cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of the insulin-like growth factor system in prenatal growth

Fetal growth is a complex process involving multiple environmental and genetic factors. Fetal growth restriction is associated with morbidity among small for gestational age (SGA) neonates as well as in children and adults who are former SGA infants. Over the last decade it has been recognized that the insulin-like growth factor axis has a critical role in mediating fetal and postnatal growth. However, how these hormones are involved in common pathological processes, leading to fetal growth restriction (FGR), remains unknown. In humans and mice, mutations or targeted deletions of the IGF ligands IGF1 and IGF2, as well as the IGF type-I receptor and its main signaling molecule IRS1 lead to FGR. IGFs are low in human SGA newborns; however, only a small minority of these infants have mutations of IGF-related molecules, rather, idiopathic or maternal factors are thought to induce FGR in most of these cases. Fetal growth is complex process governed by multiple genetic factors, but ultimately influenced by environmental processes, chief among them being nutrient supply from the mother to the placenta and from the placenta to the fetus. Understanding the molecular processes by which maternal factors contribute to fetal growth is an important step in developing strategies for diagnosing and treating different variants of fetal growth retardation. As our knowledge of these mechanisms become more sophisticated, we may find that many "idiopathic" cases of IUGR are also caused by subtle alterations in the IGF axis including heterozygotic mutations, polymorphisms, and epigenetic regulation.
Organized Labor's Best Bet? CyberUnions!

The author argues that unions have to make full use of the Internet as an organizing tool if they do not want to be left far behind their corporate adversaries.
Price Discrimination in Broadway Theater

A common thread in the theory literature on price discrimination has been the ambiguous welfare effects for consumers and the rise in profit for firms, relative to uniform pricing. In this study I resolve the ambiguity for consumers and quantify the benefit for a firm. I describe a model of price discrimination that includes both second-degree and third-degree price discrimination. Using data from a Broadway play, I estimate the structural model and conduct various experiments to investigate the implications of alternative pricing policies. The observed price discrimination may improve the firm's profit by approximately 5%, relative to uniform pricing, while the difference for aggregate consumer welfare is negligible. Also, I show that the gain from changing prices in the face of fluctuating demand is small under the observed price discrimination.
Transbilayer diffusion of phospholipids: dependence on headgroup structure and acyl chain length

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the transmembrane movement (flip-flop) of fluorescent analogs of phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were investigated to determine the contributions of headgroup composition and acyl chain length to phospholipid flip-flop. The phospholipid derivatives containing n-octanoic, n-decanoic or n-dodecanoic acid in the sn-1 position and 9-(1-pyrenyl)nonanoic acid in the sn-2 position were incorporated at 3 mol% into sonicated single-bilayer vesicles of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (POPC). The kinetics of diffusion of the pyrene-labeled phospholipids from the outer and inner monolayers of the host vesicles to a large pool of POPC acceptor vesicles were monitored by the time-dependent decrease of pyrene excimer fluorescence. The observed kinetics of transfer were biexponential, with a fast component due to the spontaneous transfer of pyrenyl phospholipids in the outer monolayer of labeled vesicles and a slower component due to diffusion of pyrenyl phospholipid from the inner monolayer of the same vesicles. Intervesicular transfer rates decreased approx. 8-fold for every two carbons added to the first acyl chain. Correspondingly, the free energy of activation for transfer increased approx. 1.3 kcal/mol. With the exception of PE, the intervesicular transfer rates for the different headgroups within a homologous series were nearly the same, with the PC derivative being the fastest. Transfer rates for the PE derivatives were 5-to 7-fold slower than the rates observed for PC. Phospholipid flip-flop, in contrast, was strongly dependent on headgroup composition with a smaller dependence on acyl chain length. At pH 7.4, flip-flop rates increased in the order PC less than PG less than PA less than PE, where the rates for PE were at least 10-times greater than those of the homologous PC derivative. Activation energies for flip-flop were large, and ranged from 38 kcal/mol for the longest acyl chain derivative of PC to 25 kcal/mol for the PE derivatives. Titration of the PA headgroup at pH 4.0 produced an approx. 500-fold increase in the flip-flop rate of PA, while the activation energy decreased 10 kcal/mol. Increasing acyl chain length reduced phospholipid flip-flop rates, with the greatest change observed for the PC analogs, which exhibited an approx. 2-fold decrease in flip-flop rate for every two methylene carbons added to the acyl chain at the sn-1 position.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Discussion of “Are earnings forecasts more accurate when accompanied by cash flow forecasts?”

Call et al. (Rev Account Stud 2009, this issue) demonstrate that, relative to analysts who issue earnings but not cash flow forecasts, analysts who issue both forecasts (i) produce relatively more accurate earnings forecasts, (ii) have a better understanding of the persistence of current earnings, and (iii) are less likely to get fired. In my discussion, I highlight some general challenges facing research on analyst cash flow forecasts, demonstrate the diminishing difference in the relative accuracy over time (including its compete elimination by 2004), and examine the sensitivity of some of the evidence in Call et al. (2009) to the age of the forecast and to the presence of extreme bad-news earnings surprises.
The role of information theory in watermarking and its application to image watermarking

This paper reviews the role of information theory in characterizing the fundamental limits of watermarking systems and in guiding the development of optimal watermark embedding algorithms and optimal attacks. Watermarking can be viewed as a communication problem with side information (in the form of the host signal and/or a cryptographic key) available at the encoder and the decoder. The problem is mathematically defined by distortion constraints, by statistical models for the host signal, and by the information available in the game between the information hider, the attacker, and the decoder. In particular, information theory explains why the performance of watermark decoders that do not have access to the host signal may surprisingly be as good as the performance of decoders that know the host signal. The theory is illustrated with several examples, including an application to image watermarking. Capacity expressions are derived under a parallel-Gaussian model for the host-image source. Sparsity is the single most important property of the source that determines capacity.
Formal targets, central bank independence and inflation dynamics in the UK: A Markov-Switching approach

Abstract We examine inflation and uncertainty in the UK with a version of the Markov Switching model, which allows for changes in the variance as well as in the mean and persistence of a series. We find that the UK’s attempts at exchange rate pegs in the form of shadowing the deutschmark and entering the ERM were ineffective, and in the latter case counterproductive in lowering inflation uncertainty. The 1981 budget, however, greatly lowered uncertainty, and the adoption of a formal inflation target also had a palpable, negative impact on inflation uncertainty. As a suggestive exercise, we examine inflation uncertainty in the US, and find that, over 2005–2008, in the absence of an inflation target, uncertainty rose in the US, while uncertainty remained low in the UK over this period of rising commodity prices and financial turmoil.
Biomechanics of the Chick Embryonic Heart Outflow Tract at HH18 Using 4D Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging and Computational Modeling

During developmental stages, biomechanical stimuli on cardiac cells modulate genetic programs, and deviations from normal stimuli can lead to cardiac defects. Therefore, it is important to characterize normal cardiac biomechanical stimuli during early developmental stages. Using the chicken embryo model of cardiac development, we focused on characterizing biomechanical stimuli on the Hamburger–Hamilton (HH) 18 chick cardiac outflow tract (OFT), the distal portion of the heart from which a large portion of defects observed in humans originate. To characterize biomechanical stimuli in the OFT, we used a combination of in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, physiological measurements and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. We found that, at HH18, the proximal portion of the OFT wall undergoes larger circumferential strains than its distal portion, while the distal portion of the OFT wall undergoes larger wall stresses. Maximal wall shear stresses were generally found on the surface of endocardial cushions, which are protrusions of extracellular matrix onto the OFT lumen that later during development give rise to cardiac septa and valves. The non-uniform spatial and temporal distributions of stresses and strains in the OFT walls provide biomechanical cues to cardiac cells that likely aid in the extensive differential growth and remodeling patterns observed during normal development.
Using Computer-Assisted Instruction to Teach Axis-H of the DSM-III-R to Social Work Students:

An Apple Macintosh HyperCard interactive educational program was designed to train social work graduate students in making accurate diagnoses with DSM-III-R Axis II diagnostic criteria. The teaching efficacy of this hypermedia program (HyperAxis II) was tested in an experiment in which 22 first-year social work graduate students were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group used HyperAxis II, whereas the second group used a training manual con taining the same information. Both groups had statistically significant increases in diagnostic speed and accuracy. Although the HyperAxis II group rated the computer program more difficult to use than the control group rated the training manual, they demonstrated significantly stronger liking for the computer program as an instructional medium.
Moving International Technical Communication Forward: A World Englishes Approach:

This article explores how the English language contributes to cross-boundary communication failure and establishes that there is an “English language problem” that has not been adequately addressed...
Designing for human‐robot symbiosis

For the past ten years, the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory (IRL) at Vanderbilt University has been developing service robots that interact naturally, closely and safely with human beings. Two main issues for research have arisen from this prior work. The first is how to achieve a high level of interaction between the human and robot. The result has been the philosophy of human directed local autonomy (HuDL), a guiding principle for research, design, and implementation of service robots. The human‐robot relationship we seek to achieve is symbiotic in the sense that both the human and the robot work together to achieve goals, for example as aids to the elderly or disabled. The second issue is the general problem of system integration, with a specific focus on integrating humans into the service robotic system. This issue has led to the development of the Intelligent Machine Architecture (IMA), a novel software architecture specifically designed to simplify the integration of the many diverse algorithms, sensors, and actuators necessary for intelligent interactive service robots.
CO2 condensation and the climate of early Mars

The possibility of the early Mars' greenhouse warming by a dense CO2 atmosphere is presently examined by means of a 1D radiative-convective climate model which differs from earlier ones in considering the effects of CO2 clouds on both the convective lapse rate and the planetary radiation budget. The phenomenon of CO2 condensation, which decreases the lapse rate and thereby reduces the greenhouse effect, increases in importance at low solar luminosities; it may accordingly preclude globally averaged surface temperatures as high as 0 C before about 2 billion years ago in the absence of such other greenhouse gases as CO2 and H2O. Alternative explanations for early Mars warming and channel-formation processes are noted.
Dexamethasone for treatment of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease in a horse

A 4-year-old Paint mare was examined because of respiratory tract infection, dermatitis, and weight loss of 2 months' duration. Initial examination revealed generalized pruritic dermatitis, ocular and nasal discharges, and stranguria. Laboratory abnormalities included leukopenia and hypoalbuminemia. Further examination of the respiratory tract revealed grade III of IV pharyngitis and pyogranulomatous pneumonia. Endoscopic examination of the bladder revealed a prolific mass at the junction of the bladder and urethra. Hypoproteinemia was suspected to be caused by protein-losing enteropathy. On histologic examination, skin, rectal, pharyngeal, and urethral biopsy specimens were characterized by infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes, and a diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease was made. The horse improved following treatment with dexamethasone, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and an antihistamine and was discharged after 19 days of hospitalization. Treatment with dexamethasone was continued for 4 weeks after hospitalization but was then discontinued. Eight months after discharge, the horse was performing as a pleasure horse and did not require any medical treatment. Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease is typically associated with a poor prognosis in horses. The dermatitis, protein-losing enteropathy, and lower respiratory tract disease in this horse were consistent with previous reports; however, pharyngitis and urethritis have not, to our knowledge, been previously reported in horses with this disease.
Development of a polarized 3He ion source for RHIC

A polarized 3He beam in RHIC would enable new, unique, high energy QCD studies of neutron structure with existing polarized proton beams. In addition, it could be used for important tests of the Standard Model in a future electronion collider. A source of polarized 3He++ ions utilizing the new Electron Beam Ionization Source (EBIS) at BNL is under development. 3He atoms can be polarized using metastability exchange optical pumping (MEOP) and the atoms transferred to EBIS. Fully stripped 3He++ ions would be extracted from EBIS and their polarization measured at low energies. The concept for the ion source is presented and the plan for the development described. Research supported by DOE Office of Nuclear Physics.
Increased concentrations of immunoreactive cathepsin D in supraoptic nucleus of the Brattleboro rat

Abstract The distribution of cathepsin D, an aspartyl endopeptidase, was measured in selected, discrete nuclei of the forebrain of the Brattleboro rat by means of microdissection and radioimmunoassay. The results indicate that cathepsin D is widely distributed, but in varying amounts among nuclear groups in this region of the brain. High concentrations were detected in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. In studies of the vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rat, an increased content of cathepsin D in the supraoptic nucleus was observed compared to the heterozygous control. No differences were detected between homozygous and heterozygous Brattleboro rats in the caudate, medial preoptic, suprachiasmatic or paraventricular nuclei or globus pallidus. These results raise the possibility that brain cathepsin D may be involved in the physiological events related to fluid homeostatis.
Magnetic structure of heavy-fermion Ce 2 RhIn 8

The magnetic structure of the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{2}{\mathrm{RhIn}}_{8}$ is determined using neutron diffraction. It is a collinear antiferromagnet with a magnetic wave vector (1/2,1/2,0) and a staggered moment of $0.55(6){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ per Ce at 1.6 K, tilted $38(2)\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ from the tetragonal c axis. In spite of its layered crystal structure, the phases for the magnetic moments are the same as those in the cubic parent antiferromagnet ${\mathrm{CeIn}}_{3}.$ This suggests that the cubic ${\mathrm{CeIn}}_{3}$ building blocks have a stronger influence on magnetic correlations than intervening ${\mathrm{RhIn}}_{2}$ layers, which give the material its apparent two-dimensional lattice structure and renders ${\mathrm{CeRhIn}}_{5}$ an incommensurate antiferromagnet.
Development and evaluation of controlled-release diclofenac microspheres and tabletted microspheres

Diclofenac wax microspheres were prepared using the congealable dispersephase encapsulation method. Emulsifiers, glyceryl monostearate (GMS) and stearic acid, were added to improve the efficiency of emulsification. Microspheres containing either of the emulsifiers or both showed a high drug content (80-90%) and the particle size distribution was log-normal compared with microspheres without the emulsifiers. Increase in GMS concentration decreased the drug release and, in contrast, stearic acid appeared to channel the drug from the wax matrix. The addition of both emulsifiers at different concentrations modified drug release. Increase in dispersant (PVP) concentration, and decrease in microsphere size accelerated the rate of drug release. Higuchi/Baker Londsdale spherical matrix dissolution kinetics was followed. Disintegrating tableted microspheres were prepared with Avicel and Explotab. With the increase in compression pressure the crushing force and disintegrating time increased, but the thickness decreased, and the dissolution profile did not appear to be affected. Slightly faster release was noticed with tableted microspheres compared with that of uncompressed microspheres. Tablets containing 40 and 60% microsphere loadings had disintegration times of 5.12 +/- 0.63 and 57.73 +/- 3.53 min, respectively. In contrast, tablet formulation containing 80% microsphere load had a significant increase in disintegration time (130.83 +/- 4.26 min). The dissolution from this formulation also showed a lag time of 30 min in contrast with the other two formulations, which showed no lag time. Increased microsphere size from 215 to 630 microns had no effect on tableting properties (such as hardness and thickness); and only very little effect on dissolution. The microspheres appeared deformed but intact irrespective of compression pressures on scanning electron micrographs.
MASTERY LEARNING APPROACH TO PRACTICING ATHLETIC SKILLS

Mastery, an alternative approach to classroom learning, is suggested as an efficient approach to practicing athletic skills. Purported benefits involve principles of shaping, homeostatic control, individualization, counter-conditioning, modeling, and positive transfer.
Ideal culture time for improvement in sperm motility from testicular sperm aspirates of men with azoospermia.

Purpose: The motility of testicular derived spermatozoa reflects viability and predicts success during intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Although improvements in sperm motility are seen after incubation for extended periods, no guidelines suggest duration or media use for optimal improvement in motility.Materials and Methods: Between July 1999 and February 2005 testicular aspirations were performed on 95 men with azoospermia, including 51 with obstructive azoospermia and 44 with nonobstructive azoospermia. Sperm motility was determined at initial collection and following incubation for 24 or 48 hours in processing media or Ham’s F10 + protein. A mixed regression model controlling for testis side, media and baseline motility was created to analyze the change in motility between 24 and 48 hours.Results: Mean motility improved from 3% to 20% at 24 hours and 25% at 48 hours for OA cases and from 0% to 5% at 24 hours and 11% at 48 hours for nonobstructive azoospermia cases. The improvement in motility from 24 ...
Effects of substrate curvature on dealloying of nanoporous thin films

Co-sputtered AuPdAg alloy films on flat and curved substrates were investigated to determine the effects of substrate curvature on dealloying and microstructure of nanoporous (np) AuPd. Ligament morphology, film cracking and composition were significantly different for np-AuPd in concave vs. convex film regions. Convex substrate curvature led to extensive film cracking, wide and high aspect ratio ligaments, and low residual Ag content. This is attributed to a more tensile stress state that enhances the dissolution rate of Ag.
Modafinil Influences the Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Cocaine in Healthy Cocaine-Dependent Volunteers

Objective: To determine if modafinil, a putative treatment for cocaine dependence, influences the pharmacokinetics of intravenous cocaine in otherwise healthy cocaine-dependent volunteers. Methods: Cocaine 20 or 40mg was administered intravenously on consecutive days over 1 minute at baseline and after modafinil administration at each of two dosages of 400 and 800 mg/day for 7 days. Results: Twelve subjects completed the clinical protocol. Compared with baseline, the cocaine peak plasma concentration was decreased after both the 20 and 40mg cocaine infusions, but the reduction was only statistically significant after the 40mg cocaine infusion (p < 0.01 after modafinil 400 mg/day; p < 0.05 after modafinil 800 mg/day). The area under the cocaine plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 180 minutes (AUC180) was significantly decreased by modafinil administration (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 for modafinil 400 and 800 mg/day, respectively, for the cocaine 20mg dose; p < 0.001 for the cocaine 40mg dose at both modafinil levels). There were no significant changes in total AUC, clearance or elimination half-life of cocaine. Conclusion: This study did not find evidence for a harmful pharmacokinetic interaction between modafinil and cocaine. In contrast, long-term administration of modafinil significantly decreased systemic exposure to cocaine during the first 180 minutes following intravenous cocaine administration.
Achieving full parallelism using multidimensional retiming

Most scientific and digital signal processing (DSP) applications are recursive or iterative. Transformation techniques are usually applied to get optimal execution rates in parallel and/or pipeline systems. The retiming technique is a common and valuable transformation tool in one-dimensional problems, when loops are represented by data flow graphs (DFGs). In this paper, uniform nested loops are modeled as multidimensional data flow graphs (MDFGs). Full parallelism of the loop body, i.e., all nodes in the MDFG executed in parallel, substantially decreases the overall computation time. It is well known that, for one-dimensional DFGs, retiming can not always achieve full parallelism. Other existing optimization techniques for nested loops also can not always achieve full parallelism. This paper shows an important and counter-intuitive result, which proves that we can always obtain full-parallelism for MDFGs with more than one dimension. This result is obtained by transforming the MDFG into a new structure. The restructuring process is based on a multidimensional retiming technique. The theory and two algorithms to obtain full parallelism are presented in this paper. Examples of optimization of nested loops and digital signal processing designs are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithms.
Use of the Vial Equilibration Technique for Determination of Metabolic Rate Constants for Dichloromethane

Metabolism of methylene chloride, or dichloromethane (DCM), plays a key role in determining the kinetics and carcinogenicity of the halocarbon. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate and optimize the vial equilibration technique, originally described by Sato and Nakajima (1979a), in order to characterize the hepatic metabolism of DCM by Sprague-Dawley rats; to employ different hepatic microsomal preparations to examine buffer effects on DCM metabolism; and to assess the relative importance and metabolic constants of the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) and glutathione (GSH) S-transferase (GST) metabolic pathways. A crude liver homogenate (20% W/V) was prepared from perfused livers of male Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats (275-325 g). A 30% glycerol buffer was found to significantly inhibit DCM metabolism, while 0.25 M sucrose buffer containing 10 mM EDTA and 1.15% KCl did not. DCM was incubated with the liver 10,000 g supernatant or microsomes and cofactors in sealed headspace vials. Disappearance of DCM, as a measure of the chemical's metabolism, was monitored by headspace gas chromatography. Different trials were conducted to elucidate time-, enzyme-, and substrate-activity relationships. The scaled-up K(m) and Vmax values for the microsomal fraction were quite similar to optimized in vivo values reported by other investigators. In the current study, DCM appeared to be metabolized preferentially by cytochrome P450 IIE1, since substrates (e.g., pyrazole, ethanol, and glycerol) for this isozyme completely inhibited DCM metabolism. Thus, glycerol should not be used as a P450 stabilizer for preparation or storage of microsomes. Phorone pretreatment caused marked hepatic GSH depletion, but had little effect on the overall rate of DCM metabolism. Quantitatively, the GST pathway in the cytosol played a very minor role in DCM metabolism. It was not possible to accurately calculate metabolic constants for this pathway in S-D rats. The vial equilibration technique, as described here, is a relatively simple and reliable method, which should be broadly applicable for measuring the microsomal metabolism of DCM and other VOCs.
An Experimental Investigation of Some Heuristic Strategies for Component Placement

The purpose of this study is to examine the relative efficacy of several promising heuristic approaches to a classic problem of component placement. Four "construction" and nine "improvement" algorithms were chosen for investigation and compared experimentally on a CDC 6400 computer. The improvement methods were selected to test some basic strategies of pairwise-interchanging of components and the construction procedures were chosen primarily to evaluate the effects of the quality of starting solution on the improvement methods. The algorithms were tested on 75 problems generated from the literature and compared with respect to the produced solution quality and CPU run-time requirements. A construction approach due to Graves and Whinston produced the best results, both when used to generate starting solutions for the improvement methods and when evaluated on its own merit against the improvement methods using other starts. Construction approaches have previously been regarded in the the past as relatively inferior techniques.
On the influence of shell structure and matrix element fluctuations on the pairing correlation in nuclei

The uniform model for the nuclear pairing-force problem is extended to take into account the effect of fluctuations in nucleon orbital level densityρ and in pairing matrix elementsGvv′. Simple formulas for the average dependence of level density on energy are presented, and alternative ways of estimating effects of shell bunching on the pairing correlation are derived. It is argued also that the pairing constantG might be systematically overestimated in the usual BCS numerical calculations; a semiconstant pairing force with diagonal elements larger than off-diagonal is thus suggested.
Front office transformation: globally integrated enterprise and "front office" going digital

In a multinational model, companies built local production capacity within key markets, while performing other tasks on a global basis. They did this in response to the rise of protectionism and nationalism. As an example, American multinationals such as General Motors, Ford and IBM built plants and established local workforce policies in Europe and Asia, but kept research and development and product design principally in the "home country".However, today's Globally Integrated Enterprise, in contrast, fashions its strategy, management and operations to integrate production and deliver value to clients on a global canvas. That has been made possible by shared technologies and shared business standards, built on top of a global information technology and communications infrastructure. Because new technology and business models are allowing companies to treat their functions and operations as component pieces, companies can pull those pieces apart and put them back together in new combinations, based on judgments about which operations the company wants to excel at and from where and which are best suited to its partners. The Globally Integrated Enterprise will therefore radically shift infrastructure to support and fund these new ways of engaging---becoming integrated, flexible, streamlined, and agile.The Front Office Digitization is the frontier of innovation, focused on creating new value by rethinking the way people connect and interact, resulting in competitive potential offered by these changes to business enterprises. It is the intersection of many emerging rapidly growing trends and technologies such as Cloud, Social, and Mobile. It is the move from traditional back-office systems and knowledge support to the interface with a client's customers and suppliers. It is the possibility of analyzing zettabytes of data (structured or unstructured), predict the best outcome and address uncertainty. This is a new frontier waiting to be explored, the space for radical transformation and value creation enabled by technology.The "Front Office" going digital will rethink everything about the way people connect, transact, and engage with institutions, governments, and companies---and how they derive mutual value.Looking ahead "Front Office Digitization" presents a New Era of Computing. Are we prepared for it?
Aging lengthens circadian period for wheel-running activity in C57BL mice

Abstract Previous reports of age effects on circadian period in rodents show a slight shortening of period with age, with the exception of house mice ( Mus domesticus ) where a number of studies report mixed results. The present study consists of three comparisons of circadian period for wheel-running activity in young vs. older C57BL inbred mice following entrainment to 16:8 LD, 12:12 LD and 8:16 LD photoperiods. The free-running circadian period (tau(DD)) for wheel- running activity was significantly longer in older mice following entrainment to all three photoperiods. These results support a model of heterogeneous effects of aging on circadian period among different rodent species, and suggest that the lengthening of circadian period with age in house mice is not a function of age-dependent differences in after-effects imposed by prior entrainment.
Inhibition of hydrogen transport through Pd and Pd47Cu53 membranes by H2S at 350 °C

Abstract In pure H2 gas, hydrogen fluxes through pure Pd and Pd47Cu53 (mol%) foils at 350 °C are similar. In the presence of 1000 ppm H2S in H2, the hydrogen fluxes through both foils are substantially reduced, but with significantly different decay patterns. Six hours after the start of H2S exposure, the Pd foil remained permeable to hydrogen, with the flux decreasing slowly over time. Analysis of the Pd foil by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals that Pd reacts with H2S to form a palladium sulfide corrosion product, Pd4S, which is about 6.6 μm thick. These observations are consistent with the slow growth of a low-permeability, but catalytically active, sulfide corrosion layer on the Pd surface. In contrast, the hydrogen flux through the Pd47Cu53 foil is undetectable within 5 min of the start of H2S exposure. XPS depth profiling of the Pd47Cu53 foil reveals that sulfur penetrates only ∼3 nm into the Pd47Cu53 surface. Rapid formation of a Pd–Cu–S terminal layer, which is either inactive for hydrogen dissociation or impermeable to hydrogen atoms, is responsible for the deactivation of the Pd47Cu53 alloy membrane in H2S at 350 °C.
Radial curve-based classification and localization of features for 3D facial expressions

We present a novel method to analyze facial expressions from 3D shape using radial curves and curve based geometric features. Curve based representation of 3D facial shape and corresponding geometric features overcome the curse of dimensionality providing a means for fast and automatic classification and comparison of 3D facial shapes. Our proposed curve based geometric features effectively capture local variations and classify facial expressions from 3D facial shapes. A multiclass feature selection technique is used to identify the most effective features that localize the effective regions of the face. Six basic facial expressions are classified using a publicly available 3D facial expression dataset.
The Pacifism of the Sixteenth Century Anabaptists

A preliminary word should be said about the propriety of the use of the late, twentieth-century term “pacifism” to apply to the peace doctrines of the sixteenth-century Anabaptists. As it has been used since World War I pacifism designates broadly an idealistic anti-militarist position whose goal is the elimination of war in history.
The form and function of post-conflict interactions between female baboons

In many primate species, former opponents engage in friendly behaviours after aggressive conflicts. These kinds of interactions are labelled reconciliation because they are thought to repair relationships damaged by conflicts and help to preserve group cohesion. This study assessed the form and function of reconciliation between free-ranging female baboons, Papio cynocephalus ursinus ,i n the Okavango Delta of Botswana. The rate of interaction between former opponents was higher during the minutes that followed conflicts than in the days that preceded or followed conflicts. Baboons reconciled vocally, grunting quietly to their former opponents after conflicts ended. Grunts after conflicts facilitated infant handling. Females were particularly likely to reconcile with high- ranking opponents, the mothers of young infants and related mothers of older infants. Reconciliation had no consistent eVect upon the rate of interactions during the days that followed conflicts. This study is the first to demonstrate that primates reconcile vocally and the first to assess the long-term consequences of reconcilation in a naturalistic setting. ? 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Neural correlates of auditory stream segregation in primary auditory cortex of the awake monkey

An important feature of auditory scene analysis is the perceptual organization of sequential sound components, or ‘auditory stream segregation’. Auditory stream segregation can be demonstrated by presenting a sequence of high and low frequency tones in an alternating pattern, ABAB. When the tone presentation rate (PR) is slow or the frequency separation (ΔF) between the tones is small (<10%), a connected alternating sequence ABAB is perceived. When the PR is fast or the ΔF is large, however, the alternating sequence perceptually splits into two parallel auditory streams, one composed of interrupted ‘A’ tones, and the other of interrupted ‘B’ tones. The neurophysiological basis of this perceptual phenomenon is unknown. Neural correlates of auditory stream segregation were examined in A1 of the awake monkey using neuronal ensemble techniques (multiunit activity and current source density). Responses evoked by alternating frequency sequences of tones, ABAB, were studied as a function of PR (5, 10, 20 and 40 Hz). ‘A’ tones corresponded to the best frequency (BF) of the cortical site, while ‘B’ tones were situated away from the BF by an amount ΔF. At slow PRs, ‘A’ and ‘B’ tones evoked responses that generated an overall pattern of activity at the stimulus PR. In contrast, at fast PRs, ‘B’ tone responses were differentially suppressed, resulting in a pattern of activity consisting predominantly of ‘A’ tone responses at half the PR. The magnitude of ‘B’ tone response suppression increased with ΔF. Differential suppression of BF and non-BF tone responses at high PRs can be explained by physiological principles of forward masking. The effect of ΔF is explained by the hypothesis that responses to tones distant from the BF are more susceptible to suppression by BF tones than responses to tones near the BF. These results parallel human psychoacoustics of auditory stream segregation and suggest a cortical basis for the perceptual phenomenon.
Nature of stress and transgene locus influences transgene expression stability in barley

Stress and the nature of the transgene locus can affect transgene expression stability. These effects were studied in two, stably expressing, T6 populations of barley (Hordeum vulgare): bombardment-mediated, multi-copy lines with ubiquitin-driven bar and uidA or single-copy lines from Ds-mediated gene delivery with ubiquitin-driven bar alone. Imposing the environmental stresses, water and nutrient deprivation and heat shock, did not reproducibly affect transgene expression stability; however, high frequencies of heritable transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) occurred following in vitro culture after six generations of stable expression in the multi-copy subline, T3#30, but not in the other lines studied. T3#30 plants with complete TGS had epigenetic modification patterns exactly like those in an identical sibling subline, T3#31, which had significant reduction in transgene expression in the T3 generation and was completely transcriptionally silenced in the absence of imposed stresses in the T6 generation. Complete TGS in T3#30 plants correlated with methylation in the 5'UTR and intron of the ubi1 promoter complex and condensation of chromatin around the transgenes; DNA methylation likely occurred prior to chromatin condensation. Partial TGS in T3#30 also correlated with methylation of the ubi1 promoter complex, as occurred with complete TGS. T3#30 has a complex transgene structure with inverted repeat transgene fragments and a 3'-LTR from a barley retrotransposon, and therefore the transgene locus itself may affect its tendency to silence after in vitro culture and transgene silencing might result from host defense mechanisms activated by changes in plant developmental programming and/or stresses imposed during in vitro growth.
The use of low molecular weight dextran in superior vena caval replacement.

SUMMARY Superior vena caval replacement with Teflon or Dacron prostheses was performed in 60 dogs. Equal numbers of each group received low molecular weight dextran, 5 per cent solution of dextrose in water or no fluid infusion postoperatively. There was no operative death, but five dogs subsequently died with the superior vena caval syndrome. Teflon prostheses were superior to Dacron substitutes with respective overall occlusion rates of 53 per cent and 80 per cent. Obstruction of Teflon prostheses treated with low molecular weight dextran. 5 per cent dextrose in water or no infusion occurred in four, five and seven out of ten dogs, respectively. Dacron prostheses suffered occlusion in eight of ten animals in each group. Of those prostheses remaining patent. low molecular weight dextran was associated with greatest degree of patency. no fluid infusion with most severe stenosis and 5 per cent dextrose in water with intermediate narrowing. Late stenosis or occlusion, between two weeks and three months, occurred infrequently. It is concluded that low molecular weight dextran may be a helpful adjunct in superior vena caval replacement.
Elastodynamic response of a d.c motor driven flexible mechanism system with compliant drive train components during start-up

Abstract The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of system approach to elastodynamic modeling of high speed, flexible mechanisms when response is determined during start-up. A mechanism system consisting of a four-bar (4R) linkage and a drive train comprised of a d.c. motor, gear reduction unit, coupling, and connecting shafts is investigated considering: (a) rigid drive train and linkage, (b) rigid drive train and flexible linkage and (c) flexible drive train and linkage. Analysis results lead to the proposition that the response of a linkage mechanism is more accurately estimated if the linkage and its auxiliary components are modeled as one integrated system.
Site- and exercise-related variation in structure and function of cartilage from equine distal metacarpal condyle

Summary Objective Determine (1) the site-associated response of articular cartilage of the equine distal metacarpal condyle to training at a young age as assessed by changes in indentation stiffness and alterations in cartilage structure and composition, and (2) relationships between indentation stiffness and indices of cartilage structure and composition. Method Experimental animals ( n =6) were trained on a track (increasing exercise to 1km/day by 5 months); controls ( n =6) were pasture-reared. Animals were euthanized at 18 months and four osteochondral samples were harvested per metacarpal condyle from dorsal–medial, dorsal–lateral, palmar–medial, and palmar–lateral aspects. Cartilage was analyzed for India ink staining (quantified as reflectance score (RS)), short-term indentation stiffness (sphere-ended, 0.4mm diameter), thickness, and biochemical composition. Results Cartilage structural, biochemical and biomechanical properties varied markedly with site in the joint. Sites just medial and just lateral to the sagittal ridge showed signs of early degeneration, with relatively low RS, indentation stiffness, and collagen content, and relatively high water content. Effects of exercise and side (left vs right) were not detected for any measure. Overall, indentation stiffness correlated positively with RS and collagen content, and inversely with thickness and water content. Conclusion Gentle exercise-imposed mechanical stimulation did not markedly affect articular cartilage function or structure. However, the marked site-associated variation suggests that biomechanical environment can initiate degenerative changes in immature cartilage during joint growth and maturation.
A higher-order finite-difference compositional simulator

Abstract A third-order finite-difference method was applied to a new three-dimensional, four-phase, equation-of-state, compositional simulator. The third-order scheme was tested for first-contact miscible flow, waterflooding, immiscible, and multiple-contact miscible condensing gas displacements. The authors show that this method agrees with a two-dimensional, analytical solution. The authors also show that the higher-order method has less grid orientation effect than either one-point or two-point upstream weighting methods. A grid refinement study shows that it also has less numerical dispersion. This method was easy to implement and requires only a small increase in storage. Computation time can be reduced since the reduction in numerical dispersion allows larger grid blocks to be used while maintaining an accurate solution. For example, for a one-dimensional multiple-contact miscible displacement the computational time was reduced by a factor of 34.5 compared to the same accuracy using one-point upstream weighting.
The Communist Party in Maryland, 1919-57

Bolsheviks in Baltimore shows that contrary to the beliefs of many historians--radical and otherwise--the American Communist Party did often march to Moscow's tune in efforts to sway American foreign policy in ways that benefitted the Soviet Union.
Virtue and Character: Moral Languages and Moral Education

(1991). Virtue and Character: Moral Languages and Moral Education. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 297-300.
A generalized multiple response surface methodology for complex computer simulation applications

This work provides a generalization of the traditional response surface methodology (RSM) that can be applied to complex, multi-objective simulation studies. These problems involve a larger number of input variables, multiple measures of performance, and complex systems relationships. This multiple RSM approach capitalizes on the underlying learning philosophy of the traditional RSM while benefiting from other knowledge discovery concepts and data mining techniques. Furthermore it does not require the restrictive assumptions of the traditional RSM nor does it restrict the analyst to the traditional RSM techniques. Based on a variation of (Brown and Schamburg 2004) and (Schamburg 2004), a brief description of the generalized approach is provided. Then, the multiple response techniques are shown through an example application.
Taking Personality Seriously The Five-Factor Model and Public Management

This study documents the use of personality assessment in public administration and examines the relationship between personality and job outcomes among public managers. The limitations and problems with the most popular personality assessment framework, the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator, are discussed. The authors then present the five-factor model of personality as an empirically verified, theoretically sound framework that is widely accepted within the field of psychology. Using a survey of public administrators in three states, it is demonstrated that public managers are aware of personality assessment, use it in their jobs, and are generally convinced of its efficacy. The authors also present the results of personality profiles of public managers demonstrating the usefulness of all five domains of the five-factor model of personality for understanding key outcome measures such as job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behaviors.
Fibrosarcoma‐induced increase in macrophage tumor necrosis factor α synthesis suppresses T cell responses

Tumors down-regulate T cell responses partly by increasing macrophage (m') production of the sup- pressive molecule prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Because tumor growth increases m4 tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) production and TNF-a stimulates mPGE2 synthesis, we examined the contribution of TNF-cr to fibrosarcoma-induced m�-mediated suppression of allo- reactive CD4� T cell proliferation. We showed that tumor- bearing host (TBH) m4s express high levels of TNF-a mRNA, which leads to increased lipopolysaccharide- induced TNF-a production. Tumor cells were directly in- volved in m4 TNF-a synthesis because fibrosarcoma cells induced normal host (NH) m4s to produce TNF-a. Addi- tion of TBH m4s to allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reac- tion (MLR) cultures suppressed CD4� T cell proliferation more than NH m4s. The neutralization of endogenous TNF-a activity with anti-TNF-a antibody (Ab) treat- ment reversed TBH, but not NH, m�-mediated suppres- sion. Conversely, exogenous TNF-a increased NH or TBH m4-mediated suppression but stimulated T cell proliferation without m4s. Kinetic treatment of MLR cultures with anti-TNF-a Ab or TNF-a showed that TNF- a production and activity occurred at the beginning of T cell proliferation. When arachidonic acid metabolite synthesis was inhibited, TNF-a-induced suppression was blocked in NH m4-containing cultures and completely reversed in TBH m4-containing cultures. A PGE2-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that TNF-a addition increased PGE2 production in NH m�- containing cultures to that of TBH m�-containing cul- tures. Exogenous PGE2 did not affect the TNF-a en- hancement of T cell proliferation without ms. There- fore, suppression induced by TNF-a was caused by increased m4 PGE2 production and not by TNF-a in concert with PE 1993.