back contact surface. The electron source also includes a layer comprising platinum in direct contact with the back contact surface, a composite layer of single-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in platinum in direct contact with the layer comprising platinum. The electron source also includes a nanocrystalline diamond layer in direct contact with the composite layer. The nanocrystalline diamond layer is doped with boron. A portion of the back contact surface is removed to reveal the underlying platinum. The electron source is contained in an evacuable container.

Blood Accessibility to Fibrin in Venous Thrombosis is Thrombus Age-Dependent and Predicts Fibrinolytic Efficacy: An In Vivo Fibrin Molecular Imaging Study

PubMed Central

Stein-Merlob, Ashley F.; Kessinger, Chase W.; Erdem, S. Sibel; Zelada, Henry; Hilderbrand, Scott A.; Lin, Charles P.; Tearney, Guillermo J.; Jaff, Michael R.; Reed, Guy L.; Henke, Peter K.; McCarthy, Jason R.; Jaffer, Farouc A.

2015-01-01

Fibrinolytic therapy of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increasingly utilized, yet limited knowledge is available regarding in vivo mechanisms that govern fibrinolytic efficacy. In particular, it is unknown how age-dependent thrombus organization limits direct blood contact with fibrin, the target of blood-based fibrinolytic agents. Utilizing high-resolution in vivo optical molecular imaging with FTP11, a near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) fibrin-specific reporter, here we investigated the in vivo interrelationships of blood accessibility to fibrin, thrombus age, thrombus neoendothelialization, and fibrinolysis in murine venous thrombosis (VT). In both stasis VT and non-stasis VT, NIRF microscopy showed that FTP11 fibrin binding was thrombus age-dependent. FTP11 localized to the luminal surface of early-stage VT, but only minimally to subacute VT (p<0.001). Transmission electron microscopy of early stage VT revealed direct blood cell contact with luminal fibrin-rich surfaces. In contrast, subacute VT exhibited an encasing CD31+ neoendothelial layer that limited blood cell contact with thrombus fibrin in both VT models. Next we developed a theranostic strategy to predict fibrinolytic efficacy based on the in vivo fibrin accessibility to blood NIRF signal. Mice with variably aged VT underwent FTP11 injection and intravital microscopy (IVM), followed by tissue plasminogen activator infusion to induce VT fibrinolysis. Fibrin molecular IVM revealed that early stage VT, but not subacute VT, bound FTP11 (p<0.05), and experienced higher rates of fibrinolysis and total fibrinolysis (p<0.05 vs. subacute VT). Before fibrinolysis, the baseline FTP11 NIRF signal predicted the net fibrinolysis at 60 minutes (p<0.001). Taken together, these data provide novel insights into the temporal evolution of VT and its susceptibility to therapeutic fibrinolysis. Fibrin molecular imaging may provide a theranostic strategy to identify venous thrombi amenable to fibrinolytic therapies. PMID:26516370

Complete 360° circumferential SSOCT gonioscopy of the iridocorneal angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNabb, Ryan P.; Kuo, Anthony N.; Izatt, Joseph A.

2014-02-01

The ocular iridocorneal angle is generally an optically inaccessible area when viewed directly through the cornea due to the high angle of incidence required and the large index of refraction difference between air and cornea (nair = 1.000 and ncornea = 1.376) resulting in total internal reflection. Gonioscopy allows for viewing of the angle by removing the aircornea interface through the use of a special contact lens on the eye. Gonioscopy is used clinically to visualize the angle directly but only en face. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been used to image the angle and deeper structures via an external approach. Typically, this imaging technique is performed by utilizing a conventional anterior segment OCT scanning system. However, instead of imaging the apex of the cornea, either the scanner or the subject is tilted such that the corneoscleral limbus is orthogonal to the optical axis of the scanner requiring multiple volumes to obtain complete circumferential coverage of the ocular angle. We developed a novel gonioscopic OCT (GOCT) system that images the entire ocular angle within a single volume via an "internal" approach through the use of a custom radially symmetric gonioscopic contact lens. We present, to our knowledge, the first complete 360° circumferential volumes of the iridocorneal angle from a direct, internal approach.

Crystal structure of the Yersinia type III secretion protein YscE

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

Phan, Jason; Austin, Brian P.; Waugh, David S.

2010-12-06

The plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis utilizes a contact-dependent (type III) secretion system (T3SS) to transport virulence factors from the bacterial cytosol directly into the interior of mammalian cells where they interfere with signal transduction pathways that mediate phagocytosis and the inflammatory response. The type III secretion apparatus is composed of 20-25 different Yersinia secretion (Ysc) proteins. We report here the structure of YscE, the smallest Ysc protein, which is a dimer in solution. The probable mode of oligomerization is discussed.

Comparison of force and tactile feedback for grasp force control in telemanipulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiker, Steven F.; Duffie, Neil A.; Yen, Thomas Y.; Gale, Karen L.

1991-01-01

The comparative efficacy of using direct force feedback or a simple vibrotactile display to convey changes in the intensity of remote grasp force relayed from a robotic end effector is examined. The findings show that a simple vibrotactile cue, in the absence of direct force feedback, is effective in signaling abrupt changes in remote grasp force regardless of magnitude, and when changes in force are not too slow or protracted in nature (i.e., ramp time less than 2 s). In cases where the operator must dynamically tract and respond to slow but large variations in grasp force, the comparatively crude vibrotactile display would prove helpful; but would not be as effective as that of a direct contact force display. Immediate applications and utility of current generation and near-term prototype tactile displays are discussed.

Direct telemarketing of smoking cessation interventions: will smokers take the call?

PubMed

Paul, C L; Wiggers, J; Daly, J B; Green, S; Walsh, R A; Knight, J; Girgis, A

2004-07-01

Few smokers currently make use of available and effective cessation strategies, despite their expressed desire to quit and reported interest in cessation support. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of a telephone-based direct-marketing approach to delivering cessation strategies. DESIGN, SETTING, MEASUREMENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: A community survey was conducted to explore the views of current adult smokers regarding the acceptability, likely uptake and barriers to uptake of smoking cessation services offered by direct telephone marketing. Three quarters (73.8%) of smokers contacted agreed to be surveyed. Of the 194 study participants, 75.3% reported that they would utilize vouchers for discount nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), 66.5% would use a mailed self-help booklet, 57.2% would take up the offer of regular mailings of personalized letters and self-help materials and 46.4% would utilize a 'we-call-you' telephone counselling service. The characteristics of those indicating likely uptake of these services were also explored. The two major barriers to uptake of services were preferring to quit without help and a belief that a particular service would not help the participant. The data suggest strong support for the direct marketing of smoking cessation strategies; they also highlight the need for further study of the cost-effectiveness of telephone-based direct marketing of smoking cessation strategies as a population-based strategy for reducing the prevalence of smoking in the community.

Motors and Their Tethers: The Role of Secondary Binding Sites in Processive Motility

PubMed Central

Kincaid, Margaret M.; King, Stephen J.

2007-01-01

Cytoskeletal motors convert the energy from binding and hydrolyzing ATP into conformational changes that direct movement along a cytoskeletal polymer substrate. These enzymes utilize different mechanisms to generate long-range motion on the order of a micron or more that is required for functions ranging from muscle contraction to transport of growth factors along a nerve axon. Several of the individual cytoskeletal motors are processive, meaning that they have the ability to take sequential steps along their polymer substrate without dissociating from the polymer. This ability to maintain contact with the polymer allows individual motors to move cargos quickly from one cellular location to another. Many of the processive motors have now been found to utilize secondary binding sites that aid in motor processivity. PMID:17172850

Informing disease models with temporal and spatial contact structure among GPS-collared individuals in wild populations.

PubMed

Williams, David M; Dechen Quinn, Amy C; Porter, William F

2014-01-01

Contacts between hosts are essential for transmission of many infectious agents. Understanding how contacts, and thus transmission rates, occur in space and time is critical to effectively responding to disease outbreaks in free-ranging animal populations. Contacts between animals in the wild are often difficult to observe or measure directly. Instead, one must infer contacts from metrics such as proximity in space and time. Our objective was to examine how contacts between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) vary in space and among seasons. We used GPS movement data from 71 deer in central New York State to quantify potential direct contacts between deer and indirect overlap in space use across time and space. Daily probabilities of direct contact decreased from winter (0.05-0.14), to low levels post-parturition through summer (0.00-0.02), and increased during the rut to winter levels. The cumulative distribution for the spatial structure of direct and indirect contact probabilities around a hypothetical point of occurrence increased rapidly with distance for deer pairs separated by 1,000 m-7,000 m. Ninety-five percent of the probabilities of direct contact occurred among deer pairs within 8,500 m of one another, and 99% within 10,900 m. Probabilities of indirect contact accumulated across greater spatial extents: 95% at 11,900 m and 99% at 49,000 m. Contacts were spatially consistent across seasons, indicating that although contact rates differ seasonally, they occur proportionally across similar landscape extents. Distributions of contact probabilities across space can inform management decisions for assessing risk and allocating resources in response.

Streaked X Ray Spectra from Polar Direct Drive Capsules with an Equatorial Defect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murphy, T. J.; Bradley, P. A.; Cobble, J. A.; Hsu, S. C.; Krasheninnikova, N. S.; Magelssen, G. R.; Schmitt, M. J.; Tregillis, I. L.; Wysocki, F. J.

2011-10-01

In the Defect Implosion Experiment (DIME) on Omega, capsules with an equatorial ``trench'' defect have been imploded to study defect-induced mix processes. The capsules contain layers doped with titanium and/or vanadium, with doped layers in contact with the deuterium fill gas on some targets, and separated from the gas by a layer of undoped plastic in others. Streaked x-ray spectra from the capsule implosions provide information on conditions in the mix layer. Polar direct drive was utilized in preparation for experiments planned for the National Ignition Facility in 2012. This work is supported by US DOE/NNSA, performed at LANL, operated by LANS LLC under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396.

Direct and extended intergenerational contact and young people's attitudes towards older adults.

PubMed

Drury, Lisbeth; Hutchison, Paul; Abrams, Dominic

2016-09-01

Research suggests that positive intergenerational contact can improve young people's attitudes towards older adults. However, today's age-segregated society may not provide ample opportunities for positive contact between younger and older adults to occur on a regular basis. In three studies, we investigated whether the positive attitudinal outcomes associated with direct contact might also stem from a more indirect form of intergenerational relationship: extended contact. In Study 1 (N = 70), extended contact was associated with more positive attitudes towards older adults even when controlling for direct intergenerational contact (contact frequency and contact quality). In Study 2 (N = 110), the positive effects of direct and extended contact on young people's age-related attitudes were mediated by reductions in intergroup anxiety and ageing anxiety. The mediational effects of intergroup anxiety were replicated in Study 3 (N = 95) and ingroup norms additionally emerged as a mediator of the positive effects of extended contact on young people's attitudes towards older adults. Discussion focuses on the implications for strategies aimed at tackling ageism. ©2016 The Authors. British Journal of Social Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.

Learning to Rapidly Re-Contact the Lost Plume in Chemical Plume Tracing

PubMed Central

Cao, Meng-Li; Meng, Qing-Hao; Wang, Jia-Ying; Luo, Bing; Jing, Ya-Qi; Ma, Shu-Gen

2015-01-01

Maintaining contact between the robot and plume is significant in chemical plume tracing (CPT). In the time immediately following the loss of chemical detection during the process of CPT, Track-Out activities bias the robot heading relative to the upwind direction, expecting to rapidly re-contact the plume. To determine the bias angle used in the Track-Out activity, we propose an online instance-based reinforcement learning method, namely virtual trail following (VTF). In VTF, action-value is generalized from recently stored instances of successful Track-Out activities. We also propose a collaborative VTF (cVTF) method, in which multiple robots store their own instances, and learn from the stored instances, in the same database. The proposed VTF and cVTF methods are compared with biased upwind surge (BUS) method, in which all Track-Out activities utilize an offline optimized universal bias angle, in an indoor environment with three different airflow fields. With respect to our experimental conditions, VTF and cVTF show stronger adaptability to different airflow environments than BUS, and furthermore, cVTF yields higher success rates and time-efficiencies than VTF. PMID:25825974

Quantifying cadherin mechanotransduction machinery assembly/disassembly dynamics using fluorescence covariance analysis.

PubMed

Vedula, Pavan; Cruz, Lissette A; Gutierrez, Natasha; Davis, Justin; Ayee, Brian; Abramczyk, Rachel; Rodriguez, Alexis J

2016-06-30

Quantifying multi-molecular complex assembly in specific cytoplasmic compartments is crucial to understand how cells use assembly/disassembly of these complexes to control function. Currently, biophysical methods like Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy provide quantitative measurements of direct protein-protein interactions, while traditional biochemical approaches such as sub-cellular fractionation and immunoprecipitation remain the main approaches used to study multi-protein complex assembly/disassembly dynamics. In this article, we validate and quantify multi-protein adherens junction complex assembly in situ using light microscopy and Fluorescence Covariance Analysis. Utilizing specific fluorescently-labeled protein pairs, we quantified various stages of adherens junction complex assembly, the multiprotein complex regulating epithelial tissue structure and function following de novo cell-cell contact. We demonstrate: minimal cadherin-catenin complex assembly in the perinuclear cytoplasm and subsequent localization to the cell-cell contact zone, assembly of adherens junction complexes, acto-myosin tension-mediated anchoring, and adherens junction maturation following de novo cell-cell contact. Finally applying Fluorescence Covariance Analysis in live cells expressing fluorescently tagged adherens junction complex proteins, we also quantified adherens junction complex assembly dynamics during epithelial monolayer formation.

Determination of oral mucosal Poisson's ratio and coefficient of friction from in-vivo contact pressure measurements.

PubMed

Chen, Junning; Suenaga, Hanako; Hogg, Michael; Li, Wei; Swain, Michael; Li, Qing

2016-01-01

Despite their considerable importance to biomechanics, there are no existing methods available to directly measure apparent Poisson's ratio and friction coefficient of oral mucosa. This study aimed to develop an inverse procedure to determine these two biomechanical parameters by utilizing in vivo experiment of contact pressure between partial denture and beneath mucosa through nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis and surrogate response surface (RS) modelling technique. First, the in vivo denture-mucosa contact pressure was measured by a tactile electronic sensing sheet. Second, a 3D FE model was constructed based on the patient CT images. Third, a range of apparent Poisson's ratios and the coefficients of friction from literature was considered as the design variables in a series of FE runs for constructing a RS surrogate model. Finally, the discrepancy between computed in silico and measured in vivo results was minimized to identify the best matching Poisson's ratio and coefficient of friction. The established non-invasive methodology was demonstrated effective to identify such biomechanical parameters of oral mucosa and can be potentially used for determining the biomaterial properties of other soft biological tissues.

37 CFR 10.33 - Direct contact with prospective clients.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE REPRESENTATION OF OTHERS BEFORE THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Patent and Trademark Office Code of Professional Responsibility § 10.33 Direct contact with prospective... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Direct contact with...

Informing Disease Models with Temporal and Spatial Contact Structure among GPS-Collared Individuals in Wild Populations

PubMed Central

Williams, David M.; Dechen Quinn, Amy C.; Porter, William F.

2014-01-01

Contacts between hosts are essential for transmission of many infectious agents. Understanding how contacts, and thus transmission rates, occur in space and time is critical to effectively responding to disease outbreaks in free-ranging animal populations. Contacts between animals in the wild are often difficult to observe or measure directly. Instead, one must infer contacts from metrics such as proximity in space and time. Our objective was to examine how contacts between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) vary in space and among seasons. We used GPS movement data from 71 deer in central New York State to quantify potential direct contacts between deer and indirect overlap in space use across time and space. Daily probabilities of direct contact decreased from winter (0.05–0.14), to low levels post-parturition through summer (0.00–0.02), and increased during the rut to winter levels. The cumulative distribution for the spatial structure of direct and indirect contact probabilities around a hypothetical point of occurrence increased rapidly with distance for deer pairs separated by 1,000 m – 7,000 m. Ninety-five percent of the probabilities of direct contact occurred among deer pairs within 8,500 m of one another, and 99% within 10,900 m. Probabilities of indirect contact accumulated across greater spatial extents: 95% at 11,900 m and 99% at 49,000 m. Contacts were spatially consistent across seasons, indicating that although contact rates differ seasonally, they occur proportionally across similar landscape extents. Distributions of contact probabilities across space can inform management decisions for assessing risk and allocating resources in response. PMID:24409293

Construction of a wireless communication contact closure system for liquid chromatography with multiple parallel mass spectrometers and other detectors

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A contact closure system has been constructed and implemented that utilizes two contact closure sender boards that communicate wirelessly to four contact closure receiver boards to distribute start signals from two or three liquid chromatographs to fourteen instruments, pumps, detectors, or other co...

Characterization of damage modes in dental ceramic bilayer structures.

PubMed

Deng, Yan; Lawn, Brian R; Lloyd, Isabel K

2002-01-01

Results of contact tests using spherical indenters on flat ceramic coating layers bonded to compliant substrates are reported for selected dental ceramics. Critical loads to produce various damage modes, cone cracking, and quasiplasticity at the top surfaces and radial cracking at the lower (inner) surfaces are measured as a function of ceramic-layer thickness. It is proposed that these damage modes, especially radial cracking, are directly relevant to the failure of all-ceramic dental crowns. The critical load data are analyzed with the use of explicit fracture-mechanics relations, expressible in terms of routinely measurable material parameters (elastic modulus, strength, toughness, hardness) and essential geometrical variables (layer thickness, contact radius). The utility of such analyses in the design of ceramic/substrate bilayer systems for optimal resistance to lifetime-threatening damage is discussed. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 63: 137--145, 2002; DOI 10.1002/jbm.10091

Nanotextured Shrink Wrap Superhydrophobic Surfaces by Argon Plasma Etching

PubMed Central

Nokes, Jolie M.; Sharma, Himanshu; Tu, Roger; Kim, Monica Y.; Chu, Michael; Siddiqui, Ali; Khine, Michelle

2016-01-01

We present a rapid, simple, and scalable approach to achieve superhydrophobic (SH) substrates directly in commodity shrink wrap film utilizing Argon (Ar) plasma. Ar plasma treatment creates a stiff skin layer on the surface of the shrink film. When the film shrinks, the mismatch in stiffness between the stiff skin layer and bulk shrink film causes the formation of multiscale hierarchical wrinkles with nano-textured features. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the presence of these biomimetic structures. Contact angle (CA) and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) measurements, respectively, defined as values greater than 150° and less than 10°, verified the SH nature of the substrates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability to reliably pattern hydrophilic regions onto the SH substrates, allowing precise capture and detection of proteins in urine. Finally, we achieved self-driven microfluidics via patterning contrasting superhydrophilic microchannels on the SH Ar substrates to induce flow for biosensing. PMID:28773318

Nanotextured Shrink Wrap Superhydrophobic Surfaces by Argon Plasma Etching.

PubMed

Nokes, Jolie M; Sharma, Himanshu; Tu, Roger; Kim, Monica Y; Chu, Michael; Siddiqui, Ali; Khine, Michelle

2016-03-14

We present a rapid, simple, and scalable approach to achieve superhydrophobic (SH) substrates directly in commodity shrink wrap film utilizing Argon (Ar) plasma. Ar plasma treatment creates a stiff skin layer on the surface of the shrink film. When the film shrinks, the mismatch in stiffness between the stiff skin layer and bulk shrink film causes the formation of multiscale hierarchical wrinkles with nano-textured features. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the presence of these biomimetic structures. Contact angle (CA) and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) measurements, respectively, defined as values greater than 150° and less than 10°, verified the SH nature of the substrates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability to reliably pattern hydrophilic regions onto the SH substrates, allowing precise capture and detection of proteins in urine. Finally, we achieved self-driven microfluidics via patterning contrasting superhydrophilic microchannels on the SH Ar substrates to induce flow for biosensing.

Thin film photovoltaic cell

DOEpatents

Meakin, John D.; Bragagnolo, Julio

1982-01-01

A thin film photovoltaic cell having a transparent electrical contact and an opaque electrical contact with a pair of semiconductors therebetween includes utilizing one of the electrical contacts as a substrate and wherein the inner surface thereof is modified by microroughening while being macro-planar.

Large-scale structure prediction by improved contact predictions and model quality assessment.

PubMed

Michel, Mirco; Menéndez Hurtado, David; Uziela, Karolis; Elofsson, Arne

2017-07-15

Accurate contact predictions can be used for predicting the structure of proteins. Until recently these methods were limited to very big protein families, decreasing their utility. However, recent progress by combining direct coupling analysis with machine learning methods has made it possible to predict accurate contact maps for smaller families. To what extent these predictions can be used to produce accurate models of the families is not known. We present the PconsFold2 pipeline that uses contact predictions from PconsC3, the CONFOLD folding algorithm and model quality estimations to predict the structure of a protein. We show that the model quality estimation significantly increases the number of models that reliably can be identified. Finally, we apply PconsFold2 to 6379 Pfam families of unknown structure and find that PconsFold2 can, with an estimated 90% specificity, predict the structure of up to 558 Pfam families of unknown structure. Out of these, 415 have not been reported before. Datasets as well as models of all the 558 Pfam families are available at http://c3.pcons.net/ . All programs used here are freely available. arne@bioinfo.se. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Comparison of self-reported and observed water contact in an S. mansoni endemic village in Brazil.

PubMed

Friedman, J F; Kurtis, J D; McGarvey, S T; Fraga, A L; Silveira, A; Pizziolo, V; Gazzinelli, G; LoVerde, P; Corrêa-Oliveira, R

2001-03-30

Estimates of exposure are critical for immuno-epidemiologic and intervention studies in human schistosomiasis. Direct observation of human water contact patterns is both costly and time consuming. To address these issues, we determined whether individuals residing in a Schistosoma mansoni endemic village in Brazil could accurately self-report their water contact patterns. We compared the results of a water contact questionnaire to the present gold standard, direct observation of water contact in 86 volunteers, aged 8--29. We administered a survey to estimate volunteers' frequency and type of water contact and directly measured each volunteers' water contact patterns during 5 weeks of detailed water contact observations. We found a poor correlation between self reported frequency of contact and directly observed exposure (rho=0.119, P=NS). The questionnaire data was supplemented by information about average body surface area of exposure and duration of contact for specific activities derived from observations of this cohort. This 'supplemented questionnaire' data was significantly correlated with their exposure index (rho=0.227, P=0.05). It provides a starting point from which questionnaires may develop to provide a more cost-effective and less labor intensive method of assessing water contact exposure at the level of the individual.

Identification of residue pairing in interacting β-strands from a predicted residue contact map.

PubMed

Mao, Wenzhi; Wang, Tong; Zhang, Wenxuan; Gong, Haipeng

2018-04-19

Despite the rapid progress of protein residue contact prediction, predicted residue contact maps frequently contain many errors. However, information of residue pairing in β strands could be extracted from a noisy contact map, due to the presence of characteristic contact patterns in β-β interactions. This information may benefit the tertiary structure prediction of mainly β proteins. In this work, we propose a novel ridge-detection-based β-β contact predictor to identify residue pairing in β strands from any predicted residue contact map. Our algorithm RDb 2 C adopts ridge detection, a well-developed technique in computer image processing, to capture consecutive residue contacts, and then utilizes a novel multi-stage random forest framework to integrate the ridge information and additional features for prediction. Starting from the predicted contact map of CCMpred, RDb 2 C remarkably outperforms all state-of-the-art methods on two conventional test sets of β proteins (BetaSheet916 and BetaSheet1452), and achieves F1-scores of ~ 62% and ~ 76% at the residue level and strand level, respectively. Taking the prediction of the more advanced RaptorX-Contact as input, RDb 2 C achieves impressively higher performance, with F1-scores reaching ~ 76% and ~ 86% at the residue level and strand level, respectively. In a test of structural modeling using the top 1 L predicted contacts as constraints, for 61 mainly β proteins, the average TM-score achieves 0.442 when using the raw RaptorX-Contact prediction, but increases to 0.506 when using the improved prediction by RDb 2 C. Our method can significantly improve the prediction of β-β contacts from any predicted residue contact maps. Prediction results of our algorithm could be directly applied to effectively facilitate the practical structure prediction of mainly β proteins. All source data and codes are available at http://166.111.152.91/Downloads.html or the GitHub address of https://github.com/wzmao/RDb2C .

Integrated CO2 capture-fixation chemistry via interfacial ionic liquid catalyst in laminar gas/liquid flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vishwakarma, Niraj K.; Singh, Ajay K.; Hwang, Yoon-Ho; Ko, Dong-Hyeon; Kim, Jin-Oh; Babu, A. Giridhar; Kim, Dong-Pyo

2017-03-01

Simultaneous capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and its utilization with subsequent work-up would significantly enhance the competitiveness of CO2-based sustainable chemistry over petroleum-based chemistry. Here we report an interfacial catalytic reaction platform for an integrated autonomous process of simultaneously capturing/fixing CO2 in gas-liquid laminar flow with subsequently providing a work-up step. The continuous-flow microreactor has built-in silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with immobilized ionic liquid catalysts on tips of cone-shaped nanowire bundles. Because of the superamphiphobic SiNWs, a stable gas-liquid interface maintains between liquid flow of organoamines in upper part and gas flow of CO2 in bottom part of channel. The intimate and direct contact of the binary reagents leads to enhanced mass transfer and facilitating reactions. The autonomous integrated platform produces and isolates 2-oxazolidinones and quinazolines-2,4(1H,3H)-diones with 81-97% yields under mild conditions. The platform would enable direct CO2 utilization to produce high-valued specialty chemicals from flue gases without pre-separation and work-up steps.

Integrated CO2 capture-fixation chemistry via interfacial ionic liquid catalyst in laminar gas/liquid flow.

PubMed

Vishwakarma, Niraj K; Singh, Ajay K; Hwang, Yoon-Ho; Ko, Dong-Hyeon; Kim, Jin-Oh; Babu, A Giridhar; Kim, Dong-Pyo

2017-03-06

Simultaneous capture of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and its utilization with subsequent work-up would significantly enhance the competitiveness of CO 2 -based sustainable chemistry over petroleum-based chemistry. Here we report an interfacial catalytic reaction platform for an integrated autonomous process of simultaneously capturing/fixing CO 2 in gas-liquid laminar flow with subsequently providing a work-up step. The continuous-flow microreactor has built-in silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with immobilized ionic liquid catalysts on tips of cone-shaped nanowire bundles. Because of the superamphiphobic SiNWs, a stable gas-liquid interface maintains between liquid flow of organoamines in upper part and gas flow of CO 2 in bottom part of channel. The intimate and direct contact of the binary reagents leads to enhanced mass transfer and facilitating reactions. The autonomous integrated platform produces and isolates 2-oxazolidinones and quinazolines-2,4(1H,3H)-diones with 81-97% yields under mild conditions. The platform would enable direct CO 2 utilization to produce high-valued specialty chemicals from flue gases without pre-separation and work-up steps.

Integrated CO2 capture-fixation chemistry via interfacial ionic liquid catalyst in laminar gas/liquid flow

PubMed Central

Vishwakarma, Niraj K.; Singh, Ajay K.; Hwang, Yoon-Ho; Ko, Dong-Hyeon; Kim, Jin-Oh; Babu, A. Giridhar; Kim, Dong-Pyo

2017-01-01

Simultaneous capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and its utilization with subsequent work-up would significantly enhance the competitiveness of CO2-based sustainable chemistry over petroleum-based chemistry. Here we report an interfacial catalytic reaction platform for an integrated autonomous process of simultaneously capturing/fixing CO2 in gas–liquid laminar flow with subsequently providing a work-up step. The continuous-flow microreactor has built-in silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with immobilized ionic liquid catalysts on tips of cone-shaped nanowire bundles. Because of the superamphiphobic SiNWs, a stable gas–liquid interface maintains between liquid flow of organoamines in upper part and gas flow of CO2 in bottom part of channel. The intimate and direct contact of the binary reagents leads to enhanced mass transfer and facilitating reactions. The autonomous integrated platform produces and isolates 2-oxazolidinones and quinazolines-2,4(1H,3H)-diones with 81–97% yields under mild conditions. The platform would enable direct CO2 utilization to produce high-valued specialty chemicals from flue gases without pre-separation and work-up steps. PMID:28262667

Determination of diffusion and partition coefficients of model migrants by direct contact and vapour phase transfer from low-density polyethylene films into cake.

PubMed

Paseiro-Cerrato, Rafael; Rodríguez-Bernaldo de Quirós, Ana; Otero-Pazos, Pablo; Sendón, Raquel; Paseiro-Losada, Perfecto

2018-03-01

The aim of the present study was to determine the migration kinetics of one photoinitiator, benzophenone, and two optical brighteners, Uvitex OB and 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene (DPBD), from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films into cake. Transfer was assessed by both direct contact and also the vapour phase. To perform the migration tests by direct contact, plastic films enriched with the additives were placed between two cake slices. To evaluate the migration through the gas phase, cake and the fortified LDPE film were placed with no direct contact in a glass container that was hermetically closed. Samples were stored at different time-temperature conditions. Target compounds were extracted from the films with ethanol (70°C, 24 h) and analysed by HPLC-DAD. Relevant parameters such as partition and diffusion coefficients between food and plastic film were calculated. The Arrhenius equation was applied to estimate the diffusion coefficient at any temperature. The data indicate that migration of benzophenone occurs in a significant extent into cake by both direct contact and through the gas phase (no direct contact). Conversely, very little migration occurred for Uvitex OB by direct contact and none through the gas phase. Results for benzophenone suggest that migration through the gas phase should be considered when evaluating migration from food packaging materials into food.

Healthcare Industry Injuries by Patient Contact Status in Kentucky, 2012-2014.

PubMed

Ranzenberger, Kristen; Bunn, Terry L; Slavova, Svetla

2016-10-01

The healthcare industry continues to have a high number of reported injuries. The purpose of this study was to characterize healthcare industry injuries by patient contact status, identify the occupations associated with healthcare injuries by patient contact status, and determine healthcare injury rates by occupation to gain a better understanding of healthcare industry-compensated injuries and better target safety practices and programs in the healthcare industry. Kentucky healthcare industry workers' compensation first reports of injuries from calendar years 2012-2014 were categorized into injuries involved in direct patient contact versus injuries without direct patient contact using narrative text analysis. Injury numbers and rates were calculated for a number of data variables. Healthcare injuries without direct patient contact (55% of all first reports of injuries) occurred more frequently among older workers (45 years old and older [51%]), in "other" occupations such as housekeeping and maintenance (28%), and as a result of falls/slips/trips (39%) and sprains/tears (38%). In contrast, a higher percentage of healthcare injuries involving direct patient contact occurred among workers younger than 35 years (48%), in healthcare support occupations (50%), and resulting from sprains/tears (66%) and lifting/handling (52%), compared with those without direct patient contact. Findings from this study can better target the need for new and/or additional specific workplace safety training, especially in the healthcare support and nursing occupations with and without patient contact.

Quiescent Fibroblasts Exhibit High Metabolic Activity

PubMed Central

Lemons, Johanna M. S.; Feng, Xiao-Jiang; Bennett, Bryson D.; Legesse-Miller, Aster; Johnson, Elizabeth L.; Raitman, Irene; Pollina, Elizabeth A.; Rabitz, Herschel A.; Rabinowitz, Joshua D.; Coller, Hilary A.

2010-01-01

Many cells in mammals exist in the state of quiescence, which is characterized by reversible exit from the cell cycle. Quiescent cells are widely reported to exhibit reduced size, nucleotide synthesis, and metabolic activity. Much lower glycolytic rates have been reported in quiescent compared with proliferating lymphocytes. In contrast, we show here that primary human fibroblasts continue to exhibit high metabolic rates when induced into quiescence via contact inhibition. By monitoring isotope labeling through metabolic pathways and quantitatively identifying fluxes from the data, we show that contact-inhibited fibroblasts utilize glucose in all branches of central carbon metabolism at rates similar to those of proliferating cells, with greater overflow flux from the pentose phosphate pathway back to glycolysis. Inhibition of the pentose phosphate pathway resulted in apoptosis preferentially in quiescent fibroblasts. By feeding the cells labeled glutamine, we also detected a “backwards” flux in the tricarboxylic acid cycle from α-ketoglutarate to citrate that was enhanced in contact-inhibited fibroblasts; this flux likely contributes to shuttling of NADPH from the mitochondrion to cytosol for redox defense or fatty acid synthesis. The high metabolic activity of the fibroblasts was directed in part toward breakdown and resynthesis of protein and lipid, and in part toward excretion of extracellular matrix proteins. Thus, reduced metabolic activity is not a hallmark of the quiescent state. Quiescent fibroblasts, relieved of the biosynthetic requirements associated with generating progeny, direct their metabolic activity to preservation of self integrity and alternative functions beneficial to the organism as a whole. PMID:21049082

Patterns of direct and indirect contact between cattle and badgers naturally infected with tuberculosis.

PubMed

Drewe, J A; O'Connor, H M; Weber, N; McDonald, R A; Delahay, R J

2013-07-01

Tuberculosis (TB) due to infection with Mycobacterium bovis is transmitted between cattle and badgers (Meles meles) in the UK and Ireland but it is unclear where or when transmission occurs. We investigated direct and indirect interactions between badgers and cattle using automated proximity loggers on animals and at badger latrines located on pasture, in an area of south-west England with a high-density badger population. Direct contacts (interactions within 1.4 m) between badgers and cattle at pasture were very rare (four out of >500000 recorded animal-to-animal contacts) despite ample opportunity for interactions to occur. Indirect interactions (visits to badger latrines by badgers and cattle) were two orders of magnitude more frequent than direct contacts: 400 visits by badgers and 1700 visits by cattle were recorded. This suggests that indirect contacts might be more important than direct contacts in terms of disease transmission at pasture. The TB infection status of individual badgers (ascribed with 93% accuracy using three diagnostic tests) did not affect the frequency or duration of their visits to latrines located on pasture grazed by cattle. Nevertheless, there was wide variation in contact behaviour between individuals, which highlights the importance of understanding heterogeneity in contact patterns when developing strategies to control disease spread in wildlife and livestock.

Selective vs. nonselective media and direct plating vs. enrichment technique in isolation of Vibrio cholerae: recommendations for clinical laboratories.

PubMed

Rennels, M B; Levine, M M; Daya, V; Angle, P; Young, C

1980-09-01

The occurrence of human cholera along the Gulf of Mexico and the isolation of Vibrio cholerae O1 from the Gulf and Chesapeake Bay make it imperative that microbiology laboratories along estuaries develop the capabilities to culture for these pathogens. In attempts to devise a simplified but efficient culture procedure, a selective medium, thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar, was compared with a nonselective medium, gelatin agar (GA), and the utility of enrichment was examined. TCBS agar detected 99% of the stools found to be positive by all techniques combined, whereas GA identified only 80%. Of acute diarrheal stools, 96% were positive on direct plating, whereas only 66% of formed stools containing V. cholerae were detected by direct plating. Stools from patients with acute diarrhea can be plated directly into TCBS agar alone; stools from persons shedding low numbers of organisms (such as contacts, carriers, or patients receiving antibiotics) should be incubated first in an enrichment broth and then on TCBS agar.

Web-conference supervision for advanced psychotherapy training: a practical guide.

PubMed

Abbass, Allan; Arthey, Stephen; Elliott, Jason; Fedak, Tim; Nowoweiski, Dion; Markovski, Jasmina; Nowoweiski, Sarah

2011-06-01

The advent of readily accessible, inexpensive Web-conferencing applications has opened the door for distance psychotherapy supervision, using video recordings of treated clients. Although relatively new, this method of supervision is advantageous given the ease of use and low cost of various Internet applications. This method allows periodic supervision from point to point around the world, with no travel costs and no long gaps between direct training contacts. Web-conferencing permits face-to-face training so that the learner and supervisor can read each other's emotional responses while reviewing case material. It allows group learning from direct supervision to complement local peer-to-peer learning methods. In this article, we describe the relevant literature on this type of learning method, the practical points in its utilization, its limitations, and its benefits.

Air/molten salt direct-contact heat-transfer experiment and economic analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bohn, M. S.

1983-11-01

Direct-contact heat-transfer coefficients have been measured in a pilot-scale packed column heat exchanger for molten salt/air duty. Two types of commercial tower packings were tested: metal Raschig rings and initial Pall rings. Volumetric heat-transfer coefficients were measured and appeared to depend upon air flow but not on salt flow rate. An economic analysis was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of direct-contact heat exchange with finned-tube heat exchanger in this application. Incorporating the measured volumetric heat-transfer coefficients, a direct-contact system appeared to be from two to five times as cost-effective as a finned-tube heat exchanger, depending upon operating temperature. The large cost advantage occurs for higher operating temperatures (2700(0)C), where high rates of heat transfer and flexibility in materials choice give the cost advantage to the direct-contact heat exchanger.

In the eye of the beholder: eye contact increases resistance to persuasion.

PubMed

Chen, Frances S; Minson, Julia A; Schöne, Maren; Heinrichs, Markus

2013-11-01

Popular belief holds that eye contact increases the success of persuasive communication, and prior research suggests that speakers who direct their gaze more toward their listeners are perceived as more persuasive. In contrast, we demonstrate that more eye contact between the listener and speaker during persuasive communication predicts less attitude change in the direction advocated. In Study 1, participants freely watched videos of speakers expressing various views on controversial sociopolitical issues. Greater direct gaze at the speaker's eyes was associated with less attitude change in the direction advocated by the speaker. In Study 2, we instructed participants to look at either the eyes or the mouths of speakers presenting arguments counter to participants' own attitudes. Intentionally maintaining direct eye contact led to less persuasion than did gazing at the mouth. These findings suggest that efforts at increasing eye contact may be counterproductive across a variety of persuasion contexts.

Using Contact Theory to Assess Staff Perspectives on Training Initiatives of an Intergenerational Programming Intervention.

PubMed

Weaver, Raven H; Naar, Jill J; Jarrott, Shannon E

2017-12-25

Project TRIP (Transforming Relationships through Intergenerational Programs) was developed as a sustainable intergenerational community project involving child care participants and elders attending an elder care program or volunteering at the children's program. The project focused on staff development of evidence-based intergenerational practices. To enhance available intervention research, contact theory provided a theoretical framework to explore how staff members' and administrators' perceptions of the intervention influenced their ability to implement programming in social care settings. We used a directed content analysis approach to analyze small group and individual interviews with 32 participants from 6 program sites over 5 years. Participants highlighted inherent challenges and subsequent benefits of academic-community partnerships. Greater on-site presence, open communication, and relationship-building proved critical to improve community partnerships, project fidelity, and program sustainability. When interactions reflected contact theory tenets, collaborators reported positive attitudes toward and interactions with research partners. Contact theory provided a useful framework to understand the researcher-practitioner partnership. Researchers should plan for partnerships that: (a) are supported by authority figures, including staff and participants, (b) utilize a shared expertise approach where partners have equal group status, (c) involve close cooperation; (d) align research and program goals, and (e) foster positive communication through frequent contact using practitioners' preferred methods and including in-person contact. We recommend future intergenerational programming interventions build on a foundation of both theory and practice. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Pathogen transfer through environment-host contact: an agent-based queueing theoretic framework.

PubMed

Chen, Shi; Lenhart, Suzanne; Day, Judy D; Lee, Chihoon; Dulin, Michael; Lanzas, Cristina

2017-11-02

Queueing theory studies the properties of waiting queues and has been applied to investigate direct host-to-host transmitted disease dynamics, but its potential in modelling environmentally transmitted pathogens has not been fully explored. In this study, we provide a flexible and customizable queueing theory modelling framework with three major subroutines to study the in-hospital contact processes between environments and hosts and potential nosocomial pathogen transfer, where environments are servers and hosts are customers. Two types of servers with different parameters but the same utilization are investigated. We consider various forms of transfer functions that map contact duration to the amount of pathogen transfer based on existing literature. We propose a case study of simulated in-hospital contact processes and apply stochastic queues to analyse the amount of pathogen transfer under different transfer functions, and assume that pathogen amount decreases during the inter-arrival time. Different host behaviour (feedback and non-feedback) as well as initial pathogen distribution (whether in environment and/or in hosts) are also considered and simulated. We assess pathogen transfer and circulation under these various conditions and highlight the importance of the nonlinear interactions among contact processes, transfer functions and pathogen demography during the contact process. Our modelling framework can be readily extended to more complicated queueing networks to simulate more realistic situations by adjusting parameters such as the number and type of servers and customers, and adding extra subroutines. © The authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. All rights reserved.

Removal of Direct N Blue-106 from artificial textile dye effluent using activated carbon from orange peel: adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies.

PubMed

Khaled, Azza; El Nemr, Ahmed; El-Sikaily, Amany; Abdelwahab, Ola

2009-06-15

The purpose of this study is to suggest an efficient process, which does not require a huge investment for the removal of direct dye from wastewater. Activated carbon developed from agricultural waste material was characterized and utilized for the removal of Direct Navy Blue 106 (DNB-106) from wastewater. Systematic studies on DNB-106 adsorption equilibrium and kinetics by low-cost activated carbons were carried out. Adsorption studies were carried out at different initial concentrations of DNB-106 (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg l(-1)), contact time (5-180 min), pH (2.0, 3.0, 4.7, 6.3, 7.2, 8.0, 10.3 and 12.7) and sorbent doses (2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 g l(-1)). Both Langmuir and Freundlich models fitted the adsorption data quite reasonably (R(2)>97). The maximum adsorption capacity was 107.53 mg g(-1) for 150 mg l(-1) of DNB-106 concentration and 2 g l(-1) carbon concentration. Various mechanisms were established for DNB-106 adsorption on developed adsorbents. The kinetic studies were conducted to delineate the effect of initial dye concentration, contact time and solid to liquid concentration. The developed carbon might be successfully used for the removal of DNB-106 from liquid industrial wastes.

Familiarity breeds contempt: combining proximity loggers and GPS reveals female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) avoiding close contact with neighbors.

PubMed

Tosa, Marie I; Schauber, Eric M; Nielsen, Clayton K

2015-01-01

Social interactions can influence infectious disease dynamics, particularly for directly transmitted pathogens. Therefore, reliable information on contact frequency within and among groups can better inform disease modeling and management. We compared three methods of assessing contact patterns: (1) space-use overlap (volume of interaction [VI]), (2) direct contact rates measured by simultaneous global positioning system (GPS) locations (<10 m apart), and (3) direct contact rates measured by proximity loggers (PLs; 1-m detection) among female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We calculated the PL∶GPS contact ratios to see whether both devices reveal similar contact patterns and thus predict similar pathogen transmission patterns. Contact rates measured by GPS and PLs were similarly high for two within-group dyads (pairs of deer in the same social groups). Dyads representing separate but neighboring groups (high VI) had PL∶GPS contact ratios near zero, whereas dyads further apart (intermediate VI) had higher PL∶GPS contact ratios. Social networks based on PL contacts showed the fewest connected individuals and lowest mean centrality measures; network metrics were intermediate when based on GPS contacts and greatest when based on VI. Thus, the VI network portrayed animals to be more uniformly and strongly connected than did the PL network. We conclude that simultaneous GPS locations, compared with PLs, substantially underestimate the impact of group membership on direct contact rates of female deer and make networks appear more connected. We also present evidence that deer coming within the general vicinity of each other are less likely to come in close contact if they are in neighboring social groups than deer whose home ranges overlap little if at all. Combined, these results provide evidence that direct transmission of disease agents among female and juvenile white-tailed deer is likely to be constrained both spatially and by social structure, more so than GPS data alone would suggest.

Personality factors and depression as predictors of hospital-based health care utilization following acute myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Schlyter, Mona; Östman, Margareta; Engström, Gunnar; André-Petersson, Lena; Tydén, Patrik; Leosdottir, Margrét

2017-04-01

Whether personality factors and depressive traits affect patients' utilization of health care following an acute myocardial infarction is relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to examine whether hospital-based health care utilization after a myocardial infarction was correlated with patients' personality factors and depressive symptoms. We studied 366 myocardial infarction patients admitted to Malmö University Hospital between 2002 and 2005 who subsequently participated in a cardiac rehabilitation programme. The patients were followed for two years after their index event. We investigated whether personality factors and depressive traits were correlated with the participants' health care utilization, defined as a) out-patient Cardiology visits and phone calls to a physician, nurse or a social worker, and b) acute visits or admissions to the Emergency or Cardiology Departments, using negative binominal regression analysis. In unadjusted comparisons neuroticism predicted more out-patient contacts. This significance remained after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption and size of the myocardial infarction (measured as max level on troponin-I and left ventricular ejection fraction). There were no significant correlations between other personality factors or depression and out-patient contacts. None of the personality factors or depression predicted acute admissions. Apart from neuroticism, personality factors did not explain utilization of health care in terms of Cardiology out-patient contacts or acute admissions in myocardial infarction patients participating in a cardiac rehabilitation programme. Neither did depressive symptoms predict more health care utilization. This might indicate a robust cardiac rehabilitation programme offered to the study subjects, minimizing the need for additional health care contacts.

Disaster and subsequent healthcare utilization: a longitudinal study among victims, their family members, and control subjects.

PubMed

Dorn, Tina; Yzermans, C Joris; Kerssens, Jan J; Spreeuwenberg, Peter M M; van der Zee, Jouke

2006-06-01

The impact of disasters on primary healthcare utilization is largely unknown. Moreover, it is often overlooked how disaster affects those closest to the primary victims, their family members. The objective of this study was to examine the long-term effects of a catastrophic fire on primary healthcare utilization. We conducted a prospective, population-based cohort study covering 1 year pre- and 3 years postfire. Utilization data were extracted from primary care records. Subjects consisted of 286 disaster victims, 802 family members of disaster victims, 3722 community control subjects, and 10,230 patients from a national reference population. As outcome measures, we studied 1) the annual number of contacts in primary care and 2) the annual number of contacts for problems related to mental health. Determinants are injury characteristics of victims and bereavement. All analyses control for age, gender, and insurance status. Being an uninjured victim who witnessed the disaster increases the number of contacts by a factor of 1.55 during the first year postfire (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-1.78). Uninjured victims contact the family practitioner more often for mental health-related problems than adolescent community control subjects (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 4.54; 95% CI, 1.69-12.20). In adult family members, the loss of a child predicts overall utilization (IRR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.35-2.63) and utilization for mental health (IRR, 8.69; 95% CI, 2.10-35.92) during the first year postfire. Attention should be paid to the primary care needs of bereaved individuals and those who have witnessed the disaster.

Superhydrophobic, carbon-infiltrated carbon nanotubes on Si and 316L stainless steel with tunable geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, Kimberly A.; Esplin, Christian D.; Davis, Taylor M.; Butterfield, D. Jacob; Ng, Philip S.; Bowden, Anton E.; Jensen, Brian D.; Iverson, Brian D.

2018-05-01

The use of carbon nanotubes to create superhydrophobic coatings has been considered due to their ability to offer a relatively uniform nanostructure. However, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may be considered delicate with a typical diameter of tens of nanometers for a multi-walled CNT; as-grown carbon nanotubes often require the addition of a thin-film hydrophobic coating to render them superhydrophobic. Furthermore, fine control over the diameter of the as-grown CNTs or the overall nanostructure is difficult. This work demonstrates the utility of using carbon infiltration to layer amorphous carbon on multi-walled nanotubes to improve structural integrity and achieve superhydrophobic behavior with tunable geometry. These carbon-infiltrated carbon nanotube (CICNT) surfaces exhibit an increased number of contact points between neighboring tubes, resulting in a composite structure with improved mechanical stability. Additionally, the native surface can be rendered superhydrophobic with a vacuum pyrolysis treatment, with contact angles as high as 160° and contact angle hysteresis on the order of 1°. The CICNT diameter, static contact angle, sliding angle, and contact angle hysteresis were examined for varying levels of carbon-infiltration to determine the effect of infiltration on superhydrophobicity. The same superhydrophobic behavior and tunable geometry were also observed with CICNTs grown directly on stainless steel without an additional catalyst layer. The ability to tune the geometry while maintaining superhydrophobic behavior offers significant potential in condensation heat transfer, anti-icing, microfluidics, anti-microbial surfaces, and other bio-applications where control over the nanostructure is beneficial.

A Novel DNA Binding Mechanism for maf Basic Region-Leucine Zipper Factors Inferred from a MafA-DNA Complex Structure and Binding Specificities

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

Lu, Xun; Guanga, Gerald P; Wan, Cheng

2012-11-13

MafA is a proto-oncoprotein and is critical for insulin gene expression in pancreatic β-cells. Maf proteins belong to the AP1 superfamily of basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors. Residues in the basic helix and an ancillary N-terminal domain, the Extended Homology Region (EHR), endow maf proteins with unique DNA binding properties: binding a 13 bp consensus site consisting of a core AP1 site (TGACTCA) flanked by TGC sequences and binding DNA stably as monomers. To further characterize maf DNA binding, we determined the structure of a MafA–DNA complex. MafA forms base-specific hydrogen bonds with the flanking G –5C –4 andmore » central C 0/G 0 bases, but not with the core-TGA bases. However, in vitro binding studies utilizing a pulse–chase electrophoretic mobility shift assay protocol revealed that mutating either the core-TGA or flanking-TGC bases dramatically increases the binding off rate. Comparing the known maf structures, we propose that DNA binding specificity results from positioning the basic helix through unique phosphate contacts. The EHR does not contact DNA directly but stabilizes DNA binding by contacting the basic helix. Collectively, these results suggest a novel multistep DNA binding process involving a conformational change from contacting the core-TGA to contacting the flanking-TGC bases.« less

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Method and apparatus for high-efficiency direct contact condensation

DOEpatents

Bharathan, D.; Parent, Y.; Hassani, A.V.

1999-07-20

A direct contact condenser having a downward vapor flow chamber and an upward vapor flow chamber, wherein each of the vapor flow chambers includes a plurality of cooling liquid supplying pipes and a vapor-liquid contact medium disposed thereunder to facilitate contact and direct heat exchange between the vapor and cooling liquid. The contact medium includes a plurality of sheets arranged to form vertical interleaved channels or passageways for the vapor and cooling liquid streams. The upward vapor flow chamber also includes a second set of cooling liquid supplying pipes disposed beneath the vapor-liquid contact medium which operate intermittently in response to a pressure differential within the upward vapor flow chamber. The condenser further includes separate wells for collecting condensate and cooling liquid from each of the vapor flow chambers. In alternate embodiments, the condenser includes a cross-current flow chamber and an upward flow chamber, a plurality of upward flow chambers, or a single upward flow chamber. The method of use of the direct contact condenser of this invention includes passing a vapor stream sequentially through the downward and upward vapor flow chambers, where the vapor is condensed as a result of heat exchange with the cooling liquid in the contact medium. The concentration of noncondensable gases in the resulting condensate-liquid mixtures can be minimized by controlling the partial pressure of the vapor, which depends in part upon the geometry of the vapor-liquid contact medium. In another aspect of this invention, the physical and chemical performance of a direct contact condenser can be predicted based on the vapor and coolant compositions, the condensation conditions, and the geometric properties of the contact medium. 39 figs.

Method and apparatus for high-efficiency direct contact condensation

DOEpatents

Bharathan, Desikan; Parent, Yves; Hassani, A. Vahab

1999-01-01

A direct contact condenser having a downward vapor flow chamber and an upward vapor flow chamber, wherein each of the vapor flow chambers includes a plurality of cooling liquid supplying pipes and a vapor-liquid contact medium disposed thereunder to facilitate contact and direct heat exchange between the vapor and cooling liquid. The contact medium includes a plurality of sheets arranged to form vertical interleaved channels or passageways for the vapor and cooling liquid streams. The upward vapor flow chamber also includes a second set of cooling liquid supplying pipes disposed beneath the vapor-liquid contact medium which operate intermittently in response to a pressure differential within the upward vapor flow chamber. The condenser further includes separate wells for collecting condensate and cooling liquid from each of the vapor flow chambers. In alternate embodiments, the condenser includes a cross-current flow chamber and an upward flow chamber, a plurality of upward flow chambers, or a single upward flow chamber. The method of use of the direct contact condenser of this invention includes passing a vapor stream sequentially through the downward and upward vapor flow chambers, where the vapor is condensed as a result of heat exchange with the cooling liquid in the contact medium. The concentration of noncondensable gases in the resulting condensate-liquid mixtures can be minimized by controlling the partial pressure of the vapor, which depends in part upon the geometry of the vapor-liquid contact medium. In another aspect of this invention, the physical and chemical performance of a direct contact condenser can be predicted based on the vapor and coolant compositions, the condensation conditions. and the geometric properties of the contact medium.

Contact Languages around the World and Their Levels of Endangerment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Nala H.

2018-01-01

This paper provides an up-to-date report on the vitality or endangerment status of contact languages around the world, including pidgins, creoles, and mixed languages. By utilizing information featured in the "Endangered Languages Project" and the "Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Languages" online portals, 96 contact languages are…

Bradbury Science Museum

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Approaches of health caregivers to young children in a pediatric intensive care unit.

PubMed

Orsuto, J; Corbo, B H

1987-01-01

This study explored the frequency of health caregiver approaches to 12 toddlers and preschool children in a pediatric intensive care unit. Using a time-sampling methodology, 3 hours of observation per child were obtained; half occurred between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. and half were between 7 P.M. and 7 A.M.. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Caregiver approaches involved either direct or indirect contact. Indirect contacts occurred three times more frequently than direct, with registered nurses initiating more contacts than any other caregivers. The greatest number of direct contacts were categorized as intrusive, while the least number were comforting contacts. The findings suggest that nurses are in optimal positions to promote rest and comforting contact for children in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Studies of Surface Charging of Polymers by Indirect Triboelectrification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mantovani, James; Calle, Carlos; Groop, Ellen; Buehler, Martin

2001-03-01

Charge is known to develop on the surface of an insulating polymer by frictional charging through direct physical contact with another material. We will present results of recent triboelectrification studies of polymer surfaces that utilized an indirect method of frictional charging. This method first involves placing a grounded thin metal foil in stationary contact over the polymer surface. The exposed metal foil is then rubbed with the surface of the material that generates the triboelectric charge. Data is presented for five types of polymers: fiberglass/epoxy, polycarbonate (Lexan), polytetraflouroethylene (Teflon), Rulon J, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA, Lucite). The amount of charge that develops on an insulator's surface is measured using the MECA Electrometer, which was developed jointly by NASA Kennedy Space Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to study the electrostatic properties of soil on the surface of Mars. Even though the insulator's surface is electrically shielded from the rubbing material by the grounded metal foil, charge measurements obtained by the MECA Electrometer after the metal foil is separated from the insulator's surface reveal that the insulator's surface does accumulate charge by indirect frictional charging. A possible explanation of the observations will be presented based on a simple contact barrier model.

Harvesting energy from low-frequency excitations through alternate contacts between water and two dielectric materials.

PubMed

Yu, Jian; Ma, Enze; Ma, Tianwei

2017-12-07

Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of water-dielectric interfaces in electrostatic energy harvesting. Most efforts have been focused on extracting the kinetic energy from the motions of water drops on hydrophobic surfaces, and thus, the resulting schemes inherently prefer cases where the water drops move at a high speed, or vibrate at a high frequency. Here we report a method for directly harvesting ambient mechanical energy as electric potential energy through water droplets by making alternate contacts with CYTOP and PTFE thin films. Because CYTOP and PTFE acquire significantly different surface charge densities during contact with water, such a difference can be utilized to effectively generate electricity. We demonstrate this concept using prototype devices fabricated on silicon substrates with a simple procedure. In the experiments conducted, a water drop of 400 μL alone could generate a peak open-circuit voltage of 42 V under a 0.25 Hz vibration. Under a 2.5 Hz vibration, the peak open-circuit voltage reached 115 V under an external bias of 8 V. The demonstrated efficiency is orders of magnitude higher than those of existing devices of similar dimensions.

High-resolution physical and functional mapping of the template adjacent DNA binding site in catalytically active telomerase.

PubMed

Romi, Erez; Baran, Nava; Gantman, Marina; Shmoish, Michael; Min, Bosun; Collins, Kathleen; Manor, Haim

2007-05-22

Telomerase is a cellular reverse transcriptase, which utilizes an integral RNA template to extend single-stranded telomeric DNA. We used site-specific photocrosslinking to map interactions between DNA primers and the catalytic protein subunit (tTERT) of Tetrahymena thermophila telomerase in functional enzyme complexes. Our assays reveal contact of the single-stranded DNA adjacent to the primer-template hybrid and tTERT residue W187 at the periphery of the N-terminal domain. This contact was detected in complexes with three different registers of template in the active site, suggesting that it is maintained throughout synthesis of a complete telomeric repeat. Substitution of nearby residue Q168, but not W187, alters the K(m) for primer elongation, implying that it plays a role in the DNA recognition. These findings are the first to directly demonstrate the physical location of TERT-DNA contacts in catalytically active telomerase and to identify amino acid determinants of DNA binding affinity. Our data also suggest a movement of the TERT active site relative to the template-adjacent single-stranded DNA binding site within a cycle of repeat synthesis.

Auditing the use and assessing the clinical utility of microscopy as a point-of-care test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a Sexual Health clinic.

PubMed

Mensforth, Sarah; Thorley, Nicola; Radcliffe, Keith

2018-02-01

We assessed whether urethral microscopy was performed as per clinic protocol for male clinic attendees reporting contact with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), urethral symptoms or given a diagnosis of epididymo-orchitis (EO) over a 12-month period (9732 patients). Prevalence of gonorrhoea in the contacts, urethral symptoms and EO groups was 50, 12.7 and 1.6%, respectively. Microscopy was performed reliably for contacts (96%), those with discharge/dysuria with evidence of urethritis on examination (98%), but not those with EO (43%). We explored the clinical utility of microscopy as a point-of-care test for identifying urethral GC in each subgroup, using the APTIMA Combo 2 CT/GC nucleic acid amplification test as the comparator (1710 patients). Sensitivity of microscopy for each subgroup was good; there was no statistical difference between subgroup sensitivity using Fisher's exact test. Microscopy is valuable to ensure prompt diagnosis and contact tracing. All GC contacts were treated 'epidemiologically'; however, half of GC contacts did not have GC. Microscopy identified the majority of GC cases, including amongst contacts (71% of heterosexual contacts, 66% of contacts reporting sex with men). We propose that epidemiological treatment for GC contacts should be reconsidered on the grounds of antibiotic stewardship, favouring use of microscopy to guide treatment decisions.

From biofuels to predicting the flu

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Climate change and the Arctic

Science.gov Websites

Search Site submit About | Contacts | Directions Los Alamos National LaboratoryBradbury Science Museum Your Window into Los Alamos National Laboratory Bradbury Science Museum Menu About Contacts Directions Visit Visitor Information About the Museum Large Group Visits Around Los Alamos Contact Us

Optimal control of directional deep brain stimulation in the parkinsonian neuronal network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Denggui; Wang, Zhihui; Wang, Qingyun

2016-07-01

The effect of conventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) on debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be limited because it can only yield the spherical field. And, some side effects are clearly induced with influencing their adjacent ganglia. Recent experimental evidence for patients with Parkinson's disease has shown that a novel DBS electrode with 32 independent stimulation source contacts can effectively optimize the clinical therapy by enlarging the therapeutic windows, when it is applied on the subthalamic nucleus (STN). This is due to the selective activation in clusters of various stimulation contacts which can be steered directionally and accurately on the targeted regions of interest. In addition, because of the serious damage to the neural tissues, the charge-unbalanced stimulation is not typically indicated and the real DBS utilizes charge-balanced bi-phasic (CBBP) pulses. Inspired by this, we computationally investigate the optimal control of directional CBBP-DBS from the proposed parkinsonian neuronal network of basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit. By appropriately tuning stimulation for different neuronal populations, it can be found that directional steering CBBP-DBS paradigms are superior to the spherical case in improving parkinsonian dynamical properties including the synchronization of neuronal populations and the reliability of thalamus relaying the information from cortex, which is in a good agreement with the physiological experiments. Furthermore, it can be found that directional steering stimulations can increase the optimal stimulation intensity of desynchronization by more than 1 mA compared to the spherical case. This is consistent with the experimental result with showing that there exists at least one steering direction that can allow increasing the threshold of side effects by 1 mA. In addition, we also simulate the local field potential (LFP) and dominant frequency (DF) of the STN neuronal population induced by the activation of 32 different contacts with optimal stimulation intensity and immediately after the stimulation, respectively. These can reveal regional differences in pathological activity within STN nucleus. It is shown that in line with the experimental results directional steering stimulation can induce the low-amplitude LFP which implies the occurrence of desynchronizing regime, as well as the distribution of DF can locate at the 13-40 Hz of beta frequency range. Hopefully, the obtained results can provide theoretical evidences in exploring pathophysiologic activity of brain.

Transmissibility and Pathogenicity of Ebola Virus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Household Secondary Attack Rate and Asymptomatic Infection

PubMed Central

Dean, Natalie E.; Halloran, M. Elizabeth; Yang, Yang; Longini, Ira M.

2016-01-01

Factors affecting our ability to control an Ebola outbreak include transmissibility of the virus and the proportion of transmissions occurring asymptomatically. We performed a meta-analysis of Ebola household secondary attack rate (SAR), disaggregating by type of exposure (direct contact, no direct contact, nursing care, direct contact but no nursing care). The estimated overall household SAR is 12.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.6%–16.3%). Transmission was driven by direct contact, with little transmission occurring in its absence (SAR, 0.8% [95% CI, 0%–2.3%]). The greatest risk factor was the provision of nursing care (SAR, 47.9% [95% CI, 23.3%–72.6%]). There was evidence of a decline in household SAR for direct contact between 1976 and 2014 (P = .018). We estimate that 27.1% (95% CI, 14.5%–39.6%) of Ebola infections are asymptomatic. Our findings suggest that surveillance and containment measures should be effective for controlling Ebola. PMID:26932131

Cholinergic epithelial cell with chemosensory traits in murine thymic medulla.

PubMed

Panneck, Alexandra Regina; Rafiq, Amir; Schütz, Burkhard; Soultanova, Aichurek; Deckmann, Klaus; Chubanov, Vladimir; Gudermann, Thomas; Weihe, Eberhard; Krasteva-Christ, Gabriela; Grau, Veronika; del Rey, Adriana; Kummer, Wolfgang

2014-12-01

Specialized epithelial cells with a tuft of apical microvilli ("brush cells") sense luminal content and initiate protective reflexes in response to potentially harmful substances. They utilize the canonical taste transduction cascade to detect "bitter" substances such as bacterial quorum-sensing molecules. In the respiratory tract, most of these cells are cholinergic and are approached by cholinoceptive sensory nerve fibers. Utilizing two different reporter mouse strains for the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), we observed intense labeling of a subset of thymic medullary cells. ChAT expression was confirmed by in situ hybridization. These cells showed expression of villin, a brush cell marker protein, and ultrastructurally exhibited lateral microvilli. They did not express neuroendocrine (chromogranin A, PGP9.5) or thymocyte (CD3) markers but rather thymic epithelial (CK8, CK18) markers and were immunoreactive for components of the taste transduction cascade such as Gα-gustducin, transient receptor potential melastatin-like subtype 5 channel (TRPM5), and phospholipase Cβ2. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction confirmed the expression of Gα-gustducin, TRPM5, and phospholipase Cβ2. Thymic "cholinergic chemosensory cells" were often in direct contact with medullary epithelial cells expressing the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α3. These cells have recently been identified as terminally differentiated epithelial cells (Hassall's corpuscle-like structures in mice). Contacts with nerve fibers (identified by PGP9.5 and CGRP antibodies), however, were not observed. Our data identify, in the thymus, a previously unrecognized presumptive chemosensitive cell that probably utilizes acetylcholine for paracrine signaling. This cell might participate in intrathymic infection-sensing mechanisms.

A conceptual demonstration of freeze desalination-membrane distillation (FD-MD) hybrid desalination process utilizing liquefied natural gas (LNG) cold energy.

PubMed

Wang, Peng; Chung, Tai-Shung

2012-09-01

The severe global water scarcity and record-high fossil oil price have greatly stimulated the research interests on new desalination technologies which can be driven by renewable energy or waste energy. In this study, a hybrid desalination process comprising freeze desalination and membrane distillation (FD-MD) processes was developed and explored in an attempt to utilize the waste cold energy released from re-gasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The concept of this technology was demonstrated using indirect-contact freeze desalination (ICFD) and direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD) configurations. By optimizing the ICFD operation parameters, namely, the usage of nucleate seeds, operation duration and feed concentration, high quality drinkable water with a low salinity ∼0.144 g/L was produced in the ICFD process. At the same time, using the optimized hollow fiber module length and packing density in the DCMD process, ultra pure water with a low salinity of 0.062 g/L was attained at a condition of high energy efficiency (EE). Overall, by combining FD and MD processes and adopting the optimized operation parameters, the hybrid FD-MD system has been successfully demonstrated. A high total water recovery of 71.5% was achieved, and the water quality obtained met the standard for drinkable water. In addition, with results from specific energy calculation, it was proven that the hybrid process is an energy-saving process and utilization of LNG cold energy could greatly reduce the total energy consumption. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rigid endosseous implant utilized as anchorage to protract molars and close an atrophic extraction site.

PubMed

Roberts, W E; Marshall, K J; Mozsary, P G

1990-01-01

A two-stage endosseous implant, placed in the retromolar area of the mandible was utilized as rigid anchorage to translate two molars 10-12 millimeters mesially into an atrophic endentulous ridge. Despite substantial anchorage demand over a three year period, the endosseous implant remained rigid ("osseointegrated"). At the end of treatment the implant and adjacent, intravitally labeled bone were recovered. Microradiographic and polarized light analyses revealed that about 80 percent of the endosseous portion of the implant was in direct contact with mature lamellar bone. Bone labels demonstrated a remarkably high remodeling rate (about 30 percent/year) for cortical bone within 0.5 millimeter of the interface. Continuous remodeling may be the long-term mechanism whereby loaded implants resist bone fatigue and maintain "osseointegration." Clinical use of orthodontic implants, placed outside the dental arches, requires careful attention to soft tissue management.

Contact angle hysteresis and motion behaviors of a water nano-droplet on suspended graphene under temperature gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foroutan, Masumeh; Fatemi, S. Mahmood; Esmaeilian, Farshad; Fadaei Naeini, Vahid; Baniassadi, Majid

2018-05-01

In the present work, the effect of temperature gradient on the behavior of a water nano-droplet resting on a suspended graphene was studied based on a non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation. The acquired results indicate that the applied temperature gradient to the suspended graphene drives the water nano-droplet to the colder region. The droplet accelerates its motion toward the cold reservoir as the temperature gradient is increased. In addition to the translational motion of the nano-droplet, the vortical motion of the water molecules was also observed. Contact angle analysis was also utilized to describe the directional motion of the nano-droplet. The translational motion of the droplet leads to the estimation of contact angle hysteresis through advancing and receding contact angles while the rotational motion resulted in the advancing and receding fronts being switched with one another through the simulation. The average displacement vector of the water molecules shows that parts of the droplet seem to stagnate while other parts rotate around them. The reason behind this particular behavior was studied based on interaction energy contours between a water molecule and the suspended graphene. The obtained data indicate that the rotational motion is in agreement with the migration of the water molecules to low interaction energy regions in order to avoid high interaction energy areas.

Dose-response effects for disease management programs on hospital utilization in Illinois Medicaid.

PubMed

Berg, Gregory D; Donnelly, Shawn; Miller, Mary; Medina, Wendie; Warnick, Kathleen

2012-12-01

The objective of this study is to estimate a dose-response impact of disease management contacts on inpatient admissions. Multivariate regression analysis of panel data was used to test the hypothesis that increased disease management contacts lower the odds of an inpatient admission. Subjects were 40,452 members of Illinois' noninstitutionalized Medicaid-only aged, blind, or disabled population diagnosed with asthma, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and/or heart failure. All members are also in the state's Illinois Health Connect program, a medical home strategy in place for most of the 2.4 million Illinois Medicaid beneficiaries. The statistical measure is the odds ratio, which is a measure of association between the monthly inpatient admission indicator and the number of contacts (doses) a member has had for each particular disease management intervention. Statistically significant contacts are between 8 and 12 for heart failure, between 4 and 12 contacts for diabetes, and between 8 and 13 contacts for asthma. Total inpatient savings during the study period is estimated to be $12.4 million. This study shows the dose-response pattern of inpatient utilization improvements through the number of disease management contacts.

Reduced Contact Hour Accelerated Courses and Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thornton, Barry; Demps, Julius; Jadav, Arpita

2017-01-01

Undergraduate instruction in the Davis College of Business at Jacksonville University utilizes two course delivery methods. Traditional daytime classes are 15 weeks long and have approximately 40 contact hours, while evening courses are offered in the Accelerated Degree program in a compressed 8-week format with 24 contact hours. The curriculum is…

Convective heat transfer measurements in a vapour-liquid-liquid three-phase direct contact heat exchanger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahood, Hameed B.; Campbell, A. N.; Baqir, Ali Sh.; Sharif, A. O.; Thorpe, R. B.

2018-06-01

Energy usage is increasing around the world due to the continued development of technology, and population growth. Solar energy is a promising low-grade energy resource that can be harvested and utilised in different applications, such solar heater systems, which are used in both domestic and industrial settings. However, the implementation of an efficient energy conversion system or heat exchanger would enhance such low-grade energy processes. The direct contact heat exchanger could be the right choice due to its ability to efficiently transfer significant amounts of heat, simple design, and low cost. In this work, the heat transfer associated with the direct contact condensation of pentane vapour bubbles in a three-phase direct contact condenser is investigated experimentally. Such a condenser could be used in a cycle with a solar water heater and heat recovery systems. The experiments on the steady state operation of the three-phase direct contact condenser were carried out using a short Perspex tube of 70 cm in total height and an internal diameter of 4 cm. Only a height of 48 cm was active as the direct contact condenser. Pentane vapour, (the dispersed phase) with three different initial temperatures (40° C, 43.5° C and 47.5° C) was directly contacted with water (the continuous phase) at 19° C. The experimental results showed that the total heat transfer rate per unit volume along the direct contact condenser gradually decreased upon moving higher up the condenser. Additionally, the heat transfer rate increases with increasing mass flow rate ratio, but no significant effect on the heat transfer rate of varying the initial temperature of the dispersed phase was seen. Furthermore, both the outlet temperature of the continuous phase and the void fraction were positively correlated with the total heat transfer rate per unit volume, with no considerable effect of the initial temperature difference between the dispersed and continuous phases.

Convective heat transfer measurements in a vapour-liquid-liquid three-phase direct contact heat exchanger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahood, Hameed B.; Campbell, A. N.; Baqir, Ali Sh.; Sharif, A. O.; Thorpe, R. B.

2017-12-01

Energy usage is increasing around the world due to the continued development of technology, and population growth. Solar energy is a promising low-grade energy resource that can be harvested and utilised in different applications, such solar heater systems, which are used in both domestic and industrial settings. However, the implementation of an efficient energy conversion system or heat exchanger would enhance such low-grade energy processes. The direct contact heat exchanger could be the right choice due to its ability to efficiently transfer significant amounts of heat, simple design, and low cost. In this work, the heat transfer associated with the direct contact condensation of pentane vapour bubbles in a three-phase direct contact condenser is investigated experimentally. Such a condenser could be used in a cycle with a solar water heater and heat recovery systems. The experiments on the steady state operation of the three-phase direct contact condenser were carried out using a short Perspex tube of 70 cm in total height and an internal diameter of 4 cm. Only a height of 48 cm was active as the direct contact condenser. Pentane vapour, (the dispersed phase) with three different initial temperatures (40° C, 43.5° C and 47.5° C) was directly contacted with water (the continuous phase) at 19° C. The experimental results showed that the total heat transfer rate per unit volume along the direct contact condenser gradually decreased upon moving higher up the condenser. Additionally, the heat transfer rate increases with increasing mass flow rate ratio, but no significant effect on the heat transfer rate of varying the initial temperature of the dispersed phase was seen. Furthermore, both the outlet temperature of the continuous phase and the void fraction were positively correlated with the total heat transfer rate per unit volume, with no considerable effect of the initial temperature difference between the dispersed and continuous phases.

Binding Direction-Based Two-Dimensional Flattened Contact Area Computing Algorithm for Protein-Protein Interactions.

PubMed

Kang, Beom Sik; Pugalendhi, GaneshKumar; Kim, Ku-Jin

2017-10-13

Interactions between protein molecules are essential for the assembly, function, and regulation of proteins. The contact region between two protein molecules in a protein complex is usually complementary in shape for both molecules and the area of the contact region can be used to estimate the binding strength between two molecules. Although the area is a value calculated from the three-dimensional surface, it cannot represent the three-dimensional shape of the surface. Therefore, we propose an original concept of two-dimensional contact area which provides further information such as the ruggedness of the contact region. We present a novel algorithm for calculating the binding direction between two molecules in a protein complex, and then suggest a method to compute the two-dimensional flattened area of the contact region between two molecules based on the binding direction.

Development of Ciprofloxacin-loaded contact lenses using fluorous chemistry

PubMed Central

Zhu, Zhiling; Li, Siheng; McDermott, Alison M.

2017-01-01

In this work, we developed a simple method to load drugs into commercially available contact lenses utilizing fluorous chemistry. We demonstrated this method using model compounds including fluorous-tagged fluorescein and antibiotic ciprofloxacin. We showed that fluorous interactions facilitated the loading of model molecules into fluorocarbon-containing contact lenses, and that the release profiles exhibited sustained release. Contact lenses loaded with fluorous-tagged ciprofloxacin exhibited antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro, while no cytotoxicity towards human corneal epithelial cells was observed. To mimic the tear turnover, we designed a porcine eye infection model under flow conditions. Significantly, the modified lenses also exhibited antimicrobial efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the ex vivo infection model. Overall, utilizing fluorous chemistry, we can construct a drug delivery system that exhibits high drug loading capacity, sustained drug release, and robust biological activity. PMID:28188995

Eye Contact Facilitates Awareness of Faces during Interocular Suppression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stein, Timo; Senju, Atsushi; Peelen, Marius V.; Sterzer, Philipp

2011-01-01

Eye contact captures attention and receives prioritized visual processing. Here we asked whether eye contact might be processed outside conscious awareness. Faces with direct and averted gaze were rendered invisible using interocular suppression. In two experiments we found that faces with direct gaze overcame such suppression more rapidly than…

Non-contact data access with direction identification for industrial differential serial bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Kai; Li, Xiaoping; Zhang, Hanlu; Yang, Ming; Ye, Yinghao

2013-06-01

We propose a non-contact method for accessing data in industrial differential serial bus applications, which could serve as an effective and safe online testing and diagnosing tool. The data stream and the transmission direction are reconstructed simultaneously from the near-field emanations of a twisted pair, eliminating direct contact with the actual conductors, and avoiding damage to the insulation (only the outer sheathing is removed). A non-contact probe with the ability to sense electric and magnetic fields is presented, as are theories for data reconstruction, direction identification, and a circuit implementation. The prototype was built using inexpensive components and then tested on a standard RS-485 industrial serial bus. Experimental results verified the validity of the proposed scheme.

Design and fabrication of a multilayered polymer microfluidic chip with nanofluidic interconnects via adhesive contact printing.

PubMed

Flachsbart, Bruce R; Wong, Kachuen; Iannacone, Jamie M; Abante, Edward N; Vlach, Robert L; Rauchfuss, Peter A; Bohn, Paul W; Sweedler, Jonathan V; Shannon, Mark A

2006-05-01

The design and fabrication of a multilayered polymer micro-nanofluidic chip is described that consists of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) layers that contain microfluidic channels separated in the vertical direction by polycarbonate (PC) membranes that incorporate an array of nanometre diameter cylindrical pores. The materials are optically transparent to allow inspection of the fluids within the channels in the near UV and visible spectrum. The design architecture enables nanofluidic interconnections to be placed in the vertical direction between microfluidic channels. Such an architecture allows microchannel separations within the chip, as well as allowing unique operations that utilize nanocapillary interconnects: the separation of analytes based on molecular size, channel isolation, enhanced mixing, and sample concentration. Device fabrication is made possible by a transfer process of labile membranes and the development of a contact printing method for a thermally curable epoxy based adhesive. This adhesive is shown to have bond strengths that prevent leakage and delamination and channel rupture tests exceed 6 atm (0.6 MPa) under applied pressure. Channels 100 microm in width and 20 microm in depth are contact printed without the adhesive entering the microchannel. The chip is characterized in terms of resistivity measurements along the microfluidic channels, electroosmotic flow (EOF) measurements at different pH values and laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) detection of green-fluorescent protein (GFP) plugs injected across the nanocapillary membrane and into a microfluidic channel. The results indicate that the mixed polymer micro-nanofluidic multilayer chip has electrical characteristics needed for use in microanalytical systems.

The Acoustoelectric and Electric Characterization of Single Layer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preciado, Edwin Sabas

The acoustoelectric effect in single-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten diselenide (WSe2) is studied in a hybrid setup. Such effects, which rely on the transfer of momentum from surface acoustic waves (SAWs), are generated on the surface of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) to the carriers in MoS2 and WSe2, resulting in an attenuation and velocity shift of the wave and giving rise to an acoustoelectric current. This dissertation examines the feasibility of integrating high-quality, single-layer MoS2 and WSe2 onto LiNbO3 to ultimately fabricate and characterize a hybrid chip that combines the functionality of a field-effect transistor (FET) and SAW device. MoS2 and WSe2 were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) directly onto a chemically-reduced LiNbO3 substrate. LiNbO3 is a ferroelectric material that offers a unique blend of piezoelectric and birefringent properties, yet it lacks both optical activity and semiconductor transport. The prototypical device exhibits electrical characteristics that are competitive with MoS2 and WSe2 devices on silicon. These results demonstrate both a sound-driven battery and an acoustic photodetector, and ultimately open directions to non-invasive investigation of electrical properties of single-layer films. The experiments reveal close agreement between transport measurements utilizing conventional contacts and SAW spectroscopy. This approach will set forth the possibility of contact-free transport characterization of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) films, avoiding such concerns as the role of charge transfer at contacts as an artifact of such measurements.

T-cell Receptor Specificity Maintained by Altered Thermodynamics*

PubMed Central

Madura, Florian; Rizkallah, Pierre J.; Miles, Kim M.; Holland, Christopher J.; Bulek, Anna M.; Fuller, Anna; Schauenburg, Andrea J. A.; Miles, John J.; Liddy, Nathaniel; Sami, Malkit; Li, Yi; Hossain, Moushumi; Baker, Brian M.; Jakobsen, Bent K.; Sewell, Andrew K.; Cole, David K.

2013-01-01

The T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizes peptides bound to major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) and allows T-cells to interrogate the cellular proteome for internal anomalies from the cell surface. The TCR contacts both MHC and peptide in an interaction characterized by weak affinity (KD = 100 nm to 270 μm). We used phage-display to produce a melanoma-specific TCR (α24β17) with a 30,000-fold enhanced binding affinity (KD = 0.6 nm) to aid our exploration of the molecular mechanisms utilized to maintain peptide specificity. Remarkably, although the enhanced affinity was mediated primarily through new TCR-MHC contacts, α24β17 remained acutely sensitive to modifications at every position along the peptide backbone, mimicking the specificity of the wild type TCR. Thermodynamic analyses revealed an important role for solvation in directing peptide specificity. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that can govern the exquisite peptide specificity characteristic of TCR recognition. PMID:23698002

Novel Rear Side Metallization Route for Si Solar Cells Using a Transparent Conducting Adhesive: Preprint

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

Schnabel, Manuel; Klein, Talysa; Lee, Benjamin G

The rear side metallization of Si solar cells comes with a number of inherent losses and trade-offs: a larger metallized area fraction improves fill factor at the expense of open-circuit voltage, depositing directly on textured Si leads to low contact resistivity at the expense of short-circuit current, and some metallization processes create defects in Si. To mitigate many of these losses we have developed a novel approach for rear side metallization of Si solar cells, utilizing a transparent conducting adhesive (TCA) to metallize Si without exposing the wafer to the metal deposition process. The TCA consists of an insulating adhesivemore » loaded with conductive microspheres. This approach leads to virtually no loss in implied open-circuit voltage upon metallization. Electrical measurements showed that contact resistivities of 3-9 ..omega.. cm2 were achieved, and an analysis of the transit resistance per microsphere showed that less than 1 ..omega.. cm2 should be achievable with higher microsphere loading of the TCA.« less

Geometrical contribution to the anomalous Nernst effect in TbFeCo thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ando, Ryo; Komine, Takashi

2018-05-01

The geometrical contribution to the anomalous Nernst effect in magnetic thin films was experimentally investigated by varying the aspect ratios and electrode configurations. The bar-type electrode configuration induces a short-circuit current near both edges of electrodes and decreases the effective Nernst voltage, while the point-contact (PC) electrode exploits the intrinsic Nernst voltage. In a sample with PC electrodes, as the sample width along the transverse direction of the thermal flow increases, the Nernst voltage increases monotonically. Thus, a much wider element with PC electrodes enables us to bring out a larger Nernst voltage by utilizing perpendicularly magnetized thin films.

Micro-Field Evoked Potentials Recorded from the Porcine Sub-Dural Cortical Surface Utilizing a Microelectrode Array

PubMed Central

Kitzmiller, Joseph P.; Hansford, Derek J.; Fortin, Linda D.; Obrietan, Karl H.; Bergdall, Valerie K.

2007-01-01

A sub-dural surface microelectrode array designed to detect microfield evoked potentials has been developed. The device is comprised of an array of 350-micron square gold contacts, with bi-directional spacing of 150 microns, contained within a polyimide Kapton material. Cytotoxicity testing suggests that the device is suitable for use with animal and human patients. Implementation of the device in animal studies revealed that reliable evoked potentials could be acquired. Further work will be needed to determine how these microfield potentials, which demonstrate selectivity for one eye, relate to the distribution of the ocular dominance columns of the occipital cortex. PMID:17298849

The Effects of Medicare on Medical Expenditure Risk and Financial Strain†

PubMed Central

Barcellos, Silvia Helena; Jacobson, Mireille

2016-01-01

Medicare offers substantial protection from medical expenditure risk, protection that has increased in recent years. At age 65, out-of-pocket expenditures drop by 33 percent at the mean and 53 percent at the ninety-fifth percentile. Medical-related financial strain, such as difficulty paying bills and collections agency contact, is dramatically reduced. Nonetheless, using a stylized expected utility framework, the gain from reducing out-of-pocket expenditures accounts for only 18 percent of the social costs of financing Medicare. This calculation ignores any direct health benefits from Medicare or any indirect health effects due to reductions in financial stress. PMID:27928462

The Si ribbon crystal for the solar battery using the horizontal pull method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norifuji, H.; Matsuo, M.; Maki, T.

1979-01-01

A method utilizing a device to spray noble gases to cool the site of silicon crystal growth is described. The salient points are: (1) soft and uniform cooling was possible, (2) the length of the boundary surface of growth along the growth direction was made long over a wide width compared to the thickness, and (3) this made it possible to effectively remove the heat produced from solification. By using forced gas spraying on the solution surface in contact with the points of crystal growth, growth at the points of growth is enhanced and the rate of growth is speeded up.

40 CFR 63.1329 - Process contact cooling towers provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... viscosity multiple end finisher process that utilizes a process contact cooling tower shall comply with... high viscosity multiple end finisher process and who is subject or becomes subject to 40 CFR part 60...

40 CFR 63.1329 - Process contact cooling towers provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... viscosity multiple end finisher process that utilizes a process contact cooling tower shall comply with... high viscosity multiple end finisher process, and who is subject or becomes subject to 40 CFR part 60...

Survey report: study of information/educational discussions with private industries and public institutions on the direct-heat utilization of geothermal energy

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

Davey, J.V.

1977-03-01

Results of a study of private and public institutions' responses to the proposed use of geothermal energy in the form of direct heat are summarized. This heat energy would be used as an alternate or supportive source for their process or other heat requirements. The summary includes information from over 75 personal contacts with firms in several categories. No attempt is made to reference specific data to any particular company. Although not necessarily confidential, some financial information concerning energy costs to profits was considered sensitive and is respected as such. The companies contacted are in the following categories: food processing--canning,more » drying, dehydration; chemicals; paper/wood-pulp processing; food machinery; horticulture; and dairy. The area covered in the study was from Seattle, Washington, to San Diego, California, during mid-1976. Industry's response varied from mild interest, as with corporations that had little or no knowledge of geothermal energy (and regard it as a new unproven science), to enthusiasm from corporations that employ their own energy departments. The study clearly indicated the need for a basic educational/promotional program and an operating demonstration project (industrial park) to prove economic feasibility and instill confidence in the potential of geothermal energy.« less

Direct contact membrane distillation for the concentration of saline dairy effluent.

PubMed

Kezia, Kezia; Lee, Judy; Weeks, Mike; Kentish, Sandra

2015-09-15

The ability of direct contact membrane distillation to concentrate the waste effluent from salty whey, a by-product from the cheese making industry has been investigated. The effect of trace protein in the feed, cross-flow velocity and feed acidity were the factors examined. Flat Sheet PTFE membranes of nominal pore sizes 0.05, 0.22 and 0.45 μm were utilised. A decline in feed flux in the presence of trace protein in the feed was observed, but liquid penetration through the membrane could still be prevented by utilization of a membrane of smaller pore size, to achieve a final total solids concentration of ±30% w/w with water recovery from 37 to 83 %. The pressure-drop across the channel length was also predicted accounting for the feed spacer. To increase the channel length up to 1 m will require operation using the smallest pore size of 0.05 μm, unless very low cross-flow velocities are used. The fouling of the membrane is primarily governed by precipitation of a calcium phosphate salt. However, operation at low pH does not improve the flux or the final salt concentration significantly. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A high performance biometric signal and image processing method to reveal blood perfusion towards 3D oxygen saturation mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imms, Ryan; Hu, Sijung; Azorin-Peris, Vicente; Trico, Michaël.; Summers, Ron

2014-03-01

Non-contact imaging photoplethysmography (PPG) is a recent development in the field of physiological data acquisition, currently undergoing a large amount of research to characterize and define the range of its capabilities. Contact-based PPG techniques have been broadly used in clinical scenarios for a number of years to obtain direct information about the degree of oxygen saturation for patients. With the advent of imaging techniques, there is strong potential to enable access to additional information such as multi-dimensional blood perfusion and saturation mapping. The further development of effective opto-physiological monitoring techniques is dependent upon novel modelling techniques coupled with improved sensor design and effective signal processing methodologies. The biometric signal and imaging processing platform (bSIPP) provides a comprehensive set of features for extraction and analysis of recorded iPPG data, enabling direct comparison with other biomedical diagnostic tools such as ECG and EEG. Additionally, utilizing information about the nature of tissue structure has enabled the generation of an engineering model describing the behaviour of light during its travel through the biological tissue. This enables the estimation of the relative oxygen saturation and blood perfusion in different layers of the tissue to be calculated, which has the potential to be a useful diagnostic tool.

Contact angle control of sessile drops on a tensioned web

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Janghoon; Kim, Dongguk; Lee, Changwoo

2018-04-01

In this study, the influence of the change of tension applied to flexible and thin web substrate on the contact angle of sessile drop in roll-to-roll system was investigated. Graphene oxide and deionized water solutions were used in the experiments. Tension was changed to 29, 49, and 69 N, and the casting distance of the micropipette and the material was set to 10, 20, and 40 mm, and the droplet volume was set to 10, 20, and 30 μL, respectively. Statistical analysis of three variables and analysis of the variance methodology showed that the casting distance was most significant for the contact angle change, and the most interesting tension variable was also affected. The change in tension caused the maximum contact angle to change by 5.5°. The tension was not uniform in the width direction. When the droplet was applied in the same direction in the width direction, it was confirmed that the tension unevenness had great influence on the contact angle up to 11°. Finally, the casting distance, which has a large effect on the contact angle, was calibrated in the width direction to reduce the width direction contact angle deviation to 1%. This study can be applied to fine patterning research using continuous inkjet printing and aerosol jet printing, which are roll-to-roll processes based on droplet handling.

Differential effects of community health worker visits across social and economic groups in Uttar Pradesh, India: a link between social inequities and health disparities.

PubMed

Seth, Aparna; Tomar, Shweta; Singh, Kultar; Chandurkar, Dharmendra; Chakraverty, Amit; Dey, Arnab; Das, Arup K; Hay, Katherine; Saggurti, Niranjan; Boyce, Sabrina; Raj, Anita; Silverman, Jay G

2017-03-07

Uttar Pradesh (UP) accounts for the largest number of neonatal deaths in India. This study explores potential socio-economic inequities in household-level contacts by community health workers (CHWs) and whether the effects of such household-level contacts on receipt of health services differ across populations in this state. A multistage sampling design identified live births in the last 12 months across the 25 highest-risk districts of UP (N = 4912). Regression models described the relations between household demographics (caste, religion, wealth, literacy) and CHW contact, and interactions of demographics and CHW contact in predicting health service utilization (> = 4 antenatal care (ANC) visits, facility delivery, modern contraceptive use). No differences were found in likelihood of CHW contact based on caste, religion, wealth or literacy. Associations of CHW contact with receipt of ANC and facility delivery were significantly affected by religion, wealth and literacy. CHW contact increased the odds of 4 or more ANC visits only among non-Muslim women, increased the odds of both four or more ANC visits and facility delivery only among lower wealth women, increased the odds of facility delivery to a greater degree among illiterate vs. literate women. CHW visits play a vital role in promoting utilization of critical maternal health services in UP. However, significant social inequities exist in associations of CHW visits with such service utilization. Research to clarify these inequities, as well as training for CHWs to address potential biases in the qualities or quantity of their visits based on household socio-economic characteristics is recommended.

Primary health care utilization prior to suicide: a retrospective case-control study among active-duty military personnel.

PubMed

Hochman, Eldar; Shelef, Leah; Mann, J John; Portugese, Shirly; Krivoy, Amir; Shoval, Gal; Weiser, Mark; Fruchter, Eyal

2014-08-01

About 45% of civilians who died by suicide had contact with a doctor within 1 month of death. Thus, educating primary care physicians (PCP) to detect and mitigate depression is an important suicide-prevention strategy. However, the PCP consulting rate before suicide has not been examined in a military population. We investigated the utilization of primary health care and mental health services by active-duty military personnel suicide cases prior to death in comparison to matched military controls. All suicides (N = 170) were extracted from a cohort of all active-duty Israeli military male personnel between 2002 and 2012. Applying a retrospective, nested case-control design, we compared primary care services utilization by suicide cases with demographic and occupationally matched military controls (N = 500). Whereas 38.3% of suicide cases contacted a PCP within the last month before death, only 27.6% of suicide cases contacted a mental health specialist during their entire service time. The PCP contact rate within 1 month before death or index day did not differ between suicide cases and military controls (38.3% vs. 33.8%, χ²₁ = 1.05, P = .3). More suicide cases contacted a mental health specialist within service time than did military controls (27.6% vs. 13.6%, χ²₁ = 10.85, P = .001). Even though PCP contact rate by military personnel who died by suicide is slightly lower than that reported for civilians who died by suicide prior to their death, it is higher than mental health specialist contact rate and higher than that by age-matched civilians who died by suicide. These results imply that PCPs education is a viable approach to suicide prevention in a military setting. © Copyright 2014 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Side Effects of CV Medications Following Hospitalization for ACS Are Associated With More Frequent Health-Care Contacts.

PubMed

Le, Rachel J; Cullen, Michael W; Lahr, Brian D; Wright, R Scott; Kopecky, Stephen L

2017-05-01

Patients hospitalized for first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are frequently discharged on multiple new medications. The short-term tolerability of these medications is unknown. This single-center cohort study assessed 30-day health-care utilization and how it may be impacted by medication prescribing trends. We included Olmsted County patients presenting with ACS and previously undiagnosed coronary artery disease in 2008 to 2009. All health-care contacts were reviewed 30 days after index hospital discharge for potential adverse medication effects including documented hypotension or bradycardia, or symptoms likely attributed to the medications. The study included 86 patients; their mean age was 63 (standard deviation: 15.5 years). Antianginal or antihypertensive cardiovascular (CV) medications were prescribed to 98% of patients at discharge; 76% were prescribed 2 or more. There were 233 health-care contacts in 30 days; 90 (39%) of these contacts were unscheduled. More CV medications tended to be prescribed to patients with unscheduled contacts, both pre-ACS ( P = .045) and upon hospital discharge ( P = .051). Hypotension and/or bradycardia at follow-up occurred in 52 patients (60%). Surprisingly, there was no association between hypotension and/or bradycardia at follow-up and increased health-care utilization ( P = .12). Potential adverse drug effects were reported in 34 (40%) patients. These patients had significantly more total health-care contacts ( P < .001) and unscheduled health-care contacts (median 0 vs 1.5; P < .001). Symptoms of adverse drug effects were associated with more frequent health-care utilization after ACS. Clinicians need to consider this while striving to increase patient compliance with post-ACS medications and optimize care transitions.

Fluid to fluid contact heat exchanger

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, W. E.

1986-01-01

Heat transfer and pressure drop test results for a fluid to fluid contact heat exchanger are reported. The heat exchanger, fabricated and tested to demonstrate one method of transferring heat between structures in space, had a total contact area of 0.18 sq m. It utilized contact surfaces which were flexible and conformed to the mating contact surfaces upon pressurization of the fluid circulating within the heat exchanger. During proof-of-concept performance tests, the heat exchanger was operated in a typical earth environment. It demonstrated a contact conductance of 3.8 kW/sq m C at contact pressures in the 15 to 70 kPa range.

Wettability and impact dynamics of water droplets on rice ( Oryza sativa L.) leaves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Dae Hee; Huh, Hyung Kyu; Lee, Sang Joon

2014-03-01

We investigated the wettability and impact dynamics of water droplets on rice leaves at various leaf inclination angles and orientations. Contact angle, contact angle hysteresis (CAH), and roll-off angle ( α roll) of water droplets were measured quantitatively. Results showed that droplet motion exhibited less resistance along the longitudinal direction. Impact dynamic parameters, such as impact behaviors, maximum spreading factor, contact distance, and contact time were also investigated. Three different impact behaviors were categorized based on the normal component of Weber number irrespective of the inclination angle of the rice leaf. The asymmetric impact behavior induced by the tangential Weber number was also identified. Variation in the maximum spreading factor according to the normal Weber number was measured and compared with theoretical value obtained according to scaling law to show the wettability of the rice leaves. The contact distance of the impacting droplets depended on the inclination angle of the leaves. Along the longitudinal direction of rice leaves, contact distance was farther than that along the transverse direction. This result is consistent with the smaller values of CAH and α roll along the longitudinal direction.

Preferences for Early Intervention Mental Health Services: A Discrete-Choice Conjoint Experiment.

PubMed

Becker, Mackenzie P E; Christensen, Bruce K; Cunningham, Charles E; Furimsky, Ivana; Rimas, Heather; Wilson, Fiona; Jeffs, Lisa; Bieling, Peter J; Madsen, Victoria; Chen, Yvonne Y S; Mielko, Stephanie; Zipursky, Robert B

2016-02-01

Early intervention services (EISs) for mental illness may improve outcomes, although treatment engagement is often a problem. Incorporating patients' preferences in the design of interventions improves engagement. A discrete-choice conjoint experiment was conducted in Canada to identify EIS attributes that encourage treatment initiation. Sixteen four-level attributes were formalized into a conjoint survey, completed by patients, family members, and mental health professionals (N=562). Participants were asked which EIS option people with mental illness would contact. Latent-class analysis identified respondent classes characterized by shared preferences. Randomized first-choice simulations predicted which hypothetical options, based on attributes, would result in maximum utilization. Participants in the conventional-service class (N=241, 43%) predicted that individuals would contact traditional services (for example, hospital location and staffed by psychologists or psychiatrists). Membership was associated with being a patient or family member and being male. Participants in the convenient-service class (N=321, 57%) predicted that people would contact services promoting easy access (for example, self-referral and access from home). Membership was associated with being a professional. Both classes predicted that people would contact services that included short wait times, direct contact with professionals, patient autonomy, and psychological treatment information. The convenient-service class predicted that people would use an e-health model, whereas the conventional-service class predicted that people would use a primary care or clinic-hospital model. Provision of a range of services may maximize EIS use. Professionals may be more apt to adopt EISs in line with their beliefs regarding patient preferences. Considering several perspectives is important for service design.

Noninvasive estimation of assist pressure for direct mechanical ventricular actuation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Dawei; Yang, Ming; Gu, Xiaotong; Meng, Fan; Yang, Tianyue; Lin, Shujing

2018-02-01

Direct mechanical ventricular actuation is effective to reestablish the ventricular function with non-blood contact. Due to the energy loss within the driveline of the direct cardiac compression device, it is necessary to acquire the accurate value of assist pressure acting on the heart surface. To avoid myocardial trauma induced by invasive sensors, the noninvasive estimation method is developed and the experimental device is designed to measure the sample data for fitting the estimation models. By examining the goodness of fit numerically and graphically, the polynomial model presents the best behavior among the four alternative models. Meanwhile, to verify the effect of the noninvasive estimation, the simplified lumped parameter model is utilized to calculate the pre-support and the post-support left ventricular pressure. Furthermore, by adjusting the driving pressure beyond the range of the sample data, the assist pressure is estimated with the similar waveform and the post-support left ventricular pressure approaches the value of the adult healthy heart, indicating the good generalization ability of the noninvasive estimation method.

Direct-contact closed-loop heat exchanger

DOEpatents

Berry, Gregory F.; Minkov, Vladimir; Petrick, Michael

1984-01-01

A high temperature heat exchanger with a closed loop and a heat transfer liquid within the loop, the closed loop having a first horizontal channel with inlet and outlet means for providing direct contact of a first fluid at a first temperature with the heat transfer liquid, a second horizontal channel with inlet and outlet means for providing direct contact of a second fluid at a second temperature with the heat transfer liquid, and means for circulating the heat transfer liquid.

Sociodemographic and socioeconomic determinants of health services utilization in Greece: the Hellas Health I study.

PubMed

Tountas, Yannis; Oikonomou, Nikolaos; Pallikarona, Georgia; Dimitrakaki, Christine; Tzavara, Chara; Souliotis, Kyriakos; Mariolis, Anargiros; Pappa, Evelina; Kontodimopoulos, Nick; Niakas, Dimitris

2011-02-01

The purpose of the study was to estimate the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of utilization of the Greek primary and hospital health care services. Data were obtained from the cross-sectional nationwide household survey Hellas Health I (2006). The sample (N = 1005) was representative of the Greek adult population in terms of age and residency, and was selected by means of a three-stage, proportional-to-size sampling design. The presence of a family doctor was reported in a higher degree by participants of higher social classes and private insurance. After adjusting for self-perceived general health and chronic illness, contacts with health care professionals during the past four weeks were found less for residents of rural areas, while contacts with health care professionals during the past 12 months were found less for men than women, for individuals without private insurance and for individuals of lower education. More out-of-pocket payments were reported by the 34-44 age group, rural area residents and individuals with private insurance. Higher use of private health care services was reported by participants of higher social classes and residents of rural areas and private insurance. Only hospital admissions were not directly influenced by demographic and socioeconomic factors. The findings imply the existence of inequities in access and use of primary health services with clear implications to related policies.

3D mapping of breast surface using digital fringe projection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vairavan, Rajendaran; Retnasamy, Vithyacharan; Mohamad Shahimin, Mukhzeer; Sauli, Zaliman; Leng, Lai Siang; Wan Norhaimi, Wan Mokhzani; Marimuthu, Rajeswaran; Abdullah, Othman; Kirtsaeng, Supap

2017-02-01

Optical sensing technique has inherited non-contact nature for generating 3D surface mapping where its application ranges from MEMS component characterization, corrosion analysis, and vibration analysis. In particular, the digital fringe projection is utilized for 3D mapping of objects through the illumination of structured light for medical application extending from oral dental measurements, lower back deformation analysis, monitoring of scoliosis and 3D face reconstruction for biometric identification. However, the usage of digital fringe projection for 3D mapping of human breast is very minimal. Thus, this paper addresses the application of digital fringe projection for 3D mapping of breast surface based on total non-contact nature. In this work, phase shift method is utilized to perform the 3D mapping. The phase shifted fringe pattern are displayed through a digital projector onto the breast surface, and the distorted fringe patterns are captured by a CCD camera. A phase map is produced, and phase unwrapping was executed to obtain the 3D surface mapping of the breast. The surface height profile from 3D fringe projection was compared with the surface height measured by a direct method using electronic digital vernier caliper. Preliminary results showed the feasibility of digital fringe projection in providing a 3D mapping of breast and its application could be further extended for breast carcinoma detection.

Liquid metal porous matrix sliding electrical contact: A concept

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferguson, H.

1973-01-01

Concept utilizes porous metal or nonmetal matrix containing liquid metal in porous structure and confines liquid metal to contact area between rotor and brush by capillary forces. System may also be used to lubricate bearing systems.

Direct Z-scheme TiO2/CdS hierarchical photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic H2-production activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Aiyun; Zhu, Bicheng; Zhong, Bo; Zhang, Liuyang; Cheng, Bei

2017-11-01

Photocatalytic H2 evolution, which utilizes solar energy via water splitting, is a promising route to deal with concerns about energy and environment. Herein, a direct Z-scheme TiO2/CdS binary hierarchical photocatalyst was fabricated via a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique, and photocatalytic H2 production was measured afterwards. The as-prepared TiO2/CdS hybrid photocatalyst exhibited noticeably promoted photocatalytic H2-production activity of 51.4 μmol h-1. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the hierarchical structure, as well as the efficient charge separation and migration from TiO2 nanosheets to CdS nanoparticles (NPs) at their tight contact interfaces. Moreover, the direct Z-scheme photocatalytic reaction mechanism was demonstrated to elucidate the improved photocatalytic performance of TiO2/CdS composite photocatalyst. The photoluminescence (PL) analysis of hydroxyl radicals were conducted to provide clues for the direct Z-scheme mechanism. This work provides a facile route for the construction of redox mediator-free Z-scheme photocatalytic system for photocatalytic water splitting.

78 FR 23940 - Use of International Standard ISO-10993, “Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices Part 1...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-23

... requests for medical devices that come into direct or indirect contact with the human body in order to... the human body in order to determine the potential toxicity resulting from contact of the component... direct or indirect contact with the human body. This document addresses the following issues: (1) Test...

Toxicity of aerosols to larch casebearer larvae

Treesearch

Robert L. Lyon; Margaret E. May

1970-01-01

Six insecticides were tested in the laboratory as aerosols against larch casebeare1 larvae. Their toxicity was determined by both direct contact and residual contact on filter paper. All six were highly toxic at less than 1.05 µg/ cm2 (the equivalent of 1.5 oz./acre). In decreasing order of toxicity at LD90 (direct contact...

Toxic Hazard to the Rabbit from Direct and Vapor Contact with HD-Contaminated Plexiglas, Concrete, or XM40 Nylon Carrier Material

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-07-01

for vapor transfer. A toxicological test was c’isigned to evaluate the above models. Animals were exposed to agant vapor and to direct contact with...surfaces contaminated with HD. If the toxicological response is the same from direct contact as from vapor, then only vapor transfer is significant...study were chosen to deter- mine whether partitioning is applicable to nonpermeable materials such as the polymethyl methacrylate ( PMMA ) sheeting or to

Direct-contact closed-loop heat exchanger

DOEpatents

Berry, G.F.; Minkov, V.; Petrick, M.

1981-11-02

A high temperature heat exchanger is disclosed which has a closed loop and a heat transfer liquid within the loop, the closed loop having a first horizontal channel with inlet and outlet means for providing direct contact of a first fluid at a first temperature with the heat transfer liquid, a second horizontal channel with inlet and outlet means for providing direct contact of a second fluid at a second temperature with the heat transfer liquid, and means for circulating the heat transfer liquid.

Direct determination of three-phase contact line properties on nearly molecular scale

DOE PAGES

Winkler, P. M.; McGraw, R. L.; Bauer, P. S.; ...

2016-05-17

Wetting phenomena in multi-phase systems govern the shape of the contact line which separates the different phases. For liquids in contact with solid surfaces wetting is typically described in terms of contact angle. While in macroscopic systems the contact angle can be determined experimentally, on the molecular scale contact angles are hardly accessible. Here we report the first direct experimental determination of contact angles as well as contact line curvature on a scale of the order of 1nm. For water nucleating heterogeneously on Ag nanoparticles we find contact angles around 15 degrees compared to 90 degrees for the corresponding macroscopicallymore » measured equilibrium angle. The obtained microscopic contact angles can be attributed to negative line tension in the order of –10 –10 J/m that becomes increasingly dominant with increasing curvature of the contact line. Furthermore, these results enable a consistent theoretical description of heterogeneous nucleation and provide firm insight to the wetting of nanosized objects.« less

Anisotropic forces from spatially constrained focal adhesions mediate contact guidance directed cell migration

PubMed Central

Ray, Arja; Lee, Oscar; Win, Zaw; Edwards, Rachel M.; Alford, Patrick W.; Kim, Deok-Ho; Provenzano, Paolo P.

2017-01-01

Directed migration by contact guidance is a poorly understood yet vital phenomenon, particularly for carcinoma cell invasion on aligned collagen fibres. We demonstrate that for single cells, aligned architectures providing contact guidance cues induce constrained focal adhesion maturation and associated F-actin alignment, consequently orchestrating anisotropic traction stresses that drive cell orientation and directional migration. Consistent with this understanding, relaxing spatial constraints to adhesion maturation either through reduction in substrate alignment density or reduction in adhesion size diminishes the contact guidance response. While such interactions allow single mesenchymal-like cells to spontaneously ‘sense' and follow topographic alignment, intercellular interactions within epithelial clusters temper anisotropic cell–substratum forces, resulting in substantially lower directional response. Overall, these results point to the control of contact guidance by a balance of cell–substratum and cell–cell interactions, modulated by cell phenotype-specific cytoskeletal arrangements. Thus, our findings elucidate how phenotypically diverse cells perceive ECM alignment at the molecular level. PMID:28401884

Ambulatory Medical Care Utilization Estimates for 2007

MedlinePlus

... Other infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contact dermatitis and other eczema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Psoriasis and similar disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other ... V10–V19 Chronic and unspecified bronchitis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .490–491 Contact dermatitis and other eczema.692 Cataract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .366 Depressive disorder, ...

Image based weighted center of proximity versus directly measured knee contact location during simulated gait

PubMed Central

Wang, Hongsheng; Chen, Tony; Koff, Matthew F.; Hutchinson, Ian D.; Gilbert, Susannah; Choi, Dan; Warren, Russell F.; Rodeo, Scott A.; Maher, Suzanne A.

2014-01-01

To understand the mechanical consequences of knee injury requires a detailed analysis of the effect of that injury on joint contact mechanics during activities of daily living. Three-dimensional (3D) knee joint geometric models have been combined with knee joint kinematics to dynamically estimate the location of joint contact during physiological activities – using a weighted center of proximity (WCoP) method. However, the relationship between the estimated WCoP and the actual location of contact has not been defined. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between knee joint contact location as estimated using the image-based WCoP method, and a directly measured weighted center of contact (WCoC) method during simulated walking. To achieve this goal, we created knee specific models of six human cadaveric knees from magnetic resonance imaging. All knees were then subjected to physiological loads on a knee simulator intended to mimic gait. Knee joint motion was captured using a motion capture system. Knee joint contact stresses were synchronously recorded using a thin electronic sensor throughout gait, and used to compute WCoC for the medial and lateral plateaus of each knee. WCoP was calculated by combining knee kinematics with the MRI-based knee specific model. Both metrics were compared throughout gait using linear regression. The anteroposterior (AP) location of WCoP was significantly correlated with that of WCoC on both tibial plateaus in all specimens (P < 0.01, 95% confidence interval of Person’s coefficient r > 0), but the correlation was not significant in the mediolateral (ML) direction for 4/6 knees (P > 0.05). Our study demonstrates that while the location of joint contact obtained from 3D knee joint contact model, using the WCoP method, is significantly correlated with the location of actual contact stresses in the AP direction, that relationship is less certain in the ML direction. PMID:24837219

Prediction of community mental health service utilization by individual and ecological level socio-economic factors.

PubMed

Donisi, Valeria; Tedeschi, Federico; Percudani, Mauro; Fiorillo, Andrea; Confalonieri, Linda; De Rosa, Corrado; Salazzari, Damiano; Tansella, Michele; Thornicroft, Graham; Amaddeo, Francesco

2013-10-30

Individuals with a more deprived socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to have higher rates of psychiatric morbidity and use of psychiatric services. Such service use is also influenced by socioeconomic factors at the ecological level. The aim of this article is to investigate the influence of these variables on service utilization. All patients in contact with three Italian community psychiatric services (CPS) were included. Community and hospital contacts over 6 months were investigated. Socio-economic characteristics were described using a SES Index and two new Resources Accessibility Indexes. Low SES was found to be associated with more community service contacts. When other individual and ecological variables were controlled for, SES was negatively associated only with the number of home visits, which was about half the rate in deprived areas. An association between service utilization and the resources of the catchment area was also detected. The economic crisis in Europe is increasing inequality of access, so paying attention to SES characteristics at both the individual and the ecological levels is likely to become increasingly important in understanding patterns of psychiatric service utilization and planning care accordingly. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

DNA hydrogel-based supercapacitors operating in physiological fluids

PubMed Central

Hur, Jaehyun; Im, Kyuhyun; Hwang, Sekyu; Choi, ByoungLyong; Kim, Sungjee; Hwang, Sungwoo; Park, Nokyoung; Kim, Kinam

2013-01-01

DNA nanostructures have been attractive due to their structural properties resulting in many important breakthroughs especially in controlled assemblies and many biological applications. Here, we report a unique energy storage device which is a supercapacitor that uses nanostructured DNA hydrogel (Dgel) as a template and layer-by-layer (LBL)-deposited polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) as conductors. Our device, named as PEM-Dgel supercapacitor, showed excellent performance in direct contact with physiological fluids such as artificial urine and phosphate buffered saline without any need of additional electrolytes, and exhibited almost no cytotoxicity during cycling tests in cell culture medium. Moreover, we demonstrated that the PEM-Dgel supercapacitor has greater charge-discharge cycling stability in physiological fluids than highly concentrated acid electrolyte solution which is normally used for supercapacitor operation. These conceptually new supercapacitors have the potential to be a platform technology for the creation of implantable energy storage devices for packageless applications directly utilizing biofluids. PMID:23412432

Report on the Stanford/Ames direct-link space suit prehensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jameson, J. W.; Leifer, Larry

1987-01-01

Researchers at the Center for Design Research at Stanford University, in collaboration with NASA Ames at Moffet Field, California, are developing hand-powered mechanical prehensors to replace gloves for EVA spacesuits. The design and functional properties of the first version Direct Link Prehensor (DLP) is discussed. It has a total of six degrees-of-freedom and is the most elaborate of three prehensors being developed for the project. The DLP has a robust design and utilizes only linkages and revolute joints for the drive system. With its anthropomorphic configuration of two fingers and a thumb, it is easy to control and is capable of all of the basic prehension patterns such as cylindrical or lateral pinch grasps. Kinematic analysis reveals that, assuming point contacts, a grasped object can be manipulated with three degrees-of-freedom. Yet, in practice more degrees-of-freedom are possible.

Maintenance cost study of rotary wing aircraft, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

The Navy's maintenance and materials management data base was used in a study to determine the feasibility of predicting unscheduled maintenance costs for the dynamic systems of military rotary wing aircraft. The major operational and design variables were identified and the direct maintenance man hours per flight hour were obtained by step-wise multiple regression analysis. Five nonmilitary helicopter users were contacted to supply data on which variables were important factors in civil applications. These uses included offshore oil exploration and support, police and fire department rescue and enforcement, logging and heavy equipment movement, and U.S. Army military operations. The equations developed were highly effective in predicting unscheduled direct maintenance man hours per flying hours for military aircraft, but less effective for commercial or public service helicopters, probably because of the longer mission durations and the much higher utilization of civil users.

Rolling contact fatigue of low hardness steel for slewing ring application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knuth, Jason A.

This thesis discusses the rolling contact fatigue of steel utilized in anti-friction bearings, also referred to as slewing bearings. These slewing bearings are utilized in cranes, excavators, wind turbines and other similar applications. Five materials composed of two different material types were tested. The two material types were high carbon steel and medium carbon alloy steel. The test specimens were processed from forged rolled rings. Two machines were evaluated a ZF-RCF and 3-Ball test machine. The evaluation was to determine which machine can best simulate the application in which the slewing bearing is utilized. Initially, each specimen will be pretested to determine the appropriate testing direction from within the forged rolled rings. Pretesting is needed in order to establish consistent failure modes between samples. The primary goal of the test is to understand the life differences and failure modes between high carbon steel and medium carbon alloy steel. The high carbon steel ring was cut into two sections, one of which was stress relieved and the other was quenched and tempered. The medium carbon alloy steel was cut into three sections, all of which were quenched and tempered to different hardness levels. The test program was dynamically adjusted based upon the previous sample's life and load. An S-N curve was then established from the 5 materials tested at two target loads. The samples were run until the first sign of a crack was detected by an eddy current. At the completion of the rolling contact test, select sample's microstructure was evaluated for crack initiation location. The selected samples were divided into four groups which represent different maximum shear stress levels. These samples displayed indications of material deformation in which the high carbon steel experienced an increased amount of cold work when compared to medium carbon alloy steel. The life of the high carbon steel was nearly equivalent to the expected life of the medium carbon alloy. The work hardening of the high carbon steel increased the surface hardness that exceeded the medium carbon alloy steel surface hardness.

Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoplatelets with Excellent Tribological Properties under High Contact Pressure as Water-Based Lubricant Additives

PubMed Central

Wang, Hongdong; Liu, Yuhong; Chen, Zhe; Wu, Bibo; Xu, Sailong; Luo, Jianbin

2016-01-01

High efficient and sustainable utilization of water-based lubricant is essential for saving energy. In this paper, a kind of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplatelets is synthesized and well dispersed in water due to the surface modification with oleylamine. The excellent tribological properties of the oleylamine-modified Ni-Al LDH (NiAl-LDH/OAm) nanoplatelets as water-based lubricant additives are evaluated by the tribological tests in an aqueous environment. The modified LDH nanoplatelets are found to not only reduce the friction but also enhance the wear resistance, compared with the water-based cutting fluid and lubricants containing other particle additives. By adding 0.5 wt% LDH nanoplatelets, under 1.5 GPa initial contact pressure, the friction coefficient, scar diameter, depth and width of the wear track dramatically decrease by 83.1%, 43.2%, 88.5% and 59.5%, respectively. It is considered that the sufficiently small size and the excellent dispersion of NiAl-LDH/OAm nanoplatelets in water are the key factors, so as to make them enter the contact area, form a lubricating film and prevent direct collision of asperity peaks. Our investigations demonstrate that the LDH nanoplatelet as a water-based lubricant additive has a great potential value in industrial application. PMID:26951794

Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoplatelets with Excellent Tribological Properties under High Contact Pressure as Water-Based Lubricant Additives.

PubMed

Wang, Hongdong; Liu, Yuhong; Chen, Zhe; Wu, Bibo; Xu, Sailong; Luo, Jianbin

2016-03-08

High efficient and sustainable utilization of water-based lubricant is essential for saving energy. In this paper, a kind of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplatelets is synthesized and well dispersed in water due to the surface modification with oleylamine. The excellent tribological properties of the oleylamine-modified Ni-Al LDH (NiAl-LDH/OAm) nanoplatelets as water-based lubricant additives are evaluated by the tribological tests in an aqueous environment. The modified LDH nanoplatelets are found to not only reduce the friction but also enhance the wear resistance, compared with the water-based cutting fluid and lubricants containing other particle additives. By adding 0.5 wt% LDH nanoplatelets, under 1.5 GPa initial contact pressure, the friction coefficient, scar diameter, depth and width of the wear track dramatically decrease by 83.1%, 43.2%, 88.5% and 59.5%, respectively. It is considered that the sufficiently small size and the excellent dispersion of NiAl-LDH/OAm nanoplatelets in water are the key factors, so as to make them enter the contact area, form a lubricating film and prevent direct collision of asperity peaks. Our investigations demonstrate that the LDH nanoplatelet as a water-based lubricant additive has a great potential value in industrial application.

Touchless attitude correction for satellite with constant magnetic moment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ao, Hou-jun; Yang, Le-ping; Zhu, Yan-wei; Zhang, Yuan-wen; Huang, Huan

2017-09-01

Rescue of satellite with attitude fault is of great value. Satellite with improper injection attitude may lose contact with ground as the antenna points to the wrong direction, or encounter energy problems as solar arrays are not facing the sun. Improper uploaded command may set the attitude out of control, exemplified by Japanese Hitomi spacecraft. In engineering practice, traditional physical contact approaches have been applied, yet with a potential risk of collision and a lack of versatility since the mechanical systems are mission-specific. This paper puts forward a touchless attitude correction approach, in which three satellites are considered, one having constant dipole and two having magnetic coils to control attitude of the first. Particular correction configurations are designed and analyzed to maintain the target's orbit during the attitude correction process. A reference coordinate system is introduced to simplify the control process and avoid the singular value problem of Euler angles. Based on the spherical triangle basic relations, the accurate varying geomagnetic field is considered in the attitude dynamic mode. Sliding mode control method is utilized to design the correction law. Finally, numerical simulation is conducted to verify the theoretical derivation. It can be safely concluded that the no-contact attitude correction approach for the satellite with uniaxial constant magnetic moment is feasible and potentially applicable to on-orbit operations.

The performance and clinical utility of cervical microscopy for the diagnosis of gonorrhoea in women in the era of the NAAT.

PubMed

Thorley, Nicola; Radcliffe, Keith

2015-08-01

We evaluated the performance and clinical utility of cervical microscopy for diagnosing genital gonorrhoea (GC) in women, using the APTIMA Combo 2 dual GC/Chlamydia trachomatis assay as the gold standard. Test performance was assessed overall and for patient subgroups (symptomatic, GC contacts, pelvic inflammatory disease [PID] diagnosis). It was found that 93 women had positive GC genital NAAT results; 15 had positive cervical microscopy (8 were GC contacts). In all subgroups except GC contacts, the PPV of cervical microscopy was below the nationally accepted target of 90%. Compared to APTIMA Combo 2, cervical microscopy has poor sensitivity for diagnosing GC in women (16.1% overall, 17.3% symptomatic, 25% GC contacts, 10.5% PID). GC contacts accounted for over 50% of the positive microscopy results and would have received epidemiological treatment for GC, regardless of the microscopy result. Discontinuing the routine use of cervical microscopy would improve patient flow through the sexual health clinic and resources could be utilised more effectively. © The Author(s) 2014.

Mentalizing eye contact with a face on a video: Gaze direction does not influence autonomic arousal.

PubMed

Lyyra, Pessi; Myllyneva, Aki; Hietanen, Jari K

2018-04-26

Recent research has revealed enhanced autonomic and subjective responses to eye contact only when perceiving another live person. However, these enhanced responses to eye contact are abolished if the viewer believes that the other person is not able to look back at the viewer. We purported to investigate whether this "genuine" eye contact effect can be reproduced with pre-recorded videos of stimulus persons. Autonomic responses, gaze behavior, and subjective self-assessments were measured while participants viewed pre-recorded video persons with direct or averted gaze, imagined that the video person was real, and mentalized that the person could see them or not. Pre-recorded videos did not evoke similar physiological or subjective eye contact effect as previously observed with live persons, not even when the participants were mentalizing being seen by the person. Gaze tracking results showed, however, increased attention allocation to faces with direct gaze compared to averted gaze directions. The results suggest that elicitation of the physiological arousal in response to genuine eye contact seems to require spontaneous experience of seeing and of being seen by another individual. © 2018 Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Multiple gap photovoltaic device

DOEpatents

Dalal, Vikram L.

1981-01-01

A multiple gap photovoltaic device having a transparent electrical contact adjacent a first cell which in turn is adjacent a second cell on an opaque electrical contact, includes utilizing an amorphous semiconductor as the first cell and a crystalline semiconductor as the second cell.

Applications of microcomputers in bridge design.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-01-01

The utilization of microcomputers in bridge design activities in state transportation departments was evaluated through contacts with 32 state agencies. While the present utilization of microcomputers was found to be limited, subsequent research show...

Non-Dissipative Structural Evolutions in Granular Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pouragha, Mehdi; Wan, Richard

2017-06-01

The structure of the contact network in granular assemblies can evolve due to either dissipative mechanisms such as sliding at contact points, or non-dissipative mechanisms through the phenomenon of contact gain and loss. Being associated with negligible deformations, non-dissipative mechanisms is actually active even in the small strain range of 10-3, especially in the case of densely packed assemblies. Hence, from a constitutive modelling point of view, it is crucial to be able to estimate such non-dissipative evolutions since both elastic and plastic properties of granular assemblies highly depend on contact network characteristics. The current study proposes an analytical scheme that allows us to estimate the non-dissipative contact gain/loss regime in terms of directional changes in the average contact force. The probability distribution of contact forces is used to compute the number of lost contact for each direction. Similarly, the number of newly formed contacts is estimated by considering the probability distribution of the gap between neighbouring particles. Based on the directional contact gain/loss computed, the changes in coordination number and fabric anisotropy can be found which, together with statistical treatments of Love-Weber stress expression, form a complete system of equations describing the evolution of other controlling microvariables. Finally, the results of the calculations have been compared with DEM simulations which verify the accuracy of the proposed scheme.

In vivo anatomical analysis of arterial contact with trigeminal nerve: detection with three-dimensional spoiled grass imaging.

PubMed

Ueda, F; Suzuki, M; Fujinaga, Y; Kadoya, M; Takashima, T

1999-09-01

The purpose of this study was to review the normal in vivo neurovascular relationship between the trigeminal nerve and surrounding arteries without the use of volunteers. 290 nerves in 145 cases were reviewed during a 1-year period. Axial source images and multiplanar reconstructed (MPR) images were used to determine the neurovascular contact and direction of contact. Multiplanar volume reformation (MPVR) was used to identify the contact vessels and to demonstrate the relationship between the nerve and arteries. Vascular contact was found in 29% of the 290 nerves (83 nerves). The arteries involved were the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) or the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA). Vascular contact with two arteries was found in 3%. Of the 286 asymptomatic nerves, the nerve was located between the two vessels in 3% and compression was seen in 1%. Three points of vascular contact by the two arteries were identified in one asymptomatic nerve. The direction of contact between the SCA and the nerve was superior (38%), superomedial (32%) or medial (15%) in most cases. The direction of contact between the AICA and the nerve was inferior, inferolateral or lateral in all cases. Vascular contact at the root entry zone (REZ) was noted in 90%. Four nerves were affected by trigeminal neuralgia, one of which touched an artery and two were compressed. It was concluded that arterial contact can be assessed without difficulty but evaluation of vascular compression is not easy.

Microbial biofilm detection on food contact surfaces by macro-scale fluorescence imaging

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Hyperspectral fluorescence imaging methods were utilized to evaluate the potential of multispectral fluorescence methods for detection of pathogenic biofilm formations on four types of food contact surface materials: stainless steel, high density polyethylene (HDPE) commonly used for cutting boards,...

Method using selected carbons to react with Al2O and Al vapors in the carbothermic production of aluminum

DOEpatents

Fruehan, Richard J.; Li, Yun; Carkin, Gerald

2005-02-01

In a method for recovering Al from an off-gas (3,4) produced during carbothermic reduction of aluminum utilizing at least one smelter (1,2), the off-gas (3,4) is directed to an enclosed reactor (5) which is fed a supply of wood charcoal (7) having a porosity of from about 50 vol. % to 85 vol. % and an average pore diameter of from about 0.05 .mu.m to about 2.00 .mu.m, where the wood charcoal (7) contacts the off-gas (3,4) to produce at least Al.sub.4 C.sub.3 (6), which is passed back to the smelter (1,2).

Free surface convection in a bounded cylindrical geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vrentas, J. S.; Narayanan, R.; Agrawal, S. S.

1981-09-01

Surface tension-driven convection and buoyancy-driven convection in a bounded cylindrical geometry with a free surface are studied for a range of aspect ratios and Nusselt numbers. The thermal convection is in a liquid layer contained in a vertical circular cylinder with a single free boundary, the top surface, which is in contact with an inviscid gas phase. A different method is also developed for analyzing free convection problems using Green's functions, reducing the problem to the solution of an integral equation. Linear theory and some aspects of a nonlinear analysis are utilized to determine the critical Marangoni and Rayleigh numbers, the structure of the convective motion, the direction of flow, and the nature of the bifurcation branching.

Processes for producing low cost, high efficiency silicon solar cells

DOEpatents

Rohatgi, Ajeet; Doshi, Parag; Tate, John Keith; Mejia, Jose; Chen, Zhizhang

1998-06-16

Processes which utilize rapid thermal processing (RTP) are provided for inexpensively producing high efficiency silicon solar cells. The RTP processes preserve minority carrier bulk lifetime .tau. and permit selective adjustment of the depth of the diffused regions, including emitter and back surface field (bsf), within the silicon substrate. In a first RTP process, an RTP step is utilized to simultaneously diffuse phosphorus and aluminum into the front and back surfaces, respectively, of a silicon substrate. Moreover, an in situ controlled cooling procedure preserves the carrier bulk lifetime .tau. and permits selective adjustment of the depth of the diffused regions. In a second RTP process, both simultaneous diffusion of the phosphorus and aluminum as well as annealing of the front and back contacts are accomplished during the RTP step. In a third RTP process, the RTP step accomplishes simultaneous diffusion of the phosphorus and aluminum, annealing of the contacts, and annealing of a double-layer antireflection/passivation coating SiN/SiO.sub.x. In a fourth RTP process, the process of applying front and back contacts is broken up into two separate respective steps, which enhances the efficiency of the cells, at a slight time expense. In a fifth RTP process, a second RTP step is utilized to fire and adhere the screen printed or evaporated contacts to the structure.

Piezoviscosity In Lubrication Of Nonconformal Contacts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jeng, Yeau-Ren; Hamrock, Bernard J.; Brewe, David E.

1988-01-01

Developments in theory of lubrication. Analysis of piezoviscous-rigid regime of lubrication of two ellipsoidal contacts. Begins with Reynolds equation for point contact. Equation nondimensionalized using Roelands empirical formula and Dowson and Higginson formula. Equation solved numerically. Solutions obtained for full spectrum of conditions to find effects of dimensionless load, speed, parameters of lubricated and lubricating materials, and angle between direction of rolling and direction of entrainment of lubricant.

PDGF-A suppresses contact inhibition during directional collective cell migration.

PubMed

Nagel, Martina; Winklbauer, Rudolf

2018-06-08

The leading edge mesendoderm (LEM) of the Xenopus gastrula moves as an aggregate by collective migration. However, LEM cells on fibronectin in vitro show contact inhibition of locomotion by quickly retracting lamellipodia upon mutual contact. We found that a fibronectin-integrin-syndecan module acts between p21-activated kinase-1 upstream and ephrinB1 downstream to promote the contact-induced collapse of lamellipodia. To function in this module, fibronectin has to be present as puncta on the surface of LEM cells. To overcome contact inhibition in LEM cell aggregates, PDGF-A deposited in the endogenous substratum of LEM migration blocks the fibronectin-integrin-syndecan module at the integrin level. This stabilizes lamellipodia preferentially in the direction of normal LEM movement and supports cell orientation and the directional migration of the coherent LEM cell mass. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

In vitro effects of two silicate-based materials, Biodentine and BioRoot RCS, on dental pulp stem cells in models of reactionary and reparative dentinogenesis

PubMed Central

Loison-Robert, Ludwig Stanislas; Berbar, Tsouria; Isaac, Juliane; Berdal, Ariane; Simon, Stéphane

2018-01-01

Background Calcium silicate-based cements are biomaterials with calcium oxide and carbonate filler additives. Their properties are close to those of dentin, making them useful in restorative dentistry and endodontics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro biological effects of two such calcium silicate cements, Biodentine (BD) and Bioroot (BR), on dental stem cells in both direct and indirect contact models. The two models used aimed to mimic reparative dentin formation (direct contact) and reactionary dentin formation (indirect contact). An original aspect of this study is the use of an interposed thin agarose gel layer to assess the effects of diffusible components from the materials. Results The two biomaterials were compared and did not modify dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) proliferation. BD and BR showed no significant cytotoxicity, although some cell death occurred in direct contact. No apoptosis or inflammation induction was detected. A striking increase of mineralization induction was observed in the presence of BD and BR, and this effect was greater in direct contact. Surprisingly, biomineralization occurred even in the absence of mineralization medium. This differentiation was accompanied by expression of odontoblast-associated genes. Exposure by indirect contact did not stimulate the induction to such a level. Conclusion These two biomaterials both seem to be bioactive and biocompatible, preserving DPSC proliferation, migration and adhesion. The observed strong mineralization induction through direct contact highlights the potential of these biomaterials for clinical application in dentin-pulp complex regeneration. PMID:29370163

Phylogeography of speciation: allopatric divergence and secondary contact between outcrossing and selfing Clarkia.

PubMed

Pettengill, James B; Moeller, David A

2012-09-01

The origins of hybrid zones between parapatric taxa have been of particular interest for understanding the evolution of reproductive isolation and the geographic context of species divergence. One challenge has been to distinguish between allopatric divergence (followed by secondary contact) versus primary intergradation (parapatric speciation) as alternative divergence histories. Here, we use complementary phylogeographic and population genetic analyses to investigate the recent divergence of two subspecies of Clarkia xantiana and the formation of a hybrid zone within the narrow region of sympatry. We tested alternative phylogeographic models of divergence using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) and found strong support for a secondary contact model and little support for a model allowing for gene flow throughout the divergence process (i.e. primary intergradation). Two independent methods for inferring the ancestral geography of each subspecies, one based on probabilistic character state reconstructions and the other on palaeo-distribution modelling, also support a model of divergence in allopatry and range expansion leading to secondary contact. The membership of individuals to genetic clusters suggests geographic substructure within each taxon where allopatric and sympatric samples are primarily found in separate clusters. We also observed coincidence and concordance of genetic clines across three types of molecular markers, which suggests that there is a strong barrier to gene flow. Taken together, our results provide evidence for allopatric divergence followed by range expansion leading to secondary contact. The location of refugial populations and the directionality of range expansion are consistent with expectations based on climate change since the last glacial maximum. Our approach also illustrates the utility of combining phylogeographic hypothesis testing with species distribution modelling and fine-scale population genetic analyses for inferring the geography of the divergence process. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Sensing with Superconducting Point Contacts

PubMed Central

Nurbawono, Argo; Zhang, Chun

2012-01-01

Superconducting point contacts have been used for measuring magnetic polarizations, identifying magnetic impurities, electronic structures, and even the vibrational modes of small molecules. Due to intrinsically small energy scale in the subgap structures of the supercurrent determined by the size of the superconducting energy gap, superconductors provide ultrahigh sensitivities for high resolution spectroscopies. The so-called Andreev reflection process between normal metal and superconductor carries complex and rich information which can be utilized as powerful sensor when fully exploited. In this review, we would discuss recent experimental and theoretical developments in the supercurrent transport through superconducting point contacts and their relevance to sensing applications, and we would highlight their current issues and potentials. A true utilization of the method based on Andreev reflection analysis opens up possibilities for a new class of ultrasensitive sensors. PMID:22778630

Three distinct mechanisms predominate in non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in male professional football players: a systematic video analysis of 39 cases

PubMed Central

Waldén, Markus; Krosshaug, Tron; Bjørneboe, John; Andersen, Thor Einar; Faul, Oliver

2015-01-01

Background Current knowledge on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury mechanisms in male football players is limited. Aim To describe ACL injury mechanisms in male professional football players using systematic video analysis. Methods We assessed videos from 39 complete ACL tears recorded via prospective professional football injury surveillance between 2001 and 2011. Five analysts independently reviewed all videos to estimate the time of initial foot contact with the ground and the time of ACL tear. We then analysed all videos according to a structured format describing the injury circumstances and lower limb joint biomechanics. Results Twenty-five injuries were non-contact, eight indirect contact and six direct contact injuries. We identified three main categories of non-contact and indirect contact injury situations: (1) pressing (n=11), (2) re-gaining balance after kicking (n=5) and (3) landing after heading (n=5). The fourth main injury situation was direct contact with the injured leg or knee (n=6). Knee valgus was frequently seen in the main categories of non-contact and indirect contact playing situations (n=11), but a dynamic valgus collapse was infrequent (n=3). This was in contrast to the tackling-induced direct contact situations where a knee valgus collapse occurred in all cases (n=3). Conclusions Eighty-five per cent of the ACL injuries in male professional football players resulted from non-contact or indirect contact mechanisms. The most common playing situation leading to injury was pressing followed by kicking and heading. Knee valgus was frequently seen regardless of the playing situation, but a dynamic valgus collapse was rare. PMID:25907183

A randomized controlled trial comparing three invitation strategies in a breast cancer screening program.

PubMed

Segura, J M; Castells, X; Casamitjana, M; Macià, F; Porta, M; Katz, S J

2001-10-01

The objective of this study was to compare the response received by a population-based breast cancer screening program, according to three different invitation strategies: letters sent by mail from the program (program group), letters sent by mail from the Primary Health Care Team (PHT group), and direct contact through a trained professional (direct contact group). We used a cluster-randomized controlled trial with assignment to invitation group using home address. Nine hundred eighty-six women of Barcelona (Spain), ages 50 to 64 years, were invited to participate in the program. The main outcome used was the response rate after the first invitation. Five hundred sixty-four women accepted the invitation (57.2%). The highest response rate was achieved in the direct contact group (63.5%), followed by the PHT group (55.6%), the program group being the one that attained the lowest response rate (52.1%). The direct contact group had a higher probability of participating than the PHT group (RR = 1.14, P = 0.037) or the program group (RR = 1.22, P = 0.003). The response rate in the direct contact group was 72.1% when the letter was received by the subject herself. The increase in response occurred particularly among women of lower educational level. Inviting women to participate in a breast cancer screening program through direct contact by trained personnel increased participation rate compared with mailed-letter methods. The positive effect appeared restricted to women with lower educational levels. Copyright 2001 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.

Passive environmental temperature control system

DOEpatents

Corliss, John M.; Stickford, George H.

1981-01-01

Passive environmental heating and cooling systems are described, which utilize heat pipes to transmit heat to or from a thermal reservoir. In a solar heating system, a heat pipe is utilized to carry heat from a solar heat absorber plate that receives sunlight, through a thermal insulation barrier, to a heat storage wall, with the outer end of the pipe which is in contact with the solar absorber being lower than the inner end. The inclining of the heat pipe assures that the portion of working fluid, such as Freon, which is in a liquid phase will fall by gravity to the outer end of the pipe, thereby assuring diode action that prevents the reverse transfer of heat from the reservoir to the outside on cool nights. In a cooling system, the outer end of the pipe which connects to a heat dissipator, is higher than the inner end that is coupled to a cold reservoir, to allow heat transfer only out of the reservoir to the heat dissipator, and not in the reverse direction.

Poor hospital infection control practice in hand hygiene, glove utilization, and usage of tourniquets.

PubMed

Sacar, Suzan; Turgut, Huseyin; Kaleli, Ilknur; Cevahir, Nural; Asan, Ali; Sacar, Mustafa; Tekin, Koray

2006-11-01

Hospital-acquired infection often occurs because of lapses in accepted standards of practice on the part of health care personnel. The aim of this study is to attract attention on poor hospital infection control practice in venepuncture and use of tourniquets and emphasize the importance of hand hygiene. Overall compliance with hygiene during usage of tourniquets and routine patient care before and after implementation of a hospital infection control measures was evaluated. According to the questionnaire, only 26.9% of respondents always washed their hands both before and after venepuncture. In the second step of the study, based on direct observation, hands were washed both before and after venepuncture on only 41 (45.1%) occasions. Failure to remove gloves after patient contact was observed on 23.1% occasions. Our survey reveals poor infection control practice in hand hygiene, glove utilization, and usage of tourniquets and the implementation of infection control measures produced a moderate improvement in compliance with them.

Utilizing laser interference lithography to fabricate hierarchical optical active nanostructures inspired by the blue Morpho butterfly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siddique, Radwanul H.; Faisal, Abrar; Hünig, Ruben; Bartels, Carolin; Wacker, Irene; Lemmer, Uli; Hoelscher, Hendrik

2014-09-01

The famous non-iridescent blue of the Morpho butter by is caused by a `Christmas tree' like nanostructure which is a challenge for common fabrication techniques. Here, we introduce a method to fabricate this complex morphology utilizing dual beam interference lithography. We add a reflective coating below the photoresist to create a second interference pattern in vertical direction by exploiting the back reflection from the substrate. This vertical pattern exposes the lamella structure into the photosensitive polymer while the horizontal interference pattern determines the distance of the ridges. The photosensitive polymer is chosen accordingly to create the Christmas tree' like tapered shape. The resulting artificial Morpho replica shows brilliant non-iridescent blue up to an incident angle of 40. Its optical properties are close to the original Morpho structure because the refractive index of the polymer is close to chitin. Moreover, the biomimetic surface is water repellent with a contact angle of 110.

Glass microfluidic devices with thin membrane voltage junctions for electrospray mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Yue, Guihua Eileen; Roper, Michael G; Jeffery, Erin D; Easley, Christopher J; Balchunas, Catherine; Landers, James P; Ferrance, Jerome P

2005-06-01

In this study a novel glass membrane was prepared for conducting high voltage (HV) to solution in the channel of a microfabricated device for generation of liquid electrospray. Taylor cone formation and mass spectra obtained from this microdevice confirmed the utility of the glass membrane, but voltage conduction through the membrane could not be successfully explained based solely on the conductivity of the glass itself. This novel method for developing a high-voltage interface for microdevices avoids direct metal/liquid contact eliminating bubble formation in the channel due to water hydrolysis on the surface of the metal. Further, this arrangement produces no dead volume as is often found with traditional liquid junctions. At the same time, preliminary investigations into the outlet design of glass microdevices for interfacing with electrospray mass spectrometry, was explored. Both the exit shape and the use of hydrophobic coatings at the channel exit of the microdevice electrospray interface were evaluated using standard proteins with results indicating the utility of this type of design after further optimization.

Method for growing a back surface contact on an imaging detector used in conjunction with back illumination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blacksberg, Jordana (Inventor); Hoenk, Michael Eugene (Inventor); Nikzad, Shouleh (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A method is provided for growing a back surface contact on an imaging detector used in conjunction with back illumination. In operation, an imaging detector is provided. Additionally, a back surface contact (e.g. a delta-doped layer, etc.) is grown on the imaging detector utilizing a process that is performed at a temperature less than 450 degrees Celsius.

Mechanically Oriented 3D Collagen Hydrogel for Directing Neurite Growth.

PubMed

Antman-Passig, Merav; Levy, Shahar; Gartenberg, Chaim; Schori, Hadas; Shefi, Orit

2017-05-01

Recent studies in the field of neuro-tissue engineering have demonstrated the promising effects of aligned contact guidance cue to scaffolds of enhancement and direction of neuronal growth. In vivo, neurons grow and develop neurites in a complex three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding. Studies have utilized hydrogel scaffolds derived from ECM molecules to better simulate natural growth. While many efforts have been made to control neuronal growth on 2D surfaces, the development of 3D scaffolds with an elaborate oriented topography to direct neuronal growth still remains a challenge. In this study, we designed a method for growing neurons in an aligned and oriented 3D collagen hydrogel. We aligned collagen fibers by inducing controlled uniaxial strain on gels. To examine the collagen hydrogel as a suitable scaffold for neuronal growth, we evaluated the physical properties of the hydrogel and measured collagen fiber properties. By combining the neuronal culture in 3D collagen hydrogels with strain-induced alignment, we were able to direct neuronal growth in the direction of the aligned collagen matrix. Quantitative evaluation of neurite extension and directionality within aligned gels was performed. The analysis showed neurite growth aligned with collagen matrix orientation, while maintaining the advantageous 3D growth.

The rich and the poor: environmental biodiversity protecting from allergy.

PubMed

Ruokolainen, Lasse; Fyhrquist, Nanna; Haahtela, Tari

2016-10-01

It has been proposed that biodiversity loss leads to reduced interaction between environmental and human microbiotas. This, in turn, may lead to immune dysfunction and impaired tolerance mechanisms in humans. That is, contact with environmental biodiversity is expected to protect from allergies. However, direct evidence linking contact with biodiversity and risk of allergy has been lacking. In this review, we consider the latest research on the biodiversity hypothesis of allergy. It is becoming clear that what you eat, drink, inhale, and touch all contribute to the grand scheme of host-microbial crosstalk that is needed for a balanced, healthy immune system to develop and maintain a healthy recognition between harmful and harmless invasions. Microbes can either communicate directly with host immune cells or affect the host via metabolism that can even lead to epigenetic modifications. Our living environment plays a key role in this process. Although especially, early exposure to diverse, beneficial microbiota from the environment is repeatedly found crucial, studies on immigrants demonstrate that condition in later life can also be decisive. We are still lacking a more detailed understanding of the interaction between natural, environmental biodiversity, and health, which calls for new innovative and more long-term investigations. The outcomes should be utilized in policy and urban planning efforts, promoting human interaction with natural biodiversity, and supporting a healthy lifestyle.

Oregano essential oil-based natural antimicrobial packaging film to inactivate Salmonella enterica and yeasts/molds in the atmosphere surrounding cherry tomatoes.

PubMed

Kwon, Sang-Jo; Chang, Yoonjee; Han, Jaejoon

2017-08-01

This study investigated the effectiveness of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film containing the natural antimicrobial oregano essential oil (OEO) as an active packaging application for decreasing the microbial growth. The film exerted an antimicrobial effect via the atmosphere surrounding the food rather than direct contact, thereby preserving the quality of cherry tomatoes. A packaging film containing microencapsulated OEO was developed. The loading content increased gradually (104.29-234.29 μg OEO/mg film) with the amount of OEO incorporated (1%, 2%, and 3%), where the PVA films containing 2% OEO had the highest loading efficiency (91.64%), followed by 1% OEO (90.96%) and 3% OEO (88.38%). The antimicrobial activities of the films were evaluated by applying it to fresh cherry tomatoes at 4 °C and 22 °C for 7 days. The large 2% OEO film as well as both the small and large 3% OEO films had strong antimicrobial effects against Salmonella enterica, molds and yeasts, and mesophilic aerobic bacteria. The changes in the hardness, weight, and color of the cherry tomatoes during storage did not differ significantly. The films could be utilized as a packaging material for fresh produce with antimicrobial effects because of the controlled atmosphere surrounding the food rather than by direct contact. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cadherin-11 Mediates Contact Inhibition of Locomotion during Xenopus Neural Crest Cell Migration

PubMed Central

Becker, Sarah F. S.; Mayor, Roberto; Kashef, Jubin

2013-01-01

Collective cell migration is an essential feature both in embryonic development and cancer progression. The molecular mechanisms of these coordinated directional cell movements still need to be elucidated. The migration of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells during embryogenesis is an excellent model for collective cell migration in vivo. These highly motile and multipotent cells migrate directionally on defined routes throughout the embryo. Interestingly, local cell-cell interactions seem to be the key force for directionality. CNC cells can change their migration direction by a repulsive cell response called contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL). Cell protrusions collapse upon homotypic cell-cell contact and internal repolarization leads to formation of new protrusions toward cell-free regions. Wnt/PCP signaling was shown to mediate activation of small RhoGTPase RhoA and inhibition of cell protrusions at the contact side. However, the mechanism how a cell recognizes the contact is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that Xenopus cadherin-11 (Xcad-11) mediated cell-cell adhesion is necessary in CIL for directional and collective migration of CNC cells. Reduction of Xcad-11 adhesive function resulted in higher invasiveness of CNC due to loss of CIL. Additionally, transplantation analyses revealed that CNC migratory behaviour in vivo is non-directional and incomplete when Xcad-11 adhesive function is impaired. Blocking Wnt/PCP signaling led to similar results underlining the importance of Xcad-11 in the mechanism of CIL and directional migration of CNC. PMID:24392028

Simulation of between-farm transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Ontario, Canada using the North American Animal Disease Spread Model.

PubMed

Thakur, Krishna K; Revie, Crawford W; Hurnik, Daniel; Poljak, Zvonimir; Sanchez, Javier

2015-03-01

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a viral disease of swine, has major economic impacts on the swine industry. The North American Animal Disease Spread Model (NAADSM) is a spatial, stochastic, farm level state-transition modeling framework originally developed to simulate highly contagious and foreign livestock diseases. The objectives of this study were to develop a model to simulate between-farm spread of a homologous strain of PRRS virus in Ontario swine farms via direct (animal movement) and indirect (sharing of trucks between farms) contacts using the NAADSM and to compare the patterns and extent of outbreak under different simulated conditions. A total of 2552 swine farms in Ontario province were allocated to each census division of Ontario and geo-locations of the farms were randomly generated within the agriculture land of each Census Division. Contact rates among different production types were obtained using pig movement information from four regions in Canada. A total of 24 scenarios were developed involving various direct (movement of infected animals) and indirect (pig transportation trucks) contact parameters in combination with alternating the production type of the farm in which the infection was seeded. Outbreaks were simulated for one year with 1000 replications. The median number of farms infected, proportion of farms with multiple outbreaks and time to reach the peak epidemic were used to compare the size, progression and extent of outbreaks. Scenarios involving spread only by direct contact between farms resulted in outbreaks where the median percentage of infected farms ranged from 31.5 to 37% of all farms. In scenarios with both direct and indirect contact, the median percentage of infected farms increased to a range from 41.6 to 48.6%. Furthermore, scenarios with both direct and indirect contact resulted in a 44% increase in median epidemic size when compared to the direct contact scenarios. Incorporation of both animal movements and the sharing of trucks within the model indicated that the effect of direct and indirect contact may be nonlinear on outbreak progression. The increase of 44% in epidemic size when indirect contact, via sharing of trucks, was incorporated into the model highlights the importance of proper biosecurity measures in preventing transmission of the PRRS virus. Simulation of between-farm spread of the PRRS virus in swine farms has highlighted the relative importance of direct and indirect contact and provides important insights regarding the possible patterns and extent of spread of the PRRS virus in a completely susceptible population with herd demographics similar to those found in Ontario, Canada. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Properties of perpendicular-anisotropy magnetic tunnel junctions fabricated over the bottom electrode contact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miura, Sadahiko; Honjo, Hiroaki; Kinoshita, Keizo; Tokutome, Keiichi; Koike, Hiroaki; Ikeda, Shoji; Endoh, Tetsuo; Ohno, Hideo

2015-04-01

Perpendicular-anisotropy magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) were prepared on four substrate geometries, i.e., directly on the axis of the bottom electrode contact, directly off the axis of the bottom electrode contact, on the axis of the bottom electrode contact with a polished bottom electrode, and off the axis of the bottom electrode contact with a polished bottom electrode. Electrical shorts were observed for direct on-axis geometry at a certain extent, whereas there were no electrical shorts for the other three geometries. The MR ratio/σR, JC0, and thermal stability factor of the devices for polish on-axis geometry were almost the same as those for polish off-axis geometry. From TEM observations of the polish on-axis device, the interface between the bottom contact and the base electrode was determined to be rough, whereas the MgO barrier layer was determined to be smooth, indicating that the polish process was effective for smooth magnetic tunnel junction fabrication over the bottom contact. MTJs for polish on-axis geometry eliminated the base electrode resistance and increased the magnetoresistance ratio. This technology contributes to the higher density of spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory.

The pathogenesis of highly virulent African Swine Fever virus in domestic pigs exposed via intraoropharyngeal, intranasopharyngeal, and intramuscular inoculation, and by direct contact with infected pigs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In order to optimize novel systems for African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) vaccine development, domestic pigs were challenged with the highly virulent ASFV-Malawi strain via intraoropharyngeal (IOP), intranasopharyngeal (INP), intramuscular (IM), and direct contact (DC) routes. Direct challenge doses ...

Contact frequency and cognitive health among older adults in Israel.

PubMed

Schwartz, Ella; Khalaila, Rabia; Litwin, Howard

2018-05-03

The current study set out to examine the links between contact frequency with one's social network and cognitive health in later life. It assessed both direct and indirect pathways and the possible role of ethnicity in the effect of the social network on cognitive function. We used data from adults aged 50 and above, which was collected in Israel as part of the Survey of Ageing, Retirement and Health (SHARE). A moderated mediation analysis was conducted to test the direct and indirect associations between contact frequency and cognitive function, as well as the moderation of these associations by population group. Three population groups were examined - veteran-Jews, Arabs and immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Contact frequency with the close social milieu was found to be directly positively related to cognitive function. The association was also mediated by depressive symptoms, such that frequent contacts were linked to cognitive health via reduced depressive symptoms. This indirect link differed, however, among the three population groups. Contact frequency is important for cognitive health in the second half of life, and it operates both directly and by decreasing depressive symptoms. However, these links are not found among all ethnic groups and may, therefore, depend on the culture and social norms of each group and the meaning attributed to social ties.

Antibacterial properties of aged dental cements evaluated by direct-contact and agar diffusion tests.

PubMed

Lewinstein, Israel; Matalon, Shlomo; Slutzkey, Shimshon; Weiss, Ervin I

2005-04-01

Since failure of fixed partial dentures is most frequently caused by caries, it would be advantageous if cements possessed antibacterial properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of 3 dental cements using the direct-contact test and agar diffusion test. For the direct-contact test, wells (n = 4) of microtiter plates were coated with the tested cements (Harvard cement, Duralon, and Ketac-Cem) while Streptococcus mutans suspension was placed directly on the cements. Bacterial growth was evaluated by a temperature-controlled microplate spectrophotometer. Eight wells of bacteria without the tested cements served as the positive control. Six wells of the tested cement without bacteria served as the negative control. For the agar diffusion test, triplicate specimens of freshly mixed cements were poured into uniform wells (5 mm in diameter) punched in the agar plates inoculated with Streptococcus mutans . After incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 hours, the agar plates were examined for bacterial growth and the diameter of the halo formed in the bacterial lawn was measured. In both tests, each cement was mixed in 2 different powder/liquid ratios. For the direct-contact test, data were initially recorded after 1 hour of incubation. Additional experiments were performed on specimens that were aged for 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months before assessment by either direct-contact test or agar diffusion test. The data were subjected to 1-way ANOVA with the Tukey post hoc test (alpha=.05). Compared with the control group, Duralon and Harvard cements demonstrated antibacterial properties even after 3 months with the direct-contact test (P <.002), while Ketac-Cem exhibited no antibacterial properties. In the agar diffusion test, no antibacterial activity was observed for any of the tested cements. The different powder/liquid ratios had a negligible effect on the antibacterial properties of the tested cements. Within the limitations of this study, Duralon and Harvard cements possessed prolonged antibacterial properties, while Ketac-Cem exhibited no antibacterial activity. The direct-contact test may be a more suitable test than the agar diffusion test to evaluate antibacterial properties of definitive cements.

Tunable Electron and Hole Injection Enabled by Atomically Thin Tunneling Layer for Improved Contact Resistance and Dual Channel Transport in MoS2/WSe2 van der Waals Heterostructure.

PubMed

Khan, Muhammad Atif; Rathi, Servin; Lee, Changhee; Lim, Dongsuk; Kim, Yunseob; Yun, Sun Jin; Youn, Doo Hyeb; Kim, Gil-Ho

2018-06-25

Two-dimensional (2D) materials based heterostructures provide a unique platform where interaction between stacked 2D layers can enhance the electrical and opto-electrical properties as well as give rise to interesting new phenomena. Here, operation of a van der Waals heterostructure device comprising of vertically stacked bi-layer MoS 2 and few layered WSe 2 has been demonstrated in which atomically thin MoS 2 layer has been employed as a tunneling layer to the underlying WSe 2 layer. In this way, simultaneous contacts to both MoS 2 and WSe 2 2D layers have been established by forming direct MS (metal semiconductor) to MoS 2 and tunneling based MIS (metal insulator semiconductor) contacts to WSe 2 , respectively. The use of MoS 2 as a dielectric tunneling layer results in improved contact resistance (80 kΩ-µm) for WSe 2 contact, which is attributed to reduction in effective Schottky barrier height and is also confirmed from the temperature dependent measurement. Further, this unique contact engineering and type II band alignment between MoS 2 and WSe 2 enables a selective and independent carrier transport across the respective layers. This contact engineered dual channel heterostructure exhibits an excellent gate control and both channel current and carrier types can be modulated by the vertical electric field of the gate electrode, which is also reflected in on/off ratio of 10 4 for both electrons (MoS 2 ) and holes (WSe 2 ) channels. Moreover, the charge transfer at the heterointerface is studied quantitatively from the shift in the threshold voltage of the pristine MoS 2 and heterostructure device, which agrees with the carrier recombination induced optical quenching as observed in the Raman spectra of the pristine and heterostructure layers. This observation of dual channel ambipolar transport enabled by the hybrid tunneling contacts and strong interlayer coupling can be utilized for high performance opto-electrical devices and applications.

75 FR 8843 - Sherwood Martinelli; Receipt of Petition for Rulemaking

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-26

... NRC amend its regulations regarding the domestic licensing of production and utilization facilities... remove any identifying or contact information, the NRC cautions you against including any information in... that the NRC will not edit their comments to remove any identifying or contact information, and...

Protecting Yourself From Shingles | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine

MedlinePlus

... with shingles can spread the disease through direct contact with the rash when the rash is in the blister phase. ... person who has never had chickenpox through direct contact with the rash. The person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles. ...

Equivalent reduced model technique development for nonlinear system dynamic response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thibault, Louis; Avitabile, Peter; Foley, Jason; Wolfson, Janet

2013-04-01

The dynamic response of structural systems commonly involves nonlinear effects. Often times, structural systems are made up of several components, whose individual behavior is essentially linear compared to the total assembled system. However, the assembly of linear components using highly nonlinear connection elements or contact regions causes the entire system to become nonlinear. Conventional transient nonlinear integration of the equations of motion can be extremely computationally intensive, especially when the finite element models describing the components are very large and detailed. In this work, the equivalent reduced model technique (ERMT) is developed to address complicated nonlinear contact problems. ERMT utilizes a highly accurate model reduction scheme, the System equivalent reduction expansion process (SEREP). Extremely reduced order models that provide dynamic characteristics of linear components, which are interconnected with highly nonlinear connection elements, are formulated with SEREP for the dynamic response evaluation using direct integration techniques. The full-space solution will be compared to the response obtained using drastically reduced models to make evident the usefulness of the technique for a variety of analytical cases.

Optical Testing Using Portable Laser Coordinate Measuring Instruments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khreishi, Manal; Ohl, Raymond G.; Mclean, Kyle F.; Hadjimichael, Theodore J.; Hayden, Joseph E.

2017-01-01

High precision, portable coordinate measuring instruments (CMI) such as laser radars (LR) and laser trackers (LT) have been used for optical system alignment and integration. The LR's ability to perform a non-contact scan of surfaces was previously utilized to characterize large spherical and aspheric mirrors. In this paper, we explore the use of a CMI as an accurate, fast, robust, and non-contact tool for prescription characterization of powered optical surfaces. Using Nikon's MV-224/350 LR and Leica's Absolute Tracker AT401/402 instruments, proof of concept measurements were performed to characterize a variety of optical components by measuring the actual and apparent, or equivalently the "direct and through" (D&T), coordinates of calibrated metrology targets. Custom macros in metrology software and other data reduction code were developed to compute surface-ray intercepts and surface slopes from the D&T shots. The calculated data is fit to an aspheric surface formula to obtain the optimum prescription. The results were compared to the nominal parameters and were crosschecked using LR scans or other approaches. We discuss potential applications across the fields of optical component fabrication and system alignment and testing.

Method for braze-joining spirally wound tapes to inner walls of heat exchanger tubes

DOEpatents

Garrison, Melton E.

1984-01-01

The present invention is directed to a method of fabricating heat exchanger tubes in which twisted tapes are utilized for promoting turbulence and heat transfer. The method of the present invention provides for the brazing of the tapes to the inner walls of the tubes for enhancing heat transfer between the fluid within the conduit and a fluid medium outside of the conduit by conduction through the tape. The braze joint of the present invention is coextensive with the tape over the entire length thereof within the conduit. The practice of the present invention is achieved by placing a filler wire of brazing metal along the tape at a location removed from the side walls and then heating the conduit and tape sufficiently to effect the displacement of the filler metal by wicking to the contact point between the tape and the conduit wall to form a braze joint coextensive with the length of the tape within the conduit. This arrangement provides maximum heat transfer and assures that the tape is in contact with the conduit over the entire common length thereof.

Method for braze-joining spirally wound tapes to inner walls of heat exchanger tubes

DOEpatents

Garrison, M.E.

1982-09-03

The present invention is directed to a method of fabricating heat exchanger tubes in which twisted tapes are utilized for promoting turbulence and heat transfer. The method of the present invention provides for the brazing of the tapes to the inner walls of the tubes for enhancing heat transfer between the fluid within the conduit and a fluid medium outside of the conduit by conduction through the tape. The braze joint of the present invention is coextensive with the tape over the entire length thereof within the conduit. The practice of the present invention is achieved by placing a filler wire of brazing metal along the tape at a location removed from the side walls and then heating the conduit and tape sufficiently to effect the displacement of the filler metal by wicking to the contact point between the tape and the conduit wall to form a braze joint coextensive with the length of the tape within the conduit. This arrangement provides maximum heat transfer and assures that the tape is in contact with the conduit over the entire common length thereof.

Structural evolution of Halaban Area, Eastern Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Amri, Yousef; Kassem1, Osama M. K.

2017-04-01

Neoproterozoic basement complex comprises a metamorphic/igneous suite (Abt schist and sheared granitoids) with syn-accretionary transpressive structures, unconformably overlain by a post-amalgamation volcanosedimentary sequence. This study aims to attempt to exposed post-accretionary thrusting and thrust-related structures at Halaban area, Eastern Arabian Shield. The Rf/ϕ and Fry methods are utilized on quartz and feldspar porphyroclasts, as well as on mafic crystals, such as hornblende and biotite, in eighteen samples. The X/Z axial ratios range from 1.12 to 4.99 for Rf/ϕ method and from 1.65 to 4.00 for Fry method. The direction of finite strain for the long axes displays clustering along the WNW trend (occasionally N) with slight plunging. Finite strain accumulated without any significant volume change contemporaneously with syn-accretionary transpressive structures. It indicates that the contacts between various lithological units in the Halaban area were formed under brittle to semi-ductile deformation conditions. The penetrative subhorizontal foliation was concurrent with thrusting and shows nearly the same attitudes of tectonic contacts with the overlying nappes. Keywords: Finite strain analysis, volcanosedimentary sequence, Halaban area, Eastern Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia.

Optical Testing Using Portable Laser Coordinate Measuring Instruments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khreishi, M.; Ohl, R.; Mclean, K.; Hadjimichael, T.; Hayden, J.

2017-01-01

High precision, portable coordinate measuring instruments (CMI) such as laser radars (LR) and laser trackers (LT) have been used for optical system alignment and integration. The LRs ability to perform a non-contact scan of surfaces was previously utilized to characterize large spherical and aspheric mirrors. In this paper, we explore the use of a CMI as an accurate, fast, robust, and non-contact tool for prescription characterization of powered optical surfaces. Using Nikons MV-224350 LR and Leicas Absolute Tracker AT401402 instruments, proof of concept measurements were performed to characterize a variety of optical components by measuring the actual and apparent, or equivalently the direct and through (DT), coordinates of calibrated metrology targets. Custom macros in metrology software and other data reduction code were developed to compute surface-ray intercepts and surface slopes from the DT shots. The calculated data is fit to an aspheric surface formula to obtain the optimum prescription. The results were compared to the nominal parameters and were crosschecked using LR scans or other approaches. We discuss potential applications across the fields of optical component fabrication and system alignment and testing.

Phase imaging of mechanical properties of live cells (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wax, Adam

2017-02-01

The mechanisms by which cells respond to mechanical stimuli are essential for cell function yet not well understood. Many rheological tools have been developed to characterize cellular viscoelastic properties but these typically require direct mechanical contact, limiting their throughput. We have developed a new approach for characterizing the organization of subcellular structures using a label free, noncontact, single-shot phase imaging method that correlates to measured cellular mechanical stiffness. The new analysis approach measures refractive index variance and relates it to disorder strength. These measurements are compared to cellular stiffness, measured using the same imaging tool to visualize nanoscale responses to flow shear stimulus. The utility of the technique is shown by comparing shear stiffness and phase disorder strength across five cellular populations with varying mechanical properties. An inverse relationship between disorder strength and shear stiffness is shown, suggesting that cell mechanical properties can be assessed in a format amenable to high throughput studies using this novel, non-contact technique. Further studies will be presented which include examination of mechanical stiffness in early carcinogenic events and investigation of the role of specific cellular structural proteins in mechanotransduction.

Attention to eye contact in the West and East: autonomic responses and evaluative ratings.

PubMed

Akechi, Hironori; Senju, Atsushi; Uibo, Helen; Kikuchi, Yukiko; Hasegawa, Toshikazu; Hietanen, Jari K

2013-01-01

Eye contact has a fundamental role in human social interaction. The special appearance of the human eye (i.e., white sclera contrasted with a coloured iris) implies the importance of detecting another person's face through eye contact. Empirical studies have demonstrated that faces making eye contact are detected quickly and processed preferentially (i.e., the eye contact effect). Such sensitivity to eye contact seems to be innate and universal among humans; however, several studies suggest that cultural norms affect eye contact behaviours. For example, Japanese individuals exhibit less eye contact than do individuals from Western European or North American cultures. However, how culture modulates eye contact behaviour is unclear. The present study investigated cultural differences in autonomic correlates of attentional orienting (i.e., heart rate) and looking time. Additionally, we examined evaluative ratings of eye contact with another real person, displaying an emotionally neutral expression, between participants from Western European (Finnish) and East Asian (Japanese) cultures. Our results showed that eye contact elicited stronger heart rate deceleration responses (i.e., attentional orienting), shorter looking times, and higher ratings of subjective feelings of arousal as compared to averted gaze in both cultures. Instead, cultural differences in the eye contact effect were observed in various evaluative responses regarding the stimulus faces (e.g., facial emotion, approachability etc.). The rating results suggest that individuals from an East Asian culture perceive another's face as being angrier, unapproachable, and unpleasant when making eye contact as compared to individuals from a Western European culture. The rating results also revealed that gaze direction (direct vs. averted) could influence perceptions about another person's facial affect and disposition. These results suggest that cultural differences in eye contact behaviour emerge from differential display rules and cultural norms, as opposed to culture affecting eye contact behaviour directly at the physiological level.

Attention to Eye Contact in the West and East: Autonomic Responses and Evaluative Ratings

PubMed Central

Akechi, Hironori; Senju, Atsushi; Uibo, Helen; Kikuchi, Yukiko; Hasegawa, Toshikazu; Hietanen, Jari K.

2013-01-01

Eye contact has a fundamental role in human social interaction. The special appearance of the human eye (i.e., white sclera contrasted with a coloured iris) implies the importance of detecting another person's face through eye contact. Empirical studies have demonstrated that faces making eye contact are detected quickly and processed preferentially (i.e., the eye contact effect). Such sensitivity to eye contact seems to be innate and universal among humans; however, several studies suggest that cultural norms affect eye contact behaviours. For example, Japanese individuals exhibit less eye contact than do individuals from Western European or North American cultures. However, how culture modulates eye contact behaviour is unclear. The present study investigated cultural differences in autonomic correlates of attentional orienting (i.e., heart rate) and looking time. Additionally, we examined evaluative ratings of eye contact with another real person, displaying an emotionally neutral expression, between participants from Western European (Finnish) and East Asian (Japanese) cultures. Our results showed that eye contact elicited stronger heart rate deceleration responses (i.e., attentional orienting), shorter looking times, and higher ratings of subjective feelings of arousal as compared to averted gaze in both cultures. Instead, cultural differences in the eye contact effect were observed in various evaluative responses regarding the stimulus faces (e.g., facial emotion, approachability etc.). The rating results suggest that individuals from an East Asian culture perceive another's face as being angrier, unapproachable, and unpleasant when making eye contact as compared to individuals from a Western European culture. The rating results also revealed that gaze direction (direct vs. averted) could influence perceptions about another person's facial affect and disposition. These results suggest that cultural differences in eye contact behaviour emerge from differential display rules and cultural norms, as opposed to culture affecting eye contact behaviour directly at the physiological level. PMID:23516627

Prediction of contact path and load sharing in spiral bevel gears

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bibel, George D.; Tiku, Karuna; Kumar, Ashok

1994-01-01

A procedure is presented to perform a contact analysis of spiral bevel gears in order to predict the contact path and the load sharing as the gears roll through mesh. The approach utilizes recent advances in automated contact methods for nonlinear finite element analysis. A sector of the pinion and gear is modeled consisting of three pinion teeth and four gear teeth in mesh. Calculation of the contact force and stresses through the gear meshing cycle are demonstrated. Summary of the results are presented using three dimensional plots and tables. Issues relating to solution convergence and requirements for running large finite element analysis on a supercomputer are discussed.

Utilizing technology for longitudinal communication with homeless youth.

PubMed

Bender, Kimberly; Begun, Stephanie; DePrince, Anne; Haffejee, Badiah; Kaufmann, Sarah

2014-10-01

The current study investigated forms of technology (phone calls, texts, email and Facebook) for maintaining contact with homeless youth over baseline, 1-week, 6-week, and 3-month follow-up interviews. The study combined quantitative tracking of youths' response patterns and open-ended interviews regarding youths' preferred methods of communication. Results indicate that maintaining communication with homeless youth requires persistence, including frequent contact attempts over several days. Cell phone contacts (calls or texts) were most successful in communicating with youth, with e-mail and Facebook messaging useful when phones were lost or stolen. Youth who maintained contact were strikingly similar to youth who discontinued contact.

Surgery-Related Contact Dermatitis: A Review of Potential Irritants and Allergens.

PubMed

Cook, Kevin A; Kelso, John M

Surgical procedures utilize an increasing number of medical products including antiseptics, anesthetics, gloves, suture materials, tissue adhesives, topical antibiotics, and bandages. Many of these products have irritant potential. Allergic contact dermatitis has also been reported. This review covers preoperative, operative, and postoperative exposures that may result in contact dermatitis. Testing with standard patch panels such as T.R.U.E. Test and the North American Contact Dermatitis Group 65 allergen series does not evaluate for all relevant contactants. A thorough understanding of potential exposures is vital to effectively evaluate a patient with surgery-related contact dermatitis. A systematic approach is needed to ensure that standard patch panels and supplementary patches adequately address each encountered contactant. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

High voltage MOSFET devices and methods of making the devices

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

Banerjee, Sujit; Matocha, Kevin; Chatty, Kiran

A SiC MOSFET device having low specific on resistance is described. The device has N+, P-well and JFET regions extended in one direction (Y-direction) and P+ and source contacts extended in an orthogonal direction (X-direction). The polysilicon gate of the device covers the JFET region and is terminated over the P-well region to minimize electric field at the polysilicon gate edge. In use, current flows vertically from the drain contact at the bottom of the structure into the JFET region and then laterally in the X direction through the accumulation region and through the MOSFET channels into the adjacent N+more » region. The current flowing out of the channel then flows along the N+ region in the Y-direction and is collected by the source contacts and the final metal. Methods of making the device are also described.« less

High voltage MOSFET devices and methods of making the devices

DOEpatents

Banerjee, Sujit; Matocha, Kevin; Chatty, Kiran

2015-12-15

A SiC MOSFET device having low specific on resistance is described. The device has N+, P-well and JFET regions extended in one direction (Y-direction) and P+ and source contacts extended in an orthogonal direction (X-direction). The polysilicon gate of the device covers the JFET region and is terminated over the P-well region to minimize electric field at the polysilicon gate edge. In use, current flows vertically from the drain contact at the bottom of the structure into the JFET region and then laterally in the X direction through the accumulation region and through the MOSFET channels into the adjacent N+ region. The current flowing out of the channel then flows along the N+ region in the Y-direction and is collected by the source contacts and the final metal. Methods of making the device are also described.

Selective Dry Etch for Defining Ohmic Contacts for High Performance ZnO TFTs

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-27

scale, high-frequency ZnO thin - film transistors (TFTs) could be fabricated. Molybdenum, tantalum, titanium tungsten 10-90, and tungsten metallic contact... thin - film transistor layout utilized in the thesis research . . . . . 42 3.4 Process Flow Diagram for Optical and e-Beam Devices...TFT thin - film transistor TLM transmission line model UV ultra-violet xvii SELECTIVE DRY ETCH FOR DEFINING OHMIC CONTACTS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE ZnO TFTs

Who is the Usual Suspect? Evidence of a Selection Bias Toward Faces That Make Direct Eye Contact in a Lineup Task

PubMed Central

van Golde, Celine; Verstraten, Frans A. J.

2017-01-01

The speed and ease with which we recognize the faces of our friends and family members belies the difficulty we have recognizing less familiar individuals. Nonetheless, overconfidence in our ability to recognize faces has carried over into various aspects of our legal system; for instance, eyewitness identification serves a critical role in criminal proceedings. For this reason, understanding the perceptual and psychological processes that underlie false identification is of the utmost importance. Gaze direction is a salient social signal and direct eye contact, in particular, is thought to capture attention. Here, we tested the hypothesis that differences in gaze direction may influence difficult decisions in a lineup context. In a series of experiments, we show that when a group of faces differed in their gaze direction, the faces that were making eye contact with the participants were more likely to be misidentified. Interestingly, this bias disappeared when the faces are presented with their eyes closed. These findings open a critical conversation between social neuroscience and forensic psychology, and imply that direct eye contact may (wrongly) increase the perceived familiarity of a face. PMID:28203355

Highly uniform and vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays for photovoltaic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jae-Yup; Kang, Jin Soo; Shin, Junyoung; Kim, Jin; Han, Seung-Joo; Park, Jongwoo; Min, Yo-Sep; Ko, Min Jae; Sung, Yung-Eun

2015-04-01

Nanostructured electrodes with vertical alignment have been considered ideal structures for electron transport and interfacial contact with redox electrolytes in photovoltaic devices. Here, we report large-scale vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays with uniform structures, without lateral cracks fabricated by a modified anodic oxidation process. In the modified process, ultrasonication is utilized to avoid formation of partial compact layers and lateral cracks in the SnO2 nanochannel arrays. Building on this breakthrough, we first demonstrate the photovoltaic application of these vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays. These vertically aligned arrays were directly and successfully applied in quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photoanodes, yielding reasonable conversion efficiency under back-side illumination. In addition, a significantly short process time (330 s) for achieving the optimal thickness (7.0 μm) and direct utilization of the anodized electrodes enable a simple, rapid and low-cost fabrication process. Furthermore, a TiO2 shell layer was coated on the SnO2 nanochannel arrays by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for enhancement of dye-loading and prolonging the electron lifetime in the DSSC. Owing to the presence of the ALD TiO2 layer, the short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) and conversion efficiency were increased by 20% and 19%, respectively, compared to those of the DSSC without the ALD TiO2 layer. This study provides valuable insight into the development of efficient SnO2-based photoanodes for photovoltaic application by a simple and rapid fabrication process.Nanostructured electrodes with vertical alignment have been considered ideal structures for electron transport and interfacial contact with redox electrolytes in photovoltaic devices. Here, we report large-scale vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays with uniform structures, without lateral cracks fabricated by a modified anodic oxidation process. In the modified process, ultrasonication is utilized to avoid formation of partial compact layers and lateral cracks in the SnO2 nanochannel arrays. Building on this breakthrough, we first demonstrate the photovoltaic application of these vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays. These vertically aligned arrays were directly and successfully applied in quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photoanodes, yielding reasonable conversion efficiency under back-side illumination. In addition, a significantly short process time (330 s) for achieving the optimal thickness (7.0 μm) and direct utilization of the anodized electrodes enable a simple, rapid and low-cost fabrication process. Furthermore, a TiO2 shell layer was coated on the SnO2 nanochannel arrays by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for enhancement of dye-loading and prolonging the electron lifetime in the DSSC. Owing to the presence of the ALD TiO2 layer, the short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) and conversion efficiency were increased by 20% and 19%, respectively, compared to those of the DSSC without the ALD TiO2 layer. This study provides valuable insight into the development of efficient SnO2-based photoanodes for photovoltaic application by a simple and rapid fabrication process. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00202h

Epitaxially grown collagen fibrils reveal diversity in contact guidance behavior among cancer cells.

PubMed

Wang, Juan; Petefish, Joseph W; Hillier, Andrew C; Schneider, Ian C

2015-01-01

Invasion of cancer cells into the surrounding tissue is an important step during cancer progression and is driven by cell migration. Cell migration can be random, but often it is directed by various cues such as aligned fibers composed of extracellular matrix (ECM), a process called contact guidance. During contact guidance, aligned fibers bias migration along the long axis of the fibers. These aligned fibers of ECM are commonly composed of type I collagen, an abundant structural protein around tumors. In this paper, we epitaxially grew several different patterns of organized type I collagen on mica and compared the morphology and contact guidance behavior of two invasive breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MTLn3 cells). Others have shown that these cells randomly migrate in qualitatively different ways. MDA-MB-231 cells exert large traction forces, tightly adhere to the ECM, and migrate with spindle-shaped morphology and thus adopt a mesenchymal mode of migration. MTLn3 cells exert small traction forces, loosely adhere to the ECM, and migrate with a more rounded morphology and thus adopt an amoeboid mode of migration. As the degree of alignment of type I collagen fibrils increases, cells become more elongated and engage in more directed contact guidance. MDA-MB-231 cells perceive the directional signal of highly aligned type I collagen fibrils with high fidelity, elongating to large extents and migrating directionally. Interestingly, behavior in MTLn3 cells differs. While highly aligned type I collagen fibril patterns facilitate spreading and random migration of MTLn3 cells, they do not support elongation or directed migration. Thus, different contact guidance cues bias cell migration differently and the fidelity of contact guidance is cell type dependent, suggesting that ECM alignment is a permissive cue for contact guidance, but requires a cell to have certain properties to interpret that cue.

Utilization patterns and user characteristics of an ad libitum Internet weight loss program.

PubMed

Binks, Martin; van Mierlo, Trevor

2010-03-29

The Internet holds promise for the delivery of evidence-based weight loss treatment to underserved populations. However, most studies do not reflect the more naturalistic and common ad libitum, or freely at will, use of the Internet. Randomized clinical trials, for example, typically include at least some direct contact with participants and often have restrictive selection criteria. There is a paucity of research examining utilization patterns of online weight loss programs, particularly in the rapidly expanding direct-to-consumer arena. To examine self-reported characteristics (age, body mass index [BMI], gender), behaviors, and Internet site utilization patterns of a sample of users of a direct-to-consumer ad libitum Internet weight loss program. This study is based on analysis of archival data from the initial 15 weeks of an ongoing, free, evidence-based, direct-to-consumer Internet weight loss program, the Healthy Weight Center, which included standard information about nutrition, fitness, and behavioral strategies; monitoring tools; and moderated support group message boards. Participants encountered the program through self-directed Internet searches and anonymously registered to utilize the site. Self-reported user characteristics and electronically tracked utilization data were extracted from existing program data, compiled, and examined. Pearson correlations were computed to examine the association of program utilization with age and BMI. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for gender comparisons. We examined data from the first 204 adult users of the program who were classified as either overweight (BMI 25 to < 30 kg/m(2)) or obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2)). The mean age of participants was 42.0 years (SD 11.7), 81.9% (167/204) were women, and mean BMI was 32.01 kg/m(2) (SD 6.26). The percent of participants who used program tools was as follows: 13.7%, meal planner; 10.8%, nutrition lookup: 17.6%, activity log; 14.2%, journal; and 22.1%, weight tracker. Participants also used the following educational resources: nutrition, 13.2%; fitness, 6.4%; and behavioral, 7.4%. Of the personal self-assessments available through the program, 57.8% of participants assessed personal barriers, and 50.5% assessed relationship with food. Only 7.8% used the support group message boards. No significant associations between site utilization and age, gender, or BMI were found. Reasons for wanting to lose weight were: health, 87%; appearance, 74%; mobility, 44%; doctor recommendation, 23%; and spouse/friend suggested, 12%. The age participants reported first becoming overweight was young adulthood, 31%; late adulthood, 28%; childhood, 22%; adolescence, 17%; and as a toddler, 3%. Self-perceived factors contributing to weight gain were lack of exercise for 70% of participants, emotions for 62%, overeating for 61%, and slow metabolism for 33%. Internet weight loss programs reach many people who cannot access traditional treatment. However, users appear not to be optimally utilizing key aspects of the weight loss intervention, such as education, monitoring, and support. This study provides insight into the patterns of ad libitum use of an online weight loss program across multiple treatment-related domains in a naturalistic Internet environment.

Analysis of contact zones from whole field isochromatics using reflection photoelasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hariprasad, M. P.; Ramesh, K.

2018-06-01

This paper discusses the method for evaluating the unknown contact parameters by post processing the whole field fringe order data obtained from reflection photoelasticity in a nonlinear least squares sense. Recent developments in Twelve Fringe Photoelasticity (TFP) for fringe order evaluation from single isochromatics is utilized for the whole field fringe order evaluation. One of the issues in using TFP for reflection photoelasticity is the smudging of isochromatic data at the contact zone. This leads to error in identifying the origin of contact, which is successfully addressed by implementing a semi-automatic contact point refinement algorithm. The methodologies are initially verified for benchmark problems and demonstrated for two application problems of turbine blade and sheet pile contacting interfaces.

Processes for producing low cost, high efficiency silicon solar cells

DOEpatents

Rohatgi, A.; Doshi, P.; Tate, J.K.; Mejia, J.; Chen, Z.

1998-06-16

Processes which utilize rapid thermal processing (RTP) are provided for inexpensively producing high efficiency silicon solar cells. The RTP processes preserve minority carrier bulk lifetime {tau} and permit selective adjustment of the depth of the diffused regions, including emitter and back surface field (bsf), within the silicon substrate. In a first RTP process, an RTP step is utilized to simultaneously diffuse phosphorus and aluminum into the front and back surfaces, respectively, of a silicon substrate. Moreover, an in situ controlled cooling procedure preserves the carrier bulk lifetime {tau} and permits selective adjustment of the depth of the diffused regions. In a second RTP process, both simultaneous diffusion of the phosphorus and aluminum as well as annealing of the front and back contacts are accomplished during the RTP step. In a third RTP process, the RTP step accomplishes simultaneous diffusion of the phosphorus and aluminum, annealing of the contacts, and annealing of a double-layer antireflection/passivation coating SiN/SiO{sub x}. In a fourth RTP process, the process of applying front and back contacts is broken up into two separate respective steps, which enhances the efficiency of the cells, at a slight time expense. In a fifth RTP process, a second RTP step is utilized to fire and adhere the screen printed or evaporated contacts to the structure. 28 figs.

Sliding enhances fluid and solute transport into buried articular cartilage contacts.

PubMed

Graham, B T; Moore, A C; Burris, D L; Price, C

2017-12-01

Solutes and interstitial water are naturally transported from cartilage by load-induced interstitial fluid pressures. Fluid and solute recovery during joint articulation have been primarily attributed to passive diffusion and mechanical 'pumping' from dynamic loading. This paper tests if the sliding action of articulation is a significant and independent driver of fluid and solute transport in cartilage. The large osteochondral samples utilized in the present study preserve the convergent wedges necessary for physiological hydrodynamics. Following static load-induced fluid exudation and prior to sliding, a fluorescent solute (AlexaFluor 633) was added to the lubricant bath. In situ confocal microscopy was used to quantify the transport of solute from the bath into the buried stationary contact area (SCA) during sliding. Following static exudation, significant reductions in friction and strain during sliding at 60 mm/s were accompanied by significant solute transport into the inaccessible center of the buried contact; no such transport was detected for the 0- or 1 mm/s sliding conditions. The results suggest that external hydrodynamic pressures from sliding induced advective flows that carried solutes from the bath toward the center of contact. These results provide the first direct evidence that the action of sliding is a significant contributor to fluid and solute recovery by cartilage. Furthermore, they indicate that the sliding-induced transport of solutes into the buried interface was orders of magnitude greater than that attributable to diffusion alone, a result with critical implications for disease prevention and tissue engineering. Copyright © 2017 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Practical approach to subject-specific estimation of knee joint contact force.

PubMed

Knarr, Brian A; Higginson, Jill S

2015-08-20

Compressive forces experienced at the knee can significantly contribute to cartilage degeneration. Musculoskeletal models enable predictions of the internal forces experienced at the knee, but validation is often not possible, as experimental data detailing loading at the knee joint is limited. Recently available data reporting compressive knee force through direct measurement using instrumented total knee replacements offer a unique opportunity to evaluate the accuracy of models. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of subject-specificity in increasing the accuracy of model predictions; however, these techniques may be unrealistic outside of a research setting. Therefore, the goal of our work was to identify a practical approach for accurate prediction of tibiofemoral knee contact force (KCF). Four methods for prediction of knee contact force were compared: (1) standard static optimization, (2) uniform muscle coordination weighting, (3) subject-specific muscle coordination weighting and (4) subject-specific strength adjustments. Walking trials for three subjects with instrumented knee replacements were used to evaluate the accuracy of model predictions. Predictions utilizing subject-specific muscle coordination weighting yielded the best agreement with experimental data; however this method required in vivo data for weighting factor calibration. Including subject-specific strength adjustments improved models' predictions compared to standard static optimization, with errors in peak KCF less than 0.5 body weight for all subjects. Overall, combining clinical assessments of muscle strength with standard tools available in the OpenSim software package, such as inverse kinematics and static optimization, appears to be a practical method for predicting joint contact force that can be implemented for many applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Practical approach to subject-specific estimation of knee joint contact force

PubMed Central

Knarr, Brian A.; Higginson, Jill S.

2015-01-01

Compressive forces experienced at the knee can significantly contribute to cartilage degeneration. Musculoskeletal models enable predictions of the internal forces experienced at the knee, but validation is often not possible, as experimental data detailing loading at the knee joint is limited. Recently available data reporting compressive knee force through direct measurement using instrumented total knee replacements offer a unique opportunity to evaluate the accuracy of models. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of subject-specificity in increasing the accuracy of model predictions; however, these techniques may be unrealistic outside of a research setting. Therefore, the goal of our work was to identify a practical approach for accurate prediction of tibiofemoral knee contact force (KCF). Four methods for prediction of knee contact force were compared: (1) standard static optimization, (2) uniform muscle coordination weighting, (3) subject-specific muscle coordination weighting and (4) subject-specific strength adjustments. Walking trials for three subjects with instrumented knee replacements were used to evaluate the accuracy of model predictions. Predictions utilizing subject-specific muscle coordination weighting yielded the best agreement with experimental data, however this method required in vivo data for weighting factor calibration. Including subject-specific strength adjustments improved models’ predictions compared to standard static optimization, with errors in peak KCF less than 0.5 body weight for all subjects. Overall, combining clinical assessments of muscle strength with standard tools available in the OpenSim software package, such as inverse kinematics and static optimization, appears to be a practical method for predicting joint contact force that can be implemented for many applications. PMID:25952546

Clinical measurement of the height of the interproximal contact area in maxillary anterior teeth.

PubMed

Sghaireen, Mohd G; Al-Zarea, Bader K; Al-Shorman, Hisham M; Al-Omiri, Mahmoud K

2013-11-01

To clinically quantify the apicoincisal height of interproximal areas directly in patients' mouths. Thirty participants (11 females and 9 males, mean age=26±1.5 years) were recruited into this study. Measurement of interproximal contact areas was carried out directly in patients' mouths using digital caliper (TERENSA, USA) with measuring accuracy of 0.01 mm. The interproximal contact areas that were measured are: central incisor to central incisor, central incisor to lateral incisor, lateral incisor to canine, and canine to first premolar on both sides of the jaw. Statistical significance was based on probability values less than 0.05 (p<0.05). The largest contact point was the one present between central incisors and it ranged from 2.9 to 6.5 mm. On the other hand, the contact point between canine and first premolar was the smallest on both sides of the arch and ranged from 0.6 to 2.5 mm. The dimensions of the contact points declined as we move from anterior area backwards. Statistical analysis using t-test showed that there were significant differences between the measurements of interproximal points of each tooth (P<0.05). the apicogingival dimension of the contact point decreased as we moved from anterior to posterior teeth. The contact area between the central incisors was largest and the one between canine and premolar was the smallest. This study is the first to report direct intra-oral clinical measurement of contact points. Clinical evaluation of contact point dimensions using digital caliber is a viable, quick and accurate method to use.

Light transfer through windows with external condensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Keyong; Li, Shaoling; Pilon, Laurent

2018-03-01

This study investigates systematically light transfer through windows supporting cap-shaped droplets on their external face. The presence of such droplets may have negative effects on the conversion efficiency of solar cells, distorts image quality of lenses, or hinders visibility through windows and windshields. Here, the directional-hemispherical transmittance was predicted by the Monte Carlo ray-tracing method. The droplets were monodisperse or polydisperse randomly distributed on the outside face of optically smooth windows. For nonabsorbing droplets, the diameter and size distribution did not have a significant effect on the window directional-hemispherical transmittance. The latter was nearly independent of contact angle for incident angle θi ≤ 30°. However, the directional-hemispherical transmittance decreased monotonously with increasing incident angle and droplet contact angle for contact angle θc ≤ 70° to reach a minimum at a contact angle θc,min beyond which it increased with increasing contact angle before reaching a plateau at large contact angles. This was attributed to total internal reflection at the back window/air and droplet/air interfaces. For absorbing droplets, the normal-hemispherical transmittance decreased significantly with increasing droplet contact angle, mean diameter, polydispersity, and projected surface area coverage due to strong absorption within the droplets. Moreover, the normal-hemispherical transmittance decreased with increasing contact angle for θc< 90° and remained constant and independent of the droplets' absorption index, mean diameter, and contact angle for θc ≥ 90°. Finally, Analytical expressions for the upper and lower bounds of the normal-hemispherical transmittance as a function of droplet contact angle, optical properties, and projected surface area coverage were derived.

Formation of retinal direction-selective circuitry initiated by starburst amacrine cell homotypic contact

PubMed Central

Ray, Thomas A; Roy, Suva; Kozlowski, Christopher; Wang, Jingjing; Cafaro, Jon; Hulbert, Samuel W; Wright, Christopher V; Field, Greg D

2018-01-01

A common strategy by which developing neurons locate their synaptic partners is through projections to circuit-specific neuropil sublayers. Once established, sublayers serve as a substrate for selective synapse formation, but how sublayers arise during neurodevelopment remains unknown. Here, we identify the earliest events that initiate formation of the direction-selective circuit in the inner plexiform layer of mouse retina. We demonstrate that radially migrating newborn starburst amacrine cells establish homotypic contacts on arrival at the inner retina. These contacts, mediated by the cell-surface protein MEGF10, trigger neuropil innervation resulting in generation of two sublayers comprising starburst-cell dendrites. This dendritic scaffold then recruits projections from circuit partners. Abolishing MEGF10-mediated contacts profoundly delays and ultimately disrupts sublayer formation, leading to broader direction tuning and weaker direction-selectivity in retinal ganglion cells. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which differentiating neurons transition from migratory to mature morphology, and highlight this mechanism’s importance in forming circuit-specific sublayers. PMID:29611808

Intraoral versus extraoral measurement of the height of the interproximal contact area in maxillary anterior teeth.

PubMed

Sghaireen, Mohd G; Albhiran, Heyam Mobark; Alzoubi, Ibrahim A; Lynch, Edward; Al-Omiri, Mahmoud K

2015-01-01

This study aimed to clinically quantify the apicoincisal height of the upper interproximal areas directly in patients' mouths compared to measurements on stone models. One hundred and fifty participants (75 females and 75 males, age range 20-45 years) were recruited for this study. A digital caliper was used to measure the anterior maxillary interproximal contact areas directly in patients' mouths and on stone models. The digital caliper accuracy was up to 0.01. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS, version 19.0, Chicago, Ill., USA) was used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was based on probability values <0.05. The intraoral measurement of proximal contacts as well as the measurement on stone models showed that the dimensions of interproximal contacts on both sides of each tooth were significantly different (p < 0.001) and that the dimension of the mesial contact point was larger than that of the distal contact point of each tooth. The largest contact point was the one between the central incisors (direct intraoral measurement = 2.9-6.49 mm; model measurement = 3.31-6.91 mm). On the other hand, the contact point between the canine and first premolar was the smallest on both sides of the arch (0.63-2.52 mm intraorally, 0.98-2.88 mm on models). The intraoral measurement of contact points was more accurate than model measurements, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The clinical evaluation of contact point dimensions using a digital caliper was more precise than measuring contact points on stone models; hence, it is a viable, quick and adequate method to be used routinely. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Knee medial and lateral contact forces in a musculoskeletal model with subject-specific contact point trajectories.

PubMed

Zeighami, A; Aissaoui, R; Dumas, R

2018-03-01

Contact point (CP) trajectory is a crucial parameter in estimating medial/lateral tibio-femoral contact forces from the musculoskeletal (MSK) models. The objective of the present study was to develop a method to incorporate the subject-specific CP trajectories into the MSK model. Ten healthy subjects performed 45 s treadmill gait trials. The subject-specific CP trajectories were constructed on the tibia and femur as a function of extension-flexion using low-dose bi-plane X-ray images during a quasi-static squat. At each extension-flexion position, the tibia and femur CPs were superimposed in the three directions on the medial side, and in the anterior-posterior and proximal-distal directions on the lateral side to form the five kinematic constraints of the knee joint. The Lagrange multipliers associated to these constraints directly yielded the medial/lateral contact forces. The results from the personalized CP trajectory model were compared against the linear CP trajectory and sphere-on-plane CP trajectory models which were adapted from the commonly used MSK models. Changing the CP trajectory had a remarkable impact on the knee kinematics and changed the medial and lateral contact forces by 1.03 BW and 0.65 BW respectively, in certain subjects. The direction and magnitude of the medial/lateral contact force were highly variable among the subjects and the medial-lateral shift of the CPs alone could not determine the increase/decrease pattern of the contact forces. The suggested kinematic constraints are adaptable to the CP trajectories derived from a variety of joint models and those experimentally measured from the 3D imaging techniques. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Length scale selects directionality of droplets on vibrating pillar ratchet

DOE PAGES

Agapov, Rebecca L.; Boreyko, Jonathan B.; Briggs, Dayrl P.; ...

2014-09-22

Directional control of droplet motion at room temperature is of interest for applications such as microfluidic devices, self-cleaning coatings, and directional adhesives. Here, arrays of tilted pillars ranging in height from the nanoscale to the microscale are used as structural ratchets to directionally transport water at room temperature. Water droplets deposited on vibrating chips with a nanostructured ratchet move preferentially in the direction of the feature tilt while the opposite directionality is observed in the case of microstructured ratchets. This remarkable switch in directionality is consistent with changes in the contact angle hysteresis. To glean further insights into the lengthmore » scale dependent asymmetric contact angle hysteresis, the contact lines formed by a nonvolatile room temperature ionic liquid placed onto the tilted pillar arrays were visualized and analyzed in situ in a scanning electron microscope. As a result, the ability to tune droplet directionality by merely changing the length scale of surface features all etched at the same tilt angle would be a versatile tool for manipulating multiphase flows and for selecting droplet directionality in other lap-on-chip applications.« less

Stokes flow inside an evaporating liquid line for any contact angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petsi, A. J.; Burganos, V. N.

2008-09-01

Evaporation of droplets or liquid films lying on a substrate induces internal viscous flow, which affects the transport of suspended particles and, thus, the final deposit profile in numerous applications. In this work, the problem of Stokes flow inside a two-dimensional droplet, representing the cross section of an evaporating liquid line lying on a flat surface, is considered. The stream function formulation is adopted, leading to the biharmonic equation in bipolar coordinates. A solution in closed form is obtained for any contact angle in (0,π) and is, thus, valid for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates. The solution can be used with any type of evaporation mechanism, including diffusion, convection, or kinetically controlled modes. Both pinned and depinned contact lines are considered. For the boundary conditions to be compatible at the contact lines, the Navier slip boundary condition is applied on the substrate. Numerical results are presented for kinetically and diffusion controlled evaporation. For pinned contact lines, the flow inside the evaporating liquid line is directed towards the edges, thus, promoting the coffee stain phenomenon. In the case of depinned contact lines and contact angle less than π/2 , the flow is directed towards the center of the droplet, whereas, for strongly hydrophobic substrates it is directed outwards.

Outcomes achieved by and police and clinician perspectives on a joint police officer and mental health clinician mobile response unit.

PubMed

Lee, Stuart J; Thomas, Phillipa; Doulis, Chantelle; Bowles, Doug; Henderson, Kathryn; Keppich-Arnold, Sandra; Perez, Eva; Stafrace, Simon

2015-12-01

Despite their limited mental health expertise, police are often first to respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis. Often the person in crisis is then transported to hospital for care, instead of receiving more immediate assessment and treatment in the community. The current study conducted an evaluation of an Australian joint police-mental health mobile response unit that aimed to improve the delivery of a community-based crisis response. Activity data were audited to demonstrate utilization and outcomes for referred people. Police officers and mental health clinicians in the catchment area were also surveyed to measure the unit's perceived impact. During the 6-month pilot, 296 contacts involving the unit occurred. Threatened suicide (33%), welfare concerns (22%) and psychotic episodes (18%) were the most common reasons for referral. The responses comprised direct admission to a psychiatric unit for 11% of contacts, transportation to a hospital emergency department for 32% of contacts, and community management for the remainder (57%). Police officers were highly supportive of the model and reported having observed benefits of the unit for consumers and police and improved collaboration between services. The joint police-mental health clinician unit enabled rapid delivery of a multi-skilled crisis response in the community. © 2015 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.

Tectonic setting and strain analysis of Halaban Area, Eastern Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alamri, Y. A., II; Kassem, O. M. K.

2016-12-01

Finite strain technique was applied for Abt schist, sheared granitoids and volcanosedimentary rocks exposed at Halaban area, Eastern Arabian Shield. This study aims to attempt to decipher the relationship of these lithologies to nappe contacts and to clarify the nature of subhorizontal foliation pervasively recorded in the Halaban area. The Rf/φ and Fry methods are utilized on quartz and feldspar porphyroclasts, as well as on mafic crystals, such as hornblende and biotite, in eighteen samples. The X/Z axial ratios range from 1.12 to 4.99 for Rf/φ method and from 1.65 to 4.00 for Fry method. The direction of finite strain for the long axes displays clustering along the WNW trend (occasionally N) with slight plunging. The Z axes are subvertical and associated with a subhorizontal foliation. The data reveal oblate strain symmetry (flattening) and the strain magnitudes show no considerable increase towards the tectonic contacts. The obtained finite-strain data demonstrate that the sheared granitoids are mildly to moderately deformed. It is suggested that the accumulation of finite strain was not associated with any significant volume change. The penetrative subhorizontal foliation was concurrent with thrusting and shows nearly the same attitudes of tectonic contacts with the overlying nappes. Field relations and observations, together with finite stain data, are inconsistent with the proposed idea that nappes in orogens resulted from simple-shear deformation.

21 CFR 886.5925 - Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens. 886.5925 Section... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES OPHTHALMIC DEVICES Therapeutic Devices § 886.5925 Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens. (a) Identification. A soft (hydrophilic) contact lens is a device intended to be worn directly...

21 CFR 886.5925 - Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens. 886.5925 Section... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES OPHTHALMIC DEVICES Therapeutic Devices § 886.5925 Soft (hydrophilic) contact lens. (a) Identification. A soft (hydrophilic) contact lens is a device intended to be worn directly...

The effect of Employee Assistance Programs use on healthcare utilization.

PubMed

Zarkin, G A; Bray, J W; Qi, J

2000-04-01

To estimate the effect of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) use on healthcare utilization as measured by health claims. A unique data set that combines individual-level information on EAP utilization, demographic information, and health insurance claims from 1991 to 1995 for all employees of a large midwestern employer. Using "fixed-effect" econometric models that control for unobserved differences between individuals' propensities to use healthcare resources and the EAP, we perform our analyses in two steps. First, for those employees who visited the EAP, we test whether post-EAP claims differ from pre-EAP claims. Second, we combine claims data of individuals who went to an EAP with those of individuals who did not use an EAP to test whether differences in utilization exist between EAP users and nonusers. From the EAP we obtained the date of first EAP contact for all employees who used the service, and from the company's human resources department we obtained limited demographic data on all employees. We obtained healthcare utilization claims data on all employees and their dependents from the company's two healthcare plans: a fee-for-service (FFS) plan and a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. We found that going to an EAP substantially increases both the probability of an alcohol, drug abuse, or mental health (ADM) claim and the number of ADM claims in the same quarter as EAP contact. The increased probability of an ADM claim persists for approximately 11 quarters after the initial contact, while the increased ADM charges persist for approximately six quarters after the initial EAP contact. Our results strongly suggest that the EAP is able to identify behavioral and other health problems that may affect workplace performance and prompt EAP users to access ADM and other healthcare. Consistent with the stated goals of many EAPs, including the one examined in this study, this process should improve individuals' health, family functioning, and workplace performance.

The effect of Employee Assistance Programs use on healthcare utilization.

PubMed Central

Zarkin, G A; Bray, J W; Qi, J

2000-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) use on healthcare utilization as measured by health claims. DATA SOURCES: A unique data set that combines individual-level information on EAP utilization, demographic information, and health insurance claims from 1991 to 1995 for all employees of a large midwestern employer. STUDY DESIGN: Using "fixed-effect" econometric models that control for unobserved differences between individuals' propensities to use healthcare resources and the EAP, we perform our analyses in two steps. First, for those employees who visited the EAP, we test whether post-EAP claims differ from pre-EAP claims. Second, we combine claims data of individuals who went to an EAP with those of individuals who did not use an EAP to test whether differences in utilization exist between EAP users and nonusers. DATA COLLECTION METHODS: From the EAP we obtained the date of first EAP contact for all employees who used the service, and from the company's human resources department we obtained limited demographic data on all employees. We obtained healthcare utilization claims data on all employees and their dependents from the company's two healthcare plans: a fee-for-service (FFS) plan and a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We found that going to an EAP substantially increases both the probability of an alcohol, drug abuse, or mental health (ADM) claim and the number of ADM claims in the same quarter as EAP contact. The increased probability of an ADM claim persists for approximately 11 quarters after the initial contact, while the increased ADM charges persist for approximately six quarters after the initial EAP contact. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly suggest that the EAP is able to identify behavioral and other health problems that may affect workplace performance and prompt EAP users to access ADM and other healthcare. Consistent with the stated goals of many EAPs, including the one examined in this study, this process should improve individuals' health, family functioning, and workplace performance. PMID:10778825

Refrigerant directly cooled capacitors

DOEpatents

Hsu, John S [Oak Ridge, TN; Seiber, Larry E [Oak Ridge, TN; Marlino, Laura D [Oak Ridge, TN; Ayers, Curtis W [Kingston, TN

2007-09-11

The invention is a direct contact refrigerant cooling system using a refrigerant floating loop having a refrigerant and refrigeration devices. The cooling system has at least one hermetic container disposed in the refrigerant floating loop. The hermetic container has at least one electronic component selected from the group consisting of capacitors, power electronic switches and gating signal module. The refrigerant is in direct contact with the electronic component.

Experimental investigation on the electrical contact behavior of rolling contact connector.

PubMed

Chen, Junxing; Yang, Fei; Luo, Kaiyu; Zhu, Mingliang; Wu, Yi; Rong, Mingzhe

2015-12-01

Rolling contact connector (RCC) is a new technology utilized in high performance electric power transfer systems with one or more rotating interfaces, such as radars, satellites, wind generators, and medical computed tomography machines. Rolling contact components are used in the RCC instead of traditional sliding contacts to transfer electrical power and/or signal. Since the requirement of the power transmission is increasing in these years, the rolling electrical contact characteristics become more and more important for the long-life design of RCC. In this paper, a typical form of RCC is presented. A series of experimental work are carried out to investigate the rolling electrical contact characteristics during its lifetime. The influence of a variety of factors on the electrical contact degradation behavior of RCC is analyzed under both vacuum and air environment. Based on the surface morphology and elemental composition changes in the contact zone, which are assessed by field emission scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope, the mechanism of rolling electrical contact degradation is discussed.

ELECTRIC CONTACT MEANS

DOEpatents

Grear, J.W. Jr.

1959-03-10

A switch adapted to maintain electrical connections under conditions of vibration or acceleration is described. According to the invention, thc switch includes a rotatable arm carrying a conductive bar arranged to close against two contacts spaced in the same plane. The firm and continuous engagement of the conductive bar with the contacts is acheived by utilizeing a spring located betwenn the vbar and athe a rem frzme and slidable mounting the bar in channel between two arms suspendef from the arm frame.

37 CFR 10.33 - Direct contact with prospective clients.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Direct contact with prospective clients. 10.33 Section 10.33 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights UNITED STATES PATENT AND... clients. A practitioner may not solicit professional employment from a prospective client with whom the...

Working Mechanism for Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells with Simplified Architecture.

PubMed

Xu, Xiaobao; Chen, Qi; Hong, Ziruo; Zhou, Huanping; Liu, Zonghao; Chang, Wei-Hsuan; Sun, Pengyu; Chen, Huajun; De Marco, Nicholas; Wang, Mingkui; Yang, Yang

2015-10-14

In this communication, we report an efficient and flexible perovskite solar cell based on formamidinium lead trihalide (FAPbI3) with simplified configuration. The device achieved a champion efficiency of 12.70%, utilizing direct contact between metallic indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode and perovskite absorber. The underlying working mechanism is proposed subsequently, via a systematic investigation focusing on the heterojunction within this device. A significant charge storage has been observed in the perovskite, which is believed to generate photovoltage and serves as the driving force for charge transferring from the absorber to ITO electrode as well. More importantly, this simplified device structure on flexible substrates suggests its compatibility for scale-up fabrication, which paves the way for commercialization of perovskite photovoltaic technology.

Organic photovoltaic cells utilizing ultrathin sensitizing layer

DOEpatents

Rand, Barry P [Princeton, NJ; Forrest, Stephen R [Princeton, NJ

2011-05-24

A photosensitive device includes a series of organic photoactive layers disposed between two electrodes. Each layer in the series is in direct contact with a next layer in the series. The series is arranged to form at least one donor-acceptor heterojunction, and includes a first organic photoactive layer comprising a first host material serving as a donor, a thin second organic photoactive layer comprising a second host material disposed between the first and a third organic photoactive layer, and the third organic photoactive layer comprising a third host material serving as an acceptor. The first, second, and third host materials are different. The thin second layer serves as an acceptor relative to the first layer or as a donor relative to the third layer.

77 FR 35245 - Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-13

... projects with the greatest need, financial analysis and underwriting will continue to be used to determine... Utilities Service (RUS) is issuing regulations related to loans and grants to finance the construction... INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Utilities...

43 CFR 3276.15 - How must I notify BLM of accidents occurring at my utilization facility?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... occurring at my utilization facility? You must orally inform us of all accidents that affect operations or create environmental hazards within 24 hours after each accident. When you contact us, we may require you...

High duty cycle far-infrared germanium lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chamberlin, Danielle Russell

The effects of crystal geometry, heat transport, and optics on high duty cycle germanium hole population inversion lasers are investigated. Currently the laser's low duty cycle limits its utility for many applications. This low duty cycle is a result of the combination of the large electrical input power necessary and insufficient heat extraction. In order to achieve a continuous-wave device, the input power must be decreased and the cooling power increased. In order to improve laser efficiency and lower the input power, the effect of laser crystal geometry on the electric field uniformity is considered. Geometries with d/L>>1 or <<1 are shown to have improved electric field uniformity, where d is the distance between electrical contacts and L is the length in the direction of the Hall electric field. A geometry with d/L>>1 is shown to decrease the threshold voltage for lasing. Laser crystals with the traditional contact geometry have been compared to a new, planar contact design with both electrical contacts on the same side of the laser crystal. This new geometry provides a large d/L ratio while also allowing effective heat sinking. A pure, single-crystal silicon heat sink is developed for planar contact design lasers, which improves the duty cycle tenfold. For the traditional contact design, copper heat sinks are developed that demonstrate cooling powers up to 10 Watts. The effects of thermal conductivity, surface area, and interfacial thermal resistance on the heat transport are compared. To improve the cavity quality, thereby allowing for smaller crystal volumes, new optical designs are investigated. A vertical cavity structure is demonstrated for the planar contact structure using strontium titanate single crystals as mirrors. A mode-selecting cavity is implemented for the traditional contact design. The spectra of small-volume, near-threshold lasers are measured. In contrast to the emission of larger lasers, these lasers emit within narrow frequency peaks that do not shift smoothly with magnetic field. The details of the emission are shown to strongly depend on the optical cavity. A record duty cycle of 5% is achieved using a laser of dimensions 0.80 x 3 x 11 mm3 with the traditional contact geometry, improved copper heat sinks, and carefully etched crystal surfaces.

A tire contact solution technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tielking, J. T.

1983-01-01

An efficient method for calculating the contact boundary and interfacial pressure distribution was developed. This solution technique utilizes the discrete Fourier transform to establish an influence coefficient matrix for the portion of the pressurized tire surface that may be in the contact region. This matrix is used in a linear algebra algorithm to determine the contact boundary and the array of forces within the boundary that are necessary to hold the tire in equilibrium against a specified contact surface. The algorithm also determines the normal and tangential displacements of those points on the tire surface that are included in the influence coefficient matrix. Displacements within and outside the contact region are calculated. The solution technique is implemented with a finite-element tire model that is based on orthotropic, nonlinear shell of revolution elements which can respond to nonaxisymmetric loads. A sample contact solution is presented.

When lithography meets self-assembly: a review of recent advances in the directed assembly of complex metal nanostructures on planar and textured surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, Robert A.; Menumerov, Eredzhep; Neretina, Svetlana

2017-07-01

One of the foremost challenges in nanofabrication is the establishment of a processing science that integrates wafer-based materials, techniques, and devices with the extraordinary physicochemical properties accessible when materials are reduced to nanoscale dimensions. Such a merger would allow for exacting controls on nanostructure positioning, promote cooperative phenomenon between adjacent nanostructures and/or substrate materials, and allow for electrical contact to individual or groups of nanostructures. With neither self-assembly nor top-down lithographic processes being able to adequately meet this challenge, advancements have often relied on a hybrid strategy that utilizes lithographically-defined features to direct the assembly of nanostructures into organized patterns. While these so-called directed assembly techniques have proven viable, much of this effort has focused on the assembly of periodic arrays of spherical or near-spherical nanostructures comprised of a single element. Work directed toward the fabrication of more complex nanostructures, while still at a nascent stage, has nevertheless demonstrated the possibility of forming arrays of nanocubes, nanorods, nanoprisms, nanoshells, nanocages, nanoframes, core-shell structures, Janus structures, and various alloys on the substrate surface. In this topical review, we describe the progress made in the directed assembly of periodic arrays of these complex metal nanostructures on planar and textured substrates. The review is divided into three broad strategies reliant on: (i) the deterministic positioning of colloidal structures, (ii) the reorganization of deposited metal films at elevated temperatures, and (iii) liquid-phase chemistry practiced directly on the substrate surface. These strategies collectively utilize a broad range of techniques including capillary assembly, microcontact printing, chemical surface modulation, templated dewetting, nanoimprint lithography, and dip-pen nanolithography and employ a wide scope of chemical processes including redox reactions, alloying, dealloying, phase separation, galvanic replacement, preferential etching, template-mediated reactions, and facet-selective capping agents. Taken together, they highlight the diverse toolset available when fabricating organized surfaces of substrate-supported nanostructures.

Discrimination of haptens from prohaptens using the metabolically deficient Cpr{sup low/low} mouse

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

Chipinda, Itai, E-mail: IChipinda@cdc.gov; Blachere, Francoise M.; Anderson, Stacey E.

2011-05-01

The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) is a validated, well accepted method for identification of chemical contact allergens. Both direct acting haptens and prohaptens (requiring metabolic activation) can be identified, but not differentiated by this assay. This study was used to assess the utility of a pan microsomal metabolic deficient mouse to distinguish between direct acting haptens and prohaptens in the LLNA. Hapten and prohapten induced cell proliferation was compared in C57BL/6J (B6) wild type (WT) versus homozygous (HO) knockout mice with a hypomorphic NADPH-Cytochrome P450 Reductase (CPR) gene (termed Cpr{sup low/low}) resulting in low CPR enzyme activity. Micemore » were dosed with known prohaptens; benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), carvone oxime (COx) and paracetamol (PCM) and haptens; oxazolone (OX), 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyl-2-oxazolin-5-one (EtOX), and N-acetylbenzoquinoneimine (NABQI) in this study. Skin microsomes from the WT, HO and heterozygous (HT) Cpr{sup low/low} mice were compared and evaluated for CPR activity. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to BaP, COx and PCM were significantly abrogated by 36.4%, 45.2% and 50.8%, respectively; in Cpr{sup low/low} knock out (KO) mice versus WT mice; while the lymphocyte proliferative responses to the direct acting haptens OX, EtOX and NABQI were comparable. CPR activity, determined as Units/mg protein, was determined to be significantly lower in the Cpr{sup low/low} mice compared to the WT. Results of the present study suggest potential utility of the Cpr{sup low/low} mice in the LLNA to differentiate prohaptens from direct acting haptens.« less

Evidence Molded by Contact with Staff Culture and Patient Milieu: An Analysis of the Social Process of Knowledge Utilization in Nursing Homes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Øye, Christine; Mekki, Tone Elin; Skaar, Randi; Dahl, Hellen; Forland, Oddvar; Jacobsen, Frode F.

2015-01-01

Knowledge utilization is politically "hot" because it informs decisions on improving the quality of care in nursing homes (NHs). The difficulties encountered in implementing evidence-based knowledge into practice may be explained by contextual factors. Contextual factors are crucial to understanding the process of knowledge utilization;…

Evaporation-induced flow in an inviscid liquid line at any contact angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petsi, A. J.; Burganos, V. N.

2006-04-01

The problem of potential flow inside an evaporating liquid line, shaped as an infinitely long cylindrical segment lying on a flat surface, is considered and an analytical solution is obtained for any contact angle in (0,π) . In this way, microflow details inside linear liquid bodies evaporating on hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and strongly hydrophobic substrates can now be obtained. The mathematical formulation employs the velocity potential and stream function formulations in bipolar coordinates and the solution is obtained using the technique of Fourier transform. Both pinned and depinned contact lines are considered. The solution is applicable to any evaporation mechanism but for illustration purposes numerical results are presented here for the particular case of kinetically controlled evaporation. For hydrophilic substrates, the flow inside the evaporating liquid line is directed towards the edges for pinned contact lines, thus, promoting a coffee stain effect. The opposite flow direction is observed for depinned contact lines. However, for strongly hydrophobic substrates, flow is directed outwards for both pinned and depinned contact lines, but owing to its low magnitude compared to that on hydrophilic substrates, a craterlike colloidal deposit should be expected rather than a ringlike deposit, in agreement with experimental observations.

Health service utilization in IBD: comparison of self-report and administrative data

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background The reliability of self-report regarding health care utilization in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. If proven reliable, it could help justify self-report as a means of determining health care utilization and associated costs. Methods The Manitoba IBD Cohort Study is a population-based longitudinal study of participants diagnosed within 7 years of enrollment. Health care utilization was assessed through standardized interview. Participants (n = 352) reported the total number of nights hospitalized, frequency of physician contacts in the prior 12 months and whether the medical contacts were for IBD-related reasons or not. Reports of recent antibiotic use were also recorded. Actual utilization was drawn from the administrative database of Manitoba Health, the single comprehensive provincial health insurer. Results According to the administrative data, 15% of respondents had an overnight hospitalization, while 10% had an IBD-related hospitalization. Self-report concordance was highly sensitive (92%; 82%) and specific (96%; 97%, respectively). 97% of participants had contact with a physician in the previous year, and 69% had IBD-related visits. Physician visits were significantly under-reported and there was a trend to over-report the number of nights in hospital. Conclusions Self-report data can be helpful in evaluating health service utilization, provided that the researcher is aware of the systematic sources of bias. Outpatient visits are well identified by self-report. The discordance for the type of outpatient visit may be either a weakness of self-report or a flaw in diagnosis coding of the administrative data. If administrative data are not available, self-report information may be a cost-effective alternative, particularly for hospitalizations. PMID:21627808

Impact of Video Feedback on Teachers' Eye-Contact Mannerisms in Microteaching.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karasar, Niyazi

To test the impact of video feedback on teachers' eye-contact mannerisms in microteaching in inservice vocational teacher education, the study utilized video recordings from the data bank generated by previous studies conducted at the Ohio State University's Center for Vocational and Technical Education. The tapes were assigned through a…

Fuel cell generator containing a gas sealing means

DOEpatents

Makiel, J.M.

1987-02-03

A high temperature solid electrolyte electrochemical generator is made, operating with flowing fuel gas and oxidant gas, the generator having a thermal insulation layer, and a sealing means contacting or contained within the insulation, where the sealing means is effective to control the contact of the various gases utilized in the generator. 5 figs.

Vincenzo LaSalvia | NREL

Science.gov Websites

;Utilization of Tabula Rasa to stabilize bulk lifetimes in n-Cz silicon for high-performance solar cell /SiOx/pc-Si passivated contacts to n-type Si solar cells." Presented at the 40th IEEE Photovoltaic , and P. Stradins. "Heterojunction rear passivated contact for high efficiency n-Cz Si solar cells

Determination of contact angle from the maximum height of enlarged drops on solid surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behroozi, F.

2012-04-01

Measurement of the liquid/solid contact angle provides useful information on the wetting properties of fluids. In 1870, the German physicist Georg Hermann Quincke (1834-1924) published the functional relation between the maximum height of an enlarged drop and its contact angle. Quincke's relation offered an alternative to the direct measurement of contact angle, which in practice suffers from several experimental uncertainties. In this paper, we review Quincke's original derivation and show that it is based on a hidden assumption. We then present a new derivation that exposes this assumption and clarifies the conditions under which Quincke's relation is valid. To explore Quincke's relation experimentally, we measure the maximum height of enlarged water drops on several substrates and calculate the contact angle in each case. Our results are in good agreement with contact angles measured directly from droplet images.

Contact problem for an elastic reinforcement bonded to an elastic plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erdogan, F.; Civelek, M. B.

1974-01-01

The contact problem for a thin elastic reinforcement bonded to an elastic plate is considered. The stiffening layer is treated as an elastic membrane and the base plate is assumed to be an elastic continuum. The bonding between the two materials is assumed to be either one of direct adhesion or through a thin adhesive layer which is treated as a shear spring. The solution for the simple case in which both the stiffener and the base plate are treated as membranes is also given. The contact stress is obtained for a series of numerical examples. In the direct adhesion case the contact stress becomes infinite at the stiffener ends with a typical square root singularity for the continuum model and behaving as a delta function for the membrane model. In the case of bonding through an adhesive layer the contact stress becomes finite and continuous along the entire contact area.

Computerized Generation and Simulation of Meshing and Contact of New Type of Novikov-Wildhaber Helical Gears

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Litvin, Faydor L.; Feng, Pin-Hao; Lagutin, Sergei A.

2000-01-01

In this report, we propose a new geometry for low-noise, increased-strength helical gears of the Novikov-Wildhaber type. Contact stresses are reduced as a result of their convex-concave gear tooth surfaces. The gear tooth surfaces are crowned in the profile direction to localize bearing contact and in the longitudinal direction to obtain a parabolic function of transmission errors. Such a function results in the reduction of noise and vibrations. Methods for the generation of the proposed gear tooth surfaces by grinding and hobbing are considered, and a tooth contact analysis (TCA) computer program to simulate meshing and contact is applied. The report also investigates the influence of misalignment on transmission errors and shift of bearing contact. Numerical examples to illustrate the developed approaches are proposed. The proposed geometry was patented by Ford/UIC (Serial Number 09-340-824, pending) on June 28, 1999.

Membrane Contact Sites: Complex Zones for Membrane Association and Lipid Exchange

PubMed Central

Quon, Evan; Beh, Christopher T.

2015-01-01

Lipid transport between membranes within cells involves vesicle and protein carriers, but as agents of nonvesicular lipid transfer, the role of membrane contact sites has received increasing attention. As zones for lipid metabolism and exchange, various membrane contact sites mediate direct associations between different organelles. In particular, membrane contact sites linking the plasma membrane (PM) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) represent important regulators of lipid and ion transfer. In yeast, cortical ER is stapled to the PM through membrane-tethering proteins, which establish a direct connection between the membranes. In this review, we consider passive and facilitated models for lipid transfer at PM–ER contact sites. Besides the tethering proteins, we examine the roles of an additional repertoire of lipid and protein regulators that prime and propagate PM–ER membrane association. We conclude that instead of being simple mediators of membrane association, regulatory components of membrane contact sites have complex and multilayered functions. PMID:26949334

21 CFR 882.1570 - Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device. 882.1570 Section 882.1570 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Diagnostic Devices § 882...

21 CFR 882.1570 - Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Powered direct-contact temperature measurement device. 882.1570 Section 882.1570 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES NEUROLOGICAL DEVICES Neurological Diagnostic Devices § 882...

Corrugated pipe adhesive applicator apparatus

DOEpatents

Shirey, R.A.

1983-06-14

Apparatus for coating selected portions of the troughs of a corrugated pipe with an adhesive includes a support disposed within the pipe with a reservoir containing the adhesive disposed on the support. A pump, including a spout, is utilized for supplying the adhesive from the reservoir to a trough of the pipe. A rotatable applicator is supported on the support and contacts the trough of the pipe. The applicator itself is sized so as to fit within the trough, and contacts the adhesive in the trough and spreads the adhesive in the trough upon rotation. A trough shield, supported by the support and disposed in the path of rotation of the applicator, is utilized to prevent the applicator from contacting selected portions of the trough. A locator head is also disposed on the support and provides a way for aligning the spout, the applicator, and the trough shield with the trough. 4 figs.

21 CFR 886.5916 - Rigid gas permeable contact lens.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Rigid gas permeable contact lens. 886.5916 Section... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES OPHTHALMIC DEVICES Therapeutic Devices § 886.5916 Rigid gas permeable contact lens. (a) Identification. A rigid gas permeable contact lens is a device intended to be worn directly...

21 CFR 886.5916 - Rigid gas permeable contact lens.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Rigid gas permeable contact lens. 886.5916 Section... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES OPHTHALMIC DEVICES Therapeutic Devices § 886.5916 Rigid gas permeable contact lens. (a) Identification. A rigid gas permeable contact lens is a device intended to be worn directly...

77 FR 12903 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-158, Contact Information and Work History...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-02

..., Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant ACTION: Notice of request for public... with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Contact Information and Work... FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional information regarding the collection listed in...

78 FR 75559 - Kaukauna Utilities; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-12

... Operations, Kaukauna Utilities, 777 Island Street, Kaukauna, WI 54130; phone: (920) 462-0220; email: wi.org ">[email protected] wi.org . i. FERC Contact: Isis Johnson at (202) 502-6346; or email at isis.johnson@ferc.gov...

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Contact Sites.

PubMed

Saheki, Yasunori; De Camilli, Pietro

2017-06-20

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has a broad localization throughout the cell and forms direct physical contacts with all other classes of membranous organelles, including the plasma membrane (PM). A number of protein tethers that mediate these contacts have been identified, and study of these protein tethers has revealed a multiplicity of roles in cell physiology, including regulation of intracellular Ca 2+ dynamics and signaling as well as control of lipid traffic and homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the cross talk between the ER and the PM mediated by direct contacts. We review factors that tether the two membranes, their properties, and their dynamics in response to the functional state of the cell. We focus in particular on the role of ER-PM contacts in nonvesicular lipid transport between the two bilayers mediated by lipid transfer proteins.

Alterations in knee contact forces and centers in stance phase of gait: A detailed lower extremity musculoskeletal model.

PubMed

Marouane, H; Shirazi-Adl, A; Adouni, M

2016-01-25

Evaluation of contact forces-centers of the tibiofemoral joint in gait has crucial biomechanical and pathological consequences. It involves however difficulties and limitations in in vitro cadaver and in vivo imaging studies. The goal is to estimate total contact forces (CF) and location of contact centers (CC) on the medial and lateral plateaus using results computed by a validated finite element model simulating the stance phase of gait for normal as well as osteoarthritis, varus-valgus and posterior tibial slope altered subjects. Using foregoing contact results, six methods commonly used in the literature are also applied to estimate and compare locations of CC at 6 periods of stance phase (0%, 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). TF joint contact forces are greater on the lateral plateau very early in stance and on the medial plateau thereafter during 25-100% stance periods. Large excursions in the location of CC (>17mm), especially on the medial plateau in the mediolateral direction, are computed. Various reported models estimate quite different CCs with much greater variations (~15mm) in the mediolateral direction on both plateaus. Compared to our accurately computed CCs taken as the gold standard, the centroid of contact area algorithm yielded least differences (except in the mediolateral direction on the medial plateau at ~5mm) whereas the contact point and weighted center of proximity algorithms resulted overall in greatest differences. Large movements in the location of CC should be considered when attempting to estimate TF compartmental contact forces in gait. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Signaling networks in joint development

PubMed Central

Salva, Joanna E.; Merrill, Amy E.

2016-01-01

Here we review studies identifying regulatory networks responsible for synovial, cartilaginous, and fibrous joint development. Synovial joints, characterized by the fluid-filled synovial space between the bones, are found in high-mobility regions and are the most common type of joint. Cartilaginous joints unite adjacent bones through either a hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage intermediate. Fibrous joints, which include the cranial sutures, form a direct union between bones through fibrous connective tissue. We describe how the distinct morphologic and histogenic characteristics of these joint classes are established during embryonic development. Collectively, these studies reveal that despite the heterogeneity of joint strength and mobility, joint development throughout the skeleton utilizes common signaling networks via long-range morphogen gradients and direct cell-cell contact. This suggests that different joint types represent specialized variants of homologous developmental modules. Identifying the unifying aspects of the signaling networks between joint classes allows a more complete understanding of the signaling code for joint formation, which is critical to improving strategies for joint regeneration and repair. PMID:27859991

Effect of direct eye contact in PTSD related to interpersonal trauma: an fMRI study of activation of an innate alarm system.

PubMed

Steuwe, Carolin; Daniels, Judith K; Frewen, Paul A; Densmore, Maria; Pannasch, Sebastian; Beblo, Thomas; Reiss, Jeffrey; Lanius, Ruth A

2014-01-01

In healthy individuals, direct eye contact initially leads to activation of a fast subcortical pathway, which then modulates a cortical route eliciting social cognitive processes. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the neurobiological effects of direct eye-to-eye contact using a virtual reality paradigm in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to prolonged childhood abuse. We examined 16 healthy comparison subjects and 16 patients with a primary diagnosis of PTSD using a virtual reality functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm involving direct vs averted gaze (happy, sad, neutral) as developed by Schrammel et al. in 2009. Irrespective of the displayed emotion, controls exhibited an increased blood oxygenation level-dependent response during direct vs averted gaze within the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, left temporoparietal junction and right temporal pole. Under the same conditions, individuals with PTSD showed increased activation within the superior colliculus (SC)/periaqueductal gray (PAG) and locus coeruleus. Our findings suggest that healthy controls react to the exposure of direct gaze with an activation of a cortical route that enhances evaluative 'top-down' processes underlying social interactions. In individuals with PTSD, however, direct gaze leads to sustained activation of a subcortical route of eye-contact processing, an innate alarm system involving the SC and the underlying circuits of the PAG.

Effect of direct eye contact in PTSD related to interpersonal trauma: an fMRI study of activation of an innate alarm system

PubMed Central

Steuwe, Carolin; Daniels, Judith K.; Frewen, Paul A.; Densmore, Maria; Pannasch, Sebastian; Beblo, Thomas; Reiss, Jeffrey; Lanius, Ruth A.

2014-01-01

In healthy individuals, direct eye contact initially leads to activation of a fast subcortical pathway, which then modulates a cortical route eliciting social cognitive processes. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the neurobiological effects of direct eye-to-eye contact using a virtual reality paradigm in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to prolonged childhood abuse. We examined 16 healthy comparison subjects and 16 patients with a primary diagnosis of PTSD using a virtual reality functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm involving direct vs averted gaze (happy, sad, neutral) as developed by Schrammel et al. in 2009. Irrespective of the displayed emotion, controls exhibited an increased blood oxygenation level-dependent response during direct vs averted gaze within the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, left temporoparietal junction and right temporal pole. Under the same conditions, individuals with PTSD showed increased activation within the superior colliculus (SC)/periaqueductal gray (PAG) and locus coeruleus. Our findings suggest that healthy controls react to the exposure of direct gaze with an activation of a cortical route that enhances evaluative ‘top–down’ processes underlying social interactions. In individuals with PTSD, however, direct gaze leads to sustained activation of a subcortical route of eye-contact processing, an innate alarm system involving the SC and the underlying circuits of the PAG. PMID:22977200

The direction of fluid flow during contact metamorphism of siliceous carbonate rocks: new data for the Monzoni and Predazzo aureoles, northern Italy, and a global review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferry, John M.; Wing, Boswell A.; Penniston-Dorland, Sarah C.; Rumble, Douglas

2002-03-01

Periclase formed in siliceous dolomitic marbles during contact metamorphism in the Monzoni and Predazzo aureoles, the Dolomites, northern Italy, by infiltration of the carbonate rocks by chemically reactive, H2O-rich fluids at 500 bar and 565-710 °C. The spatial distribution of periclase and oxygen isotope compositions is consistent with reactive fluid flow that was primarily vertical and upward in both aureoles with time-integrated flux ~5,000 and ~300 mol fluid/cm2 rock in the Monzoni and Predazzo aureoles, respectively. The new results for Monzoni and Predazzo are considered along with published studies of 13 other aureoles to draw general conclusions about the direction, amount, and controls on the geometry of reactive fluid flow during contact metamorphism of siliceous carbonate rocks. Flow in 12 aureoles was primarily vertically upward with and without a horizontal component directed away from the pluton. Fluid flow in two of the other three was primarily horizontal, directed from the pluton into the aureole. The direction of flow in the remaining aureole is uncertain. Earlier suggestions that fluid flow is often horizontal, directed toward the pluton, are likely explained by an erroneous assumption that widespread coexisting mineral reactants and products represent arrested prograde decarbonation reactions. With the exception of three samples from one aureole, time-integrated fluid flux was in the range 102-104 mol/cm2. Both the amount and direction of fluid flow are consistent with hydrodynamic models of contact metamorphism. The orientation of bedding and lithologic contacts appears to be the principal control over whether fluid flow was either primarily vertical or horizontal. Other pre-metamorphic structures, including dikes, faults, fold hinges, and fracture zones, served to channel fluid flow as well.

The direction of fluid flow during contact metamorphism of siliceous carbonate rocks: new data for the Monzoni and Predazzo aureoles, northern Italy, and a global review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferry, John; Wing, Boswell; Penniston-Dorland, Sarah; Rumble, Douglas

2001-11-01

Periclase formed in siliceous dolomitic marbles during contact metamorphism in the Monzoni and Predazzo aureoles, the Dolomites, northern Italy, by infiltration of the carbonate rocks by chemically reactive, H2O-rich fluids at 500 bar and 565-710 °C. The spatial distribution of periclase and oxygen isotope compositions is consistent with reactive fluid flow that was primarily vertical and upward in both aureoles with time-integrated flux 5,000 and 300 mol fluid/cm2 rock in the Monzoni and Predazzo aureoles, respectively. The new results for Monzoni and Predazzo are considered along with published studies of 13 other aureoles to draw general conclusions about the direction, amount, and controls on the geometry of reactive fluid flow during contact metamorphism of siliceous carbonate rocks. Flow in 12 aureoles was primarily vertically upward with and without a horizontal component directed away from the pluton. Fluid flow in two of the other three was primarily horizontal, directed from the pluton into the aureole. The direction of flow in the remaining aureole is uncertain. Earlier suggestions that fluid flow is often horizontal, directed toward the pluton, are likely explained by an erroneous assumption that widespread coexisting mineral reactants and products represent arrested prograde decarbonation reactions. With the exception of three samples from one aureole, time-integrated fluid flux was in the range 102-104 mol/cm2. Both the amount and direction of fluid flow are consistent with hydrodynamic models of contact metamorphism. The orientation of bedding and lithologic contacts appears to be the principal control over whether fluid flow was either primarily vertical or horizontal. Other pre-metamorphic structures, including dikes, faults, fold hinges, and fracture zones, served to channel fluid flow as well.

Carrier Selective, Passivated Contacts for High Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells based on Transparent Conducting Oxides

DOE PAGES

Young, David L.; Nemeth, William; Grover, Sachit; ...

2014-01-01

We describe the design, fabrication and results of passivated contacts to n-type silicon utilizing thin SiO 2 and transparent conducting oxide layers. High temperature silicon dioxide is grown on both surfaces of an n-type wafer to a thickness <50 Å, followed by deposition of tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) and a patterned metal contacting layer. As deposited, the thin-film stack has a very high J0, contact, and a non-ohmic, high contact resistance. However, after a forming gas anneal, the passivation quality and the contact resistivity improve significantly. The contacts are characterized by measuring the recombination parameter of the contact (J0, contact)more » and the specific contact resistivity (ρ contact) using a TLM pattern. The best ITO/SiO 2 passivated contact in this study has J 0,contact = 92.5 fA/cm 2 and ρ contact = 11.5 mOhm-cm 2. These values are placed in context with other passivating contacts using an analysis that determines the ultimate efficiency and the optimal area fraction for contacts for a given set of (J0, contact, ρ contact) values. The ITO/SiO 2 contacts are found to have a higher J0, contact, but a similar ρ contact compared to the best reported passivated contacts.« less

Oxygen-Free Welding Contact Tips

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pike, James F.

1993-01-01

Contact tips for gas/metal arc welding (GMAW) fabricated from oxygen-free copper. Prototype tips tested in robotic welding, for which application intended. Reduces electrical erosion, increases electrical conductivity, and reduces mechanical wear. Productivity of robotic welding increases while time during welding interrupted for removal and replacement of contact tips minimal. Improves alignment of joints and filler metal, reducing rate of rejection and repair of unacceptable weldments. Utility extends beyond aerospace industry to mass production of various types of hardware, including heavy off-highway construction equipment.

Contact dynamics recording and analysis system using an optical fiber sensor approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anghel, F.; Pavelescu, D.; Grattan, K. T. V.; Palmer, A. W.

1997-09-01

A contact dynamics recording and analysis system configured using an optical fiber sensor has been developed having been designed with a particular application to the accurate and time-varying description of moving contact operating during electrical arc breaking, in an experimental platform simulating the operation of a vacuum circuit breaker. The system utilizes dynamic displacement measurement and data recording and a post-process data analysis to reveal the dynamic speed and acceleration data of the equipment.

Enhanced Metal Contacts to Carbon Nanotube Networks through Chemical and Physical Modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cox, Nathanael David

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an emerging class of nano-structured carbon materials which are currently being studied for applications which would benefit from their desirable electrical and mechanical properties. Potential benefits such as improved current density, flexure tolerance, weight savings, and even radiation tolerance have led to their implementation into numerous devices and structures, many of which are slated for use in space environments. The role of CNTs can be quite diverse, with varied CNT electronic-types and morphologies dictated by the specific application. Despite numerous CNT types and morphologies employed by these technologies, a common link between nearly all of these devices and structures is metal contact to CNTs, where the metal components often provide the link between the carbon nanotubes and the external system. In this work, a variety of CNT-metal systems were characterized in terms of metal morphology analysis and CNT-metal electrical and mechanical interactions, in response to chemical and structural modifications. A large portion of the work additionally focuses on ion irradiation environments. A diverse number of experiments related to CNT-metal interactions will be discussed. For instance, electrochemical interactions between ion-irradiated single-wall CNTs (SWCNTs) and metal salt solutions were utilized to selectively deposit Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) onto the SWCNTs. A direct correlation was established between defect density and Au-NP areal density, resulting in a method for rapid spatial profiling of ion-irradiation induced defects in SWCNTs. The effect of ion irradiation on the CNT-metal interface was also investigated and it was found that the contact resistance of Ag-SWCNT structures increases, while the specific contact resistance decreases. The increase in overall contact resistance was attributed to increased series resistance in the system due to damage of the bulk SWCNT films, while the decrease in specific contact resistance was attributed to Ag atoms being forward-scattered into the top 5 nm of SWCNT film, as revealed by computational simulations. Additionally, development of Ag-CNT metal matrix composite (MMC) thin films for advanced space solar cell electrodes is discussed. SWCNTs and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) were utilized as reinforcement material in Ag electrodes to address problems related to micro-cracks causing electrode fracture and loss of power in solar cells. A method for creating free standing films was developed to enable mechanical property characterization of the MMCs, and it was found that SWCNTs significantly increase the toughness of Ag thin films, due to the SWCNT tensile strength and strain capabilities. CNT-MMC grid-finger structures were also fabricated by solar cell process-compatible techniques and subjected to electrical testing under mechanical stress. The results showed that CNTs are capable of spanning gaps in Ag electrodes upon fracture, both electrically and mechanically.

Passive Fetal Heart Monitoring System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zuckerwar, Allan J. (Inventor); Mowrey, Dennis L. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

A fetal heart monitoring system and method for detecting and processing acoustic fetal heart signals transmitted by different signal transmission modes. One signal transmission mode, the direct contact mode, occurs in a first frequency band when the fetus is in direct contact with the maternal abdominal wall. Another signal transmission mode, the fluid propagation mode, occurs in a second frequency band when the fetus is in a recessed position with no direct contact with the maternal abdominal wall. The second frequency band is relatively higher than the first frequency band. The fetal heart monitoring system and method detect and process acoustic fetal heart signals that are in the first frequency band and in the second frequency band.

Badgers prefer cattle pasture but avoid cattle: implications for bovine tuberculosis control.

PubMed

Woodroffe, Rosie; Donnelly, Christl A; Ham, Cally; Jackson, Seth Y B; Moyes, Kelly; Chapman, Kayna; Stratton, Naomi G; Cartwright, Samantha J

2016-10-01

Effective management of infectious disease relies upon understanding mechanisms of pathogen transmission. In particular, while models of disease dynamics usually assume transmission through direct contact, transmission through environmental contamination can cause different dynamics. We used Global Positioning System (GPS) collars and proximity-sensing contact-collars to explore opportunities for transmission of Mycobacterium bovis [causal agent of bovine tuberculosis] between cattle and badgers (Meles meles). Cattle pasture was badgers' most preferred habitat. Nevertheless, although collared cattle spent 2914 collar-nights in the home ranges of contact-collared badgers, and 5380 collar-nights in the home ranges of GPS-collared badgers, we detected no direct contacts between the two species. Simultaneous GPS-tracking revealed that badgers preferred land > 50 m from cattle. Very infrequent direct contact indicates that badger-to-cattle and cattle-to-badger M. bovis transmission may typically occur through contamination of the two species' shared environment. This information should help to inform tuberculosis control by guiding both modelling and farm management. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

Healthcare utilization in women after abdominal surgery for ovarian cancer.

PubMed

McCorkle, Ruth; Jeon, Sangchoon; Ercolano, Elizabeth; Schwartz, Peter

2011-01-01

Women undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer are severely ill and are high users of health services. Contributing to these increased utilization rates are the multiple modalities used to treat ovarian cancer and the complications and side effects from those treatments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention provided by advanced practice nurses and a psychiatric consultation-liaison nurse on patients' self-report of healthcare utilization compared with an attention control intervention in women undergoing surgery for a suspected diagnosis of ovarian cancer. A two-group, experimental, longitudinal design was used to compare women who were assigned randomly to the intervention group or to an attention control group at baseline within 48 hours after surgery and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Healthcare utilization was measured as the number of self-reported inpatient admissions and outpatient visits, including emergency room visits, oncology outpatient visits, and primary care visits. Nurse interventions consisted of 16 contacts: symptom management, counseling, education, direct nursing care, coordination of resources, and referrals. The attention control interventions consisted of nine contacts that included instructions on use of a symptom management toolkit and strategies on how to manage symptoms. There were no differences in hospitalizations and oncology outpatient visits between the two groups. The main finding of this study was a significant difference in the number of primary care visits between the two groups. Women in the attention control group went to their primary care providers more often than the intervention group. The women who reported more visits also reported more depressive symptoms. In addition, a trend was found in the number of emergency room visits between the two groups. The intervention group visited the emergency room more often because the nurse instructed patients to go when they recognized symptoms that needed urgent care after hours. Women in the intervention group appropriately used the emergency room to manage their problems after hours, whereas more women in the attention control group reported significantly more primary care visits. These findings highlight the need for healthcare providers representing various disciplines to coordinate services across specialties, especially for women who have depressive symptoms.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of recruitment methods: the staying well after depression randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Krusche, Adele; Rudolf von Rohr, Isabelle; Muse, Kate; Duggan, Danielle; Crane, Catherine; Williams, J Mark G

2014-04-01

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are widely accepted as being the most efficient way of investigating the efficacy of psychological therapies. However, researchers conducting RCTs commonly report difficulties in recruiting an adequate sample within planned timescales. In an effort to overcome recruitment difficulties, researchers often are forced to expand their recruitment criteria or extend the recruitment phase, thus increasing costs and delaying publication of results. Research investigating the effectiveness of recruitment strategies is limited, and trials often fail to report sufficient details about the recruitment sources and resources utilized. We examined the efficacy of strategies implemented during the Staying Well after Depression RCT in Oxford to recruit participants with a history of recurrent depression. We describe eight recruitment methods utilized and two further sources not initiated by the research team and examine their efficacy in terms of (1) the return, including the number of potential participants who contacted the trial and the number who were randomized into the trial; (2) cost-effectiveness, comprising direct financial cost and manpower for initial contacts and randomized participants; and (3) comparison of sociodemographic characteristics of individuals recruited from different sources. Poster advertising, web-based advertising, and mental health worker referrals were the cheapest methods per randomized participant; however, the ratio of randomized participants to initial contacts differed markedly per source. Advertising online, via posters, and on a local radio station were the most cost-effective recruitment methods for soliciting participants who subsequently were randomized into the trial. Advertising across many sources (saturation) was found to be important. It may not be feasible to employ all the recruitment methods used in this trial to obtain participation from other populations, such as those currently unwell, or in other geographical locations. Recruitment source was unavailable for participants who could not be reached after the initial contact. Thus, it is possible that the efficiency of certain methods of recruitment was poorer than estimated. Efficacy and costs of other recruitment initiatives, such as providing travel expenses to the in-person eligibility assessment and making follow-up telephone calls to candidates who contacted the recruitment team but could not be screened promptly, were not analysed. Website advertising resulted in the highest number of randomized participants and was the second cheapest method of recruiting. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment strategies for other samples to contribute to a comprehensive base of knowledge for future RCTs.

Direct physical contact between intercalated cells in the distal convoluted tubule and the afferent arteriole in mouse kidneys.

PubMed

Ren, Hao; Liu, Ning-Yu; Andreasen, Arne; Thomsen, Jesper S; Cao, Liu; Christensen, Erik I; Zhai, Xiao-Yue

2013-01-01

Recent physiological studies in the kidney proposed the existence of a secondary feedback mechanism termed 'crosstalk' localized after the macula densa. This newly discovered crosstalk contact between the nephron tubule and its own afferent arteriole may potentially revolutionize our understanding of renal vascular resistance and electrolyte regulation. However, the nature of such a crosstalk mechanism is still debated due to a lack of direct and comprehensive morphological evidence. Its exact location along the nephron, its prevalence among the different types of nephrons, and the type of cells involved are yet unknown. To address these issues, computer assisted 3-dimensional nephron tracing was applied in combination with direct immunohistochemistry on plastic sections and electron microscopy. 'Random' contacts in the cortex were identified by the tracing and excluded. We investigated a total of 168 nephrons from all cortical regions. The results demonstrated that the crosstalk contact existed, and that it was only present in certain nephrons (90% of the short-looped and 75% of the long-looped nephrons). The crosstalk contacts always occurred at a specific position--the last 10% of the distal convoluted tubule. Importantly, we demonstrated, for the first time, that the cells found in the tubule wall at the contact site were always type nonA-nonB intercalated cells. In conclusion, the present work confirmed the existence of a post macula densa physical crosstalk contact.

Composition, apparatus, and process, for sorption of gaseous compounds of group II-VII elements

DOEpatents

Tom, Glenn M.; McManus, James V.; Luxon, Bruce A.

1991-08-06

Scavenger compositions are disclosed, which have utility for effecting the sorptive removal of hazardous gases containing Group II-VII elements of the Periodic Table, such as are widely encountered in the manufacture of semiconducting materials and semiconductor devices. Gas sorption processes including the contacting of Group II-VII gaseous compounds with such scavenger compositions are likewise disclosed, together with critical space velocity contacting conditions pertaining thereto. Further described are gas contacting apparatus, including mesh structures which may be deployed in gas contacting vessels containing such scavenger compositions, to prevent solids from being introduced to or discharged from the contacting vessel in the gas stream undergoing treatment. A reticulate heat transfer structure also is disclosed, for dampening localized exothermic reaction fronts when gas mixtures comprising Group II-VII constituents are contacted with the scavenger compositions in bulk sorption contacting vessels according to the invention.

Comparison of an alternative schedule of extended care contacts to a self-directed control: a randomized trial of weight loss maintenance.

PubMed

Dutton, Gareth R; Gowey, Marissa A; Tan, Fei; Zhou, Dali; Ard, Jamy; Perri, Michael G; Lewis, Cora E

2017-08-15

Behavioral interventions for obesity produce clinically meaningful weight loss, but weight regain following treatment is common. Extended care programs attenuate weight regain and improve weight loss maintenance. However, less is known about the most effective ways to deliver extended care, including contact schedules. We compared the 12-month weight regain of an extended care program utilizing a non-conventional, clustered campaign treatment schedule and a self-directed program among individuals who previously achieved ≥5% weight reductions. Participants (N = 108; mean age = 51.6 years; mean weight = 92.6 kg; 52% African American; 95% female) who achieved ≥5% weight loss during an initial 16-week behavioral obesity treatment were randomized into a 2-arm, 12-month extended care trial. A clustered campaign condition included 12 group-based visits delivered in three, 4-week clusters. A self-directed condition included provision of the same printed intervention materials but no additional treatment visits. The study was conducted in a U.S. academic medical center from 2011 to 2015. Prior to randomization, participants lost an average of -7.55 ± 3.04 kg. Participants randomized to the 12-month clustered campaign program regained significantly less weight (0.35 ± 4.62 kg) than self-directed participants (2.40 ± 3.99 kg), which represented a significant between-group difference of 2.28 kg (p = 0.0154) after covariate adjustments. This corresponded to maintaining 87% and 64% of lost weight in the clustered campaign and self-directed conditions, respectively, which was a significant between-group difference of 29% maintenance of lost weight after covariate adjustments, p = 0.0396. In this initial test of a clustered campaign treatment schedule, this novel approach effectively promoted 12-month maintenance of lost weight. Future trials should directly compare the clustered campaigns with conventional (e.g., monthly) extended care schedules. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02487121 . Registered 06/26/2015 (retrospectively registered).

Contact solution algorithms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tielking, John T.

1989-01-01

Two algorithms for obtaining static contact solutions are described in this presentation. Although they were derived for contact problems involving specific structures (a tire and a solid rubber cylinder), they are sufficiently general to be applied to other shell-of-revolution and solid-body contact problems. The shell-of-revolution contact algorithm is a method of obtaining a point load influence coefficient matrix for the portion of shell surface that is expected to carry a contact load. If the shell is sufficiently linear with respect to contact loading, a single influence coefficient matrix can be used to obtain a good approximation of the contact pressure distribution. Otherwise, the matrix will be updated to reflect nonlinear load-deflection behavior. The solid-body contact algorithm utilizes a Lagrange multiplier to include the contact constraint in a potential energy functional. The solution is found by applying the principle of minimum potential energy. The Lagrange multiplier is identified as the contact load resultant for a specific deflection. At present, only frictionless contact solutions have been obtained with these algorithms. A sliding tread element has been developed to calculate friction shear force in the contact region of the rolling shell-of-revolution tire model.

Eczema (For Parents)

MedlinePlus

... the skin to become scaly and inflamed), and contact dermatitis (caused by direct skin contact with an irritating substance, such as a metal, ... How Do I Get Rid of Eczema Scars? Eczema Impetigo View more About Us Contact Us Partners Editorial Policy Permissions Guidelines Privacy Policy & ...

Multi-stage flash degaser

DOEpatents

Rapier, P.M.

1980-06-26

A multi-stage flash degaser is incorporated in an energy conversion system having a direct-contact, binary-fluid heat exchanger to remove essentially all of the noncondensable gases from geothermal brine ahead of the direct-contact binary-fluid heat exchanger in order that the heat exchanger and a turbine and condenser of the system can operate at optimal efficiency.

Industrial applications of the air direct-contact, gravel, ground heat exchanger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cepiński, Wojciech; Besler, Maciej

2017-11-01

The paper describes the analysis of possibility of using the air direct-contact, gravel, ground heat exchanger (Polish acronym BGWCiM), patented at the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology to prepare air for conditioning rooms in the industry. Indicated the industry sectors where the application may be the most beneficial.

Validation of radiocarpal joint contact models based on images from a clinical MRI scanner.

PubMed

Johnson, Joshua E; McIff, Terence E; Lee, Phil; Toby, E Bruce; Fischer, Kenneth J

2014-01-01

This study was undertaken to assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiocarpal surface contact models of functional loading in a clinical MRI scanner for future in vivo studies, by comparison with experimental measures from three cadaver forearm specimens. Experimental data were acquired using a Tekscan sensor during simulated light grasp. Magnetic resonance (MR) images were used to obtain model geometry and kinematics (image registration). Peak contact pressures (PPs) and average contact pressures (APs), contact forces and contact areas were determined in the radiolunate and radioscaphoid joints. Contact area was also measured directly from MR images acquired with load and compared with model data. Based on the validation criteria (within 25% of experimental data), out of the six articulations (three specimens with two articulations each), two met the criterion for AP (0%, 14%); one for peak pressure (20%); one for contact force (5%); four for contact area with respect to experiment (8%, 13%, 19% and 23%), and three contact areas met the criterion with respect to direct measurements (14%, 21% and 21%). Absolute differences between model and experimental PPs were reasonably low (within 2.5 MPa). Overall, the results indicate that MRI-based models generated from 3T clinical MR scanner appear sufficient to obtain clinically relevant data.

Quantum Point Contact Single-Nucleotide Conductance for DNA and RNA Sequence Identification.

PubMed

Afsari, Sepideh; Korshoj, Lee E; Abel, Gary R; Khan, Sajida; Chatterjee, Anushree; Nagpal, Prashant

2017-11-28

Several nanoscale electronic methods have been proposed for high-throughput single-molecule nucleic acid sequence identification. While many studies display a large ensemble of measurements as "electronic fingerprints" with some promise for distinguishing the DNA and RNA nucleobases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil), important metrics such as accuracy and confidence of base calling fall well below the current genomic methods. Issues such as unreliable metal-molecule junction formation, variation of nucleotide conformations, insufficient differences between the molecular orbitals responsible for single-nucleotide conduction, and lack of rigorous base calling algorithms lead to overlapping nanoelectronic measurements and poor nucleotide discrimination, especially at low coverage on single molecules. Here, we demonstrate a technique for reproducible conductance measurements on conformation-constrained single nucleotides and an advanced algorithmic approach for distinguishing the nucleobases. Our quantum point contact single-nucleotide conductance sequencing (QPICS) method uses combed and electrostatically bound single DNA and RNA nucleotides on a self-assembled monolayer of cysteamine molecules. We demonstrate that by varying the applied bias and pH conditions, molecular conductance can be switched ON and OFF, leading to reversible nucleotide perturbation for electronic recognition (NPER). We utilize NPER as a method to achieve >99.7% accuracy for DNA and RNA base calling at low molecular coverage (∼12×) using unbiased single measurements on DNA/RNA nucleotides, which represents a significant advance compared to existing sequencing methods. These results demonstrate the potential for utilizing simple surface modifications and existing biochemical moieties in individual nucleobases for a reliable, direct, single-molecule, nanoelectronic DNA and RNA nucleotide identification method for sequencing.

78 FR 63408 - Petition To Amend Animal Welfare Act Regulations To Prohibit Public Contact With Big Cats, Bears...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-24

... Regulations To Prohibit Public Contact With Big Cats, Bears, and Nonhuman Primates AGENCY: Animal and Plant... into direct or physical contact with big cats, bears, or nonhuman primates of any age, to define the... coming. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barbara Kohn, DVM, Senior Staff Officer, USDA, APHIS, Animal...

Particle trap to sheath contact for a gas-insulated transmission line having a corrugated outer conductor

DOEpatents

Fischer, William H.; Cookson, Alan H.; Yoon, Kue H.

1984-04-10

A particle trap to outer elongated conductor or sheath contact for gas-insulated transmission lines. The particle trap to outer sheath contact of the invention is applicable to gas-insulated transmission lines having either corrugated or non-corrugated outer sheaths. The contact of the invention includes an electrical contact disposed on a lever arm which in turn is rotatably disposed on the particle trap and biased in a direction to maintain contact between the electrical contact and the outer sheath.

Contact problem for an elastic reinforcement bonded to an elastic plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erdogan, F.; Civelek, M. B.

1973-01-01

The stiffening layer is treated as an elastic membrane and the base plate is assumed to be an elastic continuum. The bonding between the two materials is assumed to be either one of direct adhesion ro through a thin adhesive layer which is treated as a shear spring. The solution for the simple case in which both the stiffener and the base plate are treated as membranes is also given. The contact stress is obtained for a series of numerical examples. In the direct adhesion case the contact stress becomes infinite at the stiffener ends with a typical square root singularity for the continuum model, and behaving as a delta function for the membrane model. In the case of bonding through an adhesive layer the contact stress becomes finite and continuous along the entire contact area.

Advances in contact algorithms and their application to tires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noor, Ahmed K.; Tanner, John A.

1988-01-01

Currently used techniques for tire contact analysis are reviewed. Discussion focuses on the different techniques used in modeling frictional forces and the treatment of contact conditions. A status report is presented on a new computational strategy for the modeling and analysis of tires, including the solution of the contact problem. The key elements of the proposed strategy are: (1) use of semianalytic mixed finite elements in which the shell variables are represented by Fourier series in the circumferential direction and piecewise polynomials in the meridional direction; (2) use of perturbed Lagrangian formulation for the determination of the contact area and pressure; and (3) application of multilevel iterative procedures and reduction techniques to generate the response of the tire. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of a proposed procedure for generating the tire response associated with different Fourier harmonics.

Morphology of contact lens-induced conjunctival epithelial flaps: a pilot study.

PubMed

Bergmanson, Jan P G; Tukler, Johanna; Leach, Norman E; Alabdelmoneam, Mussaed; Miller, William L

2012-08-01

Conjunctival epithelial flap (CEF) is a conjunctival condition most commonly seen in silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers. This study utilized impression cytology to investigate the cellular composition and health of CEFs. Nine (9) subjects were enrolled - 3 non-lens wearers, 3 contact lens wearers without CEF, and 3 contact lens wearers with CEFs wearing 8.4/13.8 lotrafilcon A lenses. Impression cytology samples were collected from the flap or similar locations, if CEF was absent, using rectangular 5 mm × 2 mm Millipore HAWP02500 membrane filters. The filters were gently pressed onto the conjunctiva, subsequently fixed in 95% alcohol, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and evaluated under an Olympus IX70 microscope. Measurements of the longest cell and nucleus dimensions were measured on 40 cells from each filter by utilizing NIH Image 1.63. CEF consisted of multilayers of epithelial and goblet cells and were devoid of inflammatory cells, basement membrane material and stromal tissue. The cytoplasmic and nuclear dimensions were similar within the groups and the cytoplasm-to-nucleus ratio was not different between the flap group and the non-lens wearing group. The CEF appeared to be formed by healthy epithelial and goblet cells that have been dislocated from their normal location along the conjunctival surface by the lens edge. No inflammatory cells were present in this contact lens induced condition, which is reported to be associated most commonly with the silicone hydrogel material. Copyright © 2012 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clamshell closure for metal drum

DOEpatents

Blanton, Paul S

2014-09-30

Closure ring to retain a lid in contact with a metal drum in central C-section conforming to the contact area between a lid and the rim of a drum and further having a radially inwardly directed flange and a vertically downwardly directed flange attached to the opposite ends of the C-section. The additional flanges reinforce the top of the drum by reducing deformation when the drum is dropped and maintain the lid in contact with the drum. The invention is particularly valuable in transportation and storage of fissile material.

A general design strategy for block copolymer directed self-assembly patterning of integrated circuits contact holes using an alphabet approach.

PubMed

Yi, He; Bao, Xin-Yu; Tiberio, Richard; Wong, H-S Philip

2015-02-11

Directed self-assembly (DSA) is a promising lithography candidate for technology nodes beyond 14 nm. Researchers have shown contact hole patterning for random logic circuits using DSA with small physical templates. This paper introduces an alphabet approach that uses a minimal set of small physical templates to pattern all contacts configurations on integrated circuits. We illustrate, through experiments, a general and scalable template design strategy that links the DSA material properties to the technology node requirements.

Utilizing Municipal Trees: Ideas From Across the Country

Treesearch

Stephen M. Bratkovich

2001-01-01

To show how municipal tree removals can be utilized for traditional wood products, this publication highlights 16 successful projects from around the country. These case studies are organized by the different types of participants: State and regional partnerships, municipalities, tree service firms, entrepreneurs, and sawmills. Contact information is provided for each...

77 FR 10718 - Request for Proposals: 2012 Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-23

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Request for Proposals: 2012 Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice; Correction. SUMMARY: The Department of... Biomass Coordinator as listed in the addresses above or contact Susan LeVan-Green, Program Manager of the...

75 FR 58389 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-24

... proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our... and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected... INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ernest Woodson, Procurement Analyst, Contract Policy Branch, at telephone (202) 501...

Evaluation of antibacterial properties on polysulfone composite membranes using synthesized biogenic silver nanoparticles with Ulva compressa (L.) Kütz. and Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kütz. extracts.

PubMed

Minhas, Fozia T; Arslan, Gulsin; Gubbuk, I Hilal; Akkoz, Cengiz; Ozturk, Betul Yılmaz; Asıkkutlu, Baran; Arslan, Ugur; Ersoz, Mustafa

2018-02-01

Polysulfone (PS) composite membrane using green synthesized biogenic silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) with Ulva compressa (L.) Kütz. and Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kütz. extract were prepared by spin coating technique and are tested for antimicrobial activity using a direct contact test for the first time. Initially green synthesis of Ag-NPs was accomplished utilizing green macro algae i.e. U. compressa (L.) Kütz. and C. glomerata (L.) Kütz. by the reduction of AgNO 3 . The Ag-NPs/PS composite membranes from both algae revealed outstanding antimicrobial activity against all bacteria i.e. K. pneumonia, P. aeruginasa, E. coli, E. faecium and S. aureus. Bacterial growth was monitored for 17h with a temperature controlled microplate spectrophotometer. The kinetics of the outgrowth in each well were recorded continuously at 630nm every 60min. Thus present work remarkably offers a feasible, cheap and efficient alternative for making Ag-NPs and their utilization as antimicrobial agent on the PS composite membrane. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Silicon carbide semiconductor device fabrication and characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, R. F.; Das, K.

1990-01-01

A number of basic building blocks i.e., rectifying and ohmic contacts, implanted junctions, MOS capacitors, pnpn diodes and devices, such as, MESFETs on both alpha and beta SiC films were fabricated and characterized. Gold forms a rectifying contact on beta SiC. Since Au contacts degrade at high temperatures, these are not considered to be suitable for high temperature device applications. However, it was possible to utilize Au contact diodes for electrically characterizing SiC films. Preliminary work indicates that sputtered Pt or Pt/Si contacts on beta SiC films are someways superior to Au contacts. Sputtered Pt layers on alpha SiC films form excellent rectifying contacts, whereas Ni layers following anneal at approximately 1050 C provide an ohmic contact. It has demonstrated that ion implantation of Al in substrates held at 550 C can be successfully employed for the fabrication of rectifying junction diodes. Feasibility of fabricating pnpn diodes and platinum gated MESFETs on alpha SiC films was also demonstrated.

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

Chen, Junxing; Yang, Fei, E-mail: yfei2007@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Luo, Kaiyu

Rolling contact connector (RCC) is a new technology utilized in high performance electric power transfer systems with one or more rotating interfaces, such as radars, satellites, wind generators, and medical computed tomography machines. Rolling contact components are used in the RCC instead of traditional sliding contacts to transfer electrical power and/or signal. Since the requirement of the power transmission is increasing in these years, the rolling electrical contact characteristics become more and more important for the long-life design of RCC. In this paper, a typical form of RCC is presented. A series of experimental work are carried out to investigatemore » the rolling electrical contact characteristics during its lifetime. The influence of a variety of factors on the electrical contact degradation behavior of RCC is analyzed under both vacuum and air environment. Based on the surface morphology and elemental composition changes in the contact zone, which are assessed by field emission scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope, the mechanism of rolling electrical contact degradation is discussed.« less

Are diverse societies less cohesive? Testing contact and mediated contact theories.

PubMed

McKenna, Sarah; Lee, Eunro; Klik, Kathleen A; Markus, Andrew; Hewstone, Miles; Reynolds, Katherine J

2018-01-01

Previous research has demonstrated that there is a negative relationship between ethnic diversity in a local community and social cohesion. Often the way social cohesion is assessed, though, varies across studies and only some aspects of the construct are included (e.g., trust). The current research explores the relationship between diversity and social cohesion across a number of indicators of social cohesion including neighbourhood social capital, safety, belonging, generalized trust, and volunteering. Furthermore, social psychological theories concerning the role of positive contact and its impact on feelings of threat are investigated. Using a sample of 1070 third generation 'majority' Australians and structural equation modelling (SEM), findings suggest ethnic diversity is related to positive intergroup contact, and that contact showed beneficial impacts for some indicators of social cohesion both directly and indirectly through reducing perceived threat. When interethnic contact and perceived threat are included in the model there is no direct negative effect between diversity and social cohesion. The theoretical implications of these findings are outlined including the importance of facilitating opportunities for positive contact in diverse communities.

Are diverse societies less cohesive? Testing contact and mediated contact theories

PubMed Central

Lee, Eunro; Klik, Kathleen A.; Markus, Andrew; Hewstone, Miles; Reynolds, Katherine J.

2018-01-01

Previous research has demonstrated that there is a negative relationship between ethnic diversity in a local community and social cohesion. Often the way social cohesion is assessed, though, varies across studies and only some aspects of the construct are included (e.g., trust). The current research explores the relationship between diversity and social cohesion across a number of indicators of social cohesion including neighbourhood social capital, safety, belonging, generalized trust, and volunteering. Furthermore, social psychological theories concerning the role of positive contact and its impact on feelings of threat are investigated. Using a sample of 1070 third generation ‘majority’ Australians and structural equation modelling (SEM), findings suggest ethnic diversity is related to positive intergroup contact, and that contact showed beneficial impacts for some indicators of social cohesion both directly and indirectly through reducing perceived threat. When interethnic contact and perceived threat are included in the model there is no direct negative effect between diversity and social cohesion. The theoretical implications of these findings are outlined including the importance of facilitating opportunities for positive contact in diverse communities. PMID:29596501

Ferromagnetic tunnel contacts to graphene: Contact resistance and spin signal

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

Cubukcu, M.; Laczkowski, P.; Vergnaud, C.

2015-02-28

We report spin transport in CVD graphene-based lateral spin valves using different magnetic contacts. We compared the spin signal amplitude measured on devices where the cobalt layer is directly in contact with the graphene to the one obtained using tunnel contacts. Although a sizeable spin signal (up to ∼2 Ω) is obtained with direct contacts, the signal is strongly enhanced (∼400 Ω) by inserting a tunnel barrier. In addition, we studied the resistance-area product (R.A) of a variety of contacts on CVD graphene. In particular, we compared the R.A products of alumina and magnesium oxide tunnel barriers grown by sputteringmore » deposition of aluminum or magnesium and subsequent natural oxidation under pure oxygen atmosphere or by plasma. When using an alumina tunnel barrier on CVD graphene, the R.A product is high and exhibits a large dispersion. This dispersion can be highly reduced by using a magnesium oxide tunnel barrier, as for the R.A value. This study gives insight in the material quest for reproducible and efficient spin injection in CVD graphene.« less

Liquid-Feed Methanol Fuel Cell With Membrane Electrolyte

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Surampudi, Subbarao; Narayanan, S. R.; Halpert, Gerald; Frank, Harvey; Vamos, Eugene

1995-01-01

Fuel cell generates electricity from direct liquid feed stream of methanol/water solution circulated in contact with anode, plus direct gaseous feed stream of air or oxygen in contact with cathode. Advantages include relative simplicity and elimination of corrosive electrolytic solutions. Offers potential for reductions in size, weight, and complexity, and for increases in safety of fuel-cell systems.

49 CFR 393.136 - What are the rules for securing large boulders?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...-separated points of contact that prevent its tendency to roll in any direction. (5) If a boulder is tapered...) Only chain may be used as tiedowns to secure large boulders. (2) Tiedowns which are in direct contact... boulder. Whenever practicable, the angle of the chains must not exceed 45 degrees from the horizontal. ...

Post-Adoption Face-to-Face Contact with Birth Parents: Prospective Adopters' Views

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turkington, Selina; Taylor, Brian J.

2009-01-01

The trend in adoption since the 1960s has been away from secrecy and towards greater openness; contact through an intermediary, and direct contact by letter, is now widely accepted. More controversial is the challenge of face-to-face contact with birth parents, and social workers involved in the decision-making process find themselves having to…

Development of a Contact Permeation Test Fixture and Method

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

direct contact with the skin, indicates the need for a quantitative contact test method. Comparison tests were conducted with VX on a standardized...Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th ed.; National Research Council: Washington, DC, 2011). This test was also performed in...1 1.2 Development of a Contact-Based Permeation Test Method ........................................ 1 2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Eyelid Dermatitis: Contact Allergy to 3-(Dimethylamino)propylamine

PubMed Central

Knopp, Eleanor; Watsky, Kalman

2014-01-01

We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with intractable eyelid dermatitis. Patch testing revealed sensitization to 3-(dimethylamino)propylamine (DMAPA). DMAPA is an important etiology of allergic contact dermatitis of the eyelids and face but is easily missed even with expanded-series patch testing. We also review the most common causative allergens in eyelid dermatitis cited in the literature over the past decade. DMAPA is a reagent used in the formation of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), a common additive to liquid soaps, shampoos, and other cleansing products because of its utility as a surfactant. Beginning in the 1980s, reports of allergy to CAPB surfaced in the literature. Ultimately, a majority of patch testing studies have shown that clinical allergy to CAPB-containing products actually reflects allergy to contaminant DMAPA in most cases. Amidoamine, another intermediate in the formation of CAPB, may also be implicated through a proposed mechanism of conversion to DMAPA in the skin. When patch-testing for eyelid and facial dermatitis, it is crucial to test with DMAPA directly, not just with CAPB; unlike commercial-grade CAPB, the CAPB in patch test kits is ultrapure and does not contain contaminant DMAPA. PMID:19134437

FIV cross-species transmission: an evolutionary prospective

PubMed Central

Troyer, Jennifer L.; VandeWoude, Sue; Pecon-Slattery, Jill; McIntosh, Carl; Franklin, Sam; Antunes, Agostinho; Johnson, Warren; O'Brien, Stephen J.

2008-01-01

Feline and primate immunodeficiency viruses (FIVs, SIVs, and HIV) are transmitted via direct contact (e.g. fighting, sexual contact, and mother-offspring transmission). This dynamic likely poses a behavioral barrier to cross-species transmission in the wild. Recently, several host intracellular anti-viral proteins that contribute to species-specificity of primate lentiviruses have been identified revealing adaptive mechanisms that further limit spread of lentiviruses between species. Consistent with these inter-species transmission barriers, phylogenetic evidence supports the prediction that FIV transmission is an exceedingly rare event between free-ranging cat species, though it has occurred occasionally in captive settings. Recently we documented that puma and bobcats in Southern California share an FIV strain, providing an opportunity to evaluate evolution of both viral strains and host intracellular restriction proteins. These studies are facilitated by the availability of the 2X cat genome sequence annotation. In addition, concurrent viral and host genetic analyses have been used to track patterns of migration of the host species and barriers to transmission of the virus within the African lion. These studies illustrate the utility of FIV as a model to discover the variables necessary for establishment and control of lentiviral infections in new species. PMID:18299153

Resistance of human plasmacytoid dendritic CAL-1 cells to infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is caused by restricted virus cell entry, which is overcome by contact of CAL-1 cells with LCMV-infected cells.

PubMed

Iwasaki, Masaharu; Sharma, Siddhartha M; Marro, Brett S; de la Torre, Juan C

2017-11-01

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), a main source of type I interferon in response to viral infection, are an early cell target during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, which has been associated with the LCMV's ability to establish chronic infections. Human blood-derived pDCs have been reported to be refractory to ex vivo LCMV infection. In the present study we show that human pDC CAL-1 cells are refractory to infection with cell-free LCMV, but highly susceptible to infection with recombinant LCMVs carrying the surface glycoprotein of VSV, indicating that LCMV infection of CAL-1 cells is restricted at the cell entry step. Co-culture of uninfected CAL-1 cells with LCMV-infected HEK293 cells enabled LCMV to infect CAL-1 cells. This cell-to-cell spread required direct cell-cell contact and did not involve exosome pathway. Our findings indicate the presence of a novel entry pathway utilized by LCMV to infect pDC. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Human Interactive Triboelectric Nanogenerator as a Self-Powered Smart Seat.

PubMed

Chandrasekhar, Arunkumar; Alluri, Nagamalleswara Rao; Saravanakumar, Balasubramaniam; Selvarajan, Sophia; Kim, Sang-Jae

2016-04-20

A lightweight, flexible, cost-effective, and robust, single-electrode-based Smart Seat-Triboelectric Nanogenerator (SS-TENG) is introduced as a promising eco-friendly approach for harvesting energy from the living environment, for use in integrated self-powered systems. An effective method for harvesting biomechanical energy from human motion such as walking, running, and sitting, utilizing widely adaptable everyday contact materials (newspaper, denim, polyethylene covers, and bus cards) is demonstrated. The working mechanism of the SS-TENG is based on the generation and transfer of triboelectric charge carriers between the active layer and user-friendly contact materials. The performance of SS-TENG (52 V and 5.2 μA for a multiunit SS-TENG) is systematically studied and demonstrated in a range of applications including a self-powered passenger seat number indicator and a STOP-indicator using LEDs, using a simple logical circuit. Harvested energy is used as a direct power source to drive 60 blue and green commercially available LEDs and a monochrome LCD. This feasibility study confirms that triboelectric nanogenerators are a suitable technology for energy harvesting from human motion during transportation, which could be used to operate a variety of wireless devices, GPS systems, electronic devices, and other sensors during travel.

Triboelectric-generator-driven pulse electrodeposition for micropatterning.

PubMed

Zhu, Guang; Pan, Caofeng; Guo, Wenxi; Chen, Chih-Yen; Zhou, Yusheng; Yu, Ruomeng; Wang, Zhong Lin

2012-09-12

By converting ambient energy into electricity, energy harvesting is capable of at least offsetting, or even replacing, the reliance of small portable electronics on traditional power supplies, such as batteries. Here we demonstrate a novel and simple generator with extremely low cost for efficiently harvesting mechanical energy that is typically present in the form of vibrations and random displacements/deformation. Owing to the coupling of contact charging and electrostatic induction, electric generation was achieved with a cycled process of contact and separation between two polymer films. A detailed theory is developed for understanding the proposed mechanism. The instantaneous electric power density reached as high as 31.2 mW/cm(3) at a maximum open circuit voltage of 110 V. Furthermore, the generator was successfully used without electric storage as a direct power source for pulse electrodeposition (PED) of micro/nanocrystalline silver structure. The cathodic current efficiency reached up to 86.6%. Not only does this work present a new type of generator that is featured by simple fabrication, large electric output, excellent robustness, and extremely low cost, but also extends the application of energy-harvesting technology to the field of electrochemistry with further utilizations including, but not limited to, pollutant degradation, corrosion protection, and water splitting.

In situ electronic probing of semiconducting nanowires in an electron microscope.

PubMed

Fauske, V T; Erlbeck, M B; Huh, J; Kim, D C; Munshi, A M; Dheeraj, D L; Weman, H; Fimland, B O; Van Helvoort, A T J

2016-05-01

For the development of electronic nanoscale structures, feedback on its electronic properties is crucial, but challenging. Here, we present a comparison of various in situ methods for electronically probing single, p-doped GaAs nanowires inside a scanning electron microscope. The methods used include (i) directly probing individual as-grown nanowires with a sharp nano-manipulator, (ii) contacting dispersed nanowires with two metal contacts and (iii) contacting dispersed nanowires with four metal contacts. For the last two cases, we compare the results obtained using conventional ex situ litho-graphy contacting techniques and by in situ, direct-write electron beam induced deposition of a metal (Pt). The comparison shows that 2-probe measurements gives consistent results also with contacts made by electron beam induced deposition, but that for 4-probe, stray deposition can be a problem for shorter nanowires. This comparative study demonstrates that the preferred in situ method depends on the required throughput and reliability. © 2015 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2015 Royal Microscopical Society.

Dynamic Contact Angle at the Nanoscale: A Unified View.

PubMed

Lukyanov, Alex V; Likhtman, Alexei E

2016-06-28

Generation of a dynamic contact angle in the course of wetting is a fundamental phenomenon of nature. Dynamic wetting processes have a direct impact on flows at the nanoscale, and therefore, understanding them is exceptionally important to emerging technologies. Here, we reveal the microscopic mechanism of dynamic contact angle generation. It has been demonstrated using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of bead-spring model fluids that the main cause of local contact angle variations is the distribution of microscopic force acting at the contact line region. We were able to retrieve this elusive force with high accuracy. It has been directly established that the force distribution can be solely predicted on the basis of a general friction law for liquid flow at solid surfaces by Thompson and Troian. The relationship with the friction law provides both an explanation of the phenomenon of dynamic contact angle and a methodology for future predictions. The mechanism is intrinsically microscopic, universal, and irreducible and is applicable to a wide range of problems associated with wetting phenomena.

Direct measurement of friction of a fluctuating contact line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Shuo; Gao, Min; Xiong, Xiaomin; Wang, Yong Jian; Wang, Xiaoping; Sheng, Ping; Tong, Penger

2013-03-01

What happens at a moving contact line, where one fluid displaces another (immiscible) fluid over a solid surface, is a fundamental issue in fluid dynamics. In this presentation, we report a direct measurement of the friction coefficient in the immediate vicinity of a fluctuating contact line using a micron-sized vertical glass fiber with one end glued to an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever beam and the other end touching a liquid-air interface. By measuring the broadening of the resonance peak of the cantilever system with varying liquid viscosity η, we obtain the friction coefficient ξc associated with the contact line fluctuations on the glass fiber of diameter d and find it has the universal form, ξc = 0 . 8 πdη , independent of the contact angle. The result is further confirmed by using a soap film system whose bulk effect is negligibly small. This is the first time that the friction coefficient of a fluctuating contact line is measured. *Work supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR.

Water Landing Characteristics of a Reentry Capsule

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1958-01-01

Experimental and theoretical investigations have been made to determine the water-landing characteristics of a conical-shaped reentry capsule having a segment of a sphere as the bottom. For the experimental portion of the investigation, a 1/12-scale model capsule and a full-scale capsule were tested for nominal flight paths of 65 deg and 90 deg (vertical), a range of contact attitudes from -30 deg to 30 deg, and a full-scale vertical velocity of 30 feet per second at contact. Accelerations were measured by accelerometers installed at the centers of gravity of the model and full-scale capsules. For the model test the accelerations were measured along the X-axis (roll) and Z-axis (yaw) and for the full-scale test they were measured along the X-axis (roll), Y-axis (pitch), and Z-axis (yaw). Motions and displacements of the capsules that occurred after contact were determined from high-speed motion pictures. The theoretical investigation was conducted to determine the accelerations that might occur along the X-axis when the capsule contacted the water from a 90 deg flight path at a 0 deg attitude. Assuming a rigid body, computations were made from equations obtained by utilizing the principle of the conservation of momentum. The agreement among data obtained from the model test, the full-scale test, and the theory was very good. The accelerations along the X-axis, for a vertical flight path and 0 deg attitude, were in the order of 40g. For a 65 deg flight path and 0 deg attitude, the accelerations along the X-axis were in the order of 50g. Changes in contact attitude, in either the positive or negative direction from 0 deg attitude, considerably reduced the magnitude of the accelerations measured along the X-axis. Accelerations measured along the Y- and Z-axes were relatively small at all test conditions.

Water-Landing Characteristics of a Reentry Capsule

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McGehee, John R.; Hathaway, Melvin E.; Vaughan, Victor L., Jr.

1959-01-01

Experimental and theoretical investigations have been made to determine the water-landing characteristics of a conical-shaped reentry capsule having a segment of a sphere as the bottom. For the experimental portion of the investigation, a 1/12-scale model capsule and a full-scale capsule were tested for nominal flight paths of 65 deg and 90 deg (vertical), a range of contact attitudes from -30 deg to 30 deg, and a full-scale vertical velocity of 30 feet per second at contact. Accelerations were measured by accelerometers installed at the centers of gravity of the model and full-scale capsules. For the model test the accelerations were measured along the X-axis (roll) and Z-axis (yaw) and for the full-scale test they were measured along the X-axis (roll), Y-axis (pitch), and Z-axis (yaw). Motions and displacements of the capsules that occurred after contact were determined from high-speed motion pictures. The theoretical investigation was conducted to determine the accelerations that might occur along the X-axis when the capsule contacted the water from a 90 deg flight path at a 0 deg attitude. Assuming a rigid body, computations were made from equations obtained by utilizing the principle of the conservation of momentum. The agreement among data obtained from the model test, the full-scale test, and the theory was very good. The accelerations along the X-axis, for a vertical flight path and 0 deg attitude, were in the order of 40g. For a 65 deg flight path and 0 deg attitude, the accelerations along the X-axis were in the order of 50g. Changes in contact attitude, in either the positive or negative direction from 0 deg attitude, considerably reduced the magnitude of the accelerations measured along the X-axis. Accelerations measured along the Y- and Z-axes were relatively small at all test conditions.

Subthalamic stimulation may inhibit the beneficial effects of levodopa on akinesia and gait.

PubMed

Fleury, Vanessa; Pollak, Pierre; Gere, Julien; Tommasi, Giorgio; Romito, Luigi; Combescure, Christophe; Bardinet, Eric; Chabardes, Stephan; Momjian, Shahan; Krainik, Alexandre; Burkhard, Pierre; Yelnik, Jérôme; Krack, Paul

2016-09-01

Gait and akinesia deterioration in PD patients during the immediate postoperative period of DBS has been directly related to stimulation in the subthalamic region. The underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to clinically and anatomically describe this side effect. PD patients presenting with a worsening of gait and/or akinesia following STN-DBS, that was reversible on stimulation arrest were included. The evaluation included (1) a Stand Walk Sit Test during a monopolar survey of each electrode in the on-drug condition; (2) a 5-condition test with the following conditions: off-drug/off-DBS, off-drug/on-best-compromise-DBS, on-drug/off-DBS, on-drug/on-best-compromise-DBS, and on-drug/on-worsening-DBS, which utilized the contact inducing the most prominent gait deterioration. The following scales were performed: UPDRSIII subscores, Stand Walk Sit Test, and dyskinesia and freezing of gait scales. Localization of contacts was performed using a coregistration method. Twelve of 17 patients underwent the complete evaluation. Stimulation of the most proximal contacts significantly slowed down the Stand Walk Sit Test. The on-drug/on-worsening-DBS condition compared with the on-drug/off-DBS condition worsened akinesia (P = 0.02), Stand Walk Sit Test (P = 0.001), freezing of gait (P = 0.02), and improved dyskinesias (P = 0.003). Compared with the off-drug/off-DBS condition, the on-drug/on-worsening-DBS condition improved rigidity (P = 0.007) and tremor (P = 0.007). Worsening contact sites were predominantly dorsal and anterior to the STN in the anterior zona incerta and Forel fields H2. A paradoxical deterioration of gait and akinesia is a rare side effect following STN-DBS. We propose that this may be related to misplaced contacts, and we discuss the pathophysiology and strategies to identify and manage this complication. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Impact of crystal orientation on ohmic contact resistance of enhancement-mode p-GaN gate high electron mobility transistors on 200 mm silicon substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Hove, Marleen; Posthuma, Niels; Geens, Karen; Wellekens, Dirk; Li, Xiangdong; Decoutere, Stefaan

2018-04-01

p-GaN gate enhancement mode power transistors were processed in a Si CMOS processing line on 200 mm Si(111) substrates using Au-free metallization schemes. Si/Ti/Al/Ti/TiN ohmic contacts were formed after full recessing of the AlGaN barrier, followed by a HCl-based wet cleaning step. The electrical performance of devices aligned to the [11\\bar{2}0] and the perpendicular [1\\bar{1}00] directions was compared. The ohmic contact resistance was decreased from 1 Ω·mm for the [11\\bar{2}0] direction to 0.35 Ω·mm for the [1\\bar{1}00] direction, resulting in an increase of the drain saturation current from 0.5 to 0.6 A/mm, and a reduction of the on-resistance from 6.4 to 5.1 Ω·mm. Moreover, wafer mapping of the device characteristics over the 200 mm wafer showed a tighter statistical distribution for the [1\\bar{1}00] direction. However, by using an optimized sulfuric/ammonia peroxide (SPM/APM) cleaning step, the ohmic contact resistance could be lowered to 0.3 Ω·mm for both perpendicular directions.

Time to contact and the control of manual prehension.

PubMed

Watson, M K; Jakobson, L S

1997-11-01

In the present study, a kinematic analysis was made of unconstrained, natural prehension movements directed toward an object approaching the observer on a conveyor belt at one of three constant velocities, from one of three different directions (head-on or along the fronto-parallel plane coming either from the subject's left or right). Subjects were required to grasp the object when it reached a target located 20 cm directly in front of the hand's start position. The kinematic analysis revealed that both the transport and grasp components of the movement changed in response to the experimental manipulations, but did so in a manner that guaranteed that, for objects approaching from a given direction, hand closure would begin at a constant time prior to object contact (regardless of the object's approach speed). The kinematic analysis also revealed, however, that the onset of hand closure began earlier with objects approaching from the right than from other directions -- an effect which would not be predicted if time to contact was the key variable controlling the onset of hand closure. These results, then, lend only partial support to the theory that temporal coordination between the transport and grasp components of prehension is ensured through their common dependence on time to contact information.

Fabrication of hierarchically branched SnO2 nanowires by two-step deposition method and their applications to electrocatalyst support and Li ion electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sang Ho; Jo, Yong-Ryun; Noh, Yuseong; Kim, Bong-Joong; Kim, Won Bae

2017-11-01

This paper reports hierarchically branched structures of tin dioxide nanowires for use in electrochemical energy conversion and storage electrode systems. The shallow tin dioxide branches are epitaxially grown on the tin dioxide nanowire backbones that are directly formed on current collectors. The branched tin dioxide nanowires are applied as anode electrodes for lithium-ion batteries, while palladium-incorporated branched nanowires are utilized as electrocatalysts for ethanol electrooxidation reactions. The structural benefits of these hierarchical platforms, such as enlarged electrochemical active surface area, void space formed between the branched structures, and conformal contact of the electroactive materials with current collectors, play important roles in improving the electrochemical Li-ion storage as well as electrocatalytic activity.

Fabrication and characterization of hybrid Nb-YBCO dc SQUIDs

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

Frack, E.K.; Drake, R.E.; Patt, R.

This paper reports on the fabrication of hybrid low T{sub c}/high T{sub c} dc SQUIDs of two flavors. The first kind utilizes niobium tunnel junctions and a YBCO film strip as the most inductive portion of the SQUID loop. This configuration allows a direct measurement of the inductance of the YBCO microstrip from which the effective penetration depth can be calculated. The successful fabrication of these SQUIDs has required 1. superconducting Nb-to-YBCO contacts, 2. deposition and patterning of an SiO{sub 2} insulation layer over YBCO, and 3. selective patterning of niobium and SiO{sub 2} relative to YBCO. All these processmore » steps are pertinent to the eventual use of YBCO thin films in electronic devices.« less

Cryogenic hydrogen-induced air liquefaction technologies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Escher, William J. D.

1990-01-01

Extensively utilizing a special advanced airbreathing propulsion archives database, as well as direct contacts with individuals who were active in the field in previous years, a technical assessment of cryogenic hydrogen-induced air liquefaction, as a prospective onboard aerospace vehicle process, was performed and documented. The resulting assessment report is summarized. Technical findings are presented relating the status of air liquefaction technology, both as a singular technical area, and also that of a cluster of collateral technical areas including: compact lightweight cryogenic heat exchangers; heat exchanger atmospheric constituents fouling alleviation; para/ortho hydrogen shift conversion catalysts; hydrogen turbine expanders, cryogenic air compressors and liquid air pumps; hydrogen recycling using slush hydrogen as heat sink; liquid hydrogen/liquid air rocket-type combustion devices; air collection and enrichment systems (ACES); and technically related engine concepts.

A comparison of stresses in molar teeth restored with inlays and direct restorations, including polymerization shrinkage of composite resin and tooth loading during mastication.

PubMed

Dejak, Beata; Młotkowski, Andrzej

2015-03-01

Polymerization shrinkage of composites is one of the main causes of leakage around dental restorations. Despite the large numbers of studies there is no consensus, what kind of teeth reconstruction--direct or indirect composite restorations are the most beneficial and the most durable. The aim was to compare equivalent stresses and contact adhesive stresses in molar teeth with class II MOD cavities, which were restored with inlays and direct restorations (taking into account polymerization shrinkage of composite resin) during simulated mastication. The study was conducted using the finite elements method with the application of contact elements. Three 3D models of first molars were created: model A was an intact tooth; model B--a tooth with a composite inlay, and model C--a tooth with a direct composite restoration. Polymerization linear shrinkage 0.7% of a direct composite restoration and resin luting cement was simulated (load 1). A computer simulation of mastication was performed (load 2). In these 2 situations, equivalent stresses according to the modified von Mises criterion (mvM) in the materials of mandibular first molar models with different restorations were calculated and compared. Contact stresses in the luting cement-tooth tissue adhesive interface around the restorations were also assessed and analyzed. Equivalent stresses in a tooth with a direct composite restoration (the entire volume of which was affected by polymerization shrinkage) were many times higher than in the tooth restored with a composite inlay (where shrinkage was present only in a thin layer of the luting cement). In dentin and enamel the stress values were 8-14 times higher, and were 13 times higher in the direct restoration than in the inlay. Likewise, contact stresses in the adhesive bond around the direct restoration were 6.5-7.7 times higher compared to an extraorally cured restoration. In the masticatory simulation, shear contact stresses in the adhesive bond around the direct composite restoration reached the highest values 32.8 MPa and significantly exceeded the shear strength of the connection between the resin luting cement and the tooth structure. Equivalent stresses in the tooth structures restored with inlays and in the restoration material itself and contact stresses at the tooth-luting cement adhesive interface are many times lower compared to teeth with direct composite restorations. Teeth with indirect restorations are potentially less susceptible to damage compared to those with direct restorations. Composite inlays also ensure a better seal compared to direct restorations. Polymerization shrinkage determines stress levels in teeth with direct restorations, while its impact on adhesion in indirectly restored teeth is insignificant. Copyright © 2014 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reduced-droop green III-nitride light-emitting diodes utilizing GaN tunnel junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alhassan, Abdullah I.; Young, Erin C.; Alyamani, Ahmed Y.; Albadri, Abdulrahman; Nakamura, Shuji; DenBaars, Steven P.; Speck, James S.

2018-04-01

We report the fabrication of low-droop high-efficiency green c-plane light-emitting diodes (LEDs) utilizing GaN tunnel junction (TJ) contacts. The LED epitaxial layers with a top p-GaN layer were grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition and an n++-GaN layer was deposited by molecular beam epitaxy to form a TJ. The TJ LEDs were then compared with equivalent LEDs having a tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) contact. The TJ LEDs exhibited a higher performance and a lower efficiency droop than did the ITO LEDs. At 35 A/cm2, the external quantum efficiencies for the TJ and ITO LEDs were 31.2 and 27%, respectively.

Operational status and current trends in gas turbines for utility applications in Europe

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

Harmon, R.A.

1976-08-16

This investigation was conducted to ascertain the operational status and current trends in gas turbines for electric utility applications in Europe. A number of selected organizations were contacted by letter and personal visits and readily available pertinent literature was reviewed. The impact of business recovery in 1976 and increases in power demand on gas turbine operation and design trends is reflected in the following: annual operating hours on simple cycle gas turbines is very low in favor of more efficient combined cycle or steam plants which comprise part of the present excess reserve capacity; economics indicates the need for highermore » single unit ratings, e.g., in the 100 MW power range; inquiries and discussion of new plants are predominantly for more efficient systems--combined cycles and/or exhaust heat utilization; dual-purpose heat and power plants are getting much more attention; re-powering of existing steam plants is an attractive approach which has been demonstrated and should expand in use; ability to burn (or handle) dirty fuels is important; closed cycle gas turbine plants are receiving renewed consideration because of their good operational experience with dirty fuels including coal, flexibility in supplying varying amounts of heat and power with independent control, low pollution characteristics, ability to use over 80 percent of the heat content in thefuel, and potential for advantageous use in direct cycle, gas cooled nuclear power stations; the broad use of nuclear energy appears inevitable, and the potential advantages of direct cycle gas cooled systems with helium turbines offer incentives of increased efficiency, safety, and lower cost; and component trends are toward higher turbine inlet temperatures (1700 to 2000/sup 0/F) and toward higher compressor pressure ratios and variable geometry. Gas turbines are expected to play an important and continuing role in the utility industry in accordance with its changing requirements.« less

Contact Dermatitis in Pediatrics.

PubMed

Pelletier, Janice L; Perez, Caroline; Jacob, Sharon E

2016-08-01

Contact dermatitis is an umbrella term that describes the skin's reaction to contacted noxious or allergenic substances. The two main categories of contact dermatitis are irritant type and allergic type. This review discusses the signs, symptoms, causes, and complications of contact dermatitis. It addresses the testing, treatment, and prevention of contact dermatitis. Proper management of contact dermatitis includes avoidance measures for susceptible children. Implementation of a nickel directive (regulating the use of nickel in jewelry and other products that come into contact with the skin) could further reduce exposure to the most common allergens in the pediatric population. [Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(8):e287-e292.]. Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.

Hand-touch contact assessment of high-touch and mutual-touch surfaces among healthcare workers, patients, and visitors.

PubMed

Cheng, V C C; Chau, P H; Lee, W M; Ho, S K Y; Lee, D W Y; So, S Y C; Wong, S C Y; Tai, J W M; Yuen, K Y

2015-07-01

Unlike direct contact with patients' body, hand hygiene practice is often neglected by healthcare workers (HCWs) and visitors after contact with patients' environment. Contact with hospital environmental items may increase risk of pathogen transmission. To enumerate the number of hand-touch contacts by patients, HCWs and visitors with any hospital environmental items. All contact-episodes between person and item were recorded by direct observation in a six-bed cubicle of acute wards for 33 working days. High-touch and mutual-touch items with high contact frequencies by HCWs, patients, and visitors were analysed. In total, 1107 person-episodes with 6144 contact-episodes were observed in 66 observation hours (average: 16.8 person-episodes and 93.1 contact-episodes per hour). Eight of the top 10 high-touch items, including bedside rails, bedside tables, patients' bodies, patients' files, linen, bed curtains, bed frames, and lockers were mutually touched by HCWs, patients, and visitors. Bedside rails topped the list with 13.6 contact-episodes per hour (mean), followed by bedside tables (12.3 contact-episodes per hour). Using patients' body contacts as a reference, it was found that medical staff and nursing staff contacted bedside tables [rate ratio (RR): 1.741, 1.427, respectively] and patients' files (RR: 1.358, 1.324, respectively) more than patients' bodies, and nursing staff also contacted bedside rails (RR: 1.490) more than patients' bodies. Patients' surroundings may be links in the transmission of nosocomial infections because many are frequently touched and mutually contacted by HCWs, patients, and visitors. Therefore, the focus of hand hygiene education, environmental disinfection, and other system changes should be enhanced with respect to high-touch and mutual-touch items. Copyright © 2015 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using Digital Media Advertising in Early Psychosis Intervention.

PubMed

Birnbaum, Michael L; Garrett, Chantel; Baumel, Amit; Scovel, Maria; Rizvi, Asra F; Muscat, Whitney; Kane, John M

2017-11-01

Identifying and engaging youth with early-stage psychotic disorders in order to facilitate timely treatment initiation remains a major public health challenge. Although advertisers routinely use the Internet to directly target consumers, limited efforts have focused on applying available technology to proactively encourage help-seeking in the mental health community. This study explores how one might take advantage of Google AdWords in order to reach prospective patients with early psychosis. A landing page was developed with the primary goal of encouraging help-seeking individuals in New York City to contact their local early psychosis intervention clinic. In order to provide the best opportunity to reach the intended audience, Google AdWords was utilized to link more than 2,000 selected search terms to strategically placed landing page advertisements. The campaign ran for 14 weeks between April 11 and July 18, 2016 and had a total budget of $1,427. The ads appeared 191,313 times and were clicked on 4,350 times, at a per-click cost of $.33. Many users took additional help-seeking steps, including obtaining psychosis-specific information/education (44%), completing a psychosis self-screener (15%), and contacting the local early treatment program (1%). Digital ads appear to be a reasonable and cost-effective method to reach individuals who are searching for behavioral health information online. More research is needed to better understand the many complex steps between online search inquiries and making first clinical contact.

Growth cones are actively influenced by substrate-bound adhesion molecules.

PubMed

Burden-Gulley, S M; Payne, H R; Lemmon, V

1995-06-01

As axons advance to appropriate target tissues during development, their growth cones encounter a variety of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and extracellular matrix molecules (ECM molecules). Purified CAMs and ECM molecules influence neurite outgrowth in vitro and are thought to have a similar function in vivo. For example, when retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurons are grown on different CAM and ECM molecule substrates in vitro, their growth cones display distinctive morphologies (Payne et al., 1992). Similarly, RGC growth cones in vivo have distinctive shapes at different points in the pathway from the eye to the tectum, suggesting the presence of localized cues that determine growth cone behaviors such as pathway selection at choice points. In this report, time-lapse video microscopy was utilized to examine dynamic transformations of RGC growth cones as they progressed from L1/8D9, N-cadherin, or laminin onto a different substrate. Contact made by the leading edge of a growth cone with a new substrate resulted in a rapid and dramatic alteration in growth cone morphology. In some cases, the changes encompassed the entire growth cone including those regions not in direct contact with the new substrate. In addition, the growth cones displayed a variety of behavioral responses that were dependent upon the order of substrate contact. These studies demonstrate that growth cones are actively affected by the substrate, and suggest that abrupt changes in the molecular composition of the growth cone environment are influential during axonal pathfinding.

Health services utilization during terminal illness in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

PubMed Central

Reniers, Georges; Tesfai, Rebbeca

2009-01-01

Objectives We describe modern and alternative health services use in terminal illness of adults, and assess whether utilization patterns of TB/AIDS patients are distinct from those of patients suffering from other illnesses. Methods Data are from post-mortem interviews with close relatives or caretakers of the deceased. We provide descriptive statistics of health care utilization in adults and discuss their covariates in multivariate analyses. Results Over 85% of terminally sick patients visited a modern medical facility, but less than 40% spent more than 24 hours in a medical facility and only 25% died in one. Traditional healer (11%) and holy water (46%) visits offer a common treatment and healing alternative, but these visits do not co-vary in any consistent manner with the utilization of modern medical services. In terms of the cause of death, we find a higher contact rate with both modern and alternative medical service providers among TB/AIDS patients compared with those suffering from other medical conditions. The duration of illness seems to account for a good share of that variability. Other covariates of health services utilization are socio-economic status, education and age. Conclusions The contact rate of adults with modern medical facilities in terminal illness is almost universal, but their usage intensity is rather low. Alternative curative options are less commonly used, and do not exclude modern health services use. This suggests that both types of services are considered complements rather than alternatives for each other. Because the contact rate with health service providers is greatest for TB/AIDS patients, it is unlikely that HIV/AIDS-related stigma is an impediment to seeking care. We cannot exclude, however, that it delays health-seeking behaviour. PMID:19372240

Health services utilization during terminal illness in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Reniers, Georges; Tesfai, Rebbeca

2009-07-01

OBJECTIVES We describe modern and alternative health services use in terminal illness of adults, and assess whether utilization patterns of TB/AIDS patients are distinct from those of patients suffering from other illnesses. METHODS Data are from post-mortem interviews with close relatives or caretakers of the deceased. We provide descriptive statistics of health care utilization in adults and discuss their covariates in multivariate analyses. RESULTS Over 85% of terminally sick patients visited a modern medical facility, but less than 40% spent more than 24 hours in a medical facility and only 25% died in one. Traditional healer (11%) and holy water (46%) visits offer a common treatment and healing alternative, but these visits do not co-vary in any consistent manner with the utilization of modern medical services. In terms of the cause of death, we find a higher contact rate with both modern and alternative medical service providers among TB/AIDS patients compared with those suffering from other medical conditions. The duration of illness seems to account for a good share of that variability. Other covariates of health services utilization are socio-economic status, education and age. CONCLUSIONS The contact rate of adults with modern medical facilities in terminal illness is almost universal, but their usage intensity is rather low. Alternative curative options are less commonly used, and do not exclude modern health services use. This suggests that both types of services are considered complements rather than alternatives for each other. Because the contact rate with health service providers is greatest for TB/AIDS patients, it is unlikely that HIV/AIDS-related stigma is an impediment to seeking care. We cannot exclude, however, that it delays health-seeking behaviour.

Enhancing interacting residue prediction with integrated contact matrix prediction in protein-protein interaction.

PubMed

Du, Tianchuan; Liao, Li; Wu, Cathy H

2016-12-01

Identifying the residues in a protein that are involved in protein-protein interaction and identifying the contact matrix for a pair of interacting proteins are two computational tasks at different levels of an in-depth analysis of protein-protein interaction. Various methods for solving these two problems have been reported in the literature. However, the interacting residue prediction and contact matrix prediction were handled by and large independently in those existing methods, though intuitively good prediction of interacting residues will help with predicting the contact matrix. In this work, we developed a novel protein interacting residue prediction system, contact matrix-interaction profile hidden Markov model (CM-ipHMM), with the integration of contact matrix prediction and the ipHMM interaction residue prediction. We propose to leverage what is learned from the contact matrix prediction and utilize the predicted contact matrix as "feedback" to enhance the interaction residue prediction. The CM-ipHMM model showed significant improvement over the previous method that uses the ipHMM for predicting interaction residues only. It indicates that the downstream contact matrix prediction could help the interaction site prediction.

Reducing Therapist Contact in Parenting Programs: Evaluation of Internet-Based Treatments for Child Conduct Problems

PubMed Central

Rabbitt, Sarah M.; Carrubba, Erin; Lecza, Bernadette; McWhinney, Emily; Pope, Jennifer; Kazdin, Alan E.

2016-01-01

This study evaluated two Internet-based versions of Parent Management Training (PMT) and the effects of greatly reducing the contact required of a mental health professional on treatment of children referred for conduct problems. We were interested whether reduced contact with a therapist influenced treatment outcome, therapeutic alliance, parent adherence to treatment prescriptions, and parent reactions to and evaluations of the treatment procedures. Sixty children and their caregivers were assigned to receive either Full Contact PMT (with the amount of weekly contact similar to traditional PMT; approximately 50 minutes of direct therapist contact each week) or Reduced Contact PMT (with most information provided through recordings; approximately 10 minutes of therapist contact each week). Children in both groups showed significant and similar reductions in antisocial behaviors specifically, internalizing and externalizing symptoms more generally, and improvements in overall adaptive functioning. Therapeutic alliance also was similar across the two treatment groups. However, parents rated Full Contact treatment as more acceptable than the reduced version. Both treatments were similar in outcomes to in-person treatment as evaluated by a nonrandomized matched sample used as a benchmark in supplementary analyses. Overall, the findings indicate that therapist contact can be reduced while positive treatment outcomes are maintained but that interventions that reduce direct time with a therapist may be viewed less positively by clients. PMID:27453678

A birth cohort analysis of dental contact among elderly Americans.

PubMed Central

Wolinsky, F D; Arnold, C L

1989-01-01

We applied standard cohort and multiple regression techniques to data on the dental utilization rates of 129,191 elderly individuals taken from the 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1980, and 1981 Health Interview Surveys. The results indicate that the marked variation in dental contact rates is a reflection of cohort succession, and not a function of aging per se. Older cohorts having lower dental contact rates are being replaced by younger cohorts having higher dental contact rates. The dental contact rates of the individual birth cohorts themselves are quite stable over time. The results also indicate that economic barriers (especially liquid assets) have become more important than ever before, especially for the oldest-old. These findings have important implications for public policy about the oral health and health care of elderly Americans. PMID:2783297

FAST ACTING CURRENT SWITCH

DOEpatents

Batzer, T.H.; Cummings, D.B.; Ryan, J.F.

1962-05-22

A high-current, fast-acting switch is designed for utilization as a crowbar switch in a high-current circuit such as used to generate the magnetic confinement field of a plasma-confining and heat device, e.g., Pyrotron. The device particularly comprises a cylindrical housing containing two stationary, cylindrical contacts between which a movable contact is bridged to close the switch. The movable contact is actuated by a differential-pressure, airdriven piston assembly also within the housing. To absorb the acceleration (and the shock imparted to the device by the rapidly driven, movable contact), an adjustable air buffer assembly is provided, integrally connected to the movable contact and piston assembly. Various safety locks and circuit-synchronizing means are also provided to permit proper cooperation of the invention and the high-current circuit in which it is installed. (AEC)

Multi-stage flash degaser

DOEpatents

Rapier, Pascal M.

1982-01-01

A multi-stage flash degaser (18) is incorporated in an energy conversion system (10) having a direct-contact, binary-fluid heat exchanger to remove essentially all of the noncondensable gases from geothermal brine ahead of the direct-contact binary-fluid heat exchanger (22) in order that the heat exchanger (22) and a turbine (48) and condenser (32) of the system (10) can operate at optimal efficiency.

26 CFR 601.506 - Notices to be given to recognized representative; direct contact with taxpayer; delivery of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... representative; direct contact with taxpayer; delivery of a check drawn on the United States Treasury to... taxpayer; delivery of a check drawn on the United States Treasury to recognized representative. (a) General... disciplinary proceedings under Circular No. 230, 31 CFR part 10. (c) Delivery of a check drawn on the United...

Direkte Kontakte zu Deutschland aus und in der Ferne (Direct Contact with Germany from and at a Distance).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wicke, Rainer E.

This guide is a summary of ideas for enhancing the teaching of German through direct contact with Germany or German people without traveling abroad. The following ideas are highlighted: (1) correspondence (pen pals) with students in Germany; (2) audiotape recordings as an alternative to letter writing; (3) the exchange of videotape recordings with…

Estimation of low-potential heat recuperation efficiency of smoke fumes in a condensation heat utilizer under various operation conditions of a boiler and a heating system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionkin, I. L.; Ragutkin, A. V.; Luning, B.; Zaichenko, M. N.

2016-06-01

For enhancement of the natural gas utilization efficiency in boilers, condensation heat utilizers of low-potential heat, which are constructed based on a contact heat exchanger, can be applied. A schematic of the contact heat exchanger with a humidifier for preheating and humidifying of air supplied in the boiler for combustion is given. Additional low-potential heat in this scheme is utilized for heating of the return delivery water supplied from a heating system. Preheating and humidifying of air supplied for combustion make it possible to use the condensation utilizer for heating of a heat-transfer agent to temperature exceeding the dewpoint temperature of water vapors contained in combustion products. The decision to mount the condensation heat utilizer on the boiler was taken based on the preliminary estimation of the additionally obtained heat. The operation efficiency of the condensation heat utilizer is determined by its structure and operation conditions of the boiler and the heating system. The software was developed for the thermal design of the condensation heat utilizer equipped by the humidifier. Computation investigations of its operation are carried out as a function of various operation parameters of the boiler and the heating system (temperature of the return delivery water and smoke fumes, air excess, air temperature at the inlet and outlet of the condensation heat utilizer, heating and humidifying of air in the humidifier, and portion of the circulating water). The heat recuperation efficiency is estimated for various operation conditions of the boiler and the condensation heat utilizer. Recommendations on the most effective application of the condensation heat utilizer are developed.

Aternating current photovoltaic building block

DOEpatents

Bower, Ward Issac; Thomas, Michael G.; Ruby, Douglas S.

2004-06-15

A modular apparatus for and method of alternating current photovoltaic power generation comprising via a photovoltaic module, generating power in the form of direct current; and converting direct current to alternating current and exporting power via one or more power conversion and transfer units attached to the module, each unit comprising a unitary housing extending a length or width of the module, which housing comprises: contact means for receiving direct current from the module; one or more direct current-to-alternating current inverters; an alternating current bus; and contact means for receiving alternating current from the one or more inverters.

The Cost of Being Watched: Stroop Interference Increases under Concomitant Eye Contact

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conty, Laurence; Gimmig, David; Belletier, Clement; George, Nathalie; Huguet, Pascal

2010-01-01

Current models in social neuroscience advance that eye contact may automatically recruit cognitive resources. Here, we directly tested this hypothesis by evaluating the distracting strength of eye contact on concurrent visual processing in the well-known Stroop's paradigm. As expected, participants showed stronger Stroop interference under…

46 CFR Appendix C to Subpart C to... - Medical Surveillance Guidelines for Benzene

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... produce primary irritation due to repeated or prolonged contact with the skin. High concentrations are... Direct skin contact with benzene may cause erythema. Repeated or prolonged contact may result in drying, scaling dermatitis or development of secondary skin infections. In addition, benzene is absorbed through...

Evaluation of Salmonella biofilm cell transfer from contact surfaces to beef products

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Introduction: Meat contamination by Salmonella enterica is a serious food safety concern. One common transmission route that leads to cross contamination in meat plants is bacteria transfer from biofilms on contact surfaces to meat products via direct contact. Many factors could affect biofilm tra...

Few-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser: Optional emission of transverse modes with different polarizations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Chuyu; Zhang, Xing; Hofmann, Werner; Yu, Lijuan; Liu, Jianguo; Ning, Yongqiang; Wang, Lijun

2018-05-01

Few-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers that can be controlled to emit certain modes and polarization states simply by changing the biased contacts are proposed and fabricated. By directly etching trenches in the p-doped distributed Bragg reflector, the upper mesa is separated into several submesas above the oxide layer. Individual contacts are then deposited. Each contact is used to control certain transverse modes with different polarization directions emitted from the corresponding submesa. These new devices can be seen as a prototype of compact laser sources in mode division multiplexing communications systems.

Microwave-induced direct spin-flip transitions in mesoscopic Pd/Co heterojunctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pietsch, Torsten; Egle, Stefan; Keller, Martin; Fridtjof-Pernau, Hans; Strigl, Florian; Scheer, Elke

2016-09-01

We experimentally investigate the effect of resonant microwave absorption on the magneto-conductance of tunable Co/Pd point contacts. At the interface a non-equilibrium spin accumulation is created via microwave absorption and can be probed via point contact spectroscopy. We interpret the results as a signature of direct spin-flip excitations in Zeeman-split spin-subbands within the Pd normal metal part of the junction. The inverse effect, which is associated with the emission of a microwave photon in a ferromagnet/normal metal point contact, can also be detected via its unique signature in transport spectroscopy.

Comparison of direct and indirect methods of estimating health state utilities for resource allocation: review and empirical analysis.

PubMed

Arnold, David; Girling, Alan; Stevens, Andrew; Lilford, Richard

2009-07-22

Utilities (values representing preferences) for healthcare priority setting are typically obtained indirectly by asking patients to fill in a quality of life questionnaire and then converting the results to a utility using population values. We compared such utilities with those obtained directly from patients or the public. Review of studies providing both a direct and indirect utility estimate. Papers reporting comparisons of utilities obtained directly (standard gamble or time tradeoff) or indirectly (European quality of life 5D [EQ-5D], short form 6D [SF-6D], or health utilities index [HUI]) from the same patient. PubMed and Tufts database of utilities. Sign test for paired comparisons between direct and indirect utilities; least squares regression to describe average relations between the different methods. Mean utility scores (or median if means unavailable) for each method, and differences in mean (median) scores between direct and indirect methods. We found 32 studies yielding 83 instances where direct and indirect methods could be compared for health states experienced by adults. The direct methods used were standard gamble in 57 cases and time trade off in 60(34 used both); the indirect methods were EQ-5D (67 cases), SF-6D (13), HUI-2 (5), and HUI-3 (37). Mean utility values were 0.81 (standard gamble) and 0.77 (time tradeoff) for the direct methods; for the indirect methods: 0.59(EQ-5D), 0.63 (SF-6D), 0.75 (HUI-2) and 0.68 (HUI-3). Direct methods of estimating utilities tend to result in higher health ratings than the more widely used indirect methods, and the difference can be substantial.Use of indirect methods could have important implications for decisions about resource allocation: for example, non-lifesaving treatments are relatively more favoured in comparison with lifesaving interventions than when using direct methods.

Crane-Load Contact Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Youngquist, Robert; Mata, Carlos; Cox, Robert

2005-01-01

An electronic instrument has been developed as a prototype of a portable crane-load contact sensor. Such a sensor could be helpful in an application in which the load rests on a base in a horizontal position determined by vertical alignment pins (see Figure 1). If the crane is not positioned to lift the load precisely vertically, then the load can be expected to swing once it has been lifted clear of the pins. If the load is especially heavy, large, and/or fragile, it could hurt workers and/or damage itself and nearby objects. By indicating whether the load remains in contact with the pins when it has been lifted a fraction of the length of the pins, the crane-load contact sensor helps the crane operator determine whether it is safe to lift the load clear of the pins: If there is contact, then the load is resting against the sides of the pins and, hence, it may not be safe to lift; if contact is occasionally broken, then the load is probably not resting against the pins, so it should be safe to lift. It is assumed that the load and base, or at least the pins and the surfaces of the alignment holes in the load, are electrically conductive, so the instrument can use electrical contact to indicate mechanical contact. However, DC resistance cannot be used as an indicator of contact for the following reasons: The load and the base are both electrically grounded through cables (the load is grounded through the lifting cable of the crane) to prevent discharge of static electricity. In other words, the DC resistance between the load and the pins is always low, as though they were always in direct contact. Therefore, instead of DC resistance, the instrument utilizes the AC electrical impedance between the pins and the load. The signal frequency used in the measurement is high enough (.1 MHz) that the impedance contributed by the cables and the electrical ground network of the building in which the crane and the base are situated is significantly greater than the contact impedance between the pins and the load. The instrument includes a signal generator and voltage-measuring circuitry, and is connected to the load and the base as shown in Figure 2. The output of the signal generator (typically having amplitude of the order of a volt) is applied to the load via a 50-resistor, and the voltage between the load and the pins is measured. When the load and the pins are not in contact, the impedance between them is relatively high, causing the measured voltage to exceed a threshold value. When the load and the pins are in contact, the impedance between them falls to a much lower value, causing the voltage to fall below the threshold value. The voltage-measuring circuitry turns on a red light-emitting diode (LED) to indicate the lower-voltage/ contact condition. Whenever the contact has been broken and the non-contact/higher-voltage condition has lasted for more than 2 ms, the voltage-measuring circuitry indicates this condition by blinking a green LED.

Biocompatibility and light transmission of liposomal lenses.

PubMed

Danion, Anne; Doillon, Charles J; Giasson, Claude J; Djouahra, Saliha; Sauvageau, Patrick; Paradis, Renée; Vermette, Patrick

2007-10-01

To validate the biocompatibility and transmittance properties of contact lenses bearing intact liposomes. These liposomal lenses loaded with therapeutics can be used as ophthalmic drug delivery systems. The biocompatibility of soft contact lenses, coated with liposomes was evaluated through in vitro direct and indirect cytocompatibility assays on human corneal epithelial cells, on reconstructed human corneas and on ex vivo rabbit corneas. The direct and indirect transmission spectra of liposome-covered lenses were also evaluated to test if they transmit all wavelengths of the ultraviolet-visible spectrum, to thereby fulfill their optical function, without gross alteration of the colors perception and with a minimum of light dispersion. Contact lenses bearing layers of stable liposomes did not induce any significant changes in cell viability and in cell growth, compared with lenses bearing no liposome. Elution assays revealed that no cytotoxic compound leaks from the lenses whether bearing liposomes or not. Histological analyses of reconstructed human corneas and ex vivo rabbit corneas directly exposed to liposomal lenses revealed neither alteration to the cell nor to the tissue structures. Contact lenses bearing layers of liposomes did not significantly affect light transmission compared with control lenses without liposome at the wavelength of maximal photopic sensitivity, i.e., 550 nm. In addition, the contact lenses afford more eye protection in the ultraviolet spectrum, compared with the control lenses. Liposomal contact lenses are biocompatible and their transmittance properties are not affected in the visible light range.

Boiling of the interface between two immiscible liquids below the bulk boiling temperatures of both components.

PubMed

Pimenova, Anastasiya V; Goldobin, Denis S

2014-11-01

We consider the problem of boiling of the direct contact of two immiscible liquids. An intense vapour formation at such a direct contact is possible below the bulk boiling points of both components, meaning an effective decrease of the boiling temperature of the system. Although the phenomenon is known in science and widely employed in technology, the direct contact boiling process was thoroughly studied (both experimentally and theoretically) only for the case where one of liquids is becoming heated above its bulk boiling point. On the contrary, we address the case where both liquids remain below their bulk boiling points. In this paper we construct the theoretical description of the boiling process and discuss the actualisation of the case we consider for real systems.

Direct skin-to-skin vs. indirect touch modulates neural responses to stroking vs. tapping

PubMed Central

Kress, Inge U; Minati, Ludovico; Ferraro, Stefania; Critchley, Hugo D

2011-01-01

It remains unclear whether direct inter-personal contact is processed differently from similar soft touch applied through inanimate objects. We performed a functional MRI (fMRI) experiment in healthy volunteers, whereby activity during gentle stroking or tapping was compared between stimuli delivered using the experimenter’s hand or a velvet stick. Stroking with a hand elicited larger responses than the other three conditions in the contralateral primary and secondary somatosensory areas and posterior insula. The observed effects likely originate from a combination of perceptual differences and cognitive and emotional correlates of contact with another person. This empirical observation indicates that to ensure ecological validity studies of affective touch processing should be performed with stimuli delivered with direct inter-personal contact rather than inanimate objects. PMID:21817928

High-speed adaptive contact-mode atomic force microscopy imaging with near-minimum-force

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

Ren, Juan; Zou, Qingze, E-mail: qzzou@rci.rutgers.edu

In this paper, an adaptive contact-mode imaging approach is proposed to replace the traditional contact-mode imaging by addressing the major concerns in both the speed and the force exerted to the sample. The speed of the traditional contact-mode imaging is largely limited by the need to maintain precision tracking of the sample topography over the entire imaged sample surface, while large image distortion and excessive probe-sample interaction force occur during high-speed imaging. In this work, first, the image distortion caused by the topography tracking error is accounted for in the topography quantification. Second, the quantified sample topography is utilized inmore » a gradient-based optimization method to adjust the cantilever deflection set-point for each scanline closely around the minimal level needed for maintaining stable probe-sample contact, and a data-driven iterative feedforward control that utilizes a prediction of the next-line topography is integrated to the topography feeedback loop to enhance the sample topography tracking. The proposed approach is demonstrated and evaluated through imaging a calibration sample of square pitches at both high speeds (e.g., scan rate of 75 Hz and 130 Hz) and large sizes (e.g., scan size of 30 μm and 80 μm). The experimental results show that compared to the traditional constant-force contact-mode imaging, the imaging speed can be increased by over 30 folds (with the scanning speed at 13 mm/s), and the probe-sample interaction force can be reduced by more than 15% while maintaining the same image quality.« less

High-speed adaptive contact-mode atomic force microscopy imaging with near-minimum-force.

PubMed

Ren, Juan; Zou, Qingze

2014-07-01

In this paper, an adaptive contact-mode imaging approach is proposed to replace the traditional contact-mode imaging by addressing the major concerns in both the speed and the force exerted to the sample. The speed of the traditional contact-mode imaging is largely limited by the need to maintain precision tracking of the sample topography over the entire imaged sample surface, while large image distortion and excessive probe-sample interaction force occur during high-speed imaging. In this work, first, the image distortion caused by the topography tracking error is accounted for in the topography quantification. Second, the quantified sample topography is utilized in a gradient-based optimization method to adjust the cantilever deflection set-point for each scanline closely around the minimal level needed for maintaining stable probe-sample contact, and a data-driven iterative feedforward control that utilizes a prediction of the next-line topography is integrated to the topography feeedback loop to enhance the sample topography tracking. The proposed approach is demonstrated and evaluated through imaging a calibration sample of square pitches at both high speeds (e.g., scan rate of 75 Hz and 130 Hz) and large sizes (e.g., scan size of 30 μm and 80 μm). The experimental results show that compared to the traditional constant-force contact-mode imaging, the imaging speed can be increased by over 30 folds (with the scanning speed at 13 mm/s), and the probe-sample interaction force can be reduced by more than 15% while maintaining the same image quality.

Contact guidance is cell cycle-dependent.

PubMed

Pourfarhangi, Kamyar Esmaeili; De La Hoz, Edgar Cardenas; Cohen, Andrew R; Gligorijevic, Bojana

2018-09-01

Cancer cell migration is essential for metastasis, during which cancer cells move through the tumor and reach the blood vessels. In vivo , cancer cells are exposed to contact guidance and chemotactic cues. Depending on the strength of such cues, cells will migrate in a random or directed manner. While similar cues may also stimulate cell proliferation, it is not clear whether cell cycle progression affects migration of cancer cells and whether this effect is different in random versus directed migration. In this study, we tested the effect of cell cycle progression on contact guided migration in 2D and 3D environments, in the breast carcinoma cell line, FUCCI-MDA-MB-231. The results were quantified from live cell microscopy images using the open source lineage editing and validation image analysis tools (LEVER). In 2D, cells were placed inside 10 μ m-wide microchannels to stimulate contact guidance, with or without an additional chemotactic gradient of the soluble epidermal growth factor. In 3D, contact guidance was modeled by aligned collagen fibers. In both 2D and 3D, contact guidance was cell cycle-dependent, while the addition of the chemo-attractant gradient in 2D increased cell velocity and persistence in directionally migrating cells, regardless of their cell cycle phases. In both 2D and 3D contact guidance, cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle outperformed cells in the S/G2 phase in terms of migration persistence and instantaneous velocity. These data suggest that in the presence of contact guidance cues in vivo , breast carcinoma cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle may be more efficient in reaching the neighboring vasculature.

Local Synthesis and Tooth Contact Analysis of Face-Milled Spiral Bevel Gears

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Litvin, Faydor L.; Zhang, Yi

1991-01-01

Computerized simulation of meshing and bearing contact for spiral bevel gears and hypoid gears is a significant achievement that could substantially improve the technology and the quality of the gears. An approach to the synthesis of face-milled spiral bevel gears and their tooth contact analysis is presented. The proposed approach is based on the following ideas: application of the principle of local synthesis that provides optimal conditions of meshing and contact at the mean contact point, M, and in the neighborhood of M; and application of relations between principle directions and curvatures for surfaces being in line contact or in point contact. The developed local synthesis of gears provides the following: (1) the required gear ratio at M; (2) a localized bearing contact with the desired direction of the tangent to the contact path on gear tooth surface and the desired length of the major axis of contact ellipse at M; (3) a predesigned parabolic function of a controlled level for transmission errors which enables absorption of linear functions of transmission errors caused by misalignment and reduces the level of vibrations. The proposed approach does not require either the tilt of the head-cutter for the process of generation or modified roll for the pinion generation. Improved conditions of meshing and contact of the gears can be achieved without the above mentioned parameters. A computer program for determination of basic machine-tool settings and tooth contact analysis for the designed gears is presented. The approach is illustrated with a numerical example.

ON Bipolar Cells in Macaque Retina: Type-Specific Synaptic Connectivity with Special Reference to OFF Counterparts

PubMed Central

Tsukamoto, Yoshihiko; Omi, Naoko

2016-01-01

To date, 12 macaque bipolar cell types have been described. This list includes all morphology types first outlined by Polyak (1941) using the Golgi method in the primate retina and subsequently identified by other researchers using electron microscopy (EM) combined with the Golgi method, serial section transmission EM (SSTEM), and immunohistochemical imaging. We used SSTEM for the rod-dense perifoveal area of macaque retina, reconfirmed ON (cone) bipolar cells to be classified as invaginating midget bipolar (IMB), diffuse bipolar (DB)4, DB5, DB6, giant bipolar (GB), and blue bipolar (BB) types, and clarified their type-specific connectivity. DB4 cells made reciprocal synapses with a kind of ON-OFF lateral amacrine cell, similar to OFF DB2 cells. GB cells contacted rods and cones, similar to OFF DB3b cells. Retinal circuits formed by GB and DB3b cells are thought to substantiate the psychophysical finding of fast rod signals in mesopic vision. DB6 cell output synapses were directed to ON midget ganglion (MG) cells at 70% of ribbon contacts, similar to OFF DB1 cells that directed 60% of ribbon contacts to OFF MG cells. IMB cells contacted medium- or long-wavelength sensitive (M/L-) cones but not short-wavelength sensitive (S-) cones, while BB cells contacted S-cones but not M/L-cones. However, IMB and BB dendrites had similar morphological architectures, and a BB cell contacting a single S-cone resembled an IMB cell. Thus, both IMB and BB may be the ON bipolar counterparts of the OFF flat midget bipolar (FMB) type, likewise DB4 of DB2, DB5 of DB3a, DB6 of DB1, and GB of DB3b OFF bipolar type. The ON DB plus GB, and OFF DB cells predominantly contacted M/L-cones and their outputs were directed mainly to parasol ganglion (PG) cells but also moderately to MG cells. BB cells directed S-cone-driven outputs almost exclusively to small bistratified ganglion (SBG) cells. Some FMB cells predominantly contacted S-cones and their outputs were directed to OFF MG cells. Thus, two-step synaptic connections largely narrowed down the S-cone component to SBG and some OFF MG cells. The other OFF MG cells, ON MG cells, and ON and OFF PG cells constructed M/L-cone dominant pathways. PMID:27833534

Dialysis system. [using ion exchange resin membranes permeable to urea molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, W. A. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

The improved hemodialysis system utilizes a second polymeric membrane having dialyzate in contact with one surface and a urea decomposition solution in contact with the other surface. The membrane selectively passes urea from the dialyzate into the decomposition solution, while preventing passage of positively charged metal ions from the dialyzate into the solution and ammonium ions from the solution into the dialyzate.

Amine–Oxide Hybrid Materials for CO 2 Capture from Ambient Air

DOE PAGES

Didas, Stephanie A.; Choi, Sunho; Chaikittisilp, Watcharop; ...

2015-09-10

Oxide supports functionalized with amine moieties have been used for decades as catalysts and chromatographic media. Owing to the recognized impact of atmospheric CO 2 on global climate change, the study of the use of amine-oxide hybrid materials as CO 2 sorbents has exploded in the past decade. While the majority of the work has concerned separation of CO 2 from dilute mixtures such as flue gas from coal-fired power plants, it has been recognized by us and others that such supported amine materials are also perhaps uniquely suited to extract CO 2 from ultradilute gas mixtures, such as ambientmore » air. As unique, low temperature chemisorbents, they can operate under ambient conditions, spontaneously extracting CO 2 from ambient air, while being regenerated under mild conditions using heat or the combination of heat and vacuum. This Account describes the evolution of our activities on the design of amine-functionalized silica materials for catalysis to the design, characterization, and utilization of these materials in CO 2 separations. New materials developed in our laboratory, such as hyperbranched aminosilica materials, and previously known amine-oxide hybrid compositions, have been extensively studied for CO 2 extraction from simulated ambient air (400 ppm of CO 2). The role of amine type and structure (molecular, polymeric), support type and structure, the stability of the various compositions under simulated operating conditions, and the nature of the adsorbed CO 2 have been investigated in detail. The requirements for an effective, practical air capture process have been outlined and the ability of amine-oxide hybrid materials to meet these needs has been discussed. Ultimately, the practicality of such a “direct air capture” process is predicated not only on the physicochemical properties of the sorbent, but also how the sorbent operates in a practical process that offers a scalable gas-solid contacting strategy. In conclusion, the utility of low pressure drop monolith contactors is suggested to offer a practical mode of amine sorbent/air contacting for direct air capture.« less

Amine–Oxide Hybrid Materials for CO 2 Capture from Ambient Air

DOE PAGES

Didas, Stephanie A.; Choi, Sunho; Chaikittisilp, Watcharop; ...

2015-09-10

CONSPECTUS: Oxide supports functionalized with amine moieties have been used for decades as catalysts and chromatographic media. Owing to the recognized impact of atmospheric CO2 on global climate change, the study of the use of amine-oxide hybrid materials as CO2 sorbents has exploded in the past decade. While the majority of the work has concerned separation of CO2 from dilute mixtures such as flue gas from coal-fired power plants, it has been recognized by us and others that such supported amine materials are also perhaps uniquely suited to extract CO2 from ultradilute gas mixtures, such as ambient air. As unique,more » low temperature chemisorbents, they can operate under ambient conditions, spontaneously extracting CO2 from ambient air, while being regenerated under mild conditions using heat or the combination of heat and vacuum. This Account describes the evolution of our activities on the design of amine-functionalized silica materials for catalysis to the design, characterization, and utilization of these materials in CO2 separations. New materials developed in our laboratory, such as hyperbranched aminosilica materials, and previously known amine-oxide hybrid compositions, have been extensively studied for CO2 extraction from simulated ambient air (400 ppm of CO2). The role of amine type and structure (molecular, polymeric), support type and structure, the stability of the various compositions under simulated operating conditions, and the nature of the adsorbed CO2 have been investigated in detail. The requirements for an effective, practical air capture process have been outlined and the ability of amine−oxide hybrid materials to meet these needs has been discussed. Ultimately, the practicality of such a “direct air capture” process is predicated not only on the physicochemical properties of the sorbent, but also how the sorbent operates in a practical process that offers a scalable gas−solid contacting strategy. In this regard, the utility of low pressure drop monolith contactors is suggested to offer a practical mode of amine sorbent/air contacting for direct air capture.« less

Specificity in Sociality: Mice and Prairie Voles Exhibit Different Patterns of Peer Affiliation

PubMed Central

Beery, Annaliese K.; Christensen, Jennifer D; Lee, Nicole S.; Blandino, Katrina L.

2018-01-01

Social behavior is often described as a unified concept, but highly social (group-living) species exhibit distinct social structures and may make different social decisions. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are socially monogamous rodents that often reside in extended family groups, and exhibit robust preferences for familiar social partners (same- and opposite-sex) during extended choice tests, although short-term preferences are not known. Mice (Mus musculus) are gregarious and colonial, but in brief laboratory tests of social preference they typically prefer social novelty. This preference for novel vs. familiar peers may represent a species-specific difference in social decision-making between mice and prairie voles. However, the tests used to measure preferences in each species differ markedly in duration and degree of contact, such that the behaviors cannot be directly compared. We assessed whether social preferences for novelty or familiarity differed between mice and prairie voles of both sexes when assessed with matching protocols: the sociability/social preference test (SPT) typically used in mice (short, no direct contact), and the partner preference test (PPT) used in voles (long, direct contact). A subset of voles also underwent a PPT using barriers (long, no direct contact). In the short SPT, behavior did not differ between species. In the longer test, pronounced partner preferences emerged in prairie voles, but mice exhibited no social preferences and rarely huddled. No sex differences were evident in either test. Direct physical contact was required for partner preferences in huddling time in voles, but preference for the partner chamber was evident with or without contact. Both prairie voles and mice are social, but they exhibit important differences in the specificity and extent of their social behavior. While mice are often used to study social approach and other behaviors, voles are a more suitable species for the study of selective social relationships. Consideration of these differences will be important for studies examining the neural mechanisms supporting different kinds of peer social behavior. PMID:29615879

Integrated microelectromechanical gyroscope under shock loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesterenko, T. G.; Koleda, A. N.; Barbin, E. S.

2018-01-01

The paper presents a new design of a shock-proof two-axis microelectromechanical gyroscope. Without stoppers, the shock load enables the interaction between the silicon sensor elements. Stoppers were installed in the gyroscope to prevent the contact interaction between electrodes and spring elements with fixed part of the sensor. The contact of stoppers occurs along the plane, thereby preventing the system from serious contact stresses. The shock resistance of the gyroscope is improved by the increase in its eigenfrequency at which the contact interaction does not occur. It is shown that the shock load directed along one axis does not virtually cause the movement of sensing elements along the crosswise axes. Maximum stresses observed in the proposed gyroscope at any loading direction do not exceed the value allowable for silicon.

Junction-side illuminated silicon detector arrays

DOEpatents

Iwanczyk, Jan S.; Patt, Bradley E.; Tull, Carolyn

2004-03-30

A junction-side illuminated detector array of pixelated detectors is constructed on a silicon wafer. A junction contact on the front-side may cover the whole detector array, and may be used as an entrance window for light, x-ray, gamma ray and/or other particles. The back-side has an array of individual ohmic contact pixels. Each of the ohmic contact pixels on the back-side may be surrounded by a grid or a ring of junction separation implants. Effective pixel size may be changed by separately biasing different sections of the grid. A scintillator may be coupled directly to the entrance window while readout electronics may be coupled directly to the ohmic contact pixels. The detector array may be used as a radiation hardened detector for high-energy physics research or as avalanche imaging arrays.

Conjugate gradient based projection - A new explicit methodology for frictional contact

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tamma, Kumar K.; Li, Maocheng; Sha, Desong

1993-01-01

With special attention towards the applicability to parallel computation or vectorization, a new and effective explicit approach for linear complementary formulations involving a conjugate gradient based projection methodology is proposed in this study for contact problems with Coulomb friction. The overall objectives are focussed towards providing an explicit methodology of computation for the complete contact problem with friction. In this regard, the primary idea for solving the linear complementary formulations stems from an established search direction which is projected to a feasible region determined by the non-negative constraint condition; this direction is then applied to the Fletcher-Reeves conjugate gradient method resulting in a powerful explicit methodology which possesses high accuracy, excellent convergence characteristics, fast computational speed and is relatively simple to implement for contact problems involving Coulomb friction.

Molecular charge distribution and dispersion of electronic states in the contact layer between pentacene and Cu(119) and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annese, E.; Fujii, J.; Baldacchini, C.; Zhou, B.; Viol, C. E.; Vobornik, I.; Betti, M. G.; Rossi, G.

2008-05-01

The interaction of pentacene molecules in contact with the Cu(119) stepped surface has been directly imaged by scanning tunneling microscopy and analyzed by angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Interacting molecules, which are in contact with copper, generate dispersive electronic states associated with a perturbed electron charge density distribution of the molecular orbitals. In contrast, the electron charge density of molecules of the pentacene on top of the first layer, which is not in direct contact with the Cu surface, shows an intramolecular structure very similar to that of the free molecule. Our results indicate that the delocalization of the molecular states in the pentacene/Cu system is confined to the very first molecular layer at the interface.

Better Ohmic Contacts For InP Semiconductor Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weizer, Victor G.; Fatemi, Navid S.

1995-01-01

Four design modifications enable fabrication of improved ohmic contacts on InP-based semiconductor devices. First modification consists of insertion of layer of gold phosphide between n-doped InP and metal or other overlayer of contact material. Second, includes first modification plus use of particular metal overlayer to achieve very low contact resistivities. Third, also involves deposition of Au(2)P(3) interlayer; in addition, refractory metal (W or Ta) deposited to form contact overlayer. In fourth, contact layer of Auln alloy deposited directly on InP. Improved contacts exhibit low electrical resistances and fabricated without exposing devices to destructive predeposition or postdeposition treatments.

Effect of Virtual Reality Exposure and Aural Stimuli on Eye Contact, Directional Focus, and Focus of Attention of Novice Wind Band Conductors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Orman, Evelyn K.

2016-01-01

This study examined the effects of virtual reality immersion with audio on eye contact, directional focus and focus of attention for novice wind band conductors. Participants (N = 34) included a control group (n = 12) and two virtual reality groups with (n = 10) and without (n = 12) head tracking. Participants completed conducting/score study…

The Background to Current Theories of Scuffing

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-01-01

attention because, by neglecting axial flow , it can be treated in two dimensions. This has resulted in a fairly complete theoretical analysis...the contact. This method was essentially one of measuring the volume rate of flow through the contact, which was directly related to the pad...exit constriction. The pressure and temperature were also measured in the axial direction (105) and the results indicated that side leakage was

Multifunctional Composites through Inkjet-printed Architectures

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-27

were printed onto prepreg before curing, and remained arrested between composite plies without direct contact with the neighboring micro-droplets after...micro-droplets were printed onto prepreg before curing, and remained arrested between composite plies without direct contact with the neighbouring...unidirectional carbon fibre prepreg (Cycom 977-2, Cytec Industries Inc., USA) was chosen as substrate in this work. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (Mn = 15 kDa

Fabrication and anisotropic wettability of titanium-coated microgrooves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gui, N.; Xu, W.; Tian, J.; Rosengarten, G.; Brandt, M.; Qian, M.

2018-03-01

Surface wettability plays a critical role in a variety of key areas including orthopaedic implants and chemical engineering. Anisotropy in wettability can arise from surface grooves, which are of particular relevance to orthopaedic implants because they can mimic collagen fibrils that are the basic components of the extracellular matrix. Titanium (Ti) and its alloys have been widely used for orthopaedic and dental implant applications. This study is concerned with the fabrication of Ti-coated microgrooves with different groove widths and the characterisation of the anisotropy in wettability through measuring water contact angles, compared with both the Wenzel and Cassie models. Experimental results revealed that there existed significant anisotropy in the wettability of Ti-coated microgrooves, and the degree of anisotropy (Δθ) increased with an increasing groove width from 5 μm to 20 μm. On average, the contact angle measured parallel to the groove direction (θ//) was about 50°-60° smaller than that measured perpendicular to the groove direction (θ⊥). In general, the Wenzel model predicted the contact angles along the surface groove direction reasonably, and so did the Cassie model for the contact angles perpendicular to the groove direction. Osteoblast spreading was affected by the anisotropy in wettability, which occurred preferably along, rather than perpendicular to, the groove direction. These findings are informative for the design of Ti implant surfaces when anisotropy in wettability matters.

76 FR 82111 - Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-30

.... FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Parker, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA... Information For more information about this AD, contact Chris Parker, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch...

Transmittance of transparent windows with non-absorbing cap-shaped droplets condensed on their backside

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Keyong; Huang, Yong; Pruvost, Jeremy; Legrand, Jack; Pilon, Laurent

2017-06-01

This study aims to quantify systematically the effect of non-absorbing cap-shaped droplets condensed on the backside of transparent windows on their directional-hemispherical transmittance and reflectance. Condensed water droplets have been blamed to reduce light transfer through windows in greenhouses, solar desalination plants, and photobioreactors. Here, the directional-hemispherical transmittance was predicted by Monte Carlo ray-tracing method. For the first time, both monodisperse and polydisperse droplets were considered, with contact angle between 0 and 180°, arranged either in an ordered hexagonal pattern or randomly distributed on the window backside with projected surface area coverage between 0 and 90%. The directional-hemispherical transmittance was found to be independent of the size and spatial distributions of the droplets. Instead, it depended on (i) the incident angle, (ii) the optical properties of the window and droplets, and on (iii) the droplet contact angle and (iv) projected surface area coverage. In fact, the directional-hemispherical transmittance decreased with increasing incident angle. Four optical regimes were identified in the normal-hemispherical transmittance. It was nearly constant for droplet contact angles either smaller than the critical angle θcr (predicted by Snell's law) for total internal reflection at the droplet/air interface or larger than 180°-θcr. However, between these critical contact angles, the normal-hemispherical transmittance decreased rapidly to reach a minimum at 90° and increased rapidly with increasing contact angles up to 180°-θcr. This was attributed to total internal reflection at the droplet/air interface which led to increasing reflectance. In addition, the normal-hemispherical transmittance increased slightly with increasing projected surface area coverage for contact angle was smaller than θcr. However, it decreased monotonously with increasing droplet projected surface area coverage for contact angle larger than θcr. These results can be used to select the material or surface coating with advantageous surface properties for applications when dropwise condensation may otherwise have a negative effect on light transmittance.

78 FR 68076 - Request for Information on Alternative Skin Sensitization Test Methods and Testing Strategies and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-13

... INFORMATION: Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a skin reaction characterized by localized redness, swelling, blistering, or itching after direct contact with a skin allergen, is an important public health.... Web site: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/niceatm . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Warren S. Casey...

Regulatory T cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cell-dependent asthma.

PubMed

Aron, J L; Akbari, O

2017-08-01

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are a recently identified group of cells with the potent capability to produce Th2-type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13. Several studies suggest that ILC2s play an important role in the development of allergic diseases and asthma. Activation of pulmonary ILC2s in murine models lacking T and B cells induces eosinophilia and airway hyper-reactivity (AHR), which are cardinal features of asthma. More importantly, numerous recent studies have highlighted the role of ILC2s in asthma persistence and exacerbation among human subjects, and thus, regulation of pulmonary ILC2s is a major area of investigation aimed at curbing allergic lung inflammation and exacerbation. Emerging evidence reveals that a group of regulatory T cells, induced Tregs (iTregs), effectively suppress the production of ILC2-driven, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-5 and IL-13. The inhibitory effects of iTregs are blocked by preventing direct cellular contact or by inhibiting the ICOS-ICOS-ligand (ICOSL) pathway, suggesting that both direct contact and ICOS-ICOSL interaction are important in the regulation of ILC2 function. Also, cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β1 significantly reduce cytokine secretion by ILC2s. Altogether, these new findings uncover iTregs as potent regulators of ILC2 activation and implicate their utility as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of ILC2-mediated allergic asthma and respiratory disease. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Superplastic forging nitride ceramics

DOEpatents

Panda, P.C.; Seydel, E.R.; Raj, R.

1988-03-22

A process is disclosed for preparing silicon nitride ceramic parts which are relatively flaw free and which need little or no machining, said process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a starting powder by wet or dry mixing ingredients comprising by weight from about 70% to about 99% silicon nitride, from about 1% to about 30% of liquid phase forming additive and from 1% to about 7% free silicon; (b) cold pressing to obtain a preform of green density ranging from about 30% to about 75% of theoretical density; (c) sintering at atmospheric pressure in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature ranging from about 1,400 C to about 2,200 C to obtain a density which ranges from about 50% to about 100% of theoretical density and which is higher than said preform green density, and (d) press forging workpiece resulting from step (c) by isothermally uniaxially pressing said workpiece in an open die without initial contact between said workpiece and die wall perpendicular to the direction of pressing and so that pressed workpiece does not contact die wall perpendicular to the direction of pressing, to substantially final shape in a nitrogen atmosphere utilizing a temperature within the range of from about 1,400 C to essentially 1,750 C and strain rate within the range of about 10[sup [minus]7] to about 10[sup [minus]1] seconds[sup [minus]1], the temperature and strain rate being such that surface cracks do not occur, said pressing being carried out to obtain a shear deformation greater than 30% whereby superplastic forging is effected.

The knowledge, attitude and practices of male sports participants to sports-related dental trauma in Khobar and Dammam, Saudi Arabia - A pilot survey.

PubMed

Al-Arfaj, Ibrahim; Al-Shammari, Ahmad; Al-Subai, Turki; Al-Absi, Ghanim; AlJaffari, Mohammad; Al-Kadi, Ahmad; El Tantawi, Maha; Al-Ansari, Asim

2016-07-01

The risk of dental trauma may increase during sports participation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of sports participants concerning sports-related dental trauma and associated emergency/preventive practices. The study included 124 male subjects over 18 years of age participating in contact and non-contact sports in three clubs in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was used to assess past experience of dental trauma related to sports in addition to the use of a mouth guard and knowledge of related emergency procedures. Outcomes were compared between individuals practicing direct and non-direct contact sports. One third of the participants had experienced dental trauma while playing sports, mostly crown fracture, mobility, and avulsion. Their knowledge of first aid and emergency procedures was inadequate. A significantly higher proportion of non-direct contact sport participants sought the help of a dentist for themselves or others (P = 0.04 and 0.003, respectively). Only 33.9% used mouth guards, with higher odds of mouth guard use associated with participating in direct contact sports and believing a tooth can be lost during sports practice (odds ratio = 5.59 and 5.37, respectively). Educational programs are needed to increase the awareness in sports participants of the risk of dental trauma during sports participation, to improve their knowledge of first aid procedures, and to increase the use of mouth guards.

Process for Nitrogen Oxide Waste Conversion to Fertilizer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lueck, Dale E. (Inventor); Parrish, Clyde F. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

The present invention describes a process for converting vapor streams from sources containing at least one nitrogen-containing oxidizing agent therein to a liquid fertilizer composition comprising the steps of: a) directing a vapor stream containing at least one nitrogen-containing oxidizing agent to a first contact zone; b) contacting said vapor stream with water to form nitrogen oxide(s) from said at least one nitrogen-containing oxidizing agent; c) directing said acid(s) as a second stream to a second contact zone; d) exposing said second stream to hydrogen peroxide which is present within said second contact zone in a relative amount of at least 0.1% by weight of said second stream within said second contact zone to convert at least some of any nitrogen oxide species or ions other than in the nitrate form present within said second stream to nitrate ion; e) sampling said stream within said second contact zone to determine the relative amount of hydrogen peroxide within said second contact zone; f) adding hydrogen peroxide to said second contact zone when a level of hydrogen peroxide less than 0.1 % by weight in said second stream is determined by said sampling; g) adding a solution comprising potassium hydroxide to said second stream to maintain a pH between 6.0 and 11.0 within said second stream within said second contact zone to form a solution of potassium nitrate; and h) removing said solution of potassium nitrate from said second contact zone.

Process and Equipment for Nitrogen Oxide Waste Conversion to Fertilizer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lueck, Dale E. (Inventor); Parrish, Clyde F. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

The present invention describes a process for converting vapor streams from sources containing at least one nitrogen-containing oxidizing agent therein to a liquid fertilizer composition comprising the steps of: (1) directing a vapor stream containing at least nitrogen-containing oxidizing agent to a first contact zone; (2) contacting said vapor stream with water to form nitrogen oxide(s) from said at least one nitrogen- containing oxidizing agent; (3) directing said acid(s) as a second stream to a second contact zone; (4) exposing said second stream to hydrogen peroxide which is present within said second contact zone in a relative amount of at least 0.1% by weight of said second stream within said second contact zone to convert at least some of any nitrogen oxide species or ions other than in the nitrite form present within said second stream to nitrate ion; (5) sampling said stream within said second contact zone to determine the relative amount of hydrogen peroxide within said second contact zone; (6) adding hydrogen peroxide to said second contact zone when a level on hydrogen peroxide less than 0.1% by weight in said second stream is determined by said sampling; (7) adding a solution comprising potassium hydroxide to said second stream to maintain a pH between 6.0 and 11.0 within said second stream within said second contact zone to form a solution of potassium nitrate; and (8) removing sais solution of potassium nitrate from said second contact zone.

Spinoff, 1986

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haggerty, James J.

1986-01-01

The major programs that generate new technology and therefore expand the bank of knowledge available for future transfer are outlined. The focal point of this volume contains a representative sampling of spinoff products and processes that resulted from technology utilization, or secondary application. The various mechanisms NASA employs to stimulate technology utilization are described and in an appendix, are listed contact sources for further information.

75 FR 40821 - Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County; Notice of Settlement Agreement and Soliciting...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-14

... Bickford, Natural Resources Supervisor, Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County, 1151 Valley Mall...-mail at [email protected] . j. Deadline for filing comments on the Settlement: July 27, 2010. Reply... toll-free at (866) 208-3676; or, for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. Although the Commission strongly...

Alternative Fuels Data Center: New Jersey Utility Saves With Alternative

Science.gov Websites

electric car. College Students Engineer Efficient Vehicles in EcoCAR 2 Competition Aug. 2, 2014 Photo of a FuelA> Jersey Utility Saves With Alternative Fuel to someone by E-mail Share Alternative Fuels . For information about this project, contact New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition. Download QuickTime

Bipolar fuel cell

DOEpatents

McElroy, James F.

1989-01-01

The present invention discloses an improved fuel cell utilizing an ion transporting membrane having a catalytic anode and a catalytic cathode bonded to opposite sides of the membrane, a wet-proofed carbon sheet in contact with the cathode surface opposite that bonded to the membrane and a bipolar separator positioned in electrical contact with the carbon sheet and the anode of the adjacent fuel cell. Said bipolar separator and carbon sheet forming an oxidant flowpath, wherein the improvement comprises an electrically conductive screen between and in contact with the wet-proofed carbon sheet and the bipolar separator improving the product water removal system of the fuel cell.

Method for shallow junction formation

DOEpatents

Weiner, K.H.

1996-10-29

A doping sequence is disclosed that reduces the cost and complexity of forming source/drain regions in complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) integrated circuit technologies. The process combines the use of patterned excimer laser annealing, dopant-saturated spin-on glass, silicide contact structures and interference effects creates by thin dielectric layers to produce source and drain junctions that are ultrashallow in depth but exhibit low sheet and contact resistance. The process utilizes no photolithography and can be achieved without the use of expensive vacuum equipment. The process margins are wide, and yield loss due to contact of the ultrashallow dopants is eliminated. 8 figs.

Method for shallow junction formation

DOEpatents

Weiner, Kurt H.

1996-01-01

A doping sequence that reduces the cost and complexity of forming source/drain regions in complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) integrated circuit technologies. The process combines the use of patterned excimer laser annealing, dopant-saturated spin-on glass, silicide contact structures and interference effects creates by thin dielectric layers to produce source and drain junctions that are ultrashallow in depth but exhibit low sheet and contact resistance. The process utilizes no photolithography and can be achieved without the use of expensive vacuum equipment. The process margins are wide, and yield loss due to contact of the ultrashallow dopants is eliminated.

Impact of socioeconomic position and distance on mental health care utilization: a nationwide Danish follow-up study.

PubMed

Packness, Aake; Waldorff, Frans Boch; Christensen, René dePont; Hastrup, Lene Halling; Simonsen, Erik; Vestergaard, Mogens; Halling, Anders

2017-11-01

To determine the impact of socioeconomic position (SEP) and distance to provider on outpatient mental health care utilization among incident users of antidepressants. A nationwide register-based cohort study of 50,374 person-years. Persons in low SEP were more likely to have outpatient psychiatrist contacts [odds ratio (OR) 1.25; confidence interval (CI) 1.17-1.34], but less likely to consult a co-payed psychologist (OR 0.49; CI 0.46-0.53) and to get mental health service from a GP (MHS-GP) (OR 0.81; CI 0.77-0.86) compared to persons in high SEP after adjusting for socio-demographics, comorbidity and car ownership. Furthermore, persons in low SEP who had contact to any of these therapists tended to have lower rates of visits compared to those in high SEP. When distance to services increased by 5 km, the rate of visits to outpatient psychiatrist tended to decrease by 5% in the lowest income group (IRR 0.95; CI 0.94-0.95) and 1% in the highest (IRR 0.99; CI 0.99-1.00). Likewise, contact to psychologists decreased by 11% in the lowest income group (IRR 0.89; CI 0.85-0.94), whereas rate of visits did not interact. Patients in low SEP have relatively lower utilization of mental health services even when services are free at delivery; co-payment and distance to provider aggravate the disparities in utilization between patients in high SEP and patients in low SEP.

Rate and State Friction Relation for Nanoscale Contacts: Thermally Activated Prandtl-Tomlinson Model with Chemical Aging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Kaiwen; Goldsby, David L.; Carpick, Robert W.

2018-05-01

Rate and state friction (RSF) laws are widely used empirical relationships that describe macroscale to microscale frictional behavior. They entail a linear combination of the direct effect (the increase of friction with sliding velocity due to the reduced influence of thermal excitations) and the evolution effect (the change in friction with changes in contact "state," such as the real contact area or the degree of interfacial chemical bonds). Recent atomic force microscope (AFM) experiments and simulations found that nanoscale single-asperity amorphous silica-silica contacts exhibit logarithmic aging (increasing friction with time) over several decades of contact time, due to the formation of interfacial chemical bonds. Here we establish a physically based RSF relation for such contacts by combining the thermally activated Prandtl-Tomlinson (PTT) model with an evolution effect based on the physics of chemical aging. This thermally activated Prandtl-Tomlinson model with chemical aging (PTTCA), like the PTT model, uses the loading point velocity for describing the direct effect, not the tip velocity (as in conventional RSF laws). Also, in the PTTCA model, the combination of the evolution and direct effects may be nonlinear. We present AFM data consistent with the PTTCA model whereby in aging tests, for a given hold time, static friction increases with the logarithm of the loading point velocity. Kinetic friction also increases with the logarithm of the loading point velocity at sufficiently high velocities, but at a different increasing rate. The discrepancy between the rates of increase of static and kinetic friction with velocity arises from the fact that appreciable aging during static contact changes the energy landscape. Our approach extends the PTT model, originally used for crystalline substrates, to amorphous materials. It also establishes how conventional RSF laws can be modified for nanoscale single-asperity contacts to provide a physically based friction relation for nanoscale contacts that exhibit chemical bond-induced aging, as well as other aging mechanisms with similar physical characteristics.

Extended release of hyaluronic acid from hydrogel contact lenses for dry eye syndrome.

PubMed

Maulvi, Furqan A; Soni, Tejal G; Shah, Dinesh O

2015-01-01

Current dry eye treatment includes delivering comfort enhancing agents to the eye via eye drops, but low residence time of eye drops leads to low bioavailability. Frequent administration leads to incompliance in patients, so there is a great need for medical device such as contact lenses to treat dry eye. Studies in the past have demonstrated the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the treatment of dry eyes using eye drops. In this paper, we present two methods to load HA in hydrogel contact lenses, soaking method and direct entrapment. The contact lenses were characterized by studying their optical and physical properties to determine their suitability as extended wear contact lenses. HA-laden hydrogel contact lenses prepared by soaking method showed release up to 48 h with acceptable physical and optical properties. Hydrogel contact lenses prepared by direct entrapment method showed significant sustained release in comparison to soaking method. HA entrapped in hydrogels resulted in reduction in % transmittance, sodium ion permeability and surface contact angle, while increase in % swelling. The impact on each of these properties was proportional to HA loading. The batch with 200-μg HA loading showed all acceptable values (parameters) for contact lens use. Results of cytotoxicity study indicated the safety of hydrogel contact lenses. In vivo pharmacokinetics studies in rabbit tear fluid showed dramatic increase in HA mean residence time and area under the curve with lenses in comparison to eye drop treatment. The study demonstrates the promising potential of delivering HA through contact lenses for the treatment of dry eye syndrome.

The Quantified Characterization Method of the Micro-Macro Contacts of Three-Dimensional Granular Materials on the Basis of Graph Theory.

PubMed

Guan, Yanpeng; Wang, Enzhi; Liu, Xiaoli; Wang, Sijing; Luan, Hebing

2017-08-03

We have attempted a multiscale and quantified characterization method of the contact in three-dimensional granular material made of spherical particles, particularly in cemented granular material. Particle contact is defined as a type of surface contact with voids in its surroundings, rather than a point contact. Macro contact is a particle contact set satisfying the restrictive condition of a two-dimensional manifold with a boundary. On the basis of graph theory, two dual geometrical systems are abstracted from the granular pack. The face and the face set, which satisfies the two-dimensional manifold with a boundary in the solid cell system, are extracted to characterize the particle contact and the macro contact, respectively. This characterization method is utilized to improve the post-processing in DEM (Discrete Element Method) from a micro perspective to describe the macro effect of the cemented granular material made of spherical particles. Since the crack has the same shape as its corresponding contact, this method is adopted to characterize the crack and realize its visualization. The integral failure route of the sample can be determined by a graph theory algorithm. The contact force is assigned to the weight value of the face characterizing the particle contact. Since the force vectors can be added, the macro contact force can be solved by adding the weight of its corresponding faces.

Directional transport of droplets on wettability patterns at high temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Shuai; Yin, Shaohui; Chen, Fengjun; Luo, Hu; Tang, Qingchun; Song, Jinlong

2018-01-01

Directional transport of liquid has attracted increasing interest owing to its potential of application in lab-on-a-chip, microfluidic devices and thermal management technologies. Although numerous strategies have been developed to achieve directional transport of liquid at low temperature, controlling the directional transport of liquid at high temperature remains to be a challenging issue. In this work, we reported a novel strategy in which different parts of droplet contacted with surface with different wettability patterns, resulting in a discrepant evaporative vapor film to achieve the directional transport of liquid. The experimental results showed that the state of the liquid on wettability patterned surface gradually changed from contact boiling to Leidenfrost state with the increase of substrate temperature Ts, and liquid on superhydrophilic surface was in composite state of contact boiling and Leidenfrost when Ts was higher than 200 °C. Inspired by the different evaporation states of droplet on the wettability boundary, controlling preferential motion of droplets was observed at high temperature. By designing a surface with wettability pattern on which superhydrophobic region and superhydrophilic region are alternately arranged, a controlled directional transport of droplet can be achieved at high temperature.

Nanojoint Formation between Ceramic Titanate Nanowires and Spot Melting of Metal Nanowires with Electron Beam.

PubMed

Bo, Arixin; Alarco, Jose; Zhu, Huaiyong; Waclawik, Eric R; Zhan, Haifei; Gu, YuanTong

2017-03-15

Construction of nanoarchitectures requires techniques like joint formation and trimming. For ceramic materials, however, it is extremely difficult to form nanojoints by conventional methods like merging. In this work, we demonstrate that ceramic titanate nanowires (NWs) can be joined by spot melting under electron beam (e-beam) irradiation (EBI). The irradiation fuses the contacted spot of titanate NWs yielding an intact nanojoint. Nanojoints with different morphologies can be produced. The joint structures consist of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) rutile, anatase, and titanate phases in the direction away from the e-beam melting spot. The titanate binds to anatase via a crystallographic matching coherent interface (the oxygen atoms at the interface are shared by the two phases) and the anatase solidly binds to the rutile joint. The resulting rutile joint is stable at high temperatures. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the heat production from EBI treated rutile can be utilized to break metal NWs (Ag, Cu, and Ni) apart by spot melting. The required e-beam intensity is considerably mild (75 pA/cm 2 ) which allows visual access and control over the NW melting. Direct melting of Ag and Cu is not applicable under EBI due to their high thermal conductivity even with high current density (500 pA/cm 2 ). Our findings reveal that ceramic nanojoint formation and spot melting at nanoscale are applicable if the properties of nanomaterials are understood and properly utilized.

Fatal occupational injuries among electric power company workers.

PubMed

Loomis, D; Dufort, V; Kleckner, R C; Savitz, D A

1999-03-01

Surveillance data suggest high rates of electrocutions and fatal falls among workers in electric utility companies, who may be exposed to electric current, heights, flammable agents, and frequent motor vehicle travel. To characterize the occurrence of fatal injuries among electric utility workers, we studied workers in five electric power companies in the United States. A cohort of 127,129 men hired between 1950 and 1986 was followed through 1988. Injuries at work were identified through manual review of death certificates. The occurrence of occupational injuries was analyzed with directly adjusted rates and Poisson regression. The overall rate of fatal occupational injuries was 13.20 per 100,000 person-years (n = 192), with 76% due to electric current, homicide, and falls from heights. Deaths were concentrated in a few groups with elevated injury rates, notably linemen (rate ratio (RR) 3.33), electricians (RR 2.79), and painters (RR 3.27). Occupations requiring daily work on elevations or frequent, direct contact with energized electrical equipment experienced markedly higher rates of fatal injury from falls and electrocutions with rate ratios of 21.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.4-41.5) and 16.7 (95% CI 6.6-42.6), respectively, independent of worker age and seniority. Although fatal injury rates in this industry have declined in recent decades, significant numbers of deaths still occur. Based on the premise that all injuries are preventable, a need for continued vigilance and efforts at prevention is indicated.

A Catalog of 1022 Bright Contact Binary Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gettel, S. J.; Geske, M. T.; McKay, T. A.

2006-01-01

In this work we describe a large new sample of contact binary stars extracted in a uniform manner from sky patrol data taken by the ROTSE-I telescope. Extensive ROTSE-I light-curve data are combined with J-, H-, and K-band near-infrared data taken from the Two Micron All Sky Survey to add color information. Contact binary candidates are selected using the observed period-color relation. Candidates are confirmed by visual examination of the light curves. To enhance the utility of this catalog, we derive a new J-H period-color-luminosity relation and use this to estimate distances for the entire catalog. From these distance estimates we derive an estimated contact binary space density of (1.7+/-0.6)×10-5 pc-3.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Contacts Regulate Cellular Excitability.

PubMed

Dickson, Eamonn J

2017-01-01

Cells that have intrinsic electrical excitability utilize changes in membrane potential to communicate with neighboring cells and initiate cellular cascades. Excitable cells like neurons and myocytes have evolved highly specialized subcellular architectures to translate these electrical signals into cellular events. One such structural specialization is sarco-/endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites. These membrane contact sites are positioned by specific membrane-membrane tethering proteins and contain an ever-expanding list of additional proteins that organize information transfer across the junctional space (~ 15-25 nm distance) to shape membrane identity and control cellular excitability. In this chapter we discuss how contacts between the sarco-/endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane are essential for regulated excitation-contraction coupling in striated muscle and control of lipid-dependent ion channels.

Analysis of Laser Injection Condition and Electrical Properties in Local BSF for Laser Fired Contact c-Si Solar Cell Applications.

PubMed

Park, Cheolmin; Choi, Gyuho; Balaji, Nagarajan; Ju, Minkyu; Lee, Youn-Jung; Lee, Haeseok; Yi, Junsin

2018-07-01

A crystalline silicon (c-Si) local-back-contact (LBC) solar cell for which a laser-condition-optimized surface-recombination velocity (SRV), a contact resistance (Rc), and local back surface fields (LBSFs) were utilized is reported. The effect of the laser condition on the rear-side electrical properties of the laser-fired LBC solar cell was studied. The Nd:YAG-laser (1064-nm wavelength) power and frequency were varied to obtain LBSF values with a lower contact resistance. A 10-kHz laser power of 44 mW resulted in an Rc of 0.125 ohms with an LBSF thickness of 2.09 μm and a higher open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 642 mV.

Direct contact, binary fluid geothermal boiler

DOEpatents

Rapier, Pascal M.

1982-01-01

Energy is extracted from geothermal brines by direct contact with a working fluid such as isobutane which is immiscible with the brine in a geothermal boiler. The geothermal boiler provides a distributor arrangement which efficiently contacts geothermal brine with the isobutane in order to prevent the entrainment of geothermal brine in the isobutane vapor which is directed to a turbine. Accordingly the problem of brine carry-over through the turbine causes corrosion and scaling thereof is eliminated. Additionally the heat exchanger includes straightening vanes for preventing startup and other temporary fluctuations in the transitional zone of the boiler from causing brine carryover into the turbine. Also a screen is provided in the heat exchanger to coalesce the working fluid and to assist in defining the location of the transitional zone where the geothermal brine and the isobutane are initially mixed.

Direct contact, binary fluid geothermal boiler

DOEpatents

Rapier, P.M.

1979-12-27

Energy is extracted from geothermal brines by direct contact with a working fluid such as isobutane which is immiscible with the brine in a geothermal boiler. The geothermal boiler provides a distributor arrangement which efficiently contacts geothermal brine with the isobutane in order to prevent the entrainment of geothermal brine in the isobutane vapor which is directed to a turbine. Accordingly the problem of brine carryover through the turbine causing corrosion and scaling thereof is eliminated. Additionally the heat exchanger includes straightening vanes for preventing startup and other temporary fluctuations in the transitional zone of the boiler from causing brine carryover into the turbine. Also a screen is provided in the heat exchanger to coalesce the working fluid and to assist in defining the location of the transitional zone where the geothermal brine and the isobutane are initially mixed.

Plasmonic direct writing lithography with a macroscopical contact probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yuerong; Liu, Ling; Wang, Changtao; Chen, Weidong; Liu, Yunyue; Li, Ling

2018-05-01

In this work, we design a plasmonic direct writing lithography system with a macroscopical contact probe to achieve nanometer scale spots. The probe with bowtie-shaped aperture array adopts spring hinge and beam deflection method (BDM) to realize near-field lithography. Lithography results show that a macroscopical plasmonic contact probe can achieve a patterning resolution of around 75 nm at 365 nm wavelength, and demonstrate that the lithography system is promising for practical applications due to beyond the diffraction limit, low cost, and simplification of system configuration. CST calculations provide a guide for the design of recording structure and the arrangement of placing polarizer.

Stack configurations for tubular solid oxide fuel cells

DOEpatents

Armstrong, Timothy R.; Trammell, Michael P.; Marasco, Joseph A.

2010-08-31

A fuel cell unit includes an array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes having porous metallic exterior surfaces, interior fuel cell layers, and interior surfaces, each of the tubes having at least one open end; and, at least one header in operable communication with the array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes for directing a first reactive gas into contact with the porous metallic exterior surfaces and for directing a second reactive gas into contact with the interior surfaces, the header further including at least one busbar disposed in electrical contact with at least one surface selected from the group consisting of the porous metallic exterior surfaces and the interior surfaces.

Optical emission of directly contacted copper/sapphire interface under shock compression of megabar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, G. Y.; Liu, F. S.; Zhang, D. Y.; Zhang, M. J.

2007-06-01

The shock-induced optical emission histories from copper/sapphire interface were measured under two different contact conditions, which simulated the typical situations of pyrometry experiments. Results showed that the "peak" feature of the radiation, previously interpreted as the appearance of so-called high-temperature layer, was nearly diminished by finely polishing and uniformly prepressing technique, and that it is possible to directly measure the equilibrium temperature of bulk metal/window interface. Study also demonstrated that the saturated value of the apparent temperature in nonideal contact situation is related to the color temperature of the shock-induced "bright spot" in sapphire window under megabar pressures.

Bi-directional activation between mesenchymal stem cells and CLL B-cells: implication for CLL disease progression.

PubMed

Ding, Wei; Nowakowski, Grzegorz S; Knox, Traci R; Boysen, Justin C; Maas, Mary L; Schwager, Susan M; Wu, Wenting; Wellik, Linda E; Dietz, Allan B; Ghosh, Asish K; Secreto, Charla R; Medina, Kay L; Shanafelt, Tait D; Zent, Clive S; Call, Timothy G; Kay, Neil E

2009-11-01

It was hypothesized that contact between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) B-cells and marrow stromal cells impact both cell types. To test this hypothesis, we utilized a long-term primary culture system from bone biopsies that reliably generates a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). Co-culture of MSC with CLL B-cells protected the latter from both spontaneous apoptosis and drug-induced apoptosis. The CD38 expression in previously CD38 positive CLL B-cells was up-regulated with MSC co-culture. Upregulation of CD71, CD25, CD69 and CD70 in CLL B-cells was found in the co-culture. CD71 upregulation was more significantly associated with high-risk CLL, implicating CD71 regulation in the microenvironment predicting disease progression. In MSC, rapid ERK and AKT phosphorylation (within 30 min) were detected when CLL B-cells and MSC were separated by transwell; indicating that activation of MSC was mediated by soluble factors. These findings support a bi-directional activation between bone marrow stromal cells and CLL B-cells.

Optical path of infrared neural stimulation in the guinea pig and cat cochlea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajguru, Suhrud M.; Hwang, Margaret; Moreno, Laura E.; Matic, Agnella I.; Stock, Stuart R.; Richter, Claus-Peter

2011-03-01

It has been demonstrated previously that infrared neural stimulation (INS) can be used to stimulate spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea. With INS, neural stimulation can be achieved without direct contact of the radiation source and the tissue and is spatially well resolved. The presence of fluids or bone between the target structure and the radiation source may lead to absorption or scattering of the radiation and limit the efficacy of INS. To develop INS based cochlear implants, it is critical to determine the beam path of the radiation in the cochlea. In the present study, we utilized noninvasive X-ray microtomography (microCT) to visualize the orientation and location of the optical fiber within the guinea pig and cat cochlea. Overall, the results indicated that the optical fiber was directed towards the spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea and not the nerve fibers in the center of the modiolus. The fiber was approximately 300 μm away from the target structures. In future studies, results from the microCT will be correlated with physiology obtained from recordings in the midbrain.

Possible Exposure Pathways During Emergencies

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

There are three basic ways a person may be exposed to a hazardous substance: inhalation, ingestion, or direct contact. Points of contact include groundwater or surface water; soil, sediment, or dust; air; or food.

Robust classification of contact orientation between tissue and an integrated spectroscopy and radiofrequency ablation catheter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaryab, Mohammad; Singh-Moon, Rajinder P.; Hendon, Christine P.

2017-02-01

Using light-based catheters for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapies grants the ability to accurately derive tissue properties such as lesion depth and overtreatment from spectroscopic information. However, this information is heavily reliant on contact quality with the treatment area and the orientation of the catheter. Thus to improve assessments of tissue properties, this work utilizes Bayesian modelling to classify whether the catheter is indeed in proper contact with the tissue. Initially in-laboratory experiments were conducted with ten fresh swine hearts submerged in blood. A total of 1555 unique near infrared spectra were collected from a spectrometer using a light-based catheter and manually tagged as "full perpendicular contact," "angled contact," and "no contact," between the catheter and heart tissue. Three features were prominent in all spectra for distinguishing purposes: area underneath the spectra, an intensity "valley" between 730 nm and 800 nm, along with the slope between 850 nm and 1150 nm. A classifier featuring bootstrapping, adaboost, and k-means techniques was thus created and achieved a 96.05% accuracy in classifying full contact, 98.33% accuracy in classifying angled contact, and 100% accuracy in classifying no contact.

Teach It, Don't Preach It: The Differential Effects of Directly-communicated and Self-generated Utility Value Information.

PubMed

Canning, Elizabeth A; Harackiewicz, Judith M

2015-03-01

Social-psychological interventions in education have used a variety of "self-persuasion" or "saying-is-believing" techniques to encourage students to articulate key intervention messages. These techniques are used in combination with more overt strategies, such as the direct communication of messages in order to promote attitude change. However, these different strategies have rarely been systematically compared, particularly in controlled laboratory settings. We focus on one intervention based in expectancy-value theory designed to promote perceptions of utility value in the classroom and test different intervention techniques to promote interest and performance. Across three laboratory studies, we used a mental math learning paradigm in which we varied whether students wrote about utility value for themselves or received different forms of directly-communicated information about the utility value of a novel mental math technique. In Study 1, we examined the difference between directly-communicated and self-generated utility-value information and found that directly-communicated utility-value information undermined performance and interest for individuals who lacked confidence, but that self-generated utility had positive effects. However, Study 2 suggests that these negative effects of directly-communicated utility value can be ameliorated when participants are also given the chance to generate their own examples of utility value, revealing a synergistic effect of directly-communicated and self-generated utility value. In Study 3, we found that individuals who lacked confidence benefited more when everyday examples of utility value were communicated, rather than career and school examples.

Evaluation of Contact Separation Force Testing as a Screening Methodology for Electrical Socket Contacts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, Chris; Greenwell, Chris; Brusse, jay; Krus, Dennis; Leidecker, Henning

2009-01-01

During system level testing intermittent and permanent open circuit failures of mated, crimp removable, electrical contact pairs were experienced. The root cause of the failures was determined to be low (but not zero) contact forces applied by the socket contact tines against the engaging pin. The low contact force reduces the effectiveness of the wiping action of the socket tines against the pin. The observed failure mode may be produced when insufficient wiping during mate, demate and small relative movement in use allows for the accumulation of debris or insulating films that electrically separate the contact pair. The investigation identified at least three manufacturing process control problems associated with the socket contacts that enabled shipment of contacts susceptible to developing low contact forces: (1) Improper heat treatment of the socket tines resulting in plastic rather than elastic behavior; (2) Overly thinned socket tines at their base resulting in reduced pin retention forces; (3) insufficient screening tests to identify parts susceptible to the aforementioned failure mechanisms. The results from an extensive screening program of socket contacts utilizing the industry standard contact separation force test procedures are described herein. The investigation shows this method to be capable of identifying initially weak sockets. However, sockets whose contact retention forces may degrade during use may not be screened out by pin retention testing alone. Further investigations are required to correlate low contact retention forces with increased electrical contact resistance in the presence of insulating films that may accumulate in the use environment.

Attitudes Towards Seeking Psychological Help: An Integrative Model Based on Contact, Essentialist Beliefs About Mental Illness, and Stigma.

PubMed

Hantzi, Alexandra; Anagnostopoulos, Fotios; Alexiou, Eva

2018-06-16

Based on intergroup contact theory, a proposed comprehensive model of attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help was tested, including both potential barriers to mental health help-seeking (i.e., public stigma and self-stigma of seeking help, prejudicial and essentialist beliefs about mental illness, intergroup anxiety) and potential facilitators (i.e., direct and extended contact with persons with mental illness). Relevant measures were completed by 119 community-dwelling participants. Path analysis showed that direct (but not extended) contact with mental illness, by reducing intergroup anxiety, led to less negative beliefs about mental illness and weaker essentialist beliefs about mental illness (the latter being directly and positively associated with negative beliefs about mental illness). Moreover, less negative beliefs about mental illness, by reducing perceptions of self (but not public) stigma of seeking psychological help, were related to more positive attitudes towards help-seeking. Results are discussed in the context of the (unintentional) adverse effects of biogenetic (essentialist) explanations of mental disorders, and the clinical implications regarding interventions that aim at improving help-seeking attitudes.

[Activities without patient contact : Estimate of time costs based on telephone interviews in eight psychiatric hospitals].

PubMed

Blume, A; Brückner-Bozetti, P; Steinert, T

2018-04-20

The aim of this pilot study was to estimate the share of working time that staff in psychiatric hospitals theoretically spend on obligatory activities, such as training and further education, organizational and documentation tasks as well as statutory lecturing duties without patient contact. A total of 47 physicians, 39 nurses, 34 psychologists and 35 social workers from eight psychiatric hospitals were interviewed. The results reveal that the theoretically remaining time for direct patient contact is low. The ratio of time spent with versus time spent without patient contact was even worse for senior physicians and leading nurses as well as part-time employees; however, all activities without direct contact to patients seemed to be indispensable in terms of quality of treatment and care. Hence, employees in German psychiatric hospitals regularly have to make decisions on which of their duties they prefer to neglect, to which they are actually obligated.

Eye contact perception in the West and East: a cross-cultural study.

PubMed

Uono, Shota; Hietanen, Jari K

2015-01-01

This study investigated whether eye contact perception differs in people with different cultural backgrounds. Finnish (European) and Japanese (East Asian) participants were asked to determine whether Finnish and Japanese neutral faces with various gaze directions were looking at them. Further, participants rated the face stimuli for emotion and other affect-related dimensions. The results indicated that Finnish viewers had a smaller bias toward judging slightly averted gazes as directed at them when judging Finnish rather than Japanese faces, while the bias of Japanese viewers did not differ between faces from their own and other cultural backgrounds. This may be explained by Westerners experiencing more eye contact in their daily life leading to larger visual experience of gaze perception generally, and to more accurate perception of eye contact with people from their own cultural background particularly. The results also revealed cultural differences in the perception of emotion from neutral faces that could also contribute to the bias in eye contact perception.

Optical critical dimension metrology for directed self-assembly assisted contact hole shrink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, Dhairya; Green, Avery; Hosler, Erik R.; Kamineni, Vimal; Preil, Moshe E.; Keller, Nick; Race, Joseph; Chun, Jun Sung; O'Sullivan, Michael; Khare, Prasanna; Montgomery, Warren; Diebold, Alain C.

2016-01-01

Directed self-assembly (DSA) is a potential patterning solution for future generations of integrated circuits. Its main advantages are high pattern resolution (˜10 nm), high throughput, no requirement of high-resolution mask, and compatibility with standard fab-equipment and processes. The application of Mueller matrix (MM) spectroscopic ellipsometry-based scatterometry to optically characterize DSA patterned contact hole structures fabricated with phase-separated polystyrene-b-polymethylmethacrylate (PS-b-PMMA) is described. A regression-based approach is used to calculate the guide critical dimension (CD), DSA CD, height of the PS column, thicknesses of underlying layers, and contact edge roughness of the post PMMA etch DSA contact hole sample. Scanning electron microscopy and imaging analysis is conducted as a comparative metric for scatterometry. In addition, optical model-based simulations are used to investigate MM elements' sensitivity to various DSA-based contact hole structures, predict sensitivity to dimensional changes, and its limits to characterize DSA-induced defects, such as hole placement inaccuracy, missing vias, and profile inaccuracy of the PMMA cylinder.

Accumulation of organic compounds leached from plastic materials used in biopharmaceutical process containers.

PubMed

Jenke, Dennis R; Zietlow, David; Garber, Mary Jo; Sadain, Salma; Reiber, Duane; Terbush, William

2007-01-01

Plastic materials are widely used in medical items, such as solution containers, transfusion sets, transfer tubing, and devices. An emerging trend in the biotechnology industry is the utilization of plastic containers to prepare, transport, and store an assortment of solutions including buffers, media, and in-process and finished product. The direct contact of such containers with the product at one or more points in its lifetime raises the possibility that container leachables may accumulate in the finished product. The interaction between several commercially available container materials and numerous model test solutions (representative of buffers and media used in biopharmaceutical applications) was investigated. This paper summarizes the identification of leachables associated with the container materials and documents the levels to which targeted leachables accumulate in the test solutions under defined storage conditions.

Microfluidic platform for real-time signaling analysis of multiple single T cells in parallel.

PubMed

Faley, Shannon; Seale, Kevin; Hughey, Jacob; Schaffer, David K; VanCompernolle, Scott; McKinney, Brett; Baudenbacher, Franz; Unutmaz, Derya; Wikswo, John P

2008-10-01

Deciphering the signaling pathways that govern stimulation of naïve CD4+ T helper cells by antigen-presenting cells via formation of the immunological synapse is key to a fundamental understanding of the progression of successful adaptive immune response. The study of T cell-APC interactions in vitro is challenging, however, due to the difficulty of tracking individual, non-adherent cell pairs over time. Studying single cell dynamics over time reveals rare, but critical, signaling events that might be averaged out in bulk experiments, but these less common events are undoubtedly important for an integrated understanding of a cellular response to its microenvironment. We describe a novel application of microfluidic technology that overcomes many limitations of conventional cell culture and enables the study of hundreds of passively sequestered hematopoietic cells for extended periods of time. This microfluidic cell trap device consists of 440 18 micromx18 micromx10 microm PDMS, bucket-like structures opposing the direction of flow which serve as corrals for cells as they pass through the cell trap region. Cell viability analysis revealed that more than 70% of naïve CD4+ T cells (TN), held in place using only hydrodynamic forces, subsequently remain viable for 24 hours. Cytosolic calcium transients were successfully induced in TN cells following introduction of chemical, antibody, or cellular forms of stimulation. Statistical analysis of TN cells from a single stimulation experiment reveals the power of this platform to distinguish different calcium response patterns, an ability that might be utilized to characterize T cell signaling states in a given population. Finally, we investigate in real time contact- and non-contact-based interactions between primary T cells and dendritic cells, two main participants in the formation of the immunological synapse. Utilizing the microfluidic traps in a daisy-chain configuration allowed us to observe calcium transients in TN cells exposed only to media conditioned by secretions of lipopolysaccharide-matured dendritic cells, an event which is easily missed in conventional cell culture where large media-to-cell ratios dilute cellular products. Further investigation into this intercellular signaling event indicated that LPS-matured dendritic cells, in the absence of antigenic stimulation, secrete chemical signals that induce calcium transients in T(N) cells. While the stimulating factor(s) produced by the mature dendritic cells remains to be identified, this report illustrates the utility of these microfluidic cell traps for analyzing arrays of individual suspension cells over time and probing both contact-based and intercellular signaling events between one or more cell populations.

The Influences of Face Inversion and Facial Expression on Sensitivity to Eye Contact in High-Functioning Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vida, Mark D.; Maurer, Daphne; Calder, Andrew J.; Rhodes, Gillian; Walsh, Jennifer A.; Pachai, Matthew V.; Rutherford, M. D.

2013-01-01

We examined the influences of face inversion and facial expression on sensitivity to eye contact in high-functioning adults with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants judged the direction of gaze of angry, fearful, and neutral faces. In the typical group only, the range of directions of gaze leading to the perception of eye…

Evaluation of food-relevant chemicals in the ToxCast high-throughput screening program

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Thousands of chemicals are directly added to or come in contact with food, many of which have undergone little to no toxicological evaluation. The landscape of the food-relevant chemical universe was evaluated using cheminformatics, and subsequently the bioactivity of food-relevant chemicals across the publicly available ToxCast highthroughput screening program was assessed. In total, 8659 food-relevant chemicals were compiled including direct food additives, food contact substances, and pesticides. Of these food-relevant chemicals, 4719 had curated structure definition files amenable to defining chemical fingerprints, which were used to cluster chemicals using a selforganizing map approach. Pesticides, and direct food additives clustered apart from one another with food contact substances generally in between, supporting that these categories not only reflect different uses but also distinct chemistries. Subsequently, 1530 food-relevant chemicals were identified in ToxCast comprising 616 direct food additives, 371 food contact substances, and 543 pesticides. Bioactivity across ToxCast was filtered for cytotoxicity to identify selective chemical effects. Initiating analyses from strictly chemical-based methodology or bioactivity/cytotoxicity-driven evaluation presents unbiased approaches for prioritizing chemicals. Although bioactivity in vitro is not necessarily predictive of adverse effects in vivo, these data provide insight into chemical properties and cellu

Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores

PubMed Central

Rasher, Douglas B.; Hay, Mark E.

2010-01-01

Coral reefs are in dramatic global decline, with seaweeds commonly replacing corals. It is unclear, however, whether seaweeds harm corals directly or colonize opportunistically following their decline and then suppress coral recruitment. In the Caribbean and tropical Pacific, we show that, when protected from herbivores, ~40 to 70% of common seaweeds cause bleaching and death of coral tissue when in direct contact. For seaweeds that harmed coral tissues, their lipid-soluble extracts also produced rapid bleaching. Coral bleaching and mortality was limited to areas of direct contact with seaweeds or their extracts. These patterns suggest that allelopathic seaweed-coral interactions can be important on reefs lacking herbivore control of seaweeds, and that these interactions involve lipid-soluble metabolites transferred via direct contact. Seaweeds were rapidly consumed when placed on a Pacific reef protected from fishing but were left intact or consumed at slower rates on an adjacent fished reef, indicating that herbivory will suppress seaweeds and lower frequency of allelopathic damage to corals if reefs retain intact food webs. With continued removal of herbivores from coral reefs, seaweeds are becoming more common. This occurrence will lead to increasing frequency of seaweed-coral contacts, increasing allelopathic suppression of remaining corals, and continuing decline of reef corals. PMID:20457927

Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores.

PubMed

Rasher, Douglas B; Hay, Mark E

2010-05-25

Coral reefs are in dramatic global decline, with seaweeds commonly replacing corals. It is unclear, however, whether seaweeds harm corals directly or colonize opportunistically following their decline and then suppress coral recruitment. In the Caribbean and tropical Pacific, we show that, when protected from herbivores, approximately 40 to 70% of common seaweeds cause bleaching and death of coral tissue when in direct contact. For seaweeds that harmed coral tissues, their lipid-soluble extracts also produced rapid bleaching. Coral bleaching and mortality was limited to areas of direct contact with seaweeds or their extracts. These patterns suggest that allelopathic seaweed-coral interactions can be important on reefs lacking herbivore control of seaweeds, and that these interactions involve lipid-soluble metabolites transferred via direct contact. Seaweeds were rapidly consumed when placed on a Pacific reef protected from fishing but were left intact or consumed at slower rates on an adjacent fished reef, indicating that herbivory will suppress seaweeds and lower frequency of allelopathic damage to corals if reefs retain intact food webs. With continued removal of herbivores from coral reefs, seaweeds are becoming more common. This occurrence will lead to increasing frequency of seaweed-coral contacts, increasing allelopathic suppression of remaining corals, and continuing decline of reef corals.

Simulation and characterization of a laterally-driven inertial micro-switch

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

Chen, Wenguo; Wang, Yang; Wang, Huiying

2015-04-15

A laterally-driven inertial micro-switch was designed and fabricated using surface micromachining technology. The dynamic response process was simulated by ANSYS software, which revealed the vibration process of movable electrode when the proof mass is shocked by acceleration in sensitive direction. The test results of fabricated inertial micro-switches with and without anti-shock beams indicated that the contact process of micro-switch with anti-shock beams is more reliable than the one without anti-shock beams. The test results indicated that three contact signals had been observed in the contact process of the inertial switch without anti-shock beams, and only one contact signal in themore » inertial switch with anti-shock beams, which demonstrated that the anti-shock beams can effectively constrain the vibration in non-sensitive direction.« less

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

Kasper, M.; Gramse, G.; Hoffmann, J.

We measured the DC and RF impedance characteristics of micrometric metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors and Schottky diodes using scanning microwave microscopy (SMM). The SMM consisting of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) interfaced with a vector network analyser (VNA) was used to measure the reflection S11 coefficient of the metallic MOS and Schottky contact pads at 18 GHz as a function of the tip bias voltage. By controlling the SMM biasing conditions, the AFM tip was used to bias the Schottky contacts between reverse and forward mode. In reverse bias direction, the Schottky contacts showed mostly a change in the imaginary part ofmore » the admittance while in forward bias direction the change was mostly in the real part of the admittance. Reference MOS capacitors which are next to the Schottky diodes on the same sample were used to calibrate the SMM S11 data and convert it into capacitance values. Calibrated capacitance between 1–10 fF and 1/C{sup 2} spectroscopy curves were acquired on the different Schottky diodes as a function of the DC bias voltage following a linear behavior. Additionally, measurements were done directly with the AFM-tip in contact with the silicon substrate forming a nanoscale Schottky contact. Similar capacitance-voltage curves were obtained but with smaller values (30–300 aF) due to the corresponding smaller AFM-tip diameter. Calibrated capacitance images of both the MOS and Schottky contacts were acquired with nanoscale resolution at different tip-bias voltages.« less

Process for removing carbon from uranium

DOEpatents

Powell, George L.; Holcombe, Jr., Cressie E.

1976-01-01

Carbon contamination is removed from uranium and uranium alloys by heating in inert atmosphere to 700.degree.-1900.degree.C in effective contact with yttrium to cause carbon in the uranium to react with the yttrium. The yttrium is either in direct contact with the contaminated uranium or in indirect contact by means of an intermediate transport medium.

Assessment of antibacterial properties of newer dentin bonding agents: An in vitro study.

PubMed

Sampath, Pavitra B; Hegde, Mithra N; Hegde, Priyadarshini

2011-07-01

To evaluate and compare the antibacterial activity of newer dentin bonding agents on Streptococcus mutans using the direct contact test. Streptococcus mutans was used as test organism and a direct contact test was performed. The dentin bonding agents to be tested were grouped as Group I, Clearfil Protect Bond, Group II, Adper Easy One, and Group III, Prime and Bond NT. For the direct contact test, three microtiter plates consisting of 96 wells each were taken (288 wells). These wells were divided into three groups of 96 wells; 16 wells of a microtiter plate were utilized, of which four were designated as 'A' wells (with the dentin bonding agent and bacterial suspension), another four as 'B' wells (without the dentin bonding agent, but with the bacterial suspension), another four as the 'C' wells (with the tested material, but without bacteria, which served as the negative control), and the remaining four as the 'D' wells (without the dentin bonding agent, which served as the positive control). Each group was treated with their respective bonding agents as per the manufactures instructions. Broth of 15 μL was then transferred from the A wells into an adjacent set of B wells containing fresh medium (215 μL). This resulted in two sets of four wells for each tested material containing an equal volume of liquid medium, so that bacterial growth was monitored both in the presence and in the absence of the tested material. The plate was placed for incubation at 37°C in the microplate reader and the optical density in each well was measured at 600 nm. The readings were taken at regular intervals. (Every 30 minutes for 16 hours). The Dentin bonding agents evaluated in this study showed different inhibitory effects. Clearfil Protect Bond and Prime and Bond NT were most effective, and Adper Easy One was least effective against Streptococcus mutans. The Dentin bonding agents evaluated in this study showed different inhibitory effects. Clearfil Protect Bond and Prime and Bond NT were most effective, and Adper Easy One was the least effective against Streptococcus mutans. Hence, the incorporation of antibacterial agents into the dentin bonding agents may become an essential factor in inhibiting residual bacteria in the cavity and secondary caries.

Tactile Robotic Topographical Mapping Without Force or Contact Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burke, Kevin; Melko, Joseph; Krajewski, Joel; Cady, Ian

2008-01-01

A method of topographical mapping of a local solid surface within the range of motion of a robot arm is based on detection of contact between the surface and the end effector (the fixture or tool at the tip of the robot arm). The method was conceived to enable mapping of local terrain by an exploratory robot on a remote planet, without need to incorporate delicate contact switches, force sensors, a vision system, or other additional, costly hardware. The method could also be used on Earth for determining the size and shape of an unknown surface in the vicinity of a robot, perhaps in an unanticipated situation in which other means of mapping (e.g., stereoscopic imaging or laser scanning with triangulation) are not available. The method uses control software modified to utilize the inherent capability of the robotic control system to measure the joint positions, the rates of change of the joint positions, and the electrical current demanded by the robotic arm joint actuators. The system utilizes these coordinate data and the known robot-arm kinematics to compute the position and velocity of the end effector, move the end effector along a specified trajectory, place the end effector at a specified location, and measure the electrical currents in the joint actuators. Since the joint actuator current is approximately proportional to the actuator forces and torques, a sudden rise in joint current, combined with a slowing of the joint, is a possible indication of actuator stall and surface contact. Hence, even though the robotic arm is not equipped with contact sensors, it is possible to sense contact (albeit with reduced sensitivity) as the end effector becomes stalled against a surface that one seeks to measure.

Limited utility of name-based tuberculosis contact investigations among persons using illicit drugs: results of an outbreak investigation.

PubMed

Asghar, Rana Jawad; Patlan, David E; Miner, Mark C; Rhodes, Halsey D; Solages, Anthony; Katz, Dolly J; Beall, David S; Ijaz, Kashef; Oeltmann, John E

2009-09-01

Persons named by a patient with tuberculosis (TB) are the focus of traditional TB contact investigations. However, patients who use illicit drugs are often reluctant to name contacts. Between January 2004 and May 2005, 18 isoniazid-resistant TB cases with matching Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes (spoligotypes) were reported in Miami; most patients frequented crack houses and did not name potentially infected contacts. We reviewed medical records and re-interviewed patients about contacts and locations frequented to describe transmission patterns and make recommendations to control TB in this population. Observed contacts were not named but were encountered at the same crack houses as the patients. Contacts were evaluated for latent TB infection with a tuberculosis skin test (TST). All 18 patients had pulmonary TB. Twelve (67%) reported crack use and 14 (78%) any illicit drug use. Of the 187 contacts evaluated, 91 (49%) were named, 16 (8%) attended a church reported by a patient, 61 (33%) used a dialysis center reported by a patient, and 19 (10%) were observed contacts at local crack houses. Compared to named contacts, observed contacts were eight times as likely to have positive TST results (relative risk = 7.8; 95% confidence interval = 3.8-16.1). Dialysis center and church contacts had no elevated risk of a positive TST result. Testing observed contacts may provide a higher yield than traditional name-based contact investigations for tuberculosis patients who use illicit drugs or frequent venues characterized by illicit drug use.

Exploring Local Electrostatic Effects with Scanning Probe Microscopy: Implications for Piezoresponse Force Microscopy and Triboelectricity

DOE PAGES

Balke, Nina; Maksymovych, Petro; Jesse, Stephen; ...

2014-09-25

The implementation of contact mode Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) utilizes the electrostatic interactions between tip and sample when the tip and sample are in contact with each other. Surprisingly, the electrostatic forces in contact are large enough to be measured even with tips as stiff as 4.5 N/m. As for traditional non-contact KPFM, the signal depends strongly on electrical properties of the sample, such as the dielectric constant, and the tip-properties, such as the stiffness. Since the tip is in contact with the sample, bias-induced changes in the junction potential between tip and sample can be measured with highermore » lateral and temporal resolution compared to traditional non-contact KPFM. Significant and reproducible variations of tip-surface capacitance are observed and attributed to surface electrochemical phenomena. Lastly, observations of significant surface charge states at zero bias and strong hysteretic electromechanical responses at non-ferroelectric surface have significant implications for fields such as triboelectricity and piezoresponse force microscopy.« less

Novel Approaches in Formulation and Drug Delivery using Contact Lenses

PubMed Central

Singh, Kishan; Nair, Anroop B; Kumar, Ashok; Kumria, Rachna

2011-01-01

The success of ocular delivery relies on the potential to enhance the drug bioavailability by controlled and extended release of drug on the eye surface. Several new approaches have been attempted to augment the competence and diminish the intrinsic side effects of existing ocular drug delivery systems. In this contest, progress has been made to develop drug-eluting contact lens using different techniques, which have the potential to control and sustain the delivery of drug. Further, the availability of novel polymers have facilitated and promoted the utility of contact lenses in ocular drug delivery. Several research groups have already explored the feasibility and potential of contact lens using conventional drugs for the treatment of periocular and intraocular diseases. Contact lenses formulated using modern technology exhibits high loading, controlled drug release, apposite thickness, water content, superior mechanical and optical properties as compared to commercial lenses. In general, this review discus various factors and approaches designed and explored for the successful delivery of ophthalmic drugs using contact lenses as drug delivery device PMID:24826007

Contact among healthcare workers in the hospital setting: developing the evidence base for innovative approaches to infection control.

PubMed

English, Krista M; Langley, Joanne M; McGeer, Allison; Hupert, Nathaniel; Tellier, Raymond; Henry, Bonnie; Halperin, Scott A; Johnston, Lynn; Pourbohloul, Babak

2018-04-17

Nosocomial, or healthcare-associated infections (HAI), exact a high medical and financial toll on patients, healthcare workers, caretakers, and the health system. Interpersonal contact patterns play a large role in infectious disease spread, but little is known about the relationship between health care workers' (HCW) movements and contact patterns within a heath care facility and HAI. Quantitatively capturing these patterns will aid in understanding the dynamics of HAI and may lead to more targeted and effective control strategies in the hospital setting. Staff at 3 urban university-based tertiary care hospitals in Canada completed a detailed questionnaire on demographics, interpersonal contacts, in-hospital movement, and infection prevention and control practices. Staff were divided into categories of administrative/support, nurses, physicians, and "Other HCWs" - a fourth distinct category, which excludes physicians and nurses. Using quantitative network modeling tools, we constructed the resulting HCW "co-location network" to illustrate contacts among different occupations and with locations in hospital settings. Among 3048 respondents (response rate 38%) an average of 3.79, 3.69 and 3.88 floors were visited by each HCW each week in the 3 hospitals, with a standard deviation of 2.63, 1.74 and 2.08, respectively. Physicians reported the highest rate of direct patient contacts (> 20 patients/day) but the lowest rate of contacts with other HCWs; nurses had the most extended (> 20 min) periods of direct patient contact. "Other HCWs" had the most direct daily contact with all other HCWs. Physicians also reported significantly more locations visited per week than nurses, other HCW, or administrators; nurses visited the fewest. Public spaces such as the cafeteria had the most staff visits per week, but the least mean hours spent per visit. Inpatient settings had significantly more HCW interactions per week than outpatient settings. HCW contact patterns and spatial movement demonstrate significant heterogeneity by occupation. Control strategies that address this diversity among health care workers may be more effective than "one-strategy-fits-all" HAI prevention and control programs.

Friction of atomically stepped surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dikken, R. J.; Thijsse, B. J.; Nicola, L.

2017-03-01

The friction behavior of atomically stepped metal surfaces under contact loading is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. While real rough metal surfaces involve roughness at multiple length scales, the focus of this paper is on understanding friction of the smallest scale of roughness: atomic steps. To this end, periodic stepped Al surfaces with different step geometry are brought into contact and sheared at room temperature. Contact stress that continuously tries to build up during loading, is released with fluctuating stress drops during sliding, according to the typical stick-slip behavior. Stress release occurs not only through local slip, but also by means of step motion. The steps move along the contact, concurrently resulting in normal migration of the contact. The direction of migration depends on the sign of the step, i.e., its orientation with respect to the shearing direction. If the steps are of equal sign, there is a net migration of the entire contact accompanied by significant vacancy generation at room temperature. The stick-slip behavior of the stepped contacts is found to have all the characteristic of a self-organized critical state, with statistics dictated by step density. For the studied step geometries, frictional sliding is found to involve significant atomic rearrangement through which the contact roughness is drastically changed. This leads for certain step configurations to a marked transition from jerky sliding motion to smooth sliding, making the final friction stress approximately similar to that of a flat contact.

Improving Product Performance Through New Equipment Training (NET) Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

communication equipment with gloves, acquire targets while wearing helmet and protective eyewear , and stealth movement to contact the enemy and...to be utilized in the literature review. We found that the industry and academic information we retrieved was relevant and transferable to the...chapter summarized industry and academic research relevant to enhancing Marines abilities to better notice and correctly utilize Infantry Combat

78 FR 6317 - Public Utility District No. 1 Chelan County; Notice of Application for Amendment of License and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-30

...: The project is located on the Chelan River in Chelan County near the City of Chelan, Washington. g..., Licensing and Compliance Manager, Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County, 327 North Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, Washington 98801. Phone: 888-663-8121, ext 4180. Email: [email protected] . i. FERC Contact...

A systematic video analysis of National Hockey League (NHL) concussions, part II: how concussions occur in the NHL.

PubMed

Hutchison, Michael G; Comper, Paul; Meeuwisse, Willem H; Echemendia, Ruben J

2015-04-01

Concussions in sports are a growing cause of concern, as these injuries can have debilitating short-term effects and little is known about the potential long-term consequences. This work aims to describe how concussions occur in the National Hockey League. Case series of medically diagnosed concussions for regular season games over a 3.5-year period during the 2006-2010 seasons. Digital video records were coded and analysed using a standardised protocol. 88% (n=174/197) of concussions involved player-to-opponent contact. 16 diagnosed concussions were a result of fighting. Of the 158 concussions that involved player-to-opponent body contact, the most common mechanisms were direct contact to the head initiated by the shoulder 42% of the time (n=66/158), by the elbow 15% (n=24/158) and by gloves in 5% of cases (n=8/158). When the results of anatomical location are combined with initial contact, almost half of these events (n=74/158) were classified as direct contact to the lateral aspect of the head. The predominant mechanism of concussion was consistently characterised by player-to-opponent contact, typically directed to the head by the shoulder, elbow or gloves. Also, several important characteristics were apparent: (1) contact was often to the lateral aspect of the head; (2) the player who suffered a concussion was often not in possession of the puck and (3) no penalty was called on the play. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

76 FR 6535 - Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Model MD-90-30 Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-07

.... FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William S. Bond, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA..., contact William S. Bond, Aerospace Engineer, Propulsion Branch, ANM-140L, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft...

40 CFR 63.860 - Applicability and designation of affected source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... soda pulp mill. (2) Each new nondirect contact evaporator (NDCE) recovery furnace and associated smelt dissolving tank(s) located at a kraft or soda pulp mill. (3) Each new direct contact evaporator (DCE...

40 CFR 63.860 - Applicability and designation of affected source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... soda pulp mill. (2) Each new nondirect contact evaporator (NDCE) recovery furnace and associated smelt dissolving tank(s) located at a kraft or soda pulp mill. (3) Each new direct contact evaporator (DCE...

40 CFR 63.860 - Applicability and designation of affected source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... soda pulp mill. (2) Each new nondirect contact evaporator (NDCE) recovery furnace and associated smelt dissolving tank(s) located at a kraft or soda pulp mill. (3) Each new direct contact evaporator (DCE...

40 CFR 63.860 - Applicability and designation of affected source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... soda pulp mill. (2) Each new nondirect contact evaporator (NDCE) recovery furnace and associated smelt dissolving tank(s) located at a kraft or soda pulp mill. (3) Each new direct contact evaporator (DCE...

40 CFR 63.860 - Applicability and designation of affected source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... soda pulp mill. (2) Each new nondirect contact evaporator (NDCE) recovery furnace and associated smelt dissolving tank(s) located at a kraft or soda pulp mill. (3) Each new direct contact evaporator (DCE...

77 FR 34025 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-08

... Bay. See supplementary information below for further details. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom... interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Tom Warren (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at...

Human exposures to monomers resulting from consumer contact with polymers.

PubMed

Leber, A P

2001-06-01

Many consumer products are composed completely, or in part, of polymeric materials. Direct or indirect human contact results in potential exposures to monomers as a result of migrations of trace amounts from the polymeric matrix into foods, into the skin or other bodily surfaces. Typically, residual monomer levels in these polymers are <100 p.p.m., and represent exposures well below those observable in traditional toxicity testing. These product applications thus require alternative methods for evaluating health risks relating to monomer exposures. A typical approach includes: (a) assessment of potential human contacts for specific polymer uses; (b) utilization of data from toxicity testing of pure monomers, e.g. cancer bioassay results; and (c) mathematical risk assessment methods. Exposure potentials are measured in one of two analytical procedures: (1) migration of monomer from polymer into a simulant solvent (e.g. alcohol, acidic water, vegetable oil) appropriate for the intended use of the product (e.g. beer cans, food jars, packaging adhesive, dairy hose); or (2) total monomer content of the polymer, providing worse-case values for migratable monomer. Application of toxicity data typically involves NOEL or benchmark values for non-cancer endpoints, or tumorigenicity potencies for monomers demonstrated to be carcinogens. Risk assessments provide exposure 'safety margin' ratios between levels that: (1) are projected to be safe according to toxicity information, and (2) are potential monomer exposures posed by the intended use of the consumer product. This paper includes an example of a health risk assessment for a chewing gum polymer for which exposures to trace levels of butadiene monomer occur.

Evolution of the microstructure during the process of consolidation and bonding in soft granular solids.

PubMed

Yohannes, B; Gonzalez, M; Abebe, A; Sprockel, O; Nikfar, F; Kiang, S; Cuitiño, A M

2016-04-30

The evolution of microstructure during powder compaction process was investigated using a discrete particle modeling, which accounts for particle size distribution and material properties, such as plasticity, elasticity, and inter-particle bonding. The material properties were calibrated based on powder compaction experiments and validated based on tensile strength test experiments for lactose monohydrate and microcrystalline cellulose, which are commonly used excipient in pharmaceutical industry. The probability distribution function and the orientation of contact forces were used to study the evolution of the microstructure during the application of compaction pressure, unloading, and ejection of the compact from the die. The probability distribution function reveals that the compression contact forces increase as the compaction force increases (or the relative density increases), while the maximum value of the tensile contact forces remains the same. During unloading of the compaction pressure, the distribution approaches a normal distribution with a mean value of zero. As the contact forces evolve, the anisotropy of the powder bed also changes. Particularly, during loading, the compression contact forces are aligned along the direction of the compaction pressure, whereas the tensile contact forces are oriented perpendicular to direction of the compaction pressure. After ejection, the contact forces become isotropic. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antimicrobial activity of ProRoot MTA in contact with blood

PubMed Central

Farrugia, C.; Baca, P.; Camilleri, J.; Arias Moliz, M. T.

2017-01-01

Dental materials based on Portland cement, which is used in the construction industry have gained popularity for clinical use due to their hydraulic properties, the interaction with tooth tissue and their antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial properties are optimal in vitro. However in clinical use contact with blood may affect the antimicrobial properties. This study aims to assess whether antimicrobial properties of the Portland cement-based dental cements such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) are also affected by contact with blood present in clinical situations. ProRoot MTA, a Portland cement-based dental cement was characterized following contact with water, or heparinized blood after 1 day and 7 days aging. The antimicrobial activity under the mentioned conditions was assessed using 3 antimicrobial tests: agar diffusion test, direct contact test and intratubular infection test. MTA in contact with blood was severely discoloured, exhibited an additional phosphorus peak in elemental analysis, no calcium hydroxide peaks and no areas of bacterial inhibition growth in the agar diffusion test were demonstrated. ProRoot MTA showed limited antimicrobial activity, in both the direct contact test and intratubular infection test. When aged in water ProRoot MTA showed higher antimicrobial activity than when aged in blood. Antimicrobial activity reduced significantly after 7 days. Further assessment is required to investigate behaviour in clinical situations. PMID:28128328

Teach It, Don’t Preach It: The Differential Effects of Directly-communicated and Self-generated Utility Value Information

PubMed Central

Canning, Elizabeth A.; Harackiewicz, Judith M.

2015-01-01

Social-psychological interventions in education have used a variety of “self-persuasion” or “saying-is-believing” techniques to encourage students to articulate key intervention messages. These techniques are used in combination with more overt strategies, such as the direct communication of messages in order to promote attitude change. However, these different strategies have rarely been systematically compared, particularly in controlled laboratory settings. We focus on one intervention based in expectancy-value theory designed to promote perceptions of utility value in the classroom and test different intervention techniques to promote interest and performance. Across three laboratory studies, we used a mental math learning paradigm in which we varied whether students wrote about utility value for themselves or received different forms of directly-communicated information about the utility value of a novel mental math technique. In Study 1, we examined the difference between directly-communicated and self-generated utility-value information and found that directly-communicated utility-value information undermined performance and interest for individuals who lacked confidence, but that self-generated utility had positive effects. However, Study 2 suggests that these negative effects of directly-communicated utility value can be ameliorated when participants are also given the chance to generate their own examples of utility value, revealing a synergistic effect of directly-communicated and self-generated utility value. In Study 3, we found that individuals who lacked confidence benefited more when everyday examples of utility value were communicated, rather than career and school examples. PMID:26495326

Full data acquisition in Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy: Mapping dynamic electric phenomena in real space.

PubMed

Collins, Liam; Belianinov, Alex; Somnath, Suhas; Balke, Nina; Kalinin, Sergei V; Jesse, Stephen

2016-08-12

Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) has provided deep insights into the local electronic, ionic and electrochemical functionalities in a broad range of materials and devices. In classical KPFM, which utilizes heterodyne detection and closed loop bias feedback, the cantilever response is down-sampled to a single measurement of the contact potential difference (CPD) per pixel. This level of detail, however, is insufficient for materials and devices involving bias and time dependent electrochemical events; or at solid-liquid interfaces, where non-linear or lossy dielectrics are present. Here, we demonstrate direct recovery of the bias dependence of the electrostatic force at high temporal resolution using General acquisition Mode (G-Mode) KPFM. G-Mode KPFM utilizes high speed detection, compression, and storage of the raw cantilever deflection signal in its entirety at high sampling rates. We show how G-Mode KPFM can be used to capture nanoscale CPD and capacitance information with a temporal resolution much faster than the cantilever bandwidth, determined by the modulation frequency of the AC voltage. In this way, G-Mode KPFM offers a new paradigm to study dynamic electric phenomena in electroactive interfaces as well as a promising route to extend KPFM to the solid-liquid interface.

Posttranscriptional modifications in the A-loop of 23S rRNAs from selected archaea and eubacteria.

PubMed

Hansen, M A; Kirpekar, F; Ritterbusch, W; Vester, B

2002-02-01

Posttranscriptional modifications were mapped in helices 90-92 of 23S rRNA from the following phylogenetically diverse organisms: Haloarcula marismortui, Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus stearothermophilus. Helix 92 is a component of the ribosomal A-site, which contacts the aminoacyl-tRNA during protein synthesis, implying that posttranscriptional modifications in helices 90-92 may be important for ribosome function. RNA fragments were isolated from 23S rRNA by site-directed RNase H digestion. A novel method of mapping modifications by analysis of short, nucleotide-specific, RNase digestion fragments with Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was utilized. The MALDI-MS data were complemented by two primer extension techniques using reverse transcriptase. One technique utilizes decreasing concentrations of deoxynucleotide triphosphates to map 2'-O-ribose methylations. In the other, the rRNA is chemically modified, followed by mild alkaline hydrolysis to map pseudouridines (psis). A total of 10 posttranscriptionally methylated nucleotides and 6 psis were detected in the five organisms. Eight of the methylated nucleotides and one psi have not been reported previously. The distribution of modified nucleotides and their locations on the surface of the ribosomal peptidyl transferase cleft suggests functional importance.

Effect of direct eye contact in women with PTSD related to interpersonal trauma: Psychophysiological interaction analysis of connectivity of an innate alarm system.

PubMed

Steuwe, Carolin; Daniels, Judith K; Frewen, Paul A; Densmore, Maria; Theberge, Jean; Lanius, Ruth A

2015-05-30

In healthy individuals, direct eye contact is thought to modulate a cortical route eliciting social cognitive processes via activation of a fast subcortical pathway. This study aimed to examine functional brain connectivity during direct eye contact in women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to childhood abuse as compared with healthy controls. We conducted psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analyses in Statistical Parametric Mapping-8 (SPM8) using the superior colliculus (SC) and locus coeruleus (LC) as seed regions while 16 healthy subjects and 16 patients with a primary diagnosis of PTSD related to childhood maltreatment viewed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm involving direct (D) versus averted (A) gaze (happy, sad, neutral). The PTSD group showed a significantly enhanced connectivity between the SC and the anterior cingulate, and between the LC and the thalamus, caudate, putamen, insula, cingulate gyrus, and amygdala, as compared with healthy individuals. Symptom severity scores on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) showed significant positive correlations with superior colliculus connectivity with the perigenual and posterior cingulate, insula, and sublenticular extended amygdala. Functional connectivity data suggest increased recruitment of brain regions involved in emotion processing during direct gaze in PTSD in association with the fast subcortical pathway. The interpretation of eye contact as a signal of threat may require more emotion regulatory capacities in patients with PTSD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Team-Based Models for End-of-Life Care: An Evidence-Based Analysis

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background End of life refers to the period when people are living with advanced illness that will not stabilize and from which they will not recover and will eventually die. It is not limited to the period immediately before death. Multiple services are required to support people and their families during this time period. The model of care used to deliver these services can affect the quality of the care they receive. Objectives Our objective was to determine whether an optimal team-based model of care exists for service delivery at end of life. In systematically reviewing such models, we considered their core components: team membership, services offered, modes of patient contact, and setting. Data Sources A literature search was performed on October 14, 2013, using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid Embase, EBSCO Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and EBM Reviews, for studies published from January 1, 2000, to October 14, 2013. Review Methods Abstracts were reviewed by a single reviewer and full-text articles were obtained that met the inclusion criteria. Studies were included if they evaluated a team model of care compared with usual care in an end-of-life adult population. A team was defined as having at least 2 health care disciplines represented. Studies were limited to English publications. A meta-analysis was completed to obtain pooled effect estimates where data permitted. The GRADE quality of the evidence was evaluated. Results Our literature search located 10 randomized controlled trials which, among them, evaluated the following 6 team-based models of care: hospital, direct contact home, direct contact home, indirect contact comprehensive, indirect contact comprehensive, direct contact comprehensive, direct, and early contact Direct contact is when team members see the patient; indirect contact is when they advise another health care practitioner (e.g., a family doctor) who sees the patient. A “comprehensive” model is one that provides continuity of service across inpatient and outpatient settings, e.g., in hospital and then at home. All teams consisted of a nurse and physician at minimum, at least one of whom had a specialty in end-of-life health care. More than 50% of the teams offered services that included symptom management, psychosocial care, development of patient care plans, end-of-life care planning, and coordination of care. We found moderate-quality evidence that the use of a comprehensive direct contact model initiated up to 9 months before death improved informal caregiver satisfaction and the odds of having a home death, and decreased the odds of dying in a nursing home. We found moderate-quality evidence that the use of a comprehensive, direct, and early (up to 24 months before death) contact model improved patient quality of life, symptom management, and patient satisfaction. We did not find that using a comprehensive team-based model had an impact on hospital admissions or length of stay. We found low-quality evidence that the use of a home team-based model increased the odds of having a home death. Limitations Heterogeneity in data reporting across studies limited the ability to complete a meta-analysis on many of the outcome measures. Missing data was not managed well within the studies. Conclusions Moderate-quality evidence shows that a comprehensive, direct-contact, team-based model of care provides the following benefits for end-of-life patients with an estimated survival of up to 9 months: it improves caregiver satisfaction and increases the odds of dying at home while decreasing the odds of dying in a nursing home. Moderate-quality evidence also shows that improvement in patient quality of life, symptom management, and patient satisfaction occur when end-of-life care via this model is provided early (up to 24 months before death). However, using this model to deliver end-of-life care does not impact hospital admissions or hospital length of stay. Team membership includes at minimum a physician and nurse, with at least one having specialist training and/or experience in end-of-life care. Team services include symptom management, psychosocial care, development of patient care plans, end-of-life care planning, and coordination of care. PMID:26356140

Adaptation of H9N2 AIV in guinea pigs enables efficient transmission by direct contact and inefficient transmission by respiratory droplets

PubMed Central

Sang, Xiaoyu; Wang, Airong; Ding, Jie; Kong, Huihui; Gao, Xiaolong; Li, Lin; Chai, Tongjie; Li, Yuanguo; Zhang, Kun; Wang, Chengyu; Wan, Zhonghai; Huang, Geng; Wang, Tiecheng; Feng, Na; Zheng, Xuexing; Wang, Hualei; Zhao, Yongkun; Yang, Songtao; Qian, Jun; Hu, Guixue; Gao, Yuwei; Xia, Xianzhu

2015-01-01

H9N2 avian influenza viruses circulate worldwide in poultry and have sporadically infected humans, raising concern whether H9N2 viruses have pandemic potential. Here, we use a guinea pig model to examine whether serial passage results in adaptive viral changes that confer a transmissible phenotype to a wild-type H9N2 virus. After nine serial passages of an H9N2 virus through guinea pigs, productive transmission by direct contact occurred in 2/3 guinea pig pairs. The efficiency of transmission by direct contact increased following the fifteenth passage and occurred in 3/3 guinea pig pairs. In contrast, airborne transmission of the passaged virus was less efficient and occurred in 1/6 guinea pig pairs and 0/6 ferret pairs after the fifteenth passage. Three amino acid substitutions, HA1-Q227P, HA2-D46E, and NP-E434K, were sufficient for contact transmission in guinea pigs (2/3 pairs). The two HA amino acid substitutions enhanced receptor binding to α2,3-linked sialic acid receptors. Additionally, the HA2-D46E substitution increased virus thermostability whereas the NP-E434K mutation enhanced viral RNA polymerase activity in vitro. Our findings suggest that adaptive changes that enhance viral receptor binding, thermostability, and replicative capacity in mammalian cells can collectively enhance the transmissibility of H9N2 AIVs by direct contact in the guinea pig model. PMID:26552719

A Contact-Based Method for Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into an Endothelial Cell-Phenotype.

PubMed

Joddar, Binata; Kumar, Shweta Anil; Kumar, Alok

2018-06-01

Adult stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are known to possess the ability to augment neovascularization processes and are thus widely popular as an autologous source of progenitor cells. However there is a huge gap in our current knowledge of mechanisms involved in differentiating MSC into endothelial cells (EC), essential for lining engineered blood vessels. To fill up this gap, we attempted to differentiate human MSC into EC, by culturing the former onto chemically fixed layers of EC or its ECM, respectively. We expected direct contact of MSC when cultured atop fixed EC or its ECM, would coax the former to differentiate into EC. Results showed that human MSC cultured atop chemically fixed EC or its ECM using EC-medium showed enhanced expression of CD31, a marker for EC, compared to other cases. Further in all human MSC cultured using EC-medium, typically characteristic cobble stone shaped morphologies were noted in comparison to cells cultured using MSC medium, implying that the differentiated cells were sensitive to soluble VEGF supplementation present in the EC-medium. Results will enhance and affect therapies utilizing autologous MSC as a cell source for generating vascular cells to be used in a variety of tissue engineering applications.

Spherical nanoindentation stress–strain curves

DOE PAGES

Pathak, Siddhartha; Kalidindi, Surya R.

2015-03-24

Although indentation experiments have long been used to measure the hardness and Young's modulus, the utility of this technique in analyzing the complete elastic–plastic response of materials under contact loading has only been realized in the past few years – mostly due to recent advances in testing equipment and analysis protocols. This paper provides a timely review of the recent progress made in this respect in extracting meaningful indentation stress–strain curves from the raw datasets measured in instrumented spherical nanoindentation experiments. These indentation stress–strain curves have produced highly reliable estimates of the indentation modulus and the indentation yield strength inmore » the sample, as well as certain aspects of their post-yield behavior, and have been critically validated through numerical simulations using finite element models as well as direct in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements on micro-pillars. Much of this recent progress was made possible through the introduction of a new measure of indentation strain and the development of new protocols to locate the effective zero-point of initial contact between the indenter and the sample in the measured datasets. As a result, this has led to an important key advance in this field where it is now possible to reliably identify and analyze the initial loading segment in the indentation experiments.« less

Applications of novel effects derived from Si ingot growth inside Si melt without contact with crucible wall using noncontact crucible method to high-efficiency solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakajima, Kazuo; Ono, Satoshi; Kaneko, Yuzuru; Murai, Ryota; Shirasawa, Katsuhiko; Fukuda, Tetsuo; Takato, Hidetaka; Jensen, Mallory A.; Youssef, Amanda; Looney, Erin E.; Buonassisi, Tonio; Martel, Benoit; Dubois, Sèbastien; Jouini, Anis

2017-06-01

The noncontact crucible (NOC) method was proposed for obtaining Si single bulk crystals with a large diameter and volume using a cast furnace and solar cells with high conversion efficiency and yield. This method has several novel characteristics that originate from its key feature that ingots can be grown inside a Si melt without contact with a crucible wall. Si ingots for solar cells were grown by utilizing the merits resulting from these characteristics. Single ingots with high quality were grown by the NOC method after furnace cleaning, and the minority carrier lifetime was measured to investigate reduction of the number of impurities. A p-type ingot with a convex growth interface in the growth direction was also grown after furnace cleaning. For p-type solar cells prepared using wafers cut from the ingot, the highest and average conversion efficiencies were 19.14% and 19.0%, respectively, which were obtained using the same solar cell structure and process as those employed to obtain a conversion efficiency of 19.1% for a p-type Czochralski (CZ) wafer. Using the cast furnace, solar cells with a conversion efficiency and yield as high as those of CZ solar cells were obtained by the NOC method.

Separating the optical contributions to line-edge roughness in EUV lithography using stochastic simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chunder, Anindarupa; Latypov, Azat; Chen, Yulu; Biafore, John J.; Levinson, Harry J.; Bailey, Todd

2017-03-01

Minimization and control of line-edge roughness (LER) and contact-edge roughness (CER) is one of the current challenges limiting EUV line-space and contact hole printability. One significant contributor to feature roughness and CD variability in EUV is photon shot noise (PSN); others are the physical and chemical processes in photoresists, known as resist stochastic effect. Different approaches are available to mitigate each of these contributions. In order to facilitate this mitigation, it is important to assess the magnitude of each of these contributions separately from others. In this paper, we present and test a computational approach based on the concept of an `ideal resist'. An ideal resist is assumed to be devoid of all resist stochastic effects. Hence, such an ideal resist can only be simulated as an `ideal resist model' (IRM) through explicit utilization of the Poisson statistics of PSN2 or direct Monte Carlo simulation of photon absorption in resist. LER estimated using IRM, thus quantifies the exclusive contribution of PSN to LER. The result of the simulation study done using IRM indicates higher magnitude of contribution (60%) from PSN to LER with respect to total or final LER for a sufficiently optimized high dose `state of the art' EUV chemically amplified resist (CAR) model.

Immiscible fluid: Heat of fusion heat storage system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edie, D. D.; Melsheimer, S. S.; Mullins, J. C.

1980-01-01

Both heat and mass transfer in direct contact aqueous crystallizing systems were studied as part of a program desig- ned to evaluate the feasibility of direct contact heat transfer in phase change storage using aqueous salt system. Major research areas, discussed include (1) crystal growth velocity study on selected salts; (2) selection of salt solutions; (3) selection of immiscible fluids; (4) studies of heat transfer and system geometry; and (5) system demonstration.

Field tests of 2- and 40-tube condensers at the East Mesa Geothermal Test Site

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

Murphy, R.W.; Domingo, N.

1982-05-01

Two water-cooled isobutane condensers, one with 2 tubes and one with 40 tubes, were subjected to field tests at the East Mesa Geothermal Test Site to assess relative heat transfer performance in both surface evaporator and direct-contact evaporator modes. The five groups of tests established that field performance was below earlier laboratory-determined levels and that direct-contact evaporator mode performance was poorer than that for the surface evaporator mode. In all test situations, fluted condenser tubes performed better than smooth condenser tubes. Cooling water quality had no significant effect on performance, but brine preflash in the direct-contact mode did promote somemore » relative performance improvement. Important implications of these results for binary geothermal power plants are that (1) working-fluid-side impurities can significantly degrade heat transfer performance of the power plant condensers and (2) provisions for minimizing such impurities may be required.« less

Open-cycle magnetohydrodynamic power plant based upon direct-contact closed-loop high-temperature heat exchanger

DOEpatents

Berry, G.F.; Minkov, V.; Petrick, M.

1981-11-02

A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generating system is described in which ionized combustion gases with slag and seed are discharged from an MHD combustor and pressurized high temperature inlet air is introduced into the combustor for supporting fuel combustion at high temperatures necessary to ionize the combustion gases, and including a heat exchanger in the form of a continuous loop with a circulating heat transfer liquid such as copper oxide. The heat exchanger has an upper horizontal channel for providing direct contact between the heat transfer liquid and the combustion gases to cool the gases and condense the slag which thereupon floats on the heat transfer liquid and can be removed from the channel, and a lower horizontal channel for providing direct contact between the heat transfer liquid and pressurized air for preheating the inlet air. The system further includes a seed separator downstream of the heat exchanger.

Open-cycle magnetohydrodynamic power plant based upon direct-contact closed-loop high-temperature heat exchanger

DOEpatents

Berry, Gregory F.; Minkov, Vladimir; Petrick, Michael

1988-01-05

A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generating system in which ionized combustion gases with slag and seed are discharged from an MHD combustor and pressurized high temperature inlet air is introduced into the combustor for supporting fuel combustion at high temperatures necessary to ionize the combustion gases, and including a heat exchanger in the form of a continuous loop with a circulating heat transfer liquid such as copper oxide. The heat exchanger has an upper horizontal channel for providing direct contact between the heat transfer liquid and the combustion gases to cool the gases and condense the slag which thereupon floats on the heat transfer liquid and can be removed from the channel, and a lower horizontal channel for providing direct contact between the heat transfer liquid and pressurized air for preheating the inlet air. The system further includes a seed separator downstream of the heat exchanger.

Open-cycle magnetohydrodynamic power plant based upon direct-contact closed-loop high-temperature heat exchanger

DOEpatents

Berry, Gregory F.; Minkov, Vladimir; Petrick, Michael

1988-01-01

A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generating system in which ionized combustion gases with slag and seed are discharged from an MHD combustor and pressurized high temperature inlet air is introduced into the combustor for supporting fuel combustion at high temperatures necessary to ionize the combustion gases, and including a heat exchanger in the form of a continuous loop with a circulating heat transfer liquid such as copper oxide. The heat exchanger has an upper horizontal channel for providing direct contact between the heat transfer liquid and the combustion gases to cool the gases and condense the slag which thereupon floats on the heat transfer liquid and can be removed from the channel, and a lower horizontal channel for providing direct contact between the heat transfer liquid and pressurized air for preheating the inlet air. The system further includes a seed separator downstream of the heat exchanger.

A New Catalog of Contact Binary Stars from ROTSE-I Sky Patrols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gettel, S. J.; McKay, T. A.; Geske, M. T.

2005-05-01

Over 65,000 variable stars have been detected in the data from the ROTSE-I Sky Patrols. Using period-color and light curve selection techniques, about 5000 objects have been identified as contact binaries. This selection is tested for completeness against EW objects in the GCVS. By utilizing infrared color data from 2MASS, we fit a period-color-luminosity relation to these stars and estimate their distances.

Apparatus and method for deterministic control of surface figure during full aperture polishing

DOEpatents

Suratwala, Tayyab Ishaq; Feit, Michael Dennis; Steele, William Augustus

2013-11-19

A polishing system configured to polish a lap includes a lap configured to contact a workpiece for polishing the workpiece; and a septum configured to contact the lap. The septum has an aperture formed therein. The radius of the aperture and radius the workpiece are substantially the same. The aperture and the workpiece have centers disposed at substantially the same radial distance from a center of the lap. The aperture is disposed along a first radial direction from the center of the lap, and the workpiece is disposed along a second radial direction from the center of the lap. The first and second radial directions may be opposite directions.

DOMINO: development of informative molecular markers for phylogenetic and genome-wide population genetic studies in non-model organisms.

PubMed

Frías-López, Cristina; Sánchez-Herrero, José F; Guirao-Rico, Sara; Mora, Elisa; Arnedo, Miquel A; Sánchez-Gracia, Alejandro; Rozas, Julio

2016-12-15

The development of molecular markers is one of the most important challenges in phylogenetic and genome wide population genetics studies, especially in studies with non-model organisms. A highly promising approach for obtaining suitable markers is the utilization of genomic partitioning strategies for the simultaneous discovery and genotyping of a large number of markers. Unfortunately, not all markers obtained from these strategies provide enough information for solving multiple evolutionary questions at a reasonable taxonomic resolution. We have developed Development Of Molecular markers In Non-model Organisms (DOMINO), a bioinformatics tool for informative marker development from both next generation sequencing (NGS) data and pre-computed sequence alignments. The application implements popular NGS tools with new utilities in a highly versatile pipeline specifically designed to discover or select personalized markers at different levels of taxonomic resolution. These markers can be directly used to study the taxa surveyed for their design, utilized for further downstream PCR amplification in a broader set taxonomic scope, or exploited as suitable templates to bait design for target DNA enrichment techniques. We conducted an exhaustive evaluation of the performance of DOMINO via computer simulations and illustrate its utility to find informative markers in an empirical dataset. DOMINO is freely available from www.ub.edu/softevol/domino CONTACT: elsanchez@ub.edu or jrozas@ub.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Cascaded die mountings with spring-loaded contact-bond options

DOEpatents

Hsu, John S.; Adams, Donald J.; Su, Gui-Jia; Marlino, Laura D.; Ayers, Curtis W.; Coomer, Chester

2005-08-16

A cascaded die mounting device and method using spring contacts for die attachment, with or without metallic bonds between the contacts and the dies, is disclosed. One embodiment is for the direct refrigerant cooling of an inverter/converter carrying higher power levels than most of the low power circuits previously taught, and does not require using a heat sink.

Method of making cascaded die mountings with springs-loaded contact-bond options

DOEpatents

Hsu, John S [Oak Ridge, TN; Adams, Donald J [Knoxville, TN; Su, Gui-Jia [Knoxville, TN; Marlino, Laura D [Oak Ridge, TN; Ayers, Curtis W [Kingston, TN; Coomer, Chester [Knoxville, TN

2007-06-19

A cascaded die mounting device and method using spring contacts for die attachment, with or without metallic bonds between the contacts and the dies, is disclosed. One embodiment is for the direct refrigerant cooling of an inverter/converter carrying higher power levels than most of the low power circuits previously taught, and does not require using a heat sink.

A fatal case of Lassa fever in London, January 2009.

PubMed

Kitching, A; Addiman, S; Cathcart, S; Bischop, L; Krahé, D; Nicholas, M; Coakley, J; Lloyd, G; Brooks, T; Morgan, D; Turbitt, D

2009-02-12

In January 2009, the eleventh [corrected] case of Lassa fever imported to the United Kingdom was diagnosed in London. Risk assessment of 328 healthcare contacts with potential direct exposure to Lassa virus - through contact with the case or exposure to bodily fluids - was undertaken. No contacts were assessed to be at high risk of infection and no secondary clinical cases identified.

75 FR 8069 - Notice of Public Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-23

... should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to.... FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith B. Herman, OMD, 202-418-0214. For additional information about the information collection(s) send an e-mail to [email protected] or contact Judith B. Herman, 202-418-0214...

Contact compliance effects in the frictional response of bioinspired fibrillar adhesives

PubMed Central

Piccardo, Marco; Chateauminois, Antoine; Fretigny, Christian; Pugno, Nicola M.; Sitti, Metin

2013-01-01

The shear failure and friction mechanisms of bioinspired adhesives consisting of elastomer arrays of microfibres terminated by mushroom-shaped tips are investigated in contact with a rigid lens. In order to reveal the interplay between the vertical and lateral loading directions, experiments are carried out using a custom friction set-up in which normal stiffness can be made either high or low when compared with the stiffness of the contact between the fibrillar adhesive and the lens. Using in situ contact imaging, the shear failure of the adhesive is found to involve two successive mechanisms: (i) cavitation and peeling at the contact interface between the mushroom-shaped fibre tip endings and the lens; and (ii) side re-adhesion of the fibre's stem to the lens. The extent of these mechanisms and their implications regarding static friction forces is found to depend on the crosstalk between the normal and lateral loading directions that can result in contact instabilities associated with fibre buckling. In addition, the effects of the viscoelastic behaviour of the polyurethane material on the rate dependence of the shear response of the adhesive are accounted for. PMID:23554349

Structure and kinematics of a major tectonic contact, Michipicoten greenstone belt, Ontario

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcgill, George E.

1992-01-01

The Michipicoten greenstone belt, Ontario, experienced a complex history of folding, faulting, and fabric development. Near Wawa, a major east-west contact, here named the Steep Hill Falls (SHF) contact, extends entirely across the belt. The SHF contact is both an angular unconformity and a fault and is interpreted to be a regionally significant tectonic contact separating distinct northern and southern terranes, both of which include volcanic rocks of probable island-arc origin. The amount of horizontal transport involved in bringing the two terranes together along the SHF contact is not known. Mapping and structural analysis suggest that regionally significant horizontal displacements took place, with movement vectors that changed with time. Early faults, folds, and fabrics imply north-south to northeast-southwest (with respect to present directions) convergence, with a vergence reversal occurring during this complex event. The most likely models infer early south vergence and later north vergence. Transecting the earliest structures are younger (but still Archean) northeast-striking steep cleavages with associated upright folds that may relate to northwest-southeast assembly of the Superior Province craton. The craton assembly event thus involved a transport direction at a high angle to that inferred for the earlier assembly of the Michipicoten greenstone belt.

Inherently aligned microfluidic electrodes composed of liquid metal.

PubMed

So, Ju-Hee; Dickey, Michael D

2011-03-07

This paper describes the fabrication and characterization of microelectrodes that are inherently aligned with microfluidic channels and in direct contact with the fluid in the channels. Injecting low melting point alloys, such as eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), into microchannels at room temperature (or just above room temperature) offers a simple way to fabricate microelectrodes. The channels that define the shape and position of the microelectrodes are fabricated simultaneously with other microfluidic channels (i.e., those used to manipulate fluids) in a single step; consequently, all of the components are inherently aligned. In contrast, conventional techniques require multiple fabrication steps and registration (i.e., alignment of the electrodes with the microfluidic channels), which are technically challenging. The distinguishing characteristic of this work is that the electrodes are in direct contact with the fluid in the microfluidic channel, which is useful for a number of applications such as electrophoresis. Periodic posts between the microelectrodes and the microfluidic channel prevent the liquid metal from entering the microfluidic channel during injection. A thin oxide skin that forms rapidly and spontaneously on the surface of the metal stabilizes mechanically the otherwise low viscosity, high surface tension fluid within the channel. Moreover, the injected electrodes vertically span the sidewalls of the channel, which allows for the application of uniform electric field lines throughout the height of the channel and perpendicular to the direction of flow. The electrodes are mechanically stable over operating conditions commonly used in microfluidic applications; the mechanical stability depends on the magnitude of the applied bias, the nature of the bias (DC vs. AC), and the conductivity of the solutions in the microfluidic channel. Electrodes formed using alloys with melting points above room temperature ensure mechanical stability over all of the conditions explored. As a demonstration of their utility, the fluidic electrodes are used for electrohydrodynamic mixing, which requires extremely high electric fields (~10(5) V m(-1)).

Self-assembled hierarchical direct Z-scheme g-C3N4/ZnO microspheres with enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nie, Ning; Zhang, Liuyang; Fu, Junwei; Cheng, Bei; Yu, Jiaguo

2018-05-01

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels has been regarded as a promising approach to ease the greenhouse effect and the energy shortage. Herein, an electrostatic self-assembly method was exploited to prepare g-C3N4/ZnO composite microsphere. This method simply utilized the opposite surface charge of each component, achieving a hierarchical structure with intimate contact between them. A much improved photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity was attained. The CH3OH production rate was 1.32 μmol h-1 g-1, which was 2.1 and 4.1 times more than that of the pristine ZnO and g-C3N4, respectively. This facile design bestowed the g-C3N4/ZnO composite an extended light adsorption caused by multi-light scattering effect. It also guaranteed the uniform distribution of g-C3N4 nanosheets on the surface of ZnO microspheres, maximizing their advantage and synergistic effect. Most importantly, the preeminent performance was proposed and validated based on the direct Z-scheme. The recombination rate was considerably suppressed. This work features the meliority of constructing hierarchical direct Z-scheme structures in photocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions.

Resilient and Corrosion-Proof Rolling Element Bearings Made from Superelastic Ni-Ti Alloys for Aerospace

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dellacorte, Christopher

2014-01-01

Mechanical components (bearings, gears, mechanisms) typically utilize hardened construction materials to minimize wear and attain long life. In such components, loaded contact points (e.g., meshing gear teeth, bearing balls-raceway contacts) experience high contact stresses. The combination of high hardness and high elastic modulus often leads to damaging contact stress and denting, particularly during transient overload events such as shock impacts that occur during the launching of space vehicles or the landing of aircraft. In this webinar, Dr. DellaCorte will introduce the results of a research project that employs a superelastic alloy, Ni-Ti for rolling element bearing applications. Bearings and components made from such alloys can alleviate many problems encountered in advanced aerospace applications and may solve many terrestrial applications as well

Latex Allergy

MedlinePlus

... the material touches the skin. This is called contact dermatitis. Red, itchy bumps or blisters usually appear within ... powdered gloves are used and avoid all direct contact with latex. ... to get a skin rash reaction to latex, latex gloves made without additional ...

50 CFR 218.115 - Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...) Narrative description of sensors and platforms utilized for marine mammal detection and timeline... sensor; (vi) Length of time observers maintained visual contact with marine mammal; (vii) Wave height...

Using Nonlinearity and Contact Lines to Control Fluid Flow in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perlin, M.; Schultz, W. W.; Bian, X.; Agarwal, M.

2002-01-01

Slug flows in a tube are affected by surface tension and contact lines, especially under microgravity. Numerical analyses and experiments are conducted of slug flows in small-diameter tubes with horizontal, inclined and vertical orientations. A PID-controlled, meter-long platform capable of following specified motions is used. An improved understanding of the contact line boundary condition for steady and unsteady contact-line motion is expected. Lastly, a direct fluid-handling method using nonlinear oscillatory motion of a tube is presented.

Design, construction and mechanical optimisation process of electrode with radial current flow in the scala tympani.

PubMed

Deman, P R; Kaiser, T M; Dirckx, J J; Offeciers, F E; Peeters, S A

2003-09-30

A 48 contact cochlear implant electrode has been constructed for electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. The stimulating contacts of this electrode are organised in two layers: 31 contacts on the upper surface directed towards the habenula perforata and 17 contacts connected together as one longitudinal contact on the underside. The design of the electrode carrier aims to make radial current flow possible in the cochlea. The mechanical structure of the newly designed electrode was optimised to obtain maximal insertion depth. Electrode insertion tests were performed in a transparent acrylic model of the human cochlea.

Computerized Design and Analysis of Face-Milled, Uniform Tooth Height Spiral Bevel Gear Drives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Litvin, Faydor L.; Wang, Anngwo; Handschuh, R. F.

1996-01-01

Face-milled spiral bevel gears with uniform tooth height are considered. An approach is proposed for the design of low noise and localized bearing contact of such gears. The approach is based on the mismatch of contacting surfaces and permits two types of bearing contact either directed longitudinally or across the surface to be obtained. A Tooth Contact Analysis (TCA) computer program was developed. This analysis was used to determine the influence of misalignment on meshing and contact of the spiral bevel gears. A numerical example that illustrates the developed theory is provided.