Feeble forces and gravity

We develop a scenario in which feeble intermediate range forces emerge as an effect resulting from the compactification (à la Kaluza-Klein) of multidimensional theories. These feeble forces compete with gravity and in general permit different bodies to fall to earth with different accelerations. We show that these feeble forces are mediated by vectors (V) and/or scalars (S), whose dimensionless coupling constants are typically of order g_v g_s 10^–10 Under certain plausible assumptions the ranges of these feeble forces are expected to be of order 1 m to 1 km. It is conjectured that the general strategy will prove applicable to realistic multidimensional theories such as the 10-dimensional superstring theories. We speculate that deviations from the standard gravitational force-similar to the ones reported recently as a fifth force-may be interpreted as evidence for higher dimensions.This essay received the second award from the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 1986.Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under grant # DE-FG03-84ER-40168.     

Anionic polymerization and copolymerization of p-bromostyrene

Monodispersed poly(4-bromostyrenes) (PBs) and their block copolymers with styrene, isoprene, and 3-methylbutene were prepared and characterized by GPC and NMR. Polystyryl and α-methylstyryl carbanions act as effective initiators of the anionic polymerization of Bs in THF. The undersirable side reactions, due to thermally or photochemically induced decomposition of the bromostyryl carbanions, PBs^?, may be eliminated by conducting the reaction at ?78°C and in the dark. Under such conditions, the rate constant of propagation, k_p (?78°), is 1.5 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1. Radical anions, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm Bs}^{\mathop - \limits_ \cdot} $\end{document}, formed as result of electron transfer from sodium naphthalenide to Bs, may eject spontaneously bromine ions. This step and reactions involving the respective phenyl radicals compete at ?78°C with the addition steps leading to polymer formation. Electron affinity of Bs seems to be much higher than that of styrene or isoprene, and PBs^? carbanions do not add to the latter monomers. Addition of Bs to polyisoprenyl carbanions leads to formation of the BsIBs block copolymers. BsIBs, prepared in THF, may be converted by preferential hydrogenation of the 1–2 adducts into block copolymers of Bs with poly(2-methylbutene) and isoprenyl segments. The effectiveness of Bs as a flame retarding constituent of polymeric systems seems to be much more pronounced when it is incorporated in a “block” than in a random fashion. A considerably larger fraction of PBs is required to achieve the same LOI value when the respective homopolymers are blended. Spatial distribution of the easily charred microdomains in the block copolymers is believed to be responsible for this phenomenon.     

The complex of a bivalent derivative of galanthamine with torpedo acetylcholinesterase displays drastic deformation of the active-site gorge: implications for structure-based drug design

Bifunctional derivatives of the alkaloid galanthamine, designed to interact with both the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its peripheral cation binding site, have been assayed with Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE), and the three-dimensional structures of their complexes with the enzyme have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Differences were noted between the IC(50) values obtained for TcAChE and those for Electrophorus electricus AChE. These differences are ascribed to sequence differences in one or two residues lining the active-site gorge of the enzyme. The binding of one of the inhibitors disrupts the native conformation of one wall of the gorge, formed by the loop Trp279-Phe290. It is proposed that flexibility of this loop may permit the binding of inhibitors such as galanthamine, which are too bulky to penetrate the narrow neck of the gorge formed by Tyr121 and Phe330 as seen in the crystal structure.     

Perturbations of molecular extravalence excitations by rare-gas fluids

In this paper we report the results of an experimental study of the vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectra of molecular impurity states of methyl iodide in Ar (density range ? = 0–1.4 g cm^?3) and in Kr (? = 0–2.3 g cm^?3), of carbon disulphide in Ar (? = 0–1.4 g cm^?3) and of formaldehyde in Ar (? = 0–1.25 g cm^?3). The experimental results provide new information regarding medium perturbations of intravalenc transitions, of the lowest extravalence transitions and of transitions to mixed valence—Rydberg configurations, which serve as a diagnostic tool to distinguish between different types of electronic excitations. All the lowest extravalence molecular excitations exhibit appreciable blue spectral shifts at moderate and at high fluid densities, intravalence transitions are practically insensitive to medium effects, while excitations to mixed valence—Rydberg configurations are characterized by a moderate blue spectral shift. New information has been obtained concerning the energetics of molecular ionization processes in a dense fluid. The high n = 2–5 Rydberg states of CH₃l exhibit a large red shift at moderate (? = 0–0.5 cm^?3) Ar densities. The ionization potential E_g and the effective Rydberg constant G for CH₃I in Ar was found to decrease from G = 13.6 eV and E_g = 9.55 eV at ? = 0 and E_g = 9.08 eV and constant G for CH₃l in Ar was found to decrease from G = 13.6 eV and E_g = 9.55eV at ? = 0 and E_g = 9.08 eV and G ≈ 7.15 eV at ? = 0.5 g cm^?3. Experimental evidence was obtained for the identification of n = 2 molecular Wannier impurity states of CH₃I and of CH₂O in liquid Ar. These spectroscopic data result in E_g ≈ 8.6 eV for CH₃I in liquid Ar and E_g ≈ 10.2 eV for CH₂O in liquid Ar.     

The role of multiple solution tasks in developing knowledge and creativity in geometry

This paper describes changes in students’ geometrical knowledge and their creativity associated with implementation of Multiple Solution Tasks (MSTs) in school geometry courses. Three hundred and three students from 14 geometry classes participated in the study, of whom 229 students from 11 classes learned in an experimental environment that employed MSTs while the rest learned without any special intervention in the course of one school year. This longitudinal study compares the development of knowledge and creativity between the experimental and control groups as reflected in students’ written tests. Geometry knowledge was measured by the correctness and connectedness of the solutions presented. The criteria for creativity were: fluency, flexibility, and originality. The findings show that students’ connectedness as well as their fluency and flexibility benefited from implementation of MSTs. The study supports the idea that originality is a more internal characteristic than fluency and flexibility, and therefore more related with creativity and less dynamic. Nevertheless, the MSTs approach provides greater opportunity for potentially creative students to present their creative products than conventional learning environment. Cluster analysis of the experimental group identified three clusters that correspond to three levels of student performance, according to the five measured criteria in pre- and post-tests, and showed that, with the exception of originality, performance in all three clusters generally improved on the various criteria.     

Brain MRI lesion load quantification in multiple sclerosis: a comparison between automated multispectral and semi-automated thresholding computer-assisted techniques

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion volume measurement is an advantageous tool for assessing disease burden in multiple sclerosis (MS). We have evaluated two computer-assisted techniques: MSA multispectral automatic technique that is based on bayesian classification of brain tissue and NIH image analysis technique that is based on local (lesion by lesion) thresholding, to establish reliability and repeatability values for each technique. Brain MRIs were obtained for 30 clinically definite relapsing-remitting MS patients using a 2.0 Tesla MR scanner with contiguous, 3 mm thick axial, T1, T2 and PD weighted modalities. Digital (Dicom 3) images were analyzed independently by three observers; each analyzed the images twice, using the two different techniques (Total 360 analyses). Accuracy of lesion load measurements using phantom images of known volumes showed significantly better results for the MSA multispectral technique (p < 0.001). The mean intra-and inter-observer variances were, respectively, 0.04 ± 0.4 (range 0.04–0.13), and 0.09 ± 0.6 (range 0.01–0.26) for the multispectral MSA analysis technique, 0.24 ± 2.27 (range 0.23–0.72) and 0.33 ± 3.8 (range 0.47–1.36) for the NIH threshold technique. These data show that the MSA multispectral technique is significantly more accurate in lesion volume measurements, with better results of within and between observers’ assessments, and the lesion load measurements are not influenced by increased disease burden. Measurements by the MSA multispectral technique were also faster and decreased analysis time by 43%. The MSA multispectral technique is a promising tool for evaluating MS patients. Non-biased recognition and delineation algorithms enable high accuracy, low intra-and inter-observer variances and fast assessment of MS related lesion load.     

Is there a unique consistent theory of quantum gravity?

Superstrings have been proposed as a quantum-theoretical framework for unifying all the fundamental forces, including gravity. We consider the question of whether there might be more general supersymmetric possibilities, based on higher extended objects such as membranes, jellies, etc. We argue that all the possible extended objects in all possible spacetime dimensions are quantummechanically inconsistent except for the 10-dimensional superstring and the 11-dimensional supermembrane. These are also the only two such theories that contain massless gravitons and, thus, that can describe gravity at low energies. It is remarkable that the range of possibilities can be narrowed down to this extent. Whether these can be further narrowed down to just one consistent theory remains open to further research.This essay received the first award from the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 1988.-Ed.