cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is upper gastrointestinal endoscopy indicated in asymptomatic patients with a positive fecal occult blood test and negative colonoscopy

Abstract PURPOSE: There are no recommendations as to whether endoscopic evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract is indicated in asymptomatic patients who have a positive fecal occult blood test and a negative colonoscopy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All asymptomatic patients with a positive fecal occult blood test who were referred for diagnostic endoscopy were identified. Patient charts, endoscopy records, and pathology reports were reviewed. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, 498 asymptomatic patients with a positive fecal occult blood test and negative colonoscopy were evaluated. An upper gastrointestinal source of occult bleeding was detected in 67 patients (13%), with peptic ulcer disease being the most common lesion identified (8%). Four patients were diagnosed with gastric cancer and 1 had esophageal carcinoma. In addition, 74 patients (15%) had lesions that were not considered a source of occult bleeding; these findings prompted a change in management in 56 patients (11%). Anemia was the only variable significantly associated with having a clinically important lesion identified (multivariate odds ratio=5.0; 95% confidence interval 2.9 to 8.5; P CONCLUSIONS: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy yields important findings in asymptomatic patients with a positive fecal occult blood test and negative colonoscopy. Our data suggest that endoscopic evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract should be considered, especially in patients with anemia.
System structure and software maintenance performance

An experiment is designed to investigate the relationship between system structure and maintainability. An old, ill-structured system is improved in two sequential stages, yielding three system versions for the study. The primary objectives of the research are to determine how or whether the differences in the systems influence maintenance performance; whether the differences are discernible to programmers; and whether the differences are measurable. Experienced programmers perform a portfolio of maintenance tasks on the systems. Results indicate that system improvements lead to decreased total maintenance time and decreased frequency of ripple effect errors. This suggests that improving old systems may be worthwhile and may yield benefits over the remaining life of the system. System differences are not discernible to programmers; apparently programmers are unable to separate the complexity of the systems from the complexity of the maintenance tasks. This finding suggests a need for further research on the efficacy of subjectively based software metrics. Finally, results indicate that a selected set of automatable, objective complexity metrics reflected both the improvements in the system and programmer maintenance performance. These metrics appear to offer potential as project management tools.
A Model for the Viscous Coalescence of Amorphous Particles.

A model is presented for coalescence by viscous flow in two-particle systems, a phenomenon of interest in such diverse processes as the coagulation of air pollutant aerosols, glass and polymer sintering, and the coagulation of liquid suspensions. The model achieves computational efficiency by incorporating an empirical analytical function to describe the fluid interface, making it particularly suited to incorporation into aerosol dynamics models under conditions where coalescence-limited growth can occur. The dynamics of the interfacial evolution in the coalescing pair are approximated by employing a modification to the boundary integral approach in which a single surface point is used to solve the equations for the surface velocities. Model predictions of dimensionless shrinkage and neck growth obtained using this modeling approach compare favorably to those of existing finite-element models reported in the literature and provide a basis for more complex models to approximate multiple particle coalescence.
Role of neural crest in determining the numbers of pigment cells in the melanoid mutant of Ambystoma mexicanum Shaw

Experiments are reported testing whether the primary control of chromatophore development under the influence of the melanoid gene (m) in the axolotl is exerted by factors intrinsic or extrinsic to the chromatoblasts of the neural crest. Melanoid animals differ from the wild type in having more melanophores, fewer xanthophores and no iridophores. The total number of chromatophores remains unchanged. This is interpreted as evidence of a common stem cell derivation of melanophores and xanthophores in the axolotl. Hanging drop explants of melanoid neural crest duplicate the skin chromatophore ratios. Chromatophore counts from epidermal vesicles consisting of neural crest and somatopleure in different genotypic combinations provide the ratios expected according to the genotype of the neural crest component. In reciprocal homotopic transplantations of neural crest between melanoid and wild type embryos, donor type pigment patterns develop. These studies show that the effect of gene m is mediated by factors intrinsic to the neural crest cells prior to their migration.
Electromagnetic response of nanosphere pairs: Collective plasmon resonances, enhanced fields, and laser-induced forces

We present theoretical studies of the electromagnetic response of metallic nanosphere pairs, with emphasis on the role of their collective plasmon resonances in enhancing electromagnetic fields in their near vicinity, and also in enhancing laser-induced forces between the particles. We emphasize effects encountered when the two particles have dissimilar radii or are fabricated from dissimilar materials. The calculations explore the response of the particles to electric fields polarized parallel and perpendicular to the line between their centers. We find, compared to two identical spheres, that on resonance, both the maximum enhancement in the electric fields and the laser-induced force are increased when the radii differ. Also, there is a breakdown of the selection rule associated with reflection symmetry through the plane which passes through the midpoint of the line between centers. A result is that all collective modes are dipole active when the spheres are dissimilar, for electric fields both parallel to and perpendicular to the line between the sphere centers. Our analysis exploits the electrostatic approximation appropriate to nanoscale objects but is exact within this framework without resort to a dipole approximation.
How the Self-Defeating Argument Against Determinism Defeats Itself

There is a well-known argument which is an attempt to show that all arguments in favour of determinism are self-defeating. Proponents of the Determinism-Is-Self-Defeating Argument (hereafter referred to as DISDA) claim that all pro-deterministic arguments, if successful, undermine rationality and epistemic justification. Indeed, the proponents of DISDA claim that since the truth of determinism implies that we cannot claim to know the truth of any proposition, then it follows, of course, that proponents of determinism cannot claim to know that determinism is itself true. Hence, the self-defeating nature of determinism.
Asymptotically optimal rate of convergence of smoothed stochastic recursive algorithms

This work is concerned with smoothed stochastic approximation/optimization algorithms. The main emphasis is placed on the asymptotic optimality issues. An algorithm with averaging in both state variables and observations is studied. Under correlated noise processes, it is shown that a scaled sequence of the iterates converges weakly to a Browman motion. As a result the algorithm is asymptotically optimal Numerical experiments are carried out. Comparisons are made among several algorithms for both linear and nonlinear functions. The numerical results yield good agreement with our analytical findings
On the orientational alignment of neon adsorbed on basal plane graphite

Abstract The Novaco-McTague theory of orientational alignment is discussed for neon adsorbed on basal plane graphite. A degenerate case of the theory which occurs for a √7 superlattice is evaluated and is shown to lead to a novel registry energy.
Determination and Analysis of Data for Reliability Studies

Methods for transmission and distribution system reliability analysis currently being developed and used require that the expected values of component outage rates and outage durations be known. The paper describes how the required component parameters can be estimated from field data. Also described are methods of placing confidence limits on the parameters estimated. The methods presented were developed through a study of six years of field records provided by a utility company. Sample expected outage rates and outage durations for various components such as transmission lines, substation transformers, and circuit breakers are presented. Also presented are data which tend to confirm the distributional assumptions made in system reliability analysis methods.
Differential responses of human brain cells to West Nile virus infection.

In recent years, West Nile virus (WNV) has emerged as a major cause of encephalitis in the United States. However, the neuropathogenesis of this flavivirus is poorly understood. In the present study, the authors used primary human brain cell cultures to investigate two neuropathogenic features: viral replication and induction of cytokines. Although neurons and astrocytes were found to support productive WNV infection, viral growth was poorly permissive in microglial cells. Compared to neuronal cultures that sustained viral growth for at least 2 weeks, replication peaked in astrocytes by 72 h post infection. In response to viral infection, astrocytes produced chemokines (CXCL10 and CCL5), but none of the cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, interferon α or γ) tested could be detected. Although microglial cells failed to support viral replication, WNV induced production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. Microglial cells also released robust amounts of the chemo...
Effective-vector-boson method for high-energy collisions.

The effective-vector-boson method for high-energy collisions is precisely formulated by using factorization of the helicity amplitudes. All approximations related to kinematics are eliminated. Compact formulas for exact vector-boson distribution functions are derived. The on-mass-shell continuation of the vector-boson hard-scattering cross section is isolated and clarified. Improvements over the leading-logarithmic approximation are dramatic. Application of the new formalism to heavy-fermion and Higgs-boson production processes illustrates its extended range of accuracy and usefulness.
Growth Rates in the Quaquaversal Tiling

Conway and Radin's ``quaquaversal'' tiling of R 3 is known to exhibit statistical rotational symmetry in the infinite volume limit. A finite patch, however, cannot be perfectly isotropic, and we compute the rates at which the anisotropy scales with size. In a sample of volume N , tiles appear in O(N 1/6 ) distinct orientations. However, the orientations are not uniformly populated. A small (O(N 1/84 ) ) set of these orientations account for the majority of the tiles. Furthermore, these orientations are not uniformly distributed on SO(3) . Sample averages of functions on SO(3) seem to approach their ergodic limits as N -1/336 . Since even macroscopic patches of a quaquaversal tiling maintain noticeable anisotropy, a hypothetical physical quasicrystal whose structure was similar to the quaquaversal tiling could be identified by anisotropic features of its electron diffraction pattern.
The Impact of Sexual Abuse in the Lives of Young Women Involved or At Risk of Involvement With the Juvenile Justice System

Girls in the juvenile justice system have high rates of past sexual abuse. To better understand the relationship between sexual abuse and justice system involvement, we analyzed survey interviews with 169 young women involved or at risk of involvement with juvenile justice, comparing girls who experienced sexual abuse with those who did not. Girls experiencing sexual abuse had more negative mental health, school, substance use, risky sexual behavior, and delinquency outcomes. These findings highlight a need for interventions to assist girls who have experienced abuse and efforts to prevent abuse and improve child welfare and social service systems.
Hypnotizability, Not Suggestion, Influences False Memory Development

Hypnotizability influences the development of false memories. In Experiment 1, participants heard a positive or negative suggestion regarding hypnosis and then listened to 8 Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) false memory paradigm lists in a hypnotic state. Neither hypnosis nor prehypnotic suggestion affected memory. Highly hypnotizable participants were more accurate in recall and recognition. In Experiment 2, suggestions were delivered in the form of feedback. Participants heard a positive or negative suggestion about their performance prior to either the encoding or retrieval of 8 DRM lists. Neither accurate nor false memories were affected by the suggestion. Highly hypnotizable individuals recognized fewer critical lures if they received a negative suggestion about their performance. These results highlight the unusual role of hypnotizability in the creation of false memories.
Mortality related to cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in a modernizing population.

Abstract Excessive adiposity is associated with elevated rates of middle-aged mortality, particularly that related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). One purpose of this study was to determine whether the population of American Samoa demonstrated the expected elevation of mortality rates related to these two causes. Accordingly for all American Samoan death records ( N = 1588) during the period 1962–74, both crude and age-standardized rates were calculated and interpopulation comparisons of DM and CVD were made. The second purpose of this research was to determine if elevated CVD mortality was associated with the islands' recent trend toward modernization. For this purpose 902 deaths of persons aged 30 or more were analyzed to determine change in CVD mortality over time and differences by degree of participation in modern life. The CVD-related mortality rate for Samoa was 82.1 per 100,000, compared to 368.6 reported for the United States in 1962. After age standardization the Samoan rate increased to 242.5, still below that of the United States. The Samoan DM-related mortality rate was 13.9 per 100,000, compared to a United States rate of 15.9 in 1959. After age adjustment, the respective rates were 32.2 and 13.4 (1957–59), the Samoan rate being more than double that the United States. Female CVD mortality in Samoa increased from 196.2 in the period 1963–66 to 363.0 in 1971–74, while male rates remained essentially unchanged (417.3 and 429.0 respectively). CVD mortality among males living in more modernized areas of the islands was 46.5% higher than that for male residents of more traditional areas (343.5 and 234.5 respectively); among females, however, the rate was highest for those living in traditional areas (398.7). CVD mortality for males classified to the ‘sedentary’ occupational category was 50% greater than that for males in the ‘active’.
Nonparametric inference for the joint distribution of recurrent marked variables and recurrent survival time

Time between recurrent medical events may be correlated with the cost incurred at each event. As a result, it may be of interest to describe the relationship between recurrent events and recurrent medical costs by estimating a joint distribution. In this paper, we propose a nonparametric estimator for the joint distribution of recurrent events and recurrent medical costs in right-censored data. We also derive the asymptotic variance of our estimator, a test for equality of recurrent marker distributions, and present simulation studies to demonstrate the performance of our point and variance estimators. Our estimator is shown to perform well for a wide range of levels of correlation, demonstrating that our estimators can be employed in a variety of situations when the correlation structure may be unknown in advance. We apply our methods to hospitalization events and their corresponding costs in the second Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT-II), which was a randomized clinical trial studying the effect of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in preventing ventricular arrhythmia.
A signal processing view of strip-mapping synthetic aperture radar

The authors derive the fundamental strip-mapping SAR (synthetic aperture radar) imaging equations from first principles. They show that the resolution mechanism relies on the geometry of the imaging situation rather than on the Doppler effect. Both the airborne and spaceborne cases are considered. Range processing is discussed by presenting an analysis of pulse compression and formulating a mathematical model of he radar return signal. This formulation is used to obtain the airborne SAR model. The authors study the resolution mechanism and derive the signal processing relations needed to produce a high-resolution image. They introduce spotlight-mode SAR and briefly indicate how polar-format spotlight processing can be used in strip-mapping SAR. They discuss a number of current and future research directions in SAR imaging. >
Anisotropic stretch-induced hypertrophy in neonatal ventricular myocytes micropatterned on deformable elastomers

Because cell shape and alignment, cell-matrix adhesion, and cell-cell contact can all affect growth, and because mechanical strains in vivo are multiaxial and anisotropic, we developed an in vitro system for engineering aligned, rod-shaped, neonatal cardiac myocyte cultures. Photolithographic and microfluidic techniques were used to micropattern extracellular matrices in parallel lines on deformable silicone elastomers. Confluent, elongated, aligned myocytes were produced by varying the micropattern line width and collagen density. An elliptical cell stretcher applied 2:1 anisotropic strain statically to the elastic substrate, with the axis of greatest stretch (10%) either parallel or transverse to the myofibrils. After 24 h, the principal strain parallel to myocytes did not significantly alter myofibril accumulation or expression of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), connexin-43 (Cx-43), or N-cadherin (by indirect immunofluorescent antibody labeling and immunoblotting) compared with unstretched controls. In contrast, 10% transverse principal strain resulted in continuous staining of actin filaments (rhodamine phalloidin); increased immunofluorescent labeling of ANF, Cx-43, and N-cadherin; and upregulation of protein signal intensity by western blotting. By using microfabrication and microfluidics to control cell shape and alignment on an elastic substrate, we found greater effects for transverse than for longitudinal stretch in regulating sarcomere organization, hypertrophy, and cell-to-cell junctions.
Coronal mass ejections and large geomagnetic storms

Previous work indicates that coronal mass ejection (CME) events in the solar wind at 1 AU can be identified by the presence of a flux of counterstreaming solar wind halo electrons (above about 80 eV). Using this technique to identify CMEs in 1 AU plasma data, it is found that most large geomagnetic storms during the interval surrounding the last solar maximum (August 1978 - October 1982) were associated with earth-passage of interplanetary disturbances in which the earth encountered both a shock and the CME driving the shock. However, only about one CME in six encountered by earth was effective in causing a large geomagnetic storm. Slow CMEs which did not interact strongly with the ambient solar wind ahead were particularly ineffective in a geomagnetic sense.
A Unified Approach to Joint Blind Channel Estimation and Interference Suppression for Block Transmission Systems

Block transmission has recently been considered as an alternative to the conventional continuous transmission technique. In particular, block transmission techniques with zero padding (ZP) and cyclic prefix (CP) are becoming attractive procedures for their ability to eliminate both inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-block interference (IBI). In this paper, we present a unified approach to blind channel estimation and interference suppression for block transmission using ZP or CP in both single-carrier (SC) and multicarrier (MC) systems. Our approach uses a generalized multichannel minimum variance principle to design an equalizing filterbank. Channel estimate is then obtained from an asymptotically tight lower bound of the filterbank output power. Numerical examples show that the proposed schemes approach the CRB as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) increases. Additionally, they exhibit low sensitivity to unknown narrowband interference and compare favorably with subspace blind channel estimators.
Answering Financial Anomalies: Sentiment-Based Stock Pricing

The efficient market hypothesis (EMH) assumes that investors are rational and value securities rationally. A rational investor would value a security by its net present value; the price of a stock in this framework is based on the discounted cash flow or the present value model. Although the EMH-based model is partially successful in computing fundamental stock prices, other anomalies such as high trading volume, high volatility, and stock market bubbles remain unexplained. These models assume rational investors who are utility maximizers. But some investors behave irrationally or against the predictions, and in the aggregate they become irrelevant. In this paper, we relax the assumption of investor rationality, and attempt to explain high volatility, high trading volume, and stock market bubbles by incorporating investor sentiment into the already existing asset pricing model.
The Japanese Permanent Employment System: Empirical Findings

Using the 1975 Japanese Social Stratification and Mobility Survey work history data, the author examines the extent to which Japanese male workers stay with their first employers and how retention rates differ in sectors of the economy. Findings suggest that beside firm type, which has been widely regarded as the primary factor in determining the work career in Japan, industrial sector and occupation are also important.
InAs/InGaP/GaAs heterojunction power Schottky rectifiers

A low-temperature (LT) grown InAs epi-layer has been applied as the gate to the dual-material structure of lattice-matched InGaP on GaAs, to make a high-temperature power rectifier. The LT molecular beam epitaxy technique enables the formation of an abrupt interface between InAs and InGaP. This heterojunction rectifier utilises the strong thermal stability of the InAs/InGaP heterojunction and the high figure-of-merit of the InGaP/GaAs dual-material structure for power devices. The LT-InAs/InGaP/GaAs heterojunction rectifier demonstrates lower on-state resistance, lower off-state leakage current, and higher breakdown voltage, than metal/GaAs Schottky rectifiers.
An Assessment of Analytical Techniques For The Size Analysis of Fine-Grained Sediments

ABSTRACT An evaluation of techniques for the size analysis of fine-grained sediments revealed that the Malvern Laser Sizer (E3600), Electrozone Particle Counter (Model 112), Micromeritics SediGraph (5000E), and hydrophotometer work well for the analysis of sorted silt. Differences in results may be attributed to the particle property being measured by each instrument. The Malvern Laser Sizer and Electrozone Particle Counter are sizing techniques; the hydrophotometer and SediGraph determine sedimentation diameter through particle settling. There was less agreement among these instruments for unsorted natural sediments containing greater than 15 percent clay by weight. Clay content of less than or equal to 8 percent does not appear to decrease the resolution of silt-sized particles.
Manipulations of Metabolic Fuel Availability Alter Estrous Behavior and Neural Estrogen Receptor Immunoreactivity in Syrian Hamsters

Decreases in metabolic fuel utilization caused by food deprivation, diabetes, or treatment with metabolic inhibitors have been shown to suppress steroid-induced estrous behavior in ovariectomized Syrian hamsters. These same manipulations also caused a decrease in the number of detectable estrogen-receptor immunoreactive (ERIR) cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and the adjacent area lateral to it (VLH) in ovariectomized hamsters. Forty-eight hours of food deprivation or treatment with pharmacological blockers of glycolysis (2-deoxy-D-glucose) and fatty acid oxidation (methyl palmoxirate) decreased the number of detectable ERIR cells in the VMH/VLH. However, neither inhibitor given alone was sufficient to affect the number of detectable ERIR cells in the VMH/VLH, even when given in much higher doses. Therefore, the number of ERIR cells in the VMH/VLH, like steroid-induced estrous behavior, responds only to a combination of glucoprivation and lipoprivation and not to either alone. The effects of m...
Sample size calculations for ROC studies: parametric robustness and Bayesian nonparametrics

Methods for sample size calculations in ROC studies often assume independent normal distributions for test scores among the diseased and nondiseased populations. We consider sample size requirements under the default two-group normal model when the data distribution for the diseased population is either skewed or multimodal. For these two common scenarios we investigate the potential for robustness of calculated sample sizes under the mis-specified normal model and we compare to sample sizes calculated under a more flexible nonparametric Dirichlet process mixture model. We also highlight the utility of flexible models for ROC data analysis and their importance to study design. When nonstandard distributional shapes are anticipated, our Bayesian nonparametric approach allows investigators to determine a sample size based on the use of more appropriate distributional assumptions than are generally applied. The method also provides researchers a tool to conduct a sensitivity analysis to sample size calculations that are based on a two-group normal model. We extend the proposed approach to comparative studies involving two continuous tests. Our simulation-based procedure is implemented using the WinBUGS and R software packages and example code is made available. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure and Virtue in United States Political Economy

During a crucial period of United States history, 1880s–1940s, ideas developed in political economy were the core component of a transformation in the way Americans thought about the social and political order. These decades, the era of the elaboration in the United States and internationally of what historians of liberal reform thought refer to as the New Liberalism, were the site of a general reassessment of the constitutive ideologies, Smithian/Lockean liberalism, and a democratized, commercialized version of classical republicanism hanging over from the agrarian republic. Scary, unexpectedly turbulent conditions in an economy plagued by recurrent cyclical downturns in investment and employment, accompanied by unprecedented levels of social conflict, placed a premium on new knowledge. This need arose just as the academic professionalization of the social sciences, the rise of critical political journalism, and highly mobilized women's and labor movements began providing impressive new analytical talent. Efforts to find answers to pressing issues raised by the “social question” were intended initially by most of those involved as a salvage operation for what remained valid among key tenets of American liberalism regarding individualism, competition, the efficacy of the market, and the role of the state. Instead, they led ultimately to a reconstruction in public philosophy, at least on the scale of the one underway since the 1970s, with the “the return of the market,” the unprecedented sway of neoclassicism, and the multidisciplinary appeal of rational choice theory.
A New Wave of Innovation in Micro-Technology for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (μPNT)

Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) have been the central elements of stand-alone navigation and flight control systems for a variety of platforms, including aircraft, missiles, and land and marine vehicles. Miniaturization of IMUs has always been desirable because smaller size and lower weight opens up opportunities to carry additional payload or fuel, and perhaps enable new applications. Current inertial systems, however, do not meet the performance, size, weight, and cost requirements associated with many emerging DoD applications, including those needed for personal navigation, unmanned air/underwater vehicles, and autonomous robotic platforms. This presentation will discuss the growing interest within the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the development of a miniature, self-sufficient navigation system that might be realized through deep integration of timing, inertial navigation units, and other non-inertial sensors. A new wave of innovat...
Vanadium Oxide Frameworks Modified with Transition Metals

It is well known that vanadium oxides readily form open structures that defines the potential use of vanadium compounds as cathode materials for lithium batteries. In order to stabilize open frameworks during electrochemical cycling and improve their performance, vanadium oxide can be modified with other transition metals. This work presents the structural analysis of vanadium oxide frameworks modified with Mn and Zn as well as reporting on several interesting new structures, such as TMA4[Zn4V21O58] and NaMn(VO3)4·2H2O.
Ibrutinib: a strong candidate for the future of mantle cell lymphoma treatment.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a well-defined pathologic and clinical entity classified as a subtype of B-cell lymphoma derived from CD5+ B cells within the mantle zone that surrounds normal germina...
INTERACTION OF DEXTRAN SULFATE WITH LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS OF PLASMA.

The interaction between dextran sulfate and low-density lipoproteins of the Sf 0–10 class in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 and ionic strength 0.1 was studied by means of analytical ultracentrifugation. The sedimentation pattern of the dextran sulfate–lipoprotein mixture at high dextran sulfate/lipoprotein weight ratios showed a boundary indicative of a soluble complex with a high sedimentation rate, and a free dextran sulfate boundary with a lower sedimentation rate. The amount of free dextran sulfate seemed to determine the distribution of various transition states of polymers, ranging from disintegrated units to large insoluble aggregates.
Appropriate Risk Allocation in Design-Build RFPs

This paper presents a framework for appropriately allocating risk in a Design-Build (D-B) Request for Proposals (RFP). Specifically, this paper discusses risk in D-B delivery, defines critical elements to be included in a D-B RFP, presents a framework for developing a project definition package and concludes with a discussion of how an RFP can be used as a tool for risk allocation. To reduce the likelihood of unforeseen circumstances arising on a construction project, the owner should describe in the greatest detail possible all known or available information related to the design-build project in the RFP. The framework presented in this paper is intended to assist owners and their representatives in drafting RFPs to appropriately allocate D-B delivery risks.
Retrospective analysis of 60 cases with large cell lung carcinoma

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of Large cell lung carcinoma(LCLC).Methods The clinical data of 60 patients with LCLC were diangnosed through thoracic surgery or VATS in Sichuan academy of medicine.All data were retrospectively analysed.Results Of 60 cases,53 patients were men,7 patients were women.Patients with cough and hemoptysis were 18,cough and chest pain were 11,11 patients were found through health examination.Of 60 cases in CT scan,57 masses were peripheral.17 masses were located in the right upper lobes.14 masses were located in the right lower lobes.12 masses were located in the left upper lobes.9 masses were located in the left lower lobes.The diameters less than 5cm were 8.The diameters between 5~10cm were 49.In 14 patients with bronchoscopy biopsy before surgery,6 masses were diagnosed Squamous carcinoma,1 mass was diagnosed Adenocarcinoma.Conclusion The clinical features of LCLC were nonspecific.The CT scannings were various.If the subtypes of LCLC can be diagnosed,the treatment and reseaching results from different medical institutions could be compared.
Unravelling the Costs of Flight for Immune Defenses in the Migratory Monarch Butterfly

Migratory animals undergo extreme physiological changes to prepare for and sustain energetically costly movements; one potential change is reduced investment in immune defenses. However, because some migrants have evolved to minimize the energetic demands of movement (for example, through the temporary atrophy of non-essential organs such as those involved in reproduction), migratory animals could potentially avoid immunosuppression during long-distance journeys. In this study, we used a tethered flight mill to examine immune consequences of experimentally induced powered flight in eastern North American monarch butterflies. These butterflies undergo an annual two-way long-distance migration each year from as far north as Canada to wintering sites in Central Mexico. We quantified immune measures as a function of categorical flight treatment (flown versus control groups) and continuous measures of flight effort (e.g., flight distance, duration, and measures of efficiency). We also examined whether relationships between flight and immune measures depended on reproductive investment by experimentally controlling whether monarchs were reproductive or in state of reproductive diapause (having atrophied reproductive organs) prior to flight. Of the three immune responses we measured, hemocyte concentration (the number of immune cells) was lower in flown monarchs relative to controls but increased with flight distance among flown monarchs; the other two immune measures showed no relationship to monarch flight. We also found that monarchs that were reproductively active were less efficient fliers, as they exerted more power during flight than monarchs in reproductive diapause. However, reproductive status did not modify relationships between flight and immune measures. Results of this study add to a growing body of work suggesting that migratory monarchs-like some other animals that travel vast distances-can complete their journeys with efficient use of resources and minimal costs.
Preharvest sprouting in the 2002 midwestern barley crop: Occurrence and assessment of methodology

The objective of this research was to compare pearling with other techniques for the assessment of preharvest sprouting (PHS). The 2002 Midwestern crop provided a unique opportunity to evaluate PHS...
IL-21 Enhances Natural Killer Cell Response to Cetuximab-Coated Pancreatic Tumor Cells

Purpose: Alternative strategies to EGFR blockage by mAbs is necessary in order to improve the efficacy of therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. One such strategy includes the use of NK cells to clear cetuximab-coated tumor cells, as need for novel therapeutic approaches to enhance the efficacy of cetuximab is evident. We show that IL-21 enhances NK cell-mediated effector functions against cetuximab-coated pancreatic tumor cells irrespective of KRAS mutation status. Experimental Design: NK cells from normal donors or donors with pancreatic cancer were used to assess ADCC, IFN-γ release, and T cell chemotaxis towards human pancreatic cancer cell lines. The in vivo efficacy of IL-21 in combination with cetuximab was evaluated in a subcutaneous and intraperitoneal model of pancreatic cancer. Results: NK cell lysis of cetuximab-coated wild-type and mutant KRAS pancreatic cancer cell lines was significantly higher following NK cell IL-21 treatment. In response to cetuximab-coated pancreatic tumor cells, IL-21 treated NK cells secreted significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and chemokines, increased chemotaxis of T cells, and enhanced NK cell signal transduction via activation of ERK and STAT1. Treatment of mice bearing subcutaneous or intraperitoneal EGFR-positive pancreatic tumor xenografts with mIL-21 and cetuximab led to significant inhibition of tumor growth, a result further enhanced by the addition of gemcitabine. Conclusions: These results suggest that cetuximab treatment in combination with IL-21 adjuvant therapy in patients with EGFR-positive pancreatic cancer results in significant NK cell activation, irrespective of KRAS mutation status, and may be a potential therapeutic strategy.
Latinos in the United States: diversity and change

Saenz and Morales have provided yet another sorely needed and well-conceived treatise on the burgeoning Latino population of the United States. Up-to-date, comprehensive, and tightly constructed, t...
The Physiological Functions and Structural Determinants of Catalytic Bias in the [FeFe]-Hydrogenases CpI and CpII of Clostridium pasteurianum Strain W5

The first generation of biochemical studies of complex, iron-sulfur-cluster-containing [FeFe]-hydrogenases and Mo-nitrogenase were carried out on enzymes purified from Clostridium pasteurianum (strain W5). These Previous studies suggested that two distinct [FeFe]-hydrogenases are expressed differentially under nitrogen-fixing and non-nitrogen-fixing conditions. As a result, the first characterized [FeFe]-hydrogenase (CpI) is presumed to have a primary role in central metabolism, recycling reduced electron carriers that accumulate during fermentation via proton reduction. A role for capturing reducing equivalents released as hydrogen during nitrogen fixation has been proposed for the second hydrogenase, CpII. Biochemical characterization of CpI and CpII indicated CpI has extremely high hydrogen production activity in comparison to CpII, while CpII has elevated hydrogen oxidation activity in comparison to CpI when assayed under the same conditions. This suggests that these enzymes have evolved a catalytic bias to support their respective physiological functions. Using the published genome of C. pasteurianum (strain W5) hydrogenase sequences were identified, including the already known [NiFe]-hydrogenase, CpI, and CpII sequences, and a third hydrogenase, CpIII was identified in the genome as well.We identified four hydrogenases: three [FeFe]-hydrogenases, one of which had not previously been known, and one [NiFe]-hydrogenase in the published genome of C. pasteurianum (strain W5). Quantitative real-time PCR experiments were performed in order to analyze transcript abundance of the hydrogenases under diazotrophic and non diazatrophic growthconditions. show There is a markedly reduced levels of CpI gene expression together with concomitant increases in CpII gene expression under nitrogen-fixing conditions. Structure-based analyses of the CpI and CpII sequences reveals variations in their catalytic sites that may contribute to their alternative physiological roles. This work demonstrates that the physiological roles of CpI and CpII are to evolve and to consume hydrogen, respectively, in concurrence with their catalytic activities in vitro, with CpII capturing excess reducing equivalents under nitrogen fixation conditions. Comparison of the primary sequences of CpI and CpII and their homologs provides an initial basis for identifying key structural determinants that modulate hydrogen production and hydrogen oxidation activities.
Reversible Exchange of L-Type and Bound-Ion-Pair X-Type Ligation on Cadmium Selenide Quantum Belts

CdSe quantum belts of composition {CdSe[n-octylamine]0.53} and protic acids HX (X = Cl, Br, NO3, acetate (OAc), and benzoate (OBz)) react to exchange the L-type amine ligation to bound-ion-pair X-type ligation. The latter ligation has X– anions bound to the nanocrystal surfaces and closely associated LH+ counter-cations (protonated n-octylamine or tri-n-octylphosphine (TOP) to balance the surface charges. The compositions of the exchanged QBs are {CdSe[Br]0.44[n-octylammonium]0.41}, {CdSe[NO3]0.10[TOPH]0.12}, {CdSe[OBz]0.08[n-octylammonium]0.02[TOPH]0.06}, and {CdSe[OAc]0.16[n-octylammonium]0.02[TOPH]0.14}. (The HCl-exchanged QBs are insufficiently stable for elemental analysis.) The bound-ion-pair X-type ligation is fully reversed to L-type n-octylamine ligation in the cases of X = NO3, acetate, and benzoate. The ligand exchanges are monitored by absorption spectroscopy, and the exchanged, bound-ion-pair X-type ligated nanocrystals are characterized by a range of methods.
Age Similarities in Interpersonal Perception and Conversation Ability

Older adults tend to perform worse on emotion perception tasks compared to younger adults. How this age difference relates to other interpersonal perception tasks and conversation ability remains an open question. In the present study, we assessed 32 younger and 30 older adults’ accuracy when perceiving (1) static facial expressions, (2) emotions, attitudes, and intentions from videos, (3) and interpersonal constructs (e.g., kinship). Participants’ conversation ability was rated by coders from a videotaped, dyadic problem-solving task. Younger adults were more accurate than older adults perceiving some but not all emotions. No age differences in accuracy were found on any perception task or in conversation ability. Some but not all of the interpersonal perception tasks were related. None of the perception tasks predicted conversation ability. Thus, although the literature suggests a robust age difference in emotion perception accuracy, this difference does not seem to transfer to other interpersonal perception tasks or interpersonal outcomes.
Isobaric Labeling-Based LC-MS/MS Strategy for Comprehensive Profiling of Human Pancreatic Tissue Proteome

The pancreas is an organ with both endocrine and exocrine functions, and various pathologies, such as pancreatic cancer and diabetes are associated with this organ. Owing to the limited pancreatic biopsy samples available for research, it is critical to make the best use of cadaveric pancreatic tissue for biomarker studies and mechanistic understanding of pancreas-related pathologies. Discovery-phase quantitative proteomics has attracted a lot of attention for its capabilities in large-scale protein identification and accurate protein quantification. Here, we describe a workflow using isobaric labeling (tandem mass tag or TMT) based quantitative proteomics to confidently identify and quantify human pancreatic tissue proteome, including sample preparation, isobaric tag labeling, peptide level fractionation, LC-MS/MS, database search, and statistical analysis.
The Incidence and Characterization of Globus Sensation, Dysphagia, and Odynophagia Following Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Study Objectives:To determine the incidence, duration, and predictors of swallowing-related symptoms following upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.Methods:Adults (age 18 years or older...
Microdam Impoundments Provide Suitable Habitat for Larvae of Malaria Vectors: An Observational Study in Western Kenya.

Impoundments formed by microdams in rural areas of Africa are important sources of water for people, but they provide potential larval habitats for Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes that are vectors of malaria. To study this association, the perimeters of 31 microdam impoundments in western Kenya were sampled for Anopheles larvae in three zones (patches of floating and emergent vegetation, shorelines of open water, and aggregations of cattle hoofprints) across dry and rainy seasons. Of 3,169 larvae collected, most (86.8%) were collected in the rainy season. Of 2,403 larvae successfully reared to fourth instar or adult, nine species were identified; most (80.2%) were Anopheles arabiensis Patton, sampled from hoofprint zones in the rainy season. Other species collected were Anopheles coustani Laveran, Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles, Anopheles funestus Giles, and Anopheles rivulorum Leeson, Anopheles pharoensis Theobald, Anopheles squamosus Theobald, Anopheles rufipes (Gough), and Anopheles ardensis (Theobald). Larvae of An. funestus were uncommon (1.5%) in both dry and rainy seasons and were confined to vegetated zones, suggesting that microdam impoundments are not primary habitats for this important vector species, although microdams may provide a dry season refuge habitat for malaria vectors, contributing to population persistence through the dry season. In this study, microdam impoundments clearly provided habitat for the malaria vector An. arabiensis in the rainy season, most of which was within the shallow apron side of the impoundments where people brought cattle for watering, resulting in compacted soil with aggregations of water-filled hoofprints. This observation suggests a potential conflict between public health concerns about malaria and people’s need for stable and reliable sources of water.
Angiomatoid and desmoplastic Spitz nevus presenting as a keloidal nodule

Angiomatoid and desmoplastic Spitz nevi are rare histologic variants of Spitz nevi that present most frequently on the extremities of children and young adults. Although Spitz nevi are clinically heterogeneous, one presenting as a keloidal nodule has not been previously published. We present a case of an angiomatoid and desmoplastic Spitz nevus clinically akin to a keloid on an African-American teenager and describe its unique histopathologic features.
Protective Effect of a Locked Retinal Chromophore Analog against Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration.

Continuous regeneration of the 11-cis-retinal visual chromophore from all-trans-retinal is critical for vision. Insufficiency of 11-cis-retinal arising from the dysfunction of key proteins involved in its regeneration can impair retinal health, ultimately leading to loss of human sight. Delayed recovery of visual sensitivity and night blindness caused by inadequate regeneration of the visual pigment rhodopsin are typical early signs of this condition. Excessive concentrations of unliganded, constitutively active opsin and increased levels of all-trans-retinal and its byproducts in photoreceptors also accelerate retinal degeneration after light exposure. Exogenous 9-cis-retinal iso-chromophore can reduce the toxicity of ligand-free opsin but fails to prevent the buildup of retinoid photoproducts when their clearance is defective in human retinopathies, such as Stargardt disease or age-related macular degeneration. Here we evaluated the effect of a locked chromophore analog, 11-cis-6-membered ring-retinal against bright light-induced retinal degeneration in Abca4-/-Rdh8-/- mice. Using in vivo imaging techniques, optical coherence tomography, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and two-photon microscopy, along with in vitro histologic analysis of retinal morphology, we found that treatment with 11-cis-6-membered ring-retinal before light stimulation prevented rod and cone photoreceptor degradation and preserved functional acuity in these mice. Moreover, additive accumulation of 11-cis-6-membered ring-retinal measured in the eyes of these mice by quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated stable binding of this retinoid to opsin. Together, these results suggest that eliminating excess of unliganded opsin can prevent light-induced retinal degeneration in Abca4-/-Rdh8-/- mice.