cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advance supply of emergency contraception: Effect on use and usual contraception - A randomized trial

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether advance provision of emergency contraception increases its use and/or adversely affects usual contraceptive practices. Methods We performed a randomized controlled trial comparing advance provision of emergency contraception with usual care in 370 postpartum women from an inner-city public hospital. Participants were followed for 1 year; 85% were available for at least one follow-up session. All participants received routine contraceptive education. The intervention group received a supply of emergency contraception (eight oral contraceptive pills containing 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel and 30 μg of ethinyl estradiol) and a 5-minute educational session. We compared use of emergency contraception and changes in contraceptive behaviors between groups. Results Women provided with pills were four times as likely to have used emergency contraception as women in the control group over the course of the year (17% versus 4%; relative risk [RR] 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8, 9.0). Women were no more likely to have changed to a less effective method of birth control (30% versus 33%; RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.63, 1.3), or to be using contraception less consistently (18% versus 25%; RR 0.74; 95% CI 0.45, 1.2). About half of each group reported at least one episode of unprotected intercourse during follow-up, but women who received emergency contraception were six times as likely to have used it (25% versus 4%; RR 5.8; 95% CI 2.1, 16.4). Conclusion Advance provision of emergency contraception significantly increased use without adversely affecting use of routine contraception. It is safe and appropriate to provide emergency contraception to all postpartum women before discharge from the hospital.
123I-iodoamphetamine SPECT brain imaging in alternating hemiplegia

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood is an unusual disorder characterized by early onset (occurring before 18 months of age); repeated attacks of hemiplegia involving both sides of the body; other paroxysmal phenomena, such as tonic stiffening, dystonic posturing, choreoathetoid movements, ocular motor abnormalities, and autonomic disturbances, in association with bouts of hemiplegia or occurring independently; and evidence of mental or neurologic deficits. A girl was examined because of left hemiplegia at the age of 16 months. The patient had begun exhibiting episodes of alternating hemiplegia at approximately 4 months of age. They consisted of tonic stiffening and dystonia of the right or left extremities, lasting from 30 min to several hours and followed by residual hemiparesis. They were invariably accompanied by ocular motor abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and angiography all were normal. Single proton emission computed tomography brain images during an acute episode of right hemiplegia demonstrated hypoperfusion of the left cerebral hemisphere. Following improvement of the hemiplegia, the patient was re-evaluated. The uptake of the radiotracer in the left hemisphere was increased. The scan did not demonstrate significant asymmetry in cerebral perfusion.
Reusing Existing Test Cases for Security Testing

Traditional test case generation methods usually consider coverage criteria like statement or path coverage and ignore security characteristics. The result is that a test case may fail to find vulnerabilities even if it covers the vulnerable statements. However, we argue that existing test cases are still of great value because significant human effort and time have been invested to achieve high coverage criteria. A high coverage indicates a high possibility that vulnerable statements occur in the execution traces of these test cases. Thus existing test cases could guide us to those vulnerable statements. Under this intuition, we present a method of security testing by re-examining existing test cases. The basic idea is to discover two types of constraints in a program: program constraints (PC) and security constraints (SC). The former are the constraints imposed by program statements. For example, an assignment statement i=0 constrains the value of i to be 0. The later are the constraints derived from security concerns. For example, a buffer should never be overflowed. Intuitively, a statement is vulnerable if it can make PCrarrSC be false, which means the program constraints are not strict enough to ensure the security constraints. We design and develop a tool named RETAST to demonstrate our idea and the initial result is promising.
1855 DISTRIBUTION OF DIAPHRAGMATIC BLOOD FLOW DURING INSPIRATORY RESISTIVE LOADED BREATHING IN PIGLETS

Recently, it has been suggested that the diaphragm is composed of two separate muscles, its costal and crural components, that serve distinctly different functional roles depending on the demands of the respiratory system. Because blood flow to skeletal muscle is proportional to the muscular effort expended (Cir. Res. 10:94, 1962), an examination of the distribution of blood flow to the costal and crural components should be an accurate means of assessing the partition of effort within the diaphragm. We examined costal (Qco) and crural (Qcr) diaphragmatic blood flow on 5 anesthetized spontaneously breathing piglets (age 15-23 days, wt. 2.8-4.2 kg) in order to assess partition of effort during inspiratory resistive loaded breathing (IRL). Qco and Qcr were measured using radionuclide labelled microspheres during quiet breathing and after 30' of IRL. Qco and Qcr, expressed in cc/100 g tissue/min (±SD) increased significantly above baseline values after 30' of IRL. There were no significant differences between Qco and Qcr during the baseline and IRL periods. We conclude that diaphragmatic muscular efforts, as reflected by changes in Qco and Qcr, increase during IRL and that the partition of effort is equally distributed between costal and crural components. (*Compared to baseline, paired t test p<.05).
The novel three-dimensional structure of native human alpha 2-macroglobulin and comparisons with the structure of the methylamine derivative.

Abstract A three-dimensional reconstruction of α 2 -macro-globulin (α 2 M) was computed from stain images. The structure appears to have point group symmetry 222 and, as also revealed by a tilt experiment, has the gross shape of a oval that displays a ∼90° twist in the body of the molecule. The reconstruction reveals a novel structure that consists of two Z-shaped components arranged in opposite orientation. These shapes are interconnected by two bridges at the elbow bends of the Z and by two arch-like features that join their ends. The molecule has dimensions of ∼190 × 125 × 120 A that encloses a 90° twisted ellipsoidal shaped central cavity of 70 × 35 A. The cavity has four small openings arranged in a staggered configuration that extend to the outside. Serial slices of α 2 M and α 2 M-methylamine show that the bodies of the structures appear to be twisted in the opposite orientation. It is proposed that the four thioester bonds in the native molecule are responsible for maintaining its twisted configuration and that their cleavage with methylamine results in the structure becoming twisted in the opposite orientation. A comparison of average images derived from unstained particles of monoclonal Fab-labeled α 2 M and α 2 M-methylamine is consistent with this proposal. This unusual change in the handedness of α 2 M may have an important role in the encapsulation of the proteinase.
Effect of Different Packaging Methods and Storage Temperatures on the Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Raw and Hot Smoked Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

ABSTRACT The effect of packaging methods on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19114, 7644, 19113) at 3°C and 7°C in fresh and hot smoked trout (Onchorynchus mykiss) were monitored for 30 d. Samples were packaged under an air, nitrogen, vacuum, or nitrogen gas flush with vacuum atmosphere. The strains of L. monocytogenes tested did not grow in raw trout at 3°C, but grew at 7°C from log 2 to 4 cfu/g after 10 days storage. The number of spoilage microbes increased substantially during storage at 7°C, causing changes in aroma that make the product unacceptable after 5 to 10 days. L. monocytogenes did not grow on hot smoked trout at 3°C, but increased to log 7 cfu/g at 7°C during storage. Aerobic microflora grew slowly at 3 and 7°C in the smoked trout, and sensory quality remained within an acceptable range under both temperature conditions. Because of the sensory changes associated with decomposition, consumers would most likely consider MAP packaged fresh trout, but not necessarily smoked trout, hel...
Venous Interruption for Pulmonary Embolism: The Illustrative Case of Richard M. Nixon

This politically prominent patient was seen in consultation on October 26, 1974 because of chronic venous thrombosis and a recent pulmonary embolism. His problems had begun in 1965 when he developed venous thrombosis in the left leg after a length trip by air. His treatment had been sporadic and his compliance with treatment less than satisfactory. Because of detailed phlebography demonstrating (1) no clots in the veins of the right leg, (2) extensive loose lying clot filling the superficial, deep, and external iliac veins on the left, and (3) because of prior difficulties with patient compliance unilateral interruption of the left external iliac vein above the top of the clot was proposed. Despite some postoperative complications, the patient made a full recovery and lived 19 years on warfarin therapy before death from unrelated causes. He suffered no significant edema or other postphlebitic symptoms in the affected leg. The history of the use of venous interruption under these circumstances is reviewed to justify the operation that was performed.
Reversal of macrophage-augmented MLR reactivity by tumor-induced splenic suppressor T cells and their soluble factor(s).

Abstract Augmenting concentrations of macrophages or their supernatants failed to reverse T-cell hyporeactivity in tumor-bearing mice (TBM). Serial passaging over nylon wool columns depleted TBM spleen cells of a mildly adherent tumor-induced suppressor cell and restored mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) reactivity to the purified TBM T-cell population. The tumor-induced suppressor cell was extensively plated to remove macrophages and characterized as a T cell by its anti-Thy 1 serum sensitivity. This suppressor T cell, when added to normal T cells, abrogated all enhancing effects caused by addition of macrophages. Suppressor T-cell inhibition was non-contact dependent, since suppressor T-cell supernatants inhibited MLR activity in T cells treated with enhancing concentrations of macrophage supernatants. Thus it appears that tumor-induced T-cell debilitation is a reversible phenomenon, mediated not by macrophages but by soluble factor(s) from a nonphagocytic, mildly adherent, suppressor T cell.
Heterogeneity in glycosylation of dermatan sulfate proteoglycan core proteins isolated from human aorta.

Small proteoglycans were dissociatively extracted from normal human thoracic aorta with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride containing protease inhibitors, and purified by Sepharose CL-4B chromatography, dissociative cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation, and diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. The intact proteoglycans migrated in the 270,000–340,000 range on 4–20% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gradient gels. Core proteins prepared following digestion of the intact proteoglycan monomer with chondroitinase ABC consisted of a major Coomassie blue-staining protein band of 50,000 along with a minor band of 44,000. Subsequent studies using endoglycosidases H, F, and N-glycanase demonstrated that mainly complex type N-linked glycans were present on the 50,000 cores while the 44,000 cores appeared to be devoid of N-linked glycans. Western blotting demonstrated that both of these cores were recognized by the monoclonal antibody 2-B-6, indicating the presence of the terminal 4-sulfated unsaturate...
Zero-reflectivity homogeneous layers and high spatial-frequency surface-relief gratings on lossy materials

The required thickness and complex refractive index of single homogeneous layers on lossy substrates to produce zero reflectivity are calculated by a rigorous impedance matching approach. The analysis is applicable to both TE and TM polarization and to any angle of incidence. The filling factor and groove depth of a rectangular-groove grating, equivalent to a single homogeneous lossy layer in the long-wavelength limit, are calculated. The method reduces to that previously found for dielectric surface-relief gratings in the limit of no losses. The antireflection behavior of the gratings is verified using the rigorous (without approximations) coupled-wave analysis of metallic surface-relief grating diffraction. It is shown that multiple zero-reflectivity solutions exist for both TE and TM polarizations and for any angle of incidence for an arbitrary complex-refractive-index substrate. Example zero-reflectivity gold gratings for incident free space wavelengths from 0.44 to 12.0 μm are presented.
SURFACE TEXTURIZATION OF EXTRUDED AND PREFORMED POTATO PRODUCTS BY A THREE-STEP, DRY-STEAM DRY PROCESS

A dry-steam-dry process was used to make a crisp French fry from mash potatoes without additives. The times and conditions for drying, steaming and drying were varied and evaluated to get an organoleptically acceptable product. Long cooking times, high pressures and shearing actions that caused cellular damage and release of free starch were detrimental to the process and product. Compared with the commercially available product, the extruded French fry is more crisp, fries in a shorter time, absorbs less oil, has more natural potato flavor and has an excellent “plate-life.’ Other comparisons showed the process utilized less raw material and produced more strips and servings than was possible with the commercial process and product.
Binaural beat salience.

Previous studies of binaural beats have noted individual variability and response lability, but little attention has been paid to the salience of the binaural beat percept. The purpose of this study was to gauge the strength of the binaural beat percept by matching its salience to that of sinusoidal amplitude modulation (SAM), and to then compare rate discrimination for the two types of fluctuation. Rate discrimination was measured for standard rates of 4, 8, 16, and 32 Hz – all in the 500-Hz carrier region. Twelve normal-hearing adults participated in this study. The results indicated that discrimination acuity for binaural beats is similar to that for SAM tones whose depths of modulation have been adjusted to provide equivalent modulation salience. The matched-salience SAM tones had relatively shallow depths of modulation, suggesting that the perceptual strength of binaural beats is relatively weak, although all listeners perceived them. The Weber fraction for detection of an increase in binaural beat rate is roughly constant across beat rates, at least for rates above 4 Hz, as is rate discrimination for SAM tones.
Myosin Subunits and their interactions

There is fairly general agreement that myosin isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle has a molecular weight of about 500,000. The higher values that have been reported apparently reflect protein aggregation related to the method of preparation. On the basis of present evidence, the myosin molecule has an elongate helical core of two f subunits (average weight about 215,000) that extend into a globular head region containing three g subunits (average weight about 20,000). Myosin may be dissociated into subunits by a number of methods. In 5 M guanidine, the myosin molecule is dissociated into f and g subunits, while at pH above 10, the g subunits are dissociated from the intact fibrous core of myosin. The dissociation of g subunits at pH 10 is accompanied by the loss of both ATPase activity and actin-binding capacity; however, the exact biological significance of the g subunits is presently uncertain. In preliminary studies, the f subunits appear to contain the sulfhydryl residues currently implicated in myosin ATPase, and there is some indication of allosteric regulation of enzymic activity.
Evaluation of Home Blood Pressure Monitors in Children and Adolescents

Abstract Objective: This study was designed to adapt commercially available home blood pressure monitors for use in children ages 4 to 18 years and to compare the recordings obtained from the adapted devices to those obtained using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Methods: Sequential same-arm blood pressures were measured by trained observers in 106 children, ages 4 to 18 years, using a calibrated mercury-gravity manometer (reference device) as the standard method, and 3 test devices (an aneroid manometer and two semiautomated oscillometric devices). For each patient, mid-arm circumference was measured and appropriate blood pressure cuff size was selected. Systolic and diastolic pressures were measured by trainedobservers usingthe reference device and the aneroid manometer in accordance with criteria established by the Second Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children. Other than variation in cuffsize, all manufacturers' recommendations were followed for each test device. Results: Outcome was assessedusingcriteria established by the British Hypertension Society (BHS) and the Association for theAdvancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). The aneroid manometer consistently received a grade ofA using BHS criteria and also passed using AAMI criteria. Neither of the two semiautomated monitors achieved a passing grade, although the Labtron monitor performed slightly better than the Marshall 85 monitor. Conclusions: Home blood pressure monitors must be validated for use in children prior to widespread use. Given appropriate training and verification of observer accuracy, the aneroid manometer can be recommended for home use in children ages 4 to 18 years.
Processing of Hedonic and Chemosensory Features of Taste in Medial Prefrontal and Insular Networks

Most of the research on cortical processing of taste has focused on either the primary gustatory cortex (GC) or the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). However, these are not the only areas involved in taste processing. Gustatory information can also reach another frontal region, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), via direct projections from GC. mPFC has been studied extensively in relation to its role in controlling goal-directed action and reward-guided behaviors, yet very little is known about its involvement in taste coding. The experiments presented here address this important point and test whether neurons in mPFC can significantly process the physiochemical and hedonic dimensions of taste. Spiking responses to intraorally delivered tastants were recorded from rats implanted with bundles of electrodes in mPFC and GC. Analysis of single-neuron and ensemble activity revealed similarities and differences between the two areas. Neurons in mPFC can encode the chemosensory identity of gustatory stimuli. However, responses in mPFC are sparser, more narrowly tuned, and have a later onset than in GC. Although taste quality is more robustly represented in GC, taste palatability is coded equally well in the two areas. Additional analysis of responses in neurons processing the hedonic value of taste revealed differences between the two areas in temporal dynamics and sensitivities to palatability. These results add mPFC to the network of areas involved in processing gustatory stimuli and demonstrate significant differences in taste-coding between GC and mPFC.
Photoacoustic and ultrasound dual-modality imaging for inflammatory arthritis

Arthritis is a leading cause of disability, affecting 46 million of the population in the U.S. Rendering new optical contrast in articular tissues at high spatial and temporal resolution, emerging photoacoustic imaging (PAI) combined with more established ultrasound (US) imaging technologies provides unique opportunities for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of inflammatory arthritis. In addition to capturing peripheral bone and soft tissue images, PAI has the capability to quantify hemodynamic properties including regional blood oxygenation and blood volume, both abnormal in synovial tissues affected by arthritis. Therefore, PAI, especially when performed together with US, should be of considerable help for further understanding the pathophysiology of arthritis as well as assisting in therapeutic decisions, including assessing the efficacy of new pharmacological therapies. In this paper, we will review our recent work on the development of PAI for application to the diagnostic imaging and therapeutic monitoring of inflammatory arthritis. We will present the imaging results from a home-built imaging system and another one based on a commercial US. The performance of PAI in evaluating pharmacological therapy on animal model of arthritis will be shown. Moreover, our resent work on PAI and US dual-modality imaging of human peripheral joints in vivo will also be presented.
Enhancing network traffic prediction and anomaly detection via statistical network traffic separation and combination strategies

In this paper, we propose, study and analyze a new network traffic prediction methodology, based on the 'frequency domain' traffic analysis and filtering, with the objective of enhancing the network anomaly detection capabilities. Based on this approach, the traffic can be effectively separated into a baseline component, that includes most of the low frequency traffic and presents low burstiness, and the short-term traffic that includes the most dynamic part. The baseline traffic is a mean non-stationary periodic time series, and the Extended Resource-Allocating Network (ERAN) methodology is used for its accurate prediction. The short-term traffic is shown to be a time-dependent series, and the Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) model is proposed to be used for the accurate prediction of this component. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the proposed enhanced traffic prediction strategy can be combined with the use of dynamic thresholds and adaptive anomaly violation conditions, in order to improve the network anomaly detection effectiveness.
Properties of L-glutamate decarboxylase from brains of adult and newborn mice.

—l-Glutamate 1-carboxy-lyase (EC 4.1.1.15) (GAD) and 4-aminobutyrate-2-oxo-glutarate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.19) (GABA-T) have been purified from mouse brain (Wuet al. 1973; Schousboeet al., 1973) and their properties have been extensively studied (Wu & Roberts, 1974; Schousboeet al., 1974). The above enzymes were prepared from a water lysate of crude mitochondrial fraction, which accounted for only 25–30% of total GAD or GABA-T activities in brain. A procedure has been developed which liberates approx 85% of total GAD and GABA-T activities into supernatant. Two distinct, well-separated peaks with GAD activity and a single peak with GABA-T activity were observed when a concentrated extract from brain of adult or newborn mice was chromatographed on Sephadex G-200 or Bio-Gel A–1.5 m. The first peak appeared in the void volume and is. therefore. an entity of high molecular weight. The second peak gave elution characteristics which were identical to those of the enzyme that had been purified previously (mol wt = 85,000). These two GAD peaks were also clearly separated on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The GAD activities in the two peaks showed similar pH profiles (optimum, 6.5). Km values (1–2 mM), immunodiffusion patterns and inhibitions by anti-GAD IgG prepared against GAD purified from synaptosome-containing crude mitochondrial fraction (60–80%). The physiological implications of high molecular weight and low molecular weight forms of GAD are discussed.
A model and evaluation of distributed network management approaches

This paper develops an analytical framework to model and compare centralized and distributed approaches for network management. Each scheme is evaluated in terms of performance and scalability for two applications, network monitoring, and data searching. The results support the intuitive argument that distributed approaches can have considerable advantages over traditional centralized network management, but a single approach may not be best for all types of applications. Instead, the most appropriate approach for a specific application should be selected after a careful evaluation. The modeling framework presented is intended to quantify the tradeoffs between different approaches to lend a basis for the selection decision.
Integrated circuits in industrial equipment

The commercial computer industry accounts for more than half of industrial electronics. Although none of the 1963 production equipment used modular circuits, all manufacturers are exploring their use for high-volume logic applications. The choice of modular circuits or discrete components in new computer design is difficult, and the decision cannot be made by comparing one component approach with another because the alternative circuits seldom have the same characteristics. Therefore, the choice must be made from a total systems standpoint.
The light-activated signaling pathway in SCN-projecting rat retinal ganglion cells

In mammals, the master circadian clock resides in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The period and phase of the circadian pacemaker are calibrated by direct photic input from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). SCN-projecting RGCs respond to light in the absence of rod- and cone-driven synaptic input, a property for which they are termed intrinsically photosensitive. In SCN-projecting RGCs, light activates a nonselective cationic current that displays inward and outward rectification. The goal of the present study was to investigate the identity of the light-activated ion channel and the intracellular signaling pathway leading to its activation. We considered two candidate channels, cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which mediate vertebrate and invertebrate phototransduction, respectively. We report that the intrinsic light response relies upon a G-protein-dependent process. Although our data indicate that cyclic nucleotides modulate the signaling pathway, CNG channels do not appear to conduct the light-activated current because (i) cyclic nucleotides in the pipette solution do not activate a conductance or completely block the light response, (ii) CNG channel blockers fail to inhibit the light response, (iii) the effects of internal and external divalent cations are inconsistent with their effects on CNG channels, and (iv) immunohistochemistry reveals no CNG channels in SCN-projecting RGCs. Finally, we show that the pharmacology of the light-activated channel resembles that of some TRPC channel family members; the response is blocked by lanthanides and ruthenium red and SK&F 96365, and is enhanced by flufenamic acid and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol. Furthermore, immunohistochemical experiments reveal that TRPC6 is expressed in many RGCs, including those that express melanopsin.
Developing on-line help: a practical approach

The author describes a pragmatic and simple process for creating on-line help for an Operating System/2 (OS/2) presentation manager (PM) application. He defines on-line help, describes how to create an outline as a roadmap to link help information to an application, provides an example of an outline that illustrates typical help information, and explains how a particular tool was used to create the on-line help. >
Sequence motifs, polar interactions and conformational changes in helical membrane proteins.

The α helices of transmembrane proteins interact to form higher order structures. These interactions are frequently mediated by packing motifs (such as GxxxG) and polar residues. Recent structural data have revealed that small sidechains are able to both stabilize helical membrane proteins and allow conformational changes in the structure. The strong interactions involving polar sidechains often contribute to protein misfolding or malfunction.
Advocacy: Some Reflections on an Ambiguous Term

Myron Genel’s explorations bring the idea of advocacy into question: What is it to be an advocate? In Roman times, “advocatus” was the term for a legal assistant or a councillor. It was derived from the Latin “advocare”, to call or to summon one to a place, especially for council or aid. It also meant to avail oneself of someone, such as an assistant, witness, or counselor, in some cause. The formal and forensic valence of these usages is an ancient one. In English it continues to suggest a conflictual circumstance. As is conveyed by Genel’s essay, advocacy intimates the intrusion of an authority into decisions by parents regarding their children. Under such circumstances, it is unlikely that there will be a single understanding of proper advocacy or of the authority of an advocate.
Yzur, Funes y el Inmortal: una convergencia metafísica

This essay proposes a metaphysical reading of "Yzur", one of the stories in "Las fuerzas extranas" ("The Strange Forces"). Yzur is a monkey whom his master teaches to speak, and who dies, overwhelmed by the humanity that speech has awakened in him. Certain ideas about monkeys which classical antiquity accepted as true are presented, ideas which may have helped L. Lugones in the construction of a (pseudo) scientific framework permitting the final miracle. A passage from the "Lunario sentimental" is also identified in order to show Lugones's special interest in the truncated but recoverable humanity of apes. In the complementary section of the essay, it is proposed to read ‘Yzur' as an antecedent to two stories by Borges, "Funes, el memorioso" and "El inmortal", discussing the theme of lost and/or recovered memory.
Adaptive prediction and smoothing of MPEG video in ATM networks

An adaptive prediction and smoothing scheme for MPEG video is investigated. The scheme is based on the characteristic that video traffic depends on the mode in which the pictures are coded. Since we get a high correlation of the signal by picture decomposition, an autoregressive model is used to predict the bit rate of a signal and is shown to be very effective. Two approaches for smoothing video signals subject to a delay constraint are investigated. One is to delay the cell streams by one picture, and then use the exact bit rate for smoothing. The other is to get a prediction of the bit rate and use the prediction results when smoothing. The performance of these approaches is examined in terms of the burstiness of video signals vs. the delay constraint.
Relationship Duration Moderates Associations Between Attachment and Relationship Quality: Meta-Analytic Support for the Temporal Adult Romantic Attachment Model

Although research has examined associations between attachment dimensions and relationship outcomes, theory has ignored how these associations change over time in adult romantic relationships. We proposed the Temporal Adult Romantic Attachment (TARA) model, which predicts that the negative associations between anxious and avoidant attachment on one hand and relationship satisfaction and commitment on the other will be more negative as relationship durations increase. Meta-analyses largely confirmed that negative associations between both insecure attachment dimensions and both relationship outcomes were more negative among longer relationship durations in cross-sectional samples. We also explored gender differences in these associations. The present review not only integrates the literature on adult attachment and romantic relationship satisfaction/commitment but also highlights the importance of relationship duration as a key moderator of the associations among these variables. We discuss the broad impli...
Effect of statin treatments on highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, seasonal and H1N1pdm09 virus infections in BALB/c mice.

Statins are used to control elevated cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia, but have previously been reported to have antiviral properties. Aims: To show efficacy of statins in various influenza virus mouse models. Materials & methods: BALB/c mice were treated intraperitoneally or orally with several types of statins (simvastatin, lovastatin, mevastatin, pitavastatin, atorvastatin or rosuvastatin) at various concentrations before or after infection with either influenza A/Duck/MN/1525/81 H5N1 virus, influenza A/Vietnam/1203/2004 H5N1 virus, influenza A/Victoria/3/75 H3N2 virus, influenza A/NWS/33 H1N1 virus or influenza A/CA/04/09 H1N1pdm09 virus. Results: The statins administered intraperitoneally or orally at any dose did not significantly enhance the total survivors relative to untreated controls. In addition, infected mice receiving any concentration of statin were not protected against weight loss due to the infection. None of the statins significantly increased the mean day of death relative to mice i...
A Dynamic Programming Decomposition Method for Making Overbooking Decisions Over an Airline Network

In this paper, we develop a revenue management model to jointly make the capacity allocation and overbooking decisions over an airline network. Our approach begins with the dynamic programming formulation of the capacity allocation and overbooking problem and uses an approximation strategy to decompose the dynamic programming formulation by the flight legs. This decomposition idea opens up the possibility of obtaining approximate solutions by concentrating on one flight leg at a time, but the capacity allocation and overbooking problem that takes place over a single flight leg still turns out to be intractable. We use a state aggregation approach to obtain high-quality solutions to the single-leg problem. Overall, our model constructs separable approximations to the value functions, which can be used to make the capacity allocation and overbooking decisions for the whole airline network. Computational experiments indicate that our model performs significantly better than a variety of benchmark strategies from the literature.
Reengineering Rate-Limiting, Millisecond Enzyme Motions by Introduction of an Unnatural Amino Acid

Rate-limiting millisecond motions in wild-type (WT) Ribonuclease A (RNase A) are modulated by histidine 48. Here, we incorporate an unnatural amino acid, thia-methylimidazole, at this site (H48C-4MI) to investigate the effects of a single residue on protein motions over multiple timescales and on enzyme catalytic turnover. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that H48C-4MI retains some crucial WT-like hydrogen bonding interactions but the extent of protein-wide correlated motions in the nanosecond regime is decreased relative to WT. NMR Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill relaxation dispersion experiments demonstrate that millisecond conformational motions in H48C-4MI are present over a similar pH range compared to WT. Furthermore, incorporation of this nonnatural amino acid allows retention of WT-like catalytic activity over the full pH range. These studies demonstrate that the complexity of the protein energy landscape during the catalytic cycle can be maintained using unnatural amino acids, which may prove useful in enzyme design efforts.
The Use of Animal Models to Study Stem Cell Therapies for Diabetes Mellitus

The two main forms of human diabetes mellitus (DM) are characterized by an absolute (type 1) and a relative (type 2) reduction in functional insulin-producing beta cell mass in the pancreas. Type 1 DM results from autoimmune assault of beta cells, and type 2 from the failure of pancreatic beta cells to sufficiently compensate for insulin resistance. Studies indicate that the incidence of both types is increasing rapidly to levels that constitute a global epidemic. Researchers are experimentally developing several conceptual approaches for increasing pancreatic beta cell mass and testing them for feasibility in treating the disease. The main sources for derivation of insulin-producing cells are embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, endogenous progenitor cells (both within and outside the pancreas), stimulation of beta cell proliferation, and genetic "reprogramming" of cells. Strategies to effectively address immune- and inflammation-mediated assault on existing and newly formed beta cells need to be refined. This review provides a description of beta cell ablation methods and a discussion of various types of studies of regenerative approaches-beta cell proliferation, islet cell transplantation, transdifferentiation, and the use of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells-to the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Although there has been much progress in this area, further research is needed to enhance understanding and improve therapeutic strategies for this widespread disease.
The vertical structure of linear coastal-trapped disturbances

Abstract The vertical structure of coastal-trapped disturbances in several idealized models of a stably stratified lower atmosphere is examined. The vertical structure and phase speeds of the trapped modes depend on the resting stratification and the height of the orographic step. The presence of a stable layer above the boundary layer inversion increases the gravest-mode phase speed and supports the existence of higher vertical modes. Trapped wave solutions for the step orography are obtained for a lower atmosphere with constant buoyancy frequency. The modes are primarily concentrated below the step but penetrate weakly into the stratified region above the step. The phase speed of the gravest trapped mode is greater than the gravest-mode Kelvin wave speed based on the height of the step. Results from a linear two-layer model suggest that the observed vertical structure of isotherms at the leading edge of a 10–11 June 1994 event may arise during a transition from a directly forced, barotropic, alongshore ...
Interstitial Lung Diseases That Are Difficult to Classify: A Review of Bronchiolocentric Interstitial Lung Disease.

Context.— Idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia, airway-centered interstitial fibrosis, centrilobular fibrosis, and bronchiolitis interstitial pneumonia are increasingly recognized histopathologic variants of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia that are difficult to fit within existing classification schemes. Objective.— To review and analyze the appropriate literature that describes the spectrum of histopathologic changes in these conditions, in an effort to ascertain similarities as well as their differences. In addition, we examined associations with hypersensitivity, cigarette smoking, and survival data. Data Sources.— Relevant and peer-reviewed literature indexed in PubMed (National Library of Medicine) coupled with experience gained by review of personal cases with appropriate histopathology constitute the basis of this study. Conclusions.— As anticipated, the common link among the above-cited conditions is their bronchiolocentricity, with a predominance of either fibrosis or inflammatio...
Does maternal race or ethnicity affect the expression of severe preeclampsia

Objective There is considerable variation in the expression of severe preeclampsia. Our purpose was to determine if this is associated with maternal race or ethnicity. Study design Individual chart review was performed for women diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at a tertiary care center from 1993 to 2003. Demographic, clinical, and lab findings from diagnosis (Dx) to 6 weeks' postpartum (PP) were documented. Data were compared between Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic women. Data were presented for the total cohort if no significant difference was found. Results We evaluated 473 pregnancies: 201 (Caucasian), 216 (African American), and 56 (Hispanic). Groups had similar baseline characteristics: chronic hypertension (HTN), diabetes, and initial antenatal blood pressure (mean BP 118/68). Caucasian women were older (27 vs 24 yrs), more likely nulliparous (63 vs 49%), and had more multiple gestations (9 vs 1.5%), P P 60 mg/dL were more common in Caucasian women at Dx (9 vs 12%, 11 vs 21%) and at delivery (14 vs 24%, 19 vs 34%), P P P P =.01). Eclampsia, intrauterine fetal demise, intrauterine growth restriction, abruption, PP preeclampsia, and recurrent preeclampsia were similar between groups. Conclusion African American women with severe preeclampsia demonstrate more severe hypertension and required more antihypertensive Rx, while Caucasian women have more frequent hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome.
Numerically-robust O(N/sup 2/) RLS algorithms using least-squares prewhitening

We derive two new O(N/sup 2/) algorithms for arbitrary recursive least-squares (RLS) estimation tasks. The algorithms employ a novel update for an inverse square-root factor of the exponentially-windowed input signal autocorrelation matrix that is the least-squares equivalent of a natural gradient prewhitening algorithm. Both of the new RLS algorithms require 4N/sup 2/+O(N) multiply/adds, two divides, and one square root per iteration to implement. We can prove that our new algorithms are numerically-robust, and simulations are used to indicate this fact in fixed-point arithmetic. An algorithm that computes the square-root factorization of the input signal autocorrelation matrix is also described.
Natural Assemblages of Marine Proteobacteria and Members of the Cytophaga-Flavobacter Cluster Consuming Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Dissolved Organic Matter

We used a method that combines microautoradiography with hybridization of fluorescent rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes to whole cells (MICRO-FISH) to test the hypothesis that the relative contributions of various phylogenetic groups to the utilization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) depend solely on their relative abundance in the bacterial community. We found that utilization of even simple low-molecular-weight DOM components by bacteria differed across the major phylogenetic groups and often did not correlate with the relative abundance of these bacterial groups in estuarine and coastal environments. The Cytophaga-Flavobacter cluster was overrepresented in the portion of the assemblage consuming chitin, N-acetylglucosamine, and protein but was generally underrepresented in the assemblage consuming amino acids. The amino acid-consuming assemblage was usually dominated by the alpha subclass of the class Proteobacteria, although the representation of alpha-proteobacteria in the protein-consuming assemblages was about that expected from their relative abundance in the entire bacterial community. In our experiments, no phylogenetic group dominated the consumption of all DOM, suggesting that the participation of a diverse assemblage of bacteria is essential for the complete degradation of complex DOM in the oceans. These results also suggest that the role of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria in carbon cycling would be more accurately described by using three groups instead of the single bacterial compartment currently used in biogeochemical models.
Neural network inversion techniques for EM training and testing of incomplete data

The expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is a successful statistical approach for maximum likelihood estimation of incomplete-data problems. The performance of an EM algorithm highly depends on assumptions made about the probability density function (commonly, the multivariate Gaussian) of the multivariate data. When the EM algorithm is used for classification applications, it is commonly done by replacing the missing values based on the estimated probability density function of the same class for getting the maximum likelihood labeling without jointly considering the discrimination among classes. In this paper, the authors propose an EM procedure based on a neural network inversion technique for improving the training accuracy using incomplete data sets and the classification accuracy in testing new incomplete data. The authors' approach relaxes the assumption made about the probability density function, and more importantly, the missing value replacements take into account the discrimination among classes. >
A multipurpose digital modulator

The theoretical basis and hardware implementation of a versatile device which uses digital signal-processing methods to achieve signal modulation are reported. The carrier-modulation process is formulated as a simple quadrature equation; a generalized description of the signal constellation to be processed is derived; the pulse-shaping scheme is explained; and the system architecture is described in detail and illustrated with diagrams. Experimental results obtained with a breadboard transmitter based on this modulation technique are presented in extensive graphs. The power spectra and eye diagrams generated for different QPSK, 8PSK, and MSK modulation schemes are shown to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions. It is suggested that this modulator could be readily implemented in VLSI and mass produced.
The stent decade: 1987 to 1997 ☆ ☆☆ ★ ★★

In January 1997, experts from the United States, Europe, and Japan gathered at Stanford University to review their collective experience with intracoronary and noncoronary stenting and to identify and prioritize issues requiring further clinical investigation. This report summarizes the discussions that took place during this stent summit. Knowledge of stent-tissue interaction from animal and human pathologic specimens was reviewed in the context of evolving stent designs. The relative merits of coil and slotted tubular stent designs were discussed. Stent deployment routines, including self-expansion, balloon expansion, and high-pressure delivery were debated. The potential for covered stents and coated stents was explored. Problems surrounding the routine deployment of stents were identified: small vessel disease, long lesions, bifurcation stenoses, vein graft disease, ostial disease, left main stenoses, and intrastent restenosis. The value of intravascular ultrasound, as an adjunct to stenting, was explored and debated. An algorithm for "provisional stenting" based on ultrasound criteria was developed. Noncoronary stenting of the aorta, iliacs, and carotids were discussed. Clinical applications that may lead to randomized clinical trials were identified.
The NGC 7538 region - The distribution and dynamics of molecules compared with those of HI and H/+/

CO maps and preliminary H2S and H2CO data for the molecular cloud associated with the HII region NGC 7538 are compared with the distributions of ionized and neutral hydrogen. South of the optical HII region is a ridge of high 13CO column density with cold, self-absorbed HI gas just beyond it. A dense clump within the ridge is found adjacent to the HII region in the southeast. The percentage of the hydrogen in atomic form varies from - 0.1% in the dense region to - 0.8% in the outskirts. The lower-density region of expanding gas seen next to the HII region in the southwest is attributed to the passage of a molecular dissociation wave.
Evaluation of Behavioral Demand Models of Consumer Choice in Health Care

This article investigates the choice of provider plan (fee for service and health maintenance organizations) and preference for a personal physician by Medicare beneficiaries with the aid of a joint logit (JL) and a nested logit (NL) model The NL model, where the lower level is the choice pertaining to preference for a personal physician and the higher level is the choice of provider plan, better explains consumer behavior. Family income levels and access to adequate transportation capabilities are shown to be important criteria used by the elderly in choosing a provider plan.
The behaviour of eigenstates of arithmetic hyperbolic manifolds

In this paper we study some problems arising from the theory of Quantum Chaos, in the context of arithmetic hyperbolic manifolds. We show that there is no strong localization (“scarring”) onto totally geodesic submanifolds. Arithmetic examples are given, which show that the random wave model for eigenstates does not apply universally in 3 degrees of freedom.