cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Normalization benefits microarray-based classification

When using cDNA microarrays, normalization to correct labeling bias is a common preliminary step before further data analysis is applied, its objective being to reduce the variation between arrays. To date, assessment of the effectiveness of normalization has mainly been confined to the ability to detect differentially expressed genes. Since a major use of microarrays is the expression-based phenotype classification, it is important to evaluate microarray normalization procedures relative to classification. Using a model-based approach, we model the systemic-error process to generate synthetic gene-expression values with known ground truth. These synthetic expression values are subjected to typical normalization methods and passed through a set of classification rules, the objective being to carry out a systematic study of the effect of normalization on classification. Three normalization methods are considered: offset, linear regression, and Lowess regression. Seven classification rules are considered: 3-nearest neighbor, linear support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, regular histogram, Gaussian kernel, perceptron, and multiple perceptron with majority voting. The results of the first three are presented in the paper, with the full results being given on a complementary website. The conclusion from the different experiment models considered in the study is that normalization can have a significant benefit for classification under difficult experimental conditions, with linear and Lowess regression slightly outperforming the offset method.
Optimal spatial growth of employment and residences

Abstract This paper examines the location patterns of employment and residences in an urban area characterized by irreversible land use commitments and smoothly growing population. It is assumed that all output is shipped to the center of the urban area and that workers have commuting costs of getting to work. The optimal solution, which is also the equilibrium solution, minimizes the present discounted value of aggregate shipping costs plus commuting costs. The residential area expands outward over time, but a constant fraction of the land is always reserved for future employment development.
New concept in bladder remodeling.

Abstract During the past five years a surgical procedure for rehabilitation of partially decompensated large-capacity bladders has been developed and utilized in 9 children and 2 adult patients. The patients presented with detrusor muscle failure. The key steps of this procedure are (1) creation of laterally-based mucosa free detrusor pedicle flap, (2) reduction of bladder size and wrapping the flap around the body of the bladder thus doubling the muscle bulk, and (3) mobilization and extraperitonealization of the greater omentum to the reconstruction site. The indications, rationale, and surgical technique are presented. The gratifying results, as gauged by urodynamic testing, suggest that detrusor remodeling is a worthwhile procedure for a highly select group of patients.
Insulin resistance in obesity is associated with elevated basal lactate levels and diminished lactate appearance following intravenous glucose and insulin

Lactate metabolism is altered in obesity. Increasing obesity is associated with increased blood lactate levels after an overnight fast. In contrast, we have recently shown a marked decrease in the capacity for acute lactate generation in obese subjects following an oral glucose load, which we postulated might be linked to altered insulin sensitivity. In the present study, we systematically analyzed the relationship between insulin sensitivity (the Sensitivity Index [SI] derived using the minimal model), body mass index (BMI), and glucose, insulin, and lactate levels in the basal state and following intravenous (IV) glucose and insulin administration in lean and obese subjects. The results showed that SI and BMI were inversely related, as expected. Insulin sensitivity was more tightly associated with glucose, insulin, and lactate levels (both basal and integrated) than obesity per se. A significant inverse relationship was found between SI and basal lactate levels (r = -.56). Moreover, a significant and positive relationship was found between SI and incremental lactate area under the curve (reflecting acute lactate production) (r = .41). In a multiple regression analysis to separate the independent effects of obesity (BMI) and insulin sensitivity, after adjusting for age, sex, and race, SI accounted for 34% of the variance in basal lactate and 24% of the variance in incremental lactate area. Obesity independently accounted for 10% of the variance in basal lactate and 11% of the variance in incremental lactate area, neither of which were statistically significant. We conclude that elevations in basal lactate are associated with the development of insulin resistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
PERSPECTIVES ON THE CHANGING ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF SUBURBIA

(1981). PERSPECTIVES ON THE CHANGING ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF SUBURBIA. Urban Geography: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 237-254.
The effect of fragment anisotropy on fission-chamber efficiency☆

Abstract A method is given for calculating the inefficiency of a fission chamber because of the loss of fragments in the foil. The method includes the effects of the anisotropy in the fragment angular distribution because of both angular and linear momentum given to the nucleus by the incident neutron. A numerical example for a 239Pu chamber shows that the linear-momentum effect is larger than the angular-momentum effect, but less than 1% at neutron energies below 15 MeV.
Stress Corrosion Cracking and Non-Destructive Examination of Dissimilar Metal Welds and Alloy 600

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) has conducted research since 1977 in the areas of environmentally assisted cracking and assessment and reliability of non-destructive examination (NDE). Recent occurrences of cracking in Alloy 82/182 welds and Alloy 600 base metal at several domestic and overseas plants have raised several issues relating to both of these areas of NRC research. The occurrences of cracking were identified by the discovery of boric acid deposits resulting from through-wall cracking in the primary system pressure boundary. Analyses indicate that the cracking has occurred due to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) in Alloy 82/182 welds. This cracking has occurred in two different locations: in hot leg nozzle-to-safe end welds and in control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) nozzle welds. The cracking associated with safe-end welds is important due to the potential for a large loss of reactor coolant inventory, and the cracking of CRDM nozzle base metal and welds, particularly circumferential cracking of CRDM nozzle base metal, is important due to the potential for a control rod to eject resulting in a loss of coolant accident. The industry response in the U.S. to this cracking is being coordinated through the Electric Power Research Institute’s Materials Reliability Project (EPRI-MRP) in a comprehensive, multifaceted effort. Although the industry program is addressing many of the issues raised by these cracking occurrences, confirmatory research is necessary for the staff to evaluate the work conducted by industry groups. Several issues requiring additional consideration regarding the generic implications of these isolated events have been identified. This paper will discuss the recent events of significant cracking in domestic and foreign plants, discuss the limitations of NDE in detecting SCC, identify deficiencies in information available in this area, discuss the USNRC approach to address these issues, and discuss the development of an international cooperative effort.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor: distribution and pharmacology in the rat following a bolus intraventricular injection

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to increase dopaminergic parameters in vitro and in vivo and can reduce parkinsonian behaviors in animal models of the disease. This study determined the potential of the lateral ventricle as an administration route for GDNF by examining the distribution and neurochemical consequences of a single intraventricular injection. Autoradiographic analysis showed that intraventricularly administered [125I]GDNF was distributed throughout the ventricular system at 1 and 24 h following injection. The cerebral cortex, septum, diagonal band, fimbria, striatum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area, and cerebellum were also labeled. At 7 days, there was still labeling throughout the ventricular system, hypothalamus, substantia nigra, and cerebellum. Twenty-four hours following an intrastriatal injection of [125I]GDNF, label was observed in the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area, demonstrating retrograde transport. The neurochemical effects of intraventricularly administered GDNF (0.1-100 micrograms) at 7 days post injection were also examined. GDNF significantly increased striatal (approximately 28%) and nigral (up to 40%) dopamine, as well as regulated the dopamine metabolites homovanillic acid and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Dopamine levels were unchanged in the frontal cortex. Dopamine content was significantly increased in the hypothalamus (up to 35%), an increase which may contribute to the inhibition of weight gain seen after administration of GDNF. Additionally, dopamine turnover was decreased or unchanged across the brain regions analyzed, which may indicate that in unlesioned rats, intraventricularly administered GDNF stimulates the synthesis and storage of dopamine. This study shows that intraventricularly injected GDNF can access basal ganglia structures, most notably the midbrain dopamine cell body region, and remains present in this area for at least 7 days following a single administration. GDNF differentially increases dopaminergic tone within a variety of brain structures, including the nigrostriatal pathway. These data support the potential effectiveness of intraventricular administered GDNF as a treatment for Parkinson's disease.
Pedding paradise: the politics of tourism in Latin America

In Peddling paradise Bowman attempts to fill a gap in scholarly literature by doing a comparative political analysis of tourism in Latin America. Although he does not define what he means by Latin ...
The glucocorticoid receptor, not the mineralocorticoid receptor, plays the dominant role in adipogenesis and adipokine production in human adipocytes.

The glucocorticoid receptor, not the mineralocorticoid receptor, plays the dominant role in adipogenesis and adipokine production in human adipocytes
Biochemical Genetic Variation, Growth and Regeneration of the Sea Anemone, Metridium, of British Shores

Sessile organisms capable of asexual reproduction may be expected to show much genetic differentiation among local populations: mating between distant individuals is unlikely and genetic drift will contribute to differentiation since habitats can be colonized by one or a few individuals. This study investigates genetic differentiation of populations of the sea anemone Metridium senile (L.) in Great Britain. Individuals of M. senile are sessile and reproduce both sexually, by free-spawning of gametes, and asexually, by regeneration of fragments torn from the pedal disc. Metridium senile is one of the most common and widespread of British sea anemones (Manuel, 1981); reports place it at an enormous number and variety of sites around Britian (unpublished results of surveys by the Underwater Conservation Society of the United Kingdom). The extensive geographic range and variability of the species have confounded attempts to determine the taxonomic status of the ecological and morphological forms, but make it an interesting system for genetic analysis.
Synthesis and antibacterial properties of (-)-nor-platencin.

An asymmetric Diels−Alder reaction between acrolein and 1-benzyloxymethyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene affords a bicyclic aldehyde that was elaborated in 11 steps to nor-platencin. nor-Platencin is 4−16 times less active than platencin against several resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, macrolide-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.
Determinants of vancomycin resistance and mortality rates in enterococcal bacteremia. a prospective multicenter study.

Vancomycin resistance is an independent predictor of death from enterococcal bacteremia. Early, effective antimicrobial therapy is associated with significant improvement in survival.
Diversity in society: Normative and descriptive considerations

Diversity in society can be viewed from two perspectives, normative and descriptive, both of which define how we think, discuss, and live. Normatively we are called to be responsible. This notion ideally depicts the vision of people of various backgrounds and beliefs living with an attitude of tolerance, respect, and the desire for justice. Descriptively, it is to recognize that people of diverse ethnic, social, economic, and philosophical backgrounds come together to live in various geographic locations, often resulting in heated tension and turmoil. Cultural backgrounds are a primary source of identity for many and serve as a foundation for a great deal of self-definition, expression, and sense of individual identity and group belonging.
Structural diversity of triadin in skeletal muscle and evidence of its existence in heart

Triadin has been characterized as an abundant protein co-localized with the calcium release channel on the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the skeletal muscle. Its localization to terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and functional studies suggest that it has an important role in excitation-contraction coupling. In this study we identify three triadin isoforms in rabbit skeletal muscle and by Northern blot analysis demonstrate that triadin also exists in the heart.
Osteoporosis prevention in premenopausal women: Using a stage model approach to examine the predictors of behavior.

The precaution adoption process model was used to examine the predictors of 2 behaviors recommended to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis: calcium consumption and weight-bearing exercise. A total of 452 premenopausal women completed a mailed questionnaire assessing stage in the precaution adoption process and 12 knowledge and attitudinal variables. Participants were also given an opportunity to request information about osteoporosis. In all, 11 of the 12 knowledge and attitudinal variables were associated with calcium stage; 8 were associated with exercise stage. Information requests were associated with both calcium and exercise stage. Findings provide substantial support for the precaution adoption process model and suggest that the model can be usefully applied in this area to increase understanding of why many women do not practice behaviors that could reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis.
Fatigue crack tip opening behavior in particulate reinforced Al-alloy composites

Abstract Behavior of fatigue crack growth was examined in an Al 2 O 3 particulate reinforced Al-Cu matrix composite and its matrix alloy, heat-treated to peak-aged and overaged conditions. The fatigue crack growth resistance of the composite was much better, especially at low growth rates, and depended on aging condition. Measurements of crack opening profiles have shown that crack tip in the composite remained closed at fairly high stress intensities and was opened to a much smaller displacement compared to the crack tip opening in the matrix alloy at the same stress intensity. Correlation of the fatigue crack growth rate with crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) revealed that both the composite and the matrix alloy obey the same fundamental relationship that the fatigue crack growth rate scales with the square of the CTOD.
Neonatal auditory brainstem response failure of very low birth weight infants : 8-year outcome

ABSTRACT: Fifty-six very low birth weight infants {<1.5 kg} were followed until 8 y of age to see if predischarge auditory brainstem response (ABR) results were predictive of neurobehavioral development. The results suggest that early ABR may predict subsequent performance on measures of intelligence quotient, language, and reading. Unilateral ABR abnormalities did not appear predictive, but bilateral abnormalities did. Analysis of a variety of neonatal risk factors in conjunction with early ABR and hearing loss with respect to educational outcome was also undertaken.
Reactive oxygen species in living systems: source, biochemistry, and role in human disease.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species are constantly formed in the human body and removed by antioxidant defenses. An antioxidant is a substance that, when present at low concentrations compared to that of an oxidizable substrate, significantly delays or prevents oxidation of that substrate. Antioxidants can act by scavenging biologically important reactive oxygen species (O 2 − ·, H 2 O 2 , · OH, HOCl, ferryl, peroxyl, and alkoxyl), by preventing their formation, or by repairing the damage that they do. One problem with scavenging-type antioxidants is that secondary radicals derived. from them can often themselves do biologic damage. These various principles will be illustrated by considering several thiol compounds.
Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women’s Love and Desire, by Lisa M. Diamond

When Lisa Diamond embarked on a 10-year longitudinal exploration of female same-sex sexuality, she was entering uncharted territory. Prior to Diamond’s study, the vast majority of research on sexua...
Kinetics of telechelic polymer chain bridging and transport between two colloidal surfaces

Abstract The present study is motivated by the following questions: (1) how do adsorbing telechelic polymer chains in a polymer brush transport to an approaching bare surface? (2) can polymer chains exchange between two approaching surfaces that are already fully covered by loopy brushes? We study chain transport between surfaces by dynamic light scattering using a mixture of 38 nm and 91 nm polystyrene (PS) particles so we can monitor only the polymers adsorbed on the 91PS particles. We find that the chain transport or exchange can occur between a brush and a bare surface or between two partially covered surfaces. In these cases equilibration of chains can be attained. Chain bridging during Brownian encounters is essential for chain transport or exchange to occur. Therefore chain exchange between two highly covered surfaces is not allowed owing to the short encounter time. This inability of chains to exchange and competitive adsorption between long and short chains result in a non-equilibrium state where long and short chains can be selectively adsorbed on different latex particles.
Systematic study of d-wave superconductivity in the 2D repulsive Hubbard model.

The cluster size dependence of superconductivity in the conventional two-dimensional Hubbard model, commonly believed to describe high-temperature superconductors, is systematically studied using the dynamical cluster approximation and quantum Monte Carlo simulations as a cluster solver. Because of the nonlocality of the $d$-wave superconducting order parameter, the results on small clusters show large size and geometry effects. In large enough clusters, the results are independent of the cluster size and display a finite temperature instability to $d$-wave superconductivity.
Interhemispheric transport of carbon dioxide by ocean circulation

ALTHOUGH anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide have today created a greater atmospheric CO2concentration in the Northern than in the Southern Hemisphere, a comparison of interhemispheric CO2 profiles from 1980 and 1962 led Keeling and Heimann1,2 to conclude that, before the Industrial Revolution, natural CO2 sources and sinks acted to set up a reverse (south to north) gradient which drove about one gigatonne of carbon each year through the atmosphere from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere. At steady state, this flux must have been balanced by a counter flow of carbon from north to south through the ocean. Here we present a means to estimate this natural flux by a separation of oceanic carbon anomalies into those created by biogenic processes and those created by CO2 exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. We find that before the Industrial Revolution, deep water formed in the northern Atlantic Ocean carried about 0.6 gigatonnes of carbon annually to the Southern Hemisphere, providing support for Keeling and Heimann's proposal. The existence of this oceanic carbon pump also raises questions about the need for a large terrestrial carbon sink in the Northern Hemisphere, as postulated by Tans et al.3, to balance the present global carbon budget.
A computational analysis of some possible hydrogen transfer and intramolecular ring formation reactions of o-nitrotoluene and o-nitroaniline

Abstract An ab initio self-consistent-field molecular-orbital procedure has been used to compute structures and energies of o -nitrotoluene, o -nitroaniline and some of their possible rearrangement products at the 3-21G level. o -Nitrotoluene and o -nitroaniline have been taken as model systems for their highly energetic 2,4,6-trinitro analogs. Our results for o -nitrotoluene show that intramolecular hydrogen transfer to form a bicyclic tautomer is highly favored thermodynamically, as is the further loss of water to form anthranil. However, tautomerization of o -nitroaniline to a nitronic acid is found to be thermodynamically unfavorable, while its conversion to benzofurazan and water is calculated to be thermochemically nearly neutral. We suggest that the contrasting energetics of these reaction sequences of o -nitrotoluene and o -nitroaniline help to explain the differences in the thermal, shock and impact sensitivities of their larger trinitroaromatic analogs.
7154 Clinical significance of non-neoplastic lesions of the ampulla of vater.

Background: Non-neoplastic conditions of the ampulla of Vater are poorly understood. Our purpose was to investigate non-neoplastic lesions of the ampulla of Vater in relation to past medical history and findings at presentation. Method: Medical records of patients with biopsies of the ampulla of Vater revealing non-neoplastic histopathology in a 5-year period were reviewed after identification from review of our pathology database. Biopsies were reviewed blindly and categorized as “inflammatory”, “reactive, consistent with a site of healing ulcer”, and “acute ulcer”. Results: The mean age of patients was 59 years. Of a total of 26 cases - 14 were male. 11 specimens had nonspecific inflammatory changes, 11 were consistent with a site of healing ulcer, and 4 revealed acute ulceration. Of 14 patients without a history of instrumentation, 5 (36%) showed nonspecific inflammation, 8 (57%) showed changes consistent with a site of healing ulcer, 1 (7%) had acute ulceration. In this subgroup, 9 (64%) had clinical and/or radiographic evidence of biliary obstruction, 6 (43%) had a history of pancreatitis, 5 (36%) had elevated bilirubin and/or alkaline phosphatase, and 3 (21%) had elevated amylase and/or lipase. Twelve of 26 patients (46%) had a recent history of instrumentation in the ampulla of Vater. Nine (75%) of these had either inflammation or changes consistent with site of healing ulcer; 3 (11%) had acute ulceration. No correlation with NSAID use was found. Discussion: This study reveals that a history of instrumentation of the ampullary region is the single most common clinical parameter in patients with non-neoplastic lesions of the ampulla. However, over 50% of patients in this study had no history of instrumentation. Obstructive biliary disease is the common clinical parameter in this subgroup occurring in 9 of 14 patients. Pancreatitis is the second most significant clinical parameter occurring in 6 of 14 patients (43%). Patients with noniatrogenic causes of ampullary inflammation commonly present with obstructive biliary disease or pancreatitis.
A theory of condensation model reduction

Abstract A theory of condensation model reduction establishes conditions under which degrees-of-freedom can be eliminated from semi-discrete models while retaining response-prediction fidelity in those degrees-of-freedom that remain. In fact, the full-degree-of-freedom prediction for the original model can be recovered from the corresponding prediction of the reduced-degree-of-freedom model. Since continuum models can be made semi-discrete by common, well-understood techniques, the method has broad applicability. By design, the method is directly implementable on a computer and easily interfaces with current computational methods such as finite elements. A general condensation scheme is given first and then specialized to the condensation of generic linear and quadratically nonlinear dynamic models, the extension to higher order polynomial nonlinearities being straightforward. Exact results are obtained for the constant coefficient linear dynamic case. As an application, degree-of-freedom reduction in a spatially discretized model of a deterministic, heterogeneous material can be made to correspond to homogenization/smoothing of that material's behavior. In contrast to the multiple scales and similar homogenization/smoothing methods, the condensation method does not make use of a periodic media assumption and it fully and directly incorporates boundary conditions. In continuous-frequency, spatially-discrete applications, such as the structural acoustics of large, complex systems with realistic, finite-element-modeled geometries, the condensation method can target specific regions of the spectrum, not necessarily near zero frequency, for which one would like frequency-response fidelity. It can also function as an alternative to finite element modal decomposition without the accompanying restrictions on damping. For eigenvalue problems it is shown that all eigenvalues of the reduced model are also those of the original model. In addition, an eigenvalue economizer condensation method in current use is shown to be an almost trivial special case of this approach.
Formation of 19-nor-10-keto-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in cultured mammalian cells

Cultured dog kidney cells convert 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 into more polar metabolites during in vitro incubations. One elutes with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 from high pressure liquid chromatographic silica columns with hexane:isopropanol (9:1), but can be separated from 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 by elution with dichloromethane:isopropanol (95:5). This peak has been isolated, purified and identified by mass spectral analysis to be 19-nor-10-keto-25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 .
Torture and judgments of guilt

Although torture can establish guilt through confession, how are judgments of guilt made when tortured suspects do not confess? We suggest that perceived guilt is based inappropriately upon how much pain suspects appear to suffer during torture. Two psychological theories provide competing predictions about the link between pain and perceived blame: cognitive dissonance, which links pain to blame, and moral typecasting, which links pain to innocence. We hypothesized that dissonance might characterize the relationship between torture and blame for those close to the torture, while moral typecasting might characterize this relationship for those more distant from it. Accordingly, this experiment placed participants into one of two different roles in which people may be exposed to torture. Participants in the proximal role of prison staffer saw suffering torture victims as relatively more guilty, while participants in the relatively distant role of a radio listener saw suffering victims as more innocent.
Analytical Solutions of Structural Response of Cylindrical Shells Subjected to Detonation Loading

Cylindrical shells under a moving internal pressure has wide applications such as oil, gas, and water transmission and distribution pipelines, gun tubes, pressured aircraft fuselages, rocket casings, space station modules, and pulse detonation engines. As a moving load produces larger deformations and higher stresses than does an equivalent static load, the study of this kind of problems has significant importance in design and optimization of such structures. The problem of a cylindrical shell subjected detonation loading has been studied by many researchers, but there are still some problems that need to be further investigated, especially in the application aspect. In this work, analytical solutions for cylindrical shells under detonation loading are developed. The analytical solutions include static state and transient state. For transient state, three analytical models are presented. Numerical results show these analytical solutions are reliable and stable.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Formation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Chelated d0 Yttrium(III)−Alkyl−Alkene Complexes

The yttrium hydride dimer (Cp*2YH)2 (2) reacted rapidly with 3,3-dimethyl-1,4-pentadiene in methylcyclohexane-d14 at −78 °C to form the d0 yttrium(III) pentenyl chelate complex Cp*2Y[η1,η2-CH2CH2C(CH3)2CHCH2] (4). Low-temperature 1H, 13C, and 1H NOESY NMR spectroscopy of 4 established bonding of the tethered alkene to the d0 metal center. Quantitative analysis of the NOESY time course using the Conformer Population Analysis method demonstrates that the dominant conformers in solution are interconverting pairs of chelated complexes, one in a twist-boat conformation and the other a chair conformer. No significant contribution by a free alkene conformation is required to explain the spectroscopic data. Addition of THF to pentenyl chelate 4 at −78 °C displaced the alkene and formed the yttrium(III) pentenyl THF adduct Cp*2Y[η1-CH2CH2C(CH3)2CHCH2](THF) (5), in which there is no interaction between the pendant alkene and the d0 metal center. Yttrium hydride dimer 2 also reacted with either 1,4-pentadiene or met...
Professional Social Network Participation of Business School Graduates: Effects of University, Degree Type, and Gender

Social networks are having a profound impact on how professionals communicate and connect with each other. Online professional social networks have become a significant resource for building and maintaining invaluable business connections. Recent university graduates are a particular population often in search of building social networks to further professional development. Participation in online social networks provides a valuable tool for recent university graduates to create and sustain their professional connections and business relationships. This paper seeks to gain a better understanding of the effect university (nationally ranked, large urban, and regional), gender and degree type (undergraduate and graduate) has on online professional social network participation. The authors' business school college graduate findings suggest that university, degree type, and gender were associated with the likelihood of joining the online professional social network LinkedIn. An analysis of the results and future research directions are presented.
Characterization of a novel staphylococcal enterotoxin-like superantigen, a member of the group V subfamily of pyrogenic toxins.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen, causing a variety of diseases. Major virulence factors of this organism include staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) that cause food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Our study identified a novel enterotoxin-like protein that is a member of the new subfamily (group V) of pyrogenic toxin superantigens (PTSAgs) and examined its biochemical and immunobiological properties. The gene encoding the SE-like protein is directly 5‘ of another recently identified PTSAg, SEK. The SE-like protein had a molecular weight of 26000 and an experimentally determined isoelectric point between 7.5 and 8.0. We demonstrated that the PTSAg had many of the biological activities associated with SEs, including superantigenicity, pyrogenicity, and ability to enhance endotoxin shock, but lacked both lethality in rabbits when administered in subcutaneous miniosmotic pumps and emetic activity in monkeys. Recombinant protein stimulated human CD4 and CD8 T cells in a T cell receptor va...
Uhlig Model of Oxidation Kinetics

IT is well known that a space charge region is usually present in semiconducting oxides at metal-semiconductor junctions due to equalizing of Fermi levels at the junction1. Uhlig2 has pointed out that this space charge layer may be a determining factor for growth rate and for growth law. Specifically, Uhlig proposes that the space charge layer limits the flow of electrons (and thus the flow of ions) from metal to oxide, so the variation of the space charge layer characteristics with film thickness determines the growth law. The purpose of this communication is to point out some basic errors in the treatment of the model so that further development of this approach, as well as comparison with new experimental results, can be fruitful.
P-012 A mathematical model of vascular tortuosity using optimality analysis

Introduction/Purpose Although vascular tortuosity is a ubiquitous phenomenon, no mathematical models exist to describe its shape. Given that the shape of tortuous vessel curves seems fairly uniform across great variations in vessel size and anatomic substrata, it is hypothesized that tortuosity is not purely random, but is governed by physical principles. We develop a mathematical model based on optimality principles, and show how it can potentially be used to distinguish physiologic from abnormal tortuosity. Materials/Methods A model is developed which minimizes average curvature per unit length; it produces a “sine-generated” curve. Thirty-four tortuous vessel segments (from retinal, superficial temporal, coronary and splanchnic vessels) are analyzed and compared to the results of the model. Curve shapes are characterized by the parameters L/R and L/l, where L is curve length, l is wavelength, and R is radius of curvature. These parameters are measured for each vessel segment and calculated for the corresponding theoretical curves. The accuracy of the model is compared with that of a standard sine curve in trying to model vessel tortuosity. Also, six retinal vessel segments from a case of Fabry9s disease (which produces abnormal tortuosity) are analyzed and compared to the model. Results Comparison between measured and predicted values produces average percent errors of 5.8% in L/R and 5.5% in L/l. Also, sine-generated curves produce a significantly better fit than standard sine curves (p=0.001). For the case of Fabry9s disease, there is a significant deviation from the theoretical model, with average percent errors of 21% in L/l and 33% in L/R. Conclusions The theoretical model provides a good fit for normal vessel tortuosity. This suggests that blood vessels obey optimality principles, and curve in such a way as to minimize average curvature. This makes physical sense, as it would minimize shear stress against vessel walls and the energy needed to accelerate blood through the vessel. Although anecdotal, the case of Fabry9s disease differed significantly from theoretical results, suggesting that these vessels deviate from the normal pattern of tortuosity. The model may be useful in distinguishing physiologic tortuosity from the abnormal tortuosity which may occur in disease states.
A Comparison of Three Methods for Identifying Transport-Based Exclusion: A Case Study of Children's Access to Urban Opportunities in Erie and Niagara Counties, New York

Achieving transport sustainability is contingent on many factors, including transportation services being provided equitably regardless of race, income, gender, disability, and/or any other differentiating characteristics. A major risk of inequitable service provision is that without sufficient accessibility via transport, populations are put at a disadvantage, which may result in conditions of exclusion. At the present time, however, the dimensions of transport-based social exclusion are not fully understood, and the elusive nature of the concept renders it difficult to quantify. In this paper, three methods for identifying transport-excluded populations are examined and compared. The first follows a traditional approach to identifying disadvantaged groups by means of an inequality index based on deprivation. The other two techniques are accessibility-based, and work with a detailed travel diary data set. The study is conducted in the counties of Erie and Niagara, New York, and the population examined is composed of children between the ages of 5 and 18 years old. The results reveal how the models differentially identify excluded populations and should inform planners and practitioners of the implications for choosing between these different approaches.
EpiCaster: an integrated web application for situation assessment and forecasting of global epidemics

Public health decision makers need access to high resolution situation assessment tools for understanding the extent of various epidemics in different regions of the world. In addition, they need insights into the future course of epidemics by way of forecasts. Such forecasts are essential for planning the allocation of limited resources and for implementing several policy-level and behavioral intervention strategies. The need for such forecasting systems became evident in the wake of the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa. We have developed EpiCaster, an integrated Web application for situation assessment and forecasting of various epidemics, such as Flu and Ebola, that are prevalent in different regions of the world. Using EpiCaster, users can assess the magnitude and severity of different epidemics at highly resolved spatio-temporal levels. EpiCaster provides time-varying heat maps and graphical plots to view trends in the disease dynamics. EpiCaster also allows users to visualize data gathered through surveillance mechanisms, such as Google Flu Trends (GFT) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The forecasts provided by EpiCaster are generated using different epidemiological models, and the users can select the models through the interface to filter the corresponding forecasts. EpiCaster also allows the users to study epidemic propagation in the presence of a number of intervention strategies specific to certain diseases. Here we describe the modeling techniques, methodologies and computational infrastructure that EpiCaster relies on to support large-scale predictive analytics for situation assessment and forecasting of global epidemics.
Statistical properties of data stretching

This research examines the properties of an estimation procedure frequently used because observations on some variables are available only at higher levels of aggregation than others. When this occurs, data are often stretched by repeating observations on variables at higher levels of aggregation. We show that this procedure results in biased estimators of coefficients and error variances. Under some circumstances the estimation based on stretched data has a smaller covariance matrix than that based on aggregated data. Comparisons of mean squared errors depend on unknown coefficients.
End-station performance under leaky bucket traffic shaping

The shaping of traffic at its source is a prominent congestion control solution in ATM networks. The "leaky bucket" with a "cell spacer" is a very popular traffic-shaping approach. By sizing the leaky bucket and spacer parameters, an end station shapes its traffic to conform to a "good behaviour" contract with the network. The leaky bucket delays the transmission of a selected number of cells, while the spacer forces a minimum time distance between transmitted cells. When a contracted transmission rate is close to the traffic generation rate of the end station, this traffic stream will utilize most of the bandwidth available on its virtual connection. The high utilization of such a connection leads to large queues of frames and cells at the end station, with high adverse consequences for end-to-end delay and jitter. Based on the negotiated traffic parameters and source traffic characteristics, we study, through simulations, the contribution of the leaky bucket plus cell spacer subsystem to the delay and jitter in an end station. We also study the distribution of the size of the bursts of cells leaving the end station and entering the network. Finally, we derive the theoretical upper bound for the size of bursts of the cells.
Curvilinear Effects of User-Generated Content on Hotels’ Market Share A Dynamic Panel-Data Analysis

The present study is designed to expand the current literature in the effects of User-Generated Content (UGC) on firm performance, specifically to delineate the unique effects of the UGC components on market share results using a dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) model. A longitudinal panel-data sample of 138 hotel reviews and ratings, along with monthly market share and several control variables is used for the empirical modeling. Overall, the analysis reveals that UGC has a positive impact on market share. A curvilinear mechanism explains the relationship between ratings and market share, discouraging lower-tiered firms from seeking a high rating. Moderating factors were also found to diminish the impact of a review length on market share. Theoretical explanations and managerial suggestions are offered in the discussion section.
Analysis of a Sudoku variation using partially ordered sets and equivalence relations

Sudoku is a popular game of logic, and there are many variations of the standard puzzle. We investigate a variation of Sudoku that uses inequalities between cells rather than numerical clues. We begin with an overview of the rules and strategies of the game. We then examine the solvability of an individual m n block with the use of partially ordered sets, and combine 2 2 blocks to form 4 4 puzzles.
Zone II Combined Flexor Digitorum Superficialis and Flexor Digitorum Profundus Repair Distal to the A2 Pulley

The operative technique of repair of intrasynovial lacerations of the digital flexor tendons aims to 1) minimize secondary iatrogenic trauma to the tendon and the surrounding gliding surface during repair; 2) coapt tendon ends with sufficient strength to resist physiological tensile loads applied during early postoperative rehabilitation; 3) achieve a smooth, non-bulbous repair site to minimize the work required for digital flexion. Combined transection of both the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons distal to the A2 pulley is particularly challenging due to the FDS-FDP relationship at that level. Different techniques are required to repair distal FDS tendon transections due to the structure of the two slips in the region of the proximal interphalangeal joint. This report describes our operative technique for repair of combined FDS and FDP transections following decussation of the FDS tendon.
Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) spread by the international trade in reptiles and their potential roles in dissemination of diseases

The international trade in live reptiles has grown dramatically in the last decade. Since many of these reptiles are infested with ticks, the number of ticks introduced to new exotic locations has also increased. This is causing concern in importing countries such as the United States because some of the reptilian ticks are known to be vectors of diseases of veterinary and economic importance, such as heartwater. Rational measures to control these tick species and to eradicate new introductions have been slow to develop due in part to the scattered and often obscure sources of available data on the exotic ticks. This review is an attempt to collate information on the geographical distribution, host range, life cycle and associations with diseases for four Amblyomma species, A. marmoreum Koch, A. nuttalli Donitz, A. sparsum Newmann, and for four Aponomma species, A. exornatum (Koch), A. flavomaculatum (Lucas), A. latum (Koch)( and A. varanensis (Supino), that have recently been introduced into Florida, USA on imported reptiles.
The Tomato Homolog of CORONATINE-INSENSITIVE1 Is Required for the Maternal Control of Seed Maturation, Jasmonate-Signaled Defense Responses, and Glandular Trichome Development

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a fatty acid-derived signaling molecule that regulates a broad range of plant defense responses against herbivores and some microbial pathogens. Molecular genetic studies in Arabidopsis have established that JA also performs a critical role in anther and pollen development but is not essential for other developmental aspects of the plant's life cycle. Here, we describe the phenotypic and molecular characterization of a sterile mutant of tomato (jasmonic acid-insensitive1 [jai1]) that is defective in JA signaling. Although the mutant exhibited reduced pollen viability, sterility was caused by a defect in the maternal control of seed maturation, which was associated with the loss of accumulation of JA-regulated proteinase inhibitor proteins in reproductive tissues. jai1 plants exhibited several defense-related phenotypes, including the inability to express JA-responsive genes, severely compromised resistance to two-spotted spider mites, and abnormal development of glandular trichomes. We demonstrate that these defects are caused by the loss of function of the tomato homolog of CORONATINE-INSENSITIVE1 (COI1), an F-box protein that is required for JA-signaled processes in Arabidopsis. These findings indicate that the JA/COI1 signaling pathway regulates distinct developmental processes in different plants and suggest a role for JA in the promotion of glandular trichome-based defenses.
Composite material defect characterization using leaky Lamb wave dispersion data

Leaky Lamb wave (LLW) propagation in composite materials has been studied extensively since it was first observed in 1982. The wave is induced using a pitch-catch arrangement and the plate wave modes are detected by identifying minima in the reflected spectra to obtain the dispersion data. The wave behavior in multi-orientation laminates was well documented and corroborated experimentally with a very high accuracy. The sensitivity of the wave to the elastic constants of the material and to its boundary condition led to several studies where the elastic properties were inverted and the characteristics of bonded joint were evaluated. Recently, the authors modified their experimental setup to allow measuring dispersion curves at a significantly higher speed than ever recorded. A set of 20 angles of incidence along a single polar angle of a composite laminate are acquired in about 45 seconds. The reflection spectra are acquired in real time while filtering the high frequency noise providing reliable data at amplitude levels that are significantly lower that were acquired in prior studies. This new method makes the LLW a practical quantitative tool for both inversion of the elastic properties and characterization of flaws. The emphasis of the current study is on the detection and characterization of flaws. The composite is modeled as transversely isotropic and dissipative medium and the effect of flaws is analyzed and compared to the experimental data using a C-scan mounted LLW scanner.
Application of reliability concepts in automatic identification

Abstract Reliability testing is a form of experimental research which, in the past, has primarily focused on failure incidence as a function of time. Bar code symbologies depend on a handful of factors to asses their “reliability”; time being not determinant in the analysis. In an effort to overcome such difficulty, the paper underlies the concept by formulating all possible relevant variables of the system.
Rethinking Circumcision and Sexuality in the United States

The sexual dimensions to circumcision are a neglected topic of inquiry for sex and gender researchers. This article argues that sociological discourse on circumcision has ignored a critique of circ...