Showing papers by "University of Southern California published in 1975"

Organization development and change

Abstract: Market-leading Organization Development and Change blends theory, concepts and applications in a comprehensive and clear presentation. The authors work from a strong theoretical foothold and apply behavioral science knowledge to the development of organizational structures, strategies, and processes.

Visual Following and Pattern Discrimination of Face-like Stimuli by Newborn Infants

Abstract: Forty newborn infants, median age 9 minutes, turned their eyes and heads to follow a series of moving stimuli. Responsiveness was significantly greater to a proper face pattern than to either of two scrambled versions of the same stimulus or to a blank. The demonstration of such consistent response differences suggests that visual discriminations are being made at this early age. These results imply that organized visual perception is an unlearned capacity of the human organism. The preference for the proper face stimulus by infants who had not seen a real face prior to testing suggests that an unlearned or "evolved" responsiveness to faces may be present in human neonates.

Immunoblastic lymphadenopathy. A hyperimmune entity resembling Hodgkin's disease.

Abstract: Immunoblastic lymphadenopathy, although it resembles Hodgkin's disease, is a distinct, hyperimmune disorder apparently of the B-cell system. In 32 cases, it was characterized by a morphologic triad: proliferation of arborizing small vessels; prominent immunoblastic proliferations; and amorphous acidophilic interstitial material. Clinically, it is manifested by fever, sweats, weight loss, occasionally a rash, generalized lymphadenopathy and often hepatosplenomegaly. There is a consistent polyclonal hyperglobulinemia and often hemolytic anemia. The course of the disease is usually progressive, with a median survival of 15 months in 18 fatal cases. The cellular proliferation appears benign morphologically in the pretherapy biopsies and in 10 of 12 available autopsy cases. In three cases the process evolved into a lymphoma of immunoblasts, immunoblastic sarcoma. The basic process appears to be a non-neoplastic hyperimmune proliferation of the B-cell system involving an exaggeration of lymphocyte transformation to immunoblasts and plasma cells that may be triggered by a hypersensitivity reaction to therapeutic agents.

Tertiary marine paleotemperatures

Abstract: Oxygen isotopic compositions of the tests of planktonic foraminifera from several Deep Sea Drilling Project sites provide a general picture of low-latitude marine temperatures from Maastrichtian time to the present. Bottom temperatures determined from the isotopic compositions of benthonic foraminifera are interpreted as being indicative of high-latitude surface temperatures. Prior to the beginning of middle Miocene time, high- and low-latitude temperatures changed in parallel fashion. Following an apparently small and short-lived drop in temperature near the Tertiary-Cretaceous boundary, temperatures remained warm and relatively constant through Paleocene and early and middle Eocene time; bottom temperatures then were on the order of 12°C. A sharp temperature drop in late Eocene time was followed by a more gradual lowering of temperature, culminating in a late Oligocene high-latitude temperature minimum of about 4°C. A temperature rise through early Miocene time was followed in middle Miocene time by a sudden divergence of high- and low-latitude temperatures: high-latitude temperatures dropped dramatically, perhaps corresponding to the onset of major glaciation in Antarctica, but low-latitude temperatures remained constant or perhaps increased. This uncoupling of high-and low-latitude temperatures is postulated to be related to the establishment of a circum-Antarctic circulation similar to that of today. A further drop in high-latitude temperatures in late Pliocene time probably signaled the onset of a major increase in polar glaciation, including extensive sea-ice formation. Early Miocene, small-amplitude (1 per mil) sympathetic fluctuations in isotopic compositions of planktonic and benthonic foraminifera have been identified. These have a period of several hundred thousand years. Superimposed upon these are much more rapid and smaller fluctuations (0.2 to 0.5 per mil) with a period of about 80,000 to 90,000 yr. This is similar to the period observed for Pleistocene isotopic temperature fluctuations. In low latitudes, much smaller vertical temperature gradients seem to have existed during Maastrichtian and Paleogene time than exist at present. The absence of a sharply defined thermocline during early Tertiary time is also suggested.

Partitioning of trace metals in selective chemical fractions of nearshore sediments.

Abstract: A series of chemical extraction procedures are used to obtain data on the partitioning of trace metals among the various geochemical phases of sediments. These components include intersititial water, solubility of solid minerals, ions on exchange sites, metal carbonates, easily reducible phases, organics and sulfides, iron oxides, and lithogenous (mineral residual) fractions. In general, a mass balance of less than 10% deviation can be obtained. Experimental results show very small fractions of trace metals to be in the form of interstital water or soluble ions. Trace metals in the exchangeable phase are almost negligible, and those in the mineral residual phases range from 2.5% Cd for one sediment to 98% Cu for another. The non-residual trace metals content is found to increase with decreasing sand content.

Fluorinated Pyrimidines and Their Nucleosides

Abstract: Since their introduction (Heidelberger et al., 1957), the fluorinated pyrimidines and their nucleosides have been widely used as biochemical tools for the elucidation of a number of problems encountered in cell biology and molecular biology. Of more practical importance, however, has been their extensive use as drugs for the palliative treatment of patients suffering from disseminated cancer. One of the compounds is now clinically useful in the curative treatment of herpes simplex viral infections of the eye. Although these compounds have generated an enormous literature, this chapter will deal primarily with a review of the major pharmacological and biochemical effects of these compounds; the coverage of the literature, by necessity, will focus only on key references that are germane to the topics being described. Several reviews of this topic have appeared elsewhere (Heidelberger and Ansfield, 1963; Heidelberger, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973; Mandel, 1969; Carter, 1970).

Telecommunications and Organizational Decentralization

Abstract: In recent years, several phenomena have caused significant pressures on the traditional, centralized urban structure. These phenomena include urban sprawl, separation of business and residential areas and concomitant dependence on transportation, the absence of effective or widespread mass transit, and declining oil reserves with rising energy costs. These conditions have made decentralization more attractive to many large organizations currently located in the central business districts (CBD's) of major urban areas. The increasing availability of sophisticated communications and computer technologies may encourage the continued growth and future decentralization of "information industries," thereby producing major urban changes. The telecommunicationsaugmented decentralization of a traditional, centralized organization to a diffused one with an intraorganizational telecommunications network is described. The key factors in this process are discussed: 1) the ability of new telecommunications and computer technologies to maintain or increase productivity for routine clerical and management functions, 2) their availability, and 3) their costs relative to urban transportation systems. Telecommunications-augmented decentralization can have significant impacts on transportation, telecommunications, labor, and land-use policies; specific areas of impact are discussed.

Traumatic dislocation of the knee joint.

Abstract: The results in thirty-three of fifty-three traumatic dislocations of the knee followed for more than one year confirmed our conclusion, made in 1971, that early repair of all torn ligaments gives the best results, and that the vascular status following this injury must be observed carefully since vascular repair or thrombectomy within eight hours of injury gives the best chance of preventing gangrene of the leg. The twenty associated fractures in these thirty-three patients were treated successfully with conventional methods, except for three displaced fractures of the medial tibial plateau in which closed reduction failed and internal fixation was required.

Threshold energy effect on avalanche breakdown voltage in semiconductor junctions

Abstract: The band bending for avalanche breakdown in semiconductor junctions and its temperature dependence are predicted taking account of threshold energy effects on the ionization process in semiconductors. Where experimental results exist, the theoretical predictions and experimental results are in excellent agreement. In the high electric field region inclusion of both bulk and boundary threshold energy effects is essential. The predictions were based on exact solutions in the nonlocalized ionization coefficient formulation developed by Okuto and Crowell who showed that ionization coefficients as usually understood are functions of both electric field and position in a device. Predictions for abrupt and p - i - n junctions in Ge, Si, GaAs and GaP are presented.

Occult spinal dysraphism: a series of 73 cases.

Abstract: The subject of occult spinal dysraphism or myelodysplasia is reviewed from standpoints of embryology, clinical manifestations, and treatment, and the management of 73 cases summarized. In general, these concealed lesions arise from developmental variants in the most distal part of the neural tube, a situation which may cause distortion or partial absence of neural tissues and also lead to damage from compression or traction. Lipomyelomeningocele and congenital dermal sinus are two exampled of the many types of such lesions, but some are more complicated and border-line myelomeningocele-like forms occur. Incontinence, deformity or weakness of the feet, impaired gait, and other difficulties may appear late and increase with growth. Surgical treatment is advised to reduce chances of delayed or progressive loss of function.

Skeletal Resistance to Endogenous Parathyroid Hormone in Patients with Early Renal Failure. A Possible Cause for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract: Studies were carried out to evaluate whether skeletal resistance to acute increments in endogenous parathyroid hormone exists in patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency. Hypocalcemia was induced with the infusion of ethylenediamine-tetra-acetate (EDTA) in 10 normal subjects and 13 patients with mild renal failure. After the induction of hypocalcemia, the concentration of serum calcium increased gradually and reached preinfusion levels by 22 h in the normal subjects; in contrast, the levels of serum calcium in patients with mild renal insufficiency were significantly lower than the preinfusion values even at the end of 26 h following the EDTA infusion. This delayed recovery occurred despite significantly higher levels of serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (IPTH) in the patients than in the normal subjects. The increase in the levels of IPTH reflect elevations in the concentrations of biologically active hormone since urinary cyclic AMP increased significantly. Urinary calcium excretion fol...

The structure of decoupled non-linear systems

Abstract: For non-linear time-variable systems a synthesis procedure for decoupling via state feedback is given. A sufficient condition for observability of non-linear time-variable systems is introduced which serves as a basis for the analysis of the structure of the decoupled closed-loop system. In this context a sufficient condition for the observability of a decoupled non-linear time-variable system is derived.

The use of finite fields to compute convolutions

Abstract: A transform is defined in the Galois field of q^2 elements GF(q^2) , a finite field analogous to the field of complex numbers, when q is a prime such that (--1) is not a quadratic residue. It is shown that the action of this transform over GF(q^2) is equivalent to the discrete Fourier transform of a sequence of complex integers of finite dynamic range. If q is a Mersenne prime, one can utilize the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm to yield a fast convolution without the usual roundoff problem of complex numbers.

Origin and frequency dependence of nonlinear optical susceptibilities of glasses

Abstract: We have determined the frequency dependence of the nonlinear optical susceptibilities of fused quartz and four other glasses, and determined the relative contributions of "electronic" and "nuclear" mechanisms to their nonlinear optical indices. This is the first such determination in solids. Our method has been to analyze our own absolute measurement of ordinary differential Raman-scattering cross sections in conjunction with the coefficients for intensity-induced polarization changes measured by Owyoung in the same glasses.

Characteristics of room-temperature 2.3-µm laser emission from tm 3+ in YAG and YAlO 3

Abstract: The relaxation of low-lying excited states of Tm3+ions doped in YAG, YAlO 3 , and Y 2 O 3 due to photon and phonon emission is studied theoretically. Stimulated emission cross sections (integrated over frequency), fluorescence lifetimes, and radiative quantum efficiencies are calculated and their implications for laser operation on the 2.3-μm3F 4 →3H 5 line of Tm3+are discussed. The calculations, based on a few phenomenological parameters which have been determined by others, are easily generalizable to other host materials and other rare-earth (RE) ions. Room-temperature pulsed laser emission from Tm3+ions near 2.3 μm was observed on one line in Tm:Cr:YAG, and on four lines in Tm:Cr:YAlO 3 . Lower oscillation thresholds were generally obtained in the YAlO3 rods, consistent with the theory presented. A threshold of 31 J was obtained with a Tm:Cr:YAlO 3 rod at 2.274 μm. In the free-running pulsed mode, peak power levels up to several hundred watts and total output energies up to 12 mJ/pulse were observed. Other general, observed operating characteristics are discussed.

Post-jejunoileal-bypass hepatic disease. Its similarity to alcoholic hepatic disease.

Abstract: The authors studied serial hepatic biopsies of five patients who developed hepatic failure following jejunoileal bypass for extreme obesity, with autopsies of two. The hepatic histologic changes included centrilobular or focal alcoholic hyalin, intrasinusoidal collagenosis, fatty hydropic degeneration, and neutrophilic infiltrate. At least two of the patients were abstinent from alcohol, both prior to and after the surgical procedures. The others, after the bypass procedures, had reduced alcohol consumption from previous levels. All patients developed hepatic failure and histologically progressive hepatic disease with alcoholic hyalin and other changes indistinguishable from alcoholic hepatic disease in 21/2 to 5 months, in spite of hyperalimentation and re-establishment of intestinal continuity in four. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and ascites were prominent complaints. Four of the five patients died in hepatic failure. The authors conclude that these cases of progressive hepatic disease with histologic changes simulating those found in livers of alcoholic patients offer evidence that heavy alcohol consumption may affect the liver in an indirect fashion.

Parallel Radioimmunoassay for Plasma Cortisol and 11-Deoxycortisol

Abstract: We describe a direct, rapid, and specific procedure for the parallel radioimmunoassay for cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol in plasma. The plasma sample is used directly, after heat inactivation of the natural cortisol-binding protein. The radioimmunoassay utilizes antibodies generated in rabbits by steroids congugated at their 3-oxo position to thyroglobulin. Ammonium sulfate is used to separate bound and free steroids. Our cortisol antibody and an 11-deoxycortisol antibody obtained elsewhere cross reacted negligibly with each other or with other steroids that might be present in plasma. Radioimmunoassays were therefore developed for both steroids in only 1.25 mul of plasma. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for both steroids were less than 10%, with a sensitivyt of 4 mug/liter. Steroid values obtained by a competitive protein binding method were consistently higher than those of the present method, suggesting that the former is measuring total corticosteroids. This simple approach requires only 4 h for the specific measurement of both cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol in 20 samples of plasma.

Relationship Between Fibrinolysis of Cultured Cells and Malignancy

Abstract: Cells cultured from various human and nonhuman malignant and normal tissues as well as mammalian cells transformed in vitro were examined for their ability to induce fibrinolysis. Generally, except for normal cells derived from lung or kidney, malignant cells had a greater ability to induce fibrinolysis than did their normal counterparts. A correlation existed between the abilities of the cells to induce fibrinolysis, grow in soft agar, and form tumors in immunosuppressed hosts.