cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concise review of the glutathione S-transferases and their significance to toxicology

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; E.C. 2.5.1.18) are a multi-gene family of enzymes involved in the detoxification, and, in a few instances, activation of a wide variety of chemicals (Table 1). Since their discovery in the early 1970s, thousands of articles have been written on the structure, function, and toxicologic significance of GSTs, and it is obviously beyond the scope of this article to provide a comprehensive review of the field. This article will highlight the major features of this multi-gene family of enzymes, with a focus on human soluble (cytosolic) GSTs. A relatively comprehensive review of the GSTs was published in 1995, and provides an excellent source for detailed information and references about nearly all aspects of GSTs up to that time (Hayes and Pulford, 1995). (Because of space limitations, the present mini-review is not fully referenced, but it does include some newer references not covered in previous reviews.) GSTs catalyze the nucleophilic attack of glutathione (GSH) on electrophilic substrates, thereby decreasing their reactivity with cellular macromolecules (Armstrong, 1997). These proteins have been found in virtually every living species examined, including plants, animals, and bacteria (Hayes and Pulford, 1995). Most GSTs exist as soluble enzymes, although a small family of microsomal GSTs has been characterized (Andersson et al., 1994; Jakobsson et al., 1996), and a mitochondrial GST, referred to as GST Kappa, has also been identified (Pemble et al., 1996). In humans and in rodents, the soluble GSTs are collectively expressed in rather large amounts, constituting as much as 4% of total soluble protein in the liver. Although no definitive physiological role for GSTs has yet been identified, several reactive endogenous molecules, including ab-unsaturated keto prostaglandins (e.g., PGA2, PGJ2), and endogenous fatty acid oxidation products, such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, serve as substrates for certain GSTs (Hayes and Pulford, 1995) (Table 2). One human GST (hGSTM2-2) has recently been found to exhibit unique and high catalytic activity toward reactive quinones of endogenous catecholamines (e.g., dopaminochrome, formed by oxidation of dopamine), and thus may play some protective role against endogenous oxidative tissue damage in the brain (Baez et al., 1997). The soluble forms exist as dimeric proteins, with subunit molecular weights of approximately 25 kDa (Table 1). Each subunit of the dimeric enzyme has an active site composed of 2 distinct functional regions: a hydrophilic G-site, which binds the physiological substrate glutathione, and an adjacent H-site which provides a hydrophobic environment for the binding of structurally diverse electrophilic substrates (Armstrong, 1997). The G-site is highly conserved between all GSTs due to its high specificity for GSH, whereas the H-site can be quite divergent between different GSTs, and exhibits broad and variable substrate binding specificity.
Transcriptome sequencing and analysis of Plasmodium gallinaceum reveals polymorphisms and selection on the apical membrane antigen-1

Background: Plasmodium erythrocyte invasion genes play a key role in malaria parasite transmission, host-specificity and immuno-evasion. However, the evolution of the genes responsible remains understudied. Investigating these genes in avian malaria parasites, where diversity is particularly high, offers new insights into the processes that confer malaria pathogenesis. These parasites can pose a significant threat to birds and since birds play crucial ecological roles they serve as important models for disease dynamics. Comprehensive knowledge of the genetic factors involved in avian malaria parasite invasion is lacking and has been hampered by difficulties in obtaining nuclear data from avian malaria parasites. Thus the first Illumina-based de novo transcriptome sequencing and analysis of the chicken parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum was performed to assess the evolution of essential Plasmodium genes. Methods: White leghorn chickens were inoculated intravenously with erythrocytes containing P. gallinaceum .c DNA libraries were prepared from RNA extracts collected from infected chick blood and sequencing was run on the HiSeq2000 platform. Orthologues identified by transcriptome sequencing were characterized using phylogenetic, ab initio protein modelling and comparative and population-based methods. Results: Analysis of the transcriptome identified several orthologues required for intra-erythrocytic survival and erythrocyte invasion, including the rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) and the apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1). Ama-1 of avian malaria parasites exhibits high levels of genetic diversity and evolves under positive diversifying selection, ostensibly due to protective host immune responses. Conclusion: Erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium parasites require AMA-1 and RON2 interactions. AMA-1 and RON2 of P. gallinaceum are evolutionarily and structurally conserved, suggesting that these proteins may play essential roles for avian malaria parasites to invade host erythrocytes. In addition, host-driven selection presumably results in the high levels of genetic variation found in ama-1 of avian Plasmodium species. These findings have implications for investigating avian malaria epidemiology and population dynamics. Moreover, this work highlights the P. gallinaceum transcriptome as an important public resource for investigating the diversity and evolution of essential Plasmodium genes.
Averaging Different Alignment Axes Improves Femoral Rotational Alignment in Computer-Navigated Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background: Computer navigation systems generally establish the rotational alignment axis of the femoral component on the basis of user-defined anatomic landmarks. However, navigation systems can also record knee kinematics and average alignment axes established with multiple techniques. We hypothesized that establishing femoral rotational alignment with the use of kinematic techniques is more accurate and precise (repeatable) than the use of anatomic techniques and that establishing femoral rotational alignment by averaging the results of different alignment techniques is more accurate and precise than the use of a single technique. Methods: Twelve orthopaedic surgeons used three anatomic and two kinematic alignment techniques to establish femoral rotational alignment axes in a series of nine cadaver knees. The axes derived with the individual anatomic and kinematic techniques as well as the axes derived with six combination techniques—i.e., those involving averaging of the alignments established with two of the individual techniques—were compared against a reference axis established with computed tomography images of each femur. Results: The kinematic methods were not more accurate (did not have smaller mean errors) or more precise (repeatable) than the anatomic techniques. The combination techniques were accurate (five of the six had a mean error of <5) and significantly more precise than all but one of the single methods. The percentage of measurements with <5 of error as compared with the reference epicondylar axis was 37% for the individual anatomic techniques, 30% for the individual kinematic techniques, and 58% for the combination techniques. Conclusions: Averaging the results of kinematic and anatomic techniques, which is possible with computer navigation systems, appears to improve the accuracy of rotational alignment of the femoral component. The number of rotational alignment outliers was reduced when combination techniques were used; however, they are still a problem and continued improvement in methods to accurately establish rotation of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty is needed.
Nearly degenerate four-wave mixing enhanced by the ac Stark effect

A model is developed to describe nondegenerate four-wave mixing in a medium characterized by a single strong atomic resonance. The nonlinear response is calculated using the density-matrix formalism, and propagation effects are included by solving coupled-wave equations. This model predicts large resonant responses for signals detuned from the pump frequency by approximately the generalized Rabi frequency. Potential applications of the effects predicted by this model include construction of tunable bandpass filters and four-wave parametric oscillators.
Malaria parasites (Plasmodium lophurae) developing extracellularly in vitro: incorporation of labeled precursors.

SYNOPSIS. P. lophurae were removed from their host duck erythrocytes and incubated in vitro in certain modifications of the red cell extract medium previously described. The extent of incorporation, into material precipitable with trichloracetic acid, of 14C-labeled precursors supplied after 15–16 hr of incubation, was determined and compared with effects on structure of the parasites. A decreased concentration of erythrocyte extract, which always resulted in increased numbers of degenerate parasites and decreased development to multinucleate forms, also decreased the incorporation of methionine-methyl-14C and orotic-acid-6-14C. It did not affect incorporation of proline-U-14C or of choline-1,2-14C. With a 1/3rd strength red cell extract, omission of coenzyme A, which increased the proportion of degenerate parasites and usually decreased the multinucleate forms, decreased the incorporation of all 4 substrates, in keeping with the inability of the parasites to synthesize CoA. On the other hand, omission of ATP and pyruvate, which had an even greater deleterious effect on structure of the parasites than omission of CoA, had no effect on incorporation of methionine or orotic acid and probably none on that of choline. Incorporation of adenine was reduced in presence of ATP or AMP, suggesting competition at an uptake site. Incorporation of proline, however, was higher with ATP and pyruvate present, in keeping with the better development of the extracellular parasites. The uptake of proline may depend on an ATPase in the outer of the 2 membranes surrounding the parasite.
Adaptive satellite hybrid access (ASHA) protocols: a simulation study

A general class of broadband protocols called ART is proposed. It consists of adaptive hybrid multiple-access protocols applicable to communication networks that share a single transmission medium and behave like Aloha-type, reservation, and TDMA (thus ART) basic protocols at low, medium, and high throughput respectively. For satellite communication networks, a subclass of ART protocols called adaptive satellite hybrid access (ASHA) is proposed. Two ASHA protocols, named ASHA1 and ASHA2, that combine the features of S-Aloha TDMA-reservation and TDMA basic multiple-access protocols are described. The ASHA protocols are simulated using a fairly sophisticated simulator, modeled basically as a three-state finite-state machine. Simulation results are presented which provide a large amount of practical and valuable insight into the workings of adaptive hybrid multiple-access protocols in general and of ASHA and SRUC protocols in particular. Moreover, ASHA protocols provide better delay versus throughput than to any of their individual constituent protocols and extend the channel capacity to unity. >
Systematic Review: The Relationship between Clinical Experience and Quality of Health Care

for all outcomes assessed; 13 (21%) reported decreasing performance with increasing experience for some outcomes but no association for others; 2 (3%) reported that performance initially increased with increasing experience, peaked, and then decreased (concave relationship); 13 (21%) reported no association; 1 (2%) reported increasing performance with increasing years in practice for some outcomes but no association for others; and 1 (2%) reported increasing performance with increasing years in practice for all outcomes. Results did not change substantially when the analysis was restricted to studies that used the most objective outcome measures.
Characterising kinds and instances of kinds: ERP reflections

Syntactic and semantic information are computed online in a manner such that electrophysiological methods can detect distinct processes within a few hundred milliseconds of a word. The amplitude of the N400 response has been shown to reflect semantic integration of a word in the context of a preceding word, sentence, and discourse. We show, in a combined behavioural and ERP study, that the N400 amplitude to the same word, in nearly identical sentential contexts, is modulated as a function of subtly different morphosyntactic environments that condition either a generic (grass is green) or nongeneric (the grass is green) reading. The results suggest that N400 amplitude reflects not only the existence of a semantic computation but can reflect processes relevant to the type of semantic relation being computed. Specifically, it is sensitive to whether a word is interpreted as characterising a kind/type or an instance of a kind/token of a type.
MECHANISMS OF THERMAL BALANCE IN FLYING CENTRIS PALLIDA (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE)

Thermoregulation of the thorax is critical for bees and other endothermic insects to achieve high rates of flight muscle power production. However, the mechanisms allowing insects to regulate thorax temperatures during flight are not well understood. To test whether variations in metabolic heat production, evaporation or heat transfer from the thorax to the abdomen contribute to the maintenance of stable body temperatures during flight in the bee Centris pallida, we measured CO2 production, water vapor loss, wingbeat frequency and body segment temperatures during flight at varying air temperatures (Ta). While hovering in the field and while flying in the respirometer, C. pallida males maintain extremely stable, elevated thorax temperatures (45+/-2 degrees C; mean +/- S.E.M.). Measurements of head, thorax and abdomen temperatures as a function of Ta during hovering flight in the field indicated that C. pallida males were not actively increasing heat transfer from the thorax to the head or abdomen at high Ta values. As Ta increased from 26 to 35 degrees C, increases in evaporative water loss were relatively small compared with the decrease in carbon dioxide emission. As Ta values increased from 26 to 35 degrees C, the factorial decreases in metabolic heat production and the elevation of thorax temperature above Ta were closely matched (35 %), suggesting that variation in metabolic heat production is the major mechanism of thermoregulation in flying C. pallida. The thermal effects on rates of water loss and metabolic water production resulted in a strong positive water balance at cooler Ta values, but a strong negative water balance at Ta values above 31 degrees C. During the first minute of flight in the respirometry chamber, wingbeat frequency was independent of Ta. However, by the fourth minute, there was a significant negative relationship between Ta and wingbeat frequency, which was similar to the thermal relationship observed for wingbeat frequency in the field. These data suggest that, either through homeostatic regulation or resulting secondarily from thermal effects on flight motor properties, variation in metabolic heat production may occur via altered wingbeat kinematics.
Analysis of hopQ alleles in East Asian and Western strains of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori hopQ (omp27) alleles exhibit a high level of genetic diversity, and certain hopQ genotypes have been associated with an increased risk for peptic ulcer disease. In this study, we analyzed hopQ alleles in H. pylori strains from East Asia and the United States. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of two highly divergent families of hopQ alleles, without evidence of extensive recombination. Type I hopQ alleles from Western and Asian H. pylori strains were similar, and markedly different from type II hopQ alleles. Analyses of synonymous and non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions suggested that there is a positive selection for HopQ amino acid diversity. Type II hopQ alleles were identified commonly in Western H. pylori strains, but rarely in East Asian strains. Nearly all of the East Asian strains analyzed were cagA-positive and contained type I hopQ alleles. Geographic variation in the genetic characteristics of H. pylori strains may be a factor contributing to geographic variation in gastric cancer incidence.
Marked Depth of ST-Segment Depression During Treadmill Exercise Testing: Indicator of Severe Coronary Artery Disease

This study was designed to evaluate whether treadmill stress testing would facilitate selection of patients with advanced coronary artery disease and, specifically, whether markedly abnormal ischemic responses could be used as indicators of severity of disease. Among 59 consecutive patients with documented coronary artery disease having both maximal treadmill testing and coronary angiographic studies, 15 (group 1) had normal responses to exercise, 18 (group 2) showed 1 to 2.9 mm "ischemic" (flat or downward-sloping) ST-segment depression, and 26 (group 3) demonstrated marked (or equal to 3 mm) ischemic responses. Group 3 had statistically significant higher incidences of triple-vessel disease (18/26; 69 percent) and proximal lesions of the left anterior descending coronary artery (24/26; 92 percent), compared with group 1 (2/15 and 10/15, respectively) and group 2 (6/18 and 12/18, respectively). Group 3 also manifested more extensive disease than groups 1 and 2 (judged by scoring system of Friesinger et al), with a score of 11 or more in 18 of 26 patients. We conclude that marked depth of "ischemic" ST-segment depression aids in identifying that subgroup of the coronary population with severe coronary artery disease and, therefore, serves as a useful means of culling out patients with a potentially serious prognosis who might benefit from intensive diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.
A solid-state relative humidity measurement system

The implementation of a solid-state capacitive relative humidity (RH) sensing system which employs a polymer as the moisture-sensitive material is discussed. The sensing mechanism is based on the fact that the dielectric permittivity of the insulating polymer, polyimide (PI), is linearly related to the ambient relative humidity. Therefore, the capacitance of a parallel-plate device using PI as the dielectric is a linear function of ambient RH (because PI does not swell during moisture absorption). Standard IC processing techniques are used to fabricate the PI-based integrated sensor capacitor. In order for such as sensor to be useful in the field, a voltage, current, or frequency output is desirable. A discrete capacitance-to-voltage converter circuit using this sensor capacitor has been constructed. The performance of this system is reported. >
When teachers are taught to learn: Using team-based learning as a first-time information literacy instructor

When teaching information literacy as a for-credit standalone course, it’s a challenge to find a format that will inspire student engagement. Team-based learning (TBL) is a collaborative learning method that emphasizes student preparation, accountability, and application and provides a framework for students to have more meaningful interactions in the classroom. Students are assigned to teams of five to seven peers on the first day of class and stay in those teams for the duration of the course. Students prepare for class independently by studying assigned materials on a given topic. In class, they work in teams to complete readiness assurance tests and application exercises based on the materials they have studied. The instructor acts as a guide and clarifies concepts as needed. 1
The effect of exercise on systolic time intervals in sedentary and active individuals and rehabilitated patients with heart disease.

Abstract The pre-ejection period and ejection time index were determined at rest and immediately after exercise in 39 healthy subjects and 17 patients with atherosclerotic heart disease. They were classified on the basis of health and physical activity status as sedentary healthy, active healthy, sedentary cardiac and active cardiac. The pre-ejection period at rest was longer in the sedentary and active cardiac groups than in the sedentary and active healthy groups ( P P P
Dismountable media management in tertiary storage systems

We describe an adaptive algorithm for tertiary storage media mount management. This predictive longest next reference mount management algorithm attempts to approximate the optimal page replacement policy, OPT.
Autism: a large unmet medical need and a complex research problem

Autism has been becoming the focus of attention as its apparently increasing prevalence is better appreciated. According to some estimates, the frequency of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) can be as high as 1 in 150. The diagnosis can be made as early as 2 years of age, and autistic patients often have a normal life span. Thus, in terms of the number of "patient years," ASD represents a market that is as large as that of the biggest neurological indication, Alzheimer's disease. Despite the clear unmet medical need, no effective treatment is available. This may be because the mechanism of ASD is not understood. The aim of the present paper is to review recent advances in autism research and to discuss some of the most stressing problems mainly from a preclinical research standpoint. We hope to draw attention to the need to study this devastating disease that places an enormous burden on the society in general and the relatives and caregivers of autistic patients in particular.
Twice-daily radiotherapy as concurrent boost technique during two chemotherapy cycles in neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resectable esophageal carcinoma: mature results of phase II study.

Abstract Purpose To determine the toxicities of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using a three-drug regimen (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and paclitaxel) and a conventional radiotherapy (RT) schedule combined with a concurrent boost technique during chemotherapy cycles, and to determine the rate of tumor response, overall survival, and impact of pathologic tumor response on survival. Methods and materials The eligibility criteria included resectable adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma (T2-T3N0-N1M0), performance score ≤2, and no significant comorbidities for trimodality therapy. Chemotherapy consisted of two cycles of cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and paclitaxel. A concurrent boost technique was used in RT for 2 levels of radiation doses: 58.5 Gy in 34 fractions within 5 weeks to the gross tumor volume and 45 Gy in 25 fractions within 5 weeks to the clinical target volume by administering a boost dose of 13.5 Gy in 9 fractions, 1.5 Gy/fraction, as a second daily fraction for 9 days on Days 1–5 and 29–32 of the chemotherapy cycles. Results We enrolled 46 patients in the study. The paclitaxel dose was started at 75 mg/m 2 ( n = 7) and escalated to 125 mg/m 2 ( n = 5), at which point, dose-limiting toxicities occurred. Thereafter, paclitaxel at 100 mg/m 2 was used for an additional 34 patients. Toxicities included Grade 4 neutropenia (22%), febrile neutropenia requiring hospital admission (20%), Grade 3 (48%) and Grade 4 (7%) acute esophagitis, and paclitaxel-associated anaphylaxis (4%). Of the 46 patients, 3 (6.5%) died of treatment-related complications, 1 of pneumonia during induction therapy and 2 of postoperative complications (5% of the 40 patients who underwent resection). The histopathologic tumor response was a pathologic complete response (pT0N0) in 18 (45%) of 40 patients who underwent resection and 18 (39%) of all 46 registered patients. Minimal residual disease (pT1N0) at the primary site was present in 5 (11%) and residual disease in 23 (50%) of all 46 patients. The minimal follow-up for all long-term survivors ( n = 16) was 5.5 years. The median survival time was 34 months, and the overall survival rate was 57%, 50%, and 37% at 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The 5-year overall survival (56% vs. 24%, p = 0.0214) and disease-free survival (48% vs. 6%) were significantly better statistically for patients with a pathologic complete response and minimal residual disease than for those with residual disease. All long-term survivors beyond 5.5 years without recurrence accrued from patient cohorts with a pathologic complete response or minimal residual disease. Conclusion An incorporation of twice-daily RT as a concurrent boost to the conventional daily RT schedule during chemotherapy cycles is feasible and warrants additional study for radiation dose intensification. Such research would be prudent for both improved long-term survival and organ preservation in esophageal carcinoma.
Collectivity of 0 + States in 160 Gd

Excited ${0}^{+}$ states in $^{160}\mathrm{Gd}$ have been examined with the $(n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction at incident neutron energies up to 2.8 MeV. Gamma-ray excitation functions and angular distribution measurements allow the confirmation of the existence of ${0}^{+}$ states at 1379.70 keV and 1558.30 keV, but we reject the assignments of additional previously suggested ${0}^{+}$ candidates. Limits on the level lifetimes of the observed ${0}^{+}$ states permit an evaluation of the collectivity of these states.
Political parties planning outlook in retrospect

Before the 2014 general election the following request was made to all the major parties about thier views on professionl planning, planning education and planning issues. Only three parties responded and a summary of their responses is provided.
Efficacy of oil-emulsion vaccines prepared with pigeon paramyxovirus-1, Ulster, and La Sota Newcastle disease viruses

Three strains of avian paramyxovirus-1 virus (PMV-1) were used to prepare four experimental monovalent oil-emulsion vaccines. A pigeon PMV-1 isolate (PPMV-1) and the Newcastle disease virus strains La Sota and Ulster were used to prepare four pools of beta-propiolactone-inactivated allantoic fluid for the vaccines. Groups of susceptible white rock chickens and racing homing pigeons were vaccinated subcutaneously with one of the vaccines, and their serologic responses were determined using the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test at frequent intervals up to 9 weeks postvaccination. Pigeons were challenged after 10 weeks with a virulent PPMV-1 isolate given intravenously, observed for signs of disease for 5 weeks, and then tested for secondary serologic HI responses. The HI responses were measured using the three strains of virus as HI test antigens. The titers were generally greater when the hemagglutination antigen used in the test was homologous with the antigen used to prepare the vaccine. All vaccines protected pigeons against morbidity and death but not against infection with the challenge virus. The shedding of PPMV-1 challenge virus from PPMV-1 vaccinates was greatly reduced 6 days after challenge.
Improvements To Satellite-Based Albedo Measurements Using In-Situ Robotic Surveying Techniques

This work proposes a framework for a robotic surveyor system designed to help Earth scientists address the limitations experienced in current techniques for surface albedo measurement tasks. Presently, high-resolution satellite-based imaging equipment provides extensive coverage globally. A gap remains locally, however, in the finer unexplored areas represented at the pixel level of such imagery. In situ methods, such as Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), are incorporated into this subsystem of Earth-observing instruments, yet their limited placement and individual sensing range result in the need for a more dynamic sensing system. To quantify detailed slope information at a sub-pixel level, a robotic survey system must be capable of collecting orientation information across an area of interest. This work has the potential to be expanded to any task requiring the application of fundamental surveyor principles to unchartered terrain. We present preliminary field experiments to demonstrate the process of extracting and comparing data collected in situ with a professionally generated contour map of a local park.
Discussion on relative molecular mass and distribution study of polysaccharide in active fraction of traditional Chinese medicines

The object of this paper is to emphasize the importance of relative molecular mass and molecular mass distribution determination of polysaccharide in active fraction of traditional Chinese medicine on the basis of drug technical review experiences.Author briefly introduced the methods for relative molecular mass and molecular mass distribution determination,and suggested that the HPGPC method was used for the determination.Finally some considerations in the method selection and determination conditions were given.
PRACTICAL FORMULAS TO CALCULATE TENSIONS OF VERTICAL CABLE WITH UNIFORM PROPERTIES BY FREQUENCY METHOD

This paper lists several methods for cable force measurement in practice and points out that the frequency method is still the most practical and convenient method of cable force measurement in actual engineering,and then evaluates and analyzes the domestic pre-existing practical formulas to calculate cable force by frequency method.Based on the vibration equation of tensile beam,the model of practical formula to calculate cable force of vertical cable with uniform properties is created,which can be used for any constraint conditions,and the proportion variable of practical formula is expressed as a function of the tension-to-bending rigidity ratio(TBR);Using the finite element method,massive data about the proportion variable are obtained for cables with the same TBR but different cable properties(tension,length and bending rigidity),which not only verifies the uniqueness of the proportion variable to TBR but also proves the rationality and validity of taking TBR as the unique independent variable of the proportion variable;Through numerical calculation,the proportion variable is piecewisely fitted to an inverse proportion function of the TBR,and at last according to the established practical formulas,the affections of constraint conditions and bending rigidity to cable force are analyzed,which gradually decreases and can be neglected along with the increase of TBR.Both of the comparative results of domestic pre-existing practical formulas and applications in actual engineering indicate: the practical formulas created according to the cable force calculated at fundamental frequency can make a correct calculation and the calculation precision can satisfy the requirement of actual engineering when TBR is more than one.
Making Query Execution Over Encrypted Data Practical

The benefits of data outsourcing continue to grow, however owners of sensitive data cannot take full advantage due to its risk profile. Encrypted query processing promises to change this situation and allow data owners to securely outsource their sensitive data: data is encrypted, installed in a database on a remote (e.g., cloud) server, and standard queries are processed against the remote encrypted data. Correct query answers are returned without ever exposing plaintexts or decryption keys at the server. This chapter addresses three key challenges to realizing, as a practical option, the promise of encrypted query processing: handling query operations which cannot execute in ciphertext, implementing a working system, and achieving acceptable query performance.
Man versus Nature - Also Sprach Zarathustra and an End-of-Life House Call.

Reluctantly leaving an end-of-life house call with a patient who has decided to avail himself of his state’s death-with-dignity law, a physician hears a musical composition that reframes the experience in terms of the dialectic of Man versus Nature.
Tenthecoris tillandsiae Henry (Hemiptera: Miridae) in the Southeastern United States: Distribution, Seasonality, and Potential Pathways of Entry by a Neotropical Specialist on Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides; Bromeliaceae)

The bryocorine mirid Tenthecoris tillandsiae Henry (Hemiptera: Miridae) was described as a new species in 2016. Although the type locality is Charleston, South Carolina, the species is considered adventive in the United States and native to Latin America. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides [L.] L.; Bromeliaceae) is the plant bug's only known host. Tenthecoris tillandsiae was found in three counties of the greater Charleston area in clumps of Spanish moss that grew on ten species of woody plants, especially Darlington oak (Quercus hemisphaericaW. Bartram exWilld.; Fagaceae) and live oak (Q. virginiana Mill.). Nymphs and adults fed on strands of the moss, on which they left dark spots of excrement. Overwintered eggs hatched in mid- to late April, with first-generation adults appearing by early May. Two additional generations were produced; nymphs were present into October, and an adult female was found as late as mid-December. Tenthecoris tillandsiae sometimes was syntopic with a native plant bug (Phytocoris tillandsiae Johnston) that specializes on Spanish moss. Pathways of entry that might have allowed T. tillandsiae to enter the southeastern United States from South America (where Spanish moss originated), Central America, or Mexico are discussed. This immigrant mirid is suggested to be a benign addition to the arthropod community associated with Spanish moss, a plant not only symbolic of the South, but also one known to help conserve insect biodiversity.
Associations between physical activity, resilience, and quality of life in people with inflammatory bowel disease.

Research has shown that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with higher health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in healthy individuals. Recent studies have suggested that low- to moderate-intensity physical activity can be beneficial to HRQOL in people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD); however, studies investigating associations between MVPA and HRQOL in this population are lacking. PURPOSE: To understand the relationships among walking, MVPA, resilience, and HRQOL in people with IBD. People with IBD (n = 242) completed questions about physical activity, resilience and HRQOL. Pearson product-moment correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to identify associations between physical activity and HRQOL. Analysis of covariance was used to compare HRQOL over quartiles of walking and MVPA with demographic variables as covariates. Both walking and MVPA were independently associated with physical (β = 0.21 and β = 0.26, respectively; p ≤ 0.001) but not mental HRQOL (p > 0.05). Higher volumes of MVPA were significantly associated with physical HRQOL (quartile 1 40.3 ± 9.0 vs. quartile 4 47.4 ± 9.0; p < 0.001) while higher volumes of walking were associated with both physical and mental HRQOL (p ≤ 0.01). The findings suggest that engaging in higher volumes of MVPA above 150 min/week and walking, particularly above 60 min/week, are associated with improved HRQOL in people with IBD. Research would benefit from investigating participation in MVPA as a coping strategy, in a longitudinal manner, to determine which modes of activity may be most beneficial to people with IBD.
Scattering Dynamics of Nitromethane and Methyl Formate on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG)

The gas–surface scattering dynamics of nitromethane (CH3NO2) and methyl formate (HCOOCH3) on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface have been investigated as part of a broader effort to evaluate the efficacy of a funnel-like neutral gas concentrator that has been proposed as a mass spectrometer inlet for the characterization of tenuous planetary atmospheres or plumes. Molecular beams of CH3NO2 and HCOOCH3 with incidence energies, Ei, of 106.5 and 98.8 kJ mol–1, respectively, were directed at the surface with incidence angles, θi, of 70, 45, and 30°. A rotatable mass spectrometer, employing electron-impact ionization, was used to collect angle-resolved time-of-flight (TOF) distributions of the molecules that scattered inelastically from the surface, allowing angular distributions of the scattered product flux and translational energy distributions at a given final angle, θf, to be obtained. The TOF distributions of the scattered products detected the parent ion mass-to-charge ratios and their ...
A self adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm

This paper presents a self-adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm (SAHGA) and compares its performance to a non-adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm (NAHGA) and the simple genetic algorithm (SGA) on two multi-modal test functions with complex geometry. The SAHGA is shown to be far more robust than the NAHGA, providing fast and reliable convergence across a broad range of parameter settings. For the most complex test function, the SAHGA required over 75% fewer function evaluations than the SGA to identify the optimal solution.
Numerical Methods of Optimization

This chapter discusses the numerical methods of optimization. Solutions to many optimization problems are often not obtainable in a closed form, and numerical solutions are needed. In statistical applications such as censored data analysis of reliability and survival models, numerical procedures become a necessity. Easy access to numerical optimization procedures through electronic computers has recently become available, and such procedures are now extensively used in applications in business industry and the government. Statistical procedures using multivariate methods need involved computations, and they are especially suited for numerical results. Important areas of statistics such as those of robust procedures, jackknifing methods, and bootstrap techniques depend heavily on numerical analysis. The chapter discusses the Newton–Raphson, Gauss–Newton, and gradient methods, and presents some direct search techniques. It also focuses on the alternating conditional expectation algorithm, which has been developed to fit general regression models using transformation.
Renal Anatomy, Physiology and Its Clinical Relevance to Nephrectomy

Prior to performing partial nephrectomy, the surgeon must closely review the vascular supply of the involved kidney. If multiple arteries are present, each should be clamped, individually or en bloc, to provide a bloodless field. Prior to clamping the renal vasculature, the availability and functioning of all instruments, clamps, hemostatic agents, sutures, clips, etc. should be checked. The surgeon should not waste precious time trying to gather supplies after the renal vasculature has been clamped. Appropriate patient selection for the initial portion of one’s learning curve is crucial. With experience, the surgeon can tackle more difficult tumor locations within the kidney, and WIT should decrease. Although traditional teaching emphasizes a WIT limit of 30 min, our goal should be to try to limit WIT as much as possible.
Proven Care: Quality Improvement in a Rural Tertiary Hospital

Introduction It is clear that hospitals which employ Quality Improvement (QI) programs for heart failure have improved processes of care. However, the impact of these QI programs on outcomes measures are less well defined. We sought to evaluate Geisinger's own QI program (ProvenCare) on outcomes measures of heart failure. ProvenCare is a set of 19 best practice elements and evidence-based heart failure process measures that starts in the emergency room and continues after a patient's discharge from the hospital. The enrollment rate for patients into the ProvenCare program is around fifty percent, primarily due to logistical issues. We used this opportunity to compare the effectiveness of ProvenCare in those patients who were discharged with primary diagnosis of heart failure. Methods Data was obtained from Premier's Quality Advisor database, which collects data from the Geisinger's robust EPIC electronic health record. Data has been collected prospectively since January 2013. CareScience Risk-Adjustment Analytics was used by Premier. On CaresScience Analytic analyses, two-sample T test or Chi-square test was used to calculate statistical significance for outcome measures. Results were verified by a statistician using patient level data and p-values were calculated independently. Results Between January 2013 and August 2016, 2,394 outcome patients were enrolled in ProvenCare, and 3,298 outcome patients received standard therapy. ProvenCare and the standard therapy heart failure group were mostly similar and we have compared O/E ratios for all the outcome measures to potentially obviate differences in baseline characteristics. The mortality was significantly lower in the ProvenCare population. The O/E for mortality was 0.39 in the ProvenCare group, whereas it was 0.77 in the standard therapy group. The readmission rate was higher in the ProvenCare group. The O/E ratio was 1.18 in the ProvenCare group, whereas it was 1.00 in the standard therapy group. The arithmetic length of stay was similar in both groups at around five days. The O/E ratio for arithmetic length of stay was 1.11 the ProvenCare group 1.12 in the standard therapy group. The O/E ratio was both groups for geometric length of stay was 0.95. The cost of care in the ProvenCare group ended up being slightly higher than the standard heart failure therapy group. Conclusion Patients enrolled in the ProvenCare program had significantly lower mortality rates, slightly higher readmission rates, and slightly higher cost of care when compared to patients not enrolled in the program. Length of stay was not affected.
Disc Geometry is an Accurate Predictor of Lordotic Correction in the Thoracolumbar Spine Following Schwab Grade 2 Osteotomy: A Cadaveric Study and Biomechanical Analysis of Disc Space Changes Following Lordotic Correction.

BACKGROUND Posterior column osteotomy (PCO) is a powerful technique for correcting lordosis, but the surgical literature lacks objective evidence on preoperative predictors of achievable lordotic correction following PCO. OBJECTIVE To measure the correlation between disc geometry and achievable lordotic correction following Schwab grade 2 osteotomies and to describe geometric changes to disc space following lordotic correction. METHODS Schwab grade 2 osteotomies were performed from T1 to S1 in 5 cadavers. Lateral radiographs were taken before and after posterior column compression. Anterior disc height (ADH), middle disc height (MDH), posterior disc height (PDH), and lordotic angles were measured. The association between disc height and lordotic correction was analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS For all spinal levels (n = 79), PDH was most strongly correlated with lordotic correction (r = 0.72, P < .001). Regional subset analyses showed the strongest correlation between PDH and lordotic correction achievable within the lumbar spine (n = 22, r = 0.77, P < .001), followed by ADH for lower thoracic spine (n = 29, r = 0.65, P < .001) and PDH for upper thoracic spine (n = 28, r = 0.61, P = .001). Postcorrection analysis of disc heights revealed that as lordotic correction increases, the PDH decreases, and the ADH expands. CONCLUSION PDH is a strong predictor of achievable lordotic correction following Schwab grade 2 osteotomies and compression of an intact disc space. In the lumbar spine, 50% of lordotic change is predictable using PDH alone. Further testing of our linear regression equation is planned for prospective clinical studies, and further testing of postcorrection disc space geometry is planned for future biomechanical and surgical technique studies.
Fellow-led SICU morbidity and mortality conferences address patient safety, quality improvement, interprofessional cooperation and ACGME milestones.

Background Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) promote patient safety, spur quality improvement (QI) projects, and enhance interprofessional cooperation. The use of MMCs to address the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME's) six core competencies and specialty-specific milestones for surgical critical care (SCC) fellows has yet to be explored. Methods We developed a monthly, interprofessional, case-based MMC program managed by SCC fellows. We assessed participants' experiences through post-conference surveys and semi-structured interviews. Results After nine conferences, 95.1% of participants (n = 143) agree or strongly agree that the MMC improved their knowledge and clinical assessment skills. The MMC spurred two QI projects, increased interprofessional cooperation, and addressed all six ACGME core competencies and 16 specialty-specific milestones. Conclusions Interprofessional, case-based MMCs are an effective educational tool for SCC fellowship programs. They promote patient safety, QI, and interprofessional cooperation, and address ACGME core competencies and specialty-specific milestones for SCC fellows.
Laboratory evaluation of spawning substrate type on potential egg predation by round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

Abstract Spawning habitat structure may protect demersal eggs of broadcast spawning species from depredation. Egg predation by round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is commonly referenced as a concern associated with their invasion of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Whereas nest-building species have received some attention in egg predation studies, broadcast spawning species may be particularly vulnerable as they do not guard their eggs. This study used a 2 × 7 factorial experiment to investigate how substrate characteristics influenced the rate that fertilized eggs are lost when exposed to round goby. Eggs for two recreationally important broadcast spawning species, northern pike (Esox lucius) and muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), were placed within spawning habitat treatments (bare, silt, sand, rubble, gravel, filamentous algae, and submerged aquatic vegetation) representing a range (least to most complex) of habitat complexity. Regardless of substrate type, egg loss was similar between the two esocid species. Across all substrates and species, the number of eggs lost varied two-fold over the 24-hour experiment, with the lowest rate of egg loss observed in the most complex substrate (submerged aquatic vegetation) and the highest over the least complex substrates (bare and silt). Both northern pike and muskellunge are known to spawn over structurally complex submerged aquatic vegetation and filamentous algae. Although eggs spawned over these substrates likely offer some protection from predation, eggs that settle over less complex ancillary habitats may face higher predation risk.
Thermodynamics of Neutrons in a Magnetic Field and its Implications for Neutron Stars

We investigate the effects of a magnetic field on the thermodynamics of a neutron system at finite density and temperature. Our main motivation is to deepen the understanding of the physics of a class of neutron stars known as magnetars, which exhibit extremely strong magnetic fields. Taking into account two facts, (i) the existence of a pressure anisotropy in the presence of a magnetic field and (ii) that the quantum field theory contribution to the pressure is non-negligible, we show that the maximum value that the inner magnetic field of a star can reach while being in agreement with the magnetohydrostatic equilibrium between the gravitational and matter pressures becomes 1017 G, an order of magnitude smaller than the previous value obtained through the scalar virial theorem; that the magnetic field has a negligible effect on the neutron system's equation of state; that the system's magnetic susceptibility increases with the temperature; and that the specific heat CV does not significantly change with the magnetic field in the range of temperatures characteristic of protoneutron stars.