cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Issues central to a useful image understanding environment

A recent DARPA initiative has sparked interested in software environments for computer vision. The goal is a single environment to support both basic research and technology transfer. This paper lays out six fundamental attributes such a system must possess: (1) support for both C and Lisp, (2) extensibility, (3) data sharing, (4) data query facilities tailored to vision, (5) graphics, and (6) code sharing. The first three attributes fundamentally constrain the system design. Support for both C and Lisp demands some form of database or data-store for passing data between languages. Extensibility demands that system support facilities, such as spatial retrieval of data, be readily extended to new user-defined datatypes. Finally, data sharing demands that data saved by one user, including data of a user-defined type, must be readable by another user.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ethical issues in competitive intelligence practice: Consensus, conflicts, and challenges

This overview of the state of ethics in competitive intelligence practice is based on interviews the authors conducted with a diverse group of CI professionals. They found that while some organizations are addressing CI ethics quite seriously, most CI practitioners feel left on their own, relying on personal background and intuition to make tough ethical decisions. Current ethical guidance is too vague to be truly helpful. Moreover, support from employers, industry groups, and the CI profession is needed to counteract pressures and incentives to overstep ethical boundaries. The authors' analysis identifies a number of ambiguous issues and conflicting expectations for which there is currently no consensus within the profession, such as misrepresentation that occurs by omission (rather than commission). Another area of concern involves consultants and the potential for conflicts of interest in their work. Finally, the authors offer a number of recommendations for supporting ethical CI practice. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Relationship of Beta Backscatter Counts to Egg Shell Thickness and Calcium Content

Abstract The beta backscatter method of James and Retzer (1967) for measuring egg shell strength was applied to Japanese quail eggs to investigate the relationships between thickness and backscatter and percent shell calcium and backscatter. Egg shell thickness was measured directly with a paper thickness micrometer at three places at the waist of each egg, after removal of the egg membranes. Calcium was determined by atomic absorption analysis of solutions obtained by wet-ashing of egg shell in concentrated hydrochloric acid. Shell calcium was expressed as a percentage of total egg weight. Figure 1 demonstrates that there was a very good relationship between backscatter counts and thickness and between backscatter counts and calcium content. This non-destructive method appeared to be well-suited as a rapid indicator of eggshell thickness and eggshell calcium. REFERENCE James, P. E., and H. J. Retzer, 1967. Measuring egg shell strength by beta backscatter technique. Poultry Sci. 46: 1200–1203.
Multiclass pattern classification using neural networks

Multiclass neural learning involves finding appropriate neural network architecture, encoding schemes, learning algorithms, etc. We discuss major approaches used in neural networks for classifying multiple classes. The discussion is focused on these architectures using either a system of multiple neural networks or a single neural network. We discuss various learning algorithms, one-again-all, one-against-one, and p-against-q. We also discuss training procedures associated with each approach, implementation and time complexity. These methods are evaluated through their performances on the NlST handwritten digit database.
The Four Faces of Corporate Citizenship

Some observers call it corporate social responsibility (CSR). Others refer to it as corporate ethics. More recently, businesses’ social performance has been framed as “corporate citizenship.” But, what does corporate citizenship really mean? What is business expected to be or to do to be considered a good corporate citizen? Is corporate citizenship compatible with or hostile to corporate growth and profits? A significant boost to corporate citizenship initiatives was given in 1996 when President Clinton called to Washington a group of leading business people to discuss the notion of corporate citizenship and social responsibility. At this conference, President Clinton exhorted the business leaders to “do well” by their employees as they make money for their shareholders. He and then–Labor Secretary Robert Reich announced the newly created Ron Brown Corporate Citizenship Award, named for the late commerce secretary who died in 1996 along with a group of business executives on a trade mission to Bosnia. The award was to honor American companies each year deemed to best exemplify efforts to support its workers. President Clinton’s five criteria for the Ron Brown Award for “good corporate citizenship” boiled down to companies exhibiting the following practices: “family-friendly” policies, such as allowing family leave; good health and pension benefits; a safe workplace; training and advancement opportunities; and policies that avoid layoffs. In 1998, the 1997 winners were announced: IBM Corporation, for its diversity programs, and Levi Strauss & Co., for its antiracism initiative “Project Change.” One could not argue with these criteria nor these winners; however, one cannot help but note that the criteria all involve the relationship between companies and their employees, with no mention being made of shareholders, consumers, the community in which the business is located, or other important stakeholders. Surely corporate citizenship extends beyond relationships between companies and their employees and includes the business responding to and interacting with these other vital stakeholders. Decades of studying businesses’ corporate social performance, their activities that extend beyond profit-making, and their contributions to the community lead one to conclude that corporate citizenship is real—it is expected of business by the public, and it is manifested by many excellent companies. Further, corporate citizenship addresses the relationship between companies and all their important stakeholders, not just employees. The full gamut of corporate citizenship includes its four faces. Each “face,” aspect, or responsibility reveals an important facet that contributes to the whole. Just as private citizens are expected to fulfill these responsibilities, companies are as well. Corporate citizenship has an economic face, a legal face, an ethical face, and a philanthropic face. Stated differently, good corporate citizens are expected to:
A connectionist method for pattern classification with diverse features

A novel connectionist method is proposed to simultaneously use diverse features in an optimal way for pattern classification. Unlike methods of combining multiple classifiers, a modular neural network architecture is proposed through use of soft competition among diverse features. Parameter estimation in the proposed architecture is treated as a maximum likelihood problem, and an Expectation-Maximization (EM) learning algorithm is developed for adjusting the parameters of the architecture. Comparative simulation results are presented for the real world problem of speaker identification.
Structural and magnetic length scales in amorphous TbFe2

Abstract Magnetic phenomena in amorphous Tb–Fe thin films are related to structure on a variety of length scales. For instance, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy appears to be related primarily to short-range compositional and/or topological ordering. In this paper, we demonstrate that structure on longer length scales influences domain wall pinning and the morphology of the magnetic domains. Amorphous TbFe2 films thicker than approximately 1 μ m that possess large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy have very long magnetic correlation lengths (50–70 nm, as determined previously by small-angle neutron scattering) and strongly asymmetric magnetic domains. Using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we show that such films show a well-defined structure with a characteristic length scale of approximately 57 nm. The structure of films grown at lower temperatures (with lower magnetic anisotropy Ku but higher coercivity), shows a much broader distribution of length scales. We propose that the characteristic structure seen in SAXS is the source of domain wall pinning, which in turn determines the length scale of the magnetic domains, as well as the magnetic correlation length and coercivity. We also observe an in-plane anisotropy of the structure, which is likely related to the asymmetry of the magnetic domains and the anisotropy of the magnetic correlation length.
Experiment to separate the Fresnel drag and Sagnac effects in a fiber optic gyro

The theoretical explanation of the Sagnac effect form the point of view of special relativity states that the effect is the combined result of the Fresnel drag effect of the rotating loop medium and the movement of the loop coupler with respect to the light wave initial input position. We assembled a set-up to test the validity of this superposition model and discuss the results.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Trastuzumab-induced recruitment of Csk-homologous kinase (CHK) to ErbB2 receptor is associated with ErbB2-Y1248 phosphorylation and ErbB2 degradation to mediate cell growth inhibition

The inhibitory effect of trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the extracellular domain of ErbB2, is associated with its ability to induce ErbB2-Y1248 phosphorylation, and the status of phosphorylated ErbB2-Y1248 (ErbB2-pY1248) may correlate with the sensitivity of breast cancers to trastuzumab. The mechanisms of which remain unclear. Here, we show that binding of trastuzumab to ErbB2 activates ErbB2 kinase activity and enhances ErbB2-Y1248 phosphorylation in trastuzumab-sensitive breast cancer cells. This in turn increases the interaction between ErbB2 and non-receptor Csk-homologous kinase (CHK), leading to growth inhibition of breast cancer cells. Overexpression of CHK mimics trastuzumab treatment to mediate ErbB2-Y1248 phosphorylation, Akt downregulation, and growth inhibition of trastuzumab-sensitive breast cancer cells. CHK overexpression combined with trastuzumab exerts an additive effect on cell growth inhibition. We further demonstrate that positive ErbB2-pY1248 staining in ErbB2-positive breast cancer biopsies correlates with the increased trastuzumab response in trastuzumab neoadjuvant settings. Collectively, this study highlights an important role for ErbB2-pY1248 in mediating trastuzumab-induced growth inhibition and trastuzumab-induced interactions between CHK and ErbB2-pY1248 is identified as a novel mechanism of action that mediates the growth inhibition of breast cancer cells. The novel mechanistic insights into trastuzumab action revealed by this study may impact the design of next generation of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting receptor tyrosine kinases, as well as open new avenues to identify novel targets for the treatment of ErbB2-positive cancers.
Modeling DFIG Using General Vector Representation in the Presence of Harmonics

In this paper, a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbine is modeled by using the general vector representation of voltage, current and magnetic flux in the presence of harmonics. The general vector representation provides insights into how harmonics are injected to the rotor side because of the DC/AC inverter, and how rotor current is modulated with the rotor's mechanical speed before it goes into the stator side through the air gap. Repetitive rectangular pulses have also been applied to account for the area changing of interface between the stator's poles and the rotor's poles caused by mechanical rotation. For a 6-pole DFIG, periodicity of rectangular pulse creates multiples of the sixth harmonics of the induced magnetic flux which is modulated with the flux of the synchronous speed and it produces multiples of (6n±1)ωs. Our simulation results show that in the stator side of the 6-pole DFIG wind turbine, 5th, 7th and 11th harmonics in addition to a sub fundamental frequency are injected into the grid. Hence, the general vector representation model could be used to design optimal controller that would also minimize harmonics of the stator current.
The extracardiac Fontan procedure without cardiopulmonary bypass: technique and intermediate-term results

Abstract Background The extracardiac Fontan procedure (ECF) usually requires cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In this report, the results and techniques of this procedure without CPB at a single institution are presented. Methods Between August 1992 and December 2001, ECF without CPB was achieved in 24 of 44 patients undergoing an ECF. Mean age at surgery was 5.9 ± 2.9 years, and mean weight was 20.7 ± 12.6 kg. Diagnoses were tricuspid atresia in 9 patients, single-ventricle with pulmonary outflow tract obstruction in 7, pulmonary atresia/intact septum in 5, and other complex single-ventricle physiology in 3. Initial palliation was by arterial to pulmonary artery shunt in 21 and pulmonary artery banding in 1. A bidirectional cavopulmonary connection was created in 23 patients. A temporary inferior vena caval–to–atrial shunt was used to complete the procedure without CPB. Median graft size was 16 mm (range 14 to 20 mm). Results There was no early mortality, and 68% of patients were discharged without complications. Complications included persistent cyanosis in 4 patients, persistent pleural effusions in 2 (one chylous), and phrenic nerve injury in 1. Median postoperative hospital stay was 16 days (range 10 to 50) days. At a mean follow-up of 44 ± 28 months, there was no conduit obstruction. One patient died 11 months postoperatively, and 1 patient received a heart transplant 26 months post-ECF. Conclusions At intermediate term follow-up, the ECF without CPB appears to be safe and technically reproducible in selected cases. Ongoing follow-up of these patients is necessary to document the theoretical advantages of avoiding CPB.
Improving the performance of soft carbon for lithium-ion batteries

A novel technique for designing a robust solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the negative electrodes of lithium-ion batteries has been developed using a silane coating. Two silane compounds, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane (TFPTMS) and dimethoxybis(2-(2-(2-mothoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)silane (1ND3(MeO)), have been investigated with respect to improving the capacity retention of lithium manganese oxide spinel/soft carbon cells. The impact of the silane coating on the soft carbon electrode will be attributed to (1) changes in surface functional groups, (2) compositional change of the SEI, and (3) changes in the kinetics of manganese deposition. The impact of the upper cutoff voltage on the capacity retention of the cell was also discussed.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERGENERATIONAL EXCHANGES ATTITUDE SCALE

The psychometric adequacy of the Intergenerational Exchanges Attitude Scale (IEAS), a five‐subscale (24‐item) measure of attitudes toward intergenerational exchanges between young children and dependent older adults, is described. Tests for internal consistency and validity, including correlational analyses indicating a significant positive relationship between attitudes toward intergenerational exchanges and the likelihood of providing intergenerational activities, provided viable evidence for the reliability and validity of the IEAS.
Effects of metronome-conditioned relaxation, metronome-induced relaxation, and progressive muscle relaxation on insomnia

Abstract Although several controlled studies have indicated that relaxation can be effectively employed in the treatment of insomnia (Borkovec and Fowles, 1973; Steinmark and Borkovec. 1974; Haynes et al. , 1974), the relaxation training procedures thus far utilized have typically necessitated several hours of therapist-client contact. The possibility of a more efficient relaxation procedure for treating insomniacs suggests an attractive alternative to the tense-relax instructions of progressive muscle relaxation (Jacobson, 1938). Brady (1973) has reported that the sound of a metronome set at 60 beats per min is inherently relaxing, and although he has only reported on the effects of the metronome when paired with verbally-induced relaxation (both general suggestions of relaxation and instructions to tense and relax successive muscle groups), he has successfully employed this technique in the treatment of borborygmi (rumbling noises in the abdomen) and essential hypertension (Brady, 1973; Brady, Luborsky and Kron, 1974). If the sound of the metronome alone, which would require minimal therapist-client contact, is sufficient to induce relaxation, the efficiency with which relaxation can be achieved in the treatment of insomnia, as well as other tension-related disorders. may be greatly enhanced. The present study was designed to assess the relaxation-inducing properties of (a) Brady's metronome-conditioned relaxation (metronome plus verbal relaxation instructions), (b) progressive muscle relaxation and (c) metronome-induced relaxation (the sound of a metronome alone) in the treatment of insomnia. In order to provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of relaxation techniques with a broader population than was sampled in previous investigations of this nature, this study included employed adults as well as college students in the subject pool. In addition to its implications for treating insomnia, this study was designed to yield an independent test of the hypothesis that a 60 beat per min metronome sound has the capacity by itself to induce relaxation.
Critical reflections on the Eritrean war of independence: social capital, associational life, religion, ethnicity and sowing seeds of dictatorship

Critical reflections on the Eritrean war of independence: social capital, associational life, religion, ethnicity and sowing seeds of dictatorship, by Gaim Kibreab, Trenton, N.J., Red Sea Press, 20...
Passive electrical membrane properties of rat neostriatal neurons in an in vitro slice preparation

The passive electrical membrane properties of rat neostriatal neurons were studied in in vitro slice preparations. The data are only from neurons having stable resting membrane potentials of more than 50 mV and able to generate action potentials of amplitudes greater than 70 mV evoked by local or intracellular stimulation. All neurons measured for current-voltage relationship (n= 52), showed non-linearity of the input resistance in the hyperpolarizing direction. The mean input resistance at the resting membrane potential was 16.6 M/om. Depolarizing postsynaptic potentials evoked by local stimulation were decreased both in their amplitude and half-decay time by inward current injections exceeding more than 1 nA due to the strong membrane rectification at these levels of hyperpolarization. The mean membrane time constant (τ0) was 5.3 ms, as measured from the semilogarithmic plots of transmembrane potential shift produced by small hyperpolarizing current pulses. In some neurons, the equalizing term (τ1) could be determined as well and had a mean value of 1.0 ms. Measurement of (τ0) using the strength-latency relation showed a similar value (5.0 ms) to that measured from the voltage transients. Intracellular labeling of the recorded neurons with horseradish peroxidase suggested that the recording were obtained from medium spiny neurons.
The production of experimental cholecystitis by endotoxin

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a severe inflammatory disorder of the gallbladder. It occurs primarily in patients acutely ill from other disorders and is related to sepsis and shock. We previously found that platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid autacoid purported to be a mediator of the shock response, produced AAC. This study was performed to determine the effect of intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on feline gallbladders. Anesthetized cats underwent LPS administration with and without administration of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and PAF antagonist. Gallbladder inflammation was evaluated by quantitation of luminal water transport and tissue myeloperoxidase levels. In an attempt to understand the mechanisms of the response, gallbladder perfusate and tissue prostanoid and PAF levels were quantitated as were serum PAF levels. LPS administration resulted in alteration of the normal absorptive pattern of the gallbladder mucosa to exsorption of fluid into the gallbladder lumen, increased tissue myeloperoxidase levels and increased serum PAF levels. This was associated with increased gallbladder tissue and perfusate prostanoid levels and increased perfusate PAF levels. Indomethacin prevented the pro-inflammatory changes in the gallbladder produced by LPS. The PAF antagonist, alprazolam, increased gallbladder prostanoid production when administered alone and with LPS. The administration of LPS resulted in the production of acute changes in the gallbladder consistent with cholecystitis. These changes being prevented by a cyclooxygenase inhibitor suggests that development of AAC may be related to the release of systemic and local pro-inflammatory substances.
A comparison of three techniques to quantify vascular ingrowth into Dacron velour.

Three methods of evaluation of vascular ingrowth into treated and untreated Dacron velour were performed to compare the methods. Vascular casting, direct measurement, and stereology were compared based on their ability to quantitate ingrowth, the type of information obtainable, and the time required for data acquisition. Results show that with the methods used in this study vascular casting was not able to produce data indicative of the actual vascular ingrowth. Direct measurement and stereological measurements of histological slides were able to give hard data for comparing ingrowth. However, stereological measurements were easier and less time-consuming to perform. In addition, stereological measurements were able to reveal additional parameters quickly
Interventions for adherence with oral chemotherapy in hematological malignancies: A systematic review.

Abstract Background Poor adherence to treatment for chronic diseases including some hematological malignancies impedes health outcomes and increases costs. Oral chemotherapy is an emerging trend that raises concern about nonadherence problems in these targeted patients. Objectives This systematic literature review explores evidence and gaps in the literature regarding interventions to enhance adherence with prescribed oral chemotherapy in patients with hematological malignancies. Methods Searches of databases and abstracts from conferences were performed for 1987 to January 2013 using a modified Cochrane method. Studies measuring interventions to improve adherence alone or together with clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes were included. Assessment of methodological quality was performed for each retained study. Results The literature search generated 6 studies that met inclusion criteria. Four of these reported a statistically significant increase in the adherence outcome, compared with baseline. Tailored and educational interventions were widely used among the retained studies. Post-intervention adherence rates were 41–96.1%; intervention groups yielded higher rates than comparison groups. Two studies reported statistically significant improvement in clinical outcomes (cytogenetic response and survival time). One study reported that severity of illness was associated with survival time but not with adherence. Studies that used both tailored and educational interventions showed significant relationship between adherence and clinical outcomes; however, the study that used dosage simplification did not. None of the studies explored humanistic or economic outcomes. Conclusions Interventions to improve adherence with oral chemotherapies in hematological malignancies remain limited. Though they were heterogeneous in nature, interventions tested in the retained studies suggested a positive impact on the adherence outcome; some established a significant relationship between adherence and clinical outcomes. The results yielded limited evidences regarding characteristics of a specific intervention, but supported a general structure for methods to improve adherence and other outcomes in real-life settings. Further rigorous methodological studies are needed to fully examine impact on adherence and clinical outcomes.
The psychophysiology of confession: Linking inhibitory and psychosomatic processes.

A theory of inhibition and psychosomatic disease suggests that the failure to confide traumatic events is stressful and associated with long-term health problems. We investigated the short-term autonomic correlates of disclosing personal and traumatic experiences among two samples of healthy undergraduates. In Experiment 1, subjects talked into a tape recorder about extremely stressful events that had occurred in their lives, as well as what they planned to do following the experiment. Skin conductance, blood pressure, and heart rate were continuously measured. Based on judges' ratings of subjects' depth of disclosure, subjects were classified as high or low disclosers. Talking about traumatic events was associated with decreased behavioral inhibition, as measured by lower skin conductance levels among high disclosers. Disclosing traumatic material was also associated with increased cardiovascular activity. In Experiment 2, subjects both talked aloud and thought about a traumatic event and about plans for the day. Half of the subjects were alone in an experimental cubicle and talked into a tape recorder; the remaining subjects talked to a silent "confessor" who sat behind a curtain. Among high disclosers, both talking and thinking about traumatic events produced lower skin conductance levels than did thinking or talking about plans for the day. The presence of a confessor inhibited subjects' talking. Implications for understanding the nature of confession and the development of an inhibitory model for psychosomatic processes are discussed.
Phospholipases and arachidonic acid contribute independently to sensory transduction and associative neuronal facilitation in Hermissenda type B photoreceptors.

During contiguous pairings of light and rotation, B photoreceptors in the Hermissenda eye undergo an increase in excitability that contributes to a modification of several light-elicited behaviors. This excitability increase requires a light-induced rise in intracellular Ca2+ in the photoreceptor concomitant with transmitter binding to G protein-coupled receptors as a result of presynaptic vestibular hair cell stimulation. Phospholipases and arachidonic acid (ArA) are here reported to be involved in independent signal transduction pathways that underlie both receptor function and activity-dependent facilitation of the B photoreceptor. 4-Bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), an inhibitor of phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and C (PLC), blocked the generation of light-induced depolarizing generator potentials, but had no affect on the inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) in the B cell that results from hair cell stimulation. Quinacrine, which predominantly blocks the activity of PLA2 in neurons, had no affect on either the light response or the IPSP, but did block increases in excitability (i.e. increased input resistance and elicited spike rate) of the B cell that results from pairings of light and presynaptic vestibular stimulation (i.e., in vitro associative conditioning). Neither nordihydroquararetic acid (NDGA), which inhibits metabolism of ArA by cyclooxygenase, nor indomethacin, which inhibits lipoxygenase metabolism of ArA, affected the light response or IPSP, but both blocked the increases in excitability in the B cell that accompanied in vitro conditioning. In combination with earlier results, these data suggest that ArA activates PKC in a synergistic fashion with Ca2+ and diacylglycerol in the B cell, and suggest that PLA2-induced ArA release, though not necessary for transduction of light or the hair cell-induced IPSP in the B cell, is a critical component of the convergence of signals that precipitates associative facilitation in this system.
On uncertainty management in fuzzy inference procedures

Abstract Fuzzy inference procedures are becoming more useful in the management of uncertainty in expert systems. In this paper, we describe a fuzzy inference procedure which deals with the management of uncertainty in rule-based expert systems. The advantage of this procedure is its simplicity, which in turn makes this architecture easily extendible and useful in real-time environments. The advantage of using fuzzy logic is discussed and illustrated. Potential applications for real-time environments include decision making in the fields of intelligent controllers, command, control, and intelligent robotics systems.
Characteristics of chars produced from lignites by pyrolysis at 808 °C following rapid heating

Abstract Closely size graded lignite particles were pyrolysed at 808 °C in a laminar flow furnace for times up to 1 s following heating up at 8 × 10 3 ° C / s . Following pyrolysis, the chars were rapidly cooled — at about 3 × 10 4 ° C / s . Weight losses were measured as a function of pyrolysis time. The following measurements were made on the chars: 1. (1) nitrogen and carbon dioxide specific surface areas, using adsorption data at 77 and 298 K, respectively; 2. (2) apparent and true densities obtained from mercury and helium displacements; 3. (3) total open-pore volumes and porosities; 4. (4) particle size distributions. Results show, with increasing pyrolysis time, that: 1. (i) specific surface areas increase, 2. (ii) helium densities increase, 3. (iii) mercury densities decrease, 4. (iv) open-pore volumes increase, 5. (v) weight-mean particle size decreases. Chars produced following rapid heating have higher open-pore volumes than those produced following slow heating.
Analogs of a theorem of schur on matrix transformations

Abstract : Let A and B be matrices of sizes m by t and t by n, respectively, with elements in a field F. Let x(l), ..., x(t) denote t independent indeterminates over F and define X = diag(x(l), ..., x(t)). Then AXB = Y is a matrix of size m by n such that every element of Y is a linear form in x(l), ... , x(t) over F. The present paper investigates the converse proposition.
Catalytic Role of the Amino-Terminal Proline in 4-Oxalocrotonate Tautomerase: Affinity Labeling and Heteronuclear NMR Studies†

4-Oxalocrotonate tautomerase (EC 5.3.2-; 4-OT), a hexamer consisting of 62 residues per subunit, catalyzes the isomerization of unsaturated α-keto acids, converting unconjugated ketones to the conjugated isomers via a dienolic intermediate. The recently solved crystal structure of an isozyme of 4-OT suggests that the amino-terminal proline is the catalytic base [Subramanya, H. S., Roper, D. I., Dauter, Z., Dodson, E. J., Davies, G. J., Wilson, K. S., & Wigley, D. B. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 792−802]. In support of this proposed role, we have found that the active-site-directed irreversible inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) blocks the amino terminus of 4-OT to Edman degradation and results in the disappearance of the 15N resonance of Pro-1 (δ = 49.2 ppm at pH 6.40 and 42 °C) in the 15N NMR spectrum of uniformly 15N-labeled 4-OT. Furthermore, covalent bonding between a 15N resonance of 4-OT and the methylene carbon of the reduced, 3-13C-labeled lactyl adduct derived from [3-13C]bromopyruvate was then directly...
New dispersion-resistant modulation format for fiber optic transmission

We propose and evaluate a new return-to-zero (RZ) transmission format, which simplifies the transmitter and produces significantly improved eye diagrams at the receiver compared with other formats. By applying synchronous square wave phase modulation (PM) to a continuous wave (CW) signal, with a 180° phase shift (phase reversal) between adjacent bit slots, and followed by an optimally tuned optical filter, we generate a train of RZ pulses which is inherently stable and resistant to dispersive and nonlinear effects. Separate amplitude modulation (AM) is unnecessary in this approach to shape the RZ pulses. This format (which we term CWSW) not only suppresses the growth of spurious pulses on adjacent 1 states, but also results in a peak intensity enhancement where waveform distortion caused by fiber dispersion initially improves the eye opening during transmission. Single-channel 40 Gbits/s systems employing dispersion-shifted fibers are investigated by computer simulations. We show that spurious pulse suppression and peak intensity enhancement increase the maximum transmission distance and improve the eye profile at the receiver relative to alternative transmission formats.
Carcinogenicity and toxicity of 1,2-dibromoethane in the rat.

Abstract A chronic inhalation study of ethylene dibromide (EDB) was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats. Four groups of rats received either control air, 0.05% disulfiram in the diet, 20 ppm of EDB, or 20 ppm of EDB and 0.05% disulfiram in the diet for 18 months. Rats receiving 20 ppm of EDB had high mortality and an increase, compared to controls, in one or both sexes of tumor incidences in the mammary gland, spleen, adrenal, liver, kidney, and subcutaneous tissue. A combined treatment of 20 ppm of EDB and 0.05% disulfiram in the diet resulted in earlier deaths (all within 14 months) and decreases in body weight gain, food consumption, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC counts. This combination of EDB and disulfiram treatment also caused high incidences of tumors in liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal, thyroid, lung, mesentery, and mammary gland in one or both sexes. Testicular atrophy was found in 90% of the male rats that received a combination of EDB and disulfiram treatment.
Bidirectional contrast as a function of rate of alternation of two sucrose solutions

Reliable positive and negative contrast effects in lick-rate were obtained when the same rats were exposed on some days to both a 32% and a 4% sucrose solution and on control days to only the 32% or only the 4% solution. Daily test sessions were 270-sec long, and the tubes containing the sucrose solutions alternated every 15 sec in one group and every 45 sec in another group. The rats in the 15-sec alternation condition licked more in a daily session, but the degree of contrast, both positive and negative, was uninfluenced by rate of sucrose alternation.
Posttraumatic exogenous Nocardia endophthalmitis.

Abstract Purpose To report a case of posttraumatic exogenous Nocardia endophthalmitis. Design Interventional case report. Methods A 46-year-old man presented with counting fingers vision, severe eye pain, hypopyon, and an iris mass consistent with endophthalmitis following a penetrating injury to the left eye. Results Despite oral fluconazole and repeated intravitreal injections of vancomycin, gentamicin, and amphotericin B, the eye remained painful with a persistent hypopyon and recurrent iris masses. Cultures of the vitreous and iris masses remained negative for organisms. Despite vitrectomy and sector iridectomy of the iris mass with repeat injections of intravitreal antibiotics, the patient continued to have severe pain, poor vision, and developed new iris masses. Enucleation cultures confirmed Nocardia asteroides. Conclusions Posttraumatic exogenous Nocardia endophthalmitis is extremely rare, and its clinical signs can mimic a fungal infection.
Reinstatement of morphine drinking in hypophysectomized rats following injections of ACTH.

Abstract In view of previous findings that hypophysectomy blocked oral intake of morphine in rats, a study was undertaken to examine the possibility that one or several pituitary hormones are involved in the regulation of morphine intake. We found that hypophysectomized male albino rats when subjected to adrenocorticotropic hormone ‘replacement therapy’ drank morphine in amounts comparable to intact controls. ‘Replacement therapy’ of growth hormone had no effect on reinstating morphine drinking in hypophysectomized rats. Since adrenalectomized rats continued to drink morphine at control levels, it is suggested that adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) exerts its effect via a central mechanism. The results are discussed in relation to the possible involvement of pituitary and brain peptides in maintaining morphine intake and a possible interaction between ACTH and these peptides.
Regulation of cleavage by protein kinase C in Chaetopterus.

We report that protein kinase C (PKC) plays a regulatory role in early cleavage in Chaetopterus eggs. Using Western blotting, we assay- ed the expression patterns of conventional PKCs (cPKC), novel PKCs (nPKC), and atypical PKCs (aPKC). During early development after fertilization, PKC protein levels varied independently by isoform. PKC protein expression during differentiation, without cleavage and after parthenogenetic activation, was very similar to that during normal development indicating that PKC gene expression does not require cellularization. Since PKC has been shown to regulate meiosis in this organism, we also assayed the mem- brane association of these isoforms as an indicator of their activation during meiosis and early cleavage. PKC-g transiently associated with membranes and therefore became activated before meiotic division and cleavage, whereas PKC-a and -b transiently disso- ciated from membranes and therefore became inacti- vated at these times. Inhibition of these PKC isoforms by bisindolylmaleimide I had no effect on cleavage or early development to the trochophore larva, indicating that PKC-g activation is not essential for cleavage or early development. However, their persistent activa- tion by thymeleatoxin blocked cleavage. The results indicate that the dissociation of PKC-a and/or -b from the membrane fraction, and therefore their inactiva- tion, is essential for normal cleavage. Elevated PKC activity is essential for nuclear envelope breakdown and spindle formation at meiosis I. By contrast, down- regulation of this activity is essential for cleavage after fertilization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 308-315, 2004. 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Well-Coiffed Man: Class, Race, and Heterosexual Masculinity in the Hair Salon

This study explores how men make sense of their participation in the feminized practice of salon hair care. By placing white, middle-class, heterosexual men at the center of analysis, I investigate the meaning of beauty work for a population that has been overlooked in research on gender and the beauty industry. Specifically, I demonstrate that men embed their purchase of salon hair care in the need to appropriate expectations of white professional-class masculinity. Ultimately, these men reproduce raced and classed gender differences in the hair salon by resisting feminization while at the same time transgressing gender boundaries.
Molecular Pathways: HER3 Targeted Therapy

The HER family of receptor tyrosine kinases, including EGF receptor (EGFR), HER2, HER3, and HER4, transduce growth-promoting signals in response to ligand binding to their extracellular domains (ECD). This family is deregulated in numerous cancers, with mutations in EGFR and HER2 often serving as "driver" events to activate key growth factor signaling pathways such as the RAS-ERK and PI3K-AKT pathways. Less attention has been paid to the oncogenic functions of HER3 due to its lack of intrinsic kinase activity. Recent work, however, has placed HER3 in the spotlight as a key signaling hub in several clinical contexts. First, HER3 has been shown to play a major role in mediating resistance to HER2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway-directed therapies due to its feedback regulation via AKT signaling. Second, activating mutations in HER3 have been identified in multiple cancer types, including gastric, colon, bladder, and non-small cell lung cancers. As a result, HER3 is now being examined as a direct therapeutic target. In the absence of a strong enzymatic activity to target, the focus has been on strategies to prevent HER3 activation including blocking its most relevant dimerization partner's kinase activity (erlotinib, gefitinib, and lapatinib), blocking its most relevant dimerization partner's ability to dimerize with HER3 (trastuzumab and pertuzumab), and directly targeting the HER3 ECD (MM-121, U3-1287, and LJM716). Although drugs targeting EGFR and HER2 have proven effective even as single agents, the preclinical and clinical data on the antibodies directly targeting HER3 suggest more limited potential for single-agent activity. Possible reasons for this include the lack of a suitable biomarker for activated HER3, the lack of potency of the antibodies, and the lack of relevance of HER3 for growth of some of the cancer types analyzed. Nevertheless, clear improvements in activity are being observed for many of these compounds when they are given in combination. In this snapshot, we will highlight the basis for HER3 activation in cancer, the different pharmacologic strategies being used, and opportunities for further development.
Effect of different modes of viral spread on the dynamics of multiply infected cells in human immunodeficiency virus infection

Infection of individual cells with more than one HIV particle is an important feature of HIV replication, which may contribute to HIV pathogenesis via the occurrence of recombination, viral complementation and other outcomes that influence HIV replication and evolutionary dynamics. A previous mathematical model of co-infection has shown that the number of cells infected with i viruses correlates with the ith power of the singly infected cell population, and this has partly been observed in experiments. This model, however, assumed that virus spread from cell to cell occurs only via free virus particles, and that viruses and cells mix perfectly. Here, we introduce a cellular automaton model that takes into account different modes of virus spread among cells, including cell to cell transmission via the virological synapse, and spatially constrained virus spread. In these scenarios, it is found that the number of multiply infected cells correlates linearly with the number of singly infected cells, meaning that co-infection plays a greater role at lower virus loads. The model further indicates that current experimental systems that are used to study co-infection dynamics fail to reflect the true dynamics of multiply infected cells under these specific assumptions, and that new experimental techniques need to be designed to distinguish between the different assumptions.
Cylindrical Shells of Variable Wall Thickness

N two recent Notes on cylindrical shells of variable wall thickness,1'2 generalized hypergeometric functions were used to obtain influence coefficients1 and to obtain particular solutions for a class of normal pressure loading proportional to a power of the axial distance along the shell.2 In a discussion of a related paper on hypergeometric functions, 3 it was noted that it is possible to obtain a class of exact solutions expressible in terms of Bessel functions for certain power variations of the wall thickness. This class of exact solutions has been presented in a recent paper.4 It is the purpose of this Comment to note that, for the class of exact solutions in Ref. 4, the particular solutions for the class of pressure loadings proportional to a power of the axial distance discussed in Ref. 2 can also be expressed in terms of Bessel functions. This observation can be confirmed easily by use of Eqs. (9) and (17) of Ref. 2 together with the results in Ref. 4. It is felt that the use of these exact solutions will provide an interesting complement to the direct numerical determination of the hypergeometric functions.
Mutual Behaviors during Dyadic Negotiation: Automatic Prediction of Respondent Reactions

In this paper, we analyze face-to-face negotiation interactions with the goal of predicting the respondent's immediate reaction (i.e., accept or reject) to a negotiation offer. Supported by the theory of social rapport, we focus on mutual behaviors which are defined as nonverbal characteristics that occur due to interactional influence. These patterns include behavioral symmetry (e.g., synchronized smiles) as well as asymmetry (e.g., opposite postures) between the two negotiators. In addition, we put emphasis on finding audio-visual mutual behaviors that can be extracted automatically, with the vision of a real-time decision support tool. We introduce a dyadic negotiation dataset consisting of 42 face-to-face interactions and show experiments confirming the importance of multimodal and mutual behaviors.
2013 Annual Survey of Journalism Mass Communication Enrollments: Enrollments Decline for Third Consecutive Year.

Enrollments in journalism and mass communication programs in the United States in the fall of 2013 were down from a year earlier for the third year in a row. Enrollments dropped at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, and the number of freshmen and sophomores were down dramatically from a year earlier. Enrollments in the journalism specialty have dropped, and enrollments in advertising and public relations also have stagnated. While the overall field of communication also seems to be slowing in terms of growth, the subfield of journalism and mass communication has been particularly hard hit.
Critical Science Literacy for Science Majors Introducing Future Scientists to the Communicative Arts

The concept of “critical science literacy” advanced by Susanna Priest is significant to how citizens approach scientific knowledge, but the concept is also relevant to undergraduate students majori...
Note on 'distributed scheduling based on due dates and buffer priorities' by S.H. Lu and P.R. Kumar

In the above-titled paper by Lu and Kumar (ibid., vol.36. no.12, pp.1406-1416, Dec 91), the issue of stability of a scheduling policy for a system with reentrant structure is studied. It has been shown that whenever the arrival rate, allowing for some burstiness, is less than the system capacity, the following four scheduling policies are stable: first buffer first serve, last buffer first serve, earliest due date, and least slack policies. To verify that the problem is not trivial, a counterexample of instability, yet satisfying the usual stability condition, is provided. However, the counter-example calls for zero processing times. It is shown that counter-examples with nonzero processing times do exist, and understanding of the stability issue of general discrete-event dynamic systems is promoted. >
Design considerations for a robust aerial communications layer

Satellite systems are traditionally used to provide broad area coverage to regions in which communications infrastructure is nonexistent or unreliable. Recently, there has been an increased desire to provide some of this connectivity by way of an aerial communications layer. One of the primary benefits to the aerial approach is the potential for a significant decrease in the time to field a new capability. As a result, aerial communication nodes, primarily mounted on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), are being considered for roles from local, low altitude satellites to simple single-hop relays for ground network extension. Aerial nodes have many desirable features that, if properly exploited, can significantly enhance military communications. However, without sufficient architectural analysis and operational realism, they can become expensive or ineffective. In this paper, we discuss the coverage limitations and vulnerability under simple interference scenarios and provide a basis for future efforts to architect an aerial communications layer.