cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis for the evaluation of potential surrogate markers

We describe a meta-analysis approach for the evaluation of a potential surrogate marker. Surrogate markers are useful in helping to identify therapeutic mechanisms of action and disease pathogenesis, and for selecting therapies to take forward from phase II to phase III clinical trials. They have also become increasingly important for regulatory purposes by providing a basis for preliminary approval of drugs pending clinical outcome studies. Methodology for evaluating surrogate markers has focused on determining the difference in the effects of two treatments on clinical outcome in an individual clinical trial, and then estimating the proportion of this difference explained by the treatment's effects on the potential marker. Studies are, however, frequently underpowered or cease before they accumulate sufficient evidence to draw strong conclusions about the value of a potential surrogate marker using this approach, and there are also some technical difficulties with the approach. Consideration of the association between the difference in treatment effects on the clinical outcome and the difference in treatment effects on the potential marker over a range of trials provides an alternative means to evaluate a potential marker. We describe a meta-analysis approach using Bayesian methods to model this association. Importantly, this approach enables one to obtain prediction intervals for the true difference in clinical outcome for a given estimated treatment difference in the effect on the potential marker. We illustrate the methodology by applying it to results from studies of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group to assess the value of CD4 T-lymphocyte cell count as a potential surrogate marker for the treatment effects on the development of AIDS or death.
Antisense inhibition of engrailed genes in mouse embryos reveals roles for these genes in craniofacial and neural tube development.

The roles ofengrailed-1 (En-1) andengrailed-2 (En-2) have been investigated during gastrulation and neurulation in mouse embryos. Using antisense oligonucleotides and murine whole embryo culture, early somite embryos were injected with antisense phosphorothioated oligonucleotides directed againstEn-1 ofEn-2 transcripts and then grown in vitro for 48 hr. Inhibition ofEn-1 by antisense targeting during this period resulted in embryos with craniofacial abnormalities, specifically loss of mid-and hindbrain tissue and hypoplasia in associated neural crest derived areas such as the face and first and second pharyngeal arches. In addition, En-1 appeared to be essential in early patterning of the neural tube. Embryos removed from culture as 8 hr following injection exhibited undulations in the presumptive spinal cord. Histological analysis of the affected neural tubes at 48 hr showed disrupted cytoarchitecture and in some cases, apparent dorsal-ventral duplication of the neural tube and underlying notochord. Using S100 beta as a notochord marker, embryos removed from culture at 8 or 12 hr following injection exhibited loss of S100 beta expression in the notochord region subjacent to affected neural tube segments, suggesting that S100 beta, or other notochordal genes, may be downstream components of the En-1 regulatory cascade. Furthermore, antisense inhibition ofEn-1 induced caudal dysgenesis, suggesting disruption in primitive streak function. Antisense targeting of En-2 expression at early somite stages produced few alterations in development, although approximately one third of the embryos exhibited a series of lateral folds in the spinal cord at the level of the forelimb-bud. Combined injections withEn-1 andEn-2 antisense resulted in no novel phenotypes, suggesting that the genes do not possess functional redundancy. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Difficulties of field methodology associated with an experiential learning project

An experiential learning project through the USDA Food and Nutrition Summer Institute focuses on diabetes and obesity in the African American community by addressing nutrition and physical activity among children. In this phase of the project, students from five historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) identified community partners and tested the feasibility of using several instruments for a future intervention. Seventy-four children and 31 parents completed a modified USDA Diet and Health Knowledge Survey questionnaire; socio-demographic, physical activity, and anthropometric datasheets; and Block Food Frequency Questionnaires. Students faced several challenges in collecting food and behavior information, including respondent burden, appropriateness of questionnaires, and technology difficulties.
A quantitative analysis of children's splitting operations and fraction schemes

Abstract Teaching experiments with pairs of children have generated several hypotheses about students’ construction of fractions. For example, Steffe (2004) hypothesized that robust conceptions of improper fractions depends on the development of a splitting operation. Results from teaching experiments that rely on scheme theory and Steffe's hierarchy of fraction schemes imply additional hypotheses, such as the idea that the schemes do indeed form a hierarchy. Our study constitutes the first attempt to test these hypotheses and substantiate Steffe's claims using quantitative methods. We analyze data from 84 students’ performances on written tests, in order to measure students’ development of the splitting operation and construction of fraction schemes. Our findings align with many of the hypotheses implied by teaching experiments and, additionally, suggest that students’ construction of a partitive fraction scheme facilitates the development of splitting.
Discussion of “The effect of steel chemistry on the formation of Fe-Zn intermetallic compounds of galvanneal-coated steel sheets”

1966, vol. 70, pp. 3698-06. 6. S.M. Sterner, I. Chou, R.T. Downs, and K.S. Pitzer: Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 1992, vo|. 56, pp. 2295-309. 7. J.L. Barton and H. Bloom: J. Phys. Chem., 1959, vol. 63, p. 1785. 8. P.A. Akishin, L.N. Gorokhov, and LN. Sidorov: Russ. J. Phys. Chem., 1959, vol. 22 (12), pp. 648-49. 9. R.C. Miller and P. Kusch: J. Chem. Phys., 1956, vol. 25, pp. 860-76. 10. S. Datz, W.T. Smith, Jr., and El. H. Taylor: J. Chem. Phys., 1958, vol. 34, pp. 558-64. 11. T.A. Milne, H.M. Klein, and D. Cubicciotti: J. Chem. Phys., 1958, vol. 28, pp. 718-19. 12. P.A. Akishin and L.N. Gorokhov: Russ. J. Phys. Chem., 1958, vol. 33, pp. 648-49. 13. N.L. Yaryrn-Agaev and L.D. Afanasenko: Russ. J.. Phys. Chem., 1974, vol. 48, pp. 666-68. 14. O. Kubaschewski, C.B. Alcock, and P.J. Spencer: Materials Thermochemistry, 6th ed., Pergamon Press, Tarrytown, NY, 1993, pp. 30-31. 15. W. Huang: Mater. Sci. Technol., 1990, vol. 6, pp. 687-94. 16. A.D. Pelton, A. Gabriel, and J. Sangster: J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans., 1985, vol. 81, pp. 1167-72. 17. N.L. Yarym-Agaev: Russ. ,I. Phys. Chem., 1965, voI. 39, pp. 1126-29. 18. Thermochemical Data of Pure Substances, Part 1 Ag-Kr and Part H La-Zr, 2nd ed., lhan Barin, ed., VCH Verlagsgesellschafmthtl, Weinheim, Germany, 1993. 19. R.S. Bradley and P. Volans: Proc. R. Soc., 1953, vol. 217, pp. 50823. 20. J.E. Mayer and I.H. Winter: J. Chem. Phys., 1938, vol. 6 (6), pp. 30106. 21. B.H. Zimm and J.E. Mayer: J.. Chem. Phys., 1944, vol. 12 (9), pp. 362-69.
Resettling notions of social mobility: locating refugees as ‘educable’ and ‘employable’

The global movement of people alters our understandings of social mobility. Here, I draw on ethnographic data collected since January 2011 and utilize the notion of assemblage to document and analyze how disparate people, their material objects, and discursive practices are brought together to render refugees as educable, productive, and employable in the United States. I examine the adaptations that result when livelihood paths and educational opportunities become paradoxically diverse due to transnational migrations and are constrained by localized politico-economic environments. My findings complicate the assumption that formal education represents an enduring pathway or necessary precursor to upward social mobility. As refugees are required by resettling agents to become economically self-sufficient as soon as possible, formal education such as English-as-a-second-language courses can limit initial employment opportunities and narrowing families’ livelihood strategies upon resettlement, especially dur...
Design of a cylindrical fiber-optic lens focusing passive dual-color IR spectra and readout

Following our first design concept paper, we have further explored the potential of detection at both the Middle Infrared (Mid-IR) and Long Infrared (Long-IR) spectrum emitted through elevated growth stress of lower GI tract tumors by insertion of a cylindrical fiber-optic lens into the rectum and colon. Electrophysiology suggests that we study the electrical properties of both biological cells and tissues. One may do this by intracellular or extracellular recording. To effectively access the relationship of the sigmoid colon and rectum in humans, it is important to study the electrical and mechanical activation (pressure); we do this by close examination of pacesetter and action potentials, detection of various lower GI tract arrhythmias and studying early developmental symptoms of the "angiogenesis effect". Making use of non-sequential ray tracing software, we seek to design a plastic lens of appropriate index of refraction for the focusing of Long-IR (8-12mm) onto the axis and a Mid-IR (3-5mm) on one-half the radius of the cylindrical surface. Intensity (passive dual-color IR spectrograms) will be measured via our minimally invasive device, the so-called Rectumoscope TM , and correlated with various transcutaneous and invasive electrophysiological measurements.
Black Fraternal Organizations: Understanding the Development of Hegemonic Masculinity and Sexuality

Black fraternal organizations were created during a time in America when blacks experienced a high level of racial and social inequality via Jim Crow segregation. Although most black fraternal organizations were founded on Howard University campus in Washington, DC, there were others that were created and founded at predominately white institutions. The purpose and ideals of black fraternal organizations are to provide a social and academic support system for African-American college students. This paper will analyze the history of black fraternities and their impact on one's development of black masculinity and sexuality.
A Robotic Web

It is interesting to view the Web's evolution in robotic terms--specifically, in terms of the common cognitive architecture for robots described as perceive, reason, act. As sensors and effectors are being added to the Web, it is acquiring the ability to perceive and act. The availability of the additional information of its physical environment is enhancing its ability to reason. By organizing all of its information into forms amenable for perception and for decisions about actions, the Web is taking a more active role and will be more useful.
Epithelioid sarcoma expresses epidermal growth factor receptor but gene amplification and kinase domain mutations are rare

Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare, malignant, soft tissue neoplasm that can be classified into proximal, distal and fibroma-like subtypes. Regardless of subtype, epithelioid sarcoma often shows morphologic and immunophenotypic evidence of epithelial differentiation. Current therapeutic strategies include surgical resection, amputation, radiation or chemotherapy, although the overall prognosis remains poor. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a novel therapeutic target in carcinomas. In some carcinomas, EGFR kinase domain mutations or gene amplification may correlate with response to specific inhibitors. EGFR expression has been reported in some sarcoma types, but expression, amplification and mutations have not been studied in epithelioid sarcoma. We evaluated 15 cases of epithelioid sarcoma from 14 patients for EGFR expression using immunohistochemistry, EGFR copy number aberration using fluorescence in situ hybridization and screened for mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene using direct sequencing. In all, 14 of the 15 epithelioid sarcomas (93%) showed expression of EGFR by immunohistochemistry. A majority of the cases (n=11, 73%) showed strong (2+ to 3+) and homogeneous (>75% of cells) membrane staining. No amplification or polysomy of the EGFR gene or mutations of the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR (exons 18-21) were detected. These results imply that although EGFR is expressed in most epithelioid sarcomas regardless of subtype, gene amplification and activating mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain appear to be rare or absent. Thus, the benefit of targeted therapy against EGFR in patients with epithelioid sarcoma remains to be determined.
Fabrication and Characterization of Suspended Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Composite Beams

We report the fabrication and characterization of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) multilayer micropatterns and suspended micro-beams prepared by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The SWCNT multilayer is etched using oxygen plasma with the masking layer of the photoresist, resulting in the feature size of 2 μm. Furthermore, it is released by etching a sacrificial layer of oxide in the hydrofluoric acid vapor. I-V measurements reveal that the resistance of suspended beams decreases upon release due to the exposed surface, excluding the effects of substrate. A high Young’s modulus has been found on the range of 500–800 GPa due to the deviation of spring constants measured and the variation in thickness of beams. It is much higher than those of the other CNT-polymer composites due to the organized structure. Stiff CNT-polymer composite micropatterns and the suspended micro-beams may have potential applications for novel physical sensors, nano-switches, other M/NEMS devices, etc.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Spitzoid melanoma mimicking a pyogenic granuloma in a 21-month-old Child

Abstract Even though the overall prevalence of pediatric melanoma is low, the incidence continues to rise. Spitzoid melanocytic lesions have been the subject of controversy for over a decade, resulting in a confounding nosological classification. Despite the use of more refined histological criteria and newer molecular diagnostic tests, the absolute distinction between completely benign and overtly malignant spitzoid lesions remains difficult, and the prediction of their biologic behavior uncertain. Herein, we report a 21-month-old child with nodular melanoma with spitzoid features that arose on the check and clinically mimicked a pyogenic granuloma, and discuss this controversial lesion.
Forward and inverse model for the intensity-dependent spread filter

Cornsweet and Yellott invented the nonlinear intensity-dependent spread (IDS) filter based on the human visual system. They showed that this filter shares certain characteristics with the human visual system such as Mach bands, Weber’s law, and Ricco’s law, [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A2, 1769– 1786 ( 1985)] which account for the bandpass characteristic, brightness constancy, and tradeoff between sensitivity and resolution. Up to now, because of its nonlinearity and mathematical complexity, the study of its response has been limited to simple images such as step edges or sinusoidal gratings. Also, no good inverse models have been introduced to allow this filter possibly to be used for image compression. We provide a more complete model for the IDS filter and its inverse and show that for the common circularly symmetric spread functions the bandpass characteristic of the IDS filter can be modeled as spatial summation of a spatially varying high-pass filter and that the high-pass filter can be modeled as the Laplacian of a low-pass filter. We then show that the image can be recovered by inverting the effects of the Laplacian, followed by a deblurring stage and then by computing the reciprocal of the result.
80960-next generation

A discussion is presented of the next generation core for the 80960 family of embedded processor chips. It is shown that the next generation 960 core incorporates several features for high performance. It has wide and concurrent internal buses. It can decode and issue a sustained two instructions per clock even with loads and branches. It implements branch lookahead with branch prediction to minimize pipeline breaks. It manages the parallelism and multiple functional units by using resource scoreboarding techniques. It is a modular, high-performance core designed for the embedded processor market. The goals of the core design, the basic microarchitecture, the pipeline, and the key performance features are examined. >
Performance of NbN superconductive tunnel junctions as SIS mixers at 205 GHz

Small area (<or=1- mu m/sup 2/), high-current-density NbN-MgO-NbN tunnel junctions with I-V characteristics suitable for high-frequency mixers have been fabricated. Mesa-geometry junctions with an area of about 1 mu m/sup 2/ and critical current density of 5-10 kA/cm/sup 2/ are integrated with superconducting microstrip lines designed to resonate out the junction capacitance. Accurate values of junction capacitance and magnetic penetration depth are required for the proper design of the microstrip. A study was made of the mixer gain and noise performance near 205 GHz as a function of the inductance provided by the microstrip line. This has confirmed, at a high millimeter-wave frequency, values of junction capacitance of 85 fF/ mu m/sup 2/ and recently measured values of a magnetic penetration depth of 380 nm. Mixer noise temperatures as low as 134 K at 1.5 K have been obtained for properly tuned junctions. A significant improvement in mixer performance on cooling from 4.2 K to 1.5 K was observed. Edge-geometry junctions with an area of 0.3 mu m/sup 3/ and critical current density of 18-25 kA/cm/sup 2/ have also been fabricated. These junctions give a mixer noise temperature of 145 K at 4.2 K without the use of integrated tuning elements. These are the best results ever achieved for NbN-based SIS mixers.
Large Phased Array Radar using Networked Small Parabolic Reflectors

Multifunction phased array systems with radar, telecom, and imaging applications have already been established for flat plate phased arrays of dipoles, or waveguides. In this paper the design trades and candidate options for combining the radar and telecom functions of the deep space network (DSN) into a single large transmit array of small parabolic reflectors will be discussed. In particular the effect of combing the radar and telecom functions on the sizes of individual antenna apertures and the corresponding spacing between the antenna elements of the array will be analyzed. A heterogeneous architecture for the DSN large transmit array is proposed to meet the radar and telecom requirements while considering the budget, scheduling, and strategic planning constrains
Effect of surface polarity on the structure and dynamics of water in nanoscale confinement.

We present a molecular dynamics simulation study of the structure and dynamics of water confined between silica surfaces using β-cristobalite as a model template. We scale the surface Coulombic charges by means of a dimensionless number, k, ranging from 0 to 1, and thereby we can model systems ranging from hydrophobic apolar to hydrophilic, respectively. Both rotational and translational dynamics exhibit a nonmonotonic dependence on k characterized by a maximum in the in-plane diffusion coefficient, D||, at values between 0.6 and 0.8, and a minimum in the rotational relaxation time, τR, at k = 0.6. The slow dynamics observed in the proximity of the hydrophobic apolar surface are a consequence of β-cristobalite templating an ice-like water layer. The fully hydrophilic surfaces (k = 1.0), on the other hand, result in slow interfacial dynamics due to the presence of dense but disordered water that forms strong hydrogen bonds with surface silanol groups. Confinement also induces decoupling between translation...
Successful transcatheter closure of a patent ductus arteriosus: using two Gianturco coils in a 41-year-old woman. A case report.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a form of congenital heart disease uncommonly diagnosed in adult patients. Transcatheter closure of PDA has been widely used in children. However, the experience is limited in adults especially with use of Gianturco coils. The authors describe a case of successful transcatheter closure of a PDA, inciden tally diagnosed in a 41-year-old woman, by successively deploying two coils by a transar terial approach. No residual shunting was seen angiographically after the procedure. A literature review of similar procedures in adult patients is discussed.
Atrial myxoma, a continuing diagnostic challenge

Abstract Despite increased awareness of atrial myxoma, the lesion remains a diagnostic challenge, largelydue to a highly variable clinical picture. Some unusual manifestations of atrial myxoma are illustrated by 6 cases. The relatively slow growth of left atrial myxoma was demonstrated in a 15 year old boy thought to have mitral insufficiency from birth and by a 10 year period of observation in a 63 year old woman. The woman also had co-existent mitral stenosis. Coexistent congenital heart disease was found in a 73 year old man thought to have severe lung disease with arterial unsaturation. Cardiac catheterization showed a right to left shunt through an atrial septal defect due to a right atrial myxoma obstructing the tricuspid valve. Angiocardiography demonstrated the above lesions, as well as left atrial myxomas in 2 patients with clinical findings of mitral valve disease. A fatal complication occurred during transseptal catheterization in a woman believed clinically to have mitral stenosis. Occlusion of the mitral valve by a left atrial myxoma occurred when the catheter entered the left atrium above the tumor. The importance of angiography in the diagnosis of atrial myxoma is stressed, and the avoidance of transseptal catheterization in suspected cases is emphasized.
Electrophysiological Effects of Isoproterenol on Purkinje Fibers of the Heart

The effects of isoproterenol on resting and action potentials, automaticity and conduction velocity in isolated Purkinje fibers of sheep hearts were studied with microelectrode recording techniques. In quiescent Purkinje fibers, local application of isoproterenol to the site of microelectrode recording caused depolarization to a potential level from which repetitive discharge occurred. During the acceleration in beat frequency, the threshold and maximum diastolic potentials increased. When isoproterenol was applied to the pacemaker of beating fibers, the steepness of the pacemaker potential increased and the rate accelerated. Threshold and maximum diastolic potentials were affected variably in the beating preparation. Isoproterenol did not change conduction velocity in isolated, stimulated Purkinje fibers. The electrophysiological effects of isoproterenol resemble those described previously for epinephrine. The observations do not permit definition of the mechanism of action.
Association of Celiac Disease With Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis; Lane Hamilton Syndrome

Introduction:: Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare cause of alveolar hemorrhage, which is seen primarily in childhood. Celiac disease is defined as a chronic, immune-mediated enteropathy of the small intestine, caused by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically pre-disposed individuals. Association of IPH and celiac disease is known as Lane Hamilton syndrome. There are limited number of case reports of this syndrome in literature. Case Presentation:: Although there were no growth and developmental delay and gastrointestinal symptoms like chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation, vomiting, abdominal bloating and pain in the two patients with IPH, they were diagnosed with Lane Hamilton Syndrome. After initiation of gluten-free diet, their IPH symptoms disappeared and hemoglobin levels were observed to return to normal. Conclusions:: Even if there were no gastrointestinal symptoms in a patient with IPH, celiac disease should be investigated. These patients may benefit from gluten free diet and IPH symptoms may disappear.
Abstract P1-09-07: Patient centered support in the survivorship care transition: Outcomes from the patient-owned survivorship care plan intervention

Background: Survivorship care plans will be mandated for use by 2015. Few studies have focused on the care transition process, and few show an impact on the patient experience or health outcomes. This study examines the effect of a patient-owned survivorship care plan (POSCP) intervention on patient outcomes and care coordination. Based on a conceptual model that incorporates IOM survivorship priorities and the chronic care model, the POSCP intervention is a single coaching encounter utilizing motivational interviewing to engage patients in the development of a POSCP that incorporates health goals and strategies related to surveillance, symptom management, and health behavior. Methods: 79 recent breast cancer survivors Stage I-IIIB were randomized to receive POSCP intervention (n=40) or usual care (n=39). Patient outcomes were assessed using SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36), Social/Role Activities Limitations, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease Scale, and Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-9) at baseline and 3 month follow up. Care coordination was assessed using confirmed primary care physician (PCP) visits and reported discussion of survivorship plan at follow up. Logistic and linear regressions were conducted to examine the effect of intervention on care coordination, patient experience, and health outcomes. Results: In this sample age M= 58.35, SD = 10.62, 81% (N=64) non-hispanic white, 16.5% (N=13) African American. A greater proportion of participants in the intervention group reported a confirmed appointment (59.5% vs. 51.4%) and discussed survivorship issues (47.4% vs. 35.1%) with their PCPs compared to those in the usual care group, however these differences did not achieve statistical significance (p= .70 and .65). After controlling for education and perceived financial adequacy, participants in the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher self-reported health (F (3, 70) = 3.57, p Conclusion: This pilot study of a POSCP process utilizing motivational interviewing techniques to enhance patient engagement has a positive impact on patient outcomes and demonstrates promise as a strategy to improve survivor patient experience, care coordination, and health outcomes. Citation Format: Elizabeth A Kvale, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Karen Meneses, Sejong Bae, Chao-Hui S Huang, Casey B Azuero, Christine S Ritchie. Patient centered support in the survivorship care transition: Outcomes from the patient-owned survivorship care plan intervention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-07.
Programmability of the HPCS Languages: A case study with a quantum chemistry kernel

As high-end computer systems present users with rapidly increasing numbers of processors, possibly also incorporating attached co-processors, programmers are increasingly challenged to express the necessary levels of concurrency with the dominant parallel programming model, Fortran+MPI+OpenMP (or minor variations). In this paper, we examine the languages developed under the DARPA High-Productivity Computing Systems (HPCS) program (Chapel, Fortress, and XIO) as representatives of a different parallel programming model which might be more effective on emerging high-performance systems. The application used in this study is the Hartree-Fock method from quantum chemistry, which combines access to distributed data with a task-parallel algorithm and is characterized by significant irregularity in the computational tasks. We present several different implementation strategies for load balancing of the task-parallel computation, as well as distributed array operations, in each of the three languages. We conclude that the HPCS languages provide a wide variety of mechanisms for expressing parallelism, which can be combined at multiple levels, making them quite expressive for this problem.
Protection against breast cancer with genistein: a component of soy

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Because genetics is believed to account for only 10-15% of breast cancer cases, the environment, including nutrition, is thought to play a significant role in predisposing women to this cancer. Studies of Asian women suggest that those who consume a traditional diet high in soy products have a low incidence of breast cancer, but that among emigrants to the United States, the second generation, but not the first, loses this protection. These findings suggest a possible common mechanism of action for breast cancer protection from early, specific nutritional exposure. Genistein, an isoflavone found in soy, has been reported to have weak estrogenic and antiestrogenic properties, to be an antioxidant, to inhibit topoisomerase II and angiogenesis, and to induce cell differentiation. In studies of the mammary glands of immature rats, we showed that genistein up-regulates the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor shortly after treatment, which may be responsible for the increased cell proliferation seen at that age. We hypothesize that the early genistein action promotes cell differentiation that results in a less active epidermal growth factor signaling pathway in adulthood that, in turn, suppresses the development of mammary cancer. We speculate that breast cancer protection in Asian women consuming a traditional soy-containing diet is derived from early exposure to soybean products containing genistein. We believe that early events are essential for the benefits of cancer protection.
Simulations of combined acoustic/electric hearing

Normal-hearing listeners were presented signals processed in the manner of a cochlear-implant signal processor in order to estimate the effects of electrode insertion depth in patients with residual low frequency hearing to 500 Hz. Simulations of 19 and 17 mm insertion depths produced better speech understanding than more shallow depths. Simulations that left gaps in the frequency spectrum allowed better understanding than simulations with no gaps and upshifted frequencies. The effects of losing low frequency hearing following an electrode insertion were severe for insertion depths of 15 mm or less. In these cases speech understanding was no better than that achieved with the 500 Hz residual hearing.
Modelling coastal barrier breaching flows with well-balanced shock-capturing technique

This paper presents a coastal hydrodynamic model for simulating coastal barrier breaching flows through an inlet which are mostly induced by extreme hydrological conditions such as storm/hurricane surges, waves and tides. In order to simulate wave field and wave-induced flow field in a coast, a wave action spectral model is coupled with a hydrodynamic model. The Godunov-type shock-capturing technique is used in the hydrodynamic model to simulate the supercritical flows and shocks driven by the extreme storm conditions. The hydrodynamic model is based on the solution of depth-averaged non-linear shallow water equations with all physical forcings common to coastal hydrological conditions so that it is capable of simulating multiple flow regimes, in which subcritical, transcritical, or supercritical flows may happen. The bed slope terms in the system of equations are treated in such a way that exact balance between flux gradient and bed slope terms is achieved under still water condition. The wave model readily provides the radiation stresses that represent the shortwave-averaged forcings in a water column and take into account wave-induced nearshore currents. In the coupled system, the models are operated systematically. The coastal hydrodynamic model is shown to accurately reproduce analytical and benchmark numerical solutions. To further test the accuracy of the model, flow through a coastal inlet with a storm surge is simulated and the results are compared with an established coastal flow model. Finally, the model is examined to simulate a severe storm surge that develops supercritical flows and the results are found to be encouraging.
Counting on numbers

Suppose, you are a maximizer of expected utility with an unbounded, aggregative utility function (and with no risk aversion and no temporal discounting). You are perfectly rational. These assumptions are very unrealistic in the case of humans but let that go for the sake of the argument. Let us further assume that for you the expected utility of (A) is 1 (the probability of keeping it, given (A), equals 1, and the utility of having it equals 1). Apart from that, I claim that I can give you things of any value for you I like with no effort or loss on my side. And I want to make you choose (B) (cf. Bostrom 2009: 445). Here is how this game is played. You start by fixing the value of '/?' (or '1/w'); I follow-up by determining the value of 'ra'. I win just in case you choose (B). What do I have to do to win? The answer is easy: I let you give me your number n and respond with a number m such that m times l/n> 1. Or, more simply: such that m>n. My winning strategy in Looks Like A Tricky Game very much looks like my winning strategy in The Very Simple Game.
Short sales in the NYSE batch open and NASDAQ opening cross

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study short sales trading as part of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) batch open and National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) opening cross. The paper examines whether short transactions at the open can predict future returns.Design/methodology/approach – The study tests to see if short transactions in the NYSE opening batch trade and NASDAQ opening cross are informative of future returns.Findings – It is found that a stock's opening‐trade short volume is predictive of its short volume for the rest of trading day, positively related to its previous‐day price change, and positively related to its overnight price change at the opening trade on option‐expiration Fridays when the stock is part of the Standard and Poor (S and P) 500 index.Originality/value – While previous research shows that intraday short sale trades are informative, this is the first paper to examine the opening trade of the day, and whether these short sales are in...
Evaluating variance reduction techniques within a sample average approximation method for a constrained inventory policy optimization problem

This paper examines a constrained stochastic inventory optimization problem by means of sample average approximations (SAA). The problem is formulated based on the lead time demand parameters. Lead time demands are sampled by a bootstrap method that is performed by randomly generating demand values over deterministic lead time values. In order to increase the efficiency of solving an SAA replication, a number of variance reduction techniques (VRT) are proposed, namely: antithetic variates, common random numbers and Latin hypercube sampling methods. A set of experiments investigates the quality of these VRTs on the estimated optimality gap and gap variance results for different demand processes. The results indicate that the use of VRTs produces significant improvements over the crude Monte Carlo sampling method on all test cases.
Learning C With Adam

Studies have shown that when learning occurs in an environment that uses animated pedagogical agents and personalized instruction, the learner learns the material more deeply and can recall it easier when compared to learning without an agent. Thus, an effective learning system creates personalized contexts for each learner. The “one size fits all” concept is not very effective across a large number of diverse learners. An adaptive instruction approach is more suitable for reaching large diverse groups of learners in electronic learning environments. Adam is an adaptive instruction system that uses animated agents as teachers. It is a web-based system that imparts knowledge using different teaching styles to make understanding concepts easier and personal. An experiment was conducted in which Adam was used to teach C programming concepts in an introductory level C course. The results of this experiment are reported here.
A framework for innovation in a global NGO: building financial, institutional and programmatic sustainability

A case-based approach is presented to analyse a Universal NGO’s framework in introducing new innovations related to its sustainability programme. The Universal NGO examined has a unique approach to sustainability wherein partnerships with local NGOs are formed to implement programmatic activities addressing unmet needs of a specific population. Financial and technical support are provided to assist them in creating and developing what the Universal NGO calls its ‘three pillars’ of sustainability: financial, institutional, and programmatic capacity. This foundation is intended to enable long-term sustainable and scalable impact once the Universal NGO has exited the partnership, confident that its social return on investment and impact will continue and grow over time. Three case studies and analysis of the NGO partnerships are presented. In every case, the Universal NGO’s model of multi-year commitment, focus on sustainability, and explicit exit strategy contributed to an organisation that sustained or increased its impact over time.
Lizard Abundance in an Exurban Southwestern Savanna, and the Possible Importance of Roadrunner Predation

Ranches are being converted to low density exurban housing developments in the southwestern United States, with potentially significant but little studied impacts on biological diversity. We counted lizards in a grassland and mesquite/oak savanna in southeastern Arizona, along 48 transects evenly divided among landscapes that were grazed by livestock, embedded in housing developments, both or neither. Terrestrial lizards as a group (mostly Aspidoscelis uniparens and Holbrookia maculata) were scarce in developed areas, especially where homeowners kept livestock. Combined counts of lizards (Sceloporus clarkii, Sceloporus undulatus and Urosaurus ornatus) associated with three dimensional substrates did not differ among landscape categories. Roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus), known predators of terrestrial lizards, were more common in developed areas, especially those that were grazed. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the relative scarcity of terrestrial lizards in developed landscapes was due to increased predation by roadrunners, but predation by other species, especially domestic pets, may also have been important.
The Inconsistent use of Measures of Certainty in Artificial Intelligence Research

There has been a great deal of interest among artificial intelligence researchers in methodologies for using subjective measures of belief for reasoning about uncertain events. We emphasize the fundamental difference between the use of measures of absolute belief and measures of change in belief. We show that expert system investigators have elicited measures of absolute belief and have used them as though they were measures of change in belief. We argue that such use is counterintuitive and formally inconsistent. In our discussion of the inconsistency, we introduce a belief-updating paradigm used frequently in plausible reasoning. Finally, we attempt to characterize the potential impact of the inconsistency.
Dopaminergic Neurons and Brain Reward Pathways : From Neurogenesis to Circuit Assembly

Midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area regulate extrapyramidal movement and important cognitive functions, including motivation, reward associations, and habit learning. Dysfunctions in DA neuron circuitry have been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction and schizophrenia, whereas selective degeneration of DA neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta is a key neuropathological feature in Parkinson disease. Efforts to understand these disorders have focused on dissecting the underlying causes, as well as developing therapeutic strategies to replenish dopamine deficiency. In particular, the promise of cell replacement therapies for clinical intervention has led to extensive research in the identification of mechanisms involved in DA neuron development. It is hoped that a comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms will lead to therapeutic strategies that improve the efficiency of DA neuron production, engraftment, and function. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on how Wnt/β-catenin and sonic hedgehog-Smoothened signaling mechanisms control the specification and expansion of DA progenitors and the differentiation of DA neurons. We also discuss how mechanisms involving transforming growth factor-β and transcriptional cofactor homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 regulate the survival and maturation of DA neurons in early postnatal life. These results not only reveal fundamental mechanisms regulating DA neuron development, but also provide important insights to their potential contributions to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
Ambient temperature influences tolerance to plant secondary compounds in a mammalian herbivore.

Growing evidence suggests that plant secondary compounds (PSCs) ingested by mammals become more toxic at elevated ambient temperatures, a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent toxicity. We investigated temperature-dependent toxicity in the desert woodrat ( Neotoma lepida ), a herbivorous rodent that naturally encounters PSCs in creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata ), which is a major component of its diet. First, we determined the maximum dose of creosote resin ingested by woodrats at warm (28–29°C) or cool (21–22°C) temperatures. Second, we controlled the daily dose of creosote resin ingested at warm, cool and room (25°C) temperatures, and measured persistence in feeding trials. At the warm temperature, woodrats ingested significantly less creosote resin; their maximum dose was two-thirds that of animals at the cool temperature. Moreover, woodrats at warm and room temperatures could not persist on the same dose of creosote resin as woodrats at the cool temperature. Our findings demonstrate that warmer temperatures reduce PSC intake and tolerance in herbivorous rodents, highlighting the potentially adverse consequences of temperature-dependent toxicity. These results will advance the field of herbivore ecology and may hone predictions of mammalian responses to climate change.
Placental transferrin receptor in diabetic pregnancies with increased fetal iron demand

Augmented fetal hemoglobin synthesis during diabetic pregnancy increases fetal iron demand. To study the effect of increased fetal iron demand on placental transferrin receptor (TR), we utilized a ...
Pregnancy outcome in women with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with immunosuppressive drugs

Objective The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of immunosuppressive drugs (ISD) on pregnancy outcome in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Pregnancy outcome, disease manifestations, and medication use were ascertained by interview and review of the medical record. Three hundred thirty-four (88%) of 380 consecutive women with lupus seen during 1979-1989 at the Lupus Diagnostic and Treatment Center at the University of Pittsburgh participated in this study. Results Adverse pregnancy outcomes were noted in 59 of 113 (52%) pregnancies in patients with pregnancies after diagnosis of SLE and no exposure to ISD (Group 1) and in 10 of 23 (43%) pregnancies in patients with pregnancies after diagnosis of SLE and with ISD use prior to or during pregnancy (Group 2). Only 3 of 23 or 13% pregnancies in Group 2 resulted in a fetal or neonatal loss compared to 27% in Group 1 (NS). No history of malignancy has been noted in the longterm followup of the surviving children in Group 2 (current mean age is 6.1 years, range 1.5-13 years). Conclusions Although overall survival was encouraging in Group 2, questions remain about the safety and longterm mutagenic effects of ISD in women with SLE. Judicious use of these medications prior to or during pregnancy is warranted.
Persistence of enhanced aerosol deposition in the lung after recovery from carbachol-induced airway obstruction.

Time course recovery from induced airway obstruction by carbachol infusion (CI; 0.2 microgram.kg-1.min-1 for 40 min), carbachol aerosol (CA; 10 breaths of 2% solution), and histamine aerosol (HA; 25-50 breaths of 5% solution) challenge was investigated in conscious sheep (n = 6 each). Total lung aerosol deposition and airway caliber as assessed by pulmonary airflow resistance (RL) were measured every 20-30 min up to 4 h after the challenges. Aerosol deposition was measured by monitoring aerosol concentration continuously with a laser aerosol photometer while the sheep rebreathed 1.0-micron-diam inert oil droplets delivered by a 0.25-liter bag-in-box system driven by a respiratory pump at a breathing frequency of 30 breaths/min. Total accumulated deposition at the fifth breath (AD5) as percentage of the initial aerosol concentration was determined and used as an aerosol deposition index. Percent changes in AD5 from baseline were compared with corresponding changes in RL. Both RL and AD5 increased after Cl, CA, and HA: 192-477% for RL and 23-44% for AD5 (P less than 0.05). Mean RL return to baseline values 1 h after CI and HA and 2 h after CA. Mean AD5 returned to baseline at 1 h post-HA. In contrast, mean AD5 remained elevated for 2-4 h after CI and CA (P less than 0.05), and the increased AD5 could not be reversed by a bronchodilator aerosol. The persistence of enhanced aerosol deposition long after the return of RL to baseline suggests that complete recovery of airway conditions after CI and CA takes much longer than predicted by RL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Orthostatic intolerance and orthostatic tachycardia : a heterogeneous disorder

A series of autonomic function tests were performed in eight patients who had orthostatic intolerance and orthostatic tachycardia (> 36 bpm). All eight had an abnormal tilt-table test (mean tachycardia 50 bpm compared with 22 +/- 7 bpm in 31 normal subjects). Plasma volume was low in four out of six patients. There was a subnormal response to the cold pressor test in three out of eight patients. Intravenous atropine-induced tachycardia was subnormal in two out of eight patients. A segmental or patchy anhidrosis was present in six out of eight patients. Pilocarpine (0.0625%) induced miosis (three out of six) and exaggerated Valsalva ratio (one out of eight) were observed. A follow-up of six patients, 8-17 years after the autonomic evaluation, showed spontaneous and complete improvement in two out of six, partial improvement in one out of six, and persistence of symptoms in three out of six patients. A repeat autonomic evaluation in two patients with persistent symptoms, 2 and 5 years after the initial assessment, showed mild progression of sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction. This syndrome appears characterized by orthostatic tachycardia, low plasma volume, lack of adrenergic supersensitivity, and sudomotor abnormalities. A longitudinal follow up demonstrates patients with and without recovery. The syndrome appears heterogeneous in terms of onset, clinical manifestations, laboratory studies and outcome.
Salesperson and Sales Manager Perceptions of Salesperson Job Characteristics and Job Outcomes: A Perceptual Congruence Approach

Inconsistencies in perceptions between salespeople and sales managers have the potential for adverse effects on salesperson job-related outcomes. This study investigates the extent to which the direction and absolute size of these differences influence salesperson job-related outcomes. The results indicate salesperson-sales manager perceptions regarding job characteristics differ and that these differences are related to salesperson role ambiguity, job satisfaction, qualitative and quantitative performance and commitment. Managerial and research implications are advanced.