cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A finite difference scheme for acoustic transmission through the walls of distorted circular ducts and comparison with experiment

Abstract A numerical method is developed to find the structural response of the walls of cylindrical distorted circular ducts to internal plane acoustic travelling waves, and hence the internal/external sound transmission loss. Comparisons are made between experiment and theory for two “long-seam” air conditioning ducts and a squashed spiral-wound air conditioning duct. In general, reasonable agreement is obtained, when the accuracy of the geometrical specification of the ducts is taken into account. The generality of the computing code allows the method to be applied to cylindrical ducts of virtually any geometry where the radius of curvature and its first and second derivatives can be considered continuous around the duct perimeter. It is concluded that “mode-coupling” effects appear to offer a plausible explanation for the effect of wall distortion in lowering the duct wall transmission loss.
Levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides and lens photodamage.

— Since most of the known factors that are associated with cataract formation are oxidative in nature, one would expect that a highly reductive environment might arrest or retard the progress of cataract formation. Reduced nucleotides, both NADH and NADPH, are potent reductants with a large negative redox potential of - 320 mV. Lenses of certain species contain high levels of these nucleotides, presumably due to the presence of taxon specific crystallins. We have utilized this situation to investigate whether the levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides modulate photo-oxidative damage to the lens. We have monitored the time dependent loss of tryptophan fluorescence upon photodamage for lenses from guinea pig, rabbit and frog (Rana) that contain high levels of pyridine nucleotides and compared with the lenses from rat, Xenopus and a mutant strain of guinea pig that contain significantly lower amounts of these nucleotides. About 75% and 90% of the initial fluorescence intensity is lost in the case of rat and Xenopus lenses, respectively, after a total of 35 min exposure. Rabbit, guinea pig and frog lenses, under identical conditions, show only about 35–40% loss of the initial fluorescence. It appears that the lenses that contain high levels of reduced nucleotides are less susceptible to photodamage. The observed anti-oxidative role of reduced nucleotides in the lenses indicates the possibility of testing reductants (NADPH, NADH and their functional analogues) as potential candidates to therapeutically intervene in the process of cataractogenesis.
Specificity of Peptides New aspects of the specificity of peptides with vitamin and hormone action are described.

The data now at hand show that specificity among biologically active peptides is probably not as exquisite as might have been deduced from experiences with some of the water-soluble vitamins. It is plain that a given biological effect can be evoked by peptides which differ considerably. It is likewise plain that the effect cannot be evoked by a number of other peptides. There is apparently some specificity, but more is involved than that incorporated in the classical view.
Perimeter Model for the Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectrum of Deoxy Ferrous Heme in Myoglobin

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of deoxy heme in Sperm whale myoglobin are explained by using a theory based on the perimeter model (PM) of metalloporphyrin spectra. The perimeter model is shown to be valid by comparison with the heme of carbonmonoxy myoglobin and previous reports including both Zn protoporphyrin and ferric heme MCD spectra. The PM approach, applied to closed shell metalloporphyrins, models the highest occupied molecular orbital as Lz = ±4 and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital as Lz = ±5. According to the PM, the allowed intense Soret band transition has Lz = ±1, while the vibronically allowed weak Q-band has Lz = ±9.1 Analysis of the experimental spectra based on the scaled first derivative of the absorption spectrum is demonstrated to give good agreement with calculated spectra, although the experimentally measured values of Lz are somewhat smaller than those predicted by the PM theory. Application of the PM to open shell metals, and in particular deoxy heme, is show...
The influence of formate and coenzyme A on the decomposition of acetyl phosphate by extracts of Clostridium kluyverii.

Abstract Formate has been shown to have a catalytic effect on the decomposition of acetyl phosphate by cell-free extracts of Clostridium kluyverii . Phosphotransacetylase is incapable of catalyzing the reaction. Coenzyme A (CoA) is required for this reaction, while the C 2 C 4 fatty acids strongly inhibit it. The major net reaction appears to be a hydrolysis of acetyl phosphate. Small amounts of two formyl compounds do accumulate, however. One compound reacts with NH 2 OH to yield formylhydroxamic acid. The other does not so react, but gives a purple color with ninhydrin. In the absence of cysteine the ninhydrin-reacting material is not formed. A CoA requirement for the synthesis of the precursor of formylhy-droxamic acid was shown to exist. The formation of the precursor compound is strongly inhibited by propionate. Glycolate and lactate behave similarly to formate in catalyzing the disappearance of acetyl phosphate, presumably by the same mechanism. A possible mechanism for the observed reactions is presented.
Reversed-field pinch studies in the Madison symmetric torus

Studies of large-size (R=1.5 m,a=0.5 m), moderate current (I <750 kA) reversed-field pinch (RFP) plasmas are carried out in the Madison Symmetric Torus in order to evaluate and improve RFP confinement, study general toroidal plasma MHD issues, determine the mechanism of the RFP dynamo, and measure fluctuation-induced transport and anomalous ion heating. MST confinement scaling falls short of the RFP scaling trends observed in smaller RFPs, although the plasma resistance is classical. MHD tearing modes with poloidal mode numberm=1 and toroidal mode numbersn=5–7 are prevalent and nonlinearly couple to produce sudden relaxations akin to tokamak sawteeth. Edge fluctuation-induced transport has been measured with a variety of insertable probes. Ions exhibit anomalous heating, with increases of ion temperature occurring during strong MHD relaxation. The anomalous heating fraction decreases with increasing density, such that ion temperatures approach the lower limit given by electron-ion friction. The RFP dynamo has been studied with attention to various possible mechanisms, including motion-EMF drive, the Hall effect, and superthermal electrons. The toroidal field capacity of MST will be upgraded during Summer 1993 to allow low-current tokamak operation as well as improved RFP operation.
Hemodynamic and neurohormonal effects of the angiotensin II antagonist losartan in patients with congestive heart failure.

Background. Losartan is a new specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist with no agonist properties that provides the opportunity to study the consequences of angiotensin II blockade. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and neurohormonal response to losartan in patients with congestive heart failure. Methods and Results. After baseline hemodynamic measurements using balloon-tipped pulmonary artery and radial arterial catheters, patients were randomized to receive a single dose of placebo or 5, 10, 25, 75, or 150 mg losartan in a double-blind, sequential fashion. Hemodynamic and neurohormonal parameters were then measured periodically for 24 hours. Losartan caused vasodilation in a dose-dependent manner. By the area-under-the-curve method, the reduction in the mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance grew larger up to a dose of 25 mg, but the higher 75- and 150-mg doses did not produce additional vasodilation. In response to losartan, there were compensatory increases in both angiotensin II concentrations and in plasma renin activity, which were greatest at the highest doses. Aldosterone concentrations were significantly lowered with losartan. Conclusions. Blockade of the angiotensin II receptor with the antagonist losartan causes vasodilator and neurohormonal effects in patients with congestive heart failure. The lack of additional vasodilator response with doses of more than 25 mg suggests that neurohormonal activation might limit the efficacy of high doses of losartan.
Influence of northern hemisphere general circulation on drought in northeast Brazil

Evidence is presented to show that the highly variable interannual rainfall over Northeast Brazil is dependent on the degree of cyclonic activity or blocking in the Newfoundland-Greenland area during the Northern Hemisphere winter and spring. The linkage is traced through variations in the subtropical Atlantic anticyclone, the northeast trades and the responding Hadley cell which is forced to vary in position and strength. Intense blocking over North America and the North Atlantic is usually associated with devastating drought over Northeast Brazil. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1972.tb01561.x
Quantitative structure-activity relationships studies with micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Influence of surfactant type and mixed micelles on estimation of hydrophobicity and bioavailability.

Abstract Applications of micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) in quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) were studied. First, quantitative structure-retention relationships (QSRR), which describe the correlation between logarithm of capacity factor (log k ′) in MEKC and logarithm of distribution coefficient between 1-octanol and water (log P ow ), were investigated for 60 aromatic compounds and 9 corticosteroids using three different anionic surfactants [e.g., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium cholate (SC), and lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate (LiPFOS)], one cationic surfactant (C 14 TAB), and mixed anionic micellar systems. Linear solvation energy relationships (LSER) and solvatochromic parameters were used to shed light on the different log k ′ vs. log P ow relationships for the various surfactants. It was concluded that hydrogen bonding interactions have a great influence on retention behavior in MEKC and its relationship with hydrophobicity. Interestingly, bile salt surfactants (e.g., SC) and mixed bile salt micellar systems provide better correlations for log k ′ vs. log P ow than SDS and/or SDS with buffer additives (e.g., s-cyclodextrin, urea, and acetonitrile). Using SC micelles, only one line was adequate to describe the relationship between retention in MEKC and hydrophobicity for a group of 60 aromatic compounds. The existence of higher correlation for the SC system was attributed to a similar hydrogen bonding pattern between SC micelles and 1-octanol. In the SDS system, however, three lines were recognized for the congeneric subgroups of compounds. This is due to the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) characteristics of SDS micelles that selectively differentiate between the solutes with different hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) strength, thus demonstrating that retention is not solely based on hydrophobicity. A similar result was observed for a C 14 TAB-MEKC system, however, the HBA characteristics of C 14 TAB selectively differentiates between the solutes with different HBD strength. In addition, quantitative retention-activity relationships in MEKC were also investigated for 9 corticosteroids. Two types of biological activities [small intestinal absorption in the rat (log A/NA) and protein binding to human serum albumin (log B/F)] were examined in this work. High correlations were observed between bioactivity and log k ′ in MEKC using bile salt surfactants and mixed bile salt systems.
Spectral beam combining of fiber lasers: tolerances, lens design, and microlens array inclusion

Defocusing, angular, and linear alignment tolerances, and the effects of transform lens aberrations are calculated for spectral beam combining of fiber lasers, first for a cavity in which no microlens array is used in the collimating optics. Two design criteria are derived and used to compare four lenses: a simple bi-spherical lens, a compound quadruplet, a plano-aspheric lens, and a plano-parabolic lens. The results point to superior performance of simple aspheric lenses over compound lenses with spherical surfaces. A kind of equivalence of efficiency and beam quality is demonstrated. Partial results on the inclusion of a microlens array for improved beam collimation predicts marked increase of the maximum array size and overall efficiency.
Diffusion coefficients at rotated microelectrodes

Abstract The limiting current for several electrode reactions at a rotated microelectrode is observed to vary with the two-thirds power of the diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution in accordance with the theories of TACHI, EISBNBERG, LIN, and others. However, the uncertainties involved in estimating diffusion coefficients at given ionic strength require, that for accurate work, the limiting currents for different electrode reactions be compared on the basis of electrode sensivity , k ion = i 1 /C, and without regard to the role of diffusion in the transport process. The method of LAITINEN AND KOLTHOFF using an electrode reaction with only linear diffusion is recommended for measuring diffusion coefficients at given ionic strength under conditions similar to those extant in voltammetry.
An area efficient fully monolithic hybrid voltage regulator

A hybrid voltage regulator module for an on-chip DC-DC voltage converter is proposed in this paper. The circuit is appropriate for point-of-load voltage regulation due to an ultra area efficient architecture. The proposed voltage regulator is a hybrid combination of a switching DC-DC voltage converter and a low-dropout regulator exploiting active circuitry rather than bulky passive devices within the filter structure. The proposed circuit can supply over 100 mA current while generating 0.9 volts from a 1.2 input voltage, exhibiting a high current efficiency of greater than 99%. The on-chip area is 0.026 mm2 which is 500 times smaller than a monolithic buck converter and four times smaller than an LDO. The proposed regulator provides a means for distributing multiple local power supplies across an integrated circuit while providing high current efficiency.
Psychological Theories of Poverty

Social work education, practice, and research are heavily influenced by theories developed by psychologists. A review of the literature was conducted to identify theories of poverty emerging from the field of psychology. In general, until 1980, psychological theories of poverty emphasized the role of the individual or group to explain the causes and impact of poverty. Between 1980 and 2000, psychologists began to consider the structural and societal factors that contribute to poverty and moved beyond the explanations of individual pathology. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, an increasing number of psychological theorists acknowledge the role of social, political, and economic factors in the creation and maintenance of poverty. Implications for social work education, practice, and future research are discussed.
Cardiotoxicity of diazepam in cultured heart cells.

Abstract The responses of primary cultures of rat myocardial cells to diazepam (Valium®) were evaluated. The cells were exposed to 4, 16 or 32 μg/ml of diazepam for 1, 4 or 24 h. The cultures were evaluated for changes in beating activity and morphology and for cytotoxic effects. After the 1-h treatment exposure, the cultures exhibited tachycardia which was dose-dependent. The longer durations of treatment either produced arrhythmias or caused a loss of beating. Major morphological alterations observed were the formation of pseudopodia and increased cytoplasmic granulation. Cytotoxicity was measured quantitatively by leakage of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) from the cells into the media and by cell viability. Moderate amounts of LDH were leaked from the cells after exposure to diazepam for 4 h. After 24 h of treatment with the higher concentrations of diazepam, cell viability was greatly reduced.
Simulations of a triode system with an internal grid

Summary form only given. The 2D particle-in-cell code PDP2 has been modified to include internal structures for modeling a triode system with an internal grounded grid. The triode system includes one or two driven electrodes, an internal grounded grid and grounded walls. The wafer is placed on a driven electrode and biased to extract ions from the plasma. Ion impact secondary electron emission from the walls and the grid is also included in order to allow for possible hollow cathode effects. In our simulations, we only bias the target electrode and ground the other electrode. We use argon as the background gas at pressures of 20-50 mTorr. The external RF voltage source is set to be near 1 kV, and the target bias voltage is obtained self-consistently to be near the RF voltage. We investigate the plasma with and without the grid and the secondary electrons to understand their role in plasma creation, ion flux uniformity and resulting ion energy distribution at the biased target. We also vary the grid spacing and location to find the optimum plasma density and ion flux uniformity.
Venous thromboembolic disease in users of low-estrogen combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives.

Abstract Objective To assess the relationship between venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) and use of low-estrogen dose ( Design This case-control study was conducted in 1998–2000 among women ages 15–44 years who were members of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program [KPMCP] (Northern and Southern California). Cases were women with incident VTE; about three times as many women frequency matched for age were randomly selected as controls from the KPMCP membership in the same years. Data were collected in a 1 h face-to-face interview; blood was drawn to extract DNA to test for gene polymorphisms. The analysis data set comprised 196 cases (mean age 35.3 years) and 746 controls (mean age 36.2 years). Results The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for VTE associated with current OC use was 4.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.77–6.00). The OR associated with OC use was higher for women who were obese than in the nonobese (p = 0.01 for likelihood test for interaction) and in women without predisposing medical conditions (p = 0.02 for interaction). The adjusted OR for VTE was 7.10 (95% CI: 2.33–21.61) in women with factor V Leiden (G1691A) mutation, 2.83 (95% CI: 0.70–11.63) in women with prothrombin G20210A mutation and 0.26 (95% CI: 0.10–0.65) in women with the MTHFR C677T mutation. The OR for VTE in OC users with factor V Leiden mutation (11.32) was elevated more than in OC users without the mutation (3.20) and women with the mutation who were non-OC users (8.42), but confidence intervals overlapped. Conclusions The risk of VTE is increased in users of low-estrogen OC formulations. Obese women appear to be at greater risk of VTE when using OCs.
Airport Body Scanning: Will the American Public Finally Accept?

The rising concern about security and safety when traveling has been accompanied by an increased concern in the need for privacy. Expectations of privacy center around the right of the individual to determine what information is shared, the right of the individual to know what data is disclosed and collected and the legitimacy of the government to monitor and evaluate a citizen’s activities. This paper examines the legal privacy issues and the attitudes toward body scanning. Through the use of a survey, attitudes of air travelers were evaluated in terms of their responses to issues of body scanning acceptability, saving body scanned images, and protecting modesty of the traveler when scanning body images. Findings show that most of the U.S. population is accepting of full-body scanning when modesty measures are utilized. Though care should be taken when minority populations, both race and religion, are engaged in the full-body scanning process at an airport.
Sol-Gel transition in dense dispersions: Effect of particle bridging

Abstract Sol-gel transition in dense dispersions of particles is modeled through the use of statistical mechanical and continuum percolation theories. Specifically, we examine the effect of particle bridging on the gelation and clustering of a binary dispersion of particles which interact through a short-ranged potential represented by the adhesive hard-sphere model. The gelation thresholds for dense dispersions are determined analytically as a function of the particle concentrations, particle size ratios, and interparticle interaction within the context of the Percus-Yevick integral equation theory. It is found that depending on the temperature, particle concentration, and particle size ratio, the dispersion may undergo a single sol-to-gel transition, or a series of sol-to-gel, gel-to-sol, and sol-to-gel transitions. Pair-connectedness functions which account for the degree of aggregation in the dispersion are also determined analytically in the Percus-Yevick approximation.
Structural characterization of the lipid A component of Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 rough and smooth form lipopolysaccharide. Demonstration that the distal amide-linked acyloxyacyl residue containing the long chain fatty acid is conserved in rhizobium and Sinorhizobium sp.

A broad-host-range endosymbiont, Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 is a component of several legume-symbiont model systems; however, there is little structural information on the cell surface glycoconjugates. NGR234 cells in free-living culture produce a major rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS, lacking O-chain) and a minor smooth LPS (containing O-chain), and the structure of the lipid A components was investigated by chemical analyses, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy of the underivatized lipids A. The lipid A from rough LPS is heterogeneous and consists of six major bisphosphorylated species that differ in acylation. Pentaacyl species (52%) are acylated at positions 2, 3, 2', and 3', and tetraacyl species (46%) lack an acyl group at C-3 of the proximal glucosamine. In contrast to Rhizobium etli and Rhizobium leguminosarum, the NGR234 lipid A contains a bisphosphorylated beta-(1' --> 6)-glucosamine disaccharide, typical of enterobacterial lipid A. However, NGR234 lipid A retains the unusual acylation pattern of R. etli lipid A, including the presence of a distal, amide-linked acyloxyacyl residue containing a long chain fatty acid (LCFA) (e.g. 29-hydroxytriacontanoate) attached as the secondary fatty acid. As in R. etli, a 4-carbon fatty acid, beta-hydroxybutyrate, is esterified to (omega - 1) of the LCFA forming an acyloxyacyl residue at that location. The NGR234 lipid A lacks all other ester-linked acyloxyacyl residues and shows extensive heterogeneity of the amide-linked fatty acids. The N-acyl heterogeneity, including unsaturation, is localized mainly to the proximal glucosamine. The lipid A from smooth LPS contains unique triacyl species (20%) that lack ester-linked fatty acids but retain bisphosphorylation and the LCFA-acyloxyacyl moiety. The unusual structural features shared with R. etli/R. leguminosarum lipid A may be essential for symbiosis.
TRUCKING DEREGULATION AND MOTOR‐CARRIER PERFORMANCE: THE SHAREHOLDERS' PERSPECTIVE

This paper utilizes an event study methodology to investigate the effects of deregulation on carriers' shareholders. This methodology compares the expected returns during a time period surrounding a particular event with actual returns during the same time period. These differences are referred to as prediction errors. The study investigates the prediction errors associated with individual trucking firms, as well as those associated with groups composed of regional carriers, national carriers, and the aggregate sample of firms used in the study. The results suggest that the passage of the Motor Carrier Reform Act on July 1, 1980, halted a serious 18-month downward trend in the aggregate sample's cumulative prediction error. Nearly all firms showed significant gains in the 18 months subsequent to deregulation. Using two control groups, the authors show that a large portion of this gain from the industry sample can be explained by lower and more stable fuel prices and a sharp upturn in the economy. The results also indicate that due to deregulation, the large regional trucking firms were able to outperform the small regional firms and the national firms in the more favorable economic environment present after deregulation.
Modification of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for assay of homocysteine in human plasma

A modification of a previously published method for analysis of total homocysteine in human serum is presented. The modification was implemented to allow use of a different derivatizing agent (i.e., 7-fluorobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-sulfonamide) which reacts much faster than the original derivatizing reagent and at a lower temperature. Shorter reaction time and lower temperature lead to less destruction of some biological thiols. In order to retain an isocratic mobile phase with the new derivatizing agent, a different concentration of acetonitrile was found that affords a 7–8 min retention time.
Reversible and irreversible non-internalized LDL and methyl LDL accumulation by human fibroblasts.

Abstract In previous in vivo animal studies, we showed that low density lipoprotein (LDL) accumulated irreversibly at the edges of healing arterial lesions rather than being internalized and degraded. To see if similar LDL accumulation occurs in vitro, fibroblasts from normal and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemic (FH) subjects were incubated at 37°C with 125 I-LDL and 125 I-methyl LDL; the latter is not recognized by any known LDL receptor. Normal fibroblast accumulation of LDL and methyl LDL (5 μg/ml) plateaued within 1 h at 200 and 100 ng/mg, respectively. With FH cells, both LDL and methyl LDL accumulation plateaued at 100 ng/mg. Lipoprotein accumulation by both cell types rose steeply at concentrations up to 15–25 μg/ml, and less so at higher concentrations. Except for degradation of LDL by normal cells, degradation was minimal, which indicated that much of the lipoprotein accumulation was unaccompanied by internalization. The accumulation of both lipoproteins by both cell types was greater at 37°C than at 4°C, and was inhibited between 43 and 75% by homologous unlabeled lipoprotein. To see if any accumulation was irreversible, cells were incubated with radiolabeled lipoproteins for 3 h (pulse), then with homologous unlabeled lipoproteins for up to 20 h (chase). About 50% of intact radiolabeled lipoprotein rapidly dissociated from cells into the medium in the first 4 h of the chase period. In contrast, between 4 and 20 h, most of the remaining intact LDL and methyl LDL appeared to be irreversibly bound, because it was released at a rate of only 0–1%/h. Thus, we conclude that, under the conditions studied, both reversible and irreversible non-internalized LDL binding play a major role in LDL accumulation by cultured cells.
THE EFFECT OF PHOTOPERIOD ON COCCINELLA TRANSVERSOGUTTATA (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

Diapause in Coccinella transversoguttata can be inhibited by exposing adult females to photoperiod regimens of LD 16: 8 or 14: 10 hours. The photoperiod regimen to which the immature instars are exposed has little effect on the diapause status of the adult female. Resume L'INELUENCE DE LA PHOTOPERIODE SUR COCCINELLA TRANSVERSOGUTTATA (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE) Coccinella transversoguttata est un des plus importants predateurs des Pucerons de la pomme de terre dans l'Etat du Maine (U.S.A.). Cest la photoperiode a laquelle les adultes sont soumis qui conditionne la diapause imaginale de cet insecte: une photoperiode jour/nuit de 16:8 heures empeche la diapause, alors qu'une photoperiode jour/nuit de 12: 12 heures declenche la diapause. Un eclairement permanent n'a pas d'effet significatif sur l'inhibition de la diapause. La photoperiode a laquelle sont soumis les œufs, les larves et les nymphes n'a guere d'effet sur la diapause des adultes. La photoperiode n'a pas non plus d'influence sur le developpement larvaire ni sur la mortaliTE des larves ou des adultes.
The Effect of Sanctions on U.S. Foreign Direct Investment

For years, the United States has imposed economic sanctions to com- pel countries to alter their behavior+ An important concern is whether government sanctions influence private foreign direct investment ~FDI! decisions, the largest source of foreign capital+ In the first study to assess empirically the relationship between economic sanctions and FDI, we consider whether U+S+ sanctions influence U+S+ FDI inflows into targeted countries+ Using panel data for 171 countries from 1965 to 2000, we find strong evidence that U+S investors pull out of countries targeted for U+S sanctions prior to their imposition+ This disinvestment is not permanent and invest- ment tends to return after the sanctions are imposed+ The results provide support for FDI studies that show the effect of risk on investor decision making+ The use of economic sanctions by the United States to compel countries to alter their behavior has increased in recent years+ At the same time, U+S+ foreign direct investment ~FDI! has expanded, with U+S+ multinational corporations ~MNCs! rep- resenting the largest share of global FDI+ Despite the growth of U+S+ FDI and the U+S+ government's imposition of sanctions, no empirical work has considered the relationship between sanctions and U+S+ investor decisions+ How do U+S+ MNCs react to the use of U+S+ sanctions and does U+S+ FDI make sanctions more or less effective? In this article we analyze the impact of U+S+ sanctions on investment decisions made by U+S+ MNCs+ Building on investors'risk calculations that are critical to the FDI literature, 1 we propose several reasons why risk linked to economic sanctions influences FDI flows+ We hypothesize that U+S firms significantly draw down their investment in tar- geted countries prior to the imposition of sanctions as risk levels are most height- ened+ However, after sanctions have been in place long enough for investors to understand their specific restrictions, uncertainty surrounding the amount of risk decreases and U+S+ FDI is expected to return to levels near the pre-sanction period+
Topological via minimization revisited

The topological via minimization problem in a two-layer environment is considered. A set of n two-terminal nets in a bounded region is given. The authors attempt to find a homotopy to assign nets to distinct layers so that no two nets on the same layer cross each other and the number of vias is minimized. A recursive approach in which an optimal solution to a two-sided channel routing problem is used as a basis is used to solve this problem optimally. The notion of partition number K of a circle graph is introduced, and the total running time of the via minimization algorithm is shown to be O((n/K)/sup 2K-2/ log (n/K)), where n is the total number of nets. >
Osteomyelitis of the Patella Gentamicin Therapy Associated with Encephalopathy

Osteomyelitis of the patella should be among the differential diag noses when a child presents with an acute or subacute cellulitis of the anterior knee or with a persistent effusion of the knee. This is the first case report of a child with acute osteomyelitis of the patella due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One adult and two children are known to have had generalized convulsions during or following intra venous gentamicin therapy for a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.
Iterative identification of Hammerstein systems with piecewise-linear nonlinearities

New iterative algorithms to identify Hammerstein system with piecewise-linear nonlinearities are proposed in this paper. Two particular piecewise-linear nonlinear structures are considered, i.e., the saturation and preload nonlinearities. Iterative method is a simple and efficient way to identify Hammerstein nonlinear system. But the convergence is often a problem. It is recently shown that normalized iterative method produces convergent result in identifying Hammerstein system with smooth nonlinear part and finite impulse response linear part. In this paper, the parameter convergence is established in one iteration step under the assumption that the nonlinear structure is odd symmetric and the linear part is FIR. Examples are provided to show that the method is effective in both types of Hammerstein systems.
A New Quantitative Technique for Categorizing Whistles Using Simulated Signals and Whistles from Captive Bottlenose Dolphins (Delphinidae, Tursiops truncatus)

A widespread problem in the study of animal vocalizations is evaluating the acoustic similarity of signals both between individuals of a social group and between social groups. This problem becomes especially salient when classifying the narrow-band frequency-modulated signals, such as whistles, found in many avian and mammalian species. Whistles are usually characterized by their relative change in frequency over time, known as whistle ‘contour’. Measuring such a characteristic is difficult as it is not a single measurement, such as the mean frequency or duration of a signal, but several associated measurements of frequency across time. This paper reports on a new quantitative technique for determining whistle types based on whistle contour similarity and an application of this technique to the whistles of bottlenose dolphins to demonstrate its utility. This ‘contour similarity’ technique (CS technique) uses cluster analysis to group the correlation coefficients of frequency measurements from a data set of signals. To demonstrate the efficacy of this CS technique, three data sets were analysed, two using computer-generated signals and a third using adult bottlenose dolphin whistles, to (1) examine the efficacy of correlation coefficients for grouping signals by their similarity in whistle contour and (2) determine the viability of this technique for categorizing bottlenose dolphin whistles. Measured actual frequencies and correlation matrices from the four simulated signal types and a correlation matrix from the whistles of five captive adult bottlenose dolphins were each subjected to K-means cluster analysis and the resulting signal types were evaluated. Results indicated that the technique grouped actual frequencies according to the amount of shared actual frequencies and grouped correlation coefficients successfully according to signal contour. This result endured even if contours differed in overall duration or actual frequency or were expanded or compressed with respect to frequency or time. The results suggest that this approach is a viable method for assigning whistle contours to categories in bottlenose dolphins or any other species with narrow-band, frequency-modulated signals.
BIHARMONIC SPLINE INTERPOLATION OF GEOS-3 AND SEASAT ALTIMETER DATA

Green functions of the biharmonic operator, in one and two dimensions, are used for minimum curvature interpolation of irregularly spaced data points. The interpolating curve (or surface) is a linear combination of Green functions centered at each data point. The amplitudes of the Green functions are found by solving a linear system of equations. In one (or two) dimensions this technique is equivalent to cubic spline (or bicubic spline) interpolation while in three dimension it corresponds to multiquadric interpolation. Although this new technique is relatively slow, it is more flexible than the spline method since both slopes and values can be used to find a surface. Moreover, noisy data can be fit in a least squares sense by reducing the number of model parameters. These properties are well suited for interpolating irregularly spaced satellite altimeter profiles. The long wavelength radial orbit error is suppressed by differentiating each profile. The shorter wavelength noise is reduced by the least squares fit to nearby profiles. Using this technique with 0.5 million GEOS-3 and SEASAT data points, it was found that the marine geoid of the Caribbean area is highly correlated with the sea floor topography. This suggests that similar applications, in more remote, areas may reveal new features of the sea floor.
Severity of contraction-induced injury is affected by velocity only during stretches of large strain.

Our purpose was to investigate the effect of velocity of stretch on contraction-induced injury to whole skeletal muscles. Single stretches provide an effective method for studying factors that init...
Revamping the Popular in Snow White and Pubis Angelical: The Residual Fictions of Donald Barthelme and Manuel Puig

Donald Barthelme ( 193 1 1989) and Manuel Puig (1 9321990) are exemplary of how U.S. and Latin American writers have revamped popular discursive forms by presenting in their fictions both parodies and stylizations of such forms. Barthelme’s better-known works-Snow White (1 967), The Dead Father (1 976) and The King ( 1990)-rewrite folktales and legends from a twentieth-century perspective, critiquing consumerism, politics, sexual freedom and family relations in U.S. society. For his part, Manuel Puig’s use of serial literature in Boquitas pintadas [Heartbreak Tango] (1969), detective fiction in The Buenos Aires AfSair (1973), or the cinematic melodrama in El beso de la mujer araiia [Kiss ofthe Spider Woman] (1976) overlaps with political, psychoanalytical or historical interpretations of twentieth-century Argentina. The pervasiveness of parodic popular narratives such as these is indicative of a change of dominant discursive forms in contemporary U.S. and Latin American writers. Novels like Puig’s and Barthelme’s reject the literary canon’s division between high and low cultural manifestations. Rather, they blur the differences between low and high types of discourses. Traditionally, the study of popular literature is based on a distinction between serious literature (erudite, canonical, elitist) and trivial literature (second-rate, entertaining, of the masses or popular), the latter being derived from the former. Popular fiction is understood as a re-collection of the remains and scraps of the permanent values exposed in serious literature, and it often presents a literary model commonly considered “cultural detritus” (Ashley 1-3). Thus, popular literature is seen as a residual part-and, as such, as inferior and subverted-within a hegemonic literary system. In the case of contemporary U.S. and Latin American fiction, this distinction becomes problematic. Popular literature’s apparently limited importance gets to be questioned, since its residual nature becomes nec-
Anomie and the Marketing Function: The Role of Control Mechanisms

The authors use the theoretical notion of anomie to examine the impact of top management’s control mechanisms on the environment of the marketing function. Based on a literature review and in-depth field interviews with marketing managers in diverse industries, a conceptual model is proposed that incorporates the two managerial control mechanisms, viz. output and process control, and relates their distinctive influence to anomie in the marketing function. Three contingency variables, i.e., resource scarcity, power, and ethics codification, are proposed to moderate the relationship between control mechanisms and anomie. The authors also argue for the link between anomic environments and the propensity of unethical marketing practices to occur. Theoretical and managerial implications of the proposed conceptual model are discussed.
A modular system architecture for multi-manipulator, free-flying space robots

The Stanford University Aerospace Robotics Laboratory, in cooperation with NASA, has developed an experimental model of a multi-manipulator, free-flying space robot capable of autonomously capturing and manipulating free-floating objects. Its mission is to rendezvous with, capture, transport, and deliver a spinning object, given only task-level commands supplied by a remote operator. A design philosophy that emphasized maintaining a systems perspective while utilizing a modular implementation guided virtually every phase of its development. A system architecture was developed around these concepts and served as the framework for designing and integrating the many pieces required to make this complete system fulfill its mission objectives. This architecture and its resulting implications on the system design that are the focus of this paper are discussed. >
Liquid crystalline behavior of tetraaryl derivatives of benzo[c]cinnoline, tetraazapyrene, phenanthrene, and pyrene: the effect of heteroatom and substitution pattern on phase stability

A series of closely related tetrasubstituted derivatives of benzo[c]cinnoline (1), tetraazapyrene (2), phenanthrene (3), and pyrene (4) were investigated for their mesogenic properties using thermal, optical, spectroscopic, and powder XRD analyses. Only three 3,4-dioctyloxyphenyl derivatives exhibited mesogenic properties. Substitution of N for CH (3 → 1 and 4 → 2 pairs) and also increase of the core element size (1 → 2 and 3 → 4 pairs) significantly increases the mesophase stability. The findings and observed trends were rationalized by analysis of conformational properties which included calculation of the planarization energy, and modeling of aliphatic chain density and fill fractions. MO calculations showed that the tetraaza derivative 2c is significantly electron deficient and suitable for electron conductive materials.
A video-frame based registration using segmentation and graph connectivity for Wireless Capsule Endoscopy

Gastroenterologists using Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) extract valuable information regarding the health condition of the intestine. WCE produces, however, near 50,000 frames that have to be examined. In this paper a registration methodology is presented to reduce the amount of frames, which are the same or similar. It utilizes a segmentation scheme and a graph method to register similar regions in two consecutive frames. In addition our methodology offers a degree of similarity between two frames using a confidence function of similarity, in order to discard extremely dissimilar frames and thus set a mark of a new series of frames. Finally, a useful feature called Center of Image Similarity is also presented. Illustrative results from the methodology are also given in this paper.
Isolation of rafts from mouse brain tissue by a detergent-free method

Membrane rafts are rich in cholesterol and sphingolipids and have specific proteins associated with them. Due to their small size, their identification and isolation have proved to be problematic. Their insolubility in nonionic detergents, such as Triton-X 100, at 4°C has been the most common means of isolation. However, detergent presence can produce artifacts or interfere with ganglioside distribution. The direction is therefore toward the use of detergent-free protocols. We report an optimized method of raft isolation from lipid-rich brain tissue using a detergent-free method. We compared this to Triton-X 100-based isolation along sucrose or Optiprep™ gradients using the following endpoints: low protein content, high cholesterol content, presence of Flotillin 1 (Flot1), and absence of transferrin receptor (TfR) proteins. These criteria were met in raft fractions isolated in a detergent-free buffer along a sucrose gradient of 5%/35%/42.5%. The use of optiprep gave less consistent results with respect to protein distribution. We demonstrate that clean raft fractions with minimal myelin contamination can be reproducibly obtained in the top three low-density fractions along a sucrose step gradient.
Work in Progress: Who is Watching You? Video Conferencing Security

Our research shows that video conferencing systems are prone to a number of attacks which can result in the disclosure of sensitive information. This paper highlights some of those issues as well as providing recommendations to secure these devices.
Synchronization of interconnected systems with an input-output approach. Part II: State-space result and application to biochemical networks

In this paper we apply the framework proposed in the companion paper [1] to derive synchronization conditions for a class of interconnected state-space models. The application to the analysis of synchronization in biochemical networks is discussed and the specific example of synchronization in Goodwin oscillators is used to illustrate the proposed approach.
Measurement of gradient index materials by beam deflection, displacement, or mode conversion

For media with heterogeneous index of refraction, rays follow curved paths. Methods exploiting knowledge of the relationship between refractive index distribution and ray paths to estimate the refractive index distribution based on laser beam deflection, displacement, and mode con- version on passage through the media are described. The work covers axial, radial (cylindrical), and spherical refractive index distributions. ©
Succeeding in the Face of Stereotype Threat The Adaptive Role of Engagement Regulation

Two experiments examined Engagement Regulation, the systematic increase or decrease of self-esteem engagement in a domain following positive or negative outcomes, respectively. We hypothesized that, under threat, more positive outcomes increase engagement, and greater engagement augments the influence of subsequent outcomes on self-esteem and performance. Female participants completed an initial math test, received bogus feedback, and then completed a second test. Results indicated that more positive feedback evoked greater engagement and that this relationship was strongest under stereotype threat (Study 1). Under stereotype threat, engagement interacted with subsequent feedback, such that greater engagement to positive feedback increased performance, but greater engagement to negative feedback decreased self-esteem and performance (Study 2). Together, these findings suggest that Engagement Regulation facilitates self-esteem maintenance and positive performance under stereotype threat.
Grape Polyphenols Exert a Cardioprotective Effect in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women by Lowering Plasma Lipids and Reducing Oxidative Stress

To evaluate the effects of grape polyphenols on plasma lipids, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress, 24 pre- and 20 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to consume 36 g of a lyophilized grape powder (LGP) or a placebo for 4 wk. The LGP consisted of 92% carbohydrate and was rich in flavans, anthocyanins, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, and resveratrol. After a 3-wk washout period, subjects were assigned to the alternate treatment for an additional 4 wk. The placebo consisted of an equal ratio of fructose and dextrose and was similar in appearance and energy content (554 kJ) to LGP. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were reduced by 15 and 6% in pre- and postmenopausal women, respectively (P < 0.01) after LGP supplementation. In addition, plasma LDL cholesterol and apolipoproteins B and E were lower due to LGP treatment (P < 0.05). Further, cholesterol ester transfer protein activity was decreased by approximately 15% with intake of LGP (P < 0.05). In contrast to these beneficial effects on plasma lipids, LDL oxidation was not modified by LGP treatment. However, whole-body oxidative stress as measured by urinary F(2)-isoprostanes was significantly reduced after LGP supplementation. LGP also decreased the levels of plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which plays a major role in the inflammation process. Through alterations in lipoprotein metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, LGP intake beneficially affected key risk factors for coronary heart disease in both pre- and postmenopausal women.