cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comment on "Turbulent Skin Friction for Tapered Wings"

Table 1 compares the ratio of Cf/Cf(Rr) obtained for Reynolds numbers of 10 and 10 by using Simpson's rule to evaluate the integral with C/(£) given by Eq. (1) with the values obtained by using Eqs. (5) and (9). The small differences have no practical significance. The last column using Eq. (5) with n = l/l shows that this is quite adequate for this Reynolds number range. The use of Eq. (5) allows more accurate evaluations of Cf(Rr) than simple skin friction laws such as Eq. (1) or Eq. (3) to be employed. Collar's expression which takes the laminar contribution into account or simple airfoil methods such as the one given by Thwaites can be applied. Also, it is possible to obtain analytic results for other planforms.
A survey of the prevalence and application of chest physical therapy in U.S. burn centers.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and application of chest physical therapy (CPT) in burn centers. Respiratory therapists primarily administered CPT, and suctioning and coughing were the most frequently used modalities. Further study of the efficacy of treatment techniques is needed to develop congruous standards for CPT after a burn injury.
Biochemical studies on isolated nerve endings and other particulates of bullfrog brain.

Abstract Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) brain was separated into its various subcellular fractions employing the technique of density-gradient centrifugation in Ficoll media. In addition to the mitochondria and an axonal-myelin fraction, a number of nerve ending fractions were obtained, which differed in overall size as well as in the shape, size and number of synaptic vesicles and mitochondria contained within. The fractions were analyzed for their lipid composition and distribution of oxidative and glycolytic enzymes. Studies of 32P incorporation into subcellular components were arried out with the isolated brain which maintained its electrical excitability and its morphological an biochemical viability for several hours at room temperature.
A leader of the world commodity futures markets in the making? The case of China's commodity futures

Abstract We use the daily data of 16 commodity futures contracts traded in China and corresponding foreign markets (the US, the UK, Japan, and Malaysia) to analyze the linkages between markets. Several findings are noteworthy. First, trading returns of foreign markets, such as the US, have significant impact on China's overnight (close-to-open) returns and vice-versa. Second, daytime (open-to-close) returns of many Chinese commodity futures contracts are not led by foreign daytime returns. Finally, the close-to-close returns analysis suggests that there are no significant lead-lag relationships between the Chinese and foreign markets. These results suggest that (1) the Chinese commodity futures markets are information-efficient, and (2) they are likely to be driven by local market dynamics occurring during the daytime trading session.
Effects of triethyl lead administration on the expression of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes and quinone reductase in rat kidney and liver.

Abstract The effects of triethyl lead chloride (TEL) on the expression of two detoxication enzyme families, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QR) were determined in rat liver and kidney. Fischer 344 rats were given one intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of TEL. GST activity, GST isoenzyme levels, mRNA levels of alpha class GST isoenzymes Ya 1 , Ya 2 , and Yc 1 and activity of QR were determined. Treatment of rats with TEL caused a significant increase in GST activity in kidney. In kidney, the levels of all GST subunits were significantly elevated; the largest increase was a 3.2-fold increase in GST Yb 1 . The levels of GST Ya 1 ; Ya 2 , and Yc 1 mRNA also increased after injection of TEL. In liver, TEL injection resulted in decreased GST activity and lower levels of hepatic GSTs Yb 2 , Yb 3 , Ya 1 , and Ya 2 . The largest decrease was a 40% reduction of GST Ya 1 . In contrast, the level of liver GST Yc 1 increased from day 4 through day 14 after injection of 10 mg/kg TEL and Yp was increased 1.4-fold 4 days after injection of 12 mg/kg TEL. The levels of liver mRNAs coding for alpha class GSTs Ya 1 , Ya 2 , and Yc 1 were reduced 12 h after injection of TEL. The mRNA levels of GST Ya 1 and Ya 2 returned to basal level while Yc 1 message increased to a level higher than controls 24 h after TEL injection. The increase in Yc 1 protein between days 4 and 14 is consistent with the increase in the corresponding mRNA. The activity of QR was elevated 1.5-fold in kidney and 2.7-fold in liver 14 days after the injection of TEL. This report demonstrates that administration of organic lead
Some extant anomalies in the kinetics of simple inorganic outer-sphere electrode reactions

Abstract Some experimental characteristics of selected simple inorganic outer-sphere electrode reactions which deviate from the expectations of conventional electron-transfer models are discussed so as to identify some extant issues deserving further theoretical and/or experimental examination. Attention is focused on the one-electron reduction of Co(III) ammine complexes in view of their chemical irreversibility, enabling very wide ranges of rate-potential behavior to be evaluated straightforwardly in different reaction environments. Kinetic behavior in homogeneous-phase and interfacial systems is intercompared directly by converting the former to ‘equivalent-electrochemical’ rate units. Unexpectedly large (up to ca. 106-fold) variations in the work-corrected rate constants for ostensibly outer-sphere Co(III) ammine reductions are observed at a fixed driving force as the reducing environment is altered. The lowest reactivities, observed with inorganic reductants and CO-coated Pt(111), probably reflect in part non-adiabatic pathways. The marked-by (103 to 104-fold) faster rates observed on Au(111) (and other Au and Pt electrodes) relative to mercury | aqueous interfaces, however, reflect chiefly lower solvation Gibbs energy barriers at the former interface. These differences apparently reflect variations in the reaction site, as deduced partly by examining unimolecular outer-sphere rates and transfer coefficients. The latter measurements also indicate the presence of asymmetric barriers, associated with electron transfer-induced changes in inner-shell force constants. The interpretation of unexpectedly large D/H isotope effects in terms of solvent reorganization is also discussed in relation to recent molecular-dynamics predictions.
A stress model for heteroepitaxial magnetic oxide films grown by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract A simple physical model is presented which predicts the sign and magnitude of stress in heteroepitaxial films. The model explains experimental observations of ferromagnetic resonance, domain structure, and crazing in magnetic oxide films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on non-magnetic substrates. It provides a means of predicting and developing compatible film-substrate combinations for epitaxial bubble domain materials utilizing a stress-induced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. A basic result of the model, the conditions under which films can be grown in compression, has been verified experimentally for CVD iron garnets.
Changing middle school students' conceptions of matter and molecules

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to understand the conceptual frameworks that sixth-grade students use to explain the nature of matter and molecules, and (2) to assess the effectiveness of two alternative curriculum units in promoting students' scientific understanding. The study involved 15 sixth-grade science classes taught by 12 teachers in each of two successive years. Data were collected through paper-and-pencil tests and clinical interviews. The results revealed that students' entering conceptions differed from scientific conceptions in various ways. These differences included molecular conceptions concerning the nature, arrangement, and motion of molecules as well as macroscopic conceptions concerning the nature of matter and its physical changes. The results also showed that the students taught by the revised unit in Year 2 performed significantly better than the students taught by the original commercial curriculum unit in Year 1 for 9 of the 10 conceptual categories. Implications for science teaching and curriculum development are discussed.
Studies on the Origin of the Lipid Components of Xanthomata

As the result of in vitro studies of lipid synthesis in slices of rabbit and human xanthomata and of studies on the origin of xanthoma cholesterol in the intact rabbit it has been concluded that although slight amounts of cholesterol may be synthesized in situ, the xanthoma cholesterol is derived predominantly from the blood stream. It has also been demonstrated that the xanthomata possesses the ability to synthesize actively two other lipid components in these lesions--phospholipids and fatty acids.
CHRONIC TOXICITY STUDIES ON IRRADIATED BEEF STEW AND EVAPORATED MILK.

Abstract Beef stew (C-ration) and evaporated milk, irradiated at levels of 2.79 and 5.58 megarads were fed to rats and to dogs as 35% of their diets for a period of two years. Fat-soluble vitamins were administered separately to both species. Nonirradiated beef stew and evaporated milk of similar origin were used as the controls. Simultaneously, a breeding study was carried out in which the rats fed the irradiated foods were bred through four generations. A breeding experiment was also conducted on both rats and dogs. The urine of dogs was examined for protein casts and reducing substances. After two years of feeding, all animals were sacrificed and thorough histopathologic studies were performed on 24 tissues of each animal. No indication of any toxic effect due to the feeding of either irradiated food either in the longevity or the breeding phases of these experiments was obtained.
Visual construction operation simulation: The DISCO approach

Abstract: Despite the great deal of attention given to project-level management tools (e.g., CPM, PERT, etc.) in recent years, the analysis of construction operations (processes) using computer simulation techniques has generated considerable attention commencing with the introduction of the CYCLONE methodology. Recently, the application of visual simulation (VS) techniques to assist in the planning and analysis of construction operations has directed further attention at the need to better understand the interaction of resources at the process level. Visual simulation takes advantage of advanced modern computer graphics techniques and facilitates the development and application of simulation experiments. Benefits of applying VS have been reported in several publications. Nevertheless, the effort required to design and construct an “appropriate” VS display for the system to be analyzed is usually time and data demanding. The magnitude of model definition is often increased due to certain characteristics of construction operations, such as their complexity and the distribution of work over large areas. An alternative approach, DISCO (Dynamic Interface Simulation for Construction Operations), which employs a schematic modeling format demonstrating the system dynamics on the computer screen during simulation run, is presented in this paper.
Plate tectonic model for the evolution of the eastern Bering Sea Basin

The eastern Bering Sea Basin, composed of the Aleutian and Bowers Basins, is flanked to the north by Mesozoic foldbelts that probably represent zones of plate subduction in Mesozoic time. Present plate subduction occurs 400 to 1,000 km farther south, at the Aleutian Trench. North-south magnetic lineations that formed at an oceanic spreading ridge, probably in Mesozoic time (117 to 132 m.y. ago), have been identified in the Aleutian Basin. The orientation and age of those anomalies can be explained by reconstructing Kula-Farallon Pacific plate motions during late Mesozoic–early Tertiary time. In Mesozoic time, subduction of the Kula plate occurred north of the Aleutian Trench near the present location of the Bering Sea continental margin. At about 70 m.y. B.P. (Late Cretaceous), the zone of subduction shifted south to the present location of the Aleutian Trench, thereby trapping a fragment of oceanic plate imprinted with north-south magnetic lineations within the eastern Bering Sea Basin. A stable basin framework has prevailed behind the Aleutian arc since early Tertiary time.
Recall of full and truncated passive sentences in connected discourse

Ss of ages 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 20 retold stories presented in full passive sentences (with mention of actor) and truncated passives (without mention of actor). While there was a general tendency to retell stories in the active voice, this tendency was much more evident in the case of full than truncated passives. It is proposed that the significance attributed to active affirmative declarative sentences by earlier psycholinguistic research be modified, allowing for influence of semantic content upon selection of a particular grammatical form in encoding a sentence. The tendency to retell truncated passives without alteration of syntactic form was most strongly marked in older Ss. Irregular verb forms pose difficulties to young children in attempting to produce passive sentences. Other striking differences between age groups were not noted.
A Theory of Petty Trading: The Jamaican Higgler

The theory of home production/time allocation is used to model the behavior of the petty traders who predominate in marketing the surplus foodstuff of peasant farmers in Jamaica and in other less developed countries. Analysis of the behavior of petty traders in terms of rational responses to price and income changes shows that they may not always obey the laws of supply and demand due to the absence of an exogenous wage. The model should prove useful in empirical studies of economic behavior in the informal sector of many economies. Copyright 1996 by Royal Economic Society.
Assessing Clicker Examples Versus Board Examples in Calculus

Abstract The combination of classroom voting system (clicker) questions and peer instruction has been shown to increase student learning. While implementations in large lectures have been around for a while, mathematics has been increasingly using clickers in classes of a smaller size. In Fall 2008, I conducted an experiment to measure the effect of clickers on exam performance. The experiment was conducted with two sections of Calculus 1, using the same examples either on the board or with clickers. By comparing only the lower-performing students in the sections and alternating use of the clicker between sections, I was able to obtain modestly significant results showing improved exam performance for low-performing students, despite a small sample size.
Mass spectrometry and its role in advancing cluster science

Abstract Clusters composed of a few to a few hundred atoms are the ultimate nanoparticles where every atom and every electron count. Over the past 50 years clusters have evolved as a new field of matter intermediate between atoms and bulk. In this retrospective we trace the role mass spectrometry has played in this emerging field with emphasis on how extremely intense mass peaks indicating a high abundance of clusters led to the discovery of magic numbers in alkali metal clusters, the fullerenes in carbon clusters, and “Met-Cars” in transition-metal carbide clusters. Magic numbers in alkali metal clusters in turn helped bridge the gap between two disparate fields, atomic physics and nuclear physics. Studies of mass spectra combined with theory and a variety of other experimental techniques have since led to a fundamental understanding of the structure–property relationships of clusters, thus broadening the scope of cluster science. Clusters not only serve as a bridge between atoms and bulk and between atomic and nuclear physics, but also as a bridge across many disciplines. Although this retrospective is focused on atomic clusters, briefly discussed is the solvation phenomenon, a subject to which mass spectrometry has and continues to make a large contribution.
Evaluation of Proteolytically Released Carbohydrate-Containing Peptides of Bovine Prothrombin Fragment 1 Using Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract Described here is a method used to determine the sialic acid content of the structurally distinct carbohydrates attached at N77 and N101 of bovine prothrombin fragment 1. The protein is proteolytically cleaved with a α-chymotrypsin to release two glycopeptides, each containing one of the two glycosylation sites. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis are used to determine the structural difference between the carbohydrates of each of these glycopeptides. N77 bears a carbohydrate containing as many as 4 sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) residues, whereas the carbohydrate attached at N101 may carry as many as 5 sialic acid residues. Partially desialated forms of both of the native carbohydrate chains are observed. For both the N77 and N101-linked carbohydrates, the 1. 2, and 3-sialic acid-containing forms predominate. UV absorbance detection of the peptide-free, underivatized carbohydrate moieties is also demonstrated.
Role of acidic phospholipids in intermembrane sterol transfer.

Abstract A liposomal membrane model system was used to examine the effect of acidic phospholipids on spontaneous intermembrane cholesterol transfer. The spontaneous exchange of sterol between small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) containing 35 mol% sterol was monitored with a recently developed assay (Nemecz, G., Fontaine, R.N. and Schroeder, F. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 943, 511–541), not requiring separation of donor and acceptor membrane vesicles. Acidic phospholipids (2.5–30 mol%) increased the initial rate of spontaneous exchange of sterol by 5–89%, depending on the specific phospholipid. The stimulation of spontaneous sterol transfer by acidic phospholipids was suppressed by high ionic strength, CaCl 2 and low pH. The results suggest that negatively charged phospholipids may fluidize sterol-poor domains in SUV membranes and thereby play an important role in the mechanism whereby sterols desorb from membranes into the aqueous medium.
Forging a Link Between Conduct Disorder and Adolescent/Adult Offending Via Externalizing Behavior and Reading Performance

The current study tested whether teacher-rated externalizing behavior and academic (reading) performance mediate the relationship between childhood onset conduct disorder and self-reported adolesce...
Heritability and anthropometric influences on human fertility.

This study researched the impact of anthropometrics and size-of-family of orientation on women's fertility by using path analysis. The data were collected as part of the anthropological study conducted in Ireland by Harvard University personnel before the Second World War. The women included in this analysis were all over age 49 and were either married or widowed at the time of the survey. Our results indicate that the heritability of fertility is moderate in this sample and that there is a tendency for heavy women to have a higher fertility. However, when anthropometrics and size-of-family of orientation were entered as independent variables in a path diagram, an insignificant portion of the variation of fertility was explained. In this Irish population, the main cause of differential fertility was cultural rather than biological. A large portion of women never married and no unmarried woman reported producing a child.
Fast wave current drive at high ion cyclotron harmonics on DIII-D

Current driven by the fast Alfven wave is measured at the fourth and eighth harmonics of the deuterium ion cyclotron frequency in identical plasmas on the DIII-D tokamak. In non-sawtoothing discharges with neutral beam injection heating, the radial profile of the fast wave current drive (FWCD) is determined by the response of the loop voltage profile to co- and counter-antenna phasings. The dimensionless current drive efficiency is a factor of two greater for the eighth harmonic case compared to the fourth harmonic case. Modelling of the fast wave absorption using a ray tracing code shows that the decrease in FWCD efficiency for the latter situation can be explained by high harmonic damping of the fast waves on energetic ions.
Seismic expression of Pleistocene paleoceanographic changes in the California Borderland from digitally acquired 3.5 kHz subbottom profiles and Ocean Drilling Program Leg 167 drilling

[1] We correlate processed 3.5 kHz seismic profiles with physical properties of cores collected during ODP Leg 167 from the Tanner, East Cortes, and San Nicolas Basins through much of the Pleistocene succession. Results indicate that seismic horizons in the unconsolidated Pleistocene sediments (top 50 m) are mainly controlled by density contrasts. Removing of the compaction trend from the density reveals a very interesting relationship between density and composition - the density closely and inversely correlates with organic carbon indicating that large-scale variations in organic carbon are responsible for seismic reflections through their influence on density. This is a significant discovery since there apparently is no other paleoceanographic setting that we know of where such a close linkage between acoustic properties and organic carbon has been established. The variations in organic carbon are mainly marine in origin and derive from variations in primary productivity associated with upwelling and the preservation regime related to oxygenation of water. Pleistocene reflections on 3.5 kHz profiles in the Borderland province thus record regional cyclical fluctuations in the paleoclimatic signals. The close resemblance in the density profiles at the three different basins indicates that the sedimentary regime was similar in those basins through the Pleistocene. These common density patterns produce regional seismic horizons that correlate well among the basins. It is likely these correlated and dated horizons could be extrapolated to other Borderland basins (e.g., San Clemente), where they can potentially be used as time markers for neotectonic studies in the region.
Autoregulatory Responses of Cat Mesenteric Arterioles Measured in Vivo

The purpose of these studies was to measure changes in the diameter of arterioles as large-artery pressure was varied. Changes in diameter were measured with a flying spot microscope in blood vessels of the mesentery of anesthetized cats. Arterial pressure was reduced in a single step and held at a constant level until the change in the diameter was complete. In experiments on 34 arterioles, 10 vessels showed a simple decrease in diameter as pressure was reduced; 24 showed a biphasic response. In the latter group the vessel narrowed for the first 5 to 15 seconds, but after this time an autoregulatory response occurred and the vessel dilated. In 12 of these vessels the diameter became larger in hypotension than it had been at normal arterial pressure. When pressure was suddenly restored, the vessel dilated further but returned to the control size as the autoregulatory response occurred. Analysis of the findings suggests that conditions of stability are satisfied in various portions of the pressure range.
Histoircal changes in the ecology and behaviour of semaphore geckos (Pristurus, Gekkonidae) and their relatives

Semaphore geckos (Pristurus) and thier relatives have a very robust and explicit morphological phylogeny, consisting of a long pectinate tree in which the number of derived morphological states increases steadily through time. This clade consequently provides a firm base for investingating changes in ecology and behaviour. Data on these topics including diet, pattern of tail shedding and clutch size were integrated with the phylogeny and substantial regularity demonstrated in the way they have changed over time. Ancestral forms were apparently climbers on rocky surfaces and active in subdued light. There was subsequent shift into more open, sunny situations with two or three transfers into arboreal habitats which were accompanied by reversion to more shaded conditions. A change to ground-dwelling occurred perhaps twice within Pristurus, including the ancestor of the Spatalura clade, a group which has reverted to typical gecko nocturnality while still retaining diurnal activity. Overall, there has been a progression into hotter, drier and more open habitats. Other shifts within the clade are adoption of passive foraging techniques, development and elaboration of intraspecific tail signalling and change in the kinds of refuges used. Clutch size fell from two eggs to one early in the clade history with subseqauent partial reversion to two. Ants and sometimes termites became an importnt item of diet in some taxa and frequent trombiculid mite infestation appeared in the terminal group within which caudal autotomy became confined to the tail base. Overall, the habitats occupied by morphologically advanced Pristurus, appear more demanding, and perhaps less rewarding, than those in which their more primitive relatives live. This may result from species that did less well in competition, following each of the speciation events on the main stem of the phylogeny, being dispolaced into increasingly severe niches. The substantial morphological changes taking place in the evolution of the clade may be related to the problems of survival in these.
The RNGS Data Set: Women's Policy Agencies, Women's Movements and Policy Debates in Western Post-Industrial Democracies

The goal of this article is to describe the contents of the data set assembled by the Research Network on Gender Politics and the State (RNGS) through its study of the impact of women's movements and women's policy agencies in policy debates in post-industrial democracies in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The article begins by summarizing the RNGS project and the methods for gathering and measuring the information. The body of the article lists all of the concepts and sub-variables in the data set. For each of the 28 concepts, the nominal definition, the questions pertaining to measurement and coding, and the information included in the data set are discussed.
Contested Terrain: Principal and Teacher Leadership at Grove Street Elementary School

This case describes dilemmas faced by a second-year principal whose urban school received a major grant to encourage teacher leadership, expand decision making, and promote school-based autonomy. This case focuses on the principal’s efforts to negotiate his work with multiple stakeholders, including the coach, teachers, and district leadership. The principal struggles to balance his desire to cede authority to teachers and foster teacher leadership with his responsibility to raise student performance.
Origin of the bathochromically shifted optical spectra of meso-tetrathien-2'- and 3'-ylporphyrins as compared to meso-tetraphenylporphyrin.

The UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra of free base and diprotonated meso-tetrathien-2′-ylporphyrins are, when compared to the spectra of meso-tetra-phenyl- or even -thien-3′-ylporphyrins, characterized by surprisingly large red-shifts. A comparison of the optical spectra and the computed rotational barriers for these meso-aryl-substituted porphyrins and a detailed conformational analysis of the single crystal X-ray structure of a diprotonated meso-tetrathien-2′-ylporphyrin suggest that the origin of the altered electronic properties of meso-tetrathien-2′-ylporphyrins are mainly due to the contribution of conformations in which the thienyl groups adopt idealized co-planar arrangements with the porphyrin ring. These conformations allow an efficient extension of the porphyrinic π-system through conjugation. We synthesized a meso-tetrathien-2′-ylporphyrin with methyl groups in the o-position, thus preventing the formation of conformers with co-planar thienyl groups and a corresponding thien-2′-ylporphyrin with methyl substituents in a distal position that possesses the same steric requirements for thienyl group rotation as the parent compound, to conclusively deduce the influence of the conformers on the electronic structure. A MNDO-PSDCI computation of their optical spectra further supports our key hypothesis. DFT computations of the total energies of the hypothetical diprotonated thien-2′-ylporphyrin conformer with perpendicular thienyl groups and the conformer containing near-co-planar thienyl groups quantify the resonance stabilization energy. Our results support and complement recent photophysical and theoretical studies by Gupta and Ravikanth and Friedlein et al. on thien-2′-yl-substituted core-modified porphyrins and [meso-tetra(5′-bromothien-2′-yl)porphyrinato]Zn(II), respectively.
Higher‐order factors of creativity within Guilford's structure‐of‐intellect model: A re‐analysis of a fifty‐three variable data base

Abstract: Both exploratory factor analyses (varimax and promax solutions) and confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analyses were used to re‐examine a correlation matrix of 53 tests from a battery administered to a sample of more than 400 Air Force officers. The data base originated in a report from the University of Southern California Aptitudes Research Project (Guilford, Wilson, & Christensen, 1952), which was intended to identify factors of creative thinking. The major objective of this study was to ascertain whether the covariation among the test variables that were conceptualized as first‐order factors within the structure‐of‐intellect model could be explained parsimoniously in terms of a number of higher‐order creative abilities. Application of a relatively objective oblique exploratory factor analytic technique (promax) afforded a replication of four of Guilford's creativity factors—two divergent production constructs of ideational fluency and word fluency, one construct representing sensitivity ...
Upstream basal promoter element important for exclusive RNA polymerase III transcription of the EBER 2 gene.

Abstract The Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER) genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase III, but their transcription unit appears to contain both class II and class III promoter elements. One of these promoter element, a TATA-like box which we call the EBER TATA box, or ETAB, is located in a position typical for a class II TATA box but contains G/C residues in the normal T/A motif and a conserved thymidine doublet. Experiments using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs and mutations in the TATA box of the adenovirus major late promoter showed that the ETAB promoter element does not substitute for a class II TATA box. However, when the ETAB promoter element sequence was changed to a class II TATA box consensus sequence, the EBER 2 gene was transcribed in vitro by both RNA polymerases II and III. From these results, we conclude that the ETAB promoter element is important for the exclusive transcription of the EBER 2 gene by RNA polymerase III.
Misreporting and Vicarious Political Participation at the Local Level

CONCERN about self-reported measures of political participation is not new to political science. In 1978, Wahlke's presidential address (1979) to the APSA called for a strict scrutiny of perceptual measures of behaviors. In fact, for over three decades, scholars have addressed themselves to the problem of using self-reporting as valid data for measuring participation in American politics. The concern has not lacked foundation: so-called "reporting" errors have ranged from 10 to 25 percent for the participation dimension of voting and voting registration (Clausen, 1968; Katosh and Traugott, 1981). In this study we employ a method of examining the misreporting of year-round forms of political activity at the local level, activity other than registration and voting. Our focus is on three forms of political participation directed toward local officials: signing petitions, participating in public hearings before the city council, and contacting elected officials through the mayor and council answering service. The research site is a southwestern urban community of 300,000 and a metropolitan population of over 500,000.
Monomial graphs and generalized quadrangles

Abstract Let F q be a finite field, where q = p e for some odd prime p and integer e ⩾ 1 . Let f , g ∈ F q [ x , y ] be monomials. The monomial graph G q ( f , g ) is a bipartite graph with vertex partition P ∪ L , P = F q 3 = L , and ( x 1 , x 2 , x 3 ) ∈ P is adjacent to [ y 1 , y 2 , y 3 ] ∈ L if and only if x 2 + y 2 = f ( x 1 , y 1 ) and x 3 + y 3 = g ( x 1 , y 1 ) . Dmytrenko, Lazebnik, and Williford (2007) proved in [5] that if p ⩾ 5 and e = 2 a 3 b for integers a , b ⩾ 0 , then all monomial graphs G q ( f , g ) of girth at least eight are isomorphic to G q ( x y , x y 2 ) , an induced subgraph of the point-line incidence graph of a classical generalized quadrangle of order q . In this paper, we will prove that for any integer e ⩾ 1 , there exists a lower bound p 0 = p 0 ( e ) depending only on the largest prime divisor of e such that the result holds for all p ⩾ p 0 . In particular, we will show that for any integers a , b , c , d , y ⩾ 0 , the result holds for p ⩾ 7 with e = 2 a 3 b 5 c ; p ⩾ 11 with e = 2 a 3 b 5 c 7 d ; and p ⩾ 13 with e = 2 a 3 b 5 c 7 d 11 y .
The Year That Ebola Virus Took Over West Africa: Missed Opportunities for Prevention

I will always remember 2014 as the year that Ebola virus took over west Africa and thus, much of my time and life. The epicenters of the outbreak in Guinea and Sierra Leone are areas that I have worked in since 1996 on projects to build capacity to combat another viral hemorrhagic disease, Lassa fever, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Tulane University, and others. I spent a lot time and made many friends and colleagues in the Forest Region of Guinea and the Kenema District of Sierra Leone, both at the heart of this Ebola outbreak. I have also responded to quite a few Ebola and Marburg virus outbreaks over the years. Therefore, it was natural that, when Ebola hit west Africa, I would get involved. Indeed, since April of 2014, it has pretty much been all Ebola all of the time, with me cycling constantly between my home in Lima, Peru and west Africa, Geneva, and Washington, consulting primarily with the WHO and the US Government.
Development and validation of a simple UHPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of trimethylamine N-oxide, choline, and betaine in human plasma and urine

A simple, sensitive, and precise ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of trimethylamine N-oxide, choline, and betaine in human plasma and urine. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation with methanol containing internal standards. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an Acquity BEH Amide (2.1mm×50mm, 1.7μm) analytical column with gradient elution of solvent A (10mM ammonium formate, pH 3.5) and solvent B (acetonitrile). The flow rate was 0.4mL/min and the total run time was 5min. Detection of analytes was performed using heated electrospray ionization (positive mode) and selected reaction monitoring. Excellent linearity was observed over the standard curve concentration ranges of 0.010-5.00μg/mL (plasma) and 1.00-150μg/mL (urine) for all analytes. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision for all quality controls were within ±10%. Excellent recovery was observed. The method is rapid, accurate and reproducible, and was successfully applied to a pilot study of markers of atherosclerosis in patients with kidney disease who underwent successful kidney transplantation.
Comparison of an automated confrontation testing device versus finger counting in the detection of field loss.

PURPOSE:The aim of this study was to compare an automated confrontation visual field testing (ACV) device with traditional finger-counting confrontation visual field testing (FCV). METHODS:Forty-five eyes of 45 subjects with glaucoma, 5 eyes of 5 subjects with neurologic disease and 15 eyes of 15 normal subjects (age matched to the subjects with glaucoma by frequency) were tested on both ACV and FCV. All subjects with glaucoma and neurologic disease had visual field loss on white-on-white Humphrey perimetry (HVF). The FCV was performed in 8 meridians in a normally lighted room, whereas ACV was performed in a darkened room. The ACV device consisted of a black rectangular box with 4 1.0-mm red light-emitting diodes at each corner and a fixation hole at the center. Four automated randomized presentations were presented, and the subject was asked to identify the number of red lights seen (from 1 to 4). Any point missed on any of the presentations on either test was recorded as a failure. RESULTS:All normal subjects passed both tests. FCV detected field loss in 33.0% of glaucomatous eyes, whereas ACV detected field loss in 58% of glaucomatous eyes (P!0.001). Subjects with glaucoma who passed FCV but failed ACV had an average mean deviation of"7.77 dB on HVF, compared with subjects who failed both FCV and ACV, who had an average mean deviation of"19.74 dB on HVF (P!0.001). All subjects with absolute visual field loss because of advanced glaucoma or neurologic disease failed both tests. No subject who passed ACV failed FCV. CONCLUSIONS:Gross confrontation visual field testing using an automated testing device has a greater sensitivity in the detection of moderate visual field loss than finger counting confrontation visual fields. Optometry 2007;78:390-395
Adaptive foveal sensor for target tracking

A target tracker based on an adaptive foveal sensor and implemented using particle filters is presented. The foveal sensor's field of view includes a high sensitivity "foveal" region surrounded by a lower sensitivity region. The location and acuity of the foveal region are adaptively adjusted, using the estimated target position and spread of particles. A Gaussian resampling method reduces the adverse effects of occasional large observation errors. Monte Carlo simulations show that the foveal sensor with adaptive acuity always outperforms a fixed acuity sensor; also, the particle outperforms previous Kalman filter-based implementations of the non-adaptive foveal sensor.
Investigations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections in the United States: Trends in Molecular Typing and Macrolide Resistance from 2006 to 2013

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of respiratory infections, including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Currently, pathogen-specific testing is not routinely performed in the primary care setting, and the United States lacks a systematic surveillance program for M. pneumoniae. Documentation of individual cases and clusters typically occurs only when severe illness and/or failure to improve with empirical antibiotic therapy is observed. Outbreaks, some lasting for extended periods and involving a large number of cases, occur regularly. However, many more likely go unrecognized due to the lack of diagnostic testing and structured reporting. We reviewed data from 17 investigations of cases, small clusters, and outbreaks of M. pneumoniae infections that were supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2006 and 2013. We examined 199 M. pneumoniae-positive specimens collected during this time period in order to identify trends in antimicrobial resistance and circulating types. Overall, macrolide resistance was identified in approximately 10% of M. pneumoniae infections occurring during this time period. Typing of strains revealed cocirculation of multiple multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) and P1 types throughout this period, including diversity in types detected within individual outbreaks. Three MLVA types (4572, 3562, and 3662) accounted for 97% of the infections during the study period. A systematic surveillance program is necessary to understand the burden of M. pneumoniae disease in the United States, facilitate case and outbreak identification, and inform appropriate therapeutic and infection control strategies.
First Report of Mycoleptodiscus terrestris Infecting Forage Legumes and Soybeans in Wisconsin.

Soilborne plant pathogens are regarded as important causes of failures of newly established and mature stands of forage legumes and reduced yield of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in the North Central Region of the U.S. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) plants exhibited decaying roots and stems in yield trials in 1994 and 1995 at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station, Arlington, WI. After first harvest, over 40% of the plants failed to produce regrowth or regrowth was extremely slow. Dark brown lesions were evident on root and crown tissue and occasionally spread to newly initiated stem tissue. A fungus resembling Mycoleptodiscus terrestris was isolated from birdsfoot trefoil by placing surface-disinfested plant tissue on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 10 ppm chlorotetracycline or tetracycline and 100 μl liter-1 of tergitol. Isolates of M. terrestris produced dark green mycelium and black scerotia on PDA. These same isolates also produced conidia with characteristics similar to those described by Ostazeski (1) for M. terrestris when cultures were grown on gamma ray-sterilized chrysanthemum leaf pieces positioned on the surface of 2% water agar on petri dishes. The setaed conidia were generally two-celled and oval, and measured 24 to 30 × 4.5 to 7.4 μm. Isolates were also obtained from soybean plants that expressed a premature decline symptom at the R6 to R7 growth stage. Soybean plants in two commercial fields initially expressed curled leaves followed by defoliation. Lower stems expressed a gray-tan discoloration of the cortical tissue. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), birdsfoot trefoil, and soybean were inoculated with isolates of M. terrestris. All crop species expressed symptoms and M. terrestris was recovered from symptomatic tissue. M. terrestris isolates have also been baited from other soils from southern Wisconsin with red clover, birdsfoot trefoil, and soybean. Although recognized in states south of Wisconsin, M. terrestris has not been implicated previously in poor health of forage legumes and soybeans in Wisconsin. This report provides evidence that M. terrestris inhabits agricultural soils farther north than previously recognized. References: (1) S. A. Ostazeski. 1967. Mycologia 59:970-975.
Ensemble Weight Enumerators for Protograph LDPC Codes

Recently, LDPC codes with projected graph, or protograph structures have been proposed. In this paper, finite length ensemble weight enumerators for LDPC codes with protograph structures are obtained. Asymptotic results are derived as the block size goes to infinity. In particular, we are interested in obtaining ensemble average weight enumerators for protograph LDPC codes which have typical minimum distance that grows linearly with block size. As with irregular ensembles, linear minimum distance property is sensitive to the proportion of degree-2 variable nodes. In this paper, the derived results on ensemble weight enumerators show that linear minimum distance condition on degree distribution of unstructured irregular LDPC codes is a sufficient but not a necessary condition for protograph LDPC codes.
Rapamycin-induced metabolic defects are reversible in both lean and obese mice

The inhibition of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) by the macrolide rapamycin has many beneficial effects in mice, including extension of lifespan and reduction or prevention of several age-related diseases. At the same time, chronic rapamycin treatment causes impairments in glucose metabolism including hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. It is unknown whether these metabolic effects of rapamycin are permanent or whether they can be alleviated. Here, we confirmed that rapamycin causes glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in both inbred and genetically heterogeneous mice fed either low fat or high fat diets, suggesting that these effects of rapamycin are independent of genetic background. Importantly, we also found that these effects were almost completely lost within a few weeks of cessation of treatment, showing that chronic rapamycin treatment does not induce permanent impairment of glucose metabolism. Somewhat surprisingly, chronic rapamycin also promoted increased accumulation of adipose tissue in high fat fed mice. However, this effect too was lost when rapamycin treatment was ended suggesting that this effect of rapamycin is also not permanent. The reversible nature of rapamycin's alterations of metabolic function suggests that these potentially detrimental side-effects might be managed through alternative dosing strategies or concurrent treatment options.
Theoretical Modeling in Marketing

Over the last 10 years or so, theoretical modeling has rapidly become an important style of research in marketing. To many people, however, this style is still a mystery. This article is an attempt...
Using elliptical basis functions in a meshless method to determine electromagnetic fields near material interfaces

In this paper, in addition to employing RBF's in conjunction with a meshless algorithm, an investigation of using elliptical basis functions (EBF) in solving electromagnetics problems in two dimensional regions in which material interfaces are present will be discussed. Numerical results as well as comparisons with analytical solutions will be presented. The effects of the use of these EBF's on the solution accuracy will also be demonstrated.
On the impact of the atmosphere in passive microwave remote sensing of land surface parameters

Data from the SGP97 Experiment and a coupled soil emission-atmosphere radiative transfer model were used to quantify the atmospheric effects on land surface parameter retrieval. Using vertical profiles of air temperature and humidity obtained from radiosonde ascends, the atmospheric contributions to the top of the atmosphere (TOA) brightness temperatures for frequencies ranging from 1,4 to 37 GHz were calculated. In order to derive surface emissivities, the solution of the radiative transfer equation was inverted. Surface emissivities obtained from SSM/I and ESTAR measurements were compared to in situ measurements of volumetric soil moisture. It was found that SSM/I measurements over sparsely vegetated areas could be used to discriminate wet, normal, and dry soil moisture conditions. Atmospheric corrections did not improve the retrieval. Moreover, it was shown that for the retrieval of cloud and atmospheric parameters from 19 GHz measurements, the surface emissivity and therefore soil moisture have to be accurately known.
Fundamental and Free Institutions: GDP Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Many economies of the world respond differently to economic reforms. While some countries reap the full benefits of reforms, other countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are struggling. There are underlying cultural factors that act as impediments to economic success. Using IBM/Hofstede (1980) Cultural Dimensions as measures of fundamental institutions and Economic Freedom Index as measures of free institutions, we find statistically significant correlations between cultural dimensions and economic freedom components. High power distance culture (PDI) and low individualism (IND) in developing countries mitigate against the norms that form the bedrocks for free institutions. It is found that PDI has a statistically significant negative influence on business freedom, property rights, and freedom from corruption. IND has a statistically significant positive effect on the same variables. Masculine culture (MAS) has a positive impact on government expenditures and a negative association with freedom from corruption.