cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EVA, ACCOUNTING PROFITS, AND CEO TURNOVER: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION, 1985–1994

A growing number of companies use EVA or related measures of economic profits as metrics for corporate planning and executive compensation. Unlike traditional accounting measures of performance, EVA attempts to measure the value that firms create or destroy by subtracting a capital charge from the cash returns they generate on invested capital. For this reason, EVA is seen by its proponents as providing the most reliable year-to-year indicator of a market based performance measure known as market value added, or MVA. Although EVA and MVA have received considerable attention in recent years, there has been little empirical study of these performance measures—and what studies have been produced have provided mixed results. This study joins the debate over EVA vs. conventional accounting measures by asking a different question: Which performance measures do the best job of explaining not only stock returns, but the probability that a CEO will be dismissed for poor performance? Using a sample of 452 firms during the period 1985–1994, the authors report that EVA has a somewhat stronger correlation with stock price performance than conventional accounting measures such as ROE and ROA. But, of greater import, EVA appears to be a considerably more reliable indicator of CEO turnover than conventional accounting measures.
A three-dimensional finite element program for brittle bimodular rock-like materials

The present paper models the behaviour of bimodular materials (materials with different tensile and compressive moduli) by using a three-dimensional finite element method. Since there is no explicit and definite expression for the shear modulus G of bimodular materials, the analysis starts with a 3 × 3 elasticity matrix in the principal stress coordinate system, and then uses a transformation from principal to Cartesian coordinates to obtain the 6 × 6 elasticity matrix. A corresponding iterative technique is proposed, and multiloading sequences in non-proportionate loading—which need more iterations because of the non-linear elastic property—are also discussed. Numerical examples are presented which show good agreement with analytical results.
Molecular symmetry and motions of the Eckart frame

Abstract Motions of the Eckart frame, as defined in terms of the Eckart vector by Louck and Galbraith ( 4 ), are calculated for molecules belonging to several point groups. Differential changes in the associated Gram matrix are treated as perturbations. Explicit equations are developed for the motion of the Eckart frame in the special case where the matrix of the Eckart vectors (the F matrix) is diagonal.
Decrease in rat cardiac myosin ATPase with aortic constriction: prevention by thyroxine treatment.

Abstract Severe aortic constriction in rats produced cardiac hypertrophy and a chronic decrease in cardiac actomyosin ATPase activity during a six week postoperative period. Two weeks following aortic constriction, Ca2+ stimulated cardiac myosin ATPase activity was also depressed; the Km and Vmax were decreased by 86.2% (p
Transforming Java programs for concurrency using Double-Checked Locking pattern

Java provides a synchronized construct for multi-core programming with many workloads. However, naive use of the synchronized construct causes performance scalability problems due to lock contention. One of the sources of lock contentions is a synchronized collection class. There are known concurrency code patterns to alleviate lock contentions such as a Concurrent Collection (CC), Read-Write Lock (RWL), and Double-Checked Locking (DCL). To date, there is no algorithm to transform a program using DCL. This paper describes steps on how to rewrite synchronized blocks using DCL.
Determination of Molecular Geometry in Solid-State NMR: Rotational-Echo Double Resonance of Three-Spin Systems

The precise measurement of internuclear distances in solids by NMR has been widely explored using experiments that measure the dipolar coupling between labeled spin pairs. The rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) experiment is one of the most successful techniques for quantifying distances between heteronuclei. In the present work, REDOR is applied to the precise determination of the angle between internuclear vectors in triply labeled spin systems. The time domain REDOR signal for two heteronuclear coupled spin pairs sharing a common partner (an I2S spin system) is derived and analyzed with the aid of dipolar transforms. A two-step experimental approach for the structural analysis of I2S spin systems is then developed. Independent θ-REDOR and traditional REDOR measurements are used to obtain the heteronuclear dipolar coupling constants and the angle between them. Demonstrations are carried out on labeled polycrystalline samples of glycine and uracil. The REDOR experiment is also examined using altern...
The DNA minor groove binding agents Hoechst 33258 and 33342 enhance recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) transgene expression†

Background Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) are commonly used in pre-clinical and clinical gene transfer studies. However, the relatively slow kinetics of rAAV transgene expression complicates in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods 293 and COS-1 cells were transduced with rAAV2-EGFP, rAAV1-EGFP, or rAAV5-EGFP. The rAAV-EGFP expression was analyzed in the presence of Hoechst 33 258 or 33 342 as a function of time and concentration by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscope. Effects of Hoechst on cell cycle populations were determined by flow cytometry. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression plasmids with or without AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITR) were constructed and gene expression by transient transfection was compared in the presence of Hoechst. Results We found that Hoechst 33 258 and 33 342 increase both the level and the population of EGFP gene expressing cells, transduced by several different serotypes of rAAV-EGFP. The augmentation of rAAV-EGFP expression occurs in different cell types in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the Hoechst 33 258 or 33 342 mediated enhancement of rAAV gene expression correlated with an increase of cells in S phase and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Finally, gene expression from transfected ITR-containing plasmid DNA was also enhanced by Hoechst dyes. Conclusions Our results revealed that two different, although related, DNA-binding drugs, Hoechst 33 258 and 33 342, accelerate the kinetics of rAAV transgene expression. These findings may provide the basis for more sensitive assessment of rAAV biological activity and also extend the applications of rAAV for in vivo gene transfer. Published in 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A parameterized model for global insolation under partially cloudy skies

A simple and efficient parameterization of insolation under partially cloudy skies is discussed and compared with a set of exact radiative transfer results for clear skies, an empirical equation and observations. The parameterization is physically based and requires, as input variables, the ozone path length, precipitable water, Angstrom turbidity, surface air pressure and albedo, fractional cloud-cover and cloud thickness. Multiple reflection between the surface and the overlying atmosphere, and clouds are considered. The albedo of the earth-atmosphere system is also formulated and compared with a set of exact radiative transfer results. As compared to the exact radiative transfer results, the errors in the insolations are generally less than 1 percent, and in the albedo of the earth-atmosphere system less than 10 percent. The errors in the calculated insolations using climatological data are 2-3 percent when compared with many years averaged observations at Maudheim (Antarctica) and at Rockville (U.S.A.). A parametric equation for calculating directly the daily total insolation is also given.
Activation of phospholipase C in platelets by platelet activating factor and thrombin causes hydrolysis of a common pool of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

Abstract Despite their physicochemical and mechanistic differences platelet activating factor (or acetylglycerylether phosphorylcholine; AGEPC) and thrombin, both platelet stimulatory agents, induce phosphoinositide turnover in platelets. We therefore investigated the stimulation of the phosphoinositide phosphodiesterase by these agents and questioned whether they evoked hydrolysis of the same or different pools of phosphoinositides. [3H]Inositol-labelled rabbit platelets were challenged with thrombin and/or AGEPC under a variety of protocols, and the phospholipase C mediated production of radioactive inositol monophosphate (IP); inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) was used as the parameter. AGEPC (1·10−9 M) caused a transient maximum (5 to 6-fold) increase in [3H]IP3 at 5 s followed by a decrease. Thrombin (2 U/ml) elicited an increase in [3H]IP3 at a much slower rate than AGEPC; 2 fold at 5 s, 5 fold at 30 s and a maximum 6 to 8-fold at 2–5 min. Compared to AGEPC, thrombin stimulated generation of [3H]IP2 and [3H]IP were severalfold higher. When thrombin and AGEPC were added together to platelets there was no evidence for an additive increase in inositol polyphosphate levels except at earlier time points where increases were submaximal. When AGEPC was added at various time intervals after thrombin pretreatment, no additional increases in [3H]IP3 were observed over that maximally seen with thrombin or AGEPC alone. In another set of experiments, submaximal increases (about 1 4 and 1 2 of maximum) in [3H]IP3 were achieved by using selected concentrations of thrombin (0.1 U and 0.3 U, respectively) and then AGEPC (1·10−9 M) was added for 5 s. Once again the increase in [3H]IP3 was close to the maximal level seen with thrombin or AGEPC individually. It is concluded that thrombin and AGEPC differentially activated phosphoinositide phosphodiesterase (phospholipase C) in rabbit platelets and that the stimulation of the phospholipase C by these two stimuli causes IP3 production via hydrolysis of a common pool of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.
Unique toroidal morphology from composition and sequence control of triblock copolymers.

The mechanism by which the unique toroidal supramolecular assemblies were formed for triblock copolymers of acrylic acid (AA), methyl acrylate (MA), and styrene (S), PAA99-b-PMA73-b-PS66, was probed in this study by investigating the influences of the block copolymer compositions and sequences. Two triblock copolymers, PAA99-b-PMA73-b-PS66 and PAA99-b-PS76-b-PMA62, and two diblock copolymers, PAA99-b-PMA155 and PAA99-b-PS133, were studied under experimental solution-state conditions that involved a range of solvent/nonsolvent (tetrahydrofuran/water) compositions, each in the presence of 2,2‘-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine). The resulting morphologies were determined by transmission electron microscopy. The failures to afford toroidal supramolecular assemblies from both diblock copolymers having comparable lengths of the total hydrophobic chain segment, either entirely PMA or entirely PS, and from the triblock copolymer having a reversed connection sequence for the hydrophobic (PMA and PS) segments demonstr...
Object-Based Visual Sentiment Concept Analysis and Application

This paper studies the problem of modeling object-based visual concepts such as "crazy car" and "shy dog" with a goal to extract emotion related information from social multimedia content. We focus on detecting such adjective-noun pairs because of their strong co-occurrence relation with image tags about emotions. This problem is very challenging due to the highly subjective nature of the adjectives like "crazy" and "shy" and the ambiguity associated with the annotations. However, associating adjectives with concrete physical nouns makes the combined visual concepts more detectable and tractable. We propose a hierarchical system to handle the concept classification in an object specific manner and decompose the hard problem into object localization and sentiment related concept modeling. In order to resolve the ambiguity of concepts we propose a novel classification approach by modeling the concept similarity, leveraging on online commonsense knowledgebase. The proposed framework also allows us to interpret the classifiers by discovering discriminative features. The comparisons between our method and several baselines show great improvement in classification performance. We further demonstrate the power of the proposed system with a few novel applications such as sentiment-aware music slide shows of personal albums.
Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor (MITF) Promotes Differentiation of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) by Regulating microRNAs-204/211 Expression

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a fundamental role in maintaining visual function and dedifferentiation of RPE contributes to the pathophysiology of several ocular diseases. To identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that may be involved in RPE differentiation, we compared the miRNA expression profiles of differentiated primary human fetal RPE (hfRPE) cells to dedifferentiated hfRPE cells. We found that miR-204/211, the two most highly expressed miRNAs in the RPE, were significantly down-regulated in dedifferentiated hfRPE cells. Importantly, transfection of pre-miR-204/211 into hfRPE cells promoted differentiation whereas adding miR-204/211 inhibitors led to their dedifferentiation. Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a key regulator of RPE differentiation that was also down-regulated in dedifferentiated hfRPE cells. MITF knockdown decreased miR-204/211 expression and caused hfRPE dedifferentiation. Significantly, co-transfection of MITF siRNA with pre-miR-204/211 rescued RPE phenotype. Collectively, our data show that miR-204/211 promote RPE differentiation, suggesting that miR-204/211-based therapeutics may be effective treatments for diseases that involve RPE dedifferentiation such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
Attitude toward nursing of students earning a second degree and traditional baccalaureate students: are they different?

Abstract More students are selecting nursing as a second degree. These students have the same attitude toward nursing as do traditional students; they both rate the service provided by nurses as very important, and the attitude toward nursing is stable over the academic years.
The tangled web of self-tying knots

Mathematician Leopold Kronecker stated “God created the integers, all else is the work of man,” alluding to the fact that the natural numbers most likely arose from physical counting, as in one's fingers or goats in the pasture. Topology, however, is arguably a different creature altogether and may have had its own independent origins from the physical world in the ubiquitous knot—something that cannot be undone without using the free ends because the individual strands cannot move through each other (1). One imagines a primordial knot getting tied accidentally in Cro-Magnon times and then tugged at to no avail … perhaps eventually cut. Of course, knots went on to have their uses in early societies, still far from any theoretical considerations but very much related to their ability to bind or secure things such as animals, sails, hair, etc. Knotted strings were also used by the Inca civilization for record-keeping and possibly even communication (2), still a few centuries before Euler began counting bridge-crossings in Konigsberg.
Kinetics of pearlite spheroidizations

A study of the kinetics of pearlite spheroidization under static annealing conditions was carried out in two materials — AISI 1080 steel and pure Fe-C alloy. A stereological “shape factor”,F, defined asF =Svp/3• Km, was introduced for the kinetic study. The significance of this shape factor in relation to the geometrical characters of lamellar structures is discussed. For constant temperature a linear relation betweenF and the logarithm of time was obtained. Analysis of the time and temperature dependencies for a constant shape factor gave an activation energy of 70 kcal/mole for AISI 1080 steel and 58 kcal/mole for Fe-C alloy which indicates that volume diffusion of Fe in ferrite is the rate-controlling mechanism. The modified fault migration theory, which was developed from the mechanism study of this research, was applied to predict the kinetics of the pearlite spheroidization. For both the AISI 1080 and the Fe-C alloy experimental results have a good match with the theoretical prediction.
The physiological and anatomical localization of two electroreceptive diencephalic nuclei in the thornback ray, Platyrhinoidis triseriata

1. Two discrete electroreceptive nuclei have been anatomically and electrophysiologically localized in the diencephalon of the thornback ray,Platyrhinoidis triseriata. Physiological characteristics of these nuclei are compared to those recorded in the mesencephalic electroreceptive nucleus, the lateral nucleus (LN) of the lateral mesencephalic nuclear complex. 2. Maximal mesencephalic electroreceptive activity was restricted to the anatomically defined lateral nucleus (Fig. 2). Electroreceptive evoked potentials (EEPs) show a peak latency of 21–29 ms and EEP amplitude varies inversely with stimulus repetition rate, falling to 10% of the maximum value at 8 pulses/s or higher. Response amplitude increases monotonically with stimulus intensity from 10 to 100 μV/cm, often followed by depression at higher intensities. Imposition of a stimulus train results in a response pattern of facilitation and depression unique to this nucleus. 3. The anterior nucleus (AN), which may be diencephalic, was localized to the middle third of the optic lobes at depths between 500–2,000 μm. EEPs have a 29–42 ms latency and reach 10% of the maximum amplitude at a pulse repetition rate of only 4/s. In addition, the intensity/response function is steeper and facilitation different compared to responses of the lateral nucleus. 4. The posterior lateral thalamic nucleus (PLT), a clearly diencephalic electroreceptive region, was localized ventral to AN at 3,000 μm in the rostral two-thirds of the optic lobe. Latencies are longer (36–48 ms) than those recorded in LN and AN. Depression of EEP amplitude with pulse repetition rate is similar to that in the anterior nucleus but the effects of intensity and stimulus trains are distinguishable.
Topiramate Treatment Protects Blood-Brain Barrier Pericytes from Hyperglycemia-Induced Oxidative Damage in Diabetic Mice

Diabetes mellitus causes cerebral microvasculature deterioration and cognitive decline. The specialized endothelial cells of cerebral microvasculature comprise the blood-brain barrier, and the pericytes (PC) that are in immediate contact with these endothelial cells are vital for blood-brain barrier integrity. In diabetes, increased mitochondrial oxidative stress is implicated as a mechanism for hyperglycemia-induced PC loss as a prerequisite leading to blood-brain barrier disruption. Mitochondrial carbonic anhydrases (CA) regulate the oxidative metabolism of glucose and thus play an important role in the generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. We hypothesize that the inhibition of mitochondrial CA would reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress, rescue cerebral PC loss caused by diabetes-induced oxidative stress, and preserve blood-brain barrier integrity. We studied the effects of pharmacological inhibition of mitochondrial CA activity on streptozotocin-diabetes-induced oxidative stress and PC loss in the mouse brain. At 3 wk of diabetes, there was significant oxidative stress; the levels of reduced glutathione were lower and those of 3-nitrotyrosine, 4-hydroxy-2-trans-nonenal, and superoxide dismutase were higher. Treatment of diabetic mice with topiramate, a potent mitochondrial CA inhibitor, prevented the oxidative stress caused by 3 wk of diabetes. A significant decline in cerebral PC numbers, at 12 wk of diabetes, was also rescued by topiramate treatment. These results provide the first evidence that inhibition of mitochondrial CA activity reduces diabetes-induced oxidative stress in the mouse brain and rescues cerebral PC dropout. Thus, mitochondrial CA may provide a new therapeutic target for oxidative stress related illnesses of the central nervous system.
Two-ventricle repairs in the unbalanced atrioventricular canal defect spectrum with midterm follow-up

Objectives Unbalanced atrioventricular (AV) canal defects include a hypoplastic ventricle (HV) and AV valve (HAVV) precluding complete 2-ventricle repairs (2VRs). Catch-up growth would solve this problem and was induced by increasing HAVV flow. The objectives were to assess reliability of HV and HAVV growth and provide 5- to 15-year 2VR follow-up. Methods From 1990 to 2005, 23 consecutive infants (13 females and 10 males) with echo-diagnosed unbalanced AV canal defects (n = 20) or subsets (n = 3) underwent 2VRs. HV volumes (18 left and 5 right) and HAVV sizes estimated from biplane echoes and z values (standard deviation from expected) were determined. Hypoplasia was defined by a z value of less than −2.0. Three operative approaches were used: (1) Staged repairs (n = 9) had complete AVV repairs with partial atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect closures, which increased HAVV flow and maintained stability. The septal defects were closed later. (2) An asymmetric valve partition (n = 8) was used to increase HAVV size. (3) For moderate hypoplasia, HAVV flow was increased and ASDs/VSDs were left for stability (n = 6). Follow-up at 5 to 19 years was done locally. Results Staged repairs began at 20 to 328 days (average, 129 days) and were completed 5 to 145 days later (average, 101 days). Midterm survival was 87% (20/23) after 1 central nervous system bleed after trial weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 2 later deaths from hyperkalemia. Reoperations for AVV regurgitation (n = 3), AVV stenosis (n = 1), and mitral valve replacement (n = 1) were satisfactory. On follow-up, all hypoplastic structures (HV and HAVV) had grown to normal size. Two patients "doing well" were lost to follow-up. Survivors have satisfactory 2VRs, with 15 of 18 taking no cardiac failure medications. Conclusions Reliable HV/HAVV catch-up growth was induced, and all midterm 2VRs were satisfactory.
THERMODYNAMIC, SPECTROSCOPIC, AND STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF COMPLEXATION OF PHENOL- AND PYRIDINE-ARMED MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS WITH UNIVALENT METAL IONS

Log K, {Delta}H, and {Delta}S values for interactions of a series of pyridinoazacrown ethers each bearing a phenol arm (2-6) and two macrocycles each bearing a pyridine arm (7, 8) with Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, Tl{sup +}, and Ag{sup +} have been determined in absolute methanol at 25{degrees}C by calorimetric titration. In each case, the complex stability has the sequence Na{sup +} < K {sup +} < Tl{sup +} {much_lt} Ag{sup +}. The phenol-armed macrocycles exhibit selectivity of more than 4 orders of magnitude for Ag{sup +} over Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, and Tl{sup +}. Attachment of a pendant phenol arm having various substituents to parent macrocycle 1 increases the binding abilities of the resulting ligands. Substituents on the para position of the phenol arm have an appreciable effect on cation-binding constants. Good Hammett correlations are found by plotting log K values vs {sigma}{sub p} for interactions of five phenol-armed macrocyclic ligands (2-6) with Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, and Tl{sup +}. The complexation has been characterized by means of {sup 1}H NMR and UV-visible spectroscopic, and X-ray crystallographic methods. The study indicates that the phenol OH group of 2-6 is capable of forming an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the macroringmore » nitrogen atom and that the complexation in absolute methanol generally does not deprotonate these phenols. In the crystal structure of the Na{sup +} -3 complex, the Na{sup +} is coordinated to all seven of the donor atoms of the ligand and two Na{sup +} -3 complexes join together to form a dimer. The dimer contains an intermolecular hydrogen bond formed between the phenol hydrogen atom of one ligand and the phenolate group of a centrosymmetrically related ligand and two {pi}-{pi} stacking interactions between the electron-deficient pyridine ring of one molecule and the electron-rich phenol ring of the other. 36 refs., 5 figs., 6 tabs.« less
Bethe-Salpeter study of vector meson masses and decay constants

The masses and decay constants of the light vector mesons $\ensuremath{\rho}/\ensuremath{\omega},$ $\ensuremath{\varphi},$ and ${K}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$ are studied within a ladder-rainbow truncation of the coupled Dyson-Schwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations of QCD with a model two-point gluon function. The approach is consistent with quark and gluon confinement, reproduces the correct one-loop renormalization group behavior of QCD, generates dynamical chiral symmetry breaking, and preserves the relevant Ward identities. The one phenomenological parameter and two current quark masses are fixed by requiring that the calculated ${f}_{\ensuremath{\pi}},$ ${m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}},$ and ${m}_{K}$ are correct. The resulting ${f}_{K}$ is within 3% of the experimental value. For the vector mesons, all eight transverse covariants are included and the dominant ones are identified; the complete angle dependence of the amplitudes is also retained. The calculated values for the masses ${m}_{\ensuremath{\rho}},$ ${m}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}},$ and ${m}_{{K}^{\ensuremath{\star}}}$ are within 5%, while the decay constants ${f}_{\ensuremath{\rho}},$ ${f}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}},$ and ${f}_{{K}^{\ensuremath{\star}}}$ for electromagnetic and leptonic decays are within 10% of the experimental values.
RNA polymerase activity following infection with murine leukemia virus.

Abstract 1. 1. Enzymes capable of incorporating [2-14C]UMP into an acid-insoluble product were extracted from spleen cells of mice infected with a murine leukemia virus. Extracts obtained from infected animals showed 8 times the RNA polymerase activity of those from uninfected controls. 2. 2. Enzyme activity was localized in the nucleus and required all 4 ribonucleoside triphosphates and Mn2+. It was sensitive to actinomycin D and deoxyribonuclease. The enzyme extracted from the infected spleen exhibited maximal activity at pH 8.3 and at a Mn2+ concentration of 2 mM. Enzyme extracted from uninfected control spleens did not show these maxima and was relatively insensitive to actinomycin D. 3. 3. The enzyme product synthesized in vitro was deoxyribonuclease resistant and sensitive to ribonuclease. Nearest neighbor analyses indicated that the product of enzyme preparation from infected spleens was a heteropolymer whereas that of extract from uninfected spleens was primarily due to a terminal addition. 4. 4. These data suggested the presence of a splenic, intranuclear, DNA-dependent RNA polymerase following infection with Friend murine leukemia virus. 5. 5. The temporal relationship between the appearance of enzyme activity and virus synthesis suggests a probable involvement of this enzyme in the process of viral induced leukemogenesis.
Mutational Analysis of the Stability of the H2A and H2B Histone Monomers

The eukaryotic histone heterodimer H2A-H2B folds through an obligatory dimeric intermediate that forms in a nearly diffusion-limited association reaction in the stopped-flow dead time. It is unclear whether there is partial folding of the isolated monomers before association. To address the possible contributions of structure in the monomers to the rapid association, we characterized H2A and H2B monomers in the absence of their heterodimeric partner. By far-UV circular dichroism, the H2A and H2B monomers are 15% and 31% helical, respectively--significantly less than observed in X-ray crystal structures. Acrylamide quenching of the intrinsic Tyr fluorescence was indicative of tertiary structure. The H2A and H2B monomers exhibit free energies of unfolding of 2.5 and 2.9 kcal mol(-1), respectively; at 10 microM, the sum of the stability of the monomers is approximately 60% of the stability of the native dimer. The helical content, stability, and m values indicate that H2B has a more stable, compact structure than H2A. The monomer m values are larger than expected for the extended histone fold motif, suggesting that the monomers adopt an overly collapsed structure. Stopped-flow refolding-initiated from urea-denatured monomers or the partially folded monomers populated at low denaturant concentrations-yielded essentially identical rates, indicating that monomer folding is productive in the rapid association and folding of the heterodimer. A series of Ala and Gly mutations were introduced into H2A and H2B to probe the importance of helix propensity on the structure and stability of the monomers. The mutational studies show that the central alpha-helix of the histone fold, which makes extensive intermonomer contacts, is structured in H2B but only partially folded in H2A.
INCORPORATING COUNTRY RISK IN THE VALUATION OF OFFSHORE PROJECTS

Offshore projects, especially those in emerging economies, are generally viewed as more risky, and thus as contributing less to shareholder value, than otherwise comparable domestic investments. Emerging economies are typically more volatile than the economies of industrialized countries. They also present a greater array of risks that are (perceived as being) primarily of a downside nature, such as currency inconvertibility, expropriation, civil unrest, and general institutional instability. Further, because such risks are relatively unfamiliar to the investing companies, the companies are likely to make costly errors in early years and to require more time to bring cash flows and rates of return to acceptable steady-state levels. To reflect these higher risks and greater unfamiliarity, many companies include an extra premium in the discount rate they apply to offshore and, particularly, emerging-market projects. However, the basis for these discount rate adjustments is often arbitrary. Such adjustments do not properly reflect objective information available about either the nature of these risks, or about the ability of management to manage them. Nor do they take into account the reality that the risks stemming from unfamiliarity fall over time as the firm progresses along the learning curve. As a result, companies often “over discount” project cash flows in compensating for these risks, and thus unduly penalize offshore projects. More important, adjusting for country risk using arbitrary adjustments to the discount rate fails to focus management's attention on strategic and financial actions can be taken to reduce risk—notably, actions capable of transferring some of the company's exposures to specific risks to different parties with comparative advantages in bearing those risks. This paper outlines a four-step procedure for assessing overseas risks that integrates these various aspects: ▪Classify risks in terms of various stakeholders' comparative advantage in risk-taking based on their: (a) existing portfolio of assets; (b) access to information; and (c) capabilities for reducing risk. ▪Allocate risk through project structuring and financial engineering to exploitthese comparative advantages. ▪Adjust resulting cash flows (relative to their most-likely levels) for (a) the impact of “asymmetric” risks; (b) learning effects; and (c) potential competitive options and/or barriers to entry resulting from comparative advantage in dealing with risks. ▪Discount resulting expected cash flows at a risk-adjusted discount rate that reflects the covariance of the cash flows with the benchmark portfolio.
Aristotle on the Conditions for and Limits of the Common Good

Contemporary debates over liberal political theory should encourage renewed investigation of the common good, and it is appropriate to begin by interrogating Aristotle's account. Aristotle argues that injustice stands in the way of the common good. Injustice is motivated by both overgrasping for scarce external goods, such as money, honor, and power, and by excessive desires. Aristotle argues that the common good requires a reorientation away from external goods to satisfying activities that do not diminish in the sharing. He sketches an analogical account of familial and political relationships that leads us to wonder what the political conditions are for the common good. Reflecting on these conditions not only points to the strict limits of the common good but also speaks to both sides in debates over liberal theory.
Self-reflection and feelings of self-worth: When Rosenberg meets Heisenberg

Abstract The more people think about their attitude toward some issue, the stronger their attitude becomes. The present research examined whether this strengthening effect also applies to self-evaluative attitudes. In four studies, we had some participants complete a self-evaluation measure before rating their momentary feelings of self-worth (Studies 1, 2, and 4) or implicit self-feelings (Study 3). In all four studies, evaluative self-reflection led low self-esteem participants to feel worse about themselves and high self-esteem participants to feel better about themselves. We did not find this self-esteem polarization effect when more general emotions of happiness and sadness were measured (Study 2) or when participants reflected on non-evaluative aspects of themselves (Study 4). These findings suggest that evaluative self-reflection has different consequences for low self-esteem people than for high self-esteem people, and that order effects in personality research may represent actual changes in self-feelings rather than methodological confounds.
Carbon Sequestration in an Aggrading Forest Ecosystem in the Southeastern USA

An analysis of C pools at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) near Atlanta, GA, indicates that aggrading forests in the U.S. Southeast are an important regional C sink. The forests in this area were cut in the early 1800s and the land was cultivated until the early 1900s, when farming was abandoned and forest regeneration began. Cultivation resulted in extensive erosion, which depleted soil C pools. The rate of soil C sequestration during the 70-yr period of forest regeneration was estimated to be between 0.34 (standard error [SE] = 0.12) and 0.79 (SE = 0.19) Mg C ha -1 yr -1 . There is a large potential for continued C accumulation in the soil at PMRW based on the difference between current measured soil C pools of 82 Mg C ha -1 at PMRW and 122 Mg C ha -1 at the nearby undisturbed Fernbank Forest in Atlanta, GA. The rate of C sequestration in biomass at PMRW was 1.47 Mg C ha -1 yr -1 for the regeneration period, bringing the ecosystem total to between 1.81 and 2.26 Mg C ha -1 yr -1 . Carbon sequestration in temperate forest ecosystems partially mitigates the effects of increased atmospheric loading of CO 2 .
Decomposing Chi-Square A Forgotten Technique

According to the statistical properties of the chi-square distribution, a variable which is distributed according to the chi-square distribution with p degrees of freedom can be written as the sum ofp chi-square variables, each with one degree of freedom. This means that a contingency table which gives rise to a chi-square with p degrees of freedom can be decomposed into as many as p smaller tables. The magnitudes of the chi-squares for these smaller tables will often give a better understanding of the relationship between the two variables than was possible to obtain from the overall chi-square for the original table. This paper gives explicit rules for how to decompose a table into smaller tables, and the rules are illustrated with an example from a content analysis of value orientations in different maga zines.
Contour Dynamics for the Euler Equations in Two Dimensions

We present a contour dynamics algorithm for the Euler equations of fluid dynamics in two dimensions. This is applied to regions of piecewise-constant vorticity withinfinite-area-vortexregions (FAVRs). Essentially, this reduces the dimensionality by one and we are treating the interaction of closed polygonal contours whose nodes are advected by the total fluid motion computed self-consistently. A leapfrog centered scheme is used for temporal advancement. Computer simulation results are given for two and four like-signed interacting FAVRs. In all cases wavelike surface deformations are observed. If the distance between FAVRs is comparable to their extent (“diameter”), these surface deformations are large. They play an essential role in the observed coalescence of FAVRs.
The coactivator LXXLL nuclear receptor recognition motif

Nuclear receptors require coactivator binding in order to activate transcription of their cognate target genes. Ligands regulate nuclear receptor (NR)-mediated recruitment of coactivators by binding to the ligand-binding domain of the receptor and inducing a conformational change allowing for recognition of a specific motif contained within the coactivator protein. This motif is known as the NR box or LXXLL (where L is leucine and X is any amino acid) domain. Here, we review the discovery of the domain as well as its characterization.
Order in linear thermotropic nematic polyesters: the existence of two distinct molecular arrangements within polymeric nematic mesophases

Etude de poly(dioxy-4,4' dimethyl-2,2' azoxybenzene alcanedioyl): il existe un arrangement cybotactique et une phase nematique «ordinaire»
Training cognitive functioning in the elderly--inability to replicate previous findings

This study was designed to replicate Hornblum and Overton's study which trained conservation ability in elderly women [1]. Thirty-four elderly women volunteers were given a pretest battery of area and volume conservation tasks; participants also completed an extensive life history questionnaire. Conservation scores were the highest yet recorded by elderly participants. Thirty-two women received perfect conservation scores; only two were "partial conservers"; no participant was a "nonconserver." Consequently, training was not implemented. These women had high levels of education, good health, adequate income, satisfying leisure activities, and positive attitudes about aging. Advanced chronological age does not guarantee poor conservation performance. The mechanism(s) whereby life history variables influence cognitive functioning needs to be determined.
Frustrated Ising systems on Husimi trees

Abstract We consider two frustrated Ising model systems. The first is the full frustrated antiferromagnetic Ising model on the triangle lattice. We approximate the system by a Husimi tree. By a “sequential” build up of the tree we get a qualitatively correct phase diagram which quantitatively is close to other approximation methods. Most closed form approximations of this system such as mean field theory give qualitatively incorrect phase diagrams. As a further test of the Husimi tree approach we look at a frustrated Ising model on a checkerboard type lattice. This system has been solved exactly by Azaria et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 59 (1987) 1629, when h=0. Again the Husimi tree approach gives qualitatively correct results approximating a rather complex phase diagram with e.g. reentrant phases. And in addition this approach allows one to determine the phase diagram for h≠0. Finally, this method should be easily extended to a number of other frustrated lattice spin systems such as the fully frustrated system on the simple cubic lattice.
Underestimation of Portfolio Insurance and the Crash of October 1987

The authors examine market crashes in the multiperiod framework of Glosten and Milgrom (1985). Their analysis shows that if the market's prior beliefs underestimate the extent of dynamic hedging strategies such as portfolio insurance, then the price will be greater than that which would be implied by fundamentals if the extent of portfolio insurance were known with certainty. Over time, the market learns of the amount of portfolio insurance, and consequently reevaluates the previous inferences drawn from purchases that were erroneously regarded as based on favorable information. The result is that the price falls when the amount of portfolio insurance is revealed. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Abstract P5-07-05: Oncogene PELP1 regulates alternative splicing in breast cancer through PRMT6

Background: Alternative splicing (AS) is essential in regulating gene expression and protein diversity; however, dysregulation leads to cancer development with tumor-specific splice variants that act by disrupting a tumor suppressor function. Protein arginine methylation is a modification involved in signal transduction, pre-RNA metabolism and transcriptional activation and deregulation of arginine methylase expression or functions can contribute to cancer progression via alternate splicing. PELP1 is a proto-oncogene, whose expression is associated with higher histological grade and shorter breast cancer specific survival, and PELP1 localization is a determinant of hormone sensitivity. This study focuses on examining the role of PELP1 in regulating gene expression and its possible role in alternative splicing. Methods: ZR75 and MCF7 cells stably expressing PELP1-shRNA or overexpressing PELP1 were used in RNASeq and ChipSeq analysis. Gene differential expression lists were generated using DEseq and PELP1 regulated pathways were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Cell proliferation, migration and ERE reporter gene assays were used to test the role of PRMT6 in PELP19s oncogenic functions. Immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, ChIP, and GST pull down assays were used to demonstrate PELP1-PRMT6 interactions. Exon specific RTqPCR assays and CD44 minigene reporter assays were used to demonstrate PELP19s role in splicing. Results: RNA- and ChIP-sequencing results showed that the ERa coregulator PELP1 is a novel regulator of alternative splicing in breast cancer through the modulation of several genes involved in splicing including protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6). PRMT6 plays a key role in coupling of transcription and alternative splicing by functioning as a transcriptional coactivator that can also regulate alternative splicing in a hormone independent manner. We discovered the novel complex of PELP1 and PRMT6 by co-immunoprecipitation. Biochemical assays revealed that PELP1 binds RNA, colocalizes with the splicing factor SC35 and promotes alternative splicing in reporter gene assays. PELP1 regulates the exon inclusion:skipping ratio of alternatively spliced exons in endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). PELP19s regulation of VEGF splicing is affected by the status of PRMT6. Interestingly, PRMT6 is needed for optimal oncogenic functions of PELP1. Further PELP1 has the potential to regulate the histone methyltransferase activity of PRMT6 and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that PELP1 affects the enzyme recruitment and enrichment of the histone modification H3R2me2 at estrogen responsive genes. Conclusions: Our findings show a role of PELP1-PRMT6 axis in ERα-mediated RNA splicing and their deregulation has implications for targeted therapeutics in ERα-driven breast cancer. This work was supported by the NIH grant CA095681 and NIH F31 Fellowship 1F31CA173909-01A1. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P5-07-05.
What lies beneath: Dispatch from the front lines of the Burqa Brigade

As a Pakistani-born feminist academic living in the United States for almost 30 years, I am horrified, yet fascinated, by the phenomenon that has captivated the Pakistani public and press since the...
1663 EXTRAUTERINE BRAIN MATURATION IN PRETERM NEONATES

Recent reports suggest that the cerebral function monitor (CFM), a system of integrated EEC accurately reflects cerebral maturational changes associated with gestational ages of both appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates. This study describes the use of CFM to evaluate extrauterine brain maturation in 25 normal preterm AGA neonates. Gestational age (GA) of these neonates varied from 26-34 weeks. All of the neonates had an Apgar score of > 6 at five minutes, normal serial cranial sonograms, and absence of any clinical evidence of cerebral hypoxia. Each neonate was evaluated by the CFM at birth and serially thereafter. The characteristics of the cerebral activity during quiet sleep (S1) were used to assign a GA for each CFM evaluation. Comparison of the actual GA at birth assessed by obstetrical and neonatal parameters and the CFM estimate of GA showed no difference (P > 0.3). Similarly, comparison of the postnatal age and the increase in maturation by CFM showed no difference (P >0.4). We conclude that extrauterine brain maturation of the normal preterm AGA neonate is temporally concordant with intrauterine maturation as judged by the CFM.
The kinetics of stress relaxation and the effect of pre-annealing amorphous alloys

Abstract The kinetics of stress relaxation in amorphous alloys are examined quantitatively using the previously reported flow law for these materials. Model relations are derived for tensile and bend tests. The validity of the relations data for FeNiPB and PdCuSi. The effect of pre-annealing on subsequent stress relaxation is also examined. The relaxation rate is found to decrease with increasing pre-annealing time. This decrease is accounted for in the model relations by an increase in the initial viscosity of the test specimens. The rate of viscosity increase during these pre-anneals is lower than the rate of increase measured during the tests. The observation is consistent with a structural relaxation stress threshold, as reported elsewhere. The threshold stress for PdCuSi is at least an order of magnitude smaller than for FeNiPB at the same temperature.
Age-related alterations in immunoreactivity of the midsized neurofilament subunit in the brainstem reticular formation of the cat

In the present study, we compared the immunoreactivity of the midsized subunit of neurofilaments (NF-M) in the brainstem reticular formation of adult and old cats. There was a dramatic decrease in immunoreactivity in most reticular nuclei in the old cats. The most obvious reduction in these regions occurred in dendritic arborizations. In contrast, a small number of nuclei showed a slight increase in immunoreactivity in the aged animals. The age-related changes in immunoreactivity indicate that there is an alteration of NF-M content in reticular neurons and their processes in old age. Such changes in NF-M content may be the basis for the alterations in the morphology of reticular neurons in aged animals.
Grounding the Rule of Law

. Although the concept of Rule of Law has been revived and developed vigorously by mid-twentieth century conservative political theorists, contemporary legal positivists have not been impressed. The author reviews this confrontation, outlines the logic for a strong theory of Rule of Law, and surveys the leading attempts to provide compelling grounds for such a theory.
Deer mouse movements in peridomestic and sylvan settings in relation to Sin Nombre virus antibody prevalence.

Prevalence of antibody to Sin Nombre virus (SNV) has been found to be nearly twice as high in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in peridomestic settings as in sylvan settings in two studies in Montana and one in New Mexico. We investigated whether this difference may be related to a difference in deer mouse movements in the two settings. We used radiotelemetry to determine home range size and length of movement for 22 sylvan (1991–1992) and 40 peridomestic deer mice (1995–1999). We also determined the percentage of locations inside versus outside of buildings for peridomestic mice. Though variable, average home range size for female deer mice was significantly smaller for peridomestic deer mice than for sylvan deer mice. The smaller home range in peridomestic settings may concentrate shed SNV, and protection from solar ultraviolet radiation inside buildings may increase environmental persistence of SNV. Both these factors could lead to increased SNV exposure of deer mice within peridomestic populations a...