cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers May Create More Risk Than Reward for Sodium-Depleted Cardiovascular Patients With High Plasma Renin Levels

Background Four recent reports revealed differences in survival rates among treated cardiovascular patients taking renin-angiotensin system–blocking drugs. Patients with higher on-treatment plasma renin activity (PRA) levels died sooner of cardiovascular mortality than those with lower levels. We investigated whether excessive sodium depletion might have induced the higher PRA levels and contributed to the greater morbidity and mortality. Methods Using published data, ranges of PRA, blood pressures, drug usage, and biochemical parameters were compared among various groups of cardiovascular patients. Results We showed (i) that PRA levels are usually medium to low in treated cardiovascular patients, but are sometimes abnormally high, (ii) that excessive sodium depletion can induce such high PRA levels, (iii) that the higher PRA patients exhibited evidence of sodium depletion: lower blood pressures, more frequent natriuretic drug usage, lower N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and higher blood urea nitrogen and uric acid levels, with similar usage of renin-angiotensin blocking drugs. Conclusions We hypothesize that patients with high on-treatment PRA levels die sooner of cardiovascular events because they are excessively sodiumvolume depleted. Moreover, renin-angiotensin system–blocking drugs may be harmful in such patients because they can functionally interfere with the effects of reactive rises in PRA that are triggered to prevent potentially dangerous falls in blood pressure, increases in plasma potassium, and falls in glomerular filtration rate. Careful liber alization of salt intake and subtraction of natriuretic drugs, sufficient to reduce reactive hyperreninemia without inducing unacceptable increases in blood pressure, might benefit such patients and decrease risk of adverse effects from drugs that block the renin-angiotensin system.
Caribbean Airways, 1930-32: A Notable Failure

Caribbean Airways was founded in colonial Jamaica in the summer of 1930. It suffered a curious demise, as a new business in a nascent industry and one of the first airlines in the British West Indies. Government officials in Jamaica asked the imperial government in Britain to bail out the colonial airline, in an attempt to save this groundbreaking enterprise. The inception, imagined possibilities, persistence, and forced failure of Caribbean Airways are examined in this essay. It explores how airline travel was advanced by people in the Caribbean and reveals how entrepreneurs helped forge lasting networks of transatlantic mobility in this seemingly peripheral place. The article concludes by considering how narratives about the formation of international alliances and the limits of colonial allegiance are refined by the story of Caribbean Airways.
North–South models of intellectual property rights: an empirical critique

Do Southern intellectual property rights (IPRs) affect Northern innovation? There is much theoretical debate on the impact of IPRs in the South on the incentives of Northern firms to innovate and transfer technologies to the South. While empirical research exists on the effects of Southern IPRs on Northern technology transfers, empirical evidence on the effects of Southern IPRs on Northern innovation is absent. This paper seeks to fill that gap. Using a comprehensive micro-database of US multinational firms and their foreign affiliates in developed countries, this study finds that patent protection in the South has statistically insignificant effects on the research and development of these firms. Rather, the patent regimes of developed countries matter significantly to the R&D of these firms. Developing countries constitute a relatively small share of the world market so that variations in the patent rights of developing economies have contributed marginally to Northern incentives for R&D.
Suppression of signalling through transcription factor NF-AT by interactions between calcineurin and Bcl-2

It is not known how the protein Bcl-2 inhibits cell death induced by calcium signalling and growth-factor withdrawal1–3. Here we report that Bcl-2 forms a tight complex with calcineurin, resulting in the targeting of calcineurin to Bcl-2 sites on cytoplasmic membranes, and show that this interaction is dependent on the BH4 domain of Bcl-2. Calcineurin bound to Bcl-2 is an active phosphatase but is unable to promote the nuclear translocation of NF-AT, a transcription-factor required for induction of interleukin-2 expression, suggesting a mechanism by which Bcl-2 suppresses NF-AT activity4. We also show that Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, interferes with interactions between calcineurin and Bcl-2. We propose that the ability of Bcl-2 to block NF-AT signalling is due to the sequestering of active calcineurin to the same domain of Bcl-2 which associates with Rad-1 (ref. 5), and that calcineurin may act in Bcl-2-regulated functions.
Bounds for semiempirical resonance integral approximations

A lower bound to the absolute magnitude of the off-diagonal matrix elements of the effective one-electron Hamiltonian follows from the requirement that molecular-orbital energies, within a symmetry class, should fall in the order of the number of nodes, i.e. that antibonding orbitals in general may not occur at lower energies than the corresponding bonding ones. An upper bound can be derived from the observation that the antibonding orbital in the homopolar two-center case lies below the ionization limit, as for example, the ethylene π* transition. As the atomic orbitals become more dissimilar, the antibonding molecular orbital formed from two atomic orbitals will be found between the upper atomic orbital and the continuum. These requirements are used to reveal the conditions under which critical tests of the more popular approximations to these matrix elements may be developed.
Leprosy and cell-mediated immunity

The intradermal injection of the purified protein derivative of tuberculin into lepromatous leprosy patients leads to a local cell-mediated immune response and to the extensive destruction of Mycobacterium leprae. This local response also occurs after intradermal injection of recombinant human interleukin-2; when administered over an 8-day period interleukin-2 evokes a systemic cell-mediated immune response and a reduction in the bacillary burden.
Histochemical study of Dom mouse: A model for Waardenburg-Hirschsprung's phenotype.

Abstract Background/Purpose The spontaneous mouse mutant Dominant megacolon (Dom) represents the model of the Waardenburg-Hirschsprung's disease, a syndromic pathology, characterized by the association of pigmentation defects (PD), deafness, and Hirschsprung's disease (HD). The defect in Dom mouse is caused by a spontaneous mutation of the gene encoding the Sry-related transcription factor Sox10. This mutation affects several aspects of neural crest development leading to combined enteric innervation and pigmentation defects, both in mouse and human. The purpose of this report is to define, by enzymo-histochemical techniques routinely used for the diagnosis of human Hirschsprung's disease (AChE, LDH, NADPH-diaphorase), the innervative patterns of the affected gut. Methods Fifty-four siblings of Heterozygous Dom /+ mice underwent autopsy and were genotyped by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products for Sox10 mutations. The enteric nervous system of all the mice was studied by histochemical techniques indicated above. Results Genotyping showed that 43 mice were Dom /+ and 11 were Wild type +/+. Wild-type +/+ mice were used as control. The correspondence between genotype and at least 1 phenotypic aspect (PD or dysganglionosis) was present in 93% of cases (41 of 43). Among the Dom /+ mice, dysganglionosis was present in 79% of cases and PD in 90% of cases. Moreover, among Dom /+ mice, excluding those whose mantle was not evaluated as dead just after birth, PD and dysganglionosis (complete phenotype) were present in 68% of cases. Conclusions The histochemical methods that we used proved to be useful for identification of different aganglionic (AG), hypoganglionic (HG), and normoganglionic segments of Dom /+ mouse gut studied in longitudinal sections. Unlike humans, control mice ( Wild type +/+) presented a rich component of AChE nerve fibers, whereas Dom /+ mice with dysganglionosis presented a decrease in AChE-positive nerve fibers. These data confirm the variable phenotypic penetrance in heterozygous mice. Because dysganglionosis in this animal model ( Dom /+) was evident in 79% of cases (AG or HG), we concluded that Dom mice could represent important models for further experimental studies.
Forecasting daily potential evapotranspiration using machine learning and limited climatic data

Abstract Anticipating, or forecasting near-term irrigation demands is a requirement for improved management of conveyance and delivery systems. The most important component of a forecasting regime for irrigation is a simple, yet reliable, approach for forecasting crop water demands, which in this paper is represented by the reference or potential evapotranspiration (ET o ). In most cases, weather data in the area is limited to a reduced number of variables measured, therefore current or future ET o estimation is restricted. This paper summarizes the results of testing of two proposed forecasting ET o schemes under the mentioned conditions. The first or “direct” approach involved forecasting ET o using historically computed ET o values. The second or “indirect” approach involved forecasting the required weather parameters for the ET o calculation based on historical data and then computing ET o . An statistical machine learning algorithm, the Multivariate Relevance Vector Machine (MVRVM) is applied to both of the forecastings schemes. The general ET o model used is the 1985 Hargreaves Equation which requires only minimum and maximum daily air temperatures and is thus well suited to regions lacking more comprehensive climatic data. The utility and practicality of the forecasting methodology is demonstrated with an application to an irrigation project in Central Utah. To determine the advantage and suitability of the applied algorithm, another learning machine, the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), is used for comparison purposes. The robustness and stability of the proposed schemes are tested by the application of the bootstrap analysis.
Drosophila Phenol Oxidases

The phenol oxidase systems of Drosophila melanogaster arise from at least four protein components. One A component plus the P preparation yields tyrosinase, while the other two (A2 and A3) yield primarily 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine oxidases. Probably the four components represent specialized subunits of the oxidases produced.
Non-normal elements in Banach *-algebras

Let A be a Banach -algebra with an identity, continuous involution, center Z and set of self-adjoint elements . Let h 2 . The set of v 2 such that (h +iv) n is normal for no positive integer n is dense in if and only if h62 Z. The case where A has no identity is also treated.
Expedient Spall Repair Methods and Equipment for Airfield Pavements

Selected equipment and procedures were evaluated to expedite repair of spalls with rapid-setting materials. The objective was to develop one or more methods to excavate and prepare a 2-ft2 x 4-in. deep spall for placement of a rapid-setting repair material in 15 min or less. A secondary objective was to correlate various excavation methods with a relative life expectancy of the repair. For five excavation methods, 2-ft2 x 4-in. deep spalls were excavated in triplicate. The spalls were subsequently repaired with a commonly used rapid-setting spall repair material. The efficacy of the repair methods and equipment were evaluated on the basis of petrographic examination of the substrate excavation, production rate, total production rate, in situ tensile pull-off strength, direct shear bond strength, and performance under simulated F-15E wheel loading. Each of the methods evaluated had a significant improvement in production rate over the 30-lb jackhammer, the standard Department of Defense spall repair excava...
HER2 expression as a potential marker for response to therapy targeted to the EGFR

Since human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is known to participate with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mitogenic signalling, we hypothesised that HER2 overexpression might indicate responsiveness to EGFR targeted therapies. MCF7 breast cancer cells transfected with the HER2 gene were subcloned to establish a set of genetically related cell lines expressing graded levels of HER2 by immunoblot analysis. The subcloned cell lines and parental MCF7 cells were characterised by their growth characteristics, and cell by cell patterns of EGFR, HER2 and HER3 expression as well as levels of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and AKT by laser scanning cytometry (LSC). Growth inhibition assays were used to characterise response to EGFR targeted therapy, and to determine the relationship between therapeutic response and levels of tyrosine kinase expression. The levels of growth inhibition of AG1478 and of the AG1478-trastuzumab combinations were correlated with levels of HER2 expression among the different cell lines. Among EGFR, HER2 and HER3, HER2 overexpression was the best single predictive marker, but combinations of two markers provided additional predictive information.
Inactivation of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor by Cu(II) and hydrogen peroxide.

When α1-proteinase inhibitor was treated with 1–5 μM CuSO4 in the presence of H2O2 (250–1000 μM), its elastase inhibitory capacity was markedly decreased. Several other metal ions tested had either very little or no effect. The Cu(II)-catalyzed decrease in the inhibition of elastase activity can also be demonstrated in dialyzed plasma. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that in several pathological conditions in which extracellular copper levels are elevated, Cu(II)-catalyzed peroxidation of α1-proteinase inhibitor may occur at sites of inflammation where H2O2 is secreted as a major product by activated phagocytes.
First early Mesozoic amber in the Western Hemisphere

Detrital amber pebbles and granules have been discovered in Upper Triassic strata on the Colorado Plateau. Although amber pre-viously has been reported from Pennsylvanian, Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary strata, we know of no other reported Triassic occurrence in North America or the Western Hemisphere. The newly discovered occurrences of amber are at two localities in the lower part of the Petrified }Forest Member of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. The paper coals and carbonaceous paper shales containing the amber also contain fossil palynomorph assemblages that indicate a late Carnian age for these occurrences.
Real-time size discrimination and elemental analysis of gold nanoparticles using ES-DMA coupled to ICP-MS

We report the development of a hyphenated instrument with the capacity to quantitatively characterize aqueous suspended gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) based on a combination of gas-phase size separation, particle counting, and elemental analysis. A customized electrospray-differential mobility analyzer (ES-DMA) was used to achieve real-time upstream size discrimination. A condensation particle counter and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) were employed as downstream detectors, providing information on number density and elemental composition, respectively, of aerosolized AuNPs versus the upstream size selected by ES-DMA. A gas-exchange device was designed and optimized to improve the conversion of air flow (from the electrospray) to argon flow required to sustain the ICP-MS plasma, the key compatibility issue for instrumental hyphenation. Our work provides the proof of concept and a working prototype for utilizing this construct to successfully measure (1) number- and mass-based distributions; (2) elemental compositions of nanoparticles classified by size, where the size classification and elemental analysis are performed within a single experiment; (3) particle concentrations in both solution (before size discrimination) and aerosol (after size discrimination) phases; and (4) the number of atoms per nanoparticle or the nanoparticle density.
Temperature dependence of young's modulus and shear modulus in uranium-2.4 wt% niobium alloy

Abstract Measurements of dynamic Young's modulus and dynamic shear modulus were made on the uranium-2.4 wt% niobium alloy as a function of temperature in the range 25 to 800 °C. The method used to make the measurements was the piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique (PUCOT) at frequencies of 40 or 80 kHz. The material was investigated in two different conditions of heat treatment: gamma solution heat treated (GSHT) and water quenched (WQ), and GSHT + WQ + aged.
Neurochemical correlates of the Klüver-Bucy syndrome by in vivo microdialysis in monkey

Abstract The Kluver-Bucy syndrome is a well known consequence of lesions of the temporal lobe, but the neural mechanisms remain obscure. To elucidate the neurochemical changes in this syndrome, we utilized in vivo microdialysis of amygdala and hypothalamus in two Cebus monkeys (C. apella) before and after bilateral lesions of the temporal pole (TP). Both subjects were housed and observed in a social group when not being dialyzed. Behavioral changes consequent to the TP lesion included early postoperative anorexia, adipsia, hunched posture, tameness, and lethargy. Subsequently loss of fear, hyperorality, loss of social rank, and social withdrawal were observed. Neurochemical changes in amygdala included fall in DA metabolites, increase in NE, and fall in 5-HIAA. The amino acids glutamate and asparate were both lower postoperatively but more so in the subject with the greatest behavioral change. Similar changes were noted in hypothalamus except for DA metabolites which remained unchanged. The Kluver-Bucy syndrome consequent to ablation of the temporal pole appears related to a partial deafferentation of excitatory projections to amygdala, along with a lowering of DA and 5-HIAA and an increase in NE.
Photochemical survival principle in molecular evolution.

Abstract The role of solar radiation in molecular evolution is considered. The evolutionary trend is toward utilization of longer wavelength photons. In this process the short wavelength (ultraviolet) photons become detrimental and a protective atmosphere is becoming a necessity. It is proposed that for evolution to proceed, a conservation relation must be satisfied between the constructive and destructive actions of solar radiation on the one hand and the relative rates of biological synthesis and destruction on the other hand. This conservation relation requires that the rate of photosynthesis by visible light exceeds the photodestruction by the short ultraviolet. The thickness and absorbing properties of a selective atmosphere and the ratio of the quantum yield of synthesis to that of destruction are the parameters entering the conservation relation. Calculations have been performed of the minimum atmosphere necessary for later periods of molecular evolution.
Formation of deformation twins in a crept lamellar TiAl alloy

The substructures of a lamellar TiAl alloy deformed at 760 C with a low applied stress to a large strain (138 MPa, 1.5%), and a high applied stress to a small strain (518 MPa, 0.67%) were examined. During creep, interfacial gliding dislocations are initially retarded by either intrinsic barriers (e.g., ledges in the surface) or extrinsic barriers (i.e., the reaction of lattice dislocation with interface), resulting in a dislocation pile-up configuration. With further deformation, deformation twins are formed, and dislocation emission from interfaces also occurs. A critical local stress is required to initiate deformation twins which are suggested to be formed via a stair-rod cross-slip mechanism. This critical stress can be fulfilled by an interfacial dislocation pile-up.
Electroencephalographic correlates of audiogenic seizures during ethanol withdrawal in mice

C57BL/6Bg mice had silver bead electrodes chronically implanted on the surface of the cortex and had their cortical EEG recorded during audiogenic seizures following ethanol withdrawal. For 7 days, the experimental groups were fed a liquid diet containing 6% v/v ethanol ad lib as the only source of food and water. The control group was fed a similar diet containing an isocaloric amount of sucrose. The cortical EEG's of experimental and control groups before, during, and after treatment were virtually identical. Only the experimental group was susceptible to audiogenic seizures. During audiogenic seizures, the cortical EEG showed no sign of spike waves or paroxysmal activity. This is in contrast to picrotoxin convulsions with these same mice as well as to spontaneous convulsions in animals following ethanol withdrawal. Similar EEG observations have been reported on audiogenic seizures from genetic and acoustically primed susceptibilities. Consequently, we suggest that all audiogenic seizure responses, including those during ethanol withdrawal, are a type of subcortical epilepsy.
Readmissions after bariatric surgery: does operative technique and procedure choice matter?

/10.10 14 A he An rgery ence: scular d, We ntr@c The introduction of the laparoscopic approach by Alan Wittgrove, M.D. revolutionized gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery [1]. The absence of a large incision resulted in a marked decline in postoperative morbidity and mortality, contributing to a growing popularity of bariatric procedures amongst patients. As a result of the above mentioned, the number of bariatric operations performed worldwide increased exponentially [2]. Despite bariatric surgery having proven to be safe and efficacious there is a potential for complications that result in reoperations, prolonged hospital stay, and readmissions. Encinosa et al. [3] demonstrated that a hospital readmission in bariatric surgery has a significant increase in costs. Under the leadership of John Morton, M.D., F.A.C.S., president elect, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has launched a comprehensive campaign to help bariatric centers decrease hospital readmission rates. Some of the most important questions that need to be addressed are if procedure choice, patient demographic characteristics, and surgical technique are potential contributing factors to readmissions after bariatric surgery. In an attempt to identify risk factors for complications that might result in prolonged and rehospitalization, Dorman et al. [4] conducted a retrospective review of the Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database in an attempt to identify patient and surgical factors that might have triggered a readmission within 30 days of the initial surgical approach. When comparing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Observations of the binary X-ray source SMC X-1 from OSO-7.

WE report here the results of 40 days of coverage, April 15,1972, to May 25, 1972, of the binary X-ray source SMC X-1 with the UCSD OSO-7 X-ray telescope1. These observations above 7 keV complement the 2–6 keV Uhuru satellite results reported by Schreier et al.2 and permit an extension of the spectrum to at least 35 keV. Combined with other observations, they could help determine long term periodic variations, if any exist. Further information about this source is of particular interest because of its high intrinsic luminosity and its recent identification with SK 160 (ref. 3).
On the Propagation of a Shear Band in a Steel Tube

Marchand and Duffy tested thin-walled steel tubes in a split Hopkinson torsion bar at a nominal strain-rate of approximately 1,600/s and could not determine conclusively whether a shear band initiating at a point in the tube propagated around the circumference in one direction or in both directions. They estimated the speed of propagation to be 520 m/s in the former case and 260 m/s in the latter. Here, the authors simulate their test numerically, and find that the shear band propagates in both directions around the circumference of the tube. When the tube is twisted at a nominal strain-rate of 5,000/s, the band speed varies from 180 m/s at the site of the initiation to approximately 1,000 m/s at the nearly diametrically opposite point. The band speed increases with an increase in the nominal strain-rate. The material defect is modeled by assuming that a small region near the center of the tubular surface is made of a material weaker than that of the rest of the tube.
Quality of psychopharmacological medication use in nursing home residents

Abstract Background Despite well-documented evidence regarding antipsychotic use in older adults residing in nursing homes (NHs), there is a lack of evidence-based use and quality benchmarks for other psychopharmacological medications (PPMs), including antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sedative-hypnotics. Objective To estimate the prevalence and patterns of use of PPMs and to measure the quality of PPM use. Methods Using a 5% random sample of 2007 Medicare claims data linked to the Minimum Data Set 2.0, this cross-sectional study identified a nationally representative sample of 69,832 NH residents with ≥3 months of institutionalization. This study measured 1-year prevalence and quality of PPM use, as assessed by indication, dose, and duration of use defined and operationalized according to the current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Unnecessary Medication Guidance for Surveyors and relevant practice guidelines. Results Over two-thirds of residents (72.1%, n =50,349) used ≥1 PPM in 2007, with the highest prevalence seen in antidepressants (59.4%), and the lowest in anxiolytics (8.9%). Almost two-thirds (61.0%) of PPM users used ≥2 PPM classes. Compared to other PPM therapeutic classes, antipsychotic users had greatest evidence of guideline adequate use by indication (95.8%) and dose (78.7%). In addition, longer duration of adequate treatment was observed among antipsychotic users (mean = 208 days, standard deviation [SD] = 118) as compared to anxiolytic (mean = 159 days, SD = 118) and sedative-hypnotic users (mean = 183 days, SD = 117). Conclusions This study found that PPM use remains highly prevalent among long-stay Medicare NH residents. While antipsychotic use remained high (31.5%), little antipsychotic use was deemed inadequate by indication. However, the 1-year prevalence of use, dose, and duration of use of other PPMs remain high and potentially inadequate. Practitioners and policy-makers should heed both the high use and lower prescribing quality of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sedative-hypnotics in NH residents.
A new species of Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) from the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes

Miconia glandulipetala is described as a new species from the eastern slope of the central Peruvian Andes. This new species is recognized as a member of the “ Leandra + Ossaea (scorpioid)” clade based on its secund flowers and ovoid seeds with testa cells in an aligned pattern and par-convex periclinal walls. The taxon is easily recognized by the presence of 4-merous flowers, 4-locular ovaries, and a subapical glandular hair formed on the margin of each petal.
The histologic effect of topically applied acetylsalicylic acid on bone healing in rats.

Abstract The fate of topically applied therapeutic agents and the healing of the bone they contact are basic problems related to the repair process. Twelve albino rats were used, with twelve matched littermates as controls. A mucoperiosteal flap was raised and a lesion made in the crest of the maxillary ridge with a No. 2 bur. Powdered aspirin was placed in the lesion, and the flap was replaced and sutured. Sacrifice times were at 1 hour and 1, 4, 7, 15, and 30 days. The inflammatory response was of greater intensity and duration in those lesions containing aspirin. The osteoclastic activity around the aspirin-containing sites was of greater intensity than around the control sites in all 4- and 7-day specimens. The aspirin-containing sites showed much less bone repair within the lesions at 15 days; yet both were completely filled at 30 days.
Financial disclosure effects on labor contracts: A Nash analysis

Abstract. This study investigated the role of financial information disclosure on union-management preferences for labor contract outcomes. The effect of accounting information on negotiated outcome proximity to Nash equilibrium outcomes was also examined. Both the extent and credibility of financial information disclosure as well as dyadic and team negotiations were examined. Conjoint analysis was used to measure union and management preferences for contract attributes. Results indicated insignificant conjoint part worth differences on union and management contractual preferences under both accounting information and team negotiation treatments. Actual contractual outcomes were significantly correlated with Nash predictions, and information disclosure had a marginally significant effect on the proximity of actual to predicted outcomes. Resume. Les auteurs etudient le role de la presentation d'informations financieres dans les preferences du syndicat et de la direction en ce qui a trait au contrat de travail final. Ils s'interessent egalement a l'incidence de l'information comptable lorsque les conventions negociees se rapprochent de l'equilibre de Nash. L'etendue et la credibilite de l'information financiere presentee ainsi que les negociations dyadiques et collectives sont aussi objet d'etude. Les auteurs ont recours a l'analyse conjointe pour mesurer les preferences du syndicat et de la direction a l'egard des attributs du contrat de travail. Les resultats indiquent des ecarts non significatifs dans la valeur conjointe partielle associee par le syndicat et la direction aux attributs du contrat, par suite du traitement de l'information comptable ainsi que de la negociation collective. Le contrat final qui resulte presente une correlation significative avec les previsions de Nash, et la communication d'informations a une incidence marginale sur l'analogie entre les resultats reels et les resultats prevus.
Design requirements for the NASA Langley supersonic low-disturbance wind tunnel

The high intensity, high frequency acoustic disturbances that cause large adverse boundary layer transition effects on test models in conventional supersonic wind tunnels consist of finite length wavelets radiating from eddies in the turbulent boundary layers of the wind tunnel walls. NASA Langley has undertaken 'quiet' supersonic tunnel research that demonstrates the ability to maintain laminarity at high unit Reynolds numbers on limited upstream regions of the nozzle wall boundary layers in small, Mach 3.0, 3.5, and 5.0 pilot tunnels. The high level acoustic disturbances are then eliminated, and the transition Reynolds numbers measured on cones approach those for atmospheric flight. Attention is presently given to the design requirements that can be extrapolated from these results for a large wind tunnel facility; high quality air filtering, noise attenuation, nozzle coordinate accuracy, and surface finish, are quantified with pilot tunnel data.
'Sette on foote with gode Wyll': Towards a Reconstruction of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham

Tales and plays of Robin Hood have permeated Anglophone culture since his earliest appearance in literature, and in a manuscript fragment of the late fifteenth century, the legend finds incarnation in a short drama known by most scholars as Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham . The text contains no indication of scene-divisions or stage directions, and does not offer any notation to indicate the identity of any speakers. Though the mystery of the text has invited many interpretations, the previously published editions of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham have failed to resolve some crucial difficulties that arise in the play. This paper offers a new version of the play that allows for the interplay of text and improvisation, reads the piece as a single and complete play text, and attempts a reconciliation of the inconsistencies apparent across the existing published reconstructions.
Structures in the nucleon-nucleon system

The status of dibaryon resonances in I = 0 and I = 1 states is discussed together with new data.
Sexually dimorphic laryngeal morphology in Rana pipiens

The sexually dimorphic vocal characteristics of Rana pipiens release calls suggest that there may be differences in the anatomical components of the larynx. The volumes of the arytenoid cartilage, surrounding muscle masses, vocal cords, supporting bronchial process, and the release-call amplitudes of six males and five females were measured in same-sized animals and sexual differences assessed. No qualitative differences in laryngeal morphology were observed, but all features measured except vocal cords were significantly larger in males. The implications of an increased laryngeal size are discussed in relation to differences previously observed in the vocalizations of this and other species and in relation to prior suggestions regarding the developmental basis of anuran sexual dimorphisms.
A residual correction method for high-resolution PET reconstruction with application to on-the-fly Monte Carlo based model of positron range

Purpose: The quality of tomographic images is directly affected by the system model being used in image reconstruction. An accurate system matrix is desirable for high-resolution image reconstruction, but it often leads to high computation cost. In this work the authors present a maximum a posteriori reconstruction algorithm with residual correction to alleviate the tradeoff between the model accuracy and the computation efficiency in image reconstruction. Methods: Unlike conventional iterative methods that assume that the system matrix is accurate, the proposed method reconstructs an image with a simplified system matrix and then removes the reconstruction artifacts through residual correction. Since the time-consuming forward and back projection operations using the accurate system matrix are not required in every iteration, image reconstruction time can be greatly reduced. Results: The authors apply the new algorithm to high-resolution positron emission tomography reconstruction with an on-the-fly Monte Carlo (MC) based positron range model. Computer simulations show that the new method is an order of magnitude faster than the traditional MC-based method, whereas the visual quality and quantitative accuracy of the reconstructed images are much better than that obtained by using the simplified system matrix alone. Conclusions: The residual correction method can reconstruct high-resolution images and is computationally efficient.
Freezing avoidance of the Antarctic icefishes (Channichthyidae) across thermal gradients in the Southern Ocean

Biogeographic studies separate the Antarctic Notothenioid fish fauna into high- and low-latitude species. Past studies indicate that some species found in the high-latitude freezing waters of the High-Antarctic Zone have low-serum hysteresis freezing points, while other species restricted to the low-latitude seasonal pack ice zone have higher serum hysteresis freezing points above the freezing point of seawater (−1.9°C), but the relationship has not been systematically investigated. Freeze avoidance was quantified in 11 species of Antarctic icefishes by determining the hysteresis freezing points of their blood serum, in addition, the freezing point depression from serum osmolytes, the antifreeze activity from serum antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs), and the antifreeze activity from serum antifreeze potentiating protein were measured for each species. Serum hysteresis freezing point, a proxy for organismal freeze avoidance, decreased as species were distributed at increasing latitude (linear regression r 2 0.66, slope −0.046°C °latitude−1), which appeared largely independent of phylogenetic influences. Greater freeze avoidance at high latitudes was largely a result of higher levels of antifreeze activity from serum AFGPs relative to those in species inhabiting the low-latitude waters. The icefish fauna could be separated into a circum High-Antarctic Group of eight species that maintained serum hysteresis freezing points below −1.9°C even when sampled from less severe habitats. The remaining three species with low-latitude ranges restricted to the waters of the northern part of the west Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc Islands had serum hysteresis freezing points at or above −1.9°C due to significantly lower combined activity from all of their serum antifreeze proteins than found in the High-Antarctic Zone icefish.
Structure at 2.5 A of a designed peptide that maintains solubility of membrane proteins

A 24-amino acid peptide designed to solubilize integral membrane proteins has been synthesized. The design was for an amphipathic alpha helix with a "flat" hydrophobic surface that would interact with a transmembrane protein as a detergent. When mixed with peptide, 85 percent of bacteriorhodopsin and 60 percent of rhodopsin remained in solution over a period of 2 days in their native forms. The crystal structure of peptide alone showed it to form an antiparallel four-helix bundle in which monomers interact, flat surface to flat surface, as predicted.
Emotional intelligence : The Sine Qua Non for a clinical leadership toolbox

Abstract Over the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that although IQ and technical skills are important, emotional intelligence is the Sine Qua Non of leadership. According to Goleman [Goleman, D. (1998). What makes a leader? Harvard Business Review, 93–102] “effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: they all have a high degree of emotional intelligence … and can also be linked to strong performance.” The original five dimensions of EIQ are described and applied to both supervisory and clinical scenarios. Learning outcomes: As a result of reading this work, you will be able to: (1) define and provide an illustration of each of the five components of emotional intelligence (EIQ); (2) outline the relationship of EIQ to success in your profession and your personal life; (3) create a strategic action plan to enhance each dimension of EIQ in your daily life; (4) list at least three real-life experiences that could have resulted a favorable outcome with an improved EIQ; (5) complete a self-evaluation of your EIQ.
Microtubule disarray in cortical dendrites and neurobehavioral failure. I. Golgi and electron microscopic studies

Cortical biopsies obtained from 5 young children with severe neurobehavioral retardation of unknown etiology have been analyzed using Golgi and EM techniques. The normally cylindrical geometry of individual dendritic processes of pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons is interrupted by the formation of distinct varicosities. While over 90% of observed cells are affected, the extent of varicosity formation varies from cell to cell and is most prominent in medium and small pyramidal cells. Varicosities may occur in the periphery only, or they may extend proximally to primary dendritic trunks. Accompanying changes include thin and irregular proximal processes, loss of dendritic spines, and predominance of long, thin tortuous spines. Ultrastructural analysis reveals characteristic changes in the cytoskeleton of these processes. Microtubules, within the larger proximal processes, twist and turn, relative to one another and relative to the long axis of the process. In varicose regions, microtubules course in roughly parallel array through constricted segments, only to splay away from one another on entering an expansion. Synapses are evident on constricted and expanded segments, as well as on spines. Alterations in dendritic structure of both pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons may represent a primary target in the pathobiological process underlying neurobehavioral failure.
Bioavailability of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF and PCBs to marine benthos from passaic river sediments

Abstract The bioaccumulation and depuration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and polychlorinated biphenyls by marine benthos exposed to environmentally contaminated sediment were measured in a laboratory study. Sandworms ( Nereis virens ), clams ( Macoma nasuta ) and shrimp ( Palaemonetes puqio ) were exposed to sediment from the Passaic River, New Jersey for up to 180 days. Worms accumulated the highest concentrations of these compounds. Uptake and depuration rates were slowest in the worms and most rapid in the clams.
Native digital processing for optical networking

The Optical Turing Machine (OTM) is an approach to digital optical processing that supports computation in the same format used for high-speed transmission. This paper identifies the key capabilities required to support native digital optical processing for typical in-network functions including forwarding, security, and filtering. Current analog and binary digital approaches — including optical transistors — are considered and shown insufficient for optical networks. The requirements for a single encoding are presented, as are the capabilities required for network computation.
Early Experiences With Distributed Supercomputing On I-Way: First Principles Materials Science and Parallel Acoustic Wave Propagation

The authors present experiences relating to two simula tions running on a dedicated network of supercomputers that are connected and scheduled with I-WAY. Each code uses PVM parallel virtual machine as the message- passing layer so that the heterogeneity of the computers becomes transparent. These computationally intensive codes require hundreds to thousands of processors to achieve acceptable performance. The I-WAY testbed pro vides access to the needed resources by allowing a re searcher to use a virtual I-WAY machine VIM, which is a collection of supercomputing, visualization, and network resources from around the country. The authors slightly modified the PVM to operate within the I-WAY scheduling and authentication mechanisms and present the user with a familiar interface to run existing programs on this new testbed. New challenges are presented when attempting to write efficient codes for geographically distributed com puters. The applications presented here were successfully ported to the current I-WAY environment.
Desulfation of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine sulfate by microsomes from human and rat tissues.

Subcellular preparations from rat liver, brain, and kidney and from human liver were tested for their ability to desulfate T3 sulfate (T3SO4). Activity was found associated with the microsomal fraction: rat liver was the most active, hydrolyzing 76 pmol/min · mg protein of T3SO4 while preparations from rat kidney and brain were about 1/5 and 1/20 as active. Microsomal preparations from human liver obtained at autopsy were as active as fresh rat preparations. Thyroxine sulfate was not an active substrate. Microsomes prepared with dithiothreitol and EDTA in order to detect deiodinating activity maintained T3SO4-desulfating activity. Cytosolic preparations containing arylsulfatase activities failed to desulfate T3SO4. Estrone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and nitrophenyl sulfate are known substrates for microsome-associated arylsulfatase activities, and these compounds were found to inhibit hydrolysis of T3SO4 to various extents. Of these competing sulfatase substrates, only dehydroepiandrosterone...
Effects of caldera collapse on magma decompression rate: An example from the 1800 14C yr BP eruption of Ksudach Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

Abstract Caldera collapse changes volcanic eruption behavior and mass flux. Many models of caldera formation predict that those changes in eruption dynamics result from changes in conduit and vent structure during and after collapse. Unfortunately, no previous studies have quantified or described how conduits change in response to caldera collapse. Changes in pumice texture coincident with caldera formation during the 1800 14C yr BP KS1 eruption of Ksudach Volcano, Kamchatka, provide an opportunity to constrain magma decompression rates before and after collapse and thus estimate changes in conduit geometry. Prior to caldera collapse, only white rhyodacite pumice with few microlites and elongate vesicles were erupted. Following collapse, only gray rhyodacite pumice containing abundant microlites and round vesicles were erupted. Bulk compositions, phase assemblages, phenocryst compositions, and geothermometry of the two pumice types are indistinguishable, thus the two pumice types originated from the same magma. Geothermobarometry and phase equilibria experiments indicate that magma was stored at 100–125 MPa and 895 ± 5 °C prior to eruption. Decompression experiments suggest microlite textures observed in the white pumice require decompression rates of > 0.01 MPa s− 1, whereas the textures of gray pumice require decompression at ~ 0.0025 MPa s− 1. Balancing those decompression rates with eruptive mass fluxes requires conduit size to have increased by a factor of ~ 4 during caldera collapse. Slower ascent through a broader conduit following collapse is also consistent with the change from highly stretched vesicles present in white pumice and to round vesicles in gray pumice. Numerical modeling suggests that the mass flux and low decompression rates during the Gray phase can be accommodated by the post-collapse conduit developing a very broad base and narrow upper region.
Robustness of CDMA power control against disturbances and time-delays

This paper studies the robustness of a gradient-type CDMA power control algorithm with respect to disturbances and time-delays. This problem is of practical importance because unmodeled secondary interference effects from neighboring cells play the role of disturbances, and propagation delays are ubiquitous in wireless data networks. We first show L/sub p/-stability, for p/spl isin/[1, /spl infin/], with respect to additive disturbances. Then, using the L/sub /spl infin// property and a loop transformation, we prove that global asymptotic stability is preserved for sufficiently small time-delays in forward and return channels. For larger delays, we achieve global asymptotic stability by scaling down the step-size in the gradient algorithm.
Estimating Daily Yields of Cows Milked Three Times a Day

Factors to estimate daily yield from one or two sampled milkings of cows milked three times a day were derived with data for 21 mo from seven Pennsylvania herds and data for 1 yr from five Utah herds. Accuracy of estimation increased with number of milkings weighed; standard deviation of error was nearly halved when information was included from two milkings instead of one. Fat yield did not increase as much as milk yield with increased time between milkings (interval); therefore, fat percentage factors increased with interval. If fewer milkings were sampled than weighed, fat yield was estimated by adjusting sample-day fat percentage. Effect of interval on protein yield was nearly the same as on milk yield. Therefore, milk factors are recommended for protein, and no adjustment to protein percentage is necessary if fewer milkings are sampled than weighed. Factors derived for milk were tested on records from 53 California and Oregon herds. Standard deviations of errors were similar to those from Utah and Pennsylvania data.
The Lost Letter Technique and the 1996 Presidential Election

Two field studies were conducted in Escambia and Broward Counties in Florida. A total of 900 letters and 726 postal cards were “lost” in selected voting precincts in these counties. More letters were returned than postal cards. The technique was not effective in reflecting gross differences of public opinion toward major and minor presidential candidates. County conditions seemed to influence the return of postal cards but not letters. The technique consistently did not predict trends in the outcome of the 1996 presidential election for major and minor candidates. Limited power may have been a factor in the return mail associated with addressees' affiliations, but less important when data for the letters and cards were compared with election outcomes.