cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multifractal properties of the structure factor of a class of substitutional sequences

We show how to estimate the multifractal generating functional of the structure factor of a class of substitutional sequences. These sequences are sequences of two elements, a and b, and are generated by the repetitive application of the rules a\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{1}$(a,b) and b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{2}$(a,b), with the \ensuremath{\sigma}'s consisting of strings of a's and b's. We restrict ourselves to the case in which ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{1}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{2}$ each contain R elements. This set includes the case of the Thue-Morse sequence. Subject to a technical assumption, we present a systematic approximation scheme for the multifractal generating functional, in which the lowest-order approximation is the generating functional of an R-scale Cantor set. As a by-product of our analysis, we demonstrate the existence of a discontinuity in the multifractal spectrum of the Thue-Morse sequence, and explain the origin of that discontinuity. We present explicit results for two examples, including the Thue-Morse case, and compare the results of our approximations for the Thue-Morse system with numerical simulations.
Layered learning in multiagent systems

Multi-agent systems in complex, real-time domains require agents to act effectively both autonomously and as part of a team. This dissertation addresses multi-agent systems consisting of teams of autonomous agents acting in real-time, noisy, collaborative, and adversarial environments. Because of the inherent complexity of this type of multi-agent system, this thesis investigates the use of machine learning within multi-agent systems. The dissertation makes four main contributions to the fields of Machine Learning and Multi-Agent Systems. First, the thesis defines a team member agent architecture within which a flexible team structure is presented, allowing agents to decompose the task space into flexible roles and allowing them to smoothly switch roles while acting. Team organization is achieved by the introduction of a locker-room agreement as a collection of conventions followed by all team members. It defines agent roles, team formations, and pre-compiled multi-agent plans. In addition, the team member agent architecture includes a communication paradigm for domains with single-channel, low-bandwidth, unreliable communication. The communication paradigm facilitates team coordination while being robust to lost messages and active interference from opponents. Second, the thesis introduces layered learning, a general-purpose machine learning paradigm for complex domains in which learning a mapping directly from agents' sensors to their actuators is intractable. Given a hierarchical task decomposition, layered learning allows for learning at each level of the hierarchy, with learning at each level directly affecting learning at the next higher level. Third, the thesis introduces a new multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithm, namely team-partitioned, opaque-transition reinforcement learning (TPOT-RL). TPOT-RL is designed for domains in which agents cannot necessarily observe the state changes when other team members act. It exploits local, action-dependent features to aggressively generalize its input representation for learning and partitions the task among the agents, allowing them to simultaneously learn collaborative policies by observing the long-term effects of their actions. Fourth, the thesis contributes a fully functioning multi-agent system that incorporates learning in a real-time, noisy domain with teammates and adversaries. Detailed algorithmic descriptions of the agents' behaviors as well as their source code are included in the thesis. Empirical results validate all four contributions within the simulated robotic soccer domain. The generality of the contributions is verified by applying them to the real robotic soccer, and network routing domains. Ultimately, this dissertation demonstrates that by learning portions of their cognitive processes, selectively communicating, and coordinating their behaviors via common knowledge, a group of independent agents can work towards a common goal in a complex, real-time, noisy, collaborative, and adversarial environment.
Pastoral Care with Children of War: A Community-Based Model of Trauma Healing in the Aftermath of Indonesia’s Religious Conflicts

This essay on children and trauma places a community-based, activist model of pastoral care into conversation with contemporary trauma theory to argue for the necessity of contextual strategies of care for traumatized children. Based upon ethnographic research in Ambon City in the southern Moluccas, a group of islands in Indonesia where violent fighting between Christian and Muslim groups dominated the landscape from 1999 to 2002, the study explores the impact of continual trauma on children. Western models of care coming out of a mental health perspective that privilege narrating the trauma experience become problematic in contexts such as this one, where access to mental health is limited and cultural norms work against the disclosure of painful events. Operating from intercultural pastoral care principles of context-based care that relies on local wisdom, the essay offers the example of Pastor Jacky Maniputty’s community-based, activist model of pastoral care with youth as engaging the fundamental tasks of trauma healing in a culturally coherent manner.
Coexistence of Mirizzi Type II syndrome with a parapapillary choledochoduodenal fistula: a case report

In 1948, Mirizzi described what he called “the functional hepatic syndrome”: obstructive jaundice secondary to compression of the common hepatic duct by a stone in the infundibulum of the gallbladder. Progression of the disease may result in erosion of the wall of the hepatic duct, with the consequent formation of a cholecystocholedochal fistula, a condition that has been classified as type II Mirizzi syndrome by McSherry et al. Mirizzi syndrome is very uncommon; its frequency has been estimated to be around 1%. Parapapillary choledochoduodenal fistula (PCDF) is another uncommon complication of gallstone disease. The widespread use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has increased our awareness for this entity. For unknown reasons, it is more common in the Japanese population, where it is found in 5% to 14% of patients subjected to duodenal endoscopy for suspected biliary disease or ERCP. In the Western Hemisphere, its incidence is between 0.7% and 2.5%. This paper reports a patient with a Mirizzi type II syndrome associated with a spontaneous PCDF.
On the exact distribution of a delayed renewal process with exponential sum interarrival times

Abstract The paper develops the exact probability functions of a delayed renewal process whose interarrival times are sums of two independent exponential random variables with likely unequal parameters. The initial arrival time is distributed as one of these exponential variables. The impetus for this study comes from the electricity distribution industry whose circuit breaker breakdowns go unnoticed and come to light only at subsequent blackouts. By assuming that a circuit breaker’s life time is exponential and interarrival times of blackouts are also exponential with a likely different parameter, that all variables are independent of each other, and that the circuit breaker is operative at the beginning of the observation period, the present model arises for counting the number of said breakdowns during a given time period. The result is obtained and proved through a recursive application of Laplace transform. Moments of the distribution, and its numerical delineation are given, and an extension to a regular renewal process which counts breakdowns’ detections is also discussed.
MicroRNA-126 regulates endothelial expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1

Adhesion molecules expressed by activated endothelial cells play a key role in regulating leukocyte trafficking to sites of inflammation. Resting endothelial cells normally do not express adhesion molecules, but cytokines activate endothelial cells to express adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), which mediate leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells. We now show that endothelial cells express microRNA 126 (miR-126), which inhibits VCAM-1 expression. Transfection of endothelial cells with an oligonucleotide that decreases miR-126 permits an increase in TNF-α-stimulated VCAM-1 expression. Conversely, overexpression of the precursor to miR-126 increases miR-126 levels and decreases VCAM-1 expression. Additionally, decreasing endogenous miR-126 levels increases leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells. These data suggest that microRNA can regulate adhesion molecule expression and may provide additional control of vascular inflammation.
Puromycin’s effects on long-term memory and the acquisition of two successive visual discrimination tasks in Japanese quail

Puromycin appears to block long-term memory of color discrimination training (measured 3 days after initial training) and inhibits its acquisition (measured as the number of days taken to reach the task criterion). The antibiotic has no effect on long-term memory of pattern discrimination, although it does affect acquisition to criterion. These results suggest that puromycin’s influence on long-term memory is a function of the extent of long-term memory formation on the initial day of training as determined by task difficulty.
Automated volume analysis of head and neck lesions on CT scans using 3D level set segmentation

The authors have developed a semiautomatic system for segmentation of a diverse set of lesions in head and neck CT scans. The system takes as input an approximate bounding box, and uses a multistage level set to perform the final segmentation. A data set consisting of 69 lesions marked on 33 scans from 23 patients was used to evaluate the performance of the system. The contours from automatic segmentation were compared to both 2D and 3D gold standard contours manually drawn by three experienced radiologists. Three performance metric measures were used for the comparison. In addition, a radiologist provided quality ratings on a 1 to 10 scale for all of the automatic segmentations. For this pilot study, the authors observed that the differences between the automatic and gold standard contours were larger than the interobserver differences. However, the system performed comparably to the radiologists, achieving an average area intersection ratio of 85.4% compared to an average of 91.2% between two radiologists. The average absolute area error was 21.1% compared to 10.8%, and the average 2D distance was 1.38 mm compared to 0.84 mm between the radiologists. In addition, the quality rating data showed that, despite the very lax assumptions made on the lesion characteristics in designing the system, the automatic contours approximated many of the lesions very well.
Formal help-seeking behavior of adolescents identifying themselves as having mental health problems

ABSTRACT Objective In response to evidence of poorly met mental health needs, a study of formal help-seeking behavior of adolescents was conducted. Method Responses ( n = 17,193) to a school-based survey were examined. Overall, 24.9% identified themselves as having a serious problem. Students who felt they "needed professional help" were contrasted to those who did not. Among students who felt they needed help, those who did not seek it were contrasted to those who did. Results Deciding professional help was needed was most strongly associated with history of abuse, physical health, suicidal ideation, and gender. Obtaining help was associated with suicidal ideation, informal help-seeking behavior, the interaction between race and socioeconomic status, parental marital status, and having a checkup within the previous year. Conclusions This study establishes that different factors influence adolescents' identifying a need and actually obtaining help.
Chemosensitization of HER-2/neu-overexpressing human breast cancer cells to paclitaxel (Taxol) by adenovirus type 5 E1A

Breast cancer cells that overexpress HER-2/neu are more resistant to chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere) than those that do not overexpress HER-2/neu. In previous work, we showed that the adenovirus type 5 E1A can repress HER-2/neu expression at the transcriptional level. Here we first demonstrated that paclitaxel sensitivity correlates with HER-2/neu expression level in a panel of mouse fibroblasts expressing different levels of HER-2/neu, and that downregulation of HER-2/neu expression by E1A sensitizes the cells to paclitaxel. To further test whether E1A can sensitize HER-2/neu-overexpressing human breast cancer cells to paclitaxel through E1A-mediated HER-2/neu repression, an adenoviral vector was used to transfer the E1A gene into two human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-453 and MDA-MB-361, that overexpress HER-2/neu. After E1A delivery, we observed that HER-2/neu expression level was reduced, and cells were treated with paclitaxel. Cell proliferation assays showed a synergistic growth inhibition effect of E1A and paclitaxel. The synergistic effect was also confirmed by soft agar colony-formation assay. Breast cancer cell lines that express low levels of HER-2/neu, MDA-MB-435 and MDA-MB-231 cells showed no synergistic growth inhibition effect when treated on the same protocols. Thus, we concluded that the adenovirus type 5 E1A gene can sensitize paclitaxel-resistant HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cells to the drug by repressing HER-2/neu expression. This in turn may have important implications for the development of a novel therapy that combines chemotherapy and gene therapy.
New hysteroscopic techniques for submucosal uterine fibroids.

Purpose of review To review the preoperative preparation, intraoperative equipment and techniques to facilitate hysteroscopic resection of submucous fibroids. Recent findings The use of preoperative ultrasound can guide safe resection of submucous fibroids and should be an integral part of a preoperative workup. The data regarding misoprostol use for cervical dilation prior to hysteroscopy is somewhat conflicting and the decision to preoperatively administer misoprostol should be on a case-by-case basis. Hysteroscopic resection of submucous intrauterine fibroids can now be performed under low-dose spinal anesthesia and with the development of smaller instruments and bipolar technology, in an office-based setting without any anesthesia and, sometimes, analgesia. Although the complete removal of type 1 and 2 submucous fibroids remain a challenge, the development of newer techniques such as office preparation of partially intramural myomas and cold-loop myomectomy can result in better removal of these submucous fibroids with an intramural component. Summary Hysteroscopic resection of submucous uterine fibroids should be a simple, well tolerated and effective procedure. Innovations to the existing hysteroscopic techniques and the development of the hysteroscopic morcellator will hopefully result in a greater number of gynecologic surgeons being able to safely perform hysteroscopic resection of submucous uterine fibroids.
Interaction of pyridine nucleotide substrates with Escherichia coli dihydrodipicolinate reductase: Thermodynamic and structural analysis of binary complexes

E. coli dihydrodipicolinate reductase exhibits unusual nucleotide specificity, with NADH being kinetically twice as effective as NADPH as a reductant as evidenced by their relative V/K values. To investigate the nature of the interactions which determine this specificity, we performed isothermal titration calorimetry to determine the thermodynamic parameters of binding and determined the three-dimensional structures of the corresponding enzyme-nucleotide complexes. The thermodynamic binding parameters for NADPH and NADH were determined to be Kd = 2.12 microM, delta G degree = -7.81 kcal mol-1, delta H degree = -10.98 kcal mol-1, and delta S degree = -10.5 cal mol-1 deg-1 and Kd = 0.46 microM, delta G degree = -8.74 kcal mol-1, delta H degree = -8.93 kcal mol-1, and delta S degree = 0.65 cal mol-1 deg-1, respectively. The structures of DHPR complexed with these nucleotides have been determined at 2.2 A resolution. The 2'-phosphate of NADPH interacts electrostatically with Arg39, while in the NADH complex this interaction is replaced by hydrogen bonds between the 2' and 3' adenosyl ribose hydroxyls and Glu38. Similar studies were also performed with other pyridine nucleotide substrate analogs to determine the contributions of individual groups on the nucleotide to the binding affinity and enthalpic and entropic components of the free energy of binding, delta G degree. Analogs lacking the 2'-phosphate containing homologs. For all analogs, the total binding free energy can be shown to include compensating enthalpic and entropic contributions to the association constants. The entropy contribution appears to play a more important role in the binding of the nonphosphorylated analogs than in the binding of the phosphorylated analogs.
Raman spectroscopy of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ with varying oxygen stoichiometry

Abstract Measurements of Raman scattering from the electronic continuum are reported for crystals of the cuprate superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ (Bi 2212) post-annealed at both high and low oxygen partial pressures to adjust T c . For temperatures below T c , a peak forms in the continuum at an energy shift which depends upon the polarizations of the incident and collected light as well as oxygen concentration. The results are discussed in terms of an anisotropic superconducting energy gap.
Carbon-14 kinetic isotope effects and mechanism in the solvolysis of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-phenyl-2-propyl-3-14C p-toluenesulfonate

Abstract In the solvolysis of 1,1,1-trifouoro-2-phenyl-2-propyl-3-14C p -toluenesulfonate there is only a small βC isotope effect, k/βk = 1.008 ± 0.002. The result is as expected for a branching SN 1/E1 reaction (mostly SN1). This is the first example of such a measurement.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus in Moderate Term Survivors of Liver Transplantation

The prevalence and risk factors for diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation are not well understood. Thus, we sought to identify independent risk factors for the development of diabetes after liver transplantation using currently accepted medical criteria. We studied the prevalence and risk factors in 253 adult recipients transplanted at UCLA between January 1998 and December 2002. Analysis of the retrospective data was performed using demographic, immunosuppression and liver disease variables. Factors found to be significant on a univariate analysis were further studied in a multivariate analysis. There were 158 men and 95 women in our study. The mean age was 51.4 ± 11.0 years. The mean [± standard deviation (SD) pretransplant body mass index was 26.7 (±5.1). Most patients were transplanted for hepatitis C (HCV). The prevalence of diabetes after transplantation was 17.8%. In a multivariate analysis only gender [odds ratio (OR) = 0.37; p = 0.02] was independently predictive of the development of diabetes. This study in a large liver transplant recipient population identifies male gender as an independent risk factor for the development of diabetes. Follow-up studies are needed to assess the impact of diabetes, and its intervention on post-transplant morbidity and mortality.
The fertility impact of alternative family planning distribution channels in Indonesia

Clinic-based distribution of contraceptive commodities is expensive per unit distributed. This situation has fueled the search for alternative means of delivery. Comparing the performance of alternatives is straightforward if the output measure is a count of commodities distributed, but comparing actual fertility impacts is another matter. I use data from the 1991 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey to assess the extent of difference among the eventual fertility outcomes of users supplied with similar commodities through varying sources. When the “modern” methods of pill, IUD, and injection are grouped together, the fertility of users supplied with these commodities differs markedly according to their source of supply. I find little evidence for self-selecting of users into supply channels. This result implies that fertility differentials by source are likely due to characteristics of the distribution channels.
Quantitative characteristics of sinuous distributary channels on the Amazon Deep-Sea Fan

Morphometric analysis of meandering channels on the middle and lower Amazon Deep-Sea Fan demonstrates that these channels have definite similarities with meandering subaerial rivers. The relationships between meander wavelength and both channel width and radius of meander curvature for fan channels are similar to those observed for large rivers; however, channel width, depth, and cross-sectional area decrease down a fan channel. Channel slope or gradient, measured along the channel axis, decreases smoothly down fan even though the fan slope (valley slope) which the channel traverses decreases irregularly down fan. Channel sinuosities range from about 1.05 to 2.6 on the fan, and sinuosity along a single channel, especially on the middle fan, appears to increase or decrease locally to compensate for varying fan surface slope (valley slope) to maintain a smoothly decreasing channel slope. This dynamic relationship between valley slope and channel sinuosity suggests that the sinuosities of the Amazon Fan channels have changed (that is, the channels have meandered) to obtain the optimum channel slopes, and the optimum channel slope decreases down fan. It is not possible, however, to determine whether that meandering occurred early in the development of the channel/levee system or throughout its evolution. Down-channel changes in fan and channel slope and maximum flow thickness (combined with variations in flow density) may produce systematic changes in flow characteristics and channel facies down fan.
Managing irritability and aggression in autism spectrum disorders in children and adolescents

Children with autism and autism spectrum disorders have a high rate of irritability and aggressive symptoms. In one study up to 20% of children with autism have symptoms of irritability and aggression including aggression, severe tantrums, and deliberate self injurious behavior (Lecavalier [2006] J. Autism Dev. Disord. 36:1101-1114.). These symptoms can lead to impairment and distress in both home and school settings. Medications to treat the irritability will be discussed across categories of antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihypertensive agents, and others. Emphasis will be placed on medications with the most safety and efficacy and FDA approval.
Tilt table standing for reducing spasticity after spinal cord injury

A patient with a T12 spinal cord injury and intractable extensor spasms of the lower extremities participated in tilt table standing trial on 5 nonconsecutive days to determine if the intervention would affect his spasticity and spasms. Each day's standing trial was followed by an immediate reduction in lower extremity spasticity (measured using the modified Ashworth scale and pendulum testing). Standing was also accompanied by a reduction in spasms that lasted until the following morning. The reduction of spasms was particularly advantageous to the performance of car transfers. Tilt table standing merits further examination as a physical treatment of spasms that accompany central nervous system lesions.
Gallbladder visualization following hepatic arteriography for hemangioma

Gallbladder visualization in two patients with hepatic hemangioma—one histologically confirmed—following selective arteriography has been observed. One patient had normal renal function, the other had multiple myeloma with renal impairment. The different reasons for heterotopic excretion of urographic agents are discussed, and it is pointed out that liver hemangioma might be responsible for the visualization of the gallbladder after visceral arteriography.
Directions in Locative Media

Editor's NoteIn 2002, Jeremy Hight was involved in the project 34 North 118 West, one of the seminal works of what became known as locative media. He also wrote one of the seminal texts of the field, Narrative Archaeology. Here he discusses the process of conceptualizing and making the work and how it has fueled his latest projects with locative narratives.&#x2014;Maria Miranda
Many-body perturbation-theory calculations of energy levels along the sodium isoelectronic sequence.

Energies of 3s and 3p states of sodiumlike ions are calculated from Z=11 to Z=92 starting from a Dirac-Fock potential and including second- and third-order Coulomb correlation corrections, the lowest-order Breit interaction with retardation treated exactly, second- and third-order correlation corrections to the Breit interaction, and corrections for reduced mass and mass polarization. The calculated energies are compared to measured energies to determine the size of the omitted quantum electrodynamics corrections.
Likely Errors When Linking Supplementary Homicide Report Records for Large U.S. Cities

When linking records from the Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) with information from other sources, such as data from the U.S. Census Bureau, errors are likely to occur because police service areas in some cities do not match the political definitions of the cities. Also, errors may occur because different places have the same or similar names. This article illustrates the problem with six cities (Jacksonville, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Baton Rouge, Las Vegas, and Nashville) and explains how discrepancies can be identified and corrected.
Does Leadership Matter? CEO Leadership Attributes and Profitability under Conditions of Perceived Environmental Uncertainty.

Using data from 48 Fortune 500 firms, the authors assessed transactional and charismatic CEO leadership as predictors of financial performance. The authors also hypothesized that the relationship b...
FLIP MHD: a particle-cell method for magnetohydrodynamics

A particle-in-cell (PIC) method, FLIP is extended to magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow in two dimensions. Particles are used to reduce computational diffusion of the magnetic field. FLIP is an extension of classical'' PIC, where particles have mass, but every other property of the fluid is stored on a grid. In FLIP, particles have every property of the fluid, so that they provide a complete Lagrangian description not only to resolve contact discontinuities but also to reduce computational diffusion of linear and angular momentum. The interactions among the particles are calculated on a grid, for convenience and economy. The present study extends FLIP to MHD, by including information about the magnetic field among the attributes of the particles. 6 refs.
A procedure for modeling material junctions in 3-D surface integral equation approaches

Surface integral equations become cumbersome to solve when arbitrary combinations of materials, and complicated arrangements of junctions between those materials, are considered. This paper describes a straightforward approach for generalizing integral equation techniques to handle any combinations of materials with junctions. Particular attention is focused on a unique, easily implemented junction resolution algorithm that maps each basis function coefficient to one or more unknowns. Three examples are presented for validation purposes.
Abstract 2719: Non-invasive biomarker discovery for ovarian cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC The majority of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with advanced disease (FIGO stage III and IV) and have a five year survival rate of approximately 20%. In contrast, the survival rate of women diagnosed with stage I ovarian cancer is greater than 90%, highlighting an unmet and dire need for accurate and reliable diagnostic tests for the early detection of ovarian cancer. We have previously demonstrated that urinary matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are independent predictors of disease status and stage in a variety of human cancers as well as predictors of breast cancer risk. We have also reported that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is present in the urine of women with metastatic breast cancer and that the levels of urinary NGAL are significantly higher in these patients compared to normal controls. In the current study, we asked whether urinary MMPs and NGAL, alone or in combination, could provide useful clinical information with respect to the presence of ovarian cancer. Urine samples were obtained from a total of 166 women: 96 women with known FIGO stage III and IV ovarian cancer (newly diagnosed and recurrent) and 70 normal controls. All urine samples were analyzed for NGAL levels by ELISA and for urinary MMP levels by quantitative gelatin zymography. We found that urinary NGAL, MMP9-dimer, MMP9/NGAL complex, MMP9, and MMP2 were each significantly elevated in the urine of women with ovarian cancer compared to normal controls (p 55 years of age with significant measurable levels of urinary MMP9-dimer and MMP2 had a 95% probability of ovarian cancer (95% CI= 85-98% probability), AUC = 0.860 (95% CI = 0.802 – 0.915 (p<0.001)). Taken together, these data suggest that the panel of urinary biomarkers composed of gelatinases, their complexes and NGAL, along with patient age, may provide clinically useful information with respect to distinguishing between women who have ovarian cancer and those who do not. (Supported by NIH P01 CA045548, the Weitzman Family Foundation and Ovations for the Cure) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2719.
Removal of Pesticide Residues from Dairy Cattle

Abstract The contamination of livestock with chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide is a serious problem in animal agriculture. Once animals become contaminated with these pesticides elimination from the body is a slow process. The research on methods to intentionally increase the elimination of pesticides from cattle was reviewed. Several compounds have been fed to animals contaminated with heptachlor, dieldrin, or DDT. These compounds were mineral oil, animal and vegetable fat, calcium salts, bentonite, ethoxyquin, thyroprotein and vitamins A, D and E. In addition, the effects of high energy or low energy rations on pesticide excretion have been studied. Some of these materials helped to remove pesticides but the effects were not dramatic. The method that is effective as an antidote for pesticide poisoning in cattle is a combination of activated carbon and phenobarbital feeding. This method proved successful in a large scale field trial involving 105 lactating Holstein cows that had been contaminated with aldrin.
Pituitary apoplexy presenting as monocular blindness

The case of a 56-year-old man with sudden onset of retrobulbar headache and progressive loss of vision in his left eye is described. The anatomical position of the chiasm noted during surgical resection of a necrotic pituitary adenoma accounted for this patient's presentation of monocular blindness. We discuss the typical features of pituitary apoplexy and provide a pathophysiological explanation of these signs and symptoms. A differential diagnosis is given and appropriate treatment is described.
A simple measurement technique for characterizing active antennas

Testing active antennas or polarimetric radar calibrators in the far-field (plane wave excitation) is complicated by imperfect isolation between transmitting and receiving channels. We describe a far-field reflectometry setup which overcomes this problem. A large dynamic range is achieved by modulating the active element bias and using a quadrature receiver and lock-in detection scheme. Measured results compare favorably with other existing techniques. >
Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Complicating Bronchial Atresia

Bronchial atresia is a rare pulmonary developmental anomaly characterized by the presence of a focal obliteration of a segmental or lobar bronchial lumen. The lung distal to the atretic bronchus is typically emphysematous along with the presence of mucus filled ectatic bronchi (mucoceles). BA is usually asymptomatic but pulmonary infections can rarely develop in the emphysematous lung distal to the atretic bronchus. We present a unique case of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in a patient with BA with no evidence of immune dysfunction. The patient was treated initially with voriconazole and subsequently underwent surgical excision of the involved area. On follow-up, she has done extremely well with no evidence for recurrence. In summary, we describe the first case of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient with bronchial atresia.
Altered Insulin Binding to Monocytes and Diploid Fibroblasts from Obese Donors

Insulin binding was studied in fibroblasts and monocytes from nondiabetic subjects with a range of body mass indices (BMI). Binding was compared in fibroblasts from extremely obese subjects and normal weight subjects. The [125I] insulin displacement curve for the obese subjects was shifted to the right. Scatchard analysis suggested that cells from the obese group have an increased number of receptors with decreased affinity. Significant correlations were observed between the cell donor’s BMI and the concentration of insulin required to inhibit half of the [125I]insulin specifically bound to fibroblasts (r = 0.8; P < 0.005), the high affinity dissociation constant (r = 0.8; P < 0.005), and the number of receptors (r = 0.6; P < 0.05). Insulin binding to monocytes was measured for nondiabetic Pima Indian subjects with a range of BMI values. Scatchard analysis of the data indicated that the high affinity dissociation constant was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.6; P < 0.02). The number of receptors was ...
Mathematics and Infinity in Descartes and Newton

The concept of the infinite has often been regarded as inherently problematic in mathematics and in philosophy. The idea that the universe itself might be infinite has been the subject of intense debate not only on mathematical and philosophical grounds, but for theological and political reasons as well. When Copernicus and his followers challenged the old Aristotelian and Ptolemaic conceptions of the world’s finiteness, if not its boundedness, the idea of an infinite, if not merely unbounded, world seemed more attractive. Indeed, the infinity of space has been called the “fundamental principle of the new ontology” (Koyre in From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1957, p. 126). Influential scholarship in the first half of the twentieth century helped to solidify the idea that it was specifically in the seventeenth century that astronomers and natural philosophers fully embraced the infinity of the universe. As Kuhn writes in his Copernican Revolution (1957, p. 289): “From Bruno ’s death in 1600 to the publication of Descartes ’s Principles of Philosophy in 1644, no Copernican of any prominence appears to have espoused the infinite universe, at least in public. After Descartes , however, no Copernican seems to have opposed the conception.” That same year saw the publication of Alexandre Koyre ’s sweeping volume about the scientific revolution, From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe. The decision to describe and conceive of the world as infinite might be seen as a crucial, if not decisive, aspect of the overthrow of Scholasticism. As Kuhn and Koyre knew, one finds a particularly invigorating expression of this historical-philosophical interpretation in an earlier article by Marjorie Nicholson (Studies in Philology 25:356–374, 1929, p. 370).
The anxiolytic-like effects of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone: interactions with GABAA receptors

The neurosteroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone) was administered systemically to rats which were tested in the Geller-Seifter conflict paradigm, an established animal model of anxiety. Allopregnanolone was found to produce significant anxiolytic-like effects at a dose of 8 mg/kg. When three ligands that function at different sites on the gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine receptor-chloride ionophore complex (GABA(A) receptors) were examined in conjunction with allopregnanolone, the anti-conflict effects of allopregnanolone were effectively reversed only by the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist RO15-4513 (ethyl-8-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo [1,5-alpha]-[1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate). Since this inverse agonist has been reported to inhibit the GABA(A)-activated chloride flux in neuronal membranes, it is likely that the stimulation of the chloride channel in GABA(A) receptors is an important component of the effects of allopregnanolone. In contrast, the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil (ethyl-8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo [1,5-alpha]-[1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate) did not block the anxiolytic-like actions of allopregnanolone, indicating that allopregnanolone does not bind at the benzodiazepine site directly. Isopropylbicyclophosphate, which binds at the picrotoxinin site on the GABA(A) receptors and blocks the behavioral actions of ethanol, also dose-dependently reversed the anti-conflict effect of this neurosteroid. The results suggest that allopregnanolone may be working either at a site specific for the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist RO15-4513 or at the picrotoxinin site to produce its potent anxiolytic-like behavioral effects.
Feature-based textures

This paper introduces feature-based textures, a new image representation that combines features and samples for high-quality texture mapping. Features identify boundaries within an image where samples change discontinuously. They can be extracted from vector graphics representations, or explicitly added to raster images to improve sharpness. Texture lookups are then interpolated from samples while respecting these boundaries. We present results from a software implementation of this technique demonstrating quality, efficiency and low memory overhead.
Van Orden Dynamics

The history of collaboration and interaction between Van Orden and Kello is outlined, focusing on investigations of complex dynamic systems. These investigations led to work on 1/f noise, interaction-dominant dynamics, metastability, self-organized criticality, and soft assembly of neural and behavioral function. The essay is framed by connectionism as both the starting point and ending point for this brief history.
5–6 GHz SPDT switchable balun using CMOS transistors

This paper presents a new design and implementation of a CMOS single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch integrated within a transformer balun. The top two metal layers of a CMOS process are used for the primary and secondary inductors of the transformer. The secondary inductor is symmetrically wound, and the CMOS transistors are placed at the center-taps for the switching operation. The transformer is doubly tuned using the transistor parasitic capacitances and an integrated capacitor to overcome the limited coupling factor (k=0.76). The measured insertion loss of the switchable balun is 1.6-1.7 dB at 5-6 GHz for both ports with excellent input and output match, and the input 1-dB power compression point is 12 dBm. The integrated switchable balun occupies 250times240 mum2, and can be used for compact low-power T/R applications with a single-ended antenna and differential low-noise and transmit amplifiers. To our knowledge, this is the first implementation of a switchable transformer balun.
Ureteric obstruction secondary to appendicular abscess treated by transuretero-ureterostomy.

A patient with a right lower quadrant mass and hydronephrosis is described. At exploration the mass proved to be a chronic appendicular abscess which involved the ureter. The patient was managed by appendicectomy and transureteroureterostomy. The management of ureteric obstruction secondary to appendicular abscess is briefly discussed.
Networking applications of the hierarchical mode of the JPEG standard

Hierarchical coding of images and continuous media can be used to effectively control congestion in high-speed networks supporting interactive multimedia communications. However, the tradeoffs of the use of hierarchical coding have not yet been adequately investigated. We have undertaken an empirical study to investigate the effectiveness of hierarchical coding through the hierarchical mode of JPEG from a network perspective. A static analysis of hierarchical JPEG images in comparison to baseline JPEG images in terms of QoS management by packet discarding is provided. We also share our experiences in the implementation of hierarchical JPEG.
Animal models of ischemia-reperfusion-induced intestinal injury: progress and promise for translational research

Research in the field of ischemia-reperfusion injury continues to be plagued by the inability to translate research findings to clinically useful therapies. This may in part relate to the complexity of disease processes that result in intestinal ischemia but may also result from inappropriate research model selection. Research animal models have been integral to the study of ischemia-reperfusion-induced intestinal injury. However, the clinical conditions that compromise intestinal blood flow in clinical patients ranges widely from primary intestinal disease to processes secondary to distant organ failure and generalized systemic disease. Thus models that closely resemble human pathology in clinical conditions as disparate as volvulus, shock, and necrotizing enterocolitis are likely to give the greatest opportunity to understand mechanisms of ischemia that may ultimately translate to patient care. Furthermore, conditions that result in varying levels of ischemia may be further complicated by the reperfusion of blood to tissues that, in some cases, further exacerbates injury. This review assesses animal models of ischemia-reperfusion injury as well as the knowledge that has been derived from each to aid selection of appropriate research models. In addition, a discussion of the future of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion research is provided to place some context on the areas likely to provide the greatest benefit from continued research of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Automated Flash Visual Evoked Potential Monitoring: Comparison with Intracranial Pressure

Flash visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are the electrical response of the visual pathway to a repetitive flash stimulus. VEP latency is reported by York et al to be prolonged by increased intracranial pressure (ICP)1,2, possibly due to optic tract compression. York also reported that ICP could be estimated by changes in VEP latency. Our clinical impression is that VEP’s are too variable in both latency and amplitude to predict ICP accurately.
The effects of re-homogenization on plagioclase hosted melt inclusions

Melt inclusions trapped in phenocrysts provide a unique picture of magma systems prior to modification by crustal processes. However, post-entrapment crystallization complicates their interpretation. Re-heating the phenocryst to the temperature of entrapment is a commonly applied method to recover the original melt composition. To understand the effects of re-homogenization, we compared the composition of re-heated and naturally quenched melt inclusions and inclusion compositions that had been subjected to over-heating and under-heating to examine the degree to which anomalous compositions were produced. Our results on plagioclase hosted inclusions from ocean floor basalts indicate that the general patterns represented by naturally quenched inclusions are the same as observed for rehomogenized inclusions. Most important, the range of minor elements described for plagioclase hosted inclusions from basalts is found in naturally quenched inclusions, and is therefore not a consequence of the re-homogenization process.
Analysis of fault-tolerant multipath crossbars

This paper presents design and comprehensive analysis of high-performance crossbars where crossbars can be asymmetrical in size, buffered at all crosspoints, and capable of multipath routing and crosspoints are fault-tolerant. A crossbar, as a building block of switching networks, with the mentioned features in its structure can demonstrate fault-tolerant property. This property is a major factor for crossbars to perform efficiently in modern data networks. A generic condition of n /spl times/ k crossbar with n inputs (rows), k columns, and n outputs (rows) under which a crossbar becomes multipath is examined. In a multipath crossbar a packet can be routed through k different paths to an output. The multipath feature ensures the property of fault-tolerance and provides a faster congestion resolution especially under the multicast traffic. This paper also describes a two-dimensional Markov chain associated with the crossbar's queueing model, and presents the performance evaluation of crossbars.
Polymer morphology and random chain scission

A theory has been developed for the kinetics of random chain scission of polymers consisting of amorphous and crystalline (spherulite) phases. The degrees of degradation have been derived for such scission due to a gas which in one case is able to penetrate spherulites where degradation is then diffusion-controlled and in another case cannot diffuse into spherulites. In the later case, special conditions are prevalent in the amorphous–crystalline interface. Main-chain links in crystalline fold regions are assumed to scission faster than all other main-chain links due to strain energy.
Sloppy motors, flaky sensors, and virtual dirt: Comparing imperfect ill-informed robots

Robots must complete their tasks in spite of unreliable actuators and limited, noisy sensing. In this paper, we consider the information requirements of such tasks. What sensing and actuation abilities are needed to complete a given task? Are some robot systems provably "more powerful" than others? Can we find meaningful equivalence classes of robot systems? This line of research is inspired by the theory of computation, which has produced similar results for abstract computing machines. The basic idea is a dominance relation over robot systems that formalizes the idea that some robots are stronger than others. We show that this definition is directly related to the robots' ability to complete tasks. Our prior work in this area assumes perfect control and sensing, requires that the robot begin with a single fixed initial condition within a known environment, and models of time as a sequence of variable-length discrete stages, rather than as a continuum. In this paper, we substantially improve upon that earlier work by addressing these problems.
Alcohol and aggression: An integration of findings from experimental studies.

Correlational studies had uncovered a relationship between alcohol consumption and violent criminal behavior; however, as these studies had typically suffered from weak internal validity, they had left doubt as to the causal influence of alcohol on violence. This article seeks to complement the correlational research by reviewing the experimental literature on alcohol and interpersonal aggression. The dominant experimental paradigms are reviewed, and a synthesis of findings from seven published meta-analytic studies is presented. Conclusions from the experimental literature affirm the popular belief that alcohol consumption increases aggressive behavior. This effect is not uniform, however, and is instead moderated by factors commonly found in real-world accounts of intoxicated violence. Theoretical explanations for the alcohol/violence link are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.