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Papers by Steve Smith

Research paper thumbnail of A single molecule study of cellulase hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose

Single Molecule Spectroscopy and Imaging III, 2010

Cellobiohydrolase-I (CBH I), a processive exoglucanase secreted by Trichoderma reesei, is one of ... more Cellobiohydrolase-I (CBH I), a processive exoglucanase secreted by Trichoderma reesei, is one of the key enzyme components in a commercial cellulase mixture currently used for processing biomass to biofuels. CBH I contains a family 7 glycoside hydrolase catalytic module, a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), and a highlyglycosylated linker peptide. It has been proposed that the CBH I cellulase initiates the hydrolysis from the reducing end of one cellulose chain and successively cleaves alternate β-1,4-glycosidic bonds to release cellobiose as its principal end product. The role each module of CBH I plays in the processive hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose has yet to be convincingly elucidated. In this report, we use a single-molecule approach that combines optical (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy, or TIRF-M) and non-optical (Atomic Force Microscopy, or AFM) imaging techniques to analyze the molecular motion of CBM tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP), and to investigate the surface structure of crystalline cellulose and changes made in the structure by CBM and CBH I. The preliminary results have revealed a confined nanometer-scale movement of the TrCBM1-GFP bound to cellulose, and decreases in cellulose crystal size as well as increases in surface roughness during CBH I hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose.

Research paper thumbnail of The Intrinsic Evolution of Virtex Devices Through Internet Reconfigurable Logic

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2000

Abstract. This paper describes the implementation of an evolvable hardware system on the Virtex F... more Abstract. This paper describes the implementation of an evolvable hardware system on the Virtex Family of devices. The evaluation of the circuits is done intrinsically by downloading a portion of the bitstream that describes the changes from the baseline circuit. This reconfiguration ...

Research paper thumbnail of Collaborative Web-Based 3D Masterplanning

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2006

Abstract. This paper describes an approach to empowering heterogeneous groups of people to share ... more Abstract. This paper describes an approach to empowering heterogeneous groups of people to share the tasks of digitising and updating buildings that may convey a credible sense of presence. We argue that more effective tools are required to clearly display alternative ...

Research paper thumbnail of Semantic and phonological processing in Chinese character reading: a fMRI study

NeuroImage, 2001

Brain activity during Chinese character reading was investigated in the present study using fMRI.... more Brain activity during Chinese character reading was investigated in the present study using fMRI. Seven healthy, right-handed, and native mandarin speaking participants were instructed to perform a semantic task (abstract/concrete judgement) or a phonological task (same./different tone judgement). Two Chinese characters were presented visually at the centre of the screen. Chinese nouns were used in semantic task, and two characters whose combination can be associated with a sound but which do not make a word were used in phonological task. Three contrasts were involved: semantic task vs. fixation, phonological task vs. fixation, and semantic vs. phonological task. Both the semantic task minus fixation task and the phonological task minus fixation task showed activations in visual (bilateral fusiform gyms, BA 18/19), frontal (left inferior frontal gyms, BA 9, 44/45, 47), temporal (middle temporal and superior temporal gyri, BA 21, 22), and parietal (bilateral superior parietal lobule, BA 7; bilateral inferior parietal lobule, BA 40) cortex. The direct comparison between the semantic and the phonological tasks showed significant activation differences in the bilateral middle and superior temporal gyri (BA 21, 22), bilateral angular gyms (BA 39), bilateral insula, and bilateral middle and superior frontal gyri @A 8, 9) were observed in semantic minus phonological task. On the other hand, the phonological minus semantic task shows activations in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (near BA 44/45), bilateral middle frontal gyms (BA 9/46), left superior parietal lobule (BA 7), and bilateral inferior parietal lobule (BA 40). The results suggest that although a common brain network might be activated in both semantic and phonological tasks, which is caused by the automatic/strategic processing of phonology in semantic task and the automatic processing of semantic meaning in phonological task, different brain areas might be involved with different weights in processing specifically the semantic or phonological components of tbe Chinese language.

Research paper thumbnail of Banking on Total Quality

The TQM Magazine, 1989

Examines how US and British financial institutions are implementing TQM to differentiate themselv... more Examines how US and British financial institutions are implementing TQM to differentiate themselves from the competition. Discusses how customer satisfaction is achieved through customer care programmes, quality action teams, improved internal and external communications, and quality performance standards. Contends that an emerging trend in the sector is that of quality performance standard setting, measuring and monitoring. States that the financial sector is responding to this challenge by concentrating its focus on providing quality services to its customers. Concludes that customer care programmes, action teams and improved communications are the first step; the next step in maintaining the competitive edge is the establishment of quality performance standards, and devising systems for measuring and monitoring their effectiveness.

Research paper thumbnail of ChemInform Abstract: A General Approach to the Galanthamine Ring System

ChemInform, 2010

A General Approach to the Galanthamine Ring System.-Many attempts for an allylic oxidation of (VI... more A General Approach to the Galanthamine Ring System.-Many attempts for an allylic oxidation of (VIII) fail. Therefore an alternative approach to the desired ring system may be the synthesis of compound (X) obtained from (IX) which is prepared in a similar fashion as (VII).-(PARSONS, PHILIP

Research paper thumbnail of Pacific Image PrimeFilm PF3600 Pro 35mm Film Scanner

Microform & Imaging Review, 2002

Pacific Image's PrimeFilm PF3600 Pro Film Scanner occupies a noman's-land between consume... more Pacific Image's PrimeFilm PF3600 Pro Film Scanner occupies a noman's-land between consumer- and commercial-grade film scanners. Its specifications are comparable to the 4000dpi film scanners from Nikon and Minolta, its cost closer to 2700dpi scanners like the HP PhotoSmart. It is an intriguing option for institutions with small collections of 35mm slides or negatives.

Research paper thumbnail of Triangulating a Cognitive Control Network Using Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Functional MRI

The Journal of Neuroscience, 2007

The ability to stop motor responses depends critically on the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC)... more The ability to stop motor responses depends critically on the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and also engages a midbrain region consistent with the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Here we used diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) tractography to show that the IFC and the STN region are connected via a white matter tract, which could underlie a “hyperdirect” pathway for basal ganglia control. Using a novel method of “triangulation” analysis of tractography data, we also found that both the IFC and the STN region are connected with the presupplementary motor area (preSMA). We hypothesized that the preSMA could play a conflict detection/resolution role within a network between the preSMA, the IFC, and the STN region. A second experiment tested this idea with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a conditional stop-signal paradigm, enabling examination of behavioral and neural signatures of conflict-induced slowing. The preSMA, IFC, and STN region were significantly activated t...

Research paper thumbnail of Personal Philosophy

Teaching Philosophy, 1986

So the art of living takes death on board, but does not allow the thought of it to life of meanin... more So the art of living takes death on board, but does not allow the thought of it to life of meaning and joy than the thought of personal extinction. Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and. 12 Mar 2015. Art of Living works on the human aspect of every individual. a lot from Art of Living in all aspects of my life-personal, professional, spiritual, Philosophy as an Art of Living-The Los Angeles Review of Books 2 Sep 2008. and personal fulfilment for everyone? Julian Baggini examines a new series of practical philosophy books dedicated to the art of living. Julian Baggini on practical philosophy books dedicated to the art of .

Research paper thumbnail of Class and gender: Women's strikes in St Petersburg, 1895–1917 and In Shanghai, 1895–1927

Social History, 1994

Page 1. Steve Smith Class and gender: women's strikes in St Petersburg, 1895—1917 and in... more Page 1. Steve Smith Class and gender: women's strikes in St Petersburg, 1895—1917 and in Shanghai, 1895-1927 INTRODUCTION1 This article examines what is usually considered to be the classic form of class-based collective ...

Research paper thumbnail of A very low current scanning tunneling microscope

Review of Scientific Instruments, 1995

The applications of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in air are usually restricted to good... more The applications of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in air are usually restricted to good conducting materials as clean metals, doped and passivated semiconductors, or to some molecular adsorbates deposited onto graphite. In order to study poor conducting materials as biological molecules, we have built a very low current STM. This instrument can routinely be operated at 0.1 pA while having a bandwidth of 7 kHz. The advantages of using very low currents are illustrated by imaging 5-nm-thick purple membranes. These membranes can only be imaged at currents smaller than 2 pA.

Research paper thumbnail of Use of solution-focused brief therapy to enhance therapeutic communication in patients with COPD

Primary Health Care, 2013

ABSTRACT Most people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) go undiagnosed and many of... more ABSTRACT Most people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) go undiagnosed and many of those who are diagnosed receive only symptomatic treatment. The difficulty of engaging patients with COPD in effective treatment plans is recognised, and healthcare professionals stress the importance of good communication. There is little in the literature to suggest how practitioners can provide this advanced, patient-centred care. The authors of this article argue that solution-focused brief therapy provides a framework for nurses to deliver safe, effective care that builds on ‘what is well’ with the patient and places their needs and agenda at the centre of care. They offer examples of techniques that can enhance practice, supported by case illustrations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Special Relationship

Research paper thumbnail of Bayesian deconvolution fMRI data using bilinear dynamical systems

NeuroImage, 2008

In Penny et al. [Penny, W., Ghahramani, Z., Friston, K.J. 2005. Bilinear dynamical systems. Philo... more In Penny et al. [Penny, W., Ghahramani, Z., Friston, K.J. 2005. Bilinear dynamical systems. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 360(1457) 983-993], a particular case of the Linear Dynamical Systems (LDSs) was used to model the dynamic behavior of the BOLD response in functional MRI. This state-space model, called bilinear dynamical system (BDS), is used to deconvolve the fMRI time series in order to estimate the neuronal response induced by the different stimuli of the experimental paradigm. The BDS model parameters are estimated using an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm proposed by Ghahramani and Hinton [Ghahramani, Z., Hinton, G.E. 1996. Parameter Estimation for Linear Dynamical Systems. Technical Report, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto]. In this paper we introduce modifications to the BDS model in order to explicitly model the spatial variations of the haemodynamic response function (HRF) in the brain using a non-parametric approach. While in Penny et al. [Penny, W., Ghahramani, Z., Friston, K.J. 2005. Bilinear dynamical systems. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 360(1457) 983-993] the relationship between neuronal activation and fMRI signals is formulated as a first-order convolution with a kernel expansion using basis functions (typically two or three), in this paper, we argue in favor of a spatially adaptive GLM in which a local non-parametric estimation of the HRF is performed. Furthermore, in order to overcome the overfitting problem typically associated with simple EM estimates, we propose a full Variational Bayes (VB) solution to infer the BDS model parameters. We demonstrate the usefulness of our model which is able to estimate both the neuronal activity and the haemodynamic response function in every voxel of the brain. We first examine the behavior of this approach when applied to simulated data with different temporal and noise features. As an example we will show how this method can be used to improve interpretability of estimates from an independent component analysis (ICA) analysis of fMRI data. We finally demonstrate its use on real fMRI data in one slice of the brain.

Research paper thumbnail of Blockade of protein C activation reduces microvascular surgical blood loss

Journal of Surgical Research, 1992

Research paper thumbnail of Optimal size of cuff bladder for indirect measurement of arterial pressure in adults

Journal of Hypertension, 1989

Research paper thumbnail of RAPD and microsatellite transferability studies in selected species of Prosopis (section Algarobia) with emphasis on Prosopis juliflora and P. pallida

Journal of Genetics, 2011

The genus Prosopis (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae), comprises 44 species widely distributed in arid an... more The genus Prosopis (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae), comprises 44 species widely distributed in arid and semi-arid zones. Prosopis pallida (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth and P. juliflora (Sw.) DC. are the two species that are truly tropical apart from P. africana, which is native to tropical Africa (Pasiecznik et al. 2004), and they have been introduced widely beyond their native ranges. However, taxonomic confusion within the genus has hampered exploitation and better management of the species. The present study focusses primarily on evaluating the genetic relationship between Prosopis species from the section Algarobia, containing most species of economic importance, though P. tamarugo from section Strombocarpa is also included for comparison. In total, 12 Prosopis species and a putative P. pallida × P. chilensis hybrid were assessed for their genetic relationships based on RAPD markers and microsatellite transferability. The results show that P. pallida and P. juliflora are not closely related despite some morphological similarity. Evidence also agrees with previous studies which suggest that the grouping of series in section Algarobia is artificial.

Research paper thumbnail of Civic Discipline: Geography in America, 1860–1890

Journal of Cultural Geography, 2013

Civic Discipline: Geography in America, 1860-1890, by Karen M. Morin, Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 20... more Civic Discipline: Geography in America, 1860-1890, by Karen M. Morin, Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2011. xi+245 pp., US$73.29 (hardback), ISBN: 978-1-4094-0143-8 Karen M. Morin's Civic Discipline provides a glimpse into the machinations of late nineteenth century geography through the prism of Charles P. Daly's work as president of the American Geographical Society from 1864-1899. Her discussion of Daly's geography informs our understanding of both Daly himself, and also of geography's multiple enterprises during the late nineteenth century. Civic Discipline, while attending to the concerns of geography as an intellectual, imperial and commercial enterprise, also forces a consideration of the extent to which a geographical approach, and in particular Daly's approach to social and political issues of the time, circumscribed or otherwise disciplined knowledge of society and space. Morin introduces her research by first situating it within an existing literature in the history of geographical thought. She demonstrates keen awareness of David Livingstone's The Geographical Tradition: Episodes in the History of a Contested Enterprise, Matt Hannah's Governmentality and the Mastery of Nineteenth-Century America, and Nell Smith's American Empire." Roosevelt's Geographer and the Prelude to Globalization. Her work supports this vein of research by examining an important figure in American geography whose influence demonstrates the ways in which geography may function to create subjects, thus leading to a "contested enterprise". After situating her intellectual endeavors within the context of these existing works Morin supports her narrative with a short, but informative, biography of Charles P. Daly. In addition, she provides a robust and informative discussion of her work and why he is a suitable subject vis-a-visa larger discussion of the role and importance of the early American Geographical Society (AGS). Her central argument is that Charles P. Daly and the AGS focused on many seemingly different and distinct aspects of capitalism, colonialism, and power during this period and, as such, engaged in a civic enterprise. She introduces this early and effectively by situating Daly and his role within the AGS as the site of the production and consumption of geographical knowledge (6). This knowledge was particularly ensconced in civic and commercial interests of the time. Morin's contributions are both historical and theoretical. She conducted laborious and insightful archival work, as well as clearly mastered the secondary literature on a vast array of subjects important to her work. …

Research paper thumbnail of Wal-Mart: Supplier performance and market power

Journal of Business Research, 2009

This research seeks to further the understanding of the relationship between Wal-Mart and its sup... more This research seeks to further the understanding of the relationship between Wal-Mart and its suppliers. 1988-1994 demonstrates Wal-Mart's market power in relation to manufacturers [Bloom PN, Perry, VG. Retailer power and supplier welfare: the case of Wal-Mart. Journal of Retailing 2001; 77(3): 379-396.]. Wal-Mart suppliers for that period had lower profits than non-suppliers, which indicate a dependency model of market power when suppliers give concessions to a stronger retailer in order to obtain or maintain the relationship. Wal-Mart's dramatic growth and increasing marketing power since the 1988-1994 period offer an opportunity to retest previous findings and further the understanding of a major retailer's strategy for managing suppliers through the use of the strategic profit model. Initial results indicate that gross margin is significantly less for Wal-Mart suppliers than non-suppliers indicating pricing concessions and a dependency model of market power. However, a fixed-effects model controlling for unobservable firm characteristics such as strategic choice suggest that Wal-Mart suppliers are self-selecting or are implicitly pre-screened such that Wal-Mart suppliers have a low-cost strategy and choose lower returns as a market strategy. Findings indicate that small firms do experience a dependency model in that they have lower gross margin, lower operating income, and higher turnover. However, considering fixed-effects for these firms, small manufacturers experience only higher turnover as a result of doing business with Wal-Mart, thus indicating more of a partner-type model of market power.

Research paper thumbnail of An Effective Prevention Program to Reduce Electrical Burn Injuries Caused by the Use of Multimeters

Journal of Burn Care & Research, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of A single molecule study of cellulase hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose

Single Molecule Spectroscopy and Imaging III, 2010

Cellobiohydrolase-I (CBH I), a processive exoglucanase secreted by Trichoderma reesei, is one of ... more Cellobiohydrolase-I (CBH I), a processive exoglucanase secreted by Trichoderma reesei, is one of the key enzyme components in a commercial cellulase mixture currently used for processing biomass to biofuels. CBH I contains a family 7 glycoside hydrolase catalytic module, a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), and a highlyglycosylated linker peptide. It has been proposed that the CBH I cellulase initiates the hydrolysis from the reducing end of one cellulose chain and successively cleaves alternate β-1,4-glycosidic bonds to release cellobiose as its principal end product. The role each module of CBH I plays in the processive hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose has yet to be convincingly elucidated. In this report, we use a single-molecule approach that combines optical (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy, or TIRF-M) and non-optical (Atomic Force Microscopy, or AFM) imaging techniques to analyze the molecular motion of CBM tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP), and to investigate the surface structure of crystalline cellulose and changes made in the structure by CBM and CBH I. The preliminary results have revealed a confined nanometer-scale movement of the TrCBM1-GFP bound to cellulose, and decreases in cellulose crystal size as well as increases in surface roughness during CBH I hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose.

Research paper thumbnail of The Intrinsic Evolution of Virtex Devices Through Internet Reconfigurable Logic

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2000

Abstract. This paper describes the implementation of an evolvable hardware system on the Virtex F... more Abstract. This paper describes the implementation of an evolvable hardware system on the Virtex Family of devices. The evaluation of the circuits is done intrinsically by downloading a portion of the bitstream that describes the changes from the baseline circuit. This reconfiguration ...

Research paper thumbnail of Collaborative Web-Based 3D Masterplanning

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2006

Abstract. This paper describes an approach to empowering heterogeneous groups of people to share ... more Abstract. This paper describes an approach to empowering heterogeneous groups of people to share the tasks of digitising and updating buildings that may convey a credible sense of presence. We argue that more effective tools are required to clearly display alternative ...

Research paper thumbnail of Semantic and phonological processing in Chinese character reading: a fMRI study

NeuroImage, 2001

Brain activity during Chinese character reading was investigated in the present study using fMRI.... more Brain activity during Chinese character reading was investigated in the present study using fMRI. Seven healthy, right-handed, and native mandarin speaking participants were instructed to perform a semantic task (abstract/concrete judgement) or a phonological task (same./different tone judgement). Two Chinese characters were presented visually at the centre of the screen. Chinese nouns were used in semantic task, and two characters whose combination can be associated with a sound but which do not make a word were used in phonological task. Three contrasts were involved: semantic task vs. fixation, phonological task vs. fixation, and semantic vs. phonological task. Both the semantic task minus fixation task and the phonological task minus fixation task showed activations in visual (bilateral fusiform gyms, BA 18/19), frontal (left inferior frontal gyms, BA 9, 44/45, 47), temporal (middle temporal and superior temporal gyri, BA 21, 22), and parietal (bilateral superior parietal lobule, BA 7; bilateral inferior parietal lobule, BA 40) cortex. The direct comparison between the semantic and the phonological tasks showed significant activation differences in the bilateral middle and superior temporal gyri (BA 21, 22), bilateral angular gyms (BA 39), bilateral insula, and bilateral middle and superior frontal gyri @A 8, 9) were observed in semantic minus phonological task. On the other hand, the phonological minus semantic task shows activations in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (near BA 44/45), bilateral middle frontal gyms (BA 9/46), left superior parietal lobule (BA 7), and bilateral inferior parietal lobule (BA 40). The results suggest that although a common brain network might be activated in both semantic and phonological tasks, which is caused by the automatic/strategic processing of phonology in semantic task and the automatic processing of semantic meaning in phonological task, different brain areas might be involved with different weights in processing specifically the semantic or phonological components of tbe Chinese language.

Research paper thumbnail of Banking on Total Quality

The TQM Magazine, 1989

Examines how US and British financial institutions are implementing TQM to differentiate themselv... more Examines how US and British financial institutions are implementing TQM to differentiate themselves from the competition. Discusses how customer satisfaction is achieved through customer care programmes, quality action teams, improved internal and external communications, and quality performance standards. Contends that an emerging trend in the sector is that of quality performance standard setting, measuring and monitoring. States that the financial sector is responding to this challenge by concentrating its focus on providing quality services to its customers. Concludes that customer care programmes, action teams and improved communications are the first step; the next step in maintaining the competitive edge is the establishment of quality performance standards, and devising systems for measuring and monitoring their effectiveness.

Research paper thumbnail of ChemInform Abstract: A General Approach to the Galanthamine Ring System

ChemInform, 2010

A General Approach to the Galanthamine Ring System.-Many attempts for an allylic oxidation of (VI... more A General Approach to the Galanthamine Ring System.-Many attempts for an allylic oxidation of (VIII) fail. Therefore an alternative approach to the desired ring system may be the synthesis of compound (X) obtained from (IX) which is prepared in a similar fashion as (VII).-(PARSONS, PHILIP

Research paper thumbnail of Pacific Image PrimeFilm PF3600 Pro 35mm Film Scanner

Microform & Imaging Review, 2002

Pacific Image's PrimeFilm PF3600 Pro Film Scanner occupies a noman's-land between consume... more Pacific Image's PrimeFilm PF3600 Pro Film Scanner occupies a noman's-land between consumer- and commercial-grade film scanners. Its specifications are comparable to the 4000dpi film scanners from Nikon and Minolta, its cost closer to 2700dpi scanners like the HP PhotoSmart. It is an intriguing option for institutions with small collections of 35mm slides or negatives.

Research paper thumbnail of Triangulating a Cognitive Control Network Using Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Functional MRI

The Journal of Neuroscience, 2007

The ability to stop motor responses depends critically on the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC)... more The ability to stop motor responses depends critically on the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and also engages a midbrain region consistent with the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Here we used diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) tractography to show that the IFC and the STN region are connected via a white matter tract, which could underlie a “hyperdirect” pathway for basal ganglia control. Using a novel method of “triangulation” analysis of tractography data, we also found that both the IFC and the STN region are connected with the presupplementary motor area (preSMA). We hypothesized that the preSMA could play a conflict detection/resolution role within a network between the preSMA, the IFC, and the STN region. A second experiment tested this idea with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a conditional stop-signal paradigm, enabling examination of behavioral and neural signatures of conflict-induced slowing. The preSMA, IFC, and STN region were significantly activated t...

Research paper thumbnail of Personal Philosophy

Teaching Philosophy, 1986

So the art of living takes death on board, but does not allow the thought of it to life of meanin... more So the art of living takes death on board, but does not allow the thought of it to life of meaning and joy than the thought of personal extinction. Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and. 12 Mar 2015. Art of Living works on the human aspect of every individual. a lot from Art of Living in all aspects of my life-personal, professional, spiritual, Philosophy as an Art of Living-The Los Angeles Review of Books 2 Sep 2008. and personal fulfilment for everyone? Julian Baggini examines a new series of practical philosophy books dedicated to the art of living. Julian Baggini on practical philosophy books dedicated to the art of .

Research paper thumbnail of Class and gender: Women's strikes in St Petersburg, 1895–1917 and In Shanghai, 1895–1927

Social History, 1994

Page 1. Steve Smith Class and gender: women's strikes in St Petersburg, 1895—1917 and in... more Page 1. Steve Smith Class and gender: women's strikes in St Petersburg, 1895—1917 and in Shanghai, 1895-1927 INTRODUCTION1 This article examines what is usually considered to be the classic form of class-based collective ...

Research paper thumbnail of A very low current scanning tunneling microscope

Review of Scientific Instruments, 1995

The applications of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in air are usually restricted to good... more The applications of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in air are usually restricted to good conducting materials as clean metals, doped and passivated semiconductors, or to some molecular adsorbates deposited onto graphite. In order to study poor conducting materials as biological molecules, we have built a very low current STM. This instrument can routinely be operated at 0.1 pA while having a bandwidth of 7 kHz. The advantages of using very low currents are illustrated by imaging 5-nm-thick purple membranes. These membranes can only be imaged at currents smaller than 2 pA.

Research paper thumbnail of Use of solution-focused brief therapy to enhance therapeutic communication in patients with COPD

Primary Health Care, 2013

ABSTRACT Most people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) go undiagnosed and many of... more ABSTRACT Most people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) go undiagnosed and many of those who are diagnosed receive only symptomatic treatment. The difficulty of engaging patients with COPD in effective treatment plans is recognised, and healthcare professionals stress the importance of good communication. There is little in the literature to suggest how practitioners can provide this advanced, patient-centred care. The authors of this article argue that solution-focused brief therapy provides a framework for nurses to deliver safe, effective care that builds on ‘what is well’ with the patient and places their needs and agenda at the centre of care. They offer examples of techniques that can enhance practice, supported by case illustrations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Special Relationship

Research paper thumbnail of Bayesian deconvolution fMRI data using bilinear dynamical systems

NeuroImage, 2008

In Penny et al. [Penny, W., Ghahramani, Z., Friston, K.J. 2005. Bilinear dynamical systems. Philo... more In Penny et al. [Penny, W., Ghahramani, Z., Friston, K.J. 2005. Bilinear dynamical systems. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 360(1457) 983-993], a particular case of the Linear Dynamical Systems (LDSs) was used to model the dynamic behavior of the BOLD response in functional MRI. This state-space model, called bilinear dynamical system (BDS), is used to deconvolve the fMRI time series in order to estimate the neuronal response induced by the different stimuli of the experimental paradigm. The BDS model parameters are estimated using an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm proposed by Ghahramani and Hinton [Ghahramani, Z., Hinton, G.E. 1996. Parameter Estimation for Linear Dynamical Systems. Technical Report, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto]. In this paper we introduce modifications to the BDS model in order to explicitly model the spatial variations of the haemodynamic response function (HRF) in the brain using a non-parametric approach. While in Penny et al. [Penny, W., Ghahramani, Z., Friston, K.J. 2005. Bilinear dynamical systems. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 360(1457) 983-993] the relationship between neuronal activation and fMRI signals is formulated as a first-order convolution with a kernel expansion using basis functions (typically two or three), in this paper, we argue in favor of a spatially adaptive GLM in which a local non-parametric estimation of the HRF is performed. Furthermore, in order to overcome the overfitting problem typically associated with simple EM estimates, we propose a full Variational Bayes (VB) solution to infer the BDS model parameters. We demonstrate the usefulness of our model which is able to estimate both the neuronal activity and the haemodynamic response function in every voxel of the brain. We first examine the behavior of this approach when applied to simulated data with different temporal and noise features. As an example we will show how this method can be used to improve interpretability of estimates from an independent component analysis (ICA) analysis of fMRI data. We finally demonstrate its use on real fMRI data in one slice of the brain.

Research paper thumbnail of Blockade of protein C activation reduces microvascular surgical blood loss

Journal of Surgical Research, 1992

Research paper thumbnail of Optimal size of cuff bladder for indirect measurement of arterial pressure in adults

Journal of Hypertension, 1989

Research paper thumbnail of RAPD and microsatellite transferability studies in selected species of Prosopis (section Algarobia) with emphasis on Prosopis juliflora and P. pallida

Journal of Genetics, 2011

The genus Prosopis (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae), comprises 44 species widely distributed in arid an... more The genus Prosopis (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae), comprises 44 species widely distributed in arid and semi-arid zones. Prosopis pallida (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth and P. juliflora (Sw.) DC. are the two species that are truly tropical apart from P. africana, which is native to tropical Africa (Pasiecznik et al. 2004), and they have been introduced widely beyond their native ranges. However, taxonomic confusion within the genus has hampered exploitation and better management of the species. The present study focusses primarily on evaluating the genetic relationship between Prosopis species from the section Algarobia, containing most species of economic importance, though P. tamarugo from section Strombocarpa is also included for comparison. In total, 12 Prosopis species and a putative P. pallida × P. chilensis hybrid were assessed for their genetic relationships based on RAPD markers and microsatellite transferability. The results show that P. pallida and P. juliflora are not closely related despite some morphological similarity. Evidence also agrees with previous studies which suggest that the grouping of series in section Algarobia is artificial.

Research paper thumbnail of Civic Discipline: Geography in America, 1860–1890

Journal of Cultural Geography, 2013

Civic Discipline: Geography in America, 1860-1890, by Karen M. Morin, Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 20... more Civic Discipline: Geography in America, 1860-1890, by Karen M. Morin, Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2011. xi+245 pp., US$73.29 (hardback), ISBN: 978-1-4094-0143-8 Karen M. Morin's Civic Discipline provides a glimpse into the machinations of late nineteenth century geography through the prism of Charles P. Daly's work as president of the American Geographical Society from 1864-1899. Her discussion of Daly's geography informs our understanding of both Daly himself, and also of geography's multiple enterprises during the late nineteenth century. Civic Discipline, while attending to the concerns of geography as an intellectual, imperial and commercial enterprise, also forces a consideration of the extent to which a geographical approach, and in particular Daly's approach to social and political issues of the time, circumscribed or otherwise disciplined knowledge of society and space. Morin introduces her research by first situating it within an existing literature in the history of geographical thought. She demonstrates keen awareness of David Livingstone's The Geographical Tradition: Episodes in the History of a Contested Enterprise, Matt Hannah's Governmentality and the Mastery of Nineteenth-Century America, and Nell Smith's American Empire." Roosevelt's Geographer and the Prelude to Globalization. Her work supports this vein of research by examining an important figure in American geography whose influence demonstrates the ways in which geography may function to create subjects, thus leading to a "contested enterprise". After situating her intellectual endeavors within the context of these existing works Morin supports her narrative with a short, but informative, biography of Charles P. Daly. In addition, she provides a robust and informative discussion of her work and why he is a suitable subject vis-a-visa larger discussion of the role and importance of the early American Geographical Society (AGS). Her central argument is that Charles P. Daly and the AGS focused on many seemingly different and distinct aspects of capitalism, colonialism, and power during this period and, as such, engaged in a civic enterprise. She introduces this early and effectively by situating Daly and his role within the AGS as the site of the production and consumption of geographical knowledge (6). This knowledge was particularly ensconced in civic and commercial interests of the time. Morin's contributions are both historical and theoretical. She conducted laborious and insightful archival work, as well as clearly mastered the secondary literature on a vast array of subjects important to her work. …

Research paper thumbnail of Wal-Mart: Supplier performance and market power

Journal of Business Research, 2009

This research seeks to further the understanding of the relationship between Wal-Mart and its sup... more This research seeks to further the understanding of the relationship between Wal-Mart and its suppliers. 1988-1994 demonstrates Wal-Mart's market power in relation to manufacturers [Bloom PN, Perry, VG. Retailer power and supplier welfare: the case of Wal-Mart. Journal of Retailing 2001; 77(3): 379-396.]. Wal-Mart suppliers for that period had lower profits than non-suppliers, which indicate a dependency model of market power when suppliers give concessions to a stronger retailer in order to obtain or maintain the relationship. Wal-Mart's dramatic growth and increasing marketing power since the 1988-1994 period offer an opportunity to retest previous findings and further the understanding of a major retailer's strategy for managing suppliers through the use of the strategic profit model. Initial results indicate that gross margin is significantly less for Wal-Mart suppliers than non-suppliers indicating pricing concessions and a dependency model of market power. However, a fixed-effects model controlling for unobservable firm characteristics such as strategic choice suggest that Wal-Mart suppliers are self-selecting or are implicitly pre-screened such that Wal-Mart suppliers have a low-cost strategy and choose lower returns as a market strategy. Findings indicate that small firms do experience a dependency model in that they have lower gross margin, lower operating income, and higher turnover. However, considering fixed-effects for these firms, small manufacturers experience only higher turnover as a result of doing business with Wal-Mart, thus indicating more of a partner-type model of market power.

Research paper thumbnail of An Effective Prevention Program to Reduce Electrical Burn Injuries Caused by the Use of Multimeters

Journal of Burn Care & Research, 2010