bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A HYBRID POST-PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR OFFLINE HANDWRITTEN CHINESE CHARACTER RECOGNITION BASED ON A STATISTICAL LANGUAGE MODEL
Authors: XU RUIFENG , YEUNG DANIEL S. , SHI DAMING
Published: May 2005

This paper presents a post-processing system for improving the recognition rate of a Handwritten Chinese Character Recognition (HCCR) device. This three-stage hybrid post-processing system reduces the misclassification and rejection rates common in the single character recognition phase. The proposed system is novel in two respects: first, it reduces the misclassification rate by applying a dictionary-look-up strategy that bind the candidate characters into a word-lattice and appends the linguistic-prone characters into the candidate set; second, it identifies promising sentences by employing a distant Chinese word BI-Gram model with a maximum distance of three to select plausible words from the word-lattice. These sentences are then output as the upgraded result. Compared with one of our previous works in single Chinese character recognition, the proposed system improves absolute recognition rates by 12%.
MAPPED LEAST SQUARES SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE REGRESSION
Authors: ZHENG SHENG , SUN YUQIU , TIAN JINWEN , LIU JAIN
Published: May 2005

This paper describes a novel version of regression SVM (Support Vector Machines) that is based on the least-squares error. We show that the solution of this optimization problem can be obtained easily once the inverse of a certain matrix is computed. This matrix, however, depends only on the input vectors, but not on the labels. Thus, if many learning problems with the same set of input vectors but different sets of labels have to be solved, it makes sense to compute the inverse of the matrix just once and then use it for computing all subsequent models. The computational complexity to train an regression SVM can be reduced to O (N2), just a matrix multiplication operation, and thus probably faster than known SVM training algorithms that have O (N2) work with loops. We describe applications from image processing, where the input points are usually of the form {(x0+ dx, y0+ dy) : |dx| < m, |dy| < n} and all such set of points can be translated to the same set {(dx, dy) : |dx| < m, |dy| < n} by subtracting (x0, y0) from all the vectors. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is faster than those processing each learning problem separately.
WAVELET-BASED SALIENT ENERGY POINTS FOR UNSUPERVISED TEXTURE SEGMENTATION
Authors: BASHAR M. K. , OHNISHI N.
Published: May 2005

Despite extensive research on image texture analysis, it is still problematic to characterize and segment texture images especially in the presence of complex patterns. Upon tremendous advancement of the internet and the digital technology, there is also a need for the development of simple but efficient algorithms, which can be adaptable to real-time systems. In this study, we propose such an approach based on multiresolution discrete wavelet transform (DWT). After the transform, we compute salient energy points from each directional sub-band (LH, HL, and HH) in the form of binary image by thresholding intermittency indices of wavelet coefficients. We then propose and extract two new texture features namely Salient Point Density (SPD) and Salient Point Distribution Nonuniformity (SPDN) based on the number and the distribution of salient pixels in the local neighborhood of every pixel of the multiscale binary images. We thus obtain a set of feature images, which are subsequently applied to the popular K-means algorithm for the unsupervised segmentation of texture images. Though the above representation appear simple and infrequent in the literature, it proves useful in the context of texture segmentation. Experimental results with the standard texture (Brodatz) and natural images demonstrate the robustness and potentiality of the proposed approach.
LINEAR DISCRIMINANT TREES
Authors: YILDIZ OLCAY TANER , ALPAYDIN ETHEM
Published: May 2005

We discuss and test empirically the effects of six dimensions along which existing decision tree induction algorithms differ. These are: Node type (univariate versus multivariate), branching factor (two or more), grouping of classes into two if the tree is binary, error (impurity) measure, and the methods for minimization to find the best split vector and threshold. We then propose a new decision tree induction method that we name linear discriminant trees (LDT) which uses the best combination of these criteria in terms of accuracy, simplicity and learning time. This tree induction method can be univariate or multivariate. The method has a supervised outer optimization layer for converting a K > 2-class problem into a sequence of two-class problems and each two-class problem is solved analytically using Fisher's Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). On twenty datasets from the UCI repository, we compare the linear discriminant trees with the univariate decision tree methods C4.5 and C5.0, multivariate decision tree methods CART, OC1, QUEST, neural trees and LMDT. Our proposed linear discriminant trees learn fast, are accurate, and the trees generated are small.
SINGULAR FREE BOUNDARY PROBLEM FROM IMAGE PROCESSING
Authors: AMADORI A. L. , VÁZQUEZ J. L.
Published: May 2005

We study a degenerate nonlinear parabolic equation with moving boundaries which arises in the study of the technique of contour enhancement in image processing. In order to obtain mass concentration at the contour, singular data are imposed at the free boundary, leading to a nonstandard free boundary problem.

Our main results are: (i) the well-posedness for the singular problem, without monotonicity assumptions on the initial datum, and (ii) the convergence of the approximation by means of combustion-type free-boundary problems.
ON AN OPEN TRANSIENT SCHRÖDINGER–POISSON SYSTEM
Authors: ABDALLAH NAOUFEL BEN , MÉHATS FLORIAN , PINAUD OLIVIER
Published: May 2005

A mathematical model of quantum transient transport in dimension d=2, 3 is derived and analyzed. The model describes the evolution of electrons injected into the device by reservoirs having a stationary statistics. The electrostatic potential in the device is modified by electron presence through electrostatic interaction. The wave functions are computed in the device region and satisfy nonhomogeneous open boundary conditions at the device edges. A priori estimates are deduced from the "dissipative properties" of the boundary conditions and from the repulsive character of the electrostatic interaction.
SOME CONTROL RESULTS FOR SIMPLIFIED ONE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS OF FLUID-SOLID INTERACTION
Authors: DOUBOVA ANNA , FERNÁNDEZ-CARA ENRIQUE
Published: May 2005

We analyze the null controllability of a one-dimensional nonlinear system which models the interaction of a fluid and a particle. This can be viewed as a first step in the control analysis of fluid-solid systems. The fluid is governed by the Burgers equation and the control is exerted at the boundary points. We present two main results: the global null controllability of a linearized system and the local null controllability of the nonlinear original model. The proofs rely on appropriate global Carleman inequalities, observability estimates and fixed point arguments.
PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY EFFECTS OF NITROGENATED CARBONACEOUS FILMS GROWN ON VARIOUS TYPES OF SUBSTRATES BY SURFACE WAVE MICROWAVE PLASMA CVD
Authors: RUSOP M. , OMER A. M. M. , ADHIKARI S. , ADHIKARY S. , UCHIDA H. , SOGA T. , JIMBO T. , UMENO M.
Published: May 2005

The n-type conductivity nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon (n-C) films have been grown by surface wave microwave chemical vapor deposition (SWP-CVD) on plastic and quartz substrates. The bonding, electrical and photovoltaic properties have been studied. The Tauc plot of UV-Visible measurement have shown that n-C films deposited on plastic have smaller optical band gaps compared to the films grown on quartz substrate at the same parameters. Temperature dependence and photoresponse measurements also have shown that the properties of n-C thin films deposited on plastic have higher photoelectrical response. Our experimental results have shown that the flexible polytetrafluoroethene plastic substrate is a reliable candidate for future photovoltaic applications.
DETECTING DEFECTS IN AIRCRAFT MATERIALS BY NUCLEAR TECHNIQUE (PAS)
Authors: BADAWI EMAD. A.
Published: May 2005

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) is one of the nuclear techniques used in material science. The present measurements are used to study the behavior of defect concentration in one of the most important materials aluminum alloys which is the 7075 alloy. It has been shown that positrons can become trapped at imperfect locations in solids and their mean lifetime can be influenced by changes in the concentration of such defects. No changes have been observed in the mean lifetime values after the saturation of defect concentration. The mean lifetime and trapping rates are studied for samples deformed up to 58.3%. The concentration of defect range vary from 1015 to 1018 cm -3 at the thickness reduction from 2.3 to 58.3%. The dislocation density varies from 108 to 1011 cm/cm 3.
ANALYSIS OF GROWTH MECHANISM OF DENDRITIC TITANIUM CARBIDES PRODUCED BY LASER ALLOYING OF PURE TITANIUM WITH GRAPHITE POWDER
Authors: TIAN Y. S. , CHEN C. Z. , WANG D. Y. , HUO Q. H. , LEI T. Q.
Published: May 2005

The microstructure of dendritic titanium carbides fabricated by laser surface alloying of pure titanium with graphite powder is investigated using electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The growth mechanism of TiC crystals is that crystal grows by the model of continuous growth at the beginning of solidification and then the crystal surfaces that are suited to lateral growth develop fully by the model of spiral growth. So, the final morphology of dendritic TiC looks like it is composed of tiny crystal grains in a linear arrangement.
EFFECT OF BORON WEIGHT PERCENTAGES IN THE TARGET OF PULSED LASER DEPOSITION ON THE PREPARATION OF BORON-DOPED AMORPHOUS CARBON FILMS
Authors: RUSOP M. , KINUGAWA T. , SOGA T. , JIMBO T.
Published: May 2005

The effect of boron weight percentage in the camphoric carbon target of pulsed laser deposition on the preparation of boron-doped amorphous carbon (a-C:B) films has been studied using standard measurement techniques. XPS results showed the a-C:B films bonding properties almost unchanged at lower Bwt% up to 10 Bwt%, after which it changes with the increase of Bwt%, indicating increasing doping concentration with increase of Bwt% in the target. This phenomenon is further supported by FTIR and Visible-Raman spectroscopy analyses. The variation of bonding and structural properties are also correlated with the optical gap (Eg) and electrical resistivity (ρ) characteristics which are related to successful doping of B for low content of B in the amorphous carbon (a-C) films as the bonding, structural and Eg remain almost unchanged, and the ρ decreased untill the film deposited at 10 Bwt%. Since both the Eg and ρ decrease sharply with higher Bwt%, this phenomenon can be related to the graphitization.
DESIGN AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF A BANDPASS OPTICAL FILTER WITH OBLIQUE BANDGAP STRUCTURES OF FIBONACCI LATTICES
Authors: MISHRA R. K. , MISRA K. D. , MISRA A. P. , TRIPATHI A. K.
Published: May 2005

In this paper, spectral properties of optical bandpass Fibonacci filter are studied using the transfer matrix approach. The dispersion relation, transmission coefficient of quasiperiodic optical filter structure arranged according to recurrent Fibonacci rule is demonstrated for normal, s-polarized and p-polarized modes of radiation. Numerical calculations for different generations of Fibonacci structure at various angles of incidence are presented. The idea is based on the famous Kroning–Penny model in the band theory of solids. An interesting method for the existence of forbidden photonic oblique bands with the help of dispersion and transmission diagram of filter is presented. A Fibonacci filter can act as a virtually ideal polarizer for the radiation incident on the surfaces inside a filter at angles of 30° and greater.
ELECTRON-SPIN POLARIZATION IN BOTH MAGNETICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY-MODULATED NANOSTRUCTURES
Authors: LU MAO-WANG
Published: May 2005

We theoretically investigate the spin-dependent transport properties of electrons in realistic magnetic-electric barrier nanostructures, which are produced by the deposition, on top of a heterostructure, of a metallic ferromagnetic stripe with an applied voltage. The degree of the electron-spin polarization is found to be closely associated with this voltage, although the use of applied voltage itself induces no spin polarization effect. As a positive voltage is applied to the stripe the electron-spin polarization shifts towards the low-energy region and increases; it shifts towards the high-energy direction and reduces for a negative applied voltage. These results shown in this work imply that the degree of electron-spin polarization can be tuned by means of an applied voltage on the stripes of system, which may result in a practical voltage-controlled spin filter.
REORGANIZATION OF BEHENIC ACID MONOLAYER ON MICA
Authors: JIANG XIAOHONG , ZHANG XINGTANG , DAI SHUXI , WANG DEJUN , LI YUNCAI , DU ZULIANG
Published: May 2005

Langmuir-Blogdett (LB) monolayers of behenic acid (BA) and cadmium behenic were prepared on mica surfaces by the vertical precipitation method. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and lateral force microscopy (LFM) were used to study the morphologies of the films before and after reorganization and friction image. The LB films of fatty acid were found to self-organize into multilayers in water simply by the addition or removal of one layer of molecules, suggesting that the reorganization is a common phenomenon for monolayer on substrates in water conditions. It is considered that the H2O molecules in the first place interact with the BA amphiphilic molecules at the edge of the pinholes. The assembly of molecules at the edge of the pinholes changes with a little protuberance in the morphology. The reorganization extent was also relevant to the pH value of the water medium.
ZrO2-Al2O3 LAMINATED CERAMICS AND THEIR TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIORS
Authors: ZHOU ZEHUA , DING PEIDAO , TAN SHOUHONG , LAN JUNSI
Published: May 2005

ZrO 2- Al 2O3 laminated ceramics of 3 layers were prepared by dry-pressing and pressureless sintering, and their mechanical properties and toughening mechanisms were studied. Furthermore, their tribological behaviors and wear mechanisms under dry friction and water lubrication conditions were also investigated, and compared with those of monolayer ZrO 2- Al 2O3 ceramics under the same conditions. The results show that the bending strength, fracture toughness and hardness of the laminated ceramics are all better than those of the monolayer ceramics, moreover the friction factor and wear rate of the laminated ceramics are clearly lower than those of the monolayer ceramics. The excellent mechanical properties of the laminated ceramics, especially toughness, result mainly from effects of residual stress in the specially-designed layer, interface structure and phase transformation together. Good tribological properties of the laminated ceramics are supposed due to the high toughness and low shearing stress in the wear surface. The friction and wear of the composites are effectively decreased by water lubrication because of the transformation of the main wear mechanisms from abrasive and adhesive wear under dry friction to tribo-chemical and fatigue wear under water lubrication.
DYNAMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE INTERFACE BETWEEN TWO THIN FILMS
Authors: BOUMRAR H. , RAFIL O. , TAMINE M. , TIGRINE R.
Published: May 2005

The effect on the vibrational properties of nanostructures at the interface between two thin films is presented. The model used consists of the coupling of two semi-infinite plans A and B having three and two atomic layers, respectively. Theoretical calculations of localized phonon modes and vibrational field were carried out using the matching procedure. Close to the interface, the transversal translational symmetry is broken down inducing Raleigh-like branches. The polarization degeneracy of the ordered surface Raleigh mode in the longitudinal direction is lifted. The presence of acoustic and optical-like phonons is discussed in terms of the elastic constant forces. The density of states and the spectral densities are presented for sample atomic sites. A hyperfine resonance structure is obtained. It allows the analysis of the dynamical evolution from thin film A to thin film B.
SYNTHESIS OF RELATIVELY HIGHLY MAGNETIC NANO-SIZED NiZn-FERRITE IN MICROEMULSION AT 45°C
Authors: USKOKOVIĆ VUK , DROFENIK MIHA
Published: May 2005

The procedure for the preparation of NiZn-ferrite powder with average particle size of 10 nm and saturation magnetization of 50 emu/g by using precipitation reaction between acidified sulphate precursor salts and NH4OH as the precipitating agent in the water-in-oil domain of the microemulsion CTAB/1-hexanol/water at 45°C is presented herein. TEM measurements have revealed relatively uniform morphology of the particles, which are associated in coral-like agglomerates. EDS measurements have been used for qualitative analysis of the sample, whereby FAAS measurement has been performed in order to reveal the proportion of the cations in the sample — Ni : Zn : Fe = 0.17 : 0.18 : 2.64.
HEDGING DOUBLE BARRIERS WITH SINGLES
Authors: SBUELZ ALESSANDRO
Published: May 2005

Double barrier options can be statically hedged by a portfolio of single barrier knockin options. The main part of the hedge automatically turns into the desired contract along the double barrier corridor extrema.
OPTIMAL LOGARITHMIC UTILITY AND OPTIMAL PORTFOLIOS FOR AN INSIDER IN A STOCHASTIC VOLATILITY MARKET
Authors: EWALD CHRISTIAN-OLIVER
Published: May 2005

We combine methods for portfolio optimization in incomplete markets which are due to Karatzas et al. [6] with methods proposed by Nualart based on Malliavin Calculus to model insider trading within a stochastic volatility model. We compute the optimal portfolio within a certain set of insider strategies for a general stochastic volatility model but also apply the methods to explicit examples. We further discuss how the Heston model fits into this context.
MODELING TERM STRUCTURE DYNAMICS: AN INFINITE DIMENSIONAL APPROACH
Authors: CONT RAMA
Published: May 2005

Motivated by stylized statistical properties of interest rates, we propose a modeling approach in which the forward rate curve is described as a stochastic process in a space of curves. After decomposing the movements of the term structure into the variations of the short rate, the long rate and the deformation of the curve around its average shape, this deformation is described as the solution of a stochastic evolution equation in an infinite dimensional space of curves. In the case where deformations are local in maturity, this equation reduces to a stochastic PDE, of which we give the simplest example. We discuss the properties of the solutions and show that they capture in a parsimonious manner the essential features of yield curve dynamics: imperfect correlation between maturities, mean reversion of interest rates, the structure of principal components of forward rates and their variances. In particular we show that a flat, constant volatility structures already captures many of the observed properties. Finally, we discuss parameter estimation issues and show that the model parameters have a natural interpretation in terms of empirically observed quantities.
MULTIPLICITY RESULTS FOR A QUASILINEAR ELLIPTIC SYSTEM VIA MORSE THEORY
Authors: CINGOLANI SILVIA , LAZZO MONICA , VANNELLA GIUSEPPINA
Published: May 2005

In this work we prove some multiplicity results for solutions of a system of elliptic quasilinear equations, involving the p-Laplace operator (p > 2). The proof are based on variational and topological arguments and makes use of new perturbation results in Morse theory for the Banach space [Formula: see text].
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EQUIVARIANT GERBES AND GERBES OVER THE QUOTIENT SPACE
Authors: GOMI KIYONORI
Published: May 2005

By means of cohomology groups, we study relationships between equivariant gerbes with connection over a manifold with a Lie group action and gerbes with connection over the quotient space.
IMAGING AND MAPPING OF INDIVIDUAL NANOPARTICLES AND NANOTUBES BY SELECTIVE NANOVOLUME RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
Authors: ATHALIN HAN , LEFRANT SERGE
Published: May 2005

In this experiment, we report on a new procedure to analyze nanoparticles, like individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), based on an improved use of a confocally selective nanovolume Raman spectroscopy set-up coupled to a refined signal treatment. This concept is based on actually available imaging microspectrometry systems for working in the near-field domain combined with a stigmatic solid immersion lens. The combination of different techniques with modified and configured equipment entitles us to expand the functionality toward a three-dimensional mapping of Raman and photoluminescence intensity with a possible discrimination in polarization as well as photoluminescence decay time constant mapping. This technique permits to further improve the resolution in both the vertical and lateral dimensions. To acquire a spectrally selected SWNT, we registered the spatial distribution of the emitted photons in x, y, z vectors with an unprecedented accuracy and were able to resolve details in the specimen with a near-field resolution. In this experiment, we report what we believe to be the first evidence of selective nanovolume Raman spectroscopy of individual nanoparticles.
THE EFFECT OF HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON METAL–INSULATOR TRANSITION IN QUANTUM WELL SEMICONDUCTOR SYSTEMS II
Authors: PETER A. JOHN
Published: May 2005

Using a variational procedure within the effective mass approximation, the ionization energies of a shallow donor in a quantum well (QW) of GaAs/Ga 1-x Al x As superlattice system under the influence of pressure with the exact dielectric function are obtained. The vanishing of ionization energy initiating Mott transition is observed within the one-electron approximation. The effects of Anderson localization using a simple model, and exchange and correlation in the Hubbard model are included in this model. It is found that the ionization energy (i) increases when well width increases for a given pressure, (ii) decreases and reaches a bulk value for a larger well width, (iii) increases with increasing external hydrostatic pressure for a given QW thickness, and (iv) the critical concentration at which the metal–insulator transition (MIT) occurs is increased when pressure is applied. It also is demonstrated that MIT is not possible in a hydrostatic pressure in a quantum well supporting scaling theory of localization. All the calculations have been carried out with finite and infinite barriers and the results are compared with available data in the literature.
HAMILTONIAN LOGIC GATES: COMPUTING INSIDE A MOLECULE
Authors: JOACHIM C. , DUCHEMIN I. , FIURÁŠEK J. , CERF N. J.
Published: May 2005

Using an intramolecular single-electron transfer process, we show how computing inside a quantum system can be performed using the time evolution driven by the preparation of the system in a nonstationary state. The molecule Hamiltonian is separated in three parts: the input, calculation, and output parts. Two optimization procedures are described in order to design an efficient monoelectronics level structure for molecular logic gates. An XOR gate and a half-adder using six electronic quantum levels are presented in a prospect to integrate a full logic gate inside a single molecule without forcing the molecule to have the shape of an electrical circuit. We foresee the merger of molecular electronics with quantum computation at the nanoscale.
FLUID DYNAMICS ISSUES IN SYNTHESIS OF CARBON NANOTUBES
Authors: POVITSKY ALEX
Published: May 2005

The majority of carbon nanotubes' synthesis processes occur in the presence of fluid (liquid, gas, plasma, or multi-phase flow) that may function as a carrier of catalyst particles, feedstock of carbon, and the heating or cooling agent. The fluid motion defines the temperature of catalyst particles and the local chemical composition of the fluid that determines the success of synthesis of high-purity nanotubes. In this review paper, the laser ablation process, high-pressure carbon oxide process, and chemical vapor deposition process are considered from the prospective of fluid dynamics modeling. The multi-model approach should be used for concurrent rendering of different areas of computational domain by different models and/or different time steps for the same model. For multiple plume ejection in laser ablation, the near-target area could be rendered by molecular dynamics approach whereas continuous gas dynamics algorithms should be employed to simulate plume dynamics of previously ejected plumes apart of the target. Such an approach combines continuous mechanics of multi-species flow of feedstock gas or plume; micro-fluidic flow model that is needed to find heat and mass transfer rate to catalysts in presence of individual nanotubes in close proximity to each other; and molecular dynamics of evaporation and ejection of plume in laser ablation.
NANOSTRUCTURE AND DROPPING PHASE TRANSITION TEMPERATURE IN VANADIUM DIOXIDE THIN FILMS
Authors: YI XINJIAN , LI YI , CHEN SIHAI , WANG SHUANGBAO , LAI JIANJUN , CHEN CHANGHONG , MA HONG
Published: May 2005

A conventional microstructure of vanadium dioxide film with grain size of 1–2 μm exhibits a phase transition from a lower-temperature semiconductor phase to a higher-temperature metal one with a phase transition temperature of 68°C and with resistivity changes two to three orders of magnitude. Here, we report a nonconventional nanopolycrystalline thin film structure of vanadium dioxide with an average grain of 8 nm and with a phase transition temperature of about 35°C, indicating more promising device applications such as smart window coatings for solar energy, uncooled infrared imaging technology, optical and electronic switching devices, etc.
STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM–POLYMER THIN FILM NANOCOMPOSITES
Authors: ZAVYALOV S. A. , GRIGORIEV E. I. , ZAVYALOV A. S. , MISURKIN I. A. , TITOV S. V. , ZHURAVLEVA T. S. , KLIMENKO I. V. , PIVKINA A. N. , KELDER E. M. , SCHOONMAN J.
Published: May 2005

Thin film titanium/poly-para-xylylene nanocomposites with controlled Ti content are prepared by vacuum coevaporation and cocondensation of Ti and paracyclophane. The structure and chemical composition of as-deposited samples and the changes of electrical resistivity, which they undergo upon heating, are studied by atomic force microscopy, optical absorption spectroscopy, and the temperature coefficient of the electrical resistivity. It is shown that vacuum coevaporation results in the production of nanocomposite thin films with average Ti particle size of 10–50 nm. The inorganic phase is shown to be amorphous Ti for the samples with high metal content, whereas for the low-filled nanocomposites it consists of amorphous titanium oxide. Two types of kinetics of the nanocomposite oxidation process have been found and modeled by (i) inverse logarithmic and (ii) logarithmic functions depending on the metal content within the thin film. After a long preconditioning period in air the electrical conductivity of the thin film nanocomposites was carefully investigated by two-probe DC measurements. A strong correlation between the concentration of Ti in the thin films and the electrical conductivity dependency on temperature is found and modeled by a heterogeneous model of conductivity.
Assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential in proximal tubules after hypoxia-reoxygenation
Authors: Feldkamp Thorsten , Kribben Andreas , Weinberg Joel M.
Published: May 2005

Proximal tubules develop a severe energetic deficit during hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) that previous studies using fluorescent potentiometric probes have suggested is characterized by sustained, partial mitochondrial deenergization. To validate the primary occurrence of mitochondrial deenergization in the process, optimize approaches for estimating changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in the system, and clarify the mechanisms for the defect, we further investigated the behavior of 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazocarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) in these cells and introduce a more dynamic and quantitative approach employing safranin O for use with the tubule system. Although use of JC-1 can be complicated by decreases in the plasma membrane potential that limit cellular uptake of JC-1 and such behavior was demonstrated in ouabain-treated tubules, changes in ΔΨmentirely accounted for the decreases in the formation of red fluorescent JC-1 aggregates and in the ratio of red/green fluorescence observed after H/R. The red JC-1 aggregates did not readily dissociate when tubules were deenergized after JC-1 uptake, making it unsuitable for dynamic studies of energization. Safranin O uptake by digitonin-permeabilized tubules required very small numbers of tubules, permitted measurements of ΔΨmfor relatively prolonged periods after the end of the experimental maneuvers, was rapidly reversible during deenergization, and allowed for direct assessment of both substrate-dependent, electron transport-mediated ΔΨm, and ATP hydrolysis-supported ΔΨm. Both types of energization measured using safranin O in tubules permeabilized after H/R were impaired, but combining substrates and ATP substantially restored ΔΨm.
Spatiotemporal Patterns of Dorsal Root–Evoked Network Activity in the Neonatal Rat Spinal Cord: Optical and Intracellular Recordings
Authors: Ziskind-Conhaim Lea , Redman Stephen
Published: May 2005

Spatiotemporal patterns of dorsal root–evoked potentials were studied in transverse slices of the rat spinal cord by monitoring optical signals from a voltage-sensitive dye with multiple-photodiode optic camera. Typically, dorsal root stimulation generated two basic waveforms of voltage images: dual-component images consisting of fast, spike-like signal followed by a slow signal in the dorsal horn, and small, slow signals in the ventral horn. To qualitatively relate the optical signals to membrane potentials, whole cell recordings were combined with measurements of light absorption in the area around the soma. The slow optical signals correlated closely with subthreshold postsynaptic potentials in all regions of the cord. The spike-like component was not associated with postsynaptic action potentials, suggesting that the fast signal was generated by presynaptic action potentials. Firing in a single neuron could not be detected optically, implying that local voltage images originated from synchronously activated neuronal ensembles. Blocking glutamatergic synaptic transmission inhibited excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and significantly reduced the slow optical signals, indicating that they were mediated by glutamatergic synapses. Suppressing glycine-mediated inhibition increased the amplitude of both optical signals and EPSPs, while blocking GABAA receptor–mediated synapses, increased the amplitude and time course of EPSPs and prolonged the duration of voltage images in larger areas of the slice. The close correlation between evoked EPSPs and their respective local voltage images shows the advantage of the high temporal resolution optical system in measuring both the spatiotemporal dynamics of segmental network excitation and integrated potentials of neuronal ensembles at identified sites.
Plp Gene Regulation in the Developing Murine Optic Nerve: Correlation with Oligodendroglial Process Alignment along the Axons
Authors: Thomson C.E. , Vouyiouklis D.A. , Barrie J.A. , Wease K.N. , Montague P.
Published: May 2005

The factors regulating the expression and splicing of the major myelin gene, proteolipid protein (Plp), are unclear. The gene encodes two splice variants, Plp and Dm20. During active myelination, transcription of the Plp gene is markedly upregulated and the splice variant ratio becomes Plp-mRNA dominant. We hypothesised that these aspects of Plp gene regulation are linked to overt axonal contact. Using the developing optic nerve of mice, we demonstrate that alignment of oligodendroglial processes with the axon correlates with both the expression of Plp-mRNA and the transcriptional upregulation of the gene. We test the above hypothesis more extensively in a subsequent study.
B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Organic Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Detaint Delphine , Messika-Zeitoun David , Avierinos Jean-François , Scott Christopher , Chen Horng , Burnett John C. , Enriquez-Sarano Maurice
Published: May 2005

Background—

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) activation observed in cardiac diseases is a predictor of poor outcome; however, in organic mitral regurgitation (MR), BNP determinants and prognostic value are unknown.

Methods and Results—

We prospectively enrolled 124 patients with chronic organic MR (aged 63±15 years, 60% males) in whom we measured BNP level and simultaneously quantified MR degree, left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and left atrial (LA) volumes and analyzed long-term outcome. Baseline BNP level (54±67 pg/mL, median 31 pg/mL) was associated univariately with multiple clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, but in multivariate analysis, independent determinants of BNP, beyond age and sex (both
P
≤0.01), were LV end-systolic volume index, LA volume, atrial fibrillation, and symptoms (all
P
<0.02). Conversely, MR degree was not independently associated with BNP. During follow-up, patients with high versus low BNP (≥31 versus <31 pg/mL) displayed lower survival rates (at 5 years, 72±10% versus 95±5%,
P
=0.03) and higher rates of the combined end point of death and heart failure (at 5 years, 42±10% versus 16±7%,
P
=0.03). In multivariate analysis, with adjustment for age, sex, functional class, MR severity, and ejection fraction, BNP was independently predictive of mortality (hazard ratio per 10 pg/mL, 1.23 [95% CI 1.07 to 1.48],
P
=0.004) and of death or heart failure (hazard ratio per 10 pg/mL, 1.09 [95% CI 1.001 to 1.19],
P
=0.04).

Conclusions—

BNP activation in organic MR reflects primarily ventricular and atrial consequences rather than degree of MR. Higher BNP level in patients with organic MR independently predicts adverse events under conservative management. Therefore, BNP activation in organic MR is an emerging biomarker of severity of MR consequences and of poor clinical outcome, and its assessment should be considered in the clinical evaluation and risk stratification of patients with MR.
Greed, Grievance, and Mobilization in Civil Wars
Authors: Regan Patrick M. , Norton Daniel
Published: May 2005

Greed, grievances, and mobilization are generally offered as explanations for rebellion and civilwar. The authors extend arguments about the precursors to nonviolent protest, violent rebellion, and civil war. These arguments motivate a series of hypotheses that are tested against data from the Minorities at Risk project. The results of the analysis suggest, first, that the factors that predict antistate activity at one level of violence do not always hold at other levels; second, the response by the state has a large impact on the subsequent behavior of the rebels; and third, the popular notion of diamonds fueling civil unrest is generally not supported. The authors draw inferences from their results to future theoretical and policy development.
American Foreign Policy and Global Opinion
Authors: Goldsmith Benjamin E. , Horiuchi Yusaku , Inoguchi Takashi
Published: May 2005

What affects global public opinion about U.S. foreign policy? The authors examine this question using a cross-national survey conducted during and immediately after the 2001 U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. They propose three models of global public opinion— interests, socialization, and influence—and discuss their empirical validity. Socialization variables (e.g., Muslim population and past terrorist incidents) tend to exhibit significant effects. A variable measuring shared security interests, North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership, has significant effects in favor of U.S. policy, but other mutual defense pacts with the U.S. have a backlash effect. Shared economic interests, represented by levels of trade, also have a positive influence. Variables measuring conflicting security interests as well as those measuring U.S. efforts to influence foreign public opinion have insignificant or weak effects.
Constituencies and Preferences in International Bargaining
Authors: Tarar Ahmer
Published: May 2005

Previous formal models of two-level games, which try to determine whether a domestic ratification constraint provides an executive with bargaining leverage in international negotiations, pay little attention to the exact nature of the executive's constituency and the source of the constraint. The author uses a gametheoretic model to show that an executive with a national constituency such as a nationally elected president benefits by being constrained. An executive with a constituency distinct from that of the ratifying legislators, however, isworse off under greater constraints, when the constraintscome from constituencies other than his or her own. This can occur, for instance, in a minority or coalition parliamentary government consisting of parties with different and in fact opposing constituencies. Testable hypotheses are derived on the effect of the party composition of the legislature on the executive's constraint.
Caught in the Crossfire
Authors: Major Solomon , McGann Anthony J.
Published: May 2005

Current sanctions orthodoxy argues that groups' ability to set policy depends on their total budget. According to such a perspective, successful sanctions must target the unfriendly within the target countries while shielding “innocent bystanders” from harm. The authors argue that the focus on groups' aggregate budget constraint and the war-of-attrition view of policy formation misconceives of how policies are determined. The most effective groups to sanction will be those whose spending has the greatest marginal effect on policy. The authors show that this will often be the very innocent bystanders that prevailing theories have argued must be protected. Although this conclusion is conditional on their level of institutional empowerment and their having sufficient resources to make an impact on policy if properly motivated, when these initial conditions are met, a sanctions design can be specified with a high degree of prospective utility for sender states.
Preferences and Paternalism
Authors: Rostbøll Christian F.
Published: May 2005

This article discusses the relationship between the ideal of autonomous preference formation and the danger of paternalism in deliberative democratic theory. It argues that the aim of autonomous preference formation can and should be decoupled from a justification of paternalistic state action aimed at reshaping citizens’ preferences. The problem of non autonomous preference formation is rooted in the communication structure in which each and every one forms her preferences and hence cannot be solved by some paternalistically judging on others’ behalf. The argument is based on a new formulation of the deliberative democratic ideal, which emphasizes and clarifies the multiple dimensions of freedom it incorporates.
Normativizing Hybridity/Neutralizing Culture
Authors: Kompridis Nikolas
Published: May 2005

This essay takes issue with the way the highly fashionable concept of hybridity has been used to skew our understanding of cultural identity, and render conceptually and normatively indefensible the political claims of culture. It also challenges the current ‘anti-essentialist’ orthodoxy about what culture ‘really is,’ and shows that neither ‘essentialism’ nor ‘anti-essentialism’ helps us get right the place of culture in politics, because both fail to recognize the identity and non-identity of culture with itself.
Deciphering the Need in Housing Markets
Authors: McClure Kirk
Published: May 2005

Planners need straightforward tools to guide them toward the selection of appropriate strategies for resolving problems of housing affordability in their communities. Planners should use these tools to update their consolidated plans periodically, assessing the fit between the community's housing market conditions and the intervention strategies selected. Research suggests that planners often fail to select strategies that fit the conditions in their markets. This article offers a relatively uncomplicated technique designed to use census data to aid planners and local decision makers in better understanding the nature of the housing problem in each market sector.
Gauging the Transdisciplinary Qualities and Outcomes of Doctoral Training Programs
Authors: Mitrany Michal , Stokols Daniel
Published: May 2005

A key assumption underlying recent investments toward establishing transdisciplinary research centers and training programs is that cross-disciplinary research and training provide a stronger basis for achieving scientific and societal advances than unidisciplinary programs. It is necessary to develop reproducibleand reliable criteria for identifying the distinctive qualities of cross-disciplinary research and training programs, especially in the field of urban and regional planning. The current study provides an exploratory first step toward that goal. A composite scale designed to measure the transdisciplinary qualities of doctoral dissertations as an important product of one's intellectual development and graduate training was constructed and administered in the present study. Dissertations completed over a twenty-five-year period by Ph.D. candidates within an interdisciplinary doctoral training program were rated by two independent reviewers across multiple dimensions of transdisciplinary integration and scope. Departmental as well as gender differences were found on several dimensions of transdisciplinarity.
Democracy And Bureaucracy in a Community Planning Process
Authors: Chaskin Robert J.
Published: May 2005

The implementation of efforts to revitalize poor communities through participatory, collaborative planning efforts is often problematic. In part, this is because the organization of these efforts embodies an inherent tension between an ideology of associational action and local democracy on the one hand and an adherence to essentially rational-bureaucratic approaches to planning and implementation on the other. This article conceptualizes this tension and examines its unfolding and implications in comprehensive community initiatives through an in-depth case study of one such effort.
Spiritual Struggle
Authors: Manning-Walsh Juanita
Published: May 2005

Background: Women with breast cancer experience stressors affecting quality of life (QOL) and life satisfaction. Little is known about effects of spiritual struggle as a coping strategy on QOL and life satisfaction. Purpose: Examine relationships between spiritual struggle, QOL, and life satisfaction. Method : Nonprobablility sample of 100 participants recruited from an Internet Web site with mailed questionnaires. Three instruments were used: breast cancer-specific version of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale (FACT-B), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual (FACIT-Sp-12) combined for QOL, Negative Coping subscale of Religious Coping (RCOPE) for spiritual struggle, and a single-item measuring life satisfaction. Findings: Small inverse relationships between spiritual struggle, QOL (r = -.36, p < .001), and life satisfaction (r = -.31, p < .001) existed. Conclusions: Spiritual struggle gives voice to women’s questionings implying lower QOL and life satisfaction. Implications: Assessment of and assistance with managing spiritual struggle are necessary to promote QOL and life satisfaction among those facing difficult health problems.
Continued Encounters
Authors: Daggett Luann M.
Published: May 2005

Purpose: To analyze and categorize the various forms of after-death communication (ADC) and describe the effects on the bereaved. Method: In this qualitative descriptive study of 9 men and 9 women, data were collected during in-depth interviews using the Grief and Mourning Status Interview and Inventory and semistructured interview questions. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed and coded for content. Findings: Four categories of ADCs were identified: (a) visions and dreams, (b) lost-things-found, (c) symbolic messages, and (d) sightings. Both men and women experience ADCs; however, women are more likely to discuss the events with others. Conclusion: Although not everyone encounters or recognizes the phenomenon of ADC, it is a common aspect of the bereavement experience. Implications: Nurses and other health care providers have an important role in supporting and educating the public, especially the bereaved, regarding the phenomenon of ADC.
The Spirituality Scale
Authors: Delaney Colleen
Published: May 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop, refine, and evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Spirituality Scale (SS). The SS is a holistic instrument that attempts to measure the beliefs, intuitions, lifestyle choices, practices, and rituals representative of the human spiritual dimension and is designed to guide spiritual interventions. Method: A researcher-developed instrument was designed to assess spirituality from a holistic perspective. Items were generated to measure four conceptualized domains of spirituality. The SS was completed by 240 adults with chronic illness. Findings: Psychometric analysis of the SS provided strong evidence of the reliability and validity of the instrument. Three factors of spirituality that supported the theoretical framework were identified: Self-Discovery, Relationships, and Eco-Awareness. Implications: These findings can assist in facilitating the inclusion of spirituality in health care and have the potential to provide a transforming vision for nursing care and a vehicle to evoking optimal patient outcomes.
The Strange Career of an Idea and its Resurrection
Authors: Zald Mayer N.
Published: May 2005

Partly a memoir, this article traces the history of an article (Zald & Berger, 1978) the author published in the American Journal of Sociology on social movements in organizations. The article originated in events observed while a graduate student in 1957-1958. It showed the value of a political sociology approach to organizational conflict and analyzed coup d’etat, bureaucratic insurgencies, and mass insurrections in organizations. Although published in a leading journal, the article had little impact in the years immediately following its publication. Recently, working with Calvin Morrill and Hayagreeva Rao, the author revisited the topic. Moreover, there has been an upsurge of interest from other scholars, leading to conferences and publications. Recent work includes proactive, applied work attempting to use social movement approaches to promote organizational change. This article examines how the author’s work in this area intersected with his career and attempts to explain why there was so little interest originally but much more interest recently.
A Theory of the Firm Only a Microeconomist Could Love
Authors: Lubatkin Michael H.
Published: May 2005

Although agency theory dominates corporate governance research, its behavioral assumptions stand in direct competition to the worldviews held by most organizational scholars. In this article, the author argues that it is high time for organizational scholars to stop deferring to economists and start to develop their own governance theories, for which their conceptual base is far better suited.