Binary Classification with Imbalanced Data.

When the binary response variable contains an excess of zero counts, the data are imbalanced. Imbalanced data cause trouble for binary classification. To simplify the numerical computation to obtain the maximum likelihood estimators of the zero-inflated Bernoulli (ZIBer) model parameters with imbalanced data, an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is proposed to derive the maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters.

Forecasting Hospitalizations Due to COVID-19 in South Dakota, USA.

Unlabelled: Anticipating the number of hospital beds needed for patients with COVID-19 remains a challenge. Early efforts to predict hospital bed needs focused on deriving predictions from SIR models, largely at the level of countries, provinces, or states. In the USA, these models rely on data reported by state health agencies.

Cusp Catastrophe Polynomial Model: Power and Sample Size Estimation.

Guastello's polynomial regression method for solving cusp catastrophe model has been widely applied to analyze nonlinear behavior outcomes. However, no statistical power analysis for this modeling approach has been reported probably due to the complex nature of the cusp catastrophe model. Since statistical power analysis is essential for research design, we propose a novel method in this paper to fill in the gap.

Approximating the baseline hazard function by taylor series for interval-censored time-to-event data.

In many oncology clinical trials, time-to-event data are generated from scanning for cancer within a specific interval, resulting in interval censoring along with complete-time and right-left-censored time-to-event data. A common practice in analyzing data from this type of trial is to impute the interval-censored event time using the midpoint or right endpoint (i.e.

MUC13 mucin augments pancreatic tumorigenesis.

The high death rate of pancreatic cancer is attributed to the lack of reliable methods for early detection and underlying molecular mechanisms of its aggressive pathogenesis. Although MUC13, a newly identified transmembrane mucin, is known to be aberrantly expressed in ovarian and gastro-intestinal cancers, its role in pancreatic cancer is unknown. Herein, we investigated the expression profile and functions of MUC13 in pancreatic cancer progression.

Expression and functions of transmembrane mucin MUC13 in ovarian cancer.

MUC13, a transmembrane mucin, is normally expressed in gastrointestinal and airway epithelium. Its aberrant expression has been correlated with gastric colon and cancer. However, the expression and functions of MUC13 in ovarian cancer are unknown.

Combined staining of TAG-72, MUC1, and CA125 improves labeling sensitivity in ovarian cancer: antigens for multi-targeted antibody-guided therapy.

Single antigen-targeted intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy for ovarian cancer has shown limited success. Due to the heterogeneous expression of tumor antigens on cancer cells, a multi-antigen targeting approach appears logical to augment the therapeutic efficacy of antibody-guided therapy. In the interest of developing this novel approach, ovarian cancer tissue microarray slides containing cancer and benign/non-neoplastic tissue samples (n=92) were processed for single-, double-, and triple-antigen labeling using antibodies for the tumor-associated antigens TAG-72, MUC1, and CA125.

Role of homologous recombination in the alpha-particle-induced bystander effect for sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations.

The bystander effect for sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations was examined in hamster cell lines deficient in either DNA-PKcs (V3 cells, deficient in nonhomologous end joining, NHEJ) or RAD51C (irs3 cells, deficient in homologous recombination, HR). Cells synchronized in G0/G1 phase were irradiated with very low fluences of alpha particles such that < 1% of the nuclei were traversed by an alpha particle. Wild-type cells showed a prominent bystander response for SCE induction; an even greater effect was observed in V3 cells.

Human Rad51C deficiency destabilizes XRCC3, impairs recombination, and radiosensitizes S/G2-phase cells.

The highly conserved Rad51 protein plays an essential role in repairing DNA damage through homologous recombination. In vertebrates, five Rad51 paralogs (Rad51B, Rad51C, Rad51D, XRCC2, and XRCC3) are expressed in mitotically growing cells and are thought to play mediating roles in homologous recombination, although their precise functions remain unclear. Among the five paralogs, Rad51C was found to be a central component present in two complexes, Rad51C-XRCC3 and Rad51B-Rad51C-Rad51D-XRCC2.

Complex formation by the human Rad51B and Rad51C DNA repair proteins and their activities in vitro.

The human Rad51 protein is essential for DNA repair by homologous recombination. In addition to Rad51 protein, five paralogs have been identified: Rad51B/Rad51L1, Rad51C/Rad51L2, Rad51D/Rad51L3, XRCC2, and XRCC3. To further characterize a subset of these proteins, recombinant Rad51, Rad51B-(His)(6), and Rad51C proteins were individually expressed employing the baculovirus system, and each was purified from Sf9 insect cells.

Evidence for simultaneous protein interactions between human Rad51 paralogs.

In yeast, the Rad51-related proteins include Rad55 and Rad57, which form a heterodimer that interacts with Rad51. Five human Rad51 paralogs have been identified (XRCC2, XRCC3, Rad51B/Rad51L1, Rad51C/Rad51L2, and Rad51D/Rad51L3), and each interacts with one or more of the others. Previously we reported that HsRad51 interacts with XRCC3, and Rad51C interacts with XRCC3, Rad51B, and HsRad51.

Interfacial activation, lysophospholipase and transacylase activity of group VI Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2.

The Group VI 80-kDa Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) has been purified from murine P388D1 macrophages and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The amino acid sequence of the iPLA2 has been determined and shown to contain a lipase consensus sequence and eight ankyrin repeats, which makes it distinct from Group I-V PLA2s. This enzyme appears to play a key role in mediating basal phospholipid remodeling.

Irreversible inhibition of Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2 by methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate.

Methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP) has been recently reported to be a selective, active-site directed, irreversible inhibitor of the Group IV 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). We have now shown that this compound also potently inhibits the Ca(2+)-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2 (iPLA2). MAFP inhibited iPLA2 in a concentration-dependent manner with half-maximal inhibition observed at 0.

Versatility of the thin groin flap.

The groin flap is one of the most usable flaps. It provides a large amount of skin coverage with an easily concealed donor site. However, when the flap is used to reconstruct areas of the neck, hand, or foot, a secondary procedure for defatting is usually necessary.

Comparative study of four over-the-counter mouthrinses claiming antiplaque and/or antigingivitis benefits.

The efficacy of over-the-counter mouthrinses claiming to have antiplaque/antigingivitis benefits was compared using the modified Löe-Silness Gingival Index and the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index. The double-blind in vivo study involved 122 subjects. Each subject was randomly assigned to one of five groups.