cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Substance use and intimate partner violence: clarifying the relevance of women's use and partners' use.

Research has shown that, when women and/or their partners are involved in substance use, women’s risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) is higher. Prior research has not examined whether substance use by both women and their partners contributes independently or interactively to women’s risk of victimization and has not identified factors moderating the effect of substance use by victim or partner. Mental health and social support are explored as moderators of the association between women’s victimization and substance use by victim or partner in a study of 590 impoverished women residing in the Los Angeles area. This study found that substance use by both the woman and her partner independently predicted IPV and that social support moderated the effect of women’s substance use. These findings clarify the relevance of substance use in the context of intimate relationships and that of social support as a buffer against IPV among impoverished women.
Investigation of protein/carbohydrate interactions in the dried state. 2. Diffuse reflectance FTIR studies

Abstract Upon freeze-drying in the absence of lyoprotectants, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has detected changes in the secondary structures of proteins. Such FTIR studies have been typically conducted using protein/KBr pellets, where additional protein degradation could potentially occur due to pressure effects and partial dissolution of the chaotropic KBr. Diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy, in which no sample preparation is necessary, was evaluated as an alternative spectroscopic method to examine protein structure upon freeze-drying. The therapeutic proteins recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (rh-DNase) and recombinant human insulin like growth factor I (rh-IGF-I) were freeze-dried with mannitol, sucrose, trehalose, and two molecular weight dextrans (69 and 503 kDa) separately, at concentrations ranging from 0 to 100% (w/w). Upon freeze-drying, rh-DNase and rh-IGF-I underwent significant changes in their secondary structure. For both proteins, the presence of intermolecular β-sheets due to aggregation was detected and the α-helix content decreased significantly. The addition of carbohydrates to the formulations inhibited the protein secondary structure rearrangement in a concentration-dependent manner. Sucrose and trehalose appeared to be the most efficient excipients in preventing secondary structure changes. The conformational changes observed for both proteins appeared to be reversible upon rehydration.
The pattern of GAP-43 immunostaining changes in the rat hippocampal formation during reactive synaptogenesis

Abstract The reactive synaptogenesis that takes place in the rat hippocampal formation after certain experimental manipulations affords an opportunity to investigate the molecular events that underlie structural remodeling in the adult CNS. Between 2 and 4 days after lesioning the perforant pathway, levels of the synaptic phosphoprotein, GAP-43 (B50, F1, pp46, neuromodulin), were found to increase markedly in the inner molecular layer (iml) of the dentate gyrus, coincident with the time at which commissural-associational (CA) fibers begin to sprout axon collaterals into dendritic portions denervated by the lesion. GAP-43 immunostaining in the iml began to decline by 8 days but continued to define an expanded CA projection for at least one month. In the outer molecular layer (oml), GAP-43 levels decreased after the loss of perforant pathway terminals and did not return for 2–3 weeks, the time at which sprouting of septal inputs into this layer can be visualized by cholinesterase histochemistry. These results demonstrate that GAP-43 levels change during reactive synaptogenesis, and point to differences among neural systems in their expression of this protein.
Radiation damage of phosphatidylcholine bilayers: Effects of temperature and hydration

Structural damage by 100 kV electron irradiation in hydrated and dehydrated lecithin bilayers of different acyl chain lengths were measured by the alteration of electron diffraction patterns. At temperatures below the transition temperatures (Tc), the total diffraction intensities of both hydrated and dehydrated bilayers decreased at similar exponential rates, starting at a cumulative dose of 2 x 10(-4) C/cm2. The intensity anisotropy along diffraction rings was not noticeably altered by radiation. At temperatures less than 6 degrees from Tc, the total diffraction intensity of hydrated bilayers increased initially with radiation, while the intensity anisotropy along diffraction rings was also changed by radiation. Unsupported and hydrated bilayers at temperatures well below Tc ruptured at a cumulative dose of 10(-3) C/cm2, whereas those near or above Tc were more resistant to radiation-induced rupture. The results are discussed in terms of molecular damage, bilayer movement and annealing.
Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Sural Nerve Grafting During Radical Prostatectomy: Initial Experience

ABSTRACTPurpose: Sural nerve grafting has been done in select patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with unilateral or bilateral wide excision of the neurovascular bundle in an effort to preserve potency. We describe a novel technique of laparoscopic sural nerve grafting after radical prostatectomy using the da Vinci (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, California) robot.Materials and Methods: The procedure was performed successfully in 3 potent men 48, 49 and 59 years old, respectively. In patient 1 the entire procedure was performed robotically using a 6 port transperitoneal approach. In patients 2 and 3 the robot was used only for sural nerve grafting and urethrovesical anastomosis, while radical prostatectomy was performed by conventional laparoscopy. After the completion of radical prostatectomy with deliberate wide resection of the 2 neurovascular bundles in patients 1 and 3, and unilateral excision of the left neurovascular bundle in patient 2 a plastic surgery team harvested 10 to 15 cm of sura...
Emotional Intelligence in Siblings of Patients Diagnosed With a Mental Disorder

The current study assessed the ability of siblings of patients diagnosed with a mental disorder on a measure of emotional intelligence, the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso, 2002; Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT): User's Manual. Multi-Health Systems, Inc., Toronto, Ontario). Thirty siblings of patients diagnosed with a mental disorder by a mental health professional (mostly schizophrenia and bipolar disorders) completed the MSCEIT. Their performance was compared against the population mean of 100 (based on a sample of 5,000 participants) on different abilities of emotional intelligence. Siblings performed statistically better than the population on Experiential EIQ, the ability to perceive, to respond, and to manipulate emotional input without necessarily understanding it, and statistically worse than the population mean on Strategic EIQ, the ability to understand and manage emotions without necessarily perceiving or fully experiencing the...
Fibrous particle deposition in human nasal passage : The influence of particle length, flow rate, and geometry of nasal airway

Abstract Man-made vitreous fibers (MMVFs) have been used as a substitute for asbestos in industrial and residential applications. This shift has raised the concerns of the potential hazards associated with inhalation of these fibers. The human nose is an important protective organ that captures harmful particles and then clears them from human respiratory tract. However, studies have shown that some or even most of the inhalable fibrous particles can penetrate human nose and deposit into the deep lung. The understanding of fibrous particle deposition in the human nasal passage has important occupational health and possible drug delivery applications. To study the deposition pattern and influential factors, three realistic human nasal models were used and a dielectrophoretic classifier was applied to generate test aerosol of glass fibers with a narrow length distribution. These models were made by using stereolithography based on MRI data from two human subjects. Regional and total deposition efficiencies were measured for five different flow rates: 4, 8, 12, 15, and 18 Lpm and four different fiber length ranges: 10–19, 20–29, 30–39, and 40– 49 μ m . This study found that deposition of glass fibers (with about 1 μ m diameter) in human nasal passage is mainly due to inertial impaction and these fibers orientated themselves normal to the flow direction before deposition occurs. An effective aerodynamic diameter is defined such that the deposition efficiencies of glass fibers are comparable with those of spherical particles. Non-dimensional parameters were defined and an empirical model based on the experimental results is proposed to calculate fibrous particle deposition efficiency in human nose. Empirical expressions were also developed to estimate the pressure drop across the nasal model. Thus, empirical equations are now available for the prediction of total deposition in the human nasal tract for the fibrous particles under constant inspiring flow rates. In addition, this study suggested that these equations can also be used to predict the deposition of spherical particles.
Synthesis and chromatographic properties of cyano- phenyl ethers

Abstract A general route for the preparation of cyanophenyl ethers to be used as polar thermally stable liquid phases in gas chromatography is described. Electrophilic bromination with thallium acetate catalysis occurs exclusively at positions para to the ether bond. Under vigorous reaction conditions bromination at ortho positions in the terminal phenyl rings may also occur. On subsequent reaction with cuprous cyanide all para substituted bromine groups may be exchanged but those in ortho positions are resistant to reaction. To monitor the synthetic reactions effectively and to establish the isomeric purity of the final products high-performance liquid chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used.
FGF18 Represses Noggin Expression and Is Induced by Calcineurin

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and bone morphogenetic proteins strongly regulate chondrogenesis and chondrocyte gene expression. The interactions of the signaling pathways initiated by these factors are central to the control of chondrocyte differentiation. Here we show that calcium-dependent signals induce expression of FGF18, an essential regulator of bone and cartilage differentiation. The induction of FGF18 expression required the calcium-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. The activated forms of calcineurin or the calcineurin-dependent transcription factor, NFAT4 (nuclear factor of activated T-cell 4), induced FGF18 expression. FGF18 or a constitutive active FGF receptor suppressed noggin gene induction and thereby increased chondrocyte gene expression and chondrogenesis by facilitating bone morphogenetic protein-dependent signals. These findings reinforce the interdependence of bone morphogenetic protein and FGF signaling and provide a rational explanation for abnormal bone development occurring in humans or mice with constitutively active FGF receptors.
Top-down guided eye movements: peripheral model

Eye movements are an important aspect of human visual behavior. The temporal and space-variant nature of sampling a visual scenes requires frequent attentional gaze shifts, saccades, to fixate onto different parts of an image. Fixations are often directed towards the most informative regions in the visual scene. We introduce a model and its simulation that can select such regions based on prior knowledge of similar scenes. Having representations of scene categories as probabilistic combination of hypothetical objects, i.e., prototypical regions with certain properties, it is possible to assess the likely contribution of each image region to the successive recognition process. The regions are obtained by segmenting low-resolution images using the normalized cut algorithm. Based on low-level features, such as average color, size, position, regions are clustered into a small set of hypothetical objects. Using conditions probabilities for each object given the scene category, the model can then predict the informative value of the corresponding region and initiate a sequential spatial information-gathering algorithm analogous to an eye movement saccade to a new fixation. The article demonstrates how the initial hypothesis determines the next region of interest to visit and how these scene hypotheses are affected by sequentially visiting each new image region.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Silicon-aluminium network composites fabricated by liquid metal infiltration

This paper provides a new method for fabricating interpenetrating silicon-aluminium network metal-matrix composites. This method involves the infiltration of an aluminium-silicon alloy (Al-12Si-1Mg or Al-30Si-1Mg) liquid into a silicon particle (50 vol %) preform. The silicon particles were partially dissolved by the liquid alloy and, together with silicon contributed by the original Al-Si-Mg matrix, resulted in an Si network after solidification. The network composites were metallurgically sound, with no porosity, and exhibited a thermal expansion coefficient down to 7.7×10−6 °C−1 at 50–100 °C, compressive strength up to 580 MPa, tensile strength up to 160 MPa and Vickers hardness up to 390.
The contribution of nitro- and methylnitronaphthalenes to the vapor-phase mutagenicity of ambient air samples

1- and 2-Nitronaphthalene (NN) and the 14 methylnitronaphthalene (MNN) isomers were identified and quantified in ambient vapor-phase samples collected in Redlands, CA during moderate photochemical air pollution. The mutagenic activities of NN and MNN standards were determined using a microsuspension-preincubation modification of the Ames Salmonella bacterial reversion assay in strain TA98 without microsomal activation. The calculated contributions of the NNs and MNNs to the total vapor-phase ambient mutagenic activity were ∼ 18 and ∼ 32% for daytime and nighttime composite samples, respectively. Enhanced mutagenic activity in the nighttime sample was attributed to NN and MNN formation from nighttime N03 radical-initiated reactions of naphthalene and the methylnaphthalenes.
The optical-rotation effect in photoelastic shell analysis

A difficulty commonly encountered in the three-dimensional photoelastic analysis of thin-shell structures1–9 is the so-called optical rotation effect4,8–10 which, in spite of some noteworthy efforts, has not yet been fully elucidated. The objective of this paper is to show how modern descriptions of polarized light can be advantageously used to predict the influence of the rotation effect on optical observations. Use will be made of the Poincare sphere representation of polarized light and of the associated Mueller calculus. Because these subjects may be unfamiliar, the fundamental concepts involved are briefly discussed in each case and readily available supplementary references are given.
Filling the Space: Education, Community, and Identity in British Internment Camps during World War II

The British government interned 24,000 men and4000 women of “enemy” nationality living in Britain in the spring of 1940. Some were Nazis but most anti‐Nazi Jewish refugees. Using oral histories, supplemented by documentary sources, this paper explores the experiences of these refugees, especially their educational experiences. It describes how, with little outside assistance, the refugees developed a rich cultural and educational life in the empty space of the internment camps, creating “universities”, technical schools, children's schools, newspapers, lectures, concerts, and art exhibits. Emphasis is placed on the refugees ‘ educational and cultural agency, or activism; on the educational impact of age, gender, and other forms of diversity; and on the refugees’ use of education to help them cope with wartime changes in their social and political status and in their personal identities.
Direct matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometric analysis of proteins immobilized on nylon-based membranes

Direct analysis of proteins adsorbed onto the surface of nylon membranes has been performed at the picomole level by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Nylon-66 and positive charge-modified nylon (Zetabind) membranes fixed to MALDI probe tips were successfully employed to analyze picomole quantities of sample that were adsorbed onto these inert supports prior to adding a matrix-containing solution. Proteins and peptides are readily solubilized from these types of membrane with conventional matrix solvents and cocrystallize with the matrix on the membrane surface. Because solubilization of membrane-adsorbed protein is necessary for successful sample preparation, nylon membranes are more suitable for use with MALDI-MS than other protein transfer membranes such as polyvinylidene difluoride or nitrocellulose. When compared to samples prepared conventionally, no apparent loss of sensitivity or resolution is observed when analysis by MALDI-MS is performed from nylon-66 or positive charge-modified nylon membranes. Detection limits and resolution are not apparently affected by the membrane immobilization/washing procedure, and no change in the mass accuracy is observed when analysis is performed on the nylon surface. However, there is a time shift (increase) in ion flight time when analysis by MALDI-time-of-flight-MS is performed directly from the membrane fixed to the probe tip (about 200 ns for an ion of mass 379.3). To maintain mass accuracy, the use of internal standards or external calibration performed on a membrane support was necessary. The immobilization of proteins on nylon membranes can be used to facilitate removal of water-soluble contaminants because the sample is retained when the membrane is immersed in water prior to adding the matrix solution. The feasibility of performing both chemical and enzymatic modifications of proteins adsorbed onto inert nylon supports prior to analysis by MALDi-MS is also demonstrated.
Effect of connectivity on the activity of neural net models.

A theoretical analysis of the effect of different synaptic connection patterns in artificial neural networks is undertaken. Networks whose connectivities follow Poisson and normal distribution laws have been partially explored elsewhere (Anninos & Elul, 1974). In this paper, we investigate networks where the connectivity may be described by certain Poisson and gamma distributions, depending on the nature of the intercellular synaptic connections. In the analytical treatment of the equations involved, the principal result is that networks either go into sustained activity at the slightest provocation, or become quiescent unless supplied with a constant external input, or exhibit a definite threshold for being driven to sustained “spontaneous” activity. These behavioral differences suggest that interconnection patterns may have a profound effect on the functioning of various neural structures.
Perceived Physical Attractiveness of Supporters and Nonsupporters of the Women's Movement An Attitude-Similarity-Mediated Error (AS-ME)

Two studies were conducted to investigate the supposed physical attractiveness bias against supporters of the women's movement and to test a possible explanation for this reported bias. An attitude-similarity-mediated error (AS-ME) hypothesis was tested that proposes that people rate similar others as more physically attractive than dissimilar others, regardless of the attitudinal issue involved. Experiment I employed Byrne's attraction paradigm and had 235 males and 237females evaluate a same-sex stranger who had either similar or dissimilar attitudes related to either the women's movement or censorship. In Experiment 2, 176 males and 237 females evaluated opposite-sex strangers. The AS-ME explanation was supported in both experiments.
PTP-ER, a Novel Tyrosine Phosphatase, Functions Downstream of Ras1 to Downregulate MAP Kinase during Drosophila Eye Development

Activation of ERK/MAPK is a key event downstream of RAS. The duration, extent, and timing of MAPK activity is integral to signal specificity. Consequently, inactivation of MAPK by phosphatases has emerged as a critical element in the precise control of signal output. We have cloned and characterized a novel cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-ER, which is related to mammalian PCPTP1, LC-PTP/HePTP, and STEP tyrosine phosphatases. PTP-ER mutants produce extra R7 cells and enhance activated Ras1 signaling. Ectopic expression of PTP-ER dramatically inhibits RAS1/MAPK signaling. PTP-ER binds to and inactivates Drosophila ERK/MAPK; however, it is unable to dephosphorylate and downregulate Drosophila MAPKSevenmaker. Resistance to PTP-ER activity partially accounts for the Sevenmaker mutant phenotype.
Ascertainment bias in Turner syndrome: new insights from girls who were diagnosed incidentally in prenatal life.

Objective To evaluate differences in phenotype and other clinical features between patients who have Turner syndrome diagnosed incidentally (on the basis of a prenatal karyotype performed for reasons unrelated to suspicion of Turner syndrome, eg, advanced maternal age) or traditionally (on the basis of either a prenatal karyotype performed for abnormal ultrasound findings or a postnatal karyotype performed for clinical findings suggesting Turner syndrome). Methods Analysis was performed on baseline data from 88 girls, aged 9 months to 4 years, who were randomized into a multicenter growth hormone intervention trial. Baseline information included a detailed medical history (especially of cardiac and renal anomalies), examination for presence of phenotypic features characteristic of Turner syndrome, length or height (depending on age) expressed as a standard deviation score, and weight standard deviation score. Patients were classified to either the "incidental" (N = 16) or the "traditional" (N = 72) diagnosis group as described above. Results The incidental group had significantly fewer total phenotypic features of Turner syndrome than the traditional group (3.6 +/- 2.9 vs 6.7 +/- 2.9). When subgrouped by karyotype, the proportion of patients who manifested phenotypic features was greatest in patients with a 45,X nonmosaic karyotype, lowest in the patients with 45,X/46,XX mosaicism, and intermediate in those with "other" karyotypes. Fewer congenital cardiac defects were observed in the incidental group (31%) compared with the traditional group (64%), but there was no difference between the groups in the prevalence of renal defects. Karyotype distribution differed significantly between the traditional and incidental groups: 74% versus 19% had the nonmosaic 45,X karyotype in the traditional group and 7% versus 56% had the mosaic 45,X/46,XX karyotype. Conclusions Patients whose Turner syndrome was diagnosed incidentally had significantly fewer phenotypic features and cardiac defects, as well as a greater proportion of mosaic karyotypes, compared with patients whose Turner syndrome was diagnosed clinically. These results support the theory that significant ascertainment bias exists in our understanding Turner syndrome, with important implications for prenatal counseling.
Abnormal placental structure and vasa previa: confirmation of the relationship.

Vasa previa is a result of a velamentous cord insertion where the umbilical vessels lie over the internal cervical os. This condition is relatively rare, with an incidence of approximately 1 per 2000 to 5000 deliveries. If undiscovered, fetal mortality can be as high as 58% to 73%. 1 Patients with vasa previa may have second- or third-trimester bleeding or may be asymptomatic. Advances in ultrasonography and color Doppler imaging have greatly improved prenatal detection of vasa previa. 2 Risk factors include in vitro fertilization, 3 placenta previa, multiple gestation, abnormal placental structure, and velamentous cord insertion. Because of the considerable risk it poses to the fetus, vasa previa should be ruled out in any patient who had second- or third-trimester bleeding or the presence of such risk factors.
Induced anisotropy in Ni-Fe films

A survey of experimental results for magnetic anisotropy induced during evaporation and annealing of polycrystalline Ni-Fe alloy films is given. Existing data for the uniaxial anisotropy constant K appear to be bounded from above by the combined predictions of strain and directional-ordering theories. The strain anisotropy frequently attains theoretical values, and often less, while directional-ordering anisotropy in high-vacuum films (circa 10-5torr) generally attains half or less of theoretical expectations.
Experimental acute lung injury induces multi-organ epigenetic modifications in key angiogenic genes implicated in sepsis-associated endothelial dysfunction

The Tie2/angiopoietin (Tie2/Ang) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-ligand systems (VEGFR/VEGF) are recognized to play important roles in the regulation of microvascular endothelial function. Downregulation of these genes during sepsis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis-related microvascular leak and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Mechanisms responsible for dysregulation of angiogenic genes in sepsis are poorly defined. Western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and multiplex chromatin immunoprecipitation platform (Matrix ChIP) were used to investigate serum albumin leak, changes in gene expression, and associated epigenetic alterations in a murine model of acute lung injury-induced sepsis (ALI-sepsis). Experimental ALI-sepsis induced microvascular leak and downregulation of expression of Angpt1 (Ang1), Tek (Tie2), and Kdr (Vegfr2 or Flk-1) genes in the lung, kidney, and liver. These changes correlate with a decrease in RNA polymerase II density at these genes, and the greatest response was observed in the lung. ALI-sepsis reduced levels of transcription-permissive histone H3 lysine acetylation (H3KAc) at these loci in all examined tissues. Decreases in permissive H3K4m3 and H3Km2 marks were detected only in the lung. In contrast, only minimal alterations in transcription-repressive histone modifications (H3K27m3, H3K9m2, H3K9m3, and H4K20m3) were observed in all tissues. Our results demonstrate that decreases in transcription-permissive, but not increases in transcription-repressive, histone modifications at Angpt1, Tek, and Kdr are a systemic, rather than a lung-restricted, response, involving key end-organs in experimental ALI-sepsis. Given that ventilator-associated pneumonia is a major cause of sepsis in critically ill patients, elucidation of mechanisms mediating epigenetic alterations during sepsis provides fundamental new insights into the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced microvascular leak and subsequent end-organ injury/dysfunction.
Environmental conditions experienced during the tadpole stage alter post-metamorphic glucocorticoid response to stress in an amphibian

Exposure to adverse environmental conditions during early development can shape life-history traits and have lasting effects on physiological function in later life. Although findings within the biomedical literature have shown that environmentally induced elevations in glucocorticoids (GCs) during critical developmental windows can cause persistent carry-over effects (i.e., developmental programming), little is known about whether such effects of GCs can be generalized to wildlife species. Using wood frogs as a study species, we conducted an experiment with a split-plot design to assess the short-term and the long-term physiological consequences of availability of food, hydroperiod length (i.e., pond drying), and the interaction between these two environmental conditions. In outdoor experimental ponds, we reared tadpoles in chronically high or low-food conditions, and tadpoles from each pond experienced either high water until metamorphosis or a reduction in water volume during late developmental stages (after Gosner stage 38). After metamorphosis, animals were housed individually and fed ad libitum for 10 weeks, and growth rate, fat content, and resting and acute stress-induced GC levels were measured. We found that tadpoles experiencing low availability of food and reduced water volume had elevated GC levels, reduced mass, and body condition as they approached metamorphosis. At 10 weeks after metamorphosis, we found that these two conditions also had persistent interactive effects on post-metamorphic allocation of resources to growth, energy storage, and responsiveness of GCs to a novel stressor. Of individuals that experienced reduced water volume, only those that experienced high food as tadpoles were able to catch up to individuals that did not experience reduced water volume in terms of body mass, femur length, and body condition, and they allocated more resources to fat storage. By contrast, 10-week old frogs with low-food and that experienced low water volume and low-food levels as tadpoles allocated fewer resources to mass-specific growth, stored less fat, and exhibited blunted GC response to a novel stressor relative to those that did not experience water-reduction. Our findings demonstrate that environmental conditions experienced prior to and during important developmental transitions shape resource allocation and the ability to physiologically respond to future stressors in juvenile and potentially adult animals. These results suggest that chronic and acute environmental stressors experienced during early life stages can have cumulative and interactive effects that need to be considered when modeling the ecological and evolutionary consequences of environmental change on populations.
Scheduling Bursts Using Interval Graphs in Optical Burst Switching Networks

Optical Burst Switching (OBS) is considered to be a promising paradigm for bearing IP traffic in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical networks. In OBS networks, a key challenge is to reduce the data loss rate with efficient scheduling algorithms. In this work, we propose novel algorithms for batch scheduling in OBS networks with different optimization criteria. The algorithms effectively consider the strong correlations among the multiple bursts, and employ the proposed interval graphs and min-cost circular flow techniques to achieve optimized network performance in terms of data loss rate in the network. Simulation results show that our algorithms achieve a loss rate which is as much as 20% less than one of the best previously known algorithms, LAUC-VF, and suffer only a minor increase (about 1-hop link propagation) in the data latency.
Phenomenology of the littlest Higgs model with T -parity

Little Higgs models offer an interesting approach to weakly coupled electroweak symmetry breaking without fine-tuning. The original little Higgs models were plagued by strong constraints from electroweak precision data which required a fine-tuning to be reintroduced. An economical solution to this problem is to introduce a discrete symmetry (analogous to $R$-parity of SUSY) called $T$-parity. $T$-parity not only eliminates most constraints from electroweak precision data, but it also leads to a promising dark matter candidate. In this paper we investigate the dark matter candidate in the littlest Higgs model with $T$-parity. An upper bound on the symmetry breaking scale $f\ensuremath{\lesssim}1.8\text{ }\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ naturally arises from calculating the relic density. We begin the study of the LHC phenomenology of the littlest Higgs model with $T$-parity. We find that the model offers an interesting collider signature that has a generic missing energy signal which could ``fake'' SUSY at the LHC. We also investigate the properties of the heavy partner of the top quark which is common to all littlest Higgs models, and how its properties are modified with the introduction of $T$-parity. We include an appendix with a list of Feynman rules specific to the littlest Higgs with $T$-parity to facilitate further study.
School and cognitive functioning problems in adolescent bariatric surgery candidates.

Abstract Background Prior studies have reported that students with overweight and obesity have impairments in performance IQ and executive function and worse school functioning in comparison with peers of normal weight. The present study assessed school and cognitive functioning in a sample of adolescents with severe obesity being evaluated for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Methods Eligible candidates for bariatric surgery were referred for psychiatric evaluation, which included a semistructured clinical interview measuring school functioning and the vocabulary and matrix reasoning subtests of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Results Self-reported school problems were common, with 55.5% of adolescents failing a grade or subject, 38.7% attending summer school, and 17.8% failing a citywide examination. A significant relationship was observed between body mass index, estimated WASI IQ ( r = −.250; P = .005), and the vocabulary subtest ( r = −.241; P = .006), but not matrix reasoning ( r = −.126; P = NS). Conclusion Even among a sample of adolescents with severe obesity, increased body mass index was associated with lower WASI IQ and vocabulary subtest scores. Increasing awareness of potential cognitive and school problems in bariatric candidates among teachers, school counselors, and other mental health providers is an important first step to improving academic support and educational systems deficiencies for students with overweight and obesity.
Feature Selection for Predicting Surgical Outcomes

Measuring health outcomes is a difficult challenge and potentially controversial undertaking. However, monitoring health outcomes can provide the basis for quality improvement initiatives, effective healthcare management, and even consumer education. As part of an overall data mining process to predict health outcomes, the data preparation tasks offer significant challenges. This paper focuses on the data preparation methods that will support ongoing modeling efforts for health outcomes research. Features or attributes are organized into high-level categories, highlighting collections of potentially predictive variables. This important data mining activity is often given limited coverage, yet provides a critical foundation for future research. Decision trees, regression, and histograms are used for feature selection, transformation, and data reduction. The paper illustrates these data preparation methods for a restricted surgical domain, the digestive system, with hospital length of stay as an outcome. Predictive models based on neural networks and support vector machines are presented.
ROC steady: a receiver operating characteristic curve that is invariant relative to selection bias.

This paper describes a simple method for constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves based on boundary conditions that restrict its theoretical shape. The resultant curve is identic...
On informing TCP sender by the current value of NIT parameter

Satellite systems are becoming deeply involved in the Internet. In this paper, we propose some algorithms for the additional mechanism which must be implemented in one of the network components in case the network uses the CANIT (Congestion Avoidance with Normalised Interval of Time) algorithm instead of the standard congestion avoidance of TCP (transmission control protocol). As we mentioned in former works, the additional mechanism is necessary to inform the TCP sources by the current value of NIT (normalised interval of time) parameter used by CANIT algorithm. This document discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the mechanisms which must be implemented at the gateway level as well as those which must be implemented at the destination level.
Management Strategies for Premenstrual Syndrome/Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Objective:To evaluate the current nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment options for symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).Data Sources:Literature was obtained through searches of MEDLINE Ovid (1950–March week 3, 2008) and EMBASE Drugs and Pharmacology (all years), as well as a bibliographic review of articles identified by the searches. Key terms included premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PMS, PMDD, and treatment.Study Selection/Data Extraction:All pertinent clinical trials, retrospective studies, and case reports in human subjects published in the English language were identified and evaluated for the safety and efficacy of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments of PMS/PMDD. Data from these studies and information from review articles were included in this review.Data Synthesis:Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been proven safe and effective for the treatment of PMDD and are recommended as first-line agent...
Switching delay variability in NMOS and PMOS PDSOI passgate circuits

Switching delays of partially-depleted SOI (PDSOI) CMOS gates are subject to variability depending on the switching history (S. Fung et al., 2000). This variability results from modulation of the threshold voltage by the floating body potential. To characterize this behavior it is important to study device response over a wide range of floating body potentials. We accomplish this by configuring NFETs and PFETs as single ended passgates driven by inverters with the input arrival times at both the source and the gate controlled independently. Representative data from a chip fabricated in an experimental 0.18 /spl mu/m PDSOI technology is presented and discussed.
A numerical model investigation of the formation and persistence of an erosion hotspot

A Delft3D-SWAN coupled flow and wave model was constructed for the San Francisco Bight with high-resolution at 7 km-long Ocean Beach, a high-energy beach located immediately south of the Golden Gate, the sole entrance to San Francisco Bay. The model was used to investigate tidal and waveinduced flows, basic forcing terms, and potential sediment transport in an area in the southern portion of Ocean Beach that has eroded significantly over the last several decades. The model predicted flow patterns that were favorable for sediment removal from the area and net erosion from the surf-zone. Analysis of the forcing terms driving surf-zone flows revealed that wave refraction over an exposed wastewater outfall pipe between the 12 and 15 m isobaths introduces a perturbation in the wave field that results in erosion-causing flows. Modeled erosion agreed well with five years of topographic survey data from the area.
Consultation in Special Education (Part II) Training and Practice

This is the second article of a two-part series on school consultation from an interdisciplinary perspective as it applies to training and practice in special education. Effective teaching, and in particular, effective consultation, is viewed as being an artful science requiring skills in both the art of facilitating human communications/interactions, and the science of applying an underlying body of knowledge to the teaching/learning process and to problem solving. In the first section, a competency-based perspective is taken for the training of consultants, with a resulting set of criteria for assessing the quality of model programs (both preservice and inservice) for training special education consultants to apply both the art and the science of consultation. Included are recommendations for development of future training programs from an interdisciplinary perspective. In the second section, the current state of the practice of special education consultation is analyzed using the same five criteria est...
Delayed patchy choroidal filling in the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT).

Purpose To determine the relationship between delayed patchy choroidal filling and morphologic and functional outcomes among eyes treated with ranibizumab or bevacizumab. Design Cohort study. Methods Comparison of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials participants were assigned randomly to ranibizumab or bevacizumab on a monthly or as-needed schedule. Presence of delayed patchy choroidal filling and morphologic and functional outcomes were evaluated among eyes with gradable fluorescein angiography at baseline (n = 973) and at 1 year (n = 860) eyes. Results Delayed filling was present in 75 (7.7%) of 973 eyes at baseline. Eyes with incident delayed filling at 1 year (23 [2.9%] of 798) showed a mean decrease of 1.7 letters in visual acuity, whereas eyes without incident delayed filling had a mean improvement of 8.1 letters (difference [Δ], −9.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] , −15.8 to −3.9; P 2 ) than eyes without incident delayed filling (0.56 mm 2 ; Δ , 2.4; 95% CI, 0.4 to 4.4; P = .02). The proportion with incident delayed filling at 1 year was similar among eyes treated with ranibizumab (10 [2.4%] of 413) or bevacizumab (13 [3.3%] of 385; P = .53) and among eyes treated monthly (12 [3.1%] of 388) or as needed (11 [2.7%] of 410; P = .83). Conclusions Delayed patchy choroidal filling was uncommon at baseline. Although only a small percentage of eyes demonstrated delayed filling during the first year of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, these eyes had worse visual acuity and a larger increase in total lesion area of choroidal neovascularization.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Afr1 Protein Is a Protein Phosphatase 1/Glc7-Targeting Subunit That Regulates the Septin Cytoskeleton during Mating

Glc7, the type1 serine/threonine phosphatase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is targeted by auxiliary subunits to numerous locations in the cell, where it regulates a range of physiological pathways. We show here that the accumulation of Glc7 at mating projections requires Afr1, a protein required for the formation of normal projections. AFR1-null mutants fail to target Glc7 to projections, and an Afr1 variant specifically defective in binding to Glc7 [Afr1(V546A F548A)] forms aberrant projections. The septin filaments in mating projections of AFR1 mutants initiate normally but then rearrange asymmetrically as the projection develops, suggesting that the Afr1-Glc7 holoenzyme may regulate the maintenance of septin complexes during mating. These results demonstrate a previously unknown role for Afr1 in targeting Glc7 to mating projections and in regulating the septin architecture during mating.
Experimental ischemia in monkeys. I. Effect of ischemia on gingival epithelium.

Unilateral ischemia was produced in periodontal tissues of squirrel monkeys by introduction of carbonized microspheres into the external carotid circulation. The palate and gingival tissues appeared blanched unilaterally. Histopathology ranged from moderate acanthosis to frank ulceration. Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) duplication was depressed during the period of ischemia and hyperemia, and then increased.
Testing the Link Between Child Maltreatment and Family Violence Among Police Officers

The purpose of this study is to document the relationship between physical abuse during childhood and family violence among a group of police officers from the Baltimore Police Department in the United States. Analyzing data from the Police and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-1999, this study found a positive relationship between physical abuse and family violence toward spouses and children. Specifically, this study found that police officers who indicated that their parents where physical with them were more likely to report being physical with their spouse and children. They were also more likely to report yelling or shouting toward family members. This study shows a positive relationship between physical abuse and involvement in family violence, and increases our knowledge regarding the cycle of violence in police families. This study points to the need for better recognition of physical abuse and the negative consequences children are likely to endure.
Self-exciting point process models of civilian deaths in Iraq

Our goal in this article is to characterize temporal patterns of violent civilian deaths in Iraq. These patterns are expected to evolve on time-scales ranging from years to minutes as a result of changes in the security environment on equally varied time-scales. To assess the importance of multiple time-scales in evolving security threats, we develop a self-exciting point process model similar to that used in earthquake analysis. Here the rate of violent events is partitioned into a background rate and a foreground self-exciting component. Background rates are assumed to change on relatively long time-scales. Foreground self-excitation, in which events trigger an increase in the rate of violence, is assumed to be short-lived. We explore the model using data from Iraq Body Count on civilian deaths between 2003 and 2007. Our results indicate that self-excitation makes up as much as 37–50 per cent of all violent events and that self-excitation lasts at most between two and six weeks, depending upon the district in question. Appropriate security responses may benefit from taking these different time-scales of violence into consideration.
BCATm deficiency ameliorates endotoxin-induced decrease in muscle protein synthesis and improves survival in septic mice

Endotoxin (LPS) and sepsis decrease mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity in skeletal muscle, thereby reducing protein synthesis. Our study tests the hypothesis that inhibition of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism, which elevates circulating BCAA and stimulates mTOR, will blunt the LPS-induced decrease in muscle protein synthesis. Wild-type (WT) and mitochondrial branched-chain aminotransferase (BCATm) knockout mice were studied 4 h after Escherichia coli LPS or saline. Basal skeletal muscle protein synthesis was increased in knockout mice compared with WT, and this change was associated with increased eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-4E binding protein-1 (4E-BP1) phosphorylation, eIF4E·eIF4G binding, 4E-BP1·raptor binding, and eIF3·raptor binding without a change in the mTOR·raptor complex in muscle. LPS decreased muscle protein synthesis in WT mice, a change associated with decreased 4E-BP1 phosphorylation as well as decreased formation of eIF4E·eIF4G, 4E-BP1·raptor, and eIF3·raptor complexes. In BCATm knockout mice given LPS, muscle protein synthesis only decreased to values found in vehicle-treated WT control mice, and this ameliorated LPS effect was associated with a coordinate increase in 4E-BP1·raptor, eIF3·raptor, and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. Additionally, the LPS-induced increase in muscle cytokines was blunted in BCATm knockout mice, compared with WT animals. In a separate study, 7-day survival and muscle mass were increased in BCATm knockout vs. WT mice after polymicrobial peritonitis. These data suggest that elevating blood BCAA is sufficient to ameliorate the catabolic effect of LPS on skeletal muscle protein synthesis via alterations in protein-protein interactions within mTOR complex-1, and this may provide a survival advantage in response to bacterial infection.
Current-based condition monitoring and fault tolerant operation for electric machines in automotive applications

The paper presents a complete summary of state-of- the-art techniques for current-based fault monitoring of low voltage permanent magnet synchronous machines commonly used in automotive applications for hybrid traction drives and auxiliary systems. This includes detection of stator winding faults, and bearing faults. In addition, a fault tolerant strategy is presented which can be used to operate the machine in a "limp-home" mode even in the presence of the stator turn fault. Experimental results show the efficacy of these methods which allow for use for PM machines even in automotive applications wherein the machine cannot be stopped.