cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Possession and Access : Consumer Desires and Value Perceptions Regarding Contemporary Art Collection and Exhibit Visits

This research develops a multilevel and multifaceted perspective on art consumption behavior by separating consumption modes from the consumption products (artworks), by comparing possession (collection) with access (exhibit visits), and by distinguishing desire from value. The findings challenge the presupposition that possession is the ultimate expression of consumer desire and illustrate that contemporary art collectors and visitors choose collection or visits based on different desires. While artwork is perceived similarly, collection and visits have different impact on consumers' perception of value. The findings confirm, extend, and challenge previous research on desire, value, possession, and experiential approach.
Suppression and control of epileptiform activity by electrical stimulation: a review

Epilepsy is a devastating disease affecting /spl sim/1% of the world's population. Although drug therapy is effective in many patients, 25% are not responsive to anticonvulsants. In addition, up to 50% of those receiving regular mediation suffer major side effects. Surgical resection is another treatment also associated with serious complications. An alternative method to control seizure activity is electrical stimulation. Several electrical stimulation protocols have been developed in animal models of epilepsy that can reduce or completely suppress seizures. Moreover, in over 5000 patients worldwide, electrical stimulation has been used to control seizures. The mechanisms underlying some of the techniques of seizure control are not understood. Some stimulation protocols, such as DC stimulation, rely on the effects of fields and currents on the membrane polarization. Other methods using single pulses, such as phase-resetting, desynchronization, and chaos control rely on the modulation of the dynamic properties of the neuronal networks. Both low- and high-frequency periodic stimulation can suppress seizures not only during stimulation, but also by inducing long-term changes in brain function. The purpose of this review is to present these approaches and to discuss their underlying mechanisms and potential for clinical implementation.
Data Security in MANETs using Multipath Routing and Directional Transmission

A cross-layer approach is investigated to improve data security in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs). The use of directional antennas and intelligent multipath routing is proposed to enhance end-to-end data confidentiality and data availability with respect to outsider attacks. The goal is to impede rogue attempts to gain unauthorized access to classified information or disrupt the information flow. The interplay between the physical, link, and network layers is considered. A novel simulator is developed to accurately quantify the data confidentiality benefits of these approaches. This study leverages the existence of multiple paths between end-nodes to statistically improve data confidentiality and data availability in hostile MANET environments, where both insider and outsider adversaries may be present. Simulation results show that the proposed mechanisms can greatly improve data confidentiality as compared to existing schemes. These mechanisms can also improve data availability.
Mechanisms of blood pressure reduction by prolonged activation of the baroreflex

Recent technological advances have made the activation of the afferent limb of the baroreflex a viable therapeutic approach for lowering blood pressure. Experimental studies demonstrate sustained reductions in blood pressure in response to electrical baroreflex activation and initial results from clinical trials using device-based therapy for drug-resistant hypertension are promising. Although theoretically obvious at first glance, the mechanisms involved in the blood pressure lowering effect of baroreflex activation elude precise quantification, and experiments designed to investigate them invariably challenge preconceived notions and even dogmas. This paper is a brief overview of our current understanding of these mechanisms.
Lightweight detection of program refactorings

Poorly structured code is hard to maintain and read. Program refactoring can improve code structure and thus make it easier to preserve and to discern the underlying design. However, refactoring is a difficult and time-consuming process making it unattractive for many developers. An automated tool that could identify poorly structured code and make suggestions would make the refactoring process easier. Although in general refactorings may be quite difficult to locate automatically, we show that many can be detected using low-cost, syntactic techniques. We have built a tool to locate refactorings in C# programs. Our experiments indicate that the tool has an excellent success rate in identifying refactorings.
CD40 Ligand–Dependent Tyrosine Nitration of Prostacyclin Synthase In Vivo

Background— Cells in human atherosclerotic lesions express the immune mediator CD40 and its ligand, CD40L, but the mechanisms and the mediators by which CD40L contributes to atherosclerosis are poorly defined. Here, we show how CD40L increases vascular inflammation and thrombosis via tyrosine nitration and inhibition of prostacyclin synthase (PGIS), an enzyme with antithrombotic, antiproliferative, and dilatory functions in the normal vasculature. Methods and Results— Exposure of cultured human aortic endothelial cells to clinically relevant concentrations of CD40L (20 to 80 ng/mL) dose-dependently increased the production of superoxide (O2·−), decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity, and increased PGIS nitration. Furthermore, inhibition of CD40 expression by small interfering RNA blocked the effects of CD40L on O2·−, NO bioactivity, and PGIS nitration, which indicates a specific effect of CD40L. In addition, either depletion of mitochondria (ρ0 cells, ie, mitochondria-depleted cells, to prevent mitochond...
Thermal transport in 3D pillared SWCNT–graphene nanostructures

We present results of a molecular dynamics study using adaptive intermolecular reactive empirical bond order interatomic potential to analyze thermal transport in three-dimensional pillared single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)–graphene superstructures comprised of unit cells with graphene floors and SWCNT pillars. The results indicate that in-plane as well as out-of-plane thermal conductivity in these superstructures can be tuned by varying the interpillar distance and/or the pillar height. The simulations also provide information on thermal interfacial resistance at the graphene–SWCNT junctions in both the in-plane and out-of-plane directions. Among the superstructures analyzed, the highest effective (based on the unit cell cross-sectional area) in-plane thermal conductivity was 40 W/(m K) with an out-of-plane thermal conductivity of 1.0 W/(m K) for unit cells with an interpillar distance Dx = 3.3 nm and pillar height Dz = 1.2 nm, while the highest out-of-plane thermal conductivity was 6.8 W/(m K) with an in-plane thermal conductivity of 6.4 W/(m K) with Dx = 2.1 nm and Dz= 4.2 nm.
STATUS AND ACTION: How Stratification Affects the Protest Participation of Young Adults

General patterns of stratification in protest participation are examined in this article using longitudinal data from a national sample of young adults. Weber's macrolevel conception of status is tied to a microlevel social psychological explanation of participation that includes Goffman's work on framing. The result of the macro-micro link is a comprehensive explanation of protest participation. Logistic regression analyses demonstrate the utility of the comprehensive model as a general explanation of status and action. Overall, the findings show higher socioeconomic levels, being black being Jenish, or having a family member who is in a union increased the propensity for protest participation among young adults in the early 1970s. Gender differences in protest participation are not statistically significant. Discussion of how a general model must be altered to explain participation in specific movements is included Case studies are generally the preferred methodology in investigating social movement participation because of the importance of controlling for the context in which participation takes place. The emphasis on context found in case studies narrows the field of potential participants allowing the observer to predict why individual participants are motivated toward involvement. There are times, however, when generality is appropriate and broadly applicable patterns of participation are of interest. Findings of a general nature are useful in teaching students about social movement participation. Generality may also be of assistance to the researcher investigating a new form of protest about which little is known. Unfortunately, too much generality makes for an impossible research task. Hence, asking "who participates in protests?" cannot be pursued in a completely unbounded fashion. The research presented in this article considers protest participation among young adults who attended high school in the United States during the late 1960s. The research is an examination of the impact of status group membership on participation in broadly defined protest activity.
A cognitively based taxonomy of fuzzy decision support systems

Fuzzy decision support systems have multiplied during recent years. Zachary's cognitively based functional taxonomy of decision support techniques provides a framework to classify fuzzy decision aids. Researchers can use this classification scheme to organize fuzzy decision support systems for further study. >
The role of backbone chain rotation in the hydrophobicity recovery of polymeric materials for outdoor insulation

A series of experiments was conducted on polymeric insulators to examine the role of molecular bond motion in the recovery of hydrophobicity. The samples were also analyzed with characterization techniques which provided important information concerning surface topography, surface hydrophobicity level, and surface chemical composition. Silicone rubber and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) samples, in the form of cylindrical rods with 25 mm diameter and 150 mm in length, were subjected to dry band arcing in a fog chamber, to simulate outdoor service conditions. It is shown that the diffusion process is not the only mechanism responsible for the recovery of hydrophobicity in polymeric insulators. Heat treatment after hexane soaking showed evidence of recovery by molecular bond motion. Heat-induced changes occurring on the surface of polymeric insulators, as analyzed by ESCA (electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis) and COV (cross-over voltage) measurements, are comparable to those induced by dry band arcing. The formation of cyclic polymers, as well as their conformational changes during the thermal degradation process, helps explain the increase of oxygen level in the hydrophilic state, and the increase of carbon level in the hydrophobic state. >
Partnering for sustainability: Business–NGO alliances in the coffee industry

The movement to promote coffee produced in a sustainable way is one of many efforts aimed at linking social responsibility and market capitalism. In the wake of a worldwide coffee crisis in which prices have fallen to levels that do not support small-scale production or provide living wages for plantation workers, non-profit certifying and labelling organisations are working to develop a market that is sustainable for workers and the environment. They seek to influence cultural and political values in such a way that consumers and corporations in the North will have to respond to them by incorporating the welfare of Southern workers and ecosystems into their purchasing decisions. This paper discusses and evaluates current strategies to link producers and consumers within this movement, all of which involve a great deal of education. It argues that partnerships between businesses and NGOs are essential for broadening the corporate base of the market for fairly traded coffee and promoting norm change among ...
Jim Gray at IBM: the transaction processing revolution

While at the IBM San Jose Research Laboratory, in the 1970's, Dr. Jim Gray defined and developed the fundamental concepts and techniques that underlie on-line transaction processing systems. Jim Gray's pivotal contributions enabled cost efficient, on-line processing to replace paper and batch processing systems. Today, online transaction processing powers the record keeping systems that drive today's commerce, services, and government.
Characterizing the scale dimension of a high-dimensional classification problem

Classi#cation of high-dimensional data is inherently di1cult. We present an exploratory data analysis methodology for characterizing the scale dimension of a classi#cation problem. The idea is to characterize the support of one distinguished target class as a collection of balls covering the class, with each ball centeredat an observation in that class such that the radius is maximal without containing observations from the other classes. The scale dimension is de#ned to be the number of distinct radii (ball sizes) required to cover the class without covering observations from the other class. A greedy algorithm is used to #t the balls. The balls then provide a description of the support of the target class, with information about the complexity of the classi#cation problem implicit in the number, radii, adjacency and position of the balls. Clustering the balls by radius and pruning the cluster tree yields an estimate of the scale dimension for the problem. We illustrate the methodology with pedagogical simulations anda chemical sensor data analysis application. Publishedby Elsevier Science Ltdon behalf of Pattern Recognition Society.
Moving particle finite element method with global smoothness

We describe a new version of the moving particle finite element method (MPFEM) that provides solutions within a C 0 finite element framework. The finite elements determine the weighting for the moving partition of unity. A concept of 'General Shape Function' is proposed which extends regular finite element shape functions to a larger domain. These are combined with Shepard functions to obtain a smooth approximation. The Moving Particle Finite Element Method combines desirable features of finite element and meshfree methods. The proposed approach, in fact, can be interpreted as a 'moving partition of unity finite element method' or 'moving kernel finite element method'. This method possesses the robustness and efficiency of the C 0 finite element method while providing at least C 1 continuity.
LUNG CANCER IN THE SCHNEEBERG MINES: A REAPPRAISAL OF THE DATA REPORTED BY HARTING AND HESSE IN 1879

The first description of occupational lung cancer, by Harting and Hesse in 1879, unfortunately is not readily accessible. Its account of the vicissitudes of the Schneeberg miners merits study and is therefore presented in summary and set in a historical and geological context. The authors attempted to discover the cause of the disease and made recommendations for improving the health of miners. In the course of their programme of investigations, they developed methods for measuring airborne dust and inhaled dust by personal monitoring. It was left to subsequent discovery for radon and its daughter products to be identified as the causal agents. Later generations were to discover the impact of radioactive spoils from mines situated in the mountain range in which Schneeberg was located.
In vitro effects of metal ions on cellular metabolism and the correlation between these effects and the uptake of the ions.

The effects of Ag[sup +1], Au[sup +3], Cd[sup +2], Cu[sup +2]; Ga[sup +3]; In[sup +3], Ni[sup +2], Pd[sup +2], and Zn[sup +2] on DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, succinic dehydrogenase activity, and total cellular protein of mammalian fibroblasts were measured for exposures less than 12 h. The rates at which these cellular functions responded to metal ion exposure were compared and related to the uptake rate of the ions into the cells. These rates of response were significantly different: DNA synthesis decreased the fastest, followed by protein synthesis, succinic dehydrogenase activity, and total protein. This order of response was similar for most metal ions. At 4 h, the rate of uptake of the metal ions correlated most closely with depression of succinic dehydrogenase activity, whereas at 8 h, the uptake correlated most closely with depression of protein synthesis. The similar response of cells to all metal ions may imply that these ions act on cells by similar mechanisms. The rates of uptake of Ag[sup +1], Cu[sup +2], and Zn[sup +2] were sufficiently fast that in vivo exposures of tissues to these metals for periods less than 12 h would be capable of disrupting cellular metabolism.
Measuring Success: Performance Standards and Trajectories of Ecosystem Development

Postrestoration monitoring of wetland community structure and ecosystem processes is needed to evaluate whether a restoration project is successful. Measurements are compared with analogous measurements made prior to restoration or, more commonly, to one or more high quality, natural reference wetlands of the same geomorphic and vegetation type and in the same watershed. Measured attributes are referred to as performance standards and are chosen to document and track physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the wetland over time. Physical (hydrology) and chemical (water quality, soils) performance standards describe the environmental template necessary for successful restoration whereas biological standards (vegetation, fauna, microorganisms) determine its progression toward a healthy and fully functioning endpoint ecosystem based on preestablished goals. Performance standards to characterize productivity, energy (carbon) flow, and nutrient cycling are used to describe ecosystem function whereas measures of species diversity and the physical complexity of vegetation and habitat are used to describe its structure. Standards of structure and function often progress along pathways or trajectories that describe ecosystem development over time. Trajectories may be linear or curvilinear and some standards may take longer to develop than others. Sometimes, no trajectory is evident or performance standards progress along an undesirable trajectory, resulting in an alternate endpoint community that occurs, for example, when invasive species colonize the site. Ideally, measurement of performance standards of structure and function before and after restoration or along with comparable measurements in reference wetlands is needed to determine if and how quickly a site is progressing toward the desired endpoint community.
Analysis of lift and drag coefficients of a GT2 racing car at various speeds with movable wheels and ground

The paper proposes a study of a GT2 racing car with a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tool. Results of STAR-CCM+ simulations of the flow around the car in a wind tunnel with movable ground and wheels are presented for different air speeds to assess the different contributions of pressure and shear to lift and drag over the speed range. The rear wing contributes more than 85% of the lift force and 7-8% of the drag force for this particular class of racing cars. When reference is made to the low speed drag and lift coefficients, increasing the speed from 25 to 100 m/s produces an increase of CD of more than 3% and a reduction of CL of more than 2%. The resultsuggests modifying the constant CD and CL values used in lap time simulation toolsintroducing the tabulated values to interpolate vs. the speed of the car.
Interstitial Fluid Flow Increases Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Invasion through CXCR4/CXCL12 and MEK/ERK Signaling

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer (~80%), and it is one of the few cancer types with rising incidence in the United States. This highly invasive cancer is very difficult to detect until its later stages, resulting in limited treatment options and low survival rates. There is a dearth of knowledge regarding the mechanisms associated with the effects of biomechanical forces such as interstitial fluid flow (IFF) on hepatocellular carcinoma invasion. We hypothesized that interstitial fluid flow enhanced hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion through chemokine-mediated autologous chemotaxis. Utilizing a 3D in vitro invasion assay, we demonstrated that interstitial fluid flow promoted invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma derived cell lines. Furthermore, we showed that autologous chemotaxis influences this interstitial fluid flow-induced invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma derived cell lines via the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)/C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) signaling axis. We also demonstrated that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling affects interstitial fluid flow-induced invasion; however, this pathway was separate from CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential role of interstitial fluid flow in hepatocellular carcinoma invasion. Uncovering the mechanisms that control hepatocellular carcinoma invasion will aid in enhancing current liver cancer therapies and provide better treatment options for patients.
Johnson Beverage, Inc.

Jack Johnson, owner of Johnson Beverage, has just received notice that one of his largest and most loyal customers may want to negotiate a lower price for its product purchases. Information compiled by Johnson’s accountant, where customer service costs are allocated to customers as a percentage of revenue, suggests that profit margin on the customer is too low to withstand a price decrease. Students are asked to design an activity-based system for allocating customer service costs and to use it to estimate customer profitability for several customers. The revised costs reflect that the customer places low demands on customer service resources and is sufficiently profitable to permit Johnson Beverage to negotiate on price to preserve the business. Additional analysis identifies some unprofitable customers, previously thought to be profitable, that offer opportunities for strategic decisions that lead to profit improvement.
Regulation of the c-jun Gene in p210 BCR-ABL Transformed Cells Corresponds With Activity of JNK, the c-jun N-Terminal Kinase

Activity of the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) has been shown in hematopoietic cells transformed by p210 BCR-ABL. However, analysis has not been reported for hematopoietic cells on the consequences of this activity for c-jun promoter regulation within its distinctive proximal 8-base consensus CRE-like element, an element linked to JNK-mediated increase in c-jun transcription. In the present study, regulation of the proximal c-jun promoter was studied in murine myeloid cells transformed by p210 BCR-ABL. Promoter regulation in p210 BCR-ABL transformed cells was compared with regulation of the promoter in nontransformed interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent parental cells. The composition of nuclear AP-1 proteins contained within cells with p210 BCR-ABL, and their binding to the c-jun promoter proximal CRE-like element, was compared with the composition and binding of AP-1 proteins in IL-3-treated parental cells without p210 BCR-ABL. The present analysis found fivefold increased c-jun transcription occurring in p210 BCR-ABL transformed murine myeloid cells possessing a corresponding magnitude of increased kinase activity of JNK, compared with IL-3-stimulated parental cells. Augmented JNK activity was accompanied by increased nuclear abundance of c-jun and c-fos proteins that bound specifically to the proximal c-jun promoter CRE element. Also, representative human leukemic cell lines expressing p210 BCR-ABL and possessing abundant kinase activity of JNK, when compared with parental cells that were deficient in JNK activity, had increased c-jun and c-fos proteins. Finally, to show the relevance of these observations in model systems, we studied blast cells from patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute leukemic transformation, and observed comparable activities of JNK catalysis and c-jun/AP-1 protein relative to the cell lines that possessed p210 BCR-ABL and JNK activity. These studies provide a basis for investigating the set of downstream genes which augmented c-jun/AP-1 activity enlists in the process of transformation by p210 BCR-ABL.
HEMT-based photon-counting energy-resolving ultra-fast x-ray detector with improved sensitivity

We proposed to explore extremely fast digital switching devices used in telecommunications for use as photon counting, energy resolving x-ray detectors. The HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor), used in ultra-fast switches and low noise amplifiers, offers a very low noise and high frequency operation. For this study a HEMT-based photon-counting energy-resolving ultra-fast x-ray detector with improved sensitivity is proposed and studied via simulations.
Experiments on Surface Roughness Effects in Ice Accretion

Current numerical simulations of ice accretion on aircraft wings rely on control-volume analyses of heat transfer and freezing that do not properly account for the effect of surface roughness and other features on liquid water transport and convective heat transfer. It is acknowledged that for these simulations to correctly model glaze ice accretion such details must be handled in a physically correct manner. The need for improved simulations is prompting an experimental program that will examine micro-scale phenomena in icing boundary layers and also a rexamination of surface roughness effects. In this paper, the role of roughness in boundary layers is briefly reviewed with an emphasis on laminar-to-turbulent transition effects and recent developments on roughness-induced transient growth. Also, a new experimental facility known as the Icing Physics Flow Laboratory is described. This facility is designed to accomodate validation experiments for numerical simulations of micro-scale icing phenomena.
Determination of Nitrite and Nitrate in Fruit Juice by In-line Dialysis-Ion Chromatography

Objective:A rapid ion chromatography method was developed for determination of nitrate and nitrite in fruit juice with a simple sample preparation technique-inline dialysis.Methods: Take a certain amount of fruit juice samples diluted with ultra pure water determined later by the in-line dialysis technology solution for online sample.Results: Good linear correlation was achieved in the range of 50 μg/L～500 μg/L by in-line dialysis sample pre-treatment technology with coefficient r within 0.999.The detection limit of nitrite was 3 μg/L and nitrate was 0.75 μg/L,and RSD was within 3.0%.The recoveries were within 88%～105%.Conclusion: In-line dialysis to pre-treatment method is effective in addition to complex matrix of organic matter,better purification of the sample solution.The method used for fruit juice analysis of nitrate and nitrite determination is fast and easy,with satisfactory results.
STUDIES ON BUTTERFLY FAUNA IN THE SIMIAN MOUNTAINS IN CHONGQING MUNICIPALITY

This paper presents the results of a survey of the butterfly faunal composition in the Simian Mountains in Chongqing Municipality. Altogether 9 families, 87 genera and 155 species of butterfly are recorded in the region investigated. Of them 108 species belong to Oriental realm, constituting 69.7% of the total, 6 species are from Palaeartic realm, constituting 3.9% of the total and the other 41 species are widely distributed, constituting 26.4% of the total. These butterfly species are mainly distributed in evergreen broadleaf forests.
Recovery of steroidal glucosiduronic acids from organic solvents containing anionic liquid ion-exchangers

Solutions of anionic liquid ion-exchangers in organic solvents are potentially useful for extracting steroidal glucosiduronic acids from biological fluids and for purifying mixtures of these acids by chromatography. If a glucosiduronic acid is to be isolated in pure form after either of these procedures, it is necessary to separate it from the ion-exchanger. Separation from an organic solution of tetraheptylammonium chloride may be accomplished by extraction with water under the following conditions, which promote transfer of a glucosiduronate to the aqueous phase: (1) an appropriate solvent (diluent) as the organic phase, (2) the presence in the two-phase mixture of an anion such as myristate or dodecyl sulphate to combine with the tetraheptylammonium ion, and (3) an increase of the pH of the aqueous phase in association with the presence of myristate or dodecyl sulphate. The foregoing factors apply also to removal of glucosiduronates from organic solutions of ion exchangers that are hydrochlorides of tertiary, secondary, or primary amines. Since these amines exert progressively less solubilizing effect for glucosiduronates as the pH of the aqueous phase is increased, the conjugates can be released from the organic phase by adjusting the pH to 10 and omitting the myristate or dodecyl sulphate.
Ethically Problematic Value Change as an Outcome of Psychotherapeutic Interventions

Values nonpaternalism—the ethical imperative to avoid imposing values onto clients—is implicit in most widely used ethical frameworks employed by psychotherapists. Although changes in client values may represent desired psychotherapeutic outcomes, some such changes may be ethically problematic. Interventions are characterized by values paternalism when they are intended to promote client welfare but are accompanied by impositions against client values. Providers and consumers of psychotherapy may routinely lack awareness of this consideration. Psychotherapists may have a duty to be informed about ethically problematic value change accompanying psychotherapy and to inform clients about this phenomenon.
Chromophore-Based Luminescent Metal–Organic Frameworks as Lighting Phosphors

Energy-efficient solid-state-lighting (SSL) technologies are rapidly developing, but the lack of stable, high-performance rare-earth free phosphors may impede the growth of the SSL market. One possible alternative is organic phosphor materials, but these can suffer from lower quantum yields and thermal instability compared to rare-earth phosphors. However, if luminescent organic chromophores can be built into a rigid metal–organic framework, their quantum yields and thermal stability can be greatly improved. This Forum Article discusses the design of a group of such chromophore-based luminescent metal–organic frameworks with exceptionally high performance and rational control of the important parameters that influence their emission properties, including electronic structures of chromophore, coligands, metal ions, and guest molecules.
Differential Roles of Phospholipase D Proteins in FcεRI-Mediated Signaling and Mast Cell Function.

Phospholipase D (PLD) proteins are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine to generate an important signaling lipid, phosphatidic acid. Phosphatidic acid is a putative second messenger implicated in the regulation of vesicular trafficking and cytoskeletal reorganization. Previous studies using inhibitors and overexpression of PLD proteins indicate that PLD1 and PLD2 play positive roles in FceRI-mediated signaling and mast cell function. We used mice deficient in PLD1, PLD2, or both to study the function of these enzymes in mast cells. In contrast to published studies, we found that PLD1 deficiency impaired FceRI-mediated mast cell degranulation; however, PLD2 deficiency enhanced it. Biochemical analysis showed that PLD deficiency affected activation of the PI3K pathway and RhoA. Furthermore, our data indicated that, although PLD1 deficiency impaired F-actin disassembly, PLD2 deficiency enhanced microtubule formation. Together, our results suggested that PLD1 and PLD2, two proteins that catalyze the same enzymatic reaction, regulate different steps in mast cell degranulation.
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)-dependent Regulation of Extracellular Regulated Kinase (ERK) Phosphorylation by the Mitogen-activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Phosphatase MKP3

Within the ovarian follicle, granulosa cells (GCs) surround and support immature oocytes. FSH promotes the differentiation and proliferation of GCs and is essential for fertility. We recently reported that ERK activation is necessary for FSH to induce key genes that define the preovulatory GC. This research focused on the phosphoregulation by FSH of ERK within GCs. FSH-stimulated ERK phosphorylation on Thr202/Tyr204 was PKA-dependent, but MEK(Ser217/Ser221) phosphorylation was not regulated; rather, MEK was already active. However, treatment of GCs with the EGF receptor inhibitor AG1478, a dominant-negative RAS, an Src homology 2 domain-containing Tyr phosphatase inhibitor (NSC 87877), or the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked FSH-dependent ERK(Thr202/Tyr204) phosphorylation, demonstrating the requirement for upstream pathway components. We hypothesized that FSH via PKA enhances ERK phosphorylation by inhibiting the activity of a protein phosphatase that constitutively dephosphorylates ERK in the absence of FSH, allowing MEK-phosphorylated ERK to accumulate in the presence of FSH because of inactivation of the phosphatase. GCs treated with different phosphatase inhibitors permitted elimination of both Ser/Thr and Tyr phosphatases and implicated dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) in the dephosphorylation of ERK. Treatment with MAP kinase phosphatase (MKP3, DUSP6) inhibitors increased ERK(Thr202/Tyr204) phosphorylation in the absence of FSH to levels comparable with ERK phosphorylated in the presence of FSH. ERK co-immunoprecipitated with Myc-FLAG-tagged MKP3(DUSP6). GCs treated with MKP3(DUSP6) inhibitors blocked and PKA inhibitors enhanced dephosphorylation of recombinant ERK2-GST in an in vitro phosphatase assay. Together, these results suggest that FSH-stimulated ERK activation in GCs requires the PKA-dependent inactivation of MKP3(DUSP6).
Constraint Screening for Security Analysis of Power Networks

Consider a general security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) problem for an arbitrary power network. This problem includes discrete variables corresponding to commitment parameters as well as demand and generation constraints, among others. Aside from its nonconvexity, SCUC is a large-scale problem for real-world systems due to the security constraints. The main objective of this paper is to propose an algorithm to eliminate a vast majority of linear security constraints in the high-dimensional mixed-integer SCUC problem in order to arrive at an equivalent reduced-order SCUC problem. To this end, we develop a parallel and computationally cheap algorithm for finding a minimal subset of security constraints whose satisfaction guarantees the satisfaction of all security constraints. The proposed algorithm does not depend on the unknown unit commitment parameters and allows the load forecasts to be imprecise. More specifically, a low-order model of the SCUC problem is found based on the topology of the power system, given lower and upper bounds on nodal power injections (to accommodate uncertainties in loads and generation productions), and the normal and emergency line ratings. This algorithm is tested on several power systems with as many as 5500 buses, for which each set of security constraints with millions of conditions is reduced to a minimal subset with only a few hundred conditions.
Respiration: Taxation Without Representation?

The role of phytoplankton respiration under conditions where mixed layer depth (zmix) exceeds euphotic zone depth (zeu) and phytoplankton growth is light-limited is well established. Sverdrup (1952) demonstrated the importance of respiration in determining the onset of the spring bloom and Wofsy (1983) considered the balance between respiration and photosynthesis in determining phytoplankton abundance in turbid waters. In stably stratified waters where zmix < zeu, algal respiration is often considered to be small relative to gross photosynthesis, and has been largely neglected as a potential sink for primary production. Microbial loop processes are thought to dominate remineralization of organic matter under conditions of stable phytoplankton abundance in a stably stratified euphotic zone (Frost, 1987; Fasham et al., 1990).
194 EFFECT OF SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITORS ON Oct-4, Nanog, AND Sox-2 EXPRESSION IN BOVINE FETAL FIBROBLAST CELLS

Successful reprogramming of somatic cells towards pluripotency requires the epigenetic marks characteristic of the differentiated cell type first be erased in order to inactivate the somatic cell program and activate the embryonic program. However, the majority of cells that undergo reprogramming become trapped in a partially reprogrammed state that is characterised by the down-regulation of somatic cell marker genes, incomplete reactivation of pluripotency genes, maintenance of viral expression, and the inability to form chimeras. Several small molecules, which act on specific signaling pathways or chromatin modifications, have been shown to improve both the kinetics and efficiency of reprogramming. These chemical modifiers aid in overcoming the roadblocks encountered during the reprogramming process by inducing the necessary epigenetic modifications needed to silence the somatic cell genome and reactivate the embryonic stem cell genome. Chemical treatment of cells before reprogramming can remodel the epigenetic landscape to be more like that of embryonic stem cell by removing the repressive epigenetic marks and relaxing chromatin structure to allow the reprogramming factors easier access to target genes. In the present study, we assessed the effect of pretreatment with small molecules on the expression of Oct-4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in bovine fetal fibroblast cells. Chemical treatment consisted of 3 small molecules: PD0325901, a mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor; CHIR99021, a glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor; and NuP0178 (NuPotential, Baton Rouge, LA, USA), a G9a histone methyltransferase inhibitor. Cells were seeded at a density of 0.7 × 106 and expanded before being divided evenly into 2 groups. Control cells were cultured in complete culture medium (DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum), whereas treatment cells were cultured in complete culture medium containing 0.5 mM PD0325901, 3 mM CHIR99021, and 1.8 mM NuP0178. Messenger RNA was isolated from cell cultures using Dynabeads® mRNA DIRECT™ Kit (Dynal Inc., Lake Success, NY, USA) on Day 7 and 14, and the resulting RNA products were transcribed into cDNA using Bio-Rad iScript™ cDNA Synthesis Kit (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). Quantitative RT–PCR was performed to measure transcript levels of Oct-4, Nanog, Sox-2, and poly adenylate polymerase in treated and untreated cells at Days 7 and 14. Transcript levels were quantified by relative quantification using the ΔΔCt method and expressed as ratios of target genes (Oct-4, Nanog, Sox-2) to the reference gene (PAP) and normalized against a calibrator consisting of untreated bovine fetal fibroblast cells. No difference in expression levels between untreated and treated cells was detected at either Day 7 or 14. Currently, we are utilising chromatin immunoprecipitation to examine chromatin and DNA methylation patterns around the promoters of Oct-4, Nanog, and Sox-2 to further elucidate the effects of treatment with this combination of small molecule inhibitors.
Methods for multitasking among real-time embedded compute tasks running on the GPU

Summary In this study, we provide an extensive survey on wide spectrum of scheduling methods for multitasking among graphics processing unit (GPU) computing tasks. We then design several schedulers and explain in detail the selected methods we have developed to implement our scheduling strategies. Next, we compare the performance of schedulers on various workloads running on Fermi and Kepler architectures and arrive at the following major conclusions: (1) Small kernels benefit from running kernels concurrently. (2) The combination of small kernels, high-priority kernels with longer runtimes, and lower-priority kernels with shorter runtimes benefits from a CPU scheduler that dynamically changes kernel order on the Fermi architecture. (3) Because of limitations of existing GPU architectures, currently CPU schedulers outperform their GPU counterparts. We also provide results and observations obtained from implementing and evaluating our schedulers on the NVIDIA Jetson TX1 system-on-chip architecture. We observe that although TX1 has the newer Maxwell architecture, the mechanism used for scheduler timings behaves differently on TX1 compared to Kepler leading to incorrect timings. In this paper, we describe our methods that allow us to report correct timings for CPU schedulers running on TX1. Finally, we propose new research directions involving the investigation of additional scheduling strategies.
Science Is Shaped by Wikipedia: Evidence From a Randomized Control Trial

“I sometimes think that general and popular treatises are almost as important for the progress of science as original work.” - Charles Darwin, 1865. As the largest encyclopedia in the world, it is not surprising that Wikipedia reflects the state of scientific knowledge. However, Wikipedia is also one of the most accessed websites in the world, including by scientists, which suggests that it also has the potential to shape science. This paper shows that it does. Incorporating ideas into Wikipedia leads to those ideas being used more in the scientific literature. We provide correlational evidence of this across thousands of Wikipedia articles and causal evidence of it through a randomized control trial where we add new scientific content to Wikipedia. In the months after uploading it, an average new Wikipedia article in Chemistry is read tens of thousands of times and causes changes to hundreds of related scientific journal articles. Patterns in these changes suggest that Wikipedia articles are used as review articles, summarizing an area of science and highlighting the research contributions to it. Consistent with this reference article view, we find causal evidence that when scientific articles are added as references to Wikipedia, those articles accrue more academic citations. Our findings speak not only to the influence of Wikipedia, but more broadly to the influence of repositories of knowledge and the role that they play in science.
Simple-Clips ongoing research: more information with less data by implementing inheritance.

This paper presents the application of inheritance to the formal taxonomy (is-a) of a semantically rich Language Resource based on the Generative Lexicon theory, SIMPLE-CLIPS. The aim is to lighten the representation of its semantic layer by reducing the number of encoded relations. A prediction calculation on the impact of introducing inheritance regarding space occupancy is carried out, yielding a significant space reduction of 22%. This is corroborated by its actual application, which reduces the number of explicitly encoded relations in this lexicon by 18.4%. Later on, we study the issues that inheritance poses to the Language Resources, and discuss sensitive solutions to tackle each of them, including examples. Finally, we present a discussion on the application of inheritance, from which two side effect advantages arise: consistency enhancement and inference capabilities.
MOLECULAR HETEROGENEITY AND THE STRUCTURE OF FEATHERS

ABSTRACT . Hypotheses for the origin of molecular heterogeneity are reviewed with special regard to keratins. The nature of feather keratins and their organization into morphological entities can be explained by a number of mechanisms. The biochemical evidence for the structure of SCM -protein subunits of feathers, their potential control and interaction correlates protein structure with function. The heterogeneity of the keratins is compared to that of immunoglobulins and histocompatibility antigens. The selective pressures on systems which consist of relatively large numbers of protein subunits are discussed. Feather keratin heterogeneity is the product of selection for maximum morphological flexibility based on a minimum of genetic information. Evolution within the system appears to be conservative. The strategy has been one favoring the production of a relatively large number of small (MW = 11,000) proteins which interact under the influence of regulatory genes to produce the great range of morphological phenotypes.
The Effect of Methotrexate on the Folate Coenzyme Pools in Human Hepatoma Cells in Culture

Recent studies on the activity of antifolates have been directed at the perturbations in folate pools caused by inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase. For the most part these studies have been restricted to the effects of methotrexate, but the effects of trimetrexate have also been examined. A constant feature of these results is the elevation of dihydrofolate which accompanies inhibition by both these agents (1–7). A variable result is the extent to which the reduced folate coenzymes are depleted following exposure to the antifolates. In several cell lines the reduction in tetrahydrofolate is quite modest (less than 40%) with the 10-formyltetrahydrofolate being maintained (1–5). In other cases such as L1210 cells in vivo there is a marked depletion of the reduced folate coenzyme pools (6). Preliminary studies with a rodent hepatoma cell line indicated that the reduced folate coenzymes are depleted by 80% or greater and this is compensated for by an increase in H2PteGlun and 10-HCO-H2PteGlun (7). The current study extends these investigations to the effect of methotrexate on the folate coenzymes in human HEPG2 hepatoma cells in vitro.
Altruism and Self-interest

Altruism is behavior intended to benefit another, even when this action risks possible sacrifice to the welfare of the actor. Explanations for altruism range from innate predispositions to socialization and tangible rewards, with explanations clustering into four analytical categories. (a) Sociocultural explanations focus on individual demographic correlates of altruism, e.g., religion, gender, family background, wealth, occupation, education, or political views. (b) Economists consider altruism a good and stress the importance of rewards. Rewards may be material (money) or psychological (praise, honors, or simply feeling good about oneself) but are always expressed in some implicit, basic economic calculus of individual costs and benefits. (c) Altruism presents a particular challenge to evolutionary biology, built on Darwinian individual selection and survival of the fittest. Acts in which one organism takes steps to promote the survival of another organism violates this individual selection principle, causing many biologists to regard altruism as aberrant behavior that eventually will disappear. Those biologists who do take altruism seriously stress explanations that favor kin or group selection. (d) Psychologists emphasize developmental factors, socialization, child-rearing practices, and level of sociocognitive development. Frequent explanations are reciprocity, characteristics of the specific situation, identity of the recipient, anonymity of the helper, the number and identity of observers, empathy, and perceptions of oneself in relation to others.
Minimum size for the top jet drop from a bursting bubble

High-speed imaging experiments and numerical simulations show that the minimum size of drops ejected after bubble bursting is determined by an interplay of viscous and inertial-capillary forces both prior and subsequent to jet formation. Implications for sea spray aerosol generation are discussed.