cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Memory efficient string matching: a modular approach on FPGAs (abstract only)

Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDSs) have emerged as powerful tools for detecting and preventing malicious attacks over both the Internet and Intranet. String matching, which is one of the most important functions of NIDS, demands exceptionally high performance to match the content of network traffic against a predefined database of malicious patterns. Much work has been done in this field; however, they result in low memory efficiency\footnote{The memory efficiency (in bytes/char) is defined as the ratio of the amount of the required storage memory (in bytes), and the size of the dictionary (number of characters).}. Due to the available on-chip memory and the number of I/O pins of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), state-of-the-art designs cannot support large dictionaries without using high-latency external DRAM. We propose a novel Memory efficient Architecture for large-scale String Matching, namely MASM, based on pipelined binary search tree. Our design provides a high-throughput matching module, which can be used as the building block to process arbitrary-length patterns. With memory efficiency close to 1 byte/char, MASM can support a dictionary\footnote The size of a dictionary is the total number of characters in all the patterns in the dictionary. of over 4 MB (regardless of the size of the alphabet), using a single state-of-the-art FPGA device. This efficiency is comparable to that of a Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM)-based solution. The architecture can also be easily partitioned, so as to use external SRAM to handle even larger dictionaries of over 8 MB. Our implementation results show a sustained throughput of 3.2 Gbps, even when external SRAM is used. The MASM module can be simply duplicated to accept multiple characters per cycle, leading to scalable throughput with respect to the number of characters processed in each cycle. Dictionary update involves only rewriting the memory content, which can be done quickly without reconfiguring the chip.
Force Modelling for Cylindrical Plunge Cutting

This paper describes the development of an analytical model for the cutting forces in multiblade plunge cutting of cylindrical parts. The development uses the relationship between the instantaneous chip area and the local cutting forces at each individual blade to formulate the total resultant forces via kinematic integration along the cutting edges. The model expresses the cutting forces in explicit terms of part material properties, cutter geometry, part geometry, and cutting conditions. Experiments were performed under various cutting conditions to verify the fidelity of the model at different stages of cutter-part engagement. The waveform and amplitude characteristics of the model-predicted forces agree closely with the measurement. The model can facilitate tool geometry design and cutting condition planning in light of the optimisation of cutting forces.
Confromational state of chicken 7S immunoglobulin

Abstract Ultracentrifugation and fluorescence depolarization studies of chicken 7S IgG were designed to determine if high salt or high proton concentration induced polar orientation of the antibody active sites, facilitating lattice formation with antigen. Conditions of high proton concentration (pH 5·0) were used since at this pH, fowl antibody does not aggregate and the 7S form precipitates with homologous antigen. Ultracentrifugation studies with chicken anti-DNP IgG based on changing the pH of the solvent from 8·0 to 5·0, showed a significant decrease in the S20.w value and an increase in the frictional ratio of 11 per cent. Fluorescnece depolarization data gave rotational data gave rotational relaxation times (ϱ) of 354 and 238 nsec for chicke IgG at pH 8·0 and 5·0 respectively. Both the increased frictional ratio and decreased rotational relaxation times, relative to the change in environment of the chicken IgG molecule from pH 8·0 to 5·0 are indicative of unfolding.
Some Octagonal Forms in Southern Architecture

Buildings of octagonal form often seem to be oddities, because of an otherwise overwhelming preponderance of rectangular architecture. Yet octagonal structures are well distributed geographically; and they have been produced, perhaps, during every age of the world's history from the time man first began to build.1 The present essay is an attempt to discuss a few such buildings in the southern United States. It is based upon the assumption that octagonalism of plan is naturally suitable to a wide range of building purposes, and that it is specially suitable to warm climates.2
Nerve stimulation and denervation induce differential patterns of immediate early gene mRNA expression in skeletal muscle.

Abstract Many properties of skeletal muscle cells are closely regulated by motor nerves. Neuromuscular synaptic transmission (including the ‘activity’ it triggers) mediates many of these effects, while denervation results in a different spectrum of muscle cell changes. However, little is known about the early regulatory events that occur in mature muscle cells in response to muscle activity or denervation. We have examined the effects of motor nerve stimulation and denervation on the expression of 4 immediate early genes (IEGs) — c- jun , junB , zif268 , and nur77 — in mature mouse gastrocnemius muscle. Electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in a pattern of brisk intermittent exercise induced a marked rise in zif268 and c- jun mRNA levels within 45 min, a minimal rise in junB , and no change in nur77 mRNA levels. By contrast, surgical denervation resulted in a marked increase of c- jun , a slight rise in junB , and no change in nur77 or zif268 mRNA levels. These findings show that neural stimulation and denervation lead to differential patterns of IEG expression . The selectivity of these patterns suggests that differential IEG expression may play an important role in regulating the specific phenotypic changes in skeletal muscles that result from denervation, innervation, and various patterns of stimulation.
Chronic treatment with amitriptyline produces supersensitivity to nicotine.

Abstract The authors used a thermoregulation paradigm to evaluate effects of amitriptyline (AMI) on the sensitivity of a nicotinic mechanism involved in the regulation of core temperature in rats. Treatment with this tricyclic was associated with a significant increase in the hypothermie response to nicotine. Supersensitivity persisted for a minimum of 7.5 days following the last dose of AMI, and a significant proportion of animals displayed increased sensitivity after 14.5 days of abstinence. Implications for the mechanism of action of AMI are highlighted.
Shear-thickening and structure formation in polymer solutions

Abstract The phenomenon of shear-thickening has been investigated for solutions of several high molecular weight crystallizable polymers using capillary rheometry. The systems studied: polyethylene/xylene, polypropylene/tetralin, and poly(ethylene oxide)/ethanol have previously been investigated for their flow induced crystallization behavior. A shear-thickening pattern occurs in the relative viscosity vs. shear rate flow curves for the first two systems which, for the former of the two, also shows a strong molecular weight dependence. For the range of conditions studied, the poly(ethylene oxide)/ethanol system did not show shear-thickening, exhibiting instead a shear thinning pattern for the lower molecular weight sample studied and a constant viscosity high shear plateau for the higher MW system. The conclusion is reached that shear-thickening is due to molecular entanglements formed during flow and the implications of these results to the phenomenon of precursor phase separation in flow-induced fibrous crystallization are discussed.
GaAs homojunction far-infrared detectors for astronomy applications

ABSTRACT A high performance, bias tunable, p-GaAs homojunction interfacial workfunction internal photoemission (HI-WIP) far-infrared (FIR) detector has been demonstrated. A responsivity of 3.10 0.05 A/W, a quantum efficiencyof 12.5 %, and a detectivity D* of 5.9x10'° cmv'ii/W (NEP of 4.4x10'3 W/v"i), were obtained at 4.2K, forcutoff wavelengths from 80 to 100 sm. The bias dependences of quantum efficiency, detectivity, and cutoff wave-length have been measured and are well explained by the theoretical models. The cutoff wavelength is modeledby a modified high density theory, and the quantum efficiency is predicted by scaling the free carrier absorptioncoefficient linearly with the doping concentration. The effect of the number of layers on detector performance and the uniformity of the detectors have been discussed. A comparison with Ge:Ga photoconductive detectors suggests that a similar or even better performance may be obtainable.Keywords: FIR detector, p-GaAs, internal photoemission, interfacial workfunction, multilayer, tunable and ad-justable cutoff
Relationship between time structure and procrastination

The relationship between time structure and procrastination was investigated among 115 Irish undergraduate students. Significant negative zero-order correlations were found among scores for all five subscales of time structure and procrastination. A follow-up stepwise multiple regression indicated a significant multiple correlation (R = .61) between all five time structure subscale scores and procrastination. Significant predictors of procrastination were scores on the Time Structure subscales of Effective Organization followed by Sense of Purpose. These results suggest that strategies focusing on time management in conjunction with existential approaches of psychotherapy may be an effective intervention for reducing procrastination.
Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think

Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and Kenneth Cukier. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. 242 pp., notes, biblography, index. $27.00 cloth (ISBN 978-0-544-00269-2); $14.95 electronic (ISBN 978-0-544-00...
Baroreflex dysfunction induced by microgravity: potential relevance to postflight orthostatic intolerance.

Microgravity imposes adaptive changes in the human body. This review focuses on the changes in baroreflex function produced by actual spaceflight, or by experimental models that simulate microgravity, e.g., bed rest. We will analyze separately studies involving baroreflexes arising from carotid sinus and aortic arch afferents ("high-pressure baroreceptors"), and cardiopulmonary afferents ("low-pressure receptors"). Studies from unrelated laboratories using different techniques have concluded that actual or simulated exposure to microgravity reduces baroreflex function arising from carotid sinus afferents ("carotic-cardiac baroreflex"). The techniques used to study the carotid-cardiac baroreflex, using neck suction and compression to simulate changes in blood pressure, have been extensively validated. In contrast, it is more difficult to selectively study aortic arch or cardiopulmonary baroreceptors. Nonetheless, studies that have examined these baroreceptors suggest that microgravity produces the opposite effect, ie, an increase in the gain of aortic arch and cardiopulmonary baroreflexes. Furthermore, most studies have focus on instantaneous changes in heart rate, which almost exclusively examines the vagal limb of the baroreflex. In comparison, there is limited information about the effect of microgravity on sympathetic function. A substantial proportion of subjects exposed to microgravity develop transient orthostatic intolerance. It has been proposed that alterations in baroreflex function play a role in the orthostatic intolerance induced by microgravity. The evidence in favor and against this hypothesis is reviewed.
Review of Teacher Education in British Columbia

ABSTRACT The paper describes a review conducted during 1990‐1991 by the British Columbia (Canada) College of Teachers, an independent, professional body empowered by statute to issue teaching certificates and to help design, evaluate and approve teacher education programmes at the three publicly funded universities in the province. The paper outlines the comprehensive and collaborative procedures followed by the review. It describes the findings and conclusions of a report based on the data provided by the review and the subsequent actions taken by the College. It suggests some implications for future reviews and for teacher education in British Columbia and elsewhere.
Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in US veterans.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LREYGB) in veteran patients. The VA bariatric population differs from its counterpart in the private sector by the predominance of a male population, a higher percentage of patients from a lower socioeconomic background, a higher mean age, and a higher rate of obesity-related comorbidities. A retrospective review with prospectively collected data was used to analyze postoperative changes of comorbidities and percent of excess weight loss (% EWL) in consecutive patients who underwent LREYGB between August 2003 and September 2006. Among 70 patients, 73% were men with a mean age of 52 years (29–66 years). Average preoperative weight and body mass index were 310 lbs (224–397 lbs) and 46 kg/m2 (36–60 kg/m2), respectively. The incidence of major and minor complications was 1.4% and 15.7%, respectively. There were no mortalities. Follow-up (f/u) was possible in all patients. At a mean f/u rate of 39 months, % EWL was 56%. At 1, 3, and 5 years, % EWL was 61%, 53%, and 59%, respectively. Thirty-five patients (50%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations returned to normal levels in 91% of patients and improved in an additional 6% of T2DM cases. Only 7% of patients are still maintained on antidiabetic medications. In patients with more than 1 year f/u, most other comorbidities were improved or resolved. Long-term f/u of LREYGB in veteran patients demonstrated significant and durable weight loss (56% EWL) with marked improvements in comorbidities especially T2DM.
Selection and Ranking Procedures–Some Personal Reminiscences, and Thoughts about its Past, Present, and Future

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTThis invited article is written in connection with the 30th anniversary of the first published papers on selection and ranking procedures. Special emphasis is placed on the indifference-zone approach. The factors leading to this author's involvement in research in this area, and the corresponding roles of other early research workers, are discussed. The philosophy of the author with respect to selection and ranking procedures is elucidated. Some key results involving the indifference-zone approach to selection problems for normal means and for Bernoulli “success” probabilities are discussed. The gap between theory and practice for selection procedures is considered, and possible ways of bridging the gap are proposed. Some unsolved problems are posed.
A Comparison Between a Parametric and a Non‐Parametric Method of Estimating the Percentiles of a Difference

A parametric and a nonparametric method of estimating the percentiles of a difference are compared. The parametric method assumes an underlying normal distribution and the nonparametric method estimates the distribution from the residuals. Applications to immunology are discussed.
Ureteral tumor thrombus from renal cell carcinoma extending into bladder

Tumor thrombus from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) usually occurs within the renal vein. We present the first report of a tumor thrombus from RCC extending from the kidney down the ureter and into the lumen of the bladder. This case both: (1) provides evidence for growth of RCC along the urinary tract, and (2) poses a staging dilemma.
An Integrated and Efficient Approach for MOS VLSI Statistical Circuit Design

An integrated and efficient approach is developed for automated statistical circuit design. One major problem in statistical circuit design for MOS VLSI is the prohibitively expensive computational requirements. The objective is to find realistic, accurate, and efficient solutions for use in the MOS VLSI design area. An automated statistical characterization system has been developed to characterize a large number of MOS devices to obtain statistical information on device parameters. A statistical model for MOS VLSI circuits has been developed in which only the interdie variations are considered, since they are much larger than the local intradie variations. Therefore, the set of statistical variables are different from the set of design parameters, and this leads to a resolution of the problem of dimensionality associated with statistical design. In this statistical model, variations in device length and width, oxide capacitance, and flat band voltage, have been shown to be the principal process factors responsible for the statistical variation of device characteristics. A scalable MOS model has been developed to represent changes in the device model parameters as functions of these principal factors. This accurate and simple statistical modeling approach uses only four statistical variables, and thus permits computationally efficient statistical parametric yield estimation (SPYE). The direct approach for transient sensitivity computation has been implemented in SPICE to allow very efficient computation of performance function sensitivities. An efficient technique for computing the yield gradient using the SPYE and transient sensitivity results is discussed and an example is presented to demonstrate its use in parametric yield optimization.
Managing for Creativity: back to basics in R&D

The author addresses the question of how to train R&D managers to encourage scientists to work more creatively. His studies of the preferences of R&D scientists show that they actually enjoy creating. He asserts that in the interests of increasing enjoyment the role of managers is to remove blocks to creativity, such as negative criticism, lack of time, lack of resources and lack of freedom. On the other hand too much freedom can attenuate the creative urge and the manager must be prepared to offer guidance and supportive consultation. To help R&D managers towards an appropriate management style the author has devised and run creativity workshops structured around a new model that combines features of some well-known srtuational leadership models. He gives examples of how leadership styles can be adapted to address the problem of developing and leading self-directed and responsible subordinates.
Separation of underivatized dipeptides by high-performance liquid chromatography on a weak anion-exchange bonded phase

Abstract Underivatized dipeptides have been separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on MicroPak AX-10 (a silica based, bonded phase, weak anion-exchanger) using mixtures of triethylammonium acetate buffer and acetonitrile as eluent. About fifty dipeptides were examined. Sequence isomeric and diastereo-isomeric dipeptides were also tested. All pairs of sequence isomers examined were well separated. dl , dl -Dipeptides gave two peaks which were completely resolved. It was found out that these peaks correspond to mixtures of d , l - and l , d -isomers and of l , l - and d , d -isomers, respectively. Separation of oligomers into classes by chain length was also demonstrated. The described method is sensitive, fast and gave excellent separations. Sharp symmetrical peaks were obtained. In all cases no double peaks were observed. Triethylammonium acetate buffer allows detection of free amino acids and peptides at wavelengths in the range 200–200 nm. Moreover, it is volatile and facilitates further direct investigation of separated compounds.
Visibility Reduction due to Jet-Exhaust Carbon Particles

Abstract Pyrolysis of hydrocarbon fuels leads to emission of free carbon in the exhaust of aircraft turbojet engines, visible as a faint dark trail. Carbon formation rises markedly when water injection is employed to augment thrust by 20–30 per cent in takeoffs under heavy loads or at high temperatures, the enhanced pyrolysis resulting from the lower combustion efficiency on such “wet takeoffs.” During the takeoff run, while the aircraft is still moving at low speeds but with maximum thrust, dense dark smoke fills the exhaust wake, reducing visual ranges to as little as a few hundred feet. To crow-check recent measurements indicating carbon particulate emissions of the order of 15 lb per ton of fuel consumed in wet takeoff, Mie extinction coefficients have been computed for carbon particles of the size known to form as a sequel to pyrolytic freeing of carbon. These are used to make theoretical estimates of the maximum visual range to be expected if the carbon loading measurements were correct. A discrepan...
Oszillierende Weltmodelle versus Urknallmodelle: Das oszillierende Weltmodell Friedmanns, die Ablehnung der Anfangssingularität durch russische Kosmologen und die Zustimmung der katholischen Kirche zur Urknalltheorie Lemaîtres und Hawkings

The Russian mathematician and physicist Friedmann and the Belgian priest and physicist Lemaitre were the first to consider non-static world models in the framework of Einstein's general theory of relativity. Friedmann seemed to favour a periodic, oscillating cosmological model. His investigations were taken up by Russian cosmologists in the 1960s. They stated that the singularities present in many of the Friedmann-Lemaitre cosmological models seemed to be artificial and were ascribed to the assumption of a highly symmetric distribution of cosmic matter. Their disapproval of singularities seems to be in accord with Soviet ideological requirements during that time like atheism and dialectic materialism. They had to retract their statements after Hawking had proved his singularity theorems and after the microwave background had been discovered. Hawking followed the line of thought which was initiated by Lemaitre in the early 1930s. Lemaitre had combined for the first time quantum physics and relativistic cosmology and had developed his idea of the primeval atom, a beginning of the universe in a dense state with just one quantum containing the whole mass of the universe. Pope Pius XII brought together this primeval atom and God as the Creator of the universe and declared in 1951 that big bang cosmology is compatible with the Bible. Not surprisingly Hawking was awarded the Pius XI medal by the Vatican in 1975 for his contributions to big bang cosmology.
“Variable-angle” sample-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies of non-integral spin quadrupolar nuclei in solids: Analysis of spinning-sidebands for the case η=0

We present an average Hamiltonian analysis of the “variable-angle” sample-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the central (12, −12) transition of the I=32 nuclei 23Na (in Na2MoO4) and 11B (in a borosilicate glass) in the slow-spinning regime (ωr <W (12, −12), for a purely second-order quadrupolar interaction and an axially symmetric electric field gradient tensor. We obtain good agreement between theory and experiment. The technique is applicable to the analysis of systems with large quadrupole coupling constants, as well as to those with multiple sites and different coupling constants and chemical shifts.
Twilight Effect: Initiating Dark Measurement in Photoperiodism of Xanthium

Six experiments studied the effects of low levels of red and far-red light upon the initiation of measurement of the dark period in the photoperiodic induction of flowering in Xanthium strumarium L. (cocklebur), a short-day plant, and compared effects with those of comparable light treatments applied for 2 hours during the middle of a 16-hour inductive dark period. Red light, or red plus far-red, at levels that inhibit flowering when applied during the middle of the inductive dark period, either had no effect on the initiation of dark measurement ( i.e. , were perceived as darkness), or they delayed the initiation of dark measurement by various times up to the full interval of exposure (2 hours). Far-red light alone had virtually no effect either at the beginning or in the middle of the dark period. These results confirm that time measurement in the photoperiodic response of short-day Xanthium plants is not simply the time required for metabolic dark conversion of phytochrome. Results also suggest that the pigment system (phytochrome?) and/or responses to it may be significantly different as they function during twilight (initiation of dark measurement), and as they function during a light break several hours later. Possible mechanisms by which cocklebur plants detect the change from light to darkness are discussed. Comparing experimental results with spectral light measurements during twilight and with measurements of light from the full moon led to two conclusions: First, light levels pass from values perceived by the plant as full light to values perceived as complete darkness in only about 5.5 to 11.5 minutes, although twilight as perceived by the human eye lasts well over 30 minutes. Second, cocklebur plants probably do not respond to light from the full moon, even when most sensitive, 7 to 9 hours after the beginning of darkness.
Clarifying the social support theory-research linkage

Social support is a multi-faceted concept that has been difficult to conceptualize, define and measure. Although this concept has been extensively studied, there is little agreement among theoreticians and researchers as to its theoretical and operational definition. As a result, the concept remains fuzzy and almost anything that infers a social interaction may be considered social support. Social support researchers have consistently ignored the complexity of the concept and have measured the variable in a simplistic manner. The purpose of this article is to analyse the linkage between theory and research related to social support by categorizing definitions of social support, exploring the theoretical aspects and conceptualizations of the concept, proposing models of social support, and examining how social support is measured in current social support research (1993-1996). The inadequacy of current research and directions for future study are discussed.
Using 31P MAS NMR to monitor a gel phase thermal disorder transition in sphingomyelin/cholesterol bilayers

Abstract The impact of low cholesterol concentrations on an egg sphingomyelin bilayer is investigated using 31P magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The magnitude of the isotropic 31P MAS NMR line width is used to monitor the main gel to liquid crystalline phase transition, along with a unique gel phase pretransition. In addition, the 31P chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) and spin–spin relaxation times (T2), along with the effects of spinning speed, proton decoupling and magnetic field strength, are reported. The variation of this unique gel phase thermal pretransition with the inclusion of 5 through 21 mol% cholesterol is presented and discussed.
Digit pipelined arithmetic on fine-grain array processors

In this paper, we present a novel scheme for performing fixed-point arithmetic efficiently on fine-grain, massively parallel, programmable architectures including both custom and FPGA-based systems. We achieve anO(n) speedup, wheren is the operand precision, over the bit-serial methods of existing fine-grain systems such as the DAP, the MPP and the CM2, within the constraints of regular, near neighbor communication and only a small amount of on-chip memory. This is possible by means of digit pipelined algorithms which avoid broadcast and which operate in a fully systolic manner by pipelining at the digit level. A base 4, signed-digit, fully redundant number system and on-line techniques are used to limit carry propagation and minimize communication costs. p ]Although our algorithms are digit-serial, we are able to match the performance of the bit-parallel methods, while retaining low communication complexity. Reconfigurable hardware systems built using field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's) can share in the speed benefits of these algorithms. By using the organization of logic blocks suggested in this paper, problems of placement and routing that exist in such systems can be avoided. Since the algorithms are amenable to pipelining, very high throughput can be obtained.
Performance evaluation of a computed radiography imaging device using a typical "front side" and novel "dual side" readout storage phosphors.

The Fourier-space modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (nNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of a computed radiography (CR) x-ray imaging device were measured. Two different storage phosphor screens were used in conjunction with a single CR reader (Fuji, Clearview, CS). One of the storage phosphor plates (ST-BD) had a clear backing material which allowed 'dual side read' of the latent image from both the 'front' and 'back' sides of the phosphor. The other phosphor plate had a light occluding backing material, limiting the readout to front side only (ST-VI). The standard RQA-5 beam quality was used. The MTF was measured using a 1 mm thick tungsten edge device. Compared to the ST-55BD phosphor, the ST-VI phosphor was found to have modestly higher MTF at all spatial frequencies. The nNPS(f) and DQE(f) were measured for nominal incident exposure levels ranging from 0.1 to 10 mR. The dual side read phosphor demonstrated superior DQE, especially at low spatial frequencies. At the frequency 0.5 cycles/mm, the DQE values for the 1 mR exposure were 0.36 and 0.21 for the ST-55BD and ST-VI phosphor plates, respectively. The differences between the spatial-frequency dependent DQE of the two plates can be attributed tomore » the increased signal collection efficiency of the dual side read plates and differences in storage phosphor structure noise.« less
Tubular apocrine adenoma with perineural invasion

A tumor is reported that had remarkable pathologic changes showing with light microscopy a pattern in some portions consistent with tubular apocrine adenoma, while other areas were suggestive of syringoid eccrine carcinoma. Perineural invasion, commonly seen in syringoid eccrine carcinoma and never before reported in tubular apocrine adenoma, was found. Electron microscopy revealed the true apocrine nature of the tumor even though the tissue had been stored for 2 months in buffered formalin prior to processing.
Latina Mothers Caring for a Son or Daughter with Autism or Schizophrenia: Similarities, Differences, and the Relationship between Co-Residency and Maternal Well-Being.

In this cross-sectional study, we examined similarities and differences in depressive symptoms and psychological well-being between Latina maternal caregivers of persons with autism (N=29) and schizophrenia (N=33). We also explored predictors of maternal outcomes and the relationship of co-residence to them. Regression analysis found that mothers of adults with schizophrenia had lower levels of psychological well-being than mothers of youth or adults with autism. For the overall sample of mothers, co-residing with their son or daughter was significantly related to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Qualitative analysis of the nine mothers who lived apart from their son or daughter revealed that extreme behavior problems of the son or daughter and poor maternal health contributed to living apart. Despite overcoming these challenges, mothers expressed a profound sense of sadness about their son or daughters’ living arrangements.
8q24 sequence variants in relation to prostate cancer risk among men of African descent: a case-control study.

Background: Human chromosome 8q24 has been implicated in prostate tumorigenesis. Methods: Consequently, we evaluated seven 8q24 sequence variants relative to prostate cancer (PCA) in a casecontrol study involving men of African descent. Genetic alterations were detected in germ-line DNA from 195 incident PCA cases and 531 controls using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Inheritance of the 8q24 rs16901979 T allele corresponded to a 2.5-fold increase in the risk of developing PCA for our test group. These findings were validated using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) and permutation testing (p = 0.038). The remaining 8q24 targets were not significantly related to PCA outcomes. Conclusions: Although compelling evidence suggests that the 8q24 rs16901979 locus may serve as an effective PCA predictor, our findings require additional evaluation in larger studies.
Pathologic Correlates of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome in Pulmonary Retransplant Recipients

Rationale The main hindrance to long-term success of lung transplantation is bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), generally thought to be a manifestation of chronic allograft rejection. BOS is associated histologically with epithelial injury, bronchocentric mononuclear inflammation, and fibrosis of small airways known as bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). Few studies have directly compared clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings of BOS and BO, particularly in the era of improved immunosuppression and infection prophylaxis. Patients undergoing pulmonary retransplantation for BOS provide a unique opportunity to investigate these relationships. Methods All patients who underwent pulmonary retransplantation for BOS from 1992 to 2004 at Duke University Medical Center were reviewed. Pathology findings in explanted lung allografts were compared with clinical, radiographic, and transbronchial biopsy data. Results Over the 12-year study period, 12 patients underwent pulmonary retransplantation for BOS. The median time to BOS was 517 days (intraquartile range, 396 to 819.8 days). BOS scores prior to retransplantation were 2 in 2 patients and 3 in 10 patients. We developed a semiquantitative scoring system for epithelial, inflammatory, and fibrotic changes in affected airways to permit better comparison between BO and BOS. Somewhat surprisingly, only 50% (6 of 12 patients) had severe fibrotic changes, although all had some degree of epithelial injury, fibrosis, or inflammation centered around the bronchi and bronchioles. Furthermore, pathology findings other than BO were present in most explanted allografts and included cholesterol clefts (n = 4), focal invasive aspergillosis (n = 1), interstitial fibrosis (n = 2), and chronic vascular rejection (n = 1). Conclusions In this series of patients with advanced BOS undergoing retransplantation, at least some degree of BO was present in all explanted allografts. However, the degree of epithelial changes, fibrosis, and inflammation present among affected bronchi varied considerably. Furthermore, a wide range of pathologic processes of potential clinical significance were evident in half of the patients. We conclude that significant histologic heterogeneity exists among patients undergoing retransplantation for BOS, potentially contributing to the variability of patient responses to treatment.
Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on opossum esophageal smooth muscle.

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Peristaltic contraction of the esophagus and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) are mediated by nitric oxide (NO.)-producing myenteric nerves. NO synthase immunoreactivity and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity colocalize in these nerves. CGRP relaxes the LES and decreases the amplitude of esophageal peristalsis. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that CGRP plays a role in nerve- induced responses of the esophagus. METHODS: Smooth muscle strips from the LES and the body of the esophagus were stimulated by an electrical field to evoke nerve-mediated responses. RESULTS: CGRP decreased the amplitude and lengthened the latency of the off-response, and it relaxed the LES. Tetrodotoxin did not block the CGRP-induced LES relaxation. The CGRP antagonist CGRP 8-37 inhibited the effects of exogenous CGRP. It increased the amplitude and shortened the latency of the off-response, and it increased the resting tone of the LES. CGRP 8- 37 did not inhibit LES relaxation or esophageal contraction. N omega- nitro-L-arginine abolished nerve-induced relaxation of the LES muscle and the esophageal off-response but not the relaxation produced by CGRP. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that CGRP may decrease the LES basal tone and modulate the timing and amplitude of the esophageal off-responses. (Gastroenterology 1997 Aug;113(2):514-20)
Focal congenital anomalies of the retinal pigment epithelium

The terms, 'hamartoma', 'choristoma', 'phacoma' (mother-spot), and 'naevus', are used to describe benign developmental tumours or placoid lesions. Stedman's Medical Dictionary defines a hamartoma as: 'A focal malformation that resembles a neoplasm grossly and even microscopically, but results from faulty development in an organ; it is composed of an abnormal mixture of tissue elements, or an abnormal proportion of a single element, normally present in that site, which develop and grow at virtually the same rate as normal components, and are not likely to result in compression of the adjacent tissue (in contrast to neoplastic tissue).' A choristoma is defined as 'a mass formed by maldevelopment of tissue of a type not normally found at that site.' Phacoma is defined as, 'a hamartoma found in phacomatosis,' a group of hereditary diseases characterised by hamartomas of multiple tissues. A naevus is a, 'birthmark; a circumscribed malformation of the skin, especially if coloured by hyperpigmentation or increased vascularity; it may be predominantly epidermal, adnexal, melanocytic, vascular, or mesodermal, or a localised overgrowth of melanin-forming cells arising in the skin early in life.' Ophthalmologists have adopted the term to refer to developmental melanocytic lesions of the uveal tract, but heretofore have not used it to describe developmental melanocytic, glial, or vascular lesions of the retina. The purpose of this report is to summarise the author's observations and concepts concerning focal lesions that probably are developmental tumours and placoid lesions composed of either entirely or in part retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Two of the lesions are tumefactions and may properly be termed 'hamartomas'. Four of the lesions are placoid and might better be described as naevi. Two are composed of hypertrophied RPE cells engorged with melanin granules, one is presumed to be hypertrophied RPE cells filled with a white pigment of unknown nature and one is composed of RPE cells containing no pigment. Three are widely recognised, three others are not.
System-level communication modeling for network-on-chip synthesis

As we are entering the network-on-chip era and system communication is becoming a dominating factor, communication abstraction and synthesis are becoming the integral part of system design flows. The key to the success of any design flow are well defined abstraction levels and models, which enable automation of early validation, synthesis and verification. In this paper, we define system communication abstraction layers and corresponding design models that support successive, stepwise refinement from abstract message passing down to a cycle accurate, bus-functional implementation. Experimental results show the benefits of our definitions and design flow.
Bayesian inference for identifying solar active regions

The solar chromosphere consists of three classes — plage, network, background — which contribute differently to ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth. Solar physicists are interested in relating plage area and intensity to UV irradiance, as well as understanding the spatial and temporal evolution of plage shapes. We describe a data set of solar images, means of segmenting the images into constituent classes, and a novel high-level representation for compact objects based on a spatial 'membership function' defined via a triangulated planar graph. Segmentations are found using a discrete Markov random field setup, and the high-level representations axe learned by a Markov chain Monte Carlo birth/death process on the triangulations.
Thermal unfolding studies show the disease causing F508del mutation in CFTR thermodynamically destabilizes nucleotide-binding domain 1

Misfolding and degradation of CFTR is the cause of disease in patients with the most prevalent CFTR mutation, an in-frame deletion of phenylalanine (F508del), located in the first nucleotide-binding domain of human CFTR (hNBD1). Studies of (F508del)CFTR cellular folding suggest that both intra- and inter-domain folding is impaired. (F508del)CFTR is a temperature-sensitive mutant, that is, lowering growth temperature, improves both export, and plasma membrane residence times. Yet, paradoxically, F508del does not alter the fold of isolated hNBD1 nor did it seem to perturb its unfolding transition in previous isothermal chemical denaturation studies. We therefore studied the in vitro thermal unfolding of matched hNBD1 constructs ±F508del to shed light on the defective folding mechanism and the basis for the thermal instability of (F508del)CFTR. Using primarily differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroism, we show for all hNBD1 pairs studied, that F508del lowers the unfolding transition temperature (T(m)) by 6-7°C and that unfolding occurs via a kinetically-controlled, irreversible transition in isolated monomers. A thermal unfolding mechanism is derived from nonlinear least squares fitting of comprehensive DSC data sets. All data are consistent with a simple three-state thermal unfolding mechanism for hNBD1 ± F508del: N(±MgATP) I(T)(±MgATP) → A(T) → (A(T))(n). The equilibrium unfolding to intermediate, I(T), is followed by the rate-determining, irreversible formation of a partially folded, aggregation-prone, monomeric state, A(T), for which aggregation to (A(T))(n) and further unfolding occur with no detectable heat change. Fitted parameters indicate that F508del thermodynamically destabilizes the native state, N, and accelerates the formation of A(T).
The influence of wildfire extent and severity on streamwater chemistry, sediment and temperature following the Hayman Fire, Colorado

The 2002 Hayman Fire was the largest fire in recent Colorado history (558km 2 ). The extent of high severity combustion and possible effects on Denver's water supply focussed public attention on the effects of wildfire on water quality.Wemonitoredstreamchemistry,temperatureandsedimentbeforethefireandatmonthlyintervalsfor5yearsafter the fire. The proportional extent of a basin that was burned or that burned at high severity was closely related to post-fire streamwater nitrate and turbidity. Basins that burned at high severity on 445% of their area had twice the streamwater nitrate and four times the turbidity as basins burned to a lower extent; these analytes remained elevated through 5 years post-fire. In those basins, the highest post-fire streamwater nitrate concentrations (23% of USA drinking water standards) were measured during spring, the peak discharge period. Summer streamwater was 4.08C higher in burned streams on average compared with unburned streams; these persistent post-fire stream temperature increases are probably sufficient to alter aquatic habitat suitability. Owing to the slow pace of tree colonisation and forest regrowth, recovery of the watersheds burned by the Hayman Fire will continue for decades.
Diagnostic Dilemma: Acute Abdomen from Ruptured Corpus Luteum Requiring Surgical Intervention in Young Women

Aim: Rupture of corpus luteum can occur in women of reproductive age, and is usually asymptomatic. Rarely, there is hemoperitoneum leading to circulatory shock requiring surgical intervention. This presents a diagnostic dilemma, with differential diagnoses of appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and torsion of adnexal mass to consider. This study was undertaken to define characteristics and risk factors for corpus luteum rupture, to improve diagnostic capability and optimize management. There is a lack of local data on the incidence, and we hope to provide updates on management, given the ubiquity of laparoscopic surgery now. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients treated surgically for ruptured corpus luteum at National University Hospital, Singapore, from September 1, 2004 to March 31, 2011, looking at demographics, clinical features, operative findings and follow-up. Results: 47 cases were analyzed; 80.8% in peak reproductive age of 15-34 years, 25.5% in first trimester pregnancy. Most are healthy, but two patients were newly diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura on this admission. All patients presented with severe abdominal pain, while some also had signs of peritoneal irritation. 55.4% of such patients were initially misdiagnosed. Sonography revealed free fluid in 84.1%. Diagnostic laparoscopies were performed in 78.7%; with the rest undergoing laparotomies. Hemoperitoneum below 1L was seen in 85.1% of patients, above 1L in seven patients, of which three went onto require blood transfusions. All patients recovered well, with return of normal menses. None of the patients required further surgical treatment. Conclusion: Increasing awareness of ruptured corpus luteum is recommended, especially for cases with right-sided pain, pregnancy and adnexal masses. High index of suspicion is required for timely intervention for securing hemostasis. Laparoscopy is used first-line, except cases better managed by laparotomy. Underlying bleeding diatheses can be a predisposing factor. Recurrence may be prevented with ovulation suppression.
Novel and traditional traits of frozen-thawed porcine sperm related to in vitro fertilization success.

Cryopreserved semen allows the use of single ejaculates for repeated analyses, potentially improving IVF consistency by eliminating interejaculate variability observed with fresh semen. However, the freezing and thawing processes result in compromised sperm function and IVF success. Semen samples are often screened for motility before use for IVF. Samples that are below a designated motility threshold may be discarded. Our objectives were to determine if post-thaw sperm motility, other traits that may be indicative of sperm function, or a novel assay of oviduct binding were related to IVF success. Semen from 16 boars was cooled to 15 °C for overnight shipment before cryopreservation. Semen was thawed and motility was recorded microscopically and confirmed using computer-automated sperm assessment. Each sample was tested by IVF in two to three independent replicates. Regression and correlation analyses were employed to determine the interrelationships between sperm traits and the relationships between post-thaw motility, sperm-oviduct binding and IVF outcomes. Among the sperm traits examined, sperm acrosome integrity was negatively correlated with post-thaw motility (r(2) = 0.64) but not with IVF results. The number of sperm bound to oviduct aggregates was correlated with IVF polyspermy rates (r(2) = 0.62, P 0.10). There was some relationship of post-thaw motility with IVF monospermic fertilization (P = 0.06, r(2) = 0.08) but not to other IVF outcomes. Our results indicate that post-thaw motility of frozen-thawed boar sperm is strongly related to acrosome integrity but has limited use for predicting IVF success. The number of sperm bound to oviduct cells was related to IVF polyspermy rates and may be more indicative of in vitro sperm function than traditional sperm motility and acrosome status evaluation.