cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internet-human infrastructures: Lessons from Havana's StreetNet.

We propose a mixed-methods approach to understanding the human infrastructure underlying StreetNet (SNET), a distributed, community-run intranet that serves as the primary 'Internet' in Havana, Cuba. We bridge ethnographic studies and the study of social networks and organizations to understand the way that power is embedded in the structure of Havana's SNET. By quantitatively and qualitatively unpacking the human infrastructure of SNET, this work reveals how distributed infrastructure necessarily embeds the structural aspects of inequality distributed within that infrastructure. While traditional technical measurements of networks reflect the social, organizational, spatial, and technical constraints that shape the resulting network, ethnographies can help uncover the texture and role of these hidden supporting relationships. By merging these perspectives, this work contributes to our understanding of network roles in growing and maintaining distributed infrastructures, revealing new approaches to understanding larger, more complex Internet-human infrastructures---including the Internet and the WWW.
Modeling spatial variance and investigating the effects of variability on intact rock strength and stability of entries in a longwall mine

Spatial variance of rock properties is an important characteristic of rock which addresses the heterogeneity of mechanical and physical properties and their effect on underground mining. Assessing spatial variance can be useful for both locating potential difficult grounds and performing reliability analysis in the mining support system. This study shows a microscale numerical model for rock material based on continuum mechanics. To consider the spatial correlation factor of mechanical properties in realistic rock mass, this study introduces a spatial correlation concept into the traditional type III extreme value distribution model. Based on the improved microscale random model, we conducted a series of numerical uniaxial compressive tests and one longwall mine model to investigate the progressive failure of rock. The results show that spatial correlation factor can significantly affect the load-deformation curves and fracture patterns. The spatial variance model was applied to a longwall mine that included several cutting sequences to observe the influence of the spatial variance on roof behavior. The cohesion and friction random fields induced failure that propagated randomly through the immediate roof in different entries. The results showed that the spatial variance provides an accurate prediction of erratic roof falls in coal mines.
The influence of body mass index and sex on frontal and sagittal plane knee mechanics during walking in young adults.

Abstract Background Obesity and female sex are independent risk factors for knee osteoarthritis and also influence gait mechanics. However, the interaction between obesity and sex on gait mechanics is unclear, which may have implications for tailored gait modification strategies. Research question The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of obesity and sex on sagittal and frontal plane knee mechanics during gait in young adults. Methods Forty-eight individuals with (BMI = 33.03 ± 0.59; sex:50 % female; age:21.9 ± 2.6 years) and 48 without obesity (BMI:21.59 ± 0.25; sex:50 % female; age:22.9 ± 3.57 years) matched on age and sex completed over-ground gait assessments at a self-selected speed. Two (BMI) by two (sex) analysis of variance was used to compare knee biomechanics during the first half of stance in the sagittal (knee flexion moment [KFM] and excursion [KFE]) and frontal plane (first peak knee adduction moment [KAM], knee varus velocity [KVV]). Results We observed a BMI by sex interaction for normalized KFM (P = 0.03). Females had smaller normalized KFM compared to males (P = 0.03), but only in individuals without obesity. Males without obesity had larger normalized KFM compared to males with obesity (P = 0.01), while females did not differ between BMI groups. We observed main effects of sex and BMI group, where females exhibited greater normalized KAM (P Significance We observed sex differences in gait mechanics, however, KFM differences between males and females were only evident in individuals without obesity. Further, females and individuals with obesity had a larger KAM and KVV, which may contribute to larger medial compartment joint loading.
Plant plasma membrane-resident receptors: Surveillance for infections and coordination for growth and development.

As sessile organisms, plants are exposed to pathogen invasions and environmental fluctuations. To overcome the challenges of their surroundings, plants acquire the potential to sense endogenous and exogenous cues, resulting in their adaptability. Hence, plants have evolved a large collection of plasma membrane-resident receptors including, RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASEs (RLKs) and RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEINs (RLPs) to perceive those signals and regulate plant growth, development, and immunity. The ability of RLKs and RLPs to recognize distinct ligands relies on diverse categories of extracellular domains evolved. Co-regulatory receptors are often required to associate with RLKs and RLPs to facilitate cellular signal transduction. RECEPTOR-LIKE CYTOPLASMIC KINASEs (RLCKs) also associate with the complex, bifurcating the signal to key signaling hubs, such as MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK) cascades, to regulate diverse biological processes. Here, we discuss recent knowledge advance in understanding the roles of RLKs and RLPs in plant growth, development, and immunity, and their connection with co-regulatory receptors, leading to activation of diverse intracellular signaling pathways. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Global Financial Crisis and the Spanish Banking System: Explaining Its Initial Success (2007–2010)

This chapter analyzes the impact of the global crisis on the Spanish financial system between 2007 and 2010. It shows that, overall, the performance of the largest Spanish financial institutions was positive. The chapter examines why and outlines some lessons from the Spanish experience. It contends that this response was largely driven by institutional, political, and cultural factors. Finally, the chapter considers the Spanish experience within the framework of the varieties of capitalism literature. While financial capitalisms have converged toward deregulation as a result of the combined processes of globalization and European integration, this chapter shows that differences persist. Indeed, in the case of Spain the crisis led to extensive regulatory intervention that served to reinforce the pre-existing model.
Moral Phenomenology and the Value-Laden World

Do the introspectively ascertainable aspects of our moral experiences carry ontological objective purport—portraying reality as containing worldly moral properties and facts, thus supporting moral realism? Horgan and Timmons (2008, 2018) answer this question in the negative, arguing that their non-realist view, cognitivist expressivism, can accommodate the introspectively ascertainable moral phenomenology (including categorical authoritativeness) just as well as realism can—where accommodating the phenomenology means accounting for it without construing it as misleading or erroneous. If sound, this constitutes an important defense of cognitivist expressivism, undermining a central attraction of realism. They thus pose a challenge to realists to identify any aspects of moral phenomenology that cannot be accommodated by expressivism and instead favor realism. I here take up that challenge, in two stages. First, I argue that cognitivist expressivism does not after all capture certain important aspects of the phenomenology of the sort of moral experience on which they focus, while realism does. This argument does not depend on claiming that the phenomenology has ontological objective purport. The claim so far is just that there is more to categorical authoritativeness than the expressivist account captures, though this leaves the door open to Kantian rationalism (and perhaps other non-realist accounts) as well as realism. Second, I will go on to argue that although some aspects of moral phenomenology may only point to this broader range of views, others do specifically carry ontological objective purport and thus directly support realism insofar as we take the phenomenology seriously.
Mapping the Proximity Interaction Network of STIM1 Reveals New Mechanisms of Cytoskeletal Regulation

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) resides primarily in the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum, where it senses intraluminal Ca2+ levels and activates Orai channels on the plasma membrane to initiate Ca2+ influx. We have previously shown that STIM1 is involved in the dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. However, the downstream effectors of STIM1 that lead to cytoskeletal remodeling are not known. The proximity-labeling technique (BioID) can capture weak and transient protein-protein interactions, including proteins that reside in the close vicinity of the bait, but that may not be direct binders. Hence, in the present study, we investigated the STIM1 interactome using the BioID technique. A promiscuous biotin ligase was fused to the cytoplasmic C-terminus of STIM1 and was stably expressed in a mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell line. Screening of biotinylated proteins identified several high confidence targets. Here, we report Gelsolin (GSN) as a new member of the STIM1 interactome. GSN is a Ca2+-dependent actin-severing protein that promotes actin filament assembly and disassembly. Results were validated using knockdown approaches and immunostaining. We tested our results in neonatal cardiomyocytes where STIM1 overexpression induced altered actin dynamics and cytoskeletal instability. This is the first time that BioID assay was used to investigate the STIM1 interactome. Our work highlights the role of STIM1/GSN in the structure and function of the cytoskeleton.
Adaptive hybrid M-FSK M-QAM modulation

We propose a variable-rate variable-power scheme which employs both noncoherent M-ary frequency shift keying (M-FSK) and M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM). The idea is that adaptive M-FSK is used when the M-QAM system declares an outage. The goal is to provide a better channel utilization and a reliable link of communication even at very bad channel conditions. We consider this hybrid system design by maximizing its spectral efficiency for given constraints on average power transmission and bit error rate. As a result, we obtain power and bit loading functions for both the M-FSK and M-QAM schemes which are mutual and channel-gain dependents.
Distinct effects of methamphetamine and cocaine on preprodynorphin messenger RNA in rat striatal patch and matrix.

We and others previously reported that equimolar doses of methamphetamine and cocaine differentially increase preprodynorphin mRNA in striatum: methamphetamine causes a patchy increase, whereas cocaine produces a more homogenous one. The current study directly examined whether this effect reflects differential induction in the patch–matrix division of striatum, as identified by µ opioid receptor immunohistochemistry. In addition, we determined whether doses of cocaine (30 mg/kg) and methamphetamine (2 mg/kg) that produced equivalent increases in extracellular dopamine differentially affected preprodynorphin mRNA expression in striatum of male, Sprague–Dawley rats. In both experiments, methamphetamine and cocaine differentially affected preprodynorphin mRNA in striatum after 3 h. The high, equimolar dose of methamphetamine selectively increased preprodynorphin mRNA in the patch division of rostral striatum, whereas cocaine increased preprodynorphin mRNA throughout patch and matrix divisions of striatum. In contrast, a dose of methamphetamine (2.0 mg/kg) that caused an increase in extracellular dopamine similar to that produced by 30 mg/kg cocaine did not significantly affect preprodynorphin mRNA in any region of striatum. These data provide further evidence that cocaine and amphetamines exert distinct effects on the patch–matrix division of striatum and suggest further that the post-synaptic consequences of elevated extracellular dopamine produced by methamphetamine and cocaine are distinct.
Formalism, experience, and the making of American literature in the nineteenth century

Acknowledgements Introduction: new critical formalism and identity in Americanist criticism 1. Types of interest: Scottish theory, literary nationalism, and John Neal 2. Sensing Hawthorne: the figure of Hawthorne's affect 3. 'Life is an ecstasy': Ralph Waldo Emerson and A. Bronson Alcott 4. Laws of experience: truth and feeling in Harriet Beecher Stowe Works cited.
Increased risk of gallstones in children receiving total parenteral nutrition

Twenty-one children receiving long-term total parenteral nutrition were prospectively evaluated for the presence of gallstones. Using ultrasonography, nine children (43%) were found to have cholelithiasis, and five have since undergone cholecystectomy. Only children with ileal disorders or previous resection developed stones. In the select group of patients with ileal disorders or previous resection, the prevalence of stones was 64%, nearly twice that which has been observed in similarly defined adults not receiving total parenteral nutrition. Data from this study suggest that the prolonged administration of parenteral nutrition significantly enhances the risk of gallstone formation already imposed by a previous ileal resection or disorder. Periodic ultrasonograms provide a safe and accurate means of monitoring high-risk patients during and after prolonged total parenteral nutrition therapy.
D1 Versus D2 Lymphadenectomy for Gastric Cancer

Significant variability exists throughout the world in the extent of lymphadenectomy that is performed for gastric adenocarcinoma. D2 lymphadenectomy is the standard lymphadenectomy performed in high incidence countries such as Japan and South Korea, and less extensive lymphadenectomies are often performed in lower incidence countries such as the Unites States. This article reviews the evidence on the extent of lymphadenectomy that should be performed for gastric adenocarcinoma.
Overcoming hard-faults in high-performance microprocessors

As device density grows, each transistor gets smaller and more fragile leading to an overall higher susceptibility to hard-faults. These hard-faults result in permanent silicon defects and impact manufacturing yield, performance, and lifetime of semiconductor devices. In this thesis, we propose comprehensive, low-cost solutions to tackle reliability problems in high-performance microprocessors. These microprocessors mainly consist of on-chip caches and core pipeline. We first present two flexible cache architectures, ZerehCache and Archipelago, to protect regular SRAM structures against high failure rates. ZerehCache virtually reorganizes the cache data array using a permutation network to provide higher degrees of freedom for spare allocation. In order to study the impact of fault patterns on the redundancy requirements in a cache, we propose a methodology to model the collision patterns in caches as a graph problem. Given this model, a graph coloring scheme is employed to minimize the amount of additional redundancy required for protecting the cache. Archipelago targets failures in near-threshold region. It resizes the cache to provide redundancy for repairing faulty cells. Furthermore, a near optimal minimum clique covering configuration algorithm is introduced to minimizes the cache capacity loss. With proper solutions in place for caches, a robust and heterogeneous core coupling execution scheme, Necromancer, is presented to protect the general core area against hard-faults. Although a faulty core cannot be trusted, we observe that for most defects, execution traces on a defective core coarsely resemble those of fault-free executions. Necromancer exploits a functionally dead core to improve system throughput by supplying hints regarding high-level program behavior. We partition the cores into multiple groups. Each group shares a lightweight core that can be substantially accelerated. However, due to the presence of defects, a perfect data or instruction stream cannot be provided by the dead core. This necessitates employing low-cost recovery mechanism and generic hints that are more resilient to local abnormalities.
Energy stable multigrid method for local and non-local hydrodynamic models for freezing

Abstract In this paper we present a numerical method for hydrodynamic models that arise from time dependent density functional theories of freezing. The models take the form of compressible Navier–Stokes equations whose pressure is determined by the variational derivative of a free energy, which is a functional of the density field. We present unconditionally energy stable and mass conserving implicit finite difference methods for the models. The methods are based on a convex splitting of the free energy and that ensures that a discrete energy is non-increasing for any choice of time and space step. The methods are applicable to a large class of models, including both local and non-local free energy functionals. The theoretical basis for the numerical method is presented in a general context. The method is applied to problems using two specific free energy functionals: one local and one non-local functional. A nonlinear multigrid method is used to solve the numerical method, which is nonlinear at the implicit time step. The non-local functional, which is a convolution operator, is approximated using the Discrete Fourier Transform. Numerical simulations that confirm the stability and accuracy of the numerical method are presented.
Surface and interfacial tensions of polymer melts

Abstract The surface tensions of polyethylene, polyisobutylene, and polyvinyl acetate, and the interfacial tensions of polyethylene/polyvinyl acetate and polyisobutylene/polyvinyl acetate systems have been measured by the pendent drop method in the temperature range up to 200°C. The results are analyzed in terms of the equations of Fowkes and of Girifalco and Good, and suggest that the conformational restriction of polymer molecules imparts a limitation on the extent of interfacial contacts and sharp phase boundaries in these systems. Several quantities of interest in adhesion, such as contact angle, spreading coefficient, and work of adhesion are also discussed.
On the knowledge required to label a picture graph

I analyze the information content of scene labels and provide a measure for the complexity of line drawings. The Huffman-Clowes label set is found to contain surprisingly little additional information as compared to more basic label sets. The complexity of a line drawing is measured in terms of the amount of local labeling required to determine global labeling. A bound is obtained on the number of lines which must be labeled before a full labeling of a line drawing is uniquely determined. Methods are provided for obtaining subsets of lines whose labeling is sufficient to imply the labeling of the remaining lines. I present an algorithm which combines local sensory probing with knowledge of labeling constraints to proceed directly to a labeling analysis of a given scene.
Assessment of the aluminum-rich corner of the Al–Cu–Mg–(Ag) phase diagram

Abstract The thermodynamic expressions for the phases found in the aluminum-rich corner of the Al–Cu–Mg–(Ag) system were evaluated and refined to develop a self-consistent database. Microstructural characterization and thermal analysis aided in revising published thermodynamic data for the Al–Cu–Mg and Al–Cu–Mg–Ag systems. To represent the presence of silver an additional interaction energy term was formulated for the S phase, which was completed with the help of ab initio calculations that predicted silver substitution for aluminum within the phase.
Local arthroscopic bone grafting of a juxta-articular glenoid bone cyst

This report describes a rare, juxta-articular bone cyst of the posterior glenoid that developed after a fracture of the glenoid in a 38-year-old male. The patient had persistent pain, popping and stiffness of his right shoulder for 3 years, and failed to improve after a nonoperative rehabilitation program. At arthroscopy, the senior author transported an autogenous bone graft from the bare area of the humeral head to fill the glenoid cyst arthroscopically. At second-look arthroscopy approximately 1 year after the index procedure, the bone graft had consolidated within the original cystic defect and the surface was covered with fibrocartilage. The graft harvest site posteriorly on the humeral head had healed with a small amount of scar tissue at the articular margin. Comfortable motion and function were restored.
A Comparison of Multiresolution and Classical One-Dimensional Homogenization Schemes

Abstract Homogenization is a collection of methods for extracting or constructing equations for the coarse-scale behavior of solutions to equations which incorporate many scales. This paper compares the classical method of homogenization with the recently developed multiresolution strategy for a particular class of one-dimensional second-order elliptic equations. We also examine several physical examples which highlight the distinctions between the two methods.
Roles of K149, G352, and H401 in the Channel Functions of ClC-0: Testing the Predictions from Theoretical Calculations

The ClC family of Cl− channels and transporters comprises membrane proteins ubiquitously present in species ranging from prokaryotes to mammals. The recently solved structures of the bacterial ClC proteins have provided a good model to guide the functional experiments for the eukaryotic Cl− channels. Theoretical calculations based on the bacterial ClC structures have identified several residues critical for the Cl− binding energy in the Cl− transport pathway. It was speculated that the corresponding residues in eukaryotic Cl− channels might play similar roles for the channel functions. In this study, we made a series of mutations in three such residues in eukaryotic ClC Cl− channels (K149, G352, and H401 in ClC-0) and studied the functional consequences on the channel properties. A cysteine modification approach was also employed to evaluate the electrostatic effects of the charge placed at these three positions. The experimental results revealed that among the three residues tested, K149 plays the most important role in controlling both the gating and the permeation functions of ClC-0. On the other hand, mutations of H401 alter the channel conductance but not the gating properties, while mutations of G352 result in very little functional consequence. The mutation of K149 into a neutral residue leucine (K149L) shifts the activation curve and leads to flickery channel openings. The anion permeability ratios derived from bi-ionic experiments are also significantly altered in that the selectivity of Cl− over other anions is decreased. Furthermore, removing the positive charge at this position reduces and increases, respectively, the accessibility of the negatively and positively charged methane thiosulfonate reagents to the pore. The control of the accessibility to charged MTS reagents and the regulation of the anion permeation support the idea that K149 exerts an electrostatic effect on the channel function, confirming the prediction from computational studies.
Interaction of pyridostigmine and physical stress on antioxidant defense system in skeletal muscle of mice.

Pyridostigmine bromide (PB), a reversible anticholinesterase drug, had been used against possible nerve gas exposure during the Persian Gulf War. The Gulf War veterans used PB and they were under physical stress. This study investigated the delayed and interactive effects of pyridostigmine and physical stress on the antioxidant defense system in triceps muscle of mice. Male NIH Swiss mice were divided into four groups and treated as follows: sedentary control; pyridostigmine (1.2 mg kg−1 p.o.); exercise; and PB plus exercise. Mice were exercised for 10 weeks, but PB was administered daily during the 5th and 6th weeks. Mice were sacrificed 24 h after the last treatments and the triceps muscle was isolated and analyzed. There was a significant increase in total superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD + Mn-SOD) activity (141% of control) with PB plus exercise, suggesting that any influx of superoxide anions was scavenged efficiently. The Mn-SOD enzyme protein levels were reduced significantly (63% of control) by PB plus exercise. Catalase enzyme protein levels were increased significantly by exercise (132% of control) as well as by PB plus exercise (139% of control). Glutathione levels were increased significantly by exercise alone (123% of control). Pyridostigmine bromide plus exercise significantly increased the malondialdehyde concentration (124% of control) in the triceps muscle, indicating an oxidative stress response of the combination. The data indicate that a combination of PB ingestion and exercise training significantly altered the antioxidant enzyme activities, enzyme protein levels and lipid peroxidation, leading to oxidative injury. Physical stress amplified the delayed effects of PB in the skeletal muscle of mice. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consumer views of hunger and fullness. A qualitative approach

The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the complex ideas of hunger and fullness from consumers through the use of focus groups. We report results of 4 focus group interviews with (1) female normal weight dieters, (2) female normal weight non-dieters, (3) female overweight dieters and non-dieters, and (4) male normal weight dieters and non-dieters. Hunger and fullness sensations were described as having both physical and psychological components that were divided into two groups: typical and extreme. Overall, hunger was described as the presence of stomach growls, stomach hunger pains, emptiness, focus on eating, loss of energy, and desire to eat. Fullness was described as a feeling of food in the stomach, stomach stretch, satisfaction, contentment, energized, focused, and lack of the desire to eat. Typical fullness was described with many psychological components while typical hunger was primarily physical in nature. Participants described situations where sensations of mental hunger and physical fullness overlapped, which provided evidence that the overall constructs of hunger and fullness may not be simple, polar opposites.
Psychopathy Dimensions and Awareness of Negative and Positive Consequences of Aggressive Behavior in a Nonforensic Sample

Abstract Predictions derived from the two-factor model of psychopathy were examined. Sixty-three male college students completed measures of primary and secondary psychopathy and then watched either a film displaying overt aggression or a neutral film. After viewing the film, self-report ratings of negative and positive consequences for engaging in aggressive behavior were completed. Participants lower in primary psychopathy reported a greater awareness of negative consequences for aggression after exposure to the aggressive film stimulus compared with similar participants who watched the neutral film. This priming effect was not found for individuals higher in primary psychopathy. Ratings of positive consequences by participants higher in secondary psychopathy were not affected by film condition. However, those of the participants who scored lower in secondary psychopathy showed a priming effect when exposed to the aggressive film stimulus, reaching similar levels as participants higher in secondary psychopathy who were exposed to a neutral film.
Tests and Confidence Sets for Comparing Two Mean Residual Life Functions

The mean residual life function of a population gives an intuitive and interesting perspective on the aging process. Here we present new nonparametric methods for comparing mean residual life functions based on two independent samples. These methods have the flexibility to handle crossings of the functions and result in a new type of confidence set. We also discuss similar methods for comparison of median residual life functions.
2012 Special Issue: Approximating distributions in stochastic learning

On-line machine learning algorithms, many biological spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) learning rules, and stochastic neural dynamics evolve by Markov processes. A complete description of such systems gives the probability densities for the variables. The evolution and equilibrium state of these densities are given by a Chapman-Kolmogorov equation in discrete time, or a master equation in continuous time. These formulations are analytically intractable for most cases of interest, and to make progress a nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation (FPE) is often used in their place. The FPE is limited, and some argue that its application to describe jump processes (such as in these problems) is fundamentally flawed. We develop a well-grounded perturbation expansion that provides approximations for both the density and its moments. The approach is based on the system size expansion in statistical physics (which does not give approximations for the density), but our simple development makes the methods accessible and invites application to diverse problems. We apply the method to calculate the equilibrium distributions for two biologically-observed STDP learning rules and for a simple nonlinear machine-learning problem. In all three examples, we show that our perturbation series provides good agreement with Monte-Carlo simulations in regimes where the FPE breaks down.
A robust design method using variable transformation and Gauss–Hermite integration

Robust design seeks an optimal solution where the design objective is insensitive to the variations of input variables while the design feasibility under the variations is maintained. Accurate robustness assessment for both design objective and feasibility usually requires an intensive computational effort. In this paper, an accurate robustness assessment method with a moderate computational effort is proposed. The numerical Gauss-Hermite integration technique is employed to calculate the mean and standard deviation of the objective and constraint functions. To effectively use the Gauss-Hermite integration technique, a transformation from a general random variable into a normal variable is performed. The Gauss-Hermite integration and the transformation result in concise formulas and produce an accurate approximation to the mean and standard deviation. This approach is then incorporated into the framework of robust design optimization. The design of a two-bar truss and an automobile torque arm is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results are compared with the commonly used Taylor expansion method and Monte Carlo simulation in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
On weakly injective von Neumann algebras

A von Neumann algebra \({M\subset B(H)}\) is called weakly injective if there exist an ultraweakly dense unital C*-subalgebra \({A\subset M}\) and a unital completely positive map φ : B(H) → M such that φ(a) = a for all \({a\in A}\). In this note we present several properties of weakly injective von Neumann algebras and highlight the role these algebras play in relation to the QWEP conjecture.
Official Chinese media representations of US business, 1979–2011: A text mining approach

How have three decades of change in Chinese society, business, and politics influenced its official media coverage of emerging partnerships and interactions with US business? This question was explored through text mining and semantic network analysis of 929 articles in China Daily and Xinhua News Service, from 1979 through 2011. The articles were examined via cluster analysis (grouping news stories with similar coverage) and factor analysis (revealing themes for each cluster). Four clusters of stories emerged, suggesting phases in Sino-American trade relations: 1979–1983 (emergence of basic principles), 1984–1987 (delicate balance between trade and politics), 1988–2002 (maturation of relations with American business), and 2003–2011 (tensions following China’s entrance into the World Trade Organization). Factor analysis revealed 17 themes throughout the period. A sense of historical inevitability surrounded China’s progress from the periphery to the core of globalization, while the US moved from sole play...
Functional ion channel formation by mouse macrophage IgG Fc receptor triggered by specific ligands

The mouse macrophage Fcγ 2b/γ1R has previously been purified with the aid of the monoclonal antibody 2.4G2. That this FcγR functions as a ligand-dependent ion channel is supported by the following evidence: (a) Employing [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium ([3H]Ph4P+) as a probe for membrane potential changes in intact cells, we found a biphasic change in membrane potential following treatment with immune complexes, monoclonal antibody 2.4G2 IgG and 2.4G2 Fab-Sephadex particles. We observed an immediate depolarization followed by prolonged hyperpolarization. (b) [3H]Ph4P+ uptake experiments with plasma membrane vesicles prepared from J774 macrophages showed that binding of ligands to the FcR led to transmembrane monovalent cation flow. (c) Similar [3H]Ph4P+ uptake experiments were done with phospholipid vesicles containing purified and reconstituted Fcγ 2b/γR. Following challenge with specific ligands, transmembrane monovalent cation flow was observed. (d) Purified FcR was reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers; exposure to ligands led to transient bilayer conductance increase. The conductance change was resolved into single channel events. Quin-2 measurements showed an increase of free cytosolic calcium levels in macrophages following exposure of cells to different ligands of the FcR. An optimal range of calcium was found to be required for phagocytosis, below and above which inhibition of ingestion occurred.
Muscarinic M1 receptor agonist actions of muscarinic receptor agonists in rabbit vas deferens

Abstract In the electrically field-stimulated rabbit vas deferens, muscarinic receptor agonists increase twitch-height by actions at postjunctional M2 receptors and decrease twitch-height by actions at prejunctional M1 receptors. In the present studies, in contrast to previous reports, muscarinic receptor agonists primarily decreased twitch-height, produced minimal increases in twitch-height, and, produced identical responses in both epididymal and prostatic tissue segments, thus permitting a more detailed investigation of the M1 receptor component of action of muscarinic receptor agonists in the rabbit vas deferens. The nonselective muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol produced biphasic effects on twitch-height in the vas deferens: lower concentrations increased twitch-height to only approximately 25–30% over control, whereas higher concentrations inhibited the twitch. The selective M1 receptor antagonist pirenzepine blocked the inhibitory effects of carbachol, and unmasked carbachol-induced increases in twitch-height. Atropine, 4-DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide) and AF-DX 116 (11-2[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one) blocked both the inhibitory and stimulatory effects of carbachol, but atropine and 4-DAMP were more potent in blocking the inhibitory than the stimulatory effects of carbachol, whereas the reverse was true for AF-DX 116. McN-A-343 (4-hydroxy-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium chloride, m-chlorocarbanilate) and 12 other muscarinic receptor agonists from a variety of chemical classes also produced concentration-dependent decreases in twitch-height. The log IC50s of the muscarinic receptor agonists for decreasing twitch-height were highly correlated with their log Kis for inhibiting [3H]pirenzepine (r = 0.96) and [3H]oxotremorine-M (r = 0.85) binding in rat hippocampal membranes. The present results demonstrate that the muscarinic M1 receptor mediating inhibition of twitch-height in the rabbit vas deferens has pharmacologic properties similar to the muscarinic M1 receptor in rat hippocampus.
Computation of Unsteady Separated Flow Fields Using Anisotropic Vorticity Elements

A novel computational methodology to compute two-dimensional unsteady separated flow fields using a vorticity based formulation is presented. Unlike traditional vortex methods, the elements used in this method are designed to take advantage of the natural anisotropy of most external flows. These vortex elements are disjoint and of compact support. The vorticity is uniform over rectangular elements whose initial thickness is set by a diffusion length scale. The elements are a mathematical construction which enables the vorticity of the flow to be created and followed numerically, and the Biot-Savart integral to be performed. This integral specifies the associated velocity field. Since the vorticity of a single element is of finite extent, the velocity associated with an element is given by a nonsingular expression. Viscous diffusion effects are modeled using random walk and the advection term is computed by transporting the vorticity elements with the local velocity field. Consequently, this Lagrangian mesh continually evolves through time. Since pressure does not explicitly appear in the formulation, surface pressures are computed using a stagnation enthalpy formulation. These elements are used to compute vorticity production, accumulation, transport and viscous diffusion mechanisms for unsteady separated flow fields past a pitching airfoil. Dynamic stall vortex initiation and development were examined and compared with existing experimental data. Surface pressure data and integrated force coefficient data were found to be in excellent agreement with experimental data. Effects of geometry were provided with baseline calculations of the unsteady flow past an impulsively started cylinder. Both qualitative and quantitative comparisons with experimental data for equivalent test conditions establish the applicability of this approach to depict unsteady separated flow fields.
Simulation of dense contact hole (κ1=0.35) arrays with 193 nm immersion lithography

The resolution limits of optical lithography are usually described by the well-known Raleigh criterion, CD = κ 1 (λ/NA) . One of the biggest challenges in optical lithography is to reliably print contact holes patterns with κ 1 ~ 0.35 using a hyper NA system ( NA > 1) especially for relatively small ( m × n ) arrays. Polarization effects cause deviations from a simple ( λ/NA ) scaling large NA values. For an isolated hole, n = 1 and for large arrays, n g 15, the spectral content is mainly contained in the lowest diffracted orders that are captured within the NA of the imaging lens. The most difficult situation is for small arrays ( m , n ≈ 2, 3, 4) where the spectral features are broader more of the important image information is contained in the higher diffraction orders. The patterning of contact holes also suffers from tight dose tolerances and high mask error enhancement factors (MEEF) as both the feature and array sizes decrease. A detailed PROLITH TM vector simulation study is reported for three different approaches to printing, isolated contact holes and small to large contact hole arrays with a κ 1 of 0.35 and NA s of 1.05 and 1.3: 1) imaging interferometric lithography (IIL, with a single mask and multiple exposures incorporating pupil plane filters), 2) two-exposure dipole illumination, and 3) alternating phase shift masks (alt-PSM). Only the IIL scheme is capable of printing smaller ( m , n ≤ 10) at this low κ 1 factor. Single exposure alt-PSM does not allow for the necessary polarization control. Periodic assist features provide improved resolution, depth of focus and MEEF, at the expense of a more complex mask and additional nonprinting area surrounding the contact holes.
Morphological and GAD Immunocytochemical Properties of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus in a Reptile

Morphological and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) immunocytochemical properties of the dorsal part of the lateral geniculate nucleus were investigated in reptiles, Caiman crocodilus. GAD immunoreactive neurons, although sparse, were found in the dorsal part of the lateral geniculate nucleus. In addition, puncta and fibers immunoreactive for GAD were also observed in this same nucleus. These results in Caiman utilizing GAD are similar to observations on the dorsal part of the lateral geniculate nucleus of other reptiles in which antisera to gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) were used.
The long‐term variation of the Sun's open magnetic flux

The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has its origin in open magnetic regions of the Sun (coronal holes). The location of these regions and their total open flux Φ open can be inferred from current-free extrapolations of the observed photospheric field. We derive the long-term variation of Φ open during 1971-1998 and discuss its causes. Near sunspot minimum, the open flux originates mainly from the large polar coronal holes, whereas at sunspot maximum it is rooted in small, lower-latitude holes characterized by very high field strengths; the total amount of open flux thus remains roughly constant between sunspot minimum and maximum. Through most of the cycle, the variation of Φ open closely follows that of the Sun's total dipole strength, showing much less dependence on the total photospheric flux or the sunspot number. However, episodic increases in large-scale sunspot activity lead to strengthenings of the equatorial dipole component, and hence to enhancements in Φ open and the IMF strength lasting typically ∼1 yr.
Obesity, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.

Obesity is a major risk factor for essential hypertension, diabetes, and other comorbid conditions that contribute to development of chronic kidney disease. Obesity raises blood pressure by increasing renal tubular sodium reabsorption, impairing pressure natriuresis, and causing volume expansion via activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and by physical compression of the kidneys, especially when there is increased visceral adiposity. Other factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipotoxicity may also contribute to obesity-mediated hypertension and renal dysfunction. Initially, obesity causes renal vasodilation and glomerular hyperfiltration, which act as compensatory mechanisms to maintain sodium balance despite increased tubular reabsorption. However, these compensations, along with increased arterial pressure and metabolic abnormalities, may ultimately lead to glomerular injury and initiate a slowly developing vicious cycle that exacerbates hypertension and worsens renal injury. Body weight reduction, via caloric restriction and increased physical activity, is an important first step for management of obesity, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. However, this strategy may not be effective in producing long-term weight loss or in preventing cardiorenal and metabolic consequences in many obese patients. The majority of obese patients require medical therapy for obesity-associated hypertension, metabolic disorders, and renal disease, and morbidly obese patients may require surgical interventions to produce sustained weight loss.
Chromatin structural analyses of the mouse Igκ gene locus reveal new hypersensitive sites specifying a transcriptional silencer and enhancer

To identify new regulatory elements within the mouse Igκ locus, we have mapped DNase I hypersensitive sites (HSs) in the chromatin of B cell lines arrested at different stages of differentiation. We have focused on two regions encompassing 50 kilobases suspected to contain new regulatory elements based on our previous high level expression results with yeast artificial chromosome-based mouse Igκ transgenes. This approach has revealed a cluster of HSs within the 18-kilobase intervening sequence, which we cloned and sequenced in its entirety, between the Vκ gene closest to the Jκ region. These HSs exhibit pro/pre-B cell-specific transcriptional silencing of a Vκ gene promoter in transient transfection assays. We also identified a plasmacytoma cell-specific HS in the far downstream region of the locus, which in analogous transient transfection assays proved to be a powerful transcriptional enhancer. Deletional analyses reveal that for each element multiple DNA segments cooperate to achieve either silencing or enhancement. The enhancer sequence is conserved in the human Igκ gene locus, including NF-κB and E-box sites that are important for the activity. In summary, our results pinpoint the locations of presumptive regulatory elements for future knockout studies to define their functional roles in the native locus.
Synthesis of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl oxyalkanes and acrylates based on them

Addition reactions of ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, and butane-1,4-diol to bicyclo[2,2,1]hept-2-ene in the presence of a catalyst BF3 OEt2 were studied for deriving reactive monomer, therewith bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-2-oxyalcanols with a yield of 91.2–96.0% were synthesized. In the second stage esterification of the obtained bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-oxyalkanols was conducted with acrylic acid in the presence of a catalyst of KU-2-8 H grade and acrylates was also derived with a yield of 87.5–93.0%, which are reactive monomers for synthesis of polymeric glassy products.
Using Fractal Downscaling of Satellite Precipitation Products for Hydrometeorological Applications

Abstract The objective of spatial downscaling strategies is to increase the information content of coarse datasets at smaller scales. In the case of quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) for hydrological applications, the goal is to close the scale gap between the spatial resolution of coarse datasets (e.g., gridded satellite precipitation products at resolution L × L) and the high resolution (l × l; L ≫ l) necessary to capture the spatial features that determine spatial variability of water flows and water stores in the landscape. In essence, the downscaling process consists of weaving subgrid-scale heterogeneity over a desired range of wavelengths in the original field. The defining question is, which properties, statistical and otherwise, of the target field (the known observable at the desired spatial resolution) should be matched, with the caveat that downscaling methods be as a general as possible and therefore ideally without case-specific constraints and/or calibration requirements? Here, th...
Assessment of Seeding Effects in Snowpack Augmentation Programs: Ice Nucleation and Scavenging of Seeding Aerosols

Abstract Trace chemical analysis techniques have been used in a series of cloud-seeding experiments in the central Sierra Nevada with the ultimate purpose of distinguishing whether the submicron-sized aerosol particles used for seeding are removed by nucleation or by scavenging in snowfall. The research programs used submicron-sized seeding aerosols with different nucleating characteristics. When winter storms were seeded with silver iodide in the Lake Tahoe and Lake Almanor watersheds, positive correlations were observed between silver concentrations and precipitation amounts in both catchment areas.This is considered to be evidence that the AgI aerosols are not being removed in the snowfall entirely by scavenging processes. When two separate aerosols of silver iodide and indium sesquioxide were released simultaneously from the same ground locations during winter snowstorms in the Lake Almanor watershed, it was found that considerably more of the ice-nucleating aerosol particles (AgI) were removed by the...
SH3 DOMAIN-MEDIATED DIMERIZATION OF AN N-TERMINAL FRAGMENT OF THE PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 3-KINASE p85 SUBUNIT

Abstract A recombinant fragment of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85 subunit containing the SH3 domain and an adjacent proline-rich region was analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. The recombinant protein dimerizes in solution with dissociation constant of 0.9 ± 0.3 μM.