Arithmetical rank of the cyclic and bicyclic graphs

We show that for the edge ideals of the graphs consisting of one cycle or two cycles of any length connected through a vertex, the arithmetical rank equals the projective dimension of the corresponding quotient ring

Exploring Differing Experiences of Homelessness in Hawai‘i: Full Report to Stakeholders Part I

In many cities and towns across the U.S., homelessness has arisen as a prominent and difficult problem to address (Quigley, Raphael, & Smolensky, 2001). It has become a public health and humanitarian concern at both the national level and at the state level in Hawai‘i. The recent Homeless Service Utilization Report for Hawai‘i State, which tracks administrative data related to homeless service usage across the state, shows that the number of homeless individuals in Hawai‘i has steadily grown since 2007, with a record 14,954 individuals receiving services in the last fiscal year (Yuan, Vo, Gleason, & Azuma, 2016). Hawai‘i is not alone in facing sustained rates of homelessness despite efforts to address the problem. In fact, across the nation homelessness has been a fairly intractable issue, defying simple programmatic and policy solutions (Culhane, Park, & Metraux, 2011; Lee, Tyler, & Wright, 2010). However, while patterns and predictors of homelessness in Hawai‘i likely share some similarities with those in other states across the nation, the unique geographic, historical, and cultural setting of the state may result in important differences in homeless experiences in the islands. The overarching goal of this project was to explore and understand patterns of homeless service usage in the unique setting of Hawai‘i. In order to examine homeless experiences from multiple angles and perspectives, the study was designed in three overlapping, interactive stages. Stage 1 of the project began by looking to homeless service providers and homeless service users to describe their knowledge and observations about experiences of homelessness in the state. To do this we used semi-structured qualitative interviews to talk with nine service providers and nine service users from O‘ahu, Maui, and Hawai‘i Islands. This stage of the project was based on the idea that it is important to consider the perspectives of those with “on the ground” knowledge of homelessness (Jason, Keys, Suarez-Balcazar, Taylor, & Davis, 2004). In addition to the qualitative interviews, a large dataset of administrative service usage information was analyzed to determine if there were statistically distinct and meaningfully identifiable patterns of service usage in the state (Stage 2). The results of that analysis are presented in Part II of the Report to Stakeholders. Finally, Stage 3 circled back to focusing on the importance of lived experiences by giving the original Stage interviewees the opportunity to review and comment on preliminary results from both Stage 1 and Stage 2. This feedback stage helped to ensure that the results detailed here line up with the real world knowledge of these experts, those whose daily lives are impacted by homelessness. This Part I report focuses on the content from the Stage 1 participant interviews, mentioning feedback from the Stage 3 interviews where appropriate. Too often when homeless programs and policies are discussed we do not hear the voices of those who have experienced homelessness firsthand (Lee et al., 2010). Therefore, this report focuses on highlighting those voices and on detailing the rich description and nuanced discussions provided in the participant interviews

Exploring Differing Experiences of Homelessness in Hawai‘i: Full Report to Stakeholders Part II

Because high rates of homelessness have become a growing concern across the U.S., a number of policies, programs, and strategies have been developed to prevent homelessness and to addess the needs of those without a home (Culhane, Park, & Metraux, 2011). As it is unlikely that a one sizefits-all approach to homelessness can be effective, it is important for there to be a wide range of service approaches available to address the issue (Yuan, Vo, & Gleason, 2014). As important is determining how to best target the available services to meet the varied needs of those experiencing homelessness

Variations in porcine colostrum oligosaccharide composition between breeds and in association with sow maternal performance

Background: Oligosaccharides (OS) are indigestible carbohydrates naturally found in milk. The composition of porcine colostrum OS may influence the growth and the health of the neonate and consuming optimal concentrations of OS may reduce piglet susceptibility to illness. In this manner, targeted supplementation of animal feed with OS is being explored as a health management tool in the livestock industry. The variation in OS composition between different breeds of pig and its association with the litter performance is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the colostrum OS composition from sows of different breed and parity and correlate this data with sow maternal traits. Methods: Eighty-three colostrum samples from parities 1 to 8 were gathered from 3 different breeds of sow: 44 Large White sows, 27 Landrace sows and 12 Duroc sows. Samples were taken between the birth of the first and the last piglet from sows that were not pharmacologically induced to farrow. OS were purified from the samples and analysed by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry (21 OS compositions detected). The farrowing season and the maternal data were recorded for each sow, including the number of live piglets and the litter body weight at birth, at day (d) 3 and at weaning. Results: Five OS compositions, including isomers of the bifidogenic Sialyllactose, Lacto-N-Tetraose and Lacto-N-Hexaose series, were detected in all the samples. Twelve other OS were identified in at least 50% of samples, and their abundances were affected by breed (P < 0.05; 6 of 12), marginally affected by season (P < 0.10; 3 of 12) and never by parity number. The abundances of each OS component were standardized by Z-score scaling (\u3bc = 0 and SD = 1), transformed by principal component analysis, and four similarity clusters were generated. Cluster membership was associated with litter weight gain within 3 days (P = 0.063) and at weaning (P < 0.05), but not with piglet mortality within 3 days. Conclusions: OS composition of colostrum may partially explain the variability in maternal performance within and between different breeds of sow. The obtained OS data can provide useful information for the development of novel prebiotic food supplements for suckling and weaning pigs

Retinal vasproliferative tumor in a case of X-linked retinoschisis detachment

© 2018 Purpose: To describe the first published case of X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) detachment with retinal vasoproliferative tumor (RVPT) and provide a literature review of the subject. Observations: The authors describe a case of a 17 year old male with X-linked retinoschisis who presented with a retinal detachment and a retinal vasoproliferative tumor. The patient was treated with pars plana vitrectomy, endolaser, subtenon\u27s kenalog and anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) intravitreal injections. He regained 20/60 vision with a flat macula and had significant resolution of the associated vasoproliferative leakage seen on fluorescein angiography. Conclusions and importance: This case adds XLRS to the conditions associated with RVPT and gives support for treatment with laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF therapy with bevacizumab to control the exudative process

Minimally invasive (flapless) crown lengthening by erbium: YAG laser in aesthetic zone

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure aimed at exposure of a larger tooth surface by gingivectomy alone or with cortical bone remodelling for aesthetic purposes in the anterior zone of the maxilla or for reconstruction of teeth affected by subgingival caries. We report two cases of crown lengthening in the anterior maxilla for aesthetic purposes by gingival and bone re-contouring performed by erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (erbium:YAG) laser. As highlighted in this report, the erbium:YAG laser-assisted crown lengthening is less invasive and also leads to faster clinical outcomes in contrast to the conventional surgical technique by scalpel incision, flap elevation and osteoplastic

Predictive value of hematological and phenotypical parameters on postchemotherapy leukocyte recovery

Background: Grade IV chemotherapy toxicity is defined as absolute neutrophil count <500/μL. The nadir is considered as the lowest neutrophil number following chemotherapy, and generally is not expected before the 7th day from the start of chemotherapy. The usual prophylactic dose of rHu-G-CSF (Filgrastim) is 300 μg/day, starting 24-48 h after chemotherapy until hematological recovery. However, individual patient response is largely variable, so that rHu-G-CSF doses can be different. The aim of this study was to verify if peripheral blood automated flow cytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis may be helpful in predicting the individual response and saving rHu-G-CSF. Methods: During Grade IV neutropenia, blood counts from 30 cancer patients were analyzed daily by ADVIA 120 automated flow cytochemistry analyzer and by Facscalibur flow cytometer till the nadir. "Large unstained cells" (LUCs), myeloperoxidase index (MPXI), blasts, and various cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood were studied. At nadir rHu-G-CSF was started and 81 chemotherapy cycles were analyzed. Cycles were stratified according to their number and to two dose-levels of rHuG-CSF needed to recovery (300-600 vs. 900-1200 μg) and analyzed in relation to mean values of MPXI and mean absolute number of LUCs in the nadir phase. The linear regressions of LUCs % over time in relation to two dose-levels of rHu-G-CSF and uni-multivariate analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations, CD34+ cells, MPXI, and blasts were also performed. Results: In the nadir phase, the increase of MPXI above the upper limit of normality (>10; median 27.7), characterized a slow hematological recovery. MPXI levels were directly related to the cycle number and inversely related to the absolute number of LUCs and CD34 +/CD45+ cells. A faster hematological recovery was associated with a higher LUC increase per day (0.56% vs. 0.25%), higher blast (median 36.7/μL vs. 19.5/μL) and CD34+/CD45+ cell (median 2.2/μL vs. 0.82/μL) counts. Conclusions: Our study showed that some biological indicators such as MPXI, LUCs, blasts, and CD34 +/CD45+ cells may be of clinical relevance in predicting individual hematological response to rHu-G-CSF. Special attention should be paid when nadir MPXI exceeds the upper limit of normality because the hematological recovery may be delayed. © 2009 Clinical Cytometry Society

Mechanisms by which sialylated milk oligosaccharides impact bone biology in a gnotobiotic mouse model of infant undernutrition

Undernutrition in children is a pressing global health problem, manifested in part by impaired linear growth (stunting). Current nutritional interventions have been largely ineffective in overcoming stunting, emphasizing the need to obtain better understanding of its underlying causes. Treating Bangladeshi children with severe acute malnutrition with therapeutic foods reduced plasma levels of a biomarker of osteoclastic activity without affecting biomarkers of osteoblastic activity or improving their severe stunting. To characterize interactions among the gut microbiota, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), and osteoclast and osteoblast biology, young germ-free mice were colonized with cultured bacterial strains from a 6-mo-old stunted infant and fed a diet mimicking that consumed by the donor population. Adding purified bovine sialylated milk oligosaccharides (S-BMO) with structures similar to those in human milk to this diet increased femoral trabecular bone volume and cortical thickness, reduced osteoclasts and their bone marrow progenitors, and altered regulators of osteoclastogenesis and mediators of Th2 responses. Comparisons of germ-free and colonized mice revealed S-BMO-dependent and microbiota-dependent increases in cecal levels of succinate, increased numbers of small intestinal tuft cells, and evidence for activation of a succinate-induced tuft cell signaling pathway linked to Th2 immune responses. A prominent fucosylated HMO, 2'-fucosyllactose, failed to elicit these changes in bone biology, highlighting the structural specificity of the S-BMO effects. These results underscore the need to further characterize the balance between, and determinants of, osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity in stunted infants/children, and suggest that certain milk oligosaccharides may have therapeutic utility in this setting