cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Independent effects of 5' and 3' functional variants in the serotonin transporter gene on suicidal behavior in the context of childhood trauma.

The serotonin transporter, encoded by the SLC6A4 gene, influences the synaptic actions of serotonin and is responsive to stress hormones. We hypothesized that 5-HTTLPR, a functional SLC6A4 promoter polymorphism, and two tightly-linked, putatively functional 3' UTR SNPs (rs3813034, rs1042173) might have independent effects on suicidal behavior in the context of childhood trauma (CT). DNA and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire scores were available for a total of 474 African Americans, including 112 suicide attempters and 362 non-suicide attempters. Genotyping was performed for the triallelic 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, 14 SLC6A4 haplotype-tagging SNPs, and 186 ancestry informative markers. There were independent G × E interactive effects of 5-HTTLPR (p = 0.017) and the rs3813034-rs1042173 diplotype (p = 0.011) on suicidal behavior. In individuals exposed to high CT the risk of suicide attempt was 0.52 in carriers of the low activity 5-HTTLPR variant and 0.32 in medium/high activity variant carriers. Likewise, CT exposed carriers of the major rs3813034-rs1042173 ATAT diplotype had an increased risk of suicidal behavior relative to the ATCG/CGCG diplotype carriers (0.40 vs 0.31). Neither the 5' nor the 3' functional variants had an effect in individuals without CT: suicide attempt risk = 0.12-0.22. In individuals exposed to high CT the prevalence of suicide attempt was 0.56 in carriers of both 5' and 3' risk variants, 0.39 in carriers of one risk variant and 0.25 in individuals without either risk variant. Our findings suggest that the 5' and 3'SLC6A4 functional variants have independent effects on the risk for suicidal behavior in CT exposed individuals. Language: en
Timing Influenced Layout Design

We present a new approach to the automatic layout design for VLSI chips which incorporates timing information to influence the placement and wiring processes. This approach is an extension of the hierarchical layout method, in which placement and wiring are performed simultaneously [1]. We add a third phase of timing to the hierarchy, without affecting the computational complexity of the basic algorithm. Prior to the physical design, timing analysis is performed using statistical estimates for the unknown parameters; namely the lengths of interconnecting wires. The output of this analysis includes a measure for each net that indicates the degree of its contribution to the timing problem. This set of measures is used to bias the placement at the highest level of the hierarchy. Since wiring is performed after each level of partitioning, lengths of interconnecting nets among the partitions become available. These data are used to update the timing information that bias the design. Preliminary results show that, while delays due to interconnections are reduced, wireability of the chip does not deteriorate.
Basal cell carcinoma in young women: An evaluation of the association of tanning bed use and smoking

Abstract Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) typically occur in middle-aged to elderly patients but less commonly in younger ones. In our experience, most BCCs seen in patients younger than 40 years are found in women. We evaluated 30 women with biopsy-proven BCC and 30 control patients matched for sex, age, and skin type to determine potential risk factors for this population. Tanning bed visits, pack-years of cigarette smoking, recreational sun exposure, number of blistering sunburns, and use of sunscreens were determined for both groups. Among patients with a BCC, the histologic type of tumor, site of involvement, method of treatment, follow-up period, incidence of recurrence, and presence of actinic keratoses were also evaluated. Patients with a BCC had a statistically greater number of pack years of smoking ( P = .045), and a greater percentage of these women had experienced blistering sunburns ( P = .028). Although women with a BCC had, on average, almost twice as many tanning salon visits (152.2 vs 83.1), this was not statistically significant. Sunscreen use and amount of recreational ultraviolet light exposure were essentially equal between the two groups. Young women with a BCC are more likely to have a past or current history of cigarette smoking and blistering sunburns. Repeated exposure to tanning beds may also be a contributory factor. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;46:709-9.)
Study of the Effective Thermal Emittance of Cylindrical Cavities

An equation is derived which relates the effective emittance of a cylindrical cavity to the emittance of the construction material, the ratio of the length to the radius of the cylinder, and the distance separating the cylinder and the receiver. This equation was checked by measuring the effective emittance of shallow cylinders of two different lengths, at four axial distances, and with three filter systems. The use of filters in combination with a construction material whose spectral emittance varies sharply is equivalent to varying the emittance of the construction material. In all cases considered, the experimental result and the value predicted are in agreement within the experimental limits.
Process variation aware system-level task allocation using stochastic ordering of delay distributions

Design variability due to within-die and die-to-die variations has potential to significantly reduce the maximum operating frequency and effective performance of the system in future process technology generations. When multiple cores in MPSoC have different delay distributions, the problem of assigning tasks to the cores become challenging. This paper targets system level task allocation to stochastically minimize the total execution time of an application on MPSoC under process variation. In this work, we first introduce stochastically optimal task allocation problem. We provide formal theorems of the optimality of the solution in simple scenarios. We extend our theoretical work for generic cases in normal distribution. The proposed techniques enable efficient computation of task allocation using non-stochastic analysis. We apply these techniques in allocating tasks in the embedded system benchmark suites on MPSoC. We show that deterministic solution for system-level task allocation on widely used benchmark topologies and distributions (normal distribution) is almost as good as the best probabilistic solution.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone: abundance in the skin of the frog, Rana pipiens

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone, a hypothalamic tripeptide that stimulates the secretion of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone in mammalian species and is widely distributed throughout the brain of vertebrates, is present in the skin of the frog (Rana pipiens) in concentrations twice that found in the hypothalamus of this amphibian. A skin extract shows biologic activity appropriate to its immunoreactive content. Apart from the brain and spinal cord, immunoreactive thyrotropin-releasing hormone is found only in the blood and retina in significant concentrations. The results imply that frog skin is a huge endocrine organ that synthesizes and secretes this hormone.
RCC1 in the cell cycle: the regulator of chromosome condensation takes on new roles

In the eukaryotic cell cycle, nuclear DNA replication (S phase) and mitosis (M phase) are linked such that replication must be complete before mitosis can begin. In order for this coupling to work, there must be some system for detecting unreplicated DNA and transducing an inhibitory signal to prevent the activation of mitotic factors. The DNA-bound protein RCC1 is involved in this regulatory process since mitosis initiates before DNA synthesis is finished in the absence of RCC1. This has led to the proposal that RCC1 is a signalling molecule, detecting unreplicated DNA and producing the inhibitory signal. However, mutants in RCC1 show defects beyond their inability to regulate the cell cycle, suggesting other roles for the RCC1 protein in the nucleus and thus hitherto unexplored relationships between cell cycle control and other cellular processes.
Noninvasive acoustical detection of coronary artery disease using the adaptive line enhancer method

Previous studies have indicated that heart sounds may contain information which is useful in the detection of occluded coronary arteries. Specifically, previous work based on analysing heart sounds recorded during the diastolic portion of the cardiac cycle, when blood flow through the coronary arteries is maximum, has shown that additional frequency components are present in patients with coronary artery disease. To further explore the application of advanced signal processing techniques to the noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease, a new signalprocessing approach is presented using adaptive line enhancing (ALE) and spectral estimation of diastolic heart sounds taken from recordings made at the patient's bedside. This approach comprises two cascaded processes. In the first the ALE method is used to enhance the diastolic heart sounds and eliminate background noise. In the second process, either autoregressive (AR) or autoregressive moving average (ARMA) spectral methods are used to estimate the model parameters. Model parameters (the power spectral density (PSD) functions and the poles of the AR or ARMA method) were used to diagnose patients as diseased or normal. Results showed that normal and abnormal recordings were correctly identified in 39 of 43 cases using the new method. These results also confirm that high-frequency energy above 400 Hz is associated with coronary stenosis.
Characterization of the Human Serum Trypanosome Toxin, Haptoglobin-related Protein

Haptoglobin-related protein (HPR) is a serum protein that is >90% homologous to the acute-phase reactant haptoglobin (Hp). Haptoglobin binds and removes free hemoglobin (Hb) from the circulation. Hpr levels are elevated with tumor progression in the serum of some cancer patients, but the relevance of this observation is not understood. HPR is an integral part of two distinct high molecular weight complexes (trypanosome lytic factor 1 (TLF1) and TLF2) that are lytic for the African parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Previous data indicate that HPR represents the toxic component of both trypanosome lytic factors. It has been proposed that after uptake by the parasite, Hb bound to HPR causes lysis in a peroxidase-dependent process. We report that the molecular architecture of HPR in normal human serum is different from that of Hp and that HPR does not bind Hb in normal human serum. Immunodepletion of all detectable Hb from TLF1 does not deplete TLF1 of HPR or trypanolytic activity, suggesting that the mechanism of parasite lysis is Hb-independent.
An update of treatment of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta.

Excisional therapy has been employed in 32 patients with fusiform aneurysms of the descending aorta. Based on the addition of one of the bypass techniques employed to minimize the hemodynamic abnormalities of aortic clamping, the series is divided into 2 groups, each comprised of 16 patients. In Group I either extracorporeal circulation or indwelling temporary shunts were employed during the period of aortic occlusion, while in Group II simple aortic cross-clamping was utilized to manage the lesion. No adjuncts were used to avoid ischemia in the latter group. The only death and 2 instances of paraplegia occurred in the shunt group. In general, there were fewer complications in the no-shunt group, with approximately 2/3 of the patients experiencing an uncomplicated postoperative course. These differences are considered significant, since the 2 groups were similar in respect to the extent and nature of the lesions and other factors influencing operative risk.
Diversity of base-pair conformations and their occurrence in rRNA structure and RNA structural motifs.

In addition to the canonical base-pairs comprising the standard Watson–Crick (C:G and U:A) and wobble U:G conformations, an analysis of the base-pair types and conformations in the rRNAs in the high-resolution crystal structures of the Thermus thermophilus 30 S and Haloarcula marismortui 50 S ribosomal subunits has identified a wide variety of non-canonical base-pair types and conformations. However, the existing nomenclatures do not describe all of the observed non-canonical conformations or describe them with some ambiguity. Thus, a standardized system is required to classify all of these non-canonical conformations appropriately. Here, we propose a new, simple and systematic nomenclature that unambiguously classifies base-pair conformations occurring in base-pairs, base-triples and base-quadruples that are associated with secondary and tertiary interactions. This system is based on the topological arrangement of the two bases and glycosidic bonds in a given base-pair. Base-pairs in the internal positions of regular secondary structure helices usually form with canonical base-pair groups (C:G, U:A, and U:G) and canonical conformations (C:G WC, U:A WC, and U:G Wb). In contrast, non-helical base-pairs outside of regular structure helices usually have non-canonical base-pair groups and conformations. In addition, many non-helical base-pairs are involved in RNA motifs that form a defined set of non-canonical conformations. Thus, each rare non-canonical conformation may be functionally and structurally important. Finally, the topology-based isostericity of base-pair conformations can rationalize base-pair exchanges in the evolution of RNA molecules.
Neuropeptide Y immunoreactive neurons in murine trisomy 16 cortical cultures. Plasticity of expression and differentiation

Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-containing neurons are depleted in the cortices of individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), yet spared in the striatum of patients with Huntington chorea. It is unknown whether this neuronal phenotype is inherently susceptible to the neurodegenerative processes that are a hallmark of AD. To study this question, the murine trisomy 16 model of Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease was investigated. Since trisomic fetuses diein utero, studies were carried out on primary cultures of dissociated cortical neurons. These were prepared from 15-d gestational trisomy 16 fetuses and their littermate euploid controls, and examined by immunocytochemical staining for neuropeptide Y at 7 and 12 d in vitro. Trisomy 16 neurons were also grown on euploid glial carpets, whereas euploid neurons were grown on trisomic glia. The results demonstrate a significant increase in the number of NPY neurons and a stunting in the dendritic arbor of these neurons in trisomic vs euploid cortex. Both of these parameters could be normalized by direct contact with euploid glia. When euploid cortex was plated on trisomic glia, the number of NPY neurons and their morphology were altered so that they began to resemble trisomic NPY cortical neurons. These results indicate a dysregulation of NPY neuronal expression and differentiation in trisomy 16 cortex that are modifiable by interaction with euploid glia and imply an abnormal trophic (glial) environment in trisomic cortex.
Efficient Information-based Visual Robotic Mapping in Unstructured Environments

In field environments it is often not possible to provide robot teams with detailed a priori environment and task models. In such unstructured environments, robots will need to create a dimensionally accurate three-dimensional geometric model of its surroundings by performing appropriate sensor actions. However, uncertainties in robot locations and sensing limitations/occlusions make this difficult. A new algorithm, based on iterative sensor planning and sensor redundancy, is proposed to build a geometrically consistent dimensional map of the environment for mobile robots that have articulated sensors. The aim is to acquire new information that leads to more detailed and complete knowledge of the environment. The robot(s) is controlled to maximize geometric knowledge gained of its environment using an evaluation function based on Shannon's information theory. Using the measured and Markovian predictions of the unknown environment, an information theory based metric is maximized to determine a robotic agent's next best view (NBV) of the environment. Data collected at this NBV pose are fused using a Kalman filter statistical uncertainty model to the measured environment map. The process continues until the environment mapping process is complete. The work is unique in the application of information theory to enhance the performance of environment sensing robot agents. It may be used by multiple distributed and decentralized sensing agents for efficient and accurate cooperative environment modeling. The algorithm makes no assumptions of the environment structure. Hence, it is robust to robot failure since the environment model being built is not dependent on any single agent frame, but is set in an absolute reference frame. It accounts for sensing uncertainty, robot motion uncertainty, environment model uncertainty and other critical parameters. It allows for regions of higher interest receiving greater attention by the agents. This algorithm is particularly well suited to unstructured environments, where sensor uncertainty and occlusions are significant. Simulations and experiments show the effectiveness of this algorithm.
The Blazhko Effect of AR Herculis

V-band observations of the RR Lyrae star AR Her were obtained in 1992 and 1994–1995. During these years, AR Her continued to exhibit a strong Blazhko effect, showing light-curve variations more complex than pure amplitude modulation. The light curves of AR Her in 1992 and 1995 were modeled and compared with prior results. The light curve of AR Her is not a simple superposition of the light curves of an RRab and an RRc star. AR Her is therefore not, as has been suggested, a composite system made of an RRab and an RRc component. Coincident changes in primary and Blazhko period have been reported for some Blazhko variables. These period changes may possibly occur in AR Her, but stronger evidence for them has been seen in other stars. These changes suggest that the Blazhko period is not always equal to the rotation period of a star showing the Blazhko effect, in contradiction to recent rotator-pulsator models.
Social–Sexual Interactions? Meta-Analyses of Sex Differences in Perceptions of Flirtatiousness, Seductiveness, and Promiscuousness

Scholars have assessed the degree to which heterosexual men and women make differential judgments of flirtatiousness, seductiveness, and promiscuousness during cross-sex interactions. Findings from extant research suggest that men decode verbal and nonverbal communication cues differently than do women, and this difference results in men's tendency to rate individuals more highly in levels of these social–sexual constructs than do women. This paper reports the results of three meta-analyses that provided estimates of the magnitude of the sex differences in perceptions of flirtatiousness, seductiveness, and promiscuousness and argues that these results are consistent with error management theory. Sex of target and mode of observation interacted to impact observed sex differences. Sex differences were strongest for female targets when research participants were observers of face-to-face interactions (average r=.32), whereas sex differences in evaluations of flirtatiousness, seductiveness, and promiscuousnes...
Fabrication of an acrylic and metal band provisional restoration

Abstract There are many advantages of the combined celluloid matrix—metal band technique. The diagnostic mounting allows the dentist to create an optimal occlusal relationship. The celluloid matrix allows the dentist to verify tooth reduction and band clearance visually. The keying technique insures proper band and acrylic resin alignment. The celluloid matrix greatly reduces the amount of bulk reduction and anatomic carving of the acrylic resin. The centric holding relief areas allow the dentist to define them in acrylic resin prior to occlusal adjustment. The technique fulfills all of the criteria of a long-term provisional restoration while remaining simple and practical.
The Significance of Physical Education Content: “Sending the Message” in Physical Education Teacher Education

Mind-body dualism has likely influenced how many view human beings and their behavior—mind (i.e., thinking) is elevated over body (i.e., performing)—even in Physical Education Teacher Education. The problem is that such a perspective makes physical education content (i.e., dance, games, play, and sport) subsidiary to more “intellectual” or “academic” content. This article invites Physical Education Teacher Education faculty to consider how to effectively “send the message” to future physical educators that physical education content is valuable and respectable and in many ways epitomizes intelligent human behavior. Specifically, Physical Education Teacher Education faculty are invited to (a) challenge traditional definitions of intelligence and introduce alternative definitions, (b) participate regularly in their own playgrounds, (c) provide a sufficient dose of activity courses in their curricula, (d) teach activity courses, (e) establish a performance-oriented culture, and (f) administer performance and...
A performance study of an optical burst switched network with dynamic simultaneous link possession

In optical burst switched (OBS) networks a burst may occupy a wavelength on one or more links as it travels through the network. In the literature, OBS networks have been analyzed assuming that each burst occupies only a wavelength on a single link. In this paper, we study analytically the performance of an OBS network with a mixture of different size bursts. The short bursts occupy a wavelength on a single link while the long bursts occupy simultaneously wavelengths on multiple consecutive links. We develop a queueing network, which models simultaneous link possession, and we calculate analytically the end-to-end burst loss probabilities over a path in the OBS network. Our results indicate that having a mix of various size bursts can greatly effect the burst loss probabilities in the network.
Multilayer etch masks for 3-dimensional fabrication of robust silicon carbide microstructures

This paper details the creation of 3-dimensional (3-D) microstructures in 4H-silicon carbide (4H-SiC) substrates with a plasma etch process that utilizes multilayer etch masks. An inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etch process (SF 6 /O 2 ) for SiC was developed and etch rates as high as ∼1 µm/min, a selectivity of 60∶1 (SiC to Ni), and aspect ratio dependent etch characteristics were demonstrated. In addition, the selectivity of atomic layer deposited (ALD) Al 2 O 3 etch masks to 4H-SiC is reported for the first time. Using this unique process, the microfabrication of complex microstructures (mechanical gears, Lego®-like bricks, and poker chips) is presented. The use of 4H-SiC as the structural material enables such microstructures to be utilized under high cycles of wear, within elevated temperatures, and within chemically corrosive environments.
An Attachment Theory Approach to Narrating the Faith Journey of Children of Parental Divorce.

This study explores the effects of parental divorce on a child’s faith. Drawing from attachment theory, Granqvist and Kirkpatrick proposed two probable developmental pathways to religion. For those with secure attachment, whose cumulative experiences of sensitive, religious caregivers enhance the development of a God image as loving; belief emerges from a gradual process of socialisation (correspondence hypothesis). By contrast, for children with insecure attachment, turning to God is more typically precipitated by significant emotional turmoil; the discovery of new truth is indistinguishable from the discovery of a new relationship; and God serves as a substitute attachment figure (compensation hypothesis). Qualitative interviews with 12 seminary students who are adult children of their parents’ divorce illustrate the viability of using attachment theory as a heuristic for narrating, enhancing understanding of, and distinguishing the developmental faith journey of children who experience the divorce of t...
Comparative skin testing in the antecubital and popliteal spaces.

Abstract 1.1. In both atopic and nonatopic individuals, skin tests with histamine produced larger reactions in the antecubital fossa than on the arm or forearm. A similar but even greater difference was observed in atopic subjects when tested in this manner with atopens to which they were sensitive. 2.2. Skin tests with histamine performed in the popliteal space in both atopic and nonatopic individuals showed a pronounced increase in reactivity as compared to sites either above or below this space. The differences were even more pronounced when comparative skin tests were made with atopens.
Enhanced cue reactivity and fronto-striatal functional connectivity in cocaine use disorders

Chronic cocaine use is associated with enhanced cue reactivity to drug stimuli. However, it may also alter functional connectivity (fcMRI) in regions involved in processing drug stimuli. Our aims were to evaluate the neural regions involved in subjective craving and how fcMRI may be altered in chronic cocaine users. Fourteen patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cocaine abuse or dependence (CCA) and 16 gender, age, and education-matched healthy controls (HC) completed a cue reactivity task and a resting state scan while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. CCA showed increased activation compared to HC in left dorsolateral prefrontal and bilateral occipital cortex in response to cocaine cues but not to appetitive control stimuli. Moreover, CCA also showed increased activation within the orbital frontal cortex (OFC) for cocaine cues relative to the appetitive stimuli during a hierarchical regression analysis. A negative association between subjective craving and activity in medial posterior cingulate gyrus (PCC) was also observed for CCA. CCA exhibited increased resting state correlation (positive) between cue-processing seed regions (OFC and ventral striatum), and negative connectivity between cue-processing regions and PCC/precuneus. These alterations in fcMRI may partially explain the neural basis of increased drug cue salience in CCA.
River.Space.Design. Planning Strategies, Methods and Projects for Urban Rivers

During the course of modernization and urbaniza- tion, rivers have been thoroughly engineered to provide particular services and functions, but as an unintended consequence they have been engi- nee...
Characterization of biodegradable poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) polymers and microspheres

Characterization of biodegradable polymers used for controlled drug delivery is essential to ensure reproducibility of in vitro and in vivo performance. Selected characterization techniques established for poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) copolymers included DSC to analyse thermal behavior, 13C-NMR to determine exact comonomer ratios and comonomer sequencing, cloud point titration to establish solubility, SEC to monitor molecular weight averages and polydispersity, SEM to observe surface morphology, BET gas adsorption to analyse surface area, tapped bulk density measurements to suggest internal pore structure and porosity and finally in vitro degradation to analyse degradation times and profiles. Comonomer ratios of 50:50 PLGAs were found to be closer to stated values for Boehringer Ingelheim polymers than for polymers from two other suppliers. Implementing such a characterization program for biodegradable polymers ensures the production of reproducible and reliable controlled drug delivery systems.
Business Improvement Districts and Inner City Revitalization: The Case Of Philadelphia's Frankford Special Services District

Abstract The discourse of urban redevelopment and revitalization has changed remarkably over the past decade. With a decade of national economic growth leading to success in the professional services, tourism and convention markets, new life has been breathed into many city centers. This has led to a new theoretical focus on whether these gains could also be realized in city neighborhoods. A history of declining public resources brought on by the brutal confluence of de-industrialization and federal disinvestment left many neighborhood commercial areas at a loss in their competition with newly formed suburban retail developments. Moreover, surging crime rates and under-managed public space—which led to rising fear levels among urban space users—merely exacerbated this downward trend. This article examines the use of business improvement districts in inner city commercial areas. While much of the academic and popular press literature on BIDs has addressed their use in downtowns, their use is growing in sma...
Automatic visible watermarking of images

Visible image watermarking has become an important and widely used technique to identify ownership and protect copyrights to images. A visible image watermark immediately identifies the owner of an image, and if properly constructed, can deter subsequent unscrupulous use of the image. The insertion of a visible watermark should satisfy two conflicting conditions: the intensity of the watermark should be strong enough to be perceptible, yet it should be light enough to be unobtrusive and not mar the beauty of the original image. Typically such an adjustment is made manually, and human intervention is required to set the intensity of the watermark at the right level. This is fine for a few images, but is unsuitable for a large collection of images. Thus, it is desirable to have a technique to automatically adjust the intensity of the watermark based on some underlying property of each image. This will allow a large number of images to be automatically watermarked, this increasing the throughput of the watermarking stage. In this paper we show that the measurement of image texture can be successfully used to automate the adjustment of watermark intensity. A linear regression model is used to predict subjective assessments of correct watermark intensity based on image texture measurements.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Biosynthetic radiolabeling of bacterial lipopolysaccharide to high specific activity

We describe a method for producing radiolabeled lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by incorporating [3H]acetate into an aceEF, gltA strain of Escherichia coli K12. The LPS has substantially greater specific radioactivity (2 microCi per microgram LPS, or approximately 8 Ci/mmol) than has been reported previously for biosynthetically radiolabeled LPS. The 3H is incorporated into the fatty acyl chains of the lipid A moiety. LPS prepared by this method has several attractive features for biological studies, including native structure and bioactivity, long radioactive half-life, and high specific activity.
Incarcerated Parents and Health: Investigating Role Inoccupancy Strains by Gender

This article elaborates research on parenthood, gender, and health by considering the context of incarceration using the stress process paradigm. The chronic strain of non-participation in a desired role, or “role inoccupancy,” in the form of non-resident parenthood on arrest is associated with psychological distress at time of lockup among women but not men, indicating a gendered strain. However, for both incarcerated men and women, anticipated resident parent role inoccupancy upon release (or expectations not to live with their minor children) is generically associated with current subjective mental health problems net of distress prior to lockup. Role inoccupancy strains are further associated with subjective physical health problems among women but not men, indicating more pervasive associations among the former.
Radiotherapy associated with improved survival for high-grade sarcoma of the extremity.

Background The impact of radiotherapy on local control in limb-preserving surgery for high-risk sarcoma has been well studied. However, the impact of the use and timing of radiation therapy on survival is unclear. Methods From 1988 to 2010, patients with Stage III extremity sarcoma were identified within the SEER registry and cohorts were created using propensity score matching between irradiated and non-irradiated groups. Results A total of 2,606 patients were identified, with a median age of 59 years a majority were white (81%), male (54%), received radiotherapy (78%), and had lower extremity (80%) sarcomas. The most common subtype was fibrohistiocytic (29.8%). Patients treated with radiotherapy were younger (57.2 vs. 60.3 years) and differed in subtype compared to those untreated. The matched cohorts were better balanced for all factors. Radiation therapy was associated with a 5% 5-year survival advantage on univariate analysis for both the unmatched (P = 0.002) and matched cohorts (P = 0.01). On multivariate analysis radiotherapy was associated with a 20% and 30% survival advantage for the matched and unmatched cohorts, respectively (P ≤ 0.02). The timing of radiotherapy did not affect survival. Conclusions Radiotherapy, regardless of the timing, is associated with improved survival in high-risk sarcoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:338–343. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Size optimization for CMOS basic cells of VLSI

The authors describe an approach for solving the transistor size optimization problem with a time delay constraint for a basic VLSI CMOS cell. A set of optimal transistor sizes that provide a delay with circuit analysis accuracy can be obtained with the approximate surface generated from a limited number of circuit evaluations for the basic cell. During one of the iterations of the optimization process, the optimal point obtained from the approximate surface will be used as the new nominal point for the next iteration. The region on the approximate surface converges to a section of the real optimum surface with circuit analysis accuracy as the final nominal point converges to the optimal. >
Multiscale entropy to distinguish physiologic and synthetic RR time series

We address the challenge of distinguishing physiologic interbeat interval time series from those generated by synthetic algorithms via a newly developed multiscale entropy method. Traditional measures of time series complexity only quantify the degree of regularity on a single time scale. However, many physiologic variables, such as heart rate, fluctuate in a very complex manner and present correlations over multiple time scales. We have proposed a new method to calculate multiscale entropy from complex signals. In order to distinguish between physiologic and synthetic time series, we first applied the method to a learning set of RR time series derived from healthy subjects. We empirically established selected criteria characterizing the entropy dependence on scale factor for these datasets. We then applied this algorithm to the CinC 2002 test datasets. Using only the multiscale entropy method, we correctly classified 48 of 50 (96%) time series. In combination with Fourier spectral analysis, we correctly classified all time series.
Trace element contents of chondrule rims and interchondrule matrix in ordinary chondrites

Abstract The abundances of forty elements have been measured in the rims and matrices of the unequilibrated ordinary chondrites Semarkona, Bishunpur, Chainpur, and Krymka. The rims appear to be mixtures of matrix-like material and material that was volatilized during chondrule formation. Iron, silicon, manganese, and copper all appear to have behaved as volatiles during chondrule formation and their enrichments are generally confined to the rims, suggesting recondensation of these elements was rapid and localized. This is supported by petrologic observations that show many chondrules were still partially molten or plastic when the rims accreted. Some rims also exhibit a decrease in both their FeO content and the degree of mineral re-equilibration away from the chondrule. The alkali metals are enriched in both the rims and matrices. The alkalis may have recondensed onto the matrix as well as the rims, but their mobility is such that they have probably undergone extensive redistribution after accretion. Some Na may even have been able to diffuse back into chondrules either during chondrule cooling or during metamorphism/alteration. Most refractory lithophiles are depleted with respect to A1 in the rims and matrices in all four UOCs. These depletions are probably due to postaccretional redistribution of these elements into phosphates and other secondary minerals that form in and around metal/sulfide grains. The matrix is probably composed of chondrule fragments and processed nebular dust, but the presence of carbonaceous presolar grains in the matrix indicates that there must be unprocessed presolar silicates present too. On average, the presolar silicates presumably have a CI-like composition but a CI-like signature is not seen in the matrix compositions. Simple estimates suggest that the abundances of carbonaceous presolar grains are consistent with there being at most 10 wt%o presolar silicates present in UOC matrix, which would be hard to detect in this study.
Calculating the effects of non-uniform ice accumulation on radome performance by ray trace analysis

The general effects of variable-thickness ice accumulation on radome performance have been studied by raytracing analysis. Results are presented for both clear ice and rime ice, which accumulate differently on a radome.
Tunnel number one knots satisfy the poenaru conjecture

Abstract It is shown that tunnel number one knots satisfy the Poenaru conjecture and so have Property R . As a sidelight they are also shown to be doubly prime.
Nanostructure studies of strongly correlated materials

Strongly correlated materials exhibit an amazing variety of phenomena, including metal-insulator transitions, colossal magnetoresistance, and high temperature superconductivity, as strong electron-electron and electron–phonon couplings lead to competing correlated ground states. Recently, researchers have begun to apply nanostructure-based techniques to this class of materials, examining electronic transport properties on previously inaccessible length scales, and applying perturbations to drive systems out of equilibrium. We review progress in this area, particularly emphasizing work in transition metal oxides (Fe3O4, VO2), manganites, and high temperature cuprate superconductors. We conclude that such nanostructure-based studies have strong potential to reveal new information about the rich physics at work in these materials.
Money and Credit in Early Industrialization : Some Methodological Problems in Comparative Analyses

changes foretell further increases in religious pluralism, or merely a general continuance of the limited, nominal patterns of religious belief which underlie the religious attitudes of so many Latin Americans. The expansion of Pentecostalism demonstrates that religious fervor can indeed overtake masses of citizens in contemporary Latin America. Nevertheless, the future expansion of Pentecostalism is circumscribed through the limited groups for which it has primary appeal and through the competition of Christian Democratic and Marxist ideologies. What analysis of Latin American Protestantism demonstrates most clearly is that its rise relates directly to the psychological and social functions which it can perform. Its future growth and effects, like those of the past, should depend on the ways in which it can perform these or other functions.
The role of corticotropin-releasing factor in depression and anxiety disorders

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a 41 amino acid-containing peptide, appears to mediate not only the endocrine but also the autonomic and behavioral responses to stress. Stress, in particular early-life stress such as childhood abuse and neglect, has been associated with a higher prevalence rate of affective and anxiety disorders in adulthood. In the present review, we describe the evidence suggesting that CRF is hypersecreted from hypothalamic as well as from extrahypothalamic neurons in depression, resulting in hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and elevations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of CRF. This increase in CRF neuronal activity is also believed to mediate certain of the behavioral symptoms of depression involving sleep and appetite disturbances, reduced libido, and psychomotor changes. The hyperactivity of CRF neuronal systems appears to be a state marker for depression because HPA axis hyperactivity normalizes following successful antidepressant treatment. Similar biochemical and behavioral findings have been observed in adult rats and monkeys that have been subjected to early-life stress. In contrast, clinical studies have not revealed any consistent changes in CSF CRF concentrations in patients with anxiety disorders; however, preclinical findings strongly implicate a role for CRF in the pathophysiology of certain anxiety disorders, probably through its effects on central noradrenergic systems. The findings reviewed here support the hypothesis that CRF receptor antagonists may represent a novel class of antidepressants and/or anxiolytics.
Asymptotic theory for stationary processes

We present a systematic asymptotic theory for statistics of stationary time series. In particular, we consider properties of sample means, sample covariance functions, covariance matrix estimates, periodograms, spectral density estimates, U -statistics, kernel density and regression estimates of linear and nonlinear processes. The asymptotic theory is built upon physical and predictive dependence measures, a new measure of dependence which is based on nonlinear system theory. Our dependence measures are particularly useful for dealing with complicated statistics of time series such as eigenvalues of sample covariance matrices and maximum deviations of nonparametric curve estimates.
Ku acts in a unique way at the mammalian telomere to prevent end joining

Telomeres are specialized DNA/protein structures that act as protective caps to prevent end fusion events and to distinguish the chromosome ends from double-strand breaks. We report that TRF1 and Ku form a complex at the telomere. The Ku and TRF1 complex is a specific high-affinity interaction, as demonstrated by several in vitro methods, and exists in human cells as determined by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Ku does not bind telomeric DNA directly but localizes to telomeric repeats via its interaction with TRF1. Primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts that are deficient for Ku80 accumulated a large percentage of telomere fusions, establishing that Ku plays a critical role in telomere capping in mammalian cells. We propose that Ku localizes to internal regions of the telomere via a high-affinity interaction with TRF1. Therefore, Ku acts in a unique way at the telomere to prevent end joining.
Microsurgical management of distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms: from basic to complex, a video review of four cases.

Background Distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms represent 2–9 % of intracranial aneurysms. They are often more amenable to surgical rather than endovascular treatment due to the size of parent vessels.
Homologous genes for mouse 4.5S hybRNA are found in all eukaryotes and their low molecular weight RNA transcripts intermolecularly hybridize with eukaryotic 18S ribosomal RNAs

Abstract Previous work has reported the isolation and sequencing of a mouse low molecular weight RNA species designated 4.5S hybridizing RNA or hybRNA because of its ability to intermolecularly hybridize with mouse mRNA and 18S rRNA sequences. Using synthetic DNA oligonucleotide probes we have examined the conservation of this gene sequence and its expression as a lmwRNA transcript across evolution. Southern blot analysis has shown that homologous genes of single or low copy number are found in all eukaryotes examined as well as in E. coli. Northern blot analysis has demonstrated 4.5S hybRNA transcription in all mouse tissues as well as expression in yeast and Xenopus laevis as lmwRNAs of approximately 130 and 100 nucleotides, respectively, as compared with mouse/rat/hamster species of approximately 87 nucleotides. Yeast and X. laevis 4.5S hybRNA homologs, isolated by hybrid-selection, were shown by Northern blot analysis to intermolecularly hybridize with homologous as well as heterologous 18S rRNA sequences. The conservation of 4.5S hybRNA homologous genes and their expression as lmwRNA transcripts with common intermolecular RNA:RNA hybridization capabilities in fungi, amphibians, and mammals argues for a common, conserved and required biological function for this lmwRNA in all eukaryotes and potential utilization of its intermolecular RNA:RNA hybridization capabilities to carry out this function.
Dynamic task scheduling for the Uintah framework

Uintah is a computational framework for fluid-structure interaction problems using a combination of the ICE fluid flow algorithm, adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) and MPM particle methods. Uintah uses domain decomposition with a task-graph approach for asynchronous communication and automatic message generation. The Uintah software has been used for a decade with its original task scheduler that ran computational tasks in a predefined static order. In order to improve the performance of Uintah for petascale architecture, a new dynamic task scheduler allowing better overlapping of the communication and computation is designed and evaluated in this study. The new scheduler supports asynchronous, out-of-order scheduling of computational tasks by putting them in a distributed directed acyclic graph (DAG) and by isolating task memory and keeping multiple copies of task variables in a data warehouse when necessary. A new runtime system has been implemented with a two-stage priority queuing architecture to improve the scheduling efficiency. The effectiveness of this new approach is shown through an analysis of the performance of the software on large scale fluid-structure examples.
A Systematic Review of Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Treatment-Related Symptoms in Women With Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND Women with ovarian cancer have a continued high symptom burden in comparison to other cancer survivors secondary to ongoing chemotherapy treatment. Prolonged or ineffective management of treatment-related symptoms can contribute to treatment noncompliance, worsening of symptoms, and reduced health-related quality of life. OBJECTIVES This review of the literature was conducted to describe experimental and quasi-experimental research addressing nonpharmacologic interventions for the treatment-related symptoms of sleep disturbance, pain, anxiety, depression, and low energy or fatigue in women with ovarian cancer and to critique the quality of interventions. METHODS A systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed and yielded 136 articles. Eight articles met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. FINDINGS Nonpharmacologic interventions for treatment-related symptoms were complex, with an average of 4.4 components. Intervention delivery, setting, and exposure varied widely across studies. Only three studies contained details sufficient to replicate the intervention. Lack of clarity in intervention reporting may explain perceptions of clinically inefficacious symptom management in this context. Greater attention to reporting would facilitate better translation of interventions into practice and when addressing complex cancer symptom clusters.