cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An accelerated bisection method for the calculation of eigenvalues of a symmetric tridiagonal matrix

We present a method for the determination of eigenvalues of a symmetric tridiagonal matrix which combines Givens' Sturm bisection [4, 5] with interpolation, to accelerate convergence in high precision cases. By using an appropriate root of the absolute value of the determinant to derive the interpolation weight, results are obtained which compare favorably with the Barth, Martin, Wilkinson algorithm [1].
Effects of 5-benzylacyclouridine, an inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase, on the pharmacokinetics of uridine in rhesus monkeys: implications for chemotherapy

The effects of subcutaneous administration of 5-benzylacyclouridine (BAU), a uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, EC 2.4.2.3) inhibitor, on uridine concentration in plasma and urine were evaluated in rhesus monkeys. Administration of BAU at 50, 100 and 250 mg/kg increased the plasma uridine baseline concentration 1.5-, 2.9-, and 3.2-fold, respectively. The basis for this moderate perturbation of plasma uridine by BAU was investigated using a tracer dose of 500 μCi3H-uridine. Administration of3H-uridine alone led to its rapid catabolism to uracil and dihydrouracil. Administration of 83.3 mg/kg BAU with 500 μCi3H-uridine resulted in a 2.5-fold enhancement of3H-uridine plasma levels and a substantial decrease in the plasma levels of uridine catabolites, suggesting inhibition of UrdPase activity by BAU in rhesus monkeys. Coadministration of 83.3 mg/kg BAU with 83.3 mg/kg uridine also reduced the plasma concentration of uracil and dihydrouracil, but it did not increase plasma uridine concentration above that of control animals receiving 83.3 mg/kg uridine alone. In animals receiving uridine alone at 83.3 or 25 mg/kg, approximately 10% of the administered dose was recovered in the urine within 6 h, with unchanged uridine being the major component. In contrast, administration of 83.3 mg/kg BAU increased the excretion of unchanged uridine to more than 32% of the total dose administered, even when the urinary excretion ratio of uracil to uridine was reduced ten-fold. Administration of multiple doses (three times per day) of BAU alone (83.3 mg/kg) or in the presence of uridine (83.3 mg/kg) did not enhance plasma uridine concentration further. In addition, uridine pharmacokinetics were associated with a time-dependent relationship as evidenced by an increased total plasma clearance, renal clearance and volume of distribution, resulting in a substantial decrease in uridine peak concentration with time. These results indicate that administration of BAU inhibits UrdPase activity in rhesus monkeys as manifested by decreased uracil and dihydrouracil plasma levels, as well as a lower urinary excretion ratio of uracil to uridine, as compared to control animals. However, plasma levels of unchanged uridine were not substantially enhanced by BAU in spite of the large increase in urinary excretion of unchanged uridine. This phenomenon was also observed when uridine was coadministered with BAU, suggesting that plasma uridine concentration in monkeys may be strongly regulated by the renal system as evidenced by the “spillover” of excess plasma uridine into urine. In addition, the pharmacokinetics of uridine were dose-independent, but time-dependent. This investigation may provide insights into the clinical usefulness of BAU to protect against or rescue from host toxicity induced by FUra and other chemotherapeutic pyrimidine analogues whose toxicity can be alleviated by uridine.
Some engineering limitations of superconductors in power transformers, power cables, and machines

The use of superconductors for handling electrical power is still limited by the refrigeration involved and problems to do with high magnetic fields at the conductor. Copper therefore still holds its advantage.
Photovoice as a Pedagogical Tool: Examining the Parallel Learning Processes of College Students and Preschool Children through Service Learning

This study seeks to understand the effects of service learning on both young children and college students. Subsequently, quantitative and qualitative methods are employed to gain insight into how service learning coupled with a photovoice methodology can provide an empowering pedagogical practice for participants. Through the use of a Qualtrics survey and photovoice methods, this study examines the effects of service learning sampling 25 preschool age children and 39 undergraduate college students. Findings of this study provide an understanding and a platform for young children and college students to share their thoughts on service learning. Through reflection and dialogue from the participants, we begin to understand how alternative methods to education move beyond the realm of the classroom and collectively into the hands of the teacher, young children, and college students.
A herpetofauna from an eastern extension of the Harrison Formation (early Miocene : Arikareean), Cherry County, Nebraska

ABSTRACT The Mouth of McCann's Canyon Site represents an eastern extension of the Harrison Formation (early Miocene: Arikareean) in Cherry County, Nebraska. At least one anuran, one turtle, three lizards, and six snakes are present. The fauna provides the earliest North American records of the modern lizard genus Eumeces, and of the snake family Viperidae. Two new lizards are described: Harrisonsaurus fossilis gen. et sp. n., of uncertain familiar status, and Eumeces antiquus sp. n. of the family Scincidae. The teeth of Harrisonsaurus have bulbous tips separated from the remainder of the crowns by constricted necks. With the exception of a single viperid, the snake fauna is a typical early Miocene one, consisting of five small boids. A cervical vertebra of the extinct boid genus Geringophis is described and figured for the first time.
First-Principle Study of Molecular Springs under Shear Deformation

Recently synthesized tunable molecular springs are investigated theoretically using massively parallel density functional simulations with the generalized gradient approximation. The springs are salts of organosilver complexes that crystallize in structures with monoclinic symmetry. For springs with NO 3 - (N-spring) and ClO 4 - (Cl-spring) ions as negative balancers, we are able to refine their X-ray structures. Our calculations of total energies as functions of the nonorthogonal lattice angle β correctly reproduce the experimental equilibrium values of the angle for both the N- and Cl-springs. For the N-spring, our calculations reveal that the nitrate ions undergo concerted propeller rotations in the clockwise direction as the angle increases by 10° around the experimental value. For the Cl-spring, the rotations of chlorate ions are more enhanced in a limited range of the β angle, but they move in the counterclockwise direction. For the N-spring, the potential energy curve is symmetric and the shear modulus is about 0.01TPa. Calculations of the electronic density of states show that both springs are semiconductors.
Membrane protein reconstitution for functional and structural studies

Membrane proteins are involved in various critical biological processes, and studying membrane proteins represents a major challenge in protein biochemistry. As shown by both structural and functional studies, the membrane environment plays an essential role for membrane proteins. In vitro studies are reliant on the successful reconstitution of membrane proteins. This review describes the interaction between detergents and lipids that aids the understanding of the reconstitution processes. Then the techniques of detergent removal and a few useful techniques to refine the formed proteoliposomes are reviewed. Finally the applications of reconstitution techniques to study membrane proteins involved in Ca(2+) signaling are summarized.
Calcium-induced erythrocyte membrane changes. The role of adsorption of cytosol proteins and proteases

Changes in the membranes of human red cells similar to those of certain hemolytic anemias were produced by calcium in three model systems and found to result from membrane adsorption of cytosol proteins and from proteolysis. Proteins of the cytosol adsorbed to human erythrocyte membranes in the presence of calcium and extractable by EDTA were compared to those of the total cytosol by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by isoelectric focusing. Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and band 8 were adsorbed to the membranes from the supernatant cytosol with calcium. Band 8 was a normal constituent of the cytosol, apparently a single chain of molecular weight 24 000 with a pI of 5.35. Other calcium-induced membrane changes could be demonstrated to be due to cytosol protease(s) adsorbed to the membrane in the presence of calcium and extractable with EDTA. When membranes were incubated with the proteases and calcium the decrease in bands 1, 2, 3 and 4.1 and the appearance of multiple low molecular weight peptides typical of calcium-induced membrane effects resulted.
New evidence for alternating effusive and explosive eruptions from the type section of the Stanislaus Group in the 'Cataract' palaeocanyon, central Sierra Nevada

High-K volcanic rocks of the Stanislaus Group record magmatic events that occurred when the Sierra Nevada microplate began to calve off from the western edge of the Nevadaplano at 10–9 Ma. Despite the fact that these rocks have been studied in the Sierra Nevada for 120 years, their stratigraphy is not well known, because they were largely deposited in a complicated palaeocanyon network that drained the Nevadaplano and are preserved on high peaks in roadless areas. We present new 1:6000 scale mapping and a detailed measured section in the Bald Peak–Red Peak area of the Sonora Pass, in the upper reach of the ‘Cataract’ palaeocanyon, or palaeo-Stanislaus river. The Bald Peak–Red Peak area was proposed as the type section for the Stanislaus Group in 1953 but had not been mapped or measured in sufficient detail to demonstrate stratigraphic relations. Our work demonstrates the following stratigraphy (from base to top): (1) Table Mountain Latite (TML) trachyandesite (latite) and basaltic trachyandesite (shoshoni...
Theory of microwave transmission and reflection in type-II superconductors in the mixed state.

We develop a phenomenological theory for microwave transmission and reflection in type-II superconducting films that self-consistently includes the effects of vortices. The theory includes the effects of vortex inertia, pinning, flux flow, and flux creep in a unified manner by using a complex dynamic vortex mobility. The treatment of vortex dynamics in the linear-response regime includes nonlocal vortex interactions in addition to two-fluid effects. Our results, including the complex effective wave number, rf conductivity, and transmission and reflection coefficients, are expected to be valid over a wide range of magnetic induction, frequency, and temperature. Numerical results illustrate the temperature and field dependences of these quantities for typical experimental conditions.
Method for analysis of polybrominated biphenyls by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography using a short packed column (45 cm, 0.2 cm i.d., 2% OV-101 on Gas-Chrom Q) with mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion monitoring mode has been found satisfactory for the analysis of lower as well as higher polybrominated biphenyls. Acceptable sensitivity (< 1 ng) may be achieved for this method by focusing selectively at either the low (m/z 20-600) or the high m/z 600-1000) range of the quadrupole filter (low range for mono- through hexabromobiphenyl, high range for hexa- through decabromobiphenyl). A tuning technique has been developed for low range and high range polybrominated biphenyls using the ion abundances of perfluorotributylamine as a standard. Standard ions for the quantitation of mono- through decabromo-biphenyls were selected and validated. The technique was applied to the analysis of a variety of environmental samples.
Academic department survival: Lessons learned and future implications

Higher education is attracting enormous attention. Interest comes from all sectors, including governors, legislators, publishers, editors, citizens of all political persuasions, students, parents, and, of course, university colleagues and administrators. While interest is high, the associated outcomes have generated significant concerns, with many concluding that all is not well (Redican & Bafi, 1997). In this paper, I will identify and briefly discuss several factors influencing higher education and the subsequent impact on kinesiology departments'. Academic kinesiology departments cannot ignore trends affecting the larger whole. To survive, we must be informed and cognizant of the larger picture and understand how it directly and indirectly affects other parts, specifically the academic department.
Validation of selected MMPI-2 basic and content scales

To investigate whether some of the MMPI-2 basic and/or content scales measure the factor structure represented by the Big-Five, 288 undergraduates (178 women and 110 men), between the ages of 18 and 34 years, were administered MMPI-2 and MARS (Michill Adjective Rating Scale) which measures four factors that are conceptually similar to the first four of the Big-Five. It was hypothesized that (a) three MMPI-2 scales (basicDepression or D, contentAnxiety or ANX, and contentDepression or DEP) would be correlated with MARSUnhappiness; (b) two MMPI-2 scales (basicSocial Introversion or Si and contentSocial Discomfort or SOD) would be correlated with MARSExtraversion; (c) two MMPI-2 scales (contentAnger or ANG and contentType A Behavior or TPA) would be correlated with MARSAssertiveness; and (d) two MMPI-2 scales (contentWork Interference or WRK and supplementaryDominance or DOM) would be correlated with MARSProductive Persistence. Results corroborated the hypothesized relationships between the components of the aforementioned four dyads.
Use of the surfactant 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethyl-ammoniapropane sulfonate in hydrophobic interaction chromatography of proteins

Abstract Isocratic hydrophobic interaction chromatography of five proteins has been carried out using mobile phases containing the surfactant 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammoniopropane sulfonate (CHAPS). Linear relationships were found between log k′ and ammonium sulfate concentrations for all the proteins with CHAPS in the submicellar concentration range. The slope of such a plot decreases monotonically as CHAPS concentration is increased. To a first approximation, the effect of CHAPS on the protein retention can be explained in terms of a competitive binding model. However, CHAPS does show differential effects on the elution of proteins, substantially altering selectivity. The use of a normalized capacity factor,k′/k′0, proves useful for comparing retention times of different proteins as a function of CHAPS concentration. The magnitudes of k′/k′0 were found to be inversely correlated with the slopes of plots of log k′ vs. ammonium sulfate concentration in the absence of CHAPS. Adsorption isotherms for CHAPS were determined over the working range of ammonium sulfate. The binding of CHAPS to the SynChropak Propyl stationary phase and its effects on retention were found to be readily reversible. For each protein, plots of k′/k′0 vs. surface concentration of CHAPS were superposable for data obtained at different salt concentrations. These findings support a competitive binding model. A simple geometric argument for stationary phase occupancy provides a qualitative explanation for the observed surfactant selectivity.
Role of Yes kinase during early zebrafish development

We have identified the Yes kinase in zebrafish eggs and investigated its role in development of the zebrafish embryo. In situ hybridization as well as immunofluorescence techniques demonstrated that Yes kinase is maternally expressed and is localized to the cortical region of the unfertilized egg. Fertilization resulted in concentration of Yes kinase to the blastodisc where it continued to be localized to the blastoderm cells through cleavage, gastrulation, and later development. Yes kinase activity was found to decrease abruptly at fertilization, then increase progressively during epiboly, and was maintained at high levels throughout gastrulation. The role of Yes kinase in development was tested by treating embryos with chemical protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors such as 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine (PP2) and by injection of antisense morpholinos. Both treatments resulted in the arrest of development at the beginning of the epiboly. Co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that Yes kinase participates in a stable complex with focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which is phosphorylated in vitro. These results demonstrate that Yes kinase plays an important role in epiboly and indicate that Yes kinase participates in signaling by focal adhesion kinase during early development.
Relative Bitterness of Reduced and Nonreduced Iso-α-Acids in Lager Beer

The relative bitterness of reduced and nonreduced iso-α-acids in lager beer was measured using a time-intensity protocol in which a trained panel evaluated seven concentrations of each compound in ...
Diversity in Teacher Education and Special Education: The Issues That Divide

This article explores the enduring fissure between general and special teacher education by focusing directly on the issues that divide these two fields. In the first part of the article, the autho...
NEUTRALIZATION AND STABILIZATION OF PARTICLE STREAMS IN THE CORONA AND TYPE III RADIO BURSTS.

The processes by which streams of charged particles become charge and current neutralized in the corona are investigated. It is shown that a large amplitude plasma wave, which is related to precursor phenomenon in type III bursts and possibly plasma radiation from type IV bursts, will be excited at the head of the stream. The energy extracted from the stream to produce this plasma wave is computed and used to set conservative upper limits on the densities of possible excitors for type III bursts. For electron streams the density ns 102 cm−3 this loss must be taken into account. Since electron streams cannot produce their own stabilizing ionacoustic waves because they would violate the condition ns < 10−5ne, other mechanisms for producing ion-acoustic waves in the corona are examined. Another stabilization mechanism due to velocity inhomogeneity is investigated.
Restoration of calbindin after fetal hippocampal CA3 cell grafting into the injured hippocampus in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Degeneration of the CA3 pyramidal and dentate hilar neurons in the adult rat hippocampus after an intracerebroventricular kainic acid (KA) administration, a model of temporal lobe epilepsy, leads to permanent loss of the calcium binding protein calbindin in major fractions of dentate granule cells and CA1 pyramidal neurons. We hypothesize that the enduring loss of calbindin in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 subfield after CA3-lesion is due to disruption of the hippocampal circuitry leading to hyperexcitability in these regions; therefore, specific cell grafts that are capable of both reconstructing the disrupted circuitry and suppressing hyper-excitability in the injured hippocampus can restore calbindin. We compared the effects of fetal CA3 or CA1 cell grafting into the injured CA3 region of adult rats at 45 days after KA-induced injury on the hippocampal calbindin. The calbindin immunoreactivity in the dentate granule cells and the CA1 pyramidal neurons of grafted animals was evaluated at 6 months after injury (i.e. at 4.5 months post-grafting). Compared with the intact hippocampus, the calbindin in “lesion-only” hippocampus was dramatically reduced at 6 months post-lesion. However, calbindin expression was restored in the lesioned hippocampus receiving CA3 cell grafts. In contrast, in the lesioned hippocampus receiving CA1 cell grafts, calbindin expression remained less than the intact hippocampus. Thus, specific cell grafting restores the injury-induced loss of calbindin in the adult hippocampus, likely via restitution of the disrupted circuitry. Since loss of calbindin after hippocampal injury is linked to hyperexcitability, re-expression of calbindin in both dentate gyrus and CA1 subfield following CA3 cell grafting may suggest that specific cell grafting is efficacious for ameliorating injury-induced hyperexcitability in the adult hippocampus. However, electrophysiological studies of KA-lesioned hippocampus receiving CA3 cell grafts are required in future to validate this possibility.
Withdrawal from chronic nicotine and subsequent sensitivity to nicotine challenge on contextual learning

Abstract Nicotine withdrawal is associated with numerous symptoms including impaired hippocampus-dependent learning. Theories of nicotine withdrawal suggest that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are hypersensitive during withdrawal, which suggests enhanced sensitivity to nicotine challenge. Research indicates that prior exposure to nicotine enhances sensitivity to nicotine challenge, but it is unclear if this is due to prior nicotine exposure or specific to nicotine withdrawal. Therefore, the present experiments examined if prior nicotine exposure or nicotine withdrawal altered the effects of nicotine challenge on hippocampus-dependent learning. C57BL/6J mice were trained and tested in contextual conditioning following saline or nicotine challenge either during (24 h after cessation) or after (14 days after cessation) a period of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine challenge produced a greater enhancement of contextual conditioning relative to control withdrawal state in mice withdrawn from chronic nicotine for 24 h compared to 14 days and corresponding saline controls. These experiments support the suggestion that during periods of abstinence, smokers may perceive tobacco providing a large boost in cognition.
Formation of Paul-Bunnell antibodies by cultures of lymphocytes from infectious mononucleosis.

Abstract Short-term cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from 20 infectious mononucleosis patients 2–4 weeks after the onset of the disease were studied for formation of heterophile antibodies. In studying pooled supernatant fluids of lymphocytes from three patients cultured for 3–20 days, lytic antibodies for red blood cells of bovine (BRBC) and sheep (SRBC) origin were demonstrated. These hemolysins were shown to be of IgM nature and Paul-Bunnell specificity. Subsequently, plaque-forming cell (PFC) assays were performed with lymphocyte cultures of 15 patients. Significant numbers (60–750/2 × 10 7 cells) of PFC secreting antibodies against BRBC were demonstrated in lymphocyte cultures of 12 patients. The number of PFC apparently reached its peak after 5 to 10 days of culturing. No or a very few PFC were observed in the lymphocytes that were not cultured or in lymphocytes cultured for 3 weeks or longer. Lymphocyte cultures prepared in a similar fashion from normal individuals or patients suffering from sore throat and submandibular lymphadenopathy of other than infectious mononucleosis origin did not produce PFC. Production of lytic zones by antibodies to BRBC secreted by PFC was inhibited by preincubation of lymphocytes of infectious mononucleosis patients with solubilized Paul-Bunnell antigen but not with other heterophile antigens, indicating that antibodies involved in the PFC formation are of Paul-Bunnell specificity. An increased number of PFC against BRBC were obtained in two of three lymphocyte cultures after cultivation with BRBC or solubilized Paul-Bunnell antigen.
Absence of Mobile Carbohydrate Domains in Dry Humic Substances Proven by NMR, and Implications for Organic-Contaminant Sorption Models

The mobility and domain structure of various standard humic substances have been investigated by 1H and 1H-13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. In four dry humic acids, a fulvic acid, a natural organic matter sample, and a whole peat sample, segments that undergo fast, large-amplitude motions account for 40% of various humic acids; these putative mobile domains were also linked to dual-mode sorption. In particular, neither the polar alkyl (carbohydrate) nor the aromatic components show any fast, large-amplitude mobility. A small fraction of mobile nonpolar alkyl segments identified by us before is the only component undergoing large-amplitude motions, apart from absorbed water that we observe in humic acids exposed to ambient air. 1H-13C wide-line separation NMR shows that, contrary to previous suggestions, the dipolar couplings in the aromatic r...
Theory of nematic order with aggregate dehydration for reversibly assembling proteins in concentrated solutions : application to sickle-cell hemoglobin polymers

The reversible association of globular protein molecules in concentrated solution leads to highly polydisperse fibers, e.g., actin filaments, microtubules, and sickle-cell hemoglobin fibers. At high concentrations, excluded-volume interactions between the fibers lead to spontaneous alignment analogous to that in simple lyotropic liquid crystals. However, the phase behavior of reversibly associating proteins is complicated by the threefold coupling between the growth, alignment, and hydration of the fibers. In protein systems aggregates contain substantial solvent, which may cause them to swell or shrink, depending on osmotic stress. Extending previous work, we present a model for the equilibrium phase behavior of the above-noted protein systems in terms of simple intra- and interaggregate interactions, combined with equilibration of fiber-incorporated solvent with the bulk solvent. Specifically, we compare our model results to recent osmotic pressure data for sickle-cell hemoglobin and find excellent agreement. This comparison shows that particle interactions sufficient to cause alignment are also sufficient to squeeze significant amounts of solvent out of protein fibers. In addition, the model is in accord with findings from independent sedimentation and birefringence studies on sickle-cell hemoglobin.
THROUGHPUT AND DELAY OPTIMIZATION WITH CONFIGURABLE TRADEOFF IN MULTIHOP WIRELESS NETWORKS

In this paper, we answer the following questions: given a multihop wireless network and pairs of sources and destinations, what is the maximum throughput that can be achieved while satisfying delay constraints? When the network is operating at its full capacity, how to trade throughput for delay and vice versa? In this paper, we use cross-layer optimization to achieve the desired tradeoff between throughput and delay. The cross-layer scheme combines routing, data rate control and link transmission scheduling in one scheme and fully utilizes the network capacity. Through simulation we show that the cross-layer scheme can find feasible solutions within the achievable performance space of a given network and can adaptively control the desired tradeoff between delay and throughput by adjusting two control parameters α and β. Compared to previous work, our scheme goes beyond optimization on a single performance metric (either throughput or delay) and considers the inherent tradeoff relation between the two aspects.
Primary lymphoma of the nose including a relationship to lethal midline granuloma.

Abstract From 1933 through 1962 thirty-three patients who had nasal lymphoreticular lesions previously diagnosed as lymphoma were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Of the thirty-three patients twenty-three were men and ten were women. Their ages ranged from twenty-five to seventysix years and 70 per cent were more than forty years of age. The most frequent complaints were progressive nasal obstruction and nasal, facial, or orbital swelling. The nasal involvement was bilateral in 27 per cent of the cases. Cell types of twenty-four lesions were those of typical lymphoma and those of nine lesions had a polymorphocellular composition. The growths exhibiting typical lymphoma cell types more often grossly tumorous and symptomatically of shorter duration, while the polymorphic type was more frequently ulcerative and had longer prodromata of nasal symptomatology in many cases. Radiotherapy was the treatment of choice. The five year survival rate in the thirty-three cases was 56.7 per cent and the ten year survival rate, 34.8 per cent. Patients having stage I lesions without extension to neighboring sinuses, orbit, or pharynx did much better than those with this extension or patients with stage II involvement. The most striking feature of our study was that the five year survival rate of the twenty-four patients with typical lymphoma in stage I was 41.2 per cent with an over-all survival rate of 38.1 per cent while all nine patients with polymorphic lesions survived five or more years. A relationship may exist between these nine polymorphic lesions and certain lesions reported as lethal midline granuloma, although polymorphic reticulosis is suggested as a more descriptive morphologic term.
SYSTEM OF PHASE OSCILLATORS WITH DIAGONALIZABLE INTERACTION

We consider a system of N phase oscillators having randomly distributed natural frequencies and diagonalizable interactions among the oscillators. We show that, in the limit of $N \to \infty$, all solutions of such a system are incoherent with probability one for any strength of coupling, which implies that there is no sharp transition from incoherence to coherence as the coupling strength is increased, in striking contrast to Kuramoto's (special) oscillator system.
Analysis of narratives of Bhutanese and rural American 7-year old children: Issues of story grammar and culture

The goal of this study was to provide cross-cultural data, comparing the fictional narrative structure and content of a population of 7-year old Bhutanese children with those of 7-year olds from a rural section of Pennsylvania. The two groups produced narrative structures containing comparable story grammar and story structure levels. Differences in content were evident in story resolution, where the Bhutanese had fewer success-oriented endings than the Pennsylvania group. The Bhutanese stories contained significantly more secondary characters as well as intense empathic responses for story characters. Secondary characters also provided goal structure in the Bhutanese stories whereas the two groups produced similar narrative structure, analysis of story content was necessary to fully describe the cultural aspects of the children's stories. (Macrostructure, Story Grammar, Story Structure Level, Story Ending Level, Perspective-taking)
A new genus of tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with an orchid bee, Euglossa sp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Brazil

Abstract A new genus and species of tarsonemid mite, Crossacarapis eickworti, is described from females phoretic on a bee of the genus Euglossa from Brazil. The new taxon is most similar to the genus Pseudacarapis Lindquist, also associated with apid bees
Water absorption and mechanical properties of electrospun structured hydrogels

Electrospun nanofibers are made when electrostatic forces overcome the surface tension of a polymer solution, causing an electrically charged jet to be ejected; as the jet travels through the air, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind an electrically charged fiber, which can be collected in the form of a nonwoven sheet. A superabsorbent was added to a polymer solution containing an elastomer (concentrations = 0–85%). The mixture was electrospun, producing nanofibers in which the superabsorbent particles were held in place with nanoscale elastic fibers. The nanofibers were tested for absorbency in water and synthetic urine. Fluid absorption by the nanofibers led to the formation of structured hydrogels. Increases in the weight gain from water absorption ranged from 400 to 5000%. The linear dimensions of samples cut from the nonwoven sheet were measured; wetting the superabsorbent increased the thickness dimension of the sheet dramatically and produced a smaller change in the plane of the sheet. The rate of water absorption was calculated; the samples containing 0–70% superabsorbent reached essentially their maximum absorbency within 5 s. The excellent strength and elasticity of the wet samples make these structured hydrogels ideal for many uses, including wound care, drug delivery, and sanitary goods. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 427–434, 2005
Commerce in US schools: four dominant perspectives

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide a systematic understanding of the controversy surrounding commerce in US schools.Design/methodology/approach – The paper surveys the history, research and policies related to commerce in schooling (1890‐2005) within the USA. The literature is organized according to four emergent US perspectives – protectionist, celebrant, cultural critic, and educated consumer.Findings – The review finds that dominant US assumptions of commercial media subscribe to a stimulus‐response model of learning, rather than an active model of young people as constructing their own experiences with commercial media. Much of the research and many of the policies about commercial media in schools reflect adult assumptions about how young people learn, rather than provide empirical research about how young people actually interact with commercial texts while in school. The paper questions an excessive emphasis on the texts and technologies of instruction and calls for more empirical research that ...
Workshop: Learning agile through active learning activities

Games and simulation are a great way to learn theories and new behaviors that can be applied to software engineering activities. The presenters are going to teach three games that can be used in a software engineering course or any course that deals with agile methods. The presenters will talk about the benefits of agile development and how these games will solidify behaviors that are essential to successful agile processes.
A Spectrophotometric Method for Detecting Blood in White-Shell Eggs

Abstract THE most common defects found in eggs are blood and meat spots. Published data has shown the incidence of such defects to range from less than 1 percent to nearly 100 percent (Halnan and Day, 1935; Van Wagenen et al., 1937; Quinn and Godfrey, 1940; Nalbandov and Card, 1941; Lerner and Smith, 1942; Jeffery and Pino, 1943; Card and Nalbandov, 1944; Jeffrey, 1945; Lerner, 1946; Nalbandov and Card, 1947; Denton, 1947; Lerner and Taylor, 1947). The extent and degree of consumer dissatisfaction created by the presence of blood and meat spots is not known precisely. It seems safe to assume that spots of almost any size that are the color of fresh blood are offensive to many consumers. Blood spots larger than one-eighth inch in diameter or bloody whites can be considered rather generally unacceptable. In the opinion of the authors, it is not safe to assume that “meat” spots . . .
Tomography gives a new dimension to an ancient organelle

Advances in sample preparation and electron microscopy have allowed the structure of cilia to be explored at an unprecedented level of detail.
Resonance broadening using green functions

Abstract The fundamental theory of line broadening is studied as a many-body problem by Green function formalism. Some general properties of asymmetry and asymptotic behavior are deduced from general arguments. An application is made to the resonance broadening of 7281 A of He and good agreement is obtained with Kuhn's precise experimental value. The observed residual widths at zero density for He, Ne, Kr are also accounted for as an emission-reabsorption process.
Do laws bring children in child care centers up to date for immunizations

Background.—Pennsylvania state law requires licensed child care centers (CCCs) to document that each enrolled child is up to date (UTD) for routine immunizations within 60 days of enrollment. This study evaluates the law's impact on immunization coverage among children aged ≤59 months who attend CCCs in Philadelphia. Methods.—Out of Philadelphia's 440 commercial CCCs, 75 were randomly selected. Of these, 9 had closed, 3 did not accept children aged ≤59 months, and 3 refused assessment. For the remaining 60 CCCs, vaccination dates were abstracted from CCC records for all enrolled children ≤59 months. For children not UTD for all vaccines according to CCC records, additional data were sought from Philadelphia's immunization registry, health care providers, and parents. Results.—Records of 2847 children were assessed. According to CCC records, information from the immunization registry, vaccination providers, and parents, 71% of children aged 0–18 months, 77% of children 19–35 months, and 84% of children 36–59 months were UTD for their age for diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and pertussis vaccine; polio; Haemophilus influenzae type b; and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. No significant increase in immunization coverage levels was found between the date children enrolled in a CCC and 60 days later. Conclusions.—Up to one quarter of children
Method for reducing the effect of environmental contamination of sol-gel optical coatings

Antireflection (AR) coatings prepared form colloidal suspensions of silica have a large surface area because of their porosity. The surface is quite polar and readily absorbs vapor contamination to the detriment of the optical performance and the laser damage threshold. This effect is particularly bad in 'dirty' vacuum systems, such as target chambers. The polar surface is due to residual Si-OH and Si- ethoxyl groups formed as a result of the method of preparation of the coating suspension. We have now found that these groups can be removed by further treatment of the coating after preparation. This involves two steps, the first being exposure to ammonia and water vapor, which hydrolyses the ethoxyl groups to hydroxyl groups with the formation of more Si-OH groups. Some of these react further by self condensation to Si-O-Si linkages. The remaining Si- OH groups are removed in the second step by reaction with hexamethyl-disilazane, which converts them to trimethylsilyl groups. The latter are completely nonpolar and substantially eliminate vapor absorption. We have carried out a series of tests involving exposure of trace and untreated coatings to various types of vapor contamination and followed the degree of contamination by the reduction in optical transmission. In all cases, the treated coating showed a significant reduction in transmission loss. These tests also provide guidance as to which materials are acceptable for use in the NIF.
Translating ecological systems models into generative, real-time, form-based visualizations

This paper outlines a new methodology for generating and representing site driven biogeochemical forces as dynamic formmakers utilizing Grasshopper 3DM, and its plugin Kangaroo, as translators of ecological systems models (ESM’s) into parametric modeling protocols. It also discusses the critical nature of communicating the impacts of these dynamic forces in human cone-of-vision perspectival visualizations that are legible to designers, scientists, and the general public so that they may be utilized as part of larger planning decision making processes. Within today’s context of anthropogenically driven climate change architects cannot ignore the increasingly dynamic environmental conditions on our sites, and those forces extending outfrom our sites that produce effects at scales from local to global. ESM’s are highly useful tools that communicate relationships between stocks and flows of energy and materials through time. Multi-scalar, complex ecologies have been successfully modeled and quantified utilizing this methodology since the 1950’s resulting in a new discipline within ecology and critical new understandings of the pathways through which resources organize, flow, and ultimately generate and maintain systems. This understanding of how systems are structured and function (Archer 1994) often determines their form; however, ESM’s are not spatially explicit, rendering them problematic tools to incorporate into our spatially explicit processes and products. Because Grasshopper 3DM’s programming language syntax has reciprocity with the syntax of ESM’s, these models can be translated relatively straightforwardly by partitioning natural and anthropogenic processes into operational strata. This strata structure establishes a framework into which systems models from various disciplines and of various scales can betranslated including: ecology, hydrology, oceanography, geology, biochemistry, landscape architecture and architecture, while simultaneously facilitating communication between the disciplines necessary for successful generation and calibration of the model, and ultimately the designed site intervention itself.
Cooperative Control and Potential Games

We present a view of cooperative control using the language of learning in games. We review the game-theoretic concepts of potential and weakly acyclic games, and demonstrate how several cooperative control problems, such as consensus and dynamic sensor coverage, can be formulated in these settings. Motivated by this connection, we build upon game-theoretic concepts to better accommodate a broader class of cooperative control problems. In particular, we extend existing learning algorithms to accommodate restricted action sets caused by the limitations of agent capabilities and group based decision making. Furthermore, we also introduce a new class of games called sometimes weakly acyclic games for time-varying objective functions and action sets, and provide distributed algorithms for convergence to an equilibrium.
RNA Aptamers Generated against Oligomeric Aβ40 Recognize Common Amyloid Aptatopes with Low Specificity but High Sensitivity

Aptamers are useful molecular recognition tools in research, diagnostics, and therapy. Despite promising results in other fields, aptamer use has remained scarce in amyloid research, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease believed to be caused by neurotoxic amyloid β-protein (Aβ) oligomers. Aβ oligomers therefore are an attractive target for development of diagnostic and therapeutic reagents. We used covalently-stabilized oligomers of the 40-residue form of Aβ (Aβ40) for aptamer selection. Despite gradually increasing the stringency of selection conditions, the selected aptamers did not recognize Aβ40 oligomers but reacted with fibrils of Aβ40, Aβ42, and several other amyloidogenic proteins. Aptamer reactivity with amyloid fibrils showed some degree of protein-sequence dependency. Significant fibril binding also was found for the naive library and could not be eliminated by counter-selection using Aβ40 fibrils, suggesting that aptamer binding to amyloid fibrils was RNA-sequence-independent. Aptamer binding depended on fibrillogenesis and showed a lag phase. Interestingly, aptamers detected fibril formation with ≥15-fold higher sensitivity than thioflavin T (ThT), revealing substantial β-sheet and fibril formation undetected by ThT. The data suggest that under physiologic conditions, aptamers for oligomeric forms of amyloidogenic proteins cannot be selected due to high, non-specific affinity of oligonucleotides for amyloid fibrils. Nevertheless, the high sensitivity, whereby aptamers detect β-sheet formation, suggests that they can serve as superior amyloid recognition tools.
Evaluation of triple quantum-filtered 23Na NMR spectroscopy in the in situ rat liver

Triple quantum (TQ)-filtered 23 Na NMR spectroscopy and the shift reagent, TmDOTP 5- , have been used to evaluate the contributions of intra- (Na i + ) and extracellular (Na e + ) sodium to the TQ-filtered signal in the rat liver, in situ. Na e + contributed significantly to the total TQ-filtered signal in live animals, and the intensity of this signal did not change postmortem. The TQ-filtered Na i + signal increased by approximately 380% over a period of 1 h postmortem, whereas the single quantum (SO) Na i + increased by 90%. The constancy of the TQ-filtered Na e + signal indicates that changes in total TQ-filtered 23 Na signal intensity in liver (without a shift reagent) may accurately reflect changes in TQ-filtered Na i + signal intensity. The large percent increase in the TQ-filtered Na i + signal as compared to the SO signal suggests that the fraction of Na i + interacting with macromolecules increases after death.
To 4G mobile communication and beyond

In summary, we envision that the future mobile communication network will be an Ultra Dense, Diverse Access Technologies Converged, Intelligent Network infrastructure complemented by a Device-to-Device network. An ultra-dense radio network with cells of many different sizes is the most effective way of increasing system capacity and ubiquitously covers the service area. Diverse access technology convergence ensures that both licensed and unlicensed spectra are seamlessly and efficiently integrated without users' awareness. Device to device communication can ease the core network congestion or complement the traditional infrastructure based network in scenarios where telecom infrastructure may not be available. The staggering number of bits that will travel through this visionary network and the integrated circuits that help create it promise abundance of innovations and business opportunities for the semiconductor industry in many years to come.
Kenaf/Cotton Blends for Textiles

This project focuses on a bastfiber that may have the potentialforffurther development in the United States. Kenaffibers were extracted/processed by different methods to determine the most feasible process for extracting the best quality fibers. Properties including bundle tenacity, elongation, and gum content were measuredforfibers extracted by the processes. Fibers from some of the processes were made into yarns, and yarn quality tests were performed. There were differences in fiber properties due to extraction, but the yarn quality tests did not reveal significant differences. Therefore, selection of afiber extraction process may be most dependent on the cost and simplicity of the process. Feasibility of using the kenaf-blend yarns in knitted and woven structures also was investigated. Kenaf-blend yarns were incorporated into a knitted fabric made on a mechanical system and in the weft direction of a handwoven sample. The woven and knitted structures that were made supportfurther product development work using the bast fiber kenaf in production of textiles.
Schottky barrier diodes for millimeter wave detection in a foundry CMOS process

CoSi/sub 2/-Si Schottky barrier diodes on an n-well and on a p-well/substrate are fabricated without a guard ring in a 130-nm foundry CMOS process. The nand p-type diodes with an area of 16/spl times/0.32/spl times/0.32 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ achieve cutoff frequencies of /spl sim/1.5 and /spl sim/1.2 THz at 0-V bias, respectively. These are the highest cutoff frequencies for Schottky diodes fabricated in foundry silicon processes. The leakage currents at 1.0-V reverse bias vary between 0.4 to 10 nA for the n-type diodes. The break down voltage for these diodes is around 15 V. It should be possible to use these in millimeter wave and far infrared detection.
Chemically pumped oxygen-iodine laser

The present status of the chemical oxygen-iodine laser is discussed. The pertinent processes occurring in the chemical O2 generator, the O2(1Delta) transport region, and the nozzle are reviewed. The energy transfer kinetics, laser gain, and the performance and device efficiency are examined.
Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine

In the tradition of John Hersey's "Hiroshima," journalist Jasper Becker's penetrating account of China's four-year famine uncovers the truth behind one of the darkest chapters in history. "Hungry Ghosts" is the horrific story of the state-sponsored terror, cannibalism, torture, and murder during Mao Zedong's "Great Leap Forward, " an attempt at utopian engineering gone wrong. This is the unforgettable story of the century's greatest human rights disaster, in which more people died than in Stalin's purges and the Holocaust put together. Becker conducted hundreds of interviews and spent years immersed in painstaking detective work to examine the unprecedented madness that plagued China between 1958 and 1962. For the first time since it was so ruthlessly and categorically erased from history, Becker unearths what really happened during these years, and how the famine and terror could have been kept a secret for so long.