bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Standardization of Estrogen Receptor Measurement in Breast Cancer Suggests False-Negative Results Are a Function of Threshold Intensity Rather Than Percentage of Positive Cells
Authors: Welsh Allison W. , Moeder Christopher B. , Kumar Sudha , Gershkovich Peter , Alarid Elaine T. , Harigopal Malini , Haffty Bruce G. , Rimm David L.
Published: June 2011

Purpose

Recent misclassification (false negative) incidents have raised awareness concerning limitations of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in assessment of estrogen receptor (ER) in breast cancer. Here we define a new method for standardization of ER measurement and then examine both change in percentage and threshold of intensity (immunoreactivity) to assess sources for test discordance.

Methods

An assay was developed to quantify ER by using a control tissue microarray (TMA) and a series of cell lines in which ER immunoreactivity was analyzed by quantitative immunoblotting in parallel with the automated quantitative analysis (AQUA) method of quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF). The assay was used to assess the ER protein expression threshold in two independent retrospective cohorts from Yale and was compared with traditional methods.

Results

Two methods of analysis showed that change in percentage of positive cells from 10% to 1% did not significantly affect the overall number of ER-positive patients. The standardized assay for ER on two Yale TMA cohorts showed that 67.9% and 82.5% of the patients were above the 2-pg/μg immunoreactivity threshold. We found 9.1% and 19.7% of the patients to be QIF-positive/IHC-negative, and 4.0% and 0.4% to be QIF-negative/IHC-positive for a total of 13.1% and 20.1% discrepant cases when compared with pathologists' judgment of threshold. Assessment of survival for both cohorts showed that patients who were QIF-positive/pathologist-negative had outcomes similar to those of patients who had positive results for both assays.

Conclusion

Assessment of intensity threshold by using a quantitative, standardized assay on two independent cohorts suggests discordance in the 10% to 20% range with current IHC methods, in which patients with discrepant results have prognostic outcomes similar to ER-positive patients with concordant results.
Prognostic Implications of Altered Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (HERs) in Gastric Carcinomas: HER2 and HER3 Are Predictors of Poor Outcome
Authors: Begnami Maria D. , Fukuda Emy , Fregnani José H.T.G. , Nonogaki Suely , Montagnini André L. , da Costa Wilson L. , Soares Fernando A.
Published: June 2011

Purpose

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family consists of four members: ErbB-1 (HER1), ErbB-2 (HER2), ErbB-3 (HER3), and ErbB-4 (HER4). These receptors activate numerous downstream pathways in response to extracellular ligands, regulating diverse processes that include differentiation, migration, proliferation, and survival. Alterations in these genes play a role in the development and progression of many human cancers. In gastric carcinomas (GCs), expression of HER1 and HER2 is thought to be a prognostic factor and target of novel biologic agents. The effect of HER3 or HER4 expression in GC has not been sufficiently studied. In this study, we explored the gene and protein expression of the HER family in GC to establish new potential prognostic factors.

Patients and Methods

Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed in 221 patients with GC using tissue microarray. Correlation between the expression or amplification of HER genes and the clinicopathologic parameters was statistically analyzed.

Results

Alterations of members of the HER family were significantly associated with the parameters involved in tumor progression, including depth of tumor invasion, involved lymph nodes, and tumor stage. In addition, HER2 amplification and HER3 expression were significantly related to worse survival.

Conclusion

These results reveal that all members of the HER family are expressed in GC. Furthermore, expression of HER2 and HER3 is a significant predictor of poor survival in GC. Therefore, the development of HER-targeted agents and agents targeting downstream signaling pathways provides new possibilities in the treatment of GC.
Temozolomide in Elderly Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma and Poor Performance Status: An ANOCEF Phase II Trial
Authors: Pérez-Larraya Jaime Gállego , Ducray François , Chinot Olivier , Catry-Thomas Isabelle , Taillandier Luc , Guillamo Jean-Sébastien , Campello Chantal , Monjour Annick , Cartalat-Carel Stéphanie , Barrie Maryline , Huchet Aymeri , Beauchesne Patrick , Matta Mona , Mokhtari Karima , Tanguy Marie-Laure , Honnorat Jérôme , Delattre Jean-Yves
Published: June 2011

Purpose

The management of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in elderly patients with poor performance status is not well established. A trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of temozolomide alone in this population was undertaken.

Patients and Methods

Patients age 70 years or older with newly diagnosed GBM and postoperative Karnofsky performance score (KPS) less than 70 were eligible for this nonrandomized phase II trial. Treatment consisted of 150 to 200 mg/m2/d temozolomide for 5 days every 4 weeks until disease progression. Radiotherapy was not administered. The primary end point was overall survival (OS); secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), safety, quality of life, and cognition.

Results

Seventy patients (median age, 77 years; median KPS, 60) were enrolled between July 2007 and February 2009. Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 13% and 14% of patients, respectively. Median PFS was 16 weeks (95% CI, 10 to 20 weeks), and median OS was 25 weeks (95% CI, 19 to 28 weeks), comparing favorably with a 12- to 16-week OS expected from a purely supportive approach. Twenty-three patients (33%) improved their KPS by 10 or more points, and 18 (26%) became capable of self-care (KPS ≥ 70). Overall quality of life and cognition improved over time before disease progression. In the 31 tumors evaluated for O6-methylguanine–DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation, a methylated status indicated longer PFS (26 v 11 weeks; P = .03) and OS (31 v 19 weeks; P = .03).

Conclusion

Temozolomide has an acceptable tolerance in elderly patients with GBM and KPS less than 70. It is associated with improvement of functional status in 33% of patients and appears to increase survival compared with supportive care alone, especially in patients with methylated MGMT promoter.
Randomized Phase III Placebo-Controlled Trial of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel With or Without the Vascular Disrupting Agent Vadimezan (ASA404) in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Lara Primo N. , Douillard Jean-Yves , Nakagawa Kazuhiko , von Pawel Joachim , McKeage Mark J. , Albert Istvan , Losonczy György , Reck Martin , Heo Dae-Seog , Fan Xiaolin , Fandi Abderrahim , Scagliotti Giorgio
Published: June 2011

Purpose

This phase III trial was conducted to test whether the novel vascular disrupting agent ASA404 (vadimezan), when combined with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, improves survival in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) versus chemotherapy alone.

Patients and Methods

Patients with advanced stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, stratified by sex and tumor histology, were randomly assigned 1:1 to paclitaxel (200 mg/m2) and carboplatin (area under the curve, 6.0) with or without ASA404 (1,800 mg m2), given intravenously once every 3 weeks for six cycles followed by maintenance ASA404 or placebo. Primary end point was overall survival (OS); secondary end points included overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

One thousand two hundred ninety-nine patients were randomly assigned. The trial was stopped for futility at interim analysis. At final analysis, there was no difference in OS seen between ASA404 (n = 649) and placebo (n = 650) arms: median OS was 13.4 and 12.7 months respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.19; P = .535). Similarly, no OS difference was seen in the histologic (squamous or nonsquamous) and sex (male or female) strata. Median PFS was 5.5 months in both arms (HR, 1.04; P = .727), while ORR was 25% in both arms (P = 1.0). Overall rate of adverse events (AEs) was comparable between the ASA404 and placebo arms. Grade 4 neutropenia (27% v 19%) and infusion site pain (10% v 0.5%) were reported more frequently in the ASA404 arm.

Conclusion

The addition of ASA404 to carboplatin and paclitaxel, although generally well tolerated, failed to improve frontline efficacy in advanced NSCLC.
Prognostic Validity of a Novel American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Classification for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Strosberg Jonathan R. , Cheema Asima , Weber Jill , Han Gang , Coppola Domenico , Kvols Larry K.
Published: June 2011

Purpose

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual (seventh edition) has introduced its first TNM staging classification for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) derived from the staging algorithm for exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinomas. This classification has not yet been validated.

Methods

Patients with pancreatic NETs treated at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center between 1999 and 2010 were assigned a stage (I to IV) based on the new AJCC classification. Kaplan-Meier analyses for overall survival (OS) were performed based on age, race, histologic grade, incidental diagnosis, and TNM staging (European Neuroendocrine Tumors Society [ENETS] v AJCC) using log-rank tests. Survival time was measured from time of initial diagnosis to date of last contact or date of death. Multivariate modeling was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Weighted Cohen's κ coefficient was computed to evaluate the agreement of ENETS and AJCC classifications.

Results

We identified 425 patients with pancreatic NETs. On the basis of histopathologic grade, 5-year survival rates for low-, intermediate-, and high-grade tumors were 75%, 62%, and 7%, respectively (P < .001). When using the ENETS classification, 5-year OS rates for stages I, II, III, and IV were 100%, 88%, 85%, and 57%, respectively (P < .001). Subsequently, using the AJCC classification, 5-year OS rates for stages I, II, III, and IV were 92%, 84%, 81%, and 57%, respectively (P < .001). Both the novel AJCC classification and the ENETS classification were highly prognostic for survival.

Conclusion

The AJCC TNM classification for pancreatic NETs is prognostic for OS and can be adopted in clinical practice.
Read All about It!! What Happens Following a Technology Shock?
Authors: Alexopoulos Michelle
Published: June 2011

Existing indicators of technical change are plagued by shortcomings. I present new measures based on books published in the field of technology that resolve many of these problems and use them to identify the impact of technology shocks on economic activity. They are positively linked to changes in R&D and scientific knowledge, and capture the new technologies' commercialization dates. Changes in information technology are found to be important sources of economic fluctuations in the post-WWII period, and total factor productivity, investment, and, to a lesser extent, labor are all shown to increase following a positive technology shock. (JEL E22, E23, E32, O33, O34, O47)
R&D Investment, Exporting, and Productivity Dynamics
Authors: Aw Bee Yan , Roberts Mark J , Xu Daniel Yi
Published: June 2011

This paper estimates a dynamic structural model of a producer's decision to invest in R&D and export, allowing both choices to endogenously affect the future path of productivity. Using plant-level data for the Taiwanese electronics industry, both activities are found to have a positive effect on the plant's future productivity. This in turn drives more plants to self-select into both activities, contributing to further productivity gains. Simulations of an expansion of the export market are shown to increase both exporting and R&D investment and generate a gradual within-plant productivity improvement. (JEL D24, F14, G31, L63, O31, O33)
Term Premia and Inflation Uncertainty: Empirical Evidence from an International Panel Dataset
Authors: Wright Jonathan H
Published: June 2011

This paper provides cross-country empirical evidence on term premia. I construct a panel of zero-coupon nominal government bond yields spanning ten industrialized countries and nearly two decades. I hence compute forward rates and use two different methods to decompose these forward rates into expected future short-term interest rates and term premiums. The first method uses an affine term structure model with macroeconomic variables as unspanned risk factors; the second method uses surveys. I find that term premiums declined internationally over the sample period, especially in countries that apparently reduced inflation uncertainty by making substantial changes in their monetary policy frameworks. (JEL E13, E43, E52, G12, H63)
Why Do Payment Card Networks Charge Proportional Fees?
Authors: Shy Oz , Wang Zhu
Published: June 2011

This paper explains why payment card networks charge fees that are proportional to the transaction values instead of charging fixed per-transaction fees. We show that, when card networks and merchants both have market power, card networks earn higher profits by charging proportional fees. It is also shown that competition among merchants reduces card networks' gains from using proportional fees relative to fixed per-transaction fees. Merchants are found to earn lower profits under proportional fees, whereas consumer utility and social welfare are higher. Our welfare results are then evaluated with respect to the current regulatory policy debates. (JEL E42, G21, G28)
Returns to Education: Evidence from UK Twins: Comment
Authors: Amin Vikesh
Published: June 2011

In an article published in the American Economic Review, Dorothe Bonjour et al. (2003) used a dataset on female monozygotic twins and showed that the within-twin estimated return to one year of education was 7.7 percent and statistically significant at the 5 percent level. This comment illustrates that the point estimate conclusion is driven by one twin pair, which is an outlier in the dataset. If one eliminates this twin pair, then the estimated return to education is 5.1 percent and statistically significant at the 10 percent level only. (JEL I21, J16, J24, J31)
The Self in Arabic and the Relativism-Universalism Controversy
Authors: Domaradzki Mikołaj
Published: June 2011

The purpose of the present paper is to discuss the metaphor system for conceptualizing the Self in Arabic. A comparison of structural means for conceptualizing inner life in Arabic and English leads to the conclusion that although on the structural (‘grammatical’) level the differences between the two languages are indeed considerable, they become far less radical on the conceptual (‘semantic’) level. More specifically, it is argued here that in Arabic, as in English, inner experiences are for the most part conceptualized metaphorically and that Arabs seem to conceptualize their inner lives in a way similar, or at least comparable, to the speakers of English. While the article shows that on the conceptual level there are several important correspondences between Arabic and English, it hypothesizes that they reflect some fundamental and presumably universal human experiences and cognitive abilities. Finally, the linguistic material analyzed here provides a point of departure for touching upon the relativism-universalism debate. The paper argues that the controversy depends, at least to some extent, on whether one chooses to focus on potentially universal conceptualizations (and their underlying cognitive mechanisms) or more culture-specific structural relations (the contingent and historical conventions). Thus, while it seems to be a matter of one's personal decision whether to place the potentially universal in the foreground and the more idiosyncratic in the background, or the other way round, the article emphasizes the usefulness of explaining certain striking conceptual similarities in terms of their bodily basis.
Beijing Olympics and Beijing opera: A multimodal metaphor in a CCTV Olympics commercial
Authors: Yu Ning
Published: June 2011

This paper is a cognitive semantic analysis of a CCTV educational commercial, which is one of a series designed and produced in preparation for, and in celebration of, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Called the “Beijing Opera Episode”, this TV commercial converges on the theme: “To mount the stage of the world, and to put on a show of China”. That is, China sees her hosting of the 2008 Olympics by Beijing as a great opportunity for her to step onto the international stage to perform a show of China. This theme, which alludes to China's globalization and retention of cultural identity, is conceptualized and expressed in terms of a central metaphor of theatrical performance: hosting the beijing olympics is performing beijing opera on an international stage. This study first analyzes in detail how this central metaphor is manifested multimodally through visual and aural as well as verbal discourse, thus examining it as a multimodal metaphor. The study then applies a decompositional approach, based on the distinction between primary and complex metaphors, to analyzing the central metaphor as a metaphorical compound with its internal structures and components, which is nevertheless built on a more general cognitive foundation. The study also offers a linguistic perspective on a cultural model underlying the central metaphor, which is arguably a Chinese cultural model for understanding various aspects and events of life in general. At the core of this cultural model is the widespread life is a stage metaphor, which however has a specific manifestation within the Chinese cultural context.
From speech as “situated” to speech as “situating”: insights from John Gumperz on the practical conduct of talk as social action
Authors: Erickson Frederick
Published: June 2011

The article begins by reviewing the early research interests of John Gumperz and their further development across the course of his career. His doctoral research documented spoken language in an immigrant community. He then focused on bilingual speech communities and “code switching.” Later he became concerned with various aspects of style shifting within a language. Whether he was considering language switching, or dialect switching, or shifts in register, Gumperz showed that speakers were creative in their language use — active agents rather than passive rule followers — alternating among disparate styles to communicate metaphoric and usually implicit social meaning. Through changes in speech style, interlocutors could be seen to be reframing their social relations, modifying the social situation they were in. ( NB This lability in situational framing is a major point of emphasis in Gumperz's notions of “contextualization” and “conversational inference.”) The article continues by presenting and discussing two of Gumperz's “telling cases” of contextualizing frame shifts by speakers. In concluding, a few examples from the author's own research are presented, with emphasis on the use of contextualization in establishing local alignments of solidarity-in-the-moment among interlocutors — indexical shifts to a footing for interaction that the author has termed “situational co-membership.”
Characterization of Carbon Black Particles Dispersion in Polymeric Matrix by Indirect Methods
Authors: Jiang Zhao-Hui , Jin Jian , Xiao Chang-Fa , Li Xin , Kong Ling-Xi
Published: June 2011

Polypropylene (PP)/carbon black (CB) films were prepared via a two-step masterbatch (MB) dilution technique, by the aid of dynamic mixer following two single-screw extruders. The films were quantitatively characterized by color difference (CD), blackness and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. In the paper, the CD was numerically expressed by CD values. Furthermore, the CD values of films follow quasi-normal distribution as tested by the skewness-kurtosis method. The test of significance confirms the CD values of films are ≤1 NBS (U.S. National Bureau of Standards), which demonstrates CB particles were mixed uniformly in their polymeric matrix. The CD values (quantification) and grey card series (GS, qualification) conform to certain mathematical equation: when CD≤3.4,GS=5-CD/1.7; when CD>3.4, GS=5-lg(CD/0.85)/lg2. In addition, in order to evaluate comprehensively the mixing effect, blackness and TGA method were also employed. With the increment of CB content, the blackness of films increases, which infers that the color difference due to mixing effect of CB particles should be indirectly expressed by blackness. TGA method characterizes mixing uniformity by comparing discrepancy of ash content between films. The results indicate that the films with low CB content have a good mixing effect, while high CB content is unfavorable to decreasing the error of the TGA method.
Trends in the Use of Standardized Tools for Developmental Screening in Early Childhood: 2002–2009
Authors: Radecki Linda , Sand-Loud Nina , O'Connor Karen G. , Sharp Sanford , Olson Lynn M.
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND:

Early identification of developmental delays is essential for optimal early intervention. An American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2002 Periodic Survey of Fellows found <25% of respondents consistently used appropriate screening tools. Over the past 5 years, new research and education programs promoted screening implementation. In 2006, the AAP issued a revised policy statement with a detailed algorithm. Since the 2002 Periodic Survey, no national surveys have examined the effectiveness of policy, programmatic, and educational enhancements.

OBJECTIVE:

The goal of this study was to compare pediatricians' use of standardized screening tools from 2002 to 2009.

METHODS:

A national, random sample of nonretired US AAP members were mailed Periodic Surveys (2002: N = 1617, response rate: 55%; 2009: N = 1620, response rate: 57%). χ2 analyses were used to examine responses across survey years; a multivariate logistic regression model was developed to compare differences in using ≥1 formal screening tools across survey years while controlling for various individual and practice characteristics.

RESULTS:

Pediatricians' use of standardized screening tools increased significantly between 2002 and 2009. The percentage of those who self-reported always/almost always using ≥1 screening tools increased over time (23.0%–47.7%), as did use of specific instruments (eg, Ages & Stages Questionnaire, Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status). No differences were noted on the basis of physician or practice characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS:

The percentage of pediatricians who reported using ≥1 formal screening tools more than doubled between 2002 and 2009. Despite greater attention to consistent use of appropriate tools, the percentage remains less than half of respondents providing care to patients younger than 36 months. Given the critical importance of developmental screening in early identification, evaluation, and intervention, additional research is needed to identify barriers to greater use of standardized tools in practice.
Elevated Blood Pressure During Sleep and Wake in Children With Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Authors: Horne Rosemary S. C. , Yang Joel S. C. , Walter Lisa M. , Richardson Heidi L. , O'Driscoll Denise M. , Foster Alison M. , Wong Shi , Ng Michelle L. , Bashir Farhat , Patterson Ruth , Nixon Gillian M. , Jolley Damien , Walker Adrian M. , Anderson Vicki , Trinder John , Davey Margot J.
Published: June 2011

OBJECTIVE:

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in adults has been associated with elevated blood pressure (BP); however, the effects of severity of SDB on BP in children are uncertain. We addressed this issue by measuring BP noninvasively and continuously during sleep in children with a range of severities of SDB and in a group of nonsnoring control children.

METHODS:

A total of 105 children referred for assessment of SDB and 36 nonsnoring controls were studied. Routine polysomnography (PSG) was performed with continuous BP monitoring. Children were assigned to groups according to obstructive apnea/hypopnea index (OAHI). BP data were categorized as quiet awake (recorded before sleep onset), non–rapid eye movement sleep 1 and 2 combined, slow-wave sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep.

RESULTS:

BP during awake before sleep onset and during overnight sleep was elevated by 10 to 15 mm Hg in the 3 SDB groups compared with the control group; this finding was independent of SDB severity. BP during stable sleep (with respiratory events and movements excluded) was also elevated in the children with OSA compared with the control group. BP was elevated in rapid eye movement sleep compared with the non–rapid eye movement sleep, and heart rate was higher during wake state than in all sleep states.

CONCLUSIONS:

We recorded BP continuously overnight and found that SDB, regardless of the severity, was associated with increased BP during sleep and wake compared with nonsnoring control children. These findings highlight the importance of considering the cardiovascular effects of SDB of any severity in children, and the need to review current clinical management that focuses primarily on more severe SDB.
Supporting the Health Care Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood in the Medical Home
Authors: Cooley W. Carl , Sagerman Paul J. ,   American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American College of Physicians, Transitions Clinical Report Authoring Group
Published: June 2011

Optimal health care is achieved when each person, at every age, receives medically and developmentally appropriate care. The goal of a planned health care transition is to maximize lifelong functioning and well-being for all youth, including those who have special health care needs and those who do not. This process includes ensuring that high-quality, developmentally appropriate health care services are available in an uninterrupted manner as the person moves from adolescence to adulthood. A well-timed transition from child- to adult-oriented health care is specific to each person and ideally occurs between the ages of 18 and 21 years. Coordination of patient, family, and provider responsibilities enables youth to optimize their ability to assume adult roles and activities. This clinical report represents expert opinion and consensus on the practice-based implementation of transition for all youth beginning in early adolescence. It provides a structure for training and continuing education to further understanding of the nature of adolescent transition and how best to support it. Primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, as well as medical subspecialists, are encouraged to adopt these materials and make this process specific to their settings and populations.
Studying of flow model and bed load transport in a coarse bed river: case study – Aland River, Iran
Authors: Roushangar Kiyoumars , Hassanzadeh Yousef , Keynejad Mohammad Ali , Alami Mohammad Tagi , Nourani Vahid , Mouaze Dominique
Published: June 2011

This paper describes a mathematical model which solves the 1D unsteady flow over a mobile bed. The model is based on the Richtmyer second-order explicit scheme. Comparison of the model results with the experimental flume data for alluvial steady flow (aggradation due to overloading) and unsteady flow shows that, by using the two-step method of Richtmyer, one can solve the equations, governing the phenomenon, in a coupled method with the desired accuracy. Firstly, the Badalan reach located at the Aland River is considered. Variations of flow rate, water level and bed level profiles due to flood hydrographs are assessed. Secondly, bed load discharge data were collected from the Aland River and a variety of bed load discharge formulae were compared with measured data. Results show that, by using the grain size of the bed surface layer to predict the bed load discharge, a larger relative error will occur compared to the other two cases and a proper choice of grain size has the main role in reduction of the relative error of bed load discharge estimation in gravel bed rivers. The applicability of formulae varies depending on flow rate, and should be split into low and high flow transport formulae.
Use of Landsat ETM+ data for delineation of water bodies in hilly zones
Authors: Bhagat Vijay S. , Sonawane Kishor R.
Published: June 2011

The remotely sensed Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) dataset is used for the detection and delineation of water bodies in hilly zones. The water bodies were detected using Surface Wetness Index (SWI), Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and a slope map. The assessment of areas under dense vegetation in water bodies is omitted in the combined map prepared using classified raster images showing (1) the distribution of ‘water’ and ‘non-water’ based on SWI and (2) the distribution of ‘vegetation’ and ‘non-vegetation’ based on NDVI. The shadows' effect in estimated areas under water bodies is detected and delineated using the combination of (1) a combined raster image (classified SWI and NDVI) and (2) a slope map. About 3.8% (1370 ha) of the total area reviewed is estimated under water bodies with 91.74% overall accuracy. The water bodies include (1) major and minor dams, (2) watered streams, (3) springs distributed in foothill zones and (4) small dams on minor streams. The relatively smaller water body objects, i.e. streams and springs, have estimated less producer's (92–96%) and user's (85–92%) accuracy than the major water bodies, i.e. 96.77% producer's and 100% for user's accuracy.
Modeling flood discharge at ungauged sites across Turkey using neuro-fuzzy and neural networks
Authors: Seckin Neslihan
Published: June 2011

One of the most important problems in hydrology is the reliable forecasting of maximum discharge at an ungauged site of interest. Statistical techniques are commonly used for finding the maximum discharge and return period relationship. However, these techniques are generally considered to be inadequate because of the complexity of the problem. Hence, neural network techniques are preferred. In this study, two different neural network models developed based on the following techniques – a multi-layer perceptron neural network with Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm and a radial basis neural network behind an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system – are employed in order to capture the nonlinear relationship between discharge and five independent variables – drainage area (km2), elevation (m), latitude, longitude, return period (year) and maximum discharge (m3/s). For a modeling study, watershed data from 543 catchments across Turkey were used. Statistical models with regression techniques were also applied to the same data, providing a wider comparison. The results of the models were then compared and assessed with respect to mean square errors, mean absolute error, mean absolute relative error and determination coefficient. Based on these results, it was found that the neural network techniques demonstrated better performance in predicting the maximum discharge based on five independent variables than the regression techniques, and were comparable to the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system.
Water distribution network calibration using enhanced GGA and topological analysis
Authors: Giustolisi O. , Berardi L.
Published: June 2011

The calibration of hydraulic models of water distribution networks (WDN) is of preeminent importance for their analysis and management. It is usually achieved by solving a constrained optimization problem based on some priors on decision variables and the demand-driven simulation of the entire network, given the observations of some hydraulic status variables (i.e. typically nodal heads and sometimes pipe flows). This paper presents a framework to perform the calibration of pipe hydraulic resistances considering two main issues: (i) the enhancements of WDN simulation models allowing us to simplify network topology with respect to serial nodes/trunks and/or to account for a more realistic representation of distributed demands and (ii) a different formulation of the calibration problem itself.

Depending on the available measurements, the proposed calibration strategy reduces the hydraulic simulation model size and can permit the decomposition of the network. On the one hand, such a procedure allows for numerical and computational advantages, especially for large size networks. On the other hand, it allows a prompt analysis of observability of calibration decision variables based on actual observations and might help identifying those pipes (i.e. hydraulic resistances) which are more important for the whole network behaviour.
Prediction of pile group scour in waves using support vector machines and ANN
Authors: Ghazanfari-Hashemi Samaneh , Etemad-Shahidi Amir , Kazeminezhad Mohammad H. , Mansoori Amir Reza
Published: June 2011

Scour around pile groups is rather complicated and not yet fully understood due to the fact that it arises from the triple interaction of fluid–structure–seabed. In this study, two data mining approaches, i.e. Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), were applied to estimate the wave-induced scour depth around pile groups. To consider various arrangements of pile groups in the development of the models, datasets collected in the field and laboratory studies were used and arrangement parameters were considered in the models. Several non-dimensional controlling parameters, including the Keulegan–Carpenter number, pile Reynolds number, Shield's parameter, sediment number, gap to diameter ratio and number of piles were used as the inputs. Performances of the developed SVM and ANN models were compared with those of existing empirical methods. Results indicate that the data mining approaches used outperform empirical methods in terms of accuracy. They also indicate that SVM will provide a better estimation of scour depth than ANN (back-propagation/multi-layer perceptron). Sensitivity analysis was also carried out to investigate the relative importance of non-dimensional parameters. It was found that the Keulegan–Carpenter number and gap to diameter ratio have the greatest effect on the equilibrium scour depth around pile groups.
Novelty detection for time series data analysis in water distribution systems using support vector machines
Authors: Mounce Stephen R. , Mounce Richard B. , Boxall Joby B.
Published: June 2011

The sampling frequency and quantity of time series data collected from water distribution systems has been increasing in recent years, giving rise to the potential for improving system knowledge if suitable automated techniques can be applied, in particular, machine learning. Novelty (or anomaly) detection refers to the automatic identification of novel or abnormal patterns embedded in large amounts of “normal” data. When dealing with time series data (transformed into vectors), this means abnormal events embedded amongst many normal time series points. The support vector machine is a data-driven statistical technique that has been developed as a tool for classification and regression. The key features include statistical robustness with respect to non-Gaussian errors and outliers, the selection of the decision boundary in a principled way, and the introduction of nonlinearity in the feature space without explicitly requiring a nonlinear algorithm by means of kernel functions. In this research, support vector regression is used as a learning method for anomaly detection from water flow and pressure time series data. No use is made of past event histories collected through other information sources. The support vector regression methodology, whose robustness derives from the training error function, is applied to a case study.
A bottom-up approach of stochastic demand allocation in a hydraulic network model: a sensitivity study of model parameters
Authors: Blokker E. J. M. , Beverloo H. , Vogelaar A. J. , Vreeburg J. H. G. , van Dijk J. C.
Published: June 2011

An “all pipes” hydraulic model of a drinking water distribution system was constructed with a bottom-up approach of demand allocation. This means that each individual home is represented by one demand node with its own stochastic water demand pattern. These water demand patterns were constructed with the end-use model SIMDEUM. A sensitivity test with respect to the resulting residence times was performed for several model parameters: time step, spatial aggregation, spatial correlation, demand pattern and number of simulation runs. The bottom-up approach of demand allocation was also compared to the conventional top-down approach, i.e. a single demand multiplier pattern is allocated to all demand nodes with the base demand to account for the average water demand on that node. The models were compared to measured flows and residence times in a small network. The study showed that the bottom-up approach leads to realistic water demand patterns and residence times, without the need for any flow measurements. The stochastic approach of hydraulic modelling, with a 15 minute time step, some spatial aggregation and 10 simulation runs, gives insight into the variability of residence times as an added feature beyond the conventional way of modelling.
The Net Fiscal Expenditure Stimulus in the US, 2008-9: Less than What You Might Think, and Less than the Fiscal Stimuli of Most OECD Countries
Authors: Aizenman Joshua , Pasricha Gurnain K.
Published: June 2011

Understanding how the economy reacted to fiscal stimulus in the aftermath of the deepest recession of the last fifty years is essential. Joshua Aizenman of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Gurnain Kaur Pasricha of the Santa Cruz Institute for International Economics and the Bank of Canada show that aggregate fiscal expenditure stimulus in the United States, properly adjusted for the declining fiscal expenditure of the fifty states, was close to zero in 2009. Furthermore, the USA is ranked at the bottom third in terms of the rate of expansion of the consolidated government consumption and investment of the 28 OECD countries they studied recently.
Production of lipase from Pseudozyma aphidis and determination of the activity and stability of the crude lipase preparation in polar organic solvents
Authors: Dimitrijevic Aleksandra , Velickovic Dusan , Bezbradica Dejan , Bihelovic Filip , Jankov Ratko , Milosavic Nenad
Published: June 2011

The production of lipase from Pseudozyma aphidis (DSM 70725) was determined
in six different media. The highest lipase production was observed in a
medium with glucose as the sole carbon source, and yeast extract and sodium
nitrate as the nitrogen sources. The time course studies of growth and
lipase production in the optimal medium revealed that the highest lipase
production was achieved at the end of the log phase of growth, reaching the
value of 35.0 U cm-3 in the fifth day of cultivation. The effects of various
polar, water-miscible, organic solvents on the activity and stability of the
crude lipase produced by P. aphidis were evaluated. The hydrolytic activity
of the crude lipase towards p-nitrophenyl palmitate (p-NPP) in aqueous media
and in organic solvents was determined, using the same spectrophotometric
assay in both the aqueous and organic media. The crude lipase preparation
exhibited activity towards p-NPP only in acetone and acetonitrile, while the
lipase was stable only in acetone, with 23 % residual activity after 24 h of
incubation. These results suggested that lipase from P. aphidis can be used
as a biocatalyst for potential applications in such organic solvents.
Restriction of Advanced Glycation End Products Improves Insulin Resistance in Human Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Uribarri Jaime , Cai Weijing , Ramdas Maya , Goodman Susan , Pyzik Renata , Chen Xue , Zhu Li , Striker Gary E. , Vlassara Helen
Published: June 2011

OBJECTIVE

Increased oxidative stress (OS) and impaired anti-OS defenses are important in the development and persistence of insulin resistance (IR). Several anti-inflammatory and cell-protective mechanisms, including advanced glycation end product (AGE) receptor-1 (AGER1) and sirtuin (silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog) 1 (SIRT1) are suppressed in diabetes. Because basal OS in type 2 diabetic patients is influenced by the consumption of AGEs, we examined whether AGE consumption also affects IR and whether AGER1 and SIRT1 are involved.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study randomly assigned 36 subjects, 18 type 2 diabetic patients (age 61 ± 4 years) and 18 healthy subjects (age 67 ± 1.4 years), to a standard diet (>20 AGE equivalents [Eq]/day) or an isocaloric AGE-restricted diet (<10 AGE Eq/day) for 4 months. Circulating metabolic and inflammatory markers were assessed. Expression and activities of AGER1 and SIRT1 were examined in patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMNC) and in AGE-stimulated, AGER1-transduced (AGER1+), or AGER1-silenced human monocyte-like THP-1 cells.

RESULTS

Insulin and homeostasis model assessment, leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB p65 acetylation, serum AGEs, and 8-isoprostanes decreased in AGE-restricted type 2 diabetic patients, whereas PMNC AGER1 and SIRT1 mRNA, and protein levels normalized and adiponectin markedly increased. AGEs suppressed AGER1, SIRT-1, and NAD+ levels in THP-1 cells. These effects were inhibited in AGER1+ but were enhanced in AGER1-silenced cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Food-derived pro-oxidant AGEs may contribute to IR in clinical type 2 diabetes and suppress protective mechanisms, AGER1 and SIRT1. AGE restriction may preserve native defenses and insulin sensitivity by maintaining lower basal OS.
Blood Pressure Trajectories Prior to Death in Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Rogers Mary A.M. , Ward Kathleen , Gure Tanya R. , Choe Hae M. , Lee Pearl G. , Bernstein Steven J. , Blaum Caroline S.
Published: June 2011

OBJECTIVE

The goals of this study were to examine trajectories of blood pressure (BP) in adults with diabetes and investigate the association of trajectory patterns with mortality.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A nonconcurrent longitudinal design was used to monitor 3,766 Medicare patients with diabetes from 2005 through 2008. Data were extracted from a registry of Medicare beneficiaries, which was developed by a large academic practice that participated in the Physician Group Practice Medicare Demonstration. The relationship between BP trajectories and all-cause mortality was modeled using multilevel mixed-effects linear regression.

RESULTS

During the 4-year study period, 10.7% of the patients died, half of whom were aged ≥75 years. The crude and adjusted models both showed a greater decline in systolic and diastolic BP in patients who died than in those who did not die. In a model adjusted for age, sex, race, medications, and comorbidities, the mean systolic BP decreased by 3.2 mmHg/year (P < 0.001) in the years before death and by 0.7 mmHg/year (P < 0.001) in those who did not die (P < 0.001 for the difference in slopes). Similarly, diastolic BP declined by 1.3 mmHg/year for those who died (P < 0.001) and by 0.6 mmHg/year for those who did not die (P < 0.001); the difference in slopes was significant (P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

Systolic and diastolic BP both declined more rapidly in the 4 years before death than in patients who remained alive.
Above genetics: Lessons from cerebral development in autism
Authors: Williams Emily , Casanova Manuel
Published: June 2011

While a distinct minicolumnar phenotype seems to be an underlying factor in a significant portion of cases of autism, great attention is being paid not only to genetics but to epigenetic factors which may lead to development of the conditions. Here we discuss the indivisible role the molecular environment plays in cellular function, particularly the pivotal position which the transcription factor and adhesion molecule, β-catenin, occupies in cellular growth. In addition, the learning environment is not only integral to postnatal plasticity, but the prenatal environment plays a vital role during corticogenesis, neuritogenesis, and synaptogenesis as well. To illustrate these points in the case of autism, we review important findings in genetics studies (e.g., PTEN, TSC1/2, FMRP, MeCP2, Neurexin-Neuroligin) and known epigenetic factors (e.g., valproic acid, estrogen, immune system, ultrasound) which may predispose towards the minicolumnar and connectivity patterns seen in the conditions, showing how one-gene mutational syndromes and exposure to certain CNS teratogens may ultimately lead to comparable phenotypes. This in turn may shed greater light on how environment and complex genetics combinatorially give rise to a heterogenetic group of conditions such as autism.
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) and Chemokines in Colitis-Associated Cancer
Authors: Mukaida Naofumi , Sasakki So-ichiro , Popivanova Boryana K.
Published: June 2011

The connection between inflammation and tumorigenesis has been well established, based on a great deal of supporting evidence obtained from epidemiological, pharmacological, and genetic studies. One representative example is inflammatory bowel disease, because it is an important risk factor for the development of colon cancer. Moreover, intratumoral infiltration of inflammatory cells suggests the involvement of inflammatory responses also in other forms of sporadic as well as heritable colon cancer. Inflammatory responses and tumorigenesis activate similar sets of transcription factors such as NF-kB, Stat3, and hypoxia inducible factor and eventually enhances the expression of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and chemokines. The expression of TNF and chemokines is aberrantly expressed in a mouse model of colitis-associated carcinogenesis as well as in inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer in humans. Here, after summarizing the presumed actions of TNF and chemokines in tumor biology, we will discuss the potential roles of TNF and chemokines in chronic inflammation-associated colon cancer in mice.
Microarray Analysis in a Cell Death Resistant Glioma Cell Line to Identify Signaling Pathways and Novel Genes Controlling Resistance and Malignancy
Authors: Seznec Janina , Naumann Ulrike
Published: June 2011

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal type of cancer mainly resistant to radio- and chemotherapy. Since the tumor suppressor p53 functions as a transcription factor regulating the expression of genes involved in growth inhibition, DNA repair and apoptosis, we previously assessed whether specific differences in the modulation of gene expression are responsible for the anti-tumor properties of a dominant positive p53, chimeric tumor suppressor (CTS)-1. CTS-1 is based on the sequence of p53 and designed to resist various mechanisms of inactivation which limit the activity of p53. To identify CTS-1-regulated cell death-inducing genes, we generated a CTS-1-resistant glioma cell line (229R). We used Affymetrix whole-genome microarray expression analysis to analyze alterations in gene expression and identified a variety of CTS-1 regulated genes involved in cancer-linked processes. 313 genes were differentially expressed in Adeno-CTS-1 (Ad-CTS-1)-infected and 700 genes in uninfected 229R cells compared to matching parental cells. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) determined a variety of differentially expressed genes in Ad-CTS-1-infected cells that were members of the intracellular networks with central tumor-involved players such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) or transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Differentially regulated genes include secreted factors as well as intracellular proteins and transcription factors regulating not only cell death, but also processes such as tumor cell motility and immunity. This work gives an overview of the pathways differentially regulated in the resistant versus parental glioma cells and might be helpful to identify candidate genes which could serve as targets to develop novel glioma specific therapy strategies.