cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decreased Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Regression of Hypertrophy After Nonsurgical Septal Reduction Therapy for Patients With Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Background—Nonsurgical septal reduction therapy (NSRT) is a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Although the clinical benefits of this technique appear to be clear, the structural and functional changes that lead to improvements in cardiac function are not completely defined. In these studies, we sought to define the effect of NSRT on myocardial function as well as various markers of hypertrophy including the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a cytokine capable of producing fibrosis, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results—We performed endomyocardial biopsies of the RV side of the septum and echocardiograms on 15 HOCM patients at baseline and after successful NSRT. Comparative analysis on paired myocardial samples were performed to determine the effects of NSRT on LVH, end-diastolic volume and chamber stiffness, myocyte size, collagen content, and TNF-α levels. At baseline, myocardial TNF-α levels were ...
Cryo-crinkling: what happens to carbon films on copper grids at low temperature

Abstract A study of the surface flatness of carbon films on copper grids used for cryo-electron microscopy has been carried out using a Hitachi S-900 low-voltage SEM. Dramatic changes in flatness were observed after cooling from room temperature to -170°C. The changes were similar both for carbon films that had been floated from a mica surface and for those initially deposited on the surface of plastic films. Results demonstrate that films prepared on copper grids that appear flat at room temperature become extensively, but reversibly, puckered at -170°C. The linear thermal expansion coefficient (α) for copper is 16.2×10 -6 °C and the puckering can be explained by assuming that the coefficient for amorphous carbon is substantially less. Measurements on grids made of titanium, molybdenum and tungsten (coefficients 8.5, 5 and 4.5×10 -6 °C , respectively) showed significantly less puckering.
Ewing sarcoma of the kidney: case series and literature review of an often overlooked entity in the diagnosis of primary renal tumors.

Objective To evaluate our own experience with primary Ewing sarcoma family tumors (ESFTs) of the kidney and to review cases of this in published reports. Materials and Methods Institutional cases of renal ESFT were identified in our pathology database. The retrieved records were reviewed for relevant data. Published cases of renal ESFTs were identified from the National Library of Medicine Medline database and restricted to English language studies. The factors associated with initial surgical management (diagnostic biopsy vs surgical resection) were analyzed using chi-square analysis. Results We diagnosed and treated 10 cases of renal ESFT from 2002 to 2011 and identified an additional 97 published cases describing this tumor. A review of these 107 cases revealed that renal ESFTs more often presented with distant metastases than did ESFTs of the bone or soft tissue. Moreover, patients rarely received preoperative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy, the current standard of care for ESFT, often because of early total tumor resection without diagnostic biopsy. Younger patients and patients with distant metastases were more likely to undergo diagnostic biopsy as initial management (P <.0001), allowing for use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion ESFTs of the kidney should be considered in the differential diagnosis of renal masses. Preoperative biopsy should be considered to identify these tumors to allow for delivery of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity

Many philosophical and contemplative traditions teach that “living in the moment” increases happiness. However, the default mode of humans appears to be that of mind-wandering, which correlates with unhappiness, and with activation in a network of brain areas associated with self-referential processing. We investigated brain activity in experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls as they performed several different meditations (Concentration, Loving-Kindness, Choiceless Awareness). We found that the main nodes of the default-mode network (medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices) were relatively deactivated in experienced meditators across all meditation types. Furthermore, functional connectivity analysis revealed stronger coupling in experienced meditators between the posterior cingulate, dorsal anterior cingulate, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (regions previously implicated in self-monitoring and cognitive control), both at baseline and during meditation. Our findings demonstrate differences in the default-mode network that are consistent with decreased mind-wandering. As such, these provide a unique understanding of possible neural mechanisms of meditation.
Induction chemotherapy with carboplatin, irinotecan, and paclitaxel followed by high dose three-dimension conformal thoracic radiotherapy (74 Gy) with concurrent carboplatin, paclitaxel, and gefitinib in unresectable stage IIIA and stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction Combined modality therapy is a standard therapy for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib is active in advanced NSCLC, and in preclinical models, it potentiates the activity of radiation therapy. We investigate the tolerability of gefitinib in combined modality therapy in combination with three-dimensional thoracic conformal radiation therapy (3-dimensional TCRT). Methods Stage III patients with a good performance status were treated with induction chemotherapy (carboplatin area under the curve [AUC] of 5, irinotecan 100 mg/m 2 , and paclitaxel 175 mg/m 2 days 1 and 22) with pegfilgrastim support followed by concurrent chemotherapy (carboplatin AUC 2, and paclitaxel 45 mg/m 2 weekly) and gefitinib 250 mg daily beginning on day 43 with 3-dimensional TCRT to 74 Gy. Results Between March 2004 and January 2006, 23 patients received treatment on the trial: median age 62 years (range 44–82), 52% female, 61% stage IIIA, 61% performance status 0, 17% ≥5% weight loss, and 91% underwent positron emission tomography staging. Induction chemotherapy with pegfilgrastim support was well tolerated and active (partial response rate, 24%; stable disease, 76%; and early progression, 0%). Twenty-one patients initiated the concurrent chemoradiation, and 20 patients completed therapy to 74 Gy. The primary toxicities of concurrent chemoradiation were grade 3 esophagitis (19.5%) and cardiac arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation) (9.5%). The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 9 months (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 7–13 months) and 16 months (95% CI: 10–20 months), respectively. Conclusions Treatment with induction chemotherapy and gefitinib concurrent with 3-dimensional TCRT has an acceptable toxicity and tolerability, but the survival results were disappointing.
Epidemiological characteristics of human stampedes.

OBJECTIVE: The potential for deadly human stampedes to occur at any mass gathering event highlights this unique form of crowd disaster as deserving of special attention from both scientific and planning perspectives. Improved understanding of human stampedes is indispensable in the mitigation of this type of mass casualty. With relatively few peer-reviewed reports on deadly human stampedes, information from news reports and the Internet is essential to increased collective understanding. Without incorporating nontraditional sources, no other way to reasonably acquire sufficient data is available. This study analyzed human stampede events from 1980 to 2007 to identify epidemiological characteristics associated with increased mortality. METHODS: A LexisNexis search was followed by sequential searches of multiple Internet-based English-language news agencies. Date, country, geographical region, time of occurrence, type of event, location, mechanism, number of participants, number injured, and number of deaths were recorded. Bivariate analyses of number of deaths or injuries were conducted using a nonparametric Wilcoxon rank test. Multivariate regression was performed to determine the factors associated with increased number of fatalities during stampede events. RESULTS: A total of 215 human stampede events were reported from 1980 to 2007, resulting in 7069 deaths and at least 14,078 injuries from 213 events with available fatality information and 179 events with injury information. In bivariate analysis, stampedes occurring in the Middle East, in developing countries, outdoors, or associated with religious events had the highest median number of deaths. In multivariate analysis, events that occurred in developing countries and outdoors were associated with increased number of fatalities. Stampedes that occurred in the context of sports, religious, music, and political events, or that had a unidirectional mechanism, also increased the relative number of deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Several epidemiological features of human stampedes associated with increased mortality are identified. Standardized collection of epidemiological data pertaining to human stampedes is strongly recommended, and further study of this recurrent, distinctive disaster is warranted. Language: en
Pulmonary Compliance in Patients with Periodic Breathing

A study of pulmonary compliance in patients with periodic breathing was made. The elastic properties of the lung were found to be normal in some patients and grossly decreased in others. Two types of periodic breathing mechanics were found: in one there are similar variations of tidal volumes and unchanged pulmonary compliance; in the other a constant fluctuation of the intraesophageal pressure associated with the variations in tidal volume.
Catecholamine levels and associated cardiovascular responses in infants with meconium-stained amniotic fluid

Catecholamine levels and associated cardiovascular responses were determined in 21 control and 30 term infants with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). Cord arterial blood was obtained for determination for norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) levels; cardiovascular measurements included heart rate and systolic blood pressure at 30 min. Pregnancy was uncomplicated in all cases. The total length of labor 964±402 versus 555±312 min (P 7 in 49 of the 51 infants. Infants with MSAF exhibited a higherP aCO2 (6.89±1.17 vs 6.24±1.17 mm Hg;P<0.02) and lower pH (7.25±0.06 vs 7.29±0.05;P<0.02) compared to controls. Infants with transient RD demonstrated the most marked arterial blood gas differences, i.e.,PCO2 7.41±1.30 mm Hg (P<0.001), pH 7.21±0.07 (P<0.001) and base deficit −6±4 versus −3±2.8 (P<0.001) when compared to controls. NE and EPI levels were significantly higher in MSAF versus control infants, i.e., 12600±3040 versus 3740±1000 pg/ml (SEM) (P<0.02) and 1550±250 versus 620±130 pg/ml (P<0.001) respectively. The highest values were observed in infants with transient RD. NE levels were related to base deficit (r=−0.45,P<0.0001) and the presence of meconium (r=0.26,P<0.05), while EPI levels were related to pH (r=0.44,P<0.001) and meconium (r=0.28,P<0.05). MSAF infants exhibited a higher systolic blood pressure at 30 min, i.e., 59±10 versus 54±8 mm HgP<0.002 when compared to controls. No differences in heart and respiratory rates were noted. These data indicate that infants delivered in the presence of MSAF exhibit significant elevations in catcholamine levels when compared to control infants, which may reflect an adaptive respone to in utero stress.
The effect of surfactants on the interaction of factor XII with surfaces.

Abstract Factor XII (Hageman factor) binds irreversibly to plastic as well as glass surfaces. In dilute solution this leads to significant losses of protein onto the walls of tubes, etc. This could be prevented most efficiently by the presence of surfactants in solution. Rinsing the surfaces after contact with the protein, or precoating the surfaces were less effective. Triton X-100 was found to be non-denaturing and effective at concentrations as low as 0.001%. In its presence higher specific activities were obtained in spectro-photometric assay. The autoactivation of factor XII exposed to glass was inhibited but not prevented by Triton X-100. Similar effects on the binding and assay of (Pre) kallikrein were also found.
Analysis of a dynamic model for subfilter scalar dissipation rate in large eddy simulation based on the subfilter scalar variance transport equation

Accurate prediction of non-premixed turbulent combustion using large eddy simulation (LES) requires detailed modelling of the mixing between fuel and oxidizer that occurs at scales smaller than the LES filterwidth. The small-scale mixing process can be quantitatively characterized by two related variables, the subfilter scalar variance and the subfilter scalar dissipation rate. A recently proposed alternative dynamic modelling procedure for the subfilter scale dissipation rate, designed for use with transport equation based models for subfilter scalar variance, is analysed in this work. This new dynamic non-equilibrium modelling approach produces a nonlinear interaction between variance and dissipation rate predictions that makes it difficult to isolate the performance of any single modelling component in a conventional LES simulation. To gain a better understanding of the new model, a three-part study is undertaken here. The first part of the study uses a priori analysis to examine some novel aspects of ...
Expression of a Dominant Negative Mutant of Interleukin-1β Converting Enzyme in Transgenic Mice Prevents Neuronal Cell Death Induced by Trophic Factor Withdrawal and Ischemic Brain Injury

To explore the role of the interleukin (IL)-1β converting enzyme (ICE) in neuronal apoptosis, we designed a mutant ICE gene (C285G) that acts as a dominant negative ICE inhibitor. Microinjection of the mutant ICE gene into embryonal chicken dorsal root ganglial neurons inhibits trophic factor withdrawal–induced apoptosis. Transgenic mice expressing the fused mutant ICE-lacZ gene under the control of the neuron specific enolase promoter appeared neurologically normal. These mice are deficient in processing pro–IL-1β, indicating that mutant ICEC285G blocks ICE function. Dorsal root ganglial neurons isolated from transgenic mice were resistant to trophic factor withdrawal–induced apoptosis. In addition, the neurons isolated from newborn ICE knockout mice are similarly resistant to trophic factor withdrawal–induced apoptosis. After permanent focal ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion, the mutant ICEC285G transgenic mice show significantly reduced brain injury as well as less behavioral deficits when compared to the wild-type controls. Since ICE is the only enzyme with IL-1β convertase activity in mice, our data indicates that the mutant ICEC285G inhibits ICE, and hence mature IL-1β production, and through this mechanism, at least in part, inhibits apoptosis. Our data suggest that genetic manipulation using ICE family dominant negative inhibitors can ameliorate the extent of ischemia-induced brain injury and preserve neurological function.
Bioinformatic and statistical analysis of the optic nerve head in a primate model of ocular hypertension

The nonhuman primate model of glaucomatous optic neuropathy most faithfully reproduces the human disease. We used high-density oligonucleotide arrays to investigate whole genome transcriptional changes occurring at the optic nerve head during primate experimental glaucoma. Laser scarification of the trabecular meshwork of cynomolgus macaques produced elevated intraocular pressure that was monitored over time and led to varying degrees of damage in different samples. The macaques were examined clinically before enucleation and the myelinated optic nerves were processed post-mortem to determine the degree of neuronal loss. Global gene expression was examined in dissected optic nerve heads with Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays. We validated a subset of differentially expressed genes using qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immuno-enriched astrocytes from healthy and glaucomatous human donors. These genes have previously defined roles in axonal outgrowth, immune response, cell motility, neuroprotection, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Our findings show that glaucoma is associated with increased expression of genes that mediate axonal outgrowth, immune response, cell motility, neuroprotection, and ECM remodeling. These studies also reveal that, as glaucoma progresses, retinal ganglion cell axons may make a regenerative attempt to restore lost nerve cell contact.
Multiregional, Not Multiple Origins

Multiregional evolution is a model to account for the pattern of human evolution in the Pleistocene. The underlying hypothesis is that a worldwide network of genic exchanges, between evolving human populations that continually divide and reticulate, provides a frame of population inter- connections that allows both species-wide evolutionary change and local distinctions and differentiation. "Multiregional" does not mean independent multiple origins, ancient divergence of modern populations, simultaneous appearance of adaptive characters in different regions, or parallel evolution. A valid understanding of multiregional evolution would go a long way toward reducing the modern human origins controversy. Am J Phys Anthropol 112: 129 -136, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The biology of basal cell carcinoma: A review

Features of basal cell carcinoma are reviewed within the broad categories of growth characteristics, histogenesis, ultrastructural features, biochemical properties, site of origin, metastatic potential, and immunobiology. Biologic features that pertain to host-tumor interactions are emphasized. Perhaps a better understanding of these host-tumor relationships will offer more effective methods of treating and preventing these neoplasms in the future.
Calibration and performance of a high spectral resolution lidar

High spectral resolution lidar systems measure atmospheric backscatter cross section, extinction cross section and depolarization without requiring poorly supported assumptions about the nature of atmospheric scattering or unstable inversion algorithms. 12System calibrations are independent of variations in atmospheric attenuation or window transmission. As a result, the accuracy of measurements are directly dependent the system calibration. This paper describes the calibration of the University of Wisconsin HSRL.
Shear measurements across the northern margin of Whillans Ice Stream

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://www.ingentaconnect.com".
The influence of dispositional and situational tendencies on adolescent girls’ sport confidence sources

Abstract Objectives : To examine the influence of female athletes’ goal orientations and perceptions of motivational climate on sources of sport confidence. We hypothesized that task orientation and perceptions of mastery climate would be positively associated with adaptive or self-referenced sources of sport confidence. Ego orientation and perceptions of performance climate were expected to be positively associated with maladaptive or normative sources of confidence. Design : A field correlational study design was used to examine the relationships among goal orientations, motivational climate, and sport confidence sources, and to test both mediator and moderator effects of motivational climate on the relationship between goal orientations and sport confidence sources. Method : Participants were 180 competitive female volleyball players aged 12–18 years. Athletes completed three questionnaires assessing goal orientations, perceptions of motivational climate, and sources of sport confidence. Results : Task orientation and perceptions of mastery climate were positively associated with adaptive sources of sport confidence as well as social/environmental sources. Ego orientation was positively associated with maladaptive sources of confidence. Perceptions of mastery climate supported a mediational rather than a moderational role for motivational climate in predicting the social support and coach’s leadership sources of sport confidence. Conclusion : The significant mediating influence of a mastery climate established by the coach provides important implications for coaches who want to build self-confidence in adolescent female athletes.
Importance of Myocyte-Nonmyocyte Interactions in Cardiac Development and Disease

Emerging data in the field of cardiac development as well as repair and regeneration indicate a complex and important interplay between endocardial, epicardial, and myofibroblast populations that is critical for cardiomyocyte differentiation and postnatal function. For example, epicardial cells have been shown to generate cardiac myofibroblasts and may be one of the primary sources for this cell lineage during development. Moreover, paracrine signaling from the epicardium and endocardium is critical for proper development of the heart and pathways such as Wnt, fibroblast growth factor, and retinoic acid signaling have been shown to be key players in this process. Despite this progress, interactions between nonmyocyte cells and cardiomyocytes in the heart are still poorly understood. We review the various nonmyocyte-myocyte interactions that occur in the heart and how these interactions, primarily through signaling networks, help direct cardiomyocyte differentiation and regulate postnatal cardiac function.
Supraglottic carcinoma: impact of radiation therapy on outcome of patients with positive margins and extracapsular nodal disease.

Seventy-nine patients with supraglottic carcinoma treated between 1966 and 1985 are reviewed. All patients were treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. Thirty-five percent of the patients had positive margins at the site of resection of the primary tumor. Of the 25 patients who had positive nodal disease, 13 patients (52%) had either extracapsular extension or soft-tissue or adjacent organ invasion, referred to in composite as grave signs. The median follow-up of the patients was 4.9 years and all patients were followed for a minimum of 3 years. The disease-free survival for all patients was 76% at 2 years and 71% at 3 years. The locoregional control rate for all patients was 70%. This study demonstrates that there is no difference in local recurrence or disease-free survival, or time to recurrence relative to the status of the surgical margins, which may be a benefit of the postoperative radiation therapy. This study also demonstrates that there is an increase in the number of patients with grave signs with increasing nodal stage. The rate of neck recurrence in patients with grave signs was substantially higher (54%) than in patients without grave signs (8%), even though these patients also had positive lymph nodes.more » Interestingly, there was also a higher rate of local recurrence among patients who had grave signs. Patients receiving doses higher than 6000 cGy to the primary site had fewer local failures, although within each group of patients with positive or negative surgical margins the differences in survival were minimal.« less
Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) polymorphisms and Parkinson's disease

Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is an ubiquitously expressed protein which displays antioxidant properties, though it does not have paraoxonase or arylesterase activity like other members of the PON gene family, such as PON1. Two coding region polymorphisms (Cys311Ser and Ala14Gly) of the PON2 gene were investigated by a newly developed method in a population-based case-control study of 179 PD patients and 293 controls. No statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of the wild type and mutant alleles between controls and PD. Similarly, no interactions between PON2 and two PON1 polymorphisms (192 and –108) were found. Polymorphisms of PON2 do not appear to be a risk factor for PD.
Dosimetric parameters predict short-term quality-of-life outcomes for patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a treatment option for patients with localized prostate cancer, with reported clinical and health-related quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes comparable to standard fractionation radiation therapy. The goal of this study was to evaluate correlations between short-term QOL outcomes and dosimetric parameters to guide future prostate SBRT planning. Methods and materials From 2010 to 2013, QOL data were prospectively collected from 75 patients enrolled in a prostate SBRT clinical trial. A comparison was made between Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite scores for patients with the top 25th percentile versus the bottom 75th percentile of the following dose-volume histogram parameters: planning target volume V100; bladder V50 and V100; and rectum V50, V80, V90, and V100. A linear mixed-effect model was used to estimate the difference between the 2 strata for each parameter. Results Median follow-up was 12 months. Patients with planning target volume V100 volumes >120 cm 3 had the worst reduction in urinary QOL. Urinary QOL was also decreased significantly in patients with bladder V100 volumes >5.5 cm 3 . Bowel QOL was decreased significantly in patients with rectal V90 and V100 volumes >4.2 and >1.5 cm 3 , respectively. Conclusions Patients with large prostate size or large volumes of rectum and bladder that receive ≥90% of the prescribed radiation dose are more susceptible to short-term QOL decrements after prostate SBRT. These volumes should be minimized to maximize recovery to baseline QOL after prostate SBRT.
Velocardiofacial syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome: the chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndromes

Summary Velocardiofacial syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and some other clinical syndromes have in common a high frequency of hemizygous deletions of chromosome 22q11.2. This deletion syndrome is very common, affecting nearly one in 3000 children. Here, we focus on recent advances in cardiac assessment, speech, immunology, and pathophysiology of velocardiofacial syndrome. The complex medical care of patients needs a multidisciplinary approach, and every patient has his own unique clinical features that need a tailored approach. Patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome might have high level of functioning, but most often need interventions to improve the function of many organ systems.
Effective Heat Processing for the Destruction of Pathogenic Bacteria in Turkey Rolls

Abstract COOKED and uncooked turkey rolls are being manufactured and merchandised at an increasing rate. Methods and procedures used to fabricate and cook these rolls have varied considerably throughout the country. Evans (1950) discussed the merchandising of “Tru-King” turkey logs (commercial type turkey rolls) for use by hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other institutions. Advantages reported were: 1) low cost per serving unit; 2) complete utilization of meat purchased (no waste); 3) less labor required to prepare meat for serving; 4) greater flavor retention in the product; 5) less storage and freezer space required; 6) lower transportation cost per pound of edible meat; 7) lower cooking shrink; and 8) less loss in food nutrients during cooking. Products such as compact rolls of meat will require different cooking procedures than do whole birds since the geometry of the product is altered requiring a new time-temperature requirement for assuring adequate “doneness.” From a public…
Myocyte Death in the Pathological Heart

Arecent editorial published in Circulation Research by Jutta Schaper and collaborators1 has raised several challenging questions concerning the role of myocyte death in myocardial diseases.2 Numerous studies have documented that myocyte death is an important variable in the development of ventricular dysfunction and failure in ischemic and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy,3 4 5 long-term systemic hypertension,6 and during myocardial aging in animals7 8 and humans.9 10 Loss of myocytes leads to wall restructuring, side-to-side slippage of cells, mural thinning, chamber dilation, fibroblast activation, myocardial scarring, and depressed ventricular function.11 12 13 14 Collagen accumulation resulting from focal and scattered myocyte death plays a critical role in both ischemic and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, comprising more than 20% of the ventricles in the late stages of the cardiac disease.3 4 Contrary to the notion stated in the editorial,1 coronary blood flow is impaired in both pathological conditions.15 The importance of cell death as a mechanism of altered hemodynamics has been well demonstrated following myocardial infarction16 and diffuse cell death associated with limitations in coronary perfusion.17 Myocyte death by apoptosis and necrosis documented in our human2 5 and animal (for review, see Reference 1111 ) studies has been interpreted as “an epiphenomenon that is not related to the evolution of heart failure. . . .”1 This conclusion was reached by the authors of the editorial on the basis that cell death in the decompensated heart was not counteracted by an equivalent amount of myocyte proliferation.14 18 Questionably, durations of cell apoptosis were indicated,1 but no attempt was made to emphasize that mitosis lasts between 30 to 45 minutes.14 18 This does not imply that cell regeneration compensates for the extent of myocyte loss in the diseased …
Predictive modeling techniques of software quality from software measures

The objective in the construction of models of software quality is to use measures that may be obtained relatively early in the software development life cycle to provide reasonable initial estimates of the quality of an evolving software system. Measures of software quality and software complexity to be used in this modeling process exhibit systematic departures of the normality assumptions of regression modeling. Two new estimation procedures are introduced, and their performances in the modeling of software quality from software complexity in terms of the predictive quality and the quality of fit are compared with those of the more traditional least squares and least absolute value estimation techniques. The two new estimation techniques did produce regression models with better quality of fit and predictive quality when applied to data obtained from two software development projects. >
Let's get ready to rumble redux: crossover versus mutation head to head on exponentially scaled problems

This paper analyzes the relative advantages between crossover and mutation on a class of deterministic and stochastic additively separable problems with substructures of non-uniform salience. This study assumes that the recombination and mutation operators have the knowledge of the building blocks (BBs) and effectively exchange or search among competing BBs. Facetwise models of convergence time and population sizing have been used to determine the scalability of each algorithm. The analysis shows that for deterministic exponentially-scaled additively separable, problems, the BB-wise mutation is more efficient than crossover yielding a speedup of o(llogl), where l is the problem size. For the noisy exponentially-scaled problems, the outcome depends on whether scaling on noise is dominant. When scaling dominates, mutation is more efficient than crossover yielding a speedup of o(llogl). On the other hand, when noise dominates, crossover is more efficient than mutation yielding a speedup of o(l).
Effects of mixed chimerism and immune modulation on GVHD, disease recurrence and survival after HLA-identical marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND The success of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation(allo-BMT) is affected by underlying disease relapse. Although mixed chimerism(MC) is not necessarily a poor prognostic factor, several groups have suggested that MC is associated with an increased risk of disease relapse. There is evidence that patients with MC benefit from additional immunotherapy if the treatment is started in minimal residual disease status(mixed chimerism status), not in frank hematological relapse. The purposes of this study are to evaluate 1) the risk for relapse or graft rejection in correlation to persistent MC status after allo-BMT, and 2) the possibility of preventing relapse by immune modulation treatments (withdrawal or rapid taper-off of post-transplant immuno-suppression, additional interferon treatment, or the administration of donor lymphocytes) in hematologic malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of 337 allogeneic donor-recipient pairs between March 1996 and August 1998, 12 patients who showed persistent or progressive MC and who received immune modulation treatments were evaluated. Twelve patients, median age 31 years(range 9 to 39 years), received an allo-BMT for: acute myelogenous leukemia(AML, n = 5), chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML, n = 4), acute lymphocytic leukemia(ALL, n = 3). Serial polymerase chain reaction(PCR) analysis of YNZ 22-, 33.6-minisatellites or Y chromosome-specific PCR analysis at short term intervals(pre- and post-transplant 1, 3, 6, 9, ... months) was performed. Once MC was detected, immune modulation treatments on the basis of increasing MC in an early phase of recurrence of underlying disease were started. RESULTS Nine of 12 patients converted to complete chimerism(CC) (AML 5/5, CML 3/4, ALL 1/3). Four of 9 CC patients developed graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) grade < or = 2 during immune modulation. All were treated successfully with steroids. Three patients who were not converted to CC showed relapse of underlying diseases or graft failure. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that, in patients with hematologic malignancies after allo-BMT, persistent MC is associated with relapse of underlying diseases or graft failure. Furthermore, when patients receive early immune modulation treatment, MC can be changed to complete donor pattern chimerism and ultimately prevent relapse.
An assessment of estimation methods for generalized linear mixed models with binary outcomes.

Two main classes of methodology have been developed for addressing the analytical intractability of generalized linear mixed models: likelihood-based methods and Bayesian methods. Likelihood-based methods such as the penalized quasi-likelihood approach have been shown to produce biased estimates especially for binary clustered data with small clusters sizes. More recent methods using adaptive Gaussian quadrature perform well but can be overwhelmed by problems with large numbers of random effects, and efficient algorithms to better handle these situations have not yet been integrated in standard statistical packages. Bayesian methods, although they have good frequentist properties when the model is correct, are known to be computationally intensive and also require specialized code, limiting their use in practice. In this article, we introduce a modification of the hybrid approach of Capanu and Begg, 2011, Biometrics 67, 371–380, as a bridge between the likelihood-based and Bayesian approaches by employing Bayesian estimation for the variance components followed by Laplacian estimation for the regression coefficients. We investigate its performance as well as that of several likelihood-based methods in the setting of generalized linear mixed models with binary outcomes. We apply the methods to three datasets and conduct simulations to illustrate their properties. Simulation results indicate that for moderate to large numbers of observations per random effect, adaptive Gaussian quadrature and the Laplacian approximation are very accurate, with adaptive Gaussian quadrature preferable as the number of observations per random effect increases. The hybrid approach is overall similar to the Laplace method, and it can be superior for data with very sparse random effects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing Multitheoretical, Multilevel Hypotheses About Organizational Networks: An Analytic Framework and Empirical Example

Network forms of organization, unlike hierarchies or marketplaces, are agile and are constantly adapting as new links are added and dysfunctional ones dropped. We review some of the theoretical and methodological accomplishments and challenges of contemporary research on organizational networks. We then offer an analytic framework that can be used to specify and statistically test simultaneously multilevel, multitheoretical hypotheses about the structural tendencies of organizational networks. We conclude with an empirical study illustrating some of the capabilities of this framework.
Ultra-wideband high data rate short range wireless links

High data rate wireless communications links use highly bandwidth efficient modulations to get the most from the limited spectrum available. Many of these schemes are complex, requiring large amounts of computation and hardware complexity to accomplish their tasks. This paper presents a method by which a high data rate, short-range, unlicensed wireless link is obtained using a modulation with low bandwidth efficiency to ensure that the radiated power spectral density is below maximum allowed levels. An experimental ultrawideband system is described that is capable of transmitting up to 600 Mbps over distances of a few meters.
The Role of Radiotherapy in the Management of Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma

Carcinoma of the kidney is the third most common tumor of the genitourinary tract (Table 10.1). In the United States it represents approximately 11% of all genitourinary tumors in incidence and 18% in mortality rates (Landis et al. 1998). Most (>80%) tumors of the kidneys are renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), which show a predilection to occur in males in their fifth and sixth decades of life, although this tumor is known to occur in much younger patients (Landis et al. 1998; Skinner et al. 1971; Flocks and Kadesky 1958). Multiple environmental factors, including cigarette smoking, have been identified as possible causes for the development of RCC, and a strong association of RCC with von Hippel-Lindau disease is well documented (Christoferson et al. 1961).
Implementing Equality: Ideology, Contradiction and Social Change

This Article is an exploration of the tension between “instrumental” and symbolic’ law reform. Instrumental law reform involves creating legislation oriented “towards influencing behavior through enforcement,” while symbolic reform is “an emergent property” of the legislative process, a result of intermingled legislative ideas that inform our social world and form a basis for political action.This phenomenon is examined in the context of the feminist reform movement to revise the rules governing the economic incidents of divorce in Wisconsin during the mid-seventies. The tensions in this particular reform movement arose from the potential conflicting goals of result equality (“instrumental” reform), and rule equality (“symbolic” reform). While both depend on certain theoretical and factual assumptions about society, the role of women and the function of law, there are important areas where these underlying assumptions and the reforms that might be based on them, diverge.This paper argues that given the socioeconomic factors that typically disadvantage women in the market while simultaneously favoring their assumption of major domestic responsibilities, result equality must be the primary focus of any effect reform of the economics of divorce.
Homology modeling of larger proteins guided by chemical shifts

An NMR chemical shift–guided protein alignment method is combined with a comparative modeling pipeline to readily solve structures of large proteins.
Started as Crew (C): McDonald's Strategy for Corporate Success and Poverty Reduction

From the early 1970s to the beginning of the 21st century, multinational corporations (MNCs) had increasingly participated in the reduction of poverty as part of their business strategies. Such participation reflected an increasing awareness of the widening gap between rich and poor across the globe. McDonald’s Corporation, despite myriad criticisms directed at it about dead-end jobs and the detrimental effects of fast food, had defied norms, however. The company used a combination of promotion-from-within strategy and benchmark employee training programs to develop an abundant pool of human capital. The company was deeply committed to its employees who "started as crew" rising through the ranks, receiving the necessary training at its Hamburger University. This case details the rise of McDonald’s, its particular culture, and its emphasis on and pride in the "stared as crew" element, and illustrates these elements with stories of various employees who rose through the ranks to management and executive positions.
Methylation in benign prostate and risk of disease progression in men subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer

In DNA from prostate tumors, methylation patterns in gene promoter regions can be a biomarker for disease progression. It remains unclear whether methylation patterns in benign prostate tissue--prior to malignant transformation--may provide similar prognostic information. To determine whether early methylation events predict prostate cancer outcomes, we evaluated histologically benign prostate specimens from 353 men who eventually developed prostate cancer and received "definitive" treatment [radical prostatectomy (58%) or radiation therapy (42%)]. Cases were drawn from a large hospital-based cohort of men with benign prostate biopsy specimens collected between 1990 and 2002. Risk of disease progression associated with methylation was estimated using time-to-event analyses. Average follow-up was over 5 years; biochemical recurrence (BCR) occurred in 91 cases (26%). In White men, methylation of the APC gene was associated with increased risk of BCR, even after adjusting for standard clinical risk factors for prostate cancer progression (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.26; 95%CI 1.23-4.16). APC methylation was most strongly associated with a significant increased risk of BCR in White men with low prostate specific antigen at cohort entry (HR = 3.66; 95%CI 1.51-8.85). In additional stratified analyses, we found that methylation of the RARB gene significantly increased risk of BCR in African American cases who demonstrated methylation of at least one of the other four genes under study (HR = 3.80; 95%CI 1.07-13.53). These findings may have implications in the early identification of aggressive prostate cancer as well as reducing unnecessary medical procedures and emotional distress for men who present with markers of indolent disease.
An analysis of suspected crayfish invasions in Missouri, U.S.A.: evidence for the prevalence of short-range translocations and support for expanded survey efforts.

Reports of alien crayfish invasions are increasingly common and often associated with well-documented ecological effects including native crayfish biodiversity declines. Because most regions in the U.S. and Canada have not been surveyed to detect the presence and gauge the threat status of such invasions, management agencies lack information on the magnitude of problems in their respective jurisdictions. Our objectives were to catalog, confirm and summarize suspected crayfish invasions that were reported in one U.S. state in recent years. Data were also examined for potential spatial patterns, prevalence of certain species as invaders and effects to native crayfishes. We collected reports of crayfish introductions/invasions from 1998–2014, and attempted to confirm them via sampling. We catalogued 34 reports and confirmed 31 as suspected invasions involving 6 invading species. Procambarus acutus was easily the most frequent invader, and all invading species were native to at least part of Missouri. Most suspected invasions involved species that were legal for commercial sale in the state, but many also involved non-commercial species that are described as “narrow-range endemics.” Invading species were abundant, dominating crayfish communities, at several sites. Native species have apparently declined or been displaced at several locations. Our results suggest the potential for many unreported crayfish invasions in the U.S. and Canada, including those caused by shorter-range (e.g., intrastate) translocations. Ecoregions featuring high crayfish diversity could be threatened with significant declines of native species with narrow ranges. Increased survey efforts in these regions are warranted to estimate threat levels and provide agencies with information to support management actions.
Sexual Color and Size Variation in the South Polar Skua

ASCHOFF, J., AND H. POHL. 1970. Rhythmic variations in energy metabolism. Fed. Proc. 29:1541-1552. CALDER, W. A., AND J. R. KING. 1974. Thermal and caloric relations of birds, p. 259-413. In D. S. Farner and J. R. King [eds.], Avian biology. Vol. 4. Academic Press, New York. CAREY, C.., W. R. DAWSON, L. C. MAXWELL, AND J. A. FAULKNER. 1978. Seasonal acclimatization to temperature in cardueline finches. II. Changes in body composition and mass in relation to season and acute cold stress. J. Comp. Physiol. B 125:101-113. DAWSON, W. R., AND C. CAREY. 1976. Seasonal acclimatization to temperature in cardueline finches. I. Insulative and metabolic adjustments. J. Comp. Physiol. 112:317-333.
Semi-Infinite Optimization with Implicit Functions

In this work, equality-constrained bilevel optimization problems, arising from engineering design, economics, and operations research problems, are reformulated as an equivalent semi-infinite program (SIP) with implicit functions embedded, which are defined by the original equality constraints that model the system. Using recently developed theoretical tools for bounding implicit functions, a recently developed algorithm for global optimization of implicit functions, and a recently developed algorithm for solving standard SIPs with explicit functions to global optimality, a method for solving SIPs with implicit functions embedded is presented. The method is guaranteed to converge to ϵ-optimality in finitely many iterations given the existence of a Slater point arbitrarily close to a minimizer. Besides the Slater point assumption, it is assumed only that the functions are continuous and factorable and that the model equations are once continuously differentiable.
Standards for Advertising Regulation

DURING the past 38 years the Federal Trade Commission has been concerned with the protection of the consumer against abuses by businessmen preoccupied with maximizing their profits. This task has repeatedly met with the approval of consumerists and the disapproval of the business community. The protection of FTC has been extended to the "general public,"' later interpreted as "that vast multitude which includes the ignorant, the unthinking, and the credulous, who in making purchases do not stop to analyze, but are governed by appearances and general impressions."2 This interpretation of the type of individual protected by the FTC against deceptive practices has been commonly referred to as the "least reasonable man" principle. (Since the FTC and the courts keep referring to a man, rather than a person or he/she, we are legally bound to do the same!) Past FTC action has shown that the Commis-
A review of the genus Oxychalepus Uhmann, 1937 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)

The species of Oxychalepus Uhmann, 1937 are reviewed. Thirteen species are treated as valid. Oxychalepus alienus (Baly, 1885) is removed from synonymy; O. angulatus from Argentina and Bolivia is described as new; O. insignatus (Chapuis, 1877) is reinstated to full species status; O. trispinosus (Pic, 1931) is treated as incertae sedis. All species are illustrated and a key to the species is presented.
Iron-Deficiency Anemia and Stroke

The prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in young children at the time of stroke and in age-matched healthy controls was compared in a case-control study conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.