cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The skin's role in human thermoregulation and comfort

The skin’s role in human thermoregulation and comfort E. A R E N S and H. Z H A N G, University of California, Berkeley, USA Introduction This chapter is intended to explain those aspects of human thermal physiology, heat and moisture transfer from the skin surface, and human thermal comfort, that could be useful for designing clothing and other types of skin covering. Humans maintain their core temperatures within a small range, between 36 and 38°C. The skin is the major organ that controls heat and moisture flow to and from the surrounding environment. The human environment occurs naturally across very wide range of temperatures (100 K) and water vapor pressures (4.7 kPa), and in addition to this, solar radiation may impose heat loads of as much as 0.8 kW per square meter of exposed skin surface. The skin exercises its control of heat and moisture across a 14-fold range of metabolisms, from a person’s basal metabolism (seated at rest) to a trained bicycle racer at maximum exertion. The skin also contains thermal sensors that participate in the thermoregulatory control, and that affect the person’s thermal sensation and comfort. The body’s heat exchange mechanisms include sensible heat transfer at the skin surface (via conduction, convection, and radiation (long-wave and short-wave)), latent heat transfer (via moisture evaporating and diffusing through the skin, and through sweat evaporation on the surface), and sensible plus latent exchange via respiration from the lungs. Dripping of liquid sweat from the body or discharge of bodily fluids cause relatively small amounts of heat exchange, but exposure to rain and other liquids in the environment can cause high rates of heat loss and gain. Clothing is used outside the skin to extend the body’s range of thermoregulatory control and reduce the metabolic cost of thermoregulation. It reduces sensible heat transfer, while in most cases permitting evaporated moisture (latent heat) to escape. Some clothing resists rain penetration, both to prevent the rain from directly cooling the skin, and to prevent the loss of insulation effectiveness within the clothing. Wet clothing will have a higher heat transfer than dry: depending on design, it can range from almost no From Thermal and Moisture Transport in Fibrous Materials, edited by N. Pan and P. Gibson, 2006, with kind permission of Woodhead Publishing Limited
Is human brain masculinization estrogen receptor-mediated? Reply to Luoto and Rantala

Human genetic males are unlike rodent males in that neither the ability to convert testosterone to estrogen nor a functional estrogen receptor (ER) appears necessary for male-typical behavior, but a functional androgen receptor (AR) is required. Brain masculinization is probably mainly AR-mediated in human genetic males. ER binding may nevertheless have important masculinizing or defeminizing effects in human genetic females. Probably the strongest available evidence on this issue is derived from females exposed to synthetic estrogens in utero due to their mother's treatment with DES. As we review, the totality of evidence from this population indicates little or no effect of estrogens on sexuality in genetic females. In addition, if brain masculinization were ER-mediated in humans, it seems unlikely that sex hormone-binding globulin would bind estrogens so effectively as to prevent them from masculinizing the brain. In sum, current evidence suggests that estrogen plays a limited role in masculinizing the human brain and behavior.
Real Data Augmentation for Medical Image Classification

Many medical image classification tasks share a common unbalanced data problem. That is images of the target classes, e.g., certain types of diseases, only appear in a very small portion of the entire dataset. Nowadays, large collections of medical images are readily available. However, it is costly and may not even be feasible for medical experts to manually comb through a huge unlabeled dataset to obtain enough representative examples of the rare classes. In this paper, we propose a new method called Unified LF&SM to recommend most similar images for each class from a large unlabeled dataset for verification by medical experts and inclusion in the seed labeled dataset. Our real data augmentation significantly reduces expensive manual labeling time. In our experiments, Unified LF&SM performed best, selecting a high percentage of relevant images in its recommendation and achieving the best classification accuracy. It is easily extendable to other medical image classification problems.
Gelatin based dynamic hydrogels via thiol–norbornene reactions

Gelatin based dynamic hydrogels have been synthesized by crosslinking norbornene functionalized gelatin with poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate-s-mercaptoethyl methacrylate) (poly(HPMA-s-MEMA)) using radical mediated thiol–norbornene reactions. The poly(HPMA-s-MEMA) was prepared from a pyridyl disulfide functionalized poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate-s-pyridyldisulfide ethylmethacrylate) (poly(HPMA-s-PDSEMA)) copolymer, which was synthesized using reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Subsequent reduction of the polymer using tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) afforded a copolymer with pendant thiol groups. The material properties of the hydrogels, including the swelling ratio and storage moduli (G′), were controlled by varying the thiol/ene molar ratio in the initial reaction mixture. Increases in material properties were observed with increasing thiol/ene molar ratio due to the formation of disulfide crosslinks in addition to the alkyl sulfide crosslinks. The dynamic behavior of these disulfides was considered to perform thiol exchange reactions with 2-mercaptoethanol to soften the hydrogel. Conversely, hydrogel stiffening was achieved through a secondary thiol–norbornene cross-linking between PEG-diNB and free thiols in the hydrogel. The gelatin based dynamic hydrogels demonstrated controllable stiffness over a 9.5 kPa–17.8 kPa range. These hydrogels are candidates for studying dynamic cell processes, for example fibrosis.
A Histomorphological Study of Prostatic Turp Specimens with Special Reference to Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia by Using Immunohistochemistry

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To study the histomorphological spectrum of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the Prostate in TURP specimens. To know the incidence of Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia in TURP specimens. To study the association of Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia in different prostatic lesions. To find out the expression of immunohistochemical markers, p63 and P504S (AMACR) in BPH, Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and Carcinoma cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a 4 years (2 year retrospective, 2 years prospective) study which includes 130 cases, i.e., from august 2011 to july 2015 at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal. All the 130 cases were TURP specimens. RESULTS A total number of 130 cases were studied. The cases were distributed in the age group of 45–85 yrs. The maximum number of patients were in the age range of 60-69 yrs. Out of 130 cases, 104(80%) were Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH), 6(4.6%) were non-specific granulomatous prostatitis(NSGP), 2(4.6%) were prostatic abscess, 2(1.5%) were basal cell hyperplasia, 14(10.8%) were prostatic adenocarcinoma, and 2(1.5%) cases had both prostatic adenocarcinoma and urothelial carcinoma. Foci of Low grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm (LGPIN) was identified in 16(12.3%) cases. All the LGPIN foci were associated with BPH. High grade prostatic intra epithelial neoplasm (HGPIN) was identified in 18(13.8%) cases. Out of these 4(3.8%) HGPIN foci were seen in BPH and 14(87.5%) were seen associated with adenocarcinoma. 4 microscopic patterns identified in HGPIN usually with multiple patterns in each case. The percentage of tufting, flat, micropapillary and cribriform patterns were 66.7%, 55.6%, 33.3% and 11.1% respectively. BPH showed 100% positivity for p63 stain and 100% negativity for P504S stain. HGPIN showed 100% positivity for p63 stain and 88.9% positivity for P504S stain. All the cases of adenocarcinoma showed negativity for p63 stain. 100% positivity was seen for P504S stain in adenocarcinoma. Both the cases of urothelial carcinoma showed positivity for p63 and P504S staining. CONCLUSION BPH is the most common lesion of the prostate in the elderly. Conventional adenocarcinoma is the commonest type of prostatic carcinoma. HGPIN has a high degree of association with prostatic carcinoma. Basal cell marker p63 is really helpful in differentiating benign and HGPIN glands from malignant glands. P504S is of great value in differentiating HGPIN and malignant glands from benign glands.
College Students' Perceptions of Spiritual People and Religious People:

There is great variation regarding the concepts of religiosity and spirituality in the psychology of religion literature. In an attempt to clarify these constructs in the general population, 16 col...
Candida auris: What We Need to Know in Healthcare Settings

Candida auris is an emerging pathogen characterized for its difficult identification, rapid nosocomial spread, and limited treatment options. Data is currently limited; however, this will change as the pathogen’s prevalence increases. The goal of this review is to provide a concise summary of the available data to manage a possible C. auris infection. Candida auris has been rapidly spreading globally and has been evading popular identification methods with MALDI-TOF being the only successful modality as long as the “research use only” database is used. Echinocandins are the treatment of choice; however, all isolates should have susceptibilities performed as there have been reports of resistance to all antifungal classes. Several hospital outbreaks have occurred; thus, all patients should be isolated with appropriate terminal cleaning. Atypical or suspicious Candida isolates should be identified by MALDI-TOF. Most Candida auris strains are resistant to azoles; therefore, the suggested empirical treatment is an echinocandin. Echinocandin-resistant strains have been reported, and in those cases, a polyene is preferred. Strict contact precautions are recommended while in the hospital due to high levels of nosocomial transmission.
Bending and Shear Stiffness of Cross-Laminated Timber Using a Variable Span Bending Test

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a novel wood product composed of lumber layers adhered orthogonally to create a two-way composite plate. The orthogonal orientation of the layers creates bending stiffness in both in-plane directions. However, compared to a solid wood beam, the orthogonal orientation of CLT reduces the shear stiffness in the longitudinal direction. Compared to a solid wood beam of the same material, shear deformation in CLT increases by approximately 30 %. Test methods to evaluate the shear stiffness terms of CLT beams are needed. This article examined two possible methods to obtain the bending and shear stiffness terms of CLT beams: (1) a simultaneous solution of the beam formulas currently tested in the product standard for CLT and (2) a regression method for variable span beams. Both methods produced similar bending and shear stiffness results. The use of a wide range of length-to-depth (L/d) ratios is recommended, with a minimum L/d value less than 10:1. Different loading configurations can be incorporated into the regression method provided that the regression terms are kept consistent. The simultaneous solution is of particular interest since no additional testing is needed beyond the current beam configurations in the CLT product standard.
Sound diffraction prediction of a rectangular rigid plate using the physical theory of diffraction

For the purpose of numerical efficiency in room acoustic modeling, the physical theory of diffraction (PTD) is applied to approximate solutions of a finite-sized, rigid rectangular plate. The application of the PTD enables sound diffraction contributions from the two edge pairs of the rigid plate to be predicted separately while ignoring the edge waves around the corners in far-field. This paper discusses numerical implementations of the theoretical predictions to show the efficiency of the application of the PTD in finite-sized objects. The numerical results implemented will also be compared with preliminary experimental results carried out using an acoustical goniometer.
Comparing Stimuli Delivered via Tablet Versus Flashcards on Receptive Labeling in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

We compared the acquisition of receptive labeling using stimuli delivered via tablet and via flashcards during discrete trial instruction in three preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Using an adapted alternating treatments design, we compared the number of sessions required to meet a mastery criterion for receptively identifying stimuli presented on flashcards and stimuli presented on a tablet with all other teaching procedures held constant. We observed that two participants required more sessions to meet the mastery criterion within the tablet condition, while one participant met the criterion after approximately the same number of sessions. We then assessed delivery preference using a concurrent-chains procedure and found preferences to be unrelated to overall performances during skill acquisition. Considerations for future research on tablet use in discrete trial instruction as well as implications for practice are discussed.
Developmental trajectories of smoking and perceived intelligence: A longitudinal study from early adolescence to young adulthood

ABSTRACTObjective: The current longitudinal study examined the associations among perceived intelligence, perceived health, in developmental trajectories of smoking across early adolescence and int...
Bright Signals: A History of Color Television

The latest ads for color televisions boast of 4 K ultra high-definition resolution, wide color gamut (WCG), and ‘quantum dots’, features so dizzying today’s television viewers can’t even imagine a ...
3D Printing of Conductive and Phosphorescent Filaments onto Textiles

This research explores 3D printing of specialty filaments of electrically conductive composite filament and phosphorescent PLA and Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) blend filament on polyester knitted and cotton woven textiles. Conductive filament was selected for exploration since it can be used as connections between textile conduction lines and electrical components in electronic textile applications. Phosphorescent filament was selected as it can be used to enhance aesthetical and functional qualities of clothing. Bonding between the textile surface and the 3D printed filaments, flexibility and warping of the structures are analyzed through visual and haptic inspection. Resistance of electrically conductive composite filament printed onto different textiles was also examined.
Antibody-Mediated Graft Rejection in Nonhuman Primate Models: Comparison of Sensitized Allotransplant and Xenotransplant Rejection

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a barrier to successful long-term xenograft survival. We compared AMR in kidney xenotransplantation to sensitized kidney allotransplantation in a nonhuman primate model. With conventional CNI-based immunosuppressive maintenance, both groups showed limited graft survival with strong antibody-mediated rejection features, such as interstitial hemorrhage, thrombotic microangiopathy, peritubular capillaritis, and glomerulitis, without T-cell-mediated rejection. The strong similarity between sensitized allo- and unsensitized xeno-rejection suggests a possible common mechanism of rejection in xeno and sensitized allotransplantation. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate desensitization strategies that have shown efficacy in an allosensitized setting to determine if they may apply as well to xenotransplantation. It would also be important to determine whether allosensitized hosts are also primed to xeno-AMR and, vice versa, whether xenotransplantation primes the immune response to allo-AMR.
Paid sick-leave and physical mobility: evidence from the United States during a pandemic

We study the effects of the temporary federal paid sick leave mandate that became effective April 1st, 2020 on ‘social distancing,’ as proxied by individuals’ physical mobility behavior gleaned from cellular devices. The national paid leave policy was implemented in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and provided many private and public workers with up to two weeks of paid leave for own or family illness or dependent care. We study the impact of this policy using difference-in-differences methods leveraging pre-FFCRA county-level differences in the share of workers likely eligible for FFCRA benefits. We find that FFCRA increased the average number of hours at home, and reduced the share of the individuals likely at work. In particular, comparing the county with the lowest to highest FFCRA exposure, we find that the average daily hours at home per day increased 4.2% while the average hours not at home per day and working decreased by 7.7% and 6.1% post-policy.
Nonverbal Synchrony: A New Approach to Assessing Therapeutic Alliance Ruptures

Nonverbal synchrony is the degree to which individuals’ nonverbal cues, such as body movement, implicitly coordinate in time. Within the psychotherapeutic dyad, nonverbal synchrony has been shown to correlate with therapeutic alliance and therapy outcome. However, nonverbal synchrony research has yet to address therapeutic alliance ruptures. Furthermore, many difficulties in assessing for ruptures have been identified, due to the fact that rupture assessments rely upon explicit observation of therapists, patients, and/or observers. To address this obstacle the present paper discusses the assessment of ruptures via the analysis of psychotherapy dyads’ nonverbal synchrony. Motion Energy Analysis, an adjunct to the standard assessment of ruptures within the psychotherapy dyad, is described as an efficient and reliable method of therapeutic relational dynamics analysis. Motion Energy Analysis allows for an algorithmic and straightforward approach to quantifying nonverbal synchrony. Clinical applications and relevance to the extant literature are also discussed. Keywords: nonverbal synchrony, therapeutic alliance, alliance ruptures, motion energy
The Edge of Water: Preaching Sovereignty in Rising Tides:

This analysis of two Fijian Methodist sermons responding to climate catastrophe argues for the significance of preaching that emerges from displaced and occupied communities, particularly for Chris...
Probabilistic fatigue life prediction for adhesively bonded joints via surrogate model

The paper is aimed at developing a probabilistic framework for fatigue life prediction in adhesively bonded joints by calibrating the predictive model, governing adhesive fatigue behavior, using the set of experimental data, and quantifying uncertainty in the model parameters. A cohesive zone model (CZM) is employed to simulate the fatigue damage growth (FDG) along the adhesive bondline and Bayesian inference is used for uncertainty quantification (UQ). The fatigue behavior predicted by FEA modeling for high cycle fatigue, in particular, is computationally intractable, not to mention the inclusion of UQ. To enhance the computational efficiency and yet retain accuracy, a rapid FDG simulator is developed for adhesively bonded joints, by replacing the computationally intensive strain field calculations with the artificial neural networks (ANNs) based surrogate model. The developed rapid FDG simulator is integrated with Bayesian inference and the integrated framework is verified by quantifying uncertainty in fatigue model parameters using the experimental fatigue life data of a single lap joint (SLJ) configuration under constant amplitude fatigue loading. The quantified parameter uncertainties are then used to predict the probabilistic fatigue life in the laminated doublers in bending joint configuration, fabricated using similar adhesive material as SLJ, and successfully comparing it with the experimental data.
Smart Irrigation Using Decision Tree

Indian climate which primarily consists of four seasons and the majority of agriculture in India is practised in monsoon which is rainfed agriculture. The lack of irrigation makes India a potent place for the experiment of efficient water irrigation. Internet of Things (IoT) have emerged has ubiquitous technology which is being used in many fields. Machine Learning has proven to be helpful in data-intensive tasks. IoT and machine learning would prove helpful in agriculture. This paper proposes a system based on the research of machine learning and IoT to increase the efficiency in irrigation. With the help of data gathered through sensors and using machine learning algorithm the amount of water the needed for irrigation is calculated and used for irrigation.
The accuracy of robot-assisted S2 alar-iliac screw placement at two different healthcare centers

Background Current literature on robot-assisted S2 alar-iliac (S2AI) screw placement shows favorable outcomes and screw accuracy; however, the data is limited by a few retrospective, single-surgeon studies. To the author's knowledge, this is the first multicenter study which evaluates the accuracy of robot-assisted S2AI screws. Methods Adult (≥18 years old) patients who underwent robot-assisted S2AI screw placement from 2017-2019 were reviewed. All surgeries used the same proprietary robotic guidance system, Mazor X (Mazor Robotics Ltd). Results A total of 65 screws were assessed in 31 patients. The mean follow-up ± standard deviation was 362±190 days (minimum was 90 days). The mean age was 61.1±11 years old, and 54.8% (n=17) of patients were female. Nearly half of the patients had a primary diagnosis of degenerative scoliosis (48.4%, n=15). Other diagnosis included pseudarthrosis (22.6%, n=7), degenerative disc disease (16.1%, n=5), and high-grade spondylolisthesis (12.9%, n=4). The mean length and diameter of screws were 84.6±6.1 mm and 8.4±0.7, respectively. The mean axial and sagittal angles were 50.0±6.3 and 24.0±10.5, respectively. The overall screw accuracy was 93.8% (n=61). There were four iliac cortex breaches (anterior =3, inferior 1) with a mean breach distance of 3.5±3.2. No statistically significant differences in screw length, diameter, axial angle, and sagittal angle were observed between screws with and without a breach. No intraoperative neurologic, vascular, or visceral complications from the S2AI screw were observed. No post-discharge wound complications, screw prominence issues, or revision of S2AI screws were observed during the study's follow-up period. Conclusions Robot-assisted S2AI screw placement was found to be safe and accurate in this multicenter study. This is largely attributed to the versatility of the robotic guidance software that allows for detailed and precise preoperative and intraoperative planning.
The Intimacy of Biography

SINCE THE COMPLETION and publication of my biography of H.D., I now realize that I have been seeking that special state of grace I had experienced while writing this book, and this has departed with the disappearance of H.D. and her companions from my immediate life. I reach out in search of that powerful light, or that sombre candle that lit the landscape of my own life as I struggled through the successive vales of a heretofore unchartered realm.
Library Research Courses that Follow Universal Design Principles and Best Practices for Online Education of Special Needs Students Improve Student Learning Experiences

A Review of: Catalano, A. (2014). Improving distance education for students with special needs: A qualitative study of students’ experiences with an online library research course. Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning, 8(1-2): 17-31. doi: 10.1080/1533290X.2014.902416 Abstract Objective – To evaluate student experience with an online library research course that follows best practices about distance education for special needs students. Design – Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Setting – A large private college in the United States of America. Subjects – Seven female students, both undergraduate and graduate, each with different physical and cognitive disabilities. Methods – Students were recruited from respondents to a survey about accessible library services, with a $50 gift card incentive. They took an online information literacy course that had been adapted for students with special needs, using universal design for learning and best practices in distance education for special needs students and in library instruction. Upon completion, students answered a questionnaire about the course learning activities. Students were then asked to participate in in-depth, semi-structured interviews on their learning preferences and study skills. Main Results – Students expressed overall satisfaction with the course, especially the clear organization and the ability to choose from various types of assignments for their final project. They expressed a preference for click-through, step-by-step instructions for tutorials. Five of the seven students participated in in-depth interviews, which revealed some common themes in their overall online learning experience: the challenge of obtaining extended time on tests; overcoming reluctance to participate in online discussions; the need for regular communication with instructors; and the need for clearly stated expectations and timely feedback. Conclusion – Student feedback confirms best practices identified in the literature on distance learning and on special needs students. The need for clear instructor expectations, clear course organization, and frequent interaction with the professor are common to all distance learning situations, but students with special needs are particularly in need of such well-structured instruction. Librarians should always determine accessibility before selecting software and tools to be used in online instruction. Accessible online library instruction should include information about resources for students with special needs; it should provide the same content in varied formats; and it should offer students options for assignment formats. Much research remains to be done to compare students with special needs in online and face-to-face courses, and to determine factors that improve the success of students with special needs in online courses.
The Expansive Definition of 'Protected Persons' in War Crime Jurisprudence

Contemporary international armed conflicts are more likely to resemble the inter-ethnic and religious conflicts of Yugoslavia and Iraq than the state-versus-state conflicts envisioned by the drafters of the Geneva Conventions. This explosive rise of inter-ethnic and religious conflicts often means that ethnicity is “determinative of national allegiance” and in this environment “the requirement of nationality is less adequate to define protected persons.” Therefore, the changing dynamics of international armed conflicts requires a more expansive definition of protected person which includes offering protections to those ethnic or religious groups that have grave breaches committed upon them by their own government.
Differential regulation of Hsp70 subfamilies by the eukaryotic DnaJ homologue YDJ1.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ydj1p, a DnaJ homolog, is localized to the cytosol with the Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins. Ydj1p helps facilitate polypeptide translocation across mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum membranes (Caplan, A. J., Cyr, D. M., and Douglas, M. G. (1992) Cell 71, 1143-1155) and can directly interact with Ssa1p to regulate chaperone activity (Cyr, D. M., Lu, X., and Douglas, M. G. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 20927-20931). In this study, the role of Ydj1p in modulating ATP-dependent reactions catalyzed by Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins has been examined using purified components and compared with that of other Hsp70 homologs BiP and DnaK. Ssa1p, Ssa2p, and Ssb1/2p all formed stable complexes with the mitochondrial presequence peptide, F1 beta(1-51). ATP alone had only modest effects on polypeptide complex formation with Ssa1p and Ssa2p, but prevented the majority of polypeptide binding to BiP and DnaK. ATP by itself also reduced polypeptide binding to Ssb1/2p to a level that was intermediate between that observed for the Ssa Hsp70 proteins tested and BiP and DnaK. ATP hydrolysis by Ssa1p, Ssa2p, and Ssb1/2p occurred at similar rates. Ydj1p was a potent modulator of the both the ATPase and polypeptide binding activities of Ssa1p and Ssa2p. In contrast, Ydj1p had little effect on the ATPase and polypeptide binding activity of Ssb1/2p. Therefore the chaperone-related activities of Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins exhibit significant differences in sensitivity to ATP and YDJ1p. These data indicate that regulation of Hsp70 activity by DnaJ homologs can be specific. The specificity of interactions between Ydj1p and the Ssa and Ssb Hsp70 proteins observed could contribute in determining the functional specificity of these chaperones in the cytosol. In related experiments, F1 beta(1-51) was found to reduce the extent to which Ydj1p stimulated Ssa1p ATPase activity. This effect correlated with the formation of F1 beta(1-51).Ssa1p complexes. We propose that intramolecular communication between the polypeptide binding, ATPase and DnaJ regulatory domains on Ssa1p plays a role in the regulation of chaperone activity.
DNA Three‐Way Junctions Stabilized by Hydrophobic Interactions for Creation of Functional Nanostructures

The construction of nanomaterials from oligonucleotides by modular assembly invariably requires the use of branched nucleic acid architectures such as three- and four-way junctions (3WJ and 4WJ). We describe the stabilization of DNA 3WJ by using non-nucleotide lipophilic spacers to create a hydrophobic pocket within the junction space. Stabilization of nucleic acid junctions is of particular importance when constructing nanostructures in the "ultra-nano" size range (<20 nm) with shorter double-stranded regions. UV thermal melting studies show that lipophilic spacers strategically placed within the junction space significantly increased thermal stability. For a 3WJ with eight base pair arms, thermal stability was increased from 30.5 °C for the unmodified junction to a maximum stability of 55.0 °C. The stability of the junction can be modulated within this temperature range by using the appropriate combinations of spacers.
Body-worn antennas, sensors and a novel class of electronic textiles

We present a new class of well-tested and verified electronic textiles. These are comfortable to wear and of low-cost, but still provide RF performance similar to their copper counterparts. To form conducting textile devices, metal-coated polymer E-fibers are densely and precisely embroidered onto everyday garments. This is done using a programmable sewing machine for automated fabrication. The proposed textiles leverage past experience to develop wearable antennas and sensors for a very wide range of applications (e.g., position, motion, identity and healthcare status monitoring).
On time optimal control of integrator switched systems with state constraints

Abstract In this paper, time optimal control problems of a class of integrator switched systems with polyhedral state constraint subsets are studied. We first develop a directed graph representation of the system discrete structure. Based on the graph representation, we generate candidate solution paths and propose an algorithm for seeking the optimal solution. A linear programming method for finding the optimal timing information for each path is then proposed. Finally, we report preliminary results on some sufficient conditions and techniques which help reduce the number of candidate paths.
piRNA-like RNAs in the marsupial Monodelphis domestica identify transcription clusters and likely marsupial transposon targets

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a recently discovered class of small noncoding RNAs that have been detected in human, mouse, rat, zebrafish, and Drosophila genomes. We have utilized a size-directed small-RNA cloning procedure to clone and map more than 300 candidate piRNA-like small RNAs in the genome of the marsupial species Monodelphis domestica. Our results are consistent with those from other species in that the piRNA-like candidate sequences range in size from 28 to 31 nucleotides, show a pronounced preference for uridine at the 5' end, are transcribed from a few large clusters, appear to target transposons, and display virtually no sequence conservation.
The importance of adolescence in the development of nicotine dependence: introduction to part V.

: This article sets the stage for the papers in Part V by describing the research work of the Tobacco Etiology Research Network (TERN), an ititiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Two studies coming from this matrix include one on the acquisition of tobacco use and another on the trajectories of tobacco use among college freshman.
An efficient synthesis of N-cyclobutylmethylnoroxymorphone from thebaine

R. A. Olofson* and Joseph P. Pepe Chemistry Department, The Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (Received in USA 1 February 1977; received inUK for publication 28 March 1977) The search for a safe, effective, and nonaddictive replacement for morphine for the treatment of severe pain has occupied scientists for over a hundred and fifty years. A most promising recent discovery in this area is N-cyclobutylmethylnoroxymorphone (nalbuphine = l), an analgesic now undergoing extensive clinical evaluation. A mixed agonist-antagonist drug, nalbuphine is reported to be as potent an analgesic as morphine and 2-5 times as active a narcotic antagonist as nalorphine.' Similar claims2'3 have been made for other 3,14-dihydroxyN-cyclobutylmethylmorphinans including the parent compound (butorphanol), ' a highly potent dependence free agonist... I,2
Micromachined electrophoresis chips with thick-film electrochemical detectors.

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) microsystem, based on the combination of microphotolithographically fabricated separation chips and thick-film electrochemical detector strips, is described. The microsystem consists of a planar screen-printed carbon line electrode mounted perpendicular to the flow direction. Such coupling obviates the need for permanent attachment of the detector, to allow easy and fast replacement of the working electrode. Variables influencing the separation efficiency and amperometric response, including the channel−electrode spacing, separation voltage, or detection potential, are assessed and optimized. The versatility, simplicity, and low-cost advantages of the new design are coupled to an attractive performance, with submicromolar detection limits, and good precision. Applicability for assays of mixtures of nitroaromatic explosives or catecholamines is demonstrated. Such use of screen-printed detectors should also benefit conventional CE systems, particularly in applications requir...
Essentialism, social constructionism, and the history of homosexuality.

Social constructionism is the view that homosexuality is not an atemporal and acultural phenomenon. Rather, homosexuality exists only within certain cultures and within certain time periods, most obviously Europe and North America after the nineteenth century. Essentialism is the view that homosexuality is an essential feature of human beings and that it could be found, in principle at least, in any culture and in any time. In this paper, I argue that the historical evidence available to us does not show that social constructionism is the correct view, and that essentialism is fully compatible with such evidence. Furthermore, I argue that the historical evidence does not even render social constructionism more probable than essentialism, i.e., both views are equally probable in the face of this evidence.
Synthesis of 1‐(N‐piperidinoacetyl)‐4‐arylthiosemicarbazides as possible anticonvulsants

Several 1-(N-piperidinoacetyl)-4-arylthiosemicarbazides were synthesized from N-piperidinoacetyl hydrazide, which was obtained by the reaction of hydrazine hydrate with ethyl N-piperidinoacetate. The anticonvulsant activity of these substituted thiosemicarbazides was reflected by their ability to provide 10–50% protection against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in mice. All substituted thiosemicarbazides (0.3 mM) inhibited in vitro monoamine oxidase activity of rat brain homogenates and provided 21–86% protection against hypoosmotic hemolysis at a final concentration of 0.1 mM.
Interdependencies and the urban land market

This paper is an investigation of normative land-use policies when the urban land market is characterized by interdependencies that are not corrected for by voluntary private transactions. It is argued on the basis of economic efficiency that the appropriate corrective policy depends on the sensitivity of interdependencies' intensity to changes in the proximity of producing and receiving land uses. When this sensitivity is high, the segregating effect of direct land-use controls is suitable; but when it is low, a Pigouvian tax-subsidy scheme is more appropriate.
It's about the power: An architect's view of interconnect

As integrated circuit technology scales chips are becoming power, not area limited, and the power dissipated moving bits on, off, and across chips is becoming increasingly important. This talk gives an architect's perspective on future chip interconnect. The demand for interconnect is driven by the application. Both SoCs and high-performance processors have demanding interconnect requirements. In modern chips, these requirements are met by organizing global interconnect as a network-on-chip or NoC. The regularity afforded by this organization enables layout and circuit optimizations. To reduce the energy per bit-mm, low-energy signaling with sophisticated circuits are becoming more widely used. It is important to optimize the entire interconnect system - the wire, the circuit, and the NoC together - not just each of the three in isolation.
Transition rates in phonon-particle coupled nuclei

Abstract The low-lying non-normal parity states of 41 Ca and 39 K (positive-parity and negative-parity spectra respectively) are treated as a particle (hole) coupled to the low-lying negative-parity states of 40 Ca (often called vibrational states). These spectra are calculated by the technique of Sherwood and Goswami 1 ), in which the RPA is extended from a closed shell to a closed shell plus a particle or hole. The calculated spectra are compared with experimental results. It is observed that the diagonalization of the energy matrix leads to roughly twice the number of physical states. It is shown that the doubling of the number of physical states does not lead to a breakdown of the theory, and a way to distinguish the physical states from the non-physical states is indicated. A method for calculating transition rates in the phonon-particle coupling is developed and is applied to the known electromagnetic transitions in 39 K. In the calculated spectra, it is found that two vibrations are usually important, namely, the lowest J = 3 − and 5 − states of 40 Ca. It is noted that the concept of a particle coupled to a vibration is ambiguous. The non-orthogonality is handled correctly in this microscopic theory and is quite important in calculating transition rates. The phonon-particle coupling model predicts that the non-normal parity states in 41 Ca and 39 K lie much lower in energy and are in much better agreement with experiment than according to conventional p-h calculation (TDA). The experimental levels (in MeV) and their calculated transition rates (in Weisskopf units) are 2.82 (2.5, 9), 3.02 (15 × 10 −4 , 13 × 10 −4 ), 3.60 (16, 23), 3.94 (17, 16). The 4p-3h states were not included. Free charges rather than effective charges were used in the calculation of the transition rates.
Strategic analysis of technology and capacity investments in the liquefied natural gas industry

Abstract Energy plays a fundamental role in both manufacturing and services, and natural gas is rapidly becoming a key energy source worldwide. Facilitating this emergence is an expanding network of ocean-going vessels that enable the matching of natural gas supply and demand on a global scale. This is achieved through the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for eventual regasification at its destination. Until very recently, only one type of technology had been available for transporting and regasifying LNG: Conventional LNG vessels coupled with land based LNG regasification. But it is now possible to transport and regasify LNG onboard special LNG vessels. Companies such as Excelerate Energy and Hoegh LNG are currently developing LNG supply chains based on this new technology. Motivated by these developments, we engaged executives at Excelerate Energy to facilitate an investigation of issues related to strategic technology selection, as well as choices around technology configuration and capacity for the incumbent and emerging technologies. The resulting analysis brings to light managerial principles delineating the impact of alternative LNG throughput models on decisions regarding how to deploy each technology option and how to configure and size their capacity. Our findings have additional potential relevance beyond our industry specific analysis.
Family Firms in Hyderabad: Gujarati, Goswami, and Marwari Patterns of Adoption, Marriage, and Inheritance

Comparative Studies in Society and History 2011;53(4):827–854. 0010-4175/11 $15.00 # Society for the Comparative Study of Society and History 2011 doi:10.1017/S0010417511000429 Family Firms in Hyderabad: Gujarati, Goswami, and Marwari Patterns of Adoption, Marriage, and Inheritance K A R E N I S A KS E N LE O N AR D Anthropology, UC Irvine INTRODUCTION Scholars are looking again at banking and mercantile families in India’s early modern history, responding to the challenge issued by Claude Markovits in the epilogue of his 2008 volume, Merchants, Traders, Entrepreneurs, to “return the merchant to South Asian history.” 1 Some of the underlying assumptions and questions being asked are old and some are new. My own longstanding assumption, upon which this article relies, has been that bankers and merchants played multiple and important roles with respect to states in South Asia, and that their relations with non-kin officials and other political actors determined their success or failure and sometimes the success or failure of a state, most notably, the Mughal state. 2 Questions are again being raised about “trust,” assumed to be a leading attribute of and asset to financial networks (especially in long- distance trade diasporas), and the notion so commonly put forward by scholars to explain the success of Hindu banking and mercantile communities. Recent work by Francesca Trivellato has found that membership in the Sephardic trade diaspora facilitated but did not guarantee trust or cooperation: the Sephardic merchants relied on non-Jewish as well as Jewish agents and networks of infor- mation, and evolving legal norms guided their business activities. 3 Acknowledgments: I want to thank the anonymous reviewers for Comparative Studies in Society and History, whose comments and questions contributed greatly to the development of this article. Claude Markovits, Merchants, Traders, Entrepreneurs: Indian Business in the Colonial Era (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008). Earlier, Sanjay Subrahmanyam and C. A. Bayly attempted to stimulate research on the precolonial period: “Portfolio Capitalists and the Political Economy of Early Modern India,” The Indian Economic and Social History Review 25, 4 (1988): 401–24. Karen Leonard “The ‘Great Firm’ Theory of the Decline of the Mughal Empire,” Comparative Studies in Society and History (Apr. 1979): 151–67, and repr. in Muzaffar Alam and Sanjay Sub- rahmanyam, eds., The Mughal State 1526–1750 (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1998), 398– 420; Karen Leonard, “Banking Firms in Nineteenth-Century Hyderabad Politics,” Modern Asian Studies 15, 2 (1981): 177–201. Francesca Trivellato, The Familiarity of Strangers: The Sephardic Diaspora, Livorno, and Cross-Cultural Trade in the Early Modern Period (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009). Downloaded from http:/www.cambridge.org/core. Access paid by the UC Irvine Libraries, on 08 Sep 2016 at 00:04:35, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at http:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0010417511000429
Call admission control for reducing dropped calls in CDMA cellular systems

Call admission control (CAC) algorithms that reduce dropped calls in code-division multiple access (CDMA) cellular systems are discussed in this paper. The capacity of a CDMA system is confined by the interference of users from both inside and outside of the target cell. Earlier algorithms for CAC are based on the effective traffic load for the target cell if one call is accepted. These algorithms ignore the interference effect of the to-be-accepted call on the neighboring cells. In our algorithms, the call admission decision is based on the effective traffic loads for both the target cell and the neighboring cells. In addition, to prioritize handoff calls, we also introduce the idea of soft guard channel, which reserves some traffic load exclusively for handoff calls. Stochastic reward net (SRN) models are constructed to compare the performance of the algorithms. The numerical results show that our algorithms can significantly reduce the dropped calls with a price of increasing the blocked calls. To show the potential gain due to our algorithms, we introduce two new metrics: the increased blocking ratio for our algorithms and the increased dropping ratio for the conventional algorithms. From the numerical results, it is shown that our algorithms can reduce the dropped calls significantly, while the blocked calls are increased at a relatively small rate under both homogeneous and hot spot traffic loads.
Short-term scheduling : New mathematical models vs algorithmic improvements

In this paper, a novel formulation is presented for the short-term scheduling of batch plants. The proposed formulation is based on a continuous time representation and results in a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem. In contrast to the previously published continuous-time scheduling formulations, the proposed approach leads to smaller and simpler mathematical models which exhibit fewer binary and continuous variables, have smaller integrality gaps, require fewer constraints, need fewer linear programming relaxations, and can be solved in significantly less CPU time. Several examples are presented that illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed formulation and comparisons with other approaches are provided.
Skin and Anti-Aging Research Update: Proceedings from the 2007 World Congress of Dermatology

Differences in how populations across the globe experience skin health and disease are affected by myriad factors. Demographics, genetics, immunology, environmental exposures, cultural practices, and the indigenous plants in a region will all affect population-based skin care and, ultimately, many aspects of appearance, including pigmentation and aging. Our understanding in all of these areas is increasing, but in some areas the data gaps remain large. On a population basis, there is little data available about the prevalence of skin conditions and practices worldwide. Moreover, we are just beginning to be able to quantify, characterize, and measure differences in skin structure and function that occur in what we perceive as normal skin. Areas with substantial progress include new imaging technologies, the identification of key genes involved in pigmentation, and an understanding of how the immune system responds to injury, including exposure to ultraviolet light. The use of new approaches that range from sophisticated and highly engineered technologies to the scientific evaluation of naturally found botanicals has paved the way for improvements in the formulations of skin care products that address the common problems of disordered pigmentation and photoaging.