cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MRI investigation of glymphatic responses to Gd‐DTPA infusion rates

The glymphatic system is a newly identified waste clearance pathway in brain discovered and investigated predominately using in vivo two-photon confocal microscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in contrast to two-photon confocal microscopy, provides dynamic and real-time pictures of the glymphatic system in whole brain. We employ MRI to investigate the response of the glymphatic system to the rate of infusion of Gd-DTPA (magnevist). Wistar rats were subjected to a surgery of inserting a tube into the cisterna magna for infusion during MRI. Three infusion rates were chosen for 20 min infusions of diluted magnevist into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rat brain. Glymphatic response was imaged using dynamic MRI 3D measurement for 5 hr. Robust correlations were found in all ventricles between the peak intensities of image enhancement and infusion rates, with additional correlations between the peak times of MRI image enhancement and infusion rates in the fourth ventricle. An infusion rate of 2.92 μL/min induced an evident accumulation of tracer in the fourth ventricle near the cisterna magna. In hippocampal tissue, image enhancements exhibited low correlation with the infusion rates. However, an infusion rate of 1.67 μL/min provided a high image enhancement, but less tracer accumulation near the cisterna magna. Contrast-enhanced MRI provides a suitable tool for investigating image contrast infusion rate response of the glymphatic system in rat brain. Considering both T1 and T2 * effects in response to the infused magnevist into CSF, the infusion rate of 1.67 μL/min appears suitable for MRI study of the glymphatic system in rat.
Abstract P084: Neighborhood Deprivation is Associated With Diabetes Complications: Results From the UCSF Population Health Data Initiative

Introduction: Although neighborhood-level factors influence diabetes and diabetes complications, these determinants are often ignored in clinical practice. The widespread use of electronic medical ...
Uptake of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine among US Adults Aged 19 to 64 Years with Immunocompromising Conditions

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended immunization with the recently licensed 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for high-risk (immunocompromised) adults aged ≥19 years in 2012. This was in addition to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Data on vaccine-specific uptake among these individuals were previously unavailable. This retrospective observational study analyzed PCV13 uptake in immunocompromised patients aged 19-64 years. Data were acquired from insurance claims (N = 267,022) and electronic health records (EHR; N = 572,055) from October 2011-October 2016. Descriptive statistics were provided. Demographics were similar across the two database cohorts: mean age 49.7-51.0 years, 57-62% female, and >70% white. Iatrogenic immunosuppression was the most common high-risk category (33.3-44.2%). PCV13 uptake was 7.3% (95% CI: 7.25-7.45) in insurance claims and 9.9% (95% CI: 9.80-9.96) in EHR. Patients with HIV had the highest rate of PCV13 uptake; patients with multiple risk factors were above the mean in both cohorts. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to include patients lost to follow-up, with 441,657 and 722,071 patients for insurance claims and EHR, respectively. PCV13 uptake was only slightly higher: 9.3% (95% CI: 9.14-9.47) and 13.1% (95% CI: 12.93-13.19) for insurance claims and EHR, respectively. Four years after the ACIP 2012 recommendation, PCV13 uptake in high-risk adults aged19-64 years was low at <15% in all overall analyses. Clinicians caring for these patients should ensure adherence to the ACIP recommendation to minimize the risk of pneumococcal disease.
Political Discussion Networks and Political Engagement among Voters of Color

Despite a large and growing literature documenting the powerful and positive role that political discussion networks exert on the political behavior among whites, we know little about how political...
Time-Reversal-Invariance Violation in the $N\!d$ System and Large-$N_C$.

A minimal set of five low energy constants (LECs) for time-reversal and parity violating ($\not{T}\!\!\not{P}$) nucleon-nucleon ($N\!N$) interactions at low energies ($E\!<\!m_{\pi}^2/M_N$) is given. Using a large-$N_C$ (number of colors in QCD) analysis we show that one linear combination of LECs is $\mathcal{O}(N_C)$, three LECs are $\mathcal{O}(N_C^{0})$, and one linear combination of LECs is $\mathcal{O}(N_C^{-1})$. We also calculate the $\not{T}\!\!\not{P}$ observables of neutron spin rotation through a polarized deuteron target and a spin correlation coefficient in nucleon-deuteron scattering using pionless effective field theory. Using the large-$N_C$ analysis we show that the spin correlation coefficient and the neutron spin rotation are predominantly determined by same two LECs in the large-$N_C$ basis.
The Effect of Copyright Term Length on South African Book Markets (With Reference to the Google Book Project)

Research on the effect of copyright term extension in the United States demonstrates the negative effect of protection on the availability of new bound editions, ebooks, and audiobook editions of older works. Among the most popular titles, copyright protection also is associated strongly with higher prices in the US. Another recent study documents the negative effect of copyright term extension on titles available for e-lending in the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The present study measures the effect of copyright on the availability of bound volumes and ebooks in South Africa, a jurisdiction currently under pressure to extend its term of copyright beyond the current life-plus-fifty. Monopoly pricing effects in ebook markets in South Africa, and by analogy to other life-plus-fifty jurisdictions, are also shown. Finally, the paper measures the extent to which the Google Books Project improves the availability of books in South Africa.
Real-Time Video Analytics for Measuring Colonoscopy Performance

We have developed a real-time video analytics system for measuring colonoscopy performance, including total visible surface areas, real-time feedback to the endoscopist about the measurements of visible surface areas, video clarity, preparation, and distention conditions. Our lab experiments show that the correlations between the computer and the experienced colonoscopist are: 76% in visible surface area estimation, 83.9% in clarity evaluation, 90% in preparation condition assessment, and 67.9% in distention condition evaluation. Our algorithm appears to be faster in response to dynamic scope movements compared to a 3D scope positioning device. In addition, the clinical experiment shows the system detected unexpected scope malfunction events in real-time.
Towards an Interface Description Template for AI-enabled Systems.

Reuse is a common system architecture approach that seeks to instantiate a system architecture with existing components. However, reusing components with AI capabilities might introduce new risks as there is currently no framework that guides the selection of necessary information to assess their portability to operate in a system different than the one for which the component was originally purposed. We know from SW-intensive systems that AI algorithms are generally fragile and behave unexpectedly to changes in context and boundary conditions. The question we address in this paper is, what type of information should be captured in the Interface Control Document (ICD) of an AI-enabled system or component to assess its compatibility with a system for which it was not designed originally. We present ongoing work on establishing an interface description template that captures the main information of an AI-enabled component to facilitate its adequate reuse across different systems and operational contexts. Our work is inspired by Google's Model Card concept, which was developed with the same goal but focused on the reusability of AI algorithms. We extend that concept to address system-level autonomy capabilities of AI-enabled cyber-physical systems.
Health care use and expenditures attributable to cancer: A population-based study.

Abstract Background As more people are living with cancer due to increases in cancer survival, it is important to understand cancer burden. Studies have examined cancer-related costs using data more than a decade ago. Objective To update the economic burden and uniquely provide health care service use attributable to cancer using a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. Methods Data were obtained from the 2008–2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Individuals with cancer were matched to those without cancer in terms of demographics and comorbidities based on a propensity score (PS). For outcomes of health care use, a (zero-inflated) negative binomial model was employed. To analyze the outcomes of health care spending, a generalized linear model with a log link function and gamma distributed errors (or a two-part model) was used. Results Compared to the PS-matched noncancer controls, individuals with cancer received 1.05, 1.08, and 1.76 times more frequent annual emergency department (ED) visit care, hospitalization care, and hospital outpatient visit care, respectively. Additionally, people with cancer received prescriptions and office-based visit care about 5 times and 20 times more frequently. An average annual total health care spending among those with cancer was about $4100 higher. Average annual expenses on hospitalizations, office-based visits, hospital outpatient visits, and prescriptions among those with cancer were also about $1,400, $1,400, $700, and $300 higher. However, there was no significant difference in expenses on ED visit and out-of-pocket expenses on prescriptions between people with cancer and noncancer controls. Conclusions Individuals with cancer used all types of health care services more frequently than noncancer controls. Accordingly, expenditures on various types of health care services among those with cancer were higher.
Dynamic Host-Group/Multi-Destination Routing for Multicast Sessions

Multicast routing research efforts have mostly focused on supporting the host-group model in which multicast packets are addressed to a host (or multicast) group. Another multicast routing approach uses multi-destination addressing, where a multicast packet carries a list of the unique (unicast) addresses of all the group members. This form of routing can be accomplished using limited or no additional state beyond the existing unicast routing tables. It, therefore, scales well with the number of multicast sessions but does not scale well with the size of the multicast group and, in fact, requires the size of the multicast group to be below a certain threshold. In this paper, we envision a future scenario in which both host-group and multi-destination addressing routing approaches coexist within the Internet. We develop a dynamic routing context for this future scenario wherein a multicast session can adapt among different routing configurations depending on the number of multicast group members and how this number changes over time. We consider three routing options: (1) A single multi-destination addressed flow --- suitable for small-group sessions, (2) multiple multi-destination addressed flows --- suitable for medium-group sessions and (3) a single host-group addressed flow --- suitable for large-group sessions. For multicast sessions that vary in group membership over time, different routing protocols may be best at different points in time. Our work is concerned with the development and evaluation of protocols that allow a multicast session to dynamically switch among these three routing options as the size of the session changes.
Pandemic Use of Telehealth by Oncology at a Rural Academic Medical Center.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an exponential increase in telehealth. In response to the pandemic, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (D-HH) and its Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC) clos...
Imperialism and the Developing World: How Britain and the United States Shaped the Global Periphery

Throughout the modern era, powerful states have intervened in the affairs of peoples in other parts of the world. Imperialism and the Developing World interrogates why they have done so – ‘why impe...
Group Practice Size Consolidation in Emergency Medicine.

Study objective Practice consolidation is common and has been shown to affect the quality and cost of care across multiple health care delivery settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and physician practices. Despite a long history of large practice management group formation in emergency medicine and intensifying media attention paid to this topic, little is known about the recent practice consolidation trends within the specialty. Methods All data were obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Physician Compare database, which contains physician and group practice data from 2012 to 2020. We assessed practice size changes for both individual emergency physicians and groups. Results From 2012 to 2020, the proportion of emergency physicians in groups sized less than 25 has decreased substantially from 40.2% to 22.7%. Physicians practicing in groups of more than or equal to 500 physicians increased from 15.5% to 24%. Conclusion Since 2012, we observed a steady trend toward increased consolidation of emergency department practice with nearly 1 in 4 emergency physicians nationally working in groups with more than 500 physicians in 2020 compared with 1 in 7 in 2012. Although the relationship between consolidation is likely to draw the most attention from policymakers or payers seeking to negotiate prices in the near term and advance payment models in the long term, greater attention is required to understand the effects of practice consolidation on emergency care.
A Positive Depression Screen Is Associated with Emergency Medicine Resident Burnout and Is not Affected by the Implementation of a Wellness Curriculum

Introduction: While burnout is occupation-specific, depression affects individuals comprehensively. Research on interventions for depression in emergency medicine (EM) residents is limited. Objectives: We sought to obtain longitudinal data on positive depression screens in EM residents, assess their association with burnout, and determine whether implementation of a wellness curriculum affected the rate of positive screens. Methods: In February 2017, we administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire two-question depression screen at 10 EM residencies. At five intervention sites, a year-long wellness curriculum was then introduced while five control sites agreed not to introduce new wellness initiatives during the study period. Study instruments were re-administered in August 2017 and February 2018. Results: Of 382 residents, 285 participated in February 2017; 40% screened positive for depression. In August 2017, 247/386 residents participated; 27.9% screened positive for depression. In February 2018, 228/386 residents participated; 36.2% screened positive. A positive depression screen was associated with higher burnout. There were similar rates of positive screens at the intervention and control sites. Conclusion: Rates of positive depression screens in EM residents ranged between 27.9% and 40%. Residents with a positive screen reported higher levels of burnout. Rates of a positive screen were unaffected by introduction of a wellness curriculum.
Spatial Separation with Moats

This chapter describes moats and drawbridges (Huffmire et al., Proceedings of the 2007 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, Oakland, CA, USA, May 2007), a method for separating multiple cores on a single reconfigurable chip. Moats provide logical isolation by placing cores into distinct areas of the chip in a verifiable manner. Drawbridges use interconnect tracing to statically verify that only legal connections between system elements are allowed and that interfaces carrying sensitive data have not been tapped or routed to other cores or I/O pads. To facilitate legal communication between cores, two alternative communication architectures are compared.
The Fowl Leukosis Complex

(Continued from page 31) this pathological cycle is to raise the blood oestrogen level to that stage at which the corpus luteum regresses. This can be done by injecting 25 mg. of stilboestrol dipropionate and potentiating the uterus into rhythmic contractions by injecting posterior lobe pituitary. A similar treatment may be used in case of pyometra. (Brownlee, G. (Wellcome Physiol. Res. Lab., Beckenham). 1942. The clinical application of stilboestral dispropionate. Vet. Rec.54(10):104-105.) The Veterinary Student
An Integrated 900MHz GSM Power Amplifier Control Circuit

An integrated power amplifier control system capable of meeting the GSM cellular telephone requirements is described. The integrated control ciruitry consists of a control up of an integrator, an RF detector, a selectable gain buffer, and also two comparators to monitor when the power amplifier is active or in saturation. A unique RF detection seheme which uses high speed Schottky diodes to rectify RF input signals has achievedd sensitivity levels of-18dBm at 900 MHz, 4db better than current discrete detector circuits. The new detector also has improved temperature stability and power supply rejection. A 5MHz, high gain (A v =110db) single supply amplifier which includes a new all NPN output stage with increased output dynamic range is shown. Finally, techniques for design of a precision comparator with low input offset voltage and less then 100ns propagation delay are described.
Learning to Dispute: Repeat Participation, Expertise, and Reputation at the World Trade Organization

This mixed-method analysis examines the effects of repeat participation on disputing at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Differences between disputants in terms of their experience with WTO disputing processes affect the likelihood of a dispute transitioning to a panel review in distinct ways, depending upon the configuration of the parties. More experienced complainants tend to achieve settlements, while more experienced respondents tend to refuse conciliation. Strategies of experienced respondents are derived from the expertise generated from repeated direct participation and the normalcy of disputing for repeat players as well as the benefits accruing from a reputation for being unlikely to settle. Repeat players also seek to avoid disputes expected to produce unfavorable jurisprudence but do not actively try to create new case law through the selection of disputes. This research demonstrates a dynamic learning process in how parties use international legal forums and thus extends sociolegal scholarship beyond the nation-state.
Q-VD-OPh, a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor with potent antiapoptotic properties

In recent years, several inhibitors that prevent caspase activation and apoptosis have emerged. At high doses, however, these inhibitors can have nonspecific effects and/or become cytotoxic. In this study, we determined the effectiveness of broad spectrum caspase inhibitors to prevent apoptosis. A carboxy terminal phenoxy group conjugated to the amino acids valine and aspartate (Q-VD-OPh) potently inhibited apoptosis. Q-VD-OPh was significantly more effective in preventing apoptosis than the widely used inhibitors, ZVAD-fmk and Boc-D-fmk, and was also equally effective in preventing apoptosis mediated by the three major apoptotic pathways, caspase 9/3, caspase 8/10, and caspase 12. In addition to the increased effectiveness, Q-VD-OPh was not toxic to cells even at extremely high concentrations. Our data indicate that the specificity, effectiveness, and reduced toxicity of caspase inhibitors can be significantly enhanced using carboxyterminal o-phenoxy groups and may have important uses in vivo.
Iron-Induced Metallothionein in Chick Liver: A Rapid, Route-Dependent Effect Independent of Zinc Status

The induction of hepatic metallothionein (MT) by the parenteral administration of iron was studied. Iron administered to chicks by intravenous or subcutaneous injection caused a 1.9-fold increase in hepatic MT. In marked contrast, intraperitoneal (ip) Fe resulted in a 10-fold increase, thus demonstrating the importance of the route of metal administration. This route-dependent effect was found to be dose-dependent, with ip injections between 1 and 10 mg Fe/kg resulting in a linear increase in MT and a concomitant reduction in serum zinc concentration and feed intake. High ip doses of Fe resulted in a persistent depression in serum Zn and elevated MT and MTmRNA. Equimolar ip injections of either Zn or Fe showed similar patterns of MTmRNA accumulation. In both cases MTmRNA levels were elevated by 3 h, with a peak at 6 h postinjection (Fe 8-fold, Zn 12-fold above 0 h). Plasma Zn was maximally reduced by Fe at 9 h (60%). The MT induction by Fe, as well as related depression in plasma Zn, was completely inhibited by actinomycin D. Zn depletion eliminated the accumulation of hepatic Zn and MT protein following ip injection of Fe or endotoxin, but not of cadmium, despite marked elevation of hepatic MTmRNA. Our results demonstrate Fe injected into the body cavity of chicks results in a rapid induction of hepatic MT that, like endotoxin induction, is independent of dietary Zn status.
Experiments on a non-smoothly-forced oscillator

Abstract This paper describes some typical behavior encountered in the response of a harmonically-excited mechanical system in which a severe nonlinearity occurs due to an impact. Although such systems have received considerable recent attention (most of it from a theoretical viewpoint), the system scrutinized in this paper also involves a discrete input of energy at the impact condition. That is, it is kicked when contact is made. One of the motivations for this work is related to a classic pinball machine in which a ball striking a bumper experiences a sudden impulse, introducing additional unpredictability to the motion of the ball. A one-dimensional analog of a pinball machine was the subject of a detailed mathematical study in Pring and Budd (2011), and the current paper details behavior obtained from a mechanical experiment and describes dynamics not observed in a conventional (passive) impact oscillator.
Towards a better understanding of the nature, causes and consequences of youth labor market disadvantage: evidence for South-East Europe

Available studies show that the lack of decent work opportunities for youth is probably one of the most daunting problems faced by countries in South-East Europe (SEE). Yet, the lack of comprehensive, integrated and centralized databases on youth labor market disadvantage in transition countries in general, and in South-East Europe in particular, has usually been a major barrier for a comprehensive analysis of the problems that youth face in the labor market in the region. For the purpose of this study, an attempt was made to create comparable indicators of youth labor market outcomes for 10 regions of SEE, relying on 7 Labor Force Surveys (LFS) and 6 Living Standard Measurement Surveys (LSMS) conducted around 2001. These data show that more than ten years after the beginning of transition, and despite obvious signs of economic recovery in most SEE regions, the average youth unemployment rate in SEE remained 2.5 times higher than the EU average, and 3 times higher than the adult unemployment rate.
A robust helium-cooled shield/blanket design for ITER

General Atomics Fusion and Reactor Groups have completed a helium-cooled conceptual shield/blanket design for ITER. The configuration selected is a pressurized tubes design embedded in radially oriented plates. This plate can be made from ferritic steel or from V-alloy. Helium leakage to the plasma chamber is eliminated by conservative, redundant design and proper quality control and inspection programs. High helium pressure at 18 MPa is used to reduce pressure drop and enhance heat transfer. This high gas pressure is believed practical when confined in small diameter tubes. Ample industrial experience exists for safe high gas pressure operations. Inboard shield design is highlighted in this study since the allowable void fraction is more limited. Lithium is used as the thermal contacting medium and for tritium breeding. Its safety concerns are minimized by a modular, low inventory design that requires no circulation of the liquid metal for the purpose of heat removal. This design is robust, conservative, reliable and meets all design goals and requirement. It can also be built with present-day technology.
The Case Against Mass Media Codes of Ethics.

Insights from First Amendment considerations and from developmental psychology are utilized in suggesting that whatever value codes of ethics may hold for the mass media, they represent serious difficulties in inculcating substantial ethical values in individual journalists and in the profession as a whole. Evidence from developmental psychology suggests that codes are probably of some limited value to the neophyte working in the media. Codes also help assure non‐journalists that the industry really is concerned about ethics. However, codes probably should be relegated to a framed wall hanging for any journalists who have advanced beyond their internships. Confusion reigns because codes are often founded on moralistic rather than moral‐philosophical bases, and there is a blurring between general precepts and specific practices covered in codes. As individual professionals mature intellectually and ethically, they should transcend socially‐approved conventions codified by “regulators,”; and begin to become...
Do offshore outsourcing firms in the USA use their investments on corporate social responsibility to alleviate negative attitudes toward offshore outsourcing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is: to determine how offshore outsourcing firms in the USA are involved in providing assistance to education and training the downsized/unemployed; and to conduct inter‐industry comparisons among offshore outsourcing firms to determine if there are differences in their degree of involvement in assisting education and training the downsized/unemployed.Design/methodology/approach – This research is based on a survey of 51 firms in the USA that are listed as major offshore outsourcers and exporters of American jobs in “CNN's Lou Dobbs Exporting America website”.Findings – The findings show that out of eight areas of corporate social activities included in the survey, offshore outsourcing firms indicated that they were least involved in providing or supporting training programs to the downsized/unemployed. However, we also found that offshore outsourcing firms were highly involved in providing assistance to charities and supporting private and public education.Research limi...
Forensic verification of stuttering

Abstract Although distinguishing between actual and pseudostuttering is usually straightforward, there are occasions, such as the case described, when the distinction is problematic. The subject of this report is a 33-year-old man who was accused of child molestation, and whose speech was a decisive issue in an earlier trial. The results of a speech assessment indicated that the subject was probably a stutterer, although there was no feasible means to determine his actual severity. It is suggested that, for several reasons, he probably could have been fluent during the criminal circumstances described. The author's conclusions, and recommendations to speech pathologists facing similar cases, are presented.
Status of boiling water reactor structural integrity programs at the General Electric Company

Abstract The General Electric Company is actively involved in a variety of programs whose objective is to evaluate and improve the technology related to structural integrity of Boiling Water Reactors. This work covers many technical disciplines that fall broadly under the title of Applied Mechanics and includes the technologies of solid mechanics, structural dynamics, elasticity, plasticity, and fluid dynamics. General Electric programs are directed at qualification of the predictive methodology, design bases and criteria used to evaluate and confirm the structural design margins of the Boiling Water Reactor Nuclear Steam Supply System. This includes the reactor pressure vessel, piping, fuel, core structures, and auxiliary equipment within General Electric's scope of supply. Focus of these programs includes identification, measurement and refinement of operational and postulated accident-type loads; prediction of structure and component response; study of damage mechanisms; and development of failure criteria, evaluation methods and design rules. In this report, some specific activities and accomplishments during the last few years are summarized in order to provide a broad overview of the wide range of technical issues and programs undertaken. These activities have been grouped into areas of: I — Dynamic Modeling and Structural Analysis; II — Fatigue and Fracture Evaluations; III — Structural Capability Tests; and IV — Flow Induced Vibration Experiments.
The very structure of scientific research does not mitigate against developing products to help the environment, the poor, and the hungry

This paper follows one by M. Crouch which puts the opposing view. The use of tissue culture to propagate disease-free plants in Vietnam and Zimbabwe is highlighted as an example of a low-tech product of biotechnology. Most research is published openly, training of developing country scientists takes place in developed countries. The problem of 'orphan' crops, i.e. those not of commercial interest in developed countries is raised with reference to the rice biotechnology project, and work on engineering resistance to papaya ringspot potyvirus and African cassava mosaic bigeminivirus. It is argued that biotechnology will have its greatest impact in developing countries. Usually, single genes will be inserted into cultivars adapted to local conditions. The work of The International Laboratory for Tropical Agricultural Biotechnology is highlighed. The importance is mentioned of avoiding 'scientific colonialism' and of involving private companies in partnership programmes to avoid problems associated with intellectual property rights.
Simulation of granular flow in 2-D hoppers using the Caram-Hong model

Abstract The Caram–Hong stochastic model for granular motion in hoppers or silos was applied, with minor modification, to describe the flow of particles in 2D batch hoppers. The predictions of the model were compared to experimental measurements, made by particle image velocimetry, on a laboratory hopper containing zinc particles. With respect to both the spatial variation of particle velocity and the rate of descent of the top surface of the bed, the model showed satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.
The Nazi Engineers: Reflections on Technological Ethics in Hell

Engineers, architects, and other technological professionals designed the genocidal death machines of the Third Reich. The death camp operations were highly efficient, so these technological professionals knew what they were doing: they were, so to speak, good engineers. As an educator at a technological university, I need to explain to my students—future engineers and architects—the motivations and ethical reasoning of the technological professionals of the Third Reich. I need to educate my students in the ethical practices of this hellish regime so that they can avoid the kind of ethical justifications used by the Nazi engineers. In their own professional lives, my former students should not only be good engineers in a technical sense, but good engineers in a moral sense. In this essay, I examine several arguments about the ethical judgments of professionals in Nazi Germany, and attempt a synthesis that can provide a lesson for contemporary engineers and other technological professionals. How does an engineer avoid the error of the Nazi engineers in their embrace of an evil ideology underlying their technological creations? How does an engineer know that the values he embodies through his technological products are good values that will lead to a better world? This last question, I believe, is the fundamental issue for the understanding of engineering ethics.
Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of O3 with a series of alkenes at 296 ± 2 K

The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of O3 with a series of alkenes have been investigated at atmospheric pressure (ca. 740 torr) of air and 296 ± 2 K, using a relative rate method in the presence of sufficient n-octane to scavenge any OH radicals generated in these reactions. Relative to k(O3 + propene) = 1.00, the rate constants obtained were: 1-butene, 0.975 ± 0.030; 2-methylpropene, 1.14 ± 0.04; 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene), 1.21 ± 0.02; 1,4-cyclohexadiene, 4.75 ± 0.23; cyclohexene, 7.38 ± 0.48; cis-2-butene, 12.8 ± 0.8; trans-2-butene, 21.5 ± 1.5; 2-methyl-2-butene, 42.1 ± 2.8; cyclopentene, 64.9 ± 4.3; and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene, 123 ± 11. These relative rate constants have been placed on an absolute basis using a rate constant for the reaction of O3 with propene of 1.01 × 10−17 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 at 296 K derived from an analysis of the available literature data. The resulting rate constants then lead to a self-consistent set of room temperature data for the reactions of O3 with these alkenes. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in the Generalized Shwartzman Reaction.

Unilateral denervation of the renal pedicle was performed in a series of rabbits. 5 to 21 days later two intravenous injections of E. coli endotoxin were given 18 hours apart. In seven rabbits the generalized Shwartzman reaction developed in the non-denervated kidney. Four of the seven denervated kidneys did not show the reaction, and in the remaining three only a mild reaction was present. From these and previous observations we conclude that an intact sympathetic nervous system as well as endotoxin from the intestine, are necessary for the production of the generalized Shwartzman reaction.
Highly Stable Mesoporous Metal Oxides Using Nano-Propping Hybrid Gemini Surfactants

Noble Gemini surfactants containing a siloxane moiety have been designed and successfully synthesized in the present study and are utilized as structure-directing agents for mesoporous metal oxides such as zirconia, titania, and vanadia. The siloxane moiety is believed to play an important nano-propping role during the surfactant removal by direct calcination, yielding thermally stable mesoporous metal oxides. It is also believed that the synthesis strategy described here can be applied to the synthesis of robust nanostructured materials such as nanoparticles and nanorods in addition to mesoporous materials.
H/sup infinity /-optimal mixed sensitivity for general distributed plants

The authors show how the results and techniques presented by G. Zames and S. Mitter (Syst. & Control Let., vol. 10, pp. 159-165, 1988) can be extended to a very general single-input/single output (SISO) mixed sensitivity problem, in which the transfer function of the plant to be controlled has both irrational stable and irrational unstable parts. It is shown, as an extension of F. Fagnani's work (1987), how to transform the scalar mixed sensitivity problem into the 'standard form' which is the starting point from which Zames and Mitter computed the optimal norm of the mixed sensitivity. This transformation allows some new observations about this problem that have design significance. These developments are motivated by the computation of the infimal H/sup infinity /-norm of the mixed sensitivity for the irrational transfer function model developed by D.S. Flamm (ISS Report No. 54, June 14, 1990, Dept. of Electr. Eng., Princeton Univ.). >
Enhanced photocatalytic inactivation of bacterial spores on surfaces in air.

TiO2 photocatalysis with ultraviolet (UV-A) light has proven to be a highly effective process for complete inactivation of airborne microbes. However, the overall efficiency of the technology needs to be improved to make it more attractive as a defense against bio-terrorism. The present research investigates the enhancement in the rate of destruction of bacterial spores on metal (aluminum) and fabric (polyester) substrates with metal (silver)-doped titanium dioxide and compares it to conventional photocatalysis (TiO2 P25/+UV-A) and UV-A photolysis. Bacillus cereus bacterial spores were used as an index to demonstrate the enhanced disinfection efficiency. The results indicate complete inactivation of B. cereus spores with the enhanced photocatalyst. The enhanced spore destruction rate may be attributed to the highly oxidizing radicals generated by the doped TiO2.
Book, Film, and Video Reviews

Threatening Anthropology: McCarthyism and the FBI's Surveillance of Activist Anthropologists by David H. Price. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2004.
Karyology and nuclear DNA quantification of four species of Chaetomorpha (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta) from the western Atlantic

Chromosome numbers are given for four species ofChaetomorpha from the warm temperate and tropical western Atlantic. The basic chromosome number is six, with three median and three submedian chromosomes.Chaetomorpha species represent a polyploid series, with numbers of 12, 18 and 24 found in the present study. Microspectrophotometry data for each species were quantified by reference to standards with known DNA contents. Results indicate similar 2X =1C=12 genome sizes forC. aerea (0.20 pg) andC. brachygona (0.26 pg), and forC. antennina (0.53 pg) andC. melagonium (0.58 pg). These findings are compared with karyological features ofCladophora species to characterize the karyology of the cladophoralean genome.
Low Frequency Spectral Density of Ferrous Heme: Perturbations Induced by Axial Ligation and Protein Insertion

Femtosecond coherence spectroscopy is used to probe low frequency (20-400 cm � 1 ) modes of the ferrous heme group in solution, with and without 2-methyl imidazole (2MeIm) as an axial ligand. The results are compared to heme proteins (CPO, P450cam, HRP, Mb) where insertion of the heme into the protein results in redistribution of the low frequency spectral density and in (;60%) longer damping times for the coherent signals. The major effect of imidazole ligation to the ferrous heme is the ''softening'' of the low frequency force constants by a factor of ;0.6 6 0.1. The functional consequences of imidazole ligation are assessed and it is found that the enthalpic CO rebinding barrier is increased significantly when imidazole is bound. The force constant softening analysis, combined with the kinetics results, indicates that the iron is displaced by only ;0.2 Afrom the heme plane in the absence of the imidazole ligand, whereas it is displaced by ;0.4 Awhen imidazole (histidine) is present. This suggests that binding of imidazole (histidine) as an axial ligand, and the concomitant softening of the force constants, leads to an anharmonic distortion of the heme group that has significant functional consequences.
Nucleoside analogues and other antivirals for treatment of hepatitis B in the peritransplant period

Chronic HBV infection is a common cause of advanced liver disease that is associated with substantial mortality. Furthermore, chronic hepatitis B was historically a controversial indication for liver transplantation because of a low post-transplant survival, with graft infection being the major contributor to adverse outcomes. The initial use of hepatitis B immune globulin as prophylaxis, followed later by combined therapy with lamivudine, markedly reduced viral recurrence and improved the survival of patients transplanted for acute or chronic hepatitis B with liver failure. Lamivudine alone can also be used for long-term prophylaxis against de novo HBV infection that can be transmitted by organs from donors positive for anti-HBc or anti-HBs. When used in patients with decompensated chronic hepatitis B with cirrhosis, lamivudine has been shown to improve clinical manifestations, prolong pretransplant survival, and defer, or even obviate, the need for transplantation. Despite prophylaxis, viral mutations with breakthrough reinfection may occur and lead to liver failure. The recently approved adefovir dipivoxil, which is active against lamivudine-resistant mutation, and other nucleoside analogs that are in various phases of development, offer hope as rescue therapy for viral recurrence. Other therapeutic alternatives in the future may include gene therapy and immune interventions.
Ripening of Eupenicillium ochrosalmoneum ascostromata on soil.

Immature ascostromata of Eupenicillium ochrosalmoneum, a citreoviridin-producing fungus, that were recovered from dried corn ears at harvest ripened to form ascospores when incubated (25 C) on moist nonsterile soil. Percentages of ascostromata containing ascospores were recorded for the following incubation intervals: 2 wk = 0%; 4wk = 72%; 6 wk = 82%; 8 wk = 87%. Immature ascostromata harvested from 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-wk-old cultures grown on autoclaved corn kernels were also capable of ripening on soil, their rates of ripening being similar and independent ofthe time of harvest. Burial of immature ascostromata in soil prevented ripening. The temperature range favorable to ascospore formation (20-30 C) was narrower than that for ascostroma production (20-37 C) or vegetative growth (15-37 C). The dispersal of immature ascostromata onto field soils during corn harvest, with their subsequent ability to form ascospores on soil, suggests that the ascostroma may be an important source of inoculum in the disease cycle of E. ochrosalmoneum.
Automated Training for Algorithms That Learn from Genomic Data

Supervised machine learning algorithms are used by life scientists for a variety of objectives. Expert-curated public gene and protein databases are major resources for gathering data to train these algorithms. While these data resources are continuously updated, generally, these updates are not incorporated into published machine learning algorithms which thereby can become outdated soon after their introduction. In this paper, we propose a new model of operation for supervised machine learning algorithms that learn from genomic data. By defining these algorithms in a pipeline in which the training data gathering procedure and the learning process are automated, one can create a system that generates a classifier or predictor using information available from public resources. The proposed model is explained using three case studies on SignalP, MemLoci, and ApicoAP in which existing machine learning models are utilized in pipelines. Given that the vast majority of the procedures described for gathering training data can easily be automated, it is possible to transform valuable machine learning algorithms into self-evolving learners that benefit from the ever-changing data available for gene products and to develop new machine learning algorithms that are similarly capable.
Radio-iodination of plasma membrane polypeptides from isolated mouse spermatogenic cells

Cell surface polypeptides of mouse pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids (steps 1–8) have been iodinated using 1,2,3,6,tetracholoro-3α, 6α-diphenylglycouril (IODOGEN). Labeled proteins have been assayed using two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis and radioautography. Purified plasma membranes, prepared from both spermatocytes and spermatids after the iodination of intact cells, exhibit 25–30 polypeptides which label reproducibly. No significant qualitative differences are noted in the labeled polypeptide map obtained from each of the purified cell types. Iodinated proteins range in molecular weight from greater than 100k daltons to approximately 40k daltons. The isoelectric points of labeled constituents range from pI 5.7 to 7.2. Three polypeptides represent the major iodinated species: p 94/5.8, p 75/5.9, and p 53/7.1. Comparison with total plasma membrane constituents assayed using Coomassie brilliant blue indicates that many of the radioactively labeled proteins are not present in quantities sufficient to allow ready detection without isotopic techniques. As a result, many of the proteins identified autoradiographically represent newly described surface components of mouse pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. The preparation of purified plasma membrane fractions prior to electrophoresis ensures that all iodinated species are in fact cell surface components. Furthermore, experiments designed to assess the vectorial nature of the IODOGEN-catalyzed labeling procedure suggest that most, if not all, of the iodinated species are exposed on the external side of the cell plasma membrane. Therefore, these studies have (1) identified hitherto unrecognized plasma membrane components of mouse pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids and (2) provided the first available biochemical data concerning the molecular orientation of particular proteins in the surface membranes of developing mouse spermatogenic cells.
Some Techniques for Reducing Landslide Hazards

Landslides continue to cause costly damage and loss of lives. Many techniques are available for reducing landslide hazards; 27 are described in this paper. An overview of these techniques is useful to planners who implement hazard-reduction programs, to engineers who serve as advisors to local or state governments, and to decisionmakers who select the most appropriate technique for a given situation. Prerequisites for the successful use of these techniques are hazard information understandable to nongeologists and adequate communication of this information to those who will, or are required to, use it. It is concluded that certain factors needed to ensure the lasting effectiveness of these techniques are usually beyond the control of the public planner, engineer, and decisionmaker.
Effects of calcium carbonate, talc, mica, and glass‐fiber fillers on the ultrasonic weld strength of polypropylene

The objective of this work was to study the differences in the ultrasonic weld strength of polypropylene compounds with different fillers. The fillers were calcium carbonate, talc, mica, and glass fibers. The welder parameters were varied to determine the optimum set. These welder parameters were the weld time, weld force, trigger force, and amplitude. The results indicated that the weld time had the greatest effect on the weld strength of each of the filled compounds. Unfilled polypropylene had the highest weld strength under the optimum welding conditions, which were used as the baseline welding conditions. For each given filler, the weld strength was reduced as the filler loading increased. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1986–1998, 2004
Competition and Coalition Formation of Renewable Power Producers

We investigate group formations and strategic behaviors of renewable power producers in electricity markets. These producers currently bid into the day-ahead market in a conservative fashion because of the real-time risk associated with not meeting their bid amount. It has been suggested in the literature that producers would bid less conservatively if they can form large groups to take advantages of spatial diversity to reduce the uncertainty in their aggregate output. We show that large groups of renewable producers would act strategically to lower the aggregate output because of market power. To maximize renewable power production, we characterize the trade-off between market power and generation uncertainty as a function of the size of the groups. We show there is a sweet spot in the sense that there exists groups that are large enough to achieve the uncertainty reduction of the grand coalition, but are small enough such that they have no significant market power. We consider both independent and correlated forecast errors under a fixed real-time penalty. We also consider a real-time market where both selling and buying of energy are allowed. We validate our claims using PJM and NREL data.