Energy Filtering of Charge Carriers: Current Trends,Challenges, and Prospects for Thermoelectric Materials

Exhaustive attempts are made in recent decades to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials that are utilized for waste heat‐to‐electricity conversion. Energy filtering of charge carriers is directed toward enhancing the material thermopower. This paper focuses on the theoretical concepts, experimental evidence, and the authors' view of energy filtering in the context of thermoelectric materials. Recent studies suggest that not all materials experience this effect with the same intensity. Although this effect theoretically demonstrates improvement of the thermopower, applying it poses certain constraints, which demands further research. Predicated on data documented in literature, the unusual dependence of the thermopower and conductivity upon charge carrier concentrations can be altered through the energy filtering approach. Upon surmounting the physical constraints discussed in this article, thermoelectric materials research may gain a new direction to enhance the power factor and thermoelectric figure of merit.     

Customizing MRI-Compatible Multifunctional Neural Interfaces through Fiber Drawing

Fiber drawing enables scalable fabrication of multifunctional flexible fibers that integrate electrical, optical, and microfluidic modalities to record and modulate neural activity. Constraints on thermomechanical properties of materials, however, have prevented integrated drawing of metal electrodes with low-loss polymer waveguides for concurrent electrical recording and optical neuromodulation. Here, two fabrication approaches are introduced: 1) an iterative thermal drawing with a soft, low melting temperature (T_m) metal indium, and 2) a metal convergence drawing with traditionally non-drawable high T_m metal tungsten. Both approaches deliver multifunctional flexible neural interfaces with low-impedance metallic electrodes and low-loss waveguides, capable of recording optically-evoked and spontaneous neural activity in mice over several weeks. These fibers are coupled with a light-weight mechanical microdrive (1 g) that enables depth-specific interrogation of neural circuits in mice following chronic implantation. Finally, the compatibility of these fibers with magnetic resonance imaging is demonstrated and they are applied to visualize the delivery of chemical payloads through the integrated channels in real time. Together, these advances expand the domains of application of the fiber-based neural probes in neuroscience and neuroengineering.     

Balancing Human-and-Robot Integration in Building Tasks

Abstract:   In the last two decades, a wide range of robotic systems for interior construction tasks was being examined (mainly by research and development institutions around the world). A main parameter that differentiates between these systems is their level of autonomy. Reducing the level of autonomy of a given robotic system necessitates increasing auxiliary human work. The efficiency of the system as a whole (i.e., robot/s + operator/s + worker/s) must be examined in order to determine the proper balance between robots and human beings. This article presents the development of a methodology for evaluating a robotized construction task by examining and comparing various ways to share the work between robots and human operators and workers. The methodology is demonstrated by implementing it on two interior finishing tasks—block laying and wall painting. Testing these tasks included full-scale experiments. The detailed analyses of these two applications show the breakeven points of profitable robotic systems, depending on the combination of their own cost, the hourly cost of construction workers, and the expected hourly cost of construction-robot operators in a given labor market. The results lead to a better understanding of possible human-and-robot integration. In particular, this article provides researchers and developers of construction robotics with a systematic approach for evaluation and validation of various ideas prior to investing resources in actual prototypes.     

Contributions from ethics and research that guide integrating religion into psychotherapy.

Historically ignored or “treated,” clients' religious beliefs are being incorporated into psychotherapy because they influence client and therapist thinking and have potential to heal and harm. This paper examines how professional codes of ethics and research on religion-friendly therapeutic interventions and on helpful and harmful religious beliefs and practices provide direction in dealing with religious matters in psychotherapy. Ethical codes emphasize self-determination, beneficence, and nonmaleficence, which lead to different treatment decisions depending on how they are prioritized. The informed consent process and motivational interviewing have potential to ethically reduce harm and maximize benefits from the client's religious beliefs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Deuterated target comparison for pyroelectric crystal D-D nuclear fusion experiments

Different target materials were investigated to determine which ones are favorable to increasing the theoretical neutron yield using pyroelectric crystal D-D nuclear fusion. Calculations show that deuterated polyethylene (CD₂) will potentially yield the highest number of neutrons compared to the other targets investigated. However, deuterated plastic targets have been found to erode over the course of experiments.     

An Overview of Synergistic Data Tools for Biological Scrutiny

A network of biological databases is reviewed, supplying a framework for studies of human genes and the association of their genomic variations with human phenotypes. The network is composed of GeneCards, the human gene compendium, which provides comprehensive information on all known and predicted human genes, along with its suite members GeneDecks and GeneLoc. Two databases are shown that address genes and variations focusing on olfactory reception (HORDE) and transduction (GOSdb). In the realm of disease scrutiny, we portray MalaCards, a novel comprehensive database of human diseases and their annotations. Also shown is GeneKid, a tool aimed at generating novel kidney disease biomarkers using systems biology, as well as Xome, a database for whole-exome next-generation DNA sequences for human diseases in the Israeli population. Finally, we show LifeMap Discovery, a database of embryonic development, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, which links to both GeneCards and MalaCards.     

Investigation of Polyimidesiloxanes for Use as Adhesives by Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis

Angle-dependent electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) was used to examine the air facing surface (20–100 Å thick) composition of polyimidesiloxanes with different processing variations, and of varying polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) content and block length (number of PDMS repeat unit varies from 1 to 9). Polyimide was clearly detected (due to the nitrogen content) in the 20–100 Å surface regions. This shows that a small amount of PDMS and short PDMS segment lengths in polyimidesiloxanes give a surface region with both PDMS and polyimide present. The surface composition, particularly that in the ca. 100 Å region, was correlated to the peel strength of polyimidesiloxane melt pressed to a metal substrate. Our results suggest that both PDMS and polyimide are essential components to rendering a needed peel strength. PDMS, having a good diffusive ability, readily reaches the substrate upon being pressed, achieving intimate contact, while imide groups interact with the substrate, presumably through chemical bonding; these two factors act synergistically to result in a high peel strength. In addition, the interaction mechanism and the failure mechanism involved in bonding polyimidesiloxane and metal substrate were also elucidated based on the ESCA results.     

Attacks and Defenses for JTAG

Editor's note:JTAG is a well-known standard mechanism for in-field test. Although it provides high controllability and observability, it also poses great security challenges. This article analyzes various attacks and proposes protection schemes.—Mohammad Tehranipoor, University of Connecticut