cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Business organization and the myth of the market economy: Organizations and markets in capitalist development

Organizations and markets The historical experience of capitalist development demonstrates the growing importance of organizational coordination relative to market coordination in the value-creation process. To be sure, market exchange remains a distinctive feature of advanced capitalist economies. But to construct a historically relevant theory of the capitalist economy requires an analysis of the evolution of the relation between organizations and markets in particular historical contexts and identification of the impacts of the organization–market relation on national value-creating capabilities. Given the underdeveloped state of current debate on the microeconomic institutions that promote economic growth, the analysis must begin with basics. What is it that distinguishes a market from an organization? The defining social characteristic of a market is the impersonal relation between buyer and seller. Both sides pursue their self-interests independently of one another, both in specifying their goals and in engaging in activities to achieve those goals. The impersonality of the market is manifested by the willingness of sellers of goods and services to enter into exchange with the highest bidders. As long as a buyer has the purchasing power to pay the highest price, his or her identity is of no concern to the seller. A seller's identity is of concern to the buyer only insofar as the personal (or “firm-specific”) capabilities of the seller in some way enter into the use-value of the good or service to be bought. Even then, in a market process, buyers have no ongoing commitments to purchase from particular sellers.
Bed rest in acute myocardial infarction: A study of physician practices

Abstract Physician practices in prescribing bed rest for hospitalized patients with an acute myocardial infarction were studied. The mean duration of bed rest for the patients of each of eleven physicians varied widely and significantly from 7.4 to 15.2 days. No differences in patient population or in the ages or types of practices of the physicians were found to account for this. Each physician appeared to have a relatively fixed program of bed rest for his patients. In view of well-established experiences advocating early mobilization in patients with an acute myocardial infarction, it was apparent that some physicians are still traditionally bound to prescribing prolonged bed rest. The medical as well as the socioeconomic implications of this are discussed.
Cardiac hypertrophy of unknown cause

Abstract A case of sudden death in an apparently healthy, 11-year-old schoolboy is presented. Marked cardiac hypertrophy was found at autopsy. The cause of the hypertrophy was not discovered.
Superconductivity in amorphous ZrNisimple-metal ternary alloys

Abstract Values of the superconducting transition temperature T c for amorphous (Zr 0.64 Ni 0.36 ) 1− x M x and amorphous (Zr 0.5 Ni 0.5 ) 1− x M x melt-quenched alloys are reported. For the Zr-rich alloys M=Al, Ga while for the 50-50 alloy M=Al. Addition of the simple metal component rapidly depresses the transition temperature of these glassy metals.
Stationary deterministic policies for constrained MDPs with multiple rewards, costs, and discount factors

We consider the problem of policy optimization for a resource-limited agent with multiple time-dependent objectives, represented as an MDP with multiple discount factors in the objective function and constraints. We show that limiting search to stationary deterministic policies, coupled with a novel problem reduction to mixed integer programming, yields an algorithm for finding such policies that is computationally feasible, where no such algorithm has heretofore been identified. In the simpler case where the constrained MDP has a single discount factor, our technique provides a new way for finding an optimal deterministic policy, where previous methods could only find randomized policies. We analyze the properties of our approach and describe implementation results.
Hemodynamic parameters to guide fluid therapy

The clinical determination of the intravascular volume can be extremely difficult in critically ill and injured patients as well as those undergoing major surgery. This is problematic because fluid loading is considered the first step in the resuscitation of hemodynamically unstable patients. Yet, multiple studies have demonstrated that only approximately 50% of hemodynamically unstable patients in the intensive care unit and operating room respond to a fluid challenge. Whereas under-resuscitation results in inadequate organ perfusion, accumulating data suggest that over-resuscitation increases the morbidity and mortality of critically ill patients. Cardiac filling pressures, including the central venous pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, have been traditionally used to guide fluid management. However, studies performed during the past 30 years have demonstrated that cardiac filling pressures are unable to predict fluid responsiveness. During the past decade, a number of dynamic tests of volume responsiveness have been reported. These tests dynamically monitor the change in stroke volume after a maneuver that increases or decreases venous return (preload) and challenges the patients’ Frank-Starling curve. These dynamic tests use the change in stroke volume during mechanical ventilation or after a passive leg raising maneuver to assess fluid responsiveness. The stroke volume is measured continuously and in real-time by minimally invasive or noninvasive technologies, including Doppler methods, pulse contour analysis, and bioreactance.
P163Stromal derived factor 1-a protects human heart tissue from simulated ischaemia-reperfusion injury

Purpose: Whether, stromal cell-derived factor 1 αlpha (SDF-1α) can protect human heart tissue is not known, and is investigated here using isolated human atrial trabeculae exposed to simulated ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods: Atrial trabeculae were isolated from right atrial appendage tissue harvested from consented patients undergoing elective cardiac bypass surgery (REC 00/0275). They were suspended in organ baths and superfused with normoxic Tyrode's solution at 37.0°C with a field stimulation of 1 Hz. Atrial trabeculae were randomised to receive: (1) Control group (N=10): 60 minutes simulated ischaemia (SI, hypoxic solution+3 Hz field stimulation) followed by 60 minutes reperfusion. After 60 minutes reperfusion the recovery of baseline contractile function (expressed as a %) was determined; (2) SDF-1α group (N=10): Trabeculae were perfused with SDF-1α (25ng/ml) for 30 minutes prior to SI; (3) SDF-1α+AMD3100 group (N=7): Trabeculae were perfused with SDF-1α (25ng/ml) for 30 minutes prior to SI, with AMD3100 (10mcg/ml), a specific SDF-1α/CXCR4 receptor blocker, given 10 minutes prior to SDF-1α; (4) AMD 3100 group (N=4): Trabeculae were treated with AMD3100 given 40 minutes prior to SI. Results: (see figure 1). Pre-treatment of human atrial trabeculae with SDF-1α prior to simulated IRI improved the % recovery of baseline contractile function when compared to control (52±2% with SDF-1α versus 28±2% in control; p 0.05). Conclusion: In this study we demonstrate the cardioprotective effect of SDF-1α in human heart tissue. ![Figure][1] Figure 1 [1]: pending:yes
A 3.3 V 16 Mbit DRAM-compatible flash memory

A new 16 Mb (1 Mbit/spl times/16) flash memory on a 0.6 /spl mu/m CMOS process has been designed, that combines the high-speed code execution capabilities of DRAM with nonvolatile, high-density, updatable code storage of flash memory, thus replacing the traditional redundant memory paradigm with one cost-effective solution. This solution eliminates the need to shadow code from nonvolatile memory to DRAM, thus enabling design of direct-execute code and mass storage memory systems, while the fully DRAM-compatible interface allows glueless design with existing DRAM controllers.
On the Allman triangle and a related quadrilateral element

Abstract Allman has introduced a plane triangular element whose nodal d.o.f. are two displacements and one rotation at each corner. In this note, the Allman element is regarded as the result of applying a coordinate transformation to an element that has midside nodes. Thus, the technique is easily applied to elements other than triangles. Results for the analogous quadrilateral are presented.
bcl-2 protein expression in astrocytomas in relation to patient survival and p53 gene status.

bcl-2 protein expression was characterized in a series of 58 astrocytomas from 21 pediatric and 37 adult patients. As part of a continuing attempt to define relevant prognostic factors which may predict clinical outcome, we have determined the impact of bcl-2 accumulation in malignant astrocytes on the length of patient survival. Aberrant overexpression of bcl-2 protein in tumor cells was detected in 57% (12 of 21) of pediatric and 73% (27 of 37) of the adult cases. Among pediatric patients, the median survival in months showed no relationship with the incidence of bcl-2-positive tumors. Among the adult patients, a favorable prognostic indicator was low-tumor grade (P = 0.05). bcl-2-positive tumors occurred with similar frequencies in WHO grades III and IV of malignancy. When bcl-2 expression in tumor cells was tested as a variable to predict for patient survival, the 6 patients without bcl-2 expression among 23 adult patients with grade IV tumors had a shorter median survival. The same 58 tumors had been previously analyzed for alterations of p53: 4 pediatric and 16 adult tumors had p53 gene mutations. There was no significant difference in median survival related to p53 gene status. There was no relationship between bcl-2 expression and p53 gene status: approximately equal numbers of tumors with either wild-type or mutant p53 were bcl-2 negative or bcl-2 positive. bcl-2 expression is high (40–100%) among other tumors of the central nervous system which also show low malignant potential. Up-regulation of bcl-2 in malignant astrocytes or constitutive expression in some tumor types may be a factor leading to a more favorable clinical outcome.
Isolation of an Arabidopsis cDNA sequence encoding a 22 kDa calcium-binding protein (CaBP-22) related to calmodulin.

Complementary DNA sequences were isolated from a library of cloned Arabidopsis leaf mRNA sequences in λgt10 that encoded a 21.7 kDa polypeptide (CaBP-22), which shared 66% amino acid sequence identity with Arabidopsis calmodulin. The putative Ca2+-binding domains of CaBP-22 and calmodulin, however, were more conserved and shared 79% sequence identity. Ca2+ binding by CaBP-22, which was inferred from its amino acid sequence similarity with calmodulin, was demonstrated indirectly by Ca2+-induced mobility shifting of in vitro translated CaBP-22 during SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. CaBP-22 is encoded by a ca. 0.9 kb mRNA that was detected by northern blotting of leaf poly(A)+ RNA; this mRNA was slightly larger than the 809 bp CaBP-22 cDNA insert, indicating that the deduced amino acid sequence of CaBP-22 is near full-length. CaBP-22 mRNA was detected in RNA fractions isolated from leaves of both soil-grown and hydroponically grown Arabidopsis, but below the limits of detection in RNA isolated from roots, and developing siliques. Thus, CaBP-22 represents a new member of the EF-hand family of Ca2+-binding proteins with no known animal homologue and may participate in transducing Ca2+ signals to a specific subset of response elements.
Self-Schema or Self-Discrepancy? Which Best Explains Body Image?

We investigated the discrepancy between women's actual and ideal appearance and its relationship to body image, mood, and self-esteem. In a two-part experimental design, 88 college women completed ...
Efficient parallel solutions to some geometric problems

Abstract This paper presents new algorithms for solving some geometric problems on a shared memory parallel computer, where concurrent reads are allowed but no two processors can simultaneously attempt to write in the same memory location. The algorithms are quite different from known sequential algorithms, and are based on the use of a new parallel divide-and-conquer technique. One of our results is an O (log n ) time, O ( n ) processor algorithm for the convex hull problem. Another result is an O (log n log log n ) time, O ( n ) processor algorithm for the problem of selecting a closest pair of points among n input points.
Characterization of Chinese ink in size and surface

Abstract Chinese ink, a mixture of soot and animal glue, has been used in East Asia for centuries as the sole black paint of choice. The combination of animal glue and soot particles create a distinctive dispersion system giving Chinese ink its unique properties among paints and inks. Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) size measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed subtle differences in particle size and aggregation among inks of different soot origin. Surface chemistry of the particles was examined using laser Doppler electrophoresis (LDE) for determination of the isoelectric point (IEP). The IEPs of different inks were not distinct, but reflected the presence of the collagen-based glue on the particles’ surface. The IEP and size dropped significantly when inks were treated with collagenase and when soot and carbon blacks alone were measured, pointing to the important role of animal glue in this dispersion system.
Sak 57, an intermediate filament keratin present in intercellular bridges of rat primary spermatocytes

We have previously reported the purification of Sak 57 (for spermatogenic cell/sperm-associated keratin of molecular mass 57 kDa) from outer dense fibers of rat sperm tails. Internal protein sequence analysis of Sak 57 revealed 70–100% homology to the 1A and 2A regions of the α-helical rod domain of human, mouse, and rat keratins. A multiple antigen peptide was synthesized using the KQYEDIAQK sequence corresponding to the 2A region and a polyclonal antibody was produced in rabbit to detect Sak 57. During spermiogenesis, Sak 57 associates with the microtubular manchette before becoming a component of para-axonemal keratin structures of the developing tail. We now report that during late meiotic prophase, intercellular bridges linking late pachytene-diplotene spermatocytes display a distinct ribbon containing a Sak 57/β-tubulin complex, separated by a nonimmunoreactive midzone. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrates that the ribbon is the final stage of a three-step developmental sequence: (1) a spindlelike arrangement radiating from equidistant spherical centers in early pachytene spermatocytes, (2) an ectoplasmic shell like framework in mid-to-late pachytene spermatocytes, and (3) a Sak 57/β-tubulin-containing ribbon found in intercellular bridges linking adjacent late pachytene-diplotene spermatocytes. Shear forces causing a breakdown of one of the conjoined spermatocytes do not disrupt the cytoskeletal ribbon. Results of this work, together with previous observations during spermiogenesis, show that Sak 57 associates with cytoplasmic microtubules in a timely fashion. Upon completion of late meiotic prophase, the Sak 57/microtubule complex behaves as an intercellular ligament and contributes to both the strength of intercellular bridges and the cohesiveness of members of a spermatocyte lineage. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Law Of Refugee Status

1. Alienage 2. Well-founded fear 3. Serious harm 4. Failure of state protection 5. Nexus to civil or political status 6. Persons no longer needing protection 7. Persons not deserving protection.
Evidence for enhanced salinity tolerance of a suspected fungal pathogen of Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus Latrobe

. Two saprolegniaceous fungi, one recovered from Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus Latrobe, and the other from fresh water, were compared for their abilities to withstand salinity stress. Results of stress protein analyses indicated that vegetative mycelium of the isolate from menhaden was better adapted to mesohaline salinities than the freshwater isolate. Experiments testing the propagative ability of both fungi during salt exposure further suggested that the fungus recovered from menhaden was more salt tolerant and possibly survives in estuaries because of nutrients present in susceptible fish. Implications of the findings relative to the pathogenic potential of fish pathogenic saprolegniaceous fungi in estuarinc water columns are discussed.
Structure-aware high-dimensional performance modeling for analog and mixed-signal circuits

Efficient high-dimensional performance modeling of nanoscale analog and mixed signal (AMS) circuits is extremely challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel structure-aware modeling (SAM) technique. The key idea of SAM is to accurately solve the model coefficients by applying an efficient statistical algorithm to exploit the underlying structure of AMS circuits. As a result, SAM dramatically reduces the required number of sampling points and, hence, the computational cost for performance modeling. Several circuit examples designed in a commercial 32nm CMOS process demonstrate that SAM achieves more than 2× runtime speedup over the traditional sparse regression technique without surrendering any accuracy.
Determination of the limiting stress-strain state of helically corrugated pipes

An approximate procedure for calculating the limiting stress-strain state (SSS) of helically corrugated pipes that operate under an axial force is developed. The calculation reduces to determination of the elastoplastic SSS of a shell of revolution with a circular corrugation, which is under axial and torsional loads. The problem is solved using the geometrically nonlinear theory of shells in a quadratic approximation based on Kirchhoff-Love hypotheses, and relationships of the theory of deformation with respect to low-curvature trajectories. The SSS of a self-compensating helically corrugated pipe is investigated, the limiting axial load estimated, and good correspondence between the results obtained and experimental data indicated on the basis of the procedure that we developed.
Experimental Measurements of Surface Residual Stress Caused by Nano-scale Contact of Rough Surfaces

A previous dislocation model analysis predicts that nano-scale contacts of surface steps induce nucleation of dislocations leading to pro-load and anti-load dislocation segregation near the contact surface. Such dislocation segregation generates a sub-layer of tensile residual stress in a much thicker layer of compressive residual stress near the surface. The sub-layer thickness is expected to be about 50 to 100 times the step height. In order to verify the predictions of the model analysis, experiments are carried out on polycrystalline aluminum surface to determine the existence of the tensile sub-layer. The variation of the residual stress along the thickness direction is measured using a newly developed high sensitivity curvature-measurement interferometer. The interferometer measures the curvature change of the back surface of a plate specimen of about 1.9 mm thickness while the contact-loaded front surface is chemically etched. The residual stress distribution measured with sub-nanometer spatial resolution is compared with analytical predictions.
Are biotic factors significant in influencing the distribution of halophytes in saline habitats

The influence of biotic factors on the distribution and establishment of halophytes is being considered in this review. Physicochemical factors, such as salinity and flooding, often are considered to be the determining factors controlling the establishment and zonational patterns of species in salt marsh and salt desert environments. Sharp boundaries commonly are found between halophyte communities even though there is a gradual change in the physicochemical environment, which indicates that biotic interactions may play a significant role in deterining the distribution pattern of species and the composition of zonal communities. Competition is hypothesized to play a key role in determining both the upper and lower limits of species distribution along a salinity gradient. Field and laboratory experiments indicate that the upper limits of distribution of halophytes into less saline or nonsaline habitats is often determined by competition. There appears to be a reciprocal relationship between the level of salt tolerance of species and their ability to compete with glycophytes in less saline habitats. Halophytes are not competitive in nonsaline habitats, but their competitive ability increases sharply in saline habitats. Allelopathic effects have been reported in salt desert habitats, but have not been reported along salinity gradients in salt marshes. Some species of halophytes that are salt accumulators have the ability to change soil chemistry. Chemical inhibition of intolerant species occurs when high concentrations of sodium are concentrated in the surface soils of salt desert plant communities that are dominated by salt-accumulating species. Establishment of less salt-tolerant species is inhibited in the vicinity of these salt-accumulating species. Herbivory is reported to cause both an increase and a decrease in plant diversity in salt marsh habitats. Heavy grazing is reported to eliminate sensitive species and produce a dense cover of graminoids in high marsh coastal habitats. However, in other marshes, grazing produced bare patches that allowed annuals and other low marsh species to invade upper marsh zonal communities. A retrogression in plant succession may occur in salt marshes and salt deserts because of heavy grazing. Intermediate levels of grazing by sheep, cattle, and horses could produce communities with the highest species richness and heterogeneity. Grazing by geese produced bare areas that had soils with higher salinity and lower soil moisture than vegetated areas, allowing only the more salt-tolerant species to persist. Removal of geese from areas by use of inclosures caused an increase in species richness in subarctic salt marshes. Invertebrate herbivores could also inhibit the survival of seeds and the ability of plants to establish in marshes. Parasites could play a significant role in determining the species composition of zonal communities, because uninfected rarer species are able to establish in the gaps produced by the death of parasitized species.
Vitreous carbon micro-lattice structures

Abstract A new approach is presented to fabricate open-cellular carbon materials with an ordered, lattice-type micro-scale architecture. The carbon micro-lattice materials were fabricated by pyrolyzing a polymer precursor template formed from an interconnected three-dimensional array of self-propagating photopolymer waveguides. Impregnating the polymer precursor template with acrylonitrile increased the carbon yield of the material from 19% to 46%. Structural analysis and density measurements of the solid carbon phase are consistent with vitreous carbon. Compression experiments yielded a compressive modulus (E) of 1.1 GPa and a failure strength (σf) of 10.2 MPa for a structure with relative density of 12.8%.
Engaging the Masses in Pervasive Computing: A Missed Opportunity?

Pervasive computing research is often couched in socially relevant applications, yet we've largely failed to leverage its potential to excite and engage the public. By focusing research efforts on engaging everyday users as an essential part of research, design, and evaluation processes, the pervasive computing community can interest the masses while also increasing the quality and impact of research.
State-imposed solutions to negative externalities: employment impact of pollution abatement policy

Musgrave was acutely aware that many private activities, both consumption and production, generate negative externalities. Advocates for an active government rely on this concept to justify public sector regulation of private activities. Regulations and mandates, along with penalties for non-compliance, are the primary instruments used by government to bring about the “correct” level of output whenever private output gives rise to negative externalities such as environmental pollution. This study in effect offers a case study of the Clean Air Act on employment, i.e., it empirically investigates whether pollution abatement costs have had a negative impact on manufacturing employment in the U.S. Conventional microeconomic theory suggests that there is a trade-off between environmental protection outlays and manufacturing activity, i.e., higher pollution abatement compliance costs borne by industries may contribute to plant shutdowns, lower production levels and lay-offs, and/or lack of investment, thereby leading to diminished manufacturing employment. Existing studies fail to offer a clear conclusion as to the impact of existing environmental protection measures on manufacturing activity. Using state-level data for 2001, this study finds that government-imposed pollution abatement costs have had a statistically significant negative impact on manufacturing employment in the U.S.
Viability of cryopreserved parathyroid tissue: when is continued storage versus disposal indicated?

Background Parathyroid cryopreservation is used for potential autografting in patients who are rendered hypocalcemic following surgery. Cryopreservation employs multiple resources and carries a significant cost for processing and storage of tissue. Importantly, the length of time that parathyroid tissue remains functional after cryopreservation is not known. The goal of our study was to assess ex-vivo viability of parathyroid tissue in relation to the length of time in storage. We sought to define the appropriate time frame for tissue utilization and disposal to assist with long-term surgical planning.
Limbic thalamic, cingulate cortical and hippocampal neuronal correlates of discriminative approach learning in rabbits

Previous research employing lesions and recording of neuronal activity has implicated cingulothalamic and hippocampal circuitry in the mediation of discriminative instrumental avoidance learning in rabbits. This study was directed at the question of whether the cingulothalamic circuitry is specialized for avoidance learning, or whether it is also involved in appetitively motivated learning. Multi-unit neuronal recordings in the aforementioned areas were obtained as adult New-Zealand white rabbits learned to approach and orally contact a drinking spout for water reward after a tone conditional stimulus (CS+), and to ignore the spout after a different, non-predictive tone conditional stimulus (CS-). As during avoidance learning, excitatory and discriminative training-induced neuronal activity (TIA) developed during the course of approach learning. Discriminative TIA refers to development of greater neuronal firing response to the CS+ than to the CS-. Excitatory TIA refers to increased neuronal discharge magnitude during training compared to the activity elicited before training, when CS presentations were unpaired with foot-shock presentations. As during avoidance learning, TIA in anterior cingulate cortical and interconnected mediodorsal (MD) thalamic neuronal records preceded TIA in posterior cingulate cortical and interconnected anterior ventral thalamic records. Delayed changes also occurred in area CA1 of the hippocampus in parallel with changes in the posterior cingulate cortex and the anterior thalamic nuclei. In contrast to the avoidance-related activity, the changes in the thalamic areas preceded or occurred concurrently with changes in the related cingulate cortical areas. This difference is hypothesized to be due to a reduced or absent contribution of amygdaloid efferents to the approach learning-related TIA. The overall magnitude of the elicited training-induced neuronal responses was reduced, relative to the discharges during avoidance conditioning. The discharge magnitude differences suggested a greater recruitment of limbic circuit functions during avoidance learning, possibly due to the aversiveness and high arousal associated with the avoidance task. In general, the results indicate that the circuitry formed by interconnected cingulate cortical, limbic thalamic and hippocampal neurons has fundamentally similar functions in both approach and avoidance learning.
Thermodynamic Properties of HFC-338mccq, CF3CF2CF2CH2F, 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4-Octafluorobutane†

We report the thermodynamic properties of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4-octafluorobutane, which has been designated as HFC-338mccq by the refrigeration industry. The measurements span the temperature and pressure ranges encountered in thermal machinery. The properties measured include the vapor pressure, the density of the compressed liquid, the refractive index of both the saturated liquid and the saturated vapor, the critical temperature, the capillary rise, and the speed of sound in the vapor phase. These data were used to determine the ideal gas heat capacity, the saturated liquid and vapor densities, the surface tension, the virial equation of state for the vapor phase, and estimates of the critical pressure and density. A Carnahan−Starling−DeSantis equation of state was deduced from the measured fluid properties.
Infant Head Growth and Cognitive Status at 36 Months in Children with In-Utero Drug Exposure

ABSTRACT Previous studies of children with in-utero drug exposure (IUDE) raise concerns that decreased head circumference (HC) at birth increases the child's risk for later compromised cognitive functioning. The purpose of this study was to determine if HC at birth and HC growth change are associated with cognitive functioning (IQ) at 36 months of age in children with IUDE. In-utero drug exposed infants (N = 204) identified following delivery at two urban hospitals were compared with a group of non-exposed children (N = 34) matched for maternal age, gestational age and socioeconomic status. The IUDE infants had significantly smaller HC at birth than the non-exposed infants, however, by age 36 months the HC was comparable between the two groups. At age 36 months, there was no difference detected in the IQ between the IUDE and non-exposed groups, yet both groups scored almost one standard deviation below the mean for IQ and both groups were below but approached the US standard HC mean at the same age. Furth...
Improved Technique for Analysis of Free Fatty Acids in Butteroil and Provolone Cheese

Abstract A method is described for isolating the free fatty acids (FFA) of butteroil and Provolone cheese, using the silicic acid-KOH column of McCarthy and Duthie. The FFA were eluted from the column with phosphoric acid in diethyl ether. After addition of methanol, the FFA and excess phosphoric acid were titrated with methanolic KOH. The potassium phosphate salts were sedimented and the supernatant evaporated to dryness under nitrogen. Experiments indicated no saponification of triglycerides and no esterification of FFA during the above manipulations. Butyl esters were prepared using sulfuric acid as a catalyst, and esters from butyrate through linolenate were estimated with gas-liquid chromatography, using heptanoic and heptadecanoic acids as internal standards. FFA were determined in three different samples of butteroil and in Provolone cheese. In butteroil the short-chain FFA were low and the long-chain FFA were high in concentration. In Provolone cheese the short-chain FFA were extremely high. Butyric acid was highest in concentration of all the FFA.
738–3 Long-term Survival with a Chronic Total Coronary Occlusion: A Comparison of Medical Therapy versus Angloplasty in Patients with Single Vessel Disease

While medical management of pts with single vessel chronic total occlusions has been associated with high rates of death, MI and need for revascularization at long-term follow-up, the role of PTCA in these pts is poorly defined. To develop a paradigm for the comparison of medical therapy versus PTCA in the management of chronic total occlusions, we retrospectively analyzed prospectively-collected data on 23,005 pts undergoing cardiac catherization between April 1986 and February 1994. Of the 6,430 pts with single-vessel disease, 748 had a total occlusion without an acute myocardial infarction within 30 days and no history of PTCA or CABG. A total of 611 pts were managed medically and 137 pts underwent PTCA. The 2 groups were similar with regard to most baseline characteristics, but the medically-treated group had higher rates of CHF (16 vs 9%) and prior MI (50 vs 31%), and the PTCA cohort had more unstable angina (36 vs 20%) and left anterior decending disease (63 vs 34%). While early mortality was similar, the 4-year mortality was statistically insignificantly higher in the medical cohort (12 vs 7%). Kaplan-Meier 4-year estimates: Events Medicine (%) PTCA(%) P-value – CABG 10 30 0.0001 – PTCA 8 33 0.0001 – MI 6 10 0.009 Conclusion The trend towards lower mortality in the presence of higher non-fatal events provides a rationale for opening chronic total occlusions that can be tested in larger prospective studies.
Derivatives of 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone as metal indicators in the titration of thorium with disodium edta

Summary 2-Quinizarinsulfonic acid (sodium salt) and 2-phenoxyquinizarin-3,4′-disulfonic acid (dipotassium salt) can be successfully used as metal indicators in the titration of thorium with disodium EDTA. The latter compound is recommended in preference to the former and Alizarin Red S as an indicator because it permits the titration to be made over a wider ph-range.
Inhibition of immune cell-mediated killing by heparin

Abstract Heparin retarded the cell-mediated lysis of mouse ascitic tumor cells or normal spleen cells by effector spleen cells from alloimmunized mice. The retardation was immediately reversible by removal of the heparin. Heparin reduced the rate of cell lysis without preventing the eventual complete destruction of the target cell population. The completion of killing was not due to loss of heparin activity or desensitization of the killer cells to heparin. At a given concentration of heparin, the amount of inhibition depended on the target cell type employed, but was relatively independent of the speed with which lysis progressed. Retardation was independent of divalent cation concentration and serum concentration, and was not affected by depletion of red blood cells or adherent cells. Heparin did not inhibit incorporation of tritiated thymidine in mixed lymphocyte cultures, and hence was not non-specifically toxic for lymphocytes. The dose responses of killing to three other highly sulfated polymers were similar to that for heparin. This indicates that the inhibition is due to the high charge density and polyanionic character of heparin, and not to an impurity. The anticoagulant activity of these polyanions was not correlated with their inhibitory activity for cell-mediated killing. When heparin is added to cultures after about 10% specific release of chromium has occurred, it has virtually no effect on subsequent killing. This is not due to desensitization of the killer cells to heparin as a result of the previous killing experience. Hence, there is an early heparin-sensitive killer-target interaction which, once it has occurred, cannot be reversed by heparin. This sensitive interaction seems likely to be the formation of a close contact between the killer and target cells.
Temporal gradient of recovery of a conditioned emotional response following a single electroconvulsive shock

Rats which had been previously trained to drink in a test cage were given a footshock on 2 successive days in that cage to establish a CER. On the 3rd day, an ECS was given, and the amount drunk in the test cage was used as a measure of suppression of the CER. In tests administered 20 min, 45 min, 90 min, 4h, and 24 h after the ECS, the amount drunk was found to be a decreasing function of the ECS/test-time interval A final retest 24 h after the ECS indicated that all Ss had recovered the CER. The implications of these results are discussed for studies involving ECS-produced retrograde amnesia.
Isolating resolution enhancement on moving objects in a video sequence

Resolution enhancement in video sequences can involve a variety of enhancement techniques including deinterlacing, de-blurring, motion compensation, super-resolution and more. Depending on the video artifacts, techniques are chosen and applied to each frame in the video. The selected technique(s) is/are then applied to each complete video frame. This paper suggests using resolution improvement techniques, not on the complete frame, but only on specific moving vehicles within the frame. Using improved resolution only on the vehicles being tracked offers the possibility for improved local vehicle identification and enhancement to the near real-time vehicle tracking approaches. Additionally, the approach can save the computational cost associated with complete image frame enhancement. The paper develops a spatial-temporal deinterlaced resolution-ratio enhanced approach to a vehicle being tracked. For deinterlacing, this paper uses a variant of a recent new spatial-temporal technique which uses directional interpolation and motion compensation. The technique uses intra-field spatial and inter-field temporal interpolation. The suggested algorithm is demonstrated on a few video sequences and shows promise for near real-time application. The final processing result integrates targets through feature tracking creating the psychophysical "popout" effect with a higher target-to-background resolution ratio.
A transistorized compandor

The application of multiple-channel communication circuits as provided by carrier and microwave radio systems has been steadily increasing in recent years in the attempt to satisfy the widespread consumer demands, public, private, and military included, for more and better telecommunication facilities. The use of these systems has solved many problems of expansion; however, in turn, the systems have introduced their own problems, in particular the increased susceptibility to interference, crosstalk, and noise as compared to physical voice frequency circuits.
Structure and Kinetic Analysis of H2S Production by Human Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase.

Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) is a source of endogenous H2S, a gaseous signaling molecule implicated in a wide range of physiological processes. The contribution of MST versus the other two H2S generators, cystathionine β-synthase and γ-cystathionase, has been difficult to evaluate because many studies on MST have been conducted at high pH and have used varied reaction conditions. In this study, we have expressed, purified, and crystallized human MST in the presence of the substrate 3-mercaptopyruvate (3-MP). The kinetics of H2S production by MST from 3-MP was studied at pH 7.4 in the presence of various physiological persulfide acceptors: cysteine, dihydrolipoic acid, glutathione, homocysteine, and thioredoxin, and in the presence of cyanide. The crystal structure of MST reveals a mixture of the product complex containing pyruvate and an active site cysteine persulfide (Cys248-SSH) and a nonproductive intermediate in which 3-MP is covalently linked via a disulfide bond to an active site cysteine. The crystal structure analysis allows us to propose a detailed mechanism for MST in which an Asp-His-Ser catalytic triad is positioned to activate the nucleophilic cysteine residue and participate in general acid-base chemistry, whereas our kinetic analysis indicates that thioredoxin is likely to be the major physiological persulfide acceptor for MST. Background: Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) generates H2S, a signaling molecule. Results: The detailed kinetics and crystal structure of human MST with bound substrate are reported. Conclusion: Thioredoxin is the preferred persulfide acceptor from MST. Significance: The structure provides molecular insights into activation and stabilization of MST reaction intermediates.
Pre-service teachers’ use of tools to systematically analyze teaching and learning

Learning to systematically analyze the relationship between teaching and student learning is an important but difficult skill to engender in teachers. In this study, we examine how pre-service teachers who were introduced to a framework for analyzing teaching in a video-based teacher education course drew on this tool to analyze their own practice after the conclusion of the course. We conceptualize the framework as a conceptual tool that scaffolds pre-service teachers to learn to attend to particular dimensions of teaching and learning and to analyze how their teaching influences student learning. Using the Portfolio Assessment for California Teachers-Teaching Event of 14 English language arts pre-service teachers, we conducted a qualitative analysis to examine the extent to which they applied this framework to analyze their own practice after the conclusion of the course, as well as different strategies they adopted as they analyzed their teaching practice. Findings suggest that pre-service teachers mad...
Determining the coefficients of air consumption from volumetric analysis of flue gases during the breakdown of material being calcined

A formula is proposed for determining the quantity of carbon dioxide evolved from material being burnt (dolomite, magnesite, or limestone) per 1 kg or 1 Nm3 for fuel, and also a formula for determining the coefficient of air consumption during the combustion of any fuel in the presence or absence, within the combustion products, of gases from the material being broken down (CO2).
Total cross sections for the production of 22Na and 24Na in proton-induced reactions on 27Al from 0.40 to 22.4 GeV

Total cross sections for production of 22 Na and 24 Na from the irradiation of 27 Al by protons with incident energies between 0.40 and 22.4 GeV have been measured. The overall uncertainties for these measurements were less than 3%. The measured values compare well with previous measurements and evaluations. � 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Brain malformations in prenatal mice following acute maternal ethanol administration.

Abstract Acute maternal ethanol administration (two i.p. injections of 2.9 g ethanol/kg maternal body wt) to C57B1/6J mice during gastrulation stages of embryogenesis (gestational day 7) induces a spectrum of brain and facial malformations characteristic of those seen in the human Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Scanning electron microscopic and light microscopic analyses of the brains of embryos of gestational days 11–14 demonstrate ventro-medial forebrain deficiencies of varying degrees of severity in affected specimens. Even at the mild end of the spectrum, reductions in the size of the septal nuclei and the shape of the third ventricle are observed. As the severity of the effect increases, the septal nuclei disappear altogether, resulting in midline fusion of the corpora striata (basal ganglia). In such cases, the third ventricle is totally absent anteriorly (preoptic area) and significantly narrowed at more posterior levels, adjacent to the ventromedial nuclei. In addition, the hippocampal primordium is absent at levels which include the corpora striata, and septation of the cerebral cortex is incomplete. More posteriorly, at the level of the posterior commissure, the hippocampal primordium is present, but greatly reduced in size, and the entire brain is distinctly narrower in width. Still further posteriorly, at levels of the metencephalon which include the tectum and cerebellar plate, the cerebral aqueduct is significantly expanded, fusion of midline (raphe) structures is incomplete and the cerebellar plate does not extend as far medially as it does normally. Interestingly, these abnormalities are analogous to those observed in the holoprosencephaly series of malformations. The results of the present study support our hypothesis that severe forms of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome mimic certain aspects of the holoprosencephaly spectrum, and indicate that special attention should be paid to possible deficiencies in the septal nuclei and basal ganglia of children born to women who abuse alcohol. The fact that gross brain malformations can be induced in this animal model at a time corresponding to the third week of human gestation (a time when most women remain unaware of pregnancy) is of significance in terms of the possible prevention of alcohol-induced birth defects and mental deficiency in man.
Consecutive residues or non-residues in the Gaussian integers

Abstract This paper considers the following questions. 1. (i) Are there always m “consecutive” kth power residues modulo a Gaussian prime within a certain distance of the origin with the distance independent of the Gaussian prime? 2. (ii) Are there always m “consecutive” elements in some coset with respect to the multiplicative subgroup of kth power residues modulo a Gaussian prime that are within a certain distance of the origin with the distance of the Gaussian prime? The answers are shown to be yes if m = 2,3 and k = 2,3 and no if k ≥ 2 and m ≥ 4. The problems are not solved for k > 3 and m = 2,3.
Quantifying the effect of cardiorenal syndrome on mortality after left ventricular assist device implant.

Background Comorbidities complicate recovery and contribute to mortality after implant of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Coexistent cardiac and renal dysfunction (so-called cardiorenal syndrome) increases the risk of death, both with advanced heart failure and after LVAD implantation. We analyzed patients from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assist Circulatory Support to better estimate postimplant mortality according to the severity of renal dysfunction. Methods Patients with a continuous-flow LVAD were grouped according to their pre-implant level of renal dysfunction: severe was defined as dialysis and/or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 60 mg/dl; and mild or no renal dysfunction if eGFR was ≥ 60 ml/min and BUN was Results Of the 4,917 patients with a continuous-flow LVAD implanted between June 2006 and March 2012, 3,160 (64%) were identified with mild or no renal dysfunction, 1,475 (30%) with moderate dysfunction, and 282 (6%) with severe dysfunction. Worsening renal dysfunction correlated with decreased survival, with nearly a 20% reduction in the 2-year survival going from low to severe dysfunction. The major negative survival effect occurred during the first 3 months. Combination of severe renal dysfunction and cardiogenic shock predicted the highest early mortality. Conclusions Pre-implant renal dysfunction predicts higher mortality after LVAD implant. The progressive reduction in survival with higher grades of renal dysfunction supports consideration of LVAD implant before cardiorenal syndrome is advanced. For patients with severe renal dysfunction and other major comorbidities, initial support with a temporary device while awaiting organ recovery before implanting a durable pump could be considered.
Serum ALT: tarnished gold standard for interferon response in hepatitis C virus infection.

Serial serum samples and pretreatment and post-treatment liver tissue from patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were tested for HCV RNA by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and branched DNA signal amplification assays. At the end of treatment with interferon-α (IFNα), 4 of 5 patients showing no biochemical response (in alanine aminotransferase activity), 4 of 5 with transient responses, and 1 of 5 showing complete and sustained responses had HCV RNA detectable in serum. The corresponding numbers for liver tissue were 5, 5, and 0 (of 4). However, all 5 complete responders had virological relapses wdthin 6 months. Biochemical response may not reflect virological profile during IFNα treatment of HCV.
Le marché de l’enrichissement : enjeux et perspectives

Dans un contexte de renaissance du nucleaire, ou la demande en service d’enrichissement devrait augmenter assez fortement dans les prochaines annees, trois des quatre principaux acteurs doivent remplacer ou fortement moderniser leur outil de production. Les enrichisseurs doivent ainsi faire face a un double challenge, remplacer ou moderniser dans un premier temps leur outil actuel de production et accroitre, dans un second temps, leur capacite pour repondre aux besoins croissants des electriciens et a un marche qui s’annonce favorable.