cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interest Rates and the Timing of Corporate Debt Issues

Graham and Harvey (2001) provide survey results suggesting that managers attempt to time interest rates in their debt issuance decisions. Some of their results may be interpreted as forward-looking (i.e., trying to issue before interest rates rise), and some are backward-oriented, suggesting issuance when interest rates are low compared to historical levels. We employ a sample of more than 14,000 new debt issues over the period 1970-2001 and examine both aspects of debt timing. Our results strongly support backward timing, even after eliminating refinancing transactions, but they do not support the ability to time future interest rates. Our results contrast with recent findings by Baker, Greenwood and Wurgler (2003) that are based on Flow of Funds data. Our results account for number of issues, amount issued, debt maturity, and call and put features. We examine future interest rates, term spreads and excess bond returns. We find managers were not successful at forward timing when weighting issuances by proceeds, maturity and proceeds, or the effects of call and put features on effective maturity. In contrast, our results on backward timing strongly support the recent survey evidence on timing. Debt issuance measured by total amount or number of issues is related to the relative level of interest rates in comparison to their historical values. The amount of debt issued and the number of debt issues is strongly related both to the absolute level of interest rates and to their relative historical levels. Firms issue significantly higher amounts of long-term debt when long- term interest rates are low. We control for a variety of other market conditions that could affect issuance. When interest rates decline, refinancing is common. In our sample, refinancing is indeed much more likely when interest rates are at low historical levels. However, the non-refinancing transactions still demonstrate that debt issuance is significantly more common when relative interest rate levels are low. Refinancing transactions do not cause the results. Our results are consistent with the survey results of Graham and Harvey (2001) and Bancel and Mittoo (2004) showing that financial managers seek to issue debt when rates are "particularly low." Our results are not consistent with forward debt timing. Thus, if managers attempt to issue longer-term debt when they anticipate that future interest rates or spreads will rise or excess bond returns will be negative, they appear to be unsuccessful.
The therapeutic effect of stiripentol in Gabrg2+/Q390X mice associated with epileptic encephalopathy

Anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) are widely used and known to increase inhibitory tone on neuro-circuits and reduce aberrant synchronous firing in epilepsy. Some ASDs act as agonist at the GABAA receptor. Stiripentol, known to increase GABAA receptor activity as well as the metabolites of GABAA receptor agonists, is often used in the treatment of an epileptic encephalopathy, Dravet syndrome (DS), which is caused by mutations mainly in SCN1A and in other genes such as GABRG2. We have recently generated a Gabrg2+/Q390X knockin mouse model associated with DS in humans. The objective of the study was to explore the effects of stiripentol in DS with GABAA receptor functional deficiency because of the etiology heterogeneity in DS. Monotherapy (stiripentol or Diazepam) and polytherapy (stiripentol and diazepam) treatments were tested in Gabrg2+/Q390X mice challenged with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) seizure induction in conjunction with video-monitoring synchronized electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. A combination of stiripentol and diazepam greatly reduced seizure-related events in Gabrg2+/Q390X mice following PTZ administration and increased survival. However, the treatment of stiripentol alone was mostly ineffective in alleviating seizure-related events except that it reduced mortality in PTZ challenged Gabrg2+/Q390X mice. The study suggests that stiripentol could be only used as add-on therapy for DS with GABAA receptor functional deficiency, which is consistent with the most established clinical application of stiripentol. The study highlights the importance of mechanism-based precision treatment for DS considering the highly heterogeneous nature of etiology in DS and the fact that mutations in different genes give rise to the same clinical phenotype.
Lipoic Acid Ligase-Promoted Bioorthogonal Protein Modification and Immobilization

Protein bioconjugation benefits from precise regional and temporal control. One notable way of achieving this control is through the enzymatic attachment of bioorthogonal reactive handles to peptide recognition sequences that are genetically fused to target proteins of interest. The lipoic acid ligase variant, LplAW37V, functionalizes proteins by covalently attaching an azide-bearing lipoic acid derivative to a 13-amino acid recognition sequence known as the lipoic acid ligase acceptor peptide (LAP). Once attached, the azide group can be modified with diverse chemical entities through azide-alkyne click chemistry, enabling conjugation of chemical probes such as fluorophores and facilitating polymer attachment, glycosylation, and protein immobilization in addition to many other possible chemical modifications. The versatility of the attached azide group is complemented by the modular nature of the LAP sequence, which can be introduced within a protein at internal and/or terminal sites as well as at multiple sites simultaneously. In this chapter we describe the in vitro LplAW37V-mediated ligation of 10-azidodecanoic acid to a LAP-containing target protein (i.e., green fluorescent protein (GFP)) and the characterization of the ligation reaction products. Additionally, methods for the modification and immobilization of azide-functionalized LAP-GFP are discussed.
Toward optimization of blood brain barrier opening induced by laser-activated perfluorocarbon nanodroplets

The blood brain barrier (BBB), a component of the brain’s natural defense system, is often a roadblock for the monitoring and treatment of neurological disorders. Recently, we introduced a technique to open the blood brain barrier through the use of laser-activated perfluorohexane nanodroplets (PFHnDs), a phase-change nanoagent that undergoes repeated vaporization and recondensation when excited by a pulsed laser. Laser-activated PFHnDs were shown to enable noninvasive and localized opening of the BBB, allowing extravasation of various sized agents into the brain tissue. In this current work, the laser-activated PFHnD-induced BBB opening is further explored. In particular, laser fluence and the number of laser pulses used for the PFHnD-induced BBB opening are examined and evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively to determine the effect of these parameters on BBB opening. The results of these studies show trends between increased laser fluence and an increased BBB opening as well as between an increased number of laser pulses and an increased BBB opening, however, with limitations on the extent of the BBB opening after a certain number of pulses. Overall, the results of these studies serve as a guideline to choosing suitable laser parameters for safe and effective BBB opening.
Naturalistic Interventions to Improve Prelinguistic Communication for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review

The current review identified 11 single-case design (SCD) and 14 group-design evaluations of naturalistic behavioral interventions targeting prelinguistic social communication in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Three SCD studies and eight group design studies utilized methodologically rigorous designs and demonstrated a functional relation between the intervention and child prelinguistic social communication. Results of this systematic review provide information about efficacy of specific naturalistic behavioral interventions, details about the intervention, and characteristics of the implementation agent and setting. Such information may be useful to support implementation of evidence-based practices and increase the quality of future research.
CdTe Thin Film PV: How Has the Technology Evolved and What Challenges Lie Ahead

This paper reviews the evolution of CdTe photovoltaics since the first CdTe/CdS solar cells were reported in the early 70’s with modest efficiencies (~5%). Today’s commercial CdTe thin film modules have areas of 2.5 m2 and efficiencies of 17–18%; small area cells are over 22% efficiency. In reaching this performance, the typical/original CdTe/CdS hetero-structure evolved into a CdTe/Cd(Se)Te/MZO (Magnesium Zing Oxide). The technology continues to rely on a post-deposition heat-treatment (in the presence of CdCl 2 ), and the use of Cu (p-type dopant) for the formation of the back contact. Advancing performance to higher levels will depend on the CdTe community’s ability to address key device and material properties (net p-type doping) that limit the cell’s open circuit voltage to 0.9 Volts.
Clinical and genomic characterization of Low PSA Secretors: a unique subset of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.

Metastatic disease burden out of proportion to serum PSA has been used as a marker of aggressive phenotype prostate cancer but is not well defined as a distinct subgroup. We sought to prospectively characterize the molecular features and clinical outcomes of Low PSA Secretors. Eligible metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients without prior small cell histology underwent metastatic tumor biopsy with molecular characterization. Low PSA secretion was defined as serum PSA 5 metastases with radiographic progression at study entry. Clinical and molecular features were compared between low PSA vs. normal secretors in a post-hoc fashion. 183 patients were enrolled, including 15 (8%) identified as Low PSA Secretors using optimal PSA cut point of 5 ng/mL. Biopsies from Low PSA Secretors demonstrated higher t-SCNC and RB1 loss and lower AR transcriptional signature scores compared with normal secretors. Genomic loss of RB1 and/or TP53 was more common in Low PSA Secretors (80% vs. 41%). Overall survival (OS) was shorter in Low PSA Secretors (median OS = 26.7 vs. 46.0 months, hazard ratio = 2.465 (95% CI: 0.982–6.183). Progression-free survival (PFS) on post-biopsy treatment with AR-targeted therapy was shorter than with chemotherapy (median PFS 6.2 vs. 4.1 months). Low PSA secretion in relation to metastatic tumor burden may be a readily available clinical selection tool for de-differentiated mCRPC with molecular features consistent with t-SCNC. Prospective validation is warranted.
Intracranial Bleed in a Patient with Remote History of Craniospinal Radiation

Introduction: Adult survivors of childhood cancer are at risk of adverse events related to antineoplastic treatment. Craniospinal radiation is a routine therapy in pediatric oncologic processes including medulloblastoma. Radiation of the central nervous system has known long-term adverse effects on vasculature, the most common of which is ischemic disease. Rarely, remote hemorrhagic disease has been reported. Case Report: A 21-year-old male with a history of medulloblastoma was brought to the ER unconscious. The patient was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at 13 years of age and underwent primary resection and VP shunt placement. Following tumor resection he …
The many blessings of abstraction: A commentary on Ambridge (2020):

Ambridge argues that the existence of exemplar models for individual phenomena (words, inflection rules, etc.) suggests the feasibility of a unified, exemplars-everywhere model that eschews abstrac...
Systematic Review: Educational Accommodations for Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective Children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often receive instruction and take tests using educational accommodations. This review aims to summarize and integrate the research literature on accommodations for this specific population. Method Electronic databases in medicine (MEDLINE), psychology (PsycINFO), and education (ERIC) were systematically searched (last update January 13, 2020), with inclusion criteria selecting any document with a focus on accommodations in educational settings or on academic tasks for children or adolescents with ADHD. The search yielded 497 unique documents. Additional searches yielded 13 more documents. Of the 510 total potentially useful documents, 68 met criteria for topical relevance and age range, to be discussed in the narrative review. The wide range of document types led to a qualitative synthesis. Results Accommodations are by far the most common response to ADHD in educational settings, with testing accommodations such as extended time being particularly prevalent. However, most accommodations fail to show evidence of benefits that are specific to students with ADHD, and many of the more common accommodations have few or no experimental studies supporting them. An exception is read-aloud accommodations, which have two randomized experiments finding specific benefits for younger students with ADHD. Students and those who work with them often express ambivalence and dissatisfaction over the accommodations process. Conclusion More empirical research is needed to examine the effects of these extremely common supports. In the absence of supportive evidence, health professionals should be hesitant to recommend accommodations immediately after a diagnosis. Even when such evidence exists, educational accommodations should only be provided along with evidence-based interventions, or after interventions have failed, as suggested by the “life course” model of managing ADHD.
Mechanistic differences underlying HIV latency in the gut and blood contribute to differential responses to latency-reversing agents.

Objective While latently HIV-infected cells have been described in the blood, it is unclear whether a similar inducible reservoir exists in the gut, where most HIV-infected cells reside. Tissue-specific environments may contribute to differences in the mechanisms that govern latent HIV infection and amenability to reactivation. We sought to determine whether HIV-infected cells from the blood and gut differ in their responses to T-cell activation and mechanistically distinct latency reversing agents (LRAs). Design Cross sectional study using samples from HIV-infected individuals (n = 11). Methods Matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and dissociated total cells from rectum ± ileum were treated ex vivo for 24 h with anti-CD3/CD28 or LRAs in the presence of antiretrovirals. HIV DNA and 'read-through', initiated, 5' elongated, completed, and multiply-spliced HIV transcripts were quantified using droplet digital PCR. Results T-cell activation increased levels of all HIV transcripts in PBMC and gut cells, and was the only treatment that increased multiply-spliced HIV RNA. Disulfiram increased initiated HIV transcripts in PBMC but not gut cells, while ingenol mebutate increased HIV transcription more in gut cells. Romidepsin increased HIV transcription in PBMC and gut cells, but the increase in transcription initiation was greater in PBMC. Conclusion The gut harbors HIV-infected cells in a latent-like state that can be reversed by T-cell activation involving CD3/CD28 signaling. Histone deacetylation and protein kinase B may contribute less to HIV transcriptional initiation in the gut, whereas protein kinase C may contribute more. New LRAs or combinations are needed to induce multiply-spliced HIV and should be tested on both blood and gut.
Perception of Medial Consonants by Preschoolers With and Without Speech Sound Disorders

Purpose This study compared perception of consonants in medial position by preschoolers, with and without speech sound disorder (SSD), with similar vocabulary and language skills. In addition, we i...
REALDIST: Real-valued protein distance prediction

Abstract Protein structure prediction continues to stand as an unsolved problem in bioinformatics and biomedicine. Deep learning algorithms and the availability of metagenomic sequences have led to the development of new approaches to predict inter-residue distances—the key intermediate step. Different from the recently successful methods which frame the problem as a multi-class classification problem, this article introduces a real-valued distance prediction method REALDIST. Using a representative set of 43 thousand protein chains, a variant of deep ResNet is trained to predict real-valued distance maps. The contacts derived from the real-valued distance maps predicted by this method, on the most difficult CASP13 free-modeling protein datasets, demonstrate a long-range top-L precision of 52%, which is 17% higher than the top CASP13 predictor Raptor-X and slightly higher than the more recent trRosetta method. Similar improvements are observed on the CAMEO ‘hard’ and ‘very hard’ datasets. Three-dimensional (3D) structure prediction guided by real-valued distances reveals that for short proteins the mean accuracy of the 3D models is slightly higher than the top human predictor AlphaFold and server predictor Quark in the CASP13 competition.
Comparing the Five Measures of Media Reputation Attributes in Local and National Newspapers

Researchers have developed multiple measures to assess media reputation as a driving force of corporate reputation. This study compared five measures that have been used to examine the seven attrib...
Research-Informed Adaptable Model for the Prevention of Suicide in Schools (RAMPSS):

With increased suicide rates among youth during recent decades, the K–12 educational community still lacks a comprehensive model for suicide prevention that is tailorable for school systems. With t...
A control-parallel programming model implemented on SIMD hardware

Although “data parallelism” has been shown to be an effective and portable way to express some types of parallel algorithms, there are many other problems for which data parallelism seems awkward and inefficient. For example, recursive decompositions and operations on irregular grids are most readily expressed using control parallelism. The problem is that control parallelism has always been associated with MIMD (Multiple Instruction stream, Multiple Data stream) hardware. In this paper, we describe how to make a MIMD programming model execute efficiently on a SIMD (Single Instruction stream, Multiple Data stream) computer.
ITER design : physics basis for size, confinement capability power levels and burn control

The ITER-EDA(93) design has been analyzed to evaluate the physics basis for: (i) size and design trade-off issues, (ii) confinement capability, (iii) power levels, and (iv) burn control.
Some reflections on information granulation and its centrality in granular computing, computing with words, the computational theory of perceptions and precisiated natural language

The past few years have witnessed what in retrospect may be seen as a turning point in the evolution of fuzzy logic. What I have in mind is the debut of four linked methodologies: granular computing, computing with words, the computational theory of perceptions and precisiated natural language. What follows is a view of the links between the underlying structures of these methodologies — a view which is presented from a personal perspective.
Effective Use of Computers: Assignments Based on Individual Learning Style

(1991). Effective Use of Computers: Assignments Based on Individual Learning Style. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 64, No. 4, pp. 219-224.
The use of presentations and competition in an introductory computer graphics course

In recent years it has become common for computer science departments to offer an elective course in computer graphics. Such classes typically have large enrollments due to a high level of student interest.Having a captive audience provided the instructor an opportunity to challenge them by incorporating new elements in the course during a recent offering. It has long been accepted that graduates entering the workforce should have good communication skills and should be prepared to compete with peers. To address communication, many universities require a speech course. While taking such a course is important, students benefit from making presentations in various situations throughout their academic careers. To address competitiveness, one learns to compete by taking part in competitions. Hence, in an attempt to improve student presentation skills and graphics mastery, an introductory computer graphics course was designed to incorporate student presentations and peer competitions. This paper presents the assignments used and discusses how presentations and competitions were incorporated in a recent offering. It was found that the overall quality of student work was excellent and student presentation skills improved significantly
Identification of extreme precipitation threat across midlatitude regions based on short-wave circulations

[1] The most severe thunderstorms, producing extreme precipitation, occur over subtropical and midlatitude regions. Atmospheric conditions conducive to organized, intense thunderstorms commonly involve the coupling of a low-level jet (LLJ) with a synoptic short wave. The midlatitude synoptic activity is frequently modulated by the circumglobal teleconnection (CGT), in which meridional gradients of the jet stream act as a guide for short Rossby waves. Previous research has linked extreme precipitation events with either the CGT or the LLJ but has not linked the two circulation features together. In this study, a circulation-based index was developed by combining (a) the degree of the CGT and LLJ coupling, (b) the extent to which this CGT-LLJ coupling connects to regional precipitation and (c) the spatial correspondence with the CGT (short wave) trending pattern over the recent 32 years (1979–2010). Four modern-era global reanalyses, in conjunction with four gridded precipitation data sets, were utilized to minimize spurious trends. The results are suggestive of a link between the CGT/LLJ trends and several recent extreme precipitation events, including those leading to the 2008 Midwest flood in U.S., the 2011 tornado outbreaks in southeastern U.S., the 2010 Queensland flood in northeastern Australia, and to the opposite side the 2012 central U.S. drought. Moreover, an analysis of three Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 models from the historical experiments points to the role of greenhouse gases in forming the CGT trends during the warm season.
The Application of Frailty to the Modern Cardiac Risk Assessment: a Case-Based Review

Cardiac risk assessment in aging patients poses a significant challenge to the practicing clinician, particularly when evaluating the use of invasive procedures. Frailty is a valuable risk marker that has been associated with worse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and aortic stenosis. Integrating the available frailty studies into cardiac risk assessments can help improve shared decision-making between physicians and their patients. In this review, we provide an up-to-date, case-based appraisal of the available clinical trial data focusing on the impact of frailty in patients with cardiovascular disease.
The proactive model of school counselling

This article discusses the prevalent crisis in secondary school counselling and suggests a new model to change the role, priorities, and activities of a school counsellor from a peripheral to the central position.
Parenting Behaviors of Mothers with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Call to Action.

We sincerely thank Alan Fruzzetti, Karlen Lyons-Ruth, Jenny Macfie, Maureen Zalewski and Liliana Lengua for providing rich commentaries on our conceptual article. Each of these distinguished scholars affords a unique perspective on issues related to parenting with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and approaches to interventions for this population. A common thread throughout this series is that a dearth of knowledge exists about parenting practices of mothers with BPD and more research is sorely needed. Parenting practices may be an important factor in the transmission of this disorder from mother to offspring, making parenting an ideal target for early intervention and prevention efforts. We will highlight some of the authors’ observations in hopes of sparking further discussion and interest in this area of research.
IκB Kinase β Regulates Epithelium Migration during Corneal Wound Healing

The IKKβ is known to regulate transcription factor NF-κB activation leading to inflammatory responses. Recent gene knockout studies have shown that IKKβ can orchestrate local inflammatory responses and regulate homeostasis of epithelial tissues. To investigate whether IKKβ has an intrinsic role in epithelial cells, we established an in vivo system in the immune privileged corneal epithelium. We generated triple transgenic Krt12rtTA/rtTAt/tet-O-Cre/IkkβF/F (IkkβΔCE/ΔCE) mice by crossing the Krt12-rtTA knock-in mice, which express the reverse tetracycline transcription activator in corneal epithelial cells, with the tet-O-Cre and IkkβF/F mice. Doxcycline-induced IKKβ ablation occurred in corneal epithelial cells of triple transgenic IkkβΔCE/ΔCE mice, but loss of IKKβ did not cause ocular abnormalities in fetal development and postnatal maintenance. Instead, loss of IKKβ significantly delayed healing of corneal epithelial debridement without affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis or macrophage infiltration. In vitro studies with human corneal epithelial cells (HCEpi) also showed that IKKβ was required for cytokine-induced cell migration and wound closure but was dispensable for cell proliferation. In both in vivo and in vitro settings, IKKβ was required for optimal activation of NF-κB and p38 signaling in corneal epithelial cells, and p38 activation is likely mediated through formation of an IKKβ-p38 protein complex. Thus, our studies in corneal epithelium reveal a previously un-recognized role for IKKβ in the control of epithelial cell motility and wound healing.
In Situ Technologies for Reclamation of PCB-Contaminated Sediments: Current Challenges and Research Thrust Areas

Polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs were manufactured for use mainly as insulators, coolants, and dielectric fluids in electrical equipment owing to their inert, stable, and flame-retardant nature. They were banned in 1979 because of their toxicity and persistence in the environment. Between 1929 and 1977, approximately 1.25 billion pounds of PCBs were manufactured in the United States. Because of past disposal practices and accidental releases that continue to the present day, 450 million pounds of PCBs have entered the environment over time ATSDR 2000 . Moreover, their hydrophobic nature has led to their occurrence predominantly in soils and sediments that act as sources for their long-term release to the environment. PCBs bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the ecosystem, starting from submarine sediments and benthic organisms to seaweeds and fish, progressively moving up the food chain to reach humans, posing serious health hazards. The Yusho PCB poisoning incident occurred in 1968 in Japan and involved more than 1,860 individuals, who consumed rice bran oil contaminated with PCBs and its oxidation products. The victims suffered from chloracne, hyperpigmentation, dermal lesions, and ocular discharges—symptoms that slowly lapsed over many years. However, other symptoms relating to the enzymatic or endocrinal effects persisted after more than 30 years Masuda 2001 , with several patients complaining of chronic bronchitis, peripheral numbness, fatigue, and headaches decades after the incident Aoki 2001 . A similar exposure to PCB-contaminated oil led to the Yu-Cheng episode in Taiwan in 1979, resulting in more than 2,000 victims with related symptoms. Additionally, children with prenatal and lactational exposure showed lower birth weights and impaired intellectual and cognitive development Aoki 2001 . More recently, the Belgian PCB incident occurred in 1999, when 2,500 farms were inadvertently supplied with animal feeds contaminated with a mixture of PCBs and dioxins Bernard et al. 2002 . Poultry was hardest hit: egg production and hatching decreased, and a chicken edema epidemic broke out van Larebeke et al. 2001 . As an aftermath of the contamination, poultry and derived products were ordered off the markets, and some 2 million chickens were destroyed van Larebeke et al. 2001 . Even though this episode did not cause or is unlikely to cause adverse
Feeding 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan during the transition from pregnancy to lactation increases calcium mobilization from bone in rats

An increasing demand for calcium during pregnancy and lactation can result in both clinical and subclinical hypocalcemia during the early lactation period in several mammalian species, in particular the dairy cow. Serotonin (5-HT) was recently identified as a regulator of lactation and bone turnover. The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplementation of the maternal diet with a 5-HT precursor would increase maternal bone turnover and calcium mobilization to maintain appropriate circulating maternal concentrations of ionized calcium during lactation. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30) were fed either a control diet (n = 15) or a diet supplemented with the 5-HT precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 0.2%; n = 15) from day 13 of pregnancy through day 9 of lactation. Maternal serum and plasma (day 1 and day 9 of lactation), milk and pup weight (daily), mammary gland and bone tissue (day 9 of lactation) were collected for analysis. The 5-HTP diet elevated circulating maternal concentrations of 5-HT on day 1 and day 9 of lactation and parathyroid hormone related-protein (PTHrP) on day 9 of lactation (P 0.05). Supplemental 5-HTP also resulted in increased concentrations of mammary 5-HT and PTHrP, as well as increased mRNA expression of rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylase 1, and Pthrp mRNA on day 9 of lactation (P < 0.028). In addition, supplementation of 5-HTP resulted in increased mRNA expression of maternal mammary calcium transporters and resorption of bone in the femur, indicated by increase osteoclast number and diameter as well as mRNA expression of classical markers of bone resorption on day 9 of lactation (P < 0.048). These results show that increasing 5-HT biosynthesis during the transition from pregnancy to lactation could be a potential therapeutic target to explore for prevention of subclinical and clinical hypocalcemia.
Assessing food preferences: A quick procedure

(1984). Assessing food preferences: A quick procedure. Early Child Development and Care: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 213-224.
Percentage points of the product of two correlated t varlates

Motivated by two problems occuring in the biological sciences, Wallgren (1980) recently derived the exact distribution of the product of two correlated t variates. The purpose of this paper is to provide a table of exact percentage points so that the solution proposed by Wallgren can be applied. An approximation of the distribution is also proposed and evaluated.
Steady state equation of motion of a linear shaped charges liner

Abstract The sweeping detonation effect creates a unique turning angle of plates upon detonation. This effect was addressed by G. I. Taylor and opens a broad range of applications in many different engineering regimes. In case of linear shaped charges (LSCs), because of the unique geometrical shape, which are comprised of long, flat liners and multiple flat claddings, an approach to understand the performance of LSCs must be analyzed under the Taylor turning angle, motivating this research. In this paper, an analytical approach to describe the unique liner motion of LSCs upon detonation is addressed first. Subsequent modification of the original Birkhoff theory is addressed in order to build a steady state analytical equation of motion of LSCs liner based on the Taylor turning angle. The analytical model is then compared to the numerical simulation results created from Autodyn™ in terms of M / C ratio and apex angles in reasonable sized LSCs, and it exhibits favorable results in a limited range.
Characterization of the unique mechanism mediating the shear-dependent binding of soluble von Willebrand factor to platelets.

We have studied the mechanism of interaction between soluble von Willebrand factor (vWF), labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and platelets exposed to shear in a cone-and-plate viscometer. A flow cytometer calibrated with fluorescent bead standards was used to calculate the number of molecules associated with each platelet in suspension. To validate the methods and reagents used, binding of the same labeled vWF was assessed in the presence of ristocetin or α-thrombin and found to be saturable, with a narrow and symmetric distribution on >90% of the platelets. As expected, essentially all bound ligand interacted exclusively with platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ibα in the presence of ristocetin and with GP IIb-IIIa after stimulation with α-thrombin. In contrast, only a minor proportion (
Branded Products as a Passport to Global Citizenship: Perspectives from Developed and Developing Countries

Abstract This article focuses on belief in brands as a passport to global citizenship, defined as a person's perception that global brands create an imagined global identity. The authors assess the effects of this belief on the importance consumers assign to branded products and also examine the antecedent effects of cultural openness and consumer ethnocentrism. Their work focuses on the global youth market in the developing countries of Romania, Ukraine, and Russia and the developed U.S. market. The findings contribute to a broadened understanding of branding in a global marketplace by examining the associations between beliefs about global brands and the importance consumers attach to branded products in their daily lives.
A Historical Look at Electronic Literacy Implications for the Education of Technical Communicators

This article investigates the ways in which a subset of technical communicators acquired electronic literacy from 1978 to 2000, a period during which personal computers became increasingly ubiquitous in the United States in educational settings, homes, communities, and workplaces. It describes the literacy autobiographies gathered from 55 professional communicators participating on the Techwr-l listserv, focusing on the large-scale trends that these autobiographies reveal. To supplement the findings from these autobiographies, the authors conducted face-to-face interviews with four case-study participants: a faculty member, a professional communicator, and two students of different backgrounds majoring in technical communication. The article concludes with observations about the development of technical communication instruction in the twenty-first century.
A new model for the interaction of dystrophin with F-actin

The F-actin binding and cross-linking properties of skeletal muscle dystrophin-glycoprotein complex were examined using high and low speed cosedimentation assays, microcapillary falling ball viscometry, and electron microscopy. Dystrophin-glycoprotein complex binding to F-actin saturated near 0.042 +/- 0.005 mol/ mol, which corresponds to one dystrophin per 24 actin monomers. Dystrophin-glycoprotein complex bound to F-actin with an average apparent Kd for dystrophin of 0.5 microM. These results demonstrate that native, full-length dystrophin in the glycoprotein complex binds F-actin with some properties similar to those measured for several members of the actin cross-linking super-family of proteins. However, we failed to observe dystrophin-glycoprotein complex-induced cross-linking of F-actin by three different methods, each positively controlled with alpha-actinin. Furthermore, high speed cosedimentation analysis of dystrophin-glycoprotein complex digested with calpain revealed a novel F-actin binding site located near the middle of the dystrophin rod domain. Recombinant dystrophin fragments corresponding to the novel actin binding site and the first 246 amino acids of dystrophin both bound F-actin but with significantly lower affinity and higher capacity than was observed with purified dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. Finally, dystrophin-glycoprotein complex was observed to significantly slow the depolymerization of F-actin, Suggesting that dystrophin may lie along side an actin filament through interaction with multiple actin monomers. These data suggest that although dystrophin is most closely related to the actin cross-linking superfamily based on sequence homology, dystrophin binds F-actin in a manner more analogous to actin side-binding proteins.
Differential retention of α‐vitamin E is correlated with its transporter gene expression and growth inhibition efficacy in prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies showed Vit E has protective effects against prostate cancer (PCa). Interestingly, different prostate cancer cells have different sensitivity to α-Vit E or VES treatment. The goal of this study is to determine whether cellular Vit E bioavailability and its transport proteins are important contributing factors. METHODS α-Vit E and its ester form, VES, were used to treat prostate cancer LNCaP, PC3, and DU145 cells, and their growth rates were determined by MTT assay. Cellular levels of Vit E were quantified using HPLC as the index of bioavailability. The expression levels of Vit E transport proteins were determined by real-time PCR. RESULTS Among these PCa cells, only LNCaP cells were sensitive to 20 µM α-Vit E treatment, while both LNCaP and PC3 cells were sensitive to 20 µM VES treatment. Coordinately, cellular levels of α-Vit E and VES positively correlated to their inhibitory effects. Further study found expression levels of Vit E transport proteins, including tocopherol associated protein (TAP), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), α-tocopherol transfer protein (TTP), and ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), were different in various PCa cells, which may contribute to cellular Vit E bioavailability. This notion is further supported by the findings that overexpression or knockdown of TTP could coordinately alter cellular α-Vit E levels in PCa cells. CONCLUSION Antiproliferative efficacy of α-Vit E is correlated with its cellular bioavailability in PCa cells. Modulating the expression of the efflux or influx transporters could sensitize the growth inhibition efficacy of Vit E in prostate cancer cells. Prostate 67: 463–471, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect on stability, degradation, expression, and targeting of aquaporin-2 water channel by hyperosmolality in renal epithelial cells

Abstract To investigate the stability, degradation, expression, and targeting of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) by hyperosmolality, stably transfected mIMCD-3 cells expressing AQP2 (AQP2/IMCD3) were generated. In AQP2/IMCD3 cells, both nonglycosylated (ng-AQP2) and glycosylated (g-AQP2) forms were detected by immunoblot. The stability of ng-AQP2 decreased with the lapse of time, whereas that of g-AQP2 was stable. NaCl, but not urea, destabilized ng-AQP2. The half-life of ng-AQP2 in isotonic conditions was ∼5 h, whereas that in medium supplemented with NaCl was ∼1.5 h. Urea enhanced it compared to isotonic conditions. These findings indicate that the stability of ng-AQP2 is enhanced by urea, but not NaCl. The degradation of ng-AQP2 was dependent on proteasome and lysosome degradation pathways. The expression of ng-AQP2 was increased by hyperosmolality. Cell surface biotinylation experiments revealed that hyperosmolality enhanced the apical membrane insertion of ng-AQP2. These results indicate that hyperosmolality plays an important role in the stability, degradation, expression, and targeting of ng-AQP2.
Building an Ontology of Phenotypes for Existing GWAS Studies

The database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) is archiving the results of different Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). dbGaP has a multitude of phenotype variables, but they are not harmonized across studies. Unfortunately, dbGaP lacks semantic relations among its variables. This prevents efficient information retrieval and accurate searches to find studies that contain common phenotypes. Our goal is to standardize dbGaP information to allow accurate, reusable and quick retrieval of information.
Discrete Element Method for Modeling Penetration

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) discretizes a material using rigid elements of simple shape. Each element interacts with neighboring elements through appropriate interaction laws. The number of elements is typically large and is limited by computer speed. The method has seen widespread applications to modeling particulate media and more recently to modeling solids such as concrete, ceramic, and metal. For problems with severe damage, DEM offers a number of attractive features over continuum based numerical methods, with the primary feature being a seamless transition from solid phase to particulate phase. This study illustrates the potential of DEM for modeling penetration and briefly points out its numerous advantages. A weakness of DEM is that its convergence properties are not understood. The crucial question is whether convergence is obtained as DEM element size vanishes in the limit of model refinement. The major focus of our investigation will be a careful study of convergence for modeling the degradation of a solid into fragments. Our results show that indeed convergence is obtained in several specific test problems. Moreover, elastic interelement stiffness and damping properties were proven to be particle size-independent. However, convergence in material failure due to crack growth is obtained only if the interparticle potentials are properly constructed as functions of DEM element size and bulk material properties such as elastic modulus and fracture toughness.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
An economic analysis of the right to a jury trial

Abstract In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed.… 6th Amendment, US Constitution
Opportunities and challenges for textile reinforced composites

For several decades researchers have been interested in textile processes for the production of composite reinforcement. These technologies have offered several promises: reduced fabrication costs, 3-D multiaxial reinforcement, and damage tolerance. Despite these advantages, textile composites have not reached the level of implementation of laminated composites. In this paper, the opportunities provided by textile reinforced composites and the challenges that limit their implementation will be discussed in detail. Textile composites refer to a family of processes: weaving, braiding, knitting, and hybrids thereof. The various families of textiles will be defined and the basics of fabric formation for each family will be detailed. In particular, the strengths and weaknesses of each manufacturing technique will be addressed to provide a view of the applicability of each technology. This will include some guidance on shape formation capability, property ranges, size limitations, and estimates of cost to produce. Potential applications for these materials will be presented. Among the limitations on the application of textile reinforced composites is the lack of adequate modeling capabilities for these materials. Textile composites have rather large unit cell structures and are highly inhomogeneous throughout their volumes. These features provide benefits in manufacturing, but require novel modeling techniques to correctly understand the mechanical behavior. A review of analytical techniques applied to textile composites will be presented along with a discussion of the benefits and weaknesses of each of these methods. The enabling technologies needed to further the implementation of textile composites in structural applications will be discussed.
Effect of supplemental dietary glutamine on methotrexate concentrations in tumors.

• This study evaluated the effects of supplemental dietary glutamine (GLN) on methotrexate sodium concentrations in tumors and serum of sarcoma-bearing rats following the initiation of methotrexate. After randomization to a GLN diet (+GLN) or GLN-free diet (−GLN), tumor-bearing rats received 20 mg/kg of methotrexate sodium by intraperitoneal injection. The provision of supplemental GLN in the diet increased methotrexate concentrations in tumor tissues at 24 and 48 hours (38.0±0.20 nmol/g for the +GLN group vs 28.8±0.10 nmol/g for the −GLN group and 35.6±0.18 nmol/g for the +GLN group vs 32.5±0.16 nmol/g for the −GLN group, respectively). Arterial methotrexate levels were elevated only at 48 hours (0.147±0.007 μm/L for the +GLN group vs 0.120±0.006 μm/L for the −GLN group). Tumor morphometrics were not different between the groups but significantly greater tumor volume loss was seen even at 24 hours (−2.41±1.3 cm 3 for the +GLN group vs −0.016±0.9 cm 3 for the −GLN group). Tumor glutaminase activity was suppressed in both groups at 48 hours, but more so in the +GLN group (0.94 ±0.13 μmol/g per hour for the +GLN group vs 1.47±0.22 μmol/g per hour for the −GLN group). This study suggests that GLN may have therapeutic as well as nutritional benefit in oncology patients. ( Arch Surg. 1992;127:1317-1320)
Fluid absorption by proximal tubules in the absence of a colloid osmotic gradient

Fluid absorption by proximal tubules in the absence of a colloid osmotic gradient. The rates of fluid absorption (J v ) of isolated perfused rabbit proximal convoluted tubules bathed either in rabbit serum or in protein-free ultrafiltrates of rabbit serum were compared. No change in J v was observed when normal serum in the bath was replaced by an ultrafiltrate prepared with membranes that nominally exclude solutes of molecular weight greater than 10,000and 14,000. Similar results were obtained when a protein-free artificial saline buffer that had been dialyzed against rabbit serum across one of these membranes was employed as the bathing solution. It is concluded that a colloid osmotic pressure difference generated by serum protein is not required for the absorptive process. In agreement with others [1,2], substitution for serum in the bath of protein-free ultrafiltrate prepared with membranes that nominally exclude solutes of molecular weight greater than 50,000 reduced J v . In contrast to their results, however, addition of 6.5g/100ml of albumin to this ultrafiltrate did not restore J v to control values. It is probable that unidentified factors other than protein colloid osmotic pressure were responsible for the reduction in J v under these circumstances. Reabsorption de liquide par les tubules proximaux en l'absence de gradient colloido-osmotique. Les debits d'absorption de liquide (J v ) de tubules contournes proximaux isoles et perfuses de lapin ont ete compares selon que les tubules etaient immerges dans du serum de lapin ou dans des ultrafiltrats de serums de lapin ne contenant pas de proteines. Il n'a pas ete observe de modification de J v quand le serum normal du bain etait remplace par un ultrafiltrat prepare au moyen de membranes qui excluent nominalement les molecules dont les poids sont superieurs a 10,000 et 14,000. Des resultats semblables ont ete obtenus quand la solution d'immersion etait un tampon salin artificiel, sans proteines, qui avait ete dialyse contre du serum de lapin a travers l'une de ces membranes. Il en est conclu que la difference de pression colloido-osmotique dont les proteines sont responsables n'est pas necessaire au processus de reabsorption. En accord avec d'autres auteurs [1, 2], le remplacement du serum du bain par de l'ultrafiltrat sans proteines prepare avec des membranes qui excluent nominalement les substances dissoutes dont le poids moleculaire est superieur a 50,000a reduit J v . A l'oppose de leurs resultats, par contre, l'addition de 6,5g/100ml d'albumine a l'ultrafiltrat n'a pas ramene J v aux valeurs controles. Il est probable que des facteurs non identifies autres que la pression colloido-osmotique des proteines sont responsables de la reduction de J v dans ces circonstances.