cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Emergence of Shareholder Value in the German Corporation

We analyze the effects of changes in the purpose of large German corporations from stakeholder-oriented organizations to shareholder-oriented organizations during the decade of the 1990s. We document this transformation by first examining the annual reports of large firms at strategic points in time relative to significant changes in German corporate law. We find that changes in the law over this period both reflected and facilitated a fundamental shift in the operations of German corporations as evidenced by their adoption of stock- and option-based incentive compensation plans, adoption of US GAAP-based (or related) accounting systems, ADR listings, and restructuring activity. We also document the emergence and adoption of the rhetoric of shareholder value among German managers, the public, and the media. Detailed empirical analysis shows that German firms that embraced shareholder value as their corporate purpose and operating strategy realized a slight gain in equity values over the decade of the 1990s, as well as a significant increase in their Betas relative to the S&P 500, when compared to less shareholder-oriented firms. We interpret the Beta shifts as evidence that focusing on shareholder value leads firms to adopt entrepreneurial risk-taking strategies that reflect shareholder, rather than stakeholder, concerns. We conjecture that the increase in Betas might also be due to the adoption by some German firms of a similar operating philosophy to that of the traditionally shareholder-oriented US corporation. Finally, we show that German firms that embraced shareholder value-orientation during the 1990s realized significantly greater growth in their Market-to-Book ratios and market capitalizations relative to their less shareholder-oriented counterparts.
Interval rough mereology and description logic: An approach to formal treatment of imprecision in the Semantic Web ontologies

Learning and maintaining ontologies play critically important roles in the Semantic Web. Ontologies provide formal and explicit semantics to available knowledge and make possible shared understanding of a domain. A great deal of knowledge in the Semantic Web involves different sorts of imprecision. Common examples of imprecise knowledge include various statistical hypotheses, vagueness and ambiguities of natural language and many others. Consequently, ontologies must be expressive enough to handle imprecision. This paper presents an approach to formal handling of granularity as a special kind of imprecision in ontologies. It is based on Soft Computing techniques, in particular, Rough Set and Fuzzy Set theories. The approach also makes heavy use of Rough Mereology - a recently proposed paradigm for approximate reasoning - to compute degrees of imprecision of ontological concepts, relationships and assertions. It is demonstrated how the proposed mereological approach can be used together with the framework for representing uncertainty in Description Logic - family of popular logics for specifying formal ontologies. Finally, the paper introduces interval computations to the area of representing and reasoning with ontologies and shows how intervals can formally capture the imprecision incurred by computing rough inclusion (mereological) functions.
Unidirectional rotary motion in a molecular system

The conversion of energy into controlled motion plays an important role in both man-made devices and biological systems. The principles of operation of conventional motors are well established, but the molecular processes used by ‘biological motors’ such as muscle fibres, flagella and cilia1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 to convert chemical energy into co-ordinated movement remain poorly understood10,11,12. Although ‘brownian ratchets’13,14,15,16 are known to permit thermally activated motion in one direction only, the concept of channelling random thermal energy into controlled motion has not yet been extended to the molecular level. Here we describe a molecule that uses chemical energy to activate and bias a thermally induced isomerization reaction, and thereby achieve unidirectional intramolecular rotary motion. The motion consists of a 120° rotation around a single bond connecting a three-bladed subunit to the bulky remainder of the molecule, and unidirectional motion is achieved by reversibly introducing a tether between the two units to energetically favour one of the two possible rotation directions. Although our system does not achieve continuous and fast rotation, the design principles that we have used may prove relevant for a better understanding of biological and synthetic molecular motors producing unidirectional rotary motion.
Why race matters: Race differences and what they mean.

Opposing the denial of race differences and the claim that they do not matter anyway, Michael Levin explains why these differences do matter. He summarizes what has been written about the differences in intelligence and temperament, and, more important, explores their larger significance. Finding significant genetic difference between races, Levin unflinchingly considers the broad social and philosophical implications of these variations. No one making an effort to think clearly about race can ignore Why Race Matters.
3-D diffeomorphic shape registration on hippocampal data sets

Matching 3D shapes is important in many medical imaging applications. We show that a joint clustering and diffeomorphism estimation strategy is capable of simultaneously estimating correspondences and a diffeomorphism between unlabeled 3D point-sets. Correspondence is established between the cluster centers and this is coupled with a simultaneous estimation of a 3D diffeomorphism of space. The number of clusters can be estimated by minimizing the Jensen-Shannon divergence on the registered data. We apply our algorithm to both synthetically warped 3D hippocampal shapes as well as real 3D hippocampal shapes from different subjects.
Carbohydrate Structure Determination by Mass Spectrometry

Publisher Summary Glycoconjugates are biomolecules that contain one or more sugar residues linked to a noncarbohydrate moiety such as protein or lipid. They are ubiquitous components of extracellular matrices and cellular surfaces where their sugar moieties are implicated in a wide range of cell–cell and cell–matrix recognition events. Since the first glycoprotein primary structure was determined successfully about 30 years ago, structural glycobiology has undergone rapid expansion because of the application of modern ultrahigh-sensitivity methods capable of low femtomole analysis, which provide detailed sequence and site-of-attachment data for glycoproteins. The methods and strategies being developed are compatible with the ubiquitous natural microheterogeneity, allowing characterization of even very complex minor components. An important current goal of MS in carbohydrate analysis is the development and application of sensitive multiple MS approaches to the structural analysis of glycoproteins, glycolipids, and free oligosaccharides related with diseases, using only the limited sample amounts available from biological sources. The detailed glycan profiles and identification of attachment sites for glycoproteins and other glycoconjugates achieved with ultrahigh-sensitivity MS strategies can be used to investigate glycan structural biology with respect to biological function and disease states.
Assessment of remote memory: Validation of the television test by repeated testing during a 7-year period

Remote memory for former, one-season television programs was assessed on four different occasions during 7 years. Each test yielded a forgetting curve that was primarily monotonic and linear. In addition, the forgetting curve obtained by the first application of this test in 1973 was largely recapitulated by the three later applications of the test. These findings, together with new information concerning the equivalence of items from different time periods, provide strong evidence that the television test validly measures remote memory.
Comparison of coil types in aneurysm recurrence.

Abstract Objective Coiling of saccular aneurysms may result in recurrence requiring retreatment. Aneurysm recanalization may depend on coil type. Coil variations include bare platinum, polymer coated (Matrix), and hydrophylic gel coated (HydroCoil) coils. The effect of coil type on aneurysm recurrence was evaluated. Methods Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected database of 100 consecutive, 4–15 mm, coiled, ruptured aneurysms. There were 3 groups based on coil type: (1) bare platinum, (2) HydroCoil, and (3) Matrix. Data collected included age, gender, aneurysm location, follow-up, retreatments and angiographic occlusion and recanalization. Results There were 42.4% (n = 14) anterior and 57.5% (n = 19) posterior circulation aneurysms in the bare platinum, 61.5% (n = 16) and 38.45% (n = 10) in HydroCoil, and 43.9% (n = 18) and 56.1% (n = 23) in the Matrix groups. Retreatment was required in 4 (12.1%) bare platinum, 9 (21.9%) Matrix, and 3 (11.5%) HydroCoil groups. On follow-up angiography HydroCoil group had the most number of completely occluded and least number of residual aneurysms (P = 0.01), HydroCoils showed the least (n = 4), bare platinum an intermediate (n = 7), and matrix group the greatest tendency (n = 15) to recanalize. Conclusions Matrix coils were most likely to need retreatment. Retreatment rates were comparable for bare platinum and HydroCoils. Follow-up angiography demonstrated statistically significant attenuation of residual aneurysms for HydroCoils. Matrix group had the greatest and HydroCoils the least tendency to recanalize. Factors other than coil surface-coating may attenuate aneurysm recurrence.
β-amyloid deposition and other measures of neuropathology predict cognitive status in Alzheimer's disease

The relationship between progressive cognitive decline and underlying neuropathology associated with Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a key issue in defining the mechanisms responsible for functional loss. This has been a subject of much controversy, with separate studies comparing various clinical and neuropathological indices in AD. Further, it is difficult to compare studies with differences in histochemical staining protocols, brain regions examined, and data quantification criteria. There are many difficulties in designing a clinical-pathological correlative study involving AD patients. It is necessary to control for several key parameters. For example, a broad range of cognitively impaired subjects is needed, as well as short postmortem delays, brief intervals between cognitive testing and death, and the most sensitive detection and quantification techniques. In this study, we carefully controlled for each of these parameters to determine if there is a relationship between global cognitive dysfunction and multiple neuropathological indices. We selected 20 individuals representing a broad range of cognitive ability from normal to severely impaired based on the MMSE, Blessed IMC, and CDR. We counted plaque number, NFT number, dystrophic neurite number, and the relative extent of thioflavine positive plaques and neuritic involvement within plaques. We also quantified cortical area occupied by beta-amyloid immunoreactivity (A beta Load) and PHF-1 positive neuropil threads and tangles (PHF Load) using computer-based image analysis. Interestingly, we found that most pathologic measures correlated highly with the severity of dementia. However, the strongest predictor of premortem cognitive dysfunction on all three cognitive measures was the relative area of entorhinal cortex occupied by beta-amyloid deposition. In conclusion, our data show that in a carefully controlled correlative study, a variety of neuropathological variables are strongly correlated with cognitive impairment. Plaque related variables may be as strongly related to cognitive dysfunction as other established measures, including synapse loss, cell death and tau hyperphosphorylation, although no correlative study can demonstrate causality.
C-550 in photosystem II subchloroplast particles.

The photoreactions mediated by Photosystem II at low temperatures were examined in subchloroplast particles enriched in Photosystem II to determine if the Photosystem II activity was independent of C-550 in such particle preparations. Two types of Photosystem II particle preparations were tested, one enriched in chlorophyll b and the other purified further to eliminate the chlorophyll b. The Photosystem II-mediated photoreactions at low temperature were the same in both of the Photosystem II particle preparations as they were in normal chloroplasts. C-550 acted as if it were the primary electron acceptor of Photosystem II in all of the experiments performed.
Impact of Memory Architecture on FPGA Energy Consumption

FPGAs have the advantage that a single component can be configured post-fabrication to implement almost any computation. However, designing a one-size-fits-all memory architecture causes an inherent mismatch between the needs of the application and the memory sizes and placement on the architecture. Nonetheless, we show that an energy-balanced design for FPGA memory architecture (memory block size(s), memory banking, and spacing between memory banks) can guarantee that the energy is always within a factor of 2 of the optimally-matched architecture. On a combination of the VTR 7 benchmarks and a set of tunable benchmarks, we show that an architecture with internally-banked 8Kb and 256Kb memory blocks has a 31% worst-case energy overhead (8% geomean). In contrast, monolithic 16Kb memories (comparable to 18Kb and 20Kb memories used in commercial FPGAs) have a 147% worst-case energy overhead (24% geomean). Furthermore, on benchmarks where we can tune the parallelism in the implementation to improve energy (FFT, Matrix-Multiply, GMM, Sort, Window Filter), we show that we can reduce the energy overhead by another 13% (25% for the geomean).
MAPK signaling specificity: it takes two to tango

A surprisingly limited repertoire of core signaling pathways generates an enormous diversity of responses, often in a cell type-specific manner. Even within one cell, a single pathway might yield two different responses depending on the input signal. In budding yeast, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) module seems to transmit both mating pheromone and invasive growth signals in the same yeast cell. We discuss recent insights into mechanisms of differential MAPK activation in this system.
A constrained-average strategy for reduction of artifacts from scattering inhomogeneities in parametric images of the attenuation coefficient

This work investigates a strategy to reduce artifacts caused by macroscopic scattering discontinuities when forming parametric images of the ultrasound attenuation coefficient of soft tissue. If present, these artifacts can cause mis-correlation with the envelope image and introduce errors in subsequent assessments of tissue backscatter coefficients. Results using the proposed strategy are compared to conventional attenuation estimations on images of tissue mimicking phantoms with scattering inhomogeneities. Four phantoms containing targets with circular cross sections and different scattering properties from the surrounding material (background) were scanned. Five uncorrelated RF data frames were acquired from each target and from the background with a Siemens S2000 system. Attenuation images were formed by applying the Reference Phantom/Spectral Difference Method within estimation blocks shifted across the data frame. Conventionally, each attenuation estimate is mapped to the location of the center of the estimation block. In the proposed “constrained-average” strategy, the estimates from all blocks that include a given power spectral density window are averaged, and the result is assigned to the window location, only considering estimates within the range 0 <; α0 <; 4 dB/cm-MHz, where α0 is the slope of the attenuation coefficient vs. frequency. Results show that conventional attenuation images are more sensitive to scattering discontinuities than the constrained strategy, leading to values biased by up to 40%. The constrained average strategy reduced the bias and the variability of the α0 values within the structures by about 20%.
Non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soil

1. The fixation of N15-labeled nitrogen in small vessels of California soil under various conditions of pH, substrate level, oxygen tension, and other soil conditions was observed. 2. Nitrate concentrations greater than 1.0–1.5 microequivalents per gram soil were found to suppress nitrogen fixation but not the growth ofAzotobacter. 3. Large amounts of nitrogen were fixed when soluble organic substrates (e.g. glucose or sucrose) were added to the soil. 4. Moderate fixation also resulted from the inversion of a disc of sod. 5. Fixed nitrogen appeared largely in the nitrate and ammonia-amide fractions with that in the nitrate fraction probably representing nitrification of more reduced initial products of fixation. 6. Under conditions of these experiments growing grass did not enhance fixation. At higher light intensities, however, such an enhancement might be observed. 7. The incorporation of grass cuttings, straw or alfalfa meal into the soil caused only a slight increase in fixation. 8. The inoculation of soils with large populations ofAzotobacter did not result in increased fixation.
Qualitative research in counseling psychology: A primer on research paradigms and philosophy of science

This article presents an overview of philosophy of science and research paradigms. The philosophy of science parameters of ontology, epistemology, axiology, rhetorical structure, and methodology are discussed across the research paradigms of positivism, postpositivism, constructivism-interpretivism, and the critical-ideological perspective. Counseling researchers are urged to locate their inquiry approaches within identifiable research paradigms, and examples of locating 2 popular inquiry approaches-consensual qualitative research and grounded theory-are provided. Examples of how counseling research would proceed from varying paradigms are explored, and a call is made for expanding the training students receive in philosophy of science and qualitative approaches to inquiry.
The self in the other: Ethnographic film, surrealism, politics

This article re‐examines James Clifford's notion of “ethnographic surrealism,” taking as its starting‐point two films which may be seen as classic examples of it: Jean Rouch's Les Maitres fous [1954], and Jerry Leach and Gary Kildea's Trobriand Cricket [1976]. Although Clifford's account of the affinities between ethnography and surrealism has been challenged within French ethnography [Jamin 1986], ethnographic surrealism continues to prove influential in contemporary visual anthropology, most notably in the widely‐held view of Rouch as a “surrealist” ethnographic filmmaker. This article takes issue with such a view, pointing out that it is based on the highly partial version of surrealism of Clifford's account. Whereas surrealism historically defined itself in terms of an oppositional aesthetic politics, it argues, ethnographic surrealism is defined precisely by the absence of the political; what it presents as “surrealism” is in fact a depoliticized, ethnographized surrealism. The reintroduction of poli...
Interaction of food and water deprivation on drinking: Effect of body water losses and characteristics of solution offered

Abstract Rats subjected to 24–96 hr of water and food deprivation drank less in a 60-min drinking test than rats subjected to an equal duration of water deprivation only. Determination of body water contents made by drying the carcass revealed that differences in drinking observed were not explained by differences in body water deficits produced by the two types of deprivation. It was suggested instead that the depression of drinking caused by adding food deprivation to water deprivation might be explained by the fact that elevated serum osmolality results from water deprivation, but not from combined water and food deprivation. The depression in drinking caused by food deprivation persisted even when glucose, saccharin and NaCl were given in place of water.
Avifauna of Mara Island, Korea

Abstract As results of this study, it was found that the total species observed in Mara-island was 126 species, including 43 species and 1,338 individuals at the 1st observance, 10 species and 5,080 individuals at the 2nd observance, 27 species and 472 individuals at the 3rd observance, 90 species and 913 individuals at the 4th observance, and 29 species and 268 individuals at the 5th observance respectively. In terms of migration types of birds, it was found that sedentary birds were 26 species, winter migratory birds were 14 species, summer migratory birds were 32 species, passage migrant birds were 40 species, vagrants were 14 species, and birds breeding in the main island of Jeju and Mara island were 58 species. In terms of dominance, it was found that Larus argentatus was at minimum 5,000 individuals (69.07%), Calonectris leucomelas was 1,000 individuals (13.81%), and each of Hirundo rustica and Emberiza pusilla was 120 individuals (1.66%) (Table 1). On the observed number basis, the number of species certified one individual a time was 45 species, the species certified 2 individuals a time was 20 species, 3~100 individuals a time was 53 species, and over 100 individuals a time was 7 species such as Calonectris leucomelas, Larus argentatus, Larus crassirostris, Hirundo rustica, Emberiza pusilla Pallas, Phylloscopus occipitalis, and Apus pacificus. The species newly recorded in Jeju island from this study were 7 species totally, and among them, 2 species such as Phylloscopus fuscatus, and Acrocephalus aedonin were found in 2006 and 5 species such as Sula leucogaster, Locustella ochotensis, Erithacus svecicus, Oenanthe pleschanka, and Phylloscopus proregulus were found in 2007.
Some Numerical Aspects in the Identification of a Class of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Materials

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein Identifizierungsproblem aus dem Gebiete der Viskoelastizitat vorgestellt und vollstandig diskutiert. Das zugrunde gelegte Stoffgesetz ist durch Gl. (2.1), eine nichtlineare Volterrasche Integralgleichung, gegeben. Die darin vorkommenden Funktionen g und f erscheinen in Parameterdarstellung, d. h. sie hangen in bekannter Weise von einer Anzahl unbekannter Konstanten ab, die zusammen mit der Konstanten E einen Vektor a bilden. Es wird dann verlangt, von einer Anzahl verfugbarer output-input Paare (σi, ϵi) aus einen Vektor a zu bestimmen, fur den der in einer geeigneten Metrik gemessene Abstand von den vorausgesagten outputs und den entsprechenden experimentellen Funktionen ein Minimum wird. Besonders betont werden die begrifflichen und die numerischen Aspekte und die Bedeutung fur die Biomechanik. Ergebnisse numerischer Experimente werden mitgeteilt. In this paper, an identification problem in the realm of nonlinear viscoelasticity is presented and thoroughly discussed. The material is assumed to follow the law given by Eq. (2.1), a nonlinear Volterra integral equation. Functions g and f appearing in that equation are given in parametric form, i.e., they depend in a known form on a number of unknown constants which together with the constant E form a vector a. Using a number of available, generally independent input-output pairs (σi, ϵi) it is then asked to find a vector a for which the distance, under a suitable metric, of the predicted outputs and the corresponding experimental functions, is a minimum. Emphasis is placed on conceptual and numerical aspects of the problem. Interest in the field of biomechanics is stressed. Abundant numerical experimentation is finally presented.
Endogenous opioid systems: current concepts and clinical correlations.

DRG= : dorsal root ganglion; GABA= : γ-aminobutyric acid; GPCR= : G-protein-coupled receptor; Leu= : leucine; LID= : levodopa-induced dyskinesia; Met= : methionine; NOP= : nociceptin receptor; PAG= : periaqueductal gray; PD= : Parkinson disease; PDYN= : preprodynorphin; PENK= : preproenkephalin; Phe= : phenylalanine; PNOC= : pronociceptin; POMC= : proopiomelanocortin; RVM= : rostral ventromedial medulla; VTA= : ventral tegmental area The endogenous opioid system consists of 3 families of opioid peptides, β-endorphin, enkephalins, and dynorphins, and 3 families of receptors, μ (MOR), δ (λ, DOR), and κ (KOR). Opioid peptides and their receptors have a widespread but selective distribution in the central and peripheral nervous systems, particularly in circuits involved in pain modulation, reward, responses to stress, and autonomic control. Whereas opioid receptor activation elicits presynaptic and postsynaptic inhibition, the differential expression and strategic localization of the different opioid receptor subtypes in projection neurons and local inhibitory interneurons provides for a wide range of opioid-induced behavioral effects. The opioid system has an important role in mechanisms of supraspinal, spinal, and peripheral analgesia; reward-mediating food intake and drug addiction; and modulation of emotion and stress responses. Endogenous opioids may participate in the pathophysiology of Parkinson disease (PD) and seizures, and may have an important role in mechanisms of neuroprotection. All these subjects have been recently reviewed.1,–,11 ### Endogenous opioids. The endogenous opioids consist of 3 families that derive from proteolytic cleavage of large protein precursors. These include proopiomelanocortin (POMC), which is the precursor of β-endorphin; preproenkephalin (PENK), which is the precursor of leucine (Leu)- and methionine (Met)-enkephalins; and preprodynorphin (PDYN), which is the precursor of dynorphins (including dynorphins A and B, and neoendorphins).4,5,8 Two additional endogenous opioid peptides, endomorphin-1 and -2, have been identified, but their function is still incompletely understood. All opioid peptides share a common amino (N)-terminal signature tetrapeptide sequence Tyr (tyrosine)-Gly (glycine)-Gly-Phe (phenylalanine), which interacts with the 3 types of opioid receptors. Nociceptin (previously referred to as orphanin FQ) is produced by the precursor pronociceptin (PNOC); it lacks the N-terminal …
Of Common Themes, Deliberate and Emergent

This section introduces several book review articles featured in the March 2005 issue of Academy of Management Learning & Education.
HER2 as a therapeutic target in the gastric cancer: is it sufficient?

Globally, gastric adenocarcinoma is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with the highest incidence reported in northeast Asia [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2008 report, gastric cancer affects approximately one million people every year. Ironically, symptoms of gastric cancer are often mistaken for other gastric diseases, and therefore many patients are diagnosed with the cancer at an inoperable or metastatic stage. Thus, despite the improvement of surgical techniques and the recent availability of new chemotherapy regimens, outcome of the patients with clinically advanced disease is usually poor. The overall 5-year relative survival for 2001–2007 in USA was 26.3 % [2]. Therefore, new treatment options are needed on an urgent basis.
The neurology of menopause.

Background:Menopause is a normal milestone experienced annually by 2 million American women each year, and many women are concerned about the relation between menopause and health. Associated hormonal changes have the potential to influence neurologic disease, as do hormonal therapies prescribed for
Effect of salinity on the critical nitrogen concentration of Spartina alterniflora Loisel

Abstract Nitrogen was withheld from the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora Loisel., in order to determine the effect of salinity (sea salts) on critical tissue nitrogen concentrations (defined here as the minimum tissue concentration required to sustain biomass accumulation). The critical nitrogen concentration per kilogram dry weight of above-ground tissue increased non-linearly from a mean of 8.2 g kg−1 at 5 g l−1 and 20 g l−1 salinity to 13.6 g kg−1 and 22.9 g kg−1 at salinities of 40 g l−1 and 50 g l−1, respectively. Below-ground tissue nitrogen concentrations averaged 62% of the above-ground values irrespective of salinity treatment. These results suggest that the critical nitrogen concentration is a function of salinity and indicate that the internal nitrogen supply required in support of growth increases with salinity. Above-ground tissue nitrogen concentrations reported in the literature and the relationship between salinity and critical nitrogen concentration observed in this study were used to evaluate the nitrogen status of S. alterniflora over a wide range of geographical locations. Comparisons suggest that both short and tall forms of S. alterniflora are nitrogen limited in the majority of marshes along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts of the US.
Reflective Judgment: Theory and Research on the Development of Epistemic Assumptions Through Adulthood

The reflective judgment model (RJM) describes the development of complex reasoning in late adolescents and adults, and how the epistemological assumptions people hold are related to the way they make judgments about controversial (ill-structured) issues. This article describes the theoretical assumptions that have guided the development of the RJM in the last 25 years, showing how these ideas influenced the development of assessment protocols and led to the selection of research strategies for theory validation purposes. Strategies discussed here include a series of longitudinal studies to validate the proposed developmental sequence, cross-sectional studies examining age/educational level differences, and studies of domain specificity. Suggestions for assessing and promoting reflective thinking based on these findings are also offered here.
Review of the advanced generalized theory for Stark broadening of hydrogen lines in plasmas with tables

Abstract The Generalized Theory (GT) of Stark broadening of Stark broadening of hydrogen lines in plasmas, published by Ispolatov and Oks (JQSRT 1994; 51:19-9-38) is based on nonperturbative treatment of one component of the electron field. Therefore the GT is intrinsically more accurate than the fully-perturbative, Standard Theories (ST), such as the theory by Kepple–Griem (Phys Rev 1968; 173:317–25) (KG) and the theory by Sholin-Demura-Lisitsa (Sov Phys JETP 1973; 37:1057–65) (SDL). The present paper introduces an Advanced Generalized Theory (AGT), that yields closed-form expressions for the width, shift and coupling of Stark states. We also present tables of the AGT Stark widths of Lyman and Balmer lines for transitions with upper levels having principal quantum numbers n≤16 and for electron densities from Ne=1013 cm−3 to Ne=1020 cm−3. The mathematical simplicity of the AGT results make it possible to gain physical insight into the important features of the generalized theories that distinguish the AGT/GT from its predecessors. Empirical choices of important characteristic impact parameters made previously, are shown, using the insights possible with the AGT, to be inaccurate: (A) In the AGT, the effective Weisskopf radius ρW is proportional to n2, while SDL had empirically chosen ρW proportional to n; (B) in the AGT, the effective Weisskopf radius ρW is defined for each Stark component (i.e., dependent on the electric quantum number q), while KG had empirically chosen a component-independent ρW; (C) in the AGT the ion-field-dependent upper cutoff ρF is proportional to 1/n while KG had empirically chosen an expression for ρF proportional to 1/n2. The AGT shows that in high fields or high density range, the coupling between the ion and electron broadenings is significantly stronger than proposed by both the KG and SDL theories. Even in the low field or low density range, where the coupling between the ions and electrons broadening is negligible, the results of the AGT are more accurate than the results of the Standard Theories. In addition to yielding the effective Weisskopf radius (as noted above), the AGT can evaluate the “strong collision constant” — in distinction to both the KG and SDL theories, where the choice of this constant is empirical. The comparison of the tabulated Stark widths with the KG Stark widths indicates that the inaccuracy of the KG width is significantly increased with the increasing electron density Ne and upper principal quantum number n. However, even for the Lα line at, e.g., densities 1017 cm−3 — where the experimental width is a factor of two greater than the calculated KG width and the entire difference between the two widths was usually attributed to the ion dynamics — it turns out that the AGT eliminates about one half of this discrepancy indicating that the ion-dynamical contribution is in reality about a factor of two smaller than it was previously assumed.
Molecular and supramolecular orientation in polyacetylene

Polymerisation de l'acetylene en presence de Ti(OBu) 4 /AlEt 3 , dans un solvant nematique forme d'un melange 1/2 (trans-propylcyclohexyl)-4 ethoxybenzene-(trans-propylcyclohexyl)-4 butoxybenzene, dans un champ magnetique qui aligne les sites actifs de l'amorceur le long des molecules de cristal liquide, d'ou orientation microscopique (chaine) et macroscopique (fibrille)
Prospective characterization and selective management of the abdominal compartment syndrome.

Background The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is now recognized as a frequent confounder of surgical critical care following major trauma; however, few prospective data exist concerning its characterization, evolution, and response to decompression. Methods Acutely injured patients with an injury severity scale (ISS) score >15 requiring emergent laparotomy and intensive care unit (ICU) admission were prospectively evaluated for the development of ACS. The syndrome was defined as an intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) >20 mm Hg complicated by one of the following: peak airway pressure (PAP) >40 cm H 2 O, oxygen delivery index (DO 2 I) 2 /min/m 2 , or urine output (UO) Results Over a 14-month period ending December 1995, 21 (14%) of 145 patients (ISS >15) requiring laparotomy and admitted to our surgical ICU developed ACS; mean age was 39 ± 9 years; injury mechanism was blunt in 60%; ISS 26 ± 6. At initial laparotomy, 67% underwent abdominal packing (57% for major liver injuries). Mean IAP was 27 ± 2.3 mm Hg, and time from laparotomy to decompression was 27 ± 4 hours; 24% were planned whereas the remaining were prompted by deteriorating organ function as defined above (cardiopulmonary in 43%; renal in 19%; both renal and cardiopulmonary in 14%). Following decompression, there was an increase in cardiac index, oxygen delivery, urine output, and static compliance while there was a decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and peak airway pressure. Conclusions The abdominal compartment syndrome occurs in a significant number of severely injured patients, and it develops quickly (27 ± 4 hours). Cardiopulmonary deterioration is the most frequent reason prompting decompression. Timely decompression of the ACS results in improvements in cardiopulmonary and renal function. These data support the use of the proposed ACS grading system for selective management of the syndrome.
Early ontogeny of the vagus nerve: an analysis of the medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord of the postnatal rat.

Abstract Retrograde transport of cholera toxin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase in the postnatal rat has revealed remarkable features of dendritic fields of vagal motor neurons in the medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord during the period of early development (0–10 days). At birth, vagal motor neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, nucleus ambiguus, nucleus retroambigualis, nucleus dorsomedials and the spinal nucleus of the accessory nerve are small with relatively few, unbranched processes. The span of the dendritic tree is much smaller than that found in adult animals. By the postnatal Day 2 there are marked changes in the soma as well as in the dendritic tree of these neurons. There is dispersion of the cell bodies within the neuropil as well as an expansion of the total area of the brain stem occupied by these motor neurons and their dendritic processes which show extensive growth and branching. By postnatal Day 3 the most extensive proliferation of these neurons is seen and appears to represent the peak of dendritic growth of vagal motor neurons such that the area occupied by the dendritic tree of a single neuron is three times that seen in an adult rat. This proliferation gradually decreased during the subsequent seven days of early development (i.e. Days 4–10) so that by Day 10 the dendritic span of vagal motor neurons was reduced to about twice the adult size. This growth progressively decreased from Days 10 to 30 at which time adult levels were reached. Ultrastructural examination of these horseradish peroxidase labeled dendrites showed a positive correlation between the number of dendritic processes and the number of axo-dendritic synapses. This was accompanied by an increase in the number of identifiable synaptic junctions. These morphological complexities observed during the period of early development of vagal motor neurons indicate that the vagus nerve undergoes dramatic changes during the period of early development including the establishment of numerous synaptic contacts between vagal afferents and efferents in the brainstem. A number of these changes occur in developing dendritic fields of vagal motor neurons during the first three days of neonatal life. It is reasonable to assume that developmental abnormalities during this “critical period” could produce significant functional changes in the pattern of respiration as well as in the control of airway smooth muscle.
Physiology and plasticity of putative cough fibres in the Guinea pig.

Abstract Cough is initiated by activation of afferent nerve fibers with rapidly adapting receptors (RAR) that conduct action potentials in the Aδ range. In addition, various stimuli that activate airway unmylenated C-fibres evoke cough reflexes. We have used a vagally innervated, larynx–trachea–bronchus preparation, isolated from guinea pigs, to study the pharmacology of RARs and C-fibres in vitro. In this preparation afferent fibres with the RAR phenotype are exquisitely sensitive to mechanical perturbation of their receptive fields, but are unaffected by a variety of mediators (e.g. prostaglandins, histamine, bradykinin, serotonin) and by capsaicin. By contrast, C-fibres are much less sensitive to mechanical stimulation, but can be activated by capsaicin and bradykinin. Preliminary evidence supports the hypothesis that bradykinin activate C-fibre by stimulating the capsaicin (vanilloid) receptor VR1. Acids activate both C-fibres and RARs. Acids stimulate RAR fibres by a mechanism that is rapidly inactivated. C-fibres are stimulated by both a rapidly inactivating mechanism, as well as a slowly inactivating mechanism. Drugs that block VR1 inhibit the latter mechanism. Airway inflammation substantially increases the mechanical sensitivity of RAR fibres without affecting their adaptive properties. Airway inflammation also causes a phenotypic switch in neuropeptide innervation of the airways that RAR neurons begin to synthesis neurokinins and calcitonin gene related peptide. In non-inflamed animals these peptides are expressed only in C-fibre neurons. Thus, airway inflammation may not only increase the sensitivity of cough fibres, but may also qualitatively change the role played by sensory neuropeptides in cough reflexes.
The evolution of the focal post-streptococcal glomerular lesion

Abstract Twenty-eight patients who had urinary abnormalities and renal biopsy performed at the time of a streptococcal pharyngitis were followed for 1–4 yr. Eight patients had persistent proteinuria, 2 remained hypertensive and one had hypertension and proteinuria; none showed evidence of renal insufficiency. Five patients with classical acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis were also followed for a similar period. None of these patients have thus far shown evidence of renal insufficiency. The present study does not provide evidence of a relationship between acute streptococcal related glomerular injury and the development of progressive clinical renal disease over a 4-yr period of observation, although urinary abnormalities persist in a significant proportion.
Cardiac manifestations of noncardiac tumors. Part II: Direct effects

Cardiac manifestations of secondary tumors of the heart exert their effects directly by endocardial, myocardial, epicardial or cavitary deposits (metastatic lesions); indirectly via tumor products such as carcinoma; or mediated by therapy (chemotherapy, radiation) to treat the primary neoplasm. Part II of this review summarizes certain direct effects of noncardiac tumors on the heart including superior and inferior vena cava syndromes, pulmonary artery and vein obstruction or compression, myocardial implants, and intracavitary metastases. Many of these direct effects may be noninvasively diagnosed by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and/or two-dimensional echocardiography.
Chromatic assimilation: spread light or neural mechanism?

Chromatic assimilation is the shift in color appearance of a test field toward the appearance of nearby light. Possible explanations of chromatic assimilation include wavelength independent spread light, wavelength-dependent chromatic aberration and neural summation. This study evaluated these explanations by measuring chromatic assimilation from a concentric-ring pattern into an equal-energy-white background, as a function of the inducing rings width, separation, chromaticity and luminance. The measurements showed, in the s direction, that assimilation was observed with different inducing-ring widths and separations when the inducing luminance was lower or higher than the test luminance. In general, the thinner the inducing rings and the smaller their separation, the stronger the assimilation in s. In the l direction, either assimilation or contrast was observed, depending on the ring width, separation and luminance. Overall, the measured assimilation could not be accounted for by the joint contributions from wavelength-independent spread light and wavelength-dependent chromatic aberration. Spatial averaging of neural signals explained the assimilation in s reasonably well, but there were clear deviations from neural spatial averaging for the l direction. � 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Expression of a novel alternatively spliced UCP-2 transcript in osteogenic sarcoma

Background Development of chemoresistance is common in patients with osteogenic sarcoma (OGS); however, the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Many anticancer drugs exert their therapeutic action by generating reactive oxygen radicals, which might be countered by the cancer cell through induction of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2). UCP-2 has been shown to be able to protect tumor cells from the cytotoxic actions of chemotherapeutic drugs. Because OGS is seldom completely cured by current chemotherapy regimens, we hypothesized that increased expression of UCP-2 underlies this phenomenon. The primary initial interest of our research was to evaluate the level of UCP-2 mRNA in OGS.
Analysis of Isoaspartic Acid by Selective Proteolysis with Asp-N and Electron Transfer Dissociation Mass Spectrometry

A ubiquitous yet underappreciated protein post-translational modification, isoaspartic acid (isoAsp, isoD, or β-Asp), generated via the deamidation of asparagine or isomerization of aspartic acid in proteins, plays a diverse and crucial role in aging, as well as autoimmune, cancer, neurodegeneration, and other diseases. In addition, formation of isoAsp is a major concern in protein pharmaceuticals, as it may lead to aggregation or activity loss. The scope and significance of isoAsp have, up to now, not been fully explored, as an unbiased screening of isoAsp at low abundance remains challenging. This difficulty is due to the subtle difference in the physicochemical properties between isoAsp and Asp, e.g., identical mass. In contrast, endoprotease Asp-N (EC 3.4.24.33) selectively cleaves aspartyl peptides but not the isoaspartyl counterparts. As a consequence, isoaspartyl peptides can be differentiated from those containing Asp and also enriched by Asp-N digestion. Subsequently, the existence and site of is...
Magnetic and crystallographic characteristics of (Pr,La)Al3, (Pr,Y)Al3, (Pr,La)Al2 and (Pr,Y)Al2

Abstract Magnetization data are reported for PrAl 2 (cubic) and PrAl 3 (hexagonal) and ternary alloys in which Pr is partially replaced by Y and La. Between 50 and 300°K Curie-Weiss behavior is observed with slopes as expected for tripositive Pr. The cubic alloys exhibit Curie temperatures ranging from 38.5°K for PrAl 2 to 5°K for Pr 0.05 La 0.95 Al 2 . Pr 0.95 Y 0.95 Al 2 is the single exception; it remains paramagnetic to 4°K. The hexagonal alloys all develop Van Vleck paramagnetism at low temperatures. The operator equivalent method is employed to obtain eigenfunetions, eigenvalues and magnetic moments for the crystal field states for Pr +3 in both the cubic and hexagonal environments. Fourth and sixth order interactions are included in both instances and the second order term is also included for PrAl 3 since its axial ratio is not ideal. Susceptibility-temperature behavior of PrAl 3 and the hexagonal ternaries can be accounted for with two sets of parameters which concern the relative importance of the second, fourth and sixth order interactions; in each case the overall splitting is about 120°K. The maximal value of the overall splitting for the cubic alloys is established to be 25°K. Using a molecular field approach it is possible to understand the development of ferromagnetism in PrAl 2 which occurs despite the lack of a permanent moment for Pr in its ground state. With this approach T c is calculated to be 39°K, which is in excellent agreement with experiment, 38.5°K. The same approach gives a reasonably satisfactory accounting for the composition dependence of T c and the saturation moment.
An MR-compatible device for delivering smoked marijuana during functional imaging

Smoking is the preferred method of administration for two of the most frequently abused drugs, marijuana and nicotine. The high temporal and spatial resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) make it a natural choice for studying the neurobiological effects of smoked drugs if the challenges of smoking in a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner can be overcome. We report on a design for an MR-compatible smoking device that can be used for smoking marijuana (or tobacco) during fMRI examinations. Nine volunteers smoked marijuana cigarettes (3.51% Δ9-THC) on two occasions: with and without the device. The device allowed subjects to smoke while they lay in the scanner, while containing all smoke and odors. Plasma Δ9-THC, subjective reports of intoxication, and heart rate increases are reported, and were all similar in individuals smoking marijuana either with or without the device. The use of this device will help advance research studies on smoked drugs including marijuana, tobacco and crack cocaine.
Role of the cryopreserved homograft in isolated elective aortic valve replacement

In 100 consecutive patients who underwent isolated elective homograft AVR, hospital and 30-day mortality was zero, whereas 12- and 60-month survival was 100% and 98%, respectively. Thus, homograft AVR is a highly safe operation with excellent early and midterm results despite involving root and valve replacement. Given the superior durability in younger patients, this may be the AVR prosthesis of choice for the young (<40 years) to middle-aged (40 to 65 years) patient who cannot commit to lifelong anticoagulation.