cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Biology of Mammalian Glucose Transporters

The oxidation of glucose represents a major source of metabolic energy for mammaliancells. However, because the plasma membrane is impermeable to polar molecules such as glucose, the cellular uptake of this important nutrient is accomplished by membrane-associated carrier proteins that bind and transfer it across the lipid bilayer. Two classes of glucose carriers have been described in mammalian cells: the Na+-glucose cotransporter and the facilitative glucose transporter. The Na+-glucose cotransporter transports glucose against its concentration gradient by coupling its uptake with the uptake of Na+ that is being transported down its concentration gradient. Facilitative glucose c rriers accelerate the transport of glucose down its concentration gradient by facilitative diffusion, a form of passive transport. cDNAs have been isolated from human tissues encoding a Na+-glucose-cotransporter protein and five functional facilitative glucosetransporter isoforms. The Na+-glucose cotransporter is expressed by absorptive epithelial cells of the small intestine and is involved in the dietary uptake of glucose. The same or a related protein may be responsible for the reabsorption of glucose by the kidney. Facilitative glucose carriers are expressed by most if not all cells. The facilitative glucose-transporter isoforms have distinct tissue distributions and biochemical properties and contribute to the precise disposal of glucose under varying physiological conditions. The GLUT1 (erythrocyte) and GLUT3 (brain) facilitative glucose-transporter isoforms may be responsible for basal or constitutive glucose uptake. The GLUT2 (liver) isoform mediates the bidirectional transport of glucose by the hepatocyte and is responsible, at least in part, for the movement of glucose out of absorptive epithelial cells into the circulation in the small intestine and kidney. This isoform may also comprise part of the glucosesensing mechanism of the insulin-producing β-cell. The subcellular localization of the GLUT4 (muscle/fat) isoform changes in response to insulin, and this isoform is responsible for most of the insulin-stimulated uptake of glucose that occurs in muscle and adipose tissue. The GLLJT5 (small intestine) facilitative glucose-transporter isoform is expressed at highest levels in the small intestine and may be involved in the transcellular transport of glucose by absorptive epithelial cells. The exon-intron organizations of the human GLUT1 , GLUT2 , and GLUT4 genes have been determined. In addition, the chromosomal locations of the genes encoding the Na+-dependent and facilitative glucose carriers have been determined. Restriction-fragment-length polymorphisms have also been identified at several of these loci. The isolation and characterization of cDNAs and genes for these glucose transporters will facilitate studies of their role in the pathogenesis of disorders characterized by abnormal glucose transport, including diabetes mellitus, the glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome, and benign renal glycosuria.
Green Richland: Building Sustainable Local and World Community

This article shares the college's experiences and the lessons learned in the creation of the GREENRichland Program and the other approaches to building sustainability. These programs directly support the college's vision to be the best place to learn, teach, and build sustainable local and world community. This discussion features details concerning Richland's tracking and improvement of key performance indicators related to energy usage and room utilization, plans for the new LEED-Platinum Science facility, data on recycling efforts, and the Urban Tree Farm Project. This paper also discusses academic programs that support and encourage sustainability efforts.
The distribution of two major malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis, in Nigeria

The distribution of Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis across the ecological zones of Nigeria (arid savanna in the north gradually turns into humid forest in the south) was investigated. Results of the present study were compared to the distributions determined from samples of indoor-resting females reported by an earlier study over 20 years ago. Larvae were sampled in the rainy seasons of 1997 and 1999 from 24 localities, 10 of which were sampled in both years. Specimens were identified by the polymerase chain reaction method. Results showed that species composition changed significantly among the 10 localities in both years (chi2=13.62, P = 0.0002), but this change was significant in only four of the 10 localities. The identity of the prevalent (more abundant) species changed between 1997 and 1999 in only three of 10 localities. An. arabiensis was prevalent in several localities in the southern Guinea savanna, an area where it was virtually absent over 20 years ago. The data suggest that An. arabiensis has extend its range, although differences in sampling technique (larval sampling versus adult collection) can not be ruled out as a possible explanation.
Positron emission tomography and breast masses: comparison with clinical, mammographic, and pathological findings.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a means of imaging tissue based upon its metabolic activity. Initial studies in the field of oncology suggest that PET may be useful for diagnosis, staging, and treatment of various tumors.
Determination of plasma osmolality and agreement between measured and calculated values in healthy adult bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

ABSTRACT Determination of plasma osmolality is useful for determining proper administration of fluid therapy. In many reptilian species, the normal plasma osmolality is unknown. To prevent detrimental fluid shifts, knowledge of a patient's osmolality is imperative. The purpose of this study was to determine plasma osmolality in 11 healthy adult male bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and to validate plasma osmolality equations that are used to calculate osmolality in other species. Venipuncture was performed via the ventral coccygeal vein, and plasma biochemical profiles were obtained from a point of care chemistry analyzer. Calculated plasma osmolality was determined using the following equations: 2 (Na+ + K+), (2 [Na+ + K+]) + (Glu/18), (2 [Na+ + K+]) + (UA/16.8) + (Glu/18), and 1.86 (Na+) + Glu/18 + UA/2.8 + 9. Plasma osmolality was measured in duplicate with a freezing-point depression osmometer, and the mean value was calculated for the two osmolality measurements. Measured and calculated plasma osmo...
Study of the blocking-action weather process

This paper is a resume of the more interesting highlights of a partially completed Office of Naval Research—California Institute of Technology research project on the blocking-action weather processes which has been under the author's supervision and has engaged the part-time attention of T. Smith and L. Crow of the staff of the California Institute of Technology Meteorology Department during a period of nine months or so.
Factorization of certain evolution operators using lie algebra: Formulation of the method

In this work, a new method to factorize certain evolution operators into an infinite product of simple evolution operators is presented. The method uses Lie operator algebra and the evolution operators are restricted to exponential form. The argument of these forms is a first-order linear partial differential operator. The method has broad applications, including the areas of sensitivity analysis, the solution of ordinary differential equations, and the solution of Liouville's equation. A sequence of ξ-approximants is generated to represent the Lie operators. Under certain conditions, the convergence rate of the ξ-approximant sequences is remarkably high. This work presents the general formulation of the scheme and some simple illustrative examples. Investigation of convergence properties is given in a companion paper.
Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: retrospectives and advances for the 21st century.

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has witnessed a wide range of therapeutic options over the years. Articles discussing treatment of leishmaniasis are numerous in the medical literature and include an enormous array of local and systemic treatments. Unfortunately, few have proven effective and withstood the test of time. In discussing treatment options and outcomes, three important considerations must be taken into account: the host’s defenses, the strain of leishmania involved, and the realization that CL often heals spontaneously within 1 week to 3 years, usually within 1 year. This review examines both classic and newly developed therapeutic agents and modalities.
Flare research with the NASA/MSFC vector magnetograph - Observed characteristics of sheared magnetic fields that produce flares

The present MSFC Vector Magnetograph has sufficient spatial resolution (2.7 arcsec pixels) and sensitivity to the transverse field (the noise level is about 100 gauss) to map the transverse field in active regions accurately enough to reveal key aspects of the sheared magnetic fields commonly found at flare sites. From the measured shear angle along the polarity inversion line in sites that flared and in other shear sites that didn't flare, evidence is found that a sufficient condition for a flare to occur in 1000 gauss fields in and near sunspots is that both: (1) the maximum shear angle exceed 85 degrees; and (2) the extent of strong shear (shear angle of greater than 80 degrees) exceed 10,000 km.
Folate receptor targeted 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) loaded polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer.

Abstract Low water solubility and hepatotoxicity limited the clinical use of 17-allylamino-17-demethoxy geldanamycin (17-AAG), an inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). Folate targeted polylactide-co-glycolide–polyethylene glycol–folic acid (PLGA–PEG–FA) nanoparticles containing 17-AAG were prepared and characterized. Cellular uptake and in vitro cytotoxicity of the prepared nanoparticles were determined in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The particle size of 17-AAG loaded folate targeted nanoparticles was 238.67 ± 3.52 nm, drug loading was 8.25 ± 2.49% and about 80% of drug was released from the nanoparticles over 10 days. Cellular uptake studies showed much higher intracellular uptake of folate targeted nanoparticle as compared to nontargeted nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity study showed 2 fold increase ( P n = 3) in the cytotoxicity of folate targeted nanoparticle in comparison to free drug or nontargeted nanoparticles. Due to their targeting ability, nanometer size, high drug loading and controlled release behavior, 17-AAG loaded PLGA–PEG–FA nanoparticles might be developed as a targeted delivery system for breast and other cancer treatment.
Comment on the evaluation of the chemical forms of plutonium in seawater and other aqueous solutions

Abstract A method for estimating equilibrium oxidation state distributions of plutonium dissolved in seawater is presented. Application of the method contradicts a previous report that computational methods predict a predominance of hexavalent plutonium in seawater.
Hepatic catabolism of serum amyloid a during an acute phase response and chronic inflammation

AbstractDegradation of serum amyloid A (SAA) was studied in isolated perfused livers of mice treated with either a single injection of casein to induce an acute phase response or with 14 daily casein injections to maintain chronic inflammation. Littermates administered sterile saline served as controls. Radioiodinated SAA and apolipoprotein A-I, reconstituted with high-density lipoproteins in vivo, were studied in parallel. Degradation was monitored by appearance of acid-soluble radioactivity in the perfusate.Induction of an acute phase response reduced hepatic catabolism of SAA by 14% (from 8.6 ± 1.2% to 7.4 ± 1.1%/g liver in 3 hr, P < 0.05, n = 16). The acute phase response had no effect on apolipoprotein A-I degradation or bile production. Livers from animals receiving 14 daily injections of casein were 31% less active than control livers at degrading SAA (8.1 ± 1.6%/g/3 hr for treated group vs. 11.7 ± 2.3%/g/3 hr for control group, P < 0.025). Apolipoprotein A-I degradation was decreased but differenc...
Non-linear interaction between colliding third sound pulses

We report on time of flight measurements of third sound pulses in collision. The collision causes a shift, δτ, in the time of flight. For low amplitude unsaturated third sound pulses, we compare δτ with predictions based on film thickness and velocity changes induced by the colliding pulse.
Elimination of boron memory effect in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry by ammonia gas injection into the spray chamber during analysis

Abstract Injection of 10–20 ml/min of ammonia gas into an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) spray chamber during boron determination eliminates the memory effect of a 1 μg/ml B solution within a 2-min washing time. Ammonia gas injection also reduces the boron blank by a factor of four and enhances the sensitivity by 33–90%. Boron detection limits are improved from 12 and 14 to 3 and 4 ng/ml, respectively, for two ICP-MS instruments. Trace boron concentrations in certified reference materials agree well using ammonia gas injection.
A scalable public key management scheme in wireless ad hoc networks

There are emerging needs of secure communications in mission-critical applications over wireless ad hoc networks, including battlefield communications, emergency rescue operations, and disaster recoveries. In these applications, it is important to support secure communications in "anywhere", "anytime" and "anyhow" manner with following attributes: data integrity, authentication, confidentiality, non-repudiation, and service availability [1]. Being good candidates to address these attributes, Public-Key Cryptography (PKC) schemes have advantages over the symmetric systems. However, characteristics of missioncritical ad hoc networks pose the following new challenges for the design: (1) Vulnerability to the Sybil Attack [2]: When the Sybil attack happens, an attacker can claim multiple identities and the fake identities can easily defeat reputation and threshold protocols, where a legitimate node must rely on majority of nodes to reach decisions. (2) Unreliable Communications and Network Dynamics: Due to shared-medium nature of wireless links, flows may frequently interfere with each other. Moreover, a network may be partitioned frequently due to node mobility and poor channel condition. (3) Large Scale: The number of ad hoc wireless devices deployed at an incident scene depends on specific nature of the incident. In general, the network size can be very large. In addition, an ad hoc network should be able to accommodate more mobile devices if necessary. (4) Resource Constraints: The wireless devices usually have limited bandwidth, memory and processing power. Among these constrains, communication bandwidth consumption and memory are two big concerns for key management schemes.
Effects of hormones and intracellular mediators on differentiated functions of cultured Leydig tumor cells

Cellular regulation by hormones that utilize a myriad of intracellular signaling pathways is recognized to be quite complex. To investigate some of these effects in an established cell line, we tested a panel of hormones and modulators for their effects on cyclic AMP (cAMP) and progesterone production, both alone and in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), using the MA-10 cultured Leydig tumor cell line. None significantly affected intracellular levels of cAMP, and only epidermal growth factor (EGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated progesterone production. While EGF, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and transforming growth factor beta all decreased cAMP production only, TPA decreased hCG-stimulated cAMP and progesterone production. Those factors that stimulated progesterone production also induced a characteristic morphological change ("rounding") of these cells. In addition, EGF, insulin, and TPA, like hCG, elevated mRNA levels of competence oncogenes (c-fos and c-myc), albeit to different extents. These data demonstrate the wide range of hormones to which the cultured Leydig tumor cell will respond, as well as the varying degree of responses observed in the intracellular signaling pathways that we examined.
A rule-based method for scalable and traceable evaluation of system architectures

Despite the development of a variety of decision-aid tools for assessing the value of a conceptual design, humans continue to play a dominant role in this process. Researchers have identified two major challenges to automation, namely the subjectivity of value and the existence of multiple and conflicting customer needs. A third challenge is however arising as the amount of data (e.g., expert judgment, requirements, and engineering models) required to assess value increases. This brings two challenges. First, it becomes harder to modify existing knowledge or add new knowledge into the knowledge base. Second, it becomes harder to trace the results provided by the tool back to the design variables and model parameters. Current tools lack the scalability and traceability required to tackle these knowledge-intensive design evaluation problems. This work proposes a traceable and scalable rule-based architecture evaluation tool called VASSAR that is especially tailored to tackle knowledge-intensive problems that can be formulated as configuration design problems, which is demonstrated using the conceptual design task for a laptop. The methodology has three main steps. First, facts containing the capabilities and performance of different architectures are computed using rules containing physical and logical models. Second, capabilities are compared with requirements to assess satisfaction of each requirement. Third, requirement satisfaction is aggregated to yield a manageable number of metrics. An explanation facility keeps track of the value chain all along this process. This paper describes the methodology in detail and discusses in particular different implementations of preference functions as logical rules. A full-scale example around the design of Earth observing satellites is presented.
Freedom from castration: an alternative end point for men with localized prostate cancer treated by external beam radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is frequently given to men with localized prostate cancer. This study was designed to determine what proportion of men require subsequent ADT if their localized prostate cancer is first treated by radiation. Methods and Materials: A retrospective review of the outcome of 768 men with T1-4N×M0 prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation at a single institution from 1988 to 1995. The median follow-up for the entire group was 5.8 years. The end points analyzed were biochemical failure (3 successive rises in prostate-specific antigen) and ADT (either medical or surgical castration). Results: A total of 322 biochemical failure events occurred among the 768 treated patients, and 187 began ADT during the period of observation. Fifty-four percent of men starting ADT did so without rebiopsy or radiographic evidence of persistent disease. The overall freedom from biochemical failure rate at 10 years was 43.3% and the 10-year freedom from ADT rate was 56.3%. The corresponding values for the most favorable subgroup (T1-2a, Gleason sum 6, prostate-specific antigen ≤10 ng/mL) were 61.8% and 72.8%. Conclusions: Curative therapy is often given to men with prostate cancer and a life expectancy of
The Effects Of Variations In The Photocathode Voltages Of Electronic Streak Cameras

Electronic streak cameras are used to record subnanosecond data at the Nevada Test Site. It has been found that externally induced variations in the photocathode voltage of the streak tube can produce both temporal and spatial errors on the output image. An elec on beam tracing code was used to model the magnification as a function of photocathode voltage and signal input position for streak tubes manufactured by RCA, ITT, and Kentech. Las tests were also performed where pulsed and radio frequency signals were induced upon the photocathode and the errors on e resultant image were compared with e error sredict-s by the electron II - am code. Also, methods for processing the distortion in digitized images were investigated. This pas r will discuss the results of these investigations.
Effects of mammalian gonadotropins on progesterone release and cyclic nucleotide production by isolated avian granulosa cells.

Abstract Cyclic AMP and, to a lesser extent, cyclic GMP have been implicated as mediators of gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis in ovarian tissue and cells of mammals The functional role of these cyclic nucleotides in steroidogenesis in avian granulosa cells has not yet been investigated. In the present study the release of progesterone and levels of cyclic nucleotides were measured in granulosa cells isolated by a nonenzymatic procedure from the largest preovulatory follicle of laying hens 22–24 hr prior to ovulation. Bovine LH(NIH-B10) promoted progesterone production in a dose-related manner. Although steroidogenesis was maximally stimulated by 0.1–0.2 μg/ml bLH, cyclic nucleotide levels remained unaffected even at 5 μg/ml bLH at which concentration progesterone release was significantly inhibited when compared to maximal responses. Similarly, oFSH while stimulating steroidogenesis, although less effectively than bLH, failed to significantly increase cyclic AMP production. Theophylline potentiated the steroidogenic effect of gonadotropins and raised basal levels of the cyclic nucleotides. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (BU 2 cAMP) induced a dose-dependent release of progesterone while dibutyryl cyclic GMP (BU 2 cGMP) had an inhibitory effect. Agonists of adenylate cyclase such as isoproterenol and cholera toxin in combination with theophylline stimulated progesterone production while heparin, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, completely blocked the steroidogenic effect of bLH. Moreover, imidazole, a phosphodiesterase activator, suppressed both progesterone and cyclic AMP production. It is suggested therefore that a small fraction of intracellular cyclic AMP, but not cyclic GMP, which cannot be accurately detected by the RIA method employed, plays an important role in LH-promoted steroidogenesis in chicken granulosa cells.
Protein expression of a self-compatible allele from Lycopersicon peruvianum: introgression and behavior in a self-incompatible background

Lycopersicon peruvianum (wild tomato) is a gametophytic self-incompatible (SI) species. One natural population has been shown to harbor a self-compatible (SC) allele. A stylar protein associated with the self-compatibility allele has been elucidated using SDS-PAGE. The temporal and spatial expression of this protein is presented and compared with protein expression of two SI alleles. Hybrids containing the SC and SI alleles were used in a backcrossing program to introgress the SC allele into SI backgrounds in six independent lines. Controlled pollinations and SDS-PAGE were used to identify and select classes of progeny. After four backcross generations (approximately 97% recovery of the SI backgrounds) the SC allele still confers self-fertility in lines that contain this allele, providing evidence that the mutation to SC occurred at the S-locus and that the associated protein is likely responsible.
Do Parties Benefit from Electoral Manipulation? Electoral Laws and Heresthetics in Poland, 1989-93

Electoral reforms had profound political consequences for post-communist Poland. The majoritarian system helped to accelerate the fall of communism, while later changes to the electoral law helped the former communists reclaim power. Despite the high stakes and top priority given to electoral design by political players, their efforts at manipulation were hardly rewarded. Although the political parties were ex ante seat-maximizers, they supported the electoral law that ex post would have given them the most seats about as frequently as they supported its closest competitor. The reasons for their miscalculations included a lack of methodological expertise, unexpected shifts in voter preferences, transition-specific poll biases and new entrants and coalitions that emerged in the period between the introduction of the new electoral law and elections. No significant differences among the various kinds of parties were found. The results do show that the effectiveness of manipulation increased strongly over time.
Orientation of Listing’s plane during static tilt in young and older human subjects

Three-dimensional eye positions, when expressed as rotation vectors, are constrained to lie in a head-fixed Listing's plane. The offset and orientation of Listing's plane changes when the head is tilted. To assess the influence of age on this phenomenon, young (less than 30 years old) and older (>65 years old) human subjects were seated upright, pitched nose up and nose down, and rolled right ear down and left ear down. Listing's plane was computed from eye movements recorded using a dual scleral search coil while subjects scanned a complex visual scene. During pitch, Listing's plane counterpitched with respect to the head, while during roll, it translated in a manner consistent with "ocular counterrolling". There was no significant difference in this reorientation of Listing's plane between the young and older subjects. The only obvious difference between the two age groups was that the "thickness" of Listing's plane was greater in the older subjects. This suggests that aging has a small, but definite, influence on Listing's law.
The functional-organic dichotomy in new patient evaluations by residents in family practice

Abstract The interface of psychosocial and organic medicine is increasingly represented in primary care training programs. The intent of such programs is a comprehensive model for patient evaluation, yet current medical education may foster an artificial division in the diagnostic process. The initial interview of 60 depressed or hypertensive patients revealed a functional organic dichotomy in patient evaluations. Such a reductionistic approach neglected the role of psychosocial variables on the course of organic disease, drug compliance, or patient-physician attitudes. Alternatively, somatopsychic factors or concurrent physical disease amongst depressed patients may have gone undetected. Psychiatric patients were also scheduled for follow-up visits significantly less than their hypertensive counterparts. This may reflect resident physician attitudes toward the psychiatric patient.
A role for hilar cells in pattern separation in the dentate gyrus: a computational approach.

We present a simple computational model of the dentate gyrus to evaluate the hypothesis that pattern separation, defined as the ability to transform a set of similar input patterns into a less-similar set of output patterns, is dynamically regulated by hilar neurons. Prior models of the dentate gyrus have generally fallen into two categories: simplified models that have focused on a single granule cell layer and its ability to perform pattern separation, and large-scale and biophysically realistic models of dentate gyrus, which include hilar cells, but which have not specifically addressed pattern separation. The present model begins to bridge this gap. The model includes two of the major subtypes of hilar cells: excitatory hilar mossy cells and inhibitory hilar interneurons that receive input from and project to the perforant path terminal zone (HIPP cells). In the model, mossy cells and HIPP cells provide a mechanism for dynamic regulation of pattern separation, allowing the system to upregulate and downregulate pattern separation in response to environmental and task demands. Specifically, pattern separation in the model can be strongly decreased by decreasing mossy cell function and/or by increasing HIPP cell function; pattern separation can be increased by the opposite manipulations. We propose that hilar cells may similarly mediate dynamic regulation of pattern separation in the dentate gyrus in vivo, not only because of their connectivity within the dentate gyrus, but also because of their modulation by brainstem inputs and by the axons that “backproject” from area CA3 pyramidal cells.
Iodine-propylene glycol solutions.

The results of an investigation relating to the use of propylene glycol as a solvent for iodine in pharmaceutical preparations are reported. Physical and biological data are presented which indicate that a solvent for iodine and sodium iodide consisting of water and propylene glycol possesses several advantages over other vehicles.
Torsion and geometrostasis in nonlinear sigma models

Abstract We discuss some general effects produced by adding Wess-Zumino terms to the actions of nonlinear sigma models, an addition which may be made if the underlying field manifold has appropriate homological properties. We emphasize the geometrical aspects of such models, especially the role played by torsion on the field manifold. For general chiral models, we show explicitly that the torsion is simply the structure constant of the underlying Lie group, converted by vielbeine into an antisymmetric rank-three tensor acting on the field manifold. We also investigate in two dimensions the supersymmetric extensions on nonlinear sigma models with torsion, showing how the purely results carry over completely. We consider in some detail the renormalization effects produced by the Wess-Zumino terms using the background field method. In particular, we demonstrate to two-loop order the existence of geometrostasis, i.e. fixed points in the renormalized geometry of the field manifold due to parallelism.
The influence of skeletal muscle reinnervation on experimentally induced myotonia

Earlier studies have shown that prior denervation of muscle prevents myotonia induced by 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) both in vivo and in vitro. This work studied the effect of reinnervation on 2,4-D myotonia. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 2,4-D at specific intervals following unilateral sciatic nerve crushing; the gastrocnemius muscle on both sides was studied electromyographically to assess myotonia and to document denervation and reinnervation. All the rats gradually became amyotonic following denervation; myotonia reappeared during reinnervation. Myotonic discharges were no longer detectable 1 week after nerve crushing, but returned completely within 3 weeks. Blocking axoplasmic transport with colchicine had essentially the same effect on myotonia. A reciprocal temporal relationship was noted between the occurrence of fibrillations and myotonic discharges. These findings substantiate the view that innervation is essential to maintain the muscle membrane in a state that will support myotonic discharges.
Comment on "prospective randomized clinical trial comparing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) (NCT00835250)" (doi:10.1007/s00464-012-2359-4).

I read with the interest the article by Noguera et al. [1] in which they describe a randomized trial of conventional laparoscopy and two hybrid NOTES approaches for cholecystectomy. The authors found no significant differences in outcomes among the three treatment groups. The authors are to be commended for the performance of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on this controversial topic. While one could quibble over the article’s minor nonadherence to the CONSORT Statement [2, 3], my primary criticism is that the authors made conclusions that have no basis. Here is a quote from the final paragraph of the Discussion section: ‘‘...it is safe to conclude that the transvaginal approach with the flexible endoscope is not inferior to conventional laparoscopy in either effectiveness or safety, and that the transumbilical approach with the flexible endoscope is as effective and safe as the transvaginal approach.’’ With 20 patients per group, this study was underpowered to make such a conclusion. Based on the authors’ own power analysis, the estimated sample size to see a difference of 1 versus 3 % in complication rates would have been 285 patients per group. Incidentally, these numbers would have been even higher if the authors wanted to rule out differences in bile duct injury. The authors stated that their study was done as a ‘‘pilot study,’’ since the calculated sample size was too high. While I would not accept such a statement as justification for an underpowered trial, my main objection is that the authors’ data do not support their conclusions. The only conclusion that can be drawn from this paper is simply this: in a trial of 60 women, no differences in outcome among three cholecystectomy techniques were observed. After this statement, the authors would have to make the concession that their study, by their own admission, was underpowered to make any conclusion that could be generalized beyond their 60-patient experience. To reiterate, it is not valid to extrapolate the data of this study and instruct the general readership that gallbladder technique A is not inferior to technique B, or that various techniques are safe and effective, and so forth. The other major concern that I have is why the data– conclusion incongruity was not corrected during the Surgical Endoscopy peer review process. This suggests an issue with the manuscript’s peer review. Unfortunately, we now have an article that has been vetted, published, and is searchable on the internet, a paper that contains the laudable ‘‘prospective randomized clinical trial’’ in its title, yet makes unfounded conclusions that could mislead surgeons and patients. The adequacy of planning, performing, and reporting surgical clinical trials has been under increasing scrutiny [4–6]. Unfortunately, it appears that this article is not helping this situation or surgical science in general.
THE USEFULNESS OF “OTHER” LOANS AS A CURRENT INDICATOR OF MOVEMENTS IN CONSUMER CREDIT

GIVEN THE ROLE that consumer credit plays in economic activity, a rapidly available indicator of current movements in consumer credit would be quite useful. Yet Federal Reserve estimates of aggregate consumer credit outstanding become available only after a lag of more than a month. This note has two objectives: (1) to call attention to the "Other" loans entry on the Federal Reserve Board's weekly reporting bank Statement of Condition, available after only a week's lag,' and (2) to show that this weekly series is a fairly consistent indicator of the direction and magnitude of changes in the more comprehensive monthly consumer credit series: consumer instalment credit at commercial banks, total consumer credit at commercial banks, and total consumer credit at all institutions (financial, retail, and service).
Reliability of amitriptyline dose prediction based on single‐dose plasma levels

To assess prospectively the predictability of therapeutic dosage based on tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) concentrations after a single dose, 30 subjects were given amitriptyline. In the first 11 subjects maintained on a fixed amitriptyline dose regimen, predictive capacities of 18- and 24-hr single-dose levels were assessed and confirmed in relation to steady-state levels. For the other 19 subjects, the dose that would achieve a therapeutic steady-state concentration of 200 ng/ml was predicted from the 18-hr single-dose level and was rapidly instituted. Subjects achieved a mean steady-state TCA level of 204 ng/ml, with approximately 90% of the levels falling within the therapeutic range. There was clinical improvement within 2 wk in 84% of the subjects. Our results suggest that dose prediction based on TCA levels after a single dose is reliable and useful.
On the possibility of quasi small-world nanomaterials

The possibility of materials that are governed by a fixed point related to small world networks is discussed. In particular, large-scale Monte Carlo simulations are performed on Ising ferromagnetic models on two different small-world networks generated from a one-dimensional spin chain. One has the small-world bond strengths independent of the length, and exhibits a finite-temperature phase transition. The other has small-world bonds built from atoms, and although there is no finite-temperature phase transition the system shows a slow powerlaw change of the effective critical temperature of a finite system as a function of the system size. An outline of a possible synthesis route for quasi small-world nanomaterials is presented.
Norms of Filial Responsibility for Aging Parents Across Time and Generations

This investigation examined the normative expectation that adult children should be responsible for the care of their aging parents, and how this norm changes over the adult life span, across several decades of historical time, in relation to generational position in families, and between successive generations. Analyses were performed using 4 waves of data from the University of Southern California (USC) Longitudinal Study of Generations between 1985 and 2000. A multilevel latent growth model was estimated using 4,527 observations from 1,627 individuals nested within 333 families. Results revealed that filial norms weakened after midlife, in response to parental death, and over historical time, yet strengthened in later-born generations. Findings are discussed in terms of the malleability of filial responsibility over the life course.
Information Systems and Public Planning

Persuaded that management information systems will help them achieve efficiency of operation and attain organizational goals, public planners, like those in the private sector, are eagerly embarking on ambitious feasibility studies and contracting for elaborate hardware and software systems. Since this effort is being undertaken in the service of the public, it is important to assess the social costs and benefits. The research focus of the work on which this paper is based is on information systems as entities in themselves and as components of a larger systems design. After analyzing the three discretely defined but operationally joined concepts, information, system, and the information system, we examine the four assumptions underlying the general acceptance of the information system as a management tool: 1 that more information leads to better plans or decisions; 2 that more and faster-moving information necessarily enhances “efficiency” of operation; 3 that greater “efficiency” is identical with better public service; and 4 that information systems are best conceived, designed, and controlled by “information experts,” whose talents are movable and ubiquitous. Information systems in public welfare, criminal justice, and land use are reviewed as cases in point, and the conclusion drawn that while there is no gainsaying the fact that in each area a body of organized information is essential to systematic analysis and planning, there exists considerable confusion between quantity and quality, between the necessary and the busy. So far, there is a lack of clarification not only as to the proper constitution of the information system but also about the qualifications of the “experts” designing them. Unfortunate as these matters are in raising the costs and lowering the benefits economic and social, as well, they have ominous implications when viewed in the light of the many-fronted encroachments by computerized information systems on individuals' right to privacy. The data bank and the dossier may be rationalized as means to efficiency, but they cannot be reconciled with democratic process and freedom from cradle-to-grave surveillance.
Difference-metric Viterbi decoding of multilevel class-IV partial-response signals

The paper describes the decoding of unconstrained L-ary signals (L/spl ges/2) transmitted over a noisy partial-response channel with transfer function 1-D/sup 2/. Signals received at even and odd sampling times are independently decoded in a pipeline fashion. After stating the known results for full-state maximum-likelihood sequence decoding, a 2-state decoding algorithm is introduced in which the difference between the metrics of the retained two most-likely states is iteratively computed. An analysis of its error-event probability shows that two types of error events are most likely, regular free-distance events and induced free-distance events. The latter cause only a rather small degradation of error performance compared to full-state decoding. In addition, the symbol-error probability for modulo-L encoded user symbols and decoding with finite decoding delay is computed. The 2-state decoder can be realized for arbitrary values of L with low hardware complexity. >
Fire Safety Aspects of Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulation materials and systems have an important role in the conservation of energy, in the economical maintenance of com fortable environments, and in the profitable operation of industr...
A Review of Experimental Progress in Gluonia

There has been considerable progress in gluonia investigations and their analysis. As requested by the Convenor, Rieh Galik, I will cover the highlights of various Conference papers and related work in an integrated manner which incorporates a review of the present State of glueballs (gluonia) to the extent space limitations allow.
Improvements in glucose tolerance with Bikram yoga in older obese adults: A pilot study

Bikram yoga is an exotic form of physical activity combining hatha yoga and thermal therapy that could positively impact metabolic health. Although this increasingly popular alternative exercise may be ideal for obese adults due to its low impact nature, few studies have elucidated the health benefits associated with it. As an initial step, we determined the effect of Bikram yoga on glucose tolerance. Fourteen young lean and 15 older obese subjects completed an 8-week Bikram yoga intervention in which classes were completed 3 times per week. Glucose tolerance was assessed using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The area under the glucose curve following the oral glucose tolerance test was significantly reduced as a result of the Bikram Yoga intervention in older obese (P < 0.05) but not in young lean subjects. We concluded that a short-term Bikram yoga intervention improved glucose tolerance in older obese, but not in young lean adults.
The impact of microsurgical hepatic arterial reconstruction on the outcome of liver transplantation for congenital biliary atresia

Background Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation for biliary atresia (BA) is a serious complication that most often leads to retransplantation (re-OLT). The purpose of the present study was: (1) to identify risk factors associated with HAT and (2) to analyze the impact of recently introduced microsurgical hepatic arterial reconstruction (MHR) on the incidence of HAT, subsequent need for re-OLT, and patient survival. Methods A retrospective review of 194 patients transplanted for BA was performed. One hundred and sixty-six patients (group 1) underwent conventional arterial reconstruction and 28 (group 2) had MHR. Results Actuarial survival for patients with HAT was significantly worse than for patients without HAT at 1, 2, and 5 years (71%, 61%, and 57% versus 85%, 85%, and 85%, P = 0.0007). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of HAT correlated best with the type of arterial reconstruction (P = 0.007) followed by pretransplant bilirubin concentration (P = 0.04) and the number of acute rejection episodes (P = 0.03). In group 1, 32 patients developed HAT (19%), and of these, 18 underwent re-OLT for HAT. No patient in group 2 developed HAT (P = 0.006 versus group 1). One-year actuarial patient survival was 81% in group 1 and 100% in group 2 (P = 0.02). Conclusions In OLT for BA, (1) the predominant risk factor for HAT is the technique of arterial reconstruction, and (2) MHR markedly reduces the incidence of HAT and the need for re-OLT while improving patient survival.
Extending the E-Z Reader Model of Eye Movement Control to Chinese Readers.

Chinese readers' eye movements were simulated in the context of the E-Z Reader model, which was developed to account for the eye movements of readers of English. Despite obvious differences between English and Chinese, the model did a fairly good job of simulating the eye movements of Chinese readers. The successful simulation suggests that the control of eye movements in reading Chinese is similar to that in an alphabetic language such as English.
An intelligent, fault tolerant, high power, distributed power system for massively parallel processing computers

An intelligent, high power distributed power system used in a massively parallel processing (MPP) computer is described. The 7.5 kW power system has high availability, redundancy, fault tolerance, battery back-up, and a user friendly graphical user interface (GUI). A diagnostic subsystem monitors and tests the operation of the power system to ensure the functionality of the redundant assemblies. >
Dynamic Self-Calibration in Collaborative Wireless Networks Using Belief Propagation with Gaussian Particle Filtering

Belief propagation (BP) is considered as a prominent information processing framework for wireless networks recently. However, infeasible computation and communication requirement involved in applications entailing non-discrete distributions limits its use in practical situations with resource constraints. In this paper, based on some previous work, we further investigate an effective approach to address the message representation/approximation problem in BP algorithms, exploiting the recently proposed Gaussian particle filtering technique. The effectiveness of our approach is testified through the dynamic self-calibration problem in wireless networks. This framework can also be readily extended to address various applications in general distributed networks.
Reactions During Milling of Aluminum Oxide

Exothermic reactions are observed at ∼400°C in alumina powders ball-milled in isopropanol. These are believed to be due to the oxidation of an Al2O3-alcohol reaction product formed during milling.
Eight ways to stay healthy after cancer: an evidence-based message

Purpose Since 1999, in conjunction with the internationally known and award-winning Your Disease Risk (yourdiseaserisk.org) risk assessment tool, the “Eight Ways to Stay Healthy and Prevent Cancer” message campaign has provided an evidence-based, but user-friendly, approach to cancer prevention. The scientific evidence behind the campaign is robust and while not a complete list, provides a great deal of benefit in the reduction of cancer risk. With 12 million cancer survivors in the United States, there is a need for a parallel set of recommendations that oncologists and primary care providers may routinely use for individuals following a cancer diagnosis focused on improving the quantity and quality of life after diagnosis. With increasing survival rates and many cancer survivors dying from noncancer causes, survivorship care necessarily focuses on more than just risk of cancer recurrence and cancer-related mortality.
Toxicological and pharmacological studies on sea anemone, Calliactis polypus (hormathiidae)

Tentacles of Calliactis polypus were homogenized and centrifuged, and the supernatant liquid was lyophilized. Mice receiving a phosphate buffer solution of the lyophilized material, ranging between 7.5 and 15.0 mg./kg. i.p., demonstrated a stuporous condition and respiratory distress; some died within 24 hr. The LD50 in mice was 32 mg./kg. Doses of 5–15 mg./kg. produced a decrease in the blood pressure and bradycardia. These effects were abolished by bilateral vagotomy and atropinization. With higher doses, various arrhythmias and ECG abnormalities were observed. When tested on isolated rabbit heart, the extract caused a decrease in heart rate, force of contraction, and rate of coronary outflow. The extract produced contraction in the isolated rabbit duodenum, guinea pig ileum, and rat uterus by parasympathetic stimulation. These effects were abolished by atropine.