Analysis and interpretation of new low-energy Pi-Pi scattering data

The recently published E865 data on charged K_e4 decays and Pi-Pi phases are reanalyzed to extract values of the two S-wave scattering lengths, of the subthreshold parameters alpha and beta, of the low-energy constants l3-bar and l4-bar as well as of the main two-flavour order parameters: and F_pi in the limit m_u = m_d = 0 taken at the physical value of the strange quark mass. Our analysis is exclusively based on direct experimental information on Pi-Pi phases below 800 MeV and on the new solutions of the Roy equations by Ananthanarayan et al. The result is compared with the theoretical prediction relating 2 a_0^0 - 5 a_0^2 and the scalar radius of the pion, which was obtained in two-loop Chiral Perturbation Theory. A discrepancy at the 1-sigma level is found and commented upon.Comment: Published version, to appear in Eur. Phys. J.

Environmental pollution

"The emphasis in this bibliography is on recently published works in environmental pollution, although a few classical works are included. Literature concerned with general ecology is omitted. Prices and pagination are those for paperback editions, when a given work is available in both hardcover and paperback forms. Journal references have been kept to a minimum; additional ones can be obtained from the references used in this bibliography."--Compiler's note.By Michele S. Stern, Ph.D. and Daniel H. Stern, Ph.D., Department of Biology, University of Missouri--Kansas Cit

The Impact of Uncertain Intellectual Property Rights on the Market For Ideas: Evidence From Patent Grant Delays

This paper considers the impact of the intellectual property (IP) system on the timing of cooperation/licensing by start-up technology entrepreneurs. If the market for technology licenses is efficient, the timing of licensing is independent of whether IP has already been granted. In contrast, the need to disclosure complementary (yet unprotected) knowledge, asymmetric information, or search costs may retard efficient technology transfer. In these cases, reductions in uncertainty surrounding the scope and extent of IP rights may facilitate trade in the market for ideas. We employ a dataset combining information about cooperative licensing and the timing of patent allowances (the administrative event when patent rights are clarified). While pre-allowance licensing does occur, the hazard rate for achieving a cooperative licensing agreement significantly increases after patent allowance. Moreover, the impact of the patent system depends on the strategic and institutional environment in which firms operate. Patent allowance seems to play a particularly important role for technologies with longer technology lifecycles or that lack alternative mechanisms such as copyright, reputation, or brokers. The findings suggest that imperfections in the market for ideas may be important, and that formal IP rights may facilitate gains from technological trade.

When Does Start-Up Innovation Spur the Gale of Creative Destruction?

This paper is motivated by the substantial differences in start-up commercialization strategies observed across different high-technology sectors. Specifically, we evaluate the conditions under which start-up innovators earn their returns on innovation through product market competition with more established firms (such as in many areas of the electronics industry) as opposed to cooperation with these incumbents (either through licensing, strategic alliances or outright acquisition as observed in the pharmaceutical industry). While the former strategy challenges incumbent market power, the latter strategy tends to reinforce current market structure. Though the benefits of cooperation include forestalling the costs of competition in the product market and avoiding duplicative investment in sunk assets, imperfections in the market for ideas' may lead to competitive behavior in the product market. Specifically, if the transaction costs of bargaining are high or incumbents are likely to expropriate ideas from start-up innovators, then product market competition is more likely. We test these ideas using a novel dataset of the commercialization strategies of over 100 start-up innovators. Our principal robust findings are that the probability of cooperation is increasing in the innovator's control over intellectual property rights, association with venture capitalists (which reduce their transactional bargaining costs), and in the relative cost of control of specialized complementary assets. Our conclusion is that the propensity for pro-competitive benefits from start-up innovators reflects an earlier market failure, in the market for ideas.'

Insulator interface effects in sputter‐deposited NbN/MgO/NbN (superconductor–insulator–superconductor) tunnel junctions

All refractory, NbN/MgO/NbN (superconductor–insulator–superconductor) tunnel junctions have been fabricated by in situ sputter deposition. The influence of MgO thickness (0.8–6.0 nm) deposited under different sputtering ambients at various deposition rates on current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of small‐area (30×30 μm) tunnel junctions is studied. The NbN/MgO/NbN trilayer is deposited in situ by dc reactive magnetron (NbN), and rf magnetron (MgO) sputtering, followed by thermal evaporation of a protective Au cap. Subsequent photolithography, reactive ion etching, planarization, and top contact (Pb/Ag) deposition completes the junction structure. Normal resistance of the junctions with MgO deposited in Ar or Ar and N2 mixture shows good exponential dependence on the MgO thickness indicating formation of a pin‐hole‐free uniform barrier layer. Further, a postdeposition in situ oxygen plasma treatment of the MgO layer increases the junction resistance sharply, and reduces the subgap leakage. A possible enrichment of the MgO layer stoichiometry by the oxygen plasma treatment is suggested. A sumgap as high as 5.7 mV is observed for such a junctio

NICMOS Imaging of the Dusty Microjansky Radio Source VLA J123642+621331 at z = 4.424

We present the discovery of a radio galaxy at a likely redshift of z = 4.424 in one of the flanking fields of the Hubble Deep Field. Radio observations with the VLA and MERLIN centered on the HDF yielded a complete sample of microjansky radio sources, of which about 20% have no optical counterpart to I < 25 mag. In this Letter, we address the possible nature of one of these sources, through deep HST NICMOS images in the F110W (J) and F160W (H) filters. VLA J123642+621331 has a single emission line at 6595-A, which we identify with Lyman-alpha at z = 4.424. We argue that this faint (H = 23.9 mag), compact (r = 0.2 arcsec), red (I - K = 2.0) object is most likely a dusty, star-forming galaxy with an embedded active nucleus.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters. 11 pages, 4 figures, uses aastex v5.0 and psfi

Cancer therapeutic potential of combinatorial immuno- and vaso-modulatory interventions

Currently, most of the basic mechanisms governing tumor-immune system interactions, in combination with modulations of tumor-associated vasculature, are far from being completely understood. Here, we propose a mathematical model of vascularized tumor growth, where the main novelty is the modeling of the interplay between functional tumor vasculature and effector cell recruitment dynamics. Parameters are calibrated on the basis of different in vivo immunocompromised Rag1-/- and wild-type (WT) BALB/c murine tumor growth experiments. The model analysis supports that tumor vasculature normalization can be a plausible and effective strategy to treat cancer when combined with appropriate immuno-stimulations. We find that improved levels of functional tumor vasculature, potentially mediated by normalization or stress alleviation strategies, can provide beneficial outcomes in terms of tumor burden reduction and growth control. Normalization of tumor blood vessels opens a therapeutic window of opportunity to augment the antitumor immune responses, as well as to reduce the intratumoral immunosuppression and induced-hypoxia due to vascular abnormalities. The potential success of normalizing tumor-associated vasculature closely depends on the effector cell recruitment dynamics and tumor sizes. Furthermore, an arbitrary increase of initial effector cell concentration does not necessarily imply a better tumor control. We evidence the existence of an optimal concentration range of effector cells for tumor shrinkage. Based on these findings, we suggest a theory-driven therapeutic proposal that optimally combines immuno- and vaso-modulatory interventions