cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The nuclear matrix protein, numatrin (B23), is associated with growth factor-induced mitogenesis in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and with T lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by lectins and anti-T cell antigen receptor antibody.

Numatrin is a tightly bound nuclear matrix protein (40 kD/pI-5) whose synthesis is markedly and promptly increased in association with cellular commitment for mitogenesis in B lymphocytes. (Feuerstein, N., and J.J. Mond. 1987. J. Biol. Chem. 262:11389-11397). To study whether this event is exclusively associated with proliferation of B lymphocytes, we examined the synthesis of numatrin in T lymphocytes (murine and human) activated by lectins or by anti-T cell antigen receptor monoclonal antibody and in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts stimulated by growth factors. We showed a close correlation between induction of DNA synthesis and induction of numatrin synthesis in T lymphocytes stimulated by concanavalin A, anti-T cell antigen receptor monoclonal antibody, and IL-2 in murine T cells. Similar results were observed in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, thus only combinations of growth factors (insulin/EGF or insulin/B subunit of cholera toxin) or serum, which induced a significant increase in DNA synthesis, were also associated with a significant increase in synthesis of numatrin. Similar to B cells, the increase in numatrin synthesis in fibroblasts was found to occur at early G1 phase. The calcium ionophores, A23187 and ionomycin, previously shown to induce an increase in c-myc and c-fos mRNA levels in fibroblasts, induced a marked increase in the synthesis of a nuclear protein at 80 kD/pI-5 but failed to induce an increase in the synthesis of numatrin indicating that an increase in intracellular Ca++ level is not sufficient for induction of the synthesis of numatrin. This further indicates that the increase in synthesis of numatrin may be more closely correlated with cellular commitment for mitogenesis as compared with other biochemical parameters. Using a polyclonal numatrin antibody we demonstrated that mitogen stimulation is also associated with a marked increase in numatrin abundance, which reached a peak at the onset of S phase and declined at the end of S phase. Evidence is presented to show that numatrin synthesis and abundance is elevated in various lymphoma cell lines. Using indirect immunofluorescence assays we showed that numatrin is abundant in other malignant cells: KB, epidermoid carcinoma, and Hep2 human hepatoma. Immunofluorescence studies further showed that mitogen stimulation of B lymphocytes induced a marked accumulation of numatrin in the nucleoli. This observation is in accord with the recent finding of identity of numatrin with the nucleolar protein B23 (Feuerstein et al. 1988. J. Biol. Chem. 263:10608-10612).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Stressed to Death: Regulation of Apoptotic Signaling Pathways by the Heat Shock Proteins

Cellular damage can engage two fundamental cellular responses: apoptosis, a precisely regulated form of cell death; and the heat shock protein (Hsp), or stress response, which functions to protect cells and to mediate an accelerated recovery following damage. The coordinated balance between these two opposing pathways governs the ultimate fate of the cell--whether it lives or dies. The self-destruction of a cell is mediated by one of many signaling pathways culminating in the activation of the caspase proteases. The Hsps regulate the activity of multiple intracellular signaling intermediates, many of which are intimately involved in the execution of the apoptotic signaling pathways. This review addresses whether the antiapoptotic activities of several Hsps, including Hsp70, Hsp90, and Hsp27, can be attributed to their collective ability to regulate the activities, expression, or both of apoptotic signaling molecules. In summary, the functional interface between the ancient heat shock or stress protein response and the highly conserved biochemical pathways leading to the activation of apoptosis governs the susceptibility of a cell to damaging stimuli.
Effect of concurrent metastatic disease on survival in children and adolescents undergoing lung resection for metastatic osteosarcoma.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the impact of treated extra-pulmonary metastatic disease on overall (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) for pediatric osteosarcoma patients undergoing pulmonary metastatectomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed pediatric patients who were treated for osteosarcoma at our institution from 2001 to 2011 and received pulmonary metastatectomy (n=76). We compared OS and EFS between patients with metastases limited to the lungs (Group A, n=58) to those with treated extra-pulmonary metastases (Group B, n=18) at the time of first pulmonary metastatectomy. Results The estimated median OS and EFS from first pulmonary metastatectomy were 2.0years (95% CI 1.5–2.8years) and 5.5months (95% CI 3.0–8.1months), respectively. Median OS was significantly greater for Group A (2.6years, 95% CI 1.9–3.8) compared to Group B (0.9years, 95% CI 0.6–1.5) (log rank p=0.0001). Median EFS was significantly greater for Group A (7.9months, 95% CI 5.0–10.7) compared to Group B (1.6months, 95% CI 0.8–2.7) (log rank p 4 nodules resected at first thoracotomy (all p Conclusions Osteosarcoma patients with treated extra-pulmonary metastatic disease at the time of pulmonary metastatectomy have significantly worse survival compared to those with disease limited to the lungs.
Emotion dysregulation as a core feature of borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a debilitating mental illness that affects approximately 1-2% of the general population. Researchers have increasingly come to view emotion dysregulation as a core feature of BPD. The present study examines the relationship between BPD symptomatology and emotion dysregulation using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) in two college samples. BPD symptoms were assessed by self-report (MSI-BPD) in sample 1 and by semi-structured interview (SIDP-IV) in sample 2. Results suggest that emotion dysregulation accounts for unique variance in BPD even after controlling for traditional indicators of negative emotionality, including depression, anxiety, and negative affect. Findings support theories regarding the role of emotion dysregulation in BPD and provide directions for future research.
A remark on local-global principles for conjugacy classes

A local-global principle is shown to hold for all conjugacy classes of any inner form of GL(n), SL(n), U(n), SU(n), and for all semisimple conjugacy classes in any inner form of Sp(n), over fieldsk with vcd(k)≤1. Over number fields such a principle is known to hold for any inner form of GL(n) and U(n), and for the split forms of Sp(n), O(n), as well as for SL(p) but not for SL(n),n non-prime. The principle holds for all conjugacy classes in any inner form of GL(n), but not even for semisimple conjugacy classes in Sp(n), over fieldsk with vcd(k)≤2. The principle for conjugacy classes is related to that for centralizers.
Osmotic observations on chemically cross-linked DNA gels in physiological salt solutions.

Neutralized DNA gels exhibit a reversible volume transition when CaCl2 is added to the surrounding aqueous NaCl solution. In this paper, a systematic study of the osmotic and mechanical properties of Na-DNA gels is presented to determine, qualitatively and quantitatively, the effect of Ca -Na exchange on the volume transition. It is found that in the absence of CaCl 2 the DNA gels exhibit osmotic behavior similar to that of DNA solutions with reduced DNA concentration. At low CaCl2 concentration, the gel volume gradually decreases as the CaCl2 concentration increases. Below the volume transition, the concentration dependence of the osmotic pressure can be satisfactorily described by a Flory-Huggins-type equation. The Ca 2+ ions primarily affect the third-order interaction term, which strongly increases upon the introduction of Ca 2+ ions. The second-order interaction term only slightly depends on the CaCl2 concentration. It is demonstrated that DNA gels cross-linked in solutions containing CaCl2 exhibit reduced osmotic mixing pressure. The concentration dependence of the shear modulus of DNA gels can be described by a single power law. The scaling exponent is practically independent of the NaCl concentration and increases with increasing CaCl 2 content.
Best friends forever?: High school best friendships and the transition to college

The transition from high school to college is an important phase for adolescents in social as well as academic aspects. This study examined the changes that occur in high school best friendships during the first year of college. Results revealed that during the first year in college high school best friendships declined in satisfaction, commitment, rewards, and investments. During this period there was also an increase in costs and alternatives to best friend relationships. Proximity did not influence the friendships; however, level of communication did moderate friendship deterioration. Furthermore, individuals who continued their best friendship reported engaging in more maintenance behaviors of positivity, supportiveness, self-disclosure, and interaction than individuals who reported a change in the relationship to close or casual friendship. Maintaining the best friendship also appeared to buffer adolescents from social loneliness. The results are discussed in terms of the implications of transitions on adolescent friendships.
Viscous damping and spring force calculation of regularly perforated MEMS microstructures in the Stokes' approximation.

Abstract There are a number of applications for microstructure devices consisting of a regular pattern of perforations, and many of these utilize fluid damping. For the analysis of viscous damping and for calculating the spring force in some cases, it is possible to take advantage of the regular hole pattern by assuming periodicity. Here a model is developed to determine these quantities based on the solution of the Stokes’ equations for the air flow. Viscous damping is directly related to thermal–mechanical noise. As a result, the design of perforated microstructures with minimal viscous damping is of real practical importance. A method is developed to calculate the damping coefficient in microstructures with periodic perforations. The result can be used to minimize squeeze film damping. Since micromachined devices have finite dimensions, the periodic model for the perforated microstructure has to be associated with the calculation of some frame (edge) corrections. Analysis of the edge corrections has also been performed. Results from analytical formulas and numerical simulations match very well with published measured data.
Dietary isoflavone supplementation modulates lipid metabolism via PPARα-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Intake of soy protein has been associated with improvements in lipid metabolism, with much attention being focused on the serum cholesterol-lowering property of soy. The component or components of ...
Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective.

The way we define learning and what we believe about the way learning occurs has important implications for situations in which we want to facilitate changes in what people know and/ or do. Learning theories provide instructional designers with verified instructional strategies and techniques for facilitating learning as well as a foundation for intelligent strategy selection. Yet many designers are operating under the constraints of a limited theoretical background. This paper is an attempt to familiarize designers with three relevant positions on learning (behavioral, cognitive, and constructivist) which provide structured foundations for planning and conducting instructional design activities. Each learning perspective is discussed in terms of its specific interpretation of the learning process and the resulting implications for instructional designers and educational practitioners. The information presented here provides the reader with a comparison of these three different viewpoints and illustrates how these differences might be translated into practical applications in instructional situations.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of Kilham rat virus infection in rats

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adapted and compared with the haemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) test for the serological diagnosis of Kilham rat virus (KRV) infection in rats. The assay is a solid phase, indirect method for the measurement of specific antibody. Test variables such as the amount of purified KRV for coating polystyrene microtitre plates, dilution of peroxidase conjugate, etc. were standardized for optimum results. Sera from both naturally and experimentally infected rats were examined, and the ELISA was found to be 5-10 times more sensitive for KRV serology. The kinetics of antibody development during experimental infection, as determined by ELISA, paralleled that of the HAI test and antibodies could be detected as early as 4 days after infection.
Influence of genetic background and gender on hypertension and renal failure in COX-2-deficient mice

The present study was undertaken to determine whether the severity of renal failure or hypertension in homozygous cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-deficient (COX-2−/−) mice affected by genetic background or ...
A suboptimal equalizer for mimo systems to guarantee maximum diversity and near linear equalization complexity

MIMO transmissions (e.g., V-BLAST) have been widely adopted for high-rate high-performance systems. When the maximum likelihood (ML) or near-ML detector is employed, receive diversity is collected for V-BLAST systems with high complexity. On the other hand, linear equalizers (LEs) require much lower complexity but degrade performance due to the loss of diversity. Lattice reduction (LR) technique has been introduced to restore the diversity of LEs with increased complexity. To further reduce the complexity of LR- aided LEs, in this paper, we propose a suboptimal equalizer which achieves the same diversity order as that collected by ML detector while keeping the complexity close to LEs. Furthermore, the proposed hybrid equalizer also enables trade-off between performance (coding gain) and complexity based on the channel orthogonality deficiency value. Simulation results corroborate our theoretical claims.
Blocking stress response for better memory

Two years ago, a small molecule was discovered that enhanced the memory of rodents ( 1 ). Pinpointing the target of this compound, called integrated stress response inhibitor (ISRIB), could guide the development of cognitive disorder treatments. Two groups have now identified a target. On page 1027 of this issue, Sekine et al. ( 2 ) report, as do Sidrauski et al. ( 3 ), that ISRIB increases the activity of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B), a factor that regulates protein synthesis in a pathway underlying the cellular response to stress.
Performance comparisons of load balancing algorithms for I/O-intensive workloads on clusters

Load balancing techniques play a critically important role in developing high-performance cluster computing platforms. Existing load balancing approaches are concerned with the effective usage of CPU and memory resources. Due to imbalance in disk I/O resources under I/O-intensive workloads, the previous CPU- or memory-aware load balancing schemes suffer significant performance drop. To remedy this deficiency, in this paper we propose a novel load-balancing algorithm (hereinafter referred to as IOLB) for clusters, which aims at maintaining high resource utilization under a wide range of workload conditions. Specifically, IOLB is conducive to reducing the average slowdown of all parallel jobs submitted to a cluster by balancing load in disk resources. This can, in turn, not only achieve the effective usage of global disk resources but also reduce response times of I/O-intensive parallel jobs. To theoretically study the optimization of the IOLB algorithm, we qualitatively comparing IOLB with two conventional CPU- and memory-aware load-balancing schemes. We prove that when the workloads become CPU- or memory-intensive in nature, IOLB gracefully degrades towards the existing load-balancing schemes. Experimental results based on trace-driven simulations demonstratively show that the IOLB algorithm significantly improves the resource utilization of a cluster under I/O-intensive workloads. Furthermore, our results confirm that IOLB is able to maintain the same level of performance as the two existing approaches, because IOLB improves CPU and memory utilization under CPU- and memory-intensive workloads.
Retinoic acid induces matrix Gla protein gene expression in human cells

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible regulation of the vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla (gamma-carboxyglutamic acid) protein (MGP) by retinoic acid, a regulation suggested by the recent observation that the human MGP promoter has a perfect direct repeat which is nearly identical to the retinoic acid-responsive element in the retinoic acid receptor-beta gene. We report that retinoic acid strongly increases MGP mRNA levels in all human cells tested, including osteoblasts, articular cartilage chondrocytes, and fibroblasts. In osteoblastic cells, MGP mRNA levels are increased by 25-fold at 1 microM retinoic acid and achieve half-maximal levels at 0.1 microM hormone. MGP is a small secreted protein of unknown function that is synthesized in a wide variety of vertebrate tissues. The present results suggest that part of the known actions of retinoic acid on skin, bone, cartilage, and other tissues in the human may be mediated by the stimulation of MGP synthesis and the consequent effect of increased MGP secretion on nearby target cells.
The Deterrents To CPE Effectiveness In The Accounting Profession: A Factor Analytic Study

This paper examines the effectiveness of CPE programs for accountants and whether there are deterrents that prevent some CPAs from getting the most out of their CPE hours. Previous studies (Cross, 1981; Dao, 1975; Darkenwald & Merriam 1982; Darkenwald & Valentine, 1985, Chanidinia & Griffith, 1975; Johnstone & Rivera, 1965; Scanlan & Darkenwald, 1984) identified several deterrents or barriers which inhibit voluntary participation in continuing professional education. However, little research has been conducted exploring the relative importance of deterrents to participation in settings in which participation is mandatory. A survey of 1,957 North Carolina CPAs showed that deterrents identified in earlier participation studies are negatively and significantly related to the effectiveness of mandatory continuing professional education for the accounting profession.
SOI and device scaling

In the past five years, impressive progress has been made in SOI materials, device and process demonstrations, and product research, yet SOI IC technology remains a promise more than a reality. An important reason is that the rate of bulk technology scaling, in terms of gate length, gate oxide thickness, threshold voltage (V/sub t/), and performance has exceeded earlier expectations (Hu, 1995). In an environment of rapidly advancing bulk technology, it was difficult to overcome the concern over the known and unknown risks of adopting SOI technology, as it was not known how the situation might change with future scaling. This paper attempts to highlight some considerations in three phases of device scaling-when bulk device scaling may proceed rapidly, slowly, and with extreme difficulty.
Modulation of Actin Filament Behavior by GAP-43 (Neuromodulin) Is Dependent on the Phosphorylation Status of Serine 41, the Protein Kinase C Site

Synthesis of GAP-43 (also known as neuromodulin) in neurons is induced during axon growth, and high concentrations (estimated between 50 and 100 μm) accumulate in the growth cone. GAP-43 is tightly associated with the growth cone membrane skeleton, the structure that transduces extracellular guidance cues into alterations in morphology by spatially regulating polymerization of actin filaments, thereby causing directional changes in axon growth. GAP-43 cosediments with actin filaments, and its phosphorylation on serine 41 by PKC, too, is spatially regulated so that phosphorylated GAP-43 is found in areas where growth cones make productive, stable contacts with other cells. In contrast, unphosphorylated GAP-43, which binds calmodulin, is always found in parts of the growth cone that are retracting. Here we have used a cell-free assay to investigate how the phosphorylation status of GAP-43 affects its interactions with actin and show that both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated GAP-43 have different, independent effects on actin filament structure. Phosphorylated GAP-43 stabilizes long actin filaments (Kd = 161 nm), and antibodies to phosphorylated GAP-43 inhibit binding of actin to phalloidin, implying a lateral interaction with filaments. In contrast, unphosphorylated GAP-43 reduces filament length distribution (Kd= 1.2 μm) and increases the critical concentration for polymerization. Prebinding calmodulin potentiates this effect. The results show that spatially regulated post-translational modifications of GAP-43 within the growth cone, which can be regulated in response to extracellular signals, have the ability to directly influence the structure of the actin cytoskeleton.
Evading invaders: the effectiveness of a behavioral response acquired through lifetime exposure

Understanding the mechanisms driving adaptations to survive agonistic interactions, and their function, provides insight into how native species adapt to aggressive invaders, a growing global threat. We staged encounters between native fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) and red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) on and off the ant mound (nest) to examine the effectiveness of lizard antipredator behavior through ontogeny while focusing on the impact of lifetime and evolutionary exposure to this invasive threat. We used field-caught and lab-reared lizards from a fire ant‐invaded and an uninvaded site. In ;90% of cases, fire ants found lizards within 12 min in natural lizard habitat. Lizards that performed rapid twitches of their body and/or fled after initial encounter with a fire ant scout reduced their risk of having additional fire ants recruit to the attack. The majority of lizards that had been exposed to fire ants within their lifetime (field-caught lizards from the invaded site) behaviorally
Prevention of carcinogenesis and inhibition of breast cancer tumor burden by dietary stearate

Previous studies have shown that stearate (C18:0), a dietary long-chain saturated fatty acid, inhibits breast cancer cell neoplastic progression; however, little is known about the mechanism modulating these processes. We demonstrate that stearate, at physiological concentrations, inhibits cell cycle progression in human breast cancer cells at both the G1 and G2 phases. Stearate also increases cell cycle inhibitor p21CIP1/WAF1 and p27KIP1 levels and concomitantly decreases cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) phosphorylation. Our data also show that stearate induces Ras– guanosine triphosphate formation and causes increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK). The MEK1 inhibitor, PD98059, reversed stearate-induced p21CIP1/WAF1 upregulation, but only partially restored stearate-induced dephosphorylation of Cdk2. The Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK pathway has been linked to cell cycle regulation but generally in a positive way. Interestingly, we found that stearate inhibits both Rho activation and expression in vitro. In addition, constitutively active RhoC reversed stearate-induced upregulation of p27KIP1, providing further evidence of Rho involvement. To test the effect of stearate in vivo, we used the N-Nitroso-N-methylurea rat breast cancer carcinogen model. We found that dietary stearate reduces the incidence of carcinogen-induced mammary cancer and reduces tumor burden. Importantly, mammary tumor cells from rats on a stearate diet had reduced expression of RhoA and B as well as total Rho compared with a low-fat diet. Overall, these data indicate that stearate inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting key check points in the cell cycle as well as Rho expression in vitro and in vivo and inhibits tumor burden and carcinogen-induced mammary cancer in vivo.
Handling Overtraced Strokes in Hand-Drawn Sketches

Overtracing is the phenomenon in sketching of repeatedly drawing over previously drawn ink. It is a naturally appearing effect and is especially frequent in domains such as architectural drawings. Existing work in sketch recognition focuses on sketches with nonovertraced strokes. In this paper, we describe a method for generating geometric approximations of overtraced strokes in terms of primitives including lines, non-selfintersecting polylines, ellipses and arcs. Our system generates concise approximations for overtraced strokes at an early stage in sketch processing, making it possible to use these concise descriptions in higher level processing and sketch interpretation systems.
Factors That Influence School Board Policy Making: The Political Context of Student Diversity in Urban-Suburban Districts

Purpose: This article examines factors that affect school board policy making about student diversity within two southern urban-suburban school districts experiencing changing demographics: Jefferson County Public Schools and the Wake County Public School System. Both districts have a history of voluntary integration efforts, and research shows that racially diverse countywide districts can make integration more feasible. However, as courts constrain mechanisms used in policies to establish/maintain racial integration, it is crucial to examine how school boards make policy decisions while navigating the politics of their communities and competing conceptions surrounding racial diversity. Research Method/Approach: This study employed qualitative case study methods to understand under what circumstances school boards are creating policy, paying particular attention to the local sociopolitical and geographic contexts. Data collected consisted of 37 interviews with school district officials and community stakeholders. Mainstream and specialty media articles, legal documents, and policy documents from the districts or other governmental bodies also
Hypertension Treatment Guidelines: Practical Implications

The focus of blood pressure (BP) lowering is to prevent or reduce the risk for cardiovascular and renal events. This rationale forms the basis for the recent guideline statements issued by the Seventh Joint National Committee, the American Diabetes Association, the European Society of Hypertension, and the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative. The goal BP in the majority of hypertensive patients should be less than 140/90 mm Hg, with a lower goal of less than 130/80 mm Hg in patients with diabetes or kidney disease. Meta-analyses of clinical trials with renal end points make it clear that the presence of 1 gram or more of proteinuria mandates a BP approaching 115 mm Hg to slow the progression of advanced nephropathy adequately. Compelling indications also exist for the use of certain antihypertensive agents in the setting of kidney dysfunction, diabetes, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. Initiation with 2 antihypertensive agents should be considered strongly for patients with a BP of more than 20 mm Hg greater than the systolic BP goal. This means that those with a goal BP of less than 130 mm Hg should be started on 2 antihypertensive medications with complementary actions when the systolic BP is 150 mm Hg or greater. In patients with kidney disease, reaching the BP goal requires multiple agents that should include an appropriate diuretic and an agent that blocks the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to slow the progression of kidney disease.
Graphite: a mimic for DNA and other biomolecules in scanning tunneling microscope studies

Highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) is the substrate often used in scanning tunneling microscope (STM) studies of biomolecules such as DNA. All of the images presented in this article are of freshly cleaved HOPG surfaces upon which no deposition has occurred. These images illustrate features previously thought to be due to biological molecules, such as periodicity and meandering of "molecules" over steps. These features can no longer be used to distinguish real molecules from features of the native substrate. The feasibility of the continued use of HOPG as a substrate for biological STM studies is discussed.
Blanche Mitchell, presented by herself∗

(1981). Blanche Mitchell, presented by herself. Historical Studies: Vol. 19, No. 77, pp. 607-614.
Foreword by the guest editor

This special issue of the African Journal on Conflict Resolution (AJCR) on the theme Then and now: Perspectives on conflict resolution in South Africa (in honour of H.W. van der Merwe) is unconventional in that most of the contributions are a combination of academic deliberation, historical overview and analysis, as well as personal reflections. Moreover, it is also unusual in having two main sections. The first contains a number of more academically oriented articles that reflect on the history of South Africa prior to the end of apartheid and the role that especially H.W. van der Merwe played as one of the earliest conflict resolution theorists and practitioners in South Africa, as well as a few reflections on the current state of South Africa and some prevailing concerns. That is followed by a number of personal tributes to H.W. van der Merwe as they relate to his role and influence in an historic period in South Africa's history, reflections that in some cases become a mixture of personal and theoretical contemplations and appreciations.
Rising from the Ashes, But Not High Enough: Sykes’ Clear-but-Failed Remedy for the Vague Residual Clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act

This case note provides background information on the ACCA and analyzes the differences among the past approaches taken by the Court when interpreting the residual clause of the ACCA. This note continues by examining the changes in the approach and philosophy of the Court toward the residual clause, as articulated in Sykes. Next, it predicts how the Court will rule in future cases by analyzing the Court’s opinion and predicting how the Court has solidified its methods of approach using a modified-closest analog approach. Additionally, this note addresses the criticisms by the concurring and dissenting opinions in Sykes. Further, this note argues that the ACCA should be rendered void for vagueness and ambiguity. While the Sykes Court clarified its approach for future cases, ambiguity and vagueness still run rampant in the interpretation and language of the residual clause.
Food, Farming & Sustainability: Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Production

This article offers a discussion of the U.S. agricultural sector and its current focus on an industrialized model of production. Challenges to the longterm sustainability of this approach are presented and an approach based more on natural processes is advocated. The article was prepared for the inaugural symposium of the Agricultural and Food Law Institute in South Korea, “The Conservation and Conversion of Farm Land” held at Yeungnam University Law School in Gyeongsan, South Korea.
Effect of trapped air on wave forces on coastal bridge superstructures

Recent hurricanes have caused significant damage to coastal bridges of southern US coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico. Previous studies have identified trapped air between bridge girders as a significant factor in increasing wave uplift loads on coastal bridge superstructures. The objective of this study is to investigate and quantify this effect. A numerical parametric study is conducted to examine the influence of this trapped air effect on resultant wave forces under different wave conditions for a variety of bridge geometry. Numerical results show that the wave loads on a bridge deck superstructure are sensitive to the amount of trapped air between the bridge girders. The wave uplift force is found to be 57–88 %, on average, lower for a wide range of wave periods when the effect of the trapped air is neglected. In addition, the effectiveness of the presence of air vents in reducing the air pressure between girders and the wave forces is evaluated. Numerical results indicate that the vertical (uplift) wave forces acting on the bridge superstructures can be reduced by about 56 % on average using deck air vents. Numerical results of the computational analyses of the wave forces on coastal bridge superstructures are also compared to estimations of the wave force computed from design expressions in AASHTO. It is found that while AASHTO estimations of the horizontal wave force are reasonable, estimations of the vertical forces are less consistent and can vary from overly conservative for larger waves to underpredicting for smaller waves.
Venture Signals and Social Media Buzz in Crowdfunding: Are "Buzzworthy" Projects Worth the Hype?

Entrepreneurs signal the worth of their ventures using the technological capabilities of their crowdfunding platforms. Additionally, social media allows others to create "buzz" about the venture, which can also influence funding outcomes. Moreover, these two antecedents can interact with each other, whereby venture signals are either amplified or diluted by buzz about the project. Our study examined how the effects of technological cues and social media "buzz" about a crowdfunded venture affect its success. Our results indicate a differential effect of "buzz" -- depending on the social media platform and the type of signal conveyed -- on crowdfunding success.
Abstract 802: Cytokine profiles in bone marrow supernatant and peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Cytokines serve vital roles in the regulation of immune responses. In patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies, cytokines may play a role in the tumor-host microenvironment affecting tumor survival and progression. Previous studies have quantified the variation in cytokine concentrations between malignant and normal states in patients’ serum. However the research is sparser in relation to measurement of cytokine concentrations in the bone marrow microenvironment. Multiple myeloma (MM) and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) are two such malignancies that arise in the B-lymphoid lineage and proliferate within the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. In this study, an ultra-sensitive IL-6 and a human TH1/TH2 multiplex ELISA system were utilized to determine protein concentrations of the following cytokines: IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 p70, IL-13, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha, in the BM supernatant and peripheral blood (PB) of 20 patients with WM, 16 patients with MM, and 7 controls. The BM supernatant concentration of TNF-alpha was significantly increased in MM compared to controls (10.650 pg/ml vs. 4.980 pg/ml, p=0.0158). IL-1beta was significantly decreased in the bone marrow supernatant of MM (0.038 pg/ml vs. 2.352 pg/ml, p=0.0469) and WM (0.046 pg/ml vs. 2.352 pg/ml, p=0.0435). IL-8 was also significantly decreased in the BM supernatant of patients with MM (11.520 pg/ml vs. 43.590 pg/ml, p=0.0158) and WM (7.348 pg/ml vs. 43.590 pg/ml, p=0.0036). Differences in BM supernatant concentrations of IL-6 were not significant in MM, WM, and normal controls. Analysis of PB showed IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in both MM and WM versus controls, and IFN-gamma was significantly increased in WM. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the cytokine profiles suggested two distinct subgroups existed within both MM and WM. TNF-alpha was the only cytokine in our study that was increased in both the bone marrow and serum of MM patients. The discordant results obtained in the BM supernatant vs. PB for IL-6 and IL-8 in both MM and WM indicate that cytokine profiles vary somewhat between the PB and BM compartments. The BM supernatant and PB cytokine profiles in patients with MM and WM highlight the important role cytokines may play in the microenvironment and biology of MM and WM. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 802. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-802
Comparison of reduction in foodborne viral surrogates by high pressure homogenization.

With the increasing global spread of human noroviral infections and the emergence of highly virulent noroviral strains, novel inactivation methods are needed to control foodborne outbreaks. High pressure homogenization (HPH) is a novel method that can be applied for foodborne virus reduction in fluids being continuously processed. Our objective in the present study was to compare the titer reduction by HPH between feline calicivirus strain F9 (FCV-F9) and murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) as surrogates for human noroviruses, and MS2 (single-stranded F-RNA coliphage) and somatic coliphage φX174 (single-stranded DNA) as indicators of fecal contamination. Duplicate experiments with each virus in phosphate-buffered saline were carried out with homogenization pressures of 0, 100, 200, 250, and 300 MPa, with exposure temperatures of 24, 46, 63, 70, and 75°C, respectively, for 4.95 log PFU/ml. Lower pressures of 250, 2...
Treatment planning for orthodontic-restorative cases with SureSmile technology.

VOLUME XLVIII NUMBER 10 © 2014 JCO, Inc. each case, after various treatment options were presented, the patient, orthodontist, and restorative dentist were all involved in the decision-making process. The patient was able to evaluate the costbenefit ratio for each plan and thus make an informed determination. No longer does the final result exist only in the mind of the orthodontist, or as a comparison with samples of previously treated cases. Informed consent has taken a tremendous leap forward! WRR
Crush resistance and insufflation potential of poly(ethylene oxide)-based abuse deterrent formulations.

ABSTRACTObjectives: This study was conducted to evaluate suitable methods of testing crush-resistant tablets composed largely of thermoplastic polymers. The objectives were, i) to evaluate the effect of thermal processes on crush resistance, ii) to develop test method(s) to indicate whether a crush-resistant tablet is susceptible to tampering by insufflation based on generated particle sizes, and iii) to find an appropriate analytical tool for discriminatory studies.Methods: We investigated the crush-resistance properties of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) tablets using three manual and four electrical devices. PEO tablets were directly compressed or further heat-treated to mimic thermal manufacturing processes (i.e. hot-melt extrusion, sintering). Differential scanning calorimetry was also utilized to evaluate effect of thermal processes on polymer properties.Results: Non-heat treated tablets were easily crushed by all methods. Heat-treated tablets were only susceptible to cryogenic grinding and high-powered ...
Critical Pedagogical Praxis

The idea that hope alone will transform the world, and action undertaken on that kind of naivete, is an excellent route to hopelessness, pessimism, and fatalism. But the attempt to do without hope, in the struggle to improve the world, as if that struggle could be reduced to calculated acts alone, or a purely scientific approach, is a frivolous illusion.
Spontaneous Coronary Dissection

A 47-year-old woman with hypertension and a family history of coronary artery disease presented to the Emergency Department with chest pain that radiated to the left arm. ECG demonstrated T-wave inversion in leads V1 to V3, which was associated with an elevated troponin I value of 4.7 ng/mL. An angiogram performed on the same day (Figure 1, Movie I) showed a narrowing of the entire left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), which was unresponsive to nitroglycerin infusion. On the basis of her medical history and because of the diffuse narrowing, a spontaneous coronary dissection was suspected, although no flap could be seen. Because the patient’s condition was stable, medical management was instituted with aspirin, clopidogrel, a β-blocker, and …
Filling the Gaps: L2 Grammar and Assessment Preparation for ELA Teachers

An examination of pre-service English language arts (ELA) teacher preparation programs shows that many fail to adequately equip students in two crucial areas: English as a second language (ESL) grammar and ESL assessment. This chapter explains why the needs of English language learners (ELLs) in these areas are different from those of native speakers of English and why explicit Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) training in these two areas are essential for ELA teachers. The authors then describe possible curricular models and classroom activities and practices and strategies meant to close these gaps in ELA teacher training programs. They suggest that National TESOL standards need to be established for teacher preparation programs that will adequately prepare ELA teachers and others with the necessary skills and understanding to inform their practice.
Effects of Local Oscillator Waveform on Mixer Spurious Response Levels

The purpose of this paper is to point out some of the properties of mixer operating in the switching mode and to discuss some of the effects that changes in the waveform of the local oscillator signal have on mixer responses. The operation of most mixers at high local oscillator drive levels can be described in terms of a switching function which includes the width modulation effects caused by the small input signal, it is possible to calculate the levels of the various mixer responses for a variety of local oscillator waveforms. Because it isolates the switching function from the width modulating effects of the input signal, a square wave local oscillator signal is effective in reducing the levels of responses associated with harmonics of the input signal.
Contrasting the Influence of Cationic Amino Acids on the Viscosity and Stability of a Highly Concentrated Monoclonal Antibody

To explain the effects of cationic amino acids and other co-solutes on the viscosity, stability and protein-protein interactions (PPI) of highly concentrated (≥200 mg/ml) monoclonal antibody (mAb) solutions to advance subcutaneous injection. The viscosities of ≥200 mg/ml mAb1 solutions with various co-solutes and pH were measured by capillary rheometry in some cases up to 70,000 s−1. The viscosities are analyzed in terms of dilute PPI characterized by diffusion interaction parameters (k D ) from dynamic light scattering (DLS). MAb stability was measured by turbidity and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) after 4 weeks of 40°C storage. Viscosity reductions were achieved by reducing the pH, or adding histidine, arginine, imidazole or camphorsulfonic acid, each of which contains a hydrophobic moiety. The addition of inorganic electrolytes or neutral osmolytes only weakly affected viscosity. Systems with reduced viscosities also tended to be Newtonian, while more viscous systems were shear thinning. Viscosity reduction down to 20 cP at 220 mg/ml mAb1 was achieved with co-solutes that are both charged and contain a hydrophobic interaction domain for sufficient binding to the protein surface. These reductions are related to the DLS diffusion interaction parameter, k D , only after normalization to remove the effect of charge screening. Shear rate profiles demonstrate that select co-solutes reduce protein network formation.
Using Family Backpacks as a Tool to Involve Families in Teaching Young Children About Healthy Eating

Children’s obesity rates have increased substantially over the past several decades, due in part to unhealthy eating habits. About 75% of preschool-aged children consume fewer fruits and vegetables than recommended for health. Because children begin developing eating habits during early childhood, obesity prevention programs are increasingly targeting young children in early childhood education (ECE) settings and are involving their families in teaching about healthy eating. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the effectiveness of a family involvement activity known as the family backpack in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among 4- and 5-year-old children and their parents through hands-on activities that encourage them to explore and discuss fruits and vegetables at home. Forty-two families (22 experimental, 20 control) participated in the study. Families received a family backpack from their child’s ECE teacher and completed activities with their child at home during a specific week. Experimental-group backpacks contained a children’s book and three activities to encourage parent–child discussion about fruits and vegetables; control-group backpacks contained an unrelated book and activities. Children’s and parents’ fruit and vegetable consumption and frequency of serving fruits and vegetables at home were assessed using parent self-report surveys before and after completing backpack activities. Parents in the experimental group, but not the control group, reported increases in their own and their children’s fruit and vegetable consumption after completing family backpack activities. Family backpacks show promise as a tool for early childhood educators to help families reinforce and expand children’s learning and encourage healthy eating habits at home.
Jonathan Stockdale, Imagining Exile in Heian Japan: Banishment in Law, Literature, and Cult

This compact survey of exile as a discourse centers on the Heian period (794–1185), but Imagining Exile resonates beyond that. Put abstractly, it shows the strengths of area studies, at a time when...
Two-Dimensional Spectroscopy Is Being Used to Address Core Scientific Questions in Biology and Materials Science

Two-dimensional spectroscopy is a powerful tool for extracting structural and dynamic information from a wide range of chemical systems. We provide a brief overview of the ways in which two-dimensional visible and infrared spectroscopies are being applied to elucidate fundamental details of important processes in biological and materials science. The topics covered include amyloid proteins, photosynthetic complexes, ion channels, photovoltaics, batteries, as well as a variety of promising new methods in two-dimensional spectroscopy.
Freezing date and duration effects on regrowth of three species of container-grown herbaceous perennials

Abstract Three species of herbaceous perennials were transplanted from 400 cell-size plugs to 400-ml containers and grown in a glasshouse at 25C day/20C night (78/68F) ± 2C (4F) until October 10. A...