cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear PT-Symmetric Optical Diode

We show that nonlinear parity-time symmetric optical structures, can act as unidirectional optical valves. This is possible, by exploiting the interplay between the nonreciprocal parity-time propagation , with self-trapping induced by Kerr nonlinearities.
Effect of feed composition on methanol conversion to light olefins over SAPO-34

Abstract Effects of adding ethene, propene, and water to methanol feed on conversion of methanol to olefins are investigated over SAPO-34 catalyst. When ethene is fed to the reactor along with methanol and water, selectivity to ethene decreases, but the selectivity to propene and butenes increases. When propene is fed with methanol and water, the selectivity to propene decreases but increases to ethene and butenes. An analysis of the results indicates that ethene and propene react with methanol over SAPO-34 to form propene and butenes, respectively. These reactions need stronger acidic sites than the conversion of methanol to olefins. The presence of propene in the feed inhibits the reaction of ethene with methanol through competition for the stronger acidic sites. The addition of water to the feed with methanol results in the reduction of the rate of coke formation and aids in maximizing the selectivity to olefins. The optimum water content in the feed appears to be 73–80 mol%. At this concentration, the catalyst can process more than eight times the amount of methanol than when feeding pure methanol prior to a decrease in the methanol conversion
A Thermoacoustic Engine-Refrigerator System for a Space Exploration Mission

Unique cooling systems have to be designed to cool the electronic components of space exploration rover, especially in places like Venus, which has harsh surface conditions. The atmospheric pressure and temperature at the surface of Venus are 92 bars and 450°C respectively which make operation of electronic devices and sensors very difficult. Conventional cooling methods are currently deemed unfeasible due to the short life span of moving parts of the refrigerator systems at high temperatures. Furthermore, alternate energy sources such as solar power is not an option on Venus, since the cloud layer consisting of concentrated sulfuric acid droplets is thick and the surface reduces the solar intensity at the surface to about 2% of the intensity above the atmosphere. Therefore developing alternate method of power and cooling system is essential for Venus operation of any robotic rover. The advantages of using thermoacoustic systems are that there are no moving parts and they have efficiency comparable to conventional systems. Additionally there is a dearth in literature at using thermoacoustic refrigeration at high temperatures. This work discusses the development and optimization of a standing wave thermoacoustic engine refrigerator system to be used as a cooling device for the electronic components. The effects of various parameters such as gas mixture ratio, pressure, stack material etc. are discussed. The system designed provides cooling from 443K to 323K providing 150W of cooling.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
BEST APPROXIMATION BY HOLOMORPHIC FUNCTIONS. APPLICATION TO THE BEST POLYNOMIAL APPROXIMATION OF CLASSES OF HOLOMORPHIC FUNCTIONS

We establish necessary and sufficient conditions under which a real-valued function from \(L_p (\mathbb{T})\), 1 ≤ p < ∞, is badly approximable by the Hardy subspace Hp0:= {ƒ ∈ Hp: ƒ(0) = 0}. In a number of cases, we obtain the exact values of the best approximations in the mean of functions holomorphic in the unit disk by functions holomorphic outside this disk. We use the obtained results for finding the exact values of the best polynomial approximations and n-widths of some classes of holomorphic functions. We establish necessary and sufficient conditions under which the generalized Bernstein inequality for algebraic polynomials on the unit circle is true.
Limestone, Gypsum, and Magnesium Oxide Influence Restoration of an Abandoned Appalachian Pasture

When restoring abandoned pastures on acidic hill-land soils to productivity, it is important to bring soil Ca and Mg to adequate levels. Gypsum is a readily available Ca amendment that is sufficiently soluble to move rapidly into the soil when surface-applied. Gypsum has been shown to reduce detrimental effects of subsurface acidity in soils of the southeastern USA. A 4-yr experiment was initiated to measure effects of surface gypsum application on forage production and to evaluate Mg-containing amendments to avoid gypsum-induced Mg deficiency. The study site was a southern West Virginia Gilpin silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludult) where abandoned hill-land pasture was being restored to productivity. Treatments included 0, 1000, 8000, 16 000, and 32 000 kg/ha flue gas desulfurization coal combustion by-product gypsum (gypsum) together with dolomitic limestone and five additional treatments to evaluate sources of supplemental Mg. Application of 16 000 kg/a gypsum together with limestone increased forage yields of mixed orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) pasture during establishment by 42% and production by 11% compared with limestone alone. About 8% of the mean 790 kg/ha yield increase could be attributed to acidity-neutralizing effects of alkaline constituents in the gypsum by-product. Plants in higher gypsum treatments had higher concentrations of K and P, but gypsum application decreased soil and plant Mg concentrations. This indicated that gypsum should not be applied on typical acid soils without supplemental Mg.
Removal of contaminants from landfill leachates by filtration through glauconitic greensands

Passing landfill leachate through glauconitic greensand filters reduces the heavy metal cation content, lessens the unpleasant odor, and diminishes the murkiness of the leachate. The capability of the greensand to trap metal cations is increased by prolonging the contact time between the leachate and the greensand. Flushing the charged greensand filter with water does not cause significant release of cations back into solution, suggesting that polluted greensand might be disposed of at landfill sites without endangering the quality of either ground or surface water.
“Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin”: Jewish perspectives in Disraeli's fiction

In the book of Daniel there is a famous scene in which the Babylonian king Belshazzar is feasting and drinking from sacred vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had plundered from the Holy Jewish Temple in Jerusalem; suddenly a hand unattached to a body appears and writes mysterious words on the wall: "Men?, Men?, Tekel, Upharsin." Neither Belshazzar nor his followers can understand the words which seem to belong to an unknown tongue. So, desperate to know what has been written, Belshazzar summons Daniel, who has a reputation for wisdom. Daniel can read the words, which are in Aramaic. Literally, Daniel explains, the words mean "numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided." But Daniel then offers an ethical interpretation, foretelling the destruction of Belshazzar and his kingdom. Daniel's reading is a prophecy: "God hath numbered thy [Belshazzar's] kingdom, and brought it to an end; thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and the Persians."
Operating point of a FET for optimum noise performance

Abstract Experimental support for the choice of FET operating conditions in the input stage of Tennelec Model TC 130 preamplifier is presented. Noise measurements show that the optimum operating point for a field effect transistor is in the vicinity of 0 V gate bias. The ratio gm/Cin is maximum at the same bias point, which is consistent with the results of the noise measurements.
Knowledge Management for Government-to- Government (G2G) process coordination

E-government is gaining momentum and has firmly established itself in addition to common terms such as 'e-commerce' or 'e-busines'. Given that e-government services extend across different organisational boundaries and heterogeneous infrastructures, there is a critical need to manage the knowledge and information resources stored in these disparate systems. Semantic Web technologies have the potential to manage the knowledge and coordinate Government-to-Government (G2G) processes. Based on the foundations of Semantic Web, including ontologies, knowledge representation, multi-agent systems and web services, knowledge management (KM) and G2G processes, we present a vision for KM for G2G process coordination. The Semantic G2G integration can support the transparent flow of semantically enriched information and knowledge, including content and know-how and enable collaborative G2G processes within and across governmental agencies.
Normal hearing sensitivity at low-to-middle frequencies with 34% prestin-charge density.

The mammalian outer hair cells (OHCs) provide a positive mechanical feedback to enhance the cochlea's hearing sensitivity and frequency selectivity. Although the OHC-specific, somatic motor protein prestin is required for cochlear amplification, it remains unclear whether prestin can provide sufficient cycle-by-cycle feedback. In cochlear mechanical modeling, varying amounts of OHC motor activity should provide varying degrees of feedback efficiency to adjust the gain of cochlear amplifier at resonant frequencies. Here we created and characterized two new prestin-hypomorphic mouse models with reduced levels of wild-type prestin. OHCs from these mice exhibited length, total elementary charge movement (Qmax), charge density, and electromotility intermediate between those of wild-type and prestin-null mice. Remarkably, measurements of auditory brainstem responses and distortion product otoacoustic emissions from these mice displayed wild-type like hearing sensitivities at 4–22 kHz. These results indicate that as low as 26.7% Qmax, 34.0% charge density and 44.0% electromotility in OHCs were sufficient for wild-type-like hearing sensitivity in mice at 4–22 kHz, and that these in vitro parameters of OHCs did not correlate linearly with the feedback efficiency for in vivo gain of the cochlear amplifier. Our results thus provide valuable data for modeling cochlear mechanics and will stimulate further mechanistic analysis of the cochlear amplifier.
Integrating value and uncertainty in the energy retrofit analysis in real estate investment—next generation of energy efficiency assessment tools

Real estate professionals, such as investors, owner-occupants, and lenders who are involved in the investment decision-making process, are increasingly interested in energy efficiency investment. However, inability of current tools and techniques for a thorough financial assessment of energy retrofits has led the decision makers to focus on simple energy cost analyses as the primary basis for making energy retrofit investment and/or lending decisions. Thus, substantial non-energy cost savings as well as value implications associated with energy efficiency are often ignored and energy retrofits are undervalued. Through an extensive literature review, interviews with real estate experts, and the author’s experience with energy efficiency analytics and tools development, this paper sets forth the rationales and foundations for the development of an integrated energy retrofit assessment tools to include value, risk, and uncertainty. It suggests a systematic value-based assessment process to analyze full costs and benefits associated with energy retrofit options in the context of value, while clearly articulating the risk and uncertainty. The outcome of the proposed process enables users make more informed investment decisions and drives major energy retrofit investments. As a result of applying such a value-based approach, many investment opportunities that were otherwise ignored may be realized, and therefore, the breadth and depth of energy efficiency investment will increase for the benefit of various stakeholders, including real estate professionals, governments, utilities, or other energy efficiency program sponsors.
Stabilized ubisemiquinone in reconstituted succinate ubiquinone reductase.

QP-S, a ubiquinone (Q) protein, accepts electrons from succinate through succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). A new method has produced a preparation of QP-S which has a different amino acid composition and SDS gel electrophoretic pattern from that of the old preparation (Biochemistry 19 , 3579–3585 (1980)). The new preparation contains less than 1 nmol heme/mg protein; the activity of the preparation was not proportional to its heme content. A thenoyltrifluoroacetone sensitive free radical signal was detected by EPR spectroscopy in succinate-Q reductase reconstituted from this QP-S and SDH; the characteristics of this species identify it as ubisemiquinone. At pH 7.4, the Em of the two electron step was about 70 mV with E1 = 5 mV and E2 = 125 mV. The properties of the radical differed slightly from those of “Qs” radical in more intact preparations ( e.g. submitochondrial particles). The present is the simplest system in which such a succinate reducible ubisemiquinone free radical has been demonstrated.
Nanoscale laminin coating modulates cortical scarring response around implanted silicon microelectrode arrays

Neural electrodes could significantly enhance the quality of life for patients with sensory and/or motor deficits as well as improve our understanding of brain functions. However, long-term electrical connectivity between neural tissue and recording sites is compromised by the development of astroglial scar around the recording probes. In this study we investigate the effect of a nanoscale laminin (LN) coating on Si-based neural probes on chronic cortical tissue reaction in a rat model. Tissue reaction was evaluated after 1 day, 1 week, and 4 weeks post-implant for coated and uncoated probes using immunohistochemical techniques to evaluate activated microglia/macrophages (ED-1), astrocytes (GFAP) and neurons (NeuN). The coating did not have an observable effect on neuronal density or proximity to the electrode surface. However, the response of microglia/macrophages and astrocytes was altered by the coating. One day post-implant, we observed an ~60% increase in ED-1 expression near LN-coated probe sites compared with control uncoated probe sites. Four weeks post-implant, we observed an ~20% reduction in ED-1 expression along with an ~50% reduction in GFAP expression at coated relative to uncoated probe sites. These results suggest that LN has a stimulatory effect on early microglia activation, accelerating the phagocytic function of these cells. This hypothesis is further supported by the increased mRNA expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6) in cultured microglia on LN-bound Si substrates. LN immunostaining of coated probes immediately after insertion and retrieval demonstrates that the coating integrity is not compromised by the shear force during insertion. We speculate, based on these encouraging results, that LN coating of Si neural probes could potentially improve chronic neural recordings through dispersion of the astroglial scar.
How presidents push, when presidents win: A model of positive presidential power in US lawmaking

Presidents’ positive role in US lawmaking is as ubiquitous as it is unclear. While a rich literature has identified many macro-level factors that constrain presidents’ policymaking potential, still unanswered is Richard Neustadt’s micro-level question: how can presidents influence legislation given the context and Congress they happen to inherit? Developing a game theoretic model in which the president allocates scarce ‘political capital’ to induce changes in legislators’ behavior, we deduce two lobbying strategies that White House officials may execute and, in turn, examine their impact on the laws that result. Comparative statics analysis not only shows how presidents can best target their persuasive arsenal, but further specifies the factors that condition those efforts’ effectiveness. Interestingly, results show that standard roll-call-based tests likely underestimate presidents’ legislative impact. We thus conclude by reconsidering the practice and potential of presidential leadership in national pol...
Developing diverse leaders: A Leader-Member Exchange approach

Abstract The Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) process has been linked to the effective development of leaders, as well as outcomes for individuals and organizations such as performance and turnover. The basis for LMX is the working relationship, yet the LMX literature does not address the potential role that gender and race relations may play in the LMX development process. In this paper, current perspectives on diversity are integrated with LMX theory to extend the framework for the investigation of social psychological processes in diverse leader-member dyads. Implications for this framework of future research on LMX are discussed.
Potential role of endothelial progenitor cells in the pathophysiology of heart failure: Clinical implications and perspectives

Endothelial dysfunction is thought to play a major role in the development and clinical complications of heart failure. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to provide an endogenous repair mechanism to counteract detrimental risk factor-induced effects and replace dysfunctional endothelium. The number and in vitro function of EPCs is altered in patients with heart failure, as a result of its pathophysiological mechanisms. EPCs could represent a substitutional marker to guide preventive or therapeutic interventions in this disease. Enhancing the number and functional capacity of EPCs with targeted interventions may elicit functional improvement in individuals with heart failure. However, the exact role of EPCs in heart failure and their potential therapeutic implications still remain to be elucidated.
Paleomagnetic and radiometric evidence for the age of the Comores Islands, west central Indian Ocean

Abstract Paleomagnetic measurements on 56 lavas and six K Ar age determinations indicate that the Comores Islands, west central Indian Ocean, are no older than late Tertiary. The mean virtual geomagnetic pole for each island coincides with the present spin axis of the earth at the 95% confidence level. Because of the young age, the paleomagnetic data cannot resolve any north-south movement that may have occurred during the time interval recorded by the lavas sampled. The K Ar ages from three of the islands range from 0.01 ± 0.01 to 3.65 ± 0.10 my. The radiometric results indicate that the islands increase in age to the southeast, a sequence consistent with the geomorphology. A magmatic center migrating northwest at about 7 cm/yr is consistent with the between-island age relationships, assuming that the K Ar dates are reasonable estimates of the ages of the islands.
Attitudinal classification of health manpower in Colombia: A research note on urban/rural differences in occupational prestige

Abstract The relative prestige positions of selected health-related occupations in three (urban, semi-rural, rural) populations in Colombia are presented. Survey instruments applied to randomly selected populations provide the empirical base for this study. These positions are found to be functions of several different attitudinal dimensions. The general ranking of the occupational groups was found to be consistent with other studies on occupational prestige, with the physician falling in the highest tercile in all dimensions, setting the standard for health occupational prestige. Included in the analysis is the healer, who consistently scored in the lowest tercile in all of the evaluative dimensions. Variations in ranking appeared to coincide with actual conditions and functions in the health sector. Results indicate the public's ability to evaluate details of prestige and hierarchy within the health system.
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Nonindigenous Fish Introductions in the United States

Abstract In 1978 biologists in Gainesville, Florida, began compiling records on the distribution and status of nonindigenous fishes known in U.S. inland waters. The database, now in electronic format, currently contains approximately 17,000 records representing more than 500 nonindigenous fish taxa (i.e., species, hybrids, and unidentified forms). Of these taxa, 317 (61%) are native to the United States but have been introduced by humans into U.S. drainages outside their natural geographic ranges; 185 (35%) are fishes introduced from foreign countries; and 22 (4%) are hybrids. Of the introduced foreign fish taxa, 71 (38%) are species that have established (i.e., reproducing) or possibly established populations in open U.S. waters. The database is a useful tool for natural resource managers and other decision makers. Although we periodically revise records and constantly enter new ones, our database is fairly updated; thus, we are able to more thoroughly analyze patterns of introduction and the spread of n...
Non-steady, periodic behavior in the dynamic fracture of PMMA

A crack moving dynamically through a sheet of Polymethylmethacrylate at high average velocity is found in reality to propagate in a non-steady, periodic, and perhaps discontinuous fashion. The spatial period of the fracture process in the direction of travel, or banding morphology, is of millimeter size and is consistent both in magnitude and discontinuous nature with a crazing mechanism proposed in fatigue settings. The band size in both the dynamic and fatigue environments scales with the applied stress intensity. This commonality has importance in modeling. It suggests that a single mechanism is fundamental in both dynamic and fatigue loading regimes. A crack dynamically propagating through an elastic solid is typically modeled as being steady (-1). This supposition is based on the assumption that the material separation arises from a process that can be treated as continuous. An accompanying inference is that the fracture velocity is governed by the state of stress encompassing the crack. In a two dimensional setting this notion is embodied in the relationship between the dynamic stress intensity factor and crack velocity. Experiments designed to correlate with the theoretical assumptions frequently employ amorphous materials to avoid introducing macroscopic length scales such as grain boundaries. Indeed, experiments using photoelasticity conclude that as the spatially averaged deformation surrounding a dynamically moving crack is increased, its propagation velocity is augmented (2, 3). However, when other methods of measurement are employed that are spatially more precise (e.g. caustics), the kinship between the instantaneous intensity of deformation and the crack velocity appears tenuous (4). There are other difficulties with the elastodynamic idealization. In particular cracks tend to propagate at much less than the elastic wave speeds of the material (5). Various explanations have been proposed to account for these discrepancies between observation and theory. The experiments have been questioned for not properly including transients (6, 7), measurement delays (8), and three dimensional effects (9). Likewise, crack propagation models have been improved to partially incorporate observed microstructural behavior at the crack tip. These microstructural processes such as micro-fracturing, void growth and coalescence are hypothesized to be fundamental to fracture (10), and may explain oscillations in the measured stress intens{ty (11) and intrinsically slow crack speeds (12). Unfortunately, the task of including microstructural effects and predicting the ensuing fracture morphology is made arduous by their apparent haphazard disposition and inherent geometrical complexity. Typically, the fracture morphology is the most concrete discernible evidence of microstructural events. Hence the fracture surfaces of many materials have been studied extensively (13) and have been categorized in terms of material properties ( 14), fracture velocity (15, 16), and local stress intensity (4).
Impact of a social support program on teenage prenatal care use and pregnancy outcomes.

Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of a resource mothers program (RMP) on prenatal care use, low birth weight (LBW), and preterm birth (PTB). The intervention used paraprofessional women to provide social support to pregnant teenagers through home visiting. Methods: Data were obtained by linking RMP, health department, and birth certificate data. Outcomes for primiparous teenagers were compared across two main study groups: a RMP group ( n = 1,901) and a comparison group from counties in which the program was not offered ( n = 4,613). Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of program participation with simultaneous adjustment for age, race, marital status, and previous pregnancies. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: Resource mothers program teenagers were more likely to initiate prenatal care early (OR = 1.48; CI=1.32–1.66) and to receive adequate prenatal care (OR = 1.58; CI=1.40–1.78) than teenagers in the other counties. The program had no significant effect on LBW, but unmarried teenagers in the RMP group were less likely to have a PTB than unmarried teenagers in the other counties with an OR of 0.81 (CI = 0.70–0.95). These findings were supported by analyses using a second comparison group. Conclusions: Given that PTB contributes heavily to infant mortality, the program's effect on PTB is promising.
Bounding Moments, the Gini Index and Lorenz Curve from Grouped Data for Unimodal Density Functions

Abstract In this article we first show how to extend the method for bounding ∫ h(x)f(x)dx from data grouped in intervals in which h(x) is convex and f(x) is decreasing to the case in which f(x) is unimodal. We then show that the unimodal density functions that bound ∫ h(x)f(x)dx for any convex function h(x) also bound the Gini index and the Lorenz curve.
Self-organized perylene diimide nanofibers.

A propeller-shaped perylene diimide trimer was synthesized and a simple evaporation method was used for the self-organization of trimer molecules into fluorescent nanofibers. The sizes of these fibersfrom 4 to 150 nm in diameterwere measured by atomic force microscopy and can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of the initial solution. The aspect ratios (length/height) are around 500. The plane of the trimer was determined by polarized scanning confocal microscopy to be perpendicular to the axis of the fibers, in agreement with molecular mechanics calculations. UV/vis and NMR spectroscopies were used to monitor concentration-dependent π−π stacking in solution. Single-fiber fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy were performed using a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope equipped with a digital color camera and imaging CCD spectrometer. Strongly red-shifted fluorescence from these fibers indicates a high degree of electronic delocalization, and breaking up this delocalization by photob...
An energy-efficient self-regulating heater for flow-through applications.

In many experiments, a flow-through heating arrangement is needed to reduce reaction time. Often the reaction conditions require inertness of the wetted material. Heated reactors based on polymeric tubing, notably PTFE, are the most common, and such reactors are typically used in a manner in which they are put in a heated bath or an otherwise thermally conductive potting in which a heater and a temperature sensor are embedded for heating and temperature control. Polymeric tubes are poor conductors of heat; as such, most reactors of this type have very poor energy utilization. We describe here heated flow-through reactors where a wire runs through the entire length of the tubular reactor and where the wire is directly electrically heated. The wire may or may not be electrically insulated. If the exterior of the tube is well insulated, the energy efficiency of such a reactor in heating the fluid of interest is nearly unity. This makes it most suitable for battery-powered applications. If an appropriate wire...
A rapid antibody assay system for screening hybridoma cultures.

Abstract A procedure for the rapid qualitative assay of large numbers of antibody samples is described which has been extensively used for primary screening of mouse spleen cell-myeloma hybrids making monoclonal antibodies. It is a handling modification of standard indirect immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase techniques which involves in situ localisation of antigens in a fixed and dried monolayer of cells on plastic culture dishes. The method is quick and economical and does not depend on hazardous reagents or specialised detection equipment.
Quantitative Spectroscopic Studies of the Photoexcited State Properties of Methano- and Pyrrolidino-[60]fullerene Derivatives

UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectra and fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes of a series of methano- and pyrrolidino-[60]fullerene derivatives in different solvents are studied systematically. The absorption and fluorescence properties of the derivatives with different substituents are somewhat different from those of [60]fullerene, but very similar among themselves, indicating that the low-lying transitions and the photoexcited state processes are dictated by the electronic structures of functionalized [60]fullerene cages. The results also allow an examination of the issue concerning discrepancies between experimentally determined transition probabilities and those calculated in terms of the Strickler−Berg equation for fullerene molecules. In addition, quenchings of the excited singlet states of the [60]fullerene derivatives by electron donor N,N-diethylaniline (DEA) and the formation of emissive fullerene−DEA exciplexes in solvents of different polarities are investigated.
Ion−Molecule Branching Ratios at High Temperature: Vibrational Energy Promotes Formation of New Channels in the Reaction of O2+ with CH4

A High-Temperature Flowing Afterglow (HTFA) instrument has been modified to allow measurements of ion−molecule branching ratios at temperatures above 700 K for the first time. The technique is capable of temperatures at least as high as 1400 K, and here we report the branching ratios for the reactions of O2+ with CH4 and CD4 measured at 1400 K (for the reaction of O2+ with CH4, the rate constant was also measured). Comparison to work using drift tube and guided ion beam techniques shows that heating the CH4 vibrations produces new reaction product channels and enhances others. In particular, HCO+, CH3O+, and H2O+ products are seen for the first time, and the H3O+ product is much more intense in comparison with experiments on vibrationally cold CH4. The previously observed products CH3+ and CH4+ are comparable to those found with vibrationally cold CH4. We conclude that vibrational excitation promotes those channels which require extensive bond rearrangement. Vibrational energy is found not only to promote...
A note on the relationship of interdependent action to the optimality of certain voting decisions

While the theory of public goods points to socially suboptimal contributions by agents acting under Cournot assumptions, this externality can be rectified by the introduction of positive interdependence of actions to the individual's choice calculus. This paper draws attention to the fact that the institution of democratic voting is itself a means of transforming the individual calculus in such a way that parameter changes are evaluated as simultaneous adjustments by the group, on the side of benefits, but by the individual only, on the side of costs, thus generating optimal parameter preference in the case of identical agents.
EFFECT OF ELEVATED COPPER ON PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS OF SPINACH LEAF TISSUES

ABSTRACT The effect of copper [Cu(II)] on the phenolic compounds of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) leaf tissues was investigated. Leaf disks (7 mm) were exposed to CuSO4·5H2O concentrations from 50 μM (12.5 ppm) to 2.5 mM (625 ppm) at pHs from 4.0 to 9.0 for 24 hr in both the light and dark. Acidified, aqueous methanol (flavonoid-rich fraction) extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Cu(II) altered the levels of the phenolic compounds, increasing the levels of some compounds at low Cu(II) concentrations and decreasing the levels of all the phenolic compounds at higher Cu(II) levels. In most cases, the magnitude of the Cu(II)-induced changes in spinach phenolics was independent of treatment pH. These Cu(II)-induced changes in phenolic compounds may modify plant responses to environmental or biotic stresses and alter the nutritional values of certain vegetable crops.
The Apollo 17 far ultraviolet spectrometer experiment

The Apollo 17 command service module in lunar orbit will carry a far ultraviolet scanning spectrometer whose prime mission will be to measure the composition of the lunar atmosphere. Additional observations will include the spectral lunar albedo, the temporary atmosphere injected by the engines of the lunar exploration module, the solar system atmosphere, the galactic atmosphere and the spectra of astronomical sources, including the Earth. A detailed description of the experimental equipment which observes the spectral range 1180 to 1680 A, the observing program and broad speculation about the possible results of the experiment, are presented.
Approximately Bayesian Inference

Abstract Consider statistical inference about a scalar parameter and suppose that information about that parameter is to be summarized by a system of interval estimates. It is well known that methods of interval estimation that do not correspond to Bayesian inference with respect to some prior distribution have some logical difficulties. This article proposes a measure of how close a system of interval estimates is to being of Bayesian form. Using this measure, several non-Bayesian methods of interval estimation are analyzed; these results are illustrated on several examples.
A simple solid-phase amino acid sequencer employing a thioacetylation stepwise degradation procedure☆

A simple inexpensive solid-phase amino acid sequencing device has been constructed which uses nitrogen pressure for introducing or removing reagents to or from a reaction vessel. Although a thioacetylation procedure was employed in the operations reported here, any stepwise degradation scheme can be used simply by changing the contents of the reservoirs. Flexible programming has been achieved with a Tenor stepping-drum programmer. The results obtained from a 26-cycle degradation of the insulin B-chain are presented.
Structures and bonding nature of small monoligated copper clusters (HCN-Cun, n = 1-3) through high-resolution infrared spectroscopy and theory.

The structures, C−H stretching frequencies, and dipole moments of HCN−Cun (n = 1−3) clusters are determined through high-resolution infrared spectroscopy. The complexes are formed and probed within superfluid helium droplets, whereby the helium droplet beam is passed over a resistively heated crucible containing copper shot and then through a gas HCN pickup cell. All complexes are found to be bound to the nitrogen end of the HCN molecule and on the “atop site” of the copper cluster. Through the experimental C−H vibrational shifts of HCN−Cun and ab initio calculations, it was found that the HCN−metal interaction changes from a strong van der Waals bond in n = 1 to a partially covalent bond in HCN−Cu3. Comparisons with existing infrared data on copper surfaces show that the HCN−Cun bond must begin to weaken at very large copper cluster sizes, eventually returning to a van der Waals bond in the bulk copper surface case.
Calcium and cGMP in Isolated Rat Parotid Acinar Cells

The role of calcium ions in the activation of guanylate cyclase and in the propagation of the effects of cGMP during activation of the muscarinic cholinergic receptors was studied in isolated rat parotid acinar cells. It was demonstrated that the requirement for extracellular calcium is complete in the transduction of information from the muscarinic receptor to the guanylate cyclase, and partial in the steps beyond the synthesis of cGMP.
Doubly-resonant mid-infrared AgGaSe2 optical parametric oscillator

A doubly-resonant AgGaSe2 mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is synchronously pumped by a hybrid 2 mm Er:fiber/Tm:fiber femtosecond mode-locked laser. The OPO produces spectra ranging from 3-5 mm. Numerical simulations confirm the observed behavior.
Analysis of capillary optic performance for hard x rays

A geometrical optics simulation program which includes roughness and waviness effects has been developed to analyze the performance of polycapillary x-ray optics in the energy regime 10-80 keV. The simulation was in excellent agreement with previous experimental results. The calculations showed that low energy x-ray performance is sensitive to roughness while high energy x-ray performance is affected by waviness and profile error (bending). Despite the low critical angle for total external reflection at high energies, capillary x- ray optics appear promising for many hard x-ray applications. Transmission measurements at high energies have also proven to be a very sensitive tool in capillary quality analysis.
Domain learning using Choquet integral-based morphological shared weight neural networks

Abstract Morphological shared weight networks (MSNNs) have been applied to many different problem domains, such as discriminating textures, target and hand written character recognition problems. MSNNs use morphological hit-and-miss transforms (HMT) as the activation functions in the feature extraction layer. However, conventional morphological filters have certain drawbacks. They are not robust and therefore are sensitive to noise. They may not tolerate small changes in gray values and shape. On the other hand, Choquet integral-based morphological operations (CMOs), a natural extension of classical morphological operations, are less sensitive to degradations in an image. The MSNN architecture is extended using CMOs in place of HMTs. These networks are referred to as Choquet morphological shared-weight neural networks (CMSNN). In a related paper, we compared the MSNN and CMSNN by extensive experimentation on the real world problem of land mine detection. In this paper, we discuss the problem of domain learning, which is related to feature importance. We provide examples of successes and failures of generalized mathematical morphology and the Choquet integral. These results are interesting, not only for purposes of robustness, but when viewed in the context of determining more valuable information sources.
A dopaminergic-glutamatergic basis for the action of amphetamine and cocaine

The behavioral effects of amphetamine and cocaine are generally considered to be the result of their indirect dopaminergic activity. Recent reports, however, suggest that the activity of the psychomotor stimulants involves not only the dopaminergic but also the glutamatergic system. In the present study the role of the glutamate system in the action of the stimulants was investigated in mice with the use of glutamatergic agonists and antagonists administered either intraperitoneally or intracranially into the striatum. CPP, an NMDA-type glutamate antagonist, given systemically or intrastriatally, blocked stereotypy induced by either amphetamine or cocaine. These results represent pharmacological evidence that the glutamate system is an essential component in the expression of the stereotypic effect of the psychomotor stimulants, and that a locus of this action of glutamate is in the striatum. These conclusions were supported further by the observation that NMDLA administered focally into the striatum caused stereotypy which was indistinguishable from that produced by either amphetamine or dopamine. Stereotypy induced by amphetamine injected into the striatum was blocked by CPP or sulpiride administered either systemically or directly into the striatum; in contrast, stereotypy induced by NMDLA given into the striatum was blocked by CPP but not by sulpiride, regardless of whether the antagonists were presented systemically or into the striatum. The data suggest that stereotypy induced by amphetamine or cocaine is mediated by a dopaminergic activation of a glutamatergic system within the striatum.
Timing dependence of the induction of cerebellar LTD

Long-term depression (LTD) of the granule cell to Purkinje cell synapse is thought to contribute to motor learning. According to the Marr/Albus/Ito model, sensory inputs drive granule cells to fire, thereby exciting Purkinje cells and influencing motor output. Inappropriate motor output causes neurons in the inferior olive to fire and activate Purkinje cells via the powerful climbing fiber (CF) synapse. CF activity is an error signal and the association of CF and granule cell parallel fiber (PF) activity results in LTD at coactivated PF synapses. Here we examine the timing dependence of LTD by using an induction protocol consisting of a single CF activation paired with a PF burst, with the relative timing of CF and PF activation systematically varied. LTD was most prominent when PF activation occurred before CF activation. A plot of LTD magnitude as a function of PF and CF timing was well approximated by a fit in which LTD peaked for PF activity approximately 80 ms before CF activation and the half width was approximately 300 ms. This indicates that the timing dependence of LTD is well suited to allow a CF to depress preceding PF inputs that generated inappropriate motor outputs. We also find that LTD induction and endocannabinoid release have a similar dependence on PF and CF timing. This suggests that the properties of endocannabinoid release may underlie the timing dependence of some forms of motor learning.
Comment on Hurley, J.C. Towards clinical application of anti-endotoxin antibodies; a re-appraisal of the disconnect. Toxins 2013, 5, 2589-2620.

I have read with interest James C. Hurley’s very good review [1]. I totally agree that a reappraisal of the use of anti-endotoxin antibodies in Gram negative infections is warranted. In a study [2] we showed the possible association between endotoxin (LPS) and morbidity and mortality in septic shock. This was a study in healthy primates (vervet monkeys). We found, when these anesthetized primates received an LD100 iv infusion of Echerichia coli (E. coli) over one hour, both E. coli and endotoxin concentration significantly increased during the E. coli infusion. The anti-endotoxin (anti-LPS) on the other hand decreased significantly. Interestingly, when the animals succumbed, their LPS concentration was still raised, but there were no viable E. coli. There was also only a small amount of anti-LPS present. Hence, endotoxin concentration rather than circulating E. coli bacteria may be an important pathogen responsible for the high mortality experienced during E. coli shock. This is in agreement with Spink et al. [3] and now Hurley [1] who suggested that endotoxin which forms an integral part of the outer cellular membrane of gram negative bacteria (GNB) participates in the genesis of shock. In our review [4] and some of the other papers we published in this field [5,6,7,8,9], we refer to successful preliminary studies using anti-lipopolysaccharide IgG (anti-LPS). The anti-LPS both present prior to the insult or given after the insult, would seem to inactivate plasma endotoxins and combat Gram-negative bacteria in sepsis. Thereby, as Hurley [1] suggests, may form part of a possible new form of therapy. The question that needs to be addressed is: how best to accomplice this? What part of the endotoxin should be attacked, the O-specific chain or the smaller Lipid-A, or even, if possible, both?
Synchronization of the Zero Gradient Synchrotron (ZGS) and the Fast-Cycling Booster II Injector

The planned method of booster injection into the ZGS requires the stacking of two booster beam bunches into the radial betatron phase space of the ZGS and necessitates precise synchronization of the two accelerators during the injection period. The requirement of maintaining independent radio-frequency (RF) steering control does not allow the frequencies of both accelerators to be locked. A synchronizer has been developed which detects a coincidence zero crossing of the two RFs, anticipates the next coincidence, and at that time, generates trigger pulses for the booster extraction and ZGS injection systems. It also maintains control of the sequence in which the total phase space area of the ZGS is loaded. Synchronizer accuracy is obtained by using high speed digital logic circuits. Design considerations and system operation are discussed.
Supervision Experiences of Professional Counselors Providing Crisis Counseling.

In this phenomenological study, the authors explored supervision experiences of 13 licensed professional counselors in situations requiring crisis counseling. Five themes concerning crisis and supervision were identified from individual interviews. Findings support intensive, immediate crisis supervision and postlicensure clinical supervision.
An Approach for Uni-Level Reliability Based Design Optimization Using Cross-Entropy Method

In this paper a novel approach is proposed to solve the reliability based design optimization (RBDO) problem, which is translated into a single-level problem using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions. The transformation of a bi-level RBDO problem into a single-level problem using KKT conditions introduces several equality constraints in the single-level problem definition. Presence of multiple equality constraints poses numerical difficulty to the gradient based optimizers, hence a robust algorithm to solve the single-level RBDO problem is proposed in this paper using an alternative approach. The proposed approach uses an exterior penalty based cross-entropy (CE) method to solve the uni-level RBDO problem. This approach is shown to be robust in handling equality constraints. The three example problems solved in this paper also shows that the algorithm works well with different starting points used for the design variables.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
U.S. distributed generation fuel cell program

Abstract The Department of Energy (DOE) is the largest funder of fuel cell technology in the U.S. The Department of Energy—Office of Fossil Energy (FE) is developing high temperature fuel cells for distributed generation. It has funded the development of tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) power systems operating at up to 60% efficiency on natural gas. The remarkable environmental performance of these fuel cells makes them likely candidates to help mitigate pollution. DOE is now pursuing more widely applicable solid oxide fuel cells for 2010 and beyond. DOE estimates that a 5 kW solid oxide fuel cell system can reach $400 per kW at reasonable manufacturing volumes. SECA—the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance—was formed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to accelerate the commercial readiness of planar and other solid oxide fuel cell systems utilizing 3–10 kW size modules by taking advantage of the projected economies of production from a “mass customization” approach. In addition, if the modular 3–10 kW size units can be “ganged” or “scaled-up” to larger sizes with no increase in cost, then commercial, microgrid, and other distributed generation markets will become attainable. Further scale-up and hybridization of SECA SOFCs with gas turbines could result in penetration of the bulk power market. This paper reviews the current status of the solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells in the U.S.
Developing a linear piezomotor with nanometer resolution and high stiffness

A novel linear piezomotor was developed for machine tool applications. The design principles and methodology for this high stiffness linear piezomotor with nanometer resolution are presented. The linear piezomotor consists of three piezoelectric actuators and one monolithic flexure frame. The design strategy is to reduce the total number of mechanical elements and interfaces and to integrate all the elements into the frame. The finite element method is used in the design process. The principles and methodology are also applicable to other positioning systems where a high stiffness and high positioning resolution are required.