Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-pressure low-symmetry phases of cesium halides.

The relative stability of different high-pressure phases of various Cesium Halides is studied from first principles and analyzed using the Landau theory of phase transitions. We present results for CsI, CsBr, and CsCl up to pressures of about 100 GPa. A cubic-to-orthorhombic transition, driven by the softening of an acoustic phonon at the M point of the Brillouin zone, is competing with the cubic-to-tetragonal martensitic transition typical of these compounds. The phonon softening takes place only in CsI and CsBr at a residual volume of 0.64, 0.52 respectively. A cubic-to-tetragonal instability is found instead to occur at 0.54 for all the compounds considered here. The orthorhombic phase is stable only in CsI, whereas it is taken over by the tetragonal one in the case of CsBr. Our analysis reveals the essential role played by the phonon-strain coupling in stabilizing the orthorhombic phase and in making the corresponding transition first-order.
Knowledge gaps that hamper prevention and control of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection

In the last decades, many regional and country-wide control programmes for Johne's disease (JD) were developed due to associated economic losses, or because of a possible association with Crohn's disease. These control programmes were often not successful, partly because management protocols were not followed, including the introduction of infected replacement cattle, because tests to identify infected animals were unreliable, and uptake by farmers was not high enough because of a perceived low return on investment. In the absence of a cure or effective commercial vaccines, control of JD is currently primarily based on herd management strategies to avoid infection of cattle and restrict within-farm and farm-to-farm transmission. Although JD control programmes have been implemented in most developed countries, lessons learned from JD prevention and control programmes are underreported. Also, JD control programmes are typically evaluated in a limited number of herds and the duration of the study is less than 5 year, making it difficult to adequately assess the efficacy of control programmes. In this manuscript, we identify the most important gaps in knowledge hampering JD prevention and control programmes, including vaccination and diagnostics. Secondly, we discuss directions that research should take to address those knowledge gaps.
Evoked noradrenaline release in the rabbit ear artery: enhancement by purines, attenuation by neuropeptide Y and lack of effect of calcitonin gene‐related peptide

1 Adenosine (30 μm) and its analogues 5′‐N‐ethylcarboxaminoadenosine (5 and 30 μm) and l‐phenylisopropyladenosine (5 and 30 μm), potentiated the evoked but not spontaneous release of tritiated noradrenaline in the rabbit central ear artery. 2 Prejunctional inhibition of the evoked but not spontaneous release of tritiated noradrenaline by 100 nm neuropeptide Y is greater at 2 min than at 10 min after superfusion of the peptide. 3 Calcitonin gene‐related peptide (2.63 to 263 nm) did not affect the evoked or spontaneous release of tritiated noradrenaline in this preparation. 4 These results are discussed in terms of prejunctional modulation of sympathetic transmission in the rabbit central ear artery.
Access, Relevance, and Control in the Research Process

Objective:To illustrate successful strategies in working with American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) communities in aging and health research by emphasizing access, local relevance, and decision-making processes. Methods:Case examples of health studies involving older AIs (≥50 years) among Eastern Band Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized reservation; the Cherokee Nation, a rural, nonreservation, tribal jurisdictional service area; and Lakota tribal members living in Rapid City, South Dakota. Results: Local reviewand decision making reflect the unique legal and historical factors underpinning AI sovereignty. Although specific approval procedures vary, there are common expectations across these communities that can be anticipated in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing health research among native elders. Conclusions:Most investigators are unprepared to address the demands of health research in AI communities. Community-based participatory research in this setting conflicts with investigators’ desire for academic freedom and scientific independence. Successful collaboration promises to enhance research efficiencies and move findings more quickly to clinical practice.
Hidden process detection using kernel functions instrumentation

Process hiding is a common attack used by long-lived malicious processes to conceal their presence from security and administration tools. Multiple techniques based on Virtual Machine Introspection (VMI) were proposed to detect the presence of hidden running process in virtual machines. However, existing techniques are not practical for real world cloud environments as they suffer from evasion attacks or use manually provided and too OS-specific information. In this paper we present HPD, a VMI-based Hidden Process Detector that instruments guest OS kernel functions to automatically and reliably detect and terminate execution of hidden processes. We designed and implemented a prototype of HPD on KVM hypervisor. Its evaluation on multiple Linux kernels shows that from the hypervisor level, HPD detects successfully the presence of hidden running processes and safely terminate their execution.
DNA from rejecting allografts can be detected in recipient nonlymphoid tissues.

The main source of donor DNA in recipients of allograft are "passenger" cells. They are claimed to be responsible for the posttransplantation microchimerism and prolongation of allograft survival. We have noticed that beside of the cellular microchimerism, donor DNA can be found in the recipient tissues at the time of rejection of allograft. In this study we provide evidence for presence in the recipient of both, DNA in "passenger cells" and free DNA in tissues at terminal stage of rejection. Male BN (RTIn) rat heart or skin were transplanted to female LEW (RTII) rats followed by a vascularized bone marrow in hind-limb transplant. CsA was given in a dose of 17mg/kg b.w. for 30 days, then rats were followed until day 100 unless rejection occurred earlier. LEW blood, spleen, mesenteric node and bone marrow cells were stained with moAb OX27 specific for BN but not LEW. Genomic male DNA was isolated and amplified with SRY oligonucleotide. At day 30 and 100 cellular microchimerism was detected in blood, spleen, nodes and bone marrow cells. Donor DNA was detected in recipient skin, liver and heart extracts, beside of lymphoid organs, at the time of rejection of allograft but not when rats were maintained on CsA. Taken together, donor DNA can be detected in recipient tissues at the time of heart or skin rejection. It seems to be released from cells of rejecting grafts and not from "passenger" cells representing only a minor cellular mass compared with the graft.
Pattern recognition using N-input neuron circuits based on floating gate MOS transistors

In this paper, a neural network hardware implementation of pattern recognition using n-input neuron circuits is presented. Floating-gate MOS (FGMOS) based neuron model using four-quadrant analog multiplier with rail-to-rail linear input and FGMOS based differential comparator has been designed and simulated in HSPICE environment. Using the proposed low voltage neuron circuits a neural network was realized. Iris plant data set, which is one of the most well-known pattern recognition databases, was applied to test accuracy of the network.
The MEK/MAPK pathway is involved in the resistance of breast cancer cells to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib

We investigated the role of the MEK/MAPK pathway in the sensitivity/resistance of breast carcinoma cells to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib (IRESSA). We assessed the effects of gefitinib on the growth of three breast cancer cell lines that showed high (SK‐Br‐3; IC50 4 µM), intermediate (MDA‐MB‐361; IC50 5.3 µM), and low (MDA‐MB‐468; IC50 6.8 µM) sensitivity to the drug. Although treatment with gefitinib inhibited EGFR activation in the three cell lines in a similar fashion, significant reduction of both p42/p44‐MAPK and AKT phosphorylation was observed in SK‐Br‐3 and MDA‐MB‐361, but not in MDA‐MB‐468 cells. The growth of MDA‐MB‐468 cells was significantly inhibited by treatment with either the PI3K‐inhibitor LY294002 or the MEK‐inhibitor PD98059. In agreement with these findings, treatment of MDA‐MB‐468 cells with a combination of PD98059 and gefitinib produced a synergistic anti‐tumor effect, whereas this combination was only additive in SK‐Br‐3 and MDA‐MB‐361 cells. The combination of gefitinib and PD98059 also produced a significant increase in the levels of apoptosis in MDA‐MB‐468 cells as compared with treatment with a single agent. This phenomenon was associated with a profound decrease in MAPK activation, reduction of BAD (ser112) phosphorylation and a paradoxical increase in the levels of AKT activation. Finally, overexpression of a constitutively activated form of p42‐MAPK in MCF‐10A non‐transformed human mammary epithelial cells resulted in a two‐ to three‐fold increase in the IC50 to gefitinib. Taken together, these data strongly support the role of the MEK/MAPK pathway in the resistance to gefitinib, and provide the rationale for novel therapeutic approaches based on combinations of signal transduction inhibitors. J. Cell. Physiol. 207: 420–427, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bishops on birth control: a chronicle of obstruction.

The Catholic Church historically has obstructed birth control by various means, e.g., encyclicals, the posturing of the US Catholic Conference and state Catholic organizations, and by bishops and upper hierarchy in the church. The desire is to see the law reflect the Catholic teaching that sexual intercourse is permitted only within 1 marriage, and no sex act may include an attempt to prevent conception. The activities undertaken by the Catholic Church between 1920-86 to ban contraception are discussed. It is anticipated that the expected papal encyclical will only reiterate more harshly and loudly this ban, and the result will be a further rift between Catholic behavior and Catholic policy. In addition, if the bishop's would support a sensible and realistic policy approach to reproductive health, it is possible that unintended pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases would be reduced. Instead the bishops are part of the problem. For example, the following actions are noteworthy examples. 1) In 1921 the New York Archbishop and his secretary contacted the police in advance of Margaret Sanger's proposed speech to publicly discuss the morality of birth control, and the arrest was made. 2) In Massachusetts the church campaigned in the 1930s-40s to prevent repeal of state laws which barred dissemination of birth control information. 3) The Archdiocese of Hartford legal counsel led successful opposition to ease restrictions on birth control between 1941-654. 4) The church fought against soldiers' use of condoms in World War II. 5) The National Catholic Welfare Council in 1942 attached Planned Parenthood (PP) as packaging passion. 6) Catholic charities blocked funding for PP and dismissed Catholic doctors affiliated with PP. Nonetheless, by 1972 91% of Catholics used illicit contraceptive methods. Church policy turned to public opposition of publicly funded family planning. Title X of the Public Health Service Act passed despite opposition, but the 1991-92 bishop's legislative agenda includes opposition to reauthorization of Title X and school-based clinics and RU-486 or abortifacients. Contraceptive research funding has been opposed for many years, with the result that only 1 remaining drug company conducts new contraceptive research and Title X programs are underfunded objections pointed out were that natural family planning method improvements were excluded as well as reproductive biology.
Visually integrating databases at conceptual level

We present the Conceptual Data Integration Language (CoDIL), a visual language capable of turning the data integration process into a conceptual level activity on source data. In particular, CoDIL provides icon operators that are applicable to constructs of conceptual data models, specifying how to merge and map them onto constructs of a reconciled conceptual schema.
THE PPAR&ggr; LIGAND 15d-PGJ2 MODULATES MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION AFTER INJURY IN A MURINE TRAUMA MODEL

In macrophages, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor &ggr; (PPAR&ggr;) has been shown to be important for differentiation, and it serves as a negative regulator of activation. Major trauma/injury causes a dramatic host response that disrupts cellular immune homeostasis and initiates an inflammatory cascade that predisposes the injured host to subsequent infections. In prior studies using a murine trauma model consisting of femur fracture and hemorrhage, splenic macrophages from traumatized mice had significantly enhanced LPS-induced cyclooxygenase enzyme (subtype 2) and iNOS production as well as elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines at 1 week after injury compared with uninjured controls. These up-regulated cellular responses corresponded to increased mortality when animals were challenged with LPS or Candida. In the current study, we used the injury model to determine the effect of treatment of injured mice with the endogenous PPAR&ggr; ligand 15-deoxy-&Dgr; 12-,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2). It was found that in vivo 15d-PGJ2 treatment significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory mediators produced by splenic macrophages 7 days after injury. The mechanism of inhibition is dependent on PPAR&ggr; because concomitant treatment of animals with the PPAR&ggr; antagonist GW9662 reversed the inhibitory effect of 15d-PGJ2. Endogenous PPAR&ggr; modulated activation of LPS-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Furthermore, treatment of injured mice with 15d-PGJ2 conferred a significant survival advantage after infectious challenge induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Thus, this PPAR&ggr; ligands significantly attenuate the postinjury inflammatory response and improve survival after infectious challenge.
Routine Acid Decalcification of Bone Marrow Samples Can Preserve DNA for FISH and CGH Studies in Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Production of paraffin-section material from tissue samples that contain bone requires decalcification. Techniques such as acidic decalcification or EDTA chelation are suitable methods. Acid decalcification is generally quicker than EDTA chelation but studies have suggested that it may result in hydrolysis of DNA. Here we show that limited acid decalcification (less than 24 hr) in 5% formic acid can preserve DNA sufficient for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and that prolonged 10% formic acid decalcification results in failure of FISH and only limited retrieval of DNA for CGH studies.
The dark side of technologies: technostress among users of information and communication technologies.

This paper tests the structure and the predictors of two psychological experiences of technostress associated with the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), i.e., technostrain (users report feelings of anxiety, fatigue, scepticism and inefficacy beliefs related to the use of technologies) and technoaddiction (users feel bad due to an excessive and compulsive use of these technologies). The study included a sample of 1072 ICT users (N = 675 nonintensive ICT users and N = 397 intensive ICT users). Results from multigroup confirmatory factor analyses among non-intensive and intensive ICT users showed, as expected, the four-factor structure of technostrain in both samples. Secondly, and also as expected, confirmatory factorial analyses revealed that technostress experiences are characterized not only by technostrain but also by an excessive and compulsive use of ICT. Moreover, multiple analyses of variance showed significant differences between non-intensive and intensive ICT users (1) in the dimensions of technostress and (2) in specific job demands and job/personal resources. Finally, linear multiple regression analyses revealed that technostrain is positively predicted by work overload, role ambiguity, emotional overload, mobbing and obstacles hindering ICT use, as well as by lack of autonomy, transformational leadership, social support, ICT use facilitators and mental competences. Work overload, role ambiguity and mobbing, as well as the lack of emotional competences, positively predict technoaddiction. Theoretical and practical implications, in addition to future research, are discussed.
Localized 7Li MR spectroscopy and spin relaxation in rat brain in vivo

Localized 7Li MR point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) was developed as a technique to measure lithium (Li) concentration in rat brain in vivo. Localized 7Li spectra could be obtained at 4.7 T in a 0.7‐ml voxel in rat brain over the entire therapeutic range of serum Li for humans. Localized 7Li spin‐lattice (T1) and spin–spin (T2) relaxation times were measured. Measured intensities were corrected for spin relaxation effects and 7Li MR visibility in vivo. The average T1 was 3.3 ± 0.9 sec, and the average T2 was 82 ± 20 ms. Neither T1 nor T2 correlated with brain concentration. No statistically significant change was found in either T1 or T2 from ∼7–17 days of Li dosing. Magn Reson Med 52:164–168, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HDAC2 controls IgM H‐ and L‐chain gene expressions via EBF1, Pax5, Ikaros, Aiolos and E2A gene expressions

We previously reported that histone deacetylase‐2 (HDAC2) controls the amount of IgM H‐chain at the steps of transcription of its gene and alternative processing of its pre‐mRNA in DT40 cells. Here, we showed not only that the HDAC2‐deficiency caused repressions of gene expressions for HDAC7, EBF1, Pax5, Aiolos and Ikaros, and elevations of gene expressions for HDAC4, HDAC5, PCAF and E2A, but also that it caused altered acetylation levels of several Lys residues of core histones. Using gene targeting techniques, we generated three homozygous DT40 mutants: EBF1−/–, Aiolos−/– and E2A−/–, devoid of EBF1, Aiolos and E2A genes, respectively. Semiquantitative RT‐PCR analysis of the resultant mutants revealed not only that EBF1 and Aiolos down‐regulate expressions of IgM H‐ and L‐chain genes, but also that E2A up‐regulates expressions of these two genes. These results, together with others, indicate that HDAC2 controls indirectly expressions of IgM H‐ and L‐chain genes through opposite transcriptional regulations of EBF1, Pax5, Aiolos plus Ikaros and E2A genes.
Composition and metabolism of the apolipoproteins of pulmonary surfactant.

It seems difficult to believe, in light of to day's sophisticated morphology, that as recently as 40 years ago pulmonary biologists still thought it possible that gas exchange might occur across capillaries that were directly exposed to the alveolar air (30). With the development of a more realistic viewpoint of alveolar morphology, encompassing an alveolar epithelium with an overlying fluid layer, much older questions (47) concerning the stability of air spaces received renewed interest. Macklin (33), Pattie (37), Clements (9), and Mead (36) and their collaborators asked how it was possible that alveoli were able to resist the collapsing forces that would result from the surface tension of the alveolar air-liquid interface. Pattle and Clements provided partial answers to these questions through their isolation and characterization of a material se­ creted by alveolar epithelial type II cells, which they then showed to be capable of lowering surface tension to values less than had ever been observed for a biological substance, This material is now generally referred to as pulmonary surfactant. When isolated from alveolar lavage fluid it has been found to be comprised of several lipids, specific apolipoproteins, and carbohydrates (20). The structure is complex and poorly understood (48). This paper will review information related to the composition and metabo­ lism of this material, focusing on the newer results that are pertinent. Studies on the physicochemical properties and physiological functions of surfactant
Frequency-tunable mobile phone antennas with matching circuits

Cognitive Radio systems require antennas and microwave components to be actively tuned for different parts of the frequency spectrum. In this paper results of a study of two antenna tuning techniques are presented. The first antenna is a dual-port antenna which is comprised of two capacitive-fed plates sharing one lower-band patch, operating at 5 mobile phone bands (GSM850/900/1800/1900/UMTS). The third port incorporating matching circuits will also be presented covering 2400–3600MHz, and at the same time, to obtain acceptable mutual couplings between ports with a low profile. The second antenna is a compact single-port PIFA antenna with a tunable matching network integrated into the feed line, enabling the impedance bandwidth to gradually operate at the DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting — Handheld) band 470–702MHz.
Comparison of current controllers based on repetitive-based control and second order generalized integrators for active power filters

In this paper, two current controller schemes, based on repetitive controllers and proportional+resonant controllers using second order generalized integrators connected in parallel, are proposed and compared for shunt active power filters. Both controllers are well suited due to their optimum tracking and harmonic rejection capability. The objectives of this paper are: to analyze both controllers in the continuous and discrete time-domains; to study how to tune the parameters of the controllers and other auxiliary elements like PI controller in the case of repetitive-based controller; to show questions related to real-time implementation for the two cases; and, finally, to present some experimental and comparative results.
Comparison of single-sensor current control in the DC link for three-phase voltage-source PWM converters

This paper presents a technique for reconstructing converter line currents using the information from a single current sensor in the DC link of a converter and comparative evaluation of the performance of single sensor control techniques in the DC link for voltage-source pulsewidth modulation (V-S PWM) converters. When 3/spl phi/ input currents cannot be reconstructed, three methods to acquire the DC-link current are compared. Two of them are methods of modifying the switching state (I, II), and another is a method of using the predictive state observer. Also, compensation of sampling delay, and a simultaneous sample value of input currents in the center of a switching period are included. Suitable criteria for the comparison are identified, and the differences in the performance of these methods are investigated through experimental results for a typical V-S PWM converter rated at 10 kVA.