cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forming concentric double-emulsion droplets using electric fields

Abstract Double-emulsion droplets may be assembled into highly concentric shells using a uniform AC electric field to induce dipole/dipole interactions. The resulting force centers the inner droplet with respect to the outer shell if the outer droplet has a higher dielectric constant than the ambient, suspending liquid. The dielectric constant of the inner droplet does not influence this condition. Applying an electric field >10 4 V rms /m achieves centering of approximately 3–6 mm diameter droplets suspended in ∼10 centipoise liquids within ∼60 s. If the outer shell is electrically conductive, the effect depends strongly on frequency. In the case of the monomer-containing liquids requisite to forming foam shells for laser target fabrication, the electrical field frequency must be ∼10 MHz or higher. Because of very stringent requirements imposed on the concentricity and sphericity of laser targets, electric field induced droplet distortion must be minimized. Consequently, the liquid constituents must be matched in density to ∼0.1%.
Significance of the Evolutionary α1,3-Galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) Gene Inactivation in Preventing Extinction of Apes and Old World Monkeys

The α1,3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT or GGTA1) gene displays unique evolutionary characteristics. This gene appeared early in mammalian evolution and is absent in other vertebrates. The α1,3GT gene is active in marsupials, nonprimate placental mammals, lemurs (prosimians) and New World monkeys, encoding the α1,3GT enzyme that synthesizes a carbohydrate antigen called “α-gal epitope.” The α-gal epitope is present in large numbers on cell membrane glycolipids and glycoproteins. The α1,3GT gene was inactivated in ancestral Old World monkeys and apes by frameshift single-base deletions forming premature stop codons. Because of this gene inactivation, humans, apes, and Old World monkeys lack α-gal epitopes and naturally produce an antibody called the “anti-Gal antibody” which binds specifically to α-gal epitopes and which is the most abundant antibody in humans. The evolutionary event that resulted in the inactivation of the α1,3GT gene in ancestral Old World primates could have been mediated by a pathogen endemic to Eurasia–Africa landmass that exerted pressure for selection of primate populations lacking the α-gal epitope. Once the α-gal epitope was eliminated, primates could produce the anti-Gal antibody, possibly as means of defense against pathogens expressing this epitope. This assumption is supported by the fossil record demonstrating an almost complete extinction of apes in the late Miocene and failure of Old World monkeys to radiate into multiple species before that period. A present outcome of this evolutionary event is the anti-Gal-mediated rejection of mammalian xenografts expressing α-gal epitopes in humans, apes, and Old World monkeys.
Pseudo-Runge-Kutta Methods of the Fifth Order

A family of fifth-order pseudo-Runge-Kutta methods for the numerical solution of systems of ordinary differential equations is presented. A procedure for determining an “optimal” set of parameters is given, and several examples are considered. The principal advantage of these methods is that, for a fixed stepsize, they require two less function evaluations at each step than do the corresponding fifth-order Runge-Kutta methods. Their principal disadvantage is that they are not self-starting; they require two initial values. Numerically, pseudo-Runge-Kutta and Runge-Kutta methods seem to be comparable.
Ultrafast capillary electrophoretic analysis of cereal storage proteins and its applications to protein characterization and cultivar differentiation.

Free zone capillary electrophoresis conditions have been improved to allow rapid (2−8 min) separations of grain proteins from several cereals (wheat, oats, rice, barley, and rye) with high resolution and reproducibility. This new method utilized the isoelectric compound iminodiacetic acid (IDA) in conjunction with 20% acetonitrile and 0.05% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Cultivars of all cereals tested could be differentiated in 3 min, including wheat, using either prolamin or glutelin protein patterns. Resolution was similar to or higher than that of separations in other acidic buffers. Migration time repeatability was excellent with run-to-run variability <1% RSD, day-to-day <1.4% RSD, and capillary-to-capillary <3.3% RSD. Because larger inner diameter capillaries (50 μm) could be used with this buffer, sensitivity was improved and capillary rinse times could be reduced when compared to smaller capillaries (25 μm i.d.). This also served to reduce total separation time so that the majority of cereal stora...
Dynamic friction measurements of MoS2 coated ball bearing surfaces

The friction behavior of MoS 2 coated bearing surfaces operating under ultra-low-speeds with velocity reversal is investigated. Forty-two sets of exclusively ultra-low-speed operating conditions were examined that include rotational speeds in the range of.01-1 deg/s, normal loads varying from 81.6 to 185.4 Nper ball, silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) and steel ball bearing elements and MoS 2 coating thicknesses of 4000 A and 10000 A. The friction torque of coated bearing surfaces was found to exhibit Dahl hysteresis behavior. General trends for the two unknown parameters of Dahl's model, the rest slope, σ, and the steady torque. Ts, were established for MoS 2 solid lubricant films. The results of the coated friction measurements were compared to that of oil-lubricated bearings operating under similar conditions. In addition, a series of experiments were conducted to examine the film behavior at operating speeds from .01-50 deg/sec. Under the conditions tested, the coated friction torque was found to be relatively invariant with velocity. Implications to the field of controls, as applied to precision positioning and tracking instruments are discussed.
Isoelectric focusing of proteins in rewetted ultrathin polyacrylamide gel layers

Abstract Ultrathin layers of polyacrylamide gel bound to glass can be washed, air-dried, and stored for at least 1 year before rewetting in ampholyte solutions for isoelectric focusing. Short-term drying affects neither fluorescent banding of the ampholytes (not evident in conventional gels) nor resolution of complex protein mixtures while prolonged storage seems to have no deleterious effects. Layers are fully functional after soaking for 10 min in solutions that may contain 8 m urea and 10% sorbitol. Rewetting allows the rapid survey of different ampholytes, gradient stabilizers, separator compounds, or protein reagents and is adaptable to concentration modification of the pH gradient (alone or with a gel overlay), to focusing in a transverse urea gradient, and to electrophoresis across a preformed pH gradient. The procedure avoids protein modification by residual polymerizing reagents while adding to the convenience and economy of using ultrathin layers in relatively small formats.
Real-valued average consensus over noisy quantized channels

This paper concerns the average consensus problem with the constraint of quantized communication between nodes. A broad class of algorithms is analyzed, in which the transmission strategy, which decides what value to communicate to the neighbours, can include various kinds of rounding, probabilistic quantization, and bounded noise. The arbitrariness of the transmission strategy is compensated by a feedback mechanism which can be interpreted as a self-inhibitory action. The result is that the average of the nodes state is not conserved across iterations, and the nodes do not converge to a consensus; however, we show that both errors can be made as small as desired. Bounds on these quantities involve the spectral properties of the graph and can be proved by employing elementary techniques of LTI systems analysis.
Ambiguous events and maxmin expected utility

Abstract We study the properties associated to various definitions of ambiguity [L.G. Epstein, J. Zhang, Subjective probabilities on subjectively unambiguous events, Econometrica 69 (2001) 265–306; P. Ghirardato et al., Differentiating ambiguity and ambiguity attitude, J. Econ. Theory 118 (2004) 133–173; K. Nehring, Capacities and probabilistic beliefs: a precarious coexistence, Math. Soc. Sci. 38 (1999) 197–213; J. Zhang, Subjective, ambiguity, expected utility and Choquet expected utility, Econ. Theory 20 (2002) 159–181] in the context of Maximin Expected Utility (MEU). We show that each definition of unambiguous events produces certain restrictions on the set of priors, and completely characterize each definition in terms of the properties it imposes on the MEU functional. We apply our results to two open problems. First, in the context of MEU, we show the existence of a fundamental incompatibility between the axiom of “Small unambiguous event continuity” (Epstein and Zhang, 2001) and the notions of unambiguous event due to Zhang (2002) and Epstein and Zhang (2001). Second, we show that, in the context of MEU, the classes of unambiguous events according to either Zhang (2002) or Epstein and Zhang (2001) are always λ -systems. Finally, we reconsider the various definitions in light of our findings, and identify some new objects (Z-filters and EZ-filters) corresponding to properties which, while neglected in the current literature, seem relevant to us.
A system of strings and springs in three dimensions

Abstract A three-dimensional array of classical strings and springs oscillating in three dimensions is investigated with combined analytical-numerical tools. The strings are continuous and linear. The long time behavior of the system changes dramatically when the springs are changed from linear to non-linear. The equipartition of energy, even among the particles, is badly violated. The power spectrum is consistent with chaotic motion. The maximal Lyapunov exponent is vanishing within our approximation. The most remarkable finding is a certain pairing of time averages for the particles, which occurs for many initial conditions in the non-linear case.
Discovery and Revision via Incremental Hill Climbing

An important issue in machine learning concerns how initial discoveries learned in a domain must be revised over time to account for newly learned beliefs. When performing this task, existing truth maintenance systems, such as the TMS an ATMS, tend to keep too many alternate beliefs in memory. When searching for consistency among beliefs, and ATMS typically finds all solutions. ATMS finds only one, but beliefs not part of the current theory are still kept in memory in case they become current at a later time. Neither approach uses heuristics to decide which beliefs should be active, and thus in some domains they do too much work. In this paper I describe Revolver, a discovery system that conducts more reasoned belief revision through an incremental, hill-climbing approach. Amain assumption of the program is that all beliefs should not be stored over time; Revolver uses a heuristic evaluation function to decide how beliefs should be revised to account for new information. First, I will illustrate the program’s behavior with a detailed example from the domain of chemical discovery. An analysis of the system ‘s behaviour follows, with particular emphasis on issues pertaining to its belief revision process. Third, I compare Revolver to other belief revision approaches. Ideas are then presented for synthesizing these various methods, followed by a summary and closing remarks.
The Effect of Acetohydroxamic Acid on Extraction and Speciation of Plutonium

Abstract The effect of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) on speciation of transuranic elements has been investigated in the extraction and spectrophotometric experiments relevant to UREX extraction process. The distribution ratios decreased with increased concentration of added AHA rapidly, and a considerable ability of AHA to form complexes with plutonium even under strong acidic conditions was confirmed. Using FITEQL 4.0, a computer modeling program for equilibrium experimental data, the speciation distribution of tetravalent plutonium was determined. Acetohydroxamate species of Pu(IV) identified in Vis-NIR spectra of the extraction organic phase confirms formation of extractable neutral solvates of ternary acetohydroxamate-nitrate complexes of plutonium with tributyl phosphate (TBP).
Bridging the old and new worlds

Chester S. Chard. Northeast Asia In Prehistory. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1974. xvi + 214 pp. Tables, illustrations, maps, chapter bibliographies, and index. $12.50 (cloth).
The Body Matrix: A Phenomenological Exploration of Student Bodies On- line

The article explores student experiences of their bodies in an asynchronous on-line learning environment, web-based computer conference (WCC), using hermeneutic phenomenology as a research method. Students in the study experience their bodies to be both here, seated in front of their computers, and there, on-line. The language they use to describe their experience of body includes metaphors around sound, vision, and touch. The sensual language raises pedagogical questions to be considered in on-line courses. A narrative technique is offered as one strategy to address some of the pedagogical questions raised throughout the article.
Leptin Regulates Neointima Formation After Arterial Injury Through Mechanisms Independent of Blood Pressure and the Leptin Receptor/STAT3 Signaling Pathways Involved in Energy Balance

Background— Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone critical for energy homeostasis and implicated in vascular disease processes. The relevant cellular leptin receptor pools and signaling pathways involved in leptin-related vascular phenotypes in vivo are unclear. Methods and Results— Arterial injury was induced in wild-type (wt), leptin-deficient (lepob/ob), and leptin receptor–deficient (leprdb/db) mice. Compared with wt mice, lepob/ob and leprdb/db mice were protected from the development of neointima. Bone marrow transplantation experiments between wt and leprdb/db mice indicated that the vascular protection in leprdb/db mice was not attributable to lack of leptin receptor expression on bone marrow–derived elements. To investigate the role of the lepr-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in the response to vascular injury, leprs/s mice homozygous for a leptin receptor defective in STAT3 signaling underwent femoral arterial injury. Despite similar obesity...
Principled methods for advising reinforcement learning agents

An important issue in reinforcement learning is how to incorporate expert knowledge in a principled manner, especially as we scale up to real-world tasks. In this paper, we present a method for incorporating arbitrary advice into the reward structure of a reinforcement learning agent without altering the optimal policy. This method extends the potential-based shaping method proposed by Ng et al. (1999) to the case of shaping functions based on both states and actions. This allows for much more specific information to guide the agent - which action to choose - without requiring the agent to discover this from the rewards on states alone. We develop two qualitatively different methods for converting a potential function into advice for the agent. We also provide theoretical and experimental justifications for choosing between these advice-giving algorithms based on the properties of the potential function.
A Feminist Approach to Quotas and Comparative Politics

Mainstream comparative politics (CP) rarely attends to gender scholarship. Conventional wisdom urges gender scholars to speak to the broader concerns of CP to avoid this marginalization. But feminist concerns are broader than those of CP. Feminism promotes changes in power relations to advance “justice for women and everyone” and offers tools for assessing injustice (Weldon 2011, 443). In contrast, CP promotes stability and order that benefits elites; it values predictive models over usefulness (Clarke and Primo 2012). How can feminist quota scholars address their broader concerns and speak to CP? I argue that we need to lead with feminism. Doing so not only ensures that our work will address broader concerns, but also ensures that we will have insights to offer CP that demonstrate the value of feminist analysis. Leading with feminism, I evaluate whether legislative quotas for women change the political dynamics sustaining gender injustice. I find that they rarely do so. I then draw on feminist quota scholarship to highlight the limits of CP toward democracy and institutional change to demonstrate the value of feminist analysis. I conclude with suggestions on how to advance a feminist agenda in the discipline.
Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 2001

Abstract The 2001 eastern North Pacific hurricane season is reviewed. It was a near-average season in terms of the number of systems, with 15 named tropical cyclones of which 8 became hurricanes. One tropical cyclone made landfall in Mexico and two reached category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. A description of each named cyclone is provided, and track and intensity forecasts for the season are evaluated.
Photoluminescence of Bragg gratings in germanosilicate fibres excited at 488 nm

The authors have observed photoluminescence peaked near 667 nm from Bragg gratings written in germanosilicate fibres upon excitation by 488 nm radiation. The observed luminescence spectrum is consistent with the 1.9 eV spectrum owing to nonbridging oxygen hole centres in silica and germanium doped silica glasses. The strength of the luminescence appears to vary significantly depending on the fibre composition, but did not depend strongly on hydrogen content in one type of fibre studied.
Developments in Synthetic Biology are Altering the IP Imperatives of Biotechnology

While the accomplishments of the biotechnology industry have been substantial, recent technological advances promise to dramatically increase the power and utility of the discipline over the coming years. The term “synthetic biology” has been coined to describe the application of these powerful new tools to the engineering of synthetic genetic sequences and organisms. In essence, synthetic biology represents the next iteration in the ongoing evolution of biotechnology, and hopes run high that in time, the fruits of synthetic biology will dwarf the past successes of conventional biotechnology. There is, however, some concern that the current patent-centric approach to Intellectual Property (IP), which has for years been the norm in biotechnology, is ill-suited for the needs of synthetic biologists and synthetic biology companies. This Article addresses these concerns and considers potential modifications to the IP system that might render it better suited to promote progress in synthetic biology. The Article begins with an overview of conventional biotechnology, including a discussion of the critical role IP has played in the growth and development of the conventional biotechnology industry. Next it describes the ongoing synthetic biology revolution, as illustrated by specific examples of various types of synthetic biology companies and user-innovators. The Article then explores the emerging IP imperatives of synthetic biology, highlighting numerous deficiencies under the current IP regime. It concludes with suggestions for adapting IP to the imperatives of synthetic biology, including a proposal to enlist copyright in the protection of synthetic biology innovations.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE LOW-LYING ELECTRONIC STATES OF WO2

The 364 nm negative ion photoelectron spectrum of WO2- is obtained. The spectrum reveals that four different electronic states are accessed in the neutral molecule following electron detachment. Fr...
Lecturer Program as Public Relations

(1974). Lecturer Program as Public Relations. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 81, No. 5, pp. 514-515.
Comparison of self-written waveguide techniques and bulk index matching for low-loss polymer waveguide interconnects

Polymer waveguides (PWGs) are used within photonic interconnects as inexpensive and versatile substitutes for traditional optical fibers. The PWGs are typically aligned to silica-based optical fibers for coupling. An epoxide elastomer is then applied and cured at the interface for index matching and rigid attachment. Self-written waveguides (SWWs) are proposed as an alternative to further reduce connection insertion loss (IL) and alleviate marginal misalignment issues. Elastomer material is deposited after the initial alignment, and SWWs are formed by injecting ultraviolet (UV) light into the fiber or waveguide. The coupled UV light cures a channel between the two differing structures. A suitable cladding layer can be applied after development. Such factors as longitudinal gap distance, UV cure time, input power level, polymer material selection and choice of solvent affect the resulting SWWs. Experimental data are compared between purely index-matched samples and those with SWWs at the fiber-PWG interface. It is shown that < 1 dB IL per connection can be achieved by either method and results indicate lowest potential losses associated with a fine-tuned self-writing process. Successfully fabricated SWWs reduce overall processing time and enable an effectively continuous low-loss rigid interconnect.
Experimental Variables Effecting Chain Growth in Conductive Adhesives

Chains of conductive particles within a polymer matrix can be used in place of solder joints in electronics manufacturing. Such materials can be made such that electrical conduction occurs in only one direction. Fabricating such an electrical contact requires that the conducting particles be aligned and touching, thus providing a continuous path. This can be done by applying an electric field to a mixture containing conducting particles in a polymer. Preliminary work will be presented assessing the effect of electric field strength (applied voltage), viscosity (temperature), frequency (DC and AC) on the kinetics of chain formation. A designed experiment showed only viscosity or temperature to be statistically significant. However, it is believed that voltage and frequency are factors which will effect the chain kinetics. Specifically it is proposed that there is an optimal combination of frequency and voltage for chain formation. Based on these results a more systematic study has been proposed.
The Demise of the Newspaper

Historically, newspapers in the United States were owned by families. They were the family business, and as such, were passed on from generation to generation. Initially, cities and towns had one or two newspapers. Large cities had multiple newspapers. Eventually, most places had , at least, two editions (morning and evening) of the same newspaper. Newspapers served to refresh and enlighten those who were already educated. However, the same newspapers also served to teach those who were just learning to read.
Axial distribution of filtering response of fiber Bragg gratings

The axial distribution of filtering response of fiber Bragg grating(FBG) along grating space is investigated,to clarify the local filtering features of FBG.Firstly,as for uniform,apodized and chirped FBGs,their axial distributions of optical field within the refection band are obtained.In uniform FBGs,the optical field is mostly reflected inside the first half length,and the local optical reflection along the whole length is asymmetric.The local optical reflection in apodized FBGs shows a uniform and symmetric distribution.In chirped FBGs,the optical field at different wavelengths is mostly reflected at different positions of grating length,following the chirp effect.The influence of refractive index and grating length on the axial distribution of reflected optical field is then analyzed.The increase of refractive index modulation leads to that the optical reflected field becomes more concentrated to the first half length,while the rise of grating length shows little impact on the local reflection area.In addition,the axial distributions of sampled FBG and sampled FBG with equivalent phase shift are analyzed as well,resulting in the exact influence of sampling function and equivalent phase shift on the axial distribution.
Myelomeningocoele children perioperative care

Objective:myelomeningocoele perioperative care measures.Methods: I branch 9 cases myelomeningocoele children,retrospective analysis in perioperative adopt a series of nursing countermeasures.Results: all motality,did not happen nursing complication.Conclusion: myelomeningocoele except comprehensive correct operation and comprehensive treatment outside,strict quality perioperative care is very crucial,can promote postoperative rehabilitation,improve children living quality.
Survey and analysis on health-related knowledge awareness and influencing factors among primary school students in Jiangsu Province

Objective To understand the current situation of health-related knowledge and behaviors mastered by primary school students in Jiangsu Province,and find out influencing factors.Methods A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 2850 students which were sampled by two-staged cluster sampling method.The information about health-related knowledge and behaviors according to the second level of "Health Education Guidancein Primary and Middle School"was collected.Results The awareness rate of health knowledge was 83.75% and the formation rate of healthy behaviors was 76.74% in primary school students in Jiangsu Province.The awareness rates and behaviorformation rates of girls were higher than that of boys in primary schoolsand the differences were statistically significant(P0.05).Region(OR=1.505) and health promoting school(OR=1.240) were showed as influential factors of health awareness by logistic regression analysis.Conclusion The mastery of health knowledge in primary school students in Jiangsu Province was good overall while differences existed between genders and regions.Targeted measures on health education should be carried outaccording to the influential factors and the establishment of health promoting school should be promoted.
Present situation and countermeasures on Guangdong agricultural scientific & technology talents

This paper analyzed the present situation of the agricultural scientific technology talents in Guangdong.The results show that the scale and structure of talents are improved as well as a high level talent team is set up. At the meantime, compared with the Guangdong modern agriculture need, the talents' quantity, especially the high level talents in certain fields is insufficient. And the regional and industrial distribution of the agricultural scientific technology talents is maldistribution. In order to improve the quality of the agricultural scientific technology talents in Guangdong, the government needs to improve the agricultural talents training mechanism, create good development external environment and optimize the incentive mechanism, etc.
Methods for Studies of Protein Interactions with Different DNA Methyltransferases

There are now many methods available for studying protein interactions between DNA methltransferases (DNMTs) and their binding partners. Here we describe a step-by-step procedure to identify whether proteins of interest interact with DNMTs by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay in transiently transfected cells. Though one mammalian cell is described, investigators can use the same method with other cell lines or primary cells for in vivo protein interaction studies.
Physiology and Pathophysiology of Diuretic Action

The term diuretic derives from the Greek diouretikos , meaning “to promote urine.” Although infusion of saline or ingestion of water would therefore qualify as being diuretic, the term diuretic usually connotes a drug that can reduce the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume by increasing urinary solute or water excretion. The term aquaretic has sometimes been applied to drugs that increase excretion of solute free water, distinguishing them from traditional diuretics, which increase solute and water together. The clinical picture of ECF volume expansion leading to edema or “dropsy” (from the Latin, hydrops ) has been recognized since the earliest days of recorded history. Ancient Egyptians referred to “flooding of the heart,” and the Hippocratic Corpus later suggested specific remedies for dropsical patients, although their results are not noted. In 1553, Paracelsus recorded the first truly effective form of therapy for dropsy, inorganic mercury (Calomel). Inorganic mercury remained the mainstay of diuretic treatment until the beginning of this century.
Effect of semiquantitative culture results from complex host surgical wounds on dehiscence rates

The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of positive bacterial cultures at the time of closure on dehiscence rates. Pre and post-debridement wound cultures from patients undergoing serial surgical debridement of infected wounds were compared with outcomes 30 days postoperatively. One-hundred patients were enrolled; 35 were excluded for incomplete culture data. Sixty-five patients were evaluated for species counts, including Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, and semi-quantitative culture data for each debridement. The post-debridement cultures on the date of closure had no growth in 42 patients (64.6%) of which 6 dehisced (14.3%), and 36 remained closed; with no statistically significant difference in dehiscence rates (p=0.0664). Pre-debridement cultures from the 1st debridement of the 65 patients showed 8 patients had no growth, 29 grew 1 species, 19 grew 2 species, and 9 had 3-5 species. There was a reduction in the number of species and improvement of semi-quantitative cultures with each subsequent debridement. The dehiscence rate for those who had 2 debridements (n=42) was 21.4% at 30 day follow-up and 21.7% in those who had 3 debridements (n=23). The number of debridements had no statistical significance on dehiscence rates. The presence of Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) on the day of closure was a statistically significant risk for dehiscence within 30 days (p=0.0091) postoperatively. This data demonstrates: (1) positive post-debridement cultures (scant/rare, growth in enrichment broth) at the time of closure did not affect overall dehiscence rates (p=0.0664), (2) the number of species and semi-quantitiative culture results both improved with each subsequent debridement, (3) the number of surgical debridement did not influence post-closure dehiscence rates. (4) Positive cultures containing Coagulase negative Staphylococcus at the time of closure is a risk factor for dehiscence (p=0.0091). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
High aspect ratio-titanium dioxide-stabilized zinc oxide nanowires for photocatalytic hydrogen gas harvester

We present a Titanium Dioxide (TiO 2 )/Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanowire array based on a fabrication process using hybrid hydrothermal/atomic layer deposition (ALD) for use as a solar-powered hydrogen gas (H 2 ) harvester. Three advancements have been accomplished in this work: (1) high aspect ratio TiO 2 nanowires (over 8μm), (2) improved stability over bare ZnO Nanowires during photocatalysis, and (3) excellent onset voltage (bias voltage needed) to split water into H 2 and O 2 gas. As such, this process opens up new class of micro/nano fabrication process for making efficient photocatalytic gas harvesting systems.
Activist-Led Divestitures

This study analyzes how divestitures impelled by activist investors in their campaigns against public corporations affect shareholder value, relative to divestitures that are not impelled by activi...
Abstract 160: The Role of Inhibitor of Differentiation 3 in the Regulation of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Within Epididymal Adipose Tissue During Early Stages of Obesity

Background Global deletion of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factor Inhibitor of Differentiation 3 (Id3) attenuates HFD-induced obesity. Specifically, Id3 -/- mice have less epididymal adipose tissue (eAT); an effect that may be linked to eAT inflammation. Adipose tissue macrophages play a key role in HFD-induced obesity and are recruited by Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1). MCP-1 is produced by a wide variety of cells. Id3 -/- mice have attenuated HFD-induced levels of MCP-1 mRNA and protein in eAT. Consistent with lower levels of MCP-1 in eAT, Id3 -/- mice also have decreased numbers of proinflammatory macrophages in eAT after HFD. Id3 is broadly expressed and involved in many disease pathways. It is currently unclear how Id3 is regulating MCP-1 in eAT, or in which MCP-1-producing cell. Results Id3 -/- mice and C57Bl/6 littermate controls were fed HFD (60% fat) for 1 and 4 weeks. Stromavascular fraction (SVF) cells from eAT were cultured with Brefeldin A to inhibit protein secretion. Intracellular levels of MCP-1 were analyzed via flow cytometry. Both 1 and 4 weeks of HFD increased the number of MCP-1+ cells, compared to chow-fed controls. There were two levels of MCP-1 expression. Adipocyte progenitors, identified as CD31-CD45-Ter119-CD34+CD29+Sca-1+, express high levels, and macrophages, identified as CD45+F4/80+CD11b+, express mid levels of MCP-1. MCP-1 high cells increased after 1 week of HFD, and this increase was amplified after 4 weeks of HFD. MCP-1 mid cells did not increase until 4 weeks of HFD. However, in Id3 -/- mice, both populations were decreased in number at both stages of HFD. MCP-1+ cells in Id3 -/- mice also had lower mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) compared to WT controls, indicating lower levels of MCP-1 per cell. Conclusion Global deletion of Id3 decreases the number of MCP-1 expressing cells in epididymal adipose tissue, as well as MCP-1 levels per cell. These data suggest that Id3 promotes an immediate response to HFD via an increase in the number of MCP-1 producing cells. There is also evidence that Id3 is directly regulating expression of MCP-1 within adipocyte progenitors. Further studies will elucidate the exact mechanism of regulation of both the number of cells and expression of MCP-1 by Id3.
Sitting Phase Monolayers of Polymerizable Phospholipids Create Dimensional, Molecular-Scale Wetting Control for Scalable Solution-Based Patterning of Layered Materials

The use of dimensionally ordered ligands on layered materials to direct local electronic structure and interactions with the environment promises to streamline integration into nanostructured electronic, optoelectronic, sensing, and nanofluidic interfaces. Substantial progress has been made in using ligands to control substrate electronic structure. Conversely, using the exposed face of the ligand layer to structure wetting and binding interactions, particularly with scalable solution- or spray-processed materials, remains a significant challenge. However, nature routinely utilizes wetting control at scales from nanometer to micrometer to build interfaces of striking geometric precision and functional complexity, suggesting the possibility of leveraging similar control in synthetic materials. Here, we assemble striped “sitting” phases of polymerizable phospholipids on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, producing a surface consisting of 1 nm wide hydrophilic stripes alternating with 5 nm wide hydrophobic ...
Therapeutic Utility of Opioids for Restless Legs Syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor neurologic disorder characterized by an unpleasant urge to move the legs, often accompanied by leg dysesthesias. Symptoms predominate in the evening or at night and often cause significant distress and disruption of sleep. Several non-opioid classes of drugs provide initial relief from the symptoms of RLS. Among these, however, the efficacy of dopamine agonists can wane over time or even paradoxically ‘augment’ the severity of symptoms during the course of long-term treatment. Opioids can alleviate RLS symptoms, even in patients who have become refractory to, or do not tolerate, other drugs. In a carefully selected group of patients with severe RLS that has not been effectively managed with other therapies, opioids may be an appropriate treatment.
Personality and world music preference of undergraduate non-music majors in South Korea and the United States:

We investigated contributors of undergraduate nonmusic majors’ preferences for world musics, specifically those from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Drawing upon the reciprocal feedback model as a...
The Blood–Brain Barrier: An Overview

Abstract The definition of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has been expanded to include the interaction of endothelium with other components of the vessel wall and with neurons and glial cells. This functional unit, termed the neurovascular unit maintains cerebral homeostasis in steady states and brain injury. The emphasis of this article is on cerebral endothelium, the best studied component of the neurovascular unit, and its permeability mechanisms in health and brain injury. Overall, a combination of hemodynamic, structural and molecular alterations affecting brain endothelium results in BBB breakdown in brain injury.
A 10-b statistical ADC employing pipelining and sub-ranging in 32nm CMOS

This paper presents a 10-b statistical ADC (S-ADC), achieving higher resolution (INL) than any previously reported S-ADC. This resolution requires a large number of statistical observations via comparators (12k) with offset variation, making code estimation a key challenge. The efficiency of estimation is enhanced by a coarse frontend estimator, employing pipelining and sub-ranging to arrive at a reduced range, which is then provided to a fine backend estimator. The total computations are reduced by 19×, compared to single-stage estimation over the entire analog range. Implemented in a 32nm process, the S-ADC achieves INL<1.73 LSB and total code estimation error (non-linearity and noise) <2.3 LSBrms. Designed to run at 20MHz, excess supply impedance limits comparator speed to 2MHz. The energy per 10-b conversion for the comparator array (at 2MHz) is 744 pJ and the energy per 10-b conversion of the digital estimator (at 20MHz) is 627 pJ.
Computational investigation of hydroplaning risk of wide-base truck tyres on roadway

AbstractThe risk of hydroplaning is one of the major safety concerns at rainy weather condition for both travel public and highway agencies. Most previous studies have focused on analysis of hydrop...
Exploration of acoustical and dynamical properties of organic nanoparticle assemblies for increased sound insulation

Low-density highly porous solid monolithic macroscopic objects, consisting of hierarchical mesoporous three-dimensional assemblies of nanoparticles (aerogels), have been previously pursued mainly for their low thermal conductivity. Unlike classical aerogels based on silica being fragile materials, structural fragility issue has been addressed with materials referred to as polymer-crosslinked (or X-) aerogels. X-aerogels are low-density materials, yet their mechanical strengths have been significantly increased. This work explores ductile aerogels in potential uses as constrained damping layers integrated into classical wallboards for drastically increased sound transmission losses without significantly increasing the board thickness and weight. Their ductility and mechanical strength enables light-weight X-aerogel panels of less than 1 cm in thickness to be integrated into gypsum wallboards. This work has experimentally investigated the integrated wallboards to achieve significantly increased sound transmission loss without significantly increasing thickness and weight of integrated wallboard system. This paper discusses preliminary investigations on experimental methods to characterize broadband dynamic properties of X-aerogels for better understanding of its excellent effect in drastically increased sound transmission loss. Some preliminary test results carried out in chamber-based random-incident measurements demonstrate high potentials in building acoustics applications and beyond.Low-density highly porous solid monolithic macroscopic objects, consisting of hierarchical mesoporous three-dimensional assemblies of nanoparticles (aerogels), have been previously pursued mainly for their low thermal conductivity. Unlike classical aerogels based on silica being fragile materials, structural fragility issue has been addressed with materials referred to as polymer-crosslinked (or X-) aerogels. X-aerogels are low-density materials, yet their mechanical strengths have been significantly increased. This work explores ductile aerogels in potential uses as constrained damping layers integrated into classical wallboards for drastically increased sound transmission losses without significantly increasing the board thickness and weight. Their ductility and mechanical strength enables light-weight X-aerogel panels of less than 1 cm in thickness to be integrated into gypsum wallboards. This work has experimentally investigated the integrated wallboards to achieve significantly increased sound transm...
Postinfectious and Postvaccinial Encephalomyelitis

Addressed are the features of postviral and postvaccinial syndromes affecting the CNS. The relationships among acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, EAE, and MS are discussed. Among the postvaccination syndromes covered are the neurologic sequelae of pertussis immunizations, with a description of a mouse model of this encephalopathy.
Family Communication Styles and Language Development

This study examines the effects of visual impairment on parent/child interaction. Six children (aged 1 to 3 years) with varying degrees of vision were video-recorded in naturalistic interactions wi...
Lamplight Stabilization for GPS Rb Atomic Clocks via RF-Power Control

Recent evidence indicates that the signal-in-space user-range-error (SIS-URE) for GPS is strongly influenced by the satellite atomic clock’s rubidium (Rb) lamplight intensity jumps. Following a proposal by Bloom and Bell, we have implemented RF-power control of an RF-discharge lamp of the type employed in Rb atomic frequency standards (RAFS). Since Rb lamplight intensity jumps are mapped onto the clock’s output frequency via the light-shift effect, stabilization of the Rb light emitted by the lamp has the potential to significantly improve the RAFS’ long-term frequency stability, and hence the GPS SIS-URE. Here, we not only demonstrate that RF-power control of the discharge lamp is possible, but also that by employing such control the fluctuations in Rb lamplight intensity can be reduced by orders of magnitude, providing a pathway for significant improvement in global navigation satellite systems.
Differential effects of left and right prefrontal cortex anodal transcranial direct current stimulation during probabilistic sequence learning.

Prefrontal cortices are engaged in motor sequence learning, but the literature is mixed on whether the prefrontal cortices aid or interfere with learning. In the current study, we used anodal trans...
Lichenoid reaction with granulomatous stomatitis: A retrospective histologic study of 47 patients.

Objectives Lichenoid granulomatous reaction can be subcategorized into lichenoid granulomatous dermatitis or lichenoid granulomatous stomatitis. It is described in the literature as demonstrating a band-like lichenoid infiltration with clusters of histiocytic or granuloma formation. In this study, we presented a large case series of lichenoid granulomatous stomatitis including demographics, histological features, and subcategories and compared findings with current literature. Methods and materials We retrieved all cases diagnosed with lichenoid reaction with granulomatous inflammation between January 1, 2000, and August 1, 2016, from the University of Florida Oral Pathology Biopsy Service Archives. Results A total of 47 patients with tissue from 50 biopsy sites were included. The majority of the cases were noted in females (64%) with a mean age of 59 years (range 30-88). Most patients were Caucasian, and the most common sites in descending order were: gingiva, buccal mucosa, vestibule, tongue, lip, palate, and occasional multifocal involvement. Clinical impressions by the treating clinicians included leukoplakia, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, squamous cell carcinoma, lichen planus, vesiculobullous disease, trauma, and allergy. The histologic features of these cases ranged from lichenoid mucositis with numerous aggregates of histiocytes to well-formed granulomas, in accordance with previous classifications of similar dermatologic lesions. All cases revealed positive CD 68 in the histiocytic infiltrates and were negative for microorganisms utilizing acid-fast bacilli, Grocott methenamine-silver, and periodic acid-Schiff stains. Conclusion Lichenoid granulomatous disease may be more common than previously reported; however, its etiology remains unknown and patients should be kept under long-term clinical follow-up.
Student motivation in co-operative groups: social interdependence theory

In August 1942 US troops landed on Guadalcanal (an island covered by dense, malaria-ridden jungle) and the battle for the Paciﬁc islands began in earnest. Hundreds of thousands of men were killed (24,000 died in the taking of Iwo Jima alone including the reporter, Ernie Pyle) before in June 1945 the Allies took Okinawa, an island within striking distance of the mainland of Japan.
The IRS Joins the Boardroom

There should be no place for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or, indeed, any other agency of government in the nation’s boardrooms. This constitutes an intrusion, even, a trespass of authority. Certainly, this should not occur unless and until there is evidence of a crime taking place. Otherwise, there is prior oversight, anathema to the free society. Thus, we respectfully distance ourselves from the finding of the court in United States v. Textron.
Direct 48-/1-V GaN-Based DC–DC Power Converter With Double Step-Down Architecture and Master–Slave AO 2 T Control

In modern power delivery systems, there has been an up-rising trend of migrating conventional two-stage dc–dc power conversion architecture to a single-stage one, in order to accomplish better efficiency and power density. In response to such a trend, this article presents a gallium nitride (GaN)-based power converter design that achieves direct 48-/1-V dc–dc power conversion with a single-stage double step-down (DSD) architecture. Operating at 2 MHz, it pushes the equivalent minimum duty ratio to a record low level of 2.1%. In order to improve closed-loop regulation, an adaptive ON- and OFF-time (AO2T) control with elastic ON-time modulation is proposed for both steady-state and transient response enhancement. For reinforced reliability in the dual-phase operation, a master-phase mirroring technique enables adaptive master–slave phase operation, accomplishing automatic phase current balancing. An IC prototype is implemented on a 180-nm high voltage (HV) bipolar, CMOS DMOS (BCD) process, with an active die area of 1.46 mm2. It achieves peak efficiencies of 85.4%, 79%, and 56.8% at 100 kHz, 250 kHz, and 2 MHz, respectively.
Regularity of a $$\overline{\partial }$$ ∂ ¯ -Solution Operator for Strongly $$\mathbf{C}$$ C -Linearly Convex Domains with Minimal Smoothness

We prove regularity of solutions of the $$\bar{\partial }$$ -problem in the Holder–Zygmund spaces of bounded, strongly $$\mathbf{C}$$ -linearly convex domains of class $$C^{1,1}$$ . The proofs rely on a new analytic characterization of said domains which is of independent interest, and on techniques that were recently developed by the first-named author to prove estimates for the $$\bar{\partial }$$ -problem on strongly pseudoconvex domains of class $$C^2$$ .