cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
G-Networks with Signals and Batch Removal

We consider queueing networks containing customers and signals that were recently introduced in Gelenbe [4]. Both customers and signals can be exogenous or can be obtained by a Markovian transition of a customer after service. A signal entering a queue forces a customer to move on to another queue according to a Markovian routing rule or to leave the network in batch mode. This synchronized or triggered motion is useful in representing the effect of tokens in Petri-nets, for systems in which customers and work can be instantaneously moved from one queue to the other on the arrival of a signal as well as for other network behaviors that are encountered in parallel computer system modelling. We show that this network has product form stationary solution and establish the non-linear customer flow equations that govern it. Network stability is discussed in this new context.
Channel Length Scaling in Graphene Field-Effect Transistors Studied with Pulsed Current—Voltage Measurements

We investigate current saturation at short channel lengths in graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs). Saturation is necessary to achieve low-output conductance required for device power gain. Dual-channel pulsed current−voltage measurements are performed to eliminate the significant effects of trapped charge in the gate dielectric, a problem common to all oxide-based dielectric films on graphene. With pulsed measurements, graphene transistors with channel lengths as small as 130 nm achieve output conductance as low as 0.3 mS/μm in saturation. The transconductance of the devices is independent of channel length, consistent with a velocity saturation model of high-field transport. Saturation velocities have a density dependence consistent with diffusive transport limited by optical phonon emission.
First Prize: Ureteral Segmental Replacement Revisited

Background and Purpose: Long strictures of the proximal ureter are difficult to manage, and circumferential replacement with various natural and synthetic materials has been unsuccessful. We sought to use cultured autologous cells seeded onto graft material for proximal-ureteral replacement. Additionally, we wished to determine if urothelial cell-seeded de-epithelialized small bowel would generate adequate ureteral replacement. Materials and Methods: Three sets of experiments were performed. First, autologous pig-bladder smooth-muscle and urothelial cells were expanded in culture on large sheets of multilayer small-intestinal submucosa (SIS). These sheets were then tubularized and used to replace a 5-cm segment of proximal ureter in pigs. Second, autologous cells harvested from the bladders of Beagle dogs were cultured and seeded on porcine ureteral acellular matrix, which was used to replace a 3-cm segment of ureter in dogs. Segments were wrapped in omentum to enhance vascularity. Third, a de-epitheliali...
Photoacoustic imaging in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment guidance

Imaging modalities play an important role in the clinical management of cancer, including screening, diagnosis, treatment planning and therapy monitoring. Owing to increased research efforts during the past two decades, photoacoustic imaging (a non-ionizing, noninvasive technique capable of visualizing optical absorption properties of tissue at reasonable depth, with the spatial resolution of ultrasound) has emerged. Ultrasound-guided photoacoustics is noted for its ability to provide in vivo morphological and functional information about the tumor within the surrounding tissue. With the recent advent of targeted contrast agents, photoacoustics is now also capable of in vivo molecular imaging, thus facilitating further molecular and cellular characterization of cancer. This review examines the role of photoacoustics and photoacoustic-augmented imaging techniques in comprehensive cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment guidance.
Search for an intermediate-range interaction.

We have placed a torsion balance (containing two Be and two Cu test bodies) on a hillside to search for intermediate-range forces that couple to baryon number. Our results constrain (at 1\ensuremath{\sigma}) the strength of such an interaction to be \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\alpha}\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\le}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ for ranges 250\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\le}1400 m and \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\alpha}\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\le}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ for ranges 30l\ensuremath{\lambda}l250 m.
Analysis of Blocking Probability in Noise- and Cross-Talk-Impaired All-Optical Networks

In all-optical networks with no wavelength converters, signals are switched optically inside the nodes and therefore propagate over hundreds or thousands of kilometers with no electrical regeneration. Over such distances, physical impairments, such as intersymbol interference (ISI), amplifier noise, and leaks within nodes (cross-talk), accumulate and can lead to serious signal degradation, resulting in poor quality of transmission (QoT) as measured by signal bit-error rates. The role of routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) algorithms is to accommodate incoming calls in optical networks over a route and a wavelength. RWA algorithms block calls if a continuous wavelength from the source to the destination cannot be found (wavelength blocking) or when the QoT of the call is not acceptable (QoT blocking). Evaluating RWA algorithms via simulations is possible but time consuming, and hence analytical methods are needed. Wavelength blocking has been studied analytically in the past, but QoT blocking has never been analytically modeled to our knowledge. In this paper, we present an analytical method to evaluate blocking probability in all-optical networks, accounting for physical layer impairments. Our physical layer model includes ISI and noise, two static effects that only depend on the network topology, and also cross-talk, which depends on the network state. Simulations on three different topologies with various numbers of channels, representing small- to large-scale networks, show that our technique is suitable for quick and accurate dimensioning of all-optical networks: the accuracy of the blocking rates computed with the analytical method, taking only seconds or minutes to run, is the same as that of simulations, which take hours to run.
Triphasic decline of hepatitis C virus RNA during antiviral therapy

When patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are placed on antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN)-α or IFN-α plus ribavirin (RBV), HCV RNA generally declines in a biphasic manner. However, a triphasic decline has been reported in a subset of patients. A triphasic decline consists of a first phase (1-2 days) with rapid virus load decline, followed by a “shoulder phase” (4-28 days) in which virus load decays slowly or remains constant, and a third phase of renewed viral decay. We show that by including the proliferation of both uninfected and infected cells, a viral kinetic model can account for a triphasic HCV RNA decay. The model predicts that a triphasic decline occurs only in patients in which a majority of hepatocytes are infected before therapy. The shoulder phase does not represent the intrinsic death rate of infected cells, but rather the third phase slope is close to the intrinsic death rate of infected cells when overall drug efficacy is close to 1. Conclusion: Triphasic responses can be predicted from a generalization of existent viral kinetic models through the inclusion of homeostatic proliferation of hepatocytes. This generalized model can also explain the viral kinetics seen in flat partial responders. Finally, the enhanced third phase in patients treated with IFN-α in combination with RBV versus patients treated with IFN-α alone can be explained by a mutagenic effect of RBV against HCV. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;46:16–21.)
Immunization against Infection Propagation in Heterogeneous Networks

Modeling spreading processes for infections has been a widely researched area owing to its application in variety of domains especially epidemic spread and worm propagation. Until recently, infection propagation models usually inspired by epidemic spreading, solely relied upon the underlying network properties without taking into account the variation in node specific properties, such as its ability to spread infection or recover from an infection. Owing to this fact, these models have been agnostic to the effects such node heterogeneity might have in the overall infection (or immunization) process. In this paper, we incorporate node properties in a well-known ac[SIRS] model for infection propagation, and propose new heuristics to curb the spread of infection in heterogeneous networks. The proposed heuristics are validated against various network topologies, including a real-world example of an email exchange network.
Synthesis of Nearly Monodisperse Embedded Nanoparticles by Separating Nucleation and Growth in Ion Implantation

We investigate the formation of nanoparticles of Au in SiO2 by multiple ion implantation steps and intermediate anneals to isolate nucleation and growth, thereby producing a narrow particle size distribution. We discuss the effects of varying the initial nucleation dose and the growth temperature and establish guidelines for synthesizing nanoparticles with improved size uniformity. By this method, we have obtained a standard deviation of 16% on an average diameter of 1.68 nm, compared to 28% when no attempt is made to isolate nucleation and growth.
Bandpass filtering of high-speed forwarded clocks

Bandpass channel filtering is shown to attenuate both random and determinstic jitter components in high frequency clock signals. A fully differential, tunable LC bandpass filter is developed and employed to reduce Gaussian and sinusoidal distributed jitter and duty cycle distortion.
Lessons From Lymph Flow-Guided Vessel Formation

Lymphangiogenesis doesn’t get much attention compared with its better-known cousin, angiogenesis. Perhaps that’s because lymphatic vessels don’t carry blood or platelets, and next to arteries or even veins, lymphatics are flimsy weaklings that are barely able to withstand 20 mm Hg before bursting.1 Yet clinical disorders of the lymphatic system occur commonly. Lymphedema, including the common postsurgical and postradiation forms and the rare inherited forms, has no successful therapy. Cancer metastasis occurs frequently by lymphatics, and lymphatic destruction by the parasitic filariasis diseases is among the leading cause of worldwide chronic disability. The lymphatic system starts as an open-ended transport system in interstitial spaces, in contrast with the closed-loop circulation for blood.R2-128041 2,3 Protein-rich fluid is gathered by open lymphatic capillaries that drain into progressively larger lymphatic vessels. Collecting lymphatics converge into two major ducts, the thoracic duct, which drains most of the body’s lymph into the left subclavian vein, or the smaller right lymphatic duct, which drains into the right subclavian vein. Along the way back to the blood circulation, lymph passes through at least one lymph node, where immunological presentation of antigens and filtering can occur. Despite the obvious macroscopic differences between the lymphatic and blood circulations, there are close parallels as well (Table). Larger lymphatics have valves like veins and also have smooth muscle–regulated tone that is nitric oxide–responsive.4 In fact, Sabin proposed in 1902 that the lymphatic system …
Haptoglobin release by human adipose tissue in primary culture

Haptoglobin is a putative adiposity marker because its concentration in blood is increased in obese humans. The present studies examined haptoglobin release by explants of adipose tissue in primary culture. Haptoglobin was released by explants of human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue at a nearly linear rate over 48 h. Explants of visceral adipose tissue released more haptoglobin than did explants of subcutaneous adipose tissue. The release of haptoglobin was quite variable, but there was a close correlation between haptoglobin release by visceral adipose tissue and that by explants of subcutaneous tissue from the same individual. Dexamethasone and niflumic acid, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, both inhibited haptoglobin release. There was release of haptoglobin by both isolated adipocytes and the adipose tissue matrix remaining after collagenase digestion of human adipose tissue. However, the amount of haptoglobin released by human adipose tissue explants in primary culture was quite low in relationship to the circulating level of haptoglobin.
Regenerator Performance Data

In this chapter we review generator performance data that have been published over the past 40 years. Beginning in the 1950s, researchers at Stanford University, Stanford, California, and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, published results of experimental programs conducted to develop basic regenerator performance data. Their papers describe the considerable interest shown at that time in the application of rotary regenerators to the gas-turbine cycle for high-temperature exhaust-gas thermal regeneration.
Robot-assisted pyeloplasty: outcomes for primary and secondary repairs, a single institution experience

INTRODUCTION: Robotic Pyeloplasty (RAP) is a technique for management of uretero-pelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). PURPOSE: To report outcomes of RAP for primary and secondary (after failed primary treatment) UPJO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single institution data of adult RAP performed from 2007 to 2009 was collected retrospectively following approval by our IRB. Database analysis including patient age, race, pre and post-operative imaging studies and perioperative variables including operative time, blood loss, pain and complications. RESULTS: Fifty-five adult patients underwent RAP (26 left/29 right) for UPJO including 9 secondary procedures from 2007 to 2009. Average follow-up was 16 months (1-36). Mean age was 41 years (18-71) with an average BMI of 27 (17-42), 32 were female. Majority were diagnosed with preoperative diuretic renal scintigraphy with obstructed side demonstrating mean function of 41% and t1/2 of 70 minutes. Mean operative time was 194 minutes with average blood loss less than 100 mL. Mean hospital stay was 1.7 days with an average narcotic equivalent dose of 15 mg. RAP for secondary UPJO took longer with more blood loss and had a lower success rate. Failure was defined as necessitating another procedure due to persistent pain and/or obstruction on diuretic renal imaging. One patient (2%) with primary UPJO failed and 2 patients (22%) with secondary UPJO failed. One major complication occurred. CONCLUSION: RAP is a good option for the treatment of patients with UPJO. Reported series have established that endopyelotomy has inferior success as a treatment for primary UPJO which compromises the success of subsequent treatment as demonstrated in our higher failure rate with secondary UPJO repair.
Family overinvolvement and criticism: An introduction to expressed emotion

This article provides an introduction to the construct of expressed emotion (EE), which comprises criticism, hostility, and emotional overinvolvement. The importance of EE as a predictor of treatment outcome and relapse in a number of psychiatric disorders is noted, as are the possible mechanisms of EE's impact on the patient and potential causes of EE. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Answer Extraction as Sequence Tagging with Tree Edit Distance

Our goal is to extract answers from preretrieved sentences for Question Answering (QA). We construct a linear-chain Conditional Random Field based on pairs of questions and their possible answer sentences, learning the association between questions and answer types. This casts answer extraction as an answer sequence tagging problem for the first time, where knowledge of shared structure between question and source sentence is incorporated through features based on Tree Edit Distance (TED). Our model is free of manually created question and answer templates, fast to run (processing 200 QA pairs per second excluding parsing time), and yields an F1 of 63.3% on a new public dataset based on prior TREC QA evaluations. The developed system is open-source, and includes an implementation of the TED model that is state of the art in the task of ranking QA pairs.
Regulation of Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Transcription Factor 1a by Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Insulin in Cultured Rat Theca-Interstitial Cells

Theca-interstitial (T-I) cells of the ovary synthesize androgens in response to luteinizing hormone (LH). In pathological conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, T-I cells are hyperactive in androgen production in response to LH and insulin. Because cholesterol is an essential substrate for androgen production, we examined the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and insulin on signaling pathways that are known to increase cholesterol accumulation in steroidogenic cells. Specifically, the effect of hCG and insulin on sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1a (SREBF1a) required for cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake was examined. Primary cultures of T-I cells isolated from 25-day-old rat ovaries responded to hCG and insulin to increase the active/processed form of SREBF1a. The hCG and insulin significantly reduced insulin-induced gene 1 (INSIG1) protein, a negative regulator of SREBF processing. Furthermore, an increase in the expression of selected SREBF target genes, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr) and mevalonate kinase (Mvk), was also observed. Protein kinase A (PRKA) inhibitor completely abolished the hCG-induced increase in SREBF1a, while increasing INSIG1. Although the hCG-induced depletion of total and free cholesterol was abolished by aminoglutethimide, the stimulatory effect on SREBF1a was not totally suppressed. Treatment with 25-hydroxycholesterol abrogated the effect of hCG on SREBF1a. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway did not block the insulin-induced increase in SREBF1a, whereas mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition reduced the insulin response. These results suggest that the increased androgen biosynthesis by T-I cells in response to hCG and insulin is regulated, at least in part, by increasing the expression of sterol response element-responsive genes by increasing SREBF1a.
An Adsorption Model for the Superheat at the Critical Heat Flux

The evaluation of the superheat at the critical heat flux (CHF) is a problem of considerable importance to the field of change-of-phase heat transfer. As demonstrated in the recent reviews by Katto and Bergles and in a descriptive paper by Unal et al., there has been extensive prior research on the CHF. In these studies, the following descriptive modeling terms affirm the complex transport processes occurring at CHF: macrolayer, microlayer, apparent contact angle, real contact angle, spreading, dry patch, instability, vapor mushrooms, and interfacial conditions. In order to simplify the analyses of these phenomena, we focus herein on a more tractable model, which emphasizes a characteristic thickness in the contact line region at the vapor-liquid-solid junction, which would be present in the thinnest portion of an evaporating microlayer. A schematic drawing of this region is presented in Fig. 1 for a nonisothermal completely wetting system. This is the region where the substrate dries out in the hot spot hypothesis. The solid substrate is modeled as having an adsorbed ultrathin layer of liquid with a thickness {delta}, which is a function of the superheat and the interfacial force field. The characteristic thickness, {delta}{sub 0}, can (but does not have to) bemore » of the order of a monolayer or less. Therefore, in the region x < 0, the film can be discontinuous and fill in {open_quotes}depressions{close_quotes} on a {open_quotes}rough{close_quotes} surface. Herein, a model of the physically indistinct contact line region, which varies spatially and fluctuates at the molecular level, is used to develop a predictive equation for the average value of the superheat that can be evaluated macroscopically. 9 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.« less
Without Foundations: Plato's Lysis and Postmodern Friendship

Political theory has developed at important junctures by questioning its ontological foundations. Modern political thought begins by questioning the naturalness of human sociability. Instead of the civic friendship propounded by the ancients, modern liberals see friendship as belonging to a private sphere, whereas the state is an alliance among competitors. Postmodern theorists have extended the logic of competition to encompass private friendships, doing so, in part, by critiquing liberal foundations. Plato's account of friendship reveals surprising affinities with two such postmodern critiques. The Lysis explores what friendship would be like without ontological claims or with only negative foundations such as the power and enmity found in accounts of friendship as diverse as those of Foucault and Derrida. The Platonic/postmodern comparison offers a way of ensuring that foundational inquiry illuminates political theory and argues for a greater role for fundamental ontology than mainstream liberal theorists have yet conceded.
State-Sponsored Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators: Who Participates and Associated Implications for Future Offerings.

Professional development (PD) for early childhood educators has received increased attention as a means of bolstering young children’s learning and development. Theory and research indicate that educators’ characteristics play roles in both their own learning and that of children; however, little research has explored who participates in PD. This study provides an in-depth description of the backgrounds and qualifications, positions and settings, knowledge, and beliefs of educators participating in PD offerings. These educator characteristics have been identified as important factors in adult learning theory with implications for the design, implementation, and evaluation of adult learning. Descriptive analysis revealed considerable variability in many of these characteristics. Findings yield practical implications for the design of future large-scale PD efforts in terms of format, content, and marketing.
Meta-Analysis of 301 Slope Failure Calculations. I: Database Description

Since the early part of the twentieth century, two-dimensional limit equilibrium (2DLE) analysis has been the scientific community’s primary means of slope stability calculation. However, it is well established that the input parameters to 2DLE, namely, soil strength and anisotropy, slope geometry, pore water pressures, failure surface geometry, applicable correction factors, and loading conditions are all inherently uncertain. Effective modeling must account for these uncertainties statistically. Unfortunately, most of the key statistical parameters, such as the safety factor statistical distribution and standard deviation (sd), are unknown and must be estimated by the analyst. In response to this growing need for statistical information, a database was established from the literature of 157 different failed slopes and the corresponding published 301 safety factor (SF) calculations. The database, which covered more than five decades of slope stability research, also included a number of the slope stabili...
Vegetation and soil respiration: correlations and controls.

Soil respiration rates vary significantly among major plant biomes, suggesting that vegetation type influences the rate of soil respiration. However, correlations among climatic factors, vegetation distributions, and soil respiration rates make cause-effect arguments difficult. Vegetation may affect soil respiration by influencing soil microclimate and structure, the quantity of detritus supplied to the soil, the quality of that detritus, and the overall rate of root respiration. At the global scale, soil respiration rates correlate positively with litterfall rates in forests, as previously reported, and with aboveground net primary productivity in grasslands, providing evidence of the importance of detritus supply. To determine the direction and magnitude of the effect of vegetation type on soil respiration, we collated data from published studies where soil respiration rates were measured simultaneously in two or more plant communities. We found no predictable differences in soil respiration between cropped and vegetation-free soils, between forested and cropped soils, or between grassland and cropped soils, possibly due to the diversity of crops and cropping systems included. Factors such as temperature, moisture availability, and substrate properties that simultaneously influence the production and consumption of organic matter are more important in controlling the overall rate of soil respiration than is vegetation type in most cases. However, coniferous forests had ∼10% lower rates of soil respiration than did adjacent broad-leaved forests growing on the same soil type, and grasslands had, on average, ∼20% higher soil respiration rates than did comparable forest stands, demonstrating that vegetation type does in some cases significantly affect rates of soil respiration.
Re: An Empirical Evaluation of Guidelines on Prostate-Specific Antigen Velocity in Prostate Cancer Detection

Objectives: To describe the distribution and implications of prostate–specific antigen velocity (PSAV) by prostate–specific antigen (PSA) in an unselected population. A PSAV 0,201135 and 2,20110 ng/mL/y have been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (CaP) death more than 10 years and 1 year before diagnosis, respectively. It is unknown how frequently PSAVs of this magnitude occur in community men. Methods: From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we examined the PSAV distribution in 786 men with serial PSA measurements (3474 PSAV observations) at total PSA levels 10 ng/mL. We also determined whether PSAV altered the probability of overall and life-threatening CaP at PSA levels 3 and 3–10 ng/mL. Results: Overall, the mean PSA and PSAV were 1.3 ng/mL and 0.05 ng/mL/y, respectively. PSAV rose continuously with increasing PSA (P .0001), and was significantly higher in cancers than controls for observations at PSA levels 3 ng/mL (P .02) and 3–10 ng/mL (P .0008). The probability of life-threatening CaP was 3% at a PSA 3 ng/mL, but increased to 13.6% with PSAV 0.4 ng/mL/y. At PSA levels of 3–10 ng/mL, the probability of life-threatening CaP was 9.8% based on PSA alone vs 12% with PSAV 0.4 ng/mL/y. Conclusions: PSAV was significantly higher in CaP observations than controls in all PSA ranges studied and altered the risk of overall and life-threatening CaP at a given PSA level. Because the value of PSAV is PSA-dependent, the PSA level should be taken into account when interpreting PSAV.
The documentary construction of female mismanagement

Voici cinq femmes, cadres a l'emploi de la fonction publique indienne, dont la tâche est d'organiser des projets de developpement rural. Et voici deux facons d'expliquer leurs experiences au travail: la premiere releve d'une perspective gestionnaire conventionnelle, que s'attache a leur evidente inefficacite, laquelle s'expliquerait par leur competence de gestionnaires limitee. l'autre approche, pluto que de se fonder sur une certaine conception de la ‘bonne gestion, examine les situations dans lesquelles ces femmes se sont trouvees. Elle critique ainsi les pratiques ideologiques des sciences sociales, qui excluent systematiquement I'experience des femmes de la construction sociale du savoir. This paper will present two accounts of the management experiences of five female managers employed in the Indian Civil Service to organize rural development projects. The first account will be from the prespective of traditional management theory as applied to women, examining the manifest failure of these women to carry through their responsibilities effectively, and seeking explanations in their limited ability to follow good management practices. The second account will attempt to go behind these explanations, and to challenge the ideological assumptions on which they are based. This approach does not begin with the concept of ‘good management, but rather with what actually happened to the women as they tried to do their jobs. It draws heavily upon the work of Dorothy Smith, who critiques the ideological practices in social science through which women's experiences are systematically excluded from the social construction of knowledge.
Kinetic analysis of the separate phosphorylation events in the phosphorylase kinase reaction.

Abstract Glycogen phosphorylase, a dimer of identical subunits, is activated by phosphorylase kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of one serine residue in each subunit. In this paper, the effect of the phosphorylation of one subunit on the phosphorylation of the other subunit was examined. The three forms of phosphorylase, phosphorylase b (nonphosphorylated), phosphorylase ab (one subunit phosphorylated), and phosphorylase a (both subunits phosphorylated), were separated by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Purified phosphorylase ab was found to be stable under the conditions of the phosphorylase kinase assay. Initial rate kinetics showed that phosphorylase kinase had a lower KM for phosphorylase ab (3.9 ± 0.24 μ m ) than for phosphorylase b (14.9 ± 2.6 μ m ). Using the HPLC separation as a simultaneous assay for the three forms of phosphorylase during the phosphorylase kinase reaction, it was found that the pseudo-first-order rate constant for the second phosphorylation step (k2) was 3.7 times greater than that for the first step (k1). The activator AMP reduced the ratio k 2 k 1 from 3.7 without AMP to 1.4. When the monomeric γδ complex of phosphorylase kinase subunits was used as the enzyme, the ratio k 2 k 1 was 2.1, compared to 3.7 with the multimeric holophosphorylase kinase. One explanation for these data is that phosphorylation of one subunit of phosphorylase b causes conformational changes that make the other subunit a better substrate for the kinase. In this context, the effect of AMP is to reduce the conformational differences between phosphorylases b and ab, and the γδ complex is less sensitive to the conformational differences between the two forms of phosphorylase.
Considering Network Recursion and Bartók’s “Fourths”

This is the author's final draft. The publisher's official version is available from: http://www.mtosmt.org/issues/mto.07.13.3/mto.07.13.3.murphy.html
The vehicular environment and its effect on broadcast protocols in VANETs

The main objective of vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) is reliable delivery of emergency warning messages so that drivers can make well-timed decisions and prevent mishaps. The dynamic vehicular environment in VANETs makes it necessary to examine its effects on the network to ensure that the messages reach the intended vehicles in its range, on time. The objective of this paper is to monitor the 802.11 broadcasting protocol, 802.11e EDCA, as well as 802.11e EDCA with an adaptive contention window. The performance of these protocols is observed keeping in mind their sensitivity towards modeling of the vehicular environment. The results show that it is extremely important to consider the interaction between various vehicular settings and the network in order to build an efficient, robust and reliable broadcasting protocol, suitable for vehicular networks.
Espectros de la paternidad y disolución de fronteras en Biutiful de Alejando González Iñárritu

This article examines the figure of the father as the thematic and narrative thread in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Biutiful (2010). Paternity is essential to the movie's transnational perspective and its exploration of the effects of globalization: the film is organized around father figures, and the protagonist Uxbal (Javier Bardem) is connected to fathers from other countries as he transcends cultural and national borders. Absent fathers bring together the stories of several families that live precariously in Barcelona. In this article, I argue that although Biutiful denounces the vulnerable situation of immigrants in contemporary neoliberal society, the notion of paternity that it presents is traditional. A series of fathers from different parts of the world (Spain, Mexico, China and Senegal) are portrayed as the protective figures of their families and as the ones responsible for keeping their families together. The movie privileges the father in relation to memory and legacy, and it presents father...
Letter in response to "MDMA-induced angioedema treated with icatibant".

Sir,We read with great interest the article by Escalante et al. regarding a patient with angioedema, presumed to be caused by 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamfetamine (MDMA) and treated with icatibant, a ...
Evaluation of (2S,4S)4-(3-[18F]F-propyl)-glutamine as a tumor metabolic imaging agent

498 Objectives Besides glucose, glutamine is an important nutrient for sustaining tumor growth and proliferation. In particular, tumor cells with the upregulated c-Myc gene are generally reprogrammed to be addicted to glutamine. Recently, we developed an analog of glutamine, namely (2S,4S)4-(3-[18F]F-propyl)-glutamine as a potentially useful imaging probe for glutamine metabolism in tumor cells. Methods The optically pure isomer (2S,4S)4-(3-[18F]F-propyl)-glutamine was prepared by two different routes: (a) using a protected (2S,4S)4-(3-tosyl-propyl)-glutamine as precursor and [18F]KF/18-crown-6/KHCO3 as fluorination reagent, followed by deprotection; (b) using (2S,4S)-tert-butyl 2-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)-4-cyano-7-(tosyloxy)heptanoate and [18F]KF/18-crown-6/KHCO3 as fluorination reagent, followed by hydrolysis. The uptake of (2S,4S)4-(3-[18F]F-propyl)-glutamine was determined in a 9L glioma cell line between 5 and 120 min. [3H]-glutamine was used as the reference standard. Uptake mechanisms were characterized in 9L cells through inhibition studies. PET imaging studies were conducted in F344 rats bearing xenographed 9L tumors. Results Optically pure (2S,4S)4-(3-[18F]F-propyl)-glutamine was isolated in good yields and high radiochemical purity (RCY: 41.6 ± 6.9% (n = 5); RCP ≥ 95%). Cell uptake studies indicate that the tracer is taken up by 9L cells with a steady increase over a time frame of 120 minutes and is approximately two times higher than that of [3H]glutamine at 120 minutes. It appears that the radioligand is most sensitive to the LAT transport system, followed by System N and ASC transporters. PET imaging studies demonstrated tumor-specific uptakes in 9L tumor bearing rats with excellent tumor/muscle ratio (maximum of ~ 8 at 40 minutes) with very little defluorination observed. Conclusions (2S,4S)4-(3-[18F]F-propyl)-glutamine showed excellent tumor uptake. It is a potentially useful tumor-imaging agent for mapping glutaminolysis in tumor tissue associated with the up-regulation of various genes including c-Myc. Research Support SU2C; CA164490 and PA-Health grants.
A histochemical study of the composition of spore ornamentations in operculate discomycetes.

Since the publication of Mme. Le Gal's "Recherches sur les ornementations sporales des discomycetes opercules" (1947), the spore markings of operculate discomycetes have generally been considered to be composed of callose-pectic substances ("calloso-pectiques"). Mangin (1890) appears to have been the first to distinguish callose-pectic substances in fungi on the basis of staining reactions. The first report of callose-pectic substances in spore markings of operculate discomycetes was that of Le Gal (1942). Her final identification of these compounds (Le Gal, 1947) was also based on typical and supposedly specific staining reactions: callose compounds were stained with cotton blue C4B in lactic acid, while pectic substances were distinguished by their reaction with methylene blue, naphthalene blue, and ruthenium red. Because today the above staining procedures are not considered specific for callose and pectic substances, solubility tests and staining procedures known to be specific were employed, in this study, in an attempt to verify Le Gal's conclusions. Of the three discomycetes used in this preliminary study, Peziza ostracoderma Korf was not used by Le Gal.
A Revised Blade Element Model for Vehicles with Flapping Wings

A blade element model utilizes regions of constant dynamic pressure to compute the lift and drag due to air flow on a lifting surface. In fixedwing aircraft, for zero or small sideslip angles, the blade element regions are along the entire chord of the wing at fixed spanwise locations. This assumption has also been used for flapping wing vehicles. However, flapping wing motion is rotational in nature. Hence, at a fixed spanwise location, the velocities of points of the wing along the chord are not constant. This work takes into account the rotational motion of flapping wings to accurately compute the velocity of any point on the wing. A double integration, of the velocity of any point on the wing, is then performed to determine the lift and drag due to wing motion. The wing is assumed to have a fixed angle of attack, but this revised model shows that the actual angle of attack can differ from the fixed value. A comparison is made between the conventional and revised blade element models and shows the differences between lift, drag, and angle of attack.
Synthetic zinc finger proteins: the advent of targeted gene regulation and genome modification technologies.

ConspectusThe understanding of gene regulation and the structure and function of the human genome increased dramatically at the end of the 20th century. Yet the technologies for manipulating the genome have been slower to develop. For instance, the field of gene therapy has been focused on correcting genetic diseases and augmenting tissue repair for more than 40 years. However, with the exception of a few very low efficiency approaches, conventional genetic engineering methods have only been able to add auxiliary genes to cells. This has been a substantial obstacle to the clinical success of gene therapies and has also led to severe unintended consequences in several cases. Therefore, technologies that facilitate the precise modification of cellular genomes have diverse and significant implications in many facets of research and are essential for translating the products of the Genomic Revolution into tangible benefits for medicine and biotechnology. To address this need, in the 1990s, we embarked on a mi...
SELECTIVE ADSORPTION OF THE VAPOR PHASE COMPONENTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKE BY ACTIVATED CARBON FIBERS

Adsorption of the components in the vapor phase of cigarette smoke by activated carbon fibers (ACF) with micropore radii from 8 to 29A was measured in order to study the relation between the adsorption efficiencies and the physical properties of ACFs. The adsorption efficiency increased with the size of the micropores and, with the exception of a few components, all ACFs have high adsorption ability for high boiling point components such as limonene. An ACF having a micropore radius of 8A showed an extremely low adsorption ability and an ACF having micropore radius of 10A uniformly adsorbed the components in the vapor phase. When compared with the semivolatile components, the molecular sieving effect and the competitive adsorption due to the difference of the boiling points were clearly observed. The competitive adsorption was thought to be the main reason for the dynamic change of adsorption with puffing. Consequently, the possibility was recognized that an increase in the amount of ACFs having wide micropores decreased the adsorption efficiency of the low boiling point components.
Kant's 'Social Contract' and the Death Penalty

In the Metaphysical Elements of Justice Immanuel Kant leaves the unmistakable impression that he is both an ardent defender of the death penalty and a social contract theorist. In this paper I show that each of the specific arguments on which his defense is based fails; that, whatever the impression may be, he is not a social contract theorist, or at least not in any meaningful sense of the term; and that, even if all of his arguments were impeccable, and his status as a contractarian unassailable, there remain other, more basic features of his system which cannot be reconciled with his affirmative stance on the death penalty.
Analysis of performance evaluation of disease control and prevention in Baoshan district, 2008-2012

Objective To find the influence factors on the disease control and prevent of Baoshan district, Shanghai and provides the basis for the development of CDC. Methods According to calculation result of information platform of performance evaluation of the disease control and prevention system,comparative analysis the index score and completion of Baoshan area in 2008-2012 performance evaluation of disease control and prevention. Results The grade of area institutions evaluation result is all good. Which institutions index comprehensive score increased bearing rose from 93.40 in 2008 points to 96.65 points in 2012. On the contrary, the area index comprehensive result is more changeable, mainly due to the score of CDC running support index is low. Conclusion Through five years of performance evaluation of disease prevention and control work, CDC work of Baoshan district got the great impetus, work of chronic diseases prevention control and work of health hazards monitoring got more support. But the government need to strengthen the reform and development of CDC.
Cellular Engineering and Disease Modeling with Gene-Editing Nucleases

Two rapidly evolving technologies are set to intersect at the crossroads of the future of medicine: the knowledge of how to induce and maintain cellular pluripotency, and the ability to precisely manipulate the genome with engineered nucleases. Together, these two advances have significant potential in the development of the next generation of cell and gene therapies. This review will discuss human and animal models of stem cells and the application of engineered nucleases for precision gene targeting and control. For animal studies and models, nucleases have allowed for greater flexibility and expandability. Previously untargetable regions of the murine genome are now accessible via engineered nucleases. Prior to the availability of gene editing proteins, the entire rat genome was largely refractory to gene targeting and manipulation. The ability to engineer larger animals may reduce the transplant organ gap and increase the yields of food for an expanding population. Lastly, the ability to modify stem cells of hematopoietic, embryonic, or somatic origin will allow for more relevant disease modeling, and more targeted and effective therapies. Collectively, the efficiency of gene editing nucleases and the ability to apply them across cells of multiple species allows for new research opportunities, more flexibility, and greater accuracy in choosing the model best suited for genome manipulation.
Analysis of Serum Enzymes in Healthy Children and Adolescents by Dry Chemical System

Objective To analyze the level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP), gamma glutamyltransferase(GGT) among healthy children and adolescents, and compare the differences between genders and ages. Methods A total of 2 351 healthy children and adolescents aged from 3 months to18 years were divided into 4 groups: infant group, pre-school group, school age group and youth group. The serum enzymes in venous blood were detected by dry chemical system, and data were analyzed by statistical methods between different ages and genders. Results Except the ALP of school age group in girls was significantly higher than that in boys(P0.05), the AST, GGT of school age group and the ALT, AST, ALP, GGT of youth group in boys was significantly higher than that in girls(P0.05). The serum enzymes showed significant differences in different age groups. The trend of4 enzymes increase or decline with increasing age(P0.05), but ALP showed no significant difference between infant and school age group, ALT showed no significant difference between pre-school and school age group(P0.05). We should set up different reference intervals according to the different age group. Conclusion The serum enzymes have gender differences and significantly associated with the change of age in healthy children and adolescents, and the laboratory shall establish a corresponding reference intervals.
Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa. II. Postthaw chronology of motility and of zona-free hamster ova penetration

Postthaw dynamics of motility maintenance and ability to penetrate zona-free hamster ova were examined with human sperm. Ten semen samples were each divided into two equal volumes; one was cryopreserved while the other half remained untreated. Frozen samples were thawed, and initial evaluations for motility and hamster egg penetration were made on both untreated and frozen-thawed samples. The time difference between the initial evaluations for the two treatment groups was approximately 30 minutes as a result of the time required to freeze and thaw aliquots. Subsequent evaluations were made 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours later. Over all times both the motility and fertilizability of cryopreserved spermatozoa were significantly reduced ( P P >0.10). Conversely, differences between untreated and frozen-thawed sperm in fertilizability patterns were dramatic ( P
Coxsackie B5 infection in an adult with fever, truncal rash, diarrhea and splenomegaly with highly elevated ferritin levels

Coxsackie viruses are enteroviruses most common in children. Coxsackie B viral infections often present with biphasic fever, headache, pharyngitis, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea and a maculopapular rash that spares the palms and soles. These clinical features may be present in other viral infections. We present a case of a hospitalized adult with rash and fever with highly elevated ferritin levels later found to be due to Coxsackie B5. We believe this is the first case of Coxsackie B infection with otherwise unexplained highly elevated ferritin levels.
Analysis of optimal CT spectrum for PET attenuation correction

One advantage of a combined PET/CT scanner is that a fast CT acquisition provides a high quality attenuation correction map for PET reconstruction. A diagnostic CT system typically operates in a voltage range from 80 kVp to 140 kVp. The choice of optimal spectrum depends on the specific application. In diagnostic imaging, contrast, noise and dose all play important roles. The designated CT scan for PET attenuation correction has different image quality requirements compared to diagnostic CT. For example, at 511 keV, the contrast between different materials reduces significantly and there is typically no interest in distinguishing small contrast variations. On the other hand, it is important that the error on the attenuation map is small, and especially bias in the CT attenuation correction (CTAC) map could introduce significant artifacts in PET images which may affect clinical diagnosis. We are interested in operating the CT scanner at the lowest possible dose while still providing accurate attenuation correction. However, at these very low dose levels, the effects of electronic noise can become significant. In the study presented here, we analyzed the impacts of the X-ray tube voltage, current and filtration by metal filter on the quality of the CTAC by evaluating noise variance and bias at various dose levels.