cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human rights activists and transitional justice in the post-communist world: explaining silence among the outspoken

In this article, I use the cases of Croatia and Poland to explore the role of long-time human rights activists as advocates in the field of transitional justice. I argue that while core human rights organizations from the non-democratic period may play an important role in bringing attention to rights violations in non-democracies, they are severely handicapped with respect to transitional justice in the early transition period as a result of the very nature of the past regime, which prompts formation of elite organizations dependent on outside donors and isolated, or even distrusted, by their natural constituents at home. By contrast, organizations for which human rights is only one sub-theme, such as victims? organizations, may be more insulated from these defects and hence have a better shot at influencing the public justice debate.
Novel Synthesis of Thiazolidine Derivatives

Abstract A totally novel methodology for the synthesis of thiazolidine derivatives is described. The mechanistic pathway involved is also used to forcefully demonstrate the exclusive selection of the cyclization pathways predicted by “Baldwin rules”.
Misclassification of Body Mass Index (BMI) using self-reported weight and height in an urban Mexican-American population

Purpose To assess the impact of differential misclassification of BMI category on resultant data analysis and interpretation when using self-reported weight and height versus measured weight and height. Methods In an ongoing cohort study of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in Houston, Texas, we evaluated the reliability of Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated from self-reported to measured weight and height among a sample of 955 adults, aged 20–93. Spearman correlations were calculated for height, weight and BMI. We examined the mean differences between measured and self-reported values using Student's t-tests. Results The mean difference, calculated as BMI from measured weight and height − BMI from self-reported weight and height, was 0.79 units for women (p Conclusion These findings suggest the need for caution when using self-reported data to calculate BMI among adults, and underscore the need for similar studies in other populations.
Impervious surface area extraction from IKONOS imagery using an object-based fuzzy method

The study of impervious surfaces is crucial to the sustainable development of urban areas due to its strong impact on urban environments. Remotely sensed high-resolution imagery has the advantage of providing more spatial details; however, digital image processing algorithms have not been well developed to accommodate this advantage and other characteristics of such imagery. In this article, an object-based fuzzy classification approach for impervious surface extraction was developed and applied to two pan-sharpened multi-spectral IKONOS images covering the residential and central business district (CBD) areas of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Fuzzy rules based on spectral, spatial and texture attributes, were developed to extract impervious surfaces. An accuracy assessment was performed for the final maps. The results indicated that the spatial patterns of extracted features were in accordance with those in the original images and the boundaries of features were appropriately delineated. Impervious surfaces...
619 INHIBITORS OF HEME PRODUCTION IN TRANSIENT ERYTHRO-BLASTOPENIA OF CHILDHOOD

Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC), congenital hypoplastic anemia (CHA), and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are characterized by anemia, reticulocytopenia, and decreased eryth-ropoiesis. Differences in erythrocyte size, enzyme activities, membrane antigens, hemoglobin F, and protoporphyrin content; serum iron, iron-binding capacity, and ferritin levels; and spontaneous recovery from TEC are significantly diagnostic to differentiate these conditions. Inhibitors of heme production have not been found in CHA serum. To determine if inhibitors of heme production occur in TEC or IDA 1 ml human bone marrow cultures were incubated under controled conditions in pairs with and without erythropoietin (EPO) added. Fe59 was added to the cultures for the last 4 hours of incubation and EPO stimulated Fe59 heme production measured. To check for inhibitor activity, 1 μ1 of test serum was added to culture pairs. Serum from 8 untransfused TEC patients produced a 23±22% inhibition of Fe59 heme production. In contrast, serum from 2 untransfused CHA and 7 IDA children produced a 43±34% stimulation of Fe59 heme production. As recovery occurred, serial serum specimens from 2 TEC patients demonstrated gradual disappearance of inhibitor activity. We conclude that a transient inhibitor of heme production occurs in TEC but not in CHA or IDA. This inhibitor may an immune response and be the mechanism for anemia in TEC.
Novel Chromosomal Abnormalities Identified by Comparative Genomic Hybridization in Parathyroid Adenomas

The molecular basis of parathyroid adenomatosis includes defects in the cyclin D1/PRAD1 and MEN1 genes but is, in large part, unknown. To identify new locations of parathyroid oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, and to further establish the importance of DNA losses described by molecular allelotyping, we performed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on a panel of 53 typical sporadic (nonfamilial) parathyroid adenomas. CGH is a new molecular cytogenetic technique in which the entire tumor genome is screened for chromosomal gains and/or losses. Two abnormalities, not previously described, were found recurrently: gain of chromosome 16p (6 of 53 tumors, or 11%) and gain of chromosome 19p (5 of 53, or 9%). Losses were found frequently on 11p (14 of 53, or 26%), as well as 11q (18 of 53, or 34%). Recurrent losses were also seen on chromosomes 1p, 1q, 6q, 9p, 9q, 13q, and 15q, with frequencies ranging from 8–19%. Twenty-four of the 53 adenomas were also extensively analyzed with polymorphic microsatellite m...
Inverse photoelectron spectrometer with magnetically focused electron gun

This article describes an inverse photoelectron spectrometer based on the novel design of a magnetically focused low energy electron gun. The article discusses results of the ray tracing procedure conducted for this gun and some of the advantages of the magnetic focusing.
Correcting iron deficiency of peach trees

Abstract Peach (Prunus persica) trees grown in soil of 8.1 pH and with poor water drainage were treated with various rates of FeSO4 to overcome iron chlorosis. Two methods to reduce iron deficiency consisted of: 1) limb scoring, 2) tree injection. The limb scoring technique included scoring tree scaffolds with a saw and treating the cuts with 12–24% (w:w) ferrous sulfate solutions. Tree injection technique included the popular pressure injection, with 0.5–2.0% ferrous sulfate solutions. The benefits from the limb scoring method only lasted half of a season, therefore retreatments were necessary, while tree injection would only be required every two years. Results of two years of experimentation demonstrated that the treatments significantly regreened the trees, enhanced bloom, regenerated vegetative growth, increased fruit set, and improved the yield. Fruit quality (i.e. size, color, and total soluble solids) was also significantly improved. Leaf analysis showed treated trees had significantly more Ca but...
Instrumental responses become associated with reinforcers that differ in one feature

In three experiments, thirsty rats were trained to make several instrumental responses whose outcomes differed in which of two relatively inconsequential flavor features they contained. In Experiment 1, one of the features was subsequently devalued by pairing it with lithium chloride; in Experiment 2, it was enhanced in value by pairing it with sucrose. In both experiments, differences in the value of the features resulted in parallel differences in the likelihood of the responses during a subsequent extinction test. In Experiment 3, the animals chose between these responses in the presence of discriminative stimuli that had signaled the occurrence of these different features following another response. The stimuli selectively augmented the likelihood of the response with which they shared training by the same-flavored consequence. These results indicate that rats can separately encode features that differ along one dimension, both in the association between an instrumental response and its outcome, and in the association between a discriminative stimulus and that outcome.
Overexpression of a Mammalian Ethanolamine-specific Kinase Accelerates the CDP-ethanolamine Pathway *

Ethanolamine kinase (EKI) is the first committed step in phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) biosynthesis via the CDP-ethanolamine pathway. We identify a human cDNA encoding an ethanolamine-specific kinase EKI1 and the structure of the EKI1 gene located on chromosome 12. EKI1 overexpression in COS-7 cells results in a 170-fold increase in ethanolamine kinase-specific activity and accelerates the rate of [3H]ethanolamine incorporation into PtdEtn as a function of the ethanolamine concentration in the culture medium. Acceleration of the CDP-ethanolamine pathway does not result in elevated cellular PtdEtn levels, but rather the excess PtdEtn is degraded to glycerophosphoethanolamine. EKI1 has negligible choline kinase activity in vitro and does not influence phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. Acceleration of the CDP-ethanolamine pathway also does not change the rate of PtdEtn formation via the decarboxylation of phosphatidylserine. The data demonstrate the existence of separate ethanolamine and choline kinases in mammals and show that ethanolamine kinase can be a rate-controlling step in PtdEtn biosynthesis.
Study of the injection process in a gas chromatograph split injection port

Abstract Pressure and temperature variations which occur during an injection in a gas chromatograph split injection port were measured for different sample sizes, injection port temperatures, solvents, injection port inserts, and split flow-rates. A control volume analysis of the injection process was developed to predict the pressure, temperature and split ratio variations during and after the injection. Comparison of the predicted pressure and temperature results with the experimental measurements was satisfactory. An example is presented demonstrating how the model can be used to predict the quantitative error in a split injection port.
The WPPSI-R: You can't judge a test by its colors

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) is a thorough revision of the 1967 WPPSI, with expanded age range (3–7 years), new colorful materials, new item types for very young children, a new icebreaker subtest (Object Assembly), and a comprehensive manual. The test's strengths are its attractive pictures, strong evidence of construct validity, excellent reliability, and superb standardization sample. The revised battery's weaknesses are the heavy reliance on bonus points for Block Design and Object Assembly, the cumbersome scoring system for Geometric Design, the relative instability over time of some subtests (especially nonverbal), and its user-unfriendliness. Administration difficulties come from directions to the examiner that are too detailed and confusing, and directions to the child that include difficult concepts.
Iatrogenic nerve injuries during shoulder surgery.

Introduction: The current literature indicates that neurologic injuries during shoulder surgery occur infrequently and result in little if any morbidity. The purpose of this study was to review one institution’s experience treating patients with iatrogenic nerve injuries after shoulder surgery. Methods: A retrospective review of the records of patients evaluated in a brachial plexus specialty clinic from 2000 to 2010 identified twenty-six patients with iatrogenic nerve injury secondary to shoulder surgery. The records were reviewed to determine the operative procedure, time to presentation, findings on physical examination, treatment, and outcome. Results: The average age was forty-three years (range, seventeen to seventy-two years), and the average delay prior to referral was 5.4 months (range, one to fifteen months). Seven nerve injuries resulted from open procedures done to treat instability; nine, from arthroscopic surgery; four, from total shoulder arthroplasty; and six, from a combined open and arthroscopic operation. The injury occurred at the level of the brachial plexus in thirteen patients and at a terminal nerve branch in thirteen. Fifteen patients (58%) did not recover nerve function after observation and required surgical management. A structural nerve injury (laceration or suture entrapment) occurred in nine patients (35%), including eight of the thirteen who presented with a terminal nerve branch injury and one of the thirteen who presented with an injury at the level of the brachial plexus. Conclusions: Nerve injuries occurring during shoulder surgery can produce severe morbidity and may require surgical management. Injuries at the level of a peripheral nerve are more likely to be surgically treatable than injuries of the brachial plexus. A high index of suspicion and early referral and evaluation should be considered when evaluating patients with iatrogenic neurologic deficits after shoulder surgery.
STATE CORPORATE TAXATION AND BUSINESS POWER: A POOLED ANALYSIS

This article investigates whether businesses in concentrated or regulated industries are more likely to exert influence in the area of tax policy. Simultaneous equation models are developed that describe the behavior of firms in their effort to achieve policy outcomes beneficial to their common interests. These models are estimated using pooled time series cross-sectional data. The results show that firms in concentrated industries are likely to seek political influence if they are affected by direct or exclusive government regulation. The study also reveals that industrial concentration leads to greater corporate income. Examination of the political partisanship thesis provides support for the view that firms' tax rates vary depending upon the partisan coloration of state government.
Synthesis of Seselin and its hydroderivatives

Die Synthese des Naturstoffes Tetrahydroseselin aus der FruchtSeseli indicum wird beschrieben.
OMCVD of thin films from metal diketonates and triphenylbismuth

Films containing the metals copper, yttrium, calcium, strontium, barium, and bismuth were grown by organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD). Depositions were carried out at atmospheric pressure in an oxygen-rich environment using metal beta-diketonates and triphenylbismuth. The films were characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy, Nomarski and scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The results show that films containing yttrium consisted of Y2O3 with a small amount of carbidic carbon, those with copper and bismuth were mixtures of oxides with no detectable carbon, and those with calcium, strontium, and barium contained carbonates. Use of a partially fluorinated barium beta-diketonate gave films of BaF2 with small amounts of BaCO3.
Hydrops fetalis associated with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency and maternal ingestion of fava beans and ascorbic acid.

ERYTHROCYTE g l u c o s e 6 p h o s p h a t e d e h y d r o g e n a s e def ic iency is a well k n o w n cause of n e o n a t a l j aund ice , w h i c h usual ly first appears on the s e c o n d day of life or la ter a n d suggests tha t .the cond i t ions or agen t s respons ible for hemolys i s have b e e n e n c o u n t e r e d pos tpa r tum. Occasional ly , j aund i ce is p r e s e n t shor t ly after b i r t h and the re is an an t ena t a l his tory of m a t e r n a l inges t ion of potent ia l ly hemoly t i c agents . W e repor t here a case o f mat e rna l inges t ion of fava b e a n s a n d ascorbic acid associa ted with hydrops fetalis a n d death .
Visualizing Stress Fields With Photoelastic Holography

A review of basic techniques for recording various features of two-dimensional stress fields with photoelastic holography is presented. The emphasis is placed on the relationship between polarization of the object and reference beams in simple transmission holographic systems and on the type of fringe pattern produced, as well as its interpretation in terms of the stress field. After describing established techniques for single-exposure, double-exposure, time-average, and real-time holography of photoelastic models, the paper concludes with early results of a new method for direct optical separation of the stress components.
The neurology clerkship core curriculum

Neurologic symptoms are common in all practice settings, and neurologic diseases comprise a large and increasing proportion of health care expenditures and global disease burden. Consequently, the training of all physicians should prepare them to recognize patients who may have neurologic disease, and to take the initial steps in evaluating and managing those patients. We present a core curriculum outlining the clinical neurology skills and knowledge necessary to achieve that degree of preparation. The curriculum emphasizes general principles and a systematic approach to patients with neurologic symptoms and signs. The ability to perform and interpret the neurologic examination is fundamental to that approach, so the curriculum delineates the essential components of the examination in three different clinical settings. The focus of the curriculum is on symptom-based rather than disease-based learning. The only specific diseases selected for inclusion are conditions that are common or require urgent management. This curriculum has been approved by the national organization of neurology clerkship directors and endorsed by the major national professional organizations of neurologists. It is intended as a template for planning a neurology clerkship and as a benchmark for evaluating existing clerkships. It should be especially helpful to clerkship directors, neurology chairs, deans of medical education, and members of external accreditation groups.
Selected pulsed power efforts in US academia over the past two decades

We review the past 20 years of progress in pulsed power science and technology at Texas Tech University, a US academic institution, specifically focusing on efforts that came to fruition with the support of Dr. Robert Barker, AFOSR.
Sudden death in arteriosclerotic heart disease: The case for preventive medicine☆

Abstract Arteriosclerotic heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. The distribution of deaths due to arteriosclerotic heart disease in relation to demographic factors, time, space and medical care has been studied in several different ways. Data from cross-sectional and prospective studies disclose that the incidence of sudden death due to arteriosclerotic heart disease is higher in male than in female subjects and increases with age. Approximately 25 to 30 per cent of patients with incident cases of myocardial infarction die suddenly, and for a cohort of myocardial patients with myocardial infarction there are as many deaths within the first 24 hours as during the next 5 years. A variety of studies in the United States and England have shown that in about 70 per cent of all deaths due to arteriosclerotic heart disease the individuals died outside of a hospital or were dead on arrival. Relatively few of the deaths occur after 24 hours of hospitalization. Survivors of a myocardial infarction have a very high risk of dying suddenly. This risk also may exist for patients with angina pectoris. A retrospective study of sudden death in Baltimore has shown that 60 per cent of all deaths due to arteriosclerotic heart disease were sudden and that 61.4 per cent of all sudden deaths were due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. Sudden death due to arteriosclerotic heart disease was the single most important type of death in subjects aged 40 to 64 years, accounting for 20 per cent of the nontraumatic deaths. Approximately one half of the individuals with arteriosclerotic heart disease dying suddenly had a history of heart disease, and 23 per cent had seen a physician within a week before death. Finally, of the 585 white men who died of arteriosclerotic heart disease, only 52 (8.4 per cent) had died within two hours, had no history of heart disease and had not seen a physician within one month before death. A review of these studies, therefore, shows that either a program of primary prevention of myocardial infarction and sudden death or methods of early diagnosis and treatment outside of the hospital and in a coronary care facility will be necessary to reduce the death rates from arteriosclerotic heart disease in the community.
Neonatal Hearing Loss in the Indigent

Objective: To compare the risk factor profile for neonatal hearing loss (HL), and the follow-up rate of those identified with HL in an indigent population with those in an insured population. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: We studied 4526 neonates from the high-risk nursery or neonatal intensive care unit from two adjacent hospitals in Houston, Texas. Ben Taub General Hospital (BTGH) is a county public hospital that serves mainly the indigent. Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) is a private tertiary care center that serves patients with private insurance and Medicaid. Results: Overall, 133 infants failed the screening test. Follow-up diagnostic testing identified 48 patients with definite HL. Although nearly twice as many patients at BTGH failed screening compared with TCH (88 vs. 45), four times as many patients at BTGH did not return for diagnostic testing (43 vs. 10). When a hearing aid was needed, there was a delay in getting one at BTGH (P .1). Conclusions: Significant differences in the risk factor profile for neonatal HL exist between the indigent and the general population. A worrisome problem exists with the timely intervention in hearing-impaired indigent neonates.
Cellular volume and marker expression in human peripheral blood apheresis stem cells

Coulter volume is far more accurate measure of cell volume than forward angle light scatter. In this report, we have used Coulter volume to determine the mean cell volume and diameter of normal human peripheral blood cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells obtained by apheresis (HPC-A) from patients with hematological malignancies. Fresh peripheral blood samples (treated with Beckman Coulter IMMUNOPrep erythrocyte lysis solution), HPC-A samples (treated with BD Biosciences FACSLysing solution), or processed by Ficoll Hypaque sedimentation method were stained with CD45-FITC and PE-labeled CD34, CD90, CD117, and CD133 antibodies and analyzed for electronic volume and two color fluorescence. The mean electronic volume and diameter of mononuclear cells from fresh peripheral blood samples prepared with IMMUNOPrep were lymphocytes (191 microm(3), 7.16 microm), monocytes (370 microm(3), 9.91 microm), and granulocytes (328 microm(3), 8.56 microm). In mononuclear cells of HPC-A samples prepared by Histopaque-1077 sedimentation, the lymphocytes had volume and diameter of 311 microm(3), 8.4 microm, monocytes were 486 microm(3), 9.76 microm, and granulocytes were 515 microm(3), 9.95 microm. In contrast, HPC-A samples prepared after lysis with FACSLysing solution had mean electronic volume and diameter of lymphocytes (414 microm(3), 9.25 microm), monocytes (797 microm(3), 11.5 microm), and granulocytes (670 microm(3), 10.85 microm). Cell volume of mononuclear cells in the HPC-A samples prepared by Histopaque-1077 sedimentation method was correlated with the expression of stem cell markers CD34, CD90, CD117, and CD133. CD90 positive cells had the smallest mean electronic volume of 299.93 microm(3) when compared with cells with positive expression of CD133 (322 microm(3)), CD117 (349 microm(3)), CD34 (407 microm(3)), and CD45 (453 microm(3)). Correlation of cell volume with stem cell marker expression may allow for the identification of small stem cells, which may not express the conventional markers used for the identification of stem cells in HPC-A samples.
Wet‐End Deviations from Scaling of the Water Retention Characteristics of Fractal Porous Media

A previous investigation demonstrated that dry-end deviations from fractal scaling of the water retention of USDOE Hanford site soils set on at a moisture content closely related to the moisture content at which solute diffusion vanishes. This result was interpreted in terms of a minimum water content for percolation of filled capillaries. We now find that wet-end deviations from fractal scaling set on at approximately the same air content, inviting an explanation in terms of air percolation, at least in these relatively coarse soils.
Shared note-taking using electronic enhanced guided notes: Peer-review activity, performance, and self-regulated learning skills

Literature suggests that note-taking activity helps students in their learning process and successfully increases performance. Previous studies also have suggested that collaborative learning facilitates students to learn from different views of interpreting information. Although many studies have revealed positive correlations between collaborative learning and student performance, few studies have been conducted to investigate peer-review activity, students' performance, and self-regulated learning skills while engaged in shared note-taking using electronic enhanced guided notes. The main research question of the current study was to investigate how students' review frequency of peers' enhanced guided notes and learning performance reflected on their self-regulated learning skills. With regards to this question, we specifically explored differences among students according to their peer-review activity and performance and how the differences reflected on their self-regulated learning skills. Our findings revealed four groups of students based on those differentiation factors. Data analysis showed that while sixty percent of participants were willing to review their peers' enhanced guided notes regularly, sixty-eight percent of participants performed very well on the exams. Results also suggest that willingness to review peers' guided notes positively correlated with planning and cognitive strategies. Implications of the use of shared note-taking in an engineering classroom will be discussed.
Dissipativity Methods for Multivariable Control System Analysis

This paper examines the utility of dissipativity concepts in the analysis of stability and the robustness of stability of linear control systems. It is shown that dissipativity concepts may be used to generate many previously known results related to the robustness of stability.
On radiative transport of the resonance lines of sodium

Abstract In this work, we discuss the effects of incomplete frequency redistribution on radiation trapping of the sodium D lines in laboratory experiments. We compare measured radiative escape factors from two recent experiments with values calculated from the Holstein theory, which assumes complete redistribution, and the Post theory, which explicitly takes into account both incomplete redistribution and the hyperfine structure of the atom. We show that the upturn of the escape factor vs density curve reported in the experiments of Romberg and Kunze is not a manifestation of the effects of incomplete redistribution. We also show that the data of Huennekens and Gallagher are more accurately fitted by a simple Holstein theory expression, where all effects of natural broadening on the lineshape are ignored, than by the more complete Post theory calculations. This is due to the fact that, in the present case, the density region where trapping is affected by incomplete frequency redistribution is small. Other recent experiments in mercury by Post and coworkers have demonstrated that such effects can be significant under different conditions. In addition, we present a calculation of Post's escape function η for an infinite slab geometry. This function is needed for Post theory calculations of escape factors and effective radiative rates in that geometry.
Substituent exchange reactions of trimeric and tetrameric aryloxycyclophosphazenes with sodium 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxide

Substituent exchange reactions of sodium 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxide with trimeric and tetrameric aryloxycyclophosphazenes with phenoxy, 4-formylphenoxy, 4-cyanophenoxy and 4-nitrophenoxy side groups were conducted at 66 °C in THF and monitored by 31P NMR and mass spectrometry. These are model reactions for their counterparts with high polymeric linear organophosphazenes. The ease of displacement of OAr in cyclic trimeric and tetrameric molecules by CF3CH2O increased significantly with the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents in the polyphosphazene in the order, phenoxy ≪ 4-formylphenoxy < 4-cyanophenoxy ≈ 4-nitrophenoxy. Fully substituted 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxyphosphazene trimer and tetramer were formed by side group exchange, but these reactions were followed by an attack by the nucleophile on the α-carbon of the 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy groups linked to phosphorus to give a species in which one trifluoroethoxy group had been replaced by an ONa unit, and bis(trifluoroethyl) ether was formed as a side product. On the other hand, only partly exchanged species were formed when sodium phenoxide reacted with the trifluoroethoxy phosphazene trimer and tetramer, but again a product with an ONa side group was formed eventually together with phenyltrifluoroethyl ether generated viaalpha-carbon attack. The relative sensitivity of 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy and phenoxyphosphazene cyclic trimers and tetramers to the presence of trifluoroethoxide was established.
Comparing the Impact of News: A Tale of Three Health Care Sectors

: This paper examines the impact of news on the volatility of equity returns in three sectors of the health care industry – health care service providers, producers of drugs and supplies, and third-party payors. The news impact is found to be asymmetric in that bad news (i.e., a negative shock) has a significantly greater effect on volatility than good news. Intra-industry differences in health care equity market performance are documented and are consistent with the fundamental attributes of these sectors including the degree of price and cost pressures facing firms, the physical capital requirements of firms, the search behavior of health care customers, and the presence of alternative market opportunities.
Facile generation of dialkylaminyl radicals from n-hydroxypyridine-2-thione carbamates. Application in kinetic studies of small ring cycloalkylaminyl radical ring openings

Abstract The preparation of N-hydroxypyridine-2-thione carbamates and the formation of dialkylaminyl radicals from these species are described and the application of this methodology in kinetic studies of aminyl radical rearrangements is demonstrated.
Synthesis and size-dependent crystallization of colloidal germanium telluride nanoparticles

Colloidal nanocrystals have long been used to study the dependence of phase stability and transitions on size. Both structural phase stability and phase transitions change dramatically in the nanometre size regime where the surface plays a significant role in determining the overall energetics of the system. We investigate the solid–solid phase transformation of crystallization in amorphous GeTe nanoparticles. We report a colloidal synthetic route to amorphous GeTe nanoparticles. Using in situ X-ray diffraction while heating, we observe the crystallization of the nanoparticles and find a dramatic increase of the crystallization temperature of over 150 °C above the bulk value. Using size-selected nanoparticle films, we show that the crystallization temperature depends strongly on the particle size. In addition, we measure the electrical resistance of nanoparticle films and observe over 5 orders of magnitude lower resistance for the crystalline film compared to the amorphous film. Finally, we discuss the implications of the size-dependence of crystallization in the context of both understanding the behavior of phase stability in the nanosize regime and applications to phase change memory devices.
Resveratrol Neuroprotection in a Chronic Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Resveratrol is a naturally-occurring polyphenol that activates SIRT1, an NAD-dependent deacetylase. SRT501, a pharmaceutical formulation of resveratrol with enhanced systemic absorption, prevents neuronal loss without suppressing inflammation in mice with relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis. In contrast, resveratrol has been reported to suppress inflammation in chronic EAE, although neuroprotective effects were not evaluated. The current studies examine potential neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of resveratrol in chronic EAE induced by immunization with myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein peptide in C57/Bl6 mice. Effects of two distinct formulations of resveratrol administered daily orally were compared. Resveratrol delayed the onset of EAE compared to vehicle-treated EAE mice, but did not prevent or alter the phenotype of inflammation in spinal cords or optic nerves. Significant neuroprotective effects were observed, with higher numbers of retinal ganglion cells found in eyes of resveratrol-treated EAE mice with optic nerve inflammation. Results demonstrate that resveratrol prevents neuronal loss in this chronic demyelinating disease model, similar to its effects in relapsing EAE. Differences in immunosuppression compared with prior studies suggest that immunomodulatory effects may be limited and may depend on specific immunization parameters or timing of treatment. Importantly, neuroprotective effects can occur without immunosuppression, suggesting a potential additive benefit of resveratrol in combination with anti-inflammatory therapies for multiple sclerosis.
METROPOLE-3D: a three-dimensional electromagnetic field simulator for EUV masks under oblique illumination

Conventional lithography techniques have been losing their ability to easily support continuous shrinking of feature sizes, especially when the pattern half-pitch is <60 nm. EUV lithography is one of the leading contenders to replace these conventional techniques. Because the EUV mask structure is many times thicker than the illumination wavelength, scalar Fraunhofer diffraction calculations cannot describe the scattering of light from the EUV masks with enough accuracy. In this paper, we present a rigorous 3-D electromagnetic field simulator for EUV masks. The simulator is based on a 3-D waveguide method developed to calculate the characteristics of the light scattered from nonplanar EUV masks. A typical EUV mask contains as many as 80 reflective layers in addition to the absorbing layers, and we have developed a fast method to calculate the scattering matrix of the reflective layers. Also, based on the existing numerical techniques, we can describe the light scattering in the absorbing layers with complex index of refraction. The simulator has been recently modified to handle oblique illumination conditions, and this is the focus of our paper. Aerial images are calculated in the image plane of a typical EUV stepper, and a threshold resist model is used to predict the printed pattern size. We will first compare our work with published results on dense and isolated lines. Then, we will describe the results of our calculations for two-dimensional patterns (e.g., contacts and islands) under oblique illumination. The typical simulation time is less than 10 hours on a desktop workstation for two-dimensional patterns.
Multiubiquitin Chain Receptors Define a Layer of Substrate Selectivity in the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System

Abstract Recruitment of ubiquitinated proteins to the 26S proteasome lies at the heart of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Genetic studies suggest a role for the multiubiquitin chain binding proteins (MCBPs) Rad23 and Rpn10 in recruitment, but biochemical studies implicate the Rpt5 ATPase. We addressed this issue by analyzing degradation of the ubiquitinated Cdk inhibitor Sic1 (UbSic1) in vitro. Mutant rpn10Δ and rad23Δ proteasomes failed to bind or degrade UbSic1. Although Rpn10 or Rad23 restored UbSic1 recruitment to either mutant, rescue of degradation by Rad23 uncovered a requirement for the VWA domain of Rpn10. In vivo analyses confirmed that Rad23 and the multiubiquitin binding domain of Rpn10 contribute to Sic1 degradation. Turnover studies of multiple UPS substrates uncovered an unexpected degree of specificity in their requirements for MCBPs. We propose that recruitment of substrates to the proteasome by MCBPs provides an additional layer of substrate selectivity in the UPS.
Rethinking sensitivity interdependence: Assessing the trade, financial, and monetary links between states

International relations scholars do not adequately conceptualize or measure economic interdependence, a crucial variable in studies of trade and conflict, economic sanctions, and globalization. Most studies conflate vulnerability with sensitivity and confuse interconnectedness with genuine interdependence by relying on inadequate indices of interdependence such as unadjusted trade as a percentage of GDP. Such measures fail to capture the true cost to states of a termination of normal trading relations and ignore completely interstate financial and monetary ties. In this article, we offer a new method, the Contextual Sensitivity Estimator (CSE), for gauging sensitivity interdependence. The CSE addresses existing shortcomings in several noteworthy ways. First, it takes into account the strategic and domestic economic context of external economic linkages. Second, it assesses the composition of trade and the uses of trade proceeds. Third, it provides a detailed conceptualization of critical channels of sensi...
The Synthesis and Stability of Si1−yQy Alloys and Strained Layer Superlattices

We have synthesized Si1−yQy layers and strained layer superlattices on Si (100) with C concentrations of up to a few percent using Solid Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy. The presence of C even in small quantities is known to disrupt the epitaxy of Si. We show that under conditions of high Si flux for a given C/Si flux ratio, defect-free epitaxy results. However, exceeding a critical C/Si flux ratio leads to disruption of epitaxy, initially via twinning and subsequently by amorphous growth. Growth temperature also plays a significant role in preventing twinning and islanding. Low growth temperature also suppresses the precipitation of β-SiC and leads to the formation of pseudomorphic Si1−yQy random alloys. The layers are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Secondary Ion Mass spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. We have also studied the thermal stability of strained layer superlattices and find that the layers are stable to about 800°C (for y = 0.003). Between 800°C and 1000°C, the layers relax by interdiffusion. Above 1000°C, silicon carbide precipitation occurs and the carbide layers nucleate and grow at high C content regions of the film.
Learning-by-Using and the Switch to Better Machines

Abstract In an attempt to account for the huge observed disparity in international incomes, several recent papers study models in the spirit of R. Solow (1960, in “Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences 1959,” Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford) where the adoptions of better technologies require investments in new equipment. This paper continues this line of research. It describes an economy in which firms install more productive machines and subsequent to these adoptions, learn how to use those machines. In contrast to these other papers, this one does not predict that firms always adopt the frontier technology whenever they switch technologies. In this model both the upper and lower supports of the distribution of operated technologies may differ between economies that differ in policy. Consequently, this model can generate larger differences in international incomes than these other models. These differences are still small relative to the data, however. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: O11, O33, O41.
Runtime verification for autonomous spacecraft software

Autonomous systems are systems that can operate without human interference for extended periods of time in changing environments, likely in remote locations. Software is usually an essential part of such systems. However, adaptation of autonomy software is limited by its complexity and the difficulty of verifying and validating it. We describe an approach named runtime verification for testing autonomy software. Runtime verification is a technique for generating test oracles from abstract specifications of expected behavior. We describe its application to the PLASMA planning system, used in the recent Mars exploration rover missions. We furthermore discuss alternative autonomy V&V approaches.
Embedding biometric identifiers in 2D barcodes for improved security

Two-dimensional (2D) barcode symbology is an emerging technology used for compactly storing and retrieving information. These barcodes can be found on the back of drivers' licenses and are encoded with secure text data. Standard 2D barcode such as PDF417 uses upper and lowercase alphabets, numeric digits and special characters for encoding. Some barcodes also include a compressed photo of the individual. The visual quality of the compressed image is usually poor and occupies a large amount of space which greatly reduces the capacity needed for encoding text. This paper presents a novel approach for embedding uncompressed images in a standard PDF417 2D barcode using a blind digital watermarking technique. The text is encoded in the standard PDF417 format with error correction, while the face and fingerprint images are watermarked in the encoded 2D barcode. Experimental results show that the proposed technique effectively increased the standard capacity of the PDF417 2D barcode without altering the contents of the encoded data. The results also show that the visual quality of the extracted photo image is high. The extracted fingerprint image when compared with the original fingerprint using an AFIS system yielded a high matching score.
Sampling to Assess a Re-Established Appalachian Forest in Ohio Based on Gelechioid Moths (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea)

A list of microlepidoptera belonging to the superfamily Gelechioidea was produced from June trap samples from sites within the Wayne National Forest (Lawrence County), an Appalachian forest in Southern Ohio that was once a greatly disturbed area and has since re-established over a period of nearly 100 years. The composition and diversity of Lawrence county is compared to lists of gelechioid moths generated by other surveys in the eastern United States: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an Ohio study (Summerville and Crist 2003), and unpublished data from Connecticut (Wagner). From comparison with these studies, we address two questions: (1) How well do passive surveys of Gelechioidea compare to more labor intensive surveys? (2) How does the regenerated Wayne National Forest compare to other well documented areas with respect to gelechioid diversity? Our sample of diversity, though more narrow in time and area, compares favorably to more exhaustive sampling and demonstrates that it may be more efficient to focus on target groups in focal localities when time and resources are limited rather than conduct extensive sampling programs.
Acid hydrolysis of sugar beet pulp as pretreatment for fermentation

Substrate pretreatment is a cost-sensitive operation in the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic materials. The general purpose of this work is to optimize substrate pretreatment by selectively solubilizing the hemicellulose fraction to render a cellulose-enriched fraction for further fermentation or enzyme hydrolysis. Hemicellulose hydrolyzate, usually a waste stream, is proposed to be fermented by the pentose-utilizing yeast Pichia stipitis. Sugar beet pulp (SBP) was chosen as a substrate due to its low lignin content which makes substrate pretreatment simpler and less expensive. Hemicellulose utilization is very important in the case of SBP, whose hemicellulose content is as high as 50%. Conditions for SBP pretreatment by acid hydrolysis were optimized, SBP and acid (HCl and H2SO4) concentrations, agitation, temperature and particle size were analyzed as key variables. Experiments were planned according to a factorial design, the objective function to be optimized being the percentage ratio of hydrolyzed hemicellulose to hydrolyzed cellulose. SBP concentration was always more than 50 g/l to obtain a high sugar concentration in the hydrolyzate. The best conditions for SBP pretreatment were: 55 g/l of 32–50 mesh SBP, 1·1 g H2SO4/g SBP, 90 min at 80°C and 400 rpm. Under such conditions, 86·3% and 7·8% of cellulose and hemicellulose hydrolysis, respectively, were obtained.
Assessing the Benefits of Misting–Cooling Systems for Growing/Finishing Swine as Affected by Environment and Pig Placement Date

The NCPIG swine growth model was used to evaluate swine growth performance for Wilmington, North Carolina; Bardstown and Mayfield, Kentucky; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as influenced by the use of a misting–cooling system. Five pig placement dates (Julian days 106, 126, 146, 166, and 186) were evaluated for each location using 22 years of weather data (1978–1999). The use of a misting system, while quite variable, was found to be generally profitable, reducing the length of the time to reach market weight. As the placement date increased, the average return to misting ($/pig/year) decreased from $8.12 to $1.98 for Oklahoma City, from $6.00 to $1.16 for Wilmington, from $4.14 to $0.99 for Mayfield, and from $3.07 to $0.87 for Bardstown. Based on the prorated value of $1.39 per pig/per year for the cost of a misting system, probabilities for recovering the initial investment amount were determined for each pig placement date and location. These probabilities decreased as the pig placement date increased, except for Oklahoma City, which remained above 98% regardless of the date. For the locations other than Oklahoma City, the probabilities indicated that the earlier placement dates were more favorable for recovering the initial investment.