Spin Flip Torsion Balance

The spin flip of the conduction electrons at the interface of a ferromagnetic and a nonmagnetic part of a metallic wire, suspended between two electrodes, is shown to tort the wire when a current is driven through it. In order to enhance the effect it is suggested to use an alternating current in resonance with the torsional oscillations. Thereby the magnetic polarization of the conduction electrons in the ferromagnet can be measured directly, and compared to the total magnetization. This may yield new information on the transport properties of the narrow band electrons in itinerant ferromagnets.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur

The Cooperation Link: Power and Context Moderate Verbal Mimicry

Drawing on theories of mimicry as a schema-driven process, we tested whether the degree of verbal mimicry is dependent on the congruence between interactants’ power dynamic (symmetric vs. asymmetric), task type (cooperative vs. competitive) and interaction context (negotiation vs. social). Experiment 1 found higher verbal mimicry amongst dyads who successfully completed a cooperative problem-solving task compared to those who did not, but only under conditions of symmetric, not asymmetric, power. Experiment 2 had dyads complete either a cooperative or a competitive negotiation task, under conditions of symmetric vs. asymmetric power. Verbal mimicry was associated with improved negotiation outcomes under conditions of cooperation and symmetry, and competition and asymmetry. Experiment 3 completes this picture by separating cooperative-competitive orientation from the interaction context. Consistent with Experiment 2, verbal mimicry was associated with task success during a negotiation context with asymmetric power, and during a social interaction context with symmetric power. Our results point to the contextual link between verbal mimicry and task outcome

An Alternative Instructional Method For Business Ethics: Examining The Role and Rationalization of What Is Right

This paper introduces a teaching methodology for business ethics based, in part on the institute for Global Ethics’ Ethical Fitness model which utilizes “right versus right” paradigms to identify and analyze ethical dilemmas. Whereas the Ethical Fitness model finds clarity in the identification of what is “right”, this paper suggests that students will encounter and observe numerous situations in business where there is little clarity available for such a determination. Therefore, this discussion suggests that students probe cognitive dissonance: the tension between two ideas or beliefs that creates the tendency human beings have to justify their actions and decisions, and develop self-serving values definitions. To better appreciate the root of an individual’s self justification, this discussion proposes that students utilize Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a context for determining , or at least understanding, why actors who make unethical decisions see those decisions, at one point in the decision-making process, as “right”

Potent and Broad Inhibition of HIV-1 by a Peptide from the gp41 Heptad Repeat-2 Domain Conjugated to the CXCR4 Amino Terminus.

HIV-1 entry can be inhibited by soluble peptides from the gp41 heptad repeat-2 (HR2) domain that interfere with formation of the 6-helix bundle during fusion. Inhibition has also been seen when these peptides are conjugated to anchoring molecules and over-expressed on the cell surface. We hypothesized that potent anti-HIV activity could be achieved if a 34 amino acid peptide from HR2 (C34) were brought to the site of virus-cell interactions by conjugation to the amino termini of HIV-1 coreceptors CCR5 or CXCR4. C34-conjugated coreceptors were expressed on the surface of T cell lines and primary CD4 T cells, retained the ability to mediate chemotaxis in response to cognate chemokines, and were highly resistant to HIV-1 utilization for entry. Notably, C34-conjugated CCR5 and CXCR4 each exhibited potent and broad inhibition of HIV-1 isolates from diverse clades irrespective of tropism (i.e., each could inhibit R5, X4 and dual-tropic isolates). This inhibition was highly specific and dependent on positioning of the peptide, as HIV-1 infection was poorly inhibited when C34 was conjugated to the amino terminus of CD4. C34-conjugated coreceptors could also inhibit HIV-1 isolates that were resistant to the soluble HR2 peptide inhibitor, enfuvirtide. When introduced into primary cells, CD4 T cells expressing C34-conjugated coreceptors exhibited physiologic responses to T cell activation while inhibiting diverse HIV-1 isolates, and cells containing C34-conjugated CXCR4 expanded during HIV-1 infection in vitro and in a humanized mouse model. Notably, the C34-conjugated peptide exerted greater HIV-1 inhibition when conjugated to CXCR4 than to CCR5. Thus, antiviral effects of HR2 peptides can be specifically directed to the site of viral entry where they provide potent and broad inhibition of HIV-1. This approach to engineer HIV-1 resistance in functional CD4 T cells may provide a novel cell-based therapeutic for controlling HIV infection in humans

Perceptions of Interior Design Program Chairs regarding Credentials for Faculty

The purpose of this study was to determine whether program chairs in interior design have a preferred degree credential for candidates seeking a full-time, tenure-track position or other full-time position at their institution and to determine if there is a correlation between this preference and the program chair’s university’s demographics, their own credentials, or their acceptance of an online terminal degree. Data were collected for the 2 research questions using a quantitative survey instrument. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, characteristics of the program. Multiple regression analysis was also used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, the program chair’s credentials. The survey instrument was a selfministered online questionnaire divided into 5 sections. Some of the demographic categories utilized in the survey instrument were developed by the Interior Design Educators Council (2008) in their member survey. Other questions were designed based on questions used on a survey by Adams and DeFleur (2005). Their survey examined the acceptability of doctoral degrees earned online as credential for obtaining a faculty position. The group of participants for the survey was composed of interior design-program chairs in interior design programs accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The results from analyses appeared to show only institution type, “Public” and land-grant status predicted hiring perceptions. The five variables that were related to individual characteristics of the program chair did not predict hiring perceptions. This study has provided the preferred degree preference by interior design chairs for full-time positions. Findings revealed acceptance of online terminal degrees and the most-valued credentials preferred by interior design chairs

Perceptions of Interior Design Program Chairs regarding Credentials for Faculty

The purpose of this study was to determine whether program chairs in interior design have a preferred degree credential for candidates seeking a full-time, tenure-track position or other full-time position at their institution and to determine if there is a correlation between this preference and the program chair’s university’s demographics, their own credentials, or their acceptance of an online terminal degree. Data were collected for the 2 research questions using a quantitative survey instrument. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, characteristics of the program. Multiple regression analysis was also used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, the program chair’s credentials. The survey instrument was a selfministered online questionnaire divided into 5 sections. Some of the demographic categories utilized in the survey instrument were developed by the Interior Design Educators Council (2008) in their member survey. Other questions were designed based on questions used on a survey by Adams and DeFleur (2005). Their survey examined the acceptability of doctoral degrees earned online as credential for obtaining a faculty position. The group of participants for the survey was composed of interior design-program chairs in interior design programs accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The results from analyses appeared to show only institution type, “Public” and land-grant status predicted hiring perceptions. The five variables that were related to individual characteristics of the program chair did not predict hiring perceptions. This study has provided the preferred degree preference by interior design chairs for full-time positions. Findings revealed acceptance of online terminal degrees and the most-valued credentials preferred by interior design chairs

Nanoreinforced Shape Memory Polyurethane

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are functional materials, which find applications in a broad range of temperature sensing elements and biological micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). These polymers are capable of fixing a transient shape and recovering to their original shape after a series of thermo-mechanical treatments. Generally, these materials are thermoplastic segmented polyurethanes composed of soft segments, usually formed by a polyether macroglycol, and hard segments formed from the reaction of a diisocyanate with a low molecular mass diol. The hard segment content is a key parameter to control the final properties of the polymer, such as rubbery plateau modulus, melting point, hardness, and tensile strength. The long flexible soft segment largely controls the low temperature properties, solvent resistance, and weather resistance properties. The morphology and properties of polyurethanes (PU) are greatly influenced by the ratio of hard and soft block components and the average block lengths. However, in some applications, SMPs may not generate enough recovery force to be useful. The reinforcement of SMPs using nanofillers represents a novel approach of enhancing the performance of these materials. The incorporation of these fillers into SMPs can produce performance enhancements (particularly elastic modulus) at small nanoparticle loadings (~1-2 wt %). An optimal performance of nanofiller-polymer nanocomposites requires uniform dispersion of filler in polymers and good interfacial adhesion. The addition of nanofillers like cellulose nanofibers (CNF), conductive cellulose nanofibers (C-CNF), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) allows for the production of stiffer materials with deformation capacity comparable to that of the unfilled polymer. Additionally, the use of conductive nanoreinforcments such as C-CNF and CNTs leads to new pathways for actuation of the shape memory effect. During this work, thermoplastic shape memory polyurethanes were synthesized with varying chemical composition and molecular weight. This was achieved by controlling the moles of reactants used, by using polyols with different molecular weights, and by using different diisocyanates. Using these controls, polymer matrices with different but controlled structures were synthesized and then reinforced with CNF, C-CNF, and CNTs in order to study the influence of chemical structure and polymer-nanoreinforcement interactions on polymer nanocomposite morphology, thermal and mechanical properties, and shape memory behavior

Nanomechanical Detection of Itinerant Electron Spin Flip

Spin is an intrinsically quantum property, characterized by angular momentum. A change in the spin state is equivalent to a change in the angular momentum or mechanical torque. This spin-induced torque has been invoked as the intrinsic mechanism in experiments ranging from the measurements of angular momentum of photons g-factor of metals and magnetic resonance to the magnetization reversal in magnetic multi-layers A spin-polarized current introduced into a nonmagnetic nanowire produces a torque associated with the itinerant electron spin flip. Here, we report direct measurement of this mechanical torque and itinerant electron spin polarization in an integrated nanoscale torsion oscillator, which could yield new information on the itinerancy of the d-band electrons. The unprecedented torque sensitivity of 10^{-22} N m/ \sqrt{Hz} may enable applications for spintronics, precision measurements of CP-violating forces, untwisting of DNA and torque generating molecules.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. visit http://nano.bu.edu/ for related paper

Questioning the rise of gelatinous zooplankton in the World's oceans

During the past several decades, high numbers of gelatinous zooplankton species have been reported in many estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Coupled with media-driven public perception, a paradigm has evolved in which the global ocean ecosystems are thought to be heading toward being dominated by “nuisance” jellyfish. We question this current paradigm by presenting a broad overview of gelatinous zooplankton in a historicalcontext to develop the hypothesis that population changes reflect the human-mediated alteration of global ocean ecosystems. To this end, we synthesize information related to the evolutionary context of contemporary gelatinous zooplankton blooms, the human frame of reference forchanges in gelatinous zooplankton populations, and whether sufficient data are available to have established the paradigm. We conclude that the current paradigm in which it is believed that there has been a global increase in gelatinous zooplankton is unsubstantiated, and we develop a strategy for addressing the critical questions about long-term, human-related changes in the sea as they relate to gelatinous zooplankton blooms

Pan-cancer Alterations of the MYC Oncogene and Its Proximal Network across the Cancer Genome Atlas

Although theMYConcogene has been implicated incancer, a systematic assessment of alterations ofMYC, related transcription factors, and co-regulatoryproteins, forming the proximal MYC network (PMN),across human cancers is lacking. Using computa-tional approaches, we define genomic and proteo-mic features associated with MYC and the PMNacross the 33 cancers of The Cancer Genome Atlas.Pan-cancer, 28% of all samples had at least one ofthe MYC paralogs amplified. In contrast, the MYCantagonists MGA and MNT were the most frequentlymutated or deleted members, proposing a roleas tumor suppressors.MYCalterations were mutu-ally exclusive withPIK3CA,PTEN,APC,orBRAFalterations, suggesting that MYC is a distinct onco-genic driver. Expression analysis revealed MYC-associated pathways in tumor subtypes, such asimmune response and growth factor signaling; chro-matin, translation, and DNA replication/repair wereconserved pan-cancer. This analysis reveals insightsinto MYC biology and is a reference for biomarkersand therapeutics for cancers with alterations ofMYC or the PMN