Definition of a Security: Risk Capital and Investment Contracts in Washington

The addition of the risk capital definition to Washington\u27s securities law will expand regulation to many transactions that in the past were excluded. Although its full application is unforeseeable, the risk capital definition should apply to financing arrangements in the formation of clubs, associations, and cooperatives. Practitioners must be keenly aware that ventures not traditionally defined within Washington\u27s securities regulations many now fall under the risk capital definition of a security

Notes

Notes by Frank J. Lanigan, Rex E. Weaver, David Gelber, John A. O\u27Leary, John De Mots, and James E. Bales

Improved Removal of Blood Contamination From ThinPrep Cervical Cytology Camples for Raman Spectroscopic Analysis

There is an unmet need for methods to help in the early detection of cervical precancer. Optical spectroscopy-based techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy, have shown great potential for diagnosis of different cancers, including cervical cancer. However, relatively few studies have been carried out on liquid-based cytology (LBC) pap test specimens and confounding factors, such as blood contamination, have been identified. Previous work reported a method to remove blood contamination before Raman spectroscopy by pretreatment of the slides with hydrogen peroxide. The aim of the present study was to extend this work to excessively bloody samples to see if these could be rendered suitable for Raman spectroscopy. LBC ThinPrep specimens were treated by adding hydrogen peroxide directly to the vial before slide preparation. Good quality Raman spectra were recorded from negative and high grade (HG) cytology samples with no blood contamination and with heavy blood contamination. Good classification between negative and HG cytology could be achieved for samples with no blood contamination (sensitivity 92%, specificity 93%) and heavy blood contamination (sensitivity 89%, specificity 88%) with poorer classification when samples were combined (sensitivity 82%, specificity 87%). This study demonstrates for the first time the improved potential of Raman spectroscopy for analysis of ThinPrep specimens regardless of blood contamination

Raman Spectroscopic Detection of High-Grade Cervical Cytology: Using Morphologically Normal Appearing Cells

This study aims to detect high grade squamous intraepithelial cells (HSIL) by investigating HSIL associated biochemical changes in morphologically normal appearing intermediate and superficial cells using Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra (n = 755) were measured from intermediate and superficial cells from negative cytology ThinPrep specimens (n = 18) and from morphologically normal appearing intermediate and superficial cells from HSIL cytology ThinPrep specimens (n = 17). The Raman data was subjected to multivariate algorithms including the standard principal component analysis (PCA)-linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) together with random subsets cross-validation for discriminating negative cytology from HSIL. The PCA-LDA method yielded sensitivities of 74.9%, 72.8%, and 75.6% and specificities of 89.9%, 81.9%, and 84.5%, for HSIL diagnosis based on the dataset obtained from intermediate, superficial and mixed intermediate/superficial cells, respectively. The PLS-DA method provided improved sensitivities of 95.5%, 95.2% and 96.1% and specificities of 92.7%, 94.7% and 93.5% compared to the PCA-LDA method. The results demonstrate that the biochemical signatures of morphologically normal appearing cells can be used to discriminate between negative and HSIL cytology. In addition, it was found that mixed intermediate and superficial cells could be used for HSIL diagnosis as the biochemical differences between negative and HSIL cytology were greater than the biochemical differences between intermediate and superficial cell types

The clinical Transferability of Raman Micro-Spectroscopic Systems for Cervical Cytopathology

The clinical potential for Raman microscopic systems is well established for early diagnosis via cytology. Although Raman systems offer a complementary diagnostic tool providing molecular information, it is not yet utilised substantially in clinics. A few challenges for the clinical implementation of Raman spectroscopy are system and user variability. In this study, we asked how much variability occurs due to different Raman systems or users. To address these questions, we measured the same set of cells using two different Raman microscopes and by two different users. And classification models were generated using multivariate partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and analysed for clinical implementation. Raman spectra were measured from single exfoliated cells (n=400) from ThinPrep samples with negative cytology (n=10) and high-grade cytology (n=10). Raman spectra were acquired from the same set of cells via two identical HORIBA Jobin Yvon XploRATM systems (Villeneuve d\u27Ascq, France), as well as two different users. The Raman data was subjected to PLS-DA and cross-validated via leave-one-patient out. The study\u27s findings suggest that the data acquired from the two Raman systems are 99% identical. However, the observed classification accuracy for the data obtained by user-1 was 92%, whereas by user-2 was 99%

Development and Validation of a Raman Spectroscopic Classification Model for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)

The mortality associated with cervical cancer can be reduced if detected at the precancer stage, but current methods are limited in terms of subjectivity, cost and time. Optical spectroscopic methods such as Raman spectroscopy can provide a rapid, label-free and nondestructive measurement of the biochemical fingerprint of a cell, tissue or biofluid. Previous studies have shown the potential of Raman spectroscopy for cervical cancer diagnosis, but most were pilot studies with small sample sizes. The aim of this study is to show the clinical utility of Raman spectroscopy for identifying cervical precancer in a large sample set with validation in an independent test set. Liquid-based cervical cytology samples (n = 662) (326 negative, 200 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)1 and 136 CIN2+) were obtained as a training set. Raman spectra were recorded from single-cell nuclei and subjected to a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA). In addition, the PLSDA classification model was validated using a blinded independent test set (n = 69). A classification accuracy of 91.3% was achieved with only six of the blinded samples misclassified. This study showed the potential clinical utility of Raman spectroscopy with a good classification of negative, CIN1 and CIN2+ achieved in an independent test set

On the Efficacy and Mediation of a One-on-One HIV Risk-Reduction Intervention for African American Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial

We examined the efficacy and mediation of Being Responsible for Ourselves (BRO), an HIV/STI risk reduction intervention for African American men who have sex with men (MSM), the population with the highest HIV diagnosis rate in the US. We randomized African American MSM to one of two interventions: BRO HIV/STI risk reduction, targeting condom use; or attention-matched control, targeting physical activity and healthy diet. The interventions were based on social cognitive theory, the reasoned-action approach, and qualitative research. Men reporting anal intercourse with other men in the past 90 days were eligible and completed pre-intervention

Spring 1956

This year the newly organized Turf Management Club has undertaken the publication of a booklet featuring various aspects of turf work. Through this we are attempting to present material that will be of interest to those who are familiar with the Massachusetts Turf Schools. At the same time we hope that it may have some educational value by presenting the view of both of those of us on the job and others engaged in research and promotion and selling. The publication will include information about the current years winter school and turf conference, articles about some of the professors here at the University who are responsible for the course work, reports about activities and honors earned by the Stockbridge Turf Majors while on campus; and reports on research in fine turf conducted here at the University of Massachusetts. There will also be articles written by men connected with turf work such as yourselves and articles written by staff members at the University. The main objective of this publication is to form a bond of common interest and friendship between the alumni and other friends of our turf schools. Those of us who graduate this year are looking forward to getting the news from the university in years to come. We hope you feel the same