cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Robust Cooling Platform for NIS Junction Refrigeration and sub-Kelvin Cryogenic Systems

Recent advances in Normal metal–insulator-superconductor (NIS) tunnel junctions (Clark et al. Appl Phys Lett 86: 173508, 2005, Appl Phys Lett 84: 4, 2004) have proven these devices to be a viable technology for sub-Kelvin refrigeration. NIS junction coolers, coupled to a separate cold stage, provide a flexible platform for cooling a wide range of user-supplied payloads. Recently, a stage was cooled from 290 to 256 mK (Lowell et al. Appl Phys Lett 102: 082601 2013), but further mechanical and electrical improvements are necessary for the stage to reach its full potential. We have designed and built a new Kevlar suspended cooling platform for NIS junction refrigeration that is both lightweight and well thermally isolated; the calculated parasitic loading is $$<\!\!300$$ pW from 300 to 100 mK. The platform is structurally rigid with a measured deflection of 25 $$\upmu $$ m under a 2.5 kg load and has an integrated mechanical heat switch driven by a superconducting stepper motor with thermal conductivity G $$ = 4.5 \times 10^{-7}$$ W/K at 300 mK. An integrated radiation shield limits thermal loading and a modular platform accommodates enough junctions to provide nanowatts of continuous cooling power. The compact stage size of 7.6 cm $$\times $$ 8.6 cm $$\times $$ 4.8 cm and overall radiation shield size of 8.9 cm $$\times $$ 10.0 cm $$\times $$ 7.0 cm along with minimal electrical power requirements allow easy integration into a range of cryostats. We present the design, construction, and performance of this cooling platform as well as projections for coupling to arrays of NIS junctions and other future applications.
Principal Components Regression With Data Chosen Components and Related Methods

Multiple regression with correlated explanatory variables is relevant to a broad range of problems in the physical, chemical, and engineering sciences. Chemometricians in particular have made heavy use of principal components regression and related procedures for predicting a response variable from a large number of highly correlated variables. In this article we develop a general theory for selecting principal components that yield estimates of regression coefficients with low mean squared error. Our numerical results suggest that the theory also can be used to improve partial least squares regression estimators and regression estimators based on rotated principal components. Although our work has been motivated by the statistical genetics problem of mapping quantitative trait loci, the results are applicable to any problem in which estimation of regression coefficients for correlated explanatory variables is of interest.
Salt analysis of cheese by a simplified method.

Salting is an important factor in the manufacture of cured cheese. The amount and method of salt application varies among the different kinds. But, the importance of controlling the salt content is well known (2). Salt affects the flavor, body and texture, whey removal, and keeping quality. Low salt content permits off-flavor and gas development from undesirable fermentation and also causes a weak body. Excessive salt in cheese is responsible for retarded curing, unnatural color, and a hard, curdy body. Several titration methods for salt determination of cheese have been used by the cheese industry. The method of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) (1) is accepted as the standard. It, as well as the other titration methods, has disadvantages of being involved, requiring good laboratory facilities and a skilled analyst. This report presents data of a comparative study between a simple procedure using an indicating device referred to as test strip ~ and the AOAC for salt analysis, in six kinds of cheese representing common types.
Protection Against Acute MPTP‐Induced Dopamine Depletion in Mice by Adenosine A1 Agonist

: The effects of the adenosine A1 agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) on MPTP-induced dopamine (DA) depletion in the striatum of C57BL/6 mice were studied. Twenty hours after a single injection of MPTP (30 mg/kg, s.c.), the toxin caused 62% depletion of striatal DA. CHA (0.2–3 mg/kg, s.c.), when given together with MPTP, prevented the toxin-induced DA depletion in a dose-dependent manner. This protective action was apparently mediated by the A1 receptors, because this effect was selectively antagonized by pretreating the animals with the A1 antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (25 mg/kg, i.p.) but not with the A2 antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-7-methylxanthine (25 mg/kg, i.p.). When CHA (3 mg/kg) was injected 5 h after MPTP administration, at which point striatal DA levels were already reduced significantly, a rapid and complete recovery of the striatal DA levels occurred. These neurochemical data suggest that the A1 agonist CHA is potentially useful as a neuroprotective agent against MPTP-induced toxicity.
Rapid Enhancement of Retinal Adhesion by Laser Photocoagulation

Abstract To determine how quickly laser photocoagulation produces a bond between retina and pigment epithelium, the authors measured the strength of retinal adhesion after making laser burns through intact and recently reattached rabbit retina. After photocoagulation of intact retina, the adhesive force was reduced 50% at 8 hours but increased beyond normal (to approximately 140%) by 24 hours and remained twice normal between 3 days and 4 weeks. Photocoagulation of retina that had just settled after experimental detachment produced similar results, except that the maximum strength of adhesion (reached at 2 weeks) was three times normal. In contrast, retina that reattached spontaneously, without photocoagulation, showed only 10% of normal adhesiveness at 24 hours, and still was only 75% of normal after 4 weeks. These data suggest that laser Photocoagulation may be acutely beneficial in the prevention or management of retinal tears and detachments.
Localized surface plasmon resonance immunoassay and verification using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

This work exploits the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy of noble metal nanoparticles to achieve sensitive and selective detection of biological analytes. Noble metal nanoparticles exhibit an LSPR that is strongly dependent on their size, shape, material, and the local dielectric environment. The LSPR is also responsible for the intense signals observed in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Ag nanoparticles fabricated using the nanosphere lithography (NSL) technique exploits this LSPR sensitivity as a signal transduction method in biosensing applications. The current work implements LSPR biosensing for the anti dinitrophenyl (antiDNP) immunoassay system. Upon forming the 2,4 dinitrobenzoic acid/antiDNP complex, this system shows a large LSPR shift of 44 nm when exposed to antiDNP concentration of 1.5 x 10-6 M. In addition, due to the unique molecular characteristics of the functional groups on the biosensor, it can also be characterized using SERS. First, the nanoparticles are functionalized with a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) comprised of 2:1 octanethiol and 11-amino undecanethiol. The SAM is exposed to 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid with the 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) coupling reagent. Finally, the 2,4-dinitrophenyl terminated SAM is exposed to various concentration of antiDNP. LSPR shifts indicate the occurrence of a binding event. SER spectra confirm binding of 2,4 dinitrobenzoic acid with amine-terminated SAM. This LSPR/SERS biosensing method can be generalized to a myriad of biologically relevant systems.
Optimizing subroutines with optional parameters in F90 via function cloning

Optional parameters are a feature of Fortran90. The objective of this feature is to allow the F90 programmer to declare a subroutine using a number of arguments and specify a subset of these parameters as optional, which in turn, allows the programmer to omit any of these optional parameters during invocation of the subroutine. The body of such a subroutine uses an F90 intrinsic function called present(), to test whether an optional parameter has meaningful values at run-time. The optional parameter can be written/read if and only if present() returns a true value. In this work, we describe a mechanism by which such subroutines which use optional parameters can be efficiently optimized using function cloning or specialization. Function Cloning is a well-known optimization technique that creates multiple copies of a function f(), in order to exploit better optimization opportunities. We will show how cloning/specialization can be utilized such that all calls to present() can be totally eliminated in the body of such subroutines. Cloning will also result in optimization opportunities not exploitable in the original source.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and cardiovascular disease in United States adults.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, whether the protective effect of HDL becomes impaired by elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is not well-established. We evaluated 13,572 United States adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2008. The subjects were classified according to the recognized cutpoints of HDL cholesterol elevations of ≥60 mg/dl, hs-CRP of >3 mg/L, and by a history of self-reported coronary heart disease (CHD) or CVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the odds of prevalent CHD and CVD according to HDL cholesterol/hs-CRP group, after adjusting for known risk factors. Those with HDL cholesterol of ≥60 mg/dl and CRP >3 mg/L versus HDL cholesterol 3 mg/L had a 1.38 (95% confidence interval 0.94 to 2.02) adjusted odds of CHD and 1.38 (95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.90) adjusted odds of CVD. Those with an HDL cholesterol 3 mg/L had the greatest adjusted odds of both CHD (1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 2.38) and CVD (1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.33 to 2.28). In conclusion, an hs-CRP >3 mg/L in the presence of HDL cholesterol of ≥60 mg/dl is associated with an attenuation in the protective association of HDL cholesterol ≥60 mg/dl and CRP of ≤3 mg/L with CHD and CVD.
Understanding promotions in a case study of student blogging

Promoting blog content is a social activity; it is a means of communicating one student's appreciation of another student's work. This paper explores the feasibility of using student promotions of content, in a blogosphere, to identify quality content, and implications for instructors. We show that students actively and voluntarily promote content, use promotion data to select which posts to read, and with considerable accuracy identify quality material. We explore the benefits of knowing which students are good and poor predictors of quality content, and what instructors can do with this information in terms of feedback and guidance.
Lagrangians in an isotropic plane from complex coordinates

A point having rectangular coordinates (x, y) and polar coordinates (r, theta ) has complex coordinates (z, z) where z=x+iy=r exp(i theta ) and z=x-iy=r exp(-i theta ). The versatility of complex coordinates leads to computational advantages in writing and solving equations of motion in two dimensions. Potential energies, lagrangians, and equations of motion are given in three examples to illustrate the method.
Selenium status of industrial worker

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the selenium status of a well-defined industrially employed population: eighty-six oil refinery workers. Plasma selenium levels and erythrocyte GSH-Px activities were significantly lower in this industrial group (86 subjects) than in non-industrial group (174 subjects). In order to evaluate whether these lower values were responsive to supplementation, ten subjects from the industrial group were further studied for 12 weeks. Five of these subjects consumed a selenium supplement, 50 μg Se as sodium selenite, once a day for eight weeks (weeks 2 to 10 of study). Diet histories revealed that these 10 workers consumed an average of 217±73 μg Se/day indicating that they were consuming selenium levels above the recommendations of the Food and Nutrition Board of the NRC. The supplemented group had significantly higher whole blood selenium levels and GSH-Px activity than the non-supplemented group and this difference was due to a drop in the levels found in the non-supplemented group at weeks 8 and 10. These data suggest that selenium supplementation prevented the decreases in blood selenium levels and GSH-Px activity experienced by the non-supplemented subjects. Also, there was a positive correlation between blood selenium levels and GSH-Px (r=0.45, p
INSTANCES AND CATEGORY STRUCTURE IN INTERCATEGORY RELATIONSHIPS

An experiment was performed to examine the role of category instances and category structure in the transfer of learning between categories. Two problems in learning of categories were presented us...
Factors contributing to spontaneous Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques

Background A cohort of SIV-infected macaques had been used to investigate the effect of dietary supplement, immune status, SIV/AIDS disease progression and serum micronutrients levels on spontaneous acquisition of Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in SIV-infected macaques. Methods Twenty-four SIV-infected macaques were randomized into 2 groups. One group received a vitamin/mineral supplementation and a second group received a placebo. Both groups were examined for E. bieneusi infection. Results SIV-infected macaques were more prone to acquire E. bieneusi with the progression of SIV/AIDS, and the increased shedding of infectious spores was directly associated with decreased CD4 lymphocyte and increased circulating SIV, in both supplemented and unsupplemented groups of animals. Dietary supplementation, body composition factors and serum micronutrients levels however had no association with the acquisition of E. bieneusi infection in these animals. Conclusions Acquisition of E. bieneusi infection is related to SIV disease progression, CD4 counts and viral load but independent of changes in body composition and serum micronutrient levels.
A two-dimensional potential flow model for ground-induced effects on jet and fan inlets

A free-streamline potential flow model is developed for the flowfield external to a stationary jet or fan inlet in proximity to a ground plane. It is assumed that the flow is steady, incompressible, and irrotational. A two-dimensional flat plate geometry models the inlet configuration, and free streamline theory is used to avoid unrealistic infinite flow velocities at the lips of the inlet, and to account somewhat for flow separation. A water table experiment is used to verify the analytical results. The fact that the solutions are found to be limited to only a certain range of diameter-height ratios implies an overdetermination of the problem by free streamline theory. Also studied are the convective properties of small vortical disturbances superimposed on the ideal flow solution.
Characterization of the surface properties of nanoparticles using moisture adsorption dynamic profiling

Abstract Adsorption and retention of molecular contaminants on nanoparticles (NPs) is a major factor in determining the environmental and health effects of the particles. A method has been developed for characterizing the surface properties that contribute to the adsorption and desorption interactions. This method uses a sample cell and an in-situ FTIR to obtain the time profiles of dynamic interactions of adsorbing species on NP samples. The results are then analyzed using a process simulator to determine the fundamental properties such as capacity, affinity, rate expressions, and activation energies of NP interactions with contaminants. The method is illustrated using moisture as a representative model compound and particles of SiO2, HfO2, and CeO2, which are three oxides used in semiconductor manufacturing. The results indicate that the surface interaction parameters are both species and particle size dependent. SiO2 has the highest adsorption capacity and therefore most prone to the adsorption of moisture and similar contaminants. However, the affinity of the NPs for H2O retention is highest for CeO2 and lowest for SiO2. Factors contributing to the environmental and health impact of NPs (extent of surface coverage, capacity, activation energy of retention) are higher for smaller particles of the same oxide.
Ethnic Variations in Chronic Liver Diseases

Chronic liver disease is a major source of morbidity and mortality in the United States today. There is little information on the interethnic variation in the clinical presentation, therapeutic responses and prognosis of individuals with liver disease. This review will discuss the ethnic variations and implications of the most common liver diseases.
ET-40ONCOLYTIC VIRUS INDUCED HMGB1 SECRETION AND ITS IMPACT ON TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a difficult-to-treat, and the most aggressive of primary brain tumors. Survival is less than 2 years despite aggressive therapy. Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy has shown tremendous benefits in the treatment of GBM and other tumors. This benefit is limited by host antiviral immune responses that enhance OV clearance and tumor progression. In this study, using both in-vivo and in-vitro models of GBM, we have tested the role of High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in OV therapy. HMGB1 is a nuclear protein that binds and regulates transcription factors. Extracellular HMGB1 functions as damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP), it mediates the inflammatory response upon binding to inflammation mediators, such as receptor of advanced glycated end product (RAGE), toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2, 4, and 9. Here, we report that; 1) HSV1716 infection induced significant secretion of HMGB1 in human glioma cell lines and glioma neurosphere cells alone or when co-cultured with microglia. 2) Measurement of HMGB1 in serum of mice with intracranial tumors revealed an increase in serum HMGB1 levels after virus treatment. 3) HSV1716 infection enhanced human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) migration towards infected cells, which was blocked by HMGB1 blocking antibodies. 4) HMGB1 both directly enhanced HBMEC migration and induced production of VEGF by microglia cells co-cultured with glioma cells. 5) Pharmacologic inhibitor of HMGB1 (Garbexate (100uM)), and anti-HMGB1 polyclonal blocking antibody blocked HSV1716 induced HMGB1 secretion of VEGF in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that OV therapy with HSV1716 activates proangiogenic pathway by induction of HMGB1, and that tumor microenvironment contributes to it proangiogenic property. Thus we conclude that OV therapy that target HMGB1 secretion and angiogenic axis may improve virotherapy of HSV1716, and other oncolytic herpes simplex virus in tumors.
The breakage behavior of liquid membrane emulsion in a packed bed

Abstract The breakage behavior in a silica bed of liquid membrane emulsions containing cobalt ions has been studied. The results indicate that the selection of the second filter in the bed reactor is important. The rate of emulsion breakage increased with the increase in flow rate. However, the rate of emulsion breakage was independent of particle size and of the amount of silica particles in the bed. The optimum ratio of the organic to the emulsion phases was found to be 0.8/1.0 and the optimum concentrtaion of surfactant was found to be 2% by volume.
A novel camel diode gate GaAs FET

A novel device utilizing the "camel diode" in place of a Schottky barrier gate has been demonstrated in GaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The devices have a 7.5 µm channel length, 3 µm gate length, and a 280 µm gate width. The layers from which the devices are fabricated consist of a 0.15 µm GaAs layer doped to a level of 1.5 × 1017cm-3to form the channel, and a 100 A p+GaAs and a 400 A n+ region to form the gate. Because of the long gate length, the electron velocity does not reach saturation, thus a transconductance of 80 mS/mm is obtained. A simple theory describing the device operation has also been developed.
Selective elimination of perennial ryegrass by activation of a pro-herbicide through engineering E. coli argE gene

Perennial ryegrass is widely used for overseeding dormant bermudagrass on golf courses and sports fields in Southeastern United States to provide green color and improved playability. Late spring and summer persistence of perennial ryegrass may decrease the quality of the bermudagrass turf and reduce its winter hardiness. To help solve this problem, we developed a strategy to activate a pro-herbicide within the transgenic perennial ryegrass plants and to cause self elimination of the plants. An E. coli argE gene was introduced into perennial ryegrass by the biolistic method, which resulted in four independently transformed green plants. The mRNA of argE gene was detected in three of the plants by RT-PCR. Perennial ryegrass plants expressing the argE transgene were selectively controlled upon application of a pro-herbicide, N-acetyl-l-phosphinothricin (or N-acetyl-PPT), since the N-acetylornithinase encoded by argE gene is able to convert N-acetyl-PPT to the herbicide phosphinothricin (PPT). The non-transgenic bermudagrass plants were unaffected by the treatment. This approach provides a means to selectively remove a group of transgenic plants without affecting other plants growing with them.
Overlapping Yee FDTD Method on Nonorthogonal Grids

We propose a new overlapping Yee (OY) method for solving time-domain Maxwell's equations on nonorthogonal grids. The proposed method is a direct extension of the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method to irregular grids. The OY algorithm is stable and maintains second-order accuracy of the original FDTD method, and it overcomes the late-time instability of the previous FDTD algorithms on nonorthogonal grids. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the accuracy, stability, convergence and efficiency of the OY method.
Acuminatin, a new bis-phenylpropide from Magnolia acuminata L.

Abstract Three uncommon lignans calopiptin ( 1 ), galgravin ( 2 ) and veraguensin ( 3 ) were isolated from M. acuminata root-bark, along with a novel bis -phenylpropide, acuminatin ( 4 ) which was characterized by physical and chemical methods.
Interdiffusion Between Zr Diffusion Barrier and U-Mo Alloy

U-Mo alloys are being developed as low-enrichment uranium fuels under the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactor (RERTR) program. Significant reactions have been observed between U-Mo fuels and Al or Al alloy matrix. Refractory metal Zr has been proposed as barrier material to reduce the interactions. In order to investigate the compatibility and barrier effects between U-Mo alloy and Zr, solid-to-solid U-10wt.%Mo versus Zr diffusion couples were assembled and annealed at 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 °C for various times. The microstructures and concentration profiles due to interdiffusion and reactions were examined via scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis, respectively. Intermetallic phase Mo2Zr was found at the interface, and its population increased when annealing temperature decreased. Diffusion paths were also plotted on the U-Mo-Zr ternary phase diagrams with good consistency. The growth rate of interdiffusion zone between U-10wt.%Mo and Zr was also calculated under the assumption of parabolic diffusion and was determined to be about 103 times lower than the growth rate of diffusional interaction layer found in diffusion couples U-10wt.%Mo versus Al or Al-Si alloy. Other desirable physical properties of Zr as barrier material, such as neutron adsorption rate, melting point, and thermal conductivity, are presented as supplementary information to demonstrate the great potential of Zr as the diffusion barrier for U-Mo fuel systems in RERTR.
Las fotos escolares como “analizadores” en la investigación educativa.

Este articulo propone el uso de las fotografias escolares como “analizadores” de instituciones educativas. Despues de una breve discusion sobre las limitaciones de los enfoques teoricos que consideran las fotografias como contenedoras transparentes de facil e inapelable lectura sobre sus significados, este articulo introduce la nocion de las fotografias escolares como “analizadores” y discute su relacion con los metodos de foto-entrevista e investigacion cualitativa. La discusion conceptual se ejemplifica con el analisis de dos fotografias escolares. Para concluir este articulo analiza los aspectos claves necesarios para incorporar las fotografias desde esta perspectiva.
Growth rate and secretion of pituitary hormones in relation to age and chronic treatment with thyrotropin-releasing hormone in prepubertal dairy heifers.

Holstein heifers were treated with synthetic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or saline twice daily from one week through 6 mo of age. Plasma concentrations of prolactin (PRL) and thyrotropin (TSH) were elevated (P .05), nor was it significantly influenced by treatment following subsequent TRH injections. None of the 3 hormones, PRL, TSH or GH, was elevated following the final TRH injection at 6 mo of age. In contrast, plasma concentrations of PRL and TSH were increased in a control heifer injected with TRH at 6 mo. These data indicate that hormonal responsiveness to TRH stimulation decreases with continued twice daily treatment at doses ...
Obtainable microstructures in electrical conductors made of a copper-silver alloy

The goal of this study was to understand the relationships between the obtainable properties of copper-silver conductor alloys and the material's microstructure. Processing routes to obtain property combinations of high yield strength and high electrical conductivity were desired. The processing method involved melting and casting of pure elemental materials in selected mass ratios, electrical discharge machining of rectangular prismatic blocks from the cast billets, and flat rolling of the blocks to a 51% reduction in thickness. Standard electrical conductivity and hardness measurements were made. The microstructures of the cast ingots and of the rolled materials were evaluated. It was observed that manipulation of the processing parameters and microstructure produced material with room-temperature yield strengths of 600 MPa and corresponding electrical conductivities of 85% IACS at a 51% thickness reduction. These property values are sufficient for use of this alloy in either the as-cast state or in the cast-and-rolled state.
Blockade of distal nephron sodium transport attenuates pressure natriuresis in dogs.

The sodium excretory responses (UNaV) to acute changes in renal arterial pressure (RAP) during blockade of distal nephron sodium transport were evaluated in seven sodium-replete anesthetized dogs. The major distal sodium entry pathways were blocked by intrarenal infusion of amiloride (AM, 10(-5) mol/L) and bendroflumethiazide (BZ, 10(-6) mol/L). Infusion of AM plus BZ caused slight increases in renal blood flow (RBF, 4.1 +/- 0.5 to 4.6 +/- 0.4 mL.min-1.g-1; P < .001) but no changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR, 0.96 +/- 0.05 to 1.01 +/- 0.07 mL.min-1.g-1; P = NS) or autoregulatory efficiency of RBF and GFR. There were significant increases in UNaV (2.7 +/- 0.7 to 5.2 +/- 0.6 mumol.min-1.g-1) and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa, 1.8 +/- 0.4% to 3.5 +/- 0.3%) and decreases in potassium excretion (0.59 +/- 0.10 to 0.35 +/- 0.06 mumol.min-1.g-1) during AM plus BZ infusion. During the control period and during repeat measurements in time control studies, decreases in RAP (150 to 100 mm Hg) elicited the usual decreases in UNaV (slope, 0.022 +/- 0.007 mumol.min-1.g-1.mm Hg-1; P < .01). After administration of AM plus BZ, there was a marked attenuation of the pressure-natriuretic responses, and the slopes of the RAP versus UNaV and RAP versus FENa relations at RAP levels above 100 mm Hg were not significantly different from zero. However, the pressure-natriuresis response was maintained at arterial pressure between 75 and 100 mm Hg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Electronic thermoelectric power factor and metal-insulator transition in FeSb 2

We show that synthesis-induced metal-insulator transition (MIT) for electronic transport along the orthorombic $c$ axis of FeSb${}_{2}$ single crystals has greatly enhanced electrical conductivity while keeping the thermopower at a relatively high level. By this means, the thermoelectric power factor is enhanced to a new record high S${}^{2}$$\ensuremath{\sigma}$ $\ensuremath{\sim}$ 8000 $\ensuremath{\mu}$W K${}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at 28 K. We find that the large thermopower in FeSb${}_{2}$ can be rationalized within the correlated electron model with two bands having large quasiparaticle disparity, whereas MIT is induced by subtle structural differences. The results in this work testify that correlated electrons can produce extreme power factor values.
Ab initio Studies of ClOx Reactions: Prediction of the Rate Constants of ClO+NO2 for the Forward and Reverse Processes

The potential-energy surface for the reaction of ClO with NO2 has been constructed at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df)//B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) level of theory. Six ClNO3 isomers are located; these are ClONO2, pc-ClOONO, pt-ClOONO, OClNO2, pt-OClONO, pc-OClONO, with predicted energies relative to the reactants of −25.6, −0.5, 1.0, 1.9, 12.2 and 13.6 kcal mol−1, and heats of formation at 0 K of 7.8, 32.9, 34.4, 35.5, 45.6 and 47.0 kcal mol−1, respectively. Isomerizations among them are also discussed. The rate constants for the low-energy pathways have been computed by statistical theory calculations. For the association reaction producing exclusively ClONO2, the predicted low- and high-pressure-limit rate constants in N2 for the temperature range of 200–600 K can be represented by: (N2)=3.19×10−17 T−5.54 exp(−384 K/T) cm6 molecule−2 s−1and =3.33×10−7 T−1.48 exp(−18 K/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The predicted low- and high-pressure-limit rate constants for the decomposition of ClONO2 in N2 at 200–600 K can be expressed, respectively, by =6.08×1013 T−6.54 exp(−13813 K/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1and =4.59×1023 T−2.43 exp(−13437 K/T) s−1. The predicted values compare satisfactorily with available experimental data. The reverse Cl+NO3 reaction was found to be independent of the pressure, giving exclusively ClO+NO2; the predicted rate constant can be expressed as k(Cl+NO3)=1.19×10−9 T−0.60 exp(58 K/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1.
Target detection in M-disparate sonar platforms using multichannel hypothesis testing

The use of multiple disparate sonars allows one to exploit a high resolution sonar with good target definition while taking advantage of the clutter suppressing abilities of a low resolution broadband sonar co-registered over the same region to provide potentially much better detection and classification performance comparing to those of the single sonar cases. In this paper the standard Neyman-Pearson detector is extended to the dual disparate sonar case allowing target detection across two sensory platforms simultaneously. For three disparate sonar platforms, two detectors are implemented with the final decisions being fused. Test results of the proposed methods on a data set of underwater side-scan sonar imagery are presented. This database contains data from 3 different side-scan sonars, namely one high frequency sonar and two broadband sonars, operating at three different frequencies and bandwidths. The data was collected in different bottom conditions and contains various mine-like and non-mine-like objects with varying degree of difficultly and bottom clutter. Test results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed detection system in terms of probability of detection, false alarm rate, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
Design and implementation of intelligent power management system

In order to reduce the consumption of human and material resources in industrial control area, an intelligent power management system is designed and implemented based on the design idea of using out-of-band management devices to manage remote devices. C8051F340 is the core of hardware part, and task scheduling is implemented by operating system RTX51 in the software part. According to the test result, when the system is integrated with console server, the managers can monitor the power supply state of devices via Internet safely, and the efficiency of device management is improved greatly.
Gene 33/RALT is induced by hypoxia in cardiomyocytes, where it promotes cell death by suppressing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase survival signaling

Ischemia in the heart deprives cardiomyocytes of oxygen, triggering cell death (myocardial infarction). Ischemia and its cell culture model, hypoxia, elicit a stress response program that contributes to cardiomyocyte death; however, the molecular components required to promote this process remain nebulous. Gene 33 is a 50-kDa cytosolic adapter protein that suppresses signaling from receptor Tyr kinases of the epidermal growth factor receptor/ErbB family. Here we show that adenoviral expression of Gene 33 swiftly stimulates cardiomyocyte death coincident with reduced Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Subjecting cardiomyocytes to hypoxia and then reoxygenation induces gene 33 mRNA and Gene 33 protein. RNA interference experiments indicate that endogenous Gene 33 reduces Akt and ERK signaling and is required for maximal hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte death. Gene 33 levels are also strikingly increased in myocardial ischemic injury and infarction. Our results identify a new role for Gene 33 as a component in the molecular pathophysiology of ischemic injury.
A new type of effective morphologic edge detectors

A type of edge detector based on the concept of gray-scale morphology is proposed. Edge detection can be divided into two phases; the first is noise removal, and the second is ideal edge detection. By using an iterative averaged closing-opening operation, impulse noise as well as Gaussian noise is eliminated from the image. Then, the resulting ideal edges can be extracted, either by using one of the classical spatial operators or by a simple morphologic operator. Results obtained from test images show that the proposed morphologic edge detectors are very effective. >
Wise Physicians, Twenty-First Century Challenges, and Doctoring

Are you and I doing what Rumi called our “Real Work?” Before beginning this chapter, you and I should pause to reflect that we are a self-selected group. I don’t mean to seem elitist, but not every physician would pick up a book on Medical Wisdom and Doctoring, much less read it as far as page 333. But you have done so. Applause! Your attention to the thoughts expressed this book suggests that, as a physician, you aspire to make your work meaningful, perhaps even spiritual, and certainly more than the mechanical effort of passing a colonoscope or reading an X-ray over and over each day.
Real time power system simulation for training purposes

The use of simulator training for operators of generation/transmission/distribution grids has increased dramatically. The development of operator training simulators, however, depended on the availability of economical computational hardware. In addition, models and algorithms to simulate large power systems in real time required significant innovation. Although better models and algorithms continue to be developed, the emphasis on research today is not on still higher fidelity but on features that enhance training. A review is presented of the state of the art of operator training simulators for terrestrial power systems. >
Linkage of hypoalbuminemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis therapy

Abstract Background: Hypoalbuminemia is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Increased biomarkers of acute-phase inflammation and oxidative stress are highly prevalent and also correlate with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The extent to which hypoalbuminemia, biomarkers of inflammation, and biomarkers of oxidative stress are linked in this patient population is unknown. We hypothesized that a high proportion of hypoalbuminemic hemodialysis patients also would manifest increased levels of biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Methods: We surveyed 600 maintenance hemodialysis patients and identified 18 severely hypoalbuminemic patients (serum albumin level 2 -isoprostane levels, as well as serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and prealbumin, were performed for study purposes. Results: Levels of serum CRP, IL-6, plasma protein thiol oxidation, and protein carbonyl formation were significantly elevated in both hypoalbuminemic and normoalbuminemic hemodialysis patients compared with healthy subjects and also were significantly different in hypoalbuminemic maintenance dialysis patients compared with normoalbuminemic hemodialysis patients. Prealbumin levels were significantly lower in hypoalbuminemic hemodialysis patients than in other groups. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of inflammation and oxidative stress in the maintenance hemodialysis population. Levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers are increased further in hypoalbuminemic compared with normoalbuminemic dialysis patients. Hypoalbuminemia, acute-phase inflammation, and oxidative stress may act synergistically to increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
Distinct Pathways for snoRNA and mRNA Termination

Transcription termination at mRNA genes is linked to polyadenylation. Cleavage at the poly(A) site generates an entry point for the Rat1/Xrn2 exonuclease, which degrades the downstream transcript to promote termination. Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are also transcribed by RNA polymerase II but are not polyadenylated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments show that polyadenylation factors and Rat1 localize to snoRNA genes, but mutations that disrupt poly(A) site cleavage or Rat1 activity do not lead to termination defects at these genes. Conversely, mutations of Nrd1, Sen1, and Ssu72 affect termination at snoRNAs but not at several mRNA genes. The exosome complex was required for 3' trimming, but not termination, of snoRNAs. Both the mRNA and snoRNA pathways require Pcf11 but show differential effects of individual mutant alleles. These results suggest that in yeast the transcribing RNA polymerase II can choose between two distinct termination mechanisms but keeps both options available during elongation.
Risk factors for post-deployment posttraumatic stress disorder in national guard/reserve service members

Identification of factors that increase risk for PTSD in military personnel following deployments is critical to early intervention and prevention. The study tested hypothesized main and moderating risk factors for PTSD in National Guard/Reserve members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Members of the National Guard/Reserves (n=238) completed diagnostic interviews and measures of risk factors at a post-deployment assessment conducted an average of four and a half months following return from deployment. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. Higher levels of combat exposure, life and family concerns during deployment, and post-deployment social support independently predicted PTSD. Life/family concerns during deployment and perceived adequacy of training and preparation were significant moderators of the association between combat exposure and PTSD. Among those with higher levels of both combat exposure and life and family stress, 27% had PTSD in contrast to 3% of those with high exposure but lower levels of such stress during deployment. In addition to combat exposure, life and family stress during deployment is a particularly important predictor of PTSD. The findings highlight the importance of identifying and addressing such stress.
Thermal management and resistive rail heating of a large-scale naval electromagnetic launcher

This work presents a model that can be implemented to quickly estimate the resistive heating and the resulting transient temperature response. Quantifying the energy deposited in the rails and implementing an effective thermal management system will be key elements of an effective design for a large-scale electromagnetic launcher. The total current was divided between the inside, upper/lower, and outside surface based on the results of a current distribution calculation. The diffusion of the magnetic field into each surface was modeled in order to determine the current distribution and the resistive heating. Cooling between shots was taken into account by solving the one dimensional transient heat diffusion equation within each surface. Repeating these calculations for a number of discrete segments down the length of the rail enabled the prediction of the total resistive rail heating and the temperature profile along the length of the rail. Experimental tests were conducted that verify the presence of localized heating in the corners of a U-shaped conductor made of 7075 Aluminum. Taking into account the localized resistive heating near the surface of the conductor will become increasingly important with large-scale guns.
Miscible displacements in Hele-Shaw cells: two-dimensional base states and their linear stability

Miscible fingering in a Hele-Shaw cell is studied by means of Stokes simulations and linear stability analysis. The two-dimensional simulations of miscible displacements in a gap indicate the existence of a quasi-steady state near the tip of the displacement front for sufficiently large Peclet numbers and viscosity ratios, in agreement with earlier work by other authors. The front thickness of this quasi-steady state is seen to scale with Pe -1/2 , while it depends only weakly on the viscosity ratio. The nature of the viscosity-concentration relationship is found to have a significant influence on the quasi-steady state. For the exponential relationship employed throughout most of the investigation, we find that the tip velocity increases with Pe for small viscosity ratios, while it decreases with Pe for large ratios. In contrast, for a linear viscosity-concentration relationship the tip velocity is seen to increase with Pe for all viscosity ratios. The simulation results suggest that in the limit of high Pe and large viscosity contrast, the width and tip velocity of the displacement front asymptote to the same values as their immiscible counterparts in the limit of large capillary numbers. In a subsequent step, the stability of the quasi-steady front to spanwise perturbations is examined, based on the three-dimensional Stokes equations. For all values of Pe, the maximum growth rate is found to increase monotonically with the viscosity ratio. The influence of Pe on the growth of the instability is non-uniform. For mild viscosity contrasts, a larger Pe is found to be destabilizing, while for large viscosity contrasts an increase in Pe has a slightly stabilizing influence. A close inspection of the instability eigenfunction reveals the presence of two sets of counter-rotating roll-like structures, with axes aligned in the cross-gap and streamwise directions, respectively. The former lead to the periodic acceleration and deceleration of the front, while the latter result in the widening and narrowing of the front. These roll-like structures are aligned in such a way that the front widens where it speeds up, and narrows where it slows down. The findings from the present stability analysis are discussed and compared with their Darcy counterparts, as well as with experimental data by other authors for miscible and immiscible flows.
Commentary: Re-Orienting Asian American History through Transnational and International Scales

While transnational frameworks have been a defining characteristic of Asian American history for a long time, the essays in this forum suggest new interventions in the meanings of transnational, trans-Pacific, and international. These interventions reflect internationalist discourses in the historical discipline as a whole while illustrating the fact that no common roadmap exists for pursuing this goal. The essayists also offer some solutions to the marginalization of the field within U.S. history. By decentering the nation-state——but not rejecting it outright——the range of significant themes explored in these essays places Asian American history at the cutting edge of the transnational history that is currently reshaping national histories.
A New Ordovician Asteroid (Echinodermata) with Somasteroid-like Skeletal Elements

Abstract A new genus and species of Asteroidea (Echinodermata), Embolaster graffhami, Embolasteridae, n. fam., is described from the Upper Ordovician Bromide Formation of Oklahoma. Embolaster is important in part because of the presence of two similar ossicles on each interbrachial plane in the axillary position; only a single axillary is recognized in most Paleozoic asteroids. The axillary traditionally has been considered to be a part of the marginal series, although marginals are almost always paired. The two ossicles are interpreted as axillaries and the homologues of an ancestral proximal marginal pair. The odontophore, which lies distal to the mouth angle pair of most asteroids, tentatively is the homologue of the proximal axillary. Embolaster also is important because of the presence of an ossicular series between the ambulacrals and the putative adambulacrals. An extra ossicular series in this position is known from taxa traditionally assigned to the ophiuroids; however, other characters of Embola...
Differences in the Reproductive Ecology of Belted Kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon) Across Streams with Varying Geomorphology and Habitat Quality

Abstract We evaluated the influence of stream geomorphology and habitat quality on brood weight, offspring growth rate, and territory length of Belted Kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon) in northwestern Vermont, USA. We gathered measurements of habitat use, fish abundance and biomass, and reproductive success at breeding territories in stream reaches of differing geomorphic and habitat conditions during spring and early summer 2002. We used model selection based on AICc to examine the effects of stream geomorphology, habitat quality, and fish abundance and biomass on the selected reproductive measures. Geomorphic condition emerged as the most important predictor variable for models of both brood weight and territory length. We tested two viable models during the 2003 breeding season at new, independent breeding territories and found them to be well-supported. Our results provide evidence that stream geomorphic condition plays both direct and indirect roles in the habitat use and reproduction of Belted Kingfishers...
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor-Mobilized Allografts Contain Activated Immune Cell Subsets Associated with Risk of Acute and Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease

Abstract We defined associations among immune cell subsets in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)–mobilized allografts and clinical outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). Fresh peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) aliquots from 238 G-CSF–mobilized allografts were extensively characterized by immunophenotype. Subset-specific transplanted cells were correlated with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), chronic GVHD (cGVHD), malignant disease relapse, nonrelapse mortality, and overall survival. Of 238 assessable alloHCT recipients, 185 patients (78%) received reduced-intensity conditioning and 152 (64%) antithymocyte globulin-based serotherapy. Incidences of aGVHD and cGVHD were 58% and 48%, respectively. Median follow-up was 21 months (range, 1.4 to 41.1). In multivariable analyses adjusted for relevant clinical factors, allograft activated natural killer (NK) cells (CD56+CD16+CD69+CD158b+) were associated with a significantly lower risk of aGVHD (P = .0016; HR, .51; 95% confidence interval, .33 to .78), whereas late-activated HLA-DR+ CD3+ cells were associated with significantly higher aGVHD (P