cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory of chiral order in random copolymers.

Recent experiments have found that polyisocyanates composed of a mixture of opposite enantiomers follow a chiral ``majority rule'': the chiral order of the copolymer, measured by optical activity, is dominated by whichever enantiomer is in the majority. We explain this majority rule theoretically by mapping the random copolymer onto the random-field Ising model. Using this model, we predict the chiral order as a function of enantiomer concentration, in quantitative agreement with the experiments, and show how the sharpness of the majority-rule curve can be controlled.
Two-tone optical heterodyne spectroscopy with a tunable lead-salt diode laser.

We report the demonstration of two-tone optical heterodyne spectroscopy with a tunable lead-salt diode laser. Using high-frequency modulation of the diode-laser injection current, we demonstrated a detection-sensitivity limit of 1 × 10−5 to differential absorption from Doppler-broadened NH3 lines in the 930-cm−1 region. In our experiment, this limit was set by preamplifier noise and the low quantum efficiency of the photodetector. A substantial increase in sensitivity should be possible by using an improved detector, an improved preamplifier, and higher optical power.
Some theoretical considerations on the inhibition of tumor growth by ultrastrong magnetic fields

Abstract The forces acting on the microstructure of a biological system have been derived in a systematic way starting from Maxwell's stress tensor. It is shown that with a magnetic field above 100 kilogauss and with a magnetic field gradient above 10 kilogauss/cm, the magnetic forces acting on a cell may become strong enough to disrupt cellular membranes and distort the ordered process of cellular division. Since cancer cells seem to have a smaller mechanical strength than normal cells, it might be possible to selectively damage cancer cells by this method. Strong magnetic fields can be most economically generated by a superconducting coil submerged in liquid helium. A simple experiment in vitro with a tissue culture could test the theoretical predictions.
A game theoretic model of gun control

With the passage of the Brady Bill in 1993 and the approval of the Feinstein Amendment the following year, gun control has once again become a subject of heated public debate in the United States. Procontrol forces point to high levels of gun ownership as the cause of much, if not most, violence in America, and argue that gun control will inevitably reduce violence by reducing the number of guns in circulation. Anticontrol forces respond that high levels of gun ownership are a response to, not a cause of, violent crime, and that gun control disarms law-abiding citizens, not criminals. Certain facts are clear. Approximately half of all American households are armed, giving the U.S. the highest rate of gun ownership in the world. Switzerland is probably second, with one-third of its households armed (Kleck 1991, 19). The relationship between levels of gun ownership and violence is harder to discern, however, as is the connection between gun control and violence. A large number of empirical assessments of gun control legislation have appeared over the past two decades.’ A recent article by Kleck and Patterson (1993) gives a useful overview of this literature. Kleck and Patterson note that the overwhelming majority of the studies either were inconclusive or found that gun control laws had no significant impact on violent crime. They conclude their literature review with the following statement: “taking prior research as a whole, it would be fair to say at this point that a consistent, credible case for gun control efficacy in reducing violence has not yet been made.” Given that the empirical literature has largely failed to resolve the gun control controversy, researchers might be well advised to take a more theoretical approach to the problem. The construction of relatively simple models of victim-criminal interaction might provide interesting insights about the desirability of gun control legislation and the mechanisms of its influence. Rarely in the gun control debate has either side stated its assumptions clearly. Formal modeling would require these as-
Sympathetic influence on ventricular compliance.

Intracisternal injections of veratrine in the anesthetized dog were used to study the effects of extreme sympathetic stimulation on left ventricular diastolic compliance. The results obtained were compared with those seen during volume expansion with whole blood, and after removal of both stellate ganglia. The injection of veratrine into the cisterna magna caused an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) which was considerably larger than that which occurred in left ventricular end-diastolic circumferential (LVEDC) segment length suggesting a reduction in diastolic compliance. There were also increases in left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) as well as its first derivative (LV dp/dt). Bilateral stellectomy during the veratrine response abruptly reduced LVEDP with a lesser decrease in LVEDC. Thus, the left ventricular compliance change was reversed. Both LVSP and LV dp/dt were decreased by stellectomy but remained above control levels. During transfusion, the pressure-length curve of the ventricle was located down-ward and to the right in comparison with the curve observed with intracisternal veratrine.
A comparison of fractionation methods for forms of phosphorus in soils

We used 16 soils to compare the Hedley method for soil phosphorus fractionation to an alternative method recently developed by Ruttenberg to differentiate among P fractions in marine sediments. For forms of labile and Fe-bound P in soils, these methods were poorly correlated, with the Hedley fractionation showing a greater ability to discriminate among variations in plant-available P. For Ca-bound P, total organic P, and total P, the methods were well correlated (r2=0.93, 0.48, 0.74, respectively), although the sum of P measured in the Ruttenberg extractions is only 45% of the total P recovered by the Hedley fractionation. The Hedley fractionation seems superior when an index of plant-available phosphorus and a separation of organic and inorganic forms is needed, whereas the Ruttenberg method allows a separation of CaCO3-bound P from apatite-P, which is potentially useful in calcareous soils.
Reflections on reflections: ecology and evolutionary biology.

Having been asked to summarize and comment on the conference "Reflections on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology," I have found myself, like many biologists, in the position of knowing far less of the history of my field than I should, and of perceiving such history as I "know" through the filter of my own training and experience. Especially in actively developing fields of science, the practitioner is likely to focus on current events so exclusively as to be unaware of their historical origins; we pay homage in the opening paragraphs of our papers to the towering figures, while being only vaguely aware of the actual history by which we have come to ask the questions we pose and hold the theories we espouse. As a practitioner of what has come to be called "evolutionary ecology," I have found myself illuminated by this symposium: evolutionary ecology, although it has borne that name for little more than twenty years, has a long, complex history. What is the subject matter of evolutionary ecology? If we look to recent textbooks in whose titles the term figures (for instance, those by Eric Pianka and Jonathan Roughgarden), we will find some "pure" ecology and some "pure" population genetics, presented both on their own merits and as a foundation for developing the subject matter of evolutionary ecology proper.' Under that head we will find subjects such as the evolution of life histories, of mating systems, of sex; the adaptive basis of territoriality, foraging behavior, social behavior; the theory of coevolution and its application to adaptive radiation and the species diversity of communities; a greater or lesser coverage of topics like adaptation to physically stressful environments or the role of environmental heterogeneity in maintaining genetic variation. A student could
The influence of aircraft size on airline operating costs

Abstract Many previous studies have shown that there are probably no economies of scale in the airline industry directly attributable to firm size. Scale effects within the firm, however, have often been suggested, particularly for example with regard to such firm-size independent factors as market density, route length, or aircraft size. The focus of this paper is the effect of aircraft size on an airline's unit cost. Though much of the previous evidence appears to be at variance with a priori expectations, the empirical results presented here suggest that most of the divergence is probably due to a conceptually inadequate basis of comparison. Appropriately compared, actual unit costs were generally found to decrease at a decreasing rate with aircraft size, though as the route length parameter is reduced some mild diseconomies appeared. Of further interest, the behavior with size of the underlying cost components was found to be quite diverse, the (far from uniform) decreases with size in unit crew, fuel, and maintenance costs being offset somewhat by increases in unit capital costs, insurance plus other costs, and landing fees.
Transdermal Nitroglycerin for the Prevention of Intravenous Infusion Failure Due to Phlebitis and Extravasation

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical use of transdermal nitroglycerin for the prevention of intravenous infusion failures due to phlebitis or extravasation.DATA SOURCES: Clinical literature was accessed through a MEDLINE search (1966–May 2000). Key search terms included nitroglycerin, transdermal, phlebitis, extravasation, intravenous, and infusion.DATA SYNTHESIS: Common and serious consequences of intravenous therapy include the occurrence of postinfusion phlebitis and failure to maintain intravenous therapy due to intravenous fluid extravasation. Transdermal application of nitroglycerin has been evaluated as a treatment and preventive method for intravenous infusion failures related to phlebitis or extravasation. An evaluation of studies focusing on transdermal nitroglycerin in the prevention of infusion failures due to phlebitis or extravasation was conducted.CONCLUSIONS:Use of transdermal nitroglycerin as a prophylactic measure for intravenous infusion failures is a therapeutic option for patients requi...
The interaction of ground water with prairie pothole wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake area, east-central North Dakota, 1979–1990

The interaction of ground water with prairie wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake area has been the focus of research by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1977. During this time, climatic conditions at the site ranged from near the driest to near the wettest of the century. Water levels in wetlands and in water-table wells throughout the study area responded to these changing climate conditions in a variety of ways. The topographically highest wetlands recharged ground water whenever they received water from precipitation. The wetland of principal interest, Wetland P1, which is at an intermediate altitude, received ground-water discharge much of the time, but it also had transpiration-induced seepage from it along parts of its perimeter during all but the wettest year. The large fluctuations of the water table in response to recharge and transpiration reflect the ease with which water moves vertically through the fractured till. Lateral movement of ground water is much slower; pore-water moves vertically through the fractured till. Lateral movement of ground water is much slower; pore-water velocities are generally less than 3 m yr−1. The water supply to the wetlands is largely from precipitation during fall, winter, and spring. During these periods, precipitation either falls directly on the wetland, or precipitation that falls on the upland runs over frozen soils or saturated soils into the wetland. The average ratio of stage rise to total overwinter precipitation was 2.59 for the 12-year study period. After plants leaf out, precipitation generally results in much lower rises of the wetland water level. The average ratio of stage rise to over-summer precipitation was less than 1.0.
Occupational exposure to methyl tertiary butyl ether in relation to key health symptom prevalence: the effect of measurement error correction

In 1995, White et al. reported that methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), an oxygenate added to gasoline, was significantly associated with key health symptoms, including headaches, eye irritation, and burning of the nose and throat, among 44 people occupationally exposed to the compound and for whom serum MTBE measurements were available (odds ratio (OR) = 8.9, 95% CI = [1.2, 75.6]). However, these serum MTBE measurements were available for only 29 per cent of the 150 subjects enrolled. Around the same time, Mannino et al. conducted a similar study among individuals occupationally exposed to low levels of MTBE and did not find a significant association between exposure to MTBE and the presence of one or more key health symptoms among the 264 study participants (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = [0.3, 1.21]). In this article, we evaluate the effect of MTBE on the prevalence of key health symptoms by applying a regression calibration method to White et al.'s and Mannino et al.'s data. Unlike White et al., who classified exposure using actual MTBE levels among a subset of the participants, and Mannino et al., who classified exposure based on job category among all participants, we use all of the available data to obtain an estimate of the effect of MTBE in units of serum concentration, adjusted for measurement error due to using job category instead of measured exposure. After adjusting for age, gender and smoking status, MTBE exposure was found to be significantly associated with a 50 per cent increase in the prevalence of one or more key health symptoms per order of magnitude increase in blood concentration on the log10 scale, using data from the 409 study participants with complete information on the covariates (95% CI = [1.00, 2.25]). Simulation results indicated that under conditions similar to those observed in these data, the estimator is unbiased and has a coverage probability close to the nominal value. The methodology illustrated in this article is advantageous because all of the available data were used in the analysis, obtaining a more precise estimate of exposure effect on health outcome, and the estimate is adjusted for measurement error due to using job category instead of measured exposure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Forensic applications of coupling non-suppressed ion-exchange chromatography with ion-exclusion chromatography

Abstract Non-suppressed ion-exchange chromatography coupled with ion-exclusion chromatography separates carboxylic acids and inorganic anions in one isocratic run. The sample is injected into an ion-exclusion column, which provides separation of weak acid anions. The void volume of the ion-exclusion column is collected on-line and injected into an anion-exchange column, which separates the strong acid anions found there. Samples are described in which inorganic anion as well as carboxylic acid interferences were removed by coupled ion chromatography. Additionally, the practicality of the coupled system for forensic sample screening is discussed.
Impurity effects in dendritic solidification

A quantitative calculation of growth rates and tip radii is presented for dendrites growing in undercooled dilute solutions. Included in the calculations are the capillary corrections to the steady-state Ivantsov needle-crystal solutions. The results show good agreement with available experimental data and support the validity of the marginal-stability theory of dendritic growth.
A new vacuum society

Resume on posali la question dans un numero recent de ce journal, si la formation d'une groupe de travail s'occupant avec la technique du vide cree au sein des institutions professionelles et scientifiques se trouverait utile. L'auteur. L'auteur indique que le developpement de la science du vide a atteint le point ou la formation d'une telle groupe serait en effet utile.
Long-period gratings as flow sensors for liquid-composite molding

One of the most important issues in liquid composite molding (LCM) is the complete saturation of the preform by the resin to eliminate voids or dry spots in the structure which could later adversely affect the structural integrity of the part. While there have been efforts in developing reliable mold filling simulations for LCM, very few successful flow sensing systems exist for detecting actual resin arrival during mold filling. In this study, the feasibility of using optical fibers with long period gratings (LPG) as sensors for monitoring flow in the LCM process was investigated. An advantage of using LPGs is that they are more robust and less susceptible to background noise than simple bare fibers. Furthermore, the location of resin arrival can be easily identified as the signals from each LPG uniquely correspond to predetermined wavelengths along the source spectrum. The LPGs are sensitive to changes in the refractive index and register a strong signal change when covered with resin. In this study, the LPG sensors were placed in the middle of a preform stack inside a mold and the sensor response after the mold was properly closed, and when the resin covered a particular LPG was monitored. An assortment of preforms, which included random mats and unidirectional fabrics, with a series of fiber volume fractions were used to determine their effects on the sensor response.
Mass Spectrometry in the Home and Garden

Identification of active components in a variety of chemical products used directly by consumers is described at both trace and bulk levels using mass spectrometry. The combination of external ambient ionization with a portable mass spectrometer capable of tandem mass spectrometry provides high chemical specificity and sensitivity as well as allowing on-site monitoring. These experiments were done using a custom-built portable ion trap mass spectrometer in combination with the ambient ionization methods of paper spray, leaf spray, and low temperature plasma ionization. Bactericides, garden chemicals, air fresheners, and other products were examined. Herbicide applied to suburban lawns was detected in situ on single leaves 5 d after application.
Structural and Functional Studies Indicating Altered Redox Properties of Hemoglobin E IMPLICATIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF BIOACTIVE NITRIC OXIDE

Hemoglobin (Hb) E (β-Glu26Lys) remains an enigma in terms of its contributions to red blood cell (RBC) pathophysiological mechanisms; for example, EE individuals exhibit a mild chronic anemia, and HbE/β-thalassemia individuals show a range of clinical manifestations, including high morbidity and death, often resulting from cardiac dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine and evaluate structural and functional consequences of the HbE mutation that might account for the pathophysiology. Functional studies indicate minimal allosteric consequence to both oxygen and carbon monoxide binding properties of the ferrous derivatives of HbE. In contrast, redox-sensitive reactions are clearly impacted as seen in the following: 1) the ∼2.5 times decrease in the rate at which HbE catalyzes nitrite reduction to nitric oxide (NO) relative to HbA, and 2) the accelerated rate of reduction of aquometHbE by l-cysteine (l-Cys). Sol-gel encapsulation studies imply a shift toward a higher redox potential for both the T and R HbE structures that can explain the origin of the reduced nitrite reductase activity of deoxyHbE and the accelerated rate of reduction of aquometHbE by cysteine. Deoxy- and CO HbE crystal structures (derived from crystals grown at or near physiological pH) show loss of hydrogen bonds in the microenvironment of βLys-26 and no significant tertiary conformational perturbations at the allosteric transition sites in the R and T states. Together, these data suggest a model in which the HbE mutation, as a consequence of a relative change in redox properties, decreases the overall rate of Hb-mediated production of bioactive NO.
Balanced t(11;15)(q23;q15) in a TP53+/+ breast cancer patient from a Li–Fraumeni syndrome family

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is characterized by early-onset carcinogenesis involving multiple tumor types and shows autosomal dominant inheritance. Approximately 70% of LFS cases are due to germline mutations in the TP53 gene on chromosome 17p13.1. Mutations have also been found in the CHEK2 gene on chromosome 22q11, and others have been mapped to chromosome 11q23. While characterizing an LFS family with a documented defect in TP53, we found one family member who developed bilateral breast cancer at age 37 yet was homozygous for wild-type TP53. Her mother also developed early-onset primary bilateral breast cancer, and a sister had unilateral breast cancer and a soft tissue sarcoma. Cytogenetic analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization of a primary skin fibroblast cell line revealed that the patient had a novel balanced reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 11 and 15: t(11;15)(q23;q15). This translocation was not present in a primary skin fibroblast cell line from a brother with neuroblastoma, who was heterozygous for the TP53 mutation. There was no evidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in either the patient or her mother, although a nephew did develop leukemia and died in childhood. These data may implicate the region at breakpoint 11q23 and/or 15q15 as playing a significant role in predisposition to breast cancer development.
Absolute frequency measurements of 12C16O and 13C16O laser transitions

Abstract The absolute frequencies of one 5.2 μm 12C16O laser line and one 5.3 μm 13C16O laser line have been measured against 10 μm band transitions of the CO2 laser by heterodyning in a tungsten-nickel diode. The frequencies, wavelengths and wave numbers of these lines are reported to an accuracy of one part in 107.
The Middle Years: Women Sexuality the Self

Nurses caring for women in middlescence need to be aware that this is a period of much change and growth. The years between 35 and 60 years in women are characterized by psychologic growth and alteration in the hormonal environment. Successful negotiation through this developmental stage includes disassembling and evaluating the self, adjusting to the changing self, adapting to alterations in sexuality caused by hormonal shifts, and finally, acknowledging the new self that has evolved. Nurses can play important roles during this tumultuous stage by supporting women as they do the psychologic work necessary for growth, by expanding their view of middlescence beyond menopause, and by including sexuality with other aspects of health promotion and education. JOGNN , 25 , 615–621; 1996.
Test of aversiveness of a 39-kHz tone to hooded rats

Eight Long-Evans full-term male rats were used to test the aversiveness of a 39-kHz tone. The tone was generated by a RCM Enterprises, Inc ultrasonic motion detector which utilizes the tone to measure activity. Aversiveness was determined by amount of time subjects remained in the presence of tone since the subjects could control tone onset and offset. Analysis showed that the tone was not aversive and that the motion detector has utility as a research tool for this species.
Rap Music and the Empowerment of Today’s Youth: Evidence in Everyday Music Listening, Music Therapy, and Commercial Rap Music

Pioneers of various elements of Hip-Hop culture have been empowered through the ability to voice their reality and find a meaningful identity alongside others who found purpose and function in embracing Hip-Hop culture (Chang, Can’t stop won’t stop: A history of the hip-hop generation, 2005). This empowerment persists in various reinventions of the culture within the United States and worldwide. The present study examines whether evidence exists in research to support the value of esteem, resilience, growth, community and change as empowering dimensions outlined in the individual and community empowerment framework. Research questions ask: (1) Does youth self-expression in rap music created within music therapy sessions reflect framework dimensions? (2) Does content in commercially recognizable rap music reflect framework dimensions? (3) How well does the framework align with a model of empowerment-based positive youth development? First, data collected to examine the validity of the framework were reviewed. Next, two peer-reviewed research studies published after articulation of the original framework, were examined to investigate commonality between themes and framework dimensions. One study was in a music therapy context and another explored themes in commercial Hip-Hop recordings. Original framework data supports theorizing that rap music content actually comprises developmental narratives (Travis and Deepak, 2011; Travis and Bowman, 2012). Data in the present study further suggest that these developmental narratives are relevant for Hip-Hop in every day music engagement, in therapeutic self-expression, and within commercially available musical content. Framework dimensions also aligned with a conceptual model of positive youth development that allows specification of intervention pathways and empirically testable outcomes for Hip-Hop integrated change strategies. Results suggest that rap music is a discourse in lifespan development. Rap music’s developmental narratives may be used by practitioners, parents and researchers. The narratives exist within a framework and model that (a) provides a template for better understanding these narratives and (b) positions this understanding for use as a tool to promote and research positive change strategies for individuals and the communities that they value.
Calvet-type calorimeter for the study of high-temperature processes I. Description of an apparatus appropriate for organic materials

Abstract A high-temperature calorimeter of the Tian-Calvet type has been constructed which, although having wide applicability, is specifically intended for determining the thermodynamic properties of organic materials at high temperatures. Complete details of the mechanical design and the electrical circuitry are given. The calorimeter is designed for isothermal operation between 298.15 and 1273 K, with a maximum sample capacity of 30 to 40 cm3 in each of the twin reaction zones. The sensitivity of the calorimeter at 1025 K is 360 μV·W−1, with a baseline stability of approximately ± 0.2 to 0.5 μV. At lower temperatures, the baseline stability can be ± 0.02 to 0.03 μV. Endothermic and exothermic effects ranging typically from 20 to 200 J have been measured with an accuracy of ± 1.0 to ± 1.5 per cent, although 200 J is by no means an upper bound for this accuracy. The calorimeter is rugged and reliable, having operated without problems since February 1980 at temperatures between 525 and 1025 K.
Optimizing the processing gain for coded DS spread spectrum

The optimization between processing gain and the coding gain of a constant-bandwidth direct-sequence spread-spectrum system operating in the presence of either a tone jammer or a Gaussian jammer such that the bit-error rate P/sub eb/ is minimized is presented. During the optimization, P/sub eb/ is first tightly bounded by two functions, and then the dominant terms of these two bounds are used to obtain a simple indicator function for the determination of the optimum code. The indicator is tested and shown to yield good results. >
Literacy Brokers and the Emotional Work of Mediation

Literacy brokers—defined as people who assist others with reading and writing—have gained increasing attention in Literacy and Composition Studies (for example, Jerskey; Lillis and Curry; Lunsford). Yet their analytical richness has been marginally examined or subsumed under already established terms such as sponsors of literacy . This essay seeks to reclaim the significance of literacy brokers in doing critical emotional work through what I call literacy as affinity . In this ethnographic study of transnational literacies of Romanian immigrants, I show that as literacy brokers move across contexts, they accumulate knowledge and develop a bi-institutional perspective. In doing so, these brokers serve more than instrumental ends; they perform literacy as affinity by brokering personal experiences and languages of nation-states and by participating in advocacy for the sake of others.
An empirical examination of the Indian Child Welfare Act and its impact on cultural and familial preservation for American Indian children

Abstract Objective: Cultural and familial ties are crucial for the overall well-being of children. Extant research and permanency planning practices support the reunification of children with their families when possible. In 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was enacted to promote cultural and familial preservation for Indian children, but sparse empirical research has examined the implementation and outcomes associated with this landmark legislation. This article examines the relationship between compliance with ICWA in one Southwestern state and the rate of reunification of Indian children with family or tribal members following out-of-home placement. Method: Public child protection records were reviewed for 49 ICWA-eligible children who were placed in alternate care. Data were collected on compliance with placement type, use of qualified expert witnesses, and incorporation of Indian culture and resources. Additionally, 78 state caseworkers and 16 tribal workers were surveyed regarding knowledge and attitudes about three areas of compliance. Results: Case record reviews indicated that the majority (83%) of Indian children were placed according to preferences outlined by ICWA. Almost all cases included a court finding that active efforts were applied to prevent family breakup. While state workers reported limited understanding of many ICWA's requirements, both state and tribal workers reported a high level of state-tribal cooperation in working with Indian families and children. Conclusions: Results of this study point to two major patterns of findings: (1) individual case record reviews suggest compliance with ICWA; and (2) differences exist in knowledge and perceptions of ICWA by state and tribal workers. Furthermore, state child protection systems should follow the American Indian lead in further emphasizing cultural and familial ties for children. Highlighting such ties acknowledges the importance of reunification and cultural and familial preservation to enable children to have a clear sense of tradition and belonging. Evidence indicates that compliance with ICWA promotes better outcomes through reunification.
Random access for compressed light fields using multiple representations

Image-based rendering data sets, such as light fields, require efficient compression due to their large data size, but also easy random access when rendering from or streaming the data set. Efficient compression usually depends upon prediction between images, which creates dependencies between them, making random access more difficult. Independent encoding of the images is less efficient but provides random access, and in many cases is superior to predictive coding when considering the rate-distortion performance for certain viewing trajectories of the light field. In this paper, we describe a method which can obtain the best of both worlds: random access to any image; and compression efficiency, through predictive coding. We store multiple representations of each light field image, and decode using the appropriate representation depending on the available images that are already decoded. To eliminate prediction mismatch between the representations, we employ the idea of "SP-frames" from video coding. This allows us to generate identical reconstruction images from all representations. Our experimental results show a significant improvement in terms of view-trajectory-dependent rate-distortion performance over independent coding of the images.
Toward a Sociology of the State and War: Emil Lederer's Political Sociology*

Although recognized for innovations in economics and economic sociology, Emil Lederer’s impressive contributions to political sociology have been almost completely ignored. Lederer wrote extensively on questions of practical and theoretical relevance for a sociological analysis of the state and war, especially in response to and anticipation of the World Wars of the last century. This article considers the elements of his political-sociological work in the context of the circumstances under which they developed and concludes with an attempt to construct an outline of the basic tenets of a sociology of the state and war derived from Lederer’s writings. This analysis highlights Lederer’s sensitivity to a dynamic understanding of the total social configuration and its impact on the individual psyche as central to explicating the characteristics of particular political-sociological phenomena.
Escherichia coli DNA Topoisomerase I and Suppression of Killing by Tn5 Transposase Overproduction: Topoisomerase I Modulates Tn5 Transposition

Tn5 transposase (Tnp) overproduction is lethal to Escherichia coli. The overproduction causes cell filamentation and abnormal chromosome segregation. Here we present three lines of evidence strongly suggesting that Tnp overproduction killing is due to titration of topoisomerase I. First, a suppressor mutation of transposase overproduction killing, stkD10, is localized in topA (the gene for topoisomerase I). The stkD10 mutant has the following characteristics: first, it has an increased abundance of topoisomerase I protein, the topoisomerase I is defective for the DNA relaxation activity, and DNA gyrase activity is reduced; second, the suppressor phenotype of a second mutation localized in rpoH, stkA14 (H. Yigit and W. S. Reznikoff, J. Bacteriol. 179:1704-1713, 1997), can be explained by an increase in topA expression; and third, overexpression of wild-type topA partially suppresses the killing. Finally, topoisomerase I was found to enhance Tn5 transposition up to 30-fold in vivo.
GTP Hydrolysis by eRF3 Facilitates Stop Codon Decoding during Eukaryotic Translation Termination

Translation termination in eukaryotes is mediated by two release factors, eRF1 and eRF3. eRF1 recognizes each of the three stop codons (UAG, UAA, and UGA) and facilitates release of the nascent polypeptide chain. eRF3 is a GTPase that stimulates the translation termination process by a poorly characterized mechanism. In this study, we examined the functional importance of GTP hydrolysis by eRF3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that mutations that reduced the rate of GTP hydrolysis also reduced the efficiency of translation termination at some termination signals but not others. As much as a 17-fold decrease in the termination efficiency was observed at some tetranucleotide termination signals (characterized by the stop codon and the first following nucleotide), while no effect was observed at other termination signals. To determine whether this stop signal-dependent decrease in the efficiency of translation termination was due to a defect in either eRF1 or eRF3 recycling, we reduced the level of eRF1 or eRF3 in cells by expressing them individually from the CUP1 promoter. We found that the limitation of either factor resulted in a general decrease in the efficiency of translation termination rather than a decrease at a subset of termination signals as observed with the eRF3 GTPase mutants. We also found that overproduction of eRF1 was unable to increase the efficiency of translation termination at any termination signals. Together, these results suggest that the GTPase activity of eRF3 is required to couple the recognition of translation termination signals by eRF1 to efficient polypeptide chain release.
Efficient implementation of model predictive control for sheet and film forming processes

Sheet and film forming processes may consist of more than 100 actuators and 400 lane measurements. Applying model predictive control to these processes can yield quadratic programs with as many as 1000 decision variables. The practicality of model predictive control is partially limited by the ability to solve these quadratic programs in real time. In this work are investigated some potential schemes to improve the efficiency of the solution of the quadratic program. In particular we are able to show that for a large class of linear sheet and film forming processes, we can expect reasonable computational costs by appropriately structuring the optimization.
Spurring Cross‐Functional Integration for Higher New Product Performance: A Group Effectiveness Perspective*

Spurring integration among functional specialists so they collectively create successful, or high-performing, new products is a central interest of innovation practitioners and researchers. Firms are increasingly assembling cross-functional new product development (NPD) teams for this purpose. However, integration of team members' divergent orientations and expertise is notoriously difficult to achieve. Individuals from distinct functions such as design, marketing, manufacturing, and research and development (RD and if so, (2) what are ways to strengthen integration? The study began by developing a model of cross-functional integration from the perspective of the group effectiveness theory. The theory has been used to explain the performance of a wide range of small, complex work groups; this study is the first application of the theory to NPD teams. The model developed from this theory was then tested by conducting a survey of dual informants in 206 NPD teams in an array of U.S. high-technology companies. In answer to the first research question, the findings show that cross-functional integration indeed contributes to new product performance as long conjectured. This finding is important in that it highlights that bringing together the skills, efforts, and knowledge of differing functions in an NPD team has a clear and coveted payoff: high-performing new products. In answer to the second question, the findings indicate that both intra- (or internal) and extra- (or external) team factors contribute and codetermine cross-functional integration. Specifically, social cohesion and superordinate identity as internal team factors and market-oriented reward system, planning process formalization, and managerial encouragement to take risks as external team factors foster integration. These findings underscore that spurring integration requires addressing the conditions inside as well as outside NPD teams. These specialized work groups operate as organizations within organizations; recognition of this in situ arrangement is the first step toward better managing and ensuring rewards from team integration. Based on these findings, managerial and research implications were drawn for team integration and new product performance.
Possible models for the earliest prebreakdown events in DC stressed hexane

Observed phenomena in liquid hexane at a point cathode include the formation of a low-density region (LDR), a chain of growing electrical pulses, a succession of light flashes, and a final disruption and termination of the process. The authors address three separate effects: the inception of the process; the growth of the low-density region, with electrical pulses and light emission; and the break-up of the low-density region. It is shown that it is possible to predict the onset, growth, pulse and light phenomena, termination of growth, and break-up of the low-density region in terms of electrical and fluid dynamical processes. >
Multilevel aligned empirical studies of ideation: Final results

The overall objective of the study is to gain an insight into design ideation. Towards that goal we are empirically evaluating the effectiveness of design ideation methods. Key components of ideation methods have been identified and effectiveness metrics have been developed. This paper presents experimental results conducted on six ideation components (Provocative Stimuli, Suspend Judgment, Flexible Representation, Frame of Reference Shifting, Incubation, and Provocative Stimuli). These experiments were conducted simultaneously at the Design (Engineering) and Lab (Cognitive Psychology) levels; a previously developed experimental procedure considered the alignment of experiments at these two levels. The understanding of ideation components was improved (some are stronger, some are easier to manipulate, interactions are complex, etc.). Data collected revealed that some ideation components have similar effects and could be grouped into higher-level (ideation) principles according to their effects. A distinction was made between process and outcome metrics and it was found that outcome metrics were harder to improve than process metrics. A correlation was also found between quality and quantity, this supports the widely accepted belief that generating more ideas increases the chances of obtaining higher quality ideas.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Spiro[6H‐1,3‐dioxolo[4,5‐c]pyran‐6,5′‐oxazolidine]‐3′‐carboxylic acid, tetrahydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐2′,7‐dioxo‐,2‐methyl‐2‐propyl ester, (3aR, 5′S, 7aR)‐

[319491-89-9] C15H21NO8 (MW 343.33) InChI = 1S/C15H21NO8/c1-13(2,3)23-11(18)16-7-15(24-12(16)19)10(17)9-8(6-20-15)21-14(4,5)22-9/h8-9H,6-7H2,1-5H3/t8-,9-,15+/m1/s1 InChIKey = RZRLSDWFGSKEQD-XWRVAKJBSA-N (ketone catalyst used in the epoxidation of conjugated cis, terminal, trans, trisubstituted, and amphiphilic olefins and in the CH activation of alcohols) Alternate Names: (3aR,5′S,7aR)-tert-butyl 2,2-dimethyl-2′,7-dioxotetrahydrospiro [[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyran-6,5′-oxazolidine]-3′-carboxylate. Physical Data: white solid; melting point = 139–140 °C;[α]20D = −47.9 (c 0.83, CHCl3) molecular weight = 343.33 g mol−1. 1, 2 Preparative Methods: two literature methods have been reported for the synthesis of ketone 1 from d-glucose using Amadori rearrangement and a series of functional group manipulations.1, 2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: avoid inhalation and contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Store in a tightly sealed container. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents. Thorough toxicity studies have not been performed. Spiro[6H-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-c]pyran-6,5′-oxazolidine]-3′-carboxylic acid, tetrahydro-2,2-dimethyl-2′,7-dioxo-, methyl ester, (3aR, 5′S, 7aR)- [906371-65-1] C12H15NO8 (MW 301.25) InChI = 1S/C12H15NO8/c1-11(2)19-6-4-18-12(8(14)7(6)20-11)5-13(9(15)17-3)10(16)21-12/h6-7H,4-5H2,1-3H3/t6-,7-,12+/m1/s1 InChIKey = JQXROEASUDOFLI-QHMRUWFYSA-N (ketone catalyst used in stereoselective CH activation of vicinal diols) Alternate Names: (3aR,5′S,7aR)-methyl 2,2-dimethyl-2′,7-dioxotetrahydrospiro [[1,3] dioxolo[4,5-c]pyran-6,5′-oxazolidine]-3′-carboxylate. Physical Data: colorless crystals. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: avoid inhalation and contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Store in a tightly sealed container. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents. Thorough toxicity studies have not been performed. Spiro[6H-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-c]pyran-6,5′-oxazolidine]-3′-carboxylic acid, tetrahydro-2,2-dimethyl-2′,7-dioxo-, ethyl ester, (3aR, 5′S, 7aR)-, [906371-64-0] C13H17NO8 (MW 315.28) InChI = 1S/C13H17NO8/c1-4-18-10(16)14-6-13(22-11(14)17)9(15)8-7(5-19-13)20-12(2,3)21-8/h7-8H,4-6H2,1-3H3/t7-,8-,13+/m1/s1 InChIKey = KYIZCUPXRAOQPJ-RBDZCENOSA-N (ketone catalyst used in stereo selective CH activation of vicinal diols) Alternate Names: (3aR,5′S,7aR)-ethyl 2,2-dimethyl-2′,7-dioxotetrahydrospiro[[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-c]pyran-6,5′-oxazolidine]-3′-carboxylate. Physical Data: colorless crystals. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: avoid inhalation and contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Store in a tightly sealed container. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents. Thorough toxicity studies have not been performed.
A hybrid control framework for robust maneuver-based motion planning

We introduce a modeling framework for robustness of maneuver-based motion planning algorithms for nonlinear systems with symmetries. Our framework implements a hybrid controller that robustly combines motion primitives, which consist of trim trajectories and maneuvers, from a predefined library. The closed-loop system is viewed as a hybrid system with flows given by a differential equation, jumps given by a difference equation, and two sets where these dynamics are allowed. We show that our hybrid controller for implementation of motion planning algorithms confers to the closed-loop system robustness properties to a large class of perturbations.
A stochastic disk I/O simulation technique

In this paper, we describe a technique to construct accurate stochastic simulation models from acquired trace data. The resulting simulation models accept input trace data and return estimates of disk request service times. In addition, we describe a trace collection technique capable of collecting accurate trace data from Novell Netware servers. These traces are used to construct a simulation model of a Novell Netware 1/0 subsystem that is used to study the impact of disk data reorganization on 1/0 performance.
Comparison of Referral Rates for Preschool Children at Risk for Disabilities Using Information Obtained From Birth Certificate Records

This study demonstrates the utility of integrating birth certificate record data with an existing disability-tracking database for the purpose of evaluating early identification efforts. The authors examined referral rates of preschool-age children for several known disability risk factors. Low birthweight, low maternal education, and prematurity were associated with increased odds of referral. The authors also examined referral rates for gender, race, and ethnicity. The odds of referral for boys were nearly twice those for girls. Compared to White children, the odds of referral were greater for Native American children and lower for Black and Asian/Pacific Island children. Odds of referral for non-Hispanic/non-Haitian children were greater than those for Hispanic or Haitian children. Identifying factors that are associated with the likelihood of referral will alert clinicians, parents, teachers, and policy makers to the existence of biasing factors and can be used to further improve Child Find procedures.
Is school sports participation a protective factor against adolescent health risk behaviors

This study investigated the relationship between participation in school sports and adolescent health risk behaviors in a nationally representative sample of 12,272 high school students. Male and f...
Identification of plant extracts that inhibit the formation of diabetes-linked IAPP amyloid

The extracts of 27 vegetables, spices and herbs were screened for their functional ability to inhibit the aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, amylin) into toxic amyloid aggregates. The aggregation of IAPP has been directly linked to the death of pancreatic β-islet cells in type 2 diabetes. Inhibiting the aggregation of IAPP is believed to have the potential to slow, if not prevent entirely, the progression of this disease. As vegetables, spices and herbs are known to possess many different positive health effects, the extracts of 27 plants (abundant within the United States and Europe and spanning several plant families) were screened for their ability to inhibit the formation of toxic IAPP aggregates. Their anti-amyloid activities were assessed through (1) thioflavin T binding assays, (2) visualization of amyloid fibers using atomic force microscopy and (3) cell rescue studies. From this research, mint, peppermint, red bell pepper and thyme emerged as possessing the greatest anti-amyloid activity.
Left main drug-eluting stents: natural progression or a bridge too far?

The left main coronary artery (LMCA) is arguably the most important inch-long structure in the human body, typically providing the blood supply for 75% or more of the myocardium. Occurring in approximately 9% of patients undergoing coronary angiography ([1,2][1]), symptomatic atherosclerotic disease