cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunoglobulin G4–Associated Cholangitis: Clinical Profile and Response to Therapy

Background & Aims: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-associated cholangitis (IAC) is the biliary manifestation of a steroid-responsive multisystem fibroinflammatory disorder in which affected organs have a characteristic lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate rich in IgG4-positive cells. We describe clinical features, treatment response, and predictors of relapse in IAC and compare relapse rates in IAC with intrapancreatic vs proximal bile duct strictures. Methods: We reviewed clinical, serologic, and imaging characteristics and treatment response in 53 IAC patients. Results: IAC patients generally were older (mean age, 62 y) men (85%), presenting with obstructive jaundice (77%) associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (92%), increased serum IgG4 levels (74%), and abundant IgG4-positive cells in bile duct biopsy specimens (88%). At presentation, biliary strictures were confined to the intrapancreatic bile duct in 51%; the proximal extrahepatic/intrahepatic ducts were involved in 49%. Initial presentation was treated with steroids (n = 30; median follow-up period, 29.5 months), surgical resection (n = 18; median follow-up period, 58 months), or was conservative (n = 5; median follow-up period, 35 months). Relapses occurred in 53% after steroid withdrawal; 44% relapsed after surgery and were treated with steroids. The presence of proximal extrahepatic/intrahepatic strictures was predictive of relapse. Steroid therapy normalized liver enzyme levels in 61%; biliary stents could be removed in 17 of 18 patients. Fifteen patients treated with steroids for relapse after steroid withdrawal responded; 7 patients on additional immunomodulatory drugs remain in steroid-free remission (median follow-up period, 6 months). Conclusions: IAC should be suspected in unexplained biliary strictures associated with increased serum IgG4 and unexplained pancreatic disease. Relapses are common after steroid withdrawal, especially with proximal strictures. The role of immunomodulatory drugs for relapses needs further study.
Police officer decisionmaking in potentially violent confrontations

Instead of conceptualizing police use of deadly force incidents as single “shoot/don't shoot” decisions, Binder and Scharf (1980) and Scharf and Binder (1983) have characterized police-citizen encounters in terms of a series of events and decisions stretching back in time before the deadly force decision is made. This article presents the results of bivariate analyses of factors related to the Binder/Scharf model using data on potentially violent confrontations in four U.S. cities. The data base is comprised of both deadly force incidents and situations in which a shooting could reasonably have been expected to occur but, in fact, did not. The data provide preliminary indications that deadly force situations, more than averted shooting situations, are characterized by ambiguity and surprise. Additionally, they indicate that the “Information Exchange” phase of an encounter may be critical in determining whether deadly force will be used or averted.
On the exactness of the completion functor

Suppose R is a commutative Noeheian ring with maximal ideal P and E is the injective hull of R/P. The hereditary torsion theory associated with P has E has as an injective cogenerator and the associated localization is exact. Matlis [3] has shown that E Artinian. In this case it can be shown that the functor associated wity localization and then completions is exact on finitely generated modules. In this paper we examine completions of modules over noncommutative rings. We show that if an injective congenerator for a torsion theory is Artinian and the associated localization is exact then the functor given by localization and then completion is also exact. Throughout this paper we will assume that all rings are associative with identity. If R is a ring we denote RM as the category of all unital left R-modules. We will adopt the convention of writing all module homomorphisms opposite their scalars. We refer the reader to [5] and [1] for the basic results about torsion theories and kernel functors.
Multi-Objective Optimization for the Sustainable-Resilient Synthesis/Design/Operation of a Power Network Coupled to Distributed Power Producers via Microgrids

In this paper, a multiobjective optimization approach is proposed for evaluating the sustainable synthesis/design and operation of sets of small renewable and non-renewable energy production technologies coupled to power production/transmission/distribution networks via microgrids. The optimization is conducted over a quasi-stationary twenty four-hour, winter period. Partial load behavior of the generators is included by introducing non-linear functions for efficiency, costs and emissions as a function of the electricity generated by every technology. A new index for resiliency is included in the multiobjective optimization model in order to account for the capacity of the power network system to self-recover to a new normal state after experiencing an unanticipated catastrophic event. Since, sustainability/resiliency indices are typically not expressed in the same units, a set of weighting factors are employed to calculate the value of a composite sustainabilityresiliency index, applying fuzzy logic to minimize the effects of the subjectivity created in the selection of weights. Results indicate that the inclusion of microgrids into the network leads to a better overall network efficiency, a reduction in life cycle costs, and an improved network resiliency. On the other hand, total life SO 2 emissions and network reliability are not improved when microgrids are included.
On consensus in a correlated model of network formation based on a Polya urn process

In this paper, we consider a consensus seeking process based on local averaging of opinions in a dynamic model of social network formation. At each time step, individual agents randomly choose another agent to interact with. The interaction is one-sided and results in the agent averaging her opinion with that of her randomly chosen neighbor. Once an agent chooses a neighbor, the probabilities of interactions are updated in such a way that prior interactions are reinforced and future interactions become more likely, resulting in a random consensus process in which networks are highly correlated with each other. Using results of Skyrm and Pemantle and utilizing the de Finetti representation theorem as well as properties of Polya urn processes, we show that this highly correlated process is equivalent to a mixture of i.i.d. processes whose parameters are drawn from a random limit distribution. Therefore, prior results on consensus on i.i.d. processes can be used to show consensus and to compute the statistics of the consensus value in terms of the initial conditions. We provide simple expressions for the mean and the variance of the asymptotic random consensus value in terms of the number of nodes. We also show that the variance converges to a factor of the empirical variance of the initial values that depends only on the size of the network and goes to zero as the size of the network grows.
Human dignity and the promise of technology

(1971). Human dignity and the promise of technology. The Philosophy Forum: Vol. 9, No. 3-4, pp. 165-200.
Supersensitivity to serotonin- and histamine-induced arterial contraction following ovariectomy.

The modulating role of estrogens and ovariectomy on coronary artery and thoracic aortic rings was examined in female rabbits. Three treatment groups were studied: (1) control, (2) ovariectomy, and (3) ovariectomy+17β-estradiol acetate (40 μg/kg per day, i.m. for 7 days). Coronary artery reactivity was studied in the isolated retrogradely perfused heart. Aortic reactivity was studied using endothelium intact and denuded aortic rings. Concentration–response curves were performed to serotonin (5-HT) and histamine. A 21-fold, a 4.7-fold, and a 5.2-fold increase in sensitivity to 5-HT-induced contraction were observed in the ovariectomy group compared to the control group for coronary artery, intact aortic, and denuded aortic preparations, respectively (P<0.05 for each comparison). Similarly, 34-fold, 4.9-fold, and 5.0-fold increases in sensitivity to histamine-induced contraction were observed in the ovariectomy group compared to control group for coronary artery, intact aortic, and denuded aortic preparations, respectively (P<0.05 for each comparison). 17β-Estradiol administration reversed the supersensitivity to serotonin- and histamine-induced vascular contraction observed following ovariectomy. No differences in EC50 or maximal contraction were noted between control and ovariectomy+estrogen groups. Baseline nitric oxide release and maximal 5-HT- and histamine-induced nitric oxide release from the perfused heart were decreased (P<0.05) in ovariectomy rabbits compared to control and ovariectomy+estrogen treatment groups. The data demonstrate that (1) reduced autacoid-induced nitrous oxide release following ovariectomy and (2) direct effects upon the vascular smooth muscle contractility, which are probably mediated by altered receptor sensitivity by ovariectomy and estrogen replacement therapy. The information obtained from this study provides additional information regarding possible beneficial actions of estrogen replacement therapy in post-menopausal women.
Deep Sedation Without Intubation for ERCP Is Appropriate in Healthier, Non-obese Patients

Providing the appropriate anesthesia for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) cases is challenging. The aim of our study was to prospectively assess the safety of anesthesia directed deep sedation (ADDS) in non-intubated patients compared to general endotracheal anesthesia (GET) during an ERCP. We conducted a prospective observational study in patients undergoing an ERCP. The choice of anesthetic—ADDS or GET—was made by the anesthesiologist. The pre-anesthesia assessment, intraoperative vital signs, and medications administered were collected. A standardized study instrument was used to record the number of procedure interruptions, intraprocedure and recovery room adverse events (AE). A total of 393 (89.7 %) patients received ADDS (no intubation) and 45 (10.2 %) received a GET. Age and comorbidities were similar in ADDS and GET groups. BMI was higher in the GET (32.6 ± 9.5) versus in the ADDS (27.3 ± 6.1) group; p < 0.001. The number of ASA 2 patients was higher in the ADDS versus the GET group (38.7 versus 22.2 %; p < 0.04); the number of ASA 4 patients was 15.6 % of GET versus 6.6 % of the ADDS cases (p = 0.05). During the procedure 16 (3.7 %) ADDS patients were intubated and converted to a GET anesthetic; 4 (25 %) of the converted ADDS cases were ASA 4 versus 6.4 % of ADDS patients (p = 0.006). Intraprocedure events occurred in 35.6 % of GET and 25.7 % of ADDS cases, without significant complications. Our data suggest that the administration of anesthesia without intubation for prone ERCP cases is feasible especially in non-obese, healthier patients.
Analytic supernova models and black holes

Presented are new analytic solutions to Einstein's field equations with properties normally associated with supernovas. These are the first analytic supernova models with pressure, temperature, and luminosity. These solutions are used to compare a radiative nonzero model (for which the pressure is continuous accross the outer boundary of the star) with a radiative zero model [(standard model) for which the pressure within the star is zero at the outer boundary].
Temperature-dependence of the ultrafast intermolecular dynamics of Amides: Formamide, N-methylformamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N- methylacetamide, and N-methylpropionamide from 290-370 K

Femtosecond optical-heterodyne detected, Raman-induced Car effect spectroscopy was used to characterize the full spectrum of the intermolecular vibrational and diffusive dynamics for these five amides, which are among the most interesting organic solvents. 50-fs, transform-limited pulses were used to excite all the intermolecular motions in the 0 to 400 cm{sup -1} range. Clear differences were found in the response vs temperature. 2 figs.
Geometric design of a multisensor structured light range digitizer

An optical noncontact 3-D range digitizer based on projection of 2-D structured light patterns and multiplexed charge injection device (CID) camera sensors has been developed. The system acquires digitized data in 0.75 5 and allows 360-deg examination of the subject's head and facial surface features in less than 1 s, making it suitable for digitizing children as well as adults. The resultant 3-D surface data is suitable for computer graphics display and manipulation, numerically controlled replication, and further processing such as surface measurement extraction. The digitizer uses a set of six stationary sensors positioned about the subject. A sensor consists of a pattern projector and a solid state video camera. This device allows quantitative volume measurements and employs no harmful ionizing radiation. The cost of a scan with this technology is substantially less than that of alternative means of collecting 3-D surface data sets, such as by stereometric, moire fringe, and single-point digitization. This system was geometrically designed such that any surlace of the head or facial area was independently digitized by a minimum of two sensors and to capture areas normally occluded with other techniques. The dimensions of the structure were derived to satisfy physical constraints placed on its overall size. The camera and projector orientations in space, the distance from the lens centers to the center of the digitizing volume, and the lens focal lengths were determined analytically. To reduce cost, a standard lens nearest the analytical value was used. Based on the standard size lens, the field of view was calculated.
Acetazolamide for Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy: A New Use for an Old Drug

Reactive oxygen species play a major role in the pathogenesis of contrast-induced nephropathy (CN). Hydration with sodium bicarbonate (HCO3-) can reduce the incidence of CN in high-risk patients, suggesting a direct causal relationship between low pH of tubular fluid and enhanced activity of generated reactive oxygen species to damage renal tubular cells. Whether acetazolamide (AZ), a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, is more effective than HCO3- unknown. Ninety-six children with stable chronic renal insufficiency were randomly assigned to receive either a 154 mEq/L infusion of sodium bicarbonate (HCO3-) (n = 46) or 0.9% sodium chloride plus oral AZ (n = 50) at a rate of 3 ml/kg/hr for 1 hour before and 1 ml/kg/hr for 6 hours after the radiographic procedure. Serum creatinine concentration (Scr) was measured before and 48 hours after the procedure. The primary endpoint was an increase in the Scr concentration of > or = 25% 48 hours after the contrast administration. The baseline clinical and biochemical characteristics of the two groups were similar. The mean Scr concentration after contrast administration was significantly lower in the AZ group (p = 0.02) than in the HCO3- group (p = 0.27). The mean absolute decrease in Scr concentration at 48 hours was significantly greater in the AZ group (p or = 25% compared with none of the 50 patients (0%) in the AZ group (p = 0.049). Thus, compared to HCO3-, AZ plus saline hydration was more effective for the prevention CN after radiographic procedure.
Autonomous orbital navigation by optical tracking of unknown landmarks.

A technique for spacecraft navigation by optical tracking of unknown landmarks is described. The quantitative level of navigational accuracy is presented for several data rates and observation schedules. In this technique, an initial estimated location of the unknown landmark is computed from the current estimates of spacecraft position and the pitch and roll angles of the line of sight measured with respect to a stellar orientation frame. Landmark altitude above sea level is estimated from knowledge of the local terrain. Subsequent observations of the same landmark are then employed to correct differentially the six orbital elements and the three landmark coordinates. The three landmark coordinates of a second landmark replace those of the first landmark, so that the state vector to be estimated at any time will be limited to nine elements. It is shown that the nine-state-variable system is observable from pitch and roll angle measurements. Numerical results show a dramatic increase in the observability of the system as two, four, and six landmarks are tracked. The technique presented here achieves an order-of-magnitude improvement in navigation accuracy over an unknown landmark navigation technique proposed by Levine. Levine's technique is shown to be a special case of the present technique.
Histoplasma capsulatum: Vital staining for the differentiation of the albino and brown phenotypes in vitro

The A (albino) and B (brown) mycelial phenotypes of Histoplasma capsulatum cannot be differentiated morphologically in their yeast phases. However, on Brain Heart Infusion agar + cystine + 0.001% Nile Blue A incubated at 37°C in the dark, type A yeast colonies remain white to light tan while type B yeast colonies become bright blue in 3–5 days. On modified Sabouraud agar + 0.004% Brom Cresol Purple at 37°C in the dark, only type A yeasts turn the medium bright yellow in 24–48 h. The effects of these dyes on the mycelial phenotypes are also reported.
A geometric view of welfare gains with non-instantaneous adjustment

A geometric approach which defines distance between equilibrium states has proved useful in the physical sciences. The notion is applicable to any system which exhibits optimizing behavior and which does not adjust its states instantaneously to exogenous shocks. In this paper this geometry is used to analyze an economic system perturbed out of equilibrium by discrete or continuous shocks in order to establish in-principle limits to welfare gains generated by adjustments. The geometry is defined by the second derivative of the utility function which is used as the metric matrix. The minimum net gain in utility due to adjustment is proportional to the square of the distance traversed as measured in this geometry. An integrated welfare loss measuring the welfare losses due to the non-instantaneous response is defined. Finally, the geometry of the Cobb-Douglas utility function is explored.
Tunable photonic crystal microcavities

We present a method for tuning a photonic crystal microcavity by modulating the index of refraction of the lattice sites within and surrounding the microcavity. The index of refraction can be actively modulated after infiltrating anisotropic liquid crystals into a two-dimensional photonic crystal lattice of air cylinders in silicon. We analyze the Q-factors and resonance frequencies of a tunable photonic crystal microcavity by considering various methods of index modulation. These tunable cavities are incorporated in a channel drop filter to demonstrate their enhancement of wavelength division multiplexing photonic crystal applications.
Effects of self-induced radiation damage on the low temperature heat capacity of a specimen of electro-refined high purity plutonium

Abstract The effects of self-induced radiation damage on the heat capacity of a specimen of high purity plutonium metal when held at the temperature of boiling liquid hydrogen for a day and also for a week are shown. Heat capacity versus temperature curves obtained after rapid quenching to the temperature of boiling liquid helium are presented for comparison. An equation is given relating heat capacity to temperature in the range 98°K to 300°K. Calculated values of thermodynamic properties are compared with previously reported values. Effects of age of specimen and impurity content are discussed, as well as the possibility of a low temperature crystallographic modification.
Two-site ELISA for the quantitative determination of fatty acid synthase.

Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is an enzyme which plays a central role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is selectively expressed in certain human cancers and therefore is a putative tumor marker. We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring FAS, and investigated its expression and clinical features. In this two-site sandwich ELISA, a polyclonal antibody was used as a capture on Nunc MaxiSorp ELISA/EIA modules and a monoclonal antibody labeled with biotin was used as a signal antibody. The assay was linear with no cross-reactivity with other tumor markers. The within- and between-run CVs were <10%, and the detection limit was 0.15 arbitrary Units/l. Recoveries were 92.4–105.1%. FAS was stable in buffer at 4°C for more than 10 days and stable at 37°C for 2 days. In human serum, FAS levels were significantly higher in patients with breast (1.01±0.71 Units/l, mean±S.D.), prostate (0.79±0.76 Units/l), colon (0.89±0.49 Units/l), and ovarian (0.84±0.9 Units/l) cancers compared to normal subjects (0.27±0.09 Units/l, P<0.01). This assay is sensitive, accurate, and precise and can distinguish between patients with various types of cancer and normal subjects.
Effectiveness of ingratiation tactics in a cover letter on mail questionnaire response

An attempt was made to study ingratiation tactics in a quasifield setting. Four hundred residents of Akron, Ohio, were solicited via mail to complete a questionnaire. The amount of help (effort) requested was either small (one-page questionnaire) or large (seven-page questionnaire). The primary variables of interest were the ingratiation tactics used in the cover letter to encourage completion of the questionnaire. The letter included or did not include adjectives flattering the respondent, and it included or did not include adjectives flattering the solicitor. Thus the ingratiation tactics in the cover letters constituted a 2 by 2 factorial design within both low- and high-effort requests for help. The proportion of returns in each condition served as the dependent variable. The results indicated no differences in return rate due to ingratiation tactics in the low-effort condition. However, solicitor vs respondent ingratiation tactics interacted strongly to determine return rate in the high-effort condition. Return rates were lower when either both tactics (double ingratiation) or neither (standard polite letter) were used. Subsidiary data concerning time required to complete the questionnaire suggested an explanation in terms of norms matching the amount of flattery with the amount of help requested.
Women's Employment, Time Expenditure, and Divorce:

Past research on the relationship between wives' employment and divorce has focused on two types of explanations: those positing changed motives regarding divorce and those suggesting changed opportunities. Without discounting totally the path from income to opportunity, we focus here on a somewhat neglected alternative, that leading from time constraints to changed motives toward maintaining a marriage. We argue that time spent by the wife working outside the home impedes the completion of tasks necessary to the maintenance of the household and hence increases the probability of divorce. Using data from the Young and Mature Women samples of the National Longitudinal Survey, we find that among employed women, hours worked has a greater impact on marital dissolution than do various measures of wife's earnings. In partial support of our hypotheses, the relationship between wife's hours worked and the probability of divorce is strongest for middle income families and families in which the husband disapproves...
Oral Diagnostic Testing for Detecting Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Antibodies: A Technology Whose Time Has Come

An oral fluid-based test for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), equivalent to serum in its accuracy but safer and easier to use, is now available in the United States. The development of the oral test involved overcoming technical obstacles to the use of oral fluid as a testing medium, including low immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers, suboptimal assay performance, protease degradation of IgG, high viscosity, and lack of a standardized method of specimen collection, all of which contribute to suboptimal assay performance. The currently available oral HIV test utilizes a collection device to isolate a mucosal transudate component of oral fluid rich in IgG. A vial containing a preservative solution facilitates the transport of stable, low-viscosity specimens to the laboratory for testing with an ELISA and confirmatory Western blot assay, specifically designed for use with oral fluid. Non-HIV medical conditions and oral pathologies do not appear to affect oral test results. Hopefully, the availability of a more patient-friendly, portable diagnostic test for antibodies to HIV will facilitate identification of greater numbers of infected individuals with the ultimate goals of early identification, early treatment, and prevention of disease transmission.
Ontogeny of Anti-Predator Behavioral Habituation in Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Few studies of venomous snakes have addressed how anti-predator behavior may be affected by experience with a potential predator. Because defensive strikes may be costly to snakes, individuals with the ability to learn to discriminate among potentially harmful and non-harmful predatory stimuli should be favored by natural selection. In large venomous snakes, adults are capable of successfully defending themselves against most potential predators, whereas neonates suffer higher predator-induced mortality and are faced with a large diversity of predators. Consequently, we hypothesized that the relative costs of habituation to potential predatory stimuli should vary ontogenetically. This hypothesis predicts that adults should habituate rapidly to non-harmful predatory stimuli, whereas neonates should consistently employ active defensive displays (e.g. striking) because they are at higher risk. To test this prediction, we examined daily changes in the defensive behavior of adult and neonate cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) towards a standardized non-harmful predatory stimulus. As predicted, adults and neonates differed in their tendencies to habituate: adults decreased defensiveness over days while neonates did not. Adults showed habituation of striking components but not of warning displays. Our results support the hypothesis that there may be ontogenetic differences in predator perception.
Length scale effects on the electronic transport properties of nanometric Cu/Nb multilayers

In this paper, we investigated the contributions of the interface and grain boundary scattering to the resistivity of Cu/Nb multilayers with several bilayers thickness. We carried out temperature-dependent resistivity, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements. We investigated possible structural changes inside the Cu layer by using XAFS measurements which indicated that the local structure around Cu sites remains face centered cubic even for the shortest bilayer period. Also, we obtained the grain size values by using TEM measurements so that we could evaluate the grain boundary contribution to the resistivity. The resistivity seems to be related to the thickness of the individual layers rather than the total film thickness. Our results agree well with theoretical calculations and we were able to obtain the relative importance of the grain boundary and the interface scattering. We found a clear correlation between fine structure length scales (grain size and layer thickness) and macroscopic properties (resistivity).
Colony Forms of B. Paratyphosus B as Related to Variations in Gas Production

ConclusionsThe evidence presented seems to be in accord with the concept that bacterial properties may vary independently of each other.
Parenteral cephalothin therapy for pelvic gonococcal infections

The efficacy of intravenous cephalothin was studied prospectively in 20 patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease, all of whom presented with lower abdominal pain, cervical and adnexal tenderness, fever, and leukocytosis. Blood, cervical, and cul-de-sac cultures were obtained on admission. The latter was transported anaerobically and inoculated in routine and prereduced medium. Transgrow medium with trimethoprim was used for endocervical cultures. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated from the endocervix in 15 patients and from the culde-sac and cervix in three. Anaerobic organisms were also isolated from the culde-sac in four patients. All received intravenous cephalothin, 2 gm every four hours for seven days. Clinical improvement was observed in 48 to 78 hours. The cervical cultures were negative for N. gonorrhoeae after 48 hours, at the completion of treatment, and two weeks post-treatment. The drug was well tolerated. It was concluded that cephalothin intravenously is an acceptable alternative antibiotic for the treatment of gonococcal pelvic infection.
Type III Radio Bursts in the Outer Corona

Type III solar radio bursts observed from 3.0 to 0.45 MHz with the ATS-II satellite over the period April–October 1967 have been analyzed to derive two alternative models of active region streamers in the outer solar corona. Assuming that the bursts correspond to radiation near the electron plasma frequency, ‘pressure equilibrium’ arguments lead to streamer Model I in which the streamer electron temperature derived from collision damping time falls off much more rapidly than in the ‘average’ corona and the electron density is as much as 25 times the average coronal density at heights of 10 to 50 solar radii (R⊙). In Model II the streamer electron temperature is assumed to equal the average coronal temperature, giving a density enhancement which decreases from a factor of 10 close to the Sun to less than a factor of two at large distances (> 1/4 AU). When the burst frequency drift is interpreted as resulting from the outward motion of a disturbance that stimulates the radio emission, Model I gives a constant velocity of about 0.35c for the exciting disturbance as it moves to large distances, while with Model II, there is a decrease in the velocity to less than 0.2c beyond 10 R⊙.
Modified Bioassay Container for Aquatic Organisms

An inexpensive bioassay container composed of an aquarium and an emergence chamber was evaluated for 25 species of aquatic organisms. All species were maintained successfully.
Computer graphics literature for 1985: a bibliography

We present a method for computing horizon maps from captured images of a bumpy surface. 1Horizon maps encode surface self-shadowing effects, and can be used with bump or normals maps to realistically render surfaces with small height perturbations. The method does not rely on complete surface reconstruction, and requires only eight captured images as input. In this paper we discuss how shadow information is extrapolated from the eight captured images to compute the horizon map. Our implementation accounts for the noise and uncertainties in physically acquired data.
Abnormal IL-4 Gene Expression by Atopic Dermatitis T Lymphocytes Is Reflected in Altered Nuclear Protein Interactions with IL-4 Transcriptional Regulatory Element

Among the atopic diseases, atopic dermatitis is characterized by the highest levels of serum IgE and by increased peripheral blood T-cell interleukin-4 (IL-4) production. IL-4 promotes IgE synthesis by B cells and stimulates the growth of IL-4 -producing T cells and may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. In this study, in situ hybridization established that atopic dermatitis patients have a higher frequency of IL-4-producing peripheral blood T cell when compared to normal subjects. These in vivo -derived T cells were used to examine the signaling requirements for IL-4 production and the nuclear factors that associate with a critical IL-4 transcriptional regulatory element between −88 and −60 relative to the IL-4 transcription initiation site, the activation responsive element. We demonstrate that, as in T-cell lines, proteins belonging to the NF-AT and AP-1 family of transcription factors are present in stimulated cell extracts and specifically associate with the activation responsive element. Dysregulated IL-4 production is reflected in the nuclear proteins that associate with this element. Using gel shift assays, we found that 12 of 12 nuclear extracts from stimulated atopic T cells formed the activation-dependent protein-DNA complex, compared to only 2 of 12 normal T-cell extracts. Activation complex formation correlated with the relative level of IL-4 mRNA and protein produced in stimulated T cells, suggesting that abnormal IL-4 gene expression in atopic disease may be linked to alterations in nuclear protein interactions with these promoter elements.
Moving Boundary Electrophoresis of Food Stabilizers

SUMMARY— The electrophoretic characteristics of locust bean gum, guar gum, arabic gum, carboxymethylcellulose, K- and h-carrageenan, alginate and the non-dialyzable fraction of corn syrup solids were studied by moving boundary electrophoresis. The physical properties of these colloids require the use of modified techniques in order to eliminate boundary disturbances which otherwise might be interpreted as heterogeneity of composition. A high degree of homogeneity was observed for carboxymethylcellulose, arabic gum, alginate and X-carrageenan. In contrast, K-carrageenan was composed of a mixture of migrating components. The colloidal fractions of guar gum, locust bean gum, and corn syrup solids did not migrate in the electrical field. Mixtures of carboxymethylcellulose with guar gum or gum arabic could be separated at pH 7. Mixtures of carboxymethylcellulose with carrageenan could be effectively separated at pH 2. Electrophoretic separation at 23°C of different stabilizer mixtures was unsatisfactory and the patterns showed evidence of interactions.
Effects of Early Experience on Flavor Preference

P. T. Young (1955) presented a study in support of his hedonic theory of motivation. He concluded that a definite preference for tap water over distilled water which was exhibited by a group of rats was determined by the fact that tap water "is higher in sense appeal or positive affective arousal and this determined the choice." However, the present authors contend that a crucial variable was overlooked, viz., the effects of early experience. The present preliminary study was designed to determine the effects of early drinking experience on flavor preference. A group of freshly weaned rats, who had only experienced mother's milk prior to the experiment, was reared for 35 days, beginning at 22 days of age, on ad libitum diet of Purina rat chow and distilled water tainted with kerosene. A control group was reared in the same manner but had a choice of two drinking solutions: kerosene-tainted distilled water and Chicago tap water. At the end of Day 57, each S was housed individually in identical cage conditions containing two separate water fountains filled with kerosene-tainted distilled water and Chicago tap water, respectively. The bottle positions were reversed daily to minimize position preferences. The water consumption of each animal was recorded daily. When the individual consumption rate reached an asymptote and this persisted for three days, S was considered to have established a definite flavor preference. This preference criterion was reached in from 10 to 15 days. Six of the 12 experimental Ss reared on kerosene-tainted distilled water showed a marked preference for the kerosene water. The average consumption of these six Ss on the final test day was 72% kerosene water. The range of individual records was from 51% to 89%. The remaining seven Ss preferred the tap water, and their average consumprion on the final testing day was 85% with a range of from 66% to 94%. All control Ss who had a choice of kerosene water and tap water for the entire rearing exhibited on the average 71% tap water consumption on the final test day. These results suggest that, although tap water seems to be innately preferable, animals, e.g., 6 of 13 in the experimental group, can learn to shift their preferences to fluids which are "biologically" non-preferred. The present exploratory study did not determine the physiological mechanisms underlying such shifts in the development of flavor preference. Investigations of these mechanisms, e.g., the effects of oIfaction and gustation on flavor adaptation, are currently being conducted.
Organizational Levels and Explanation

The problem of levels is especially critical for certain areas of biological investigation, particularly that of development. The question is posed whether such biological phenomena require special forms of explanation because the phenomena themselves are hierarchically organized. By explanation I mean explication of the properties of a phenomenon in logically interrelated and substantively relevant statements. By ‘hierarchically organized’ I refer to the fact that biological phenomena can be dissected conceptually and physically into subsets which are again dissectable into subsets (and this several times repeated), with each subset having a reasonably integral set of properties. The question of whether this requires explanatory principles that are fundamentally peculiar to biology is, I believe, to be answered negatively. However, the question of whether there are special difficulties to be taken into account and special conceptual problems to be solved, I believe must be answered positively. The special difficulty is the relationship between properties at successive subset levels.
Large motion tracking control for thrust magnetic bearings with fuzzy logic, sliding mode, and direct linearization

Abstract Conventional use of magnetic bearings relies on a zero reference to keep the rotor centered in the radial and axial axes. This paper compares different control methods developed for the alternate control task of tracking an axial dynamic target. Controllers based on fuzzy logic, sliding mode, and direct linearization were designed to meet this task. Performance criteria, such as maximum axial displacement, minimum phase lag and I 2 R power losses were compared for each controller. The large motion, tracking problem for a rotor has utility in applications where dynamic seal clearances are required. This has a variety of potential applications in turbo-machinery, such as active stall control.
Relationship between convective clouds and precipitation over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau area from satellite remote sensing and ground-based observations

Results of this study show that heavy rainfall in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau area is usually preceded by a high growth rate of the convective clouds followed by a rapid collapse of the cloud top. The tops of the convective clouds associated with heavy rainfall over the plateau usually lie between the altitudes of the two tropopauses which exist over the plateau. Undoubtedly the double tropopause restricts the vertical growth of the clouds and this may be the reason why tornadoes rarely occur there.
Light Microscopic, Immunophenotypic, and Molecular Genetic Study of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome Caused by fas Mutation:

This case provides a complete light microscopic, immunophenotypic, and molecular genetic analysis of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), a rare benign cause of dramatic lymphadenopathy with atypical histology and phenotype that may be mistaken for malignancy. The patient is 3-year-old child who was first clinically evaluated at the age of 16 months because of marked generalized lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. Histologic sections of a cervical lymph node demonstrated a marked paracortical proliferation of occasional small and intermediate-sized lymphocytes and numerous large immunoblasts, the majority of which displayed a CD3+, CD43+, CD45RO− (OPD4, UCHL1) CD4−, CD8− phenotype on paraffin sections, and which had a CD2+, CD3+, CD5+, CD56−, Tδ1−, [CD4−, CD8−] double negative profile on flow cytometric analysis. Southern blot analysis did not identify a clonal T or B cell population, and sequencing of the fas gene identified a mutation that caused a single amino acid substitution in the intracytoplasmic death domain of this protein. An enriched population of CD45RO-negative naive T cells in the paracortex may explain the atypical histologic and immunophenotypic features of this case. Greater awareness of this heritable lymphoproliferative disorder will facilitate its recognition and minimize the possibility of misdiagnosis.
Perspectives of molecular genetics and fisheries into the 21st century

I have been privileged to witness the application of molecular genetics in fisheries throughout the maturation process from infancy to maturity since I joined the work force as a graduate student in 1959. I am grateful for this opportunity to reflect on this development, and to offer a few thoughts about directions and needs for this field in the near future.
HOW DYNAMIC AGGREGATES MAY ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION

Requirements for warranted identification of 'emergence' of new entities in nonlinear chemical dynamic systems are considered in terms of developments in both chemistry and in philosophy. In particular, a recently reported example of emergence of coherence in a set of electrochemical oscillators is examined. The philosophical theory of 'response dependence,' proposed as a 'third way' in the realist-antirealist controversy, and a contemporary discussion of the concept of substance are also employed. The conclusion is reached that when a set of chemical reactions achieves such closure as to generate persistent and interactive coherence (such as a limit cycle or strange attractor), properties of a test entity are altered. To the extent that this can be shown to be the case, it is appropriate to consider that a novel (emergent) entity has come into existence. Existence of the limit cycle brings about major changes in the levels (concentrations) of reactants that generate that cycle. Emergent entities of the type discussed in this paper are not adequately dealt with by the standard philosophical theory of wholes and part ('mereology'). That theory should be extended or modified.
Fiscal and Monetary Determinants of Inflation in Low-Income Countries: Theory and Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper presents a model of fiscal dominance with borrowing constraints and provides new evidence for a large number of Sub-Saharan African countries on the relative importance of fiscal and monetary determinants of inflation. Based on different empirical tests, results show that half of the twenty-two SSA countries were characterised in 1980–2005 by lack of clear anti-inflationary monetary and fiscal policies. The other half of the sample was characterised by either a fiscal-dominant regime, with weak or no response of primary surpluses to public debt, or by consistent adoption of a monetary-dominant regime.
On the Benefits of Relaxing the Periodicity Assumption for Networked Control Systems over CAN

A vast majority of control systems require the use of networks for the communication between the different agents: sensors, controllers, and actuators. The existing paradigm regards the messages, between sensors and controllers and between controllers and actuators, as periodic. Although this strategy facilitates the analysis and implementation, it leads to a conservative usage of the communication bandwidth. Based on previous work by the authors, an aperiodic strategy is proposed in this paper for the dynamic allocation of bandwidth according to the current state of the plants and the available resources. The case of control loops closed over Controller Area Networks (CANs) is discussed in detail and illustrated on a train car.
Estimating Shorebird Populations During Spring Stopover in Rice Fields of the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coastal Plain

Abstract.— Migrating shorebird populations using approximately 2% of Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coastal rice fields were surveyed during spring migration (March–May of 1997 and 1998) using biweekly stratified random surveys conducted at 50 roadside survey points and approximately 30,000 shorebirds were observed. Shorebird counts were extrapolated and almost 1.4 million birds in 1997 and over 1.6 million birds of 31 species in 1998 were estimated to use rice field habitat for stopover sites in Louisiana and Texas. Greater than 50% of the estimated North American populations were estimated to use rice field habitats for five species, including a species of concern, Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) at 187%. Because of predictability of suitable rice field habitat acreage, timing of field preparation and water availability, coastal rice prairies are identified as critical spring migration stopover sites.
Case study in scientific visualization: factors inducing periodic breathing in humans with blunted hypoxic sensitivity

This project represents a typical problem, that of presenting and gaining deeper understanding of a multi-dimensional system: a mathematical model predicting 20-90 second duration oscillations in breathing. We have utilized custom software for interactive analysis of a 3D model plus Wavefront software to render translucent images of the 3D surfaces. The results show that under conditions of no peripheral chemosensor sensitivity, periodic breathing is predicted to occur with (1) an increase in circulatory transit time between the lungs and brain, (2) the presence of marked 'steady state' hypoventilation, and/or (3) an increase in brain blood flow rate. Therefore, we conclude that the peripheral chemosensors (carotid bodies) are not essential for the development of periodic breathing.
A Pedagogic Note: Comparison of 0LS, 2SLS and 3SLS Estimation Methods

Introduction The application of statistics to the study of economic relationships is often characterized by unique problems. Although prediction may be an important part of a study's objectives, generally the econometrician is more concerned with the form of the relationship between economic variables for such information enables him to define the transmission mechanism between economic variables. Knowledge of the functional relationship between variables makes it possible to trace the impact of a change in a control or policy variable on and through other variables in the system under study.
Tolerance and the “Holy Grail” of transplantation

Abstract Advances in transplantation biology have greatly improved patient outcomes following transplant surgery. However, generalized immunosuppression remains the Achilles heel of modern transplantation surgery with its associated infectious and neoplastic morbidities. Tolerance remains the ultimate goal for the entire field. Although recent advances in transplant immunology suggest that tolerance may be achievable in the near future, the complex and redundant nature of the human immune system may not allow us to circumvent such a basic function as the recognition of nonself. In this paper, advances in transplant immunology are reviewed and their potential relevance to achieving the “Holy Grail” of transplantation are discussed.