cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A review of ceramide analogs as potential anticancer agents

Ceramide serves as a central mediator in sphingolipid metabolism and signaling pathways, regulating many fundamental cellular responses. It is referred to as a ‘tumor suppressor lipid’, since it powerfully potentiates signaling events that drive apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagic responses. In the typical cancer cell, ceramide levels and signaling are usually suppressed by overexpression of ceramide-metabolizing enzymes or downregulation of ceramide-generating enzymes. However, chemotherapeutic drugs as well as radiotherapy increase intracellular ceramide levels, while exogenously treating cancer cells with short-chain ceramides leads to anticancer effects. All evidence currently points to the fact that the upregulation of ceramide levels is a promising anticancer strategy. In this review, we exhibit many anticancer ceramide analogs as downstream receptor agonists and ceramide-metabolizing enzyme inhibitors.
Physical Properties of Soy-Phosphate Polyol-Based Rigid Polyurethane Foams

Water-blown rigid polyurethane (PU) foams were made from 0–50% soy-phosphate polyol (SPP) and 2–4% water as the blowing agent. The mechanical and thermal properties of these SPP-based PU foams (SPP PU foams) were investigated. SPP PU foams with higher water content had greater volume, lower density, and compressive strength. SPP PU foams with 3% water content and 20% SPP had the lowest thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of SPP PU foams decreased and then increased with increasing SPP percentage, resulting from the combined effects of thermal properties of the gas and solid polymer phases. Higher isocyanate density led to higher compressive strength. At the same isocyanate index, the compressive strength of some 20% SPP foams was close or similar to the control foams made from VORANOL 490.
The role of calcium score and CT angiography in the medical management of patients with normal myocardial perfusion imaging

Individuals with normal myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) may still have substantial coronary artery disease (CAD), which would benefit from aggressive medical therapy. The role of coronary artery calcium-score (CAC) and/or coronary CT Angiography (CTA) to identify additional treatment candidates in this population is unknown. Ninety-four patients completed the study protocol and underwent CAC and CTA after MPI. In 81 patients who had a normal MPI, an algorithm using the clinical predictors, CAC, and then CTA was created to identify candidates for aggressive medical management; 24/81 patients had a high Framingham Risk Score (FRS) or diabetes, and need aggressive medical management, while 6/81 patients had a low FRS and low post-MPI probability of CAD. The use of CAC in 51/81 patients with intermediate clinical predictors would identify 23/51 patients with low risk (CAC 400) for aggressive medical management. The remaining 17/51 patients with intermediate CAC scores (100-399) would require CTA, of which, would identify 8/17 additional patients with >50% stenosis for aggressive medical therapy. A stepwise approach including history, CAC and CTA can identify about 50% of the patients with normal MPI who have a higher risk and may benefit from aggressive medical management.
Multimodal pain control is associated with reduced hospital stay following open abdominal hysterectomy

Objective: To study the association of a multimodal pain protocol (MMPC) and reduced hospital stay after open abdominal hysterectomy. Study design: The study design was a comparison of a prospective cohort with a retrospective historical control. We enrolled endometrial cancer patients undergoing open abdominal hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy by the same surgeon. Control patients from 2008 to 2010 who received morphine PCA alone were compared with a similar demographic group of patients from 2011 to 2013 who received MMPC. MMPC consisted of gabapentin (900 mg PO) and acetaminophen (1 g IV) administered 45–60 min preoperatively. The surgical site was injected with bupivacaine with 0.5% epinephrine prior to incision. The postoperative pain control regimen consisted of gabapentin (300 mg PO every 6 h), acetaminophen (1 g IV every 8 h for 24 h postoperatively), ketorolac (15 mg IV every 6 h for 48 h postoperatively), morphine PCA (2 mg IV every 10 min, no basal rate) and oxycodone/acetaminophen (10/325 mg PO every 6 h as needed). Results: Length of hospital stay (LOH) of the study cohort (N = 105 with MMPC) was compared with the historical with postoperative morphine alone (N = 113 without MMPC). There were no differences in demographic, uterine cancer stage, or comorbidities between the two arms. The LOH was 1.6 days for patients receiving MMPC and 3.3 days for patients who received morphine alone (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Multimodal pain control is associated with significantly reduced hospital stay after open abdominal hysterectomy. 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Water cluster calibration reduces mass error in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of proteins

Herein we report a novel calibration routine for use in positive ion mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Monoisotopic masses were calculated for a series of water clusters and used as calibration reference files (available at http://www.hbcg.utmb.edu/xray). The water cluster series contains singly charged peaks every 18 Da, which allows calibration curves to be precisely defined over a broad mass-to-charge ratio range. Water clusters, induced by a combination of high flow rate and high cone voltage, were used to accurately calibrate a quadrupole mass spectrometer from 100 to 1900 m/z. Calibration curves thus generated have many more data points and greatly reduced standard deviations compared to those obtained from myoglobin, sodium iodide, cesium iodide, or poly(ethylene glycol) based calibration standards. This calibration routine reduces the error in protein mass measurements by a factor of 3, from ±0.01% to ±0.0035% at the 95% confidence limit. The implications of this increased mass accuracy and wider calibrated mass-to-charge ratio scale for the study of protein sequence, structure, and folding by ESI-MS are discussed.
Purification and characterization of biologically active 1,4-linked α-d-oligogalacturonides after partial digestion of polygalacturonic acid with endopolygalacturonase

Abstract A procedure is described for generating and purifying biologically active (1 → 4)-linked α- d -oligogalacturonides (oligogalacturonides). Oligogalacturonides are generated by treatment of polygalacturonic acid (PGA) with a homogeneous fungal α-(1 → 4)-endopolygalacturonase (EPG). Oligogalacturonides with a dp greater than seven were selectively precipitated in the presence of sodium acetate and ethanol. Oligogalacturonides with a dp less than 11 and modified oligogalacturonides remained soluble. Oligogalacturonides with a dp between 10 and 15 were purified from the resolubilized NaOAc-ethanol-precipitated material using Q-Sepharose fast-flow anion-exchange chromatography followed by semipreparative high performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). Approximately 70 mg of each homogeneous oligogalacturonide (dp between 10 and 15) was obtained from 10 g of EPG-treated PGA. The tridecagalacturonide fraction was selected for chemical and structural characterization and was shown to be homogeneous by glycosyl-residue composition analysis, HPAEC-PAD, FABMS, and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The purified tridecagalacturonide elicited phytoalexin accumulation in soybeans and induced flower formation and inhibited root formation in tobacco thin-cell-layer explants.
E-commerce bargain-hunting with an unBun model

First-generation comparison-shopping software tools in general have limitations in dealing with bundled products. A new generic model for e-commerce comparison-shopping, based on a logical unBundling of sellers' offerings, is presented. The model captures dominance relationship between offerings and consumer requirements and may serve as a foundation for a variety of shopping decision support software tools. The model provides a basis for defining notions of bargains and designing algorithms for searching for them. Various implications and remaining challenges are outlined.
SAR based adaptive GMTI

We consider ground moving target indication (GMTI) and target velocity estimation based on multi-channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Via forming velocity versus cross-range images, we show that small moving targets can be detected even in the presence of strong stationary ground clutter. Moreover, the velocities of the moving targets can be estimated, and the misplaced moving targets can be placed back to their original locations based on the estimated velocities. Adaptive beamforming techniques, including Capon and generalizedlikelihood ratio test (GLRT), are used to form velocity versus cross-range images for each range bin of interest. The velocity estimation ambiguities caused by the multi-channel array geometry are analyzed. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of our approaches using the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) publicly-released Gotcha SAR based GMTI data set.
Effects of angiotensin II on central neurons

Abstract Effects of angiotensin II administered intravenously and by means of electrophoresis through multibarrel micropipette electrodes on the frequency of extracellularly recorded action potentials of brain cells were determined. A total of 293 neurons in seven different parts of the brains of male and female hooded rats anesthetized with urethan or a mixture of urethan and chloralose were tested. Results indicate that angiotensin affects many different cells within the lateral hypothalmus, zona incerta, ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei, dentate gyrus and thalamus. The cells of the LH and zona incerta are the most sensitive to angiotensin and two types of lateral hypothalamic neurons were found which were affected differently by angiotensin and stimulation of the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus. Some of the Na sensitive neurons, all of which were sensitive to angiotensin, displayed a very pronounced potentiation of discharge frequency when angiotensin and Na were administered simultaneously. Angiotensin II might therefore influence drinking because of a relatively low threshold effect on hypothalamic neurons.
A majorization method for localizing graph topological indices

This paper presents a unified approach for localizing some relevant graph topological indices via majorization techniques. Using this method, we derive old and new bounds. Numerical examples are provided showing how current results in the literature could be improved.
Cognitive pathways to engineering

We collected qualitative data to examine how engineering students' previous experiences, present academic course work, and future goals create cognitive pathways to a career in engineering. Using future time perspective theory as our literature base, we conceptualize cognitive pathways as relationships or links between reconstructed-past, present-active, and imagined-future events that lead to a career in engineering. Our goal is to begin to develop evidence for cognitive linkages between past, present, and future that motivate students to pursue careers in engineering. To gather the data, 21 students were interviewed after they completed a timeline of their lives, consisting of their developmental experiences, present academic work, and their imagined future. We used purposive sampling to recruit participants who are strong engineering students to provide preliminary evidence for what ideal cognitive pathways might look like. The data are being collected as part of a funded “seed” project to conduct exploratory work that can ultimately lead to a well-designed larger project. Here, we present some preliminary results of our analysis, including example case study of a participant timeline. The results are primarily descriptive, and provide a glimpse into our analytic techniques and mixed method approach to the data.
“Prison Will Either Make Ya or Break Ya”: Punishment, Deterrence, and the Criminal Lifestyle

Although a prison sentence is often considered to be among the worst punishments that the state can provide, previous research indicates that offenders do not necessarily share this view. Some inmates, for example, adjust to prison life with relative ease, do not view their time in prison as severe punishment, and may even prefer prison to alternative sanctions such as boot camp or probation. To help explain such views, we point to the utility of a “criminal lifestyle” perspective. We argue that offenders who are committed to the values of the criminal subculture tend to view prison in a unique way. For various reasons, such offenders are less likely than others to view imprisonment as difficult or severe and they are less likely to be deterred by prison. Drawing on data from a large inmate survey, we find initial empirical support for these arguments. Implications for deterrence and future research are discussed.
Clinical Considerations for Working with Patients with Advanced Cancer

Advanced cancer is a life-limiting condition, but improvements in medical care are contributing to longer survival among some patients. As a result, it is likely that mental health professionals will be called upon to assist more patients with advanced cancer. The present paper reviews the psychological literature and from it draws clinical considerations for working with individuals affected by advanced cancer. It begins with a brief description of advanced cancer and the medical attributes of an advanced cancer diagnosis, and then catalogues salient medical, psychological, existential, and interpersonal challenges faced by this patient population. The review concludes with recommendations for treatment planning including an overview of some of the more recently tested and widely available interventions. It is hoped that this review will serve as a resource for professionals working with patients affected by advanced cancer.
The role of low temperature fuel chemistry on turbulent flame propagation

Abstract A new high temperature, high Reynolds number, Reactor Assisted Turbulent Slot (RATS) burner has been developed to investigate turbulent flame regimes and burning rates for large hydrocarbon transportation fuels, which exhibit strong low temperature chemistry behavior. The turbulent flow characteristics are quantified using hot wire anemometry. The turbulent flame structures and burning velocities of n-heptane/air mixtures are measured by using planar laser induced fluorescence of OH and CH2O with reactant temperatures spanning from 400 K to 700 K. It is found for the first time that for n-heptane/air mixtures there are four unique turbulent flame regimes, a conventional chemically-frozen-flow regime, a low-temperature-ignition regime, a transitional regime between the low- to high-temperature-ignition regimes, and a high-temperature-ignition regime, depending on the initial reactant temperature and heated flow residence time prior to the flame. The turbulent burning velocities have been measured for the first two regimes, chemically-frozen-flow and low-temperature-ignition regimes, in order to quantitatively address the role of low temperature ignition on the turbulent burning velocity. In the latter case, large amount of CH2O formation has been observed in the pre-flame zone, signaling a significant change in the reactant composition and chemistry. At a given reactant temperature and turbulent intensity, the normalized turbulent burning velocities can be varied depending on the extent of low temperature fuel oxidation by varying the heated flow residence time and reactant temperature. The present results suggest that contrary to the previous studies, the turbulent flame regimes and burning velocities for fuels with low temperature chemistry may not be uniquely defined at elevated temperatures.
Using Culturally Competent Community-Based Participatory Research With Older Diabetic Chinese Americans: Lessons Learned

The purpose of this article is to share culturally competent strategies and lessons learned from a study that used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach with older adult diabetic Chinese Americans. This approach was essential to gain insight into the health beliefs, attitudes, and practices of selected communities. The vulnerable population conceptual model (VPCM) provided a framework for the study. The CBPR, a collaborative research approach, and the VPCM provided the basis for the development of culturally competent research strategies. Strategies and lessons learned to be particularly effective for this CBPR study included (a) developing an in-depth understanding of the community ethnic culture; (b) developing mutual respect and trust with community members and study participants; (c) appreciating and praising community partners' knowledge, expertise, and experiences; (d) developing a sense of ownership by incorporating their needs, ideas, suggestions, and opinions and empowering study participants to make decisions concerning the study approach and wording; (e) soliciting participant feedback and clarification of study results and involving them in disseminating the study findings to their community; and (f) having fun with them and encouraging them to have fun.
Global software testing under deadline pressure: Vendor-side experiences

Context: In the era of globally-distributed software engineering, the practice of global software testing (GST) has witnessed increasing adoption. Although there have been ethnographic studies of the development aspects of global software engineering, there have been fewer studies of GST, which, to succeed, can require dealing with unique challenges. Objective: To address this limitation of existing studies, we conducted, and in this paper, report the findings of, a study of a vendor organization involved in one kind of GST practice: outsourced, offshored software testing. Method: We conducted an ethnographically-informed study of three vendor-side testing teams over a period of 2months. We used methods, such as interviews and participant observations, to collect the data and the thematic-analysis approach to analyze the data. Findings: Our findings describe how the participant test engineers perceive software testing and deadline pressures, the challenges that they encounter, and the strategies that they use for coping with the challenges. The findings reveal several interesting insights. First, motivation and appreciation play an important role for our participants in ensuring that high-quality testing is performed. Second, intermediate onshore teams increase the degree of pressure experienced by the participant test engineers. Third, vendor team participants perceive productivity differently from their client teams, which results in unproductive-productivity experiences. Lastly, participants encounter quality-dilemma situations for various reasons. Conclusion: The study findings suggest the need for (1) appreciating test engineers' efforts, (2) investigating the team structure's influence on pressure and the GST practice, (3) understanding culture's influence on other aspects of GST, and (4) identifying and addressing quality-dilemma situations.
Mössbauer effect measurement of the internal fields in amorphous rare earth-iron alloys

Abstract Mossbauer effect measurements on amorphous rare earth-iron alloys indicate that the internal magnetic field of the Fe atom depends on both the concentration and the rare earth species in a systematic manner.
The problem of attention management in innovation for sustainability

Abstract The problem of attention management is described as a major challenge in the transition to environmentally sustainable development paths. The design principle that attention is scarce is very different from a principle of “more information is better” when discussing problems of sustainability in technological development. The issue of “attention management” is discussed in various contexts, including R&D and innovation management, scientific communities, and technology policy. Given that environmental policies often “grandfather” existing technologies, more systemic environmental and technological strategies are called for. These require new models for integration of information from much wider ranges of sources and networks of expertise than is the case for present technological innovations in individual industries and companies.
A comparison of capillary chromatographic techniques for the separation of very large polycyclic aromatic molecules

Abstract Current advances in the technology of capillary columns for gas chromatography permit extension of the range of polycyclic aromatic compounds which may be eluted. High-performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) in the non-aqueous, reversed-phase mode shows promise for separation of even larger molecules: an inquiry into the feasibility of capillary h.p.l.c. in this area has resulted in elution of polycyclic compounds containing up to eleven aromatic rings.
Developmental Factors Influencing Aggression Animal Models and Clinical Correlates

Clearly, models of developmentally induced aggression in animals can give us important insights into the factors inducing aggression in children. Several such models have been produced, and the neurochemical substrates eliciting the aggressive behavior have been identified. In many cases, the serotonergic system is involved. In the future, these animal models may also prove useful in identifying appropriate treatments. Language: en
Rational relations and rational identities in division rings

Suppose X is a set, and D, , D, are division rings given with maps X + D, , X D, whose images generate D, and D, as division rings. Let D, A D, denote the subring of D, x D, generated by the image of X under rational operations: the ring operations, and the operation of inverting invertible elements (i.e., if (a, b) ED, A D, , and a # 0, b # 0, then we also take (a-l, b-l) to belong to D, A D, .) Then we shall find that there are four possibilities:
Prior treatment of fracture patients in a tertiary pediatric emergency department: informal referrals from other emergency departments.

Background The purposes of this study were to determine the following: (1) the percentage of fracture patients at a tertiary pediatric emergency department (ED) who previously sought treatment for the injury elsewhere and (2) how often such patients were sent from another ED. Methods A prospective survey was conducted in the ED of a tertiary pediatric medical center in a large metropolitan area. Patients who presented with suspected extremity fractures and previously sought treatment elsewhere were asked where they had sought treatment and whether staff at another ED had told them to come to the tertiary ED. Demographic, clinical, insurance, and transfer information were also collected. Results Ninety-two patients who had sought previous care for the injury elsewhere participated in the survey, with 82 (89%) ultimately being diagnosed with fractures. This represents 33% (82/246) of the patients with extremity fractures treated by the participating ED physicians during the study. Seventy-nine percent (73/92) of the subjects had previously sought treatment at another ED. For those who did not also visit a regular physician, 69% (37/54) were told to come to the tertiary ED by staff at the initial ED. No differences were observed based on race or insurance status because the study subjects were predominantly minority (91%, including 80% Hispanic) and lacking private insurance (84%). Conclusions Seeking follow-up care in a tertiary ED, often on the advice of staff from another ED, is a common practice for this largely minority and poorly insured population. Because patients did not present to our ED until an average of 3 days after injury and many had been discharged to a primary care physician, it is likely that many of the patients did not require emergency care. This practice inefficiently uses limited emergency care resources. Level of evidence Level II prospective survey.
Water excretion in hypophysectomized rats before and after adrenalectomy.

THE hypophysectomized rat, as well as the adrenalectomized rat, displays an impaired ability to excrete a test load of water (Walker, 1939; Chen and Geiling, 1943; Joseph, Schweizer, Ulmer and Gaunt 1944). Whether or not this impairment persists unchanged in the postoperative period is a matter of dispute; Walker (1939) found the rate of excretion of a water load by hypophysectomized rats to increase as the time after hypophysectomy increased, while Joseph et al. (1944) observed the excretory rate to remain essentially unchanged. Since adrenalectomy in the hypophysectomized rat leads to the death of the animal shortly thereafter (Greep, 1950), the adrenal cortex must play some role vital to the continued survival of the animal, even in the absence of the adrenocorticotropic hormone of the anterior pituitary. Just what function it performs in the hypophysectomized animal is unknown. In this study the posible influence of the adrenal cortex on water metabolism in the hypophysectomized rat has been investigated.
Diffusion-flame dynamics in von Kármán boundary layers

Experimental and theoretical results are reported for flat diffusion flames adjacent to a spinning fuel disk in an oxidizing atmosphere. Disk-shaped flames are observed, the radii of which increase or decrease with time, depending on whether an appropriate Damkohler number is large or small. Experimentally, initially large flame disks expand at sufficiently high Damkohler numbers, while at sufficiently small Damkohler numbers, initially small flame disks contract, as predicted by theory. A stability map is derived theoretically in a plane of the Damkohler number and the flame-disk radius normalized by a diffusion length scale, showing regimes of disk growth and shrinkage.
Moment methods for analyzing river models with application to point source phosphorus

Abstract Quantitative analysis of the fate of point source pollutants in streams can be achieved by using moment analysis if the input concentration is periodic. The moment analysis permits the discrimination among various proposed models and permits the estimation of the parameters in the selected model for describing the fate of the substance in a river. Ortho phosphorus enters the Sandusky River from the Bucyrus, Ohio, sewage treatment plant with a diurnal periodic concentration change. Moment analysis is used to discriminate between reversible adsorption in the sediments and the irreversible precipitation or microbial utilization in the sediments. The parameters for the irreversible model are calculated. These include the reaction rate constant and the dispersion in the river.
Effect of gain nonlinearities on the dynamic response of single-mode semiconductor lasers

The effect of gain nonlinearities on the dynamic response is studied using a nonperturbative form of the nonlinear gain in the signal-mode rate equation. The nonperturbative form is different from that used previously and leads to qualitative and quantitative differences in the intensity dependence of the important dynamic parameters such as the frequency and the damping rate for relaxation oscillations. The results are important for the design of high-speed semiconductor lasers and suggest that the new form of the nonlinear gain should be used for modeling the modulation response in both the small-signal and large-signal regimes. >
Fetal ABO blood group typing using amniotic fluid.

Amniotic fluids (AF) obtained by second trimester amniocentesis were examined using a hemagglutination-inhibition test. In the anti-A and anti-B dilution series three different patterns of agglutination were found. One pattern, indicating the presence of high levels of antigen, is typical of secretors (Se/-) of the blood group antigen. The second pattern is indicative of total absence of soluble antigen and is produced in secretor (Se/-) and non-secretor (se/se) fetuses lacking the IA or IB allele at the ABO locus. The third pattern shows the presence of trace amounts of soluble antigen, about one-tenth of that found in secretors, and it appears in non-secretor fetuses bearing the corresponding ABO allele. These trace quantities, if a constant feature of AFs from these non-secretor fetuses, could allow blood group typing information to be obtained on all non-secretor as well as secretor fetuses. A total of 157 amniotic fluid samples were surveyed in this and a previous study. Of these, 31 were from non-secretor fetuses. Blood group type for the 31 non-secretor fetuses was predicted (“blindly”) on the basis of the presence or absence of trace amounts of soluble antigen. These predictions were verified by standard ABO typing of the infants afterbirth. In each case the (“blind”) typing result agreed with the predictions made from the titration curves. This agreement establishes that the production of trace amounts of soluble antigen(s) is a consistent feature of non-secretors with the IA and/or IB allele. The soluble blood group substances are of fetal origin and are independent of maternal blood type and secretor status. Type O non-secretors produce no soluble A or B antigen and also lack detectable soluble H antigen. Thus it appears that the nature of the detectable amounts of soluble blood group antigen(s) present in second-trimester AF can be used to accurately assess the ABO blood type of all fetuses.
A National Study of Burnout Among American Transplant Surgeons

This study examines burnout in a national sample of transplant surgeons. Data analyses were conducted on a sample of 209 actively practicing transplant surgeons. Measures included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a demographic survey, and the Surgeon Coping Inventory. Burnout was reflected in 38% of surgeons scoring high on the Emotional Exhaustion dimension, whereas 27% showed high levels of Depersonalization, and 16% had low levels of Personal Accomplishment. Several significant predictors of emotional exhaustion were identified and included questioning one's career choice, giving up activities, and perceiving oneself as having limited control over the delivery of medical services (R2= 0.43). Those who perceived themselves as having a higher ability to control delivery of medical services and who felt more appreciated by patients had lower levels of depersonalization and were less likely to question their career choice (R2= 0.16). Surgeons with high personal accomplishment experienced greater professional growth opportunities, perceived their institution as supportive, felt more appreciated by patients, and were less likely to question their career (R2= 0.24). The prioritization of goals to reflect both professional and personal values accounted for a significant amount of the variance in predicting both emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment in separate regression equations. Recommendations to decrease burnout would include greater institutional support, increased opportunities for professional growth, and greater surgeon control over important services to facilitate efficient work. Coping strategies to moderate stress and burnout are also beneficial and should include prioritizing goals to reflect both professional and personal values.
Cigarette smoking and the risk of Barrett’s esophagus

We examined the association between smoking and the risk of Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a metaplastic precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma. We conducted a case–control study within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California population. Patients with a new diagnosis of BE (n = 320) were matched to persons with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (n = 316) and to population controls (n = 317). Information was collected using validated questionnaires from direct in-person interviews and electronic databases. Analyses used multivariate unconditional logistic regression that controlled for age, gender, race, and education. Ever smoking status, smoking intensity (pack-years), and smoking cessation were not associated with the risk of BE. Stratified analyses suggested that ever smoking may be associated with an increased risk of BE among some groups (compared to population controls): persons with long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (odds ratio [OR] = 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–2.63); subjects without GERD symptoms (OR = 3.98, 95% CI 1.58–10.0); obese subjects (OR = 3.38, 95% CI 1.46–7.82); and persons with a large abdominal circumference (OR = 3.02, 95% CI (1.18–2.75)). Smoking was not a strong or consistent risk factor for BE in a large community-based study, although associations may be present in some population subgroups.
Intragastric nicotine protects against 40% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury despite pretreatment with propranolol or N-ethylmaleimide in rats.

We tested the hypotheses that the protective effect of intragastric nicotine against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury is dependent on propranolol- orN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive mechanisms. Propranolol was administered in doses (2 and 20 mg/kg) that provided dose-related blockade of β-adrenoceptors (significant decreases in heart rate).N-Ethylmaleimide was administered in doses that previously had been shown to increase gastric vascular permeability (10 mg/kg) or inhibit gastric mucosal sulfhydryl compounds (50 mg/kg). At 0.5 hr after these or control subcutaneous pretreatments, the rats received intragastric nicotine (4 mg/kg) or vehicle. One hour later 40% ethanol was given intragastrically. The gastric corpus mucosal lesions were recorded by polaroid photographs after another hour, and their areas measured unbiasedly by computerized image analysis. The results showed thatN-ethylmaleimide, but not propranolol, aggravated ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury. The protective effect of intragastric nicotine was not modified by either pretreatment. We conclude that the mechanism mediating intragastric nicotine protection against 40% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury is independent of propranolol- orN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive mechanisms.
Axisymmetric adhesion tests of soft materials

We describe a general, linearized fracture mechanics analysis for studying the adhesive properties of elastic, low modulus materials. Several adhesion tests are described, but all involve an elastic material which is brought into contact with a rigid surface along an axis of radial symmetry. Relationships between the load, displacement, and radius of the circular contact area between the two materials are described. These relationships involve the elastic modulus of the compliant material, the energy release rate (or adhesion energy) and various parameters which characterize the geometry of interest. The ratio of the contact radius to the thickness of the elastic material is shown to be a particularly important parameter. After reviewing some general concepts relevant to the adhesion of soft polymeric materials, we describe the fracture mechanics analysis, and provide examples from our own work on the adhesion of elastomers, thermoreversible gels and pressure sensitive adhesives.
Graph Processing Platforms at Scale: Practices and Experiences

Graph analysis has revealed patterns and relationships hidden in data from a variety of domains such as transportation networks, social networks, clinical pathways, and collaboration networks. As these networks grow in size, variety and complexity, it is a challenge to find the right combination of tools and implementation of algorithms to discover new insights from the data. Addressing this challenge, our study presents an extensive empirical evaluation of three representative graph processing platforms: Pegasus, GraphX, and Urika. Each system represents a combination of options in data model, processing paradigm, and infrastructure. We benchmark each platform using three popular graph mining operations, degree distribution, connected components, and PageRank over real-world graphs. Our experiments show that each graph processing platform owns a particular strength for different types of graph operations. While Urika performs the best in non-iterative graph operations like degree distribution, GraphX outperforms iterative operations like connected components and PageRank. We conclude this paper by discussing options to optimize the performance of a graph-theoretic operation on each platform for large-scale real world graphs.
Measuring Public School Competition from Private Schools: A Gravity-Based Index

This research develops a gravity-based index of public school competition from private schools within local markets. Proponents of educational reform often call for policies to increase competition between schools. A major hurdle for researchers examining this issue is to determine a workable definition of “competition” by which they can measure the degree of competition within local markets. This study addresses this challenge by developing a school competition index for public schools in the Jackson metropolitan area of Mississippi, USA that considers the enrollments in public schools and the enrollments in their neighboring private schools, as well as the distances between them. The school competition index reveals the degree of competition for each public school based on its spatial location relative to peer private schools operating within its service area. This methodology can be useful for evaluating competition in other markets and redefining the traditional market structure.
Feeding ergot to pregnant ewes

Abstract Ergot found on barley and varieties of grains and grasses has been a problem to human and animal health for centuries and has been implicated in causing decreased reproductive performance. This study was initiated to investigate the effects of feeding ergot to ewes during gestation. It was observed that supplementing ewes with a ration that contained 0.1, 0.5 or 0.7% ergot decreased the percent ewes lambing by approximately 20% but had no effect on the number of lambs born per ewe lambing. It was concluded that ergoty grains should not be fed to breeding or pregnant ewes.
AngelCast: cloud-based peer-assisted live streaming using optimized multi-tree construction

Increasingly, commercial content providers (CPs) offer streaming and IPTV solutions that leverage an underlying peer-to-peer (P2P) stream distribution architecture. The use of P2P protocols promises significant scalability and cost savings by leveraging the local resources of clients -- specifically, uplink capacity. A major limitation of P2P live streaming is that playout rates are constrained by the uplink capacities of clients, which are typically much lower than downlink capacities, thus limiting the quality of the delivered stream. Thus, to leverage P2P architectures without sacrificing the quality of the delivered stream, CPs must commit additional resources to complement those available through clients. In this paper, we propose a cloud-based service -- AngelCast -- that enables CPs to elastically complement P2P streaming "as needed". By subscribing to AngelCast, a CP is able to deploy extra resources ("angels"), on-demand from the cloud, to maintain a desirable stream (bit-rate) quality. Angels need not download the whole stream (they are not "leachers"), nor are they in possession of it (they are not "seeders"). Rather, angels only relay (download once and upload as many times as needed) the minimal possible fraction of the stream that is necessary to achieve the desirable stream quality, while maximally utilizing available client resources. We provide a lower bound on the minimum amount of angel capacity needed to maintain a certain bit-rate to all clients, and develop a fluid model construction that achieves this lower bound. Realizing the limitations of the fluid model construction -- namely, susceptibility to potentially arbitrary start-up delays and significant degradation due to churn -- we present a practical multi-tree construction that captures the spirit of the optimal construction, while avoiding its limitations. In particular, our AngelCast protocol achieves near optimal performance (compared to the fluid-model construction) while ensuring a low startup delay by maintaining a logarithmic-length path between any client and the provider, and while gracefully dealing with churn by adopting a flexible membership management approach. We present the blueprints of a prototype implementation of AngelCast, along with experimental results confirming the feasibility and performance potential of our AngelCast service when deployed on Emulab and PlanetLab.
Neighborhood Ethnic Composition and Problem Drinking Among Older Mexican American Men: Results from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly

Ethnic enclaves may be protective for health. This study investigates the effects of neighborhood co-ethnic density on problem drinking among older Mexican American men. Probability sample of 2,086 community-dwelling Mexican Americans aged 75 or older drawn in 2004–2005 residing in communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. Problem drinking was found among 15.3 % of men (n = 350). For each percent increase in neighborhood percent Mexican American, men had 2 % lower odds of problem drinking [odds ratio (OR) 0.98; P < 0.05]. U.S. born men had lower odds of problem drinking (OR 0.40; P < 0.05) compared with foreign born men, while English language use was associated with greater odds of problem drinking (OR 2.14; P < 0.05). Older Mexican American men in neighborhoods with low levels of co-ethnic density, the foreign born, and those with English language facility had an increased likelihood of problem drinking.
Pathological tau: a loss of normal function or a gain in toxicity?

Neurofibrillary tangles, composed of tau protein, are a central feature of Alzheimer disease. A new paper challenges the idea that these tau inclusions alone cause disease by showing that they can be dissociated from memory impairment and neuronal loss.
Quantifying Soil Profile Change Caused by Land Use in Central Missouri Loess Hillslopes

Three major challenges are present when studying anthropogenic impacts on soil profile properties: (i) site selection; (ii) sampling and modeling native and cultivated soil-landscape relationships; and (iii) graphically and statistically comparing native and cultivated sites to model soil profile changes. This study addressed those challenges by measuring and modeling selected soil profile properties of paired (native) forest and analogous nonnative (cultivated) loess hillslopes in central Missouri. The paired hillslopes in Saline County were mapped as Mollic Hapludalfs and the paired hillslopes in Boone County were mapped as Typic Hapludalfs. Horizonation and depth distribution of Hapludalf soil properties provide markers when measuring land use impacts on soil profile properties. Summit pedons on the four sites verified the mapping and classification. Transect data revealed soil profile variation by slope position and by site. Regression analysis identified relationships at the p < 0.007 level between depth to clay maximum (adjusted R2 = 0.74), thickness of the A horizon (adjusted R2= 0.32), thickness of the subsurface horizon (adjusted R2 = 0.69), depth to the top of the B horizon (adjusted R2 = 0.69), clay content of the surface horizon (R2 = 0.76), organic C content of the surface horizon (adjusted R2 = 0.56), and depth to =7.5 g kg-1 organic C (adjusted R2 = 0.59) and slope position and site characteristics. A different response surface for each site for each soil characteristic supported the hypothesis that vegetative history and land use significantly affected the distribution of these soil properties.
Genetics of soybean-Heterodera glycines system

Genetics of resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinohe is very complex. Crosses involving PI 437654, which is resistant to all races of cyst nematodes with other sources of resistance (Peking, PI 88788, and PI 90763) indicated that resistance to race 3 was controlled by four genes, two of which were dominant resistance genes and the other two were recessive resistance genes. For race 5, a four gene model with two recessive and two dominant resistance genes in epistasis has been proposed. For race 14, the results suggested a three gene model with one dominant and two recessive alleles. Several other plant introductions have been isolated which have different genes conditioning resistance. Most of the currently grown soybean varieties derived resistance from Peking and/or PI 88788. Resistance to SCN in these soybean varieties has broken down because of the emergence of several new races and populations of SCN. The use of PI 437654 or Hartwig and other plant introductions with different genes for resistance will broaden genetic diversity and stabilize yield.
Spatially resolved tilt and strain measurements in diamond crystals

X-ray diffraction imaging with micrometer resolution was performed on type Ib and IIa diamond crystals. Experiments were carried out using 8 keV x-rays and a double-crystal diffractometer equipped with a CCD detector (pixel size 60 μm x 60 μm). Diamond samples were rotated about the horizontal axis collinear with a given reciprocal lattice vector. Local rocking curves (LRCs) were extracted from sequences of topographs taken at various angles along the global rocking curves measured at different azimuth positions of the specimen. Based on the angular positions of these LRCs, maps of local tilt and strain were produced. Results demonstrate that local misorientations play a more important role than do lattice parameter variations in broadening of total crystal rocking curves.
Gender Differences in Reporting Psychological Abuse in a National Sample

Understanding the nature and impact of psychological abuse for males and females is crucial because it might be the precursor of other forms of violence. This study examines reported gender differences in psychologically abusive acts using a national sample of U.S. citizens. The data were collected anonymously from an online administration of the Measure of Psychological Abuse (MPAB). Other measures were included to assess outcomes that might occur due to psychological abuse. Results indicate that there are more similarities than differences in the gender reports of psychological abuse. Compared to males' reports, differences include female reports of certain behaviors leading to more negative emotional and behavioral impact and more negative outcomes due to being in a psychologically abusive relationship.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “TASER Electronic Control Devices and Cardiac Arrests: Coincidental or Causal?”

We thank Dr Sheridan for his interest and wish to acknowledge his contributions to the understanding of the effects of the electronic control device (ECD).1 There have, in fact, been published studies in which ECD probes were launched into the chests of volunteers. In 2 of these studies there was continuous echocardiographic monitoring to verify that there was no cardiac capture.2,3 The 63 volunteers received a total of 10 170 ECD pulses with no arrhythmias and no cardiac capture (in the 9450 with echo monitoring). Consistent with the study coauthored by Dr Sheridan, some of us have previously published that the risk of ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction is vanishingly small, if not …