cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in chronic epilepsy.

Abstract There is a long-recognized association between obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and chronic epilepsy, most notably refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The literature documents this association with case reports, patient series, and some larger controlled studies that reveal that almost a quarter of patients with TLE exhibit OCD features, which may go unrecognized. Obsession features with ordering, symmetry, exactness, handwashing, and religiosity occur more often in persons with right- or left-sided epileptic foci than in those with idiopathic generalized epilepsies or controls. Neurobiological and social factors suggest abnormalities of the frontal–thalamic–pallidal–striatal–anterior cingulate–frontal circuits stemming from the observation that certain diseases, damage, or surgery along these circuits may produce or, conversely, reduce OCD in TLE. This review explores the literature on case reports, case series, and larger retrospective controlled studies and looks at the associations of epilepsy with OCD. Contemporary speculation on the theoretical neurobiological underpinnings provides some basis on how and where to direct treatment. Invasive deep brain stimulation has triggered recent controversy on newer treatment modalities.
Crime Control Strategies in School: Chicanas'/os' Perceptions and Criminalization

High schools throughout the United States experience problems with violence, drugs, and crime. School administrators have responded with policies and strategies designed to prevent school violence such as zero tolerance approaches, partnerships with law enforcement agencies, security camera installations, and hiring additional security personnel to monitor students. The purpose of this research is to determine how Chicanas/os and school officials perceive and experience these techniques as part of a broader process of criminalization. In addition, using qualitative data we explore perceptions of safety and experiences with victimization. Qualitative data include interviews (with high school students, school administrators, and security personnel), an evaluation of a Chicana/o-centered program, and participant observations in a predominantly Chicana/o high school located in the Southwest. Findings show some students find the new techniques to be invasive and hostile and others find school security measures as providing a sense of security; and administrators and teachers generally find value in the new approaches. From a LatCrit perspective, we argue that Chicana/o and Mexicana/o experiences are set within a context of racialized space where criminalization is one possible outcome of school security measures.
Student Engagement in After-School Programs, Academic Skills, and Social Competence among Elementary School Students

Research on the relationship between after-school program participation and student outcomes has been mixed, and beneficial effects have been small. More recent studies suggest that participation is best characterized as a multidimensional concept that includes enrollment, attendance, and engagement, which help explain differences in student outcomes. The present study uses data from a longitudinal study of after-school programs in elementary schools to examine staff ratings of student engagement in after-school activities and the association between engagement and school outcomes. The factor structure of the staff-rated measure of student engagement was examined by exploratory factor analysis. Multiple regression analyses found that student engagement in academic, youth development, and arts after-school program activities was significantly related to changes in teacher ratings of academic skills and social competence over the course of the school year and that students with the greatest increase in academic skills both were highly engaged in activities and attended the after-school program regularly. The results of this study provide additional evidence regarding the benefits of after-school programs and the importance of student engagement when assessing student outcomes.
Taking control of G-quadruplexes.

Telomeres are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the genome. Several alternative structures have been proposed for these caps, and understanding their biological significance is a matter of great interest. Probing of native telomeres now reveals that telomere end-binding proteins may control the formation of G-quadruplex DNA in vivo.
Intrathecal somatostatin in cat and mouse studies on pain, motor behavior, and histopathology.

Effects of intrathecal (i.t.) somatostatin (SST) on nociception, motor function, and spinal cord pathology were evaluated in cats and mice. Cats chronically implanted with i.t. lumbar catheters received either a single injection of 2 mg SST i.t. (group I, N = 4), four repetitive injections on consecutive days of 2 mg SST i.t. (group II, N = 4) or saline i.t. (group III, N = 2). No analgesic effects were observed following single or repeated SST injections as evaluated by the skin twitch response. However, significant impairment of hind leg motor function ranging from unbalanced gait to paralysis was observed following the first SST i.t. injection. Histological examination of spinal cords six days after the first SST injection in group II showed multiple pyknotic neurons in all cats. Some cats showed focal demyelination in the posterior column of the spinal cord white matter. Mice received a single percutaneous injection of 50 micrograms SST i.t. (group I, N = 7), 5 micrograms SST i.t. (group II, N = 3), or saline i.t., (group III, N = 5). No analgesic effects were observed in groups II and III as evaluated by the hot plate (HP) and tail flick (TF) tests. Injection of 50 micrograms SST i.t. (group I) caused reversible flaccid hind leg paralysis in all mice and concomitant increases in HP and TF latencies. Histologic examination revealed focal demyelination in the spinal cord in three out of seven mice in this group. Present data substantiate neurotoxic effects of i.t. SST and lack of behaviorally defined antinociception at innocuous dosages.
Differential removal of strontium 85 and calcium 45 from rat skeleton by peritoneal lavage.

Summary1) A simple technic has been described for removal of electrolytes from the rat by peritoneal lavage. From comparisons of strontium/calcium ratios in lavage solutions and bones of nephrectomized rats it is estimated that strontium was preferentially released from bone by a factor of 1.3 over calcium. 2) It was calculated that strontium preferentially entered bone from blood by a factor of 1.3 to 1.6. The differential removal of the 2 elements from the intact rat was shown to be due mainly to renal function. Eight hours of peritoneal lavage removed about 5% of the Sr∗ that had been deposited for 24 hours but only about 0.6% of that deposited for 8 days.
Dominant Creep Failure Process in Tensile Components

The competing effects of failure by net section stress rupture and failure due to crack growth in creeping structural alloys have been investigated to determine the dominant failure process under various constant load service conditions.
Conics arising from external points and their binary codes

In Wu (Linear Algebra Appl 439:422---434 2013), the author constructed a binary code using the incidence matrix of conics consisting only of internal points with respect to a fixed conic versus internal points and studied geometric problems associated with this code. Inspired by that work, in this article, we construct conics consisting only of external points with respect to a conic for $$q$$q odd. We study the intersection pattern of each of these conics with secant lines of the fixed conic, compute the dimension of the $${\mathbb F}_2$$F2-row space of the incidence matrix of the aforementioned conics and external points which provides us with the dimension of the associated binary code, and find the automorphism group of the binary code.
A computational study of three-dimensional transonic shear flow in turbomachine cascades

Three dimensional transonic shear flow structure in turbomachine cascade, using time dependent numerical solution
Measuring the Structure of Epitaxially Assembled Block Copolymer Domains with Soft X-ray Diffraction

The size, shape, and interface structure of poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) block copolymer domains assembled on an epitaxial template are characterized with soft X-ray diffraction. The domain size and shape are deformed when the dimensions of the epitaxial template are incommensurate with the equilibrium dimensions of the block copolymer, producing sidewall angles in the range of 1−2° (±0.2°). The average width of the copolymer interface is (4.9 ± 0.1) nm. Comparison with mean-field theoretic predictions for the structure of block copolymer interfaces suggests a low-frequency variance in the copolymer interface position of 1.2 nm2, or a low-frequency line-edge roughness of approximately 3 nm.
Liquid-Phase-Epitaxial Growth of HTSC Thin Films

High Tc superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox films have been successfully prepared by the Liquid Phase Epitaxial (LPE) technique. Their X-ray diffraction patterns revealed a high degree of (001) preferred orientations with their c-axes perpendicular to the film surfaces. Both these in-situ grown YBa2Cu3O7 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox films showed the zero-resistivity at 80°K, respectively.
Constructing binomial confidence intervals with near nominal coverage by adding a single imaginary failure or success

In this paper we present a simple method for constructing (1− α)100 per cent confidence intervals for binomial proportions with near nominal coverage for all underlying proportion parameters on the unit interval. This new method uses, with a slight modification, the standard normal approximation technique taught in introductory statistics classes. Specifically, we first augment the observed binomial data with an imaginary failure to compute the lower bound and an imaginary success to compute the upper bound. By contrast, the Agresti–Coull method adds the same number of imaginary successes and failures to the observed data, yet it can still give somewhat subnominal coverage. As motivation, we discuss the relationship between this new method and the Clopper–Pearson exact method. We also present numerical calculations to illustrate the satisfactory performance of this new method compared with several common alternatives. Finally, we argue that for certain statistical applications, such as the design and analysis of clinical trials with adverse events, this new method represents a valuable complementary approach. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Realistic Sanding Predictions: A Neural Approach

Predicting when, or if, sand production will stabilize, and/or in what amounts it will occur, remains a priority item on the wish list of this Industry. For example, if beforehand one knows that Mother Nature is able to reach a stable geometry downhole, early in the life of the well, none of the remedial, productivity decreasing measures would need to be implemented. The complexities involved in the problem still hinder the success of numerous methodologies at their utmost capabilities. Sand exclusion measures are very much complicated by the absence of known precursors to sanding. Accordingly, smart tools that are capable of learning from the past (case histories) to better predict the future of sanding occurrences in the field will certainly help us optimize our decisions about the problem and may stand solid in making this predictive wish of the Industry come true. This study is concerned with using the feedforward backpropagation network (BPN) and the generalized regression neural network (GRNN) architectures to predict important sanding indication parameters for gas wells of the Northern Adriatic Basin. Design, tuning, and implementation issues of both network types are briefly introduced in this paper. Data from twenty-three (23) problematic wells and eight (8) sand-free wells are utilized, herein, to train, cross validate, and test the newly applied methodology. Previously, AGIP S.p.A. provided the data and made it public domain property. Input to the system includes total vertical depth, transit time, formation cohesive strength, water and gas rates, drawdown pressure, original static reservoir pressure, effective overburden stress, interval length, and perforation density. The devised system works on classifying the well, forecasting the problematic year in the well's life, and predicting the well's sanding potentiality value (a predefined parameter), as well as its critical total drawdown. The developed approach far outperformed AGIP's recognized correlations for wells in the same field and showed much better generalization capabilities on all new and unseen cases. Thus, a critical module in a much larger sand inflow treatment-expert, prediction, and analysis software has been devised and validated.
Fundamentalism, psychoanalysis, and psychoanalytic theories.

A psychoanalytic interpretation of fundamentalism is offered in this paper, which is an effort to grasp the meaning and dynamics of fundamentalist psychology on the basis of what we know about development and pathology. However, my purpose goes beyond understanding fundamentalist movements. My intent is to use the achieved formulation to link fundamentalist psychodynamics with anxieties and adaptive strategies commonly experienced in the modern world. To bring the analysis as close to home as possible, I examine the divisions in the psychoanalytic movement to demonstrate that the anxieties and defenses of fundamentalists can be seen in the battles among competing psychoanalytic theories. In this process, I hope to show that psychoanalysis has faced anxieties comparable to those that threaten fundamentalists and has reacted in remarkably similar ways. The term “fundamentalism” originated from a set of books published in the early twentieth century called The Fundamentals, which advocated resisting the influence of modernism by returning Protestantism to its founding beliefs. While fundamentalist perspectives are by no means confined to the Protestant church, this conflict with modernity has remained a guiding theme of fundamentalism in each of its religious manifestations. Religious fundamentalism aims to return a religion to its original principles, thus implying that the faith has strayed from its founding precepts and, therefore, has lost connection to the intent of the founders. Because the wider religion no longer represents the
Mechanism of n-butane skeletal isomerization on H-mordenite and Pt/H-mordenite

Abstract Kinetics and isotope labeling experiments were used to investigate the reaction pathways of n-butane on H-mordenite and Pt/H-mordenite at atmospheric pressure and temperatures of 543–583 K. Butenes, either formed on the catalyst or present in the feed, controlled the relative rates of mono- and bimolecular reaction pathways. The true activation energy for isobutane formation was found to be 120–134 kJ/mol. The reaction order for isobutane formation with respect to n-butene on Pt/H-mordenite was 1.0–1.2, consistent with a predominately monomolecular route of formation. An order close to 2 for disproportionation products indicated a bimolecular route of formation. An increase of the butene concentration from less than 20 ppm to about 120 ppm greatly increased the rate of bimolecular skeletal isomerization, as determined from conversion of 1,4-13C2-n-butane. The findings explain how reaction conditions affect product selectivity and clarify the controversy around butane isomerization on solid acids.
Deformation and Depinning of Superconducting Vortices from Artificial Defects: A Ginzburg-Landau Study

Using Ginzburg-Landau theory, we have performed detailed studies of vortices in the presence of artificial defect arrays, for a thin-film geometry. We show that when a vortex approaches the vicinity of a defect, an abrupttransition occurs, in which the vortex core develops a "string" extending to the defect boundary, while simultaneously the supercurrents and associated magnetic flux spread out and engulf the defect. Current induced depinning of vortices is shown to be dominated by the core string distortion in typical experimental situations. Experimental consequences of this unusual depinning behavior are discussed.
Institutional Issues in Implementation of Pavement Management Systems by Local Agencies

To optimize available funds in preserving the national transportation infrastructure, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) mandates that state and local agencies develop and implement various infrastructure management systems. One of these systems is a pavement management system (PMS). To comply with ISTEA, jurisdictions must implement a working PMS in order to continue to qualify for federal funds. Institutional issues that obstruct the implementation of PMS by local agencies are identified and analyzed. For effective implementation and continued use, PMS is viewed as both a new philosophy that must be incorporated into the overall organizational goals of an agency and a support tool for better decision making. Since pavement management is usually only one of several agency functions, the large expenditure of resources associated with PMS implementation is impractical for smaller agencies with limited budgets. This situation has lead to the abandonment of several PMS progr...
Thermal dry-etching of copper using hydrogen peroxide and hexafluoroacetylacetone

Abstract A new thermal dry etch process for copper (Cu) is reported which results in isotropic removal of Cu at high rates, does not involve the use of halogens such as chlorine, and results in formation of a volatile etching product. Applications include cleaning of chemical vapor deposition reactors and the back-side of wafers. The process involves oxidation of copper by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) vapor to form either copper(I) or copper(II) oxide depending on the etch temperature and removal of the copper oxides by reaction with hexafluoroacetylacetone (hfacH) to form volatile copper(bis-hexafluoroacetylacetonate) (Cu(hfac)2) and water. Copper was etched at temperatures as low as 150 °C and at rates of up to ~ 1 μm min−1 at 190 °C by simultaneous flow of H2O2 and hfacH over a heated substrate. The etch rate increased with substrate temperature, etchant flow rates, and chamber pressure over the range of the parameters studied. The rate-limiting regime was identified by observing the film color during etching; a dark-brown color suggested fast oxidation with slow removal of copper oxide as the rate limiting step while a copper color suggested fast removal of copper oxide from the surface with oxidation as the rate-limiting step. The partially etched copper films were less reflective and exhibited higher surface roughness compared with the sputter-deposited copper used for etching.
Vibrational spectra, assignments, potential energy constants, and calculated thermodynamic properties for 1,1-dichloro-2-fluoroethylene

Abstract Raman displacements, semiquantitative relative intensities, and depolarization factors as well as wave numbers and relative intensities for the infrared bands in the region 600 to 4000 cm −1 were obtained for 1,1-dichloro-2-fluoroethylene. Vibrational assignments consistent with the depolarization data, the Raman and infrared spectra, and the selection rules were made. A normal coordinate analysis was carried out by use of Wilson's FG matrix method, with a potential energy function of the Urey-Bradley type. Finally, the thermodynamic properties—heat content function, free energy function, entropy, and heat capacity—were calculated from the spectral and structural data for twelve temperatures from 100° to 1000°K.
A conserved hydrolase responsible for the cleavage of aminoacylphosphatidylglycerol in the membrane of Enterococcus faecium.

Abstract Aminoacylphosphatidylglycerol synthases (aaPGSs) are enzymes that transfer amino acids from aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) to phosphatidylglycerol (PG) to form aa-PG in the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. aa-PGs provide bacteria with resistance to a range of antimicrobial compounds and stress conditions. Enterococcus faecium encodes a triple-specific aaPGS (RakPGS) that utilizes arginine, alanine, and lysine as substrates. Here we identify a novel hydrolase (AhyD), encoded immediately adjacent to rakPGS in E. faecium, which is responsible for the hydrolysis of aa-PG. The genetic synteny of aaPGS and ahyD is conserved in >60 different bacterial species. Deletion of ahyD in E. faecium resulted in increased formation of Ala-PG and Lys-PG and increased sensitivity to bacitracin. Our results suggest that AhyD and RakPGS act together to maintain optimal levels of aa-PG in the bacterial membrane to confer resistance to certain antimicrobial compounds and stress conditions.
Stroke in 2011: Major advances across the spectrum of stroke care.

Several pivotal clinical trials that could have a major impact on the care of patients with stroke were published in 2011. The studies cover a wide range of stroke-care aspects, including stroke prevention, imaging to select patients for thrombolysis, therapies for stroke recovery, and stroke registries to improve care quality.
A noncanonical poly(A) signal, UAUAAA, and flanking elements in Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase mRNA function in cleavage and polyadenylation assays.

Abstract Two forms of the Epstein–Barr virus DNA polymerase (pol) mRNA (3.7 and 5.1 kb) have been detected, neither of which contains a canonical poly(A) signal. The 5.1-kb pol mRNA, which contains a rare poly(A) signal, UAUAAA, studied only in transcripts of Hepadnaviridae and a plant pararetrovirus, was analyzed in cleavage and polyadenylation assays. Incubation of the pol transcript in cell extracts produced relatively low efficiency of cleavage (12 to 14%), which was improved by conversion of the poly(A) signal to AAUAAA. Deletion of the UAUAAA signal abolished cleavage and polyadenylation. An auxiliary element, UUUGUA, 3–8 nt upstream of the poly(A) signal and two downstream core elements, a GU-rich sequence 36–46 nt, and an AUUUGUGU sequence 47–53 nt downstream of the signal (8–19 nt and 20–28 nt downstream of cleavage site) facilitated processing of pol mRNA. Replacement of sequences near the cleavage/poly(A) site affected cleavage accuracy. Binding of the 64-kDa cleavage stimulatory factor to the U-rich as well as the GU-rich elements correlated with cleavage efficiency. Thus the UAUAAA hexanucleotide plus the other cis-acting elements are clearly functional in the native pol mRNA, but are relatively inefficient. Implications of the use of an anomalous poly(A) signal and its elements are discussed.
Maize (Zea mays): a model organism for basic and applied research in plant biology

Zea mays ssp. mays is one of the world's most important crop plants, boasting a multibillion dollar annual revenue. In addition to its agronomic importance, maize has been a keystone model organism for basic research for nearly a century. Within the cereals, which include other plant model species such as rice (Oryza sativa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), wheat (Triticum spp.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare), maize is the most thoroughly researched genetic system. Several attributes of the maize plant, including a vast collection of mutant stocks, large heterochromatic chromosomes, extensive nucleotide diversity, and genic colinearity within related grasses, have positioned this species as a centerpiece for genetic, cytogenetic, and genomic research. As a model organism, maize is the subject of such far-ranging biological investigations as plant domestication, genome evolution, developmental physiology, epigenetics, pest resistance, heterosis, quantitative inheritance, and comparative genomics. These and other studies will be advanced by the completed sequencing and annotation of the maize gene space, which will be realized during 2009. Here we present an overview of the use of maize as a model system and provide links to several protocols that enable its genetic and genomic analysis.
Surgical Dislocation of the Hip: Evolving Indications:

Background Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition that has become increasingly identified as abnormal, repetitive abutment of the proximal femur and acetabular rim. Safe surgical dislocation of the hip has been popularized as a technique that allows surgeons to not only improve joint preservation procedures but also understand disease patterns more clearly.
Subcortical neurons in cerebellar tissue cultures: A golgi study

Subcortical neurons incorporated with mouse cerebellar explants were subjected to analysis with Golgi methods. Intracerebellar nucleus neurons included multipolar and spindle-shape cells with complex dendrites having both spinous and aspinous branches. Dorsal pontine neurons were multipolar, with generally long, spinous dendritic branches. The dendritic complexity of these neurons maintained in relatively isolated in vitro conditions is indicative of considerable intrinsic developmental capability.
Advantages and limitations of computed tomography scans for treatment planning of lung cancer

Forty-five Chest computed tomography (CT) scans performed on patients with lung carcinoma (LC) were evaluated in an attempt to understand the pattern of intrathoracic tumor spread and the advantages and limitations this technique offers for treatment planning when compared to planning done by conventional X rays. The following findings can help treatment planning. (1) When regular X rays do not show tumor location (i.e., hemithorax opacification), CT scan will show it in 68% of patients. If regular X rays show a well localized mass, unsuspected tumor extensions were disclosed in 78% of these patients. Hence, CT scans should be done in all LC patients prior to treatment planning; (2) Mediastinal masses frequently spread anteriorly toward the sternum and posteriorly around the vertebral bodies toward the cord and costal pleura. This should be considered for radiotherapy boost techniques; (3) Lung masses spread in one third of cases toward the lateral costal pleura. Thus, the usual 1-2cm of safety margin around the LC are not sufficient in some cases; (4) Tumor size can appear much smaller in regular X rays than in CT scans. Hence, CT scans are necessary for accurate staging and evaluation of tumor response. Some CT scan limitations are: (1) Atelectasis blends with tumor in approximately half of the patients, thus obscuring tumor boundaries; (2) CT numbers and contrast enhancement did not help to differentiate between these two structures; and (3) Limited definition of CT scan prevents investigation of suspected microscopic spread around tumor masses.
JUST WAR, NONCOMBATANT IMMUNITY, AND THE CONCEPT OF SUPREME EMERGENCY

Abstract The supreme emergency exemption proposed by Michael Walzer has engendered controversy because it permits violations of the jus in bello principle of discrimination when a state is faced with imminent defeat at the hands of a very evil enemy. Traditionalists among just war theorists believe that noncombatants should never be deliberately targeted in war whether or not there is a supreme emergency. Pacifists, on the other hand, reject war as immoral even in a supreme emergency. Unlike Walzer, neither just war traditionalists nor pacifists make a special case for supreme emergencies. In this paper, I borrow Walzer's concept to provide support for a different ethics of war that limits war to supreme emergencies. In non-supreme emergency situations, I agree with pacifists in rejecting war even if just war requirements are satisfied. But in supreme emergencies, I agree with just war traditionalists that war can be legitimately fought provided that moral constraints that protect noncombatants are respected.
NONLINEAR OPTICS OF POLYMERS: FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS

A broad review of nonlinear optical properties of polymeric materials and devices is presented.
Supersingular primes for points on X0(p)/wp

Abstract For small odd primes p, we prove that most of the rational points on the modular curve X 0 ( p ) / w p parametrize pairs of elliptic curves having infinitely many supersingular primes. This result extends the class of elliptic curves for which the infinitude of supersingular primes is known. We give concrete examples illustrating how these techniques can be explicitly used to construct supersingular primes for such elliptic curves. Finally, we discuss generalizations to points defined over larger number fields and indicate the types of obstructions that arise for higher level modular curves.
Elementary extensions of models of set theory

Model Theoretic methods are used to extend models of set theory while leaving specified sets fixed. In particular, every countable modelU of ZF has: (i) an extension leaving every set inU fixed, and (ii) for each (inU) regular cardinala an extension enlarginga but leaving each cardinal less thana fixed.
Structural testing of multi-input linear—nonlinear cascade models for cells in macaque striate cortex

Abstract Structural testing methods based on experimental white noise stimulus-response data were used to evaluate multi-input linear—nonlinear (LN) cascade models for simple and complex cells in macaque striate cortex. An LN structural test index, based on white noise stimulation, was developed and found to be suitable for classifying cells as simple vs complex. In particular, classification results based on the LN structural test index were similar to classification results based on a traditional modulation index derived from cell responses to drifting sinewave gratings. Judging from their structural test indices, complex cells deviated more strongly from LN behavior than did simple cells. Yet, even with simple cells, on average, only about 60% of the first- and second-order white noise stimulus-response relation was consistent with LN behavior. Just two of thirteen simple cells studied had an LN consistency level that exceeded 80%. Similar results were found in tests for consistency with an LNL model which includes an additional linear post-filter. We conclude that a conventional multi-input LN network model may be a useful approximation to the response behavior of some simple cells. However, even during steady state stimulus conditions, subcortical and/or cortical nonlinearities other than a static output nonlinearity play a very significant role in shaping the responses of most simple cells in the macaque striate cortex.
Self-pulsing and bichromatic emission in homogeneously broadened bidirectional ring lasers

The effects of saturation-induced Bragg gratings on the mode structure and dynamics of bidirectional homogeneously broadened ring lasers are studied. The grating is viewed as a distributed feedback medium in a ring cavity and modes appropriate to such a structure are used. A Fourier decomposed rate equation model is developed to study the behavior of these modes above threshold. The difference in the properties of these solutions from the modes of an unfilled ring cavity lead to the possibility of bichromatic emission and both regular undamped and irregular damped self-pulsing.
A Generalization of a Theorem of Birch

We generalize a theorem of Birch on solving systems of homogeneous equations of odd degree to the case of solving systems of homogeneous equations of degree not divisible by a fixed integer s ≥ 2. Birch's theorem is the case s = 2. In addition, we give a new exposition of the proof of Brauer's theorem on solving systems of homogeneous equations.
Translating cellular therapies from bench to bedside for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The last decade has witnessed an increasing number of biologic (e.g., cell- or viral vector-based) therapeutics supported by preclinical efficacy data for the treatment of afflictions to the CNS. While some international investigators have undertaken preliminary clinical safety studies, published literature indicate varying degrees of rigor with respect to study design and technical approach. To our knowledge, ours is the first group to have systematically generated preclinical validation data for a delivery approach and translated this into a Phase I trial attempting to covalidate the safety of a direct, targeted delivery approach, as well as a cell-based therapeutic. This article discusses the rationale for cell-based therapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and several of the unique considerations encountered during this process.
New species and new records of Mydidae from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions (Insecta, Diptera, Asiloidea).

New Mydidae species are described from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions including the fi rst records of this family from several countries in eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) and Mauritania in western Africa as well as Nepal and Th ailand in Asia. Th e new species are, Leptomydinae: Leptomydas notos sp. n. (south-western India), Leptomydas rapti sp. n. (south-central Nepal), Leptomydas tigris sp. n. (north-central Th ailand); Syllegomydinae: Mydaselpidini: Mydaselpis ngurumani sp. n. (southeastern Kenya, north-eastern Tanzania), Vespiodes phaios sp. n. (south-eastern Kenya); Syllegomydinae: Syllegomydini: Syllegomydas (Notobates) astrictus sp. n. (Kenya), Syllegomydas (Notobates) heothinos sp. n. (Kenya and Uganda), Syllegomydas (Syllegomydas) elachys sp. n. (northern Zimbabwe). Syllegomydas (Syllegomydas) proximus Seguy, 1928 is recorded from western Mauritania and re-described. Syllegomydas (Notobates) dispar (Loew, 1852), which was previously listed as incertae sedis in the Afrotropical Diptera catalogue, is re-described and illustrated based on examination of the type specimens and several additional specimens from Mozambique. Cephalocera annulata Brunetti, 1912 and Syllegomydas bucciferus Seguy, 1928, described from north-eastern India and previously unplaced in the Oriental Diptera catalogue, are newly combined with Leptomydas Gerstaecker, 1868 and together with Leptomydas indianus Brunetti, 1912, also from north-eastern India, placed in Leptomydinae. Comments on the possible synonymy of the genera of Mydaselpidini are made. Illustrations and photographs are provided to support the descriptions and future identifi cation. A provisional dichotomous key to Mydidae genera occurring in eastern
QoS-aware middleware support for collaborative multimedia streaming and caching service

Abstract Reducing initial delay of playing time, delay jitter during playing time, and network bandwidth utilization is important for IP-based multimedia streaming services. In heterogeneous computing environments, diversity of computing power and network connection of different devices makes a stable quality of streaming service more difficult. In order to achieve these goals, our quality of service (QoS)-aware middleware for collaborative multimedia streaming and caching service exploits the proximity of a set of peer clients and temporal and spatial locality of cached media streams on these clients. Peer clients collaborate together to deliver streams to heterogeneous client(s) with QoS guarantees. Our paper shows collaborative techniques for multimedia streaming, scheduling and pre-fetching embedded in the QoS middleware architecture for dynamic group management of heterogeneous computing devices. In addition, we provide an underlying QoS-provisioning mechanism to support not only heterogeneous clients, but also dynamic configuration change of them.
Perinatal Outcomes of Obese Women: A Review of the Literature

Objective: To review the literature addressing the effect of obesity on pregnancy outcomes and to identify practice and research implications. Data Sources: Computerized searches in Medline and CINAHL, as well as references cited in articles reviewed. Key words used in the search were as follows: pregnancy and obesity; pregnancy complications; weight gain and pregnancy; weight gain and complications; fat distribution and pregnancy and complications; and obstetrics and obesity. Study Selection: Articles and comprehensive works from indexed journals in the English language relevant to key words and published after 1978 were evaluated. Data Extraction: Data were extracted and organized under the following headings: methodologic issues; physiologic adjustments; antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn outcomes; and cost. Data Synthesis: Obese pregnant women experience more gestational diabetes, neural tube defects, preeclampsia, induction, primary cesarean, and postpartum infection than pregnant women who are not obese. Conclusions: Pregnant women who are obese are at increased risk for certain complications during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Little is known about the effect that fat distribution (upper versus lower, which is influential in nonpregnant populations) has on obstetric complications. Even less is known about obese pregnant women's perceptions of risk, changes in lifestyle, functioning, health behaviors, and symptoms experienced during pregnancy.
The False Fontanelle as a Practical Method of Longterm Testing of Intracranial Pressure

SUMMARY A technique is described for fashioning a permanent skull defect in the parietal region. This false fontanelle is employed as a simple clinical indicator of intracranial pressure in cases of hydrocephalus controlled by a ventriculo-atrial shunt. In the first fifteen cases, re-ossification occurred from the intact dura. The technique now includes reflection of dura and insertion of Dura Substitute. Twelve false fontanelles have remained patent for a year or more. The indications for the operation and its advantages are discussed. RESUME Les auteurs decrivent une technique operatoire pour realiser une defectuosite permanente du crâne dans la region parietale. Cette fausse fontanelle est employee comme indicateur clinique de la pression intra-crânienne dans le controle des hydrocephalies traitees par un shunt ventriculo-atrial. Dans les 15 premiers cas, la reossification s'est produite a partir de la dure-mere intacte. La technique actuelle comprend maintenant le repli de la duremere et l'insertion d'un substitut de dure-mere. Douze fausses fontanelles sont restees souples pendant un an ou plus. On discute les indications de cette operation et ses avantages. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Die Technik zur Herstellung eines bleibenden Schadeldefektes in der Parietalregion wird beschrieben. Diese kunstliche Fontanelle wird als einfacher klinischer Indikator fur intracraniellen Druckanstieg bei Kindern mit Hydrocephalus und ableitender Operation verwandt. Bei den ersten 15 Fallen trat eine Reossifikation von der intakten Dura her ein. Deswegen gehort zur Technik die Abdrangung der Dura und das Einfuhren von Ersatzmaterial. Zwolf kunstliche Fontanellen sind auf diese Weise ein Jahr oder langer offengeblieben. Die Indikation fur die Operation und ihre Vorteile werden erortert. RESUMEN Se describe una tecnica para formar un defecto craneal permanente en la zona parietal. Esta fontanela falsa se emplea como indicador clinico sencillo de la presion intracraneal en casos de hidrocefalia controlados por un shunt ventriculo-atrial. En los 15 primeros casos, se ocurrio una reosificacion desde la dura intacta. La tecnica incluye ahora reflexion de la dura e insercion de Dura Sustituta. Doce fontanelas falsas han permanecido patentes durante un ano o mas. Se discuten las indicaciones para la intervencion y sus ventajas.
Cotton fiber germin-like protein. I. Molecular cloning and gene expression.

The presence of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber transcripts coding for a germin-like protein (GLP) was revealed by differential display analysis in which early stages of cotton fiber development between a wild type line, Texas Marker-1 (TM1) and a near isogenic mutant, Naked Seed (N1) were compared. Transcripts of the cotton GLP (GhGLP1) accumulated specifically in TM1, but did not accumulate in the mutant although the GhGLP1 gene was present in both lines. The deduced protein sequence of GhGLP1 is similar to Prunus persica auxin-binding proteins, a barley ADP-glucose pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase and two different classes of hydrogen peroxide-producing enzymes: wheat germin oxalate oxidase and moss extracellular Mn-superoxide dismutase. Cotton GLPs constitute a multigene family like those of Arabidopsis, rice, soybean, and barley. GhGLP1 transcripts accumulated to their highest levels during the period of fiber expansion, followed by a sharp decline when the rate of cell expansion decreased. While germins and GLPs appear to be involved in defense mechanisms in some plants, both biotic and abiotic stress down-regulated the expression of GhGLP1. Numerous functions have been proposed for dicot GLPs. However, to date, there is little direct evidence for how these proteins function in vivo. The association of maximal GhGLP1 expression with stages of maximal cotton fiber elongation suggests that some GLPs may be important for cell wall expansion.
Polytheism and Christian Belief

Christian philosophers and theologians have long been concerned with the question of how to reconcile their belief in three fully divine Persons with their commitment to monotheism. The most popular strategy for doing this—the Social Trinitarian strategy—argues that, though the divine Persons are in no sense the same God, monotheism is secured by certain relations (e.g. familial relations, dependence relations, or compositional relations) that obtain among them. It is argued that if the Social Trinitarian understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity is correct, then Christianity is not interestingly different from the polytheistic Amun-Re theology of Egypt's New Kingdom period. Thus, Social Trinitarianism should be classified as a version of polytheism rather than monotheism. Christians are monotheists; but they believe in three fully divine beings—the three Persons of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The tension here is obvious and well known. 'Polytheism' is most commonly defined simply and without qualification as 'belief in more than one god', and a god is most commonly understood to be any being that is fully divine. Thus, on the most common way of understanding polytheism, orthodox Christian belief is not monotheistic, but quite clearly polytheistic. Christian philosophers and theologians have long been concerned with the question of how to reconcile their belief in three divine Persons with their commitment to monotheism. One strategy is to insist that, despite being three in some sense, the divine Persons are somehow also the same god.1 By far the most popular strategy, however, involves denying that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the same god and then arguing that monotheism is secured by the special relationship that obtains among the divine Persons. Proponents of this latter sort of view are typically labelled 'Social Trinitarians' (because they conceive of the divine Trinity on the analogy of a society of human persons).2 1 For further discussion of this strategy, and references, see Rea (2003) and also Brower and Rea (2005). 2 Defenders of Social Trinitarianism include Davis (1999, 2003), Forrest (1998), Layman (1988), Plantinga (1986, 1988, 1989), Swinburne (1994), and Williams (1994). © The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org doi: 10.1093/jts/flj007 5 006. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.160 on Mon, 17 Oct 2016 04:15:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Harmostes reflexulus (Say) (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae): New Western U.S. host records, analysis of host-plant range, and notes on seasonality.

Abstract Harmostes reflexulus (Say) is a bivoltine inflorescence specialist that tracks a succession of host composites (Asteraceae), typically remaining on a host until seed set. During fieldwork from 1998 to 2011, the rhopalid′s host plants were recorded (124 collections) in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming. Twenty-six species of the subfamily Asteroideae on which nymphs, mating pairs, or both were found are considered host plants; 25 are new host records. Adults were taken on 12 additional species of asteroid Asteraceae. Host composites were white- and yellow-rayed herbs and subshrubs (Ericameria nauseosa is a shrub) that are mainly perennial. The Astereae (11 spp.) and Helenieae (7 spp.) were best represented among asteroid tribes that the rhopalid used as hosts; other host tribes were Anthemideae (1 species), Bahieae (2 spp.), Heliantheae (1 species), Madieae (1 species), Senecioniae (2 spp.), and Tageteae (1 species). In the Astereae, hosts mainly were in...
Concentration of cerebrospinal fluid does not affect immunoglobulin G oligoclonal banding patterns

The effects of concentration on immunoglobulin G (IgG) oligoclonal bands after isoelectric focusing in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) were examined using six concentration procedures, and the percent recoveries of IgG varied. The procedures, % IgG recoveries, and corresponding degrees of concentration are as follows: (1) Amicon CF25 membrane cone, 75 %, 45 ×; (2) Amicon CF50A membrane cone, 65 %, 3 ×; (3) Amicon CS15 Minicon, 47 %, 80 ×; (4) Microprodicon, 55 %, 35 ×; (5) collodion bag negative pressure dialysis, 50 %, 16 ×; and (6) microcollodion bag in Permasorb, 40–80 %, 10–60 ×. Ultracentrifugation of CSF at 100 000 g for 1 h prior to concentration using CF 25 membrane cones introduced not more than 5 % variation in the IgG concentrations. Isoelectric focusing was performed on 20 CSF samples concentrated by CF25 membrane cone, CS15 Minicon, and collodion bag, and no effects on the oligoclonal IgG banding patterns were found.
Gas exchange of Agropyron desertorum: diurnal patterns and responses to water vapor gradient and temperature

The response of leaf gas exchange to environmental variables were measured at different levels of drought stress for Agropyron desertorum, a naturalized perennial bunchgrass of the semiarid shrub steppes of western North America. Leaf conductance (stomatal plus boundary layer) was more sensitive to changes in water vapor gradient than to changes in leaf temperature. Assimilation was sensitive to both temperature and vapor gradient, and also appeared to be affected by conductance and high transpiration rates. The magnitudes of both assimilation and conductance decreased with increased drought conditions. Diurnal patterns of gas exchange were measured during 3 growing seasons. For a typical spring day with moderate leaf temperature and vapor gradient, diurnal patterns were similar for plants at different levels of soil water availability. Assimilation was relatively constant during most of the day, but conductance decreased during the afternoon. Total daily carbon gain was decreased to a lesser extent than daily water loss as soil water was depleted. Consequently, the ratio of daily carbon gain to daily water loss, i.e. daily water use efficiency, increased with decreased soil water content for diurnals under spring conditions. Diurnal patterns of assimilation for a typical summer day with high leaf temperature and vapor gradient differend from those for a spring day. An afternoon decrease in assimilation was typical during a summer day. Daily carbon gain, water use, and water use efficiency for summer diurnals decreased only under severe drought conditions. Almost complete recovery of assimilation and conductance occurred if leaf microclimate was ameliorated during the afternoon of either spring or summer diurnals. Thus, conditions responsible for a midday depression in assimilation during a single day did not have persistent effects on leaf gas exchange. Daily carbon gain of a typical summer day was restricted by leaf microclimate during the afternoon, but daily water use efficiency was not relatively increased by the amelioration of leaf microclimate.