Post-traumatic stress disorder and smoking: a systematic review.

We conducted a systematic review of what is known about the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and smoking to guide research on underlying mechanisms and to facilitate the development of evidence-based tobacco treatments for this population of smokers. We searched Medline, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and identified 45 studies for review that presented primary data on PTSD and smoking. Smoking rates were high among clinical samples with PTSD (40%-86%) as well as nonclinical populations with PTSD (34%-61%). Most studies showed a positive relationship between PTSD and smoking and nicotine dependence, with odds ratios ranging between 2.04 and 4.52. Findings also suggest that PTSD, rather than trauma exposure itself, is more influential for increasing risk of smoking. A small but growing literature has examined psychological factors related to smoking initiation and maintenance and the overlapping neurobiology of PTSD and nicotine dependence. Observational studies indicate that smokers with PTSD have lower quit rates than do smokers without PTSD. Yet a few tobacco cessation treatment trials in smokers with PTSD have achieved quit rates comparable with controlled trials of smokers without mental disorders. In conclusion, the evidence points to a causal relationship between PTSD and smoking that may be bidirectional. Specific PTSD symptoms may contribute to smoking and disrupt cessation attempts. Intervention studies that test behavioral and pharmacological interventions designed specifically for use in patients with PTSD are needed to reduce morbidity and mortality in this population.     

Traffic classification and scheduling in ATM networks

Virtual paths (VPs) are an integral part of the resource management and control hierarchy of ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) networks. To improve the utilization of network resources and facilitate management and control, source types are organized into traffic classes. Each traffic class is transported by its own virtual path subnetwork. In this paper, we consider issues related to the design of traffic classes. We consider an ATM switch node to which cells arrive from a diverse set of source types. Traffic classes are assumed to be served according to a weighted round robin policy, while cells belonging to a given traffic class are served in first-come-first-served order. We consider the problem of determining the optimal set of traffic classes. Under suitable simplifying assumptions, it is shown that the above problem can be modeled as a set-partitioning problem. The structure of the problem at hand is then exploited to develop an efficient heuristic. Several examples are given to illustrate the developed methodology.Supported partially through NSF Grant NCR-891447 and AT&T Grant 5-23690.     

Modified tracking loop for DS spread spectrum systems

A nonconventional pseudo-noise (PN) code tracking loop for direct sequence (DS) spread spectrum systems is presented. It solves problems of component imbalance while maintaining hardware simplicity.<>     

Cracking orientation and induced anisotropy of a ceramic matrix composite under off-axis loading

The effect of matrix microcracking on the stiffnesses of a carbon-fibre/SiC-matrix woven composite is studied by means of an ultrasonic method. It provides the whole set of the stiffness tensor coefficients which are inaccessible by classical strain measurements and which are required to identify anisotropic damage. The induced anisotropy depends on the loading direction. If a tensile solicitation in a fibre direction leads to stiffnesses decreases without any rotation of principal axes, a tensile solicitation of 45° from a fibre direction creates microcracks with a predominant orientation that does not coincide with the elastic symmetry axes, and induce a fully anisotropic elastic degradation.     

MC-CDMA with exponential power profile in Nakagami fading channel

A refined study of multi-carrier code division multiple access transmission over a Nakagami fading channel is proposed. The channel power is modeled with an exponential power profile rather than the uniform profile prevalent in other papers. An expression for the bit error rate (BER) is then derived. Numerical results show that MC-CDMA performances depend on the power dispersion of interferers around the desired user power.     

Transport of arginine and ornithine into isolated mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this work we have characterised the transport of L-arginine and L-ornithine into mitochondria isolated from a wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and an isogenic arg11 knock-out mutant. The Arg11 protein (Arg11p) is a mitochondrial carrier required for arginine biosynthesis [Crabeel, M., Soetens, O., De Rijcke, M., Pratiwi, R. & Pankiewicz, R. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 25011-25019]. Reconstitution experiments have confirmed that it is an L-ornithine carrier also transporting L-arginine and L-lysine by order of decreasing affinity, but not L-histidine [Palmieri, L., De Marco, V., Iacobazzi, V., Palmieri, F., Runswick, M. & Walker, J. (1997) FEBS Lett. 410, 447-451]. Evidence is presented here that the mitochondrial inner membrane contains an L-arginine and L-ornithine transporting system distinct from Arg11p, in keeping with the arginine leaky phenotype of arg11 knock-out mutants. The newly characterised carrier, which we propose to name Bac1p (basic amino acid carrier), behaves as an antiporter catalysing the electroneutral exchange of the basic amino acids L-arginine, L-lysine, L-ornithine and L-histidine and displays the highest affinity for L-arginine (Km of 30 microM). L-Arginine uptake has a pH optimum in the range of 7.5-9 and is inhibited by several sulphydryl reagents, by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and by cations.     

Transmission line analysis of nonlinear slot coupled microstrip antenna

The transmission line method is used for the analysis of microstrip antennas fed by several nonlinear slots with 'H' shapes or new geometries. This analysis allows the input impedance of nonlinear slot coupled microstrip antennas to be calculated for the four different structures.<>     

Single-sided ventilation — Part II. further considerations

This paper extends an earlier report of measurements and computer predictions of flows in a cubical cavity exposed on one side to the scavenging effect of an external stream. Further measurements and photographs are presented; they are consistent with each other and with the predictions of the computational model. Specifically, comparisons are made between measured and predicted mean velocities and turbulent shear stresses, and photographs are used to elucidate features of the shear layers generated by accelerating and decelerating external flows. The computer model is used to deduce approximate relations between internal turbulent activity (measured by mean velocity, turbulence energy and shear stress) and external velocity, percentage ‘window’ opening and relative position of the plane walls upstream and downstream of the cavity.