cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Gail model for assessment on breast cancer risk

[Objective] To discuss the application value of the Gail model in evaluation of breast cancer risk in Huangpu District,Shanghai.[Methods] Case-control study was adopted for 156 cases of breast cancer and 198 age-matched controls.From the subjects were collected information of age,history of breast disease,family history,age at menarche,age at first birth,breast biopsy and race.Gail model was used to evaluate the risk of breast cancer for these women 5 years before.[Results] A total of 72 cases and 11 controls had high risk of breast cancer within 5 years.As the evaluation results of the diagnostic test,the sensitivity of the Gail model was 50.3 percent and the specificity 92.0 percent.The positive predictive value was 86.7 percent and the negative predictive value 64.0 percent(The Chi square was 60.09 and P value 0.000,The McNemar Chi square was 43.90 and P value 0.000).The Youden's index was 0.423.The total agreement was 70.7 percent.[Conclusion] The Gail model did not achieve the desired results for assessment of population with high risk of breast cancer.The tool needs to be further studied as a tool for screening population with high risk of breast cancer.
Abstract B30: Dietary fat intake and ovarian cancer risk.

Purpose: Prevention recommendations for ovarian cancer have been limited because few confirmed risk factors are modifiable. While dietary fat intake has been proposed as a potential risk factor, results have been inconsistent possibly due to limitations of when diet was assessed (e.g., baseline only). Therefore, in two large prospective cohort studies, we examined the association between ovarian cancer risk and dietary fat intake, including cumulative average intake (long-term intake) as well as simple updated intake (recent intake). Methods: We assessed recent (2-6 years prior to diagnosis) as well as long-term (cumulative average) dietary fat intake among 65,590 women in the Nurses9 Health Study (NHS) and NHSII using food frequency questionnaires administered every 2-4 years beginning in 1984 and 1991 respectively. We examined intakes of total fat as well as specific types of fat (i.e., animal, vegetable, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fat). We identified 536 cases of ovarian cancer throughout follow-up with information on recent diet. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the associations between dietary fat intake and risk of ovarian cancer. Results: While recent total fat intake was not associated with ovarian cancer risk (RR comparing extreme quartiles= 1.05, 95%CI: 0.81-1.36), higher recent polyunsaturated fat intake was associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer (RR comparing extreme quartiles=1.45, 95%CI: 1.08-1.94). However, there were no significant associations between cumulative average intakes of dietary fat and risk of ovarian cancer. For example, women in the highest quartile of cumulative average polyunsaturated fat intake had a non-significant 20% higher risk of ovarian cancer compared to those in the lowest quartile (95%CI: 0.88-1.62, p-trend=0.39). Conclusion: While there were no significant associations between long-term dietary fat intake and risk of ovarian cancer in the NHS and NHSII, higher recent intake of polyunsaturated fat was associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Future work will assess whether these associations vary histologic subtypes and by ER and PR expression in ovarian tumors. Citation Format: Megan Rice, Shelley Tworoger. Dietary fat intake and ovarian cancer risk. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: Exploiting Vulnerabilities; Oct 17-20, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B30.
The Asymmetric Interaction of Cas9 with Target DNA can Promote High Efficiency Homology-Directed Genome Editing

Cas9 is an RNA-guided endonuclease that has been adapted from its natural role in CRISPR-mediated bacterial immunity to enable many applications demanding site-specific DNA recognition. Wild type C...
When a good call leads to a bad connection: colovesical fistula in colorectal cancer treated with bevacizumab.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. The use of bevacizumab (Avastin), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, has been increasing due to observed improvement in metastatic colon cancer survival, but so has the incidence of bowel perforation. We present one unusual complication of bowel perforation, a colovesical fistula in a colorectal cancer patient treated with bevacizumab.Case Presentation: A 54-year-old white male diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer was treated with folinic acid, leucovorin, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and bevacizumab. Two months later, he developed pneumaturia and fecaluria. CT showed a rectosigmoid colovesical fistula. A laparoscopic diverting colostomy was created to overcome the proximal retention of feces and the fecaluria.Discussion: Colovesical fistulas more commonly result from diverticulitis, cancer, or Crohn’s, but rarely can arise from radiation or chemotherapy. Our patient had two risk fa...
Monitoring Dairy Silage for Five Bacterial Groups with Potential for Human Pathogenesis.

Two types of silage routinely used at a dairy research facility were monitored over a 20 month period for five bacterial groups which have been associated with human pathogenesis. Those monitored were Listeria monocytogenes , Yersinia enterocolitica (motile), motile aeromonads, Campylobacter sp., and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli . Of 46 total silage samples, 8.7% were positive for L monocytogenes , 6.5% for Y. enterocolitica , and 10.9% for motile aeromonads. Campylobacter spp. and enterohemorrhagic E. coli were not isolated. The presence of pathogens was associated with elevated pH in silage samples.
Quantifying the mission impact of network-level cyber defensive mitigations:

Modern missions of government and private organizations rely on computer networks to operate. As evidenced by several well-publicized cyber breaches, these missions are under attack. Several cyber defensive measures have been proposed to mitigate this threat, some are meant to protect individual hosts on the network, and others are designed to protect the network at large. From a qualitative perspective, these mitigations seem to improve security, but there is no quantitative assessment of their effectiveness with respect to a complete network system and a cyber-supported mission for which the network exists. The purpose of this paper is to examine network-level cyber defensive mitigations and quantify their impact on network security and mission performance. Testing such mitigations in an live network environment is generally not possible due to the expense, and thus a modeling and simulation approach is utilized. Our approach employs a modularized hierarchical simulation framework to model a complete cy...
The photochemistry of the self-healing chromophore Disperse Orange 11

Recent interest in the self-healing ability of the laser dye 1-amino-2-methylanthraquinone, Disperse Orange 11, has lead us to investigate the possible alternative mechanisms of action, either intramolecular proton transfer (PT) or twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) formation. AMPAC semiempirical PM3 CI (all single excited configurations) potential energy surfaces searches have been conducted with either reaction mechanism. Based purely on the potential energy surface results, no state, S0, T1, or S1, seems especially likely to be kinetically favorable for PT. The T1 state is favorable thermodynamically for PT. However, the S1 state TICT reaction is both thermodynamically favorable and kinetically preferred over all PT reactions. There is also a favorable T1 TICT reaction, but much slower kinetically on the triplet surface than S1 TICT. The Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) method has been used to ascertain proton tunneling contributions to PT. Even with proton tunneling, S1 TICT is still more highly favored, though proton tunneling could make the T1 PT reaction competitive depending on the rate of intersystem crossing. We also examine spectroscopic properties of PT transfer and TICT reaction path entities in comparison with published experimental evidence. However, this comparison leads to ambiguous findings that suggest that electronic spectral properties alone will not fully clarify the mechanism. Overall, results suggest that the TICT mechanism is the most likely for optical damage and self-repair for Disperse Orange 11, and might be considered for the damage and repair mechanisms for other organic solid state laser materials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Challenges in Diagnosis of H. Pylori Infection in Children

H. pylori infection is usually acquired in early childhood. Its role in gastrointestinal and extra intestinal complaints and serious consequences in adulthood make it as challenging issues. Despite different clinical presentations, in most children, the presence of H. pylori infection does not lead to clinically apparent disease, even when it causes chronic active gastritis. Some of most important recommendations for managing H. pylori infection in children based on Guidelines from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN consisted as: 1. Diagnostic testing for H pylori infection is not recommended in children with functional abdominal pain. 2. In children with first-degree relatives with gastric cancer, testing for H pylori may be considered. 3. In children with refractory iron-deficiency anemia, in which other causes have been ruled out, testing for H pylori infection may be considered. 4. There is insufficient evidence that H pylori infection is causally related to otitis media, upper respiratory tract infections, periodontal disease, food allergy, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and short stature. 5. It is recommended that the initial diagnosis of H pylori infection be based on a positive histopathology plus a positive rapid urease test or a positive culture. 6. The 13C-urea breath test (UBT) is a reliable noninvasive test to determine whether H pylori has been eradicated. 7. ELISA-test for detection of H pylori antigen in stool is a reliable noninvasive test to determine whether H pylori has been eradicated. 8. Tests based on the detection of antibodies (IgG, IgA) against H pylori in serum, whole blood, urine, and saliva are not reliable for use in the clinical setting. 9. It is recommended that clinicians wait at least 2 weeks after stopping proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy and 4 weeks after stopping antibiotics to perform biopsy-based and noninvasive tests (UBT, stool test) for H pylori.
Distributed μ-STATCOM for voltage support and harmonic mitigation on low voltage networks

Proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) on the low voltage network comes with a myriad of power quality problems such as voltage fluctuations and poor harmonic performance. Distributed mitigation solutions are being proposed for the low voltage network which are similar to state-of-the-art solutions in medium voltage networks. This paper presents a μ-STATCOM device as a distributed solution to interface with DER's at the leaf end of the network to achieve fine-tuned voltage regulation and mitigation of voltage harmonics. This solution combines the operation of low voltage grid-tied inverters (for both PV and battery systems) and passive or active voltage regulation devices. A general analysis of the effectiveness this solution along with simulation and experimental results are presented in this paper. A benchmark control algorithm has been designed to achieve the desired features of the proposed μ-STATCOM. The experimental setup consisted of a proof of concept hardware prototype rated at 5kW.
Red, White and Hoos: A New a Cappella Group at the University of Virginia

This case is intended for an advanced undergraduate course in finance, accounting, or arts management. It has been used successfully with both business and nonbusiness students. Three undergraduate students decide to start a new a cappella singing group with hopes of producing a CD the following year. The case provides opportunities for students to estimate funding needs, conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses, and use this information to develop strategies to accomplish the group's objectives. Excerpt UVA-F-1751 Rev. May 4, 2016 Red, White & Hoos: A New A Cappella Group at the University of Virginia Second-year students Faith and Cameron whooped as they skipped through the puddles on Rugby Road while walking back to their respective apartment complexes in April 2015. The pair had met during their first year at the University of Virginia (U.Va.) when Faith surprised Cameron singing doo-wop harmonies to “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line in the stairwell of Page House. They quickly became friends, bonding over a mutual love of country music and the challenges of navigating prerequisite classes for the McIntire School of Commerce. Though both had sung in a cappella groups in high school, neither had found a home within U.Va.'s existing music community, and consequently, went on to participate in other clubs and activities. The release of the Zac Brown Band's hit single, “Homegrown,” earlier that month rekindled their interest in participating in an a cappella group. While waiting in line at Bodo's Bagels, Faith began humming the chorus, which Cameron took as encouragement to share his classy “boots and cats and boots and cats and boots” beatbox accompaniment. Walking out of the restaurant, the two began talking about how they “really ought to start an a cappella group—you know, one that would sing real 'Murican country music!” A Cappella Groups at the University of Virginia . . .
Feeling Economically Stuck: The Effect of Perceived Economic Mobility and Socioeconomic Status on Variety Seeking

Five studies provide converging evidence for the joint effect of perceived economic mobility and socioeconomic status (SES) on compensatory behavior, such that low SES consumers who perceive low economic mobility (i.e., economically stuck consumers) seek more variety than other consumers. We trace this effect to these consumers’ desire to compensate for their low sense of personal control. Furthermore, we show that these consumers’ variety-seeking tendency disappears when their sense of control is boosted by other means or when the more varied option is not associated with a sense of control. Alternative explanations based on instrumental benefits, reactance, and affect were tested and did not account for the effect. Thus, the current research provides fresh insights to consumer research by contributing to the literature on compensatory behavior, variety seeking, and SES.
Clinical and Cost Outcomes of Medical Nutrition Therapy for Hypercholesterolemia: A Controlled Trial

Abstract Objective To compare the results and cost-effectiveness of a cholesterol lowering protocol implemented by registered dietitians with cholesterol lowering advice by physicians. Design Six month randomized controlled trial, cost-effectiveness analysis. Subjects included 90 ambulatory care patients (60 men, 30 women), age range 21 to 65 years, with hypercholesterolemia and not taking hypolipidemic drugs. Patients were randomly assigned to receive medical nutrition therapy (MNT) from dietitians using a NCEP based lowering protocol or usual care (UC) from physicians. Outcome measures were plasma lipid profiles, dietary intake, weight, activity, patient satisfaction, and costs of MNT. Changes from baseline for each variable of interest were compared between treatment groups using analysis of covariance controlling for baseline value of the variable and gender. Results MNT achieved a 6% decrease in total and LDL cholesterol levels at 3 and 6 months compared with a 1% increase and a 2% decrease in both values at 3 and 6 months with UC ( P P P P Applications/conclusions MNT from registered dietitians is a reasonable investment of resources because it results in significantly better lipid, diet, activity, weight, and patient satisfaction outcomes than UC. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001:101: 1012-1016, 1021-1023 .
Effects of HoloLens in Collaboration: A Case in Navigation Tasks:

The objective of this project is to study the effects of HoloLens™ and companion devices in collaboration. We designed an experiment to test the impact of HoloLens™ in support of collaboration in n...
Political Opposites Do Not Attract: The Effects of Ideological Dissimilarity on Impression Formation

Past research shows that people like others who are similar to themselves, and that political partisans tend to dislike those with opposing viewpoints. Two studies examined how initial person impressions changed after discovering that the target held similar or dissimilar political beliefs. Using potential mates as targets, we found that participants liked targets less, were less romantically interested in targets, and rated targets as less attractive after discovering political dissimilarity with them. Further, they became more uncomfortable with targets after discovering ideological dissimilarity. Theoretical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Development and plasticity in the postnatal mouse retina

It has been commonly assumed that the retina has reached a nearly fully functional state by the time of eye opening. Further postnatal maturational refinement of visual function is thought to take place in higher visual areas. Moreover, the well-documented sensitivity of the visual system to visual deprivation is thought to involve exclusively reorganization of synaptic connectivity in the higher visual centers.
Polyphenolic derivatives from mango (Mangifera Indica L.) modulate fecal microbiome, short-chain fatty acids production and the HDAC1/AMPK/LC3 axis in rats with DSS-induced colitis

Abstract This study elucidated how polyphenols from mango (Mangifera Indica L.) affect gut microbiota composition and SCFAs production in rats with DSS-induced colitis. Rats were administered either control or mango beverage for nine weeks, exposed to three cycles of 3% DSS with a 2-week recovery period. Mango intake caused a significant increase in tannase-producing bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis (p = 0.0494 and 0.0312, respectively), and butyrate-producing bacteria Clostridium butyrium (p = 0.0494). The concentrations of butyrate and valerate were increased by 150% and 119% in mango group. Mango beverage intake reduced HDAC1 activity, and induced the expressions of AMPK and the ratio of cleaved/total LC3A/B. The butyrate and pyrogallol production by mango intake may have contributed to the modulation of the HDAC1/AMPK/LC3 axis, confirmed in vitro. These results suggest mango intake mitigates inflammation in a DSS-induced colitis model partly by altering microbial composition and SCFAs production, and modulating the HDAC1/AMPK/LC3 axis.
Why Do People Leave? a Study Of Nonsupervisory Restaurant Employees’ Polychronic Time Use Preference and Turnover Intention

The purpose of the study was to present a comprehensive view on the associations among polychronicity, job satisfaction, work engagement, and turnover intention within a restaurant context. Using a...
Use of Teledermatology to Improve Dermatological Access in Rural Areas.

Abstract Introduction: Dermatological access in rural regions has been impacted due to an acute, global dermatologist shortage coupled with a striking disparity in dermatologist density between urb...
On Developing Optimistic Transactional Lazy Set

Transactional data structures with the same performance of highly concurrent data structures enable performance-competitive transactional applications. Although Software Transactional Memory (STM) is a promising technology for designing and implementing transactional applications, STM-based transactional data structures still perform inferior to their optimized, concurrent (i.e. non-transactional) counterparts. In this paper, we present OTB-Set, an efficient optimistic transactional lazy set based on both linked-list and skip-list implementations. We first provide general guidelines to show how to design a transactional (non-optimized) version of the highly concurrent lazy set with a minimal reengineering effort. Subsequently, we show how to make specific optimizations to the implementations of the OTB-Set for further enhancing its performance. We also prove that our OTB-Set provides linearizable individual operations and opaque transactions. Our experimental study on a 64-core machine reveals that OTB-Set outperforms competitors in most workloads.
Late Breaking Abstract - Rituximab limits the progression of fibrosing mediastinitis

Background: Fibrosing Mediastinitis (FM) is a fibro-inflammatory condition associated with exposure of an environmental antigen in a susceptible host, leading to a wide spectrum of manifestations ranging from a self-limited disease to progressive bilateral fibrosis causing vascular and airway compromise. Currently there are no established treatments to limit the progression of FM. Methods: 17 patients (median age 35 years, range: 15-68 years, 47% female) who were diagnosed with symptomatic FM either due to bilateral disease (59%) or unilateral disease with significant vascular compromise (41%) were treated with Rituximab (1000 mg at day 0 and day 14), short prednisone taper over two months, PCP and fungal prophylaxis. Primary end point included stability or reduction of FM volume by CT. Secondary end points included change in presenting symptoms or need for invasive interventions. Results: Mean follow up duration was 22 months (range: 4-62 months). Majority of patients (82%) had history of histoplasmosis exposure by serology or history of acute histoplasmosis treated with antifungal therapy. Two patients had biopsy proven IGG4 disease and one had history of treated pulmonary tuberculosis. There was a 42%+8% (mean+SEM) decrease in non-calcified FM volume after treatment during follow up period. Only one patient had an increase in FM volume post treatment. 65% of patients had improvement of presenting symptoms, while the remaining did not have progression of presenting symptoms. Only one patient needed pulmonary vein stenting after treatment. Conclusion: In young patients with progressive FM, we present the first prospective off-label use of Rituximab to limit disease progression based on imaging and clinical parameters.
Early oral colostrum administration in preterm infants.

Early administration of colostrum may provide preterm infants with immune components. Previous studies illustrating the effects of oral colostrum (OC) have been confounded by the coincidence of enteral feedings. To quantify OC absorption, as measured by urinary sIgA and lactoferrin, in preterm infants prior to enteral feedings. Colostrum was obtained from mothers delivering infants ≤32 weeks and ≤1500 g. sIgA and lactoferrin were measured in infant urine, and microflora in saliva and tracheal aspirates were characterized. Urinary sIgA and lactoferrin were significantly greater in infants receiving OC by syringe compared to swab (p < 0.002). Urinary sIgA correlated with the total number of doses in 72 h (R2 = 43%, p < 0.01). Administration of OC by syringe and higher cumulative dose are associated with increased absorption of sIgA and lactoferrin, and early dosing may contribute to a more diverse tracheal microbiome.
Characterizing the BCG Induced Macrophage and Neutrophil Mechanisms for Defense Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain, Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) is a potent innate immune stimulator. In the C57BL/6 mouse model of tuberculosis, BCG vaccination leads to a significant reduction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis burden after aerogenic infection. Our studies indicated that BCG induced protection against pulmonary tuberculosis was independent of T cells and present as early as 7 days after vaccination. This protection showed longevity, as it did not wane when conventional T cell and TNF-α deficient mice were infected 30 days post-vaccination. As BCG induced mycobacterial killing after 7 days, this study investigated the contributions of the innate immune system after BCG vaccination to better understand mechanisms required for mycobacterial killing. Subcutaneous BCG inoculation resulted in significant CD11b+F4/80+ monocyte subset recruitment into the lungs within 7 days. Further studies revealed that killing of mycobacteria was dependent on the viability of BCG, because irradiated BCG did not have the same effect. Although others have identified BCG as a facilitator of trained innate immunity, we found that BCG reduced the mycobacterial burden in the absence of mechanisms required for trained innate immunity, highlighting a role for macrophages and neutrophils for vaccine induced killing of M. tuberculosis.
Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgery for Patients with Cerebral Palsy

Foot deformities are common in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), typically resulting from underlying muscle imbalance and contracture. Bracing across the foot and ankle is useful in the setting of dynamic deformity to improve function; however, there is no evidence that bracing is effective at preventing progression to static deformity. Without treatment, spastic foot deformities often lead to long-term pain and loss of mobility, leading to a poor overall quality of life. Multiple factors are considered in the decision to proceed with surgical intervention, including patient age, location of foot deformity, type of deformity, GMFCS level, gait analysis findings, and functional impact. Multiple procedures including tendon lengthening, tendon transfers, osteotomies, and arthrodesis can be performed to reconstitute a plantigrade, braceable foot. This chapter will outline common foot procedures utilized to restore stability and balance for spastic foot deformities in order to guide surgeons in restoring patient function and maintaining a good quality of life.
Maladaptive Denial of Severe Pain and Acute Orthopedic Injuries in a Patient With a Schizoaffective Disorder

Persistent denial of severe and acute pain following orthopedic injuries has not been previously reported. We present a case of a 24-year-old woman with a history of schizoaffective disorder who suffered severe pain secondary to acute orthopedic injuries who insisted, "I am fine! There is nothing wrong with me." Her maladaptive denial resulted in an initial refusal of necessary medical/surgical care, but she eventually accepted the necessary treatments despite her persistent belief she did not need such care. Her verbalizations and behaviors were characterized by active avoidance and angry reactions when a consulting psychiatrist spoke to her regarding her clinical condition. A modified version of the Conscious Avoidance subscale of the Denial of Illness Questionnaire was useful in measuring the severity level of her denial. This case report suggests that the behavioral features of psychological denial appear different from those associated impaired self-awareness secondary to an underlying brain disorder.
Bringing Art to Life: Social and Activity Engagement through Art in Persons Living with Dementia.

Objectives: The Bringing Art to Life (BATL) program was created as an art therapy intervention to increase social engagement, intergenerational engagement, and creative expression among persons liv...
Facets of family achievement guilt for low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students.

Objectives: For many low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students, family is a central motivator for obtaining a college degree. Yet, striving for upward mobility yields unanticipated psychological consequences. Specifically, family achievement guilt is a socioemotional experience related to "leaving family" to attend college. As a relatively understudied phenomenon, prior work has likely underrepresented the ways low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students experience guilt in the university. To address this gap, the current study aimed to refine the concept of family achievement guilt by exploring its different facets. Method: We utilized in-depth, semistructured interviews with 34 low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students. Results: Using both inductive and deductive analytic methods, we constructed four facets of guilt. Participants shared feeling guilt related to leaving family behind, having more privileges in the university context, becoming culturally different than family members, and experiencing financial distress. Conclusions: Unpacking family achievement guilt experiences of a fast-growing student population contributes to our understanding of theory and of possible support mechanisms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Inhibitory Cerebellar Stimulation Increases Cortical Activation: Evidence for Cerebellar Scaffolding of Cortical Processing

While the cerebellum makes known contributions to non-motor task performance, the role of the structure remains unknown. One possibility is that the cerebellum allows for the offloading of cortical processing, providing support during task performance, using internal models. The current work used transcranial direct current stimulation to modulate cerebellar function and investigate the impact on cortical activation patterns. Participants received stimulation over the right cerebellum before a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan where participants completed a sequence learning and a working memory task. We predicted that cathodal stimulation would improve, and anodal stimulation would hinder task performance and cortical activation. We found that anodal cerebellar stimulation resulted in increased bilateral cortical activation, particularly in parietal and frontal regions known to be involved in cognitive processing. This suggests that if the cerebellum is not functioning optimally, there is a greater need for cortical resources.
Negative voting social welfare functions: a characterization

An Arrowian Social Welfare Function (SWF) represents a weak ordering of the alternative set derived entirely from individual preference orders. Negative voting considers only a voter’s least preferred alternative. We introduce the majority loser opposition property which requires that any alternative ranked last by a majority of voters must be ranked last in the social ordering. We show a SWF satisfies anonymity, neutrality, reinforcement, continuity, and majority loser opposition if and only if it is equivalent to negative voting.
Posthypnotic Amnesia in Hypnotizability Assessment: Validation of a New Scoring System for the Hypnotic Induction Profile

The Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP) is a standardized assessment of hypnotizability featuring a validated 0–10 scoring system, that does not factor in posthypnotic amnesia. Using confirmatory fact...
Age and Internal Structure

Age plays an important role in the dynamics of disease transmission. Often the degree of susceptibility of an individual to a pathogen is dependent on the individual’s age, and contact rates among various parts of the population which may lead to the transfer of infections also depend on age. However, for horizontally transferred diseases it is often a valid approximation to neglect age as an independent parameter and to treat the population as being uniform in age. In fact, Ludwig and Walters [1985] argue that, in certain population models, it is possible that the added requirements for information in an age-structured model may lead to a degradation in the estimation of parameters from available data. In contrast, age enters as a fundamental parameter in vertically transmitted diseases, and it is always necessary to take age into account in one way or another in order to produce a valid model. There are at least two reasons for this. First, it is only the newborn, that is individuals of age zero, that are susceptible to this mode of disease transmission. Consequently, the newborn must be taken into account in some way that distinguishes them from the rest of the population. Second, in a number of cases of vertically transmitted diseases, the pathogenic agent builds up in an infected female as time goes by, and hence, so does the probability of transferring the infection to her offspring. Other effects of the infection, such as increased mortality or decreased fertility, can also depend on the length of the infection, hence on age. So, some means of tracking the internal state of infected fertile individuals needs to be incorporated in the model. Age is the simplest such internal variable. As we shall see later, other variables describing the internal structure of the population may need to be introduced. For an example of estimation of parameters from age-specific data, see Dietz and Schenzle [1985].
State-dependent learning

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the concepts related to state-dependent learning. State-dependent learning occurs when behavior acquired in the presence of a particular drug is performed better on subsequent occasions when that drug is present than when it is absent. Conversely, similar behavior acquired in the absence of drug is performed less well on subsequent occasions when that drug is present than when it is absent. State-dependent learning also occurs when the states in question are not induced pharmacologically. State-dependent learning has been demonstrated with a variety of drugs, including stimulants, sedatives, opioids and hallucinogens, and with a range of species, among them dogs, goldfish, mice, rats, cats, and humans. Several different experimental tasks have been used in the study of state-dependent learning and it is evident that the behavioral procedure employed, as well as pharmacological variables, determines whether the phenomenon occurs. The chapter focuses on the procedures characteristically used to study state-dependent learning and the relevance of these procedures to behavioral pharmacology.
Adaptive resource allocation in composite fading environments

We obtain optimal resource allocation policies for a single user single-carrier system and a multiple-access multi-carrier-CDMA system when the transmitter adapts to the variations in the short-term mean (slow fade) in a combined slow and fast fading (composite fading) environment. For the single user system, we maximize the average throughput achieved by the user, while In the uplink MC-CDMA system, we maximize the sum of average rates of the users in the system. For each system, we find the optimal resource allocation policies for two scenarios. The first is when is system is designed for voice transmission, where the bit error rate (BER) of each user, averaged over the fast fade, is maintained at a desired value. The second is when the system is designed for data transmission, where the BER of each user is maintained below a desired value for a given percentage of time. We find that, for the single-user system, the solution for both the voice and data transmission cases is waterfilling, and that waterfilling is the asymptotically optimal solution to multi-user problems in both scenarios, i.e. is nearly optimal for a large number of users. We also find that, when dealing with a voice system, the solution is independent of the distributions of the slow and fast fades and similar to the solutions obtained for noncomposite fading environments (fast or slow fading).
Corrective taxes for pollution control

How a system of corrective taxes can be applied to the problem of managing surface water nitrate pollution in agricultural regions is demonstrated. A spatial linear programming model of the US livestock-feed complex including constraint equations linking fertilizer nitrogen use by Illinois farmers to water quality in that state has been developed. The solution to this model at various desired levels of NO/sub 3/-N in Illinois provides estimates of regional taxes on fertilizer nitrogen use appropriate to the ''Environmental Pricing and Standards'' system. In addition, other estimated changes in agricultural activity induced by this system of corrective taxes are presented. 20 references, 6 figures, 11 tables.
Reconfiguring Human Resource Development in the Caribbean: Beyond the Global Marketplace

This article is a revised version of the Sir Arthur Lewis Distinguished Public Lecture delivered at the 7th Caribbean Public Policy Lecture held at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus
Out-of-plane spin-orientation dependent magnetotransport properties in the anisotropic helimagnet Cr 1 / 3 NbS 2

Understanding the role of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) has been crucial for controlling magnetic anisotropy in magnetic multilayer films. It has been shown that electronic structure can be altered via interface SOC by varying the superlattice structure, resulting in spontaneous magnetization perpendicular or parallel to the plane. In lieu of magnetic thin films, we study the similarly anisotropic helimagnet ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{NbS}}_{2}$ where the spin-polarization direction, controlled by the applied magnetic field, can modify the electronic structure. As a result, the direction of spin polarization can modulate the density of states and in turn affect the in-plane electrical conductivity. In ${\mathrm{Cr}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{NbS}}_{2}$, we found an enhancement of in-plane conductivity when the spin polarization is out-of-plane as compared to in-plane spin polarization. This is consistent with the increase in density of states near the Fermi energy at the same spin configuration, found from first-principles calculations. We also observe unusual field dependence of the Hall signal in the same temperature range. This is unlikely to originate from the noncollinear spin texture but rather further indicates strong dependence of electronic structure on spin orientation relative to the plane.
Evaluation of liquid yeast-derived sucrase enzyme replacement in patients with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency

Abstract Background: No enzyme replacement therapy exists for patients with congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID). A by-product of the manufacture of baker's yeast is a liquid preparation containing high sucrase activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the activity and stability of this preparation and its effect on breath hydrogen excretion and gastrointestinal symptoms after sucrose ingestion in 14 patients with CSID. Methods: The homogeneity of yeast sucrase was studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and its activity was measured. Stability at various temperatures and pH ranges and in the presence of gastric aspirate, pepsin, and bovine serum albumin was assessed. Fourteen patients with CSID underwent double-blind placebo-controlled breath tests with yeast sucrase. They then completed an 8-week dose response study that used different enzyme concentrations while consuming a sucrose-containing diet. Results: Liquid yeast sucrase is highly glycosylated, contains no lactase activity, and is stable at 4 °C and over a wide range of pH. Pepsin digestion of the enzyme in vitro can be blunted by bovine serum albumin and by increasing the pH. Yeast sucrase reduces breath hydrogen excretion in patients with CSID who are given a sucrose load ( P Conclusions: Liquid yeast sucrase offers effective enzyme replacement therapy for patients with CSID.
Control of error rates in adaptive analysis of orthogonal saturated designs

Individual and simultaneous confidence intervals using the data adaptively are constructed for the effects in orthogonal saturated designs under the assumption of effect sparsity. The minimum coverage probabilities of the intervals are equal to the nominal level $1 - \alpha$.
A Big Five approach to self-regulation: personality traits and health trajectories in the Hawaii longitudinal study of personality and health

Self-regulatory processes influencing health outcomes may have their origins in childhood personality traits. The Big Five approach to personality was used here to investigate the associations between childhood traits, trait-related regulatory processes and changes in health across middle age. Participants (N = 1176) were members of the Hawaii longitudinal study of personality and health. Teacher assessments of the participants' traits when they were in elementary school were related to trajectories of self-rated health measured on 6 occasions over 14 years in middle age. Five trajectories of self-rated health were identified by latent class growth analysis: Stable Excellent, Stable Very Good, Good, Decreasing and Poor. Childhood Conscientiousness was the only childhood trait to predict membership in the Decreasing class vs. the combined healthy classes (Stable Excellent, Stable Very Good and Good), even after controlling for adult Conscientiousness and the other adult Big Five traits. The Decreasing class had poorer objectively assessed clinical health measured on one occasion in middle age, was less well-educated, and had a history of more lifespan health-damaging behaviors compared to the combined healthy classes. These findings suggest that higher levels of childhood Conscientiousness (i.e. greater self-discipline and goal-directedness) may prevent subsequent health decline decades later through self-regulatory processes involving the acquisition of lifelong healthful behavior patterns and higher educational attainment.
Mast cell inhibitor cromolyn increases blood clotting and hypoxia in murine breast cancer

Human breast cancer is extensively infiltrated by mast cells that contain powerful anticoagulants such as heparin, tryptase and chymase. To determine if human breast cancer is associated with mast cell activation, we measured the levels of mast cell tryptase (an indicator of mast cell activation) in the blood of 20 women with varying stages of breast cancer. The mean level of tryptase in women with breast cancer (10.3 +/- 4.2 microg/L) was significantly higher than in 50 normal healthy women without breast cancer (3.0 +/- 2.5 microg/L, p < 0.05 by two-tailed t-test). To explore the role of mast cells in breast cancer in more detail, we then carried out experiments that were aimed at determining if an inhibitor of mast cell function, sodium cromolyn, could increase blood clotting and hypoxia within subcutaneous implants of the 4T1 mammary adenocarcinoma cell line in mice. We treated tumor-bearing mice with 5 consecutive daily doses of sodium cromolyn (10 mg/kg, i.p.). An average of 30% of the periphery of the tumors from the 5 drug-treated mice contained large lakes of clotted blood that were not evident in any of the tumors from the control (untreated) mice. By computerized image analysis of tumors immunostained for a hypoxia marker (pimonidazole), the tumors from the treated mice had significantly more hypoxia (35 +/-12 % hypoxic regions, n = 5) than the tumors from untreated (control) mice (16 +/- 7%, n = 5). We conclude that sodium cromolyn enhanced peri-tumoral blood clotting and intratumoral hypoxia. These results suggest that mast cells may play an important role in regulating blood clotting and hypoxia within breast cancer.
Current developments of a high performance CA resist for mask making application

The mask fabrication industry is slowly migrating to chemically amplified (CA) resists to take the advantages of their high contrast, resolution, and sensitivity. During this migration process, the industry has encountered several problems associated with CA resists such as baking homogeneity of thick mask plates on hot plates, footing on Cr masks, and storage stability of mask blanks. In addressing these issues, we have adopted a low Ea CA resist platform to overcome the bake latitude issue. The resist formulation has been reformulated to reduce the footing and a new package method has bee introduced to extend the storage of the blanks. In addition, we will also discuss our studies on two major areas, such as sensitivity and etch resistance, which we think is extremely important for E-beam resists in the future. The mask industry started with 248nm DUV CA resist systems and then found out that there was a need for even higher sensitivity resist systems to address the throughput issue. In our early study, we have observed that by simply increasing photoacid generator loading in the resist formulation we were able to increase the sensitivity, but there was a significant reduction in the dose latitude. After studying the dissolution and inhibition properties of different PAGs, we have been able to optimize PAG and base loading in combination with proper choice of PAGs to achieve high sensitivity and large dose latitude. The new resist formulation exhibits a large dose latitude of 38% for 100 nm 1/s images with high sensitivity of 4.4μC/cm 2 at 100 kV. Due to the electron scattering effect and the image collapse issues with thicker resists, thinner imaging layer is desirable. Sufficient etch selectivity is needed to compensate the insufficient resist thickness. Therefore, there is a need to develop a high Cl 2 /O 2 RIE (used in Cr etch process) etch resistant resist system for mask making. We have reported earlier that a resist formulation based on blending KRS-XE with SSQ polymer has resolved 50nm 1/s resist images with etch rate 20% better than conventional novolak 1-line resist systems. Since then, we have investigated a few new SSQ polymers and found some lithographic improvement in this new blending systems due to better compatibility of the SSQ polymer to the KRS-XE.
Induction of oxidative stress as a mechanism of action of chemopreventive agents against cancer.

Prevention is a promising option for the control of cancer. Cellular redox changes have emerged as a pivotal and proximal event in cancer. In this review, we provide a brief background on redox biochemistry, discuss the important distinction between redox signalling and oxidative stress, and outline the ‘multiple biological personalities' of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species: at low concentrations they protect the cell; at higher concentrations they can damage many biological molecules, such as DNA, proteins, and lipids; and, as we argue here, they may also prevent cancer by initiating the death of the transformed cell. Nitric oxide-donating aspirin is discussed as an instructive example: it generates a state of oxidative stress through which it affects several redox-sensitive signalling pathways, leading ultimately to the elimination of the neoplastic cell via apoptosis or necrosis. As additional examples, we discuss the chemopreventive n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which induce cell death through redox changes. We conclude that modulation of redox biochemistry represents a fruitful approach to cancer prevention.
Do Violent Acts Equal Abuse? Resolving the Gender Parity/Asymmetry Dilemma

This commentary revisits a core dilemma in “Controversies involving Gender and Intimate Partner Violence in the United States” by Langhinrichsen-Rohling (2010), how to reconcile gender parity in the use of force by partners with the gender asymmetry in the dynamics and effects of partner abuse. This dilemma is a byproduct of a domestic violence paradigm that confounds the normative use of violence in families and relationships and the types of partner assault and coercive control targeted by the advocacy movement. I argue that the dimensions of abuse victims present at points of service contradict the basic assumptions of the paradigm and outline an alternative model of coercive control that sets violent acts in their historical, experiential and political context.
Four sesquiterpenes from the South African nudibranch Leminda millecra

Abstract Extracts of the South African nudibranch Leminda millecra were found to contain the new sesquiterpenes millecrone A ( 1 ), millecrone B ( 2 ), millecrol A ( 3 ), and millecrol B ( 4 ). Sesquiterpenes 1 – 4 are typical of metabolites found in soft corals and investigation of the digestive gland of L. millecra revealed the presence of spicules from Alcyonium foliatum, A. valdiviae , and Capnella thyrsoidea .