cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scaling of Power Generation With Dopant Density in Integrated Circuit Silicon Thermoelectric Generators

Integrated circuit (IC) thermoelectric generators (TEGs) fabricated by standard “65 nm” Si processing have been shown to be potentially competitive with (Bi, Sb)2Te3 TEGs in terms of maximum power generated, ${P}_{\text {max}}$ , per conduction cross-sectional area at a given temperature difference. Optimization of ${P}_{\text {max}}$ in these Si IC TEGs with respect to design and processing parameters remains an open issue. Here the dependence of ${P}_{\text {max}}$ on dopant density in Si thermopiles is examined both experimentally and by developing a simple physics-based model using empirical material parameters. Experimentally, ${P}_{\text {max}}$ improved by $\sim 1.8\times $ with increasing dopant density from ${3} \times {10}^{{17}}$ to ${4} \times {10}^{{18}}$ cm−3. Modeling shows that ${P}_{\text {max}} \propto $ thermopile figure-of-merit ZT , which scales with dopant density approximately as (density)0.24 from 1017 to 1019 cm−3. A model extrapolation to 1020 cm−3 predicts that parasitic resistance and thermal conductance will cause ${Z}$ and ${P}_{\text {max}}$ to have a maximum at densities above 1019 cm−3 and then decline at higher densities. Without parasitics ${Z}$ and ${P}_{\text {max}}$ would continue to increase roughly as (density)0.4. The results emphasize the importance of minimizing parasitics.
Assessment of romiplostim immunogenicity in adult patients in clinical trials and in a global postmarketing registry.

Antibodies to first-generation recombinant thrombopoietin (TPO) neutralized endogenous TPO and caused thrombocytopenia in some healthy subjects and chemotherapy patients. The second-generation TPO receptor agonist romiplostim, having no sequence homology to TPO, was developed to avoid immunogenicity. This analysis examined development of binding and neutralising antibodies to romiplostim or TPO among adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in 13 clinical trials and a global postmarketing registry. 60/961 (6·2%) patients from clinical trials developed anti-romiplostim-binding antibodies post-baseline. The first positive binding antibody was detected 14 weeks (median) after starting romiplostim, at median romiplostim dose of 2 µg/kg and median platelet count of 29.5 × 109 /l; most subjects had ≥98·5% of platelet assessments showing response. Neutralising antibodies to romiplostim developed in 0·4% of patients, but were unrelated to romiplostim dose and did not affect platelet count. Thirty-three patients (3·4%) developed anti-TPO-binding antibodies; none developed anti-TPO-neutralising antibodies. In the global postmarketing registry, 9/184 (4·9%) patients with spontaneously submitted samples had binding antibodies. One patient with loss of response had anti-romiplostim-neutralising antibodies (negative at follow-up). Collectively, anti-romiplostim-binding antibodies developed infrequently. In the few patients who developed neutralising antibodies to romiplostim, there was no cross-reactivity with TPO and no associated loss of platelet response.
"We Need it the Same Day": A Qualitative Study of Caregivers and Community Members' Perspectives Toward the Use of Point-of-Care Early Infant Diagnosis.

Background Only half of the infants tested for HIV ever receive results, leading to low uptake of treatment and increased mortality and morbidity rates. Point-of-care (POC) nucleic acid diagnostic machines allow for the possibility of same-day results. In Kenya and Zimbabwe, as part of an evaluation comparing standard of care with POC testing for early infant diagnosis, a qualitative substudy was undertaken to understand the acceptability of POC among caregivers of HIV-exposed infants and community members. Setting Kenya and Zimbabwe. Methods In Kenya, 74 interviews were conducted with caregivers, and 6 focus group discussions were conducted with male and female community members and elders. In Zimbabwe, we conducted 85 interviews and 8 focus group discussions. Data were collected in 2 rounds: 1 before the introduction of POC platforms and 1 after the platforms had been in use for at least 3 months. Interviews were conducted in local languages, and content analysis and constant comparison were used to identify key themes. Results Reduced time to receive test results lowered caregiver anxiety about the child's HIV status and allowed families to put children on treatment earlier. Printed POC results were seen by some as more trustworthy than conventional handwritten results, believing this reduced the chance of human error; a few distrusted HIV results were generated too quickly. Community awareness of POC was lower among caregivers of HIV-exposed infants. Conclusion Caregivers are generally very accepting of receiving POC HIV test results; however, additional sensitization among influential community members about the benefits of POC testing is needed.
Cost-effectiveness of routine calcitonin screening and fine-needle aspiration biopsy in preoperative diagnosis of medullary thyroid Cancer in the United States.

Abstract Objectives examine the cost-effectiveness of routine Calcitonin (Ctn) screening test in the United States. Materials and methods Markov chain model was developed that compares fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) with Ctn screening vs. FNAB-only in the evaluation of a thyroid nodule with non-highly suspicious findings. Follow-up time was set as 10 years. Costs and probabilities values were obtained from literature, and National Cancer Database. Cost data is expressed in U.S$ and effectiveness is expressed in Quality-adjusted-life-year (QALY). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated comparing both study arms. Results Routine Ctn screening was cost-effective compared to FNAB-only in all tested categories except when cutoff value of 10 pg/ml was applied. Among the tested categories, the application of universal routine Ctn screening with Ctn value > 50 pg/ml considered a positive test produced the most cost-saving scenario. The final accrued cost at the end of 10 years in the FNAB-only arm was $4238.93 with a final effectiveness of 8.717 QALY. While the final cost in the FNAB-with routine Ctn screening was $4345.04 with a final effectiveness of 8.722 QALY. ICER of routine Ctn screening compared to FNAB-only was $23278.61/QALY ( Conclusions Routine Ctn screening is a cost-effective strategy in US if the cost is less than $236.03. Although Ctn screening is not perfect in detecting MTC at early stages, it is a cost-effective alternative of discovering MTC after thyroid lobectomy or on follow-up of a thyroid nodule.
A sociotechnical order for the umma: connecting Islam and technology in Suharto’s Indonesia

This article explores narratives connecting Islam and technology that arose in Indonesia during the New Order period (1965–1998). These public discussions defined technological work, especially wor...
Audience Control and the Emission of Stereotypy and Social Verbal Exchanges in Children With Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

In 2 experiments, using a within-subjects alternating-conditions design, we measured our participants’ stereotypic and verbal behavior under 2 audience conditions. Our participants were 8 children, ages 10 and 11 years, diagnosed with autism and related developmental disabilities. We measured the percentage of intervals with occurrences of stereotypy (Experiment 1) and the number of verbal operants emitted per minute (Experiment 2) in the presence of 2 types of audiences: members of the participants’ own special education class and typically developing peers from general education classes. Results from both experiments demonstrated that participants emitted a lower percentage of intervals with stereotypy and higher rates of social verbal operants in the presence of their typically developing peers than in their self-contained special education classrooms.
Lactate Lights up PI3K Inhibitor Resistance in Breast Cancer.

Predictive biomarkers can facilitate optimal patient selection for targeted cancer therapies. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Ros et al. show the utility of noninvasive metabolic imaging of labeled carbon transfer from pyruvate to lactate to detect early response and FOXM1-mediated resistance to PI3K inhibition in estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Reciprocal regulation of filamin A and amyloid precursor protein expression in astrocytes (P1.1-007)

Objective: To determine the spatial localization of FlnA in post-mortem AD brain. To determine the relationship between FlnA and amyloid precursor protein (APP). Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and a leading cause of dementia in the elderly population. It presents with increasing impact on public health, including incidence and prevalence, mortality rates, health expenditures and costs of care, and effect on caregivers and society in general. Thus, developing a sensitive and predictive biomarker that detects disease onset is imperative. Prior studies have implicated a role for the actin binding protein filamin A (FLNA) in the pathogenesis of AD. FLNA regulates the acetylcholine receptor, Wnt cascade, presenilin function and tau pathology. Each of these molecular pathways has been implicated in AD pathogenesis, but the manner by which FLNA might regulate these processes in the central nervous system remains unclear. Hence, our overarching goal is to determine the potential role of FLNA in AD pathogenesis. Design/Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of FlnA, cell-specific, and beta amyloid markers was performed on brain tissue of healthy controls and AD patients. Transient FLNA and APP overexpression in a melanoma cell line. Co-immunostaining of FLNA and APP with protein trafficking markers in a human astrocytoma cell line. Results: FLNA is predominantly expressed within brain reactive astrocytes and increased numbers of FLNA-positive astrocytes are seen with worsening AD severity. FLNA regulates APP expression and conversely, APP regulates FLNA expression. FLNA co-localizes with APP in the endosomes and to a lesser degree, in lysosomes. Conclusions: These observations suggest that FLNA is involved in the trafficking of AD associated proteins in astrocytes, thereby regulating their signaling pathways and AD progression. A better understanding of this relationship may ultimately lead to strategies to modulate trafficking protein activity for development of biomarkers and therapeutic interventions. Disclosure: Dr. Ekuta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lian has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goyal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sheen has nothing to disclose.
Obstacle State Estimation For Imminent Crash Prediction & Countermeasure Deployment Decision-Making

This paper describes how predictive crash sensing and deployment control of safety systems require reliable and accurate kinematic information about potential obstacles in the host vehicle environment. The projected trajectories of obstacles in the path of the vehicle assist in activation of safety systems either before, or just after collision, for improved occupant protection. An analysis of filtering and estimation techniques applied to imminent crash conditions are presented in this paper. Optimization of design criteria used to achieve required response performance, and noise minimization, are evaluated based on the safety system to be activated. The predicted target information is applied in the coordinated deployment of injury mitigation safety systems.
The intrinsic fluorescence of the alpha subunit of transducin. Measurement of receptor-dependent guanine nucleotide exchange.

We have made use of the enhancement of the intrinsic fluorescence of the alpha subunit of transducin (alpha T), which accompanies guanine nucleotide exchange, to follow the reconstituted interactions between pure rhodopsin and pure transducin in phospholipid vesicles. When the pure alpha T.GDP complex is added to lipid vesicles containing rhodopsin and the beta gamma T complex, a light- and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S)-dependent enhancement of the fluorescence emission of alpha T is observed. When GTP is substituted for GTP gamma S, a similar enhancement of the intrinsic fluorescence of alpha T occurs; however, this enhancement is transient and precedes a fluorescence decay which is complete in 2-5 min. The fact that the fluorescence decay is specifically induced by GTP and is not observed either with nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs or with NaF (plus AlCl3) indicates that the decay represents GTP hydrolysis in alpha T. The dose-response profiles for the effects of the beta gamma T complex on the rate and extent of the GTP gamma S-stimulated fluorescence enhancement of alpha T have also been examined. The addition of relatively low levels of beta gamma T to these reconstituted systems can promote the GTP gamma S-stimulated enhancement of the fluorescence of multiple alpha T subunits with half-maximal enhancement occurring at alpha T:beta gamma T ratios of 150:1. These findings are consistent with earlier suggestions (Fung, B. K.-K. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 10495-10502) that the beta gamma T subunit dissociates from alpha T as a result of the GDP-GTP exchange reaction and thus can act catalytically to promote the activation of a number of inactive alpha T species. However, the dependence of the rate of the GTP gamma S-stimulated fluorescence enhancement on beta gamma T is complex and cannot be explained adequately by simple models where alpha T-beta gamma T interactions (or rhodopsin-transducin interactions) are rate-limiting for the rhodopsin-stimulated activation of the alpha T subunits. Overall, the results reported here demonstrate that fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to monitor directly a receptor-catalyzed activation-deactivation cycle of a GTP-binding protein within a lipid milieu.
Multidisciplinary research thrusts from co-word analysis

Summary form only given. It is noted that the main documented criticism of co-word analysis has been that co-occurrences were evaluated on index, or key, words of published articles rather than directly on the text, thereby generating sources of bias and error. This has limited the credibility and scope of textual material available to co-word analysis. The author presents a technique that obviates the need for indexed words, uses all words which appear in any type of text, and weights their importance by frequency of occurrence. All single, double, and triple words in a body of text are extracted and analyzed. For each high-frequency content word or word combination W/sub i/, the frequency of co-occurrence of the other high-frequency content words in a limited region around W/sub i/ is computed. The co-occurrence frequency is normalized, and clusters of highly co-occurring words are obtained by a mapping procedure. The body of text used described research opportunities in many fields; the high-frequency terms were the pervasive research thrust areas; and the clusters represented pervasive multidisciplinary research thrust areas. For selected pervasive thrust areas, related mid-frequency words (supporting research areas) which had high normalized co-occurrences were obtained. >
Self-reported hand washing behaviors and foodborne illness: a propensity score matching approach.

Hand washing is a simple and effective but easily overlooked way to reduce cross-contamination and the transmission of foodborne pathogens. In this study, we used the propensity score matching methodology to account for potential selection bias to explore our hypothesis that always washing hands before food preparation tasks is associated with a reduction in the probability of reported foodborne illness. Propensity score matching can simulate random assignment to a condition so that pretreatment observable differences between a treatment group and a control group are homogenous on all the covariates except the treatment variable. Using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 2010 Food Safety Survey, we estimated the effect of self-reported hand washing behavior on the probability of self-reported foodborne illness. Our results indicate that reported washing of hands with soap always before food preparation leads to a reduction in the probability of reported foodborne illness.
A typology of contour tone restrictions

This paper presents results of a survey of contour tones in 105 languages with lexical tone. Results indicate an implicational hierarchy of tone bearing ability, whereby long vowels are most likely to carry contour tones, followed by syllables containing a short vowel plus a sonorant coda, followed by syllables containing a short vowel plus an obstruent coda, followed by open syllables containing a short vowel. It is claimed that this tonal hierarchy is phonetically motivated: syllable types which are phonetically better suited to carrying tonal information are more likely to support contour tones. Languages whose tone distributions superficially appear to fall outside the range of variation predicted on phonetic grounds are demonstrated, upon closer examination, to be unexceptional in their behavior.
Nonlinear Feedback Mechanisms Inside a Rectangular Cavity

An examination of a rectangular cavity with a length-to-depth ratio of 5.67 was tested at Mach 0.7 and 1.5 with corresponding Reynolds numbers of 6.49×106 and 7.35×106/m, respectively. High-speed shadowgraph movies were simultaneously sampled with dynamic pressure sensors at 75 kHz. From the high-speed shadowgraph movies, observations of the cavity flowfield indicate that linear models like Rossiter’s equation and Helmholtz resonance may be too simplistic to correctly model rectangular cavity flow physics. Some of the observations are as follows. In the cavity’s shear layer, large-scale vortices have been found to be nonperiodic. The shear-layer convection velocity was determined to be 0.6U∞ at both Mach numbers, which is significantly higher than Rossiter’s equation predicts for correct peak frequency matching. Shear-layer entrainment of freestream flow starts and feeds the acoustic cycle inside the cavity. There are more acoustic wave in the cavity at any one time than has been considered before, which ...
Systemic acetyl-L-carnitine elevates nigral levels of glutathione and GABA.

Amino acid and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in substantia nigra (SN) as well as striatal monoamine levels were measured in acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCar) treated and control Swiss-Webster mice. ALCar, L carnitine, or saline were administered i.p. to mice for 5 days and mice were decapitated 24 hours following the last injection. Substantia nigra and striata were isolated within 2.5 and 3 min., respectively, and frozen immediately on dry ice. A significant dose-dependent increase of nigral GABA was observed following ALCar treatment; GABA levels were also increased by administration of carnitine. Nigral GSH levels were also increased. Striatal levels of dopamine and metabolites were not significantly affected by ALCar or carnitine. These results, suggest that ALCar may be useful in treating symptoms of neuronal dysfunction related to accumulation of metabolic waste.
Effects of Alkyl Chain Structure on Carbon−Halogen Bond Dissociation and β-Hydride Elimination by Alkyl Halides on a Cu(100) Surface

The effects of alkyl chain structure on the rate of carbon−halogen bond scission in alkyl chlorides, bromides, and iodides on a Cu(100) surface and on the rates of β-hydride elimination by the alkyl products of these carbon−halogen bond scission reactions have been studied under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. It is found that the carbon−halogen bond dissociation rates increase in the order: C−Cl < C−Br < C−I and C(1°)−X < C(2°)−X < C(3°)−X, where X denotes the halogen and 1°, 2°, 3° refer to the number of alkyl substituents at the halogen-substituted carbon. β-Hydride elimination by the corresponding alkyl groups shows the following trends: (1) alkyl chain length (greater than three carbons) does not significantly affect the rate of β-hydride elimination; (2) the rate increases with alkyl substitution at the α-carbon in the order primary alkyls < secondary alkyls, (3) the rate of increase is substantially larger than expected on the basis of the increase in the number of β-hydrogens, and (4) for C5 and C...
Applications of Compression to Content Based Image Retrieval and Object Recognition

We present compression related methods that can be used within a larger system referred to as a passive assistant. The system receives information from a mobile device, as well as information from an image database such as Google Street View, and employs image processing to provide useful information about a local urban environment to a visually impaired user. The first stage acquires and computes accurate location information, the second stage performs texture and color analysis of a scene, and the third stage provides specific object recognition and navigation information.
Training an appropriate mix of physicians to meet the nation's needs.

Although the lack of a national policy on medical manpower has served U.S. medicine well in some ways, it also has created problems, the most important of which is the maldistribution of physicians in the various specialties, with too many specialists and not nearly enough generalists. The author explains why this imbalance is a problem and why it is receiving so much attention, describes three types of forces--economic, practice-related, and scientific--that favor the practice of specialty medicine, and demonstrates that the medical school experience itself may be a critical influence on students' career decisions. He then outlines possible ways to correct the imbalance, both outside and inside academic medicine; for the latter sphere, he proposes five detailed alternative scenarios of how corrective change might come about, which range from doing nothing to making a number of fundamental changes within academic medicine's institutions to having external financial pressures for change brought to bear by the states and the federal government. In conclusion, the author notes that some combination of these scenarios will occur, because spending for medical care in the United States is out of control and cannot be reduced unless the distribution of physicians by specialty is rebalanced to have a much greater percentage of generalists. His hope is that academic medicine will accept this challenge and bring about the best mix of physicians to meet the nation's needs.
Quenching of aromatic ketone triplet excited states by polysilanes

Abstract Polysilane oligomers quench the triplet excited states of m-chlorotrifluoroacetophenone, p-chlorotrifluoroacetophenone, p-cyanoacetophenone, acetophenone and benzophenone in benzene. The phosphorescence lifetimes τ were measured by laser flash photolysis for varying concentrations of polysilane quencher Q, where QMe3Si(SiMe2)n−2SiMe3 (n = 2–4,6) and (MeSi)6. From τ−1 vs. [Q], the bimolecular rate constants for quenching kq were obtained. Quenching by linear polysilanes Q exhibits a continuous “S-shaped” profile of log kq vs. ΔGet, the free energy for electron transfer. Limited data indicate a similar, although separate, profile for (Me2Si)6. In the exergonic region and for ΔGet of less than approximately 7–10 kcal mol−1, log kq follows the quenching theory via contact ion radical pairs. The regular trend observed in the endergonic region deviates from the theoretical curve and is attributed to a separate mechanism for quenching involving mainly hydrogen atom transfer to form pinacols. As electron transfer becomes favorable, silylated pinacols are observed as the major products of p-cyanoacetophenone and tetrasilane (n = 4).
Methionine enkephalin metabolism by murine macrophage ectopeptidase(s)

Ectopeptidases which hydrolyze opioid and other neuropeptides have been identified in brain, kidney and intestine. In this study, identification of the enzymes metabolizing the opioid peptide methionine enkephalin (YGGFM) in murine macrophages was undertaken. Incubation of methionine enkephalin with intact murine peritoneal macrophages results in five products identified as Y, F, FM, GFM and GGFM by amino acid analysis and peptide microsequencing after fractionation by HPLC. The spectrum of metabolites results from at least two distinct aminopeptidase activities. The enzyme hydrolyzing YGGFM to GGFM is identified as the membrane-anchored aminopeptidase N (ApN; EC 3.4.11.2) based on its substrate specificity and inhibitor profile. A distinct bestatin and amastatin sensitive aminopeptidase catalyzes hydrolysis of GGFM to GFM. The macrophage ApN protein has a larger mass and is antigenically distinct from murine kidney ApN, which is suggested to result from glycosylation differences rather than expression of a distinct protein. The ApN catalytic activity and mRNA levels are increased in thioglycollate-elicited as compared to resident peritoneal macrophages. RT-PCR analysis identified a 0.7 kb fragment of the ApN coding sequence which was identical in mouse kidney and thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages and which has 89% identity with the corresponding rat kidney ApN cDNA sequence.
Compatibility of poly(p-fluorostyrene-co-o-fluorostyrene) with poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and polystyrene

Abstract The compatibility of blends prepared from random copolymers of p-fluorostyrene and o-fluorostyrene with poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) and blends of the copolymers with polystyrene (PS) has been examined using differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that compatibility in these systems depends on copolymer composition: copolymers containing from 10 to 38% of p-fluorostyrene are miscible with PPO in all proportions. The thermally induced phase separation in these systems was also studied and the existence of lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) was established for all compatible blends. The copolymers were found to be incompatible with PS regardless of composition.
Variation in mineral content of red maple sap across an atmospheric deposition gradient

Xylem sap was collected from red maple (Acer rubrum L.) trees during the spring of 1988 and 1989 at seven forest sites along an atmospheric deposition gradient in north central Pennsylvania and analyzed for pH and twelve mineral constituents. The objectives of the study were to examine the sources and patterns of variation in red maple sap chemistry across an atmospheric deposition gradient and to assess the feasibility of using sap analysis as an indicator of nutrient bioavailability. For most sap constituents, there was considerable spatial and temporal variation in concentration. Sources of variation included within and between site variation, date, and year of collection. The nature and extent of variation varied for different constituents. Site differences were similar in 1988 and 1989 for most sap constituents and for some constituents corresponded with differences in soil levels.
Rapid Tolerance Induction for Solid Organ Transplantation by Myeloid Progenitor Cells

Purpose Donor specific hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has long been recognized for its potential to induce tolerance for subsequent organ transplantation. To date, however, HCT tolerance induction regimens have either been inconsistent or have been associated with high levels of morbidity. We have recently published that tolerance can be consistently induced with a population of cells, called Myeloid Progenitor Cells (MP), that should reduce complications. MP can induce tolerance without the need for long-term high-level engraftment. Importantly, MP are clinically available, and are currently in clinical trials (to prevent infectious complications in bone marrow transplantation). We hypothesized that tolerance induction in this model does not require administration of the MP two-months before the organ transplantation, that it can be reliably induced with simultaneous cell transplantation and organ transplantation, and that it does not require donor lymphoid cells. Methods and Materials BALB/c mice were lethally irradiated and reconstituted with 4,000 FVB HSC and 100,000 B10;B6-Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- MP. MP-matched (or mismatched) skin grafts were placed on the same day and their fate followed for more than 6 months. Results When mice were reconstituted with B10;B6-Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- cells, donor specific tolerance was induced. B10;B6-Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- mice lack the Rag-2 recombinase and the common gamma chain of the interleukin-2 receptor, and consequently are incapable of producing functional B, T or NK cells. 15/16 mice that were reconstituted with B10;B6-Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- MP (and 4,000 FVB HSC) and 10/10 mice that were reconstituted with B10;B6-Rag2-/-Il2rg-/- bone marrow accepted their MP-matched skin grafts (placed at the day of HCT) for up to 200 days. Six third party grafts (AKR) were all rejected. Conclusions These observations significantly increase the potential clinical applicability of this approach in the organ transplant setting as it enables tolerance induction in the context of deceased donor grafts without the need for graft-matched lymphoid cells.
Windowless proportional counter for soxt X-ray

Abstract A new windowless proportional counter is successfully developed in its priliminary stage. This counter will be applicable as a very soft radiation detector in the field of X-ray astronomy.
Potential planthopper vectors of palm phytoplasmas in Florida with a description of a new species of the genus omolicna (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

Abstract Planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) have been implicated in transmission of phytoplasmas that cause lethal decline in palms. Surveys of insects feeding on palms located in Florida resulted in the discovery of Omolicna joi sp. nov., described here. Patara albida (Hemiptera: Derbidae), a palm feeder, has become established in South Florida. Haplaxius crudus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae), the proven vector of the phytoplasma that causes lethal yellows (LY ), was thought to be restricted to the southern tier of Florida counties, thus limiting the distribution of LY . We found that H. crudus can overwinter consistently as far north as Gainesville (N 29.63380° W -82.37200°). Thus, the northern limit of LY might be a function of the physiology of the pathogens rather than the distribution of the vector.
Hardware enhanced security

Building a secure computing system requires careful coordination among all layers in the system from hardware to software. Even if secure by itself, a higher layer protection mechanism may be bypassed if lower layer software or hardware is vulnerable. Additionally, hardware complements software through its efficiency, tamper resistance, etc. There have been significant efforts recently in hardware communities that aim to leverage hardware strengths to secure software layers, and also to secure hardware itself. This tutorial presents some of these hardware-enhanced security techniques to the security community.
Integration of Grid Fins for the Optimal Design of Missile Systems

Grid fins are unconventional missile control and stabilization devices that produce unique aerodynamic characteristics that are vastly different from that of the conventional planar fin. History has shown that grid fins are able to achieve much higher angles of attack than planar fins without experiencing any effects of stall. They are also able to produce much lower hinge moments than planar fins, which allows for the use of smaller actuators for fin control. However, the major drawback of grid fins that has prevented them from seeing more applications in missile control is the high drag that is associated with the lattice structure, which is substantially larger than that of a comparable planar fin. Despite the high drag produced by grid fins, there are still several applications where the grid fin is an ideal candidate for missile control. One such application is the maximization of the target strike capability of a missile that is released from an airplane at a designated altitude. The goal of this work is to integrate a set of grid fin aerodynamic prediction algorithms into a missile system preliminary design code in an effort to maximize the target strike area of a missile using both planar fins and grid fins as aerodynamic control devices. It was found that a missile system using grid fins for aerodynamic control is able to strike a larger target area with a higher degree of accuracy than a similar missile system using equivalent planar fins for aerodynamic control.
Symmetry and concatenated quantum codes

A recently introduced class of sets of maximally entangled quantum states generalizing the Bell basis and called the "Bell gems," obtained by maintaining of symmetries of the Bell states under changes of scale, are shown to contain a hierarchy of concatenated quantum codes.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Phylogeny of immunoglobulin structure and function-X. Humoral immunoglobulins of the sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus☆

Abstract The sheepshead has two readily isolatable humoral immunoglobulins (Igs), a ∼16S tetrameric form(s) and a ∼6S monomeric form. The 16S tetrameric population, while seeming to contain but one antigenic species, was observed to be composed of two subpopulations when analyzed for mass heterogeneity in the presence of denaturing solvents. The first subpopulation was a disulfide linked form of ∼700, 000 daltons likely composed of 8 heavy (H) and 8 light (L) chains. The second tetrameric subpopulation also appeared to contain 8 H and 8 L chains but was assembled as two noncovalent subunits of predominantly disulfide linked dimers, each with 4 H and 4 L chains and having a molecular mass of ∼350, 000 daltons. The molecular weights of the H and L chains from these tetrameric species were ∼70,000 and ∼25, 000 respectively. In vitro experiments indicated the two tetrameric subpopulations were not interconvertible. Alkaline-urea gel electrophoretic analysis of the pooled tetrameric subpopulations indicated that J chain was present in amounts that suggested only one of the subpopulations actually contained J chain. The 6S Ig (∼140, 000 daltons) was composed of two subunits (∼70, 000 daltons) linked to one another noncovalently. The subunits each contained 1 H (∼45,000 daltons) and 1 L (∼25, 000 daltons) chain. Tje 6S Ig was antigenically deficient to the 16S Igs, and it is suggested that this deficiency may be due to a ∼25, 000 dalton segment present in the H chain of the 16S molecules and missing from the 6S molecules.
Design and Instrumentation of an Advanced Magnetocaloric Direct Temperature Measurement System

The magnetocaloric temperature change (ΔTTemp) is an important factor in the performance evaluation of the magnetocaloric material's magnetocaloric effect (MCE), which has been attracting significant interest due to its application in energy efficient near-room temperature magnetic refrigeration technology with environmentally desirable characteristics. A novel magnetocaloric temperature change test system with fully controlled field, temperature, and time capabilities is designed and analyzed. This test system allows the detailed observations of the applied field effect, sample temperature effect, and time effect on the testing magnetocaloric material. The effectiveness of this test system was evaluated by testing the MCE within sample of Gd turnings. The magnetocaloric temperature change measurements, TTemp, at various H and Temp was measured and showed numerical and characteristic agreements with literature, thus provided evidence that this test is capable of making conventional measurement as well as new measurements on the material's dynamic time effects.
Cloning and expression of a rat placental cDNA encoding a novel cathepsin L-related protein.

Cathepsin L is a major lysosomal cysteine protease produced by mouse placenta and fibroblasts. This study characterizes a novel cathepsin L-related mRNA expressed in rat placenta. Immunological and nucleotide screening of a rat placental library identified six positive clones, the largest, pCLRP-9, being 924 base pairs in length. The combined sequences of all the clones contain an open reading frame of 711 nucleotides, a termination codon, a polyadenylation site, and 197 nucleotides of 3′ untranslated region, but lack the 5′ translation initiation codon. The pCLRP nucleotide sequence showed 60–64% identity to those of mouse, rat, and human cathepsin L. The deduced amino acid sequence of pCLRP codes for 237 amino acids, which align with the carboxy-terminal sequence of cathepsin L and has the active site residues characteristic of the cysteine protease family. Northern blot analysis showed hybridization of pCLRP with a major mRNA transcript of 1.3 kilobases expressed in placenta, but not kidney or liver. In contrast, a cDNA for mouse pro-cathepsin L hybridized with a transcript of 1.7 kilobases expressed in rat kidney, as well as placenta. During late gestation, steady-state levels of rat placental pCLRP mRNA were highest on day 18, whereas those of mouse procathepsin L were greatest on day 20 of gestation. Antiserum to mouse cathepsin L cross-reacted with four proteins of molecular weights 36,000 to 42,000 in rat placental culture medium, of which two were absent in the kidney. These data indicate that rat placenta expresses several species of cathepsin L-type proteins, which may be involved in placental function and nutrient supply. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Are You Man Enough, Big and Bad Enough? Ecofeminism and Wolf Eradication in the USA:

There is much to be gained and little to be lost by understanding and articulating our thinking about who ‘we’ and ‘they’ are. In this regard, the usual pattern of labeling, judging, and acting nearly always leads to taxonomizing or classification of people or things—sometimes resulting in benefits for the classified ‘other’, sometimes just the opposite. In this paper, the representations of the wolf in the USA during the historical period of its near extinction at the hands of private citizens and government hunters are examined. From an ecofeminist position, it is argued that indulgence in the practices of representation in those particular forms exhibited during that historical period were not only devastating to the wolf and other animals but also the same practices that perpetuated racism and sadism in the treatment of other people who were purportedly below European-American males on the hierarchy of beings. The argument contained within this paper cautions us to beware of admonitions of ‘necessity’...
An Eulerian Model of Dispersion in the Convective Boundary Layer Using Explicit Periodic Advections

Abstract The authors have developed a relatively simple, first-order closure, Eulerian diffusion model, in which turbulent coherent structures of the convective boundary layer are explicitly included as periodic velocities imposed on a stationary and horizontally homogeneous wind field. The dimensions of the convective updrafts and downdrafts are assumed to be inversely proportional to the ratio of their respective vertical speeds and are constant with height, and the updraft and downdraft areas are constant in the horizontal. Sinusoidal vertical velocity variations are specified with amplitudes proportional to the mean vertical velocity profiles for skewed distributions described by Weil. The horizontal velocity components of the coherent structures are calculated using the continuity equation. Model simulations for conditions on the afternoon of Wangara day 33 reproduce the major features of the complicated plume dispersion behavior observed in the water tank experiments and the CONDORS experiments. The...
Ultrasonic velocity measurement of elastic constants of Al-Al 3 Ni unidirectionally solidified eutectic

Ultrasonic velocity measurements have been made to determine the dynamic elastic stiffness constants of a eutectic of unidirectional Al3Ni fibers in an α-aluminum matrix. These stiffness constants, in units of 1010 dyne/cm2, are: C33 = 132.6, C22 = C11 = 122.3, C23 = C13 = 66.5, C12 = 65.3, and C44 = 28.4, where the subscript 3 refers to the fiber direction. The experimental results indicate that the pulse-echo-overlap method can be used to determine the velocity of sound waves in a unidirectional fiber composite, and thus offers a simple and accurate method for fully describing the elastic properties of this type of material. Good agreement is found with previously reported values of Young’s modulus obtained by static tests. Engineering estimates of the elastic properties of Al3Ni are given.
IL-1β Depresses Respiration and Anoxic Survival via a Prostaglandin-Dependent Pathway in Neonatal Rats

IL-1β has been proposed to be an important mediator linking infection, apnea, and sudden infant death syndrome. We hypothesized that IL-1β acts in this capacity by depressing brainstem respiratory neurons via a prostaglandin-dependent pathway. For studying the effects of IL-1β on respiration as well as the mechanism underlying its actions, 7-d-old rats received an initial injection (i.p.) of NaCl or a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin, 10 mg/kg) followed by a second injection (i.p.) at 30 min of NaCl, recombinant rat IL-1β (10 μg/kg), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 μg/kg). Respiration during normoxia and in response to anoxia (100% N2) was examined at 60 min after the second injection using flow and barometric plethysmography. Animals given IL-1β breathed more slowly and died more often after anoxia. LPS also reduced the rats' ability to autoresuscitate and survive an anoxic challenge. Indomethacin prevented the depressive effects during normoxia and the adverse effects on survival. For investigating drug-induced changes in central respiratory activity, IL-1β (1.0 or 1.25 ng/mL) and prostaglandin E2 (5 or 20 μg/L) was applied to the brainstem–spinal cord preparation of 0- to 4-d-old rats. Whereas IL-1β exerted no effect on respiration measured at the C4 ventral root during a 60-min period, prostaglandin E2 reversibly inhibited respiratory activity. These findings suggest that IL-1β does not inhibit respiratory neurons directly but may depress breathing and hypoxic defense via a prostaglandin-mediated mechanism.
The Ownership Trust and Succession Paralysis in the Family Business

This article shows the key role of the ownership system in the healthy development of the family business. Specifically, the analysis focuses on a case in which the ownership of a family business is held in trust. The paralyzing impact of this ownership arrangement on the business and family systems is described, revealing dysfunction in authority relations in general and succession processes in particular. An interpretation is offered to suggest that the trust has allowed the founder, long dead, to effectively retain control. The resulting diagnosis yields several implications for the development of family business theory and practice.
Theorizing Scarcity: Neoclassical Economics and its Critics

This article critically examines the neoclassical approach to scarcity as well as critiques of neoclassical economics that focus either on the formation of people’s wants (the demand side of scarci...
Captain America, Tuskegee, Belmont, and Righteous Guinea Pigs: Considering Scientific Ethics through Official and Subaltern Perspectives

With an eye towards a potential scientific ethics curriculum, this paper examines four contrasting discourses regarding the ethics of using human subjects in science. The first two represent official statements regarding ethics. These include the U.S.’s National Science Education Standards, that identify ethics with a professional code, and the Belmont Report, that conceptualizes ethics in three principles to guide research oversight boards. Contrasting this view of ethics as decorum and practice in line with a priori principles is the conception of ethics from unofficial sources representing populations who have been human subjects. The first counter-discourse examined comes from Guinea Pig Zero, an underground magazine for professional human subjects. Here ethics emerges as a question of politics over principle. The good behavior of the doctors and researchers is an effect of the politics and agency of the communities that supply science with subjects. The second counter-discourse is a comic book called Truth, which tells the story of Black soldiers who were used as guinea pigs in World War II. Ethics is both more political and more uncertain in this narrative. Science is portrayed as complicit with the racism of NAZI Germany; at the same time, and in contrast to the professional guinea pigs, neither agency nor politics are presented as effective tools for forcing the ethical conduct of the scientific establishment. The conclusion examines the value of presenting all of these views of scientific ethics in science education.
Impacts of Climate Change in Degree Days and Energy Demand in Coastal California

An analysis of 1970―2005 observed summer daily maximum and minimum temperatures in two California air basins showed concurrent daytime coastal cooling and inland warming. To study the impacts of these results on energy consumption, summer cooling degree day (CDD) and winter heating degree day (HDD) trends were analyzed via these temperatures. The 2 m level air temperatures consisted of data from 159 locations in California, each with daily minimum and maximum values. Primary data sources included Cooperative Weather Station Network sites, first order National Weather Service stations, and military weather stations. An analysis of the CDD and HDD data has been undertaken for California, in general, and the San Francisco Bay Area and South Coast Air Basin, in particular, as the source of data for an analysis of energy-demand trends. Regional climate fluctuations have considerable effects on surface temperatures, which in turn affect CDD and HDD values. An asymmetric increase in summer CDD values between coastal and inland regions of California was found during the last 35 years, while winter HDD values showed decreases in most of California. In general, coastal areas experienced decreases of CDD, while inland regions experienced increases. The summer asymmetric increases in CDD is attributed to intensified sea breeze flows, which suggests increases in cold marine air intrusions over coastal land masses due to an increased regional sea breeze potential, which ventilates coastal areas, helps reduce maximum temperatures, and contributes to CDD decreases. An analysis of energy demands in the two air basins supports these climatological findings. .
Phasor analysis of atom diffraction from a rotated material grating

An atom-surface interaction was detected by studying atom diffraction from a rotated material grating. A phasor diagram similar to the Cornu spiral was developed to explain why there are no missing orders in atom diffraction from material gratings. We also show that atom-surface interactions combined with rotated grating structures can produce asymmetric, i.e., blazed, diffraction patterns. Our conceptual discussion is supported by experimental observations with a sodium atom beam and silicon nitride gratings. The data are consistent with the nonretarded van der Waals interaction.