cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Did Glass-Steagall Increase the Cost of External Finance for Corporate Investment?: Evidence From Bank and Insurance Company Affiliations

The Glass-Steagall Act may have increased the cost for corporations of raising external funds for investment spending. Significant differences are found in the way financial institutions influenced corporate investment spending. Investment regressions for a sample of companies affiliated to fmancial institutions are estimated and compared to those for a control sample. Prior to Glass-Steagall, affiliated companies do not display any sensitivity between investment spending and internal measures of liquidity, whereas the control sample does. After Glass-Steagall, bank and trust-affiliated companies display the same large sensitivity of investment spending to internal measures of liquidity as the control sample does. ne of the most spectacular declines in economic activity in U.S. history took place between 1931 and 1933. During the Great Depression, almost one quarter of the labor force faced unemployment, a severe deflation plagued the goods market, and the stock market crash of 1929 precipitated a collapse of financial markets. The Great Depression also saw one of the most dramatic bank runs, which proved to be a devastating blow to the banking system. The economic and financial calamity of those years prompted a frustrated and dissatisfied Roosevelt administration to seek fast remedies partly by enacting the far-reaching New Deal reforms. One of the most important elements ofthe New Deal was the Banking Act of 1933, approved shortly after the election ofthe Roosevelt administration. The Glass-Steagall Act, as commonly known, became one ofthe most influential and far-reaching pieces of legislation on the American financial system. It essentially guaranteed the separation of commercial and investment banking activities, and established the creation of deposit insurance in the banking system. During those years, commercial bank involvement in the securities business was widely viewed as an important cause of bank failures and other
DITHIZONE-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE RAT LATERAL PROSTATE.

Abstract The destructive changes in the epithelium of the rat lateral prostate following dithizone have been studied with the electron microscope. Focal changes are seen within the first hour and marked changes are noted within 3 hours. The possible mechanisms of these changes are briefly discussed. It is suggested that the Golgi granules, endoplasmic reticulum, and plasma membranes, especially the microvilli, may be zinc-rich organelles.
Evolutionary analysis of HIV-1 protease inhibitors: Methods for design of inhibitors that evade resistance.

Drug-resistant strains are rapidly selected during AIDS therapy because of the high rate of mutation in HIV. In this report, we present an evolutionary simulation method for analysis of viral mutation and its use for optimization of HIV-1 protease drugs to improve their robustness in the face of resistance mutation. We first present an analysis of the range of resistant mutants that produce viable viruses by using a volume-based viral fitness model. Then, we analyze how this range of mutant proteases allows development of resistance to an optimal inhibitor previously designed by computational coevolution techniques. Finally, we evaluate the resistance patterns of commercially available drugs, and we discuss how resistance might be overcome by optimizing the size of specific side-chains of these inhibitors.
Platelet-Streptococcal Interactions in Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is characterized by the formation of septic masses of platelets on the surfaces of heart valves and is most commonly caused by viridans streptococci. Streptococcal virulence in endocarditis involves factors that promote infectivity and pathogenicity. Adhesins and exopolysaccharide (glycocalyx) contribute to infectivity. Although many factors may contribute to pathogenicity, the platelet aggregation-associated protein (PAAP) of Streptococcus sanguis contributes directly to the development of experimental endocarditis. PAAP is synthesized as a rhamnose-rich glycoprotein of 115 kDa and contains a collagen-like platelet-interactive domain, pro-gly-glu-gln-gly-pro-lys. Expressed on the cell wall of platelet aggregation-inducing strains (Agg+) of S. sanguis, PAAP apparently interacts with a signal-transducing receptor complex on platelets, which includes a novel 175-kDa alpha 2-integrin-associated protein and a 65-kDa collagen-binding component. From available data, the role of PAAP in the pathogenesis of experimental endocarditis may be explained by a proposed mechanistic model. On injured heart valves, PAAP first enhances platelet accumulation into a fibrin-enmeshed thrombus (vegetation), within which S. sanguis colonizes. Colonizing bacteria must resist platelet microbicidal protein (PMPR). The aggregation of platelets on the heart valve may be potentiated by an ectoATPase expressed on the surface of the S. sanguis and platelet alpha-adrenoreceptors that respond to endogenous catecholamines. The expression of PAAP may be modified during infection. Collagen is exposed on damaged heart valves; fever (heat shock) occurs during endocarditis. In response to heat shock or collagen in vitro, PAAP expression is altered. After colonization, streptococcal exotoxin(s) may cause fever. Proteases and other enzymes from streptococci and host sources may directly destroy the heart valves. When PAAP is unexpressed or neutralized with specific antibodies, experimental endocarditis runs a milder course and vegetations are smaller. The data suggest strongly, therefore, that the role of PAAP may overlap the colonization function of putative adhesins such as FimA or SsaB. Finally, PAAP also contributes to the development of the characteristic septic mural thrombus (vegetation) of infective endocarditis and the signs of valvular pathology.
G.P.24

Cardiomyopathy (CMP) in childhood is an etiologically heterogeneous group of cardiac disease, including many genetic, metabolic, neuromuscular and environmental causes. The goal of this study is to determine the underlying causes and clinical characteristics of children presenting with CMP to a tertiary medical center in Turkey. We analyzed the data of 109 patients retrospectively, who presented with CMP as an initial feature, and without a specific diagnosis, between May 2007 and May 2012. Patients who already developed CMP during the course of a diagnosed disease were excluded from the study. Among 109 patients, 57 were male, and 52 were female. Most of the patients were symptomatic (n = 59) in the first year of life (54.1%). The patients were subdivided into three groups, as dilated CMP (n = 69, 63.3%), hypertrophic CMP (n = 32, 9.4%), and restrictive CMP (n = 8, 7.3%). The etiology remained unknown in 68.8% of all cases. Inborn errors of metabolism (n = 16) and cardiac diseases (n = 10) comprised the main etiological diagnosis, while dysmorphic syndromes (n = 4), immunological diseases (n = 2), neuromuscular diseases (n = 2) were responsible from minority of cases. Cardiac transplantation was possible for 4.6% of patients (n = 5), whereas 29.4% of all patients died during a median of 13-month follow-up. In the era of advanced molecular genetic testing, approach to CMP in childhood is still challenging, and 57–68% patients remain idiopathic. The reported success rate of finding an etiology of CMP is around 30% in literature, and 31.2% in this group. This study highlights the importance of detailed clinical evaluation as a first-step.
Gamma Rays and Neutrinos as Complementary Probes in Astrophysics

Electrons are more susceptible to energy losses in magnetic fields and photon fields than protons. Hence, photons at various wavelengths, including gamma rays, bring more readily information on high-energy electrons than on protons. Neutrinos provide a unique tracer for protons. Furthermore, at high energies the neutrino flux can considerably exceed the gamma-ray flux, as gamma rays above ~ 1 MeV are degraded by γ-γ interactions in compact high-intensity sources. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) with outputs > 1045 ergs s−1 and dimensions ~ 1014 cm would constitute such sources. If the AGN are powered by ultra-massive black holes, then these numerical conditions are satisfied, and at high energies the flux J ν > J γ. Berezinsky and Ginzburg have pointed out that the photon intensity around spinars is not sufficient to cause gamma-ray degradation. These authors have demonstrated that the measurement of neutrino flux, combined with the measurement (or upper limit) of gamma-ray flux would show whether the active galactic nuclei are powered by massive black holes or spinars. We estimate that gamma rays would be degraded at spinars, too, at energies > 1 GeV.
Effects of lysergic acid diethylamide on urinary 17-ketosteroid and 17-OH corticosteroid levels of female rats.

THE marked aberrations in mental functions produced by minute doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) resemble aspects peculiar to schizophrenia1,2. As a result the drug has been suggested to be, and used as, an effective tool for the exploration of mechanisms and patho physiology common to schizophrenia and LSD-25 intoxi-cation2,3.
Thrombomodulin enhances the reactivity of thrombin with protein C inhibitor by providing both a binding site for the serpin and allosterically modulating the activity of thrombin.

Thrombomodulin (TM), or its epidermal growth factor-like domains 456 (TM456), enhances the catalytic efficiency of thrombin toward both protein C and protein C inhibitor (PCI) by 2–3 orders of magnitude. Structural and mutagenesis data have indicated that the interaction of basic residues of the heparin-binding exosite of protein C with the acidic residues of TM4 is partially responsible for the efficient activation of the substrate by the thrombin-TM456 complex. Similar to protein C, PCI has a basic exosite (H-helix) that constitutes the heparin-binding site of the serpin. To determine whether TM accelerates the reactivity of thrombin with PCI by providing a binding site for the H-helix of the serpin, an antithrombin (AT) mutant was constructed in which the H-helix of the serpin was replaced with the same region of PCI (AT-PCIH-helix). Unlike PCI, the H-helix of AT is negatively charged. It was discovered that TM456 slightly (
Scheduling Precedence Constrained Tasks with Reduced Processor Energy on Multiprocessor Computers

Energy-efficient scheduling of sequential tasks with precedence constraints on multiprocessor computers with dynamically variable voltage and speed is investigated as combinatorial optimization problems. In particular, the problem of minimizing schedule length with energy consumption constraint and the problem of minimizing energy consumption with schedule length constraint are considered. Our scheduling problems contain three nontrivial subproblems, namely, precedence constraining, task scheduling, and power supplying. Each subproblem should be solved efficiently so that heuristic algorithms with overall good performance can be developed. Such decomposition of our optimization problems into three subproblems makes design and analysis of heuristic algorithms tractable. Three types of heuristic power allocation and scheduling algorithms are proposed for precedence constrained sequential tasks with energy and time constraints, namely, prepower-determination algorithms, postpower-determination algorithms, and hybrid algorithms. The performance of our algorithms are analyzed and compared with optimal schedules analytically. Such analysis has not been conducted in the literature for any algorithm. Therefore, our investigation in this paper makes initial contribution to analytical performance study of heuristic power allocation and scheduling algorithms for precedence constrained sequential tasks. Our extensive simulation data demonstrate that for wide task graphs, the performance ratios of all our heuristic algorithms approach one as the number of tasks increases.
MIDAS: A Multilevel Interactive Data Acquisition System

A system is described for using a medium scale computer in real time data acquisition, analysis, and control of high-energy physics experiments utilizing wire spark chambers.
Decline in the nationwide in-hospital mortality of patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery in the United States

patients over the age of 40 retrospectively. Specific ICD-9-CM codes for PCI were used for this study. Demographic data including race and gender was also analyzed and adjusted for age. Results: The mean age for these patients was 71.56±10.59 years (53.55% male). From 1988 to 1995, the age-adjusted mortality rate was stable. However, after 1995 the age-adjusted mortality rate showed a persistent decline to the lowest level in 2004. [In 1988, age-adjusted mortality rate was 75.43 per 100,000 (95% CI=−7.88 to 158.76); in 1995, 66.83 per 100,000 (95% CI=24.62 to 109.050); and in 2004, 38.38 per 100,000 (95% CI=19.53 to 57.22); Pb.01.] Total death also declined from 1.8% to 1.2%. This trend was similar across the gender or ethnicities except for Asians. Furthermore, minorities and women had persistently higher mortality in comparison to male and Caucasians. Conclusion: The age-adjusted in-hospital mortality rate from PCI was steady until 1995 and declined to the lowest level in 2004. Despite this decline, racial and gender disparity in regard to mortality persisted over the study years.
Origin of the E Layer of the Ionosphere

The electron concentration in the $E$ layer has been calculated as a function of height according to the theory of the pre-ionization of molecular oxygen by the sun's radiation (Nicolet) and subsequent dissociative recombination (Bates and Massey). The calculations are based on the recent work of Moses and Wu on the distribution of molecular and atomic oxygen in the atom-molecule transition region. It is shown that both the observed height and the value of the peak electron density can be accounted for satisfactorily. We also examine the photo-ionization of atomic oxygen which leads to a peak in the region of the ${F}_{1}$ layer, but it does not seem possible to explain the observed effective recombination coefficient for the ${F}_{1}$ layer on the basis of a theory involving atomic and molecular oxygen alone.
Anterior approaches to cervical spondylosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: review of operative technique and assessment of 65 multilevel circumferential procedures.

Abstract BACKGROUND Multilevel anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (ACF) offers direct resection of spondylostenosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with immediate stabilization. Ideal candidates for multilevel ACF include younger patients ( 65 years of age) with loss or reversal of the cervical lordosis (kyphosis). METHODS Sixty-five patients, averaging 56 years of age and including 40 males and 25 females, with multilevel MR- and CT-documented spondylostenosis and OPLL were studied. Preoperatively, patients exhibited moderate to severe myelopathy (average Nurick grade 3.8), and were managed with 2- to 4-level ACF with posterior wiring and fusion (PWF) procedures with halo application. The first 22 patients had no plate instrumentation, the next 22 had constrained (Orion) plates applied followed sequentially by the application of 13 semi-constrained (Atlantis) plates, and finally, 8 dynamic (ABC Aesculap) plates. RESULTS Patients improved an average of three postoperative Nurick grades. None exhibited new cord injuries, whereas three had transient C5 root paresis. Graft/plate or vertebral fracture with extrusion were observed in 3/22 nonplated patients, 2/22 constrained-plated patients, 3/13 semi-constrained-plated patients, and 0/8 dynamic-plated patients. Fusion was documented on dynamic radiographs and 2D-CT or 3D-CT studies obtained 3 and 6 months postoperatively, or later where indicated. CONCLUSIONS Multilevel ACF/PWF offers direct resection of spondylostenosis and OPLL with immediate maximal stabilization. Thus far, no graft/plate or vertebral body fracture or extrusions have been seen with dynamic plates, whereas the absence of plating and constrained and semi-constrained plating systems have failed.
The current-limiting fuse as fault protection for semiconductor rectifiers

The rapid development of germanium and silicon power rectifier components in recent years has posed unique problems in fault current protection. These two types of rectifiers are characterized by the extremely high current densities tolerable in the active rectifying element at normal loads while maintaining low forward-voltage drop and thus high efficiency. For comparison purposes, full-load current densities (amperes per unit, cross-sectional area) in germanium and silicon rectifiers are approximately 1,000 times greater than in selenium and copper oxide metallic rectifiers.
Emerging physics of oxide heterostructures

We explore novel electronic phenomena that occur at the interface in epitaxial complex oxide heterostructures. We apply ab-initio theory to predict and analyze the behavior of these heterostructures and use molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to realize them in practice. Our first system concerns the interface between two insulating oxides, LaAlO3/SrTiO3 and LaAlO3/EuO. Formation of a two-dimensional electron gas is explored and the electrostatic doping mechanism as a result of the macroscopic electric fields in LaAlO3 is proposed. In the second system, we investigate the possibility of magnetoelectric coupling at a tri-components ferroelectric/ferromagnetic interface using a Pt/PbTiO3/Fe heterostructure as an example. At last we explore the connection between epitaxial strain and interfacial ferromagnetism in SrTiO3/LaCoO3 interface and demonstrate that such structure can be integrated epitaxially with Si (001).
The Measured Energy Savings from Two Lighting Control Strategies

The energy-saving benefits of two lighting control strategies -scheduling and daylighting-were investigated at demonstration sites in two large commercial buildings. A continuously dimmable lighting control system was installed at the Pacific Gas and Electric Company Building in San Francisco, and an on/off switching system was installed at the World Trade Center in New York City. By automatically scheduling the operation of the lighting systems to conform with occupancy patterns, lighting energy consumption was reduced 10-40 percent. Several scheduling techniques were investigated, and the influence of switching the zone size on energy savings was examined. Using photoelectrically controlled lighting systems, which switch or dim lighting in accordance with available daylight, the energy consumed for lighting in daylit areas was reduced to 25-35 percent. The influence of clear and overcast conditions on the energy savings associated with daylight-linked controls is discussed.
Postharvest shelf life extension of blueberries using a biodegradable package

Small berries are commonly packaged and sold to consumers in vented petroleum-based clamshell containers. Biodegradable and compostable packages may be used as an alternative package to reduce waste generation and landfill disposal. In addition, the current clamshell container design does not allow the development of a modified atmosphere that could prolong berry shelf life. Thus, in this study, a non-ventilated biodegradable container was evaluated as a possible alternative to the containers normally used in commercial distribution of small berries. To determine the potential of biodegradable containers for small berries, highbush blueberries were packaged in polylactide (PLA) containers and stored at 10°C for 18 days and at 23°C for 9 days. Commercial vented clamshell containers were used as controls. Physicochemical and microbiological studies were carried out in order to compare the efficacy of both packages. Results showed that the PLA containers prolonged blueberry shelf life at different storage temperatures.
The multiethnic placement act: Implications for social work practice

The issue of transracial adoption has been a controversial issue in foster care and adoption placement decisions. In 1994, the 104th Congress passed the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA), forbidding agencies receiving federal funds from solely considering race, culture, and ethnicity in making foster care and adoption placement decisions. Congress mandated that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) develop policy guidelines for child placement agencies to follow. In April 1995, DHHS issued the guidelines that agencies were to follow. The authors of the paper discuss the MEPA, DHHS's policy guidelines for agencies and the guidelines' legal support, and the implications for social work practice in foster care and adoption placements.
APSA Centennial Center: My Sabbatical Home Away From Home

Only a few months into my first sabbatical leave from the history department at the University of Virginia, my husband accepted a new job and we unexpectedly decided to relocate to Washington, DC. Knowing how important community is to productive scholarship, I scrambled to find an office in the DC area, but I had already missed every fellowship deadline in my field. Then a contact at a DC think tank mentioned APSA's Centennial Center, which had ample room for scholars in the marvelous neighborhood of Dupont Circle.
Myocardial protection in the acutely injured heart: Hyperpolarizing versus depolarizing hypothermic cardioplegia

Abstract Objectives: The superiority of hyperpolarized arrest with adenosine triphosphate–sensitive potassium channel openers over standard hyperkalemic depolarizing cardioplegia during normothermic ischemia has been documented. This study examined the hypothesis that pinacidil would provide superior protection in a more clinically relevant model of an acutely injured heart and hypothermic cardioplegic arrest. Methods: In a blood-perfused, parabiotic, rabbit heart Langendorff model, hearts underwent 15 minutes of unprotected global normothermic ischemia before the administration of 50 ml of cardioplegic solution at 4° C, followed by 50 minutes of hypothermic (15° C) ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion. The cardioplegic solutions administered consisted of Krebs-Henseleit solution alone ( N = 6), Krebs-Henseleit solution with pinacidil (50 μ mol/L; N = 10), Krebs-Henseleit solution with pinacidil (50 μ mol/L) and glibenclamide (a potassium channel blocker, 10 μ mol/L; N = 8), or St. Thomas' Hospital solution ( N = 8). The percent recovery of developed pressure, linear diastolic pressure-volume relationships, and coronary blood flow were compared. Results: The percent recovery of developed pressure was 32.8% ± 2.8%, 43.0% ± 4.3%, 46.5% ± 2.2%, and 49.3% ± 2.7% for the Krebs-Henseleit, the Krebs-Henseleit with pinacidil and glibenclamide, the St. Thomas' Hospital, and the Krebs-Henseleit with pinacidil groups, respectively. No hearts had ventricular fibrillation on reperfusion. Conclusions: During hypothermic hyperpolarized arrest, as opposed to normothermic ischemia as in our previous studies, there was neither an increased incidence of ventricular fibrillation nor prolonged electrical activity when compared with results during traditional hyperkalemic arrest. Myocardial protection by St. Thomas' Hospital solution and pinacidil was superior ( p = 0.009) to that with Krebs-Henseleit solution alone. The protection provided by pinacidil was lost with the addition of glibenclamide, indicating that the drug has adenosine triphosphate–sensitive potassium channel activity during hypothermia. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;113:567-75)
How Formal Status, Liking, and Ability Status Structure Interaction: Three Theoretical Principles and a Test:

We begin to develop a theory of how multiple social processes structure behavior in informal task groups. Our approach is to treat three bases of social structure—status characteristics, formal position, and sentiment—as state organizing processes, and develop theoretical principles about their combined effects. Literature review suggests three general principles: (1) under specified conditions, status, formal position, and sentiment all structure a group's power and prestige inequality; (2) congruence and incongruence (as defined) among structures will affect their strength as organizing principles; and (3) the number of organizing bases will affect efficiency of the structuring process. We state these principles as foundations for incorporation in formal theories. Finally, we analyze data from 70 three-person discussion groups as a first assessment of the principles' empirical adequacy, report conclusions, and suggest directions for further research.
Measuring the Relationship between Parent, Teacher, and Student Problem Behavior Reports and Academic Achievement: Implications for School Counselors

This study investigates the relationship between academic achievement and reports of student problem behavior from teachers, parents, and child self-reports. Participants included 108 teachers, 113 parents/caregivers, and 129 students from an urban school in the Northeast region of the United States. Results suggest parent and child reports were closely related on identification of problem behaviors. The authors discuss implications for how school counselors can utilize multiple informants.
Men Counseling Men: Redefining the Male Machine

The opportunity for men to give and receive counsel with other men is now a reality with the men's consciousness-raising movement. This article describes a men's CR program that encourages men to explore their ideas, feelings, and values in a noncompetitive and trusting atmosphere. Three important themes—self-disclosure, competition, and affection are identified. Barriers to developing close relationships and methodological problems are also identified. In addition, the article provides some examples of experiential and discussion activities that may enhance the level of group participation and trust.
Recurrence of cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy remains controversial for cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck (CMHN). Incidence and factors associated with recurrence after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy have not been well delineated. Methods Characteristics of 204 patients with head and neck melanoma who had a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy were studied. Main outcomes were overall survival and disease-free survival. Results Recurrence developed in 45 patients (22%) with a median time to recurrence of 20.1 months. Five-year overall survival was 91.8% for patients without recurrence and 57.0% for those with recurrence. The overall regional recurrence rate was 8.8% (n = 18) and was associated with Breslow thickness >2 mm and scalp location of the primary tumor. The false omission rate was 3.4%. Conclusion For CMHN, regional recurrence after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy occurs at acceptably low rates relative to other sites, although it is associated with adverse survival. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1116–1121, 2015
Dysarthria of motor neuron disease: Clinician judgments of severity

Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a terminal, demyelinating disease affecting upper- and lower-motor neurons and producing muscular weakness resulting in a characteristic spastic-flaccid dysarthria of speech. The present study investigates the relationship between the temporal-acoustic parameters of the speech of 15 individuals with MND as they relate to the progression of the disease and clinicians' judgments of dysarthria severity. When temporal-acoustic parameters are used to predict the progression of MND, it becomes apparent that victims provide compensatory gestures to mark voicing distinctions. When the same acoustic parameters are used to predict clinician judgments of severity, it is found that clinicians tend to use the same temporal cues that mark actual disease progression. Differences between the two sets of predictions relate to the linguistic systems of both speaker and judge, and the implications of this are discussed.
A theory of thin airfoils and slender bodies in fluids of finite electrical conductivity with aligned fields

The steady incompressible flow of a non-viscous conducting fluid about thin airfoils and slender bodies is studied for the case of a uniform applied magnetic field aligned with the undisturbed fluid stream. Solutions are found, subject to the restriction of small perturbations to the applied field. This condition determines an upper limit on the range of conductivity to which the solution are applicable. Certain results for larger values of conductivity are presented and discussed.The lift on airfoils is calculated, including the possibility of magnets and externally driven currents inside the airfoil, and a magnetohydrodynamic analogue to the Kutta condition is discussed. Drag formulae are presented for airfoils and slender bodies, and the distribution of internal currents and magnets for zero drag is shown. Optimum drag airfoils and bodies are discussed briefly.
Prostatitis: Updates on diagnostic evaluation

Prostatitis accounts for almost 2 million office visits to urologists and primary care physicians. The label “prostatitis” refers to a diverse constellation of symptoms and disease processes. The diagnosis and treatment of this disorder present numerous challenges for the physician, including a lack of abnormal findings on physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiographic images. In this article, we offer a review of the current literature and recommendations for the evaluation and diagnosis of the patient presenting with prostatitis.
Down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression by prostaglandin A(2) is mediated by enhanced cyclin D1 mRNA turnover.

Prostaglandin A2 (PGA2), an experimental chemotherapeutic agent, causes growth arrest associated with decreased cyclin D1 expression in several cancer cell lines. Here, using human non-small-cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells, we investigated the mechanisms whereby PGA2 down-regulates cyclin D1 expression. Transcription rates of the cyclin D1 gene, studied using a cyclin D1 promoter-luciferase construct and nuclear run-on assays, were not affected by PGA2 treatment. Instead, the cyclin D1 mRNA was rendered unstable after exposure to PGA2. Since the stability of labile mRNA is modulated through binding of proteins to specific mRNA sequences, we sought to identify protein(s) recognizing the cyclin D1 mRNA. In electrophoretic mobility-shift assays using radiolabeled RNA probes derived from different regions of cyclin D1 mRNA, we observed that (i) lysates prepared from PGA2-treated cells exhibited enhanced protein-cyclin D1 RNA complex formation; (ii) the kinetics of complex formation correlated closely with that of cyclin D1 mRNA loss; and (iii) binding occurred within a 390-base cyclin D1 3* untranslated region (UTR) (K12). This binding activity could be cross-linked, revealing proteins ranging from 30 to 47 kDa. The RNA-binding protein AUF1, previously associated with the degradation of target mRNAs, bound cyclin D1 mRNA, because anti-AUF1 antibodies were capable of supershifting or immunoprecipitating cyclin D1 mRNA-protein complexes. Finally, insertion of K12 in the 3*UTR of reporter genes markedly reduced the expression and half-life of the resulting chimeric mRNAs in transfected, PGA2-treated cells. Our data demonstrate that PGA2 down-regulates cyclin D1 expression by decreasing cyclin D1 mRNA stability and implicates a 390-base element in the 3*UTR in this regulation.
Optical Trapping, Biosensing, and Spectroscopy in a Single Plasmonic Platform

We propose plasmonic platform that can enable optical trapping, spectroscopy and biosensing, all in the same platform. The system is based on periodic arrays of gold nanopillars fabricated on a supporting gold layer. The proposed platform is highly desirable for biosensing applications since it supports highly refractive index sensitivities as large as 675 nm/RIU which. The spectrally sharp resonances provides large figure of merits as large as 112.5. As the nanopillar array supports large near-field intensities accessible to the biomolecules in the sample around the platform, as large as 10.000 times, the proposed structure can be used for surface enhanced spectroscopy applications. The pillar array also supports plasmonic hot spots with high near-field intensity gradient leading to large gradient forces, 350 pN/W/μm2 which is needed for optical trapping applications.
Declarative Testing: A Paradigm for Testing Software Applications

Traditional techniques to test a software application through the application's graphical user interface have a number of weaknesses. Manual testing is slow, expensive, and does not scale well as the size and complexity of the application increases. Software test automation which exercises an application through the application's UI using an API set can be difficult to maintain. We propose a software testing paradigm called declarative testing. In declarative testing, a test scenario focuses on what to accomplish rather than on the imperative details of how to manipulate the state of an application under test and verify the final application state against an expected state. Declarative testing is a test design paradigm which separates test automation code into conceptual Answer, Executor, and Verifier entities. Preliminary experience with declarative testing suggests that the modular characteristics of the paradigm may significantly enhance the ability of a testing effort to keep pace with the evolution of a software application during the application's development process.
Rapid Assessment of Field Erosion and Sediment Transport Pathways in Cultivated Catchments after Heavy Rainfall Events

This paper explores a scale-adapted erosion mapping method which aims at a rapid assessment of field erosion and sediment transport pathways in catchments up to several square kilometres and compares the results with the output of a well-known erosion model (LISEM). The mapping method is based on an event-defined classification scheme of erosion intensity (zero, weak, moderate and strong) that is applied to arable fields, in combination with incision measurements of erosion features for each erosion intensity class on a small sample of fields. Sediment deposition is classified on the basis of quantity indicators and abundance. In addition, relevant conditions and erosion factors are determined for each field. The method was applied to an agricultural catchment (4·2 km2) in the Sundgau (Alsace), after a short but violent thunderstorm in May 2001, to illustrate its potential use and its limitations. The rainfall event led to strong erosion on the arable fields and a muddy flow that caused significant damage in the built-up area. On the basis of the analyses of the incision measurements in combination with the mapping of erosion intensity classes, total erosion for the catchment was estimated as 15 000 t (an average of about 36 t[sol ]ha). Sediment deposition was found to occur in three major locations: (1) in thalwegs at the interface between maize and downslope winter wheat fields, (2) in downslope headlands where the flow direction suddenly changed due to oriented tillage structures in the perpendicular direction, and (3) the lowest corners of fields which collect all the runoff from the field. Preliminary data analyses suggest that erosion intensity is related to field size and[sol ]or tillage direction and to slope morphology. Model output (LISEM) appeared to depend more strongly on slope gradient than the results obtained with the mapping method. The method yields a database, which can be used as a foundation for conservation strategies in small regions with similar land use and geomorphology. The mapping and modelling methods are compared, and their complementary aspects are highlighted. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental study of a plasma-filled backward wave oscillator

Experimental studies of a plasma-filled X-band backward-wave oscillator (BWO) are presented. Depending on the background gas pressure, microwave frequency upshifts of up to 1 GHz appeared along with an enhancement by a factor of 7 in the total microwave power emission. The bandwidth of the microwave emission increased from >
Lime-Soda Softening Process Modifications for Enhanced NOM Removal

In this research, a number of process modifications to the lime-soda softening process were examined, including utilization of high Mg-content lime, addition of MgCl 2 , and the recycling of softening sludge, in order to improve the removal of natural organic matter (NOM) and reduce the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Jar test results showed that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal increased and trihalomethane (THM) formation was reduced as the magnesium in hydrated lime increased, and was directly correlated with the amount of magnesium removed from the system. However, a dolomitic quick lime hydrated under atmospheric conditions resulted in less effective DOC removal due to a lack of available Mg, and subsequently, less co-precipitation of Mg(OH) 2 -NOM complexes. The addition of MgCl 2 to the raw water also increased DOC removal and reduced THM formation in both the presence and absence of softening sludge, with DOC removal increasing as softening sludge and magnesium dosages increased. As high as 43% removal of DOC was achieved at the stoichoimetric lime-soda ash dose in the presence of 457 mg/L sludge and 7.5 mg/L MgCl 2 , as compared to only 13% removal in the absence of sludge and MgCl 2 . The recycling of softening sludge had little or no effect on the hardness and the level of inorganic elements in treated water. The results presented here provide new approaches for improving DBP precursor removal during lime-soda softening without significantly increasing lime and soda ash dosage or the generation of waste sludge.
Assessment matters: Early intervention: Using assessment to reduce student attrition

Brian A. Vander Schee describes how incorporating the College Student Inventory into an existing freshman seminar measurably improved student retention.
A Logic of Attribute Containment

We present a logic of if-then rules such as "if all attributes of an object are among those from A then they are among those from B." The attributes can either be yes/no attributes, such as male and has all wheel drive, or graded attributes, such as red and good performance which apply to objects to certain grades. We assume an abstract nonnumeric framework in which the grades form a particular bounded partially ordered set equipped with aggregation operators. For such framework, we provide basic syntactic and semantic notions, describe complete non-redundant sets of the if-then rules, and a logic for reasoning with such dependencies with its ordinary-style and graded-style completeness.
Role of Three-Body Potentials in Disordered Alloys. I: Binary Alloys

Noting the need for taking into account the effects of irreducible many-body potentials in condensed systems, a formulation of the statistical mechanics of disordered binary alloys with arbitrary composition and arbitrary range of static two- and three-body potentials is given. High temperature series expansions for the pair-wise and the triplet correlations are derived. _ It is noted that in the linear, mean-field like, approximation, all the effects of the irreducible three- and higher-body potentials on the two-site correlation (i. e., the short range order pa­ rameter) can be represented in terms of an effective, composition dependent, pair-wise poten­ tial. The inclusion of the second and higher order terms in the (kT) -1 expansion, however, changes this situation. For the triplet correlations, on the other hand, the presence of the three-body potentials is found- to make a contribution in the leading order in (kT) -1, such that it cannot altogether be represented by an effective pair-wise potential. Consequently, it is noted that experimental measurement of the triplet correlations would, under certain condi­ tions, provide direct information about the three-body potentials.
Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursors develop into neurons and integrate into the host brain

Whether and how in-vitro-produced human neural precursors mature and integrate into the brain are crucial to the utility of human embryonic stem (hES) cells in treating neurological disorders. After transplantation into the ventricles of neonatal immune-deficient mice, hES-cell-derived neural precursors stopped expressing the cell division marker Ki67, except in neurogenic areas, and differentiated into neurons and then glia in a temporal course intrinsic to that of human cells regardless of location. The human cells located in the gray matter became neurons in the olfactory bulb and striatum, whereas those in the white matter produced exclusively glia. Importantly, the grafted human cells formed synapses. Thus, the in-vitro-produced human neural precursors follow their intrinsic temporal program to produce neurons and glia and, in response to environmental signals, generate cells appropriate to their target regions and integrate into the brain.
BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 Coordinates Organ Determinacy and Axial Polarity in Arabidopsis by Directly Activating ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2

Continuous organ formation is a hallmark of plant development that requires organ-specific gene activity to establish determinacy and axial patterning, yet the molecular mechanisms that coordinate these events remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the organ-specific BTB-POZ domain proteins BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 (BOP1) and BOP2 function as transcriptional activators during Arabidopsis thaliana leaf formation. We identify as a direct target of BOP1 induction the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2) gene, which promotes leaf cell fate specification and adaxial polarity. We find that BOP1 associates with the AS2 promoter and that BOP1 and BOP2 are required for AS2 activation specifically in the proximal, adaxial region of the leaf, demonstrating a role for the BOP proteins as proximal-distal as well as adaxial-abaxial patterning determinants. Furthermore, repression of BOP1 and BOP2 expression by the indeterminacy-promoting KNOX gene SHOOTMERISTEMLESS is critical to establish a functional embryonic shoot apical meristem. Our data indicate that direct activation of AS2 transcription by BOP1 and BOP2 is vital for generating the conditions for KNOX repression at the leaf base and may represent a conserved mechanism for coordinating leaf morphogenesis with patterning along the adaxial-abaxial and the proximal-distal axes.
The effects of the intensity of a teacher's reprimands on children's behavior☆

Abstract Relative frequency of disruptive behaviors displayed by first grade children during “rest time” was recorded by observers and related to experimentally controlled variations in teacher's behavior. Disruptive behaviors were measured by observing individual children sequentially for five 10-second time intervals each, using a coding system developed earlier. During baseline disruptive behaviors occurred on the average in 54% of the time intervals. When appropriate behaviors were praised and disruptive behaviors were ignored, disruptive behaviors averaged 32%. In the next phase, quiet reprimands were found to function similarly to praise (39% disruptive). Loud reprimands increased disruptive behaviors to 53%. In the final phase, the praise and ignore procedure reduced disruptive behaviors again to 35% of the time intervals.
Reactivation of inhibited bone acid phosphatase and its significance in bone histomorphometry.

Despite biochemical demonstration of acid phosphatase (AcP) activation or reactivation in bone, few attempts have been made to show similar effects histochemically. Bones from growing rats, when fixed in 4% buffered formaldehyde at room temperature and demineralized in 5% formic acid, exhibited expected inactivation of AcP. The inhibited AcP, however, was reactivated by pre-incubation of sections for 1 hr at 37 degrees C in the following buffers: 0.2 M Tris, 0.2 M glycine, 0.2 M NaHCO3, or 0.1 M borax, as well as in alkaline water, but not in 0.2 M Na2HPO4 (all at pH 9). The reactivation was (a) site-specific (e.g., osteoclasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and cement lines), (b) temperature- and pH-dependent, (c) unaffected by OH- or SH--binding agents or by an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor, and (d) inhibited completely by 10 mM Na2HPO4. The reactivation process, much simplified and/or more effective than with the methods previously reported, was observed in all 83 human biopsy bones embedded in methyl methacrylate and in human bones stored in cold buffered formaldehyde for 7 months. This study demonstrates a unique method for reactivating and thus localizing the inhibited AcP in bones, and suggests possible applications in bone histomorphometry.
Atom transfer radical polymerization in aqueous dispersed media

During the last decade, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) received significant attention due to its exceptional capability of synthesizing polymers with pre-determined molecular weight, well-defined molecular architectures and various functionalities. It is economically and environmentally attractive to adopt ATRP to aqueous dispersed media, although the process is challenging. This review summarizes recent developments of conducting ATRP in aqueous dispersed media. The issues related to retaining “controlled/living” character as well as colloidal stability during the polymerization have to be considered. Better understanding the ATRP mechanism and development of new initiation techniques, such as activators generated by electron transfer (AGET) significantly facilitated ATRP in aqueous systems. This review covers the most important progress of ATRP in dispersed media from 1998 to 2009, including miniemulsion, microemulsion, emulsion, suspension and dispersed polymerization.
Long-term epigenetic effects of exposure to low doses of 56Fe in the mouse lung

Despite significant progress, the long-term health effects of exposure to high charge (Z) and energy (E) nuclei (HZEs) and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Mouse studies show that space missions can result in pulmonary pathological states. The goal of this study was to evaluate the pro-fibrotic and pro-carcinogenic effects of exposure to low doses of heavy iron ions ( 56 Fe) in the mouse lung. Exposure to 56 Fe (600 MeV; 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 Gy) resulted in minor pro-fibrotic changes, detected at the beginning of the fibrotic phase (22 weeks post exposure), which were exhibited as increased expression of chemokine Ccl3, and interleukin Il4. Epigenetic alterations were exhibited as global DNA hypermethylation, observed after exposure to 0.4 Gy. Cadm1, Cdh13, Cdkn1c, Mthfr and Sfrp1 were significantly hypermethylated after exposure to 0.1 Gy, while exposure to higher doses resulted in hypermethylation of Cdkn1c only. However, expression of these genes was not affected by any dose. Congruently with the observed patterns of global DNA methylation, DNA repetitive elements were hypermethylated after exposure to 0.4 Gy, with minor changes observed after exposure to lower doses. Importantly, hypermethylation of repetitive elements coincided with their transcriptional repression. The findings of this study will aid in understanding molecular determinants of pathological states associated with exposure to 56 Fe, as well as serve as robust biomarkers for the delayed effects of irradiation. Further studies are clearly needed to investigate the persistence and outcomes of molecular alterations long term after exposure.