cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ferroelectric Tunneling Junctions Based on Aluminum Oxide/ Zirconium-Doped Hafnium Oxide for Neuromorphic Computing.

Ferroelectric tunneling junctions (FTJs) with tunable tunneling electroresistance (TER) are promising for many emerging applications, including non-volatile memories and neurosynaptic computing. One of the key challenges in FTJs is the balance between the polarization value and the tunneling current. In order to achieve a sizable on-current, the thickness of the ferroelectric layer needs to be scaled down below 5 nm. However, the polarization in these ultra-thin ferroelectric layers is very small, which leads to a low tunneling electroresistance (TER) ratio. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a new type of FTJ based on metal/Al2O3/Zr-doped HfO2/Si structure. The interfacial Al2O3 layer and silicon substrate enable sizable TERs even when the thickness of Zr-doped HfO2 (HZO) is above 10 nm. We found that F-N tunneling dominates at read voltages and that the polarization switching in HZO can alter the effective tunneling barrier height and tune the tunneling resistance. The FTJ synapses based on Al2O3/HZO stacks show symmetric potentiation/depression characteristics and widely tunable conductance. We also show that spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) can be harnessed from HZO based FTJs. These novel FTJs will have high potential in non-volatile memories and neural network applications.
Contemporary Virtue Ethics and the Engineers of Autonomous Systems

The explosion of innovations in autonomous systems along with widespread hybridization of ICT (information and communications technology) with sensor/actuator systems poses a wide spectrum of potential benefits and threats to human flourishing. The human qualities studied by virtue ethics-e.g., personal character and habits of acting and choosing with practical wisdom so as to promote human flourishing-are required to engage successfully in ethical design of these autonomous systems, especially those that are used in safety-critical situations. This paper examines two contemporary theories of virtue ethics, exemplarism and global technosocial ethics, and argues that when combined they provide methods for engineers to develop, enhance, and put into practice the needed human qualities. The paper explores ways that engineering professional organizations can support engineers in this process, leveraging their publication, publicity, and standards-making capabilities to provide exemplars and case histories of ethical designs to aid engineers in virtue cultivation. Finally, the potential role of contemporary virtue ethics in emerging standards for design of ethical software is described.
Lunar Flashlight CubeSat GNC system development

Abstract JPL is developing the Lunar Flashlight (LF) CubeSat mission, a 6U 14 kg spacecraft whose objective is to demonstrate new technology and measure potential surface water ice deposits in the permanently shadowed region (PSR) of the moon in preparation of future possible human lunar exploration. This mission will become the first interplanetary CubeSat to orbit the Moon. It uses a new green propulsion system as well as an instrument with spectrally tuned IR laser technology to search for volatiles in a specific region of the moon. The Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) system is crucial for delivering the spacecraft from Earth into Lunar orbit and supporting scientific measurements. Due to the challenging lunar orbit insertion and high tip off rate out of launch vehicle's dispenser, the initial design concept using solar sail propulsion accompanied with small commercial-on-the-shelf (COTS) reaction wheels was abandoned mid-course and replaced by a green propulsion system along with larger reaction wheels, both newly developed for LF. However, using thrusters for the small CubeSat created an additional challenge of controlling the spacecraft attitude. The story of the GNC system development, qualifications, technical challenges encountered, and lessons learned are discussed in this paper.
Risks, Relationships, and Success Factors in IT Outsourcing: A Study in Large Companies: by Hodosi, Georg and Rusu, Lazar, Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland AG, 2019, 51 pp., $59.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-3-030-05924-8

Outsourcing has been a common practice in manufacturing for more than half a century, but some concerns were raised when other functions such as accounting and finance were outsourced. Outsourcing ...
Real-time daylight glare control using a low-cost, window-mounted HDRI sensor

Abstract The main limitation of existing daylight glare control strategies is their fundamental inability to efficiently identify the location, size and brightness of potential glare sources in real-time. This study presents a new daylight glare control framework, using a low-cost, window-mounted programmable High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) sensor with a wide fisheye lens. With proper calibration, the sensor can accurately measure the luminance, size, and relative position of any exterior glare sources in real time, using per pixel analysis. We present a method to enable reliable solar-tracking and an efficient glare source positioning algorithm, which can also detect glare sources of small size but significant luminance (e.g., intense reflections from surroundings). Complications due to the occupant position relative to the sensor/source are also discussed. The HDRI-based glare control was implemented in a private office with automated roller shades and was also compared with two common glare controls under the same sky conditions. The experimental results showed that the HDRI-based glare control can continuously and fully protect from detected glare sources, maintaining visual comfort, whereas the other controls failed in certain instances or are over-conservative. This new framework is the first proposed solution to address direct and reflective glare in a straightforward and efficient way, and it can be used as an extra layer in existing daylighting controls for glare mitigation. This technology can be used in the future to fully replace photometer-based fenestration controls and additional sensors, as well as to learn occupant visual preferences associated with exterior conditions.
Update on Muscular Dystrophies with Focus on Novel Treatments and Biomarkers

Muscular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of inherited muscular disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and in many cases cardiac and respiratory muscle involvement. Historically, these disorders are considered incurable with grave prognoses. The genes responsible for most muscular dystrophies are known, and early diagnosis is achievable with proper clinical recognition and advanced genetic testing. This article reviews recent advances in the development of novel treatments and biomarkers in the realm of muscular dystrophies commonly encountered in pediatric population. The therapeutic landscape of muscular dystrophies has changed with the development of new approved treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common and severe muscular dystrophy. This has paved the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for not only DMD but also other muscular dystrophies. This article reviews recent advances in the development of novel treatments and biomarkers in the realm of muscular dystrophies commonly encountered in pediatric population.
The impact of diabetes mellitus on medical complication and mortality rates among inpatients with bullous pemphigoid

There is currently limited population-based data on the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on bullous pemphigoid (BP) inpatients. To evaluate the relative comorbidities, medical complications, and mortality rates between BP inpatients with and without T2DM. All inpatients with a primary BP diagnosis in the National Inpatient Sample from 2003 to 2012 were queried. BP inpatients with or without T2DM were compared to identify disparities in relative comorbidities and medical complications. Comorbidities were established using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality standardized values. Medical complications were classified using ICD-9 codes. Of the 1978 BP patients identified, 660 (33.4%) had a concurrent diagnosis of T2DM. These patients had significantly higher rates of concurrent comorbidities, including chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, iron deficiency anemia, hypertension, obesity, and peripheral vascular disease. On bivariate analysis, T2DM patients also had significantly higher rates of medical complications including acute kidney injury (14.5% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.004) and venous thromboembolism (1.8% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.012). On multivariable-adjusted analysis, the odds of venous thromboembolism (OR = 3.01, p = 0.027) remained increased. Inpatient mortality did not differ between the groups. Our findings suggest that BP inpatients with T2DM have a greater medical comorbidity and complication burden. However, inpatient mortality was not increased.
Serotonin activates paraventricular thalamic neurons through direct depolarization and indirect disinhibition from zona incerta.

Paraventricular thalamus (PVT) is a midline thalamic area that receives dense GABA projections from zona incerta (ZI) for the regulation of feeding behaviours. Activation of central serotonin (5-HT) signalling is known to inhibit food intake. Although previous studies have reported both 5-HT fibres and receptors in the PVT, it remains unknown how 5-HT regulates PVT neurons and whether PVT 5-HT signalling is involved in the control of food intake. Using slice patch-clamp recordings in combination with optogenetics, we found that 5-HT not only directly excited PVT neurons by activating 5-HT7 receptors to modulate hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels but also disinhibited these neurons by acting on presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors to reduce GABA inhibition. Specifically, 5-HT depressed photostimulation-evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in PVT neurons innervated by channelrhodopsin-2-positive GABA axons from ZI. Using paired-pulse photostimulation, we found 5-HT increased paired-pulse ratios of eIPSCs, suggesting 5-HT decreases ZI-PVT GABA release. Furthermore, we found that exposure to a high-fat-high-sucrose diet for 2 weeks impaired both 5-HT inhibition of ZI-PVT GABA transmission and 5-HT excitation of PVT neurons. Using retrograde tracer in combination with immunocytochemistry and slice electrophysiology, we found that PVT-projecting dorsal raphe neurons expressed 5-HT and were inhibited by food deprivation. Together, our study reveals the mechanism by which 5-HT activates PVT neurons through both direct excitation and indirect disinhibition from the ZI. The downregulation in 5-HT excitation and disinhibition of PVT neurons may contribute to the development of overeating and obesity after chronic high-fat diet. KEY POINTS: Serotonin (5-HT) depolarizes and excites paraventricular thalamus (PVT) neurons. 5-HT7 receptors are responsible for 5-HT excitation of PVT neurons and the coupling of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels to 5-HT receptors in part mediates the excitatory effect of 5-HT. 5-HT depresses the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory but not excitatory postsynaptic currents in PVT neurons. 5-HT1A receptors contribute to the depressive effect of 5-HT on inhibitory transmissions. 5-HT inhibits GABA release from zona incerta (ZI) GABA terminals in PVT. Chronic high-fat diet not only impairs 5-HT inhibition of the ZI-PVT GABA transmission but also downregulates 5-HT excitation of PVT neurons. PVT-projecting dorsal raphe neurons express 5-HT and are inhibited by food deprivation.
Microplastics in freshwater: A global review of factors affecting spatial and temporal variations

Abstract Microplastics are a pollutant of growing concern, capable of harming aquatic organisms and entering the food web. While freshwater microplastic research has expanded in recent years, much remains unknown regarding the sources and delivery pathways of microplastics in these environments. This review aims to address the scientific literature regarding the spatial and temporal factors affecting global freshwater microplastic distributions and abundances. A total of 75 papers, published through June 2021 and containing an earliest publication date of October 2014, was identified by a Web of Science database search. Microplastic spatial distributions are heavily influenced by anthropogenic factors, with higher concentrations reported in regions characterized by urban land cover, high population density, and wastewater treatment plant effluent. Spatial distributions may also be affected by physical watershed characteristics such as slope and elevation (positive and negative correlations with microplastic concentrations, respectively), although few studies address these factors. Temporal variables of influence include precipitation and stormwater runoff (positive correlations) and water flow/discharge (negative correlations). Despite these overarching trends, variations in study results may be due to differing scales or contributing area delineations. Thus, more rigorous and standardized spatial analytical methods are needed. Future research could simultaneously evaluate both spatial and temporal factors and incorporate finer temporal resolutions into sampling campaigns.
The ideology of translation vs translation procedures

Translation plays an important role in the transfer of knowledge between cultures, languages ​​and nations different. As an activity to transfer the message or purpose contained in one language into another language appropriately and naturally, translation work becomes complex. Therefore various approaches were initiated to understand the process translation, including the theory of translation ideology. The terms domestication and foreignization in translation are two terms put forward is often referred to as an ideology or translation strategy. Domestication is a strategy which is used to reduce the "alienation" of the term from the source language, thus the reader feel like a translation is not a translation product. While foreignization is on the contrary, this strategy is more towards the source language to introduce the term or foreign culture to the target audience. In practice, translators cannot be separated from both, but different biases are often based on the purpose of translation and who is the user of the translation. This article provides a brief overview of the ideology of translation and how important this theory is to raise awareness translation about the impact of their choice on the translation result.
Wittgenstein, Durkheim, Garfinkel and Winch: Constitutive Orders of Sensemaking

This paper proposes an approach to the question of meaning and understanding based on the idea of constitutive rules and their relationship to the social objects they are used to create. This approach implicates mutual attention as an essential aspect of the social processes constitutive of social objects and mutual intelligibility. Social objects as such include the meaning, perception and coherence of things, identities and talk, etc. There is a relatively unexplored but important line of argument in sociology that has, from the beginning, explained the coherence and mutual intelligibility of social objects and associations in terms of constitutive practices and social facts. This line of argument begins with Emile Durkheim (1893) and carries through the work of Harold Garfinkel to current studies of work and interaction, human computer interaction and talk. The argument is that we use constitutive practices (Constitutive rules or constitutive background expectancies) to create social objects and make coherent and shared meanings. To act is in this sense for Garfinkel ([1948]2006) to “mean”. Explaining the consistency of social objects and orders in terms of constitutive orders, rules, or practices is an approach that meets the challenges posed to social science and philosophy by Ludwig Wittgenstein (1953), Peter Winch (1958) and Paul Grice (1989).
Proflavine Inhibition of Vaccinia Virus Synthesis

Bubel, H. Curt (University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio), and David A. Wolff. Proflavine inhibition of vaccinia virus synthesis. J. Bacteriol. 89:977–983. 1965.—The synthesis of vaccinia virus, hemagglutinin, and blocking antigen, as well as the development of cytopathic effects, were inhibited by low concentrations of proflavine. This inhibitor did not exert a selective effect on any particular portion of the virus synthetic cycle. Proflavine added to infected KB cells during the eclipse period or later stages of virus maturation rapidly arrested further production of infectious virus and virus-related products. Suppression of virus synthesis was completely reversible, indicating that permanent damage to the virus synthetic mechanism did not result from a transient exposure to proflavine. Photosensitization of maturating vaccinia virus by subinhibiting concentrations of proflavine suggested an interaction of the inhibitor with viral nucleic acid.
Application of Fabry-Perot velocimetry to hypervelocity impact experiments

The Fabry-Perot (F-P) velocimeter is our main diagnostic tool for hypervelocity impact experiments with the electric gun. Because of its immunity to electromagnetic interference, F-P velocimetry is well suited to studying the performance of flyers, providing data on velocity calibration, acceleration characteristics, and material erosion as well as spallation of various materials under high-velocity impact, measurement of impact pressure pulses, and Hugoniot measurements of composite materials. We present results and data from selected experiments and compare them with code predictions. 9 refs., 10 figs.
Silver dressings augment the ability of negative pressure wound therapy to reduce bacteria in a contaminated open fracture model.

Abstract : Background: Despite a lack of evidence supporting their use, silver dressings are often used with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). This study investigates the effectiveness of silver dressings to reduce bacteria in contaminated wounds when used with NPWT. Methods: Complex orthopedic wounds were created on the proximal left legs of anesthetized goats. The wounds were inoculated with either a strain of bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria are genetically modified to emit photons, thereby allowing quantification of bacterial concentration with a photon-counting camera system. The wounds were debrided 6 hours after inoculation and were treated with silver impregnated gauze combined with NPWT. Repeat debridements were performed every 48 hours for 6 days. Imaging was performed pre- and postdebridement. These results were compared with standard NPWT controls that used dressings without silver. Results: There were fewer bacteria in the silver groups than the standard NPWT groups at 6 days. In the groups that were inoculated with P. aeruginosa, wounds in the silver group contained 21% +/- 5% of baseline bacterial load compared with 43% +/- 14% in the standard NPWT group. The addition of the silver dressings has a more pronounced effect on Staphylococcus. Wounds in the silver group contained 25% +/- 8% of baseline bacterial load compared with 115% +/- 19% in the standard NPWT group. Conclusions: The use of silver dressings with NPWT is a fairly common practice with limited literature to support its use in contaminated wounds. This study demonstrates that the addition of a silver dressing to NPWT effectively reduces bacteria in contaminated wounds and is more beneficial on the gram-positive bacteria. These data support the use of silver dressings in contaminated wounds, particularly ones contaminated by S. aureus.
Microstructural Investigation of Grain Growth in Cryomilled Inconel 625 Powder

The grain growth behavior of cryomilled nanocrystalline Inconel 625 powders was investigated during isothermal heat treatment at 600 ~ 900 °C for 1 ~ 4 hours. The grain size of cryomilled Inconel 625 remained under 250 nm following heat treatment in the temperature range of 600 ~ 900 °C up to 4 hours, which represents an improved grain stability compared to that of conventional Inconel 625 and cryomilled pure Ni. Microstructural studies, using TEM, revealed the existence of oxide particles after cryomilling. The pinning effects on grain stability by oxide particles were quantitatively analyzed. The grain stability of cryomilled Inconel 625 powders at 900 °C was noted to be better than that at lower temperatures. This behavior was attributed to the presence of two types of precipitates found at this temperature, which were identified as spherical NbC and rod shaped Ni3Nb intermetallic precipitates. These precipitates promote grain growth resistance at this particular temperature via a grain boundary pinning mechanism. The preferred nucleation sites of those precipitates was noted to be at grain boundaries, thereby augmenting the grain boundary pinning effect.
Temperature dependence of ethanol depression in rats

The relationship between ambient temperature, body temperature, and brain sensitivity to ethanol was investigated in rats. Drug naive male Long Evans rats were injected IP with a hypnotic dose of ethanol (2.75 g/kg, 20% w/v). Immediately after injection, separate groups were exposed to one of five ambient temperatures from 12 to 34° C. Ambient temperature significantly affected wake-up rectal temperature, sleep-time, and wake-up brain ethanol concentration. Sleep-times in individual rats increased 387% (from 24.0 min at 12° C to 116.8 min at 34° C) and wake-up brain ethanol concentrations decreased 79% (from 3.6 mg/g at 12° C to 2.3 mg/g at 34° C) as body temperatures increased from 35 to 41° C. In addition, wake-up rectal temperatures were significantly, positively correlated with sleep-times (r=0.32, P<0.05) and significantly, negatively correlated with wake-up brain ethanol concentrations (r=-0.49, P<0.01), further suggesting that brain sensitivity to ethanol increases as body temperature increases. These results are consistent with previous findings in mice, fit membrane perturbation theories of anesthesia, and indicate that temperature dependence of ethanol sensitivity is a general phenomenon extending across species. In conjunction with previous findings, the results also suggest that body temperature during intoxication may participate in mediating species differences in ethanol sensitivity.
Effects of gibberellic acid treatments on fruit thinning and fruit quality in Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.)

Abstract The crop load of Japanese plums must be adjusted to ensure that the size of the harvested produce agrees with market requirements. The present study investigated the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment at different concentrations and during different cultivation periods after full bloom on the next year's fruit thinning and the current year's fruit quality. GA3 was applied to plum trees at concentrations of 50 and 75 mg/L at 12 and 14 weeks after anthesis (WAA). GA3 treatment at a concentration of 75 mg/L 14 WAA decreased harvest yield by 27.93%, whereas yields were similar to that of the control treatment under the remaining experimental conditions. The main impact was on fruit size: trees treated with GA3 14 WAA had significantly larger fruit than did trees under the other treatments. In consideration of the reduction to total yield, 50 mg/L is recommended for thinning purposes in Japanese plum. Fruit color, total soluble content concentration, and fruit firmness were increased after GA3 application. The antioxidant activity of the untreated trees was higher than that of the GA3 treated trees, whereas phenol content was determined to be similar.
The Unusual X-Ray Collision Morphology of NGC 4782/4783 (3C 278)

Deep ROSAT HRI (High-Resolution Imager) imaging of the X-ray-emitting gas associated with the colliding elliptical galaxy pair NGC 4782/4783 reveals for the first time the complexity of the hot gas distribution in a pair of close interacting galaxies. The HRI image of NGC 4782/4783 shows hot gas around each galaxy, a high surface brightness X-ray bridge connecting the galaxy pair, tidal-like tails emerging from the two galaxies, and a sheet of gas at the interaction interface between the two galaxies. The hot gas distributions do not peak at the optical centers of the galaxies but are displaced in the same sense as the tidal distensions seen in the optical luminosity distributions. All of these remarkable features show the complexity of structure that develops in the hot gas distribution when both hydrodynamical and tidal forces come into play during collisions between ellipticals with hot gas components. Models by Borne and Colina of the bent two-sided radio jet 3C 278 (associated with NGC 4782) indicated that there must be a strong interaction between the hot gas components of NGC 4782,/4783 and that the deflection of the radio jets is likely caused by the ram pressure exerted on the jet plasma by the hot gas associated with the passing companion NGC 4783. These conclusions are qualitatively confirmed by the HRI image and substantiate the major role played by the hot interstellar medium, and its asymmetries, in the propagation and entrainment of radio jets in colliding radio host ellipticals.
Machines, Markets, and Labor: The Carriage and Wagon Industry in Late-Nineteenth-Century Cincinnati*

Students of the innovative process in American manufacturing have emphasized the scarcity of labor and the consequent need for labor-saving machines. In the late nineteenth century one of the country's largest manufacturing industries was the production of carriages, which, in its most important center, Cincinnati, was organized on a mass production basis. But Professor Duggan finds that problems of the quantity and quality of labor were secondary in carriage factories, compared to other factors such as fuel costs, factory space, and the need to stabilize the quality and price of vehicles marketed by the industry as a whole.
A new method for determining meteoroid mass from head echo data

[1] A head echo is the radar reflection from the plasma immediately surrounding a meteoroid upon its entry into the Earth's atmosphere; analysis of these plasmas can help determine a parent meteoroid's inherent properties, such as mass. In the past, meteoroid mass was calculated using head echo velocity and deceleration data by assuming momentum conservation between the meteoroid and air molecule. We refer to such masses as “dynamical masses.” This method, however, can only be used to determine meteoroid mass if either the meteoroid radius or density is assumed. In this paper, we expound upon a new method for determining a meteoroid's mass by utilizing our new spherical scattering theory. This theory allows us to use head echo measurements to calculate head echo plasma density. Then, by using the plasma density in an established formula that estimates the ratio of unionized to ionized material produced by an ablating meteoroid, we can determine a meteoroid's mass. We refer to such masses as “scattering masses.” We show that our new mass determination method applies to head echoes detected simultaneously at VHF and UHF and verify that the meteoroid mass is the same at both frequencies. We conclude with a comparison between dynamical and scattering masses and show that in general, these methods agree to within an order of magnitude.
Surface polaritons on semi-infinite gyromagnetic media

A macroscopic theory of surface polaritons on semi-infinite magnetic media is presented. The general nature of surface polaritons on magnetic media is discussed. In the configuration k, M0, and n mutually perpendicular (where k is the propagation wavevector, M0 is the static magnetization of the medium, and n is the outward normal to the surface), the surface polaritons are TE modes with H elliptically polarized in the sagittal plane. The surface polaritons, which exist on a ferromagnetic insulator, exhibit nonreciprocal propagation characteristics of a medium with gyromagnetic permeability. A new branch of the surface polariton dispersion curve is demonstrated. The corresponding magnon type surface polaritons do not occur on a ferromagnetic metal. The possible experimental observation of the magnon type surface polariton modes on a ferromagnetic insulator is also discussed.
Involvement of non-conserved residues important for PGE2 binding to the constrained EP3 eLP2 using NMR and site-directed mutagenesis.

A peptide constrained to a conformation of second extracellular loop of human prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) receptor subtype3 (hEP3) was synthesized. The contacts between the peptide residues at S211 and R214, and PGE2 were first identified by NMR spectroscopy. The results were used as a guide for site-directed mutagenesis of the hEP3 protein. The S211L and R214L mutants expressed in HEK293 cells lost binding to [3H]PGE2. This study found that the non-conserved S211 and R214 of the hEP3 are involved in PGE2 recognition, and implied that the corresponding residues in other subtype receptors could be important to distinguish the different configurations of PGE2 ligand recognition sites.
DISPERSION AND BIODEGRADATION OF OIL SPILLS ON WATER

ABSTRACT Published literature indicates that oil spill dispersion by chemical dispersants will enhance biodegradation because of the increase in interfacial area. However, some of the literature is contradictory concerning whether the use of surfactants will enhance or temporarily inhibit biodegradation, suggesting that more than one mechanism is at work. We set out to study the correlation between the area of dispersed oil droplets and the rate and extent of microbial oil degradation using sorbitan surfactants. We varied the surfactant blend hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) and treat level in a statistically designed experiment. Both dispersed area and percent oil degraded at a given time were shown to depend on surfactant HLB and treat level, but to different degrees. The difference was accounted for by demonstrating that percent oil degraded depended on both dispersed area and percent sorbitan in the dispersant treat. The quantitative finding that both dispersed area and surfactant chemistry control ...
The Minimal Supersymmetric Fat Higgs Model

We present a calculable supersymmetric theory of a composite"fat'" Higgs boson. Electroweak symmetry is broken dynamically through a new gauge interaction that becomes strong at an intermediate scale. The Higgs mass can easily be 200-450 GeV along with the superpartner masses, solving the supersymmetric little hierarchy problem. We explicitly verify that the model is consistent with precision electroweak data without fine-tuning. Gauge coupling unification can be maintained despite the inherently strong dynamics involved in electroweak symmetry breaking. Supersymmetrizing the Standard Model therefore does not imply a light Higgs mass, contrary to the lore in the literature. The Higgs sector of the minimal Fat Higgs model has a mass spectrum that is distinctly different from the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.
Identifying Issue Frames in Text

Framing, the effect of context on cognitive processes, is a prominent topic of research in psychology and public opinion research. Research on framing has traditionally relied on controlled experiments and manually annotated document collections. In this paper we present a method that allows for quantifying the relative strengths of competing linguistic frames based on corpus analysis. This method requires little human intervention and can therefore be efficiently applied to large bodies of text. We demonstrate its effectiveness by tracking changes in the framing of terror over time and comparing the framing of abortion by Democrats and Republicans in the U.S.
Visualization of an annular viscoplastic jet

The current study investigates the global flow field characteristics of a submerged annular viscoplastic jet. The mass and momentum conservation equations, governing the steady laminar flow field, along with the Bingham rheological model, are numerically solved using a finite-difference scheme. Central and outer recirculation regions typically characterize the flow of a Newtonian annular jet. However, the current visualizations demonstrate the existence of new and unique-to-viscoplastic-fluids flow features. When the yield numbers are small, central and outer recirculation regions exist. However, the extent of the outer region and recirculation intensity of the outer and central regions are found to substantially diminish with the yield number. At intermediate yield numbers, a stagnant, attached-to-the-wall region replaces the outer recirculation while a central, yet weaker one, exists. At high yield numbers, stagnant regions replace the recirculating ones, i.e., flow recirculation throughout the whole flow field is eliminated once a critical yield number is exceeded.
In Vitro Studies of Granulomatous Hypersensitivity to Beryllium

Lymphocytes were obtained from normal subjects and subjects with granulomatous hypersensitivity to beryllium. Lymphocytes from sensitive persons underwent typical blastogenic transformation when exposed to BeO or BeSO 4 in vitro . Transformation was maximal between the fifth and sixth days of exposure and was dependent upon the concentration of beryllium. Monocytes from beryllium sensitive subjects matured into macrophages in vitro more rapidly than cells from normal subjects. Macrophages from sensitive persons, after phagocytizing particulate BeO, were capable of inducing blastogenic transformation of autologous lymphocytes.
Reaction of Benzoylnitrene with Anions: Formation of an Intermediate in the Hofmann Rearrangement

Nucleophilic anions react rapidly with benzoylnitrene to form a species involved in the Hofmann rearrangement. This species has been detected by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy.
Reductions of Salmonella enterica on chicken breast by thymol, acetic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate or hydrogen peroxide combinations as compared to chlorine wash.

Abstract Poultry products are important vehicles for Salmonella transmission to humans and have been incriminated in several Salmonella outbreaks. Thymol (THY) from thyme oil has wide inhibitory effects against foodborne pathogens including Salmonella, and has shown great potential as a natural alternative to chlorine. In order to improve the cost-effectiveness of thymol-based washing solutions, formulas of THY with combination of organic acid or surfactant were developed and their efficacies to reduce Salmonella on chicken breast were investigated in the current study. Surface-inoculated chicken breasts were washed with the two thymol-based washing solutions: 0.2 mg/mL THY + 5% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) + 2 mg/mL acetic acid (AA) or 0.2 mg/mL THY + 2 mg/mL AA for 2 min. Both solutions achieved around 2.2 log reductions of Salmonella on chicken breast and their efficacy was comparable to log reduction obtained by 200 ppm chlorine washing. Addition of SDS did not result in more log reduction of Salmonella on chicken meat samples. More than 3.3 log reduction in the used THY washing solutions was determined and it was similar to log reduction from the spent chlorine solution. None of these antimicrobial agents changed the pH and texture values of chicken breasts. Therefore, 0.2 mg/mL THY + 2 mg/mL AA has great potential to be a natural alternative to chlorine-based washing solution for reducing Salmonella contamination on chicken breast meat.
Selection on the codon bias ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast genes and the plantpsbA gene

Plant chloroplast genes have a codon use that reflects the genome compositional bias of a high A+T content with the single exception of the highly translatedpsbA gene which codes for the photosystem II D1 protein. The codon usage of plantpsbA corresponds more closely to the limited tRNA population of the chloroplast and is very similar to the codon use observed in the chloroplast genes of the green algaChlamydomonas reinhardtii. This pattern of codon use may be an adaptation for increased translation efficiency. A correspondence between codon use of plantpsbA andChlamydomonas chloroplast genes and the tRNAs coded by the chloroplast genome, however, is not observed in all synonymous codon groups. It is shown here that the degree of correspondence between codon use and tRNA population in different synonymous groups is correlated with the second codon position composition. Synonymous groups with an A or T at the second codon position have a high representation of codons for which a complementary tRNA is coded by the chloroplast genome. Those with a G or C at the second position have an increased representation of codons that bind a chloroplast tRNA by wobble. It is proposed that the difference between synonymous groups in terms of codon adaptation to the tRNA population in plantpsbA andChlamydomonas chloroplast genes may be the result of differences in second position composition.
The clinical utility of automatic boundary detection for the determination of left ventricular volume: A comparison with conventional off-line echocardiographic quantification

The aim of this study was to compare measurements of echocardiographic volume with an on-line automatic boundary detection imaging system with those of a conventional off-line method for routine clinical studies. Automatic boundary detection imaging shows promise as a rapid, on-line method for quantitating left ventricular volumes by echocardiography. However, there is little information about the role of automatic boundary detection for routine clinical studies. Ninety-seven patients with a variety of clinical diseases who were referred for clinical transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation were studied in apical fourchamber and two-chamber imaging planes. End-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction obtained with automatic boundary detection images were compared with those of conventional off-line analysis. Segmental endocardial definition and border tracking were evaluated on all automatic boundary detection images. Left ventricular end-diastolic volumes obtained by automatic boundary detection correlated well but were systematically underestimated compared with off-line analysis for the apical two-chamber ( r =0.83; underestimation=42±33 ml; p r =0.83; underestimation=43±31 ml; p r =0.83; underestimation=14±26 ml; p r =0.83; underestimation=18±24 ml; p n =97). However, for patients with complete endocardial definition ( n =32), automatic boundary detection accurately predicted ejection fraction with no systematic error compared with manually traced images for both the apical two-chamber ( r =0.86; p r =0.82; p p
Computation of Interface Reflection and Regular or Diffuse Transmission of the Planar Symmetric Radiative Transfer Equation with Isotropic Scattering and Its Diffusion Limit

In this paper, we develop a numerical scheme for the interface problem in the planar symmetric radiative transfer equation with isotropic scattering. Such problems arise in the modeling of the propagation of energy density for waves in heterogeneous media with weak random fluctuation in the high frequency regime. The idea, following the earlier work of Jin and Wen for regular transmission and reflection, is to build the interface condition, which characterizes the reflection and transmission, into the numerical flux. The new contribution of this article is to deal with the diffuse transmission at the interface. The positivity of the scheme is proven. Moreover, we show, via numerical examples, that this new scheme is able to capture the correct (regular or diffuse) transmission and reflection through the interface, and, as the mean free path goes to zero, capture the diffusion limit with the correct interface conditions.
Bitemporal lesions dissociate auditory evoked potentials and perception

Abstract We studied auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in an 82-year-old female patient who became suddenly deaf following the second of two strokes. The patient showed markedly elevated pure tone thresholds, was unable to discriminate sounds and could not understand speech. Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were normal. CT scans revealed bilateral lesions of the superior temporal plane which included auditory cortex. Two experiments were performed. In the first, tones, complex sounds and speech stimuli were presented at intensities above and below the patient's perceptual threshold. P1, N1 and P2 components were elicited by each of the stimuli — whether or not they were perceived. In particular, stimuli presented below threshold evoked large amplitude, short latency responses comparable to those produced in a control subject. In a second experiment, the refractory properties of the N1-P2 were examined using trains of tones. They were also found to be similar to those of normal subjects. Shifts in the pitch of the tones near the end of the train (when refractory effects were maximal) evoked N1-P2s with enhanced amplitudes, although the change in pitch was not perceived by the patient. In both experiments AEP scalp topographies were normal. The results suggest that bitemporal lesions of auditory cortex can dissociate auditory perception and long-latency auditory evoked potentials. A review of evoked potential studies of cortical deafness suggests that the neural circuits responsible for N1-P2 generation lie in close proximity to those necessary for auditory perception.
Hawking radiation and thin shells

The properties of quantized scalar and Dirac fields around a collapsing thin shell are discussed and the Hawking radiation exhibited. The radiation is seen to be a result of the collapse process which involves the emission of a pair of particles traveling on either side of the event horizon from the shell. The reaction back on the shell is discussed and it is shown that the radiation only reacts through the metric. The contributions to the stress-energy tensor associated with the radiation are exhibited.
Inguinal Hernia: Open Surgical Repair Using Mesh

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed procedures in general surgery. With the introduction of mesh, tissue herniorrhaphy was largely supplanted and open-mesh repair emerged as the gold standard. Innovation in biotechnology and surgical technique has resulted in the development of several varieties of mesh, as well as different approaches to mesh inguinal herniorrhaphy. Prior to performing open-mesh inguinal herniorrhaphy, the well-informed surgeon must be comfortable selecting the surgical option that is best suited for the clinical scenario and the surgeon's expertise.
Precision Spacecraft Tracking Using In-Beam Phase Referencing

The deep space network (DSN) Array of the future provides an intriguing possibility of using the techniques of in-beam phase referencing to determine the angular position of spacecraft with accuracy at the level of 0.1 nano-radian (nrad). In this paper, we discuss the prospects for carrying out such measurements at both 8.4 GHz (X-band) and 32 GHz (Ka-band). Our study suggests that at X-band in-beam calibration may be available as an astrometric tool over 20-30 percent of the sky. The prospects at Ka-band, on the other hand, are not very hopeful. We point out that these estimates depend strongly on the number density of compact sources at the 1-mJy level. We also present the results from our recent VLBA (very long baseline array) observations at X-band, which has determined the compact source density at the 10-mJy level and discuss future observations to probe weaker source population. Finally, we discuss issues related to phase cycle ambiguity resolution and potential techniques to resolve them.
New ligand design to promote water compatibility of luminescent quantum dots and gold nanoparticles

We report the design and synthesis of new bidentate ligands to promote biocompatibility of luminescent quantum dots (QDs) and gold nanoparticle (Au-NPs) alike. The ligands use commercially available methoxy-terminated hydroxypoly( ethylene glycol) (HO-PEG-OCH3) and thioctic acid (TA) coupled via a stable amide bond to make TA-PEG-OCH3 ligands. Following a simple transformation of the hydroxyl group into an amine group on the methoxy-PEG, the ligand was attached to thioctic acid via DCC coupling. The use of mono-hydroxy-terminated PEG simplifies the reaction and purification steps. Following ring opening of the TA to form DHLA-PEG-OCH3, cap exchange on CdSe-ZnS core-shell QDs provided homogeneous stable dispersions in buffer solutions. Furthermore, using either the newly designed ligand pure, or mixed with amine-functionalized ligands (DHLA-PEG-NH2) allowed tuning of the surface functionalities of the nanoparticles. Gel electrophoresis, absorption and fluorescence experiments confirmed cap exchange, while microinjection in live cells provided additional verification of the potential utility of these hydrophilic QDs in biology. These ligands were also applied to functionalize Au-NPs, with a substantial improvement of their stability under high salt conditions compared to citrate-functionalized dispersions.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Randomized trial of Promoting First Relationships: Effects on maltreated toddlers' separation distress and sleep regulation after reunification☆

This study investigates the impact of an attachment focused intervention, Promoting First Relationships (PFR), on sleep problems among toddlers in child welfare recently reunified with their birth parent. Recently reunified parent-toddler dyads (n = 43) were drawn from a larger random control trial. Toddlers (11-36 months) and their parents were assessed in two-hour research home visits at enrollment (baseline), and a 6-month post-intervention follow-up. Measures included parental report of sleep problems and research visitor observation of separation distress (using the Toddler Attachment Sort-45). The PFR intervention predicted fewer sleep problems, adjusting for a baseline measure of sleep problems and other covariates. A path model showed evidence of an indirect effect of PFR on sleep problems through declines in separation distress. An attachment focused intervention like PFR that reduces infant separation distress can lead to reductions in sleep problems.
KINETICS OF OXYDESULFURIZATION OF MINSHALL, INDIANA COAL

The kinetics of the oxidation of pyritic sulfur, organic sulfur and carbon for the Minshall, Indiana coal was investigated. Experiments were conducted in a semi-batch manner. The experimental data were taken in the temperature range of 19O–23O°C, oxygen partial pressure range of 0.86-3.44 MPa and for the batch times up to 3600 s. The rate of organic sulfur removal was observed to be second order with respect to sulfur and first order with respect to the partial pressure of oxygen, and this reaction was found to have an activation energy of 75,000 kJ/kg-mole. The pyritic sulfur removal was observed to be much more rapid, and the experimental data fitted the continuous reaction model with second order dependence on pyritic sulfur. However, the coal combustion loss in the case of this coal was relatively high, probably because of the presence of larger amounts of oxygen containing compounds, and this coal did not meet the EPA standards for the heating value losses.
Colloidal basis of emulsion color

The perceived quality of many commercial products that are based on emulsions is determined by their color. Recent theoretical and experimental research has focussed on determining the relationship between emulsion color and the colloidal characteristics of the system, e.g. particle size, concentration, refractive index and aggregation. Appreciable progress has been made in understanding the factors that determine emulsion color and in describing the optical properties of emulsions theoretically.