cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating key parameters in periodic breast cancer screening-Application to the Canadian National Breast Screening Study data

Problem statement: Breast cancer screening in women of younger age has been controversial. The screening sensitivities, transition probabilities and sojourn time distributions are estimated for females aged 40–49 years and 50–59 years separately, using the Canadian National Breast Screening Study (CNBSS) data. The purpose is to estimate the lead time distribution and the probability of not detecting the cancer early. Approach: Within the 40–49-year-old and 50–59-year-old cohorts separately, the ageindependent statistical model was applied. Bayesian estimators along with 95% highest probability density (HPD) credible intervals (CI) were calculated. Bayesian hypothesis testing was used to compare the parameter estimates of the two cohorts. The lead time density was also estimated for both the 40–49 and 50–59-year-old cohorts. Results: The screening sensitivity, transition probability of the disease, and mean sojourn time were all found to increase with age. For the 40–49-year-old and 50–59-year-old cohorts, the posterior mean sensitivities were 0.70 (95% HPD-CI: 0.46, 0.93) and 0.77 (0.61, 0.93), respectively. The posterior mean transition probabilities were 0.0023 (0.0018, 0.0027) and 0.0031 (0.0024, 0.0038), while the posterior mean sojourn times were 2.55 (1.56, 4.26) years and 3.15 (2.12, 4.96) years. Bayes factors for the ratio of posterior probabilities that the respective parameter was larger vs. smaller in the 50–59-year-old cohort were estimated to be 2.09, 40.8 and 3.0 for the sensitivity, transition probability, and mean sojourn time, respectively. All three Bayes factors were larger than two, indicating greater than 2:1 odds in favor of the hypothesis that each of these parameters was greater in the 50–59-year-old cohort. The estimated mean lead times were 0.83 years and 0.96 years if the two cohorts were screened annually. Conclusions: The increase in sensitivity corresponds to an increase in the mean sojourn time. Breast cancer in younger women is more difficult to detect by screening tests and is more aggressive than breast cancer in older women. Women aged 50–59 tend to benefit more from screening compared with women aged 40–49. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Sexual Risk Behavior and Venues for Meeting Sex Partners: An Intercept Survey of Gay and Bisexual Men in LA and NYC

Understanding the link between venues for meeting sex partners and sexual risk behavior is critical to developing and placing effective sexual health education and HIV prevention services. Non-monogamous gay and bisexual men (n = 886) were surveyed in New York and Los Angeles about the venues that they met recent sex partners: bathhouses, private sex parties, gay bars/clubs, the gym, via public cruising, and the Internet. Bars/clubs, bathhouses, and the Internet were the most endorsed venues for meeting partners. Men having met a majority of their partners (i.e., “preference”) via these three venues were compared/contrasted. Those having preference for bars/clubs were dissimilar from men with preference for bathhouses or the Internet on multiple levels (e.g. age, number of sex partners, temptation for unsafe sex). However, these men were proportionally similar in whether they had engaged in a recent episode of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). Logistic regressions predicting UAI suggested venues might not play a role in differentiating men who had preference for bars/clubs, bathhouses or the Internet. Additional regression analyses utilizing all six venues to predict UAI suggested other person-factors such as identity as a barebacker and temptation for unsafe sex better explain UAI. This research suggests HIV prevention and educational campaigns targeted within venues need also address socio-psychological person-factors in addition to environmental/venue contexts.
S-Race: a multi-objective racing algorithm

This paper presents a multi-objective racing algorithm, S-Race, which efficiently addresses multi-objective model selection problems in the sense of Pareto optimality. As a racing algorithm, S-Race attempts to eliminate candidate models as soon as there is sufficient statistical evidence of their inferiority relative to other models with respect to all objectives. This approach is followed in the interest of controlling the computational effort. S-Race adopts a non-parametric sign test to identify pair-wise domination relationship between models. Meanwhile, Holm's Step-Down method is employed to control the overall family-wise error rate of simultaneous hypotheses testing during the race. Experimental results involving the selection of superior Support Vector Machine classifiers according to 2 and 3 performance criteria indicate that S-Race is an efficient and effective algorithm for automatic model selection, when compared to a brute-force, multi-objective selection approach.
Electrolyte effects on the cyclic voltammetry of TCNQ and TCNE

Abstract The reductions of TCNQ and TCNE to their anion radicals and dianions at platinum and carbon electrodes in acetonitrile solution have been studied by cyclic voltammetry, using a variety of supporting electrolytes. At sweep rates up to 500 mV s−1 the first reduction waves of both TCNQ and TCNE are reversible, with half-wave potentials independent of supporting electrolyte and electrode material. The half-wave potentials of the second reduction waves, however, are less negative in the presence of LiClO4 or NaClO4 than in the presence of TBAF or TEAP. This is attributed to ion pairing between the dianions and the alkali metal cations. The second reduction wave of TCNQ is reversible up to 500 mV s−1 but the electrode kinetics of the second wave of TCNE are dependent upon electrolyte and electrode material, probably because of variations in the metal-outer Helmholz plane distance or non-adiabaticity.
Epipolarization microscopic immunogold assay: a combination of immunogold silver staining, enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay and epipolarization microscopy.

We describe a new immunoassay which combines an immunosorbent assay, Immunogold silver staining and epipolarization microscopy. Our new assay procedure features multiple samples on a single microscope slide, and high sensitivity of epipolarization microscope for detection of silver-enhanced colloidal gold as a final immunoassay product. We call the new immunoassay “on slide immunogold assay” (OSIGA). This new method uses biotinylated antibody and streptavidin-gold reaction with silver enhancement technique. With OSIGA it is possible to investigate 30 samples on a single microscopic slide. Our preliminary studies used 10–20 μ1 samples and detected nanogram quantities of a standardized protein solution. Unlike enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which has a limited time for reading the final color products, the OSIGA specimens can be dried or resin mounted for longer storage and future reference.
Preliminary studies of the uridine kinase activity of human colorectal adenocarcinomas

Relatively low uridine-cytidine kinase activities in 22 surgical specimens of human colorectal adenocarcinomas have been demonstrated, in comparison with those of other neoplasms studied. The kinase activities averaged 1.1 nmoles/min/mg of protein; however, four of the specimens exhibited significantly higher levels of enzyme activity than the average, a deviation that could not be correlated with any properties of the tumors. Of the 22 neoplasms, 86% were moderately differentiated; and 14% were poorly differentiated. Staging disclosed 9% Dukes' A neoplasms, 41% Dukes' B, and 50% Dukes' C. The moderately differentiated group included four mucinous tumors; the poorly differentiated only one; none was of the signet-ring cell type. The kinetic characteristics of the uridine kinase activity of one colonic adenocarcinoma were studied in detail; the apparent Michaelis constants for uridine and adenosine 5'-triphosphate were 0.37 x 10(-3) M and 1.07 x 10(-3) M, respectively, and the enzyme required Mg2+ for maximal activity (at 30-42 C).
On the stability of transformations between power and Bernstein polynomial forms

Abstract We show that in the || ||1 and || ||∞ norms, the condition number of the matrix T that maps the coefficients of a polynomial P(t) of degree n in the Bernstein basis on t ∈[0,1] to those in the power basis about t = 0, or vice-versa, assumes the simple form κ( T ) = (n+1)( n ν )2 ν where ν denotes the largest integer not exceeding 2(n + 1)/3 (for n ⩾ 3, the expression κ( T )⋍3 n+1 n + 1 2 π gives an excellent approximation). The growth of κ( T ) with n suggests a potentially severe loss of accuracy during the basis conversion of high-degree curves and surfaces, a practice that should be avoided whenever possible.
Filial cannibalism in a paternal-caring marine fish: the influence of egg developmental stage and position in the nest

Abstract Abstract. Female garibaldi damselfish, Hypsypops rubicundus , preferentially spawn with males guarding eggs in early development, and always lay near the youngest eggs already present in nests containing multiple clutches. Field observations and experiments of H. rubicundus during the mating phase showed that brood-guarding males usually cannibalized older clutches if they had been exposed to empty nest space. Mating males rarely cannibalized younger clutches, regardless of their position, and rarely cannibalized older clutches that were surrounded by younger eggs. When peripheral older eggs were cannibalized, the newly exposed and adjacent empty space was covered with new eggs. When exposed older eggs were not cannibalized, the surrounding nest space remained empty. These data suggest that male filial cannibalism during the mating phase is an adaptive response to female spawning-site preference; selectively cannibalizing exposed older eggs minimizes the amount of empty nest space by ensuring that only younger, more attractive eggs are exposed to empty nest space. Such filial cannibalism provides a further adaptive explanation for the tendency of females laying in empty nests to deposit their eggs near the periphery of the nest where they are more likely to be surrounded by younger eggs.
Dynamic sequential team multi-hypothesis testing under uniformly distributed nonstationary observations

Abstract We consider a dynamic team of communicating decision makers performing Bayesian sequential multi-hypothesis testing under nonstationary observations. A simple decision rule is shown to be member-by-member optimal if the observations are uniformly distributed, if the observation costs are defined to reflect the quality of observations, and if “vague” terminal decisions are allowed without additional penalty. The “vague” terminal decisions can be made “clear” by performing a finite number of member-by-member optimal sequential decisions successively.
Cholesterol ester hydrolysis in aortic tissue.

Abstract The properties of aortic cholesterol esterase have been examined in subcellular fractions of rat and monkey aortic homogenates. Hydrolysis of a variety of labeled cholesteryl esters added as an acetone solution was demonstrated in both microsomal and high speed supernatant fractions. Cholesteryl oleate and linoleate were hydrolyzed to a greater extent than cholesteryl palmitate and stearate. A broad pH optimum for enzyme activity was observed in both the high speed supernatant and microsomal fractions. Product inhibition with cholesterol was not apparent although fatty acids added to the system reduced cholesterol esterase activity. The mode of substrate introduction was found to be an important factor in determining the extent of enzymatic activity. Studies on the sequence of substrate addition suggested that substrate introduced in acetone did not equilibrate with endogenous cholesteryl ester. Preincubation of the enzyme solution or addition of bile salt did not affect hydrolytic activity. No significant difference in cholesterol esterase activity was apparent between control and atherosclerotic monkey aorta.
Spinal Instrumentation With A Low Complication Rate

Abstract Background Spinal instrumentation has become an increasing part of the armamentarium of neurosurgery and neurosurgical training. For noncontroversial indications for spine fusion the arthrodesis rate seems to be better. For both noncontroversial and controversial indications, the reported complication rate with spinal instrumentation tends to be greater than that with noninstrumented spine surgeries. These reported complications include a 2–3% neurologic injury rate, 3–45% reoperation rate for implant failure, and infection rates of 5–10%. Therefore, we report on 299 cases that have undergone spinal instrumentation placed exclusively by neurosurgeons with a very low complication rate. Methods Two hundred ninety-nine consecutive spinal instrumentation cases performed exclusively by neurosurgeons at Indiana University Medical Center were analyzed for complications related to spinal instrumentation. The spinal instrumentation placed consisted of 195 anterior cervical locking plates, 22 cases of posterior cervical instrumentation, 9 cases of combined anterior locking plates with posterior cervical instrumentation, 14 anterior thoraco-lumbar plates, 51 posterior thoraco-lumbar instrumentation cases, and 8 combined anterior/posterior thoraco-lumbar instrumentation cases. Results The mean follow-up is 40 months (6–95). There was one perioperative death unrelated to the spinal instrumentation. There were no neurologic injuries and there has been no hardware infection to date. There were two dural tears, three superficial wound infections, and three minor wound breakdowns successfully treated. Hardware complications included three cervical plate/screw extrusions reoperated, one cervical plate fracture reoperated, one posterior cervical screw backout not reoperated, one case of broken pedicle screws not reoperated, one vertebral body failure not reoperated, and one posterior rod case reoperated for excessive rod length and protrusion. The overall complication rate attributable to placement of spinal instrumentation was 10/299 (3%) with a reoperation rate of 2%. The arthrodesis rate was 298/299 (99%). Conclusion The complication rate for using spinal instrumentation can be less than previously reported. Lessons learned and discussed should reduce the rate even more. Spinal instrumentation is a safe and useful adjunct to fusion in treating degenerative, traumatic, infectious, and neoplastic diseases of the spine.
Properties of creatine kinase-BB from canine and human brain tissues

Creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) BB isoenzyme (CK-BB) was purified to homogeneity from canine and human brain tissues. The purified protein from both sources exhibits Mr of 84,700 daltons. The canine isoenzyme exhibits several properties similar to human isoenzyme with respect to reactive and total thiol groups, UV spectra, isoelectric points and reaction kinetics. While both canine and human CK-BB isoenzymes are unstable compared to other CK isoenzymes, canine CK-BB is even less stable than the human enzyme, losing most of its activity within 20 h at 4 degrees C at pH 5.0. Addition of 2-mercaptoethanol does not prevent rapid loss of the enzyme activity. Increasing the pH to 9.0, however, increases the stability of both CK-BB isoenzymes. Agarose electrophoresis demonstrated the presence of MM as well as BB isoenzyme in various parts of brain tissues. BB was present at an activity of 90.8-93.3 U/mg and MM at 6.7-9.2 U/mg.
Successful resection of complicated bleeding arteriovenous malformation of the jejunum in patients starting dual-antiplatelet therapy just after implanting a drug-eluting coronary stent

We report a case of a 57-year-old man who started dual-antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel following implantation of drug-eluting coronary stent and developed persistent active gastrointestinal bleeding. After detecting the origin of bleeding by double-balloon enteroscopy, successful laparoscopy-assisted partial jejunal resection was performed and the patient condition was promptly recovered, without any thrombotic or bleeding complications. Pathology revealed arteriovenous malformation of the jejunum without any malignancy. We should care for and be aware of this lesion as a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding when strong antithrombotic therapy is initiated. Under rigorous assessment and perioperative management, as well as meticulous intraoperative dissection and haemostasis, satisfactory outcome was achieved even in this complicated situation.
Coenzyme B12 Axial-Base Chemical Precedent Studies. Adenosylcobinamide Plus Sterically Hindered Axial-Base Co−C Bond Cleavage Product and Kinetic Studies: Evidence for the Dominance of Axial-Base Transition-State Effects and for Co−N(Axial-Base) Distance-Dependent, Competing σ and π Effects.

Adenosylcobinamide (AdoCbi+) plus the sterically hindered bases 1,2-dimethylimidazole, 2-methylpyridine, and 2,6-dimethylpyridine, as well as control experiments with imidazolate and 4-methylimidaz...
The Crystal Structure of the N-terminal 15 Heptads of Smooth Muscle Myosin Rod Offers Insights into the Inhibited State of Myosin

The coiled coil rod of smooth muscle myosin is important both for regulation of activity and optimal mechanical performance. Myosin with a phosphorylated light chain is active, while in the inhibited, dephosphorylated state the two heads form an asymmetric intramolecular interaction. The minimal myosin that can attain an “off” state has two heads and 15 heptads of coiled coil rod, a length approximately equal to that of the myosin head. This observation implies that there may be head-rod interactions in the inhibited state. Here we have determined the crystal structure of this region of the rod. Despite being a parallel, coiled coil dimer, the core arrangement is asymmetric. We propose that this asymmetry is wired into its sequence and crucial to its function. The core of the S2 segment is loosely packed in stretches and the two helical segments are locally off-register or staggered relative to one another. Staggered regions are centered on non-canonical core residues. This relative staggering causes three prominent bends in the coiled coil. Significant deviations from two-fold symmetry are observed in our structure, and to a lesser extent in equivalent crystal structures of S2 fragments from cardiac myosin. The larger variations in stagger and bend angles in the rods of smooth versus striated muscle myosins may explain in part why asymmetric head-head interactions are more prevalent in the thick filament regulated myosins.
Hereditary emblems: Material culture in the context of social change

Abstract Emblematic artifacts, which signify personal or social identity, are potentially valuable sources of information about social organization. To date, however, there has been little comparative study of the social contexts that give rise to use of different kinds of emblems, nor of the ways in which the social significance of emblematic artifacts may change over time. This paper is specifically concerned with the emergence and changing use of hereditary emblems in stratified societies. The histories of lineage devices in western Europe and Japan exhibit a number of similarities which suggest that, in complex societies, hereditary emblems are likely to appear in the presence of unstable systems of social rank. Once introduced, such emblems may acquire additional, nonhereditary, significance without undergoing noticeable iconographic change. The cases examined here suggest a series of general propositions about evolutionary relationships between hereditary emblem use and socioeconomic factors. Although we currently lack a well-developed methodology for identifying hereditary emblems archaeologically, it is clear that the key to their identification lies not in stylistic analysis, but rather in their contexts of use and patterns of association with other items of material culture. Hypotheses derived from consideration of the evolution of lineage emblems in western Europe and Japan are applied to the interpretation of shield decorations of the Archaic and Classical periods in Attic Greece.
On the behavior of Tukey's depth and median under symmetric stable distributions

Some curious properties of Tukey's depth and Tukey's multivariate median are revealed by examining their behavior at multivariate distributions possessing independent and identically distributed symmetric stable marginals. In particular, (i) the shape of the contours for Tukey's depth can be the same for large classes of distributions, (ii) the influence function of a linear combination of the components of Tukey's median can be uniformly smaller than the influence function of the univariate median for the corresponding linear combination of the multivariate distribution, and (iii) the maximum bias under epsilon contamination for Tukey's median can be smaller than the maximum bias of the median of some univariate projections of the data.
Non-conventional thermodynamic converters for low temperature geothermal applications

Abstract Non-conventional thermodynamic converters suitable for low-temperature geothermal applications have been considered in the present paper. The first type, called a thermogravimetric system, TG, runs with a direct cycle: this is capable of transforming thermodynamic energy into mechanical-electric energy. The second type, called a thermogravimetric heat pump, TGHP, works with an inverse cycle. In this case the mechanical energy is supplied to the system through a feed pump and not by a compressor as in a conventional plant: heat is delivered within a range of 50–80 °C. The values of the cycle extreme temperatures make a TGHP appear more promising than a thermogravimetric system and therefore it has been analysed in more detail. In particular, a regenerative TGHP is characterised by COP values that are larger than those of a TGHP in its basic configuration and, furthermore, such values are larger than those of a conventional heat pump. In the present investigation, both the thermogravimetric system and the TGHP use demineralized water as a carrier fluid. Due to the environmental impact and other basic reasons, PP 50 (C5F12) and HFC 134a (C2H2F4) at present appear to be the most promising working fluids.
Simultaneous determination of soluble manganese(III), manganese(II) and total manganese in natural (pore)waters

A new spectrophotometric protocol was developed for the simultaneous determination of soluble Mn(III), Mn(II) and total Mn [sum of soluble Mn(III) and Mn(II)] in sediment porewaters using a water soluble meso-substituted porphyrin [α,β,γ,δ-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine (T(4-CP)P)]. A simple kinetic rate model is used to quantify soluble Mn(II), Mn(III) and total Mn concentrations during a metal substitution reaction. Under optimized conditions, the method accurately determines soluble Mn(II) and Mn(III) within a concentration range of 100 nM-10 μM. The detection limit of total soluble Mn is 50 nM. Using this method, soluble Mn(II) and Mn(III) concentrations were determined in standard solutions within 0.4-2% of the known values and agreed closely with results of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric and voltammetric analyses. The procedure was successfully applied to determine soluble Mn(II), Mn(III) and total Mn in sediment porewaters of the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary. Mn(III) represented up to 85% of the total soluble Mn pool in surface sediments.
Schwann cell responses to cyclic AMP: Proliferation, change in shape, and appearance of surface galactocerebroside

Surface galactocerebroside (galC) was induced on cultured Schwann cells by two analogues of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), dibutyryl cAMP and 8-bromo cAMP (as previously reported by Sobue and Pleasure) and also by forskolin, a potent adenylate cyclase activator. These reagents also induced a morphological transition of many of the Schwann cells, from an elongated spindle shape to flattened cells extending fenestrated cytoplasmic sheets. Surface galC and these changes in Schwann cell shape were not elicited by raising the extracellular cAMP concentration, nor by many compounds known to promote the differentiation of other cell types, suggesting that intracellular cAMP is the unique signal for their induction. The cAMP analogues also induced Schwann cell proliferation (as previously reported by Raff et al.), as did forskolin. The concentrations of cAMP analogues and forskolin eliciting largest increases in numbers of Schwann cells in the cultures were 10-fold lower than the concentrations required for optimal induction of Schwann cell surface galC.
Hybrid catalyst containing a microporous zeolite and a mesoporous cocatalyst forming a pore continuum for a better desorption of reaction products

Abstract This paper describes a general procedure for preparing and testing hybrid catalysts which comprise two components: microporous and mesoporous particles. The microporous component is a ZSM-5 zeolite in the protonic form, eventually having some active metallic or metal oxide species incorporated into its pore network. The mesoporous component is a (reducible or irreducible) oxide, which may be used as a support for some active metallic or metal oxide species. The particles of microporous zeolite are embedded in the larger particles of mesoporous material using the technique of extrusion with a binder. Conversion and product selectivities in several reactions including the aromatization of n -butane and the upgrading of the propane steam-cracking products are reported. The beneficial effect of the hybrid system when compared with the parent zeolite alone is attributed to the formation of a micropore–mesopore continuum within the hybrid catalyst system. Such a “funnel-shaped” pore configuration decreases the effects of the energy barrier at the pore openings of the zeolite particles which otherwise slows down the desorption of the products of the reaction over the zeolite active sites. In addition, the metal oxide species supported on the cocatalyst surface occupies a favorable position which allows it to intervene on both the inward-diffusing reactant molecules and the outward-diffusing product or intermediate molecules.
Intensive Electrical Stimulation Attenuates Femoral Bone Loss in Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Objective To determine whether intensive electrical stimulation (ES) can reduce femoral bone mineral density (BMD) loss in acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Participants Twenty-six subjects with C4 to T12 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A or B SCI less than 12 weeks postinjury. Methods The control group received usual rehabilitative care and the intervention group received usual care plus 1 hour of ES over the quadriceps 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Main Outcome Measurements Outcome measurements were collected at baseline, postintervention (interim), and 3 months postinjury (follow-up), and included dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, serum osteocalcin (OC), and urinary N-telopeptide (NTx). Results In the control group, there was increasing BMD loss with distance from the spine (lumbar −1.88%, hip −12.25%, distal femur −15.15%, proximal tibia −17.40%). This trend was attenuated over the distal femur in the ES group (lumbar −1.29%, hip −14.45%, distal femur −7.40%, proximal tibia −12.31%). NTx increased over the 3 assessments in controls ([mean ± standard deviation] 115.00 ± 34.10, 154.86 ± 70.41, and 171.33 ± 75.8 nmol/mmol creatinine) compared with the ES group (160.56 ± 140.06, 216.71 ± 128.40, and 154.67 ± 69.12 nmol/mmol creatinine)—all of which were elevated compared with the reference range, and the differences between the 2 groups were not significant. Osteocalcin levels markedly decreased in the control group (12.90 ± 7.30, 24.00 ± 4.29, and 6.40 ± 7.28 μg/L) to subnormal levels, and remained stable and in the normal range in the ES group (13.80 ± 7.64, 11.86 ± 6.77, and 14.80 ± 12.91 μg/L), although differences between the groups were not significant. Conclusions Lower extremity BMD loss increases with distance from the spine. An intensive lower extremity ES program may attenuate BMD loss locally after acute motor complete SCI, although it is unknown whether these benefits are maintained in the long term.
Universal Set of Scalable Dynamically Corrected Gates for Quantum Error Correction with Always-on Qubit Couplings

We construct a universal set of high fidelity quantum gates to be used on a sparse bipartite lattice with always-on Ising couplings. The gates are based on dynamical decoupling sequences using shaped pulses, they protect against low-frequency phase noise, and can be run in parallel on non-neighboring qubits. This makes them suitable for implementing quantum error correction with low-density parity check codes like the surface codes and their finite-rate generalizations. We illustrate the construction by simulating the quantum Zeno effect with the [[4, 2, 2]] toric code on a spin chain.
University–industry collaboration: Patterns of growth for low- and middle-level performers

Following landmark legislation passed more than 20 years ago, university–industry relationships have now become central to understanding the changing role of research universities in American Society. The paper analyzes the development of university–industry partnerships during the 1990s. Past studies have used a broad array of measures of ties and a variety of research methodologies, but they have shared a focus on top collaborators or on samples of universities skewed toward the top. However, findings based on top collaborators may not be valid for other universities. Universities involved in mid- to low-levels of collaboration are qualitatively different in many ways from the more extensively studied set of top collaborators, suggesting that characteristics affecting university–industry ties may not be the same for these institutions. The paper shifts the focus away from top collaborators to this sizable and less studied majority. In general, we find that the same characteristics predicting high levels of involvement for the sample as a whole also predict high levels of involvement for the sub-sample of mid- and low-level collaborators. However, We find some particular characteristics of these institutions, such as land grant status, are also associated with stronger ties to industry, and that some characteristics of 25 top institutions do not predict the level of involvement of these lower-level collaborators. We will discuss whether the licensing of new technology is likely ever to become an important source of net revenues for current middle and low-level collaborators. Our findings raise doubts about whether many universities below the top 25 will earn substantial net revenues from licensing, though they do not dispute the potential service value of these ties. The study is based on examination of a wide range of potential influences on university–industry collaboration for institutions that are not currently among the most heavily involved in partnerships. These include status, other institutional characteristics (such as size and control), investment in science and engineering, and characteristics of offices or technology transfer.
Problem-directed discrete structures course

The "2007 SIGCSE Report On the Implementation of a Discrete Mathematics Course" recommends relocating some discrete structures topic areas to other courses, for the sake of coherency. Our implementation of the one semester course also relocates topics, but additionally features a focus on a significant computer science problem: regular language acceptors. This problem-directed course model promises superior coherency, motivation, and integration with computing.
Short- and long-range correlations of produced particles at very high energies.

Results on short- and long-range correlations in charged particles produced at 800-GeV proton energy are presented. There are strong short-range correlations in the central region whereas the alleged long-range correlations between the two fragmentation zones also depend upon the central region.
Second-overtone models of RR Lyrae stars

Linear models of RR Lyrae stars pulsating in the second overtone indicate that this mode is self-excited only for rather low luminosities if the masses are normal. An unstable second-overtone model has been selected from the linear survey and has been followed up to limiting amplitude by using a nonlinear hydrodynamical computer program. Deep splitting of the main light peak in the theoretical light curve occurs but does not resemble any observed feature. Moreover, the distribution of periods of RR Lyrae stars in globular clusters can be accounted for adequately by fundamental-mode and first-overtone pulsation. It is concluded that second-overtone pulsators probably do not exist among RR Lyrae stars.
Rapid calcitonin response to experimental hypercalcemia in healthy horses.

Abstract Calcium has important physiological functions, and disorders of calcium homeostasis are frequent in horses. We have made important progress understanding equine calcium homeostasis; however, limited information on equine calcitonin (CT) is available, in part because of the lack of validated CT assays. To determine the CT response to high ionized calcium (Ca 2+ ) concentrations in healthy horses, we induced hypercalcemia in 10 healthy horses using a calcium gluconate 23% solution (5mg/kg; 120mL/500kg horse) infused over 4min. Four horses were infused with 120mL of 0.9% NaCl and used as controls. We validated a human-specific CT radioimmunoassay for use in horses. Serum Ca 2+ concentrations increased from 6.2±0.3mg/dL to 9.9±0.5mg/dL (4min; P P 2+ returned to baseline by 40min. Of interest, CT concentrations returned to baseline despite hypercalcemia, suggesting thyroid gland C-cell CT depletion. Resting CT values higher than 40pg/mL were considered abnormally elevated. No significant changes in serum Ca 2+ or CT concentrations were found in control horses. The coefficients of variation for the CT radioimmunoassay were lower than 11.9%. We conclude that the equine thyroid gland C-cell responds quickly to changes in extracellular Ca 2+ concentrations by secreting large quantities of CT into the systemic circulation, indicating that CT is important in equine calcium homeostasis. The human CT radioimmunoassay can be used to measure changes in equine CT.
Robust estimation in software experiments

"Software development, like other scientific developments, requires formal experiments with a great deal of plan and analysis if they are to provide meaningful results"[11]. This paper uses examples to extend the discussion to certain statistical analyses, i.e., robust estimation and variance modeling, which are relatively new and may have never been practiced in the software engineering field.
A data formatter for the ATLAS Fast Tracker

The Fast TracKer (FTK) is an upgrade to the ATLAS level-2 trigger. The FTK system will reconstruct tracks using data from the inner Pixel and SCT silicon detector modules at trigger rates up to 100 kHz. We present an overview of the Data Formatter system, which is designed to remap, share and reformat the Pixel and SCT module data to match the geometry of the FTK trigger towers.
Protecting Shared Cryptographic Keys

In this paper, we present a scheme for distributing a key to n users in such a way as to require at least k of them (k < n) to be present to construct the original key. The scheme has the property that up to k - 1 defections can be tolerated. It can be implemented simply and efficiently.
“Metallothionein‐like” metal complexes in angiosperms; their structure and function

Evidence for the presence of the metal-binding protein metallothionein, MT, in higher plants is equivocal. Although a number of MT-like metal complexes have been isolated from plants, the chemical structures of most of these compounds have not been fully elucidated. Recently a novel class of plant peptides, poly (γ-glutamylcysteinyl) glycines, (γEC)nG, have been discovered. These peptides bind metal ions, and in the presence of such ions the amount of (γEC), G in plant cells increases. The presence of peptide bonds through the γ-carboxyl group of glutamate, rather than the α-carboxyl group, suggests that these peptides are not encoded by structural genes but are the products of biosynthetic pathways. Cells which are resistant to supra-optimal concentrations of certain metal ions over-produce (γEC)n G. (γEC)n G. may be functional analogues of MT. Whether or not some plants also produce MT is an important question which remains to be answered.
Flow cytometric analysis to detect pathogens in bacterial cell mixtures using semiconductor quantum dots.

Compared to a common green organic dye, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) composed of CdSe/ZnS core/shell bioconjugates display brighter fluorescence intensities, lower detection thresholds, and better accuracy in analyzing bacterial cell mixtures composed of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 and harmless E. coli DH5α using flow cytometry. For the same given bacterial mixture, QDs display fluorescence intensity levels that are ∼1 order of magnitude brighter compared to the analogous experiments that utilize the standard dye fluorescein isothiocyanate. Detection limits are lowest when QDs are used as the fluorophore label for the pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 serotype: limits of 1% O157:H7 in 99% DH5α result, corresponding to 106 cells/mL, which is comparable to other developing fluorescence-based techniques for pathogen detection. Finally, utilizing QDs to label E. coli O157:H7 in cell mixtures results in greater accuracy and more closely approaches the ideal fluorophore for pathogen detection using flow cytometry....
The Future of Preventive Detention

America is presently fighting a war on terror and war on sex offenders. In each, the government openly detains hundreds of individuals not for what they have done, but for what they might do. Some warn that this greatest restriction on liberty may expand to other types of people. This Article examines the risk of such expansion by putting our current wars in historical perspective. The two main conclusions are: (1) some categories of people detained in prior periods are not being detained today; and (2) the risk of expansion is real but lower than previously suggested.
Azelastine HCl: A Review of the Old and New Formulations

Azelastine HCl (Astelin™) is an intranasal antihistamine indicated for use in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis (VMR). A side effect of this medication is bitter taste which many patients find aversive. To address the issue of bitter taste, azelastine has been reformulated to include sucralose and sorbitol. The new formulation (Astepro™ 0.1%) is approved for seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis and has been demonstrated to have comparable pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and therapeutic efficacy compared to Astelin. More recently, Astepro at a concentration 0.15% has been approved for once a day use. This review will provide an overview of the old and new formulations of Azelastine.
Fourier Domain - Optical Coherence Tomography based on a Quadrature Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

A quadrature Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on a 3 x 3 fiber coupler is presented. This novel interferometric platform is used in a homodyne configuration within an optical coherence tomography system. A fast swept laser source is used as light source. The complex interferometric signal is reconstructed so the complex conjugate ambiguity is removed. The features of this novel setup are discussed.
Chronic Renal Ischemia: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Chronic renal ischemia caused by atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) is gaining recognition as a potentially important risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. The etiology of increased risk of CV events is multifaceted and includes direct physiologic changes that increase risk as well as intermediate clinical effects that are associated with worse outcome. Physiologic changes associated with increased CV risk in patients with RAS include increased production of fibrogenic and vasoactive peptides such as renin, angiotensin, endothelin, and catecholamines, as well as endothelial cell dysfunction. Clinical intermediate conditions associated with higher incidences of CV events seen in patients with renal ischemia include hypertension, systemic atherosclerosis, chronic renal failure, and left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction. More thorough understanding of the myriad physiologic changes seen in patients with RAS will likely improve patient selection for renal artery revascularization. Clinical trials should examine a full range of CV and renal outcomes, not just blood pressure, to adequately assess the merits of revascularization.
Differential requirements for AP-2 in clathrin-mediated endocytosis

AP-2 complexes are key components in clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). They trigger clathrin assembly, interact directly with cargo molecules, and recruit a number of endocytic accessory factors. Adaptor-associated kinase (AAK1), an AP-2 binding partner, modulates AP-2 function by phosphorylating its μ2 subunit. Here, we examined the effects of adenoviral-mediated overexpression of WT AAK1, kinase-dead, and truncation mutants in HeLa cells, and show that AAK1 also regulates AP-2 function in vivo. WT AAK1 overexpression selectively blocks transferrin (Tfn) receptor and LRP endocytosis. Inhibition was kinase independent, but required the full-length AAK1 as truncation mutants were not inhibitory. Although changes in μ2 phosphorylation were not detected, AAK1 overexpression significantly decreased the phosphorylation of large adaptin subunits and the normally punctate AP-2 distribution was dispersed, suggesting that AAK1 overexpression inhibited Tfn endocytosis by functionally sequestering AP-2. Surprisingly, clathrin distribution and EGF uptake were unaffected by AAK1 overexpression. Thus, AP-2 may not be stoichiometrically required for coat assembly, and may have a more cargo-selective function in CME than previously thought.
Enriching the Outdoor Play Experience

(1993). Enriching the Outdoor Play Experience. Childhood Education: Vol. 70, No. 2, pp. 87-90.
SOLVENT EFFECTS ON THE FLUORESCENT STATES OF INDOLE DERIVATIVES‐DIPOLE MOMENTS

Abstract— Electronic spectra of indoles are very sensitive to solvents. These solvent effects are particularly pronounced in the case of the fluorescence spectra of indoles. In order to elucidate the solvent band shifts during the relaxation of the excited states, particularly in polar solvents, the dipole moments of the excited singlet states have been estimated from the data of solvent-dependent Stokes shifts. In addition to indole, indole-5-carboxylic acid, indole-3-carboxylic acid, indole-2-carboxylic acid, 5-cyano- and 5-bromo-indoles have been investigated. All indoles showed a substantial increase in dipole moment upon excitation to the emitting state. These results are generally consistent with the Pariser-Parr-Pople SCF MO calculations.
Comparative outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in diabetics vs non-diabetics with prior coronary artery bypass grafting.

Aims To determine the influence of diabetes on outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods and Results Patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from 1 January 1996, to 31 August 2000, were divided into two groups based on whether or not they had diabetes, excluding patients with acute infarction or shock. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to estimate the association between diabetes and adverse events. One thousand one hundred and fifty-three post-coronary artery bypass grafting percutaneous coronary intervention patients were identified (326 diabetics and 827 non-diabetics). Diabetics were younger, more likely to have hypertension, heart failure, and lower ejection fraction. Procedural characteristics and angiographic and procedural success rates were similar. Diabetes was associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio 1·58, 95% confidence intervals 1·10–2·27). Diabetes did not have a significant effect on mortality in patients treated for single-territory coronary disease (hazard ratio 1·44, 95% confidence intervals 0·69–3·02), but did in patients with multi-territory disease (hazard ratio 1·79, 95% confidence intervals 1·16–2·76). However, in diabetics with multi-territory disease who were completely revascularized with percutaneous coronary intervention, mortality was comparable to non-diabetics (hazard ratio 1·32, 95% confidence intervals 0·57–3·03). Conclusion Among percutaneous coronary intervention patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting, diabetes portends an adverse prognosis. Copyright 2002 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .
Glycoprotein Biosynthesis at the Time of Palate Fusion by Rabbit Palate and Maxilla Cultured In Vitro

The dynamics of glycoprotein biosynthesis in rabbit maxillary and palatal explants at the time of palatal fusion was studied using3H-fucose and 14C-leucine as precursors. The results show that there is an increase in glycoprotein biosynthesis in the rabbit palate in vitro at a time commensurate with the onset of contact and adherence of the palatal shelves.
The Role of Sonography in Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) involves the surgical placement of a portion of or whole donor liver into a patient to restore hepatic function. Ultrasound is an excellent screening modality for evaluating the post-transplant liver and for the detection and follow-up of LT complications. This article reviews the role of sonography in LT.
Ethical considerations in research involving human subjects

Abstract “Ethical issues” may present themselves in two ways: as an incongruity between affirmed values and derivative actions, or as a mistaken set of affirmed values. In consideration of formal statements of values appealed to in research involving human subjects—The Nuremberg Code, The Declaration of Helsinki, The Policies and Guidelines of DHEW, the AMA's “Ethical Guidelines for Clinical Investigation” et al.—current ethical issues in this matter are of the first sort: discontinuity between values affirmed and actions taken. The principal concerns emerge from these formal statements: for the study itself and for the subject(s) of the study. Ethical adequacy of investigations involving human subjects is assessed with reference to a study's design, conduct, and result; none of these is dispensable. Ethical concerns for the subject(s) evolve primarily about valid consent and risk-assessment. (1) Where there is sufficient warrant to test experimental hypotheses, in order to advance medical knowledge and/or meet human medical needs, and (2) where the design, conduct, and result of clinical investigation appropriately forward these intentions, and (3) where human subjects are involved only after valid consent is secured, their protection from possible injury, disability, or death is guarded, and the risk to subjects determined to be both acceptable and proportional to the significance of the study—where these elements are present, the ethical interests of the formal statements conventionally appealed to are served. These ethical interests, in themselves, are appropriate; current issues derive, not so much from mistaken values as from failure to express those well-articulated values in discrete action(s).