cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
f-Mode Secular Instabilities in Deleptonizing Fizzlers

Fizzlers are intermediate states that may form between white dwarf and neutron star densities during the collapse of massive rotating stars. This paper studies the gravitational radiation reaction (GRR) driven f-mode secular instabilities of fizzlers with angular momentum distributions h(mc) appropriate to the core collapse of massive rotating stars, where h is the specific angular momentum and mc is the cylindrical mass fraction. For core collapses that maintain axial symmetry, the h(mc) of the remnant reflects the conditions in the precollapse stellar core, and, thus, the h(mc) will resemble that of a uniformly rotating star supported by the pressure of relativistically degenerate electrons. Such an h(mc) concentrates most angular momentum toward the equatorial region of the object. The onset of f-mode secular instabilities in such fizzlers is affected strongly by the h(mc), whereas instability depends only weakly on compressibility. For a broad range of fizzler equations of state and the core h(mc), the f-mode secular instability thresholds drop to T/ ≈ 0.034-0.042, 0.019-0.021, and 0.012-0.0135, for m = 2, 3, and 4, respectively. These same thresholds with the Maclaurin spheroid h(mc) are T/ = 0.13-0.15, 0.10-0.11, and 0.08-0.09, respectively. The growth times τgw for GRR-driven m = 2 modes are long. For fizzlers with specific angular momentum J/M ≈ 1.5 × 1016 cm2 s-1 and T/ 0.24 (ρc 1014 g cm-3), τgw > 400 s. For these fizzlers, τgw τde, the deleptonization timescale, and GRR-driven secular instabilities will not grow along a deleptonizing fizzler sequence except, possibly, at T/ near the dynamic bar mode instability threshold, T/ ≈ 0.27.
Making Sense Out of Information Chaos

Support centers have been overrun by information. Categorization and cataloging have failed to help us keep up. A new method is required. As we have entered the age of data we need a more human aspect to our training, knowledge management and day to day assessing of knowledge. This paper discusses practical learning ideas and key ideas such as the Pie Principle, socialization of knowledge and information bubbles.
Observation of Fibre Laser Instabilities Through Modulation of the Cavity Optical Length

Abstract A Nd-doped, single-mode, double-clad fibre laser (FL) is coiled around a resonant piezoelectric ceramic ring; this induces modulation of the cavity optical length and two distinct classes of laser intensity instabilities are observed as the ring drive voltage V P-P is increased. The first class involves a slowly varying intensity, with characteristic time scale in the microsecond range. For fixed drive-voltage frequency f m ≈ 20 kHz, we consistently observe subharmonics f m/2 and f m/4 in the FL output intensity spectrum; noise in the system precludes the observation of higher subharmonic bifurcations. Small-amplitude random relaxation oscillations of the unmodulated FL are strongly amplified as V P-P is increased and transition to a state of large-amplitude chaotic relaxation oscillations occurs for V P-P ≈ 4 V; a value of 2·6 has been measured for the correlation dimension of the chaotic attractor. The second class of laser instability occurs simultaneously for V P-P ≳ 10 V, and the FL output c...
Characteristics of Fatigue-activated Creep in an Aluminium-Magnesium Alloy

EXPERIMENTS have been conducted on thin-walled tubes of an aluminium–magnesium alloy (3.08 per cent magnesium, 0.3 iron, 0.44 manganese, 0.18 silicon) under conditions of simple shear. Two tubes aligned on a common axis are used for each test, the torque being applied through a disk connected to both tubes. The assembly is mounted in a thermostatically controlled enclosure, and to avoid any possible errors due to inertial effects associated with the dynamic stress component, the torque is applied through a spring system. A simple electrical device is used to maintain a constancy of torque (within 1 part in 5 × 103) as the disk rotates during creep. The creep curves are recorded continuously by a photoelectric follower and associated recorder (a ‘Graphi-spot’) which traces the movement of a spot of light reflected from a mirror mounted on the shaft of the torque disk.
Probable Origin of Laterally Coalesced Nabkas and Adjacent Bare Lanes at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, USA

ABSTRACT Unvegetated soil surface patterns 1 to 3 m wide, between 10 to over 1,000 m long, slightly curved to strongly sinuous, and usually parallel, were found to cover about 400 km2 in and near Dugway Proving Ground, western Utah, USA. In the only previously published reference to these features, they were called “desert ripples” and described as “small transverse clay dunes with intervening caliche troughs.” Contemporary world-wide literature reviews of banded vegetation and desert geomorphology indicates that “nabka” is the preferred label for the mounded features. The adjacent bare lanes are apparently unique. That previous article asserted that the combined features were caused by wind erosion. We proposed eight possible mechanisms for the creation and maintenance of these laterally coalesced nabkas and adjacent bare lanes and then investigated the physical, chemical, and biological character of them at small (cm to meters) and large (km) spatial scales. Significantly higher surface soil salinity wa...
Early treatment with deferoxamine limits myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury.

Abstract Oxygen-derived free radicals (the superoxide anion O2− and hydroxyl radical ·OH) have been implicated in myocardial injury associated with coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Transition metals (such as iron or copper) are needed to catalyze the formation on the ·OH radical and subsequent ·OH-mediated lipid peroxidation, yet the role of these transition metals in the pathogenesis of myocyte necrosis remains undefined. To address this issue, 21 dogs underwent 2 h of coronary artery occlusion and 4 h of reperfusion. Each animal was randomly assigned into 1 of 3 treatment groups: 7 received the iron chelator deferoxamine beginning 30 min preocclusion, 7 received deferoxamine beginning 5 min prior to reperfusion, while 7 dogs served as saline controls. Deferoxamine effectively chelated free iron in both treatment groups (total urine iron content averaged 42 ± 16, 662 ± 177 ∗ and 803 ± 205 ∗ micrograms in control, pretreated, and deferoxamine at reperfusion groups respectively; ∗ p ), but had no significant effect on in vivo area at risk (AR), hemodynamic parameters, collateral blood flow during occlusion, or myocardial blood flow following reperfusion. Area of necrosis (AN) in dogs pretreated with deferoxamine ( 34.6 ± 3.7% ∗ of the AR; ∗ p ) was significantly smaller than that observed in the saline control group (55.4 ± 4.7% of the AR). Deferoxamine administered at the time of reperfusion, however, had no significant effect on infarct size (AN/AR = 54.3 ± 8.7%, p = NS vs. controls). Thus, early treatment with the iron chelator deferoxamine acutely reduced the extent of myocyte necrosis produced by 2 h of transient coronary artery occlusion in the canine model. These data support the hypothesis that iron catalyzed production of oxygen derived free radicals contribute to myocyte necrosis in the setting of ischemia-reperfusion.
A new method for constructing minimal broadcast networks

Broadcast is the task of transmitting a message from any node in a network to all other nodes in the network. A minimal broadcast network (mbn) is a communication network in which a message can be broadcasted in minimum time regardless of the originator. In this article, a new method to construct such mbn's is presented. The new method improves the best known upper bounds on the minimum number of edges in mbn's for most cases. © 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Fast Phase Spectrum Estimation Using the Parallel Part‐Bispectrum Algorithm

Adaptive optics image data acquired on large telescopes nearly always need postdetection processing. We have designed a new algorithm for fast phase estimation from the bispectrum. Our innovative "part-bispectrum" approach to phase estimation addresses the large, instantaneous memory required to form the bispectrum of data measured on large-format detectors. The part-bispectrum approach has been further extended to run on parallel machines, hence the name "parallel part-bispectrum" algorithm. We describe the concept, design, and optimization of the algorithm and provide execution times for a variety of scenarios.
Resistance and survival strategies of Salmonella enterica to environmental stresses

Abstract Serovars of Salmonella enterica are frequent agents of foodborne disease worldwide. They are capable of growing and surviving in numerous natural, commercial and host environs where they must be able to sense and respond appropriately to the variety of environmental cues encountered. Many of these environments produce stresses to the cell in the form of nutrient limitation/starvation, acid/base, high/low temperatures, high/low osmolarity, desiccation, and exposure to antimicrobial peptides, bile salts and oxidizing agents. The response generated to a particular stress can provide a stress-specific resistance or a more general cross-resistance to a variety of deleterious conditions. Stress responses in Salmonella are controlled by an assortment of regulators – such as alternative sigma factors ( e.g. , σ S , σ E , and σ H ), phospho-relay-based two component systems ( e.g. , BaeRS, CpxRA, OmpR-EnvZ, PhoPQ, PmrAB (BasRS), and RcsBCD) and transcriptional regulators ( e.g. , SoxS/SoxR, OxyR, Fur, RamA, RamR, MarA and MarR) – in response to environmental signal(s). Ultimately, these regulators result in the increased and/or decreased expression of sets of genes both unique to the specific stress response and overlapping with other stress responses. These stress responses generate a resistance that allows these enteropathogens to survive and persist in a variety of natural ( e.g. , soil and water systems), food processing and handling, and host environments. Thus, these stress responses and survival strategies can have a profound impact on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of these medically and economically important bacteria.
Universities as Providers of Executive Education

The nature of the relationship where university business schools have actively sought partnerships with companies by initiating “contract” programmes customised to meet the specific learning needs of the client company is discussed. Two case examples of actual programmes are described: an open but selective enrolment general management programme and the Consolidated Rail Corporation′s two‐week management programme for employees of that company, both offered at Pennsylvania State University. The unique benefits of each programme are noted and it is argued that these should help to foster greater collaboration between universities and corporations in the future.
Essential neuronal pathways for reflex and conditioned response initiation in an intracerebellar stimulation paradigm and the impact of unconditioned stimulus preexposure on learning rate

It has been demonstrated previously that pairing of tone CS and intracerebellar stimulation of lobule HVI white matter as the US produces conditioning that is robust and in many ways similar to that obtained with an airpuff US. The first study in this report addressed the effect of interpositus lesions on conditioned performance in rabbits trained with white matter stimulation as the US. It was found that interpositus lesions effectively eliminated the CR irrespective of the behavioral response measured. In addition, it was shown that the interpositus lesions also abolished the UR, providing strong evidence that the effects of the electrical stimulation were confined to the cerebellum and did not require the activation of brainstem structures. The second experiment examined performance on US-alone trials of varying durations. Response initiation within 100 ms of the US onset, regardless of US duration, indicated that reflex generation could not be due to rebound excitation of the interpositus following termination of Purkinje cell inhibition of that structure but instead likely reflects orthodromic activation of interpositus neurons via climbing fiber and/or mossy fiber collaterals. The impact of US preexposure on associative conditioning in this paradigm was also determined. Animals which received only 108 US-alone trials were massively impaired during subsequent training compared to rabbits that received fewer than 12 US-alone trials.
State Science and Technology Planning in West Virginia: Challenges Facing Practitioners

Many states that are involved in science and technology planning are selecting particular focus areas for state investment. In states with strong science and technology capacity, focus areas can relate to existing strengths. In predominantly rural states, there may not be a strong science and technology foundation, so new areas that do not reflect existing strengths may be selected. This article describes West Virginia’s first effort in statewide science and technology planning. The article shows that the existing research and development capability is dominated by the chemicals industry but that the recently formed Science and Technology Advisory Council looked to new areas (information technologies and identification technologies) for investment and development. The rationale for the selection of these areas is explained.
Emerging issues in marketing

The 20th century saw considerable advances in both marketing theory and practice. However, there are several areas that are in need of additional research. The author identifies several areas in need of academic contributions, including topics related to marketing and the Internet, marketing and the environment, marketing to historically underserved segments, consumption and delivery of health-care services, and global issues such as intermarket segmentation and theory development on how culture influences consumer behavior. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Fast and Numerically Stable Approximate Solution of Trummer’s Problem

Trummer’s problem is the problem of multiplication of an n × n Cauchy matrix C by a vector. It serves as the basis for the solution of several problems in scientific computing and engineering [1]. The straightforward algorithm solves Trummer’s problem in O(n2) flops. The fast algorithm solves the problem in O(nlog2n) flops [2] but has poor numerical stability. The algorithm we discuss here in this paper is the celebrated multipoint algorithm [3] which has been studied by Pan et al. The algorithm approximates the solution in O(nlogn) flops in terms of n but its cost estimate depends on the bound of the approximation error and also depends on the correlation between the entries of the pair of n-dimensional vectors defining the input matrix C.
An Efficient Algorithm for Evaluating Arrays of Extended Surface

In the consideration of single longitudinal fins of rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular profile and in arrays of extended surface composed of these fins, it is shown that conditions of heat flow and temperature excess at the fin or array tip induce conditions of heat flow and temperature excess at the fin or array base. In particular, there is a linear transformation between the aforementioned data at the fin tip and the fin base. The conventional fin efficiency is abandoned and single fins or arrays of extended surface are instead characterized by a single important parameter, the heat flow to temperature excess ratio, which is a function only of fin geometry and heat transfer parameters. Algorithms are provided for combining the effects of individual fins in arrays of extended surface. A modification of the procedures developed leads to an exact solution for the double stack with unequal heat distribution at opposite ends, a problem which has heretofore required iterative solution procedures.
The impact of incorrectly estimating factor productivity in agriculture on the environment and human health

This paper explores the implications of a misspecification of the production function on the use of factor inputs in the context of the adoption of an alternative production practice (a technological innovation) designed to mitigate the impact of agricultural production on human health and the environment. It is demonstrated that if the level of the use of some inputs is considered rather than their consumptive use (i.e., the actual amount used by a plant), the productivity of the input is inaccurately measured. It is also demonstrated that an aggregate production function approach can lead to overestimation of the value of the marginal product of an input due to the frequently implicit assumptions that the output supply, output demand, and fertilizer demand are infinitely price elastic. The implications of the results are important for determining the optimal use of inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides which have known adverse impacts on the environment and human health.
Single-channel current/voltage relationships of two kinds of Na+ channel in vertebrate sensory neurons

The electrical signals of nerve and muscle are fundamentally dependent on the voltage-gated Na+ channel, which is responsible for the rising phase of the action potential. At least two kinds of Na+ channel are expressed in the membrane of frog dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells: Na+ channels with fast kinetics that are blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) at high affinity, and Na+ channels with slower kinetics that are insensitive to TTX. Recordings of single-channel currents from frog DRG cells, under conditions favoring Na+ as the charge carrier, reveal two distinct amplitudes of single-channel events. With 300 mM external Na+, single-channel events that can be measured in the presence of 1 μM TTX have a slope conductance 7.5 pS. In the absence of TTX, events with a slope conductance of 14.9 pS dominate. Ensemble averages of the smaller single-channel events display the slower kinetics characteristic of the macroscopic TTX-insensitive Na+ currents, and ensemble averages of the larger events display the faster kinetics characteristic of the TTX-sensitive currents. The results are consistent with the idea that the toxin-binding site is sufficiently close to the pore to influence ion permeation.
EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL-VORTICITY CHANGES NEAR THE TROPOPAUSE AND THE RELATED VERTITCAL MOTIONS, VERTICAL ADVECTION OF VORTPCITY, AND TRANSFER OF RADIOACTIVE DEBRIS FROM STRATOSPHERE TO TROPOSPHERE

Abstract Individual potential-vorticity change, vertical motion, vertical advection of vorticity and flow from stratosphere to troposphere are evaluated at different levels and for different times in an extratropical disturbance. Vertical motions are obtained from trajectories on three isentropic surfaces for two different times. The isentropes pass through or near a front in the upper troposphere, the lower stratosphere, and the high troposphere on the cold side of the front. Vertical motion is also evaluated at 500 mb from an adiabatic method designed to give instantaneous values to the extent that the system moves without change of shape. Negative extremes of 8 to 10 cm sec−1 occur in the upper-air front, with positive extremes of the same magnitude a short distance to the northeast, coinciding with the eastern exit of the frontal zone. From theory, it is shown that potential vorticity is not conserved if there is either a gradient of diabatic heating or a component of curl, normal to the isentropic su...
Research Agenda for System of Systems Interoperability

Summary form only given. This workshop is a key part of the ICCBSS transition and will determine the future focus for the conference. The necessity for the transition is a reflection of community's recognition that the complexity of the systems and their sizes have grown tremendously, and that, while COTS-based systems are vital in today's business, the hardest part of successful COTS-based development often has little to do with the "C" $"commercial" - in "COTS". The workshop will generate a robust discussion about the challenges - whether technological, organizational, or cultural $for constructing, acquiring, deploying, and sustaining software-intensive systems of systems that require interoperation among a wide variety of components or constituent systems. The objective of the workshop is to develop and organize the challenges into areas that are in need of further research and to provide some indications of the directions such research might take. Workshop contributions and results will be published as an SEI-NRC Technical Report
Developing an operational rangeland water requirement satisfaction index

Developing an operational water requirement satisfaction index (WRSI) for rangeland monitoring is an important goal of the famine early warning systems network. An operational WRSI has been developed for crop monitoring, but until recently a comparable WRSI for rangeland was not successful because of the extremely poor performance of the index when based on published crop coefficients (K c) for rangelands. To improve the rangeland WRSI, we developed a simple calibration technique that adjusts the K c values for rangeland monitoring using long-term rainfall distribution and reference evapotranspiration data. The premise for adjusting the K c values is based on the assumption that a viable rangeland should exhibit above-average WRSI (values >80%) during a normal year. The normal year was represented by a median dekadal rainfall distribution (satellite rainfall estimate from 1996 to 2006). Similarly, a long-term average for potential evapotranspiration was used as input to the famine early warning systems ne...
NEGOTIATION ROLE‐PLAY EXERCISE: “WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK:” THE RICHLAND‐RIVER CITY DISPUTE

A six‐day negotiation simulation was developed from newspaper articles and interviews with elected officials. In this integrative bargaining exercise, participants assume the role of either the Richland Town Board or the River City Mayor's Office and attempt to resolve a conflict between the two governments. Several homeowners in the unincorporated town of Richland have had their wells fail and have asked to annex into River City. Richland officials want to stop such annexations and instead purchase water from River City. River City officials want to annex as much of Richland as possible and prevent it from incorporating. Both sides are provided with common information as well as confidential information. Using their information, they must negotiate over several days, seeking an agreement that addresses each side's interests and concerns.
Toward a Positive Military Psychology

This article reviews the role of positive psychology–based research and application in advancing the science and practice of Military Psychology. The role of positive psychology in military trainin...
Parallel reactive molecular dynamics: Numerical methods and algorithmic techniques

Molecular dynamics modeling has provided a powerful tool for simulating and understanding diverse systems - ranging from materials processes to biophysical phenomena. Parallel formulations of these methods have been shown to be among the most scalable scientific computing applications. Many instances of this class of methods rely on a static bond structure for molecules, rendering them infeasible for reactive systems. Recent work on reactive force fields has resulted in the development of ReaxFF, a novel bond order potential that bridges quantum-scale and classical MD approaches by explicitly modeling bond activity (reactions) and charge equilibration. These aspects of ReaxFF pose significant challenges from a computational standpoint, both in sequential and parallel contexts. Evolving bond structure requires efficient dynamic data structures. Minimizing electrostatic energy through charge equilibration requires the solution of a large sparse linear system with a shielded electrostatic kernel at each sub-femtosecond long time-step. In this context, reaching spatio-temporal scales of tens of nanometers and nanoseconds, where phenomena of interest can be observed, poses significant challenges. In this paper, we present the design and implementation details of the Purdue Reactive Molecular Dynamics code, PuReMD. PuReMD has been demonstrated to be highly efficient (in terms of processor performance) and scalable. It extends current spatio-temporal simulation capability for reactive atomistic systems by over an order of magnitude. It incorporates efficient dynamic data structures, algorithmic optimizations, and effective solvers to deliver low per-time-step simulation time, with a small memory footprint. PuReMD is comprehensively validated for performance and accuracy on up to 3375 cores on a commodity cluster (Hera at LLNL-OCF). Potential performance bottlenecks to scalability beyond our experiments have also been analyzed. PuReMD is available over the public domain and has been used to model diverse systems, ranging from strain relaxation in Si-Ge nanobars, water-silica surface interaction, and oxidative stress in lipid bilayers (bio-membranes).
Discovery of feature-based hot spots using supervised clustering

Feature-based hot spots are localized regions where the attributes of objects attain high values. There is considerable interest in automatic identification of feature-based hot spots. This paper approaches the problem of finding feature-based hot spots from a data mining perspective, and describes a method that relies on supervised clustering to produce a list of hot spot regions. Supervised clustering uses a fitness function rewarding isolation of the hot spots to optimally subdivide the dataset. The clusters in the optimal division are ranked using the interestingness of clusters that encapsulate their utility for being hot spots. Hot spots are associated with the top ranked clusters. The effectiveness of supervised clustering as a hot spot identification method is evaluated for four conceptually different clustering algorithms using a dataset describing the spatial distribution of ground ice on Mars. Clustering solutions are visualized by specially developed raster approximations. Further assessment of the ability of different algorithms to yield hot spots is performed using raster approximations. Density-based clustering algorithm is found to be the most effective for hot spot identification. The results of the hot spot discovery by supervised clustering are comparable to those obtained using the G^* statistic, but the new method offers a high degree of automation, making it an ideal tool for mining large datasets for the existence of potential hot spots.
The effect of a restricted smoking policy on motivation to quit smoking in psychiatric patients.

ABSTRACT As dissatisfaction with unrestricted smoking in institutional settings has grown, a number of psychiatric facilities have banned smoking. A compromise, restricted smoking, was recently introduced on an inpatient psychiatric unit at a University of Michigan Hospital. The subsequent rescission of the restricted smoking policy enabled us to compare the effects of restricted smoking vs. ad lib smoking on motivation to quit smoking. Method: Current smokers admitted to an inpatient psychiatry unit were asked to participate in this study. As soon as possible after intake, the patient completed a smoking history questionnaire, depression and anxiety scales, and a stage of change measure. The stage of change measure was readministered upon discharge from the unit. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA revealed an interaction for Condition (Restricted vs. Ad Lib) by Time (Admission vs. Discharge) for the Action scale, which assesses current level of activity in smoking cessation efforts. Restricted smokers decr...
Copulation patterns and mate guarding in the sex-role reversed, polyandrous spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia

Abstract Abstract. Females in polyandrous mating systems have many opportunities for extra-pair copulations. Males, however, are primary caretakers of eggs and chicks in most polyandrous systems, and this sex-role reversed pattern of caretaking is unlikely to evolve unless males have high certainty of paternity. Thus, well-developed behaviour patterns for ensuring within-pair paternity in sex-role reversed species are expected. Paternity assurance was examined in the polyandrous, sex-role reversed spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia , to determine whether copulation pattern and timing favoured paired males in sperm competition, and whether males were closer to their mates during egg laying. Female behaviour during extra-pair copulation attempts was also examined. Within-pair copulation rates changed significantly across the nest cycle, peaking the day before the first egg was laid. Within-pair copulation rate also was higher when female absence from the territory was high. Observed copulation rates were higher for a female's first mate than for subsequent mates. In 1990, 81% of the copulations occurred within 1 min of either mate's return from off territory; in 1976-1977, 30% bad this timing. Males did not spend more time close to their mates during egg-laying, but usually females rejected, or were neutral to, extra-pair copulation attempts. Observed patterns of copulation rate and timing should increase a paired male's advantage in sperm competition. These results suggest that both sexes exhibit patterns of paternity assurance, although it is less stringent and more selective in females.
Expression of the early‐onset torsion dystonia gene (DYT1) in human brain

Early-onset torsion dystonia, an autosomal dominant disease associated with the DYT1 locus on 9q34, is the most frequent genetic form of dystonia. Recent work has revealed that the causative mutation in most cases is deletion of a glutamate residue from the carboxy terminal of torsinA, a 332 amino acid protein encoded by the DYT1 gene. To gain insight into how deletion of a single amino acid can produce such a profound movement disorder, we have mapped the expression of the DYT1 gene in normal human postmortem brain. DYT1 mRNA is highly enriched in the dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Intense expression was also found in the cerebellum and hippocampal subfields. The prominent expression of the DYT1 gene within the substantia nigra pars compacta, which provides dopaminergic innervation to the basal ganglia, implicates a disturbance of dopaminergic function in the pathophysiology of early-onset torsion dystonia.
Relation of the thermodynamic properties of a closed chain of classical spins with arbitrary isotropic nearest-neighbor exchange to the nearest-neighbor spin-correlation functions

Explicit relations between the energy and specific heat and the various types of nearest-neighbor two-spin-correlation functions are obtained for a closed chain of classical spins with arbitrary isotropic nearest-neighbor exchange.
Increasing group attendance on a psychiatric unit: An alternating treatments design comparison

Abstract Compliance is a critical factor for succes in the treatment of chronic psychiatric patients. Major reasons for therapeutic failure are that patients discontinue their medications, fail to keep therapist appointments, or do not participate in recommended psychosocial activities. An alternating treatments design was employed to assess the use of verbal instructions and feedback to promote group attendance on a psychiatric unit. Results showed these methods served to significantly increase group attendance but had no significant effect on patient satisfaction. These results are discussed with regard to cost-efficient methods for promoting treatment compliance with psychiatric inpatients.
The Characteristics of Rare Earth Elements of Red Mudstones in the Lower Part of the Fourth Member of Shahejie Formation in Dongying Depression and its Geological Significance

The comprehensive analysis of rare earth elements (REEs) of red mudstones in the lower part of the fourth member of Shahejie Formation (S4) in Dongying Depression shows that the red mudstones in the lower S4 of Dongying Depression originate from multi-sources. Red mudstones can be classified into three major types based on the characteristics of their sedimentary structures, which are closely relevant to REEs of red mudstones. The three types of red mudstones are obviously different in distribution: the first type is close to eolian deposits, indicating their relevance to wind action in formation; the second type, partly similar to the first type, has obvious differences with the first type, which can be deduced that it is formed through secondary transformation; the third type embraces the alluvial characteristics, suggesting its good inheritance of the surrounding parent rocks in the distribution of REEs.
Separation of cereal proteins by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Cereal proteins have been extremely difficult to purify and characterize owing to their heterogeneity, poor solubility and tendency to polymerize. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a 300 A reversed-phase (RP)(C18) support (Syn Chropak RP-P), using acetonitrile as organic modifier in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, has been found to be capable of high-resolution separations of these proteins; the resolution is often better than that obtained by any other chromatographic or electrophoretic method. Examples are presented showing separations of low-molecular-weight gliadins, omega-gliadins and ethanol-soluble reduced glutenin subunits from wheat and of zein from corn. In addition, proteins may be directly extracted from ground single kernels and subsequently analyzed by RP-HPLC; applications in genetic studies, in breeding programs and in varietal identification are proposed. In addition to its high resolution, RP-HPLC is superior to most other methods in speed, sensitivity, reproducibility and suitability for quantitation. Polypeptide chains of molecular weight up to 133,000 are recovered in high yields and the column capacity is high, demonstrating that RP-HPLC is suitable for both preparative and analytical separations of proteins. RP-HPLC resolves proteins primarily on the basis of differences in surface hydrophobicity, so it therefore complements, rather than duplicates, other techniques that separate proteins on the basis of size or charge. RP-HPLC promises to become an invaluable technique for the fractionation and characterization of proteins from cereals and other sources.
Implementation in a world of workstations and networks

Abstract This paper explores the relevance of research on implementation and user acceptance given the pervasiveness of technology in modern organizations. The paper presents the results of applying an extended model of technology acceptance to the use of broker workstations. We argue that implementation success is important in obtaining a return from the firm’s investment in technology. Data are collected at two points in time to assess user acceptance of the workstations. The results provide some support for the models and the unanticipated finding that perceptions of system quality and system ease of use decreased over time. The paper suggests that a combination of research methodologies may be appropriate for assessing user acceptance of the complex technology typically found in today’s firms.
Superlinear and quadratic convergence of primal-dual interior-point methods for linear programming revisited

Recently, Zhang, Tapia, and Dennis (Ref. 1) produced a superlinear and quadratic convergence theory for the duality gap sequence in primal-dual interior-point methods for linear programming. In this theory, a basic assumption for superlinear convergence is the convergence of the iteration sequence; and a basic assumption for quadratic convergence is nondegeneracy. Several recent research projects have either used or built on this theory under one or both of the above-mentioned assumptions. In this paper, we remove both assumptions from the Zhang-Tapia-Dennis theory.
Evaluating Voter–Candidate Proximity in a Non-Euclidean Space

When applying the proximity model in electoral studies, scholars face the challenge of estimating voter–candidate proximity when voters' responses to issues/policies in a multidimensional policy space are correlated. In this article, we contend that voters' correlated evaluations can be captured by the structure of a non-orthogonal policy space. After orthogonalizing such a space using the Gram-Schmidt process, we can improve our estimation of the spatial distance between voters and candidates. Moreover, our study suggests that in multidimensional space neither the city-block nor the Euclidean distance is ideal for estimating proximity. We propose to use a generalized parametric Minkowski model and our analysis demonstrates that the most appropriate distance metric for a particular study is an empirical issue that hinges on the particular structure of a dataset.
RETAILERS FOREIGN MARKET ENTRY DECISIONS: AN INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract Institutional theory emphasizes the relationship between organizations and the environment. Institutions consist of political, cognitive and sociological elements that form the external and internal environment of a firm. Both external and internal environments affect firm decisions and behaviors. This paper introduces institutional theory as a complementary framework to explain international retailers’ foreign market entry choices and suggests propositions for further research. We also consider managerial implications in relation to this theoretical perspective as an explanation for retailers’ internationalization.
(4-Hydroxypyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)oxovanadate(V)—a new insulin-like compound: chemistry, effects on myoblast and yeast cell growth and effects on hyperglycemia in rats with STZ-induced diabetes

A new insulin mimetic vanadium(V) complex is introduced: (4-hydroxypyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)oxovanadate(V). The compound was designed based on the desire to make a compound with more favorable chemical and insulin-enhancing properties than the parent (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)oxovanadate(V). The solution chemistry was characterized and the complex was found to be more stable at neutral pH and to have a different lability pattern than the parent complex. The effect of the compound and its parent was investigated in various biological systems including cell culture, yeast and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The growth of myoblast cells (L6) was inhibited by both the parent and the modified vanadium(V) complex. Since the complexes have limited stability at neutral pH, yeast growth (pH range from 3.0 to 7.0) was employed as an adjunct cell model. The effect of the parent compound on inhibition of yeast cell growth was found to be pH dependent. These studies support the hypothesis that the modified complex would be more active as an insulin-enhancing agent because of its greater stability at neutral pH. The effect of (4-hydroxypyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)oxovanadate(V) on hyperglycemia in rats with STZ-induced diabetes was determined. This complex was found to lower the diabetic hyperglycemia and joined the ranks of the few vanadium(V) complexes that have been shown to have insulin-enhancing properties in a diabetic animal model system.
Organizational Rhetoric: A Subject of Interest(s):

At the heart of this special issue on external organizational rhetoric is the pursuit of unearthing the ways that complex organizations, performing as modern rhetors engaged in discourse, can work to make society a good place to live. One way that this can be achieved is by problematizing organizational rhetoric. To do so requires taking a critical stance that identifies the hidden ideographs and assumptions embedded within them. External organizational rhetoric scholars, aiming to foster a more fully functioning society, need to expose, smooth, and neutralize these assumptions and tacit constraints if there is to be continued progress in the study and application of the ways external organizational rhetoric, including public relations, might further contribute to society at large.
Physiological and environmental aspects of ascospore discharge in Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum)

We investigated ascospore discharge in the perithecial fungus, Gibberella zeae. In a wind tunnel study that simulated constant rain and varying day and night lengths, the rate of ascospore release was approximately 8-30% greater under light than in complete darkness. Under constant light, ascospore discharge occurred at maximal rates at relative humidity levels greater than 92%. When perithecia were placed under conditions of high external osmolarity, ascospore discharge was significantly reduced. Ascospores were discharged from asci along with droplets of fluid, the epiplasm, from within the ascus. Analysis of discharged epiplasmic fluid by GC-MASS Spectrometry revealed that mannitol was the major simple sugar component of the fluid. Activity of mannitol dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the conversion of fructose to mannitol, was higher in protein extracts from mature perithecia than in extracts from vegetative tissue. Several inhibitors of K(+) and Ca(++) ion channels inhibited ascospore discharge, which suggested that ascospore discharge resulted from the buildup of turgor pressure generated by ion fluxes and mannitol accumulation.
Work in progress — Peer-directed learning in a project based model

Iron Range Engineering is a new, unique, undergraduate program using problem-based learning. One guiding principle is student responsibility for learning. In order to facilitate learning, faculty and students alike have come up with several learning methods. Learning modes may include self-directed learning, peer-directed learning, one-on-one faculty-directed learning, or industry mentored learning. Peer-directed learning often manifests in the form of learning groups (a group of students learning similar competencies), led by either a faculty member or a student who has previously excelled in that competency and has taken an interest in pursuing advanced credit. Recently, Iron Range Engineering has begun to incorporate student written and student led model eliciting activities. These show promise for creating engagement, exposing misconceptions, and providing high-level learning opportunities for peer-students and peer-teachers. The initial results of these methods have been very positive. A high level of engagement and a high level of desire to complete self-directed learning have been observed from peer-teachers and students. Students getting the opportunity to lead these learning groups comment on a newfound interest and clarity in the subject matter. Both sides are able to gain metacognitive knowledge which will help them as a student, engineer, and in future academic careers.
Development and Initial Validation of an Implicit Measure of Religiousness-Spirituality

An implicit measure of religiousness-spirituality (RS) was constructed and used in two studies. In Study 1, undergraduates completed a Religiousness-Spirituality Implicit Association Test (RS-IAT) and several self-report measures of RS and related constructs (e.g., religious fundamentalism, authoritarianism). Informants rated the participants’ RS. The RS-IAT was internally consistent. Implicit RS correlated positively with self-reported RS, spiritual transcendence, spiritual experiences, religious fundamentalism, and intrinsic religiousness. Informant ratings correlated positively with participants’ self-reported religiousness but not implicit RS. In Study 2, implicit RS accounted for unique variability in self-reported attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women when controlling for self-reported religiousness and right-wing authoritarianism. These findings demonstrate that an implicit measure of trait RS explains some variability in attitudes that self-report measures do not. An implicit measure of RS could advance the scientific study of religion beyond what is known from self-report measures.
Highly Efficient, One-Step Macrocyclizations Assisted by the Folding and Preorganization of Precursor Oligomers

Highly efficient, one-step macrocyclizations leading to the formation of macrocyclic hexa(aramides) in high yields (69−82%) are described. The one-step macrocyclizations were facilitated by the preorganization or folding of the backbones of uncyclized precursors in the course of macrocyclization. The preorganization of backbones was achieved by the presence of localized three-centered hydrogen bonds that were adopted in the design of a class of closely related, backbone-rigidified foldamers. The macrocyclization involved reactions between diacid chloride 1 and diamine 2. The crude reaction mixtures and products were conveniently examined by mass spectrometric method (MALDI-TOF). Compared to most traditional one-step macrocyclizations that usually require high dilution conditions and often lead to very low overall yields of the desired products, cyclic hexamers 3 were obtained as the overwhelmingly major product under a variety of reaction conditions, suggesting the generality of this approach.
Seed Banks and Species Richness Potential of Coal Slurry Ponds Reclaimed as Wetlands

Seed bank experiments are described to assess the species richness potential of coal slurry ponds reclaimed as wetlands (ranging from 6 to more than 40 years old). Experimental treatments test the drawdown and flooded conditions characteristic of the vegetation dynamics of emergent wetlands in the Upper Mississippi Valley. More seedlings, primarily annuals, emerged from exposed wet sediments (freely drained) than under continuous flooded sediments in cold ponds (339 versus 136 seedlings m -2 , respectively) and in natural ponds (163 versus 47, respectively). More seeds were produced by plants established in freely drained conditions than under flooded conditions from sediments in the coal ponds (26546 versus 1842 seeds m -2 , respectively) and the natural ponds (28430 versus 4526, respectively). Similarly, more biomass was also produced by these plants in freely drained than under flooded conditions in coal ponds (118 versus 47 g m -2 , respectively) and natural ponds (118 versus 52, respectively). Fertilization (NPK) did not affect germination for the most part, but it did affect seed set and biomass production, especially for C 4 annuals such as Echinochloa crusgalli and Panicum dichotomiflorum. I propose that lime (calcium carbonate) and fertilizer be applied during the first few scheduled draw-downs for these coal slurry ponds reclaimed as wetlands to increase the number of species and to allow their more rapid development as self-sustaining systems.
Angiotensin II Stimulation In Vitro Induces Hypertrophy of Normal and Postinfarcted Ventricular Myocytes

Abstract—To determine whether angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulation of adult ventricular myocytes in vitro results in cellular hypertrophy, the changes in myocyte volume and protein content per cell were examined by confocal microscopy. Moreover, the possibility was considered that the upregulation of Ang II receptors on myocytes after infarction may potentiate and/or accelerate Ang II–mediated myocyte growth. Left ventricular myocytes isolated from control and failing hearts 3 days after infarction were cultured for 3 and 7 days in the presence of Ang II. Normal myocytes did not show an increase in volume and protein content at 3 days, but a 16% and 20% increase in these respective parameters was found at 7 days. Cell growth was faster and greater in myocytes from postinfarcted hearts. In these cells, myocyte volume increased 23% and protein content increased 28% at 3 days after Ang II administration. The higher hypertrophic reaction of myocytes from infarcted hearts occurred in spite of a 19% larger volum...