cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is agmatine a novel neurotransmitter in brain

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that agmatine, which is an intermediate in polyamine biosynthesis, might be an important neurotransmitter in mammals. Agmatine is synthesized in the brain, stored in synaptic vesicles in regionally selective neurons, accumulated by uptake, released by depolarization, and inactivated by agmatinase. Agmatine binds to α 2 -adrenoceptors and imidazoline binding sites, and blocks NMDA receptor channels and other ligand-gated cationic channels. Furthermore, agmatine inhibits nitric oxide synthase, and induces the release of some peptide hormones. As a result of its ability to inhibit both hyperalgesia and tolerance to, and withdrawal from, morphine, and its neuroprotective activity, agmatine has potential as a treatment of chronic pain, addictive states and brain injury.
Technology, conferences, and community

Commentaries in the January, May, and December 2009 issues of Communications address a perceived crisis in Systems and other Computer Science fields [1, 2, 3, 4]. The discussion covers our shift from a traditional emphasis on journals to the current focus on conferences, and the challenges of conference reviewing, but at its heart is our sense of community. One commentary speaks of a “death spiral” of diminishing participation [3]. This Viewpoint considers how and why these changes occurred. In a nutshell, the commentaries note that a focus on conference publication has led to deadline-driven short-term research at the expense of journal publication, a reviewing burden that can drive off prominent researchers, and high rejection rates that favor cautious incremental results over innovative work. Some of the commentators suggest that we return to emphasizing journal publication. To understand whether this is possible, and I doubt it is, we must understand why Computer Science in the United States shifted to conference publication in the first place. It was not simply that Computer Science requires quick dissemination of results: Conferences did not become prominent in Europe or Asia, or in other competitive, quickly-evolving fields such as Neuroscience or Physics.
Ultrastructure of hyaline, border, and vacuole cells in chick inner ear.

The sense organ for hearing in birds, the basilar papilla, is capable of replacing lost or damaged hair cells and supporting cells through regeneration. Potential candidates for precursor-cell populations include cells within the auditory receptor epithelium and nonsensory cells inferior to the sensory epithelium. Ultrastructural characteristics of hyaline cells, border cells, and vacuole cells, nonsensory cells which border or lie inferior to the receptor epithelium proper, were studied with transmission electron microscopy. Data were obtained from normal neonatal and adult chickens. Several rows of epithelial cells separate hyaline cells from inferiorly located organ supporting cells and hair cells. Ultrastructural characteristics and location of these epithelial cells differentiate them from organ supporting cells and hyaline cells; consequently, we have termed them „border cells”. Synaptic specializations are observed between neural elements and border cells, and gap junctions are found between adjacent border cells, between border cells and neighboring organ supporting cells, and between juxtaposed border and hyaline cells. Hyaline cells, in contrast to border cells, are highly specialized. Dense bundles of filaments are present in hyaline cells from the basal one-half of the papilla, and an unusual structure, a rough tubular aggregate, is present in hyaline-cell cytoplasm. Pre- and postsynaptic specializations are observed between neural elements and hyaline cells, and gap-junctional complexes link neighboring hyaline cells. Vacuole cells lie inferior to the hyaline cells and rest on the inferior fibrocartilaginous plate. They are unspecialized morphologically. Their only remarkable morphological feature is the abundance of spherical vacuoles within their cytoplasmic matrix.
1984–1985 ANSMET Season

The Antarctic Search for Meteorites program (ANSMET), under the overall direction of W. A. Cassidy (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.), continued its work of past years by conducting an expedition to southern Victoria Land during the 1984–1985 austral summer. Party members included Cassidy, Catherine King-Frazier (James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.), Scott Sandford (Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.), John Schutt (University of Pittsburgh), Roberta Score (National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Johnson Space Center, Houston, Tex.), Carl Thompson (a freelance mountaineer from Canterbury, New Zealand), and Robert Walker (Washington University).
Intraband Spectroscopy of GaSe Nanoparticles and InSe/GaSe Nanoparticle Heterojunctions

The spectroscopic and dynamical characteristics of electron and hole intraband transitions in several sizes of GaSe nanoparticles have been studied using polarized femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Assignments of the observed absorptions are made in terms of the known GaSe band structure and a model in which the electron and hole states are described by particle-in-a-cylinder states. The results indicate that the transient absorption spectrum is due to a size-independent, z-polarized hole intraband transition, and in the smaller particles, an x,y-polarized electron transition. In InSe/GaSe mixed aggregates, direct electron transfer from InSe to GaSe nanoparticles occurs upon photoexcitation of a charge transfer band. An exciton on GaSe nanoparticles can undergo diffusion and charge separation the an InSe/GaSe heterojunction.
Gender preferences concerning identity theft and technology-related issues with sports e-ticketing

The purpose of this paper is to provide practitioners of management and interested researchers a sense of how electronic-sports ticketing (e-ticketing) and its associated acceptance has the potential of attracting new customers if the industry properly addresses the current concerns of costs, safety measures to consumers and companies, delivery modes, appropriate ticket services, and technological sophistication. From an empirical study, it was found that there were several statistically significant preference between the genders on the effectiveness and accessibility of e-ticketing technologies as many male respondents felt that e-ticketing is a preferred method for sporting and transportation options, as males were significantly higher on comfort issues associated with increased loyalty for product/brand via e-ticketing transfers to sport teams, prior annual number purchase online tickets, prefer e-ticketing methods for sport events, technological advantages in e-ticketing increases usage, and purchasing sports tickets online worth additional costs and surcharges.
Matrix frequency analysis and its applications to language classification of textual data for English and Hebrew

The advent of the internet has opened a host of new and exciting questions in the science and mathematics of information organization and data mining. In particular, a highly ambitious promise of the internet is to bring the bulk of human knowledge to everyone with access to a computer network, providing a democratic medium for sharing and communicating knowledge regardless of the language of the communication. The development of sharing and communication of knowledge via transfer of digital files is the first crucial achievement in this direction. Nonetheless, available solutions to numerous ancillary problems remain far from satisfactory. Among such outstanding problems are the first few fundamental questions that have been responsible for the emergence and rapid growth of the new field of Knowledge Engineering, namely, classification of forms of data, their effective organization, and extraction of knowledge from massive distributed data sets, and the design of fast effective search engines. The precision of machine learning algorithms in classification and recognition of image data (e.g. those scanned from books and other printed documents) are still far from human performance and speed in similar tasks. Discriminating the many forms of ASCII data from each other is not as difficult in view of the emerging universal standards for file-format. Nonetheless, most of the past and relatively recent human knowledge is yet to be transformed and saved in such machine readable formats. In particular, an outstanding problem in knowledge engineering is the problem of organization and management--with precision comparable to human performance--of knowledge in the form of images of documents that broadly belong to either text, image or a blend of both. It was shown in that the effectiveness of OCR was intertwined with the success of language and font recognition.
The localization of concanavalin A binding sites during photoreceptor synaptogenesis in the chick retina.

Summary Carbohydrate containing macromolecules were localized on developing photoreceptor pedicles and processes in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) of the retina in chick embryos and hatchlings by a concanavalin A (Con A)—peroxidase labeling technique. Con A binding sites were visualized along the membrane surfaces of undifferentiated photoreceptor synaptic bases at early embryonic times and later were localized along differentiating synaptic pedicles and at pre- and postsynaptic membranes of early forming ribbon synapses. Membrane surfaces of developing neurites and glia in this layer were labeled also as were the internal membrane surfaces of coated vesicles within developing receptor terminals and neurites. In the hatchling, Con A binding sites were restricted to non-synaptic membrane regions of receptor pedicles and some neuronal and glial membranes. Con A staining in the inner plexiform layer was similar to that in the OPL with membrane labeling on developing synapses, neurites and glia during embryonic development and labeling restricted to non-synaptic membrane regions in the hatchling. Con A staining in the other layers of the retina was localized on endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear and plasma membranes of all cell types. Cell junctional complexes between pigmented epithelial cells and the zonulae occludentes of the outer limiting membrane did not label with Con A at the developmental ages sampled in this study. These findings suggest that Con A binding sites are accessible on developing synaptic membranes but become either altered or masked after synaptic junction maturation.
Structure Analysis and Classification of Boreal Forests Using Airborne Hyperspectral BRDF Data from ASAS

Abstract A new approach is presented for deriving vegetation canopy structural characteristics from hyperspectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) data. The methodology is based on the relationship between spectral variability of BRDF effects and canopy geometry. Tests with data acquired with the Advanced Solid-State Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS) over Canadian boreal forests during the BOREAS campaign show that vegetation structural characteristics can be derived from the spectral variability of BRDF effects. In addition, the incorporation of both BRDF effects and hyperspectral resolution data substantially improve the classification accuracy. Best classification results are obtained when hyperspectral resolution and BRDF data are combined, but the improvement is not consistent for all classes. For example, adding BRDF information to hyperspectral data increases the overall classification accuracy for a six-class fen site from 37.8% to 44.7%. The addition, however, reduces the accuracy for the jack pine class from 43.6% to 28.8%. These new findings provide evidence for improved capabilities for applications of MISR and MODIS data. The spectral resolution of MODIS is expected to be sufficient to derive canopy structural information based on the spectral variability of BRDF effects, and for MISR a significant improvement of classification accuracies can be anticipated from the combination of nadir reflectance and off-nadir data.
Photoelectric Detection with Two-Photon Absorption*

A formula for the photoelectron-counting distribution for a two-photon detector is derived quantum mechanically assuming that the ionising transitions in the atoms of the detector take place through the simultaneous absorption of two photons. It is assumed that the incident light is quasimonochromatic. It is shown that the distribution of the photoelectrons is given by the average of a Poisson distribution, the parameter of the distribution being proportional to the time integral of the square of the instantaneous light intensity. Counting distributions for the thermal (gaussian) light and for some models of laser light are obtained for the limiting case when the counting-time interval T is short compared to the coherence time Tc of the light. An approximate formula for arbitrary time intervals for the counting distribution of thermal light is also proposed.
Reflections and recommendations on writing textbooks in the course of a career in academia

The genesis of this paper was notification to the author that he would receive the 2010 Rossing Prize in Acoustics Education, which carried the responsibility of giving a lecture at a meeting of the Acoustical Society of America. He decided to draw on his remembrances of writing several textbooks during a 40 year career as a professor to discuss the facets of writing that a faculty member might encounter. This paper is an expanded version of that lecture [J. H. Ginsberg, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 128, 2389 (2010)]. An opening section elucidating the author’s experiences as an author is followed by a discussion intended to motivate and encourage those who are undecided about taking on this activity. Suggestions are offered as to how to organize and proceed through a writing project as well as what elements should be included. An explanation of the author’s role in the process of producing a printed textbook is provided. Guidance is offered as to how one can focus on writing a book in the face of teaching, resear...
Elected executions in the US print news media

In the USA, 125 (11.6%) of the inmates executed between 1977 and 2006 elected to halt legal petitions, thereby hastening their own executions. Prior research on defense attorneys suggests that the news may play a pivotal role in the dynamic of elected executions (EEs). This study examines print news media coverage of 52 EEs occurring in six US states between 1979 and 2006. Thematic content analysis examined 749 Associated Press articles, identifying the frames journalists evoke when discussing EEs. When normalizing EEs, journalists commonly frame stories in terms of inmate choice; when problematizing EEs, they tend to question inmates’ competency. Coverage is most intense when states have their first EE or during the execution of a famous inmate. Findings suggest that the alternation between these two frames (choice and competency) is consistent with competing legal notions of fairness: honoring defendants’ wishes vs. maintaining the integrity of the legal process. Moreover, findings suggest that current ...
Apparent structural differences at the tetramerization region of erythroid and nonerythroid beta spectrin as discriminated by phage displayed scFvs

We have screened a human immunoglobulin single-chain variable fragment (scFv) phage library against the C-terminal tetramerization regions of erythroid and nonerythroid beta spectrin (βI-C1 and βII-C1, respectively) to explore the structural uniqueness of erythroid and nonerythroid β-spectrin isoforms. We have identified interacting scFvs, with clones “G5” and “A2” binding only to βI-C1, and clone “F11” binding only to βII-C1. The Kd values, estimated by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, of these scFvs with their target spectrin proteins were 0.1–0.3 μM. A more quantitative Kd value from isothermal titration calorimetry experiments with the recombinant G5 and βI-C1 was 0.15 μM. The α-spectrin fragments (model proteins), αI-N1 and αII-N1, competed with the βI-C1, or βII-C1, binding scFvs, with inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of ∼50 μM for αI-N1, and ∼0.5 μM for αII-N1. Our predicted structures of βI-C1 and βII-C1 suggest that the Helix B′ of the C-terminal partial domain of βI differs from that of βII. Consequently, an unstructured region downstream of Helix B′ in βI may interact specifically with the unstructured, complementarity determining region H1 of G5 or A2 scFv. The corresponding region in βII was helical, and βII did not bind G5 scFv. Our results suggest that it is possible for cellular proteins to differentially associate with the C-termini of different β-spectrin isoforms to regulate α- and β-spectrin association to form functional spectrin tetramers, and may sort β-spectrin isoforms to their specific cellular localizations.
PEPPER: An interactive program to search for available oligopeptides for medical research

Abstract An interactive computer program is described which searches a file of information containing the complete sequences of synthetic and natural peptides and any structural characteristics particular to their synthesis. Each peptide is associated with a reference in the literature and can be easily referred to. This program facilitates research on obtaining sequences of peptides by mass spectrometry, in that all peptides possessing desirable structural features can be rapidly located.
Monitoring the Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Starch with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy:

Results indicate that sufficient information is present in near-infrared (near-IR) spectra covering the range from 5000 to 4000 cm-1 to monitor the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis (thinning) of starch. Spectra taken from the aqueous fraction of samples collected during actual thinning reactions display information corresponding to soluble carbohydrates. The observed absorbance bands increase in magnitude according to the extent of the thinning reaction. A digital Fourier filter is applied to isolate the carbohydrate band centered at 4400 cm-1. This filtering step effectively removes choppy noise from the raw absorbance spectra and improves the measurement reproducibility by 3.6-fold. A third-order polynomial is used to empirically relate the integrated area under this 4400-cm-1 absorption band to the extent of starch thinning as measured as fluidity of the resulting starch paste. This model is able to accurately predict fluidities with an overall standard error of prediction of 1.94 mL for fluidity values ranging from 22 to 67 mL.
Stand-replacing wildfires increase nitrification for decades in southwestern ponderosa pine forests

Stand-replacing wildfires are a novel disturbance within ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests of the southwestern United States, and they can convert forests to grasslands or shrublands for decades. While most research shows that soil inorganic N pools and fluxes return to pre-fire levels within a few years, we wondered if vegetation conversion (ponderosa pine to bunchgrass) following stand-replacing fires might be accompanied by a long-term shift in N cycling processes. Using a 34-year stand-replacing wildfire chronosequence with paired, adjacent unburned patches, we examined the long-term dynamics of net and gross nitrogen (N) transformations. We hypothesized that N availability in burned patches would become more similar to those in unburned patches over time after fire as these areas become re-vegetated. Burned patches had higher net and gross nitrification rates than unburned patches (P < 0.01 for both), and nitrification accounted for a greater proportion of N mineralization in burned patches for both net (P < 0.01) and gross (P < 0.04) N transformation measurements. However, trends with time-after-fire were not observed for any other variables. Our findings contrast with previous work, which suggested that high nitrification rates are a short-term response to disturbance. Furthermore, high nitrification rates at our site were not simply correlated with the presence of herbaceous vegetation. Instead, we suggest that stand-replacing wildfire triggers a shift in N cycling that is maintained for at least three decades by various factors, including a shift from a woody to an herbaceous ecosystem and the presence of fire-deposited charcoal.
Early Marine Survival and Behavior of Steelhead Smolts through Hood Canal and the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Abstract The depressed status of Puget Sound populations of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss contrasts with the healthier condition of those along the coast of Washington and suggests that there is substantial smolt mortality during the migration through Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean. Acoustic telemetry transmitters and stationary receivers were used to investigate the survival, migration timing, and migratory behavior of 159 steelhead smolts in 2006 and 187 smolts in 2007 from four Hood Canal (part of Puget Sound) streams and one stream flowing into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The estimated population-specific survival rates for wild and hatchery smolts from the river mouths to the northern end of Hood Canal (28.1–75.4 km) ranged from 55% to 86% in 2006 and from 62% to 84% in 2007. Survival was much lower from the northern end of Hood Canal to the Strait of Juan de Fuca (135 km) in 2006 (23–49%) and could not be reliably measured in 2007. Travel rates through Hood Canal (8–10 km/d) were significantly low...
828 INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION OF LIVE ATTENUATED MEASLES VACCINE IN SIX MONTH OLD INFANTS. A PRELIMINARYTRIAL

828 INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION OF LIVE ATTENUATED MEASLES VACCINE IN SIX MONTH OLD INFANTS. A PRELIMINARYTRIAL
Planning Urban Recreational Facilities with Integer Goal Programming

Urban planners are often involved in the determination of where recreational facilities (i.e. pools, gymnasia, tennis courts, etc.) should be located within the city. This problem is complicated by the planners' desire to realize certain goals in the allocation process. They desire to build only facilities for which there are sufficient construction funds and which can be operated within a predetermined budget. In addition they desire to satisfy the demands of the residents of the city for different facilities. However, these demands are often conflicting since many urban areas are somewhat segregated with the inner city being predominantly minority/lower income and the outer city consisting of white/upper income groups. These different groups enjoy different types of recreation, and, thus, demand different facilities. Since this is basically an allocation problem with multiple conflicting objectives, goal programming surfaces as an appropriate solution technique. This paper describes an integer (0-1) goal programming model for the recreational allocation problem and demonstrates its use via a case example. The model results specify the facilities which should be constructed that best meet the conflicting goals.
Surface tension of solid-liquid slurries

Resultats experimentaux obtenus avec des particules d'oxyde de fer et d'oxyde de silicium de dimensions moyennes 2,5, 49 et 98 μm, jusqu'a une charge de 45% en poids, et deux liquides, l'eau, qui mouille les deux oxydes, et un liquide organique qui ne les mouille pas. Dans les conditions etudiees, la tension superficielle du liquide n'est pas affectee par l'addition de particules solides
Allelopathic actions in the Florida scrub community

The hypothesis that allelochemicals released from members of the Florida scrub community deter the invasion of fire-prone sandhill grasses was investigated. Constituents of the endemic scrub members, Ceratiola ericoides, Conradina canescens and Calamintha ashei, were examined for their phytotoxic activity. Effects of the plant natural products on the germination and radicle growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), as well as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia), two native grasses of the Florida sandhill community, were tested. The data suggest that ursolic acid and other natural detergents which are released from a source plant enhance the solubilization of allelopathic lipids via micellization. In general, natural surfactants seem to play a significant role in the water transport of lipophilic phytotoxins to target seeds or seedlings.
Soybean cultivar response to planting rate and tillage

Previous research has shown that soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar yield responses to tillage systems can vary in specific environments due to drought stress, diseases, or herbicides. In one of 3 yr in a previous study Mead yielded 15% more in no-tillage than in tilled systems while Williams 82 yielded 8% less in no-tillage than in tilled systems. This was thought to be due to either a slight difference in plant populations between the two cultivars or genetic variability that could be used to develop tillage-specific cultivars (...)
Frequency of Citations as Criterion for the Ranking of Departments, Journals, and Individuals

Interest in the structure and dynamics of sociology as a discipline has led to recurrent attempts to measure the prestige, productivity, and quality of education of the various sociology departments. While several previous papers have suggested the potential value of the Science Citation Index (SCI) as a measure of scientific standing, few attempts have been made to utilize a citation-based measure of scientific prestige. This paper considers the meaning of the citation in science and in stratification theory. Procedures are described whereby citations to individual sociologists and journals are employed to yield rankings of departments of sociology and journals. The differences between these rankings and other rankings are discussed.
Gravitational form factors of vector mesons in an AdS/QCD model

We calculate gravitational form factors of vector mesons using a holographic model of QCD. These provide restrictions on the generalized parton distributions of vector mesons, via the sum rules connecting stress tensor form factors to generalized parton distributions. We concentrate on the traceless part of the stress tensor, which suffices to fix the momentum and angular momentum sum rules. The vector mesons appear noticeably more compact measured by the gravitational form factors than by the charge form factor.
Laminar viscous flow fields in moving curved channels

Abstract The laminar steady flow of air through moving narrow deep circumferential grooves on a rotor is studied. Fluid enters the moving grooves from a stationary inlet nozzle with uniform velocity and exits into a stationary diffuser after approximately 150 degrees of rotation. Three dimensional developing velocity profiles and pressure distributions are presented for a variety of operating conditions. Computed overall head-flow characteristics are found to be in relatively close agreement with a simple Poiseuille model where both walls are taken to be moving at the same rate and in the same direction at a velocity different from the entrance velocity.
The mGlu2/3 receptor agonist LY379268 selectively blocks amphetamine ambulations and rearing

We have previously reported that the specific group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist LY379268 inhibited phencyclidine (PCP)-induced motor activations in rats, but had mixed effects on behaviors produced by amphetamine. Here, LY379268 (1 mg/kg subcutaneous (s.c.)) attenuated amphetamine-induced ambulations and rearing but did not alter amphetamine-evoked fine motor movements. Consistent with a mechanism involving mGlu2/3 receptors, the inhibitory actions of LY379268 on ambulations and rearing were reversed by LY341495, a mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist. These data further suggest antipsychotic actions of mGlu2/3 receptor agonists with a low propensity for extra-pyramidal side effects.
Distributed learning in cognitive radio networks: Multi-armed bandit with distributed multiple players

We consider a cognitive radio network with distributed multiple secondary users, where each user independently searches for spectrum opportunities in multiple channels without exchanging information with others. The occupancy of each channel is modeled as an i.i.d. Bernoulli process with unknown mean. Users choosing the same channel collide, and none or only one receives reward depending on the collision model. This problem can be formulated as a decentralized multi-armed bandit problem. We measure the performance of a decentralized policy by the system regret, defined as the total reward loss with respect to the optimal performance under the perfect scenario where all channel parameters are known to all users and collisions among secondary users are eliminated through perfect scheduling. We show that the minimum system regret grows with time at the same logarithmic order as in the centralized counterpart, where users exchange observations and make decisions jointly. We propose a basic policy structure that ensures a Time Division Fair Sharing (TDFS) of the channels. Based on this basic TDFS structure, decentralized policies can be constructed to achieve this optimal order while ensuring fairness among users. Furthermore, we show that the proposed TDFS policy belongs to a general class of decentralized polices, for which a uniform performance benchmark is established. All results hold for general stochastic processes beyond Bernoulli and thus find a wide area of potential applications including multi-channel communication systems, multi-agent systems, web search and advertising, and social networks.
CHIRAL LAGRANGIANS, CURRENT ALGEBRA AND KAON WEAK DECAYS

We show that the weak chiral Lagrangian of Cronin predicts the weak matrix element ratios of K→3π, 2π, π to K→2π, π, vac respectively, which are in complete agreement with the standard current algebra (CA)-partially conserved axial current (PCAC) techniques. Both approaches are in fact compatible with data.
DETECTION OF SINGLE QUANTIZED VORTEX LINES IN ROTATING He II.

We have utilized the trapping of electrons on quantized vortex lines in rotating He II to permit detection of single lines in order to study the appearance and disappearance of the first few lines in a capillary rotating about its axis. It seems likely that an extension of the method will permit study of the spatial distribution of vortices in rotating vessels of He II.
The brain reward circuitry in mood disorders

Mood disorders are common and debilitating conditions characterized in part by profound deficits in reward-related behavioural domains. A recent literature has identified important structural and functional alterations within the brain's reward circuitry--particularly in the ventral tegmental area-nucleus accumbens pathway--that are associated with symptoms such as anhedonia and aberrant reward-associated perception and memory. This Review synthesizes recent data from human and rodent studies from which emerges a circuit-level framework for understanding reward deficits in depression. We also discuss some of the molecular and cellular underpinnings of this framework, ranging from adaptations in glutamatergic synapses and neurotrophic factors to transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms.
Camera System-on-a-Chip Design with Undergraduates

Undergraduate students at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona have been designing camera system-on-a- chips. This technology, which allows support electronics to be incorporated on the same chip as the image sensor, makes possible highly-miniaturized, low-power camera systems, ideal for in-situ oceanographic monitoring. We present the results of our efforts, which included the development of a digital camera to test the image sensors, and our future plans.
Type-base flow analysis: from polymorphic subtyping to CFL-reachability

We present a novel approach to scalable implementation of type-based flow analysis with polymorphic subtyping. Using a new presentation of polymorphic subytping with instantiation constraints, we are able to apply context-free language (CFL) reachability techniques to type-based flow analysis. We develop a CFL-based algorithm for computing flow-information in time O(n³), where n is the size of the typed program. The algorithm substantially improves upon the best previously known algorithm for flow analysis based on polymorphic subtyping with complexity O(n8). Our technique also yields the first demand-driven algorithm for polymorphic subtype-based flow-computation. It works directly on higher-order programs with structured data of finite type (unbounded data structures are incorporated via finite approximations), supports context-sensitive, global flow summariztion and includes polymorphic recursion.
Some current problems in microvascular research.

Abstract The microvasculature of mammalian tissues controls the movement of fluid and solutes between blood and tissue cells. It is a dynamic, rapidly changing control system which adjusts the cellular environment so that homeostasis of the entire organism is maintained. A brief review of some of the current problems related to our understanding of this complex control system is presented.
Biogeographic differences in the effects of Centaurea stoebe on the soil nitrogen cycle: novel weapons and soil microbes

The success of some invasive plants may be due in part to native organisms lacking adaptation to species-specific biochemical traits of invaders—the Novel Weapons Hypothesis. We tested this hypothesis in the context of soil microbial communities by comparing the effects of Centaurea stoebe and the root exudate (±)-catechin, on ammonification and nitrification in both the non-native and native ranges of this species. In a non-native range (Montana), soil nitrate (NO3−) concentrations were lower in invaded than uninvaded grasslands. This did not appear to be due only to higher uptake rates as both C. stoebe plants and catechin significantly reduced resin extractable NO3−, the maximum rate of nitrification, and gross nitrification in Montana soils. Thus, reduced NO3− in invaded communities may be due in part to the inhibition of nitrifying bacteria by secondary metabolites produced by C. stoebe. The effects of C. stoebe on N-related processes were different in Romanian grasslands, where C. stoebe is native. In Romanian soil, C. stoebe had no effect on resin extractable NH4+ or NO3− (compared to other plant species), the maximum rate of nitrification, nor gross nitrification. A relatively high concentration of catechin reduced the maximum rate of nitrification in situ, but substantially less than in Montana. In vivo, gross ammonification was lowest when treated with catechin. Our results suggest biogeographic differences in the way a plant species alters nitrogen cycling through the direct effects of root exudates and adds to a growing body of literature demonstrating the important belowground effects of invasive plants.
Nucleon transversity study using a polarized 3He target in Hall A at JLab

Abstract A first measurement of Single target Spin Asymmetry (SSA) from semi-inclusive electro-production of charged pions from a transversely polarized 3 He target in Deep-Inelastic-Scattering kinematics was completed in Hall A at Jefferson Lab in early 2009. Such SSA will allow for an extraction of the much desired information on the Collins and Sivers asymmetry from the “neutron” in order to probe the quark transversity distributions. Future 11 GeV measurements at Jefferson Lab in Hall A using a solenoid magnetic detector system is being planned.
Development of a leukaemia resistant to cyclophosphamide ('Cytoxan').

THE alkylating agent, N,N-bis-(β-chlorethyl)-N′, O-propylenephosphoric acid ester diamide1 (B-518, cyclophosphamide, ‘Endoxan’, ‘Cytoxan’), has been markedly effective in suppressing the growth of a variety of transplanted tumours in rats2,3 and mice3. The mechanism of activation of this agent has not been determined. It is known that the drug is not cytotoxic in vitro, but is activated in vivo 4. Nicotinamide has been reported to prevent the toxic and antitumour effects of ‘Cytoxan’5. However, the relationship of nicotinamide or diphosphopyridine nucleotide to either the activation or the action of this alkylating agent is unknown. Resistant tumours have proved valuable for the study of the mechanism of action of chemotherapeutic compounds. Sublines resistant to alkylating agents and derived from previously sensitive tumours are uncommon and have not been investigated extensively. It was thought that if a tumour resistant to ‘Cytoxan’ could be developed, it might provide a useful model for the study of the action of this alkylating agent.
Early temporal changes in the uridine kinase isozyme profile of the novikoff hepatoma in response to 5-azacytidine treatment

Abstract Using a protocol conductive to the development in vivo of tumor resistance to 5-azacytidine, it is shown that the adult (I) and embryonic (II) forms of uridine kinase in Novikoff ascites tumor cells undergo early transient, but marked increases in activity, before falling below control values. The activities of I and II reversibly increase approximately 2-fold within one and four generations, respectively, from the beginning of treatment, then decline to approximately 30 per cent of the control value by the tenth generation; II predominates between generation two and ten. These early fluctuations in the concentrations of I and II, which probably account in part for the reported initial non-correspondence between uridine kinase activity and degree of resistance to pyrimidine analogs, are relevant to the problem of the development of tumor resistance to pyrimidine analogs.
SPEECHFIND: spoken document retrieval for a national gallery of the spoken word

In this study, we discuss a number of issues for audio stream phrase recognition for information retrieval for a new National Gallery of the Spoken Word (NGSW). NGSW is the first largescale repository of its kind, consisting of speeches, news broadcasts, and recordings that are of historical content from the 20 th Century. We propose a system diagram and discuss critical tasks associated with effective audio information retrieval that include: advanced audio segmentation, speech recognition model adaptation for acoustic background noise and speaker variability, and natural language processing for text query requests. A number of questions regarding copyright assessment, metadata construction, digital watermarking must also be addressed for a sustainable audio collection of this magnitude. Our experimental online system entitled “SpeechFind” is presented which allows for audio retrieval from a portion of the NGSW corpus. We discuss a number of research challenges to address the overall task of robust phrase searching in unrestricted audio corpora. 1. Overview The problem of reliable speech recognition for spoken
Second Language Epistemology: Take Two.

This article presents evidence that supports the claim that second language (L2) grammars arise in a domain-specific, informationally encapsulated module with contents provided by Universal Grammar and enriched by native language knowledge, as entertained by Schwartz (1986, 1987, 1999) contra Bley-Vroman (1990). I consider state-of-the-art evidence representative of a body of research on the poverty of the stimulus (POS) that argues for the domain-specificity of L2 representations, with a main focus on interpretation. Then I examine interpretive evidence relevant to the role of informational encapsulation and compositionality in SLA. I seek to demonstrate that the acquisition of syntax-linked interpretive properties where the POS is severe provides opportunities for a type of fingerprinting of mental organization that can inform a variety of epistemologically relevant questions.
Throttling and speculating on parallel architectures

Throttling of parallelism is of importance to dynamic parallelism models in which the number and sizes of possible parallel code segments (tasks, processes, threads, etc.) are unknown at compile time, and which, if left uncontrolled, may lead to explosive parallelism with resulting slowdown rather than speedup. The primary goal of throttling is preventing a dynamically unfolding parallel execution from creating so many parallel code segments that either: the system runs out of resources with which to manage the parallel segments; the system begins to thrash as a result of the increased process management and communication requirements; or the system simply wastes CPU time creating extra code segments which end up being executed sequentially anyway. On the other hand, speculative parallelism involves the parallel execution of code segments which are not yet known to be required. It can be exploited in two basic forms: parallel search and parallel test. Speculative parallelism can be used when there are ideal resources and the currently executing set of codes is not expected to yield any more parallel threads of execution. >
Coming to terms: Reinserting research assistants into ethnography's past and present

Research assistants have long been central to ethnographic practice, yet the conventions of academic labor have left their roles under-stated and obscure. The implications, we opine, are both theoretical and practical. Writing research assistants back in to our collective considerations of the method does more than simply fill a lacuna in the ‘reflexive turn’. It opens windows onto a radically transformed field of ethnographic practice. Today, the ‘field’ appears neither where nor what it used to be. Ethnographers are exploring ever-new terrains—many of them emergent, unstable, and dangerous. These endeavors, in turn, are prompting new kinds of research relationships. Against this backdrop, the time is now for a critical reappraisal of the players of contemporary ethnography. Venturing a new calculus of reflexive thinking, this Introduction engages the research assistant to revisit core ethnographic concerns—among them: research in dangerous places; the ethics of ethnographic labor; the shifting differentials of ‘academic vs. native’ expertise; and the socially produced nature of the ‘field’ itself. As the articles and Introduction of this special issue show, research assistants unsettle conventional understandings of what ethnography is and can be. Readmitted to the conversation, they provide a unique look into ethnography’s current state of play—and glimpses of the method’s future possibilities.
Supportive Feedback Environments Can Mend Broken Performance Management Systems

Pulakos and O’Leary (2011) noted that the ongoing informal feedback exchanges between managers and employees can enhance the effectiveness of performance management. However, they did not take into consideration the context in which feedback is shared. A growing body of literature on the feedback environment demonstrates how contextual factors shape the meaning and impact of feedback. We suggest that the behavioral changes that Pulakos and O’Leary recommended can be accomplished by helping managers to
High-Altitude Illnesses: Physiology, Risk Factors, Prevention, and Treatment

High-altitude illnesses encompass the pulmonary and cerebral syndromes that occur in non-acclimatized individuals after rapid ascent to high altitude. The most common syndrome is acute mountain sickness (AMS) which usually begins within a few hours of ascent and typically consists of headache variably accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, disturbed sleep, fatigue, and dizziness. With millions of travelers journeying to high altitudes every year and sleeping above 2,500 m, acute mountain sickness is a wide-spread clinical condition. Risk factors include home elevation, maximum altitude, sleeping altitude, rate of ascent, latitude, age, gender, physical condition, intensity of exercise, pre-acclimatization, genetic make-up, and pre-existing diseases. At higher altitudes, sleep disturbances may become more profound, mental performance is impaired, and weight loss may occur. If ascent is rapid, acetazolamide can reduce the risk of developing AMS, although a number of high-altitude travelers taking acetazolamide will still develop symptoms. Ibuprofen can be effective for headache. Symptoms can be rapidly relieved by descent, and descent is mandatory, if at all possible, for the management of the potentially fatal syndromes of high-altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema. The purpose of this review is to combine a discussion of specific risk factors, prevention, and treatment options with a summary of the basic physiologic responses to the hypoxia of altitude to provide a context for managing high-altitude illnesses and advising the non-acclimatized high-altitude traveler.
Theoretical Weights for Regression of a Son's Genetic Evaluation on His Sire's and His Dam's Genetic Evaluations

Theoretical weights for prediction of a son's genetic evaluation from genetic evaluations of his sire and dam are derived. Weights for sire and dam are equal and depend on number of daughters of the son when the bull evaluation is from his daughters alone and cow evaluation is from her records alone. Mixed model procedures which incorporate records of other relatives change theoretical weights. When records of daughters of both the son and his sire are used in evaluations of both, theoretical weights for the sire to predict the son's evaluation are about .50 for many combinations of daughter numbers of the bulls. Including the evaluation of the sire of the cow in her evaluation changes the theoretical weight to predict the son's evaluation from the dam's evaluation only slightly from the situation when only the dam's records are used. In addition, the theoretical weight for the maternal g/andsire is nearly zero. DISCUSSION
Carotid artery Dacron patch graft angioplasty: A ten-year experience*

Of 394 carotid endarterectomies performed during a 10-year period, 36 (9%) included Dacron patch graft angioplasties. Patch graft angioplasties were used selectively in patients because they had undergone previous carotid endarterectomy or had small-caliber vessels. There were no postoperative infections, occlusions, emboli, stroke, or pseudoaneurysms. In addition, no clinically detectable recurrent stenoses developed in this high-risk group of patients. Twenty-four of the 27 patients available for follow-up were screened for asymptomatic stenoses with spectral analysis and B-mode imaging; there was no sign of hemodynamically significant recurrent stenosis in this group. These encouraging results support the continued selective use of Dacron patch graft angioplasty in carotid surgery.
MathML in practice: issues and promise

This paper discusses MathML, an XML-based standard for expressing mathematics - everything from elementary mathematics to undergraduate college-level mathematics. Limitations of pre-existing options led to the creation of MathML. MathML is designed to be useful for authoring and publishing, for creating online interactive math resources, and as a non-proprietary approach for archiving. MathML is supported by the W3C and by multiple scholarly publishers and vendors of computer-based mathematics software. The question now is whether MathML can achieve greater acceptance among authors and better integration with standards in related domains, either through cross-walks or through direct incorporation into other domain schemas.