cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SUPPRESSION OF OSCILLATIONS IN NONLINEAR SYSTEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the suppression of oscillations in nonlinear systems. The systems of differential equations are particularly designed for the study of biological systems in two respects. The restriction to systems of dimension two or three is often quite satisfactory in describing problems in physics. But biological systems are far more complicated, and in many cases, a realistic description requires consideration of a larger set of variables. The chapter also focuses on solutions all of whose components are nonnegative and presents the hypothesis that any solution all of whose components are nonnegative at a given time t has the property that for all t ≥ t 0 , all the components are nonnegative.
Large Progress in Small Ramsey Numbers

In the first edition [BS] of this book, I wrote that “even R(4,5) or R(5,5) are not known.” The problem of calculating R(4,5) has since been settled completely by Brendan D. McKay of the Australian National University and Stanislaw P. Radziszowski of the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Predicting gene expression in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Empirical evidence suggests that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum employs a broad range of mechanisms to regulate gene transcription throughout the organism9s complex life cycle. To better understand this regulatory machinery, we assembled a rich collection of genomic and epigenomic data sets, including information about transcription factor (TF) binding motifs, patterns of covalent histone modifications, nucleosome occupancy, GC content, and global 3D genome architecture. We used these data to train machine learning models to discriminate between high-expression and low-expression genes, focusing on three distinct stages of the red blood cell phase of the Plasmodium life cycle. Our results highlight the importance of histone modifications and 3D chromatin architecture and suggest a relatively small role for TF binding in Plasmodium transcriptional regulation.
The Phenomenological Experience of Parents Who Live with a Boomerang Child

Prior quantitative research indicates that boomerang child coresidence provides economic and emotional support for young adults as they transition to adulthood; however, no qualitative studies have...
Human cytomegalovirus-vectored vaccines against HIV.

Purpose of reviewCMV-vectored vaccines expressing SIV antigens have mediated unprecedented levels of virus control following SIV challenge in rhesus macaques. Remarkably, protection was dependent on nonclassically restricted CD8+ T cells. Here, we review the latest research in CMV-vectored vaccines
A community hospital experience in the use of peri-operative dose-dense MVAC in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treated with either robotic cystectomy (RC) or open cystectomy (OC).

e15509 Background: Community practices have shied away in using DD-MVAC as neo-adjuvant regimen of choice to treat MIBC. Recent data has shown that DD-MVAC has better tolerability than standard MVA...
Guidelines for Creating Meaningful Meeting Minutes

Abstract In academia, documentation of meaningful minutes ensures quality and integrity of education practice and serves as evidence in accreditation reviews. Nurse faculty often share responsibility for minute taking during various academic meetings, but frequently lack mentorship and learn by trial and error. The article provides guidelines for formulating meaningful meeting minutes. It offers concrete strategies for ease and facilitation of comprehensive documentation of minutes.
Congenital soft tissue stenosis of the external auditory canal with canal cholesteatoma: Case report and literature review.

Abstract Congenital external auditory canal stenosis (EACS) is a spectrum of abnormalities affecting the external and middle ear. We report a 6 year-old patient with EACS affecting the lateral fibrocartilaginous canal that was successfully repaired. This patient highlights a variant of EACS characterized by lateral soft tissue narrowing with normal osseous development. Most previous studies of CAA have described severe forms associated with complete atresia, bony stenosis, and middle ear malformations. Stenosis affecting only the fibrocartilaginous canal is a milder form resulting from premature arrest of the canalization process during embryologic development, and may predispose to cholesteatoma formation.
Development of canine PD-1/PD-L1 specific monoclonal antibodies and amplification of canine T cell function

Interruption of the programmed death 1 (PD-1) / programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is an established and effective therapeutic strategy in human oncology and holds promise for veterinary oncology. We report the generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for canine PD-1 and PD-L1. Antibodies were initially assessed for their capacity to block the binding of recombinant canine PD-1 to recombinant canine PD-L1 and then ranked based on efficiency of binding as judged by flow cytometry. Selected antibodies were capable of detecting PD-1 and PD-L1 on canine tissues by flow cytometry and Western blot. Anti-PD-L1 worked for immunocytochemistry and anti-PD-1 worked for immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded canine tissues, suggesting the usage of this antibody with archived tissues. Additionally, anti-PD-L1 (JC071) revealed significantly increased PD-L1 expression on canine monocytes after stimulation with peptidoglycan or lipopolysaccharide. Together, these antibodies display specificity for the natural canine ligand using a variety of potential diagnostic applications. Importantly, multiple PD-L1-specific antibodies amplified IFN-γ production in a canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) concanavlin A (Con A) stimulation assay, demonstrating functional activity.
100 years of Colpitts Oscillators: Ontology Review of Common Oscillator Circuit Topologies

The year 2018 marked 100 years since the introduction of a class of oscillatory circuits called Colpitts oscillators. Few other electronic circuits have survived for such a long time and affected the electronic technology as the Colpitts oscillator. Today, Colpitts oscillators are found in both communication systems and digital circuits as clock and frequency generators. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview over the development of the Colpitts oscillator, from the simple vacuum tube oscillator patented by Colpitts in 1918, to state of the art MEMS oscillators operating at high GHz region in today?s modern electronics. We review different types of Colpitts oscillators, including singleended, differential, complementary, gm-boosted and introduce a timeline for the development of these circuits.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PERIODONTITIS AND GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS

Objective: To evaluate association between periodontal disease and gestational diabetes mellitus. Study Design: Case control study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at Department of Periodontology, Fatima MemorialHospital, Lahore, from Jul 2016 to Jan 2017. Methodology: A total of 140 patients divided into 2 groups i.e., cases & controls (70 in each group) were included the study. Periodontal examination was carried out by a WHO periodontal probe and clinical measurements of periodontal conditions including Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Probing Depth (PD) and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL) were recorded. A single periodontology resident took all the said measurements.Results: Patients ranged between 20-45 years of age. Mean age of the patients was 31.37 ± 5.07 years and 31.57 ± 4.27 years in cases and controls, respectively. In cases periodontitis was found in 52 patients (74.3%) while 37patients (52.9%) were having periodontitis in control group. There was an association between periodontal disease and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (odds ratio 2.58). Conclusion: In conclusion, periodontitis in pregnancyis found to increase the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus compared to women without periodontitis.
Viewpoint: Hetero-ontologies and taxonomies in the wild

An optimistic spirit of progressive pluralism accompanied early digital work in the arts and humanities. The singular “universe” of knowledge would be amplified into a “multiverse” through faceted approaches embodying varied cultural—and even individual–viewpoints. Precisely how this utopian ideal was to be realized—through customized search or fluid ontologies or other semantic web technology—was not clear. But the motivations combined creative impulses for decolonizing and diversifying information systems.
Assessing synergistic radar and radiometer capability in retrieving ice cloud microphysics based on hybrid Bayesian algorithms

Abstract. The 2017 National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey highlighted several high priority objectives to be pursued during the next decadal timeframe, and the next-generation Cloud Convection Precipitation (CCP) observing system is thereby contemplated. In this study, we investigate the capability of two CCP candidates, i.e. a W-band cloud radar and a submillimeter-wave radiometer, in ice cloud remote sensing by developing hybrid Bayesian algorithms for the active-only, passive-only, and synergistic retrievals. The hybrid Bayesian algorithms combine the Bayesian MCI and optimization process to retrieve quantities and uncertainty estimates. The radar-only retrievals employ the optimal estimation methodology, while the radiometer-involved retrievals employ ensemble approaches to maximize the posterior probability density function. The a priori information is obtained from the Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling (TC4) in situ data and CloudSat radar observations. Simulation experiments are conducted to evaluate the retrieval accuracies by comparing the retrieved parameters with known values. The experiment results suggest that the radiometer measurements possess high sensitivity for large ice cloud particles, even though the brightness temperature measurements do not contain direct information on the vertical distributions of ice cloud microphysics. The radar-only retrieval demonstrates skill in retrieving ice water content profiles, but not in retrieving number concentration profiles. The synergistic information is demonstrated to be helpful in improving retrieval accuracies, especially in terms of ice water path. The end-to-end simulation experiments also provide a framework that could be extended to the inclusion of other remote sensors to further assess the CCP observing system in future studies.
One-Dimensional Flat Bands and Anisotropic Moiré Excitons in Twisted Tin Sulfide Bilayers

Group IV monochalcogenides have attracted significant recent attention due to their similarities to black phosphorus and their potential applications in “twistronics”, inspired by the synthesis of ...
Enhancing Image Classification Capabilities of Crowdsourcing-Based Methods through Expanded Input Elicitation

This study investigates how different forms of input elicitation obtained from crowdsourcing can be utilized to improve the quality of inferred labels for image classification tasks, where an image must be labeled as either positive or negative depending on the presence/absence of a specified object. Three types of input elicitation methods are tested: binary classification (positive or negative); level of confidence in binary response (on a scale from 0-100%); and what participants believe the majority of the other participants' binary classification is. We design a crowdsourcing experiment to test the performance of the proposed input elicitation methods and use data from over 200 participants. Various existing voting and machine learning (ML) methods are applied and others developed to make the best use of these inputs. In an effort to assess their performance on classification tasks of varying difficulty, a systematic synthetic image generation process is developed. Each generated image combines items from the MPEG-7 Core Experiment CE-Shape-1 Test Set into a single image using multiple parameters (e.g., density, transparency, etc.) and may or may not contain a target object. The difficulty of these images is validated by the performance of an automated image classification method. Experimental results suggest that more accurate classifications can be achieved when using the average of the self-reported confidence values as an additional attribute for ML algorithms relative to what is achieved with more traditional approaches. Additionally, they demonstrate that other performance metrics of interest, namely reduced false-negative rates, can be prioritized through special modifications of the proposed aggregation methods that leverage the variety of elicited inputs.
Acid alpha-glucosidase gene replacement therapy to the diaphragm remodels ventilatory function in severe Pompe disease (1091.8)

Pompe disease is a neuromuscular disorder due to mutations in the gene that encodes the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme, which results in lysosomal glycogen accumulation in striated muscle and ...
Estimation of seasonal transmission parameters in childhood infectious disease using a stochastic continuous time model

Abstract The development of accurate disease models is desirable for the purposes of gaining a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of infectious disease spread and for designing and implementing appropriate control measures to curb infectious disease spread. In this work we develop an estimation framework for long-term continuous time infectious disease models that considers both model and estimation noise. We present a nonlinear programming approach for efficient estimation of model parameters, including seasonal transmission profiles. We then demonstrate the effectiveness of this framework using measles data from New York City and Bangkok, and show that a strong correlation exists between estimated seasonal parameters and school term holidays.
Abnormal human haemoglobins. Separation and characterization of the alpha and beta chains by chromatography, and the determination of two new variants, hb Chesapeak and hb J (Bangkok).

A method for the separation of the α and β chains of human haemoglobin by chromatography on carboxymethyl-cellulose in 8 M -urea has been described. Chromatography of a number of abnormal globins showed that the resolution of the system was sufficient to enable charged abnormal α or β chains to be separated from their normal counterparts. The use of this procedure to identify abnormal chains without performing hybridization experiments has been discussed. The aminoethyl derivatives of normal α and β chains obtained by chromatography have been characterized by peptide mapping. The tryptic peptides of aminoethyl-α and aminoethyl-β chains can be resolved by paper electrophoresis at pH 4·7 followed by chromatography in n-butanol—acetic acid—water—pyridine. Amino acid analyses have been performed on peptides eluted from the ninhydrin-stained peptide maps. The procedure has been applied to the characterization of two new haemoglobin mutants. Haemoglobin Chesapeake has been identified as α292Leuβ2 ,and haemoglobin J (Bangkok) has been identified as α2β256Asp.
New business starts and economic activity: An empirical investigation

Abstract This paper identifies two types of factors that influence the rate of creation of new firms; macroeconomic and microeconomic. The macroeconomic climate that appears to be most conducive to the formation of small businesses is what might loosely be called sluggish. Lower rates of growth of GNP, lower inflation rates, and greater growth in the unemployment rate were followed by increases in the rate of new incorporations. The cross-sectional or micro-economic factors which lead to higher rates of entry into different industries include higher growth rates in sales, higher research and development intensity, and higher profit rates. We do not find any of the traditional barriers to entry to be related to the rate of new firm creation.
Assessing the validity of tuberculosis surveillance data in California

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convened a workgroup to revise the tuberculosis (TB) case report in the United States of America (U.S.). The group proposed substantial revisions. Study objectives were to systematically assess the validity and completeness of reported TB case surveillance data in California and to inform TB case report revision process. A sample of 594 cases was retrospectively selected from the cohort of all TB cases reported during 6/1/96-5/31/97 to the State TB Registry. Cases, stratified by treatment outcome, were randomly sampled within each outcome category. Data for 53 variables were abstracted from each case's public health medical record and compared to data recorded on the TB case report. Using the medical record as the "gold standard," estimates were developed for 1) concordance, sensitivity, and positive predictive value of reported data for categorical variables; 2) the absolute mean difference between the two information source for date variables; and 3) the completeness of data on the case report and in medical record. At least 90% of the values for 35 (79.5%) categorical variables submitted on the TB case report form were identical to values in the medical record. Concordance between data on the case report and medical record was lower for the remaining nine (20.5%) categorical variables: status of abnormal chest x-ray (46.8%); directly observed therapy (48.6%); smear result for tissue or body fluid other than sputum (49.2%); type(s) of tissue or body fluid for smears and cultures other than sputum (76.4% and 73.9% respectively); provider type (73.4%); occupation (84.4%); sputum culture conversion (85.4%); and sputum smear result (89.6%). Case report data were more complete than data in the medical record; 2.9% versus 9.8% of data were missing/unknown, respectively. For most variables examined on the TB case report, data validity was excellent, indicating a robust surveillance system. However, lower data quality was noted for a small number of variables primarily impacting treatment adherence, including assessment and planning; advocacy; allocation and garnering of resources; and research. The study provides compelling evidence supporting the CDC workgroup's proposed revisions to the TB case report.
Marriage in American Muslim Communities

Marriage in its relation to religion, specifically Islam, is intrinsically linked to questions of sexual and gender norms. US Muslim communities, extremely diverse in their backgrounds, negotiate marriage in their discourses on a spectrum that constructs ‘American’ and ‘Muslim’ as opposing ends, while the realities of American Muslim marriage present a much more richly textured and thus complex picture. Norms and practices are co-developed in a complicated web of gender debates, distinctions of religion from culture, and developments within the American religious, social, and political environment that American Muslims share.
Alanyl-Glutamine Consumption Modifies the Suppressive Effect of l-Asparaginase on Lymphocyte Populations in Mice

Asparaginase (Elspar) is used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It depletes plasma asparagine and glutamine, killing leukemic lymphoblasts but also causing immunosuppression. The objective of this work was to assess whether supplementing the diet with glutamine modifies the effect of asparaginase on normal lymphocyte populations in the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow. Mice consuming water ad libitum with or without alanyl-glutamine dipeptide (AlaGln; 0.05 mol/L) were injected once daily with 0 or 3 international units/g body weight Escherichia coli L-asparaginase for 7 d. Tissue expression of specific immune cell surface markers was analyzed by flow cytometry. Asparaginase reduced B220 + and slgM + cells in the bone marrow (P < 0.05) and diminished total cell numbers in thymus (-42%) and spleen (-53%) (P< 0.05). In thymus, asparaginase depleted double positive (CD4 + CD8 + ) and single positive (CD 4 +CD8 - , CD4-CD8+) thymocytes by over 40% (P < 0.05). In spleen, asparaginase reduced CD19 + B cells to 33% of controls and substantially depleted the CD4 + and CD8 + T cell populations. CD11 b-expressing leukocytes were reduced by 50% (P < 0.05). Consumption of AlaGln did not lessen the effects of asparaginase in bone marrow or thymus but mitigated cellular losses in the CD4 + , CD8 + , and CD11b + populations in spleen. AlaGln also blunted the increase in eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (elF2) phosphorylation by asparaginase in spleen, whereas elF2 phosphorylation did not change in thymus in response to asparaginase or AlaGln. In conclusion, asparaginase reduces maturing populations of normal B and T cells in thymus, bone marrow, and spleen. Oral consumption of AlaGln mitigates metabolic stress in spleen, supporting the peripheral immune system and cell-mediated immunity during asparaginase chemotherapy.
Ciglitazone induces early cellular proliferation and NF-κB transcriptional activity in colon cancer cells through p65 phosphorylation

Abstract While it is well established that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligands inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells with a prolonged treatment (3–5 days), the early effects of PPARγ exposure are less clear. In this report, we demonstrate that the PPARγ ligand, ciglitazone, induces proliferation of HT-29 and Caco-2 colon cancer cells transiently ( 72 h). Associated with this cellular proliferation phase, we observed an increase in NF-κB transcriptional activity. Ciglitazone exposure did not affect NF-κB DNA binding but rather, increased phosphorylation of p65 as well as the recruitment of the co-activator CBP. Pre-treatment of HT-29 cells with wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) kinase inhibitor, inhibited ciglitazone-induced p65 phosphorylation, NF-κB transcriptional activity and cell proliferation. Interestingly, ciglitazone inhibited PPAR transcriptional activity, suggesting this early proliferative effect is PPRE independent. These data suggest that the early proliferative phase of PPARγ ligand exposure is associated with activation of NF-κB by p65 phosphorylation and cofactor recruitment and not through increased DNA binding.
Surface cleaning procedures for thin films of indium gallium nitride grown on sapphire

Abstract Surface preparation procedures for indium gallium nitride (InGaN) thin films were analyzed for their effectiveness for carbon and oxide removal as well as for the resulting surface roughness. Aqua regia (3:1 mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid and concentrated nitric acid, AR), hydrofluoric acid (HF), hydrochloric acid (HCl), piranha solution (1:1 mixture of sulfuric acid and 30% H 2 O 2 ) and 1:9 ammonium sulfide:tert-butanol were all used along with high temperature anneals to remove surface contamination. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were utilized to study the extent of surface contamination and surface roughness, respectively. The ammonium sulfide treatment provided the best overall removal of oxygen and carbon. Annealing over 700 °C after a treatment showed an even further improvement in surface contamination removal. The piranha treatment resulted in the lowest residual carbon, while the ammonium sulfide treatment leads to the lowest residual oxygen. AFM data showed that all the treatments decreased the surface roughness (with respect to as-grown specimens) with HCl, HF, (NH 4 ) 2 S and RCA procedures giving the best RMS values (∼0.5–0.8 nm).
Plant Reproduction—Ten Years Later

One of my goals as Founding Editor of The Plant Cell was to have a Special Issue published each year that reviewed a major area of plant biology. My idea was that The Plant Cell Special Issues would provide incisive, cutting-edge reviews of timely research areas and would serve as an invaluable
Compressive properties of hard tooth tissues and some restorative materials

Improved methods of preparing and testing specimens of hard tooth tissue to determine their modulus of elasticity, proportional limit and strength have yielded more precise data than were hitherto available. The compressive properties of enamel appear to depend on the orientation of the specimens in the tooth. Enamel is stiffer than dentin. The compressive properties of deciduous enamel and dentin are similar to those of enamel and dentin from permanent teeth. The stiffness of enamel is higher than that of the restorative materials tested, with the exception of the medium and hard inlay casting gold alloys.
Flooded area estimation using radar images and digital elevation model

In this study were evaluated the utility of ERS-1 satellite imagery in conjunction with ancillary data for mapping the flooded areas of the November 1994 flood event occurred in Northern Italy. Two images were analyzed, one collected a month before the flood and the other one collected three day after the inundation. Two processing procedures and a visual interpretation were applied within a masked area extracted from the digital elevation model (DEM). Areal extent of flooded surfaces retrieved by the different methods were compared with the actual flood extension derived from field survey. Intermediate results showed that only a small fraction of the total inundated area was possible to estimated because of the time shift between flood and satellite passage. To overcome this limitation a procedure based on the integration of flooded areas as previously estimated by radar images, with a cost matrix calculated on the basis of the DEM was developed in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. This method allowed to map additional inundated areas amounting 96.7% of the actual flooded area. Result shows that even if radar data are taken some days after the inundation, they are still well suited to reconstruct flooded area when DEM is employed in the mapping process.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Negative-parity levels in even-even Hg isotopes☆

Two negative-parity levels have been located in the nuclei 194Hg, 196Hg and 198Hg at excitation energies of 1.6–1.9 MeV. These levels are populated by the electron-capture decay of the 7+ isomeric states of 194Tl, 196Tl and 198Tl.
Autoradiographic Study of the Effects of Cortisol on DNA Synthesis in Lymphatic Tissue

THE inter-relationships between adrenal corticosteroids and lymphatic tissue have often been described. The involution of lymphatic tissue produced by adrenal corticosteroids can be related to different aspects of the growth of lymphatic tissue and to the metabolism of lymphocytes. The effects on growth of lymphatic tissue are a combination of lymphocytokaryorrhexis and the inhibition of mitosis1. Metabolic effects include inhibition of DNA synthesis2,3, RNA synthesis3,4, protein synthesis3,5–7 and glucose utilization7–9, as well as producing changes in certain enzymes10.
Human-Centered Computational Support in Space Transportation

This paper focuses on the distributed planning of activities in space transportation, specifically for trajectory operations for the United States Space Shuttle Program. Faced with limited resources and vehicle capabilities, flight controllers attempt to develop a trajectory that is acceptable (if not optimal) for the Flight Control team. However, any time during a flight, new context might arise that necessitates revisions. To explore alternative responses flight controllers make use of multiple models of the relevant objects in orbit. A promising role for human centered, computational support lies in establishing the functional requirements of these models. The presentation will discuss three functions of such models, related to the human processes that attribute meaning to representations.
Congenital Prepubic Sinus in an Adolescent Female: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Congenital prepubic sinus is a rare anomaly, especially in women; only 17 cases in 13 reports were found in the English literature after a search in the PubMed during 1990-2013. We report the diagnosis and successful minimally invasive excision of a congenital prepubic sinus in an adolescent female patient. Our experience and a review of the literature suggest the most likely etiology to be a variant of dorsal urethral duplication.
Two-Port Network Models for Compliant Rhomboidal Strain Amplifiers

Piezoelectric stack actuators have the advantages of zero backlash and no acoustic noise, but their stroke is too small to actuate robotic links directly. Because the force available is often more than the required, the stroke of the piezoelectric stack can be amplified by a compliant mechanism at the expense of force. It is not always clear what the geometry of this compliant mechanism should be. Compliant mechanisms have parallels in biology in that they describe two-way interactions between the actuator and the environment. In this paper, we employ the concept of a two-port network model from circuit theory to describe this two-way interaction and present a method to obtain each element of the two-port model as an analytical function of physical geometric parameters for a wide class of geometries. This method makes use of Castigliano's theorem and Euler-Bernoulli linearly elastic beam theory. To our knowledge, this is the first two-port representation of a compliant mechanism that is based on analytical expressions of geometric parameters. This analytical model agrees well with finite-element method calculations. We also examine a representative case experimentally and achieve accuracies better than 18%.
A Geometric Model for Mixed-Mode Oscillations in a Chemical System

This paper presents a detailed analysis of mixed-mode oscillations in the “autocatalator,” a three-dimensional, two time scale vector field that is a chemical reactor model satisfying the law of mass action. Unlike earlier work, this paper investigates a return map that simultaneously exhibits full rank and rank deficient behavior in different regions of a cross section. Canard trajectories that follow a two-dimensional repelling slow manifold separate these regions. Ultimately, one-dimensional induced maps are constructed from approximations to the return maps. The bifurcations of these induced maps are used to characterize the bifurcations of the mixed-mode oscillations. It is further shown that the mixed-mode oscillations are associated with a singular Hopf bifurcation that occurs in the system.
Potential misclassification of patients with psoriasis in electronic databases.

Background Electronic claims and medical record databases are increasingly used for observational studies of psoriasis. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of psoriasis diagnostic codes in an electronic database. Methods This study was performed in a population-based setting in Olmsted County, Minnesota, where all diagnoses and procedures from all health care providers in a large community are indexed and recorded in an electronic database. The database was searched for patients aged 18 years or older with diagnostic codes consistent with psoriasis for the time period January 1, 1976, to January 1, 2000. The complete medical records of all patients were reviewed manually for validation of psoriasis diagnoses. Results We reviewed the complete medical records of 2556 patients with at least one diagnostic code consistent with psoriasis. Based on medical record review, 1458 (57.0%) patients were confirmed to have psoriasis, of which the majority (81%) received confirmation by a dermatologist. The most commonly used diagnostic codes for psoriasis were International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision 696.1 (psoriasis, not otherwise specified) with a positive predictive value of 68.7% (95% confidence interval: 66.5%, 70.9%). Increasing frequency of codes in a given time window was associated with positive predictive values. However, positive predictive value for only one code in a 5-year time window was still as high as 60% (95% confidence interval: 57%, 63%). Limitations Differences between individual electronic medical record databases may limit the ability to form a general conclusion from these findings. The remitting, relapsing course of psoriasis and the heterogeneity in clinical presentation create challenges in case ascertainment. Conclusion Electronic identification of patients with psoriasis by diagnostic codes alone may lead to misclassification in database studies.
Smallworlds: visualizing social recommendations

We present SmallWorlds, a visual interactive graph-based interface that allows users to specify, refine and build item-preference profiles in a variety of domains. The interface facilitates expressions of taste through simple graph interactions and these preferences are used to compute personalized, fully transparent item recommendations for a target user. Predictions are based on a collaborative analysis of preference data from a user's direct peer group on a social network. We find that in addition to receiving transparent and accurate item recommendations, users also learn a wealth of information about the preferences of their peers through interaction with our visualization. Such information is not easily discoverable in traditional text based interfaces. A detailed analysis of our design choices for visual layout, interaction and prediction techniques is presented. Our evaluations discuss results from a user study in which SmallWorlds was deployed as an interactive recommender system on Facebook.
Global symmetry properties of electroweak heavy physics parameters

Abstract The three recently introduced parameters describing the effect in electroweak gauge interactions of heavy non-decoupled radiative corrections have a simple group-theoretical interpretation based on the global SU(2) L ×SU(2) R ×U(1) B − L symmetry of the standard model.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE UNDERWRITER SELECTION PROCESS FOR INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS

This study extends previous research that shows prestigious underwriters avoided underwriting smaller, more speculative initial public offerings (IPOs) during a post-SEC period, 1966–77. Estimating a logit model with a sample of 1,192 IPOs from 1977 to 1988, we evaluate the effect of offering characteristics and prevailing market conditions on the probability a prestigious investment banker will underwrite an IPO. Similar to previous studies, we find that prestigious underwriters avoid smaller, riskier issues. However, we also find stock market volatility, interest rate volatility, and the strength and profitability of the recent market for seasoned new issues to be important determinants of a prestigious underwriter's decision to underwrite an IPO.
Differential induction of apoptosis and MAP kinase signaling by mitochondrial toxicants in drug-sensitive compared to drug-resistant B-lineage lymphoid cell lines.

A panel of human B-lineage lymphoma cell lines differing in cancer drug-resistance status and Bcl-2/Bax expression were used to study the contribution of mitochondrial-based perturbations and regulation in differential induction of apoptosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction was induced in cells by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (mClCCP) and the respiratory chain inhibitor antimycin A. Cells were then assayed for early changes in MAP kinase signaling and subsequent induction of apoptosis. The cancer drug-resistant cell lines EW36 and CA46, overexpressing Bcl-2 and deficient in Bax, respectively, were both resistant to mitochondrial toxicant-induced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and morphologically detectable apoptotic cell death. In contrast, cancer drug-sensitive ST486 cell line, with low Bcl-2 expression, was sensitive to PARP cleavage and apoptosis engagement. Interestingly, mClCCP induced twofold more apoptosis than antimycin A in the ST486 cells. Exposure to the mitochondrial toxicants resulted in the early and preferential activation of the ERK and p38 MAP kinase pathways in only the drug-sensitive ST486 cell line, with mClCCP more potent than antimycin A. Specific inhibition of the p38 pathway augmented baseline and mClCCP-induced apoptosis. These results show that multi-drug-resistant and -sensitive B-lineage cells are also resistant and sensitive to compounds inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. The differential sensitivity to mitochondrial toxicant effects involved regulation by MAP kinases, since ERK and p38 were found to be preferentially activated only in the drug-sensitive B-lineage cells. Modulation of the p38 signaling pathway altered the sensitivity of cells to mitochondrial stress and may play a more general role in regulating the sensitivity of B-lineage cells to drugs and environmental toxicants.
Oral contraceptive use and hemodynamic, lipid, and fibrinogen responses to smoking and stress in women.

This study examined the association between the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and the hemodynamic stress responses of nonsmokers abstinent and recent smokers and the effects of acute smoking and OC use on stress-related changes in atherogenic lipid and fibrinogen levels. The study comprised 52 female smokers and nonsmokers with half using OCs. Women were asked to perform two stressful activities after smoking or sham-smoking. An increase in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides was observed among women who smoked and in fibrinogen among all women. Systolic Blood Pressure was higher among women who smoked and used OCs while higher diastolic blood pressure was found among women who smoked regardless of OC use. The use of OCs resulted in an increase in the total peripheral resistance stress responses among female smokers and increased cardiac output among women who sham-smoked. Results suggest that cardiovascular reactivity is moderated by OC use in smokers but not in nonsmokers while vascular responsivity is enhanced when combined with stress.
Do air cleaners make a difference in treating allergic disease in homes

Learning Objectives The purpose of this review is to objectively critique available data regarding the clinical benefits of room air cleaners and to provide physicians and patients with a reasonable recommendation of their utility in treatment of inhalant allergic disease. Date Sources Data were obtained from published studies and reviews. Study Selection The specific reviewed studies met the following criteria: 1) selection of patients with clinical allergic disease confirmed by detection of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E; 2) use of an effective air filter; 3) clinical and laboratory evaluation of results; and 4) measurement of the results of air filtration on environmental allergen or airborne particulate levels. The studies were conducted in a double-blind manner. Conclusions of two previous reviews are also incorporated in this paper. Results The results of the published studies and summary reviews show minimal, if any, effectiveness of room air cleaners in treatment of allergic respiratory disease. Conclusions Room air cleaners should not be recommended for people with inhalant allergic disease.
Homicides by Males and Females in India—the Domestic Context

Using extensive interviews with 32 males and 32 females serving life sentences in Indian prisons for domestic‐related homicides, this study examines the cultural context in which those homicides took place. Compared to their male counterparts, female offenders had lower literacy rates, lower family incomes, minimal if any education, and lower employment skills. Male offenders killed siblings, parents, spouses, and children, while female offenders killed spouses, children, and adult daughters‐in‐law. Both males and females used knives or agricultural implements. Females were the only ones to use poison or drowning. No offender used a gun. The subordinate status of Indian women, the social taboos against female alcohol use and work outside the home, specific cultural traditions about marriage, and property disputes figured most prominently in these homicides.
On-the-fly fluorescence lifetime detection of dye-labeled DNA primers for multiplex analysis.

Mixtures of dye-labeled, M13-forward DNA primers were separated by capillary gel electrophoresis and detected on-the-fly, using fluorescence lifetime measurements, to evaluate four-decay detection for multiplex DNA sequencing. Three different four-dye systems were used, two that were excited at 488 nm and one that was excited at 514 nm. Each dye-labeled primer was identified on the basis of the lifetime of the conjugated dye using nonlinear least squares or the maximum entropy method to analyze the lifetime data. Overlapping electrophoretic peaks were generated by making multiple injections of mixtures of the dye-labeled primers. The overlapping peaks were resolved by fitting the data to two-, three- or four-component lifetime models used in nonlinear least-squares analysis in which each lifetime component was fixed to the predetermined lifetime of the corresponding dye-labeled primer. In two of the dye systems, the lifetimes of the four dye-labeled primers were sufficiently different to allow peak resolu...
Population pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in neonates

OBJECTIVE To determine population pharmacokinetic parameters of vancomycin in neonates. METHODS This was a retrospective design, with prospective validation. Two hundred ten sequential neonates were evaluated at the neonatal intensive care units of Minneapolis Children's Medical Center and Children's Hospital of St. Paul. Five hundred twenty serum concentrations from 192 patients were included. A mean +/- SD gestational age of 29.5 +/- 5.1 weeks, postnatal age of 16.5 +/- 19.6 days, and dosing weight of 1492 +/- 1053 gm described the population. Thirty additional patients were studied for validation. Dosing, serum concentrations, and 28 covariates were collected. Data were evaluated with NONMEM. Forward selection and backward elimination regression identified significant covariates. One- and two-compartment population pharmacokinetic parameters and predictive performance of the models were measured. RESULTS Two-compartment final regression equations were as follows: Clearance (CL) = 0.0590 L/kg/hr (multiplied by 0.460 if exposed to dopamine and 0.643 if gestational age was < or = 32 weeks), central volume (VC) = 0.440 L/kg, intercompartmental clearance (Q) = 0.0313 L/hr/kg, and steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) = 0.764 L/kg. Interindividual variability was 40.6% for CL, 54.1% for Vss, and 16.8% for VC. Residual variability was 3.3 micrograms/ml. One-compartment final regression equations were: CL = 0.0626 L/kg/hr (multiplied by 0.455 if exposed to dopamine and 0.656 if gestational age was < or = 32 weeks), and Vd = 0.496 L/kg. Differences in relative performance were insignificant by use of one- or two-compartment parameters. CONCLUSIONS Gestational age < or = 32 weeks and concurrent use of dopamine were significant factors in prediction of vancomycin clearance. alpha Half-lives of 2.8 to 3.7 hours and beta half-lives of 13.4 to 33.7 hours suggest that some individuals in this neonatal population have considerably longer half-lives than those previously reported.
Zn2SiO4‐coated microparticles with biologically‐controlled 3D shapes

The synthesis of zinc silicate-coated microparticles with well-controlled three-dimensional (3D) shapes, via chemical modification of the surfaces of diatom microshells, is demonstrated. ZnO nanoparticle-based coatings were first applied by exposing the microshells to a zinc acetate-bearing solution and then firing at 700 °C. The ZnO nanoparticles were then allowed to react with the underlying SiO2 micro-shells at 1050 °C. Thin (submicron), compact, and continuous Zn2SiO4 coatings were generated that conformed to the microshell surfaces. The Zn2SiO4-coated microparticles retained the starting 3D microshell shape. Given the wide range of microshell shapes available among different species of diatoms (or other SiO2-forming organisms), this simple and scalable microshell coating method may be used to synthesize functional microparticles with a variety of well-controlled 3D shapes and tailored silicate chemistries. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
From employment to entrepreneurship and back: A legitimate boundaryless view or a bias-embedded mindset?

This article explores entrepreneurial cognition theory and the boundaryless view of careers analyzing how a boundaryless view may be composed of several cognitive biases such as overconfidence, belief in the law of small numbers, and illusions of control focused on the ability to enter employment following entrepreneurial exit or failure. These biases reduce risk perceptions associated with the decision to start a venture; however, critical decision-making information may be missed by boundaryless biased individuals, such as negative attributions about former entrepreneurs made by recruitment managers.
A self‐assessment tool to measure older adults’Perceptions regarding physical fitness and exercise activity

The purpose of this research was to qualitatively generate and psychometrically assess an instrument which assesses the self-perceived physical fitness and exercise activity levels of community-dwelling older adults and examines perceived factors which enhance or impede their exercise activity level. This research was carried out in two stages: qualitative and quantitative. Items for the instrument were generated through qualitative interviews with 23 community-dwelling older adults, 9 males and 14 females, with an age range of 63 to 82 years. From this qualitative study, 50 items were generated, representing nine categories of elements which enhance or impede physical activity. The 50 items were incorporated into a 4-point, forced-choice, Likert format instrument which was pilot tested for clarity and ease of administration with a convenience sample of community-dwelling older adults. Following the pilot testing, 41 items were retained. The 41-item instrument, entitled Physical Fitness and Exercise Activity Levels of Older Adults Scale, was categorized into the following subscales: Physical Fitness, Barriers, Motivators, and Exercise Frequency. Initial testing of the Physical Fitness and Exercise Activity Levels of Older Adults Scale seems to indicate adequate validity and reliability. Correlation coefficients for the total instrument, as well as the subscales, were significantly positive for both stability and internal consistency. Results with respect to predictive validity were mixed. The Physical Fitness and Motivators subscales were significant predictors of Exercise Frequency. Although the correlation between the Barriers subscale and Exercise Frequency was negative, it was non-significant.