cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Association of Altmetric Attention Scores with Citations in Selected Major Pharmacy Journals.

Objective. To determine the long-term change in the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), and its components, as well as the impact of higher AAS on citation count for articles published in major pharmacy journals. Methods. This study evaluated articles from pharmacy journals ranked in the top 10% according to their AAS in the year 2017. Correlation between the AAS and number of citations (through November 2020) was assessed using the Spearman’s correlation test. A Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance was used to compare the AAS across journals. Results. The median 3-year AAS and citation count per article was 20 (25th, 75th percentile = 15, 28) and 11 (6, 18), respectively. Between November 2018 and November 2020, there was no significant change in the median AAS for the 137 included articles. The only change in the AAS components was an increase in the number of Mendeley readers (22 [13, 34]). The median number of citations per article also increased (8 [4, 14]). We found a significant association between the 3-year AAS and the 3-year number of citations (adjR2=0.06). The 3-year number of Mendeley readers was associated with an increase in the 3-year number of citations (adjR2=0.36). The mean 3-year AAS was highest with articles published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, while the mean 3-year number of citations was highest for articles published in Pharmacotherapy. Conclusion. Higher AAS scores appear to be associated with the number of citations for articles published in major pharmacy journals within three years of publication.
Towards radix sorting in the Chapel standard library

This talk will discuss recent work improving the Sort module of the Chapel programming language. It will discuss an interface design to support radix sort, describe the implementation of radix sort, compare the performance of this implementation to sort libraries in other language, and finally discuss distributed sorting.
Obesity in Infertile Women, a Cross-Sectional Study of the United States Using NSFG 2011-2019.

Reproductive health can be affected by obesity through various mechanisms. Obesity-associated inflammatory markers and altered hormones can have direct and indirect impacts on female reproductive health. However, little is known about obesity prevalence and trend among infertile women and obesity association with infertility in reproductive-age women of the U.S. In a cross-sectional study, we sought to conduct a secondary analysis of National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) data from 2011 to 2019. A total of 6,035 infertile and non-pregnant fecund women aged 20–44 years were included in a nationally representative sample of the U.S. The weighted prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) among infertile women was 41.63% for the period 2011–2019. Obese women had 62% higher odds of infertility (95% CI 1.24, 2.17) compared to non-obese women of reproductive age (20–44 years). However, there was no specific trend of obesity among infertile and non-pregnant fecund women aged 20–44 years in the U.S. from 2011 to 2019. Given the negative impact of obesity on female reproductive health and in light of our results, it is important to counsel obese infertile reproductive-age women of the U.S. about behavioral changes that include weight management. Future longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the risk of infertility among obese women.
Three-dimensional dynamic characterization of square-nosed slugging phenomena in a fluidized bed

Abstract Slugging represents one of the major regimes in fluidization, which occurs in small diameter beds with large bed height-to-diameter ratio or in large diameter beds with internals that resemble multiple small diameter fluidized beds. Slug types include round-nosed slug, wall slug and square-nosed slug. Studies of the slugs have been mainly focused on round-nosed or wall slugs known as half slug, typically occurring in Geldart group A particle fluidization. The square-nosed slug typically occurring for Geldart group D particles appears to be regarded as simple in its structure. The Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography (ECVT) imaging of the square-nosed slugging phenomena conducted in this study reveals otherwise. That is the structure of the square-nosed slug is, in fact, complex, particularly with respect to its dynamic variation in fluidization. More broadly, this study examines experimentally the hydrodynamic characteristics of the square-nosed fluidization regime. Specifically, simultaneous measurements from multiple ECVT sensors provide non-invasive, continuous, 3-dimensional imaging of the entire flow region of the slugging bed and hence enabling the dynamic characterization of the evolution of the slugs. The analysis of the 3D images reconstructed for real-time gas–solid volume fraction profile of the slugging fluidized bed indicates that there are three different zones, namely, the bottom fluidization zone, the gas slug zone, and the solid slug zone, co-existing in the bed. The three zones present different hydrodynamic characteristics during the slug evolution. It is found that varying the gas velocity of the slugging bed mainly varies the maximum length of the gas slug zone, while it only has a minor effect on the lengths of the bottom fluidization zone and solid slug zone. It also has an insignificant effect on the solid volume fraction of the three zones.
Complement Fixation in the Diagnosis of Amebiasis

Excerpt By the term "amebiasis" is meant the condition brought about in the human body by the invasion of the tissues of the intestines byEndamoeba histolytica, the ameba causing that type of dysen...
Leaf litter resource quality induces morphological changes in wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) metamorphs

For organisms that exhibit complex life cycles, resource conditions experienced by individuals before metamorphosis can strongly affect phenotypes later in life. Such resource-induced effects are known to arise from variation in resource quantity, yet little is known regarding effects stemming from variation in resource quality (e.g., chemistry). For larval anurans, we hypothesized that variation in resource quality will induce a gradient of effects on metamorph morphology. We conducted an outdoor mesocosm experiment in which we manipulated resource quality by rearing larval wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) under 11 leaf litter treatments. The litter species represented plant species found in open- and closed-canopy wetlands and included many plant species of current conservation concern (e.g., green ash, common reed). Consistent with our hypothesis, we found a gradient of responses for nearly all mass-adjusted morphological dimensions. Hindlimb dimensions and gut mass were positively associated with litter nutrient content and decomposition rate. In contrast, forelimb length and head width were positively associated with concentrations of phenolic acids and dissolved organic carbon. Limb lengths and widths were positively related with the duration of larval period, and we discuss possible hormonal mechanisms underlying this relationship. There were very few, broad differences in morphological traits of metamorphs between open- and closed-canopy litter species or between litter and no-litter treatments. This suggests that the effects of litter on metamorph morphology are litter species-specific, indicating that the effects of changing plant community structure in and around wetlands will largely depend on plant species composition.
Conducting Creativity Brainstorming Sessions in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Using Computer-Mediated Communication Tools

A variety of Web-based low cost computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools are now available for use by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). These tools invariably incorporate chat systems that facilitate simultaneous input in synchronous electronic meeting environments, allowing what is referred to as “electronic brainstorming.” Although prior research in information systems (IS) has established that electronic brainstorming can be superior to face-to-face brainstorming, there is a lack of detailed guidance regarding how CMC tools should be optimally configured to foster creativity in SMEs. This paper discusses factors to be considered in using CMC tools for creativity brainstorming and proposes recommendations for optimally configuring CMC tools to enhance creativity in SMEs. The recommendations are based on lessons learned from several recent experimental studies on the use of CMC tools for rich brainstorming tasks that require participants to invoke domain-specific knowledge. Based on a consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the various configuration options, the recommendations provided can form the basis for selecting a CMC tool for creativity brainstorming or for creating an in-house CMC tool for the purpose.
Proceedings of the 1st ACM international workshop on Communicability design and evaluation in cultural and ecological multimedia system

Interactive communication through multimedia systems has opened new horizons inside the global village defined by McLuhan. Advances in software, hardware, and telecommunications linked to design are enabling millions of people to share greater content in multimedia devices of smaller size and costs. Now, the real success of a multimedia product, commercial or not, lies in the communicability of that content. Communicability that is not synonymous with usability and which entails the notion of quality. Inside that global village, human beings create content that runs through both on-line and off-line multimedia systems in a myriad of sites that refer to the present, the future and the past. This diachronic interactive vision favours the promotion of cultural patrimony, for instance. A patrimony immersed in nature. Therefore, a bidirectional relationship must exist between cultural and ecological heritage. An excellent example is Vancouver city and the Canadian nation where our workshop takes place. The symbiosis between new technologies and respect for nature in an endless number of cases is perfect. The purpose of the current workshop is not only to try to set down the theoretical bases for the notion of communicability as a result of the intersection of the formal and fact sciences, but also a series of theoretical-practical examples will make it possible to know the state of the arts in design, the assessment of quality of the multimedia systems aimed at the promotion of cultural and natural heritage, the drawing of the profile of a new professional in the qualitative context of the multimedia systems, future trends in the net under the denomination of Web 3.0, heuristic analysis of the classical supports in multimedia aimed at tourism and entertainment, virtual museums, the nearness of the citizen to his/her local institutions, and quality in vocal communications through the internet, among so many other aspects which tend to increase the communicability, the design and the heuristic assessment of it, in the framework of ecological and cultural heritage of multimedia systems.
Reduced equations for models of laminated materials in thin domains. II

In a companion paper, we considered a scalar wave equation on a thin, laminated, three-dimensional plate. We showed that if the plate was sufficiently thin, then there exists a hierarchy of two-dimensional equations whose dynamics model the dynamics of the full plate, each of which successively lengthens the time interval over which the approximation is valid. In certain cases, these approximating equations may formally be ill-posed. In this paper, we consider modifications of the approximating equations which are themselves well-posed, and which qualitatively afford the same approximation. We also present an algorithm to compute the coefficients in the approximating equations in closed form, and show numerical evidence that the estimates on the efficacy of the approximating equations are sharp.
Observations of Interstellar Magnetic Fields

This article describes how interstellar magnetic fields are detected, measured, and mapped, the results of such observations, and the role played by interstellar magnetic fields in the physics of the interstellar medium. A goal of the observations is the measurement of the morphology and strengths of the uniform (B u) and random (B r) components of magnetic fields. Observational techniques probe either the component of B parallel to the line of sight (B‖) or in the plane of the sky (B⊥). Tracers of B‖ are Faraday rotation of the position angle of linearly polarized radiation and Zeeman splitting of spectral lines. Tracers of B⊥ are the strength of synchrotron radiation and linear polarization of synchrotron radiation and of emission or absorption from dust and spectral lines. Starlight polarization shows that on large spatial scales the Galactic magnetic field is not heavily tangled (B u/B r ≈ 0.7-1.0), that the field is generally parallel to the Galactic plane near the plane, that the local field points approximately along the local spiral arm (pitch angle 9.4°, center of curvature 7.8 kpc distant towards l≈15.4;°), and that off the Galactic plane there is considerable small-scale structure to the field. Galactic synchrotron emission shows magnetic spiral arms with a total strength Bt ≈6 μG and B u ≈ 4 μG. Pulsar data show evidence for reversals of the field direction with Galactic radius and yield Br ≈ 5 μG and B u ≈ 1.5 μG; the morphology of the largescale mean field is consistent with dynamo generation. H I Zeeman detections for diffuse clouds yield B‖ ∼ 5;–20 μG with many limits B‖< 5 μG. A recent survey of Galactic H I in absorption against extragalactic sources confirms the result that the fields in diffuse clouds are often quite weak. The critical parameter for evaluating the importance of magnetic fields in star formation is the ratio of the mass to the magnetic flux, M/ΦB; observations focus on measuring both this quantity and the morphology of fields in dense regions. Zeeman observations of molecular lines are consistent with B ασv√n, which is the theoretical prediction for flattened cores supported by a combination of a uniform magnetic field pressure and turbulence. In cores, motions are approximately Alfvenic, and M/ΦB has a critical to slightly supercritical value. The ratio of B r/B u appears to decline with density. In some molecular cores there is evidence for the “hourglass” pinch that would be produced by cloud contraction with the magnetic field frozen into the matter.
Malnutrition in subacute care

BACKGROUND Dramatic weight loss and hypoalbuminemia often follow acute hospitalization. OBJECTIVE The objective was to examine the prevalence of undernutrition in a subacute-care facility. DESIGN We evaluated 837 patients consecutively admitted over 14 mo to a 100-bed subacute-care center. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, and a Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score. Primary outcome measures included length of stay and death. Secondary measures included readmission to an acute-care hospital and placement at discharge. RESULTS The subjects' mean (+/- SD) age was 76 +/- 13 y and 61% were women. Eighteen percent of the subjects had a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) 91% of subjects admitted to subacute care were either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The Geriatric Depression Score was higher in malnourished subjects than in nutritionally at-risk subjects (P = 0.05). Length of stay differed by 11 d between the malnourished group and the nutritionally at-risk group (P = 0.007). In the MNA-assessed group of largely malnourished subjects, 25% of subjects required readmission to an acute-care hospital compared with 11% of the well-nourished group (P = 0.06). Mortality was not found to be related to BMI. CONCLUSION Malnutrition reaches epidemic proportions in patients admitted to subacute-care facilities. Whether this reflects nutritional neglect in acute-care hospitals or is the result of profound illness is unclear. Nevertheless, strict attention to nutritional status is mandatory in subacute-care settings.
Conformational studies of cyclohexapeptide analogs of elastin sequences: Cyclo(Ala‐Pro‐Gly‐Ala‐Pro‐Gly)

Synthesis and conformation of a cyclohexapeptide [cyclo(L-Ala1-L-Pro2-Gly3-L-Ala4-L-Pro5-Gly6) c(APGAPG)] is reported in this paper. Conformational studies were performed using a combined approach of conformational energy calculations and 1H NMR studies in a low dielectric constant solvent, CDCl3. The results obtained from the two different methods agree reasonably well, and the minimun energy conformation derived from them is found to be stabilized by an antiparallel β-type conformation with two intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the Ala4 NH and Ala1 C O and the Ala1 NH and Ala4 C O groups. The Ramachandran map for the Ala residue in the cyclic hexapeptide reveals interesting conformational features, and its implications will be explored in more detail in future publications from this laboratory.
General strategies for the analysis of ringing data

A general, consistent strategy for data analysis is outlined, based on information and likelihood theory. A priori considerations lead to the definition of a set of candidate models, simple criteria are useful in ranking and calibrating the models based on estimates of (relative) Kullback-Leibler information, inference can be based on either the best model or a weighted average of several models. Model selection uncertainty can be quantified and should be incorporated into estimators of precision. Some comments are offered on statistical hypothesis testing and data dredging.
Direct inhibition of testicular function in rats by estriol and progesterone.

Abstract Polydimethylsiloxane implants containing progesterone or estriol, placed in close proximity to the left epidymis, released sufficient amounts of the hormone to induce atrophy of the left testis. The weight of the other testis was not influenced. Measurements of testosterone and FSH concentration in peripheral plasma and of fertility indicated that the function of the pituitary-hypothalamo axis was not inhibited. Progesterone and estriol were released in sufficient amounts to reduce 5α-reductase activity in the prostate. In progesterone treated animals the activity of 17β-dehydrogenase was increased.
Adoption and foster care placement as a risk factor for preterm birth

he study by Bublitz et al describes a surprisingly strong T crude odds ratio of 3.82 between experiencing adoption or foster care placement before the age of 18 years and the risk of delivering a preterm infant at <37 completed weeks of gestation. This relationship demonstrates positive confounding after adjustment for sociodemographic, psychosocial, health behavioral, and biomedical conditions with a fully adjusted odds ratio of 4.22 (adjusted odds ratio, 4.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.17e15.29). If this relationship can be confirmed in other studies and in different populations, this finding may provide evidence in support of one or more mechanisms that lead to preterm birth. However, although this retrospective study appears to be conceptually sound with statistically significant results, the number of participants was quite small. Three hundred two low-income, but otherwise apparently low-risk women, oversampled for depression and smoking, whose data was drawn from 2 previous studies of maternal mood and behavior and fetal and infant development, were included in the present analysis. Overall, 39 women (13%) had a history of adoption or foster care placement, and 26 women (9%) had a preterm birth. Six percent of the women (n 1⁄4 16) without a history of placement (n 1⁄4 263) delivered preterm infants, compared with 18% of those women (n 1⁄4 7) with a history of adoption or placement (n 1⁄4 39). Confirmation of these results in other populations with larger sample sizes is crucial. Additionally, little information is provided in this study to help understand the obstetric outcome. Specifically, no information is provided regarding the gestational age or birthweight distribution of the preterm births in women with and without placement history or whether the preterm births were spontaneous or indicated or which obstetric conditions, if any, were associated with the preterm births. Any further study of this issue should define clearly the preterm outcomes by gestational age, by birthweight, by whether the preterm births were indicated or spontaneous, and by likely cause.
An analysis of pretransplantation variables associated with long-term allograft outcome in pediatric liver transplant recipients receiving primary tacrolimus (FK506) therapy.

Background.The present study analyzes pretransplantation variables associated with long-term liver allograft survival in 278 children who underwent transplantation under primary tacrolimus (FK506) therapy at a single center between October 1989 and October 1996.Methods.The influence of 17 pretranspl
Detection probability of Golden‐winged Warblers during point counts with and without playback recordings

ABSTRACT Use of point-count data to estimate population sizes of North American landbirds may be challenged by limitations on detection probability of particular species, thereby requiring correction factors to ensure accurate estimates. We estimated detection probability of Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera) during 3-min point-count surveys conducted both with and without use of playback recordings in a mixed shrubland-forest habitat (clearcut area) and a 60-m wide electric transmission line right-of-way (ROW) in central Pennsylvania from 20 May to 17 June 2002–2003. In addition, we assessed the value of playback with respect to response rates of warblers and distance within which warblers approached the observer. Without playback, detection probability was approximately 23% in the clearcut area and 61% in the ROW. Use of playback resulted in 7% and 19% net increases in probability at the clearcut area and the ROW, respectively; proportional increase was approximately 30% for both habitats. Warblers responded to playback 68% of the time, but response rate was greater within 100 m (72%) than beyond (53%). Most responses (85%) included approach of the warbler toward the observer, and most individuals approached within 10 m. We conclude that 3-min point counts with playback do not yield detection probabilities sufficient to estimate population size of Golden-winged Warblers without use of correction factors. Furthermore, detection probability in mixed shrubland-forest habitats can be much lower than in linear habitats such as utility ROWs. Efforts to estimate population size of Golden-winged Warblers from data of the North American Breeding Bird Survey should recognize that habitat structure has much influence on detection probability as it relates to distance at which an observer can hear (or see) warblers. Accordingly, we recommend that such efforts incorporate a maximum detection distance of 100–150 m in mixed shrubland-forest habitats.
Scalar dissipation rate measurements in flames: A method to improve spatial resolution by using nitric oxide PLIF

Scalar dissipation rate (χ) previously has been identified as one of the most important parameters inturbulent non-premixed flames. A new method to image χ is demonstrated which is a variation of the method of Strner, Bilger, Frank, and Long; nitric oxide (NO) is added to the jet fluid to mark the fuel, replacing previous fuel markers such as acetone. Planar laser-induced fluorescence of NO is combined with temperature images from Rayleigh scattering to measure mixture fraction and scalar dissipation rate with greatly improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spatial resolution. Calibration measurements of mixture fraction (f) and χ in a laminar flame and qualitative images of a turbulent flame are presented. The method has three advantages. (1) Differential diffusion problems (that have limited the use of acetone) are eliminated, since the diffusivity of NO is equivalent to that of the methane/nitrogen fuel mixture. (2) NO is an excellent marker of the fuel (unlike acetone) since it properly disappears from centerline to the flame boundary due to rapid reactions with H and CH radicals. A small correction (typically 5% of the centerline value) must be applied to account for slight leakage of NO through the CH layer, but this correction can be made entirely from the experimental data. (3) NO can be added in large amounts to achieve ecceptional SNR values exceeding 150 when the spatial resolution equals a typical Taylor scale of 400 μm. Radial profiles of mixture fraction and scalar dissipation rate in the calibration flame compare favorably with previous measurements.
An experimental study of flow and heat transfer in parallel-plate arrays: Local, row-by-row and surface average behavior

Detailed observations of flow through large arrays of flat plates are used with mass transfer experiments to explore the convective behavior in offset-strip geometries. Unique local data for individual plates in the array are obtained using the naphthalene sublimation technique. With the flow visualization results, these local data reveal the effects of boundary-layer growth and vortex shedding in the array. Row-by-row data are used to determine the onset of shedding within the array. Surface average results are presented and show the relative contributions to heat transfer of boundary-layer restarting and vortex shedding.
Economic Welfare and Food Safety Regulation: The Case of Mechanically Deboned Meat

Mechanical deboning is a technology that allows red meat packers and processors to recover fragments of meat that are left on the bones of carcasses after hand trimming. The economic impact of alternative public policies, ranging from a ban on the use of mechanically deboned meat to a free market approach, is analyzed with a simultaneous equations supply-demand model of the markets for table and processed beef and pork. The results indicate that the loss in economic welfare to society, as well as the price and quantity effects associated with present restrictions, are not insignificant.
Liquid Metal Stream Junction Defects in Aluminum Lost Foam Casting

The purpose of this work is to study fold defects in gravity and counter gravity lost foam casting processes, and to determine the process parameters which will improve the casting properties. The experiments are focused on the time and spatial dependent aspects of mold filling in frame shape styrofoam patterns.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF THREE INHIBITORS OF CHOLESTEROL BIOSYNTHESIS UPON MURINE ADRENAL GLAND AND TESTIS Histochemical Evidence for a Lysosome Response

Triparanol and 20,25-diazacholesterol inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and result in the accumulation of desmosterol. AY-9944, another inhibitor, produces an accumulation of 7-dehydrocholesterol. Adult male C3H mice receive one of these drugs intraperitoneally. Livers, adrenal glands, and testes from each drug group are excised, and portions of each are analyzed by a modified Liebermann-Burchard reaction for quantitation of sterols. Adrenals and testes are examined also by electron microscopy. Fine-structural localization of acid phosphatase has been studied in triparanol-treated adrenal glands. Biochemical analysis reveals that 14–64% of the sterols occurs as desmosterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol. Fine-structural alterations in the adrenal glands and testes from each drug group are essentially identical. The predominant cytological feature is the occurrence of increased numbers of pleomorphic, unit-membrane-limited, electron-opaque, cytoplasmic inclusions. Hence, the cellular modifications following triparanol administration are not unique, as has been suggested. They represent a generalized phenomenon, probably related to inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis, which is an effect common to each drug. Lead phosphate reaction product (indicating acid phosphatase activity) is demonstrable within these membrane-limited cytoplasmic bodies, identifying them as morphological lysosomes. The utilization of a lysosomal mechanism in sterol-synthesizing cells, which are accumulating cholesterol intermediates, is discussed.
Meta-Analysis for Solomon Four-Group Designs Reconsidered: A Reply to Sawilowsky and Markman

Responses to prior criticism and a recommendation regarding when a meta-analysis should be carried out are presented.
The molecular weight of NADPH-cytochrome C reductase isolated by immunoprecipitation from detergent-solubilized rat liver microsomes

Abstract The molecular weight of detergent-solubilized NADPH-cytochrome c reductase from rat liver microsomes has been estimated to be 79,000. The method used for this determination involves immunoprecipitation of deoxycholate-solubilized enzyme from 125 I-labeled microsomal proteins. The antibody was prepared against a purified preparation of Bromelain-solubilized enzyme (molecular weight 71,000). The immunoprecipitate was then subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the enzyme located by 125 I-gamma counting.
Fracture studies in rubber‐modified polymers. II. Experimental results: Fracture surface work of rubber‐modified acrylics

With the use of a sandwich-tapered double-cantilever beam cleavage specimen (described in part I of this series), the fracture surface work of several commercial and experimental acrylic multipolymers has been measured as a function of crack velocity and rubber content. The plots of fracture surface work versus crack velocity clearly exhibit the effects of rate (crack velocity) and rubber concentration on fracture behavior. Specifically, the fracture surface work of specimens with seven different rubber contents has been determined over a crack velocity range from 10−5 meters/sec to approximately 10 meters/sec. For each material, distinct maxima occur in the curves of fracture surface work versus crack velocity. The significance of these observations is discussed.
Some socioeconomic factors in the selection of blood pressure drugs in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Socioeconomic factors are important in the selection of drug therapy for hypertension in New Orleans. With a proponderance of blacks, and an economic recession in the city, the availability of a large variety of effective and relatively safe hypertensive medications does not in itself solve the problem of providing a lifetime of antihypertensive medication. We must know our patients well and take into consideration income, age, home environment, and family situation. Only then can drug therapy that is appropriate to this complex milieu be prescribed.
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase: Modulations of the Distal Heme Site Produced by Progressive N-Terminal Deletions†

cDNAs coding for bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with N-terminal deletions of 52, 91, and 105 amino acids were constructed, and the proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. All three truncated proteins bind heme and exhibit the ferrous-CO absorption maximum at 444 nm characteristic of thiolate heme ligation. Deletion of the first 52 amino acids yields a fully active dimeric protein with the same spectroscopic properties as the wild-type. The myristoylation, palmitoylation, and polyproline domains of the enzyme located in the deleted region are therefore not required for full catalytic activity. The Δ91 and Δ105 proteins, which exhibit altered dimerization equilibria, retain 20 and 12%, respectively, of the maximal activity. Resonance Raman and UV−vis spectroscopy indicate that, in the absence of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) and l-Arg, the wild-type and Δ52 proteins are predominantly five coordinate high spin, whereas the Δ91 and Δ105 proteins are si...
An experimental study of atmospheric transmission

An experimental investigation was made to determine the general characteristics of the spectral transmission of the atmosphere in the vicinity of Washington, D. C, on the Chesapeake Bay, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Central Pacific. Transmission measurements were made at the wavelengths of approximately 15 of the Hg discharge lines in the interval 2500A to 6000A. Values of the spectral atmospheric attenuation coefficients (km−1) have been computed. For all observations made, these values increase toward shorter wavelengths and this is most pronounced for wavelengths below 3200A, where true absorption as well as scattering contributes to the attenuation.
Implications for an economy of energy resource transitions

Numerical results in this paper indicate that an efficient transition to a more costly energy resource could have a significant impact on macroeconomic variables.
Microwaves used to observe commutator and slip ring surfaces during operation

A method of using short-wave radio (microwaves) and waveguide components for observing and recording the surface irregularities of commutators and slip rings during the operation of the associated machines is presented. If reasonable care is exercised, measurements of surface irregularities in the order of 1/2 mil or less may be obtained.
Porphyrin on a half-shell! Synthesis and characterization of corannulenoporphyrins.

An efficient synthetic method for preparing corannulenoporphyrins is described. Nitrocorannulene was reacted with ethyl isocyanoacetate in the presence of a phosphazene base to generate the pivotal corannulenopyrrole intermediate. Following cleavage of the ethyl ester moiety with KOH in ethylene glycol at 180−190 °C, the heptacyclic system was reacted with acetoxymethylpyrroles under mildly acidic conditions to afford tripyrranes. The proton NMR spectra for these tripyrrolic intermediates suggest that they can take on helical geometries, but the conformations are dependent on the nature of the terminal ester groupings and may be altered by solvent interactions. Treatment of a di-tert-butyl ester tripyrrane with TFA cleaved the protective groups, and subsequent condensation with diformylpyrroles in TFA-CH2Cl2, followed by oxidation with DDQ or ferric chloride, gave excellent yields of corannulenoporphyrins. Nickel(II), copper(II), and zinc complexes of this system were also prepared, and the nickel derivat...
Shareholder wealth effects of CalPERS' activism

Abstract In the past decade, institutional investors have become more active in monitoring management and voting the shares they control. The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) was a leader in this wave of activism. This study investigates the long-term returns an investor with public information could earn by buying a portfolio of firms targeted by CalPERS and whether the success of CalPERS' activism depends on the aggressiveness of the targeting. The evidence supports the idea that visible and aggressive activism leads to substantial increases in shareholder wealth while a quieter activism does not.
The Quest for Global Dominance: Transforming Global Presence into Global Competitive Advantage

The article presents a review of the book “The Quest for Global Dominance: Transforming Global Presence Into Global Competitive Advantage,” by Vijay Govindarajan and Anil K. Gupta.
ACE-CRIS Scintillating Optical Fiber Trajectory (SOFT) detector: a calibration at the NSCL

The scintillating optical fiber trajectory (SOFT) detector, which is the hodoscope for the cosmic ray isotope spectrometer (CRIS) on the NASA advanced composition explorer (ACE) satellite, was calibrated using 155 MeV/n He, Li, C, N, O, Ne, and Ar at the Michigan State University National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). The instrument consists of three hodoscope fiber planes and one trigger plane which are read out by an image intensified CCD camera system and by intensified photodiodes respectively. The instrument is described and the detection efficiency and spatial resolution is presented.
Mechanical properties and creep resistance in polystyrene/polyethylene blends

Recycled plastics, predominantly high-density polyethylene (PE), are being processed in the shape of dimension lumber and marketed as plastic lumber. One drawback to these products is their low creep resistance or high creep speed. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of reducing the creep speed of PE-based products by blending the PE with a lower-creep plastic, in this case polystyrene (PS). Various blends of PE and PS were prepared in either a laboratory extruder or a bowl mixer and then compression-molded. The mechanical properties, creep behavior, morphology, and thermal properties of extruded and compression-molded samples were determined. The modulus of elasticity of the extruded blends could be estimated by a weighted average of PS and PE, even in the absence of a compatibilizer. Processing strongly affected the morphology and mechanical properties of the blends. For 50% PS: 50% PE blends, the stress-strain curves of the extruded samples showed PE-like behavior, whereas those from compression-molded samples were brittle, PS-like curves. Flexural strength was 50% higher in the extruded samples than in those from compression molding. The creep experiments were performed in three-point bending. Creep speed was lower in 50% PS: 50% PE and 75% PS: 25% PE blends than in pure PS. Creep speed of 75% PS: 25% PE was lowest of all the extruded blends. PE formed the continuous phase even when the PS content was as high as 50 wt %. For a 75% PS: 25% PE blend, cocontinuous phases were observed in the machine direction. A ribbonlike PS-dispersed phase was observed in the 25% PS: 75% PE and 50% PS: 50% PE samples. Blending low-creep-speed PS with high-creep-speed PE appeared to successfully improve the performance of the final composite.
Who Claims Dual Citizenship? The Limits of Postnationalism, the Possibilities of Transnationalism, and the Persistence of Traditional Citizenship

The dynamics of globalization, especially international migration, challenge traditional frameworks of citizenship and prompted scholars to develop new models of membership: transnationalism and postnationalism. All three-the traditional, transnational and postnational-explicitly or implicitly address the controversial topic of dual citizenship, or multiple membership. Lack of statistical data, however, has made it difficult to adjudicate between these models or to undertake a broad empirical assessment of dual citizenship, either over time or between people from different countries and socioeconomic backgrounds. This article outlines the testable implications of traditional, transnational and post-national frameworks and evaluates these hypotheses using a unique statistical data source that asked respondents to report multiple citizenship, the 1981, 1991 and 1996 20% Canadian census samples. The data offer little evidence that immigrants adopt a strict postnational view of citizenship, but they reveal the possibilities of transnationalism and the continued relevance of traditional frameworks. Over time, we observe a rapid increase in the aggreate level of reported dual citizenship from 1981 to 1996. We also find that those with higher human capital, rather than the economically marginalized, are more likely to embrace dual citizenship. After controlling for individual attributes, important contextual or group effects nonetheless remain: self-reports of dual citizenship vary significantly by birthplace and are higher if an immigrant lives in Quebec. Since naturalization levels seem to rise in tandem with reports of dual citizenship, this research suggests a certain paradox: while multiple belonging
The fate of individual myoblasts after transplantation into muscles of DMD patients

Muscle biopsies from six patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) participating in a myoblast transplantation clinical trial were reexamined using a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based method. Donor nuclei were detected in all biopsies analyzed, including nine where no donor myoblasts were previously thought to be present. In three patients, more than 10% of the original number of donor cells were calculated as present 6 months after implantation. Half of the detected donor nuclei were fused into host myofibers, and of these, nearly 50% produced dystrophin. These findings demonstrate that although donor myoblasts have persisted after injection, their microenvironment influences whether they fuse and express dystrophin. Our methodology could be used for developing new approaches to improve myoblast transfer efficacy and for the analysis of future gene-and/or cell-based therapies of numerous genetic disorders.
A synopsis of the tribe lepechinieae (labiatae)

The New World genera Lepechinia and Chaunostoma comprise a closely knit generic group clearly set off from all others of the family. Chaunostoma is monotypic and is found only in mesic montane forests of Chiapas and Guatemala. Lepechinia ranges in the New World f rom about 40 ° S. lati tude to 40 ° N. I t is also fou~ad on R6union Island and in Hawaii. Its continental distribution is predominantly cordilleran. 1
Predictors of Sexual Behavior Among Early and Middle Adolescents Affected by Maternal HIV

ABSTRACT The impact of maternal HIV and family variables on sexual behaviors of early and middle adolescents was investigated. Data were collected from 118 pairs of HIV-positive mothers and their uninfected early/middle adolescents across four time points. Descriptive analyses show the prevalence of sexual behaviors in this sample was significantly lower than rates in a comparable sample of adolescents who participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Multivariate longitudinal analysis using generalized estimating equation logistic regression showed adolescent sexual behavior was more likely to occur with adolescent alcohol use, lack of parental monitoring, and poorer physical functioning of HIV-positive mothers.
Computational studies of inertia-gravity waves radiated from upper tropospheric jets

The generation and physical characteristics of inertia-gravity waves radiated from an unstable forced jet at the tropopause are investigated through high-resolution numerical simulations of the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes anelastic equations. Such waves are induced by Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities on the flanks of the inhomogeneously stratified jet. From the evolution of the averaged momentum flux above the jet, it is found that gravity waves are continuously radiated after the shear-stratified flow reaches a quasi-equilibrium state. The time–vertical coordinate cross-sections of potential temperature show phase patterns indicating upward energy propagation. The sign of the momentum flux above and below the jet further confirms this, indicating that the group velocity of the generated waves is pointing away from the jet core region. Space–time spectral analysis at the upper flank level of the jet shows a broad spectral band, with different phase speeds. The spectra obtained in the stratosphere above the jet show a shift toward lower frequencies and larger spatial scales compared to the spectra found in the jet region. The three-dimensional character of the generated waves is confirmed by analysis of the co-spectra of the spanwise and vertical velocities. Imposing the background rotation modifies the polarization relation between the horizontal wind components. This out-of-phase relation is evidenced by the hodograph of the horizontal wind vector, further confirming the upward energy propagation. The background rotation also causes the co-spectra of the waves high above the jet core to be asymmetric in the spanwise modes, with contributions from modes with negative wavenumbers dominating the co-spectra.
The Effects of Sodium Pentobarbital on Oviposition in the Hen

Abstract Although the effects of barbiturates on ovulation have been studied (Fraps and Case, 1953; Fraps and Conner, 1954; Bastian and Zarrow, 1952), the results are not conclusive. The drugs may block ovulation or stimulate it, or they may be completely ineffective. The effects of the barbiturates on oviposition have not heretofore been studied or reported, but those who have used nembutal (sodium pentobarbital) as an anesthetic on laying hens may have observed that the hen sometimes laid an egg prematurely while under the anesthesia. This has been observed frequently enough by one of us (P.D.S.) to suggest the need for detailed studies on the effects of nembutal on oviposition, which is the objective of this experiment. We studied the effects of nembutal injected intravenously at an anesthetizing level (30 mgs./kg.) on oviposition in hens with a hard shell egg in uterus, 1 to 6 hours prior to estimated laying time, …
The diffusion of scientific information in the communication discipline: Conceptualization and propositions

Scholarly work is diffused among members of a discipline through a process which is essentially communicative in nature. As such, that process serves both content and relational functions, and has unintended as well as intended consequences. Beyond the transmission of scientific and scholarly information within a field, communication dynamics shape and control the sorts of information which can be diffused and accepted. This article examines this generic role of communication in the growth and development of scholarly paradigms and literatures, with particular reference to the implications of these issues for the field of communication.
The Impact of Working Alliance, Social Validity, and Teacher Burnout on Implementation Fidelity of the Good Behavior Game

This study examined the association of three teacher-specific factors on their level of treatment implementation of an evidence-based classroom management strategy. The three factors were (a) the teacher–coach alliance, (b) teacher ratings of the intervention’s social validity, and (c) teacher burnout. Results indicated that both teacher–coach alliance and social validity were uniquely associated with treatment implementation. In addition, a model with all predictors revealed that the teacher–coach alliance had the largest relation with treatment implementation. It was also found that the reported level of teacher burnout moderated the relation between teacher–coach alliance and procedural fidelity. Specifically, teacher burnout was found to have a negative relation to treatment implementation at low levels of teacher–coach alliance but no relation to treatment implementation at high levels of teacher–coach alliance. These findings suggest that the teacher–coach relationship may not only play a direct role in enhanced treatment implementation for school-based programs but also may mitigate the effects of teacher burnout.
MacMahon's master theorem, representation theory, and moments of Wishart distributions

Abstract D. Foata and D. Zeilberger (1988, SIAM J. Discrete Math. 4 , 425–433) and D. Vere-Jones (1988, Linear Algebra Appl. 111 , 119–124) independently derived a generalization of MacMahon's master theorem. In this article we apply their result to obtain an explicit formula for the moments of arbitrary polynomials in the entries of X , a real random matrix having a Wishart distribution. In the case of the complex Wishart distributions, the same method is applicable. Furthermore, we apply the representation theory of GL ( d , C ), the complex general linear group, to derive explicit formulas for the expectation of Kronecker products of any complex Wishart random matrix.