cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND GENERAL RELATIVITY.

An elementary particle is found to adjust its radius out to the point where the gravitational potential is minimum or to where the effective gravitational force is zero. By means of this principle, the usual well-known relationship between the mass and radius of the electron is found through the electromagnetic interaction and the Reissner-Nordstrom metric. Much more interesting results for the proton are found in the case of the strong interactions. Predicted radii agree well with experimental values. These relatively simple results suggest that general relativity may play a role in elementary-particle structure.
Playing with information: information work in online gaming environments

Digital games are saturated with information. Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs) require players to collect, organize, manage, and interpret vast volumes and varieties of information in a distributed, networked environment. Yet, they often provide players insufficient tools to effectively accomplish these information tasks. In response, some members of the player community build modifications (mods) and addons to the game software. Mods and addons usefully and creatively address some problems of utilizing information in digital environments; by analyzing them, we can gain insights into possibilities for organizing information in digital environments.
Scaling properties of polarization mode dispersion of spun fibers in the presence of random mode coupling

The scaling properties of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in spun fibers are studied. Simple equations have been obtained to describe the scaling properties of spun fibers as a function of intrinsic fiber birefringence, spin parameters, and mode-coupling length under both optimal and nonoptimal spin conditions. In particular, a counterintuitive result is found for fibers with perfect spin optimization, in which case the fiber PMD increases as the mode-coupling length is shortened. The results are verified with direct numerical modeling.
Responsiveness to Babies: Life-Situation Specific Sex Differences in Adulthood.

Responsivity to babies was observed in 96 mature adults representative of three junctures of parenthood: parents of infants, parents of 8-to-9-year-olds, and parents of adolescents. Among the measures used were reactions to an unfamiliar infant in a waiting room, interest in pictures of babies versus other objects, and sex-role concept and attitudinal questionnaires. Stage of family life cycle affected women's responsivity, but not men's. New mothers displayed a heightened generalized interest in babies which is optimally timed and functional in terms of sex-differentiated role requirements. A possible confounding between cohort effects and stage in the family life cycle was examined and rejected. Traditionally sex-typed behaviors were reinterpreted as life-situation specific rather than general traits.
Conservation Biological Control and Pest Performance in Lawn Turf: Does Mowing Height Matter?

With >80 million United States households engaged in lawn and gardening activities, increasing sustainability of lawn care is important. Mowing height is an easily manipulated aspect of lawn management. We tested the hypothesis that elevated mowing of tall fescue lawn grass promotes a larger, more diverse community of arthropod natural enemies which in turn provides stronger biological control services, and the corollary hypothesis that doing so also renders the turf itself less suitable for growth of insect pests. Turf-type tall fescue was mowed low (6.4 cm) or high (10.2 cm) for two growing seasons, natural enemy populations were assessed by vacuum sampling, pitfall traps, and ant baits, and predation and parasitism were evaluated with sentinel prey caterpillars, grubs, and eggs. In addition, foliage-feeding caterpillars and root-feeding scarab grubs were confined in the turf to evaluate their performance. Although some predatory groups (e.g., rove beetles and spiders) were more abundant in high-mowed grass, predation rates were uniformly high because ants, the dominant predators, were similarly abundant regardless of mowing height. Lower canopy temperatures in high-mowed grass were associated with slower growth of grass-feeding caterpillars. Higher lawn mowing reduces fuel consumption and yard waste, and promotes a deep, robust root system that reduces need for water and chemical inputs. Although in this study elevated mowing height did not measurably increase the already-high levels of predation, it did suggest additional ways through which bottom-up effects on insect pest growth might interact with natural enemies to facilitate conservation biological control.
Transfer of two versus three embryos in women less than 40 years old undergoing frozen transfer cycles.

Objective To compare outcomes of frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles when two or three embryos were transferred in women aged Design Retrospective chart review. Setting A university-affiliated IVF program. Patient(s) Women undergoing FET cycles between January 2004 and December 2005. Intervention(s) Transfer of two or three embryos. Main Outcome Measure(s) Clinical pregnancy rate (PR), multiple pregnancy rate (MPR), and live birth rate (LBR). Result(s) In patients aged Conclusion(s) Transfer of two instead of three frozen embryos in patients
Altered adrenergic receptor signaling following traumatic brain injury contributes to working memory dysfunction

The prefrontal cortex is highly vulnerable to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its structural and/or functional alterations as a result of TBI can give rise to persistent working memory (WM) dysfunction. Using a rodent model of TBI, we have described profound WM deficits following TBI that are associated with increases in prefrontal catecholamine (both dopamine and norepinephrine) content. In this study, we examined if enhanced norepinephrine signaling contributes to TBI-associated WM dysfunction. We demonstrate that administration of α1 adrenoceptor antagonists, but not α2A agonist, at 14 days post-injury significantly improved WM performance. mRNA analysis revealed increased levels of α1A, but not α1B or α1D, adrenoceptor in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of brain-injured rats. As α1A and 1B adrenoceptor promoters contain putative cAMP response element (CRE) sequences, we therefore examined if CRE-binding protein (CREB) actively engages these sequences in order to increase receptor gene transcription following TBI. Our results show that the phosphorylation of CREB is enhanced in the mPFC at time points during which increased α1A mRNA expression was observed. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays using mPFC tissue from injured animals indicated increased phospho-CREB binding to the CRE sites of α1A, but not α1B, promoter compared to that observed in uninjured controls. To address the translatability of our findings, we tested the efficacy of the FDA-approved α1 antagonist Prazosin and observed that this drug improves WM in injured animals. Taken together, these studies suggest that enhanced CREB-mediated expression of α1 adrenoceptor contributes to TBI-associated WM dysfunction, and therapies aimed at reducing α1 signaling may be useful in the treatment of TBI-associated WM deficits in humans.
Voltage-dependent Dynamic FRET Signals from the Transverse Tubules in Mammalian Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Two hybrid voltage-sensing systems based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) were used to record membrane potential changes in the transverse tubular system (TTS) and surface membranes of adult mice skeletal muscle fibers. Farnesylated EGFP or ECFP (EGFP-F and ECFP-F) were used as immobile FRET donors, and either non-fluorescent (dipicrylamine [DPA]) or fluorescent (oxonol dye DiBAC4(5)) lipophilic anions were used as mobile energy acceptors. Flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscles were transfected by in vivo electroporation with pEGFP-F and pECFP-F. Farnesylated fluorescent proteins were efficiently expressed in the TTS and surface membranes. Voltage-dependent optical signals resulting from resonance energy transfer from fluorescent proteins to DPA were named QRET transients, to distinguish them from FRET transients recorded using DiBAC4(5). The peak ΔF/F of QRET transients elicited by action potential stimulation is twice larger in fibers expressing ECFP-F as those with EGFP-F (7.1% vs. 3.6%). These data provide a unique experimental demonstration of the importance of the spectral overlap in FRET. The voltage sensitivity of QRET and FRET signals was demonstrated to correspond to the voltage-dependent translocation of the charged acceptors, which manifest as nonlinear components in current records. For DPA, both electrical and QRET data were predicted by radial cable model simulations in which the maximal time constant of charge translocation was 0.6 ms. FRET signals recorded in response to action potentials in fibers stained with DiBAC4(5) exhibit ΔF/F amplitudes as large as 28%, but their rising phase was slower than those of QRET signals. Model simulations require a time constant for charge translocation of 1.6 ms in order to predict current and FRET data. Our results provide the basis for the potential use of lipophilic ions as tools to test for fast voltage-dependent conformational changes of membrane proteins in the TTS.
Use of a portable thermal imaging unit as a rapid, quantitative method of evaluating inflammation and experimental arthritis

Abstract Introduction Thermal imaging has been utilized, both preclinically and clinically, as a tool for assessing inflammation and arthritis. However, previous studies have employed large, relatively immobile devises to obtain the thermal signature of the tissue of interest. The present study describes the characterization of a hand-held thermal imaging device in a preclinical model of general inflammation and a model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods A hand-held ThermoView Ti30 portable thermal imager was utilized to detect the temporal changes in thermal signatures in rat model of carrageenan-induced paw edema (CFE) and a model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). In both in vivo models, the kinetics of the thermal changes were correlated to footpad swelling. In addition, the CFE model was utilized to examine the ability of this technology to delineate pharmacodynic changes in thermal signature in response to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (10 mg/kg; p.o.). Results Thermal analysis of rat paws in the CFE model demonstrated a significant increase in the mean temperature difference between the inflamed and contralateral control paw by two hours post-carrageenan (8.3 +/− 0.5 °F). Indomethacin significantly decreased the mean temperature difference in treated animals as compared to vehicle. In the rat CIA model, increases in footpad temperature, as determined by thermal imaging, were significantly elevated by Day 11 and remained elevated throughout the duration of the 28 day protocol. Thermal changes were also found to precede increases in footpad edema (swelling). Discussion The results of this study demonstrate that the hand-held thermal imaging technology represents a rapid, highly-reproducible method by which to quantitate the degree of inflammation in rat models of general inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis. The ability to detect pharmocodynamic responses in paw temperature suggests that this technology may be a useful tool for the development of pharmacologic interventions for the treatment inflammation-related pathologies.
EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON NEUROTROPHIN-MEDIATED CELL SURVIVAL AND RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN CULTURES OF CORTICAL NEURONS

Abstract The interaction of ethanol and neurotrophin-mediated cell survival was examined in primary cultures of cortical neurons. Cells were obtained from rat fetuses on gestational day 16 and maintained in a medium supplemented with either 10% or 1.0% fetal calf serum (FCS). Exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF; 20 ng/ml), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; 20 ng/ml) or neurotrophin 3 (NT-3; 20 ng/ml) was added to the cultures alone, or in combination with ethanol (400 mg/dl). The number of viable neurons was determined after a 48 h treatment with a growth factor and/or ethanol. The effects of ethanol on the expression of high affinity neurotrophin receptors ( trk A, trk B, and trk C) and the low-affinity receptor (p75), were analyzed using Western immunoblots. In untreated cultures, 22.7% and 26.3% of the cells raised in a medium containing 10% and 1.0% FCS, respectively, were lost. Only NGF prevented the death of the cultured cortical neurons. Ethanol was toxic; it caused a 23.5% and 16.7% loss of cells (for cells grown in a medium containing 10% and 1.0% FCS, respectively) beyond that occurring `naturally' in an untreated culture. Ethanol completely blocked the NGF-mediated cell survival. In general, BDNF and NT-3 did not offset the toxic effect of ethanol. Immunoblotting studies showed that the expression of p75 was significantly ( p trk expression. Thus, ethanol has specific effects upon NGF-mediated cell survival and the effects on the low affinity receptor imply that p75 specifically plays an important role in NGF signaling.
Mechanically induced periosteal bone formation is paralleled by the upregulation of collagen type one mRNA in osteocytes as measured by In situ reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction

Reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed for use in situ to measure mechanically mediated changes in gene expression activity in osteocytes within dense cortical bone. Using the functionally isolated turkey ulna model of bone adaptation, the left ulna of 6 old adult (36–40 months) male turkeys were subject to 4 weeks of a mechanical regimen consisting either of (1) 3000 microstrain at 1 Hz for 5 minutes/day or (2) 500 microstrain at 30 Hz for 10 minutes/day. The right ulma of each bird remained intact and served as control. Only a small percentage of osteocytes in the intact control bones and the 3000 microstrain ulnae showed any evidence of mRNA for collagen (each 1.2%±0.3%). However, mRNA for collagen type I was strongly evident in 92.4% (±2%) of the osteocytes within the ulnae subject to the high frequency, low magnitude load. Sense primer control sections from both experimental and intact animals were used to verify that only osteocytes of the loaded bone had elevated the level of collagen mRNA. This high frequency, low magnitude mechanical stimulus was also sufficient to stimulate substantial new bone formation (14%±5% over intact controls), whereas the low frequency, high magnitude stimulus failed to elicit any bone formation (-3%±7%). These experiments show that specific mechanical regimens can activate the osteocyte's expression of a message responsible for the synthesis of proteins remote from the site where the formation of bone is ultimately to occur, even under systemic distress such as aging. Further, these data suggest that osteocytes perceive the strain environment and that they play a role in orchestrating the modeling/remodeling response. By developing a technique as flexible and powerful as RT-PCR for use in dense cortical bone, determining the relative contribution of specific proteins to the transduction of regulatory signals to formative or resorptive responses is facilitated.
Riemann–Stieltjes Optimal Control Problems for Uncertain Dynamic Systems

Motivated by uncertain parameters in nonlinear dynamic systems, we define a nonclassical optimal control problem where the cost functional is given by a Riemann–Stieltjes “functional of a functional.” Using the properties of Riemann–Stieltjes sums, a minimum principle is generated from the limit of a semidiscretization. The optimal control minimizes a Riemann–Stieltjes integral of the Pontryagin Hamiltonian. The challenges associated with addressing the noncommutative operations of integration and minimization are addressed via cubature techniques leading to the concept of hyper-pseudospectral points. These ideas are then applied to address the practical uncertainties in control moment gyroscopes that drive an agile spacecraft. Ground test results conducted at Honeywell demonstrate the new principles. The Riemann–Stieltjes optimal control problem is a generalization of the unscented optimal control problem. It can be connected to many independently developed ideas across several disciplines: search theory...
Clinical features and long-term prognosis of trochlear headaches

Background and purpose: Trochlear headaches are a recently recognized cause of headache, of which both primary and inflammatory subtypes are recognized. The clinical features, long-term prognosis and optimal treatment strategy have not been well defined. Methods: A cohort of 25 patients with trochlear headache seen at the Mayo Clinic between 10 July 2007 and 28 June 2012 were identified. Results: The diagnosis of trochlear headache was not recognized by the referring neurologist or ophthalmologist in any case. Patients most often presented with a new daily from onset headache (n = 22, 88%). The most characteristic headache syndrome was reported as continuous, achy, periorbital pain associated with photophobia and aggravation by eye movement, especially reading. Individuals with a prior history of migraine were likely to have associated nausea and experience trochlear migraine. Amongst individuals with trochleitis, 5/12 (41.6%) had an identified secondary mechanism. Treatment responses were generally, but not invariably, favorable to dexamethasone/lidocaine injections near the trochlea. At a median follow-up of 34 months (range 0–68), 10/25 (40%) of the cohort had experienced complete remission. Conclusions: Trochlear headaches are poorly recognized, have characteristic clinical features, and often require serial injections to optimize the treatment outcome. The identification of trochleitis should prompt neuroimaging to look for a secondary cause.
Determining the Number and Structure of Phylogenetic Invariants

The method of invariants is an important approach in biology for determining phylogenetic information which avoids the problems involving long branch lengths that plague other methods. In this paper, we verify the conjecture on the number of algebraic generators for the ideal of polynomial invariants. We also study rational and analytic invariants and prove several criteria concerning when it suffices to work with polynomial invariants.
Light scattering analysis of fibril growth from the amino-terminal fragment beta(1-28) of beta-amyloid peptide.

beta-Amyloid protein (beta-A/4) is the major protein component of Alzheimer disease-related senile plaques and has been postulated to be a significant contributing factor in the onset and/or progression of the disease. In the senile plaque, beta-A/4 appears as bundles of amyloid fibrils. The biological activity of beta-A/4 may be related to its state of aggregation. In this work, self-assembly, fibril formation, and interfibrillary aggregation of beta(1–28), a synthetic peptide homologous with the amino-terminal fragment of beta-A/4, were investigated. The predominant form of beta(1–28) detected by size-exclusion chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was apparently a tetramer which does not bind Congo red. Aggregates containing cross-beta sheet structures which bind Congo red and thioflavin T were observed at concentrations of approximately 0.3 mg/ml or greater. Concentrations of 0.5–1 mg/ml were necessary for aggregation into fibrils to be detectable by classical or quasielastic light scattering. Both fibril elongation and fibril-fibril aggregation occur over the time scale investigated. The kinetics of aggregation were much faster at physiological salt concentrations than at lower ionic strength. Ionic strength also appeared to influence the morphology of the fibril aggregates. The data indicate that sample preparation method and sample history influence fibril size and number density.
Gender Differences in the Severity of Adult Familial Dyslexia.

Thirty seven adults with a three generation family history of dyslexia and a strong personal history of reading/spelling problems were administered a psychoeducational battery to confirm the diagnosis of dyslexia. Males were not disproportionately represented in the dyslexic sample although they exhibited a more severe profile of reading impairment relative to females. Severity of dyslexia is discussed as a possible mechanism of the reported higher prevalence of dyslexia among males.
Participation as chaos: Lessons from the principles of complexity theory for democracy

Current organizational communication theorists and practitioners seek to remedy organizational ills by advancing democracy within the workplace. Specifically, organizational democracy has been introduced with a variety of goals in mind: improving representation, increasing job satisfaction, improving productivity, and reducing costs. Although democracy emerges in myriad forms, theorists are still uncertain as to how to involve employees in the process and produce observable results. In this article, recent developments in complexity theory are invoked to both illuminate and resolve problems on the perspective of workplace democracy. The article closes by showing how complexity theory concepts can be used to encourage democratic practices in organizations. Ultimately, complexity theory is used to shed light on the processes surrounding the considerable problem solving and experimentation required to implement democratic practices.
Language input of mothers interacting with their young children with cleft lip and palate.

Abstract Maternal language addressed to 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old children with cleft lip and palate was studied. Videotaped interactions were obtained from 23 mother-child dyads (13 mother-cleft lip and palate child dyads, and 13 mother noncleft child dyads) during free play. Results indicated more similarities than differences in maternal language characteristics for the two groups of mothers.
Lattice parameters and compositions of γ and γ′ during coarsening in the Ni-Al-Si system: A neutron powder diffraction study

Ternary Ni-base alloys are often used as model systems for studying coarsening in multi-component systems. Ni-Al-Ti, Ni-Al-Mo, Ni-Cr-Si and more recently, Ni-Al-Si alloys have been used for such studies. These alloys allow the coherent precipitation of L1{sub 2} phase (Ni{sub 3}X, designated as {gamma}{prime}) from an F.C.C.-solid solution and thus enable the study of coarsening of precipitates in coherent systems. With the improvement in theoretical understanding of coarsening in multi-component systems, phase composition information (composition of precipitates and matrix) has become essential for proper interpretation of coarsening data obtained from ternary systems. However, such information is not readily available for many ternary systems, including the Ni-Al-Si system. The aim of this paper is two-fold: (1) To present the lattice parameters, temperature dependence of the lattice parameters, and compositions of {gamma} and {gamma}{prime} as a function of alloy composition in the Ni-Al-Si system. (2) To demonstrate the application of neutron powder diffraction and Rietveld analysis to samples that are not ideally suited for powder diffraction. This situation often occurs when powder diffraction techniques are used for engineering applications.
Reference Desks in Public Libraries: What Happens and What To Know

With staffing and funding shortages and rapidly changing expectations from patrons, what is actually happening at the reference desk in today’s libraries? Understanding the needs today’s reference librarians face can be useful in developing ways to support those needs. Asking them to make some predictions on the future of public library reference work gives Library and Information Science (LIS) students, and libraries preparing for the future, a valuable look at the expertise provided by experience. This understanding will help make some realistic decisions about reference staffing and service needs and provide some guidance for those aspiring to careers in public library reference.
COVERT SOLUTIONS TO COMPUTERIZED MATHEMATICS PROBLEMS AS A FUNCTION OF VISIBILITY OF THE NUMBERS AND RATE OF DIGIT PRESENTATION

Summary.-This exploratory investigation concerned estimation of sums of single digits as a function of the visibility of the digits, and the interstimulus intervals between digit presentations. A standard Televideo computer terminal (CRT) was used to randomly display digits langlng from 1 to 5 such that 25 numerals were successively presented per set. 77 undergraduate volunteers were randomly assigned 10 either a "visible" group in which numerals appeared on the CRT screen or to a "nonvisible" group in which the screen light was dimmed so that the digits were not visible. The rate of digit presentation varied within each group per set of numerals as a function of 3 interstimulus intervals (1, 3, and 5 sec.). Comparisons were made becween participants' estimates of the sums of these numbers versus the correct sums glven as feedback by the computer. A 2 x 2 x 2 mixed splic-plot factorial analys~s of variance gave significant differences between interstimulus intervals and signicicant interactions between interstimulus intervals and estimated versus correct means. There were no significant differences due to "viewing" conditions per se. ScheffC multiple comparisons gave sign~f~cant differences between estimated versus correct sums at the 1-sec. interval Lor both v~slhle and nonvisible viewing conditions. There were no significant differences betbeen estimates and correct sums at the 3-sec. or 5-sec. interstimulus intervals for visible or nonvisible viewing conditions. Results are interpreted in terms of matching-to-sample, retrieval interference, and threshold for interstimulus intervals.
Prestimulus modification of the startle reflex: relationship to personality and physiological markers of dopamine function

Prepulse inhibition (PPI), a measure of sensorimotor gating, is regulated by dopamine (DA) in rodents. We examined the relationship of PPI in humans to putative markers of brain DA function: (1) novelty seeking (NS; Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ)), which is associated with specific DA receptor subtypes, and is reduced in Parkinson's Disease; (2) blink rate, which is increased in primates by DA agonists, and is reduced in Parkinson's Disease. PPI, TPQ and blink rate were measured in 79 normal adult males. A significant negative correlation was observed between resting blink rate and mean PPI, but not between NS and PPI. Blink rate correlated positively with resting EMG level, but this did not account for the relationship between blink rate and PPI. In normal male humans, PPI is inversely related to a physiological marker of resting DA tone (blink rate), but not to a putatively DA-linked personality trait (high NS).
On the Cayley isomorphism problem for ternary relational structures

A ternary relational structure X is an ordered pair (V,E), where E ⊂ V3. A ternary relational structure X is a Cayley ternary relational structure of a group G if the left regular representation of G is contained in the automorphism group of X. A group G is a CI-group with respect to ternary relational structures if whenever X and X' are isomorphic Cayley ternary relational structures of G, then X and X' are isomorphic if and only if they are isomorphic by an automorphism of G. In this paper, we will provide a (relatively short) list of all possible CI-groups with respect to color ternary relational structures. All of these groups have order 2dn, 0≤d≤ 5, and n a positive integer with gcd(n, φ(n)) = 1, where φ is Euler's phi function. If d = 0, it has been shown by Palfy that Zn is a CI-group with respect to every class of combinatorial objects. We then show that of the possible CI-groups with respect to color ternary relational structures of order 2n and 4n with a cyclic Sylow 2-subgroup, most are CI-groups with respect to ternary relational structures, and in the unresolved cases, give a necessary and sufficient condition for the group to be a CI-group with respect to ternary relational structures. In particular, we determine all cyclic CI-groups with respect to ternary relational structures. Finally, a group G that is a CI-group with respect to ternary relational structures is also a CI-group with respect to binary relational structures (i.e. graphs and digraphs). Some of the groups considered in this paper are not known to be CI-groups with respect to graphs or digraphs, and we thus provide new examples of CI-groups with respect to graphs and digraphs.
Decentralization as a conflict transformation tool: The challenge in Kosovo

Perspectives are divided on whether decentralization can ease ethnic conflict. This article considers whether asymmetric decentralization reforms in Kosovo have reduced tensions between Kosovo Albanians (K-Albanians) and Serbs (K-Serbs). We argue that because decentralization has been linked to Kosovo's sovereignty in the years after the NATO bombings, during the final status talks, and after independence, it has not achieved intended outcomes throughout the territory of Kosovo. Instead of assuaging tensions and generating allegiance to the central government, decentralization has re-inforced ethnic divisions and strengthened K-Serb ties to Serbia, particularly in northern Kosovo. Concessions to majority Serb municipalities in Kosovo have been seen by K-Serbs as a bribe to buy acceptance of independence, while K-Albanians question their leaders' continued policy of asymmetric decentralization. Since independence, there have been some encouraging developments in southern municipalities, where K-Serbs have participated in municipal elections organized by Pristina. Based on Kosovo's experience, we argue that policy-makers must consider the impact of decentralization reforms at multiple levels of conflict. Further, although we find that decentralization may engage minorities in political processes if reforms are attempted after the establishment of a central government, we caution that it must be combined with policies to encourage interaction and dialogue between ethnic groups if it is to assuage conflict. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of computer methods of solving the eigenvalue problem of molecular spectroscopy

Abstract The eigenvalue problem is discussed from the viewpoint of computer mathematics and programming, with emphasis on applications to molecular spectroscopy. Particular mention is made of (a) the Danielevsky method of obtaining the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of a matrix, (b) the Householder method of reducing a symmetric matrix to tridiagonal form, and (c) the Sturm method for obtaining the eigenvalues of a tridiagonal matrix or the roots of a polynomial. The Householder method forms the basis of the fastest and most stable procedure for obtaining eigenvalues. However, for matrices up to 9 × 9, the little-known Danielevsky method is considerably simpler and equally fast, as well as sufficiently stable for the secular matrices which arise from the Wilson FG matrix method. The Sturm method converges with complete certainty. For all three methods, complete FORTRAN computer programs are available, as are papers useful to those wishing to program these methods themselves.
Oxygen ion diffusivity in strained yttria stabilized zirconia: where is the fastest strain?

We present the mechanism and the extent of increase in the oxygen anion diffusivity in Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) under biaxial lattice strain. The oxygen vacancy migration paths and barriers in YSZ as a function of lattice strain was assessed computationally using density functional theory (DFT) and nudged elastic band (NEB) method. Two competing and non-linear processes acting in parallel were identified to alter the migration barrier upon applied strain: (1) the change in the space, or electronic density, along the migration path, and (2) the change in the strength of the interatomic bonds between the migrating oxygen and the nearest neighbor cations that keep the oxygen from migrating. The increase of the migration space and the weakening of the local oxygen–cation bonds correspond to a decrease of the migration barrier, and vice versa. The contribution of the bond strength to the changes in the migration barrier is more significant than that of the opening of migration space in strained YSZ. A database of migration barrier energies as a function of lattice strain for a set of representative defect distributions in the vicinity of the migration path in YSZ was constructed. This database was used in kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations to estimate the effective oxygen diffusivity in strained YSZ. The oxygen diffusivity exhibits an exponential increase up to a critical value of tensile strain, or the fastest strain. This increase is more significant at the lower temperatures. At the strain states higher than the critical strain, the diffusivity decreases. This is attributed to the local relaxations at large strain states beyond a limit of elastic bond strain, resulting in the strengthening of the local oxygen–cation bonds that increases the migration barrier. The highest enhancement of diffusivity in 9%-YSZ compared to its unstrained state is 6.8 × 103 times at 4% strain and at 400 K. The results indicate that inducing an optimal strain state by direct mechanical load or by creating a coherent hetero-interface with lattice mismatch can enable desirably high ionic conductivity in YSZ at reduced temperatures. The insights gained here particularly on the nonlinear and competing consequences of lattice strain on the local bonding structure and charge transport process are of importance for tuning the ionic transport properties in a variety of solid-state conducting material applications, including but not limited to fuel cells.
The Computer-Aided Learning Program at the National Research Council of Canada

This paper, delivered at a Conference on “Transmission Technology for Education” sponsored by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, in May 1972, deals with the activities of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in the field of computer-aided learning. The first portion deals with the reasons for undertaking the work. The second part describes the work itself, and the facilities available. A third part describes the means of co-ordination between educational users, the various educational authorities, and the laboratories. The final portion is a series of questions which arise out of the problems associated with the division of responsibilities in the Canadian context. Other questions are of a more general kind, as they relate to the utility of CAL and the direction which further technology ought to take.
Effect of low‐dose granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (LD‐GM‐CSF) on platelet transfusion‐dependent thrombocytopenia

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor known to promote the proliferation and differentiation of precursors of granulocytes and monocytes. GM-CSF at standard doses (125-500 micrograms/m2) alleviates neutropenia secondary to cytotoxic chemotherapy, myelodysplastic syndromes, and aplastic anemia, but has minimal effect on anemia or thrombocytopenia. GM-CSF at doses < 30 micrograms/m2 has been reported to improve platelet counts in some patients exhibiting cytopenia related to hematologic disorders such as aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Low-dose GM-CSF (10-20 micrograms/m2) was evaluated in 20 patients with transfusion-dependent thrombocytopenia persisting after myeloablative cytotoxic chemotherapy or with disease-related cytopenia. Seven patients (35%) responded as defined by a reduction in the platelet transfusion requirements by at least 75%. Low-dose GM-CSF did not significantly increase neutrophil counts or decrease red blood cell transfusion requirements. These results indicate that low-dose GM-CSF has a thrombopoietic effect in about one-third of patients with platelet transfusion-dependent thrombocytopenia which has not been observed at higher doses.
Two-step component-mode synthesis for the eigensolution of large systems

Component-mode synthesis is a dynamic substructuring technique for approximate eigensolutions of large degree-of-freedom systems divisible into two or more components. System synthesis using component modes results in approximate eigenparameters. The approximation is improved by using more component modes in synthesis. Typically, all component modes up to x times the frequency range of interest are required to ensure reasonable accuracy, where x varies from 2 to 10. A two-step component-mode synthesis approach is presented. The first step involves system synthesis using the minimum number of component modes required to obtain approximate cigenvalues up to a preselected frequency, and the second step uses additional component modes in a convergence scheme operating on the system eigenparameters calculated in the first step. This results in an infinite-series eigenvalue problem that is solved by a modified shooting method. A perturbation approach is adopted to derive the convergence scheme, in which separate iterations are performed for each eigenvalue and eigenvector in each step. Selection of initial values for the convergence scheme is also presented. In a few instances, an eigenvalue nearly reached the convergence tolerance, but then wandered away and converged to an adjacent value. The algorithm was modified to automatically detect this problem and abort iteration with a small penalty in accuracy. This two-step approach provides the analyst with some insight into the convergence and accuracy of the eigenparameters without resolving an increasingly larger system over and over with more component modes. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the applicability of the method.
MURINE PHOSPHOLIPID HYDROPEROXIDE GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE : CDNA SEQUENCE, TISSUE EXPRESSION, AND MAPPING

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), also known as glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), is a 19-kDa, monomeric enzyme that protects cells from lipid peroxide-mediated damage by catalyzing the reduction of lipid peroxides. PHGPx is synthesized in two forms, as a 194-amino acid peptide that predominates in gonadal tissue and localizes to mitochondria, and as a 170-amino acid protein that predominates in most somatic tissues and localizes to the cytoplasm. With the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) procedure, an 876-bp PHGPx cDNA was amplified from mouse testis, and a 767-bp PHGPx cDNA was amplified from mouse heart. The cDNA sequences were identical except that the testis cDNA contained an additional 109 bp at its 5′ end. With a partial cDNA with complete homology to both the testis and myocardial PHGPx cDNAs, the murine tissue distribution of PHGPx mRNA expression was determined by Northern blotting. Highest level of PHGPx expression was found in the testis, followed by the kidney, heart and skeletal muscle, liver, brain, lung, and spleen. Northern blotting performed with a cDNA specific for the longer PHGPx transcript demonstrated that this longer PHGPx transcript was present only in the testis. A 1.4-kb PHGPx genomic fragment was amplified from murine kidney DNA and used to map the PHGPx gene by linkage analysis of restriction fragment length variants (RFLVs). The murine PHGPx gene (Gpx4) was mapped to a region of murine Chromosome (Chr) 10, located 43 cM from the centromere, that is syntenic with the human locus, which is located at the terminus of the short arm of human Chr 19. This information may be valuable in characterizing the role of PHGPx in modulating susceptibility to lipid peroxide-mediated injury in inbred murine strains and for targeted disruption of the gene.
Effects of Supplemental Progesterone on Semen from Bulls

Abstract Exogenous progesterone given at 100 or 200 mg/day caused a decrease in concentration of fructose, citric acid, motility, live spermatozoa, and volume of ejaculate in three bulls. Spermatogenesis was disrupted and partially suppressed. Abnormal spermatozoa were increased, with tailless sperm accounting for the major type of abnormality. Semen quality returned to normal after the exogenous hormone was withdrawn. Seminal characteristics from the two low-fertility inbred animals indicated they were secreting abnormally high levels of progesterone.
Responding to Student Writing

Because writing teachers invest so much time responding to student writing and because these responses reveal the assumptions teachers hold about writing, L1 writing researchers have investigated how composition teachers respond to their students' texts. These investigations have revealed that teachers respond to most writing as if it were a final draft, thus reinforcing an extremely constricted notion of composing. Their comments often reflect the application of a single ideal standard rather than criteria that take into account how composing constraints can affect writing performance. Furthermore, teachers' marks and comments usually take the form of abstract and vague prescriptions and directives that students find difficult to interpret. A study was undertaken to examine ESL teachers' responses to student writing. The findings suggest that ESL composition teachers make similar types of comments and are even more concerned with language-specific errors and problems. The marks and comments are often confusing, arbitrary, and inaccessible. In addition, ESL teachers, like their native-language counterparts, rarely seem to expect students to revise the text beyond the surface level. Such responses to texts give students a very limited and limiting notion of writing, for they fail to provide students with the understanding that writing involves producing a text that evolves over time. Teachers therefore need to develop more appropriate responses for commenting on student writing. They need to facilitate revision by responding to writing as work in progress rather than judging it as a finished product.
The gelation kinetics of platelet extracts.

Abstract The kinetics of the gelation process that occurs upon warming cold platelet extracts were studied using a sensitive rheometer. At micromolar or less free Ca2+ concentrations and in the presence of 1 mM ATP, the gel rigidity curves showed several peaks, indicating that platelet extract proteins went through network assembling/disassembling cycles during gelation. The gelation kinetics were accelerated by increasing the free Ca2+ concentration up to about 2 μM. At 4–15 μM free Ca2+, the gelation cycles were completely abolished except for the first peak. The gelation process became one of monotonically increasing elastic modulus at millimolar free Ca2+ concentrations. Trifluoperazine (50 μM), a calmodulin inhibitor, did not affect gelation at micromolar free Ca2+ concentrations. Except for the first gelation step, which was completed within 5 min after warming, the rest of the gelation process was found to be affected by K+, ATP, cytochalasin E and colchicine. K+ at concentrations higher than 10 mM retarded the gelation kinetics. Extracts prepared with low (0.1 mM) ATP content showed impaired gelations, and this was partially reversed by adding 1 mM ATP, but not 1 mM adenylylimidodiphosphate (p[NH]ppA). Both cytochalasin E (1 μM) and colchicine (1 mM) interfered with the gelation process.
Sensitive, Noninvasive Detection of Lymph Node Metastases

Background Many primary malignancies spread via lymphatic dissemination, and accurate staging therefore still relies on surgical exploration. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of semiautomated noninvasive nodal cancer staging using a nanoparticle-enhanced lymphotropic magnetic resonance imaging (LMRI) technique.
Identification of isoenzymic forms of hepatic Ca2+-activated-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase in various animal models.

We have examined the protein kinase C that are present in mouse, rat, guinea pig and rabbit liver. Initial subcellular fractionation analysis indicated that the majority (75–85%) of the activity was associated with particulate fraction of the liver. The bound protein kinase C was dissociated by homogenization of livers in buffer containing EGTA, EDTA and various proteolytic inhibitors and the solubilized extract was used to resolve multiple forms of the enzyme. The fractionation procedure, sequentially utilized (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, gel permeation chromatography, and hydroxylapatite column chromatography. With hydroxylapatite, protein kinase C was resolved into three isoenzymic forms designated C-I, C-II and C-III. In each case, the predominant activity consisted of C-II and C-III and together they represented about 80–88% of the total activity. All three isoenzymes from each source demonstrated an absolute requirement for PS + Ca 2+ (∼25-50 fold stimulation over basal activity); for maximal activity the isoenzymes also required the presence of divalent metal ion, Mg 2+ (5–10 mM) and lysine rich histone (H 1 ). Both diolein and TPA decreased the Ca 2+ and PS requirement of the enzyme and directly stimulated enzyme activity in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of Ca 2+ and PS. In conclusion, the present studies suggest that protein kinase C in mammalian liver exists in isoenzymic forms.
Two-Dimensional Proton Chemical Shift Correlated NMR Spectroscopy of Digitoxose1

Abstract The hydroxyl proton coupled 1H NMR spectra of solutions of β-d-digitoxopyranose and of an equilibrated mixture of the four ring forms of d-digitoxose in dimethylsulfoxide-d 6 have been assigned completely by two-dimensional, proton chemical shift correlated NMR spectroscopy and spin decoupling at 400 MHz. Analysis of resolution enhanced, one-dimensional 1H NMR spectra yielded an almost complete set of CH and OH proton-proton coupling constants for the four ring forms. The free aldehydo form of d-digitoxose in dimethylsulfoxide-d 6 solution has been detected by means of its characteristic H-l quartet at 6 9.687. Quantitative analysis of the equilibrated mixture of the five forms of d-digitoxose gave the composition:- α-pyranose, β-pyranose, α-furanose, β-furanose, aldehydo form, 11.2, 67.3, 8.4, 13.0, and 0.1%, respectively. The 4 C 1 chair conformations have been assigned to the α- and β-pyranose forms by analysis of the coupling constants and are discussed qualitatively in terms of their relativ...
Determination of zero reference level for left atrial pressure by echocardiography.

Abstract This study compares the anterior chest wall to mid-left atrial distance (D) determined by echocardiography with three standard cardiac zero reference levels (ZRL); (1) 5 cm. from the sternal angle, (2) 10 cm. from the back, (3) midchest. Echocardiography was performed on 50 subjects (16 normal subjects and 34 subjects with heart disease). Chest wall, aortic root, and left atrial echoes were obtained to measure D. The AP diameter of the chest (L) was measured using calipers. Thus, ZRL (2) = (L−10) cm. from the front of the chest and ZRL (3) = L2, respectively. The difference between the mean of D and ZRL 1, ZRL 2, and ZRL 3 is +4.8 c.m, −0.9 cm., and −0.5 cm., respectively. Conclusions: (a) ZRL (1) is consistently in error; in 17 patients the difference was greater than 5.4 cm.; (b) there is no significant difference between D and ZRL (2) or ZRL (3), and hence they are valid reference systems, and (c) echocardiography can be used to accurately determine the zero reference level for left atrial pressure measurements.
Map Data Processing: Recognition Of Lines And Symbols

A typical geographical map consists of a large number of lines and symbols representing various physical entities and their spatial relationships. The design of a computer-based system to automatically extract information from a map and answer queries is a challenging task that requires an intelligent query processor and a sophisticated image analysis system. One of the tasks of the image analysis system is recognition of symbols and lines. In this paper we describe simple line tracking and symbol identification routines. The routines are capable of tracking various types of lines (continuous, broken, intersecting) and symbols having simple geometrical shapes.