cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sub-Thermionic Steep Switching in Hole-Doped WSe2 Transistors

Decreasing the subthreshold swing (SS) of field-effect transistors (FETs) to sub-60 mV/decade at room temperature can enable next-generation low-power electronics [1]. Here, we demonstrate steep switching $(SS and high on-current $(I_{\mathrm{ON}}\approx 400\mu \mathrm{A}/\mu \mathrm{m})$ in non-uniformly hole-doped WSe 2 transistors. By setting up large lateral electric field gradients through spatial variation of doping, we deduce that the abrupt switching behavior is consistent with avalanche (impact ionization [2]) of charge carriers, opening up a new approach to achieve low-power transistors based on ultra-thin 2D materials.
Reconciling Fiduciary Duty and Social Conscience: The Law and Economics of ESG Investing by a Trustee

Trustees of pensions, charities, and personal trusts invest tens of trillions of dollars of other people’s money subject to a sacred trust known in the law as fiduciary duty. Recently, these trustees have come under increasing pressure to use environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in making investment decisions. ESG investing is common among investors of all stripes, but many trustees have resisted its use on the grounds that doing so may violate the fiduciary duty of loyalty. Under the “sole interest rule” of trust fiduciary law, a trustee must consider only the interests of the beneficiary. Accordingly, a trustee’s use of ESG factors, if motivated by the trustee’s own sense of ethics or to obtain collateral benefits for third parties, violates the duty of loyalty. On the other hand, some academics and investment professionals have argued that ESG investing can provide superior risk-adjusted returns. On this basis, some have even argued that ESG investing is required by the fiduciary duty of prudence. Against this backdrop of uncertainty, this Article examines the law and economics of ESG investing by a trustee. We differentiate “collateral benefits” ESG from “risk-return” ESG, and we provide a balanced assessment of the theory and evidence about the possibility of persistent, enhanced returns from risk-return ESG. We show that ESG investing is permissible under American trust fiduciary law if two conditions are satisfied: (1) the trustee reasonably concludes that ESG investing will benefit the beneficiary directly by improving risk-adjusted return; and (2) the trustee’s exclusive motive for ESG investing is to obtain this direct benefit. In light of the current theory and evidence on ESG investing, we accept that these conditions could be satisfied under the right circumstances, but we reject the claim that the duty of prudence either does or should require trustees to use ESG factors. We also consider how the duty of loyalty should apply to ESG investing by a trustee if such investing is authorized by the terms of a trust or the beneficiaries, or is consistent with a charity’s purpose, clarifying with an analogy to whether a distribution would be permissible under similar circumstances. We conclude that applying the sole interest rule (as tempered by authorization and charitable purpose) to ESG investing is normatively sound.
Improving Prediction Performance Using Hierarchical Analysis of Real-Time Data: A Sepsis Case Study

This paper presents a novel method for hierarchical analysis of machine learning algorithms to improve predictions of at risk patients, thus further enabling prompt therapy. Specifically, we develop a multi-layer machine learning approach to analyze continuous, high-frequency data. We illustrate the capabilities of this approach for early identification of patients at risk of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection, using high-frequency (minute-by-minute) physiological data collected from bedside monitors. In our analysis of a cohort of 586 patients, the model obtained from analyzing the output of a previously developed sepsis prediction model resulted in improved outcomes. Specifically, the original model failed to predict 11.76 ± 4.26% of sepsis patients earlier than Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria, commonly used to identify patients at risk for rapid physiological deterioration resulting from sepsis. In contrast, the multi-layer model only failed to predict 3.21 ± 3.11% of sepsis patients earlier than SIRS. In addition, sepsis patients were predicted on average 204.87 ± 7.90 minutes earlier than SIRS criteria using the multi-layer model, which can potentially help reduce mortality and morbidity if implemented in the ICU.
Direct asymmetric organocatalytic Michael reactions of alpha,alpha-disubstituted aldehydes with beta-nitrostyrenes for the synthesis of quaternary carbon-containing products.

Direct asymmetric catalytic Michael reactions have been performed using chiral-amine/acid bifunctional catalysts. Performed with 0.3 equiv of (S)-(+)-1-(2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine and 0.3 equiv of trifluoroacetic acid as the catalyst, the reaction of α,α-dialkylaldehydes with (E)-β-nitrostyrene provided the α,α-dialkyl Michael products in up to 96% yield with up to 91% ee. With respect to enantioselectivity, l-proline was a poor catalyst of this class of Michael reactions.
Modelling the Interaction of Leadership, Culture and Power in Higher Education.

This paper presents a conceptual framework for predicting whether power will have a unifying or subversive effect in specific organizational cultures. The Cultural Interaction Model of Leadership a...
Wireless Frequency Synchronization for Coherent Distributed Antenna Arrays

A simple approach to scalable wireless frequency synchronization in coherent distributed antenna arrays is presented. Coherent distributed arrays require accurate alignment of frequency, phase, and timing between antenna nodes to enable distributed beamforming. Since each node operates independently, the frequency of the oscillators on each node will inherently contain some drift relative to all others, even when designed to operate at the same frequency. Traditionally, this has been approached using two-way communications to determine the frequency offsets between nodes. In this work a simple, one-way frequency transfer approach is presented that uses a self-mixing circuit to demodulate a 10 MHz frequency reference from a modulated transmitted signal. The 10 MHz signal is input to software-defined radio nodes, synchronizing the internal oscillators to the transmitting node. Experimental results are shown for a three-node system.
It’s Not You, It’s Me: An Exploration of Mentoring Experiences for Women in STEM

Although the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) continues to grow, men still represent a significant majority of those employed in these industries. Mentoring programs have been identified as a useful tool to alleviate this gap and therefore have been developed in an effort to attract and retain women in STEM. However, research suggests that women are still being mentored less often than their male colleagues. To understand this issue in depth, 36 women holding managerial positions in STEM organizations in the United States and Canada were interviewed and their experiences with mentoring were discussed. The results suggest that women do have access and indeed find potential mentors but they perceive significant barriers that prevent these initial meetings from developing into long-term mentoring relationships. Specifically, four Barriers to the Development of Mentorship (BDM) were identified including: Need for Fit, Demonstrating Capability, Commitment of the Mentor, and Trust in the Mentor. BDM might help researchers and practitioners understand why women are under-mentored and consequently underrepresented in STEM workplaces. Implications of these findings are discussed, such as how to improve formal mentoring programs to overcome BDM and better serve women in STEM.
Adversarial Optimal Transport Through The Convolution Of Kernels With Evolving Measures.

A novel algorithm is proposed to solve the sample-based optimal transport problem. An adversarial formulation of the push-forward condition uses a test function built as a convolution between an adaptive kernel and an evolving probability distribution $\nu$ over a latent variable $b$. Approximating this convolution by its simulation over evolving samples $b^i(t)$ of $\nu$, the parameterization of the test function reduces to determining the flow of these samples. This flow, discretized over discrete time steps $t_n$, is built from the composition of elementary maps. The optimal transport also follows a flow that, by duality, must follow the gradient of the test function. The representation of the test function as the Monte Carlo simulation of a distribution makes the algorithm robust to dimensionality, and its evolution under a memory-less flow produces rich, complex maps from simple parametric transformations. The algorithm is illustrated with numerical examples.
How to Increase Muscle Mass in Critically Ill Patients: Lessons Learned from Athletes and Bodybuilders

Decades of research on nutrition and exercise on athletes and bodybuilders has yielded various strategies to promote anabolism and improve muscle health and growth. We reviewed these interventions in the context of muscle loss in critically ill patients. For critically ill patients, ensuring optimum protein intake is important, potentially using a whey-containing source and supplemented with vitamin D and leucine. Agents like hydroxyl β-methylbutyrate and creatine can be used to promote muscle synthesis. Polyunsaturated fatty acids stimulate muscle production as well as have anti-inflammatory properties that may be useful in critical illness. Adjuncts like oxandralone promote anabolism. Resistance training has shown mixed results in the ICU setting but needs to be explored further with specific outcomes. Critically ill patients suffer from severe proteolysis during hospitalization as well as persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome after discharge. High protein supplementation, ergogenic aids, anti-inflammatories, and anabolic adjuncts have shown potential in alleviating muscle loss and should be used in intensive care units to optimize patient recovery.
Trophic ecology of yellowtail rockfish (Sebastes flavidus) during a marine heat wave off central California, USA.

The yellowtail rockfish, Sebastes flavidus, is a widespread and abundant mesopredator in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. We utilized stomach content and stable isotope analyses to investigate the trophic ecology of this species at three sites off central California just before (August–October 2013) and during (August and October 2014) a marine heat wave. Sebastes flavidus largely consumed pelagic prey (zooplankton and micronekton). Diets were dominated by tunicates (salps and pyrosomes), pelagic crustaceans (euphausiids, hyperid amphipods, larval decapods), and fishes, with the relative contribution of these prey taxa varying spatially (sample location, longitude, depth) and temporally (year, month), based on complementary multivariate analyses. Prey-specific indices demonstrated that individual S. flavidus diet composition typically was dominated by one of these prey groups, and that prey switching occurred based on the relative availability of prey and their energetic importance. Stable isotope analysis of δ15N indicated that the S. flavidus populations sampled in 2014 had been feeding at an elevated trophic position and more variable prey spectrum relative to 2013, probably as a consequence of greater piscivory and the incorporation of temporal changes in diet composition. Because its opportunistic feeding behavior reflects the dynamism and heterogeneity of the pelagic forage preyscape, S. flavidus may be an important ecosystem indicator species. For example, the novel incorporation of pyrosomes as a large portion of the diet of S. flavidus during 2013–2014 directly related to the massive increase in pyrosome abundance in the California Current during the 2014 marine heat wave.
NASA's Applied Sciences: Natural Disasters Program

Fully utilize current and near-term airborne and spaceborne assets and capabilities. NASA spaceborne instruments are for research but can be applied to natural disaster response as appropriate. NASA airborne instruments can be targeted specifically for disaster response. Could impact research programs. Better flow of information improves disaster response. Catalog capability, product, applicable disaster, points of contact. Ownership needs to come from the highest level of NASA - unpredictable and irregular nature of disasters requires contingency funding for disaster response. Build-in transfer of applicable natural disaster research capabilities to operational functionality at other agencies (e.g., USFS, NOAA, FEMA...) at the outset, whenever possible. For the Decadal Survey Missions, opportunities exist to identify needs and requirements early in the mission design process. Need to understand additional needs and commitments for meeting the needs of the disaster community. Opportunity to maximize disaster response and mitigation from the Decadal Survey Missions. Additional needs or capabilities may require agency contributions.
Solubilization and Structural Factors Governing Solubility and the Dissolved State

This chapter discusses the solubilization and structural factors that govern the solubility and dissolved state of cellulose. The solubilization of cellulose is done by the steam explosion method. It involves the abrupt discharge of the materials penetrated with high temperature water vapor into open air and can potentially destroy the inner and outer structure of any material and inspire desired properties into materials. It has been widely utilized in biomass conversion technology for cattle feed production, a new pulping application, and the gasification of biomass. The intramolecular hydrogen bonds break down when treated with the steam explosion method, and this has been the key to produce alkali soluble cellulose. The chapter also reviews the study of the influence of cellulose resources on the changes in morphology, the degree of polymerization, and solid structure during steam explosion method on pure cellulose application. The structural factors governing dissolution into solvents are the dissolution of natural cellulose into aq. alkali solution, the dissolution of cellulose into aq. cuprammonium solution, cellulose acetate, and carboxyethyl cellulose. At a relatively low degree of substitution, the solubility of the derivative in water or aqueous alkali is mainly governed by a considerable destruction of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds. These experimental facts support the molecular interpretation of the solubility of cellulose acetate and of cellulose in water or aq. alkali.
Concept discovery through utilization of invariance embedded in the description language

The idea of using invariance, embedded in a description language, in the process of concept discovery was utilized in the COPER system for discovery of physical laws [Kokar, 1986a, 1986b]. It was incorporated in the procedures of COPER, and thus was applicable to the domain of physical laws. This paper presents a step toward construction of a domain-independent module whose goal is to find invariants and utilize them for constructive induction of functional concepts. To this aim, the features of COPER are expressed in the language of algebra, and the algorithm for constructive induction of concepts is outlined.
Evaluation and Application of VSAERO to a Nonaxisymmetric Afterbody with Thrust Vectoring

The incorporation of multifunction nozzles into fighter aircraft can enhance fighter maneuverability and performance. Development of computational methods will be vital for determining efficient methods of aerodynamic integration of these nozzles. This paper will discuss the utilization of a current technology subsonic panel method (VSAERO) for predicting the flow about a nonaxisymmetric nozzle afterbody with and without a thrust vectoring concept. Two modelings for the vectored exhaust are presented. Highly favorable comparisons were obtained with a rudimentary modeling of the vectored exhaust.
Expression Systems for DNA Processes

The production of a specific protein by recombinant DNA technology entails cloning the gene that encodes the protein from the desired organism, forming a suitable genetic construct such that the gene can be expressed in a host organism, and introduction and maintenance of the construct in the host to allow the production of an adequate yield of functional protein. The ability to take a gene from any organism and express it in adequate quantity in a system permitting the analysis of the structure and function of the protein encoded by the gene has great importance in the research laboratory. Physical and enzymatic features of the protein encoded by a newly discovered gene can be studied, and its functional location in cells or tissues can be determined, in an effort to better define its biological function. Industrial applications include the production of therapeutic and diagnostic proteins having great impact in the field of medicine, and the production of stable bulk enzymes for the food and specialty chemical industries. Keywords: Antibiotic Resistance; Bacteriophage; Coding Region; Codon; Fusion Protein; Inducible Promoter; Partition; Posttranslational Processing; Promoter; Protease; Ribosome Binding Site; RNA Secondary Structure; Secretion; Virus
Bacteriophage Resistance Plasmid pTR2030 Inhibits Lytic Infection of r(1)t Temperate Bacteriophage but Not Induction of r(1)t Prophage in Streptococcus cremoris R1.

Abstract The effects of pTR2030 on the replication of four small isometric bacteriophages were examined in Streptococcus cremoris R1. Three lytic phages (652, 720, and 751), which were isolated independently over a 29-year period, were unable to form plaques on a pTR2030 transconjugant of S. cremoris R1. The fourth phage evaluated, phage r1t, was a temperate phage induced from S. cremoris R1 by treatment with mitomycin C. A prophage-cured derivative of S. cremoris R1, designated R1Cs, was isolated and served as a lytic indicator for phage r1t. Strain R1Cs and a derivative of this strain that was relysogenized with r1t, designated R1Cs(r1t), were used as conjugal recipients for transfer of the phage resistance plasmid pTR2030. pTR2030 transconjugants of strains R1Cs and R1Cs(r1t) were evaluated for sensitivity to r1t phage and induction of r1t prophage, respectively. The temperate phage r1t adsorbed eficiently but did not form plaques on the prophage-cured, pTR2030 transconjugant strain T-R1Cs. However, in the r1t lysogen [T-R1Cs(r1t)], pTR2030 did not inhibit prophage induction with mitomycin C, cell lysis, or production of infective r1t phage particles. The data demonstrated that pTR2030-induced resistance inhibited lytic infection by r1t phage from without but did not retard lytic development after prophage induction within the cell. It was suggested that pTR2030-encoded phage resistance to small isometric phages may, therefore, act at the cell surface or membrane to prevent phage DNA passage into the host cell or inhibit early events required for lytic replication of externally infecting phage.
THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF PERRY MESA

The prevailing interpretations of settlement patterns in the Perry Mesa region of central Arizona (ca. A.D. 1275–1400) focus on the defensive posture of the large aggregated villages. Other factors that may have influenced the locations of residential settlements, such as the distribution of agricultural land, have not been fully explored. This study addresses these issues by examining the relationship between residential site size and the distribution of agricultural land. The environmental setting of known agricultural sites in the region was used to develop a landscape scale model that identified areas of potential runoff agricultural land. The locations of residential sites of different size classes were compared to the model. Results indicate that although defense may have been a consideration in the placement of residential sites, the distribution of agricultural land was also an important factor in the growth and development of these communities.
The Heat Pipe

Publisher Summary This chapter classifies and evaluates the comprehensive literature collection composed of publications, papers presented at meetings, and reports of varying nature that appeared during the period from 1964 through midyear 1970 on heat pipe technology and on related topics. In the operation of a heat pipe, thermal energy is transferred from the evaporator to the condenser by continuous mass cycling and phase change of a suitable working fluid. In a heat pipe, the working fluid is continuously cycled by the surface tension forces of the fluid itself. It is this unique method of mass transfer that has both stimulated a growing interest in the heat pipe and has also proved to be one of the major impediments for a successful heat pipe operation. Theoretically, the heat pipe may be applied to almost a limitless number of thermal transport problems, which in general, can be subdivided into four broad topical categories depending on the particular feature of a heat pipe that is to be exploited. These areas of possible application are: (1) temperature flattening, (2) source–sink separation, (3) heat flux transformation, and (4) constant flux production.
Sequential discrimination of atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Described is a sequential hypothesis testing algorithm capable of discriminating supraventricular arrhythmias from ventricular arrhythmias. The algorithm uses simultaneous recordings of pure atrial and pure ventricular electrograms obtained using dual chamber endocardial electrodes on a single catheter. Adaptive impulse filtering is used to subtract the ventricular component from the atrial lead signal to get a pure atrial electrogram. Probability distributions of the atrial and ventricular inter-beat interval for various arrhythmias are calculated. A sequential hypothesis testing (SHT) algorithm is used to determine which distribution the rhythm belongs to. The advantage of this method is that it allows preselection of the false positive and false negative error probabilities. The tradeoff for selecting lower error rates is a longer time required to reach a decision. The SHT algorithm is used to discriminate between normal and SVT rhythms in 20 data segments. The 9 normal rhythms and 10 SVT rhythms were classified correctly within 3 seconds. >
Chapter 23: “Negative” Physiology: What Connexin-Deficient Mice Reveal about the Functional Roles of Individual Gap Junction Proteins

Publisher Summary The molecular biological revolution has affected the studies of gap junctions for only about a dozen years. During this time, gap junction channels have been shown to be encoded by a family of connexin genes, and properties of these channels have been characterized in the mammalian cell lines and in Xenopus oocyte expression systems. Mutagenesis has begun to identify functional gating domains, and surprisingly common human genetic diseases have been associated with coding and noncoding region mutations in genes encoding several of the connexins. The newest approach, and the one emphasized in this chapter, consists of the evaluation of tissue and organ functions in mice in which the expression of individual connexin genes has been disrupted by homologous recombination [so-called gene “knockout” (KO) mice]. The chapter briefly discusses what the transgenics have expressed so far, emphasizing physiological studies carried out in the animals and in tissue culture, where properties of intercellular channels can be studied in detail. The extensive characterization of cellular, tissue, and organ alterations in these and other connexin knockout mice still have a long way to go before their phenotypes are totally understood. But such studies already demonstrate the impact that genetic manipulation has had on the field so far, and also highlight why it is currently so much fun to be a physiologist.
Accumulation of secretory protein precursors in Escherichia coli induces the heat shock response.

The accumulation of secretory protein precursors, caused either by mutations in secB or secA or by the overproduction of export-defective proteins, results in a two- to fivefold increase in the synthesis of heat shock proteins. In such strains, sigma 32, the alternative sigma factor responsible for transcription of the heat shock genes, is stabilized. The resultant increase in the level of sigma 32 leads to increased transcription of heat shock genes and increased synthesis of heat shock proteins. We have also found that although a secB null mutant does not grow on rich medium at a temperature range of 30 to 42 degrees C, it does grow at 44 degrees C. In addition, we found that a secB null mutant exhibits greater thermotolerance than the wild-type parental strain. Elevated levels of heat shock proteins, as well as some other non-heat shock proteins, may account for the partial heat resistance of a SecB-lacking strain. Images
Age‐Period‐Cohort approaches to back‐calculation of cancer incidence rate

A compartment model for cancer incidence and mortality is developed in which healthy subjects may develop cancer, and subsequently die of cancer or another cause. In order to adequately represent the experience of a defined population, it is also necessary to allow for subjects who are diagnosed at death, as well as subjects who migrate and are subsequently lost to follow-up. Expressions are derived for the number of cancer deaths as a function of the number of incidence cases and vice versa, which allows for the use of mortality statistics to obtain estimates of incidence using survival information. In addition, the model can be used to obtain estimates of cancer prevalence, which is useful for health care planning. The method is illustrated using data on lung cancer among males in Connecticut.
Associations between white blood cell count and risk for cerebrovascular disease mortality: NHANES II Mortality Study, 1976-1992.

Abstract Purpose To examine associations between elevated white blood cell count (WBC) and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) mortality independent of cigarette smoking and by gender. Methods We used Cox regression analyses of data from 8459 adults (3982 men; 4477 women) aged 30 to 75 years in the NHANES II Mortality Study (1976–1992) to estimate the relative risk of death from CeVD across quartiles of WBC. Results During 17 years of follow-up, there were 192 deaths from CeVD (93 men; 99 women). Compared with those with WBC (cells/mm 3 ) 8200 were at increased risk of CeVD mortality (relative risk [RR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–3.7) after adjustment for smoking and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Similar results were observed among never smokers (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0–3.8). The adjusted relative risk of CeVD mortality comparing those with WBC > 8200 to those with WBC Conclusions Elevated WBC may predict CeVD mortality even after considering the effects of smoking and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Application of Smart Materials to Wireless ID Tags and Remote Sensors

Material structures having an electromagnetic or magnetomechanical resonance can be excited or detected remotely using an antenna. Incorporating smart materials into such structures provides new opportunities to encode ID and sensor information in the electromagnetic signature of the “tag.” In this way, it is possible to create tags which not only have a unique ID but which can also respond to local changes in their environment (e. g. force, temperature, light, etc.). This principle forms the basis for a low-cost wireless ID and wireless sensor technology which has many potential applications in manufacturing, inventory control, security, surveillance, and new human-computer interfaces. As a means of illustrating this concept, two simple examples are given: a force sensor incorporating a piezoelectric polymer and a relative position sensor which incorporates a magnetoelastic amorphous metal ribbon.
A Secondary School Administrator's Guide to Evaluating Reading Instruction

When evaluating reading instruction in a secondary school, the principal should focus on two questions, says this writer: how much reading is going on, and is the reading material appropriate for the reader? By answering these questions, the administrator can ensure a successful reading program.
Computerized tomography in intracardiac tumors.

Abstract Two cases of cardiac tumors were studied by computerized tomography. The first patient presented with cerebral embolization from left atrial tumor. Chest X-ray showed calcification in the region of the atria. A 2-“D” echo showed tumors of the right and left atrium. CT studies with contrast confirmed tumors of right and left atria its relationship with atrial septum and calcification. This is the first case report in the literature of multicentric biatrial tumors thought to be myxomas shown by computerized tomography. The second patient presented with weight loss, progressive weakness, shortness of breath and palpitations. A 2-“D” echo showed a large pedunculated left atrial mass prolapsing across the mitral valve into the left ventricle. CT with contrast showed large mass 3.5 × 4.5 cm in the left atrium. At surgery, this was proved to be a left atrial myxoma.
What can be learned from the absence of auroral X-ray emission from Saturn?

To understand the origin and magnitude of the present upper limit observations of Saturn's auroral X-ray emission, we use simple models based on the mechanism that leads to analogous emission at Jupiter, charge transfer between ion precipitation and atmospheric gas. Several putative sources and characteristics of the precipitation are considered, namely, (1) highly charged solar wind ions with additional acceleration and (2) ambient, thermal ion population originating, for example, from Saturn's satellites, and then accelerated to high energies. Estimates obtained for each of these sources show the need for acceleration, either to focus the highly charged solar wind ions into the atmosphere or to enable stripping of the initially low-charge state ambient ions to higher charges. The former yields a constraint on the existing accelerating potentials present at Saturn but can only account for about a tenth of the observed upper limit to the auroral luminosity, while the latter requires extremely low limits on the area (i.e., less than 100 km{sup 2}) over which field-aligned potentials are active and needed to produce the acceleration to generate the observational upper limit on the X-ray luminosity. We therefore narrow the range of possible ion sources, the accelerating potentials required that are consistentmore » with the present understanding of the magnetosphere, and model upper limit of X-ray emission from ion precipitation.« less
LEAK LOCATION AND REPAIR COST FOR UNDERGROUND HEAT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

The expected cost of leak location and repair is estimated for shallow trench and directly buried underground heat distribution systems. Leaks in shallow trench systems can be found during a visual search using a bisection method to determine the sequence of slabs to be lifted, while directly buried systems generally require sensors and often extensive excavation. The cost advantage for shallow trench systems is estimated to be $4,863 per mile per year (expressed in year 1985 dollars) for the baseline scenario, taking into account observed (historical) differences in average failure rates. If directly buried systems could somehow be guaranteed to have the same failure rate as shallow trench systems, the cost advantage would become negligible. Several scenarios regarding sensor effectiveness were entertained, with the cost advantage changing by less than 20%. Differences in capital costs and operating costs reported in other studies are offered for purposes of comparison. Since operating costs due to heat ...
Differential transport function of lymphatic vessels in the rat tail model and the long-term effects of Indocyanine Green as assessed with near-infrared imaging.

Introduction: Near-infrared (NIR) imaging has emerged as a novel imaging modality for assessing lymphatic function in vivo. While the technique has provided quantitative data previously unavailable, questions remain in regards to the spatiotemporal capabilities of the approach. We address three of the more important issues here using the rodent tail, one of the most widely utilized in vivo model systems in the lymphatic literature. Specifically we demonstrate 1) the transient vs. steady state response of lymphatics to tracer injection, 2) the functional characteristics of multiple collecting vessels draining the same tissue space in parallel, and 3) the long-term consequences of fluorescent tracers on lymphatic function to repeated functional measurements. Methods: Rat tails were imaged with NIR and metrics of function were calculated for both collecting vessels that drain the tail. A nitric oxide donor cream (GTNO) was applied to the tail. Additionally, two different NIR dyes, indocyanine green (ICG) and LI-COR IRDye 800CW PEG, were utilized for function imaging at the time of initial injection and at 1, 2, and 4 week follow-up time points after which both draining lymph nodes were harvested. Results and Discussion: Significant differences were found between the two collecting vessels such that the vessel first showing fluorescence (dominant) produced enhanced functional metrics compared to the second vessel (non-dominant). GTNO significantly reduced lymphatic function in the non-dominant vessel compared to the dominant. ICG remained visible in the tail for 2 weeks after injection and was accompanied by significant losses in lymphatic function and enlarged draining lymph nodes. The Licor tracer also remained visible for 2 weeks. However, the dye produced significantly lower effects on lymphatic function than ICG, and lymph nodes were not enlarged at any time point, suggesting that this may be a more appropriate contrast agent for longitudinal lymphatic imaging.
The Measurement of Masculinity and Femininity: Historical Perspective and Implications for Counseling

Masculinity and femininity are both psychological and sociocultural constructs that test developers have attempted to assess for many years. The author examines the history of the measurement of masculinity and femininity from the 1920s through 2000, addresses relevant theory, and considers criticisms of masculinity and femininity measurement as well as the challenges of responding to them. Implications of the use of such measures by counselors, researchers, and counselor educators are discussed.
The Intimate Connection between High and Low Frequency Emission in Blazars

The author discusses the relationship between X and γ radiation and radio to optical emission in blazars based on recent observations. The availability of densely-sampled light curves at several wavebands for several quasars, BL Lacertae, and two radio galaxies demonstrates that a strong connection exists between high and low frequency emission. The relativistic jet provides the most straightforward explanation of this connection. In the radio galaxies, temporary decreases in the X-ray flux from the central engine precede the appearance of bright superluminal knots in the radio jet. The combination of multiwaveband light curves and millimeter-wave imaging with very long baseline interferometry, along with polarization measurements whenever possible, can map the emission regions and lead to more accurate theoretical descriptions of the physical processes in blazars than has been possible in the past.
Discontinuation of Antidepressant Medication Among Latinos in the USA

Despite recent growth in the variety of antidepressant medications available, many patients discontinue medication prematurely for reasons such as nonresponse, side effects, stigma, and miscommunication. Some analysts have suggested that Latinos may have higher antidepressant discontinuation rates than other US residents. This paper examines Latino antidepressant discontinuation, using data from a national probability survey of Latinos in the USA. In this sample, 8% of Latinos had taken an antidepressant in the preceding 12 months. Among those users, 33.3% had discontinued taking antidepressants at the time of interview, and 18.9% had done so without prior input from their physician. Even controlling for clinical and other variables, patients who reported good or excellent English proficiency were less likely to stop at all. Patients were also less likely to stop if they were older, married, had public or private insurance, or had made eight or more visits to a nonmedical therapist.
Applications for arithmetic error codes in large, high-performance computers

Large, high-performance computers are too costly to allow full replication for fault detection and error correction in the communication and processing of numerical information. For this reason more cost-effective arithmetic error code applications offer an attractive alternative.
A Study of Far-Ultraviolet Extinction in the Upper Scorpius Cloud Using the SPINR Sounding Rocket Experiment

In this study, six new interstellar extinction curves in the far-ultraviolet are presented using data from a sounding rocket experiment. The sounding rocket data were combined with IUE data for six lines of sight in the Upper Scorpius group to cover the wavelength range of 912-3030 A. The extinction curves were produced using the pair comparison method with B stars of similar spectral types. Parameterizations from Fitzpatrick & Massa, Cardelli et al., and Fitzpatrick were then fitted to the derived extinction curves. From the derived extinction curves, their corresponding fits, and the dust model of Weingartner & Draine, it is concluded that the dust population in the Upper Scorpius region exhibits a larger than average grain population with a depletion of smaller grains.
Tetrahydrobiopterin rapidly reduces the SOD mimic Mn(III) ortho-tetrakis(N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin.

Abstract Mn(III) ortho-tetrakis(N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnIIITE-2-PyP5+) effectively scavenges reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in vitro, and protects in vivo, in different rodent models of oxidative stress injuries. Further, MnIIITE-2-PyP5+ was shown to be readily reduced by cellular reductants such as ascorbic acid and glutathione. We now show that tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is also able to reduce the metal center. Under anaerobic conditions, in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) at 25 ± 0.1°C, reduction of MnIIITE-2-PyP5+ occurs through two reaction steps with rate constants k1 = 1.0 × 104 M−1 s−1 and k2 = 1.5 × 103 M−1 s−1. We ascribe these steps to the formation of tetrahydrobiopterin radical (BH4 +) (k1) that then undergoes oxidation to 6,7-dihydro-8H-biopterin (k2), which upon rearrangement gives rise to 7,8-dihydrobiopterin (7,8-BH2). Under aerobic conditions, MnIIITE-2-PyP5+ catalytically oxidizes BH4. This is also true for its longer chain alkyl analog, Mn(III) ortho-tetrakis(N-n-octylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin. The reduced Mn(II) porphyrin cannot be oxidized by 7,8-BH2 or by l -sepiapterin. The data are discussed with regard to the possible impact of the interaction of MnIIITE-2-PyP5+ with BH4 on endothelial cell proliferation and hence on tumor antiangiogenesis via inhibition of nitric oxide synthase.
Pathophysiology of Manganese-Associated Neurotoxicity

Manganese (Mn) is a well established neurotoxin associated with specific damage to the basal ganglia in humans. The phenotype associated with Mn neurotoxicity was first described in two workers with occupational exposure to Mn oxide (Couper, 1837). Although the description did not use modern clinical terminology, a parkinsonian illness characterized by slowness of movement (bradykinesia), masked facies, and gait impairment (postural instability) appears to have predominated. Nearly 100 years later an outbreak of an atypical parkinsonian illness in a Chilean Mn mine provided a phenotypic description of a fulminant neurologic disorder with parkinsonism, dystonia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms (Rodier, 1955). Exposures associated with this syndrome were massive and an order of magnitude greater than modern exposures (Rodier, 1955; Hobson et al., 2011). The clinical syndrome associated with Mn neurotoxicity has been called manganism. Modern exposures to Mn occur primarily through occupations in the steel industry and welding. These exposures are often chronic and varied, occurring over decades in the healthy workforce. Although the severe neurologic disorder described by Rodier and Couper are no longer seen, several reports have suggested a possible increased risk of neurotoxicity in these workers (Racette et al., 2005b; Bowler et al., 2007; Harris et al., 2011). Based upon limited prior imaging and pathologic investigations into the pathophysiology of neurotoxicity in Mn exposed workers (Huang et al., 2003), many investigators have concluded that the syndrome spares the dopamine system distinguishing manganism from Parkinson disease (PD), the most common cause of parkinsonism in the general population, and a disease with characteristic degenerative changes in the dopaminergic system (Jankovic, 2005). The purpose of this symposium was to highlight recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of Mn associated neurotoxicity from Caenorhabditis elegans to humans. Dr. Aschner's presentation discussed mechanisms of dopaminergic neuronal toxicity in C. elegans and demonstrates a compelling potential role of Mn in dopaminergic degeneration. Dr. Guilarte's experimental, non-human primate model of Mn neurotoxicity suggests that Mn decreases dopamine release in the brain without loss of neuronal integrity markers, including dopamine. Dr. Racette's presentation demonstrates a unique pattern of dopaminergic dysfunction in active welders with chronic exposure to Mn containing welding fumes. Finally, Dr. Dydak presented novel magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy data in Mn exposed smelter workers and demonstrated abnormalities in the thalamus and frontal cortex for those workers. This symposium provided some converging evidence of the potential neurotoxic impact of Mn on the dopaminergic system and challenged existing paradigms on the pathophysiology of Mn in the central nervous system.
Rats and humans can optimally accumulate evidence for decision-making.

The gradual and noisy accumulation of evidence is a fundamental component of decision-making, with noise playing a key role as the source of variability and errors. However, the origins of this noise have never been determined. We developed decision-making tasks in which sensory evidence is delivered in randomly timed pulses, and analyzed the resulting data with models that use the richly detailed information of each trial’s pulse timing to distinguish between different decision-making mechanisms. This analysis allowed measurement of the magnitude of noise in the accumulator’s memory, separately from noise associated with incoming sensory evidence. In our tasks, the accumulator’s memory was noiseless, for both rats and humans. In contrast, the addition of new sensory evidence was the primary source of variability. We suggest our task and modeling approach as a powerful method for revealing internal properties of decision-making processes.
The Danger of Selectively Changing the Rules in Youth Sport: The Case of the Strike Zone.

(2010). The Danger of Selectively Changing the Rules in Youth Sport. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 81, No. 5, pp. 29-34.
The impact of alloy chemistry on the formation of a silicon-rich subscale on two classes of ferritic steels

Abstract Stainless steel type 441 (UNS S44100) is being considered for application as a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) interconnect material. It had been thought that Laves phase that forms in this alloy preferentially consumes the Si present in the alloy microstructure, thereby avoiding formation of a Si-rich layer at the scale/metal interface. Recent work has shown this is not the case and a Si-rich layer does indeed form at the scale/metal interface. However, this layer is significantly different from the layer that forms in other ferritic stainless steels, for example, type 430. In this present work the Si-rich layer that forms on 441ss is examined and compared to the layer that forms on several 430-type alloys with varying low levels of Si. This research has shown that even at very low levels of Si (170 ppm), a Si-rich layer begins to form on the 430-type stainless steels. However, the morphology, particularly with respect to the thickness and continuity of the Si-rich subscale that forms in alloy 441ss, is modified in comparison to non-Laves forming ferritic stainless steels and therefore, may not be as detrimental to long term SOFC performance.
NO adsorption on ice at low concentrations

Abstract To better understand the properties of ice surfaces at different temperatures, the adsorption of a relatively insoluble gas, NO, was studied using a continuous-flow column experiment. Adsorption isotherms for NO on the surface of ice were measured for a temperature range of −1 to −70°C and a concentration range of 10 to 250 ppbv. Very little adsorption was measured; surface concentrations were near the detection limit of ±10 −10 g m −2 , limiting the precision of the data. Although a relatively large proportion of ice-ice surfaces were present, no grain boundary effect was detectable. NO sorption was observed to increase with decreasing temperature. From a van't Hoff plot, preliminary evidence indicating a change of sorption mechanism at −10°C was obtained. This may be evidence for the effects of surface premelting.
Area Changes of Electrodeposited Platinum Black

IN electrochemical kinetic investigations, smooth metal electrodes are used whenever possible because they have a well defined area which does not vary with time1. There are occasions, however, when it is desirable to use electrodes consisting of finely divided metals such as platinum black, for example, in the investigation of the electro-oxidation of hydrocarbons2,3. Here the electrode area is not so well defined, and there is some question as to whether it varies with time. This is suggested by the fact that gas phase investigations of hydrocarbon adsorption4 show that platinum black sinters at temperatures as low as 100° C, particularly in a reducing atmosphere. In the work reported here, an investigation was carried out to investigate the possible sintering, and consequent area changes, which occurs at electrodeposited platinum black supported on platinum wires while immersed in 5 M orthophosphoric acid at 25° C arid 80° C.
Universities and the market for intellectual property in the life sciences

The realms of science and technology in the life sciences are converging through the commercialization of university research. Major changes in the mandate of research universities were facilitated by both federal legislation that has promoted technology transfer, and the increased reliance of business firms on university research and development (R&D). This article discusses the primary factors that are blurring the division of labor between industry and academia in the life sciences, and analyzes the consequences for universities of treating knowledge as intellectual property. Universities’ efforts to enhance the commercial value of life sciences research is causing increased politicization of government research funding, a growing winner-take-all contest between the “have” and “have-not” universities, and subtle but potentially profound changes in the culture of academic research.