cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Still-frame image transmission using DPCM/interpolative coding

Two methods of combining DPCM (differential pulse-code modulation) and interpolation are proposed for compressing still-frame teleconferencing signals. The first method uses horizontal subsampling, DPCM, and interpolation to achieve a 4:1 compression. The other method is similar but uses vertical subsampling instead. Simulation results indicate that either method can easily achieve the required 2-b/pel data rate with negligible degradation in image quality. Conventional DPCM is shown to perform slightly better in quantitative terms when fixed-wordlength coding is used. However, the two DPCM/interpolation methods offer other advantages when used with a variable-wordlength coder. >
Ellipsometric Study Of Light-Induced Changes In Silver Iodide Thin Films

Ellipsometric measurements are affected by the electron population in surface states. This creates difficulities when studying adsorption, but also presents the experimenter with another way of studying these states. We have explored the possibility of using ellipsometry to study the electronic surface structure of silver iodide by making the ellipsometric measurements at one unchanging wavelength while illuminating the film with light of varying wavelength and observing the resulting changes in the ellipsometric parameters. Previous ellipsometric studies of surface states have not made use of the second light source. Our results indicate that this method is practical and also indicate that care must be taken when using ellipsometry to study adsorption reactions when other light sources also illuminate the surface.
Experimentally induced sickness decreases food intake, but not hoarding, in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

A wide range of physiological and behavioral alterations occur in response to sickness. Sickness behaviors, rather than incidental by-products or side-effects of acute illness, serve as adaptive functional responses that allow animals to cope with a pathogenic challenge. Among the more salient sickness behaviors is a reduction in food intake; virtually all sick animals display marked decreases in this behavior. Food intake, however, is only one component of the food-related behavioral repertoire. For many mammalian species, food hoarding represents a substantial portion of the total energetic budget. Here we tested the effects of experimental sickness on food hoarding and food intake in a naturally food hoarding species, Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). Adult male and female hamsters received injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce sickness or control injections. LPS-induced sickness resulted in a marked decrease in food intake in both males and females, but did not decrease hoarding in either sex. These results support previous findings suggesting that food hoarding and food intake appear to be differentially regulated at the physiological level.
Altered anterior insula activation during anticipation and experience of painful stimuli in expert meditators

Experientially opening oneself to pain rather than avoiding it is said to reduce the mind's tendency toward avoidance or anxiety which can further exacerbate the experience of pain. This is a central feature of mindfulness-based therapies. Little is known about the neural mechanisms of mindfulness on pain. During a meditation practice similar to mindfulness, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used in expert meditators (> 10,000 h of practice) to dissociate neural activation patterns associated with pain, its anticipation, and habituation. Compared to novices, expert meditators reported equal pain intensity, but less unpleasantness. This difference was associated with enhanced activity in the dorsal anterior insula (aI), and the anterior mid-cingulate (aMCC) the so-called ‘salience network’, for experts during pain. This enhanced activity during pain was associated with reduced baseline activity before pain in these regions and the amygdala for experts only. The reduced baseline activation in left aI correlated with lifetime meditation experience. This pattern of low baseline activity coupled with high response in aIns and aMCC was associated with enhanced neural habituation in amygdala and pain-related regions before painful stimulation and in the pain-related regions during painful stimulation. These findings suggest that cultivating experiential openness down-regulates anticipatory representation of aversive events, and increases the recruitment of attentional resources during pain, which is associated with faster neural habituation.
Becoming Different But Staying Alike: Patterns of Sexual Size and Shape Dimorphism in Bills of Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are known for their distinctive patterns of sexual dimorphism, with many species exhibiting sex-related differences in various ecologically-relevant traits, including sex-specific differences in bill shape. It is generally assumed that such patterns are consistent across all hummingbird lineages, yet many taxa remain understudied. In this study we examined patterns of sexual size and sexual shape dimorphism in bills of 32 of 35 species in the monophyletic Mellisugini lineage. We also compared patterns of bill size dimorphism in this group to other hummingbird lineages, using data from 219 hummingbird species. Overall, the presence and degree of sexual size dimorphism was similar across all hummingbird lineages, with the majority of Mellisugini species displaying female-biased sexual size dimorphism, patterns that remain unchanged when analyzed in a phylogenetic context. Surprisingly however, we found that sexual dimorphism in bill shape was nearly absent in the Mellisugini clade, with only 3 of the 32 species examined displaying bill shape dimorphism. Based on observations in other hummingbird lineages, the lack of sexual shape dimorphism in Mellisugini is particularly unusual. We hypothesize that the patterns of sexual size dimorphism observed here may be the consequence of differential selective forces that result from competition for ecological resources. We further propose that an influential mechanism underlying shape dimorphism is competition and niche segregation. Taken together, the evolutionary changes in patterns of sexual shape dimorphism observed in Mellisugini suggest that the evolutionary trends of sexual dimorphism in the Trochilidae are far more dynamic than was previously believed.
RGB-W: When Vision Meets Wireless

Inspired by the recent success of RGB-D cameras, we propose the enrichment of RGB data with an additional "quasi-free" modality, namely, the wireless signal (e.g., wifi or Bluetooth) emitted by individuals' cell phones, referred to as RGB-W. The received signal strength acts as a rough proxy for depth and a reliable cue on their identity. Although the measured signals are highly noisy (more than 2m average localization error), we demonstrate that the combination of visual and wireless data significantly improves the localization accuracy. We introduce a novel image-driven representation of wireless data which embeds all received signals onto a single image. We then indicate the ability of this additional data to (i) locate persons within a sparsity-driven framework and to (ii) track individuals with a new confidence measure on the data association problem. Our solution outperforms existing localization methods by a significant margin. It can be applied to the millions of currently installed RGB cameras to better analyze human behavior and offer the next generation of high-accuracy location-based services.
Comprehensive DEM Study of the Effects of Rolling Resistance On Strain Localization in Granular Materials

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study of the effects of rolling resistance in shear band formation in granular material using DEM (Discrete Element Modeling). The study used the two-dimensional Particle Flow Code (PFC) to simulate biaxial compression and simple shear tests in granular materials. A rolling resistance model was implemented as a user-defined model (UDM) in PFC. A series of parametric studies were performed to investigate the effects of different levels of rolling resistance parameters on the emergence and shear bands in granular materials. The results reinforce prior conclusions by Oda et al. (Mech. Mater. 1:269–283, 1982) on the importance of rolling resistance in promoting shear band formation in granular materials. It was shown that increased rolling resistance results in the development of columns of particles in granular soils during the strain hardening process. The buckling of these columns of particles then leads to the development of shear bands. It is concluded that the variation of rolling resistance parameters has a significant effect on the orientation, thickness and the onset of occurrence of shear bands. The PFC models were tested under a wide range of macro-mechanical parameters and boundary conditions, and how they influence shear band characteristics.
Abstract 125: Role for β-Arrestins in Cardiac Inflammation and Regenerative Repair

Myocardial ischemic injury is characterized by an extensive loss of myocytes due to apoptosis/necrosis followed by an immune/inflammatory response and reestablishment of tissue integrity by a fibrotic scar. Prevention of rupture due to scar formation however, compromises contractility and reduces cardiac function. As bone marrow derived stem/precursor cells (BMSCs) have the ability to trans-differentiate and aid in the regeneration of injured myocardium, we studied BMSCs and their response to inflammation. BM cell mobilization, egress from the BM and recruitment to the site of injury can be regulated by signals through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). β-arrestins are known for their GPCR signaling termination and scaffolding functions. Here, we explored the potential role for β-arrestins expressed in total BM in mediation of the initiation and progression of inflammation. We investigated the role β-arrestin1 (βArr1) and β-arrestin2 (βArr2) with respect to modulation of regenerative competence of BMSCs and inflammatory cells and their contribution to cardiac repair following ischemic injury. We carried out BM transplants to determine whether βArrs may be involved in cardiac repair. WT mice were irradiated and received BM transplants from WT, βArr1 or βArr2 KO donor mice. Subsequent to BM reconstitution, mice underwent MI and their recovery and progress were followed. Interestingly, βArr1 and βArr2 KO chimeras had inferior outcomes than mice receiving WT BM. This included significantly decreased post-MI survival with βArr2 KO BM and both βArr chimeras had significantly lower cardiac function post-MI compared to WT BM recipients. Histology shows that both chimeras had larger infarcts, accelerated rate of hypertrophy, quicker induction of fibrosis, exacerbated cell infiltration and increased number of apoptotic cells. At 3d post-MI immune cell intrusion of βArr2KO chimeric hearts was highest and the blood plasma content of TNFα and IL-6 was increased. We conclude that βArrs play a novel role downstream of GPCR desensitization in cardiac progenitor/inflammatory cells in the BM and are critical in the heart’s response to ischemic injury via cardiac repair and regeneration.
Graphene-based platforms for cancer therapeutics

Graphene is a multifunctional carbon nanomaterial and could be utilized to develop platform technologies for cancer therapies. Its surface can be covalently and noncovalently functionalized with anticancer drugs and functional groups that target cancer cells and tissue to improve treatment efficacies. Furthermore, its physicochemical properties can be harnessed to facilitate stimulus responsive therapeutics and drug delivery. This review article summarizes the recent literature specifically focused on development of graphene technologies to treat cancer. We will focus on advances at the interface of graphene based drug/gene delivery, photothermal/photodynamic therapy and combinations of these techniques. We also discuss the current understanding in cytocompatibility and biocompatibility issues related to graphene formulations and their implications pertinent to clinical cancer management.
The “Race Card” and Reforming American Health Insurance

Thirty-three percent of Latinos, nineteen percent of African-Americans, eighteen percent of Asians, and fourteen percent of whites are uninsured in America. Disparate health insurance results in disparate access to health care and ultimately disparate health. Competing approaches to health insurance reform are likely to exacerbate existing health care disparities whether these reforms are market-based (such as promoting health savings accounts) or driven by the ideals of universal public insurance unless and until we systemically confront racial and ethnic disparities in underlying economic conditions, insurance claim practices, and patterns of medical practice.
(001)-Oriented LaNiO3 Bottom Electrodes and (001)-Textured Ferroelectric Thin Films on LaNiO3

In this work, highly (001)pc-oriented thin films of LaNiO3 (LNO) were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering onto Si substrates (pc = pseudocubic indices). The target powder was prepared using a molten salt technique with Na2CO3 as a flux. The final target density was greater than 85% of theoretical density. The best results were obtained when sputtering was carried out at a power of 186 W and a working pressure of 45 mtorr with a gas composition of 50% O2 + 50% Ar. The thickness of the deposited films was proportional to the sputtering time, and the growth rate was 300A/hour. Highly (001)-oriented thin films of lead zirconate titanate Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) and Pb[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3]O3 (PMN-PT) were fabricated by a sol-gel method on (001)-textured LNO metallic oxide electrodes. A remanent polarization of 12 μC/cm2 and d31 of -125 pC/N (assuming a Young’s modulus of 35 GPa) were measured on the PMN-PT thin films with a thickness of 0.9 μm. This piezoelectric coefficient considerably exceeds that available from PZT films, and depends critically on the film orientation. Changes in the hysteresis loop due to externally applied stress will also be described.
Scaling non-point-source mercury emissions from two active industrial gold mines: influential variables and annual emission estimates.

Open-pit gold mines encompass thousands of hectares of disturbed materials that are often naturally enriched in mercury (Hg). The objective of this study was to estimate annual non-point-source Hg emissions from two active gold mines in Nevada. This was achieved by measuring diel and seasonally representative Hg fluxes from mesocosms of materials collected from each mine. These measurements provided a framework for scaling emissions over space and time at each mine by identifying the important variables correlated with Hg flux. The validity of these correlations was tested by comparisons with measurements conducted in situ at the mines. Of the average diel fluxes obtained in situ (92 daily flux measurements), 81% were within the 95% prediction limits of the regressions developed from the laboratory-derived data. Some surfaces at the mines could not be simulated in the laboratory setting (e.g., material actively leached by cyanide solution and tailings saturated with cyanide solution), and as such in situ ...
Thrombolysis and stroke management

Up to 90% of patients (those with occlusive stroke) may be candidates for clot lysis. Fears that lysis might cause hemorrhage appear to be unwarranted. The most important clinical lesson learned to date is that the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome. Issues such as the most efficient diagnosis, most amenable sites, and IV versus intra-arterial administration are under study.
Effects of ractopamine HCl stereoisomers on growth, nitrogen retention, and carcass composition in rats.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of ractopamine HCl (RAC) stereoisomers (RR, RS, SR, and SS) on performance, carcass composition, and nitrogen retention in growing female rats. Forty-eight rats (eight rats/treatment) were treated with 0 or 320 microg/d of RAC or with 80 microg/d of the RR, RS, SR, or SS stereoisomers of ractopamine. Rats had free access to feed and water before and during the experiment. Ractopamine and stereoisomers were delivered via i.p. implanted osmotic pumps for 14 d, and rats were then slaughtered. Control rats were fitted with osmotic pumps containing saline. Ractopamine increased (P < .05) feed intake (d 1 to 6); body weight; carcass CP; and intake, apparent absorption, retention, and retained:intake ratio of CP on d 1 to 6 of the study. Ractopamine decreased (P < .05) carcass lipid and visceral lipid. Rats dosed with the RR stereoisomer responded similarly to rats dosed with RAC, except for carcass lipid. Carcass lipid was decreased (P < .01) by RAC relative to controls, but it was not different from controls in rats treated with the RR isomer. Compared with controls, BW, carcass CP, and CP retention were increased by the RR stereoisomer, and visceral lipid was decreased. The RS isomer also decreased visceral lipid (P < .10), but variables measured in rats dosed with the RS, SR, and SS isomers generally did not differ from controls. Results of this study indicate that the RR isomer of RAC is responsible for a majority of the leanness-enhancing effects of RAC in rats.
Reforming of Oxygenates for H2 Production on 3d/Pt(111) Bimetallic Surfaces

We present results for H2 production by reforming of oxygenates on Pt-based bimetallic surfaces using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol were employed as probe molecules. The formation of bimetallic surfaces with a 3d metal monolayer on Pt(111), designated 3d-Pt-Pt(111), led to increased H2 production as compared to the parent metal surfaces. The combined experimental and DFT results suggest that the reforming activity tracks the energy of the surface d-band center of various monometallic and bimetallic surfaces.
The Gift of Freedom

Reformulating economics to take proper account of individuals’ genuine freedom of action has significant consequences for economic theory, political philosophy, and practical policy. The drawbacks and limitations of a materialist/behaviorist/determinist economics have been obscured somewhat by the benefits economic growth has brought. Relief of large segments of humanity from the poverty of the pre-indus trial world has imbued economics with some of the same kind of prestige that technological achievements have bestowed on natural science, even though the contribution of academic economics to global progress has been relatively small compared to the benefits of the spread of capitalism. Ironically, the very successes of the natural sciences and the rise in standards of living have exposed the hollowness of the materialist/determinist world view. Local environmental degradation has often accompanied unsustainable practices associated with poverty, but global environmental catastrophe is only a threat today because of unsustainable practices made possible by technological progress. It is issues such as climate change having to do with the prospects of future generations that are most resistant to treatment by conventional economic methods.
Cytoskeletal Perturbing Drugs and Their Effect on Cell Elasticity

The cytoskeleton is primarily responsible for providing structural support, localization and transport of organelles, and intracellular trafficking. The structural support is supplied by actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, which contribute to overall cell elasticity to varying degrees. We evaluate cell elasticity in five different cell types with drug-induced cytoskeletal derangements to probe how actin filaments and microtubules contribute to cell elasticity and whether it is conserved across cell type. Specifically, we measure elastic stiffness in chondrocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, hepatocellular carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma using atomic force microscopy. We subject all five cell lines to two cytoskeletal destabilizers: cytochalasin D and nocodazole, which disrupt actin and microtubule polymerization, respectively. Non-cancer cells treated with cytochalasin D show a decrease of 60–80 % in moduli values compared to untreated cells of the same origin, whereas the nocodazole-treated cells show no change. Alternatively, cancer cells exhibit increased stiffness as well as stiffness variability when subjected to nocodazole. Overall, we demonstrate actin filaments contribute more to elastic stiffness than microtubules but this result is cell type dependent. Lastly, we show that disruption of microtubule dynamics affects cancer cell elasticity, suggesting therapeutic drugs targeting microtubules be monitored for significant elastic changes.
Determining an Optimal Afforestation Policy: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Afforestation, tree planting on land that otherwise would be fallow, is being discussed as a method for reducing net carbon emissions. This article summarizes Swinehart (1996), which presents a tool for determining the optimal level of domestic afforestation. The tool is TREES, a model that evaluates possible afforestation projects in the U.S. We present an overview of the model structure and data. One of the crucial data parameters is the valuation of carbon. The international price of carbon, as computed by MERGE, provides TREES with a one-way linkage with a global integrated assessment (GIA) model. Sequestration results for scenarios utilizing different carbon valuations are presented and are compared with results from traditional abatement measures. The policy implications from these results are discussed.
Real-time traffic congestion management and deadlock avoidance for vehicular ad Hoc networks

Traffic congestion is common in heavily populated cities. In this paper, we introduce a novel protocol to guide vehicles to their destinations while managing congestion and avoiding deadlock situations in urban city grids. The protocol relies on vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, infrastructure-to-infrastructure (I2I) communication as well as GPS information to disseminate congestion information to city grid intersections. Our proposal pro-actively aims at avoiding congestion scenarios and reacts to arising congestion in case it happens due to unpredictable events such as collisions. Simulation results reveal that vehicles enjoy reduced travel times even during rush hours and in the presence of collisions.
Evaluation of Ammonia Recovery from a Laboratory Static Diffusion Chamber System

AbstractAmmoniacal fertilizers are susceptible to ammonia (NH3) volatilization, and multiple methods have been introduced to quantify loss. Methods to quantify differences in NH3 loss are important for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. Recent research hypothesized that opening chamber enclosures resulted in nitrogen (N) loss (16–30%). Thus, the recovery efficiency of static-diffusion chambers used in laboratory experiments were investigated. Chambers with a sand-calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mixture received ammonium-N (NH4-N) solutions. Three time intervals were used to determine if variation in enclosure opening influenced recovery. Acid trap percent recovery and a mass balance approach were used. No differences in cumulative NH3 volatilization were measured from either acid traps or using a mass balance approach. No differences were measured in percent recovery based on N application rate, sample interval, or their interaction and mean percent N recovery was 99.0%. Thus, diffusion chambers can be...
Characterization of growth inhibition of oral bacteria by sophorolipid using a microplate-format assay☆

Sophorolipid (SL) is a class of glycolipid biosurfactant produced by yeast and has potent antimicrobial activity against many microorganisms. In this paper, a microplate-based method was developed to characterize the growth inhibition by SL on five representative species of caries-causing oral bacteria. Bacterial growth on microplate in the absence and presence of varying concentrations of SL was continuously monitored by recording the absorbance at 600nm of the cultures using a microplate reader. The results showed that SL completely inhibited the growth of the Lactobacilli at ≥1mg/ml and the Streptococci at much lower concentrations of ≥50μg/ml. More importantly, we further defined the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of SL by analyzing the pattern of the cell growth curves. SL at sublethal concentrations (<1mg/ml) is bactericidal towards the Lactobacilli; it lengthens the apparent cell-doubling time (Td) and decreases the final cell density (as indicated by A600nm) in a concentration-dependent manner. Against the oral Streptococci, on the other hand, SL at sublethal concentrations (<50μg/ml) is bacteriostatic; it delays the onset of cell growth in a concentration-dependent fashion, but once the cell growth is commenced there is no noticeable adverse effect on Td and the final A600nm. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study of L. acidophilus grown in sublethal concentration of SL reveals extensive structural damage to the cells. S. mutans grown in sublethal level of SL did not show morphological damage to the cells, but numerous protruding structures could be seen on the cell surface. At the respective lethal levels of SL, L. acidophilus cells were lysed (at 1mg/ml SL) and the cell surface structure of S. mutans (at 130μg/ml SL) was extensively deformed. In summary, this paper presents the first report on a detailed analysis of the effects of SL on Lactobacilli and Streptococci important to oral health and hygiene.
Asset Sales and Firm Value: Evidence from Bond Markets

Asset sales have been found to create significant abnormal returns of 0.5% - 1.5% on equity values. Several theories have been suggested to explain this result. Originally, the abnormal returns were attributed to efficient redistribution of assets. Later papers suggested that asset sales created value through an increase in focus or only when the proceeds were paid out due to agency costs. Asset sales may also create value from wealth transfers through asset substitution or due to the elimination of financial constraints and thus from an increase in financial flexibility for the selling firm. Theses theories all suggest that asset sales create equity value; however they have different implications for bond value. This paper examines 452 asset sales of at least $75 million from 1990 - 2004. We examine both the bond and equity abnormal returns. We find that asset sale generally create value for both debt and equity holders or neither, but we do not find evidence of wealth transfers. Firms with junk bonds, high leverage, low market-to-book, and low profitability all have significantly higher debt and equity returns from asset sales. We find that the primary determinant of excess bond value reactions is junk bond status and leverage. We find that the primary determinant of equity value excess return is junk bond status and relative transaction size. This evidence is consistent with firms that have financial constraints benefiting the most from asset sales. This suggest that a desire to increase financial flexibility may be a significant determinate of value creation from asset sales.
Fine-grained authorization for job execution in the Grid: design and implementation: Research Articles

In this paper, we describe our work on enabling fine-grained authorization for resource usage and management. We address the need of virtual organizations to enforce their own polices in addition to those of the resource owners, with regards to both resource consumption and job management. To implement this design, we propose changes and extensions to the Globus Toolkit's version 2 resource management mechanism. We describe the prototype and policy language that we have designed to express fine-grained policies and present an analysis of our solution. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling and Analyzing the Android Permission Framework Using High Level Petri Nets

Android permission framework is a part of Android OS to enforce secure cross application communication. However the android permission framework is very complex, and its descriptions are scattered in dozens of webpages. It is very difficult to understand the relationships among multiple permission levels and their potential vulnerabilities. This paper presents a formal model of the Android permission framework using high level Petri nets. The model precisely defines the complex relationships among different levels of permissions. The model is constructed incrementally and thus is easily adaptable to future changes. The model building process is supported by our tool environment PIPE+, which further provides several analysis techniques. Simulation results for several scenarios that obey and violate the permission requirements are discussed.
“Don’t you mess with my children”—Conservative Inter-religious Cooperation in Peru in the XXI Century

In the last decades of the twentieth century Evangelicals in Latin America countries changed their opinion regarding political participation. At the beginning of the 21st century the political practice of evangelicals shows that their objectives are not only occupying spaces of the Legislative power. The new objectives of political participation seek to influence public policies in order to impose a religious morality on issues such as minority rights, homosexuality and abortion. In this article we study this change in the case of Peru taking as reference the action of three religious leaders from Evangelical, Pentecostal and Catholic churches. We study the organized work of the three religious leaders and their relations with “fujimorism” in the conjuncture of 2016 national elections and in the campaign “do not you mess with my children” of the same year. The actions and discourses of religious groups show strong emotional mobilization, but little capacity to manage a collective identity.
"Performance Feedback, Vertical and Horizontal Pay Dispersions, and International Diversification"

Various theoretical perspectives have been evoked to explain why firms engage in international diversification. However, these theories have been criticized for implicitly assuming that firms inter...
Probabilistic parameter estimation in a 2-step chemical kinetics model for n-dodecane jet autoignition

This paper demonstrates the development of a simple chemical kinetics model designed for autoignition of n-dodecane in air using Bayesian inference with a model-error representation. The model erro...
An Organizational Capital Decision Model for Knowledge-Intensive Organizations

Using several factors essential to determine the income of a knowledge organization, we formulate a mathematical programming problem for allocating the firm's capital budget between organizational and physical capitals. We solve this problem to obtain an analytically tractable and easy to implement decision rule to enhance the firm's expected income and, subsequently, value. The model applies interconnections of these capitals and their constituent variables in the context of the firm's valuation through the growth of its operating income. Finally, we illustrate our findings by studying the capital allocations of IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Symantec, EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, and CA Technologies, which constitute eight of the ten of the world's largest software companies. We use the data from their financial statements covering the period 1991–2015, and find that the companies that had a stable policy setting higher priority on their budget for organizational capital enjoyed superior financial performance over the 25 years of our study. Professionals in the field of engineering and technology management can benefit greatly from the findings of this study as they can use it to justify the firm's capital investment budget for organizational capital, because it typically includes items of greater interest to them such as the intangibles, intellectual property, and human capital. The paper gives directions for future research in the relatively new area of organizational capital.
Managed intelligent deconfliction and scheduling for satellite communication

The Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) coordinates hundreds of satellite communication requests from various users every day. Building a conflict-free schedule from a large set of satellite communication requests is a difficult problem. Human schedulers are very adept at generating high-quality solutions, usually allowing all requests to be serviced. However, this process is time-intensive and requires highly trained, experienced individuals. That is, the teams of highly trained and experienced schedulers must manually check every schedule request received. Approximately half of all requests require adjustment to remove conflicts. The US Air Force (USAF) had an interest in further automating this process. Stottler Henke worked with the USAF to develop the Managed Intelligent Deconfliction and Scheduling (MIDAS) solution, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for automatically scheduling satellite contacts, by incorporating the experience, insights, and expertise of human schedulers. MIDAS can now automate virtually all the scheduling of the satellite communication requests for the AFSCN, allowing schedulers to apply their expertise where it is really needed. MIDAS accomplishes this with a two-stage process that first shuffles tasks within their defined constraints before carefully applying a user-definable set of business rules that allow certain constraints to be relaxed when necessary. The system provides a familiar, user-friendly interface modeled on legacy Electronic Schedule Dissemination (ESD) systems to facilitate comparison and to allow users to switch from one interface to the other with relative ease. It runs on inexpensive consumer hardware and communicates with legacy systems via a well-defined plain-text file format: raw scheduling requests are imported to MIDAS, and scheduling results can be exported back to legacy tools. MIDAS now provides Air Force planning at a level not previously possible. A viable schedule can be assembled in a matter of minutes in order to assess the impact of possible outages, events, expansion of equipment, etc., that is, MIDAS provides the ability to perform “what-if” scenarios to assess the impact of a potential event or mission change. With only a few minutes of processing, MIDAS is able to deconflict all or virtually all communications requests for a given day. MIDAS has eliminated much of the repetitive work involved in scheduling and allows schedulers to focus on other important problems. This paper provides a history of MIDAS, an overview of its architecture and the many benefits MIDAS provides; in addition to its general applicability to non-USAF satellite communications scheduling.
Industrial Modeling with Input-Output. An Application to the Italian Metal Mechanical Industry

Input-output is a form of industrial modeling. The traditional Leontief input-output format represents a way to link industrial outputs, the vector of sector output (X), with the vector of final demands disaggregated by sector (F) through the input-output inverse $$X = {(I - A)^{ - 1}}F$$ .
Kinetics of the nitrosation of aminopyrine to give dimethylnitrosamine

The initial rate of nitrosation of aminopyrine (AP, Pyramidon) to give dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) showed maxima at pH 2.0 and 3.1. At pH 2, initial rate was proportional to nitrite concentration squared down to 6 mM, below which it decreased rapidly. The rate was independent of AP concentration at pH 2 but proportional to AP concentration at pH 0.5, indicating that nitrous anhydride formation was rate-limiting at pH 2. DMN was detected after 5 seconds reaction under “normal” conditions. The stoichiometric rate constant at pH 2 and 0° was 80 M−2 sec−1, higher than that for all secondary amines previously studied, except N-methylaniline. In addition to the “initial reaction”, a second slow reaction giving DMN was observed. When 20 mM AP was reacted for 1 hr with 25–100 μM nitrite at 37°, >90% of the nitrite reacted to give DMN. Ascorbate blocked DMN formation from AP efficiently under various conditions. We confirmed Bockmuhl's finding that the other main product of AP nitrosation is 1-diketo-butyryl-1-phenyl-2-methyl-2-nitrosohydrazide hydrate (DPMN). The unusual ease of reaction is attributed to the enamine structure of AP. The possibility of intragastric nitrosation of AP is considered to present a hazard to people ingesting this analgesic drug, which is widely used in Europe.
Effects of rumen-protected methionine and lysine on ruminant performance and nutrient metabolism.

Four trials were conducted to determine the effects of supplemental rumen-protected methionine (RPMet) and lysine (RPLys) on lamb N metabolism and steer feedlot performance. In trial 1, 20 Suffolk-sired, crossbred lambs (avg weight 32 kg) were fed diets containing no supplemental methionine (Met) and lysine (Lys), .03% RPMet, .05% RPLys or .03% RPMet + .05% RPLys. Lambs fed .03% RPMet + .05% RPLys had a 33% increase in N retention compared with lambs fed no supplemental Met and Lys. In trial 2, to verify the protection and availability of these amino acids, five Targhee lambs (avg weight 35 kg) were fed corn-soybran flake diets supplemented with urea and were assigned in a 5 X 5 Latin square to one of the following treatments: 1) control; 2) .03% RPMet + .05% RPLys offered in the diet; 3) .03% RPMet + .05% RPLys abomassally infused; 4) .03% non-protected Met + .05% non-protected Lys offered in the diet and 5) .03% Met + .05% Lys abomasally infused. Treatments 2, 3 and 5 decreased (P less than .05) urinary N (g/d) and increased N retention (P less than .05) compared with the control diet (treatment 1). Increases (P less than .05) in plasma Met and Lys concentrations indicated that the amino acids were protected and available for animals at the site of absorption. In trial 3, 40 crossbred Angus steers (avg weight 247 kg) were fed diets composed of 53% corn silage and 47% concentrate and supplemented with soybean meal to 11.3% crude protein. Steers that were fed diets containing .19% RPMet + .11% RPLys had greater daily gain (P less than .05) than those fed diets containing no supplemental amino acids, .11% RPMet + .01% RPLys, and .15% RPMet + .06% RPLys (1.39 vs 1.23, 1.22 and 1.20 kg/d, respectively). Similar improvements in feed conversion resulted and increases in plasma Met concentrations followed the same trend. In trial 4, 40 crossbred Angus steers (avg weight 368 kg) were fed corn grain-corn silage diets supplemented with urea. Treatments were: no supplemental amino acids; .05% RPMet + .01% RPLys; .10% RPMet + .04% RPLys; and .15% RPMet + .07% RPLys. No differences in steer performance resulted due to supplemental RPMet and RPLys (P greater than .05). The results of these trials suggest that the RPMet and RPLys used in this study are protected from ruminal degradation, are available post-ruminally and can improve lamb N balance and growing steer performance.
Musings of a Relatively New FAR

Professor Brian D. Shannon, Charles “Tex” Thornton Professor of Law, Texas Tech University School of Law; Faculty Athletics Representative, Texas Tech University; and Big 12 Conference Representative and President, 1A FAR Board, discusses what a Faculty Athletics Representative position entails. This paper was presented at a session of the 2012 Southeastern Association of Law Schools’ conference, along with presentations by four other law professors who serve as FARs for their universities. Shannon provides background information about himself, how he found himself serving in the current FAR position, and the challenges and opportunities for a new FAR. Throughout the article, Professor Brian D. Shannon offers valuable insight about the position but also how Texas Tech University has approached the responsibilities of meeting with the rules of the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference.
Movies and Films, Analysis of

The last two decades were witness to significant growth in geographers’ use of film as a pedagogic tool, as data for cultural critique, and as a basis for renewed interest in spatial ontologies. Movies have been studied for their geographic content, in their own right as pointers to changing societal values, and as transformative technological media. Marxism and discourse analysis suggest larger economic and social concerns that revolve around modes and sites of production and who controls that production. Psychoanalytic theory suggests some of the ways films embed and embody the internal and pathological concerns of audiences. Feminist and postcolonial perspectives point to gendered and racialized ways that films are produced and consumed. Drawing on all these methodologies to some degree, post-structural theory opens up experimental methodologies that focus on emotional engagements and interpretations that highlight movement, mobility, and a reflexive perspective that does not try to tie down its subject.
Expanded Microchannel Heat Exchanger: Nondestructive Evaluation

AbstractRecent theoretical developments in expanded microchannel polymer-based heat exchangers were promising, but the initial experiments underperformed simple theory. In order to understand this ...
Fiscal Distress and Politics: The Bankruptcy Filing of Bridgeport as a Case Study in Reclaiming Local Sovereignty

On June 6, 1991, Bridgeport, Connecticut became the largest city ever to file for bankruptcy protection' under chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code. Less than six months later, Bridgeport's Mayor, Mary Moran, was defeated in her bid for reelection. Using a public choice lens, this paper explores the dynamics of how the state forced Mayor Moran to file for chapter 9 protection, even though it was an act of political suicide. Bridgeport's chapter 9 filing presents one of the most recent manifestations of the conflict between city and state power. When Bridgeport began to slide into fiscal decline, Connecticut's elected officials exploited the situation by enacting legislation which placed a state oversight board in complete control of the city's finances. When the Mayor and the state oversight board could not agree over Bridgeport's 1992 budget, the Mayor realized that the state board would seek a writ of mandamus to force her to increase the property taxes of Bridgeport's citizens. Since raising taxes was equivalent to political suicide, Mayor Moran had little recourse but to seek chapter 9 protection in an attempt to protect her own political future. The chapter 9 filing stayed all pending litigation and prevented any new litigation from proceeding against Bridgeport -- including a writ of mandamus to increase city property taxes. Although the chapter 9 filing was ultimately rejected by the bankruptcy court, it represented a high stakes poker game between the state and the city in which the citizens of Bridgeport were the ultimate losers.
Chapter 9 – Viral Pathogenesis

Pathogens are disease-causing agents and pathogenesis is the study of the disease process. In cultured cells, observed changes (i.e., death, altered morphology, transformation) can be ascribed directly to virus infection. However disease is a more complex process that may result from direct virus effects, immune responses to infection, or a combination of both. Modern studies of viral pathogenesis seek to understand not only the damage to an organism but the underlying molecular events that cause the observed damage. Diseases caused by human viruses are often studied in animal models. Developing such models may include adaption of a human virus to growth in animals. Or human viruses may be used to inoculate animals by unnatural routes, or at very high doses. Alternatively, studying the pathogenesis of an animal virus in its natural host may provide insight into pathogenesis of a related human virus. Development of model systems can be difficult and expensive but modern genetic methods are providing new avenues of study. Often results from several different models are combined to gain an understanding of the pathogenesis of a single virus.
Total Synthesis of (−)-Salinosporamide A via a Late Stage C−H Insertion

The synthesis of (-)-salinosporamide A, a proteasome inhibitor, is described. The synthesis highlights the assembly of a densely decorated pyrrolidinone core via an aza-Payne/hydroamination sequence. Central to the success of the synthesis is a late-stage C-H insertion reaction to functionalize a sterically encumbered secondary carbon. The latter functionalization leads to an enabling transformation where most of the prototypical strategies failed.
Ten Years After the ADA Amendment Act (2008): The Relationship Between ADA Employment Discrimination and Substance Use Disorders

Objective:Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protection against discrimination on the basis of disability. This article explores how the courts have dealt with provisions...
Objectification of The Marginal in Political Ads during Indonesian Presidential Election Campaign 2014

Sebagaimana pemilihan umum – pemilihan umum sebelumnya, pemilihan umum presiden yang digelar pada bulan 9 Juli 2014 silam juga diwarnai oleh fenomena iklan politik. Iklan politik, terutama di media cetak, selalu menjadi andalan bagi para aktor politik untuk merebut perhatian dan kepercayaan pemilih. Sayangnya, usaha-usaha untuk menarik perhatian pemilih melalui iklan seringkali menggunakan tanda-tanda yang sarat akan stereotype atas kaum marginal dan menempatkan kaum marginal sebagai objek. Iklan politik menampilkan kaum marginal melalui teks, baik verbal maupun visual yang beraneka ragam, yang muaranya tak lebih dari pemuasaan atas narsisme politik calon yang bersangkutan. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan semiotik untuk menganalisis iklan-iklan politik di surat kabar nasional edisi 5 Juni – 5 Juli 2014, penelitian ini menunjukkan bukti bahwa kaum marginal masih direpresentasikan secara stereotipikal dalam iklan politik pemilu presiden 2014. Memang ada beberapa iklan yang tidak menampilkan objektifikasi tersebut, namun iklan - iklan politik yang menempatkan kaum marginal sebagai objek masih tampak mendominasi. Iklan-iklan politik tersebut semakin melanggengkan stereotype yang ada di masyarakat sehingga membuat posisi kaum marginal justru kian termarginalkan. Konsekuensinya, ketika masyarakat berkomunikasi dengan atau tentang kaum marginal, mereka tidak bisa menghindari kecenderungan untuk tidak melakukan stereotyping dan objektifikasi karena mereka melihat representasi di media sebagai kenyataan yang sebenarnya.