cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Order Admission and Optimal Pricing for Regular Jobs and Big Deals at a Service Company

This paper studies optimal pricing and demand management policies for a firm that faces two streams of order types: one is composed of recurring regular jobs with pre-determined prices exogenous prices and the other involves big deals that require pricing proposals endogenous prices. The probability to secure the big deals diminishes with the quoted price. The authors develop and compare optimization models for different demand management settings. Specifically, we consider two distinct strategies: a pure strategy in which the firm commits to bid for deals only and a mixed strategy where the firm switches its allocation of capacity between regular jobs and deals. The authors compare optimal pricing strategies under two demand management strategies that differ in how they allocate capacity across regular jobs and deals, and order acceptance policies that they adopt. The authors observe that the differences between two strategies in terms of pricing and average gain are in accord. Under any given set of systems parameters, one of the strategies leads to both higher prices and average gains. Typically, the preferable strategy depends on the exogenous price of regular orders and the price sensitivity of the deals. The authors conclude that the threshold values for these two parameters are determined primarily by the demand rate of the deals and the service rate of the standard jobs.
Categorical gestures, the diamond conjecture, Lewin's question, and the Hammerklavier Sonata

We construct a categorical framework of gestures, generalizing the topological approach from [G. Mazzola and A. Moreno, Diagrams, gestures and formulae in music, J. Math. Music 1 (2007), pp. 23–46], and culminating in the construction of a gesture bicategory, which enriches the classical Yoneda embedding. This framework could be a valid candidate for the conjectured space X in the diamond conjecture [G. Mazzola and A. Moreno, Diagrams, gestures and formulae in music, J. Math. Music 1 (2007), pp. 23–46]. We discuss first applications thereof for topological groups, and then more concretely gestures in modulation processes in Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata. The latter offers a first concretization of answers to Lewin's big question from [D. Lewin, Generalized Musical Intervals and Transformations, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 1987] concerning characteristic gestures. Yoneda's philosophy, as traced in his famous lemma, succeeds in reinterpreting objects and morphisms in abstract categories by thei...
Controversies in the Management of Wilms' Tumor

Wilms' tumor is the most common malignant renal tumor of childhood; it represents 5% to 6% of childhood cancers in the United States. The survival rate of children with Wilms' tumor has improved dramatically, partly due to large multicenter studies conducted by the National Wilms' Tumor Study Group and the International Society of Pediatric Oncology. To ensure optimal patient outcome, the surgical management of these patients must be appropriate. Controversial issues in the management of Wilms' tumor include the value of preoperative chemotherapy; whether pre-resection biopsy is indicated and if so, how this is best performed; indications for partial nephrectomy; the treatment of low-risk patients with surgery only; and the reliability of preoperative imaging to assess the contralateral kidney.
Modeling of fault slip in earthquakes

The total energy release and the length of interfacial crack growth associated with an earthquake are analyzed based on a horizontal one-dimensional semi-infinite elastic model of fault of uniform rectangular cross section between two rigid rocks. Initial interfacial cracks of finite length are assumed to exist on the top and bottom surfaces of the fault. A compressive force is applied at the end of the fault and uniform frictional forces are exerted on the crack surfaces. When the compressive force reaches a critical value, fault slip against the surrounding rock occurs and the frictional force changes from a static value to a dynamic value within a short time interval. The change in frictional force generates longitudinal wave propagation in the fault. As a result, a large amount of energy release takes place. The total amount of energy release and the length of crack growth can be analyzed based on the balance of energy.
Ascorbate is not detectably mutagenic in the L5178Y TK+ − cell mutation assay

Abstract Both sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid were tested at millimolar concentrations in the mouse lymphoma L5178Y TK + − cell for chemically-induced cytotoxicity and the induction of gene mutations at the thymidine kinase locus as detected by increased trifluorothymidine-resistance. Neither chemical caused any dose-related increases in trifluorothymidine resistance, even at toxic levels. Increased hydrogen ion concentration was not itself a contributing factor to ascorbic acid toxicity. Ascorbate toxicity was due to products formed in vitro in the absence of cells via chemical reactions with medium components. The formation or persistence of these toxic substances could be prevented by co-incubation with catalase prior to the addition of L5178Y cells. These results suggest that ascorbic acid would not be a mammalian cell mutagen under normal physiological conditions.
Solid-phase guanidinylation as a diversification strategy of poly-L-proline type II peptide mimic scaffolds.

Solid-phase guanidinylation of proline-templated amino acids is studied as a diversification strategy of poly-l-proline type II scaffolds.
Influence of a dispersant on the bioaccumulation of phenanthrene by topsmelt (Atherinops affinis)

Chemical dispersants enhance oil spill dispersion by forming water-accommodated micelles with oil droplets. However, how dispersants alter bioavailability and subsequent bioaccumulation of hydrocarbons is not well understood. Thus, the goal was to investigate the influence of a chemical dispersant on the disposition (uptake, biotransformation, and depuration) of a model hydrocarbon, [14C]-phenanthrene ([14C]PHN), by larval topsmelt (Atherinops affinis). Exposure was via aqueous-only or combined dietary and aqueous routes from a water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Prudhoe Bay Crude Oil (PBCO) or a WAF of Corexit 9527-dispersed PBCO (DO). Trophic transfer was measured by incorporating into exposure media both a rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis) as food for the fish and a phytoplankton (Isochrysis galbana) as food for the rotifers. Short-term (4 h) bioconcentration of PHN was significantly decreased in topsmelt when oil was treated with dispersant (P < 0.05), but differences diminished after 12 h. When trophic transfer was incorporated, PHN accumulation was initially delayed but after 12 h attained similar levels. Dispersant use also significantly decreased the proportion of biotransformed PHN (as 9-phenanthrylsulfate) produced by topsmelt (P < 0.05). However, overall PHN depuration was not affected by dispersant use. Thus, chemical dispersant use in oil spill response may reduce short-term uptake but not long-term accumulation of hydrocarbons such as PHN in pelagic fish.
Attitudes of Central Collegiate Hockey Association ice hockey players toward athletic mouthguard usage.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine Central Collegiate Hockey Association ice hockey players' attitudes regarding the use of athletic mouthguards and to determine the effects of mouthguard type, player position, education, and usage time with respect to attitudes. Methods: A questionnaire measuring players' attitudes toward mouthguards was sent to certified athletic trainers (ATC) responsible for providing healthcare coverage at 10 institutions of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The ATC's distributed the surveys to all the players on their respective collegiate teams. Out of a total of 265 players listed on the roosters of the CCHA, one hundred and sixty five (62%) players returned the surveys, with 158 surveys used in the analyses (60%). Results: Approximately 13.3% of players (n/21) reported wearing mouthguards 50% of the time or greater during games and 3.8% (n/6) reported wearing mouthguards 50% of the time or greater during practices. Twenty-six percent (n/41) of the players never received educational information regarding using mouthguards. Thirty-nine percent (n=59) of the players reported altering mouthguards to obtain a better fit while 91% of the players were not influenced by the cost of the mouthguard. A 2 times 2 × 2 ANOVA revealed a significant interaction among player position and mouthguard type with respect to player attitudes (F1,131= 4.96, P < 0.05), with defensive players having more negative attitudes toward mouthguard usage compared to offensive players. Conclusion: No one specific factor affecting attitudes was identified, however, players reported limited educational opportunities to learn about the effectiveness of mouthguards. Therefore, coaches, dentists, and healthcare providers should engage in more preventive educational programs to increase player attitudes and compliance.
Heteroepitaxial growth of a manganese carbonate secondary nano-phase on the (1 0 1̄ 4) surface of calcite in solution

Abstract Heteroepitaxy of a manganese carbonate phase with nano-meter dimensions on the (1 0 1 4) surface of calcite (CaCO3) using an AFM has been observed in solution during dissolution of calcite when the ion activity product of Mn2+ and CO32− nears the solubility limit of MnCO3. Growth rate observations at different Mn concentrations, coupled with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements, suggest that the resulting phase is Mn0.5Ca0.5CO3. These islands, while growing many microns in length along the [2 2 1] direction, have a uniform width in the range of 120–240 nm and a uniform height of approximately 2.7 nm, corresponding to nine atomic layers. The islands cease growing when they encounter step edges and have been observed to dissolve when undercut by a growing etch pit. Comparison of the crystal lattices of calcite and Mn0.5Ca0.5CO3 indicates that [2 2 1] is the direction of preferred growth. A glued-wetting-layer model with a condition of constant surface chemical potential has been used to model the observed cross section of the heteroepitaxial layer. Although not all the required parameters are accurately known, the model accurately depicts the measured profiles of the islands.
Natural Products and Traditional Medicine: Turning on a Paradigm

Paradigm shifts in the strategies and the sciences that would enhance the quality, safety, and efficacy of traditional medicines and dietary supplements in global health care are discussed. Some of the challenges facing traditional medicine in health care are described, and the importance of defining clear goals and directions for the information systems, botany, chemistry, and biology related to plants and health care, including for drug discovery and quality control, is indicated.
Benzyl and Phenylthiomethyl Silanes: A New Class of Bifunctional Linchpins for Type II Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC)

A new class of bifunctional linchpins bearing electrophilic sites β or γ to a silyl group have been designed, synthesized, and demonstrated to be competent in tricomponent unions exploiting Type II Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC). High diastereoselectivities were observed when a phenyl moiety (R2) served as an anion-stabilizing group (ASG) adjacent to a methyl susbtituent (R1), while diastereomeric mixtures were obtained when a phenylthiol moiety served as the ASG, irrespective of α-substitution.
Witnessing Domestic Violence as a Child and Adulthood Emotionality: Do Adults “Feel” the Consequences of Exposure to Partner Abuse Later in the Life Course?

Numerous studies have considered how witnessing violence early in the life course influences subsequent behavioral outcomes. Few, however, have considered whether witnessing violence influences emotional outcomes, outside of specific psychological dimensions. This study considers the ties between witnessing abuse as a child and emotionality as an adult. The authors used data from a random sample of telephone interviews. In all, 375 adults participated in the survey and 67 of the respondents reported witnessing some form of physical violence between their parents. Findings revealed no differences between individual levels of emotionality for those who witnessed domestic violence as a child as compared to those who did not. Higher levels of emotionality were found for females. Theoretical implications for patriarchal theory and life-course criminology are presented. Suggestions for future research are also presented.
Analysis of the effect of particle size and residence time distributions on heat or mass transfer with linear source in particulate systems

Abstract A theoretical treatment of heat or mass transfer in particulate systems is made with emphasis on the effect of particle size and residence time distribution functions on average and total transfer rates. Two differential equations (one for each phase) for mass or heat transfer are solved simultaneously by using an integral operator whose kernel takes into account the variations in particle size and residence time. Solutions are presented for total interfacial transfer rates in the cases of mass transfer with a simultaneous first or zero order chemical reaction and heat transfer with a linear source. An attempt has been made to predict the transfer efficiency in continuous flow dispersed systems. The possibility of obtaining transfer reversal in dispersed systems is illustrated numerically.
Shrinking and non-shrinking diffraction peaks

Important theoretical differences between the highenergy limits of the amplitudes for proton-proton scattering and proton-antiproton scattering are outlined. These differences are discussed in connection with the asymprotic forms of pi /sup plus or minus /-p scattering. All reactions are considered within the framework of dispersion theory in which the high-energy limits are determined by the singularities in the complex angular momentum planes of the crossed reactions pp- yields pp and pi /sup +/ pi /sup -/ yields pp, respectively. It is shown that a non-shrinking diffraction peak should be expected in connection with a total cross section that is slowly decreasing toward a constant value, whereas a shrinking peak is associated with an essentially constant total cross section. (C.E.S.)
Perceptions of the Ethicality of Consumer Insurance Claim Fraud

It was proposed that ethical evaluation of insurance claim padding behavior would be affected by characteristics of the policyholder, insurance agent, and company. These three factors were manipulated in written scenarios and the premise was tested in a factorial experimental design. No significant support was found for an effect of any of the three factors on ethical perceptions of claim padding. However, females found claims padding to be significantly less ethical than males. Given a claim scenario where the actual loss was $500 and the claimed amount was $3000, subjects awarded an average of $986.91 on the claim. Many respondents were willing to compensate victims for intangible losses as well as tangible losses.
Experimental Probes of the Randall-Sundrum Infinite Extra Dimension

The phenomenological possibilities of the Randall-Sundrum noncompact extra dimension scenario with the AdS horizon increased to approximately a millimeter length, corresponding to an effective brane tension of (TeV){sup 4}, are investigated. The corrections to the Newtonian potential are found to be the only observationally accessible probe of this scenario, as previously suggested in the literature. In particular, the presence of the continuum of Kaluza-Klein modes does not lead to any observable collider signatures. The extent to which experimental tests of Newtonian gravity can distinguish this scenario from the scenario of Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos, and Dvali, with 1- and 2-mm size extra dimensions, is explicitly demonstrated.
On the spatially causal estimation of two-dimensional pocesses

Autoregressive-Moving Average (ARMA) dynamic models of two-dimensional bistationary processes are obtained and used to clarify the problem of optimum, recursive, spatially causal estimation of such processes. Two specific methods for the realization of optimum or suboptimum estimators are examined. The first is based on a general dynamic model of two-dimensional processes, identifiable via a variant of the Yule-Walker equations used for the identification of stationary time series. This method is computationally tractable. The second leads to a novel and as yet unsolved factorization problem for bivariate spectra.
Laser-induced fluorescence excitation spectra of tert-butoxy and 2-butoxy radicals

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) excitation spectra of t-C{sub 4}H{sub 9}O (tert-butoxy) and 2-C{sub 4}H{sub 9}O (2-butoxy) radicals were investigated in the wavelength range 335--400 nm. The radicals were formed by laser photolysis of the corresponding butyl nitrites at 355 nm. for tert-butoxy, 16 vibronic bands in two progressions were labeled. The dominant progression corresponds to C-O stretching mode with {nu}{prime}{sub c-o} = 521 {+-} 10 cm{sup {minus}1}. The transition organ was tentatively assigned at 25 866 cm{sup {minus}1} (386.6 nm). Numerous bands remain unassigned. The LIF excitation spectrum of 2-butoxy, consisting of 15 vibronic bands in four progressions, was observed for the first time. A C-O stretching frequency {nu}{prime}{sub c-o} = 567 {+-} 10 cm{sup {minus}1} was obtained from the dominant progression. The transition origin was tentatively assigned at 26 185 cm{sup {minus}1} (381.9nm). Three other progressions are evident, which have different vibrational band intervals: 617 {+-} 10, 590 {+-} 10, and 552 {+-} 10 cm{sup {minus}1}. Zero-pressure fluorescence lifetimes for numerous vibronic bands of tert-butoxy and 2-butoxy were determined to be about 150 and 85 ns, respectively. The spectra can be used as a convenient spectroscopic tool for kinetic studies of butoxy radicals and should provide a starting point formore » investigation of their excited states structure and dynamics.« less
VLSI modified architecture for reduced symmetric fuzzy Singleton set and its applications

A general-purpose fuzzy logic inference engine for real time control applications has been designed, the core of which is based on a modified reduced symmetric fuzzy singleton set (MRSFSS) structure combining the advantages of small fuzzy memory for a maximum storing capacity of 730 rule-base. The MRSFSS structure can provide up to three input variables, a maximum of nine membership functions for each input variable, and produces two output values. The innovation of FLC chip is the definition feature of the MRSFSS structure which alleviates the drawbacks of existing fuzzy inference engine and enables the entire FLC chip to be performed on a 1.2 micrometer CMOS VLSI single chip. Although the hardware of FLC engine is simplified, the structure itself can incorporate a wide class of applications since many systematic and heuristic approaches can be cast into the MRSFSS structure with an even more simplified approach and most equal performances. Moreover, a guide tour is provided through the aspects of generating the fuzzy IF-THEN rules, based on a proposed architecture for controlling a wide class of objects whose dynamics are approximated by first- order and second-order transfer functions.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Robust morphological detection of sea mines in side-scan sonar images

The automated detection of sea mines remains an increasingly important humanitarian and military task. In recent years, research efforts have been concentrated on developing algorithms that detect mines in complicated littoral environments. Acquired high-resolution side-looking sonar images are often heavily infested with artifacts from natural and man-made clutter. As a consequence, automated detection algorithms, designed for high probability of detection, suffer from a large number of false alarms. To remedy this situation, sophisticated feature extraction and pattern classification techniques are commonly used after detection. In this paper, we propose a nonlinear detection algorithm, based on mathematical morphology, for the robust detection of sea mines. The proposed algorithm is fast and performs well under a variety of sonar modalities and operating conditions. Our approach is based on enhancing potential mine signatures by extracting highlight peaks of appropriate shape and size and by boosting the amplitude of the peaks associated with a potential shadow prior to detection. Signal amplitudes over highlight peaks are extracted using a flat morphological top-hat by reconstruction operator. The contribution of a potential shadow to the detection image is incorporated by increasing the associated highlight amplitude by an amount proportional to the relative contrast between highlight and shadow signatures. The detection image is then thresholded at mid-gray level. The largest p targets from the resulting binary image are then labelled as potential targets. The number of false alarms in the detection image is subsequently reduced to an acceptable level by a feature extraction and classification module. The detection algorithm is tested on two side-scan sonar databases provided by the Coastal Systems Station, Panama City, Florida: SONAR-0 and SONAR-3.
The Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) Instruments Aboard the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Spacecraft

This paper describes the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) instruments aboard the RBSP spacecraft from an instrumentation and engineering point of view. There are four magnetic spectrometers aboard each of the two spacecraft, one low-energy unit (20–240 keV), two medium-energy units (80–1200 keV), and a high-energy unit (800–4800 keV). The high unit also contains a proton telescope (55 keV–20 MeV).
Sodium Magnetic Resonance Imaging: From Research to Clinical Use

Many exciting new variations of MRI have been tested in MR research, but only a few find their way to clinical use. Sodium (23Na) MRI is one of those techniques that at first glance appeared to be very promising. 23Na MRI has the potential to extend MR imaging beyond anatomical imaging by providing information on physiology and cellular metabolism. Signal strength is related to disease specific changes in the tissue. This type of ‘disease specific’ contrast can compensate for the much lower signal to noise ratio of these techniques. The contrast between ischaemic (1) and healthy cardiac tissue and between benign tissue and malignant tumors (2) is based on significant changes in Tissue Sodium Concentration (TSC). For stroke in humans an increase in TSC was recorded of 50%(3). The feasibility of 23Na MRI on human subjects has been demonstrated as far back as 1989 (4) and the image contrast obtainable in stroke(3), cancer and edema (2) has also been demonstrated some time ago. In spite of this, 23Na MRI has yet to find a wider acceptance as a possible clinical tool. The technical difficulty of obtaining 23Na scans can only be part of the reason. If it had been deemed worth it commercially, the MR scanner manufacturers would have found a way to simplify the procedure to almost a push button solution. Apparently, the progression of 23Na MRI from research to clinical use was halted by a failure to create a demand for the great potential of 23Na MRI. Currently 23Na MRI appears to have been rediscovered. Even though the technical advances since the early 90's have been incremental, a threshold has been reached by reducing scan times to the point where the addition of a 23Na MRI to an existing 1H-MRI protocol becomes an option for studies on patients rather than just very patient volunteers. An overview of recent advances in the use of 23Na-MRI for clinical MR research will illustrate the very significant consequences of the reduction of the length of a 23Na scan from more than 45 minutes in earlier attempts to less than 15 minutes at 1.5T. Now 23Na-MRI is no longer a stand-alone modality with 1H-MRI used only as a scout image. Instead, 23Na-MRI is used as an add-on to improve specificity of established 1H-MRI protocols. To understand what kind of information 23Na-MR can and cannot add to an MRI exam we have to explore the properties of this nucleus and what imaging techniques we can use to observe it.
Focusing Properties of Hemispherical and Ellipsoidal Mirror Reflectometers

The purpose of this paper is to derive and summarize the focusing properties of hemispherical and ellipsoidal collector mirrors, which are often used in measuring the reflectance of imperfectly diffuse surfaces. Analytical expressions for the spherical aberration and magnification of a hemisphere and the magnification of an ellipsoid are derived. The resulting equations are applied to a rectangular and a circular source placed at one of the foci of the collector mirrors.
Theoretical studies on the electron-impact excitation of neutral magnesium

We used the distorted-wave approximation (DWA) and first-order many-body theory (FOMBT) for the calculation of integral cross sections (ICS's), differential cross sections (DCS's), and electron-impact coherence parameters (EICP's) for electron-impact excitation of neutral magnesium for several transitions. In the case of 3${\mathrm{}}^{1}$P excitation, we studied the basis-set dependence of the ICS's, DCS's, and EICP's, we investigated the effect of unitarization on these quantities, and we compared the DWA with FOMBT. We also studied the principal-quantum-number dependence of the EICP's for ${\mathit{n}}^{1}$P (n=3,4,5,6) excitation.
Crystal Structure of Dipotassium Carbonate Trihydrate

The crystal structure of 2K2CO3⋅3H2O was determined by a sign‐correlation procedure using three‐dimensional data and refined by anisotropic least squares. The space group is C2/c with unit cell dimensions a = 11.887, b = 13.827, c = 7.112 A and β = 120.56°. The structure consists of columns of hydrogen‐bonded carbonate ions and water molecules within and between which lie the cations. The first‐neighbor oxygen coordination around the cations is eightfold and very distorted. The carbonate ion is planar with 120° angles within experimental error. The C‐O distances are 1.266, 1.288, and 1.296 A. The oxygen of the former is not involved in hydrogen bonding while the oxygens of the latter form two hydrogen bonds at 2.698 and 2.692 A and one at 2.717 A to water molecules, respectively.
Enhancing the Quality of Coded Audio Using Perceptual Criteria

Code excited linear predictive (CELP) coding standards often fail to properly represent non-speech signals because they are inherently optimized for speech. Most modern CELP coders include provisions for the inclusion of indirect perceptual criteria to counteract this problem; however no direct psychoacoustic models are employed. In this paper, we present a pre- and postprocessor for the vocoder that makes use of the MPEG-1 psychoacoustic model 1 in order to enhance the quality of the coded audio. A novel frequency-domain technique is proposed that attempts to shape the residual of a vocoder such that it falls below psychoacoustic thresholds
General practice web-based decision aid improves MMR vaccination uptake

Commentary on: Tubeuf S, Edlin R, Shourie S, et al. Cost effectiveness of a web-based decision aid for parents deciding about MMR vaccination: a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial in primary care. Br J Gen Pract 2014;64:e493–9.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] It is not uncommon for parents to express vaccine hesitancy, request modified childhood vaccination schedules, refuse vaccines for their children or file for non-medical exemptions from school-required vaccinations.1 Moreover, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses are becoming more common.2 Healthcare providers strive to give parents all the … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBritish%2BJournal%2Bof%2BGeneral%2BPractise%26rft.stitle%253Dbjgp%26rft.aulast%253DTubeuf%26rft.auinit1%253DS.%26rft.volume%253D64%26rft.issue%253D625%26rft.spage%253De493%26rft.epage%253De499%26rft.atitle%253DCost%2Beffectiveness%2Bof%2Ba%2Bweb-based%2Bdecision%2Baid%2Bfor%2Bparents%2Bdeciding%2Babout%2BMMR%2Bvaccination%253A%2Ba%2Bthree-arm%2Bcluster%2Brandomised%2Bcontrolled%2Btrial%2Bin%2Bprimary%2Bcare%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.3399%252Fbjgp14X680977%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F25071062%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bjgp&resid=64/625/e493&atom=%2Febnurs%2F18%2F3%2F82.atom
SU-E-T-64: Is Correction for the Sag of EPID Panel Necessary for Proper Evaluation of Picket Fence Test in Dynamic Mode?

Purpose: Is correction for gantry and panel sag needed to properly evaluate the QA results of dynamic PF test using EPID? Method and Materials: A dynamic MLC picket fence (PF) test was delivered and captured by the EPID panel in continuous image acquisition mode, resulting on ∼100 separate images. A MATLAB © algorithm was written to analyze theresults. The pixels of each image were shifted in the x and y direction for the sag correction at the gantry angle of delivery according to the correctionreported by the Varian Iso‐Cal©. Corrected and uncorrected images were integrated respectively and compared against each other and stationary PFimages. Images were acquired with the collimator at 0° and 90°. Results: The profiles of corrected and uncorrected dynamic and static images across the PF pattern at certain image points were plotted. The corrected image was not closer to the static image than the uncorrected image at collimator 0. There is improvement when the collimator was rotated 90°. This was expected as the Iso‐cal correction map indicated larger correction factoralong the in‐plane direction. Conclusions: The correction for the panel sag is ideal but not mandatory during routine monthly as there is no improvement at collimator 0. However, it is useful with 90 ° collimator rotation to include all the leaves and during annual QA and following servicing of MLC as this would eliminate the need for the jig to hold film.
Smooth rate of weak convergence of convex type positive finite measures

Abstract Let μ be a positive finite measure of mass c0 on [a,b]⊂R. For a fixed x0 ϵ [a, b] and τ(X) = ¦x − x 0 ¦ , let the probability measure ϱ = c0−1μ ○ τ−1. Assume that the corresponding to distribution function fulfills certain higher-order convexity conditions. By the use of convex moment methods, upper bounds for |∫ [a,b] (ƒ(x)− Σ k=0 n ƒ (k) (x 0 ) k! (x−x 0 ) k )·μ(dx)| and ¦∝ [a, b] ƒ dμ − ƒ(x 0 )¦, ƒ ϵ C n ([a, b]), n ⩾ 1 are obtained involving a power moment of μ and the first modulus of continuity of ƒ (n) . These produce sharp inequalities that are attained. The established estimates improve the corresponding ones in the literature. Applications to probabilistic distributions are given at the end.
GAUSSIAN APPROXIMATIONS FOR THE NUCLEAR COULOMB INTERACTION.

The kernel 1/¦r-r′¦=1/y in the direct term of the average Coulomb potential of the nuclear Hartree-Fock model is approximated by a sum of gaussians iny. For 0.5≦y≦30 Fm, a sixteen term expression is found such the direct Coulomb energy is obtained to one part in 103. The exchange Coulomb potential is estimated in the statistical model. Applications of these accurate and practical approximations to fission calculations are discussed.
Fluctuations in recall across successive test trials

The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether item fluctuation (intertrial forgetting and spontaneous recovery) depends upon the time allowed for recall and/or the demand characteristics of the experimental situation (manipulated via instructions to S). One hundred. and forty-four university undergraduates studied a 36-item list and then had two successive recall trials which were 9, 36, or 144 sec in duration. On the second recall trial, Ss were instructed to recall previously recalled items only (“old”), previously nonrecalled items only (“new”), or both previously recalled items and previously nonrecalled items (“both”). The results suggest two conclusions: (1) Although recall trial duration affects the overall amount of recall, it does not affect the amount of item fluctuation; and (2) an instruction to recall only “old” items or to recall only “new” items results in suppression of the nonrequested items without a corresponding facilitation for the requested items.
High temperature fast chromatography of proteins using a silica-based stationary phase with greatly enhanced low pH stability.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is very widely used for the separation and characterization of proteins and peptides. A novel type of highly stable silica-based stationary phase has been developed for protein separations. A dense monolayer of dimethyl-(chloromethyl)phenylethyl)-chlorosilane (DM-CMPES) on the surface of silica is “hyper-crosslinked” with a polyfunctional aromatic crosslinker through Friedel-Crafts chemistry resulting in stationary phases with extraordinary stability in acidic media. Elemental analysis data confirm the high degree of cross-linking among the surface groups. The hyper-crosslinked phases are extremely stable under highly acidic mobile phase conditions even at a temperature as high as 150 °C. A wide-pore (300 A) material made in this way is used here to separate proteins by a reversed-phase mechanism and compared to a commercially available “sterically protected” C18 phase. For small molecules, including neutral and basic compounds, these crosslinked phases give comparable peak shape and efficiency to the commercial phase. Our results show that no pore blockage takes place as commonly afflicts polymer coated phases. In consequence, protein separations on the new phases are acceptable. Using strong ion-pairing reagents, such as HPF6, improves the separation efficiency. Compared to the commercial phases, these new phases can be used at lower pHs and much higher temperatures thereby enabling much faster separations which is the primary focus of this work. Better efficiency for proteins was obtained at high temperature. However, at conventional linear velocities the instability of proteins at high temperature becomes a problem which establishes an upper temperature limit. Uses of a narrowbore column and high flow rates both solves this problem by reducing the time that proteins spend on the hot column and, of course, speeds up the separation of the protein mixture. Finally, an ultrafast gradient (<1 min) protein separation was obtained by utilizing the high temperature and thus high linear velocities afforded by the extreme stability of these new phases. The phases are stable even after 50 h of exposure to 0.1% TFA at 120 °C. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Csaba Horvath whose work in high temperature HPLC inspired the development of the stationary phases described here.
Lasioderma chemistry sex pheromone of cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne F.).

A chemical study of the sex pheromone of the cigarette beetle was carried out. Seven components were isolated from active fractions of column chromatography of the female extract, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic evidence and confirmed by synthesis to be (4S,6S,7S)-4,6-di-methyl-7-hydroxynonan-3-one (serricornin) (I), 2,6-diethyl-3,5-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (anhydroserricornin) (II), 4,6-dimethylnonan-3,7-dione (III), 4,6-dimethylnonan-3,7-diol (IV), 4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-4-nonen-3-one (V), (2S,3R)-2,3-dihydro-3,5-dimethyl-2-ethyl-6-(l-methyl-2-oxobutyl)-4H-pyran-4-one (serricorone) (VI) and (2S,3R)-2,3-dihydro-3,5-dimethyl-2-ethyl-6-(1-methyl-2-hydroxybutyl)-4H-pyran-4-one (serricorole) (VII).
Knowing why and how to innovate with packaged business software

When firms move to adopt and implement a popular IT innovation, what knowledge must they have or gain, in order to be successful? Here we offer a model that explains a firm's success in terms of its adoption know-why and know-when and its implementation know-how. We examine this model in an exploratory survey of some 118 firms' adoption and implementation of packaged business software in the 1990s. Using multivariate methods, we identify business coordination as know-why and management understanding and vendor support as know-how factors important to success, explaining nearly 60% of the variance. There is limited evidence that the right adoption know-why may help in acquiring or fostering the right implementation know-how. The findings serve to remind practitioners that they should attend carefully to adoption rationales, grounded in business benefits, when they innovate with new IT.
Purification of ornithine decarboxylase from regenerating rat liver.

Abstract Ornithine decarboxylase was purified 175-fold over the crude 100 000 × g supernatant from homogenates of regenerating rat liver. It exhibited a single major band on acrylamide gels and a minor contaminant which may represent partially degraded enzyme. Antibody prepared against this enzyme gave a single precipitin line on Ouchterlony plates. The enzyme was precipitated by the antibody and substantial activity could be recovered from the immune precipitate. Several properties of the enzyme are described including differential effects of mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol on enzyme activity.
Disciplining the State: Virtue, Violence, and State‐Making in Modern China – By Patricia M. Thornton

The author of this book has selected three interesting moments in the history of state formation in China from the eighteenth century: the Qing government reforms during the Yong‐Zheng reign [1723–...
Fundamental Electrical Properties or Mercury Vapor and Monatomic Gases

Electrical properties of mercury vapor and monatomic gases are discussed from a theoretical standpoint in this article. In the first part of the article, the author discusses briefy the elementary processes of excitation and ionization of atoms upon which the electrical properties of gases depend. With this insight into the fundamental processes as a 1, ackground, the author discusses in Part lIthe electrical conductivity of gases under various conditions. This is the eleventh in a series of special articles prepared under sponsorship of the A.I.E.E. committee on education.
Overexpression of an Arabidopsis Formin Stimulates Supernumerary Actin Cable Formation from Pollen Tube Cell Membrane

Formins, actin-nucleating proteins that stimulate the de novo polymerization of actin filaments, are important for diverse cellular and developmental processes, especially those dependent on polarity establishment. A subset of plant formins, referred to as group I, is distinct from formins from other species in having evolved a unique N-terminal structure with a signal peptide, a Pro-rich, potentially glycosylated extracellular domain, and a transmembrane domain. We show here that overexpression of the Arabidopsis formin AFH1 in pollen tubes induces the formation of arrays of actin cables that project into the cytoplasm from the cell membrane and that its N-terminal structure targets AFH1 to the cell membrane. Pollen tube elongation is a polar cell growth process dependent on an active and tightly regulated actin cytoskeleton. Slight increases in AFH1 stimulate growth, but its overexpression induces tube broadening, growth depolarization, and growth arrest in transformed pollen tubes. These results suggest that AFH1-regulated actin polymerization is important for the polar pollen cell growth process. Moreover, severe membrane deformation was observed in the apical region of tip-expanded, AFH1-overexpressing pollen tubes in which an abundance of AFH1-induced membrane-associated actin cables was evident. These observations suggest that regulated AFH1 activity at the cell surface is important for maintaining tip-focused cell membrane expansion for the polar extension of pollen tubes. The cell surface–located group-I formins may play the integrin-analogous role as mediators of external stimuli to the actin cytoskeleton, and AFH1 could be important for mediating extracellular signals from female tissues to elicit the proper pollen tube growth response during pollination.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: How to Rule out the Wrong Treatment

Toothache is difficult to diagnose and treat appropriately when traditional dental diagnostic test results are negative. This study looked at 61 patients who were treated for pretrigeminal or trigeminal neuralgia. Of these, 61 percent were incorrectly diagnosed and treated.
Quantum Assisted Sensing Using Rydberg Atoms

Electromagnetically induced transparency in a thermal vapor of Rubidium Rydberg atoms is used to sense small radio frequency (RF) electric fields. The smallest detected field amplitude is ~ 8 µv/cm. Polarization sensitivity is also demonstrated.
Trace metal concentrations in sediment cores from the continental shelf off the South-Eastern United States

The concentrations of 32 metals in sediment cores collected from the Continental Shelf off the south-eastern United States are generally uniform with depth. These sediments are predominantly sand with very low organic carbon throughout the core length. The metal concentrations are low compared to those found in average sandstone and to average crustal abundances, and small variations correlate with variations in texture, and in amount of calcium carbonate and organic carbon. No evidence of accumulation of anthropogenic metals was found in these sediments. The data presented are the first compilation of trace metal concentrations in sediment cores of this area and provide a basis for determining the magnitude of future trace metal deposition in these sediments.
Chern–Simons–Rozansky–Witten topological field theory

We construct and study a new topological field theory in three dimensions. It is a hybrid between Chern–Simons and Rozansky–Witten theory and can be regarded as a topologically-twisted version of the N=4 d=3 supersymmetric gauge theory recently discovered by Gaiotto and Witten. The model depends on a gauge group G and a hyper-Kahler manifold X with a tri-holomorphic action of G. In the case when X is an affine space, we show that the model is equivalent to Chern–Simons theory whose gauge group is a supergroup. This explains the role of Lie superalgebras in the construction of Gaiotto and Witten. For general X, our model appears to be new. We describe some of its properties, focusing on the case when G is simple and X is the cotangent bundle of the flag variety of G. In particular, we show that Wilson loops are labeled by objects of a certain category which is a quantum deformation of the equivariant derived category of coherent sheaves on X.
Dpp Signaling Determines Regional Stem Cell Identity in the Regenerating Adult Drosophila Gastrointestinal Tract

Summary The gastrointestinal tract is lined by a series of epithelia that share functional requirements but also have distinct, highly specialized roles. Distinct populations of somatic stem cells (SCs) regenerate these epithelia, yet the mechanisms that maintain regional identities of these SCs are not well understood. Here, we identify a role for the BMP-like Dpp signaling pathway in diversifying regenerative processes in the adult gastrointestinal tract of Drosophila . Dpp secreted from enterocytes at the boundary between the posterior midgut and the middle midgut (MM) sets up a morphogen gradient that selectively directs copper cell (CC) regeneration from gastric SCs in the MM and thus determines the size of the CC region. In vertebrates, deregulation of BMP signaling has been associated with Barrett's metaplasia, wherein the squamous esophageal epithelium is replaced by a columnar epithelium, suggesting that the maintenance of regional SC identities by BMP is conserved.
Sex roles at the Indian-majority interface in Minnesota.

Recently Indian men have played a major role in the new activist—sometimes militant—organisations acting on behalf of Indian people. However, this major role contrasts markedly with the situation usually encountered in most social institutions. There one finds more Indian women in influential positions, with more Indian men relegated to custodial positions.This paper addresses the patterns and distribution of this bias against Indian men. It contrasts this bias in the general society with the major social role played by men within Indian social forms. Hypotheses are included that may aid our under standing of both the psychological and social dimensions of this phenomenon. Remedial measures are suggested.
Rationality of the Folsom-Ono grid

In a recent paper Folsom and Ono constructed a grid of Poincare series of weights 3/2 and 1/2. They conjectured that the coefficients of the holomorphic parts of these series are rational integers. We prove that these coefficients are indeed rational numbers with bounded denominators.
On Turbulent Flows with Fast Chemical Reactions Part I: The Closure Problem

Abstract The hierarchy of equations describing a special class of turbulent reacting flows is developed and shown to imply some interesting effects of turbulence on chemical behavior. The class of flows is characterized by an oxidizer-fuel-product system undergoing fast chemical reactions so that oxidizer and fuel cannot coexist at a space-time point. There is demonstrated the degeneration of this hierarchy into separate hierarchies when one reactant is totally absent.
The strategic implications of Europe 1992

Abstract This article provides a framework for the strategic analysis of the Single European Market. The creation of this market will have an impact on the critical forces of competition—rivalry, customers, suppliers, new entrants and substitutes, and companies that have built their competitive position on a low cost strategy will need to assess how the position is likely to be eroded by the 1992 event.
Detection and eradication of Alternaria radicina on carrot seed.

Alternaria radicina was recovered from carrot seed following a 10-day incubation on a semiselective agar medium, Alternaria radicina Selective Agar (ARSA). A significantly higher proportion of A. radicina-infested seed was detected in individual seed lots assayed on ARSA than was detected by the standard freezer-blotter seed assay. The identity of A. radicina recovered on ARSA was confirmed by inoculation of carrot root tissue. Based on seed assays using ARSA, 24% (seven of 29) of randomly selected commercial carrot seed lots planted in the Cuyama Valley, California, in 1992, contained low levels of A. radicina (≤0.1%)
Social Psychology and Social Change

Weighing contributions of social psychology to understanding and remedying social problems, Wilson argues that the key to transforming people's lives lies in their learning to recast the stories they tell themselves.