2,239 research outputs found
Factors Affecting Increases in Economic Literacy among High School Students
Replaced with revised version of paper 07/27/07.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,
Spanning Trees and bootstrap reliability estimation in correlation based networks
We introduce a new technique to associate a spanning tree to the average
linkage cluster analysis. We term this tree as the Average Linkage Minimum
Spanning Tree. We also introduce a technique to associate a value of
reliability to links of correlation based graphs by using bootstrap replicas of
data. Both techniques are applied to the portfolio of the 300 most capitalized
stocks traded at New York Stock Exchange during the time period 2001-2003. We
show that the Average Linkage Minimum Spanning Tree recognizes economic sectors
and sub-sectors as communities in the network slightly better than the Minimum
Spanning Tree does. We also show that the average reliability of links in the
Minimum Spanning Tree is slightly greater than the average reliability of links
in the Average Linkage Minimum Spanning Tree.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure
Asparaginyl endopeptidase (Legumain) supports human Th1 induction via cathepsin L-mediated intracellular C3 activation
Autocrine activation of the complement receptors C3aR and CD46 by complement activation components C3a and C3b produced through C3 cleavage by the protease cathepsin L (CTSL) during T cell stimulation is a requirement for IFN-Îł production and Th1 induction in human CD4+ T cells. Thus, lack of autocrine CD46 activation, such as in CD46-deficient patients, is associated with defective Th1 responses and recurrent infections. We have identified LGMN [the gene coding for legumain, also known as asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP)] as one of the key genes induced by CD46 co-stimulation during human CD4+ T cell activation. AEP processes and activates a range of proteins, among those α1-thymosin and CTSL, which both drive intrinsically Th1 activityâbut has so far not been described to be functionally active in human T cells. Here we found that pharmacological inhibition of AEP during activation of human CD4+ T cells reduced CTSL activation and the CTSL-mediated generation of intracellular C3a. This translated into a specific reduction of IFN-Îł production without affecting cell proliferation or survival. In line with these findings, CD4+ T cells isolated from Lgmnâ/â mice also displayed a specific defect in IFN-Îł secretion and Th1 induction. Furthermore, we did not observe a role for AEP-driven autocrine α1-thymosin activation in T cell-derived IFN-Îł production. These data suggest that AEP is an âupstreamâ activator of the CTSL-C3-IFN-Îł axis in human CD4+ T cells and hence an important supporter of human Th1 induction
Diagnostic Performance of Self-Assessment for Constipation in Patients With Long-Term Opioid Treatment
Constipation is a prevalent comorbidity affecting âŒ50% of patients with long-
term opioid therapy. In clinical routine different diagnostic instruments are
in use to identify patients under risk. The aim of this study was to assess
the diagnostic performance of an 11-item Likert scale for constipation used as
a self-assessment in opioid-treated patients. This trial was conducted as a
retrospective cohort study in Berlin, Germany. Patients with long-term opioid
therapy treated in 2 university-affiliated outpatient pain facilities at the
Charité hospital were included from January 2013 to August 2013. Constipation
was rated in a self-assessment using a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10 (Con-
NRS) and compared with results from a structured assessment based on ROME-III
criteria. Altogether, 171 patients were included. Incidence of constipation
was 49% of patients. The receiver-operating characteristic of Con-NRS achieved
an area under the curve of 0.814 (AUC 95% confidence interval 0.748â0.880, Pâ<
0.001). Con-NRS â„ 1 achieved sensitivity and specificity of 79.7% and 77.2%,
respectively. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value
were 70.3% and 81.6%, respectively. Overall diagnostic performance of a
concise 11-item Likert scale for constipation was moderate. Although patients
with long-term opioid therapy are familiar with numeric rating scales, a
significant number of patients with constipation were not identified. The
instrument may be additionally useful to facilitate individualized therapeutic
decision making and to control therapeutic success when measured repetitively
Pain Medication Management Processes Used by Oncology Outpatients and Family Caregivers Part I: Health Systems Contexts
ContextâOncology patients with persistent pain treated in outpatient settings and their family caregivers have significant responsibility for managing pain medications. However, little is known about their practical, day-to-day experiences with pain medication management. ObjectiveâTo describe day-to-day pain medication management from the perspectives of oncology outpatients and their family caregivers who participated in a randomized clinical trial of a psycho-educational intervention called the Pro-Self© Plus Pain Control Program. In this article, we focus on pain medication management by patients and family caregivers in the context of multiple, complex health systems. MethodsâWe qualitatively analyzed audio-recorded intervention sessions that included extensive dialogue between patients, family caregivers, and nurses about pain medication management during the 10-week intervention. ResultsâThe health systems context for pain medication management included multiple complex systems for clinical care, reimbursement, and regulation of analgesic prescriptions. Pain medication management processes particularly relevant to this context were getting prescriptions and obtaining medications. Responsibilities that fell primarily to patients and family caregivers included facilitating communication and coordination among multiple clinicians, overcoming barriers to access, and serving as a final safety checkpoint. Significant effort was required of patients and family caregivers to insure safe and effective pain medication management. ConclusionâHealth systems issues related to access to needed analgesics, medication safety in outpatient settings, and the effort expended by oncology patients and their family caregivers require more attention in future research and healthcare reform initiatives
Pain Medication Management Processes Used by Oncology Outpatients and Family Caregivers Part II: Home and Lifestyle Contexts
ContextâDespite the increasing complexity of medication regimens for persistent cancer pain, little is known about how oncology outpatients and their family caregivers manage pain medications at home. ObjectivesâTo describe the day-to-day management of pain medications from the perspectives of oncology outpatients and their family caregivers who participated in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of a psycho-educational intervention called the Pro-Self © Plus Pain Control Program. In this article, we focus on pain medication management in the context of highly individualized home environments and lifestyles. MethodsâThis qualitative study was conducted as part of a RCT in which an embedded mixed methods research design was used. Audio-recorded dialogue among patients, family caregivers, and intervention nurses was analyzed using qualitative research methods. ResultsâHome and lifestyle contexts for managing pain medications included highly individualized home environments, work and recreational activities, personal routines, and family characteristics. Pain medication management processes particularly relevant in these contexts included understanding, organizing, storing, scheduling, remembering, and taking the medications. With the exception of their interactions with the intervention nurses, most study participants had little involvement with clinicians as they worked through these processes. ConclusionâPain medication management is an ongoing multidimensional process, each step of which has to be mastered by patients and family caregivers when cancer treatment and supportive care is provided on an outpatient basis. Realistic patient- and family-centered skill-building interventions are needed to achieve effective and safe pain medication management in the contexts of individual home environments and lifestyles
Reply to Fischer et al
We welcome the correspondence from Fischer and colleagues regarding our recent paper on vocal learning in chimpanzee food grunts [1]. Fischer et al. make two challenges to our paper's conclusions, which we address here
Photoinduced intersubband transition in undoped HgCdTe multiple quantum wells
We present photoinduced intersubband absorption measurements in HgCdTe undoped quantum wells. The transition energies and the linewidths are well described by a full 8Ă8 kâ
p Kane model calculation. Also, based on this model we show that different inâplane effective masses for the first and second electron subbands should be considered in order to properly fit the low energy side of the experimental spectra. The experimental results can be explained using the calculated intersubband oscillator strength with no exciton enhancement. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69671/2/APPLAB-66-22-2998-1.pd
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