The investigation concerns a 1982 suit brought by Texas novelist Benjamin Capps and his publishers against the author and publisher of an historical novel, Sacajawea, alleging that the book contained approximately 145 instances of copyright infringement. Parallel-column exhibits of passages from the novel by Anna Lee Waldo and from Capps's writings illustrate the evidence submitted in court. The publishing history of the novel, brought out by Avon Books, is related, as well as the story of readers' discoveries of suspicious material and the ultimate litigation. A comparison is made of the original novel and a revised edition published in 1984. Using the Sacajawea case as a reference point, the study considers the state of ethics in the contemporary literary world.

The purpose of the study was to determine which of the Eighteen Basic Middle School Principles were influenced by the Indiana Comprehensive Assessment and Program Planning System (CAPPS) based on perceptions of middle school principals. A second purpose was to determine the extent of influence (positive, negative, no influence) exerted by CAPPS on the Eighteen Basic Middle School Principles.A survey instrument consisting of eighteen items in five Likert-response categories was mailed to: one-hundred randomly selected middle school principals in Indiana. Space was provided for respondents to write a statement describing how CAPPS influenced each middle school principle. Sixty-two middle school principals responded to the survey.Middle school principles most influenced by CAPPS were basic skill repair and extension, and planned gradualism. Principles least influenced were continuous progress programs, intramural activities, social experiences, independent study and auxiliary staffing. Sixty-five percent of responding principals indicated CAPPS exerted no influence on the combined eighteen principles.Conclusions derived from data revealed although CAPPS was not perceived as exerting a major influence, it was seen as positive. CAPPS has influenced textbook, material selection and increased articulation between grade levels. Emphasis on basic skill areas and remediation have increased due to CAPPS.Rationale for the middle school was to meet developmental opmental needs of transescent youth. However, the middle school concept has been implemented for a variety of reasons including dissatisfaction with the junior high school and reorganization of grade, levels to facilitate. desegregation and changing enrollments.Recommendations for further research include assess merit of educators to determine understanding of CAPPS and the middle school concept. Research also needs to be conducted to determine if educators are following CAPPS guidelines.

Studies have shown that the alternative splicing of caspase 9 and the phospho-status of SR proteins, a conserved family of splicing factors, are regulated by chemotherapy and de novo ceramide via the action of protein phosphatase-1 (PP1). Two RNA splice variants are derived from the caspase 9 gene, pro-apoptotic caspase 9a and anti-apoptotic caspase 9b, via alternative splicing by either the inclusion or exclusion of an exon 3, 4, 5, and 6 cassette. In this study, the link between SR proteins and the alternative splicing of caspase 9 was established. Sequence analysis of the exon 3, 4, 5, and 6 cassette of the caspase 9 gene identified five possible high affinity sequences for interaction with the SR protein, SRp30a, a well-established regulator of exon inclusion/exclusion. Replacement mutagenesis identified purine-rich sequences between exons 4 and 5 and wthin exon 6 as important for binding SRp30a and required for expression of the caspase 9a splice variant. In vitro binding assays coupled with competitor studies demonstrated specific binding of RNA trans-acting proteins and SRp30a with these sequences. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE analysis of cross-linked RNA trans-acting factors with these possible RNA cis-elements revealed the specific binding of an approximate 66, 56, 45, and 38 kDa protein/protein complex to these sequences. A previous application of RNAi technology to downregulate SRp30a in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells induced an approximately 75% decrease in SRp30a expression and induced a dramatic change in the ratio of caspase 9a/caspase 9b. Therefore, these studies have identified SRp30a as a major regulator of the alternative splicing of caspase 9 directly linking de novo ceramide generation, PP1, and SRp30a as the signal transduction pathway regulating the expression of caspase 9.