cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Customers Affect the Value Relevance of Sustainability Reporting? Empirical Evidence on Stakeholder Interdependence

In spite of the strategic importance of sustainability reporting in current business practice and the resulting increase in research on its value relevance, studies accounting for stakeholder interdependence are scarce. On the basis of the instrumental stakeholder theory, we investigate whether customers have an impact on the value relevance of sustainability reporting. Using a sample of US listed firms, we show that the value relevance of sustainability reporting is affected by customer profile differences, thereby confirming customer–shareholder interdependence. However, customer profile effects are only predominant if firms' profitability levels are low and disappear as profitability increases. Overall, our findings provide a more nuanced understanding of the value relevance of sustainability reporting. Therefore, we offer managers fine-grained guidance for value relevant sustainability reporting. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Deferred Compensation and the Policy Limitations of the Nuclear Option

The article reviews the tax historical background that led to enactment of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, particularly the history of weak judicial enforcement of the constructive receipt doctrine which had left open the door to significant tax timing abuse. The author argues, however, that in Section 409A Congress nonetheless overreacted, creating a statute whose overbreadth and penalty structure imposed its own societal cost (in the form of compliance and transaction expenses) that possibly outweighs the cost of the tax abuse the section was designed to correct. More generally, he argues that "binary," high-risk enforcement schemes, where the only two possible taxpayer states are full compliance and ruinous noncompliance, lead to inefficient results and are bad tax policy. Two other examples of this type of binary enforcement approach in U.S. employee benefits law are the qualified retirement and prohibited transaction regulatory regimes. The article shows that under such a regime it will be rational for a taxpayer to undertake a transaction only if the probability, P, that the transaction fully complies with all Code requirements satisfies: P x B > (1-P) x C, where B is the benefit expected from the transaction and C is the expected cost should the transaction be found not to be fully tax-compliant. In the 409A context, if one makes the assumptions, for example, that the benefits associated with deferring compensation have value equal to 15% of the amount deferred, and the penalty associated with violation of 409A is 2,000% of the amount deferred (plausible assumptions, given the 409A penalty structure), it will be rational to defer compensation only if the probability of full compliance is at least 99.3%, which approaches absolute certainty and is in practice often unattainable at reasonable cost.
Stability of the Escherichia coli Division Inhibitor Protein MinC Requires Determinants in the Carboxy-Terminal Region of the Protein

Certain mutations in the C-terminal region of the Escherichia coli division inhibitor protein MinC cause loss of function of the division inhibitor by making MinC more sensitive to degradation by Lon protease, implying a possible role for the C-terminal region in regulating the stability and cellular concentration of MinC.
A comparison of usability between voting methods

In order to know if new electronic voting systems truly represent a gain in usability, it is necessary to have information about the usability of more traditional voting methods. The usability of three different voting methods was evaluated using the metrics recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology: efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Participants voted with two different types of paper-based ballots (one open-response ballot and one bubble ballot) and one mechanical lever machine. No significant differences in voting completion times or error rates were found between voting methods. However, large differences in satisfaction ratings indicated that participants were most satisfied with the bubble ballot and least satisfied with the lever machine. These data are an important step in addressing the need for baseline usability measures for existing voting systems.
Perioperative Diabetes Management

Optimal glycemic control in the perioperative period decreases the infection rate and other complications [1–6]. The goal is to prevent hyperglycemia, not just to react to it. The traditional practice of writing only for a “sliding scale” as well as the term “sliding scale” should be abandoned [7]. Good glycemic control requires you to be proactive, not just reactive. Think in terms of basal, prandial (mealtime), and correction insulin therapy. Although some concerns have been raised about “intensive” insulin therapy because of the risk of hypoglycemia, this does not negate the benefit of optimal glucose control, the definition of which includes minimizing hypoglycemia [8–12].
Improving the resolution performance of eigenstructure-based direction-finding algorithms

Recently there has been much interest in algorithms which form a direction-finding spectrum based on the eigenstructure of the sensor covariance matrix. These algorithms are attractive because of their ability to achieve Cramer-Rao direction-finding accuracy bounds for closely spaced emitters, provided the available signal-to-noise (SNR) is high enough to resolve two distinct peaks in the estimated spectrum. In this paper we present several methods for reducing the SNR required for resolution. The first method involves examining the roots of the spectrum polynomial. This technique is applicable when a uniformly spaced sensor array is in use. The second method uses the properties of the so-called signal-space eigenvectors to define a rational (pole-zero) spectrum function with improved resolution capabilities.
An evaluation model for inbound call centres design

As customer behaviour influences effective call centre performance, this study suggests an approach to evaluate the design of inbound call centre systems. The study analyses the elements interacting in inbound call centres and means by which consumers allocate their time. First, this study analyses the system measuring the value of the services in functions of customer's demand and service utility. Simultaneously, it assesses call centre performance as a stochastic queuing system upon transition rates. Subsequently both assessments are combined to create an optimum policy matrix that contains the maximum value in terms of customer value and serving times. The benefits of designing more effective call centres systems should be reflected in achieving a better call centre performance.
Simple linear string constraints

Modern web applications often suffer from command injection attacks. Even when equipped with sanitization code, many systems can be penetrated due to software bugs. It is desirable to automatically discover such vulnerabilities, given the bytecode of a web application. One approach would be symbolically executing the target system and constructing constraints for matching path conditions and attack patterns. Solving these constraints yields an attack signature, based on which, the attack process can be replayed. Constraint solving is the key to symbolic execution. For web applications, string constraints receive most of the attention because web applications are essentially text processing programs. We present simple linear string equation (SISE), a decidable fragment of the general string constraint system. SISE models a collection of regular replacement operations (such as the greedy, reluctant, declarative, and finite replacement), which are frequently used by text processing programs. Various automata techniques are proposed for simulating procedural semantics such as left-most matching. By composing atomic transducers of a SISE, we show that a recursive algorithm can be used to compute the solution pool, which contains the value range of each variable in concrete solutions. Then a concrete variable solution can be synthesized from a solution pool. To accelerate solver performance, a symbolic representation of finite state transducer is developed. This allows the constraint solver to support a 16-bit Unicode alphabet in practice. The algorithm is implemented in a Java constraint solver called SUSHI. We compare the applicability and performance of SUSHI with Kaluza, a bounded string solver.
Real-time MRI tracking of articulation during grammatical and ungrammatical pauses in speech.

Grammatical pauses in speech generally occur at a clause boundary, presumably due to parsing and planning; however, pausing can occur at grammatically inappropriate locations when planning, production, and/or lexical access processes are disrupted. Real‐time MRI of spontaneous speech production (responses to queries like “tell me about your family,” etc.) was used for seven subjects to examine the articulatory manifestations of grammatical and ungrammatical pauses (manually classified as such by two experimenters depending on the presence/absence of a clausal juncture). Measures quantifying the speed of articulators were developed and applied during these pauses as well as their immediate neighborhoods. Results indicate a consistently higher articulatory speed and spatial range for grammatical compared to ungrammatical pauses, and an appreciable drop in speed for grammatical pauses relative to their neighborhoods, suggesting that higher‐level cognitive mechanisms are at work in planning grammatical pauses. On the other hand, ungrammatical pauses show only a slight decrease in articulator speed at the pause but are followed by a spurt in speed immediately after, suggesting that the planning mechanism has been re‐engaged only at that point, giving an indication of how much time it takes to “recover” from the perturbation of the linguistic structural integrity of the utterance. [Work supported by NIH.]
An investigation of changes in attitude over time of GDSS groups under unanimity and majority decision rules

Abstract Under controlled laboratory conditions, we examine the effects of variations in decision rules on attitudes of individuals operating within groups. We find that significant changes in satisfaction and commitment occur across sessions when groups operate under a unanimity decision rule, but not when groups operate under a majority decision rule. We also observe that these two DRs produce opposing results both when there is membership continuity and when there is membership change.
Ferroelectric control of magnetization in La 1 − x Sr x MnO 3 manganites: A first-principles study

We present a first-principles study on the interface between perovskite ferroelectrics (PbTiO${}_{3}$) and conducting magnetic manganites (La${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Sr${}_{x}$MnO${}_{3}$). We show that by switching the ferroelectric polarization, additional carriers are accumulated or depleted at the interfacial region of the manganite and that this change in carrier density can modify the magnetic spin configuration of the interfacial Mn, which is consistent with the experimentally observed anomalously large change in the magnetization. We also describe an unexpected purely interfacial phenomenon whereby the ferroelectric polarization of the interfacial region changes the magnetic energetics---a degree of freedom not present in bulk manganites. Theoretically, we show the the ground-state magnetic structure depends sensitively on the precise choice of Hubbard $U$ parameter within the widely used DFT+$U$ class of exchange correlation functionals. We provide a simple Ising-like model that explains the evolution of the magnetic structure with $U$ in tandem with a discussion of various different ways in which one might try to choose an appropriate $U$ parameter.
Biophysics of Electrochemical Cell Lysis of Malaria Parasite

The cell lysis is an essential part of sample preparation because the target gene or protein encapsulated by cellular membrane can only be available in the extracellular space for any type of assay to work. Yet, a simple method that is compatible with downstream assay such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been introduced. Here, we report an electrode-based cell lysis method for nucleic acid extraction. A pair of electrode was used in the microfluidic device to electrochemically generate hydroxyl ions which permeabilize and break the lipid bilayer. The key advantages of electrochemical lysis are that (1) hydroxyl ions are compensated with hydrogen ions generated from the paired electrochemical and thus does not interfere with downstream assays, and (2) the simplicity of the system integration on-chip by electrode fabrication. The on-chip cell lysis module was used to lyse human blood infected with malaria parasites. At 3 V applied potential, the complete lysis of all the red blood cells (RBC), including malaria-infected RBC and non-infected RBC, occurred within 200 seconds, but intact malaria parasites were already absent after 30 seconds of lysis. The rapid lysis of malaria may be explained by the weakened lipid bilayer of RBCs when it is infected with malaria parasites, and thus malaria-infected RBCs may become more susceptible to electrochemical lysis than non-infected RBCs. The selectivity of malaria lysis over average RBCs was the highest at 3 V with a factor near 120. This can potentially used toward our advantage to isolate the malaria sample from most non-infected RBCS. After lysing the malaria-infected RBC rapidly and switching off the lysis, the remaining intact-RBC can be separated from the malaria sample to reduce the PCR inhibition due to the RBC-released hemoglobin.
Coherent detection of diffusely scattered light for extending depth using multiply scattered low coherence interferometry

Interferometric based imaging has a number of advantages over direct detection of photons, including very high time resolution, shot noise limited sensitivity, and reasonable cost. In spite of these advantages, diffuse optical techniques have almost exclusively used direct detection. In order to explore the feasibility of interferometrically detected multiply scattered light, we constructed a multiply scattered low coherence interferometry (MS/LCI) system. Using angle resolved detection and a novel illumination scheme, we demonstrate direct imaging through nearly 94 mean free scattering paths.
Service Learning Inputs and Outcomes in a Personal Selling Course.

To improve the use of service learning in the marketing curriculum, Petkus (2000) recommended that future research focus on empirical studies of service learning in specific marketing courses. Pers...
LOW-TEMPERATURE HEAT CAPACITIES OF INDIUM AND TIN

The heat capacity of indium has been measured between 0.08 and 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in the normal state ($H=1000$ Oe) and between 0.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and the critical temperature in the superconducting state. At $Tl~0.8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K, ${C}_{n}=0.00101{T}^{\ensuremath{-}2}+1.69T+1.42{T}^{3}$ mJ ${\mathrm{mole}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{deg}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and at $Tl~0.35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K, ${C}_{s}=1.22{T}^{3}$ mJ ${\mathrm{mole}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{deg}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The absence of the hyperfine contribution to ${C}_{s}$ is a consequence of the long spin-lattice relaxation time. Below 0.35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, where the superconducting-state lattice heat capacity can be measured, the normal-state lattice heat capacity is only a small part of ${C}_{n}$ and calorimetric measurements alone cannot exclude the possibility that the lattice heat capacities in the two states are equal. However, the excellent agreement between the elastic constants and the apparent normal-state lattice heat capacity supports the conclusion that they are not. The apparent discrepancy in the lattice heat capacities is less than that reported by Bryant and Keesom but the difference is largely accounted for by differences in analysis of the normal-state data and by their assumption that the measured ${C}_{s}$ included the nuclear quadrupole term. The measurements of ${C}_{s}$ extend to temperatures well below that at which the electronic contribution becomes negligible and therefore permit a comparison with theoretical studies of the superconducting-state lattice heat capacity. The heat capacity of tin was measured only below 1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Below 0.45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, ${C}_{s}=0.246{T}^{3}$ mJ ${\mathrm{mole}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{deg}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, in good agreement with the elastic constants. Within the experimental error, ${C}_{n}=1.78T+0.246{T}^{3}$ mJ ${\mathrm{mole}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{deg}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
The influence of phosphorus availability and Laccaria bicolor symbiosis on phosphate acquisition, antioxidant enzyme activity, and rhizospheric carbon flux in Populus tremuloides.

Many forest tree species are dependent on their symbiotic interaction with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi for phosphorus (P) uptake from forest soils where P availability is often limited. The ECM fungal association benefits the host plant under P limitation through enhanced soil exploration and increased P acquisition by mycorrhizas. To study the P starvation response (PSR) and its modification by ECM fungi in Populus tremuloides, a comparison was made between nonmycorrhizal (NM) and mycorrhizal with Laccaria bicolor (Myc) seedlings grown under different concentrations of phosphate (Pi) in sand culture. Although differences in growth between NM and Myc plants were small, Myc plants were more effective at acquiring P from low Pi treatments, with significantly lower km values for root and leaf P accumulation. Pi limitation significantly increased the activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol-dependent peroxidase in leaves and roots to greater extents in NM than Myc P. tremuloides. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity also increased in NM plants under P limitation, but was unchanged in Myc plants. Formate, citrate, malonate, lactate, malate, and oxalate and total organic carbon exudation by roots was stimulated by P limitation to a greater extent in NM than Myc plants. Colonization by L. bicolor reduced the solution Pi concentration thresholds where PSR physiological changes occurred, indicating that enhanced Pi acquisition by P. tremuloides colonized by L. bicolor altered host P homeostasis and plant stress responses to P limitation. Understanding these plant–symbiont interactions facilitates the selection of more P-efficient forest trees and strategies for tree plantation production on marginal soils.
The International Migration of Nurses in Long-Term Care

This article describes five major factors that are affecting patterns of international migration among nurses who work in long-term care settings: DEMOGRAPHIC DRIVERS: The aging of the populations in developed countries and the low to negative growth in the working-age population will increase the demand for international workers to provide long-term care services. GENDER AND RACE: A dual labor market of long-term care workers, increasingly made up of women of color, is becoming internationalized by the employment of migrating nurses from developing countries. CREDENTIALING: The process of credentialing skilled workers creates barriers to entry for migrating nurses and leads to "decredentialing" where registered nurses work as licensed practical nurses or aides. COLONIAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY: The colonial histories of many European countries and the United States have increased migration from former colonies in developing countries to former colonial powers. WORKER RECRUITMENT: Efforts to limit the recruitment of health care workers from some developing countries have had little effect on migration, in part because much of the recruitment comes through informal channels of family and friends.
Carbamazepine potentiates the effectiveness of morphine in a rodent model of neuropathic pain.

Approximately 60% of morphine is glucuronidated to morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) which may aggravate preexisting pain conditions. Accumulating evidence indicates that M3G signaling through neuronal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) may be central to this proalgesic signaling event. These events are known to include elevated neuronal excitability, increased voltage-gated sodium (NaV) current, tactile allodynia and decreased opioid analgesic efficacy. Using an in vitro ratiometric-based calcium influx analysis of acutely dissociated small and medium-diameter neurons derived from lumbar dorsal root ganglion (DRG), we observed that M3G-sensitive neurons responded to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and over 35% of these M3G/LPS-responsive cells exhibited sensitivity to capsaicin. In addition, M3G-exposed sensory neurons significantly increased excitatory activity and potentiated NaV current as measured by current and voltage clamp, when compared to baseline level measurements. The M3G-dependent excitability and potentiation of NaV current in these sensory neurons could be reversed by the addition of carbamazepine (CBZ), a known inhibitor of several NaV currents. We then compared the efficacy between CBZ and morphine as independent agents, to the combined treatment of both drugs simultaneously, in the tibial nerve injury (TNI) model of neuropathic pain. The potent anti-nociceptive effects of morphine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) were observed in TNI rodents at post-injury day (PID) 7–14 and absent at PID21–28, while administration of CBZ (10 mg/kg, i.p.) alone failed to produce anti-nociceptive effects at any time following TNI (PID 7–28). In contrast to either drug alone at PID28, the combination of morphine and CBZ completely attenuated tactile hyperalgesia in the rodent TNI model. The basis for the potentiation of morphine in combination with CBZ may be due to the effects of a latent upregulation of NaV1.7 in the DRG following TNI. Taken together, our observations demonstrate a potential therapeutic use of morphine and CBZ as a combinational treatment for neuropathic pain.
Stopping power, equilibration, and collective flow in the reactions Ar + Pb and Nb + Nb — A theoretical analysis

Abstract The approach to local kinetic equilibrium in relativistic heavy ion collisions is studied by following the time evolution of the Wigner function for Ar (770 MeV/N)+Pb in configuration and momentum space using the Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck theory. Rapid equilibrium of the participant region is observed within 10 fm/ c . Total stopping of the projectile occurs at small impact parameters. For intermediate impact parameters, the theory predicts simultaneously the bounce-off effect of the projectile fragments and the sidewards flow of the participant matter. The latter can be displayed via a large angle peak in the flow angle, θ f , distributions, while the bounce-off is most easily observed via a pronounced peak in the rapidity dependence of the transverse momentum transfer p x ( y ). A drastic dependence of p x and θ f on impact parameter and bombarding energy is predicted for Ar + Pb and Nb + Nb. Recent data support our analysis.
Novel treatment strategies for feline chronic kidney disease: A critical look at the potential of mesenchymal stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy is an innovative field of scientific investigation with tremendous potential for clinical application that holds promise for the treatment of a variety of diseases in veterinary medicine. Based on the known desirable properties of mesenchymal stem cells, the therapy has potential for treatment of both acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in cats. This review details terminology commonly used in this field of study, sources of mesenchymal stem cells and their proposed mechanism of action particularly as it relates to renal repair. Studies performed in rodent models of chronic kidney disease and feline clinical trial results are also summarized with the aim of providing an overview of the current status of this treatment modality and its potential for the future.
Stress-Induced Binge Eating: A Behavior Analytic Approach to Assessment and Intervention

Responses to acute or chronic stress may include behaviors, such as alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and altered eating patterns. In connection with the stress-eating relation, some researchers have suggested that certain stressors (e.g., psychological or emotional) may influence the direction (i.e., increase or decrease) of a person’s eating response. In a recent study, Connors and Morse (Int J Eat Disord 13:1–11, 2006) indicated that the physical and psychological stress associated with sexual trauma could result in an increase in food intake and nonstandard eating patterns. In consequence, this study describes a multifaceted intervention for a 24-year-old woman who experienced chronic stress and received a diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder (American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. DSM-IV. Washington, DC: APA) following a series of unwanted sexual experiences. The behavior analytic intervention emphasized self-control, self-regulation, and physical activity. The treatment package resulted in a 19% reduction in the participant’s body weight, a 96% reduction in binge eating, and long-term adherence to an exercise routine.
Performance of various branch-point tolerant phase reconstructors with finite time delays and measurement noise

This study extends branch point tolerant phase reconstructor research to examine the effect of finite time delays and measurement error on system performance. Branch point tolerant phase reconstruction is particularly applicable to atmospheric laser weapon and communication systems, which operate in extended turbulence. We examine the relative performance of a least squares reconstructor, least squares plus hidden phase reconstructor, and a Goldstein branch point reconstructor for various correction time-delays and measurement noise scenarios. Performance is evaluated using a wave-optics simulation that models a 100km atmospheric propagation of a point source beacon to a transmit/receive aperture. Phase-only corrections are then calculated using the various reconstructor algorithms and applied to an outgoing uniform field. Point Strehl is used as the performance metric. Results indicate that while time delays and measurement noise reduce the performance of branch point tolerant reconstructors, these reconstructors can still outperform least squares implementations in many cases. We also show that branch point detection becomes the limiting factor in measurement noise corrupted scenarios.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Relationship Between Prelinguistic Vocalization and Later Expressive Vocabulary in Young Children With Developmental Delay

This study tested the relationship between prelinguistic vocalization and expressive vocabulary 1 year later in young children with mild to moderate developmental delays. Three vocalization variables were tested: rate of all vocalization, rate of vocalizations with consonants, and rate of vocalizations used interactively. The 58 toddlers in the study were 17–34 months old, not sensory impaired, and had Bayley Mental Development Indices (Bayley, 1969; Bayley, 1993) from 35–85. In addition, the children had fewer than 3 words in their expressive vocabularies and during classroom observation each showed at least one instance of intentional prelinguistic communication before testing. Selected sections of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales procedures (CSBS; Wetherby & Prizant, 1993) were administered at the beginning and at the end of the study. The vocal measures were obtained in the initial CSBS session. One measure of expressive vocabulary was obtained in the CSBS session at the end of the study...
Hegel on Space: A Critique of Kant's Transcendental Philosophy

Abstract This paper considers Hegel's views on space and his account of Kant's theory of space. I show that Hegel's discussions of space exhibit a deep understanding of Kant's apriority argument in the first Critique , commit him to the central premise of that argument, and separate his concerns from the familiar problem of the neglected alternative. Nevertheless, Hegel makes two objections to Kant's theory of space. First, he argues that the theory is internally inconsistent insofar as Kant's identification of space with an a priori intuition is incompatible with the doctrine of productive imagination in the transcendental deduction of the categories. Second, Hegel argues that the apriority argument is insufficiently critical insofar as it relies upon an unexamined theory of subjectivity as a set of representational capacities. I conclude by outlining Hegel's strategy for undermining the assumptions concerning subjectivity that give form to Kant's transcendental philosophy. Because Hegel's positive views...
Estrogen receptor expression is high but is of lower intensity in tubular carcinoma than in well-differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma.

Context.— Tubular carcinoma (TC) is a rare, luminal A subtype of breast carcinoma with excellent prognosis, for which adjuvant chemotherapy is usually contraindicated. Objective.— To examine the levels of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor expression in cases of TC and well-differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma as compared to normal breast glands and to determine if any significant differences could be detected via molecular testing. Design.— We examined ER and progesterone receptor via immunohistochemistry in tubular (N = 27), mixed ductal/tubular (N = 16), and well-differentiated ductal (N = 27) carcinomas with comparison to surrounding normal breast tissue. We additionally performed molecular subtyping of 10 TCs and 10 ductal carcinomas via the PAM50 assay. Results.— Although ER expression was high for all groups, TC had statistically significantly lower ER staining percentage (ER%) (P = .003) and difference in ER expression between tumor and accompanying normal tissue (P = .02) than w...
‘MARKET DISCIPLINE’, LENDING CEILINGS AND SUBNATIONAL FINANCE

The ‘market discipline’ approach to subnational finance requires that moral hazard derived from the possibility of a central government bailout be made insignificantly small. Therefore, governments interested in following this approach and willing to abide by its rules should start by creating the conditions for a default and its resolution to be possible. This article discusses the use of lending ceilings as an instrument to allow the default without dragging in the central government.
Cesium-137, metals and organic carbon in the sediments of the James River estuary, Virginia

Abstract A wide variety of sedimentary subenvironments are found within a 10-km stretch of James River including a flood dominated channel (Rocklanding Channel) and its bank (Rocklanding Shoal), a shoal with a water depth of 1 m separating two channels (Point of Shoals), an ebb-dominated channel (Burwell Bay Channel) and its bank (Burwell Bay Bank) and a tributary (Warwick River). The concentrations of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn and organic carbon in the fine-grained sediments (i.e. 3 cm year−1. The sedimentation rates in the Burwell Bay region are two or more, times those in the Point of Shoals and in the Rocklanding Channel and Shoal, reflecting the weaker currents in the Burwell Bay region. These sedimentation rates agree well with those obtained independently by measuring changes in the bathymetry of this area between 1873 and 1943. The concentrations of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn and organic carbon in surface sediments vary by a factor of two to three. The concentrations are higher in the Burwell Bay region, probably as a result of the higher rates of accumulation of recently formed sediments in these subenvironments. The inventories of fine-grained sediments and of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn and organic carbon accumulated since 1954 are also up to an order of magnitude higher in the Burwell Bay region. Although the concentrations of fine-grained sediments in three cores obtained in this region are similar, the inventories still vary by a factor of two to three. The inventories of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn, organic carbon and fine-grained sediments correlate well with each other indicating that Cs-137 can be a useful tracer for studying the fate of these metals and organic carbon in estuarine environments. The inhomogeneity of the concentrations and inventories of the different elements along a 10-km segment of a river suggests that a closely-spaced sampling programme is essential for characterizing the sedimentary provinces within an estuary. The concentrations of Cs-137, metals and organic carbon in the coarse-grained sediments (i.e. > 63 μm) are considerably lower than those in fine-grained sediments. Thus, the contribution of coarse-grained sediments to the total inventory of these elements is small.
A twenty year journey to understand how ATP activates guanylyl cyclase A and B

Results Recent studies have determined how ATP allosterically activates GC-A and GC-B [10]. In the absence of ATP, NPs activated these enzymes > 10-fold in a positive cooperative manner. In the absence of NP, ATP shifted the substrate-velocity profiles from cooperative to linear but did not change the Km. In the presence of NPs, ATP competed with GTP for binding to an allosteric site, which enhanced the activation of GCs by decreasing the Km. Thus, NP binding was required for communication of the allosteric activation signal to the catalytic site. Concentration-response assays determined that the ability of ATP to activate GCs decreased and enzyme potency increased with increasing GTP concentrations, consistent with reciprocal regulation of the allosteric and catalytic sites. Point mutations in the purine-binding site of the catalytic domain abolished GC activity but not allosteric activation. Co-expression of inactive mutants produced half the activity expected for symmetric catalytic dimers. 2’deoxy-ATP and 2’deoxy-GTP were poor allosteric activators, but 2’-deoxy-GTP was an effective substrate, consistent with distinct binding requirements for the allosteric and catalytic sites. Conclusion
Picosecond fiber source for coherent Raman microscopy

We report a high power picosecond fiber laser system for coherent Raman microscopy (CRM). The laser system was used to pump an optical parametric oscillator to produce the pump and the Stokes beams for CRM.
Accommodation of Gases at Rough Surfaces

A simple numerical model is proposed to compute the energy and momentum accommodation of molecules scattered from highly corrugated, disordered surfaces. The model is an extension of the “washboard model”, which assumes that the component of the molecule’s momentum parallel to the local surface tangent is conserved on impact and the normal component is altered by a hard, elastic collision with a moving surface “cube” with an adjustable effective mass. The surface is represented by Gaussian hills and valleys of random location and height. In contrast to the washboard model, the current model is fully three-dimensional and includes in-plane and out-of-plane scattering as well as trapping-desorption. In addition, it can be applied to highly corrugated surfaces and does not invoke a regular, periodic topography. This increased realism comes at the expense of an analytical solution; numerical simulations must be performed. We develop a very efficient procedure for carrying out the simulations. We test the mode...
Gating of connexin 43 gap junctions by a cytoplasmic loop calmodulin binding domain.

Calmodulin (CaM) binding sites were recently identified on the cytoplasmic loop (CL) of at least three α-subfamily connexins (Cx43, Cx44, Cx50), while Cx40 does not have this putative CaM binding domain. The purpose of this study was to examine the functional relevance of the putative Cx43 CaM binding site on the Ca2+-dependent regulation of gap junction proteins formed by Cx43 and Cx40. Dual whole cell patch-clamp experiments were performed on stable murine Neuro-2a cells expressing Cx43 or Cx40. Addition of ionomycin to increase external Ca2+ influx reduced Cx43 gap junction conductance (Gj) by 95%, while increasing cytosolic Ca2+ concentration threefold. By contrast, Cx40 Gj declined by <20%. The Ca2+-induced decline in Cx43 Gj was prevented by pretreatment with calmidazolium or reversed by the addition of 10 mM EGTA to Ca2+-free extracellular solution, if Ca2+ chelation was commenced before complete uncoupling, after which gj was only 60% recoverable. The Cx43 CL136–158 mimetic peptide, but not the scrambled control peptide, or Ca2+/CaM-dependent kinase II 290–309 inhibitory peptide also prevented the Ca2+/CaM-dependent decline of Cx43 Gj. Cx43 gap junction channel open probability decreased to zero without reductions in the current amplitudes during external Ca2+/ionomycin perfusion. We conclude that Cx43 gap junctions are gated closed by a Ca2+/CaM-dependent mechanism involving the carboxyl-terminal quarter of the connexin CL domain. This study provides the first evidence of intrinsic differences in the Ca2+ regulatory properties of Cx43 and Cx40.
The effects of environmental isolation on behavior and regional rat brain tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase activities

Regional brain levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase were determined in rats isolated for intervals of up to 16 days. The activity of midbrain and striatal tyrosine hydroxylase was found to be elevated in the isolated rats when compared to grouped controls. In contrast, septal tryptophan hydroxylase activity was significantly reduced and midbrain tryptophan hydroxylase remained unchanged. Animals isolated for as little as 5 days were found to exhibit an increased level of spontaneous motor activity. In addition, amphetamine-induced behavioral excitation appeared to be additive with that produced by isolation.
Multichannel coherence in strong-field ionization

Atomic and molecular ions generated by a strong optical laser pulse are not in general in the electronic ground state. The density matrix for such ions is characterized by the electronic quantum-state populations and by the coherences among the electronic quantum states. Nonvanishing coherences signal the presence of coherent electronic wave-packet dynamics in the laser-generated ions. For noble-gas atoms heavier than helium, the most important channels populated via strong-field ionization are the outer-valence single-hole states with a total angular momentum of $j=3/2$ or $j=1/2$. For this case, we develop a time-dependent multichannel theory of strong-field ionization. We derive the ion density matrix and express the hole density in terms of the elements of the ion density matrix. Our wave-packet calculations demonstrate that neon ions generated in a strong optical field (800 nm) are almost perfectly coherent. In strong-field-generated xenon ions, however, the coherence is substantially suppressed.
A temperature-sensitive mutant of Escherichia coli with an alteration in ribosomal protein L22.

A temperature-sensitive, protein synthesis-defective mutant ofEscherichia coli exhibiting an altered ribosomal protein L22 has been investigated. The temperature-sensitive mutation was mapped to therplV gene for protein L22. The genes from the wild type and mutant strains were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and the products were sequenced. A cytosine to thymine transition at position 22 of the coding sequence was found in the mutant DNA, predicting an arginine to cysteine alteration in the protein. A single cysteine residue was found in the isolated mutant protein. This amino acid change accounts for the altered mobility of the mutant protein in two-dimensional gels and during reversed-phase HPLC. The temperature-sensitive phenotype was fully complemented by a plasmid carrying the wild type L22 gene. Ribosomes from the complemented cells showed only wild type protein L22 by two dimensional gel analysis and were as heat-resistant as control ribosomes in a translation assay. The point mutation in the L22 gene is uniquely responsible for the temperature-sensitivity of this strain.
Distribution of postseismic slip on the Calaveras fault, California, following the 1984 M6.2 Morgan Hill earthquake

Abstract Repeating earthquakes (REs) are sequences of events that have virtually identical waveforms and are interpreted to represent fault asperities driven to failure by loading from aseismic creep on the surrounding fault surface at depth. To investigate the postseismic deformation after the 1984 M6.2 Morgan Hill earthquake, we identify RE sequences occurring on the central Calaveras fault between 1984 and 2005 using a combination of cross-correlation and spectral coherence techniques. Both the accelerated slip transients due to the earthquake as well as the return to interseismic background creep rates can be imaged from our dataset. A comparison between the regions of the fault that ruptured coseismically and the locations of the REs show that REs preferentially occur in areas adjacent to the coseismic rupture. Using calculated RE-derived subsurface slip distributions at 6 months and 18 months after the mainshock, we predict surface electronic distance meter (EDM) line length changes between stations near the Morgan Hill rupture area. The RE-derived slip model underpredicts a subset of the observed line-length changes. Inclusion of transient aseismic slip below the seismogenic zone is needed to better match the measured surface deformation.
Bloch's paradox does not appear in quantum mechanics on phase space

It is shown that in the formalism of quantum mechanics on phase space with a purely quantum mechanical theory of measurement, Bloch's paradox does not appear.
The fine structure of subsurface cisterns.

Structures identified as subsurface cisterns (SSC's) have been observed in a variety of nerve cells from several different species. The SSC's occurred only in neurons and were most often opposite what appeared to be glial cells. Upon acrolein-glutaraldehyde fixation, they appeared as distinct cytoplasmic organelles consisting of a short 0.5 μ long pentalaminate membrane in close parallel to the neuronal plasmalemma on one side, and parallel to an equally long segment of endoplasmic reticulum on the other side. A direct continuity was found between this segment of endoplasmic reticulum and the nuclear membrane, suggesting that a form of communication may exist between the neuronal nucleus and the subsurface cistern. Occasionally the segment of endoplasmic reticulum was missing and in its place a mitochondrion appeared which seemed to be in direct contact with the pentalaminate membrane.
Characteristics of the arc in “Heliarc” welding

Two distinctly different properties of an electric arc in an atmosphere of inert gas — a cleaning action of the arc when d-c reverse polarity is used on oxide-forming metals, and the resistance to current flow which is considerably higher when the electrode is positive — are described showing their effect on the application of the “Heliarc” welding process.
“Joining peptide” of pro-opiomelanocortin. I. Radioimmunoassay and extraction of related peptides from pituitary glands

In order to immunoassay the specific region of bovine pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) between ACTH and gamma-MSH, referred to as "joining peptide," antisera were prepared against the synthetic amidated decapeptide Val-Ala-Val-Gly-Glu-Gly-Pro-Gly-Pro-Arg-NH2. The non-amidated peptide represents residues -23 to -14 of bovine POMC. An NH2-terminal tyrosine analog of the decapeptide was used as the radioligand. Under optimal conditions, immunoassay with selected antisera exhibited a sensitivity (50% displacement of the radioligand) toward the decapeptide in the range of 31-55 pg. Immunoreactivity found in extracts of fresh or lyophilized bovine pituitary glands displaced the iodinated Tyr-decapeptide in the RIA in a parallel manner. The amount of immunoreactive (ir)-material was dependent upon the state of preservation of the tissue, the method of extraction, and the particular antiserum used. Extractable immunoreactivity was separated into low (Mr 1,500) and high (Mr 17,000) molecular weight peptides using gel chromatography (G-75). Additional ir-material appeared in the void volume (Mr greater than 22,500). Thus, these antisera have the capacity to interact not only with a region of the joining peptide but also with its larger, and apparent precursor forms. The immunoassay developed should be valuable in understanding the disposition and processing in this specific region of POMC.
THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF FROG VENTRICULAR CARDIAC MUSCLE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO MECHANISMS OF EXCITATION-CONTRACTION COUPLING

Frog ventricular cardiac muscle has structural features which set it apart from frog and mammalian skeletal muscle and mammalian cardiac muscle. In describing these differences, our attention focused chiefly on the distribution of cellular membranes. Abundant inter cellular clefts, the absence of tranverse tubules, and the paucity of sarcotubules, together with exceedingly small cell diameters (less than 5 µ), support the suggestion that the mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling differs in these muscle cells from that now thought to be characteristic of striated muscle such as skeletal muscle and mammalian cardiac muscle. These structural dissimilarities also imply that the mechanism of relaxation in frog ventricular muscle differs from that considered typical of other striated muscles. Additional ultrastructural features of frog ventricular heart muscle include spherical electron-opaque bodies on thin filaments, inconstantly present, forming a rank across the I band about 150 mµ from the Z line, and membrane-bounded dense granules resembling neurosecretory granules. The functional significance of these features is not yet clear.
Pigment polymorphism and blood serum variations in Rana pipiens.

Abstract 1. 1. The blood serum of Rana pipiens , wild-type and of its principal genetic mutants, burnsi and kandiyohi , was analyzed by the method of discelectrophoresis. 2. 2. The technique used was not able to resolve differences between the above groups of animals. 3. 3. It is likely that skin pigmentation patterns in these frogs are not related to variations in serum composition.
Numerical simulation of a Mach 1.92 turbulent jet and its sound field

A perfectly expanded turbulent Mach 1.92 jet is simulated by direct numerical solution of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in a computational domain that includes the near acoustic field. In place of a nozzle, turbulent inflow data were generated in a separate streamwise periodic jet simulation. Reynolds stresses, two-point correlations, and turbulent energy spectra are computed and discussed. The sound field is highly directional and dominated by Mach waves as are commonly observed experimentally. Analysis of the sound using weak-shock theory shows that nonlinear effects are significant away from the jet but that linear theory is sufficient to estimate near-field sound pressure levels. Although no attempt was made to match any particular experiment in detail, sound pressure levels are compared with experimental data at similar flow conditions and are found to agree in general with jets at similar convective Mach numbers.
A real-time neutron beam monitor

Abstract An array of multiwire proportional counters has been employed to image, in “real-time,” a collimated neutron beam produced at an electron linac facility. Test results are presented, along with a discussion of the advantages of this technique.
John R. Delaney Receives 2012 Athelstan Spilhaus Award: Citation

John R. Delaney received the Athelstan Spilhaus Award at the 2012 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 5 December 2012 in San Francisco, Calif. The award honors “individuals who have devoted portions of their lives to expressing the excitement, significance, and beauty of the Earth and space sciences to the general public.”