cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intracavity laser spectroscopy: propagation of absorption data through optical fibers

The propagation of achromatic visible laser radiation through optical fibers is examined for a quasi-cw dye laser designed to record absorption by intracavity laser spectroscopy (ILS). The wavelength and intensity characteristics of the ILS laser output and any superimposed intracavity absorption features are preserved quantitatively for propagation through an extracavity single-mode optical fiber. Feedback from the front surface of the optical fiber and its associated optics can modify the ILS laser output. Two optical configurations which give no noticeable modifications to the ILS data propagated through the optical fiber are described. Applications of ILS for remote sensing, sensitive detection of extracavity feedback effects, and characterization of extracavity interferometric signals are indicated.
Interleukin-12 (IL-12)-driven alloimmune responses in vitro and in vivo: requirement for beta1 subunit of the IL-12 receptor.

BACKGROUND Interleukin-12 (IL-12) mediates its biologic activities via binding high-affinity receptors on T and natural killer cells. Although emphasis has been placed on the requirement for IL-12Rbeta2 in IL-12 bioactivity, the role of IL-12Rbeta1 is less well defined. The current study evaluated the effects of exogenous IL-12 on alloantigen-specific immune responses and determined the requirement for IL-12Rbeta1 in IL-12-mediated alloimmunity. METHODS The mouse heterotopic cardiac transplant model was employed to evaluate the effects of IL-12 on alloantigen-specific immune responses in vivo. In addition, IFN-gamma production in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) supplemented with IL-12 was measured to assess the effects of IL-12 on Th1 function in vitro. Mice deficient in IL-12Rbeta1 (IL-12Rbeta1-/-) were used to determine the requirement for this receptor component in IL-12-driven alloimmune responses. RESULTS Addition of IL-12 to MLC consisting of wild-type splenocytes enhanced alloantigen-specific proliferative responses and Th1 development. In contrast, IL-12 did not alter these in vitro immune parameters in IL-12Rbeta1-/- MLC. Treatment of wild-type cardiac allograft recipients with IL-12 resulted in high concentrations of serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and a 10-fold increase in IFN-gamma production by recipient splenocytes after restimulation in vitro. However, this fulminate Th1 response did not accelerate allograft rejection. Importantly, IL-12 had no effect on serum IFN-gamma or in vivo priming of Thl in IL-12Rbeta1-/- recipients. Finally, administration of IL-12 to WT allograft recipients resulted in a bimodal alloantibody response: antibody production was suppressed at high doses of IL-12, and enhanced at lower doses. CONCLUSIONS IL-12 markedly enhances alloantigen-specific immune function; however, these exaggerated Th1-driven responses do not culminate in accelerated allograft rejection. Further, these data indicate that IL-12Rbeta1 is essential for the enhancement of both in vitro and in vivo alloimmune responses by exogenous IL-12.
The cointegration relationships among G-7 foreign exchange rates

Abstract A search method is applied to foreign exchange rates of G-7 countries, in terms of the US dollar, to estimate cointegration relationships. The method searches numerically, by strictly following the definition of the cointegration, a particular linear combination of nonstationary series in order to make it a stationary series. The list of those exchange rates which are cointegrated from the new method is very different from those derived from the conventional maximum likelihood estimation or ordinary least squares methods. The new method also provides confidence intervals for cointegration coefficients. From the confidence intervals, it is determined that certain G-7 currencies expressed in terms of the mark or the pound become stationary.
Detection of yellow fever virus nucleic acid in infected mosquitoes by RNA:RNA in situ hybridization

An in situ hybridization technique was developed for the strand-specific detection of yellow fever virus (YFV) RNA. An 35S-labeled, transcribed RNA probe was used to detect positive-sense polarity YFV genomic RNA in infected C6/36 (Aedes albopictus) cells, dissected mosquito tissues, and sections of plastic-embedded, YFV-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Mosquito tissues fixed in buffered Formalin retained morphological integrity. The low concentrations of probe used yielded high specific signal on infected specimens and low background signal on uninfected specimens.
Weak convergence of linear forms in D[0, 1]

Abstract Convergence in probability of the linear forms Σ k =1 ∞ a nk X k is obtained in the space D [0, 1], where ( X k ) are random elements in D [0, 1] and ( a nk ) is an array of real numbers. These results are obtained under varying hypotheses of boundedness conditions on the moments and conditions on the mean oscillation of the random elements ( X n ) on subintervals of a partition of [0, 1]. Since the hypotheses are in general much less restrictive than tightness (or convex tightness), these results represent significant improvements over existing weak laws of large numbers and convergence results for weighted sums of random elements in D [0, 1]. Finally, comparisons to classical hypotheses for Banach space and real-valued results are included.
The Contribution of Allergen-Specific IgG to the Development of Th2-Mediated Airway Inflammation

In both human asthmatics and animal models of allergy, allergen-specific IgG can contribute to Th2-mediated allergic inflammation. Mouse models have elucidated an important role for IgG and Fc-gamma receptor (FcγR) signaling on antigen presenting cells (APC) for the induction of airway inflammation. These studies suggest a positive feedback loop between IgG produced by the adaptive B cell response and FcγR signaling on innate immune cells. Studies of IgG and FcγRs in humans with asthma or allergic lung disease have been more controversial. Some reports have identified associations between allergen-specific IgG and severity of allergic responses, while other studies have found associations of IgG subclass IgG4 with allergic tolerance. In this paper, we review the literature to help define the nature of IgG and FcγR signaling on innate immune cells and how it contributes to the development of allergic immune responses.
Dwarf mistletoe effects on soil basidiomycete community structure, soil fungal functional diversity, and soil enzyme function: Implications for climate change

Abstract We used a combination of molecular, culture and biochemical methods to test the hypothesis that severe infection of pine by dwarf mistletoe (genus Arceuthobium ) has significant effects on structure and function of soil fungal communities, and on carbon cycling in soils. PCR and DNA sequencing of the basidiomycete communities in paired blocks of uninfected and infected trees revealed: (1) that the top, organic soil layer in this system is inhabited almost exclusively by ectomycorrhizal fungi; (2) no difference in species richness (6 species core −1 in both) or Shannon–Wiener evenness (0.740 and 0.747 in uninfected and infected blocks respectively), however Shannon–Wiener diversity was significantly greater in infected blocks (1.19 vs 1.94 in uninfected and infected blocks respectively, P Russula species in infected blocks, and replacement of one co-dominant Piloderma species with another in infected plots, indicating physiological variability within the genus. Soil fungal physiological diversity measured using the Fungilog system was significantly greater in terms of both number of carbon substrates used by culturable soil fungi (both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes) in infected blocks, and the rate at which these substrates were used. Soil enzyme assays revealed greater laccase, peroxidase, and cellulase activities in soils associated with infected trees. Thus, event cascades associated with severe dwarf mistletoe infection not only significantly affected soil fungal species composition and increased species diversity, but also impacted on carbon-related function and functional diversity. Given the geographic range of this pathogen, and forecasts that epidemics of this disease will increase in range in severity with global climate change, these effects have the potential to significantly impact local and global carbon budgets.
Non-binding linked-issues referenda: Analysis and an application

Non-binding referenda (‘petitions') are an instrument of direct democracy that allows citizens to signal preferences to politicians outside the electoral cycle. This paper provides a simple theoretical and empirical analysis of a particular form of non-binding referenda, so-called linked-issues petitions. It analyzes the ability of issue linkage to increase participation levels above those of single-issue petitions and applies the analytical insights to a controversial referendum held in Austria in 2002 that linked issues of transboundary nuclear risk and Eastern enlargement of the European Union.
Lack of significant effect of carboxyl-terminal parathyroid hormone-related peptide fragments on isolated rat and chick osteoclasts

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) fragments 107–111, 107–138, and 107–139 were all found to be without consistent significant inhibitory effect on the resorptive activity of isolated rat and chick osteoclasts over the dose range 10-13 M-10-9 M. In the rat, these results contrasted with a strong and significant inhibition (100%) by calcitonin. Our results differ from that previously reported for C-terminal fragments of PTHrP by Fenton et al. [1–3], who noted up to a 70% inhibition of resorptive activity of isolated rat or chick osteoclasts at femtomolar doses and greater. It is possible that the lack of response observed in our osteoclast assays is due to unknown variables in the bone slice assay that influence the responsiveness of isolated osteoclasts to these fragments.
Compressive Response of Composites Under Combined Fire and Compression Loading

The thermal buckling of an axially restrained composite column that is exposed to a heat flux due to fire is studied by both analytical and experimental means. The column is exposed to fire from one-side and the resulting heat damage, the charred layer formation and non-uniform transient temperature distribution are calculated by the thermal model developed by Gibson et al. (Revue de l’Institute Francais du Petrole 50:69–74, 1995). For the thermal buckling analysis, the mechanical properties of the fire-damaged (charred) region are considered negligible; the degradation of the elastic properties with temperature (especially near the glass transition temperature of the matrix) in the undamaged layer, is accounted for by using experimental data for the elastic moduli. Due to the non-uniform stiffness and the effect of the ensuing thermal moment, the structure behaves like an imperfect column, and responds by bending rather than buckling in the classical Euler (bifurcation) sense. Another important effect of the non-uniform temperature is that the neutral axis moves away from the centroid of the cross section, resulting in another moment due to eccentric loading, which would tend to bend the structure away from the fire. In order to verify the mechanical response, the compressive buckling behavior of the same material subjected to simultaneous high intensity surface heating and axial compressive loading were investigated experimentally. Fire exposure was simulated by subjecting the surface of rectangular specimens to radiant heating in a cone calorimeter. Heat flux levels of 25 kW/m2, 50 kW/m2 and 75 kW/m2 were studied. All specimens exhibited buckling and subsequent catastrophic failure, even at compressive stresses as low as 3.5 MPa under a surface heat flux of 25 kW/m2. Details of the experimental procedure, including modifications made to a cone calorimeter to allow simultaneous mechanical loading are presented.
Nitrogen repression of fumonisin B1 biosynthesis in Gibberella fujikuroi

Fumonisins are a group of structurally related mycotoxins produced by Gibberella fujikuroi. The fungus produced fumonisin B1 (FB1) as early as 18 hour in a defined medium containing 1.25 mM or 2.5 mM ammonium phosphate, whereas fumonisin B1 production was repressed for 75 hour and 125 hour when mycelia were resuspended in media containing ammonium phosphate at 10 mM or 20 mM, respectively. Although total fumonisin B1 production was greater in resuspension cultures grown in higher concentrations of ammonium phosphate, the accumulation was independent of the inoculum size and carbon/nitrogen ratio. The addition of ammonium phosphate to cracked corn cultures also repressed fumonisin B1 production by 97%, and persisted for at least three weeks. Thus, biosynthesis of fumonisin B1 is regulated by a mechanism involving nitrogen metabolite repression, suggesting that control strategies that target the regulatory elements of nitrogen metabolism may be effective at reducing the risk of fumonisin contamination in food.
Increased extravascular forces limit endothelium-dependent and -independent coronary vasodilation in congestive heart failure.

Objective: The increase in coronary blood flow (CBF) in response to endothelium-dependent vasodilators is reduced in congestive heart failure (CHF) suggesting endothelial dysfunction. However, increases in extravascular compressive forces secondary to elevated left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in CHF might contribute to this abnormality. Methods: We measured CBF responses to intracoronary doses of the endothelium-dependent vasodilators acetylcholine (ACH) and bradykinin (BK) and the endothelium-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in the same eight dogs before (control) and after CHF was produced by 23±3 days of rapid ventricular pacing. In five of the dogs with CHF the zero-flow pressure ( P zf), which reflects extravascular compressive forces in the maximally vasodilated coronary circulation (adenosine) was measured and found to strongly correlate with LVEDP ( r =0.91). Coronary vascular resistance (CVR) at each concentration of vasodilator before and after the development of CHF was corrected for estimated coronary back pressure: CVR=( P Ao−LVEDP)/CBF, where P Ao is mean aortic pressure. Results: CHF resulted in a significant decrease in CBF and increase in heart rate and LVEDP compared to control ( P <0.05). The CBF responses to ACH, BK and SNP were all significantly reduced in the failing hearts ( P <0.01). However, after correction for the elevated LVEDP in CHF, the response of CVR to the endothelium-dependent vasodilators was not different from normal. Conclusion: These findings suggest that endothelium mediated vasodilation is preserved in CHF, but that increased extravascular compressive forces act to limit the increase in CBF.
Measurement of thyroxine by competitive protein binding

Abstract A simplified method is described for the measurement of thyroxine by competitive protein binding, using Sephadex columns for separation of bound from unbound thyroxine. Conditions for the various steps in the method were studied. The results compare well with PBI determinations done on the same subjects.
The effects of exogenous epinephrine and environmental stress stimuli on the mitotic rates of larval urodele tissues.

Abstract The bi-hourly and overall mean mitotic indices over a 24-hr period were determined for the corneal epithelium and epidermis of control, amphibian Ringer's-injected and epinephrine-injected urodele larvae. In epinephrine-injected animals, the overall rates of cell division of these tissues were decreased significantly from the normal control rates. In addition, the characteristic rhythmic pattern of the mitotic rates over the 24-hr period was eliminated. In Ringer's-injected animals, although a decrease from the normal was noted in the overall mean mitotic rates of both tissues, the rhythmic nature of the mitotic rates was maintained. Corneal epithelium was more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of epinephrine than was epidermis. In vibration-stressed larvae, a reduction in the rates of cell division occurred in both corneal epithelium and epidermis, when compared to those found in normal control animals. A greater effect was obtained in corneal epithelium than in epidermis during the light hours; during the dark hours, the tissues indicated about the same decreases in mitotic rate. In cold-stressed larvae, epidermis and corneal epithelium showed decreased mitotic rates when compared to normal, but in this case epidermis was more affected than corneal epithelium during the light hour experiment. Exogenous epinephrine acts as a mitotic inhibitor, depressing the overall mitotic rates and suppressing the characteristic rthythmic patterns over the 24 hr in corneal epithelium and epidermis of urodele larvae. Environmental stress stimuli also result in decreased mitotic rates in these tissues, perhaps caused by increased secretions of endogenous epinephrine.
Slow Light Based on Coherent Population Oscillation in Quantum Dots at Room Temperature

We develop a model for slow light based on the coherent population oscillation of quantum dots at room temperature. With the absorption dip and corresponding variation of the refractive index due to the coherent population beating induced by the pump and probe signal, quantum dots can be used as a slow-light medium. Our theoretical model matches the experimental results very well. We also experimentally and theoretically demonstrate that both the forward-bias injection current and reverse-bias voltage can change the group index in a semiconductor quantum-dot waveguide. Our results indicate that quantum-dot devices can be potentially used as electrically and optically controllable slow light devices
From Egypt to Ireland: Lady Augusta Gregory and Cross-Cultural Nationalisms in Victorian Ireland

“From Egypt to Ireland: Lady Augusta Gregory and Cross-Cultural Nationalisms in Victorian Ireland” argues that Gregory promoted women’s political activism by adapting and exploiting the ways that nineteenth-century Irish nationalists drew upon African and Asian cultures to forge new understandings of Irishness. Gregory turned to representations of an Egyptian nationalist and his family to advocate links between domestic space and political action, a proposition that underscored Gregory’s elite class position, but also revealed the potential of the essay form to revise assumptions about gender that had calcified in other prevalent genres of Victorian Ireland.
Effects of Intravenous Fat Emulsion on Respiratory Failure

The effects of intravenous fat emulsion on ventilated normal, diseased or distressed lungs were studied. Forty-eight patients with different types of respiratory failure were divided into four groups. Group A was composed of the patients with a normal lung condition; group B, patients with infectious pulmonary condition and respiratory failure; group C, patients with COPD and respiratory failure; and, group D was composed of the patients with ARDS due to various causes. Five hundred milliliters of 10 percent fat emulsion was infused within 4 has partial parenteral nutritional support. We concluded that intravenous fat infusion decreased PaO 2 /FIo 2 and increased P(A-a)O 2 and intrapulmonary shunt in the patients with ARDS, while it had little effect on the patients with infectious pulmonary disease or COPD. The infusion of fat emulsion had positive effects on the patients with normal lung condition with increased PaO 2 /FIo 2 and decreased P(A-a)O 2 and shunt.
Uplift Capacity of Pipe Piles in Saturated Clay

Small-scale laboratory model test results on the ultimate uplift capacity of pipe piles in saturated clay are presented. Based on these and the limited test results conducted in the past, tentative equations for the variation in the adhesion/undrained-cohesion-of-the-clay constant with the undrained shear strength of clay have been developed. For a given undrained shear strength of clay, the net pullout load and the corresponding vertical deflection of piles can be expressed by a nondimensional equation. The nondimensional equation is independent of the embedment ratio of piles. (TRRL)
The process window for reference Free Part Encapsulation

Reference Free Part Encapsulation (RFPE) is an automatic, universal workholding process developed by the authors and by researchers at Berkeley. In RFPE, a block of filler material encapsulates the workpiece and provides a fixturing surface, and after each machining operation, the filler block is re-filled with material to restore it to a perfect block. The objective of this research is to compute the process parameter window for RFPE. We examine the effect of process parameters such as the injection temperature, the preheating temperature, the cooling rate and the pressure on the effectiveness of the process. We show that when the temperatures are too low, or if the mold is cooled too much or too rapidly, the newly added material does not weld properly to the original encapsulation. If the temperatures are too great, then the entire encapsulation is likely to melt and lose location. The injection pressure, meanwhile, affects the surface finish of the process, and therefore the accuracy. We develop models to understand the effects of these parameters on process performance and design experiments to verify these predictions. Using these techniques, we determine the acceptable parameter windows for the process.
The Demand for Municipal Infrastructure Projects Some Evidence from Connecticut Towns and Cities

Many studies have investigated the determinants of current local public expenditures whereas only a few have studied the factors explaining the capital decision-making process at the local government level. This study uses a panel data set of Connecticut town and cities over the 2000 to 2010 period to estimate the local public demand for various types of capital infrastructure projects. The multiple regression analysis reveals a number of insights regarding the capital-investment decision of local communities. First, unlike the demand for current expenditures, the demand for capital-investment projects is elastic with respect to tax price. Second, unlike the demand for current expenditures, the demand for capital projects is not directly related to changes in income. Finally, intergovernmental grants are shown to be an important determinant of capital investment spending although the specific aid doesn’t always seem to stick where it initially hits.
Adhesion Frequency in Interfacial Dynamics of Copolymers

Abstract This paper introduces the concept of adhesion frequency that characterizes the dynamic interaction between a polymer matrix and a solid surface. It is argued that the pressure sensitive bonding of a polymer interface occurs within a critical time scale below which no wetting is established upon contact. The adhesion frequency can be viewed as the inverse of this critical time scale. The bonding kinetics is used to model transient adhesion and take into account the growth of bonding energy with time. The mechanics of the interfacial dynamics is used to derive expressions for the adhesion frequency when inertial, viscous or elastic effects dominate the surface deformation. Transient adhesion effects are also investigated experimentally using non-axisymmetric rotating bits and commercially-available copolymer adhesives. The rotating bits induce an oscillatory motion on the polymer surface. Experiments are conducted with the rotating bits spinning at a wide range of speeds making it possible to obtai...
Demographic and mental status profiles. Patients with homicidal, assaultive, suicidal, persecutory and homosexual ideation. The Missouri Automated Standard System of Psychiatry.

Using 87 demographic and mental status variables from the Missouri Division of Mental Diseases automated record file, equations to predict five clinically important types of ideation (i.e., homicidal, assaultive, suicidal, paranoid, and homosexual) were developed and cross-validated on 4,156 inpatients. The multiple correlations found ranged from .25 to .48 on cross validation and were all statistically significant. Zero-order correlations for the 10 strongest predictors of each type of ideation are presented and the clinical implications of the correlations are discussed. The prediction equations developed should make it possible for clinicians to improve the accuracy of their assessments of the true status of their patients for these five types of ideation.
In search of our true selves: feedback as a path to self-knowledge.

How can self-knowledge of personality be improved? What path is the most fruitful source for learning about our true selves? Previous research has noted two main avenues for learning about the self: looking inward (e.g., introspection) and looking outward (e.g., feedback). Although most of the literature on these topics does not directly measure the accuracy of self-perceptions (i.e., self-knowledge), we review these paths and their potential for improving self-knowledge. We come to the conclusion that explicit feedback, a largely unexamined path, is likely a fruitful avenue for learning about one’s own personality. Specifically, we suggest that self-knowledge might be fully realized through the use of explicit feedback from close, knowledgeable others. As such, we conclude that the road to self-knowledge likely cannot be traveled alone but must be traveled with close others who can help shed light on our blind spots.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Regulates Cockroach Allergen Induced Lung Inflammation through Controlling the Recruitment and Function of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

E to cockroach allergen can lead to allergic sensitization and an increased risk of developing asthma. Recent studies have suggested that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) can sense not only environmental pollutants but also microbial insults. To test whether AhR can sense allergens and modulate allergic responses, we examined cockroach allergen induce AhR activation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and lung inflammation in mouse model of asthma with wild-type (WT) and AhR-deficient (AhR-/-) mice. AhR mediated MSC migration was investigated using Transwell migration assay and GFP+MSCs administration in mouse model. The role of migrated MSCs in suppressing lung inflammation and macrophage polarization was further investigated. Our studies demonstrated that AhR signaling was activated with increased expression of cyp1a1 and cyp1b1, downstream genes of AhR when MSCs were exposed to cockroach allergens. Compared to WT mice, cockroach allergen treated AhR-/mice showed exacerbation of lung inflammation. AhR mediated allergen-induced inflammation was further validated by using the AhR agonist, 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Moreover, TCDD promoted CRE-induced MSCs migration while the AhR antagonist CH122319 suppresses MSCs migration in our Transwell assays. Furthermore, CRE-challenged AhR-/mice displayed less migrated MSCs to the lungs compared to WT when GFP+MSCs were administrated intravenously. Additionally, the administration of MSCs significantly attenuated allergic inflammation which was in part rescued by TGFβ1 neutralizing antibody. Interestingly, macrophages from MSCs treated mice exhibited M2 phenotypes with increased expression of Agr-1, FIZZ-1 and Ym-1. The macrophage polarization was possibly induced by MSCs and confirmed by co-culturing MSCs with bone marrow-derived macrophages. Our findings provided evidence for a previously unidentified pathophysiological function of the AhR and suggested that AhR may be critical in modulating environmental allergen induced immune inflammation.
Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) is a small neuropeptide that regulates pituitary release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These gonadotropins are essential for the regulation of reproductive function. The GnRH-containing neurons are distributed diffusely throughout the hypothalamus and project to the median eminence where they release GnRH from their axon terminals into the hypophysiotropic portal system (1). In the portal capillaries, GnRH travels to the anterior pituitary gland to stimulate release of gonadotropins into systemic circulation. GnRH release is not continuous but rather occurs in episodic pulses. It is well established that the intermittent manner of GnRH release is essential for reproduction (2, 3). Coordination of activity of multiple GnRH neurons probably underlies GnRH pulses. Total peptide content in GnRH neurons is approximately 1.0 pg/cell (4), of which 30% likely comprises the releasable pool. Levels of GnRH during a pulse (5, 6), suggest multiple GnRH neurons are probably involved in neurosecretion. Likewise, single unit activity extracted from hypothalamic multi-unit recordings during LH release indicates changes in activity of multiple neurons (7). The electrodes with recorded activity during LH pulses are associated with either GnRH somata or fibers (8). Therefore, at least some of this activity arises from GnRH neurons. The mechanisms that result in synchronized firing in hypothalamic GnRH neurons are unknown. Elucidating the mechanisms that coordinate firing in GnRH neurons is a complex problem. First, the GnRH neurons are relatively few in number. In rodents, there are 800-2500 GnRH neurons. It is not clear that all GnRH neurons are involved in episodic GnRH release. Moreover, GnRH neurons are diffusely distributed (1). This has complicated our understanding of coordination of firing and has made many technical approaches intractable. We have optimized loose cell-attached recordings in current-clamp mode for the direct detection of action potentials and developed a recording approach that allows for simultaneous recordings from pairs of GnRH neurons.
GViM: GPU-accelerated virtual machines

The use of virtualization to abstract underlying hardware can aid in sharing such resources and in efficiently managing their use by high performance applications. Unfortunately, virtualization also prevents efficient access to accelerators, such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), that have become critical components in the design and architecture of HPC systems. Supporting General Purpose computing on GPUs (GPGPU) with accelerators from different vendors presents significant challenges due to proprietary programming models, heterogeneity, and the need to share accelerator resources between different Virtual Machines (VMs).To address this problem, this paper presents GViM, a system designed for virtualizing and managing the resources of a general purpose system accelerated by graphics processors. Using the NVIDIA GPU as an example, we discuss how such accelerators can be virtualized without additional hardware support and describe the basic extensions needed for resource management. Our evaluation with a Xen-based implementation of GViM demonstrate efficiency and flexibility in system usage coupled with only small performance penalties for the virtualized vs. non-virtualized solutions.
What Dominates the Coronal Emission Spectrum During the Cycle of Impulsive Heating and Cooling

The smoking gun of small-scale, impulsive events heating the solar corona is expected to be the presence of a hot ( > 5 MK) plasma component. Evidence for this has been scarce, but has gradually begun to accumulate due to recent studies designed to constrain the high temperature part of the emission measure distribution. However, the detected hot component is often weaker than models predict and this is due in part to the common modeling assumption that the ionization balance remains in equilibrium. The launch of the latest generation of space-based observing instrumentation aboard Hinode and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has brought the matter of the ionization state of the plasma firmly to the forefront. It is timely to consider exactly what emission current instruments would detect when observing a corona heated impulsively on small-scales by nanoflares. Only after we understand the full effects of nonequilibrium ionization can we draw meaningful conclusions about the plasma that is (or is not) present. We have therefore performed a series of hydrodynamic simulations for a variety of different nanoflare properties and initial conditions. Our study has led to several key conclusions. 1. Deviations from equilibrium are greatest for short-duration nanoflares at low initial coronal densities. 2. Hot emission lines are the most affected and are suppressed sometimes to the point of being invisible. 3. The emission detected in all of the SDO-AIA channels is generally dominated by warm, over-dense, cooling plasma. 4. It is difficult not to create coronal loops that emit strongly at 1.5 MK and in the range 2 to 5 MK, which are the most commonly observed kind, for a broad range of nanoflare scenarios. 5. The Fe XV (284.16 ) emission in most of our models is about 10 times brighter than the Ca XVII (192.82 ) emission, consistent with observations. Our overarching conclusion is that small-scale, impulsive heating inducing a nonequilibrium ionization state leads to predictions for observable quantities that are entirely consistent with what is actually observed.
Efficacy and safety of mercuric oxide in the treatment of bacterial blepharitis.

A double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized study was done to assess the safety and clinical and quantitative microbiologic efficacy of 1% mercuric oxide (yellow) ophthalmic ointment in the treatment of eyelid infections, i.e., bacterial blepharitis. A total of 39 patients with bacterial counts and clinical signs indicative of eyelid infection were treated twice daily for 7 days. Clinical biomicroscopic examination and quantitative microbiologic cultures were done just prior to initiation of treatment and again on days 3 and 7. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in the clinical signs, bacterial count, cure rate, and improvement rate for subjects taking the active medication, compared with those taking the placebo on days 3 and 7. In addition, the medication was well tolerated.
The teacher as “coach”: A whole new ball game

A comparison is drawn between the coach's situation on the playing field and the teacher's situation in the classroom. Several advantages that accrue to the coach are examined and suggestions are made as to how such advantages might be translated for classroom implementation.
Effect of temperature on water vapor transport through polymer membrane laminates

This paper determines the extent to which the water vapor transport properties of nine different polymer membranes and membrane/textile laminates are affected by temperature. A particular test method, the Dynamic Moisture Permeation Cell (DMPC), is ideally suited for this type of study, owing to its complete control over the humidity and gas flow rate on the two sides of the test sample, and the ability to control the temperature of the test system. This allows temperature-dependent effects to be separated from concentration-dependent effects on mass transfer phenomena. The DMPC permits the experimenter to explore the temperature dependence of the diffusion behavior at different points on the vapor sorption isotherm of the hydrophilic polymer component of a polymer film or membrane laminate. Temperature effects are shown to be much less important than concentration-dependent effects in a hydrophilic polymer layer. Observed changes in water vapor flux at different temperatures are primarily due to the relationship between temperature and the saturation vapor pressure of water, and not to intrinsic changes in polymer permeability.
Quadratic stable wavelet bases on general meshes

Abstract In this paper, we construct stable wavelet bases with piecewise quadratic functions for certain Sobolev spaces on non-uniform meshes. These wavelets have small support with 4 or 6 non-zero coefficients. Furthermore, a simple method is developed for verifying the global stability of wavelets derived from refinable functions with a complicated structure.
Picosecond decay kinetics and quantum yield of fluorescence of the photoactive yellow protein from the halophilic purple phototrophic bacterium, Ectothiorhodospira halophila

The photoactive yellow protein (PYP) has been previously shown to be partially bleached and red shifted (in less than 10 ns) by a pulse of laser excitation at the wavelength maximum (445 nm), to further bleach ( k = 7.5×10 3 s -1 ), and then to slowly recover in the dark ( k = 2.6 s -1 ) (Meyer, T. E., G. Tollin, J. H. Hazzard, and M. A. Cusanovich. 1989. Biophys. J. 56:559–564). The quantum yield for the formation of the fully bleached form was found to be 0.64. We have now shown that the yellow protein is weakly fluorescent with an emission maximum at 495 nm (which mirrors excitation at 445 nm) and a fluorescence quantum yield of 1.4×10 -3 . Measurement of the picosecond kinetics of the fluorescence decay shows that ∼90% of the emission occurs with a lifetime of 12 ps. This is in good agreement with the quantum yield determination, which suggests that a single quenching process (presumably the photochemical event) is primarily responsible for the excited state decay. The lifetime of the excited state of PYP is remarkably similar to that for the rise of the first photochemical intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin, and underscores the fundamental similarity in their photocycles despite a lack of structural relationship.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 Is Overexpressed in Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia Cells, and Specific Inhibition of this Metalloproteinase Blocks Release of Soluble CD27

Soluble CD27 (sCD27) is produced by Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) cells, with high levels found in WM patients which may facilitate disease expansion. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) may facilitate sCD27 release by cleavage of CD27. By gene expression analysis, we observed significantly higher transcription levels of MMP-8 and MMP-9, with 58.5 and 16.7 fold increase in mean transcription levels in WM cells relative to healthy donor peripheral blood B cells (P = .04, and .05, respectively). We developed a model for study of sCD27 release by transfecting BCWM.1 WM cells and BL2126 lymphoblastic B cells, both of which express MMP-8 and MMP-9 with a vector expressing FLAG-tagged CD27 (pFLAG-CD27) which in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate resulted in ≥ 10-fold increase in sCD27 release. MMP inhibitors against MMP-8, but not MMP 2, 3, or 9 blocked release of sCD27. The results suggest that MMP-8 may play a role in the pathogenesis of WM, and that its inhibition may be of therapeutic value in WM.
Effect of calcium lignosulfonate on tricalcium aluminate and its hydration products

In the tricalcium aluminate—calcium lignosulfonate—water system, evidence has been obtained for the formation of a complex and precipitation of a highly basic calcium lignosulfonate. The hexagonal calcium aluminate hydrate as well as the cubic aluminate hydrate irreversibly adsorb calcium lignosulfonate. Adsorption results in changes of surface area, morphology, thermal behaviour and rate of interconversions.
Lead and cadmium accumulation in eggs and fledgling seabirds in the New York Bight

We measured lead and cadmium concentrations in eggs and in the breast feathers of fledglings of common tern (Sterna hirundo), roseate tern (S. dougallii), Forster's tern (S. forsteri), black skimmer (Rynchops niger), and herring gull (Larus argentatus) nesting in mixed-species colonies in the New York Bight in 1989. Metal concentrations in fledgling feathers represent in part metals sequestered in the egg by females and accumulation from food brought back to chicks by parents, and thus may be a measure of local metal acquisition. There were significant interspecific differences in lead in eggs, and lead and cadmium in fledgling feathers. Herring gulls had the most lead in eggs (up to means of 6,740 ng/g, dry weight), whereas the terns had the least (mean of 318 ng/g, dry weight). Cadmium concentrations were generally low in all examined eggs (<22 ng/g, dry weight). Lead concentrations were high in fledgling feathers (up to 4,090 ng/g, dry weight) in some populations of all species. Cadmium was highest in fledgling feathers of herring gull and skimmers. Among fledgling terns, the roseate tern (a federally endangered species) had the highest concentrations. For all species except herring gull, the feathers of fledglings had higher levels of metals than did eggs.
Veteran Teachers of Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing Describe Language Instructional Practices: Implications for Teacher Preparation

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) share mutually agreed upon standards for beginning teachers of students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Two standards deal with the need for beginning teachers to know how to locate information about alternative communication philosophies. One way to know how far the field needs to take its beginning teachers is to determine veteran teachers' knowledge of alternate philosophies. To investigate this, eight focus groups of veteran teachers of students who are Deaf/ Hard of Hearing were asked to identify language instructional practices associated with a philosophy, either oral communication or using total communication, for which their educational backgrounds had not prepared them. This generated a set of 79 statements of practices, which were then verified by program supervisors using a Likert-type scale. The author lists and discusses the resulting set of practices which define and separate the two approaches as well a...
Cooperative reasoning for preemptive execution

We propose a cooperative methodology for multithreaded software, where threads use traditional synchronization idioms such as locks, but additionally document each point of potential thread interference with a "yield" annotation. Under this methodology, code between two successive yield annotations forms a serializable transaction that is amenable to sequential reasoning. This methodology reduces the burden of reasoning about thread interleavings by indicating only those interference points that matter. We present experimental results showing that very few yield annotations are required, typically one or two per thousand lines of code. We also present dynamic analysis algorithms for detecting cooperability violations, where thread interference is not documented by a yield, and for yield annotation inference for legacy software.
Dynamic reconfiguration for Java applications using AOP

One of the characteristics of contemporary software systems is their ability to adapt to evolutionary computing needs and environments. Dynamic reconfiguration is a way to make changes to software systems at runtime, while typical software changes involve the shutting down and rebooting of software systems. Therefore, dynamic reconfiguration can provide continuous availability for software systems. However, its processes are still complicated and error- prone due to the intervention of human beings. This research describes an aspect-oriented approach to dynamic reconfiguration for Java applications, providing software maintainers with systematic and controlled reconfiguration processes. The features of aspect-oriented programming systems, such as aspect weaving and code instrumentation, are appropriate to the problems of dynamic reconfiguration. This proposed approach is intended to minimize the efforts of software engineers, to enable automated dynamic reconfiguration, and to ensure the integrity of software systems. The primary domain of the research is component-based applications where the addition, removal, and replacement of components might be needed.
Multiclass Boosting: Theory and Algorithms

The problem of multi-class boosting is considered. A new framework, based on multi-dimensional codewords and predictors is introduced. The optimal set of codewords is derived, and a margin enforcing loss proposed. The resulting risk is minimized by gradient descent on a multidimensional functional space. Two algorithms are proposed: 1) CD-MCBoost, based on coordinate descent, updates one predictor component at a time, 2) GD-MCBoost, based on gradient descent, updates all components jointly. The algorithms differ in the weak learners that they support but are both shown to be 1) Bayes consistent, 2) margin enforcing, and 3) convergent to the global minimum of the risk. They also reduce to AdaBoost when there are only two classes. Experiments show that both methods outperform previous multiclass boosting approaches on a number of datasets.
Social Typology and the Tropical Forest Civilizations 1

1. The Classic Khmer and the Classic Maya civilizations had cult centers but not true cities. They both arose in areas which were regionally undifferentiated.2. Easy transportation and heavy trade were lacking because of the areawide uniformity of crops and the difficult terrain. Consequently, urban centers were not and could not be supported.3. Both areas did produce a surplus and therefore could support civilized life. The social orders of each were so set up that through religious sanctions this surplus, which included labor, could be utilized for the creation and support of huge cult centers. Such a kind of organization might be considered as unilateral (mechanical) in the Durkheimian sense.4. In contrast, true cities arose in productive agricultural areas which were regionally specialized, with symbiotic interdependence of a Maussian nature. Trade and trade routes were highly developed so that commodity prices were sufficiently low to enable large groups of persons engaged in commerce to live together and yet make a profit on their activities. Internally specialized civilizations of this sort have been termed organic.5. It is suggested that among the organic civilizations, the state may have had its origin in the regulation of trade; among the unilateral civilizations, in the compulsion of tribute and corvee labor.
Towards a syllabus repository for computer science courses

A syllabus defines the contents of a course, as well as other information such as resources and assignments. In this paper, we report on our work towards creating a syllabus repository of Computer Science courses across universities in the USA. We present some statistics from our initial collection of 8000+ syllabi. We show a syllabus creator that is integrated with Moodle [5] moodle_2006_moodle, an open-source course management system, which allows for the creation of a syllabus for a particular course. Among other information, it includes knowledge units from the Computing Curricula 2001 body of knowledge. The goal of the syllabus repository is to provide added value to the Computer Science Education community, and we present some such offerings. We conclude by presenting our future plans for the syllabus repository. These include using automated techniques to collect and classify syllabi, providing recommendations to instructors when creating a syllabus, and allowing the community to share their syllabi automatically. The syllabus collection will be part of the Computing and Information Technology Interactive Digital Educational Library (CITIDEL), a collection of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL).
The Determinants of Time-Varying Exchange Rate Pass-Through in South Africa

The pass-through of shifts in the rand exchange rate to consumer price inflation has been well documented for South Africa. Although estimates of the absolute level of pass-through vary, some studies document a decline in pass-through over time. In order to better illuminate the policy implications of pass-through, this paper seeks to add to the literature by decomposing pass-through into a number of time-varying impulses. This has the advantage of providing deeper insights of pass-through over time and across various monetary policy regimes. We then analyse the determinants of time-varying pass-through. Our results confirm that pass-through has declined over time but is subject to a stable and low inflation environment. We also show that a volatile exchange rate leads to higher pass-through.