cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic status and cigarette expenditure among US households: results from 2010 to 2015 Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Objectives To examine (1) the association between household socioeconomic status (SES) and whether a household spends money on cigarettes and (2) socioeconomic variations in proportion of total household expenditure spent on cigarettes among smoking households. Methods We pooled data from six consecutive years, 2010–2015, of the Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey. The interviews involved a structured questionnaire about household income, demographics and expenditures including expenditure on cigarettes. Households that reported cigarette expenditure in the previous 3 months were distinguished as smoking households. SES indicators were household poverty status, education and occupation of the head of household. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of household smoking status with SES. Fractional logistic regression was used to assess the association of cigarette expenditure as a proportion of total household expenditure with SES. The analysis sample size was 39 218. Results The probability of spending money on cigarettes was higher among lower SES households. Households in poverty compared with those above 300% of poverty threshold had 1.86 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.16), households headed by a person with less than high school education compared with those headed by a person with at least a bachelor’s degree had 3.37 (95% CI 2.92 to 3.89) and households headed by a blue-collar work compared with those headed by a person in a managerial occupation had 1.45 (95% CI 1.26 to 1.66) higher odds of spending money on cigarettes. Similarly, the proportion of total household expenditure spent on cigarettes was higher among lower SES smoking households. Conclusion Lower SES households are more likely to spend money on cigarettes and spend a larger proportion of their total expenditure on cigarettes. We recommend strategies effective in reducing smoking among low SES smokers.
Robotic Dynamics: Modeling and Formulations

Dynamics is the study of motion response to force and torque. At this point, kinematics is a structure of dynamics for every dynamic system. To further interpret the dynamics of a robotic system, we need a deeper insight into the relationship between the dynamics and kinematics before developing dynamic models, formulations, and computational algorithms.
Communicating Sustainable Development Options - Who Evaluates the Trade-Offs?

The search for models of sustainable development has not been easy. Some concepts and definitions have taken their cue from the Brundtland report’s temporal understanding of sustainability as maintaining the welfare of present generations without endangering the welfare of future generations (WCED 1987); others see sustainability as a spatial concept which implies that sustainable communities or regions stay within their ecological carrying capacity (Wallner et al. 1996); yet others view sustainability as a concept of development that promotes a balance between three interrelated systems – the economy, social systems and ecological systems (Robinson and Tinker 1995, O’Hara 1998).
More on Induction and Justification

There is no logical process by which science moves from observations to testable hypotheses. Rather, the progress of science depends upon the creative making of informed guesses and then subjecting them to criticism. We must cultivate the highest critical standards towards our own work so that we can identify and eliminate error as efficiently and rigorously as possible.
Increasing Undergraduate Success: A Randomized Controlled Trial of "U-Pace" Instruction.

U-Pace instruction, comprised of concept mastery and amplified assistance, has shown promise in increasing undergraduate success. To evaluate the efficacy of U-Pace instruction for students at-risk for college non-completion and students not at-risk and to determine whether concept mastery, amplified assistance, or both U-Pace components are responsible for the greater learning associated with U-Pace instruction, an experiment was conducted with four instructional conditions ( U-Pace , Concept Mastery, Amplified Assistance, and Face-to-Face). At a public university, 914 undergraduates (576 at-risk) participated. U-Pace instruction produced greater learning than the comparisons. Additionally, U-Pace instruction produced greater academic success than Face-to-Face instruction. The percentage of final grades of A or B did not differ for Concept Mastery, Amplified Assistance, and U-Pace students. No interaction between instructional condition and risk status was found for final grades or learning. The efficacy of U-Pace instruction for both at-risk students and students not at-risk was supported.
Understanding tailored PHN interventions and outcomes of Latina mothers.

OBJECTIVE To examine associations of data-driven intervention approaches (IAs) with the outcomes of adolescent or adult Latina mothers with or without the Mental health problem. DESIGN AND SAMPLE Retrospective observational study using public health nurse (PHN)-generated data for 676 Latina mothers aged 14-52. MEASURES Mothers' age, having the Mental health problem, number of problems and interventions, and Knowledge, Behavior, and Status scores using the Omaha System. Mother-specific percentages of interventions to the total number received were calculated. Visualizations and statistical tests were used to analyze the association of IAs relating mothers' characteristics, problems, interventions, and outcomes. RESULTS Four IAs were discovered. Sample characteristics differed significantly among IAs by age and having the Mental health problems. There was a small effect of age on outcomes (<0.10). PHNs differentially addressed problems in IA1-IA4 compared with IA2-IA3 (p < 0.001). Mothers who received IA3 had the most improvement and highest scores in Knowledge and Behavior (all p < 0.001). Mothers who received IA2 had the most improvement and highest scores in Status (both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The IAs were associated with outcomes differentially among Latina mothers, depending on multiple complex factors. These methods may be useful in understanding intervention tailoring and should be replicated with other populations and datasets.
Applications of Collectionwise Hausdorff

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the proof and application of theorem that states (V = L) normal spaces of character ≤C are collection-wise Hausdorff (CWH). The key tool of proof is Bing's theorem that Moore spaces are metrizable if collection-wise normal (CWN). An examination of Bing's proof shows that one needs only separate discrete collections of closed sets that refine a given basis. Using a basis of open sets with compact closure, this means a discrete collection of closed, hence compact, sets each of which is contained in the interior of a compact Moore, hence metric, space. Then shrinking each compact set to a point gives a discrete collection of points in a first countable space. By collection-wise Hausdorff theorem, this collection can be separated and lifting up to the original space, Bing's proof shows that the space is metrizable.
Randomized clinical trial of liposomal bupivacaine transverse abdominis plane block versus intrathecal analgesia in colorectal surgery.

Background Transverse abdominis plane (TAP) block is considered an effective alternative to neuraxial analgesia for abdominal surgery. However, limited evidence supports its use over traditional analgesic modalities in colorectal surgery. This study compared the analgesic efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine TAP block with intrathecal (IT) opioid administration in a multicentre RCT. Methods Patients undergoing elective small bowel or colorectal resection were randomized to receive TAP block or a single injection of IT analgesia with hydromorphone. Patients were assessed at 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h after surgery. Primary outcomes were mean pain scores and morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) administered within 48 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included duration of hospital stay, incidence of postoperative ileus and use of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia. Results In total, 209 patients were recruited and 200 completed the trial (TAP 102, IT 98). The TAP group had a 1·6-point greater mean pain score than the IT group at 4 h after surgery, and this difference lasted for 16 h after operation. The TAP group received more MMEs within the first 24 h after surgery than the IT group (median difference in MMEs 10·0, 95 per cent c.i. 3·0 to 20·5). There were no differences in MME use at 24 and 48 h, or with respect to secondary outcomes. Conclusion IT opioid administration provided better immediate postoperative pain control than TAP block. Both modalities resulted in low pain scores in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery and should be considered in multimodal postoperative analgesic plans. Registration number: NCT02356198 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
A qualitative study of healthcare-related experiences of non-smoking women with lung cancer.

Lung cancer in non-smoking women is a distinct entity, but few studies have examined these patients’ healthcare-related experiences. Women with lung cancer and with no smoking history underwent a face-to-face semi-structured, audio-recorded interview that was analyzed with a qualitative inductive approach. Twenty-three patients were interviewed, and three themes emerged. The first theme centered on a delay in cancer diagnosis. One patient described, “The whole initial diagnostic process just fills me with rage… I didn’t actually get my Tarceva® until the last week in April.” Second, the diagnosis of lung cancer seemed especially challenging in view of patients’ non-smoking history and otherwise good health; these factors seem to have contributed to the diagnostic delay. One patient explained, “Well, I was just so adamant that I didn’t like smoking… maybe if I had been a smoker, they [the healthcare providers] would’ve been more resourceful.” Finally, the stigma of a smoking-induced malignancy was clearly articulated, “Yeah. Because it’s a stigma, and I had read that, too -- people go, ‘Well, it’s your own damn fault because you were a smoker.’” Non-smoking women with lung cancer appear to endure a long trajectory from symptoms to cancer diagnosis to the initiation of cancer therapy. An awareness and acknowledgement of this long trajectory might help healthcare providers render more compassionate cancer care to these patients.
The role of prototypes in communication between stakeholders

Prototypes are complex and dynamic artifacts that shape social situations during product development. A ten-month applied ethnographic study of a footwear company recounts prototypes' evolving role in communication between three stakeholder groups. In this case study, we use Mol's “bodies multiple” theory to describe prototypes enactment as communication tools across contexts. This study finds that prototypes become encoded with information that is translated, decoded, and re-encoded by stakeholder groups. Prototypes remain the same across contexts, yet the spokesperson guiding the prototype may change. Raising awareness of prototypes role in communication, such as their ability to build confidence through socialization, can allow design teams to better plan for how information is encoded into the prototyped artifact and the messaging surrounding it.
Effects of aerobic fitness on cognitive motor interference during self-paced treadmill walking in older adults

Older adults experience greater cognitive motor interference (CMI) due to declines in cognitive and physical function. Although aerobic fitness has beneficial effects on cognition, its association with CMI is not clear. This study aims to investigate the effects of aerobic fitness on CMI during self-paced treadmill walking in older adults. Thirty participants (67.6 ± 10.34 years, 21 females) were included in a 2-day cross-sectional design study. Aerobic fitness was assessed with the Rockport 1-mile test. The dual-task paradigm consisted of walking only, and dual-task standing and dual-task walking (i.e., standing/walking while performing the Modified Stroop color word test) on a treadmill. To assess CMI, gait speed and accuracy rate were measured to later calculate the dual-task cost for each parameter. Individuals with low aerobic fitness exhibited significantly greater gait speed dual-task cost than individuals with high aerobic fitness (p < 0.05). There were no significant findings for accuracy rate dual-task cost. These study findings are the first to demonstrate increases in CMI in relation to low aerobic fitness. Results can be attributed to the relationship between aerobic fitness and cognition as well as theories related to attentional capacity. Older adults with low aerobic fitness possess greater CMI when compared to older adults with high aerobic fitness. This provides a foundation of knowledge on how aerobic fitness in older adults may affect CMI which can lead researchers to examine the causal relationships between an aerobic exercise intervention program and CMI in older adults.
The Determinants of Anti-Immigrant Attitudes in Europe: The Impact of Existing Immigrant Populations and National Political Parties

Attitudes towards immigrants are determined by both interests (immigrants are taking my job) and values (immigrants are taking my country). While these individual attributes (e.g., education, occupation, and national attachment) are a useful first step in predicting citizens’ anti-immigrant attitudes, it is also important to control for the national context. Domestic factors will alter how individual characteristics are translated into attitudes, and in the current analysis, we focus on two groups of contextual factors. The first is the immigrant population while the second focuses on the policy position of the political parties within a country. Using data from the Eurobarometer (fall 2003) to measure individual attributes and attitudes, Eurostat for immigrant populations and Benoit and Laver’s (2006) data set on party positions, we find, holding all individual-level variables constant, citizens residing in countries with larger immigrant populations and a national political discourse that is more negative with respect to immigration will express stronger anti-immigrant attitudes.
Relationship between sexual behavior classifications of rams and lambs sired in a competitive breeding environment

The objectives for this study were to 1) determine the relationship between sexual performance class and lambs sired in a competitive mating environment, and 2) determine whether the male-oriented ram test is valid. Fifteen 2- to 3-yr-old whitefaced rams classified as female-oriented, with high or low sexual performance, or classified as male-oriented were used in a multiple-sire breeding arrangement. Five groups of approximately 200 ewes each were exposed for 21 d to 3 rams per group consisting of 1 ram from each class. Rams were blocked for sexual class, and those with close genetic relationship were assigned to different pens. Genomic DNA was prepared from blood collected from 15 rams, 934 ewes, and 1,757 lambs. Up to 4 microsatellite markers were used to determine a lamb's sire. Of 884 ewes with identifiable lambs (known sires), 178 ewes had single lambs, 408 had multiples sired by 1 ram, and 298 had multiples sired by more than 1 ram. The sexual partner preference test used to identify male-oriented rams did not absolutely reflect their sexual performance during competitive breeding. In contrast to only mounting and servicing males in preference tests before breeding, male-oriented rams sired 480 lambs from 330 ewes. Serving capacity tests predicted sexual performance of high and low sexual performance rams. High performance rams impregnated more ewes (499 vs. 258; P < 0.05) and sired more lambs (756 vs. 357; P < 0.05) than did low performance rams, respectively. Low performance and male-oriented rams did not differ for ewes impregnated or lambs sired. We conclude that 1) sexual partner preference tests used to classify male-oriented rams were not absolute in reflecting their breeding performance in a competitive breeding environment; 2) serving capacity tests predicted that high performance rams would breed more ewes than low performance rams and sire more lambs than either low performance or male-oriented rams; and 3) under the conditions of this study, low performance and male-oriented rams did not have an adverse impact on the overall breeding outcome. Combined, low performance and male-oriented rams sired 81 more lambs than did high performance rams, but this required twice as many rams to obtain approximately equal breeding results. Therefore, we suggest that serving capacity tests should be used to select high performance rams, reduce number of rams with marginal sexual performance, and make decisions on ram numbers needed.
Identity development as a mediating factor between urban poverty and behavioral outcomes for junior high school students.

This study examines the developmental issue of identity development among 102 eighth graders living in a context of economic hardship. Results show that links between economic deprivation and behavioral outcomes were mediated by identity development for two of three outcomes. Support also was found for the hypothesis that content-specific identity development is more strongly related to behavioral outcomes than global assessments of identity development. Much of the research on youth living in urban poverty has focused on problem behaviors, such as drug use or dropping out of school. Less is known about how normal developmental transitions are resolved. Results are discussed relative to the protective nature of identity development and to theoretical and methodological issues regarding measuring identity development within specific populations.
Cascade Reactions in Chain-Growth Polymerization

While the design and implementation of cascade reactions in organic chemistry and enzymatic biosynthesis flourished in the past decades, cascade reactions in polymerization remain an emerging conce...
Electrowetting-Based Tunable Liquid Droplet Microresonator

A tunable liquid whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator based on the electrowetting principle is presented. The liquid resonator consists of a glycerol droplet submerged within an immiscible liquid (dodecane/hexane) bath. The diameter of the droplet is electrically tuned using the electrowetting effect, resulting in a redshift in optical resonance frequency. By applying 35 V, a maximum spectral tuning of 1.44 nm ± 5 pm is achieved. The tuning range achieved is twice the free spectral range (FSR) of the resonator, 0.679 nm. The Q-factor of the resonator with a glycerol droplet in hexane liquid system is measured to be 3.5 × 106. This work represents a new on-chip design, fabricated using standard microfabrication techniques, for future physical and biochemical sensing applications.
Susceptibility of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), and Their Commercially Cultured Hybrid to Metazoan Parasite Infection in Earthen Pond Aquaculture

We herein document the metazoan parasite component communities of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), and their commercially cultured hybrid (female I. punctatus × male I. furcatus) communally stocked as parasite-free fingerlings into each of 3 experimental earthen ponds (each pond harbored channel catfish, blue catfish, and hybrid catfish). The fundamental objective of this work was to test the hypothesis that hybrid catfish exhibit less susceptibility to infection by metazoan parasites than do their parental species. Fingerlings of each catfish species from each pond were parasitologically examined monthly for 1 yr. A total of 112 channel catfish, 74 blue catfish, and 209 hybrid catfish were necropsied; collectively resulting in the detection of 14 metazoan parasite species. Channel catfish had the most diverse component community (12 species: 3 myxozoans, 2 monogenoids, 3 cestodes, 1 nematode, 1 unionid, and 2 copepods) followed by hybrid catfish (11 species: 3 myxozoans, 2 monogenoids, 2 cestodes, 1 nematode, 1 unionid, and 2 copepods) and blue catfish (6 species: 1 myxozoan, 2 monogenoids, 2 cestodes, and 1 copepod). These results do not support the assertion that hybrid catfish are demonstrably more resistant to parasitic infection than either parental species. New host–parasite records herein comprise Corallotaenia intermedia (Fritts, 1959) Freze, 1965, and Corallotaenia parafimbriata (Befus and Freeman, 1973) Scholz, de Chambrier, Mariaux, and Kucha, 2011 for channel catfish; Henneguya sp., C. parafimbriata, and Neoergasilus japonicus (Harada, 1930) Yin, 1956 for blue catfish; and Henneguya adiposaMinchew, 1977, Henneguya bulbosusRosser, Griffin, Quiniou, Khoo, and Pote, 2014, Ligictaluridus mirabilis (Mueller, 1937) Beverley-Burton, 1985, Ligictaluridus pricei (Mueller, 1936) Beverley-Burton, 1984, Essexiella fimbriata (Essex, 1928) Scholz, de Chambrier, Mariaux, and Kucha, 2011, C. parafimbriata, Spiroxys sp., Pyganodon sp., N. japonicus, and Achtheres sp. for hybrid catfish. To our knowledge, this is the most extensive parasitological study of this particular hybrid catfish, or any hybrid catfish, published to date.
Employment Status for “Essential Workers”: The Case for Gig Worker Parity

This Article explores what I call the “essential worker paradox”: During the pandemic, gig workers have been recognized as providing critical and important services. At the same time, the law has yet to recognize gig workers fully and to commit to providing them with the same basic protections as employees. The Article argues that the stark difference in treatment between gig workers and regular employees has long created unfairness. While views of gig work as a side hustle or work driven by customer convenience may have prevailed in the past, now the meal delivery driver and the on-demand grocery shopper are recognized as providing important services. And a shift in the way gig work is now viewed as essential has come with newly awarded benefits, like pandemic unemployment assistance and paid sick leave, which were not available to gig workers in the past. As such, the events of the pandemic have moved—at least some—gig workers closer to parity with traditional employees. This Article argues that because of their heroic efforts during the pandemic, they have earned employee status.
Refuse thy name? Critical reflections on the convention of masking place in rural educational research

Consistent with their treatment of individual participants, educational researchers regularly use pseudonyms to reference their study sites. The rationales, strategies, and implications of masking ...
Analysis of the Cellular and Matrix Composition of Subacromial Bursal Tissue

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to build upon previous literature to identify a complete analysis of cellular contents of subacromial bursal tissue as well as the matrix surrounding the rotator cuff. Methods Samples of subacromial bursal tissue and surrounding matrix milieu from above the rotator cuff tendon and above the rotator cuff muscle bellies were obtained from ten patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Samples were analyzed using FACS and histologic analysis with staining protocols (Oil Red O, Alcian Blue, and Picro-Sirius Red), for identification of matrix components, including fat, proteoglycans, and collagen. Results Progenitor cells and fibroblast-type cells were present in significant amounts in subacromial bursal tissue in both tissues obtained from over the tendinous and muscle belly portions. Markers for neural tissue, myeloid cells, and megakaryocytes were also present to a lesser extent. There were prominent amounts of fat and proteoglycans present in the matrix, based on ImageJ analysis of stained histologic slides. Conclusion The subacromial bursal tissue and surrounding matrix of patients undergoing rotator cuff repair contains progenitor cells in significant concentrations both over the tendon and muscle belly of the rotator cuff.
Pressure Drop Testing of Corrugated Stainless Steel Pliable Gas Tubing (PLT)

Pressure loss tests were conducted on straight corrugated stainless steel pliable gas tubing (PLT) per I.S. EN 15266:2007 [1]. A power law least-squares curve fit was used to relate pressure loss per unit length as a function of volume flow rate. For every case considered the calculated coefficient of determination values exceeded 0.90, indicating suitable correlation. Based on the curve fit expressions gas discharge graphs for the volume flow that would yield a pressure loss of 1 mbar were generated as a function of PLT length and diameter. Darcy friction factors were calculated from test data for each case and plotted on the Moody diagram as a function of Reynolds number based on the minimum PLT cross section. For Reynolds numbers less than 2300 the pressure loss data for PLT yielded an inverse relationship between the Darcy friction factor and the Reynolds number. In those instances the proportionality coefficient equaled 49, which differs from the value of 64 that can be derived analytically for steady laminar flow in a uniform cross section horizontal pipe.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Diaminomaleonitrile (Hydrogen Cyanide Tetramer)

Diaminomaleonitrile (Hydrogen Cyanide Tetramer) product: Hydrogen cyanide tetramer Keywords: condensation, miscellaneous; hydrogen cyanide
The BioCD: A high-sensitivity spinning-disk interferometer for antigen detection

The BioCD spinning-disk format enables the high-frequency narrow-bandwidth detection of antigen in a high-speed optical immunoassay. We experimentally demonstrate a detection limit approaching 100 attomoles per track and sensitivity to 100 ng/ml.
Threshold dynamics in hyperbolic partial differential equations

We are interested in the persistence of the C1 solution regularity for time dependent partial differential equations(PDE). As is known that the typical well-posedness result asserts that either a solution of a time-dependent PDE exists for all time or else there is a finite time such that some norm of the solution becomes unbounded as the life span is approached. The natural question is whether there is a critical threshold for the initial data such that the persistence of the C1 solution regularity depends only on crossing such a critical threshold. In this thesis we attempt to study such a critical phenomena in Restricted Euler-Poisson(REP) equations and a class of non-local conservation laws. In this thesis, we have obtained the following results. 1. For three-dimensional REP equations, we identify both upper thresholds for the finitetime blow up of solutions and subthresholds for the global existence of solutions, with the thresholds depending on the relative size of the eigenvalues of the initial velocity gradient matrix and the initial density. For the attractive forcing case, these one-sided threshold conditions of the initial configurations are optimal, and the corresponding results also hold for arbitrary n dimensions (n ≥ 3). 2. We propose weakly restricted Euler-Poisson(WREP) equations as an effort to gain a better understanding on Euler-Poisson equations in multi-dimension. The WREP can be viewed as a slight generalization of the REP equations. We then provide upper-thresholds for finite time blow up of solutions for WREP equations with attractive/repulsive forcing. It is shown that the thresholds depend on the relative size of the initial density and each elements of the initial velocity gradient matrix. 3. We investigate a class of nonlocal conservation laws with the nonlinear advection coupling both local and nonlocal mechanism, which arises in several applications such as the collective motion of cells and traffic flows. It is proved that the C1 solution regularity of this class of
Marxist Modern: An Ethnographic History of the Ethiopian Revolution.

Marxist Modern: An Ethnographic History of the Ethiopian Revolution. Donald L. Donham. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999. 236 pp.
The Association of Myosin IB with Actin Waves in Dictyostelium Requires Both the Plasma Membrane-Binding Site and Actin-Binding Region in the Myosin Tail

F-actin structures and their distribution are important determinants of the dynamic shapes and functions of eukaryotic cells. Actin waves are F-actin formations that move along the ventral cell membrane driven by actin polymerization. Dictyostelium myosin IB is associated with actin waves but its role in the wave is unknown. Myosin IB is a monomeric, non-filamentous myosin with a globular head that binds to F-actin and has motor activity, and a non-helical tail comprising a basic region, a glycine-proline-glutamine-rich region and an SH3-domain. The basic region binds to acidic phospholipids in the plasma membrane through a short basic-hydrophobic site and the Gly-Pro-Gln region binds F-actin. In the current work we found that both the basic-hydrophobic site in the basic region and the Gly-Pro-Gln region of the tail are required for the association of myosin IB with actin waves. This is the first evidence that the Gly-Pro-Gln region is required for localization of myosin IB to a specific actin structure in situ. The head is not required for myosin IB association with actin waves but binding of the head to F-actin strengthens the association of myosin IB with waves and stabilizes waves. Neither the SH3-domain nor motor activity is required for association of myosin IB with actin waves. We conclude that myosin IB contributes to anchoring actin waves to the plasma membranes by binding of the basic-hydrophobic site to acidic phospholipids in the plasma membrane and binding of the Gly-Pro-Gln region to F-actin in the wave.
Expression of an active, monomeric catalytic domain of the cGMP-binding cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE5).

Abstract Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) comprise a superfamily of phosphohydrolases that degrade 3′,5′-cyclic nucleotides. All known mammalian PDEs are dimeric, but the functional significance of dimerization is unknown. A deletion mutant of cGMP-binding cGMP-specific PDE (PDE5), encoding the 357 carboxyl-terminal amino acids including the catalytic domain, has been generated, expressed, and purified. The K m of the catalytic fragment for cGMP (5.5 ± 0.51 μm) compares well with those of the native bovine lung PDE5 (5.6 μm) and full-length wild type recombinant PDE5 (2 ± 0.4 μm). The catalytic fragment and full-length PDE5 have similar IC50 values for the inhibitors 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (20 μm) and sildenafil (ViagraTM)(4 nm). Based on measured values for Stokes radius (29 A) and sedimentation coefficient (2.9 S), the PDE5 catalytic fragment has a calculated molecular mass of 35 kDa, which agrees well with that predicted by amino acid content (43.3 kDa) and with that estimated using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (39 kDa). The combined data indicate that the recombinant PDE5 catalytic fragment is monomeric, and retains the essential catalytic features of the dimeric, full-length enzyme. Therefore, the catalytic activity of PDE5 holoenzyme requires neither interaction between the catalytic and regulatory domains nor interactions between subunits of the dimer.
The effect of olfactory and auditory stimuli on drinking suppressed with a conditioned taste aversion

Two studies were conducted to assess the effect of auditory and olfactory stimuli on drinking that had been suppressed with a conditioned taste aversion procedure. Each study used a different conditioned stimulus. The first used an 8% saccharin solution which was readily consumed by rats, while the second used a 1% anise solution that was not as readily consumed by rats. The use of a relatively palatable conditioned stimulus and an unpalatable conditioned stimulus allows for an examination of any effect amount of consumption prior to conditioning might have. The results indicated that the stimuli increased drinking suppressed with a conditioned taste aversion in both studies and drinking by control rats in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1 the stimuli either had no effect or suppressed drinking in the control rats. These results indicate that low levels of drinking can under some circumstances, be increased via the presentation of olfactory or auditory stimuli. They further suggest that deflation of drinking from a high to a low rate is not necessary to observe this effect.
On the distribution of chemical properties and aggregation of solubility fractions in asphaltenes

Asphaltenes from B6, Canadon Seco (CS), and Hondo (HO) crude oils were separated on a preparatory scale into 20−30 so-called “fine fractions” by sequential precipitation from mixtures of n-heptane and toluene. Chemical analyses were performed to measure the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and trace metals contents of the fractions. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was performed on fractions dissolved or dispersed in mixtures of toluene-d (or methylnaphthalene-d) and methanol-d to determine the average aggregate size. Statistical analyses were performed to calculate the weighted moments of each elemental parameter assuming that the data were “normally” distributed. High values of the standard deviation and skewness because of the early precipitation of metal oxides and inorganic salts suggested that a Gaussian distribution was inappropriate to describe the behavior of most metals. H/C, N/C, and S/C ratios in B6 and HO asphaltenes appeared to obey a Gaussian distribution, with mean values a...
Turnover Rates in Federal White-Collar Employment: Are Women more Likely to Quit than Men?

Between 1976 and 1986, women's gross turnover rates were about one-third higher than men's in the federal civil service. Such differences frequently are cited as a justification for preferring men ...
Evaluation of the ventilatory effects of the prone maximum restraint (PMR) position on obese human subjects

Abstract The study sought to determine the physiologic effects of the prone maximum restraint (PMR) position in obese subjects after intense exercise. We designed an experimental, randomized, cross-over trial in human subjects conducted at a university exercise physiology laboratory. Ten otherwise healthy, obese (BMI > 30) subjects performed a period of heavy exertion on a cycling ergometer to 85% of maximum heart rate, and then were placed in one of three positions in random order for 15 min: (1) seated with hands behind the back, (2) prone with arms to the sides, (3) PMR position. While in each position, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation ( V ˙ E ), oxygen saturation (Sa O 2), and end tidal CO2(etCO2) were measured every 5 min. There were no significant differences identified between the three positions in MAP, HR, V ˙ E , or O2sat at any time period. There was a slight increase in heart rate at 15 min in the PMR position over the prone position (95 vs. 87). There was a decrease in end tidal CO2 at 15 min in the PMR over the prone position (32 mmHg vs. 35 mmHg). In addition, there was no evidence of hypoxia or hypoventilation during any of the monitored 15 min position periods. Conclusion In this small study of obese subjects, there were no clinically significant differences in the cardiovascular and respiratory measures comparing seated, prone, and PMR position following exertion.
Durand's rules for approximate integration

Abstract In the late 19th century the engineer William F. Durand (1859–1958) derived a series of approximation rules for use in numerical integration. These algorithms were based primarily on trapezoidal and parabolic interpolating formulas (which correspond to the two simplest formulas of the Newton-Cotes family of quadrature rules). This discussion reviews Durand's derivations, with special attention given to the applied, practical perspective that lay behind development of his new numerical routines. It is proposed that Durand's emphasis was toward practical application of theoretical results. This led him to emphasize simplicity and applicability in his new routines for approximate integration and to consider heightened accuracy as only a secondary concern.
Grain-Boundary Segregation in MgO-Doped Al2O3

Magnesia-doped alumina was fractured in a high-vacuum Auger electron spectrometer, and the resulting intergranular fracture surface was analyzed for surface composition. Calcium was present on the fracture surface in amounts of ∼2 to 5 at.%. There was no indication of Mg on the fracture surface. The bulk Ca concentration was 5 to 15 ppm, whereas MgO was present at the 1000-ppm level. The presence of excess Ca at the grain boundary can be explained by the fact that its ionic radius is relatively large compared to those of Al and Mg. Sputtering profiles normal to the fracture surface indicate that the segregated Ca is concentrated in a region near tha intergranular fracture surface.
Early Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Profile of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

R ecent epidemiologic studies' estimate that at least 2 per 1,000 children have autistic spectrum disorders; that is, autism or its milder variant, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) or atypical autism. Thus, most primary care pediatricians will find some children with autistic spectrum disorders in their practice panels. Given the reported efficacy of early interventions for children with autism,2 particularly relative to children with other developmental disabilities,3 early recognition of these children by primary care pediatricians is essential to enhance outcomes for these children and their families. Despite its high prevalence, it is probably safe to say that many pediatricians feel somewhat ill at
The crystal structure of the bifunctional enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase reveals distinct domain homologies.

Abstract Background Glucose homeostasis is maintained by the processes of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. The importance of these pathways is demonstrated by the severe and life threatening effects observed in various forms of diabetes. The bifunctional enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase catalyzes both the synthesis and degradation of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, a potent regulator of glycolysis. Thus this bifunctional enzyme plays an indirect yet key role in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Results We have determined the 2.0 a crystal structure of the rat testis isozyme of this bifunctional enzyme. The enzyme is a homodimer of 55 kDa subunits arranged in a head-to-head fashion, with each monomer consisting of independent kinase and phosphatase domains. The location of ATP γ S and inorganic phosphate in the kinase and phosphatase domains, respectively, allow us to locate and describe the active sites of both domains. Conclusions The kinase domain is clearly related to the superfamily of mononucleotide binding proteins, with a particularly close relationship to the adenylate kinases and the nucleotide-binding portion of the G proteins. This is in disagreement with the broad speculation that this domain would resemble phosphofructokinase. The phosphatase domain is structurally related to a family of proteins which includes the cofactor independent phosphoglycerate mutases and acid phosphatases.
Environment and Genetic Accommodation

Waddington’s experiments on genetic assimilation showed that selection on environmentally induced phenotypic variants can cause inherited evolutionary changes in the phenotype. We have recently extended this work by demonstrating that it is possible to select for a polyphenism (alternative phenotypes in two different environments) in a monophenic species (with the same phenotype in those two environments). We found that a mutation in the juvenile hormone regulatory pathway in Manduca sexta enabled heat stress to reveal a hidden reaction norm of larval coloration. Artificial selection for increased color change in response to heat-shock resulted in the genetic accommodation of a black/green larval color polyphenism, caused by an environment-sensitive threshold switch mediated by the endocrine system.
Prolactin-induced modification of visual pigments in the eastern red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens

Abstract Ovine prolactin has been shown to initiate porphyropsin synthesis in “second metamorphosis” of the eastern red-spotted newt ( Notophthalmus viridescens ). Prolactin activity is demonstrable in both terrestrial juvenile efts and aquatic adults. In adults, thyroxine initiates molting, antagonizes prolactin-induced water-drive behavior, and yet does not appear to affect visual pigment synthesis. Adaptation of adults to aquatic and terrestrial conditions does not alter visual pigment composition; prolactin initiates porphyropsin synthesis in animals maintained in both experimental environments.
Analysis of vapor-deposited silicon carbide films on silicon ribbon surfaces

SiC formation on ribbon surfaces grown by the capillary action shaping technique via vapor phase deposition is reported. This deposition is very active during the seeding phase and during the initial growth period of the ribbon. Such films degrade the minority carrier lifetime in the ribbon. The films are analyzed through transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that SiC dendrites grow on the ribbon surface by expitaxial deposition. The epitaxial relationship between Si and SiC (carbide) is determined. Es wird uber die SiC-Bildung auf Streifenoberflachen berichtet, die mittels Kapillarwirkungs-technik uber Niederschlag aus der Dampfphase gezuchtet wurden. Dieser Niederschlag ist sehr aktiv wahrend der Keimphase und wahrend der anfanglichen Wachstumsperiode der Streifen. Derartige Schichten werden mittels Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie analysiert. Es wird gezeigt, das SiC-Dendriten auf der Streifenoberflache durch epitaktischen Niederschlag wachsen. Die Epitaxiebeziehungen zwischen Si und SiC werden bestimmt.
Blast Limits for Transmission Structures. I: Response Spectra Development

To develop a defense strategy to protect power transmission lines against blast-induced ground motions, an understanding of the dynamic responses of these structures must be first established. This paper presents the results from ground motion monitoring at two blast sites in southern United States. These studies are being conducted as part of a research effort to establish strong ground motion characteristics necessary for developing blast limits for power transmission systems. Ground movements caused by the surface mining blast and quarry blasting were recorded using geophones and wireless triaxial sensing units. The process of establishing the ground motion response spectra via analyzing actual ground motion measurements, including noise filtration and signal processing, is then described. These ground motion response spectra are the necessary inputs for spectrum analysis of structural responses that can be used to establish ground vibration limits.
Dose-rate effects on the radiation-induced oxidation of electric cable used in nuclear power plants

Abstract Dose-rate effects were measured for typical ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) and crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) electric cable used in nuclear power plants. The radiation source was the 60 Co Irradiation Facility at the University of Virginia. Dose rates were varied from 5 Gy/h to 2500 Gy/h. It was found that there is little or no dose-rate effect at low doses for four of the five EPR cable products tested from 2500 Gy/h down to dose rates of 5 Gy/h but perhaps a small dose-rate effect at high doses for dose rates above 340 Gy/h. A small dose-rate exists for the fifth EPR above 340 Gy/h at all doses. A dose-rate effect exists above 40 Gy/h for two of the three XLPE cable products tested, but there is no dose-rate for these XLPE's between 40 Gy/h and 5 Gy/h. These results indicate that the dose-rate effects observed are due to oxygen diffusion effects during heterogeneous aging and suggest that there is no dose-rate effect for either EPR or XLPE during homogeneous aging.
Testing the requirements of stages of physical activity among adults: The comparative effectiveness of stage-matched, mismatched, standard care, and control interventions

We tested the comparative efficacy of 4 interventions to increase the physical activity behavior of college personnel randomly assigned to one condition (N = 196, 74% female, M age = 43.4 years) for 16 weeks. Stage-matched and mismatched interventions were developed based on the stages of change from the Transtheoretical Model and were contrasted with standard care (action-oriented) and control interventions to test the requirements of a true stage behavior. Repeated measures of multi-variate analyses of covariance indicated that the stage-matched and standard care interventions resulted in greater levels of both total and lifestyle physical activity compared with the mismatched and control interventions. The results supported the requirements of a stage behavior as defined by Weinstein, Rothman, and Sutton (1) and the superiority of the stage-matched intervention versus the mismatched intervention. However, the standard care intervention performed as well as the matched intervention, suggesting the need for further investigation. The results are discussed with respect to the high proportion of individuals in the action-oriented stages and previous research findings in the smoking literature.
Film as Art versus Film as Business: Differential Correlates of Screenplay Characteristics:

This investigation determined whether certain screenplay features can differentiate films directed toward artistic expression from those aimed at financial gain. The sample consisted of 1436 English-language, narrative films released between 1968 and 2002. The variables included 4 economic indicators, 5 movie award assessments, 2 composite critical evaluations, and 24 screenplay characteristics. A subset of those characteristics distinguished film as art from film as business. In particular, the two types could be distinguished according to the impact of sequels, adaptations (e.g., from plays), writer-directors (or “Auteurs”), genre (viz., dramas), and MPAA ratings (especially Restricted). These contrasts help explain why budget and box office variables fail to correlate with the most important movie awards and are even negatively correlated with critical acclaim.
Supporting collaborative design with representations for mutual understanding

This paper describes a research effort to investigate cross-cultural collaboration in software development. The work is based on a model of collaborative design that calls for stakeholders (including developers and end-users) to iteratively construct an understanding of design problems and potential solutions through the construction and refinement of design representations. The Evolving Artifact (EVA) software design environment has been implemented to support this process. EVA has been used in a development project in a regional telephone company. A case study of this project will be analyzed to yield guidelines and design principles for constructing representations for mutual understanding.
A comparative disc electrophoretic study of pollen proteins of Betula populifolia

Abstract Pollen proteins of Betula populifolia Marsh. were separated by disc electrophoresis utilizing 7% acid and basic acrylamide gels. Significant variation in amounts of protein available for detection by disc electrophoresis were found. Statistical analysis of our data indicated that: length of storage periods do not affect acid and basic proteins equally; conformational changes in both acid and basic proteins occur with storage; significant migrations of both acid and basic proteins toward the cathode occur after storage.