Secure outsourcing of sequence comparisons

Internet computing technologies, like grid computing, enable a weak computational device connected to such a grid to be less limited by its inadequate local computational, storage, and bandwidth resources. However, such a weak computational device (PDA, smartcard, sensor, etc.) often cannot avail itself of the abundant resources available on the network because its data are sensitive. This motivates the design of techniques for computational outsourcing in a privacy-preserving manner, i.e., without revealing to the remote agents whose computational power is being used either one’s data or the outcome of the computation. This paper investigates such secure outsourcing for widely applicable sequence comparison problems and gives an efficient protocol for a customer to securely outsource sequence comparisons to two remote agents. The local computations done by the customer are linear in the size of the sequences, and the computational cost and amount of communication done by the external agents are close to the time complexity of the best known algorithm for solving the problem on a single machine.     

MATE1 Deficiency Exacerbates Dofetilide-Induced Proarrhythmia

Dofetilide is a rapid delayed rectifier potassium current inhibitor widely used to prevent the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and flutter. The clinical use of this drug is associated with increases in QTc interval, which predispose patients to ventricular cardiac arrhythmias. The mechanisms involved in the disposition of dofetilide, including its movement in and out of cardiomyocytes, remain unknown. Using a xenobiotic transporter screen, we identified MATE1 (SLC47A1) as a transporter of dofetilide and found that genetic knockout or pharmacological inhibition of MATE1 in mice was associated with enhanced retention of dofetilide in cardiomyocytes and increased QTc prolongation. The urinary excretion of dofetilide was also dependent on the MATE1 genotype, and we found that this transport mechanism provides a mechanistic basis for previously recorded drug-drug interactions of dofetilide with various contraindicated drugs, including bictegravir, cimetidine, ketoconazole, and verapamil. The translational significance of these observations was examined with a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model that adequately predicted the drug-drug interaction liabilities in humans. These findings support the thesis that MATE1 serves a conserved cardioprotective role by restricting excessive cellular accumulation and warrant caution against the concurrent administration of potent MATE1 inhibitors and cardiotoxic substrates with a narrow therapeutic window.     

Sulfated Nickel Zeolite Catalyst Characterization

Sulfated nickel/Y-zeolite catalyst has been prepared via impregnation technique. The incorporation of the prepared nickel sulfate precursor into the zeolite support structure has been investigated by using different characterization techniques. The activity and selectivity of the prepared sulfated nickel/Y-zeolite catalyst have been studied through cumene conversion reaction using a catalytic flow system operated under atmospheric pressure and at reaction temperature ranging between 300-425°C. The influence of sulfate species on promoting the catalytic activity toward the formation of the various products, mainly the heavy alkylated benzenes, has also been followed. The data obtained indicated that sulfate species play a dual role as a source of higher acidity and oxidizing character exerted from their induction effect on nickel metal and the hydration factor of the sulfuric acid used or the polynucleated sulfate species formed upon calcination.     

Orientational Order Parameter in Molecular Cryocrystals from Diffraction Intensities

A method for the determination of absolute values of orientational order parameter from diffraction intensities in molecular crystals is suggested and implemented for a few molecular cryocrystals. The method is based on an expansion of the scattering amplitude in spherical harmonics of molecular orientations. This method is applied for a few particular orientationally ordered cryocrystals of different crystal symmetries (α-nitrogen, α-oxygen, orientationally ordered J = 1 deuterium, and Ar-CO₂ mixed crystals). Prospectives of the method’s further applications are discussed.PACS numbers: 61.10 −i, 61.66 −f, 65.70 +y     

In vivo study of halothane hepatotoxicity in the rat using magnetic resonance imaging and 31P spectroscopy

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS), in vivo halothane hepatotoxicity was assessed in male Wistar rats. With 1.5% halothane in 100 or 20% O2, an edematous region, characterized by increased intensity on T2 weighted images and an increase in regional tissue water content (rho water), was seen proximal to the hepatic portal vein in the liver. Both spin-lattice relaxation (T1) and spin-spin relaxation (T2) increased in this region, relative to distal regions of the liver. Similarly, a high signal intensity on proton density weighted images was observed in this area. As halothane anaesthesia progressed, a decrease in the adenosine triphosphate-inorganic phosphate ratio (ATP/Pi) and an increase in the phosphomonoester-phosphodiester (PME/PDE) ratio was detected in the liver. In addition, intracellular pH decreased and intracellular free magnesium concentration [Mg2+] increased with time of exposure. Excessive vacuolation, ribosomal disappearance from rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial swelling and fragmentation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in samples from the edematous region of the liver.     

The alternate iron transport pathway: mobilferrin and integrin in reticulocytes

Iron transport in reticulocytes is known to occur via the well-described transferrin-receptor-endosome pathway. An alternative pathway for iron transport independent of transferrin has been postulated in reticulocytes and other cells. Transport of iron into reticulocytes from ferric citrate solutions was shown to be saturable and independent of transferrin. During transport of iron from ferric citrate, both cell surface integrins, and a soluble protein, mobilferrin, were labelled. This demonstrated that the reticulocyte transferrin independent pathway for iron transport involved integrins and mobilferrin similar to intestinal absorptive cells. This pathway would be expected to transport iron into cells under conditions of iron overload and was capable of providing iron for haemoglobin synthesis. Mobilferrin was also radiolabelled when radioiron labelled transferrin was incubated with reticulocytes and this occurred with a different time course than was observed following reticulocyte exposure to radiolabelled ferric citrate. This suggested that mobilferrin may serve as an intermediary in both pathways.     

Antioxidant protection and endocrine gland function in children in a petroleum industrial center

The article presents data on influence of technogenic environmental pollution and parents' occupational hazards on sex-matched physical development of preschoolers, their endocrine balance and antioxidant system. The identified features of physical development, endocrine state and antioxidant system prove higher sensitivity of girls to chemical hazards. Significance of the studied parameters necessitate their use in biologic and ecologic monitoring.     

Change in neutrophils in liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station

In result of own researches and analysis of the literature? the information about high sensitivity of neutrophils of peripheric blood to infringements of constancy of internal state of body, arising as reply to radiating influence, are received. Ionized radiation modulates greatly properties and functions of neutrophilic granulocytes, which are the most sensitive and high-modulated cells of non-specific resistance system. The changes of the functional-metabolic status of neutrophils in participants of liquidation of consequences of Chernobyl disaster have been saving during 10 years after influence of the extreme, including radiating, factors of failure.     

Thromboembolism after foot and ankle surgery. A multicenter study

Thromboembolic disease presents a potentially fatal complication to patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Although the incidence after hip and knee surgery has been studied and documented, its incidence after surgery of the foot and ankle is unknown. For this reason, a prospective multicenter study was undertaken to identify patients with clinically evident thromboembolic disease to evaluate potential risk factors. Two thousand seven hundred thirty-three patients were evaluated for preoperative risk factors and postoperative thromboembolic events. There were six clinically significant thromboembolic events, including four nonfatal pulmonary emboli, after foot and ankle surgery. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis was six of 2733 (0.22%) and that of nonfatal pulmonary emboli was four of 2733 (0.15%). Factors found to correlate with an increased incidence of deep vein thrombosis were nonweightbearing status and immobilization after surgery. On the basis of these results, routine prophylaxis for thromboembolic disease after foot and ankle surgery probably is not warranted.