cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antidepressant Use and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: Some prior studies have reported reduced colorectal cancer risk among individuals using antidepressant medications, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Yet most studies have not considered the potential role of depression or other confounders in their analyses. Methods: We utilized prospectively collected data from 145,190 participants in the Women9s Health Initiative, among whom 2,580 incident colorectal cancer cases were diagnosed. Antidepressant use and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and follow-up study visits. Cox proportional hazards regression models with adjustment for depressive symptoms and other covariates were utilized to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between antidepressant use and colorectal cancer. Results: Antidepressant use was reported by 6.9% of participants at baseline, with SSRIs the most common class of antidepressant used. In multivariable analyses, including adjustment for depressive symptomology, we observed no statistically significant association between antidepressant use overall (HR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.75–1.09) or with SSRIs specifically (HR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.85–1.37) and colorectal cancer risk. A borderline significant reduction in colorectal cancer risk was observed for use of tricyclic antidepressants (HR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.56–1.04). Severe depressive symptoms were independently associated with a 20% increased risk of colorectal cancer (HR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09–1.48). Results were similar for separate evaluations of colon and rectal cancer. Conclusions: We observed no evidence of an association between antidepressant use, overall or by therapeutic class, and colorectal cancer risk. Impact: These results suggest that antidepressants may not be useful as chemopreventive agents for colorectal cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(8); 892–8. ©2018 AACR .
Data/Image Processing

This chapter is intended to provide an insight into what is currently available to the medical imaging community for visualizing and processing digital images acquired with spiral CT. While even more sophisticated functions may also become available in the near future, most of these are still seldom implemented in current clinical practice.
Studies of the n-GaAs/KOH−Se22−−Se2− semiconductor/liquid junction

The current-voltage characteristics of the n-GaAs/KOH-Se{sub 2}{sup 2{minus}}-Se{sup 2{minus}} semiconductor/liquid junction have been determined for a variety of conditions, including changes in the majority carrier density, the minority carrier diffusion length, and the incident light intensity. These data provide an experimental test of previous digital simulation calculations and provide necessary data for use in further mechanistic studies of this system. Spectral response measurements have been performed to elucidate the anomalous increase in short circuit photocurrent density when the n-GaAs photoanodes, and we have observed solar simulated efficiencies in excess of 16% for Os{sup 3+}-treated n-GaAs photoanodes. Chemisorption of metal ions that yielded beneficial effects of n-GaAs photoanode performance also yielded increased charge-transfer rates at p-GaAs, n{sup +}-GaAs, and Sn-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} surfaces.
Creation of Style in the Design Process

A style could be seen as a cultural sign, a social phenomenon, a product symbol, or a way of doing things coming from some individual or group effort. Apart from examining style from outcomes of intentional purposes, this chapter focuses on how an individual style is shaped in design processes approached from the perspective of design cognition. Particularly, attention is on the schematic design stage, which is considered the most critical stage for a design project to be formulated before its final form is determined and constructed. The purpose is to explore how a style is developed in the design process. Fundamental concepts are based on the supposition that an individual style is identified by a set of common features created by a series of mental processes on managing design information. If products share many common features, then there should be many common processes of using similar information utilized in the process, and the style of the products will be strongly expressed and recognized. Therefore, the numbers of common features in products and similar operational factors in processes determine the degree of style, and a style can be defined and measured by the function of common features and factors.
A whole blood sample-to-answer polymer lab-on-a-chip with superhydrophilic surface toward point-of-care technology.

Abstract An innovative sample-to-answer (S-to-A) polymer lab-on-a-chip (LOC) with a blood plasma separator based on asymmetric capillary force has been proposed, developed, and completely characterized for point-of-care technology (POCT) applications. A spray layer-by-layer (LbL) nanoassembly coating has been applied for the superhydrophilic surface onto the cyclic olefin copolymer (COC). Then, the developed superwetting surfaces were designed and optimized for three device applications such as lateral transportation of whole blood in the device by capillary pumping, on-chip whole blood/plasma separation with an asymmetric capillary force, and detection using a capillary-driven lateral flow colorimetric assay. Integrating three primary components of the devices, the S-to-A polymer LOC platform has been effectively confirmed for the lateral flow colorimetric assay of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from unprocessed human whole blood without an external power resource.
The Krüppel-Like Factors and Control of Energy Homeostasis.

Nutrient handling by higher organisms is a complex process that is regulated at the transcriptional level. Studies over the past 15 years have highlighted the critical importance of a family of transcriptional regulators termed the Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) in metabolism. Within an organ, distinct KLFs direct networks of metabolic gene targets to achieve specialized functions. This regulation is often orchestrated in concert with recruitment of tissue-specific transcriptional regulators, particularly members of the nuclear receptor family. Upon nutrient entry into the intestine, gut, and liver, KLFs control a range of functions from bile synthesis to intestinal stem cell maintenance to effect nutrient acquisition. Subsequently, coordinated KLF activity across multiple organs distributes nutrients to sites of storage or liberates them for use in response to changes in nutrient status. Finally, in energy-consuming organs like cardiac and skeletal muscle, KLFs tune local metabolic programs to precisely match substrate uptake, flux, and use, particularly via mitochondrial function, with energetic demand; this is achieved in part via circulating mediators, including glucocorticoids and insulin. Here, we summarize current understanding of KLFs in regulation of nutrient absorption, interorgan circulation, and tissue-specific use.
Boomerang Effects of Sexual-Violence Prevention Messages on College Men's Attitudes

Background: Sexual assault is a serious public health problem in the U.S. Although colleges and universities receiving federal funding are required to provide sexual violence prevention and awareness programs, initiatives aimed specifically at college men remain relatively uncommon. Furthermore, assessments of the effectiveness of such programs suggest that most do not contribute to the prevention of sexual violence on college campuses. Aim: This study investigates the prevalence and malleability of attitudes that underlie sexually violent behaviors perpetrated by self-identified heterosexual, cisgender male college students against college women. Methods: Seventy-one self-identified heterosexual, cisgender, full-time undergraduate male students, all at low risk for committing sexual assault, participated in a pretest-posttest online experiment. They were randomly assigned to one control condition and two experimental sexual-assault-prevention interventions featuring a female or a male speaker. Results: The experimental conditions did not have the intended effects of eliciting attitudes that would further the prevention of sexual violence on college campuses. The experimental conditions were, in fact, less effective on some measures than the control condition. Conclusions: The findings suggest a boomerang effect, which refers to a persuasive outcome opposite to the desired one. Previous research has pointed to boomerang effects of sexual-assault prevention programs among high-risk men. The results of this study suggest a boomerang effect is also evident among college men at low risk for committing sexual assault.
Supersymmetry and the Riemann zeros on the critical line

Abstract We propose a new way of studying the Riemann zeros on the critical line using ideas from supersymmetry. Namely, we construct a supersymmetric quantum mechanical model whose energy eigenvalues correspond to the Riemann zeta function in the strip 0 Re s 1 (in the complex parameter space) and show that the zeros on the critical line arise naturally from the vanishing ground state energy condition in this model.
Less is more: creation and validation of a novel, affordable suturing simulator for anorectal surgery

Duty hour restrictions have increased the role of simulation in surgical education. A simulation that recreates the unique visual, anatomic, and ergonomic challenges of anorectal surgery has yet to be described. The aim of this study was to develop a low-cost, low-fidelity anorectal surgery simulator and provide validity evidence for the model. A novel, low-fidelity simulator was constructed, and anorectal surgery workshops were implemented for general surgery interns at a single institution. Face and content validity were assessed with separate questionnaires using a 5-point Likert scale. Participants performed a simulated hemorrhoid excision with longitudinal wound closure, and transverse wound closure. Time-to-task completion and quality of suturing/knot tying were evaluated by a blinded observer to assess construct validity. Material cost was US $11 per simulator. We recruited 20 first-year surgery residents (novices) and 4 practicing colorectal surgeons (experts), and conducted 3 workshops in 2014–2016. All face and content validity measures achieved a median score greater than 4 (range 4.0–5.0). Time-to-task completion was significantly lower in the expert cohort (hemorrhoid excision with longitudinal wound closure: 195 vs. 477 s and transverse closure: 79 vs. 192 s, p < 0.001 for both). Suturing and knot-tying scores were significantly higher in the expert cohort for both tasks (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Our low-fidelity, low-cost anorectal surgery model demonstrated evidence of face, content, and construct validity. We believe that this simulator could be a useful instrument in the education of junior surgical trainees and will allow residents to obtain proficiency in anorectal suturing tasks in conjunction with traditional surgical training.
Cytokeratin 5 alters β-catenin dynamics in breast cancer cells

Estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancers often contain subpopulations of cells that express the intermediate filament protein cytokeratin 5 (CK5). CK5+ cells are enriched in cancer stem cell (CSC) properties, can be induced by progestins, and predict poor prognosis in ER+ breast cancer. We established through CK5 knockout and overexpression in ER+ breast cancer cell lines that CK5 is important for tumorsphere formation, prompting us to speculate that CK5 has regulatory activity in CSCs. To interrogate CK5 interacting proteins that may be functionally cooperative, we performed immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry for CK5 in ER+ breast cancer cells. Focusing on proteins with signaling activity, we identified β-catenin, a key transcription factor of the Wnt signaling pathway and cell adhesion molecule, as a CK5 interactor, which we confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation in several breast cancer models. We interrogated the dual functions of β-catenin in relation to CK5. Knockout or knockdown of CK5 ablated β-catenin transcriptional activity in response to progestins and Wnt stimuli. Conversely, CK5 induced by progestins or overexpression was sufficient to promote the loss of β-catenin at the cell membrane and total E-cadherin loss. A breast cancer patient-derived xenograft showed similar loss of membrane β-catenin and E-cadherin in CK5+ but not intratumoral CK5- cells and single-cell RNA sequencing found the top enriched pathways in the CK5+ cell cluster were cell junction remodeling and signaling. This report highlights that CK5 actively remodels cell morphology and that blockade of CK5-β-catenin interaction may reverse the detrimental properties of CK5+ breast cancer cells.
The Effect of Substance Abuse Programs on Positive Drug Screening Tests in Trauma Patients.

BackgroundAccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, West Virginia has the highest age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving opioids. To combat this crisis, comprehensive drug cou...
A Fractional- N Reference Sampling PLL With Linear Sampler and CDAC Based Fractional Spur Cancellation

In this article, a fractional- $N$ reference sampling phase-locked loop (PLL) (RSPLL) is presented. A capacitor-based digital-to-analog converter (CDAC) is implemented at the output of the reference sampling phase detector (RSPD) to cancel the divider quantization error in fractional mode. The RSPD is linearized by maintaining a constant discharge current from the sampling capacitor. Although the discharging current source may induce some noise compared to a sampling PD. However, its noise can be effectively suppressed with the high-gain setting for the RSPD when the loop is in lock. The linear range of RSPD can be programmed to cover the quantization error in a frac- $N$ mode without degrading the PLL in-band phase noise. To mitigate the nonlinearity of RSPD, the CDAC is implemented with a high-order cancellation scheme using only one capacitor array but multiple reference voltages. The prototype chip was fabricated in a 45-nm partially depleted silicon-on-insulator (PDSOI) CMOS process. The measurement showed an output frequency range covering 7.7–9.1 GHz with an integrated jitter (10 kHz–50 MHz) of 135 fs and an in-band fractional spur level of −55 dBc at an offset frequency of 50 kHz. The entire PLL consumes 4.5 mW and achieves an figure of merit (FoM) of −250.8 dB.
Characterization of the turbulent wake of an axial-flow hydrokinetic turbine via large-eddy simulation

Abstract Large-Eddy Simulation on a grid composed of about two billion points is utilized to characterize the turbulent wake of an axial-flow hydrokinetic turbine. The dominant role of the tip vortices is revealed, both in the near wake, where they are very coherent, and downstream, after development of instability. As long as the tip vortices are stable, sharp peaks of Reynolds stresses populate the outer boundary of the wake, where turbulence is strongly anisotropic and dominated by the fluctuations of the radial velocity component. Such anisotropy is also confirmed by the shear stresses, with the most significant one tied to the fluctuations of the radial and streamwise velocities, originating from the interaction between tip vortices. When the system of tip vortices develops instability, the behavior of turbulence is substantially modified. The outer maxima become more diffused and move gradually towards the wake core. In contrast with the near wake, the fluctuations of the radial velocity become lower than those of the azimuthal and streamwise velocities. Instead, the shear stress associated to the radial and streamwise velocities keeps the most significant one, contributing to momentum recovery via turbulent transport. The present results demonstrate a strong anisotropy of turbulence within the wake, which should be taken properly into account when lower-fidelity methodologies, relying on turbulence modeling, are utilized to simulate this class of flows.
ZIKV actively induces calcification in the fetal brain.

Brain calcification in newborns with congenital Zika virus infection are caused by virus-mediated aberrant activation of a physiological pathway.
Efficient Self-organized Feature Maps Through Developmental Learning

Learning and adaptation occur at several temporal and spatial scales in animals with central nervous systems. In the broadest sense, these include evolution, development, synaptic learning, and real-time modulation. Of these, artificial neural networks have focused mainly on learning at the synaptic level with fixed network sizes and architectures, thus excluding some very important dimensions of adaptation available to biological systems. With the increasing scale of problems to which neural networks are being applied, and the quest to achieve more robust and flexible general intelligence in artificial systems, it is important to explore learning at other scales as well, of which developmental learning is the least explored. In this paper, we study a simple model of developmental learning in self-organized feature maps with the narrow goal of demonstrating that adding a developmental aspect to synaptic learning can enhance the performance of neural networks while reducing computational load. Though simplistic, the approach described represents a general paradigm for neural learning that mimics the gradual complexification that biological neural networks undergo in animals. We also argue that this is a crucial step for neural learning to move beyond narrow applications towards a more general intelligence framework with continuous learning.
Lysophospholipid (LPA) receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.2

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Lysophospholipid Receptors [55, 19, 82, 129]) are activated by the endogenous phospholipid LPA. The first receptor, LPA1, was identified as ventricular zone gene-1 (vzg-1) [40], This discovery represented the beginning of the de-orphanisation of members of the endothelial differentiation gene (edg) family, as other LPA and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors were found. Five additional LPA receptors (LPA2,3,4,5,6) have since been identified [82] and their gene nomenclature codified for human LPAR1, LPAR2, etc. (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, HGNC) and Lpar1, Lpar2, etc. for mice (Mouse Genome Informatics Database, MGI) to reflect species and receptor function of their corresponding proteins. The crystal structure of LPA1 is solved and indicates that LPA accesses the extracellular binding pocket, consistent with its proposed delivery via autotaxin [13]. These studies have also implicated cross-talk with endocannabinoids via phosphorylated intermediates that can also activate these receptors. The binding affinities to LPA1 of unlabeled, natural LPA and anandamide phosphate (AEAp) were measured using backscattering interferometry (pKd = 9) [83, 104]. Utilization of this method indicated affinities that were 77-fold lower than when measured using radioactivity-based protocols [128]. Targeted deletion of LPA receptors has clarified signalling pathways and identified physiological and pathophysiological roles. Multiple groups have independently published validation of all six LPA receptors described in these tables, and further validation was achieved using a distinct read-out via a novel TGFα "shedding* assay [48]. LPA LPA has been proposed to be a ligand for GPCR35 [94], supported by a recent study revealing that LPA modulates macrophage function through GPR35 [54]. However chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 17 (CXCL17) is reported to be a ligand for GPR35/CXCR8 [76]. Moreover, LPA has also been described as an agonist for the transient receptor potential (Trp) ion channels TRPV1 [87] and TRPA1 [58]. All of these proposed non-GPCR receptor identities require confirmation and are not currently recognized as bona fide LPA receptors.
Specialized Medical Weight Management Intervention for High-Risk Obesity.

**Background:** Bundled payments are services rendered at pre-determined costs with the goal of providing high value care. Our institution’s Episodes of Care team partnered with its tertiary care obesity center to design a novel medical weight management bundle for employers that would collectively deliver high value obesity services. **Objective:** As a first step, we sought to evaluate short-term medical weight loss outcomes over 6 months at the obesity center. **Methods:** We retrospectively analyzed weight loss outcomes on 157 patients with commercial insurance coverage over a period of 6 months. **Results:** Patients ranged in age from 18-72 years, and 77.7% were female. Patients ranged in weight from 160-443 pounds, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 42.7 kg/m2 (Class 3a severe obesity; BMI range 28.4-74.5). The prevalence of any obesity-related medical condition was 54.1%; at least a quarter of the patients had either prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes mellitus, approximately a third had hypertension, and over 8% had hyperlipidemia. Mean weight loss from the initial program start date was 6.28% (+/-0.48% standard error of mean [SEM]; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.34-7.23%). Completers (defined as having at least 6 visits with a medical provider) achieved a higher percentage of weight loss (7.06%) from the initial program start compared to non-completers (4.68%; at least 4-5 visits with a medical provider; _P_ 7% weight loss, with over 55% of patients achieving at least 3% weight loss or higher irrespective of BMI classification. **Conclusions:** Specialized medical weight intervention is effective in treating high-risk obesity with complications. This has implications for enhanced long-term cost savings related to employer coverage of such programs for their employees with obesity.
Sociolinguistic variation and the public interest

Although the disparity between sociolinguistic knowledge and popular beliefs about language diversity is well documented, little proactive attention has been given to changing public misconceptions. How can programs about linguistic diversity be presented when the prevailing public language ideology is largely fueled by the principle of linguistic subordination and interpreted in terms of a correctionist model? The approach to dialect awareness presented here is based on the underlying assumption that the public is inherently curious about language differences and that this intrigue can be transformed into public education venues. It connects the legacy of language variation to legitimate historical and cultural themes that are intrinsically interesting to the public, and assumes that the most effective and permanent education takes place when learners discover truths for themselves. It further presumes that positively framed presentations of language differences in socioculural and sociohistoical context hold a greater likelihood of being received by the public than the direct confrontation of seemingly unassailable ideologies. The presentation considers three quite different venues to exemplify engagement: (1) an extended, long-term engagement commitment in a small, historically isolated research community; (2) language documentaries in public education; and (3) the role of activist linguists on university campuses. The presentation demonstrates that the public rhetoric on linguistic diversity can, in fact, be reconciled with a linguistically informed perspective and that language-awareness programs can serve a range of audiences utilizing a variety of venues.
A Computational Approach to Evaluate Headborne Equipment Impacts to Field of View Over a Population: A Case Study

This paper presents a computational approach to evaluate the field of view (FOV) of a prototype bomb suit helmet. The presented approach computes the FOV based on three-dimensional scans of head and helmet. The variation of the FOV is also evaluated based a large anthropometric database. By identifying four variables to relate cornea location to helmet position, their influence to the FOV variation is computed, which demonstrates the potential for virtual testing of a large population.
Quadratic Loss and Scattering of Long Waves

A wave train past sharp convex corners or narrow passages may suffer energy loss due to flow separation. Representing the energy loss by a surface drop proportional to the square of the local velocity, the effects incurred on the wave train are studied for one-dimensional transmission problems. When the constriction is asymmetrical, an induced current is found along with the radiation of higher harmonics.
Rapid and sensitive analysis of microcystins using ionic liquid-based in situ dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction

Three structurally different ionic liquids (ILs), namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]), 1-(6-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([HeOHMIM][Cl]) and 1-benzyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)imidazolium bromide ([BeEOHIM][Br]), were applied as extraction solvents using in situ dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (in situ DLLME) for the preconcentration of two microcystin variants, microcystin-RR (MC-RR) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) from aqueous samples. Extraction parameters including sample solution pH, ratio of IL to metathesis reagent, sample volume, IL quantity, and salt concentration were optimized to achieve the best extraction efficiency. The [BeEOHIM][Br] IL, which contains both an aromatic moiety and a hydroxyl group within its chemical structure, exhibited superior extraction efficiency compared to the other two ILs. The analytical performance of the [BeEOHIM][Br] IL as an extraction solvent for in situ DLLME of microcystins was investigated using HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS. The limits of detection (LODs) for MC-RR and MC-LR were 0.7μgL(-1) using UV detection with a linear range from 1 to 50μgL(-1). The separation method was successfully adapted for ESI-MS/SIM detection, wherein the LODs for MC-RR and MC-LR were greatly improved to 0.005 and 0.003μgL(-1), respectively. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated by examining the relative recovery using tap water and river water and produced recoveries ranging from 45.0 to 109.7% and from 46.3 to 103.2%, respectively.
The Impact of Economic Development on Political Development in Authoritarian States: An Initial Study of Interest in Politics Across Social Classes in China

Over the past several decades, modernization theory has offered much insight into the conditions necessary for a democratic transition. Proponents of this theory suggest that a link exists between economic development and a democratic transition. Economic development leads to a stronger middle class that develops a greater interest in politics and places demands upon the government, which may lead to regime concessions and an eventual democratic transition. Emerging research, however, suggests there is a link between economic development and the increase in the interest in politics within the working class. This study seeks to answer the question of how economic development impacts interest in politics across social classes in modern authoritarian states. I use ordered logistical regression to test hypotheses derived from these propositions. The results have important implications for understanding the relationship between economic development and political development.
The Intersection of Competitions and Classrooms in Forensics Pedagogy

Many forensics coaches also serve as professors or instructors in their home departments. As a result, they often carry competitive debate practices with them into the classes that they teach. Although this overlap is widely beneficial, it is not without risks. Not all competitive procedures are well suited for classroom environments. Instructors may sometimes incorporate competitive techniques by habit without carefully considering the pedagogical consequences. In this article, we review instructional materials and syllabi from collegiate argumentation and debate classes and identify several methods that are commonly carried over from competitive settings. We then assess the pedagogical and educational implications of implementing these practices in undergraduate classes. We find that several tools and procedures that are appropriate for competition are problematic or even detrimental when adopted in introductory courses. In particular, instructors should think carefully before choosing to emulate compet...
Conical scanning approach for Sun pointing on the CYGNSS microsatellite

The small scales of area, volume, and power of small spacecraft, such as NASA's 25-kg Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) satellites, constrain the number of independent subsystems that they can support. Consequently, small satellites often require novel approaches to execute the same mission functions that a larger satellite can easily perform with familiar sensor, actuator and algorithm options. In the case of CYGNSS, the spacecraft must execute a Sun acquisition and pointing phase but the actuator suite does not include 2-axis sun sensors or rate gyros; two measurements that seem like obvious inclusions for the Sun acquisition task. Instead, during Sun acquisition, the CYGNSS attitude control system uses a limited actuator and sensor set consisting of three magnetic torque rods, a three-axis magnetometer, and Sun incidence-angle measurements from three solar panel faces. This paper describes the sensing and control algorithms implemented in CYGNSS flight software to acquire and maintain Sun pointing with the available measurements and actuators. The Sun pointing algorithm uses a conical scanning approach based on traditional RF pointing and target-tracking systems, which consists of two key control loops: (1) a rate loop, which initiates a body spin about the solar-array face axis, and (2) a slower angle controller that tracks the array power gradients measured over the course of the fast spin. A slew toward the peak power eventually drives the solar panel face normal to spin in a cone centered about the Sun vector. The Sun acquisition process has a large convergence basin, is stable in the Lyapunov sense, and demonstrates excellent performance behavior in simulation.
Analyst Forecasting Errors and Their Implications for Security Analysis

Dreman and Berry (1995) have offered a perspective on analyst earnings forecast errors and their implications for security analysis. Among other arguments, they contend that the errors are too large to be reliably used by investors, the forecasts are less accurate than forecasts by time-series models, the errors are increasing over time, the analysts' forecasts are too optimistic, and the investment community relies too heavily on analyst forecasts. An alternative perspective on these issues is offered. The argument is that analysts' forecast errors are within 3% of an appropriate benchmark (namely, stock price), that their forecasts generally are significantly more accurate than forecasts by naive or sophisticated time-series models, that analyst forecast errors have not been increasing over time, that analysts have been too pessimistic in recent years, and that the investment community, by placing too much weight on forecasts made by time-series models, relies too little on analysts' forecasts.
A Basis for Forecasting Peak Wind Gusts in Non-Frontal Thunderstorms

From sixty-two cases of non-frontal thunderstorms passing over reporting stations, a relation is found between peak wind gusts and the temperature difference between the surface air underneath and in advance of the thunderstorm. The temperature under the thunderstorm is forecast by lowering the wet-bulb temperature at the freezing level to the surface along a saturation adiabat on a pseudoadiabatic chart, permitting use of the relation as an aid to thunderstorm gust forecasting.
Strongly Coupled Quantum Heat Machines

Energy conversion of heat into work at the quantum level is modeled by quantum heat machines (QHMs) generally assumed to operate at weak coupling to the baths. This supposition is grounded in the separability principle between systems and allows the derivation of the evolution equation. In the weak coupling regime, the machine’s output is limited by the coupling strength, restricting their application. Seeking to overcome this limitation, we analyze QHMs in the virtually unexplored strong coupling regime here, where separability, as well as other standard thermodynamic assumptions, may no longer hold. We show that strongly coupled QHMs may be as efficient as their weakly coupled counterparts. In addition, we find a novel turnover behavior where their output saturates and disappears in the limit of ultrastrong coupling.
Economic dimensions of slip and fall injuries

This paper provides an update of annual economic costs imposed by fall injuries. Such costs include medical, rehabilitation, hospital costs, and the costs of morbidity and mortality. These costs are projected to the year 2020, based on changing demographic trends. The market for slip and fall injury prevention is analyzed for the elderly and for those in the workplace-two high risk groups. Questions as to whether this market operates in a socially desirable manner, or whether government intervention is justified on efficiency grounds, are considered. Essential aspects of cost-benefit analysis are reviewed in the context of a prospective evaluation of interventions to prevent slip and fall injuries. THe cost-benefit analysis framework is applied to part of the FICSIT experiment (a major intervention to reduce falls among the elderly) and to recent revisions in Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations directed at reducing workplace falls.
Controlling complex physical systems through planning and scheduling integration

This paper presents a framework for planning and scheduling integration based on a uniform constraint-based representation. Such representation is inspired to time-line based planning but has the unique characteristic of conceiving both resource and causal constraints as abstract specifications that generate segments of temporal evolution to be scheduled on the time-line. This paper describes the general idea behind this type of problem solving, shows how it has been implemented in a software architecture called Omp, and presents an example of application for the generation of mission planning commands for automating the management of spacecraft operations.
Photosystem I in Cyanobacteria

The Photosystem I (PS I) complex in cyanobacteria functions most typically as a light-driven, cytochrome c 6:ferredoxin oxidoreductase. The adaptability of cyanobacteria to conditions of nutrient availability allows cytochrome c 6 to be replaced by plastocyanin when copper is plentiful, and ferredoxin to be replaced by flavodoxin when iron is limiting. These changes, however, do not lead to any known alterations in the polypeptide composition of the membrane-bound PS I complex. This multiprotein complex incorporates all of the biochemical machinery required to produce efficient charge separation across the thylakoid membrane in a process that culminates in the conversion of a red photon to chemical free energy. The membrane-bound components which comprise the complex include an array of ∼ 110 antenna chlorophyll a molecules to provide a large optical cross-section to incoming photons, a series of inorganic and organic cofactors to carry out the acts of charge separation and charge stabilization, and a matrix of eleven polypeptides to provide ligands to the photoactive components. These components are arranged in a motif believed to be shared by all photochemical reaction centers: in PS I a chlorophyll (a) dimer serves as the primary electron donor; a chlorophyll (a) monomer serves as the primary electron acceptor; and a quinone (phylloquinone) serves as the intermediate electron acceptor. Other common features include the presence of a protein (hetero)dimer (PsaA and PsaB), which binds the antenna chlorophylls, the electron donor and acceptor chlorophylls, and the two quinone molecules. This shared photochemical motif is broken by the inter-polypeptide iron-sulfur cluster Fx, which occupies the same relative position as the non-heme iron in Type-II (quinone-type) reaction centers, but which is redox active in Type I (iron-sulfur type) reaction centers. The addition of two iron-sulfur clusters, FB and FA, located on a separate polypeptide, PsaC, provides a path for the electrons out of the membrane phase and to the stromal phase, allowing ferredoxin to be reduced with high quantum efficiency. The other PS I polypeptides serve ancillary roles in stabilizing PsaC and docking ferredoxin or flavodoxin (PsaD), in enhancing ferredoxin reduction and allowing for cyclic electron flow (PsaE), and in forming trimers of the PS I complex in the membrane and facilitating state transitions (PsaL). The functions of the remaining polypeptides, PsaF, PsaI, PsaJ, PsaK, and PsaM, are unclear; however it is increasingly unlikely that they participate directly in the primary processes of photochemical energy conversion.
Primate cytomegalovirus assembly protein: genome location and nucleotide sequence.

Abstract A cDNA encoding the 37-kilodalton (kDa) capsid assembly protein of cytomegalovirus (CMV) strain Colburn was isolated from a lambda gt11 library constructed from CMV Colburn-infected human fibroblast RNA. RNA transcribed in vitro from this cDNA was translated in vitro to give a 40-kDa protein whose electrophoretic mobility during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fragmentation pattern following partial proteolysis were indistinguishable from those of authentic assembly protein precursor. The position of the assembly protein gene was mapped to the EcoRI F, XbaI R, and SalI U restriction fragments, near the middle of the CMV Colburn genome, by Southern hybridizations using the cloned assembly protein cDNA as a probe. Similar sequences were identified by cross-hybridizations in colinear regions of the genomes of human CMV strains Towne and AD169: specifically, in the HindIII H, BamHI V, and EcoRI A fragments of Towne and in the HindIII L and BglII S fragments of AD169. The predominant transcript of the assembly protein gene was determined to be approximately 1 kilobase in size; however, a larger transcript (1.8 kilobases) was also identified. The nucleotide sequence of the assembly protein cDNA was determined and found to contain a single long open reading frame predicted to encode a polypeptide of 36.6 to 37 kDa, close to the 40-kDa size determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for the assembly protein precursor. The presence of a single cysteine residue at the carboxy-terminal end of this open reading frame is consistent with data from biochemical studies and indicates that processing of the assembly protein precursor includes a proteolytic cleavage that removes its carboxyl end.
Ethnic disparity in mortality after diagnosis of colorectal cancer among inner city minority New Yorkers.

BACKGROUND: Ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality are observed in the United States. The authors studied this among minority New Yorkers with CRC. METHODS: In a study of CRC patients in a New York City teaching hospital, 5-year data on demographics and clinical features were reviewed. Adjusted cancer-related deaths and early deaths (within 6 months of diagnosis) were compared among African Americans (AAs) and Hispanics. Descriptive analyses, odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. A P value of <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Among 202 CRC subjects, we noted the following: Hispanics, 148 (73%); AAs, 54 (27%); women, 107 (53%); mean age, 64.5 years; and screening colonoscopy, 44 (22%). CRC was diagnosed by colonoscopy in 157 (78%) and by surgery in 45 (22%) cases. One hundred twenty-two (60%) had stage 0-II CRC, and 69 (34%) had proximal colonic lesions. Fifty-four of 202 patients died during the study period (median, 27 months), of whom 24 (11.9%) were early deaths. Significantly higher odds of death (OR, 3.98; 95% CI, 2.03-7.81), especially early death (OR, 5.94; 95% CI, 2.42-14.6) was observed among AAs. There was no difference in demographic and other clinical features, or treatment between Hispanics and AAs (P = nonsignificant). CONCLUSIONS: The first to compare inner city minority subjects with CRC, the authors observed increased odds of death in AAs, despite similar clinical features and living environment. Tumor behavior or host response among AAs could explain this difference. Aggressive therapeutic and early detection strategies need to be tested in a large randomized study setting to substantiate our study findings. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Analysis of the frequency and duration of freeway accidents in Seattle

Accidents occurring on congested urban freeways can have enormous impacts in terms of lost commuter time. This paper presents an appropriate statistical analysis of urban freeway accident frequency and duration and discusses how this analysis can be used to guide management strategies that seek to reduce the traffic-related impacts of accidents. The findings and demonstration of analysis procedures should be of considerable value to ongoing and future studies in this area.
Conservation laws of wave action and potential enstrophy for Rossby waves in a stratified atmosphere

The purpose of this article is to discuss the evolution of wave energy, enstrophy and action for atmospheric Rossby waves in a variable mean flow. The presentation is theoretical, but does not represent original research; rather, it is pedagogic in nature. The work of a number of people has been drawn together into a unified account, with much of the algebra implicit in previous work made explicit here. The central results are that wave energy is conserved only when there are no spatial variations in the mean flow, and wave action is conserved even in the presence of such variations as long as they are not in the longitudinal direction. Finally, wave enstrophy is conserved in the presence of arbitrary (slow) mean flow variations.
Research article: On selecting mRNA isoform features for profiling prostate cancer

Alternative splicing of human pre-mRNA is a very common phenomenon and is a major contributor to proteome diversity. mRNA isoforms that arise as a result of alternative splicing also provide a more complete picture of the transcriptome as they reflect the additional processing a pre-mRNA undergoes before being translated into a functional product. It has been reported that molecular alterations of cells can occur as a result of the differential expression of mRNA isoforms, resulting in cancerous or normal tissue. Quantification of mRNA isoforms can thus be used as a better indicator in distinguishing a normal tissue from a cancerous tissue. In our earlier study we had used mRNA isoforms expression to identify biomarkers for prostate cancer (Li et. al, 2006. Cancer Res. 66 (8) 4079-4088). Here we have used statistical methods of multiple comparison and have developed a simple scoring scheme to extract isoform features. Further, we have rigorously analyzed the isoform expression data to understand the variability and heterogeneity associated with the expression levels between (i) prostate cancer cell lines and non-prostate cancer cell lines and (ii) normal prostate tissue and prostate cancer tissue. We found that there were several isoforms that showed significant difference in expression within the same class. We were also able to successfully identify isoforms with similar changes in expression levels, that when used as features for classification was able to provide robust class separation. The features selected using the multiple comparison methods had subsets that were common and disparate with those that were selected using statistical t-tests. This reveals the importance of selecting features using a combination of complementary methods.
The bandwidth in gradient elution chromatography with a retained organic modifier

The variance of a chromatographic band is derived in the case of RPLC gradient elution when the organic modifier is significantly retained onto the stationary phase. This derivation is based on the extension of a model due to Poppe et al. [H. Poppe, J. Paanakker, M. Bronckhorst, J. Chromatogr., 204 (1981) 77] which assumes that the gradient front remains unchanged and propagates along the column at the same speed as the mobile phase, following piston flow. Theoretical and experimental results are compared in the case of caffeine on a C(1)-silica stationary phase eluted with an acetonitrile gradient. The actual retention behaviors of caffeine and acetonitrile were implemented in the theoretical calculations. The model predicts compression factors between 0.71 and 0.34 for relatively smooth gradient steepness, betat(0), between 0.009 and 0.054 while the corresponding experimental band compression factors vary between 1.01 and 0.43 for the very same gradient steepness. The model underestimation of these factors arises likely from the strong deviation of the actual retention behavior from the prediction of the Linear Solvent Strength Model (LSSM).
An oxygenation-perfusion method for in vitro transport studies on the intestines of large mammals

The design and construction of an oxygenation-perfusion apparatus, used in a study on neonatal enteritis in calves, as well as the experimental procedure employed, are illustrated and described. The method provides a means of quantitating net directional transport or absorption of perfusion solvent and solutes across the intestinal walls of large mammals. Further, it provides for a controlled rate of flow of perfusion fluid through the intestinal segment. Essentially, the method consists of independent mucosal and serosal systems, both bathed by a modified Krebs-Ringer solution and both continuously oxgenated. A peristaltic pump controls the circulation rate of the mucosal solution. The serosal solution may be either constantly mixed by gas pressure or circulated by another pump. Provisions for convenient sampling and for rapid apparatus assembly and disassembly are provided. The method was successfully used with 33 intestinal segments without apparent tissue damage after 75 minutes of experimentation.
Women and Foreign “Affairs”

Book reviewed in this article: Katharine H. S. Moon, Sex among Allies: Military Prostitution in U.S. Korean Relations
Limitations of the Coulomb friction assumption in fretting fatigue analysis

A significant factor in the fretting process, both experimentally and analytically, is the Coulomb friction. Most analyses of fretting fatigue consider a constant coefficient of friction (CCOF) in modeling a contact geometry. This work reevaluates the constant assumption of the Coulomb friction coefficient, and develops a Coulomb friction model based on a non-classical model allowing the coefficient of friction (COF) to be a function of local contact pressure and local slip magnitude. Here, the Coulomb COF varies locally along the contact surface. Results of computations using this model are applied to fretting fatigue experiments utilizing several specific contact geometries, which have nominally identical fatigue lives experimentally. The analysis shows that certain combinations of parameters in the variable coefficient of friction model can produce nominally identical stress states. Such results cannot be obtained using a CCOF.