cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Currently Mandated Myopia of Rule 10b-5: Pay No Attention to that Manager Behind the Mutual Fund Curtain

This paper examines the current state of the Rule 10b-5 right of action following a constricting trilogy of Supreme Court cases that have rendered it a myopic remnant of the right previously endorsed by the SEC and hundreds of courts over a span of numerous decades. The Roberts Court’s pronouncement in Janus Capital Group, Inc. v. First Derivative Traders, 131 S. Ct. 2296 (2011), has generated an immense amount of criticism and a slew of conflicting lower court decisions. By effectively abolishing most private Rule 10b-5 claims against secondary actors, including lawyers, accountants, credit rating agencies, underwriters and securities analysts, and by mistakenly including mutual fund investment managers in the class of ordinary secondary actors, the Court has chosen a shortsighted, ill-reasoned standard that ignores the doctrinal foundations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as the practical realities and doctrinal foundations of mutual fund law and practice. Specifically, despite the fact that a typical mutual fund has no employees, no office space, no assets other than those it holds for its investors, no officers that are not also officers of its investment manager, and no involvement in its own day-to-day management (having delegated such management and investment decisions to its investment manager), the Roberts Court has mandated that aggrieved investors pursuing private Rule 10b-5 claims must ignore fraudulent managers and other malefactors, even where they have deceived their fund boards. In sum, Janus does real harm: it potentially allows a deceitful manager to coordinate every essential aspect of a mutual fund for fraudulent purposes, while it reaps increased fees, hides its deceit and avoids private Rule 10b-5 liability. This “pay no attention to the manager behind the mutual fund curtain” dictate is untenable and should be remedied by legislative action. This paper discusses the trilogy’s potentially harmful consequences with respect to private investor suits and agency-driven actions, with a particular focus on the effect on aggrieved mutual fund investors. In light of reduced regulatory budgets that compromise today’s securities fraud enforcement efforts, this issue is particularly timely, given that over forty percent of American households own mutual fund shares, assuming such investments to be relatively safe retirement vehicles.
Black activity spaces in Shaker Heights

The majority of Americans reside in suburbs and today’s suburbs are becoming more racially diverse than ever before. My research uses an ethnographic approach to investigate social life in one raci...
Evaporation Reduction on Large Reservoirs

A brief history of current (1964) methods of applying monolayer-forming chemicals and of conditions influencing the development of aerial dispensing equipment is given. Descriptions are presented of equipment developed recently by Utah State University for dispensing evaporation retardants in liquid and powder form from aircraft. Applications using the newly developed equipment were made to several large lakes in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Highlights of these aerial applications are examined. Observations and recommendations concerning equipment, procedure, and continuing research are also presented.
Principles of Sustaining Partnerships between Higher Education and their Larger Communities: Perspectives from Engineering Faculty Engaged in Learning through Service

With the increased focus on community engagement in higher education, engineering faculty members are using Learning through Service (LTS) as a viable way of providing a platform for interactive participatory student learning and involvement in the community. By engaging students to learn in the community, the creation of knowledge shifts from the classroom to the community. This paper explores how LTS engineering practitioners from a diverse range of institutions use LTS to engage community partners in the co-creation of knowledge. Twenty-seven interviews were conducted with these faculty members to identify best practices for mutually beneficial partnership with the communities they serve. Analysis of the interview transcripts reveals six guiding principles of effective and sustainable community partnerships: 1) understand the needs of the community, 2) seek community feedback through direct interaction, 3) engage community partners from an asset-based viewpoint, 4) use cultural intermediaries in international LTS efforts, 5) deliver useful projects, and 6) sustain long-term relationships to improve project outcomes.
Real money balances as a productive input

Abstract Using a translog production function and data from the United States private sector over the period 1929–1972, this paper clarifies the theoretical debate which has occured on whether real money balances are an original factor input or a catalyst with a role similar to technological innovation. Real money balances are found to be an important factor input that cannot be treated as separable from the primary factor inputs capital and labor. Furthermore, the results indicate that real money balances are substitutes for capital but complements with labor while capital and labor are, in a relative sense complements.
Pedestal Structure without and with 3D Fields

Achieving high pedestal pressures in H(high)-mode plasmas confined in tokamaks is critical for obtaining fusion burning plasmas in ITER. Recent characterizations of quasi-equilibrium plasma parameter profiles in low collisionality H-mode pedestals in the DIII-D tokamak are briefly summarized. Critical plasma transport properties (large radial electron heat flow, density pinch) that establish the transport barrier structure of the pedestal profiles are identified. The paleoclassical transport model, which naturally includes a density pinch, is shown to provide the minimum electron heat and density transport in the pedestal. Microinstabilities can provide additional plasma transport within and especially at the top of pedestals. Macroscopic peeling-ballooning (P-B) instabilities cause periodic edge localized modes (ELMs) that limit the temporal and spatial growth of the pedestal initially and between ELMs. Externally imposed 3D resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) in the pedestal have been used to stabilize P-B modes and suppress ELMs. A magnetic flutter model of plasma transport induced by the 3D RMPs has been developed for low collisionality DIII-D pedestals. Comparisons of it with data on ELM suppression by RMPs indicate it can provide a “diffusivity hill” at the pedestal top that can impede pedestal growth and thereby stabilize P-B modes and suppress ELMs. Finally, transport equations for plasma density, electron and ion pressures and, most importantly, the plasma toroidal rotation frequency (and hence, via radial force balance, the radial electric field) in the presence of plasma transport due to collisional, paleoclassical, microturbulence-induced and 3D field effects are presented. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
GENERALIZED LYMPHOHISTIOCYTIC INFILTRATION A Familial Disease Not Previously Described and Different from Letterer-Siwe Disease and Chédiak-Higashi Syndrome

Three cases representing a familial disease not previously described are reported. The disease occurred in children under the age of 7 years and was characterized clinically by an acute but protracted course, with fever, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, pneumonitis and meningitis. Pathologically, there was extensive infiltration of many organs and tissues by lymphocytes and histiocytes with remarkable involvement of the central nervous system and neurohypophysis. The nature of this disease is uncertain, but a generalized cellular, metabolic or biochemical etiology is suggested. Significant differences from Letterer-Siwe disease and Chediak-Higashi syndrome are pointed out.
A Different Set of Questions for a New Age

Since its inception, photography has functioned as a catalyst for change and revolution, not just in the recording of world events, but as a tool for many disciplines. One could argue that photography's discovery has had the same impact on art, communication, and the sciences as the printing press had on the distribution of literature. The printing press at the time of its invention may have primarily been thought of as simply a tool to facilitate the reproduction of manuscripts and bibles, but what could not be predicted at the time was the impact it would have on the democratic distribution of ideas across social classes and borders that would change the perception of the world. The definitional rights of people would no longer simply be controlled by a few and books became the currency of ideas.
Adhesive force of a single gecko foot-hair

Geckos are exceptional in their ability to climb rapidly up smooth vertical surfaces1,2,3. Microscopy has shown that a gecko's foot has nearly five hundred thousand keratinous hairs or setae. Each 30–130 µm long seta is only one-tenth the diameter of a human hair and contains hundreds of projections terminating in 0.2–0.5 µm spatula-shaped structures2,4. After nearly a century of anatomical description2,4,5,6, here we report the first direct measurements of single setal force by using a two-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical systems force sensor7 and a wire as a force gauge. Measurements revealed that a seta is ten times more effective at adhesion than predicted from maximal estimates on whole animals. Adhesive force values support the hypothesis that individual seta operate by van der Waals forces8,9. The gecko's peculiar behaviour of toe uncurling and peeling2 led us to discover two aspects of setal function which increase their effectiveness. A unique macroscopic orientation and preloading of the seta increased attachment force 600-fold above that of frictional measurements of the material. Suitably orientated setae reduced the forces necessary to peel the toe by simply detaching above a critical angle with the substratum.
On the parallelization of electrodynamic multilevel fast multipole method on distributed memory computers

In recent years, the Multilevel Fast Multipole Method (MLFMA) has been developed into one of the most powerful techniques for accelerating the iterative solution of integral equations of electromagnetics. It has been shown that the MLFMA reduces the computational complexity of a matrix-vector multiply from O(N/sup 2/) to O(N log N), where N is the number of unknowns. In an attempt to extend the range of problems that can be solved using this technique, we have recently developed an application independent, parallel MLFMA kernel, called ScaleME, for distributed memory computers using MPI. In this paper, we shall discuss the characteristic features which distinguishes it from its static counterpart, such as work required for each level, the size of multipole expansions and interpolation/filtering operations, and their influence in the parallel algorithm design. We shall follow it with a discussion of major issues in the parallelization which are unique to the dynamic MLFMA, such as reducing the memory requirements for translation operators and the reduction of replicated geometric data structures. We shall also briefly discuss the load balancing strategies. Finally, we shall present some representative numerical results from some ScaleME accelerated electromagnetic scattering codes, including a simulation involving 4 million unknowns and that of the radar cross-section computation of a full scale aircraft on a Beowulf class cluster.
Collateral damage to the ureter and Nitinol stone baskets during thulium fiber laser lithotripsy.

Background The experimental Thulium fiber laser (TFL) is currently being studied as a potential alternative lithotripter to the clinical gold standard Holmium:YAG laser. Safety studies characterizing undesirable Holmium:YAG laser-induced damage to ureter tissue and stone baskets have been previously reported. Similarly, this study characterizes TFL induced ureter and stone basket damage. Methods A TFL beam with energy of 35 mJ per pulse, pulse duration of 500 µs, and variable pulse rates of 50–500 Hz, was delivered through 100-µm-core optical fibers, to either porcine ureter wall, in vitro, or a standard 1.9-Fr Nitinol stone basket wire. Ureter perforation times were measured and gross, histological, and optical coherence tomography images of the ablation area were acquired. Stone basket damage was graded as a function of pulse rate, number of pulses, and working distance. Results TFL operation at 150, 300, and 500 Hz produced mean ureter perforation times of 7.9, 3.8, and 1.8 seconds, respectively. Collateral damage widths averaged 510, 370, and 310 µm. Nitinol wire damage decreased with working distance and was non-existent at distances greater than 1.0 mm. In contact mode, 500 pulses delivered at pulse rates ≥300 Hz (≤1.5 seconds) were sufficient to cut Nitinol wires. Conclusions The TFL, operated in low pulse energy and high pulse rate mode, may provide a greater safety margin than the standard Holmium:YAG laser for lithotripsy, as evidenced by longer TFL ureter perforation times and shorter non-contact working distances for stone basket damage than previously reported with Holmium:YAG laser. Lasers Surg. Med. 47:403–410, 2015. Lasers Surg. Med. 47:???–???, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Compton continuum suppression by pulse shape analysis

The authors present experimental results on suppressing and flattening the Compton continuum by digital and analog pulse shape analysis. A doubling of the Cs-peak-to-Co-Compton ratio and a nice flattening of the Compton edges were achieved by pulse shape analysis in rejecting pulses from the peripheral regions of the Ge-detector, where the Compton scattering followed by the gamma escaping from the detector is most common. The pulse shape analysis technique may also offer a way to construct a position-sensitive Ge-detector. >
Rapid Chondrolysis of the Knee After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Case Report

Chondrolysis is a devastating complication of surgery on any joint, resulting in the rapid and extensive destruction of the articular cartilage. Associated with this destruction is an equally large inflammatory response that causes adhesions in the lining of the involved joint. The inflammatory response manifests as arthrofibrosis and is typically seen within six months after the operation. Management of this unique complication is difficult because most patients are very young and have active lifestyles. Chondrolysis causes more immediate symptoms of pain and limited range of motion than does osteoarthritis, which often takes years to become symptomatic. The exact cause of postoperative chondrolysis is unknown; however, several hypotheses have been entertained, such as the use of thermal treatment1, occult infection with Propionibacterium acnes 2,3, idiopathic or iatrogenic osteochondral injury, high temperature of fluid during arthroscopic irrigation4, improperly placed implants, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Recently, the use of intra-articular pain pumps for the administration of local anesthetics has come under scrutiny because of a possible association with early chondrolysis in the glenohumeral joint5-10. We are unaware, however, of any previously reported cases of chondrolysis in the knee associated with the use of an intra-articular pain pump. Here we report the case of a patient with chondrolysis of the knee; this case of our patient was clinically similar to several cases of patients with chondrolysis of the shoulder who had been referred for treatment at our institution. The patient and her parents were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they consented. A seventeen-year-old girl sustained anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscal tears during a tackling injury in a soccer game (Fig. 1). She underwent a routine anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with use of …
A lifestyle physical activity intervention is associated with decline in health care utilization (HCU) among patients with COPD

Rationale : Among patients with COPD physical inactivity is associated with increased hospitalizations. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of an intervention to increase physical activity on HCU. Methods : This was a randomized trial among patients with COPD comparing a physical activity intervention (PAI) to usual care (UC). Self-reported HCU during previous 6 months was measured for clinic visits for lung disease (CLD) and non-lung disease (CNLD), emergency/urgent visits for lung disease (ELD) and non-lung disease (ENLD), and hospitalization for lung disease (HLD) and non-lung disease (HNLD). Both cross-sectional differences and longitudinal changes in HCU were examined. Results : A total of 305 were randomized (156 UC, 149 I) and 6-month outcome results available for 92% (144) and 83% (123), respectively. In cross-sectional analysis there were no statistical differences in the prevalence of any HCU (Table). In longitudinal analysis the majority of both groups had no change in HCU. However, the odds of decline vs. increase for each type of HCU were greatest among PAI-group. (Table). Conclusion : After an intervention to increase physical activity there were no overall differences in HCU. In longitudinal sub-group analyses the intervention was consistently associated with less HCU for both lung- and non-lung related disorders.
Effects of acute ingestion of a multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement on lower body power and anaerobic sprint performance.

Background Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements (MIPS) are becoming popular dietary supplements among strength and power athletes. These products frequently include caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, and branched-chain amino acids as the primary ingredients. When studied on an individual basis, several of these ingredients have been shown to increase muscular power following acute ingestion; however, little is known in regard to a synergistic effect when said ingredients are combined. The purpose of this study was to determine if short-term, MIPS ingestion influences muscular power and anaerobic sprint performance.
Prevention through Design: A Macroergonomic Conceptual Approach to Risk Reduction

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS Prevention through Design is the first U.S. macroergonomic initiative to address occupational and environmental risks associated with work operations. In the Prevention through Design approach, all aspects of the work operation (worker, equipment, materials, environment, processes) are evaluated, inherent risks identified, and design solutions generated. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health launched an initiative in 2008 to disseminate Prevention through Design methods in all industrial sectors. Innovative design solutions are being developed to reduce injury, illness, and pollution arising from agriculture, construction, manufacturing, commercial fishing, healthcare, and mining. Diffusion of new design solutions and adoption within the industries, though, remain major hurdles to implementation. Therefore, this article describes a conceptual model to predict industry acceptance of these innovations. Practicing ergonomists and occupational safety and health pr...
A diatribe on dummies

One either hates or likes soothers, dummies, or pacifiers. Their use is widespread and seems to have become semi-automatic, semi-epidemic, and semi-prescriptive. A pacifier is defined as a rubber object that a baby is given to suck so that the baby feels comforted and stays quiet. Their manufacture is covered by the British Standard Number BS5239. I do not like dummies. My objections are on aesthetic grounds: constant dummy use makes infants and toddlers look distant, dull, glazed, sometimes semi-hypnotised; on hygienic grounds: they are associated with mouth infections (I have often seen parents lift a dropped dummy from a dirty floor, lick it, and place it in the toddler's mouth); on orthodontic grounds: their use is a manifest cause of dental malocclusion, overbite, and loss of primary incisors; on freedom of …
Resistance to the Bacillus sphaericus toxin in cultured mosquito cells.

Increasing doses ofBacillus sphaericus toxin were used to select a toxin-resistant cell line from theCulex quinquefasciatus line. This resistant cell line was proven to beC. quinquefasciatus in origin by isozyme analysis and karyotype. The resistant line bound fluorescent-labeled toxin as did the unselected susceptible line. A high level of resistance was quickly achieved, and this level was maintained after 4 mo. culture in the absence of toxin.
On Markov---Krein characterization of the mean waiting time in M/G/K and other queueing systems

We propose a new research direction to reinvigorate research into better understanding of the M/G/K and other queueing systems--via obtaining tight bounds on the mean waiting time as functions of the moments of the service distribution. Analogous to the classical Markov---Krein theorem, we conjecture that the bounds on the mean waiting time are achieved by service distributions corresponding to the upper/lower principal representations of the moment sequence. We present analytical, numerical, and simulation evidence in support of our conjectures.
Projection Operators in the Unified Reaction Theory

Projection operators applicable for rearrangement and exchange processes with full recoil effect for unified reaction theory of Feschbach
Spatial and Temporal Variation in Physical Habitat Conditions of Low-Gradient Reaches of Rocky Mountain Streams during Fall and Winter

ABSTRACT Physical habitat features of low-gradient (channel slope 3,200 m above mean sea level), the streams were small and entirely bridged by snow and had no surface ice, and flows were a small proportion of the average annual flow (QAA). Moderate-sized, middle-elevation (2,444 −3,149 m) streams were not bridged by snow and had patches of surface ice and snow as well as open water on pools and riffles, and flows were an intermediate proportion of QAA. Larger streams at the foot of the mountains (2,242–2,374 m) had no snow cover, pools were entirely covered by surface ice, and flows were a relatively high proportion of QAA. Variation in discharge and physical habitat features occurred between the two...
The US national science foundation and the ITiCSE effort

We describe several National Science Foundation programs that support educational efforts in computer science.
THE EFFECTS OF POLYCHLOROBIPHENYLS ON CHORTHIPPUS BRUNNEUS (SALTATORIA: ACRIDIDAE)

Fourth instar nymphs of Chorthippus brunneus were dosed topically with polychlorobiphenyl. No sublethal effects were detected on development or reproductive potential except for a probable latent toxicity, which may be correlated with mobilisation of lipids at the moult. The amounts absorbed to produce these toxic effects are much greater than those found in wild specimens. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG DIE WIRKUNG VON POLYCHLORBIPHENYLEN AUF CHORTHIPPUS BRUNNEUS (SALTATORIA: ACRIDIDAE) Vierten Larvenstadien von Chorthippus brunneus wurden jeweils einzeln Dosen von 12,5, 50 oder 200 μg Polychlorbiphenyl (PCB) auserlich appliziert. Die hochste Dosis verursachte in beiden Geschlechtern eine gewisse akute Vergiftung und es entstand wahrscheinlich auch eine latente Giftwirkung unmittelbar nach der Imaginalhautung, welche mit der wenig polaren Natur von PCB und der Mobilisation von Lipiden bei der Hautung zusammenhangen konnte. Weitere subletale Wirkungen auf die Entwicklung oder die Fortpflanzungsfahigkeit waren nicht feststellbar, und verglichen mit den bei Wildfanglingen gefundenen Ruckstanden scheint es unwahrscheinlich, das PCB beim gegenwartigen Grad der Umweltverseuchung irgendwelche Wirkungen auf freilebende Insektenpopulationen ausubt.
An improved SPSA algorithm for system identification using fuzzy rules for training neural networks

Simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) belongs to the class of gradient-free optimization methods that extract gradient information from successive objective function evaluation. This paper describes an improved SPSA algorithm, which entails fuzzy adaptive gain sequences, gradient smoothing, and a step rejection procedure to enhance convergence and stability. The proposed fuzzy adaptive simultaneous perturbation approximation (FASPA) algorithm is particularly well suited to problems involving a large number of parameters such as those encountered in nonlinear system identification using neural networks (NNs). Accordingly, a multilayer perceptron (MLP) network with popular training algorithms was used to predicate the system response. We found that an MLP trained by FASPSA had the desired accuracy that was comparable to results obtained by traditional system identification algorithms. Simulation results for typical nonlinear systems demonstrate that the proposed NN architecture trained with FASPSA yields improved system identification as measured by reduced time of convergence and a smaller identification error.
Calcium transport in isolated bone cells. II. Calcium transport studies.

Calcium transport was studied in bone cells isolated from fetal rat calvaria. 45Ca uptake experiments revealed an active component of calcium exchange. Calcium uptake was inhibited by iodoacetamide, DNP, CCCP and oligomycin and appeared to be dependent on medium phosphate concentration. Initial influx values exhibited saturation kinetics from 0.6 mM to 1.5 mM extracellular calcium. Efflux of 45Ca from loaded cells increased in the presence of iodoacetamide, DNP and CCCP. Incubation of the cells af 4° C inhibited both influx and efflux of calcium. Parathyroid hormone had no consistent effect on calcium uptake although characteristic increases in cyclic AMP levels were seen with the hormone. Calcitonin appeared to cause a transient increase in calcium uptake.
Steady and Pulsating Modes of Sequential Flame Propagation

Abstract Steady and pulsating modes of flame propagation through a premixed combustible mixture are studied for the case in which the flame is characterized by the sequential production and depletion of a significant intermediate species. We employ the method of matched asymptotic expansions to derive a model valid for large activation energies, and show that the pulsating solution is the result of a supercritical Hopf bifurcation from the steadily propagating solution (which becomes unstable). Through a nonlinear bifurcation analysis, we calculate the pulsation amplitude and other characteristics of the flame along the bifurcated branch. It is shown that the average thickness of the pulsating flame, by which we mean the average effective separation distance between production and depletion of the intermediate species, is greater than that predicted by a steady-state theory. In addition, we find that the mean propagation speed is less than that of the steadily propagating solution, but that the instantane...
Solving optimal timing problems in environmental economics

Abstract Two papers of Pindyck, 2000 , Pindyck, 2002 that modeled the control of stock pollutants as optimal stopping problems contained closed form solutions that are incorrect. This paper discusses a subtle error in the derivation and demonstrates how solutions to these and related problems can be obtained numerically. The numerical solutions are contrasted with the ones contained in Pindyck's original papers.
A new documentation system for congenital absent digits

Background Congenital absent digits continue to be described by many confusing terms and are currently classified in categories I, V, and VI of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand classification and seven subclassification systems. Very few classification systems provide any logical basis for surgical reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple alphanumerical documentation system to reproducibly describe the morphological or radiographic appearance of congenital absent digits and facilitate communication of these childrens’ hand anomalies from one hand surgeon to another.
Pediatric blastomycotic osteomyelitis of the hand.

Accurate and timely diagnosis of uncommon blastomycotic hand infections can pose a diagnostic challenge. The clinical manifestations can be extremely variable by mimicking many common diseases or aggressive tumors. Blastomycotic hand infections are typically associated with disseminated infections and the patient must be treated with a high index of suspicion for additional sites of involvement [2].
The effects of prolonged temporal modulation on the differential response of color mechanisms.

The identification of three independent cardinal directions in color space suggests the existence of three independent post-receptoral mechanisms that can be desensitized by habituation to a temporally modulated light. In this paper, the differential response of each cardinal mechanism is estimated over a range of inputs before and after habitation. Simple mathematical considerations show that the threshold elevations following temporal modulation are not consistent with multiplicative gain changes; rather, these elevations require a change in the shape of each cardinal mechanism's response function. With this method, the effects of habituation can also be differentiated from the effects of a change in the steady adapting light.
Innervation‐dependent and fiber type‐specific transcriptional regulation of the slow myosin heavy chain 2 promoter in avian skeletal muscle fibers

Skeletal muscle fiber type is regulated, in part, by innervation leading to transcriptional regulation of fiber type-specific genes. Here, we report the initial characterization of the transcriptional regulation of the slow myosin heavy chain 2 (MyHC2) promoter in innervated and noninnervated slow medial adductor (MA) and fast pectoralis major (PM) muscle fibers in cell culture. The proximal 1358 bp of slow MyHC2 upstream DNA contains a functional E-box and binding sites for myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). Mutagenesis studies indicated that both MEF2 and NFAT binding sites are required for innervation-induced slow MyHC2 promoter activity in MA muscle fibers. However, MEF2 transcription factor activity was unaffected by innervation and did not demonstrate fiber type-specific interactions with the slow MyHC2 MEF2 binding site. NFAT transcription factor activity did increase in innervated MA muscle fibers and not in PM muscle fibers, indicating innervation and muscle fiber type-specific regulation. However, transfection of constitutively active NFAT indicated that NFAT is insufficient to induce slow MyHC2 gene expression in either fast PM or slow MA muscle fibers without innervation. These results indicate the requirement for MEF2 and NFAT in innervation-induced slow MyHC2 gene expression and suggest that additional innervation-dependent and fiber type-specific control of slow MyHC2 gene expression resides in MA and PM muscle fibers, respectively.
An hypothesis describing the general temporal and spatial distribution of alfresco bacteria in the earth's atmospheric surface layer

An hypothesis is presented that describes, in general terms, the temporal and spatial airborne bacterial distribution patterns in the mixed layer of the planetary atmosphere. It is hypothesized that the near coincidence of the solar radiation cycle and temporal atmospheric bacterial distribution patterns indicate that the bacterial distribution in the alfresco atmosphere is a function of the diurnal and annual solar cycles. A maximum concentration of bacteria is found in reference to the solar zenith as a standing wave in the rotating coordinate system of the moving earth. Conditions of weather, topography, source strength, and human activities (i.e. microbial air pollution-MAP) will modulate the cyclic patterns of atmospheric bacterial loadings.
Potent Anticoagulant Aptamer Directed against Factor IXa Blocks Macromolecular Substrate Interaction

An aptamer targeting factor IXa has been evaluated in animal models and several clinical studies as a potential antithombotic therapy. We elucidate the molecular mechanism by which this aptamer acts as an anticoagulant. The aptamer binds tightly to factor IXa and prolongs the clotting time of human plasma. The aptamer completely blocks factor IXa activation of factor X regardless of the presence of factor VIIIa. However, the aptamer does not completely block small synthetic substrate cleavage, although it does slow the rate of cleavage. These data are consistent with the aptamer binding to the catalytic domain of factor IXa in such a way as to block an extended substrate-binding site. Therefore, unlike small molecule inhibitors, aptamers appear to be able to bind surfaces surrounding an active site and thereby sterically interfere with enzyme activity. Thus, aptamers may be useful agents to probe and block substrate-binding sites outside of the active site of an enzyme.
Equity and efficiency considerations in area versus individual yield insurance

Abstract Equity and efficiency considerations in area versus individual crop insurance are investigated for 609 Ontario cash crop farms. Results show that the relationship between individual and area premiums and risk reduction are explained by systematic and non-systematic yield risk relationships. On average, area insurance premiums are much lower than individual yield insurance premiums, and in terms of efficiency in risk-reduction individual plans are superior to area plans. As it turns out arguments of asymmetric information which has lead some researchers to investigate area vs. individual yield insurance is not totally resolved. Inequities in the benefits of area plans across farmers are not equitably distributed, favouring high-risk producers. Adverse selection causes instability in the pooled contracts which will ultimately cause area insurance plans to fail.
IMF-related announcements and stock market returns: Evidence from financial and non-financial sectors in Indonesia, Korea, and Thailand

Abstract We examine the changes in daily financial sector stock returns in Indonesia, Korea, and Thailand in response to IMF-related news during the Asian crisis and compare them with those in non-financial sectors. We find that news of both program negotiations and approval increased financial sector returns in Indonesia and Korea, whereas only program approval is associated with higher returns in the financial sector in Thailand. Sectors such as cyclical consumer goods and non-cyclical services experienced higher returns in Thailand and Indonesia, while almost all sectors enjoyed higher returns in South Korea. We interpret the empirical results based on the characteristics of corporate governance and industrial development policies in these countries.
Anomalous nanoparticle diffusion in polymer solutions and melts: a mode-coupling theory study.

Mode-coupling theory is employed to study diffusion of nanoparticles in polymer melts and solutions. Theoretical results are directly compared with molecular dynamics simulation data for a similar model. The theory correctly reproduces the effects of the nanoparticle size, mass, particle–polymer interaction strength, and polymer chain length on the nanoparticle diffusion coefficient. In accord with earlier experimental, simulation, and theoretical work, it is found that when the polymer radius of gyration exceeds the nanoparticle radius, the Stokes–Einstein relation underestimates the particle diffusion coefficient by as much as an order of magnitude. Within the mode-coupling theory framework, a microscopic interpretation of this phenomenon is given, whereby the total diffusion coefficient is decomposed into microscopic and hydrodynamic contributions, with the former dominant in the small particle limit, and the latter dominant in the large particle limit. This interpretation is in agreement with previous mode-coupling theory studies of anomalous diffusion of solutes in simple dense fluids.
Expression of mRNA for Interferon-Gamma, Interleukin-10, and Interleukin-12 (p40) in Normal Gastric Mucosa and in Mucosa Infected with Helicobacter pylori

Background: We studied the mRNA expressions of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and IL-12 in gastric biopsy and blood samples from patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection, by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods: RT-PCR was performed on total RNA preparations, and the expressed mRNA were semiquantitated on the basis of band intensities on Southern blots. Results: In gastric mucosa the expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 was found in most patients with and without H. pylori infection, whereas IL-12 was found in most of the infected ones. The level of IFN-γ and IL-10 did not differ between groups, whereas the IL-12 level was significantly higher in those with H. pylori infection. In the blood IFN-γ expression was found in most samples, with higher level in patients with gastritis than in normals. Few blood samples (33%) had IL-12. and none had IL-10. Conclusion: IFN-γ and IL-10 expressions in healthy mucosa may indicate a biologic role in a healthy sta...
Insiders and outsiders, or core and periphery in the novels of Kenneth Roberts

Abstract The popular American historical novelist Kenneth Roberts manipulated the geographical concepts of core/periphery to promote his anti-immigrant, anti-American Indian philosophies. In doing this, Roberts created a core which was ordered, secure and ‘feminine’ and a periphery which was disordered, dangerous and ‘masculine’. Living in the periphery were the ultimate outsiders, the American Indians.
Regulation of spirocyst discharge in the model sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis

Test probes were touched to tentacles to investigate whether discharge of spirocysts likely is regulated by hair bundle mechanoreceptors. Significantly more spirocysts discharge onto test probes in the presence of vibrations at 11–15 Hz as compared to 0 Hz. Adding N-acetylneuraminic acid, NANA, shifts maximal discharge of spirocysts upwards to 36–40 Hz, and possibly to 21–25 Hz. In contrast, NANA shifts maximal discharge of basitrichous isorhiza nematocysts downwards to 1–20 Hz. Thus, discharge of cnidae (‘stinging capsules’) is differentially regulated according to the type of cnida. Furthermore, it appears that chemodetection of N-acetylated sugars is not a prerequisite to capturing prey because, in seawater alone, maximal discharge of cnidae occurs at frequencies overlapping movements of calmly swimming prey. Nevertheless, chemodetection of N-acetylated sugars broadens the range of frequencies stimulating maximal discharge of cnidae and, therefore, likely enhances prey capture.
Quantum control implemented as combinatorial optimization

Optimal control theory provides a general means for designing controls to manipulate quantum phenomena. Traditional implementation requires solving coupled nonlinear equations to obtain the optimal control solution, whereas this work introduces a combinatorial quantum control (CQC) algorithm to avoid this complexity. The CQC technique uses a predetermined toolkit of small time step propagators in conjunction with combinatorial optimization to identify a proper sequence for the toolkit members. Results indicate that the CQC technique exhibits invariance of search effort to the number of system states and very favorable scaling upon comparison to a standard gradient algorithm, taking into consideration that CQC is easily parallelizable.
RIGing a virus trap.

Molecules that recognize pathogens and activate the immune response are being discovered at a rapid rate. RIG-I, a new protein in this category, recognizes viral RNA. Recent studies show that RIG-I operates independently of Toll-like receptors and that it is targeted for inactivation by the hepatitis C virus.
Effects of body orientation on maximum voluntary arm torques.

Introduction: Increased reliance on bulbospinal motor systems has been implicated in individuals with chronic stroke during maximum voluntary arm joint torque generation. Methods: Maximum isometric single-joint and multi-joint arm strength was observed in two body orientations (sitting and supine) while maintaining identical head/neck/trunk/extremity joint configurations in order to identify bulbospinal contributions to maximum joint torque generation in 11 individuals with stroke and 10 individuals without stroke. Results: During sitting, shoulder flexion was greater for both groups, whereas shoulder extension and elbow flexion, part of the ' synergy,'' were greater only in individuals with stroke. Conclusions: Body orien- tation influenced isometric arm strength, notably the constitu- ents of flexion synergy in individuals with stroke, suggesting bulbospinal motor pathway involvement. From a practical per- spective, clinical evaluation of single joint strength in the supine position may underestimate strength available during activities of daily living that are performed in an upright orientation. Muscle Nerve 44: 805-813, 2011
Craving in response to stress induction in a human laboratory paradigm predicts treatment outcome in alcohol-dependent individuals

Rationale Alcohol dependence is associated with high rates of recidivism. Stress has been shown to increase alcohol craving in alcohol-dependent individuals, but the association between stress-induced craving and alcoholism treatment outcome is not well understood.
Beneficial Effects of Vagal Stimulation and Bradycardia During Experimental Acute Myocardial Ischemia

It is commonly believed that vagally-mediated bradycardia predisposes to ventricular fibrillation (VF) during acute myocardial ischemia. Recent experimental studies, however, have shown that bradycardia and vagal stimulation independently raise the threshold for electrically induced VF in the ischemic canine heart. To determine the influence of vagal stimulation on the spontaneous development of VF occurring during acute myocardial ischemia, open-chest dogs with acute coronary occlusion were observed with and without electrical vagal stimulation. When heart rate was allowed to fall, mean time to VF was 14.7 ± 2.1 min (se) in the control dogs (heart rate about 180/min), 23.4 ± 1.9 (P < 0.01) in the dogs with low intensity vagal stimulation (heart rate about 100/min), and 28.6 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001) in dogs with high intensity vagal stimulation (heart rate about 60/min). Only 10% of the control animals survived after 30 min of occlusion compared with 40% (NS) of the dogs with low intensity vagal stimulation and ...
Assessment of nutrient distributions in Lake Champlain using satellite remote sensing.

Abstract The introduction of nutrients to lakes causing eutrophic conditions is a major problem around the world. Proper monitoring and modeling are important to effectively manage eutrophication in lake waters. The goal is to develop remote sensing models for nutrients, total phosphorus and total nitrogen, in Lake Champlain. The remote sensing models were created using multivariate linear regression with the unique band combinations of Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM +) imagery based on the empirical relationship with the field observations. The resulting models successfully showed nutrient distributions in the most eutrophic part of Lake Champlain, Missisquoi Bay, with reasonable adjusted coefficient of determination values ( R 2 = 0.81 and 0.75 for total phosphorus and total nitrogen, respectively). The results show the feasibility and the utility of satellite imagery to detect spatial distributions of lake water quality constituents, which can be used to better understand nutrient distributions in Lake Champlain. This approach can be applicable to other lakes experiencing eutrophication assisting decision making when implementing Best Management Practices and other mitigation techniques to lakes.
TNFalpha and IL-4 regulation of hyaluronan binding to monocyte CD44 involves posttranslational modification of CD44.

Abstract Our previous studies have identified TNFα as a positive regulator and IL-4 as a negative regulator of human monocyte CD44–HA binding. In order to determine the mechanisms of IL-4- and TNFα-mediated regulation of monocyte HA binding, we measured HA binding and CD44 expression on peripheral blood monocytes following monocyte treatment with TNFα or IL-4, as well as following monocyte treatment with inhibitors of protein synthesis, N- and O-linked glycosylation, and chondroitin sulfation. IL-4 decreased CD44–HA binding on monocytes initially treated with TNFα. Similarly, pretreatment of monocytes with IL-4 prevented subsequent TNFα-mediated HA binding. Cycloheximide (protein synthesis inhibitor), tunicamycin (N-linked glycosylation inhibitor), and β- d -xyloside (chondroitin sulfation inhibitor) all inhibited IL-4-mediated downregulation of TNFα-induced monocyte HA binding. Western blot analysis of CD44 from TNFα-treated monocytes revealed a 5–10Mrdecrease in the standard isoform of CD44. In contrast, IL-4 treatment of monocytes inhibited CD44–HA binding and reversed the 5- to 10-kDa decrease in monocyte CD44Mr. Finally, studies with F10.44.2, a CD44 mab that enhances CD44–HA binding, indicated that IL-4 treatment of monocytes not only diminished constitutive HA binding, but also diminished CD44 mab-induced HA binding. Taken together, these data suggested that IL-4-mediated inhibition of TNFα-induced monocyte HA binding was dependent not only on protein synthesis, but also on N-linked glycosylation and chondroitin-sulfate modification of either CD44 or, alternatively, another monocyte protein(s) that may regulate the ability of CD44 to bind HA.
Do United States’ Teachers Know and Adhere to the National Guidelines on Asthma Management in the Classroom? A Systematic Review

Proper asthma management in schools is important in achieving optimum asthma control in children with asthma. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has developed guidelines on classroom asthma management. We conducted a systematic review to examine teacher knowledge of the NHLBI guidelines on asthma management in the classroom. We searched PubMed and EMBASE using search terms “asthma management,” “teacher(s),” “school teacher,” and “public school.” The inclusion criteria were articles published in English from 1994 to May 2014 that focus on schools in the United States (US). From 535 titles and abstracts, 9 studies met inclusion criteria. All studies reported that school teachers did not know the policies and procedures of asthma management. Teachers relied on school nurses to handle medical emergencies. Some studies identified that lack of full-time school nurses was a barrier to asthma management. Only one study showed directly that classroom teachers were not following the NHLBI guidelines on asthma management. Our literature review revealed that US teachers do not know the NHLBI guidelines on asthma management in the classroom. Future research should focus on interventions targeted toward training classroom teachers on asthma management as per NHLBI guidelines to ultimately improve asthma management in schools.