cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a hydrogen catalytic heater for heating metal hydride hydrogen storage systems

Abstract This paper describes the design, fabrication and performance evaluation of a high efficiency, compact heater that uses the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen to provide heat to a hydrogen storage system. The heater was designed to transfer up to 30 kW of heat from the catalytic reaction to the hydrogen storage system via a recirculating heat transfer fluid. The catalytic heater consists of three main parts: 1) the reactor, 2) the gas heat recuperator, and 3) oil and gas flow distribution manifolds. The reactor and recuperator are integrated, compact, finned-plate heat exchangers to maximize heat transfer efficiency and minimize mass and volume. Detailed, three-dimensional, multi-physics computational models were used to design and optimize the system. At full power the heater was able to catalytically combust a 10% hydrogen/air mixture flowing at over 80 cubic feet per minute and transfer 30 kW of heat to a 30 gallon per minute flow of oil over a temperature range from 100 °C to 220 °C. The total efficiency of the catalytic heater, defined as the heat transferred to the oil divided by the inlet hydrogen chemical energy, was determined to exceed the design goal of 80% for oil temperatures from 60 °C to 165 °C.
Polynomials on graphs

Abstract Let G be a simple graph with adjacency matrix A , and p ( x ) a polynomial with rational coefficients. If p ( A ) is the adjacency matrix of a graph, we denote that graph by p ( G ). We consider the question: Given a graph G , which polynomials p ( x ) give rise to a graph p ( G ) and what are those graphs? We give a complete answer if G is a distance-regular graph. We then derive some general relations between the polynomials p ( x ), the spectrum of A , and the automorphism group of G .
A PSO based algorithm for finding global Nash equilibrium

Nash equilibrium (NE) is an essential concept of game theory. Researchers have shown that iterative NE search algorithms based on local optimization cannot differentiate between the global NE and local NE in games with local optima. In this paper, an algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is introduced which can find the global NE in games with local optima. The applicability of this proposed method is shown via two power system case studies to find the NE in power market.
Persistent Periodic Ca2+ Release in Sinoatrial Node of NA+-CA2+ Exchanger Knockout Mice

Atrial-specific Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) KO mice have no P waves on their surface electrocardiograms; instead they rely upon a junctional escape rhythm. This suggests that the sinoatrial node (SAN) requires the “calcium clock” mechanism for normal pacemaker activity.To test this hypothesis, we examined Ca2+ handling in intact preparations of SAN and atrioventricular node (AVN) tissue, as well as in isolated SAN cells. Compared to WT, Ca2+ transients indicative of depolarization were slow and irregular in NCX1 KO SAN tissue. β-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol (ISO, 100nM) increased the rate and often promoted bursts of Ca2+ transients, while the pacing remained irregular. Surprisingly, we found no evidence of spontaneous activity in AVN tissue isolated from the NCX1 KO. However, ∼50% of NCX1 KO AVNs recovered spontaneous transients in ISO.These findings suggest that despite the lack of NCX1, abnormal pacemaker activity is maintained in the SAN and is still responsive to β-adrenergic stimulation.To study the underlying pacing mechanism in the KO, we enzymatically isolated SAN cells from WT and NCX1 KO mice. NCX1 KO SAN cells were ∼30% longer than WT and occasionally exhibited regular Ca2+ transients (∼15% of cells). However, periodic Ca2+ waves were often observed in NCX1 KO cells (but rarely in WT). These waves occurred at about the same rate as the spontaneous transients in WT cells. ISO (10nM) increased the frequency of waves by ∼80% in KO cells, similar to the increase in the rate of Ca2+ transients in WT cells.In summary, periodic Ca2+ waves persist in NCX1 KO SAN cells. However, only a minority of these cells generate Ca2+ transients consistent with action potentials. Therefore, the pacing clock can “tick” in the absence of NCX, but seems no longer coupled to membrane depolarization.
Performance Optimization of a Parallel, Two Stage Stochastic Linear Program

Stochastic optimization is used in several high impact contexts to provide optimal solutions in the face of uncertainties. This paper explores the parallelization of two-stage stochastic resource allocation problems that seek an optimal solution in the first stage, while accounting for sudden changes in resource requirements by evaluating multiple possible scenarios in the second stage. Unlike typical scientific computing algorithms, linear programs (which are the individual grains of computation in our parallel design) have unpredictable and long execution times. This confounds both a priori load distribution as well as persistence-based dynamic load balancing techniques. We present a master-worker decomposition coupled with a pull-based work assignment scheme for load balance. We discuss some of the challenges encountered in optimizing both the master and the worker portions of the computations, and techniques to address them. Of note are cut retirement schemes for balancing memory requirements with duplicated worker computation, and scenario clustering for accelerating the evaluation of similar scenarios. We base our work in the context of a real application: the optimization of US military aircraft allocation to various cargo and personnel movement missions in the face of uncertain demands. We demonstrate scaling up to 122 cores of an intel 64 cluster, even for very small, but representative datasets. Our decision to eschew problem-specific decompositions has resulted in a parallel infrastructure that should be easily adapted to other similar problems. Similarly, we believe the techniques developed in this paper will be generally applicable to other contexts that require quick solutions to stochastic optimization problems.
CT scanning: patterns of use and dose

CT scanning is a relatively high-dose procedure. In spite of the use of magnetic resonance imaging, with faster CT scanners and helical techniques CT is becoming more common. There are few data from practice in the United States regarding the age and sex distribution of patients receiving CT scans, what type of scan and how many scans they receive, or how much radiation dose CT scans contribute. We reviewed over 33,700 consecutive CT examinations done at our institution in 1998 and 1999. Information on the types of scans as well as the age and sex distribution of the patients was determined. Between 1990 and 1999, CT examinations in our institution increased from 6.1% to 11.1% of all radiology procedures. Nineteen per cent of all patients seen in our department in the last year had at least one CT scan and more than half had multiple scans on the same day. Thirty-six per cent of all patients had a prior CT examination done on an earlier date. The male/female ratio of patients was 56/44. Studies of children age 0-15 years comprised 11.2% of scans. The highest percentage of scans was done in the 36-50-year-old age group. CT scanning accounted for 67% of the effective dose from diagnostic radiology. In most large hospitals in the United States CT scanning probably accounts for more than 10% of diagnostic radiology examinations and about two-thirds of the radiation dose. Most patients have multiple scan sequences. Studies done on children are probably more common than previously thought.
Restructuring Science and Mathematics Education

Abstract This article begins by reviewing the status of the applied science of education. What research base can support restructuring of university-level science and mathematics education? The next section discusses the challenges and impediments to widespread useful restructuring of university education to reflect our current knowledge of best educational practice. The final section describes a model of change currently being used at Carnegie Mellon University and discusses the role of and need for active support from funding sources.
The coming influence of a social sciences perspective on medical education.

Medical education will change from within in response to continued advances in biological sciences and technology, but changes that are occurring outside the natural sciences can have greater impact, especially (1) the reconceptualization of the meaning of health, (2) the increase in the number and range of different health improvement strategies, (3) the growing awareness of the paradox of the relatively low health status of the U.S. population and high per-capita and national health care expenditures, and (4) shifts in the causes of illness and death. These changes make it necessary for medical students to be given a foundation in both the natural and the social sciences, for most ill health has causal roots in both the social and physical environment, even though it is not understood how some of these outside influences are translated into disease or biologic derangements that lead to disease. Consideration should be given to changes in medical education that include (1) interpreting the sociology as well as the biology of health, (2) expanding the horizons of medicine to incorporate health improvement as well as disease cure, (3) training for population-based health care at the community level, and (4) learning to assess medical outcomes with more than biometric measures to include measurements of functioning and well-being. The author presents in detail a health input-output model to show the complex interrelationships of socio-ecologic (i.e., outside) factors and the individual's genetic-biologic makeup (inside factors) that determine the individual's state of health.
The Play Curricular Activity Reflection Discussion Model for Game-Based Learning

AbstractThis article elucidates the process of game-based learning in classrooms through the use of the Play Curricular activity Reflection Discussion (PCaRD) model. A mixed-methods study was conducted at a high school to implement three games with the PCaRD model in a year-long elective course. Data sources included interviews and observations for understanding the process of students’ content knowledge and motivation to learn. Pre to post assessments were administered for measuring achievement gains and motivational changes. Interpretive analysis indicated that PCaRD aided student learning, motivation to learn, and identification with the content. We found mixed quantitative results for student knowledge gain with only statistical significant gains for mathematics. We also found that PCaRD provided teachers with an adaptive structure for integrating games in an existing and new curriculum. PCaRD has implications for research, teaching, and design of games for learning.
Processing temporal relationships in simple stories: Effects of input sequence

Three experiments examined the effect of input sequence on memory for simple stories, After reading stories written in either chronological or flashback sequence, subjects made a decision about the underlying order of occurrence of two events. Responses were consistently faster and more accurate on chronological sequences under three conditions of testing: (1) immediately after reading, (2) after a 10-sec unfilled interval, and (3) after a 10-sec filled interval. It was also shown that decisions about input order were easier than decisions about underlying order when the stories contained flashbacks. These data indicate that subjects based their responses on a memory representation which preserved the input sequence of events. Results are interpreted as evidence against a strong schema-based approach to story memory which predicts construction of a canonically-ordered representation during processing. An additional finding was that decisions were easier when the events in the story had a logical progression rather than an arbitrary ordering, demonstrating an influence of prior knowledge.
Time-resolved photoinduced absorption and raman scattering in the MX chain solid PtCl

Abstract We report the results of femtosecond (fs) and picosecond (ps) photoinduced absorption (PA) and ps resonant Raman scattering (RRS) measurements for the MX chain solid PtCl. Although a fast relaxation of the excited state population is observed in the PA, features appearing in the ps photoinduced RRS are primarily the products of long-lived processes.
Deposited metal films for imaging in scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract The use of Au, Au/Pd, and W deposited films for imaging underlying structure, and for forming a smooth conductive base for imaging adiayers, is explored. Films of thickness less than 20 nm are studied. DC sputtering, ion beam deposition, and thermal (resistive) deposition are contrasted. All studies are conducted with the substrate held at room temperature or below. It is found that ion beam deposition gives significantly flatter films. In the case of ionic substrates held at room temperature during deposition, DC sputtered Au films are the only films that do not spontaneously crack or blister within a period of a few hours.
Misleading Gram Stain Findings on a Smear from a Cerebrospinal Fluid Specimen

History of Present Illness The patient was taken to surgery, the previous CNS surgical incision was opened, and a large amount of CSF that had pooled under the incision was collected and submitted to the laboratory. The laboratory requisition that accompanied this pink and hazy fluid indicated a diagnosis of “meningitis” and requests for Gram stain, cell count, glucose, total protein, and culture and susceptibility testing.
Solid State Chemistry Approach to Advanced Thermoelectrics. Ternary and Quaternary Alkali Metal Bismuth Chalcogenides as Thermoelectric Materials

Our exploratory research to identify new promising candidates for next generation thermoelectric applications has produced several interesting new materials which are briefly described here. We present their compositions, solid state structures, properties and charge transport behavior. The compounds CsBi4 Te6, β-K2 Bi8 Se13, Ba4 Bi6 Se13, Eu2 Pb2 Bi6 Se13, KBi6.33 S10, Eu2 Pb2 Bi4 Se10, Ba2 Pb2 Bi6 S13 and K1.25 Pb3.5 Bi7.25 Se15 are particularly noteworthy.
Solute Segregation and Dynamics of Solid-Phase Crystallization in In and Sb-Implanted Silicon

Time-resolved-reflectivity measurements have been combined with transmission electron microscopy (cross-section and plan-view), Rutherford backscattering and ion channeling techniques to study the details of laser induced solid phase epitaxial growth in In/sup +/ and Sb/sup +/ implanted silicon in the temperature range from 725 to 1500/sup 0/K. The details of microstructures including the formation of polycrystals, precipitates, and dislocations have been correlated with the dynamics of crystallization. There were limits to the dopant concentrations which could be incorporated into substitutional lattice sites; these concentrations exceeded retrograde solubility limits by factors up to 70 in the case of the Si-In system. The coarsening of dislocation loops and the formation of a/2 , 90/sup 0/ dislocations in the underlying dislocation-loop bands are described as a function of laser power.
RECONSIDERING THE USE OF PERSONALITY TESTS IN PERSONNEL SELECTION CONTEXTS

Although long thought to be unrelated to job performance, research in the early 1990s provided evidence that personality can predict job performance. Accompanying this research was a resurgence of interest in the use of personality tests in high-stakes selection environments. Yet there are numerous potential problems associated with the current operational use of personality. As such, 5 former journal editors from Personnel Psychology and the Journal of Applied Psychology (2 primary outlets for such research), who have collectively reviewed over 7,000 manuscripts and who have no vested interest in personality testing, reconsider the research on the use of personality tests in environments where important selection decisions are made. Their comments are based on a panel discussion held at the 2004 SIOP conference. Collectively, they come to several conclusions. First, faking on self-report personality tests cannot be avoided and perhaps is not the issue; the issue is the very low validity of personality tests for predicting job performance. Second, as such, using published self-report personality tests in selection contexts should be reconsidered. Third, personality constructs may have value for employee selection, but future research should focus on finding alternatives to self-report personality measures.
Safety with Cryogenic Systems

Past experience has shown that cryogenic fluids can be used safely in industrial environments as well as sophisticated laboratories, provided that all facilities are properly designed and maintained, and personnel handling these fluids are adequately trained and supervised. There are many hazards associated with cryogenic fluids. However, the principal ones are those associated with the response of the human body and the surroundings to these fluids and their vapors, and those associated with reactions between these fluids and their surroundings.
Waveform relaxation analysis of nonuniform lossy transmission lines characterized with frequency-dependent parameters

An efficient method for the transient simulation of nonuniform frequency-dependent transmission lines is presented. The method consists of iterative waveform relaxation analyses of asymmetric disjoint two-port networks constructed with FFT waveform generators and characteristic impedances synthesized by applying the Gauss-Marquardt optimization technique. The method can also be adapted for discrete-time analysis by replacing the FFT waveform generators with ideal transmission lines connected with waveshaping networks. Transient responses of uniform and nonuniform transmission lines with and without skin-effect parameters and terminated with linear and nonlinear loads are simulated for illustrations. The accuracy and efficiency of the relaxation technique are substantiated with exact analytical solutions and experimental data. >
An Integer Programming Approach for Analyzing the Measurement Redundancy in Structured Linear Systems

A linear system whose model matrix is of size n×p is considered structured if some p row vectors in the model matrix are linearly dependent. Computing the degree of redundancy for structured linear systems is proven NP-hard. Previous computation strategy is divide-and-conquer, materialized in a bound-and-decompose algorithm, which, when the required conditions are satisfied, can compute the degree of redundancy on a set of much smaller submatrices instead of directly on the original model matrix. The limitation of this algorithm is that the current decomposition conditions are still restrictive and not always satisfied for many applications. We present a mixed integer programming (MIP) formulation of the redundancy degree problem and solve it using an existing MIP solver. Our numerical studies indicate that our approach outperforms the existing methods for many applications, especially when the decomposition conditions are not satisfied. The main contribution of the paper is that we tackle this challenging problem from a different angle and test a promising new approach. The resulting approach points to a path that can potentially solve the problem in its entirety.
IGSPICE simulation of induction machines with saturable inductances

A novel approach to the dynamic analysis of induction machines with saturable inductances is presented. The machine dynamics are represented by a set of nonlinear time-varying differential equations. The machine parameters (i.e. saturable inductances) are modeled by closed-form nonlinear functions. The equations which define the machine operation are modeled by d and q equivalent circuits. The equivalent circuits are simulated using the IGSPICE software package. >
Game Theoretic Analysis of a Problem of Government of People

The general problem of control of a set of individuals to achieve the objective of a controller is common to many areas such as business and government. This paper attempts a mathematical formulation and analysis of such problems. It is assumed that each individual is a rational being acting in his own self-interest. The interests of different individuals are, in general, conflicting, thus leading to a competitive situation which can be analyzed using Game Theory notions. An important aim of mathematical analysis of such a situation will be to study the effectiveness of various kinds of power that a controller might have over the individuals. Most of the results in this paper are concerning a class of “coordination problems” where the controller's objective is to maximize the total utility to the whole group of individuals and where competition arises due to constraints on strategies. The analysis indicates that in such cases the simple power to accept or reject strategies which violate the constraints may be sufficient to realize the controller's goals.
On the origin of the hyperfine structure in the photoinduced EPR spectrum of [Pt(en)2]Pt(en)2Cl2](ClO4)4

Abstract The nitrogen isotope dependence of the EPR spectrum of the photoinduced paramagnetic defects in the halide-bridged platinum linear chain complex [Pt(en) 2 ][Pt(en) 2 Cl 2 ](ClO 4 ) 4 (en = ethylenediamine) has been studied in order to clarify the origin of the 16G hyperfine structure which is superimposed on the 180G hyperfine pattern due to two equivalent Pt nuclei. An earlier study attributed the 16G pattern to the equatorial chelating nitrogens: however, we find that the EPR spectrum obtained for the 15 N-substituted species is identical to that obtained for the normal isotopic species, demonstrating that these off-axis nitrogens are not the origin of this splitting. On the basis of this observation and simulations of the EPR spectrum, we attribute the 16G hyperfine pattern to coupling with three or more chlorine nuclei on the chain axis. The origin of the photoinduced paramagnetic defect in PtCl, whether polaronic or neutral kink soliton, is discussed in view of this new data. These results clearly demonstrate the importance of including halide orbitals in many-body models of the quasi-one-dimensional MX chain solids.
SiO2@Au Core–Shell Nanospheres Self-Assemble To Form Colloidal Crystals That Can Be Sintered and Surface Modified To Produce pH-Controlled Membranes

We prepared colloidal crystals by self-assembly of gold-coated silica nanospheres, and free-standing nanoporous membranes by sintering these colloidal crystals. We modified the nanopore surface with ionizable functional groups, by forming a monolayer of l-cysteine or by surface-initiated polymerization of methacrylic acid. Diffusion experiments for the cationic dye Rhodamine B through l-cysteine-modified membranes showed a decrease in flux upon addition of an acid due to the nanopore surface becoming positively charged. Diffusion experiments for the neutral dye, ferrocenecarboxaldehyde, through the PMAA-modified membranes showed a 13-fold increase in flux upon addition of an acid resulting from the protonated polymer collapsing onto the nanopore surface leading to larger pore size. Our results demonstrate that SiO2@Au core–shell nanospheres can self-assemble into colloidal crystals and that transport through the corresponding surface-modified Au-coated colloidal membranes can be controlled by pH.
Terahertz electrical measurement of single-walled carbon nanotube transistors

We describe the first terahertz electrical measurements of single-walled carbon nanotube transistors. A picosecond ballistic electron resonance is directly observed in the time-domain. These results demonstrate a powerful new tool for directly probing picosecond electron motion in nanostructures.
The Maize (Zea mays L.) Cat1 Catalase Promoter Displays Differential Binding of Nuclear Proteins Isolated from Germinated and Developing Embryos and from Embryos Grown in the Presence and Absence of Abscisic Acid

We previously demonstrated that amounts of Cat1 RNA in developing immature maize (Zea mays L.) embryos change in parallel with endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) content. In excised immature embryos, addition of ABA leads to a large increase in Cat1 RNA accumulation. The Cat1 transcript, however, also accumulates to high amounts in scutella of germinating embryos, where ABA content is low and decreasing. Here we show that application of ABA to germinated embryos no longer results in the up-regulation of the Cat1 transcript accumulation that is seen during embryogenesis. This suggests that factors other than ABA control Cat1 expression at this developmental stage. Using band-shift and southwestern analyses, we show that the change in sensitivity to ABA is paralleled by changes in nuclear proteins binding to a 28-bp region of the Cat1 promoter in vitro. One protein (CAT1BP-20) shows increased accumulation in the absence of ABA, suggesting that a repressor-mediated mechanism accounts for at least a portion of the ABA regulation of Cat1.
XML-based modeling and simulation: web service technologies and their synergy with simulation

The World Wide Web has had an huge influence on the computing field in general as well as simulation in particular (e.g., Web-Based Simulation). A new wave of development based upon XML has started. Two of the most interesting aspects of this development are the Semantic Web and Web Services. This paper examines the synergy between Web service technology and simulation. In one direction, Web service processes can be simulated for the purpose of correcting/improving the design. In the other direction, simulation models/components can be built out of Web services. Work on seamlessly using simulation as a part of Web service composition and process design, as well as on using Web services to re-build the JSIM Web-based simulation environment is highlighted.
Computed tomography diagnosis of facet dislocations: the “hamburger bun” and “reverse hamburger bun” signs

Unilateral or bilateral facet dislocations are difficult to diagnose. Computed tomography (CT) is being used more extensively to screen patients with suspected cervical vertebral injury. We describe two new signs, the "hamburger bun" sign of normal facet joints and the "reverse hamburger bun" sign that should be useful in establishing a diagnosis of facet dislocation. Normal facet joints are oriented on a CT examination so that they resemble the sides of a hamburger bun. Facet dislocations upset this relationship and reverse the orientation of the "bun" halves to each other.
Objective Analysis of ARM IOP Data: Method and Sensitivity

Abstract Motivated by the need to obtain accurate objective analysis of field experimental data to force physical parameterizations in numerical models, this paper first reviews the existing objective analysis methods and interpolation schemes that are used to derive atmospheric wind divergence, vertical velocity, and advective tendencies. Advantages and disadvantages of different methods are discussed. It is shown that considerable uncertainties in the analyzed products can result from the use of different analysis. The paper then describes a hybrid approach to combine the strengths of the regular grid and the line-integral methods, together with a variational constraining procedure for the analysis of field experimental data. In addition to the use of upper-air data, measurements at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) are used to constrain the upper-air analysis to conserve column-integrated mass, water, energy, and momentum. Analyses are shown for measurements taken in the Atmospheric Ra...
Determination of the 3D fields of displacements by the method of phase-shifting speckle interferometry

For 3D speckle interferometers, we propose a simplified procedure aimed at recording and processing speckle interferograms with single phase shift, which requires the minimum number of images. The results of experiments are presented to confirm the efficiency of the proposed procedure.
Surrogate-stoppered [2]rotaxanes: A new route to larger interlocked architectures

A novel synthetic strategy for exchanging stoppers on rotaxanes, without them losing their integrity as interlocked molecules, is presented. The surrogate-stoppered [2]rotaxane contains one inert stopper and a triphenylphosphonium group attached to a benzylic position as a second reactive stopper in the dumbbell-shaped component which contains an ammonium (NH2+) ion recognition site, encircled by a crown ether (24C8 or 25C8) component. The strategy for exchanging stoppers relies upon the ability of a benzylic triphenylphosphonium function to undergo a Wittig reaction with a bulky aromatic aldehyde to form a ‘stilbenoid’ [2]rotaxane as a mixture of cis and trans isomers, without the occurrence of any dethreading of the crown ether ring component. The CC double bonds can then be hydrogenated, using Adams' catalyst, to afford a new covalently modified [2]rotaxane with two inert stoppers. Utilizing this strategy, larger interlocked molecular structures including a two-stationed [2]rotaxane and a branched [4]rotaxane have been prepared. Furthermore, initial studies, aimed at using this methodology to gain access to poly[n]rotaxane architectures, are presented. Two ammonium ion/crown ether-based [2]rotaxane monomers–each incorporating (i) a dumbbell-shaped component, possessing the surrogate benzylic triphenylphosphonium stopper, and (ii) a crown ether ring component, bearing an aldehyde function on a fused benzenoid ring–undergo a sequence of Wittig reactions in which the surrogate benzylic triphenylphosphonium stopper is exchanged for a crown ether ring component either, (i) in the same rotaxane molecule, to give cyclic daisy-chains by an intramolecular, chain-terminating reaction or, (ii) in another rotaxane molecule, to give acyclic daisy chains by an intermolecular chain-propagating reaction. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Paradox of Representation

It has long been taken for granted that legislative representation is an asset, something of which more is always better than less, all else equal. No, sometimes less is better than more though all else be equal. This paradox can occur under naive, sophisticated, and cooperative voting. From a model of distributive politics I deduce that a strong version must occur in all but special cases. The paradox refutes an assumption of many electoral-system studies, offers a new explanation of discrepancies between public opinion and public policy, challenges classical approaches to political analysis, including pluralism and Marxism, and shows that "fair representation" is not a requirement of justice.
The Morality of Unequal Autonomy: Reviving Kant’s Concept of Status for Stakeholders

Though we cherish freedom and equality, there are human relations we commonly take to be morally permissible despite the fact that they essentially involve an inequality specifically of freedom, i.e., parental and fiduciary relations. In this article, I argue that the morality of these relations is best understood through a very old and dangerous concept, the concept of status. Despite their historic and continuing abuses, status relations are alive and well today, I argue, because some of them are necessary. We must therefore carefully specify the conditions in which such status relations may morally obtain, as well as the duties of virtue and duties of right to which all parties are subject when it does (including a duty of care) to clearly articulate the ways in which these putatively moral status relations that essentially involve an asymmetry of autonomy (status relations) can go well or badly even within the context of the Kantian tradition from which our current legal and social practices arose. To this end, I offer Kant’s own concept of status as a promising one because in Kant’s theory, status is a nexus of virtue and right that is reducible to neither property nor contract but akin to each in familiar ways. Once status is admitted as an alternative to property and contract, status may be extended beyond Kant’s domestic paradigm, most perspicuously to institutional ethics. In this article, I sketch a status-based theory of stakeholding that locates environmental impact, institutional oppression, and other significant features of our moral landscape within a Kantian framework of duties rich enough to more accurately characterize the complexities of stakeholding than current tradition has allowed.
Secret Little Functions and Codebook for Protecting Users from Password Theft

In this paper, we discuss how to prevent users' passwords from being stolen by adversaries. We propose differentiated security mechanisms in which a user has the freedom to choose a virtual password scheme ranging from weak security to strong security. Among the schemes, we have a default method (i.e., traditional password scheme), system recommended function, user-specified function, user-specified program, etc. We further propose a codebook approach to serve as system recommended functions and provide a security analysis. For user-specified functions, we adopt secret little functions, in which security is enhanced by hiding secret functions/algorithms.
Conserved Motifs within Hepatitis C Virus Envelope (E2) RNA and Protein Independently Inhibit T Cell Activation

T cell receptor (TCR) signaling is required for T-cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, and effector function. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with impaired T-cell function leading to persistent viremia, delayed and inconsistent antibody responses, and mild immune dysfunction. Although multiple factors appear to contribute to T-cell dysfunction, a role for HCV particles in this process has not been identified. Here, we show that incubation of primary human CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells with HCV RNA-containing serum, HCV-RNA containing extracellular vesicles (EVs), cell culture derived HCV particles (HCVcc) and HCV envelope pseudotyped retrovirus particles (HCVpp) inhibited TCR-mediated signaling. Since HCVpp’s contain only E1 and E2, we examined the effect of HCV E2 on TCR signaling pathways. HCV E2 expression recapitulated HCV particle-induced TCR inhibition. A highly conserved, 51 nucleotide (nt) RNA sequence was sufficient to inhibit TCR signaling. Cells expressing the HCV E2 coding RNA contained a short, virus-derived RNA predicted to be a Dicer substrate, which targeted a phosphatase involved in Src-kinase signaling (PTPRE). T-cells and hepatocytes containing HCV E2 RNA had reduced PTPRE protein levels. Mutation of 6 nts abolished the predicted Dicer interactions and restored PTPRE expression and proximal TCR signaling. HCV RNA did not inhibit distal TCR signaling induced by PMA and Ionomycin; however, HCV E2 protein inhibited distal TCR signaling. This inhibition required lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase (Lck). Lck phosphorylated HCV E2 at a conserved tyrosine (Y613), and phospho-E2 inhibited nuclear translocation of NFAT. Mutation of Y613 restored distal TCR signaling, even in the context of HCVpps. Thus, HCV particles delivered viral RNA and E2 protein to T-cells, and these inhibited proximal and distal TCR signaling respectively. These effects of HCV particles likely aid in establishing infection and contribute to viral persistence.
The Federal Government as a Constitutional Niche in Affirmative Action Cases

Although the U.S. Supreme Court has held that the same strict scrutiny standard applies to both state and federal affirmative action, federal courts often appear to apply a more deferential form of strict scrutiny to the federal government's use of race. Analyzing the entire corpus of published federal court decisions between 1990 and 2003, I show that federal affirmative action laws are twice as likely to survive as state efforts. Moreover, lower federal courts commonly admit that they are giving unusual deference to federal actors or, alternatively, rely on reasoning that implicitly but effectively allows the federal government to use race in ways barred to states. I conclude that federal courts treat the federal government as a special niche when it comes to affirmative action, and I examine some of the reasons for, and implications of, this practice.
Neurology in the Vietnam War: CPT Carr's patients.

ABSTRACT CPT Andrew C. Carr was the second neurologist to be assigned to Vietnam during the early years of the war. Soon after his return, he prepared a commentary on the practice of neurology under field conditions, providing a vivid account of the practice of good neurology under bad conditions.
Rhodium(0) nanoparticles supported on nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite: highly effective catalytic system for the solvent-free hydrogenation of aromatics at room temperature.

The hydrogenation of aromatics under mild conditions remains a challenge in the fields of synthetic and petroleum chemistry. Described herein is a new catalytic material that shows excellent catalytic performance in terms of activity, selectivity, and reusability in the hydrogenation of aromatics in solvent-free systems under mild conditions. The catalyst, consisting of rhodium nanoparticles supported on nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite, can quantitatively hydrogenate neat benzene to cyclohexane with exceptionally high rates (initial TOF > 103 h–1) at 298 K and 3 bars of initial H2 pressure. This new material maintains its inherent catalytic activity after several reuses. Importantly, catalyst preparation does not require elaborate procedures because the active metal nanoparticles are readily formed from the in situ reduction of Rh3+-exchanged hydroxyapatite while submerged in the aromatic solvent at room temperature under 3 bars of H2 pressure.
Effect of Testosterone Propionate on Development and Growth of Mammary Carcinoma in Female Mice.

Estrogen, when administered to male mice of certain strains, will result in the appearance of spontaneous mammary carcinoma.1, 2, 3 The females of these strains ordinarily have a high incidence of spontaneous mammary carcinomas, which do not normally occur in the males. It has further been demonstrated that the incidence can be increased and the time of appearance of the mammary carcinoma hastened by the administration of estrogen to the females of these same strains.4 Recently, Lacassagne5 tested the effect of testosterone upon development of mammary carcinoma in females of a high incidence strain and noted no alteration from the controls. The dosages used, however, were small.It is the purpose of this communication to report the results of long term injections of testosterone propionate∗ upon subsequent development and growth of spontaneous mammary tumors in female mice with an extremely high incidence (95%).6Forty female mice of the C3H strain, born at approximately the same time, were kept under simil...
Understanding the Links between Subtropical and Extratropical Circulation Responses to Climate Change Using Aquaplanet Model Simulations

AbstractPrevious research has shown that subtropical and extratropical circulations are linked seasonally and in response to climate change. In particular, amplification (weakening) of subtropical stationary eddies is linked to a poleward (equatorward) shift of the extratropical circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. Here the mechanisms linking subtropical and extratropical circulation responses to climate change are examined using prescribed sea surface temperature aquaplanet simulations with a subtropical zonal asymmetry that mimics land–ocean contrasts. A poleward circulation shift occurs in response to uniform global warming even in the presence of subtropical stationary eddies. Subtropical stationary eddies exhibit a weak response to global warming; however, regional warming of temperature (or equivalent potential temperature) over land (ocean) increases (decreases) stationary eddy amplitude and shifts the extratropical circulation poleward (equatorward), consistent with comprehensive models. The st...
LGBTQ Youth in the Child Welfare System: An Overview of Research, Practice, and Policy

LGBTQ youth are largely overrepresented in the child welfare system. The experiences of LGBTQ youth have largely been overlooked. LGBTQ youth often encounter a number of challenges and disparities as they navigate the child welfare system. Many report experiences of discrimination, marginalization, and an overall lack of acceptance. The permanency and placement options have historically been limited for many LGBTQ youth, often leading to an over reliance on congregate settings and aging out of foster are. The current article provides a synthesis of the existing research on the experiences and outcomes of LGBTQ youth in care, as well as an exploration of the policy and practice initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive system of care.
A daily process examination of the relationship between childhood trauma and stress-reactivity

Childhood trauma (CT) has been associated with various forms of emotion dysregulation (ED), including stress-reactivity, which is believed to be one of the mechanisms underlying the link between CT and psychological disorders. The purpose of the present study was to further this line of research by using an intensive longitudinal research design to examine among college students (N=1634, 53.7% women) whether reports of interpersonal CT, specifically emotional abuse and neglect, uniquely moderate the within-person association between repeated assessments of daily stress and negative affect (NA)(i.e., stress-reactivity). The study also examined whether the link between CT and stress-reactivity is stronger for discrete forms of NA and whether the effects of emotional abuse and neglect CT are unique from other trauma types and distinct from recent life stress and neuroticism. Results indicated that individuals with more severe histories of emotional abuse CT showed stronger stress-reactivity for anxiety, but not for other forms of affect when control variables were introduced. Neglect also moderated this association but in the opposite direction, such that those with more extensive histories of neglect exhibited lower anxiety in response to daily stress. Results highlight the unique and complex associations between various forms of interpersonal CT and stress-reactivity.
Characteristics of automated external defibrillator coverage in Philadelphia, PA, based on land use and estimated risk

Abstract Aim Approximately 424,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occur in the US annually. As automated external defibrillators (AED) are an important part of the community response to OHCA, we investigated how well the spatial demand (likelihood of OHCA) was met by the spatial supply (AEDs) in a dense urban environment. Methods Using geographic information system (GIS) software, we applied kernel density and optimized hot spot procedures with two differently-sized radii to model OHCA incidence rates from existing studies, providing an estimate of OHCA likelihood at a given location. We compared these density maps to existing AED coverage in the study area. Descriptive statistics summarized coverage by land use. Results With a 420-ft buffer, we found that 56.0% (79.9%, 840-ft buffer) of the land area in the city center was covered by existing AEDs at, though 70.1 (91.5)% of the OHCA risk was covered using kernel density and 79.8% (98.1) was covered using hot spot analysis. Conclusions The difference in coverage by area and risk seems to indicate efficient placement of existing AEDs. Our findings also highlight the possible benefits to expanding the influence of AEDs by lowering search times, and identify opportunities to improve AED coverage in the study area. This article offers one method by which local officials can use spatial data to prioritize attention for AED placement and coverage.
Solid-liquid multiphase simulation of protein-surface interaction and protein adsorption on polymer surfaces

U protein-surface interaction and protein adsorption properties of polymer surfaces are of crucial importance for the use of polymers in biomedical implants. Though polymer surfaces do not provide any receptors for cellular proteins, soluble proteins can bind to these polymer surfaces and in turn act as receptors for cellular proteins. In the process, depending on the surface properties of the polymer, the bound proteins can assume unrecognizable conformations allowing cellular proteins to identify them as foreign bodies and trigger attacks as a cellular response. These infighting posses a major challenge in biomedical engineering. An appropriate understanding of the adsorption free energy and the conformational changes of proteins upon their interaction with synthetic surfaces is critical in the development of biomaterials suitable for implants because those changes determine cellular responses to implanted materials and substrates. The classical molecular dynamic (MD) simulation is one of the direct methods which can, in principle, provide a detail analysis of the molecular behavior of the protein-surface interaction. However, there are challenges from the compatibility of the force-field parameters that needs to be overcome. MD force-field parameters developed for liquid phase proteins and solid phase surfaces serve well for the respective phases but the interphase interaction between a surface and a protein or water appear to be inappropriate and the scale of inadequacy vary significantly based on the hydrophobicity of the surface. To circumvent this situation, we developed a dualFF formalism in CHARMM, where dedicated parameter sets are being used for the solid phase surface and the liquid phase protein and water but to describe the interphase interaction between protein-surface and water-surface a third set of parameters are used which are tuned to respond to the polarization effect on the liquid phase protein and the water in the presence of the solid phase surface. Simulation results for peptide adsorption on self-assembled monolayer surfaces with hydrophobic and hydrophilic functionalized groups will be presented with untuned and tuned interphase force-filed parameters and compared with experimental data. Results demonstrate the suitability of the dualFF method to characterize protein-surface interaction and designing appropriate functionalized surface for biomedical implants. P. K. Biswas, J Material Sci Eng 2013, 2:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2169-0022.S1.010
Effects of Uniaxial Stress on Mo and Mo/Cu Bilayer Superconducting Transitions

Transition-edge sensors (TES) are widely used as sensing elements in X-ray microcalorimeters. Further improvement of their energy resolution hinges on a thorough understanding of the transition surface (as a function of temperature, current, and magnetic field) to achieve high sensitivity ( $\alpha$ ) and low noise (small $\beta$ ), as well as the capability to repeatably fabricate the proximity superconducting/normal metal bilayers with a predictable transition surface. One aspect that is poorly understood is the impact of film stress on the transition. Data from Mo films deposited using e-beam evaporation onto heated substrates, as well as sputtered films, show a strong correlation between film stress and superconducting transition temperature ( $\approx$ $-$ 0.2 K/GPa, corresponding to shift of about $-$ 0.1 K for a 0.1% change in biaxial strain). However, this correlation is of opposite sign and much larger than one would expect from the pressure dependence of bulk Mo. Furthermore, modifications in fabrication details of the devices, such as membrane perforations and absorber attachment, have been observed to result in large qualitative differences in the transition surface for otherwise identical TES geometry. It seems reasonable to ask whether associated changes in film stress distribution can cause these differences. To shed some light on this issue, we have subjected a bare Mo film as well as Mo/Cu bilayers to in situ tunable uniaxial stress produced by a piezo-electric stack. Our results indicate that the direct strain induced changes to the transition temperature are rather small (about +0.3 mK for a 0.1% strain change on a Mo film) and consistent in sign and order of magnitude with that derived from the bulk.