cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Reverse Stock Splits (Investors Beware

This study compares firms that implement multiple reverse stock splits to firms with only one reverse stock split. Reverse stock splits are usually implemented by firms trying to increase their stock price to remain listed on stock exchanges or widen stock ownership especially by institutional investors. Firms that declare multiple reverse splits tend to have lower returns following the reverse split and even less liquidity than one reverse split firms. Sixty five percent of the firms with multiple reverse splits end up being liquidated or delisted. If one reverse split is viewed as desperation, then multiple reverse stock splits are a sign of extreme distress.
Fast convergence for time-varying semi-anonymous potential games

Log-linear learning and its variants have received significant attention in recent literature on networked control systems. In potential games, log-linear learning guarantees that agents' behavior will converge to the potential function maximizer. The appeal of log-linear learning for distributed control stems from the fact that distributed engineering systems can often be modeled as potential games where the potential function maximizers correspond to the optimal system behavior. In this paper we seek to characterize the mixing times for log-linear learning. For a specific class of potential games, called semi-anonymous potential games, previous results have shown that a mild variant of log-linear learning guarantees convergence to the set of potential function maximizers in time that is linear in the number of players. In this paper, we show that such convergence guarantees continue to hold even in the setting where players enter and exit the game.
Enforceability of Limitation of Liability Clauses in Engineering Contracts

AbstractThis paper demonstrates the importance of limitation of liability clauses for many engineering services agreements. Engineers, engineering firms, and clients often negotiate extensively over the specific terms of the limitation clause. However, little thought is given to whether or not the limitation would be upheld in a court of law despite the very real possibility that it would not be enforced should a dispute arise. It is concluded that following a list of guidelines will greatly increase the likelihood of enforcement of a limitation clause. This paper discusses the different types of limitation of liability clauses, the likelihood of their enforcement in a legal action, and the major factors that will affect whether the clauses are enforced on the basis of and lessons learned from several litigated/settled cases.
Quantifying multiplexing gains in a Wireless Network Cloud

The Wireless Network Cloud (WNC) [1] is a novel network architecture where wireless base-stations are implemented as software modules and multiple base-stations are consolidated to a single centralized computing platform. Due to the time-varying and random nature of base-station traffic, consolidation leads to multiplexing of statistically-varying basestation loads on a common hardware platform. In turn, this can lead to significant hardware reduction in the consolidated platform when compared to the distributed network. This paper represents the first analysis of such consolidation gain. Through traffic simulation experiments, we quantify the extent and variation of this multiplexing gain in a WiMAX base-station network in different traffic conditions. We show experimentally, that the obtained gain increases linearly with network size (number of base-stations). Further, we also show that the consolidation gain is higher when the consolidated base-stations face higher traffic intensity.
Balance in the Elderly

Balance dysfunction remains a significant contributing factor for disability in the elderly. A wide variety of surgical, pharmaceutical, medical, and rehabilitation treatment options exists for- these patients. The complexity of the balance system, however, often requires a thorough, multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and successful treatment of balance impairment.
Multilayer Coating Laser Damage Stabilization by Femtosecond Laser Machining

Femtosecond laser machining is optimized to stabilize nanosecond induced-laser damage and to double the power handling capability of multilayer mirror coatings. Higher per-pulse energy of the machining laser degrades the feature edge quality.
Symposium Review: Catch-and-Release Fishing, a Decade of Experience

Abstract This paper provides a synopsis of the 1987 symposium “Catch-and-Release Fishing– A Decade of Experience,” gives a brief history of the catch-and-release concept, and presents related research needs. Twenty-three presenters provided current information concerning catch and release of a variety of freshwater and marine sport fish. Catch-and-release fishing was first tried in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1954. Today, most states and provinces in North America have catch-and-release programs on some waters. Catch-and-release regulations must be selectively applied; productivity of the environment and longevity of the fish are important considerations and strict compliance with special regulations by anglers is necessary for success. Anglers will accept these regulations when professionals present sound biological evidence to demonstrate the need. An increased use of catch-and-release regulations was reported in nontrout fisheries, especially those for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoid...
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS FOR THE GROWTH OF ANIMAL CELLS

Although cells can grow throughout a wide range of osmotic pressures, any additional salt beyond that required to meet the minimal level exerts an adverse effect, as evidenced by delay in onset of logarithmic growth, slower growth rate, decreased maximal population, and accelerated death. The toxicity of K+ is directly related to the osmotic pressure of the culture. Cells appear to ingest most of the nutrients from the medium within the 1st day after being inoculated into it and do not remove significant amounts of nutrients for the next 7 to 8 days of active growth. Dissolved oxygen and medium oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) do not always vary identically and, of the two parameters, ORP is the more critical. If the ORP of the culture is not held constant during growth, enzymatic activity fluctuates during the culture growth cycle. However, if the ORP is held constant, then enzymatic activity and isoenzyme distribution patterns remain constant during the growth cycle. For L cells, the optimum ORP is 100 mv. The ORP of the medium controls the rate and extent of growth of cells. If the ORP is lowered, cells can be inoculated into media and held at 37°C for at least 5 days with no detrimental effect; then, when the ORP is raised, the cells grow as well as if they had just been inoculated into fresh media. By controlling the osmotic pressure, media composition, and environmental parameters, high yields of cells and virus may be consistently obtained.
Ultrathin SiO 2 interface layer growth

A variety of processes based on radical oxidation (N 2 O/H 2 ) and spike RTO are investigated in this study to grow ultrathin SiO 2 layers. Their process space is mapped out to cover regimes of interest for gate-last or gate-first integration of high k dielectrics with metal gates. Applied's Centura RTP chamber is found to be readily compatible with the requirements associated with 22/20nm CMOS technology.
Tyrosine protein kinase activity in purified rat Leydig cells

Tyrosine protein kinase activity has been estimated in purified testicular cells with the synthetic peptide substrate NH2-GLU-ASP-ALA-GLU-TYR-ALA-ALA-ARG-ARG-ARG-GLY-COOH. High levels of enzyme specific activity (56-165 pmol/mg/min) were found in the two populations of Leydig cells isolated by Metrizamide gradient centrifugation. Some activity was also detected in germinal cells, red cells and seminiferous tubules from testis but at levels 6-20 times lower than those found in the Leydig cell fractions. Higher levels of tyrosine protein kinase specific activity were found in population I than in population II Leydig cells.
Application Of Image Sharpness Criteria In Infrared Speckle Interferometry

Current techniques for infrared speckle interferometry treat all exposures with equal weight regardless of instantaneous atmospheric "seeing". In an effort to improve accuracy in measurements of visibility amplitude and phase, we utilize measurements of image quality to bin individual exposures. We have investigated several criteria including the second-order moment of the image (an estimate of the Fried parameter) and two sharpness functions considered previously in adaptive optics applications. Test results on bright stars indicate that the sharpness parameters are more sensitive to image quality. These tests also delineate the correlation between sharpness and the second-order moment and demonstrate the variations, sometimes periodic, in image quality caused by atmospheric seeing. Initial tests of a binning technique using real astronomical data exhibit improved accuracy and reduced sensitivity to atmospheric fluctuations.
Radionuclide venography vs Tc-99m-RBC equilibrium angiography: A comparative paired study

Combined direct injection venography (DIV) and equilibrium angiography (EA) were performed in 13 patients, by injecting in vitro labeled 99mTc autologous RBC, via pedal veins, and imaging the first pass and the equilibrium phase. This paired comparative study of DIV with EA shows that DIV has advantages over EA because it provides selective information on the deep venous system from the calves to the inferior vena cava. DIV provides information on the flow dynamics and the high contrast first pass images provide better definition of non filling venous segments as well as visualization of collaterals. When using 99mTc-MAA, lung perfusion can also be imaged. DIV is recommended as the procedure of choice for the diagnosis of DVT and EA should be employed only when pedal vein injection is not possible.
On solutions to ut = Δu + u2 in two dimensions

Abstract This paper extends a result of Fujita [On the blowing up of solutions to the Cauchy problem for ut = Δu + u1 + a, J. Faculty Science, U. of Tokyo 13 (1966), 109–124] to show that solutions u = u(t, x) for t > 0 and x ϵ R2 to the equation ut = Δu + u2 with u(0, x) = a(x) must grow at a rate faster than exp(∥x∥2) at some finite time t, as long as a(x) is nonnegative and not almost everywhere zero.
Seasonality of heartworm infection and implications for chemoprophylaxis

The current emphasis on heartworm prevention reflects the dependable protection provided by the monthly administered macrolide endectocides. This article reviews the prerequisites for heartworm transmission and the importance of daily temperature as a limiting factor in determining the seasonality of the transmission period. The practice of some veterinarians to continuously prescribe monthly chemoprophylaxis exaggerates the actual risk of heartworm transmission in most parts of the country and unnecessarily increases the cost of protection to their clients. Guidelines are provided for making an objective, conservative estimate of the earliest and latest dates for administering monthly chemoprophylaxis; and the use of seasonal projections for other clinical applications such as timing and interpretation of heartworm testing are discussed.
Widespread Genomic Signatures of Natural Selection in Hominid Evolution

Selection acting on genomic functional elements can be detected by its indirect effects on population diversity at linked neutral sites. To illuminate the selective forces that shaped hominid evolution, we analyzed the genomic distributions of human polymorphisms and sequence differences among five primate species relative to the locations of conserved sequence features. Neutral sequence diversity in human and ancestral hominid populations is substantially reduced near such features, resulting in a surprisingly large genome average diversity reduction due to selection of 19–26% on the autosomes and 12–40% on the X chromosome. The overall trends are broadly consistent with “background selection” or hitchhiking in ancestral populations acting to remove deleterious variants. Average selection is much stronger on exonic (both protein-coding and untranslated) conserved features than non-exonic features. Long term selection, rather than complex speciation scenarios, explains the large intragenomic variation in human/chimpanzee divergence. Our analyses reveal a dominant role for selection in shaping genomic diversity and divergence patterns, clarify hominid evolution, and provide a baseline for investigating specific selective events.
Analysis of side-chain orientations in homologous proteins

Abstract The side-chain conformations of topologically equivalent residues in seven pairs of proteins ranging in sequence homology from 16% to 60% are compared. Both identical and mutated residues are included. For proteins with greater than 40% homology, it is found that at least 80 % of the side-chain orientations of identical residues and 75 % or more of the mutated residues in each pair of proteins have matching γ atom dihedral angles (± 40 °); the comparison is not based strictly on χ 1 angles. Further, if a match is obtained at the γ position, there is a high probability of matching for the δ atom(s) of the side-chain. For proteins with less than 25% homology the percentages are somewhat lower. Trends observed for conservative substitutions are essentially the same as those noted for mutated residues in general. Side-chain accessibility does not affect the probability of matches of identical residues; however, less accessible pairs of mutated residues have 10 to 20% higher matching probabilities than do exposed residues. Mismatches can frequently be related to large B -factors, certain types of amino acid substitutions, or the appearance of multiple minima on the side-chain potential energy surfaces and are most likely to occur for certain small residues (Ser, Thr, Val). Analysis of all the results makes possible the formulation of a set of rules for side-chain positioning in the modeling of homologous proteins.
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. A case report

We present an extreme case of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which corresponds to a severe form of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. This is a potentially fatal immune reaction that affects skin and mucosa, producing blisters and sloughing of the epithelium. Severe sequelae, including blindness, hearing loss, tooth malformation and esophageal destruction are seen in this case.
Comparison of drug effects on fixed-ratio performance and chain performance maintained under a second-order fixed-ratio schedule.

In one component of a multiple schedule, pigeons were required to complete the same four-response chain each session by responding sequentially on three identically lighted keys in the presence of four successively presented colors (chain performance). Food presentation occurred after five completions of the chain (i.e., after 20 correct responses). Errors, such as responding on the center or right key when the left was designated correct, produced a brief timeout but did not reset the chain. In the other component, responding on a single key (lighted white) was maintained by food presentation under a fixed-ratio 20 schedule. In general, phencyclidine and d-amphetamine produced dose-dependent decreases in the overall response rates in both components. With pentobarbital, overall rate in each component generally increased at intermediate doses and decreased at higher doses. All three drugs produced dose-dependent disruptive effects on chain-performance accuracy. Phencyclidine and pentobarbital increased percent errors at doses that had little or no rate-decreasing effects, whereas d-amphetamine generally increased percent errors only at doses that substantially decreased overall rate. At high doses, all three drugs produced greater disruption of chain performance than of fixed-ratio performance, as indicated by a slower return to control responding, although the effects of d-amphetamine were less selective than those of phencyclidine or pentobarbital.
Class II-antigen-negative patient and mutant B-cell lines represent at least three, and probably four, distinct genetic defects defined by complementation analysis.

Abstract Expression of class II major histocompatibility complex antigens in defective B-lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with class II antigen deficiency and from in vitro mutants generated with the same phenotype was studied. By heterogenetic fusion experiments, at least three, and probably four, complementation groups were defined. Furthermore, clone 13 (a DR-, DP-, but DQ+ cell line) appeared to belong to the RJ2.2.5 complementation group, for which all other members are DR-, DP-, and also DQ-. Thus, it is hypothesized that the cell lines of this group lack the activity of a gene that can differentially regulate the DR/DP and the DQ promoters.
The neuropathy of erectile dysfunction

These studies were intended to explore the relationship between autonomic neuropathy and erectile dysfunction (ED). Sensory thresholds reflecting the integrity of both large diameter, myelinated neurons (ie pressure, touch, vibration) and small diameter axons (ie hot and cold thermal sensation) were determined on the penis and finger. Data were compared across subjects with and without ED, controlling for age, hypertension and diabetes. The correlation of specific thresholds scores and IIEF values were also examined. Seventy-three patients who visited the academic urology clinics at Montefiore hospital were evaluated. All patients were required to complete the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire: 20 subjects had no complaints of ED and scored within the ‘normal’ range on the IIEF. Patients were subsequently tested on their index finger and glans penis for vibration (Biothesiometer), pressure (Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments), spatial perception (Tactile Circumferential Discriminator), and warm and cold thermal thresholds (Physitemp NTE-2). Sensation of the glans penis, as defined by the examined sensory thresholds, was significantly diminished in patients with ED and these differences remained significant when controlling for age, diabetes and hypertension. In contrast, thresholds on the index finger were equivalent in the ED and non-ED groups. Threshold and IIEF scores were highly correlated, consistent with an association between diminished sensation and decreasing IIEF score (worse erectile functioning). These relations also remained significant when controlling for age, diabetes and hypertension. The findings demonstrate dysfunction of large and small diameter nerve fibers in patients with ED of all etiologies. Further, the neurophysiologic measures validate the use of the IIEF as an index of ED, as objective findings of sensory neuropathy were highly correlated with worse IIEF scores. The sensory threshold methods utilized represent novel, non-invasive and relatively simple procedures, which can be used in a longitudinal fashion to assess a patient’s neurological response to therapies. International Journal of Impotence Research (2002) 14, 433–439. doi:10.1038=sj.ijir.3900907
Shuttle entry trajectory reconstruction using inflight accelerometer and gyro measurements

An error analysis has been made of a Shuttle postflight entry trajectory reconstruction process to obtain trajectory state estimation errors and to assess the impact of these errors on Shuttle aerodynamic force coefficient extraction. In this analysis, the entry trajectory is assumed to be reconstructed via numerical integration of onboard accelerometer and gyro measurements and constrained to satisfy ground-based radio tracking. The trajectory state estimation errors are calculated using a Kalman-Schmidt sequential filter assuming various measurement error models and combinations of ground-based tracking. The resultant trajectory estimation errors are analyzed in a simplified perturbation process to establish the accuracy to which postflight aerodynamic force coefficients can be determined. Results are presented which show that the principal error sources affecting the trajectory reconstruction and thus the force coefficient extraction, assuming perfect atmospheric density knowledge, are the accelerometer and gyro resolution, acceleration-sensitive gyro drifts, and the alignment uncertainties associated with integration on the Shuttle.
Artificial neural system approach to IR target identification

ABSTRACT A system has been developed which successfully blends thestrengths of digital image processing with the advantages of Artificial Neural Systems (ANS) to achieve target identificationin non—optimum environments. Infrared (IR) video images of fivedifferent military vehicles were acquired to provide a data base of targets. These images were digitized and preprocessed usingconventional digital image processing techniques. A novel ANS model was developed to analyze certain features of the images and perform classification of the targets. Tests on real IR target images have shown that the system was capable of correctly identifying any of the five targets considered to an accuracy of86-percent independent of target orientation and location withinthe scene. 1 . INTRODUCTION This paper presents an effort to develop capability to perform classification of mobile land based targets in a man portable system configuration. The objectives were to: 1) Study the performance of an artificial neural system for identification oftargets acquired from an infrared imaging device and 2) Investigateintegration issues of an artificial neural system into an advanced
Examining the potential parallel scalability of a fuzzy semi-supervised classification algorithm

This work describes a parallel, fuzzy version of the iterative guided spectral class rejection (IGSCR) classification algorithm. Fuzzy IGSCR is a semi-supervised classification algorithm for remote sensing that uses fuzzy clustering to associate a large amount of unlabeled data with a small set of labeled data. The parallel version of fuzzy IGSCR (PFI) is a shared memory parallel algorithm that was implemented on an SGI Altix and speedup results were obtained using as many as 12 processors. Parallel speedup for PFI is almost ideal, indicating PFI will be scalable to much larger parallel computers.
Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase mediates vasodilator responses of glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitrite in the pulmonary vascular bed of the rat.

It has been reported that mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) catalyzes the formation of glyceryl dinitrate and inorganic nitrite from glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), leading to an increase in cGMP and vasodilation in the coronary and systemic vascular beds. However, the role of nitric oxide (NO) formed from nitrite in mediating the response to GTN in the pulmonary vascular bed is uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to determine if nitrite plays a role in mediating vasodilator responses to GTN. In this study, intravenous injections of GTN and sodium nitrite decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures and increased cardiac output. The decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure under baseline and elevated tone conditions and decreases in systemic arterial pressure in response to GTN and sodium nitrite were attenuated by cyanamide, an ALDH2 inhibitor, whereas responses to the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), were not altered. The decreases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure in response to GTN and SNP were not altered by allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidoreductase, whereas responses to sodium nitrite were attenuated. GTN was ∼1,000-fold more potent than sodium nitrite in decreasing pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures. These results suggest that ALDH2 plays an important role in the bioactivation of GTN and nitrite in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds and that the reduction of nitrite to vasoactive NO does not play an important role in mediating vasodilator responses to GTN in the intact chest rat.
Quadrupole transfer strength studied through heavy-ion induced two-neutron transfer between the shape transitional nuclei Os 1 9 0 , 1 9 2

A coupled-channels Born-approximation analysis of the reaction $^{192}\mathrm{Os}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{C}$)$^{190}\mathrm{Os}$ at ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=70$ MeV demonstrates that the direct quadrupole transfer strength is very weak, in continuation of the trend found previously in a study of the tungsten nuclei. Elastic and inelastic scattering data for the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ channel were also taken and analyzed in a conventional coupled-channels model to determine the relative motion.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{192}\mathrm{OS}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$), $^{192}\mathrm{OS}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{C}$), ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=\mathrm{MeV}$, measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\Theta})$. CCBA analysis. Demonstrated effect of shape transitions on quadrupole transfer strength.
Chemical gas generators based on mechanically alloyed Al-Mg powder

Because of the high energy density, easy ignition, and good storability, mechanically alloyed Al·Mg powder has the potential to improve the performance characteristics of various energetic and gas-generating materials. Here, the use of this powder in combustible mixtures for generation of oxygen and hydrogen is explored. The mixtures for oxygen generation consisted of sodium chlorate, nanoscale cobalt oxide catalyst, and Al·Mg powder, while those for hydrogen generation included water, polyacrylamide as a gellant, and Al·Mg powder. To increase hydrogen yield, ammonia borane (NH3BH3) was also added to Al·Mg − water mixtures. Combustion experiments were conducted in an argon environment, using laser ignition. The thermal wave propagation over the oxygen-generating mixtures was studied using infrared video recording. It has been shown that mechanically alloyed Al·Mg material is a promising alternative to currently used iron because significantly smaller amounts of this additive are needed for a steady propagation of the combustion wave. The hydrogen generation experiments have shown that mixtures of mechanically alloyed Al·Mg powder with 10−60 wt% gelled water are combustible, with the front velocities exceeding the values obtained for the mixtures of water with nanoscale Al. Hydrogen yield was measured using mass-spectrometry. In the mixtures that included ammonia borane, D2O was used instead of H2O. Measurements of H2, D2, and HD concentrations in the product gas provided insight into the reaction mechanisms. The isotopic tests have shown that AB participates in two parallel processes − thermolysis and hydrolysis, thus increasing hydrogen yield.
Post-learning ethanol effects on a water-finding task in rats

Abstract Ethanol's post-training facilitation of memory was examined using a latent learning paradigm known as the “water-finding task.” Rats were assigned to one of two ethanol groups (E0.75 g/kg or E1.5 g/kg) or to a control group (saline) and individually placed in a novel open field containing a drinking tube. Following this exposure, subjects were immediately administered intraperitoneal (IP) injections of either the saline or ethanol and 48 hours later, re-introduced to the field. Initial latencies to contact the tube each time were recorded. A linear regression analysis of trial 2 latencies regressed onto trial 1 latencies indicated a statistically significant effect of ethanol on the relation between initial and subsequent latencies. Though the control rats' trial 2 latencies were completely random with respect to their previous speeds (rSAL = −0.07), the ethanol rats' trial 2 latencies were positively correlated with initial speeds (rE0.75 = 0.35, rE1.5 = 0.67). These results suggest that under conditions of post-training ethanol, trial 2 behavior is more similar to, or controlled by, trial 1 behavior and are consistent with the argument that, under certain training and testing contexts, ethanol can come to exert control over a response's recurrence.
The Flowing Eye: Water Management in the Upper Kuruman Valley, South Africa, c. 1800–1962*

This paper considers the intensification of agriculture along racial lines in South Africa by looking at the history of one spring and nine miles of river valley. It illustrates how racial conflict included struggles over nature, and how whites and blacks had different perceptions and abilities regarding its exploitation.The ‘Eye’ of Kuruman is a large spring in a semi-arid region. Tswana herders originally used it as a water hole. Their food production system was extensive, making use of wide areas rather than increasing output in a limited area. Pastoralism was more important than agriculture. Irrigation, introduced by representatives of the London Missionary Society, was not widely practiced away from the missions until a subsistence crisis during the 1850s. It continued after the crisis passed. However, households continued to operate with the logic of extensive production, fitting irrigation into the pre-existing system.In 1885, tne British annexed the region as part of the Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland. They demarcated African reserves at springs and in river valleys, and grazing lands were opened for white settlement. The upper Kuruman valley was designated a Crown reserve and the Eye became a town site. Downstream were Tswana households which cultivated with less security than on a native reserve. Land alienation with rinderpest devastated stock keeping and caused a widespread famine at the turn of the century, yet Tswana cultivators did not greatly intensify their use of irrigable lands. More extensive methods endured and wage labor became the basis of support.In the twentieth century under Union government, use of the Eye intensified, and access to the valley became segregated by race. After 1918 the municipality of Kuruman operated a modern irrigation project, and in 1919, evicted black cultivators living at the Eye. Blacks continued to live and garden at Seodin, five miles downstream, but suffered water shortages which made even their casual irrigation impossible. Political expediency dictated against their pressing for water rights. In the 1940s the Department of Native Affairs drilled boreholes, but these were not sufficient to sustain cultivation. In 1962, the policy of Apartheid mandated the removal of blacks from Seodin. Despite state aid, the whites-only irrigation project never developed into a commercial success.
Social Construction of Technology

The article presents a review of the book “Forces of Production: A Social History of Industrial Automation,” by David F. Noble.
Doug C. v. Hawaii Department of Education: Parental Participation in IEP Development:

Parental participation is a crucial component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. When developing students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), school-based teams must place a...
Transient Increases in Intracellular Calcium Result in Prolonged Site-selective Increases in Tau Phosphorylation through a Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β-dependent Pathway *

Calcium is a universal intracellular signaling molecule. Through variations in both the amplitude and frequency of intracellular calcium increases, the same calcium ion can elicit different responses. In this report, we investigated the effect of a calcium transient, lasting 2–5 min, on alterations in the phosphorylation state of the cytoskeletal protein, tau. Transient increases in calcium result in a prolonged (1–4 h) ∼60% increase in tau phosphorylation at the Tau-1 epitope. These increases in tau phosphorylation appear to be more dependent upon the duration of the increase in intracellular calcium and less on the amplitude. The calcium-induced increases in tau phosphorylation are not dependent upon protein synthesis, nor are protein kinase C or calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II involved in the response. However, the calcium-induced increase in tau phosphorylation was inhibited by lithium, a noncompetitive inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein. Furthermore, transient increases in calcium resulted in a prolonged increase in GSK-3β tyrosine phosphorylation concomitant with the increase in tau phosphorylation. Therefore, this study is the first to indicate that transient increases in intracellular calcium result in increased tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of GSK-3β which subsequently results in a sustained increase in the phosphorylation state of tau.
Utilization of D-tyrosine by vertebrate skin tyrosinase.

Certaines especes de vertebres inferieurs convertissent lad-tyrosine radioactive en melanine par la tyrosinase de la peau. On pense que l'utilisation normale de lad-tyrosine est importante pour la melanogenese integumentale.
The role of polyp-stolon junctions in the redox signaling of colonial hydroids

An encrusting colonial hydroid can be regarded as a network of polyps or ‘mouths’ connected by tube-like stolons. The success of the colony crucially depends on putting these mouths where the available food is. Feeding-related perturbations may provide important signals in this regard. After feeding, polyps contract regularly, dispersing food throughout the colony via the gastrovascular fluid. Mitochondrion-rich epitheliomuscular cells concentrated near polyp-stolon junctions likely drive these contractions. Putatively, the redox state of these cells may influence colony-level form. For instance, the metabolic demand associated with feeding-related contractions results in mitochondria that have relatively oxidized electron carriers and produce lesser amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS or other redox-sensitive molecules emitted from polyp-stolon junctions into the gastrovascular fluid may provide stolons with signals influencing elongation, branching, and regression. Treatments of colonies with anti-oxidants cause peripheral stolon tips to rapidly regress. This regression appears to be an active process involving a flux of locally produced peroxides and cell and tissue death. At the same time, polyps and stolon tips in the center of treated colonies remain healthy. ‘Sheet-like’ growth of short, branched stolons ensues. Signals that inhibit the outward growth of stolons may lead by default to the concentrated growth of stolons and polyps in food-rich areas. ROS may mediate signaling mechanisms involving nitric oxide, programmed cell death, a variety of redox-regulated proteins, or all of these.
Initial results from the coupled magnetosphere–ionosphere–thermosphere model: thermosphere–ionosphere responses

Abstract The thermosphere–ionosphere nested grid (TING) model has been successfully coupled with the Lyon–Fedder–Mobarry (LFM) global magnetosphere MHD code. The coupling between these models is two-way: the LFM provides the TING model with global electric fields and precipitating electron energy fluxes, and the TING model feeds ionospheric conductances back to the LFM. This code coupling enables studies of the global energy budget of the magnetosphere–ionosphere–thermosphere system. In this paper, we present simulation results from the coupled magnetosphere–ionosphere–thermosphere (CMIT) model under solar minimum, northern hemisphere summer conditions. The IMF input to the CMIT model changed its direction every 4 h. Comparisons are made between the simulated results of the CMIT model and those of the stand-alone TING model. It is found that the CMIT model predicted higher cross polar cap potential drops than the empirical model used by the stand-alone TING model. The energy input to the upper atmosphere by precipitating electrons, however, was much lower in the CMIT model during the southward IMF interval. The simulated responses of the thermosphere and ionosphere were also significantly different. As a result of the greater Joule heating calculated in the CMIT model, neutral temperatures and winds were significantly enhanced in the CMIT model in comparison with the stand-alone TING model.
Where Do We Draw Our Lines? Politics, Rigidity, and the Role of Self-Regulation

Past research on political orientation suggests an association between conservatism and cognitive rigidity. In the area of self-regulation, cognitive rigidity has been related to avoidance motivati...
Developing an ESL Curriculum Based on Needs and Situation Analyses: A Case Study

Needs analysis is important in terms of students’ involvement in every phase of educational process. It is necessary to know about learners’ objectives, language attitudes, expectations from the course and learning habits in order to design an efficient curriculum. However, it is not only the learners who play an important role in developing a curriculum. There are other factors relevant to the design and implementation of language programs or curricula. At this point, situation analysis is needed. The purpose of this paper is, then, to explain how to conduct needs and situation analyses for developing an English as a second language (ESL) curriculum. The results of observations of ESL students, questionnaires given to the student participants, and interviews conducted with three ESL teachers indicate the variety of needs of students. Based on those results, implications are provided for faculty designing ESL curriculum in community colleges.
A simple distributed simulation architecture for emergency response exercises

This paper describes a simple distributed simulation for support of emergency response exercises. The simulation, called the Immersive Synthetic Environment for Exercises (ISEE), was inspired by the simplicity of Web-based role playing games (RPGs) which have all the elements of distributed simulations, but do not rely on complex interoperability software or high-end graphics engines. ISEE uses PHP to generate user interfaces, MySQL as simulation middleware, and agent-based simulations written in Python determine the behavior and state of simulated objects. It uses a Web-interface that allows players to see events, communicate, and assign resources to critical emergency response functions. Test showed that up to 1000 entities could be represented with a quarter second simulation time step. The application was deployed as a prototype to support a mass-casualty emergency response exercises in May of 2005. Results of the exercise showed that the intended value of distributed simulation (multi-user, immersive experience) was achieved using simple tools with a rapid development time.
The Time for Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trials Has Arrived: How Low to Go for hsCRP?

Inflammation is a major determinant of atherothrombosis, and based on more than a decade of consistent prospective epidemiological evidence, the inflammatory biomarker highsensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is in clinical use an independent determinant of cardiovascular risk, even when levels of LDL-C are low.1 Guidelines for use of hsCRP as an adjunct to global risk prediction were issued by the American Heart Association in 2003,2 and risk algorithms incorporating hsCRP such as the Reynolds Risk Score have been developed and validated.3 Increased hsCRP levels not only predict future risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death, but are intimately associated with metabolic syndrome and incident diabetes. 4,5 As a result of interrelationships with insulin resistance, leptin, adiponectin, cytokine function, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired fibrinolysis, CRP has been hypothesized to present a common link in pathways connecting vascular inflammation, diabetes, and premature atherothrombosis.6 There appears to be an underlying genetic basis for these relationships; in a genome wide association study of more than 6000 women, unsuspected genetic determinants of CRP have been found that include polymorphism in the leptin receptor gene LEPR and in 2 loci that are more commonly considered genes associated with maturity onset diabetes of the young, GCKR and HNF1.7
Neurocognition, Symptomatology, and Functional Skills in Older Alcohol-Abusing Schizophrenia Patients

Deficits in neurocognitive functioning are common to both schizophrenia and alcoholism. Recent studies suggest that neurocognitive functioning is the most significant predictor of social-adaptive functioning in schizophrenia. Cognitive impairment induced by alcoholism may result in more impaired functional outcome for comorbid patients. Past research examining alcohol-abusing schizophrenia patients has not examined correlates with functional outcome and has generally been limited to relatively younger patients. Thisstudyexaminedneurocognitivefunctioninganditscorrelates in alcohol-abusing schizophrenia patients between the ages of 40 and 80. Outpatients with schizophrenia (SZ; n = 17) or both schizophrenia and alcohol abuse or dependence (SZ + ETOH; n = 18) were tested on a neurocognitive battery, rated for symptomatology, and assessed for functional abilities. The results suggest that alcohol abuse in schizophrenia is associated with more impaired functioning across many domains, including memory impairment, negativeandgeneralpsychopathologysymptoms,andadaptive functions. The only significant predictor of impaired functional status in the overall sample and the SZ + ETOH group was neurocognitive functioning.
Down-regulation of activin, activin receptors, and Smads in high-grade breast cancer.

Activin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, members of the TGF-β superfamily of growth factors, have been implicated in both mammary gland development and breast carcinogenesis. TGF-β is thought to be involved in the maintenance of mammary gland ductal architecture and postlactational involution. TGF-β acts as both a tumor suppressor and has oncogenic capacities in breast cancer tissue. Activin is associated with growth modulation in glandular organs, and its receptors and signaling proteins are present and regulated during postnatal mammary gland development, primarily during the lactational phase. The presence of the major components of the activin signal transduction pathway in different pathologic grades of breast cancer tissue has not been described thoroughly, despite evidence from in vitro studies suggesting that activin can inhibit proliferation in breast cancer-derived cells. On the basis of the growth regulatory capacity of activin, we hypothesized that the components of this signal transduction system would be deregulated as breast cancer becomes more aggressive. To test this hypothesis, breast cancer samples were substratified by pathologic grade, a known prognostic marker for breast cancer, and then examined for the presence and cellular localization of activin ligand subunits (βA- and βB-), receptors (Act RIIA, Act RIIB, and Act RIB), and signaling proteins, Smads 2, 3, and 4, by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent analysis. Breast tissue from healthy patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty was also studied. The activin βA-subunit was present in all of the tissues examined, whereas the βB-subunit, activin type II receptors, and Smads were less evident in high-grade cancers. Significant correlations were made in breast cancer specimens between a decrease in nuclear Smad 3 abundance and high tumor grade, high architectural grade, larger tumor size, and hormone receptor negativity. Thus, activin signal transduction components are present in normal tissue and grade 1 cancer but down-regulated in high-grade cancer. The deregulation of this signal transduction system may be relevant to advancing oncogenic progression.
Out-of-Hospital Medication Errors Among Young Children in the United States, 2002–2012

OBJECTIVE: To investigate out-of-hospital medication errors among young children in the United States. METHODS: Using data from the National Poison Database System, a retrospective analysis of out-of-hospital medication errors among children RESULTS: During 2002–2012, 696 937 children CONCLUSIONS: This is the first comprehensive study to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of out-of-hospital medication errors among children
Inhibition of the cardiac angiogenic response to exogenous vascular endothelial growth factor

Background. The angiogenic effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are mediated by the stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nitric oxide release. Nitric oxide availability is decreased in patients with coronary disease, a possible explanation for the humble results of VEGF in clinical trials. We sought to examine the effects of exogenous VEGF in a model of endothelial dysfunction. Methods. Miniswine fed either a regular (N = 6, group NORM) or hypercholesterolemic diet (N = 6, HICHOL) underwent ameroid placement on the circumflex artery. Three weeks later, baseline myocardial perfusion was assessed by microsphere injections, and all pigs were treated with VEGF. Four weeks later, microsphere injections were repeated and the hearts harvested. Endothelial-dependent coronary microvascular reactivity, and VEGF and eNOS expression were assessed. Results. HICHOL pigs showed significant endothelial dysfunction in the ischemic territory. Posttreatment myocardial blood flow in the circumflex territory was significantly higher in the NORM compared to the HICHOL group. VEGF and eNOS levels were increased in the ischemic territory in the NORM group but decreased in the HICHOL group. Conclusions. The cardiac angiogenic response to VEGF was markedly inhibited in a hypercholesterolemiainduced porcine model of endothelial dysfunction. Coronary endothelial dysfunction could be an obstacle to the efficacy of clinical angiogenesis protocols and a putative therapeutic target. (Surgery 2004;136:407-15.)
Dictator monopolies and essential goods: experimental evidence

Monopolists set prices and if the good is unessential this may place the consumer in an uncomfortable position. But if the good is essential the consumer faces a pay-to-live or -die choice. Dictator and ultimatum games are superficially similar in that one game offers the right of refusal, while the other does not. The dictator monopoly is, however, not a game, and behaviour could be radically different in the market environment versus game environment. We recast the dictator game as a dictator monopoly experiment and find that the fairness characteristic of the game evaporates quickly as rounds progress.
Diastereoselective Anti Aldol Reactions of Chiral Ethyl Ketones. Enantioselective Processes for the Synthesis of Polypropionate Natural Products.

Abstract The diastereoselective anti aldol reactions of the β-keto imide 3a , the related ethyl ketone 20b , and its diastereomer 22b have been studied. In these aldol reactions, the chiral ethyl ketones 3a and 20b were found to exhibit the opposite sense of asymmetric induction in the analogous anti aldol bond constructions from the derived ( E ) boron enolates. The relevance of this study to the synthesis of polypropionate natural products is discussed.
CALCIUM DEFICIENCY CAN INDUCE THE TRANSITION FROM OVAL TO FUSIFORM CELLS IN CULTURES OF PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM BOHLIN1,2

SUMMARY The diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin is known to be pleomorphic. Previously it was considered that growth on medium solidified with agar produced ovate cells, whereas growth in liquid medium gave rise to fusiform cells. We have shown that ovate cells can be propagated in liquid medium if the calcium content of the medium is below 15 mg/liter. If the concentration of calcium is raised, fusiform cells develop.