cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coal gasification studies: Part II. Reduction in the presence of I2 with H2, and H2O + metal, at pressures up to 3500 p.s.i. and temperatures of 600°C in all quartz reactors

Abstract An experimental method is described which allows coal reduction experiments to be made in all quartz reactors at temperatures up to 600°C and pressures of 3500 p.s.i. The method is applied to the study of the reactions: Coal + H 2 O + I 2 + Metal(Metal = Fe, Cr, Mo, Ni, Sn, Zn); H 2 O + I 2 + Metal, and Coal + H 2 + I 2 . It is shown that iodine is a catalyst for the water + metal hydrogen-producing reactions, and that the composite systems with coal are capable with Cr and Zn of completely reducing coal to gaseous hydrocarbons at 600°C. Thermodynamic and kinetic data are used to show that iodine functions as a coal reduction catalyst in the presence of molecular hydrogen at 600°C by permitting a finite steady state hydrogen atom concentration to be attained in the system.
Information commodities and the production process: how the introduction of case tools affects the software development life cycle

The goal of this research is to model the software production process in such a way that the effect of the introduction of CASE tools can be analyzed. The production process will be represented by graphs, with cost relations connecting the production steps shown as nodes. The model and the effect of the introduction of the CASE tool will be placed in a theoretical framework. Specifically, CASE tools are an example of the general category of information commodities, and the software production process is an example of manufacturing processes in general. Such an analytical framework is intended to contribute to the understanding of the software production process, the effects of automated tools on software production, and the effects of the introduction of information commodities into production processes in general. There have been attempts to understand the software production process abstractly, and to discuss the value of information. However, little theoretical study has been done to create a framework for understanding change to the production environment, especially from the user's viewpoint. This analytical framework will enable a potential user of a CASE tool to estimate the value of the tool to their organization, independent of any claims to value made by the tool producer. A relationship between the use of the tool and organizational flexibility and hierarchy may be shown. And finally, such ordered knowledge may be useful in strategic planning and policy making.
Flavoprotein Disulfide Reductases: Advances in Chemistry and Function

The flavoprotein disulfide reductases represent a family of enzymes that show high sequence and structural homology. They catalyze the pyridine-nucleotide-dependent reduction of a variety of substrates, including disulfide-bonded substrates (lipoamide dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase and functional homologues, thioredoxin reductase, and alkylhydroperoxide reductase), mercuric ion (mercuric ion reductase), hydrogen peroxide (NADH peroxidase), molecular oxygen (NADH oxidase), and the reductive cleavage of a carbonyl-activated carbon-sulfur bond followed by carboxylation (2-ketopropyl-coenzyme-M carboxylase?oxidoreductase). They use at least one nonflavin redox center to transfer electrons from reduced pyridine nucleotide to their substrate through flavin adenine dinucleotide. The nature of the nonflavin redox center located adjacent to the flavin varies and three types have been identified: an enzymic disulfide (most commonly), an enzymic cysteine sulfenic acid (NADH peroxidase and NADH oxidase), and a mixed Cys-S-S-CoA disulfide (coenzyme A disulfide reductase). Selection of the particular nonflavin redox center and utilization of a second, or even a third, nonflavin redox center in some cases presumably represents the most efficient strategy for reduction of the individual substrate.
Dogfish Shark (Squalus acanthias) Testes Contain a Relaxin

Relaxin is a 6-kd polypeptide that exerts important hormonal effects in many female mammals. Relaxin is produced by the ovary, placenta, or uterus in many mammalian species. The functions of relaxin in the male mammal are not yet firmly established, but there is some evidence suggesting an exocrine effect on sperm motility and fertilizability. In the male mammals that have been studied, relaxin is produced by the prostate gland (human) or seminal vesicles (boar). However, in the bird, the testis is the likely source of relaxin. Among the elasmobranchs, ovaries obtained from dogfish sharks have been shown to contain a polypeptide hormone that is structurally, biologically, and immunologically similar to mammalian relaxins, but the male reproductive tract of this species has not previously been investigated as a potential source of relaxin. Extracts of testes obtained from mature dogfish sharks have now been tested by a specific relaxin bioassay and by a homologous porcine radioimmunoassay for the presence of relaxin. Both crude and partially purified testicular extracts contained unmistakable guinea pig pubic symphysis-"relaxing" activity and relaxin-like immunoactivity. Following immunoaffinity purification, the shark testis polypeptide had an apparent specific activity of 88 microg porcine relaxin equivalents per milligram in the radioimmunoassay, which is similar to the immunoactivity of pure shark ovarian hormones. These data, therefore, strongly support the view that in dogfish sharks, the male as well as the female gonad produces relaxin. Furthermore, as the dogfish shark has existed as a species for about 200 million years, the data suggest that testicular relaxin appeared early in vertebrate evolution.
Examination of the Biceps Tendon

The examination of the shoulder for conditions involving the biceps tendon continues to be challenging. Numerous examination tests for biceps and superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions have been scientifically evaluated. This section reports on how to perform these tests and summarizes the clinical utility of the tests. Many of the tests for the examination of the biceps and for SLAP lesions do not have high sensitivity and specificity, which limits their usefulness. Although the dynamic shear test has promise for making the diagnosis of SLAP lesions, the studies reporting its clinical utility are disparate.
Abutting Consonants, Including Double Consonants. Function of Consonants in the Linkage of Syllables

The tension-tenue-detente analysis of Rousselot led him to group the arresting (terminal) consonant of one syllable with the releasing (initial) consonant of the next syllable; these were made to constitute a single “group.” On occasion the distinction between the two constituents was noted:
A Unified Recommendation Framework Based on Probabilistic Relational Models

Recommender systems are being increasingly adopted in various e-commerce applications. A wide range of recommendation approaches have been developed to analyze past consumer-product interactions, consumer attributes, and product attributes to predict customer preferences and future transactions. In this paper we propose a unified recommendation framework based on a relational learning formalism, probabilistic relational models (PRMs). This framework includes most existing recommendation approaches, such as collaborative filtering, content-based, demographic filtering, and hybrid approaches, as special cases. Relational learning attempts to capture the relational data patterns within a database containing multiple interlinked data tables. As a main statistical model for relational learning, PRMs extend from standard models such as Bayesian networks by describing probabilistic dependencies among attributes of the same object as well as attributes of related objects in a relational domain. The inputs for recommendation are typically stored in a relational database and the general recommendation problem can be naturally formulated as a relational learning problem. We extended the original PRMs in order to capture relational data patterns that are important for recommendation modeling. We also customized the algorithm for learning PRMs for both dependency model construction and parameter estimation to exploit the special characteristics of the recommendation problem. Through an experimental study, we demonstrate that the proposed framework not only conceptually unifies existing recommendation approaches but also allows the exploitation of a wider range of relational data patterns in an integrated manner, leading to improved recommendation performance.
Long-term efficacy of triple-vessel angioplasty in patients with severe three-vessel coronary artery disease

Abstract Between May 1982 and December 1988, a total of 103 patients underwent angioplasty of all three major coronary arteries at a single institution. Angiographic success was achieved in 334 of 352 vessels (95%) and in 441 of 460 lesions (96%). No patients required urgent bypass surgery, and none died during the procedure; six had non-Q wave infarctions. The mean length of follow-up time was 49 ± 15 months (range 28 to 107 months). There have been 11 deaths, and one patient has undergone cardiac transplantation. Thirty-six patients had a clinical recurrence; 30 had repeat angioplasty and five had bypass surgery. Another nine patients eventually had bypass surgery after the clinical recurrence. At 48 months actuarial event-free rates are myocardial infarction, 98%; bypass surgery, 88%; and death, 89%. Of 86 current survivors, 58 are in functional class O to I, 21 are in class II, and seven are in class III.
Children's racial bias in perceptions of others' pain

Previous research indicates that American adults, both Black and White, assume a priori that Black people feel less pain than do White people (Trawalter, Hoffman, & Waytz, 2012, PLoS One, 7[11], 1-8). The present work investigates when in development this bias emerges. Five-, 7-, and 10-year-olds first rated the amount of pain they themselves would feel in 10 situations such as biting their tongue or hitting their head. They then rated the amount of pain they believed two other children - a Black child and a White child, matched to the child's gender - would feel in response to the same events. We found that by age 7, children show a weak racial bias and that by age 10, they show a strong and reliable racial bias. Consistent with research on adults, this bias was not moderated by race-related attitudes or interracial contact. This finding is important because knowing the age of emergence can inform the timing of interventions to prevent this bias.
Synthesis and structural analysis of trans-Cp(CO)2(PPh3)WHgCl

Abstract The title compound was prepared by reaction of [Cp(CO) 3 W] 2 Hg with PPh 3 in the presence of chlorinated solvents. The compound was characterized by IR, 1 H and 31 P NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The subject compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 2 1 / n (No. 14, C 5 2 h ) with Z =4 and a =9.807(2), b =17.854(2), c =14.449(1) A and β=96.28(1)°. The final least-squares full-matrix refinement based on 2141 unique reflections yielded a reliability factor of 0.037. Bond lengths and angles are internally consistent and the van der Waals interactions are normal. Important geometric details are tabulated.
Combining ACL2 and an automated verification tool to verify a multiplier

We have extended the ACL2 theorem prover to automatically prove properties of VHDL circuits with IBM's Internal SixthSense verification system. We have used this extension to verify a multiplier used in an industrial floating point unit. The property we ultimately verify corresponds to the correctness of the component that produces a pair of bit-vectors whose summation is equal to the product. This property is beyond the scale of the SixthSense system alone. In this paper we show how we verified the multiplier by illustrating key ACL2 lemmas and theorems, and also properties checked by SixthSense.
Post-critical heat flux swirl flow heat transfer with two refrigerants and water

Boiling heat transfer in the post-critical heat flux (post-CHF) regime was studied experimentally under steady-state swirl flow conditions with low superheat temperatures of the heated surface. Experiments were performed with the vertical flow of refrigerant-113 (R-113) in a tube with an i.d. 7.75 mm and with a heated length of 3.66 m over the mass flux range of 375-535 kg/m 2 s at a pressure of 0.184 MPa. The use of R-113 as the boiling fluid significantly extended the property ranges of available post-CHF swirl-flow data. The swirl flow was generated in the refrigerant tube by the use of four twisted metal tapes with tape-twist ratios ranging from 2.5 to 9.2. Liquid heating produced the low-wall superheat (below 50°C) in the post-CHF region, that was stable at steady state, and that was typical of the operation of many heat exchangers. Superheated vapor measured at the test section exit in most tests ensured that the entire post-CHF region was included. R-113 data were compared with data for water and refrigerant-12. A form of an existing correlation for post-CHF swirl flow heat transfer was generalized, resulting in good predictions of both magnitudes and trends of the data of all three fluids.
Further chemical modification studies on concanavalin A, the carbohydrate binding protein of the jack bean.

Acetylation of concanavalin A with N-acetyl imidazole (30 molar excess of N-acetyl imidazole) demonstrated that “accessible” tyrosyl residues must not be directly involved in the binding of carbohydrates. More extensive modification with this reagent led to inactivation of the protein. Attempted affinity labelling of the concanavalin A binding sites with a series of p-diazophenyl glycosides failed. Treatment of concanavalin A with N-bromosuccinimide and 2-nitrophenyl sulfenyl chloride produced concomitant loss of activity with modification of tryptophanyl residues. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that several residues of tryptophan could be modified by treatment with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide without any loss in protein activity. Modification with bromoacetate and 2,3-butanedione led to inactivation of concanavalin A which appeared to be due to a general disruption of the protein structure rather than modification of specific aminoacyl residues in the carbohydrate combining sites.
The Surprising Optimist: Why Tom Daschle Believes That The Country Is Ready For Comprehensive Health Reform

When Tom Daschle was last a private citizen, Jimmy Carter was president, and the country was embroiled in a debate about how to control health care costs. After a distinguished twenty-six-year career in Congress, Daschle has a lot to say about not only health care costs but overall system reform. With his deep understanding of the inner workings of Congress, Daschle breaks from the prevailing belief that incrementalism is the right approach; comments on the novel use of budget reconciliation to pass reform; and argues that the country, including some business leaders, is ready for comprehensive change with a bigger role for government.
Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams for Freeway Networks: Theory and Observation:

Macroscopic fundamental diagrams (MFDs), which relate the total time spent to the total distance traveled, are explored for freeway networks. It is proposed that these macrolevel relations should be observed if the data come from periods when all lanes on all links throughout the network are in either the congested or the uncongested regime. The theory pertains to freeway networks of any size, even when they are inhomogeneously congested and the data are variable in time. Analysis of vehicle trajectories from two freeway stretches of modest physical length supports this theory. Study further reveals that MFDs can be estimated with data from ordinary loop detectors, provided that every link in the network has at least one detector station and that the data are filtered to meet (approximately) the single-regime requirement. Detector data then confirm that well-defined MFDs exist for other freeway stretches and that the relations are reproducible across days. The results demonstrate that the stringent single...
The Unintended Sentence of Criminal Justice Debt

Increases in both the number and amount of court fees, fines, and surcharges—regardless of offenders9 ability to pay—have become standard practice in courthouses throughout the United States. A recent report from the Brennan Center for Justice, as well as several others, have shown that imposing criminal justice debt can interfere with reentry and rehabilitation. In response to this identified problem, the Vera Institute of Justice is exploring a potential demonstration project that would help jurisdictions generate revenue and hold offenders accountable for their crimes without the unintended negative justice outcomes. The Fines and Fees Initiative seeks to ameliorate the negative consequences that criminal justice debt may have on individuals, communities, and criminal justice systems.
How I treat warfarin-associated coagulopathy in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with warfarin-associated coagulopathy is an increasingly common life-threatening condition that requires emergent management. The evolution of therapeutic options in this setting, as well as recently published guidelines, has resulted in some heterogeneity in recommendations by professional societies. This heterogeneity can be attributed to lack of evidence-based support for plasma therapy; the variability in availability of prothrombin complex concentrates; the variability in the coagulation factor levels and contents of prothrombin complex concentrates; ambiguity about the optimal dose and route of administration of vitamin K; and the lack of standardized clinical care pathways, particularly in community hospitals, for the management of these critical care patients. In this review, we summarize the relevant literature about these controversies and present recommendations for management of patients with warfarin-associated coagulopathy and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Intervening Tasks and Visuospatial Memory: The Role of Similarity in Retroactive Interference

Verbal tasks are often administered during the Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure Test (ROCFT) delay period in order to minimize retroactive interference resulting from similarity between tests (Meyers & Meyers, 1995). However, previous studies showed that similarity between the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II) and intervening tasks administered during the delay period did not affect memory performance on the CVLT-II. In the current study we examined whether intervening tasks similar to the ROCFT would increase retroactive interference compared to dissimilar tasks, thereby negatively impacting visuospatial memory performance. A total of 106 undergraduate students were divided into three groups. Each group completed different intervening tasks during the ROCFT delay interval. Groups did not differ on copy, immediate recall, and delayed recall trials of the ROCFT. However, a repeated-measures ANOVA revealed an interaction between group and trial (p < .001), suggesting group performance on the ROCFT w...
Distribution and uptake of glycine, glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid in the vagal nuclei and eight other regions of the rat medulla oblongata

In order to study the central neurochemical control of the vagus nerve, the contents of glycine, GABA, glutamate and five other amino acids have been measured in ten anatomically distinct regions of the rat medulla oblongata. Additionally, the high affinity uptake of glycine, GABA, glutamate, and leucine were measured in the same ten medullary regions. The data support published evidence for glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS), and glycinergic inhibition in the hypoglossal nucleus. The data also lead to the suggestion that GABA and glutamate may be taken up into glial cells which exist along fiber tracts.
Cellular distribution, subcellular localization and possible functions of basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors

The distribution in the rat nervous system of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) was analysed by a combination of biochemical and anatomical methods. Acidic FGF (aFGF) was found to be present exclusively in specific neuronal populations, such as motor neurons and basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Basic FGF (bFGF) was found in astrocytes and in neurons in hippocampal area CA2. Within labelled astrocytes and CA2-neurons, bFGF was detected in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The levels of intracellular bFGF were manipulated by antisense oligonucleotide treatment of cultures of developing neural crest cells. Results indicated that the amount of melanogenesis in the cultures is likely to be regulated by intracellular, possibly nuclear bFGF.
Spiders: a new user interface for rotation and visualization of n-dimensional point sets

We present a new method for creating n-dimensional rotation matrices from manipulating the projections of n-dimensional data coordinate axes onto a viewing plane. A user interface for n-dimensional rotation is implemented. The interface is shown to have no rotational hysteresis. >
Lidocaine plasma protein binding

The percent of unbound lidocaine in the plasma of 24 healthy subjects was measured by equilibrium dialysis after addition of 3 microgram/ml C14 lidocaine hydrochloride. The percentage of unbound lidocaine varied from 19.9 to 38.8 (30.2 +/- 5, mean +/- SD) was inversely related to the concentration of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) in the plasma (r = -0.931, p less than 0.001). The binding ratio (number of moles bound divided by number of moles unbound) of lidocaine was directly related to the plasma AAG concentration (r = 0.960, p less than 0.001). The binding ratio of lidocaine in solutions containing AAG but no albumin, prepared from the plasma of subjects in the study, was also directly related to the concentration of this acute-phase protein (r = 0.909, p less than 0.001). Human serum albumin solution (4 gm/100 ml) bound lidocaine to the extent of 20% under the same conditions. There was no relationship between the binding ratio of lidocaine and the albumin concentration in the plasma of the 24 subjects. In 7 normal subjects variation in AAG between 2 samples collected at least 1 mo apart was associated with a concomitant change in plasma lidocaine binding (r = 0.943, p less than 0.01). Thus even in normal subjects there is considerable interindividual and intraindividual variation in lidocaine binding, and measurements of AAG concentration in plasma may be a useful predictor of the extent of lidocaine plasma binding.
Directional analysis and filtering for dust storm detection in NOAA-AVHRR imagery

In this paper, we propose spatio-spectral processing techniques for the detection of dust storms and automatically finding its transport direction in 5-band NOAA-AVHRR imagery. Previous methods that use simple band math analysis have produced promising results but have drawbacks in producing consistent results when low signal to noise ratio (SNR) images are used. Moreover, in seeking to automate the dust storm detection, the presence of clouds in the vicinity of the dust storm creates a challenge in being able to distinguish these two types of image texture. This paper not only addresses the detection of the dust storm in the imagery, it also attempts to find the transport direction and the location of the sources of the dust storm. We propose a spatio-spectral processing approach with two components: visualization and automation. Both approaches are based on digital image processing techniques including directional analysis and filtering. The visualization technique is intended to enhance the image in order to locate the dust sources. The automation technique is proposed to detect the transport direction of the dust storm. These techniques can be used in a system to provide timely warnings of dust storms or hazard assessments for transportation, aviation, environmental safety, and public health.
MYOMETRIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SYRIAN HAMSTER UTERINE SMOOTH MUSCLE CELL LINE, SHM

We describe several characteristics of a novel smooth muscle cell line, SHM (Syrian hamster myometrium) derived from a primary uterine leiomyosarcoma which was induced by chronic estrogen plus androgen treatment of a female Syrian (golden) hamster. To determine the usefulness of the SHM cell line as a model for understanding myometrial function and its regulation, we have examined the morphologic and immunocytochemical properties of these cells, and the ability of uterotonic agonists to activate transmembrane signaling via phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The SHM cells exhibited a spindle-shape, smooth musclelike morphology when subconfluent, and a more compact, stellate shape at confluence. Like primary myocytes, SHM cells expressed the intermediate filament desmin and the contractile protein alpha smooth muscle actin, but not the epithelial antigen cytokeratin. Norepinephrine and bradykinin, which stimulate contraction and inositol polyphosphate production in the uterus, also stimulated inositol polyphosphate production in SHM cells. The maximal phosphoinositide signaling responses were lower in SHM cells compared with primary hamster uterine myocytes. We conclude that the SHM cell line exhibits primary uterine myocyte characteristics, and may therefore be a useful system for examining the mechanisms through which myometrial functions are regulated.
Differential Recovery of Multimodal MRI and Behavior after Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

The association between recovery of brain function and behavior after transient cerebral ischemia in animals and humans is incompletely characterized. Quantitative diffusion- (DWI), perfusion- (PWI...
Separation anxiety and the inhibition of aggression in preschool children

The anxiety, aggression, and affiliation responses of 10 high- and 10 low-separation-anxious 3-year-old children were observed under a control and a frustrating condition to test the hypothesis that separation anxiety is associated with the inhibition of aggression. High-separation-anxious Ss manifested significantly less (p < .01) increased aggression to frustration than did low-separation-anxious Ss; there were no group differences in state anxiety arousal or affiliation responses. The results were discussed in terms of the concept of anxiety as a drive having both cue and response-enhancing functions.
The Diagnostic Efficacy of Left Ventricle Hemodynamic Parameters: Classifying Normal Mitral Valves Against Prosthetic Disease Proxies

The dynamics of left ventricle diastolic filling and chamber stiffness are such critical processes in cardiac performance it has been suggested that the parameters of these processes could have important diagnostic power. This study has two objectives: (1) to estimate LV parameters from animal studies and test these parameters for diagnostic efficacy and (2) use Monte Carlo simulation techniques to determine if estimated LV parameters can be used to statistically classify subjects by disease state. The disease state we test are swine fitted with prosthetic mitral valves. Literature data on six swine instrumented for measuring left atrial and ventricle pressures and left ventricle volume before and after mitral valve replacement provide a unique data set for testing the diagnostic efficacy of estimated LV parameters since the prosthetic data can be considered a proxy for a diseased state, for example, mitral valve insufficiency. LV filling models and chamber stiffness models are estimated and their parameters subjected to rigorous statistical tests to elicit their ability to discriminate between normals and animals with prosthetic valve replacement. Additionally, the filling and chamber stiffness models are used to simulate subject-based Monte Carlo data to test empirical distributions for clinical applications of the statistical hypothesis. The E-wave normal and prosthetic filling models each have three parameters, similar structures, and both fit their respective data sets with remarkable accuracy and yet their parameters can be used to readily distinguish between a cohort of normal and a cohort of animals with prosthetic valve replacement. The chamber stiffness models and the E-wave filling models are sufficiently different between normal and animals with prosthetic valve replacement that it is possible to project their parameter vectors onto a scalar axis and develop individual subject z-scores for clinical applications. While it is preferable to compare normal animal data against chronically implanted animals, we argue from a statistical point of view that the filling and stiffness models estimated are sufficiently robust so as to provide evidence that their parameters do indeed have diagnostic power. Further, even in the presence of simulated data with added noise it is possible to make informed decisions as to subject disease classification or disease grade level. While it is recognized a prosthetic valve is an exaggerated disease state it is also true the statistical differences between normal and prosthetic animals were found to be exaggerated.
Interactions between orthogonal domain walls in gadolinium molybdate

Abstract Detailed investigation of orthogonal domains in (001) sections of single crystal ferroelectric ferroelastic gadolinium molybdate (Gd2(MoO4)3,GMO) have been undertaken using a high resolution decoration technique. Both the cusplike features and the bowing of the planar walls in the extended strain fields are observed. Thickness of the 180 degree walls as revealed by the decoration technique is estimated to be less than 1 μ.
Multiple Muscular Ventricular Septal Defects

Defects in the muscular portion of the interventricular septum are frequently multiple. Although their incidence is significant, scant attention has been paid them as a distinct entity. This report concerns seven patients with multiple muscular ventricular septal defects seen between 1956 and 1962. The patients ranged in age from 4 months to 9 years; five were less than 2 years old. Symptoms and signs of growth retardation, failure to thrive, and marked cardiac decompensation were present in each case. Electrocardiographic evidence of combined ventricular hypertrophy and incomplete right bundle-branch block was noted in each instance. Right heart catheterization demonstrated marked pulmonary hypertension of the high-flow, low-resistance type. These routine studies could not distinguish multiple muscular ventricular septal defects from the more usual membranous septal defect. All patients had cardiac surgery. There was one survivor. In three instances difficulty in identifying all of the multiple fenestrat...
Strategic Patterns of Internationalization and Performance Variability: Effects of US-Based MNC Cross-Border Dispersion, Integration, and Outsourcing

Abstract This paper examines how the performance variability of an MNC is affected by the strategic patterns it has used to expand abroad. The paper uses data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis annual surveys of U.S. companies with affiliates abroad to empirically support the hypotheses that: (a) cross-border geographic dispersion contributes to a decrease in performance variability; (b) cross-border integration contributes to an increase in performance variability; and (c) outsourcing contributes to a decrease in performance variability. Furthermore, the combined effects from the interaction of these strategic patterns are found to increase performance variability.
Mercury in small Illinois fishes: Historical perspectives and current issues

Documenting long-term trends in mercury deposition and/or accumulation is important in setting regulatory benchmarks, modeling contaminant transfer and flux, measuring success of environmental controls, and even assigning responsibility for pollution. We conducted a study to compare mercury concentrations in small fishes from “high-mercury” and “low-mercury” regions of Illinois, as well as to examine historic patterns of mercury availability using preserved fishes. Mercury concentrations were greater in four species of small fishes collected from a stream in a “high-mercury” region than in those same taxa collected from a stream in a “low-mercury” area in Illinois. Mercury concentrations in blackstripe topminnows (Fundulus notatus) declined dramatically between 1900 and 1961/2006 in the “high-mercury” stream, presumably due reductions in mercury releases from local and regional sources. Preserved fish had an apparent increase in mercury concentrations for up to 12 months, which is consistent with changes in mass and loss of proteins observed in other studies, and we recommend that recent samples be preserved for at least 12 months before comparison with older fluid-preserved material. Based on our results, further studies of mercury in small fishes in Illinois streams appear warranted.
Synthesis of the cis-fused hexahydroxanthene system via cationic cascade cyclization

The cis-fused hexahydroxanthene system can be obtained through a cascade cyclization initiated by Lewis acid-mediated epoxide opening and terminated by reaction with a MOM-protected phenol. Only a single diastereomer of the product was obtained with stereochemistry verified by diffraction analysis. This demonstrates the viability of this approach to natural products containing the cis-fused hexahydroxanthene skeleton, and supports preparation of more complex targets through a similar strategy.
The effects of anti-embryo sera and their localization on the cell surface during mouse preimplantation development.

Abstract We have developed two rabbit antisera, one against mouse blastocysts and a second against mouse placentae. After absorption of these antisera with adult mouse tissues and extensive dialysis, results from indirect immunofluorescence, cytotoxicity, and culturing experiments lead us to two major conclusions. First, anti-blastocyst serum detects a group of cell surface molecules whose expression is embryo-specific, stage-specific, and whose unaltered presence is required for preimplantation development in vitro. Second, anti-placenta serum detects a different group of cell surface molecules that are present before fertilization and become segregated to the syncytiotrophoblast, appear unessential for preimplantation development in vitro, and may function in trophoblast differentiation, and/or in protection of the fetus from maternal immunologic attack.
Lung involvement in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) : relation to classification based on extent of skin involvement or autoantibody status

Lung involvement accounts for significant morbidity and is a leading cause of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). It has been shown that different patterns of pulmonary involvement are seen in different subtypes of SSc. This paper reports a retrospective review of 72 patients with SSc to determine whether disease classification according to the extent of skin involvement alone (diffuse vs. limited) or autoantibody status was predictive of pulmonary parenchymal involvement. The diagnosis of interstitial lung disease was based on pulmonary function tests and chest radiographs. Restrictive lung disease was common in both limited SSc (lSSc) and diffuse SSc (dSSc), occurring in 30% and 50% of these patients respectively (P = 0.16). Radiographic evidence of significant interstitial disease was also comparable between the groups [nine of 32 lSSc patients (28%) vs. six of 17 dSSc patients (32%), P = n.s.]. No significant difference in mean lung function was found between patients with anti-Scl 70 antibody (n = 12) compared to those without (n = 60) (TLC 79.0 +/- SE 5.1% predicted vs. 82.8 +/- 2.2, P = n.s.; DLCO 63.0 +/- 5.1 vs. 59.7 +/- 2.5, P = n.s.). By contrast, statistically significant differences in mean lung function were found between patients with anticentromere antibody (ACA) (n = 24) and those without ACA (n = 48) (TLC 98.6 +/- SE 3.9% predicted vs. 79.7 +/- 3.1%, P < 0.001); and less frequent radiographic evidence of severe interstitial disease (0 of 17 with significant interstitial changes on chest radiograph vs. 15 of 32 (47%), P = 0.002). It is concluded that classification of SSc patients on the basis of the distribution of skin involvement poorly predicts the occurrence of interstitial lung disease. On the other hand, ACA is highly associated with the absence of interstitial lung disease.
Quantum simulator review

Quantum information processing's objective is to utilize revolutionary computing capability based on harnessing the paradigm shift offered by quantum computing to solve classically hard and computationally challenging problems. Some of our computationally challenging problems of interest include: the capability for rapid image processing, rapid optimization of logistics, protecting information, secure distributed simulation, and massively parallel computation. Currently, one important problem with quantum information processing is that the implementation of quantum computers is difficult to realize due to poor scalability and great presence of errors. Therefore, we have supported the development of Quantum eXpress and QuIDD Pro, two quantum computer simulators running on classical computers for the development and testing of new quantum algorithms and processes. This paper examines the different methods used by these two quantum computing simulators. It reviews both simulators, highlighting each simulators background, interface, and special features. It also demonstrates the implementation of current quantum algorithms on each simulator. It concludes with summary comments on both simulators.
The effect of timber cutting in a lodgepole‐pine forest on the storage and melting of snow

As a part of research on the management of forested watersheds, the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station has conducted intensive experiments in Colorado to find out how timber cutting in a lodgepole-pine forest influences the amount of water available for stream-flow [see 2 of “References” at end of paper]. Among the various factors involved in this influence, the storage and melting of snow obviously assumes a dominant role. Accordingly, an intensive series of measurements has been devoted to this factor; and now, with completion of the first phase of the investigations, definite information is available on how timber cutting in this forest-type influences the storage and melting of snow.
The decision dynamics of clinical research: the context and process of informed consent.

This article explores the neglected dimensions of informed consent. In such documents as the Code of Federal Regulations that govern clinical research, it is explicitly stated that informed consent is a process, not a form to be signed. However, virtually all research on informed consent has proceeded as if informed consent is an event similar to a Miranda warning. The authors review what is known about the process of informed consent and ask what questions must be explored if the dynamics of the clinical decision-making process are to be better understood. Their investigation takes place in two parts. First, the authors survey what is known or not known about the effect and influence of two major parties to the decision-making process (ie, support groups in which the subject participates and the subject's primary care physician). Second, they focus on the cultural and demographic factors that contribute to the subject's identity. Although they do not propose that informed consent must become a complicated and burdensome process, they stress that understanding the process in any meaningful way will mean that one must understand these various influences to get beyond the voluminous, but often facile, research that has characterized work on informed consent.
High-voltage device termination techniques a comparative review

High-voltage power device performance is often limited by the ability to approach nearly ideal behaviour at the edges of the chip. Consequently, a large number of termination techniques have been explored to reduce the surface electric field at the edges of devices, and so to maximise the breakdown voltage. The paper provides a review of these techniques. A comparison between the various approaches is then performed with consideration for device type (thyristors, field-effect transistors, transistors etc.) and device die size. This comparison is intended to serve as a guide to choosing the device termination appropriate for each application.
Analysis of HYDICE noise characteristics and their impact on subpixel object detection

A number of organizations are using the data collected by the HYperspectral Digital Imagery Collection Experiment (HYDICE) airborne sensor to demonstrate the utility of hyperspectral imagery (HSI) for a variety of applications. The interpretation and extrapolation of these results can be influenced by the nature and magnitude of any artifacts introduced by the HYDICE sensor. A short study was undertaken which first reviewed the literature for discussions of the sensor's noise characteristics and then extended those results with additional analyses of HYDICE data. These investigations used unprocessed image data from the onboard Flight Calibration Unit (FCU) lamp and ground scenes taken at three different sensor altitudes and sample integration times. Empirical estimates of the sensor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were compared to predictions from a radiometric performance model. The spectral band-to-band correlation structure of the sensor noise was studied. Using an end-to-end system performance model, the impact of various noise sources on subpixel detection was analyzed. The results show that, although a number of sensor artifacts exist, they have little impact on the interpretations of HSI utility derived from analyses of HYDICE data.
Measurement errors in diffuse irradiance with non-Lambertian radiometers

Experimental errors in measurements of solar irradiance resulting from the departure of angular response of real sensors from the Lambertian ideal are evaluated. The errors include polarization independent and dependent components. The polarization independent component is relatively independent of solar zenith angle and thus is substantially correctable by scaling. It was estimated to be as high as m 6.0% for some commonly used radiometers. The polarization dependent component for the multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer (MFRSR) was estimated to be between m 1.5% for the Sun at the zenith and +1.0% for the Sun at the horizon. The zero crossover for this error occurs around 55° solar zenith angle. These errors do not explain the discrepancy between measured and modelled diffuse shortwave irradiance, but in some instances they can reduce the difference.
Theory of Polymer Chains in Poor Solvent: Single-Chain Structure, Solution Thermodynamics and Θ Point

Using the language of the Flory chi parameter, we develop a theory that unifies the treatment of the single-chain structure and the solution thermodynamics of polymers in poor solvents. The structure of a globule and its melting thermodynamics is examined using the self-consistent filed theory. Our results show that the chain conformation involves three states prior to the globule-to-coil transition: the fully-collapsed globule, the swollen globule and the molten globule, which are distinguished by the core density and the interfacial thickness. By examining the chain-length dependence of the melting of the swollen globule, we find universal scaling behavior in the chain properties near the Theta point. The information of density profile and free energy of the globule is used in the dilute solution thermodynamics to study the phase equilibrium of polymer solution. Our results show different scaling behavior of the solubility of polymers in the dilute solution compared to the F-H theory, both in the chi dependence and the chain-length dependence. From the perspectives of single chain structure and solution thermodynamics, our results verifies the consistency of the Theta point defined by different criteria in the limit of infinite chain length: the disappearance of the second viral coefficient, the abrupt change in chain size and the critical point in the phase diagram of the polymer solution. Our results show the value of chi at the Theta point is 0.5 (for the case of equal monomer and solvent volume), which coincides with the value predicted from the F-H theory.
PWM-based adaptive sliding mode control for the boost converter with unknown parameters

In this paper, a pulsewidth modulation (PWM) based robust adaptive sliding mode control (SMC) is designed for a boost converter subject to unknown parameters. An estimator is used to design the adaptation laws to estimate the converter parameters. The controller designed tightly regulates the output voltage despite the unknown parameters. The robustness of this controller is validated experimentally and tested against large input voltage variations and step load changes.
Interaction of Zn+ with isobutylene in the gas phase and in clusters. Metal ion induced cationic polymerization

Abstract A variety of closed shell hydrocarbon ions have been observed following charge transfer from Zn+ to isobutylene (C4H8) in a high-pressure mass spectrometric (HPMS) source. The time profiles of these ions and their strong pressure dependence suggest that consecutive and sequential ion-molecule reactions are responsible for their formation. The interaction of Zn+ with isobutylene clusters (C4H8)n generated by a supersonic beam expansion results in efficient generation of the C4H9(C4H8)n+ series. These observations suggest has phase and intracluster polymerization behavior induced by Zn+. Clusters provide a feasible and valuable approach for understanding the mechanism of the early stages of cationic polymerization.
Ferritinaemia in cancer.

SMALL amounts of ferritin are found in serum in normal and pathological states1,2, usually at levels directly related to the amount of tissue storage iron3,4. This relationship, however, does not hold in many cancers where grossly elevated levels can occur without a corresponding increase in iron stores5–9. These latter findings suggest a possible use of ferritinaemia in cancer diagnosis but the value of this test has not been clearly established Such use is complicated by the multiple potential sources of the serum ferritin which could affect its type as well as its amount. Much of the ferritin in cancer sera may reflect increased iron stores arising from chronic anaemia or from transfusions in treated patients. Some may also come from nonspecific tissue damage. The high levels of ferritin synthesis in some cancer cells10 and the presence in serum of isoferritins characteristic of some cancer and foetal tissues11,12, however suggest that much of the ferritin may come directly from cancer cells. If so, selective quantitation of these isoferritins may provide specificity in possible serodiagnosis. The multiple isoferritins found in most human tissues seem to be hybrid molecules composed of different proportions of two subunit types13. One type predominates in liver and spleen isoferritins, and the other in the more acidic isoferritins in heart, tumours and HeLa cells14. Different isoferritin populations can be distinguished immunologically, apparently on the basis of their subunit composition14,15. Ferritin is usually assayed by immunological methods, with crystalline liver or spleen ferritins as immunising antigens and reference standards. These ferritins consist almost entirely of the liver-type subunit15. Consequently, most assays based on these ferritins have only a low reactivity for the more acidic ‘carcinofoetal’ isoferritins which may contain less than 20% of the liver-type subunit14,15. We have, therefore, tested a variety of cancer sera and compared the apparent levels of ferritin given by a standard ‘liver-type’ assay with levels given by an assay whose specificity is directed against the more acidic isoferritins15. We report here preliminary evidence that the latter type of assay may significantly improve the usefulness of ferritinaemia as a tumour marker.