cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecularly Targeted Therapies in Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndromes

New technologies have improved our understanding of hematopoietic and leukemia biology, and expanding knowledge of underlying molecular pathways and genomic aberrations is facilitating the development of new therapies for relapsed and refractory disease (Bhojwani et al. 2006; Carroll et al. 2006). Myelodysplasia and associated syndromes constitute a broad range of bone marrow dysfunction, characterized by variable clinical features; cytopenias due to bone marrow production and/or dysfunction and insufficiencies are typical. Clinical symptoms are frequently due to anemia, neutropenia, and/or thrombocytopenia, and transfusion dependence is common although not universal. The progression from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) to leukemia, particularly in children, is unequivocal, although the time course over which this occurs is highly variable. Risk factors for progression and lability of disease have been identified, and great effort is being made to identify the molecular triggers in MDS that are both causative and clinically relevant.
Pelvic Ultrasound Parameters of Long-Acting Depot Formulation of Leuprorelin in the Treatment of Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty in Girls.

Objective The present study was designed to compare the changes in ovarian and uterine parameters in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) before and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) treatment to determine which sensitive indexes effectively reflect the therapeutic effect. Methods Sixty girls diagnosed with ICPP were enrolled in the present study. Relevant data were recorded before treatment. Leuprorelin acetate microspheres were injected at a dose of 30-180 μg/(kg four weeks). Relevant parameters were measured and recorded every three months. Changes in each parameter were analyzed to evaluate the clinical effect of leuprorelin in the treatment of girls with ICPP. Results 1) The height grew at a constant rate. 2) The breasts retracted. 3) Changes in pelvic parameters: the volume of the ovary and uterus and major axes of the ovary, uterus, and cervix were reduced; there were no significant changes in vaginal thickness or the uterine fundal-cervical ratio (FCR). 4) Body mass index (BMI) increased. Conclusion Pelvic ultrasound is helpful in evaluating the efficacy of GnRHA treatment. The changes of ovarian volume and the major axes of the ovary, uterus, cervix can be used as sensitive observation indexes.
Alcohol-related cognitions: Implications for concurrent alcohol and marijuana use and concurrent alcohol and prescription stimulant misuse among young adults.

Abstract Introduction This study examined the associations between alcohol-related cognitions within the social reaction pathway of the Prototype Willingness Model and concurrent (use of two or more substances within a specified time period) use of 1) alcohol and marijuana and 2) alcohol and prescription stimulant misuse. Methods A convenience sample of 1,062 emerging adults in the U.S. (18–20 years old; 54.5% female) who reported past 3-month alcohol use completed a baseline survey as part of a larger randomized controlled trial. Results Results indicate that controlling for age, biological sex, race, ethnicity, and college enrollment, perceived descriptive norms and willingness to drink were associated with past 3-month concurrent alcohol and marijuana use and concurrent alcohol and prescription stimulant misuse. However, alcohol prototype similarity and alcohol-related perceived vulnerability were not associated with either concurrent use outcome examined. Discussion These findings suggest that alcohol-related perceived descriptive norms and willingness to drink are associated with concurrent substance use among young adults. Thus, it is possible that existing efficacious alcohol interventions that target descriptive norms and willingness to drink may have the added benefit of also reducing concurrent substance cognitions and ultimately use.
A Unified Depletion/Inversion Model for Heterojunction Trigate FinFETs DC Characteristics

This paper presents a comprehensive $I-V$ model for the evaluation of above threshold DC characteristics of trigate AlGaN/GaN FinFETs for both depletion and inversion mode of operations. For the depletion mode, 2DEG carrier concentration, $n_{s}$ , is evaluated considering the trigate geometry of the device, which is then used to assess drain current $(I_{\text {2D}})$ for both the linear as well as the saturation region of operations. At a relatively higher gate bias, where the 2DEG is fully un-depleted, a significant rise in the drain current is observed which is associated with the creation of two additional side channels in the GaN layer of AlGaN/GaN FinFET, caused by the inversion of carriers. This component of the drain current, referred to as inversion current ( $I_{inv}$ ), is modeled using the solution of a 2D Poisson equation. The total current ( $I_{ds}$ ) is the summation of both the depletion as well as the inversion currents ( $I_{ds} = I_{inv} + I_{\text {2D}}$ ). The developed technique is validated using experimental data and is seen to exhibit a good degree of accuracy. Therefore, the proposed model could serve as a useful tool to predict AlGaN/GaN FinFETs output and transfer characteristics.
Spinless mesons and glueballs mixing patterns in SU(3) flavor limit

Abstract We present a detailed study of the interactions among scalar and pseudoscalar mesons and glueballs within the framework of the generalized linear sigma model in the SU(3) flavor limit. The basis of our approach is to develop a global understanding of light scalar and pseudoscalar mesons (up to around 2 GeV) and thereby explore the underlying mixings among composite quark matter fields and glueballs. The chiral sector of the Lagrangian is formulated in terms of two chiral nonets representing quark-antiquarks and tetraquarks (in the leading order, this sector contains terms with eight or fewer number of quark or antiquark lines). The Lagrangian also contains a sector that represents scalar and pseudoscalar glueballs and their interactions with the matter chiral fields, in a manner that the axial and trace anomalies of QCD are exactly realized. In this construct, the model has two scalar octets and two pseudoscalar octets (each a linear combination of two- and four-quark components), as well as three scalar SU(3) singlets and three pseudoscalar SU(3) singlets (each a linear combination of two- and four-quark components as well as a glueball component). With the inputs of the experimental masses of a 0 ( 980 ) , a 0 ( 1450 ) , and the masses of π ( 137 ) , π ( 1300 ) and their decay constants, we perform an extensive numerical simulation to determine the boundaries of the parameter space of the model. We further incorporate experimental data on the mass spectrum of eta states as well as on several decay widths and decay ratios of f 0 states to zoom in on the parameter space and make predictions for the substructure of pseudoscalar and scalar SU(3) octets and singlets as well as for the pseudoscalar and scalar glueball masses. We find the scalar and pseudoscalar glueball masses around 1.6 and 2.0 GeV, respectively.
Design of High Power Density 100 kW Surface Permanent Magnet Machine with No Heavy Rare Earth Material Using Current Source Inverter for Traction Application

Surface permanent magnet (SPM) machines are appealing candidates for traction applications because of high power density and high efficiency. Rare-earth magnets deliver high performance but raise concerns about material supply dependability, particularly if they use heavy rare-earth materials. This paper presents the design of a high-performance SPM machine without any heavy rare-earth material that is optimized specifically for a current-source inverter (CSI) traction drive. This machine is designed for a constant-power speed ratio (CPSR) of 3. A genetic algorithm has been performed to achieve a target of 50 kW/L active power density at speeds up to 20,000 rpm. Operation at a peak line-to-line voltage of 800 V can be achieved using 1200 V power devices with a safety margin. The predicted electromagnetic and rotor structural performance characteristics are presented using both analytical and finite element analysis (FEA) results.
Leveraging avidin/biotin interaction to quantify permeability of microvessels-on-a-chip.

Microvessels-on-a-chip have enabled in vitro studies to closely simulate in vivo microvessel environment. However, assessing microvessel permeability, a functional measure of microvascular exchange...
Confrontational Discourse and the Working-Class Student: Student Voice, Teacher Authority, and Community Engagement

The conversation regarding the level of engagement of working-class students in the composition classroom is a relatively new one. Recent arguments place the onus for success entirely on the principle of critical pedagogy, i.e., solely on the educator. This principle leaves little room for student voice, and in fact favors academic discourse. As a result, students unaccustomed to the discourse are offered an ultimatum: choose or be left behind. In this essay, I argue that students need not discard home discourse, but must develop the ability to negotiate between multiple discourses. In addition, I explore the complications that ensue from such a confrontation, as well as suggest a framework for managing the interactions between student voice, teacher authority, and community practice.
Best paper: stabilizing clock synchronization for wireless sensor networks

One of the simplest protocols for clock synchronization in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks is the converge-to-max protocol, which has the simple logic of adjusting each node's clock to be at least as large as any neighbor's. This paper examines the converge-to-max protocol, showing it to be stabilizing even when node clocks have skew, bounded domains, and dynamic communication links.
Clostridium difficile infection at a geriatric acute-care hospital in Switzerland between 2008 and 2014: a retrospective cohort study

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) epidemiology has changed with an increase in incidence and severity, particularly among the elderly.
Planar dielectric resonator stabilized HEMT oscillator integrated with CPW/aperture coupled patch antenna

A novel design of an active antenna with a dielectric resonator stabilized HEMT (high electron mobility transistor) oscillator (DRO) and an aperture-coupled patch antenna is reported. The circuit is fabricated using a coplanar waveguide (CPW) with the oscillator and the antenna on opposite sides of the substrate. The active antenna was demonstrated at 7.6 GHz; however, the design can be scaled to higher frequencies. Excellent oscillator characteristics and radiation patterns have been obtained. >
Measurement of Tissue Elasticity Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Palpation is routinely used for the evaluation of mechanical properties of tissue in regions that are accessible to touch. This means of detecting pathology using the “stiffness” of the tissue is more that 2000 years old. Even today it is common for surgeons to find lesions during surgery that have been missed by advanced imaging methods. Palpation is subjective and limited to individual experience and to the accessibility of the tissue region to touch. It appears that a means of noninvasively imaging elastic modulus (the ratio of applied stress to strain) may be useful to distinguish tissues and pathologic processes based on mechanical properties such as elastic modulus [1]. To this end many approaches have been developed over the years [2–9]. The approaches have been to use conventional imaging methods to measure the mechanical response of tissue to mechanical stress. Static, quasi-static or cyclic stresses have been applied. The resulting strains have been measured using ultrasound [1–9] or MRI [10–15] and the related elastic modulus has been computed from visco-elastic models of tissue mechanics. Recently a new MRI phase contrast technique has been reported in which transverse strain waves propagating in tissue are imaged [13, 14, 16]. Because the wavelengths of propagating waves are related to density and the shear modulus and because the wavelengths of transverse waves for low frequency is on the order of millimeters this method promises to have good resolution and to be sensitive to the shear modulus. This paper reviews the theory of the method, presents some applications and discusses the implications of the method.
Inhibition of Spontaneous Transformation of Rat Embryo Cells Releasing Endogenous Type C Virus by Virus-Specific Antiserum

Noninbred Sprague-Dawley rat embryo cell clones predictably undergo transformation after 20-30 in vitro passages following spontaneous release of endogenous rat leukemia virus (RaLV). In the presence of RaLV-specific antiserum, virus production and infectivity were reduced and transformation was delayed from 6 to 25 weeks. Transformation was not associated with an increased expression of Kirsten murine sarcoma virus-related src gene RNA.
Studies on the Mode of Action of Diphtheria Toxin V. Protein Metabolism in a Guinea Pig Model Simulating Chronic Diphtheritic Toxemia

An experimental model of “chronic” diphtheria intoxication in the guinea pig was developed. Adult guinea pigs, subjected to a regimen of multiple sublethal doses of purified diphtheria toxin (total of 1.4 minimum lethal doses divided equally in four daily doses), developed a toxemia which terminated in death between 6 and 8 days. During an advanced stage of illness, de novo protein synthesis was assessed by in vivo incorporation of tritiated leucine into tissue proteins. With the exception of pancreas and skeletal muscle, protein synthesis in healthy, control and toxin-treated guinea pigs was comparable. The absence of notable impairment of protein synthesis in this experimental situation is discussed in terms of the mode of action of the diphtheria toxin and the pathophysiology of the disease.
Global Characterization of Transcription Factor Localization and Partitioning in Escherichia Coli

Despite the lack of cytoskeletal molecular motors and membrane-bound organelles, the bacterial cell exhibits surprising complexity in subcellular structure and organization. To isolate the localization behavior of bacterial proteins at the genome-scale, we combine high-throughput time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and automated image analysis to capture the cell-cycle localization dynamics of nearly every protein in E. coli that exhibits a non-diffuse localization pattern. We capture hundreds of complete cell cycles for each protein, which facilitates quantitative analysis of cell-cycle dynamics and cell-to-cell variation. We exploit this unique data set to characterize the localization behavior of a subset of proteins that exhibit large variability in localization patterns: DNA-binding transcription factors. We find that many transcription factors form well localized punctate foci with significant complexity in positioning, both spatially and temporally. Principal components analysis reveals that these proteins occupy diverse yet overlapping localization groups, many of which are cell-cycle dependent. Finally, we find numerous examples of non-trivial partitioning of transcription factors at cell division, including proteins that appear to be preferentially partitioned as a function of cell age. This complex localization behavior may be evidence of a new global model for the function of transcription factors in bacterial cells.
What Future for the WTO

The past decade has been troubling for the World Trade Organization (WTO). After 12 hard years of negotiation, and multiple missed deadlines, stakes are high for breaking the many logjams that obstruct the Doha Development Round. This article assesses what can be salvaged from the Doha Round and the associated global payoffs, and it provides guidelines for maintaining the relevance of the WTO moving forward. There is good reason for measured optimism, but for optimism to be sustained, trade ministers must deliver something meaningful at the Bali WTO Ministerial in December 2013.
Differences in spectral response properties of lgn cells in male and female squirrel monkeys

The spectral response patterns of single cells recorded from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) were examined in light of recent behavioral evidence indicating that there are significant variations in visual sensitivity and color vision within this species. The principal results from an analysis of data obtained from 1084 LGN cells were that (a) a significantly higher proportion of cells showing spectrally-opponent response patterns were recorded from female subjects, and (b) the proportion of spectrally-opponent units showing RG response patterns is very much higher in females than in males. These gender-related differences in the response patterns of LGN cells are discussed in the context of the behavioral results.
The effect of propylthiouracil on the conversion of monoiodotyrosine to diiodotyrosine.

The ratio of monoiodotyrosine to diiodot3Tosine (MIT⁄DIT) and triiodothyronine to thyroxine (T3⁄T4) was increased by feeding rats propylthiouracil before the injection of I131. This change occurred even when the uptake of I131 by he thyroid had returned to normal by allowing 24 hours or more to elapse after stopping propylthiouracil or by using small amounts of propylthiouracil. A depletion of total iodine in the gland was not the cause since the MIT⁄DIT remained elevated when total iodine was preserved by adding thyroid to propylthiouracil. A high thyrotropin did not account for the result since the added thyroid would have suppressed this. A high intrathyroidal iodide was not the explanation sincethe addition of KSCN made no difference. Thyroid alone increased MIT⁄DIT probably by inhibiting the thyrotropin essential to the conversion of monoiodotyrosine to diiodotyrosine. The results indicated that the conversion of monoiodotyrosine to diiodotyrosine was more sensitive to propylthiouracil than the iodin...
Studies in optimization—IX The questing control of a two phase reactor☆

Abstract The application of the Li—Box—Chanmugam technique of adaptive optimization to a two phase reactor is here considered. The maximum yield is sought and held by the controller by adjusting the reactor temperature and the ratio of the two phases. Sinusoidal questing perturbations are made in the coolant flow rate and the feed ratio of the two phases and it is possible to make these simultaneously, one at twice the frequency of the other.
Anesthesia for Renal Transplantation

Renal transplantation is the preferred mode of replace ment therapy for most patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and accounts for nearly 60% of all organ transplants in the United States. While as many as 35,000 people remain on the list waiting to receive a cadaveric kidney, living-related renal transplantation offers a shorter waiting period and greater survival. Maximization of the health of the kidney recipient before transplantation can improve ultimate outcome. Proper anesthetic management is facilitated by under standing the physiology and pharmacology of ESRD. Maintaining intraoperative blood volume is a key to good graft function, especially the living-related pediat ric kidney recipient. Recent improvements in combined immnosuppression therapy have improved the overall outcome in transplant recipients. The average 3-year survival is nearly 75%.
A Decision Process Model of R&D Resource Allocation in Hierarchical Organizations

A mathematical model is presented which incorporates many descriptive characteristics of decentralized RD while R&D goals and/or budgets and associated levels are passed downward. The eventual purpose of this research is to construct a simulator capability suitable for experimentation concerning coordination in a decentralized resource allocation process involving R&D projects. Such a capability would be an important tool for analyzing existing or proposed decision processes and would be useful for policy analysis at the level of both the firm and the federal government. An illustrative experiment is discussed.
Altered Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in the Hypertrophied Heart

Chronically elevated levels of oxidative stress resulting from increased production and/or impaired scavenging of reactive oxygen species are a hallmark of mitochondrial dysfunction in left ventricular hypertrophy. Recently, oscillations of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were mechanistically linked to changes in cellular excitability under conditions of acute oxidative stress produced by laser-induced photooxidation of cardiac myocytes in vitro. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of ΔΨm within the intact heart during ischemia-reperfusion injury. We hypothesize that altered metabolic properties in left ventricular hypertrophy modulate ΔΨm spatiotemporal properties and arrhythmia propensity.
Predictable biases in the ethical decision making of American psychologists.

The Ethical Principles of Psychologists (APA, 1990), consistent with previous versions and other professional standards, recognizes that ethical dilemmas sometimes involve complex sets of balancing considerations that may give rise to varying ethical resolutions. In this article it is argued that et
Electrothermal frequency tuning of a nano-resonator

Electrothermal tuning of nanomechanical silicon carbide resonators has been demonstrated. The detected mechanical resonance of the untuned resonator was 10.12 MHz and has a quality factor of about 2000 as measured using the magnetomotive transduction technique. Also, the resonance frequency was tuned by 10% with Joule heating of DC current.
Memory management in structural analysis on microcomputers

Abstract In the development of large and/or complex structural analysis programs on microcomputers, such as those for dynamic analysis of buildings, the size of the in-core memory is the primary limitation. In this paper, different ways of handling large matrices, which may arise in dynamics or other applications are discussed. Some techniques such as the use of ‘ram buffers’ in conjunction with hard disk or the use of unidimensional arrays with pointers and modular programming, are presented as an effective alternative to cope with memory limitations. The use of these techniques in a program for response spectrum dynamic analysis of R/C buildings is described.
Analytic Continuation in Helicity and O(2,1) Expansions

We discuss the analytic continuation of an azimuthal angular variable in a scattering process to a channel where it may take on large imaginary values. The asymptotic behavior of the many-particle amplitude for large values of that variable is shown to be governed by singularities in an analytically continued helicity amplitude. The procedure is analogous to the usual Regge-Sommerfeld-Watson transformation relating large-$cos\ensuremath{\theta}$ behavior to singularities in analytically continued angular momentum amplitudes.
Street-level drug markets: Network structure and HIV risk

Abstract Ethnographic and formal social network methods are used to define and situate three categories of injecting drug users - a core, an inner periphery and an outer periphery - in a street-level drug market scene. Different locations in these network structures are shown to be associated with different levels of AIDS risk behaviors and of HIV infection rates. A network perspective helps to understand HIV risks and to devise appropriate interventions.
Scalable OLAP and mining of information networks

With the ubiquity of information networks and their broad applications, there have been numerous studies on the construction, online analytical processing, and mining of information networks in multiple disciplines, including social network analysis, World-Wide Web, database systems, data mining, machine learning, and networked communication and information systems. In this tutorial, we present an organized picture on scalable OLAP (online analytical processing) and mining of information networks, with the inclusion of the following topics: (1) an introduction to information networks and information network analysis, (2) general statistical behavior of information networks, (3) mining frequent subgraphs in large graphs and networks, (4) data integration, data cleaning and data validation in information networks, (5) clustering graphs and information networks, (6) classification of graphs and information networks; (7) summarization and simplification of graphs and information networks, (8) OLAP and multidimensional analysis of information networks, (9) evolution of dynamic information networks, and (10) research challenges on OLAP and mining of information networks.
Geometric overpass extraction from vector road data and DSMs

We present a method to extract elevated road structures, typically overpassing other roads, transit lines, and watercourses. The technique uses a digital surface model (DSM) and roughly aligned vector road data and outputs geometry approximating the shape and elevation of the elevated road deck. Our method is robust against noise in DSM elevations and can recover elevated roads partially obscured by trees and other overpasses. We demonstrate our method parallelized over city-wide DSMs, and formulate a confidence metric ranking the fidelity of the reconstruction.
Antisense proenkephalin cDNA transfection decreases opioid binding in NG 108-15 cells

Abstract The proenkephalin A (PENK) gene codes for several opioid peptides, including Met-enkephalin, an endogenous ligand of opioid receptors. These peptides are thought to play an important role in a variety of neural processes. To study the role of the PENK gene in opioid related processes, an antisense sequence of PENK gene was subcloned into pSVL SV 40 late promoter expression vector and stably transfected into NG 108-15 cells, which contain opioid receptors. The sense orientation of the same fragment was also cloned and transfected, serving as a control. The presence and expression of transfected recombinant plasmids in NG 108 cells were confirmed by DNA and RNA PCR and by subsequent sequencing. Surprisingly, the endogeneous PENK message level was found to be 3 times higher in antisense cells than in sense or NG 108 cells. This high steady-state mRNA level seemed to be due to the increased stability of PENK mRNA rather than to an elevated transcription rate. Nevertheless, the level of total Met-enkephalin was found to be reduced in antisense-transfected cells, though free Met-enkephalin content did not differ from sense-transfected or non-transfected cells. We suggest that both the increased PENK message and the unchanged levels of free Met-enkephalin may be the result of compensatory mechanisms induced by translational inhibition by antisense, although the underlying processes remain to be determined. Binding of the opioid ligand [3H]diprenorphine was significantly reduced by 50–80% in the antisense-transfected cell lines, but not in the sense cells. In contrast, binding of the muscarinic ligand [3H]scopolamine, or α2-adrenergic ligand [3H]rauwolscine were unchanged either in antisense or sense cells. Thus the presence of antisense PENK in NG 108-15 cells appeared to have a specific effect on opioid receptors, though this effect was not mediated through alterations in the receptor's endogenous ligand. While our results did not enable us to determine the effect of altering endogenous opioid ligand levels on opioid receptor disposition in NG 108-15 cells, we speculate that opioid receptors may be regulated by the level of PENK mRNA.
Magnetism and magnetic reversals in ferromanganese nodules

We have studied the strength, stability and direction of natural remanent magnetization of 25 deep-sea, JOIDES, shallow marine and fresh-water ferromanganese nodules. The nodules contain a reasonably stable and isotropic NRM of about the same magnitude as deep-sea sediments. The recording of magnetic reversals in four of the seven large deep-sea nodules supports the slow overall growth rates measured by radioactive techniques on deep-sea nodules. In contrast with the reversed layers found in some of the deep-sea samples, all three shallow marine nodules less than 15 000 yr old have magnetic inclinations which appear parallel to the Earth's present field.
Information Technology Monopolies: Implications for Library Managers.

Librarians are asked to downsize, economize and streamline, while they are also, simultaneously, expected to provide the fastest, latest and most expensive hardware and software so as to make the information marketplace accessible to their patrons. What most librarians have not realized, however, is that they are also asked, whether they like it or not, to bet on which of the various technologies will supercede the others. Understanding the corporate environment in which this future is decided is crucial if librarians are to be successful in meeting all these expectations. The author explores library‐related implications of the US Department of Justice’s investigations into the operations of Microsoft and Intel and suggests that developing a broader understanding of information technology marketing is crucial to the short‐ and long‐term future of libraries.
AN EFFICIENT APPROACH TO SOLVING THE ROAD NETWORK EQUILIBRIUM TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM

Abstract This paper presents a solution technique for large scale road network equilibrium assignment and related flow problems with nonlinear costs. It is shown that this nonlinear network problem can be solved without explicitly considering any of the constraints—they are satisfied automatically in the procedure developed—and without storing all of the individual decision variables. The computational requirements of the algorithm reported are almost identical to the requirements of heuristic solution techniques for traffic assignment. A solution time of nine seconds on the CDC 6400 was obtained for the test problem, which included 76 arcs and 24 nodes, all of which were origins and destinations.
Gastric fluid volume in infants for pyloromyotomy

To quantify gastric fluid volumes in infants with pylonc stenosis presenting for pyloromyotomy and to demonstrate endoscopically the efficacy of blind aspiration for gastric fluid recovery. We hypothesized that previous diagnostic contrast studies, preoperative nasogastric suction, and fasting interval would not affect these volumes. Seventy-five infants scheduled for pyloromyotomy were given atropine before induction of anaesthesia. For those who had undergone preoperative nasogastric suction, the nasogastric tube was aspirated and removed. A 14 F multionficed orogastric catheter was blindly passed to aspirate gastric fluid for measurement. Following tracheal intubation. I 5/75 subjects underwent gastroscopy to measure residual gastric fluid. Gastric fluid volume removed by blind aspiration averaged 4.8 ± 4.3 ml·kg−1 with 83% of patients having > 1.25 ml·kg−1. Although 14 of the 15 patients evaluated by endoscope had ≤ 1 ml residual gastric fluid, one had 1.8 ml·kg−1. Recovery of total gastric fluid volume by blind aspiration averaged 96 ± 7%. The large gastric fluid volumes were independent of a history of banum study, preoperative nasogastric suction, and fasting interval. Infants with pylonc stenosis have large gastric fluid volumes which are not substantially reduced by preoperative nasogastric suction. Blind aspiration of gastric contents prior to induction of anaesthesia provides a reliable estimate of total gastric fluid for most of these infants, although the occasional infant may retain a small amount of gastric fluid. The clinical importance of such a residual volume is uncertain.
Fluorescence-based microendoscopes for breast cancer ductoscopy

Recently microendoscopes are being developed as a tool to detection cancer or pre-cancerous lesions in the milk ducts of the human breast. The microendoscope can be inserted into the duct through the nipple. Integration of fluorescence spectroscopy into microendoscopy can provide an improved platform for real-time cancer detection followed by immediate intervention. Typically, the optical fibers employed by existing microendoscope systems transmit in the 450 to 900 nm range. A prototype system combining fluorescence spectroscopy with visible imaging by microendoscopy is described and preliminary measurements on ex vivo human breast tissues are presented. Image resolution and distortion are discussed.
Noise reduction and key atmospheric parameter estimation using artificial neural networks

Current interests include the use of adaptive optics systems to image celestial and earth orbiting objects from the ground. Methods, such as the minimum variance reconstructor, have been developed to improve the imaging performance of adaptive optics systems. However, one tool available which has not been fully investigated is the artificial neural network. Neural networks provide nonlinear solutions to adaptive optics problems while offering the possibility to adapt to changing seeing conditions. In this paper we address the use of neural networks for three tasks: (1) to reduce the wave front sensor (WFS) noise variance, (2) to estimate the Fried coherence length, ro, and (3) to estimate the variance of the WFS noise. All of these tasks are accomplished using only the noisy WFS measurements as input. Where appropriate, we compare to classical statistics based methods to determine if neural networks offer true benefits in performance. We find that neural networks perform well in all three tasks. While a statistics based method is found to perform better than a neural network in reducing WFS noise variance, neural networks perform better than the statistics based methods in estimating ro and the variance of the WFS noise.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A COMPUTATIONAL HYPOTHESIS OF PROBABILITY INFERENCE IN NEURAL NETWORKS AND SOME RELATIONS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL MODELS

In an attempt to understand the nature of information processing at the neuronal level and its relation to normal cognition at the behavioral level, this paper presents a neurally plausible computational theory of probability inference inspired by certain biological properties of neurons. The probability inference that the neural networks of this theory solve is the production of either probabilities or likelihoods associated with one set of events based on another set of events. The theory describes how a single neuron might create a probability in an analog fashion. It describes how certain optimal computational principles required for probability inference (e.g., Bayes rule) might be implemented at the neuronal level despite apparent limitations of the computational capacity of neurons. In fact, it is the fundamental properties of neurons that lead to the particular neuronal computation. Finally, this report attempts to connect this neural network theory to existing psychological models that assume Bayes inference schemes.
Prostate cancer cell proliferation is influenced by leptin.

Background Obesity is considered a risk for many cancers. Serum leptin levels are often elevated in obese people. Leptin acts as a mitogenic agent in many tissues; therefore, it may act to promote cancer cell growth. We previously demonstrated that leptin acts as a growth factor for prostate cancer cells in vitro. The purpose of this study was to characterize leptin receptor isoform mRNA expression in leptin-treated DU145 and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines. Expression levels of SOCS-3, a known leptin-inducible suppressor of leptin signaling, and known mitogenic signaling pathways of PI3K and ERK were also analyzed Methods DU145 and PC-3 cells were treated with 0, 4, 40, or 80 ng/ml leptin for 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 24, or 48 h. Multiplex RT-PCR was performed to determine mRNA levels of the short (huOB-Ra) or the long (huOB-Rb) OB-R isoforms or SOCS-3. p-Akt and p-ERK were determined by Western blot. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by MTT and nucleosomal fragmentation assay Results DU145 and PC-3 expressed huOB-Ra, huOB-Rb, and SOCS-3 mRNA. huOB-Ra mRNA levels increased in PC-3 at 48 h (P < 0.01); however, no significant changes were observed in DU145. huOB-Rb mRNA levels decreased at 48 h in DU145; however, a twofold increase at 48 h (P < 0.01) was observed with PC-3 and was dose-dependent (P < 0.05). Leptin increased SOCS-3 mRNA in DU145 at 24 and 48 h (P < 0.05) and in PC-3 at 1 h (2-fold) and 48 h (fivefold; P < 0.01). Leptin up-regulated p-Akt in a time- and dose-dependent manner in the DU145 prostate cancer cells via a suppression of apoptosis. Leptin up-regulated p-ERK in a time-dependent manner in PC-3 cells Conclusions In prostate cancer cells, the mitogenic effects of leptin are not a consequence of altered receptor isoform mRNA expression. No defect in SOCS-3 signaling was observed, and proliferation appears to be working through the PI3K and MAPK leptin receptor-activated pathways, depending on cell type. Leptin stimulation may be selective for either pathway to suppress apoptosis, thereby enhancing prostate cancer growth.
Free UH-Q microtoroids, new tools for designing photonic devices

We describe techniques that enable fabrication of free UH-Q silica microtoroids. Preliminary results show that free resonators with Qs above 30 million can be fabricated and transferred to different platforms for integration with photonic devices.
Scales of Aggregation: Prenational, Subnational, Transnational

What can one say about transnational, citizenship, and humanities? The three key terms, combined in this fashion, probably sound novel, but do they bring anything new? Each of the contributors to this issue has proceeded with some degree of caution. We simply put three terms on the table, fully aware that each is fraught, that each can be ironized, and that their intimated directionality might be no more than an illusion. Rather than acting as a spur, three arrows pointing toward a brave new future, transnational, citizenship, and humanities might look like the latest symptoms of a world spinning out of control, occasioned on the one hand by the diminished sovereignty of the nation-state and on the other hand by the diminished value of our own work, both unstoppable, it seems, a downward spiral. As the bombings in New York, Madrid, and London make abundantly clear, the continued existence of national borders only highlights the shared hazard of those inside those borders. And the continued existence of English departments only highlights the across-the-board decline of the discipline, the sense that innovation is now coming from fields other than our own. It is in this context, as we are being lumped again and again into corporate units-often with a less-than-happy profile-that aggregation becomes a pressing issue. Aggregation: not only as it produces random and nonrandom sets of casualties, but also as it generates different kinds of filiations on different scales, opening up the question of what counts as an entity, the platform on which it emerges, the agency available to it, and the pressure that this scalar variety exerts on more conventional forms, such as the form of the nation. The work of Aihwa Ong is exemplary here. As an anthropologist, Ong tends to aggregate down rather than up, towards fairly small, empirically-constrained units; her goal is to test grand concepts against the delimited data of ethnographic fieldwork. On what scale should we study the transnational? How does it mesh with the
Ammonia oxidation to nitric oxide in a solid electrolyte fuel cell

Abstract The oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide was investigated in the fuel cell NH 3 ,NO,N 2 ,PtƒZrO 2 (8%Y 2 O 3 )ƒPt, air at temperatures between 1000 and 1200 K and at atmospheric pressure. The product selectivity to NO can exceed 95% with simultaneous electrical energy generation. A new design of the cell has resulted in an 800-fold increase in power density over the original design of Farr and Vayenas. In the new design the decreased electrode surface area suppresses the undesirable catalytic side reaction of NH3 and NO to form N2 while the thinner electrolyte (≈200 μm) increases power density.
Developing computer-assisted therapy for the treatment of obesity

Ninety mild to moderately overweight women participated in a study examining the potential utility of a hand-held computer in the treatment of overweight. The study compared the use of a computer with one introductory session; computer therapy with four additional group support sessions; and a therapist conducted weight loss program, in a randomized design. The weight losses in all three groups were modest being approximately half of that expected. No differences in weight losses were found between groups to one-year follow-up, nor were differences found on process measures, suggesting that ambulatory computer treatment is as effective, in terms of education and outcome, as therapist conducted treatment. The computer without group support was significantly more cost-effective at immediate outcome than the other two groups. There was some indication, however, that group support may enhance long-term maintenance of weight loss, thus the cost advantage for the computer alone group declined over the follow-up period. Further developmental work is needed to ascertain whether robust weight losses can be achieved with a hand-held computer or whether this method has inherent limitations.
Communicating new sexual desires and the factors that influence message directness

When fantasies and desires go unfulfilled, people may become bored with their sexual relationship. To help prevent this potential infidelity provoking issue, the current study examined patterns of communication to introduce new sexual behaviors to established sexual relationships. Study 1 identified and categorized communication message strategies used by participants’ responses to an open-ended question (N = 102). We found that although participants used indirect language most, a significant number of individuals were direct with their initiation strategies. Study 2 examined the associations between relational and sexual factors (intimacy, uncertainty, number of sexual partners, biological sex, and sexual communication) and message directness (N = 213). Survey results show that sex, uncertainty, and intimacy were correlated with level of directness for introducing a new sexual behavior (p < .05). Results are consistent with the relational turbulence model showing that at moderate levels of intimacy and h...
Extending Luttinger's theorem to Z 2 fractionalized phases of matter

Luttinger's theorem for Fermi liquids equates the volume enclosed by the Fermi surface in momentum space to the electron filling, independent of the strength and nature of interactions. Motivated by recent momentum balance arguments that establish this result in a nonperturbative fashion [M. Oshikawa, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3370 (2000)], we present extensions of this momentum balance argument to exotic systems which exhibit quantum number fractionalization focusing on ${Z}_{2}$ fractionalized insulators, superfluids and Fermi liquids. These lead to nontrivial relations between the particle filling and some intrinsic property of these quantum phases, and hence may be regarded as natural extensions of Luttinger's theorem. We find that there is an important distinction between fractionalized states arising naturally from half filling versus those arising from integer filling. We also note how these results can be useful for identifying fractionalized states in numerical experiments.
Formation of dioxygen adducts of cobalt(II) amine complexes in a cation exchange resin

Abstract The formation of monomeric dioxygen adducts of cobalt(II) complexes with ammonia, methylamine and ethylenediamine in an Amberlyst A-15 cation exchange resin is demonstrated by EPR. The EPR spectra are compared with those of the corresponding adducts formed in zeolite Y. The enhanced stability of the monomeric adducts in Amerlyst is attributed to the interaction of the complexes with sulfonate anion sites in the resin. The total amounts of oxygen adsorbed are greater than the spin concentrations of the monomeric adducts and this discrepancy is attributed to the formation of diamagnetic μ-peroxodicobalt adducts as well as a slow irreversible oxidation of the Co(II) to Co(III). A paramagnetic μ-superoxodicobalt adduct is observed only with methylamine and then only in very low concentrations.
Young Women, Sports, and Science

This article examines young women's access to two traditionally male domains, sport and science, from two perspectives. The structural approach suggests that sport and science are stratified by gender and have historically been chilly climates for women. The Critical approach argues that structure and agency are important in understanding sources of inequality, including gender. Data from the nationally representative High School and Beyond (HSB) and National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS) were used to explore the relationship between involvement in sports and success in science for high school aged women. Findings suggest that sports participation provides a unique resource for young women especially with regard to science attitudes and access (course-taking). Young girls who are given an early opportunity to participate in sports may be more prepared for the male culture in science classrooms. Implications of the findings for parents, educators, coaches, and policy makers are also discussed.
Multi-resolution analysis of scatter in digital breast tomosynthesis imaging

The influence of large x-ray scatter components in projection images remains a problem for digital breast tomosynthesis, especially when anti-scatter grids may not be used because of dose limitation and possible source/detector geometric limitations. Monte-Carlo simulation of scatter fits better in this situation, but the heavy computational cost hinders its clinical application. To simplify scatter estimation, scatter is often assumed to be smooth. However, scatter is not spatial invariant across a projection image, and where and to what degree the smoothness could be claimed and utilized is unclear. In this study, we investigated this question via multi-resolution analysis based on two experiments: one with direct measurements of scatter profiles in the projection images of an anthropomorphic breast phantom; the other with scatter map obtained from Monte-Carlo simulation that used a voxelized breast model as input. We applied 1D and 2D wavelet-based multi-resolution analyses to the scatter profiles and maps. The first experiment indicated that a reduced number of scatter data points that matches the true data can be extracted from densely sampled but noisy scatter profiles: a data reduction rate of 64-128 was achieved at the inner region of the phantom, suggesting that the slowly changing scatter may be obtained at lower sampling distances of 9.0-17.9 mm. Near the edge of the phantom a data reduction rate of 8 was achieved, corresponding to a sampling distance of 2.2 mm. Similar observations were made from the second experiment.
Dietary calcium deficiency causes a reduction in calretinin mRNA in the substantia nigra compacta-ventral tegmental area of rat brain

Abstract Dietary calcium deprivation (3 weeks) affected neuronal gene expression of calretinin. Calcium deprived rats exhibited calcium appetite, weight loss, and a 28% decrease in calretinin mRNA in the substantia nigra compacta-ventral tegmental area, compared to controls. No changes were detected in 2 other mRNAs (tyrosine hydroxylase, β-actin) and 5 other brain regions examined. This region-specific reduction of calretinin mRNA may relate to the altered physiology or behavior.