cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of prophylactic misoprostol administration prior to intrauterine device insertion in nulliparous women.

Abstract Background This study was conducted to examine the effects of prophylactic misoprostol prior to intrauterine device (IUD) placement in nulliparous women. Study Design Nulliparous, reproductive-aged women desiring an IUD for contraception were randomized to receive 400 mcg of buccal misoprostol or placebo 90 min prior to IUD insertion. Subjects completed a series of 100-mm visual analogue scales (VAS, anchors: 0=none, 100 mm=worst imaginable) to measure their perceived pain at several times points (anticipated pain, leg positioning, speculum placement, tenaculum placement, IUD insertion, equipment removal and 5 min postinsertion). Secondary outcomes included provider “ease of placement” (100-mm VAS, anchors: 0=easy, 100 mm=extremely difficult), side effects and retention of the IUD after 1 month (self-report or clinic visit). The study had 80% power (α=0.05, one-sided) to detect a reduction with treatment of 20 mm in VAS scores with a combined sample size of 34. Results A total of 40 subjects were randomized to receive either misoprostol or placebo, and 35 completed the study. Five subjects withdrew (four prior to receiving study medication and one declined IUD). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. There were no significant differences in patient-reported pain with IUD placement [misoprostol 65 mm (SD 21), placebo 55 mm (SD 21), p=.83] or at any other time point. Moreover, the misoprostol group reported significantly more preinsertion nausea (29% vs. 5%, p=.05) and cramping (47% vs. 16%, p=.04) than the placebo group. While provider-reported ease of insertion was not significantly different between groups, three placebo patients required additional dilation vs. none in the misoprostol group. All 35 subjects underwent follow-up at least 1 month postinsertion, and no expulsions were reported. Conclusion Prophylactic misoprostol prior to IUD placement in nulliparous women did not reduce patient perceived pain, but it did appear to increase preinsertion side effects.
Artificial bare patches increase habitat for the endangered Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela ohlone)

The endangered Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela ohlone) depends on bare ground areas in California coastal grasslands to encounter mates, oviposit, and find prey. We tested habitat creation as a potential management strategy to increase the availability of oviposition sites for C. ohlone. We compared three different bare ground treatments by scraping off surface vegetation, ripping, and tamping the plots. We also tested whether bare ground creation expands C. ohlone range within a habitat patch by scraping plots at increasing distances from the core habitat and monitoring C. ohlone colonization. C. ohlone oviposited significantly more in artificial bare ground plots compared to controls both one and 2 years after the scrapes were created. Distance from the core habitat did not affect colonization nor did decompaction of scraped plots. Percent bare ground significantly predicted incidence of colonization. For the conservation of the endangered Ohlone tiger beetle, we recommend continued creation of scraped plots every 2 years in order to maintain bare ground and to ensure maximum usage by female C. ohlone as oviposition sites.
Sorting and Counting Networks of Arbitrary Width and Small Depth

We present the first construction for sorting and counting networks of arbitrary width that requires both small depth and small constant factors in the depth expression. Let w be the product w = p0⋅ p1⋅s pn-1 , whose factors are not necessarily prime. We present a novel network construction of width w and depth O(n2) = O(log 2 w) , using comparators (or balancers) of width less than or equal to max(pi) . This construction is practical in the sense that the asymptotic notation does not hide any large constants.
Step-cut medial malleolar osteotomy: literature review and case reports

Talar dome pathology involving the medial half of the talus is a common occurrence. Direct visualization of this region of the ankle joint can be challenging because of anatomical constraints. Many lesions can be seen arthroscopically and, with the aid of a distractor, can be successfully treated. However, because of adhesive capsulitis and/or the size and location of the lesion, an open arthrotomy or a transmedial malleolar osteotomy may be required. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on techniques developed for gaining access to this area of the ankle and to highlight the step-cut medial malleolar osteotomy (SCMMO) and modifications that can be made to it to facilitate joint access. Two case studies are used to exemplify the SCMMO and modifications used to increase talar dome access. Because of anatomic constraints, many foot and ankle surgeons recommend osteotomy of the medial malleolus to gain access to the posteromedial aspect of the ankle. The step-cut approach is technically simple to perform; it can be safely modified when treating central lesions, it has inherent osseous stability that minimizes risk of displacement during rehabilitation, and it has a broad cancellous surface area, which facilitates osseous union. The authors recommend this procedure when an osteotomy is needed to gain access to the posteromedial ankle joint.
Overweight in childhood and adolescence.

The prevalence of overweight doubled among children 6 to 11 years of age and tripled among those 12 to 17 years of age between the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted between 1976 and 1980, and the most recent such survey, conducted in 1999 and 2000. Overweight in children and adolescents, defined as a body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex, is epidemic. Black and Mexican-American children and adolescents are disproportionately affected. Although only 25 to . . .
Phase behavior of the Au(111) surface: Discommensurations and kinks.

The clean Au(111) surface is found, using x-ray diffraction, to reconstruct between 300 and 1250 K with two distinct phases. Below 865 K, the surface structure consists of an equiilbrium density of kinks between rotationally equivalent domains, each of which is itself composed of a sequence of uniaxial discommensurations. Above 880 K, the arrangement of kinks and discommensurations is disordered, which results in an isotropic compression of the reconstructed layer. The phase transition between the two structures is first order.
Comparative mapping of QTLs determining the plant size of Brassica oleracea

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) influencing the size of leaves and stems were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in three Brassica oleracea F2 populations derived from crosses of rapid-cycling Brassica to three B. oleracea varieties, Cantanese, Pusa Katki and Bugh Kana. Morphological traits, including lamina length, lamina width, petiole length, stem length, stem width and node number were evaluated. A total of 47 QTLs were detected based on a LOD threshold of 2.5. Through comparative mapping we inferred that the 47 QTLs might reflect variation in as few as 35 different genetic loci, and 28 ancestral genes. For the trait of lamina length, we identified QTLs corresponding to five ancestral genes, which mapped near the locations corresponding to five known Arabidopsis mutations, rev, axr1, axr3, axr4 and as2. For the trait of stem length, we identified QTLs corresponding to five ancestral genes, which mapped near the locations corresponding to nine known Arabidopsis mutations, dw3, dw6, acl5, dw7, ga4, ga1, dw1, axr1 and axr3. The possibility of using Arabidopsis/Brassica as a model to extrapolate genetic information into other crops was examined.
Validity and reliability of the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form in a group of adult bereaved females.

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Short Form in a group of female bereaved adults. Two hundred fifty-five community-based women bereaved less than 2 years completed the BDI. Estimate of the alpha coefficient indicates that the short- form BDI possesses adequate internal reliability for this sample. Principal- component factor analysis indicated a two-factor model for depression associated with bereavement. The first factor, which combined items related to anergy and dysphoria, corresponded to the affective and behavioral components of depression, while the second factor related to the cognitive domain of depression and was associated with a negative self-esteem.
Dietary Modification as Adjunct Treatment in Ménière’s Disease: Patient Willingness and Ability to Comply

Objective To evaluate ease of use and compliance with dietary modification in the treatment of vertigo in patients with Meniere’s disease. Study Design Mailed patient retrospective questionnaire and chart review. Setting Tertiary referral neurotologic private practice. Subjects 136 patients with Meniere’s who returned a mailed questionnaire. Mean age at first clinic visit was 53 years, and at questionnaire was 62 years, with 54.4% female subjects. Median initial hearing was AAO-HNS Stage 1. Most patients also received diuretics and/or other treatments. Intervention Reduced sodium and caffeine-free diet. Main Outcome Measures Ratings of diet difficulty, length of use, compliance level and nutritional understanding, and AAO-HNS vertigo class and functional rating before and with nutritional intervention. Results 46.3% of the respondents received written diet guidelines; only 3.2% were referred for nutritional counseling, and another 7.8% sought counseling independently. 77.8% and 84.7% rated a low sodium and a caffeine-free diet, respectively, as manageable or easy to follow; 77.9% followed the diet for 1 year or greater, but only 10.3% could list 5 “correct” foods to eat and 26% 5 foods to avoid. Those who followed the diet greater than 6 months had larger improvement in number of spells and functional rating and a higher rate of Class A/B vertigo outcome (p ≤ 0.01, p = 0.012, and p = 0.038, respectively). Knowledge of foods to eat and avoid correlated with vertigo class (rho = −0.21, p ≤ 0.029 and rho = −0.26, p ≤ 0.01, respectively); the more foods correctly listed, the better the AAO-HNS class). Conclusion Nutrition education by referral to a registered dietitian may improve outcomes in the medical treatment of Meniere’s disease.
Temperature dependence of the raman spectrum of DNA. Part I—Raman signatures of premelting and melting transitions of poly(dA–dT)·poly(dA–dT)

Poly(dA–dT)· poly(dA–dT) is a double-helical B DNA containing A· T and T· A base pairs in alternating sequence. Although Raman spectra of this structure have been reported previously, the temperature dependence of the Raman bands has not been examined in detail. Using a spectrometer of high spectral precision and sensitivity, we applied Raman difference spectroscopy to determine the temperature dependence of all Raman bands of poly(dA–dT)· poly(dA–dT) in physiological salt solutions (both H2O and D2O) over the temperature range 10–85 °C. Three temperature domains are distinguished by Raman spectroscopy: premelting (10 < t < 66 °C), in which the double-stranded structure is perturbed but does not dissociate; melting (66 < t < 75 °C), in which the double-stranded structure dissociates; and postmelting (75 < t < 85 °C), in which no structural change can be detected. The results demonstrate that distinct Raman difference signatures exist for the premelting and melting transitions, and that each involves changes in most Raman bands. Among other novel findings and assignments: (i) Raman bands at 728 (dA), 1236 (dT) and 1301 cm−1 (dA) provide the most sensitive measures of base stacking in both the premelting and melting domains. (ii) Raman bands at 1182 (dT) and 1512 cm−1 (dA) provide the most sensitive measure of A· T unpairing in the melting domain. An unexpected finding is the apparent correlation of the 1182 cm−1 band intensity with the degree of thymine unpairing. Additionally, bands at 1376 (dT) and 1577 cm−1 (dA) confirm changes in interbase hydrogen bonding with premelting. (iii) The temperature dependence of the Raman band at 819 cm−1 is closely correlated with those of backbone marker bands at 792 and 842 cm−1 (O– P– O stretch modes), indicating that the 819 cm−1 band is due to a vibrational mode localized in the backbone and is diagnostic of phosphodiester torsions α / ζ apparently specific to the gauche−/trans conformation of BII DNA. (iv) The Raman band at 1484 cm−1 (dA) is sensitive to hydrogen bonding at the adenine N1 site. (ν) Comparison of spectra from H2O and D2O solutions reveal significant vibrational coupling between Raman bands of the deoxynucleoside residues and B-form backbone of poly(dA–dT)·poly(dA–dT). These results constitute an important foundation for future Raman studies of premelting and melting phenomena in other DNA sequences, including poly(dA)·poly(dT). Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
President Kennedy in Dallas: Dealey Plaza memorialized

The assassination of US President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 transformed the US political landscape as well as the trajectory of subsequent world history. The venue of that tragic event in Dallas was Dealey Plaza, encompassing the "grassy knoll" and the adjacent book-depository and courthouse buildings. For the past forty years the site has undergone a series of conservation/preservation projects in order to make it more suitable for those visiting either in homage or out of curiosity. One such project concerned the deterioration of ironwork within the "Old Red Courthouse". The building architect noted that both stairway railings and floor-support trusses were corroding and deteriorating at accelerating rates. In most situations of this sort the iron would be sandblasted and repainted. However, in this instance sandblasting was inappropriate due to environmental concerns and logistical limitations. Furthermore, historical authenticity criteria dictated that the metal be preserved with its original unpainted finish. In order to avoid excessive floor loading (in this fragile old building) and the generation significant environmental air pollution (within urban Dallas) the general contractor (Avery Mays, Inc.) opted to evaluate photonic divestment. Both laser cleaning and laser glazing were assessed for efficacy and cost effectiveness. Xenon-flashlamp irradiation was evaluated both with and without citric acid augmentation. Citric acid matrix-assisted flashlamp treatment was selected for the preservation of the courthouse ironwork. This decision was based on three advantages over laser treatments: higher speed and cost effectiveness, preservation of the historic "Oliver Foundry" logo markings, and the chemical passivation and rust resistance of the final surface patina.
Transonic shear flow in a three-dimensional channel

Inviscid transonic shear flow in a rectangular channel is considered; opposite walls are parallel except in the region of interest, where one pair of opposing walls form a nozzle-like constriction. The flow exhibits the essential features found in an axial-flow rotor of zero stagger angle, where the relative velocity is transonic, the constricted passage being similar to the channel formed between two adjacent blades. Analytical solutions, valid to second order, are presented for the case where the ratio of the order of the change in velocity caused by the variation in flow area to the order of the change in velocity across the channel due to the shear is unity. The case where this ratio is small compared with one is discussed, as is the problem formulation for a flow with a shock wave in the passage
Design Philosophy Of The Jet Propulsion Laboratory Infrared Detector Test Facility

To support the development of advanced infrared remote sensing instrumentation using line and area arrays, a test facility has been developed to characterize the detectors. The necessary performance characteristics of the facility were defined by considering current and projected requirements for detector testing. The completed facility provides the desired level of detector testing capability as well as providing ease of human interaction.
Design of module-integrated converters for photovoltaic strings

This paper presents a design of module-integrated converters (MICs) for photovoltaic (PV) modules connected in series in PV strings. The proposed concept enables a range of independent maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for each module, and dramatically decreases the requirements of power rating and efficiency for power converters with the trade-off of limited regulation ability. In this paper, different concepts of MICs are presented and evaluated, possible structures of MICs handling partial power are proposed, analyzed, realized, and verified. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the analysis. It is anticipated that the proposed approach will be a low-cost and high-efficiency solution for future photovoltaic power systems where PV modules mismatches are not significant.
Protection against hippocampal CA1 cell loss by post-ischemic hypothermia is dependent on delay of initiation and duration.

The temporal constraints of protection of neuronal damage by post-ischemic hypothermia was investigated in the gerbil model of global ischemia. Three experimental paradigms were used: 1) Hypothermia was initiated prior to ischemia followed by warming to normothermia immediately post ischemia; 2) Hypothermia of different durations was initiated immediately after reflow and 3) Six hours of hypothermia was initiated at various times following reperfusion. Hypothermia during 5 minutes of ischemia followed by warming to normal body temperature immediately post ischemia resulted in near complete protection of the hippocampus from CA1 cell loss. Hypothermie durations of 1/2, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours beginning immediately following reperfusion resulted in progressively increased protection from ischemie damage (6±6%, 21±10%, 34±15%, 75±16% and 77±12%, respectively). Six hours of hypothermia delayed for 1 hour after reperfusion resulted in 49±9% protection. No reduction of ischemic damage was observed if 6 hours of hypothermia was delayed for 3 hour after reflow. These data suggest that: 1) Hypothermia during ischemia protects the brain from damage; 2) Hypothermia initiated immediately following reperfusion must have a duration of 2 hours or more to be effective and 3) Six hours of hypothermia is effective if initiated within 1 hour of reperfusion.
Temporal variation in the ribosomal DNA nontranscribed spacer of Aedes albopictus (Diptera : culicidae)

Length variation in ribosomal DNA (rDNA) nontranscribed spacer within and among populations of the mosquito Aedes albopictus was studied over a 3-year period in eight different populations from Texas. Statistically significant variation was detected among populations at each sampling date. Significant, but nondirectional, changes were observed within populations over time. An average of 78% of the total variance in the frequencies of spacer variants was attributable to the within-population component, suggesting local differentiation. The results corroborate those from a previous study on spacer length diversity in populations of A. albopictus from around the world and are similar to those from a study on temporal variation in allozyme frequencies in some of the same populations and sampling dates. We propose that a high rate of production of length variants and localized breeding structure could explain the observed high levels of within- and among-population variation in A. albopictus.Key words: rDNA, n...
Modeling of Human Faces with Parameterized Local Shape Morphing

This paper presents an automatic runtime system for generating varied realistic geometric models of human faces based on morphing of facial features. Our method takes as examples 3D scanned human face models in order to exploit the parameter-to-geometry correlations that are presented in the real faces. In order to establish correspondence among models, we use a two-step model fitting approach to conform a generic model onto each scanned data. We transform the obtained data sets of facial feature shapes into vector space representations by applying a principal component analysis (PCA). Using the PCA coefficients as a compact shape representation, we approach the shape synthesis problem by forming scattered data interpolation functions that are devoted to the generation of desired shape by taking the anthropometric parameters as input. At runtime, the interpolation functions are evaluated at the input parameter values to produce new face geometries at an interactive rate.
Cage Painting within the fifth discipline of learning organisations

Learning organisations face new challenges in the 21st century. Increased flow of trade in commodities, manufactured goods and information as well as mobility of people have led to increased global interdependence, interconnectedness and cultural diversity. People and teams within learning organisations have become globally distributed with the aid of improved communication technologies. As a result, more sophisticated approaches to developing a global mindset, understanding multiple perspectives and improving intercultural communication are needed for successful collaboration between teams and team members. A tool that has proved beneficial in educational learning environments – the Cage Painting Simulator (CPS) – can be used to improve: intercultural communication, perspective taking and development of a global mindset. In this article, we integrate the CPS-framework for intercultural communication competence and global mindset development into the Senge's theoretical framework for learning organisations, focusing on the context of globally distributed teams and team members.
Dielectric and Pyroelectric Properties of Cadmium Niobate Ceramics

The low-temperature dielectric and pyroelectric properties of pyrochlore Cd2Nb2O7 ceramics have been investigated over the temperature range from 10 to 300 K. Dielectric data confirmed that two ferroelectric transitions occurred in the Cd2Nb2O7 ceramics at temperatures near 80 and 192 K. The higher-temperature ferroelectric transition is complex, with evidence for three separate transitions occurring within a narrow temperature range. The temperature and frequency dependencies of the dielectric constant were consistent with both second-order (diffuse) and improper ferroelectric (ferroelastic) effects. Pyroelectric data also confirmed the multiple-transition behavior, with anomalies in the pyroelectric coefficient at temperatures corresponding to the onset of the diffuse ferroelectric transition and the ferroelastic effect. Dielectric loss data (analyzed by both Arrhenius and Cole-Cole formalisms) indicated the presence of three separate relaxation-type dielectric loss mechanisms in this temperature range. Unambiguous explanations for the observed dielectric and pyroelectric phenomena could not be made, but domain effects are believed to be responsible for at least part of the complex nature of the ferroelectric transitions in this material.
Short-Term Gestation, Long-Term Risk: Prematurity and Chronic Kidney Disease

Thanks to remarkable advances in neonatal intensive care, infants who once had little chance for survival can now enter adulthood. Yet the consequences of premature birth or low birth weight (LBW) on nephrogenesis, final nephron number, and long-term kidney function are unclear. This review focuses on the theory, experimental evidence, and observational data that suggest an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for infants born prematurely. Many premature and LBW infants begin life with an incomplete complement of immature nephrons. They are then exposed to a variety of external stressors that can hinder ongoing kidney development or cause additional nephron loss such as hemodynamic alterations, nephrotoxic medications, infections, and suboptimal nutrition. Acute kidney injury, in particular, may be a significant risk factor for the development of CKD. According to Brenner's hypothesis, patients with decreased nephron number develop hyperfiltration that results in sodium retention, hypertension, nephron loss, and CKD due to secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Because the risk of CKD in premature and LBW infants has not been accurately determined, there are no evidence-based recommendations for screening or management. Yet with the first generation of infants from the surfactant era only now reaching adulthood, it is possible that there is already an unrecognized epidemic of CKD. We suggest individualized, risk-based assessments of premature and LBW infants due to the increased risk of CKD and call for additional research into the long-term risk for CKD these infants face.
ULTRALOW-EXPANSION CERAMICS IN THE SYSTEM NA2O-ZRO2P2O5-SIO2

Compositions in the series Na1+xZr2P3-xSixO12 and Na1+4zZr2-zP3O12, where x = 0≤x≤1 and z=0≤z≤1/2, have thermal expansions that can be controlled (by selecting the composition) to values in the range <10×10-7 in a temperature regime of a few hundred degrees. The lowest a values were obtained for x ∼0.33 and z∼0.125.
Sarcolemmal Versus Mitochondrial ATP-Sensitive K+ Channels and Myocardial Preconditioning

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a phenomenon in which single or multiple brief periods of ischemia have been shown to protect the heart against a more prolonged ischemic insult, the result of which is a marked reduction in myocardial infarct size, severity of stunning, or incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. Although a number of substances and signaling pathways have been proposed to be involved in mediating the cardioprotective effect of IPC, the overwhelming majority of evidence suggests that the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP channel) is an important component of this phenomenon and may serve as the end effector in this process. Initially, it was hypothesized that the surface or sarcolemmal KATP (sarc KATP) channel mediated protection observed after IPC; however, subsequent evidence suggested that the recently identified mitochondrial KATP channel (mito KATP) may be the potassium channel mediating IPC-induced cardioprotection. In this review, evidence will be presented supporting a role for either the sarc KATP or the mito KATP in IPC and potential mechanisms by which opening these channels may produce cardioprotection; additionally, we will address important questions that still need to be investigated to define the role of the sarc or mito KATP channel, or both, in cardiac pathophysiology.
Expected Utility Analysis of Stocker Cattle Ownership versus Contract Grazing in the Southeast

Stocker cattle ownership is compared to contract grazing using stochastic simulation. Returns are evaluated for both cattle owners and caretakers in contract grazing agreements. For caretakers, contract grazing is significantly less risky than cattle ownership. Slightly to moderately risk-averse caretakers could be expected to prefer some type of contract grazing to direct ownership of cattle. For cattle owners, contracting reduces risk only slightly while significantly reducing expected returns.
Coded orbital angular momentum (OAM) modulation based heterogeneous optical networking

In this paper, we propose a coded orbital angular momentum (OAM) based optical networking scenario. The OAM is associated with the azimuthal phase dependence of the complex electric field. Because OAM eigenstates are orthogonal, they can be used as basis functions for multidimensional signal constellations. From Shannon's theory we know that information capacity is a linear function of number of dimensions and a logarithmic function of signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, though multidimensional signal constellations we can dramatically improve the overall aggregate data rate per single wavelength. The ability to generate the OAM modes, such as Bessel and Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) modes, in both multimode fibers (MMFs) and free-space optical (FSO) links will allow the realization of heterogeneous FSO-fiber-optics communication networks, composed of MMF and FSO links, with ultra-high bits-per-photon efficiencies. We perform Monte Carlo simulations to demonstrate the feasibility of proposed heterogeneous optical networking scenario. We demonstrate high-potential of proposed network in solving high-bandwidth demands and interoperability problems simultaneously. Finally, we prove that dramatic improvement in spectral efficiency is possible by employment of this OAM-based multidimensional signalling scheme.
Florence Nightingale and Healthcare Reform

The purpose of this article was to examine the work of Florence Nightingale in light of her collaboration with William Farr, the eminent medical statistician. Nightingale's epidemiological investigations supported by Farr illustrated that attention to environmental cleanliness was an important factor in preventing spread of disease. Nightingale channeled her investigations to support hospital reforms and the need for an educated nurse who could provide better management of the hospital environment. Statistical support and solicited criticism allowed Nightingale to argue more forcefully for her reforms.
Effect of Suppressive DNA on CpG-Induced Immune Activation

Bacterial DNA and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG motifs stimulate a strong innate immune response. This stimulation can be abrogated by either removing the CpG DNA or adding inhibitory/suppressive motifs. Suppression is dominant over stimulation and is specific for CpG-induced immune responses (having no effect on LPS- or Con A-induced activation). Individual cells noncompetitively internalize both stimulatory and suppressive ODN. Studies using ODN composed of both stimulatory and suppressive motifs indicate that sequence recognition proceeds in a 5'-->3' direction, and that a 5' motif can block recognition of immediately 3' sequences. These findings contribute to our understanding of the immunomodulatory activity of DNA-based products and the rules that govern immune recognition of stimulatory and suppressive motifs.
Control of mobile communication systems with time-varying channels via stability methods

Consider the forward link of a mobile communications system with a single transmitter and connecting to K destinations via randomly varying channels. Data arrives in some random way and is queued according to the K destinations until transmitted. Time is divided into small scheduling intervals. Current systems can estimate the channel (e.g, via pilot signals) and use this information for scheduling. The issues are the allocation of transmitter power and/or time and bandwidth to the various queues in a queue and channel-state dependent way to assure stability and good operation. The decisions are made at the beginning of the scheduling intervals. Stochastic stability methods are used both to assure that the system is stable and to get appropriate allocations, under very weak conditions. The choice of Lyapunov function allows a choice of the effective performance criteria. The resulting controls are readily implementable and allow a range of tradeoffs between current rates and queue lengths. The various extensions allow a large variety of schemes of current interest to be covered. All essential factors are incorporated into a "mean rate" function, so that the results cover many different systems. Because of the non-Markovian nature of the problem, we use the perturbed Stochastic Lyapunov function method, which is well adapted to such problems. The method is simple and effective.
Load distributing for locally distributed systems

The problem of judiciously and transparently redistributing the load of the system among its nodes so that overall performance is maximized is discussed. Several key issues in load distributing for general-purpose systems, including the motivations and design trade-offs for load-distributing algorithms, are reviewed. In addition, several load-distributing algorithms are described and their performances are compared. These algorithms are sender-initiated algorithms, receiver-initiated algorithms, symmetrically initiated algorithms, and adaptive algorithms. Load-distributing policies used in existing systems are examined, and conclusions about which algorithm might help in realizing the most benefits of load distributing are drawn. >
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome As an Occupational Disease

Background: Symptoms related to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) represent common patient complaints for many primary care physicians. However, there is a surprising lack of guidelines on diagnosing occupational CTS readily accessible to primary care physicians. This article aims to fill part of that void by reviewing historical aspects of occupational CTS, leading up to more current epidemiologic studies of the association of CTS with occupational ergonomic risk factors. Methods: The English medical literature was reviewed on the relationship between CTS and occupational ergonomic risk factors. Recent legislative initiatives are discussed. Guidelines of diagnosing and managing occupational CTS are outlined. Results: Many studies are divided regarding whether CTS is associated with highly repetitive/forceful/vibration work. However, a subset of patients presenting with symptoms related to CTS probably has occupational CTS. These patients can be objectively diagnosed and successfully treated and are able to return to work. Conclusions: By being armed with knowledge regarding the background of CTS and by following simple diagnosis and treatment guidelines, the family practitioner should be able to manage many patients presenting with work-related CTS.
Correlating Structure and Energetics in Protein-Ligand Interactions: Paradigms and Paradoxes

Predicting protein-binding affinities of small molecules, even closely related ones, is a formidable challenge in biomolecular recognition and medicinal chemistry. A thermodynamic approach to optimizing affinity in protein-ligand interactions requires knowledge and understanding of how altering the structure of a small molecule will be manifested in protein-binding enthalpy and entropy changes; however, there is a relative paucity of such detailed information. In this review, we examine two strategies commonly used to increase ligand potency. The first of these involves introducing a cyclic constraint to preorganize a small molecule in its biologically active conformation, and the second entails adding nonpolar groups to a molecule to increase the amount of hydrophobic surface that is buried upon binding. Both of these approaches are motivated by paradigms suggesting that protein-binding entropy changes should become more favorable, but paradoxes can emerge that defy conventional wisdom.
A programmable spatiotemporal image processor chip

A 16/spl times/16 pixel pseudo general-purpose vision chip for spatiotemporal focal-plane processing is presented. The convolution of the image with programmable kernels are realized with area-efficient and real-time circuits. The chip's architecture allows the photoreceptor cells to be small and densely packed by performing all analog computations on the read-out, away from the array. The size, configuration and coefficients of the kernels can be varied on the fly. In addition to the raw intensity image, the chip outputs four processed images in parallel. The convolution is implemented with a digitally programmable analog processor, resulting in very low power consumption at high computation rates.
Laryngopharyngeal reflux identified using a new catheter design: defining normal values and excluding artifacts.

Objective To define normal values for laryngopharyngeal reflux using an improved catheter design with adjustable electrode placement for pH monitoring. Study Design Cohort study of normal volunteers. Methods The setting was an institutional-based gastroenterology practice. Subjects included 20 healthy volunteers with no history of laryngeal, pharyngeal, or reflux symptoms. These included 10 men and 10 women (mean age, 33 y; age range, 26–49 y). Ambulatory 24-hour triple-electrode monitoring of pH in distal esophagus, proximal esophagus, and pharynx using new bifurcated probe was performed. The distal electrode was placed 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter, with the proximal two electrodes straddling the upper sphincter. The main outcome measure was the number of true pharyngeal reflux episodes. Results Sixteen of 20 subjects had no episodes, and 2 subjects had only one episode of pharyngeal reflux. The two subjects exceeding this value (8 and 15 episodes, respectively) had abnormal distal and proximal esophageal reflux. Artifacts for pharyngeal reflux due to acidic meals or “pseudoreflux” were excluded. Subject tolerance of this new probe was excellent. Conclusion The triple-electrode bifurcated adjustable pH probe provides a well-tolerated technique to identify true hypopharyngeal acid reflux episodes. When artifacts produced by meals and pseudoreflux are excluded, 90% of normal subjects show no episodes or a single episode over a 24-hour period.
The essential interaction between yeast mRNA capping enzyme subunits is not required for triphosphatase function in vivo.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA capping enzyme consists of two subunits: an RNA 5′-triphosphatase (Cet1) and an mRNA guanylyltransferase (Ceg1). In yeast, the capping enzyme is recruited to the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription complex via an interaction between Ceg1 and the phosphorylated carboxy-terminal domain of the Pol II largest subunit. Previous in vitro experiments showed that the Cet1 carboxy-terminal region (amino acids 265 to 549) carries RNA triphosphatase activity, while the region containing amino acids 205 to 265 of Cet1 has two functions: it mediates dimerization with Ceg1, but it also allosterically activates Ceg1 guanylyltransferase activity in the context of Pol II binding. Here we characterize several Cet1 mutants in vivo. Mutations or deletions of Cet1 that disrupt interaction with Ceg1 are lethal, showing that this interaction is essential for proper capping enzyme function in vivo. Remarkably, the interaction region of Ceg1 becomes completely dispensable when Ceg1 is substituted by the mouse guanylyltransferase, which does not require allosteric activation by Cet1. Although no interaction between Cet1 and mouse guanylyltransferase is detectable, both proteins are present at yeast promoters in vivo. These results strongly suggest that the primary physiological role of the Ceg1-Cet1 interaction is to allosterically activate Ceg1, rather than to recruit Cet1 to the Pol II complex.
G-1,6-P2, glycolysis, and energy metabolism during circulatory occlusion in human skeletal muscle

The effect of circulatory occlusion on the content of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (G-1,6-P2), glycogenolytic intermediates, and high-energy phosphates in the quadriceps femoris muscles of eight men was investigated. Needle biopsies were obtained at rest, after 30 min of circulatory occlusion, and 15 min after the occlusion was released. G-1,6-P2 averaged 75 +/- 8 (SE) mumol/kg dry wt at rest and did not change significantly after occlusion (82 +/- 10; P greater than 0.05) but was slightly elevated after 15 min recovery (88 +/- 12; P less than 0.05 vs. rest). Phosphocreatine (PCr) decreased in all subjects after occlusion (from 80.4 +/- 2.6 to 66.2 +/- 4.7 mmol/kg dry wt; P less than 0.001) and was completely resynthesized after recovery (80.9 +/- 2.4). Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-P2) was doubled after occlusion (P less than 0.05). During occlusion, the average glycolytic and anaerobic ATP turnover rates were 0.08 +/- 0.02 mmol.kg dry wt-1.min-1 (approximately 4 times the calculated rate at rest) and 0.7 +/- 0.2 mmol.kg dry wt-1.min-1 (less than 20% of the calculated rate at rest), respectively. Total glycolysis was strongly related to the calculated increase in inorganic phosphate (Pi, r = 0.93; P less than 0.01), the decrease in PCr/Cr (reflects an increase in free ADP and AMP) (r = 0.92; P less than 0.01), and the increase in hexosemonophosphates (r = 0.77; P less than 0.05). It is concluded that short-term ischemia in human skeletal muscle results in no change in the content of G-1,6-P2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Voices of Trauma and Resilience: Cultural and Gender Distinctive Responses to War and Displacement in Pakistan

Due to war-related conflict and monsoon flooding, the number of internally displaced persons residing within and refugees or asylum seekers originating from Pakistan has reached over two million. Such displacement trends necessitate increased understanding of culturally specific trauma reactions for this population. This predominantly qualitative exploratory study utilised a concurrent mixed methods triangulation design within an action research methodology to examine trauma-related symptomatology and phenomenological perspectives on internal displacement for Pakistani women. Results indicate: (a) significant experiences of distress including multiple displacements, separation from family, loss of property, experiences of terror and exposure to personal and community violence as well as (b) effects of distress including altered feeling states, awareness of consciousness and physical states. Implications for disaster response and trauma recovery with Pakistani populations are highlighted.
The Primary Toxicity of Certain Preparations from Tubercle Bacilli for Mice and Guinea-Pigs

written on this subject, and still we have no concise information as to whether the tubercle bacillus produces toxic substances or whether on disintegration a toxic element is produced that acts on the animal body. Vaughan 1 believes that he has prepared the true toxic substance not only from the tubercle bacillus, but also from many bacteria and pure protein substances by disintegrating them with alcoholic sodium or potassium hydroxid. That the tubercle bacillus does not produce a true bacterial toxin, as is the case with the diphtheria and tetanus bacilli, cannot be questioned but whether it produces a substance possessing immunizing or true poisonous properties is still debatable. In 1918, Corper and Sweany2 reported observations on tubercle bacilli indicating that these organisms, both human and bovine, possessed autolytic and a number of other hydrolytic enzymes. In the surrounding autolysate there was found to be a certain correlation between the autolysis and antigen formation. Believing that there might exist, as with the pneumococcus, a certain relation between autolysis and the formation of a toxic substance in some way related to virulence, it was decided to prepare autolysates from virulent and avirulent, human and bovine tubercle bacilli and compare their toxicities to mice, and as far as possible to guinea-pigs. Likewise it was thought that a lysis of the bacilli by means of distilled water might liberate substances which though toxic may disappear on autolysis. The later conception was strengthened by the observations by Roger,3 in which rabbit blood laked by distilled water was toxic to rabbits, but this toxicity was absent or markedly less in autolyzed blood. It seemed desirable, therefore, to prepare distilled water extracts of
Magnetoelectric effect in functionalized few-layer graphene

We show that the spin moment induced by $s{p}^{3}$-type defects created by different covalent functionalizations on a few-layer graphene structure can be controlled by an external electric field. Based on ab initio density functional calculations, including van der Waals interactions, we find that this effect has a dependence on the number of stacked layers and concentration of point defects, but the interplay of both with the electric field drives the system to a half-metallic state. The calculated magnetoelectric coefficient $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ has a value comparable to those found for ferromagnetic thin films (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni) and magnetoelectric surfaces (e.g., CrO${}_{2}$). The value of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ also agrees with the universal value predicted for ferromagnetic half-metals and also points to a novel route to induce half-metallicity in graphene using surface decoration.
Quantitative estimation of marrow non-heme iron in alcoholics.

The non-heme iron of the bone marrow aspirates of two groups of alcoholics (totalling 107 subjects) was quantitatively estimated. About 14% of the patients had markedly decreased iron stores; 78% fell within the normal range, and only 8% displayed modest increases, none comparable with levels found in hemochromatosis. About half of the patients with elevated marrow iron values had clinically overt infection. Significant iron overload is not common in the alcoholic; iron lack is not infrequent.
Internal Parallelism of Flash Memory-Based Solid-State Drives

A unique merit of a solid-state drive (SSD) is its internal parallelism. In this article, we present a set of comprehensive studies on understanding and exploiting internal parallelism of SSDs. Through extensive experiments and thorough analysis, we show that exploiting internal parallelism of SSDs can not only substantially improve input/output (I/O) performance but also may lead to some surprising side effects and dynamics. For example, we find that with parallel I/Os, SSD performance is no longer highly sensitive to access patterns (random or sequential), but rather to other factors, such as data access interferences and physical data layout. Many of our prior understandings about SSDs also need to be reconsidered. For example, we find that with parallel I/Os, write performance could outperform reads and is largely independent of access patterns, which is opposite to our long-existing common understanding about slow random writes on SSDs. We have also observed a strong interference between concurrent reads and writes as well as the impact of physical data layout to parallel I/O performance. Based on these findings, we present a set of case studies in database management systems, a typical data-intensive application. Our case studies show that exploiting internal parallelism is not only the key to enhancing application performance, and more importantly, it also fundamentally changes the equation for optimizing applications. This calls for a careful reconsideration of various aspects in application and system designs. Furthermore, we give a set of experimental studies on new-generation SSDs and the interaction between internal and external parallelism in an SSD-based Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) storage. With these critical findings, we finally make a set of recommendations to system architects and application designers for effectively exploiting internal parallelism.
Sleep disorders in neurodegenerative diseases other than Parkinson's disease.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews neurodegenerative diseases that commences with a discussion of circadian dysrhythmias in dementia, followed by a review of sleep behavior disorder (RBD,) and the significance of its presence in the setting of dementia. Understanding the changes associated with sleep in the normal aging process provide insights into the mechanisms leading to the sleep disturbances seen in association with neurodegenerative diseases. Pathological disturbances represent an exaggeration of normal age-related changes, as exemplified by discriminative objective findings in sleep architecture and consolidation when comparing individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) of even mild severity to controls. Sleep disorders are particularly well described in the AD population. Recognition and treatment of coexisting sleep disorders has the potential to reduce considerably patient and caregiver burden, and to reduce the financial costs to society.