cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid failure mode classification and quantification in batteries: A deep learning modeling framework

Abstract Unique, rapid identification and quantification of the dominant aging modes in lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) with early and non-specialized test data is a significant scientific challenge. Leveraging synthetic-data, deep-learning (DL) techniques have great potential to enable fast and robust classification and quantification of battery aging modes that produce different patterns of cell aging. This study presents, for the first time, a synthetic–data-based DL modeling framework for rapid and automatic classification and quantification of battery-aging modes and resultant aging, with experimental validation of the technique. Availing synthetic dQ.dV−1 curves for roughly 26,000 initial conditions and aging modes, the framework classified the dominant aging modes for cells undergoing fast charge in less than 100 cycles. Upon classification, the framework quantified the evolution of the aging modes, which were often not uniform with cycling, for 22 Gr/NMC532 pouch cells tested up to 600 cycles at different charging rates (1C–9C).
Invitation to participate in the ACM conference on equity and access in algorithms, mechanisms, and optimization (EAAMO'21)

The inaugural ACM conference on Equity and Access in Algorithms, Mechanisms, and Optimization (EAAMO'21) invites participation from the SIGecom community. The conferrence aims to highlight work where techniques from algorithms, optimization, and mechanism design, along with insights from other disciplines, can help improve equity and access to opportunity for historically disadvantaged and underserved communities. The conference is organized by the Mechanism Design for Social Good (MD4SG) initiative, and builds on the MD4SG technical workshop series and tutorials at conferences including ACM EC, ACM COMPASS, and WINE. The conference will have both an archival publication track as well as a non-archival track that welcomes papers under submission or published in the previous year. Papers submitted to EC 2021 or that will be submitted to EC 2022 are welcome in the non-archival track.
Temperate tree seedlings have similar drought vulnerability despite having different hydraulic drought responses in adults

Abstract Climate change is projected result in higher frequencies of drought events across the world and lead to reduced performance in many temperate tree species. However, many studies in this area focus specifically on adult tree drought responses and overlook how trees in other age classes might differ in their vulnerability. Evidence shows that seedling drought response can differ from that of adults and furthermore that demographic performance in the seedling age class will have disproportionately strong effects on the assembly dynamics of future forests, together suggesting that understanding seedling drought responses will be critical to our ability to predict how forests will respond to climate change. In this study, we measured four indices of hydraulic response to drought (leaf water potential, photosynthetic capacity, non-structural carbohydrate concentration, and hydraulic conductivity), as well as interaction effects with shade treatments, for seedlings of two temperate tree species that differ in their adult drought response: isohydric Acer saccharum and anisohydric Quercus rubra. We found a strong isohydric response in A. saccharum seedlings that included conservation of leaf water potentials (>-1.8 MPa) and reductions in non-structural carbohydrate concentrations consistent with reduction of stomatal conductance. Quercus rubra seedlings were able to survive to more negative water potentials, but only rarely, and they showed a similar reduction in photosynthetic capacity as was found for A. saccharum. Our results suggest that, although Q. rubra seedlings display some anisohydric responses to drought, they are more isohydric than adults. Both species seem to be relatively similar in their vulnerability to drought despite the differences predicted from adult drought response, and our results suggest that seedlings of both species will be similarly vulnerable to future drought events.
Association between insurance plan, prior authorization, and time to receipt of oral anticancer drugs.

6Background: The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Food and Drug Administration approvals of oral anti-cancer drugs (OACDs). Most OACD prescriptions require coordination bet...
A Software Debugger for E-textiles and Arduino Microcontrollers

Today's STEM classrooms have expanded the domain of computer science education from a basic two-toned terminal screen to now include helpful Integrated Development Environments(IDE) (BlueJ, Eclipse), block-based programming (MIT Scratch, Greenfoot), and even physical computing with embedded systems (Arduino, LEGO Mindstorms). But no matter which environment a student starts programming in, all students will eventually need help in finding and fixing bugs in their code. While the helpful IDE's have debugger tools built in (breakpoints for pausing your program, ways to view/modify variable values, and "stepping" through code execution), in many of the other programming environments, students are limited to using print statements to try and "see" what is happening inside their program. Most students who learn to write code for Arduino microcontrollers will start within the Arduino IDE, but the official Arduino IDE does not currently provide any debugging tools. Instead, a student would have to move on to a professional IDE such as Atmel Studio or acquire a hardware debugger in order to add breakpoints or view their program's variables. But each of these options has a steep learning curve, additional costs, and can require complex configurations. Based on research of student debugging practices[3, 7] and our own classroom observations, we have developed an Arduino software library, called Arduino Debugger, which provides some of these debugging tools (ex. breakpoints) while staying within the official Arduino IDE. This work continues a previous library, (redacted), which focused on features specific to e-textiles development boards. The Arduino Debugger library has been modified to support not only e-textile boards (LilyPad, Adafruit Circuit Playground) but most AVR and ARM based Arduino boards. We are also in the process of testing a set of Debugging Code Templates to see how they might increase student adoption of debugging tools.
Yeasts pathogenic for humans

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on various pathogenic yeasts in humans. The principal yeasts pathogenic for humans are Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Candida albicans is an asexual, diploid (possibly aneuploid), plemorphicfungus with an ascomycetous-type cell wall. This species is endogenous in the oral-, gastrointestinal-, or urinogenital tracts of humans and other warm blooded animals. The syndromes produced by Candida albicans are highly diversified including vulvovaginitis, dermatitis, cystitis, fever, myositis, hepatic disfunction, and mental confusion. These may occur singly or in combinations dependent upon the superficial, locally invasive, or deep nature of the infection. Cryptococcus neoformans , which is basidiomycetous yeast, includes two varieties that are often haploid when isolated from nature. Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans includes serotypes A, D, and AD. C.neoformans var. gatti includes serotypes B and C. Serotypes A and D are usually associated with soil enriched with pigeon droppings. Serotype A is most common in the U.S.A. and serotype D is reported mostly from Europe. Serotypes B and C seem confined to warm regions, particularly serotype B has been associated with the flowering of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Cryptococcus neoformans most often primarily infects the lungs with mild symptoms. In stressed patients, pneumococcal-type pneumonia is not uncommon. Candida tropicalis is probably the third most important yeast pathogen of humans. Normally, this species does not produce germ tubes or chlamydoconidia, but elongated pseudohyphal cells may develop commonly in some strains in serum at 37°C. Candida tropicalis, like C . albicans, is diploid ascomycetous-type yeast, but it is commonly isolated from host-free habitats.
On the interaction of polystyrene latices and poly(l-lysine): II. Characterization of the particle-polymer System

Abstract The adsorption of a low molecular weight poly( l -lysine) onto the surface of 0.90-μm-diameter polystyrene latices was examined as a function of time and polymer concentration. Adsorption of the polymer occurred within 5 min and at low levels of surface polymer coverage, was irreversible. The poly( l -lysine) adsorption onto the polystyrene latices appears to be very strong at surface concentrations −2 . At higher levels of polymer coverage further adsorption of polymer begins to be hindered as is evidenced by the fact that the percentage of the total amount of polymer in the suspending medium which adsorbs to the polystyrene begins to decrease. A kinetic method for determining the mechanism of polymer-induced particle aggregation was introduced. Application of the method to the present system suggested that the presence of the polymer on the surface of the polystyrene latices introduced appreciable interparticle repulsive forces which stabilized the particle suspension. Assessments of the mechanism of polymer-induced particle aggregation suggested that poly-( l -lysine) acted as a coagulating agent. Suggestions for improvements of the kinetic technique and a discussion of the limitations of the method are given.
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer mapping of the fourth of six nucleotide-binding sites of chloroplast coupling factor 1.

Abstract Equilibrium dialysis measurements of adenine nucleotide binding to chloroplast coupling factor 1 suggest that the enzyme has six binding sites for ADP, adenylyl-beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), and 2'(3')-O-2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-ATP (TNP-ATP). High affinity binding at all six sites requires the divalent cation, Mg2+. Three of the nucleotide-binding sites, sites 1, 2, and 3, have been mapped by fluorescence resonance energy transfer distance measurements (see McCarty, R. E., and Hammes, G. G. (1987) Trends Biochem. Sci. 12, 234-237). Using the same technique, we mapped the location of nucleotide-binding site 4, a tight, exchangeable site (Shapiro, A. B., Huber, A. H., and McCarty, R. E. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 4194-4200). Two arrangements of the energy transfer map of coupling factor 1 were found which are compatible with the available data. The two arrangements make different predictions about which sites interact in cooperative catalysis.
Localizing Vector Field Topology

The topology of vector fields offers a well known way to show a “condensed” view of the stream line behavior of a vector field. The global structure of a field can be shown without time-consuming user interaction. With regard to large data visualization, one encounters a major drawback: the necessity to analyze a whole data set, even when interested in only a small region. We show that one can localize the topology concept by including the boundary in the topology analysis. The idea is demonstrated for a turbulent swirling jet simulation example. Our concept works for all planar, piecewise analytic vector fields on bounded domains.
Modification of Maternal CMV by Pre-infection |[alpha]|-gB Antibody Transfer in Guinea Pigs |[dagger]| 821

Inbred JY-9 strain guinea pigs (gp) were infected with gpCMV in early pregnancy. 7 pregnant dams were treated with pooled hyperimmune serum from non-infected animals previously immunized with glycoprotein B (gB), on days 0, 2 and 5, day 1 being the day of infection. 6 control pregnant dams received pooled non-immune(NI) serum as above. NI dams appeared sicker and had 83% pregnancy loss by in utero resorption and abortion compared to 14% in passively immunized (PI) dams(p<0.01). Mean placental weight was 4.3g in NI dams and 5.6g in PI dams(p=0.02). Mean pup weight was 9.8g in NI dams and 31.5g in PI dams(p<0.02). Mean pup length was 3.7cm in NI dams vs. 6.6cm in PI dams(p<0.02). All maternal blood cultures were positive on day 7 post-infection. On day 12-14, 83% of NI dams vs. 28% PI dams had positive blood cultures(p<0.05). Placental tissue cultures were positive in 80% of NI dams compared to 33% of PI dams(p<0.05). Pup tissue cultures were positive in 50% of NI dams compared to 25% of PI dams(NS). All placentae showed features of immaturity consistent with mid-term gestation, on H&E stains. NI placentae had marked lobular congestion with focal mononuclear cell infiltrates in the lobules and foci of necrosis with neutrophilic infiltrates in the trophoblastic septae. Less severe mononuclear cell infiltrates and no necrosis or neutrophilic infiltrates were seen in PI placentae. Frozen sections of PI placentae showed less disorganization of structure with decreased number of infected cells by immunoperoxidase stains. Passive transfer of anti-gB serum initiated 24 hours pre-infection does not prevent, but significantly modifies the effects of primary maternal CMV.
Selecting Administrative Office Space

This paper is a cross-case analysis of thirteen corporations to see how administrative office space is searched and selected. Although previous studies have found that the influence of real estate ...
Limonin Bitterness in Citrus Juices

Bitterness due to limonin in a variety of citrus juices, generally referred to as delayed bitterness, is a major problem of the citrus industry worldwide and has a significant negative economic impact. Significant progress has been made during the past 30 years in understanding the flavor chemistry and biochemistry of citrus limonoids. The mechanisms of the delayed bitterness and a naturally occurring limonoid debittering process have been established. Biosynthetic pathways of limonoids, and sites of the biosynthesis and accumulation have been well established. The delayed bitterness can be controlled to a semi-acceptable level by chemical, biochemical and physical means. Genetic engineering approaches to the problem will be an area of interest in the future. Research on citrus limonoids has recently extended to their biological functions including anticarcinogenic and insect antifeedant activities, and their chemotaxonomy.
The formation of modulated structures in Ni-V alloys

The precipitation of the ordered Ni3V phase in binary Ni-V alloys has been studied by employing transmission electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, electrical resistivity and mechanical property measurements. The reaction consists of two stages, the first of which involves the formation of domain wave composition modulations manifested by a tweed microstructure and an accompanying strain field. The second stage is an amplification of the long-range order waves and is manifested by the formation of the ordered Ni3V phase. The strain fields produced by the domain waves interact with the strain field of the Ni3V nuclei leading to the formation of a single variant of tetragonal Ni3V in a given region of the matrix. The strength of the continuously ordered alloys is controlled by the strain in the lattice in agreement with the Mott and Nabarro theory of strengthening.
UNDERWATER PROCESSING WITH AND WITHOUT ADDED CALCIUM INFLUENCES SHELF LIFE QUALITY OF FRESH-CUT CANTALOUPE

The effect of processing cantaloupe melon while submerged underwater on the fresh-cut fruit quality was determined. Total plate, coliform, yeast and mold counts were lower in underwater processed fruit after 1 day storage, but were not significantly different after 7 days. Dissolved calcium in the treatment water reduced microbial growth in cut fruit over the storage period of 14 days. Sensory evaluation indicated increased fruity/melon intensity and decreased rancid/painty intensity of underwater processed fruit. Peroxidase activity increased in underwater processed fruit and presence of calcium in treatment fluid elevated this effect. Underwater processed fruit respired less during storage at 10C. Results indicate an increased defense response as a result of underwater processing that is enhanced by the presence of calcium ions in the treatment fluid. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The increased demand for fresh-cut fruit has lead to the need for longer shelf life quality. This research details a novel method of boosting the quality of fresh-cut cantaloupe utilizing novel cutting methods and GRAS processing aids that disrupt the normal cycle of senescence in wounded fruit. These methods can be used by the small processor or adapted for large processors.
Discrimination performance of single neurons: rate and temporal-pattern information.

1. A new method of measuring the performance of neurons in sensory discrimination tasks was developed and then applied to single-neuron responses recorded in the auditory nerve of chinchilla and in the striate visual cortex of cat. 2. Most previous methods of measuring discrimination performance have employed decision rules that involve comparing the total counts of action potentials (spikes) produced by two different stimuli. Such measures ignore response pattern and hence may not reflect all the information transmitted by a neuron. The proposed method attempts to measure all (or most) of the transmitted information by constructing descriptive models of the neuron's response to each stimulus in the discrimination experiment; these descriptive models consist of measured probability distributions of the spike counts in small time bins. The measured probability distributions are then used to define an optimal decision rule (an ideal observer) for discriminating the two stimuli. Finally, discrimination performance is measured by applying this decision rule to novel presentations of the same two stimuli. 3. Intensity and temporal-phase discrimination were measured for three neurons in the auditory nerve of chinchilla. The discrimination stimuli were low-frequency pure tones of 70-ms duration. Intensity thresholds were found to be 5–20 dB lower at low intensities using the new pattern method compared with the traditional counting method. The pattern method led to better performance because it utilized both rate and temporal pattern information. Phase discrimination performance using the counting method was at chance because the average spike rate did not change with phase. On the other hand, using the pattern method, phase discrimination thresholds were found to decrease with intensity, often reaching values equivalent to 30–40 microseconds of temporal offset. These thresholds are as good as or better than behavioral thresholds in chinchilla. 4. Contrast and temporal-phase discrimination were measured for three neurons in the striate visual cortex of cat. The discrimination stimuli were drifting sine-wave gratings of 100- to 160-ms duration. Contrast discrimination functions measured by the pattern method and the counting method were found to be essentially identical. Phase discrimination using the counting method was at chance. However, using the pattern method, phase thresholds were found to decrease with contrast, reaching values equivalent to 7 ms of temporal offset for the two simple cells. 5. Our results suggest that temporal response pattern carries substantial information for intensity and phase discrimination in the auditory nerve and for phase discrimination in the striate visual cortex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 enzymes differentially regulate the brain upstream NF-κB pathway and downstream enzymes involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis

We have recently reported that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-deficiency affects brain upstream and downstream enzymes in the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic pathway to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), as well as enzyme activity, protein and mRNA levels of the reciprocal isozyme, COX-1. To gain a better insight into the specific roles of COX isoforms and characterize the interactions between upstream and downstream enzymes in brain AA cascade, we examined the expression and activity of COX-2 and phospholipase A2 enzymes (cPLA2 and sPLA2), as well as the expression of terminal prostaglandin E synthases (cPGES, mPGES-1, and - 2) in wild type and COX-1(-/-) mice. We found that brain PGE2 concentration was significantly increased, whereas thromboxane B2 (TXB2) concentration was decreased in COX-1(-/-) mice. There was a compensatory up-regulation of COX-2, accompanied by the activation of the NF-kappaB pathway, and also an increase in the upstream cPLA2 and sPLA2 enzymes. The mechanism of NF-kappaB activation in the COX-1(-/-) mice involved the up-regulation of protein expression of the p50 and p65 subunits of NF-kappaB, as well as the increased protein levels of phosphorylated IkappaBalpha and of phosphorylated IKKalpha/beta. Overall, our data suggest that COX-1 and COX-2 play a distinct role in brain PG biosynthesis, with basal PGE2 production being metabolically coupled with COX-2 and TXB2 production being preferentially linked to COX-1. Additionally, COX-1 deficiency can affect the expression of reciprocal and coupled enzymes, COX-2, Ca2+ -dependent PLA2, and terminal mPGES-2, to overcome defects in brain AA cascade.
Authenticity Within Hip-Hop and Other Cultures Threatened with Assimilation

This essay examines claims of authenticity within hip-hop, African American culture. In the mid- to late 1990s, authenticity claims have been pervasive within hip-hop music communities, which had previously existed on the margins of mainstream U.S. culture. By mapping the range of meanings associated with authenticity as they are invoked discursively, we can gain a better understanding of how a culture in danger of assimilation seeks to preserve its identity. The use of the conceptual apparatus of semantic dimensions highlights how that culture's most central and powerful symbols are organized and given meaning vis-a-vis authenticity within a discursive system.
Simulating dynamic spectrum access using ns-3 for wireless networks in smart environments

Sudden spectrum demands may occur in dense and congested cities, which stress the communication infrastructure. At these times, identifying alternate spectrum bands through cognitive radio (CR) technology will allow users to maintain connectivity and relieve data congestion in the unlicensed bands. However, deployment of the CR networks must be preceded by accurate simulation of these networks, given the high infrastructure costs involved in their installation. Moreover, CR protocols are often cross-layered, which cannot be trivially implemented in off-the-shelf hardware. This paper proposes a framework for the network simulator 3 (ns-3) that is suitable for large networks. Our approach introduces several CR capabilities, such as spectrum sensing, primary user detection, and spectrum hand-off. Our simulator demonstrates improvements in execution time and memory usage, when compared to the earlier versions implemented for the ns-2 environment. This paper is accompanied by the release of the full source code for further research and improvement.
Narrative visions of schooling

Abstract Three teams of prospective teachers created and presented school “portraits” based on research in an elementary school setting. The stories of their efforts and narrative decisions reveal that each team moved from a point of view external to the school to one more internally situated in the actions of teaching. As the students constructed their own stories of the school, their relationships with others in the school setting, to their own knowledge about schooling, and to their educational decision-making were all impacted, resulting in powerful visions of schooling.
Overview of nucleon structure studies

Abstract A brief overview of the recent activity in the measurement of the elastic electromagnetic proton and neutron form factors is presented. It is discussed how the quality of the data has been greatly improved by performing double polarization experiments, and the role of two-photon exchange processes will be highlighted. The spatial information on the quark charge distribibutions in the nucleon resulting from the form factors measurements will be discussed, as well as the steady rate of improvements made in the lattice QCD calculations. It is discussed how generalized parton distributions have emerged as a unifying theme in hadron physics linking the spatial densities extracted from form factors with the quark momentum distribution information residing in quark structure functions. The recent progress in the electromagnetic excitation of the Δ(1232) resonance will also briefly be discussed.
Electrical stimulation of human muscle studied using 31P‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

This study used phosphorous nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectroscopy to examine the metabolic demand resulting from electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) applied to human skeletal muscle. For each of six subjects, the forearm flexor muscle group was monitored with 31P-NMR during both maximum voluntary and 6-s EMS-induced contractions. A simple protocol using a tourniquet was added in one subject to assess the role of blood flow in this model. Eight hertz (nontetanic) EMS showed less (p less than 0.025) depletion of phosphocreatine (36%) than did tetanic 70-Hz EMS (60%), voluntary isometric (66%), and voluntary isokinetic (68%). The results of the tourniquet studies suggested that the nontetanic EMS allowed relatively increased muscle blood flow and oxygen supply during contraction. Tetanic EMS provided a similar metabolic demand to that of conventional resistive exercise, as measured by 31P-NMR spectroscopy.
Body Dissatisfaction in College Women: Identification of Risk and Protective Factors To Guide College Counseling Practices.

This study attempted to identify risk factors that are implicated in the body dissatisfaction of college women and the factors that may facilitate effective prevention and treatment efforts. Data collected from 215 female college students indicated that participants with (a) greater physical self-concept, (b) less drive for thinness, and (c) greater social self-esteem manifested less body dissatisfaction.
Reinforcer effectiveness in children as a function of stimulus satiation

Abstract One hundred twenty-eight preschool boys were employed in a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial design to investigate the change in reinforcer efficacy as a function of prior stimulus exposure. The factors were: (a) amount of repetition, 5, 25, 45, or 65; (b) reinforcer, good or bell; and (c) satiator, good or bell. Two additional groups were run as control groups to determine the effectiveness of good and bell in the absence of satiation treatment. Following the experimental treatment, Ss were given 50 learning and 25 extinction trials on a fixed color-position discrimination learning task. Support for stimulus satiation and satiation generalization was found on both the learning and extinction data. The obtained functional relationships were generally curvilinear.
Open-Air Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes by Laser-Induced Chemical Vapor Deposition

Carbon nanotubes have unique mechanical, electronic and thermal properties with applications ranging from reinforced composite materials to micro-scale electronic devices, and are considered one of the next generation advanced engineering materials. In this study, a laser-induced chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) process has been developed that is capable of depositing carbon nanotubes in open-air from a gas mixture consisting of propane and hydrogen. A CO2 laser is used to irradiate the substrate covered with metal nanoparticles, subsequently resulting in the growth of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The effect of laser power and reactant gas flow configuration on carbon nanotube growth kinetics is experimentally investigated. Results indicate that carbon nanotube synthesis is highly dependent on the laser-induced temperature distribution and the carbon radical concentration. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy are used to relate the composition, microstructure and growth kinetics to the process conditions of carbon nanotubes deposited in this study.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Cycling of Early Golgi Proteins Via the Cell Surface and Endosomes Upon Lumenal pH Disruption

The cis-Golgi protein GPP130 reversibly redistributes to endosomes upon pH disruption, but the identity of the endosomes and the involved cycling route are unknown. It is also unknown whether any other early Golgi proteins participate in this pathway. Here, we analyze GPP130 and the structurally related Golgi protein GP73. Unlike the TGN marker TGN38/46, GPP130 and GP73 colocalized in the early Golgi and redistributed to the ER after brefeldin A treatment. Nevertheless, after pH disruption by monensin, GPP130 and GP73 redistributed to endosomes containing redistributed TGN38/46, but not other endosomal markers. In common with TGN38/46, the redistribution involved transient appearance on the plasma membrane, and upon monensin washout, the proteins moved back to the Golgi along a microtubule- and PI3 kinase-independent route. Although GP73 did not associate with GPP130, its steady-state Golgi targeting was also mediated by a lumenal predicted coiled-coil stem domain. These findings indicate that at least two early Golgi proteins, each containing stem domain Golgi targeting determinants, cycle to the cell surface and back along the late endosome independent TGN38/46 pathway.
Toxic effects of oxygen on cultured human neonatal respiratory epithelium.

Extract: Explants of tracheal epithelium from each of six human neonates were exposed to both 80% and 20% oxygen under otherwise identical culture conditions. Cessation of ciliary movement and carbon particle transport occurred after 48–96 hr of exposure to 80% oxygen, but not after 168 hr of exposure to 20% oxygen. This alteration of ciliary function was related temporally to squamous metaplasia, or to degeneration and sloughing of cells from the surface epithelium. Explants secreted more mucin and lysozyme during the first 24–72 hr of culture in 80% oxygen. Thereafter, diminished secretion was observed, apparently related to loss of goblet cells from the surface epithelium and failure to discharge the secretory products of submucosal glands. These findings indicate that high oxygen concentrations at atmospheric pressure alone can cause marked alterations of structure and function in neonatal large airways epithelium. Onset of these changes corresponds to the time when the earliest clinical and cytologic evidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia has been detected, suggests that similar oxygen-induced changes are produced in vivo. Loss of mucociliary function may be an important pathogenetic component of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Speculation: Organ culture of human large airways epithelium appears to be a useful model for study of pulmonary oxygen toxicity. Studies of oxygen concentrations and duration of exposure tolerated by human respiratory epithelium, the cellular mechanisms of oxygen-induced alteration, and the use of pharmacologic agents to prevent or delay onset of toxic changes may be facilitated by using this in vitro technique.
Blockade of drug-induced deficits in prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle by ziprasidone.

Abstract Ziprasidone, an antipsychotic with efficacy against core symptoms of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, has a low incidence of extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS). Because of its high 5-HT 2A /D 2 binding-affinity ratio and low EPS liability, ziprasidone is considered to belong to the newer class of “novel” antipsychotics typified by clozapine. Its unique pharmacological profile, however, distinguishes it from other novel agents. We evaluated ziprasidone in the prepulse inhibition (PPI) model, which is sensitive to clinically active antipsychotics. Male Wistar rats were tested in acoustic startle sessions in which some startle-eliciting stimuli were presented alone, and others were preceded by a weak prepulse. Administration of the dopamine agonist apomorphine (1 mg/kg) or the N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) antagonist ketamine (10 mg/kg) significantly disrupted PPI. When coadministered with either of these compounds, clozapine (1–5.6 mg/kg sc) and ziprasidone (5.6–17.8 mg/kg po) significantly attenuated the declines in PPI. Haloperidol (0.03–0.56 mg/kg) also attenuated drug-induced deficits in PPI but to a lesser extent (and at higher doses) with ketamine than with apomorphine. Together, these data confirm that ziprasidone shares common effects in PPI models with other novel antipsychotics. Ziprasidone's affinity for non-D 2 receptors in the central nervous system may partly account for its attenuation of ketamine's effect.
Quantitative and temporal requirements revealed for Zap70 catalytic activity during T cell development

The catalytic activity of Zap70 is crucial for T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling, but the quantitative and temporal requirements for its function in thymocyte development are not known. Using a chemical-genetic system to selectively and reversibly inhibit Zap70 catalytic activity in a model of synchronized thymic selection, we showed that CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes integrate multiple, transient, Zap70-dependent signals over more than 36 h to reach a cumulative threshold for positive selection, whereas 1 h of signaling was sufficient for negative selection. Titration of Zap70 activity resulted in graded reductions in positive and negative selection but did not decrease the cumulative TCR signals integrated by positively selected OT-I cells, which revealed heterogeneity, even among CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes expressing identical TCRs undergoing positive selection.
The polymerization ratchet model explains the force-velocity relation for growing microtubules

The polymerization of filamentous proteins generates mechanical forces which drive many cellular processes. Dogterom and Yurke measured the force-velocity relation generated by a single microtubule. They found that the force is generally in the range predicted by the “polymerization ratchet” mechanism, but the force-velocity relationship decreased faster than that theory predicted. Here we generalize the polymerization ratchet model to take into account the “subsidy effect” that arises because a microtubule consists of 13 protofilaments. With this generalization the model fits the experimental data well. The biological implications of the polymerization ratchet model are discussed.
Lyme borreliosis in transgenic mice tolerant to OspA from Borrelia burgdorferi 25015

Lyme borreliosis in transgenic mice tolerant to Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA) from the weakly virulent B. burgdorferi 25015 was assessed because the response to OspA has been implicated in protective immunity and is suspected in disease pathogenesis. B. burgdorferi 25015 is infectious but does not cause significant arthritis in C3H/HeN mice. Tolerance of mice to B. burgdorferi N40 OspA had no effect on disease. Since B. burgdorferi N40 is more virulent than and genetically distinct from B. burgdorferi 25015, the generality of these findings was investigated. OspA-25015-transgenic mice were tolerant to OspA-25015 and did not develop OspA antibodies or cellular responses following immunization with OspA-25015. The development and resolution of Lyme arthritis was similar in transgenic and nontransgenic littermates, suggesting that ablation of the OspA-25015 response does not cause B. burgdorferi 25015 to become more arthritogenic.
USE OF 4-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE MEASUREMENT OF RIGHT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION AND STROKE VOLUME: STUDIES IN A DYNAMIC IN VITRO MODEL

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ejection fraction (EF) and stroke volume (SV) could be accurately computed from 4-dimensional (4D) echocardiography in a dynamic latex right ventricular (RV) model developed from fresh pig hearts. Latex models (N=4) of porcine right ventricles
An insect pupal cell with antimicrobial properties that suppress an entomopathogenic fungus.

Abstract Soil-dwelling insects have developed various mechanisms to defend against pathogen infection. The pecan weevil, Curculio caryae, spends two to three years in the soil inside an earthen cell. We hypothesized that the cell may possess antimicrobial properties. In a laboratory study, we tested the hypothesis using the fungus Beauveria bassiana as a model. B. bassiana is a common endemic pathogen of C. caryae. We compared the number of colony-forming-units on selective media when B. bassiana was exposed to autoclaved soil, non-autoclaved soil, or soil from a C. caryae pupal cell. Soil from C. caryae cells was suppressive to B. bassiana. To our knowledge this is the first report of antimicrobial properties associated with an insect soil cell. The findings expand our knowledge of host–pathogen relationships. Additional research is needed to determine the basis for the suppressive effects observed.
Extending User-Centered Methods beyond Interface Design to Functional Definition

The contributions of human factors or usability practitioners to application development often begin with a functional specification handed down from an external source. User-centered design methods are commonly applied to how function is delivered but not what functions will be delivered. We in the Interactive Transaction Systems (ITS) group at the T.J. Watson Research Division of IBM have succeeded, during several application development efforts, in expanding the scope of our user-centered, iterative design approaches to include functional as well as interface definition for both software and hardware (kiosk/workstation) design. By learning our customer's business and owning the entire development process, we can better design our solutions to solve their problems (and their client's problems in the case of service industry solutions). We achieve this by including the functional definition in the first of four phases we have defined for all of our development projects.A significant facilitation for this...
Kinetics of hydrogen absorption by Pd(110)

A coupled high-pressure--ultrahigh-vacuum technique is employed to make the first kinetic measurements of high-pressure hydrogen absorption through an atomically clean palladium surface, Pd(110). The hydrogen uptake kinetics in the \ensuremath{\alpha}-phase region are found to be rate limited by diffusion of atomic H into the bulk rather than by dissociative chemisorption of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ at the surface as previously reported. Our findings strongly suggest that previous high-pressure measurements of hydrogen absorption by palladium may be suspect due to uncharacterized surface contamination. The bulk diffusivity of hydrogen in palladium determined in this study has an activation barrier of 5.39\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.30 kcal/mol with a preexponential factor of (2.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/s.
Site controlled transgenic mice validating increased expression from human matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1) promoter due to a naturally occurring SNP.

Abstract Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) comprise a family of more than 20 members, each with the ability to degrade components of the extracellular matrix. The interstitial collagenases have the unique capacity to degrade the stromal collagens, types I, II and III, the body's most abundant proteins. These collagenases include MMP-1, MMP-8, MMP-13 and MMP-14. MMP-1, with a very broad expression pattern, has major roles in mediating matrix destruction in many diseases. We have described a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MMP-1 promoter that augments transcription. This SNP is the presence or absence of an extra guanine (G) at − 1607 bp, which creates the sequence 5′-GGAA-3′(2G allele), and which is an ETS binding site. Compared to the 1G allele (5′-GAA-3′), the 2G SNP is associated with enhanced transcription of MMP-1 and increased enzymatic activity. Although murine systems are often used to model human diseases, mice have only distant homologues of human MMP-1. Therefore, we used a technique for the targeted insertion of a single copy of a gene at the HPRT locus to compare expression of the 1G and 2G alleles. We generated transgenic mice with − 4372 bp of the human MMP-1 promoter containing either the 1G or 2G SNP in front of the lac Z (E.coli s-galactosidase) gene. We measured the relative expression of the transgenes in vitro in embryonic stem (ES) cells and in fibroblasts derived from embryonic mice. Our data show modest constitutive expression of s-galactosidase mRNA and protein from these alleles, with the 2G allele more transcriptionally active than the 1G allele. We conclude that these mice represent a model for integration of a single copy of the human MMP-1 promoter into the murine genome, and could be used to study MMP-1 gene expression in a murine system.
The run-up of nonbreaking and breaking solitary waves

Abstract The run-up of nonbreaking and breaking solitary waves on plane impermeable beaches is investigated with a Lagrangian finite-element Boussinesq wave model. Wave breaking is parameterized with an artificial viscosity (diffusion) term in the momentum equation, and bottom friction is modelled with a term quadratic in the horizontal fluid velocity. Comparisons are presented with laboratory data of maximum run-up, shoreline motion, and spatial profiles of near-shore free-surface elevation for both steep (20°) and gradual (2.88°) slopes. For the steep slope, only waves which do not break on run-up are considered, and excellent agreement is obtained with the laboratory data. For the gradual slope, wave shoaling, breaking, bore formation and subsequent collapse at the shoreline are predicted well by the model, although the breaking algorithm does not attempt to model the details of the turbulent flow in the breaking region. The backwash bore is also modelled reasonably well, although it persists longer in the numerical computations than in the laboratory data. It is shown that the inclusion of nonhydrostatic effects reduces the tendency of waves to break and improves the agreement of the numerical results with the laboratory run-up data. This allows higher amplitude waves to be modelled and larger propagation distances to be treated without the need to limit the wave steepness with artificial dissipation.
The histologic subtype of ovarian tumors affects the detection rate by pelvic washings.

BACKGROUND Since its introduction more than 45 years ago, the pelvic wash has gained widespread acceptance and is used routinely use at most centers. However, widely varying figures have been reported regarding its sensitivity for peritoneal involvement in ovarian tumors. In the current study, the authors evaluated a consecutive group of pelvic (peritoneal or abdominopelvic) washings performed in the evaluation of adnexal masses to determine whether histologic subtype significantly affects the tumor detection rate using this procedure. METHODS Reports from all washes performed over a 5-year period in the evaluation of adnexal masses were evaluated and correlated with those of the synchronously obtained histologic specimens. The sensitivity for each histologic subtype was calculated, with ovarian surface involvement and/or tumoral involvement of any peritoneal surface defined as the criterion standard. Cases with cytologic and histologic concordance were defined as true-positive or true-negative. Statistical significance was determined using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS In the current study, 185 of 846 (21.9%) total washes were associated with malignant (n = 161) or borderline (n = 24) tumors involving the ovary. For the malignancies, the overall cytology detection rate was 25%. A comparison of the cytology detection rates for the individual histologic subtypes with the overall rate demonstrated that the serous carcinomas were more likely (P = 0.0144) and the clear cell carcinomas were less likely (P = 0.0452) to be detected in pelvic washings. Cytology detection rates for mucinous, endometrioid, and undifferentiated carcinomas did not appear to differ significantly (P > 0.05) from the average detection rate. The cytohistologic correlation rate (efficiency), sensitivity, and specificity for the 5 most common histologic subtypes (n = 130) were 79.23%, 50.77%, and 93.33%, respectively. Differences also were observed in the calculated sensitivity for each subtype: serous (n = 57), 71.4%; endometrioid (n = 30), 58.33%; clear cell (n = 19), 20%; mucinous (n = 13), 50%; and undifferentiated (n = 11), 50%. Borderline tumors demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, the pelvic wash was found to be a specific, but only moderately sensitive, technique for detecting peritoneal involvement in ovarian tumors. The histologic subtype of the underlying ovarian tumor was found to have an effect on the likelihood of detection of peritoneal involvement using this diagnostic assay. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2004;102:000–000. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Enhancement of Oxyanion and Diatrizoate Reduction Kinetics Using Selected Azo Dyes on Pd-Based Catalysts

Azo dyes are widespread pollutants and potential cocontaminants for nitrate; we evaluated their effect on catalytic reduction of a suite of oxyanions, diatrizoate, and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The azo dye methyl orange significantly enhanced (less than or equal to a factor of 5.24) the catalytic reduction kinetics of nitrate, nitrite, bromate, perchlorate, chlorate, and diatrizoate with several different Pd-based catalysts; NDMA reduction was not enhanced. Nitrate was selected as a probe contaminant, and a variety of azo dyes (methyl orange, methyl red, fast yellow AB, metanil yellow, acid orange 7, congo red, eriochrome black T, acid red 27, acid yellow 11, and acid yellow 17) were evaluated for their ability to enhance reduction. Hydrogenation energies of azo dyes were calculated using density functional theory and a volcano relationship between hydrogenation energies and reduction rate enhancement was observed. A kinetic model based on Bronsted−Evans−Polanyi (BEP) theory matched the volcano relat...
On choosing the centering distribution in Dirichlet process mixture models

We present two results that pertain to the choosing of the centering distribution in a Bayesian setup with a Dirichlet process mixture prior based on Gaussian kernels. Our results indicate that for such kernels, one can choose the centering measure for the Dirichlet process mixture model exactly as one would in the analogous simpler Dirichlet process model.
Performance of Spread Spectrum Global Positioning System Collars on Grizzly and Black Bears

Abstract Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry is a prevalent tool now used in the study of large mammals. Global Positioning Systems either store the data on board the collar or contain a remote-transfer system that allows for data recovery at more frequent intervals. Spread spectrum (S–S) technology is a new mode of data transfer designed to overcome interference problems associated with narrow-band very high frequency and ultra high frequency data-transfer systems. We evaluated performance of S–S GPS radiocollars deployed on grizzly (Ursus arctos) and black bears (U. americanus). We also evaluated variables that influenced GPS fix success rates, with particular focus on animal activity, time of year, and temperature. The S–S GPS collars performed to our expectations and met study objectives; we did not experience any major problems with the data-transfer system. We observed varying rates of fix success that were directly related to recorded activity counts. Using logistic regression, we verified th...