Grand Innovation Prizes: A theoretical,normative, and empirical evaluation

This paper provides a systematic examination of the use of a Grand Innovation Prize (GIP) in action – the Progressive Automotive Insurance X PRIZE – a $10 million prize for a highly efficient vehicle. Following a mechanism design approach we define three key dimensions for GIP evaluation: objectives, design, and performance, where prize design includes ex ante specifications, ex ante incentives, qualification rules, and award governance. Within this framework we compare observations of GIPs from three domains – empirical reality, theory, and policy – to better understand their function as an incentive mechanism for encouraging new solutions to large-scale social challenges. Combining data from direct observation, personal interviews, and surveys, together with analysis of extant theory and policy documents on GIPs, our results highlight three points of divergence: first, over the complexity of defining prize specifications; secondly, over the nature and role of incentives, particularly patents; thirdly, the overlooked challenges associated with prize governance. Our approach identifies a clear roadmap for future theory and policy around GIPs.     

Study of C-Reactive Protein and Myocardial Infarction in the Indian Population

To analyse the association of high sensitivity C-reactive (hsCRP) protein levels and −717A/G single nucleotide polymorphism of CRP with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Indian population. Study population included 100 MI cases wherein 32 patients had experienced previous MI (MI-Group-1), 68 MI cases were recruited at presentation (MI-Group-2) and equal number of age and gender matched healthy individuals. hsCRP levels were determined by ELISA and genotyping of −717A/G was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction digestion method. The −717A/G genotypes did not influence hsCRP level and their distribution did not differ between groups. However, in the present study hsCRP demonstrated significant correlation with BMI in controls of both the genders and with triglycerides in females of AMI at presentation who otherwise are with low risk profile. Identifying traditional risk factors associated with inflammation may help in controlling the acute event.     

A Comparative Study of Bone Scan Findings and Serum Levels of Tumor Marker CA15-3 in Patients with Breast Carcinoma

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in the world. Available staging procedures to detect breast cancer are bone scan, chest X-ray, liver ultrasonography, computerized tomography, estimation of tumor markers like carbohydrate antigen (CA15-3) and carcino embryonic antigen. These procedures are expensive and may not be required in all cases. Out of 70 patients studied, 55 had normal CA15-3 and 15 had elevated levels of Ca15-3. Eight (14.5%) of the 55 patients with normal CA15-3 had abnormal bone scan. Fifteen patients had CA15-3 levels above the normal range and among these 9 (60%) had abnormal bone scan. While prime facie it would appear that a high level of CA15-3 correlate with abnormal bone scan, it is also true that the numbers are small at present and conclusions about the validity of CA15-3 as marker of bone metastasis may be premature.     

Current status and development of percutaneous coronary intervention in China

##正##Dr.Gruntzig et al.(1979) successfully completed the world's first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI),a percutaneous transluminal coronary     

Mathematical models of canine right and left atria cardiomyocytes

The aim of this study is to build two mathematical models of canine ionic currents specific to right atria and left atria.The canine left atria mathematical model was firstly modified from the Ramirez-Nattel-Courtemanche(RNC) model using the recently available experimental data of ionic currents and was further developed based on our own experimental data.A model of right atria was then built by considering the differences between right atria and left atria.The two developed models well reproduced the exper...     

Neurochip based on light-addressable potentiometric sensor with wavelet transform de-noising

Neurochip based on light-addressable potentiometric sensor(LAPS),whose sensing elements are excitable cells,can monitor electrophysiological properties of cultured neuron networks with cellular signals well analyzed.Here we report a kind of neurochip with rat pheochromocytoma(PC12) cells hybrid with LAPS and a method of de-noising signals based on wavelet transform.Cells were cultured on LAPS for several days to form networks,and we then used LAPS system to detect the extracellular potentials with signals d...     

Congenital atresia of the left main coronary artery in an infant

Congenital atresia of the left main coronary artery is a rare occurrence, and surgical revascularizationbypass graft is required. We here report a rare case of congenital coronary anomaly in an infant. A 10-month-old male infant was admitted to the hospital with heart failure symptoms. Echocardiographic examinations revealed mitral valve regurgitation and ischemic changes of the anterolateral papillary muscle and chordae. Coronary angiography showed atresia of the left main coronary artery with a severe hypoplastic left anterior descending artery and a circumflex coronary artery. Unfortunately, sudden cardiac arrest occurred after catheterization and the infant did not recover despite of immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Further studies are needed to find a newer diagnostic method to detect coronary anomaly in an infant, and coronary angiography, if necessary, has to be performed very carefully.     

Electromagnetic effects on the biological tissue surrounding a transcutaneous transformer for an artificial anal sphincter system

This paper reports on the electromagnetic effects on the biological tissue surrounding a transcutaneous transformer for an artificial anal sphincter. The coupling coils and human tissues, including the skin, fat, muscle, liver, and blood, were considered. Specific absorption rate (SAR) and current density were analyzed by a finite-length solenoid model. First, SAR and current density as a function of frequency (10–10⁷ Hz) for an emission current of 1.5 A were calculated under different tissue thickness. Then relations between SAR, current density, and five types of tissues under each frequency were deduced. As a result, both the SAR and current density were below the basic restrictions of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The results show that the analysis of these data is very important for developing the artificial anal sphincter system.     

Carbon steel slag as cementitious material for self-consolidating concrete

This study deals with the recycling of carbon steel slag （CSS） to produce self-consolidating concrete （SCC）. Since the chemical composition of CSS is similar to that of Portland cement or blast furnace slag （BFS）, it is expected to behave similarly. In the current study, the pozzolanic activity index of CSS is examined. Furthermore, the use of CSS as a pozzolanic material to partially replace Portland cement in the production of SCC is tested. We designed concrete mixtures with different water-to- cementitious material ratios （w/cm） keeping water and superplasticizer （SP） contents constant. Results showed that the design and performance of all the concrete mixtures used in this investigation were comparable to those of SCC and high performance con- crete （HPC）. However, compared to ordinary plain concrete （OPC）, the additional CSS content increases the setting time. In the CSS mixtures set for 90 d, compressive strengths of 86%, 134% and 121% were attained as compared to the control concrete; the corresponding w/cm ratios were 0.28, 0.32 and 0.40, respectively. Verifying the soundness of the SCC for meeting the criteria for HPC, the ultrasonic pulse velocity （UPV） of CSS was found to be comparable to that of ordinary concrete. In conclusion, the recycling of CSS can be advantageously employed in the production of SCC.     

Green’s functions for infinite planes and half-planes consisting of quasicrystal bi-materials

This paper deals with the combination of point phonon and phason forces applied in the interior of infinite planes and half-planes of 1D quasicrystal bi-materials. Based on the general solution of quasicrystals, a series of displacement functions are adopted to obtain Green＇s functions for infinite planes and bi-material planes composed of two half-planes in the closed form, when the two half-planes are supposed to be ideally bonded or to be in smooth contact. Since the physical quantities can be readily calculated without the need of performing any transform operations, Green＇s functions are very convenient to be used in the study of point defects and inhomogeneities in the quasicrystal materials.