cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altered Mg2+ transport across liver plasma membrane from streptozotocin-treated rats.

Type-I diabetes is associated with a decrease in magnesium content in various tissues, including liver. We have reported that hepatocytes from streptozotocin-injected rats have lost the ability to accumulate Mg2+ following hormonal stimulation. To assess whether the defect is inherent to the Mg2+ transport mechanism located in the hepatocyte cell membrane, plasma membrane vesicles were purified from diabetic livers. Diabetic plasma membranes do not retain intravesicular Mg2+as tightly as vesicles purified from livers of age-matched non-diabetic rats. In addition, the amount of intravesicular Mg2+ these vesicles exchange for extravesicular Na+ or Ca2+ is 2–3-fold larger than in non-diabetic vesicles. The partition of Ca2+/Mg2+ and Na+/Mg2+ exchange mechanisms in the apical and basolateral domains of liver plasma membrane is maintained under diabetic conditions, although the Na+/Mg2+ exchanger in diabetic basolateral membranes has lost the ability to operate in reverse and favor an accumulation of extravesicular Mg2+ within the vesicles in exchange for entrapped Na+. These data indicate the occurrence of a major alteration in Mg2+ transport across the hepatocyte membrane, which can explain, at least in part, the decrease in liver magnesium content observed in diabetic animals and patients. (Mol Cell Biochem 262: 145–154, 2004)
Duplex scan–directed placement of inferior vena cava filters: A five-year institutional experience

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was the assessment of the safety, efficacy, and hospital charges of bedside duplex ultrasound–directed inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement. Methods: All duplex ultrasound–directed IVC filters that were placed from August 8, 1995, to December 31, 2000, are reviewed. Chart review combined with mailed questionnaires and telephone follow-up examinations were used to collect demographic and outcome data. Results: Three hundred twenty-five patients underwent evaluation, and 284 underwent duplex ultrasound–directed IVC filter placement. Two hundred three (71%) were male patients, and 81 (29%) were female patients. Poor IVC visualization, IVC thrombosis, and unsuitable anatomy prevented duplex-directed filter placement in 41 patients (12%). Indication for filter placement included venous prophylaxis in the absence of thromboembolism in 235 patients (83%), contraindication to anticoagulation therapy in 34 patients (12%), prophylaxis with therapeutic anticoagulation therapy in the presence of thromboembolism in 7 patients (2%), and complication of anticoagulation therapy in 8 patients (3%). There were no procedure-related deaths or septic complications. Technical complications occurred in 12 patients (4%). Filter misplacement occurred in 6 patients (2%), access thrombosis in 1 ( Conclusion: Our experience indicates that duplex ultrasound–directed IVC filter placement is safe, cost-effective, and convenient for patients who need IVC filter placement. (J Vasc Surg 2002;35:286-91.)
Update on infectious diseases in pediatric solid organ transplantation.

Purpose of review Numerous recent advances have been made in the field of infectious diseases and pediatric solid organ transplant. Recent findings Although many studies contain somewhat small cohorts of individuals, when summarized together they contribute significantly to our knowledge about pediatric solid organ transplant, especially regarding risk factors for infection, management of BK virus nephropathy, the use of live viral vaccines, and consideration for rare infections as well as donor-derived infections. Summary In sum, these recent advances in infection in the field of pediatric solid organ transplant will help decrease infection, thus improving morbidity and mortality, as well as transplant outcomes, especially by decreasing direct (graft injury) and indirect (immune upregulation) effects on organ transplantation. This review will focus on recent advances in the field of infectious diseases in pediatric solid organ transplant by highlighting some of the most important and interesting articles in the field within the past few years.
Morphology of coherent precipitates via a discrete atom method

Abstract Morphological evolution of coherent precipitates is analyzed by means of a discrete atom method, which is based on classical statistical mechanics and linear elasticity. Precipitates having a dilatational misfit strain and elastic constants different from those of the matrix phase are treated in dislocation-free, anisotropic elastic systems. In the first part, precipitate shapes in a three-phase system are studied under a plane strain condition. It is found that envelopment of one phase by another phase can have its origin entirely in strain energy reduction, even if the competing interfacial energies are similar to each other. If a hard particle has a misfit strain and a soft particle is misfit-free, the soft particle envelopes the hard particle, producing a concentric double-ring equilibrium shape. This is also true when the signs of the misfit strains are opposite. If a soft particle has a misfit strain and a hard one is misfit-free, the soft particle migrates away from the hard particle due to the coherency-induced image force. If both phases have misfit strains of the same sign, the soft particle wets partially the hard particle, but its other end stretches away from the hard particle. Employing a face centered cubic as a basis lattice, the discrete atom method is then extended to the three-dimensional case. The features predicted by the previous, two-dimensional model are reproduced. In an Isotropic system with a purely dilatational strain, a hard coherent particle takes on a spherical equilibrium shape, while a soft particle tends to have a plate-like equilibrium shape. In an anisotropic system with Zener's ratio, A = 2.33, a soft precipitate shows a series of shape transitions from a radial to four-fold, then to two-fold symmetry. The four-fold shape is concave cuboidal, and is of transient nature, as it is later replaced with a convex plate. The hard particle, however, maintains a convex, cuboidal equilibrium shape. Under an applied tensile stress, a soft particle with a positive misfit strain tends to become a plate perpendicular to the applied stress axis, while a hard particle elongates along the stress direction. If the elastic interaction between the applied stress and the coherency strain is strong enough, precipitates often split into smaller particles and then follow coarsening.
Functional Integration At the Substate Level A Policy Approach

Our cumulative knowledge about the determinants of substate integration is extremely limited. Few studies have examined support for integration across a variety of policy activities and mechanisms. Drawing on demand and supply side explanations for integration, this article tests a typology of substate functional integration. The correlates of functional integration are examined against previous research hypotheses in order to resolve ambiguities in our understanding of the adoption of functional integration.
Orientation and alignment of the first excited p state in Li+He and Na+He scattering.

Orientation and alignment parameters for the first excited p state of Li and Na in collisions with He through direct excitation from the ground state are studied theoretically in the energy region up to ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}$=100 keV by using a quasi-one-electron theory. Scattering states are expanded in terms of molecular orbitals, which are calculated by using the pseudopotential method and include electron translation factors. The approach appears to work well for Li+He, giving good agreement for the 2p excitation probability and orientation. For alignment, the situation is less clear because of difficulty in experimental measurement. Two-electron effects and cascades from more highly excited states cause our description of Na+He collisions to be less satisfactory. However, agreement with the experimental 3p excitation probability and orientation parameters where all data are available is fairly good at lower energies (${\mathit{E}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}$1 keV) and at larger impact parameters (bg1.25 a.u.).
Analyses of Uric Acid in Urine and Reconstituted Serum by Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract Capillary electrophoresis was used to analyze uric acid in urine. Among several buffers tested, phosphate buffer was found to yield the best results, in close agreement with enzymatic assays utilizing urate oxidase. Ascorbic acid, gentisic acid, caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, glucose, acetyl salicylic acid and acetaminophen did not interfere with the uric acid determination. Analyses of uric acid concentrations in reconstituted serum samples also yielded results in satisfactory agreement with those obtained by enzymatic assays and the value provided by the supplier.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy in rectal cancer—Not yet ready for routine clinical use

Abstract Background The value of sentinel node biopsy in visceral cancers is uncertain. We evaluated the feasibility and utility of radiocolloid lymphatic mapping and selective lymph node sampling in patients with rectal cancer. Methods Forty-eight patients with rectal cancer were investigated. Thirty-seven patients had already undergone preoperative radiochemotherapy for locally advanced tumors. Eleven patients underwent primary surgery. An endoscopic injection of 1 mL technetium 99m–sulfur-colloid into the peritumoral submucosa was performed 15 to 17 hours before surgery. Ex vivo identification of the nuclide-enriched “sentinel lymph nodes” (SLNs) was performed using a hand-held γ-probe. The selected SLNs were then carefully and systematically examined using serial sections and immunohistochemistry. Results One or more SLNs were found in 46 of the 48 patients. The SLN detection rate was 96%. Sixteen of the 48 patients had lymph node metastases (35%). In 7 of the 16 patients, the SLNs correctly represented the nodal status. In 9 of the 16 patients, the SLN was tumor-free whereas non-SLN harbored metastases. This result represents a sensitivity of only 44%, and a false-negative rate of 56%. Further analysis showed that the method correctly predicted the nodal status only in the small subgroup of 5 patients with early cancer without preoperative radiation. In 4 patients, juxtaregional lymph nodes were excised on the basis of intraoperative radiocolloid detection, leading to upward staging in 1 patient. Conclusions Sentinel lymph node biopsy using the radiocolloid technique with ex vivo lymph node identification shows a relatively high detection rate; however, the sensitivity in patients with locally advanced/irradiated rectal cancer is low. Nevertheless, the detection of juxtaregional metastases can improve staging in some patients. Further studies should focus on patients with early rectal cancers where the data were more promising.
Comparative Efficacy: What We Know, What We Need to Know, and How We Can Get There

We have little information on the efficacy of the many osteoporosis medications relative to one another because of a dearth of head-to-head randomized trials. Cadarette and colleagues addressed thi...
Multi-body coalescence in Pickering emulsions

Pickering emulsions are particle-stabilized droplets suspended in an immiscible liquid, and the study of individual droplet coalescence has yielded many interesting findings. Here, Wu et al. move towards larger droplet numbers to investigate the influence of population on coalescence.
Inheritance of ambient ozone insensitivity in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Abstract The inheritance of ozone (O 3 ) insensitivity in common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was evaluated using F 2 and F 3 populations under ambient conditions. This study was conducted over two growing seasons (1987, 1988) at Virginia State University, Randolph Research Farm, Petersburg, Virginia. Two populations were obtained by crossing insensitive plant introductions with sensitive commercial cultivars. Ratings on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 = 0 to 20% leaf injury, 2 = 21 to 40%, 3 = 41 to 60%, 4 = 61 to 80%, and 5 > 80%) were made on 160 F 2 , F 3 progenies, and parental lines. Population mean injury ratings were recorded and estimates of genotypic, environmental, and phenotypic variances were computed. Estimates of heritability in the broadsense and of genetic advance were calculated for each population using F 2 and family component variance methods. Population means of the F 2 and F 3 progenies were not significantly different from their mid-parent values, suggesting that genetic variance was primarily additive. Broad-sense heritability estimates using F 2 variance method ranged from 51·4 to 70·5% and using family component variance method ranged from 62·1 to 75·6%. In this study, the computed genetic advance values closely parallel those of heritability estimated values. The high heritable nature of insensitivity would indicate that effective levels of insensitivity could be transferred to agronomically superior cultivars in a relatively short time.
Longitudinal Mediators of a Randomized Prevention Program Effect on Cortisol for Youth from Parentally Bereaved Families

We recently reported that a randomized controlled trial of a family-focused intervention for parentally bereaved youth predicted higher cortisol output 6 years later relative to a control group of bereaved youth (Luecken et al., Psychoneuroendocrinology 35, 785–789, 2010). The current study evaluated longitudinal mediators of the intervention effect on cortisol 6 years later. Parentally bereaved children (N = 139; mean age, 11.4; SD = 2.4; age range = 8–16 years; male; 61 % Caucasian, 17 % Hispanic, 7 % African American, and 15 % other ethnicities) were randomly assigned to the 12-week preventive intervention (n = 78) or a self-study control (n = 61) condition. Six years later (mean age, 17.5; SD, 2.4), cortisol was sampled as youth participated in a parent–child conflict interaction task. Using four waves of data across the 6 years, longitudinal mediators of the program impact on cortisol were evaluated. Program-induced increases in positive parenting, decreases in child exposure to negative life events, and lower externalizing symptoms significantly mediated the intervention effect on cortisol 6 years later.
Distribution of lipids associated with mineralization in the bovine epiphyseal growth plate.

Abstract Calcium-acidic phospholipid-phosphate complexes, known to induce in vitro hydroxyapatite formation from metastable calcium phosphate sotutions, have been isolated from the morphologically defined zones of the bovine epiphyseal growth plate. The changes in zonal distribution of these complexes in epiphyseal cartilage correlate directly with other biochemical changes which occur prior to cartilage calcification. The concentration of calcium-acidic phospholipid-phosphate complexes increases going from the morphologically defined reserve zone to the proliferative zone, peaking in the hypertrophic zone, where mineralization is initiated, and decreasing in primary spongiosa and diaphyseal bone. Expressed as milligrams of calcium-phospholipid-phosphate complex per milligram hydroxyproline the concentration ranged from 19 (articular cartilage) to 535 (hypertrophic cell zone) decreasing to 43 (diaphyseal bone) with parallel changes being seen when the concentration was expressed per gram of demineralized dry tissue, per total lipid, per DNA, or, per 5′-AMPase activity.
Personality correlates and degree of impairment in male adolescents with progressive and nonprogressive physical disorders

Investigated the personality profiles (MMPI) of 44 adolescents with progressive (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and nonprogressive (mixed orthopedic) physical impairment to determine the relationship among personality correlates, disability type, functional level of impairment, and rapidity of decline in those with progressive disease. Both groups of males evidenced many similarities to severe physical limitations regardless of diagnosis or progression of their physical status. Common personality characteristics of increasing social inhibition, passiveness, and depression were identified as a response to the realities imposed on mobility and lifestyle. Little evidence was presented that supported clear and linear relationships between physical impairment and adjustment status as reflected by MMPI endorsement. Rapidity of decline in physical status in the progressive group was associated with increased report of social withdrawal and a constellation of behaviors suggestive of increased stress. Methodological problems in studying adjustment status in multihandicapped-heterogeneous disabilities were discussed.
Peyssonenynes A and B, Novel Enediyne Oxylipins with DNA Methyl Transferase Inhibitory Activity from the Red Marine Alga Peyssonnelia caulifera

Two novel ω3 fatty acids, obtained as monoacyl glycerol derivatives, were isolated as DNA methyl transferase inhibitors following bioassay-guided fractionation of the Fijian red marine alga Peyssonnelia caulifera. Both active metabolites, peyssonenynes A (1) and B (2), possess an unusual enediyne motif, whereas an inactive co-metabolite, peyssopyrone (3), contains an unusual γ-pyrone functionality. The molecular structures of all three compounds were determined by NMR spectroscopy in combination with UV, IR, and MS data analysis. The instability of the enediyne monoacyl glycerol derivatives prevented their complete stereochemical assignments.
Acute mxyeloblastic leukemia two years after diagnosis of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

The 18-year-old white male developed acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) 25 months after diagnosis of poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma, diffuse pattern (PDLL-D), involving cervical, supraclavicular, and mediastinal lymph nodes as well as bone marrow. Treatment of the lymphoma consisted of 2,000 rads to the mantel area and 18 months of chemotherapy with intravenous (IV) methotrexate (400 mg/m2), vincristine, and prednisone, alternating every two weeks with IV cyclophosphamide (1,000 mg/m2), vincristine, and prednisone plus monthly intrathecal methotrexate. Thereafter, a complete remission was maintained without therapy until the onset of AML. Several pseudodiploid clones containing multiple structural rearrangements and a hypodiploid clones were identified in the circulating blood at the time of diagnosis of AML. Induction therapy consisting of cytosine arabinoside, 5-aza-cytidine, vincristine, and prednisone was unsuccessful, and the patient died of sepsis two months after diagnosis. This case calls attention to the increased risk for subsequent acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in patients previously treated for nonhodgkin lymphoma.
Consent to organ donation: a review.

Successful transplant medicine hinges on consent to deceased organ donation. Yet rates of consent remain suboptimal. To increase the availability of transplantable organs, several policy strategies along with a rich body of evidence aimed at identifying best practices for obtaining consent have accumulated. This review describes past and current policies and practices, presents evidence illustrating the impact of these policies and practices on consent, and summarizes future directions and recommendations for the field. Key findings include evidence that although past policies such as required request have been unsuccessful, the recent policy, first-person authorization, shows promise. Additionally, practices such as decoupling and detailed discussions of brain death are unwarranted. On the other hand, the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaboration was successful. We also underscore the impact of alternative procedures such as donation after cardiac death. Last, effective communication that is delivered by...
Compensation Of Laser Amplifier Trains With Nonlinear Conjugation Techniques

This paper assesses the potential for and the key problem areas associated with the wavefront compensation of moderate- to high-power laser amplifier systems via nonlinear optical conjugation techniques. Laser fusion drivers provide the prime example of such compensation schemes.
Acetic acid formation via the hydration of gas-phase ketene under ambient conditions

Abstract We have monitored changes in the infrared spectrum of gas-phase ketene in the presence of water vapor at 295 K. The products observed from ketene hydration are acetic acid, acetic acid dimer, and acetic anhydride. The time-dependence of product formation supports a reaction mechanism in which ketene hydrates to form acetic acid, which then combines with another acetic acid monomer to form a dimer, or with ketene to form acetic anhydride. These results show that ketene can undergo hydration under atmospherically-relevant temperatures and relative humidities. This reaction could be a source of atmospheric carboxylic acids, especially in biomass burning plumes.
The dynamic neck-eye reflex in mammals.

Stimulation of cervical proprioceptors by torsion of the neck results in movement of the eyes. The pathways of this neck-eye reflex have been identified electrophysiologically, and in individuals with vestibulo-ocular deficits the reflex is often seen to contribute to retinal image stability during head movements. In intact individuals, however, its role in ocular compensation for head movements is questionable. In this and other studies, the reflex eye movements were in the direction opposite the vestibulo-ocular reflex and were, therefore, anticompensatory. In four species of mammal (rat, rabbit, cat, and bush baby — a primate), the reflex was most consistently elicited with an anticompensatory phase; furthermore, when an animal partially stabilizes its head in space (by the vestibulo-collic reflex) during body rotation, the vestibulo-ocular and neck eye reflexes must have opposite polarities if their summation is to be of use to the animal. The neck-eye reflex appears to be absent when the animal actively moves its head; it only appears during the experimental procedure employed to elicit the reflex. An alternative function for the electrophysiologically identified pathway of the neck-eye reflex is suggested.
Exothermic cutting of frozen materials

Abstract A commercially available cutting torch which uses consumable steel cutting rods was evaluated for cutting ice, and frozen sand, gravel, and silt. This relatively simple, lightweight torch was envisioned to have potential applications for producing shallow small-diameter holes in frozen ground for anchors, grounding rods, guy wire stakes, etc. Specific energies for cutting the frozen materials compared reasonably well with other thermal processes, but as expected, were much higher (i.e. less efficient) than mechanical cutting processes. Major advantages of the torch include portability, short set-up time, and its ability to melt a variety of materials.
The effect of insulin and hydrocortisone on the in vivo tissue uptake of 2-deoxyglucose in mice.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and limitations of using the uptake of 14C-2-deoxyglucose (14C-2DG) under nonsteady-state conditions in the conscious mouse as a screening model for detecting changes in glucose uptake. Male, Swiss--Webster mice were administered an i.v. dose of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG, 50-75 mg/kg) with 14C-2DG (20 microCi/kg, 44-66 microCi/mmole). The levels of 14C-2DG were measured in gastrocnemius muscle, retroperitoneal fat, liver, cerebral cortex, and blood. Insulin (2 U/kg) s.c. significantly reduced 2DG levels in blood and liver compared to saline controls but significantly increased 2DG levels in muscle and fat. There was no effect on cerebral cortex 2DG uptake. Hydrocortisone (HC) treatment (300 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced brain and muscle 2DG uptake. The effect of HC on brain 2DG levels may be caused by an indirect effect since determination of the 14C-sorbitol space indicated that HC reduced sorbitol levels in the brain when compared to saline controls, a reduction not detected in muscle. The limitations of the model seem to involve the brain and liver. Increasing glucose concentrations (i.v. glucose challenge) lead to decreased 2DG brain levels. It also appears that 2DG may not be reflecting glucose assimilation in the liver. However, it appears that the in vivo 2DG uptake model is a useful screening method for detecting changes in 2DG assimilation in fat and muscle following drug treatment.
On the deterrent effect of capital punishment

Recent decisions involving both state and federal authorities in the United States have rekindled the debate concerning capital punishment. There appears to be no justification for capital punishment and its inefficiency has been demonstrated on economic grounds (6). Specifically, deterrence, the argument which appears to be the strongest support for the institution, does not survive the logical application of economic welfare criteria (6, pp. 44-6). While criminologists may believe the issue of deterrence important, their research has led them to the inference that capital punishment is ineffective as a deterrent. Writing in 1973, Franklin E. Zimring and Gordon J. Hawkins concluded that research studies "have produced no evidence of the special effectiveness of the threat of death but rather carry some weight as to the opposite conclusion" (11). This point of view has been challenged by Isaac Ehrlich, who has offered empirical evidence insupport of the deterrence effect of the death penalty (3). His results were challenged in turn, and at the moment the issue appears to be far from settled (I, 2, 4, 5, 7). The most recent contributor to the discussion isJames Yunker, who has offered additional evidence in support of a deterrence effect (10). He attributes the paucity of evidence in support of deterrence to the identification problem and proceeds
Ca2+-dependent activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Abstract Experiments on the effects of varying concentrations of Ca2+ on the Mg2+ + Na+-dependent ATPase activity of a highly purified preparation of dog kidney (Na+ + K+)-ATPase showed that Ca2+ was a partial inhibitor of this activity. When Ca2+ was added to the reaction mixture instead of Mg2+, there was a ouabain-sensitive Ca2+ + Na+-dependent ATPase activity the maximal velocity of which was 30 to 50% of that of Mg2+ + Na+-dependent activity. The apparent affinities of the enzyme for Ca2+ and CaATP seemed to be higher than those for Mg2+ and MgATP. Addition of K+, along with Ca2+ and Na+, increased the maximal velocity and the concentration of ATP required to obtain half-maximal velocity. The maximal velocity of the ouabain-sensitive Ca2+ + Na+ + K+-dependent ATPase was about two orders of magnitude smaller than that of Mg2+ + Na+ + K+-dependent activity. In agreement with previous observations, it was shown that in the presence of Ca2+, Na+, and ATP, an acid-stable phosphoenzyme was formed that was sensitive to either ADP or K+. The enzyme also exhibited a Ca2+ + Na+-dependent ADP-ATP exchange activity. Neither the inhibitory effects of Ca2+ on Mg2+-dependent activities, nor the Ca2+-dependent activities were influenced by the addition of calmodulin. Because of the presence of small quantities of endogenous Mg2+ in all reaction mixtures, it could not be determined whether the apparent Ca2+-dependent activities involved enzyme-substrate complexes containing Ca2+ as the divalent cation or both Ca2+ and Mg2+.
A review of ice accretion data from a model rotor icing test and comparison with theory

An experiment was conducted by the Helicopter Icing Consortium (HIC) in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) in which a 1/6 scale fuselage model of a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter with a generic rotor was subjected to a wide range of icing conditions. The HIC consists of members from NASA, Bell Helicopter, Boeing Helicopter, McDonnell Douglas Helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft, and Texas A&M University. Data was taken in the form of rotor torque, internal force balance measurements, blade strain gage loading, and two dimensional ice shape tracings. A review of the ice shape data is performed with special attention given to repeatability and correctness of trends in terms of radial variation, rotational speed, icing time, temperature, liquid water content, and volumetric median droplet size. Moreover, an indepth comparison between the experimental data and the analysis of NASA's ice accretion code LEWICE is given. Finally, conclusions are drawn as to the quality of the ice accretion data and the predictability of the data base as a whole. Recommendations are also given for improving data taking technique as well as potential future work.
Antiserums to neurons and to oligodendroglia from mammalian brain

Two specific antiserums were produced, one to rat neurons and one to lamb oligodendroglia isolated in bulk from brain. On the basis of immunofluorescence and absorption studies with bulk isolated cells, the antiserums were produced to specific surface components. The antiserums are useful as markers for cell identification and for studying proteins in plasma membranes.
Equations ax=R(x,y)

Abstract This paper is concerned with equations αx = R(x, y) in unknowns x, y ∈ Z . Here α is a nonzero complex number which is not a root of 1, and R is a rational function with complex coefficients and an expansion R(X, Y) = r0Yl + r1(X) Yl − 1 + · · · where r0 is a nonzero constant. We will show that there are at most finitely many solutions unless α and R are of a very special form.
Evolving SQL Queries from Examples with Developmental Genetic Programming

Large databases are becoming ever more ubiquitous, as are the opportunities for discovering useful knowledge within them. Evolutionary computation methods such as genetic programming have previously been applied to several aspects of the problem of discovering knowledge in databases. The more specific task of producing human-comprehensible SQL queries has several potential applications but has thus far been explored only to a limited extent. In this chapter we show howdevelopmental genetic programming can automatically generate SQL queries from sets of positive and negative examples. We show that a developmental genetic programming system can produce queries that are reasonably accurate while excelling in human comprehensibility relative to the well-known C5.0 decision tree generation system.
Feasibility of the receiver capacity model for multi-hop wireless networks

The receiver capacity model is a simple model to capture flow dynamics in a multi-hop wireless network, by presenting linear constraints to define the feasible rate region of the network, taking into account interference. The model associates with each receiver in the network a notion of constant receiver capacity. Receiver capacity is defined as the maximum possible sum rate of all flows that the receiver can send, receive, and overhear. As has been shown in prior work by the authors, the linear constraints presented by this model make it particularly useful in approximating the true rate region, and designing distributed protocols for multi-hop wireless networks. It is well known that if we use only local constraints to define the rate region, the constraints have to be bounded by some fraction of the interference free link rate, in order to ensure that the rate satisfying these constraints can be feasibly scheduled in any graph. The key challenge in using this model is therefore to estimate the fraction of the link rate that the receiver capacity should be set to, in order to present a feasible rate vector. In this work we answer this question from a theoretical standpoint, and show that as long as the receiver capacity is set to ⅓ the interference free link rate, all rate vectors that satisfy the constraints of the receiver capacity model can be feasibly scheduled.
Low-Latency Successive-Cancellation List Decoders for Polar Codes With Multibit Decision

Polar codes, as the first provable capacity-achieving error-correcting codes, have received much attention in recent years. However, the decoding performance of polar codes with traditional successive-cancellation (SC) algorithm cannot match that of the low-density parity-check or Turbo codes. Because SC list (SCL) decoding algorithm can significantly improve the error-correcting performance of polar codes, design of SCL decoders is important for polar codes to be deployed in practical applications. However, because the prior latency reduction approaches for SC decoders are not applicable for SCL decoders, these list decoders suffer from the long-latency bottleneck. In this paper, we propose a multibit-decision approach that can significantly reduce latency of SCL decoders. First, we present a reformulated SCL algorithm that can perform intermediate decoding of 2 b together. The proposed approach, referred as 2-bit reformulated SCL ( 2b-rSCL ) algorithm , can reduce the latency of SCL decoder from ( $3{n}-2$ ) to ( $2{n}-2$ ) clock cycles without any performance loss. Then, we extend the idea of 2-b-decision to general case, and propose a general decoding scheme that can perform intermediate decoding of any $2^{K}$ bits simultaneously. This general approach, referred as $\textit {2}^{K}$ -bit reformulated SCL ( ${2}^{K}$ b-rSCL ) algorithm , can reduce the overall decoding latency to as short as ${n}/2^{K-2}-2$ cycles. Furthermore, on the basis of the proposed algorithms, very large-scale integration architectures for 2b-rSCL and 4b-rSCL decoders are synthesized. Compared with a prior SCL decoder, the proposed (1024, 512) 2b-rSCL and 4b-rSCL decoders can achieve 21% and 60% reduction in latency, 1.66 and 2.77 times increase in coded throughput with list size 2, and 2.11 and 3.23 times increase in coded throughput with list size 4, respectively.
Factors involved in the initial mutation of the fragile X CGG repeat as determined by sperm small pool PCR

The fragile X syndrome is one of more than a dozen genetic diseases attributed to the amplification of a trinucleotide repeat. Despite the number of these disease loci, relatively little is known about the mechanism(s) that cause a stable allele to become unstable. Population and family studies of the fragile X CGG repeat have identified a number of factors that may play a role in repeat instability including the number of AGG interruptions, purity of the 3' and 5' end of the repeat and cis-acting factors as related to haplotype background. However, studies that assess whether these factors have an impact on the rate and magnitude of change of the repeat are lacking, mainly due to the lack of an appropriate model system. Therefore, in order to dissect the factors involved in the initial mutations of the CGG repeat, small pool (SP)-PCR was performed on DNA derived from sperm and blood from seven unaffected males whose repeat sizes range from 20 to 33. Using the SP-PCR-derived data, regression analyses suggested that components of the repeat structure such as the number of interruptions and purity of the 3' end of the repeat are important determinants of germline repeat instability. In contrast, elements other than repeat structure, such as haplotype background, seemed to have an impact on somatic repeat instability. The factors identified for either cell type, however, explained only a small portion of the variance, suggesting that other factors may be involved in this process.
Is operative conversion necessary for patients diagnosed with dense adhesions during an elective laparoscopic colectomy

Laparoscopic colectomy is often complicated by adhesions. Studies examining the morbidity of laparoscopic lysis of adhesions (LOA) combined with colectomy are sparse. Objectives. The goal of this study was to prospectively evaluate the results of using the harmonic scalpel to lyse adhesions in patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. Methods. Laparoscopic colectomy was performed in 83 patients between November 2003 and April 2007. A total of 20 patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy with LOA and 53 patients underwent laparoscopic colectomy alone. Patients were prospectively followed to determine operative time (OT), blood loss, operative conversion, length of stay (LOS), and 30-day morbidity. Results. Operative conversion was 2%, mean estimated blood loss (EBL) was 95 ± 84 mL, and mean OT was 220 ± 64 minutes. There were no anastomotic leaks or perioperative mortalities. There were 9 major complications (11%). Patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy with LOA (n = 20) compared with patients underg...
2-Amino-5-nitro-N-[(E)-thio-phen-2-yl-methyl-idene]aniline.

In the title mol­ecule, C11H9N3O2S, the thio­phene and benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 17.68 (9)°. The thio­phene S atom and the imine N atom are syn with respect to each other. In the crystal, N—H⋯O and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds connect mol­ecules, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to (10-1).
Dynamics of a minimal power system: invariant tori and quasi-periodic motions

The paper provides an extensive analysis of local and global bifurcation phenomena in the voltage-angle dynamic interactions of a minimal power system model. Using nonlinear analysis and normal form theory, it is proved that this system will experience quasi-periodic motions near certain degenerate local bifurcations which are explicitly characterized. The results in the paper provide strong analytical evidence for the possible occurrence of complicated behavior in the power system from the interactions of voltage and angle instability mechanisms. Computational methods for the detection of invariant 2-tori in higher dimensional systems using tools from center manifold theory and normal form theory are introduced briefly and these techniques are illustrated on a fourth order power system model.
An Evidenced-based Assessment of Preoperative Weight Loss in Bariatric Surgery

Surgeons in all disciplines have always known that obese patients suffer from a higher incidence of perioperative complications than more normal-weight individuals. In addition to the physiologic derangements and comorbid conditions associated with obesity (i.e., type II diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, etc.), the presence of excess abdominal fat also increases the technical difficulties of the operative procedure and jeopardizes the healing response thereby compromising the integrity of surgical repairs, organ function and the incisions used in modern surgery [1–7]. Recently, the potential benefits of preoperative weight loss has become of interest to surgeons and in particular, bariatric surgeons who routinely perform complex operative procedures on high-risk severely obese individuals. Traditionally, the concept has been considered controversial. For many bariatric surgeons, the concept of mandatory preoperative weight loss was considered unjustified, an exercise in futility, and even inhumane. Yet, others were convinced of its benefits. In the last few years, several studies have been published demonstrating value to mandatory weight loss prior to bariatric surgery. This review will summarize the current literature on the topic. The Surgical Consequences of Obesity
Spatial Coherence Conversion with Surface Plasmons Using a Three-slit Interferometer

It has been demonstrated recently that surface plasmons can change the state of coherence of light emanating from a Young’s double-slit interferometer. This suggests the possibility of developing a “coherence-converting” device with a large array of subwavelength holes in a metal plate. We have taken an intermediate approach by considering a three-slit geometry, in which we investigated the effects on the modulation of the spatial coherence when an additional slit is placed between the pair of Young’s slits. Our results show that the amount of modulation (enhancement or suppression) can be increased or decreased in the three-slit geometry, compared to the double-slit configuration. This is promising for achieving coherence converting optical devices with suitable arrays of subwavelength holes.
A robust packet scheduling algorithm for proportional delay differentiation services

Proportional delay differentiation (PDD) model is an important approach to relative differentiated services provisioning on the Internet. It aims to maintain pre-specified packet queueing-delay ratios between different classes of traffic at each hop. Existing PDD packet scheduling algorithms are able to achieve the goal in long time-scales when the system is highly utilized. This paper presents a new PDD scheduling algorithm, called Little's average delay (LAD), based on a proof of Little's Law. It monitors the arrival rate of the packets in each traffic class and the cumulative delays of the packets and schedules the packet according to their transient queueing properties in order to achieve the desired class delay ratios in both short and long time-scales. Simulation results show that LAD is able to provide predictable and controllable services in various system conditions and that such services, whenever feasible, can be guaranteed, independent of the distributions of packet arrivals and sizes. In comparison with other PDD scheduling algorithms, LAD can provide the same level of service quality in long time-scales and more accurate and robust control over the delay ratio in short time-scales. In particular, LAD outperforms its main competitors significantly when the desired delay ratio is large.
Inspiratory muscle work in acute hypoxia influences locomotor muscle fatigue and exercise performance of healthy humans.

Our aim was to isolate the independent effects of 1) inspiratory muscle work (Wb) and 2) arterial hypoxemia during heavy-intensity exercise in acute hypoxia on locomotor muscle fatigue. Eight cycli...
Circadian clock regulation of melatonin MTNR1B receptor expression in human myometrial smooth muscle cells

Circadian genes are expressed in virtually all cells and tissues, and circadian rhythms influence many bodily processes, including reproductive physiology. The expression of hMTNR1B is suppressed during pregnancy until late in term (much like the oxytocin receptor), at which time it is up-regulated to allow for the nocturnal melatonin/oxytocin synergy, which promotes strong nocturnal contractions. Little is cur- rently known about the regulation of hMNTR1b, nor about its functional significance in the myometrium. We, therefore, aimed to elucidate some of the transcription factors that regulate hMNTR1b gene expression in the human myometrium and to determine if hMNTR1b is under circadian control. In this study, we used immortalized and primary myometrial cells that were assessed for circadian gene expression rhythms using real-time bioluminometry and quantitative PCR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation examined the binding of the clock gene product brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT)-like protein 1 (BMAL1) to the promoter of the hMTNR1B gene. Overexpression studies tested the role of circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) and its partner BMAL1 in regulating hMTNR1B expression. We confirmed circadian clock gene expression in both immortalized human myometrial cells and primary myometrial cell cultures. We further showed that the hBMAL1 protein binds to an E-box motif in the proximal promoter of the hMTNR1B gene. Overexpression studies demonstrated that the BMAL1/CLOCK complex activates expression of hMTNR1B leading to a circadian rhythm in phase with the E-box driven clock gene hPER2 (Period 2). These results indicate, for the first time, the presence of a functional circadian clock in the human myometrium with the hMTNR1B gene as a clock controlled target. Further investigations could open new vistas for understanding the regulation of uterine contractions and the timing of human labor.
The influence of friction models on finite element simulations of machining

In the analysis of orthogonal cutting process using finite element (FE) simulations, predictions are greatly influenced by two major factors; a) flow stress characteristics of work material at cutting regimes and b) friction characteristics mainly at the tool-chip interface. The uncertainty of work material flow stress upon FE simulations may be low when there is a constitutive model for work material that is obtained empirically from high-strain rate and temperature deformation tests. However, the difficulty arises when one needs to implement accurate friction models for cutting simulations using a particular FE formulation. In this study, an updated Lagrangian finite element formulation is used to simulate continuous chip formation process in orthogonal cutting of low carbon free-cutting steel. Experimentally measured stress distributions on the tool rake face are utilized in developing several different friction models. The effects of tool-chip interfacial friction models on the FE simulations are investigated. The comparison results depict that the friction modeling at the tool-chip interface has significant influence on the FE simulations of machining. Specifically, variable friction models that are developed from the experimentally measured normal and frictional stresses at the tool rake face resulted in most favorable predictions. Predictions presented in this work also justify that the FE simulation technique used for orthogonal cutting process can be an accurate and viable analysis as long as flow stress behavior of the work material is valid at the machining regimes and the friction characteristics at the tool-chip interface is modeled properly.
Egypt as a Conflict/Fragile State

Abstract Egypt has experienced a very turbulent four years since the eruption of the Arab Spring in January 2011. Millions of Egyptians have demonstrated across the country dozens of times, resulting in the ouster of two presidents and Egypt moving from a state of ‘transition’ to a ‘fragile state’ by the OECD’s annual standards. This paper will analyze the current political situation in Egypt through the lens of the OECD’s definition of fragility. It will then seek to explore the merits of moving Egypt to a ‘fragile state’ by examining the primary conflict and fragility factors, the historical context by which these factors arose, and finally, it will consider the impact on the current ability to deliver services to the people.
Modulation of taste affect by hunger, caloric satiety, and sensory-specific satiety in the rat.

Human judgements of the pleasure of sweetness have been reported to be modulated by caloric hunger, satiety, and sensory-specific satiety. This study examined both hedonic and aversive facial/somatic reactions to taste in the rat, in order to confirm the relation of hunger and satiety to taste affect, and to assess whether affective modulation depends upon the cognitive factors that mediate human self-interpretation of affect. In the first experiment, the affective reactions of rats to sweet, bittersweet, and water tastes were assessed in five states of caloric hunger or satiety. Caloric satiety reduced positive hedonic reactions below normal levels. Conversely, 48-h food deprivation (but not 24-h deprivation) increased hedonic reactivity. Hedonic enhancement by hunger was not restricted to sweet tastes, but also extended to the palatability of water. Only the hedonic reactions to taste were changed by hunger or satiety: taste aversion was not altered. The second experiment compared the magnitude of affective change during sensory-specific satiety and caloric satiety. Taste-reactivity elicited by sucrose solution or milk was assessed after satiating meals of each of those foods. Sensoryspecific satiety further reduced hedonic reactions below the level achieved by caloric satiety alone. Both for caloric satiety and for sensory-specific satiety changes in affect were restricted to positive hedonic reactions: no increase in aversion accompanied the hedonic decrements. These results confirm that taste affect is modulated during caloric hunger, caloric satiety, and sensory-specific satiety. In addition they indicate that the modulation of taste affect by hunger and satiety is confined to the positive limb of the two dimensions (hedonic vs. aversive) of palatability.