cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DD95: Was im Unternehmen für Innovation zusammenpassen muss (August 2009)

Die tollsten Innovationen scheitern, weil irgendetwas nicht passt, nicht will oder auf Bedenken stost. Es liegt daran, dass die bestehenden Strukturen nicht zur Innovation passen und sie aufhalten. Man sagt: „Systeme zeigen eine Immunreaktion auf Innovationen.“ Die wird fast immer unterschatzt. Es scheitert an der Umfeld-Kultur und den Strukturen, gar nicht so sehr am Geld.
The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870-1871

Introduction 1. Causes of the Franco-Prussian War 2. The armies in 1870 3. Mobilization for war 4. Wissembourg and Spicheren 5. Froeschwiller 6. Mars-la-Tour 7. Gravelotte 8. The road to Sedan 9. Sedan 10. France on the brink 11. France falls 12. The peace.
Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure in Condensed Materials

The application of extended x-ray absorption fine structure, or exafs, to a variety of problems in condensed materials is rapidly evolving. To date, the most fully developed applications are toward the fields of catalysis and biology; these subjects are treated in detail in Chapters 12 and 13. In this chapter we review the applications of exafs to periodic and quasi-periodic solids; to studies of the structural properties of surfaces; to studies of disordered solids; and, finally, to liquids and solutions.
Visual-vestibular cue integration for heading perception: applications of optimal cue integration theory.

The perception of self-motion is crucial for navigation, spatial orientation, and motor control. In particular, estimation of one’s direction of translation, or heading, relies heavily on multisensory integration in most natural situations. Visual and non-visual (e.g., vestibular) information can be used to judge heading, but each modality alone is often insufficient for accurate performance. It is not surprising, then, that visual and vestibular signals converge frequently in the nervous system, and that these signals interact in powerful ways at the level of behavior and perception. Early behavioral studies of visual-vestibular interactions consisted mainly of descriptive accounts of perceptual illusions and qualitative estimation tasks, often with conflicting results. In contrast, cue integration research in other modalities has benefited from the application of rigorous psychophysical techniques, guided by normative models that rest on the foundation of ideal-observer analysis and Bayesian decision theory. Here we review recent experiments that have attempted to harness these so-called optimal cue integration models for the study of self-motion perception. Some of these studies used nonhuman primate subjects, enabling direct comparisons between behavioral performance and simultaneously recorded neuronal activity. The results indicate that humans and monkeys can integrate visual and vestibular heading cues in a manner consistent with optimal integration theory, and that single neurons in area MSTd show striking correlates of the behavioral effects. This line of research and other applications of normative cue combination models should continue to shed light on mechanisms of self-motion perception and the neuronal basis of multisensory integration.
Improved exponential hashing

A new and efficient open addressing technique, called improved exponential hashing, is proposed. We show that improved exponential hashing has the ability to spread table elements more randomly than the widely used double hashing, and at the same time produces full length probe sequences on all table elements. We demonstrate experimentally that improved exponential hashing performs significantly better than double hashing for clustered data. Also, some theoretic analysis is provided along with the experimental results.
Separation of soluble amoebicidal and tumoricidal activity of activated macrophages.

Macrophage-conditioned medium (M phi CM) prepared from mouse peritoneal macrophages activated in vivo with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or Propionibacterium acnes and triggered with lipopolysaccharide in vitro contained tumoricidal and amoebicidal activity. The murine fibroblast cell line L929 was used as the indicator of tumoricidal activity and Naegleria fowleri amoeba was used to detect amoebicidal activity in M phi CM. The protease inhibitor, soybean trypsin inhibitor, decreased tumoricidal activity but had little effect on amoebicidal activity in M phi CM. Anti-TNF alpha antiserum inhibited tumoricidal activity in M phi CM. The antiserum reduced amoebicidal activity in BCG-activated M phi CM but had no effect on amoebicidal activity in P. acnes-activated M phi CM. Recombinant TNF alpha, rIL-1 alpha, or rIL-1 beta independently did not affect cytolysis of amoebae. Also, rTNF alpha had no effect on the growth of amoebae. Preparative flat-bed electrofocusing of BCG-activated M phi CM yielded fractions that exhibited different amoebicidal and tumoricidal activity profiles. Three domains of activity were analyzed (acidic, neutral, and basic). Anti-TNF alpha antiserum eliminated tumoricidal activity, but not amoebicidal activity, in fractions from the acidic domain. A combination of anti-TNF alpha and anti-IL-1 alpha antisera failed to eliminate amoebicidal activity in fractions from the basic domain. These results indicate that different factors are responsible for macrophage amoebicidal and tumoricidal activity. The amoebicidal factors in M phi CM affected cytolysis of several species of amoebae.
Thermodynamics and laser luminescence spectroscopy of binary and ternary complexation of Am3+, Cm3+ and Eu3+ with citric acid, and citric acid + EDTA at high ionic strength

Abstract The binary complexation of Am3+, Cm3+and Eu3+ with citrate has been studied at I = 6.60 m (NaClO4), pcH 3.60 and in the temperatures range of 0–60 °C employing a solvent extraction technique with di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid/heptane. Two complexes, MCit and MCit 2 3 - , were formed at all temperatures. For the three metal ions, the log β101 was between 5.9 and 6.2 and log β102 between 10.2 and 10.6 at 25 °C. The thermodynamic parameters for the Am–Cit system have been calculated from the temperature dependence of the β101 and β102 values. Positive enthalpy and entropy values for the formation of both complexes are interpreted as due to the contributions from the dehydration of the metal ions exceeding the exothermic cation–anion pairing. The formation of the ternary complex M(EDTA)(Cit)4− (M = Cm and Eu) was measured to have large stability constants (log β111 between 20.9 and 24.4) at 25 and 60 °C. Time resolved laser luminescence spectroscopy and lifetime measurement data validated the nature of the complexes of Eu(III) formed in the presence of Cit and EDTA + Cit in 6.60 m (NaClO4) solution.
Regulation of the Mouse Cartilage-derived Retinoic Acid-sensitive Protein Gene by the Transcription Factor AP-2

The expression of cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP) is initiated at the beginning of chondrogenesis and continues throughout the cartilage development. In chondrocytes, CD-RAP is down-regulated by retinoic acid. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation and the cell-specific expression, the deletion constructs of the mouse CD-RAP promoter were transfected into chondrocytes and a melanoma cell line. The results revealed a domain that demonstrated high levels of expression specifically in chondrocytes. In this functional domain, we show that a cis-acting element, 5′-GCCTGAGGC-3′, binds to the trans-acting factor protein AP-2. Mutation of the AP-2 site on the CD-RAP promoter led to decreased transcription in C5.18 chondrocytes, indicating that this site may act as an activator of transcription. In contrast, increased concentration of AP-2, stimulated by retinoic acid, led to decreased transcription of the CD-RAP promoter, an effect that was abolished by mutation of the AP-2 binding site. The effect of AP-2 was further examined by co-transfection of C5.18 and HepG2 cells with the CD-RAP promoter constructs and an AP-2 expression plasmid. In a dose-dependent manner, cotransfection with AP-2 elevated and then decreased CD-RAP promoter activity. Taken together, these results suggest that AP-2 is involved in the biphasic regulation of CD-RAP transcription.
Cognitive beliefs about male sexuality: The impact of gender roles and counselor perspectives

Two studies are presented which examine stereotypie beliefs about males and their sexuality through the use of the Stereotypes About Male Sexuality Scale (SAMSS). In the first study, the relationship between the SAMSS and two gender role measures were examined. The results revealed that the restrictive emotionality aspect of the masculine role was strongly associated with stereotypic beliefs about male sexuality. Other gender role preferences and behaviors were also found to be positively associated with conventional “performance” approaches to male sexuality. In the second investigation, counseling trainees were asked to describe how mentally healthy adult men and women would respond to the Stereotypes About Male Sexuality Scale. The responses of both male and female intraining counselors indicated that they expected mentally healthy males: (a) to reject inhibited, control, and constant readiness approaches to the expression of male sexuality and (b) to express greater disagreement toward defining male sexuality exclusively in terms of sexual intercourse and toward viewing males as inherently knowledgeable about sex. These results thus provide evidence for the importance of the SAMSS and a cognitive approach to the study of male sexuality.
The Peierls stress in non-local elasticity

Abstract The effect of non-locality on the Peierls stress of a dislocation, predicted within the framework of the Peierls–Nabarro model, is investigated. Both the integral formulation of non-local elasticity and the gradient elasticity model are considered. A modification of the non-local kernel of the integral formulation is proposed and its effect on the dislocation core shape and size, and on the Peierls stress are discussed. The new kernel is longer ranged and physically meaningful, improving therefore upon the existing Gaussian-like non-locality kernels. As in the original Peierls–Nabarro model, lattice trapping cannot be captured in the purely continuum non-local formulation and therefore, a semi-discrete framework is used. The constitutive law of the elastic continuum and that of the glide plane are considered both local and non-local in separate models. The major effect is obtained upon rendering non-local the constitutive law of the continuum, while non-locality in the rebound force law of the glide plane has a marginal effect. The Peierls stress is seen to increase with increasing the intrinsic length scale of the non-local formulation, while the core size decreases accordingly. The solution becomes unstable at intrinsic length scales larger than a critical value. Modifications of the rebound force law entail significant changes in the core configuration and critical stress. The discussion provides insight into the issue of internal length scale selection in non-local elasticity models.
Pyloric volume: an important factor in the surgeon’s ability to palpate the pyloric “olive” in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

The objective of this study was to determine whether the size of the pyloric mass is one of the factors in the surgeon’s ability to palpate the pyloric “olive”. The ultrasonographic images and medical records of 60 infants with surgically confirmed hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) were reviewed. The pyloric diameter (PD) and pyloric length (PL) were measured and the pyloric volume (PV) was calculated using the equation PV = l/4π × (PD)2 x PL. Based on the pediatric surgeon’s physical examination the infants were divided into two groups: those with and those without palpable pyloric masses. Infants with a palpable pyloric mass had an average pyloric volume of 3.33 ±1.76 mm3, which was statistically larger than those whose hypertrophied pylorus could not be palpated (average volume 2.59 ±2.07 mm3, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant age difference between the two groups. Clinical skill of the examiner and other clinical aspects (patient cooperation, etc.) determine palpability of the pylorus in HPS. The size of the hypertrophied pylorus is also an important factor affecting the clinican’s ability to palpate the pyloric mass.
Sources of Gravitational Waves

Violent events in the Universe, where gravity is relativistically strong, should produce copious amounts of gravitational radiation. Examples are the collapse of a normal star to form a neutron star or a black hole (supernova explosion); the pulsations of a newborn black hole; the rapid rotation of a young, deformed neutron star; quakes and pulsations of neutron stars; collisions between neutron stars and between black holes in the centres of globular clusters and in the nuclei of galaxies. Such phenomena typically are obscured from the sight of electromagnetic telescopes by thick layers of surrounding matter. However, gravitational waves should pass through the surrounding matter unimpeded. Detailed measurements of such gravitational waves - if they can be made - will give detailed information about the dynamical motions of matter and of space-time curvature in violent cosmic events.
Teaching qualitative research to BSW students through exposure to aging.

Abstract This article describes one rural program's efforts to expose students to gerontology through teaching qualitative research methodology. A collaborative research pilot project was developed with a local nursing home. BSW students worked in two groups to conduct and present qualitative research projects by the course's completion. This article describes the research project and evaluates the project's success from student and instructor viewpoints. Significant differences were found in self-reported student knowledge of key concepts at the project's completion, compared with pre-test knowledge. Student comments revealed value in this teaching approach. Implications for further engaging students in gerontological research are discussed.
Preliminary evidence that gonadal hormones organize and activate disordered eating.

Objective. Eating disorders are more common in females than in males. Gender differences may be due to organizational (i.e. prenatal) and activational (i.e. post-natal) gonadal hormone effects that influence sex differences in behavior. This preliminary set of studies examined these effects by investigating relationships between eating disorder symptoms, prenatal testosterone exposure, and adult levels of estrogen in women. Method. We examined organizational associations by investigating relationships between disordered eating and finger-length ratios, which are known to be somatic markers of prenatal testosterone exposure. Participants included 113 adult female twins drawn from the community. Disordered eating was assessed with the total score from the Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey (MEBS). Finger lengths were hand scored using a ruler and photocopies of both hands. We also investigated activational influences by examining associations between circulating levels of estradiol and disordered eating symptoms. Two independent samples of adult females (n's=24 and 25) drawn from the community were used for this study. Disordered eating was again assessed with the MEBS total score, while saliva samples were used for assessing estradiol. Results. Positive associations were found between disordered eating and both finger-length ratios and circulating estradiol levels. Conclusions. Findings suggest that lower levels of prenatal testosterone exposure and higher adult levels of estradiol are associated with increased eating disorder symptoms. We hypothesize that the relatively low level of testosterone before birth in females permits their brains to respond to estrogens at puberty, when the hormones activate the genes contributing to disordered eating in vulnerable girls.
Snare Removal of a Telectronics Accufix Atrial J Retention Wire

A voluntary recall of the Telectronics Accufix models 330-801 and 329-701 "J"-shaped atrial pacemaker leads has been issued because of fracture and extrusion of the J-shaped retention wire. Such extrusion can result in laceration of the atrium or surrounding vascular structures. Herein we describe a patient with a fractured and extruded retention wire that was snared and removed percutaneously; the atrial lead was left intact, and pacing function was satisfactory. This unique procedure can be used to avoid the morbidity associated with percutaneous lead extraction or thoracotomy and to prevent potential dislodgment and embolization of the retention wire during lead extraction.
Indices for studying urinary incontinence and levator ani function in primiparous women

Summary • Urinary incontinence (UI) is a complex phenomenon that is prevalent in pregnant and parous women and requires the use of sophisticated measures to adequately reflect functioning of the continence system. • The purpose of this study was to develop reliable and valid measures of UI and levator ani function for use in research and clinical settings. • A Leakage Index (LI) and a Levator Ani Function Index (LAFI) were developed using data from a longitudinal study of primiparous women. Reliability and validity tests were conducted to: (i) estimate the internal consistency reliability of each index, (ii) determine whether the indices captured change in continence status and pelvic floor function during pregnancy through 1 year postpartum, and (iii) estimate association between the indices as a test of predictive validity. • Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.72 to 0.84 for the LI and from 0.53 to 0.79 for the LAFI across the six data collection time points of the study. Average LI scores increased late in pregnancy and decreased postpartum, though not significantly. Average LAFI scores decreased significantly at 35 weeks gestation (t = 4.84, P = 0.000) and increased significantly at 12 months postpartum (t = −3.51, P = 0.002) relative to baseline. The LI and LAFI were significantly associated at 20 weeks gestation (Pearson r = −0.40, P = 0.007) and at 6 weeks postpartum (Pearson r = −0.33, P = 0.029). • The findings suggest the LI and LAFI are reliable and valid measures of UI and levator ani function in primiparous women, which can be used with confidence in clinical and research settings.
An improved design for quasi-optical mode conversion of whispering gallery mode gyrotron radiation

Results are reported of a theoretical and experimental investigation of a quasi-optical mode converter for the transformation of whispering gallery mode gyrotron output into a linearly polarized Gaussian like beam. The mode converter consists of a helically cut waveguide launcher, similar to that originally proposed by Vlasovet al, followed by a focusing mirror. Theoretical results using aperture field methods indicate that the length of the waveguide launcher is of critical importance in providing a confined radiation pattern. Experimental results on the radiation pattern were obtained for several launcher lengths using a 0.6 MW, 149 GHz pulsed gyrotron operating in the TE16,2 mode. Radiation pattern results for the optimum launcher length agree well with theoretical calculations using the Stratton-Chu aperture radiation theory for unperturbed waveguide modes. A mirror focusing in the azimuthal direction was designed by a geometrical optics approach to focus the radiation coming from the launcher. Good focusing with 91.4% efficiency (power in the focused beam divided by gyrotron power) was found experimentally using the combined launcher and mirror with the pulsed gyrotron. These results indicate that quasi-optical antennas are useful for transforming high order, high frequency gyrotron modes into directed beams in free space.
Novel Therapies for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis: New Developments in Gene and Stem Cell Therapy

Cystic fibrosis (CF) was one of the first target diseases for lung gene therapy. Studies of lung gene transfer for CF have provided many insights into the necessary components of successful gene therapy for lung diseases. Many advancements have been achieved with promising results in vitro and in small animal models. However, studies in primate models and patients have been discouraging despite a large number of clinical trials. This reflects a number of obstacles to successful, sustained, and repeatable gene transfer in the lung. Cell-based therapy with embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells (bone marrow or cord blood), have been investigated recently and may provide a viable therapeutic approach in the future. In this article, the authors review CF pathophysiology with a focus on specific targets in the lung epithelium for gene transfer and summarize the current status and future directions of gene- and cell-based therapies.
Growth promoting activity for mammalian cells in fractions of tissue extracts

Abstract Growth promoting and growth inhibiting factors were separated from an extract of porcine pancreas by dialysis. The growth promoting fraction in the dialysate initially had a slight toxic effect on the cells, but upon recovery they grew to a greater extent than in serum supplemented medium. The addition of human serum albumin to dialysate supplemented medium protected the cells from initial toxic effects and growth in this medium was as much as three times greater than in serum supplemented medium.
Externalism and Causality: Simulation and the Prospects for a Reconciliation

Externalism in the philosophy of mind has been invoked by some philosophers to argue that content-bearing mental states can’t serve as the explananda in genuinely causal explanations of behaviour. In this paper, I demonstrate that such arguments presuppose that psychological explanations are theory-based and that, if this theoretical conception of psychological explanation is replaced by the simulation model, we remove the source of the apparent tension between externalism and caus-ality and are in a position to understand how appeal to content-bearing mental states may be causally explanatory.
Electrical Resistivity of Composites

Percolation and Bruggeman's effective media theories, as they apply to the electrical conductivity of composites, are reviewed, and a general effective media (GEM) equation, which combines most aspects of both percolation and effective media theories, is introduced. It is then shown that the GEM equation quantitatively fits electrical resistivity (conductivity) as a function of the volume fraction data for binary composites. The parameters used to fit the experimental data are the electrical resistivities of the two phases, the percolation threshold for the lower resistivity phase (oc), and an exponent t. Preliminary work, showing how the GEM equation can be used to model the piezoresistivity of composites by postulating that oc is a function of the independent variable, is also presented.
Anion- and solvent-directed assembly in silver bis(thioimidazolyl)methane chemistry and the silver-sulfur interaction.

The effect of metal complexation on the structure and properties of the electroactive bis(1-methylthioimidazolyl)methane linkage isomers CH2(N-tim)2 (L1) and CH2(S-tim)2 (L2) has been explored. Coordination polymers {[Ag(L1)2]X}n (X = BF4, PF6) are formed by bridging L1 between tetrahedral silver centers giving two-dimensional cationic sheets composed of AgS4 linkages; the anions are sandwiched between sheets. Cyclic dimers {[Ag2(L2)2]X2} (X = BF4, PF6, OSO2CF3) are formed when L2:AgX ratios are lower than 1.5. When L2:AgPF6 was 1.5 or higher, the complex [Ag4(L2)5](PF5)4 could be isolated as a solvate. The NMR, IR, electrochemical, and ESI(+) mass spectral data of this latter compound indicate that extensive dissociation to the cyclic dimer and free ligand occurs in solution. Finally, a Cambridge Structural Database search was performed to provide insight into reasonable silver−sulfur bond distances, since literature values appeared to vary widely between 2.3 and 3.2 A. It was found that these distances ...
Interactive effects of tree species and soil moisture on methane consumption

Abstract Methane consumption by temperate forest soils is a major sink for this important greenhouse gas, but little is known about how tree species influence CH4 uptake by soils. Here, we show that six common tree species in Siberian boreal and temperate forests significantly affect potential CH4 consumption in laboratory microcosms. Overall, soils under hardwood species (aspen and birch) consumed CH4 at higher rates than soils under coniferous species and grassland. While NH4+ addition often reduces CH4 uptake, we found no effect of NH4+ addition, possibly because of the relatively high ratio of CH4-to-NH4+ in our incubations. The effects of soil moisture strongly depended on plant species. An increase in soil moisture enhanced CH4 consumption in soils under spruce but had the opposite effect under Scots pine and larch. Under other species, soil moisture did not affect CH4 consumption. These results could be explained by specific responses of different groups of CH4-oxidizing bacteria to elevated moisture.
Ophthalmic Knowledge and Beliefs Among Women With Diabetes

Many patients with diabetes do not obtain the recommended annual dilated eye exam that is necessary for early detection of diabetic retinopathy. In this study, 150 suburban, low-income women with diabetes were interviewed using a structured telephone questionnaire that included subscales of ophthalmic knowledge and beliefs regarding barriers, benefits, concerns, and self-efficacy related to receiving recommended ophthalmic screening. The data revealed significant gaps in knowledge about diabetes-related eye complications. More than half of the subjects did not know that eye complications may be asymptomatic and that there are ways to lower the risk of eye problems. Over three quarters did not mention having drops put in their eyes as part of an eye exam, one fifth did not know what type of health provider should perform an eye exam, and 17% did not know that annual eye exams were recommended. Subjects were concerned about eye complications associated with diabetes, were aware of the benefits of eye exams, and reported high levels of self-efficacy for receiving an annual eye exam.
A conserved repetitive DNA element located in the centromeres of cereal chromosomes

Repetitive DNA sequences have been demonstrated to play an important role for centromere function of eukaryotic chromosomes, including those from fission yeast, Drosophila melanogaster, and humans. Here we report on the isolation of a repetitive DNA element located in the centromeric regions of cereal chromosomes. A 745-bp repetitive DNA clone, pSau3A9, was isolated from sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ). This DNA element is located in the centromeric regions of all sorghum chromosomes, as demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Repetitive DNA sequences homologous to pSau3A9 also are present in the centromeric regions of chromosomes from other cereal species, including rice, maize, wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Probe pSau3A9 also hybridized to the centromeric region of B chromosomes from rye and maize. The repetitive nature and its conservation in distantly related plant species indicate that the pSau3A9 family may be associated with centromere function of cereal chromosomes. The absence of DNA sequences homologous to pSau3A9 in dicot species suggests a faster divergence of centromere-related sequences compared with the telomere-related sequences in plants.
The accuracy of hyperfine integrals in relativistic NMR computations based on the zeroth-order regular approximation

The accuracy of the hyperfine integrals obtained in relativistic NMR computations based on the zeroth–order regular approximation (ZORA) is investigated. The matrix elements of the Fermi contact operator and its relativistic analogs for s orbitals obtained from numerical nonrelativistic, ZORA, and four–component Hartree–Fock–Slater calculations on atoms are compared. It is found that the ZORA yields very accurate hyperfine integrals for the valence shells of heavy atoms, but performs rather poorly for the innermost core shells. Because the important observables of the NMR experiment—chemical shifts and spin–spin coupling constants—can be understood as “valence properties” it is concluded that ZORA computations represent a reliable tool for the investigations of these properties. On the other hand, absolute shieldings calculated with the ZORA might be substantially in error. Because applications to molecules have so far exclusively been based on basis set expansions of the molecular orbitals, ZORA hyperfine integrals obtained from atomic Slater-type basis set computations for mercury are compared with the accurate numerical values. It is demonstrated that the core part of the basis set requires functions with Slater exponents only up to 104 in the case where errors in the hyperfine integrals of a few percent are acceptable.
The visual field in chronic open angle glaucoma: The rate of change in different regions of the field

The visual field in chronic open angle glaucoma: The rate of change in different regions of the field
Nucleosomes in the neighborhood New roles for chromatin modifications in replication origin control

The importance of local chromatin structure in regulating replication initiation has become increasingly apparent. Most recently, histone methylation and nucleosome positioning have been added to the list of modifications demonstrated to regulate origins. In particular, the methylation states of H3K4, H3K36 and H4K20 have been associated with establishing active, repressed or poised origins depending on the timing and extent of methylation. The stability and precise positioning of nucleosomes has also been demonstrated to affect replication efficiency. Although it is not yet clear how these modifications alter the behavior of specific replication factors, ample evidence establishes their role in maintaining coordinated replication. This review will summarize recent advances in understanding these aspects of chromatin structure in DNA replication origin control.
An Algorithm for the Dynamic Relocation of Fire Companies

When all the fire companies in a region are engaged in fighting fires, protection against a future fire is considerably reduced. It is standard practice in many urban fire departments to protect the exposed region by relocating outside fire companies temporarily to some of the vacant houses. In New York City, situations requiring such relocations arise ten times a day on the average. The Fire Department of the City of New York FDNY currently makes its relocations according to a system of preplanned moves. This system was designed at a time when alarm rates were low and is based on the assumption that only one fire is in progress at a time. Because of the high alarm rates currently being experienced in parts of New York City, this assumption is no longer valid, and the preplanned relocation system breaks down at the times when it is needed most. This paper describes a computer-based method for determining relocations that overcomes the deficiencies of the existing method by utilizing the computer's ability to 1 store up-to-date information about the status of all fires in progress and the location and activity of all fire companies, 2 generate and compare many alternative relocation plans quickly. The method, which will become part of the FDNY's real-time Management Information and Control System MICS, is designed to be fast and to require little computer memory. After giving some background of the problem and the objectives of relocation, we give the problem a mathematical programming formulation and then describe the heuristic algorithm to be used for generating relocations in the MICS. The remainder of the paper is devoted to a discussion of an example illustrating how the algorithm works, a rigorous test of the algorithm using a computer simulation model of Fire-Department operations, and a description of the current use of the computer algorithm by dispatchers in an interactive time-shared environment. The results of the testing indicate that the proposed algorithm is a significant improvement over existing methods, particularly in crisis situations. Although designed to solve a problem for the New York City Fire Department, the algorithm should be applicable to other cities.
Beta-tropomyosin overexpression induces severe cardiac abnormalities.

Tropomyosin, a coiled-coil dimer, stabilizes actin filaments and is central to the control of calcium-regulated striated muscle contraction. Striated muscle-specific alpha-tropomyosin is the predominant isoform in cardiac muscle, with low levels of beta-tropomyosin restricted to fetal development in the mouse. To understand the functional role of various tropomyosin isoforms during myofilament activation and regulation in the intact sarcomere, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress striated muscle-specific beta-tropomyosin in the adult heart. Our earlier results succinctly demonstrate that overexpression of beta-tropomyosin in the hearts of transgenic mice decreases endogeneous alpha-tropomyosin levels while altering diastolic function of the myocardium. To explore further the significance of altering the alpha- to beta-tropomyosin isoform ratio in developing murine myocardium, we generated transgenic mice which express beta-tropomyosin at high levels in the heart. The data show that higher levels of beta-tropomyosin expression are lethal with death ensuing between 10-14 days postnatally. A detailed histological analysis demonstrates that the hearts of these mice exhibit several pathological abnormalities, including thrombus formation in the lumen of both atria and in the subendocardium of the left ventricle. Other changes include atrial enlargement and fibrosis, and diffuse myocytolysis, Physiological analyses using ventricular muscle strip preparations from these mice reveal that both myocardial contraction and relaxation parameters are severely impaired. Thus, these results firmly demonstrate an essential difference in tropomyosin isoform function in physiologically regulating cardiac performance.
Hydrostrategy, Hydropolitics, and Security in the Kura-Araks Basin of the South Caucasus

: After the Soviet Union's dissolution, the Kura-Araks Basin became an international river basin with respect to the South Caucasus states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Despite differences among these countries, they depend greatly on the Kura-Araks Basin. They proposed to jointly monitor Kura-Araks Basin surface water quality and obtained funding to do so from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Science for Peace Programme. Thus, the South Caucasus River Monitoring Project was born in late 2002. The South Caucasus River Monitoring Project formally ended in December 2009, and was a model of collaboration and cooperation in a region where such traits have at times been in short supply. Not only were valuable data collected, but collegial professional relationships also were forged among the participants. In the long run, this latter aspect will likely prove to be the most important product, not just for the South Caucasus, but for others as well.
Age-dependent stimulation or inhibition of calcium release from bone cultures by interleukin-1β

Abstract Previous studies have shown that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a potent bone resorption stimulating agent in cultures of fetal or neonatal bones. In the present study, evidence has been provided showing that this cytokine failed to stimulate bone resorption in cultured 75-day-old mouse calvaria maintained in a chemically defined medium for 14 days, as determined by measuring calcium release into the medium and histological examination of cultured bones. Moreover, the cytokine significantly inhibited basal bone resorption in cultured 75-day-old mouse calvaria, a finding reminiscent of the paradoxical effect observed with 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. Since IL-1β did not alter the number of osteoclasts present in the cultured older calvaria as compared to the untreated control, we hypothesized that in such cultured older bones the cytokine affects primarily the function rather than proliferation/differentiation of osteoclasts, either directly or indirectly through its action on other cells in bone tissue, such as osteoblasts or stromal cells. Also, it is possible that the cytokine affects the formation and/or function of macrophages that have been shown to participate in the bone resorption process. These findings support the concept that at different stages of host maturation, bone tissue may exhibit a different response to the same osteotropic agent.
SU(2) current algebra orbifolds of the Gaussian model

Abstract We examine a set of new c = 1 two-dimensional conformal field theories on the torus created via an orbifold construction on the SU(2) × SU(2) currents of the gaussian model. The partition functions of these models are calculated; a study of the discrete symmetries of these theories exhibits some of the remarkable structural similarities between the discrete subgroups of SU(2) and the simply laced Lie algebras.
Electronic Absorption and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectra for the Linear Two-Coordinate Bis(tri-tert-butylphosphine)platinum(0) Complex in 2-Methylpentane at 295 and 80 K

Electronic absorption and 8.0 T magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra are reported for Pt(P(t-Bu)(3))(2) in 2-methylpentane solutions at 295 K and in glasses at 80 K. The intense bands observed in the 2.4-5.0 microm(-1) (1 microm(-1) = 10(4) cm(-1)) region are assigned as 5d --> 6p/metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transitions to dipole-allowed Sigma(u)(+) and Pi(u) spin-orbit states of 5d(10) --> 1pi(u) excited configurations. The enhanced resolution of the spectra at low temperatures reveals several previously unresolved spectral features in both absorption and MCD spectra, which strengthen the assignments and relative orbital energy ordering concluded from them.
Maximising methane production in stressed fermentation systems for swine production units

Abstract For economic reasons, digestion systems must be designed to allow the most compact plant. This forces heavy organic loading and relatively short detention times. Consequently, the digestion system is operating in the region approaching instability. An investigation into the effects on methane productivity of the method used to load anaerobic digesters has shown that when operating in regions approaching stress the method of loading plays a major role in maximising energy output. Since the digestion system is designed for steady-state loading, while the actual operating conditions are dynamic, the loading of the system actually varies greatly and is never at steady state. In loading the digestion system, two methods are available. Either Volatile Solids (VS) loading concentration will vary and loading volume remain constant or loading volume will vary and VS loading concentration remain constant. The choice of which operational method is used in a digestion system already operating under heavy loading greatly affects methane productivity. The internal energy usage of the plant also is affected. Results indicate that gross methane production is approximately 33% higher and VS reduction is increased by 28% for the fermentation plant operating with a varying detention time when compared to operating the same plant with a varying loading concentration.
Scaling of the nonlinear response of the surface plasmon polariton at a metal/dielectric interface

Plasmonic systems involve interfaces containing metal and dielectric materials. In an effort to investigate the scaling of the nonlinear response of the surface plasmon polariton at a metal/dielectric interface, where the metal and dielectric present optical nonlinearity, we introduce a figure-of-merit that quantifies the contribution of the metal and the dielectric to the nonlinear response in this specific situation. In the case of self-action of the surface plasmon polariton for the gold/dielectric interface, we predict that the dielectric nonlinear response is dominant for strongly nonlinear dielectrics such as polydiacetylenes, chalcogenide glasses, or even semiconductors. The gold nonlinear response is dominant only in cases involving weakly nonlinear dielectrics such as silicon dioxide or aluminum oxide. We verify the relevance of the metric by investigating the process of optical switching via the third-order nonlinear response and discuss which gold/dielectric combinations have better switching behaviors.
Multivariate visualization and analysis of photomapped artifact scatters

Simultaneous analysis of relationships between multiple artifact classes is required for characterization of many types of activity areas. This paper illustrates improved forms of multivariate visualization, spatial analysis and integration of experimental results that are possible with GIS based photomapping. Techniques are demonstrated through analysis of a hearth associated artifact scatter exposed during excavations of a Late Archaic pithouse at Jiskairumoko, Peru. A multivariate density raster is created and additive color visualization is used for simultaneous display of three artifact distributions. Performing unconstrained clustering in a GIS, space is classified by simultaneous relative density relationships between multiple object types. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Adenylate cyclase activity in zona-free mouse oocytes.

Abstract Zona-free mouse oocytes, prepared by either chemical or enzymatic treatment, possess adenylate cyclase activity, since forskolin elevated cAMP to similar levels in either these oocytes or in oocytes with intact zonae. In addition, it was shown that oocyte isolation conditions can affect ‘basal’ cAMP levels.
Selective endothelin-A receptor blockade attenuates endotoxin-induced pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular dysfunction.

AbstractEndothelin-1 is a potent mediator of sepsis-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). The pulmonary vascular effects of selective blockade of endothelin receptor subtype A (ETAR) during endotoxemia remain unknown. We hypothesized that selective ETAR antagonism attenuates endotoxin-induced PH and improves pulmonary artery (PA) vasoreactivity. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (250–450 g) received lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Salmonella typhimurium; 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally) or vehicle 6 hours before hemodynamic assessment and tissue harvest. The selective ETAR antagonist sitaxsentan (10 or 20 mg/kg) or vehicle was injected intravenously 3 hours after receipt of LPS. Right ventricular systolic pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), oxygenation (P/F ratio), and serum bicarbonate were measured. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell differential and lung wet-to-dry ratios were obtained. Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasorelaxations were determined in isolated PA rings. PA in...
The subsistence agriculture of Lake Yojoa, honduras

The region around Lake Yojoa, Honduras’ principal lake, is an area below the highlands level but still reasonably cool. This lacustrine area and adjacent mountain slopes demonstrate what may happen to an isolated tropical region when it is “opened” by providing a good and rapid means of transportation.
Post-production stability of parthenolide in feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium).

The influence of pH, temperature and light on parthenolide (PRT) content of feverfew was investigated. Feverfew powder and PRT standards mixed in citrate buffers at selected pH (2.4-7.2) were stored for four months. PRT declined in all treatments with greatest loss in solutions with pH below 5, and highest stability in solutions with pH 7.2. PRT in dry samples declined 30 percent after 320 days of storage. Degradation of PRT in feverfew solutions exposed to 40, 60, and 80°C for 24 h increased with increasing temperature. Dry samples exposed to various temperatures revealed stability of PRT at temperatures up to 130°C for short time periods.
Spatial patterns in the length of the sea ice season in the Southern Ocean, 1979–1986

The length of the sea ice season summarizes in one number the ice coverage conditions for an individual location for an entire year. It becomes a particularly valuable variable when mapped spatially over a large area and examined for regional and interannual differences, as is done here for the Southern Ocean over the years 1979-1986, using the satellite passive microwave data of the Nimbus 7 scanning multichannel microwave radiometer. Three prominent geographic anomalies in ice season lengths occur consistently in each year of the data set, countering the general tendency toward shorter ice seasons from south to north: (1) in the Weddell Sea the tendency is toward shorter ice seasons from southwest to northeast, reflective of the cyclonic ice/atmosphere/ocean circulations in the Weddell Sea region. (2) Directly north of the Ross Ice Shelf anomalously short ice seasons occur, lasting only 245-270 days, in contrast to the perennial ice coverage at comparable latitudes in the southern Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas and in the western Weddell Sea. The short ice season off the Ross Ice Shelf reflects the consistently early opening of the ice cover each spring, under the influence of upwelling along the continental slope and shelf and atmospheric forcing from winds blowing off the Antarctic continent. (3) In the southern Amundsen Sea, anomalously short ice seasons occur adjacent to the coast, owing to the frequent existence of coastal polynyas off the many small ice shelves bordering the sea. Least squares trends in the ice season lengths over the 1979-1986 period are highly coherent spatially, with overall trends toward shorter ice seasons in the northern Weddell and Bellingshausen seas and toward longer ice seasons in the Ross Sea, around much of East Antarctica, and in a portion of the south central Weddell Sea.
Initial equilibrium solution methods for cable reinforced membranes part II—implementation

Abstract This paper describes a portion of an interactive computer graphics design system which is devoted to the solution of the initial equilibrium problem for membrane structures. Real-time vector graphics displays are used to speed the preparation and display of structural data. A variety of solution methods is available to the designer to be used either individually or in combination. Examples of the use of each solution method and combined methods are included.
Role of temperature dependence of optical properties in laser irradiation of biological tissue

Optical properties of biological tissue can change as a result of thermal denaturation due to temperature rise; a familiar example is whitening observed in cooking egg-white. Changes in optical properties with temperature have been reported in the literature. Temperature rise due to laser irradiation is a function of the optical properties of tissue which themselves are a function of temperature of the tissue. This creates a coupling between light and temperature fields for biological tissue under laser irradiation. The effects of this coupling on the temperature response and light distribution may play an important role in dosimetry consideration for therapeutic as well as diagnostic application of lasers in medicine. In a previous study this problem was addressed in one dimension, for short irradiation exposures, using certain simplifying assumptions. The purpose of this research was to develop a mathematical model for dynamic optical changes with thermal denaturation and a computer program for simulation of these effects for a multi-dimensional geometry.