A monoclonal antibody that blocks the activity of a neurite regeneration-promoting factor: studies on the binding site and its localization in vivo

Work from several laboratories has identified a proteoglycan complex secreted by a variety of non-neuronal cells that can promote neurite regeneration when applied to the surface of culture dishes. Using a novel immunization protocol, a monoclonal antibody (INO) was produced that blocks the activity of this outgrowth-promoting factor (Matthew, W. D., and P. H. Patterson, 1983, Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 48:625-631). We have used the antibody to analyze the components of the active site and to localize the complex in vivo. INO binding is lost when the complex is dissociated; if its components are selectively reassociated, INO binds only to a complex containing two different molecular weight species. These are likely to be laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan, respectively. On frozen sections of adult rat tissues, INO binding is present on the surfaces of glial cells of the peripheral, but not the central, nervous system. INO also binds to the basement membrane surrounding cardiac and skeletal muscle cells, and binding to the latter greatly increases after denervation. In the adrenal gland and kidney, INO selectively reacts with areas rich in basement membranes, staining a subset of structures that are immunoreactive for both laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan. In general, the outgrowth-blocking antibody binds to areas known to promote axonal regeneration and is absent from areas known to lack this ability. This suggests that this complex, which is active in culture, may be the physiological substrate supporting nerve regeneration in vivo

Flight elements: Fault detection and fault management

Fault management for an intelligent computational system must be developed using a top down integrated engineering approach. An approach proposed includes integrating the overall environment involving sensors and their associated data; design knowledge capture; operations; fault detection, identification, and reconfiguration; testability; causal models including digraph matrix analysis; and overall performance impacts on the hardware and software architecture. Implementation of the concept to achieve a real time intelligent fault detection and management system will be accomplished via the implementation of several objectives, which are: Development of fault tolerant/FDIR requirement and specification from a systems level which will carry through from conceptual design through implementation and mission operations; Implementation of monitoring, diagnosis, and reconfiguration at all system levels providing fault isolation and system integration; Optimize system operations to manage degraded system performance through system integration; and Lower development and operations costs through the implementation of an intelligent real time fault detection and fault management system and an information management system

Teamwork and organizational innovation: the moderating role of the HRM context

Evidence is accumulating on the role of teams in shaping a variety of business outcomes, but our knowledge on the effect of teamwork on organizational innovation is still evolving. This study examines whether the extent to which two staff groups are organized in teams (production staff and management/administrative staff) affects organizational innovation and whether human resource management (HRM) systems, which can be of facilitating or con- straining nature, enhance the teamwork/innovation relationships. Hypotheses were tested with lagged and longitudinal data derived from 18 to 45 organizations from the UK manufacturing sector. Results suggest that the more widespread the use of teamwork in organizations, the higher the level of organizational innovation. Furthermore, this effect depends, particularly for production teams, on the overall quality of the HRM systems that exist in their organizations. Teamwork/innovation relationships are further moderated (for management and administrative teams) by an HRM practice that provides teams with time for thoughtful reflection. Thus, HRM systems can be of more or less facilitating or constraining nature for teams in organizations

The Production of a Monoclonal Antibody That Blocks the Action of a Neurite Outgrowth-promoting Factor

How growing axons are guided to their targets has been the subject of much speculation. A popular hypothesis is that there are macromolecules in the extracellular matrix (ECM) or on the surfaces of other cells that form pathways for axon guidance. Such molecular signals could act via a number of different mechanisms. One way of directing neurite growth is by providing a very adhesive surface for growth cone attachment (Letourneau 1975). There are, however, more elaborate ways in which such molecules could function. For instance, the extracellular signals could be recognized by surface receptors on the axons, or be internalized where they could influence the rate or direction of neurite growth. Nerve growth factor (NGF), for instance, can act as a chemoattractive agent by binding to growing neurites (Gundersen and Barrett 1980; Claude et al. 1982). A variety of cells, both non-neuronal and neuronal, might synthesize guidance molecules. Clearly, all target cells are candidates for synthesizing these factors, as was demonstrated for NGF (Ebendal et al. 1980; Korsching and Thoenen 1983). If neurons were to secrete guidance or adhesion molecules, and deposit them in an ECM along their axonal length, then these factors would be ideally localized for directing regrowth of neurites after axotomy. In addition, there is evidence that neuronal surfaces contain molecules that are adhesive for other neurites or growth cones (Rutishauser et al. 1978; Bentley and Keshishian 1982; Tagbert et al. 1982)

Control of conditional quantum beats in cavity QED: amplitude decoherence and phase shifts

We implement a simple feedback mechanism on a two-mode cavity QED system to preserve the Zeeman coherence of a ground state superposition that generates quantum beats on the second-order correlation function. Our investigation includes theoretical and experimental studies that show how to prevent a shift away from the Larmor frequency and associated decoherence caused by Rayleigh scattering. The protocol consists of turning off the drive of the system after the detection of a first photon and letting it evolve in the dark. Turning the drive back on after a pre-set time reveals a phase accumulated only from Larmor precession, with the amplitude of the quantum beat more than a factor of two larger than with continuous drive.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figure

Development and evaluation of an impedance cardiographic system to measure cardiac output and other cardiac parameters Final progress report 1 Jul. 1969 - 31 Dec. 1970

Performance of impedance cardiograph for measuring heart rate and body fluid

Depth Dependence of the Structural Phase Transition of SrTiO_3 Studied with \beta-NMR and Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction

We present an investigation of the near-surface tetragonal phase transition in SrTiO3, using the complementary techniques of beta-detected nuclear magnetic resonance and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction. The results show a clear depth dependence of the phase transition on scales of a few microns. The measurements support a model in which there are tetragonal domains forming in the sample at temperatures much higher than the bulk phase transition temperature. Moreover, we find that these domains tend to form at higher temperatures preferentially near the free surface of the crystal. The details of the tetragonal domain formation and their depth/lateral dependencies are discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Improved Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Disappearance in MINOS

We report an improved measurement of ν̅_μ disappearance over a distance of 735 km using the MINOS detectors and the Fermilab Main Injector neutrino beam in a ν̅_μ-enhanced configuration. From a total exposure of 2.95×10^20 protons on target, of which 42% have not been previously analyzed, we make the most precise measurement of Δm̅^2=[2.62_(-0.28)^(+0.31)(stat)±0.09(syst)]×10^(-3)  eV^2 and constrain the ν_μ mixing angle sin^(2)(2θ̅)>0.75 (90% C.L.). These values are in agreement with Δm^2 and sin^(2)(2θ) measured for νμ, removing the tension reported in [ P. Adamson et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 107 021801 (2011)]

A fiber-optic current sensor for aerospace applications

A robust, accurate, broad-band, alternating current sensor using fiber optics is being developed for space applications at power frequencies as high as 20 kHz. It can also be used in low and high voltage 60 Hz terrestrial power systems and in 400 Hz aircraft systems. It is intrinsically electromagnetic interference (EMI) immune and has the added benefit of excellent isolation. The sensor uses the Faraday effect in optical fiber and standard polarimetric measurements to sense electrical current. The primary component of the sensor is a specially treated coil of single-mode optical fiber, through which the current carrying conductor passes. Improved precision is accomplished by temperature compensation by means of signals from a novel fiber-optic temperature sensor embedded in the sensing head. The technology contained in the sensor is examined and the results of precision tests conducted at various temperatures within the wide operating range are given. The results of early EMI tests are also given