bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SOME GLOBAL ASPECTS OF GAUGE ANOMALIES OF SEMISIMPLE GAUGE GROUPS AND FERMION GENERATIONS IN GUT AND SUPERSTRING THEORIES
Authors: ZHANG HUAZHONG
Published: March 2006

We study more extensively and completely for global gauge anomalies with some semisimple gauge groups as initiated in Ref. 1. A detailed and complete proof or derivation is provided for the Z2 global (nonperturbative) gauge anomaly given in Ref. 1 for a gauge theory with the semisimple gauge group SU (2) × SU (2) × SU (2) in D = 4 dimensions and Weyl fermions in the irreducible representation (IR) ω = (2, 2, 2) with 2 denoting the corresponding dimensions. This Z2 anomaly was used in the discussions related to all the generic SO (10) and supersymmetric SO (10) unification theories1 for the total generation numbers of fermions and mirror fermions. Our result1 shows that the global anomaly coefficient formula is given by A(ω) = exp [iπQ2(□)] = -1 in this case with Q2(□) being the Dynkin index for SU (8) in the fundamental IR (□) = (8) and that the corresponding gauge transformations need to be topologically nontrivial simultaneously in all the three SU (2) factors for the homotopy group Π4( SU (2) × SU (2) × SU (2))is also discussed, and as shown by the results1 the semisimple gauge transformations collectively may have physical consequences which do not correspond to successive simple gauge transformations. The similar result given in Ref. 1 for the Z2 global gauge anomaly of gauge group SU (2) × SU (2) with Weyl fermions in the IR ω = (2, 2) with 2 denoting the corresponding dimensions is also discussed with proof similar to the case of SU (2) × SU (2) × SU (2). We also give a complete proof for some relevant topological results. We expect that our results and discussions may also be useful in more general studies related to global aspects of gauge theories. Gauge anomalies for the relevant semisimple gauge groups are also briefly discussed in higher dimensions, especially for self-contragredient representations, with discussions involving trace identities relating to Ref. 15. We also relate the discussions to our results and propositions in our previous studies of global gauge anomalies. We also remark the connection of our results and discussions to the total generation numbers in relevant theories.
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Cd-SUBSTITUTED COPPER FERRITES
Authors: MISBAH-UL-ISLAM  , ABBAS T. , RANA M. U.
Published: March 2006

Magnetism in Cu 1-x Cd x Fe 2 O 4 ferrites (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) was measured using an ac susceptibility technique and the vibrating sample magnetometer. The orientation of spins at octahedral and tetrahedral sites and Y–K angles have been measured. For samples having x = 0.0, 0.1 and 0.2, the Y–K angle is measured to be zero and the samples follow Neel's collinear model. For samples having x=0.2 a triangular spin arrangement on B-sites weaken the AB-interaction. Magnetic behaviour of these ferrite is predicted on the basis of the abovementioned observations.
QUANTUM PHASE EXCITATIONS IN GINZBURG–LANDAU SUPERCONDUCTORS
Authors: DI GREZIA ELISABETTA , ESPOSITO SALVATORE , NADDEO ADELE
Published: March 2006

We give a straightforward generalization of the Ginzburg–Landau theory for superconductors where the scalar phase field is replaced by an antisymmetric Kalb–Ramond field. We predict that at very low temperatures, where quantum phase effects are expected to play a significant role, the presence of vortices destroys superconductivity. A physical scenario behind the model proposed, which can be directly tested by experiments, is envisaged.
ELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF OXYGEN CONTROLLED MELT GROWTH PROCESSED NEG-123 HTSC MATERIALS
Authors: NEELESHWAR S. , MURALIDHAR M. , MURAKAMI M. , VENUGOPAL REDDY P.
Published: March 2006

A series of superconducting materials having compositional formula, ( Nd - Eu - Gd )- Ba - Cu - O (123) + x%( Nd - Eu - Gd ) Ba - Cu - O (211) or NEG-123 + NEG-211 (where x ranges from 0–50%) were prepared by the Oxygen Controlled Melt Growth (OCMG) process. After characterizing the materials by studying their microstructure, measuring Jc and Tc values, the ultrasonic longitudinal velocity (Vl) measurements were carried out both as a function of composition (x% of 211 phase) as well as the temperature, over a temperature range 80–300 K. It has been found that the variation of ultrasonic longitudinal velocity is similar to that of Jc with increasing x values (concentration of NEG-211). These results indicate that by dispersing 40% fine NEG-211 particles in the superconducting matrix of NEG-123, both the critical current densities as well as the ultrasonic velocity values are found to exhibit highest values. It is known that the lattice defects of ceramic superconductors are manifested in the form of elastic anomalies, especially in the normal temperature region (100–250 K). In order to understand the complete scenario of elastic anomalies of HTSC materials, a systematic investigation of the ultrasonic velocities of HTSC materials prepared by the OCMG technique has been undertaken and using the results an attempt has been made to generalize the scenario of the elastic anomalies in HTSC materials.
INFLUENCE OF ILLUMINATION CONDITIONS ON THE MEASUREMENT OF OPTICAL TWEEZERS SYSTEM
Authors: JIANG YUQIANG , GUO HONGLIAN , LIU CHUNXIANG , LI ZHAOLI , CHENG BINGYING , ZHANG DAOZHONG , JIA SUOTANG
Published: March 2006

In an optical tweezers system, the output signal of a photodiode quadrant detector and the temperature in a sample cell are two key factors for the quantitative measurements of mechanical properties of living biological objects such as cells, organelles and macro-molecules. In order to enhance the output of a quadrant detector and effectively control the temperature in a sample cell, the dependence of the temperature in the sample cell and the output of the quadrant detector for different illumination conditions are studied. The results show that appropriate illumination conditions can ensure both nearly constant temperatures in the cell and the desired output signal, which provides for the possibility of high precision and damage-free analysis of living biological objects.
EUCLIDEAN RESONANCE: APPLICATION TO PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL EXPERIMENTS
Authors: IVLEV B.
Published: March 2006

The phenomenon of Euclidean resonance (a strong enhancement of quantum tunneling through a nonstationary potential barrier) is applied to disintegration of atoms and molecules through tunnel barriers formed by applied constant and time-dependent electric fields. There are two different channels for such disintegration, electronic and ionic. The electronic mechanism is associated with the ionization of a molecule into an electron and a positive ion. The required frequencies are in a wide range between 100 MHZ and infrared. This mechanism may constitute a method of selective destruction of chemical bonds. The ionic mechanism consists of dissociation of a molecule into two ions. Since an ion is more massive than an electron, the necessary frequency is about 1 MHZ. This provides a theoretical possibility of a different method of isotope separation by radio frequency waves. The small sub-barrier tunneling probability of nuclear processes can be dramatically enhanced by collision with incident charged particles. Semiclassical methods of theory of complex trajectories have been applied to nuclear tunneling, and conditions for the effect have been obtained. The enhancement of α particle decay by incident proton with energy of about 0.25 MeV has been demonstrated. The general features of this process are common for other sub-barrier nuclear processes and can be applied to nuclear fission.
VISUALIZING THE EVOLUTION OF SOFTWARE USING SOFTCHANGE
Authors: GERMAN DANIEL M. , HINDLE ABRAM
Published: March 2006

A typical software development team leaves behind a large amount of information. This information takes different forms, such as mail messages, software releases, version control logs, defect reports, etc. softChange is a tool that retrieves this information, analyses and enhances it by finding new relationships amongst it, and then allows users to navigate and visualize this information. The main objective of softChange it to help programmers, their management and software evolution researchers in understanding how a software product has evolved since its conception.
DETECTING NOISY INSTANCES WITH THE ENSEMBLE FILTER: A STUDY IN SOFTWARE QUALITY ESTIMATION
Authors: KHOSHGOFTAAR TAGHI M. , JOSHI VEDANG , SELIYA NAEEM
Published: March 2006

The performance of a classification model is invariably affected by the characteristics of the measurement data it is built upon. If the quality of the data is generally poor, then the classification model will demonstrate poor performance. The detection and removal of noisy instances will improve quality of the data, and consequently, the performance of the classification model. We investigate a noise handling technique that attempts to improve the quality of datasets for classification purposes by eliminating instances that are likely to be noise. Our approach uses twenty five different classification techniques to create an ensemble filter for eliminating likely noise. The basic assumption is that if a given majority of classifiers in the ensemble misclassify an instance, then it is likely to be a noisy instance. Using a relatively large number of base-level classifiers in the ensemble filter facilitates in achieving the desired level of noise removal conservativeness with several possible levels of filtering. It also provides a higher degree of confidence in the noise elimination procedure as the results are less likely to get influenced by (possibly) inappropriate learning bias of a few algorithms with twenty five base-level classifiers than with relatively smaller number of base-level classifiers. Empirical case studies of two high assurance software projects demonstrates the effectiveness of our noise elimination approach by the significant improvement achieved in classification accuracies at various levels of noise filtering.
ANALYSIS OF META-PROGRAMS: AN EXAMPLE
Authors: JARZABEK STAN , ZHANG HONGYU , RU SHEN , LAM VU TUNG , SUN ZHENXIN
Published: March 2006

Meta-programs are generic, incomplete, adaptable programs that are instantiated at construction time to meet specific requirements. Templates and generative techniques are examples of meta-programming techniques. Understanding of meta-programs is more difficult than understanding of concrete, executable programs. Static and dynamic analysis methods have been applied to ease understanding of programs — can similar methods be used for meta-programs? In our projects, we build meta-programs with a meta-programming technique called XVCL. Meta-programs in XVCL are organized into a hierarchy of meta-components from which the XVCL processor generates concrete, executable programs that meet specific requirements. We developed an automated system that analyzes XVCL meta-programs, and presents developers with information that helps them work with meta-programs more effectively. Our system conducts both static and dynamic analysis of a meta-program. An integral part of our solution is a query language, FQL in which we formulate questions about meta-program properties. An FQL query processor automatically answers a class of queries. The analysis method described in the paper is specific to XVCL. However, the principle of our approach can be applied to other meta-programming systems. We believe readers interested in meta-programming in general will find some of the lessons from our experiment interesting and useful.
LEVEL-WISE CONSTRUCTION OF DECISION TREES FOR CLASSIFICATION
Authors: ZHAO YAN , YAO YIYU , YAO JINGTAO
Published: March 2006

A partition-based framework is presented for a formal study of classification problems. An information table is used as a knowledge representation, in which all basic notions are precisely defined by using a language known as the decision logic language. Solutions to, and solution space of, classification problems are formulated in terms of partitions. Algorithms for finding solutions are modelled as searching in a space of partitions under the refinement order relation. We focus on a particular type of solutions called conjunctively definable partitions. Two level-wise methods for decision tree construction are investigated, which are related to two different strategies: local optimization and global optimization. They are not in competition with, but are complementary to each other. Experimental results are reported to evaluate the two methods.
UNDERSTANDING THE EVOLUTION AND CO-EVOLUTION OF CLASSES IN OBJECT-ORIENTED SYSTEMS
Authors: XING ZHENCHANG , STROULIA ELENI
Published: March 2006

As software systems evolve over a long time, non-trivial and often unintended relationships among system classes arise, which cannot be easily perceived through source-code reading. As a result, the developers' understanding of continuously evolving, large, long-lived systems deteriorates steadily. A most interesting relationship is class co-evolution: because of implicit design dependencies clusters of classes change in "parallel" ways and recognizing such co-evolution is crucial in effectively extending and maintaining the system. In this paper, we propose a data-mining method for recovering "hidden" co-evolutions of system classes. This method relies on our UML-aware structural differencing algorithm, UMLDiff, which, given a sequence of UML class models of an object-oriented software system, produces a sequence of "change records" that describe the design-level changes over its life span. The change records are analyzed from the perspective of each individual system class to extract "class change profiles". Each phase of a class change profile is then discretized and classified into one of two general change types: function extension or refactoring. Finally, the Apriori association-rule mining algorithm is applied to the database of categorical class change profiles, to elicit co-evolution patterns among two or more classes, which may be as yet undocumented and unknown. The recovered knowledge facilitates the overall understanding of system evolution and the planning of future maintenance activities. We report on one real world case study evaluating our approach.
The Impact of Introduction of QFIIs Trading on the Lead and Volatility Behavior: Evidence for Taiwan Index Futures Market
Authors: Kuo Wen-Hsiu , Chan Shih-Ju
Published: March 2006

This paper investigates whether the introduction of trading by qualified foreign institutional investors (QFIIs) has impacted the lead and volatility behavior of the futures market when the macroeconomic effects and some major economic events are controlled. First, we detect that some market inefficiency exists in Taiwan index futures market. Second, the evidence shows a strengthening in the lead of index futures over index spot markets following the introduction of trading by QFIIs. Third, we find evidence of an increase in the level of futures market volatility, implying that the quantity of information flowing into the futures market increases following the onset of trading by QFIIs. Finally, the asymmetries do not reduce after the opening up of the futures market to QFIIs. This finding is inconsistent with the view that the introduction of informed foreign investors may improve the reliability and quality of information and mitigate the effect of noise traders on market volatility.
Fundamental Value Hypothesis and Return Behavior: Evidence from Emerging Equity Markets
Authors: Jirasakuldech Benjamas , Emekter Riza , Went Peter
Published: March 2006

This study examines the return behavior of 15 emerging equity markets for persistent deviations from the fundamental value hypothesis. The duration dependence test shows that rational expectations bubble do not cause deviations from fundamental value in any of the markets. Markov chain test results imply that markets in China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore deviate from their fundamental values due to non-random price changes. A price decrease is more likely to follow two periods of price decrease in these four equity markets. Finally, time reversibility test reveals that all equity markets, except for Jordan and Egypt, exhibit asymmetrical price patterns, suggesting departures from fundamental values.
Mechanism of rat mesenteric arterial KATP channel activation by 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid
Authors: Ye Dan , Zhou Wei , Lu Tong , Jagadeesh Setti G. , Falck John R. , Lee Hon-Chi
Published: March 2006

Recently, we reported that 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) potently activates rat mesenteric arterial ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels and produces significant vasodilation through protein kinase A-dependent mechanisms. In this study, we tried to further delineate the signaling steps involved in the activation of vascular KATP channels by EETs. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings [0.1 mM ATP in the pipette, holding potential (HP) = 0 mV and testing potential (TP) = −100 mV] in freshly isolated rat mesenteric smooth muscle cells showed small glibenclamide-sensitive KATP currents (19.0 ± 7.9 pA, n = 5) that increased 6.9-fold on exposure to 5 μM 14,15-EET (132.0 ± 29.0 pA, n = 7, P < 0.05 vs. control). With 1 mM ATP in the pipette solution, KATP currents (HP = 0 mV and TP = −100 mV) were increased 3.5-fold on exposure to 1 μM 14,15-EET (57.5 ± 14.3 pA, n = 9, P < 0.05 vs. baseline). In the presence of 100 nM iberiotoxin, 1 μM 14,15-EET hyperpolarized the membrane potential from −20.5 ± 0.9 mV at baseline to −27.1 ± 3.0 mV ( n = 6 for both, P < 0.05 vs. baseline), and the EET effects were significantly reversed by 10 μM glibenclamide (−21.8 ± 1.4 mV, n = 6, P < 0.05 vs. EET). Incubation with 5 μM 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5( Z)-enoic acid (14,15-EEZE), a 14,15-EET antagonist, abolished the 14,15-EET effects (31.0 ± 11.8 pA, n = 5, P < 0.05 vs. 14,15-EET, P = not significant vs. control). The 14,15-EET effects were inhibited by inclusion of anti-Gsα antibody (1:500 dilution) but not by control IgG in the pipette solution. The effects of 14,15-EET were mimicked by cholera toxin (100 ng/ml), an exogenous ADP-ribosyltransferase. Treatment with the ADP-ribosyltransferase inhibitors 3-aminobenzamide (1 mM) or m-iodobenzylguanidine (100 μM) abrogated the effects of 14,15-EET on KATP currents. These results were corroborated by vasodilation studies. 14,15-EET dose-dependently dilated isolated small mesenteric arteries, and this was significantly attenuated by treatment with 14,15-EEZE or 3-aminobenzamide. These results suggest that 14,15-EET activates vascular KATP channels through ADP-ribosylation of Gsα.
Renal function of gene-targeted mice lacking both SGK1 and SGK3
Authors: Grahammer Florian , Artunc Ferruh , Sandulache Diana , Rexhepaj Rexhep , Friedrich Björn , Risler Teut , McCormick James A. , Dawson Kevin , Wang Jian , Pearce David , Wulff Peer , Kuhl Dietmar , Lang Florian
Published: March 2006

Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK) 1 and SGK3 share the ability to upregulate several ion channels, including the epithelial Na+ channel. Whereas SGK1 is under genomic control of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, SGK3 is constitutively expressed. The SKG1-knockout ( sgk1−/−) mouse is seemingly normal when it is fed a standard diet, but its ability to retain NaCl is impaired when it is fed a salt-deficient diet. In the SGK3-knockout ( sgk3−/−) mouse fed standard and salt-deficient diets, hair growth is strikingly delayed but NaCl excretion is normal. Thus the possibility was considered that SGK1 and SGK3 could mutually replace each other, thus preventing severe NaCl loss in sgk1−/− and sgk3−/− mice. We crossed SGK1- and SGK3-knockout mice and compared renal electrolyte excretion of the double mutants ( sgk1−/−/ sgk3−/−) with that of their wild-type littermates ( sgk1+/+/ sgk3+/+). Similar to sgk3−/− mice, the sgk1−/−/ sgk3−/− mice display delayed hair growth. Blood pressure was slightly, but significantly ( P < 0.03), lower in sgk1−/−/ sgk3−/− (102 ± 4 mmHg) than in sgk1+/+/ sgk3+/+ (114 ± 3 mmHg) mice, a difference that was maintained in mice fed low- and high-salt diets. Plasma aldosterone concentrations were significantly ( P < 0.01) higher in sgk1−/−/ sgk3−/− than in sgk1+/+ sgk3+/+ mice fed control (511 ± 143 vs. 143 ± 32 pg/ml) and low-salt (1,325 ± 199 vs. 362 ± 145 pg/ml) diets. During salt depletion, absolute and fractional excretions of Na+ were significantly ( P < 0.01) higher in sgk1−/−/ sgk3−/− (1.2 ± 0.2 μmol/24 h g body wt, 0.12 ± 0.03%) than in sgk1+/+/ sgk3+/+ (0.4 ± 0.1 μmol/24 h g body wt, 0.04 ± 0.01%) mice. The sgk1−/−/ sgk3−/− mice share the delayed hair growth with sgk3−/− mice and the modestly impaired renal salt retention with sgk1−/− mice. Additional lack of the isoform kinase does not substantially compound the phenotype for either property.
Genetic linkage of urinary albumin excretion in Dahl salt-sensitive rats: influence of dietary salt and confirmation using congenic strains
Authors: Garrett Michael R. , Joe Bina , Yerga-Woolwine Shane
Published: March 2006

Previously, we reported a linkage analysis for urinary albumin excretion (UAE) from a backcross population derived from the Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rat and the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) raised on a low-salt diet. The present study sought to examine the effect of salt loading on the observation of UAE quantitative trait loci (QTL) using a F1(S × SHR) × S backcross population ( n = 228) raised on a 2% NaCl diet. Parental strain data demonstrated that S rats have significantly higher blood pressure (BP) and UAE compared with either F1(S × SHR) or SHR at 8 wk of age, and this difference was exacerbated by 12 wk of age in response to a high-salt diet (2% NaCl). Genome scans done at 8, 12, and 16 wk of age yielded eight QTL for UAE. At week 8 (low salt), QTL for UAE were observed on rat chromosomes (RNO) 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 19. Week 8 linkage analysis confirmed previous linkage data and provided a baseline to examine the effect of salt loading at subsequent time points. At weeks 12 and 16 (after salt- loading), QTL for UAE were observed on RNO1, -6, -8, -9, and -13. Surprisingly, UAE QTL were no longer observed on RNO2, -11, and -19 after salt loading, suggesting that these QTL are attenuated by increased salt intake. The effects of UAE QTL on RNO2, -6, -9, -11, and -13 were examined using congenic strains whereby the SHR alleles at each QTL were placed on the S background. These congenic strains demonstrated large and significant effects on UAE compared with the S rat, proving that QTL for UAE reside on these chromosomes.
Low-Density Lipoprotein and High-Density Lipoprotein Particle Subclasses Predict Coronary Events and Are Favorably Changed by Gemfibrozil Therapy in the Veterans Affairs High-Density Lipoprotein Intervention Trial
Authors: Otvos James D. , Collins Dorothea , Freedman David S. , Shalaurova Irina , Schaefer Ernst J. , McNamara Judith R. , Bloomfield Hanna E. , Robins Sander J.
Published: March 2006

Background—

Changes in conventional lipid risk factors with gemfibrozil treatment only partially explain the reductions in coronary heart disease (CHD) events experienced by men in the Veterans Affairs High-Density Lipoprotein Intervention Trial (VA-HIT). We examined whether measurement of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle subclasses provides additional information relative to CHD risk reduction.

Methods and Results—

This is a prospective nested case-control study of 364 men with a new CHD event (nonfatal myocardial infarction or cardiac death) during a 5.1-year (median) follow-up and 697 age-matched controls. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to quantify levels of LDL and HDL particle subclasses and mean particle sizes in plasma obtained at baseline and after 7 months of treatment with gemfibrozil or placebo. Odds ratios for a 1-SD increment of each lipoprotein variable were calculated with adjusted logistic regression models. Gemfibrozil treatment increased LDL size and lowered numbers of LDL particles (−5%) while raising numbers of HDL particles (10%) and small HDL subclass particles (21%). Concentrations of these LDL and HDL particles achieved with gemfibrozil were significant, independent predictors of new CHD events. For total LDL and HDL particles, odds ratios predicting CHD benefit were 1.28 (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.47) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61 to 0.81), respectively. Mean LDL and HDL particle sizes were not associated with CHD events.

Conclusions—

The effects of gemfibrozil on NMR-measured LDL and HDL particle subclasses, which are not reflected by conventional lipoprotein cholesterol measures, help to explain the demonstrated benefit of this therapy in patients with low HDL cholesterol.
A Tale of Two Trials
Authors: Wiviott Stephen D. , de Lemos James A. , Cannon Christopher P. , Blazing Michael , Murphy Sabina A. , McCabe Carolyn H. , Califf Robert , Braunwald Eugene
Published: March 2006

Background—

The Aggrastat to Zocor (A to Z) and Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy (PROVE IT) trials compared intensive and moderate statin therapy after acute coronary syndromes, with seemingly disparate results. We analyzed the design, implementation, and results of the two trials in an attempt to clarify the effects of early intensive statin therapy.

Methods and Results—

Study design, end points, and definitions were compared. In each trial, comparisons were made between intensive and moderate arms for both trials’ primary end points and death/myocardial infarction. Analyses were performed over various time points: at the end of the trials, ≤4 months, and >4 months. Subjects in A to Z had higher-risk demographics. More PROVE IT subjects were enrolled in the United States and underwent prerandomization revascularization. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) difference was greater in A to Z than in PROVE IT early (≤4 months) but less late. Significant C-reactive protein reduction was earlier in PROVE IT. With common end points, event rates were higher in A to Z, and early favorable separation of event curves was seen in PROVE IT but not in A to Z. Clinical end point rates and reductions were similar in both trials after 4 months.

Conclusions—

An early benefit was seen in PROVE IT but not in A to Z. Late-phase results were similar. Factors that may explain this disparity include the intensity of therapy in the early phase, timing, and magnitude of LDL and C-reactive protein lowering, differences in early revascularization, and the play of chance. Taken together, the results of these trials support a strategy of early intensive statin therapy coupled with revascularization when appropriate in patients after acute coronary syndrome.
Diazepam-induced disruption of classically-conditioned fear-potentiation of late-latency auditory evoked potentials is prevented by flumazenil given before, but not after, CS/US pairing
Authors: Scaife J. C. , Hou R. H. , Samuels E. R. , Baqui F. , Langley R. W. , Bradshaw C. M. , Szabadi E.
Published: March 2006

Classical fear conditioning involves pairing a neutral conditional stimulus (CS) with an aversive unconditional stimulus (US). Subsequent presentation of the CS alone induces fear responses. Acquisition of conditioned fear is thought to involve learning of the CS/US association, followed by memory consolidation. Recently we reported that the N1/P2 auditory evoked potential was enhanced by fear conditioning in humans. Diazepam 10mg, given before CS/US pairing, prevented subsequent expression of fear potentiation when the response was elicited, 1 week later, in the presence of the CS. In this experiment, we examined whether this effect of diazepam was caused by disruption of the formation of CS/US associations or by disruption of consolidation. The benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil was used to block the effect of diazepam either during the association period or during subsequent consolidation.

Forty-two male volunteers (18-35 years) participated in two sessions separated by 7 days. In Session One, they ingested diazepam 10 mg or placebo: 60 minutes later they received flumazenil 1 mg or saline intravenously (i.v.). Then they received 20 presentations of a light (CS), 50% of which terminated with electric shock (US). This was followed by a second infusion of flumazenil or saline. Subjects received placebo/saline/saline (Group 1), diazepam/saline/saline (Group 2), diazepam/flumazenil/saline (Group 3) and diazepam/saline/flumazenil (Group 4). In Session Two, the CS was presented without the US; 50% of CS presentations terminated with a sound pulse; an equal number of sound pulses were presented without the CS. Auditory evoked potentials were recorded at Cz.

In Session Two, CS presentation enhanced the auditory N1/P2 potential in placebo-treated subjects (Group 1). This enhancement was prevented by diazepam (Group 2). Flumazenil reversed diazepam’s effect on fear potentiation if it was administered before conditioning (Group 3), but not if it was administered afterwards (Group 4).

The results confirm that diazepam prevents the acquisition of fear conditioning in humans, and suggest that it disrupts the formation of CS/US associations, rather than the consolidation of fear memory.
Methylphenidate for α-interferon induced depression
Authors: Camacho Alvaro , Ng Bernardo
Published: March 2006

Interferon-Alpha (IFN) has been effective in the treatment of chronic viral infections and cancer albeit the added risk of severe depression. The literature has reported effectiveness in the use of antidepressants for interferon-induced depression. We report a case of severe protracted depression induced by IFN in a patient diagnosed with melanoma who responded rapidly to a course of methylphenidate using the Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale. Methylphenidate appeared to be effective in the treatment of neurovegetative symptoms of major depression induced by IFN. This report provides further clinical evidence that the neurovegetative symptoms of depression might respond better to a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor or psycho-stimulants.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-dose evaluation of the acute behavioural effects of guaraná in humans
Authors: Haskell C. F. , Kennedy D. O. , Wesnes K. A. , Milne A. L. , Scholey A. B.
Published: March 2006

The present study aimed to systematically assess acute, dose-related behavioural effects of an extract of guaraná plant for the first time in humans.

This double-blind, counterbalanced, placebo-controlled study ( n = 26) assessed the acute mood and cognitive effects throughout the day of four different doses (37.5mg, 75mg, 150mg and 300mg) of a standardised guaraná extract (PC-102). Assessment included the Cognitive Drug Research computerized test battery and Bond-Lader mood scales.

Guaraná improved secondary memory performance and increased alert and content mood ratings. The two lower doses produced more positive cognitive effects than the higher doses.

This research supports previous findings of cognitive improvements following 75mg guaraná and provides the first exploration of different dose effects of guaraná in humans. The findings suggest that the effects cannot be attributed to caffeine alone.
A validation of the 7.5% CO2 model of GAD using paroxetine and lorazepam in healthy volunteers
Authors: Bailey Jayne E. , Kendrick Adrian , Diaper Alison , Potokar John P. , Nutt David J.
Published: March 2006

The inhalation of 7.5% carbon dioxide (CO2) in healthy subjects produces an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and increased feelings of anxiety, fear and tension (Bailey et al. 2005). As this state is similar to that of general anxiety rather than panic, we further validated this by examining the effects of anxiolytic medication.

Two separate studies in healthy volunteers are described; study one is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a single dose of 2mg lorazepam and study two describes the effects of 21 days of treatment with paroxetine. Gas challenges were air and 7.5% CO2 inhaled for 20 minutes, delivered on day 0 (before treatment) and day 21 (after treatment) in the paroxetine study. Subjective effects were measured using visual analogue scales and questionnaires.

When compared with placebo, lorazepam 2mg significantly reduced peak CO2-induced subjective fear, feelings of wanting to leave, tension and worry. In the paroxetine study, when compared with day 0, day 21 showed a significantly attenuated peak CO2-induced nervousness and a trend for reduced ratings of anxiety, fear, feel like leaving, tense and worried.

In these studies we have shown that this CO2 model of anxiety is sensitive to lorazepam and to a lesser extent paroxetine. This gives support to its utility as an experimental model of general anxiety disorder in healthy volunteers.
Automaticity of smoking behaviour: the relationship between dual-task performance, daily cigarette intake and subjective nicotine effects
Authors: Field Matt , Mogg Karin , Bradley Brendan P.
Published: March 2006

Recent research using a dual-task procedure indicates that smoking behaviour can proceed automatically (i.e. it makes minimal demands on cognitive resources) in experienced, but not novice, smokers (Baxter and Hinson, 2001). The increased cognitive load of smoking behaviour in novice smokers was inferred from their slower response times (RTs) to auditory probes during smoking, relative to a baseline (no-smoking) condition. However, this effect of smoking behaviour on RTs may be confounded by the subjective effects of nicotine (e.g. ‘head rush’), which may be greater in those who smoke less frequently. We employed the dual-task procedure to assess the relationships between (a) the effect of smoking on RTs to auditory probes, (b) the frequency of smoking behaviour (daily cigarette intake) and (c) the subjective effects of smoking. Results indicated that infrequent smokers showed an increased cognitive load (i.e. slower RTs to probes) during smoking, compared with frequent smokers, but there were no group differences in the subjective effects of smoking. Results suggest that smoking behaviour becomes automatized in those who smoke more frequently, and this is unconfounded by the subjective effects of nicotine.
Solar Energy in China: Development Trends for Solar Water Heaters and Photovoltaics in the Urban Environment
Authors: Wallace William , Wang Zhongying
Published: March 2006

China is the world’s largest market for solar water heating systems, installing 13 million square meters of new systems in 2004, mostly in large cities. Municipal authorities, however, are sensitive to quality and visual impact issues created by this technology deployment. Therefore, there is currently a trend toward developing building integrated systems as well as upgrading building codes, establishing testing and certification programs, and educating building architects and developers. The use of photovoltaics for urban and grid-connected applications has lagged behind the solar water-heating market; however, in 2003, a 1 MW photovoltaic-rooftop system was constructed in Shenzhen in southern China and several demonstration building integrated systems have since been installed. There is also an emerging interest in photovoltaics for distributed generation and grid support in China. Trends and requirements for developing solar urban applications in China will be presented in this article.
Knowledge Infrastructures for Solar Cities
Authors: Vanderburg Willem H.
Published: March 2006

The evolution of contemporary cities into solar cities will be affected by the decisions of countless specialists according to an established intellectual and professional division of labor. These specialists belong to groups responsible for advancing and applying a body of knowledge, and jointly, these bodies of knowledge make up a knowledge infrastructure. Some characteristics of these knowledge infrastructures are examined insofar as they inhibit the evolution toward solar cities. The article concludes with suggestions as to how these knowledge infrastructures could be changed.
Lack of Agreement Between Thermodilution and Fick Methods in the Measurement of Cardiac Output
Authors: Baylor Peter
Published: March 2006

A comparison between the thermodilution method and the Fick method of cardiac output measurement in 30 critically ill patients was performed. Although there was good correlation between both methods, there was poor agreement. The Bland and Altman method of assessing agreement between 2 measurements is the preferred method of agreement assessment. The variables possibly responsible for this disagreement are noted.
Ascending to the Concrete
Authors: Grand Ian J.
Published: March 2006

This article describes learning in a human development class designed to enable counseling psychology students to hold a complex, sociocultural view of development. The class emphasizes student transformation from reductive, personalist thinking to thinking in terms of complexity and sociocultural processes. It valorizes moving from knowledge-based to inquiry-based and critical approaches. The account here looks at class materials and teaching approaches. It describes student difficulties with learning complex views and gives examples of student products that have been successful.
A study of the factors that influence how senior officers police crowd events: On SIDE outside the laboratory
Authors: Cronin Patrick , Reicher Stephen
Published: March 2006

This paper fits into the SIDE perspective (Reicher, Spears, & Postmes, 1995; Postmes, Spears, Lea, & Reicher, 2000), which emphasises the importance of integrating the cognitive and strategic dimensions of group processes. Our study examines the decisions made by senior police officers during a simulation exercise of a crowd event. The analysis shows, firstly, that officers are deeply concerned about their accountability to a variety of audiences, both internal and external to the police force. Second, these different audiences pressure them to act in different, and sometimes contradictory, ways. What counts, then, is the overall balance between accountability concerns. Third, this balance – and, with it, police perceptions and decisions – alters in the course of an event. More specifically, with escalating conflict, the balance of accountability concerns moves increasingly in the direction of undifferentiated intervention against crowd members. In discussion, we consider both the theoretical implications of this analysis for research on group processes (in particular the importance of accountability issues once one moves beyond the laboratory and deals with groups that have a past and future and in which membership is more than simply an act of choice) and the practical implications in terms of crowd policing.
The role of action control in implementing intentions during the first weeks of behaviour change
Authors: Sniehotta Falko F. , Nagy Gabriel , Scholz Urte , Schwarzer Ralf
Published: March 2006

Prevailing social cognition models consider behavioural intentions as immediate precursors of actions. This view ignores the role of more proximal self‐regulatory processes, such as action control. The latter emerges after an intention has been formed and is supposed to maintain the level of intentions over time and to translate them into action. Three facets of action control were examined in terms of their predictive power for changes in intentions and for physical exercise: (a) awareness of standards, (b) self‐monitoring, and (c) self‐regulatory effort. A parsimonious 6‐item instrument was administered to 122 cardiac patients at six weekly measurement points in time following rehabilitation. A distinction was made between the level of action control and the degree of change in action control, applying a latent growth model. While awareness of standards remained stable, the other two facets exhibited a linear change over the six‐week period. Level and change were distinct predictors of physical exercise and changes in intentions. These findings emphasize the importance of self‐regulatory mechanisms in the first weeks of trying to overcome a sedentary lifestyle. Action control may be a promising construct to narrow the intention‐behaviour gap.
Tyranny, freedom and social structure: Escaping our theoretical prisons
Authors: Turner John C.
Published: March 2006

Reicher and Haslam's (2006) BBC prison study undermines the idea that people passively accept and enact social roles. In this commentary, I point out that this idea is an example of Moscovici's (1976)conformity bias and a wider stability bias in social psychological theorizing. In many key areas, the science prefers analyses that explain how and why social structures, intergroup and power relations, personalities and beliefs maintain and reproduce themselves, and indeed cannot be changed, rather than how and why society constantly generates forces for social change from within itself. This bias distorts reality and produces ideas of limited theoretical or practical power. Human psychology does not make us prisoners of social structure. It makes us capable of collective action to change social structures and in turn re‐fashion our identities, roles, personalities and beliefs. Society is not a psychological prison but a means of expanding human possibilities. A reorientation of theoretical emphasis is overdue.
How to access structure and dynamics of solutions: The capabilities of computational methods (Special Topic Article)
Authors: Rode Bernd M. , Hofer Thomas S.
Published: March 2006

The progress of computational chemistry in the treatment of liquid systems is outlined, and the combination of the statistical methods (Monte Carlo, MC, and molecular dynamics, MD) with quantum mechanics as the main foundation of this progress is emphasized. The difficulties of experimental studies of liquid systems without having obtained sophisticated theoretical models describing the structural entities and the dynamical behavior of these liquids demonstrate that chemistry research is in a transition phase, where theory and high-performance computing have not only become a valuable supplement, but an essential and almost indispensable component to secure a correct interpretation of measured data.
Guidelines for NMR measurements for determination of high and low pKa values (IUPAC Technical Report)
Authors: Popov Konstantin , Rönkkömäki Hannu , Lajunen Lauri H. J.
Published: March 2006

Factors affecting the NMR titration procedures for the determination of pK
a values in strongly basic and strongly acidic aqueous solutions (2 > pH > 0 and 14 > pH > 12) are analyzed. Guidelines for experimental procedure and publication protocols are formulated. These include: calculation of the equilibrium H+ concentration in a sample; avoidance of measurement with glass electrode in highly acidic (basic) solutions; exclusion of D2O as a solvent; use of an individual sample isolated from air for each pH value; use of external reference and lock compounds; use of a medium of constant ionic strength with clear indication of the supporting electrolyte and of the way the contribution of any ligand to the ionic strength of the medium is accounted for; use of the NMR technique in a way that eliminates sample heating to facilitate better sample temperature control (e.g., 1H-coupled NMR for nuclei other than protons, GD-mode, CPD-mode, etc.); use of Me4NCl/Me4NOH or KCl/KOH as a supporting electrolyte in basic solution rather than sodium salts in order to eliminate errors arising from NaOH association; verification of the independence of the NMR chemical shift from background electrolyte composition and concentration; use of extrapolation procedures.
Guidelines for terminology for microtechnology in clinical laboratories (IUPAC Technical Report)
Authors: Wilding Peter , Joos Thomas , Kricka Larry J. , Shi Leming
Published: March 2006

There is no formal terminology used to describe the scope and use of microtechnology in the clinical laboratory. For many laboratory scientists, the word "microchip" is synonymous with high-density microarrays used primarily for investigating gene expression. The document proposes a system of "categories" and "descriptors" that facilitates the classification of a device in a way that communicates details of its function and analytical role, and describes the analytical principle involved and the methods and materials used for its manufacture. Adoption of this system would enable scientists to employ four descriptors that clearly delineate the function, analytical role, and chemical or physical principle involved in the device. Examples of existing commercial devices are given to illustrate the utility of the system.
First and Second Cattle Passage of Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy by Intracerebral Inoculation
Authors: Hamir A. N. , Kunkle R. A. , Miller J. M. , Bartz J. C. , Richt J. A.
Published: March 2006

To compare clinicopathologic findings of transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) with other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE, prion diseases) that have been shown to be experimentally transmissible to cattle (sheep scrapie and chronic wasting disease [CWD]), two groups of calves ( n = 4 each) were intracerebrally inoculated with TME agents from two different sources (mink with TME and a steer with TME). Two uninoculated calves served as controls. Within 15.3 months postinoculation, all animals from both inoculated groups developed clinical signs of central nervous system (CNS) abnormality; their CNS tissues had microscopic spongiform encephalopathy (SE); and abnormal prion protein (PrPres) as detected in their CNS tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB) techniques. These findings demonstrate that intracerebrally inoculated cattle not only amplify TME PrPres but also develop clinical CNS signs and extensive lesions of SE. The latter has not been shown with other TSE agents (scrapie and CWD) similarly inoculated into cattle. The findings also suggest that the diagnostic techniques currently used for confirmation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) would detect TME in cattle should it occur naturally. However, it would be a diagnostic challenge to differentiate TME in cattle from BSE by clinical signs, neuropathology, or the presence of PrPres by IHC and WB.
Severe Pulmonary Disease Due to Multisystemic Eosinophilic Epitheliotropic Disease in a Horse
Authors: Singh K. , Holbrook T. C. , Gilliam L. L. , Cruz R. J. , Duffy J. , Confer A. W.
Published: March 2006

Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease was diagnosed histologically in a 17-year-old Quarter Horse intact mare that was presented with a chronic history of respiratory distress. At necropsy, the lungs were poorly collapsed and the pulmonary parenchyma contained innumerable, discrete, spherical nodules in a miliary pattern. A few similar nodules were scattered in the liver and the renal lymph nodes. Histologically, these nodules consisted of fibrosing eosinophilic granulomas. Based on histologic findings and the absence of an etiologic agent, a diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease was made.