cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two Common Problems in Capital Structure Research: The Financial- Debt-To-Asset Ratio and Issuing Activity Versus Leverage Changes

This paper points out two common problems in capital structure research. First, although it is not clear whether non-financial liabilities should be considered debt, they should never be considered as equity. Yet, the common financial-debt-to-asset ratio (FD/AT) measure of leverage commits this mistake. Thus, research on increases in FD/AT explains, at least in part, decreases in non-financial liabilities. Future research should avoid FD/AT altogether. The paper also quantifies the components of the balance sheet of large publicly traded corporations and discusses the role of cash in measuring leverage ratios. Second, equity-issuing activity should not be viewed as equivalent to capital structure changes. Empirically, the correlation between the two is weak. The capital structure and capital issuing literature are distinct.
Immune characterization and profiles of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the increasing mortality rates of COVID-19 create an urgent need for treatments, which are currently lacking. Although vaccines have been approved by the FDA for emergency use in the U.S., patients will continue to require pharmacologic intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality as vaccine availability remains limited. The rise of new variants makes the development of therapeutic strategies even more crucial to combat the current pandemic and future outbreaks. Evidence from several studies suggests the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection plays a critical role in disease pathogenesis. Consequently, host immune factors are becoming more recognized as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for COVID-19. To develop therapeutic strategies to combat current and future coronavirus outbreaks, understanding how the coronavirus hijacks the host immune system during and after the infection is crucial. In this study, we investigated immunological patterns or characteristics of the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection that may contribute to the disease severity of COVID-19 patients. We analyzed large bulk RNASeq and single cell RNAseq data from COVID-19 patient samples to immunoprofile differentially expressed gene sets and analyzed pathways to identify human host protein targets. We observed an immunological profile of severe COVID-19 patients characterized by upregulated cytokines, interferon-induced proteins, and pronounced T cell lymphopenia, supporting findings by previous studies. We identified a number of host immune targets including PERK, PKR, TNF, NF-kB, and other key genes that modulate the significant pathways and genes identified in COVID-19 patients. Finally, we identified genes modulated by COVID-19 infection that are implicated in oncogenesis, including E2F7 and RB1, suggesting a mechanism by which cancer may arise in patients infected with SARS-CoV2. Further clinical investigation of these targets may lead to bonafide therapeutic strategies to treat the current COVID-19 pandemic and protect against future outbreaks and viral escape variants.
Viewpoints: Improving cities' implementation of sustainability objectives

Abstract Cities are touted as leaders and innovators in sustainability policy, but face significant challenges with its implementation. Because sustainability objectives are multifaceted they often do not align with local governments' typical organizational structures, which compartmentalize expertise around core service functions. This mismatch lies at the heart of many cities' implementation struggles; broad sustainability initiatives require active contribution from multiple departments, but externalities and fuzzy boundaries of responsibility stymie collaboration. Sustainability science recognizes the need to think across disciplinary boundaries and we argue that sustainability implementation requires managing across organizational ones. Drawing from mixed-methods research on US cities' sustainability efforts, we present a functional collective action framework that identifies four internal administrative arrangements that city governments use to facilitate functionally transboundary sustainability implementation. We assess their relative effectiveness and make the case for an influential sustainability lead.
BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.2O3-La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.75Mn0.25O3 Composite Membrane for Hydrogen Separation

A dual-phase membrane was developed for hydrogen separation. A BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.2O3 (BCZY) phase provided a proton conduction pathway while A La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.75Mn0.25O3 (LSCrMn) phase provided an electronic conduction pathway for effective hydrogen permeation. Once each perovskite phase had formed, the powder mixture was attrition-milled and dry-pressed. After sintering a porous–dense–porous trilayer, the phase purity was confirmed by x-ray diffraction. Usage of a powder blanket was critical to avoid undesired phase formation in addition to LSCrMn and BCZY. Total conductivity of the composite was measured to confirm the 3D connectivity of the LSCrMn phase. The hydrogen flux was larger than 2 mL min−1 cm−2, demonstrating the effectiveness of the dual-phase design.
New-onset seizures in adults: Low diagnostic yield of gadolinium contrast in initial brain MRI evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The diagnostic utility of contrast MR-imaging in adult new-onset seizures without clinically suspected neoplasia or infection is not well defined in the literature. Imaging guidelines consider both contrast and noncontrast MR-imaging examinations appropriate in this clinical scenario. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of contrast MR-sequences in evaluation of seizure in patients without suspicion for neoplasia or infection. METHODS Imaging and clinical data were reviewed for 103 consecutive patients admitted for phase-1 seizure monitoring with the following criteria: (1) MRI-brain performed with/without intravenous contrast; (2) no clinical suspicion for central nervous system (CNS) infection; and (3) no history of CNS neoplasia, or suspected metastatic disease. Readers designated cases as lesional or nonlesional. Lesional cases were further categorized as either visualized on noncontrast sequences only, contrast sequences only, or both. RESULTS 29/103 (28%) patients had epileptogenic lesions, 74/103 (72%) were nonlesional studies. 29/29 (100%) lesional abnormalities were detected on noncontrast sequences (sensitivity 100% [95 confidence interval (CI): 88-100], specificity 100% [95 CI: 95-100]). 23/29 (79.3%) lesional cases were visualized on both noncontrast and postcontrast sequences. 6/29 (20.7%) were visualized only on noncontrast sequences. No lesional cases were detected exclusively on postcontrast MR sequences. With an observed nonlesional extraneous contrast MR-imaging rate of 72%, estimated excess cost of contrast MR-imaging per 1000 patients using Medicare data was $103,680 USD. CONCLUSIONS Contrast MR-imaging has limited diagnostic utility in initial screening of adult new-onset seizure patients without clinically suspected neoplasia or infection. More judicious use of contrast MR-imaging in this patient population may reduce unnecessary exposure to gadolinium and lower associated healthcare costs.
Physics-constrained Automatic Feature Engineering for Predictive Modeling in Materials Science

Automatic Feature Engineering (AFE) aims to extract useful knowledge for interpretable predictions given data for the machine learning tasks. Here, we develop AFE to extract dependency relationships that can be interpreted with functional formulas to discover physics meaning or new hypotheses for the problems of interest. We focus on materials science applications, where interpretable predictive modeling may provide principled understanding of materials systems and guide new materials discovery. It is often computationally prohibitive to exhaust all the potential relationships to construct and search the whole feature space to identify interpretable and predictive features. We develop and evaluate new AFE strategies by exploring a feature generation tree (FGT) with deep Q-network (DQN) for scalable and efficient exploration policies. The developed DQN-based AFE strategies are benchmarked with the existing AFE methods on several materials science datasets.
Group Characters, Symmetric Functions, and the Hecke Algebra

Part I: Finite-dimensional algebras: Group characters Divisibility Induced characters Further results Part II: Permutations and partitions: The irreducible characters of $S^n$ The Specht modules Symmetric functions The Schur functions The Littlewood-Richardson ring Two useful formulas Part III: The Hecke algebra: The Markov trace.
Concerned citizens collect cancer-incidence data.

Abstract A method for collecting cancer‐incidence data in a rural town is described. A mail survey, prompted and conducted by concerned citizens, was utilized. When analyzed in light of local mortality data and national cancer incidence and mortality rates, the data collected in such a survey seem reasonably accurate and complete. The numbers of observed and expected incident cases, as well as the numbers of observed and expected deaths, correlated quite closely for most sites. Excesses of incident cases were observed for seven of 11 sex‐specific sites, but only for melanoma and lymphoma among women were the excesses statistically significant. Provided that community support is substantial, which is necessary to maximize accuracy and completeness, this method of collecting cancer‐incidence data may be useful in rural areas of states without a statewide registry.
Modal Transition Systems: A Foundation for Three-Valued Program Analysis

We present Kripke modal transition systems (Kripke MTSs), a generalization of modal transition systems [27, 26], as a foundation for three-valued program analysis. The semantics of Kripke MTSs are presented by means of a mixed power domain of states; soundness and consistency are proved. Two major applications, model checking partial state spaces and three-valued program shape analysis, are presented as evidence of the suitability of Kripke MTSs as a foundation for three-valued analyses.
Immunological memory in tuberculosis. 2. Mediators of protective immunity, delayed hypersensitivity and macrophage migration inhibition in central lymph.

Inbred rats were immunized with living BCG and their thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) were examined for their ability to mediate tuberculin delayed-type hyper-sensitivity (DTH), antituberculosis protective immunity and migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production. TDL collected 9 days after immunization conferred DTH and protective immunity on normal recipients and were reactive in MIF assays. These MIF-producing TDL were relatively large in size as determined by velocity sedi-mentation. TDL collected 28 days or longer after immunizatin conferred adoptive immunity and produced MIF, but could not transfer DTH. The protective lymphocytes were relatively heterogeneous in size but the most enriched population had a sedimentation velocity of 3.9 mm/h. The MIF-producing TDL segregated with the protective lymphocytes after velocity sedimentation and their size corresponded to that of T-lymphocytes. Although mediators of DTH were absent from “late” TDL, recipients of these cells developed DTH at an accelerated rate after challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis . The data suggest that protective and MIF-producing cells belong to the recirculating pool of small lymphocytes whereas DTH is mediated by nonrecirculating lymphocytes.
Ways of Criticizing Public Choice: The Uses of Empiricism and Theory in Legal Scholarship

Public choice theory has been used to explain a wide range of observable facts. It has also been influential in legal scholarship. In Part I of this article, Tom Ginsburg reviews the main premises behind public choice theory and discusses how these premises have fared when tested empirically. In this section, for example, the author discusses how casual empirical observation of the “free rider” problem suggests that individuals do not always seek to maximize their own self-interest. The author further points out that additional studies, like Ostrom’s empirical observations of a Turkish fishery, are necessary in order to explain why individuals cooperate and contribute to public goods—and why they do not. In Part II, the author considers a revised theory of collective action with different implications for the prospect of democratic government. The revised theory models society as made up of three characters: (1) pure rational actors, (2) conditional cooperators, and (3) willing punishers. This model is more consistent with observed behavior than earlier public choice theories and enables researchers to focus on specific problems that would otherwise be difficult to examine. The author goes on to discuss the normative implications of public choice theory and concludes with a discussion of the role of positive and normative theories in law and social science.
Electrolytic capacitor elimination in power electronic system by high frequency active filter

The application of a high frequency current-fed type active filter for elimination of electrolytic capacitor in the DC link of an inverter is described. The active filter operation has been described, preliminary analysis and design have been made, and simulation studies have been made in detail for a three-phase inverter in PWM and square-wave modes and a single-phase inverter in PWM mode to prove the feasibility of concepts. The study indicates that it is possible to eliminate the unreliable electrolytic capacitor by high frequency active filter. >
Pathogenicity of the Trudeau Strain of Mycobacterium sp. 607 for Mice

Abstract A study was made of the pathogenic properties of the Trudeau Culture Collection strain (T-67) of Mycobacterium sp. 607 for mice. The organism was highly pathogenic for CF1 mice upon intravenous injection. The animals succumbed soon after intravenous injection of a 14 × 106 viable cellular units. The T-67 strain proliferated in the kidneys of the animals but was unable to reproduce in the lungs, liver, and spleen. Destruction of the organisms in the latter organs commenced 24 hr after injection. Tissue bacterial counts showed that the mycobacteria were similarly destroyed in the kidneys after an interval of from 7 to 9 days after injection of the organisms. Histopathological examination of the tissues indicated that the lethal effects of the organism were due primarily to kidney damage. The liver, lungs, and spleen were similarly involved but to a lesser degree. The unique characteristics of the T-67 strain of Mycobacterium sp. 607 are discussed.
Declaration of Helsinki should be strengthened.

# Declaration of Helsinki should be strengthened {#article-title-2} The World Medical Association is now debating the next revision of the Declaration of Helsinki. Kenneth Rothman and Karin Michels argue that critics of the declaration, notably the US Food and Drug Administration, are trying to give scientists greater latitude than the declaration allows. In particular, Rothman and Michels dispute the morality of performing placebo controlled trials when there is an existing accepted treatment, and they offer other suggestions to strengthen the protection of patients who participate in medical experiments. Michael Baum argues against their absolutism on this issue and against what he considers their anti-science stance # For {#article-title-3} Actions that penalise some for the good of others are defended under the utilitarian banner of doing the greatest good for the greatest number. For this reason we justify imposing quarantine to prevent the spread of infectious illness. In the same spirit some scientists and regulators would ask patients who participate in medical research to make sacrifices for the greater good. Their position puts them at odds with the Declaration of Helsinki, which does not mince words in choosing between the greatest good for the greatest number and the rights of the individual patient: “In research on man, the interest of science and society should never take precedence over considerations related to the well being of the subject.”1 This ethical choice of the patient's rights over the good of society in general is now up for re-examination as the World Medical Association deliberates the next revision of the declaration. Why would the World Medical Association consider stepping back from its strong support for the rights of the patient? It is under pressure to do so from several critics, 2 3 notably the United States Food and Drug Administration. The Food and Drug Administration mandates many human experiments as part of the approval …
Remembering the Civil War: Reunion and the Limits of Reconciliation

Review of: "Remembering the Civil War: Reunion and the Limits of Reconciliation" by Sarah J. Purcell.
Factors Influencing In Vitro Skin Permeability Factor Production by Vibrio cholerae

The development of a new semisynthetic medium which stimulates in vitro production of the skin permeability factor (PF) by Vibrio cholerae is described. The effects of pH, aeration, temperature, and length of incubation on PF formation or release in strain 569B and several other strains, or both, are compared. Data are presented which show that maximal PF accumulation occurs during a transitional period of growth joining the exponential and stationary phases of the growth cycle. PF elaboration is completed well ahead of any visible signs of lysis in the culture and the PF activity appears to be proportional to the length of the linear growth phase. Possible mechanisms of toxigenicity and the nature of PF are discussed.
Responses of indigenous microorganisms to soil incubation as viewed by transmission electron microscopy of cell thin sections.

Indigenous soil microorganisms were cultivated in their soil habitat with 50% moisture capacity at 30 C for two weeks. Changes in microorganism cells were studied by electron microscopy during incubation, with particular attention to the dormant cell growth and to the ability of cystlike cells to germinate and reencyst. The responses of various cell species to incubation conditions are described and illustrated by photomicrographs.
β-Cryptoxanthin biofortified maize (Zea mays) increases β-cryptoxanthin concentration and enhances the color of chicken egg yolk

The laying hen has a natural ability to deposit carotenoids into its egg yolks, especially the xanthophyll carotenoid lutein that is used commercially as an egg colorant. Can this ability to deposit carotenoids be used to enrich egg yolk provitamin A value? After a 10-d carotenoid depletion period in hens (n = 24), the effects of a 20-d intervention with high-β-cryptoxanthin, high-β-carotene, or typical yellow maize on color and carotenoid profile were compared with the effects of a white maize diet (n = 6/treatment). Eggs were collected every other day and yolks were analyzed by using a portable colorimeter to define the color space and by using an HPLC to determine the carotenoid profile. The high-β-cryptoxanthin and yellow maize increased β-cryptoxanthin in the yolk (0.55 ± 0.08 to 4.20 ± 0.56 nmol/g and 0.55 ± 0.08 to 1.06 ± 0.12 nmol/g, respectively; P < 0.001). Provitamin A equivalents increased in eggs from hens fed high-β-cryptoxanthin maize (P < 0.001) but not the high-β-carotene maize. The color (L*, a*, and b*) assessment of the yolks showed an increase in the high-β-cryptoxanthin treatment for the red-green a* scale (P < 0.001) and a decrease for the light-dark L* scale (P < 0.001). No appreciable change was noted in the yellow-blue b* scale for the high-β-cryptoxanthin treatment; but significant changes were noted for the yellow (P = 0.002) and high-β-carotene maize (P = 0.005) treatments, which were most evident at the end of the washout period with white maize. β-Cryptoxanthin-biofortified maize is a potential vehicle to elevate provitamin A equivalents and to enhance the color of yolks. This could lead to a human health benefit if widely adopted.
TH-C-AUD-06: Breathing Interplay Effects During Proton Beam Spot Scanning: Simulation and Statistical Analysis

Purpose: The transition from passive scattering to active scanning in protonradiation therapy introduces the problem of interplay effects, when elements of beam motion have a similar time scale to intrafractional tumor motion. This can lead to unacceptable deviation from the planned dose in a given fraction. The sum of fields over an entire treatment leads to a predictable broadening of the penumbra, but the limited number of fractions may not provide enough repetition to satisfactorily wash out interplay effects. A possible solution is the ‘repainting’ of each field several times at lower dose rate. This study looks at the dosimetric effect of interplay and compares different ‘repainting’ methods. Materials & Methods: The broadening of the penumbra and the dose shift due to breathing asymmetry are characterized via simulation over a set of clinically relevant permutations including tumor amplitude, breathing period, energy change time, proton beam spot size, location within the field, and degree of breathing asymmetry. Several repainting methods are developed and compared for the conditions of worst‐case delivery error. Breathing motion, normal to the beam direction, is modeled with an asymmetric sine function.. Results: The broadening of the penumbra depends only on the amplitude of tumor motion, and is responsible for narrowing the full prescription isodose volume and widening the low dose penumbra by as much as 2cm for large tumor amplitudes (3cm peak‐to‐peak). The systematic isodose shift by 10%–15% of the tumor amplitude was observed due to motion asymmetry. Of the five re‐painting techniques studied, Breath Sampling Repainting was most effective in reducing dose errors with a minimal addition to treatment time. Conclusions:Dose repainting is necessary in treatment of moving tumors with scanned proton beams. The dosimetric uncertainty can be reduced with certain ‘repainting’ techniques.
An XML-based language for the Research & Development pipeline management problem

Abstract Process management frameworks, such as Sim-Opt [AIChE J. 10 (2001) 2226], which addresses the Research & Development (R&D) pipeline management problem with mathematical programming and discrete-event simulation give rise to formulations that are extremely data-intensive and have complex hierarchical data-requirements. This necessitates a data model that can be used to model any given problem instance in the form of a structured input language. Further, the language requires a parser that reads and interprets any input instance in order to capture the input data in memory and allow the formulation and solution of the corresponding optimization and simulation models. In the past, structured documentation languages have been designed for this purpose. However, such customized languages often lead to a strong coupling between the language definition and the parser implementation. Any redefinition or extension of the language to accommodate changes in the problem scope and/or optimization/simulation formulations would imply a customized extension of the parser, thus leading to software engineering difficulties. One solution to the above difficulties is provided by the Extensible Markup Language (XML) technology, a recent advance in software technology that enables extensibility and data abstraction and provides efficient data structuring parsers and object orientation. XML imposes the requirement of specifying data in an inherently hierarchical structure and provides generic parsers that do not require any re-design upon language extensions or redefinitions. This paper describes an XML-based language that has been developed for the R&D pipeline management problem, with the keywords, structural syntax, and data content models for representing all aspects of the problem. It also discusses the practical issue of effectively accessing data that gets stored in the document object model (DOM) upon parsing, by designing a set of problem definition classes (PDC), which organize the data stored in the generic DOM structure into an effective set of data structures that facilitate formulation generation. Efforts to integrate the language, the DOM parser, and the PDC in a discrete event simulation application for the R&D pipeline problem are also discussed.
Relationships between common forest metrics and realized impacts of Hurricane Katrina on forest resources in Mississippi

This paper compares and contrasts hurricane-related damage recorded across the Mississippi landscape in the 2 years following Katrina with initial damage assessments based on modeled parameters by the USDA Forest Service. Logistic and multiple regressions are used to evaluate the influence of stand characteristics on tree damage probability. Specifically, this paper addresses four primary questions related to post-hurricane damage: (1) do inventory data substantiate damage zone estimates made using remotely sensed and climate data following Hurricane Katrina; (2) were softwoods or hardwoods more susceptible to hurricane damage and does that susceptibility change as distance from landfall increases; (3) what are the primary stand-level factors influencing vulnerability to damage, based on observed damage and measured stand characteristics, and; (4) is tree-level damage related to tree species, and do damage types (bole, branch, lean, or windthrow) differ by species? We were able to accept the hypothesis that damage differed among the developed zones, and to confirm the acceptability of the figures initially generated. However, we were not able to accept the hypothesis that softwoods experienced more damage than hardwoods. Our data showed a marked increase in damage to hardwood species, except in the first zone of impact. Additionally, the likelihood of hardwood damage increased with increasing distance from the zone of impact. However, species group was confounded with the other predictor variables in many cases, making it difficult to separate the effects of each variable.
A model for mastery learning based on dynamic equilibrium theory

Abstract A theoretical model is developed based on dynamic equilibrium theory, which suggests a quantitative explanation for the basic idea in mastery learning that individuals of different aptitude reacting in an ideal environment to the same total quantity of material will ultimately reach the same mastery status, or gain equal increments of status starting from the same base, in time spans inversely proportional to the aptitude. The approach incorporates two widely used mechanisms, one for growth in learning and intelligence and one for loss through forgetting, into a single model that treats acquisition and loss as opposing, but simultaneously occuring processes. Operational definitions for acquisition and loss rate constants that would enable the model to account exactly for the basic assumption of mastery learning and at the same time yield a growth pattern identical to that implicit in the Stanford Binet ratio IQ are identified. An analysis of the extent to which the requirements of the model are confirmed by the available experimental evidence reveals that the basic idea of mastery learning is a useful and convenient approximation, which applies with some validity to the growth of mental ability as well as to the growth in school achievement.
Highly Valued Equity and Discretionary Accruals

: Overvalued equity provides a strong incentive for managers to report earnings that do not disappoint the market ( Jensen, 2005). We find that this can be extended to highly valued equity more generally. In the year following the classification as highly valued and compared to firms with less extreme valuations, highly valued firms have significantly higher discretionary accruals and exhibit a more pronounced positive association between discretionary accruals and proxies for the likelihood of failing to meet earnings targets. These findings are consistent with the use of discretionary accruals to manage earnings in support of extreme valuation. Because highly valued equity will likely result in CEOs with valuable stock and stock option portfolios, we test whether and show that the overvalued equity incentive is incremental to a CEO's equity portfolio incentive. One implication is that directors and audit committees should be especially on guard for possible earnings management when a firm has extremely high valuation multiples and when the CEO has a lot of equity at risk.
Higher‐order modal reflection and transmission in acoustic waveguide step discontinuities.

Analytic expressions for the transmission and reflection coefficients of higher‐order modes at a step discontinuity in an acoustic waveguide are developed. The equations take on the familiar form of an impedance discontinuity when written in matrix form. Numerical results show that there is significant modal coupling which indicates that the coupling cannot be ignored in the design of duct systems.
Initial postbuckling behavior of optimally designed columns and plates

Abstract The initial postbuckling behavior of optimally designed structures of two generic types is investigated. The structures are straight, simply-supported, inextensional columns, loaded by axial thrust and flat, simply-supported, axisymmetric circular plates, loaded by radial thrust. The structures are optimal in the sense that they withstand the largest possible loads prior to buckling, while satisfying fixed volume and minimum allowable gage constraints. The stability analysis is based upon Koiter's general theory of the postbuckling behavior of structures.
Substance P-containing trigeminal sensory neurons project to the nucleus of the solitary tract.

Abstract Intense substance P-like immunoreactivity (SPLI) was identified in fiber bundles coursing between the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve and the ventrolateral nucleus of the solitary tract at the level of the area postrema. These bundles were apparent only when tissue was stained for substance P immunoreactivity and were not visible in preparations treated with antisera to somatostatin or neurotensin. Following unilateral section of the trigeminal nerve, the SPLI-containing fiber bundles were absent ipsilateral to the nerve section. The fibers were absent bilaterally in rats which previously injected with capsaicin. Unilateral removal of the nodose ganglion did not diminish the intensity or apparent number of SPLI fibers. These data indicate the presence of a trigeminosolitary projection which is composed of primary trigeminal sensory neurons containing substance P. The results provide an anatomical route by which substance P of trigeminal origin may modulate vagal or glossopharyngeal sensory information.
Isolation and characterization of a serum inhibitor of cartilage metabolism.

N-butanol extraction of rat, pig or human serum was found to remove a potent inhibitor of in vitro embryonic chicken cartilage metabolism. This inhibitor was active at less than 1/100 of its serum concentration and therefore interfered with in vitro somatomedin assays which were run with 1 to 10% serum in the medium. The butanol extractable inhibitor (BEI) affected [3H]uridine incorporation into both RNA and an acid soluble cartilage fraction, 35SO4 incorporation into chondromucoprotein and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Studies of the solubility and thin layer chromatographic properties of BEI, revealed that the inhibitor was probably a glucocorticoid. This hypothesis was confirmed when it was found that cortisol, corticosterone and dexamethasone in concentrations as low as 2.5 × 10−10M inhibited cartilage metabolism in the same manner as BEI. (Endocrinology 95: 1600, 1974)
Ultrastructure of rat ovarian interstitial cells. III. Response to luteinizing hormone.

Administration of luteinizing hormone (LH) to rats which have been hypophysectomized for 6 weeks induces redifferentiation of regressed ovarian interstitial cells. At the ultrastructural level, this response involves nuclear and nucleolar hypertrophy, increases in cytoplasmic volume and number of ribosomes, and proliferation of the membranous systems of the cytoplasm. Restoration of abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum and tubular mitochondrial cristae, characteristics of steroidogenic cells which are lost after hypophysectomy, are initiated within 6 hr by LH treatment. Only mitochondrial changes are continuous throughout the 72-hr observation period. Morphological responses to LH are prominent in these cytoplasmic structures before any change is discernible in nuclei, but nuclear hypertrophy, although delayed, is very rapid and is completed before cytoplasmic membranogenesis ceases.
Connecting With Struggling Students to Improve Performance in Large Classes

In large classes, students' feelings of anonymity and interpersonal distance from the instructor can be particularly detrimental to those who struggle with course material. We tested a simple method for connecting with struggling students to improve their performance. We randomly divided students who scored 75% or lower on the first exam into 2 groups. Students in one group received a personalized e-mail message expressing our concern and providing information about course resources. Students in the other group served as a no-e-mail control. Those who received the message performed better on the second exam than those who did not. We discuss possible explanations for our findings and question whether multiple e-mails might enhance performance more consistently.
A receiver for the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration using the optical communications telescope laboratory

We discuss the design and implementation of a receiver for the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration based on a 12-pixel array of tungsten silicide superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. The receiver was used to close a software communication link from lunar orbit at 39 and 79 Mbps.
Trade liberalization and the Labor Market Revisited

This paper provides new insights in understanding the adjustments of the labor market to trade liberalization policies in an economy producing tradeables and nontradeables. The results of the paper indicate that the short-run effects of trade liberalization on wages, labor allocation and worker welfare is contingent on certain explicit production and demand conditions that exist in an economy. The production condition is related to the slope of the labor demand curve in a given economy and the demand condition is related to the difference in the cross-price elasticity of demand of nontradeables to the price of importables and exportables. The necessary combination of these conditions needed for trade liberalization to be welfare improving in the short run is explored.
The effect of microsomal enzyme inducing drugs on reproductive function in the ewe

Abstract A number of drugs cause marked increases in the steroid hydroxylase activity of hepatic microsomes. Beginning 2 days after estrus, 117 mature ewes were each given 14 injections over a 27-day period of phenobarbital sodium, diphenylhydantoin, chlorcyclizine HCl or phenylbutazone. Blood samples for luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone determination by radioimmunoassay (RIA) were taken on day 10 of the first estrous cycle (day 18 if no heat was observed) and on days 5 and 10 of the second cycle. On day 10 of the second cycle, the ewes were given an intravenous injection of 1 ml of 6% solution of pentobarbitol sodium anesthetic per 4.5 kg body weight, and the length of anesthetic sleep time was measured. The ewes were then killed and corpora lutea and liver were weighed. In 33 ewes treated with either phenobarbitol sodium or phenylbutazone, sleep time was shortened (18 min vs 29 min in untreated controls, P vs controls), indicating impaired liver function. Electron micrographs of liver cells verified that enzyme induction or hepatic degeneration had occurred.
Mouse as a model for multifactorial inheritance of neural tube defects

Neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly are some of the most common structural birth defects found in humans. These defects occur due to failures of neurulation, a process where the flat neural plate rolls into a tube. In spite of their prevalence, the causes of NTDs are poorly understood. The multifactorial threshold model best describes the pattern of inheritance of NTDs where multiple undefined gene variants interact with environmental factors to cause an NTD. To date, mouse models have implicated a multitude of genes as required for neurulation, providing a mechanistic understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways that control neurulation. However, the majority of these mouse models exhibit NTDs with a Mendelian pattern of inheritance. Still, many examples of multifactorial inheritance have been demonstrated in mouse models of NTDs. These include null and hypomorphic alleles of neurulation genes that interact in a complex fashion with other genetic mutations or environmental factors to cause NTDs. These models have implicated several genes and pathways for testing as candidates for the genetic basis of NTDs in humans, resulting in identification of putative pathogenic mutations in some patients. Mouse models also provide an experimental paradigm to gain a mechanistic understanding of the environmental factors that influence NTD occurrence, such as folic acid and maternal diabetes, and have led to the discovery of additional preventative nutritional supplements such as inositol. This review provides examples of how multifactorial inheritance of NTDs can be modeled in the mouse.
Anti-stress effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on colonic motility in rats.

Background Disorders of colonic motility may contribute to symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stress is widely believed to play a major role in developing IBS. Stress increases corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) of the hypothalamus, resulting in acceleration of colonic transit in rodents. In contrast, hypothalamic oxytocin (OXT) has an anti-stress effect via inhibiting CRF expression and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity. Although transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and acupuncture have been shown to have anti-stress effects, the mechanism of the beneficial effects remains unknown.
Using Positron Emission Tomography with [18F]FDG to Predict Tumor Behavior in Experimental Colorectal Cancer

This study investigates the relationship between FDG uptake as determined by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and rates of tumor growth, cellular GLUT1 transporter density, and the activities of hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase in a solid tumor implant model. Five different human colorectal xenografts of different growth properties were implanted in athymic rats and evaluated by dynamic 18F-FDG-PET. The phosphorylating and dephosphorylating activities of the key glycolytic enzymes, hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase, were measured in these tumor types by spectrophotometric assays and the expression of GLUT1 glucose transporter protein was determined by immunohistochemistry. Correlations among FDG accumulation, hexokinase activity, and tumor doubling time are reported in these colon xenografts. The results indicate that the activity of tumor hexokinase may be a marker of tumor growth rate that can be determined by 18F-FDG-PET imaging. PET scanning may not only be a useful tool for staging patients for extent of disease, but may provide important prognostic information concerning the proliferative rates of malignancies.
A new species of the genus Oplitis (Acarina:Uropodidae) and a new distribution record for Oplitis exopodi.

Oplitis dakotensis sp. n. is described from South Dakota. The discovery of Oplitis exopodi Hunter and Farrier in south Texas extends the range of this species from North Carolina.
Application of surface conformed linear mesh and data subdivision technique to a spinning projectile

Abstract In this paper, we report a spinning projectile application of a parallel CFD program featuring surface-conformed isotropic mesh subdivision. The subdivision technique generates finer computational mesh without user interaction using a 3-D hybrid unstructured coarse base. The main motivation behind the subdivision technique is to overcome the bottleneck in generating and processing of the computational meshes with billions of elements. First, we generate a coarse mesh using any unstructured mesh generator. Then, we subdivide the coarse mesh to the level of resolution needed for the simulations. Finally, we conform mesh nodes on solid surfaces to the original geometry since linear subdivision ignores surface curvatures. We use K-D tree search algorithm in the surface mapping. To deform interior mesh nodes due to the surface correction, we use the spring analogy method since deformations are very small. Surface correction is implemented in parallel using the Message Passing Interface. The new mesh obtained from the isotropic subdivision preserves mesh density distribution of the original coarse mesh. The mesh subdivision with surface correction is integral part of our Variable Intensity Computational Environment. A projectile test case with and without spinning at different angles of attack are used to demonstrate the applicability of this method. Flow solutions are obtained using our compressible Navier–Stokes flow solver, CaMEL Aero, with the Detached Eddy Simulation turbulence model. Flow solutions and mesh subdivisions are performed in our parallel cluster at the Jackson State University.
Respiratory control in cockroach-muscle mitochondria

Abstract Mitochondria isolated from cockroach thoracic muscles have been used to demonstrate that the rate of oxidation of several Krebs-cycle intermediates is under the control of adenosine diphosphate concentration. Respiratory-control indices as high as 25 have been achieved with both pyruvate and glutamate. Contrarily, the rate of oxidation of α-glycerol phosphate is influenced by adenosine diphosphate concentration to only a minor degree, but is markedly inhibited by accumulation of the oxidation product. When the ratio [reactant]/[product] is approx. 3, oxidation of α-glycerol phosphate becomes very low. These findings are used to propose a theory which may satisfactorily explain the problem of respiratory control in insect muscles.
Employee Perception of a Mandated Helmet Policy at Vail Resorts

Objective The purpose of this study was to measure support for a mandated helmet policy among resort employees along with the impact of such a policy on job satisfaction, and additionally, to measure the prevalence of barriers to helmet use among this population. Methods In all, 728 Vail Resort employees were surveyed regarding their opinions on the helmet policy and on general helmet use. Results The majority of the 728 employees surveyed (66.5%; 95% CI: 63% to 70%) agreed with the helmet policy. Only 18% (95% CI: 16% to 21%) reported a negative effect on job satisfaction. Older employees (>25 years old) were more likely to disagree with the policy (odds ratio [OR] 3.1; 95% CI: 2.2 to 4.3) and report a negative effect on job satisfaction (OR 4.8; 95% CI: 3.0 to 7.6). Skiers were much more likely than snowboarders to report a negative effect on job satisfaction (OR 9.8; 95% CI: 5.2 to 18.1). Among resort employees, ski patrollers were more likely to disagree with the mandate (OR 9.8; 95% CI: 6.8 to 13.9) and report a negative effect on job satisfaction (OR 13.2; 95% CI: 8.3 to 21.). Forty-three percent of participants (95% CI: 39% to 46%) agreed with the statement that wearing a helmet encourages reckless behavior whereas 51.0% (95% CI: 47% to 54%) believed that wearing a helmet limits sensory perception. Conclusions A mandatory helmet use policy was supported by most resort employees. However, ski patrollers and older, more experienced employees were more likely to report a negative effect on job satisfaction. Barriers to helmet use continue to persist in the ski industry and represent a target for further educational efforts.
In reply to Zou et al. "New amyloid plaques or a game of hide-and-seek?".

Reply to the article: Zou K, Maeda T, Michikawa M, Komano H. New amyloid plaques or a game of hide-and-seek? Int J Biol Sci 2008; 4:200-201. We appreciate, but disagree with, Zou et al's comments regarding potential technical issues in the in vivo imaging. Our control experiments, including explicit criteria for inclusion and exclusion of new plaques, the presence of other plaques in the field that are observed by the dyes, the use of different freely diffusible well characterized dyes (both topical application and intraperitoneal application for a dye that that we have previously formally demonstrated to readily cross the blood brain barrier) and concurrent imaging of neurites and blood vessels to ensure quality of imaging per se all, in our opinion, argue against their concerns.
A Stability-Indicating HPLC Method for the Determination of Oxytocin Acetate in Oxytocin Injection, USP, Synthetic

Abstract A gradient high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure employing ultraviolet (UV) detection for the analysis of oxytocin acetate in Oxytocin Injection, USP, Synthetic is reported. The method requires no sample pretreatment and is accurate, reproducible and selective. The peak area versus oxytocin acetate concentration is linear over the range of 50–150% of its label claim of 10 Oxytocin USP Units/mL. The mean absolute recovery of oxytocin acetate using the described method is 98.3 ± 0.6%, (mean ±SD, n = 9). The precision, relative standard deviation (RSD), of label claim, amongst five sample preparations is not more than 0.4%. Intermediate precision, as determined from fifteen sample preparations, generated by two Analysts on different HPLC systems over three days, exhibits an RSD of 1.9%. The Standard and Assay Preparations are stable for up to 48 hours at room temperature. The selectivity was evaluated by subjecting the finished product (Oxytocin Injection, USP, Synthetic) to therm...
Sterol carrier protein-2 expression in mouse L-cell fibroblasts alters cholesterol uptake

Abstract Despite the progress made on the possible functions of sterol carrier protein (SCP-2) using assays in vitro, very little is known regarding the role of SCP-2 in intact cells. To further elucidate this role, mouse L-cell fibroblasts were transfected with the cDNA encoding for mouse 15 kDa or 13.2 kDa SCP-2. The data show for the first time, that SCP-2 expression increases cholesterol uptake into transfected L-cell fibroblasts. Untransfected L-cells expressed SCP-2 at levels near or below the lower limit of detectability. SCP-2 immunoreactive protein levels were 0.030 ± 0.004% and 0.036 ± 0.002% of total cytosolic proteins in the 15 and 13.2 kDa stable transfectants, respectively. Both the 15 and 13.2 kDa SCP-2 expressions products were found as 13.2 kDa proteins, consistent with rapid post-translational cleavage of the putative amino terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence from the 15 kDa SCP-2. The effect of expressing either form of SCP-2 on [ 3 H]cholesterol uptake was determined. Expression of the 15 kDa form, but not the 13.2 kDa form of SCP-2, enhanced the rate and extent of [ 3 H]cholesterol uptake compared to control or mock-transfected L-cells. The [ 3 H]cholesterol uptake rate in 15 kDa SCP-2 expressing cells was increased 1.3-fold, while the extent of [ 3 H]cholesterol uptake was increased 1.4-fold after 12 h of uptake compared to control L-cells. The differences in cholesterol uptake between the cells expressing the 13.2 versus the 15 kDa protein, suggest that the 15 kDa form of SCP-2 is functionally localized within the cell, while the 13.2 kDa product is not.