Experimental investigation of systems for synchronizing time scales by means of the Quasar satellite communication system network

Experiments conducted at ground stations of the Quasar satellite communication network using both a null base as well as a base of around 2000 km is described. In experiments with a null base, the time scale transmission error was 1 nsec. Comparison of the results of collocation with data cbtained by the GLONASS system in the course of experiments using a 2100-km base demonstrated a divergence of the results of from 5 to 25 nsec. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 4, pp. 35–38, April, 1996.     

Inertia and Change in the Early Years: Employment Relations in Young, High Technology Firms

This paper considers processes of organizational imprintingin a sample of 100 young, high technology companies. It examinesthe effects of a pair of initial conditions: the founders' modelsof the employment relation and their business strategies. Ouranalyses indicate that these two features were well alignedwhen the firms were founded. However, the alignment has deterioratedover time, due to changes in the distribution of employmentmodels. In particular, the ‘star’ model and ‘commitment’model are less stable than the ‘engineering’ modeland the ‘factory’ model. Despite their instability,these two blueprints for the employment relation have strongeffects in shaping the early evolution of these firms. In particular,firms that embark with these models have significantly higherrates of replacing the founder chief executive with a non-founderas well as higher rates of completing an initial public stockoffering. Some implications of these findings for future studiesof imprinting and inertia in organizations are discussed.     

Molecular genetics in Saccharomyces kluyveri: The HIS3 homolog and its use as a selectable marker gene in S. kluyveri and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We cloned the Saccharomyces kluyveri HIS3 homolog, k-HIS3, and made a partial deletion of the gene. The k-HIS3 gene complemented a HIS3 deletion in S. cerevisiae. The DNA sequences of the open reading frames (ORFs) of the HIS3 homologs are 70% identical at the DNA level and 83% identical at the deduced amino acid level. The ORF upstream of the k-HIS3 gene is related to the PET56 gene of S. cerevisiae found upstream of the HIS3 gene of S. cerevisiae. The ORF downstream from the k-HIS3 gene is not related to the DED1 gene found downstream of the HIS3 gene in S. cerevisiae.     

Superconductivity and magnetism in niobium doped YBa2Cu3O7 Related high Tc ceramics

Magnetic characterization has been performed on the members of the cuprateniobate RBa₂Cu₂NbO₈ (R = Pr, Nd, and La) series and R_1.5Ce_0.5Sr₂Cu₂NbO₁₀ (R = Pr, Eu, Nd, and Sm) series. The PrBCNO samples show a signature in the magnetization of a magnetic ordering at 12K. The PrCSCNO sample is nonsuperconducting and shows two distinct orderings at 17K and 53K. No such magnetic phase transition is observed down to 2K in the Nd and La based RBCNO materials or the Nd, Sm, and Eu based RCSCNO materials. Measurements of the lower critical field curve, dc irreversibility line, and critical curent densities are reported for each of the superconducting NdCSCNO, SmCSCNO, and EuCSCNO compounds.     

Determining elasticity and strength characteristics of powder coating

Methods are described for forming coating specimens and testing them in pure bending. The proposed tester gives adequate accuracy in determining the elastic characteristics and strength for thin specimens (up to 0.1 mm) of brittle materials of powder-coating type.Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 3, pp. 94–97, March, 1993.     

The significance of colocalization of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and vitronectin in hepatic fibrosis

BACKGROUND: We examined the relationships among vitronectin (VN), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in liver diseases to evaluate the presence of plasmin cascade in human hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Blood and liver tissues were obtained from 57 patients with liver disease. Plasma VN, PAI-1 antigen, and PAI-1 activity levels were evaluated. Biopsied liver specimens were observed by light and electron microscopy after immunohistochemical staining. Morphometric analysis was performed on these specimens. RESULTS: Plasma VN and PAI-1 activity levels decreased significantly with the progression of hepatic fibrosis and were particularly marked in the liver cirrhosis group. Plasma PAI-1 antigen level increased significantly. The immunolocalization of the active form of TGF-beta became more intense with the progression of hepatic fibrosis, whereas that of the dual-stained positive areas of PAI-1 and VN (PAI-1.VN) decreased. There was a positive correlation between TGF-beta and PAI-1, whereas there was a negative correlation between TGF-beta and PAI-1.VN. Immunoelectron microscopy showed the localization of PAI-1-VN in the extracellular space around the sinusoidal cells or surface of aggregating platelets, TGF-beta mainly in Ito cells, and VN in hepatocytes near the focal necrotic area or fibrous septa. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that VN and PAI-1 are related to the active form of TGF-beta and that it is possible that the plasmin cascade is present in the human liver.     

Endocrine/exocrine intermediate cells in streptozotocin-treated Ins-IFN-gamma transgenic mice

Posterior pharyngeal will tumours are infrequent neoplasms with a very poor prognosis. The 5 year survival rate range from 3% to 32%. Most authors agree that the treatment of choice is surgery with post-operative radiotherapy. The results of treatment of 36 patients (tumour excision plus bilateral neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy) in which the posterior pharyngeal wall defect was closed with a platysma myocutaneous flap were compared with other forms of repair (13 patients). The 5 year survival rate was 17.2% in the whole group. Laryngeal voice was achieved in 79% of patients having a platysma flap reconstruction. The platysma myocutaneous flap is very satisfactory for the repair of the posterior pharyngeal wall as it is easy to perform, it is oncologically safe and its functional results match well with other forms of reconstruction, with the advantage of laryngeal preservation.