cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Online Dynamic Time Warping Algorithm for Human-Robot Imitation

In this paper, we propose a novel online algorithm for motion similarity measurements during human-robot interaction (HRI). Specifically, we formulate a Segment-based Online Dynamic Time Warping (SODTW) algorithm that can be used for understanding of repeated and cyclic human motions, in the context of rehabilitation or social interaction. The algorithm can estimate both the human-robot motion similarity and the time delay to initiate motion and combine these values as a metric to adaptively select appropriate robot imitation repertoires. We validated the algorithm offline by post-processing experimental data collected from a cohort of 55 subjects during imitation episodes with our social robot Zeno. Furthermore, we implemented the algorithm online on Zeno and collected further experimental results with 13 human subjects. These results show that the algorithm can reveal important features of human movement including the quality of motion and human reaction time to robot stimuli. Moreover, the robot can adapt to appropriate human motion speeds based on similarity measurements calculated using this algorithm, enabling future adaptive rehabilitation interventions for conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
The Role of Radiotherapy in Small Cell Lung Cancer: a Revisit

Small cell lung cancer is staged as either limited (potentially curable) or extensive (incurable), based on the extent of disease in the chest. Limited stage disease is treated with concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy followed by prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). The conventional approach to extensive disease is chemotherapy only, with radiotherapy reserved for site-specific palliation. Recent reports suggest increasing applications for radiotherapy. The administration of PCI to extensive stage patients demonstrating response to chemotherapy is now recommended due to local control and overall survival benefits. Likewise, the role of consolidation chest radiotherapy after chemotherapy for advanced disease patients has seen a resurgence of interest in light of a recent publication suggesting improved local benefits which may influence survival. Recent technical advances in radiotherapy such as stereotactic body treatment and intensity-modulated therapy may also provide new indications for radiation, to enhance delivery and minimize toxicities.
Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Protein-energy malnutrition is common in stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and usually associated with anorexia, chronic inflammation, kidney disease wasting (KDW), refractory anemia and poor outcome including high risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Uremia, endocrine and gastrointestinal disorders, and oxidative and carbonyl stress may engender this type of malnutrition. The dialysis treatment and techniques may also contribute to the protein-energy malnutrition. The term Malnutrition-Inflammation-Cachexia Syndrome (MICS) underscores the close link between the protein-energy malnutrition and inflammation and their concomitant contribution to the KDW. The MICS is associated with poor short-term survival and may result in paradoxical associations between some cardiovascular risks, and such relationships are continuing to be studied in the emerging theory known as the obesity paradox or “reverse epidemiology." Four major nutritional evaluation categories in dialysis patients include the assessment of nutritional intake, body composition and laboratory markers and the nutritional scoring systems. Dietary supplements and nutritional and pharmacological interventions that can stimulate appetite, mitigate inflammation and enhance protein and energy intake may improve survival in patients with stage 5, CKD although scientific evidence for or against such effects are currently inadequate.
Chemistry of the Micronutrient Elements in Soils

Publisher Summary A large number of elements are required for the growth and reproduction of plants and animals. Of these nutrients only a few are required in large amounts for agricultural production. Deficiencies of those remaining elements which are required in lesser amounts are most frequently related to specialized crops or certain types of soil. But as cropping systems become more intensive, changes in soil management practices frequently alter micronutrient availability, and depletion of nutrients not added in fertilizers becomes more rapid. As the demand for higher yields increases and the plant's requirement for major elements is more efficiently met, other nutrients are more likely to become limiting. With the emphasis on high yields must come an awareness of possible concomitant changes in crop quality. From these considerations one might anticipate a renewal of interest in the role micronutrient elements may play in restricting maximum production and optimum quality of farm crops.
Overcoming cancer resistance.

Katherine L Cook Department of Oncology & Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA and Department of Surgery, Hypertension & Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA “The need for new cancer therapies to target pathways involved in the development of resistance is essential to improve further the outcomes for patients.”
Casino Gambling is Hot: Gambling Debt Collection is Hot

Gambling on credit, considered a vice by some, is not judicially collectible based upon the Statute of Anne. This common law statute prevents the collection of gambling losses, unless expected by state statute. This article reviews and updates the findings of an unenforceability of gambling debt study conducted in 1989 just prior to the rapid expansion of gambling in the United States.
Estimation of Suspended Sediment and Algae in Water Bodies

Remote sensing techniques can be use to monitor water quality parameters (i.e., suspended sediments-turbidity, chlorophyll, temperature). Optical and thermal sensors on shoreline booms, boats, aircraft, and satellites provide both spatial and temporal information needed to monitor changes in water quality parameters for developing management practices to improve water quality. Recent and planned launches of platforms equipped with improved spectral and spatial resolution sensors should lead to greater use of remote sensing techniques to assess and monitor water quality parameters. Integration of remotely sensed data, GPS, and GIS technologies provides a valuable tool for monitoring and assessing waterways. Remotely sensed data can be used to create a permanent geographically located database to provide a baseline for future comparisons. The integrated use of remotely sensed data, GPS, and GIS will enable consultants and natural resource managers to develop management plans for a variety of natural resource management applications. This review paper identifies current knowledge regarding the assessment of water quality, and identifies promising techniques for high resolution assessment. Keywords: algae; algorithms; carotenoids; chlorophyll; GIS; GPS; remote sensing; satellites; suspended sediments; turbidity; water quality
Trace metal uptake and accumulation in trees as affected by environmental pollution

Regional-scale increases in combustion of fossil fuels, trace metal deposition profiles in lake sediments, and metal accumulation patterns in forest soils suggest that forests have been exposed to increasing levels of trace metals in recent decades. Such increases are of concern because metals such as Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn typically have long residence times in soil-plant systems and can adversely affect plant physiological and litter decomposition processes at sufficiently high concentrations. Chronic effects of these metals at present regional concentrations are largely unknown, and their increased availability to trees can occur through multiple pathways, most of which are poorly characterized. Our surveys of changes in tree-ring chemistry of conifers show that increased tissue concentrations of some metals are quite similar to temporal increases in local and regional fossil fuel combustion, suggesting a relationship between the two. Highest metal concentrations in tree rings were found near a power plant and at high-elevation sites remote from point sources. Levels of many trace metals, particularly Al, Fe, and Mn, in tree phloem tissues are at or exceed levels reported as toxic thresholds in other plant species. In reviewing the literature, it is clear that toxic thresholds are strongly influenced by soil characteristics, plant species, and plant part. Thus, until more information is obtained on toxic thresholds for individual and combined levels of trace metals on plant physiological and forest ecosystem-level processes, their role, if any, in forest declines must be considered conjectural.
Winter fog is decreasing in the fruit growing region of the Central Valley of California

The Central Valley of California is home to a variety of fruit and nut trees. These trees account for 95% of the U.S. production, but they need a sufficient amount of winter chill to achieve rest and quiescence for the next season's buds and flowers. In prior work, we reported that the accumulation of winter chill is declining in the Central Valley. We hypothesize that a reduction in winter fog is cooccurring and is contributing to the reduction in winter chill. We examined a 33 year record of satellite remote sensing to develop a fog climatology for the Central Valley. We find that the number of winter fog events, integrated spatially, decreased 46%, on average, over 32 winters, with much year to year variability. Less fog means warmer air and an increase in the energy balance on buds, which amplifies their warming, reducing their chill accumulation more.
Separation of conjugated urinary estrogens on columns of sephadex

Abstract Columns of Sephadex G-25, G-15 and G-10 were evaluated under a variety of conditions to determine which provided the most efficient separation of estrogens conjugated with glucuronic acid or sulfuric acid. Elution with 0.01 M ammonium formate of a column of Sephadex G-15 to which had been applied a complex mixture of conjugated 14C-labeled estrogens in urine provided the separation of at least nine generally distinct radioactive fractions. Similar separations have been achieved with solutions of sodium chloride as eluant but ammonium formate is preferred because of its volatility.
The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and glomalin in soil aggregation: comparing effects of five plant species

Soil aggregation and soil structure are fundamental properties of natural and managed ecosystems. However, most of our knowledge on the role of plant species in soil aggregation is derived from work in agroecosystems or with agriculturally important plants. Here we examined the effects of five plant species on soil aggregate water stability. The five species (three grasses, one forb, and a legume) were from the same natural grassland, and were grown in monoculture plots in the field. Our first goal was to test if productivity-related or species-specific factors would prevail in determining soil aggregation. We also tested what the relative importance of the soil protein glomalin (produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF) in soil aggregation is, compared to other factors, including AMF hyphal and root length and percent plant cover. We found significant differences in soil aggregate water stability (1–2 mm size class) for the five plant species examined, and corresponding differences in plant cover, root weight and length, AMF soil hyphal length, and glomalin concentrations. A structural equation modeling approach (path analysis) was used to distinguish direct from indirect effects of factors on soil aggregation based on covariance structures. Root length, soil glomalin, and percent cover contributed equally strong paths to water-stable aggregation. The direct effect of glomalin was much stronger than the direct effect of AMF hyphae themselves, suggesting that this protein is involved in a very important hypha-mediated mechanism of soil aggregate stabilization, at least for the 1–2-mm size class of aggregates.
Imaging neuroinflammation? A perspective from MR spectroscopy.

Neuroinflammatory mechanisms contribute to the brain pathology resulting from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been touted as a suitable method for discriminating in vivo markers of neuroinflammation. The present MRS study was conducted in four groups: alcohol dependent (A, n = 37), HIV-infected (H, n = 33), alcohol dependent + HIV infected (HA, n = 38) and healthy control (C, n = 62) individuals to determine whether metabolites would change in a pattern reflecting neuroinflammation. Significant four-group comparisons were evident only for striatal choline-containing compounds (Cho) and myo-inositol (mI), which follow-up analysis demonstrated were due to higher levels in HA compared with C individuals. To explore the potential relevance of elevated Cho and mI, correlations between blood markers, medication status and alcohol consumption were evaluated in H + HA subjects. Having an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining event or hepatitis C was associated with higher Cho; lower Cho levels, however, were associated with low thiamine levels and with highly active antiretroviral HIV treatment (HAART). Higher levels of mI were related to greater lifetime alcohol consumed, whereas HAART was associated with lower mI levels. The current results suggest that competing mechanisms can influence in vivo Cho and mI levels, and that elevations in these metabolites cannot necessarily be interpreted as reflecting a single underlying mechanism, including neuroinflammation.
Modeling of tool shape evolution in conformal (raster) grinding

CNC grinding relies on accurate control of the tool shape and position relative to the workpiece. However, tool wear can significantly alter tool shape, potentially producing figure errors. This problem can be particularly important in conformal grinding applications which require the grinding of large areas to optical tolerances and/or the use of relatively small tools (e.g. to grind deep complex shapes). In this study the wear of grinding tools during raster grinding of a conformal component is modeled. The goal is to predict the errors resulting from tool wear and, ultimately, to allow the development of simplified models that can be used to reduce the effects of wear via tool path compensation. In the modeling, wear at each point on the tool is assumed to be proportional to the matching workpiece volumetric removal at that point and, thus, is dependent on the workpiece surface left by the previous raster. An iterative technique is used to predict the tool shape and workpiece surface profile as removal progresses. The effects of process parameters (e.g. raster spacing and tool tilt) are examined. The results are also used in the evaluation and development of a simplified model, which approximates the worn tool shape as a flat bevel.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Directly heated LaB6 cathodes for ion source operation

Some physical properties of lanthanum hexaboride ''filaments,'' when operated as cathodes in a gas discharge, are presented. These directly heated hairpin shaped filaments have been tested in different types of ion sources and are shown to be capable of long pulse or cw discharge operations. The characteristics of a shaped lanthanum hexaboride filament for the purpose of further extension of lifetime is described. The design and operation of a magnetic-field-free, directly-heated, coaxial LaB/sub 6/ cathode is also discussed.
Portable soil test laboratory results compared to standard soil test values

Abstract Results from a commercially available portable soil test laboratory were compared to standard soil test procedures used by a public soil testing laboratory. Standard soil tests examined were water extracted NO3‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO3‐P, and ammonium acetate extracted K. Approximately 35 to 55 different soils were used to compare methods for each soil test. Linear regression equations between the portable laboratory soil test values and those from the standard procedures were developed. The r2 values for NO3‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO3‐P, and K were 0.970, 0.891, 0.734, 0.742, and 0.887, respectively. The coefficient of variability values for NO3‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO3‐P, and K were 10, 1, 13, 15, and 6%, respectively for the portable laboratory, and 9, 2, 8, 9, and 5%, respectively for the public soil testing laboratory. Multiple regression was used to relate soil properties to soil test results. The R2 values for NO3‐N, pH, Acid‐P, NaHCO3‐P, and K were 0.970, 0.911, 0.860, 0.940, and 0.936, respectively.
Politics, History and the Ivory Tower-Policy Gap in the Nuclear Proliferation Debate

Scott D. Sagan and Kenneth N. Waltz, The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: An Enduring Debate. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Pp. 270. $22.50, HB. ISBN 978-0-393-92010-9. By definition, a debate requires at...
Computer-assisted resolution of transient absorption bands of phenyldibenzophosphole in fluid solution. Further evidence for triplet excimers

Abstract From the measurements of room-temperature time-resolved transient absorption spectra of phenyldibenzophosphole (PDP) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) the formation of two types of triplet excimers, along with radical ions and monomeric triplet states, was inferred. It is suggested that formation of the high-energy excimer occurs both by radical ion-pair recombination and by monomeric triplets reacting with ground state molecules whereas only the former mechanism is operative in the production of the low energy excimer. Specific rate constants for the relevant processes have been determined.
An experimental analysis of receiver economics: cost, reliability and uncertainty interact to determine a signal's value

This paper investigates the effect of three important variables on signal use, theoretically and experimentally. We present a simple model and a corresponding experiment that investigates the combined effects of uncertainty about action, signal reliability and signal cost. Our experiment uses techniques drawn from the psychology laboratory to test the behavior of captive blue jays Cyanocitta cristata solving a simple feeding problem. In the experiment, individual jays must choose which of two keys to peck; one key leads to food, but the other does not. In addition, the jays can choose to see a signal that provides information about which key provides a food reward. We find that these three variables interact to determine signal use crudely as our model predicts. Specifically, we find maximal signal use when uncertainty is high, signals are reliable and signal cost is low, but the effects of these variables on signal use do not combine additively. A change in any single variable can abolish signal use. While our results agree qualitatively with our simple model, we also find – in agreement with previous studies – that subjects show a bias against signal use. Specifically, they tend to ignore signals and rely on prior information about the correct action in ‘intermediate’ conditions. These results are important for two reasons. First, they replicate earlier results from our laboratory using a different preparation. Second, they highlight the central interaction between uncertainty and reliability that determines the value of signals for receivers. This is significant because game theoretical models of signaling emphasize the problem of ‘reliability,’ but they pay little attention to the fundamental interaction between reliability and uncertainty.
Role of juvenile hormone metabolism during embryogenesis of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Abstract The duration of embryogenesis was 9.5 days for house crickets, Acheta domesticus (L.), reared at 35°C. The major route of juvenile hormone (JH) metabolism was ester hydrolysis. The level of α-naphthyl acetate (α-NA) esterase activity per mg wet weight remained relatively constant throughout embryogenesis and was similar to that of eggs dissected from the oviducts. JH esterase activity per mg wet weight was highest in the dissected and day-1 eggs, declined to one-third of this peak activity by day 5, and then remained unchanged through hatching. Two populations of esterases (130,000 and > 200,000 in molecular weight) which metabolized JH and α-NA were resolved in day-1 eggs by gel filtration chromatography. Specific JH esterase appeared by day 4 with a molecular weight of 200,000. Correlative evidence is presented from other insect species that supports a functional role for JH metabolism during embryo development.
Digitized Longitudinal Tomography System

The concepts of using the fluoroscopic image for producing tomograms and digitized representations of these images is based on the concepts of the single scan radiographic system and the use of a video disk first introduced by Baker and Miller.1 These authors showed that by blanking the video camera during the x-ray exposure and then introducing a delay period before allowing the electron beam to sweep the camera tube target a considerable increase in signal-to-noise ratio could be achieved. Building on this concept Lasser, et a1,2 achieved true fluoroscopic longitudinal tomography. This was done by placing a negative voltage on the camera target during the long period (l, 2 sec) required for the x-ray tube-image receptor motion to be completed. Excellent tomographic images having slice thicknesses of less than 2 mm were produced at exposure levels of 25-60 mR. Images were recorded for several motion patterns found on standard clinical tomographic equipment. These were; linear, circular, and hypocycloidal.
Distributed computing environments: effects on software maintenance difficulty

Abstract The computing world is undergoing a significant transformation from centralized computer architectures to non-centralized or distributed computer architectures. Historically, the largest single life cycle computer system cost has been for maintaining information system software. This paper examines a new area of research in software maintenance (and development in general), focusing on the issue of whether and to what extent distributed computer operating environments directly affect software maintenance. The issue depends on two diametrics of information system architectures: component simplicity and system complexity. The smaller (but more numerous) the system components, the easier they are to deal with individually (i.e., lower software maintenance costs) but the more difficult it is to deal with the overall system (i.e., higher software maintenance costs). This paper proposes a new conceptual model for information systems complexity based on component number and variety, interaction number and variety, and the overall rate of change. By applying this complexity model to distributed computing environments, this research sought empirical quantitative and qualitative data from IS system and application software analysts, designers, programmers, testers, and customer service representatives to determine whether the complexity of a distributed computer system has a greater effect on software maintenance than component simplicity and what the related explanatory factors are. Results indicate that the overall complexity of the studied distributed systems overwhelmed the ease-of-use and simplicity of their components — thus increasing the overall difficulty of software maintenance. Some distributed computing factors had a much greater effect than others. Finally, this paper offers some management guidance on lowering the cost of distributed computing environment software maintenance costs by adjusting the level of system distribution and by minimizing component and system difficulties.
Highly fluorinated comb-shaped copolymer as proton exchange membranes (PEMs): Fuel cell performance

Abstract The fuel cell performance (DMFC and H 2 /air) of highly fluorinated comb-shaped copolymer is reported. The initial performance of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) fabricated from comb-shaped copolymer containing a side-chain weight fraction of 22% are compared with those derived from Nafion and sulfonated polysulfone (BPSH-35) under DMFC conditions. The low water uptake of comb copolymer enabled an increase in proton exchange site concentrations in the hydrated polymer, which is a desirable membrane property for DMFC application. The comb-shaped copolymer architecture induces phase separated morphology between the hydrophobic fluoroaromatic backbone and the polysulfonic acid side chains. The initial performance of the MEAs using BPSH-35 and Comb 22 copolymer were comparable and higher than that of the Nafion MEA at all methanol concentrations. For example, the power density of the MEA using Comb 22 copolymer at 350 mA cm −2 and 0.5 M methanol was 145 mW cm −2 , whereas the power densities of MEAs using BPSH-35 were 136 mW cm −2 . The power density of the MEA using Comb 22 copolymer at 350 mA cm −2 and 2.0 M methanol was 144.5 mW cm −2 , whereas the power densities of MEAs using BPSH-35 were 143 mW cm −2 .
Mapping Product Design Specification for Mass Customization

Mass customization is an emerging field in manufacturing research community where customer satisfaction is achieved by complying with exact customer requirements at mass production efficiencies. Product varieties have mostly failed in the aspect of satisfying customer requirements, since knowing beforehand exactly what customer needs is beyond the scope of any manufacturing or marketing paradigm. So design to order and build to order is widely talked in the industry to capture heterogeneous market segments. In order to achieve the challenging task of customization at mass production efficiencies, a tight integration of the various entities involved is necessary. Gathering customer requirements, finalizing product design and eventual manufacturing need to be seamlessly integrated to achieve mass production efficiencies. Product designs are classified into customizable product platform families, and then searched based on customer requirements to identify the most conformal design family. Finally the design parameter transport is carried out from customer domain to product domain. Eventually a valid and realizable product specification is generated. The paper will address these issues of classification, selection and ultimately the mapping of parameters. A methodology to classify the product design information, which can easily accommodate design variations based on product platform architecture is proposed. Further, adaptive design customization, which relates most design parameters with the scalable platform design parameters using matrix formulation, is discussed. The proposed design parameter classification and adaptive synthesis of design parameters is applied to a spring design example.
Predicting Web Search Hit Counts

Keyword-based search engines often return an unexpected number of results. Zero hits are naturally undesirable, while too many hits are likely to be overwhelming and of low precision. We present an approach for predicting the number of hits for a given set of query terms. Using word frequencies derived from a large corpus, we construct random samples of combinations of these words as search terms. Then we derive a correlation function between the computed probabilities of search terms and the observed hit counts for them. This regression function is used to predict the hit counts for a user’s new searches, with the intention of avoiding information overload. We report the results of experiments with Google, Yahoo! and Bing to validate our methodology. We further investigate the monotonicity of search results for negative search terms by those three search engines.
Peliosis hepatis and hemoperitoneum in a dog with diphacinone intoxication

Objective: To describe the clinical course of a dog presented with peliosis hepatis and hemoperitoneum in concert with anticoagulant rodenticide intoxication. Case summary: A 7.75-year-old spayed female Shetland Sheepdog presented with clinical signs consistent with hypovolemia, hemoperitoneum, and a history of bright green stool 3 days before the onset of clinical signs. Initial packed cell volume/total solids were consistent with acute hemorrhage. A coagulation profile showed prolongation in activated clotting time and prolongation of both prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin time, suggesting abnormal coagulation. Abdominal hemorrhage persisted in the face of normalization of the hemodynamic status and coagulation profile, and treatment with Vitamin K1. Abdominal ultrasound revealed multiple patchy hypoechoic areas throughout the caudate liver lobe. An exploratory laparotomy was performed 24 hours after presentation and revealed the caudate liver lobe as the source of the hemorrhage. Histopathologic examination of a specimen of the liver was consistent with peliosis hepatis. Toxicologic testing identified diphacinone levels in the blood consistent with anticoagulant rodenticide intoxication. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and within 48 hours the dog was discharged. The dog returned to full function and a hepatic ultrasound performed 15 months postoperatively showed no significant abnormalities. New or unique information provided: Exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides may be associated with the development of peliosis hepatis in dogs.
Direct numerical simulation of gas–solid suspensions at moderate Reynolds number: Quantifying the coupling between hydrodynamic forces and particle velocity fluctuations

Abstract Predictive device-level computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of gas–solid flow is dependent on accurate models for unclosed terms that appear in the averaged equations for mass, momentum and energy conservation. In the multifluid theory, the second moment of particle velocity represents the strength of particle velocity fluctuations and is known to play an important role in the prediction of core-annular flow structure in risers (Hrenya and Sinclair, AIChEJ, 43 (4) (1994) [5]). In homogeneous suspensions the evolution of the second velocity moment is governed by the particle acceleration–velocity covariance. Therefore, fluctuations in the hydrodynamic force experienced by particles in a gas–solid flow affect the evolution of particle velocity fluctuations, which in turn can affect the mean and variance of the hydrodynamic force. This coupling has been studied in the limit of Stokes flow by Koch and co-workers using a combination of kinetic theory and multipole expansion simulations. For Reynolds numbers beyond the Stokes limit, direct numerical simulation is a promising approach to quantify this coupling. Here we present direct numerical simulation (DNS) results for the evolution of particle granular temperature and particle acceleration variance in freely evolving homogeneous gas–solid suspensions. It is found that simple extension of a class of mean particle acceleration models to their corresponding instantaneous versions does not recover the correlation of particle acceleration with particle velocity. This study motivates the development of better instantaneous particle acceleration models that are able to accurately capture the coupling between particle acceleration and velocity.
The Subject Matter of Social Science

(1972). The Subject Matter of Social Science. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 87, No. 2, pp. 277-293.
Ethacrynic acid inhibition of microtubule assembly in vitro.

Abstract Ethacrynic acid (ECA) is a sulfhydryl reactive diuretic drug. Recent studies show that ocular administration of ECA may have potential efficacy for treatment of glaucoma. ECA affects cell shape in cultured cells from the eye outflow pathway and the microtubule system is disrupted. We have studied the effect of ECA on microtubule protein (MTP) (tubulin and microtubule-associated proteins) and purified tubulin assembly. Fifty percent inhibition of MTP (1.8 mg/ml) assembly was found at 70 μ m ECA in buffer and 410 μ m ECA in 30% glycerol in buffer. If all sulfhydryl groups were attributed to tubulin, then approximately two sulfhydryls were blocked at 50% inhibition. Tubulin (2 mg/ml) assembly showed 50% inhibition at 175 μ m ECA and approximately 2 sulfhydryl groups were lost. Increasing ECA preincubation times (0–60 min) with tubulin showed that the longer the preincubation time, the longer the lag time, and the slower the rate of assembly and that the percentage of inhibition was proportional to the ECA preincubation time. The number of blocked sulfhydryls also increased with preincubation time. Approximately two sulfhydryls were blocked at 50% inhibition of assembly. The critical concentration for assembly increased twofold when tubulin was preincubated with 0.1 m m ECA, suggesting a loss of active tubulin. Fifty percent inhibition of taxol-induced MTP and tubulin assembly occurred at 190 and 280 μ m ECA, respectively, with 3.6 to 3.8 sulfhydryls blocked, respectively. Taxol protects microtubules from disassembly by ECA, suggesting that the ECA binding key sulfhydryls are blocked in the microtubule. These results suggest that ECA reacts slowly with tubulin and blocks sulfhydryl groups important for assembly. Microtubule-associated proteins and glycerol protect the sulfhydryls and so more ECA is necessary to inhibit assembly. Since the number of blocked sulfhydryls is greater at 50% inhibition for taxol-induced microtubules, sulfhydryl blocked tubulin incompetent to assemble under normal conditions may be induced to do so with taxol.
Service Level Agreement-Based Joint Application Environment Assignment and Resource Allocation in Cloud Computing Systems

Cloud computing have attracted a lot of attention recently due to increasing demand for high performance computing and storage. Resource allocation is one of the most important challenges in the cloud computing system especially when the clients have some Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and the total profit depends on how the system can meet these SLAs. Moreover, a data center typically hosts and manages a suite of application environments and a fixed number of servers that are allocated to these application environments in a way that maximizes a certain utility function. In this paper, we consider the problem of SLA-based joint optimization of application environment assignment, request dispatching from the clients to the servers, as well as resource allocation in a data center comprised of heterogeneous servers. The objective is to maximize the total profit, which is the total price gained from serving the clients subtracted by the operation cost of the data center. The total price depends on the average service request response time for each client as defined in their utility functions, while the operating cost is related to the total energy consumption. We propose a near-optimal solution of the joint optimization problem based on the Hungarian algorithm for the assignment problem, as well as convex optimization techniques, in a way that is similar to the constructive partitioning algorithm in VLSI computer-aided design (CAD). Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed nearoptimal joint application environment assignment and resource allocation algorithm outperforms baseline algorithms by up to 65.7%.
Opioid receptor antagonism during early lactation results in the increased duration of nursing bouts.

Abstract High levels of μ opioid receptor activation during the postpartum period result in the disruption of ongoing maternal behavior. The role of physiological levels of endogenous opioids on the mediation of maternal behavior in postpartum females, however, has not been closely examined. The purpose of the present experiments was to examine the function of endogenous opioids during early and mid-lactation by treating postpartum females with the opioid antagonist naloxone and monitoring their behavioral interactions with pups. Although this treatment did not lead to any qualitative differences in the maternal behaviors measured (pup retrieval and grooming, nest building, grouping of pups, or crouching over pups), there was a quantitative difference in the amount of time the females spent with pups on the nest and actively nursing pups. Naloxone, given either systemically or centrally (intracerebroventricularly), resulted in prolonged nursing and nesting bouts. This effect, however, was only observed during the early lactation time point (postpartum days 5–7). Females tested later in lactation (postpartum days 10–12 or 12–14) did not display the increased nursing or nesting bouts in response to the antagonist. These data indicate that central opioids play a role in the duration of nursing bouts during early lactation.
Regulation of Lens β-Adrenergic Receptors by Receptor Occupancy and Dexamethasone

ABSTRACT s-adrenergic binding sites in primary cultures of chick lens annular pad (CLAP) cells were characterized with dihydroalprenolol (DHAP). Binding site affinities and densities were similar t...
The identification of the probable locus of iron and anion binding in the transferrins

Abstract Analysis of the transferrins (spectroscopic, chemical modification and sequence data) reveals the sites for iron(III) and carbonate binding are probably located near the junction of two peptide fragments joined by disulfide bridge 3 (Cys-117 to Cys-194) in the N-domain of human transferrin. Tyr-185, Tyr-188 and two of the three histidines, 119, 207 and 249, probably serve as ligands to the metal. It is very likely that Arg-124 (and/or the cluster Lys-115, Lys-116, His-119) is at the carbonate binding site which would enable the anion to coordinate to the iron as well. A similar arrangement of amino acids is present in the C-domain of the human protein and in both domains of ovotransferrin.
Formalizing the Social Expert's Knowledge:

Certain types of data, for example, texts and free-form interviews, tend to lend themselves to being analyzed in a qualitative fashion because they are hard to interpret and hence code. The ability to analyze and code such data often requires one to have an in-depth knowledge of the sociocultural environment related to this protocol, to be, in effect, a social expert. Social expertise involves both knowing more than the novice about the sociocultural environment, and knowing the level of consensus among members of the sociocultural environment to each piece of information. Knowing the level of consensus allows the social expert to make explicit the information that is implicit in the verbal protocol. It is often prohibitively expensive, and sometimes not even possible, to provide novice coders with the extensive training necessary to interpret and code such verbal data as would an expert on that sociocultural environment. By integrating theories of the nature of knowledge, social expertise, and coding it ...
Population Problem: In Search of a Solution

It is doubtful that population growth will be halted sufficiently in either developing or developed countries. The will to regulate population is lacking. The freedom to reproduce when exercised too liberally by some individuals impinges on freedoms of the rest of the population. A population growth target designed merely to replace existing population must be established. In different countries a family size of between 2 and 3 children would be required. To control fertility effectively a social security system for older people is necessary especially in developing countries. As an incentive for couples to practice fertility regulation the correct family size could be established as the condition for participation in social security benefits at old age. For this system to be effective birth control measures must be widely available and cheap within the country.
Comparison of pregnancy outcomes in anonymous shared versus exclusive donor oocyte in vitro fertilization cycles.

Objective To determine whether there is a difference in pregnancy outcomes between women undergoing a shared versus exclusive donor oocyte cycle. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting University IVF center. Patient(s) Women undergoing either a shared (n=656 cycles), exclusive (n=225 cycles), or shared converted to exclusive (n=22 cycles) donor oocyte cycle from January 2000–December 2005. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Number of eggs retrieved, eggs fertilized, embryos transferred, embryos cryopreserved, clinical pregnancy rates (PR), live birth rates, spontaneous abortion rates. Result(s) Pregnancy outcomes in 656 shared cycles were compared with 225 exclusive cycles and 22 shared converted to exclusive donor oocyte cycles. Overall, there was no difference in the clinical PR among the three groups; however, the exclusive group did have a significantly greater number of embryos cryopreserved and this event occurred more frequently in such a cycle. Conclusion(s) Women undergoing a donor oocyte IVF cycle can choose to share the donor's oocytes with another recipient without compromising their PR; however, the probability of cryopreservation in such a shared donor oocyte cycle is significantly reduced. Therefore, the recipient must weigh the financial burden of an exclusive cycle with the desires for cryopreservation in an IVF cycle.
Incorporation of Ru2(O2C(CH2)6CH3)4 into Extended Chains: Interaction of Ru2(O2C(CH2)6CH3)4 with Pyrazine, 4-Cyanopyridine, TCNE, and p-Benzoquinone

In attempts to form extended chains Ru2(O2C(CH2)6CH3)4 (1) was reacted with both simple coordination and redox-active bridging ligands. The simple coordination ligands, pyrazine (pz) and 4-cyanopyridine (4-cp), coordinated in the axial sites of the diruthenium complex. With the symmetric ligand pyrazine, the polymer [1(pz)]n was isolated. With the asymmetric ligand 4-cp, the pyridine nitrogen coordinated preferentially and the bis-adduct 1(4-cp)2 was isolated. Solution UV/visible and NMR studies indicated that π-interactions between the Ru−Ru π* and ligand π orbitals were occurring in both cases. Mole ratio and continuous variation studies of 1 with pyrazine and 4-cp indicated that these axial ligands were labile and that a number of solution species existed. When 1 was reacted with TCNE, redox reactions occurred. Solid-state IR and solution NMR studies also showed that both 1(TCNE) (2) and [1]2TCNE (3) contained diruthenium carboxylate cores which no longer possessed the D4h paddle-wheel geometry. With p...
Application of a lithium-tin reference electrode to determine electrode contributions to impedance rise in high-power lithium-ion cells

Abstract A reference electrode based on a lithium–tin alloy was used to study electrode potential change during hybrid pulse power characterization (HPPC) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements on lithium-ion cells. The cells contained a LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2-based positive electrode, a graphite-based negative electrode, and a LiPF6-bearing ethylene carbonate: ethyl methyl carbonate (EC:EMC) electrolyte. The cells were prepared and tested in an argon-atmosphere glove box to minimize the impact of moisture and oxygen. The reference electrode was prepared from a 25 μm-diameter, tin-coated copper wire; in situ lithiation produced a LixSn (x ∼ 4.4) alloy that displayed a relatively stable voltage at room temperature. The impedance data obtained from these measurements were reproducible and self-consistent. Data from cells aged at 55 °C showed that the positive electrode impedance increase was the main contributor to cell impedance rise, especially during the first month of aging.
Selective electrodeposition of catalyst within membrane-electrode structures

A method that allows one to selectively electrodeposit catalyst within the thin active layer of a membrane-electrode assembly is described. The active layer corresponds to the location of electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell. The method is based on the unique chemistry of the membrane/gas-diffusion-electrode interface, where metal deposits tend to concentrate if dilute-electrolyte solutions are used for deposition. Examples of copper and platinum deposition from aqueous copper sulfate and tetrammine platinum (II) chloride, respectively, demonstrate the generality and effectiveness of the method. Electron probe microanalysis, backscattered electron images, and electrochemical experiments are used to characterize the catalyzed membrane-electrode assemblies. Transport and kinetic parameters are obtained for the Pt(NH{sub 3}){sub 4}Cl{sub 2} electrolyte; the parameters can be used in future modeling work to understand and optimize the catalyzation process.
Effect of ethanol on the uptake by rat brain synaptosomes of {3H}DL-norepinephrine, {3H}5-hydroxytryptamine, {3H}GABA and {3H}glutamate☆

Abstract Ethanol inhibits the synaptosomal transport of some putative neurotransmitters in rat brain homogenates. The uptake of {3H}DL-norepinephrine, {3H}5-hydroxytryptamine and {3H}GABA is inhibited only 30 to 40% at an ethanol concentration of 30 mg/ml. {3H}Glutamate transport, however, is decreased by about 80% at the same ethanol concentration. Aliphatic alcohols of increasing hydrophobic character cause a progressively greater decrease in transmitter transport, suggesting that the inhibitory effect is due to an interaction of the alcohol with the lipid portion of the synaptosomal membrane.
On the affine Sylvester problem

In 2006 Lenchner and Bronnimann [14] showed that in the affine plane, given n lines, not all parallel and not all passing through a common point, there have to be at least n6 ordinary points. The present paper improves on this result to show that there must be at least 2n-37 ordinary points, except for a single arrangement of 6 lines with one ordinary point.
Short-latency ocular following in humans is dependent on absolute (rather than relative) binocular disparity

A previous study showed that the initial ocular following responses elicited by sudden motion of a large random-dot pattern were only modestly attenuated when that whole pattern was shifted out of the plane of fixation by altering its horizontal binocular disparity, but the same disparity applied to a restricted region of the dots had a much more powerful effect [Vision Research 41 (2001) 3371]. Thus, if the dots were partitioned into horizontal bands, for example, and alternate bands were moved in opposite directions to the left or right then ocular following was very weak, but if the (conditioning) dots moving in one direction were all shifted out of the plane of fixation (by applying horizontal disparity to them) then strong ocular following was now seen in the direction of motion of the (test) dots in the plane of fixation, i.e., moving images became much less effective when they were given binocular disparity. We sought to determine if the greater impact of disparity with the partitioned images was because there were additional relative disparity cues. We used a similar partitioned display and found that the dependence of ocular following on the absolute disparity of the conditioning stimulus had a Gaussian form with an x-offset that was close to zero disparity and, importantly, this offset was almost unaffected by changing the absolute disparity of the test stimulus. We conclude from this that it is the absolute––rather than the relative––disparity that is important, and that ocular following has a strong preference for moving images whose absolute disparities are close to zero. This is consistent with the idea that ocular following selectively stabilizes the retinal images of objects in and around the plane of fixation and works in harmony with disparity vergence, which uses absolute disparity to bring objects of interest into the plane of fixation [Archives of Ophthalmology 55 (1956) 848].