cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Physician Moms.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the personal and professional experiences of physician mothers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on the lives of physician mothers. METHODS Using social media to reach a broad range of physicians, a convenience sample of physician mothers completed an on-line survey posted between April 27 and May 11. Members were encouraged to repost on social media and share with personal contacts resulting in a passive snowball sampling effect. RESULTS A total of 2709 physician mothers from 48 states, Puerto Rico, and 19 countries representing more than 25 medical specialties completed the survey. Most were between 30 and 39 y of age, 67% self-identified as white, 17% as Asian, 4% as African American. Most had been working for 11-16 y. A total of 91% had a spouse/partner of the opposite sex. Over half were practicing in an area they identified as high COVID-19 density, while 50% had personally cared for a person with COVID-19. Physician mothers were most concerned about exposing their children to COVID-19 and about the morale and safety of their staff. CONCLUSIONS This is one of the first studies to explore the personal and professional challenges facing physician mothers during a pandemic. Physician mothers were most concerned about exposing their families to COVID-19. Mothers continued to work and at times increased their work, despite having domestic, childcare, and schooling responsibilities.
Effect of Percentage of Femoral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Insertion Site Reconstructed With Hamstring Tendon on Knee Kinematics and Graft Force.

Background:Previous studies have stated that closely matching the size of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insertion site footprint is important for biomechanical function and clinical stabilit...
Lockdown, employment adjustment, and financial frictions

We examine firms’ employment adjustments immediately after the imposition of stringent lockdown in March 2020. In doing so, we use monthly administrative data, and take value-added tax payment changes as a proxy for the demand shock. We merge data with COVID-19 tests, classified by economic activity, and employ a fixed effects instrumental variable regression. We find that all sized firms in the manufacturing sector reduced employment more if they had uncovered tax liabilities before the lockdown. Among small firms, real estate and service sector firms downsized more rapidly. While employment changes are rather modest, this very early evidence points to the need to address liquidity needs and firm pre-conditions among capital-intensive and services firms and, in particular, small businesses, to avoid employment losses. Plain English Summary The administrative data from the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 point to the need to address liquidity requirements among manufacturers, capital-intensive and service firms, and, in particular, small businesses to avoid subsequent employment losses. While there is a vast literature on firms’ adaptation and adjustments in the face of adverse shocks, firms’ reactions and the macroeconomic implications of stringent, government-imposed lockdowns are much less understood due to their novelty. We analyze businesses’ responses to the first and very stringent lockdown in March 2020 by making use of monthly administrative data and taking value-added tax payment changes as a proxy for the demand shock. We exploit variation in the sectoral differences across small, medium, and large firms. A simple average employment adjustment was non-negative in agriculture, construction, information and communication, and public administration sectors in our sample. By merging data with COVID-19 tests, classified by economic activity, and employing a fixed-effects instrumental variable regression, we find that all sized firms in the manufacturing sector reduced employment more if they had uncovered tax liabilities before the lockdown. Among small firms, real estate and service sector firms downsized more rapidly. While employment changes are rather modest, this very early evidence about businesses’ reactions to COVID-19-induced uncertainty and activity restrictions points to the need to address business liquidity needs early on. Another policy message concerns the importance of firm pre-conditions among capital-intensive and services firms and, in particular, small businesses to avoid subsequent employment losses.
Queued Up: Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection As of the End of 2020

Author(s): Rand, Joseph; Bolinger, Mark; Wiser, Ryan H; Jeong, Seongeun; Paulos, Bentham | Abstract: Proposed large-scale electric generation and storage projects must apply for interconnection to the bulk power system via interconnection queues. While many projects that apply for interconnection are not subsequently built, data from these queues nonetheless provide a general indicator for mid-term trends in developer interest. Berkeley Lab compiled and analyzed data from all seven ISOs/RTOs in concert with 35 non-ISO utilities, representing an estimated 85% of all U.S. electricity load. We include all "active" projects in these generation interconnection queues through the end of 2020, as well as data on "completed" and "withdrawn" projects for five of the ISOs (CAISO, ISO-NE, MISO, NYISO, PJM). We find that the total capacity active in the queues is growing year-over-year, with over 750 GW of generation and an estimated 200 GW of storage capacity as of the end of 2020. Solar (462 GW) accounts for a large – and growing – share of generator capacity in the queues. Substantial wind (209 GW) capacity is also in development, 29% of which is for offshore projects (61 GW). In total, about 680 GW of zero-carbon capacity is currently seeking transmission access, as is 74 GW of natural gas capacity. Hybrids now comprise a large – and increasing – share of proposed projects, particularly in CAISO and the non-ISO West. 159 GW of solar hybrids (primarily solar+battery) and 13 GW of wind hybrids are currently active in the queues. However, much of this proposed capacity will not ultimately be built. Among a subset of queues for which data are available, only 24% of the projects seeking connection from 2000 to 2015 have subsequently been built. Completion percentages appear to be declining, and are even lower for wind and solar than other resources. Additionally, wait times are on the rise: in four ISOs, the typical duration from connection request to commercial operation increased from ~1.9 years for projects built in 2000-2009 to ~3.5 years for those built in 2010-2020. There are growing calls for queue reform to reduce cost, lead times, and speculation.
Latino Adolescents' Academic Trajectories over the Transition to Higher Education: Variation by School and Neighborhood Contexts and Familism.

Latino college graduation rates continue to fall behind rates of other racial/ethnic groups, highlighting the importance of understanding risk and protective processes across the transition into higher education. The current study examined changes in socio-cultural contexts (i.e., campus and neighborhood co-ethnic composition) and academic achievement across the college transition for Latino adolescents and investigated whether familism values moderated associations. Participants were 188 Latino late-adolescents (Mage = 18.12; SD = 0.40; 62.9% female). Greater campus incongruency (i.e., decrease in co-ethnic composition) was associated with lower achievement for adolescents with low familism values, but not those with average or high levels. Change in neighborhood co-ethnic composition was not associated with achievement. Moving to incongruent campus contexts may be risky for Latino youth who report low levels of familism values, underscoring the importance of sociocultural protective processes in person-context transitions.
Cleavage of histone H2A during embryonic stem cell differentiation destabilizes nucleosomes to counteract gene activation

Histone proteolysis is a poorly understood phenomenon in which the N-terminal tails of histones are irreversibly cleaved by intracellular proteases. During development, histone post-translational modifications are known to orchestrate gene expression patterns that ultimately drive cell fate decisions. Therefore, deciphering the mechanisms of histone proteolysis is necessary to enhance the understanding of cellular differentiation. Here we show that H2A is cleaved by the lysosomal protease Cathepsin L during ESCs differentiation. Using quantitative mass spectrometry (MS), we identified L23 to be the primary cleavage site that gives rise to the clipped form of H2A (cH2A), which reaches a maximum level of [~]1% of total H2A after four days of differentiation. Using ChIP-seq, we found that preventing proteolysis leads to an increase in acetylated H2A at promoter regions in differentiated ES cells. We also report the identification of novel readers of acetylated H2A in pluripotent ES cells, including members of the PBAF remodeling complex, which can recognize different acetylated forms of H2A. Finally, we show that H2A proteolysis abolishes this recognition. Altogether, our data suggests that proteolysis serves as an efficient mechanism to silence pluripotency genes and destabilize the nucleosome core particle.
Patient Satisfaction with Virtual-Based Prenatal Care: Implications after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of this study was to identify factors related to satisfaction with virtual visits during pregnancy in an effort to prioritize intervention targets for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study relied on data obtained from pregnant women (N = 416) who participated in the Perinatal Experiences and COVID-19 Effects (PEACE) Study from May 21 to November 22, 2020. Using a cross-sectional design, this study examined factors including COVID-19 related experiences and prenatal care changes in association with patient satisfaction of virtual prenatal care. Overall, women reported being very or extremely satisfied (27.9%) or moderately satisfied (43.5%) with their virtual prenatal experiences, however, 89.9% indicated a preference for in-person care under non-pandemic conditions. Those who completed the survey further into the pandemic were less satisfied with virtual prenatal care (β = − 0.127, p < 0.01). After accounting for this and other sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 pregnancy worries (β = − 0.226, p < 0.001) and the number of prenatal care changes due to the pandemic (β = − 0.137, p < 0.01) were associated with lower satisfaction. Our findings demonstrate general satisfaction with virtual visits among pregnant women in this study although in general women would prefer in-person care if it weren’t for a pandemic. Women worried about the impact of pandemic on their pregnancy, as well as those experiencing transitions in their prenatal care may need more information and reassurance. Additional studies are needed to understand the unmet needs through virtual care compared to in-person care.
Toward A New Audacity Of Imagination

As I consider what insight I might impart to your generation I am left to question, as you may well wonder, whether my words have any relevance for this new era. The nation in which my ideas emerged was different from the one you now inhabit, and the vast and enduring changes spanning my lifetime from 1859 to 1952 are unmatched by the profound scientific and technological advances of your information age.
The U. S. Department of Commerce: Friend of the Foreign Trader

Some small or medium-sized United States firms which successfully market their products in the United States are frequently unfamiliar with the mechanics of exporting their wares or know-how to foreign countries. Although the production capacity of these businesses may be ample to supply some foreign demand, they are still hesitant to sell and ship to countries with different languages, business customs, and industrial standards. Further, they are uncertain as to how to collect from firms located abroad. Finally, some firms, while aware of the fact that some of their needs could be more advantageously purchased abroad, are unacquainted with the details of importing.
H/sup /spl infin//-controller synthesis with time-domain constraints

For a class of discrete-time linear time-invariant (LTI) plants, we present necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a discrete-time LTI controller which ensures that the H/sup /spl infin// norm of a closed-loop map of interest is less than a prespecified level, subject to time-domain constraints on this closed-loop map. In cases when such an LTI controller does not exist, we show that the problem of finding an LTI controller that satisfies the input-output constraints with the smallest error can be posed as a convex optimization problem based on linear matrix inequalities. We also consider, briefly, other related problems that can be solved completely using a similar approach, namely controller synthesis to minimize the optimally scaled H/sup /spl infin// norm and controller synthesis to maximize the guaranteed dissipation.
Cytolytic CD8+ T cells directed against a cryptic epitope derived from a retroviral alternative reading frame confer disease protection.

Cytolytic CD8+ T cells (CTL) are key to the immune response that controls virus infections and mediates disease protection. The ability of CTL to induce apoptosis of infected cells and/or limit viral replication is determined by recognition of processed viral peptide epitopes on the surface of the target cell. An understudied source of MHC class I-presented peptides is the aptly named “cryptic epitopes,” defined by their nontraditional methods of generation, including derivation from alternative reading frames (ARFs). Although ARF-encoded epitopes have now been documented in a few systems, their potential functional relevance in vivo has been debated. In this study, we demonstrate the physiological significance of an ARF-derived CTL epitope in a retrovirus-induced disease model. We show that disease-susceptible CD8-deficient mice reconstituted with CTL specific for the retroviral ARF-derived SYNTGRFPPL epitope controlled an infection by the LP-BM5 retrovirus isolate, evidently at the level of viral clearance, resulting in protection of these mice from disease. These data indicate that ARF-derived epitopes are indeed relevant inducers of the immune system and demonstrate the importance of atypically generated peptides as functional Ag with a physiologic role in disease protection.
A Better Way to Generate Comparative-Effectiveness Research

Advocates of a new federal comparative-effectiveness agency argue that such information has characteristics of a public good, therefore markets will not generate the efficiency-maximizing quantity. However, economic theory does not conclude that government should provide comparative-effectiveness research, nor that government provision would increase social welfare. Opponents warn that a such an agency would lead to government rationing of medical care - indeed, that's the whole idea. If history is any guide, however, the more likely outcome is that the agency would be completely ineffective. A better way to generate the desired research would be to eliminate government activities that suppress private production. Federal tax and entitlement policies reduce consumer demand for such research. Those policies, as well as state licensing of health insurance and medical professionals, inhibit the types of health plans best equipped to generate comparative-effectiveness information. Congress should let workers and Medicare enrollees control the money that purchases their health insurance, and should require states to recognize other states' licenses for medical professionals and insurance products. That laissez-faire approach would both increase comparative-effectiveness research and increase the likelihood that patients and providers would use it.
K-shell ionization cross sections for 75-300 keV protons on elements with Z = 21 to 30

Abstract Low energy protons were used to excite K X-rays from thick targets of elements from Sc to Zn. The X-rays were measured with a high-resolution Si(Li) detector calibrated with radioactive standards. The measured K X-ray production cross sections were compared with ECPSSR theory calculations. K β K α ratios were also measured and compared with theory.
Distribution of Pelmatohydra oligactis (Pallas) in Scotland

SINCE 1918, Hydra vulgaris attenuata and Hydra vulgaris vulgaris have been cultivated in the Notre Dame Laboratory for teaching purposes. Very occasionally these cultures have had to be replenished from outside sources. It was not until 1946 that I noticed the occurrence of Pelmatohydra oligactis, which I felt sure had been introduced in material obtained from a dealer in the south of England. The Hydra vulgaris vulgaris were completely ousted by the rapid spread of Pelmatohydra oligactis. In October 1947 all the specimens were reproducing luxuriantly; even small individuals were covered with testes. After this efflorescence, the organisms gave place to Hydra vulgaris vulgaris.
Uniqueness theorem for nonlinear irreversible thermodynamics

Abstract Any kinetic equation linear in first and second time derivatives and non-linear in system ordering parameters can be expressed uniquely in Onsager canonical form, linear in the thermodynamic forces. This leads to evaluation of a significant free energy term.
Alpha adrenergic blockade by prazosin in therapy of essential hypertension.

To elucidate the mechanism of action of prazosin in lowering the blood pressure, we studied the vascular pressor responsiveness to the infusion of norepinephrine and angiotensin II before and after prazosin in patients with essential hypertension. After prazosin, the pressor response to the alpha agonist norepinephrine was markedly attenuated, but the vascular reactivity to angiotensin II was unchanged. There was a threefold increment in the dose of norepinephrine required to elicit a 20 mm Hg rise in diastolic blood pressure after prazosin therapy. These results confirm that prazosin induces significant alpha adrenergic blockade during the treatment of essential hypertension. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1981) 29, 719–722; doi:10.1038/clpt.1981.101
Tackling variability and reliability challenges

Variability and reliability will be the barriers to future technology scaling. Every discipline, from fabrication to software, needs to cooperate and make the VLSI system reliable in the presence of variability and the resulting inherent unreliability of components.
Amenability and virtual diagonals for von Neumann algebras

Abstract It is shown that a certain universal bimodule over a von Neumann algebra is automatically normal. This leads to a simple direct proof of Haagerup's result that a von Neumann algebra is amenable, or equivalently, injective, if and only if it has a normal virtual diagonal. Haagerup has used this fact to prove that nuclear C ∗ -algebras are amenable.
Infection of fascial spaces of the palm

Abstract 1. 1. A knowledge of anatomy is necessary for the proper diagnosis and treatment of infections of the fascial spaces of the palm. 2. 2. Such infections should be considered surgical emergencies and treated promptly. 3. 3. Incisions for drainage of these infections of the hand should be made by careful dissection, with the patient under general anesthesia and with a tourniquet on the arm. 4. 4. The function of the hand after such an infection will depend largely on adequate surgery plus persistent physical therapy.
Stimulation of glutamate uptake and Na,K-ATPase activity in rat astrocytes exposed to ischemia-like insults

The postsynaptic actions of glutamate are rapidly terminated by high affinity glutamate uptake into glial cells. In this study we demonstrate the stimulation of both glutamate uptake and Na,K-ATPase activity in rat astrocyte cultures in response to sublethal ischemia-like insults. Primary cultures of neonatal rat cortical astrocytes were subjected to hypoxia, or to serum- and glucose-free medium, or to both conditions (ischemia). Cell death was assessed by propidium iodide staining of cell nuclei. To measure sodium pump activity and glutamate uptake, 3H-glutamate and 86Rb were both simultaneously added to the cell culture in the presence or absence of 2 mM ouabain. Na,K-ATPase activity was defined as ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake. Concomitant transient increases (2-3 times above control levels) of both Na,K-ATPase and glutamate transporter activities were observed in astrocytes after 4-24 h of hypoxia, 4 h of glucose deprivation, and 2-4 h of ischemia. A 24 h ischemia caused a profound loss of both activities in parallel with significant cell death. The addition of 5 mM glucose to the cells after 4 h ischemia prevented the loss of both sodium pump activity and glutamate uptake and rescued astrocytes from death observed at the end of 24 h ischemia. Reoxygenation after the 4 h ischemic event caused the selective inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity. The observed increases in Na,K-ATPase activity and glutamate uptake in cultured astrocytes subjected to sublethal ischemia-like insults may model an important functional response of astrocytes in vivo by which they attempt to maintain ion and glutamate homeostasis under restricted energy and oxygen supply.
Templates for the Development of Business Technology Strategies

At Villanova University, there are several courses that focus on the role that technology plays in business. At the graduate level, it is required that students develop business technology strategies for their companies. This task is placed in context of the best practices around the development of business technology strategies. Part of the learning process is for students to understand all of the components of a useful strategy. In this regard, the author has developed templates that help students organize and develop their strategies. The templates form the basis for both the "theory" and "practice" of business technology strategy, and are presented in this paper to provide a framework for understanding the strategy development process and a lens through which the strategies in this special issue can be assessed.
Kaliumionensekretion und Entstehung des endokochlearen Potentials in der Stria vascularis

Die Homoostase der hohen Kaliumionenkonzentration in der Endolymphe (ca. 150 mmol/l) und des endokochlearen Potentials (ca. +80 mV) sind zentrale Fragen auf dem Gebiet der Innenohrforschung. Trotz der klinischen Relevanz, die dem endokochlearen Potential zukommt, liegt der molekulare Mechanismus seiner Entstehung immer noch weitgehend im Dunkeln. Es wird jedoch schon seit langem vermutet, das die Stria vascularis, ein mehrschichtiges Gewebe in der lateralen Wand der Kochlea, sowohl fur das endokochleare Potential als auch fur die Sekretion von Kaliumionen verantwortlich ist. Neuere Untersuchungen haben nun Klarheit uber die Mechanismen geschaffen, die in der Stria vascularis zur Kaliumionensekretion fuhren. Das gegenwartige Modell, mit dem sowohl die Kaliumionensekretion als auch die Entstehung des endokochlearen Potentials erklart werden kann, wird im vorliegenden Artikel erlautert und diskutiert.
Hold-time effects in high temperature fatigue

Abstract A mechanism for creep-fatigue interaction is proposed. It relates to the nucleation of the cavities and the growth and coalescence of cavities in the grain boundaries under conditions of cyclic loading. It is shown that when certain conditions are met one hold-time cycle is enough to nucleate cavities in the grain boundary. The specifics of this cycle are identified (for example it should be unbalanced in favor of the tension hold). The cavitation damage can be removed by imposing a long compression hold on the specimen. A second condition for successful interaction between creep and fatigue is that the cavities should grow and link with their neighbors. This condition is satisfied when the crack-tip-opening displacement exceeds a critical value. The grain size, and the average size and spacing of the carbides in the boundary are the important microstructural parameters in the proposed model.
Nelfinavir inhibits maturation and export of herpes simplex virus 1.

ABSTRACT Nelfinavir (NFV) is an HIV-1 protease inhibitor with demonstrated antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and several other herpesviruses. However, the stages of HSV-1 replication inhibited by NFV have not been explored. In this study, we investigated the effects of NFV on capsid assembly and envelopment. We confirmed the inhibitory effects of NFV on HSV-1 replication by plaque assay and found that treatment with NFV did not affect capsid assembly, activity of the HSV-1 maturational protease, or formation of DNA-containing capsids in the nucleus. Confocal and electron microscopy studies showed that these capsids were transported to the cytoplasm but failed to complete secondary envelopment and subsequent exit from the cell. Consistent with the microscopy results, a light-scattering band corresponding to enveloped virions was not evident following sucrose gradient rate-velocity separation of lysates from drug-treated cells. Evidence of a possibly related effect of NFV on viral glycoprotein maturation was also discovered. NFV also inhibited the replication of an HSV-1 thymidine kinase mutant resistant to nucleoside analogues such as acyclovir. Given that NFV is neither a nucleoside mimic nor a known inhibitor of nucleic acid synthesis, this was expected and suggests its potential as a coinhibitor or alternate antiviral therapeutic agent in cases of resistance. IMPORTANCE Nelfinavir (NFV) is a clinically important antiviral drug that inhibits production of infectious HIV. It was reported to inhibit herpesviruses in cell culture. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infections are common and often associated with several diseases. The studies we describe here confirm and extend earlier findings by investigating how NFV interferes with HSV-1 replication. We show that early steps in virus formation (e.g., assembly of DNA-containing capsids in the nucleus and their movement into the cytoplasm) appear to be unaffected by NFV, whereas later steps (e.g., final envelopment in the cytoplasm and release of infectious virus from the cell) are severely restricted by the drug. Our findings provide the first insight into how NFV inhibits HSV-1 replication and suggest that this drug may have applications for studying the herpesvirus envelopment process. Additionally, NFV may have therapeutic value alone or in combination with other antivirals in treating herpesvirus infections.
Why do programmers make security errors

A large number of software security vulnerabilities are caused by software errors that are committed by software developers. We believe that interactive tool support will play an important role in aiding software developers to develop more secure software. However, an in-depth understanding of how and why software developers produce security bugs is needed to design such tools. We conducted a semi-structured interview study on 15 professional software developers to understand their perceptions and behaviors related to software security. Our results reveal a disconnect between developers' conceptual understanding of security and their attitudes regarding their personal responsibility and practices for software security.
The Total Physical Response Approach to Second Language Learning

titude towards second language learning. In a doctoral dissertation published in 1958, Miele reported that of all our official American representatives abroad, only one in thirty could speak the language of the host country.' Many people have suggested that the current school curriculum in second language learning could be made dramatically more effective if all schools would imitate the Berlitz school or the Defense Language Institute. This may be true, but the effectiveness of Berlitz or the Defense Language Institute could be a function of ancillary factors rather than the curriculum. Some of these ancillary factors are the student-teacher ratio, motivation, student aptitude, and time. At Berlitz, for instance, the student-teacher ratio is one to one, while at the Defense Language Institute, there is an eight to one ratio. Contrast that with the usual school setting in which there is a twenty-five to one studentteacher ratio.
Passing on the Family Business Under the Restrictive Estate Freeze Rules

The Revenue Act of 1987 and the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 have effectively eliminated the preferred stock recapitalization and other estate freeze techniques. Instead of helping small businesses and individual tax payers by simplifying the tax structure and lowering tax rates, it has become impossible for many small business people to pass on the family business because of prohibitively high estate tax rates, encouraging owners to sell to outsiders, and forcing heirs to sell the family business to raise funds to pay the estate tax. This article examines these provisions and suggests some planning opportunities for small business owners.
Differentiation of human B lymphocyte subpopulations induced by an alloreactive helper T-cell clone

We have used cloned alloreactive helper T cells to determine if direct T cell-B cell interaction can induce differentiation of human peripheral blood B cells which do not respond to pokeweed mitogen (PWM). T-cell clone 2F8 was derived from a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction. 2F8 cells are T3+T4+T8−IL-2R+ and proliferate in response to irradiated stimulator cells, but not autologous cells, in the absence of exogenous interleukin-2. 2F8 cells provide allospecific help for polyclonal proliferation and differentiation of B cells in the absence of any other stimulus. The magnitude of this response is comparable to that of the response of the same B cells to PWM and fresh autologous T cells. 2F8 cells could also provide nonspecific help for unrelated donor B cells in the presence of PWM, with no requirement for costimulation by irradiated stimulator cells. Allospecific stimulation of B cells was completely inhibited by antibodies to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) framework determinants and was abrogated by 1000-rad irradiation. Cloned 2F8 T cells stimulated differentiation of both small, high-density B cells and larger B cells, generating up to 30% plasma cells with either fraction. B cells forming rosettes with mouse erythrocytes were also induced to differentiate by the helper T cell clone. As found previously, neither small, high-density B cells nor mouse rosette+ B cells responded well to PWM. Direct interaction with allospecific T cells induces differentiation of a broader spectrum of B cells than soluble growth and differentiation factors in conjunction with polyclonal activators such as PWM and protein A containing staphylococci.
COADSORPTION OF SULFATE/BISULFATE ANIONS WITH HG CATIONS DURING HG UNDERPOTENTIAL DEPOSITION ON AU(111): AN IN SITU X-RAY DIFFRACTION STUDY

The first stage of mercury underpotential deposition on Au(111) electrodes in 0.10 M H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} containing 1.0 mM Hg{sup 2+} has been studied by synchrotron X-ray scattering techniques including grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and specular crystal truncation rod measurements. An ordered coadsorbed structure of sulfate/bisulfate anions and Hg cations was found at potentials between the first and second Hg UPD peaks (+0.80 V > E > +0.88 V vs Ag/AgCl(3 M KCl)). The coadsorption structure was found to consist of a compressed Hg honeycomb lattice with the honeycomb centers occupied by sulfate or bisulfate anions. The compression of the lattice is likely due to the formation of mercurous (Hg{sub 2}{sup 2+}) ions which have a much shorter Hg-Hg distance than that in frozen bulk Hg crystals. The net charge transferred under the first Hg UPD peak suggests that the chemical state of the species in the coadsorbed structure is likely Hg{sub 2}SO{sub 4}. Our results indicate that both the chemical state of the mercury cations and the nature of the anions are important in the resulting electrodeposited structures. 38 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.
An exploratory study of pre-service middle school teachers’ knowledge of algebraic thinking

Using algebraic habits of mind as a framework, and focusing on thinking about functions and how they work, we examined the relationship between 18 pre-service middle school teachers’ ability to use the features of the algebraic thinking (AT) habit of mind “Building Rules to Represent Functions” and their ability to recognize and interpret the features of the same AT habit of mind in middle school students. We assessed the pre-service teachers’ own ability to use the AT habit of mind Building Rules to Represent Functions by examining their solutions to algebra-based tasks in a semester-long mathematics content course. We assessed the pre-service teachers’ ability to recognize and interpret students’ facility with the AT habit of mind Building Rules to Represent Functions by analyzing their interpretations of students’ written solutions to algebra-based tasks and their ability to plan and analyze AT interviews of middle school students during a concurrent field-based education course. The data revealed that the pre-service teachers had a limited ability to recognize the full richness of algebra-based tasks’ potential to elicit the features of Building Rules to Represent Functions in students. The pre-service teachers’ own overall AT ability to Build Rules to Represent Functions was related to their ability to recognize the overall ability of students to Build Rules to Represent Functions, as exhibited during one-on-one interviews, but not to their ability to recognize the overall ability to Build Rules to Represent Functions exhibited exclusively in students’ written work. Implications for mathematics teacher education are discussed.
Characterization of irrelevant speech: A case study

Five linguistic variables were investigated to characterize the irrelevant speech typically associated with the language of confusion. A longitudinal, single subject experimental design was used. Connected speech samples were elicited utilizing two different stimuli contexts. Results indicated that two of the four variables were important for the identification of linguistic irrelevancy. Discussion of the findings also relate to the variables of time post-onset, stimuli context in the characterization of irrelevant speech, and etiology of cerebral damage.
Sequences of Singularly Perturbed Functionals Generating Free-Discontinuity Problems

We prove that a wide class of singularly perturbed functionals generates as $\Gamma$-limit a functional related to a free-discontinuity problem. Several applications of the result are shown.
The breadth of coarticulatory units in children and adults.

Purpose To assess, in children and adults, the breadth of coarticulatory movements associated with a single rounded vowel. Method Upper and lower lip movements were recorded from 8 young adults and 8 children (aged 4–5 years). A single rounded versus unrounded vowel was embedded in the medial position of pairs of 7-word/7-syllable sentences. Results Both children and adults produced movement trajectories associated with lip rounding that were very broad temporally (i.e., movement duration lasting 45% to 56% of the sentence). Some effects appeared to extend across the entire utterance. There were no differences between children and adults in the extent of the coarticulatory effect. However, children produced relatively variable movements associated with lip rounding. Conclusions These data support the hypothesis that, for young children and adults, broad chunks of output have been planned by the onset of implementation of a sentence. This implies that, based on a change in a single phoneme, the motor comma...
Conditioning history and the reinforcing effects of drugs: comment on Alessi, Roll, Reilly, and Johanson (2002).

Drug reinforcement plays a central role in drug abuse. Drugs of abuse are unconditioned reinforcers whose functional effects are mediated through neuropharmacological mechanisms. The role of conditioning has received attention, but the focus has been on associations between environmental cues and unconditioned drug stimuli. Recent studies by C.-E. Johanson, A. Mattox, and C. R. Schuster (1995) and S. M. Alessi, J. M. Roll, M. P. Reilly, and C.-E. Johanson (2002) have demonstrated that drugs can also acquire functional control over human behavior through conditioning processes. Given the potent effects that conditioned reinforcers (e.g., money) can have on human behavior, studies by Johanson et al. and Alessi et al. should engender further examination of conditioning processes and drug reinforcement.
Unmixing multiple markers with spectral lifetime measurements

Multispectral imaging is extensively used to multiplex the labeling of tissue features for diagnostic purposes. This technique enables multiple biomarkers with overlapping spectra to be distinguished using unmixing algorithms. However, spectral information alone is sometimes not sufficient enough to obtain perfect fluorochrome separation. By collecting time-resolved multispectral data containing a fluorescence decay time-series at each wavelength, the added temporal information can be used along with the spectral measurements as an additional distinguishing factor between the different dyes. A monoexponential decay model is used to segment the image into pure and mixed pixels based on the fit residuals. Using this information, the lifetimes and spectra of the dyes are retrieved using a global parameter estimation model within the segmented regions. The image is unmixed using the retrieved spectra and lifetimes of the individual components.
A Wide-Field 90 Centimeter VLA Image of the Galactic Center Region

We present a wide-field, high dynamic range, high-resolution, long-wavelength (λ = 90 cm) VLA image of the Galactic center region. The image is centered on Sgr A, covers an area of 4° × 5° with an angular resolution of 43'', and has a rms sensitivity of ≈5 mJy beam-1. The image was constructed from archival (1989 and 1991) VLA data of Pedlar et al. and Anantharamaiah et al. using new three-dimensional image restoration techniques. These three-dimensional imaging techniques resolve the problem of non-coplanar baselines encountered at long wavelengths and yield distortion-free imaging of far-field sources with improved sensitivity. At λ = 90 cm the VLA is sensitive to both thermal and nonthermal emission and the resulting image gives an unprecedented contextual perspective of the large-scale radio structure in this unique and complicated region. We have catalogued over a hundred sources from this image and present for each source its 90 cm flux density, position, and size. For many of the small- diameter sources, we also derive the 20/90 cm spectral index. The spectral index as a function of length along several of the isolated nonthermal filaments has been estimated and found to be constant. We have found six new small-diameter sources, as well as several extended regions of emission, which are clearly distinct sources that have not been previously identified at higher frequencies. These data are presented as a first epoch of VLA observations that can be used to search for source variability in conjunction with a second epoch of observations that were recently initiated.
Velocity exponent and cavitation number for Venturi cavitation erosion of 1100-O aluminum and 1018 carbon steel

Abstract The purpose of the present investigation is to evaluate the effect of Venturi throat velocity on the cavitation erosion of specimens for constant cavitation number, which is here based on Venturi discharge conditions. 1018 carbon steel and 1100-O aluminum were tested in the University of Michigan high speed cavitation tunnel with tap water at 27 °C (80 °F). Results of present tests are consistent with previous work done at the University of Michigan, showing that the velocity-damage exponent varies over the range ±1–5 for the velocity range 10–49 m s −1 .
An efficient method for computing cell loss probability for heterogeneous bursty traffic in ATM networks

In this paper, we present an approximation for the probability of cell loss of heterogeneous bursty traffic in broadband integrated packet networks based on the asynchronous transfer mode. The sources considered here alternate between active and silent periods and are characterized by their peak and average transmission rates. The cell loss probability is obtained by considering only the number of active sources at a given time and computing the amount of traffic that exceeds the link capacity. Since the amount of buffered excess traffic is not considered in this computation, this approximation is actually an upper bound of the cell loss probability. The numerical efficiency of this bound enables it to be used as a measure based on which robust and simple resource allocation strategies can be developed for bursty sources. Comparison of this bound with the simulation results has shown that the bound is close to the actual loss probabilities especially for large burst lengths and high utilizations.
Optical spectra and angular dependence of the visible light emitted by metal-insulator-metal tunnel junctions

Abstract Optical spectra and angular dependence of electromagnetic emission from Al-Al oxide-Ag and Al-Al oxide-Au tunnel junctions are reported. Data from Ag junctions are consistent with the assumption of roughness induced decoupling of surface polaritons, while data from Au junctions suggest that the emission results from direct coupling of current fluctuations in the junction to the external radiation fields.
Relationship between cellular accumulation of rhodamine 123 (R123) and cytotoxicity in B16 melanoma cells.

Rhodamine 123 (R123) is a mitochondria-specific prototype anticancer agent because its target is the energy-producing mechanism of the cell. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between intracellular R123 accumulation and cytotoxicity in a R123-sensitive cell line (RS) and a R123-resistant subline (RR) that we developed. Cytotoxicity after exposure to R123 (0–60 μg/ml) was assessed using the clonogenic assay. Intracellular R123 was extracted with acid-alcohol and measured by fluorimetry. The rate of R123 accumulation over 1 hr was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) for RS cells (4.65 ± 0.39 μg/min/106 cells) than for RR cells (1.29 ± 0.24 μg/min/106 cells). R123 accumulation in RS cells was strongly correlated (r = 0.80; P < 0.0001) with cytotoxicity. Treatment of RR cells with verapamil (100 μM) reversed R123 resistance. The resulting dose-survival curve was identical to the dose-response curve of RS cells treated with R123 alone. Cellular content of R123 in RR cells treated with verapamil increased to a level similar to that of RS cells and correlated with cytotoxicity. These data suggest that cytotoxicity of R123 in B16 cells results from increased cellular accumulation of R123.
Influence of palladium precursors on oxidation of alumina-supported palladium

Abstract The oxidation phenomena of alumina-supported palladium prepared from various precursors has been investigated by a simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis–differential scanning calorimetric (TGA–DSC) technique over a wide temperature range between 250 and 900 K. Three different temperature ranges were found in oxidation on Pd(C)/Al 2 O 3 : chemisorption of dioxygen at 250–300 K; penetration of adsorbed oxide ions into sublayers at temperature over 300 K; and formation of a stable bulk oxide at 800 K. However, four different temperature ranges were found on Pd(N)/Al 2 O 3 : chemisorption of dioxygen at 250–300 K and further formation of unstable Pd s O 2 at 300–320 K; decomposition of Pd s O 2 into Pd x s O at 320–420 K; penetration of adsorbed oxide ions into sublayers at temperature over 420 K; and formation of a stable bulk oxide at 800 K.
The immobility produced by intermittent swim stress is not mediated by serotonin

Exposure to uncontrollable stressors such as intermittent swim stress (ISS) produces a behavioral syndrome that resembles behavioral depression including immobility in a Forced Swim Test (FST) and escape learning deficits. The results of previous studies suggest that stress causes a temporary sensitization of the brain serotonin (5-HT) system that is necessary and sufficient for producing behavioral depression. If this hypothesis is true in the ISS paradigm, then enhancing or inhibiting 5-HT transmission during stress should exacerbate or block the development of behavioral depression, respectively. The selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (FLX) was administered prior to ISS or confinement; 24 h later the FST was used to detect behavioral immobility. ISS, but not FLX, significantly increased immobility in the FST. The purported 5-HT uptake enhancer tianeptine (TPT) was administered in place of FLX. Again ISS increased immobility in the FST, but TPT had no effect. These results suggested that 5-HT is not a critical mediator of ISS induced behavioral depression. However, some authors have raised concern that TPT does not act directly on 5-HT. Therefore, the 5-HT synthesis inhibitor, para-chlorophenylaline (PCPA) was administered to deplete central 5-HT before stress. PCPA did not alter immobility in the FST. Finally, a sub-chronic regimen of FLX given after ISS, but before the FST, was without effect on reversing the ISS-induced immobility. Taken together, these experiments indicate that ISS produces a significant behavioral depression manifested as increased immobility but offer no support of the hypothesis that 5-HT is a critical mediator of these effects.
β2 adrenergic agonists in acute lung injury? The heart of the matter

Despite extensive research into its pathophysiology, acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) remains a devastating syndrome with mortality approaching 40%. Pharmacologic therapies that reduce the severity of lung injury in vivo and in vitro have not yet been translated to effective clinical treatment options, and innovative therapies are needed. Recently, the use of β2 adrenergic agonists as potential therapy has gained considerable interest due to their ability to increase the resolution of pulmonary edema. However, the results of clinical trials of β agonist therapy for ALI/ARDS have been conflicting in terms of benefit. In the previous issue of Critical Care, Briot and colleagues present evidence that may help clarify the inconsistent results. The authors demonstrate that, in oleic acid lung injury in dogs, the inotropic effect of β agonists may recruit damaged pulmonary capillaries, leading to increased lung endothelial permeability.
Principles of dataspace systems

The most acute information management challenges today stem from organizations relying on a large number of diverse, interrelated data sources, but having no means of managing them in a convenient, integrated, or principled fashion. These challenges arise in enterprise and government data management, digital libraries, "smart" homes and personal information management. We have proposed dataspaces as a data management abstraction for these diverse applications and DataSpace Support Platforms (DSSPs) as systems that should be built to provide the required services over dataspaces. Unlike data integration systems, DSSPs do not require full semantic integration of the sources in order to provide useful services. This paper lays out specific technical challenges to realizing DSSPs and ties them to existing work in our field. We focus on query answering in DSSPs, the DSSP's ability to introspect on its content, and the use of human attention to enhance the semantic relationships in a dataspace.