cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Li Yang's socially conscious film as marginal cinema – China's state-capital alliance and its cultural ramifications

By the end of the 1990s, Chinese media saw the convergence of politics and commerce under the synergistic forces of capital and state directives. Commerce has joined forces with the state in regulating the Chinese media industry. The upshot has been the marginalization of media practices that respond neither to market logic nor to the state's imperatives. This article discusses media practices that fall into the “marginal” category. In particular, it focuses on the positioning of Li Yang as a marginal filmmaker due to his films' limited access to the domestic market as a result, at least initially, of state censorship and more recently of market censure. The article further emphasizes the significance of distribution in determining the cultural and economic status of media products.
Performance, Return to Competition, and Reinjury After Tommy John Surgery in Major League Baseball Pitchers A Review of 147 Cases

Background:Pitching performance metrics, durability, and reinjury after Tommy John surgery in professional baseball players have not been well described.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to determine the likelihood of return to professional competition, reinjury rate, and change in performance after Tommy John surgery in Major League Baseball pitchers. The hypothesis was that performance metrics and durability will decline after surgery.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Publicly available records were accessed to generate a list of all Major League Baseball pitchers from 1999 to 2011 who had undergone ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction at any point in their careers; those with multiple reconstructive procedures were excluded. Return to active (≥1 game) or established (≥10 games) competition and/or placement on the disabled list was documented for each player. Among established players, pitching performance was compared pre- and postoperatively, as well as with age-matched c...
Effect of vitamin K homologues on the conversion of preprothrombin to prothrombin in rat liver microsomes.

Summary The vitamin K-dependent conversion of preoporthrombin to prothrombin has been studied in rat liver microsomes plus cytosol. Half maximal activities were obtained at pO2 of 10 mm Hg and 0.2 mM bicarbonate. A linear semi-logarithmic dose-response curve was obtained for K1, MK-3, and MK-4 over a range of 10−5 to 10−8 M. Other homologues showed a less extended range of response. Arrhenius plots show that the activation enthalpy for MK-2 was lowest with increasing enthalpies for MK-3, MK-4 and K1, the latter showing a conspicuous break in the curve corresponding to the “melting point” of the membrane.
Spectrum of surface-mode contributions to the differential energy-loss probability for electrons passing by a spheroid.

The differential probability of energy loss for a charged-particle beam moving past a spheroid along the direction of a symmetry axis is obtained. Local, frequency-dependent, dielectric functions are used to describe the response of the spheroid and the medium containing the rectilinear trajectory of the beam. While retardation is neglected, all modes are included in the analytical results. Both oblate and prolate spheroids and their counterpart voids are discussed, and numerical results are given for materials of experimental interest.
A Model of Factors Affecting the Treatment of Disabled Individuals in Organizations

A model of factors thought to affect the treatment of disabled individuals in organizations is presented. Specifically, the model suggests that person characteristics (e.g., attributes of the disabled person, attributes of the observer), environmental factors (i.e., legislation), and organizational characteristics (e.g., norms, values, policies, the nature of jobs, reward systems) combine to affect the way disabled individuals are treated in organizations. Furthermore, the model indicates that the relationships just noted are mediated by observers' cognitions (i.e., categorization, stereotyping, expectancies) and affective states. Finally, the model predicts that the disabled person's responses feed back to modify observers' expectancies and organizational characteristics. Implications for conducting research on disability issues and facilitating the inclusion of disabled individuals in organizational settings are discussed.
Summary of NBS calibration services and systems

This paper gives a brief summary of the calibration services available at the Boulder Laboratories of the National Bureau of Standards for attenuation, phase shift, impedance, power, and voltage at RF and microwave frequencies.
TH-E-17A-01: Internal Respiratory Surrogate for 4D CT Using Fourier Transform and Anatomical Features

Purpose: To develop a novel algorithm to generate internal respiratory signals for sorting of four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) images. Methods: The proposed algorithm extracted multiple time resolved features as potential respiratory signals. These features were taken from the 4D CT images and its Fourier transformed space. Several low-frequency locations in the Fourier space and selected anatomical features from the images were used as potential respiratory signals. A clustering algorithm was then used to search for the group of appropriate potential respiratory signals. The chosen signals were then normalized and averaged to form the final internal respiratory signal. Performance of the algorithm was tested in 50 4D CT data sets and results were compared with external signals from the real-time position management (RPM) system. Results: In almost all cases, the proposed algorithm generated internal respiratory signals that visibly matched the external respiratory signals from the RPM system. On average, the end inspiration times calculated by the proposed algorithm were within 0.1 s of those given by the RPM system. Less than 3% of the calculated end inspiration times were more than one time frame away from those given by the RPM system. In 3 out of the 50 cases, the proposed algorithm generated internal respiratory signals that were significantly smoother than the RPM signals. In these cases, images sorted using the internal respiratory signals showed fewer artifacts in locations corresponding to the discrepancy in the internal and external respiratory signals. Conclusion: We developed a robust algorithm that generates internal respiratory signals from 4D CT images. In some cases, it even showed the potential to outperform the RPM system. The proposed algorithm is completely automatic and generally takes less than 2 min to process. It can be easily implemented into the clinic and can potentially replace the use of external surrogates.
Approximation of jet axis in rapidity separated dihadron correlations

The PHENIX experiment has observed particle production asymmetries in transversely polarized proton collisons. This talk presents a novel approach for separating the final-state and initial-state components of the observed asymmetries using the existing PHENIX detector.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory X-Ray Laser Research: Recent Results

Since the successful demonstration of gain in neon-like selenium using an exploding foil amplifier, the x-ray laser group at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has investigated further the exploding foil amplifier concept for use in XUV lasers. Results are reported of the characteristics of selenium amplifiers up to 50 mm in length. Observation of at least 16 gain lengths for the 206 A line of selenium is reported. Output powers in excess of 1 MW have been measured in pulses of approximately 200 picoseconds. The effects of refraction on the performance of long amplifiers have been studied. The occurrence time of the x-ray laser output relative to the input heating pulse has been measured and found to be in disagreement with a recent model that suggests three-body recombination driven by rapid radiative cooling as the inversion process in the selenium plasma.
Specific Heat of Pure Zinc and Some Zn-Mn Alloys

The specific heat of pure zinc and of Zn-Mn alloys containing 0.1 and 0.05 at.% Mn has been measured in the range 0.4 to 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The excess entropy of the alloys, as compared with pure zinc, is about 2.5 cal/\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K g atom manganese, indicating a spin of $\frac{3}{2}$ for the Mn atoms. At the lowest temperatures, the specific heat of the more concentrated alloy is linearly proportional to temperature. Above 12\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the specific heats of both alloys become less than that of pure zinc---possibly a lattice effect due to the light "impurity." An alloy containing 0.2 at.% Mn was measured in the range 0.4 to 3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, and below about 0.7\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K the specific heat was the same as that of the 0.1-at.% Mn alloy, demonstrating the concentration independence of the limiting low-temperature specific heat. Measurements were also made below 1.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K on an alloy containing 0.0007 at.% Mn. The superconducting transition temperature was depressed to about 0.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, rather lower than expected, and the transition remained of the second order. The variation of electrical resistance with temperature for all the samples was also measured. The temperature of the minimum was proportional to the $\frac{1}{5}$ power of the manganese concentration, in agreement with Kondo's prediction. A low-temperature maximum in the resistance was observed only for the 0.2-at.% Mn alloy.
Reputations and corporate malfeasance: collusive networks in financial statement fraud

The prevailing theory used by economists to explain why more corporations do not engage in fraud focuses on the role of board members, auditors and banks in controlling corporate conduct and the “reputational penalties” that may be imposed on them if they fail to do so. In this view, beyond the formal sanctions imposed by criminal justice and regulatory agencies, these “control agents” are subject to extra-legal consequences for misconduct or failure to perform their duties in which their reputations for honesty and integrity are diminished and thus their value in the marketplace for their services declines. The “reputational penalty” theory has been challenged by recent work that asserts that these entities, far from controlling the behavior of corporate insiders, may form networks of “reputational intermediaries” who collude with corporate executives to give legitimacy to their illegal schemes. In this paper, empirical support for the latter view is provided through an analysis of a sample of 374 publicly traded firms that announced financial restatements between 1997 and 2002 and which were accused of securities fraud. The analysis shows that these schemes involved large numbers of board members, auditors, and bankers who aided and abetted senior managers in their attempts to deceive investors. These findings point to broader issues concerning: (1) the changing nature of corporate power; (2) the strengths of collusive networks; and (3) current policy debates regarding attempts to exert more regulatory control over corporate behavior.
Pairwise correlated generalized valence bond model of electronic structure. VII. The b3∑ u+ state of H2

A modification of the overlap approximation for triplet pair correlation energies is presented. The modification allows the use of either the canonical absolute overlap or the minimum absolute overlap. When applied to the b3∑ state of H2, this approximation reproduces the observed correlation energy to within 0.0002 hartree (or ±3%) for all internuclear distances from 1.3 bohr to infinity.
Chemoprevention Strategies in Lung Carcinogenesis

Despite local and systemic therapy and smoking cessation programs, lung cancer remains the major cause of cancerrelated death in the United States. Chemoprevention is an exciting and promising investigational modality for the control of lung carcinogenesis. Future directions for this research will hinge on forthcoming clinical results of ongoing phase III trials and continued advances in the epidemiologic and biologic study of lung carcinogenesis. Current and planned lung cancer chemoprevention studies owe their designs in large part to extensive work already completed in the related system of head and neck carcinogenesis. Because of encouraging results in the control of SPT associated with head and neck cancers, hopes are high for controlling SPT in the lung in recently designed phase III trials. Second primary tumors are now a major problem in early stage disease 13 and will become an even greater concern as primary therapy advances improve long-term survival rates in patients with later stage disease. 3 Conducted on a multicenter and intergroup basis, these trials are available to early stage NSCLC patients throughout the United States and Europe ( Table 2 ). The results of the current series of SPT lung chemoprevention trials will determine future multimodality strategies in lung cancer, which may include primary and adjuvant therapy followed by long-term chemoprevention. Such an integrated approach may ultimately lead to major improvements in the survival of patients with lung cancer.
Selective protection and functionalization of morphine: synthesis and opioid receptor binding properties of 3-amino-3-desoxymorphine derivatives.

As part of an effort to identify novel opioid receptor interactive agents, we recently prepared a series of 8-(substituted)amino analogues of cyclazocine. We found the chiral 8-phenylamino (NHC6H5) cyclazocine derivative to have subnanomolar affinity for κ opioid receptors and a 2-fold lower affinity for μ opioid receptors. To determine if the benefits of (substituted)amino groups could be extended to the morphine core structure, we have made five novel 3-amino-3-desoxymorphine derivatives of general structure 5 where RR‘N = H2N, CH3NH, (CH3)2N, C6H5NH, and C6H5CH2NH. Relative to morphine, these derivatives had 38−273-fold, 11−41-fold, and 10−141-fold lower affinity for μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors, respectively. Target compounds were made via Pd-catalyzed amination of a morphine 3-trifluoromethylsulfonate substrate where the 6-OH group was protected with a tert-butyldiphenylsilyl group. To make 6-tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxymorphine selectively, a new high-yield method was developed whereby morphine was bi...
LD Consultant Information in Mainstreaming: Help Or Hindrance?

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of information commonly disseminated by consultants on teacher expectations for mainstreamed LD students. After receiving varying combinations of positive and negative communications in the areas of reading achievement, classroom behavior and learning style, subjects completed the Regular Educator Expectancy Scale-Revised — an instrument developed to measure four areas of mainstreaming (Instruction, Effects on Others, Effects on the Child, and Behavior Management Strategies). Results indicated that teachers were differentially influenced according to the type of information received. Implications for the LD consultant are discussed.
c-axis oxygen in copper oxide superconductors.

Exploration of the roles of {ital c}-axis oxygen in the copper-oxide superconductors has revealed a new type of tetragonal-orthorhombic transition in the system {ital R}{sub 2{minus}{ital z}}Ce{sub {ital z}}Ba{sub 2{minus}{ital y}L{ital y}}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 8+{ital x}}({ital R}=Nd or Gd, {ital L}=La or Nd) and one probably due to cluster rotation in fluorinated La{sub 2{minus}{ital y}}Dy{sub {ital y}}CuO{sub 4{minus}{ital x}}F{sub 2{ital x}} having the {ital T}{sup *} structure with interstitial F ordered in the rocksalt layer. The former is due to {ital c}-axis ionic displacements that relieve a compressive stress on the (Ba,{ital L})O rocksalt sheets, the latter a tensile stress on the LaO rocksalt sheets. In the YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6+{ital x}} structure, the {ital c}-axis oxygen participates in oxygen diffusion in the superconductively inactive layers, they act as gates for stabilizing holes in Cu(1)O{sub {ital x}} planes versus CuO{sub 2} sheets, and they modulate the width {ital W} of the {sigma}{sub {ital x}}{sup 2}{minus}{ital y}{sup 2*} conduction band. These modulations are shown to be capable of changing the bandwidth from {ital W}{lt}{ital U} to {ital W}{gt}{ital U} and hence to provide a rationalization for the nonsuperconducting metallic copper oxides containing copper in a formal valence state greater than 2+. Asmore » modulators of bandwidth, their displacements offer electron-lattice interactions for pairing superconductive holes. In the {ital n}-type superconductors, interstitial {ital c}-axis oxygen perturbs the {sigma}{sub {ital x}}{sup 2}{minus}{ital y}{sup 2*} band so as to introduce localized states at the band edges that suppress superconductivity.« less
Chemiluminescent Reaction Channel Opened by Photon Absorption During Collision

The reaction exoergicity of K + HgBr\ensuremath{\rightarrow}KBr + HgBr ($\ensuremath{\Delta}{D}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}0.86\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.09$ eV) plus the energy of a photon of $\ensuremath{\lambda}l606\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}26$ nm provides sufficient energy to open the channel to HgBr* ($\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{B}^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$). Although neither reagents nor products absorb near 595 nm, luminescence at 500 nm is observed from the crossing region of beams of K, Hg${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$, and photons ($\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\sim}595$ nm). This emission is attributed to HgBr* formed by light absorption during reactive collision. The cross section is \ensuremath{\sim} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at \ensuremath{\sim} 2 MW/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$.
Stochastic optimization using simulation: graphical representation of IPA estimation

Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis (IPA) estimators of the response gradient for a discrete event stochastic simulation are typically developed within the framework of Generalized semi-Markov processes (GSMPs). Unfortunately, while mathematically rigorous, GSMPs are not particularly useful for modeling real systems. In this paper we describe a procedure that allows IPA gradient estimation to be easily and automatically implemented in the more general and intuitive modeling context of Event Graphs. The intent is to make IPA gradient estimation more easily understood and more widely accessible. The pictorial nature of Event Graphs also provides insights into the basic IPA calculations and alternative descriptions of conditions under which the IPA estimator is known to be unbiased.
Interpretation of the Ohio Radio Source Counts

Comparison with other surveys suggests a systematic error in the Ohio survey at low flux density.
Sodium sulfate solubilities in high temperature aqueous sodium chloride and sulfuric acid solutions—predictions of solubility, vapor pressure, acidity, and speciation

Experimental measurements of the solubility of sodium sulfate in aqueous solutions containing both sodium chloride and sulfuric acid in the temperature range 250 to 374°C are reported. These measurements have been combined with previous data on the solubility of sodium sulfate in water, in aqueous sodium chloride, and in sulfuric acid solutions to produce a comprehensive model describing the solubility of sodium sulfate in such solutions. Calculations and predictions of solubility, vapor pressure, boiling point elevation, acidity, and speciation are presented. This model is of fundamental interest in itself and also is of importance because the precipitation of sodium sulfate may be a contributing factor in enhancing crevice corrosion in metals exposed to high-temperature water containing chloride and sulfate ions as impurities.
Simultaneous equations and panel data

Abstract This paper considers a simultaneous equations model, with panel data and unobservable individual effects in each structural equation. The effects may be fixed or random. In the fixed effects case, a conditional likehood approach leads to the within transformation, just as in the single equation setting. In the random effects case, we allow an arbitrary number of the exogenous variables to be correlated with the effects, and provide efficient GMM estimators along the lines of two-stage and three-stage least squares. The case of different instruments in different equations is also considered.
In vivo versus in vitro degradation of controlled release polymers for intracranial surgical therapy.

Intracranial studies to analyze the degradation kinetics of the bioerodible polymer poly[bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)propane-sebacic acid] [p(CPP-SA) 20:80] copolymer wafers were conducted in a rat model. Rats were separated into four groups: those receiving (1) polymer, (2) polymer loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent BCNU,(3) drugloaded polymer with previous tumor implantation, and (4) polymer and an absorbable hemostatic material. A polymer wafer was surgically implanted into the brain of each animal. Residual polymer was harvested at varying times for chromatographic analysis. In vitro effects of pH, mixing, and water availability on degradation were also studied. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies were compared to understand the behavior of polymers in a clinical setting. We found that degradation of p(CPP-SA) initially occurred more slowly in vivo than in vitro. The presence of BCNU, tumor, and absorbable hemostatic material did not affect the ultimate time of polymer degradation in vivo, and the intrinsic polymer degradation time of 1 mm thick p(CPP-SA) 20:80 disks in vivo was 6–8 weeks. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Practical unicast and convergecast scheduling schemes for cognitive radio networks

Cognitive Radio Networks (CRNs) have paved a road for Secondary Users (SUs) to opportunistically exploit unused spectrum without harming the communications among Primary Users (PUs). In this paper, practical unicast and convergecast schemes, which are overlooked by most of the existing works for CRNs, are proposed. We first construct a cell-based virtual backbone for CRNs. Then prove that SUs have positive probabilities to access the spectrum and the expected one hop delay is bounded by a constant, if the density of PUs is finite. According to this fact, we proposed a three-step unicast scheme and a two-phase convergecast scheme. We demonstrate that the induced delay from our proposed Unicast Scheduling (US) algorithm scales linearly with the transmission distance between the source and the destination. Furthermore, the expected delay of the proposed Convergecast Scheduling (CS) algorithm is proven to be upper bounded by $O(\log n + \sqrt{n/\log n})$ . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of convergecast in CRNs. Finally, the performance of the proposed algorithms is validated through simulations.
Does radial optic neurotomy alter retinal blood flow in eyes with a central retinal vein occlusion

w m e f ORIO AND HORIGUCHI1 PROSPECTIVELY EVALUated the effects of pars plana vitrectomy with radial optic neurotomy (RON) on retinal blood ow (RBF) in seven eyes with macular edema due to a entral retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). They also decribed the effect of this treatment on visual acuity, foveal hickness as measured by optical coherence tomography OCT), and the development of chorioretinal anastomoses n these seven eyes. Eyes with CRVO vary widely at presentation. They may ave a different angiographic perfusion status, visual acuty, ophthalmoscopic appearance, and duration since onet, among others, and consequently have a very different atural history. The Central Vein Occlusion Study (CVOS)2 eported natural history information; however because eyes ere lumped together with regard to disease duration at tudy entry, the visual acuity natural history outcomes in he CVOS are not entirely useful to use as a reference. nless a homogenous population is studied, then, the wide ariability in eyes with CRVO on presentation, as demnstrated in Horio and Horiguchi’s series and recognized y the authors, creates inherent difficulties in evaluating he effect of investigational imaging modalities and treatent options, particularly in small study populations. orio and Horiguchi examined a diverse group of seven yes with CRVO and attempted subgroup analyses; howver, effective subgroup analyses are not feasible because of he small sample size. In the reported series, visual acuity improved by two or ore lines in three of the seven eyes and decreased in two yes at 6 months. The phakic status of these eyes was not ncluded, and postoperative lenticular changes can alter isual outcome. It is unclear to the reader how the visual cuities were measured and whether the visual acuities ere obtained in a masked fashion. The visual acuity nformation is less meaningful without this additional nformation. Foveal thickness, as measured by OCT, initially dereased at 1 week and, despite a small increase at 1 month,
Subsurface injection of liquid waste in Florida, United States of America

Abstract In 1979, liquid waste was injected into the subsurface of Florida by 10 injection systems at an aggregate average rate of 165,000 m 3 /d. All the systems inject into carbonate rocks that contain salty water. Extensive precautions are taken in the construction of the injection wells and in the monitoring of their operation to provide assurance that overlying and laterally contiguous freshwater resources do not become contaminated with either the injected waste or the saltwater displaced by the waste. Several concerns relating to the effectiveness of the confining bed above the injection zone for containing the injected wastes have arisen over the years. These concerns accentuate the value of a well-planned and implemented monitoring program from which one can evaluate the potential impact of waste injection on the subsurface environment.
Diurnal rhythm in plasma glucocorticoid levels in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Plasma and head kidney glucocorticoids were identified in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and plasma levels were quantitatively determined at midnight, 6 AM, 10 AM, 2 PM and 7 PM. Cortisone, corticosterone, and cortisol were found in a ratio of 15:7:2. Cortisone rose significantly at 6 AM and at 2 PM, whereas corticosterone significantly increased at midnight, 7 PM and at 10 AM. Cortisol showed no diurnal variation. However, total glucocorticoid level rose significantly at 2 PM only.
Cyclotron Resonance in Magnesium

Azbel'-Kaner cyclotron resonance has been studied at 22.9 GHz and 2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in the ${10\overline{1}0}$, ${11\overline{2}0}$, {0001}, and ${10\overline{1}1}$ planes of magnesium. Fifteen distinct mass series have been identified and their mass values determined as a function of the orientation of the magnetic field in the sample surface. Nearly all of the observed signals have been successfully assigned to the Fermi surface of Mg determined by Stark and his co-workers. Our results are in excellent agreement with their magnetoacoustic and de Haas-van Alphen measurements and their pseudopotential band-structure calculation except for the absence of cyclotron resonance signals from the "giant" orbit and the hexagonal grid of coupled orbits so prominent in the de Haas-van Alphen data. The absence of cyclotron resonance signals from these orbits confirms Moore's conclusion that cyclotron resonance signals will not be seen from orbits in the intermediate stage of magnetic breakdown.
Fast communication: Efficient matched filters for DFT based codes

A computationally efficient matched filter for Frank polyphase and similar Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) related codes is proposed. It is based on converting any available efficient Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) algorithm into a related matched filter. This results in significant computational advantage over the existing methods. In comparison to the Goertzel algorithm, it offers guaranteed stability and reduced roundoff noise, in addition to reducing the required computation by half. The best known non-recursive methods, in which an FFT is applied for each new input, require O(NlogN) multiplications per output instead of the O(N) for the proposed STFT based matched filters.
Gravitational microlensing and gamma-ray bursts

Models of gravitational microlensing at small and large optical depth are presented, with a special emphasis on the time delays between microimages. The time distribution of microimage arrival times is random when the microobjects responsible for the lensing are randomly distributed. If the microobjects are clustered in space, then microimages are clustered in time. In some models there are many pairs of microimages with a very small time separation. It is proposed that the recently discovered recurrent soft gamma-ray burster GB 790107, for which more than 50 bursts were detected, is a single event multiply imaged due to gravitational microlensing by an ensemble of nonrandomly distributed microobjects, perhaps a rich cluster of galaxies. Some observational tests of this hypothesis are proposed. If correct, the hypothesis requires the burster to be at a cosmological distance, perhaps farther away than the most distant quasars.
Stability of linear delay equations under a small noise

The stochastic stability of linear systems driven by white noise has been treated by several authors e.g. Has'minskii [7], Kushner [11], Kleimann and Arnold [9], Pinsky, [14], Friedman and Pinsky [4], Ito and Nisio [8] , Mohammed [13]. Following R. Kubo [10, 1966], the Brownian movement of a molecule in a “heat bath” is modelled in [4, pp. 223–226] by an asymptotically stable linear f.d.e. which is forced by white noise.
Estimates of Age-Specific Mortality Rates from Sequential Cross-Sectional Data in Malawi

This paper uses a method for estimating age-specific event rates for adults (15–49 years) in Malawi between 1977 and 1998. This method, which is based on the development of unstable populations, is similar to the “variable-r” methods. Data from Malawi demonstrate mortality reduction nearly for all age groups between 1977 and 1987 for males whereas for females the reduction was observed for age groups 15–19 and 40–44. Contrary to this finding, the 1987–1998 intercensal period shows that mortality increased at a higher rate in the ages 20 and above for males than females. However, the increase for the females is much higher in the 1987–1998 intercensal period than in the 1977–1987 intercensal period. These findings may be related to the onset and effect of the AIDS epidemic. Implications for future research are discussed.
Melting and solidification of acoustically levitated drops

A single axis acoustic levitator has been used to suspend a drop of commercial grade succinonitrile in air. The drop is subjected to thermal cycling in order to observe melting and solidification of the drop in the acoustically levitated state. Melting takes place over a temperature rise of a few degrees, which is typical for an impure material. Solidification initially progresses along the drop surface because of the temperature gradient developed in the drop. The resultant solid drop shows a dendritic surface feature with a cavity in some circumstances. An attempt is made to calculate the growth velocity of the dendrites.
Physical volcanology and geological relationships of the Jurassic Ferrar Large Igneous Province, Antarctica

Abstract The Ferrar Large Igneous Province forms a linear belt for 3500 km along the Transantarctic Mountains, and as a geochemical province extends into southeastern Australasia. The principal components of the Ferrar are: intrusive — Ferrar Dolerite sills and dikes, and Dufek intrusion; pyroclastic — the Prebble, Mawson and Exposure Hill Formations; effusive — the Kirkpatrick Basalt. In terms of the three dimensional architecture of the Ferrar, a range of “facies” can be recognized in each of the principal components. The Ferrar province was initiated with a major episode of phreatomagmatism leading to formation of tephra cones and associated deposits, and near-surface vent structures. Activity switched to predominantly quiet effusion of alternating thick flood basalt flows and thin pahoehoe lobes and flows. Intrusive bodies were emplaced early, given the occurrence of dolerite clasts in tuff–breccias, but most sills were probably intruded after accumulation of extrusive rocks. Pre-existing rift structures played a major role in controlling the transport and distribution of the Ferrar magmas and the apparent centers of extrusive activity. The associated paleohydrology controlled the eruption styles.
On the Characterization of the Fréchet Derivative with Respect to a Lipschitz Domain of the Acoustic Scattered Field

In this paper, we consider the Frechet differentiability with respect to a given domain of the solution of direct acoustic scattering problems with sound-soft, sound-hard, or lossy boundary conditions. We propose a new proof for characterizing the derivative of the acoustic scattered field as the solution of a particular direct scattering problem. This proof assumes that the boundary of the scatterer is only Lipschitzian and therefore extends this well-known characterization to obstacles with rough surfaces. Our result can be of practical interest because the characterization of the derivative of the acoustic scattered field has a great potential for the solution of inverse acoustic scattering problems by Newton-type methods.
Connecting Sequence to Conformational Properties of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: A Charged Relationship

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can be classified as coils or globules based on their net charge per residue (NCPR). Naive annotation of a predictive phase diagram suggests that a majority of IDPs are likely to form disordered globules. Globule formers (as opposed to rigid, folded globules) are likely to have poor solubility profiles and it seems unlikely that the IDP proteome is enriched in globule formers. This raises the possibility that NCPR is an incomplete descriptor of IDP phase behavior. To address this issue, we carried out systematic computational studies on a set of synthetic and naturally occurring IDPs where NCPR is likely to yield questionable designations of IDP phase behavior. Our results show that the polyampholytic nature of IDPs provides a clear descriptor of sequence-ensemble relationships. Our results highlight the connection between linear patterning of oppositely charged residues in polyampholytic sequences and the phase behavior of IDPs / IDRs in sequences where more than 30% of the residues are charged. Analysis of sequence databases shows that ∼ 70% IDPs/IDRs are sequence-patterned polyampholytes that are likely to form heterogeneous expanded ensembles. This has important implications for the accessibility of short linear interaction motifs that directly influence IDP function.
Diffuse structured light

Today, structured light systems are widely used in applications such as robotic assembly, visual inspection, surgery, entertainment, games and digitization of cultural heritage. Current structured light methods are faced with two serious limitations. First, they are unable to cope with scene regions that produce strong highlights due to specular reflection. Second, they cannot recover useful information for regions that lie within shadows. We observe that many structured light methods use illumination patterns that have translational symmetry, i.e., two-dimensional patterns that vary only along one of the two dimensions. We show that, for this class of patterns, diffusion of the patterns along the axis of translation can mitigate the adverse effects of specularities and shadows. We show results for two applications - 3D scanning using phase shifting of sinusoidal patterns and separation of direct and global components of light transport using high-frequency binary stripes.
Context, indexicals and the sorites

The reason, according to the contextualist, that precise boundaries for expressions like 'heap' or 'tall for a basketball player' are so difficult to detect is that when two entities are sufficiently similar (or saliently similar), we tend to shift the interpretation of the vague expression so that if one counts as falling in the extension of the property expressed by that expression, so does the other. As a consequence, when we look for the boundary of the extension of a vague expression in its penumbra, our very looking has the effect of changing the interpretation of the vague expression so that the boundary is not where we are looking. This accounts for the persuasive force of sorites arguments. (Stanley 2003: 269)
Evaluation of probabilistic methods to predict muscle activity: implications for neuroprosthetics

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) involves artificial activation of muscles with surface or implanted electrodes to restore motor function in paralyzed individuals. Currently, FES-based prostheses produce only a limited range of movements due to the difficulty associated with identifying patterns of muscle activity needed to evoke more complex behaviour. Here we test three probability-based models (Bayesian density estimation, polynomial curve fitting and dynamic neural network) that use the trajectory of the hand to predict the electromyographic (EMG) activities of 12 arm muscles during complex two- and three-dimensional movements. Across most conditions, the neural network model yielded the best predictions of muscle activity. For three-dimensional movements, the predicted patterns of muscle activity using the neural network accounted for 40% of the variance in the actual EMG signals and were associated with an average root-mean-squared error of 6%. These results suggest that such probabilistic models could be used effectively to predict patterns of muscle stimulation needed to produce complex movements with an FES-based neuroprosthetic.
Examinations of Home Economics Textbooks for Sex Bias

Four analyses were conducted on a sample of 100 randomly selected, secondary home economics textbooks published between 1964 and 1974. These analyses examined (1) the gender orientation, (2) pronoun usage, (3) role environments portrayed, and (4) role behaviors and expectations en couraged. Data were analyzed to determine if differences emerged between subject matter areas and years of publication. Results indicated that although home economics textbooks generally are ori ented to a gender neutral student clientele, the contents presented sex bias in language usage, in pictures portraying male and female role environments, and in role behaviors and expectations emphasized. Specific recommendations based on findings are set forth.
Crosslinking Constraints and Computational Models as Complementary Tools in Modeling the Extracellular Domain of the Glycine Receptor

The glycine receptor (GlyR), a member of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel superfamily, is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter-gated receptor in the spinal cord and brainstem. In these receptors, the extracellular domain binds agonists, antagonists and various other modulatory ligands that act allosterically to modulate receptor function. The structures of homologous receptors and binding proteins provide templates for modeling of the ligand-binding domain of GlyR, but limitations in sequence homology and structure resolution impact on modeling studies. The determination of distance constraints via chemical crosslinking studies coupled with mass spectrometry can provide additional structural information to aid in model refinement, however it is critical to be able to distinguish between intra- and inter-subunit constraints. In this report we model the structure of GlyBP, a structural and functional homolog of the extracellular domain of human homomeric α1 GlyR. We then show that intra- and intersubunit Lys-Lys crosslinks in trypsinized samples of purified monomeric and oligomeric protein bands from SDS-polyacrylamide gels may be identified and differentiated by MALDI-TOF MS studies of limited resolution. Thus, broadly available MS platforms are capable of providing distance constraints that may be utilized in characterizing large complexes that may be less amenable to NMR and crystallographic studies. Systematic studies of state-dependent chemical crosslinking and mass spectrometric identification of crosslinked sites has the potential to complement computational modeling efforts by providing constraints that can validate and refine allosteric models.
Memetics and voting: how nature may make us public spirited

We consider the classic puzzle of why people turn out for elections in substantial numbers even though formal analysis strongly suggests that rational agents would not vote. If one assumes that voters do not make systematic mistakes, the most plausible explanation seems to be that agents receive a warm glow from the act of voting itself. However, this begs the question of why agents feel a warm glow from participating in the electoral process in the first place. We approach this question from a memetic standpoint. More specifically, we consider a model in which social norms, ideas, values, or more generally, “memes”, influence the behavior of groups of agents, and in turn, induce a kind of competition between value systems. We show, for a range of situations, that groups with a more public-spirited social norm have an advantage over groups that are not as public-spirited. We also explore conditions under which the altruistic behavior resulting from public-spiritedness is disadvantageous. The details depend on the costs of voting, the extent to which different types of citizens agree or disagree over the benefits of various public policies, and the relative proportions of various preference types in the population. We conclude that memetic evolution over social norms may be a force that causes individuals to internalize the benefits that their actions confer on others.
On quasi‐likelihood estimation for branching processes with immigration

In the theory of estimation for branching processes it is well known that, in the super-critical case, the so-called conditional least-squares and the conditional weighted least-squares methods may not yield unbiased and hence consistent estimates for the mean parameters of the offspring and immigration distributions. In this paper, the authors propose a new conditional quasi-likelihood method in the context of negative binomial offspring and immigration distributions that provides mean estimates with smaller mean squared errors in the super-critical case as compared to the previous approaches. Further, they simplify the conditional quasi-likelihood estimating equations both for the mean and the variance parameters under a special model with binary offspring distribution appropriate for a controlled population. It is also demonstrated empirically that a reasonable estimate for the variance or overdispersion parameter requires that the data be collected over a long period of time. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 38: 290–313; 2010 © 2010 Statistical Society of Canada Dans la theorie de l'estimation des processus de branchement, il est bien connu que, dans le cas super critique, les methodes des moindres carres conditionnelles et conditionnelles ponderees peuvent produire des estimateurs qui ne sont pas sans biais et ainsi incoherents pour les parametres moyenne des distributions de regenerescence et d'immigration. Dans cet article, les auteurs proposent une nouvelle methode de quasi-vraisemblance conditionnelle en supposant des lois binomiales negatives comme distributions de regenerescence et d'immigration qui fourni une estimation de la moyenne ayant une erreur quadratique moyenne inferieure dans le cas super critique comparee aux approches precedentes. De plus, ils simplifient les estimations d'equations basees sur la quasi-vraisemblance conditionnelle pour les parametres de moyenne et de variance sous un modele particulier ayant une distribution de regenerescence binaire appropriee pour une population controle. De facon empirique, il est montre qu'un estimateur raisonnable pour le parametre de variance ou de surdispersion exige que les observations soient acquises sur une longue periode de temps. La revue canadienne de statistique 38: 290–313; 2010 © 2010 Societe statistique du Canada
A nano-scale light-driven plasmonic motor

We show that a nano-scale plasmonic motor can generate a large and controllable torque. As demonstration, we rotate a dielectric particle which is 4,000 times larger in volume than the motor.
The anatomy and taxonomy of protein structure.

Publisher Summary This chapter investigates the anatomy and taxonomy of protein structures. A protein is a polypeptide chain made up of amino acid residues linked together in a definite sequence. Amino acids are “handed,” and naturally occurring proteins contain only L-amino acids. A simple mnemonic for that purpose is the “corncrib.” The sequence of side chains determines all that is unique about a particular protein, including its biological function and its specific three-dimensional structure. The major possible routes to knowledge of three-dimensional protein structure are prediction from the amino acid sequence and analysis of spectroscopic measurements such as circular dichroism, laser Raman spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The analysis and discussion of protein structure is based on the results of three-dimensional X-ray crystallography of globular proteins. The basic elements of protein structures are discussed. The most useful level at which protein structures are to be categorized is the domain, as there are many cases of multiple-domain proteins in which each separate domain resembles other entire smaller proteins. The simplest type of stable protein structure consists of polypeptide backbone wrapped more or less uniformly around the outside of a single hydrophobic core. The outline of the taxonomy is also provided in the chapter.
Predictive and sliding mode cascade control for Unmanned Surface Vessels

This paper presents an optimizing sliding mode cascade control structure that determines the optimal sliding surface parameters for sliding mode control of underactuated Unmanned Surface Vessel systems. A discrete-time, nonlinear model predictive controller is used to update the parameters of the sliding mode control surfaces in order to achieve a specified performance objective such as minimum tracking error, minimum time or minimum energy. The determination of these surface parameters is subject to constraints that arise from the stability conditions imposed by the sliding mode control law and the physical limits on the system such as input saturation. Examples are presented to verify the superior performance of the cascade control structure compared with the original sliding mode control.
Rethinking Geometric Design Standards for Bike Paths

The “single file” and “side-by-side” travel characteristics of bicyclists and pedestrians should be considered for the determination of stopping sight distances, horizontal sightline offsets, and minimum lengths of vertical curves for bike paths. This paper describes these unique travel behaviors and classifies them into two cases (Case I and Case II) for geometric design. It presents a set of new design equations and charts that consider these two design cases and introduces design methods to supplement current AASHTO standards and guidelines. The paper then provides a practical procedure for using the new charts and equations for design of bike paths. It is recommended that the new analytical means of evaluating the effect of side-by-side riding on geometric design of bike paths should be included in the revision of the AASHTO Bike Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities.