bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tank‐based bioremediation of petroleum waste sludges
Authors: Castaldi Frank J.
Published: April 2004

Petroleum waste sludges are treated in a continuous flow multistage slurry bioreactor system that operates at relatively short residence times with minimal loss of volatile constituents. The paper presents data for both pilot‐ and commercial‐scale versions of the process applied to the treatment of petroleum industry wastes of the classifications primary separation sludge (F037), API separator sludge (K051), dissolved gas flotation float (K048), and slop‐oil emulsion solids (K049). The process is shown to meet the EPA Universal Treatment Standards (UTS). The pilot‐scale system treated petrochemical‐based tarry wastes that contained volatile and semi‐volatile petroleum hydrocarbons in combination with a variety of chlorinated compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls.

The commercial‐scale system included centrifugation to recover recyclable oil and reduce sludge volume; slurry‐phase biotreatment to degrade hazardous organic constituents and convert these to carbon dioxide, water, and less toxic intermediates; and, finally, dewatering of the residual, biotreated sludge before off‐site disposal. These petroleum waste sludges are initially treated to recover oil and generate solid cake at approximately 50 wt % moisture. The solids are slurried with active cultures of facultative anaerobic bacteria, and treated in tank‐based slurry bioreactors before being disposed of in a hazardous waste landfill.

The process is shown to meet UTS criteria for volatile organics (i.e., benzene through xylenes); polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including naphthalene through benzo(a)pyrene; and phenolics. The most challenging treatment targets were the PAHs, which were present at concentrations significantly above the regulatory criteria. The higher molecular weight PAHs, including the four‐ring compounds of pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, and chrysene, were effectively treated at destruction efficiencies greater than 90%.
Biofiltration of concentrated mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and methanol
Authors: Sologar V. S. , Lu Zijin , Allen D. Grant
Published: April 2004

To date, little research has addressed biofiltration of volatile organic compound (VOC) and reduced sulfur compound (RSC) mixtures at the relatively high concentrations (0 to 450 ppmv) of interest to the pulp and paper industry. The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of cotreatment on the biofiltration of air emissions containing mixtures of RSCs and VOCs, and to develop models of the processes. Experiments were conducted at various concentrations (16 s EBRT) using hydrogen sulfide as a model RSC (0–450 ppmv) and methanol as a model VOC (0–400 ppmv). Reaction‐limited and biofilm models showed that hydrogen sulfide degradation followed Monod kinetics, while methanol removal was first order. The maximum hydrogen sulfide removal rate observed during the first three months of operation was 144 g H2S/m3 bed/h. However, this declined to 85–95 g H2S/m3 bed/h in subsequent months. The methanol removal rate was 70–80% of the applied load (maximum 480 g methanol/m3 bed/h) for single component and mixture treatment. The results indicate that methanol and hydrogen sulfide removal in biofilters are independent and that co‐treatment is an attractive option.
Automating hierarchical environmentally‐conscious design using integrated software: VOC recovery case study
Authors: Chen Hui , Rogers Tony N. , Barna Bruce A. , Shonnard David R.
Published: April 2004

Traditionally, chemical process design and optimization has mainly been based on economic considerations. Currently, the scope is being extended to include environmentally‐conscious process design (ECD). ECD will be facilitated by the emergence of integrated design methodologies and tools. The objectives of this paper are to present a hierarchical design methodology for environmentally‐conscious process design, and an integrated assessment and optimization software. An application for the recycle of VOCs from a gaseous waste stream is presented using this design methodology and software. Revenue increased and environmental impacts were reduced. The net present value for the optimum design is approximately $900,000, which is much higher than the base case design, −$2,498,200. A composite environmental index decreases from 1.19 × 10−4 in the base case to about 1.30 × 10−5 in the optimum case.

This automated tool along with the embedded design methodology provides an effective and efficient way to perform environmentally‐conscious chemical process design and optimization.
The effect of dehydration history on PVA/PVP hydrogels for nucleus pulposus replacement
Authors: Thomas Jonathan , Gomes Kate , Lowman Anthony , Marcolongo Michele
Published: April 2004

The feasibility of the use of a copolymer gel prepared from blends of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) for endoscopic replacement of the nucleus pulposus of a lumbar intervertebral disc was examined in this study. Hydrogels were processed with the use of three freeze/thaw cycles to induce crystallinity. As‐prepared samples were dehydrated to various levels: 70.4, 46.3, 25.1, and 10.3% of their as‐prepared masses and subsequently rehydrated. The dehydration history controlled the dimensions upon swelling and caused distortion of the material, with major distortion occurring when the hydrogel reached around 25% of the initial hydrated mass. The dehydration history affected the mechanical behavior of the rehydrated gels. Increased dehydration resulted in increased compressive modulus for the reswollen gels. Experiments were performed to investigate the formation of a skin layer that was found on the hydrogels during the dehydration process. The skin was found to dehydrate quickly and form a barrier to further dehydration from the core. Rubber elasticity theory was used to describe the differences in the network characteristics between the skin and the core of a drying hydrogel. The dehydration/rehydration process used in this study and an implantation of a cadaver model demonstrate the feasibility of endoscopic nucleus replacement. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 69B: 135–140, 2004
Bcl‐2 overexpression inhibits tetrachlorohydroquinone‐induced apoptosis in NIH3T3 cells: A possible mechanism for tumor promotion
Authors: Lin Yu‐Ping , Zhu Ben‐Zhan , Yang Ming‐Chen , Frei Balz , Pan Ming‐Hsiung , Lin Jen‐Kun , Wang Ying‐Jan
Published: April 2004

TCHQ is a major carcinogenic metabolite of the widely used wood preservative PCP. Recently, we found that TCHQ was a promoter in a mouse skin carcinogenesis model. However, the mechanism is still not clear. In this study, we showed that overexpression of Bcl‐2 effectively suppressed TCHQ‐induced apoptosis in NIH3T3 cells, as evidenced by morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. Although production of ROS contributes to TCHQ‐induced apoptosis, Bcl‐2 failed to attenuate TCHQ‐elicited increase of intracellular ROS level. In addition, overexpressed Bcl‐2 provides only partial protection against TCHQ‐induced cellular DNA damage. We also found that TCHQ induced a change in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and that caspase‐9 and subsequent caspase‐3 can be activated during TCHQ‐induced acute apoptosis. Interestingly, TCHQ induced a significant upregulation of Bcl‐2 expression, and over‐expressed Bcl‐2 can dramatically inhibit the change of mitochondria membrane potential and activation of both caspase‐9 and ‐3. Thus, our results suggest TCHQ‐induced tumor promotion may be through a mechanism of upregulation of Bcl‐2 protein and subsequent apoptosis inhibition. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional protein nanoarrays for biomarker profiling
Authors: Lynch Michael , Mosher Curtis , Huff Janice , Nettikadan Saju , Johnson James , Henderson Eric
Published: April 2004

The use of microarrays for parallel screening of nucleic acid profiles has become an industry standard. Similar efforts for screening protein‐protein interactions are gaining momentum, however, they remain limited by the requirement for relatively large sample volumes. One strategy for overcoming this problem is to significantly decrease the size and consequently the sample volume of the protein interaction assay. We report here on our progress over the last two years in the construction of ultraminiaturized, functional protein capture assays. Each one micron spot in these array‐based assays covers less than 1/1000th of the surface area of a conventional microarray spot while still maintaining enough antibodies to provide a useful dynamic range. These nanoarray assays can be read by conventional optical fluorescence microscopy as well as by novel label‐free methods such as atomic force microscopy. The size reduction realized by functional protein nanoarrays also creates opportunities for novel applications including highly multiplexed single cell analysis and integration with microfluidics and other “lab‐on‐a‐chip” technologies.
A novel AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction‐based Hall sensor designed for low magnetic field measurements
Authors: Sghaier H. , Bouzaïene L. , Sfaxi L. , Maaref H.
Published: April 2004

A self‐consistent theoretical analysis, using both Schrödinger and Poisson equations, is made to investigate and propose novel Hall devices based on AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures. The novel heterostructures are designed and optimized with respect to the measurements of low magnetic field du to their high sensitivity. In this study we attempt to show that the electron mobility of the studied heterostructure may be enhanced without loss in interface electron concentration by both increasing the spacer thickness and by inserting a δ‐doping in a narrow quantum well within the AlGaAs barrier where the Al concentration in the well is less than in the barrier. Therefore, we predict a significant enhancement of device sensitivity to low magnetic field without compromise in noise performance. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Is immune‐mediated complete fetal atrioventricular block reversible by transplacental dexamethasone therapy?
Authors: Jaeggi E. T. , Silverman E. D. , Yoo S.‐J. , Kingdom J.
Published: April 2004

We report for the first time a fetal case with sustained regression from isolated complete to first‐degree heart block on transplacental treatment with high‐dose dexamethasone. Doppler echocardiography is an excellent diagnostic tool in the non‐invasive assessment of fetal atrioventricular conduction and its anomalies. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of free‐hand three‐dimensional echocardiography in the evaluation of fetal cardiac ejection fraction: a preliminary study
Authors: Esh‐Broder E. , Ushakov F. B. , Imbar T. , Yagel S.
Published: April 2004

Objective

To investigate the feasibility of using free‐hand three‐dimensional (3D) echocardiography to evaluate fetal cardiac function.

Methods

3D cardiac data were collected during screening examinations for 37 normal fetuses with gestational ages of between 16 and 26 weeks. Processing of the 3D volumes included separation of the end‐diastolic and end‐systolic slices, segmentation of right and left ventricles, measurement of end‐diastolic and end‐systolic volumes, and calculation of the ejection fraction (EF) for each ventricle. In 21 fetuses at 21–24 weeks, right and left ventricle volumes and EF were compared.

Results

Twenty‐five cases were appropriate for final statistical analysis. The volume of the ventricles increased with gestational age and estimated fetal weight. There was no significant trend in the difference between the volumes and EF of the right and left ventricles in the 21–24‐week subgroup. The mean right and left ventricular EF were 54 ± 11.2% and 57.5 ± 14.6%, respectively. The mean combined EF of ventricles during gestation was 55.1 ± 10.7% and seemed to remain constant during the gestational ages studied.

Conclusions

3D echocardiography can provide estimates of ventricular volume and function and may in future be used for evaluation of fetuses with congenital heart disease and cardiac dysfunction. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Di‐ and Trimercury Chlorogallates
Authors: Rosdahl Jan , Gorlov Mikhail , Fischer Andreas , Kloo Lars
Published: April 2004

Mercury(I) chloride reacts with gallium(III) chloride in benzene/1, 2‐dichlorobenzene solution to give the binuclear compound Hg2(GaCl4)2 (1). Reduction of mercury(I) chloride with mercury in gallium(III) chloride‐benzene mixture leads to the trinuclear compound Hg3(GaCl4)2 (2). The crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction {Hg2(GaCl4)2: triclinic, P1¯, a = 645.21(3), b = 654.44(3), c = 927.17(7) pm, α = 83.526(2)°, β = 74.915(2)°, γ = 61.863(3)°; Hg3(GaCl4)2: monoclinic, P21/c, a = 715.79(1), b = 1501.59(4), c = 1421.43(4) pm, β = 98.9798(9)°}.
Avian and mammalian hippocampus: No degrees of freedom in evolution of function
Authors: Colombo Michael
Published: April 2004

Aboitiz et al. suggest that the mammalian isocortex is derived from the dorsal cortex of reptiles and birds, and that there has been a major divergence in the connectivity patterns (and hence function) of the mammalian and reptilian/avian hippocampus. There is considerable evidence to suggest, however, that the avian hippocampus serves the exact same function as the mammalian hippocampus.
The hardest test for a theory of cognition: The input test
Authors: Roy Asim
Published: April 2004

This commentary defines an additional characteristic of human learning. The nature of this test is different from the ones by Newell: This is a hard, pass/fail type of test. Thus a theory of cognition cannot partially satisfy this test; it either conforms to the requirement fully, or it doesn't. If a theory of cognition cannot satisfy this property of human learning, then the theory is not valid at all.
Newell's program, like Hilbert's, is dead; let's move on
Authors: Yang Yingrui , Bringsjord Selmer
Published: April 2004

We draw an analogy between Hilbert's program (HP) for mathematics and Newell's program (NP) for cognitive modeling. The analogy reveals that NP, like HP before it, is fundamentally flawed. The only alternative is a program anchored by an admission that cognition is more than computation.
What do our patients want and need? A palliative care
clinician's view from the trenches
Authors: STROUSE THOMAS B.
Published: April 2004

This manuscript was written for and delivered as the keynote
address at the Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative's 2002
Annual Awards Dinner. The author thought the journal's readership
might experience the content as more immediate if it remained in its
original narrative form.
Die interkulturelle Erfassung der Lebensqualität im Alter: Das WHOQOL-OLD-Projekt
Authors: Winkler Ines , Buyantugs Lamjav , Petscheleit Andreas , Kilian Reinhold , Angermeyer Matthias C.
Published: April 2004

Zusammenfassung: Im Rahmen des WHOQOL-OLD Projektes arbeiten Forschungszentren aus 22 Ländern unter der Schirmherrschaft der WHO an der Entwicklung eines Instrumentariums zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität im Alter. In diesem Beitrag sollen die konzeptionellen und methodischen Grundlagen dieses Projektes dargestellt sowie die ersten Ergebnisse der durchgeführten empirischen Untersuchungen für die deutschsprachige Version des Instruments WHOQOL-OLD präsentiert werden. Da ein wesentlicher Aspekt des WHOQOL Projektes die Einbeziehung der Perspektive der Laien neben der Perspektive medizinischer Experten ist, wurden zu Beginn des Projektes Fokusgruppen (FG) mit Laien und Experten durchgeführt. Ziel der Durchführung dieser FG war die Überprüfung der dimensionalen Struktur des Lebensqualitätskonzeptes für ältere Erwachsene sowie die Entwicklung der Facettendefinitionen. Als Ergebnis der Fokusgruppen zeigte sich, dass ältere Menschen mit dem Begriff Lebensqualität sowohl soziale als auch gesundheitliche und umweltbezogene Aspekte verbinden. Zu dem Vergleich mit den Ergebnissen aus den internationalen FG kann zusammenfassend gesagt werden, dass diese überwiegend mit den Ergebnissen aus den deutschen FG übereinstimmen.
Hepatic insig-1 or -2 overexpression reduces lipogenesis in obese Zucker diabetic fatty rats and in fasted/refed normal rats
Authors: Takaishi Kiyosumi , Duplomb Laurence , Wang May-Yun , Li Jinping , Unger Roger H.
Published: April 2004

To determine whether the antilipogenic actions of insulin-induced gene 1 (insig-1) demonstrated in cultured preadipocytes also occur
in vivo
, we infected Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) (
fa/fa
) rats, with recombinant adenovirus containing insig-1 or -2 cDNA. An increase of both proteins appeared in their livers. In control ZDF (
fa/fa
) rats infected with adenovirus containing the β-galactosidase (β-gal) cDNA, triacylglycerols in the liver and plasma rose steeply whereas the insig-infected rats exhibited substantial attenuation of the increase in hepatic steatosis and hyperlipidemia. Insig overexpression was associated with a striking reduction in the elevated level of nuclear sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c, the activated form of the transcription factor. The mRNA of SREBP-1c lipogenic target enzymes also fell. The mRNA of endogenous insig-1, but not -2a and -2b, was higher in the fatty livers of untreated obese ZDF (
fa/fa
) rats compared with controls, but the elevation was not sufficient to block the ≈3-fold increase in SREBP-1c expression and activity. In normal animals, adenovirus-induced overexpression of the insigs reduced the increase in SREBP-1c mRNA and its target enzymes caused by refeeding. The findings demonstrated that both insigs have antilipogenic action when transgenically overexpressed in livers with increased SREBP-1c-mediated lipogenesis. However, the increase in endogenous insig-1 expression associated with augmented lipogenesis may limit it, but is insufficient to prevent it.
Sequence optimization as an alternative to de novo analysis of tandem mass spectrometry data
Authors: Heredia-Langner Alejandro , Cannon William R. , Jarman Kenneth D. , Jarman Kristin H.
Published: April 2004

Motivation: Peptide identification following tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is usually achieved by searching for the best match between the mass spectrum of an unidentified peptide and model spectra generated from peptides in a sequence database. This methodology will be successful only if the peptide under investigation belongs to an available database. Our objective is to develop and test the performance of a heuristic optimization algorithm capable of dealing with some features commonly found in actual MS/MS spectra that tend to stop simpler deterministic solution approaches.

Results: We present the implementation of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) in the reconstruction of amino acid sequences using only spectral features, discuss some of the problems associated with this approach and compare its performance to a de novo sequencing method. The GA can potentially overcome some of the most problematic aspects associated with de novo analysis of real MS/MS data such as missing or unclearly defined peaks and may prove to be a valuable tool in the proteomics field. We assess the performance of our algorithm under conditions of perfect spectral information, in situations where key spectral features are missing, and using real MS/MS spectral data.
Solution structures of the C‐terminal headpiece subdomains of human villin and advillin, evaluation of headpiece F‐actin‐binding requirements
Authors: Vermeulen Wim , Vanhaesebrouck Peter , Van Troys Marleen , Verschueren Mieke , Fant Franky , Goethals Marc , Ampe Christophe , Martins José C. , Borremans Frans A.M.
Published: April 2004

Headpiece (HP) is a 76‐residue F‐actin‐binding module at the C terminus of many cytoskeletal proteins. Its 35‐residue C‐terminal subdomain is one of the smallest known motifs capable of autonomously adopting a stable, folded structure in the absence of any disulfide bridges, metal ligands, or unnatural amino acids. We report the three‐dimensional solution structures of the C‐terminal headpiece subdomains of human villin (HVcHP) and human advillin (HAcHP), determined by two‐dimensional 1H‐NMR. They represent the second and third structures of such C‐terminal headpiece subdomains to be elucidated so far. A comparison with the structure of the chicken villin C‐terminal subdomain reveals a high structural conservation. Both C‐terminal subdomains bind specifically to F‐actin. Mutagenesis is used to demonstrate the involvement of Trp 64 in the F‐actin‐binding surface. The latter residue is part of a conserved structural feature, in which the surface‐exposed indole ring is stacked on the proline and lysine side chain embedded in a PXWK sequence motif. On the basis of the structural and mutational data concerning Trp 64 reported here, the results of a cysteine‐scanning mutagenesis study of full headpiece, and a phage display mutational study of the 69–74 fragment, we propose a modification of the model, elaborated by Vardar and coworkers, for the binding of headpiece to F‐actin.
Capital Flight, North‐South Lending, and Stages of Economic Development
Authors: Sakuragawa Masaya , Hamada Koichi
Published: April 2004

We present a two‐country OLG economy in which international capital mobility exists in the presence of moral hazard in financial contracts. The difference in the extent of asymmetric information is a source of capital movement and capital flows from the South to the North. Even though there exists a unique steady state under autarky, multiple locally stable steady states may emerge in a world economy with an integrated capital market. However, the integration may drive the South down to further impoverishment. The South's government therefore should take into account seriously the timing of capital market liberalization as a conduit of economic development.
Ambiguity in Social Categorization
Authors: Hugenberg Kurt , Bodenhausen Galen V.
Published: April 2004

Two studies tested the hypothesis that perceivers' prejudice and targets' facial expressions bias race categorization in stereotypic directions. Specifically, we hypothesized that racial prejudice would be more strongly associated with a tendency to categorize hostile (but not happy) racially ambiguous faces as African American. We obtained support for this hypothesis using both a speeded dichotomous categorization task (Studies 1 and 2) and a rating-scale task (Study 2). Implicit prejudice (but not explicit prejudice) was related to increased sensitivity to the targets' facial expressions, regardless of whether prejudice was measured after (Study 1) or before (Study 2) the race categorizations were made.
Surface plasmon resonance detection of interactions between peptide fragments of N‐telopeptide and its monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Lung F.‐D.T. , Chen C.‐H. , Liou C.‐C. , Chen H.‐Y.
Published: April 2004

Abstract:  As populations age, osteoporosis is becoming an important public health care problem. Urinary level of the cross‐linked N‐telopeptide of type I collagen has been reported to be a sensitive marker of bone resorption. Recently, we synthesized and characterized 10 overlapping peptides covering the N‐telopeptide of alpha‐2 type I collagen and reported their relative binding response to anti‐type I collagen cross‐linked N‐telopeptide (NTX) antibodies determined by a competitive‐inhibition enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In this study, we design an assay based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology to detect binding interaction of each peptide fragment of NTX with the anti‐NTX monoclonal antibodies. Anti‐NTX monoclonal antibodies were immobilized on the surface of sensor chip by amine‐coupling procedure. Serial dilutions of each peptide were prepared and injected separately onto the antibodies‐immobilized sensor chip. The real‐time association and dissociation interactions of each peptide were detected and reported as sensorgrams. Binding response of each peptide to the monoclonal antibodies was determined, and the SPR results were compared with the ELISA results. We demonstrate that the trends of binding potency of peptide fragments detected by SPR are in good correlation to the results obtained by ELISA, indicating that our developed SPR‐based method can be further applied to detect the NTX fragments in urine and to monitor the bone loss in humans. The potent peptide fragments identified by both assays are promising for further preparation of specific monoclonal antibodies in order to develop bioassays for bone loss in humans.
Effectiveness of Exercise versus Normal Activity on Acute Low Back Pain: An Integrative Synthesis and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: McLain Kathy , Powers Catherine , Thayer Penny , Seymour Rosalee J.
Published: April 2004

(1) There are a variety of protocols used to treat acute low back pain in adults. Therapies currently prescribed include bed rest, normal activity, and exercise therapy. The effectiveness of each of these treatments is controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of exercise therapy with normal activity in the treatment of employed adults with acute low back pain through an integrative synthesis and meta‐analysis of published research. The integrative synthesis and meta‐ analytical results support the hypothesis that employed adults diagnosed with acute low back pain will have fewer number of days absent from work after exercise therapy when compared to number of days absent from work after normal activity. This study's weighted P is 0.0000003109. The weighted effect size D is 0.4785 and this is a strong effect of exercise on number of days absent from work. This study concluded that exercise therapy should be prescribed for the treatment of adults with acute low back pain to expedite recovery. The results of this study allow the health care provider to confidently prescribe exercise therapy for acute low back pain. This study can be used to support exercise therapy as an evidence based care protocol for health care providers.
Smoking Relapse During Postpartum
Authors: Zimmer Barbara A.
Published: April 2004

Purpose

(1) While many women quit smoking when learning of their pregnancy, the majority relapses within one year of giving birth (Fingerhut, Kleinman, & Kendrick, 1990 [6]). This paper provides an integrative review of studies that assess the contributing factors to maternal smoking relapse within the first year of giving birth. The framework for this review is the relapse prevention model, which seeks to uncover the contributing factors, or high‐risk situations, that lead to relapse (Marlatt, 1985 [13]). Additionally, this paper examines existing practice interventions aimed at reducing postpartum relapse and provides recommendations for best practice.

Conclusions

(2) Research evidence to date shows that two main factors are associated with smoking relapse among postpartum women: (1) their association with other smokers and (2) their choosing not to breastfeed.

(3) Since maternal smoking results in poor health outcomes for both mothers and children, relapse prevention is a health issue worthy of examination. Nurses can use this information in planning, implementing, and evaluating smoking prevention and cessation programs for pregnant and postpartum women.
Culture and Causality: An Anthropological Comment
Authors: Fricke Tom
Published: April 2004

Anthropology's unique contribution to a discussion of causality is rooted in its specialization in culture rather than in methodological protocols for bolstering our confidence in correlations. This is so because causal arguments are inherently interpretive and, moreover, because human actors themselves operate in terms of meaning. The best interpretive models direct analytic attention to contexts of meaning and motivation. Because these meanings lie inside of people's heads, the interpretation of causality in these terms demands that the validity of analyses be argued for in terms of logical coherence based on highly localized criteria. As with all explanations of human behavior, demographic explanations are as a consequence open to constant reformulation based on new information and the never‐ending search for coherence.
A Conversation with Tory and Victor Kiam
Authors: Drozdow Nancy
Published: April 2004

An interview with Remington owner Victor Kiam and his son, Tory, reveals some interesting ways for managing father-son conflicts that often arise in family life and family business.
The Greening of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel
Authors: Post James E.
Published: April 2004

This article discusses the relationship between personal, family, and organizational values in the development and implementation of an environmental action program at the family-owned and -operated Boston Park Plaza Hotel. In this instance, a ‘spirit of responsibility’ that evolved through three generations of the family meshed with a traditional ‘spirit of ownership’ to produce a program that is a financial and public relations success and that is recognized as the most progressive in the industry. Moreover, the hotel and family have received significant awards for industry leadership and environmental achievement.
Research Note: Family Business Consultants—Who We Are, What We Do, and How We Do It
Authors: Upton Nancy , Vinton Karen , Seaman Samuel , Moore Carlos
Published: April 2004

This research note compares data from two surveys of members of the Family Firm Institute conducted during 1990 and 1991 and relates these data to the issues confronting family business as an emerging field. One survey, sent to all Family Firm Institute members, requested demographic data and information pertinent to the Family Firm Institute strategic planning committee. The second survey, sent to those members of Family Firm Institute who self-identified as service professionals, was designed to investigate practice methodology. Prospects for the development of the field are discussed.
Economic Outcomes in Family-Owned Home-Based Businesses
Authors: Rowe Barbara R. , Haynes George W. , Bentley Marion T.
Published: April 2004

This study explored the financial success of 620 family-owned home businesses. Characteristics of the home business owner, of the business, and of the owner's managerial practices both within and outside the business arena were systematically evaluated. Personal and family characteristics of the owner-operator were more powerful variables in explaining the amount of income generated by the business than were dimensions of the business, although both categories played significant roles.
A Conversation with Tom Bata
Authors: Lank AIden G.
Published: April 2004

It is because of the Bata Shoe Company's long association with Eastern Europe that I approached Thomas G. Bata for this interview. Bata, the chairman of Bata Limited (the Management Company) describes how, after having seen its assets expropriated by the Nazis and subsequently by the Communists, his company returned to its roots in Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s. Bata then shares his personal perspectives on the current and future climate for private enterprise and family business in some of the key former Warsaw Pact countries. He ends with some thoughts on opportunities for western consultants and family businesses in Eastern Europe.
A Conversation with Harry Levinson
Authors: Karofsky Paul
Published: April 2004

Harry Levinson, PhD, is a pioneer in the people-management side of business. He is a professor emeritus at the Harvard Business School and Harvard Medical School and author of twenty Harvard Business Review articles and numerous books. He also established the Levinson Institute, which provides private consultation and seminars to executives of family and other businesses. He transferred from the Harvard Business School to the Harvard Medical School in 1972 after developing a seminar based on his book Organizational Diagnosis .
The Trust Catalyst in Family-Owned Businesses
Authors: LaChapelle Kacie , Barnes Louis B.
Published: April 2004

Trust patterns in family-owned businesses are frequently catalyzed by one person. Such individuals are sometimes, but not always, family members who initiate, maintain, and help create higher trust for both the family and the organization. These Trust Catalysts often have little or no formal hierarchical authority in the business. To examine their influence on trust levels, we conducted in-depth interviews with more than 60 people from seven multigenerational companies and backed these findings with data from earlier pilot case studies. Their practices helped us to understand how trust develops, operates, and even expands within family business systems.
The Re-emergence of Family-Based Enterprises in East Central Europe: What Can Be Learned from Family Business Research in the Western World?
Authors: Donckels Rik , Lambrecht Johan
Published: April 2004

We examine to what extent lessons can be drawn from the experiences of family businesses in the Western world toward the re-emerging entrepreneurship in east central Europe. We conclude that often, as it does in the West, the family forms the basis for the creation of new business initiatives in this region. It is evident that research concerning family businesses in the West can lead to particularly relevant insights. The three characteristics that almost always affect every family business constitute the cornerstone for the future success.
The Salience of Market, Bureaucratic, and Clan Controls in the Management of Family Firm Transitions: Some Tentative Australian Evidence
Authors: Moores Ken , Mula Joseph
Published: April 2004

Despite the numerical and economic significance of family businesses to Australia, they are not extensively researched. This paper reports some of the results from a nationwide study of Australian family-owned businesses that sought to ascertain and understand their management and control practices. In particular, the paper assesses the organizational transitions of Australian family firms in terms of their dominant control practices. These control measures are evaluated according to Ouchi's classification of market, bureaucratic, and clan controls. The salience of these different forms of control serves to identify distinctive patterns that define periods of organizational passage (life cycles).
Internationalization and Organizational Growth: The Impact of Internet Usage and Technology Involvement Among Entrepreneur-led Family Businesses
Authors: Davis Peter S. , Harveston Paula D.
Published: April 2004

For many years, large, multinational corporations were thought to dominate international business. It was recently recognized that a number of entrepreneurial and family firms are active in the international arena (Oviatt & McDougall, 1994). Using data from a U.S. survey of entrepreneur-led family businesses, this paper examines the extent to which certain entrepreneurial characteristics, Internet usage, and investments in information technology influence internationalization and organizational growth among such firms. The results of regression analyses identify variables leading to success in the emerging global economy and their differential impact on these performance outcomes.
Growth of Chinese Family Enterprises in Singapore
Authors: Lee Jean , Tan Francis
Published: April 2004

Local Chinese family enterprises (CFEs) are an integral part of Singapore's economy. The objective of this study is to understand the growth and development of CFEs. The study looks at case studies of eight CFEs that are listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore. In-depth interviews and documentary analyses are used as research instruments. The research uncovers several interesting findings. For example, CFEs experience four stages of development in a process that leads to public listing: Start-Up, Survival, Stability, and Success. The study uses McKinney's seven S factors of Structure, Strategy, System, Staff, Skill, Style (leadership), and Shared Values to examine the characteristics of each stage. It is found that each stage is dominated by one or two distinct S factors that propel the growth of the firm. There is a significant difference in terms of the roles the S factors play, the forms of the S factor, as well as the dominant S factor of each stage. The findings of the study are significant to CFE owners, entrepreneurs, and educators of cross-cultural management.
A Critical Examination of and Reflection on the Chinese Family Business Unit and the Chinese Business Clan
Authors: Gatfield Terry , Youseff Mark
Published: April 2004

There are substantial differences between the Chinese and western approaches to business formation and operations. This paper compares the two approaches by critically examining the traditional Chinese family business and the associated Chinese clan business. In addition, the paper explores both the Chinese family and clan business operations in the areas of human resource management, organizational structure and control, employee motivation, employee performance appraisal, and power and authority.
A Success Story: President of Four-Generation Family Business Talks About Strategy, “Giving Back,” and Gubernatorial Aspirations
Authors: Karofsky Paul I.
Published: April 2004

Steve Grossman, Democratic candidate for governor of Massachusetts in 2002, is president of MassEnvelopePlus in Somerville, MA, a full-service printing and graphic design firm started by his grandfather in 1910 and now a fourth-generation family business. He is also founder and president of Givenation.com, which helps nonprofit organizations raise funds online.

Steve has played a prominent role in both national and state politics, most recently as national chairman of the Democratic National Committee, which he helped revitalize from 1997 to 1999, president and chairman of the Board of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee from 1992 to 1996, and chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party from 1991 to 1992. A strong believer in grassroots politics, he remains an active member of the Ward 7 Newton Democratic City Committee. He was also a leader of many philanthropic, civic, and cultural organizations over the years.
A Study of Succession in a Family Firm
Authors: Ibrahim A.B. , Soufani K. , Lam J.
Published: April 2004

For many founders of family firms, the decision to retire and relinquish control of the business to their offspring is difficult. Pierre Peladeau founded Quebecor Inc., a family business and a communications leader in the new economy. The present research describes the reluctance of the founder to let go of the business to his offspring and the succession process after the death of the founder. The methodology employed is a combination of case history and study of public documents. The study underscores the need to manage conflict between family members and to plan for succession for the next generation effectively.
CPI‐17‐deficient smooth muscle of chicken
Authors: Kitazawa Toshio , Polzin Atsuko N. , Eto Masumi
Published: April 2004

Ca2+ sensitivity of arterial contractility is governed by regulating myosin phosphatase activity in response to agonist stimuli. CPI‐17, a myosin phosphatase inhibitor phosphoprotein, is phosphorylated concomitantly with agonist‐induced contractile Ca2+ sensitization in mammalian artery. CPI‐17 has not been detected in chicken artery, but is readily detectable in pigeon artery. To evaluate a role of CPI‐17, we compared contractility of the arteries of ‘CPI‐17‐deficient’ chicken with those of CPI‐17‐rich rabbit and pigeon, and studied the effect of CPI‐17‐reconstitution in chicken artery. Other major regulatory/contractile proteins for Ca2+ sensitization are expressed in both chicken and rabbit arteries. Agonists, such as an α1‐agonist and endothelin‐1, produced significant contraction in arteries of all species under physiological Ca2+‐containing conditions. Depletion of Ca2+ abolished these contractions in chicken but partially inhibited them in rabbit and pigeon arteries. Unlike CPI‐17‐rich tissues, chicken arteries exerted little Ca2+ sensitization in response to α1‐agonist or endothelin‐1. GTPγS produced a slight Ca2+ sensitizing effect in chicken artery, but this was significantly smaller compared with CPI‐17‐rich tissues. A PKC activator (PDBu) did not generate but rather reduced a contraction in both intact and α‐toxin‐permeabilized chicken artery in contrast to a large contraction in CPI‐17‐rich arteries. Myosin light chain phosphorylation was reduced by PDBu in chicken but elevated in rabbit artery. Addition of recombinant CPI‐17 into β‐escin‐permeabilized chicken artery restored PDBu‐induced and enhanced GTPγS‐induced Ca2+ sensitization. Thus, CPI‐17 is essential for G protein/PKC‐mediated Ca2+ sensitization in smooth muscle.
Chimeric SOD2/3 inhibits at the endothelial-neutrophil interface to limit vascular dysfunction in ischemia-reperfusion
Authors: Bonder Claudine S. , Knight Derrice , Hernandez-Saavedra Daniel , McCord Joe M. , Kubes Paul
Published: April 2004

After an ischemic episode, reperfusion causes profound oxidative stress in the vasculature of the afflicted tissue/organ. The dysregulated accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, has been closely linked to the production and release of proinflammatory mediators, a profound increase in adhesion molecule expression by the vascular endothelium, and infiltration of neutrophils during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) has been shown to protect tissues and organs against I/R-induced injury; however, the drug had to be continuously perfused or kidneys had to be occluded to prevent clearance. We used intravital microscopy, a system that allowed us to visualize neutrophil-endothelial interactions within the mesenteric postcapillary venules of cats subjected to I/R and tested the hypothesis that I/R-induced neutrophil recruitment was inhibited by treatment with SOD2/3. SOD2/3 is a chimeric fusion gene product that contains the mature SOD2 as well as the COOH-terminal “tail” of SOD3 and, unlike the three naturally occurring SODs (SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3), which bear a net negative charge at pH 7.4, SOD2/3 is positively charged and physiologically stable. Our results suggest that not only does SOD2/3 have a much greater efficacy in vivo than the native human SOD2, but its administration prevents I/R-induced neutrophil-endothelial cell interactions and microvascular dysfunction. Moreover, our data support the hypothesis that reactive oxidants mediate I/R-induced injury and that the chimeric recombinant SOD2/3 has the potential to be a therapeutic agent against this debilitating illness.
Rho Kinase Mediates Cold-Induced Constriction of Cutaneous Arteries
Authors: Bailey S.R. , Eid A.H. , Mitra S. , Flavahan S. , Flavahan N.A.
Published: April 2004

Cold-induced vasoconstriction in cutaneous blood vessels is mediated in part by increased activity of vascular smooth muscle α2-adrenoceptors (VSM α2-ARs). In mouse cutaneous arteries, α2C-ARs are normally silent at 37°C but mediate cold-induced augmentation of α2-AR responsiveness. In transfected HEK293 cells, this functional rescue is mediated by cold-induced translocation of α2C-ARs from the Golgi to the plasma membrane. Experiments were performed to determine the role of Rho/Rho kinase signaling in this process. Inhibition of Rho kinase (fasudil, Y27632 or H-1152) did not affect constriction of isolated mouse tail arteries to the α2-AR agonist UK 14 304 at 37°C but dramatically reduced the augmented responses to the agonist at 28°C. After Rho kinase inhibition, cooling no longer increased constriction evoked by α2-AR stimulation. Cooling (to 28°C) activated Rho in VSM cells and increased the calcium sensitivity of constriction in α toxin-permeabilized arteries. Stimulation of α2-ARs in VSM cells had no effect on Rho activity or calcium sensitivity at 37°C or 28°C. In HEK293 cells transfected with α2C-ARs, cooling (to 28°C) stimulated the translocation of α2C-ARs to the plasma membrane and this effect was prevented by inhibition of Rho kinase, using fasudil or RNA interference. Consistent with inhibition of the spatial rescue of α2C-ARs, fasudil inhibited α2-AR–mediated mobilization of calcium in tail arteries at 28°C but not 37°C. Therefore, cold-induced activation of Rho/Rho kinase can mediate cold-induced constriction in cutaneous arteries by enabling translocation of α2C-ARs to the plasma membrane and by increasing the calcium sensitivity of the contractile process.
Attenuated poxviruses generate clinically relevant frequencies of CMV-specific T cells
Authors: Wang Zhongde , La Rosa Corinna , Mekhoubad Shahram , Lacey Simon F. , Villacres Maria C. , Markel Susan , Longmate Jeff , Ellenhorn Joshua D. I. , Siliciano Robert F. , Buck Christopher , Britt William J. , Diamond Don J.
Published: April 2004

Immunotherapeutic approaches to limit cytomegalovirus (CMV) morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) are currently under investigation as alternatives to antiviral drugs. In this context, we have inserted full-length and ubiquitin-modified CMV phosphoprotein 65 (pp65), phosphoprotein 150 (pp150), and immediate early protein 1 (IE1) immunodominant antigens into the virulent Western Reserve strain of vaccinia virus (VV) and the highly attenuated strain, modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA). Recombinant (r) VV or rMVA stimulated vigorous expansion of CMV-specific CD8+ T cells in CMV-positive donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which showed minimal alloreactivity and high levels of HLA tetramer binding, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity. Ubiquitinated antigens had a profound effect when expressed in VV. Single antigen rMVA expressing pp65 or IE1, either ubiquitin-modified or native, stimulated both cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) populations to be expanded up to 500-fold in a 60-mL blood draw from the same donor. This result demonstrates the clinical feasibility of simultaneously amplifying multiple CMV-CTL populations. Transgenic HLA A2.1 (HHD II) mice, immunized with the same rMVA as used with human PBMCs, produced a robust cytotoxic response to both CMV pp65 and IE1. The specificity of the vigorous immunologic response to rMVA, both in vitro and in vivo, makes them candidates for clinical evaluation in the context of adoptive immunotherapy for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients or donor vaccination.
Novel follicular dendritic cell molecule, 8D6, collaborates with CD44 in supporting lymphomagenesis by a Burkitt lymphoma cell line, L3055
Authors: Li Li , Yoon Sun-Ok , Fu Dan-Dan , Zhang Xin , Choi Yong Sung
Published: April 2004

The lymphoid follicle is a specialized microenvironment for the differentiation of antigen (Ag)–activated B cells; the major stromal cell components in lymphoid follicle are the follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). At the same time, most of the B-cell lymphomas originate from the germinal center, and the generation and blast transformation of B-cell lymphoma occurs in close association with FDCs in the early stage of tumorigenesis. To study the functional roles of FDCs in lymphomagenesis, we established an inducible tumor model. The human B-cell lymphoma cell line, L3055, formed solid tumors only when inoculated with an FDC line, HK. In addition, 2 FDC-signaling molecules (FDC-SMs), a novel protein 8D6 and 4G10/CD44, are required for tumor formation in vivo, because monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to these 2 proteins inhibited lymphomagenesis completely when they were inoculated with L3055 and HK cells. However, these 2 FDC-SMs have distinct functional roles in tumor formation. FDC-SM-8D6 enhances L3055 cell proliferation, whereas FDC-SM-4G10/CD44 inhibits its apoptosis. Identification of the functional roles of these critical FDC-SMs may lead to the discovery of therapeutic drugs that suppress the survival and growth of lymphoma cells.