cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disassembly planning and sequencing for end-of-life products with RFID enriched information

When a product reaches its end of lifecycle, components of the product can be reused, recycled, or disposed, depending on their conditions and recovery value. In order to make an optimal disassembly plan to efficiently retrieve the reusable and recyclable items inside a product, knowing the true condition of each component is essential. Practically, the recovery value of a used product is often estimated roughly via visual inspection, and the inaccurate estimates would lead to suboptimal disassembly plans. This paper proposes the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to support disassembly decisions for end-of-life products. RFID can track pertinent data throughout a product's lifecycle. With the enriched information, a fuzzy-based disassembly planning and sequencing model is proposed to maximize net profit. First, a Bayesian method translates the RFID data into a quality index of the components. Then, a fuzzy logic model, solved by genetic algorithm, synthesizes input variables (i.e., product usage, component usage, and component condition) into a solution of optimal disassembly sequence that maximizes profit considering recovery value and disassembly cost. This paper verifies the merits of using RFID to improve disassembly decisions that help reuse and recycle end-of-life products to reduce environmental impact.
Dynamic pyroelectric enhancement of homogeneous ferroelectric materials

Abstract The time-dependent thermal response to a step-wise temperature increase of a ferroelectric plate of BaTiO3 of finite thickness was determined using a combination of basic heat transfer relations to model the temperature variation in the ferroelectric as a function of time and a thermodynamic model based on a modified Landau formalism to calculate the polarization profile due to the temperature gradient. An enhancement over the static pyroelectric response was revealed, having a maximum value of −0.01 μC/cm2 °C, for detector thicknesses in the range of 1 to 100 μm.
Mechanical performance of novel bioactive glass containing dental restorative composites

Objectives Bioactive glass (BAG) is known to possess antimicrobial properties and release ions needed for remineralization of tooth tissue, and therefore may be a strategic additive for dental restorative materials. The objective of this study was to develop BAG containing dental restorative composites with adequate mechanical properties comparable to successful commercially available composites, and to confirm the stability of these materials when exposed to a biologically challenging environment.
Visual texture segregation based on orientation and hue

We investigated visual texture segregation, using a task for which reaction time to locate a discrepant quadrant in an array of 36 elements was the dependent measure. Two dimensions of segregation were used: line orientation (horizontal vs. vertical, horizontal vs. left diagonal, and left vs. right diagonal) and hue (9 vs. 7 Munsell color steps). Levels on these two dimensions were varied singly to produce control arrays, in orthogonal combination to measure possible interference effects, and in redundant combination to measure possible facilitation effects. Segregation for control arrays was much more difficult when the two diagonal lines produced regions of texture than when arrays used lines involving one or two main axes, and 7-step hue-difference arrays were more difficult to segregate than 9-step arrays, as expected. Orientation and hue were equally effective in producing fast texture segregation when used with optimal levels. The pattern of interference and facilitation for orthogonal and redundant combinations depended on the particular pair of line orientations used to produce texture: With horizontal and vertical lines, there was symmetric interference of each dimension on the other, as well as a redundancy gain. With horizontal and left diagonal lines, there was asymmetric interference of hue variation on orientation segregation, and no redundancy gain. With the two diagonals, there were symmetric interference and strong redundancy gains. These results clarify why different line orientations provide different effectiveness in texture segregation, and suggest that both interstimulus confusability (as with the two diagonals) and intrastimulus stability (as with horizontal and vertical lines) properties determine the ability of a dimension to interfere with, or to be interfered with by, another dimension in texture segregation.
Diurnal pattern in canopy light interception for tree fruit orchard trained to an upright fruiting offshoots (UFO) architecture

Fractional interception of photosynthetically active radiation (FIPAR) (i.e. light interception) by tree fruit canopies determines, in large part, fruit quantity and quality, and thus profitability. This study aimed to elucidate the diurnal pattern in FIPAR and determine the optimum time at which the measured FIPAR best represents mean daily FIPAR in sweet cherry trees trained to the planar UFO (Upright Fruiting Offshoots) architecture. Two experiments were conducted to assess the influence of canopy development stages and of canopy height to row spacing ratios (H/S ratio) on diurnal FIPAR pattern and optimum measurement time. For different canopy development stages, three adjacent north-to-south sample blocks were selected. For different H/S ratios, three levels of 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25 were used, and 9 north-to-south sample block for each level were selected. Daily FIPAR was determined from measurements taken within ±6 h of solar noon. Gaussian process regression with four parameters was applied to obtain the diurnal pattern with coefficients of determination (R2) ranging from 0.97 to 1.00. The diurnal pattern was symmetric with the lowest point around solar noon. Mean daily FIPAR increased during the season, as well as with increasing H/S ratio. For both experiments, there was no substantial difference in optimum measurement time among stages and among H/S ratios, with maximum difference of 0.3 h and 0.4 h respectively. We recommend an optimal measurement time window of −2.5 h to −2.0 h with reference to solar noon for the planar UFO architecture to estimate mean daily FIPAR with ±10% tolerance interval.
Rethinking Nonproliferation: LBJ, the Gilpatric Committee, and U.S. National Security Policy

Abstract In late 1964, Lyndon Johnson and National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy convened an ad hoc group of distinguished citizens to consider the problem of nuclear proliferation. The creation of this group, known as the Gilpatric Committee, signaled Johnson's fear that a number of foreign policy issues related to proliferation had reached a crisis point in 1964. It also signaled his dissatisfaction with existing bureaucratic arrangements to resolve these problems. After several weeks of deliberation, the committee gave Johnson a report that advocated a sharp intensification of U.S. nonproliferation policy. The committee challenged key aspects of the administration's foreign policy and urged the president to rethink the nature of the U.S.-Soviet relationship. Although Johnson shied away from implementing some of the committee's more controversial proposals, the administration eventually embraced the basic philosophy of the report. The Gilpatric Report provided a conceptual foundation for important dep...
Ecce—a problem‐solving environment's evolution toward Grid services and a Web architecture

The Extensible Computational Chemistry Environment (Ecce), an innovative problem-solving environment, was designed a decade ago, before the emergence of the Web and Grid computing services. In this paper, we briefly examine the original Ecce architecture and discuss how it is evolving to incorporate both Grid services and components of the Web to increase its range of services, reduce deployment and maintenance costs, and reach a wider audience. We show that Ecce operates in both Grid and non-Grid environments, an important consideration given Ecce's broad range of uses and user community, and discuss the strategies for loosely coupled components that make this possible. Both in-progress work and conceptual plans for how Ecce will evolve are presented. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Language, Interaction, and Social Problems

This paper addresses the question of why the study of language and interaction matters to the sociology of social problems. The proposed answer is that such study lends to understanding what Goffman called the “interaction order.” Language studies, that is, have a first-order concern with how talk and interaction work; as a byproduct, they offer a different standpoint for a social organizational understanding of such traditionally-identified social problems as subcultures, conflict, power, troubles, and institutional processing. The appeal here is not for investigating micro-analytic dimensions of abstractly-defined social problems, but for approaching the interaction order as a substantive domain in its own right.
Statistical analysis of catalogs of extragalactic objects. III - The Shane-Wirtanen and Zwicky catalogs

Statistical investigation of clustering in the galaxy catalogs compiled by Zwicki et al. (1961-1968) and Shane and Wirtanen (1967). The covariance and power spectrum of the angular distributions are estimated. The space region surveyed in the Zwicki catalog is found to represent a 'fair sample of the universe' in that the statistical nature of the clustering in this catalog is found to be mirrored at smaller angular scales in the deeper survey of Shane and Wirtanen.
Effect of burn injury on the kinetics of in vivo polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis to staphylococcus aureus

This study investigated the effect of time after burn injury on the kinetics of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis to Staphylococcus aureus. Rats with 30% body surface area back burns, and nonburned control rats, received several identical inocula of S aureus 3, 6, and 10 days after injury, and in vivo chemotaxis was measured by tissue myeloperoxidase at varying intervals. Animals six and ten days postburn had a delay, as well as a decrease, in maximal chemotactic response. This delay in response appears to be another mechanism by which PMN chemotaxis is affected by burn injury.
Seasonal Changes in the Resistance of the Hen to Thermal Stress

ABSTRACT Many animals, including birds, apparently undergo seasonal modification of their response to environmental temperature change (Gelineo, 1955). Seasonal adaptation to high temperature by the chicken is strongly suggested by the acclimatization experiments of Hutchinson and Sykes (1953), and Hillerman and Wilson (1955), but does not seem to have been documented. Presented here are data relating to this point which were observed during experiments with induced hyperthermia. PROCEDURE Individual White Leghorn yearling hens were restrained on their backs in a small glass topped incubator at a temperature of 105±1/2°F. and a relative humidity of 70±2%. Body temperature (BT) was recorded remotely from a rectal thermocouple. Respiration rate (RR) was recorded remotely from a pneumograph, or obtained by analysis of arterial pressure curves (Weiss and Sturkie, 1951). Eight birds were used between January 29 and April 15 (Winter group) and 10 between June 19 and July 10 (Summer group). The period of . . .
Investigating the Impact of Uncertainty About Item Parameters on Ability Estimation

Asymptotic expansions of the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and weighted likelihood estimator (WLE) of an examinee’s ability are derived while item parameter estimators are treated as covariates measured with error. The asymptotic formulae present the amount of bias of the ability estimators due to the uncertainty of item parameter estimators. A numerical example is presented to illustrate how to apply the formulae to evaluate the impact of uncertainty about item parameters on ability estimation and the appropriateness of estimating ability using the regular MLE or WLE method.
An optimal strategy for monitoring top-k queries in streaming windows

Continuous top-k queries, which report a certain number (k) of top preferred objects from data streams, are important for a broad class of real-time applications, ranging from financial analysis to network traffic monitoring. Existing solutions for tackling this problem aim to reduce the computational costs by incrementally updating the top-k results upon each window slide. However, they all suffer from the performance bottleneck of periodically requiring a complete recomputation of the top-k results from scratch. Such an operation is not only computationally expensive but also causes significant memory consumption, as it requires keeping all objects alive in the query window. To solve this problem, we identify the "Minimal Top-K candidate set" (MTK), namely the subset of stream objects that is both necessary and sufficient for continuous top-k monitoring. Based on this theoretical foundation, we design the MinTopk algorithm that elegantly maintains MTK and thus eliminates the need for recomputation. We prove the optimality of the MinTopk algorithm in both CPU and memory utilization for continuous top-k monitoring. Our experimental study shows that both the efficiency and scalability of our proposed algorithm is clearly superior to the state-of-the-art solutions.
Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism: Comparison of the Diagnostic Capabilities of Conventional Film-Screen and Digital Angiography

Study objective To compare digital to conventional film-screen pulmonary angiography for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in a clinical population. Design Retrospective review of patient data, ventilation/perfusion ( V ˙ / Q ˙ ) lung scintigraphy reports, and pulmonary angiographic reports. Setting University hospital, division of interventional radiology. Patients and methods Patient data from 307 film-screen and 266 digital angiograms were analyzed for demographics, V ˙ / Q ˙ lung scintigraphy findings, and pulmonary artery pressures to define patient populations. The interpretations of film-screen pulmonary angiography were then compared with digital angiography interpretations for the entire group of interventional radiologists as well as the two interventionists who practiced throughout the study interval to determine any difference in rates of diagnosis of acute PE between the two techniques. Results There was no significant difference between the patient populations studied by film-screen or digital techniques for the data reviewed. Digital angiography utilized significantly more contrast material (digital, 173 mL; film-screen, 145 mL; p Conclusions Digital and film-screen pulmonary angiography possess equivalent diagnostic capabilities for acute PE as used in a clinical setting.
Iron overload following manganese exposure in cultured neuronal, but not neuroglial cells

Our previous studies show that manganese (Mn) exposure inhibits aconitase, an enzyme regulating the proteins responsible for cellular iron (Fe) equilibrium. This study was performed to investigate whether Mn intoxication leads to an altered cellular Fe homeostasis in cultured neuronal or neuroglial cells as a result of disrupted Fe regulation. Our results reveal a significant increase in the expression of transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNAs and a corresponding increase in cellular 59Fe net uptake by PC12 cells, but not astrocytes, following Mn exposure. These findings suggest that alteration by Mn of cellular Fe homeostasis may contribute to Mn-induced neuronal cytotoxicity.
Expansion and contraction of an air‐water mixture in vertical flow

An experimental two-phase flow study was made on an air-water system at atmospheric pressure to obtain information on the effect of expansion and contraction of flow area on the relative velocity of the two phases. The data show that the relative velocity and hence the mean void fraction of the air-water mixture changed following either an expansion or contraction; however the magnitude of the change was not great and could be predicted by a semitheoretical equation. The air-water data are also compared with data taken from a steam-water system at 150 to 600 lb./sq. in. In addition, a photographic study was made of the transition zone, and phase distributions were obtained by the use of a radiation attenuation traversing technique.
Estimates for diophantine approximation constants

Abstract It is proved that the three-dimensional Diophantine approximation constant is at least 2(275) −1 2 . This exactly doubles the classical lower bound due to Furtwangler.
Playpens, Fireflies and Squeezables: New Musical Instruments for Bridging the Thoughtful and the Joyful

The author discusses research in music cognition and education indicating that novices and untrained students perceive and learn music in a fundamentally different manner than do expert musicians. Based on these studies, he suggests implementing high-level musical percepts and constructionist learning schemes in new expressive musical instruments that would provide thoughtful and joyful musical activities for novices and experts alike. The author describes several instruments--the Musical Playpen, Fireflies and Squeezables--that he has developed in an effort to provide novices with access to rich and meaningful musical experiences and recounts observations and interviews of subjects playing these instruments.
Single and double scattering approximations for a two-dimensional cylindrical medium

Abstract Large spatial frequency expansions for the source function, radiative flux, and intensity are obtained for an isotropically scattering finite two-dimensional medium exposed to collimated radiation. With these expansions, the single and double scattering results are obtained which are valid at small optical distances away from the incident radiation. Results are presented for a circular disk, exponential distribution and a Gaussian distribution of incident radiation.
Band-Engineered Bismuth Titanate Pyrochlores for Visible Light Photocatalysis

A density functional theory (DFT) study on stoichiometric bismuth titanate pyrochlore (Bi2Ti2O7−BTO) is presented. Pseudopotential plane wave calculations were carried out to determine band gaps, density of states (DOS), and partial density of states (PDOS) of BTO. The theoretically determined optical property of BTO with a direct band gap of 2.6 eV corresponds to a red shift of 70 nm in absorption activity compared to titanium dioxide (TiO2). A rationale has been developed to determine various possibilities of adding impurity elements within the BTO structure to enhance the visible light absorption. Mainly the effects of 3d element (Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn, and V) substitution in the crystal structure of BTO at the titanium position have been the focus of this study. The substitution of these elements shows the formation of different midgap states which indicates the flexibility of the BTO structure to tunability. Among the elements studied, Fe substitution showed a shift in the valence band toward the conduction...
Application of Surface Stress Improvement Technologies to Nuclear Power Plant Components

The susceptibility of Alloy 600 to Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking (PWSCC) has proven detrimental to several nuclear power plant components. Repair, modification or replacement of the components to mitigate the effects of PWSCC on Alloy 600 has been deemed necessary. In some cases, repair or replacement of plant components can be exorbitantly expensive; therefore, modification of the components is necessary to keep the plant operable. A form of modification is surface stress improvement, which alters the stress state of the material. Changing the stress state of the material eliminates one of the contributing factors required for the propagation of PWSCC. This paper discusses the application of surface stress improvement technologies to commercial nuclear power plant components and provides insight to where these technologies can be employed in the future.Copyright © 2005 by Framatome ANP Inc.
Adaptation of a weight management program for a potential lung transplant candidate.

Obesity is a relative contraindication for heart and lung transplantation at most transplant centers. Surgical risks are higher for obese patients, and 1 study suggests that obesity is significantly correlated with higher posttransplant death rates in cardiac transplantation. Obesity is a restrictive disease that contributes to exercise intolerance in patients with lung disease. A weight management group was formed at a transplant center to help obese patients with heart and/or lung disease lose weight and maintain their goal weight, with the hope of decreasing their waiting time to be listed for transplantation and their incidence of weight-related complications. Some patients experienced symptomatic improvment, which delayed their need for heart or lung transplantation.
Hybrid optical digital computation of global chord functions

Abstract Chord functions have attractive properties for automatic shape recognition as, to a significant extent, they are invariant to object position, rotation and scaling. They are very time consuming to compute digitally and consequently have not found much use in operational pattern recognition systems. This paper describes how to calculate them rapidly in a hybrid optical-digital computer. This will allow realistic assessment to be made by their usefulness in a practical system as chord functions for a large database of objects can now be determined.
Quick formation of single-crystal nanocubes of silver through dual functions of hydrogen gas in polyol synthesis

High yields of 40-nm silver nanocubes were produced in 20 min by bubbling hydrogen gas through a conventional polyol synthesis. Hydrogen gas both accelerated the reduction rate and generated nitric acid in situ. Twinned seeds were selectively dissolved by balancing the reduction rate with etching by nitric acid, so that only single crystals were produced.
Postoperative treatment of the patient with obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract Objective: The postoperative management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has been based primarily on the potential loss of the airway. Our hypothesis is that not all patients with OSAS require placement in the intensive care unit after surgery. Methods: We undertook a prospective, nonrandomized study (N = 38). Data included demographics, polysomnograms, body mass index (BMI), and postoperative course, including any complications within 72 hours. Results: The average respiratory disturbance index was 66, and the average BMI was 29. The average preoperative and postoperative maximal arterial oxygen desaturation values were 82% and 94%, respectively. Patients with BMIs less than 35 did not have desaturation values below 90%. No complications occurred. Discussion: Within the first 72 hours after surgery, no complications were observed in our study groups. Patients with BMIs greater than 35 were at increased risk for postoperative desaturations. The uncomplicated OSAS patient, one without significant comorbid factors, can be treated in a safe and prudent fashion outside of an intensive care unit. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;122:233-6.)
Improvement of power performance in planar type AlGaAs/GaAs MESFET by substrate surface oxidation

Abstract The purpose of this study is to improve the output power (Pout) and third-order inter-modulation distortion (IM3) of planar type GaAs power FET, which is used for RF power amplifiers for base stations of digital wireless communications systems. We focused on the GaAs surface state and attempted to improve the FET performance by intentional GaAs surface oxidation just prior to SiN cap deposition. Thermal or plasma oxidation has been found to improve Pout and IM3 characteristics. Distinct improvement of FET performance was observed in intentionally oxidized FET, and the highest Pout = 34 dBm and Pout (@IM3=−55 dBc) = 23 dBm was measured on plasma oxidized FET with Wg=5.2 mm. These results are shown in this article together with the results of photoelectron analysis.
An electron microscopic study of macroglia and microglia in the lateral funiculus of the developing spinal cord in the fetal monkey.

An electron-microscopic study has been made of the glial cells in the developing lateral funiculus of the cervical spinal cord in fetal rhesus monkeys. The various macroglial cell types, their precursor cells, and microglia are discussed in detail. An astrocytic lineage is proposed in which glioblasts present in the lateral funiculus give rise to astroblasts that then develop into mature astrocytes. Oligoblasts apparently migrate into the lateral funiculus as such and develop into active oligocytes. The active oligocytes become most predominant during the initial stages of myelinogenesis and are in direct continuity with developing myelin. The active oligocytes develop into mature oligocytes after myelination is completed. Microglia cells are present throughout development as three forms; resting microglia, globose microglia, and active microglia. The globose and active microglia predominates at specific times early in development when degeneration of apparent neuronal processes is taking place. The microglia cells are characterized by dense nuclear chromatin clumps, lipid inclusion bodies, dense vesicles, and, often, intracellular debris.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of cladribine in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

We conducted an 18-month, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to evaluate cladribine in the treatment of 52 patients with relpaasing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Patients received either placebo or cladribine 0.07 mg/kg/day by subcutaneous injection for 5 consecutive days as six monthly courses for a total cumulative dose of 2.1 mg/kg. Analysis of results revealed a statistically significant favorable effect of cladribine on the joint frequency and severity of relpaases and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. MRI-enhancing lesions were completely suppressed in the cladribine patients by the sixth month of treatment. Mild segmental herpes zoster occurred in two cladribine-treated patients and one patient receiving placebo. Otherwise, there were no side effects or adverse events. We conclude that cladribine shows promise as a treatment for relpaasing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Automatic target detection algorithm for foliage-penetrating ultrawideband SAR data using split spectral analysis

We present an automatic target detection (ATD) algorithm for foliage penetrating (FOPEN) ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data using split spectral analysis. Split spectral analysis is commonly used in the ultrasonic, non-destructive evaluation of materials using wide band pulses for flaw detection. In this paper, we show the application of split spectral analysis for detecting obscured targets in foliage using UWB pulse returns to discriminate targets from foliage, the data spectrum is split into several bands, namely, 20 to 75, 75 to 150, ..., 825 to 900 MHz. An ATD algorithm is developed based on the relative energy levels in various bands, the number of bands containing significant energy (spread of energy), and chip size (number of crossrange and range bins). The algorithm is tested on the (FOPEN UWB SAR) data of foliage and vehicles obscured by foliage collected at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. The paper presents various split spectral parameters used in the algorithm and discusses the rationale for their use.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of the Origin of the Honeydew Contamination on Cotton Spinning Performances

Spinning experiments were conducted to study the impacts on fiber processing of alternative types of honeydew contamination and confirm the hypothesis that trehalulose (mostly present in whitefly h...
Identification of Tamoxifen−DNA Adducts Induced by α-Acetoxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen

Treatment with tamoxifen increased the risk of endometrial cancers in breast cancer patients and women participating in the chemoprevention study. In our laboratory, tamoxifen−DNA adducts, including α-(N2-deoxyguanosinyl)tamoxifen (dG-N2-TAM), were detected in the endometrium of women taking tamoxifen [Shibutani, S., et al. (1999) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12, 646−653]. On the basis of recent animal studies, deoxyguanosinyl-N-desmethyltamoxifen (dG-N-desmethylTAM) adducts are also suspected to be formed in the liver. In the study presented here, we synthesized α-acetoxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen as a model activated metabolite of N-desmethyltamoxifen. The overall yield of α-acetoxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen from α-hydroxytamoxifen was approximately 42%. α-Acetoxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen was highly reactive to 2‘-deoxyguanosine, as was similarly observed for tamoxifen α-sulfate. The two reaction products were identified as a mixture of epimers of the trans form or cis form of α-(N2-deoxyguanosinyl)-N-desmethyltamoxifen (dG-N...
Ion Conductance of the Stem of the Anthrax Toxin Channel during Lethal Factor Translocation

The tripartite anthrax toxin consists of protective antigen, lethal factor (LF), and edema factor. PA63 (the 63-kDa, C-terminal part of protective antigen) forms heptameric channels in cell membranes that allow for the transport of LF and edema factor into the cytosol. These channels are mushroom shaped, with a ring of seven phenylalanine residues (known as the phenylalanine clamp) lining the junction between the cap and the stem. It is known that when LF is translocated through the channel, the phenylalanine clamp creates a seal that causes an essentially complete block of conduction. In order to examine ion conductance in the stem of the channel, we used Venus yellow fluorescent protein as a molecular stopper to trap LFN (the 30-kDa, 263-residue N-terminal segment of LF), as well as various truncated constructs of LFN, in mutant channels in which the phenylalanine clamp residues were mutated to alanines. Here we present evidence that ion movement occurs within the channel stem (but is stopped, of course, at the phenylalanine clamp) during protein translocation. Furthermore, we also propose that the lower region of the stem plays an important role in securing peptide chains during translocation.
Electrodics: mesoscale physicochemical interactions in lithium-ion batteries

Recent years have witnessed an explosion of interest and research endeavor in lithium-ion batteries to enable vehicle electrification. In particular, a critical imperative is to accelerate innovation for improved performance, life and safety of lithium-ion batteries for electric drive vehicles. Lithium ion batteries are complex, dynamical systems which include a multitude of coupled physicochemical processes encompassing electronic/ionic/diffusive transport in solid/electrolyte phases, electrochemical and phase change reactions and diffusion induced stress generation in multi-scale porous electrode microstructures. While innovations in nanomaterials and nanostructures have spurred the recent advancements, fundamental understanding of the electrode processing – microstructure – performance interplay is of paramount importance. In this presentation, mesoscale physicochemical interactions in lithium-ion battery electrodes will be elucidated.
Pulmonary aspergillosis: a clinical update

Aspergillus spp may cause a variety of pulmonary diseases, depending on immune status and the presence of underlying lung disease. These manifestations range from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in severely immunocompromised patients, to chronic necrotizing aspergillosis in patients with chronic lung disease and/or mildly compromised immune systems. Aspergilloma is mainly seen in patients with cavitary lung disease, while allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is described in patients with hypersensitivity to Aspergillus antigens. Recent major advances in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary aspergillosis include the introduction of non-invasive tests, and the development of new antifungal agents, such as azoles and echincandins, that significantly affect the management and outcome of patients with pulmonary aspergillosis. This review provides a clinical update on the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of the major syndromes associated with pulmonary aspergillosis.
Self-assembled SiGe dots

We review recent progress in the growth and characterization of Si 1-x Ge x islands and Ge dots on (001) Si. We discuss the evolution of the island morphology with Si 1-x Ge x coverage, and the effect of growth parameters or post-growth annealing on the shape of the islands and dots. We outline some of the structural, and optical properties of Si 1-x Ge x islands and review recent progress in the determination of their composition and strain distribution. We describe the use of undulated Si 1-x Ge x islands superlattices for infrared detection at telecommunication wavelengths. We discuss various approaches currently being investigated to engineer Si 1-x Ge x quantum dots and in particular control their size, density and spatial distribution. For example, we show how C pre-deposition on Si (001) can influence nucleation and growth of Ge islands. We also show how low temperature Si homoepitaxy can lead to a particular surface cusp morphology that may promote dot nucleation.
Robust Control Design for Linear Systems Using an Ecological Sign-Stability Approach

T HE fields of population biology and ecology deal with the analysis of growth and decline of populations in nature and the struggle of species to predominate over one another. Many mathematical population models were proposed over the last few decades, with the most significant contributions coming from the work of Lotka [1] and Volterra [2]. The predator–prey models of Lotka andVolterra, studied extensively by ecologists and population biologists, consists of a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations, and stability of the equilibrium solutions of these models has been a subject of intense study for students of life sciences [3–6]. For example, many standard textbooks on mathematical models in biology, such as [7], cover these issues. These small perturbations from equilibrium can be modeled as linear state-space systems in which the state-space plant matrix is the Jacobian, and it is important to analyze the stability of these state-space (Jacobian) matrices. For communities of five or more species, the order of these matrices is high enough to cause difficulties in assessing the stability. For this reason, to circumvent these difficulties, alternative concepts of reduced computation have been proposed, and one such important concept is that of qualitative (or sign) stability. The technique of qualitative stability applies ideally to large-scale systems in which there is no quantitative information about the interrelationship of species or subsystems. Themotivation for this method actually came from economics. The paper by economists Quirk and Ruppert [8] was later followed by further research and application to ecology by May [9] and Jeffries [10]. Note that in a complex community composed of many species, numerous interactions take place. The magnitudes of the mutual effects of species on each other are seldom accurately known, but one can establish with greater certainty whether predation, competition, or other influences are present. This means that in the Jacobian matrix, one does not technically know the actualmagnitudes of the partial derivatives, but their signs are known with certainty. Thus, the qualitative information about the species is represented by the signs , , or 0. Thus, the (i,j)th entry of the statespace (Jacobian) matrix simply consists of signs , , or 0, with the positive sign indicating that species j has a positive influence on species i, the negative sign indicating a negative influence, and zero indicating no influence. An alternative visual representation of this situation can also be given by a directed graph (or, simply, a digraph), as shown in Fig. 1. For example, with respect to the digraph of Fig. 1a, the corresponding sign-pattern matrix is given by
Propulsive and maneuvering performance of two joints biorobotic autonomous undersea vehicle SPC-III

Biorobotic autonomous undersea vehicle SPC-III, developed by Robotics institute, BeiHang University, is a mission-scale autonomous submersible vehicle. The submersible vehicle possesses a torpedo-shape rigid hull. The aft section is a two joints caudal fin thruster driven by two servo motors, which may be substituted by a screw propeller maintaining the same body shape. The accurate motion of the caudal fin is achieved by adjusting the coordinated motion of the two servo motors. Experiments have been conducted to measure power consumption and maneuverability of caudal fin thruster and screw propeller under different speeds. Using caudal fin propulsion and carrying Water Quality Multiprobes, the vehicle has successfully performed a 49-km probe experiment and collected concentration distributing data on blue-green algae in the water of Taihu Lake.
An Information System prototype for analysis of astronaut/computer interaction during simulated EVA

During human exploration of space, a suited crewmember needs effective and accurate information about their spacesuit's operation. Ideally, the information should be presented in a manner that provides real-time situational awareness and increases task efficiency and operational autonomy. Typically, however, the effective display of information has been limited by the relatively low resolution of radiation-tolerant sunlight readable displays and the low processing power available on currently deployed spacesuits. As part of NASA's Enabling Technology Development and Demonstrations Program, a prototype EVA Information System has been constructed to test and study human-computer interaction and system operations. In one tested configuration, the Information System provides acquisition and display of science data via a cuff-mounted graphical display and keypad and features a camera capable of capturing both still images and high-definition video. The Information System provides a capability for astronaut-computer interaction beyond currently deployed state-of-the art EVA systems. Using the Information System, crewmembers may receive timeline-based procedures, general procedures, and text messages from either ground or space-based EVA mission controllers. Additionally, using the EVA Information System prototype, crewmembers can generate and analyze scientific artifacts (pictures, videos, or voice notes) and deliver them to the ground-based science team for detailed analysis. This paper discusses the software architecture of the prototype Information System software and the user feedback obtained from field testing the system at NASA's Desert Research and Technologies Studies (Desert RATS) activity.
Intimate partner violence and alcohol use: Exploring the role of drinking in partner violence and its implications for intervention

A large and growing empirical literature reveals a robust relationship between alcohol use and the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the role of alcohol use and intoxication in episodes of IPV, particularly with respect to alcohol's potential causal or facilitative function in the occurrence of partner aggression, remains a source of much controversy and considerable debate. The purpose of this review is to (a) describe briefly IPV and the types of behaviors subsumed under this label, (b) examine evidence for the link between alcohol use and IPV, (c) explicate factors (e.g., antisocial personality disorder) that may moderate this relationship, and (d) discuss the primary conceptual models put forth to explain this association. Recommendations for interventions that consider the relationship between alcohol use and IPV are also provided.
A comparison of oocyte donors and gestational carrier/surrogate attitudes towards third party reproduction.

Purpose: This study was designed to compare levels of satisfaction for ovum donors and gestational carriers/surrogates (GCS), investigate attitudes, and explore beliefs about the role genetics, gestation, and environment play in various characteristics.
Personality and neuropsychological correlates of bullying behavior

The psychological and neuropsychological correlates of bullying behavior were examined in a group of 41 middle school students (age range 11–15 years) and group-matched controls. The students were identified as bullies by school administrators, their teachers, and self-ratings. Parents of children in both groups completed the Coolidge Personality and Neuropsychological Inventory, a 200-item, DSM-IV-TR aligned, parent-as-respondent, standardized measure. It was found that bullying behavior was associated more with DSM-IV-TR Axis I diagnoses of conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and depressive disorder than in matched controls. Bullying behavior was also correlated more with Axis II diagnoses of passive–aggressive, histrionic, paranoid, and dependent personality disorders than in matched controls. Bullying behavior was also more correlated with measures of neuropsychological dysfunction and executive function deficits. An implication of these findings is that traditional short-term psychotherapeutic interventions for bullying behavior may be of limited value given the complex nature of the associated psychopathology. 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thin Film WSe2 for Use as a Photovoltaic Absorber Material

An excellent candidate for an earth abundant absorber material is WSe2 which can be directly grown as a p-type semiconductor with a band gap near 1.4 eV. In this work we present the structural, optical, and electrical properties of thin film WSe2 grown via the selenization of sputter deposited tungsten films. We will show that highly textured films with an optical band gap in range of 1.4 eV, and absorption coefficients greater than 105/cm across the visible spectrum can be easily achieved. In addition we will present Hall Effect and carrier density measurements as well, where will show densities in the 1017cm-3 range and p-type Hall mobilities greater than 10 cm2/V-s range can be obtained. We employ these results to numerically simulate solar cells based on this material, where we will show efficiencies greater than 20% are possible.
SHYNESS AND PERCEPTIONS OF PARENTAL BEHAVIOR

Previous research has indicated that parental behavior affects development of shyness in children. Specifically decreased levels of parental acceptance tend to foster social anxiety and shy behavio...
Changes in neuropsychological functioning following treatment with risperidone, olanzapine, and conventional antipsychotic medications.

Objective To compare changes in neuropsychological functioning over time among adults with schizophrenia treated with atypical and conventional antipsychotics, controlling for phenomenological changes, medication dosage, concomitant use of anticholinergic medications, and practice effects. Methods In a larger clinical trial, 108 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomly assigned to medication groups (risperidone, olanzapine, or conventional medications), treated in an open-label design, and monitored prospectively for 12 months using standard neuropsychological and symptomatology instruments. Results Significant differential effects were evident on the ability to maintain and rapidly shift mental set within a psychomotor task, with patients in the conventional medication group consistently making more errors over time until the 12-month follow-up, when the olanzapine group made significantly more errors. Significant differential effects were also evident on delayed memory, with patients receiving olanzapine improving more steadily over time until the 12-month follow-up, when patients in the conventional group were able to recall significantly more. Positive and negative symptomatology was a significant, inversely related covariate on most of the cognitive measures examined. Conclusions The atypical and conventional medications examined were not consistently differential enhancers of cognitive functioning on disparate cognitive functioning measures over time. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical applications of preimplantation genetic testing

Genetic diagnostic technologies are rapidly changing the way medicine is practiced. Preimplantation genetic testing is a well established application of genetic testing within the context of in vitro fertilization cycles. It involves obtaining a cell(s) from a developing embryo in culture, which is then subjected to genetic diagnostic analysis; the resulting information is used to guide which embryos are transferred into the uterus. The potential applications and use of this technology have increased in recent years. Experts agree that preimplantation genetic diagnosis is clinically appropriate for many known genetic disorders. However, some applications of such testing, such as preimplantation genetic screening for aneuploidy, remain controversial. Clinical data suggest that preimplantation genetic screening may be useful, but further studies are needed to quantify the size of the effect and who would benefit most.
Beyond the Willowbrook Wars: The Courts and Institutional Reform

It is now more than thirty years since the Supreme Court, in Brown v. Board of Education (1954),' unleashed the federal courts as an engine of liberal social policy reform. Debate and political controversy about the legitimacy of this new "public law litigation"2 role has been heated and extensive, with criticisms ranging from ideological broadsides about the evils of judicial activism-which is, in the words of Richard Morgan, a rights industry that has "run amok" and which is "disabling America"3-to a more particular concern with excessive judicial entanglement in the affairs of governmental institutions such as schools, prisons, and hospitals for the mentally ill and the mentally retarded. Debate over the proper role of the federal courts in the formulation and enforcement of social policy is much broader than the question of institutional reform. But challenges to the conditions in these institutions, which have become known as "extended impact" or institutional reform cases, enable us to focus discretely and efficiently on the interface between constitutional theory and evolving views of what federal courts can and should be doing. Critics argue that the federal courts have neither the legitimate right nor the capacity, without compromising their essential "courtness," to intervene in the management of such institutions.4 In this context, legitimacy is defined at two levels. First, schools, prisons, and hospitals have traditionally been regarded as primarily if not solely within the regulatory authority
Design and implementation of an on-line Chemical Dictionary (CHEMLINE)

CHEMLINE, the chemical nomenclature adjunct file to TOXLINE, was designed and implemented through a three-step process. The file was first available for on-line interactive searching in January 1974 as the TOXLINE Chemical Dictionary using the STIMS/RECON software system. The second version was available from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) using the ELHILL2 software system. The third version is currently available from the NLM using the ELHILL3 software system. The file content was determined by the availability of data and the needs of the TOXLINE users. The data in CHEMLINE is obtained from the CAS Registry system files. The organization of the file was based on the requirements of the three search and retrieval systems. Changes in file structures required evaluation of the data and the development of new specifications prior to creating the file in each software system. Techniques for creating inverted file terms for search purposes from chemical names, molecular formula, ring information, and Wis-wesser Line Notations are described.