cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood sexual abuse increases risk of auditory hallucinations in psychotic disorders.

Background/Aims: Previous studies point to an association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and auditory hallucinations (AH). However, methodological issues limit the strength of these results. Here we compared childhood abuse between psychotic disorder patients and healthy control subjects using a reliable measure of abuse, and assessed the relationship between CSA and AH. Methods: 114 psychotic disorder patients and 81 healthy control subjects were administered the Structured Clinical Interview of the DSM-IV (SCID) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). We compared the severity of abuse between groups, and tested the relationship between different types of childhood abuse and specific psychotic symptoms. Results: Psychotic patients reported more childhood abuse than controls (p b .001). Psychotic patients with a history of AH reported significantly more sexual, emotional, and physical abuse than patients without a history of AH (p b .05). Emotional and physical abuse, in the absence of sexual abuse, did not lead to a higher rate of AH. Finally, reports of childhood abuse did not increase the risk of any form of hallucination other than AH or of any form of delusion. Conclusions: These results suggest that childhood abuse, especially childhood sexual abuse, shapes the phenotype of psychotic disorders by conferring a specific risk for AH.
Osteosarcoma of the urinary bladder report of a case and review of the literature

A 65-year-old man with hematuria had a large polypoid tumor of the urinary bladder which on microscopic examination was an osteosarcoma, only the 22nd example reported in this organ. The tumor was initially misinterpreted as a transitional cell carcinoma because of an absence of osteoid in the initial slide prepared from a biopsy of the neoplasm. Most of the patients with osteosarcoma of the bladder have been male; they have ranged from 41 to 83 (average 62) years of age. The tumors have characteristically been large and polypoid and have most commonly been located in the trigone. Follow-up is available for 21 patients; 18 of them died within 6 months or less. Three patients were still alive 14 months, 18 months, and 2 years postoperatively. Osteosarcoma of the bladder should be distinguished from other bladder tumors that may be associated with bone formation such as carcinosarcomas and transitional cell carcinomas with osseous metaplasia of their stroma, both of which have a better prognosis than osteosarcoma.
Validity of the nuclear Born-Oppenheimer method

Abstract The validity of the adiabatic nuclear Born-Oppenheimer (NBO) approximation method is investigated by means of an analytically solvable model. The NBO equation of collective motion derived, when this method is applied to the model, is shown to have the structure of a Schrodinger equation. The NBO energy spectrum is then obtained by numerical integration of this equation and compared with the analytic energy spectrum. We show that the NBO approximation is very accurate in the description of the system's eigenstates. The time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) results, obtained in a previous publication for the solvable model, are compared with their NBO counterparts. We find that, although both methods describe the system's states very well, the NBO approximation is more accurate in the adiabatic domain.
Summary of the Discussion

SUMMARY There was general agreement that catalase cannot account for the activity of MEOS and that chronic ethanol feeding results in increased rates of ethanol metabolism. There was disagreement however on the mechanism of the latter effect, with some invoking the ADH pathway exclusively in association with a hypermetabolic state, whereas according to others MEOS plays a significant role in the adaptive increase of ethanol metabolism.
Structural and microstructural characterization of the growth lines and prismatic microarchitecture in red abalone shell and the microstructures of abalone flat pearls

The structure of the growth lines in the shell of the red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, has been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The growth lines consist of a blocklike microstructure and a spherulitic microstructure, separated by a green organic matrix interlayer. The minerals in both the blocklike and spherulitic structures have been determined to be aragonite, the same CaCO3 polymorph as in the nacreous microstructure in these shells. The spherulitic structure is composed of radially distributed elongated crystals, whereas the blocklike structure involves crystalline aggregates with irregular shape. The individual aggregates are approximately single crystal, with orientations identical to that of the adjacent stack of tablets in the nacreous structure. The interfaces defining the transition from nacreous to blocklike microstructures are abrupt; on the other hand, the transition from spherulitic to nacreous microstructures shows more irreg...
The Inhaled Glucocorticoid Fluticasone Propionate Efficiently Inactivates Cytochrome P450 3A5, a Predominant Lung P450 Enzyme

Inhaled glucocorticoid (GC) therapy is a vital part of the management of chronic asthma. GCs are metabolized by members of the cytochrome P450 3A family in both liver and lung, but the enzymes are differentially expressed. Selective inhibition of one or more P450 3A enzymes could substantially modify target and systemic concentrations of GCs. In this study, we have evaluated the mechanism-based inactivation of P450 3A4, 3A5, and 3A7 enzymes by GCs. Among the five major inhaled GCs approved for clinical use in the United States, fluticasone propionate (FLT) was the most potent mechanism-based inactivator of P450 3A5, the predominant P450 enzyme in the lung. FLT inactivated P450 3A5 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with KI, kinact, and partition ratio of 16 μM, 0.027 min−1, and 3, respectively. In contrast, FLT minimally inactivated P450 3A4 and did not inactivate 3A7, even with a concentration of 100 μM. The inactivation of P450 3A5 by FLT was irreversible because dialysis did not restore enzy...
Raman spectroscopy studies of xNa2S+(1−x)B2S3 glasses and polycrystals

The Raman spectra of binary xNa2S+(1−x)B2S3 glasses and polycrystals have been measured for the first time and are used to develop a structural model of the sodium thioborate glasses. The Raman spectra confirm our previous infrared (IR) experimental conclusions that the structure of vitreous (ν-B2S3) is comprised of B3(0) groups and six-membered rings. It was also found that as sodium sulfide is added to the glass in the low alkali (x<0.35) glass forming region, the B4 groups are formed at the expense of the B3(0) groups first and then from the six-membered ring groups. The Raman spectra are also consistent with the presence of a pyramidal structural arrangement of B4 groups with trigonally coordinated sulfur atoms. This structure could explain the existence of the super-stoichiometric amounts of B4 groups found using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Glasses in the high alkali region (0.50<x<0.80) progressively change from being comprised of metathioborate rings to being comprised of B3(3) groups. The Raman spectra also confirms the IR spectra which saw no evidence of B3(2) groups in these sodium thioborate glasses.
S100A8 Triggers Oxidation-sensitive Repulsion of Neutrophils

The inflammatory response to tissue injury is a multi-faceted process. During this process, neutrophils migrate in the extravascular spaces, directed to the site of injury by chemical gradients generated by chemotactic molecules. S100A8, a protein associated with a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, is heavily over-expressed in association with inflammation. We hypothesized that human S100A8 possesses neutrophil-repelling properties that result in an anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. The chemotactic activity of S100A8 on neutrophils was tested in Transwell chemotaxis assays. Analysis of the data indicates that S100A8 causes a repulsion of peripheral neutrophils, an activity that S100A8 loses upon its oxidation. Using a mutant of S100A8 resistant to oxidation and consistent with the in vitro findings, we demonstrated that S100A8 causes a strong anti-inflammatory effect in the rat air-pouch model of inflammation in vivo. These data highlight a naturally occurring novel anti-inflammatory pathway and provide potential molecular targets for the development of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics. Abbrevations: ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA); limulus amoebocyte lysate assay (LAL); pertussis toxin (PTX); forward scatter (FSC); Interleukin-8 (IL-8); formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP); monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1).
Age differences in self-referencing: Evidence for common and distinct encoding strategies

Although engagement of medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) underlies self-referencing of information for younger and older adults, the region has not consistently been implicated across age groups for the encoding of self-referenced information. We sought to determine whether making judgments about others as well as the self influenced findings in the previous study. During an fMRI session, younger and older adults encoded adjectives using only a self-reference task. For items later remembered compared to those later forgotten, both age groups robustly recruited medial prefrontal cortex, indicating common neural regions support encoding across younger and older adults when participants make only self-reference judgments. Focal age differences emerged in regions related to emotional processing and cognitive control, though these differences are more limited than in tasks in which judgments also are made about others. We conclude that making judgments about another person differently affects the ways that younger and older adults make judgments about the self, with results of a follow-up behavioral study supporting this interpretation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Memory and Aging.
Crystallization and Preliminary X-ray Crystallographic Analysis of Pyridoxine 5′-Phosphate Oxidase Complexed with Flavin Mononucleotide

Abstract Pyridoxine 5′-phosphate oxidase (PNP Ox) catalyzes the terminal step in the biosynthesis of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. The 53-kDa homodimeric enzyme contains a noncovalently bound flavin mononucleotide (FMN) on each monomer. Three crystal forms of Escherichia coli PNP Ox complexed with FMN have been obtained at room temperature. The first crystal form belongs to trigonal space group P3 1 21 or P3 2 21 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 64.67A, c = 125.64A, and has one molecule of the complex (PNP Ox–FMN) per asymmetric unit. These crystals grow very slowly to their maximum size in about 2 to 4 months and diffract to about 2.3 A. The second crystal form belongs to tetragonal space group P4 1 or P4 3 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 54.92A, c = 167.65A, and has two molecules of the complex per asymmetric unit. The crystals reach their maximum size in about 5 weeks and diffract to 2.8 A. A third crystal form with a rod-like morphology grows faster and slightly larger than the other two forms, but diffracts poorly and could not be characterized by X-ray analysis. The search for heavy-atom derivatives for the first two crystal forms to solve the structure is in progress.
Diametral compression of pultruded composite rods

Abstract Diametral compression tests were performed on pultruded composite rods comprised of unidirectional glass or carbon fibers in a common matrix. During compression tests, acoustic emission (AE) activity was recorded and images were acquired from the sample for analysis by digital image correlation (DIC). In both composite systems, localized tensile strain developed in the transverse plane under the load platens prior to failure, producing non-linearity in the load–displacement curve and AE signals. In situ SEM diametral compression tests revealed the development of matrix microcracking and debonding in regions of localized strain, perpendicular to the tensile strain direction (parallel to the load axis). Comparison of linear finite element simulations and experimental results showed a deviation from linear elastic behavior in the load displacement curve. The apparent transverse modulus, in plane shear modulus, and transverse tensile strength of the GF rod was greater than that of the CF rod, and fracture surfaces indicated greater fiber/matrix adhesion in the GF system compared to the CF system. A mixed mode fracture surface showed that two failure modes were active – matrix tensile failure and matrix compression failure by shear near the loading edge.
Violence and psychopathology: a longitudinal study.

Abstract A comprehensive evaluation of 44 consecutive admissions to a special unit for the treatment of violent patients was conducted; it included daily close monitoring of all violent incidents, weekly assessments of psychopathology and social functioning, demographic and personal history information on each patient. Psychopathology and especially social dysfunction correlated positively with assaultive behavior both longitudinally and cross-sectionally. With treatment on the unit there was improvement in social functioning and psychopathology, and a concurrent decrease in violence. Patients showing persistence of psychopathology and assaultive behavior had earlier onset of illness.
The first successful surgical treatment of mitral stenosis: The 70th anniversary of Elliot Cutler's mitral commissurotomy

In 1923 Elliot Carr Cutler, in conjunction with his cardiology colleague, Samuel Levine, performed a closed transventricular mitral commissurotomy with a tenotomy knife on a 12-year-old patient dying of rheumatic mitral stenosis at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. This operation was carried out after several years of experimentation regarding resuscitation of the heart, appropriate incisions, and the pathophysiology of mitral stenosis. The interest in mitral stenosis was rampant at the time because of the huge number of patients suffering from this public health problem. The patient survived and went on to die of pneumonia 4 years postoperatively. Subsequent to this, Cutler performed seven more operations using his new cardiovalvulotome, which was to create controlled mitral regurgitation. Unfortunately, this concept did not promote long-term success and a moratorium for these operations was called in 1929. Nevertheless, this pioneering effort in 1923 was the first successful operation to treat valvular heart disease by a surgical technique.
Strategy-proof mechanisms for resource management in clouds

The ever-growing demand for cloud resources places the resource management at the heart of the design and decision-making processes in cloud computing environments. Cloud providers offer heterogeneous resources such as CPUs, memory, and storage in the form of Virtual Machine (VM) instances. Recently, cloud providers have introduced auction-based models to sell their unutilized resources in an auction market which allow users to submit bids for their requested VMs. In this PhD dissertation, we address the problem of autonomic VM provisioning and allocation for the auction-based model considering multiple types of resources by designing exact and approximation mechanisms. The mechanisms also determine the payment the users have to pay for using the allocated resources. Furthermore, our proposed mechanisms drive the system into an equilibrium in which the users do not have incentives to manipulate the system by untruthfully reporting their VM bundle requests and valuations.
Health Literacy as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes after Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device

Introduction: Poor health literacy is associated with worse outcomes in patients with heart failure; however, the role of health literacy in predicting outcomes in patients implanted with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has not yet been studied. We hypothesized that health literacy would independently influence clinical outcomes in patients implanted with continuous-flow LVADs (CF-LVADs). Hypothesis: Poor health literacy is associated with worse outcomes in patients with end-stage heart failure implanted with CF-LVADs. Methods: We performed a prospective, single center, cohort study of adult patients with implanted CFLVADs. We identified 118 patients implanted with a Heart Mate II (n5101) or an HVAD (n517) implanted between 8/2005 and 9/2013. Health literacy was assessed using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), with adequate health literacy defined as a score $ 61 (REALM IV) and poor literacy defined as a score ! 61 (REALM I-III). The primary outcome was combined all-cause death, stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), LVAD-related infection, or hemolysis/pump thrombosis; components of the combined primary outcome were analyzed separately as secondary outcomes. Results: The majority of patients were implanted with Heart Mate II LVADs and had an INTERMACS profile of 2. The poor health literacy group (n538) had significantly more patients with a history of smoking (76% vs. 49%, p 5 0.005), a destination therapy strategy (53% vs. 30%, p 5 0.05), and a history of GIB (58% vs. 26%, p 5 0.003). There were no significant differences between cohorts with respect to age, date of implant, BMI, race, sex, etiology of cardiomyopathy, or history of diabetes. During a follow-up period of 88.8 patient-years there were 89 events: 32 in the poor health literacy group and 57 in the adequate health literacy group (84% vs. 71%, HR 1.56, CI 1.01-2.42, p 5 0.0466), see figure. This was driven primarily by GIB events of which there were 22 in both groups (58% vs. 28%, HR 2.57, CI 1.56-5.81). There were no significant differences in individual secondary outcomes of all-cause death,
The genus Pan: population genetics of an endangered outgroup.

Abstract A new study of Y-chromosome variation has shed fresh light on the population history of the genus Pan, which includes our closest living relatives, bonobos and chimpanzees . The study confirms a great diversity in both species and suggests these species have substantially larger effective population sizes than humans. Y-chromosome lineages appear distinct between bonobos and chimpanzees, and also between the different chimpanzee subspecies. During the Pleistocene, forest fragmentation led to recurrent, transient subdivisions within regional Pan subspecies; did these contribute to their apparently higher effective population sizes?
A general model for ontogenetic growth under food restriction

Food restriction (FR) retards animals' growth. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon is important to conceptual problems in life-history theory, as well as to applied problems in animal husbandry and biomedicine. Despite a considerable amount of empirical data published since the 1930s, there is no relevant general theoretical framework that predicts how animals vary their energy budgets and life-history traits under FR. In this paper, we develop such a general quantitative model based on fundamental principles of metabolic energy allocation during ontogeny. This model predicts growth curves under varying conditions of FR, such as the compensatory growth, different age at which FR begins, its degree and its duration. Our model gives a quantitative explanation for the counterintuitive phenomenon that under FR, lower body temperature and lower metabolism lead to faster growth and larger adult size. This model also predicts that the animals experiencing FR reach the same fraction of their adult mass at the same age as their ad libitum counterparts. All predictions are well supported by empirical data from mammals and birds of varying body size, under different conditions of FR.
A unified interference/collision model for optimal MAC transmission power in ad hoc networks

In this paper we address the issue of controlling transmission power in power-aware ad hoc networks. We argue that minimum transmission power is not always optimal. Previous work that minimises the transmission power does not consider both the energy consumed in collision resolution and the energy disbursed to overcome the interference resulting from neighbouring nodes. We investigate the basic transmission power control for the 802.11 MAC protocol, in which the control frames and the data frames can be transmitted at different power levels. A unified collision and interference model of a uniformly distributed network is constructed. Based on this model, the end-to-end network throughput and the total energy consumption of the network are examined for different network parameters. For a network with a given node density, our results show the optimal transmission power for control messages and for data messages that will yield maximum throughput and minimum energy consumption per message.
A stabilized MITC element for accurate wave response in Reissner–Mindlin plates

Abstract Residual based finite element methods are developed for accurate time-harmonic wave response of the Reissner–Mindlin plate model. The methods are obtained by appending a generalized least-squares term to the mixed variational form for the finite element approximation. Through judicious selection of the design parameters inherent in the least-squares modification, this formulation provides a consistent and general framework for enhancing the wave accuracy of mixed plate elements. In this paper, the mixed interpolation technique of the well-established MITC4 element is used to develop a new mixed least-squares (MLS4) four-node quadrilateral plate element with improved wave accuracy. Complex wave number dispersion analysis is used to design optimal mesh parameters, which for a given wave angle, match both propagating and evanescent analytical wave numbers for Reissner–Mindlin plates. Numerical results demonstrates the significantly improved accuracy of the new MLS4 plate element compared to the underlying MITC4 element.
Avoiding Complications in the Treatment of Pronation-External Rotation Ankle Fractures, Syndesmotic Injuries, and Talar Neck Fractures

Fractures of the foot and ankle are common injuries that often are successfully treated nonsurgically; however, some injuries require surgical intervention. To restore anatomy and avoid the need for additional surgery, surgeons must pay attention to detail and understand common, avoidable complications. The surgeon should have an understanding of the pathologic characteristics of three common injuries of the foot and ankle as well as the potential complications and their prevention.
Human robotic assisted bilateral vasoepididymostomy and vasovasostomy procedures: initial safety and efficacy trial

Our goal was to develop a robotic approach for vasoepididymostomy (RAVE) and vasovasostomy (RAVV) using a 4 arm High Definition Platform (Intuitive Surgical, CA) and present our human in-vivo results. All 3 RAVV procedures were successful and one patient had 102 million motile sperm/ml of ejaculate at 1 month post-op. The RAVE procedure patient only had a few non-motile sperm at 6 month follow up in his ejaculate. The use of robotics seems to offer advantages in terms of ergonomics and suture control. Further evaluation is needed to assess the clinical potential of robotics in vasectomy reversal.
Dynamic location models

Location models built on social media have been shown to be an important step toward understanding places in queries. Current search technology focuses on predicting broad regions such as cities. Hyperlocal scenarios are important because of the increasing prevalence of smartphones and mobile search and recommendation. Users expect the system to recognize their location and provide information about their immediate surroundings. In this work we propose an algorithm for constructing hyperlocal models of places that are as small as half a city block. We show that Dynamic Location Models (DLMs) are computationally efficient, and provide better estimates of the language models of hyperlocal places than the standard method of segmenting the globe into approximately equal grid squares. We evaluate the models using a repository of 25 million geotagged public images from Flickr. We show that the indexes produced by DLMs have a larger vocabulary, and smaller average document length than their fixed grid counterparts, for indexes with an equivalent number of locations. This produces location models that are more robust to retrieval parameters, and more accurate in predicting locations in text.
Lightweight Methods for Automated Design of Self-Stabilization

Software systems are an integral part of almost every modern piece of technology. In complex inter-networked systems, software dependability issues are of a major concern, especially robustness to transient faults. The Self-Stabilization (SS) property guarantees that a system will regain its normal behavior in a finite amount of time when faults stop occurring, and will maintain its normal execution as long as there are no faults. SS is a desirable property of robust network protocols, however, it is intellectually challenging to manually design and verify SS. In this paper, we propose a new vision for automated design and verification of SS. Specifically, our approach puts forward a paradigm of {em synthesize-in-small-scale} and {em generalize}. We automatically synthesize SS for small instances of non-stabilizing protocols and provide techniques that help designers in generalizing these small solutions for larger instances of the synthesized protocols. Our preliminary results are promising as we have automatically generated self-stabilizing protocols that are the same as their manually designed versions, and alternative solutions for well known problems. We also discuss our plans for future work.
Higher serum total testosterone levels correlate with increased risk of depressive symptoms in Caucasian women through the entire menopausal transition.

Abstract Background Despite the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in women, the precise role of sex hormones in mood changes during the menopausal transition is unclear. Previous studies have been inconsistent with regard to identifying the association of androgens, namely total testosterone, with depressive symptoms. Objective The objectives of this study were to evaluate changes in serum total testosterone levels and depressive symptoms during the entire menopausal transition, and examine the impact of covariates on the association between concurrent serum total testosterone levels and depressive symptoms during this time period. Methods A longitudinal cohort study (428 women at baseline with 3634 repeated measures) using data from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study, a population-based cohort of late reproductive-aged women, followed through the menopausal transition. Serum hormone parameters and depression scores using the Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression scale (CES-D) were measured at each annual visit over a 14-year period. General linear (for testosterone) and a generalized negative-binomial model (for depressive symptoms) for repeated measures were used for analysis. Results Serum total testosterone levels increased progressively over the study period and were significantly associated with older age and with current smoking ( p p = 0.012). The proportion of women with CES-D ≥16 significantly decreased with increasing age and in the post-menopausal period, and were higher in women with a history of depression and hot flashes ( p p = 0.008). In Caucasians, but not African Americans, higher serum testosterone levels were associated with increased depressive symptoms after controlling for several variables including age, obesity status, hot flashes and menopausal status (RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00–1.17, p = 0.042). Conclusion In our cohort, testosterone levels were low but progressively increased from premenopause through post menopause. In addition to age and history of depression, we identified race to have a significant interaction between the association of testosterone levels and depressive symptoms. This study further supports the associations between sex hormones and increased risk of having depressive symptoms, although the precise underlying mechanisms for this association remain unclear.
A high-frequency shear device for testing soft biological tissues

Accurate mechanical property data obtained at large shear deformations and high frequencies are a fundamental component of realistic numerical simulations of soft tissue injury. Although many commercial systems exist for testing shear properties of viscoelastic materials with properties similar to soft biological tissue, none are capable of determining properties at high loading rates necessary for modeling soft tissue injury. Previous custom shear testing systems, though capable of high-frequency loading, indirectly measure tissue properties by using analytical corrections for inertial effects. To address these limitations, a new custom designed oscillatory shear testing apparatus (STA) capable of testing soft biological tissues in simple shear has been constructed and validated. Through a proper selection of sample thickness, direct measurement of material properties at high frequencies is achieved mechanically without analytical inertial adjustments. The complex shear modulus of three mixtures of silicone gel with viscoelastic properties in a range similar to soft biological tissue was characterized in the STA over a dynamic frequency range of 20-200 Hz and validated with a commercially available solids rheometer. The frequency-dependent complex shear modulus measurements of the STA were within 10% of the rheometer measurements for all mixtures over the entire frequency range tested. The STA represents substantive improvement over current shear testing methods by providing direct measurement of the shear behavior of soft viscoelastic material at high frequencies. Mechanical property data gained from this device will provide a more realistic basis for numerical simulations of biological structures.
Energy concerns in wireless networks

The focused attention of the community on energy issues in the study and design of wireless networks has spurred a great deal of research on the subject. In this article a brief overview is provided of what constitutes the major energy efficiency issues in ad hoc networks. Emphasis is placed on key conceptual points, which are then illustrated in the case study of wireless multicasting of connection-oriented traffic.
Descriptions of the Polarization States of Vector Processes: Applications to ULF Magnetic Fields

In recent years a wide variety of methods has been used to describe the polarization characteristics of ULF (.001 to 1 Hz) magnetic fields. This paper gives a detailed outline of some of the descriptions derived from the spectral matrices of n-variate stochastic processes. The matrices are expanded in three different, standard sets of matrices in order to add some simplification to the interpretation of the polarizations. One set is composed of n-squared trace-orthogonal, hermitean matrices and leads directly to a generalization of the Stokes parameters and the degree of polarization for n-variate processes. The second set is developed from the dyad expansion, which in particular cases is analogous to the spectral decomposition of the matrix. The third set is composed of n commuting idempotent matrices and proves to be the most useful set when the stochastic process is not strictly polarized.
Iced airfoil simulation using generalized grids

A new strategy for simulating the flow around iced airfoils is presented in this paper. Two different approaches are used to generate quality grids over the iced airfoil. Both grids can be categorized as generalized grids since multiple element types are employed in each. In the first approach, a structured grid is generated near the body using a marching scheme and the rest of the domain is filled with an unstructured grid. In the second approach, the marching strategy is coupled with a node deletion/insertion algorithm to generate a quad-dominant grid. An edge based data structure is used to store the grid information to handle polygons with an arbitrary number of sides. A finite-volume, cell-centered scheme is used to solve the integral form of the full Navier-Stokes equations. The numerical fluxes crossing the cellfaces are calculated using Roe's approximate Riemann solver. The turbulent viscosity is estimated using Spalart-Allmaras one equation turbulence model. The results of computations are presented, together with comparison to NPARC results.
Regulation of FSHβ induction in LβT2 cells by BMP2 and an Activin A/BMP2 chimera, AB215

Activins and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) share activin type 2 signaling receptors but utilize different type 1 receptors and Smads. We designed AB215, a potent BMP2-like Activin A/BMP2 chimera incorporating the high-affinity type 2 receptor-binding epitope of Activin A. In this study, we compare the signaling properties of AB215 and BMP2 in HEK293T cells and gonadotroph LβT2 cells in which Activin A and BMP2 synergistically induce FSHβ. In HEK293T cells, AB215 is more potent than BMP2 and competitively blocks Activin A signaling, while BMP2 has a partial blocking activity. Activin A signaling is insensitive to BMP pathway antagonism in HEK293T cells but is strongly inhibited by constitutively active (CA) BMP type 1 receptors. By contrast, the potencies of AB215 and BMP2 are indistinguishable in LβT2 cells and although AB215 blocks Activin A signaling, BMP2 has no inhibitory effect. Unlike HEK293T, Activin A signaling is strongly inhibited by BMP pathway antagonism in LβT2 cells but is largely unaffected by CA BMP type 1 receptors. BMP2 increases phospho-Smad3 levels in LβT2 cells, in both the absence and the presence of Activin A treatment, and augments Activin A-induced FSHβ. AB215 has the opposite effect and sharply decreases basal phospho-Smad3 levels and blocks Smad2 phosphorylation and FSHβ induction resulting from Activin A treatment. These findings together demonstrate that while AB215 activates the BMP pathway, it has opposing effects to those of BMP2 on FSHβ induction in LβT2 cells apparently due to its ability to block Activin A signaling.
From J eff = 1 / 2 insulator to p -wave superconductor in single-crystal S r 2 I r 1 − x R u x O 4 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 )

$\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{2}\mathrm{Ir}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ is a magnetic insulator assisted by strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) whereas $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{2}\mathrm{Ru}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ is a $p$-wave superconductor. The contrasting ground states have been shown to result from the critical role of the strong SOC in the iridate. Our investigation of structural, transport, and magnetic properties reveals that substituting $4d\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}^{4+}(4{d}^{4})$ ions for $5d\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{r}}^{4+}(5{d}^{5})$ ions in $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{2}\mathrm{Ir}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ directly adds holes to the ${t}_{2g}$ bands, reduces the SOC, and thus rebalances the competing energies in single-crystal $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{2}\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{r}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}_{x}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. A profound effect of Ru doping driving a rich phase diagram is a structural phase transition from a distorted $I{4}_{1}/acd$ to a more ideal $I4/mmm$ tetragonal structure near $x=0.50$ that accompanies a phase transition from an antiferromagnetic-insulating state to a paramagnetic-metal state. We also make a comparison with Rh-doped $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{2}\mathrm{Ir}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, highlighting important similarities and differences.
Development and Initial Testing of the Parent Beliefs about Early Childhood Social–Emotional Development Instrument

Abstract Background No instrument exists to measure parent beliefs about early social–emotional development, which is foundational for child outcomes. We developed and tested an instrument to measure parent beliefs. Methods Positive parenting was defined from the literature and 84 items were developed based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The instrument was tested with mothers ( N =200) from the United States. Results Data support our initial supposition of five factors based upon the TPB, which accounted for 65.5% of the total variance. Conclusion The instrument demonstrates strong initial psychometric properties and is ready for further testing.
Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy

Prostate cancer (PCa) continues to be the leading non-cutaneous cancer in men in the United States and responsible for nearly 30,000 deaths and 230,000 new cases per year. The widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has led to an overall increase in the proportion of men diagnosed with low-risk disease with concurrent decrease in disease-specific mortality. According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, the advent of PSA screening in 1987 has since resulted in approximately a sevenfold increase in PCa incidence when compared to the pre-PSA era. The increased detection of low-risk disease has also corresponded to a greater proportion of men diagnosed with PCa undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiation therapy (RT). The complications associated with these procedures such as urinary incontinence (20 % for RP and 5 % for RT) and erectile dysfunction (64 % for RP and 66 % for RT) in many cases outweigh the benefits. The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) trial also found that approximately half of those who underwent surgery were found to have cancers that were defined to be clinically indolent (<0.5 cm tumor volume, organ-confined, Gleason score ≤6). Active surveillance (AS) has been an appealing alternative for managing low-risk disease, but concerns have been raised regarding potential decreases in long-term survival rates.
The Analysis on the Conflicts of Functions of Boards of Directors from a Economic Perspective

Boards of the directors is the core of corporate governance.There are conflicts in boards of directors functions and those Conflicts have always been omited in study.So it is important to analyse the conflicts in boards functions.Based on the above Analyse,some suggestion are made to the board governance.
Traumatic Conus Medullaris Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Case: A twenty-six-year-old man was diagnosed with conus medullaris syndrome (CMS) after sustaining a traumatic L1 burst fracture. Surgical decompression and stabilization was performed within ninety-six hours of admission; postoperatively, normal bladder function rapidly returned. Conclusion: CMS is difficult to diagnose because of the clinically variable presentation. There is no consensus regarding the natural history of conus medullaris injury or regarding the necessity, approach, or timing for decompression. Higher-level evidence is needed to guide treatment for acute traumatic CMS.
Regulation of Type I Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor by Fibrin Degradation Products in Rat Lung Fibroblasts

Persistent fibrin deposition in tissues characterizes the early pathology of many types of injury. In an animal model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, increased expression of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) is associated with accumulation of fibrin in fibroproliferative lesions. Plasmin proteolysis of cross-linked fibrin generates fibrin degradation products (FDPs) with multiple biological activities in several cell types. We reasoned that fibrin fragments may also regulate fibroblast-mediated fibrinolysis. In this study, we describe induction of PAI-1 mRNA, protein, and activity by soluble FDPs and fibrinogen in rat lung fibroblast monolayers. FDPs are more potent than fibrinogen, inducing a concentration-dependent, maximal 3.7 (+/- 0.9)-fold increase in PAI-1 mRNA as measured by northern blotting and a 9.0 (+/- 1.3)-fold induction of PAI-1 antigen levels. Active PAI-1 is demonstrated in fibrinogen- and FDP-stimulated conditioned media. Further characterization of this response shows that PAI-1 expression is induced by the DD/D fragments, but not by immunopurified fragment E. Experiments using Actinomycin D and puromycin indicate that the induction appears to be transcriptionally regulated and is not dependent on new protein synthesis. FDP induction of PAI-1 suggests a matrix-cell feedback process in which a fibrin fragment modulates expression of an important regulator of fibrinolysis.
Recommendations for Development of Botanical Polyphenols as “Natural Drugs” for Promotion of Resilience Against Stress-Induced Depression and Cognitive Impairment

Extensive evidence has demonstrated that psychological stress has detrimental effects on psychological health, cognitive function, and ultimately well-being. While stressful events are a significant cause of psychopathology, most individuals exposed to adversity maintain normal psychological functioning. The mechanisms underlying such resilience are poorly understood, and there is an urgent need to identify and target these mechanisms to promote resilience under stressful events. Botanicals have been used throughout history to treat various medical conditions; however, the development of botanical compounds into potential preventative and therapeutic agents in studies promoting brain health is hindered by the fact that most orally consumed botanicals are extensively metabolized during absorption and/or by post-absorptive xenobiotic metabolism. Therefore, the primary objective of this review article is to provide recommendations for developing natural compounds as novel therapeutic strategies to promote resilience in susceptible subjects. The development of botanical polyphenols to ultimately attenuate mood disorders and cognitive impairment will rely on understanding (1) the absorption and bioavailability of botanical polyphenols with emphasis on flavan-3-ols, (2) the characterization of tissue-specific accumulation of biologically available polyphenols and their mechanisms of action in the brain, and eventually (3) the characterization of biologically available polyphenol metabolites in mechanisms associated with the promotion of resilience against mood disorders and cognitive impairment in response to stress. We also summarize exciting new lines of investigation about the role of botanicals such as polyphenols in the promotion of cognitive and psychological resilience. This information will provide a strategical framework for the future development of botanicals as therapeutic agents to promote resilience, ultimately preventing and/or therapeutically treating cognitive impairment and psychological dysfunction.
Transcriptional Timers Regulating Mitosis in Early Drosophila Embryos

The development of an embryo requires precise spatiotemporal regulation of cellular processes. During Drosophila gastrulation, a precise temporal pattern of cell division is encoded through transcriptional regulation of cdc25(string) in 25 distinct mitotic domains. Using a genetic screen, we demonstrate that the same transcription factors that regulate the spatial pattern of cdc25(string) transcription encode its temporal activation. We identify buttonhead and empty spiracles as the major activators of cdc25(string) expression in mitotic domain 2. The effect of these activators is balanced through repression by hairy, sloppy paired 1, and huckebein. Within the mitotic domain, temporal precision of mitosis is robust and unaffected by changing dosage of rate-limiting transcriptional factors. However, precision can be disrupted by altering the levels of the two activators or two repressors. We propose that the additive and balanced action of activators and repressors is a general strategy for precise temporal regulation of cellular transitions during development.
Performance Analyses of a Parallel Verlet Neighbor List Algorithm for GPU-Optimized MD Simulations

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a molecular-resolution physical description of the folding and assembly processes, but the size and the timescales of simulations are limited because the underlying algorithm is computationally demanding. We recently introduced a parallel neighbor list algorithm that was specifically optimized for MD simulations on GPUs. In our present study, we analyze the performance of the algorithm in our MD simulation software, and we observe that the major of the overall execution time is spent performing the force calculations and the evaluation of the neighbor list and pair lists. The overall speedup of the GPU-optimized MD simulations as compared to the CPU-optimized version is N-dependent and ~30x for the full 70s ribosome (10,219 beads). The pair and neighbor list evaluations have performance speedups of ~25x and ~55x, respectively. We then make direct How biomolecules fold and assemble into well-defined structures that correspond to cellular functions is a fundamental problem in biophysics with direct biomedical application because some functions lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cancer. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a molecular-resolution physical description of the folding and assembly processes, but the computational demands of the algorithms restrict the size and the timescales one can simulate. In a recent study, we introduced a parallel neighbor list algorithm that was specifically optimized for MD simulations on GPUs. We now analyze the performance of our MD simulation code that incorporates the algorithm, and we observe that the force calculations and the evaluation of the neighbor list and pair lists constitutes a majority of the overall execution time. The overall speedup of the GPU-optimized MD simulations as compared to the CPU-optimized version is N-dependent and ~30x for the full 70s ribosome (10,219 beads). The pair and neighbor list evaluations have performance speedups of ~25x and ~55x, respectively. We then make direct comparisons with the performance of our MD simulation code with that of the SOP model implemented in the simulation code of HOOMD, a leading general particle dynamics simulation package that is specifically optimized for GPUs.
Stabilizing new bismuth compounds in thin film form

Growth of unexpected phases from a composite target of BiFeO3:BiMnO3 and/or BiFeO3:BiCrO3 has been explored using pulsed laser deposition. The Bi2FeMnO6 tetragonal phase can be grown directly on SrTiO3 (STO) substrate, while two phases (S1 and S2) were found to grow on LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates with narrow growth windows. However, introducing a thin CeO2 buffer layer effectively broadens the growth window for the pure S1 phase, regardless of the substrate. Moreover, we discovered two new phases (X1 and X2) when growing on STO substrates using a BiFeO3:BiCrO3 target. Pure X2 phase can be obtained on CeO2-buffered STO and LAO substrates. This work demonstrates that some unexpected phases can be stabilized in a thin film form by using composite perovskite BiRO3 (R = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) targets. Furthermore, it also indicates that CeO2 can serve as a general template for the growth of bismuth compounds with potential room-temperature multiferroicity.
Eale’s Disease

According to Jablonski, a noninflammatory disorder of the peripheral retinal vessels characterized by frequently bilateral periphlebitis, avascular peripheral areas, microaneurysms, rope ladder-like capillary dilatations, tortuosity of adjacent vessels, and spontaneous chorioretinal scars. Neovascularization, hemorrhage, vascular orbliteration, and vascular sheathing may be associated. Neurological complications may include vascular lesions of the brain and demyelination of the optic nerve. Epistaxis and constipation may occur.