cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancing robot teleoperator situation awareness and performance using vibro-tactile and graphical feedback

Most of the feedback received by operators of current robot-teleoperation systems is graphical. When a large variety of robot data needs to be displayed however, this may lead to operator overload. The research presented in this paper focuses on off-loading part of the feedback to other human senses, specifically to the sense of touch, to reduce the load due to the interface, and as a consequence, to increase the level of operator situation awareness. Graphical and vibro-tactile versions of feedback delivery for collision interfaces were evaluated in a search task using a virtual teleoperated robot. Parameters measured included task time, number of collisions between the robot and the environment, number of objects found and the quality of post-experiment reports through the use of sketch maps. Our results indicate that the combined use of both graphical and vibro-tactile feedback interfaces led to an increase in the quality of sketch maps, a possible indication of increased levels of operator situation awareness, but also a slight decrease in the number of robot collisions.
Comparative effects of diltiazem, propranolol, and placebo on exercise performance using radionuclide ventriculography in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease: Results of a double-blind, randomized, crossover study

Abstract The effects of oral diltiazem (120 mg), propranolol (100 mg), and placebo on exercise performance and left ventricular function were compared before and during symptom-limited supine bicycle exercise by means of multigated radionuclide ventriculography in 12 patients with documented, symptomatic coronary artery disease; a double-blind, randomized crossover protocol was used. Diltiazem increased ejection fraction (EF) at submaximal exercise (+7.0 absolute percentage points, p
Toxicity of arsenic and PCBs to fry of deepwater ciscoes (Coregonus).

As the initial step in determing the potential role of arsenic and PCBs in the decline of Lake Michigan ciscoes, the objectives were to measure the acute toxicity (96-h LC50) of arsenic and PCBs, singly and in combination, for cisco fry; to determine the additive index for arsenic and PCBs; and to evaluate the adequacy of water quality criteria for these contaminants relative to protecting ciscoes.
Dynamics of Preference by Sheep Offered Foods Varying in Flavors, Nutrients, and a Toxin

We conducted two experiments to determine how toxicosis affected preference of sheep for foods varying in flavors, nutrients, and a toxin. The first experiment determined how toxicosis affected the preference of lambs (fed a basal ration of alfalfa pellets) for foods that varied in energy and a toxin. Thirty lambs (10/treatment) were given LiCl by gavage (0, 50, or 100 mg/kg body wt/day), and 1 hr later were offered for 15 min/day foods containing different amounts (low, medium, high) of energy (barley) and a toxin (LiCl) added to alfalfa. The proportions of barley and LiCl changed every three to six days during the 30-day study. The results showed: (1) lambs' food preferences were high > medium > low for barley in the absence of LiCl; (2) lambs quickly regulated intake of foods in response to changes in barley and LiCl concentrations, even with short exposures (15 min/day); (3) lambs maintained intake of LiCl at about 57 mg/kg body wt by adjusting intake of food containing LiCl in accord with the amount of LiCl they received by gavage; and (4) as barley levels increased, intake of foods containing LiCl increased. The second experiment determined the relative influence of flavors, nutrients, and toxins on food preferences of lambs. We did this by treatments in which different flavors (onion and oregano at 1%) were paired with different levels of energy (depending on the addition of wheat to rabbit pellets) or a toxin (LiCl). At six-day intervals, we varied the types of food offered, either changing the nutrient or toxin content and the flavors. The resulting analyses of preference showed lambs markedly preferred foods high in nutrients and low in toxins, regardless of flavor, when changes in food flavor were not correlated with changes in nutrient and toxin concentrations. Thus, in both experiments lambs quickly regulated intake of foods varying in nutrients and a toxin according to the lambs' toxicological and nutritional state. Even with brief eating bouts lambs discriminated accurately and exhibited little permanent preference or aversion in postconditioning preference tests. The lambs remained in an unbiased testing mode, sampling anew the food. This is adaptive because the toxin and nutrient contents of plants vary with season and location. Most taste aversion studies emphasize the permanence of aversions and miss the dynamic sampling power of animals.
Positive Changes, Increased Spiritual Importance, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use Among Cancer Survivors

Purpose: Spirituality is an important component of the cancer experience. This study aims to assess characteristics of spiritual health following a cancer diagnosis, and evaluate the relationship between spiritual change and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among a population-based cohort of cancer survivors. Method: A mailed, cross-sectional survey was completed by 614 cancer survivors identified through the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry. All subjects were 3 to 4.5 years postdiagnosis. Relationships between various characteristics of spiritual health and CAM use were examined, along with clinical and sociodemographic factors. Results: Although large proportions of individuals reported that having cancer had positively affected their spiritual well-being (eg, 40.3% experienced highly positive spiritual changes, 68% felt a high sense of purpose, 75.9% reported being very hopeful), some individuals experienced negative spiritual change (36.1%) and continued to experience high levels of uncertainty (27.2%). In multivariate analyses, those survivors who felt spiritual life became more important (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21-3.04, P = .006), or experienced positive changes resulting from the cancer experience (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.26-3.15, P = .003), were more likely to use CAM than those who stated otherwise. Conclusions: Having cancer affects many different aspects of spiritual well-being, both positively and negatively. Positive changes and increased spiritual importance appear to be associated with the use of CAM. Prospective research is needed to test whether integrating CAM into conventional cancer care systems will facilitate positive, spiritually transformative processes among diverse groups of cancer survivors.
Multi-subject connectivity-based parcellation of the human IPL using Gaussian mixture models and hidden Markov random fields

Connectivity has been proposed as a criterion for functional-anatomic segregation of cortical areas. We present a new method of characterizing the DTI-based connectivity profile of cortical voxels using Gaussian mixture models (GMMs). Parcellation of the human IPL was performed on connectivity profiles using a hidden Markov random field (HMRF) model. We applied our approach to multi-subject parcellation. Using the multisubject GMM-HMRF approach, results in a smoother segmentation of IPL that is independent of the set of subjects and visually consistent with the Juelich Atlas.
Ampicillin/Sulbactam Vs. Cefoxitin for the Treatment of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Objective: The safety and efficacy of ampicillin plus sulbactam were compared with those of cefoxitin in the treatment of women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Methods: This single-site, randomized, prospective, third-party-blinded, comparative, parallel-treatment study enrolled 93 women with a diagnosis of PID. Patients were treated with either ampicillin/sulbactam (2 g/1 g, administered intravenously [IV], every 6 h) or cefoxitin (2 g, administered IV, every 6 h) for a minimum of 12 doses. Patients with cultures positive for Chlamydia trachomatis also received concurrent oral or IV doxycycline (100 mg twice daily). Patients with cultures negative for C. trachomatis received prophylactic oral doxycycline (100 mg twice daily) for 10–14 days after treatment with either ampicillin/sulbactam or cefoxitin was completed. Results: Ninety-three patients were entered in the study: 47 in the ampicillin/sulbactam arm and 46 in the cefoxitin arm. All 93 patients were evaluable for safety; 61 (66%) were evaluable for efficacy. Demographic characteristics were similar for the groups. Of the 27 evaluable ampicillin/sulbactam-treated patients, 67% experienced clinical cure, 30% improved, and 4% failed treatment. Respective values for the 34 cefoxitin-treated patients were 68%, 24%, and 9% (P = 0.67). Pathogens were eradicated in 70% of the women given ampicillin/sulbactam vs. 56% of those who received cefoxitin (P = 0.64). Conclusions: Overall, ampicillin/sulbactam demonstrated clinical and bacteriologic efficacy at least equivalent to that of cefoxitin in the treatment of women with acute PID. The use of ampicillin/sulbactam for this indication may avoid the complex dosing regimens associated with other treatments.
Sub-milliampere threshold InGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs laser array elements by single step growth on nonplanar substrates

Ultra-low-threshold current InGaAs/GaAs lasers are made by single-step MOCVD growth on nonplanar substrates. Active region widths ranging from 1.6 to 0.2 /spl mu/m have been studied. Uncoated laser threshold currents as low as 0.5 mA has been obtained.
Productive interaction between the chromosome partitioning proteins, ParA and ParB, is required for the progression of the cell cycle in Caulobacter crescentus

In Caulobacter crescentus the partitioning proteins ParA and ParB operate a molecular switch that couples chromosome partitioning to cytokinesis. Homologues of these proteins have been shown to be important for the stable inheritance of F-plasmids and the prophage form of bacteriophage P1. In C. crescentus, ParB binds to sequences adjacent to the origin of replication and is required for the initiation of cell division. Additionally, ParB influences the nucleotide-bound state of ParA by acting as a nucleotide exchange factor. Here we have performed a genetic analysis of the chromosome partitioning protein ParB. We show that C. crescentus ParB, like its plasmid homologues, is composed of three domains: a carboxyl-terminal dimerization domain; a central DNA-binding, helix-turn-helix domain; and an amino-terminal domain required for the interaction with ParA. In vivo expression of amino-terminally deleted parB alleles has a dominant lethal effect resulting in the inhibition of cell division. Fluorescent in situ hybridization experiments indicate that this phenotype is not caused by a chromosome partitioning defect, but by the reversal of the amounts of ATP- versus ADP- bound ParA inside the cell. We present evidence suggesting that amino-terminally truncated and full-length, wild-type ParB form heterodimers which fail to interact with ParA, thereby reversing the intracellular ParA-ATP to ParA-ADP ratio. We hypothesize that the amino-terminus of ParB is required to regulate the nucleotide exchange of ParA which, in turn, regulates the initiation of cell division.
More choices for treating voices

In psychiatry, 1997 may be remembered as the year in which the new generation of antipsychotics, the so-called "atypicals", gained wide acceptance. The older antipsychotics, those of which chlorpromazine is the prototype and haloperidol a newer exemplar, have been the mainstay for treating schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders for more than forty years. There are now at least four of the newer antipsychotics available in most parts of the world. These new medications appear to be equally effective in reducing psychotic symptoms, they produce fewer extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS), and they are pharmacological ly "broad spectrum". When the older antipsychotics were introduced, clinicians believed that efficacy and side-effects were linked, and that the optimal dose was achieved when the patient developed parkinsonian side-effects. This teaching was based on the assumption that blockade of D2 receptors in mesolimbic and nigrostriatal projections was the primary mechanism of action. We now know the story is not that simple. The newer medications affect other neurotransmitter systems (eg, serotonin), and the effects on limbic and striatal dopamine can be dissociated. Pilowsky and colleagues (Pilowsky) demonstrated that patients taking clozapine (an "atypical" agent) achieve the same high degree of D2 and D3 blockade in the temporal cortex vs those taking typical antipsychotics (both -90%) , but significantly less blockade in the striatum (58% vs 90%). This study provides in vivo confirmation of the hypothesis that clozapine selectively blocks limbic dopamine without affecting striatal dopamine. Since noncompliance is the leading cause of relapse in schizophrenia, and since EPS is one of the leading causes of noncompliance, the newer drugs have the potential to improve quality of life. During 1997, imaging studies were used extensively to study new frontiers in mental function, such as the brain reward systems that mediate "drug highs" or the mechanisms of mood and emotion. For example, Volkow and colleagues demonstrated that the magnitude of cocaine-induced "high" among chronic users is directly correlated with the degree of striatal dopamine transporter blockade, and therefore the availability of free dopamine (Volkow). Studies in detoxified cocaine users showed craving to be associated with enhanced thalamic response to dopamine agonist stimulation (Nature 1997; 386: 830).
Pathogenesis of experimental vesicular stomatitis virus (New Jersey serotype) infection in the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus).

The pathogenesis of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection has not been investigated previ- ously in native New World rodents that may have a role in the epidemiology of the disease. In the present study, 45 juvenile and 80 adult deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were inoculated intranasally with VSV New Jersey serotype (VSV-NJ) and examined sequentially over a 7-day period. Virus was detected by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in all tissues containing histologic lesions. Viral antigen and mRNA were observed initially in olfactory epithelium neurons, followed by olfactory bulbs and more caudal olfactory pathways in the brain. Virus also was detected throughout the ventricular system in the brain and central canal of the spinal cord. These results support both viral retrograde transneuronal transport and viral spread within the ventricular system. Other tissues containing viral antigen included airway epithelium and macrophages in the lungs, cardiac myocytes, and macrophages in cervical lymph nodes. In a second experiment, 15 adult, 20 juvenile, and 16 nestling deer mice were inoculated intradermally with VSV-NJ. Adults were refractory to infection by this route; however, nestlings and juveniles developed disseminated central nervous system infections. Viral antigen also was detected in cardiac myocytes and lymph node macrophages in these animals. Viremia was detected by virus isolation in 35/72 (49%) intranasally inoculated juvenile and adult mice and in 17/36 (47%) intradermally inoculated nestlings and juveniles from day 1 to day 3 postinoculation. The documentation of viremia in these animals suggests that they may have a role in the epidemiology of vector- borne vesicular stomatitis.
Prediction of Hot Tearing Using a Dimensionless Niyama Criterion

The dimensionless form of the well-known Niyama criterion is extended to include the effect of applied strain. Under applied tensile strain, the pressure drop in the mushy zone is enhanced and pores grow beyond typical shrinkage porosity without deformation. This porosity growth can be expected to align perpendicular to the applied strain and to contribute to hot tearing. A model to capture this coupled effect of solidification shrinkage and applied strain on the mushy zone is derived. The dimensionless Niyama criterion can be used to determine the critical liquid fraction value below which porosity forms. This critical value is a function of alloy properties, solidification conditions, and strain rate. Once a dimensionless Niyama criterion value is obtained from thermal and mechanical simulation results, the corresponding shrinkage and deformation pore volume fractions can be calculated. The novelty of the proposed method lies in using the critical liquid fraction at the critical pressure drop within the mushy zone to determine the onset of hot tearing. The magnitude of pore growth due to shrinkage and deformation is plotted as a function of the dimensionless Niyama criterion for an Al-Cu alloy as an example. Furthermore, a typical hot tear “lambda”-shaped curve showing deformation pore volume as a function of alloy content is produced for two Niyama criterion values.
Initial studies in human-robot-human interaction: Fitts' law for two people

Often two people must work together physically on a common task, such as lifting and positioning; a long board, or, in our model experimental system, turning a two-handled crank. Such tasks involve communication between the people, mediated by the task kinematics and dynamics: each person feels forces and motions produced by the other and derive some meaning from them. Tasks may include a degree of competition: the two people may not have exactly the same goal in mind, and must negotiate a compromise. Understanding human-human communication is important in designing robots for interaction with humans, and for robots that provide powered assistance for human-human tasks (such as physical therapy). In this paper we describe early experiments in human-human physical interaction, with a 1 dof robot included in order to give experimental access to the exchange of forces and motions between the people. We report on Fitts' law-like tasks, in which the two people cooperate to move a cursor to a common target, or to targets that do not completely overlap. Our results suggest that human-human physical communication may be a rich area of study.
Bilingual Word Embeddings for Phrase-Based Machine Translation

We introduce bilingual word embeddings: semantic embeddings associated across two languages in the context of neural language models. We propose a method to learn bilingual embeddings from a large unlabeled corpus, while utilizing MT word alignments to constrain translational equivalence. The new embeddings significantly out-perform baselines in word semantic similarity. A single semantic similarity feature induced with bilingual embeddings adds near half a BLEU point to the results of NIST08 Chinese-English machine translation task.
Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatment for Autism) An Inclusive School-Based Approach to Educating Young Children with Autism

Providing appropriate educational services to young children with autism may be one of the defining challenges of the 1990s and early 2000s for early childhood special education. The number of children with autism is increasing dramatically, the research literature is rich with evidence-based instructional strategies, and the Internet is even more full of information and advice of unknown quality. Parents and school district personnel, often working together but sometimes at odds, need to develop programs to meet the needs of these children. Project DATA (Development Appropriate Treatment for Autism) started as a federally funded model demonstration project for developing a school-based program for young children with autism that would be effective and acceptable to consumers (e.g., parents, school personnel). Project DATA consists of five components: a high-quality early childhood environment, extended instructional time, social and technical support for families, collaboration and cooperation across services, and transition support. In this article, we provide data demonstrating the effectiveness of this model and discuss the implications of this type of inclusive programming for young children with autism.
Fast Reduction Algorithms in the Frequency-Domain Layered Finite Element Method for the Electromagnetic Analysis of Large-Scale High-Frequency Integrated Circuits

In this paper, fast algorithms are proposed for an efficient reduction of a 3-D layered system matrix to a 2-D layered one in the framework of the frequency-domain layered finite element method. These algorithms include: 1) an effective preconditioner P that can converge the iterative solution of the volume-unknown-based matrix equation in a few iterations; 2) a fast direct computation of P -1 in linear complexity in both CPU run time and memory consumption; and 3) a fast evaluation of P -1 b in linear complexity, with b being an arbitrary vector. With these fast algorithms, the volume-unknown-based matrix equation is solved in linear complexity with a small constant in front of the number of unknowns, and hence significantly reducing the complexity of the 3-D to 2-D reduction. The algorithms are rigorous without making any approximation. They apply to any arbitrarily-shaped multilayer structure. Numerical and experimental results are shown to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
Liquid crystal polymers. 14. Synthesis and properties of thermotropic poly(1,4‐alkylphenylene terephthalates)

A series of terephthalate polyesters was prepared from substituted hydroquinone monomers that contained a single cyclic or branched alkyl group. All the polymers were crystalline with melting points well below 400°C that decreased as the size of the cycloalkyl substituent increased. Most of the polymers had clearing temperatures below 400°C and all formed nematic melts. Copolyesters that contained equimolar amounts of two different substituted hydroquinone monomers, which were crystalline and had broad temperature ranges for nematic phase formation, were also prepared.
Numerical solution of a coupled pair of elliptic equations from solid state electronics

Iterative methods are considered for the solution of a coupled pair of second order elliptic partial differential equations which arise in the field of solid state electronics. A finite difference scheme is used which retains the conservative form of the differential equations. Numerical solutions are obtained in two ways, by multigrid and dynamic alternating direction implicit methods. Numerical results are presented which show the multigrid method to be an efficient way of solving this problem.
Lack of sulfate-activating enzymes in human breast tumors.

SummaryPreparations from human breast tumors which are inactive in the formation of steroid sulfates are shown to be lacking the two sulfate-activating enzymes, sulfate adenylyltransferase, and adenylylsulfate kinase, and to have measurable amounts of 3-β-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase and estrone sulfotransferase. The study also suggests that the sulfate-activating enzymes are the limiting factor in determining the level of steroid conjugating activity of the tumor preparations that have the ability to form steroid sulfates.
Phosphatidylcholine fluidity and structure affect lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypoth- esis that lipid fluidity regulates lecithin:cholesterol acyl- transferase (LCAT) activity. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) spe- cies were synthesized that varied in fluidity by changing the number, type ( cis vs. trans ), or position of the double bonds in 18 or 20 carbon sn -2 fatty acyl chains and recombined with ( 3 H)cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I to form recom- binant high density lipoprotein (rHDL) substrate particles. The activity of purified human plasma LCAT decreased with PC sn -2 fatty acyl chains containing trans versus cis double bonds and as double bonds were moved towards the methyl terminus of the sn -2 fatty acyl chain. The decrease in LCAT activity was significantly correlated with a decrease in rHDL fluidity (measured by diphenylhexatriene fluores- cence polarization) for PC species containing 18 carbon ( r 2 5 0.61, n 5 18) and 20 carbon ( r 2 5 0.93, n 5 5) sn -2 fatty acyl chains. rHDL were also made containing 10% of the 18 carbon sn -2 fatty acyl chain PC species and 90% of an inert PC ether matrix ( sn -1 18:1, sn -2 16:0 PC ether) to nor- malize rHDL fluidity. Even though fluidity was similar among the PC ether-containing rHDL, the order of PC reac- tivity with LCAT was significantly correlated ( r 2 5 0.71) with that of 100% PC rHDL containing the same 18 carbon sn -2 fatty acyl chain species, suggesting that PC structure in the active site of LCAT determines reactivity in the absence of measurable differences in bilayer fluidity. We conclude that PC fluidity and structure are major regulators of LCAT activity when fatty acyl chain length is constant. —Parks, J. S., K. W. Huggins, A. K. Gebre, and E. R. Burleson. Phos- phatidylcholine fluidity and structure affect lecithin:choles- terol acyltransferase activity. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 546- 553.
Regulation of Protein Degradation.

of understanding of how to preserve in vivo proteolytic activities in vitro also has interfered with the identification, purification, and analyses of proteinases. Although studies using heterologous proteins or synthetic peptide substrates will continue to provide valuable information, such studies must at some point utilize in vivo substrates if the physiological roles of proteinases are to be defined. Finally, no particular global feature of proteins can be correlated with in vivo stability, again indicating the diversity of mechanisms present. Proteins may be subjected to a limited number of proteolytic cleavages either in the process of intracellular targeting to their final destination or in the maturation of the initial translation product to produce a biologically active mature molecule. This review does not discuss these events but rather focuses on what is known about the events that regulate, orare responsible for, the initial cleavages of a protein ultimately destined for hydrolysis to free amino acids. Our current understanding of the protein degradation process is that it occurs in stages, with the initial endoproteolytic cleavage(s) being more species specific and rate limiting than subsequent hydrolysis to free amino acids by less specific endo- and exopeptidases. For this reason, this review limits discussion to endoproteinases, which are referred to here simply as proteinases. Recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of protein degradation have been made on two fronts: first, in the identification of proteinases, changes in whose activity and/or abundance could or do result in the degradation of previously stable protein(s); and second, in the identification of structural changes in proteins that increase their susceptibility to proteolysis. Advances in these two areas made after a previous review on plant proteolysis (Vierstra, 1993) are elaborated in the following discussions. Recently, multiple cases have been documented in which increases in the levels of mRNAs encoding proteinases occur in response to developmental or environmental changes. The physiological significance of such increases remains unknown; however, they indicate physiological responses that may be mediated by proteolysis or that result in accelerated proteolysis and are therefore mentioned here. Cell cycle progression in eukaryotes represents an exquisite example of the importance of regulated protein degradation, and recent data regarding proteolysis and cell cycle transitions are discussed. A brief description of the diversity of proteinases present in plants is presented, focusing on recent work on
Phase I study of low-dose suramin as a chemosensitizer in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Our preclinical studies have shown that acidic and basic fibroblastic growth factors confer broad spectrum chemoresistance and that low concentrations (10–50 μm) of suramin, a nonspecific fibroblastic growth factor inhibitor, enhance the antitumor activity of paclitaxel in vivo . The present Phase I study evaluated low-dose suramin in combination with paclitaxel/carboplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. Experimental Design: Patients received suramin followed by paclitaxel (175–200 mg/m 2 ) and carboplatin area under the concentration-time curve of 6 mg/ml/min, every 3 weeks. The initial suramin dose for the first cycle was 240 mg/m 2 , and the doses for subsequent cycles were calculated based on the 72-h pretreatment plasma concentrations. The recommended suramin dose would yield plasma concentrations of 10–20 μm at 48 h in ≥5 of 6 patients. Results: Fifteen patients (11 stage IV, 4 stage IIIB, 9 chemonaive, and 6 previously treated) received 85 courses. The most common toxicities were neutropenia, nausea/vomiting, malaise/fatigue, and peripheral neuropathy. No treatment-related hospitalizations, adrenal dysfunction, or episodes of sepsis occurred. The initial suramin dose resulted in the targeted concentrations of 10–20 μm at 48 h in 5 of the first 6 patients treated but also resulted in peak concentrations > 50 μm in all patients. Dividing the suramin dose to be administered in two doses, 24 h apart, yielded the target concentrations and avoided undesirable peak concentrations. Discernable antitumor activity occurred in 7 of 10 patients with measurable disease, including 2 with prior chemotherapy. The median time to tumor progression is 8.5 months (range, 3–27+ months) for 12 evaluable patients. Conclusions: Low-dose suramin does not increase the toxicity of paclitaxel/carboplatin combination. The suramin dose can be calculated based on clinical parameters. Because of the preliminary antitumor activity observed, efficacy studies in chemonaive and chemorefractory patients are under way.
Zonadhesin: Characterization, Localization, and Zona Pellucida Binding

Zonadhesin is a multiple-domain transmembrane protein that is believed to function as a sperm-zona pellucida binding protein. In this study we sequenced zonadhesin from rabbit testis and analyzed its processing, expression, localization, and zona pellucida binding. We show that the precursor protein occurs exclusively in the testis and that proteolytic processing results in the formation of three fragments: p43 (D1 domain), p97 (D2-D4 domains), and p58 (D4 domain-C-terminal). In mature spermatozoa the p43 and p97 fragments exist as disulfide-bonded dimers. During spermatogenesis, synthesis of zonadhesin mRNA chiefly occurs in primary spermatocytes, whereas the protein is abundant in both Sertoli cells and spermatids. In spermatozoa the protein is localized exclusively to the anterior acrosome but is not available for binding antibody on live spermatozoa. Once the acrosome reaction is induced, zonadhesin is lost from the spermatozoon, but remains with the acrosomal shroud. We show that recombinant D4 domain can bind zona pellucida, and we propose that zonadhesin functions after the acrosome reaction has been initiated to bind the acrosomal shroud to the zona pellucida.
Changing Promotion Standards- Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth

Few studies of promotion have focused on large panel data sets. Notable exceptions have focused on the popular data set from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort (NSLY). Data from the NSLY have been utilized in at least four studies of promotion standards, with the finding that women are held to higher promotion standards than otherwise equally qualified men. All of these studies have utilized older data from the 1984-1990 survey years of the NLSY. During these years the subjects in the survey were between the ages of 19-33 years old. I explore the differences in promotion with data from the most recent survey years from 1996-2006, where subjects are now between the ages of 31 and 46. The findings indicate that although there was strong evidence of promotion disparity in the early years of subject’s working careers; these effects have lessened as they have entered the prime working years. Additionally, we explore the wage gains attached to promotions. While the data from the subject’s early working career show wage gains attached to promotion that favor women, the more recent data shows no discernable difference in wage gains attached to promotion.
Maximal average loss rates for a single GPS server system with finite buffers

In this paper, we consider a single server system with finite buffers that services IWI sessions. It is assumed that the multiplexing scheme is Generalized Processor Sharing (GPS). We consider the problem of determining the session arrival functions that result in the maximal average packet loss rate for each session. We prove that the worse case average loss rate occurs when the arrival functions are nearly periodic and inputs are bursts at the beginning of each period. A second proof is given by casting this problem in the framework of a Markov decision process. We address a fundamental question: what aspects of systems result in worst case arrival processes being (nearly) periodic? In a companion note, we evaluate the maximal average delay and the maximal delay jitter for the same system.
Bitwise aggregate networks

Typical communication networks for parallel processing are based on sending data from one processor to one, or all, of the other processors. Using such a network, many simple operations that require information from every processor requires many point-to-point or broadcast communications. These aggregate operations can be as simple as a barrier synchronization or as complex as an arithmetic reduction. In this paper we discuss a class of networks that directly implement a wide range of aggregate operations. These networks are capable of performing aggregate operations in a single communication operation using only simple bitwise combining logic in a trivially scalable tree configuration.
Cognitive neuropsychological analysis and neuroanatomic correlates in a case of acute anomia

We describe an analysis of lexical processing performed in a patient with the acute onset of an isolated anomia. Based on a model of lexical processing, we evaluated hypotheses as to the source of the naming deficit. We observed impairments in oral and written picture naming and oral naming to definition with relatively intact semantic processing across input modalities, suggesting that output from the semantic system was impaired. In contrast to previous reports, we propose that this pattern represents an impairment that arises late in semantic processing prior to accessing mode-specific verbal and graphemic output lexicons. These deficits were associated with a lesion in the posterior portion of the middle temporal gyrus or area 37, an area of supramodal association cortex that is uniquely suited as a substrate for the multimodal deficit in naming.
Instruction in materials science and engineering: modern technology and the new role of the teacher

Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) has been created by combining disciplines that are several thousands years old (Metallurgical Engineering) with quite recent ones (Solid State Physics). It includes atomic and molecular interactions and structures, synthetic chemistry, phase equilibria and phase diagrams, a variety of characterization methods, mechanical testing and fracture mechanics, visco-elasticity, rheology, materials processing from forging through sintering to injection molding, as well as prepreg making and composite manufacturing. Different sub-disciplines of MSE often require different instructional approaches. Teaching a single basic MSE course requires a combination of approaches. Fortunately, we have an increasing number of instructional tools: computer modeling (watching a known process); computer simulations (learning about an insufficiently understood process); interactive computer programs; TV broadcasting of lectures followed by discussions by phone, both video-recorded; the world wide web information accessible via search engines; the Journal of Materials Education; and traditional textbooks and class lecture notes. Moreover, MSE also exhibits certain unifying features (not limited to just, say, metals or semiconductors); these features are also discussed. The most important consequence of the existence of new technologies is the change in the role of the instructor. Instead of mostly dispensing knowledge, the instructor now has to make decisions. Particularly important in the new role of the teacher is his:her capability to make the student manage his:her time in a much more efficient way. © 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Errors of presentation

Abstract Errors of presentation during labor result in increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality and therefore deserve attention. For the purpose of this study, breech presentation is not included, and the errors discussed will include face, brow, compound, and shoulder presentations. When these problems are promptly diagnosed and properly managed, better results for mother and baby are obtained. A summary of the important etiological factors concerned in the study of the group includes such maternal factors as pelvic contraction, large pelvis, multiparity, lax abdominal wall, congenital anomalies of the uterus, placenta previa, and pelvic tumor. Fetal factors include prematurity, large infant, macerated fetus, multiple pregnancy, abnormality of the fetal neck, nuchal cord, and congenital anomalies. It is important to realize that upon diagnosing an error of presentation, possible etiological factors must immediately be investigated. Consideration of these factors may prevent errors in management and resultant tragedy. Early diagnosis is important since it determines management. Failure to make a prompt diagnosis of an error of presentation may predispose to uterine inertia which could result in prolonged labor with increased maternal and fetal morbidity. The usual means of diagnosis are abdominal, rectal, vaginal, and x-ray examinations. Despite careful abdominal examination during pregnancy, few errors except shoulder presentation are detected before labor starts. The most valuable diagnostic method is a careful vaginal examination in labor. It is frequently desirable to confirm a clinical diagnosis of an error of presentation radiologically, and, at the same time, to obtain additional information as to pelvic capacity, placental position, and possible fetal anomaly. However, abnormal presentation is often first diagnosed on x-ray in the presence of polyhydramnios or multiple pregnancy. The method of treatment depends on the type of error that is diagnosed, the etiological factor or factors involved, the condition of the mother and infant at the time the diagnosis is made, the experience of the operator, and the facilities at hand.
Abstract T P245: Decreased Metallopeptidase and Aquaporin Expressions by Acute Ethanol Administration: A Potential Treatment for Ischemic Stroke?

Introduction: Cerebral ischemia up-regulation of aquaporin (AQP) and metallopeptidase (MMP) expressions is related to increasing blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and brain edema. Ethanol (EtOH) has been shown to provide neuroprotective effects. The precise mechanisms by which these effects occur have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we tested the relationship of the neuroprotective effects of EtOH post-stroke with MMP2, MMP9 and AQP4, AQP9 expressions utilizing both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: A total of 72 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2h right middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Different doses of EtOH (0.5 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg) were administered by intraperitoneal injection 2h after stroke. Brain edema estimates were obtained by measuring brain water content. BBB permeability was measured by Evans blue dye assay. Oxygen-glucose deprivation and re-oxygenation (OGD) experiments were performed on whole brain slice cultures. Western-blots were performed to measure protein lev...
Characterization of Cyber-Physical Sensor Systems

Abstract In the future sensors and sensor systems will take a key role in manufacturing. The trend acquire to more information is unbroken and is associated with the terms Industrie 4.0 and smart manufacturing. The current properties of industrial sensors have a very large range. These ranges begin by the simple conversion of physical properties, such as temperature, pressure and detection of mechanical movements. Furthermore, we find sensors that enable self-calibration, dynamic parameter setting, Ethernet-based communication and self-adaptation due to ambient conditions. In this paper, the term cyber-physical sensor system (CPSS) will be defined under the requirements of industrial applications of sensors. The first step is a general definition of cyber-physical sensor systems. This definition for CPSS respects the higher degree of crosslinking, distributed systems, possibilities of embedded systems in the field of automation and respects the current standards. The second step is a characterization of sensors depending on their skills. One example is an advanced mechatronic chuck. This chuck is stated as an application case for a high level category CPSS that shows the communication skills in the horizontal and vertical integration.
Diagnostic Value of Captopril Renography in Identification of Renal Artery Stenosis

Objective:To evaluate the value of captopril renography in identification of renal artery stenosis in Aortoarteritis. Methods:One hundred and one patients with Aortoarteritis undergoing captopril renography were retrospectively analyzed.All patients also received renal artery angiography within 2 weeks of captopril renography. Results:Among the patients,there were 25 males and 85 females.The mean age was 30.2±10.7 years old.Seventy-seven patients had angiographic renal artery stenosis.Of them,40 had bilateral renal artery stenosis and 37 had unilateral renal artery stenosis.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of captopril renography was 94.8%,90.9 % and 93.6% for diagnosing renal artery stenosis,and 88.9%,91.3% and 90.0% for the number of diseased vessels. Conclusion:Captopril renography is a safe and accurate method for detection of renal artery stenosis in patients with Aortoar- teritis.
The Impact of Superintendent Support for Curriculum Mapping on Principals' Efficacious Use of Maps.

Pressures on school leaders to reform are pervasive within the United States. Prior studies show that superintendents who provide clear expectations and goals, collaborate, ensure quality professio...
KDM2B Recruitment of the Polycomb Group Complex, PRC1.1, Requires Cooperation between PCGF1 and BCORL1

KDM2B recruits H2A-ubiquitinating activity of a non-canonical Polycomb Repression Complex 1 (PRC1.1) to CpG islands, facilitating gene repression. We investigated the molecular basis of recruitment using in vitro assembly assays to identify minimal components, subcomplexes, and domains required for recruitment. A minimal four-component PRC1.1 complex can be assembled by combining two separately isolated subcomplexes: the DNA-binding KDM2B/SKP1 heterodimer and the heterodimer of BCORL1 and PCGF1, a core component of PRC1.1. The crystal structure of the KDM2B/SKP1/BCORL1/PCGF1 complex illustrates the crucial role played by the PCGF1/BCORL1 heterodimer. The BCORL1 PUFD domain positions residues preceding the RAWUL domain of PCGF1 to create an extended interface for interaction with KDM2B, which is unique to the PCGF1-containing PRC1.1 complex. The structure also suggests how KDM2B might simultaneously function in PRC1.1 and an SCF ubiquitin ligase complex and the possible molecular consequences of BCOR PUFD internal tandem duplications found in pediatric kidney and brain tumors.
Deacetylation by SIRT3 Relieves Inhibition of Mitochondrial Protein Function

Lysine acetylation is a chemical modification occurring on cellular proteins that plays important roles in protein regulation. In mitochondria, protein acetylation is regulated by the sirtuin SIRT3, which has been reported to control several metabolic pathways. While the functional relevance of protein acetylation is likely specific for proteins in different pathways, a picture is emerging for mitochondrial protein acetylation to be an important regulator of enzymatic activity. In this review, we integrate qualitative and quantitative proteomic acetylation studies and put forward the hypothesis that acetylation suppresses enzymatic activity, and that SIRT3 serves to relieve the suppression. We discuss the possible mechanisms of suppression, and the future studies needed to fully understand the biological role of acetylation and its regulation by the sirtuins.
Biometric Tracking From Professional Athletes to Consumers.

Due to their obligation to disclose personal health information to their employer, including data from biometric tracking devices, professional athletes represent a special case. However, these ath...
“Coerced Loss and Ambivalent Preservation”: Racial Melancholia in American Born Chinese

Recent applications of Freud's theory examine the social value of the lost love object as a way of understanding the suffering of non-majority groups. Rather than pathologizing the individual suffering the loss, the lens of racial melancholia pathologizes the discourse that constitutes racially marked others as alien to the majority. Through a close reading of image and text, Sophia Tatiana Sarigianides applies David Eng and Shinhee Han's theory of racial melancholia to Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel American Born Chinese. Sarigianides argues that texts such as American Born Chinese provide grounds for a public language for examining the suffering that ensues from the failure of assimilation as a desired outcome for immigrants in the United States.
Abstract 206: Intramyocardial Lipid Dysregulation in End Stage Heart Failure

Background: Advanced heart failure (HF) is characterized by metabolic abnormalities but studies conflict about the nature of these defects. Methods: We investigated the presence or absence of toxic intramyocardial lipid species using carefully procured human myocardium from lean, non-diabetic end-stage heart failure patients. Left ventricular myocardial samples were obtained at the time of heart transplant. Cases included idiopathic dilated (n=5) and ischemic (n=2) cardiomyopathy (n=7), and brain-dead organ donors without any history of heart failure (n=12). The failing hearts were examined before and after support with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD, n=7). Frozen samples were evaluated by liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to identify lipid species and further quantitate their abundance. Samples for LC-HRMS were prepared using the Folch extraction method, and the samples were normalized to protein concentration via BCA protein assay. We selected for masses with p-values less than or equal to (p= .005) and a fold change greater than or equal to 2.5 Results: Diacylglycerols (DAGs), ceramides, sphingosines, and cardiolipins (CLs) were lower in failing samples than in non failing. The figure below for L-Palmitoylcarnitine is representative of the quantitative changes in lipids observed between failing and non-failing groups. Conclusion: Excess intramycellular lipid accumulation is not present in advanced heart failure. A significant deficiency in cardiac lipid species has been identified in end stage non-diabetic heart failure. Future studies in diabetic and obese patients with advanced heart failure are warranted. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Proposed revisions of the Statutes of the International Committee of Systematics of Prokaryotes.

The following revisions of the Statutes (Labeda D, Whitman WB. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015;65:1093–1100) are proposed by the Executive Board of the International Committee of Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) to eliminate some internal inconsistencies and address other issues as discussed below. Comments may be sent to the Secretary of the ICSP, Lenie Dijkshoom at L.Dijkshoom@lumc.nl for distribution to the delegates at the Plenary Meeting in Valencia, Spain, on July 7–9, 2017.