Electrowetting-Assisted Generation of Ultrastable High Charge Densities in Composite Silicon Oxide–Fluoropolymer Electret Samples for Electric Nanogenerators

Electric nanogenerators that directly convert the energy of moving drops into electrical signals require hydrophobic substrates with a high density of static electric charge that is stable in “harsh environments” created by continued exposure to potentially saline water. The recently proposed charge-trapping electric generators (CTEGs) that rely on stacked inorganic oxide–fluoropolymer (FP) composite electrets charged by homogeneous electrowetting-assisted charge injection (h-EWCI) seem to solve both problems, yet the reasons for this success have remained elusive. Here, systematic measurements at variable oxide and FP thickness, charging voltage, and charging time and thermal annealing up to 230 °C are reported, leading to a consistent model of the charging process. It is found to be controlled by an energy barrier at the water-FP interface, followed by trapping at the FP-oxide interface. Protection by the FP layer prevents charge densities up to −1.7 mC m⁻² from degrading and the dielectric strength of SiO₂ enables charge decay times up to 48 h at 230 °C, suggesting lifetimes against thermally activated discharging of thousands of years at room temperature. Combining high dielectric strength oxides and weaker FP top coatings with electrically controlled charging provides a new paradigm for developing ultrastable electrets for applications in energy harvesting and beyond.     

A 0.18-/spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS receiver and transmitter chipset for SONET OC-768 transmission systems

A 43-Gb/s receiver (Rx) and transmitter (Tx) chip set for SONET OC-768 transmission systems is reported. Both ICs are implemented in a 0.18-/spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS technology featuring 120-GHz f/sub T/ and 100 GHz f/sub max/. The Rx includes a limiting amplifier, a half-rate clock and data recovery unit, a 1:4 demultiplexer, a frequency acquisition aid, and a frequency lock detector. Input sensitivity for a bit-error rate less than 10/sup -9/ is 40 mV and jitter generation better than 230 fs rms. The IC dissipates 2.4 W from a -3.6-V supply voltage. The Tx integrates a half-rate clock multiplier unit with a 4:1 multiplexer. Measured clock jitter generation is better than 170 fs rms. The IC consumes 2.3 W from a -3.6-V supply voltage.     

First break refraction event picking using fuzzy logic systems

First break picking is a pattern recognition problem in seismic signal processing, one that requires much human effort and is difficult to automate. The authors' goal is to reduce the manual effort in the picking process and accurately perform the picking. Feedforward neural network first break pickers have been developed using backpropagation training algorithms applied either to an encoded version of the raw data or to derived seismic attributes which are extracted from the raw data. The authors summarize a study in which they applied a backpropagation fuzzy logic system (BPFLS) to first break picking. The authors use derived seismic attributes as features, and take lateral variations into account by using the distance to a piecewise linear guiding function as a new feature. Experimental results indicate that the BPFLS achieves about the same picking accuracy as a feedforward neural network that is also trained using a backpropagation algorithm; however, the BPFLS is trained in a much shorter time, because there is a systematic way in which the initial parameters of the BPFLS can be chosen, versus the random way in which the weights of the neural network are chosen     

Exclusion of BMP6 as a candidate gene for cleidocranial dysplasia

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an autosomal dominant, generalized skeletal dysplasia in humans that has been mapped to the short arm of chromosome 6. We report linkage of a CCD mutation to 6p21 in a large family and exclude the bone morphogenetic protein 6 gene (BMP6) as a candidate for the disease by cytogenetic localization and genetic recombination. CCD was linked with a maximal two-point LOD score of 7.22 with marker D6S452 at theta = 0. One relative with a recombination between D6S451 and D6S459 and another individual with a recombination between D6S465 and CCD places the mutation within a 7 cM region between D6S451 and D6S465 at 6p21. A phage P1 genomic clone spanning most of the BMP6 gene hybridized to chromosome 6 in band region p23-p24 using FISH analysis, placing this gene cytogenetically more distal than the region of linkage for CCD. We derived a new polymorphic marker from this same P1 clone and found recombinations between the marker and CCD in this family. The results confirm the map position of CCD on 6p21, further refine the CCD genetic interval by identifying a recombination between D6S451 and D6S459, and exclude BMP6 as a candidate gene.     

Treatment of radiation-induced nervous system injury with heparin and warfarin

When radiation is used to treat nervous system cancer, exposure of adjacent normal nervous system tissue is unavoidable, and radiation-induced injury may occur. Acute injury is usually mild and transient, but late forms of radiation-induced nervous system injury are usually progressive and debilitating. Treatment with corticosteroids, surgery, and antioxidants is often ineffective. We treated 11 patients with late radiation-induced nervous system injuries (eight with cerebral radionecrosis, one with a myelopathy, and two with plexopathies, all unresponsive to dexamethasone and prednisone) with full anticoagulation. Some recovery of function occurred in five of the eight patients with cerebral radionecrosis, and all the patients with myelopathy or plexopathy. Anticoagulation was continued for 3 to 6 months. In one patient with cerebral radionecrosis, symptoms recurred after discontinuation of anticoagulation and disappeared again after reinstitution of treatment. We hypothesize that anticoagulation may arrest and reverse small-vessel endothelial injury--the fundamental lesion of radiation necrosis--and produce clinical improvement in some patients.     

Activating mutations of the Gs alpha-gene in nonfunctioning pituitary tumors

The majority of pituitary tumors are of monoclonal origin; however, the molecular basis for their formation is poorly understood. Somatic mutations in the alpha-subunit of the GTP-binding protein, Gs alpha (gsp oncogene) have been found in about one third of GH-secreting tumors. Mutations in another alpha-subunit of a GTP-binding protein, Gi2 alpha (gip mutations) have been described in other endocrine tumors. In this study, we examined 21 nonfunctioning pituitary tumors and 4 macroprolactinomas for gsp mutations and 27 nonfunctioning tumors and 4 macroprolactinomas for gip mutations. Using the polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, 2 nonfunctioning pituitary tumors displayed migration abnormalities when the Gs alpha-gene was analyzed. Sequence analysis of these abnormally migrating polymerase chain reaction products revealed two previously known gsp mutations: arginine at codon 201 altered to cysteine, and glutamine at codon 227 changed to leucine. No gip mutations could be demonstrated. These findings emphasize the monoclonal origin of nonfunctioning pituitary tumors and suggest that cAMP may play a role in tumorigenesis of nonfunctioning pituitary tumors.     

Biochemical basis for increased susceptibility to Cidofovir of herpes simplex viruses with altered or deficient thymidine kinase activity

It has been observed that herpes simplex virus mutants with deficient or altered thymidine kinase activity are more susceptible to Cidofovir (CDV; 1-[(S)-3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]cytosine dihydrate) in tissue culture than are the parental strains. During infection of cells, the elevation of the dCTP pool by thymidine kinase mutant viruses is less than that induced by the wild-type virus. The competition between CDV diphosphate and dCTP at the viral polymerase is therefore changed in favor of CDV diphosphate, enhancing its activity.     

Psychosocial factors in sunbathing and sunscreen use.

Interviewed 120 sunbathing and nonsunbathing beachgoers about their health practices, knowledge about skin cancer, moods, and social rewards obtained through sunbathing. Ss also completed personality questionnaires. Data were considered using a theoretical perspective combining aspects of health belief, social influence, social learning, and risk-taking models. Results indicate that sunbathing was related to having a positive attitude toward risk taking, having little knowledge about skin cancer, reporting a relaxed mood, having friends who sunbathe, and engaging in activities related to maintaining a positive physical appearance. Sunscreen use was related to sex, having knowledge about skin cancer, knowing people who have had cancer, and reporting high levels of anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mutual coupling of two collocated orthogonally oriented circular thin-wire loops

Coupling between two collocated orthogonal circular thin-wire loops is analyzed in this paper. Two coupled integral equations for the loop currents are derived and their solution in general form is found in terms of Fourier series. An analytical expression for currents induced through the mutual coupling is obtained for the case when all loop current harmonics higher than first can be ignored. It is found that strong coupling can exist for all loop current harmonics, except for the fundamental. It is also found that coupling for orthogonal collocated loop antennas depends on the relative locations of the loop terminals.     

First-class extents

Adding environments as first-class entities to a language can greatly enhance its expressiveness. But first-class environments rely on identifiers, the syntax of variables, and thus do not mesh well with lexically-scoped languages. We present first-class extents as an alternative. First-class extents are founded upon lexical variables with dynamic extent. They are defined directly on the variables themselves rather than on their syntax. They therefore do not cause variable name capturing problems that plague first-class environments. Moreover, distinguishing variables from locations allows first-class extents to be orthogonal to imperative and control features.