The Effects of a Language Arts Academic Pullout Program for Middle School “Academic Bubble” Students

High stakes testing warrants a lot of pressure on students in today’s classrooms. Students are continually preparing for yet another assessment or pre-assessment monthly so data can be readily collected and analyzed. Schools are always under the academic microscope and are expected to perform despite all obstacles they may face. What is a school district to do, and how does a school district tackle raising the academic bar for all students despite the obstacles? Small group pullout programs have been used in education for many years to help all types of students, ranging from students with disabilities to students with high academic ability. In this world of the needed pressure to raise student achievement, do pull out programs help improve academic achievement for all students? The literature review evaluated a multitude of reasons as to why small group pullouts are effective and ineffective. Pullout programs in education have been used to work with students with behavior disabilities, academic disabilities and academic abilities, in all grade levels. In Omaha, Nebraska, students at one urban middle school are trying to beat the academic odds through taking advantage of small group pullouts during the school day. Students are identified for this program, not by whether they are in special education, in a gifted program, or even in a Response to Intervention program. Students are identified by how they perform academically on their state assessment scores the previous school year. The significance of this pullout program at this Midwestern, urban middle school has made an impact on how academic support is utilized throughout the school year

First look analysis of geologic ground patterns on ERTS-1 imagery of Missouri

Examination of ERTS-1 data for selected areas of Missouri revealed not only many of the known geologic features but also a number of unknown linear, circular and arcuate ground patterns. The number of new geologic elements that have been brought to light as well as the sharp definition and probable extensions of several known geologic features point out the importance of multispectral imagery via satellite and the synoptic views which they provide. To date, analysis and interpretations have been a first-look visual examination of the unenhanced projected images

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Cryptophycin Anticancer Agents by an Ester Bond-Forming Non-ribosomal Peptide Synthetase Module

Cryptophycins (Crp) are a group of cyanobacterial depsipeptides with activity against drug-resistant tumors. Although they have been shown to be promising, further efforts are required to return these highly potent compounds to the clinic through a new generation of analogues with improved medicinal properties. Herein, we report a chemosynthetic route relying on themultifunctional enzyme CrpD-M2 that incorporates a 2-hydroxy acid moiety (unit D) into Crp analogues. CrpD-M2 is a unique nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) module comprised of condensation-adenylation-ketoreduction-thiolation (C-A-KR-T) domains. We interrogated A-domain 2-keto and 2-hydroxy acid activation and loading, and KR domain activity in the presence of NADPH and NADH. The resulting 2-hydroxy acid was elongated with three synthetic Crp chain elongation intermediate analogues through ester bond formation catalyzed by CrpD-M2 C domain. Finally, the enzyme-bound seco-Crp products were macrolactonized by the Crp thioesterase. Analysis of these sequential steps was enabled through LC-FTICR-MS of enzyme-bound intermediates and products. This novel chemoenzymatic synthesis of Crp involves four sequential catalytic steps leading to the incorporation of a 2-hydroxy acid moiety in the final chain elongation intermediate. The presented work constitutes the first example where a NRPS-embedded KR domain is employed for assembly of a fully elaborated natural product, and serves as a proof-of-principle for chemoenzymatic synthesis of new Crp analogues

Pre managed earnings benchmarks and earnings management of Australian firms

This study investigates benchmark beating behaviour and circumstances under which managers inflate earnings to beat earnings benchmarks. We show that two benchmarks, positive earnings and positive earnings change, are associated with earnings manipulation. Using a sample of Australian firms from 2000 to 2006, we find that when the underlying earnings are negative or below prior year’s earnings, firms are more likely to use discretionary accruals to inflate earnings to beat benchmarks

Summary of an integrated ERTS-1 project and its results at the Missouri Geological Survey

Use of the ERTS imagery involved the recognition and interpretation of various ground patterns. Analysis and application are tied to ongoing programs. Specific studies utilizing the imagery and NASA aircraft photography are: a statewide lake and dam inventory; assessment of flooding and floodprone areas along the Missouri portion of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers; land-use classification for several counties; structural features in selected areas; and Pleistocene features in northern Missouri. Though it has been suggested that repetitive coverage is not necessary for geologic studies, it is this specific feature along with the synoptic view of large portions of the State that provided the potential for the utilization of the ERTS imagery in Missouri. Other State agencies, Departments of Conservation, Agriculture, and Community Affairs, have expressed interest in the potential application of ERTS data in their respective fields

Molecular Assembly Line for Intramolecular Electron Transferring Bimetallic Fe and Mn Cyanometallate Clusters

There has been emerging worldwide research dedicated to finding molecular complexes suitable for molecule-based high-density information storage via intramolecular electron transfer. A known cyanoferrate switchable material, Prussian Blue, has inspired research efforts of Holmes et al. to create families of heterometallic Prussian Blue derivatives that display optical and magnetic behavioral transitions with the variation of light and temperature. The task for my undergraduate research project is synthesizing massive switchable molecular clusters containing cyano-bridged Fe and Mn units. During the process, Marcus-Hush theory of electron transfer was an important consideration during the synthesis of tri- and tetranuclear complexes with varying redox potentials and ligand environments to impact the movement of electrons in the metal centers. Using a method known as “self assembly” with the building blocks of [(TpR)Fe(CN)3]- (TpR = poly (pyrazolyl)borates), Manganese cation complexes, along with the combinations of 2 different bidentate ligands and 2 choices of counteranions I have produced a closely related family of novel cyanometalate complexes. When looking for electron transfer, I found that the compounds have altogether failed according to variable temperature IR spectra collected from 77 K to 300 K. I present my observed trends and further plans and predictions of the synthetic design,; this includes tuning the electron density of the metal centers and how to encourage electron transfer using electrophiles bonded to the cyanides within the structure to forcefully pull the electrons through the cyanide bridges. Ultimately, my studies have shown each unique complex helps us understand the variety of factors and challenges that relate to structure-property relationships in the manufacture of electron transfer and spin crossover complexes

A User’s Perspective on the Database of Services Sector in Indian Economy

Measuring the contribution of services to the Indian economy is a challenging task because it presents problems not encountered in the primary and secondary sectors. The authors discuss problems found particularly in quantifying the contribution of the banking and software sectors and suggest ways of overcoming these problems.database; services sector; banking; software sector; India

Membrane-bound β-catenin degradation is enhanced by ETS2-mediated Siah1 induction in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric cancer cells.

β-catenin has two different cellular functions: intercellular adhesion and transcriptional activity. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Siah1 causes ubiquitin-mediated degradation of the cytosolic β-catenin and therefore, impairs nuclear translocation and oncogenic function of β-catenin. However, the effect of Siah1 on the cell membrane bound β-catenin has not been studied. In this study, we identified that the carcinogenic bacterium H. pylori increased ETS2 transcription factor-mediated Siah1 protein expression in gastric cancer cells (GCCs) MKN45, AGS and Kato III. Siah1 protein level was also noticeably higher in gastric adenocarcinoma biopsy samples as compared to non-cancerous gastric epithelia. Siah1 knockdown significantly decreased invasiveness and migration of H. pylori-infected GCCs. Although, Siah1 could not increase degradation of the cytosolic β-catenin and its nuclear translocation, it enhanced degradation of the membrane-bound β-catenin in the infected GCCs. This loss of membrane-bound pool of β-catenin was not associated with the proteasomal degradation of E-cadherin. Thus, this work delineated the role of Siah1 in increasing invasiveness of H. pylori-infected GCCs

The shareholder wealth effects of an executive joining another company's board

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of high-level executives joining the Board of another US company on the shareholder wealth of the firms in which these executives work. Design/methodology/ approach: The "event-study" methodology is used first to estimate the shareholder effects and then, through multivariate regression analysis, establish a relationship of these effects with executive characteristics. Findings: The paper documents that the abnormal return becomes more positive the closer the executive is to retirement and more negative as the number of other corporate Boards the executive already sits on increases. Unlike previous research, it is not found that prior performance of the employing company helps explain the cross-sectional variation in the announcement day abnormal returns. Research limitations/implications: The result supports the concerns of shareholder activists that key executives joining the Boards of other companies do their home shareholders a disservice by being spread too thin. It supports the hypothesis that investors interpret a CEO joining the Board of another firm as value decreasing. Originality/value : The paper provides a link between managerial labor and shareholder wealth. Important and high-level-executives, while attempting to enhance their own personal benefits by joining other Boards, can destroy shareholder value of the company for which they work