cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in bronchial epithelium and nonsmall cell lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND Cyclooxygenase (Cox) is the main target enzyme for the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs that have been shown to suppress carcinogenesis in both experimental models and epidemiologic studies. METHODS To evaluate its utility as an intermediate biomarker in bronchial chemoprevention trials, the authors examined Cox 1 and Cox 2 expression in normal and premalignant bronchial epithelial cells and nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) samples using an immunohistochemical staining technique. Included in the current study were 101 NSCLC samples and 77 bronchial biopsy samples obtained from 15 healthy smokers. RESULTS In the normal bronchial epithelium, Cox 2 expression was found to be completely negative whereas Cox 1 expression was noted in a few scattered cells. The areas of basal cell hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia demonstrated the same pattern. There were relatively more Cox 2-positive tumors, as defined by positive staining in > 10% of tumor cells, than Cox 1-positive tumors (30 of 101 tumors [30%] vs. 14 of 101 tumors [14%]; P = 0.01). When tumor types were considered, there were more Cox 2-positive adenocarcinomas compared with squamous cell carcinomas (21 of 51 adenocarcinomas [41%] vs. 9 of 46 squamous cell carcinomas [20%]; P = 0.03). In contrast, fewer adenocarcinomas tended to show Cox 1 expression compared with squamous cell carcinomas (4 of 51 adenocarcinomas [8%] vs. 9 of 46 squamous cell carcinomas [20%]; P = 0.14). Although smokers tended to have more Cox 2-positive tumors than nonsmokers (29 of 91 tumors in the smokers [32%] vs. 1 of 10 tumors in the nonsmokers [10%]; P = 0.15), there was no statistically significant relation found between Cox 1 or Cox 2 expression and smoking status or prognostically significant clinicopathologic features. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study suggest that Cox 1 and Cox 2 expression may not be a useful intermediate biomarker in bronchial chemoprevention trials. Nevertheless, considering the patterns of Cox 1 and Cox 2 expression in tumor cells, Cox expression status may be a useful parameter when designing treatment strategies for a subset of NSCLC patients. Cancer 2002;94:1023–31. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10262
Quenching mechanisms and kinetics of Trolox and ascorbic acid on the riboflavin-photosensitized oxidation of tryptophan and tyrosine.

The effects of 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mM Trolox and ascorbic acid on the singlet oxygen oxidation of tryptophan and tyrosine containing 25 ppm of riboflavin were determined by measuring tryptophan and tyrosine concentration by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The samples were stored in the a 1000 lx light storage box for 4 h at 30 °C. As the concentration of Trolox and ascorbic acid increased, the degradation of tryptophan and tyrosine decreased significantly at p < 0.05. Trolox reduced tryptophan and tyrosine degradation by quenching both singlet oxygen and excited triplet riboflavin, whereas ascorbic acid quenched singlet oxygen only. The total singlet oxygen quenchings of Trolox in the presence of tryptophan and tyrosine were 1.55 × 107 and 1.32 × 107 M−1 s−1, respectively. The total singlet oxygen quenchings of ascorbic acid in the presence of tryptophan and tyrosine were 1.16 × 107 and 1.10 × 107 M−1 s−1, respectively. Trolox was more effective than ascorbic acid in preventing the degra...
A comparison of lag structure specification methods in VAR models

This paper is concerned with selection of lag lengths for VAR models. Specifying the correct lag length is important because estimated VAR models with lag lengths different from the true model are misspecified. Typically, the same lag length is used for all variables in all equations (symmetric VAR), even though there is no theoretical or statistical reason for doing so. The first method proposed to estimate asymmetric lag structures was by Hsiao [JME, 1981]. This approach treats each equation separately, i.e., the lag structure of an equation is determined independently from other equations. In his working paper, Keating [1994] criticized Hsiao's method, arguing that the lag structure selected by Hsiao's method is likely to be biased. Keating proposed another approach to determine the lag structure of asymmetric VARs. Consider a bivariate VAR as shown below:
A Fuzzy Set Approach in the Quantification of Technical Support Service Quality

Consumers' perceptions of service quality are highly qualitative as well as subjective. Individual variation exists in the meaning of “low,” “medium,” or “high” levels of service quality. A framework for quantifying the service quality dimension levels for technical support service is presented in the current study. Results are combined with the utility values of the dimension levels obtained through conjoint analysis. Customers' behavioral intentions subsequent to the quality of the technical support they experience are also found empirically. The methodology presented in this research can be used in improving the comprehensibility and quantification of service quality.
Two-moment approximations for analysing a series of automated workstations

In this research we develop two-moment approximation equations for the analysis of a series of automated workstations with infinite buffer capacity. An automated workstation is a server with deterministic processing times that experiences random operating times between failures, and then subsequent random repair times. The distribution of job inter-departure times from a workstation receiving input from an automated workstation is derived. From this distribution, expressions for the mean and variance of job inter-departure times from a workstation are obtained. These are then used as a basis for ‘linking’ workstations in a two-workstation aggregation approach. This method is compared to modelling such a system as a series of G/G/1 queues. The analysis method is easily implemented in a spreadsheet. Extensive computational experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the overall approach.
Analysis and improved synthesis of parasorbic acid.

An improved synthesis of parasorbic acid, 5-hydroxy-2-hexenoic acid lactone (II), provided material to develop a procedure for its analysis as a possible contaminant in sorbic acid, 2,4-hexadienoic acid (I). Column chromatography was used to separate parasorbic acid from sorbic acid; thin-layer chromatography (t.l.c.) provided a means of identification and quantitative estimation. Gas chromatography-mass spectral analysis (g.c.-m.s.) was used for positive confirmation. No parasorbic acid up to 20 parts/million, the detectable limit, was found in several commercial food grade samples of sorbic acid.
Quaternary rate of folding of the Ventura Avenue anticline, western Transverse Ranges, southern California

Upper Quaternary terraces of the Ventura River, California, are uplifted, tilted, and folded over the Ventura Avenue anticline. Rates of uplift and tilting have decreased since inception of the structure over the past 200 ka. Assuming that the chronology, based on amino-acid racemization, 14C dates, and soils correlation, is approximately correct, then the minimum possible average rate of uplift in the axial region of the fold has decreased from ∼14 mm/yr to 2 mm/yr during the past 200 ka. Interval rates of uplift for the periods 200 ka to 80 or 105 ka, 80 or 105 ka to 30 ka, and 30 ka to present are, respectively, about 20 mm/yr, 9 mm/yr, and 5 mm/yr. The rate of tilting shows a similar trend, decreasing from ∼5.8 urad/yr, 2.5 urad/yr, and 1.2 urad/yr for the same time intervals, respectively. Based on the mechanics of flexural slip folds in stratified sedimentary rocks, these data suggest that the rootless Ventura Avenue anticline is a fold that has been shortening at a relatively constant rate of about 9 mm/yr since its inception.
Hydrogen Detection Using a Functionalized Photonic Crystal Vertical Cavity Laser

A thin layer of palladium (Pd) was deposited on the surface of an etched air hole photonic crystal (PhC) vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to form a hydrogen gas (H2) sensor. H2 reacts with Pd, forming PdHx, which induces a shift in the complex refractive index. With Pd on its surface, the reflectivity of the top distributed Bragg reflector depends on the H2 concentration. We present device operation theory and experimental results showing a 60% output power increase and a 52 pm redshift of the lasing wavelength at 4% H2. Since the PhC VCSEL laser is single mode and the wavelength shift is comparable to the laser linewidth, the sensor can provide an accurate quantification of the H2 concentration over the range of 0-4% H2.
Imperforate anus and heredity

Abstract Another family with occurence of imperforate anus in more than one sibling is added to the literature. Although inperforate anus is rarely a genetically linked anomaly, it may in certain families be inherited in a recessive fashion with a high (25%) risk of appearance of the anomaly in subsequent siblings.
Experimental Investigation of 1064-nm IR Laser-Induced Air Plasma Using Optical Laser Shadowgraphy Diagnostics

Experimental measurements and analysis of pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser-induced air breakdown plasma at 760 torr has been carried out using high-speed and high-resolution laser shadowgraphy and optical diagnostics. Three different experimental laser energies and pulsewidths such as 170 mJ at 8 ns, 130 mJ at 7 ns, and 65 mJ at 12 ns are studied. The laser pulses were focused down to a ~ 7-μm spot size in air and the resulting laser flux densities range from 4 to 14 TW/cm2. A 532-nm laser shadowgraphy coupled with high-speed and high-resolution image capturing diagnostics has been established to investigate spatiotemporal evolution and hydrodynamic behavior of the 1064-nm laser-induced plasma and neutral-density shock during the formation, expansion, and collapsing stages. The observed plasma formations were aspherical due to absorption translation during the initial laser-energy coupling. The aspherical feature seeded the hydrodynamic instability leading to the ultimate destabilization of the hot gaseous core after approximately 10 μs. The active plasma lifetime through plasma self-luminescence measurements indicate variations from 200 to 500 ns for the three laser pulses. Shock propagation velocity and plasma volume for three laser pulse series indicate similarly shaped profiles at different expansion velocities. Early plasma expansion velocities of 20 km/s were measured, and using Hugoniot relations, the neutral shock pressures and temperatures were inferred, and the results at the early plasma expansion stage were found to be over 1000 atm and 4 eV.
Stimulation of androgen production by the lizard testis: site of action of ovine FSH and LH.

Abstract The steroidogenic activities of NIH ovine FSH and LH have been studied in vitro in dissected circumtesticular Leydig cells and a seminiferous tubule/interstitium preparation from the testis of the lizard Cnemidophorus tigris. Results are compared with the 3β-HSD histochemical properties of the tissues investigated. Both types of tissue produced androgens and responded to the two gonadotropins. Basal levels and maximal stimulated levels of androgen production by the circumtesticular Leydig cells were 10-fold greater than in the remainder of the testes. NIH-FSH and LH were equipotent on the Leydig cells but LH was about five times more potent on the tubule/interstitium tissues. Thus, the Leydig cells appear to be the major source of androgen and the site of action for both gonadotropins in the lizard testis
Fertility of Chickens from Lines Divergently Selected for Mating Frequency

Abstract Fertility comparisons of males under natural and artificial mating situations were made among lines of chickens selected for high and low mating frequency and the randombred population from which the selected lines originated. Although highly significant differences existed among lines for the frequency of sexual behaviors, there were no significant differences in fertility among lines either when males were with females for extended periods of time or when hens were artificially inseminated. Significant differences were found between mating systems for days to peak and duration of fertility.
Anal cancers. Squamous and melanoma.

The total experience at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with two types of anal cancers-squamous and malignant melanoma-is reviewed. The squamous type is much more common, and its anatomic distinction between that of the anal margin and the anal canal is important in its respective clinical and surgical management. The historical, purely surgical management of canal lesions has evolved into the current chemoirradiation management, followed by the surgical approach with improvement of the 5-year survival rate and salvage of rectums
Adenovirus-mediated transfer of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha identifies a dominant antiproliferative role for this isoform in hepatocytes.

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) isoforms are thought to be important regulators of the hepatocyte phenotype. However, the specific physiological roles of different isoforms are poorly understood because hepatocytes express multiple C/EBPs, and various isoforms have overlapping functions. To identify the functions of C/EBPα in mature hepatocytes, replication-defective adenovirus vectors were used to efficiently and homogeneously overexpress the mouse C/EBPα gene in a SV40 virus-conditionally transformed rat hepatocyte line that can be induced to express C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ but that has little endogenous C/EBPα expression. Hepatocytes were infected with a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying the cDNA for C/EBPα driven by Rous sarcoma virus promoter elements (AdCEBPα) or a similar vector carrying the Escherichia coli lacZ gene (Adβgal). Staining for β-galactosidase demonstrated an infection efficiency of 100% at a multiplicity of infection of 25 plaque-forming units/cell and persistence of foreign gene expression for at least 9 days. Cultures infected with AdCEBPα had 50-fold higher levels of C/EBPα mRNA and protein than those infected with Adβgal, but similar expression of C/EBPβ. Infection with AdCEBPα inhibited proliferation in cells expressing little C/EBPβ, even when proliferation was driven by the SV40 transforming antigen, and also blunted mitogenic induction of the c-myc proto-oncogene in nontransformed cells with high levels of C/EBPβ. Although overexpression of C/EBPα consistently increased C/EBPα DNA binding activity, it was not sufficient for albumin expression. Infection with AdCEBPα only increased albumin mRNA levels in nontransformed cells that also expressed relatively high levels of C/EBPβ. Thus, in hepatocytes, C/EBPα has a dominant antiproliferative function, but must interact with other factors to regulate hepatocyte-specific gene expression.
On the Optimal Adherence to Money Targets in a New-Keynesian Framework: An Application to Low-Income Countries

Many low-income countries continue to describe their monetary policy framework in terms of targets on monetary aggregates. This contrasts with most modern discussions of monetary policy, and with most practice. We extend the new-Keynesian model to provide a role for "M" in the conduct of monetary policy, and examine the conditions under which some adherence to money targets is optimal. In the spirit of Poole (1970), this role is based on the incompleteness of information available to the central bank, a pervasive issue in these countries. Ex-ante announcements and forecasts for money growth are consistent with a Taylor rule for the relevant short-term interest rate. Ex-post, the policy maker must choose his relative adherence to interest rate and money growth targets. Drawing on the method in Svensson and Woodford (2004), we show that the optimal adherence to ex-ante targets is equivalent to a signal extraction problem where the central bank uses the money market information to update its estimate of the state of the economy. We estimate the model, using Bayesian methods, for Tanzania, Uganda (both de jure money targeters), and Ghana (a de jure inflation targeter), and compare the de facto adherence to targets with the optimal use of money market information in each country.
Neuromuscular control of goal‑directed ankle movements differs for healthy children and adults

The purpose was to compare neuromuscular control of rapid ankle goal-directed movements in healthy preadolescent children and young adults. Ten young adults (20.0 ± 0.9 years) and ten children (9.5 ± 0.7 years) attempted to accurately match the peak displacement of the foot to a spatiotemporal target with an ankle dorsiflexion movement. The targeted displacement was 9° of ankle dorsiflexion, and the targeted time was 180 ms. Surface electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from the tibialis anterior (TA; agonist) and soleus (SOL; antagonist) muscles. Ankle movement control was quantified with endpoint accuracy and variability. The activation of the involved muscles was quantified with an EMG burst analysis. Children exhibited decreased endpoint accuracy and control compared with young adults, as indicated by greater endpoint errors (47.6 ± 15.2 vs. 25.8 ± 9.0 %) and position variability (29.5 ± 5.7 vs. 15.2 ± 6.1 %). In addition, children exhibited differences in muscle activation, as evidenced by greater TA (53.2 ± 19.1 vs. 33.0 ± 19.0 %) and SOL (19.9 ± 12.0 vs. 9.6 ± 5.4 %) amplitudes of EMG burst, shorter TA duration (251.3 ± 43.6 vs. 296.1 ± 27.6 %), and greater variability in the activation of these muscles. The endpoint error (R 2 = 0.7) and position variability (R 2 = 0.67) were predicted from the TA burst amplitude variability and TA burst duration. The differences in muscle activation and deficient control of rapid goal-directed ankle movements exhibited by children are likely due to their incomplete development of higher centers.
Sequentiality and prefetching in database systems

Sequentiality of access is an inherent characteristic of many database systems. We use this observation to develop an algorithm which selectively prefetches data blocks ahead of the point of reference. The number of blocks prefetched is chosen by using the empirical run length distribution and conditioning on the observed number of sequential block references immediately preceding reference to the current block. The optimal number of blocks to prefetch is estimated as a function of a number of “costs,” including the cost of accessing a block not resident in the buffer (a miss), the cost of fetching additional data blocks at fault times, and the cost of fetching blocks that are never referenced. We estimate this latter cost, described as memory pollution, in two ways. We consider the treatment (in the replacement algorithm) of prefetched blocks, whether they are treated as referenced or not, and find that it makes very little difference. Trace data taken from an operational IMS database system is analyzed and the results are presented. We show how to determine optimal block sizes. We find that anticipatory fetching of data can lead to significant improvements in system operation.
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and hypercalcemia

An elderly man was admitted to the hospital with a large squamous cell carcinoma involving the right side of the chest wall. The patient was severely confused, and evaluation revealed pronounced hypercalcemia. With total surgical removal of the tumor, the serum calcium level fell to normal and his confusion cleared. Although hypercalcemia has been reported in association with a number of malignant tumors, including metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, this finding has been encountered only rarely with squamous cell carcinoma localized to the skin. The secretion of transforming growth factor or of another humoral substance has been postulated as the possible cause of hypercalcemia in this patient.
Blocking sets in designs with block size 4

We construct λ-fold block designs with block size 4 and λ ∈ {1, 2} of every admissable order which admit a blocking set with three possible exceptions for λ =1 and five possible exceptions for λ=2.
Kinesin-II Is Preferentially Targeted to Assembling Cilia and Is Required for Ciliogenesis and Normal Cytokinesis inTetrahymena

We cloned two genes, KIN1 and KIN2, encoding kinesin-II homologues from the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila and constructed strains lacking either KIN1 or KIN2 or both genes. Cells with a single disruption of either gene showed partly overlapping sets of defects in cell growth, motility, ciliary assembly, and thermoresistance. Deletion of both genes resulted in loss of cilia and arrests in cytokinesis. Mutant cells were unable to assemble new cilia or to maintain preexisting cilia. Double knockout cells were not viable on a standard medium but could be grown on a modified medium on which growth does not depend on phagocytosis. Double knockout cells could be rescued by transformation with a gene encoding an epitope-tagged Kin1p. In growing cells, epitope-tagged Kin1p preferentially accumulated in cilia undergoing active assembly. Kin1p was also detected in the cell body but did not show any association with the cleavage furrow. The cell division arrests observed in kinesin-II knockout cells appear to be induced by the loss of cilia and resulting cell paralysis.
A Therapy Approach for Alleviating Diplophonic Voice Quality

SummaryDiphphonia is an irregular phonatory pattern characterized by the simultaneous production of two pitches. This paper describes the treatment approach provided for a 19-year-old college female with diphphonia. The approach, behavioral in nature, was designed to gradually eliminate the diphphonia and subsequently reestablish an appropriate speaking pitch of adequate intensity. The purpose of the paper is solely to provide the clinician with an effective therapy approach for this type of client.
Using Geophysical Data to Estimate Important Well Productivity Parameters

Summary An algorithm is presented that uses reservoir geophysical data to estimate the productivity index of vertical oil wells. The estimate includes pressure dependent changes in net thickness and permeability. A soft rock example shows that well productivity index has a notable dependence on pressure in some reservoirs.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and dementia: what is the origin of the association?

Kristine Yaffe, MD; Eric Vittinghoff, PhD; Karla Lindquist, MS; Deborah Barnes, PhD; Kenneth E. Covinsky, MD, MPH; Thomas Neylan, MD; Molly Kluse, BA; Charles Marmar, MDContext: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent among US veterans because of combat and may impair cognition.Objective: To determine whether PTSD is associated with the risk of developing dementia among older US veterans receiving treatment in Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.Design: A stratified, retrospective cohort study conducted using the Department of Veterans Affairs National Patient Care Database.Setting: Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in the United States.Participants: A total of 181 093 veterans 55 years or older without dementia from fiscal years 1997 through 2000 (53 155 veterans with and 127 938 veterans without PTSD).Main Outcome Measures: During the follow-up period between October 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007, 31 107 (17.2%) veterans were ascertained to have newly diagnosed dementia according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes.Results: The mean baseline age of the veterans was 68.8 years, and 174 806 (96.5%) were men. Veterans with PTSD had a 7-year cumulative incident dementia rate of 10.6%, whereas those without had a rate of 6.6% (P < .001). With age as the time scale, Cox proportional hazards models indicated that patients with PTSD were more than twice as likely to develop incident dementia compared with those without PTSD (hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 2.24-2.39). After multivariable adjustment, patients with PTSD were still more likely to develop dementia (hazard ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-1.85). Results were similar when we excluded those with a history of head injury, substance abuse, or clinical depression.Conclusions: In a predominately male veteran cohort, those diagnosed as having PTSD were at a nearly 2-fold higher risk of developing dementia compared with those without PTSD. Mechanisms linking these important disorders need to be identified with the hope of finding ways to reduce the increased risk of dementia associated with PTSD.
Individual time-courses of ECP and EPX during allergen provocation tests in asthmatic children.

To study the time-course of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X (EPX) during bronchial allergen provocation, we investigated 32 asthmatic children sensitive to house-dust mites as well as 6 non-atopic young adult controls. In all subjects, allergen challenges were performed with house dust mite extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronys-sinus or Dermatophagoides farinae. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals during the 24-h observation period. The individual time-courses of ECP and EPX revealed different characteristic groups of patterns: (1) an isolated early serum peak of both mediators during or within the first 60 min after provocation (2) an early plus a late peak (3) an isolated late peak 12 h after provocation (4) an isolated late peak 24 h after provocation, and (5) no significant variation during the 24-h observation period. The early peak could be due to short-term changes in eosinophil activation, while late peaks may reflect eosinophil proliferation, recruitment, subsequent priming and enhancing of the propensity to release their proteins. ECP and EPX showed a corresponding parallel time-course in nearly all challenges, with EPX-concentration exceeding that of ECP. There was no correlation between ECP/EPX serum concentrations and clinical parameters such as lung function data. From our results we conclude that the striking groups of time-courses of ECP/EPX serum concentration indicate different uniform patterns of eosinophil activation during allergen challenge - but do not predict clinical outcome of provocation. The role of the eosinophil in early asthmatic reactions remains to be established in further studies.
Proteomic approaches to cancer biomarkers.

Because early detection greatly improves clinical prognosis, robust screening tests are needed for all types of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Whereas a wide variety of modalities exist for colorectal cancer, only 40% are being detected at early stages. In contrast, few modalities exist for pancreatic cancer, resulting in only 10%–20% of cases diagnosed at an early stage.1 As blood laboratory testing is a routine procedure in primary care clinics, blood-based screening tests would greatly improve compliance rates. Proteomics is the study of proteins in a biological system. Biomarkers are discrete proteins or other molecular entities that act as surrogate markers for the presence of disease. Although these biomarkers remain elusive, historical studies certainly support their presence, particularly in the major malignancies of the GI system. For example, carcinoembryonic antigen, first discovered in 1965 by Gold and Freedman in human colon cancer tissue extracts, is often elevated in the serum of patients with luminal GI tumors.2 Another glycoprotein, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, discovered in patients with colon and pancreatic cancer in 1981, is often elevated in the serum of patients with pancreaticobiliary tumors.3 Finally, alpha fetoprotein, first described in 1963, is often elevated in the serum of patients with hepatocellular cancer.4 Recent advances in proteomics methods make the discovery of robust biomarkers a coming reality. These methods were brought to the forefront in 2002, with a study by Petricoin et al describing biomarker discovery in ovarian cancer.5 Although subsequent work demonstrated the preliminary nature of their approach, the field of proteomics has made significant strides in the subsequent years, resulting in powerful new technologies and increased understanding of protein biology. In this review, important advances and studies in the field of biomarker discovery focused on GI malignancies are discussed.
The investigation of new approaches to business data analysis

Abstract This paper presents new and unique methods to analyze patterns and predict trends in business data. These methods are based on a combination of statistical, neural network, and abductive pattern recognition schemes.
Victimization Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis quantitatively compiled the results of studies from 1992 to 2009 to determine the prevalence and types of victimization experienced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individual...
Finding Statistically Significant Communities in Networks with Weighted Label Propagation

Various networks exist in the world today including biological, social, information, and communication networks with the Internet as the largest network of all. One salient structural feature of these networks is the formation of groups or communities of vertices that tend to be more connected to each other within the same group than to those outside. Therefore, the detection of these communities is a topic of great interest and importance in many applications and different algorithms including label propagation have been developed for such purpose. Speaker-listener label propagation algorithm (SLPA) enjoys almost linear time complexity, so desirable in dealing with large networks. As an extension of SLPA, this study presented a novel weighted label propagation algorithm (WLPA), which was tested on four real world social networks with known community structures including the famous Zachary's karate club network. Wilcoxon tests on the communities found in the karate club network by WLPA demonstrated an improved statistical significance over SLPA. Withthehelp of Wilcoxon tests again, we were able to determine the best possible formation of two communities in this network relative to the ground truth partition, which could be used as a new benchmark for assessing community detection algorithms. Finally WLPA predicted better communities than SLPA in two of the three additional real social networks, when compared to the ground truth.
The long-term preservation of bone marrow.

Murine bone marrow has been preserved for two years and tested for its ability to repopulate the hematopoietic tissues of an irradiated mouse. We have shown that marrow suspended in 12 per cent glycerol and stored at - 196 C retains its repopulating potential, its differentiating capacity, and its ability to undergo selfrenewal. DMSO and temperature of solid CO2 were less efficient. Technics used for the banking of human marrow must rely upon experience gained from studies in other mammals. In vitro assays applicable to both human and animal marrows have suggested that DMSO and - 80 C are satisfactory for marrow preservation. Using more specific assays in the mouse we have shown this combination to be ineffective and suggest that glycerol is a superior cryoprotectant and -196 C a more optimal storage temperature for the banking of human marrow.
Direct Protein Microarray Fabrication Using a Hydrogel “Stamper”

Micropatterned arrays of active proteins are vital to the next generation of high-throughput multiplexed biosensors and advanced medical diagnostics. We have developed a simple method for fabricating antibody arrays using a micromolded hydrogel “stamper” and an aminosilylated receiving surface. The stamping procedure permits direct protein deposition and micropatterning while avoiding cross-contamination of separate patterned regions. Three different antibodies were stamped in adjacent arrays of 50−80 μm circular areas with retention of activity. 125I labeling and atomic force microscopy studies showed that the stamper deposited protein as a submonolayer. The fluorescent signal-to-background ratio of labeled bound antigen was greater than 25:1.
Guest Editorial Neuroprotective Strategies

T his is an exciting issue of Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews. I feel honored to be the guest editor of an issue that provides so much excellent information about how caregivers in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can effect neuronal development and support best shortand long-term outcomes. Neuroprotection is not a term routinely used in the current environment of the NICU; however, I believe it is a term that will become more routine as the science about how the brain is wired and connected together both at the cellular level and more globally continues to grow. It is an exciting time indeed! Our first article introduces a new Mother and Child Integrative Developmental Care Model that examines a more global issue in neuroprotective strategies: the mother-infant relationship. It is well-known that this relationship is the foundation for much of neurobehavioral development in the infant and child; as such, much of what happens in the motherinfant relationship is neuroprotective. Enhancing and supporting this relationship are the crux of care for caregiving that focuses not only on short-term outcomes but also on the overall development of the child. Our second article provides some of the foundation for why neuroprotective strategies need to be considered for the preterm population. The article provides an overview of neuroplasticity and how capitalizing on the malleability of the developing brain is how we might best enhance outcomes for preterm infants now and in the future. We have so much more to learn in this area. In the third article, Newnam and DeLoach examine the progression of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the fullterm or late preterm infant. Although some newer neuroprotective strategies are having positive effects, many infants who survive will still suffer significant neurological sequelae. One strategy that shows promise for this population is therapeutic hypothermia. This article provides understanding about how the timing of this intervention is just as important as different aspects of the hypothermia protocol and nursing care used to support the infant. The article includes an excellent review of the literature as well as detailed nursing care interventions recommended for the bedside nurse caring for these complex
Metallochaperones: Bind and Deliver

Metallochaperones deliver metal ions directly to target proteins via specific protein-protein interactions. Recent research has led to a molecular picture of how some metallochaperones bind metal ions, recognize their partner proteins, and accomplish metal ion transfer.
Scanning strategies and differential sensitivity in a visual signal detection task: Intrasubject reliability

Four Ss (two of each sex) were run on 960 trials of a 16-alternative forced-choice visual signal detection task. Analysis of variance of d’ values indicated the usual practice effects, as well as differential sensitivity to different target locations, and three significant interactions. Despite the significant changes in magnitude of d’, each S demonstrated consistency in the ordering of sensitivity as a function of target location across blocks of 320 trials (W =.51,.76,.85, and.81). The data imply extremely strong scanning biases which existed prior to the experimental task and further suggest that less than 400–500 trials is quite sufficient for reliable estimation of differential sensitivity among all 16 target locations in a 16-AFC task.
Thermodynamics of Starch-Water systems : An analysis from solution-gel model on water sorption isotherms

The water sorption of several starch samples and resistant starch (RS) samples were analyzed using an equilibrium solution-get structure model and the results were compared to various sorption theories. It is found that the water sorption relations to water activity in starch in the high water content region could be properly described by the equilibrium two-phase structural model. The results suggested that favorable starch-starch interaction determined the formation of starch get in water. The get structure had a high molecular modulus of 10 8 Pa and thus had limited water sorption capability. Part of the starch also exhibited the solution properties with water due to chain ends and defects of the get structure. Despite the unfavorable starch-water interaction, starch-water solution might be formed due to the predominant contributions from the entropy of mixing. The solution phase was responsible for the rapid increase of water sorption at high water activity. It was also demonstrated that the starch could maintain a maximum dynamic unfreezable water up to ∼36%, which was consistent with the DSC measurements.
Musculoskeletal pain and menopausal status.

ObjectivesThe authors examined whether self-reported menopausal status is associated with musculoskeletal pain in a multiethnic population of community-dwelling middle-aged women after considering sociodemographics, medical factors, smoking, depression, and body mass index using a cross-sectional st
Directivity and Freedom Adult Support of Activism Among Urban Youth

Community-based youth organizations represent potentially powerful settings for activism among marginalized urban youth. This article uses quantitative and qualitative data collected in one such or...
Model for the Performance of Airbreathing Pulse-Detonation Engines

A simplified flowpath analysis of a single-tube airbreathing pulse detonation engine is described. The configuration consists of a steady supersonic inlet, a large plenum, a valve, and a straight detonation tube (no exit nozzle). The interaction of the filling process with the detonation is studied, and it is shown how the flow in the plenum is coupled with the flow in the detonation tube. This coupling results in total pressure losses and pressure oscillations in the plenum caused by the unsteadiness of the flow. Moreover, the filling process generates a moving flow into which the detonation has to initiate and propagate. An analytical model is developed for predicting the flow and estimating performance based on an open-system control volume analysis and gasdynamics. The existing single-cycle impulse model is extended to include the effect of filling velocity on detonation tube impulse. Based on this, the engine thrust is found to be the sum of the contributions of detonation tube impulse, momentum, and pressure terms. Performance calculations for pulse detonation engines operating with stoichiometric hydrogen–air and JP10–air are presented and compared to the performance of the ideal ramjet over a range of Mach numbers.
Gram-scale syntheses of the (1-->3)-linked and (1-->4)-linked hyaluronan disaccharides.

Abstract The first gram-scale syntheses of two hyaluronan disaccharides are described. Construction of the (1 → 4)-linked disaccharide 12 was achieved in 12% overall yield using 2,3-bis-dimethyl acetal protection in combination with chlorosilane-induced carbamate cleavage methodologies. The uronic acid functionality was installed using TEMPO oxidation with NaOCl as the hypochlorite source. The (1 → 3)-linked disaccharide 18 was achieved in 7% overall yield utilizing acetonide protection in addition to the chlorosilane-induced carbamate cleavage methodology and the TEMPO oxidation.
The pseudo-semantics of community health care.

Abstract Emerging from this report is the ineluctable fact that each step outlined is an absolute prerequisite for each subsequent step in order to achieve an orderly process of delivering community health care.
A call admission control scheme using genetic algorithms

Next Generation Wireless Systems (NGWS) will provide a variety of services to mobile users including high speed data, real-time applications and real-time multimedia support with a certain quality of service (QoS) level. An efficient handoff management is one of the key issues in order to support global roaming of the mobile users among different network architectures of the NGWS.In this paper, a new call admission control scheme, Genetic-based call admission control (GAC), is proposed for NGWS. The GAC scheme uses genetic algorithms to achieve high network utilization, minimum cost, minimum handoff latency and mobile terminal's (MT) QoS requirements. Performance analysis is provided to assess the efficiency of the proposed GAC scheme. Simulation results show a significant improvement in handoff latencies and costs over the heuristic approach and other CAC schemes.
Investigating the energy harvesting potential of ferro-fluids sloshing in base-excited containers

This paper investigates the potential of designing a vibratory energy harvester which utilizes a ferrofluid sloshing in a seismically excited tank to generate electric power. Mechanical vibrations change the orientational order of the magnetic dipoles in the ferrofluid and create a varying magnetic flux which induces an electromotive force in a coil wound around the tank, thereby generating an electric current according to Faraday's law. Several experiments are performed on a cylindrical container of volume 5x10 -5 m 3 carrying a ferrofluid and subjected to different base excitation levels. Initial results illustrate that the proposed device can be excited at one or multiple modal frequencies depending on the container's size, can exhibit tunable characteristics by adjusting the external magnetic field, and currently produces 28 mV of open-circuit voltage using a base excitation of 2.5 m/s 2 at a frequency of 5.5 Hz.
Non-invasive determination of absolute lung resistivity in adults using electrical impedance tomography

Lung resistivity is a physiological parameter that describes the electrical characteristics of the lungs. Lung composition changes due to changes in the lung tissues, fluid and air volume. Various diseases that can cause a change in lung composition may be monitored by measuring lung resistivity. Currently, there is no accepted non-invasive method to measure lung resistivity. In this study, we presented a method and framework to non-invasively determine lung resistivity using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). By comparing actual measurements from subjects with data from a 3D human thorax model, an EIT image can be reconstructed to show a resistivity difference between the model and the subject. By adjusting the lung resistivity in the model, the resistivity difference in the lung regions can be reduced to near zero. This resistivity value then is the estimation of the lung resistivity of the subject. Using the proposed method, the lung resistivities of four normal adult males (43 +/- 13 years, 78 +/- 10 kg) in the supine position at air volumes starting at functional residual capacity (FRC--end expiration) and increasing in 0.5 l steps to 1.5 l were studied. The averaged lung resistivity changes 12.59%, from 1406 Omega cm to 1583 Omega cm, following the inspiration of 1.5 l air from FRC. The coefficients of variation (CV) of precision for the four subjects are less than 10%. The experiment was repeated five times at each air volume on a subject to test the reproducibility. The CVs are less than 3%. The results show that it is feasible to determine absolute lung resistivity using an EIT-based method.
Triggers of Organizational Change: Duration, Previous Changes, and Environment

AbstractThis article explores triggers of organizational change. In particular, how the likelihood of future changes is influenced by duration between the changes, the number of previous changes, and the surrounding conditions. Rule changes are analysed by examining factors that influence US states to update their excise tax rates on beer and cigarettes using panel data for 48 contiguous states. We provide evidence in favour of the deceleration hypothesis: prior changes of a given type decrease the likelihood of a subsequent change of the same type. We found support that the likelihood of organizational change increases with duration (the time between the changes). States updated their beer and cigarette tax rates in response to accumulation of inflation not letting the rates to become obsolete. Finally, our results indicate that changes in surrounding conditions positively influence the probability of change. State legislators take the opportunity of changes in the neighbouring states to change their own...
Transition control using an array of streamwise vortices

In this paper, we assess effectiveness of using an array of counter-rotating streamwise vortices for transition control in channel flows. We develop models that govern the dynamics of velocity perturbations in the presence of body force excitations and show how changes in control parameters affect perturbation kinetic energy. Effectively, we establish that high frequency streamwise vortices result in the largest energy amplification reduction. Our findings complement a numerical study of Schoppa & Hussain (1998) and provide theoretical guidelines for a design of efficient turbulence suppression strategies
How do we provide blood products to trauma patients

Theneedforlargevolumesofbloodcomponentsforsome patients, particularly those with the greatest risk of mor- tality, can arise before or within minutes of their arrival to the hospital. Recent data from one large trauma center in the United States showed that 62% of all RBC units were administered in the first 24 hours of admission, with 18% given uncrossmatched due to the urgency of transfusion. Although the majority (91%) of trauma patients were not transfused, the few (3%) that were massively transfused (i.e., receiving more than 10 units of RBCs) received more than 71% of all RBC units given. Furthermore, this sub- group of patients also had a high mortality rate of 39%. 5
Morbidity of peripherally inserted central catheters in pediatric complicated appendicitis.

Background The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative outcomes of pediatric patients with complicated appendicitis managed with or without a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).
Identity in formation: the russian-speaking nationality in the post-Soviet diaspora

Data from 1991 surveys, from elections, and from elite discourse in Estonia and Bashkortostan are presented. Despite significant historical and demographic differences in these two post-Soviet republics, the Russian population in both places had similar reactions in regard to the collapse of the Union. In both republics, Russians were wary of assimilation, yet they neither planned to exit in large numbers nor to organise politically as Russians. Furthermore, in both republics, elite discourse was framing a new identity, which can be called the ‘Russian-speaking nationality’. This nationality is likely to be secular, Soviet, and includes all non-titulars whose primary language is Russian. While it is unlikely that this emergent nationality will be the same in all post-Soviet republics, in large part because incentives from the titulars will be markedly different, the data show in the early period after the Soviet collapse, in two ‘most different cases’, the dynamics of Russian identity re-formation have been quite similar.