cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glycosphingolipids of membrane fractions from normal and transplanted canine kidney.

Abstract The neutral glycosphingolipids and gangliosides of cell membrane particulate fractions from normal canine kidney and allograft rejected canine kidney have been examined. Those which increased in concentration in the rejected kidney were glucosylceramide, galactosylglucosylceramide, galactosylgalactosylglucosylceramide, N-acetylgalactosaminylgalactosylgalactosylglucosylceramide, N-acetylgalactosaminyl-N-acetylgalactosaminylgalactosylgalactosylglucosylceramide (Forssman hapten), and N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide. Glycosphingolipids which were lower in the rejected kidney were galactosylceramide, digalactosylceramide, and galactosylsulfatide. The composition of the oligosaccharide moiety of each glycosphingolipid was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The positions of glycosidic linkages of the sugars were determined by permethylation and gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the partially methylated alditol acetates. The internal linkages of the oligosaccharides determined were N-acetylgalactosaminyl(1 →3)N-acetylgalactosaminyl(1 →3)galactosyl(1 →4)galactosyl(1 →4)glucosylceramide, galactosyl(1 →4)galactosyl(1 →4)glucosylceramide, and N-acetylneuraminyl(2 →3)-galactosyl(1 →4)glucosylceramide. The glycosphingolipids of canine kidney membrane were found by complement fixation to have little or no antibody binding capacity when tested against serum obtained from transplant recipients after removal of the rejected kidney allograft. Intravenous injection of d-[1-14C]glucosamine into a kidney transplant recipient 4 days after transplantation demonstrated a rapid incorporation into the hexosamine-containing glycosphingolipids of the rejected kidney membrane but not normal kidney membrane. Low levels of radioactivity were incorporated into the gangliosides of both control and rejecting kidneys and into the other neutral glycosphingolipids of control kidneys.
Uses of wheat aneuploids.

The constructive use of aneuploids in any type of study obviously depends on the availability, fertility, and viability of an essentially complete s s of aberrant types. In cultivated wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n=6x=42) there are available collections of aneuploids unequaled in any other organism. For example, in the cultivar Chinese Spring, Sears (1) produced complete sets of nullisomics, monosomies, trisomies, and tetra- somics, and Sears and Sears (2) have accumulated 41 of the 42 possible telocentrics. Furthermore, many combinations of these aneuploids have been constructed for analyzing specific chromosomal, genetic, and evolutionary situations. Similar but less complete sets of aneuploids in other cultivars have been derived from the Chinese Spring material or have been produced independently. These developments have allowed the investigation of the cytogenetics and evolution of aestivum with an elegance and precision currently unattainable in few if any other higher organisms. The ramifications of these investigations are seen not only in the evolutionary and genetic framework so constructed, but also in actual and potential practical manipulations now available that allow a precise and often predictable genetic control over introduced diversity in the species.
Character degree sets that do not bound the class of a p-group

Suppose that we are given a set S of powers of a prime p and that 1 E S. A technique is presented that enables the construction of a p-group of specified nilpotence class n such that its set of irreducible character degrees is exactly S. If |S| ≥ 2, then this can be done for 2 ≤ n ≤ p and if p ∈ S, then the only requirement is 2 ≤ n.
Anergy induction by dimeric TCR ligands.

T cells that recognize particular self Ags are thought to be important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In multiple sclerosis, susceptibility is associated with HLA-DR2, which can present myelin-derived peptides to CD4+ T cells. To generate molecules that target such T cells based on the specificity of their TCR, we expressed a soluble dimeric DR2-IgG fusion protein with a bound peptide from myelin basic protein (MBP). Soluble, dimeric DR2/MBP peptide complexes activated MBP-specific T cells in the absence of signals from costimulatory or adhesion molecules. This initial signaling through the TCR rendered the T cells unresponsive (anergic) to subsequent activation by peptide-pulsed APCs. Fluorescent labeling demonstrated that anergic T cells were initially viable, but became susceptible to late apoptosis due to insufficient production of cytokines. Dimerization of the TCR with bivalent MHC class II/peptide complexes therefore allows the induction of anergy in human CD4+ T cells with a defined MHC/peptide specificity.
Verbal aggressiveness: Messages and reasons

The nature of verbal aggression is discussed with an emphasis on its destructiveness. A need to learn more about people who are verbally aggressive is argued because past research has tended to emphasize the situation rather than the person. A study of 181 college students is reported which explored the types of verbally aggressive messages used, the types of messages received, perceptions of the hurt produced by the messages, and the reasons for using verbal aggression which differentiate high from low verbal aggressives. The results identified types of messages used, beliefs about hurt and reasons for use which distinguish high from low verbal aggressives. The results are discussed in terms of understanding the nature of trait verbal aggressiveness. Speculations are advanced as to why high verbal aggressives are prone to using self‐concept attacking messages.
Clinical Neurogenetics: Dystonia From Phenotype to Genotype

Dystonia can arise from genetic syndromes or can be secondary to nongenetic injuries; both causes can produce pure dystonia, dystonia plus other movement disorders, or paroxysmal mixed movement disorders. Genetic causes of dystonia are inherited through dominant, recessive, X-linked, and mitochondrial mechanisms, may show anticipation, are variably penetrant, and may be limited to small ethnic populations or single families. In this article, the genetic causes of dystonia, an algorithm for their diagnosis and management, information on common medications and surgical treatments, and resources for affected families and those interested in advancing research are presented.
Stress fractures of the fibula in the first few years of life (report of six cases)

SUMMARY Fibular stress fractures in children in the first few years of life are not well known and are often confused with osteomyelitis or malignant bone tumour. This misdiagnosis is followed by nuclear scan, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and even biopsy. All these investigations are unnecessary as plain X-rays show diagnostic radiographic findings and misdiagnosis is highly unlikely when they are evaluated in the context of clinical findings.
Redefining Without Undermining Liberal Education

We have long associated the ideal of a liberal education with an ideal of the educated person. Cognitive science, constructivist views of education, a new appreciation of the significance of practical knowledge, and a heightened awareness of the potential of education for social progress have had an impact on these ideals. As a consequence, new critiques and conceptions of liberal education challenging the viability of the traditional ideal have emerged. What these are is the subject of analysis here. Particular attention is given to the notion of many-sided development and the promise it holds for innovation and revitalization in liberal education.
Stress, smoking motives, and psychological well-being: The illusory benefits of smoking

Abstract Although the deleterious physical effects of smoking have long been documented, smokers often claim that there are compensatory psychological benefits which accompany the use of cigarettes for sedation or pleasure. This paper summarizes a series of studies undertaken to test the hypothesis that for some individuals, certain kinds of cigarette smoking may contribute to psychological well-being. Measures of life stress, age, and the 3 personality dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, and openness to experience were collected on a sample of 1101 adult male volunteers. Smoking status, smoking motives, and psychological well-being were also measured. Results showed that a) both personality and smoking motives show a replicable factor structure and are stable over many years; b) age, life stress, and demographic variables show little relation to psychological well-being, whereas the personality variables of neuroticism and extraversion show stronger relations; c) smoking is associated with neuroticism, but not with extraversion; and d) neither smoking itself nor smoking for any particular motivation shows any effect on psychological well-being. It is concluded that the psychological “benefits” reported for smoking are illusory, and that alternative coping strategies should be pursued.
Vibrational studies of CH3I on Si(100)-(2×1): adsorption and decomposition of the methyl species

Abstract The dissociative adsorption of CH 3 I to adsorbed CH 3 and I on a clean Si(100)-(2×1) surface has been studied by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and Auger electron spectroscopy. The thermal stability of CH 3 (a) to 600 K has been witnessed spectroscopically. At higher temperatures, CH 3 (a) decomposes to CH(a), possibly via the production of intermediate CH 2 (a) species. The CH(a) species is stable to ≈800 K. HREELS and TPD show that following CH 3 I dissociative adsorption at 100 K, a multilayer of undissociated CH 3 I is condensed on the substrate. Upon heating, this condensed overlayer is desorbed with a peak temperature of 225 K. H 2 and I desorption occur near 785 K, leaving adsorbed carbon on the Si(100) surface.
The D Region of the Ionosphere

DURING the last ten years, investigations based upon the mathematical theories of Eccles and Larmor have given considerable information regarding the reflecting layers of the atmosphere. The most interesting discovery was that of Prof. E. V. Appleton, who showed that there is an upper reflecting region in addition to the Kennelly-Heaviside layer.
Inverse problems for dynamical systems

In this paper, we consider the problem of reconstructing a structurally stable vector field from its global phase portrait or from certain local pieces of the phase portrait. We show that for arbitrary finite sets of points and of simple closed curves, we can construct a structurally stable system having the elements of those sets as its critical points and limit cycles, and a prescribed topological type in a neighborhood of each of them. Given a global, structurally stable phase portrait, we can construct a structurally stable polynomial system which is topologically equivalent to it. Some of our results were originally announced in [ 28 1. The general theory of dynamical systems orginated in the study of solution curves for systems of ordinary differential equations in a phase space. This qualitative theory had its first major development in the work of Poincare on the topology of integral curves. A typical problem is to give a geometric description of the solutions of a particular system, or class of systems, with emphasis on the location of special features such as critical points and periodic orbits. An inverse problem, then, is the construction of a system of equations given geometric properties of the solutions which may be in the form of a “picture” of the flow (a schematic diagram of phase space) or a list of critical orbits defined analytically. A method for solving such problems is potentially useful in building models in the various fields in which the theory of dynamical systems is now being applied. It could provide a basic model to which statistical identification techniques [ 141 could then be applied. There is also an intrinsic interest in methods for constructing polynomial systems of prescribed type which is related to the lack of any progress toward a solution of Hilbert’s sixteenth problem. The recent appearance of a counterexample [27] to the Petrovsky-Landis conjecture for quadratic systems leaves the Problem completely open. One of the earliest results of this kind was obtained by Forster in 1938
Production of aflatoxin in a medium fortified with sodium chloride.

Abstract A liquid medium with 2% yeast extract, 20% sucrose, and 1 to 14% sodium chloride was inoculated with Aspergillus flavus or Aspergillus parasiticus and incubated at 21, 28, or 35C for 7 days. Aflatoxin in the medium or mold mycelium was determined by thin-layer chromatography and fluorometry. Aflatoxin production by A. flavus and A. parasiticus was enhanced by 1 and 2% NaCl at 28 and 35C, and by 1 to 3% NaCl at 21C. More NaCl reduced toxin production at all three temperatures. Eight percent NaCl completely inhibited toxin synthesis by both species at 21C, but allowed both species to form some toxin at 28 and 35C. Fourteen percent NaCl completely inhibited growth and toxin formation by both species at 28C. Sodium chloride at low concentrations increased loss of toxin by the mycelium into broth, whereas high concentrations suppressed it. Both the concentration of NaCl and incubation temperature should be considered when salted foods are stored under conditions which permit mold growth.
Measurement of flurbiprofen—human serum albumin interaction by fluorimetry

Abstract The binding of the anti-inflammatory drug, flurbiprofen, to human serum albumin is accompanied by a reduction of the fluorescence efficiency of the drug. The quenching effect has been used to evaluate the strength of binding at different pH values. Equations have also been developed for calculating binding constants for a 1:1 drug—protein complex, when fluorescence measurements are made at wavelengths where the emission spectra of the free drug, free protein and the complex overlap. Over the pH range 6.20–8.04, a binding constant of ca 1.0 × 10 7 was found for flurbiprofen.
What Academia Needs

I have been asked to speak on the topic "Modem Interdisciplinary University Statistics Education: What the Customer (Academia) Needs." My translation of this is: What kind of education would we like our future faculty to have so that they can best train the next generation of statisticians in industry, government, and academia? Or, equivalently, to what training and opportunities should we expose our own Ph.D. students? I arrive at this by considering statistics departments as the customer for new statistics faculty. As for "interdisciplinary," I think the adjective is redundant. Leslie Kish in his 1977 American Statistical Association presidential address (Kish 1978, p. 1) gives a description of our field that makes this point well:
A comparison of projected future precipitation in Wisconsin using global and downscaled climate model simulations: implications for public health

Motivated by the documented linkage between water-borne disease outbreaks and heavy rainfall, we compare simulations of precipitation in Wisconsin from two different downscaling procedures (statistical and dynamical) and global climate models (GCMs) for the late 20th and middle 21st centuries (SRES A2 greenhouse emissions scenario). In the inter-model mean, all the three methods produce reasonably accurate simulations of seasonal and annual precipitation amounts during the historical period of 1971–2000 (yearly biases <5%), but the GCMs severely underestimate extreme precipitation compared with downscaled output and observations. The modelling methodologies agree that Wisconsin should experience a modestly wetter future climate (annual increase <10%) by the middle 21st century (2041–2070), comprised of more precipitation during winter, spring, and autumn but an equivocal summertime signal. The future simulations also exhibit robust increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme daily precipitation, consisting of larger relative changes in the return periods of heavy events (up to −50%) than in the accumulations (<30%). Although the modelling procedures vary substantially in their projected absolute differences in future precipitation, they agree surprisingly well on the simulated relative differences (percent change) of both mean and extreme precipitation. Unfortunately, there is little consistency in the simulated spatial patterns of future precipitation change across Wisconsin, complicating societal adaptation measures to enhanced extremes. Nevertheless, the composite projections presented here suggest that impending hydrological changes in Wisconsin represent a public health threat, by virtue of increasingly extreme precipitation promoting water-borne disease outbreaks.
The influence of loading rate on crack bridging processes in Al2O3

Commercially available alumina of 94% nominal purity was used to examine the influence of loading rate on toughening mechanisms. For fine-grained alumina, the crack resistance, K_R, was found to be independent of crack length and loading rate. Coarse-grained alumina exhibited strongly rising R-curves where the initial fracture toughness, K_0, was found to be independent of the loading rate. The net toughening, ΔK_(SS), in coarse-grained alumina was found to decrease with increasing loading rate. Loading rate effects were independent of testing environment. A rate dependent coefficient of friction was incorporated into a crack bridging model to describe the effect of loading rate on toughness in this system. Predictions based on the bridging models, using the measured coefficients of friction for this material system, are in good agreement with the observed phenomenon.
Improving efficiency of initial tests for efficacy in smoking cessation drug discovery.

Introduction: One obstacle to rapid development of new smoking cessation medications is the inefficient early clinical evaluation of the efficacy of novel drugs, which inform us as to whether or not to proceed with the greater expense and time of more formal clinical trials. The vast majority of novel drugs fail to show efficacy for cessation only after substantial resources have been spent and, thus, are largely wasted.Areas covered: The author reviews the general limitations in the current typical procedures for initial tests of cessation efficacy in novel drugs. Small, randomized clinical trials often have good validity but may have practical limitations in achieving adequate statistical power to test novel versus placebo treatment conditions. Lab tests of acute drug effects on abstinence symptoms, during brief enforced cessation periods, are practical but have limited clinical predictive validity.Expert opinion: Initial efficacy testing may be more efficient if done using innovative crossover designs ...
Vestibular (acoustic) schwannomas : histologic features in neurofibromatosis 2 and in unilateral cases

Unilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS) differ from those in patients with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF-2) clinically and by in situ appearance. To determine whether there are histopathologic differences, the presence of each of 16 histologic features was compared in first surgical resection specimens of 48 VS from 39 NF-2 patients and 293 unilateral VS. Antoni A and B areas, nuclear atypia, whorls, scarring, chronic inflammation, and sheets of macrophages were found equally in both groups. Vestibular schwannomas in NF-2 had more Verocay bodies, foci of high cellularity, and lobular growth patterns, the latter possibly correlating with in situ appearance. Ten NF-2 VS specimens had either meningiomas or microscopic meningeal cell proliferations removed with the VS from the same area, whereas none of the patients with a unilateral VS had these findings. Unilateral VS had more hyalinized and malformed vessels, recent and old thromboses and hemosiderin deposits. The differences could not be attributed to patient ages because there were similar differences between the VS in NF-2 and the unilateral VS of 40 patients age-matched to the NF-2 patients. There were more female patients in both groups, but gender did not influence the occurrence of any histologic features. There were nine additional patients with apparently unilateral VS but in whom the diagnosis of NF-2 was suggested by additional findings; six of the VS from these patients had lobular patterns. In conclusion, although there are many overlapping features, histologic differences between unilateral VS and those in NF-2 may reflect differences in their pathobiology, i.e. in NF-2 tumor growth may be more exclusively the result of Schwann cell proliferation frequently associated with a lobular pattern, whereas ongoing thrombosis, hemorrhage, and angiogenesis are additional intrinsic features of unilateral VS.
Another characterization of the centroid of a tree

Abstract A particular notion of centrality in trees, the centroid, is studied. Previous work has shown that the centroid and the distance center are equivalent. A new notion of centrality called the telephone center is introduced. This is shown to be equivalent to the centroid as well.
Bilateral near-infrared spectroscopy for detecting traumatic vascular injury.

Background: Extremity wounds account for most battlefield injuries. Clinical examination may be unreliable by medics or first responders, and continuous assessment by experienced practitioners may not be possible on the frontline or during transport. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides continuous, noninvasive monitoring of tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), but its use is limited by inter-patient and intra-patient variability. We tested the hypothesis that bilateral NIRS partially addresses the variability problem and can reliably identify vascular injury after extremity trauma. Materials and methods: This prospective study consisted of 30 subjects: 20 trauma patients with extremity injury and 10 healthy volunteers. Bilateral StO2 tissue sensors were placed on the thenar eminence or medial plantar surface. Injured and non-injured extremities within the same patient (DStO2) were compared using Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated and areas under the curve (AUCs) were calculated for DStO2 of 6, 10, and 15. Values are expressed as median (interquartile range). Results: Trauma patients were age 31 y (23 y), 85% male, with injury severity score of 9 (5). There were seven arterial and three venous injuries. Most involved the lower extremity (n ¼ 16; 80%) and resulted from a penetrating mechanism (n ¼ 14; 70%). DStO2 between limbs was 20.4 (10.4) versus 2.4 (3.0) (P < 0.001) for all patients with vascular injury versus patients and volunteers with no vascular injury. DStO2 reliably identified any vascular injury (AUC, 0.975; P < 0.001), whereas pulse examination alone or in combination with Doppler exam could detect only arterial injury. A DStO2 of 6 had the greatest sensitivity and specificity (AUC, 0.900; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Continuous monitoring of bilateral limbs with NIRS detects changes in perfusion resulting from arterial or venous injury and may offer advantages over serial manual measurements of pulses or Doppler signals. This technique may be most relevant in military and disaster scenarios or during transport, in which the ability to monitor limb perfusion is difficult or experienced clinical judgment is unavailable.
Formation of magnesium nitride layers on the Mg(0001) surface by ion implantation

Thin films of magnesium nitride have been formed on the Mg(0001) surface at room temperature by exposing the surface to nitrogen ions produced by an ion gun. The reaction of nitrogen with magnesium to form magnesium nitride was verified by examination of the alteration of the energies and lineshapes of the low energy magnesium Auger transitions. By comparison with the nitrogen KVV transitions which exhibit the same splitting, the multiplet of magnesium lines following nitrogen implantation can be attributed to cross-transitions between the magnesium core level and nitrogen valence bands. Nitrogen ion uptake experiments demonstrate that the nitride films formed by implantation are homogeneous and possess a fixed stoichiometry, independent of the energy of the impinging nitrogen ions. A model based on the assumptions of preferential sputtering of nitrogen atoms and radiation-enhanced diffusion was developed to explain the depth profiles. The nitride film thicknesses estimated with this model are 9.9, 33.0 and 44.3 A following reaction of magnesium with nitrogen ions with thermal energy, 1.0 and 2.0 keV, respectively.
Higher education in France: A two‐track system

(1978). Higher education in France: A two‐track system. West European Politics: Vol. 1, Conflict and Consensus in France, pp. 97-114.
How Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate Regulates Membrane-Cytoskeleton Interaction in Endothelial Cells?

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a constitutional component of the cell membrane. It can directly or indirectly regulate vesicle trafficking, focal adhesion, cell migration and membrane-cytoskeleton interaction. It has been reported that sequestration of PIP2 in fibroblasts resulted in the decrease of the force needed to extract membrane tethers from the cells, a finding that was attributed to weakened membrane-cytoskeleton interaction, The commonly accepted mechanism of this phenomenon is that PIP2 inhibits the activity of actin-severing proteins such as cofilin, gelsolin, or profilin, and also activates vinculin, talin, α, β-catenin, α-actinin, and thus enhances the interaction between the cell membrane and cytoskeleton.The aim of our research is to clarify how PIP2 regulates endothelial cell function. Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were treated with Pleckstrin homology domain of phospholipase C (PH-PLC) and Neomycin sulfate, which can sequester PIP2, and subsequently exposed to tether extraction with AFM. The results showed that after treatment with Neomycin sulfate, the tether force of BAEC slightly increased in comparison to control, while PH-PLC did not alter the tether force at all. These findings suggest that PIP2 functions differently in BAECs than in fibroblasts. These findings also suggest the following preliminary conclusions. (1) Sequestration of PIP2 with Neomycin might release actin binding proteins that may act as actin crosslinkers, thus strengthening the cytoskeleton in BAECs. (2) PH-PLC, may not be able to sequester PIP2, due to the latter's higher affinity to cytoskeleton binding proteins, thus not affecting the membrane-cytoskeleton interaction in BAEC.This work was supported by NIH-HL64388 (IL, G.F.) and the American Heart Association (M.S.)
Penetration of Radiocalcium at Margins of Acrylic Restorations Made by Compression and Noncompression Technics

Sausen, Armstrong and Simon, of the University of Minnesota, have been able to determine the relative efficiency of pressure and brush technics in the placement of self-cured resin fillings in cavities through the use of radioactive calcium chloride tracer solutions. Fillings were studied with and without water immersion. These investigators have been able to establish that, under their experimental conditions, the brush technic offers some advantages over the pressure technic in the placement of these acrylic fillings in that the marginal seal seems superior when the brush technic is used. The authors point out that further tests are necessary; however, they are to be complimented on their development of this tracer technic with radioisotopes for testing the marginal seal of fillings, and their demonstration of how different clinical technics can be tested in the laboratory. Thereby much information can be made available immediately, and hundreds of fillings will not have to be placed in the mouths of numerous individuals which entails waiting for extended periods of time before final analysis of the results is possible.
Variability in performance measures for assessment of hypertension control.

Background Definitions of multiple performance measures exist for the assessment of blood pressure control; however, limited data on how these technical variations may affect actual measured performance are available. Methods We evaluated patients with hypertension followed routinely by cardiologists at Duke University Health System from 2009 to 2010. Provider hypertension control was compared based on reading at the last clinic visit vs the average blood pressure across all visits. The impact of home blood pressure measurements and patient exclusions endorsed by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement were evaluated using medical record reviews. Results Among 5,552 hypertensive patients, the rate of blood pressure control based on last clinic visit was 69.1%; however, significant clinic-to-clinic variability was seen in serial clinic blood pressure measurements in individual patients (average 18 mm Hg). As a result, provider performance ratings varied considerably depending on whether a single reading or average blood pressure reading was used. The inclusion of home blood pressure measurements resulted in modestly higher rates of blood pressure control performance (+6% overall). Similarly, excluding patients who met guideline-recommended exclusion criteria increased blood pressure control rates only slightly (+3% overall). In contrast, excluding patients who were on 2 or more antihypertensive medications would have raised blood pressure control rates to 96% overall. Conclusion Depending on definitions used, overall and provider-specific blood pressure control rates can vary considerably. Technical aspects of blood pressure performance measures may affect perceived quality gaps and comparative provider ratings.
Gaming for middle school students: building virtual worlds

We can begin engaging new talented students Computer Science students with Gaming as the introduction. Students are already excited and curious about games. Research studies suggests students form opinions about whether they enjoy science or non-science subjects as early as middle school. Furthermore, a student entering high school makes course selections based on their interests of preparing for college or not. The college prep course sequences are the best sequences to prepare students for college science majors including Computer Science. Therefore, it is important for the Gaming and Computing industries to focus our attention and resources on developing young talent at the middle school and early high-school years. The Computer Science Department at Spelman College has implemented one approach to address this need. We have implemented summer camp with follow-up workshops during the subsequent school year. Our summer camps are called CARE Summer Computer Camps and are funded by participant fees subsidized by an NSF [7] Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) grant. One of the major components of the CARE Camps is to introduce students to computer programming by building interactive virtual worlds. Constructing interactive virtual worlds is a necessary component to building games. Students are introduced to the design and implementation aspects of game development through virtual world development. In this paper we present our CARE curriculum and the results of our evaluations. We demonstrate that students are more excited about Computing and Gaming after their camp experience and are interested in pursuing further studies in Gaming and Computing.
A “Paired Cases Contrast” Method in the Absence of Reliable Metrics in Organizational Research Proof of Concept

We offer initial proof for a “contrast of paired cases” method for arriving at statistically reliable insights about innovation, which, our data demonstrated, has the potential for being generalized to many types of organizations, rather than being restricted to organizations of a particular size, type, or sector. Our method relied on making sure respondents drew sharp contrasts between two different organizations with which they were intimately familiar. We analyzed the results of 165 different paired contrasts. Patterns emerged which were statistically significant and generally consistent with case literature on organizations. The proof we offer for this “paired cases contrast” method, if found generalizable to a larger sample of organizations, offers a cost-effective approach to organizational research. Very importantly, the method works even in the absence of metric scales for comparing widely varied organizations and overcomes the problem of intercoder reliability in the process.
Sex differences in heat pain thresholds as a function of assessment method and rate of rise.

Studies of sex differences in the responses to experimentally induced pain demonstrate greater pain sensitivity among females than males. However, studies investigating heat pain responses have produced inconsistent results. Differences in stimulus characteristics and assessment methods probably account for this variability. This study examined sex differences in the heat pain threshold as a function of two different assessment methods and varying rates of rise. Nineteen female and 18 male healthy volunteers underwent heat pain threshold assessment via the method of levels and the method of limits. In addition, both fast (4.0 C/s) and slow (0.5 C/s) rates of rise were used for the method of levels assessments. In order to examine the reliability of threshold values, each subject participated in two sessions, separated by approximately 8 days. Females evinced lower thresholds than males for the method of levels assessments with both slow and fast rates of rise ( ps < 0.05), while no sex differences emerged...
High order accurate, explicit, difference formulas for the classical wave equation☆

This article presents a simple and yet very novel approach to developing difference schemes for wave equations. The schemes that are developed are explicit in nature. The schemes are of such generality that one can transform from one difference scheme to another with only the slightest of computational effort. The schemes exhibit dispersive errors. The errors can be minimized, however, by increasing the order of truncation error. Numerical results are presented for two linear model equations with truncation error ranging up to O(h5). Numerical results are also presented for a system of shallow water equations. By choosing the appropriate a for a first order linear equation (a defines the geometry of an element) we may generate stable schemes for an arbitrary Courant number.
Aberrant expression and regulation of NR2F2 and CTNNB1 in uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumour afflicting women of reproductive age. Despite the large healthcare burden caused by fibroids, there is only limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive fibroid pathophysiology. Although a large number of genes are differentially expressed in fibroids compared with myometrium, it is likely that most of these differences are a consequence of the fibroid presence and are not causal. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and regulation of NR2F2 and CTNNB1 based on their potential causal role in uterine fibroid pathophysiology. We used real-time quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry to describe the expression of NR2F2 and CTNNB1 in matched human uterine fibroid and myometrial tissues. Primary myometrial and fibroid smooth muscle cell cultures were treated with progesterone and/or retinoic acid (RA) and sonic hedgehog (SHH) conditioned media to investigate regulatory pathways for these proteins. We showed that NR2F2 and CTNNB1 are aberrantly expressed in fibroid tissue compared with matched myometrium, with strong blood vessel-specific localisation. Although the SHH pathway was shown to be active in myometrial and fibroid primary cultures, it did not regulate NR2F2 or CTNNB1 mRNA expression. However, progesterone and RA combined regulated NR2F2 mRNA, but not CTNNB1, in myometrial but not fibroid primary cultures. In conclusion, we demonstrate aberrant expression and regulation of NR2F2 and CTNNB1 in uterine fibroids compared with normal myometrium, consistent with the hypothesis that these factors may play a causal role uterine fibroid development.
Subsurface photodisruption in scattering biological tissue

Approximately five million people worldwide are blind due to complications from glaucoma. Current surgical techniques often fail due to infection and scarring. Both failure routes are associated with damaging surface tissues. Femtosecond lasers allow a method to create a highly precise incision beneath the surface of the tissue without damaging any of the overlying layers. However, subsurface surgery can only be performed where the beam can be focused tightly enough to cause optical breakdown. Under normal conditions, subsurface surgery is not possible since sclera is highly scattering. Using two independent methods, we show completely subsurface surgery in human sclera using a femtosecond laser. The first method is to make the sclera transparent by injecting a dehydrating agent. The second method is to choose a wavelength that is highly focusable in the sclera. Both methods may be applied in other tissues, such as skin. We show highly precise incisions in in vitro tissues. Subsurface femtosecond photodisruption may be useful for in vivo surgical technique to perform a completely subsurface surgery.
A nonlinear integrating network

A simple modification of a lag network does not impair its ability to discriminate against high-frequency noise, but does dramatically reduce the phase shift inherent in the filtering operation. Consequently, this modified filter is particularly useful in closed-loop systems where phase lag is jealously minimized. Implementation of this less-than-minimum-phase filter requires only the addition of a zero-crossing detector and a capacitor-discharge switch.
Agricultural expansion within Kimana electric fences and implications for natural resource conservation around Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Abstract Fencing has become a key strategy in mitigating human–wildlife conflicts and promoting agricultural production in Kenya. However, it can have negative long-term consequences for wildlife conservation as well as human development, especially if the fence is poorly maintained. Such is the case of the Kimana and Namelok fences in the Kimana Group Ranch. This study assessed the influence of fences on agricultural expansion, environmental and wildlife conservation. In both fences, irrigated agriculture was a dominant land use and occurred along riverbanks, causing drying downstream. Most farmers in both fences were noticing a decline in water quantity and time of access to it, as well as increasing human–wildlife conflicts. Wildlife sightings within both fences provided evidence that the inadequate fence maintenance allows wildlife to freely access the fenced areas. Both wildlife and humans were blamed for fence deterioration in both fences. Irrigated agriculture inside both fences is expanding at an unmanageable rate. While the fences have spurred socio-economic activities in the area, they are not only ineffective in reducing human–wildlife conflicts but have given rise to other critical conflicts. Fencing appears to be a short-term remedy for human–wildlife conflicts and it is crucial to explore other mitigation strategies.
Movement associated with high cerebral concentrations of isoflurane: no evidence of seizure activity

Purpose This study examined the effect of high cerebral concentrations of isoflurane on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and motor activity while using an experimental preparation in which isoflurane can be selectively delivered to the in situ goat brain. In a previous study we found that isoflurane (> 6%), when selectively delivered to the brain, was associated with spontaneous movement.
Non-Gaussian stochastic response of nonlinear compliant platforms

Abstract A moment function method is presented to estimate the stochastic response of compliant offshore platforms with nonlinearity in stiffness based on non-Gaussian closure. For guyed towers with clump weight, the nonlinearity in stiffness is of the softening type. The random wave loading is expressed in terms of a rational spectrum, making the system Markovian. Using Ito's rule for stochastic differentiation, differential equations for moments up to the fourth order are developed. The system of equations is closed by considering the fifth and sixth cumulants to be zero. For stationary response, differential equations become algebraic equations. The moments are obtained by solving the system of nonlinear algebraic equations. It is observed that the Gaussian closure method is inadequate for defining the complete probabilistic characteristics of the response.
A Psychometric Study of the Theoretical Orientations of Clinical Social Workers

Previous studies of clinical social workers have neither described a representative range of their theoretical orientations, nor have they established a firm relationship between professed theoretical orientation and either hypothetical or actual in-session behavior. A related question which has not been thoroughly examined is whether client problems constrain clinical social workers from adhering to specific theoretical orientations or "schools" of practice. This study therefore has two purposes: (1) to assess the psychometric properties of a range of theoretical orientation measures on a sample of clinical social workers, and (2) to determine how much of the variation in these measures is explained by: (a) professed theoretical orientation and (b) the problems for which specific in-session behaviors are used. These issues were investigated with analogues of clinical interviews and attitude scales which discriminate among helping professionals in terms of their theoretical orientations. The sample consis...
Ethnofederalism, separatism, and conflict: what have we learned from the Soviet and Yugoslav experiences?

The breakups of Yugoslavia and the USSR, as well as the violent conflicts that took place on their ruins, spurred a large number of studies claiming that the ethnofederal designs of these states we...
Participation in Marketing Channel Functions and Economic Performance

The relationship between functional participation and several measures of channel member financial performance are evaluated. Channel theory suggests that greater participation in channel functions should be positively associated with channel member compensation. Support for the theory was found for gross margins and total operating expenses. However, return on assets were not found to be positively related to channel function participation.
A question of bias in the US unemployment numbers

During the recently US presidential election, questions were raised about bias in the widely published unemployment numbers released each month by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This article will examine the BLS unemployment data for any outward sign of prejudice or systematic bias. This pragmatic look at the numbers should help build confidence that there is neither systematic nor purposeful bias in the numbers.
CALCULATION OF ELECTRIC FIELDS AND CURRENTS INDUCED IN A MILLIMETER-RESOLUTION HUMAN MODEL AT 60 HZ USING THE FDTD METHOD

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method has previously been used to calculate induced currents in anatomically based models of the human body at frequencies ranging from 20 to 915 MHz and resolutions down to about 1.25 cm. Calculations at lower frequencies and higher resolutions have been precluded by the huge number of time steps that would be needed in these simulations. This paper describes a method used to overcome this problem and efficiently calculate induced currents in an MRI-based, 6-mm-resolution model of the human under a high-voltage transmission line. This model is significantly higher resolution than the 1.31-cm-resolution model previously used; therefore, it can be used to pinpoint locations of peak current densities in the body. Proposed safety guidelines would allow external electric fields of 10 kV/m and 25 kV/m for exposure to 60 Hz fields of the general public and workers, respectively. For this external electric field exposure of 10 kV/m, local induced current densities as high as 20 mA/m2 are found in the head and trunk with even higher values (above 150 mA/m2) in the legs. These currents are considerably higher than the 4 or even 10 mA/m2 that have been suggested in the various safety guidelines, thus indicating an inconsistency in the proposed guidelines. In addition, several ratios of E/H typical of power line exposures were examined, and it was found that the vertical electric field couples strongly to the body, whereas the horizontal magnetic field does not. Bioelectromagnetics 19:293–299, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Institutional Futility Policies are Inherently Unfair

For many years a debate has raged over what constitutes futile medical care, if patients have a right to demand what doctors label as futile, and whether physicians should be obliged to provide treatments that they think are inappropriate. More recently, the argument has shifted away from the difficult project of definitions, to outlining institutional policies and procedures that take a measured and patient-by-patient approach to deciding if an existing or desired intervention is futile. The prototype is the Texas Advance Directives Act, but similar procedures have been widely implemented both with and without the protection of the law. While this method has much to recommend it, there are inherent moral flaws that have not received as much discussion as warranted. Because these strategies adopt a semblance of procedural justice, it is assumed that the outcomes of such proceedings will be both correct and fair. In this paper, I argue that there are three main irremediable defects in the policy approach: there is the potential for arbitrary decision-making about futility in specific cases; there are structural, pre-ordained consequences for ethnic minorities who would be disproportionately affected by the use of these procedures; and the use of rationing justifications to support the use of these policies. These flaws detract so much from any benefit that could be derived that they make such strategies more harmful than helpful.
Temporal context effects with two judgmental languages

One hundred forty-four Ss judged the durations of 5-sec. test tones after pre-exposure to either long (30 sec.), short (0.5 sec.), or no pretraining tones. Half of the Ss made duration judgments in terms of a “situationally relative, novel, arbitrary, and restricted” 7-point rating scale; half of the Ss estimated durations directly in seconds-a well-practiced, “absolute, extensive, and extra-experimentally anchored” judgmental language. Direct estimation in seconds did not show temporal contrast effects, while judgments in terms of the rating scale did show such effects. It was suggested that these effects were not perceptual, but were contributed by a semantic or linguistic process operative in the rating situation but not in the direct estimation task.