Small signal modeling of GaAs PIN diodes aided by electromagnetic analysis

A systematic procedure is described for determination of GaAs PIN diode equivalent circuit models from measured S‐parameter data combined with an electromagnetic analysis of the feed structure. A new parasitic and intrinsic model topology is proposed, and found to be better suited than prior models for the particular GaAs PIN structures considered in this work. Models were developed for forward bias currents ranging from 0.01 to 100 mA, and example measured and modeled results are included to validate the approach. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 11: 61–68, 2001.     

Laboratory Automation in a Supplemental Newborn Screening Laboratory

The Institute of Metabolic Disease performs Supplemental Newborn screening for genetic biochemical abnormalities. A challenge facing many specialized high throughput-screening laboratories is fast, efficient data management, instrument integration, reporting, and invoicing. The Supplemental Screening laboratory operates three tandem mass spectrometry analyzers and screens samples for compounds that are not examined by typical newborn screening laboratories. The Institute of Metabolic Disease implemented NeoMate™ LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) to streamline sample demographic entry, data entry (manual, for more specialized tests and automated entry from instruments), automatic result reporting, follow-up and invoicing. The Institute consists of six departments which include; Supplemental Screening, Tissue Culture, Molecular Diagnostics, Neuropharmacology, Neurochemistry and Mass Spectrometry. These departments have unique requirements that differed from the high-throughput supplemental screening department. This required a system that offered the flexibility to provide custom interpretations, maintaining patient histories, sample storage, and graphing of patient results. This paper will focus on the process of implementing automation from project initiation, flow charting through software installation, instrument integration, system integration and going live.     

Suppression of tumorigenicity of rat liver epithelial tumor cell lines by a putative human 11p11.2-p12 liver tumor suppressor locus

We have previously identified and mapped a locus within human chromosome 11p11.2-p12 that suppresses the tumorigenic potential of a rat liver tumor cell line (termed GN6TF) which contains well defined chromosomal aberrations involving rat chromosomes 1, 4, 7, and 10. In the present study, we investigated the potential of this human 11p11.2-p12 liver tumor suppressor locus to suppress the tumorigenic potential of two other rat liver tumor cell lines (GN3TG and GP10TA) following microcell-mediated introduction of human chromosome 11. These tumor cell lines are aneuploid and contain chromosomal abnormalities that are similar to the GN6TF tumor line. The tumorigenic potential and other phenotypic characteristics of GN3TG-11neo and GP10TA-11neo microcell hybrid (MCH) cell lines were variable, and dependent upon the status of the introduced human chromosome 11. MCH cell lines that retained the region of 11p11. 2-p12 delineated by microsatellite markers D11S1385 and D11S903 exhibited suppression of tumorigenicity in vivo (decrease in tumorigenicity and/or elongation of latency), whereas, the tumorigenic potential of one MCH line that lacked markers in this region of human 11p11.2-p12, but retained flanking markers, was not changed from that of the parental tumor cell line. The chromosomal interval between microsatellite markers D11S1385 and D11S903 encompasses the previously localized minimal liver tumor suppressor region, suggesting that a common locus is responsible for tumor suppression among the rat liver tumor cell lines examined. The results of the present study have verified the presence of a liver tumor suppressor locus within human 11p11.2-p12, and have identified a substantial number of microsatellite markers that are closely linked to this tumor suppressor region. These chromosomal markers will facilitate positional cloning of candidate genes from this region, and may prove useful for determining the involvement of this locus in the pathogenesis of human liver cancer.     

Influence of High-Permeability Layers for Enhancing Landfill Gas Capture and Reducing Fugitive Methane Emissions from Landfills

Gas collection systems of various designs have been used to control landfill gas emissions, which can be problematic, particularly before installation of final landfill covers. In this work, an innovative gas collection system that includes a permeable layer near the top surface of landfills was evaluated for enhancing capture of landfill gas and reducing fugitive methane emissions. A computational model that accounts for advective and diffusive fluxes of multiple gas components was used to evaluate the efficiency of this new design for intermediate landfill covers. The utility of the high-permeability gas-conductive layer was illustrated for several conditions of interest including varying refuse permeability, varying degrees of permeability anisotropy, and temporal atmospheric pressure changes. Simulations showed that the permeable layer decreased methane emissions by 43% when the horizontal to vertical permeability ratio for refuse was kh/kv = 3 and the domain average kh = 3×10?12?m2, while reductions in methane emissions decreased to 17% for the same anisotropy but with kh = 10?11?m2. With this design, barometric pressure changes did not significantly affect oxygen intrusion or methane emission rates.     

Benefits of a high‐performance phosphite in the gamma irradiation of polyolefins

The highly active process stabilizer bis(2,4‐dicumylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite (P1) was compared in a series of polyolefin formulations with tris(2,4‐di‐t‐butylphenyl) phosphite (P2). Because of its high activity, there was less polymer degradation during processing with P1 as compared to P2. As a result, improvements in color and other physical properties were observed for the polymers, not only during processing, but also after treatment with gamma radiation.     

Psychometric properties and U.S. National norms of the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS).

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 22(3) of Psychological Assessment (see record 2010-18043-022). There were three errors in Table 1 on p. 360. In the last row, the row label should be “Overall EBPAS mean,” M = 2.73, and SD = 0.49. The revised Table 1 appears in the erratum.] The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) assesses mental health and social service provider attitudes toward adopting evidence-based practices. Scores on the EBPAS derive from 4 subscales (i.e., Appeal, Requirements, Openness, and Divergence) as well as the total scale, and preliminary studies have linked EBPAS scores to clinic structure and policies, organizational culture and climate, and first-level leadership. EBPAS scores are also related to service provider characteristics, including age, education level, and level of professional development. The present study examined the factor structure, reliability, and norms of EBPAS scores in a sample of 1,089 mental health service providers from a nationwide sample drawn from 100 service institutions in 26 states in the United States. The study also examined associations of provider demographic characteristics with EBPAS subscale and total scores. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a second-order factor model, and reliability coefficients for the subscales ranged from .91 to .67 (total scale = .74). The study establishes national norms for the EBPAS so that comparisons can be drawn for U.S. local as well as international studies of attitudes toward evidence-based practices. The results suggest that the factor structure and reliability are likely generalizable to a variety of service provider contexts and different service settings and that the EBPAS subscales are associated with provider characteristics. Directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A 100-Year Review: Progress on the chemistry of milk and its components

Understanding the chemistry of milk and its components is critical to the production of consistent, high-quality dairy products as well as the development of new dairy ingredients. Over the past 100 yr we have gone from believing that milk has only 3 protein fractions to identifying all the major and minor types of milk proteins as well as discovering that they have genetic variants. The structure and physical properties of most of the milk proteins have been extensively studied. The structure of the casein micelle has been the subject of many studies, and the initial views on submicelles have given way to the current model of the micelle as being assembled as a result of the concerted action of several types of interactions (including hydrophobic and the formation of calcium phosphate nanoclusters). The benefits of this improved knowledge of the type and nature of casein interactions include better control of the cheesemaking process, more functional milk powders, development of new products such as cream liqueurs, and expanded food applications. Increasing knowledge of proteins and minerals was paralleled by developments in the analysis of milk fat and its synthesis together with greater knowledge of its packaging in the milk fat globule membrane. Advances in analytical techniques have been essential to the isolation and characterization of milk components. Milk testing has progressed from gross compositional analyses of the fat and total solids content to the rapid analysis of milk for a wide range of components for various purposes, such as diagnostic issues related to animal health. Up to the 1950s, research on dairy chemistry was mostly focused on topics such as protein fractionation, heat stability, acid–base buffering, freezing point, and the nature of the calcium phosphate present in milk. Between the 1950s and 1970s, there was a major focus on identifying all the main protein types, their sequences, variants, association behavior, and other physical properties. During the 1970s and 1980s, one of the major emphases in dairy research was on protein functionality and fractionation processes. The negative cloud over dairy fat has lifted recently due to multiple reviews and meta-analyses showing no association with chronic issues such as cardiovascular disease, but changing consumer misconceptions will take time. More recently, there has been a great deal of interest in the biological and nutritional components in milk and how these materials were uniquely designed by the cow to achieve this type of purpose.     

Process Optimization and Characterization of Popped Brown Rice

The popping process was optimized for brown rice based on an expansion ratio. A central composite design with interactive effect of three independent variables, including salt content (1–2.5 g/100 g raw material), moisture content (13–17 g/100 g raw material), and popping temperature (210–240°C) was used to study their effects on the expansion ratio of rice using response surface methodology. The experimental values of expansion ratio were ranged from 5.24 to 6.85. On fitting the experimental values of expansion ratio to a second order polynomial equation, a mathematical model with the predictability was developed with the statistical adequacy and validity (p ? 0.05). From the model, the optimal condition including salt content (1.75 g/100 g raw material), moisture content (15 g/100 g raw material), and popping temperature (225°C) were predicted for a maximum expansion ratio of 6.79, which was then proved to be 6.85 through experiment. Raw and popped brown rice were investigated for physical properties including hardness, L*, a*, and b* value, length/breadth ratio, bulk density, and minerals, which showed the significant differences. The optimized popped rice sample was evaluated for structural, spectroscopic, and thermal properties, which showed the significant difference from raw rice.