cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4795: Metabolic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Characterizing the metabolic changes pertaining to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) is believed to contribute towards early detection, treatment, and our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HCC. Prospectively evaluated adult patients with LC were recruited from our hepatology practice. All patients were diagnosed to have LC on the basis of established clinical, laboratory and imaging criteria. Cases were diagnosed to have HCC based on either histology or characteristic imaging features. The LC controls were required to be HCC free for at least 6 months from the time of study entry. We compared metabolite levels in sera of 78 HCC cases with 184 LC controls by using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF MS). Following data preprocessing, the most relevant ions in distinguishing HCC cases from LC controls were selected by statistical methods. Putative metabolite identifications for these ions were obtained through mass-based database search. Pathway analysis of these putative identifications reveals significant enrichment of metabolites involved in bile acid biosynthesis, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Verification of the identities of selected metabolites was conducted by comparing their MS/MS fragmentation patterns and retention time with those from authentic compounds. Quantitation of these metabolites was performed in a subset of the serum samples (10 HCC and 10 LC) using isotope dilution by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) on triple quadrupole linear ion trap (QqQLIT) mass spectrometer. The results of this analysis confirms that metabolites involved in phospholipid catabolism such as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1-P) and lysophosphatidylcholine are up-regulated in sera of HCC vs. those with LC. Down-regulated metabolites include those involved in cholesterol metabolism such as glycochenodeoxycholic acid 3-sulfate (3-sulfo-GCDCA), glycocholic acid (GCA), glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDCA), as well as those involved in heme catabolism including billuribin, I-Urobili, and bilirubin glucuronide. The preliminary results obtained in this study provide useful insights into our understanding of metabolic differences between HCC and LC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4795. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4795
Adhesive and in vitro release characteristics of propranolol bioadhesive disc system

Abstract For the study of bioadhesive systems used in the controlled delivery of drugs through the oral mucosal membrane, direct compressed disc systems containing either 10, 15 or 20 mg of propranolol HCI (PL) with a mixture of hydroxypropyl cellulose and poly(acrylic acid) were prepared. The release data were fitted to the simple power equation, and it was found that the release characteristics of PL from these systems were not affected by the amounts of the drug loaded and followed behavior conforming to a non-Fickian mechanism of release. The diffusion exponents for the drug released in pH 6.8 medium were higher than those in pH 3.5 medium. However, the fraction of PL released in pH 6.8 medium was less than that in pH 3.5 medium. The adhesive bond strength of the systems to the porcine buccal mucosa was evaluated by the tensile strength test and the result showed no significant difference in adhesive bond strength to the porcine buccal mucosa among the three PL-containing discs and drug-free discs.
Use of dried air in the active oxygen method of determining relative stabilities of fats

The active oxygen method, when used for the study of lards to which no antioxidant has been added, yields essentially the same stability figures whether or not the air stream is passed through a drying tower after being scrubbed. This is not always true when antioxidants have been added to the lard. Among the antioxidants whose effects have been found to be essentially unaffected by moisture under the conditions used are gum guaiac, tocopherols, Age-Rite resin, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Lard to which d-isoascorbyl palmitate, ascorbic acid, triethanolamine, or certain other materials have been added shows a much higher stability in the presence of moist air than in the presence of dry air. Preliminary storage tests indicate that the data obtained through the use of dried air are more reliable as an indication of storage behavior than are the data obtained by the use of the moist air commonly used in the active oxygen method. A recognition of this effect of moisture is of great importance in the study of the effects of various antioxidant materials on the stability of lard.
Hormones, brain differentiation and fundamental processes of life

Abstract Fundamental processes of life, such as reproduction, metabolism and information processing, are controlled by neuroendocrine feedback systems. From extensive animal experiments and clinical studies the following ontogenetic differentiation rules were deduced for these systems: 1. During critical periods of brain differentiation, open-loop regulatory systems are transformed into feedback control systems ( transformation rule ). 2. During brain differentiation, the quantity of hormones (systemic hormones or neurotransmitters) determines the quality, i.e. the responsiveness (set point) of the central nervous controllers and hence the functional and tolerance ranges of the neuroendocrine feedback control systems throughout the life ( determination rule ). Systemic hormones and neurotransmitters, if occurring in nonphysiological concentrations during brain differentiation, can act as teratogens leading to relevant functional disturbances of reproduction, metabolism or information processing. Experimental and clinical findings suggest that numerous malfunctions of fundamental processes of life, called ‘idiopathic, primary, essential, endogenous or genuine’ so far, can be based on such environment-dependent teratogenetic effects. Therefore, important malfunctions of reproduction, metabolism and information processing may be prevented, at least in part, by optimizing the external and/or internal environment during critical periods of brain differentiation.
The polydeoxyadenylate tract of Alu repetitive elements is polymorphic in the human genome.

Abstract To identify DNA polymorphisms that are abundant in the human genome and are detectable by polymerase chain reaction amplification of genomic DNA, we tested the hypothesis that the polydeoxyadenylate tract of the Alu family of repetitive elements is polymorphic among human chromosomes. We analyzed the 3' ends of three specific Alu sequences and found that two (in the adenosine deaminase gene and the beta-globin pseudogene) were polymorphic. This novel class of polymorphisms, termed AluVpA [Alu variable poly(A)] may represent one of the most useful and informative group of DNA markers in the human genome.
A hysteresis-free polymer-stabilised blue-phase liquid crystal

We report a polymer-stabilised blue-phase liquid crystal (BPLC) in an in-plane-switching (IPS) cell with negligible hysteresis and good stability. Long ultraviolet (UV) wavelength and top-side (no IPS electrode) exposure create uniform polymer network, which in turn helps to suppress hysteresis. The effect of photoinitiator is also investigated. Although a BPLC precursor without photoinitiator requires a higher UV dosage to stabilise the polymer network, it is favourable for keeping high resistivity and reducing image sticking.
On managing technological change

Abstract This paper is based on a series of case studies of technological change in large American manufacturing firms. The case studies were primarily concerned with human resource issues, i.e. changes in jobs and skills induced by advanced automation. This concern is normative as well as descriptive. Thus the paper makes a case for the following recommendations: (1) management should ensure the inclusion of human resource issues in the planning as well as in the implementation stages of factory automation, (2) coordination of training and retraining programs should be accorded as high a priority as the introduction of new equipment, and (3) management should be forthright about its plans concerning the introduction of advanced technology.
Design flow of robust routed power distribution for low power ASIC

This paper deals with a detailed systematic methodology to design power and ground distribution networks in low power ASICs. A design flow for determining the width of each branch in the power and ground networks meeting the design requirements is presented, along with a design example, where the objective is to minimize the area of the power and ground networks for several given constraints such as IR drop and EM. This methodology was applied to a low power speech recognition ASIC design and was successfully verified.
Clinical Use of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Features of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale that make the examination useful for clinical application are described. Clinical applications in various settings and populations are described. This is followed by a summary of the clinical significance of the examination according to the packages of administration. We then explain how to use the summary scores clinically, writing a clinical summary and the clinical interpretation of the summary scores. Finally, we present a case study with a clinical summary and a work sheet that clinicians may find useful for clinical consultation with caregivers and parents.
Radiation Induced Malignancy after Prophylactic Radiation Therapy in Prevention of Heterotopic Ossification

Heath Status, Physical Functioning, Emotional Functioning, Social Functioning, and Body Image. Nausea, appetite, and insomnia were statistically better for the symptom scales/scores. For APBI, this group returned to their baseline mean score values in 14 out of 18 scales/scores within three months. Within this group, 4 out of 18 scales/scores were statistically significant. These categories included a significant improvement in both Emotional Functioning and Financial Difficulties. From the symptom scores, there was a statistically significant improvement concerning breast symptoms.
Perinatal and pediatric issues in palliative and end-of-life care from the 2011 Summit on the Science of Compassion

More than 25,000 infants and children die in US hospitals annually; 86% occur in the NICU or PICU. Parents see the child's pain and suffering and, near the point of death, must decide whether to resuscitate, limit medical treatment, and/or withdraw life support. Immediately after the death, parents must decide whether to see and/or hold the infant/child, donate organs, agree to an autopsy, make funeral arrangements, and somehow maintain functioning. Few children and their families receive pediatric palliative care services, especially those from minority groups. Barriers to these programs include lack of services, difficulty identifying the dying point, discomfort in withholding or withdrawing treatments, communication problems, conflicts in care among providers and between parents and providers, and differences in cultural beliefs about end-of-life care. The 2011 NIH Summit on the Science of Compassion provided recommendations in family involvement, end-of-life care, communication, health care delivery, and transdisciplinary participation.
Improving arabic broadcast transcription using automatic topic clustering

Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) has been shown to be an effective model to augment n-gram language models in speech recognition applications. In this work, we aim to take advantage of the superior unsupervised learning ability of the framework, and use it to uncover topic structure embedded in the corpora in an entirely data-driven fashion. In addition, we describe a bi-level inference and classification method that allows topic clustering at the utterance level while preserving the document-level topic structures. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed topic clustering pipeline in a state-of-the-art Arabic broadcast transcription system. Experiments show that optimizing LM in the LDA topic space leads to 5% reduction in language model perplexity. It is further shown that topic clustering and adaptation is able to attain 0.4% absolute word error rate reduction on the GALE Arabic task.
Quantum Imaging with light from Four-Wave Mixing

We have constructed a phase sensitive optical amplifier based on four-wave-mixing in rubidium vapor. This low-gain amplifier operates in the quantum regime and is capable of noiseless amplification of images.
Combining Formal and Informal Caregiving Roles: The Psychosocial Implications of Double- and Triple-Duty Care

Objectives. W omen who combine formal and informal caregiving roles represent a unique, understudied population. In the literature, healthcare employees who simultaneously provide unpaid elder care at home have been referred to as double-duty caregivers. The present study broadens this perspective by examining the psychosocial implications of double-duty child care (child care only), double-duty elder care (elder care only), and triple-duty care (both child care and elder care or “sandwiched” care). Method. Dra wing from the Work, Family, and Health Study, we focus on a large sample of women working in nursing homes in the United States (n = 1,399). We use multiple regression analysis and analysis of covariance tests to examine a range of psychosocial implications associated with double- and triple-duty care. Results. Compared with nonf amily caregivers, double-duty child caregivers indicated greater family-to-work conflict and poorer partner relationship quality. Double-duty elder caregivers reported more family-to-work conflict, perceived stress, and psychological distress, whereas triple-duty caregivers indicated poorer psychosocial functioning overall. Discussion. Relati ve to their counterparts without family caregiving roles, women with combined caregiving roles reported poorer psychosocial well-being. Additional research on women with combined caregiving roles, especially triple-duty caregivers, should be a priority amidst an aging population, older workforce, and growing number of working caregivers.
Directed forgetting in pigeons resulting from the reallocation of memory-maintaining processes on forget-cue trials

When procedural artifacts are controlled, it has been difficult to demonstrate directed forgetting in pigeons. However, previous research with pigeons has not allowed for the reallocation of working memory (from forget items to remember items) on forget-cued trials as is possible in human directed forgetting experiments. In the present experiment, directed forgetting was found while controlling for procedural artifacts and allowing the pigeons to reallocate memory resources on forget trials. The results indicate that under these conditions, pigeons have active control over memory processing.
Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use by Elderly Mexican Americans

BACKGROUND:Use of inappropriate medications by the elderly is a public health concern with potentially serious health consequences. Research indicates relatively high rates of inappropriate prescription drug usage for older whites and African Americans. However, rates for older Mexican Americans are unknown.OBJECTIVE:To examine the prevalence and predictors of inappropriate prescription medication use by older Mexican Americans.METHODS:A cross-sectional study of 3050 Mexican Americans aged ≥65 years living in the southwestern US was conducted. In-home interviews in 1993 and 1994 assessed prescription medication use. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to estimate prevalence and risk of inappropriate prescription drug use.RESULTS:Approximately 12% (n = 365) of the sample had used at least 1 of 32 potentially inappropriate prescription medications within 2 weeks of the baseline assessment. Four drugs, chlorpropamide, propoxyphene, amitriptyline, and dipyridamole, accounted for 54...
Long-term depletion of selenium from Kesterson dewatered sediments

Abstract Microbial methylation of selenium (Se) to volatile (CH3)2Se may contribute to a considerable loss of the Se inventory from seleniferous soils over time. A field experiment was carried out to assess microbial volatilization of Se as a bioremediation approach to dissipate Se. Field plots of size of 3.7 × 3.7 m2 were established at the Kesterson Reservoir, California. To enhance microbial activity, the plots were treated with different C and protein amendments and were periodically tilled and irrigated. Over a period of 100 months, 68–88% of the total amount of Se dissipated from the topsoil (0–15 cm). The pattern of Se depletion in soil was not correlated with rainfall events nor with temperature. As most of the rainfall occurred during the cold winter months, it is likely that leaching dominated the Se depletion in winter whereas volatilization prevailed in summer. The highest amount of Se depletion occurred with the amendment of the protein casein. However, there was no statistically significant difference in Se removal from the different treatments compared to the case where there was no C or protein amendment. Tillage and irrigation presumably prevailed over the effects of the amendments. A two-compartment model was superior to a one-compartment model for describing the long-term kinetics of Se depletion in soil. The rate of Se dissipation was initially faster than at later times. This indicates that the rate-limiting mechanisms have changed during the time of the study.
Spatial and Temporal Algorithm Evaluation for Detecting Over-The-Counter Thermometer Sale Increases during 2009 H1N1 Pandemic

Background Spatial outbreak detection algorithms using routinely collected healthcare data have been developed since the late 90s to identify and locate disease outbreaks. However, current well-received spatial algorithms assume only one outbreak cluster present at the same point of time which may not be valid during a pandemic when several clusters of geographic areas concurrently occur. Based on a retrospective evaluation on time-series and spatial algorithms, this paper suggests that time series analysis in detection of pandemics is still a desirable process, which may achieve more sensitive performance with better timeliness. Methods In this paper, we first prove in theory that two existing spatial models, the likelihood ratio and the Bayesian spatial scan statistics, are not useful if multiple clusters occur at the same point of time in different geographic regions. Then we conduct a comparison between a spatial algorithm, the Bayesian Spatial Scan Statistic (BSS), and a time series algorithm, the wavelet anomaly detector (WAD), on the performance of detecting the increase of the over-the-counter (OTC) medicine sales during 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Results The experiments demonstrated that the Bayesian spatial algorithm responded to the increase of thermometer sales about 3 days later than the time series algorithm. Conclusion Time-series algorithms demonstrated an advantage for early outbreak detection, especially when multiple clusters occur at the same time in different geographic regions. Given spatial-temporal algorithms for outbreak detection are widely used, this paper suggests that epidemiologists or public health officials would benefit by applying time series algorithms as a complement to spatial algorithms for public health surveillance.
Plant neighborhood effects on herbivory: damage is both density and frequency dependent

Neighboring plants can affect the likelihood that a focal plant is attacked by herbivores. Both the density of conspecific neighbors (resource concentration or dilution effects) and the relative density of heterospecific neighbors (associational effects or effects of neighbor frequency) within the local neighborhood can affect herbivore load and plant damage. Understanding how these neighborhood effects influence processes such as plant competition or natural selection on plant resistance traits will require knowing how both plant density and frequency affect damage, but previous studies have generally confounded density and frequency effects. In this study, we independently manipulated the absolute density and frequency (i.e., relative density) of two plant species (Solanum carolinense and Solidago altissima) to characterize neighborhood composition effects on S. carolinense damage by herbivores, providing the first picture of how both density and frequency of neighbors influence damage in a single system. We found both a positive effect of S. carolinense density on S. carolinense damage (a resource concentration effect) and a nonlinear effect of S. altissima frequency on S. carolinense damage (associational susceptibility). If these types of patterns are common in nature, future studies seeking to understand neighborhood effects on damage need to incorporate both density and frequency effects and capture any nonlinear effects by selecting a range of values rather than focusing on only a pair of densities or frequencies. This type of data on neighborhood effects will allow us to understand the contribution of neighborhood effects to population-level processes such as competition, the evolution of plant resistance to herbivores, and yield gains in agricultural crop mixtures.
“Sophisticated” Voting in the 1988 Presidential Primaries

Voters in multicandidate contests may confront circumstances under which it is in their interest to vote for a second- or even lower-ranked candidate. The U.S. electoral system, typically offering a choice between only two major contenders, rarely presents opportunities for this “sophisticated” voting. In presidential primaries, however, many plausible candidates may compete. We investigate the presence of sophisticated voting in the 1988 presidential primaries, using data from the National Election Study's Super Tuesday survey. We examine patterns of voting types based on ordinal measures of preferences among candidates and assessments of their chances of winning their party's nomination and estimate several models of choice, testing the multicandidate calculus of voting. Among both Republicans and Democrats, respondents' choices were consistent with the calculus of voting and thus with sophisticated voting.
Convected Scheme Simulations of Glow Discharges

The Convected Scheme (CS) was reviewed, with emphasis on recent modifications of the scheme which make it particularly accurate and effective in a variety of different physical situations corresponding to several important classes of discharges. Detailed discussion of the algorithm and results for a dc positive column were compared to Monte Carlo simulations and excellent agreement was found.
Interactions between CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in reconstituted binary systems influence their catalytic activity: possible rationale for the inability of CYP2C19 to catalyze methoxychlor demethylation in human liver microsomes.

Previous studies in our laboratory showed that among cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 (P450) supersomes, CYP2C19 was the most active in methoxychlor-O-demethylation (Hu et al., 2004). However, based on the lack of inhibition of methoxychlor-O-demethylation by monoclonal anti-CYP2C19 antibodies in human liver microsomes (HLM), CYP2C19 did not seem to catalyze that reaction in HLM. By contrast, CYP2C9, much less active than CYP2C19 in supersomes, was the most active in HLM. The current study examines whether the lack of methoxychlor-O-demethylation by CYP2C19 in HLM was due to CYP2C19 exhibiting inferior competition for the NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) versus CYP2C9 and explores the interactions between CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in a singular and binary complex of a reconstituted system. When reconstituted with CPR, cytochrome b5, and lipid, purified CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 catalyzed methoxychlor-O-demethylation. However, whereas equimolar CPR to CYP2C9 supported maximal rates of methoxychlor demethylation and diclofenac hydroxylation, the rate of methoxychlor demethylation by CYP2C19 was not fully saturated, even with a 9-fold molar excess of CPR over CYP2C19. This behavior of CYP2C19 was also observed with S-mephenytoin as the substrate. When a binary reconstitution system was prepared by mixing CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 enzymes, methoxychlor-O-demethylation and S-mephenytoin hydroxylation by CYP2C19 were dramatically inhibited. Inhibition depended on the amount of CPR and substrate used. By contrast, in the incubation containing CYP2C9, diclofenac hydroxylation was activated by the presence of CYP2C19. These results show that interactions among P450 enzymes can modulate their catalytic rates, which depend on the substrate undergoing metabolism.
Multi-resolution Analysis Using Symmetrized Odd and Even DCT Transforms

Multi-resolution signal analysis proved to be very effective tool for many applications that widely serve both research as well as professional communities. The wavelet transform is one of the most popular techniques for multi-resolution analysis of signals, however, the complexity of the wavelet transform combined with difficulty in selecting a unique wavelet that maintains the same performance for several applications makes our proposed DCT symmetrization technique very attractive particularly for its uniqueness and simplicity. In this regard, a novel procedure for multi resolution analysis through combining two independent discrete cosine transforms derived from the traditional DCT, the even discrete cosine transform and the odd discrete cosine transform. The even transform is used to compute the even DCT coefficients while the odd transform is used to compute odd coefficients. The separation of the traditional DCT into two independent transforms combined with a discrete sample symmetrization procedure, allows dyadic signal analysis and multi-resolution reconstruction using even, odd or a combination of both transforms. Our preliminary results indicated that the odd inverse discrete cosine transform can be used to compute the error of reconstruction while a combination of the two transforms can be used to analyze signals in dyadic multi resolution structure. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed multi resolution approach to analyze signals and combine filtering/denoising in one operation.
Ploidy-Regulated Variation in Biofilm-Related Phenotypes in Natural Isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The ability of yeast to form biofilms contributes to better survival under stressful conditions. We see the impact of yeast biofilms and “flocs” (clumps) in human health and industry, where forming clumps enables yeast to act as a natural filter in brewing and forming biofilms enables yeast to remain virulent in cases of fungal infection. Despite the importance of biofilms in yeast natural isolates, the majority of our knowledge about yeast biofilm genetics comes from work with a few tractable laboratory strains. A new collection of sequenced natural isolates from the Saccharomyces Genome Resequencing Project enabled us to examine the breadth of biofilm-related phenotypes in geographically, ecologically, and genetically diverse strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We present a panel of 31 haploid and 24 diploid strains for which we have characterized six biofilm-related phenotypes: complex colony morphology, complex mat formation, flocculation, agar invasion, polystyrene adhesion, and psuedohyphal growth. Our results show that there is extensive phenotypic variation between and within strains, and that these six phenotypes are primarily uncorrelated or weakly correlated, with the notable exception of complex colony and complex mat formation. We also show that the phenotypic strength of these strains varies significantly depending on ploidy, and the diploid strains demonstrate both decreased and increased phenotypic strength with respect to their haploid counterparts. This is a more complex view of the impact of ploidy on biofilm-related phenotypes than previous work with laboratory strains has suggested, demonstrating the importance and enormous potential of working with natural isolates of yeast.
Voltage-controlled oscillator in the coil

In this paper we have examined the effect of devices inside an inductor through simulations and measurements. A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) was constructed inside an inductor using layout techniques that minimize eddy current loss and magnetic coupling. Measurement results show that this compact VCO has an equal performance in phase noise and output power as compared to a traditional VCO while reducing the area by about 50%.
The demographics of the do-not-call list [security of data]

Data from do-not-call registries and other sources show discernible patterns in the demographics of consumers who signed up for do-not-call lists. Such patterns might also be useful in analyzing the prospects for a do-not-spam registry
Commentary: ‘The association between tobacco smoking and coronary heart disease’.An unpublished memorandum by Reuel Stallones, consultant in cardiovascular diseases to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health, 28 June and 19 July 1963

‘Almost everything that can be said about smoking and heart disease has been.’ With that challenge, University of California (Berkeley) epidemiologist Reuel ‘Stoney’ Stallones introduced his analysis as consultant on smoking and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) to the Advisory Committee that prepared the landmark 1964 Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health. Previously unpublished, his 1963 memorandum, ‘The association between tobacco smoking and coronary heart disease’, is reprinted here for its historical interest and significance. The Advisory Committee to Luther Terry, President John F Kennedy’s Surgeon General, was made up of clinical, laboratory and population experts who carried out a thoroughgoing 2-year review of evidence about the relation of tobacco smoking to the common chronic diseases. Its major conclusion, that cigarette smoking caused lung cancer, was coincident with the similar conclusion of the 1962 UK Report of the Royal College of Medicine; together they launched the modern era of tobacco and health policy and regulatory actions. Stallones’ 1963 memorandum is not a formal part of the U.S. Advisory Committee Report. It was governmentstamped ‘ADMINISTRATIVE CONFIDENTIAL’ as found in the Andersen Archive of the University of Minnesota, where the professional papers of Leonard Schuman, Professor of Epidemiology, were archived following his death. Schuman was member of the Advisory Committee, wrote most of its review on the relation of smoking and cancers and served as principal editor of its historic report. In this memorandum, Stallones effectively summarized the evidence about his topic as consultant, that is the association of cigarette smoking and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the document is historically significant mainly because it establishes that he brought into the Committee’s deliberations the now familiar guidelines to causal inference from statistical associations. There the guidelines were used to great advantage by Schuman and the Committee in evaluating the associations of tobacco use with incidence and death for each specific cancer type. Notably, however, the causal criteria were not mentioned and apparently were not formally applied in the final Report’s judgments about smoking and coronary heart disease, led by academic internist John Hickam. The essence of Stallone’s four-part memorandum is as follows.
Revisions to Some Parameters Used in Stochastic‐Method Simulations of Ground Motion

Abstract The stochastic method of ground‐motion simulation specifies the amplitude spectrum as a function of magnitude ( M ) and distance ( R ). The manner in which the amplitude spectrum varies with M and R depends on physical‐based parameters that are often constrained by recorded motions for a particular region (e.g., stress parameter, geometrical spreading, quality factor, and crustal amplifications), which we refer to as the seismological model. The remaining ingredient for the stochastic method is the ground‐motion duration. Although the duration obviously affects the character of the ground motion in the time domain, it also significantly affects the response of a single‐degree‐of‐freedom oscillator. Recently published updates to the stochastic method include a new generalized double‐corner‐frequency source model, a new finite‐fault correction, a new parameterization of duration, and a new duration model for active crustal regions. In this article, we augment these updates with a new crustal amplification model and a new duration model for stable continental regions. Random‐vibration theory (RVT) provides a computationally efficient method to compute the peak oscillator response directly from the ground‐motion amplitude spectrum and duration. Because the correction factor used to account for the nonstationarity of the ground motion depends on the ground‐motion amplitude spectrum and duration, we also present new RVT correction factors for both active and stable regions. Online Material: Files of coefficients for evaluating distance ( D rms ), time‐domain–to–random‐vibration ratios, and SMSIM parameter files.
Heparin attenuates norepinephrine-induced venoconstriction

Reversal by heparin of norepinephrine-induced constriction of normal hand veins was studied. Venous size was measured using a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) dur- ing infusions of saline, norepinephrine, insulin and norepinephrine, and graded doses of hep- arin with norepinephrine. Heparin reduced the venoconstrictive effects of norepinephrine (p , 0.01), with the effects beginning at 18.5 nmol/min (0.05 U/min) and reaching a maximum between 185 nmol/min and 1.85 mmol/min (0.5 and 5 U/min). Maximal heparin-induced venore- laxation correlated with the maximal insulin effect within individuals (r = 0.8, p , 0.01) and was unchanged by the addition of insulin. Methylene blue, a non-specific inhibitor of the nitric oxide cGMP cascade, reduced heparin-induced venorelaxation. In conclusion, heparin in either physi- ologic or pharmacologic concentrations attenuated norepinephrine-induced venoconstriction. A common mechanism of venorelaxation by heparin and insulin is not excluded given the correlation and lack of additivity of maximum effects and their inhibition by methylene blue.
Stability and nuclear dynamics of the Bicoid morphogen gradient

Patterning in multicellular organisms results from spatial gradients in morphogen concentration, but the dynamics of these gradients remain largely unexplored. We characterize, through in vivo optical imaging, the development and stability of the Bicoid morphogen gradient in Drosophila embryos that express a Bicoid-eGFP fusion protein. The gradient is established rapidly (approximately 1 hr after fertilization), with nuclear Bicoid concentration rising and falling during mitosis. Interphase levels result from a rapid equilibrium between Bicoid uptake and removal. Initial interphase concentration in nuclei in successive cycles is constant (+/-10%), demonstrating a form of gradient stability, but it subsequently decays by approximately 30%. Both direct photobleaching measurements and indirect estimates of Bicoid-eGFP diffusion constants (D < or = 1 microm(2)/s) provide a consistent picture of Bicoid transport on short ( approximately min) time scales but challenge traditional models of long-range gradient formation. A new model is presented emphasizing the possible role of nuclear dynamics in shaping and scaling the gradient.
The Shuttle Leadership Model (SLM)

Leaders and managers are influenced by the corporate culture. Culture exists in the multicultural organization at various levels and in different business settings as a human influence to the cohesive nature of the unique workplace environment. Leaders of multinational corporations who value their staff diversity have leverage in the global market.
Objective Bayesian Inference with Applications

It is natural to start a review of research frontiers in Bayesian analysis with a discussion of research challenges related to prior choices. In particular, in this chapter we discuss the definition of reference priors in some non-standard settings as well as the use of reference priors to define objective Bayesian testing.
Black Transnational Political Engagements

This paper explores the contribution of transnational studies to our understanding of political collective action. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in the Afro-descendant Garifuna community of Honduras, I discuss transnational political linkages that connect the community in Honduras with other Garifuna communities in Central America and in the United States. Transnational advocacy networks are particularly important for this community that has faced a history of discrimination and marginalization within the Honduran state. As such, this paper discusses the importance of transnational processes of political engagement in marginalized communities in the Americas.
Why Are We More Likely to Tip Some Service Occupations than Others? Theory, Evidence, and Implications

Abstract Ideas about why consumers tip some service occupations more often than others are tested using occupation scores derived from online ratings of 122 service occupations. Results indicate that U.S. consumers are more likely to tip occupations for which (i) workers’ performances can be more easily evaluated by consumers than by managers, (ii) workers provide customized service, (iii) workers’ income, skill and needed judgment are low, and (iv) workers are less happy than customers during the service encounter. Occupations with greater frequency of customer patronage and/or greater likelihood of encountering the same service provider on multiple service occasions are not more likely than other occupations to be tipped. These findings support some and disconfirm other expectations derived from a theory that occupational differences in tipping are attributable to occupation characteristics that more strongly/consistently evoke motives for tipping. They also identify types of services for which counter-normative tipping policies are more or less likely to be successful and suggest sources of resistance that must be overcome if those policies are to succeed.
Tensile Testing of Ultra-Thin-Film Materials Deposited on Polyimide for Mems Applications

A newly developed approach to thin-film tensile testing has been utilized for evaluating ultra-thin-films of about 60-100 nm in thickness. Thin sputtered metal films deposited on 3.5 gm thick polyimide film substrates were tested using a Mesotronix nanotensiometer. Modifications to sample handling and zero strain calibration helped to improve testing reproducibility. The response of a thin-film metal was determined by subtracting the response of the polyimide carrier film from that of the metal-on-polyimide composite. Stress-strain curves for two amorphous alloys sputtered from Al-25 at% Ti and Nb-25 at% Al targets exhibited well-defined elastic regions followed by brittle behavior. The ultimate tensile strengths (UTS) were about 1200 MPa for the Al-Ti and 1700 MPa for the Nb-Al, both of which occurred near the elastic strain limit of about 2%. After recrystallization at 280°C for an hour, the Al-Ti film showed what appears to be an upper and lower yield point, in addition to strain hardening. Initial yielding occurred at a strain of about 1.2% and a stress of about 800 MPa, while the UTS of about 1000-1060 MPa occurs at strains as high as 9%. Stress relaxation measurements performed on both the amorphous and the recrystallized films showed lower values of stress relaxation at 1% strain compared to low alloy polycrystalline Al films.
Basic Affinities Between the Characteristic Functions of Linear Viscoelastic Materials

It was shown that the characteristic functions describing the mechanical behaviour of linear visco-elastic materials are interconnected. Evaluation of one of these functions along the whole viscoelastic spectrum of the material and an initial value of another suffices for the complete determination of all characteristic functions of the material. An experimental method was introduced which yields upper and lower bounds of the characteristic functions of bulk compliance or modulus and the lateral contraction ratio in creep or relaxation, based on the fact that these functions are insensitive functions with time, temperature or frequency. These two bounds tend very rapidly to coincide when the time or temperature increments are taken small, especially in the case of lateral contraction ratio curves. Knowledge of the lateral contraction ratio functions together with the extension creep compliance or relaxation modulus functions suffices for the complete determination of the viscoelastic behaviour of the materials.
Κατασκευή τραύματος και ηθικός περιορισμός: Η ασάφεια του Ολοκαυτώματος για το Ισραήλ

Η eργασία αυτή eξeτάζeι την eρμηνeία του Ολοκαυτώματος στο πλαίσιο της ισραηλινής κοινωνίας από τη δημιουργία του ισραηλινοό κράτους και eφeξής. Υποστηρίζeι ότι, αρχικά, το Ολοκαύτωμα χρησιμοποιήθηκe μe παρτικουλαριστικό τρόπο για να δικαιολογήσeι την ισραηλινή ‘σκληρή’ στάση απέναντι σe Παλαιστινίους και Άραβeς. Σταδιακά, όμως, η ισραηλινή κοινή γνώμη eυαισθητοποιήθηκe στο ζήτημα των Παλαιστινίων, eιδικότeρα μeτά την ισραηλινή eισβολή στον Λίβανο το 1982. Μια νέα συνeιδητοποίηση έδωσe ώθηση σe ένα ‘μeτα-σιωνισπκό’ πλαίσιο αναφοράς το οποίο eκφράστηκe στις συμφωνίeς του Όσλο το 1993. Μeτά το 1995, όμως, η ισραηλινή Δeξιά πέτυχe την ανάσχeση αυτής της αφήγησης, προωθώντας και πάλι την κατασκeυή eνός τραύματος το οποίο πeριχαρακώνeι τον πόνο του Ολοκαυτώματος στους κόλπους μιας μόνον ομάδας και αποτρέπeι τη δημιουργία συναισθημάτων eνσυναίσθησης και συμπόνιας προς άλλους.
Fluorine-Doped IrO2: A Potential Electrocatalyst for Water Electrolysis

Using an ab initio approach, fluorine-doped IrO2 IrO2:F has been studied for the first time for its electrocatalytic activity and ability to serve as an electrocatalyst in PEM-based electrolyzers. Detailed study conducted of all the intermediate steps during the electrolytic water splitting demonstrates an improved catalytic activity of IrO2 doped with fluorine in comparison with pure undoped iridium oxide which has been confirmed by the appropriate experimental study exhibiting 20% increase in the catalytic activity of IrO2:F vs pure IrO2. The study allows one to conclude that fluorine-doped iridium oxide could be a promising oxygen evolution electrocatalyst for PEM-based water electrolysis.
Principles of Regional Planning: As Applied to the Northwest

the possibility of matching or even surpassing the achievements of the TVA area. Yet they have been hit again and again by destructive floods, their industry has been dwarfed by lack of abundant low-costhydro-electric power, theirsoil eroded and blown away by dust storms, their vast deposits of fertilizer lie almost untouched while the land is gasping for its health-giving strength, their people have become discouraged and many have moved elsewhere. Small wonder that when the ten socialeconomic measures are applied these ten potentially great states fall below the national average on all of them, show less ability to come back from the depths of depression than the rest of the nation, and exhibit such striking contrasts to the achievements of the Tennessee area. Without significant deviation, in all the measures applied the TVA area is at or decidedly above the level of the United States as a whole, while the Missouri states are below that level of national achievement. During the depression the Missouri states suffered more seriously than did the Tennessee states in most respects and recovered at a much slower rate. Its imbalance between agriculture and industry continues, whereas the Tennessee area has achieved a more normal condition calculated to withstand economic storms and geared to a much higher level of peacetime prosperity. Without a great new unified program of socialeconomic development as its goal, the Missouri area continues on its way, meeting its problems in the same old piecemeal manner, much less able to withstand the shocks that come than the TVA area, much less sure of its future. The "Authority" has been revealed by these many measures of social-economic activity as a great new master key to regional resources development which might offer the Missouri states, and other river basin states of the nation, the opportunity to unlock their vast natural wealth for the benefit of all their people.
Improvement of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) production from switchgrass pretreated with a radio frequency-assisted heating process

Abstract Radio frequency (RF) heating assisted alkaline pretreatment was evaluated as an emerging technology to generate hydrolysates for acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation. Traditional water bath (WB) heating was utilized as a control. ABE fermentation was conducted with Clostridium beijerinckii 8052 using the hydrolysates as carbon sources with or without yeast extract (YE, as supplemented complex nitrogen sources). Results indicated that the hydrolysates generated through RF pretreatment (RFH) performed consistently better for ABE fermentation than the hydrolysates generated through WB (WBH), with or without yeast extract (YE) supplementation. Without YE addition, fermentation with RFH generated 50% higher ABE than that with WBH. YE supplementation (up to 5 g/L) enhanced fermentation under all conditions and diminished the difference among performances of fermentations. ABE production with 1 and 2 g/L YE supplementation increased by 15% and 107% than those without YE for WBH, while for RFH the increase were 1% and 55%, respectively. Supplementation of 5 g/L YE brought the final solvent production to be very close to each other with either WBH or RFH. Therefore, we concluded that RFH contained more nutrients than WBH which made a big difference for the ABE fermentation. RF could be explored as an efficient method for biomass pretreatment. This study provided valuable references for developing a sustainable system to convert lignocellulosic biomass into bioenergy in an economically efficient manner.
Breast cancer biology varies by method of detection and may contribute to overdiagnosis.

Background Recently, it has been suggested that screening mammography may result in some degree of overdiagnosis (ie, detection of breast cancers that would never become clinically important within the lifespan of the patient). The extent and biology of these overdiagnosed cancers, however, is not well understood, and the effect of newer screening modalities on overdiagnosis is unknown. Methods We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of breast cancers diagnosed at the Yale Breast Center from 2004–2014. The mode of initial presentation was categorized into 5 groups: screening mammogram, screening magnetic resonance imaging, screening ultrasonography, self-detected masses, and physician-detected masses. Results Compared with cancers presenting with masses, cancers detected by image-based screening were more likely to present with ductal carcinoma-in-situ or T1 cancers ( P P Conclusion Screening detects cancers with more indolent biology, potentially contributing to the observed rate of overdiagnosis. With magnetic resonance imaging and US being used more commonly for screening, the rate of overdiagnosis may increase further.