cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling work group effectiveness in high-technology manufacturing environments

Existing models of work group effectiveness have been tested in low-technology manufacturing settings, but not in a high-technology one. Typical features of high-technology environments - substantial automation, computerized scheduling systems, complex production processes, capital-intensive production, high-cost equipment, and high product value - render them significantly different from their low-technology counterparts. The increased use of work groups and teams among high-technology manufacturers raises the question of whether existing models can be generalized to these settings. In this paper, data from 89 groups in the semiconductor manufacturing industry are used to create predictive models of group productivity, job satisfaction, and perceived performance. External variables (such as conflict with supervisors and engineers) are found to be more predictive of productivity, while internal variables (such as conflict among group members) are more predictive of satisfaction. These results highlight th...
A Fatou theorem for α-harmonic functions in Lipschitz domains

We study α-harmonic functions in Lipschitz domains. We prove a Fatou theorem when the boundary function is bounded and Lp-Holder continuous of order β with βp > 1.
Submerged rock filter evaluation using an oxygen consumption criterion for closed recirculating systems

Abstract The supply of dissolved oxygen for the bacteria has been observed to be the principal factor limiting the carrying capacity of submerged rock filters used in high density recirculating culture systems. Oxygen concentrations in a submerged rock filter must not fall below 2 mg liter−1 if complete nitrification is to be assured. A mass balance on oxygen is used to develop relationships defining the rock volume and flow rates required for the nitrification beds used in blue crab (Callinectus sapidus Rathbun) shedding systems. These relationships are used to examine the impact of various filter configurations on performance. Of the six designs evaluated, those employing recirculation with supplemental aeration are shown to be the most successful. Under the conditions imposed in this analysis, it was observed experimentally that 1 m3 of 2 cm limestone could support bacterial consumption of 1·2 kg O2 day−1 without limitations from other parameters. Elimination of oxygen limitation leads to filter failure by physical clogging or pH decline. Further improvements in carrying capacity can be realized by solids removal which is shown to reduce oxygen demand in a submerged rock filter tested on blue crabs by approximately 30%. The criterion developed is applicable to a wide variety of culture systems.
Importance Sampling for p-value Computations in Multivariate Tests

Abstract An importance sampling procedure is developed to approximate the distribution of an arbitrary function of the eigenvalues for a matrix beta random matrix or a Wishart random matrix. The procedure is easily implemented and provides confidence intervals for the p-values of many of the commonly used test statistics in multivariate analysis. An adaptive procedure allows for the control of either absolute error or relative error in this p-value estimation through the choice of importance sample size.
A new proof of the gradient estimate for graphs of prescribed mean curvature

The aim of this paper is to give a new proof of the gradient estimate for graphs of prescribed mean curvatureH=H(x,y,z). Similarly as in [2] where the caseH=H(x,y) is studied, we introduce conformal parameters for the surface. Then we employ the differential equation for the unit normal of the surface derived in [3] Satz 1. By this method, which is contained in [4] Satz 4, we prove the following
Uptake of creatine by cultured cells

Abstract We have examined the uptake of creatine by cultured monolayers of human IMR-90 flbroblasts, human uterine smooth muscle cells, calf aortic smooth muscle cells, and myoblasts and myotubes of the L 6 E 9 rat skeletal muscle cell line. Creatine uptake is dependent on temperature and sensitive to the presence of Na + in the extracellular medium. It is saturable, apparently concentrative, and inhibited by ouabain and structural analogs of creatine. In these respects, it resembles the process of creatine uptake by isolated preparations of skeletal muscle and brain tissues. Lineweaver-Burk plots of the data for variation in rate of uptake with concentration of creatine in the medium are nonlinear, suggesting that the process of uptake may be heterogeneous. Assuming the operation of two saturable processes of uptake, we calculated two values for apparent K m and V for each cell line. Kinetic parameters of creatine uptake by the different cell types are similar. The lower values of K m (0.02–0.04 m m ) are in the physiological range of creatine concentration in mammalian plasma.
Enhancement of Antistaphylococcal Activity of Nafcillin and Oxacillin by Sisomicin and Netilmicin

The in vitro activity of sisomicin, netilmicin, nafcillin, and oxacillin against 35 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from blood cultures of patients with endocarditis or septicemia was studied. The effects of combinations of either of the two newer aminoglycosides and either of the two penicillinase-resistant penicillins on the killing of S. aureus were investigated. All S. aureus strains were susceptible to the four antibiotics. Enhancement of antistaphylococcal activity was demonstrated by the antibiotic combinations.
Behavioral risk factors of mortality after spinal cord injury.

Abstract Krause JS, Carter RE, Pickelsimer E. Behavioral risk factors of mortality after spinal cord injury. Objective To test hypothesized relationships between multiple behavioral indicators and mortality among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), while controlling for biographic and injury characteristics. Design Prospective cohort study with behavioral data collected by mailed survey in late 1997 and early 1998. Mortality status was ascertained as of December 31, 2005. Setting A large rehabilitation hospital in the southeastern United States. Participants Adults (N=1386) with traumatic SCI, at least 1 year postinjury. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcome was time from survey to mortality or censoring. Mortality status was determined using the National Death Index and the Social Security Death Index. There were 224 deaths (16.2%) in the full sample, and due to missing data, 188 deaths were observed in the 1251 participants included in the final statistical model. Results Cox proportional hazards modeling identified several significant behavioral predictors of mortality. In the first set of analyses, the significance of a single behavioral variable was assessed while controlling for biographic and injury predictors. We subsequently built a comprehensive model based on an optimal group of behaviors. The best set of behavioral predictors included: smoking, binge drinking (number of episodes with 5 or more drinks), prescription medication use, and number of hours out of bed per day. Inclusion of these variables improved prediction of survival compared with biographic and injury variables alone, as the pseudo- R 2 increased from .121 to .164 and the concordance from .730 to .769. Conclusions The results affirm the importance of avoiding basic risk behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol misuse, and affirm their importance as targets of intervention in association with SCI rehabilitation.
Students are not customers: a better model for medical education.

The author argues that the student-as-customer model of medical education has many failings that result in interactions that are educationally dysfunctional. Ten “pathologies” resulting from the adoption of this model are presented (e.g., “The student-customer model seduces students into believing t
Control of the Continuum Model of a Large Flexible Space Structure

An analytical approach is presented here to develop a continuum model of a space radar antenna and the truss structure for the purpose of the control and vibration suppression. Kinetic and potential energy expressions are given for the equivalent homogenized 1-D model. Hamilton's principle is applied to find the governing partial differential equations for this structure. The equations for bending are similar to an extended Timoshenko beam model. A Linear, Quadratic, Regulator (LQR) problem is solved to find the optimal solution for feedback control design of the distributed parameter model. The control force designed this way is applied to a Finite Element Model (FEM) of the truss structure for the purpose of validation. Results from the FEM are shown to be in good agreement with the distributed parameter model.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Deconversion: Qualitative and Quantitative Results from Cross-Cultural Research in Germany and the United States: A Review Essay

Although the literature on conversion is vast and covers all major disciplines (theology, sociology, anthropology, psychology, history, etc.), the study of deconversion is a much more recent―and a much more modest―phenomenon (Gooren 2010; Rambo 1993). Although William James briefly mentioned backsliding and deconversion in his The Varieties of Religious Experience, he did not consider it an essential theme (James (1958 [1902]), 205–206). Conversion was his key concept, which was to influence generations of scholars. Deconversion only became a more prominent theme in the 1970s with the study of New Religious Movements (NRMs), especially in the sociology of religion, by scholars like James T. Richardson (see, e.g., Richardson 1978). Eileen Barkers’ (1984) landmark study of “Moonies” moving in and out of the Reverend Moon’s Unification Church is probably among the best-known works. David Bromley (1988, 1998) edited two fine volumes on deconversion and apostasy in 1988 and 1998, presenting a variety of cases from NRMs and more traditional religious groups. In my book Religious Conversion and Disaffiliation: Tracing Patterns of Change in Faith Practices, I argued that conversion and deconversion are two sides of the same coin, influenced by similar factors and processes although obviously with different outcomes (Gooren 2010: chapters 1, 4, 5). I presented the following overview of deconversion, although I preferred the term disaffiliation, based on an extensive literature review from various disciplines:
Increased incidence of sepsis at birth in neutropenic infants of mothers with preeclampsia

Neutropenia is often found at birth in infants born to mothers with preeclampsia, and is most likely present in utero. To determine whether this neutropenia is associated with an increased incidence of early-onset sepsis, we reviewed the hospital records of 301 low birth weight infants of mothers with preeclampsia. Early-onset sepsis was proved if the result of a culture of blood or cerebrospinal fluid in the first 48 hours of life was positive, or presumed if culture results were negative but two or more clinical signs of sepsis were present and the attending neonatologist belleved that an infant was infected and needed at least 7 days of antibiotic therapy. Forty-eight percent of low birth weight infants of mothers with preeclampsia had neutropenia at less than 12 hours of age. Infants with neutropenia had mothers with more severe preeclampsia, were more premature (30 weeks vs 32 weeks), weighed less (1097 gm vs 1615 gm), and were more likely to be small for gestational age. Although maternal and obstetric risk factors for infection were less common in the group with neutropenia, rates of proven or presumed early-onset sepsis were higher (14% vs 2%; p p =0.03). A logistic regression analysis of the relative effects of birth weight, gestational age, and absolute neutrophil count on the incidence of sepsis revealed that only a low absolute neutrophil count correlated significantly with an increased risk of early-onset sepsis in infants with neutropenia.
Vibrotactile Frequency Recognition: Forward and Backward Masking Effects

Abstract Forward End backward vibrotactil recognition masking was investigated in 4 subjects with 240-Hz and 160-Hz targets of 20 ms duration and four 200-Hz masks, using interstimulus intervals (ISIs) ranging from — 500 to 500 ms. Two of the masks (short) were 20 ms and two {long) were 200 ms in duration. One of each set of masks was matched in subjective intensity to the targets, but the others were more intense. The range of ISIs over which masking was obtained was comparable to that found by Massaro (1970) with auditory stimuli. Both short masks produced more masking than either long mask except at short ISIs. Larger mask intensities increased masking only at very short ISIs, and longer mask durations increased backward but not forward masking.
RNA Interference in Trypanosoma brucei ROLE OF THE N-TERMINAL RGG DOMAIN AND THE POLYRIBOSOME ASSOCIATION OF ARGONAUTE

Argonaute proteins (AGOs) are central to RNA interference (RNAi) and related silencing pathways. At the core of the RNAi pathway in the ancient parasitic eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei is a single Argonaute protein, TbAGO1, with an established role in the destruction of potentially harmful retroposon transcripts. One notable feature of TbAGO1 is that a fraction sediments with polyribosomes, and this association is facilitated by an arginine/glycine-rich domain (RGG domain) at the N terminus of the protein. Here we report that reducing the size of the RGG domain and, in particular, mutating all arginine residues severely reduced the association of TbAGO1 with polyribosomes and RNAi-induced cleavage of mRNA. However, these mutations did not change the cellular localization of Argonaute and did not affect the accumulation of single-stranded siRNAs, an essential step in the activation of the RNA-induced silencing complex. We further show that mRNA on polyribosomes can be targeted for degradation, although this alliance is not a pre-requisite. Finally, sequestering tubulin mRNAs from translation with antisense morpholino oligonucleotides reduced the RNAi response indicating that mRNAs not engaged in translation may be less accessible to the RNAi machinery. We conclude that the association of the RNAi machinery and target mRNA on polyribosomes promotes an efficient RNAi response. This mechanism may represent an ancient adaptation to ensure that retroposon transcripts are efficiently destroyed, if they become associated with the translational apparatus.
Hydrophilic–hydrophobic multiblock copolymers based on poly(arylene ether sulfone) via low-temperature coupling reactions for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract Two series of multiblock copolymers based on poly(arylene ether sulfone)s were developed and evaluated for use as proton exchange membranes (PEMs). The multiblock copolymers were synthesized by a coupling reaction between phenoxide terminated fully disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BPSH100) and decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP) or hexafluorobenzene (HFB) end-capped unsulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BPS0) as hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks, respectively. The highly reactive nature of DFBP and HFB allowed the coupling reactions to be accomplished under mild reaction conditions (e.g.,
Role of calcium and endothelium in hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and subsequent vascular events.

The response of isolated blood vessels to vasoactive agonists is modulated by endothelial cells. Nitric oxide is probably the major endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), although an unidentified hyperpolarizing factor and prostacyclin are secreted. Previous studies indicate that the release of EDRF must require an increase in cytoplasmic calcium in the endothelial cells. In perfused arteries, calcium-channel activators also trigger the release of EDRF; thus, the endothelial cell membrane must contain voltage-operated calcium channels
Interferon-α2b improves short-term survival in patients transplanted for chronic liver failure caused by hepatitis B

Liver transplantation for cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) has a poor prognosis. This is primarily a consequence of the near universal reinfection of the allograft, subsequent accelerated hepatic disease while receiving immunosuppression, and a reduced long-term survival. Because interferon-alpha has been shown to have an antiviral effect on HBV, a study was initiated in 1986 to assess the effect of interferon-alpha therapy on the course of liver transplantation in HBV-positive recipients. Twenty-eight patients with decompensated endstage liver disease caused by HBV were treated with 5, 2.5 or 1.25 million units (MU) of human recombinant interferon-alpha 2b (r-IFN-alpha 2b) daily for a minimum of 14 days prior to transplantation and continuing for 42 days post-transplantation. HBV antigens, HBV antibodies, HBV DNA and serum transaminase levels were measured throughout the treatment and post-treatment period. HBV DNA was eliminated in 10 of 19 patients, who survived 3 months or more post-transplantation, and was associated with a significant flare of hepatitis as detected by symptoms and transaminase levels (P < 0.05). Patients who cleared HBV DNA had lower HBV DNA levels (P < 0.05) at entry compared with those who did not. While four of 10 patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) converted to hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAb), no surviving patient cleared hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) on a long-term basis. Nonetheless, post-transplant survival was significantly better (P < 0.0001, median follow-up 42 months) in the IFN-alpha treated patients as compared with historical controls, and was similar to that of patients transplanted for all causes of parenchymal liver disease other than HBV cancer. Hence IFN-alpha therapy in the perioperative liver transplantation period improves short-term survival but does not prevent HBV infection of the allograft.
Conference focuses on challenges, opportunities in key Earth science and policy topics

In our rapidly changing world, integrating Earth and space science into policy is vital to supporting our economy, public safety, and national security. One way in which AGU is striving to bridge the science and policy fields is through discussions and collaborations at the AGU Science Policy Conference. This inaugural conference, held in May 2012 in Washington, D. C., featured experts from government, industry, academia, and nonprofits. The goal of this new conference is to ensure diverse discussions and viewpoints on the challenges and opportunities of science policy, with a focus on applications of Earth and space science that serve local, national, and international communities.
3D shear wave imaging of anisotropic mechanical properties of muscle using a 2D matrix array transducer

A 2D matrix array is used to monitor acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) induced shear wave propagation in 3D in excised canine muscle. From a single acquisition, both the shear wave phase and group velocity can be calculated within a plane of symmetry to estimate the shear wave speed (SWS) along and across the fibers, as well as the fiber orientation in 3D. The true fiber orientation found using the 3D Radon Transform (3D RT) on B-mode volumes of the muscle was used to verify the fiber direction. For the simplified imaging case when the ARFI push can be oriented perpendicular to the fibers, the error in estimating the fiber orientation using phase and group velocity measurements was 3.5 ± 2.6° and 3.4 ± 1.4° (mean ± standard deviation), over six acquisitions in different muscle samples. For the more general case when the push is oblique to the fibers, the angle between the push and the fibers (or orientation of the plane of symmetry) is found using the dominant orientation of the shear wave displacement magnitude. In 30 acquisitions on six different muscle samples with oblique push angles up to 40°, the median error in the estimated fiber orientation using phase and group velocity measurements was 5.2° and 4.7°, respectively, after accounting for the additional unknown push angle. Either the phase or group velocity measurements can be used to estimate fiber orientation and SWS along and across the fibers in a plane of symmetry. Although it is possible to estimate the orientation of the plane of symmetry when the push is oblique to the fibers, inaccurate measurements of fiber orientation and SWS along and across the fibers occurred for highly oblique push angles (>25°).
On the activation spectrum for DNA phosphorescence

Abstract Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has a relatively low phosphorescent yield. In studying the ultraviolet-activated emission of DNA, or indeed of any substance with a low quantum yield, one is faced with the following question. Is the emission really due to the DNA or is it perhaps due to an impurity with a high quantum yield? A partial answer to this question may be obtained by showing that the activation spectrum for emission is identical to the absorption spectrum. The reason that this is but a partial answer is that the energy, after absorption by DNA, may be transferred to other molecules that may be present (1). This paper describes a relatively simple procedure for showing that the activation spectrum of DNA phosphorescence is identical to its optical absorption spectrum. The method should be generally applicable to phosphorescence studies of other substances.
Bevacizumab and daily temozolomide for recurrent glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: The authors performed a phase 2 trial of combined protracted daily temozolomide and biweekly bevacizumab for patients with recurrent glioblastoma who had previously received radiation therapy and temozolomide. METHODS: There was no limit on the number of previous disease progressions or previous regimens allowed. Thirty-two adult patients were enrolled. Patients received temozolomide 50 mg/m2 daily and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg intravenously every 14 days. Patients underwent physical examination and brain magnetic resonance imaging every 8 weeks. RESULTS: The authors observed a 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 18.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.6%-33.7%) and a median PFS of 15.8 weeks. The median overall survival (OS) was 37 weeks, the 6-month OS rate was 62.5% (95% CI, 43.5%-76.7%), and the 12-month OS rate was 31.3% (95% CI, 16.4%-47.3%). Nine patients (28%) had a radiographic response, and 7 patients (22%) had disease progression within the first 8 weeks of treatment. Patterns of progression were available for 21 patients. The authors observed that 52% of patients (n = 11) progressed locally, 38% (n = 8) progressed with a diffuse pattern, and 10% (n = 2) progressed at a distant site. Two patients discontinued therapy secondary to toxicity (prolonged thrombocytopenia and grade 4 pancreatitis). One patient experienced grade 5 pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that a regimen of combined daily temozolomide and biweekly bevacizumab had some activity and was well tolerated. However, the results obtained in this study were inferior to those observed in studies of bevacizumab monotherapy and of combined irinotecan and bevacizumab therapy. The current patient population was more heterogeneous and was pretreated more heavily than patients in previous studies. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Role of lubricin and boundary lubrication in the prevention of chondrocyte apoptosis

Osteoarthritis is a complex disease involving the mechanical breakdown of articular cartilage in the presence of altered joint mechanics and chondrocyte death, but the connection between these factors is not well established. Lubricin, a mucinous glycoprotein encoded by the PRG4 gene, provides boundary lubrication in articular joints. Joint friction is elevated and accompanied by accelerated cartilage damage in humans and mice that have genetic deficiency of lubricin. Here, we investigated the relationship between coefficient of friction and chondrocyte death using ex vivo and in vitro measurements of friction and apoptosis. We observed increases in whole-joint friction and cellular apoptosis in lubricin knockout mice compared with wild-type mice. When we used an in vitro bovine explant cartilage-on-cartilage bearing system, we observed a direct correlation between coefficient of friction and chondrocyte apoptosis in the superficial layers of cartilage. In the bovine explant system, the addition of lubricin as a test lubricant significantly lowered the static coefficient of friction and number of apoptotic chondrocytes. These results demonstrate a direct connection between lubricin, boundary lubrication, and cell survival and suggest that supplementation of synovial fluid with lubricin may be an effective treatment to prevent cartilage deterioration in patients with genetic or acquired deficiency of lubricin.
Variations in Long-Term Emissions Data From NSCR-Equipped Natural Gas-Fueled Engine

This paper describes work by Kansas State University’s National Gas Machinery Laboratory and Innovative Environmental Solutions, Inc. on a project to characterize pollutant emissions performance of non-selective catalytic reduction (NSCR) technology, including a catalyst and air-to-fuel ratio controller (AFRC), applied to four-stroke cycle rich-burn engines. Emissions and engine data were collected semi-continuously with a portable emissions analyzer on three engines in the Four Corners area. In addition, periodic emissions measurements that included ammonia were conducted several times. Data collected from October, 2007, through August, 2008, shows significant variation in emissions levels over hours, days, and longer periods of time, as well as seasonal variation. As a result of these variations, simultaneous control of NOx to below a few hundred parts per million (ppm) and CO to below 1,000 ppm volumetric concentration was not consistently achieved. Instead, the NSCR/AFRC systems were able to simultaneously control both species to these levels for only a fraction of the time the engines were monitored. Both semi-continuous emissions data and periodically collected emissions data support a NOx -CO trade-off and a NOx -ammonia tradeoff in NSCR-equipped engines.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Acute and chronic adaptations of muscle proprioceptors in response to increased use.

Acute adaptations to use have been shown to occur in both the muscle spindle and Golgi tendon organ pathways. This short term activation adaptation increases the excitability of the motoneuron pool, thereby potentially providing a nonvoluntary increase in the excitation of subsequent contractions. It is thought that the intrafusal muscle fibres reset to a higher gain after contraction and that the tendon organ pathway undergoes a brief desensitisation. These phenomena could be important clinically when trying to stretch muscles, i.e. a contraction before a stretch should make the stretch more difficult. Also, this could affect the amount of muscle force generated, thereby altering motor behaviours requiring fine accuracy. Research on the adaptations of proprioceptors during free movement, using locomotion as a model, has found that the hypothesis of consistent alpha-gamma coactivation during motor behaviours is much more complicated and adaptable, depending on the environmental circumstance and the specific motor task. These research findings support the use of selective training, i.e. training to the task, for optimal motor learning. The results of the relatively limited research on chronic adaptations of proprioceptors due to exercise has shown that on a microlevel, the intrafusal muscle fibres may show some metabolic changes but do not show any hypertrophy. However, on a more macro level, with extended training, the latency of the stretch reflex response is found to be decreased and the amplitude is found to be increased in both animals and humans. Through classical conditioning research, proprioceptors may also be necessary for motor learning. Lastly, both primates and humans have been shown to be able to up- or down-grade their stretch reflex responses using operant conditioning techniques and many practice sessions. These findings have important implications both for rehabilitation of persons with abnormal reflex activity and in the training of athletes. This review provides some consolidation of the recent research findings, but much more research needs to be done in order to fully understand the purpose and importance of the proprioceptive sensory system.
High-level expression of 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene Pt4CL1 of Populus tomentosa in E. coli

In order to investigate the enzymatic properties of the 4CL1 of Populus tomentosa, the recombinant expression vector pQE31-4CL1 was constructed. The recombinant was identified by three restriction endonucleases, then the vector pQE31-4CL1 was transformed into expression host M15 (pREP4) and induced by isopropyl-α-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) to express 60 kD fused protein Pt4CL1. The biologically active Pt4CL1, expressed as soluble protein, was achieved with 0.6 mmol·L−1 IPTG induction as the expression temperature declined from 37 to 28°C. The 6×His tag facilitates affinity binding to Ni2+-nitrolotriacetic acid (NTA) and enables one-step purification to acquire the molecular SDS-PAGE electrophoresis purity of the active 4CL1 protein by agarose coupled with Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography. The optimal substrate for Pt4CL1 was 4-coumarate.
Effect of hepatic nerve crush and hepatic arterial ligation on renal function. A negative experimental study

Abstract Neither one hour of crushing the hepatic nerves nor a combination of ligation of the hepatic arteries and crushing of the hepatic nerves appreciably altered the renal function (RPF or GFR) of experimental dogs. When such experimental animals received daily penicillin, there was no subsequent mortality from crushing the hepatic nerves, ligation of the hepatic arteries, or a combination of the two procedures. Only a transient arterial hypotension accompanied crushing the nerves in the porta hepatis with the abdomen opened. When this was done by a choker following closure of the laparotomy wound, there was no effect upon the blood pressure. No evidence was found in these studies for a specific effect on renal function of hepatic nerve crush or ligation of the hepatic arteries.
Manipulation of the Th1/Th2 balance in autoimmune disease

Many autoimmune diseases are caused by autopathogenic Th1 cells. Because in vitro Th1 and Th2 cells cross-regulate each other, it is likely that the induction of self-antigen-specific Th2 cells can prevent autoimmune disease. In the past year, investigators have further defined the role of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the induction and regulation of autoimmunity. Furthermore, the role of MHC-antigen-T-cell avidity (strength of signal) in inducing such protective immune responses has been elucidated.
Proteins under pressure

Today, 3D models of proteins are often constructed entirely by a computer. Building old-fashioned wire models may have been time-consuming, but it was not drudgery. To the contrary, it was a labor of love. One could not fail to marvel at the way in which the successive amino acids fitted together, with all the interactions making physical sense. However, the packing was not perfect. Here and there, small unfilled spaces remained, and as shown by Roche et al. (1) in PNAS, these cavities come at a price, particularly with regard to pressure denaturation.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Astrocytes, Oligodendrocytes, and Microglia/Macrophages after Spinal Cord Injury

Recent studies suggest that the injured adult spinal cord responds to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT3) with enhanced neuron survival and axon regeneration. Potential neurotrophin sources and cellular localization in spinal cord are largely undefined. We examined glial BDNF localization in normal cord and its temporospatial distribution after injury in vivo. We used dual immunolabeling for BDNF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astrocytes, adenomatous polyposis coli tumor suppressor protein (APC) for oligodendrocytes or type III CDH receptor (OX42) for microglia/macrophages. In normal cord, small subsets of astrocytes and microglia/macrophages and most oligodendrocytes exhibited BDNF-immunoreactivity. Following injury, the number of BDNF-immunopositive astrocytes and microglia/macrophages increased dramatically at the injury site over time. Most oligodendrocytes contained BDNF 1 day and 1 week following injury, but APC-positive cells were largely absent at the injury site 6 weeks postinjury. Glial BDNF-immunolabeling was also examined 10 and 20 mm from the wound. Ten millimeters from the lesion, astrocyte and microglia/macrophage BDNF-immunolabeling resembled that at the injury at all times examined. Twenty millimeters from injury, BDNF localization in all three glial subtypes resembled controls, regardless of time postlesion. Our findings suggest that in normal adult cord, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia/macrophages play roles in local trophin availability and in trophin-mediated injury and healing responses directly within and surrounding the wound site.
Dynamics of Health Manpower Planning

What is health manpower planning? Very simply, it is the process of trying to make sure that we shall have enough health workers to meet, but not exceed, the future, effective economic demandt for their services. Why is an understanding of this process important? The Minister of Health of Pakistan must know: 'Will we have enough doctors and nurses in I980 to care for our exploding population?' Japanese health planners must be able to estimate the impact of an ageing population on doctor demand. Medical school deans in Turkey must understand the dynamics of manpower supply and demand to avoid overor underproduction of doctors. The Director General of Health Services of India must have a knowledgeable answer when the politicians ask him: 'How soon can you provide one doctor for every 2,000 people, and how much will it cost?' In every nation directors of health programmes ranging from prenatal care to geriatrics are faced with the questions: What will be the future demand for our programmes? What human resources do we need to meet these demands? Virtually everyone in a position of responsibility in the health field needs a clear concept of the problems and dynamics of health planning. Planning is of particular importance in developing nations where skilled manpower resources are often in desperately short supply-there is less margin for error there! For example, the failure to plan well has resulted in Philippine medical schools training more doctors than the country can support at present wage scales. The resultant doctor migration to the United States means, in effect, that the scarce resources of the Philippines are being expended to provide doctors for another country. India, having trained only half as many nurses as doctors, is unable to free highly-trained, relatively highly paid, doctors from tasks done better and more cheaply by nurses. Not only is health manpower planning important, it is urgent, due to the long lag time in training health professionals. Hospitals can be built in months, but it takes a decade to train a doctor. The importance of health manpower planning should be self-evident-but, throughout the world, decaying water systems, unmanned health centres and empty hospitals stand as monuments to dismally inadequate manpower planning.
Steady solutions of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation for small wave speed

Abstract We investigate the existence of steady solutions of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation. We show that there exists at least one odd periodic solution for small wave speed c > 0. Further, we prove that for any c > 0 there exists no monotone bounded travelling wave solution.
In vivo confocal microscopy of the normal equine cornea and limbus.

Objective To describe morphologic features, pachymetry and endothelial cell density of the normal equine cornea and limbus by in vivo confocal microscopy. Animals studied Ten horses without ocular disease. Procedure The central and peripheral corneas were examined with a modified Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II and Rostock Cornea Module using a combination of automated and manual image acquisition modes. Thickness measurements of various corneal layers were performed and endothelial cell density determined. Results Images of the constituent cellular and noncellular elements of the corneal epithelium, stroma, endothelium, and limbus were acquired in all horses. Corneal stromal nerves, the subepithelial nerve plexus, and the sub-basal nerve plexus were visualized. Cells with an appearance characteristic of Langerhans cells and corneal stromal dendritic cells were consistently detected in the corneal basal epithelium and anterior stroma, respectively. Median central total corneal thickness was 835 μm (range 725–920 μm) and median central corneal epithelial thickness was 131 μm (range 115–141 μm). Median central endothelial cell density was 3002 cells per mm2 (range 2473–3581 cells per mm2). Conclusions In vivo corneal confocal microscopy provides a noninvasive method of assessing normal equine corneal structure at the cellular level and is a precise technique for corneal sublayer pachymetry and cell density measurements. A resident population of presumed Langerhans cells and corneal stromal dendritic cells was detected in the normal equine cornea. The described techniques can be applied to diagnostic evaluation of corneal alternations associated with disease and have broad clinical and research applications in the horse.
Pulse shape discrimination: An investigation of n-γ discrimination with respect to size of liquid scintillator

Abstract Neutron and gamma ray discrimination for liquid organic scintillators of 4″ to 8″ in dia. has been studied with a “true zero crossover” type pulse shape discriminator. The effectiveness of various configurations of scintillators, light pipers and 5″ dia. photomultipliers in n-γ discrimination for meutrons of 100 keV to 3 MeV has been investigated and data are presented. The poor performance of psd systems with 8″ dia. scintillators has been examined with reference to self absorption effects, increased optical path lengths and transit time spreads and photocathode sensitivity of photomultipliers. Variations in the transit time and sensitivity across a 5 t ld photomultiplier were studied with a light emitting diode. A technique for optimizing the performance of photomultipliers to obtain more efficient pulse shape discrimination is discussed and results are presented after such optimization.
Pulsed Neutron Diffraction in Special Sample Environments

Neutron diffraction is a powerful tool for structural studies of samples in special sample environments because of the high penetrating power of neutrons compared to X-rays. The neutrons readily penetrate special sample containers, heat shields, pressure vessels, etc., making it unnecessary in most cases to compromise the effectiveness of the sample environment system by providing windows for the incident and scattered neutrons. Pulsed neutrons obtained from an accelerator-based pulsed neutron source offer the additional advantage that many diffraction experiments can be done at a single, fixed scattering angle by the time-of-flight technique. Thus, if windows are needed (e.g., in an especially thick-walled sample vessel such as a pressure cell), they need to cover only a limited angular range. More importantly, in the fixed-angle scattering geometry, shielding and collimation can be optimized in order to access the largest possible sample volume with neutrons while completely avoiding scattering from the surrounding sample vessel. Thus, the data are free from unwanted background scattering which could hamper data interpretation. In this paper, the basic principles of neutron diffraction in special sample environments are discussed and examples of apparatus used for neutron diffraction measurements at low temperature, high temperature, and high pressure are presented. The concepts are illustrated with several unique scientific results taken from the published literature.
A trusted process to digitally sign a document

This paper describes a method of increasing the trust in open computing platforms, such that a person can have confidence in producing a digital signature using open platforms.The process of using a digital signature to sign a digital document is well understood. Most descriptions assume the correctness of the process of signing a document within a computing platform. In an increasing connected world, this assumption is no longer true when open computing platforms are used. This paper proposes the signing of a document in a general-purpose computing platform using a trusted process. That trusted process creates a signature over a digital image that represents the document and uses a trusted display controller in the platform plus a smart card owned by the prospective signer. The trusted display controller is part of the video processing path, and can display video data on a monitor without interference or subversion by any software components at the platform. The smart card is able to authenticate the trusted display controller, and demonstrate to the signer the results of that authentication using the trusted display controller.The most unusual aspects of the method are: (1) a thumbnail image is stored in the smart card, and used as a surround or background for an image (on a display) that is to be signed; (2) the smart card signs image data on the authority of the trusted display controller, without direct authorisation from the signer.
A class based language model for speech recognition

Class based language models are often used when there is insufficient data to generate a word based language model directly from the training data. In this approach, similar items are clustered into classes, an n-gram language model for the class tokens is generated, and then the probabilities for words in a class are distributed according to the smoothed relative unigram frequencies of the words. Classes expand to lists of single word tokens, that is, a class cannot represent a sequence of lexical tokens. We propose a more general mechanism for defining a language model class. In it, classes are expanded to word sequences through finite-state networks. This allows expansion to word sequences without requiring compound words in the lexicon. Where finite-state models are too brittle to represent sentence-level strings, they can represent class-level strings (dates, names and titles for example). We compared the perplexity on the ARPA Dec93 ATIS Test set and found that the new model reduced the perplexity by approximately 17 percent (relative).
Epistasis Analysis of Four Genes from Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120 Suggests a Connection between PatA and PatS in Heterocyst Pattern Formation

The hetR, patA, hetN, and patS genes are part of a regulatory network that regulates the differentiation and patterning of heterocysts in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. In this report, the epistatic interactions of mutant alleles of these four genes have been used to refine our understanding of their relationships to one another. The hetR gene was necessary for differentiation in genetic backgrounds that normally give rise to excessive differentiation, supporting its role as the master regulator of differentiation and indicating that HetR directly regulates factors in addition to hetR and patS genes that regulate differentiation. A functional patS gene was necessary for the delayed multiple-contiguous-heterocyst phenotype observed in hetN mutants as well as for the relative lack of intercalary heterocysts in patA mutants. Epistasis results with mutant alleles of these three genes suggested that PatA attenuates the negative effects of both PatS and HetN on differentiation and promotes differentiation independent of its antagonistic effects on PatS and HetN activity. Cooverxpression of patS and hetR in a synthetic operon indicated that patS acts at a point downstream of hetR transcription in the regulatory network controlling differentiation. A model for the regulation of differentiation that is consistent with these and previous findings is presented.
THEORY OF BEHAVIORAL POWER FUNCTIONS

Data in operant conditioning and psychophysics are often well fitted by functions of the form y — qx'. A simple theory derives these power functions from the simultaneous equations dx/x = aif(z)dz and dy/y = a j ( z ) d z , where z is a comparison variable that is equated for the effects of x and y, and Oj and a2 are sensitivity parameters. In operant conditioning, * and y are identified with response rates; in psychophysics, with measures of stimulus and response. The theory can explain converging sets of power functions, solves the dimensional problems with the standard power function, and can account for the relation between Type I and Type II psychophysical scales.
Stability of Discrete Stokes Operators in Fractional Sobolev Spaces

Using a general approximation setting having the generic properties of finite-elements, we prove uniform boundedness and stability estimates on the discrete Stokes operator in Sobolev spaces with fractional exponents. As an application, we construct approximations for the time-dependent Stokes equations with a source term in L p (0, T; L q (Ω)) and prove uniform estimates on the time derivative and discrete Laplacian of the discrete velocity that are similar to those in Sohr and von Wahl [20].
Developments in active integrated antennas

Active integrated antennas (AIAs) represent a new class of microwave and millimeter wave front-end circuitry, offering several attractive features such as compact circuit implementation, light weight, better efficiency, and multi-functionality. This is because the radiating antenna is used as a functional part of the microwave circuit. The paper presents several developments in the research area of active integrated antennas for microwave and millimeter wave front end applications.
The use of concomitant elements to evaluate an Ar–N2 mixed-gas plasma by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry☆

The performance of an Ar–N2 mixed-gas plasma was compared to an Ar plasma using electrothermal vaporization as a sample introduction source to an inductively coupled plasma orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The effect of sample matrices NaNO3 and Pd(NO3)2 on a multi-element solution was investigated in mass amounts ranging from 0.1 to 5 μg of the metal matrix (e.g., Na and Pd). Addition of 2% N2 to the outer plasma gas of an Ar plasma reduced signal suppressions observed in the presence of high concentrations of Na and Pd at the expense of a large reduction in analyte sensitivity (ca. 83%). Signal profiles indicate that suppression may be caused, in part, by space charge effects that are dependent on the ion density of analyte and matrix ions. By reducing the magnitude of the signal from the N2-free plasma by repositioning the torch away from the sampling cone, comparable immunity to excess matrix was observed when compared to a plasma with N2 included in the outer plasma gas.
Group delay dispersion performance requirement for optical cross connects and add-drop multiplexers in ultralong-haul DWDM transport systems

The system penalty of undesirable chromatic group delay dispersion in wavelength-selective optical cross connects (OXCs) and add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) is the critical design constraint for 10- and 40-Gb/s transparent ultralong-haul dense wavelength-division-multiplexing network systems. Although narrow-featured dispersion within the passband of OXCs and OADMs causes a relatively small penalty, its system penalty is often overestimated when a wavelength-independent uniform dispersion model is applied. Considering a model that represents an arbitrary dispersion function, we assess generalized requirements for the narrow-featured dispersion impairment, and propose the sliding-window group delay ripple as the measure of system penalty estimation.