Showing papers by "University of Wisconsin-Madison published in 1992"

Relationships between Providers and Users of Market Research: The Dynamics of Trust within and between Organizations:

Abstract: The authors investigate the role of trust between knowledge users and knowledge providers. The kind of knowledge of special concern is formal market research. Users include marketing and nonmarketi...

Tetanus and botulinum-B neurotoxins block neurotransmitter release by proteolytic cleavage of synaptobrevin

Abstract: Clostridial neurotoxins, including tetanus toxin and the seven serotypes of botulinum toxin (A-G), are produced as single chains and cleaved to generate toxins with two chains joined by a single disulphide bond (Fig. 1). The heavy chain (M(r) 100,000 (100K)) is responsible for specific binding to neuronal cells and cell penetration of the light chain (50K), which blocks neurotransmitter release. Several lines of evidence have recently suggested that clostridial neurotoxins could be zinc endopeptidases. Here we show that tetanus and botulinum toxins serotype B are zinc endopeptidases, the activation of which requires reduction of the interchain disulphide bond. The protease activity is localized on the light chain and is specific for synaptobrevin, an integral membrane protein of small synaptic vesicles. The rat synaptobrevin-2 isoform is cleaved by both neurotoxins at the same single site, the peptide bond Gln 76-Phe 77, but the isoform synaptobrevin-1, which has a valine at the corresponding position, is not cleaved. The blocking of neurotransmitter release of Aplysia neurons injected with tetanus toxin or botulinum toxins serotype B is substantially delayed by peptides containing the synaptobrevin-2 cleavage site. These results indicate that tetanus and botulinum B neurotoxins block neurotransmitter release by cleaving synaptobrevin-2, a protein that, on the basis of our results, seems to play a key part in neurotransmitter release.

Multiple intestinal neoplasia caused by a mutation in the murine homolog of the APC gene.

Abstract: Germ-line mutations of the APC gene are responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an autosomal dominantly inherited disease in humans. Patients with FAP develop multiple benign colorectal tumors. Recently, a mouse lineage that exhibits an autosomal dominantly inherited predisposition to multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) was described. Linkage analysis showed that the murine homolog of the APC gene (mApc) was tightly linked to the Min locus. Sequence comparison of mApc between normal and Min-affected mice identified a nonsense mutation, which cosegregated with the Min phenotype. This mutation is analogous to those found in FAP kindreds and in sporadic colorectal cancers.

On a class of nonlinear Schro¨dinger equations

Abstract: This paper concerns the existence of standing wave solutions of nonlinear Schrodinger equations. Making a standing wave ansatz reduces the problem to that of studying the semilinear elliptic equation: (*) $$ - \Delta u + b(x)u = f(x, u), x \in \mathbb{R}^n .$$ The functionf is assumed to be “superlinear”. A special case is the power nonlinearityf(x, z)=∥z∥ s−1 z where 1

The Origins of Attachment Theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth

Abstract: Attachment theory is based on the joint work of John Bowlby (1907-1991) and Mary Salter Ainsworth (1913- ). Its developmental history begins in the 1930s, with Bowlby's growing interest in the link between maternal loss or deprivation and later personality development and with Ainsworth's interest in security theory. Although Bowlby's and Ainsworth's collaboration began in 1950, it entered its most creative phase much later, after Bowlby had formulated an initial blueprint of attachment theory, drawing on ethology, control systems theory, and psychoanalytic thinking, and after Ainsworth had visited Uganda, where she conducted the first empirical study of infantmother attachment patterns. This article summarizes Bowlby's and Ainsworth's separate and joint contributions to attachment theory but also touches on other theorists and researchers whose work influenced them or was influenced by them. The article then highlights some of the major new fronts along which attachment theory is currently advancing. The article ends with some speculations on the future potential of the theory. Attachment theory is the joint work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1991). Drawing on concepts from ethology, cybernetics, information processing, developmental psychology, and psychoanalysis, John Bowlby formulated the basic tenets of the theory. He thereby revolutionized our thinking about a child's tie to the mother and its disruption through separation, deprivation, and bereavement. Mary Ainsworth's innovative methodology not only made it possible to test some of Bowlby's ideas empirically but also helped expand the theory itself and is responsible for some of the new directions it is now taking. Ainsworth contributed the concept of the attachment figure as a secure base from which an infant can explore the world. In addition, she formulated the concept of maternal sensitivity to infant signals and its role in the development of infant-mother attachment patterns. The ideas now guiding attachment theory have a long developmental history. Although Bowlby and Ainsworth worked independently of each other during their early careers, both were influenced by Freud and other psychoanalytic thinkers—directly in Bowlby's case, indirectly in Ainsworth's. In this article, I document the origins of ideas that later became central to attachment theory. I then discuss the subsequent period of theory building and consolidation. Finally, I review some of the new directions in which the theory is currently developing and speculate on its future potential. In taking this retrospective developmental approach to the origins of attachment theory, I am reminded of Freud's (1920/1955) remark:

The Shadow Of The Future: Effects Of Anticipated Interaction And Frequency Of Contact On Buyer-Seller Cooperation

Abstract: This research examined cooperation between 136 industrial buyers and suppliers. We identified four domains of potential cooperation: flexibility, information exchange, shared problem solving, and r...

The Pristine Myth: The Landscape of the Americas in 1492

Abstract: The myth persists that in 1492 the Americas were a sparsely populated wilder- ness, "a world of barely perceptible human disturbance." There is substantial evidence, however, that the Native American landscape of the early sixteenth century was a humanized landscape almost everywhere. Populations were large. Forest composition had been modified, grasslands had been created, wild- life disrupted, and erosion was severe in places. Earthworks, roads, fields, and settle- ments were ubiquitous. With Indian depopu- lation in the wake of Old World disease, the environment recovered in many areas. A good argument can be made that the human pres- ence was less visible in 1750 than it was in 1492.

Effects of Tamoxifen on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract: Background and Methods. Tamoxifen, a synthetic antiestrogen, increases disease-free and overall survival when used as adjuvant therapy for primary breast cancer. Because it is given for long periods, it is important to know whether tamoxifen affects the skeleton, particularly since it is used extensively in postmenopausal women who are at risk for osteoporosis. Using photon absorptiometry, we studied the effects of tamoxifen on the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and radius and on biochemical measures of bone metabolism in 140 postmenopausal women with axillary-node—negative breast cancer, in a two-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Results. In the women given tamoxifen, the mean bone mineral density of the lumbar spine increased by 0.61 percent per year, whereas in those given placebo it decreased by 1.00 percent per year (P<0.001). Radial bone mineral density decreased to the same extent in both groups. In a subgroup randomly selected from each group, serum osteoc...

Photoelectric absorption cross sections with variable abundances

Abstract: Polynomial fit coefficients have been obtained for the energy dependences of the photoelectric absorption cross sections of 17 astrophysically important elements. These results allow the calculation of X-ray absorption in the energy range 0.03-10 keV in material with noncosmic abundances.

The sigma 70 family: sequence conservation and evolutionary relationships.

Abstract: The cr subunit confers promoter-specific transcription initiation on RNA polymerase (4; for reviews, see references 21 and 24). The identification, characterization, and sequence analysis of many sigma factors have revealed that they fall into two broad classes, with little if any sequence identity between them (37, 41). One family is similar to the originally identified Escherichia coli ur70 subunit; the other is similar to the 54-kDa E. coli cr subunit (for reviews, see references 32 and 52). Recently, sequence information has become available for many more members of the u70 family. In addition,

Screening Sigmoidoscopy and Colorectal Cancer Mortality

Abstract: Background Sigmoidoscopy may reduce colorectal cancer mortality by identifying both cancers and precursor lesions (including polyps) for treatment; however, evidence regarding the efficacy of this technique as a screening procedure is extremely limited. Purpose In the absence of data from randomized controlled trials, we performed a retrospective case-control study to determine if sigmoidoscopy screening is associated with a reduction in colorectal cancer mortality. Methods The medical records of 66 members of the Greater Marshfield Community Health Plan (GMCHP) who died of large-bowel cancer from 1979 to 1988 were reviewed for history of screening for colorectal cancer (case subjects). For comparison, the records of 196 GMCHP members of similar gender, age, and enrollment duration were randomly selected for review (control subjects). Results History of screening sigmoidoscopy was much less common among case subjects (10%) than among control subjects (30%). Risk for death from colorectal cancer was reduced among individuals having had a single examination by screening sigmoidoscopy (odds ratio = 0.21; 95% confidence interval = 0.08-0.52), compared with the risk for those who never had one. The reduction in risk appeared to be limited to tumors in the rectum and distal colon. Neither fecal occult blood testing nor digital rectal examination was associated with a reduction in colorectal cancer mortality. Conclusions These results suggest that screening sigmoidoscopy can substantially reduce mortality from cancers of the rectum and distal colon.

An argument-based approach to validity.

Abstract: This article outlines a general, argument-based approach to validation, develops an interpretive argument for a placement test as an example, and examines some key properties of interpretive arguments. Validity is associated with the interpretation assigned to test scores rather than with the test s

Theoretical Considerations when Estimating the Mesophyll Conductance to CO2 Flux by Analysis of the Response of Photosynthesis to CO2

Abstract: The conductance for CO2 diffusion in the mesophyll of leaves can limit photosynthesis. We have studied two methods for determining the mesophyll conductance to CO2 diffusion in leaves. We generated an ideal set of photosynthesis rates over a range of partial pressures of CO2 in the stroma and studied the effect of altering the mesophyll diffusion conductance on the measured response of photosynthesis to intercellular CO2 partial pressure. We used the ideal data set to test the sensitivity of the two methods to small errors in the parameters used to determine mesophyll conductance. The two methods were also used to determine mesophyll conductance of several leaves using measured rather than ideal data sets. It is concluded that both methods can be used to determine mesophyll conductance and each method has particular strengths. We believe both methods will prove useful in the future.

The dominant role of low-frequency interaural time differences in sound localization.

Abstract: Two experiments are described in which listeners judge the apparent directions of virtual sound sources–headphone‐presented sounds that are processed in order to simulate free‐field sounds. Previous results suggest that when the cues to sound direction are preserved by the simulation, the apparent directions of virtual sources are nearly the same as the apparent directions of real free‐field sources. In the experiments reported here, the interaural phase relations in the processing algorithms are manipulated in order to produce stimuli in which the interaural time difference cues signal one direction and interaural intensity and pinna cues signal another direction. The apparent directions of these conflicting cue stimuli almost always follow the interaural time cue, as long as the wideband stimuli include low frequencies. With low frequencies removed from the stimuli, the dominance of interaural time difference disappears, and apparent direction is determined primarily by interaural intensity difference and pinna cues.

Long-term persistence of plasmid DNA and foreign gene expression in mouse muscle.

Abstract: Plasmid pRSVL persisted and expressed luciferase for at least 19 months in mouse skeletal muscle after intramuscular injection. Other injected plasmids also stably expressed long-term suggesting that any plasmid DNA could stably persist and express in muscle. Plasmid DNA was demonstrated by quantitative PCR in some of the muscle DNA samples for at least 19 months after injection. The methylation pattern of the plasmid DNA remained in its bacterial form indicating that the foreign DNA did not replicate in the muscle cells. The electroporation of total cellular DNA from injected muscles into bacteria indicated that the plasmid DNA was extrachromosomal. Chromosomal integration of plasmid DNA was searched for by electroporating the injected muscle DNA into bacteria after restriction enzyme digestion and ligation. No plasmids containing plasmid/chromosome junctions were observed in over 1800 colonies examined. Lack of integration increases the theoretical safety of this gene transfer technique. Long-term stability of plasmid DNA in muscle indicates that muscle is an attractive target tissue for the introduction of extrachromosomal plasmid or viral DNA for the purpose of gene therapy.

Emotion and Affective Style: Hemispheric Substrates

Abstract: Research on cerebral asymmetry and the experience and expression of emotion is reviewed. The studies described use electrophysiological procedures to make inferences about patterns of regional cortical activation. Such procedures have sufficient temporal resolution to be used in the study of brief emotional experiences denoted by spontaneous facial expressions. In adults and infants, the experimental arousal of positive, approach-related emotions is associated with selective activation of the left frontal region, while arousal of negative, withdrawal-related emotions is associated with selective activation of the right frontal region. Individual differences in baseline measures of frontal asymmetry are associated with dispositional mood, affective reactivity, temperament, and immune function. These studies suggest that neural systems mediating approach- and withdrawal-related emotion and action are, in part, represented in the left and right frontal regions, respectively, and that individual differences i...

The inexact and separate science of economics

Abstract: List of figures Introduction Part I. Introduction, Structure and Strategy: 1. Rationality and utility theory 2. Demand and consumer choice 3. The theory of the firm and general equilibrium 4. Equilibrium theory and economic welfare 5. Models and theories in economics 6. The structure and strategy of economics 7. Overlapping generations: a case study Part II. Theory Assessment: 8. Inexactness in economic theory 9. Methodological revolution 10. Karl Popper and falsificationism in economics 11. Imre Lakatos and economic methodology 12. Economics as an inexact and separate science 13. On dogmatism in economics: the case of preference reversals Part III. Conclusion: 14. Economic methodology 15 Conclusions Appendix: an introduction to philosophy of science Bibliography Index.

Association between surges of follicle-stimulating hormone and the emergence of follicular waves in heifers.

Abstract: The effects of ablation of a dominant follicle and treatment with follicular fluid on circulating concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were studied and the temporal relationships between surges of FSH and follicular waves were studied in heifers with two or three follicular waves/interovulatory interval. Cauterization of the dominant follicle on Day 3 or Day 5 (ovulation on Day 0) (six control and six treated heifers/day) resulted in a surge (P less than 0.05) in FSH beginning the day after cautery. The FSH surge prior to wave 2 (first post-treatment follicular wave) occurred 4 days (Day 3 cautery) and 2 days (Day 5 cautery) before the surge in control groups, corresponding to a 4-day and a 2-day advance in emergence of wave 2 compared with controls. It was concluded that the dominant follicle on Day 3 and Day 5 was associated with the suppression of circulating FSH concentrations. Heifers (n = 4/group) were untreated or treated intravenously with a proteinaceous fraction of bovine follicular fluid on Days 0-3, 3-6, or 6-11. Concentrations of FSH were suppressed (P less than 0.05) for the duration of treatment, regardless of the days of treatment. Cessation of treatment was followed within 1 day by the start of a surge in FSH. The FSH surge prior to wave 2 occurred 2 days earlier (treatment on Days 0-3), 1 day later (treatment on Days 3-6), and 6 days later (treatment on Days 6-11) than in controls, corresponding to an equivalent advance or delay, respectively, in the emergence of wave 2 compared with controls. The results suggest that the effects of exogenous follicular fluid on follicular development were mediated, in whole or in part, by altering plasma FSH concentrations. Control heifers combined for the two experiments were separated into those with 2-wave (n = 11) or 3-wave (n = 5) interovulatory intervals. Two-wave heifers had two FSH surges and 3-wave heifers had three apparent FSH surges during the interovulatory interval. Results of the cautery and follicular fluid experiments indicated that a surge in FSH necessarily preceded the emergence of a wave. The FSH surges in treated and control heifers began 2-4 days before the detectable (ultrasound) emergence of a follicular wave (follicles of 4 and 5 mm), peaked 1 or 2 days before emergence and began to decrease approximately when the follicles of a wave begin to diverge into a dominant follicle and subordinate follicles (follicles 6-7 mm).

Sensitivity of the Indian monsoon to forcing parameters and implications for its evolution

Abstract: General-circulation-model simulations used to estimate the sensitivity of the Indian monsoon to changes in orbital parameters, the orography of Tibet—Himalaya, atmospheric C02 concentration and the extent of glacial-age surface boundary conditions show that increased elevations and increased summer solar radiation are most effective in strengthening the monsoon. Strong monsoons (similar to today's) can be induced by strong solar forcing only when the elevation is at least half that of today. These conditions may have been attained in the late Miocene.

Taguchi's parameter design: a panel discussion

Abstract: It is more than a decade since Genichi Taguchi's ideas on quality improvement were inrroduced in the United States. His parameter-design approach for reducing variation in products and processes has generated a great deal of interest among both quality practitioners and statisticians. The statistical techniques used by Taguchi to implement parameter design have been the subject of much debate, however, and there has been considerable research aimed at integrating the parameter-design principles with well-established statistical techniques. On the other hand, Taguchi and his colleagues feel that these research efforts by statisticians are misguided and reflect a lack of understanding of the engineering principles underlying Taguchi's methodology. This panel discussion provides a forum for a technical discussion of these diverse views. A group of practitioners and researchers discuss the role of parameter design and Taguchi's methodology for implementing it. The topics covered include the importance of vari...

Divided we govern : party control, lawmaking, and investigations, 1946-1990

Abstract: In this prize-winning book, which analyzes data from a 44-year period, Mayhew refutes the commonly held myth that the American national government functions effectively only when one political party controls the presidency and Congress. This edition has a new epilogue covering 1991-1992.

International Comparisons of Pricing-to-Market Behavior

Abstract: This paper measures the degree of price discrimination across export destinations that is associated with exchange rate changes using U.S., U.K., German and Japanese industry-level data. Given the industries sampled more price discrimination across destinations is observed in the U.K., German and Japanese data. For industries that match across source countries, however, behavior is very similar across source countries. Furthermore, destination-specific price adjustment on exports to the U.S. from Germany and Japan is similar to price adjustment observed on shipments to other destinations. Most variation in the data appears to be related to industry.