cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective osmoreceptor dysfunction presenting as intermittent hypernatremia following surgery for a pituitary chromophobe adenoma

Intermittent hypernatremia following hypothalamic surgery or trauma is usually attributed to the triphasic dysfunction of vasopressin release (diabetes insipidus, inappropriate vasopressin release, and diabetes insipidus). A 39-year-old patient had hypodipsia and intermittent hypernatremia following hypothalamic surgery for a chromophobe adenoma. Mean arterial pressure fell by 25 percent during orthostasis testing and was associated with an increase in vasopressin levels from 1.3 microU/ml to 12 microU/ml. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone increased from 1.1 to 16 ng/ml per hour and from 6.7 to 39 ng/dl, respectively, and remained elevated for three and a half hours after tilt testing. Hypertonic saline infusion, on the other hand, increased serum osmolality from 290 to 304 mOsm/kg but did not result in a significant rise in vasopressin levels (all were less than 1 microU/ml). These results are consistent with a selective dysfunction of the osmoreceptor pathways of vasopressin release and intact volume receptor-mediated pathways. Patients with intermittent hypernatremia following hypothalamic surgery or trauma should be questioned specifically regarding thirst. If it is impaired or absent, these patients should be watched carefully, not only for the development of triphasic dysfunction of vasopressin release, but also for a selective osmoreceptor dysfunction associated with thirst deficits as found in patients with "essential hypernatremia."
Patterns of abnormal returns and the competitive effects of horizontal mergers

This paper examines the abnormal stock returns of rivals of firms undertaking horizontal mergers that were challenged by the FTC over the period 1981–1987. At the time of merger announcements, the rivals earn positive abnormal return on average; at the time of the antitrust complaints, the rivals earn normal returns. Past studies have argued that this specific pattern of abnormal returns necessarily indicates that mergers could not have reduced competition. This paper finds that this pattern of abnormal returns is a result of the different effects of antitrust complaints on smaller and larger rivals. The evidence suggests that the mergers may have created efficiencies, but the pattern of abnormal returns is not inconsistent with mergers that may also have resulted in higher product prices.
Managing Faculty Members in Media Units: Research Based Recommendations to Enhance Faculty Growth

Abstract The management of educational media and development support communication is difficult. A key to good management is the relationship between the leader of the unit and the faculty members. We have identified practices in six areas used by section heads to enhance growth and development within the faculty. The areas are: recruitment, communication, identification, support, evaluation/intervention, recognition. For each of these areas, several behaviours were specified for leaders such as informing faculty of important administrative issues; scheduling, regular planning meetings or retreats; appointing a mentor for new faculty members; using peers to review faculty performance; and nominating faculty members for awards.
Vibration and buckling of rotating flexible rods at transitional parameter values

We consider the connection between vibration and buckling problems for a uniform flexible rod which is clamped at one end and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The rod is assumed off-clamped, i.e. the axis of rotation does not pass through the rod's clamped end. The resulting fourth-order boundary value problem with a turning point for the free vibrations is solved using uniform approximations in a transitional parameter range where high rotation rates balance small off-clampings. Second approximations to the vibration eigenvalues are used to determine critical buckling rotation rates for the slightly off-clamped rods. Buckling is unexpected in this situation as the rod is wholly under tension.
Comparison of dye and pellet gastrointestinal transit time during controlled diets differing in protein and fiber levels

The purpose of this experiment was to compare repeated measurements of the gastrointestinal transit times of simultaneously ingested dye and radiopaque pellets. Pellet transit was calculated as the time required for 80% of the dose to be excreted and as mean transit time (MTT-S). Comparisons were made in seven healthy women during three controlled diet periods, two containing different levels of protein and the third added fiber (16 g refined cellulose). Each experimental period was about one month. Dietary protein level or phases of the menstrual cycle had no significant effect on gastrointestinal transit time. Cellulose consumption also did not significantly affect transit time, but it did reduce the variability between repeated 80% transit determinations in four subjects, between MTT-S in three subjects, and between dye in two subjects. The two different measures of pellet transit, 80% pellets and MTT-S, and the dye were significantly correlated, although the correlations were generally stronger during the cellulose diet period. These results suggest that the menstrual cycle, refined cellulose, and dietary protein level have limited effects on gastrointestinal transit time and that measurement of transit as passage of 80% pellets and MTT-S are comparable.
Immunochemical studies of bovine and ovine pituitary growth hormone.

The immunochemical relationship between bovine and ovine growth hormone has been investigated by means of the quantitative preripitin technique and diffusion analysis on agar gel. It was observed according to the results of the Ouchterlony double-diffusion technique, that of the pituitary extracts from various species used as sources of growth hormone only that of the deer contains a component which cross reacts completely with bovine growth hormone. Bioassay by the tibia test, however, has shown extracts from various species including anteater camel, sea lion and guinea pig, to possess growth-promoting activity. The effect of chemical treatment of bovine growth hormone on its antigenicity has also been investigated.
Gender‐specific regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in thymocyte differentiation antigen‐1 knockout mice

THYmocyte differentiation antigen 1 (Thy-1), is a cell surface glycoprotein found on T cells and neurons and is involved in cell-to-cell interactions. In addition, Thy-1 knockouts (KO) are a potential mouse model of restless legs syndrome (RLS) based on clinical observations and the role of dopamine in the disease. In this study, we analyzed the activity and quantity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine production) and determined phosphorylation levels for the enzyme (phospho-serine-40 (pSer-40)). There was no significant difference in the total TH activity and pSer-40 TH levels between Thy-1 KO and control groups; however, TH specific activity was significantly lower (by 26%) in Thy-1 KO mice. This difference is, in part, due to increased TH protein levels in this group (increased by 29%). When analyzed by gender, we determined that Thy-1 KO female mice striata contained less TH specific activity compared to control females (decreased by 41%) and male control or Thy-1 KO animals (decreased by 30%). TH specific activity and pSer-40 TH levels between male Thy-1 KO and control displayed no differences. However, pSer-40 TH was significantly higher in control females (38%) compared to control or Thy-1 KO males. The Thy-1 KO females exhibited significantly lower (28%) pSer-40 TH (normalized to GAPDH or TH) than control females. Indeed, the Thy-1 KO females had 50% of the pSer-40 TH found in controls. Our results suggest a gender effect on TH specific activity, TH protein levels and serine-40 phosphorylation of TH in Thy-1 KO female mice.
Local anesthesia using buffered 0.5% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine for tumors of the digits treated with Mohs micrographic surgery

Background Several specialties and textbooks continue to advocate that local anesthesia using epinephrine should not be used during surgery involving the digits. Objective We sought to assess the association between local anesthesia (buffered 0.5% lidocaine and 1:200,000 epinephrine) injected into digits, comorbid patient conditions, and postoperative complications including ischemia or necrosis. Methods A retrospective review of all patients presenting for Mohs micrographic surgery in a private practice ambulatory surgery center was performed between October 2002 and January 2009. Patient factors including amount of anesthesia injected; preoperative vitals; history of hypertension, stroke, or circulatory disorders; and presence of anticoagulation were assessed. Results Three Mohs surgeons' patients were included in the study. No digital blocks were performed; local anesthesia was infiltrated directly into the tumor site. Patients received buffered 0.5% lidocaine plus epinephrine 1:200,000. Of 63 patients presenting for surgery (59 fingers and 4 toes), there were no cases of digital ischemia or necrosis. Approximately one-third had a circulatory disorder or diabetes, and more than half had a diagnosis of hypertension or were taking anticoagulation. The average amount of anesthesia injected was 6.92 mL, with the greatest amount being 25 mL. Limitations This was a retrospective review with possible overestimation of adverse effects as a result of referral bias of complicated patients to an ambulatory surgery center for treatment. Conclusion There is no evidence that buffered 0.5% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 causes ischemia or necrosis when injected into digits. This is true despite a history of circulatory disorders, thrombosis, diabetes, smoking, anticoagulation, or significant preoperative hypertension.
Problem behaviors of students pursuing policing careers

Purpose – The current study aims to examine problematic behaviors of college students who identified policing as their career of choice.Design/methodology/approach – A self‐report survey was administered and behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, arrest histories, and self‐reported criminality were identified in a sample of 874 undergraduate students, 171 of whom identified policing as their career goal.Findings – Findings indicate that over 60 percent of students (including those interested in becoming police officers) engage in some level of problematic behavior. While policing students engaged in more excessive recent binge drinking, they had a lower rate of arrests and less other‐than‐marijuana drug use than other students.Research limitations/implications – This research relies on self‐reported data and therefore under‐ or over‐reporting may occur. While the sample of policing students has similar characteristics to those of current police officers in terms of sex and race, generalizability issues f...
Fuzzy Cognitive Maps for Engineering and Technology Management: What Works in Practice?

Due to a lack of available data, many early planning decisions in Engineering and Technology Management have to be based on experts' opinions and their qualitative statements about evolving technologies, markets and general business environments. Several authors have suggested the use of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) to analytically support these decisions with simulation models that can cope with qualitative information. However, only little practice experience is documented. Based on multiple case studies and an extensive literature review, the paper reviews the state-of-the-art of FCM-practice and introduces a six-step guideline for practitioners and researchers who wish to apply FCMs to real-world problems.
Video Modeling Interventions for Individuals with Autism

Video modeling interventions involve a child watching videotapes of positive examples of adults, peers, or him- or herself engaging in a behavior that is being taught. The purpose of this review was to examine empirical studies in which video modeling interventions were applied to individuals with autism. Nineteen studies published between 1985 and 2005 met the inclusion criteria for this review. The findings suggest that video modeling interventions are effective in teaching a variety of skills to children with autism. Descriptive summaries are provided for each study. Directions for future research and implications for practitioners are provided.
Cloud point suppression in dilute solutions of model gradient copolymers with prespecified composition profiles

Gradient copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) having prescribed linear, parabolic, and hyperbolic composition profiles were synthesized with the guidance of a numerical model that determines the instantaneous comonomer feed rate. These materials exhibit low polydispersity indices (<1.1); the evolution of the overall DMAEMA content and the absolute molecular weight of the copolymers are all in good agreement with the quantities predicted by our model. Compared to random copolymers of HEMA and DMAEMA, the cloud points of dilute buffered aqueous solutions of gradient copolymers decrease with increasing gradient strength; where the gradient strength is defined as the largest difference in the instantaneous composition along the copolymer. The temperature range over which the solutions transition from transparent to turbid also broadens significantly with increasing gradient strength. Both observations suggest the onset of transition to be dictated by the least soluble ends of the polymer chains. These correlations point to the importance of monomer sequence distribution in determining the macroscopic physical properties of copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011
Further studies on the cultivation of the avian malaria parasites: II. The effects of heterologous sera and added metabolites on growth and reproduction in vitro

Abstract Several series of studies have been undertaken to extend and amplify previous research on the in vitro cultivation of the avian plasmodia, using the Harvard medium, with special emphasis on Plasmodium hexamerium. Standard culture experiments with P. hexamerium yielded higher levels of growth than did earlier studies, with maximal growth and reproduction after 24 hours in vitro and a decline in parasitemia thereafter. Similar experiments with P. elongatum were not very successful, and it is concluded that survival rather than reproduction was achieved. Studies using pigeon and turkey plasma indicated that turkey plasma increased growth and reproduction of P. hexamerium in vitro, while the substitution of pigeon plasma was not beneficial to the parasite. Vitamin B12, folic acid, and a porcine liver coenzyme concentrate were tested singly and in combination as additives to the basic Harvard medium. Growth and reproduction were enhanced in all cases, and it is suggested that these metabolites be incorporated in all future studies on the cultivation of the avian plasmodia.
Zonal flow formation in the presence of ambient mean shear

The effect of mean shear flows on zonal flow formation is considered in the contexts of plasma drift wave turbulence and quasi-geostrophic turbulence models. The generation of zonal flows by modulational instability in the presence of large-scale mean shear flows is studied using the method of characteristics as applied to the wave kinetic equation. It is shown that mean shear flows reduce the modulational instability growth rate by shortening the coherency time of the wave spectrum with the zonal shear. The scalings of zonal flow growth rate and turbulent vorticity flux with mean shear are determined in the strong shear limit.
Protein-assisted solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes.

We report a simple method that uses proteins to solubilize single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in water. Characterization by a variety of complementary techniques including UV−Vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy confirmed the dispersion at the individual nanotube level. A variety of proteins differing in size and structure were used to generate individual nanotube solutions by this noncovalent functionalization procedure. Protein-mediated solubilization of nanotubes in water may be important for biomedical applications. This method of solubilization may also find use in approaches for controlling the assembly of nanostructures, and the wide variety of functional groups present on the adsorbed proteins may be used as orthogonal reactive handles for the functionalization of carbon nanotubes.
Emphysematous gastritis associated with adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

An eighth case of emphysematous gastritis is reported. The predisposing cause in this patient was an adenocarcinoma of the stomach, and the causative organism was believed to beClostridium perfringens. The stomach wall contained gas bubbles at a time when the patient was relatively asymptomatic. Although the emphysematous gastritis was apparenly controlled by antibiotic therapy, the patient died, probably from extension of the carcinoma into tne liver, with obstruction of the porta hepatis.
The Strong Acidity and the Process for Deprotonation of (η6-Toluene)Fe(H)2(SiCl3)2

The acidity and the process for deprotonation of (η6-toluene)Fe(H)2(SiCl3)2 in acetonitrile were studied with pyridine derivatives. (η6-Toluene)Fe(H)2(SiCl3)2 is a very strong acid and deprotonates...
Acoustic Emission Leak Detection on a Metal Pipeline Buried in Sandy Soil

AbstractAn acoustic emission (AE) method was used to detect leaks and discern their location under flow conditions in a 304.8-m-long, 305-mm-diameter buried steel pipeline at the New Jersey Institute of Technology/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (NJIT/USEPA) Buried Pipeline Test Facility in Edison, New Jersey. A 16.2 mL/s leak was successfully detected, and its discernible location was indicated to within 0.3 m, with a sensor separation of 65.5 m, and with water in the pipeline flowing at 11.4 L/s. Encouraging results were also obtained for a 1.3 mL/s leak that was discernible at a sensor separation of 21.3 m under the same flow conditions. Previous static pressure leak testing on this pipeline detected a 12.6 mL/s leak at sensor separations of up to 192.9 m, and it is expected that mitigating the effects of both externally produced and flow-induced background noise will allow for the detection of smaller leak rates under greater flow conditions. These results demonstrated that effective AE leak ...
Economic analysis of water service investments and tariffs in Cairo, Egypt.

Donor agencies invested millions of dollars in the 1980s and 1990s to improve water and wastewater services in Cairo, Egypt. An economic analysis of these investments raised several issues relevant to planning and financing similar projects. First, some service improvements have more value to households than others (i.e., a water connection was worth more than improved reliability of water service). The choice of how to allocate scarce project resources among different possible service improvements may substantially affect the measured benefits of the project. Second, recovering project costs through the fixed tariff charged for water and wastewater services in Egypt may charge a substantial portion of a household more than they are willing to pay for the services. Quantity-based pricing that allowed households to adjust their water use to their budget would allocate program costs among households in a manner more consistent with the value of the services.
First-session pathways to the working alliance in cognitive–behavioral therapy for adolescent depression

Abstract In the current study of cognitive‐behavioral therapy for 54 depressed adolescents, chained p‐technique was applied to 14 therapist behaviors that were rated in each 10‐min segment of Session 1 provided by eight female therapists. Four underlying factors were identified: experiential socialization, therapist responsiveness, therapist lapse, and remoralization. Analysis of changes in the prominence of these factors revealed significant Factor X Session Segment trends. Therapist responsiveness and remoralization growth curves across Session 1 accounted for significant variance in Session 3 therapist‐rated alliance. Experiential socialization growth curves across Session 1 also accounted for significant variance in Session 3 adolescent‐rated alliance. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of Session 1 therapist behaviors for adolescent alliance formation.
The effect of calmodulin antagonists on the activation of RAW-264 macrophage-like cells for tumor cell killing

Abstract The effects of several calmodulin antagonists on the activation of RAW-264 macrophage-like cells for tumor cell killing were investigated. At concentrations ranging from 5 × 10−8 to 5 × 10−7 M, calmidazolium, trifluoperazine, chlorprothixene, chlorpromazine and W-13 inhibited the development of cytolytic activity, evoked in RAW-264 by treatment with lymphokine and lipopolysaccharide, in a dose-dependent manner. Since the order of the potency of these drugs against the activation of RAW-264 cells was much the same as their ability to inhibit calmodulin-dependent phosphodiestherase activity: calmidazolium > trifluoperazine > chlorprothixene > chlorpromazine > W-13, and because W-12, a nonactive analog of W-13, failed to inhibit the process of activation, we believe that the development of cytolytic activity in RAW-264 cells may be dependent on calmodulin. At micromolar concentrations, calmodulin antagonists (except calmidazolium) enhanced the process of activation. The enhancement of cytolytic activity was neither the result of the toxicity of these drugs nor related to their effects on intracellular calcium. It was entirely dependent on the presence of stimulants but occurred independently from the stage of macrophage activation, and most likely was due to the nonspecific interference of these agents with calmodulin-independent processes.
Blowback:∗ A comparative analysis of college students' response to U.S. Internet IP legislation

In the wake of intellectual property (IP) theft on the Internet, the legislature of the United States, along with many other developed nations, has been under pressure to stem the tide. The latest iteration of this ongoing battle came in 2011 in the form of two pieces of proposed legislation: Senate Bill 968 Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (also known as the PROTECT IP Act, herein PIPA), and House Resolution 3261 Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). In January 2012, as SOPA and PIPA were scheduled for debate on their respective floors in Congress, the bills met with vociferous attention. But while much has been made about SOPA/PIPA, there has been little public anger at the international treaty that preceded those bills: the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) of 2010. This leads to the main question of this paper: What explains the paucity of college students' rage toward ACTA when compared to SOPA/PIPA?
Second-order conditioning using a contextual stimulus as S1

Three experiments investigated the question of whether a spatial stimulus, a context, could function as S1 in a second-order conditioning procedure. In each experiment, rat subjects were presented with S1-US pairings by being given footshocks in one of two contexts. Forty-eight hours later, the experimental groups received S2-S1 pairings, during which a tone was presented in the training context. As measured by a lick-suppression test administered in a third context, rats were more fearful of the tone if it occurred in the context in which they had previously been shocked. The training context in each experiment apparently served to establish second-order fear conditioning to the tone.
Effects of estrogen receptor agonists on regulation of the inflammatory response in astrocytes from young adult and middle-aged female rats

Estrogen has been shown to attenuate the inflammatory response following injury or lipopolysaccharide treatment in several organ systems. Estrogen's actions are transduced through two estrogen receptor sub-types, estrogen receptor (ER) -alpha and estrogen receptor-beta, whose actions may be overlapping or independent of each other. The present study examined the effects of ERalpha- and ERbeta-specific ligands in regulating the inflammatory response in primary astrocyte cultures. Pre-treatment with 17beta-estradiol (ERalpha/ERbeta agonist), HPTE (ERalpha agonist/ERbeta antagonist) and DPN (ERbeta agonist) led to attenuation of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and MMP-9 in astrocyte media derived from young adult (3-4 mos.) and reproductive senescent female (9-11 mos., acyclic) astrocyte cultures, while pretreatment with PPT (ERalpha agonist) attenuated IL-1beta (but not MMP-9) in both young and senescent-derived astrocyte cultures. Our previous work determined that 17beta-estradiol was unable to attenuate the LPS-induced increase in IL-1beta in olfactory bulb primary microglial cultures derived from either young adult or reproductive senescent females. In young adult-derived microglial cultures, the LPS-induced increase in IL-1beta was not attenuated by pre-treatment with 17beta-estradiol, PPT or HPTE. Interestingly, the ERbeta agonist, DPN significantly decreased IL-1beta following LPS treatment in young adult-derived microglia. Thus while both microglia and astrocytes synthesize and release inflammatory mediators, the present data shows that compounds which bind ERbeta are more effective in attenuating proinflammatory cytokines in both cell types and may therefore be a more effective agent for future therapeutic use.
Selecting business process reengineering projects strategically

Business processes are defined as sequences of linked functional-level activities which take inputs and produce outputs. And Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is defined as the analysis and radical redesign of the business processes within a firm. Undertaking BPR is a high-risk, high-reward proposition. The payback for doing BPR correctly is enormous: 200% to 1000% improvements in key business performance measures are documented. But with those potential rewards comes high risks: studies show more than two-thirds of BPR attempts fail. The research reported in this paper develops a BPR decision support system to reduce the risks while maintaining or improving the rewards. The system is being applied at five U.S. electronics companies where preliminary results look very promising.
Synthesis of 6-Nonen-3-One

Abstract The synthesis of 6-nonen-3-one was accomplished by Rh(I) catalyzed ethylene addition to cis-4-heptenal.
Particle and radiation simulations for the proposed rare isotope accelerator facility

Abstract The Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) facility, planned to be built in the USA, will be capable of delivering diverse beams, from protons to uranium ions, with energies from 1 GeV to at least 400 MeV per nucleon to rare isotope-producing targets. High beam power—400 kW—will allow RIA to become the most powerful rare isotope beam facility in the world; however, it also creates challenges for the design of the isotope-production targets. This paper focuses on the isotope-separator-on-line (ISOL) target work, particularly the radiation transport aspects of the two-step fission target design. Simulations were performed with the PHITS, MCNPX, and MARS15 computer codes. A two-step ISOL target considered here consists of a mercury or tungsten primary target in which primary beam interactions release neutrons, which in turn induce fissions—and produce rare isotopes—in the secondary target filled with fissionable material. Three primary beams were considered: 1-GeV protons, 622-MeV/u deuterons, and 777-MeV/u 3He ions. The proton and deuterium beams were found to be about equivalent in terms of induced fission rates and heating rates in the target, while the 3He beam, without optimizing the target geometry, was less favorable, producing about 15% fewer fissions and about 50% higher heating rates than the proton beam at the same beam power.
Beyond category sorting and pleasantness rating: inducing relational and item-specific processing.

In most studies of relational and item-specific processing, category sorting and pleasantness rating have been the main procedures used to induce these two types of processing. Because the two types of processing have been studied in a wide range of memory phenomena (Hunt & McDaniel, 1993), it is strange that other tasks have not been proposed and tested. The present experiment demonstrates that equivalent results can be obtained with three relational processing tasks (category sorting, narrative construction, and relational imagery) and equivalent results with three itemspecific processing tasks (pleasantness ratings, familiarity ratings, and single imagery).
Response of the alkaline phosphatase of the adrenal cortex of the mouse to androgen.

ALKALINE phosphatase is a prominent constituent of the adrenal cortex of the adult male mouse but is present in only minimal quantity in the female (Elftman, 1947). This sexual dimorphism suggests the possibility that alkaline phosphatase may appear in the adrenal cortex in response to androgen. Definite evidence in favor of this relationship was obtained from the experiments which are reported here. METHODS Mice of the Swiss albino strain were used in all of these experiments. They comprised five groups: 1) Normal adults, 7 males and 5 females; 2) Normal immature animals, 7 males and 4 females; 3) Adult castrates, 3 males and 4 females; 4) Adult castrates treated with testosterone propionate,2 9 males and 8 females; 5) Immature mice treated with testosterone propionate, 12 males and 14 females. The testosterone propionate was dissolved in sesame oil in such concentration that the daily dose was contained in 0.05 ml.
An Unusual Outbreak of Ropy Milk

Summary An outbreak of ropy milk occurring in Iowa, that was unusual in the time of year it appeared, was studied and found to be due to an organism quite different than the type usually responsible for ropy milk. The organism, which was studied morphologically, culturally, and bio-chemically, was closely related to M. mucofaciens (Thoni and Thaysen) and was also somewhat like M. Freudenreichii (Guillebeau) but showed characters that made it seem desirable to designate it as a new species, Staph. cremorisviscosi . Some time after the disappearance of the trouble the causative organism was found in the udders of cows in the producing herd. It was impossible, however, to tell whether the invasion of the udders preceded or followed the outbreak of ropy milk; in either case conditions were different when the milk carefully drawn from the udders was examined than when the outbreak occurred since when the examination was made the milk was no longer developing ropiness.
Architecture of the hamster oocyte-cumulus complex

The structure of the hamster oocyte-cumulus complex (OCC) has been analyzed to help understand how mammalian sperm penetrate the investing coats of the oocyte. At ovulation, oocytes of most mammalian species are surrounded by a zona pellucida, corona radiata, and cumulus layer. Cells of the cumulus and corona radiata are separated by an extracellular matrix (ECM) that contains hyaluronic acid. In hamsters, the diameter of mature follicular OCCs is 0.61 ± 0.12 mm, whereas in freshly ovulated OCCs in culture medium it is 0.78 ± 0.15 mm. This indicates the OCC expands at or after ovulation. The corona radiata is 1–4 cell layers deep, and corona radiata cells are closely packed (center-to-center distances between adjacent cells in follicular OCCs averaged 14 ± 3 μm). The cumulus layer is 5–8 cell layers deep, and intercellular spaces are much larger (center-to-center distances between adjacent cumulus cells in follicular OCCs averaged 50 ± 20 μm). An ovulated OCC has an approximate volume of 248 × 106 μm3 and was estimated to contain approximately 5,700 cells. Studies with stretched OCCs show that ink particles can readily penetrate the extracellular spaces of the cumulus and corona radiata layers and interact with the ECM, staining it black. At the periphery of the OCC, the ECM appeared discontinuous and formed “cords” containing cumulus cells, whereas closer to the corona radiata the matrix completely filled intercellular spaces. Ink penetrated the corona radiata, but the ECM was difficult to visualize because of the close packing of cells in this layer. Our observations on unfixed OCCs show that cell packing becomes more dense proceeding from the periphery of the OCC to the zona pellucida and that the ECM at the periphery differs from the matrix deeper in the OCC. These data suggest that an incoming sperm would find penetration of the investing coats to increase in difficulty (that is physical resistance would increase) as it got closer to the oocyte. We have also examined the effects of processing for microscopy on the structure of the OCC. Both standard fixation procedures and fixation in the presence of ruthenium red caused condensation of the ECM, especially in the cumulus layer, and thus produced a significant decrease in the diameter of the OCC.
A new hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration (HIX-NF) separation process for energy-efficient desalination: Process concept and laboratory evaluation

Abstract The study presents the results of a new energy-efficient hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration (HIX-NF) process to desalinate brackish and sea water. From a scientific viewpoint, the HIX-NF process is unique in its approach for it partially alters the feed water chemistry prior to the membrane treatment. Specifically it converts monovalent chloride, the predominant anion in salt water, into divalent sulfate through a reversible anion-exchange process without requiring any external regenerant. As a result, reverse osmosis (RO) membrane can be replaced altogether by nanofiltration (NF) membrane resulting in a marked reduction in energy requirement. Also, conversion of chloride to sulfate reduces the osmotic pressure of the feed water by nearly thirty percent and consequently decreases the theoretical energy requirement. The reject stream from nanofiltration, rich in sulfate, is used to regenerate the anion exchanger. Laboratory results validate that sodium sulfate can be desalinated with NF membranes at much lower transmembrane pressure than with RO membranes, all other conditions remaining identical. The reversible sulfate–chloride anion exchange and, in particular, sulfate/chloride selectivity plays a central role for the success of the proposed process. The most significant finding is that a single anion-exchange resin cannot sustain the HIX-NF process for different feed water concentrations. The investigation, however, shows that by changing the size of the amine functional group (e.g., quaternary-, tertiary-, secondary- and mixed amine), the sulfate/chloride selectivity of the anion-exchange resin can be tailored for a specific feed water salinity allowing optimum reversibility of the anion-exchange process. Laboratory studies have validated the basic premise of the hybrid process including greater than two times lesser energy requirement than RO process for the same feed water. Future proto-type experimental studies are strongly recommended to confirm the overall viability of the HIX-NF process.
The interaction of Escherichia coli endotoxin with leukocytes.

Abstract Rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from acute peritoneal exudates were used to study the interaction of endotoxin and leukocytes. Saline-washed cells were incubated with 32 P-labeled endotoxin prepared from Escherichia coli , and the amount of bound endotoxin was measured in cells separated from mixtures by filtration. Maximum removal of endotoxin from the soluble phase of mixtures was obtained in 10 min. The amount of endotoxin bound was proportional to the amount of endotoxin added over a wide range of endotoxin concentration. The binding process was independent of temperature and was not inhibited by such reagents as iodoacetate, N -ethylmaleimide and NaCN. It was inhibited by rabbit serum, sodium oxalate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The results of the binding study are best rationalized in terms of the interaction of two charged species mediated by cell-bound cations. After binding to leukocytes endotoxin was, in part, degraded. Gel filtration of the supernatant fluid from an incubated 14 C-labeled endotoxin leukocyte mixture showed radioactivity in a low molecular weight fraction associated with protein. Examination of the nature of the radiolabeled products by extraction and separation of lipids showed free fatty acids as well as neutral—and phospholipids in both the supernatant fluid and cells. N -Ethylmaleimide, EDTA, and protamine sulfate inhibited formation of the lipids.
Parallel asynchronous algorithms for discrete data

Many problems in the area of symbolic computing can be solved by iterative algorithms. Implementations of these algorithms on multiprocessors can be synchronous or asynchronous. Asynchronous implementations are potentially more efficient because synchronization is a major source of performance degradation in most multiprocessor systems.In this paper, sufficient conditions for the convergence of asynchronous iterations to desired solutions are given. The main sufficient condition is shown to be also necessary for the case of finite data domains. The results are applied to prove the convergence of three asynchronous algorithms for the all-pairs shortest path problem, the consistent labeling problem, and a neural net model.
A heuristic for determination of optimal capacity of central storage

Abstract A system of one machine used to produce m products in batches and a central storage used for storing raw materials and finished products is considered. The system maintains enough finished products to assure no stockout will happen. The machine has a finite production rate greater than or equal to the demand rate for each product, and thus operates with periodic start-ups and shut-downs. For special case when set-up for each product requires time and every product is produced in every cycle, the best policy given limited storage space is determined, and total production cost as a function of set-up costs, carrying cost, storage cost, and material handling cost is presented. A heuristic is developed that determines “optimal feasible cycle time” such that production scheduling remains feasible, the capacity of the central storage is not exceeded, and the overall costs are minimized.
Customer Satisfaction, Cash Flow, and Shareholder Value

Abstract In this article, the authors strengthen the chain of effects that link customer satisfaction to shareholder value by establishing the link between satisfaction and two characteristics of future cash flows that determine the value of the firm to shareholders: growth and stability. Using longitudinal American Customer Satisfaction Index and COMPUSTAT data and hierarchical Bayesian estimation, the authors find that satisfaction creates shareholder value by increasing future cash flow growth and reducing its variability. They test the stability of findings across several firm and industry characteristics, and they assess the robustness of the results using multimeasure and multimethod estimation.
The major vault protein is related to the toxic anion resistance protein (TelA) family.

Vaults are barrel-shaped ribonucleoprotein particles that are abundant in certain tumors and multidrug resistant cancer cells. Prokaryotic relatives of the major vault protein, MVP, have not been identified. We used sequence analysis and molecular modeling to show that MVP and the toxic anion resistance protein, TelA of Rhodobacter sphaeroides strain 2.4.1, share a novel fold that consists of a three-stranded antiparallelβ -sheet. Because of this strong structural correspondence, we examined whether mammalian cell vaults respond to tellurite treatment. In the presence of the oxyanion tellurite, large vault aggregates, or vaultosomes, appear at the cell periphery in 15 min or less. Vaultosome formation is temperature-dependent, reversible, and occurs in normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells as well as transformed HeLa cervical cancer cells. Vaultosome formation is not restricted to tellurite and occurs in the presence of other toxic oxyanions (selenate, selinite, arsenate, arsenite, vanadate). In addition, vaultosomes form independently from other stress-induced ribonucleoprotein complexes, stress granules and aggresomes. Vaultosome formation is therefore a unique cellular response to an environmental toxin.
Host Plant Selection by Romalea microptera (Orthoptera: Romaleidae)

The eastern lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera (Palisot de Beauvois) (Orthoptera: Romaleidae)[also known as R. guttata (Houttuyn)], is known to be polyphagous, but little else is known about its diet. Choice and no-choice tests were conducted to determine plant preference. In choice tests, 104 different plants were presented and relative preference was determined using ‘Romaine’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia; Asteraceae) as a standard. These included representative plants from several categories, including ornamental plants, weeds, shrubs, trees, vines, aquatic or semiaquatic plants, and vegetable crops. The grasshoppers did not display a statistically significant difference in selection, relative to ‘Romaine’ lettuce, for 20% of the plants evaluated; these should be considered very susceptible to injury because lettuce is a readily accepted plant. A few plants (3%) were more preferred than lettuce, and of course would also be at high risk for consumption. The majority of plants tested (77%) were significantly less preferred, but even some of these are at risk because, like other polyphagous insects, lubbers sometimes will feed on less acceptable plants when preferred plants are not available. A subset of these (n = 25) was also presented in no-choice tests, and the choice and no-choice responses compared. Plant preference in choice and no-choice tests was significantly correlated. A selection of ornamental plants (n = 10) that scored least-preferred in choice tests was assessed in no-choice ‘starvation’ tests, and 9 of the 10 proved to be quite resistant to grasshopper feeding. Several plants (n = 5) that produce foliage asynchronously were assessed in choice tests, with the grasshoppers preferring young foliage relative to old foliage. In field cage studies, the acceptability of plants significantly affected the efficacy of insecticide-containing baits, with significantly higher mortality found in cages containing non-preferred plants. Thus, host plant selection affects damage directly by regulating the amount of feeding, and indirectly by influencing acceptance of bait.
Tri-Mode Horn Feeds Revisited: Cross-Pol Reduction in Compact Offset Reflector Antennas

The design of a tri-mode horn feed with novel structure is revisited in this communication. This design allows a significant reduction in the cross-pol level in the far-field patterns of linearly polarized offset parabolic reflector antennas with low F/D. This is, in particular, advantageous in spaceborne applications where the space and weight is limited. It is demonstrated that TE21 mode in conical horns possesses a similar aperture field distribution as the focal plane field of an offset reflector antenna and can reduce the cross-pol level if the mode coefficients are optimized. The complex mode coefficients are optimized for a particular application of a 4.5 m offset reflector antenna operating at 10 GHz with F/D = 0.4. It is shown that the cross-pol level is reduced dramatically (~28 dB over 3% of bandwidth) when the reflector is fed by the tri-mode horn with optimum coefficients. The results suggest that this design could be very useful for future narrow band spaceborne remote sensing applications.
Antigens of Streptococcus mutans I. Characterization of a Serotype-Specific Determinant from Streptococcus mutans

A membrane-associated glycerol teichoic acid antigen has been isolated from Streptococcus mutans AHT and a similar antigen has been demonstrated to be present in each of the other Bratthall serotype a organisms studied. Trichloroacetic acid-extracted material was resolved into two phosphorus-containing antigenic fractions (B and C) by agarose chromatography. Fraction B was preliminarily identified as a phospholipid moiety with a glycerol-to-phosphorus ratio of 2:1, and fraction C showed a ratio of 1:1 indicative of a glycerol teichoic acid. This latter fraction also was associated with glucose, galactose, alanine, and fatty acids. Diglycerol triphosphate, the compound characteristically released from 1-3 phosphodiester-linked glycerol teichoic acids by alkaline hydrolysis, was isolated and characterized. Alanine was identified as its alkaline-labile, ester-linked D-isomer. A glyceride was isolated containing a disaccharide of glucose and galactose attached to the 2-hydroxyl group of glycerol. Hapten inhibition analysis demonstrated that beta-galactosides were the greatest inhibitors of the precipitin reaction (>75%), whereas glucose and its derivatives inhibited to a much lesser extent (<30%). Comparative immunodiffusion and immuno-electrophoresis analyses demonstrated that all six Bratthall serotype a organisms tested contained this antigenic determinant and that it was absent in serotypes b, c, and d. It is suggested that the common antigenic determinant of this serotype within S. mutans may be a beta-galactoside associated with a glycerol teichoic acid and possibly other polymers.
Modeling constructs for describing a complex system-of-systems

To gather and organize the information needed to perform a risk analysis of a complex system-of-systems, a risk analyst needs a well-defined set of modeling constructs. This paper describes the system/network modeling constructs being incorporated into Version 2.0 of the ANSSR (Analysis of Networked Systems Security Risks) prototype. These allow an analyst to describe a complex system-of-systems at varying levels of abstraction, to represent a variety of networking situations, including the capability for multiple systems to share a common backbone network and the use of COMSEC (communications security) safeguards, and to describe system architectures. These modeling constructs are thus of interest not only to risk analysts but also to security architects and engineers. >