cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin‐8 Concentration Predicts the Neutrophil Count in Middle Ear Effusion

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a potent neutrophilic chemoattractant and inflammatory cytokine, is present in middle ear effusions (MEEs) of children with otitis media and is thought to be responsible for the accumulation of neutrophils in MEEs. We hypothesized that IL-8 concentration predicts the total number and proportion of neutrophils in MEEs. IL-8 concentration and total and differential cell counts were measured in MEEs of children undergoing tympanostomy tube placement for otitis media. IL-8 was present in 80 (98%) of 82 effusions. The mean +/- SEM value for IL-8 was 7342 +/- 847 pg/mL. The mean +/- SEM count and percentage of neutrophils were 1.34 x 10(6) +/- 3.44 x 10(5) and 70.6 +/- 3.1%, respectively. IL-8 concentrations correlated positively with the total number (r = +0.30; P = 0.02) and percentage of neutrophils (r = +0.32; P = 0.01) in the effusion. Additionally, purulent effusions had greater IL-8 concentrations (P = 0.003) and greater neutrophil count (P = 0.03) than mucoid or serous effusions. We conclude that IL-8 is consistently present in MEEs of children and IL-8 concentration predicts the total number and proportion of neutrophils. Furthermore, IL-8 concentration and the total number of neutrophils correlate positively with the type of effusion. These results support the hypothesis that IL-8 recruits neutrophils to the middle ear in MEEs.
Perceptions of Interpersonal Behavior are Influenced by Gender, Facial Expression Intensity, and Head Pose

Across multiple channels, nonverbal behavior communicates information about affective states and interpersonal intentions. Researchers interested in understanding how these nonverbal messages are transmitted and interpreted have examined the relationship between behavior and ratings of interpersonal motives using dimensions such as agency and communion. However, previous work has focused on images of posed behavior and it is unclear how well these results will generalize to more dynamic representations of real-world behavior. The current study proposes to extend the current literature by examining how gender, facial expression intensity, and head pose influence interpersonal ratings in videos of spontaneous nonverbal behavior.
Utility (or not) of Gd-DTPA-based dynamic MRI for breast cancer diagnosis and grading.

The sensitivity of gadopentetate-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting tumors of the breast has consistently been reported to be excellent (88% to 100%). However, the specificity of gadopentetate-enhanced MRI has been rather variable, ranging from 37% to 97% (1–16). Although there is good evidence that carcinomas tend to enhance faster and washout earlier than benign tissue, there are exceptions to this pattern and considerable overlap. Many investigators have suggested that information about the time course of MRI contrast enhancement may improve specificity and even allow distinction of benign from malignant tumors. This has been demonstrated in multiple animal models using macromolecular contrast media, such as albumin-Gd-DTPA. However, because no macromolecular agent is currently available for clinical use, understandable interest has focused on interpretation of dynamic MRI enhanced with Gd-DTPA. Several imaging strategies, based on T1 and T2* contrast, and spanning the compromise between spatial and temporal resolution have been suggested, along with a number of analysis strategies for the time course signal data, ranging from simple empirical measures to parameters derived from physiologic tissue models (1–23). The purpose of this study was to evaluate families of imaging sequence and analysis strategy in a cohort of rats carrying a spectrum of N-ethyl-N-nitrosurea (ENU)–induced tumors (24–25). Because imaging and analysis approaches are applied to the same rats, effects of biologic variation are mitigated. In addition to characterizing tumor malignancy in such a “classification” experimental design, it is also of interest to quantitatively monitor the effect of therapy or intervention, as reflected in tissue microvascular properties. Particularly, antiangiogenic pharmaceuticals might be expected to have an effect on tumor vascularization, which might have imaging correlates in terms of fractional blood volume and microvascular permeability (26–31). Thus, a separate study was performed, comparing Gd-DTPA with albumin-Gd-DTPA with the objective of providing a noninvasive measure of efficacy of therapeutic intervention.
Role of mammalian Mre11 in classical and alternative nonhomologous end joining

The mammalian Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex coordinates double-strand break signaling with repair by homologous recombination and is associated with the H2A.X chromatin response to double-strand breaks, but its role in nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is less clear. Here we show that Mre11 promotes efficient NHEJ in both wild-type and Xrcc4(-/-) mouse embryonic stem cells. Depletion of Mre11 reduces the use of microhomology during NHEJ in Xrcc4(+/+) cells and suppresses end resection in Xrcc4(-/-) cells, revealing specific roles for Mre11 in both classical and alternative NHEJ. The NHEJ function of Mre11 is independent of H2A.X. We propose a model in which both enzymatic and scaffolding functions of Mre11 cooperate to support mammalian NHEJ.
Wrapping web data into XML

The vast majority of online information is part of the World Wide Web. In order to use this information for more than human browsing, web pages in HTML must be converted into a format meaningful to software programs. Wrappers have been a useful technique to convert HTML documents into semantically meaningful XML files. However, developing wrappers is slow and labor-intensive. Further, frequent changes on the HTML documents typically require frequent changes in the wrappers. This paper describes XWRAP Elite, a tool to automatically generate robust wrappers. XWRAP breaks down the conversion process into three steps. First, discover where the data is located in an HTML page and separating the data into individual objects. Second, decompose objects into data elements. Third, mark objects and elements in an output format. XWRAP Elite automates the first two steps and minimizes human involvement in marking output data. Our experience shows that XWRAP is able to create useful wrapper software for a wide variety of real world HTML documents.
Skilled labor and nineteenth century Anglo-American managerial behavior

Since the appearance of Habakkuk’s Ainevican and ~~it~~~ Technobgy in the nineteenth Century a decade ago, economic ~isto~ans have renewed their interest in the alr the present paper develops an historically relevant framework which is consistent with all four of the above observations. In so doing, we hope our arguments will redirect economic historians from the narrow confines of the more recent “dear labor” debate to the far broader issues raised initially by Habakkuk’s stimulating book. ~abakkuk’ expands on a posthumous paper by Rot~barth~ and advances the following argument:
Cytokines increase proliferation of human intestinal smooth muscle cells: Possible role in inflammation-induced stricture formation

Crohn's disease is an idiopathic, chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that causes narrowing and stricturing of primarily the small and large intestine. Although the mechanism(s) by which chronic inflammation promotes stricture formation remain to be defined, it does appear to be associated histologically with a hyperplasia of smooth muscle cells and an increased deposition of collagen within the bowel wall. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of two proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1, on the proliferation of human intestinal smooth muscle cells in vitro. Human intestinal smooth muscle cells were seeded at subconfluent densities into 24-well plates in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (0.1–100 ng/ml), interleukin-1 (0.1–500 ng/ml), or control medium (without cytokines) was then added to the cells and incubation continued for 48 or 72 h. Proliferation was determined by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine, added during the final 18 h, into the cellular DNA of the smooth muscle cells. Both cytokines caused a significant dose-dependent increase in intestinal smooth muscle cell proliferation relative to control. These results suggest that the interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor produced during chronic inflammation in vivo may enhance the proliferation of smooth muscle cells within the intestinal bowel wall and hence potentially contribute to the narrowing and stricturing of the intestine that is observed in Crohn's disease.
“THE NATURE OF CITIES” AND URBAN GEOGRAPHY IN THE LAST HALF CENTURY

On the 50th anniversary of the publication in 1945 of The Nature of Cities by Harris and Ullman, with its concentric zone, sector, and multiple nuclei models of internal patterns of cities, an additional peripheral model is suggested. Further observations are offered on central place, clustered, and linear patterns of distribution of cities. Developments in the geography of cities in the United States and Canada and the published contributions of urban geographers in North America in the last half century are summarized.
Detection Limits in the Far Infrared

The advent of far infrared arrays will change fundamentally the means of analyzing observations in this spectral region. Sources much fainter than traditional “confusion limits” will be extracted from images by using computer algorithms similar to CLEAN or DAOPHOT. We have conducted numerical experiments to evaluate these techniques and show that they will permit long integrations (∼10,000 sec at 60 μm, ∼200 sec at 100 μm) to achieve nearly photon-background-limited performance and hence very deep detection limits. The dominant noise sources—photon noise, confusion by distant galaxies, and confusion by IR cirrus — scale with nearly the same power of the telescope aperture. As a result, the integration times required to reach confusion limits are nearly aperture-independent.
Surface roughness and thermal stability of graded cermet photothermal absorber coatings with very high absorptivities

Abstract MoAl 2 O 3 and PtAl 2 O 3 cermet coatings can be roughend by the use of a high substrate temperature during deposition. This effect can be used to raise significantly the efficiency of graded-index photothermal absorbers made from these coatings. Roughness lowers the stability in air of MoAl 2 O 3 absorbers but has little effect on vacuum stability. The stability in air of PtAl 2 O 3 absorbers is little affected by roughness. Thus roughened PtAl 2 O 3 (MoAl 2 O 3 ) absorbers seem to be extremely well suited for in-air (evaluated) collector applications operating at high temperatures and under a high concentrations of solar flux.
Sex Pheromone of the Plant Bug Phytocoris californicus (Heteroptera: Miridae)

The sex attractant pheromone produced by adult females of the mirid bug Phytocoris californicus Knight has been identifed as a 2:1 blend of hexyl acetate and E 2-octenyl acetate. The pheromone is stage-, sex-, and species-specific, attracting only adult male P. californicus. Hexyl acetate was identified in aeration extracts from both sexes, whereas E 2- octenyl acetate was produced only by females. Both males and females also produced hexyl butyrate and hexanol, whereas only females produced octyl acetate, E 2-hexenyl and octenyl acetates, Z3-octenyl acetate, and E 2-octenyl butyrate. The function(s) of the chemicals that were not part of the attractant pheromone were not determined. Attraction of males increased with dose over a dose range of 0.1-33 mg loaded on gray rubber septa. Attractiveness of rubber septum lures decreased quickly with age because of the volatility of the 2 pheromone components
Carbon molecular sieve supports for metal catalysts-II. Selective hydrogenation of hydrocarbons over platinum supported on polyfurfuryl alcohol carbon

Abstract The system platinum supported on a carbon molecular sieve has been prepared by carbonizing polyfurfuryl alcohol containing chloroplatinic acid and an activated carbon filler. Static adsorption results indicated that this material could be roughly classed as a 5A molecular sieve since its capacity for butane was 6 times that for isobutane. In addition, evidence was obtained for the presence of slit-shaped pores or pore constrictions. Using a continuous flow technique, shape selectivity was demonstrated for the competitive hydrogenations of 3-methyl-l-butene with both 1-butene and cyclopentene. No such selectivity was observed in the 1-butene: isobutene system, probably due to the planar structure of isobutene and the significant diffusivity of isobutane at the reaction temperature used.
Disparities in Job Placement Outcomes Among Deaf, Late-Deafened, and Hard-of-Hearing Consumers:

This report identifies disparities in the proportions of vocational rehabilitation (VR) cases closed into competitive jobs (Status 26) based on type of hearing loss (i.e., deaf, late-deafened, and ...
Hybrid Design of Electric Power Generation Systems Including Renewable Sources of Energy.

With the stricter environmental regulations and diminishing fossil-fuel reserves, there is now higher emphasis on exploiting various renewable sources of energy. These alternative sources of energy are usually environmentally friendly and emit no pollutants. However, the capital investments for those renewable sources of energy are normally high, and there are also maintenance cost differences to be considered. Furthermore, due to the intermittency of some of these power sources, reliability issues should be addressed when integrating different power sources. In this article, as an example, the design of hybrid generating systems comprising wind turbine generators, photovoltaic panels, and storage batteries is discussed based on multidisciplinary optimization. In this multisource generation system design, three design objectives are considered, that is, system cost, reliability, and pollutant emissions.
Purification and Characterization of Transglutaminase from Japanese Oyster (Crassostrea gigas)

A total of 73% transglutaminase (TGase) activity was detected in the gills and mantles of Japanese oysters (Crassostrea gigas), and TGase was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by column chromatography. Two types of TGase with molecular weights of the 84 000 (TG-1) and 90 000 (TG-2) were obtained. The optimum pH was 8.0 for both TGases, and the optimum temperature for TG-1 and TG-2 was 40 and 25 °C, respectively. The activity of TG-1 increased with NaCl concentrations, whereas that of TG-2 was inhibited by NaCl. In the absence of NaCl, the activity of TG-1 increased with CaCl2 concentrations up to 100 mM, but the concentration required to express full activity of TG-2 was 25 mM. This CaCl2 concentration was lowered to 25 mM for TG-1 in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl, but not changed for TG-2. The e-(γ-glutamyl)lysine was not detected in fresh oyster but was detected in processed oyster, suggesting the possibility that the intrinsic TGases react in the manufacturing process of oyster products...
On the generic behavior of the electrical permittivity at low frequencies

Abstract We discuss the complex-valued electrical permittivity and show that generally the real part ϵ ′ ( ω ) is a decreasing function of frequency from ω = 0 to near the location of the first resonance. This behavior results from the dominance of dipolar relaxation, and we use a theory with a general distribution function y ( τ ) of relaxation times to describe it. Our result applies to a very wide class of materials, typically up to THz frequencies.
Health Hazards Of Weak Electromagnetic Fields

For the past several decades, public and scientific debates have continued over a shifting range of issues about possible adverse health effects of nonionizing electromagnetic fields. Electromagnetic fields are surely hazardous, at some level of exposure. However, the well-established hazards (such as shock and burn) are obvious, mundane, and easily avoided. Various exposure standards and engineering codes offer effective protection against them. More controversial is the possibility of hazard at lower levels of exposure. Hazards have been alleged by some critics to be associated with: low-level microwave or radiofrequency radiation, and electric and/or magnetic fields associated with video display terminals (VDTs), household appliances, neighborhood distribution lines, and high voltage power transmission lines. These critics cite diverse laboratory and epidemiologic studies to support their claims of subtle hazard. I describe the scientific background of one such issue: the possibility of increased cancer risk from exposure to 50-60 Hz electric or magnetic fields. I argue that the evidence for any such hazard is weak, and much of the problem arises from scientific ambiguity, which is a common feature of risk assessment.
On the construction of a hyper-Kähler metric on the moduli space of monopoles

Abstract This note describes the explicit construction of the 4( k −1)-dimensional moduli space of k -monopoles in center-of-mass coordinates. This space is known to have a natural hyper-Kahler structure. We show how the construction of this hyper-Kahler metric can be reduced to solving a gauge orthogonality condition.
Adventures in Near-Earth Object Exploration

Asteroids, because of the hazard they pose to Earth, are compelling targets for robotic and human space exploration. Yet because of their exotic low-gravity environment, simply landing on an asteroid appears to be much more challenging than we had appreciated 5 or 10 years ago. Thanks to a bold new mission from Japan that has made the first asteroid sample return attempt, this goal is now within our reach.
Normal calves from transfer of biopsied, sexed and vitrified IVP bovine embryos.

Data on biopsied, sexed and cryopreserved in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos, and their in vivo developmental competence are very limited. Two preliminary studies were conducted before the primary study. In Experiment 1, post-thaw in vitro developmental competence of biopsied and vitrified IVP embryos was evaluated using re-expansion as an endpoint. In Experiment 2, the pregnancy rates of biopsied fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos following single embryo transfer were compared. Since vitrified embryos resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than frozen-thawed embryos, in the primary study (Experiment 3), all IVP embryos were vitrified following biopsy and sexing (by DNA fingerprinting). In Experiment 3, we compared pregnancy initiation and calving results of heifers in the following treatments: 1) artificial insemination (AI); 2) AI plus contralateral transfer of a single embryo (AI+SET); 3) ipsilateral transfer of single embryo (SET); or 4) bilateral transfer of two embryos (DET). Birth weights, gestation lengths and dystocia scores were recorded. In Experiment 1, post-thaw reexpansion rate of biopsied and vitrified embryos was 85% (7082). In Experiment 2, pregnancy rates (90 d) were 44% (716), 23% (313), and 50% (714) for vitrified, frozen and fresh embryos, respectively (P<0.10). In Experiment 3, pregnancy rates of AI and SET were 65% (2031) and 40% (1640), respectively (P<0.05). The pregnancy rate of AI+SET was 75% (2736) with 11 carrying twins, and the pregnancy rate of DET was 72% (2636) with 10 carrying twins. All AI fetuses were carried to term, but only half the SET fetuses were carried to term. Similar calving rates were observed in the AI+SET and DET groups, 76 and 70%, respectively, of those pregnant at Day 40. Mean birth weight, dystocia score and gestation length of AI calves were not different from those of SET calves. Mean birth weight and dystocia score of single-born calves were greater than those of twin born calves (P<0.05). These data demonstrate that biopsied IVP bovine embryos can be successfully cryopreserved by vitrification and following post-thaw embryo transfer, acceptable rates of offspring with normal birth weights can be obtained without major calving difficulties.
The computer aided design of processor architectures

A design automation system is described which has certain features that make it particularly well suited to the automation and analysis of entire digital systems; including hardware, firmware and software. The code includes facilities for automated synthesis, simulation and documentation. The languages, called LINDA and MODEL, and their processing algorithms are described.Examples of computer architecture studies which have been conducted using LINDA and MODEL are also presented. These include development of an associative processor and investigations related to a logic-in-memory architecture. It is stressed that reliance on the appropriate design automation procedures have expedited the work and reduced the cost of research by eliminating the implementation phase as a necessary prerequisite to the study of machine concepts.
Set-up games: a heuristic game-theoretic approach to set-up decisions for heterarchical manufacturing systems

Heterarchical control systems have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional centralized and hierarchical shop floor control systems. However, research to date has largely ignored long-term control issues such as the timing of resource reconfigurations, which are vital for the avoidance of myopic decision-making. As traditional analysis techniques implicitly assume centralized analysis and implementation of policies, they are not directly applicable to heterarchical environments. A non-cooperative game-theoretic planning technique for autonomous analyses of reconfiguration decisions by heterarchical machine controllers is described. Under the proposed system, a machine controller evaluates a set-up game to determine appropriate actions when faced with a sequence-independent reconfiguration decision. The prescribed action is defined by a pure or mixed-strategy equilibrium of the set-up game. By evaluating a game, the machine controller accounts for the potential actions and reactions of other machi...
Optimal control for predicting customized drug dosage for superovulation stage of in vitro fertilization

in vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most highly pursued assisted reproductive technologies (ART) worldwide. IVF procedure is divided into four stages: Superovulation, Egg-retrieval, Insemination/Fertilization and Embryo transfer. Among these superovulation is the most crucial stage since it involves external injection of hormones to stimulate development and maturation of multiple follicles or oocytes. Although numerous advancements have been made in IVF procedures, little attention has been given to modifying the existing protocols based on a 'patient specific' predictive model. A model for follicle growth and number change as a function of the injected hormones and patient characteristics has been developed and validated for data available on 50 superovulation cycles. The model has 9 patient specific parameters which can be determined from the initial 2 days of observation and can help in projecting the superovulation outcome for the ongoing cycle. Based on this model, the dosage of the hormones to stimulate multiple ovulation or follicle growth is predicted by using the theory of optimal control. The objective of successful superovulation is to obtain maximum number of mature oocytes/follicles within a particular size range. Using the mathematical model of follicle growth dynamics and optimal control theory, optimal dose and frequency of medication customized for each patient (n=5) is predicted for obtaining the desired result. The results indicate a better final day follicle size distribution when the dosage of the hormones is varied by some amounts as compared to the actual dosage given to the patient in the existing cycles. This ensures a better success rate for the superovulation cycles and reduces the costs of excess medication and daily monitoring. The idea is to provide the medical practitioners with a guideline for planned treatment, for a procedure currently based on trial and error in order to get better success rates.
Teaching Neuroscience through Web Adventures: Adolescents Reconstruct the History and Science of Opioids

New technological and cultural developments surrounding adolescents’ use of the World Wide Web offer an opportunity for turning aspects of the Internet gaming phenomenon to the advantage of neuroscience education. Specifically, an experimental project to transmit aspects of problem-based learning and the National Science Standards through an interactive Web adventure is reported here. The Reconstructors is an episodic Web-based adventure series entitled Medicinal Mysteries from History. It is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the first series focuses on opioids. It was created with the input of middle school students and teachers. Through the use of multimedia technologies, middle school students enter a futuristic world in which they become “reconstructors,” members of an elite scientific unit charged with recovering lost medical knowledge about analgesic drugs. Two of the four episodes have been evaluated through a comprehensive review process involving middle school students, teachers...
Design and Performance of a High-Power Pulsed Klystron

This paper describes the design, theory, construction, and operation of multi-megawatt pulsed klystrons.
The Effect of Spatial and Temporal Interactions on the Responses of Single Units in the Cat's Visual Cortex

Single unit recordings from the striate cortex of the cat were used to study information processing in the visual cortex. This was done in two steps: First, the proportions of units in the cortex responding to stimulus-on only, stimulus-off only, or both, were compared to the theoretical probability of similarly distributed responses, given a random selection of TV on-center and/or off-center fibers. It was shown that afferent input onto a cortical pyramidal neuron probably comes from only a few (three to six) individual fibers, forming parallel and relatively independent input/output (I/O) pathways. Second, by comparing the responses of cortical units to single and two-point stimulation, it was shown that interactions occur between neighboring neurons receiving nearby projections of the visual world. These interactions modulate the responses in the I/O pathways, effectively “tuning” the cells to respond selectively to a more specific stimulus configuration than would otherwise be required. The results of...
p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase interacts with vinculin at focal adhesions during fatty acid-stimulated cell adhesion.

Arachidonic acid stimulates cell adhesion by activating α2β1 integrins in a process that depends on protein kinases, including p38 mitogen activated protein kinase. Here, we describe the interaction of cytoskeletal components with key signaling molecules that contribute to the spreading of, and morphological changes in, arachidonic acid-treated MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells. Arachidonic acid-treated cells showed increased attachment and spreading on collagen type IV, as measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. Fatty acid-treated cells displayed short cortical actin filaments associated with an increased number of β1 integrin-containing pseudopodia, whereas untreated cells displayed elongated stress fibers and fewer clusters of β1 integrins. Confocal microscopy of arachidonic acid-treated cells showed that vinculin and phospho-p38 both appeared enriched in pseudopodia and at the tips of actin filaments, and fluorescence ratio imaging indicated the increase was specific for the phosp...
A survey for short-period pulsars

All extensive pulsar surveys to date1–5 have had sensitivities that deteriorate rapidly for periods P shorter than a few-tenths of a second, and none of them has had any appreciable sensitivity for P<30 ms. For this reason, the unexpected discovery of two millisecond pulsars6,7 raised the question of the possible existence of a large population of very short-period pulsars, previously overlooked because of bias in the surveys. In an attempt to remove this bias, we have carried out an extensive new survey sensitive to pulsar periods as short as 4 ms. The search covered ∼ 3,725 square degrees, mostly at galactic latitudes |b| < 15° and longitudes 15° < l<230°, with a sensitivity of 2–100 mJy depending on period, dispersion measure, and sky background temperature. We detected 87 pulsars, including 20 new ones, but found none with P< 100 ms. We conclude that the Galaxy does not contain a large population of pulsars with 4< P< 100 ms, unless their radio luminosities are substantially less than those of slower pulsars.
On the derivation of dynamical equations for a system with an interface I: General theory

Abstract In this paper we lay the groundwork for the molecular derivation of the macroscopic equations describing the temporal behavior of two-phase systems. A description of the system in terms of the bulk densities and the multipole moments of the surface excess densities is developed. The exact equations of motion are approximated by neglecting higher order multipoles and by insisting that the bulk properties are macroscopic. This results in boundary conditions for the dynamic equations for the bulk densities and lower order surface multipoles.
THE ADSORPTION OF EGG ALBUMIN ON COLLODION MEMBRANES.

An experimental study has been made of the adsorption of purified egg albumin, from aqueous solution, on collodion membranes. At protein concentrations of 4 to 7 per cent apparent saturation values were obtained which resembled closely the results obtained with gelatin, showing a maximum at pH 5.0 and lower values on either side of this region. Over large ranges of protein concentration, however, the curves for the adsorption from solutions removed in either direction from the isoelectric point exhibited a different shape from the hyperbola obtained in the neighborhood of pH 5.0. The addition of NaCl to solutions on the acid side tended to obliterate the effect of the pH difference; on the alkaline side it greatly increased the adsorption. The adsorption at 25 degrees was about twice as great as that at 1 degrees . The theory of the swelling of submicroscopic particles, advanced to account for the adsorption behavior of gelatin, is not sufficient to explain the results obtained with egg albumin. It is suggested that the effect is related to alterations in the forces causing the retention of the protein on the membranes.
Integrating customer-base strategies into effective measurement

Abstract Many firms such as Mcdonnell Douglas, Motorola, AT&T, and others have implemented various quality programs. Yet, more firms need to adopt quality practices to survive in the global market. Organizations that understand the customers and the quality process, will improve their performance, profitability, and market share. The practice of such strategy will lead the organizations to superior business success. The research question that emerges from this study is, how well does customers feedback and quality process predict business success. The measures used to gather data in this study consist of the quality orientation scale developed by Sussan (1995). The scale was validated through factor analysis.
Pharyngeal Mucoceles in Dogs

Eight cases of pharyngeal mucoceles were diagnosed in 49 dogs with salivary mucoceles over a 7 year period. Five of the eight pharyngeal mucoceles were seen in Miniature Poodles. The presenting complaint in all eight dogs was labored breathing, with or without coughing upon excitement or exercise. Diagnosis was made by aspirating a thick mucoid fluid from the pharyngeal swelling. Treatment consisted of resection of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands on the affected side and aspiration of the mucocele in all eight dogs, and resection of redundant pharyngeal tissue in five dogs. Time to follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 7.5 years. There were no postsurgical complications or recurrences of the mucocele.
Name and Ethnic Identity: Experiences of Korean Women in Japan

Koreans living in Japan, so-called Zainichi Koreans, were historically forced to use Japanese names during the annexation (1910–45) and have been using them until today. While most Zainichi Koreans...
Increased uniformity in the response of the Coomassie blue G protein assay to different proteins.

Coomassie blue G dye-based protein assays are exceptionally convenient because of their simplicity, sensitivity, speed, and resistance to interfering chemicals, notably reducing agents and most buffers. A major problem with the assay is the variation in response to different proteins. The addition of NaOH to the protein assay reagent reduced the variation in the response of this assay to different proteins. In addition, the sensitivity of the assay is increased. The NaOH can be added either in a separate step to solubilize cells or membranes or directly to the reagent. Linear standard curves were obtained when the log of the absorbance was plotted against the log of the protein quantity.
The cellular simultaneous recurrent network adaptive critic design for the generalized maze problem has a simple closed-form solution

The generalized maze problem has been considered as an interesting testbed by various researchers in AI and neural networks. The most significant results, from a neural networks point of view, were: 1. Simultaneous recurrent networks are necessary if a neural network-based cellular automaton approach to the problem is to be successful. 2. These networks can be designed so that convergence to a correct solution is assured. Here, a simple closed-form solution for the critic is shown, making adaptation unnecessary. Furthermore, it is shown that the design converges to the correct solution in only J steps, and the worst case convergence speed for an N/spl times/N mesh is derived.
Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation in a Pearsei cichlid (Cichlasoma pearsei).

R., SACRISTAN, C., DE LAS HERAS, A., FERRO, A. & LATIMER, K. S. (1997) First report of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in pigs in Spain. Veterinary Record 141, 600-601 SZEREDI, L., SCHILLER, I., SYDER, T., GUSCETTI, F., HEINEN, E., CORBOZ, L., EGGENBERGER, E., JONES, G. E. & POSPISCHIL, A. (1996) Intestinal chlamydia in finishing pigs. Veterinary Pathology 33, 369-374 ZAHN, I., SZEREDI, L., SCHILLER, I., STRAUMANN KUNZ, U., BURGI, E., GUSCETTI, F., HEINEN, E., CORBOZ, L., SYDLER, T. & POSPISCHIL, A. (1995) Immunohistologischer nachweis von Chlamydia psittaci/pecorum und C trachomatis im ferkel-darm. Journal of Veterinary Medicine B 42, 266-276
Space charge effects in diluted beam

For the particle acceleration with a laser-based source, the beams with particle's population required around one million only. The length of the bunch of the order of a micrometer yields such spacing between the particles, that the pancakes of the electromagnetic fields of individual particles are not overlapped at the cross section of the bunch. The space charge effects in this diluted beam considered. A comparison made with usual formula for betatron tune shift in self-field.
Convection in a radiating gas

We have made a theoretical and experimental study of the effect of radiative transfer on the onset of convection by means of comparative experiments in dry air and ammonia contained between horizontal aluminium plates maintained at different temperatures.The first effect of radiative transfer is to distort the linear, diffusive profile in the initial, pre-convective state. A non-grey theory is developed and is shown to predict the non-linear profiles profiles with satisfactory accuracy. The change of radiative flux with pressure of ammonia is also predicted and confirmed. This constitutes the first successful attempt to confirm the methods used in atmospheric studies in controlled experiment.A non-grey theory of the onset of convection is developed, separating effects associated with the distortion of the static state and the dissipative effect of radiative transfer on temperature fluctuations.Experiments indicate that the critical Rayleigh number in ammonia can be greatly increaesd over the best value for air (Rac = 1786); the maximum observed being Rac = 4870. Theory and experiment are shown to agree within reasonable limits.This work confirms the validity of methods which are of great importance to astrophysics and atmospheric physics.
Measuring Impact Rebound with Photography

To study the rebound of a sphere colliding against a flat wall, a test setup was developed where the sphere is suspended with strings as a pendulum, elevated, and gravity-released to impact the wall. The motion of the sphere was recorded with a high- speed camera and traced with an image-processing program. From the speed of the sphere before and after each collision, the coefficient of restitution was computed, and shown to be a function of impact speed as predicted analytically.
New phenolic compounds from Liatris elegans

Chemical investigation on the whole plants of Liatris elegans resulted in the isolation and identification of the new ferulic acid ester (1) and arylnaphthalene lignan (2), together with 13 known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were established as p-hydroxyphenylferulate (1) and 5,3′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxy-2,7′-cycloligna-7,7′-diene-9,9′-lactone (2) by extensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analyses.
Interlimb Coordination During Locomotion: What Can be Adapted and Stored?

Interlimb coordination is critically important during bipedal locomotion and often must be adapted to account for varying environmental circumstances. Here we studied adaptation of human interlimb coordination using a split-belt treadmill, where the legs can be made to move at different speeds. Human adults, infants, and spinal cats can alter walking patterns on a split-belt treadmill by prolonging stance and shortening swing on the slower limb and vice versa on the faster limb. It is not known whether other locomotor parameters change or if there is a capacity for storage of a new motor pattern after training. We asked whether adults adapt both intra- and interlimb gait parameters during split-belt walking and show aftereffects from training. Healthy subjects were tested walking with belts tied (baseline), then belts split (adaptation), and again tied (postadaptation). Walking parameters that directly relate to the interlimb relationship changed slowly during adaptation and showed robust aftereffects during postadaptation. These changes paralleled subjective impressions of limping versus no limping. In contrast, parameters calculated from an individual leg changed rapidly to accommodate split-belts and showed no aftereffects. These results suggest some independence of neural control of intra- versus interlimb parameters during walking. They also show that the adult nervous system can adapt and store new interlimb patterns after short bouts of training. The differences in intra- versus interlimb control may be related to the varying complexity of the parameters, task demands, and/or the level of neural control necessary for their adaptation.
Reflections on the generalization of agency theory: Cross-cultural considerations

Abstract Agency theory assumes that employees and employers have different goals, act in a self-interested manner, and are willing to assume varying degrees of risk. In this paper, we argue that cultural differences may attenuate those assumptions and thereby temper agency theory predictions. Culture may align goals between employers and employees, change a company's preference for behavior- versus outcome-based pay, require higher incentives before employees will accept outcome-based pay, and lower the moral hazard concerns associated with outcome-based pay. Based on those arguments, we develop propositions that can be tested empirically.
The Electric Field Gradient Tensor

The quadruple splitting of Fe57 Mosshauer spectra has not been generally useful for structure and bonding studies, although many useful applications have been made of isomer shift. This is so for good reason—the quadrupole splitting is a function of the two independent parameters of the electric field gradient (efg) tensor. Alone, it determines neither parameter. Several methods exist for the determination of these parameters, and the most generally applicable one is due to Ruby and Flinn. A large magnetic field., typically produced by a superconducting magnet, splits the remaining degeneracies and gives characteristic distortions to the initially quadrupole-split lines. J. R. Gabriel’s theoretical program for this effect, modified slightly, has been run on a fast digital computer for a number of fields, splittings, line widths, and parameters of the efg tensor. Local vibrational anisotropy is explicitly omitted in this treatment. The results are generally useful m guiding the interpretation of magnetically split spectra. Applications are discussed. The method appears to possess general utility, and should enlarge considerably the contribution of Mosshauer spectroscopy to studies of structure and bonding. There results are applicable to Sn119 compounds as welL.
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium in upland tropical forest soils

The internal transformations of nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems exert strong controls over nitrogen availability to net primary productivity, nitrate leaching into ground- water, and emissions of nitrogen-based greenhouse gas. Here we report a reductive pathway for nitrogen cycling in upland tropical forest soils that decreases the amount of nitrate susceptible to leaching and denitrification, thus conserving nitrogen in the ecosystem. Using '5N tracers we measured rates of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in upland humid tropical forest soils averaging -0.6 p1g-g-'d-'. Rates of DNRA were three times greater than the combined N20 and N2 fluxes from nitrification and denitrification and accounted for 75% of the turnover of the nitrate pool. To determine the relative im- portance of ambient C, 02, and NO3 concentrations on rates of DNRA, we estimated rates of DNRA in laboratory assays using soils from three tropical forests (cloud forest, palm forest, and wet tropical forest) that differed in ambient C and 02 concentrations. Rates of DNRA measured in laboratory assays ranged from 0.5 to 9 (Lgg-'gd-' in soils from the three different forests and appeared to be primarily limited by the availability of NO3, as opposed to C Or 02. Tests of sterile soils indicated that the dominant reductive pathway for both NO2 and NO3 was biotic and not abiotic. Because NH4 is the form of N generally favored for assimilation by plants and microbes, and NO3 is easily lost from the ecosystem, the rapid and direct transformation of NO3 to NH4 via DNRA has the potential to play an important role in ecosystem N conservation.
Deformation mechanisms in free-standing nanoscale thin films: A quantitative in situ transmission electron microscope study

We have added force and displacement measurement capabilities in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) for in situ quantitative tensile experimentation on nanoscale specimens. Employing the technique, we measured the stress–strain response of several nanoscale free-standing aluminum and gold films subjected to several loading and unloading cycles. We observed low elastic modulus, nonlinear elasticity, lack of work hardening, and macroscopically brittle nature in these metals when their average grain size is 50 nm or less. Direct in situ TEM observation of the absence of dislocations in these films even at high stresses points to a grain-boundary-based mechanism as a dominant contributing factor in nanoscale metal deformation. When grain size is larger, the same metals regain their macroscopic behavior. Addition of quantitative capability makes the TEM a versatile tool for new fundamental investigations on materials and structures at the nanoscale.
Alterations in chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan expression occur both at and far from the site of spinal contusion injury.

Abstract Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) present an inhibitory barrier to axonal growth and plasticity after trauma to the central nervous system. These extracellular and membrane bound molecules are altered after spinal cord injuries, but the magnitude, time course, and patterns of expression following contusion injury have not been fully described. Western blots and immunohistochemistry were combined to assess the expression of four classically inhibitory CSPGs, aggrecan, neurocan, brevican and NG2, at the lesion site and in distal segments of cervical and thoracic spinal cord at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days following a severe mid-thoracic spinal contusion. Total neurocan and the full-length (250 kDa) isoform were strongly upregulated both at the lesion epicenter and in cervical and lumbar segments. In contrast, aggrecan and brevican were sharply reduced at the injury site and were unchanged in distal segments. Total NG2 protein was unchanged across the injury site, while NG2+ profiles were distributed throughout the lesion site by 14 days post-injury (dpi). Far from the lesion, NG2 expression was increased at lumbar, but not cervical spinal cord levels. To determine if the robust increase in neurocan at the distal spinal cord levels corresponded to regions of increased astrogliosis, neurocan and GFAP immunoreactivity were measured in gray and white matter regions of the spinal enlargements. GFAP antibodies revealed a transient increase in reactive astrocyte staining in cervical and lumbar cord, peaking at 14 dpi. In contrast, neurocan immunoreactivity was specifically elevated in the cervical dorsal columns and in the lumbar ventral horn and remained high through 28 dpi. The long lasting increase of neurocan in gray matter regions at distal levels of the spinal cord may contribute to the restriction of plasticity in the chronic phase after SCI. Thus, therapies targeted at altering this CSPG both at and far from the lesion site may represent a reasonable addition to combined strategies to improve recovery after SCI.
Phenazines affect biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in similar ways at various scales.

Some pseudomonads produce phenazines, a group of small, redox-active compounds with diverse physiological functions. In this study, we compared the phenotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 and a mutant unable to synthesize phenazines in flow cell and colony biofilms quantitatively. Although phenazine production does not impact the ability of PA14 to attach to surfaces, as has been shown for Pseudomonas chlororaphis Maddula et al., 2006 and Maddula et al., 2008, it influences swarming motility and the surface-to-volume ratio of mature biofilms. These results indicate that phenazines affect biofilm development across a large range of scales, but in unique ways for different Pseudomonas species.
Econometric analysis of fire suppression production functions for large wildland fires

In this paper, we use operational data collected for large wildland fires to estimate the parameters of economic production functions that relate the rate of fireline construction with the level of fire suppression inputs (handcrews, dozers, engines and helicopters). These parameter estimates are then used to evaluate whether the productivity of fire suppression inputs during extensive fire suppression efforts are similar to productivity estimates derived from direct observation and used as standard rates by the US Forest Service. The results indicated that the production rates estimated with operational data ranged from ~14 to 93% of the standard rates. Further, the econometric models indicated that the productivity of all inputs taken together increases more than proportionally as their use is increased. This result may indicate economies of scale in fire suppression or, alternatively, that fire managers learn how resources may be deployed more productively over the course of a fire. We suspect that the identified productivity gaps are primarily due to unobserved factors related to fire behaviour, other resources at risk, firefighter fatigue, safety considerations and managerial decision-making. The collection of more precise operational data could help reduce uncertainty regarding the relative importance of factors that contribute to productivity shortfalls.