cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experiences with a Federated Environment Testbed

In order to address the question, “What tool integrations are possible for third party tool users given the current state of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) tools and integration technology?”, a set of tool integration experiments were undertaken. These experiments used existing COTS tool and integration technology to create a loosely integrated toolset supporting a simple process scenario. The experiments demonstrated that tool integration is possible by third party tool users with moderate effort. A set of lessons learned from the experiments is provided, along with potential future directions for this work.
Theory of Software Testing With Persistent State

Software testing began as an empirical activity, and remains part of engineering practice without a widely accepted theoretical foundation. The overwhelming majority of test methods are designed to find software errors, termed faults, in program source code, but not to assess software operational quality. To go beyond fault-seeking requires a theory that relates static program properties to executions. In the 1970s and 1980s, Gerhart, Howden, and others developed a sound functional theory of program testing. Then Duran and others used this theory to precisely define the notions of random testing and operational reliability. In the Gerhart-Howden-Duran theory, a program's behavior is a pure input-output mapping. This paper extends the theory to include persistent state, by adding a state space to the input space, and a state mapping to a program's output mapping. The extended theory is significantly different because test states, unlike inputs, cannot be chosen arbitrarily. The theory is used to analyze state-based testing methods, to examine the practicality of reliability assessment, and to suggest experiments that would increase understanding of the statistical properties of software.
Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Can Influence Endothelial Cell Plasminogen Activators

Endothelial cells from both human retinal microvessels (HME) and fetal bovine aortic endothelium (FBAE) were grown in aggregate cultures alone, or with either retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells or fibroblasts. The levels of plasminogen activator (PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) in the conditioned media of the various aggregate types were measured. High PA levels were detected in the conditioned medium of pure endothelial cell aggregates (equal to 140% and 124% of urokinase control for HME and FBAE, respectively), and high PAI levels were associated with pure RPE aggregates (inhibiting 93% of the urokinase control). The conditioned medium of pure fibroblast aggregates had very low levels of either PA or PAI. When RPE cells were aggregated with FBAE or HME cells into mixed (heterogenous) aggregates, the PA measured in the conditioned medium was equal to 22% and 30% of the urokinase control, respectively. The PA level in the conditioned medium of mixed fibroblast-FBAE cell aggregates was higher, 104% of the control, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Co-incubation of pure RPE aggregates with pure FBAE aggregates or with pure HME aggregates resulted in PA activity in the conditioned medium that was equal to 110% and 96% of the control, respectively. The PA level found when pure FBAE cell aggregates were co-incubated with pure fibroblast aggregates was higher, 134% of the control, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Our results indicate that RPE cells can reduce endothelial cell PA, probably through both direct contact between the cells and PAI production. Fibroblasts did not have this influence on endothelial cell PA. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:1070-1078,1990 Neovascularization plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a number of ophthalmic disorders, including age-related macular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Neovascularization begins with the invasion of surrounding tissue by vascular sprouts via protease-mediated degradation of adjacent extracellular matrix. Plasminogen activators (PAs) are a group of serine proteases which catalyze the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. The ability of plasmin to cause destructive proteolysis of many extracellular matrix components, including laminin and fibronectin, makes it well suited as a mediator of basement membrane invasion. 1 It has been shown that endothelial cells produce both urokinase and tissue-type PAs, 2 ' 3 and urokinase has been identified in migrating endothelial cells 4 and at the tips of vascular sprouts. 5 The factors which control
SHATTERPROOF MADS-box genes control seed dispersal in Arabidopsis

The fruit, which mediates the maturation and dispersal of seeds, is a complex structure unique to flowering plants. Seed dispersal in plants such as Arabidopsis occurs by a process called fruit dehiscence, or pod shatter. Few studies have focused on identifying genes that regulate this process, in spite of the agronomic value of controlling seed dispersal in crop plants such as canola. Here we show that the closely related SHATTERPROOF (SHP1) and SHATTERPROOF2 (SHP2) MADS-box genes are required for fruit dehiscence in Arabidopsis. Moreover, SHP1 and SHP2 are functionally redundant, as neither single mutant displays a novel phenotype. Our studies of shp1 shp2 fruit, and of plants constitutively expressing SHP1 and SHP2, show that these two genes control dehiscence zone differentiation and promote the lignification of adjacent cells. Our results indicate that further analysis of the molecular events underlying fruit dehiscence may allow genetic manipulation of pod shatter in crop plants.
σ1-Receptor Ligand 4-Phenyl-1-(4-Phenylbutyl)-Piperidine Affords Neuroprotection From Focal Ischemia With Prolonged Reperfusion

Background and Purpose —We previously showed that the intravenous administration of the potent ς1-receptor ligand 4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)-piperidine (PPBP) provides neuroprotection against transient focal cerebral ischemia and that the protection depends on treatment duration. We tested the hypothesis that PPBP would provide neuroprotection in a model of transient focal ischemia and 7 days of reperfusion in the rat as assessed with neurobehavioral outcome and infarction volume. Methods —Under the controlled conditions of normoxia, normocarbia, and normothermia, halothane-anesthetized male Wistar rats were subjected to 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with the intraluminal suture occlusion technique. We used laser Doppler flowmetry to assess MCAO. At 60 minutes after the onset of ischemia, rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups in a blinded fashion and received a continuous intravenous infusion of control saline or 0.1, 1, or 10 μmol · kg−1 · h−1 PPBP for 24 hours. Neurobehavioral evaluation was performed at baseline (3 to 4 days before MCAO) and at 3 and 7 days of reperfusion. Infarction volume was assessed with triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining on day 7 of reperfusion in all rats. Results —Triphenyltetrazolium chloride–determined infarction volume of ipsilateral cortex was smaller in rats treated with 10 μmol · kg−1 · h−1 PPBP (n=15, 68±12 mm3, 18±3% of contralateral structure, P <0.05) (mean±SEM) compared with corresponding rats treated with saline (n=15, 114±11 mm3, 31±3% of contralateral structure). PPBP did not provide significant neuroprotection in the caudoputamen complex. Although MCAO was associated with several alterations in behavior, the treatment with PPBP had no effect on behavioral outcomes. Conclusions —The data demonstrate that the potent ς1-receptor ligand PPBP decreases cortical infarction volume without altering neurobehavior after transient focal ischemia and prolonged reperfusion in the rat.
Bacterial Analysis of Fertilized Eggs of Atlantic Salmon from the Penobscot, Naraguagus, and Machias Rivers, Maine

AbstractSerious losses have occurred at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, East Orland, Maine, among eggs that were taken from Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar, which were held as captive broodfish during their returns to the Penobscot River, Naraguagus River, and Machias River to spawn. Bacterial isolations were attempted from external surfaces and the internal contents of individual eggs. Externally and in all cases, Pseudomonas fluorescens was the predominant bacterium associated with the surface of all eggs. These bacteria were resistant to a surface treatment of 1,667 ppm formalin for 15 min and, therefore, the monoclonal nature of P. fluorescens on egg surfaces was considered to result from its ability to resist the germicidal activity of formalin administered for antifungal treatments. Flavobacterium psychrophilum, the cause of bacterial coldwater disease, was isolated from the interior of 23.6, 18.1, and 29.2% of the dead Atlantic Salmon eggs from Penobscot River eg...
Facilitation of lin-12-mediated signalling by sel-12, a Caenorhabditis elegans S182 Alzheimer's disease gene

THE lin-12 and glp-1 genes of Caenorhabditis elegans are members of the lin-12 / Notch family of receptors for intercellular signals that specify cell fate1,2. By screening for suppressors of a lin-12 gain-of-function mutation, we identified a new gene, sel-12, which appears to function in receiving cells to facilitate signalling mediated by lin-12 and glp-1. The sel-12 gene encodes a protein with multiple transmembrane domains, and is similar to S182, which has been implicated in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease3. The high degree of sequence conservation suggests that the function of the SEL-12 and S182 proteins may also be conserved.
Social Responsiveness, an Autism Endophenotype: Genomewide Significant Linkage to Two Regions on Chromosome 8

Objective:Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by deficits in social function and the presence of repetitive and restrictive behaviors. Following a previous test of principle, the authors adopted a quantitative approach to discovering genes contributing to the broader autism phenotype by using social responsiveness as an endophenotype for autism spectrum disorder.Method:Linkage analyses using scores from the Social Responsiveness Scale were performed in 590 families from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, a largely multiplex autism spectrum disorder cohort. Regional and genomewide association analyses were performed to search for common variants contributing to social responsiveness.Results:Social Responsiveness Scale scores were unimodally distributed in male offspring from multiplex autism families, in contrast with a bimodal distribution observed in female offspring. In correlated analyses differing by Social Responsiveness Scale respondent, genomewide significant linkage for social responsiven...
Numerical study of the flange earring of deep-drawing sheets with stronger anisotropy

Abstract A Barlat–Lian anisotropy yield function is introduced into a quasi-flow corner theory of elastic–plastic finite deformation and the elastic–plastic large deformation finite element formulation based on the principle of virtual velocity and the discrete Kirchhoff triangle plate shell element model. The focus of the present researches is on the numerical simulation of the flange earring of deep-drawing process of circular sheets with stronger anisotropy, based on which, the schemes for controlling the flange earring are proposed.
Dry sliding wear of diamond materials

Abstract In pin-on-disc tests, diamond composites, consisting of diamonds imbedded in a silicon matrix, were run against themselves in air at a sliding speed of 125 cm s −1 and for loads up to 3.6 kgf. In addition, a few experiments involving sintered diamond compacts rubbing against a rotating metal ring in a ring-and-block configuration were conducted. For the diamond composite wear tests, wear was found to be proportional to load and sliding distance for P ⩽ 3.0 kgf . For both the diamond composite and the diamond compact, the wear rates were very low and similar to those previously observed for single-crystal diamonds rubbed by diamond and metal.
Alternative technique of cervical spinal stabilization employing lateral mass plate and screw and intra-articular spacer fixation.

Aim: The author discusses an alternative technique of segmental cervical spinal fixation. Material and Methods: The subtleties of the technique are discussed on the basis of experience with 3 cases with a follow-up of between 30 and 36 months. Technique: The technique involves debridement of facetal articular cartilage, distraction of facets, jamming of 'Goel spacer' into the articular cavity and fortification of the fixation by lateral mass plate and screw fixation. The 'double-insurance' method of fixation is safe for vertebral artery, nerve roots and spinal neural structures and the fixation is strong. Conclusions: The discussed technique is safe and provides a strong fixation and a ground for ultimate arthrodesis.
Mode of distribution of aminergic fibers in the cerebellar cortex of the chicken.

The cerebellar cortex of adult hens contains a dense plexus of thin varicose nerve fibers which display a formaldehyde-induced green fluorescence. This plexus is not distributed at random in the cortical layers. Within the granular layer the plexus forms a netlike pattern. The fiber branches, which have numerous varicosities, are predominantly oriented in the traverse plane of the folium. In the molecular layer the fluorescent plexus shows some variations in the convex, flat and concave portions of the folia. Many of the fluorescent branches are oriented parallel to the course of the folium. They arise from a T-division of radially oriented axons resembling parallel fibers in Golgi sections. The meshes of the fluorescent plexus in the granular layer measure 10–60 μ. In the molecular layer (top of the folia) there are about 30 fluorescent fibers per 100 μ2. The fluorescent fibers originate from the locus coeruleus and form a rostral and a caudal bundle in the cerebellar peduncle. The mode of distribution of the fluorescent fibers in the cortical layers seems to depend on the organization of the innervated tissue. Light microscopy suggests that the aminergic fibers innervate more than one class of cerebellar neurons.
Pharmacologic actions at various neuroeffectors of single and combined administration of EPN and malathion

Abstract Effects of single and combined administrations of two anticholinesterase insecticides, EPN and malathion, were studied in dogs and cats with regard to autonomic and somatic synapses, and to differences in EEG. When the drugs were administered intravenously, EPN had maximum effect only after a latent period of 30 min, while malathion acted almost immediately. EPN and malathion, given singly, facilitated responses to preganglionic stimulation of sympathetic ganglia, to the stimulation of the cardiac vagus nerve and of the chorda tympani nerve, and to intravenously injected acetylcholine. EPN was more potent than malathion in all these cases, but the potency ratio differed from test to test. Even with regard to two sympathetic ganglia, the cervical and stellate, the potency of the two agents as well as the ratio of potency differed widely. EPN and malathion, given singly, were weak and inconsistent in ability to increase muscle twitch and to produce EEG arousal in atropinized animals. Upon combined administration of EPN and malathion, more than additive action arose at several neuroeffectors, particularly at the neuromyal junction and in the central nervous system. Potentiation was absent in the case of several autonomic neuroeffectors. At the neuromyal junction and in the central nervous system, potentiation arose whether EPN was administered 30 to 45 min before, or after, malathion. The potentiation was less in the latter case. The doses of combinations sufficient to cause neuromyal and EEG effects approximate the LD 50 values of the combinations. It is suggested, therefore, that the lethality of combinations is due to neuromyal and central actions. The differential neuroeffector actions of EPN and malathion and of their combinations were discussed. The possibility was stressed that potentiation arising at several neuroeffectors from joint actions of EPN and malathion may depend on factors other than interference of one compound with the metabolism of the other.
Manipulation of food resources by a gall-forming aphid: the physiology of sink-source interactions

We examined the capacity of the galling aphid, Pemphigus betae, to manipulate the sink-source translocation patterns of its host, narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia). A series of 14C-labeling experiments and a biomass allocation experiment showed that P. betae galls functioned as physiologic sinks, drawing in resources from surrounding plant sources. Early gall development was dependent on aphid sinks increasing allocation from storage reserves of the stem, and later development of the progeny within the gall was dependent on resources from the galled leaf blade and from neighboring leaves. Regardless of gall position within a leaf, aphids intercepted 14C exported from the galled leaf (a non-mobilized source). However, only aphid galls at the most basal site of the leaf were strong sinks for 14C fixed in neighboring leaves (a mobilized source). Drawing resources from neighboring leaves represents active herbivore manipulation of normal host transport patterns. Neighboring leaves supplied 29% of the 14C accumulating in aphids in basal galls, while only supplying 7% to aphids in distal galls. This additional resource available to aphids in basal galls can account for the 65% increase in progeny produced in basal galls compared to galls located more distally on the leaf and limited to the galled leaf as a food resource. Developing furits also act as skins and compete with aphid-induced sinks for food supply. Aphid success in producing galls was increased 31% when surrounding female catkins were removed.
Breath measurements as volatile organic compound biomarkers.

Abstract A brief review of the uses of breath analysis in studies of environmental exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is provided. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's large-scale Total Exposure Assessment Methodology Studies have measured concentrations of 32 target VOCs in the exhaled breath of about 800 residents of various U.S. cities. Since the previous 12-hr integrated personal air exposures to the same chemicals were also measured, the relation between exposure and body burden is illuminated. Another major use of the breath measurements has been to detect unmeasured pathways of exposure; the major impact of active smoking on exposure to benzene and styrene was detected in this way. Following the earlier field studies, a series of chamber studies have provided estimates of several important physiological parameters. Among these are the fraction, f, of the inhaled chemical that is exhaled under steady-state conditions and the residence times. tau i in several body compartments, which may be associated with the blood (or liver), organs, muscle, and fat. Most of the targeted VOCs appear to have similar residence times of a few minutes, 30 min, several hours, and several days in the respective tissue groups. Knowledge of these parameters can be helpful in estimating body burden from exposure or vice versa and in planning environmental studies, particularly in setting times to monitor breath in studies of the variation with time of body burden. Improvements in breath methods have made it possible to study short-term peak exposure situations such as filling a gas tank or taking a shower in contaminated water.
The formalism of probability theory in IR: a foundation or an encumbrance?

Probabilistic theories of retrieval bring to bear on the information search problem a high degree of theoretical coherence and deductive power. In principle, this power ought to be an invaluable asset. In practice, it has turned out to be a mixed blessing. The question considered here is whether the trappings of the probabilistic formalism strengthen or encumber IR research on balance.
A hypergeometric probability model for protein identification and validation using tandem mass spectral data and protein sequence databases.

We present a new probability-based method for protein identification using tandem mass spectra and protein databases. The method employs a hypergeometric distribution to model frequencies of matches between fragment ions predicted for peptide sequences with a specific (M + H)+ value (at some mass tolerance) in a protein sequence database and an experimental tandem mass spectrum. The hypergeometric distribution constitutes null hypothesisall peptide matches to a tandem mass spectrum are random. It is used to generate a score characterizing the randomness of a database sequence match to an experimental tandem mass spectrum and to determine the level of significance of the null hypothesis. For each tandem mass spectrum and database search, a peptide is identified that has the least probability of being a random match to the spectrum and the corresponding level of significance of the null hypothesis is determined. To check the validity of the hypergeometric model in describing fragment ion matches, we used χ2...
Acrylamide Gel as a Supporting Medium for Zone Electrophoresis

Acrylamide polymerized in buffer solutions forms a stable, flexible, transparent gel which is useful in zone electrophoresis.
Underestimation of deep convective cloud tops by thermal imagery

The most common method of ascertaining cloud heights from space is from thermal brightness temperatures. Deep cumulus clouds of high water content are expected to radiate as black bodies. Here, cloud tops are estimated from several sensors: GOES-8, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the Moderate resolution Imaging Sensor (MISR), and the Goddard Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), all collected during the CRYSTAL Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE). Thermally derived cloud tops are consistently approx. 1km too low compared with independent measurements, no matter how thick the clouds are, even when the finite optical extinctions near cloud top and in thin overlying cirrus are taken into account. The bias appears to get worse for the tallest clouds. Cloud material is often present 2 km or more above the apparent cloud top. This mysterious discrepancy appears to be satellite-independent.
Short note: Notes on the PCICE method: Simplification, generalization, and compressibility properties

The pressure-based PCICE numerical method [R.C. Martineau, R.A. Berry, The pressure-corrected ICE finite element method (PCICE-FEM) for compressible flows on unstructured meshes, J. Comput. Phys. 198 (2004) 659] for computing transient fluid flows of all speeds from nearly incompressible to high supersonic with strong shocks is simplified and generalized. Its behavior is examined in the nearly incompressible limit and in the fully compressible limit. In the nearly incompressible limit the PCICE algorithm is found to reduce to a generalization of the incompressible MAC method, which includes the density gradient as a driving function in the pressure Poisson equation. In the fully compressible regime, it is found to reduce to an expression equivalent to density-based methods for high-speed flow.
Surgical exclusion of focal paroxysmal atrial tachycardia.

Abstract A 37 year old man with no evidence of structural heart disease presented with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia that could not be induced in the electrophysiology laboratory. Epicardial and endocardial mapping of the tachycardia performed in the operating room showed earliest activation at the junction of the right superior pulmonary vein and left atrium. An encircling incision excluded the portion of the left atrium containing the earliest point of activation and both right pulmonary veins from the remainder of the left atrium. The edges of the incision were then reapproximated. The patient is free of arrhythmias 6 months later. This technique should prove useful for the management of arrhythmias arising from parts of the atria that are difficult to excise.
Differential Regulation of Anterior Pituitary Corticotrope Function is Observed in Vivo but not in Vitro in Two Lines of Ethanol-Sensitive Mice

Anterior pituitary corticotrope function was analyzed in the long sleep (LS) and short sleep (SS) lines of mice selectively bred for differences in sensitivity to ethanol. In vivo challenge with acute ethanol or CRH administration or the stress of novel handling resulted in a more pronounced increase in serum corticosterone levels in LS mice compared with SS mice. Likewise, in vivo administration of ethanol resulted in 3-fold higher levels of anterior pituitary pro-ACTH/endorphin mRNA in LS mice compared with SS mice. However, this differential regulation of the HPA axis during in vivo analysis was not observed during in vitro studies of anterior pituitary corticotrope function. Primary cultures of LS and SS anterior pituicytes responded appropriately but equivalently to a variety of secretagogues known to stimulate anterior pituitary ACTH secretion. These secretagogues included CRH (10 nm), dibutyryl-cAMP (1 mm), vasopressin (100 nm), and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10 nm). Ethanol had no direct stimulatory effect on pituitary ACTH secretion. Quantitation of anterior pituitary corticotrope peptide biosynthesis was determined by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of extracts from [35S]methionine-labeled anterior pituitary explants and from [35S]methionine-labeled primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells. LS mice pro-ACTH/endorphin biosynthesis in pituitary explants was 2-fold greater than pro-ACTH/endorphin biosynthesis in SS mice pituitary explants. However, in culture, isolated from hypothalamic and adrenal factors, the LS anterior pituitary pro-ACTH/endorphin biosynthetic rate became eguivalent to the SS anterior pituitary pro-ACTH/endorphin biosynthetic rate. The results suggest that the differential regulation of LS and SS anterior pituitary corticotropes observed in vivo is not due to genetic differences in LS and SS anterior pituitary corticotrope function.
Progesterone receptor antagonist CDB-4124 increases depression-like behavior in mice without affecting locomotor ability

Progesterone withdrawal has been proposed as an underlying factor in premenstrual syndrome and postpartum depression. Progesterone withdrawal induces forced swim test (FST) immobility in mice, a depression-like behavior, but the contribution of specific receptors to this effect is unclear. The role of progesterone's GABA(A) receptor-modulating metabolite allopregnanolone in depression- and anxiety-related behaviors has been extensively documented, but little attention has been paid to the role of progesterone receptors. We administered the classic progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone (RU-38486) and the specific progesterone receptor antagonist CDB-4124 to mice that had been primed with progesterone for five days, and found that both compounds induced FST immobility reliably, robustly, and in a dose-dependent fashion. Although CDB-4124 increased FST immobility, it did not suppress initial activity in a locomotor test. These findings suggest that decreased progesterone receptor activity contributes to depression-like behavior in mice, consistent with the hypothesis that progesterone withdrawal may contribute to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or postpartum depression.
Chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia: cognitive and academic sequelae.

Iatrogenic cognitive impairments have been reported for survivors of childhood leukemia after prophylactic central nervous system therapy with craniospinal radiation. To determine whether chemotherapy alone might be a source of central nervous system damage, we assessed in a cross-sectional design the cognitive and academic functioning of 48 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia who were at various stages in their treatment or who had completed treatment. The off-therapy patients who had completed a 3-year course of chemotherapy were more impaired in tasks of higher-order cognitive functioning than were those children whose leukemia had been newly diagnosed and those children whose diagnoses had been 1 years earlier. Off-therapy patients also had concomitant diagnosable learning disabilities in mathematics. We recommend appropriate liaison and special education placements, as well as continued evaluation of cognitive and learning functioning of children treated for moderate-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia who receive chemotherapy alone.
Flame synthesis and effects of host materials on Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped upconversion nanophosphors

Abstract The upconversion nanophosphors (UCNPs) of Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped into Y2O3, La2O3, and Gd2O3 were synthesized via the combustion method and characterized by powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and upconversion fluorescence spectroscopy. The characterization results showed that at the same flame temperature (2705 K) and precursor concentration (0.1 M), pure monoclinic and cubic-phase phosphors were achieved on Gd2O3 and Y2O3 hosted UCNPs, respectively; while the mixed phases were observed on La2O3 hosted UCNPs. Further annealing process at 850 °C produced pure cubic-phase La2O3:Yb3+,Er3+ UCNPs; while there was no phase transition observed on Gd2O3:Yb3+,Er3+ UCNPs. The dependence of upconversion luminescence on precursor concentrations and host materials was then examined. The La2O3 and Gd2O3 hosts were shown to be the promising alternates for the commonly used Y2O3 hosts for rare-earth doped phosphors.
The vicissitudes of attitudes and similar representational constructs in twentieth century psychology

‘Attitudes’ has been the central concept of social psychology in three different periods, over which the interest evolved to three progressively more sophisticated topics. The first of these three peakings was the 1920s and 1930s preoccupation with the static topics of attitude scaling and relation to behaviour. Then, after a 1935–1955 interlude in which the study of group processes supplanted attitude as the central concern of social psychology, attitude research re-emerged as the dominant interest during the 1950s and 1960s enthusiasm for the dynamic topic of attitude change, approached by a convergent style in the 1950s and a divergent style in the 1960s. During the 1965–1985 period interest shifted from attitudes to social cognition, including representational reductions in information encoding and decoding as well as inferential extrapolations in meaning attribution, person perception, and cognitive ramifications. Now we are experiencing the beginnings of a third flourishing of attitude research likely to dominate the 1980s and 1990s, this third peaking focused on more evolved structural issues, including the structure of individual attitudes, of systems of attitudes, and of attitudinal systems as they relate to other systems within the person. Intrinsic and extrinsic forces underlying these shifts of interest are considered.
Phospholamban Topology As a Regulator of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ATPase Function

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ATPase (SERCA) transports Ca2+ ions from the cytosol of cardiomyocytes into the SR, making it a crucial regulator of cardiac muscle function. SERCA is inhibited by phospholamban (PLN), a membrane-spanning protein consisting of a transmembrane (TM) helix connected to an amphipathic helix by a short loop. Phosphorylation of PLN at Ser16 relieves the inhibition of SERCA but does not dissociate the PLN-SERCA complex. Owing to their pivotal role in cardiac muscle function, SERCA and PLN have received much attention as therapeutic targets. In one such study, a pseudo-phosphorylated S16E mutant of PLN was successfully used to relieve the effects of heart failure in hamsters (Nat. Med., 2002, 8, 864-871). Ongoing efforts in our lab are aimed to design new PLN mutants that bind tightly with SERCA, but relieve inhibition (i.e., mimic Ser16 phosphorylation).A recent study refined the structure and topology of PLN in a lipid bilayer environment using a hybrid solution and solid state NMR approach (PNAS, 2009, 106, 25, 10165-101670). The tilt angle of the PLN TM helix in DOPC/DOPE bilayers was determined to be 24o with respect to the bilayer normal. In this study, we reconstituted PLN into magnetically aligned bicelles and used PISEMA experiments to show that the topology of PLN is strongly dependent on hydrophobic mismatch, since mutations in the PLN sequence and changes in the bilayer composition alter the TM helix tilt angle. Taken with results from our lab that correlated PLN structural dynamics to inhibitory function on SERCA (J. Biol. Chem., 2007, 282, 51, 37205-14), the differences in topology presented in this work introduce a new dimension in the study of PLN mutants that could be crucial for understanding the complex structural features of PLN that are important for SERCA regulation.
A flawed perspective: the limitations inherent within the study of Chinese nationalism1

ABSTRACT. Is nationalism in China on the rise? Is it making China more combative in the international arena? More fundamentally: Is a focus on nationalism the most effective intellectual framework for understanding how those living within the People's Republic of China (PRC) are defining their position in contemporary world politics? This article briefly answers each of these questions. It argues that, despite forwarding some compelling insights, previous work on Chinese nationalism has been undermined by a number of major flaws. It then finds that such shortcomings are in no small part a product of the narrowing gaze that a focus on nationalism alone imposes on the study of identity politics. The article then advocates that in place of the nationalism rubric, a turn to the broader question of national identity formation is merited. Utilising this perspective, it concludes by cautioning that incipient splits within contemporary Chinese national identity may portend a more tumultuous relationship between China and the rest of the world in the years to come.
An iron oxide aerosol suitable for animal exposures

Abstract An aerosol generator has been constructed which produces submicronic iron oxide particles from the combustion of iron pentacarbonyl, Fe(CO)5. If operating conditions are chosen with care, CO levels will be below 5 ppm when mass concentrations are as high as 340 mg/m3. The aerosol is suitable for animal exposures since it is relatively nontoxic and is easily quantitated by techniques of chemical analysis. The particles reach the pulmonary alveolar surface where they are readily recognized by light and electron microscopy. These aerosols are ideal for use in morphological studies on the pathways of particle clearance in the lungs.
Ontogeny of Basal and Regulated Proopiomelanocortin-Derived Peptide Secretion from Fetal and Neonatal Pituitary Intermediate Lobe Cells: Melanotrophs Exhibit Transient Glucocorticoid Responses during Development

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-producing cells comprise nearly 100% of the adult rat intermediate lobe (IL) hormone-producing cells. Secretion by these cells in the adult is primarily under negative regulation by dopamine. Although the POMC-derived peptide alpha-MSH has been detected in plasma of fetal rats, the secretory capability of fetal melanotrophs has not yet been examined directly. Here we have used the reverse hemolytic plaque assay to assess, at the single-cell level, basal and regulated release by melanotrophs from fetal and early postnatal ages. Basal secretion was detected at the earliest age examined [Embryonic Day 17.5 (e17.5)], but CRH (10(-8) M) stimulated secretion was not observed until e19.5. As development proceeded, CRH increased both individual plaque sizes and the percentage of melanotrophs stimulated to secrete. An unexpected, transient inhibition of CRH stimulated release from melanotrophs by dexamethasone (DEX, 10(-6) M) was observed from e19.5-p2 (postnatal Day 2). By p3, however, DEX no longer inhibited melanotroph secretion while inhibition of CRH-stimulated release from p3 corticotrophs was readily detected. The dopamine agonist ergocryptine (ERG, 10(-6) M) inhibited basal secretion from melanotrophs, but not corticotrophs, at all ages examined. Taken together, these results indicate that melanotrophs undergo a maturation process in which they are initially nonresponsive to CRH, next possess functional CRH and steroid receptors, and finally, undergo functional uncoupling of steroid receptors which characterizes the adult IL. The loss of steroid-mediated inhibition of stimulated secretion parallels the arrival of catecholaminergic input into the IL. In contrast, the early response of melanotrophs to dopaminergic agonists, which can be detected 1 week prior to arrival of catecholaminergic fibers into the neurointermediate lobe, appears to be an intrinsic feature of these cells that is never present in corticotrophs.
STIM1 in Rat Ventricular Myocytes

The Ca2+ binding protein STIM1 is located primarily in the sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum. It is thought that STIM1 plays a critical role in activating Ca2+ release activated Ca2+ channel (CRAC) in non-excitable cells such as T lymphocytes and may also be important in excitable cells such as skeletal muscle and smooth muscle cells. However, it is not clear yet if STIM1 is expressed and functions in adult rat ventricular myocytes. Figure A shows STIM1 immunofluorescence and Figure B shows STIM1-mcherry fluorescence expressed in cultured rat ventricular myocytes. Both show a similar pattern of STIM1 localization, primarily at the Z-disk of the ventricular myocyte. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching shows that STIM1 moves readily with the S/ER network. While there is no obvious need for store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCs) in ventricular myocytes, the clear presence of STIM1 suggests that an as yet undiscovered function of this Ca2+ binding protein in ventricular myocytes is likely to be discovered. We are now examining the electrophysiological and Ca2+ signaling functions of STIM1 in mammalian (rat and mouse) ventricular myocytes.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Iwasawa invariants of imaginary quadratic fields

LetK be an imaginary quadratic field andp an odd prime which splits inK. We study the Iwasawa invariants for ℤ p -extensions ofK. This is motivated in part by a recent result of Sands. The main result is the following. Assumep does not divide the class number ofK. LetK∞ be a ℤ p -extension ofK. SupposeK∞ is not totally ramified at the primes abovep. Then the μ-invariant forK∞/K vanishes. We also show that if μ=0 for all ℤ p -extensions ofK, then the λ-invariant is bounded asK∞ runs through all such extensions.
Feminization of the HIV epidemic in the United States: Major research findings and future research needs

This article describes several HIV prevention interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in reducing women’s risk of HIV and identifies key research questions to be addressed in the area of HIV prevention for women. The article is organized in a question-and-answer format for clarity of presentation. This format is particularly useful in the latter half, which focuses on specific questions that have emerged from past and ongoing research among women. Some of these research questions include the following: (a) How can researchers develop effective strategies that can prevent women from relapsing to risky sexual practices? (b) What are effective HIV prevention approaches for Latina women? (c) How can interventions be tailored to the needs of women living with HIV? (d) How can we improve the efficacy and cost effectiveness of comprehensive HIV prevention strategies for reducing HIV and other blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections among women?
Design of power-aware FPGA fabrics

We present two techniques to reduce the power consumption in FPGAs. The first technique uses two supply voltages: timing-critical paths run on normal Vdd, while the non-critical ones save power by using a lower Vdd. Our programmable dual-Vdd architectures and Vdd assignment algorithms provide an average power saving of 61% across the MCNC benchmarks. The second technique targets applications where configuration time is crucial. It uses Asymmetric SRAM (ASRAM) (instead of high-Vt SRAM) cells to implement the configuration memory. Our bit-inversion algorithm further reduces leakage by increasing the number of ASRAM cells that are in their preferred state.
Time-varying alterations in the f2-f1 DPOAE response to continuous primary stimulation. I: Response characterization and contribution of the olivocochlear efferents.

Abstract The f2−f1 distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) can be observed to undergo gradual alterations in amplitude during continuous ipsilateral stimulation with primary tones. In the present experiments, we characterized the dependence of these amplitude alterations on several stimulus variables (intensity, duration, frequency) and on DPOAE type (quadratic vs cubic) and tested the hypothesis that such alterations are mediated by the olivocochlear (OC) efferents. Responses were recorded in urethane-anesthetized guinea pigs with sectioned middle ear muscles before and after intracochlear application of antagonists (curare, 1 μM; bicuculline, 10 μM; tetrodotoxin, 1 μM) or before and after OC efferent section at the midline of the floor of the IVth ventricle. We confirm previous reports of continuous stimulation-related alterations in the amplitude of the quadratic distortion product, f2−f1, and report a novel, suppressive ‘off-effect’ apparent in f2−f1 amplitude following a short rest from such stimulation. Response alterations were sensitive to primary intensity and to duration of rest from continuous stimulation, but were not clearly frequency-dependent over the ranges tested. Corresponding alterations in the amplitude of the cubic nonlinearity, 2f2−f1 were very small or absent. Amplitude alterations in f2−f1 were reduced but not blocked by OC efferent antagonists (curare, bicuculline) and were largely unaffected by TTX or by midline brainstem section. All of these manipulations, however, prevented completely the known efferent-mediated contralateral sound suppression of both f2−f1 and 2f1−f2 DPOAEs. Taken together, these results do not provide support for efferent control of the f2−f1 amplitude alterations observed during continuous ipsilateral stimulation.
Low-temperature synthesis of a green material for lithium-ion batteries cathode

Abstract Battery technology is an important anthropogenic source of the heavy metals which are highly threatening to human health. A category of rechargeable lithium batteries that is of great interest is the set of batteries where the cathode material is a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). LiFePO4 is an environmentally friendly and safe lithium-ion battery cathode material, but it has a key limitation, and that is its extremely low-electronic conductivity, a problem that can be greatly overcome by zinc-doping LiFePO4. For the first time to our knowledge, a low-temperature method, that is advantageous both economically and technologically, for the synthesis of a zinc-doped LiFePO4 is presented. Since the method appears to be applicable for synthesizing various zinc-doped LiFePO4 compounds with the general formula LiFe1−x Zn x PO4 (0<x<1), it is very promising for the production of a green cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.
Two-photon photochromism of a photorefractive organic material for holographic recording

We report the two-photon induced photoisomerization of 3-[1-(1,2- dimethyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-ethylidene]-4-isopropylidene-dihydro-furan- 2,5-dione (1), a photochromic compound with (lambda) maxequals385nm, using 775 fs pulses. The resulting photoisomer has a (lambda) maxequals582 nm. The kinectic rate contant for the isomerization reaction w as measured at two different intensities (two different powers), showing a quadratic dependence with respect to the pump intensity. Results of pump-probe solution phase experiments and guest/host polymer thin film interferometric imaging studies are shown. A two-photon absorption molecular cross-section (sigma) 2equals10.3 x 10- 45 cm4 s/photon was measured using Z-scan, supporting a two photon induced isomerization process.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Legal Concepts and Multilingual Contexts in Digital Information

Analysis of legal documents cannot be reduced to their linguistic expression. When dealing whit legal texts a distinction should be made between the linguistic form (normative statement) and the content (norm). Norms are conceived as the interpreted meaning of linguistic contexts (partitions in a legal text, fragments of judicial decisions, etc). In the interpretative process, legal practitioners make reference to an external system of concepts that can be assumed, even if not universal, at least shared by a large social and cultural community. As a consequence, legal interpretation and legal conceptualization are strongly influenced by cultural, social and political factors and changes in meaning of legal concepts occur within a synchronic localization in different cultures and within a diachronic evolution process of the environment in which they are created. This dynamic nature of legal knowledge poses serious problems in communicating legal information, and even more in the realm of digital communication, where, in order to manage knowledge across national borders, there is a strong demand of shared vocabularies embedding a shared understanding of legal concept. This paper aims at showing how lexical/terminological resources and conceptual structures, such as ontologies, can be constructed by means of the innovative tools provided by ICT, like the Semantic Web languages, the computational linguistic and the ontology engineering techniques. Such semantic resources may have a strategic role in representing meaning evolution and in investigating social and cultural influences in linguistic uses and, as a further goal, solutions offered by ICT for bridging the gap between form and content can also provide innovative visions of theoretical issues.
An analysis of paleomagnetic secular variation in the Holocene

Abstract Time series records of Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) contain large-amplitude oscillations in both inclination and declination with periods on the order of 10 3 yr. This oscillatory character, along with the phase relationship between records from nearby sites, suggests that the source of PSV consists of propagating wave-like disturbances originating in the outer core. An analysis has been made of PSV records from nine sites located on four continents: North America, South America, Eurasia, and Australia. Both single site modelling and multiple site cross-correlation analyses have been made. Sites on the same continent exhibit a high degree of correlation, whereas the correlation between sites on different continents is generally much lower. Models consisting of two plane waves, one having a period ranging from 2400 to 3200 yr and the second with a period of about half that of the first, have been fitted to the data at eight of the nine sites. The propagation directions derived from the best-fitting wave models and from phase delays resolved from cross-correlation analyses have strong poleward components in both hemispheres. There is evidence of both eastward and westward components of motion, but these are smaller than the poleward components. In both hemispheres all propagation directions are within ±40° of the pole. This indicates that Holocene PSV may consist of a superposition of propagating wave-like disturbances with either eastward or westward components, but also with strong poleward components of motion. Two interpretations are possible: these represent either non-dipole fields advected poleward by a meridional circulation pattern in the outer core which is antisymmetric about the equator, or alternatively, propagating αω-dynamo wave instabilities generated just beneath the core-mantle boundary.