cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complications associated with second trimester inductions of labor requiring greater than five doses of misoprostol

Abstract Objective To evaluate outcomes associated with induction at 14 weeks 0 days–23 weeks 6 days gestation that require five or less vs. six or more misoprostol doses. Study design We performed a retrospective study of vaginal misoprostol inductions from January 2003 to February 2016 to assess complications based on number of misoprostol doses. Results Among 390 women receiving five or fewer doses and 78 women receiving six or more doses, we found similar rates of chorioamnionitis, postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion and retained placenta. Conclusion Complication rates were comparable in women receiving more than five versus less than five misoprostol doses for labor induction in the second trimester. Implications Women undergoing second trimester induction undelivered after five doses of misoprostol can receive additional doses without any concern for increased complications.
Quantitative Ore Texture Analysis with Convolutional Neural Networks

Abstract Liberation of valuable minerals from their gangue matrices depends on the physical properties of the ore, as well as the features of the process used to extract these minerals from the rock particulates. Despite the fact that the texture of the ore is an important predictor of liberation in an ore system, it is only recently that quantitative descriptors of the texture have been included in liberation models. These descriptors can be obtained in a variety of ways, but a general methodology has not yet been established. In this study, recent advances in quantitative ore texture analysis are reviewed and the feasibility of using state-of-the-art computer vision technology based on convolutional neural networks for ore texture analysis is considered.
Presence of cagPAI genes and characterization of vacA s, i and m regions in Helicobacter pylori isolated from Alaskans and their association with clinical pathologies.

Introduction. Gastric cancer is a health disparity in the Alaska Native people. The incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection, a risk factor for non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma, is also high. Gastric cancer is partially associated with the virulence of the infecting strain. Aim. To genotype the vacA s, m and i and cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) genes in H. pylori from Alaskans and investigate associations with gastropathy. Methodology. We enrolled patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) in 1998–2005 and patients with gastric cancer in 2011–2013. Gastric biopsies were collected and cultured and PCR was performed to detect the presence of the right and left ends of the cagPAI, the cagA, cagE, cagT and virD4 genes and to genotype the vacA s, m and i regions. Results. We recruited 263 people; 22 (8 %) had no/mild gastritis, 121 (46 %) had moderate gastritis, 40 (15%) had severe gastritis, 38 (14 %) had PUD, 30 (11 %) had IM and 12 (5 %) had gastric cancer. H. pylori isolates from 150 (57%) people had an intact cagPAI; those were associated with a more severe gastropathy (P≤0.02 for all comparisons). H. pylori isolates from 77 % of people had either the vacA s1/i1/m1 (40 %; 94/234) or s2/i2/m2 (37 %; 86/234) genotype. vacA s1/i1/m1 was associated with a more severe gastropathy (P≤0.03 for all comparisons). Conclusions. In this population with high rates of gastric cancer, we found that just over half of the H. pylori contained an intact cagPAI and 40 % had the vacA s1/i1/m1 genotype. Infection with these strains was associated with a more severe gastropathy.
Shear Properties of Eastern Hemlock with Respect to Fiber Orientation for Use in Cross Laminated Timber

AbstractShear properties of the cross layer in cross laminated timber (CLT) panels are critical for design purposes, especially for applications with high concentrated loads and low span-to-depth r...
Viral-Mediated Gene Replacement Therapy in the Developing Central Nervous System: Current Status and Future Directions

Abstract The past few years have witnessed rapid developments in viral-mediated gene replacement therapy for pediatric central nervous system neurogenetic disorders. Here, we provide pediatric neurologists with an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of these developments and note emerging trends for future research. This review presents the different types of viral vectors used in viral-mediated gene replacement therapy; the fundamental properties of viral-mediated gene replacement therapy; the challenges associated with the use of this therapy in the central nervous system; the pathway for therapy development, from translational basic science studies to clinical trials; and an overview of the therapies that have reached clinical trials in patients. Current viral platforms under investigation include adenovirus vectors, adeno-associated viral vectors, lentiviral/retroviral vectors, and herpes simplex virus type 1 vectors. This review also presents an in-depth analysis of numerous studies that investigated these viral platforms in cultured cells and in transgenic animal models for pediatric neurogenetic disorders. Viral vectors have been applied to clinical trials for many different pediatric neurogenetic disorders, including Canavan disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, mucopolysaccharidosis III, spinal muscular atrophy, and aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase deficiency. Of these diseases, only spinal muscular atrophy has a viral-mediated gene replacement therapy approved for marketing. Despite significant progress in therapy development, many challenges remain. Surmounting these challenges is critical to advancing the current status of viral-mediated gene replacement therapy for pediatric central nervous system neurogenetic disorders.
Uranium(6+) sorption on montmorillonite: Experimental and surface complexation modeling study

Sorption interactions with montmorillonite and other clay minerals in soils, sediments, and rocks are potentially important mechanisms for attenuating the mobility of U(6+) and other radionuclides through the subsurface environment. Batch experiments were conducted (in equilibrium with atmospheric % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXafv3ySLgzGmvETj2BSbqefm0B1jxALjhiov2D% aebbfv3ySLgzGueE0jxyaibaiiYdd9qrFfea0dXdf9vqai-hEir8Ve% ea0de9qq-hbrpepeea0db9q8as0-LqLs-Jirpepeea0-as0Fb9pgea% 0lrP0xe9Fve9Fve9qapdbaqaaeGacaGaaiaabeqaamaabaabcaGcba% acbiGaiWiG-bfadaWgaaWcbaacbaGaa43qaiaa+9eadaWgaaqaaiaa% +jdaaWqabaaaleqaaaaa!400D!\[P_{CO_2 } \])to determine the effects of varying pH (2 to 9), solid-mass to solution-volume ratio (M/V = 0.028 to 3.2 g/L), and solution concentration (2 × 10−7 and 2 × 10−6 M 233U) on U(6+) sorption on SAz-1 montmorillonite. The study focused on U(6+) surface complexation on hydroxylated edge sites as the sorption mechanism of interest because it is expected to be the predominant sorption mechanism at pHs typical of natural waters (pH ≈6 to ≈9). Thus, the experiments were conducted with a 0.1 M NaNO3 matrix to suppress ion-exchange between U(6+) in solution and interlayer cations. The results show that U(6+) sorption on montmorillonite is a strong function of pH, reaching a maximum at near-neutral pH (≈6 to ≈6.5) and decreasing sharply towards more acidic or more alkaline conditions. A comparison of the pH-dependence of U(6+) sorption with that of U(6+) aqueous speciation indicates a close correspondence between U(6+) sorption and the predominance field of U(6+)-hydroxy complexes. At high pH, sorption is inhibited due to formation of aqueous U(6+)-carbonate complexes. At low pH, the low sorption values indicate that the 0.1 M NaNO3 matrix was effective in suppressing ion-exchange between the uranyl (UO2 2+) species and interlayer cations in montmorillonite. At pH and carbonate concentrations typical of natural waters, sorption of U(6+) on montmorillonite can vary by four orders of magnitude and can become negligible at high pH. The experimental results were used to develop a thermodynamic model based on a surface complexation approach to permit predictions of U(6+) sorption at differing physicochemical conditions. A Diffuse-Layer model (DLM) assuming aluminol (>AlOHℴ) and silanol (>SiOHℴ) edge sites and two U(6+) surface complexation reactions per site effectively simulates the complex sorption behavior observed in the U(6+)-H2O-CO2-montmorillonite system at an ionic strength of 0.1 M and pH > 3.5. A comparison of model predictions with data from this study and from published literature shows good agreement and suggests that surface complexation models based on parameters derived from a limited set of data could be useful in extrapolating radionuclide sorption over a range of geochemical conditions. Such an approach could be used to support transport modeling by providing a better alternative to the use of constant K d s in transport calculations.
Food insecurity in households with young children: A test of contextual congruence.

Household food insecurity, an inability to provide adequate nutrition for a healthy, active lifestyle, affects nearly 1 in 7 households with children in the United States. Though rates of food insecurity declined to pre-recession levels just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now once again increasing. As a result, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, millions of young children continue to grow up in households that struggle daily with a problem that is often associated with the developing world. The result is both immediate and long-term health and development deficits for children. We propose that the degree of demographic and socioeconomic congruence between the households of young children and their neighborhood of residence lends unique insights to food insecurity. We examine this using the ECLS-K 2010-2011 for children in families with incomes below 400 percent of the federal poverty line (N = 8600). Results show that congruence between household and neighborhood education and race/ethnicity associates with the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. For example, households with non-Hispanic black children living in neighborhoods with high proportions of non-Hispanic blacks have significantly lower probabilities of food insecurity than similar households living in neighborhoods with smaller black populations. Similarly, more highly educated families experience lower probability of food insecurity in high education neighborhoods than when they reside in low education neighborhoods. Focusing on neighborhood risk factors as absolute and independent contributors limits our understanding of how families experience food insecurity as well as any policy efforts to address it.
Invisible market for online personal data: An examination

Despite the widespread knowledge that corporations collect and exchange user online personal data (OPD) between themselves in a market for OPD, there have been few attempts to systematically understand the nature and structure of these markets or answer basic questions about the behavior of parties in these markets. This paper addresses these questions using records of data sharing behavior by 218 websites across eight economic sectors. Two datasets, collected 4 years apart, are analyzed using social network analysis (SNA). Findings indicate linear preferential attachment is the most likely coordinating mechanism in the OPD market. Further, this market has a much higher number of brokers (intermediary corporations that facilitate exchange between other corporations) than comparable markets. Building on these findings, implications for research and practice are presented along with future research directions.
Using the Surface Water and Ocean Topography Mission Data to Estimate River Bathymetry and Channel Roughness

Abstract Currently, several satellite missions capable of measuring either inundation extents or water surface elevations are operational. Measurements of water surface elevation collected by nadir altimeters have been used to calibrate hydraulic models and inundation extents derived from satellite imagery collected during or immediately after large floods have revolutionized how we assess damage and, on occasion, coordinate first response, especially in data poor regions. The upcoming Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission will measure inundation extents and water surface elevations simultaneously and over contiguous river sections that can extend for 100 km or longer. In anticipation of the SWOT mission, researchers have developed algorithms that infer channel parameters such as roughness, cross-sectional area, and ultimately discharge using time series of long river profiles. This chapter gives an overview of the SWOT mission characteristics and measurement principle, describes the SWOT data products, and the methods used to estimate river cross-sectional area, roughness, and discharge from this novel source of data.
Role of lattice oxygen during CO2 reforming of methane over NiO/MgO solid solutions

The CO2 reforming of methane over reduced NiO/MgO solid solution catalysts was studied at 800°C by a novel transient method, which couples a broadened pulse of CH4/CO2 with a step change to the carrier gas and/or with a sharp isotopic pulse of either 18O4, CO182 or 13CO162. The response curves indicated that two kinds of oxygen were formed over the catalysts during reaction: adsorbed oxygen which reacts fast with C species and lattice oxygen which reacts more slowly with C species. One concludes that a redox cycle of lattice oxygen formation through the oxidation of Ni and its reaction with C species takes place on the catalyst surface.
Guided Waves for the Inspection of Titanium Diffusion Bonds

The aggressive environment encountered by the high speed civil transport (supersonic) aircraft (HSCT) places severe requirements on the types of materials used in its construction. The state-of- the-art materials available to the commercial aerospace industry will not meet these severe environmental requirements. New materials have been evaluated that will meet these severe environmental requirements. One such material is the super plastic formed/diffusion bonded (SPF/DB) titanium. Structures with this material have been fabricated to be used on the HSCT aircraft. Because the HSCT is a commercial program, the FAA requires that nondestructive evaluation techniques must be developed for the inspection of these structures.
Book Review of Leo Katz Why the Law Is So Perverse

This review of Leo Katz's book, Why the Law is So Perverse, addresses three questions. First, does Katz draw the appropriate normative conclusions about legal perversities based on their connections to social choice theory? In other words, what are the legal ethics and professionalism implications of his book? Second, how does each of the legal perversities in the book follow from a particular social choice theory result? In other words, what is the precise theoretical connection between each of the legal perversities discussed and an impossibility theorem in social choice theory? Third, can we reinterpret our understanding of the seemingly dismal and negative impossibility theorems from social choice in a constructive and positive way to suggest how society can make the best of legal perversities? In other words, what are benign interpretations and positive versions of the social choice impossibility theorems and their implications for how society can deal with what Katz calls legal perversities?
Reconciling supersymmetric grand unification with alpha s(mZ)

We argue that supersymmetric grand unification of gauge couplings is not incompatible with small ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{s}}$, even without large GUT-scale corrections, if one relaxes a usual universal gaugino mass assumption. A commonly assumed relation ${\mathit{M}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\simeq}${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{g}\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}}$/3 is in gross contradiction with ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{s}}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}0.11. Instead, a small ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{s}}$ favors ${\mathit{M}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\gg}${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{g}\mathrm{\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}}}$. If this is indeed the case our observation casts doubt on another commonly used relation ${\mathit{M}}_{1}$\ensuremath{\simeq}0.5${\mathit{M}}_{2}$ which originates from the same constraint of a common gaugino mass at the GUT scale. One firm prediction emerging within the small ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{s}}$ scenario with the unconstrained gaugino masses is the existence of a relatively light gluino below \ensuremath{\sim}200 GeV. \textcopyright{} 1995 The American Physical Society.
Rapid acousto-optic tuning of CO/sub 2/ lasers

Summary form only given. Laser systems for use in differential absorption lidar (DIAL) can benefit from CO/sub 2/ laser acoustooptical tuning. A pair of acousto optical devices (AODs) are inserted into the laser cavity. Two devices are needed to cancel the frequency shift introduced by each deflector, which would otherwise rapidly shift the light in the cavity out of resonance with the laser line.
Verification Methods for the Divergent Runs of Clock Systems

We present a methodology for proving temporal properties of the divergent runs of reactive systems with real-valued clocks. A run diverges if time advances beyond any bound. Since the divergent runs of a system may satisfy liveness properties that are not satisfied by some convergent runs, the standard proof rules are incomplete if only divergent runs are considered. First, we develop a sound and complete proof calculus for divergence, which is based on translating clock systems into discrete systems. Then, we show that simpler proofs can be obtained for stronger divergence assumptions, such as unknown epsilon-divergence, which requires that all delays have a minimum duration of some unknown constant epsilon. We classify all real-time systems into an infinite hierarchy, according to how well they admit the translation of eventuality properties into equivalent safety properties.
Contribution of D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyrate to the energy expenditure of neonatal pigs

In vivo oxidation rate of arterially infused D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) was measured in 1-2-d-old-piglets. Twelve piglets (1.4 kg) were randomly assigned to a 12 h continuous infusion of 3HB at 19.5, 37.8, 55.8 or 74.5 mumol/min along with -31 kBq/h of [3-14C]3HB. Piglets were housed in respiration chambers allowing collection of total expired CO2 over 20-min intervals for the 12 h infusion and 6 h washout. Oxidation of 3HB was calculated from the quantity and specific radioactivity of expired CO2 for 20-min collection periods at 6, 9 and 12 h for each piglet and collectively plotted against plasma 3HB concentration measured in blood drawn during those 20-min periods. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of these data yielded a Km of 0.62 +/- 0.07 mmol/L and Vmax of 0.74 +/- 0.02 mmol ATP equivalents/(min.kg 0.75) (parameter estimate +/- SD), which could account for 32% of the piglet mean total ATP turnover of 2.3 mmol/(min.kg 0.75). These data show that 3HB oxidation is a linear function of plasma concentration in the physiologic range measured in piglets (0.006 mmol/L to 0.1 mmol/L) and within this range would account for 0.3% to 4.5% of piglet energy requirement. Oxidation of 3HB can meet a maximum of 30 to 40% of piglet energy requirement at unphysiologically high 3HB concentrations (> 3 mmol/L).
The Shuffler: Software for a World-Wide-Web Based Form Routing System

The Shuffler is a software application created to help remove the conventional shuffling of paper from the routing of forms in the workplace. It is designed to run entirely via the WWW, either on Intranets or using encryption on the public Internet. The software allows a set of administrative offices to create, edit, route, verify, and archive paper forms. It includes a security system to authenticate the identity of the users as well as to authorize them. The system software is designed to be as generic as possible in order to allow it to be used by any office as well as on almost any computer and operating system. The purpose of this poster/demonstration is to present an applied view of the various functions of The Shuffler.
ONLINE HARASSMENT AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS: A replication incorporating new Internet trends

Increased time spent online in combination with current Internet trends such as social networking have led to new risks for online harassment. This problem has been given much attention for adolescents, but little has been done to describe the risks of online harassment experienced by young adults, even though they exhibit Internet behavior comparable to adolescents. This study is in part a replication of a previous study that surveyed online harassment within a college population (Finn 2004). Three questions are addressed: (1) What is the prevalence of online harassment among undergraduate students at a large southwestern university? (2) What is the relationship between the senders and receivers of harassing communications? (3) What are the demographic and computer use variables associated with increased risk of online harassment? A cross-sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample of 420 undergraduates, and the final response rate was 81.4 percent (n = 342). Survey questions included items...
Entrenched Autocracy or New Democracy: Which Is Better for Business?

type="main"> The recent downfall of autocracies worldwide, most notably in the Middle East, raises the question: Do the new, more democratic regimes hold a promise of creating a better economic and business environment? To answer this question, I analyze a new large-scale firm-level dataset for the post-regime-change time horizon of up to 20 years. The main finding is that during the post-revolution time period the business environment is likely to worsen under the new politically unstable regimes that replace stable autocracies.
The Status of Isotopic Age Determinations on Iron and Stone Meteorites

A discussion of the ages determined by various methods is given. The results of 87Rb-87Sr, and 40K-40Ar ages on the silicate phases of iron meteorites are summarized as well as the internal isochrons on stone meteorites. The data for Kodaikanal are reviewed and the importance of recognizing events of intermediate age in the formation of planetary objects is emphasized. It is shown that it is possible to resolve time events by high precision Sr measurements to 5 x 107 years for chondrites.
An asymptotic solution for two‐phase flow in the presence of capillary forces

[1] Under the assumption of smoothly varying background properties I derive an asymptotic solution for two-phase flow. This formulation partitions the modeling of two-phase flow into two subproblems: an arrival time calculation and a saturation amplitude computation. The asymptotic solution itself is defined along a trajectory though the model. If gravitational forces are not important and the flow field is independent of changes in the background saturation, the trajectory may be identified with a streamline, and the asymptotic approach provides a mathematical basis for streamline simulation. The evolution of the saturation amplitude is governed by a generalization of Burgers' equation, defined along the trajectory. If the capillary properties are uniform and gravitational forces are negligible, one can derive self-similar solutions for the three limiting behaviors of a two-phase front. Asymptotic solutions were found to deviate by less than 5% from saturations calculated using a numerical simulator. The numerical results indicate that changes in capillary properties can introduce significant variations in the arrival time of a specific aqueous fraction. A more robust definition of arrival time appears to be the time associated with the peak rate of change in aqueous phase fraction, the greatest slope of the breakthrough curve.
Effect of propionate on mRNA expression of key genes for gluconeogenesis in liver of dairy cattle

Elevated needs for glucose in lactating dairy cows are met through a combination of increased capacity for gluconeogenesis and increased supply of gluconeogenic precursors, primarily propionate. This study evaluated the effects of propionate on mRNA expression of cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1), mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK2), pyruvate carboxylase (PC), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC), key gluconeogenic enzymes, and capacity for glucose synthesis in liver of dairy cattle. In experiment 1, six multiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3×3 Latin square design consisting of a 6-d acclimation or washout phase followed by 8h of postruminal infusion of either propionate (1.68mol), glucose (0.84mol), or an equal volume (10mL/min) of water. In experiment 2, twelve male Holstein calves [39±4 kg initial body weight (BW)] were blocked by birth date and assigned to receive, at 7d of age, either propionate [2mmol·h(-1)·(BW(0.75))(-1)], acetate [3.5mmol·h(-1)·(BW(.75))(-1)], or an equal volume (4mL/min) of saline. In both experiments, blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8h relative to the start of infusion and liver biopsy samples were collected at the end of the infusion for mRNA analysis. Liver explants from experiment 1 were used to measure tricarboxylic acid cycle flux and gluconeogenesis using (13)C mass isotopomer distribution analysis from (13)C3 propionate. Dry matter intake and milk yield were not altered by infusions in cows. Serum insulin concentration in cows receiving propionate was elevated than cows receiving water, but was not different from cows receiving glucose. Hepatic expression of PCK1 and G6PC mRNA and glucose production in cows receiving propionate were not different from cows receiving water, but tended to be higher compared with cows receiving glucose. Hepatic expression of PCK2 and PC mRNA was not altered by propionate infusion in cows. Blood glucose, insulin, and glucagon in calves receiving propionate were not different than controls. Calves receiving propionate had increased PCK1 mRNA, tended to have increased G6PC mRNA, and had similar PC mRNA compared with saline controls. These data indicate a tendency for in vivo effects of propionate to alter hepatic gene expression in mid-lactation cows and neonatal calves, which are consistent with a feed-forward effect of propionate to regulate its own metabolism toward gluconeogenesis through changes in hepatic PCK1 mRNA.
Overexpression of Bcl-2 attenuates apoptosis and protects against myocardial I/R injury in transgenic mice.

To test whether the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 prevents apoptosis and injury of cardiomyocytes after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), we generated a line of transgenic mice that carried a human Bcl-2 t...
Agouti-related protein-deficient mice display an age-related lean phenotype

Endogenous modulators of the central melanocortin system, such as the agouti-related protein (AgRP), should hold a pivotal position in the regulation of energy intake and expenditure. Despite this, AgRP-deficient mice were recently reported to exhibit normal food intake, body weight gain, and energy expenditure. Here we demonstrate that 2- to 3-month-old Agrp null mice do in fact exhibit subtle changes in response to feeding challenges (fasting and MCR agonists) but, of more significance and magnitude, exhibit reduced body weight and adiposity after 6 months of age. This age-dependent lean phenotype is correlated with increased metabolic rate, body temperature, and locomotor activity and increased circulating thyroid hormone (T4 and T3) and BAT UCP-1 expression. These results provide further proof of the importance of the AgRP neuronal system in the regulation of energy homeostasis.
Sovereign Spreads: Global Risk Aversion, Contagion or Fundamentals?

Over the past year, euro area sovereign spreads have exhibited an unprecedented degree of volatility. This paper explores how much of these large movements reflected shifts in (i) global risk aversion (ii) country-specific risks, directly from worsening fundamentals, or indirectly from spillovers originating in other sovereigns. The analysis shows that earlier in the crisis, the surge in global risk aversion was a significant factor influencing sovereign spreads, while recently country-specific factors have started playing a more important role. The perceived source of contagion itself has changed: previously, it could be found among those sovereigns hit hard by the financial crisis, such as Austria, the Netherlands, and Ireland, whereas lately the countries putting pressure on euro area government bonds have been primarily Greece, Portugal, and Spain, as the emphasis has shifted towards short-term refinancing risk and long-term fiscal sustainability. The paper concludes that debt sustainability and appropriate management of sovereign balance sheets are necessary conditions for preventing sovereign risk from feeding back into broader financial stability concerns.
Successful Medical Therapy for Hypophosphatemic Rickets due to Mitochondrial Complex I Deficiency Induced de Toni-Debré-Fanconi Syndrome

Primary de Toni-Debre-Fanconi syndrome is a non-FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemic disorder due to a primary defect in renal proximal tubule cell function resulting in hyperphosphaturia, renal tubular acidosis, glycosuria, and generalized aminoaciduria. The orthopaedic sequela and response to treatment of this rare disorder are limited in the literature. Herein we report a long term followup of a 10-year-old female presenting at 1 year of age with rickets initially misdiagnosed as vitamin D deficiency rickets. She was referred to the metabolic bone and genetics clinics at 5 years of age with severe genu valgum deformities of 24 degrees and worsening rickets. She had polyuria, polydipsia, enuresis, and bone pain. Diagnosis of hypophosphatemic rickets due to de Toni-Debre-Fanconi syndrome was subsequently made. Respiratory chain enzyme analysis identified a complex I mitochondrial deficiency as the underlying cause. She was treated with phosphate (50–70 mg/kg/day), calcitriol (30 ng/kg/day), and sodium citrate with resolution of bone pain and normal growth. By 10 years of age, her genu valgus deformities were 4 degrees with healing of rickets. Her excellent orthopaedic outcome despite late proper medical therapy is likely due to the intrinsic renal tubular defect that is more responsive to combined alkali, phosphate, and calcitriol therapy.
Antisense mapping DOR-1 in mice: further support for δ receptor subtypes

Abstract In contrast to the pharmacological studies implicating δ -opioid receptor subtypes, cloning studies have identified only a single cDNA encoding a δ receptor, DOR-1. Antisense studies have established the importance of DOR-1 in δ analgesia in mice. Antisense mapping extends this approach to include oligodeoxynucleotides which are targeted against each of the exons of the gene. Five different antisense oligodeoxynucleotides based upon the three DOR-1 exons all block both spinal and supraspinal analgesic actions of the δ 2 ligand [ d -Ala 2 ,Glu 4 ]deltorphin, consistent with the suggestion that DOR-1 encodes the δ 2 receptor. At the spinal level, [ d -Pen 2 , d -Pen 5 ]enkephalin (DPDPE) acts also acts through δ 2 receptors and all the antisense probes block spinal DPDPE analgesia. However, supraspinally only the two antisense probes targeting exon 3 block DPDPE analgesia. The remaining three antisense probes based upon exons 1 and 2 are inactive. Thus, the δ receptors responsible for spinal and supraspinal DPDPE analgesia can be discriminated at the molecular level by antisense mapping. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Characterization of groundwater contaminant source using Bayesian method

Contaminant source identification in groundwater system is critical for remediation strategy implementation, including gathering further samples and analysis, as well as implementing and evaluating different remediation plans. Such problem is usually solved with the aid of groundwater modeling with lots of uncertainty, e.g. existing uncertainty in hydraulic conductivity, measurement variance and the model structure error. Monte Carlo simulation of flow model allows the input uncertainty onto the model predictions of concentration measurements at monitoring sites. Bayesian approach provides the advantage to update estimation. This paper presents an application of a dynamic framework coupling with a three dimensional groundwater modeling scheme in contamination source identification of groundwater. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is being applied to infer the possible location and magnitude of contamination source. Uncertainty existing in heterogonous hydraulic conductivity field is explicitly considered in evaluating the likelihood function. Unlike other inverse-problem approaches to provide single but maybe untrue solution, the MCMC algorithm provides probability distributions over estimated parameters. Results from this algorithm offer a probabilistic inference of the location and concentration of released contamination. The convergence analysis of MCMC reveals the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Further investigation to extend this study is also discussed.
THE DIAGNOSIS OF ANGINA PECTORIS.

Abstract The diagnosis of angina pectoris is dependent upon the history and electrocardiographic changes. It should be emphasized that electrocardiographic changes must be interpreted with a knowledge of the clinical history, so that the significance of suggestive changes is more apparent. The difficulty experienced by the patient with angina is characterized as a distress or discomfort, and not a pain. The discomfort is provoked by exertion, digestion, excitement, and emotion, and is classically located in the retrosternal area, with radiation to the inner aspect of the left arm, the hypothenar eminence, and the fourth and fifth fingers. The distress may radiate to the neck, the right arm, and the jaw, and may occur in only a segment of the distribution. It develops gradually over a period of 10 seconds to 2 minutes and is relieved promptly by rest or nitroglycerin. It may also be relieved by carotid sinus massage. It is usually wise to perform a double two-step Master's test, with the test discontinued if the patient develops discomfort. Positive electrocardiographic changes after exercise include: (1) right-angle S-T segment depression of 0.5 mm. or more, (2) S-T segment elevation, (3) bundle branch block, (4) inverted T waves becoming upright, and (5) T waves increasing 5 mm. or 300 per cent in amplitude, or inverted U waves. These changes are also significant if they occur spontaneously during the period of anginal distress. Suggestive electrocardiographic changes after exercise are: (1) arrhythmias, (2) inverted T waves with or without exercise, especially if the inversion is more than 2 mm., (3) postextrasystolic T-wave change with or without exercise, and (4) junctional S-T segment depression greater than 2 mm. Negative and false-positive changes after exercise include: (1) junctional S-T segment depression of less than 2 mm., (2) T of P depression, (3) inverted T waves less than 2 mm. with or without exercise, (4) autonomic changes, and (5) falsepositive results in patients with hypertrophy, bundle branch block, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, after digitalization, or pericarditis. A double Master's exercise test was analyzed in 350 patients with normal resting electrocardiograms. One hundred and ninety had a definite history of angina, with positive changes in 57.9 per cent, suggestive changes in 14.2 per cent, and negative changes in 27.9 per cent. One hundred and sixty had a negative history, with positive changes in only 4.4 per cent, suggestive in 1.2 per cent, and negative in 94.4 per cent. Of 14 patients with coronary disease and inverted T waves in the control tracing, 2 had right-angle S-T depression, in 9 the T waves became upright, and in 3 there was no change. With improving methods of therapy, correct and early diagnosis is essential in the proper management of the patient with angina pectoris.
Predictive Value of Electroencephalography for Electroconvulsive Therapy

The EEG has been a widely-used screening procedure before ECT. Previous studies have correlated seizures and post-ECT slowing with ECT efficacy. We investigated the utility of pre-ECT EEG in predicting therapeutic response and post-ECT confusion. EEGs were normal in 54 of 100 patients undergoing first courses of ECT for refractory depression. Patterns within the normal range, were present in 26/100 while 2/100 had paroxysmal discharges without clinical evidence of epilepsy. Focal and generalized EEG slowing were each present in 9/100 records. Full recovery occurred after ECT in 66.6 per cent of those with normal pre-ECT records, 61.5 per cent with borderline EEGs, 55.5 per cent of patients with diffuse EEG slowing, and 22.2 of cases with focal slow waves. Of those with EEG slowing 22.2 percent had little or no response to ECT as compared to 19.2 per cent with EEGs within normal limits and 9.3 per cent with normal EEGs. Four of 6 patients with prolonged confusion had normal EEGs, while 1 each had focal and generalized slowing. EEG slowing was related to incomplete ECT response, but not to therapeutic failure or post-ECT confusion. The limited predictive power of pre-ECT EEG may reflect the prevalence of normal or nonspecifically abnormal EEGs in psychiatric patients and the general efficacy of ECT. Other neurophysiologic methods may yield more definitive information about the mechanism and use of ECT.
Associative routing for wireless sensor networks

Traditionally routing in computer networks has focused on finding paths along which data packets could be delivered to pre-identified destination nodes. Most existing routing protocols rely on the use of network addresses as unique node or group identifiers that are usually numeric and independent of any application semantics. The semantically-oblivious identification has forced network designers to incorporate resource/service discovery techniques at higher layers of the network stack, resulting in unnecessary overhead. While such overhead can be tolerated in high-speed wired networks, it significantly limits performance and network lifetime in wireless infrastructure-less networks with battery-powered resource-constrained devices like sensor networks. Moreover, sensor nodes are more naturally anonymous and therefore assigning unique identifiers to individual node limits network scalability and imposes significant overhead on resource management. In this paper, we propose associative routing as a class of routing protocols that enables dynamic semantically-rich descriptive identification of network resources and services. As such, associative routing presents a clear departure from most current network addressing schemes, eliminating the need for a separate phase of resource/service discovery. We hypothesize that since, in essence, resource discovery operates similarly to path discovery then both can be performed in a single phase, leading to significant reduction in traffic load and communication latency without any loss of generality. We also propose a framework for associative routing and present adaptive multi-criteria routing (AMCR) protocol as a realization of associative routing for sensor networks. AMCR exploits application-specific message semantics, represented as generic criteria, and adapts its operation according to observed traffic patterns. Analytical results demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability of AMCR.
Role of d -wave pairing in A 15 superconductors

We argue that the recent Raman spectroscopy observation of a sharp mode in $s$-wave superconducting V${}_{3}$Si is due to a competing $d$-wave pairing state. We present microscopic arguments for the origin of this $d$-wave order. We further argue that the $d$-wave order explains the observed shrinking of the vortex core structure at anomalously low magnetic fields and the large anisotropy observed in the upper critical field.
Matrix isolation and theoretical study of the photochemical reaction of CH3CN with CrO2Cl2 and OVCl3

Abstract The matrix isolation technique has been combined with theoretical calculations to identify and characterize the photoproducts in the reactions of CH 3 CN with CrCl 2 O 2 and OVCl 3 . Twin jet co-deposition of these reagents led to the formation of a 1:1 molecular complex which was observed using UV/visible spectroscopy. Irradiation of these matrices with light of λ >300 nm led to the observation of new bands in the infrared spectra, the most intense of which was seen at 1942 cm −1 for the CrCl 2 O 2 /CH 3 CN system. The product bands are assigned to the 2 η complexes of acetonitrile n-oxide with CrCl 2 O and VCl 3 , respectively. Identification of these species was supported by extensive isotopic labeling ( 2 H and 15 N), as well as by B3LYP/6-311++G(d,2p) density functional calculations.
Direct determination of mercury in the laboratory atmosphere by impaction electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract A single stage impaction system connected to an electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometer will allow a direct and near real time determination of mercury in the laboratory atmosphere to be detected. Practical concentrations of low ng m− 3 can be detected, with good precision and linearity of calibration curve. The system detected m− 3 levels of mercury directly and on a near real time in the vicinity of a polarography instrument.
Rubidium and zinc fluctuations in selected tissues during the development of the BW7756 murine hepatoma

In separate studies, radioisotopes 65Zn and 86Rb were used to monitor trace element fluctuations from normal in C57L/J mice throughout the progression of a murine hepatoma. Amounts too small to upset normal levels were injected directly into the blood stream. After an equilibration period, the whole mouse and various resected organs and tissues were counted. Compared to normal levels, rubidium in diseased mice was lower in kidney and blood, and elevated in skin and muscle. Diseased mice showed depressed levels of zinc in skin and muscle. Large fluctuations during different stages of tumor growth were observed for various other tissues and organs of diseased mice.
LAMP1/CD107a is required for efficient perforin delivery to lytic granules and NK-cell cytotoxicity.

Secretory lysosomes of natural killer (NK) cells, containing perforin and granzymes, are indispensable for NK-cell cytotoxicity because their release results in the induction of target-cell apoptosis. Lysosome-associated membrane protein (LAMP) 1/CD107a is used as a marker for NK-cell degranulation, but its role in NK-cell biology is unknown. We show that LAMP1 silencing causes inhibition of NK-cell cytotoxicity, as LAMP1 RNA interference (RNAi) cells fail to deliver granzyme B to target cells. Reduction of LAMP1 expression affects the movement of lytic granules and results in decreased levels of perforin, but not granzyme B, in the granules. In LAMP1 RNAi cells, more perforin is retained outside of lysosomal compartments in trans-Golgi network–derived transport vesicles. Disruption of expression of LAMP1 binding partner, adaptor protein 1 (AP-1) sorting complex, also causes retention of perforin in the transport vesicles and inhibits cytotoxicity, indicating that the interaction between AP-1 sorting complex and LAMP1 on the surface of the transport vesicles is important for perforin trafficking to lytic granules. We conclude that the decreased level of perforin in lytic granules of LAMP1-deficient cells, combined with disturbed motility of the lytic granules, leads to the inability to deliver apoptosis-inducing granzyme B to target cells and to inhibition of NK-cell cytotoxicity.
TM2 but Not TM4 of Subunit c″ Interacts with TM7 of Subunit a of the Yeast V-ATPase as Defined by Disulfide-mediated Cross-linking

The vacuolar (H+)-ATPase (or V-ATPase) is an ATP-dependent proton pump which couples the energy released upon ATP hydrolysis to rotational movement of a ring of proteolipid subunits (c, c′, and c″) relative to the integral subunit a. The proteolipid subunits each contain a single buried acidic residue that is essential for proton transport, with this residue located in TM4 of subunits c and c′ and TM2 of subunit c″. Subunit c″ contains an additional buried acidic residue in TM4 that is not required for proton transport. The buried acidic residues of the proteolipid subunits are believed to interact with an essential arginine residue (Arg735) in TM7 of subunit a during proton translocation. We have previously shown that the helical face of TM7 of subunit a containing Arg735 interacts with the helical face of TM4 of subunit c′ bordered by Glu145 and Leu147 (Kawasaki-Nishi et al. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 41908–41913). We have now analyzed interaction of subunits a and c″ using disulfide-mediated cross-linking. The results indicate that the helical face of TM7 of subunit a containing Arg735 interacts with the helical face of TM2 of subunit c″ centered on Ile105, with the essential glutamic acid residue (Glu108) located near the opposite border of this face compared with TM4 of subunit c′. By contrast, TM4 of subunit c″ does not form strong cross-links with TM7 of subunit a, suggesting that these transmembrane segments are not normally in close proximity. These results are discussed in terms of a model involving rotation of interacting helices in subunit a and the proteolipid subunits relative to each other.
Reactive electrospinning and biodegradation of cross-linked methacrylated polycarbonate nanofibers

The objectives of this study were to fabricate cross-linked biodegradable polycarbonate nanofibers and to investigate their biodegradability by different enzymes. Poly(2,3-dihydroxycarbonate) was synthesized from naturally occurring l-tartaric acid. The hydroxyl groups on the functional polycarbonate were converted to methacrylate groups to enable the polymer to cross-link under UV irradiation. Smooth cross-linked methacrylated polycarbonate nanofibers (300-1800 nm) were fabricated by a reactive electrospinning process with in situ UV radiation from a mixed solution of linear methacrylated polycarbonate (MPC) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (MPC:PEO = 9:1) in methanol/chloroform (50/50). These cross-linked nanofibers have shown excellent solvent resistance and their solubility decreases with increasing degree of cross-linking. The thermal properties of linear and cross-linked polycarbonate nanofibers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The cross-linked polycarbonate nanofibers show no melting point below 200 °C and their decomposition temperature increases with increasing cross-linking degree. Their biodegradation products by five different enzymes were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The biodegradability of the polycarbonate nanofibers decreases with increasing cross-linking degree. These nanofibers were found to support human fibroblast survival and to promote cell attachment. This study demonstrates that cross-linked biodegradable polycarbonate nanofibers with different chemical properties and biodegradability can be fabricated using the novel reactive electrospinning technology to meet the needs of different biomedical applications.