cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lens collimation and testing using a Twyman-Green interferometer with a self-pumped phase-conjugating mirror

Ordinarily Twyman-Green interferometers are employed testing optical elements. In a modification of the basic configuration, the ordinary mirror in the test arm is replaced with a self-pumped phase-conjugating mirror using a barium titanate crystal. It is shown that, with a redefinition of components, the new configuration permits retention and improvement of the optical element testing function while simultaneously serving as a sensitive test for collimation. The optical path difference resulting from the double pass in the original Twyman-Green interferometer approximately equals that of the single pass and phase conjugation in the modification.
Ultrafast geometric control of a single qubit using chirped pulses

We propose a control strategy to perform arbitrary unitary operations on a single qubit based solely on the geometrical phase that the qubit state acquires after cyclic evolution in the parameter space. The scheme uses ultrafast linearly chirped pulses and provides the possibility of reducing the duration of a single-qubit operation to a few picoseconds.
Situational logic and covering law explanations in history

Donagan has argued (a) that the covering law model of explanation does not apply in certain cases in historical explanations; (b) that situational logic explanations do apply, and (c) that situational logic explanations are fundamentally different from covering law explanations. It is argued that (b) is false as Donagan construes situational logic explanations. Once situational logic explanations are correctly construed they are similar to Hempel's rational explanations in covering law forms — hence (c) is false if situational logic explanations are correctly interpreted. Finally it is argued that one major reason Donagan gives for (a) is mistaken.
Andalusia on Our Minds: Two Contrasting Places in Spain As Seen in a Vernacular Poetic Duel of the Late 19th Century

Space is not the vague and indetermined medium which Kant imagined. Spatial coordination consists essentially in a primary coordination of the data of sensuous experience. To dispose things spatially there must be the possibility of placing them differently. This is to say space could not be what it was if it were not divided and differentiated. But whence comes these divisions? . . . evidently from the fact that different sympathetic values have been attributed to various regions. -Emile Durkheim The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
FEL cavity length measurement with an external laser

Abstract The nature of linac-driven free electron laser (FEL) operation requires that the length of the laser optical resonator be matched to the repetition rate of the accelerator in order for the returning optical pulse to overlap the newly arriving electron bunch. The range of cavity lengths over which oscillation will occur is limited in typical FEL designs to a few tens of microns, while the total resonator length is often many meters. The task of correctly setting the length of a new FEL resonator is therefore quite difficult, particularly if the cavity geometry contains more than a single line segment. We have demonstrated that such an absolute length measurement with micron accuracy over many meters in any cavity configuration is possible by establishing resonances in the cavity with an external laser of known repetition frequency. This technique was successfully applied in the development of two new FELs at the Stanford FEL Center. We will discuss the advantages of this method over conventional measurement schemes.
EFFECT OF PROPHYLACTIC ACEISMINOPHEN (AC) ON MODIFYING LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC REACTIONS TO DTP VACCINATION

To determine the effect of prophylactic AC on decreasing reactions after DTP vaccination, 261 children were assigned to receive prertBasured doses of a study medicine containing either AC or placebo (PL), in a double-blind randomized protocol. AC or PL was given before (0-30 min.), and 3, 7, 12 and 18 hrs after vaccination. Fever, local and systemic reactions were monitored at 3, 7, 12 and 24 hrs. Switching to open AC (OP) was allowed if the child had a temperature above 38.9°C or was in moderate pain. Completeness of study medicine use was (AC/PL): all 5 doses=78%/61%; ≥4 doses 87%/75%; ≥3 doses=96%/83%. Significant differences (p 38°C at 3 hrs=2%/11%; T >38°C at 6 hrs= 10%/32%; T ≥38°C at 12 Ers=19%/32%; fussiness 49%/71%, and severe pain at the vaccination site 6%/17%. Fewer parents in the AC group switched to OP due to fever or pain:14%/25%. Switching to OP occurred earlier in the PL group (mean 8.5 hrs) than in the AC group (mean 14.8 hrs). There were no significant differences between the two groups for fever ≥38.5°C, redness, swelling, induration, overall pain, fever ≥38°C at 24 hrs, drowsiness, anorexia, emesis, or crying ≥ ½ hr. Prophylactic AC as given in this study reduces the occurrence of fever, severe pain, and fussiness, but does not appear to modify other local and systemic reactions following DTP immunization.
Diagnostic value of atrial pacing and thallium-201 scintigraphy for the assessment of patients with chest pain.

Atrial pacing was performed either alone (n = 23) or in combination with thallium-201 scintigraphy (n = 113) in 136 patients referred for evaluation of chest pain. The presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) was excluded by cardiac catheterization in 12 patients and confirmed in 124. Both pacing-induced ST depression and angina had sensitivities of 48% for CAD; specificities were 75% and 83%, respectively. An abnormal thallium-201 scan (one or more reversible and/or fixed perfusion defects) was seen in 72% of patients with CAD (specificity 83%). Reversible perfusion defects were present in 47% of patients with CAD (specificity 83%), and fixed defects in 36% (specificity 100%). Pacing was associated with either ST depression or an abnormal perfusion scan in 81% of patients (specificity 67%). There were no significant differences in the results of atria pacing or thallium-201 scintigraphy in patients with or without a history of myocardial infarction, or in those with or without previous coronary artery bypass surgery. Pacing-induced ST depression, or both ST depression and a reversible perfusion defect occurred significantly less frequently in patients with peripheral vascular disease than in those without this diagnosis (p less than .05). With only one exception, there were no significant differences in the sensitivities of any indicators of ischemia (ST depression, angina, or perfusion scans), either individually or in combination, as the peak pacing rate or double product achieved increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Detailed Theoretical Photoelectron Angular Distributions for LiF(100)

We model photoelectron angular distributions obtained earlier by Himpsel et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 3611 (1992)] for the F 2p bands in LiF(100). The F 2p states are treated within a many-body, quasiparticle approach, and a nearly-free-electron model is presented for the description of conduction-band states relevant to the photoemission process. In the quasiparticle results, we find a band gap of 14.4 eV and a F 2p bandwidth of 3.6 eV, in satisfactory agreement with experimental values of 14.2 and 3.5 eV for these respective quantities. A method for computing photoelectron angular distributions is presented, followed by a comparison of simulated and measured photoelectron angular distributions for several parts of the three-dimensional Brillouin zone. In this comparison, constant-energy contours in the F 2p bands are clearly portrayed in both theoretical and experimental images. Using the model, we also identify the origin of a Brillouin-zone-dependent intensity variation for equivalent valence states, i.e., states which are related by reflection through a (010)-type Bragg plane and which lie close to such a plane. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Sexual arousal, affect, and heterosexual attraction

(1985). Sexual Arousal, Affect, and Heterosexual Attraction. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 125, No. 6, pp. 771-773.
OXIDIZED GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN ERYTHROCYTES OF GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE-DEFICIENT SUBJECTS

Abstract Oxidised glutathione (G.S.S.G.) was estimated in normal erythrocytes and in erythrocytes deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G.-6-P.D.) using an improved method in which the oxidation of glutathione was prevented by prior alkylation with N-ethyl-maleimide. The content of G.S.S.G. in the erythrocytes deficient in G.-6-P.D. was about 3 times that in normal erythrocytes.
A comparison of biology majors’ written arguments across the curriculum

Argumentation in science is the process of coordinating theory and evidence to justify conclusions. This practice is at the heart of scientific journal writing and communication, but little is known regarding the argument quality of college science majors, the future scientists. Studies on written arguments at the college level have focused primarily on non-majors and upper-level students. To investigate and describe these skills throughout the biology curriculum, majors (n = 243) in four levels of undergraduate biology courses at a public university were assessed using a short, written argument instrument based on a hypothetical data set and scenario. Using Toulmin’s argumentation pattern to assess the instruments for argument aspects and quality, very few differences were found in the scores across course levels. Students were able to generate simple arguments consisting of claim, evidence and reasoning. The ability to provide scientific principles as reasoning to connect evidence and claims was positiv...
Nonlinear optical waveguides based on polymeric films doped with phthalocyanines

The results are reported on the study of nonlinear optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) waveguides doped with 2,9,16,23-Tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H,31H- phthalocyanine. Polymeric host provides acceptable waveguide quality that is hardly achievable for phthalocyanine monocrystaline films or glasses. In comparison with ordinary materials such as lead-phthalocyanine, 2,9,16,23-Tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H,31H- phthalocyanine shows better solubility and is less affected by polymeric matrix. It preserves strong absorption in visible region with single peak at 627 nm. Third order nonlinearity of phthalocyanine doped polymer was studied with Z-scan and degenerate four wave mixing techniques, and also with waveguide mode spectroscopy based on prism coupling. Slow thermal component of third order susceptibility was measured using cw Ar+ laser (514 nm line) in the spectral region out of the absorption band, and He-Ne laser (633 nm line) inside the absorption band. In the latter case nonlinear refractive index was minus 1.87 multiplied by 10-2 cm2/W providing strong shift of waveguide modes to the region of low indices where light confinement might no longer be achieved. Transient and fast third order susceptibility is studied using nanosecond and picosecond pulses from frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser at pump power up to 100 MW/cm(superscript 2$.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Examining the Nature of Expertise in Reading Instruction

Teacher educators examined three aspects of expertise in reading instruction in 15 preservice, classroom, and intervention teachers at three distinctively different points in their professional development. In one sitting, participants responded to two video clips showing the same first-grade child reading familiar text in a Reading Recovery lesson to the same teacher at the beginning and again in the middle of the school year. Teachers responded to written prompts that invited them to use their current knowledge to interpret, infer, and recommend a tentative instructional course for the child. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to categorize responses and contrast perspectives among these groups. Preservice teachers' statements were tied to clearly observed behaviors and a limited view of the reading process. Classroom and intervention teachers understood behaviors as indicators of current processing strengths and changes that are likely as the child attempted to deal with more complex material...
Stabilization of an intermediate activation state for transducin by a fluorescent GTP analogue.

The GTP-binding protein (G protein), transducin, serves as a key molecular switch in vertebrate vision through the tight regulation of its GTP-binding (activation)/GTP hydrolytic (deactivation) cycle by the photoreceptor rhodopsin. To better understand the structure−function characteristics of transducin activation, we have set out to identify spectroscopic probes that bind to the guanine nucleotide-binding site of this G protein and maintain its ability to interact with its specific cellular target/effector, the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE). In this study, we describe the characterization of a fluorescently labeled GTP analogue, BODIPY−FL GTPγS (BOD-GTPγS), that binds to the alpha subunit of transducin (αT) in a rhodopsin- and Gβγ-dependent manner, similar to the binding of GTP or GTPγS, with an apparent dissociation constant of 100 nM. The rhodopsin-dependent binding of BOD-GTPγS to αT is slow, relative to the rate of binding of GTPγS, particularly under conditions where rhodopsin must act catalyt...
Experimental investigation of strains in fabric under biaxial and shear forces.

The paper defines the experimental phase of an objective to obtain the mechanical characteristics and coefficients required by the generalized form of Hooke's law for nylon-polyurethane-coated fabric. Test specimens were cylindrical fabric sleeves and were loaded in axial tension by an Instron, in hoop tension by pressurizing, and in shear by a torquing fixture. An extensive amount of strain data is included for a wide combination of the three membrane loads. The tests indicate highly nonlinear stress-strain characteristics of the fabric and a strong dependency on all three membrane loads.
Comparison of Occupational Expectations Between Interior Design Students and Practitioners

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine occupational expectations of interior design students for an entry-level design position and to compare them with the occupational expectations of interior design practitioners. Occupational expectations were defined as survey respondents' perceptions about general work conditions, work relations, job success, and specific tasks performed in their future profession. RESEARCH DESIGN: A survey of 140 students in all levels of interior design classes was conducted at two universities. The survey questionnaire consisted of three parts to determine preferences and expectations of respondents in terms of general work environment and specific tasks. Eighty-two interior design practitioners throughout the United States were also surveyed with the same questionnaire to determine their occupational expectations for an entry-level design position and to compare them with students' expectations. ANALYSIS: The responses for each statement or task were analyzed for frequency distributions, percentages, and mean scores where applicable. For statistical analyses of the data, Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) and t tests were used to evaluate differences in ratings between upper division students (juniors and seniors) and lower division students (freshmen and sophomores). The same methods were applied for a comparison of responses between upper division students and interior design practitioners. KEY FINDINGS: Results of the study indicated that, in general, upper division students had more realistic occupational expectations of an entry-level designer position than lower division students. However, upper division students significantly differed from interior design practitioners in their expectations in three categories: Working Conditions, General Work Type, and Business/Management. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated that there was a difference between the occupational expectations of students and practitioners for an entry-level designer position. For students to gain more realistic views of their future profession, further research was recommended to determine appropriate curriculum guidelines for undergraduate education in interior design.
VEGF blockade decreases the tumor uptake of systemic oncolytic herpes virus but enhances therapeutic efficacy when given after virotherapy

Effective therapies for metastatic sarcomas remain elusive. Oncolytic viruses have shown promise as anticancer agents, but their access to metastatic sites following systemic delivery is low. As systemic delivery of small-molecule chemotherapy is enhanced by previous treatment with antiangiogenic agents because of changes in intravascular-to-tumor interstitial pressure, we sought to determine whether antiangiogenic pretreatment increases the antitumor efficacy of systemic virotherapy by increasing virus uptake into tumor. Virus biodistribution and antitumor effects were monitored in tumor-bearing mice given antihuman vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or antimouse VEGFR2 before or after an intravenous (i.v.) injection of virus. Without pretreatment, the average virus titers in the tumor samples amplified 1700-fold over 48 h but were undetectable in other organs. After antiangiogenic treatment, average virus titers in the tumor samples were unchanged or in some cases decreased up to 100-fold. Thus, antiangiogenic pretreatment failed to improve the tumor uptake of systemic oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV), in contrast to previously reported enhanced uptake of small molecules. Superior tumor control because of the combined effects of virus and anti-VEGF was seen most dramatically when anti-VEGF was given after virus. Our data suggest that i.v. oHSV can treat distant sites of disease and can be enhanced by antiangiogenic therapy, but only when given in the proper sequence.
Conductance fluctuations in a ballistic in-plane gated InGaAs quantum dot

Abstract Recent experiments have examined the magnetoconductance properties of mesoscopic quantum dots, defined in high mobility GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunctions utilizing split-gate techniques. Here, we report on a submicron, square quantum dot defined in a pseudomorphic InGaAs/GaAs single quantum well through an in-plane gate (IPG) technique. The high mobility of the sample ensures that the mean free path is larger than the characteristic dimensions of the quantum dot; hence transport through the structure is ballistic. These structures exhibit reproducible conductance fluctuations and weak localization. We discuss the results of low temperature studies of fluctuations observed in the low field magnetoconductanct. These fluctuations appear to be regular and quasiperiodic, containing only a few frequencies in the Fourier spectrum.
A virtual hair cell, II: evaluation of mechanoelectric transduction parameters.

The virtual hair cell we have proposed utilizes a set of parameters related to its mechanoelectric transduction. In this work, we observed the effect of such channel gating parameters as the gating threshold, critical tension, resting tension, and Ca2+ concentration. The gating threshold is the difference between the resting and channel opening tension exerted by the tip link assembly on the channel. The critical tension is the tension in the tip link assembly over which the channel cannot close despite Ca2+ binding. Our results show that 1), the gating threshold dominated the initial sensitivity of the hair cell; 2), the critical tension minimally affects the peak response, (I), but considerably affects the time course of response, I(t), and the force-displacement, F-X, relationship; and 3), higher intracellular [Ca2+] resulted in a smaller fast adaptation time constant. Based on the simulation results we suggest a role of the resting tension: to help overcome the viscous drag of the hair bundle during the oscillatory movement of the bundle. Also we observed the three-dimensional bundle effect on the hair cell response by varying the number of cilia forced. These varying forcing conditions affected the hair cell response.
Properties of "35" Spin-(5/2) Baryon Resonances in a Model with Broken SU(3)

We investigate the properties of a set of J =(5/2)^+ resonances appearing in a 35-dimensional representation of SU(3), as proposed by Abers, Balazs, and Hara. A simple dynamical calculation gives an estimate for the mass differences within the supermultiplet. The matrix elements for the SU(3) allowed decays into meson plus resonance are given in terms of one parameter and the SU(3)-violating matrix elements for decay into meson plus baryon are given by two parameters.
Formulation of the Entropy Parameter Based on Hydraulic and Geometric Characteristics of River Cross Sections

The linear entropic relation between mean flow velocity u¯ and maximum velocity umax is defined through a dimensionless entropy parameter M , which is found constant for gauged river sections. This entropic relation has been tested for many rivers and has been found to be fundamental to addressing velocity measurements during high floods when sampling can be carried out only in the upper portion of flow area where the maximum velocity umax occurs. It is therefore of considerable interest to investigate the possible dependence of M on hydraulic and geometric characteristics so that it can be determined for ungauged river sites. Thus, this study attempts to define the dependence of M on the geometric and hydraulic characteristics of river cross sections by coupling Manning’s equation expressing u¯ with the equation for umax obtained through a logarithmic velocity distribution, which takes into account the possibility that umax may occur below the water surface. Analysis shows that M does not depend on the e...
Invariants, specifiers, cues: An investigation of locus equations as information for place of articulation

This experiment explored the information for place of articulation provided bylocus equations— equations for a line relating the second formant (F2) of a vowel at midpoint toF2 of the formant at consonant-vowel (CV) syllable onset. Locus equations cue place indirectly by quantifying directly the degree of coarticulatory overlap (coarticulation resistance) between consonant and vowel. Coarticulation resistance is correlated with place, The experiment tested predictions that when coarticulation resistance varies due to properties of the consonant other than place of articulation (in particular due to manner of articulation), locus equations would not accurately reflect consonantal place of articulation. These predictions were confirmed. In addition, discriminant analyses, using locus equation variables as classifiers, were generally unsuccessful in classifying a set of consonants representing six different places of articulation. I conclude that locus equations are unlikely to provide useful place information to listeners.
The Serious ‘consequences’ of comedy: Negotiating cultural change and difference through humour

In South Africa the fragmentation of groups of people by language, ethnicity, geography and politics during apartheid had begun to change in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when evolving political circumstances indicated an effort was needed to develop a sense of unified identity and nation.
Bridging and Stuck-At Faults

The commonly used stuck-at fault fails to model logic circuit shorts. Bridging faults are defined to model these circuit mal-functions. This model is based on wired logic which is a characteristic of many logic families such as resistor-transistor logic (RTL), diode transistor logic (DTL), emitter-coupled logic (ECL), etc. It does not apply to TTL circuits. The model also limits to fan-out-free leads.
The trithorax group proteins Kismet and ASH1 promote H3K36 dimethylation to counteract Polycomb group repression in Drosophila

Members of the Polycomb group of repressors and trithorax group of activators maintain heritable states of transcription by modifying nucleosomal histones or remodeling chromatin. Although tremendous progress has been made toward defining the biochemical activities of Polycomb and trithorax group proteins, much remains to be learned about how they interact with each other and the general transcription machinery to maintain on or off states of gene expression. The trithorax group protein Kismet (KIS) is related to the SWI/SNF and CHD families of chromatin remodeling factors. KIS promotes transcription elongation, facilitates the binding of the trithorax group histone methyltransferases ASH1 and TRX to active genes, and counteracts repressive methylation of histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3K27) by Polycomb group proteins. Here, we sought to clarify the mechanism of action of KIS and how it interacts with ASH1 to antagonize H3K27 methylation in Drosophila. We present evidence that KIS promotes transcription elongation and counteracts Polycomb group repression via distinct mechanisms. A chemical inhibitor of transcription elongation, DRB, had no effect on ASH1 recruitment or H3K27 methylation. Conversely, loss of ASH1 function had no effect on transcription elongation. Mutations in kis cause a global reduction in the di- and tri-methylation of histone H3 on lysine 36 (H3K36) - modifications that antagonize H3K27 methylation in vitro. Furthermore, loss of ASH1 significantly decreases H3K36 dimethylation, providing further evidence that ASH1 is an H3K36 dimethylase in vivo. These and other findings suggest that KIS antagonizes Polycomb group repression by facilitating ASH1-dependent H3K36 dimethylation.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption analysis of corticotropin-releasing factor-binding protein and activin by means of immunoprecipitation

A sensitive immunoprecipitation procedure suitable for matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALD-MS) has been developed for the analysis of proteins. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop a method suitable for analysis of proteins from biological fluids such as plasma, serum and expression media at physiologically relevant concentrations. Proteins are specifically precipitated from complex mixtures by immunoprecipitation with antibodies directed against portions of the protein of interest and the immunoprecipitates are analyzed by MALD-MS. Here we show that the method is applicable to two proteins, the 35 kDa glycoprotein, corticotropin releasing factor-binding protein (CRF-BP) and the 26 kDa homodimeric protein, activin. In order to elucidate the constraints for achieving our ultimate goal we report MALD-MS experiments and parallel analyses with gel electrophoresis and immunostaining. Using this MALD-MS immunoprecipitation procedure we have been able to successfully analyze samples of CRF-BP or activin in the presence or absence of serum.
X-ray Echo Spectroscopy

X-ray echo spectroscopy, a counterpart of neutron spin echo, is being introduced here to overcome limitations in spectral resolution and weak signals of the traditional inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) probes. An image of a pointlike x-ray source is defocused by a dispersing system comprised of asymmetrically cut specially arranged Bragg diffracting crystals. The defocused image is refocused into a point (echo) in a time-reversal dispersing system. If the defocused beam is inelastically scattered from a sample, the echo signal acquires a spatial distribution, which is a map of the inelastic scattering spectrum. The spectral resolution of the echo spectroscopy does not rely on the monochromaticity of the x rays, ensuring strong signals along with a very high spectral resolution. Particular schemes of x-ray echo spectrometers for 0.1-0.02 meV ultrahigh-resolution IXS applications (resolving power >10^{8}) with broadband ≃5-13 meV dispersing systems are introduced featuring more than 10^{3} signal enhancement. The technique is general, applicable in different photon frequency domains.
No Fun Anymore: Leisure and Marital Quality across the Transition to Parenthood

This study examines changes in leisure patterns across the transition to parenthood for dual-earner, working-class couples, as well as the relationship between leisure and marital quality. To this end, 147 heterosexual couples were interviewed across the transition to parenthood. Findings indicate that during the transition to parenthood, husbands and wives experience an initial decline in leisure, followed by a gradual incline after the wife’s return to work. Overall, wives who reported more shared leisure prenatally also reported more marital love and less conflict 1 year later. Husbands with more independent leisure prenatally reported less love and more conflict 1 year later. Conclusions suggest leisure time is integral to well-functioning marriages, with effects lasting throughout the first year of parenthood.
Nocturnal activity patterns of northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) during the maternity season in West Virginia (USA)

Nocturnal activity patterns of northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) at diurnal roost trees remain largely uninvestigated. For example, the influence of reproductive status, weather, and roost tree and surrounding habitat characteristics on timing of emergence, intra-night activity, and entrance at their roost trees is poorly known. We examined nocturnal activity patterns of northern myotis maternity colonies during pregnancy and lactation at diurnal roost trees situated in areas that were and were not subjected to recent prescribed fires at the Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia from 2007 to 2009. According to exit counts and acoustic data, northern myotis colony sizes were similar between reproductive periods and roost tree settings. However, intra-night activity patterns differed slightly between reproductive periods and roost trees in burned and non-burned areas. Weather variables poorly explained variation in activity patterns during pregnancy, but precipitation and temperature were negatively associated with activity patterns during lactation.
QUALITY AND WORK FORCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: THE MANAGERIAL PERFORMANCE IMPLICATION

Quality has been in the limelight as organizations have sought to create a competitive advantage and theorists have sought to understand the implications of quality management. This paper examines the synergistic effects of the quality emphasis in the organizations, the use of appropriate work force management practices, and the managerial performance outcomes as interactive phenomena. Using data from multiple levels of employees in manufacturing units in various industries, we tested hypotheses regarding the managerial performance impact of the synergy in work force management practices and the quality emphasis. The results indicate that the effectiveness of work force management practices in enhancing managerial performance varies with the emphasis on quality that is manifested by meeting and exceeding customer needs and preferences through accurate, consistent, reliable, and durable products, and by making design changes in the products as desired by the customer.
Computer analysis of toxicological data bases: mutagenicity of aromatic amines in Salmonella tester strains.

There is an increasing problem in the world of toxicological evaluation in that, while test results of new compounds are appearing regularly, traditional methods of analysis of such data are cumbersome and slow. The new computer program CASE (computer automated structure evaluator) was designed to handle just such problems. It analyzes molecules and their associated biological activity on the basis of structural fragments found and identified by the program as being important for the activity based on statistical tests of significance. The program was used to examine mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimuriwn strains TA98 and TA 100 (with S9 activation) of approximately 80–100 aromatic amines. The resulting structural features were then used in a predictive fashion to test the expected mutagenic properties of a smaller set of about 20 compounds.
Pedicle screw fixation strength: pullout versus insertional torque.

Abstract Background context Researchers studying early pedicle screw designs have suggested that pullout strength and insertional torque are correlated. For surgeons using pedicle screws, insertional torque is widely believed to be a good predictor of pullout strength and initial stability of the screw and construct. How appropriate is this assumption when applied to new screw and thread designs? Purpose This study investigated the correlation between insertional torque and pullout strength of three different pedicle screw designs, with different insertional torque characteristics. We hypothesized that a significant increase in insertional torque would indicate a commensurate increase in pullout strength. Study design Biomechanical analysis of instrumented vertebral specimens. Methods Calf lumbar vertebra were prepared and instrumented with one of three pedicle screws. Pilot hole preparation was standardized and coaxial orientation was confirmed by direct inspection. Screws did not penetrate the pedicle cortex or abut or penetrate the anterior vertebral cortex. Any specimen with pedicle wall breach was discarded. The pedicles were instrumented with one of three screws: 1) 7.5×40 mm conical, asymmetric progressive thread (Xia; Stryker Spine, Allendale, NJ), 2) 7.5×40 mm conical with traditional V-shaped thread (Osteonics, Stryker Spine, Allendale, NJ)) or 3) 6.5×40 mm cylindrical with V thread (Osteonics, cylindrical). Paired testing allowed individual screws to be directly compared with a contralateral "control." Insertional torque and peak torque values were recorded for each rotation up to full insertion. Pullout testing was conducted at a rate of 1 mm/minute. Load-displacement data were recorded at 20 Hz. Stiffness was considered the slope of the most linear part of the curve before the yield point. Results Peak loads for 7.5 conical Xia screws measured 1,783±589.1 N compared with 1,943.0±625.8 N for 7.5 conical Osteonics screws and 1,641.0±356.7 N for 6.5 cylindrical Osteonics screws. The peak insertional torque values were 6.7±1.9 Nm (158% greater than control), 4.5±1.1 Nm (73% greater than control) and 2.6±0.7 Nm, respectively. Insertional torques for Xia screws were significantly greater than conical (p=.001) and cylindrical Osteonics screws (p .05). There was no significant correlation between pullout strength and insertional torque (p>.05). Conclusions This unexpected result is best explained by the progressively narrowing flutes of the Xia screw, which compact the trabeculae into a smaller volume as the screw nears full insertion. The trapezoidal threads also increase contact with the cortical surface area and compress trabeculae toward the cortex, thus creating greater friction and higher torque values. This increase in torque did not translate into a commensurate increase in pullout strength, where trabeculae fail in shear.
Effect of estradiol on ovulation in immature rats primed with different doses of pregnant mare's serum (PMS).

Administration of estrogen on day 22 either stimulates ovulation or causes facilitation of ovulation on day 25 in immature rats receiving a subovulatory dose of PMS (1 or 0.5 IU). A high dose of estrogen administered to 22- or 23-day-old rats markedly decreased the incidence of ovulation resulting from a single injection of 3 IU PMS on day 22. However, estrogen administered on day 24 did not change the rate of ovulation in 3 IU PMS-primed rats. Estradiol in the doses tested did not change the nonovulatory response produced by 12 IU PMS. It is suggested that the induction of ovulation by a low dose of estrogen results from a facilitative effect of estrogen on follicular development and the release of pituitary ovulating hormone. High doses of estradiol are believed to interfere with ovulation due to negative feedback of estrogen on the hypothalamo- hypophyseal axis and consequent inhibition of ovulating hormone. (Endocrinology 89: 213, 1971)
An in-depth analysis of domestically adopted children with special needs and their biological mothers

• Summary: In 2001, federal research funding (#90-CO-0960) was awarded to conduct an in-depth study of one agency’s experience with domestic special needs adoption placements (US Department of Heal...
Fragmenting Protection: The Political Economy of Trade Policy in the Post-Communist World

Scholars and policy makers have displayed a longstanding interest in the politics of economic reform, particularly over the 1990s as former Communist countries struggled to develop market economies. Yet remarkably little systematic research has been conducted on the political economy of commercial reform in the post-Communist world. We argue that the fragmentation of power within post-Communist countries has been a potent force for trade liberalization. In non-democracies where political power is highly concentrated in the hands of a small group of elites, state leaders face few impediments to rent seeking and are well insulated from interests favouring commercial reform. In non-democracies where power is fragmented within the national government, however, new elites with weak ties to the old regime are well placed to use trade liberalization as a weapon against their political opponents. Moreover, the dispersion of power in non-democracies creates space for groups favouring free trade to promote trade liberalization. Finally, in democracies, the dispersion of power within the national government combined with electoral competition creates an especially potent impetus to trade liberalization. To assess these arguments, we analyse the trade policy of post-Communist countries during the period 1990–98. The results support our claims, highlighting the importance of examining institutional differences within as well as across regime types in analyses of economic policy.
Er 3+ -doped diode-pumped ceramic laser delivers 14 W CW at 2.7-μm

We report diode-pumped Er3+:Y 2 O 3 ceramic laser with 14 W CW output at 2.7 μm and ∼26% slope efficiency. This is believed to be the highest power ever reported from Er3+-doped ceramic laser at this wavelength.
Developing effective sampling designs for monitoring natural resources in Alaskan national parks: An example using simulations and vegetation data

Monitoring natural resources in Alaskan national parks is challenging because of their remoteness, limited accessibility, and high sampling costs. We describe an iterative, three-phased process for developing sampling designs based on our efforts to establish a vegetation monitoring program in southwest Alaska. In the first phase, we defined a sampling frame based on land ownership and specific vegetated habitats within the park boundaries and used Path Distance analysis tools to create a GIS layer that delineated portions of each park that could be feasibly accessed for ground sampling. In the second phase, we used simulations based on landcover maps to identify size and configuration of the ground sampling units (single plots or grids of plots) and to refine areas to be potentially sampled. In the third phase, we used a second set of simulations to estimate sample size and sampling frequency required to have a reasonable chance of detecting a minimum trend in vegetation cover for a specified time period and level of statistical confidence. Results of the first set of simulations indicated that a spatially balanced random sample of single plots from the most common landcover types yielded the most efficient sampling scheme. Results of the second set of simulations were compared with field data and indicated that we should be able to detect at least a 25% change in vegetation attributes over 31 years by sampling 8 or more plots per year every five years in focal landcover types. This approach would be especially useful in situations where ground sampling is restricted by access.
Analysis of full and partial agonists binding to β2-adrenergic receptor suggests a role of transmembrane helix V in agonist-specific conformational changes

The 2.4 A crystal structure of the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) in complex with the high-affinity inverse agonist (-)-carazolol provides a detailed structural framework for the analysis of ligand recognition by adrenergic receptors. Insights into agonist binding and the corresponding conformational changes triggering G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) activation mechanism are of special interest. Here we show that while the carazolol pocket captured in the beta(2)AR crystal structure accommodates (-)-isoproterenol and other agonists without steric clashes, a finite movement of the flexible extracellular part of TM-V helix (TM-Ve) obtained by receptor optimization in the presence of docked ligand can further improve the calculated binding affinities for agonist compounds. Tilting of TM-Ve towards the receptor axis provides a more complete description of polar receptor-ligand interactions for full and partial agonists, by enabling optimal engagement of agonists with two experimentally identified anchor sites, formed by Asp113/Asn312 and Ser203/Ser204/Ser207 side chains. Further, receptor models incorporating a flexible TM-V backbone allow reliable prediction of binding affinities for a set of diverse ligands, suggesting potential utility of this approach to design of effective and subtype-specific agonists for adrenergic receptors. Systematic differences in capacity of partial, full and inverse agonists to induce TM-V helix tilt in the beta(2)AR model suggest potential role of TM-V as a conformational "rheostat" involved in the whole spectrum of beta(2)AR responses to small molecule signals.
Simultaneous segmentation, compression, and denoising of signals using polyharmonic local sine transform and minimum description length criterion

We propose a new approach to simultaneously segment, compress, and denoise a given noisy signal by combining our compact signal representation scheme called polyhannonic local sine transform (PHLST) and the minimum description length (MDL) criterion. PHLST first generates a redundant set of local pieces of an input signal each of which is supported on a dyadic subinterval and is approximated by a combination of an algebraic polynomial of low order (e.g. linear or cubic) and a trigonometric polynomial. This combination of polynomials compensates their shortcomings and yields a compact representation of the local piece. To select the best nonredundant combination of the local pieces from this redundant set, we use the MDL criterion with and without actually quantizing the relevant parameters. The resulting representation gives rise to simultaneous segmentation, compression, and denoising of the original data. We shall demonstrate its superiority over the best basis algorithm using the local cosine dictionary with the sparsity criterion
PKC and Prostate Cancer

PKC isozymes regulate multiple aspects of tumorigenesis, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis in a variety of experimental models, making it a major regulator in the transformation to malignant phenotype. Various PKC isozymes play key roles during the progression of prostate cancer in humans and in rodent models. Interestingly, PKC isozymes have often been found to mediate different and sometimes opposing roles in prostate cancer growth and metastasis. Furthermore, expression levels of PKCs are altered when compared to normal prostatic tissue or benign prostatic hyperplasia, and some of these changes correlate with poor prognosis. This review focuses on the current understanding of PKC-mediated regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis in prostate cancer. We also discuss the relevance of signaling events modulated by PKC isozymes in prostate cancer models as well as the potential of modulating PKC activity as a means for the treatments of this disease.
On finite element integration in natural co-ordinates

Integration formulas for polynomial expressions in terms of natural co-ordinates are extensively quoted without proof in standard references on finite element theory. A derivation of these relations is presented and their application is extended to non-integral exponents.
A Study to Understand Perceptual Discrepancies Using Visual Illusions and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

There are often discrepancies in how a product is perceived in the different display media employed in typical product development processes. Product developers in many cases rely on different display media for design realizations. This study investigates if and how perceptual discrepancies change across different media and design groups. An experiment was designed and conducted at Virginia Tech to compare the perceptual differences of a simplified model of a car across three types of representation media: industrial design sketches, Computer aided design (CAD) models, and physical prototypes. The geometry of the car window was varied to simulate two visual illusions; architrave and irradiation. Two groups (industrial designers and engineers) with varying levels of experience (students and professionals) were studied. The experimental results were analyzed by applying a two-step data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to identify the trends of how the shape perception varied within and across the subject groups. This study and its findings are particularly important in several ways. First, the DEA approach provides an objective comparison of groups when differences in the participants' evaluation skills and experience levels should be explicitly taken into account, important to understanding student learning and effectiveness of practitioners. Our study has shown that designers' perceptual evaluation strategies change significantly across the groups. Findings of this study can be used for understanding perceptual discrepancies across media and groups in product design and development and could help to inform new approaches to design education research.
Trade‐offs during the Development of Primary and Secondary Sexual Traits in a Horned Beetle

Abstract: Resource allocation trade‐offs during development affect the final sizes of adult structures and have the potential to constrain the types and magnitude of evolutionary change that developmental processes can accommodate. Such trade‐offs can arise when two or more body parts compete for a limited pool of resources to sustain their growth and differentiation. Recent studies on several holometabolous insects suggest that resource allocation trade‐offs may be most pronounced in tissues that grow physically close to each other. Here we examine the nature and magnitude of developmental trade‐offs between two very distant body parts: head horns and genitalia of males of the horned scarab beetle Onthophagus taurus. Both structures develop from imaginal disklike tissues that undergo explosive growth during late larval development but differ in exactly when they initiate their growth. We experimentally ablated the precursor cells that normally give rise to male genitalia at several time points during lat...
EFFECT OF CAROTID BAROCEPTOR STIMULATION UPON THE FORELIMB VASCULAR BED OF THE DOG.

The response of the musculocutaneous vascular bed of the dog's forelimb to carotid baroceptor stimulation was determined by measuring pressures at the level of the large artery, small artery, small vein, and large vein along with limb blood flow. In one series, limb blood flow was uncontrolled. In two other series, the limb was perfused at a constant flow rate and was also isolated from collateral flow in one of these. Elevation of carotid sinus pressure in the constant flow isolated (CFI) series produced an average fall in total limb, small vessel, and venous segment resistance of 27%, 36%, and 22% respectively but no significant change in arterial segment resistance. Since transmural pressure fell significantly in all three segments, active vasodilatation must also have occurred in all, including the arterial. This is reflected in the significant increase in compliance calculated for both the lumped arterial and lumped venous segments. In any given animal, there was a positive correlation between the pe...