cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of the Vocational Preference Inventory as a Discriminator of Attachment Styles

The authors assessed the Vocational Preference Inventory as a discriminator of attachment styles. Although the means for some of the six career interest scales completed by 200 undergraduates varied somewhat across four attachment style categories, substantial within-group variances masked apparent differences. None of the scales met the minimum criterion of F to enter; thus none of these scales discriminated among categories of attachment style.
The effect of digitoxose on feeding behavior.

The effect of digitoxose (DIG) on food intake, gold thioglucose (GTG) lesion formation in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), and VMH glucose oxidation in vitro was investigated in mice. DIG significantly decreased the amount of food ingested during the day compared to controls (p<0.01). DIG had no effect on nocturnal feeding. GTG lesion formation in the VMH and VMH glucose oxidation were not altered by DIG treatment. These results suggest that DIG alters daytime feeding behavior by affecting extrahypothalamic or peripheral glucoreceptor sites.
Use of Detailed Chemical Kinetics to Study HCCI Engine Combustion With Consideration of Turbulent Mixing Effects

Detailed chemical kinetics was used in an engine CFD code to study the combustion process in HCCI engines. The CHEMKIN code was implemented in KIVA such that the chemistry and flow solutions were coupled. The reaction mechanism consists of hundreds of reactions and species and is derived from fundamental flame chemistry. Effects of turbulent mixing on the reaction rates were also considered. The results show that the present KIVA/CHEMKIN model is able to simulate the ignition and combustion process in three different HCCI engines including a CFR engine and two modified heavy-duty diesel engines. Ignition timings were predicted correctly over a wide range of engine conditions without the need to adjust any kinetic constants. However, it was found that the use of chemical kinetics alone was not sufficient to accurately simulate the overall combustion rate. The effects of turbulent mixing on the reaction rates need to be considered to correctly simulate the combustion and heat release rates.
Anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies in patients with coronary heart disease and normal healthy volunteers.

We have developed a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies. Most sera showed some degree of non-specific binding to plates coated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein and the autoantibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein often appeared to have a relatively low affinity. To differentiate between specific and non-specific binding each sample was tested untreated and after absorption with oxidized low-density lipoprotein. The optical densities obtained with dilutions of the absorbed sample were considered to reflect non-specific binding and were subtracted from values obtained with identical dilutions of the unabsorbed sample, to yield corrected values from which the concentrations of anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibody were calculated. Similar absorptions with native low-density lipoprotein and oxidized human serum albumin failed to induce a significant reduction in binding to immobilized oxidized low-density lipoprotein proving that the antibodies measured by this assay are primarily specific for oxidized low-density lipoprotein. We studied sera from two groups of individuals: (1) 33 subjects submitted to coronary angiography and split into two subgroups depending on the degree of coronary stenosis and (2) 64 healthy individuals also split into two subgroups according to lipid levels. Anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies were detected both in patients and healthy individuals. Higher levels were detected in patients with moderate coronary disease and hyperlipemic healthy individuals, but the differences between patients and healthy volunteers or between their respective subgroups did not reach statistical significance. Our results suggest that autoantibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein are relatively frequent in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The investigation of their potential role as a risk factor will require mass screening and long-term follow-up.
Returning Land Tenure to the Forefront of Rural Sociology

Les AA. citent brievement les theories importantes en sociologie rurale portant sur la propriete agricole et defendues par des sociologues classiques et modernes entre les annees 1870 et 1970. Ils presentent pour chacune de ces theories les arguments developpes par les sociologues et leurs apports dans l'etude de la propriete agricole, en particulier aux Etats-Unis
Effect of curvature-squared terms on cosmology

We consider the effect on Friedmann cosmology of adding all possible algebraic terms quadratic in the curvature tensor to the usual Einstein-Hilbert action for gravitation. Assuming that the vacuum energy density (cosmological constant) is not extraordinarily large in any phase of the evolution of the universe, we find that the cosmological solutions of this more general theory are indistinguishable from standard Friedmann models all the way from the initial singularity to the present.
Effectiveness of Devices for the Control And Clean up of Oil Spills

A review of the containment and cleanup methods employed during the Chevron and Shell incidents in the Gulf of Mexico is presented. The paper also reviews the research and development program being undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency to develop improved technology for oil spill containment and response. This includes information on the development of sorbent systems and oil containment booms capable of operations at relative velocities in excess of two knots.
Caspase Inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk Attenuates Calpain and Necrotic Cell Death in Vitro and after Traumatic Brain Injury

In studies designed to evaluate the therapeutic window for treatment of traumatic brain injury, the caspase 3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk improved neurologic function and reduced lesion volumes when administered at 1 but not at 4, 8, or 24 hours after injury. Moreover, neither caspase 3 nor PARP, a caspase 3 substrate, were cleaved in injured, untreated cortex from 1 to 72 hours after injury. Few cortical neurons expressed active caspase 3 or were TUNEL positive from 6 to 24 hours after injury, and TUNEL staining was primarily Type I (necrotic). Nissl staining revealed extensive neuronal necrosis in the injured cortex from 6 to 24 hours after impact. Considered together, these data suggested that z-DEVD-fmk may reduce neuronal necrosis, so we used an in vitro model of necrotic cell death induced by maitotoxin to test this further and explore the potential mechanism(s) involved. Z-DEVD-fmk (1 nM-100 microM) significantly attenuated maitotoxin induced neuronal cell death and markedly reduced expression of the 145 kD calpain-mediated alpha-spectrin breakdown product after maitotoxin injury. Neither the 120 kD caspase-mediated alpha-spectrin cleavage product nor cathepsin B were expressed after maitotoxin injury. In a cell free assay, z-DEVD-fmk reduced hydrolysis of casein by purified calpain I. Finally, z-DEVD-fmk reduced expression of the 145 kD calpain-mediated alpha-spectrin cleavage fragment after traumatic brain injury in vivo. These data suggest that neuroprotection by z-DEVD-fmk may, in part, reflect inhibition of calpain-related necrotic cell death.
Fusion beats and their relation to the syndrome of short P-R interval associated with a prolonged QRS complex

Abstract Fusion ventricular complexes were produced in animals by a method which allows accurate spacing of stimuli over short time intervals in successive cardiac cycles. The time during which fusion occurs was found to approach closely, but not quite equal, the time of the normal QRS complex. The clinical aspects of fusion beats were mentioned, and their relation to the syndrome of short P-R interval with wide QRS complexes was indicated.
Regulation of actin-myosin interaction by conserved periodic sites of tropomyosin

Cooperative activation of actin-myosin interaction by tropomyosin (Tm) is central to regulation of contraction in muscle cells and cellular and intracellular movements in nonmuscle cells. The steric blocking model of muscle regulation proposed 40 y ago has been substantiated at both the kinetic and structural levels. Even with atomic resolution structures of the major players, how Tm binds and is designed for regulatory function has remained a mystery. Here we show that a set of periodically distributed evolutionarily conserved surface residues of Tm is required for cooperative regulation of actomyosin. Based on our results, we propose a model of Tm on a structure of actin-Tm-myosin in the “open” (on) state showing potential electrostatic interactions of the residues with both actin and myosin. The sites alternate with a second set of conserved surface residues that are important for actin binding in the inhibitory state in the absence of myosin. The transition from the closed to open states requires the sites identified here, even when troponin + Ca2+ is present. The evolutionarily conserved residues are important for actomyosin regulation, a universal function of Tm that has a common structural basis and mechanism.
Efficient GPGPU-Based Parallel Packet Classification

With the rapid growth of network technologies, many new web services have been developed to provide various applications and computing functions. These services rely deeply on the internet. Therefore, packet classification is an important issue of network security that typically adopts a flexible packet filtering system to classify each processed packet. Traditional packet classification requires hung computing time to process large amount of internet packets. Hence, we propose a GPGPU-based parallel packet classification method to decrease the computational cost. We also evaluate the performance of the proposed method with implementation on various memory architectures of CUDA device. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve significant speed up over the sequential packet classification algorithms on single CPU.
Novel Bifunctional Natriuretic Peptides as Potential Therapeutics

Synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide (carperitide) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP; nesiritide) are used to treat congestive heart failure. However, despite beneficial cardiac unloading properties, reductions in renal perfusion pressures limit their clinical effectiveness. Recently, CD-NP, a chimeric peptide composed of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) fused to the C-terminal tail of Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP), was shown to be more glomerular filtration rate-enhancing than BNP in dogs. However, the molecular basis for the increased responsiveness was not determined. Here, we show that the DNP tail has a striking effect on CNP, converting it from a non-agonist to a partial agonist of natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-A while maintaining the ability to activate NPR-B. This effect is specific for human receptors because CD-NP was only a slightly better activator of rat NPR-A due to the promiscuous nature of CNP in this species. Interesting, the DNP tail alone had no effect on any NPR even though it is effective in vivo. To further increase the potency of CD-NP for NPR-A, we converted two different triplet sequences within the CNP ring to their corresponding residues in BNP. Both variants demonstrated increased affinity and full agonist activity for NPR-A, whereas one was as potent as any NPR-A activator known. In contrast to a previous report, we found that DNP binds the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (NPR-C). However, none of the chimeric peptides bound NPR-C with significantly higher affinity than endogenous ligands. We suggest that bifunctional chimeric peptides represent a new generation of natriuretic peptide therapeutics.
Full-Field Deformation Measurement and Crack Mapping on Confined Masonry Walls Using Digital Image Correlation

The understanding of the load-resistance mechanisms and failure modes of large-scale concrete and masonry structures relies on accurate measurements of surface motions and deformations, and faithful crack maps. Measurements are typically taken using surface-mounted point-wise sensors (PWSs), and crack maps are hand-drawn based on visual inspection. It is impractical to obtain detailed displacement and deformation maps that describe the complex response of large structures based on PWS measurements. In addition, manual crack drawing is difficult, time-consuming, and prone to human errors, which makes it challenging to consistently produce faithful crack maps. This paper reports on a pilot study to test the use of three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) as a non-contacting method to measure surface deformation fields on full-scale masonry walls, and produce detailed crack maps. Three confined masonry walls were tested under horizontal in-plane reverse-cycle loads. The specimens were designed to attain different levels of strength and deformability through different load-resistance mechanisms. Representative 3D-DIC measurements of drift, diagonal deformations, and interface slip between the reinforced concrete tie columns and the masonry infill were evaluated vis-a-vis benchmark PWS measurements, showing a comparable accuracy. Strain maps based on 3D-DIC measurements were enlisted to visualize the development of the fundamental strut-and-tie resisting mechanism in confined masonry walls subjected to horizontal in-plane loads, and illustrate practical structural analysis and design implications. More detailed crack maps compared with traditional hand-drawn maps were obtained based on 3D-DIC maximum principal strain contours.
Associations of Anisometropia with Unilateral Amblyopia, Interocular Acuity Difference and Stereoacuity in Preschoolers

Purpose To evaluate the relationship of anisometropia with unilateral amblyopia, interocular acuity difference (IAD), and stereoacuity among Head Start preschoolers using both clinical notation and vector notation analyses. Design Multicenter, cross-sectional study. Participants Three- to 5-year-old participants in the Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) study (n = 4040). Methods Secondary analysis of VIP data from participants who underwent comprehensive eye examinations, including monocular visual acuity testing, stereoacuity testing, and cycloplegic refraction. Visual acuity was retested with full cycloplegic correction when retest criteria were met. Unilateral amblyopia was defined as IAD of 2 lines or more in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units. Anisometropia was defined as a 0.25-diopter (D) or more difference in spherical equivalent (SE) or in cylinder power and 2 approaches using power vector notation. The percentage with unilateral amblyopia, mean IAD, and mean stereoacuity were compared between anisometropic and isometropic children. Main Outcomes Measures The percentage with unilateral amblyopia, mean IAD, and mean stereoacuity. Results Compared with isometropic children, anisometropic children had a higher percentage of unilateral amblyopia (8% vs. 2%), larger mean IAD (0.07 vs. 0.05 logMAR), and worse mean stereoacuity (145 vs. 117 arc sec; all P P P P Conclusions The presence and amount of anisometropia were associated with the presence of unilateral amblyopia, larger IAD, and worse stereoacuity. The threshold level of anisometropia at which unilateral amblyopia became significant was lower than current guidelines. Vector dioptric distance is more accurate than spherical equivalent anisometropia or cylindrical anisometropia in identifying preschoolers with unilateral amblyopia. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Voluntary Wheel Running and Pacing-Induced Dysfunction in Hypertension

Purpose. We examined how voluntary wheel running in the female, spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) impacts myocardial tolerance to pacing stress and determined whether direct adenylyl cyclase agonism via forskolin infusion improved myocardial performance during pacing. Methods. Twenty-five 16-week-old female Wistar Kyoto (WKY, n = 8) and SHR (n = 17) were utilized. Animals within the SHR group were randomly assigned to a sedentary (SHR-SED, n = 8) or a voluntary wheel running (SHR-WHL, n = 9) group. The SHR-WHL had free access to a running wheel 24 h/day. Resting heart rates and blood pressures were collected immediately prior to sacrifice utilizing a tail cuff apparatus. Left ventricular (LV) function was measured in a Langendorff, isovolumic preparation during pacing stress (8.5 Hz) and during pacing stress + forskolin (5 μmol/L). Results. SHR-WHL showed cardiac enlargement without alterations in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, or rate-pressure product. Pacing stress impaired inotropic and lusitr...
Serum anti-immunoglobulins in multiple myeloma and benign monoclonal gammopathy

Sera from 111 patients with IgG myeloma (MM) and 76 patients with IgG benign monoclonal gammopathy (BMG) were examined for the presence of anti-IgG antibodies. Forty-nine and five-tenths percent of MM patients were positive as compared to 26.3% of patients with BMG and 28% of age-matched controls (P < 0.005). Anti-IgG antibodies were most easily detected using Rh-positive cells coated with various human incomplete antibodies. Anti-IgG antibodies showed specificity for determinants present on whole IgG and, in some instances, Fc. No clear evidence for anti-idiotypic reactivity with autologous M components could be obtained. In most sera, anti-IgG factors appeared to be present in low-molecular-weight fractions (3.5–5.0S). The apparent increase in anti-Ig factors in MM as opposed to BMG may reflect a basic difference in control mechanisms.
Role of the Pituitary in Modulating Hepatic Monoamine Oxidase Activity

The activity of monoamine oxidase was measured in a liver mitochondrial fraction from gonadectomized and hypophysectomized rats. The effects of 17β-estradiol and testosterone propionate administration on hepatic monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in these animals were also studied. The regulation of hepatic MAO was studied using ectopic pituitary transplants under the kidney capsule of hypophysectomized, gonadectomized rats. MAO activity is normally 50% higher in adult females than in males. Ovariectomy has no effect on adult female MAO activity, but castration of the adult male increases MAO activity to the intact female level. The administration of testosterone propionate to the male castrate restores the intact male MAO level. Enzyme activity was elevated in both adult male and female rats after hypophysectomy, but the sex difference in MAO activity was maintained in the absence of the pituitary. Gonadectomy had no effect on these elevated levels. Transplantation of an age-matched pituitary (of male or f...
β-Arrestin-Dependent Parathyroid Hormone-Stimulated Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Activation and Parathyroid Hormone Type 1 Receptor Internalization

PTH regulates renal calcium homeostasis by actions on the distal nephron. PTH-induced calcium transport in mouse distal convoluted tubule (DCT) cells requires activation of ERK1/2. ERK activation by beta-adrenergic receptors occurs in a biphasic manner and involves receptor internalization. An early rapid phase is beta-arrestin (betaAr) independent, whereas prolonged activation is betaAr dependent. We characterized PTH-stimulated ERK activation and the involvement of receptor internalization and betaAr dependence. In DCT cells, PTH transiently activated ERK maximally at 5 min and then returned to baseline. betaAr dependence of PTH receptor (PTH1R)-mediated ERK stimulation was assessed using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from betaAr1- and -2-null mice. In wild-type MEFs, PTH(1-34)-stimulated ERK activation peaked after 5 min, was 50% maximal after 15 min, and then recovered to 80% of maximal stimulation by 30 min. In MEFs null for betaAr1 and -2, PTH-stimulated ERK activation peaked by 5 min and returned to baseline. The effect was identical in betaAr2-null MEFs. In betaAr1-null MEFs, ERK exhibited delayed activation and remained elevated. PTH-stimulated ERK activation and receptor endocytosis were not inhibited by the clathrin-binding domain of betaAr1 [Ar(319-418)]. Coexpression of the sodium proton exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) with Ar(319-418) blocked PTH1R internalization. We conclude that PTH-stimulated ERK activation in DCT cells proceeds with a rapid but transient phase that may involve betaAr1. Furthermore, the betaAr-dependent late phase of ERK activation by PTH requires the participation of betaAr2 and PTH1R internalization.
Ozone within and below the west coast temperature inversion

The oxidant concentration in the air over the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Ocean was measured up to an altitude of 2500 m and the observed distribution in the vertical and horizontal has been related to the characteristics and behavior of the west coast temperature inversion. Vertical time sections at fixed points and vertical cross sections were constructed of oxidant concentration, temperature, humidity and winds measured from aircraft and radar. The oxidant concentration in polluted air is strongly dependent on the destruction rate. The mean destruction rate within the surface layer depends directly on the intensity of eddy mixing and inversely on the square of the depth of the vertical mixing. Thus, the existence of a temperature inversion does not necessarily lead to a high concentration of oxidants, since the destruction rate may be high in a shallow mixing layer. The highest oxidant concentration was observed almost invariably at the edges of the west coast marine inversion, where pollutants are available for ozone production and the mixing layer is deep. Explanations are offered for the maxima of ozone that often occur above the inversion base. Distribution patterns of oxidants clearly depict the waving of the inversion layer. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1970.tb00499.x
The evolution of major histocompatibility class I genes in primates

MHC class I genes evolve by recombination, largely within loci, and selection (presumably pathogen-driven) maintains these new alleles in the population. Although chimpanzees and humans share an A locus allelic lineage, the B locus molecules of the chimpanzee were less similar to human B locus molecules. The A and B locus molecules in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys were even less similar to their human counterparts, with little conservation of allelic lineages between macaques and humans. In contrast to the instability of MHC class I alleles and allelic lineages, the MHC class I loci themselves are well conserved during the evolution of Great Ape and Old World primates. Homologues of HLA-A, -B, -E, and -F have been found in macaques. The C locus, however, has only been found in gorillas and chimpanzees, whereas in orangutans and rhesus monkeys it is possible that the A and B loci have been duplicated. Classical New World monkey MHC class I genes are all more similar to the nonclassical HLA-G gene and a nonclassical F-like gene is present in the cotton-top tamarin. Duplication and either subsequent deletion or expansion of MHC class I loci, therefore, appear to be the modus operandi of the evolution of these genes in primates.
Ischemia/reperfusion injury: A review in relation to free tissue transfers

Events during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury include: neutrophil-mediated endothelial cytotoxicity and activation, generation of free radicals, triggering of cytokines and chemokines, and activation of adhesion molecules and complement system. This article briefly reviews events occurring during tissue ischemia and reperfusion in relation to free tissue transfers. The consequences of tissue damage at the microcirculatory level are presented. Preventive measures of I/R injury are outlined.
Auditory illusions demonstrating that tones are assimilated to an internalized musical scale.

Judgments of relations between tones in a sequence derived from the major diatonic scale (do, re, mi, . . .) by systematic distortions (either equalization or stretching of intervals) reveal that Western listeners interpret the tones relative to that musical scale even when they try to judge the purely physical relations between the tones.
QM/MM X-ray Refinement of Zinc Metalloenzymes

Abstract Zinc metalloenzymes play an important role in biology. However, due to the limitation of molecular force field energy restraints used in X-ray refinement at medium or low resolutions, the precise geometry of the zinc coordination environment can be difficult to distinguish from ambiguous electron density maps. Due to the difficulties involved in defining accurate force fields for metal ions, the QM/MM (quantum-mechanical/molecular-mechanical) method provides an attractive and more general alternative for the study and refinement of metalloprotein active sites. Herein we present three examples that indicate that QM/MM based refinement yields a superior description of the crystal structure based on R and Rfree values and on the inspection of the zinc coordination environment. It is concluded that QM/MM refinement is an useful general tool for the improvement of the metal coordination sphere in metalloenzyme active sites.
On IP traceback

In this article we present the current state of the art in IP traceback. The rising threat of cyber attacks, especially DDoS, makes the IP traceback problem very relevant to today's Internet security. Each approach is evaluated in terms of its pros and cons. We also relate each approach to practical deployment issues on the existing Internet infrastructure. The functionality of each approach is discussed in detail and then evaluated. We conclude with a discussion on some legal implications of IP traceback.
Perceptions by Hispanics of channels and sources of health messages regarding cigarette smoking.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the perceptions that two communities of urban Hispanics have of various sources and channels of information regarding cigarette smoking and to compare them with those of non-Hispanic whites. DESIGN: Random samples of subjects of both ethnic groups and of both genders were surveyed by telephone to determine the perceived credibility and motivating power of 13 different channels of information and of 14 different sources of cigarette smoking information. SUBJECTS: 544 Hispanics and 542 non-Hispanic whites from San Francisco, California and Houston, Texas, 18-65 years in age, of both genders. RESULTS: Differences in the proportion of respondents assigning various perceived qualities to sources and channels of information regarding cigarette smoking were found to exist across ethnic groups (Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites); the respondents' gender (particularly among Hispanics); and the acculturation level of the Hispanic respondents. Nevertheless, there was a cluster of channels (printed media and television news) and of sources (physicians, people with cancer, friends, and peers) that were positively evaluated by large proportions of the respondents in both ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics differ from non-Hispanic whites in their evaluation of various possible sources and channels of information about tobacco control. Culturally appropriate interventions for Hispanics need to be designed so as to use those channels and sources of information that are more positively perceived by Hispanics.
Disease activity and emotional state in multiple sclerosis

The prevalence and nature of emotional disturbance in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was studied prospectively in 64 MS patients and 23 spinal cord-injured (SCI) control patients by administration of the 28-item subscale General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). MS patients in remission had a mean GHQ score of 4.4, and patients with acute exacerbation or progressive nonremitting MS had a mean score of 15.7, a significant difference (p less than 0.001). The prevalence of emotional disturbance was 90% in exacerbating or progressing patients, 39% in stable patients, and 12% in SCI control patients. The presence of emotional disturbance was not related to age, sex, or other demographic variables, to duration or severity of disease, or to the degree of disability. In the group of MS patients in remission, somatic complaints, anxiety, and social dysfunction were more prevalent than symptoms of depression.
The difficulty of measuring capital, revisited

Abstract This article examines the difficulty that economists have had in measuring capital in physically meaningful units, and what might be gained in our understanding of technological change if such physically meaningful units could be found and utilized. The article acknowledges that no single unit of physical measurement could feasibly be used for all forms of physical capital, but proposes that physical capital be partitioned into categories, within which unique physical units of measure could be applied. The physical units identified are: (1) energy consumption capacity of manufacturing equipment; (2) the speed of calculations in information processing; (3) the floor space and volume of structures; (4) acres of utilized land; and (5) all other raw materials, weighted by economic value. This choice of physically meaningful units is supported by the results of various hedonic price studies on capital equipment, which include studies of residential housing and commercial buildings, computers, and industrial equipment. As the history of such hedonic studies unfolds, one observes consistent patterns in the role played by these natural units, e.g., consistent, rapid increase in the speed of computer calculations. It is argued that technological change in capital equipment is well reflected and understood in terms of these natural units. In contrast current methods of partitioning capital into existing categories, like those used in U.S. national accounts, may serve other purposes very well, but reveal little about the causality of technological change.
Affiliation Motivation and Daily Experience: Some Issues on Gender Differences

Study examined the relationship of affiliation motivation to related behaviors and quality of experience. Attention focused on how gender moderates such relationship.
Isolation of thyroglobulin messenger RNA from rats: Increased yield in propylthiouracil-induced hyperplasia

Abstract Centrifugation of radioiodine-labeled RNA isolates from rat thyroid polysomes reveals a concentration of high weight poly (A)-containing RNA. Translation of thyroid RNA sedimentation fractions in reticulocyte lysates followed by immunoprecipitation with antisera against rat thyroglobulin showed correspondence of the thyroglobulin messenger activity with the high weight RNA. The poly (A)-containing RNA was separated by serial sedimentation and used as template with reverse transcriptase. Hybridization of the resulting cDNA with rat RNAs showed thyroidal specificity. While recovery of the thyroglobulin messenger RNA per animal was increased 10-fold by propylthiouracil-induced thyroidal hyperplasia, specific concentration of the fraction as measured in assays based on hybridization, translation and poly (A) content remained near the proportionality found in control animals.
A COMPARISON OF POLAROGRAPHIC METHODS FOR DETECTING CHANGES IN RESPIRATORY RATE IN CELL SUSPENSIONS.

Abstract A method for detecting changes in respiratory rate in a cell suspension stirring in contact with air by deviations from the steady-state voltage measured with a membrane covered oxygen electrode is compared with a method involving measurement of the decline in oxygen tension in an unstirred suspension with a bare, vibrating-reed electrode. In the former method, the inhibition of respiration associated with addition of a small amount of glucose to respiring suspension of Ehrlich ascites tumor is manifested by a brief deviation of oxygen tension toward higher levels followed by a return to a steady-state tension; in the latter method, the respiratory inhibition is detected by a brief decrease in the rate of oxygen disappearance from solution. The instrumentation used in these methods is described and the changes observed with the two systems are correlated.
Carbon isotope ratios of crassulacean acid metabolism species in relation to climate and phytosociology.

The δ 13C, ‰ values of the two principal, widely distributed CAM species in Big Bend National Park, Texas, were examined and related to phytosociologic and macroclimatic parameters. Samples of Agave lecheguilla and Opuntia engelmannii were collected along an elevational gradient covering 1370 m, and δ values for both total and insoluble fractions were measured. Linear regressions were used to correlate changes in δ values with changes in community importance and mean annual precipitation for both species to determine whether or not they became increasingly C3-like in their photosynthetic mode at more mesic, upper elevations. In addition, δ values were measured for other Agave and Opuntia species from different locations and for different seasons and for A. lecheguilla following a short laboratory experiment. Results show that there are very small changes in δ values for both species along the pronounced temperature and precipitation gradients associated with elevational change. The ranges in δ values for O. engelmannii are only 1.5‰ (n=7) and 1.2‰ (n=6) for total and insoluble fractions respectively. The ranges in values for A. lecheguilla are 2.6‰ (n=9) and 3.1‰ (n=9). The results for other species confirm this low variability. We conclude that the species examined are obligate CAM species and that wide elevational distributions are not due to shifts in photosynthetic mode.
Test of measurement invariance of the FTND across demographic groups: assessment, effect size, and prediction of cessation.

Abstract Background Measurement non-invariance of the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND) across demographic groups could significantly bias group comparisons and screening for recruitment into treatment and genetic studies. Here clinically meaningful bias in the FTND across European-American and African-American men and women was assessed by: (1) testing measurement invariance; (2) estimating effect sizes of non-invariance; and (3) assessing impact of adjusting for bias on the association between FTND and cessation. Methods European-American and African-American current and former smokers ( n = 8301) were identified from a community-based telephone screening of 25,265 individuals from metropolitan Detroit, MI and St. Louis, MO. The FTND was administered to measure current dependence and lifetime dependence when smoking the most. Cessation was measured as having smoked 100 or more cigarettes but not smoked in the past 30 days. Results Statistically significant measurement non-invariance for the FTND was found and more pronounced for lifetime than current dependence. However, the magnitude of effects appeared negligible. The largest variance in item response explained by measurement non-invariance was 3.1%. Adjusting for measurement non-invariance made no difference in the associations between nicotine dependence and quitting smoking across groups. Conclusions Although European-American and African-American men and women often report different scores on the FTND and have different response patterns to items on the FTND, it does not appear that such differences result from meaningful item-level measurement bias.
Broadband dielectric spectroscopic studies of molecular motions in a Nafion® membrane vs. annealing time and temperature

Abstract The dynamics of macromolecular motions as coupled to proton migration in annealed Nafion® membranes were explored at temperatures above 100 °C using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Loss permittivity vs. frequency spectra of both β and α relaxations showed increased relaxation times with annealing which was rationalized in terms of water de-sorption and diminished free volume. The α relaxation time increases with increased annealing temperature. A parameter N reflecting connectedness of charge hopping pathways was extracted and indicated that the conductivity network accumulates more charge traps, presumably due to free volume decrease, with increased annealing time. Conductivity increases with increased annealing time at all temperatures despite the decrease in N; this suggests a change in the nature of proton hopping on annealing at high temperatures to be between sulfonic acid groups rather than by hopping across H2OH+ OH2 bonds.
The Flight and Courtship Behavior of the Drywood Termite, Cryptotermes brevis ,

Periodic swarming of Cryptotermes brevis Walker was observed in late May and early June from 1968 to 1971, but no fall swarms were seen. Seasonal swarming apparently was related to rainfall, although daily swarming was not. The phenomenon was crepuscular, with peaks occurring about 30 minutes after sunrise and 80 minutes after sunset. Daily swarming did not seem to be related to wind or tides, but appeared to correlate with daily fluctuations of temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Observed light-source preference was for sunlight, ultraviolet, and incandescent, in that order. Maximum light intensity in the vicinity of actively swarming alates was 0.05–3 foot-candles. The sequence of swarming behavior included: departure from colony, dispersal flight with positive phototaxis, landing and substrate investigation, dealation, negative phototaxis, and pairing, which included a tandem behavior. Calling behavior also was observed. Dealation was nearly instantaneous. Tandem behavior of male behind female was consistent for 10 observations. Swarming was short-term dispersal rather than long-range flight. Maximum observed flight height and duration were 30 feet and three minutes, respectively.
Numerical study of boiling and natural convection in capillary porous media using the two-phase mixture model

Abstract A newly developed two-phase mixture model is applied, in conjunction with a control-volume-based finite difference method, to numerically investigate boiling with thermal convection in a porous layer heated from below. The numerical procedure employs a fixed grid and avoids tracking explicitly the moving interface between the liquid and two-phase regions. Numerical results are obtained to shed light on the intricate interactions between boiling and natural convection as well as to explain experimental observations. Four distinct flow patterns that were observed in previous experiments are predicted. A quantitative comparison of the predicted and measured vapor volume fraction in the porous bed shows good agreement. The numerical results also agree with published linear stability results. In addition, the present study documents the effects of important parameters such as Rayleigh number, bottom heat flux, and aspect ratio.
Decline in American Marten Occupancy Rates at Sagehen Experimental Forest, California

We compared the distribution and frequency of American marten (Martes americana) detec- tions during historic surveys and a recent survey on the Sagehen Experimental Forest (SEF) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. This area has been the location of 9 previous marten surveys during 1980- 1993, each involving a systematic detection/non-detection survey on the same grid. These data are a time series of information on the occupancy of martens that can be related to habitat change in the study area. Our objectives were to 1) resurvey martens in SEF using methodology similar to previous studies to assess current marten occupancy; 2) evaluate changes in marten occupancy during the period 1980-2008; and 3) examine associations between marten occurence and changes in habitat and landscape metrics. Current marten occupancy was estimated using surveys conducted in summer 2007, winter 2007-2008, and summer 2008. From 1978 to 2007 there was a decrease in predicted habitat patch size, core area, and total amount of marten habitat in the study area, as well as an increase in distance between patches. Marten detections in 2007-2008 were approximately 60% lower than in surveys in the 1980s. We detected no martens in the summers of 2007 and 2008, and 10 detections in winter 2007-2008 were limited to higher elevations in the southwestern portion of SEF. No martens were detected in the lower elevations where most of the recent forest management activity occurred. We suggest that the marten population at SEF has been negatively affected by the loss and fragmentation of habitat. We recommend that future management of forests in the Sagehen basin focus on restoring and connecting residual marten habitat to improve habitat quality for martens. 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Financial Returns of Public ESOP Companies: Investor Effects vs. Manager Effects

The financial returns of public companies that sponsor ESOPs are substantially and significantly higher than those of comparable non-ESOP companies. The returns are systematically different even after adjusting for risk, providing evidence of a positive investor effect. The analysis of pre- and postadoption returns of ESOP-sponsoring companies suggests that the adoption of an ESOP actually reduces financial returns, signifying the presence of a relatively large negative manager effect. These findings are consistent with the idea that most ESOPs in large publicly traded companies are adopted for defensive purposes. Even though ESOP adoption lowers financial returns in large companies and has no significant effect in smaller companies, the presence of an ESOP remains a good signal to buy the sponsor's stock.
Teaching and learning English in Macedonia

An investigation into the current status of English teaching and learning in Macedonia. The focus of this study will be on the spread of English there, within the domain of foreign language education, and it is guided by the following research questions: What is the most dominant foreign language taught and learned in R. Macedonia?How is English teaching implemented in the Macedonian educational system?What are some of the current resources for the teaching and learning of English?In the article, I discuss the implementation of English in the public and private schools and universities, alongside instruction in such other languages as French, German, and Russian.
A Special Distributional Result for Bilinear Forms.

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions are given such that a quadratic form has moment-generating function E[exp ( tU′BU)] = (1 – t 2)–r/4 for |t| < 1 with U ∼ Nk (μ, Σ) and Σ positive definite. An important corollary gives conditions under which the bilinear form X′AY involving two different multivariate normal random vectors (of not necessarily the same dimensions) has the same distribution as the sum of independent random variables, each having the LaPlace (double exponential) distribution.
Managing versions of web documents in a transaction-time web server

This paper presents a transaction-time HTTP server, called TTApache that supports document versioning. A document often consists of a main file formatted in HTML or XML and several included files such as images and stylesheets. A change to any of the files associated with a document creates a new version of that document. To construct a document version history, snapshots of the document's files are obtained over time. Transaction times are associated with each file version to record the version's lifetime. The transaction time is the system time of the edit that created the version. Accounting for transaction time is essential to supporting audit queries that delve into past document versions and differential queries that pinpoint differences between two versions. TTApache performs automatic versioning when a document is read thereby removing the burden of versioning from document authors. Since some versions may be created but never read, TTApache distinguishes between known and assumed versions of a document. TTApache has a simple query language to retrieve desired versions. A browser can request a specific version, or the entire history of a document. Queries can also rewrite links and references to point to current or past versions. Over time, the version history of a document continually grows. To free space, some versions can be vacuumed. Vacuuming a version however changes the semantics of requests for that version. This paper presents several policies for vacuuming versions and strategies for accounting for vacuumed versions in queries.
Long-lived glaciation in the Late Ordovician? Isotopic and sequence-stratigraphic evidence from western Laurentia

The timing and causes of the transition to an icehouse climate in the Late Ordovician are controversial. Results of an integrated δ13C and sequence stratigraphic analysis in Nevada show that in the Late Ordovician Chatfieldian Stage (mid-Caradoc) a positive δ13C excursion in the upper part of the Copenhagen Formation was closely followed by a regressive event evidenced within the prominent Eureka Quartzite. The Chatfieldian δ13C excursion is known globally and interpreted to record enhanced organic carbon burial, which lowered atmospheric p CO2 to levels near the threshold for ice buildup in the Ordovician greenhouse climate. The subsequent regressive event in central Nevada, previously interpreted as part of a regional tectonic adjustment, is here attributed in part to sea-level drawdown from the initiation of continental glaciation on Gondwana. This drop in sea level—which may have contributed to further cooling through a reduction in poleward heat transport and a lowering of p CO2 by suppressing shelf-carbonate production—signals the transition to a Late Ordovician icehouse climate ∼10 m.y. before the widespread Hirnantian glacial maximum at the end of the Ordovician.
Neurofeedback and epilepsy

Over the past three decades, researchers have examined various behavioral approaches to the treatment of epilepsy. One prominent line of inquiry concerns the effectiveness of neurofeedback, which entails the entrainment of specific electroencephalographic frequencies for the purpose of decreasing seizure frequencies in patients with epilepsy. This article reviews the current literature on the efficacy of neurofeedback in reducing seizure frequency. While it is clear that neurofeedback had a positive effect in most of the studies reviewed, these findings are limited due to multiple confounding factors. In the absence of any rigorously controlled studies, the relationship between neurofeedback and seizure frequency cannot be firmly established. Despite these limitations, the promising role of neurofeedback as a treatment for epilepsy is illustrated.
Method of adjustments versus method of constant stimuli in the quantification of accuracy and precision of rendered depth in head-mounted displays

The utilization of head-mounted displays (HMDs) in hign-end applications such as medical, engineering, and scientific visualization necessitates that the position of objects be rendered accurately and precisely. Accuracy and precision of rendered depth for near-field visualization were measured in a custom-designed bench prototype HMD. Experimental results were compared to theoretical predictions established from a computational model for rendering and presenting virtual images by Robinett and Rolland (1992). Such a theoretical model provided the necessary graphics transformations required so that rendered virtual objects be perceived at the rendered depth in binocular HMDs. Three object shades of various sizes were investigated under two methodologies: tne method of constant stimuli modified for random size presentation and the method of adjustments. Results snow a 2 mm and an 8 mm performance for the accuracy and the precision of rendered depth in HMDs, respectively. Results of the assessment of rendered depth in HMDs for near-field visualization support employing the method of adjustments over the method of constant stimuli whether or not the method of constant stimuli is modified for random size presentation.