cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression and phorbol ester–induced down‐regulation of protein kinase C isozymes in osteoblasts

The protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme family consists of at least 11 isozymes in three classes, with characteristic tissue distributions. Phorbol esters activate and ultimately down-regulate phorbol-sensitive isozymes. PKC is a signal transducer in bone, and phorbol esters influence bone resorption. Little is known about specific PKC isozymes in this tissue, however. We describe here the expression and phorbol ester-induced down-regulation of PKC isozymes in osteoblasts. Normal mouse osteoblasts and seven osteoblastic cell lines (rat UMR-106, ROS 17/2.8, ROS 24/1, and human MG-63, G-292, SaOS-2, HOS-TE85) were screened for isozyme expression by Western immunoblotting using isozyme-specific anti-PKC antibodies. The conventional alpha and beta I isozymes, but not gamma, were present in each of the osteoblasts examined; PKC-beta II was detectable in all but the ROS 24/1 line. PKC-epsilon was expressed in all osteoblasts screened, but other novel PKCs, delta, eta, and theta, were detectable only in select lines. The atypical zeta and iota/lambda PKCs were in all osteoblasts examined. To determine the sensitivity of the isozymes to prolonged phorbol ester treatment, normal osteoblasts and the UMR-106 cell line were treated with vehicle or 1 microM phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDB) for 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h, and Western blot analysis was performed. Normal and UMR-106 cells showed similar phorbol sensitivities; conventional (alpha, beta I) and novel (delta, epsilon, eta) isozymes were down-regulated by prolonged phorbol treatment but atypical isozymes were not. Down-regulation of all sensitive PKCs was detectable within 6 h of phorbol treatment; the novel delta and epsilon isozymes, however, showed more rapid and dramatic down-regulation than conventional isozymes. The observed down-regulation was dose-dependent (0.3-3 microM) and specific; 48 h treatment with the inactive phorbol, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4 alpha-PDD), failed to down-regulate PDB-sensitive isozymes. The phorbol-induced down-regulation was also reversible; 24 h after withdrawing PDB, all phorbol-sensitive isozymes, except PKC-eta, had recovered at least partially. These studies, the first to characterize thoroughly PKC isozyme expression in osteoblastic cells from several species, demonstrate that osteoblasts have a characteristic PKC isozyme profile, including both phorbol ester-sensitive and -insensitive isozymes. The time course of down-regulation and the presence of phorbol-insensitive PKCs must be considered in interpreting the effects of phorbol esters on bone remodeling.
Producing the German Civic Nation: Immigrant Patriotism in Berlin's World Cup Flag Fight

In order to untangle the tension between the exclusionary prerogative of sovereignty and the universalizing philosophy of the nation-state under civic nationalism, this study examines the press coverage of a flag fight in an immigrant neighborhood of Berlin during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the heavily mediatized struggle, German anti-fascists repeatedly damaged and stole a 22-meter-tall German flag belonging to a family of Lebanese extraction. The flag fight and the media's coverage of it demonstrated competing and overlapping definitions of citizenship, with the media and the flag owners promoting a civic form of nationalism. The case illuminates a national project to redefine German national identity and expand it beyond the boundaries of ethnic nationalism. At the same time, it reveals persistent anxieties about migrant spaces and their place in the nation.
The maximal sizes of faces and vertices in an arrangement

Let A be an arragement of n lines in the plane. Suppose that F1,?,Fr are faces of A and that V,?,Vs are vertices of A. Suppose also that each Fi is a (Vj) of the lines of A intersect at Vj. Then we show that ?i=1rt(Fi + ?j=1st(Vj)?n+4r2+s2+ 2rs.
On the front between the cultures: Thomas Müntzer on popular and learned culture

(1989). On the front between the cultures: Thomas Muntzer on popular and learned culture. History of European Ideas: Vol. 11, No. 1-6, pp. 523-536.
Using hyperentangled photons to prepare bound entanglement

We present an experimental setup to prepare the bound-entangled Smolin state using hyperentangled photons produced by spontaneous parametric down-conversion. We can verify the state produced using quantum state tomography and “unlocking” of entanglement.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and child witnesses to mother-assault: A summary and review

Abstract There is growing appreciation that children who witness mother-assault are traumatized and may exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Twenty-eight clinical/descriptive and empirical studies of child witnesses and six conceptual papers are reviewed in which PTSD was assessed using clinical interviews or trauma-based instruments. This review is divided into three main sections: (a) a definition of trauma and rationale for its use, (b) a literature review of PTSD in child witnesses to mother-assault, (c)methodological issues and recommendations for expanding practitioner and researcher knowledge.
Composite materials stiffness determination and defects characterization using enhanced leaky Lamb wave dispersion data acquisition method

The leaky Lamb wave (LLW) technique is approaching a maturity level that is making it an attractive quantitative NDE tool for composites and bonded joints. Since it was first observed in 1982, the phenomenon has been studied extensively, particularly in composite materials. The wave is induced by oblique insonification using a pitch-catch arrangement and the plate wave modes are detected by identifying minima in the reflected spectra to obtain the dispersion data. The wave behavior in multi-orientation laminates has ben well documented and corroborated experimentally with high accuracy. The sensitivity of the wave to the elastic constants of the material and to the boundary conditions led to the capability to measure the elastic properties of bonded joints. Recently, the authors significantly enhanced the LLW method's capability by increasing the speed of the data acquisition, the number of modes that can be identified and the accuracy of the data inversion. In spite of the theoretical and experimental progress, methods that employ oblique insonification of composites are still not being applied as standard industrial NDE methods. The authors investigated the issues that are hampering the transition of the LLW to industrial applications and identified 4 key issues. The current capability of the method and the nature of these issues are described in this paper.
1H magnetic resonance imaging of human lung using inversion recovery turbo spin echo.

Evaluation of lung pathologies using magnetic resonance imaging remains limited, primarily due to the lung's low proton density and high density of magnetic field susceptibility gradients. It is hypothesized that visualization of the lung is possible if signal intensity from muscle and/or fat is suppressed or reduced. Using the inversion recovery and frequency selective saturation pulse with a half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) or a segmented, centric reordered turbo spin-echo (TSE) readout, signal intensity and contrast of tissues can be manipulated to enhance the visibility of the lung. Multislice images of the lung from 10 healthy volunteers were acquired with negligible motion artifacts. Peripheral pulmonary vessels appear well delineated. T(1) maps of the lung are also presented; the overall average was 1335 +/- 85 msec and 1245 +/- 93 msec with the volunteers performing breath-holding on end-expiration and end-inspiration, respectively. This difference is statistically significant, at P < 0.01.
Flavonoid chemistry of Siphonoglossa

Abstract Seven species of Siphonoglossa section Siphonoglossa were found to elaborate only apigenin-based C-glycosylflavones that are methylated either at the 7- and 4′-positions, only the 7-position, or are not methylated at all. Fourteen C-glucosyl derivatives of apigenin including the 6-C-glucosyl types 6-C-glucosylapigenin 7,4′-dimethyl ether (embigenin, reported here for the first time), embinin, isovitexin, swertisin and some 2′-O-glycosyl derivatives of these latter two compounds, were obtained from these species. The 8-C-glucosyl (i.e. isoembigenin, vitexin) and 6,8-di-C-glycosyl (i.e. vicenin-2) types occur less frequently in the species investigated here. The flavonoid chemistry correlates with other sources of data suggesting that the species of this section form a natural group.
Effects of Body Size, Condition, and Lipid Content on the Survival of Juvenile Lake Herring During Rapid Cooling Events

Abstract Juvenile lake herring Coregonus artedi were exposed to rapid cooling events during two laboratory experiments to determine the effects of body size, physiological condition, and lipid content on survival. The first experiment was conducted at the onset of winter, exposing small (50 to 85 mm) and large (85 to 129 mm) fish to a decline in water temperature from 12 to 2°C at a rate of 1°C/hr. During this experiment, both large and small individuals exposed to a rapid cooling event experienced no mortality or abnormal behaviors. Separate fish were then maintained under thermal and photoperiod regimes that mimicked those in Lake Superior from October through May. Fish in each size class were maintained at two feeding treatments: Artemia ad libitum and no food. At the completion of the winter period, these lake herring were subjected to the same rapid cooling event conducted in the first experiment. During the experiment, lake herring exhibited no mortality or abnormal behaviors despite treatment-dependent differences in condition and lipid content. Our results indicate that mortality due to rapid cooling events does not appear to contribute to the recruitment variability observed for juvenile lake herring in Lake Superior.
How Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Perceive Cognitive Slowing

Slowed processing speed is the primary cognitive deficit in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, no studies have examined how patients perceive this deficit. The purpose of this paper is to examine perceived processing speed difficulties in clinical and community samples of MS patients. As expected, MS patients reported more processing speed difficulties than controls. Perceived processing speed difficulties were significantly associated with impulsivity, slowed motor speed, greater anxiety, and increased introversion. In contrast, perceived processing speed did not correlate well with objective measures of processing speed. Findings showed that MS patients perceive their thinking to be significantly slowed. Perceived cognitive slowing was most related to performance on motor tasks and elevated anxiety. Evaluation of anxiety and patient education about objective measures versus subjective perceptions of slowed processing speed may be helpful to MS patients who report significant cognitive slowing.
Explaining the Low Risk of Preterm Birth Among Arab Americans in the United States: An Analysis of 617451 Births

OBJECTIVES.Arab Americans have a lower risk for preterm birth than white Americans. We assessed factors that may contribute to the association between ethnicity and preterm birth risk in Michigan, the state with the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States. Factors assessed as potential contributors to the ethnicity/preterm birth risk association were maternal age, parity, education, marital status, tobacco use, and maternal birthplace. METHODS.Data were collected about all births in Michigan between 2000 and 2005. Stratified analyses, trivariate analyses, and manual stepwise logistic regression model building were used to assess potential contributors to the ethnicity/preterm birth risk association. RESULTS.Arab ethnicity was associated with lower preterm birth risk compared with non-Arab white subjects in the unadjusted model. Maternal birthplace inside or outside the United States explained 0.17 of the difference in preterm birth risk between Arab ethnicity and non-Arab white mothers; ethnic differences in marital status and tobacco use explained less of the observed ethnic difference in preterm birth risk. In the final model adjusted for all explanatory variables, Arab ethnicity was no longer associated with preterm birth risk. CONCLUSIONS.Maternal birthplace, marital status, and tobacco use may contribute to the preterm birth risk difference between Arab ethnicity and non-Arab white mothers. Additional work is needed to consider the mechanisms relating factors such as maternal birthplace and marital status to ethnic differences in preterm birth risk. Pediatrics 2009;123:e438‐e445
The Reaction of CIONO2 with Submicrometer Sulfuric Acid Aerosol.

The measured reaction probability, γ for the reaction of chlorine nitrate (CIONa2) with 60 percent (by weight) sulfuric acid aerosol increases monotonically with particle size at 250 kelvin. The reacto-diffusive length (l, the effective liquid depth over which reaction occurs) derived from these experiments is 0.037 ± 0.007 micrometer (95 percent confidence level for precision). The reaction probability for the reaction of CIONO2 with 60 percent sulfuric acid aerosol doped with ∼7 x 10–4 M hydrochloric acid at 250 kelvin is larger by about a factor of 4 than in the absence of hydrochloric acid and varies less with particle size (l = 0.009 ± 0.005 micrometer). These results provide a test of the theory for gas-particle reactions and further insight into the reactivity of atmospheric aerosol.
An In Vivo Model for Investigations of Mechanical Signal Transduction in Trabecular Bone

The premise that bone cells are able to perceive and respond to mechanical forces is well accepted. This article describes the use of an in vivo hydraulic bone chamber for investigations of mechanical signal transduction. The servohydraulic loading mechanism was activated to apply a controlled compressive load to the woven trabecular bone that formed in one chamber, while the contralateral chamber served as an unloaded control. Specimens were harvested at a series of postload time points, and the cellular response to loading was evaluated by cytochemical, histomorphometric, and Northern blot analysis. A repetitive daily load stimulus elicited osteoblast biosynthetic activity characterized by an initial increase in type I procollagen by day 3 and a subsequent rise in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity after the sixth daily load episode. Application of a single load episode induced a biphasic pattern of c-fos and zif-268 gene expression with up-regulation at 30 minutes, down-regulation at 12 h, and up-regulation 24 h after the mechanical stimulus. The results show that a synchronized pattern of bone cell activity and gene expression occurs in response to controlled mechanical stimulation and that candidate load-responsive molecular mediators can be evaluated easily by this model.
SU-E-T-826: Dosimetric Comparison of Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy and 3D Proton Radiotherapy with Passively Scattered Beams for Primary Prostate Cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the dose distributions for treatment of primary prostate tumor using plans with intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and plans with 3D conformal proton beam using passive scattering beams. Methods: We generated treatment plans for five patients with two different protontreatment planning technique (IMPT and 3D conformal) using opposed lateral beams. The 3D conformal plans included passively scattered beams with appropriate beam compensators to conform the dose along the distal region of each beam. IMPT planning applies the spot scanning beam and uses the dose optimization process to reduce the dose to normal tissue and provide adequate prescription dose to prostate. The planning target volume (PTV) included prostate and margins to account for dosimetric and setup uncertainty. The total prescription dose (PD) for each plan is 79.2 Gy. We require that 99% of the clinical target volume (prostate) is covered by 98% of PD (D99%=78.4 Gy) and the PTV dose criteria is D98%=75.2 Gy. The dose for rectum and bladder for volumes of 20% and 40% (D20%, D40%) was optimized such that D20% and D40% are less than or equal to 60 Gy and 40 Gy respectively. The index of conformality (CI) was evaluated using the ratio of PTV volume to that of volume covered by 95% of PD. Results: The PTV dose coverage is achieved for both techniques but IMPT plans showing better dose homogeneity and lower maximum dose. Overall, the D20% and D40% slightly decreased for rectum for all plans. However, for bladder, there is higher dose reduction for IMPT plans as compared to 3D proton plans. The CI was improved for IMPT plans. Conclusions: The IMPT technique results in plans with better PTV coverage and lower dose to organ at risk as compared to plans with passively scattered beams.
New Techniques for the Investigation of the World Wide Dispersion of Surface Waves

When a seismic record containing multiple sets of world-circling waves generated by a major earthquake is auto-correlated, the resulting time function is composed of groups of cross-correlated waves whose phase delay functions are proportional to the difference between the corresponding epicentral distances. Such an auto-correlogram contains, therefore, signals which represent a sum of cross-correlated waves of the same type whose travel distances differ by an integral number of Earth circumferences. This property of the auto-correlogram of a time function of waves propagating on a sphere provides an enhancement of the signal to noise ratio through the superposition of correlated waves and the cancellation of random noise. These signals can be further processed to obtain single station phase and group velocities; the appropriate numerical methods have been described in other papers.* The auto-correlation method in conjunction with the free oscillation approach permitted independent evaluations of the phase and group velocities of Rayleigh and Love waves for periods from 100 to 900 s, using the phase information as well as the spectral amplitudes derived from recordings of the World Wide Standard Seismograph Network. The precision of the phase velocity observation is estimated to be 0.05-0.1 per cent in the period range 170-500 s, and matches the precision of measurement of body wave travel times. This development is important for inversion studies, where P and S travel times are used in combination with surface wave dispersion data. This increased precision for surface wave observations should also be helpful in investigations of large scale lateral inhomogeneities in the upper mantle; it should also contribute to improved understanding of the properties of the upper mantle and the dynamic processes which influence its behaviour.
IL-13-induced proliferation of airway epithelial cells: mediation by intracellular growth factor mobilization and ADAM17

Background The pleiotrophic cytokine interleukin (IL)-13 features prominently in allergic and inflammatory diseases. In allergic asthma, IL-13 is well established as an inducer of airway inflammation and tissue remodeling. We demonstrated previously that IL-13 induces release of transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) from human bronchial epithelial cells, with proliferation of these cells mediated by the autocrine/paracrine action of this growth factor. TGFα exists as an integral membrane protein and requires proteolytic processing to its mature form, with a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)17 responsible for this processing in a variety of tissues.
Stability Limits in Extreme Postures: Effects of Load Positioning and Foot Placement

Although injuries related to postural stability are prevalent, ergonomic job analyses have traditionally not addressed stability issues. In this research, functional stability limits are quantified...
Use of the PPVT-R for Intellectual Screening with Adults: A Caution:

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the construct validity of the PPVT-R as a general screening instrument for intellectual functioning with adults. The sample included 60 normal, neurologically intact adults, aged 18 to 48 years. The PPVT-R correlated positively and significantly (p < .05) with the WAIS-R Full Scale IQ(.47), Verbal IQ(.52), and Performance IQ (.24). Coefficients between the PPVT-R and WAIS-R subtests ranged from .52 (Vocabulary) to − .07 (Digit Symbol). The mean PPVT-R standard score (103.47) was not significantly different than the mean WAIS-R Full Scale IQ (105.38), Verbal IQ(103.90), or Performance IQ (106.33). Cross-tabulation matrices revealed that less than half of the cases were classified correctly by the PPVT-R. Additionally, mean score comparisons within the discrete classification levels revealed that the PPVT-R overestimated the WAIS-R Full Scale and Verbal IQs within the lower ability ranges and underestimated the mean WAIS-R IQs within the upper ability ran...
Interferon-α Therapy Associated With the Development of Sarcoidosis

Interferons (IFNs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. In particular, IFN-γ has been linked to pulmonary macrophage activation, a characteristic feature of sarcoidosis. IFN-α is now being administered therapeutically in a variety of conditions. To date, IFN-α has not been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who developed sarcoidosis while being treated with IFN-α for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Her disease activity correlated with the dosage of IFN-α. We speculate that the immunomodulatory effects of IFN-α triggered clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis in this patient.
Aspects of Nitric Oxide in Health and Disease: A Focus on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease

Nitric oxide (nitrogen monoxide) (NO) plays an important role in a wide range of physiologic processes. A major mediator of endothelial function, NO regulates vasodilatory and antithrombotic actions in the vasculature and plays a role in reproductive functions, bronchodilation, bone formation, memory, insulin sensitivity, and gastrointestinal relaxation. NO is formed from NO synthase. Impaired NO bioactivity is strongly associated with endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, but is also implicated in a broad range of other disorders, including pulmonary hypertension, insulin resistance, erectile dysfunction, and preeclampsia. Numerous therapies designed to target NO are being investigated and developed, including NO donors and stimulants. The recent African-American Heart Failure Trial (A-HeFT) showed that the NO donor isosorbide dinitrate, combined with the vasodilator hydralazine, significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in black patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure. Antihypertensive drugs, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and third-generation beta-blockers, are NO stimulants that have demonstrated significant improvement of endothelial function and NO bioactivity. Other cardiovascular therapies that may improve NO bioactivity include statins, l-arginine, and nonpharmacologic approaches such as exercise and dietary changes.
The pressure reversal of a variety of anesthetic agents in mice

The aim of this work was to study in mammals the ability of high pressures to reverse the anesthesia produced by a wide range of general anesthetics. Dose-response curves were obtained using mice at pressures ranging from 1 to 125 atm for five agents, namely alpha-chloralose, ethylcarbamate, phenobarbital and, for comparison, nitrogen and argon. The increase of ED50 was found to be a linear function of pressure in each case, but the proportionate increases in ED50 with pressure were greater for the three non-inhalation agents than for the two gases. Thus, the ratio of ED50 at 100 atm to that at 1 atm was 1.74 for alpha-chloralose, 1.68 for ethylcarbamate, and 1.54 for phenobarbital. On the other hand, the corresponding ratios for argon and nitrogen were only 1.36 and 1.34. The potencies of three short-acting agents (trichloroethanol, ketamine, and alphadione) were shown to increase with decreasing pressure, although ED50 values could not be obtained. It is concluded that pressure reverses the actions of a wide variety of anesthetics in mice. The results of this study are not inconsistent with either the fluidized lipid membrane or the critical volume hypotheses of anesthetic action.
CRM: From ‘art to science’

Early research and methods concerning customer relationship work often focus on more intuitive approaches to customer management. Many of the initial theories, such as one to one marketing and value-based management, were less analytical in their approach. Likewise, too often companies that have implemented customer relationship management (CRM) systems have done so with an unstructured approach (art) as opposed to a structured and by-the-numbers approach (science). This paper focuses on developing a decision support system (DSS) that allows for better measurement and management of a CRM system.
Effects of Sedimentation on the Profundal Benthic Macroinvertebrates of a Great Plains Reservoir

Reservoir sedimentation has become a large and pervasive problem throughout the entire United States. Sedimentation gradually destroys and eliminates the services for which reservoirs were constructed (flood protection, water storage, and recreation), yet sedimentation is also an ecological problem. Organisms that depend on the deep parts of lakes cannot survive if their habitats are being buried by sediments. Perry Lake, in northeastern Kansas, has lost 23% of its original volume. Sediment thicknesses (depth of sediment accrued since lake formation) in the main lake range from 2–140cm, and upper portions of the lake have become unnavigable. To measure the effect of sedimentation the diversity and density of profundal invertebrate macrofauna were sampled. Thirteen taxa were collected and assemblages were dominated by oligochaetes, midges (chironomidae), and the Phantom Midge Chaoborus. No significant associations between sediment thickness and invertebrate metrics were found, however sediment size was cor...
Nucleosome-binding activities within JARID2 and EZH1 regulate the function of PRC2 on chromatin

Polycomb-repressive complex 2 (PRC2) comprises specific members of the Polycomb group of epigenetic modulators. PRC2 catalyzes methylation of histone H3 at Lys 27 (H3K27me3) through its Enhancer of zeste (Ezh) constituent, of which there are two mammalian homologs: Ezh1 and Ezh2. Several ancillary factors, including Jarid2, modulate PRC2 function, with Jarid2 facilitating its recruitment to target genes. Jarid2, like Ezh2, is present in poorly differentiated and actively dividing cells, while Ezh1 associates with PRC2 in all cells, including resting cells. We found that Jarid2 exhibits nucleosome-binding activity that contributes to PRC2 stimulation. Moreover, such nucleosome-binding activity is exhibited by PRC2 comprising Ezh1 (PRC2-Ezh1), in contrast to PRC2-Ezh2. The presence of Ezh1 helps to maintain PRC2 occupancy on its target genes in myoblasts where Jarid2 is not expressed. Our findings allow us to propose a model in which PRC2-Ezh2 is important for the de novo establishment of H3K27me3 in dividing cells, whereas PRC2-Ezh1 is required for its maintenance in resting cells.
Decomposition of multiunit electromyographic signals

The authors have developed a comprehensive technique to identify single motor unit (SMU) potentials and to decompose overlapped electromyographic (EMG) signals into their constituent SMU potentials. This technique is based on one-channel EMG recordings and is easily implemented for many clinical EMG tests. There are several distinct features of the authors' technique: (1) it measures waveform similarity of SMU potentials in the wavelet domain, which gives this technique significant advantages over other techniques; (2) it classifies spikes based on the nearest neighboring algorithm, which is less sensitive to waveform variation; (3) it can effectively separate compound potentials based on a maximum signal energy deduction algorithm, which is fast and relatively reliable; and (4) it also utilizes the information on discharge regularities of SMU's to help correct possible decomposition errors. The performance of this technique has been evaluated by using simulated EMG signals composed of up to eight different discharging SMU's corrupted with white noise, and also by using real EMG signals recorded at levels up to 50% maximum voluntary contraction. The authors believe that it is a very useful technique to study SMU discharge patterns and recruitment of motor units in patients with neuromuscular disorders in clinical EMG laboratories.
Anti-Spam Filtering Using Neural Networks and Baysian Classifiers

Electronic mail is inarguably the most widely used Internet technology today. With the massive amount of information and speed the Internet is able to handle, communication has been revolutionized with email and other online communication systems. However, some computer users have abused the technology used to drive these communications, by sending out thousands and thousands of spam emails with little or no purpose other than to increase traffic or decrease bandwidth. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of email classifiers based on the feedforward backpropagation neural network and Baysian classifiers. Results are evaluated using accuracy and sensitivity metrics. The results show that the feedforward backpropagation network algorithm classifier provides relatively high accuracy and sensitivity that makes it competitive to the best known classifiers. On the other hand, though Baysian classifiers are not as accurate they are very easy to construct and can easily adapt to changes in spam patterns.
Antibody Response in Lyme Disease: Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests

The antibody response to the Ixodes dammini spirochete was determined in 41 serial serum samples from 12 patients with Lyme disease. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 11 of the 12 patients had higher titers of specific IgM antibody (greater than 1:200) during early disease than did 40 control subjects. Specific IgM antibody titers, which correlated with total amounts of IgM antibody (P less than .001), sometimes remained elevated throughout the illness. During neuritis, nine of 10 patients had higher specific IgG antibody titers (greater than 1:200) than did controls, and when arthritis was present, all had such titers, which remained elevated after months of remission. In the ELISA, antibody responses determined by single or serial dilutions were similar, but the ELISA was more sensitive and specific than was immunofluorescence. Adsorption of sera with Borrelia hermsii generally resulted in a fourfold decrease in titers of cross-reactive antibodies, but the titers of sera from patients with Lyme disease were also reduced. Currently, the ELISA, without adsorption, is the best diagnostic test for Lyme disease.
Hemodynamic impact of dexmedetomidine administration in 15,656 noncardiac surgical cases.

Abstract Study Objective To assess the hemodynamic impact of dexmedetomidine administration in a large cohort of patients undergoing routine noncardiac surgery. Design Retrospective database analysis. Setting Major academic medical center. Measurements A valid electronic preoperative history and physical record and electronic perioperative anesthesia record of all adults undergoing noncardiothoracic procedures of > 60 minutes duration between January 2007 and September 2008 were reviewed. The primary composite endpoint was systolic blood pressure 5 minutes, heart rate 5 minutes, or administration of vasoconstrictors (> 500 μg of phenylephrine by bolus or infusion or any epinephrine) or atropine intraoperatively. Main Results A total of 15,656 cases, of whom 2,688 (17%) received dexmedetomidine preoperatively or intraoperatively and 12,968 (83%) did not receive dexmedetomidine, was identified. A significantly higher percentage of patients in the dexmedetomidine group met the composite endpoint criteria (27% vs 19%, P P Conclusions In a large cohort of routine clinical practice cases, dexmedetomidine administration was not associated with more hypotension or bradycardia.
LES of lock-exchange compositional gravity currents: a brief review of some recent results

Three-dimensional 3-D Large eddy simulation (LES) has become a powerful tool to investigate evolution and structure of gravity currents, especially for cases (e.g., high Reynolds number flows, flows with massive separation) where 3-D Direct numerical simulation using non-dissipative viscous solvers is computationally too expensive. In this paper we briefly review some important results obtained based on high-resolution 3-D LES of bottom-propagating compositional Boussinesq currents in lock-exchange configurations. LES was used to provide a detailed description of the structure of the current, to discuss the role of the large-scale coherent structures, and to predict the evolution of the front velocity over the different stages of the current propagation. Three main types of lock-exchange flows are considered: (1) currents with a high volume of release (HVR) and a low volume of release (LVR) propagating in a channel with a smooth horizontal bed; (2) HVR and LVR currents propagating in a horizontal channel containing a porous layer; and (3) currents propagating in a horizontal channel containing an array of bottom obstacles (2-D dunes and ribs). The simulations are performed using non-dissipative numerical algorithms and sub-grid scale models that predict a zero eddy viscosity in regions where the turbulence is negligible. Experimental data is used to validate LES predictions. LES results show that in most cases the evolution of the front velocity is consistent with that predicted based on shallow-flow theory. LES flow fields are then used to estimate important quantities (e.g., bed friction velocity, sediment entrainment capacity) that are very difficult to obtain from experiments and to understand how the structure and evolution of the current change because of the additional drag induced by obstacles present within the channel or at the channel bed. The paper also discusses how the evolution and structure of the current change as the Reynolds number is increased to values that are relevant for gravity currents encountered in geosciences and environmental engineering applications.
Voluntary Approaches to Environmental Protection and Resource Management

Policy makers around the world seem to have widely endorsed the use of voluntary approaches as a means to address concerns about environmental protection and resource degradation. Voluntary approaches have been adopted in many developed countries, as well as in a number of developing countries. However, economists have not uniformly endorsed this policy approach. The economic literature suggests that in some contexts voluntary approaches can be effective if carefully designed but are not likely to be effective otherwise. This article provides an overview of the economics of voluntary approaches, with a particular focus on issues related to design. It seeks to highlight the features that are important determinants of both their success in improving environmental outcomes and their efficiency. Although the discussion focuses on environmental protection, it is also relevant in other contexts such as conservation and fisheries management.
Realistic Three-Dimensional Modeling Of Multizone Rapid Thermal Systems

We have developed a methodology aimed at accurately determining the various forms of energy transfer (convective loss, radiative loss and absorption of lamp energy by the wafer)occurring in any advanced RTP system, based on basic system identification experiments and simple 3-dimensional physical model depicting the heat transfer processes. The identification experiments help in estimating the uncertain system dependent factors which characterize the various forms of energy transfer, which may be otherwise difficult to calculate on pure theoretical basis. This methodology forms the basic building block of our effort to develop a tool which can predict the temperature distribution across the wafer in a realistic way. This tool can be used both as a wafer temperature control algorithm in any advanced RTP system as well as by an end user who is equipped with a not so advanced, but multizone, RTP system( the one with the user defined power levels to various zones).
Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Steiner Wirelength Optimization in Placement

We demonstrate that Steiner-tree wirelength (StWL) correlates with routed wirelength (rWL) much better than the more common half-perimeter wirelength (HPWL) objective. Therefore, we develop a technique to optimize StWL in global and detail placement without a significant runtime penalty. This new optimization, along with congestion-driven whitespace distribution, improves overall Place-and-Route results, making the use of HPWL unnecessary. Additionally, our empirical results provide ample evidence that the fidelity of net-length estimates is more important than their accuracy in Place-and-Route. The new data structures that make our min-cut algorithms fast can also be useful in multilevel analytical placement. Our placement algorithm Rigorous Optimization Of Steiner-Trees Eases Routing (ROOSTER) outperforms the best published results for Dragon, Capo, FengShui, mPL-R/WSA, and APlace in terms of rWL by 10.7%, 5.6%, 9.3%, 5.5%, and 4.2%, respectively. Via counts, which are especially important at 90 nm and below, are improved by 15.6% over mPL-R/WSA and 11.9% over APlace
Exercising Control: Exercise Intention and Perceived Constraints in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis

Purpose of the Study: Maintaining perceived psychological control in older adulthood is benefi - cial for health, well-being, and adjustment to chronic illness. Theoretically, control over specific, person - ally meaningful domains should inform general con- trol beliefs. Thus, the objective of the present study was to examine perceived control over the exercise domain (operationalized as exercise intention belief) for its ability to predict general control beliefs in a sample of older adults with chronic illness over 1 year. Design and Methods: Longitudinal sur- vey responses from 133 older adults with osteoarthri- tis (OA) were examined. Results: Longitudinal hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that higher baseline exercise intention beliefs pre- dicted a lower perception of constraints on control 9-12 months later, but did not predict changes in mastery beliefs. Implications: Results suggest that bolstering exercise intention beliefs may protect against age-related increases in psychological con- straints on perceived control for older adults with OA.
Chest radiographs in the pediatric emergency department for children < or = 18 months of age with wheezing.

There are no widely accepted predictors of pneumonia in wheezing infants and toddlers who present to the emergency department (ED). A 10-month retrospective review of ED visits of wheezing children or = 38.4 degrees (p = 0.01, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1, 5.8) or crackles on examination (p < 0.0005, OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.7, 9.0). Selective use of CXRs has the potential to save health care dollars and limit unnecessary radiation.
A Priori Voting Power and the US Electoral College

This chapter uses the Banzhaf power measure to calculate the a priori voting power of individual voters under the existing Electoral College system for electing the President of the United States, as well as under variants of this system in which electoral votes are either apportioned among the states in a different manner or cast by the states in a different manner. While the present winner-take-all manner of casting state electoral gives a substantial advantage to voters in the largest states, this advantage is diluted by the small-state advantage in apportionment. Moreover, most of the alternative Electoral College plans that have been proposed to remedy this large-state advantage give an equally substantial voting power advantage to voters in small states. Direct popular election of the President uniquely maximizes and equalizes individual voting power.
Graphene for ultracapacitors

Graphene, the basic building block of all graphitic materials has received significant scientific interest due to its ultra-high surface area (>2,630 m2/g), high charge carrier mobility, high thermal conductivity, etc. In particular, graphenes high surface area and excellent electrical conductivity has made it a leading candidate for next generation electrode material in energy storage devices such as ultracapacitors. One of the approaches for high volume production of graphene is the reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide (GO) sheets by thermal annealing, and/or reducing agents. However, the high temperature annealing process consumes a large amount of energy. Furthermore, large quantities of toxic reducing agents such as hydrazine and dimethylhydrazine are required. In this paper microwave (MW) assisted heating is studied as a scalable approach for the synthesis of reduced graphene. In this study, dry MW irradiation (MWI) synthesis of the reduced graphene is successfully demonstrated and the MW reduced GO shows a improved electrode performance when compared to highly porous activated carbon; the state of the art electrode material in commercial ultracapacitors.
Ranking Hospitals on Surgical Quality: Does Risk-Adjustment Always Matter?

Background It is a widely held belief that detailed risk-adjustment is always necessary in comparative reports of surgical performance. We sought to evaluate the importance of risk-adjustment for two cardiac surgery report cards in New York and Pennsylvania. Study Design We abstracted data directly from publicly available cardiac surgery report cards from New York State (2001 and 2002) and Pennsylvania (2000 and 2002). We first estimated the correlation between unadjusted and risk-adjusted mortality rates. We then divided hospitals into three groups of historic performance (best, average, and worst) for both unadjusted and risk-adjusted mortality rankings. We then calculated the risk-adjusted mortality within each of these groups using data from the report card from the subsequent year. Results Risk-adjusted and unadjusted mortality rates were highly correlated for both New York (Pearson's r =0.95; Spearman's r =0.91) and Pennsylvania (Pearson's r =0.87; Spearman's r =0.89). For both states, risk-adjusted and unadjusted rankings were equally good at predicting subsequent mortality. In New York State, mortality for hospitals in the worst group was 50% higher than that in the best group regardless of whether unadjusted (relative risk [RR], 1.51) or adjusted (RR, 1.49) rankings were used. The same was found in Pennsylvania, where the results for unadjusted (RR, 1.53) and adjusted (RR, 1.45) rankings were nearly identical. Conclusions Based on data from two prominent state registries, risk-adjusted and unadjusted mortality rates provide nearly identical estimates of hospital performance with coronary artery bypass. Risk-adjustment may not always be important for identifying high quality hospitals.
Towards a science of anomaly detection system evasion

A fundamental drawback of current anomaly detection systems (ADSs) is the ability of a skilled attacker to evade detection. This is due to the flawed assumption that an attacker does not have any information about an ADS. Advanced persistent threats that are capable of monitoring network behavior can always estimate some information about ADSs which makes these ADSs susceptible to evasion attacks. Hence in this paper, we first assume the role of an attacker to launch evasion attacks on anomaly detection systems. We show that the ADSs can be completely paralyzed by parameter estimation attacks. We then present a mathematical model to measure evasion margin with the aim to understand the science of evasion due to ADS design. Finally, to minimize the evasion margin, we propose a key-based randomization scheme for existing ADSs and discuss its robustness against evasion attacks. Case studies are presented to illustrate the design methodology and extensive experimentation is performed to corroborate the results.
Moral and Ethical Issues in Evaluation

Ethical challenges are part of the evaluation landscape. Professional standards and principles have been developed to promote ethical practice within the field, with the two most prominent being the Guiding Principles for Evaluators and the Program Evaluation Standards. Every stage of an evaluation can present ethical conflicts, from the entry/contracting phase to utilization of results. The most frequent challenge reported by evaluators is pressure from stakeholders to misrepresent findings. Strategies for preventing and responding to ethical problems include actively managing the entry/contracting stage, applying professional guidelines, consulting with colleagues, being sensitive to culture and context, and examining one’s own values.
A Review of “Time-Dependent Density-Functional Theory: Concepts and Applications”

This lengthy, largely photo-reproduced monograph is part of the series “Oxford Graduate Texts” and so is explicitly designed to educate both graduate students and the research practitioner who are ...
Classroom Composition and Measured Teacher Performance: What Do Teacher Observation Scores Really Measure?

As states and districts implement more rigorous teacher evaluation systems, measures of teacher performance are increasingly being used to support instruction and inform retention decisions. Classroom observations take a central role in these systems, accounting for the majority of teacher ratings upon which accountability decisions are based. Using data from the Measures of Effective Teaching study, we explore the extent to which classroom composition influences measured teacher performance based on classroom observation scores. The context in which teachers work—most notably, the incoming academic performance of their students—plays a critical role in determining teachers’ measured performance. Furthermore, the intentional sorting of teachers to students has a significant influence on measured performance. Implications for high-stakes teacher accountability policies are discussed.
The Decline of Railroad Commutation

This article traces the economic factors in the decline of the railroad commuter business and examines the recent public-policy issues. The author is extremely skeptical of the rebirth of railroad commutation under any institutional arrangements and predicts further decline and possibly eventual extinction.
Sensitization of p-GaP with CdSe quantum dots: light-stimulated hole injection.

The sensitization of p-GaP by adsorbed CdSe quantum dots has been observed. Nondegenerately doped, planar p-GaP(100) photoelectrodes consistently showed sub-band-gap (>550 nm) photoresponsivity in an aqueous electrolyte containing Eu3+/2+ when CdSe quantum dots (diameters ranging from 3.1 to 4.5 nm) were purposely adsorbed on the surface. Both time-resolved photoluminescence decays and steady-state photoelectrochemical responses supported sensitized hole injection from the CdSe quantum dots into p-GaP. The observation of hole injection in this system stands in contrast to sensitized electron injection seen in other metal oxide/quantum dot material combinations and therefore widens the possible designs for photoelectrochemical energy conversion systems that utilize quantum dots as light-harvesting components.