cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal function assessment in child and adolescent heart transplant recipients during routine cardiac catheterization.

CKD identification after pediatric heart transplantation (PHT) is limited by inaccuracies in estimates of GFR. We hypothesized that GFR can be measured by a modified iohexol clearance protocol in PHT recipients and that the CKiD formula provides a better estimate of GFR than other estimating equations. A cross-sectional study of PHT recipients, ages 2-18 yr, undergoing coronary angiography was undertaken. The angiography dose of iohexol was divided by the area under the curve from three iohexol levels post-infusion to calculate GFR. Agreement between iGFR and multiple estimating equations (eGFR) was assessed. In 31 subjects, median age was 15.0 yr (IQR 7.6, 16.6). Mean iGFR was 93.8 (s.d. 22.5) mL/min/1.73 m(2) ; 16 (52%) had an iGFR <90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) . The full CKiD formula (mean eGFR 88.9, s.d. 14.9) had low bias (-5.0), narrowest 95% limits of agreement (-42.0, 32.1), highest 30% (94%) and 10% (52%) accuracy, and highest correlation coefficient (0.576) relative to iGFR. We describe a novel modified iohexol clearance method to assess GFR after PHT. Over half of the cohort had an iGFR <90, suggesting CKD. The full CKiD formula performs best with respect to bias, accuracy, and correlation.
Ocular Hypertension in Mice with a Targeted Type I Collagen Mutation

PURPOSE To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) in transgenic mice with a targeted mutation in the gene for the alpha1 subunit of collagen type I. METHODS Homozygous B6; 129-Cola1(tm1Jae) mice and corresponding wild-type mice were anesthetized. A fluid-filled glass microneedle connected to a pressure transducer was then inserted through the cornea into the anterior chamber to measure IOP. All measurements were made between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM. The IOP of seven Col1a1(r/r) and eight corresponding wild-type Col1a1(+/+) male mice was measured at 12, 18, 24, and 36 weeks after birth. The IOP of 5 to 24 additional Col1a1(r/r) mice was measured at 7, 12, 18, 24, and 36 weeks after birth. The structure of the anterior segment and the distribution of collagen I were assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Mean IOP measurements of the control Col1a1(+/+) mice (IOP(c)) at 12 and 18 weeks after birth were relatively constant at 18.9 +/- 2.0 and 19.2 +/- 1.9 mm Hg, respectively. Mean IOP then decreased to 15.8 +/- 0.8 and 16.2 +/- 1.2 mm Hg at 24 and 36 weeks, respectively. In contrast, mean IOP measurements in the transgenic (Col1a1(r/r)) mice was 2.7 +/- 3.4 mm Hg higher at 12 weeks and increased to a maximum of 23.6 +/- 2.4 mm Hg at 24 weeks. The difference between mean IOP in these two groups gradually increased to a maximum of 4.8 mm Hg (30%) at 36 weeks and was significantly different from the control mice at both 24 and 36 weeks of age. No anterior segment abnormality was observed in Col1a1(r/r) mice and no difference between the anterior segment appearance of Col1a1(r/r) and Col1a1(+/+) mice was observed throughout the 36-week analysis period. However, collagen I immunoreactivity in sclera and associated structures was greater in Col1a1(r/r) mice than in Col1a1(+/+) mice. When the mean IOP measurements from the additional Col1a1(r/r) mice were included with these measurements, mean IOP at each age was 16.7 +/- 0.8, 21.8 +/- 3.9, 23.2 +/- 2.8, 23.5 +/- 2.4, and 22.1 +/- 3.6 mm Hg, respectively. Mean IOP in the Col1a1(r/r) mice was significantly higher than in the Col1a1(+/+) mice at 18, 24, and 36 weeks by 21%, 44%, and 36%, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate ocular hypertension in mice with a targeted type I collagen mutation and suggest there is an association between IOP regulation and fibrillar collagen turnover.
Efficient adaptive simplification of massive meshes

The growing availability of massive polygonal models, and the inability of most existing visualization tools to work with such data, has created a pressing need for memory-efficient methods capable of simplifying very large meshes. In this paper, we present a method for performing adaptive simplification of polygonal meshes that are too large to fit in-core. Our algorithm performs two passes over an input mesh. In the first pass, the model is quantized using a uniform grid, and surface information is accumulated in the form of quadrics and dual quadrics. This sampling is then used to construct a BSP-tree in which the partitioning planes are determined by the dual quadrics. In the final pass, the original vertices are clustered using the BSP-tree, yielding an adaptive approximation of the original mesh. The BSP-tree describes a natural simplification hierarchy, making it possible to generate a progressive transmission and construct level-of-detail representations. In this way, the algorithm provides some of the features associated with more expensive edge contraction methods while maintaining greater computational efficiency. In addition to performing adaptive simplification, our algorithm exhibits output-sensitive memory requirements and allows fine control over the size of the simplified mesh.
DNA and DNAzyme-Mediated 2D Colloidal Assembly

DNA-mediated interactions present a significant opportunity for controlling colloidal self-assembly. Using microcontact printing to achieve spatial control of DNA-surface patterning and DNA-functionalized polystyrene colloids, we report that DNA hybridization can be utilized for sequence-specific reversible self-assembly of well-ordered 2D colloidal arrays. Two essential indicators of DNA-hybridization mediated assembly were confirmed: thermal reversibility and sequence specificity. The arrays melted at 50 degrees C and reassembled when introduced to fresh colloid suspension, and sequence specificity with <1% nonspecific binding was confirmed using fluorescent polystyrene colloids. The real-time assembly of the colloids onto the periodically patterned substrate was monitored by simple laser diffraction to obtain assembly kinetics. Maximum surface coverage of DNA-mediated assembly was determined to be 0.593 for DNA-functionalized 100 nm polystyrene colloids, and 90% of the assembly was complete after 6.25 h of hybridization in 50 mM NaCl Tris buffer. We also demonstrate that DNAzymes, catalytic DNA molecules, can be incorporated into the design, and in the presence of 10 microM Pb(2+), the hybridization-induced array assembly can be disrupted via DNAzyme activity.
Development of a real-time laser-based machine vision system to monitor and control welding processes

In this study, a laser-based machine vision system is developed and implemented to monitor and control welding processes. The system consists of three main modules: a laser-based vision sensor module, an image processing module, and a multi-axis motion control module. The laser-based vision sensor is designed and fabricated based on the principle of laser triangulation. By developing and implementing a new image processing algorithm on the platform of LabVIEW, the image processing module is capable of processing the images captured by the vision sensor, identifying the different types of weld joints, and detecting the feature points. Based on the detected feature points, the position information and geometrical features of the weld joint such as its depth, width, plates mismatch, and cross-sectional area can be obtained and monitored in real time. Meanwhile, by feeding these data into the multi-axis motion control module, a non-contact seam tracking is achieved by adaptively adjusting the position of the welding torch with respect to the depth and width variations of the weld joint. A 3D profile of the weld joint is also obtained in real time for the purposes of in-process weld joint monitoring and post-weld quality inspection. The results indicate that the developed laser-based machine vision system can be well suited for the measurement of weld joint geometrical features, seam tracking, and 3D profiling.
Alcohol outcome expectancies and drinking to cope with social situations

Repeated use of alcohol as a coping strategy to reduce anxiety or discomfort increases one's risk of developing alcohol dependence. Previous studies have found alcohol outcome expectancies (AOE) strongly predict drinking behavior, in general, and also are related to drinking to cope. The purpose of the current study was to examine AOE that may be related to drinking to cope with discomfort in social situations. It was hypothesized that positive AOE, especially related to assertion and tension reduction, would be most associated with drinking to cope with social situations. Fifty-six community volunteers from a larger study on attentional bias and drinking to cope were divided into high (n = 36) and low (n = 20) drinking to cope groups following completion of a questionnaire battery. Findings indicated AOE were well able to classify drinking to cope status, with 91% of cases correctly classified. As hypothesized, assertion and tension reduction AOE uniquely contributed to the discriminant function in classifying drinking to cope groups. These findings have implications for the prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorders and suggest that AOE should be further investigated as potential moderators of the relationship between social anxiety and alcohol use disorders.
Molecular genetic underpinnings of human substance abuse vulnerability: likely contributions to understanding addiction as a mnemonic process

Classical genetic studies document strong complex genetic contributions to abuse of multiple addictive substances. These genetic influences are more prominent in the later phases of individuals' progressions toward substance dependence. Individual differences in human addiction vulnerability could thus derive, in part, from individual differences in mnemonic systems. These variations could add to allelic variations that could produce effects on addiction vulnerability phenotypes by other routes that could include (1) differences in drug metabolism or biodistribution, (2) differences in drug's rewarding properties, (3) differences in traits manifest by the addict, including personality differences and (4) differences in the addict's psychiatric comorbidities. Data from linkage and association genome scans now identify chromosomal regions that are likely to contain allelic gene variants that contribute to human addiction vulnerability. Converging positive results are found in several different substance-abusing populations studied in several laboratories. This convergence supports the idea that common allelic variants contribute to individual differences in vulnerability to substance dependence. Genomic markers that identify allelic variants that reproducibly alter addiction vulnerability in several populations provide tools for research in addictions, tools to improve addiction treatments, tools to improve addiction prevention, clues to the genetic bases of individual differences in mnemonic processes and clues to the genetic bases of individual differences in the other traits and disorders that co-occur with substance dependencies.
THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TICAGRELOR AS COMPARED TO CLOPIDOGREL, WITH AND WITHOUT A GLYCOPROTEIN IIB/IIIA INHIBITOR IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS INTERVENTION: A PLATO (STUDY OF PLATELET INHIBITION AND PATIENT OUTCOMES) ANALYSIS

The efficacy and safety of ticagrelor as compared to clopidogrel, with and without a glycoprotein iib/iia inhibitor in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous intervention : a PLATO (study of platelet inhibition and patient outcomes) analysis
Experimental evidence for outward radial transport of impurities from the central cell of TMX

Impurity sources and confinement times in the central cell of TMX were examined by studying the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emissions from intrinsic and injected impurities. Impurity ions from gases puffed radially toward the central-cell plasma showed very little radial penetration into the plasma. The confinement times of highly ionized intrinsic and injected impurities in the central cell were of the order of or less than the deuterium ion confinement times; the ambient density ratios of O V to O VI indicate overall O VI confinement times near the axis of 0.3 to 3 ms. Impurities introduced into the central-cell plasma were not detected in either end-cell plasma, indicating that axial losses of impurities from the central cell were small. This result agrees with theoretical calculations of the axial confinement times and suggests that most of the losses were radial. The radial flux of impurity ions determined from the measured radial profiles of the ambient impurity ion densities is primarily outward; the magnitude of these fluxes also implies a short confinement time for impurity ions.
Protein Nitration in Parkinson's Disease

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a pathogenetic mechanism in Parkinson's disease (PD). One mechanism of oxidative cellular injury is the nitration of protein tyrosine residues, mediated by peroxynitrite, a reaction product of nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. We demonstrate here the presence of nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity in Lewy bodies within melanized neurons and in amorphous deposits associated with intact and degenerating neurons. The core of the Lewy body was frequently intensely immunolabeled, while the rim was lightly labeled or unlabeled. This likely reflects the fact that tyrosine residues of neurofilament proteins are primarily localized to Lewy body cores, and suggests that nitrotyrosine is present in neurofilament protein itself. Although these observations are as yet unable to provide a definitive link between oxidative stress and neuronal dysfunction, they demonstrate that oxidative stress has occurred within the vulnerable neurons of PD, leaving a permanent marker of oxidative modification of neuronal proteins within the target cells of neurodegeneration. In addition, these observations provide a potential link between excitotoxicity and oxidative stress within the vulnerable neurons of PD and represent a pathogenetic mechanism in common with the 2 other major age-related neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
A Long‐Term Study of Low‐Dose Aerosolized Terbutaline Sulfate

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new lowdose terbutaline sulfate aerosol (375 micrograms) over a six-week period. The question of drug tolerance was also evaluated. Twenty-four ambulant patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with a component of reversible airway disease was evaluated. The patients were tested at two-week intervals during a six-week period. The patients abstained from all bronchodilatory medications for at least 10 hours prior to the time of evaluation. The evaluation consisted of baseline FEV1 and MMEFR determinations, ECG, CBC, urinalysis, and renal and liver function tests. After the terbutaline was administered, a rhythm strip and pulmonary function tests were repeated at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. Throughout the six-week study there was a statistically significant increase in FEV1 and MMEFR, (P less than 0.001). No change was noted in the systolic blood pressures; however, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly. No drug tolerance, paradoxical bronchospasm, subjective side effects, no abnormal laboratory results were noted during the study period.
Potential effects of climate change on the distribution of waterbirds in the Prairie Pothole Region, U.S.A.

Abstract. Wetland-dependent birds are considered to be at particularly high risk for negative climate change effects. Current and future distributions of American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), American Coot (Fulica americana), Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) and Sora (Porzana carolina), five waterbird species common in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), were predicted using species distribution models (SDMs) in combination with climate data that projected a drier future for the PPR. Regional-scale SDMs were created for the U.S. PPR using breeding bird survey occurrence records for 1971–2000 and wetland and climate parameters. For each waterbird species, current distribution and four potential future distributions were predicted: all combinations of two Global Circulation Models and two emissions scenarios. Averaged for all five species, the ensemble range reduction was 64%. However, projected range losses for individual species varied widely with Sora and Black Ter...
Odd triperfect numbers are divisible by twelve distinct prime factors

On montre qu'un nombre triparfait impair possede au moins douze facteurs premiers distincts
The Old Social History and the New Social Sciences

This essay provides a survey of new research themes, methodologies and empirical and theoretical questions addressed in the other social sciences today and how they can be applied to traditional concerns of social history. Recent trends within economics, sociology and political science especially have generated new interest in historical questions as they relate to the origin, development and role of institutions in defining contemporary societies. Equally new interest in motivation of actors and their interaction with institutions has provided new insights into analysis of personal choice which also offers historians interesting new themes to explore. Thus there is a fruitful area of cooperation which can develop between historians and social scientists because of these new theoretical orientations. An awareness of these trends can help social historians focus their own research just as it allows these social scientists to engage some of the traditional concerns in our discipline.
Out-of-plane motion effects in microscopic particle image velocimetry

In microscopic particle image velocimetry (microPIV) experiments, the entire volume of a flowfield is illuminated, resulting in all of the particles in the field of view contributing to the image. Unlike in light-sheet PIV, where the depth of the measurement volume is simply the thickness of the laser sheet, in microPIV, the measurement volume depth is a function of the image forming optics of the microscope. In a flowfield with out-of-plane motion, the measurement volume (called the depth of correlation) is also a function of the magnitude of the out-of-plane motion within the measurement volume. Equations are presented describing the depth of correlation and its dependence on out-of-plane motion. The consequences of this dependence and suggestions for limiting its significance are also presented
Acute interstitial nephritis associated with atazanavir, a new protease inhibitor

Atazanavir is a new human immunodeficiency virus 1 protease inhibitor that has a favorable side-effect profile and is available in once-daily dosing. We report the case of a young man with human immunodeficiency virus infection who developed acute renal failure after therapy with this drug. Renal biopsy showed acute interstitial nephritis. This is the first report of acute interstitial nephritis from atazanavir.
Coenzyme A- and NADH-dependent esterase activity of methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase purified to homogeneity from rat liver possesses, in addition to its coupled aldehyde dehydrogenase and CoA ester synthetic activity, the ability to hydrolyze p -nitrophenyl acetate. The following observations suggest that this activity is an active site phenomenon: (a) p -nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis was inhibited by malonate semialdehyde, substrate for the dehydrogenase reaction; (b) p -nitrophenyl acetate was a strong competitive inhibitor of the dehydrogenase activity; (c) NAD + and NADH activated the esterase activity; (d) coenzyme A, acceptor of acyl groups in the dehydrogenase reaction, accelerated the esterase activity; and (e) the product of the esterase reaction proceeding in the presence of coenzyme A was acety;-CoA. These findings suggest that an S -acyl enzyme (thioester intermediate) is likely common to both the esterase reaction and the aldehyde dehydrogenase/CoA ester synthetic reaction.
Detection of interstellar sodium hydroxide in self-absorption toward the galactic center

A weak self-absorbed emission line, which is identified as the J = 4-3 transition of sodium hydroxide, has been detected in the direction of Sgr B2(OH). The correspondingly weak Sgr B2(QH) emission line U75406, previously reported as an unidentified spectral feature by other investigators, is consistent with the J = 3-2 transition of sodium hydroxide. This detection may represent the first evidence of a grain reaction formation mechanism for simple metal hydroxides. The detection of H62 Delta toward Orion A is also reported.
Segmentation using atlas-guided deformable contours

Deformable models using energy minimization have proven to be useful in computer vision for segmenting complex objects based on various measures of image contrast. In this paper, we incorporate prior shape knowledge to aid boundary finding of 2D objects in an image in order to overcome problems associated with noise, missing data, and the overlap of spurious regions. The prior shape knowledge is encoded as an atlas of contours of default shapes of known objects. The atlas contributes a term in an energy function driving the segmenting contour to seek a balance between image forces and conformation to the atlas shape. The atlas itself is allowed to undergo a cost free affine transformation. An alternating algorithm is proposed to minimize the energy function and hence achieve the segmentation. First, the segmenting contour deforms slightly according to image forces, such as high gradients, as well as the atlas guidance. Then the atlas is itself updated according to the current estimate of the object boundary by deforming through an affine transform to optimally match the boundary. In this way, the atlas provides strong guidance in some regions that would otherwise be hard to segment. Some promising results on synthetic and real images are shown.
Consumers as providers in psychiatric rehabilitation

Issues that arise in employing consumers as providers in psychiatric rehabilitation programs include readiness of the sponsoring agency, consumer disclosure, and adjustments in employment practices. Psychiatric rehabilitation agencies are obligated to seriously consider employing consumers, since they frequently ask the same of the other organizations.
Model-Based State-of-Charge Estimation for a Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid Battery

State-Of-Charge (SOC) estimation for Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) battery is complicated by the switched linear nature of the underlying dynamics. A first principles nonlinear model is simplified to provide two switched linear models and linearized to produce charge, discharge, and averaged models. Luenberger and switched SOC estimators are developed based on these models and propogated using experimental data. The results show that estimation errors are halved by including switching in the observer design.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Ectopic pregnancy within a cesarean delivery scar: A case report

The implantation of a pregnancy within the scar of a previous cesarean delivery is the rarest of ectopic pregnancy locations. If it is diagnosed early, treatment options are capable of preserving the uterus and subsequent fertility. However, a delay in either diagnosis or treatment can lead to uterine rupture, hysterectomy, and significant maternal morbidity.
Have we learned anything new about the use of evaluation

Abstract “Use of evaluation” used to mean the use of results for making program decisions. Now we are aware of its larger dimensions. Many aspects of evaluation can be used—ideas and insights, signals that are sent by the very fact of evaluating, the processes of learning through cooperation with evaluation, the choice of outcome indicators that herald success, even the study design. “Use” encompasses a broad array of effects by multiple classes of users. The paper highlights the importance of considering further potential collective users—the program organization, client groups, and civil society.
A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF MALE AND FEMALE SEX HORMONES ON IMMATURE FEMALE RATS

ONE GAINS from the literature the impression of a possible antagonistic action between theelin and testosterone in certain instances. In mature ovariectomiz;ed mice Robson (1) found that the simultaneous administration of testosterone with estrone inhibited the estrous reaction of the vagina which was produced by estrone alone. Korenchevsky, Dennison and Hall (a) stated that the suppression of the cornifying effects of estrone, or of estradiol, by testosterone propionate may be considered as an antagonistic action in the rat. Wolfe and Hamilton (3) reported that the hypophysealenlargement and basophilic degranulation resulting from estrone therapy in the rat were negated by the addition of testosterone acetate. An inhibition of estrogenic effects on the skeleton of mice by testosterone propionate in′ jections was reported by Gardner and Pfeiffer (4). Zuckerman (5) produced a prostatic enlargement in rhesus monkeys by the administration of estrone, which was obviated by the addition of testosterone propionate
BILEVEL DISPARITIES IN COURT DISPOSITIONS FOR INTIMATE ASSAULT

Using data on cases of intimate assault, we offer a relatively rare examination of disparities in court dispositions across multiple stages of case processing. In this context we introduce the theoretical and empirical relevance of considering the characteristics of defendants' neighborhoods as possible extralegal influences on disposition severity. Bilevel analyses of 2,948 males arrested for misdemeanor assaults on intimates in Cincinnati reveal significant disparities based on neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) in decisions related to charging, full prosecution, conviction, and incarceration, even when adjusting for compositional differences in defendant's race and SES across neighborhoods. Implications are discussed for the broader literature on extralegal disparities.
Mesh design for the p-version of the finite element method

Abstract When properly designed meshes are used then the performance of the p-extension is very close to the best performance attainable by the finite element method. Proper mesh design depends on the exact solution, however. Because the exact solution is not known a priori, initial mesh design is generally based on certain assumptions concerning the exact solution which must be tested in the post-solution phase to ensure reliability and accuracy of data computed from the finite element solution. In this paper general guidelines are presented for prior design of meshes, and procedures for post-solution testing are described and illustrated by examples.
Phonotactic Reconstruction of Encrypted VoIP Conversations: Hookt on Fon-iks

In this work, we unveil new privacy threats against Voice-over-IP (VoIP) communications. Although prior work has shown that the interaction of variable bit-rate codecs and length-preserving stream ciphers leaks information, we show that the threat is more serious than previously thought. In particular, we derive approximate transcripts of encrypted VoIP conversations by segmenting an observed packet stream into subsequences representing individual phonemes and classifying those subsequences by the phonemes they encode. Drawing on insights from the computational linguistics and speech recognition communities, we apply novel techniques for unmasking parts of the conversation. We believe our ability to do so underscores the importance of designing secure (yet efficient) ways to protect the confidentiality of VoIP conversations.
United States standard diphtheria toxin for the Schick text and the erythema potency assay for the Schick text dose.

A diphtheria toxin shown to have high toxicity and avidity and to combine with antitoxin in multiple proportions was selected for the U.S. standard diphtheria toxin for the Schick test and freeze-dried. Assayed values per vial were 1.09 Lf, 1.09 Lr, 1,090 Schick test doses (STD), 33 LD80, 38 LD50, and 43,000 minimum skin reactive doses. One STD (Lr/1000) is slightly more toxic than one unit of the international standard (Lf/1,000). Experiments showed that the potency assay of Schick test toxin by guinea pig erythema toxicity, determined relative to the toxicity of the standard, was highly reproducible and significantly more reproducible than the lethal (minimum lethal dose) test and that the STD, defined as one Lr/1000, was equivalent to approximately 1/50 minimum lethal dose. The erythema potency assay was prescribed in the U.S. standards for Schick test toxin effective in 1969.
Two-sided Estimates on the Density of the Feynman-Kac Semigroups of Stable-like Processes

In this paper we establish two-sided estimates for the density of the Feynman-Kac semigroups of stable-like processes with potentials given by signed measures belonging to the Kato class. We also provide similar estimates for the densities of two other kinds of Feynman-Kac semigroups of stable-like processes.
A second-order greedy algorithm for interconnecting Ethernets

The problem of determining which bridges and which LAN-bridge connections to establish to interconnect a set of Ethernets is considered. The objective is to minimize the cost. The configuration is to be a spanning tree and it must obey a degree constraint on each bridge. This combinational optimization problem is a degree-constrained Steiner tree problem. An efficient second-order greedy algorithm is developed to find a feasible solution to this problem. The results of computational experiments with the algorithm are reported. The algorithm were applied to interconnect a set of Ethernets at USC. A configuration for the USC Ethernets that costs 20% less than the cost of the current configuration is found. >
Variation in the Heritability of Educational Attainment: An International Meta-Analysis

To assess heterogeneity in the influence of genetic variation on educational attainment across environmental contexts, we present a meta-analysis of heritability estimates in fifteen samples and thirty-four subgroups differing by nationality, sex, and birth cohort. We find that heritability, shared environment, and unshared environment each explain a substantial percentage of the variance in attainment across all countries, with between-sample heterogeneity in all three variance components. Although we observe only meager differences in the total family effect by cohort or sex, we observe large cohort and sex differences in the composition of the family effect, consistent with a history of higher heritability of educational attainment for males and for individuals born in the latter half of the twentieth century. Heritability also varies significantly by nation, with the direction of variation specific by sample. We find a markedly larger impact of shared environment on attainment than has been found for other social outcomes, with the percent of variation in attainment attributable to shared environment exceeding the percent attributable to heritability in one-third of the studies in our sample. Our findings demonstrate the heritability of educational attainment to be environmentally contingent, affirm the widespread and enduring role of shared environment in determining ultimate socioeconomic attainment, and emphasize the importance of considering behavioral genetics techniques in models of social mobility.
Assessing the Needs of the SMA Population: Survey Results of Health Care Providers and Families

To define issues of greatest importance to families and health care professionals (HCP) involved in caring for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an electronic survey was distributed to p...
Topical tretinoin and 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of linear verrucous epidermal nevus☆

Treatment of a linear verrucous epidermal nevus using topical 0.1% tretinoin cream and 5% 5-fluorouracil in a young patient is described. In 1994, successful topical therapy using this combination was described in the management of an inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus. We report another case in which treatment of a noninflamed epidermal verrucous nevus with 0.1% tretinoin and 5% 5-fluorouracil resulted in significant improvement. An updated summary of the literature discussing management of epidermal nevi is presented.
Aqua-TUNE: A testbed for underwater networks

In recent years, new challenges and emerging applications have inspired increasing research interests in the area of underwater networks. However, field experiments are expensive and not all the research work can be evaluated in real world scenarios in a timely fashion. This motivates our interest on developing an affordable, accessible and user friendly platform for conducting field experiments. Aqua-TUNE, the Testbed for Underwater NEtworks, is presented in this paper. It can be used to experimentally evaluate the algorithms and protocols developed for underwater networks in real world scenarios. Our experience with the testbed shows that it could be a valuable tool to encourage rapid progress in underwater networks.
Optimal driving strategies for a train journey with non-zero track gradient and speed limits

In this paper we formulate and solve an important problem in applied optimal control. A train is to be driven along a track with non-zero gradient, where speed limits are imposed. The journey is to be completed within a specified time using as little fuel as possible. We find key equations that determine strategies of optimal type and present a general solution algorithm. Several specific examples will be given to illustrate the solution procedure.
Numerical evaluation of magnetic coordinates for particle transport studies in asymmetric plasmas

A numerical procedure is described for the evaluation of magnetic coordinates given a toroidal, scalar pressure plasma with an arbitrary magnetic field. The accurate representation of magnetic field strength in this way is invaluable for the calculation of drift orbits and transport in asymmetric plasmas.
A population-based study of KCNH7 p.Arg394His and bipolar spectrum disorder

We conducted blinded psychiatric assessments of 26 Amish subjects (52 ± 11 years) from four families with prevalent bipolar spectrum disorder, identified 10 potentially pathogenic alleles by exome sequencing, tested association of these alleles with clinical diagnoses in the larger Amish Study of Major Affective Disorder (ASMAD) cohort, and studied mutant potassium channels in neurons. Fourteen of 26 Amish had bipolar spectrum disorder. The only candidate allele shared among them was rs78247304, a non-synonymous variant of KCNH7 (c.1181G>A, p.Arg394His). KCNH7 c.1181G>A and nine other potentially pathogenic variants were subsequently tested within the ASMAD cohort, which consisted of 340 subjects grouped into controls subjects and affected subjects from overlapping clinical categories (bipolar 1 disorder, bipolar spectrum disorder and any major affective disorder). KCNH7 c.1181G>A had the highest enrichment among individuals with bipolar spectrum disorder (χ2 = 7.3) and the strongest family-based association with bipolar 1 (P = 0.021), bipolar spectrum (P = 0.031) and any major affective disorder (P = 0.016). In vitro, the p.Arg394His substitution allowed normal expression, trafficking, assembly and localization of HERG3/Kv11.3 channels, but altered the steady-state voltage dependence and kinetics of activation in neuronal cells. Although our genome-wide statistical results do not alone prove association, cumulative evidence from multiple independent sources (parallel genome-wide study cohorts, pharmacological studies of HERG-type potassium channels, electrophysiological data) implicates neuronal HERG3/Kv11.3 potassium channels in the pathophysiology of bipolar spectrum disorder. Such a finding, if corroborated by future studies, has implications for mental health services among the Amish, as well as development of drugs that specifically target HERG3/Kv11.3.
Association of Culture with Shyness among Japanese and American University Students

Previous cross-cultural studies of shyness have generally reported a higher level of shyness among adults in Japan than in the United States. This study examined two aspects of culture potentially related to different levels of shyness among the Americans and the Japanese: complementary relationship orientation, a tendency to maximize the status difference during communication, and family interdependence, a dependent tendency between a child and a parent. The survey included the 13-item version of Cheek's Shyness Scale and Sakuragi's Complementary Relationship Orientation Scale, and the Family Interdependence Scale. Analysis of responses by 166 American university students (76 men, 90 women) and 187 Japanese (81 men, 106 women) indicated that complementary relationship orientation was significantly related to shyness for both the Americans and the Japanese. No significant relationship, however, was found between scores on family interdependence and shyness.
Guelph Plans for the Franco-Prussian War

IN I866, as one of the consequences of the Austro-Prussian War, Prussia annexed Hanover, the largest independent kingdom of north Germany, thus bringing to a close the rule of the Guelph family in that principality. George V, the last Guelph ruler of the kingdom, refused to admit his deposition and began to organize agitation against the Prussian government. Of the various methods used by King George perhaps the one which was initially of major concern to Bismarck was his military plans to regain his kingdom. After the Hanoverian defeat in June I866 at the battle of Langensalza, several army officers went to Austria with King George. Later that year when Prussian officials and agents began to report to Berlin that more and more soldiers of the former Hanoverian army were congregating in various centres outside Prussia, the authorities became apprehensive that a serious military plot was afoot. In May I867, the semi-official Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung reported that a conspiracy had been uncovered in Hanover. The newspaper stated that some Hanoverians loyal to King George had acted as agents in recruiting people for a military legion.' The Prussian diplomats at various European missions continued during i 867-8 to mention the existence of military activities among the exiled Hanoverians and referred to those participating in these activities as members of the Guelph Legion.2 By February i868 the Prussian foreign office had learned that already 460 soldiers under the leadership of Hanoverian officers were living in Alsace, and more were expected to arrive.3 A military unit such as this Guelph Legion was a potential threat for the Prussian administration, for it could be a disruptive influence within the new province by encouraging hope of a Guelph restoration among the populace and by serving as a symbol of resistance to Prussian rule. Bismarck, aware of the danger, kept close watch on the Hanoverians and throughout i868 frequently had the Prussian envoy in Paris, Count Eberhard zu Solms-Sonnenwalde, speak to the French government about the activities of this group. On 5 February Bismarck instructed Solms to remind the French that the toleration of such a military unit on French soil was not consistent with the tradition of national rights nor with the good relations which existed between the two countries.4 The French, in turn, assured Bismarck that they
α7 nicotinic receptor up-regulation in cholinergic basal forebrain neurons in Alzheimer disease

Background Dysfunction of basocortical cholinergic projection neurons of the nucleus basalis (NB) correlates with cognitive deficits in Alzheimer disease (AD). Nucleus basalis neurons receive cholinergic inputs and express nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and muscarinic AChRs (mAChRs), which may regulate NB neuron activity in AD. Although alterations in these AChRs occur in the AD cortex, there is little information detailing whether defects in nAChR and mAChR gene expression occur in cholinergic NB neurons during disease progression. Objective To determine whether nAChR and mAChR gene expression is altered in cholinergic NB neurons during the progression of AD. Design Individual NB neurons from subjects diagnosed ante mortem as having no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or mild to moderate AD were analyzed by single-cell AChR expression profiling via custom-designed microarrays. Setting Academic research. Participants Participants were members of the Rush Religious Orders Study cohort. Main Outcome Measures Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate microarray findings. Results Cholinergic NB neurons displayed a statistically significant up-regulation of α7 nAChR messenger RNA expression in subjects with mild to moderate AD compared with those with NCI and MCI ( P Conclusions Up-regulation of α7 nAChRs may signal a compensatory response to maintain basocortical cholinergic activity during AD progression. Alternatively, putative competitive interactions of this receptor with β-amyloid may provide a pathogenic mechanism for NB dysfunction. Increasing NB α7 nAChR expression may serve as a marker for the progression of AD.
Simultaneous Quantitation of Cocaine and Its Major Metabolites in Human Hair by Gas Chromatography/Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A sensitive method for the simultaneous analysis of cocaine, benzoylecgonine (BE), and ecgonine methyl ester (EME) in human hair by gas chromatography/chemical ionization mass spectroscopy (GC/CIMS) is described. Hair samples are cut into 1-cm sections, washed with 1% sodium dodecylsulfate, rinsed with deionized water and methanol, and then digested overnight in a solution containing Tris buffer, sodium dodecylsulfate, Proteinase K, and dithiothreitol. Digested hair samples are extracted with Bond Elut Certify solid-phase extraction columns, derivatized with N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA), and analyzed by GC/CIMS using isobutane as reagent gas. This method is quantitative, does not cause degradation of cocaine, and requires as little as 5 mg of hair. Analysis is performed on a Finnigan ITS-40 ion trap mass spectrometer interfaced with a Varian 3400 gas chromatograph equipped with a Model 1075 split/splitless injector and a J&W DB-5 capillary column. Full scan spectra are used for identification of cocaine and its metabolites. Quantitation is based on peak area ratios of the MH+ ions, as follows: 304 for cocaine, 404 for BE-TBDMS, 314 for EME-TBDMS, and 340 for the internal standard, difluorococaine. This method can be used to quantitate cocaine at concentrations of 0.1 to 100 ng/mg hair. The coefficients of variation (%CV) at a drug concentration of 1 ng/mg hair are 10.3, 16.3, and 27.7% for cocaine, BE, and EME, respectively.
A robust system for accurate real-time summaries of internet traffic

Good performance under extreme workloads and isolation between the resource consumption of concurrent jobs are perennial design goals of computer systems ranging from multitasking servers to network routers. In this paper we present a specialized system that computes multiple summaries of IP traffic in real time and achieves robustness and isolation between tasks in a novel way: by automatically adapting the parameters of the summarization algorithms. In traditional systems, anomalous network behavior such as denial of service attacks or worms can overwhelm the memory or CPU, making the system produce meaningless results exactly when measurement is needed most. In contrast, our measurement system reacts by gracefully degrading the accuracy of the affected summaries.The types of summaries we compute are widely used by network administrators monitoring the workloads of their networks: the ports sending the most traffic, the IP addresses sending or receiving the most traffic or opening the most connections, etc. We evaluate and compare many existing algorithmic solutions for computing these summaries, as well as two new solutions we propose here: "flow sample and hold" and "Bloom filter tuple set counting". Compared to previous solutions, these new solutions offer better memory versus accuracy tradeoffs and have more predictable resource consumption. Finally, we evaluate the actual implementation of a complete system that combines the best of these algorithms.
A high-Q in-plane SOI tuning fork gyroscope

This paper presents the design and implementation of an in-plane solid-mass single-crystal silicon tuning fork gyro that has the potential of attaining sub-deg/hr rate resolutions. A design is devised to achieve high Q in the drive and sense resonant modes (Q/sub drive/=81,000 and Q/sub sense/=64,000) with effective mode decoupling. The gyroscope was fabricated on 40 /spl mu/m thick silicon-on-insulator (SOI) using a simple two-mask process. The drive and sense resonant modes were balanced electrostatically to within 0.07% of each other and the measured rate results show a sensitivity of 1.25 mV//spl deg//s in a bandwidth of 12 Hz.
Dynamics of Eutectic Microstructure during Unsteady and Oscillatory Solidification: Phase-Field Approach

A two-dimensional phase-field method was developed that allowed us to observe the evolution of the composition field and the microstructure of lamellar eutectics caused by variations in the freezing rate. Solid-phase nucleation, lamella termination, and migration of the three-phase junction were studied to elucidate the role of each in microstructure changes. This evolution is often complex due to the interplay between interface kinetics, the composition field, and the widths of the solid lamellae. When the freezing rate is increased, the supersaturation in front of the lamellae increases, causing formation of deep depressions, followed by nucleation of the other solid phase, instability, and movement of the three-phase junction. If the freezing rate is subsequently held constant, the microstructure eventually becomes stable. With a decrease in freezing rate, instability develops that changes the local growth direction and provokes changes in lamellar width followed by elimination of some lamellae. With freezing rate oscillations, backmelting becomes important, especially for large lamellar spacing, large amplitudes, and low frequencies. Three ranges of oscillation amplitude and oscillation frequency were identified that result in different microstructures.
Epidemiology and Etiology of Substance Use among American Indians and Alaska Natives: Risk, Protection, and Implications for Prevention

Background: The epidemiology and etiology of substance use and disorder in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have received increasing attention over the past 25 years and accumulating evidence provides important insights into substance use patterns in these populations. Objectives and methods: We provide a descriptive sketch of the AI/AN population in the United States today, present a brief review of the literature on the epidemiology and etiology of substance use within these populations, and discuss key implications of this literature for prevention efforts. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Patterns of alcohol use and abuse in AI/AN populations are complex and vary across cultural groups, but alcohol clearly impacts both physical health and mental health within these communities. Tobacco use – and associated health consequences – is typically higher in these populations than among other US groups, although significant variation across Native communities is apparent here as w...