cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epithelial seeding. Possible mechanism in regeneration of urothelium.

Abstract All epithelia regenerate by extension; for the urothelium it was suggested that another source was from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. In creating bladder defects in rabbits about 1 cm. in diameter, patched with prevesical fat, findings suggest that regeneration of the urothelium may take place from floating epithelial seeds transferred from intact epithelium.
Ramified recurrence with dependent types

We present a version of Godel's system T in which the types are ramified in the style of Leivant and a system of dependent typing is introduced. The dependent typing allows the definition of recursively defined types, where the recursion is controlled by ramification; these recursively defined types in turn allow the definition of functions by repeated iteration. We then analyze a subsystem of the full system and show that it defines exactly the primitive recursive functions. This result supports the view that when data use is regulated (for example, by ramification), standard function constructions are intimately connected with standard type-theoretic constructions.
Neural network based air traffic controller workload prediction

This paper develops a method which relates traffic data to workload situation in qualitative terms such as high, medium and low. The method is based on earlier research in image processing and pattern recognition that has identified measures of second-order statistics which characterize different regions within the image based on gray level patterns. For characterizing air traffic patterns, these measures have been computed using position and velocity of the aircraft within the airspace. In order to relate the patterns in terms of their statistics to the controller's assessment of the workload, a multilayer neural network has been used. Recorded air traffic data using the Center TRACON Automation System and controller's rating of the same data, have been used to train the neural network. It is shown that a trained neural network with statistical measures derived from the traffic as input can be used for predicting air traffic controllers workload that is in agreement with the qualitative assessment of their workload.
Familial correlates of risk: Application to the gershon and goldin NIMH pedigree data

Survival analysis of familial covariates of risk for affective illness demonstrated a significant effect on the proband's diagnosis when affection status included bipolar illness, but not major depressive disorder. A cohort effect was indicated only when broad spectra (including bipolar II and major depressive disorder) of illness were defined. Multifactorial analyses of familial correlations for affective illness evidenced neither sex-specific correlations nor prevalences. We suggest the examination of risk variables prior to undertaking familial analysis.
The 2.0 Å structure of human ferrochelatase, the terminal enzyme of heme biosynthesis

Human ferrochelatase (E.C. 4.99.1.1) is a homodimeric (86 kDa) mitochondrial membrane-associated enzyme that catalyzes the insertion of ferrous iron into protoporphyrin to form heme. We have determined the 2.0 A structure from the single wavelength iron anomalous scattering signal. The enzyme contains two NO-sensitive and uniquely coordinated [2Fe-2S] clusters. Its membrane association is mediated in part by a 12-residue hydrophobic lip that also forms the entrance to the active site pocket. The positioning of highly conserved residues in the active site in conjunction with previous biochemical studies support a catalytic model that may have significance in explaining the enzymatic defects that lead to the human inherited disease erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura—what is new?

A functional deficiency of ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif), a von-Willebrand factor (VWF) cleaving protease, is central to the pathogenesis of congenital and acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). ADAMTS13 testing has evolved from assays that required long denaturation and incubation times to ones that employ a modified recombinant VWF with improved standardization and turn around times. While plasma exchange is a mainstay in the treatment of TTP, increased use of rituximab, an antibody against CD20, has proved helpful in the treatment of patients with exacerbations and relapses. The next generation of drugs focuses on using recombinant ADAMTS13 and molecules that block the interaction of VWF and platelets to prevent thrombotic microangiopathy. The increased awareness and availability of ADAMTS13 testing has also made it possible to detect atypical presentations of TTP such as patients with macrovascular neurological symptoms without accompanying hematological findings as well as help diagnose other causes of thrombotic microangiopathies e.g. atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. The use of ADAMTS13 testing in the management of TTP should continue to grow especially with newer assays with greater sensitivity, reproducibility, and timelier availability.
The Preventable Harm Index: An Effective Motivator to Facilitate the Drive to Zero

N early a decade ago, the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report on the state of American Healthcare focused attention on the need to develop systems and processes to improve patient safety in hospitals. Although initially debated, it is now generally accepted that preventable medical errors are common and preventable deaths occur. In response to the IOM report, healthcare providers have implemented strategies and tactics, some adopted from industry, that create an organized approach to identifying and minimizing error. An issue that has generated significant discussion since the IOM report is preventable harm. This concept assumes that complications are not inevitable and many untoward outcomes are preventable. Although debate continues about how to define preventable versus inevitable harm, few people, including patients and their families, would question the value of striving to reduce or eliminate preventable harm where it is identified. We will describe a motivational tool, the preventable harm index (PHI), that we developed in our hospital to facilitate our drive to reduce preventable harm. By using the science of improvement, multiple authors have demonstrated important progress on specific and system-wide quality outcomes. However, the drive to zero preventable harm will likely require novel interventions, especially those that change hospital staff behaviors. Leape and Berwick point out, ‘‘the combination of complexity, professional fragmentation, and tradition of individualism, enhanced by a well-entrenched hierarchical authoritarian structure and diffuse accountability, forms a daunting barrier to creating the habits and beliefs of common purpose, teamwork, and individual accountability for successful interdependence that a safe culture requires.’’ Changing that kind of culture requires two essential ingredients: clear metrics for monitoring and effective motivation. The Ascension Health System began the journey to eliminate preventable harm in 2002 and recently summarized its efforts. It has not yet eliminated preventable harm, but did report significant reductions in hospital mortality rate. An essential part of its 8-stage process of change was the need to ‘‘establish a sense of urgency.’’ This message of urgency motivated staff, from senior physicians to junior administrative
HAEMODYNAMIC CONSEQUENCES OF CITRATE INFUSION IN THE ANAESTHETIZED DOG: COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO CITRATE SOLUTIONS AND THE INFLUENCE OF BETA BLOCKADE

We have compared the effects of a solution of acid—citrate—dextrose (ACD) with those of a solution of citrate—phosphate—dextrose (CPD), infused at equal rates, on blood calcium ion concentration and different indices of haemodynamic performance in 17 dogs. The influence of beta adrenergic blockade on these changes was examined. The effects of ACD and CPD were studied in five dogs and were similar. Peripheral vascular changes were the principal cause of arterial hypotension. In six dogs, propranolol 0.5mgkg−1 intensified the hypocalcaemia-induced left ventricular dysfunction.
In Vitro Fungistatic Activity of Stilbamidine, Propamidine, Pentamidine and Diethylstilbestrol1

With the demonstration of their trypanocidal action by Lourie and Yorke in 1939 (1), a group of aromatic diamidines, notably stilbamidine (4,4'-stilbenedi-carboxamidine), propamidine (p, p'-trimethylenedibenzamidine) and pentamidine (pp'-pentamethylenedibenzamidine) has found a wide use in the treatment of trypanosomiasis. Subsequent studies revealed that these compounds possess as well activity against other protozoans as babesias and leishmanias, bacteria and fungi. Their development was recently reviewed by Schoenbach and Greenspan (2).
Cost-Effectiveness of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Patients with Atypical Cytology for the Detection of Urothelial Carcinoma

Purpose: Patients with atypical cytology and equivocal or negative cystoscopy pose a challenge due to uncertainty about the presence of cancer. We determined the cost-effectiveness of using fluorescence in situ hybridization assays to determine the need for biopsy in patients with atypical cytology and equivocal or negative cystoscopy.Materials and Methods: Data from 2 large prospective studies evaluating the usefulness of fluorescence in situ hybridization in the setting of atypical cytology to detect urothelial carcinoma were combined. The data were used to calculate sensitivity and specificity for the UroVysion® fluorescence in situ hybridization assay in various clinical scenarios. Cost data were obtained from our institution and Medicare reimbursement rates. Evaluations with or without bladder biopsy and with or without upper tract evaluation were considered.Results: The study included 263 patients with atypical cytology and equivocal (62) or negative (201) cystoscopy. In patients with equivocal cyst...
Tensegrity, cellular biophysics, and the mechanics of living systems

The recent convergence between physics and biology has led many physicists to enter the fields of cell and developmental biology. One of the most exciting areas of interest has been the emerging field of mechanobiology that centers on how cells control their mechanical properties, and how physical forces regulate cellular biochemical responses, a process that is known as mechanotransduction. In this article, we review the central role that tensegrity (tensional integrity) architecture, which depends on tensile prestress for its mechanical stability, plays in biology. We describe how tensional prestress is a critical governor of cell mechanics and function, and how use of tensegrity by cells contributes to mechanotransduction. Theoretical tensegrity models are also described that predict both quantitative and qualitative behaviors of living cells, and these theoretical descriptions are placed in context of other physical models of the cell. In addition, we describe how tensegrity is used at multiple size scales in the hierarchy of life—from individual molecules to whole living organisms—to both stabilize three-dimensional form and to channel forces from the macroscale to the nanoscale, thereby facilitating mechanochemical conversion at the molecular level.
A Rankin-Selberg integral for the adjoint representation of GL3

In this paper we construct steps 1, 4 and par t of 2 as formulated at [G-Sh, p. 19] for the funct ion L(s, ~, r). Here ~ is a cusp form on G L a and r is the eight dimensional adjoint representa t ion of G L a, the L-group of G L 3. To do so we construct a Rankin-Selberg integral, using the embedding of SL 3 in Gz. Let us ment ion tha t the Langland ' s conjucture for this L-function can not be obta ined by the Langlands-Shahid i method. The paper is organized as follows. In the first section we collect some informat ion on the s t ructure of Gz and compute the space of double cosets P\Gz/SL3, where P is a maximal parabol ic subgroup of G2. In Sect. two, the global integral is const ructed and is shown to be Euler ian with Whi t t ake r model. Finally, in Sect. three, we carry out the unramif ied computa t ion using the local computa t ion of the integral for GL3 x GL3 as const ructed in I-J-S]. For simplicity we shall assume tha t rc has a trivial central character .
Assessment of lead health hazards in a body shop of an automobile assembly plant.

This study of an occupationally lead-exposed group in the automobile assembly industry (body shop employees) has provided information with regard to current and recent lead-exposure levels characteristic for these operations. Comparison with findings in other, previously studied occupational groups (secondary smelter workers) indicated that current and recent lead exposure was significantly lower in the autobody shop employees. Prevalence of symptoms was found to be higher than in a control, non-lead-exposed group of maintenance workers in the same plant, but the differences reached the level of statistical significance only sporadically. Long-term effects on renal function, as reflected in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels, were documented to be significant in this group of autobody shop employees. When compared with two secondary lead smelter populations previously studied, correlations between indicators of renal function, BUN and creatinine, and duration of lead exposure were consistently higher in the secondary lead smelter populations than in the group of autobody shop employees, although duration of lead exposure was greater in the latter. These findings are consistent with a dose-response relationship with regard to renal function impairment due to lead absorption. An increased prevalence of hypertension, especially diastolic, was also found, probably the consequence of renalmore » effect.« less
Evaluation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency of pesticidal substances produced in plants

Abstract The legislative mandates and proposed scope of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulation of pesticides produced in plants are described. The first three Experimental Use Permits (EUPs) granted by EPA for field testing of plant-pesticides were for delta endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis expressed in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). In each instance, an environmental-fate assessment by the Agency found no significant risk of gene expression beyond the spatial and temporal limits of the proposed field tests.
ASSESSMENT OF ULTRASONIC COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN SYMPTOMATIC BREAST PATIENTS BY DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS

From 95 subjects imaged with both speed of sound and attenuation ultrasonic computed tomography (UCT), quantitative analyses are presented on 40 cases where unequivocal correlating clinical diagnoses are available. Using four attenuation and speed of sound parameters from different regions of interest in the breast, a linear discriminator detects cancer with approximately 90% sensitivity and specificity. Increased confidence in the predictive power of this small study is given by a modern test of predictive power (jackknifing) and by the fact that diagnostic discrimination remains as high as 85% when only two parameters are employed--attenuation and speed of sound in the lesion minus those values in the remaining central mammary tissues. Speed of sound images appear particularly useful in older, fatty breasts where pulse echo ultrasound is particularly lacking. While UCT in the form studied here is not likely to receive wide clinical acceptance in the near future, a combined UCT/pulse echo system might find wide clinical utility if it can be sufficiently convenient and inexpensive.
Role of brain acetylcholine in vasopressin release during osmotic stimulation and hemorrhage

There is considerable evidence to suggest that there is a cholinergic link in the neural control of vasopressin release, but the precise role for this link has not been adequately demonstrated in the intact animal. We have, therefore, examined in conscious unrestrained rats the effects of central cholinergic blockade on the stimulation of vasopressin release by increased plasma osmotality (iv infusion of 2.5 M NaCl at 0.1 mg/kg body weight · min for 30 min) and by decreased blood volume (2 successive hemorrhages of 10% of blood volume each). The vasopressin responses to these stimuli were unaffected by either intracerebroventricular (icv) atropine (10 μg; muscarinic blockade) or icv hexamethonium (10 μg; nicotinic blockade) in doses which block the vasopressin responses to icv cholinergic agonists. The implications of these findings are discussed.
The effects of acid treatment on the thermoelectric power of multiwalled carbon nanotubes synthesized by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Acid treatment of carbon nanotubes is a post synthesis processing step used to clean carbon nanotubes. We show that exposure of the nanotubes to oxygen rich reagents including nitric and sulfuric acid results in an increase of the thermoelectric power. Improving dispersion through the use of the surfactant triton-x results in a further increase in TEP of up to 21%. Additionally, refluxing in an oxygen rich acidic solution results in improved dispersion and an increased TEP. These results indicate that improved dispersion of the nanotubes by either sonication or reflux leads to increased oxygenation and thermopower.
On the collapse of inelastic tubes under combined bending and pressure

Abstract The response and stability of long, relatively thick-walled metal tubes under combined bending and external pressure were studied through combined experimental and numerical efforts. The experiments involved stainless steel 304 tubes with nominal diameter to thickness ratios of 34.7 and 24.5. Curvature-pressure interaction collapse envelopes were generated for two different loading paths involving bending followed by pressure and pressure followed by bending. The tube response, the critical collapse loads and the nature of the instabilities observed were found to depend on the loading path. A suitable formulation of the problem based on the principle of virtual work was used to numerically simulate the experiments. The J 2 flow rule of plasticity was used to model the inelastic material behavior. The analysis successfully reproduced the limit load type of instabilities which govern the problem in the range of diameter to thickness ratios of interest.
Limits of spatial and compositional resolution of electron energy loss spectroscopy of soft materials

Abstract We investigate the spatial resolution limit of low electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) for imaging of electron beam sensitive materials, particularly for the case of composite materials that undergo phase separation. In order to make optimum use of the information contained in noisy spectra we modify the multiple least squares (MLS) fitting algorithm, which is widely used for fitting experimental spectra with a linear combination of reference spectra. Our approach, which uses the iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) routine, allows one to accommodate the non-constant variance in the noise. Assuming that the noise has a Poisson distribution we examine the performance of IRLS fitting. We introduce a parameter that reflects the difference between the spectra of the material components and computationally examine the relation between this parameter and the accuracy of the fitting algorithm. Use of this parameter allows us to derive an equation that relates the spatial resolution of imaging and the achievable level of composition uncertainty, for an ideal detector, based on the experimental parameters. These parameters include not only irradiation exposure, the difference between the spectra and the thickness of the sample but also the composition of the sample. The results presented will guide the proper choice of experimental conditions to obtain the best quality data from radiation sensitive materials.
JPEG ringing artifact visibility evaluation

To achieve high perceptual quality of compressed images, many objective image quality metrics for compression artifacts evaluation and reduction have been developed based on characterization of local image features. However, it is the end user who is judging the image quality in various applications, so the validation of how well these metrics predict human perception is important and necessary. In this paper, we present a preliminary psychophysics experiment method to capture human perception of local ringing artifacts in JPEG images with different severity levels. Observers are asked to annotate the compressed image where they perceive artifacts along the edges, directly on the screen using an interactive tablet display. They are asked to catalog the severity of artifacts into one of the three levels: Strong, Medium, and Light. We process the hand-marked data into a ringing visibility edge map showing a ringing severity mean opinion score (MOS) at every edge pixel. The perceptual information captured in this experiment, enables us to study the correlation between human perception and local image features, which is an important step towards the goal of developing a non-reference (NR) objective metric to predict the visibility of JPEG ringing artifacts in alignment with the assessments of human observers.
Electromagnetic Coupling in a dc Motor and Tachometer Assembly

This paper presents an enhanced tachometer model that takes into account the effect of electromagnetic coupling that can exist between the actuator and sensor in an integrated dc motortachometer assembly, where the conventional model is found to be inadequate. The tachometer dynamics identified in this paper is experimentally verified, and incorporated in the modeling and parameter identification of a motion system that has multiple flexible elements. It is shown that the tachometer dynamics contributes additional nonminimum phase zeros that degrade the servo system performance in terms of closed-loop bandwidth, disturbance rejection and sensitivity to modeling uncertainty. The zeros of the open loop system are found to vary with the geometric parameters of the motor-tachometer assembly. Based on the insight gained by modeling the electromagnetic coupling, methods for eliminating it and its resulting detrimental effects are also suggested. @DOI: 10.1115/1.1789543#
An effect of coupling strength between the elements in a mapping system: possibility of different routes to chaos

Abstract A coupled Ikeda mapping is used to study the effect induced by increasing the coupling strenght between the elements. Evidence for a new transition to chaos is shown. As the coupling strength is increased, the pitchfork bifurcation cascade will be replaced by a S-C transition, i.e. a transition between a symmetrical solution and a “chaotic” solution. The probability distribution within the chaotic regime is utilized to characterize the onset of such a transition. A qualitative interpretation is also given.
Intestinal β-glucosidase activity is not induced by chronic ingestion of pyridoxine-β-D-glucoside in rats

Abstract These studies were conducted to determine whether the bioavailability of pyridoxine-β-D-glucoside (PN-glucoside) as a source of vitamin B6 is related to a possible induction of intestinal β-glucosidase activity by chronic ingestion of PH-glucoside. Diets that were deficient (no added vitamin B6) or marginally adequate [1 mg/kg pyridoxine (PN) as PN-HCl] in vitamin B6 and containing graded levels of PN-glucoside (0, 5, 10 and 15 nmol/g) were fed to rats for a period of four weeks. β-glucosidase activity was measured on the 20,000 x g supernatant fraction of scraped mucosa using [ 3 H]PN-glucoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl glucoside (MUG) as substrates. After four weeks of dietary treatment, plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) levels in rats fed the deficient diets were found to increase with increasing levels of dietary PN-glucoside, indicating that PN-glucoside was partially utilized. However, the specific activity of the β-glucosidase as monitored with either substrate was not correlated with the level of dietary PN-glucoside that was fed, regardless of the vitamin B6 status of the animals. These results indicate that the conversion of PN-glucoside to pyridoxine by the intestinal β-glucosidase is not an inducible activity with respect to dietary PN-glucoside. The results are consistent with previous findings that the relative bioavailability of PN-glucoside in the rat, albeit incomplete, is relatively constant regardless of its dietary concentration.
The effect of the length of list on characteristics of the serial position curve

Groups of 42 Ss learned serial lists of 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20 items. Linear functions were fitted to the five serial-position curves and were used to show that the relative speed of learning items at both ends of the lists was not affected by the length of the list, and that the relative position of the point of maximum difficulty decreases as a function of the length of the list.
Human genetics: Dr Watson's base pairs.

The application of new technology to sequence the genome of an individual yields few biological insights. Nonetheless, the feat heralds an era of 'personal genomics' based on cheap sequencing.
The Effects of Involvement on E-Satisfaction Models

E-tailing has changed the fundamental structure of marketing channels and consumer behavior. At the same time, consumer satisfaction is becoming even more critical to the survival and growth of e-tailers as they face both traditional and nontraditional competition. The two main objectives of this study are to find: (a) whether the disconfirmation model or the perceived performance model is better to explain the satisfaction of e-shopping for the high involvement decision group and the low involvement decision group, and (b) the relationship between the level of e-satisfaction and the probability of shopping at the same e-tailer for these two groups. The study found that for both low involvement and high involvement cases, the performance model clearly was superior to the disconfirmation model. The results also supported the relationships between e-shopping satisfaction and purchase intention in both levels of involvement.
Optimal control of a system governed by an elliptic partial differential equation

Abstract In this paper, we consider the existence and uniqueness of a state constrained boundary control problem governed by an elliptic partial differential equation with twice differentiable conditions on the state constraint. A linear reformulation of the minimax control problem has advantages which are enhanced by considering the implications of the continuous and discrete maximum principles. The continuous optimality conditions of the linear reformulation of the control problem are developed and stated in an algebraic setting.
The massless limit of supersymmetric QCD

Abstract We construct an effective lagrangian for supersymmetric QCD, using a simple set of rules. The model with non-zero quark mass, m q , has at least N supersymmetric vacua, where N is the number of colors (in agreement with Witten's index). These vacua move to infinity as m q → 0. We study the possibility of supersymmetric breaking at m q = 0.
Late complications in branch retinal vein occlusion

Neovascularization in branch retinal vein occlusion usually develops 6–12 months after the onset of the disease, although some cases have been reported in which neovascularization and subsequent vitreous haemorrhage developed 2–3 years later. This is a report of nine cases of late appearance of vitreous haemorrhage due to branch retinal vein occlusion, which occurred 3–6 years after the initial onset of the disease. In two of these nine cases the vitreous haemorrhage was very profound and had to be managed by vitrectomy. We have studied the remaining seven cases, which had retinal ischaemia and optic disc or retinal neovascularization documented by fluorescein angiographic examination. Laser coagulation was applied in these seven cases, which resulted in considerable regression of the neovascularization and absorption of the vitreous haemorrhage. In one out of the seven cases recurrent vitreous haemorrhages appeared and it was finally treated by vitrectomy. Visual acuity improved in six of the seven cases. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 48 months. The late appearance of the ischaemic type of branch retinal vein occlusion with neovascularization can be attributed to the change in character of the initially mild oedematous form of the disease. Partial posterior vitreous detachment and traction exerted at some later stage upon the neovascularization could be additional factors of the late appearance of vitreous haemorrhage. Patients with branch retinal vein occlusion should be followed up regularly over a long period of time in order to avoid late complications of the disease, such as vitreous haemorrhage following optic disc or retinal neovascularization.
Strength characteristics modeling of lateritic soils using adaptive neural networks

Laterite, as a soil group rather than a particular material, is more commonly found in the leached soils of humid tropics. It is difficult to assess the strength parameters of lateritic soils from the existing literature due to variability in test methods, degree of compaction, and actual soil characteristics. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) has been suggested as a more realistic basis for evaluating the quality and strength of lateritic soils and gravels for their use in pavement construction. This paper examines the use of neural networks, especially, generalized adaptive neural networks, for modeling the field strength characteristics based on CBR, and compares the results to a more traditional back-propagation neural network approach. It is found that both methods are fairly applicable in strength characteristics modeling of lateritic soils. However, the generalized adaptive neural network seems to be more successful in its predictive capability, and demonstrates that few input variables are needed to determine the strength characteristics of lateritic soils. The input data to the adaptive neural network include the index properties, field density and moisture content.
Potential for expanders in a mobile carbon dioxide air-conditioning system

Three possible automotive CO 2 air-conditioning system configurations were simulated over the full range of vehicle operating conditions. These include a baseline cycle with an internal heat exchanger (IHX), an expander cycle, which is simply a baseline cycle without an IHX and with a turbine replacing the expansion valve, and finally an expander cycle with an IHX. It was found that the highest coefficient of performance was achieved using the expander cycle, with 30-45 per cent improvement over the baseline cycle, followed by the expander cycle with the IHX, and then the baseline cycle. However, when the capacity was investigated, the expander cycle resulted in the lowest capacity for all gas cooler refrigerant outlet temperatures. The cycle with the IHX and the work-recovering expander had the highest capacity followed by the baseline cycle. Based on the above, the IHX is a fundamental component in the CO 2 systems and cannot be simply eliminated if an expander is used in the system. It was also found through simulation that up to 57 per cent of compressor work can be recovered in cycle 2, and 30 per cent in cycle 3 using an expander, compared with only 18 per cent in current production R-134a systems.
Using global bag of features models in random fields for joint categorization and segmentation of objects

We propose to bridge the gap between Random Field (RF) formulations for joint categorization and segmentation (JCaS), which model local interactions among pixels and superpixels, and Bag of Features categorization algorithms, which use global descriptors. For this purpose, we introduce new higher order potentials that encode the classification cost of a histogram extracted from all the objects in an image that belong to a particular category, where the cost is given as the output of a classifier when applied to the histogram. The potentials efficiently encode the classification costs of several histograms resulting from the different possible segmentations of an image. They can be integrated with existing potentials, hence providing a natural unification of global and local interactions. The potentials' parameters can be treated as parameters of the RF and hence be jointly learnt along with the other parameters of the RF. Experiments show that our framework can be used to improve the performance of existing JCaS algorithms.
Sialolithiasis in a residual Wharton's duct after excision of a submandibular salivary gland

Treatment of salivary stones includes both surgical and non-surgical techniques. Surgical approaches range from excision of the sialolith, for those near the duct orifice, to removal of the affected salivary gland and its associated duct, for stones near the hilum of the gland. We present a case of two sialoliths triggering an acute infection in a residual Wharton's duct, 12 years after the removal of the associated submandibular gland. Excision of the sialoliths and treatment of the infected duct via sialodochoplasty was successfully performed in this patient. If the Wharton's duct is not removed with the associated submandibular gland, the potential for infection and continuous growth of dormant calcifications exists. We also address the aetiology, pathogenesis, and management of patients with sialolithiasis in the absence of a major salivary gland.
GaAs junction field effect transitors for low‐temperature environments

Thermal, electrical, and noise characteristics of a GaAs junction FET are described. Low voltage noise [1.5±0.2 nV/(Hz)1/2 at T =4.2 K] and insensitivity to temperature change in the range 1.3⩽T ⩽300 K make it suitable for low‐temperature applications.
Rational Chebyshev series for the Thomas-Fermi function: Endpoint singularities and spectral methods

We solve the Thomas-Fermi problem for neutral atoms, u"y"y-(1/y)u^3^/^2=0 on y@?[0,~] with u(0)=1 and u(~)=0, using rational Chebyshev functions TL"n(y;L) to illustrate some themes in solving differential equations on a semi-infinite interval. L is a user-choosable numerical parameter. The Thomas-Fermi equation is singular at the origin, giving a TL convergence rate of only fourth order, but this can be removed by the change of variables, z=y with v(z)=u(y(z)). The function v(z) decays as z->~ with a term in z^-^3, which is consistent with a geometric rate of convergence. However, the asymptotic series has additional terms with irrational fractional powers beginning with z^-^4^.^5^4^4. In spite of the faster spatial decay, the irrational powers degrade the convergence rate to slightly larger than tenth order. This vividly illustrates the subtle connection between the spatial decay of u(x) and the decay-with-degree of its rational Chebyshev series. The TL coefficients a"n(L) are hostages to a tug-of-war between a singularity on the negative real axis, which gives a geometric rate of convergence that slows with increasingL, and the slow inverse power decay for large z, which gives quasi-tenth order convergence with a proportionality constant that decreasesinversely as a power of L. For L=2, we can approximate u"y(0) (=v"z"z(0)) to 1 part in a million with a truncation N of only 20. L=64 and N=600 gives u"y(0)=-1.5880710226113753127186845, correct to 25 decimal places.
Teaching writing in the Republic of Colombia, 1800–1850

This article examines the enduring importance of handwriting in the early republic of Colombia. Colonial practice informed writing instruction but Colombians re‐established it in national terms from the 1820s onward. Teaching writing became a critical tool of state formation: an ideal republic of virtuous functionaries depended on uniform handwriting. “Colombian penmanship” measured teacher effectiveness and student performance. Annual public school examinations enforced new political authority and social continuity. Writing samples expressed gender values, imagining boys as faithful citizens and hard workers, girls as graceful wives and dutiful daughters. Yet Colombian schools expected both boys and girls to perfect their penmanship to best express the virtues of good marriage, true friendship and lasting loyalty. Research in the Archivo General de la Nacion (Bogota, Colombia) Fondo de Ministerio de la Instruccion Publica forms the basis of this study.
Five‐year survival after extended resection of colon cancer

Eleven cases of prolonged survival after extensive resection of colon cancer including neighboring structures are presented. Our understanding of colon cancer as a rapidly invasive but slowly metastasizing tumor has provided the rationale for this approach. Techniques of ureteral and abdominal wall reconstruction are presented. Cures are possible with this approach, and without the availability of adequate chemotherapy aggressive resections remain the mainstay of treatment.
Brightness and contrast adjustments for different tissue densities in digital chest radiographs

Digital chest radiographs are often too bright and/or lack contrast when viewed on a video display. This is often seen when the radiographs are taken of patients with dense lungs, have incorrect X-ray exposure technique or have inappropriate image pre-processing performed by the image acquisition system (CR system or laser scanner). This paper describes a method which can automatically provide brightness and contrast adjustments to selectively enhance either soft or dense tissues. This reduces viewer interaction and improves displayed image quality. An algorithm has been developed to analyze the gray-level histogram of a chest radiograph and determine the breakpoints that separate: (1) the region outside the patient (background), (2) the radiographically soft tissues, and (3) the radiographically dense tissues. From these breakpoint values, a series of piecewise linear look-up tables (LUTs) are generated to selectively enhance either the soft tissues or the dense tissues. This is performed by (1) varying the contrast in the patient background to achieve the desired overall brightness, (2) selectively increasing the contrast of the tissue region of interest, and (3) reducing or maintaining the contrast of the remaining region. The resulting LUTs are applied to the original image via video display.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Alexithymia: Towards validation and measurement

Abstract Patients with alexithymia are unable to describe feelings appropriately, show improverished dream and fantasy life, and present an inert cognitive style (“pensee operatoire”). Psychiatric outpatients ( N = 178) were rated for alexithymia. A factor analysis identified four factors: (1) the principal factor reflected difficulties in handling emotions and “pensee operatoire”; (2) the second factor suggests communication problems, both verbal and non-verbal; (3) the third factor indicates educational achievements; and (4) the last factor reflects psychosomatic illness, and lack of dreams and fantasies, but it is poorly defined. Target populations which may score high on alexithymia include drug-dependent and pain-prone persons, and patients with psychosomatic illness, and borderline, compulsive, and narcissistic personalities. A revision of the alexithymia questionnaire is indicated and is underway.
Sodium metabolism of the freshwater cyprinodont,Fundulus catenatus

1. Transfer of the freshwater cyprinodont,Fundulus catenatus, into 40% sea water caused a slow rise in serum sodium levels, total body sodium, and the rate of sodium efflux. 2. Serum sodium levels were first reduced by expanding sodium space. In some cases the animals eventually brought sodium parameters (except efflux) back to fresh water levels; in other cases the sodium space remained expanded. 3. Transfer of animals adapted to 40% sea water on to 52% or 65% sea water caused a second rise in the sodium load and expansion of the sodium space. The animals could not survive indefinitely in 65% sea water. 4. Water permeability first decreased, and then increased after transfer into saline. The chenges in water permeability correlated roughly with changes in serum cortisol levels. 5. The animals remained hyposmotic to the environment in both 40% and 65% sea water and drank sufficient sea water to stay in positive water balance. They were not able carry out a net excretion of sodium in salinities above 40% sea water.
Using animal models to disentangle the role of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences on behavioral outcomes associated with maternal anxiety and depression.

The etiology of complex psychiatric disorders results from both genetics and the environment. No definitive environmental factor has been implicated, but studies suggest that deficits in maternal care and bonding may be an important contributing factor in the development of anxiety and depression. Perinatal mood disorders such as postpartum depression (PPD) occur in approximately 10% of pregnant women and can result in detriments in infant care and bonding. The consequences of impaired maternal-infant attachment during critical early brain development may lead to adverse effects on socioemotional and neurocognitive development in infants resulting in long-term behavioral and emotional problems, including increased vulnerability for mental illness. The exact mechanisms by which environmental stressors such as poor maternal care increase the risk for psychiatric disorders are not known and studies in humans have proven challenging. Two inbred mouse strains may prove useful for studying the interaction between maternal care and mood disorders. BALB/c (BALB) mice are considered an anxious strain in comparison to C57BL/6 (B6) mice in behavioral models of anxiety. These strain differences are most often attributed to genetics but may also be due to environment and gene by environment interactions. For example, BALB mice are described as poor mothers and B6 mice as good mothers and mothering behavior in rodents has been reported to affect both anxiety and stress behaviors in offspring. Changes in gene methylation patterns in response to maternal care have also been reported, providing evidence for epigenetic mechanisms. Characterization of these two mouse inbred strains over the course of pregnancy and in the postpartum period for behavioral and neuroendocrine changes may provide useful information by which to inform human studies, leading to advances in our understanding of the etiology of anxiety and depression and the role of genetics and the environment.
Cloning and expression of murine CYP2Cs and their ability to metabolize arachidonic acid.

Five murine cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C cDNAs were cloned and characterized, including four new members of this subfamily: CYP2C37, CYP2C38, CYP2C39, and CYP2C40. The cDNAs ranged from 1716 to 1812 bp in length and encoded polypeptides of 490 amino acid residues except for CYP2C40, which contained an additional glutamic acid residue at the carboxyl terminus. The amino acid identity of the murine CYP2Cs ranged from 69 to 92%, while the overall amino acid identity was 60%; however, within the six putative substrate recognition sites the identity was only 25 to 41%, suggesting possible differences in substrate specificity and product profiles. The CYP2C cDNAs were expressed in Escherichia coli following modification of the N-terminus. All five recombinant CYP2Cs metabolized arachidonic acid, but with different metabolic profiles and catalytic rates. Based on coelution with authentic standards on reverse-phase HPLC, themajor metabolites were tentatively identified asfollows: CYP2C29 and CYP2C39 produced 14, 15-cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET); CYP2C37 produced 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE); CYP2C38 produced 11,12-EET; and CYP2C40 produced an unidentified metabolite that coeluted with 16-,17-, and 18-HETEs. The turnover numbers for CYP2C29, CYP2C37, CYP2C38, CYP2C39, and CYP2C40 were 0.34, 1.12, 5.15, 0.51, and 0.15 nmol/nmol/min, respectively. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the presence of CYP2C29 mRNA in liver as well as in extrahepatic tissues including brain, kidney, lung, heart, and intestine. CYP2C38 and CYP2C40 were found in liver, brain, kidney, and intestine, with trace amounts in lung and heart, while CYP2C37 and CYP2C39 appeared to be liver specific.
Effect of Thiouracil–Induced Hypothyroidism on the Humoral Immunity of New Hampshire Chickens

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of feeding a diet containing .1% thiouracil to two lines of New Hampshire chickens differing in growth rate and relative bursa size. Body weight, serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine, and thyroxine were reduced by the thiouracil treatment. The primary total anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) titer in Experiment 1 was higher for thiouracil-fed (TF) chicks at 7 days postprimary immunization (PPI). In Experiment 2, the total anti-SRBC titers were higher for control chicks 3 days PPI; but from 5 to 10 days PPI, TF chicks had higher titers. During the secondary response in both experiments, the total anti-SRBC titers were not consistently higher for one dietary group over the other from 3 to 10 days postimmunization. Mercaptoethanol-resistant antibody titers were not significantly different between the two dietary groups in either experiment during the primary and secondary responses. Thiouracil-fed chicks had higher immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) concentrations in serum during both the primary and secondary responses in Experiment 2. Although there was no genotype effect on antibody production to SRBC, serum immunoglobulins were different between lines. Small bursa line (SBL) chickens had higher serum IgG while the IgM concentrations of chicks from the Lester J. Dreesen strain were greater than those of SBL.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) stimulation of DNA synthesis by human bone marrow cells.

Abstract Addition of 20 to 200 μg/ml of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) to short term cultures of normal human bone marrow cells increases DNA synthesis only if human serum is present. Although NAD derivatives; reduced (NADH) and phosphorylated (NADP and NADPH) are equally effective, the components of NAD, Nicotinamide (NA) and Adenine (Ad) have no effect or reduce DNA synthesis at high concentrations. When malignant cells are tested; acute myeloblastic leukemia cell division is unaffected or reduced by NAD, NA or Ad.
Brief report: Parents’ life events and substance use among German adolescent girls: testing a family mediation model

In this cross-sectional study, data from 202 German adolescent girls (ages 13-17 years) and their parents were utilized to test whether the relationship between parents' stressful life events and their daughter's substance use was mediated by higher levels of parents' depressive symptoms, lower quality of the relationship between the parents, and poor parenting behaviour. Structural equation modelling revealed that these family characteristics did not account for the link between parents' stressful life events and adolescent girl's substance use. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms that account for such linkages.
Materials Science Reflection Spectrophotometry of Facial Skin

The color of human skin of 241 whites, blacks, and orientals was measured by reflection spectrophotometry. Among these groups, major differences in luminous reflectance and excitation purity, but not in dominant wavelength, were observed. The twin absorption bands of oxyhemoglobin at 540 and 580 nm were more prominent in whites (particularly females) than in orientals or blacks. Parameters determined for Source A were higher than those for Source C.