Complete spelling rules for the Monster tower over three-space

The Monster tower, also known as the Semple tower, is a sequence of manifolds with distributions of interest to both differential and algebraic geometers. Each manifold is a projective bundle over the previous. Moreover, each level is a fiber compactified jet bundle equipped with an action of finite jets of the diffeomorphism group. There is a correspondence between points in the tower and curves in the base manifold. These points admit a stratification which can be encoded by a word called the RVT code. Here, we derive the spelling rules for these words in the case of a three dimensional base. That is, we determine precisely which words are realized by points in the tower. To this end, we study the incidence relations between certain subtowers, called Baby Monsters, and present a general method for determining the level at which each Baby Monster is born. Here, we focus on the case where the base manifold is three dimensional, but all the methods presented generalize to bases of arbitrary dimension.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures; new titl

Inactivation of Mandelate Racemase by 3-Hydroxypyruvate Reveals a Potential Mechanistic Link between Enzyme Superfamilies

Mandelate racemase (MR), a member of the enolase superfamily, catalyzes the Mg2+-dependent interconversion of the enantiomers of mandelate. Several α-keto acids are modest competitive inhibitors of MR [e.g., mesoxalate (Ki = 1.8 ± 0.3 mM) and 3-fluoropyruvate (Ki = 1.3 ± 0.1 mM)], but, surprisingly, 3-hydroxypyruvate (3-HP) is an irreversible, time-dependent inhibitor (kinact/KI = 83 ± 8 M–1 s–1). Protection from inactivation by the competitive inhibitor benzohydroxamate, trypsinolysis and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analyses, and X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that 3-HP undergoes Schiff-base formation with Lys 166 at the active site, followed by formation of an aldehyde/enol(ate) adduct. Such a reaction is unprecedented in the enolase superfamily and may be a relic of an activity possessed by a promiscuous progenitor enzyme. The ability of MR to form and deprotonate a Schiff-base intermediate furnishes a previously unrecognized mechanistic link to other α/β-barrel enzymes utilizing Schiff-base chemistry and is in accord with the sequence- and structure-based hypothesis that members of the metal-dependent enolase superfamily and the Schiff-base-forming N-acetylneuraminate lyase superfamily and aldolases share a common ancestor

DIRBE External Calibrator (DEC)

Under NASA Contract No. NAS5-28185, the Center for Space Engineering at Utah State University has produced a calibration instrument for the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE). DIRBE is one of the instruments aboard the Cosmic Background Experiment Observatory (COBE). The calibration instrument is referred to as the DEC (Dirbe External Calibrator). DEC produces a steerable, infrared beam of controlled spectral content and intensity and with selectable point source or diffuse source characteristics, that can be directed into the DIRBE to map fields and determine response characteristics. This report discusses the design of the DEC instrument, its operation and characteristics, and provides an analysis of the systems capabilities and performance

A Study of Tenure and the Orderly Demotion or Dismisal of Teachers in the State of Utah

The problem of this study is to determine, so far as possible, the conditions, reasons, and underlying motives which have led to the dismissal, demotion, or non-issuance of contracts to teachers in the state of Utah during a recent five-year period, 1943-1947, and also what methods have been used in terminating the tenure of those teachers who have been considered undesriable by their employers. The study will seek to reveal the extent to which the professional education associations are influential in determining policies for the dismissal of teachers. It is hoped that from this study some suggestions may emerge which will aid in establishing principles for the orderly dismissal of teachers. More specifically, these are the problems for which answers will be attempted: 1. What existing conditions contributed to the demotion or dismissal of teachers; and what conditions seemed to permit, encourage, or cause employers to act adversely toward teachers? 2. What reasons were advanced as for grounds or action taken to demote or dismiss teachers? 3. What were the underlying motives given by those responsible for the demoting or removing of teachers from their positions? 4. To what extent and in what ways have professional education associations exerted influence where teachers have been dismissed or demoted? 5. Is there an evident trend indicating an increase in the influence professional organizations are having on the tenure of their members? 6. What are some principles and procedures based on the data collected which may be incorporated in a plan for the orderly demotion and/or dismissal of incompetent and unsatisfactory teachers

Mother-child relationships and stuttering in children

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityThe Problem. Theories concerning the origin and treatment of stuttering have varied widely. Older theories have been highly speculative, while a more systematic clinical and experimental approach has been prevalent lately. A major weakness of research studies has been the lack of adequate conceptual schemes for systematizing the data and the absence of specific hypotheses to be tested. In this study recent findings in genetic psychology, in the psychology of language, and in the psychoanalytic study of ego development have been utilized for the formulation of a "developmental crisis" theory of stuttering. The onset of stuttering has been interpreted as the result of a crisis in language learning coincident with a crisis in the relationship between mother and child. [TRUNCATED

How accessible and acceptable are current GP referral mechanisms for IAPT for low-income patients? Lay and primary care perspectives

Background: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) constitutes a key element of England’s national mental health strategy. Accessing IAPT usually requires patients to self-refer on the advice of their GP. Little is known about how GPs perceive and communicate IAPT services with patients from low-income communities, nor how the notion of self-referral is understood and responded to by such patients. Aims: This paper examines how IAPT referrals are made by GPs and how these referrals are perceived and acted on by patients from low-income backgrounds Method: Findings are drawn from in-depth interviews with low-income patients experiencing mental distress (n = 80); interviews with GPs (n = 10); secondary analysis of video-recorded GP-patient consultations for mental health (n = 26). Results: GPs generally supported self-referral, perceiving it an important initial step towards patient recovery. Most patients however, perceived self-referral as an obstacle to accessing IAPT, and felt their mental health needs were being undermined. The way that IAPT was discussed and the pathway for referral appears to affect uptake of these services. Conclusions: A number of factors deter low-income patients from self-referring for IAPT. Understanding these issues is necessary in enabling the development of more effective referral and support mechanisms within primary care

Quenching of Er(III) luminescence by ligand C-H vibrations: Implications for the use of erbium complexes in telecommunications

Copyright 2006 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. This article appeared in Applied Physics Letters 89, 111115 (2006) and may be found at