cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dietary Salt Intake, Salt Sensitivity, and Cardiovascular Health

The controversial issue of the relationship between dietary NaCl (referred to as “salt” in this article) intake and health was framed nicely in the superb review by Prof Eberhard Ritz.1 When salt was not readily available, it was a relatively essential commodity, but in the modern world salt has become plentiful, and it is actually difficult to achieve a low salt intake without exerting a significant amount of effort.2 One of the effects of higher salt intake is increased blood pressure, which was clearly illustrated in chimpanzees fed with a diet containing 35 versus 120 mmol of sodium per day. In contrast, after providing a diet containing ≈248 mmol of sodium per day for 2 years, subsequent reduction in daily dietary salt intake to ≈126 mmol reduced blood pressure compared with animals that were continued on the increased salt diet.3 Other than affecting blood pressure, excess salt in the modern diet is increasingly recognized as an additional health risk, particularly for those individuals who demonstrate salt sensitivity, defined basically as an abnormal increase in blood pressure in response to increased salt intake. Japanese patients initially found to have salt-sensitive hypertension subsequently had a greater incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy and rate of nonfatal and fatal cardiovascular events compared with hypertensive patients who were not salt sensitive.4 Weinberger et al5 observed a similar trend in a cohort of patients in the United States, but another striking finding of this study was that salt-sensitive patients who were initially normotensive at the time of study had an impressive increase in mortality rate on follow-up evaluation compared with normotensive salt-resistant patients. These studies provide the impetus to understand the underlying mechanisms of salt sensitivity and to identify and perhaps quantify this cardiovascular risk factor in the population. Salt sensitivity …
Neural-network-based intelligent control for improving dynamic performance of FACTS devices

Flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices are widely recognized as powerful controllers to improve the dynamic performance and stability of power systems. The standard FACTS controllers are linear controllers designed around a specific operating point from a linearized system model with fixed parameters. However, at other operating points their performance degrades. Neural-network-based nonlinear intelligent control offers an attractive approach to overcome the drawbacks of the linear controllers. This paper presents two different neural-network-based intelligent control architectures, i.e., indirect adaptive neurocontrol and adaptive critic design based optimal neurocontrol, for designing the external control of an SSSC FACTS device. Simulation studies are carried out to evaluate the proposed nonlinear intelligent controllers on single machine infinite bus as well as multi-machine power systems. Results show that the proposed intelligent controls improve the dynamic performance of the SSSC and the associated power network.
Arriving at the Goal in Scientific German

Author's Summary— Analysis of difficulties encountered in the second year by a student in reading unedited scientific German material. A suggested induction by degrees into the reading of such material. Checking work done, and evaluating student's progress.)
Energy expenditure in HIV infection

Energy intake recommendations for adults should be based preferably on direct measurements of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) in corresponding populations who are maintaining healthy body weight and satisfactory physical activity levels. During adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation, energy requirements should be based on TDEE plus the additional energy required to advance these physiologic states. With illness, energy expenditure and energy intake change, but nutritional intervention is not necessarily beneficial. This article reviews data on energy expenditure in HIV infection with a focus on adults, adolescents aged ≥14 y, and pregnant and lactating women. Resting energy expenditure (REE) in adults with untreated asymptomatic HIV is ~ 10% higher than in healthy control subjects. In asymptomatic adults receiving antiretroviral therapy, REE may be similarly increased. HIV wasting and secondary infections are also associated with increased REE. In contrast, TDEE is typically normal in asymptomatic HIV and decreased in HIV wasting and secondary infection. No direct measurements of REE or TDEE are available in adolescents or in pregnant or lactating women with HIV. On the basis of current data, energy intake may need to increase by ~ 10% in adults with asymptomatic HIV to maintain body weight. In adolescents and in pregnant and lactating women with asymptomatic HIV, energy requirements should approximate recommendations for their uninfected counterparts until further data are available. In the resource-rich world, the energy expenditure changes associated with HIV are unlikely to contribute to significant weight loss. More data are needed on energy expenditure in HIV-infected populations from developing nations, where concurrent malnutrition and coinfections are common.
Design Considerations of a 3.1 - 3.5 GHz GaAs FET Feedback Amplifier

Recent GaAs FET devices have exhibited promising capabilities for microwave amplification. Circuit designers, however, found two problems with the FET applications, namely, the characteristically high input/output impedances are difficult to match into a 50/spl Omega/ system and the potential instabilities that exists at frequencies below 4 GHz. This paper describes development work done on feedback circuits in designing an unconditionally stable FET amplifier in the 3.1 - 3.5 GHz frequency range by using conventional microstrip techniques, and also investigates the effect of feedback components on noise and output capabilities.
Improved method of canine decerebration

We describe an improved decerebration method for dogs that is suitable for studies of brain stem neurons in the absence of anesthesia. Previously reported techniques of canine decerebration often lead to respiratory and hemodynamic instability and lack of typical decerebrate rigidity. We have developed a precise, visually controlled, midcollicular brain stem transection technique that overcomes these problems. Our method results in only moderate blood loss while preserving carotid and basilar artery circulations. Consistent levels of brain stem transection routinely lead to stable postdecerebration hemodynamic parameters, allowing prolonged brain stem neuronal recordings. The same model should also be useful for a variety of studies involving other physiological systems in dogs in the absence of anesthesia and for studies of anesthetic effects.
Genetic ablation of interleukin-18 does not attenuate hypobaric hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a proinflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in pathologic left ventricular hypertrophy and is elevated in plasma of heart failure patients. However, IL-18 blockade strategies have been conflicting. The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether genetic ablation of IL-18 would protect mice against hypobaric hypoxia (HH)-induced right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, a condition in which chamber-specific inflammation is prominent. We hypothesized that IL-18 knockout (KO) mice would be protected while wild-type (WT) mice would demonstrate RV hypertrophy in response to HH exposure. KO and WT mice were exposed to HH for 7 wk, and control mice were exposed to normoxic ambient air. Following echocardiography, the RV was dissected and flash-frozen for biochemical analyses. HH exposure increased IL-18 mRNA (P = 0.08) in RV from WT mice. Genetic ablation of IL-18 mildly attenuated RV hypertrophy as assessed by myocyte size. However, IL-18 KO mice were not protected against HH-induced organ-level remodeling, as evidenced by higher RV weights, elevated RV systolic pressure, and increased RV anterior wall thickness compared with normoxic KO mice. These RV changes were similar to those seen in HH-exposed WT mice. Compensatory upregulation of other proinflammatory cytokines IL-2 and stromal cell-derived factor-1 was seen in the HH-KO animals, suggesting that activation of parallel inflammatory pathways might mitigate the effect of IL-18 KO. These data suggest targeted blockade of IL-18 alone is not a viable therapeutic strategy in this model.
Estimating Surgical Procedure Times Using Anesthesia Billing Data and Operating Room Records

Objective The median time required to perform a surgical procedure is important in determining payment under Medicare's physician fee schedule. Prior studies have demonstrated that the current methodology of using physician surveys to determine surgical times results in overstated times. To measure surgical times more accurately, we developed and validated a methodology using available data from anesthesia billing data and operating room (OR) records. Data Sources We estimated surgical times using Medicare 2011 anesthesia claims and New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System 2011 OR times. Estimated times were validated using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. We compared our time estimates to those used by Medicare in the fee schedule. Study Design We estimate surgical times via piecewise linear median regression models. Principal Findings Using 3.0 million observations of anesthesia and OR times, we estimated surgical time for 921 procedures. Correlation between these time estimates and directly measured surgical time from the validation database was 0.98. Our estimates of surgical time were shorter than the Medicare fee schedule estimates for 78 percent of procedures. Conclusions Anesthesia and OR times can be used to measure surgical time and thereby improve the payment for surgical procedures in the Medicare fee schedule.
Utilitarian and Recreational Walking Among Spanish- and English-Speaking Latino Adults in Micropolitan US Towns.

Walking among Latinos in US Micropolitan towns may vary by language spoken. In 2011–2012, we collected telephone survey and built environment (BE) data from adults in six towns located within micropolitan counties from two states with sizable Latino populations. We performed mixed-effects logistic regression modeling to examine relationships between ethnicity-language group [Spanish-speaking Latinos (SSLs); English-speaking Latinos (ESLs); and English-speaking non-Latinos (ENLs)] and utilitarian walking and recreational walking, accounting for socio-demographic, lifestyle and BE characteristics. Low-income SSLs reported higher amounts of utilitarian walking than ENLs (p = 0.007), but utilitarian walking in this group decreased as income increased. SSLs reported lower amounts of recreational walking than ENLs (p = 0.004). ESL–ENL differences were not significant. We identified no statistically significant interactions between ethnicity-language group and BE characteristics. Approaches to increase walking in micropolitan towns with sizable SSL populations may need to account for this group’s differences in walking behaviors.
Nonanalytic Vapor Pressure Equation With Data for Nitrogen and Oxygen.

The specific heat of a two phase liquid-vapor system at constant volume apparently increases without limit at temperatures approaching the critical point, suggesting (via a thermodynamic relation) that the vapor pressure derivative d2P/dT2 may behave similarly. This nonanalytic behavior at the critical point is used in the present vapor pressure formula to gain simplicity and accuracy, as seen by use of data for nitrogen and oxygen.
Developmental Cardiovascular Remodeling Associated With Reduced Elastin Levels in Mice Occurs After Embryonic Day 18

Elastin provides reversible extensibility and stores energy during the cardiac cycle in large blood vessels. It is only present in vertebrate animals with a closed circulatory system and high, pulsatile blood pressures. Elastin is crucial for proper cardiac function in vertebrates, as mice lacking elastin (eln-/-) die soon after birth with cardiovascular abnormalities including long, tortuous, stenotic, stiff arteries and high left ventricular (LV) pressure with low cardiac output [1, 2].© 2009 ASME
The Relationship of City Zone and Suburb in the Construction of Beijing into a World City——Theory of Reference and Policy Recommendations

The lack of researching on suburb of world cities is a small flaw in modern world city theories.The development track of western countries' cities demonstrate that the good function of Metropolitan rely on harmonious relationship between city zone and suburb.Beijing can't afford to the malfunctioned relationship between city zone and suburb in the future as a world city.As an indispensable part of Beijing,suburb provides new development zone,environmental common goods as well as high quality living zone for the world city.So Beijing should strengthen suburb construction and at the same time avoid the living seclusion and other polarize phenomenon.
Computing with Hereditarily Finite Sequences

We use Prolog as a exible meta-language to provide ex- ecutable specications of some fundamental mathematical objects and their transformations. In the process, isomorphisms are unraveled be- tween natural numbers and combinatorial objects (rooted ordered trees representing hereditarily nite sequences and rooted ordered binary trees representing Godel's System T types). This paper focuses on an application that can be seen as an unex- pected \paradigm shift": we provide recursive denitions showing that the resulting representations are directly usable to perform symbolically arbitrary-length integer computations. Besides the theoretically interesting fact of \breaking the arithmetic/sym- bolic barrier", the arithmetic operations performed with symbolic objects like trees or types turn out to be genuinely ecient { we derive implemen- tations with asymptotic performance comparable to ordinary bitstring implementations of arbitrary-length integer arithmetic. The source code of the paper, organized as a literate Prolog program, is available at http://logic.cse.unt.edu/tarau/research/2011/pPAR.pl Keywords: modeling nite mathematics in logic programming, symbolic arbitrary precision arithmetic, ranking/unranking of hereditarily nite sequences, balanced parenthesis languages,
Bioreactors for Plant Embryogenesis and Beyond

A variety of different bioreactors have been developed for use in initiating and cultivating somatic embryos. The various designs for embryogenesis and culture are critically evaluated here. Bioreactor optimization and operation methods are also described along with recommendations for use based on desired outcome.
Morbilliform skin eruption owing to diethylstilbestrol

Abstract We describe an unusual case of morbilliform skin eruption caused by diethylstilbestrol in a patient with stage D prostatic cancer. A widespread erythematous maculopapular rash and urticaria appeared with repeated challenges of diethylstilbestrol and resolved with drug withdrawal. In addition, the literature on various types of dermatitis medicamentosa in male patients with prostatic cancer treated with diethylstilbestrol is reviewed.
Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-α and the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Human Prostate Tissues

AbstractCells respond to certain soluble factors that bind to cell surface receptors possessing intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Overexpression of these molecules has been associated with tumor progression. Enhanced prostatic cancer cell growth in vitro has been reported in the presence of certain growth factors. To characterize the patterns of expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFα), we studied tissue from 107 prostate specimens using immunohistochemistry. We observed that epithelial cells of normal (n = 4) and benign prostatic (n = 56) tissues express EGFr but were unreactive for TGFα, while stroma cells in these tissues express TGFα but not EGFr. However, coexpression of EGFr and TGFα was identified in 22 of 46 prostatic adenocarcinomas studied. These results suggest that the major mode of action of EGFr/TGFα in normal and benign prostate is that of a paracrine or juxtacrine loop, the ligand being expressed in the stroma cells and the rec...
Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Lung Cancer: Current Practice Patterns and Predictors of Adoption

Background Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has been shown to be a safe, minimally invasive approach for the surgical management of lung cancer. Despite evidence supporting oncologic efficacy, recent reports indicate that less than half of lobectomies are performed by VATS. We examined nationwide lobectomy practice patterns to identify specific predictors for VATS adoption. Methods Premier hospital data (2010 to 2014) were used to identify open and VATS lobectomy procedures performed for the treatment of primary lung cancer. Propensity score method was used to match VATS and open operations (1:1) on clinical characteristics. Variables associated with VATS lobectomy were assessed by logistic regression to evaluate independent predictors. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, readmission, and mortality. Results Patients with primary lung cancer (n = 17,304) that underwent VATS (n = 6,670, 38.5%) or open (n = 10,634, 61.5%) lobectomy were identified; 6,670 patients in each group were matched for analysis. VATS performance increased significantly from 2010 to 2014, (39.6% versus 43.8%, p = 0.0004), particularly for thoracic surgeons (50.3% versus 54.7%, p p p = 0.0001). Independent predictors of VATS utilization included surgeon volume and specialty training, hospital type and size, and region. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between VATS and surgeon volume, independent of specialty. Conclusions National rates of VATS lobectomy continue to increase, particularly for thoracic surgeons, high-volume surgeons, and surgeons in the Northeast. Surgeon volume and specialty are strong independent predictors of VATS lobectomy. Efforts that support centralization of care may improve VATS lobectomy rates and decrease the regional variability identified in this analysis.
An Overview of the Mechanisms of Abnormal GABAergic Interneuronal Cortical Migration Associated with Prenatal Ethanol Exposure

GABAergic Interneuronal migration constitutes an essential process during corticogenesis. Derived from progenitor cells located in the proliferative zones of the ventral telencephalon, newly generated GABAergic Interneuron migrate to their cortical destinations. Cortical dysfunction associated with defects in neuronal migration results in severe developmental consequences. There is growing evidence linking prenatal ethanol exposure to abnormal GABAergic interneuronal migration and subsequent cortical dysfunction. Investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms behind disrupted GABAergic interneuronal migration encountered with prenatal alcohol exposure is crucial for understanding and managing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This review explores the molecular pathways regulating GABAergic interneuronal cortical migration that might be altered by prenatal ethanol exposure thus opening new avenues for further research in this topic.
Sacrificing Overall Classification Quality to Improve Classification Accuracy of Well-Sought Classes

Classification has been an active field in machine learning for decades. With many methods proposed for various topics in classification, this paper intends to show some initial ideas and findings in one classification scenario where accuracy of only one or a few classes is greatly valued, while the other classes are not important. Using a neural network model and challenging real world dataset, our preliminary results showed the accuracy of important class was significantly improved by sacrificing the accuracy of unimportant classes.
Different Demands, Same Goal: Promoting Transition Readiness in Adolescents and Young Adults With and Without Medical Conditions

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to examine differences in transition readiness, self-involvement and parental involvement in completing medical tasks, and general self-efficacy between a sample of older adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with medical conditions and a sample of healthy peers. Relations among these variables were also examined. Methods The sample included 494 AYAs (mean age = 19.30 years, standard deviation = 1.33) who reported on their levels of transition readiness, self-involvement and parental involvement in completing medical tasks, and general self-efficacy. Results AYAs with medical conditions reported significantly higher levels of transition readiness and self-involvement in completing medical tasks and lower levels of parent involvement in completing medical tasks than healthy peers. Parent involvement in completing medical tasks indirectly related to transition readiness through AYA self-involvement in completing medical tasks for both AYAs with medical conditions and healthy peers. Conclusions AYAs with medical conditions appear to have greater transition readiness skills and demonstrate more independence in completing medical tasks than healthy peers. For AYAs with medical conditions and healthy peers, transition readiness appears to be enhanced as parents decrease their involvement in completing AYAs' medical tasks and AYAs increase self-involvement in completing these tasks. AYAs with medical conditions, as well as healthy peers, may benefit from programming delivered in primary care, specialty clinic, or educational settings that focuses on increasing AYAs' involvement in and responsibility for managing their health care.
DDQ-15 Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument for Patients with Digestive Disorders

Objective: This study assessed the reproducibility, reliability, and validity of the DDQ-15, a 15-item quality of life questionnaire for patients with digestive disorders (Phases I and II). It also assessed the reliability of two modes of administration of the instrument: paper versus computer (Phase III).
A PHYSICAL MODEL FOR THE DETECTION OF NEONATAL JAUNDICE BY MULTISPECTRAL SKIN REFLECTANCE ANALYSIS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a physical model for the detection of neonatal jaundice by multispectral skin reflectance analysis. Increased levels of serum bilirubin result in a yellowing of the skin as a result of increased concentration of cutaneous unbound bilirubin. The subtle yellowing is the current basis for clinical jaundice detection; the diagnosis is verified by quantitative measurement of bilirubin concentration in the blood sera using established laboratory techniques. The diffusion approximation has been proposed as a modeling tool for living tissue. This approach is used to provide a physical basis for the determination of serum bilirubin concentration by skin reflectance analysis. The skin is modeled as a homogeneous medium in which the various tissue components have been uniformly distributed according to their volume fraction. Multispectral skin reflectance analysis appears to be potentially useful for clinical detection of low levels of hyperbilirubinemia. In fact, this approach may prove to be a better indication of risk of jaundice than serum bilirubin determination as the reflectance measure accounts for bilirubin absorbed by the tissue; the extent of this condition could feasibly be evaluated by comparison of blanched and unblanched skin spectra.
3-Dimethylsulfoniopionate Biosynthesis and use by Flowering Plants

3-Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is known to be an effective osmoprotectant. It is accumulated to high levels (5-50 μmol g 1 fresh weight) by several diverse flowering plants, including intertidal Spartina species and sugarcane (Poaceae), and the coastal plant Wollastonia biflora (Asteraceae). Many other species may have traces of DMSP (0.01-0.5 mol g-1 fresh weight). The biosynthetic pathway has been investigated in W. biflora leaves. In vivo isotope labeling data are consistent with the following sequence of steps: $$\begin{gathered} C{H_3}SC{H_2}C{H_2}CH\left( {N{H_2}} \right)COOH \to {\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}{S^ + }C{H_2}C{H_2}CH\left( {N{H_2}} \right)COOH \to {\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}{S^ + }C{H_2}C{H_2}CHO \to {\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}{S^ + }C{H_2}C{H_2}COOH \hfill \\ Methionine S - Methylmethionine DMSP - aldehyde DMSP \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$
Reduction and Morphological Transformation of Synthetic Nanophase Iron Oxide Minerals by Hyperthermophilic Archaea

Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides are electron acceptors for some hyperthermophilic archaea in mildly reducing geothermal environments. However, the kinds of iron oxides that can be used, growth rates, extent of iron reduction, and the morphological changes that occur to minerals are poorly understood. The hyperthermophilic iron-reducing crenarchaea Pyrodictium delaneyi and Pyrobaculum islandicum were grown separately on six different synthetic nanophase Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides. For both organisms, growth on ferrihydrite produced the highest growth rates and the largest amounts of Fe(II), although P. delaneyi produced four times more Fe(II) (25 mM) than P. islandicum (6 mM). Both organisms grew on lepidocrocite and akaganeite and produced 2 and 3 mM Fe(II). Modest growth occurred for both organisms on goethite, hematite, and maghemite where ≤1 mM Fe(II) was produced. The diameters of the spherical mineral end-products following P. delaneyi growth increased by 30 nm for ferrihydrite and 50-150 nm for lepidocrocite relative to heated abiotic controls. For akaganeite, spherical particle sizes were the same for P. delaneyi-reacted samples and heated abiotic controls, but the spherical particles were more numerous in the P. delaneyi samples. For P. islandicum, there was no increase in grain size for the mineral end-products following growth on ferrihydrite, lepidocrocite, or akaganeite relative to the heated abiotic controls. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy of lattice fringes and selected-area electron diffraction of the minerals produced by both organisms when grown on ferrihydrite showed that magnetite and/or possibly maghemite were the end-products while the heated abiotic controls only contained ferrihydrite. These results expand the current view of bioavailable Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides for reduction by hyperthermophilic archaea when presented as synthetic nanophase minerals. They show that growth and reduction rates are inversely correlated with the iron (oxyhydr)oxide crystallinity and that iron (oxyhydr)oxide mineral transformation takes different forms for these two organisms.
Water-Cut Estimation Uncertainty from Microwave Sensors

Accurate measurement of oil, water and gas flow without separation has always been a challenge in the oil and gas industry as it involves estimation of five different parameters. One of the critical parameters to estimate is Water-Cut (WC), which is the ratio of water flow rate to the total liquid flow rate. In this paper we employ microwave sensing techniques to measure WC. To establish the accuracy of microwave sensors for WC estimation a static mixer based approach is established with a ground truth accuracy of $ . Based on this ground truth the Water-Cut estimation accuracy is found to be $\pm 1.5{\%}$ . This paper is comprehensive summary of the experimental procedure, approach to estimate the uncertainty in reference Water-Cut and the performance of microwave sensors in estimating Water-Cut
Unsplicing the Gordian Knot

A decade ago, Aubrey Milunsky and I met to discuss the possibility of a project on genetics and the law. In our meetings, I proposed that we prepare a treatise on this subject, whereas Aubrey, correctiy sensing how extensive the topic is, favored a symposium with a variety of speakers. As we all know, the result has been this series of conferences, of which this one is the third.
Rectal cancer staging

Abstract Recommendations for the management of rectal cancer have been incredibly dynamic over the last several decades and accurate staging is required to make informed decisions and guide patient discussions. A complete staging evaluation should include a physical examination, complete colonoscopy, serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, and imaging to include a CT chest, MRI of the pelvis, and either a CT or MRI of the abdomen. Assessment of the circumferential resection margin with a rectal cancer protocol MRI is the cornerstone of this staging workup. Accurate staging is of paramount importance when considering treatment options for this complex disease.
Minimizing the Age of Information Through Queues

In this paper, we investigate scheduling policies that minimize the age of information in single-hop queueing systems. We propose a Last-Generated, First-Serve (LGFS) scheduling policy, in which the packet with the earliest generation time is processed with the highest priority. If the service times are i.i.d. exponentially distributed, the preemptive LGFS policy is proven to be age-optimal in a stochastic ordering sense. If the service times are i.i.d. and satisfy a New-Better-than-Used (NBU) distributional property, the non-preemptive LGFS policy is shown to be within a constant gap from the optimum age performance. These age-optimality results are quite general: (i) they hold for arbitrary packet generation times and arrival times (including out-of-order packet arrivals); (ii) they hold for multi-server packet scheduling with the possibility of replicating a packet over multiple servers; (iii) and they hold for minimizing not only the time-average age and mean peak age, but also for minimizing the age stochastic process and any non-decreasing functional of the age stochastic process. If the packet generation time is equal to the packet arrival time, the LGFS policies reduce to the Last-Come, First-Serve (LCFS) policies. Hence, the age optimality results of LCFS-type policies are also established.
A Factor Analysis of PTSD with Latino Samples with Substance Use Disorders.

Objective The Post - Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) factor structure is not a generally agreed upon concept. It has remained controversial and its' efficacy regarding different trauma presentations is still in question. Therefore, it is imperative that we evaluate different conceptualizations of the PTSD factor structure. This study aims to understand how PTSD is structured when comorbid with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Method We evaluated presentations of PTSD - SUD from a Latino community based sample. This was done using several accepted models of the PTSD factor structure. We then performed an exploratory factor analysis of the factor structure of PTSD when comorbid with SUD. Results We found that the factor structure of PTSD - SUD was different from the structure presented in the DSM - IV and other empirically validated structural models. Conclusion The factor structure of PTSD may need to include a separate structure when PTSD is comorbid with SUD. Cultural differences when structuring the PTSD diagnosis should also be considered.
Growth and carcass characteristics and serum growth hormone, prolactin and insulin profiles in Debouillet lambs treated with ovine growth hormone and(or) zeranol.

Sixteen Debouillet wether lambs (approximately 3 mo old) were placed indoors in 1.5- x 3-m pens (14 h light:10 h dark) 28 d after weaning. Lambs received no implant or a 12-mg zeranol implant on d-2 (eight lambs/group). Two days later (d 0), animals received either 0 or 2.5 mg ovine growth hormone (oGH, eight lambs/group) s.c. on alternate days for 42 d. Animals had ad libitum access to water, salt, mineral and a pelleted alfalfa diet (16% CP). After 42 d, lambs were slaughtered to evaluate carcass traits, organ weights and femur characteristics. Zeranol by oGH interactions were not detected (P greater than .20). Zeranol increased (P less than .05) BW, improved (P less than .05) feed:gain during the first 20 d and increased (P less than .10) feed intake during the last 22 d of the 42-d trial compared with controls. Carcass characteristics were not altered (P greater than .10) by 12 mg zeranol. Serum insulin and prolactin were elevated (P less than .05), but serum GH was not influenced by zeranol compared with controls. Exogenous oGH decreased feed intake (P less than .10) and improved feed:gain (P less than .05) during the initial 20 d compared with controls, but did not influence (P greater than .20) these variables during the last 22 d of the study. Carcass traits were not influenced (P greater than .10) by oGH. Exogenous ovine GH dramatically elevated (P less than .05) serum GH, but did not affect serum insulin or prolactin (P greater than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Trade agreement depth, foreign direct investment, and the moderating role of property rights

In this study, we theorize that preferential trade agreements (PTAs) send two distinct signals to foreign direct investors. At the first tier, a PTA signals that member states will maintain stable and peaceful relations with one another, making overt host-state hostility toward investors headquartered in member countries unlikely. At the second tier, a PTA can signal that investments will be safe from subtler meddling that infringes on property rights. While any PTA sends the first-tier signal, only deep PTAs with provisions such as investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms and property rights protections provide this second-tier signal. The second-tier signal is especially important to investors in countries where property rights are weak, as the extra protections provided by a deeper agreement can substitute for those that are missing at the domestic level. We find empirical support for our argument: PTA depth is positively associated with FDI between member countries, but the association weakens as property rights laws in host countries increase in strength. These findings suggest that governments can attract higher levels of FDI through comprehensive trade agreements, as opposed to shallow PTAs, when domestic policies are not sufficient. However, shallow agreements suffice where domestic policy already protects property rights.
Mentoring for continuous improvement in teaching and learning

This issue of Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning Journal includes research from scholars representing a wide range of disciplines throughout the United States and globally (Qatar, Britis...
Crystal Structures of a New Polymorph of N-tert-butyl-2-thioimidazole, and Its 1,4-Diiodotetrafluorobenzene, Tetraiodoethylene, and Iodine Cocrystals

A new polymorph of N-tert-butyl-2-thioimidazole (1), along with its cocrystals with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (2), tetraiodoethylene (3), and molecular iodine (4) have been synthesized. Compound 1 is a new polymorph of a previously reported structure. A series of noncovalent N–H⋯S, N–H⋯I, and I⋯S interactions all contribute to the packing. In 1–3, a pair of N–H⋯S contributes to the formation of imidazole dimers, a commonly observed motif for these systems, which are then linked together through C–I⋯S halogen bonding. This halogen bond occurs approximately normal to the imidazole ring plane. In 4, the addition of I2 to the sulfur atom interrupts N–H⋯S dimer formation, with the primary interactions between neighboring imidazole molecules being of the N–H⋯I and C=S⋯I. This variety of intermolecular interactions leads to the formation of double-stranded chains, ribbons, and sheets. A new polymorph of N-tert-butyl-2-thioimidazole, along with its cocrystals with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene, tetraiodoethylene, and molecular iodine have been synthesized. A series of noncovalent N–H⋯S, N–H⋯I, and I⋯S all contribute to the packing
How Attitudes about Guns Develop over Time

Existing scholarship usually presents people’s attitudes about guns as fixed and fully formed. Rarely are such attitudes examined as the outcome of social processes. As a result, while we know a gr...
Author’s reply to McMahon

It’s simply not true that the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) rules “safeguard continuing medical education (CME) from commercial bias,”12 a statement that McMahon references to an unpublished white paper commissioned by ACCME.3 We have documented clear promotional messaging that supports specific drugs in accredited CME activities on hypoactive sexual desire disorder,4 breakthrough pain,5 and binge eating disorder.6 Every other study examining commercial bias or changes in prescribing behaviour related to industry-funded CME has found bias because, well, …
Scott Joplin: A Guide for Music Educators Part III—Ragtime Spaces:

Scott Joplin was an African American composer and pianist of singular merit and influence. This article is the final entry in a three-part series considering the biographical, artistic, and cultura...
Oxo-M and 4-PPBP Delivery via Multi-Domain Peptide Hydrogel Toward Tendon Regeneration

We have recently identified novel small molecules, Oxo-M and 4-PPBP, which specifically stimulates endogenous tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSCs) leading to potential regenerative healing of fully-transected tendons. Here we investigated an injectable, multi-domain peptide (MDP) hydrogel providing tunable controlled delivery of the small molecules for regenerative tendon healing. We investigated the release kinetics of Oxo-M and 4-PPBP from MDP hydrogels and the effect of MDP-released small molecules on tenogenic differentiation of TSCs and in vivo tendon healing. In vitro, MDP showed a sustained release of Oxo-M and 4-PPBP and slower degradation compared to fibrin. In addition, tenogenic gene expression was significantly increased in TSC with MDP releasing Oxo-M and 4-PPBP as compared to fibrin delivered with Oxo-M and 4-PPBP. In vivo, MDP releasing Oxo-M and 4-PPBP significantly improved tendon healing, likely associated with prolonged effects of Oxo-M and 4-PPBP on suppression of M1 macrophages and promotion of M2 macrophages. Comprehensive histomorphological analysis, digital image processing, and modulus mapping with nanoindentation consistently suggested that Oxo-M and 4-PPBP delivered via MDP further improved tendon healing as compared to fibrin-based delivery. In conclusion, MDP delivered with Oxo-M and 4-PPBP may serve as an efficient regenerative therapeutic for in situ tendon regeneration and healing.
Nonpharmacologic analgesic therapies: A focus on photobiomodulation, acustimulation, and cryoanalgesia (ice) therapy

Abstract Mild-to-severe pain is experienced by 80% of patients after elective surgery. It generates clinical and psychological changes that increase morbidity and mortality, delay the rehabilitation process, reduces patient satisfaction, increases the length of hospital stay, maximizes costs, and in certain settings, may conduce chronic pain in 40% of cases. Disproportionate reliance on opioid analgesics for postoperative pain management has resulted in prolonged opioid dependence, even after minor surgical procedures. The benefits of opioid analgesic therapy for chronic pain in the presence of the current global opioid epidemic continue to be highly questionable. Therefore, it is imperative to find novel nonpharmacologic therapies, like Cold Laser Photobiomodulation (PBMT), Acustimulation and Cryoanalgesia (ice) Therapy, that prove to be safe and cost-effective adjuncts to pharmacotherapy and physical therapy, for acute and chronic pain management.
Strangers and Neighbors: Multiculturalism, Conflict, and Community in America

The city of Lewiston, Maine, has struggled since its mills began closing in the 1950s. Historically recognized for its large French-speaking population descended from the Canadians who staffed the ...
The Influence of Different Shopping Behaviors on Rational Choice: An Empirical Investigation

This study seeks to contribute to our knowledge of rational choice by consumer decision makers. Inconsistencies in rational choice were demonstrated. A major question addressed was whether subjects strongly exhibiting distinct selected shopping behaviors would make choices different than the general sample. Two shopping behaviors,price consciousness and shopping enthusiasm, exhibited differences from the general sample. The experimental results suggest a need for further research with different methodology to explain buyers' rational choice behavior with differing attitudes.
LOOKING TOWARDS 2030: A NEW WORLD COMING INTO FOCUS

This article examines global demographic trends to 2030, with a particular focus on projections for the world's major economies. All else held constant, ageing populations imply slower rates of economic development for Western Societies. However, a number of policy options are available to counteract the impact of demographic change.
Production of Composite Structures by Low‐Pressure Plasma Deposition

Low-pressure plasma deposition can produce metal or ceramic matrix composites. Examples of metal-ceramic-metal-carbide, metal-intermetallic, and metal-metal systems are presented. Structures fabricated using the above materials include: continuous and discontinuous laminates, and dispersed particulate structures. Relationships between processing and structure are discussed. 5 references.
Bearded saki feeding strategies on an island in Lago Guri, Venezuela

Free-ranging bearded sakis (Chiropotes spp.) live in relatively large social groups (22–65+), inhabit very large home ranges (200–1,000 ha), and travel long distances (1.8 to >7 km) each day. While these characteristics would seem to reduce their ability to occupy habitat fragments, several studies suggest otherwise. The key to their success may lie in their dietary adaptations. Bearded sakis are strongly frugivorous, but are primarily seed eaters, and are able to ingest both young and mature fruit. We examined feeding activities of a group of bearded sakis over a 19-month period on a 180 ha island in Lago Guri, Venezuela. Given their feeding adaptations, we predicted that they would minimize peaks and troughs in plant species used for food, limit seasonal variation in the mechanical properties of foods ingested, and balance ingestion of energy-rich foods (e.g. lipids, nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), and/or free simple sugars). We found that bearded sakis on Danto Manchado had a diverse (plant-based) diet, but two resources (Pradosia caracasana, Sapotaceae, and Oryctanthus alveolatus, Loranthaceae) provided a stable dietary base and were present in the diet almost every month. Second, we found little variation in the mechanical-resistance properties of fruits opened seasonally. Third, they alternated months ingesting foods with high TNC content and months of high lipid content. This may be an attempt to balance energy intake from available foods. Finally, their social propensity to split up into subgroups may predispose them to reduce group sizes to accommodate smaller available areas. We suggest that bearded sakis use both ecological and behavioral mechanisms to survive in smaller-than-typical areas. Longer-term studies (beyond a few generations) of bearded sakis in habitat fragments would allow us to estimate minimum survival area and identify critical resources or resource combinations. Am. J. Primatol. 78:507–522, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Factors associated with growth and blood pressure patterns in children with sickle cell anemia: Silent Cerebral Infarct Multi-Center Clinical Trial cohort

Individuals with sickle cell anemia (SCA) exhibit delayed growth trajectories and lower blood pressure (BP) measurements than individuals without SCA. We evaluated factors associated with height, weight, and BP and established reference growth curves and BP tables using data from the Silent Cerebral Infarct Multi-Center Clinical (SIT) Trial (NCT00072761). Quantile regression models were used to determine the percentiles of growth and BP measurements. Multivariable quantile regression was used to test associations of baseline variables with height, weight, and BP measurements. Height and weight measurements were collected from a total of 949 participants with median age of 10.5 years [Interquartile range (IQR) 8.2–12.9] and median follow-up time of 3.2 years (IQR 1.8–4.7, range 0–12.9). Serial BP measurements were collected from a total of 944 and 943 participants, respectively, with median age of 10.6 years (IQR = 8.3–12.9 years), and median follow-up time of 3.3 years (IQR = 1.7–4.8). Multivariable quantile regression analysis revealed that higher hemoglobin measurements at baseline were associated with greater height (P < 0.001), weight (P = 0.000), systolic BP (P < 0.001), and diastolic BP (P = 0.003) measurements. We now provide new reference values for height, weight, and BP measurements that are now readily available for medical management. Am. J. Hematol. 90:2–7, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Two piece jig-saw puzzle robot assembly with vision, position and force feedback

This paper presents a robotic assembly of two 3-D jig-saw puzzle pieces, using vision, position and force feedback. Geometrical aspects are discussed together with force history of the experiments. An installation using 7565 I.B.M. robot with a CCD camera on the robot arm is described. Successful experiments proved the possibility of assembling parts with complex contours when force feedback is used during fine assembly. A videotape of the demonstration is available. RR 107/1987.
Impact of thermal constraints on multi-core architectures

This paper shows how thermal constraints affect the multidimensional design space for chip multiprocessors, considering the inter-related variables of CPU count, pipeline depth, superscalar width, L2 cache size, and operating voltage and frequency. The results show the importance of thermal modeling and the need for new thermal modeling capabilities and hence the need for collaboration between the thermal engineering and computer architecture communities. Thermal constraints both shift the optimal intra- and inter-core organization, and dominate other physical constraints such as pin-bandwidth and power delivery. Different thermal constraints also require different optimization strategies. For aggressive cooling solutions, reducing power density is at least as important as reducing total power, while for low-cost cooling solutions, reducing total power is more important.