cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic vs open pyloromyotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to determine whether laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) or open pyloromyotomy (OP) is the most effective intervention in infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Methods A systematic review of the published literature was undertaken in February 2009. Prospective studies comparing LP and OP were selected. Age, weight, complications, duration of operation, time to full feedings, postoperative vomiting, and postoperative length of stay (LOS) data were extracted. Results Six prospective studies (5 level I, 1 level II) with 625 (303 LP, 322 OP) participants met selection criteria. Combined estimates indicated that LP had a lower total complication rate (odds ratio [OR], 0.58 [0.35, 0.97]; P = .04), mostly due to a lower wound complication rate (OR, 0.42 for LP [0.20, 0.91]; P = .03). Patients who underwent LP also had shorter time to full feedings (mean difference [MD], −11.52 hours [−12.77, −10.27]; P P = .0005). No statistically significant differences were noted in the rates of mucosal perforation, wound infection, postoperative emesis, or operating time. Incomplete pyloromyotomy occurred in 6 patients who underwent LP (OR, 7.74 [0.94, 63.38]; P = .06). Conclusions This meta-analysis favors the laparoscopic approach with significantly reduced rate of total complications, which is mostly due to a lower wound complication rate.
Autonomic Dysfunction in Epilepsy and Mitochondrial Diseases

The autonomic nervous system is involved and influenced in patients with epilepsy and mitochondrial diseases in a variety of complex, often multifaceted, mechanisms. Autonomic dysfunction often remains unrecognized due to a lack of attention and awareness under the prominence of other disease symptoms. Recognition of the diverse autonomic manifestations of epilepsy and mitochondrial disease would enhance early diagnosis and appropriate management, ultimately improving quality the of life and reducing morbidity and mortality in the affected patients. In this chapter, we discuss autonomic nervous system dysfunction in children with epilepsy (Part I) and mitochondrial diseases (Part II).
Glucagon·Glucagon-like Peptide I Receptor Chimeras Reveal Domains That Determine Specificity of Glucagon Binding

The binding of glucagon to its hepatic receptor triggers a G-protein-mediated signal that ultimately leads to an increase in hepatic glucose production (gluconeogenesis) and glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis). In order to elucidate the structural domain(s) of the human glucagon receptor (hGR) involved in the selective binding of glucagon, a series of chimeras was constructed in which various domains of the hGR were replaced by homologous regions from the receptor for the glucoincretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide I (GLP-IR). hGR and GLP-IR are quite similar (47% amino acid identity) yet have readily distinguishable ligand binding characteristics; glucagon binds to the recombinant hGR expressed in COS-7 cells with a Kd that is 1000-fold lower than the Kd for glucagon binding to GLP-IR. In the present study, chimeric receptors were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells and analyzed for glucagon binding. Expression of each receptor chimera was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining using a hGR-specific monoclonal antibody. This report identifies several non-contiguous domains of the hGR that are important for high affinity glucagon binding. Most notable are the membrane-proximal half of the amino-terminal extension, the first extracellular loop, and the third, fourth, and sixth transmembrane domains.
Smooth endoplasmic reticular whorls in neurons of the arcuate nucleus in male rats following adrenalectomy.

Abstract (1) Adrenalectomy in the white rat induces the formation of smooth endoplasmic reticular (SER) whorls in arcuate nucleus neurons comparable to those seen after castration, thyroidectomy, morphine treatment and during the diestrus-proestrus phase of the estrus cycle. (2) The formation of compound endoplasmic reticulum (CER) and tubuloreticular structures (TRS) were also observed after adrenalectomy. (3) The number of SER whorls observed in tanycyte-like processes in relation to the pial membrane of the median eminence and to the non-fenestrated capillaries of the inferior median eminence after adrenalectomy was increased 9–13 fold over that noted in controls. (4) SER whorls in arcuate neurons occur following castration, thyroidectomy, adrenalectomy, after morphine treatment and in relation to some phases of the estrous cycle. Therefore, it is suggested that whorl formation in these neurons represents a morphologic index of increased neuronal activity related in some manner to the increased synthesis or release of the appropriate hypothalamic regulatory hormones for FSH-LH, TSH, ACTH and STH, not simply LH as previously suggested.
Pair-rule genes cooperate to activate en stripe 15 and refine its margins during germ band elongation in the D. melanogaster embryo.

Abstract Patterns of gene expression have been well documented during embryogenesis for the Drosophila melanogaster trunk segments. The same is not the case for the terminal segments. Here, gene expression patterns are followed during embryogenesis in the caudal segments (A8–A10 and the anal plate), with special attention paid to the novel regulation of engrailed (en). Chosen for this study are the pair-rule genes even-skipped (eve), fushi tarazu (ftz), runt (run), hairy (h), paired (prd) and odd-skipped (odd), and the segment polarity gene (en). The results demonstrate a progressive and coupled translocation of gene expression distally for all genes studied, suggesting that the most posterior segments are determined later than trunk segments.
Development of Sediment and Nutrient Export Coefficients for U.S. Ecoregions

Water quality impairment due to excessive nutrients and sediment is a major problem in the United States (U.S.). An important step in the mitigation of impairment in any given water body is determination of pollutant sources and amount. The sheer number of impaired waters and limited resources makes simplistic load estimation methods such as export coefficient (EC) methods attractive. Unfortunately ECs are typically based on small watershed monitoring data, which are very limited and/or often based on data collected from distant watersheds with drastically different conditions. In this research, we seek to improve the accuracy of these nutrient export estimation methods by developing a national database of localized EC for each ecoregion in the U.S. A stochastic sampling methodology loosely based on the Monte-Carlo technique was used to construct a database of 45 million Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) simulations. These simulations consider a variety of climate, topography, soils, weather, land use, management, and conservation implementation conditions. SWAT model simulations were successfully validated with edge-of-field monitoring data. Simulated nutrient ECs compared favorably with previously published studies. These ECs may be used to rapidly estimate nutrient loading for any small catchment in the U.S. provided the location, area, and land-use distribution are known.
A construction of F(1) as automorphisms of a 196,883-dimensional algebra.

Abstract In this note, I announce the construction of the finite simple group F1, whose existence was predicted independently in 1973 by Bernd Fischer and by me. The group has order 246320597611213317.19.23.29.31.41. 47.59.71 = 808,017,424,794,512,875,886,459,904,961,710,757,005,754,368,000,000,000 and is realized as a group of automorphisms of a 196,883-dimensional commutative nonassociative algebra over the rational numbers, which has an associative form. Equivalently, it is a group of automorphisms of a cubic form in 196,883 variables. It turns out that all the relevant arguments and calculations may be done by hand. Furthermore, existence of the group F1 implies the existence of a number of other sporadic simple groups for which existence proofs formerly depended on work with computers. We are beginning to look upon this group as a “friendly giant.”
Petrologic nature of the oceanic Moho

The oceanic Mohorovicic discontinuity may be well within the tectonized harzburgite unit found at the base of most ophiolites. The model developed indicates that the Moho is a boundary separating partially (35%) serpentinized ultramafic rocks above from fresh tectonized ultramafic rocks below.
A Single Amino Acid Substitution in the Active Site of Escherichia coli Aspartate Transcarbamoylase Prevents the Allosteric Transition

Modeling of the tetrahedral intermediate within the active site of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase revealed a specific interaction with the side-chain of Gln137, an interaction not previously observed in the structure of the X-ray enzyme in the presence of N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA). Previous site-specific mutagenesis experiments showed that when Gln137 was replaced by alanine, the resulting mutant enzyme (Q137A) exhibited approximately 50-fold less activity than the wild-type enzyme, exhibited no homotropic cooperativity, and the binding of both carbamoyl phosphate and aspartate were extremely compromised. To elucidate the structural alterations in the mutant enzyme that might lead to such pronounced changes in kinetic and binding properties, the Q137A enzyme was studied by time-resolved, small-angle X-ray scattering and its structure was determined in the presence of PALA to 2.7 angstroms resolution. Time-resolved, small-angle X-ray scattering established that the natural substrates, carbamoyl phosphate and L-aspartate, do not induce in the Q137A enzyme the same conformational changes as observed for the wild-type enzyme, although the scattering pattern of the Q137A and wild-type enzymes in the presence of PALA were identical. The overall structure of the Q137A enzyme is similar to that of the R-state structure of wild-type enzyme with PALA bound. However, there are differences in the manner by which the Q137A enzyme coordinates PALA, especially in the side-chain positions of Arg105 and His134. The replacement of Gln137 by Ala also has a dramatic effect on the electrostatics of the active site. These data taken together suggest that the side-chain of Gln137 in the wild-type enzyme is required for the binding of carbamoyl phosphate in the proper orientation so as to induce conformational changes required for the creation of the high-affinity aspartate-binding site. The inability of carbamoyl phosphate to create the high-affinity binding site in the Q137A enzyme results in an enzyme locked in the low-activity low-affinity T state. These results emphasize the absolute requirement of the binding of carbamoyl phosphate for the creation of the high-affinity aspartate-binding site and for inducing the homotropic cooperativity in aspartate transcarbamoylase.
CMS software deployment on OSG

A set of software deployment tools has been developed for the installation, verification, and removal of a CMS software release. The tools that are mainly targeted for the deployment on the OSG have the features of instant release deployment, corrective resubmission of the initial installation job, and an independent web-based deployment portal with Grid security infrastructure login mechanism. We have been deploying over 500 installations and found the tools are reliable and adaptable to cope with problems with changes in the Grid computing environment and the software releases. We present the design of the tools, statistics that we gathered during the operation of the tools, and our experience with the CMS software deployment on the OSG Grid computing environment.
Convergence of relaxation algorithms by averaging

Adaptive relaxation algorithms use anti-jamming schemes that require either a large amount of computation or a large amount of memory. In this paper we present a non-adaptive approach that possesses substantial computational and memory advantages over the adaptive schemes. The approach uses averaging and may be applied whenever the relaxation algorithm's point-to-set maps satisfy appropriate assumptions.
The yeast frameshift suppressor gene SUF16-1 encodes an altered glycine tRNA containing the four-base anticodon 3'-CCCG-5'

The SUF16 frameshift suppressor locus encodes a glycine tRNA. The SUF16-1 suppressor tRNA is inferred by DNA sequence analysis to contain the four-base anticodon sequence 3'-CCCG-5' in place of the wild-type anticodon 3'-CCG-5'. SUF16-1 mediates translation of the four-base messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence 5'-GGGU-3' but apparently fails to act at the sequence 5'-GGGG-3'. A molecular model is presented that accounts for the observed specificity of tRNA-mediated frameshift suppression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The Carboxylpropeptide of Type I Procollagen in Skin Fibrillogenesis

Previous studies suggested that the aminopropeptide of type I procollagen may initiate fibril formation. The purpose of this investigation was to study the location of the carboxylpropeptide of type I procollagen during collagen fibrillogenesis. Chick embryonic and posthatching skin specimens were studied by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy and by immunoblotting with antibodies against the amino and carboxylpropeptide of type I procollagen. The carboxylpropeptide was demonstrated at the surface of collagen fibrils, 20-40 nm in diameter (10-day embryos) and in fibrils, 40-65 nm (21-day embryos). In addition, the carboxylpropeptide was found at the cell surface and free in the ground substance. The aminopropeptide was only seen in fibrils, 20-30 nm in diameter, as previously reported. Ratios of pN-collagen/pC-collagen increased from 16 days embryonic to 3 and 9 days postembryonic skins. This study suggests that both pN-collagen (aminopropeptide plus collagen) and pC-collagen (carboxylpropeptide plus collagen) participate in fibrillogenesis.
Swine Influenza Virus Infections in Humans

Influenza in swine was first recognized as an epizootic disease in 1918. During that same year influenza virus in humans caused the worst pandemic on record. The virus of swine influenza was isolated in 1930. Swine influenza virus was first isolated from humans in 1974. Since then, including the cases at Fort Dix, there have been a total of nine viral isolations from humans in the United States. Serologic evidence of infections with swine influenza virus in humans has also been obtained. Evidence for transmission of swine influenza virus to humans before 1974 is minimal and circumstantial. Recent recognition of infections with swine influenza virus may be the result of better surveillance, increased numbers of susceptible humans, or increased viral infectivity for humans. Nevertheless, the apparent frequency of human infections and the declining levels of antibodies to swine influenza virus in the human population suggest that influenza viruses of swine may be a potential sources of epidemic disease for humans.
Trends in Executive Education in Business Marketing

ABSTRACT Business marketers in the 21st century are grappling with the harsh, tough demands of a consolidated customer base, rapid product and service commoditization, complex channel structures, and hyper-competition in a rapidly evolving, information-intensive global economy. Across the globe, firms concerned with developing managerial talent to respond to these trends are demanding and expecting changes in the executive education programs offered by business schools. We consider in this paper a number of recent trends and changes in customer expectations, program format, content development and delivery, and program marketing that we have observed in executive education in the field of business marketing.
Neonatal Nicotine Exposure Increases Excitatory Synaptic Transmission and Attenuates Nicotine-stimulated GABA release in the Adult Rat Hippocampus

Abstract Developmental exposure to nicotine has been linked to long-lasting changes in synaptic transmission which may contribute to behavioral abnormalities seen in offspring of women who smoke during pregnancy. Here, we examined the long-lasting effects of developmental nicotine exposure on glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, and on acute nicotine-induced glutamate and GABA release in the adult hippocampus, a structure important in cognitive and emotional behaviors. We utilized a chronic neonatal nicotine treatment model to administer nicotine (6 mg/kg/day) to rat pups from postnatal day (P) 1–7, a period that falls developmentally into the third human trimester. Using whole-cell voltage clamp recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices, we measured excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents in neonatally control- and nicotine-treated young adult males. Neonatal nicotine exposure significantly increased AMPA receptor-mediated spontaneous and evoked excitatory signaling, with no change in glutamate release probability in adults. Conversely, there was no increase in spontaneous GABAergic neurotransmission in nicotine-males. Chronic neonatal nicotine treatment had no effect on acute nicotine-stimulated glutamate release in adults, but acute nicotine-stimulated GABA release was significantly attenuated. Thus, neonatal nicotine exposure results in a persistent net increase in excitation and a concurrent loss of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-mediated regulation of presynaptic GABA but not glutamate release, which would exacerbate excitation following endogenous or exogenous nAChR activation. Our data underscore an important role for nAChRs in hippocampal excitatory synapse development, and suggest selective long-term changes at specific presynaptic nAChRs which together could explain some of the behavioral abnormalities associated with maternal smoking. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘GABAergic Signaling in Health and Disease’.
Effect of testosterone propionate on tissue protein synthesis in the castrated male rat.

SummaryInjection of testosterone propionate to castrated male rats stimulated protein synthesis at the level of the sex linked organs, skin, and in subcutaneously implanted polyvinyl sponge. Other tissues studied showed no effect of testosterone on rate of protein labeling after receiving 1-C14-glycine. The unique behavior of the perineal muscle in contrast to other skeletal muscles points to its unsuitability for myotrophic assay of anabolic hormones. The tissues where anabolic activity was stimulated also showed a concomitant increase of radioactivity in their non-protein fractions.
Scattering of an ultrasonic beam from a curved interface

Abstract We calculate the wavefield scattered from a circular fluid-solid interface when it is struck by a well collimated ultrasonic beam, emitted from a transducer in the fluid. Both convex and concave interfaces are considered. The radius of curvature of the interface is assumed to be sufficiently large that only reflection, transmission and the excitation of a leaky Rayleigh wave need be considered; the incident beam does not graze the interface. The incident beam is modeled as a two-dimensional wavefield whose initial profile is either Gaussian or rectangular. In both cases the aperture is assumed to be many wavelengths across and the interface close enough to the aperture that it is struck by a wavefield that has not yet evolved into a cylindrical wave. The scattered wavefields are represented as multiple contour integrals and are evaluated asymptotically.
Clinical and Pathologic Differential Diagnosis of Selected Potential Bioterrorism Agents of Interest to Pediatric Health Care Providers

The early recognition of potential bioterrorism agents has been of increasing concern in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has categorized and listed biological terrorism agents. Although any or all of the highest risk biological agents (including inhalation anthrax, pneumonic plague, smallpox, tularemia, botulism, and viral hemorrhagic fevers) can be seen in the pediatric patient, several agents might closely resemble--at least in their initial stages-some of the more common childhood illnesses. The awareness of these similarities and, more importantly,their differences, are critical for all health care professionals. Selected examples of some typical childhood illnesses are presented and then compared with three of the most virulent biological agents (smallpox, anthrax and plague) that might be used in a bioterrorism attack.
Crystallinity of Sucrose by X‐ray Diffraction as Influenced by Absorption versus Desorption, Waxy Maize Starch Content, and Water Activity

Crystallinity of sucrose in a mixture with waxy maize starch as affected by absorption and desorption in the range 0.33 to 0.97 aw was studied by X-ray diffraction. Ratio of sucrose to starch peak areas was linear with weight ratios as expected. Sucrose crystallinity as determined by X-ray diffraction was found to be in excellent agreement with that calculated from sorption data. Sucrose in a mixture equilibrated by absorption to 0.33 and 0.75 aw was about 80% crystalline. On absorption to 0.84 aw, the mixture showed sucrose crystallinity reduced to 50%. However, on desorption to 0.33–0.84 aw, the sucrose crystallinity was reduced to zero regardless of sucrose content.
A synthetic aperture study of aperture size in the presence of noise and in vivo clutter

ABSTRACT Conventional wisdom in ultrasonic array design drives development t owards larger arrays because of the inverserelationship between aperture size and resolution. We propose a me thod using synthetic aperture beamformingto study image quality as a function of aperture size in simulation, in a p hantom and in vivo . A single dataacquisition can be beamformed to produce matched images with a ran ge of aperture sizes, even in the presence oftarget motion. In this framework we evaluate the reliability of typica l image quality metrics { speckle signal-to-noise ratio, contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio { for use in in vivo studies. Phantom and simulation studies arein good agreement in that there exists a point of diminishing returns in image quality at larger aperture sizes.We demonstrate challenges in applying and interpreting these metric s in vivo , showing results in hypoechoicvasculature regions. We explore the use of speckle brightness to d escribe image quality in the presence of in vivoclutter and underlying tissue inhomogeneities.Keywords: Ultrasound imaging, Synthetic aperture, Aperture size, Image qu ality, Signal-to-noise ratio, Con-trast, Contrast-to-noise ratio, Speckle brightness
Pulse rate and behavioral state correlates after auditory, tactile, visual, and vestibular intervention in drug-exposed neonates.

OBJECTIVE: Compare responses of nonexposed and drug-exposed newborns to auditory, tactile, visual, and vestibular (ATVV) intervention. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective design with random assignment of drug-exposed (N=45) and nonexposed (N=72) newborns to control and experimental groups. METHODS: Experimentals received 15 minutes of ATVV twice after birth. Infant behavioral state (IBS) and pulse rate (PR) were measured. RESULTS: The nonexposed and drug-exposed control groups (p=0.021) differed on the distribution of IBS yet no differences were noted between the two experimental groups. Nonexposed and drug-exposed experimentals experienced more alertness and less quiet sleep than controls (p<0.05). PR and IBS were significantly correlated for all but the drug-exposed control group (nonexposed control, r=0.938, p=0.006; nonexposed experimental, r=0.979, p=0.001; drug-exposed experimental, r=0.955, p=0.003). Within the combined (control+experimental) drug-specific groups, only polydrug-exposed infants demonstrated such a correlation (r=0.584, p=0.046). A significant correlation was also identified within the cocaine-exposed group for the experimentals only (r=0.992, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The ATVV promoted normal physiologic and behavioral function.
Transnational Networks and Changing Human Rights Norms

Unexpected Power: Conflict and Change among Transnational Activists. By Hertel Shareen. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2006. 176 pp., $45.00 cloth (ISBN: 978-0-8014-4507-1), $17.95 paper (ISBN: 978-0-8014-7324-1). In their pathbreaking work on transnational advocacy networks, Margaref Keck and Kathryn Sikkink (1998) argued that “[m]odern networks are not conveyor belts of liberal ideals, but vehicles for communicative and political exchange, with the potential for mutual transformation of participants” (quoted on p. 3). This observation is an important one that has been underexplored in much of the rapidly growing literature on transnational activism. Unexpected Power: Conflict and Change Among Transnational Activists by Shareen Hertel helps fill this gap. Drawing upon hundreds of interviews with activists as well as primary documents, Hertel shows how transnational advocacy campaigns affect activist networks, our understandings of human rights, and government policy. Unexpected Power examines two familiar transnational advocacy campaigns, namely the campaign against child labor in the Bangladeshi garment industry and the campaign to end pregnancy testing in the maquiladoras on the US–Mexico border (for other examples of work on these campaigns, see Brooks 2002, 2005; Bandy 2004; Carty 2004). Hertel uses disciplined, configurative case studies to uncover how two distinct “mechanisms” of interorganizational dynamics emerged in these two cases and what effect each mechanism had on the campaign. In the Bangladeshi case, Hertel argues that differences between the interests of activists from outside and inside the country led Bangladeshi development groups to block …
Weighted Model Reduction via Interpolation

Abstract Weighted model reduction problems appear in many important applications such as controller reduction. The most common approach to this problem is the weighted balanced truncation method. Interpolatory approaches to weighted model reduction have been mostly limited to simply choosing interpolation points in the regions where the weights are dominant. In this paper, we extend the (unweighted) tangential interpolatory model reduction to the weighted case using the recent generalized interpolation framework of Beattie and Gugercin [2009]. We generate a reduced-order model such that the weighted reduced-order system tangentially interpolates the weighted full-order system at the provided interpolation data.
Disruption of Dendroctonus frontalis (Col., Scolytidae) infestations with an inhibitor pheromone1,2

Use of the Dendroctonus frontalis inhibitor pheromone verbenone, as a treatment on trees within infestations, is effective in suppressing or halting infestation growth. It is hypothesized that the inhibitor disrupts the orientation of flying adult D. frontalis to host trees and, as a result, sufficient attacking adults are not available at any given time on a tree to successfully over take it. Seasonal changes in abundance, longevity, and dispersal of beetle populations may impact the effectiveness of the inhibitor-based treatment. Zusammenfassung Die Verhinderung der Ausdehnung von Dendroctonus frontalis-(Col., Scolytidae-)Befall mit einem Ablenkstoff Die Anwendung des Ablenkstoffes Verbenon in Borkenkaferherden von Dendroctonus frontalis ist ein wirksames Mittel zur Verhinderung der Ausbreitung weiteren Befalls. Es wird angenommen, das der Ablenkstoff die Orientierung der fliegenden Kafer auf der Suche nach Wirtsbaumen unterbindet und, als Folge, zu keiner Zeit genugend Kafer vorhanden sind, um einen Baum erfolgreich anzugreifen. Jahreszeitlicher Wechsel in der Abundanz, Lebenszeit und Dispersion mogen Einflus auf die Wirksamkeit des Ablenkstoff-Verfahrens haben.
Distinct roles of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation on inhibitory signaling in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus

The ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) has been implicated in numerous functions including circadian rhythms, brightness discrimination, pupillary light reflex, and other visuomotor function...
Electrodermal and cardiac orienting in psychometrically defined high-risk subjects

Abstract The vast majority of research programs investigating subjects at high risk for psychopathology have relied on genetic criteria for subject selection. Recent reports, however, have begun to suggest alternative definitions and sets of criteria for the selection of high-risk subjects. One such alternative is a psychometric definition of risk—the selection of subjects on the basis of psychological test data. The present experiment used this strategy to study orienting and habituation to simple auditory stimuli in groups of young adult subjects reporting either physical anhedonia or perceptual aberrations. The study provided support for the hypothesized continuity between anhedonic subjects and the automatically hyporesponsive group of patients frequently described in the literature on schizophrenia. Results are discussed in light of recent appeals to identify biologically homogeneous subgroups of schizophrenic patients.
Detecting semantic changes in Makefile build code

Build code in a Makefile represents the build rules with the dependencies among the files, and how they must be built together to produce a software system. As software evolves, its build code evolves as well to accommodate necessary changes in the build process. As part of software maintenance, it is crucial to understand how the build code is changed (e.g. changes in build rules or dependencies), and to verify and validate the correctness of the build process with different build configurations. Due to Make's dynamic nature, understanding and managing the changes to Makefiles is not trivial. In this paper, we introduce a set of semantic changes to build code in Makefiles. We also develop MkDiff, a tool to detect the changes to a Makefile at the semantic level. MkDiff uses symbolic dependency graphs (SDG) to find all possible concrete rules from a Makefile, and the dependencies among them. For two SDGs built from a Makefile at two versions, it first detects changed and unchanged nodes via its SDG matching algorithm. Then, from those results, it derives the semantic changes to the Makefile. Our empirical evaluation for MkDiff showed that it can accurately detect semantic changes in Makefiles.
The electronic structure and properties of the C15 compounds CeAl2, LaAl2 and YAl2

Abstract Results of self-consistent band calculations are reported for the C15 structured XAl 2 materials (X = Y, La, and Ce) using the local spin density functional formalism for assumed ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic states as well as the paramagnetic state. The X-atoms are found to be the dominant factor is determining the electronic structure near the Fermi energy and this is enhanced by the presence of f-bands close to (LaAl 2 ) or at (CeAl 2 ) the Fermi energy. In paramagnetic CeAl 2 , the f-bands are about 1 eV wide and, although principally above the Fermi energy, extend down to accomodate the additional electron compared to LaAl 2 . The ferromagnetic state is found not to be stable. By contrast, the antiferromagnetic state is found to be stable with a magnetic moment of 0.88μ B per Ce atom in very good agreement with the maximum moment, 0.89μ B found in the neutron measurements of Barbara et al. A significant narrowing of the f-bandwidth is observed in the antiferromagnetic state. The antiferromagnetic spin density ordering appears to be related to nesting features in this underlying Fermi surface in LaAl 2 (i.e., no 4f electron) rather than that of CeAl 2 .
Linear circulant matricesover a finite field

Abstract Rings of polynomials R N = Z p [ x ]/ x N − 1 which are isomorphic to Z P N are studied, where p is prime and N is an integer. If I is an ideal in R N , the code K whose vectors constitute` the isomorphic image of I is a linear cyclic code. If I is a principle ideal and K contains only the trivial cycle {0} and one nontrivial cycle of maximal least period N , then the code words of K /{0} obtained by removing the zero vector can be arranged in an order which constitutes a linear circulant matrix, C . The distribution of the elements of C is such that it forms the cyclic core of a generalized Hadamard matrix over the additive group of Z Pp . A necessary condition that C = K /{0} be linear circulant is that for each row vector v of C , the periodic infinite sequence a ( v ) produced by cycling the elements of v be period invariant under an arbitrary permutation of the elements of the first period. The necessary and sufficient condition that C be linear circulant is that the dual ideal generated by the parity check polynomial h (χ) of K be maximal (a nontrivial, prime ideal of R N ), with N = p k − 1 and k = deg ( h (χ)).
Orthonormal vector polynomials in a unit circle, Part I: basis set derived from gradients of Zernike polynomials

Zernike polynomials provide a well known, orthogonal set of scalar functions over a circular domain, and are commonly used to represent wavefront phase or surface irregularity. A related set of orthogonal functions is given here which represent vector quantities, such as mapping distortion or wavefront gradient. These functions are generated from gradients of Zernike polynomials, made orthonormal using the Gram- Schmidt technique. This set provides a complete basis for representing vector fields that can be defined as a gradient of some scalar function. It is then efficient to transform from the coefficients of the vector functions to the scalar Zernike polynomials that represent the function whose gradient was fit. These new vector functions have immediate application for fitting data from a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor or for fitting mapping distortion for optical testing. A subsequent paper gives an additional set of vector functions consisting only of rotational terms with zero divergence. The two sets together provide a complete basis that can represent all vector distributions in a circular domain.
Theory of charging and charge transport in “intermediate” thickness dielectrics and its implications for characterization and reliability

Thin film dielectrics have broad applications, and the performance degradation due to charge trapping in these thin films is an important and pervasive reliability concern. It has been presumed since the 1960s that current transport in intermediate-thickness (IT) oxides (∼10–100 nm) can be described by Frenkel-Poole (FP) conduction (originally developed for ∼mm-thick films) and algorithms based on the FP theory can be used to extract defect energy levels and charging-limited lifetime. In this paper, we review the published results to show that the presumption of FP-dominated current in IT oxides is incorrect, and therefore, the methods to extract trap-depths to predict lifetime should be revised. We generalize/adapt the bulk FP current conduction model by including additional tunneling-based current injection. Steady state characteristics are obtained by a flux balance between contacts and the IT oxide. An analytical approximation of the generalized FP model yields a steady state leakage current J ∝ exp(−...
Skeletal muscle ventricles for cardiac assistance

Abstract Skeletal muscle ventricles (SMVs) are capable of using the mechanical work of muscle shortening for assistance of failing myocardium. The development of this field has resulted from the combined efforts of basic science experimentation and evaluation in experimental models. Our laboratory has studied these pumping chambers extensively in a variety of configurations. SMVs can function long-term in the circulation over a wide range of physiologic pressures, making them suited for either right or left circulatory assistance. We believe that with continued refinement and experimentation, this form of cardiac assistance may soon offer a viable alternative to transplantation for some patients suffering from end-stage heart failure.
Cell adhesion measurement by laser-induced stress waves

Cell adhesion is a fundamental property of living cells and influences cell morphology, proliferation, and differentiation. The affinity of cells to relevant substrates plays an important role in tissue response to implanted devices and tissue regeneration. Directivity and precisely quantifying cell adhesion are paramount to the successful development of biomedical and hybrid devices. In this work, a laser-induced stress wave technique previously developed for thin solid film adhesion measurement is modified to investigate the cell-substrate adhesion. High-amplitude short-duration stress wave pulses induced by laser pulse absorption were used to detach cells from the substrate. The results obtained in this work proved the laser-induced stress wave technique to be an effective means for investigating the adhesion between biological cells and inorganic substrates.
An Emerging Model of Auxin Transport Regulation

The hormone auxin plays a critical role in the regulation of plant growth and development. Auxin is transported from cell to cell with strict directionality by uptake and efflux carrier proteins (reviewed by [Muday and DeLong, 2001][1]). The polarity of auxin transport is believed to be controlled
Family Life Course Statuses and Transitions: Relationships with Health Limitations

In this study, the author uses 25 years of data taken from the 1979 National Longitudinal Study of Youth to examine the relationship between family life course statuses and transitions and work-rel...
Basolateral localization of Na+-HCO3− cotransporter activity in alveolar epithelial cells

We investigated the polarized distribution of Na(+)- and HCO3(-)-dependent recovery from intracellular acidification in alveolar epithelial cell monolayers. Rat alveolar type II cells were grown in primary culture on detachable tissue culture-treated Nuclepore filters. Each filter was mounted in a cuvette containing two fluid compartments (apical and basolateral) separated by the monolayer. Cells were loaded with the pH-sensitive dye BCECF and intracellular pH (pHi) measured spectrofluorometrically. Monolayers were studied at ambient temperature on days 3-4 in culture, coincident with the development of high tissue resistance (RT > or = 1000 omega.cm2). After the cells were acidified by NH3 prepulse, pHi recovered to baseline when Na+ was present in the basolateral fluid, but did not recover when Na+ was present only in the apical fluid. This basolateral Na(+)-dependent pHi recovery in the presence of HCO3-/CO2 was reduced, but present, in experiments where dimethylamiloride (DMA, 100 microM) or the stilbene derivative DIDS (500 microM) was in basolateral fluid. However, recovery was completely inhibited when both DMA and DIDS were present basolaterally. pHi recovery was not inhibited under Cl(-)-free conditions, indicating that cytoplasmic realkalinization was not effected by Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3- exchange. These data indicate that alveolar epithelial cells express a basolateral Na(+)- and HCO3(-)-dependent, DIDS-sensitive, Cl(-)-independent pHi recovery process that probably represents Na(+)-HCO3(-)-cotransport (symport). Basolateral Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport modulates pHi in alveolar epithelial cells, may contribute to regulation of intracellular volume and osmolarity, and may participate in signal transduction by hormones and growth factors.
The Antiscorbutic Vitamin in Poultry nutrition

Abstract The work of recent years has established the necessity of the fat soluble and the water soluble vitamins in the rations of chickens. In regard to the antiscorbutic vitamin, little data has been presented beyond demonstrating that an absence of this factor in the rations of fowls caused no apparent ill effects1–7. We have shown8 that cockerels which had been deprived of this vitamin for an extended period still had an abundant supply of the antiscorbutic substance in their livers and kidneys. Since the presence of this supply indicated that the antiscorbutic vitamin was necessary for the normal metabolism of the fowl, and that this abundant supply might be due either to carrying over of a previous storage of this factor in the body tissues on which there has been a conservative drain, or to synthesis of this factor from some source unavailable to the guinea pig, it was . . .
Primary amido and amine adduct complexes of gallium: synthesis and structures of [t-Bu2Ga(μ-NHPh)]2 and t-Bu3Ga·NH2Ph

Abstract Reaction of t-Bu2GaCl with LiNHPh in toluene/diethylether (4 : 1) at −78°C gives the dimeric primary amido complex [t-Bu2Ga(μ-NHPh)]2 (1) in 60% yield. The reaction of t-Bu3Ga with NH2Ph at −78°C in toluene gives the adduct t-Bu3Ga·NH2Ph (2) in 75% yield. The structures of both compounds have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The molecular geometry of 1 consists of a dinuclear unit with two bridging NHPh groups and two terminal t-Bu groups bound to each gallium atom. The coordination geometry of both the gallium and nitrogen atoms is distorted tetrahedral. The molecular geometry of 2 involves a fairly long dative N→Ga donor bond [2.246(9) A] and the configuration of the amine is distorted from an idealized tetrahedral geometry due to steric repulsions. Crystallographic data for both 1 and 2 suggest the presence of close interactions between the NH hydrogen atoms and the gallium atoms (NH … Ga).
“Wide open to rap, tagging, and real life”: preparing teachers for multiliteracies pedagogy

This article examines a teacher educator's implementation of a pedagogy of multiliteracies in an adolescent literacy course. The purpose was to foster pre-service teachers' knowledge and dispositions to enact multiliteracies pedagogy. This article synthesizes the theories of multiliteracies pedagogy and Third Space to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by key learning experiences for pre-service teachers' development of knowledge about and dispositions towards multiliteracies pedagogy. This article argues that emphasizing the Situated Practice and Critical Framing components of multiliteracies pedagogy can promote pre-service teachers' productive negotiations of the conflicts they experience in developing dispositions towards multiliteracies pedagogy.
Advances in how clinical nurses can evaluate and improve quality of life for individuals with cancer.

Purpose/objectives To describe advances in the ways that clinical nurses understand, assess, and work to improve quality of life (QOL) for individuals with cancer since the 1995 Oncology Nursing Society's State-of-the-Knowledge Conference on QOL. Data sources Published research and clinical articles. Data synthesis The number of QOL assessment tools and methods for understanding QOL results has increased. However, scant literature has focused on how clinical oncology nurses evaluate QOL and the methods they use to affect QOL for individuals with cancer. Conclusions Based on the nurse-patient relationship, clinical nurses are able to assess QOL in individuals with cancer and intervene appropriately to improve QOL. Implications for nursing Clinical nurses can involve individuals with cancer in rating their QOL to assist in providing high-quality care that is directed at positively affecting QOL.
Boson exchange phenomenology: A first step from nucleons to nuclei☆

Abstract We investigate medium renormalization effects of strong and weak meson-nucleon vertex functions in the framework of a non-linear chiral meson theory. The density dependence of the nucleon properties is entirely determined by the medium renormalization of the fundamental meson parameters. Our results indicate a mild density dependence of the strong-coupling constants and quenching of the respective form factors. The parity-violating weak meson-nucleon couplings are strongly suppressed in the medium even for moderate density variations of the mesonic parameters like e.g. the pion decay constant or the vector meson masses. We discuss the implications of these results for the boson-exchange phenomenology of strong and weak nuclear forces. We also study the Δ(1232) resonance in the medium. We find that for constant vector meson masses, the NΔ mass splitting M Δ − M N is not shifted from its free space value whereas for decreasing vector meson masses it is quenched by ∼10%. We compare these results to empirical information gained from the study of the nuclear forward Compton amplitude. We also show that the coupling of scalar particles by means of the QCD trace anomaly does not affect the medium renormalization of the nucleon properties.
Influence of heart rate on left ventricular ejection fraction in human beings

The influence of heart rate on left ventricular ejection fraction was examined in 10 recipients of a cardiac allograft and 7 patients who had had aortocoronary bypass surgery. Ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were measured using computer-assisted analysis of motion of surgically implanted mid wall myocardlal markers recorded by cinefluoroscopy during atrial pacing at increments of about 15 beat/min from an average control rate of 83 beats/min to 154 beats/min. A gradual progressive decrease in ejection fraction occurred as heart rate Increased within the physiologic range. For an increase in heart rate of 70 beats/min above the control rate, ejection fraction decreased 31 percent (P < 0.001) and, in general, statistically significant reductions in ejection fraction occurred with increments in heart rate of 30 beats/min or greater. A proportionately greater linear reduction in end-diastolic volume than in end-systolic volume accounted for the inverse relation between ejection fraction and heart rate. The direction and magnitude of the volume changes were similar in patients with aortocoronary bypass surgery and in the allograft recipients, and in the patients with bypass surgery before and after administration of propranolol, suggesting that neural mechanisms acting directly on the heart did not influence this inverse relation importantly. It is concluded that heart rate must be considered in interpreting serial studies of ventricular function based on ejection fraction, especially If heart rate varies more than 30 beats/min between studies.
Structure and Function of Bacterial Biofilms by Solid-State NMR

Biofilms are multi-cellular communities formed by bacteria, and they consist of bacteria encased within a non-crystalline extracellular matrix (ECM) of proteins, polysaccharides, and small molecules. Biofilm formation provides increased protection of bacteria from antibiotics and host defenses. New quantitative approaches are needed to define composition and architecture of biofilms. We have utilized solid-state NMR to quantitatively define the composition of the wild-type uropathogenic E. coli UTI89 extracellular matrix. Recently, we have extended the same methodology to elucidate changes in biofilm composition due to inhibitory small molecules and to define the composition of Vibrio cholerae biofilm.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
An Investigation of Phonological Impairment in Aphasia, Part 2: Distinctive Feature Analysis of Phonemic Commutation Errors in Aphasia

Summary Commutation errors made by a group of aphasics in the repetition of words and nonsense syllables were analyzed in terms of degree of similarity to the desired phoneme, the entire stimulus, and other phonemes in the response using a distinctive feature description. The degree of similarity between the desired phoneme and other phonemes in the stimulus was also examined. Results indicated that commutation errors were not random, were highly similar to the desired phoneme and/or another phoneme in the stimulus; that the patterns of error were the same in both words and nonsense syllables. This was interpreted to show that this is not solely a “programming of movements” problem but may be related to perceptual, memory, and/or retrieval problems. Analysis of distinctive feature patterns did not show that any particular opposition was more difficult than another. While “coarticulation” factors may have been involved in certain of the errors, phonetic similarity within the stimulus or within the response did not appear to be a major factor in the appearance of commutation errors.