cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual Biologic and Small Molecule Therapy for the Treatment of Refractory Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background Nontraditional combination of existing therapies is often the only option to avoid surgery in refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of concomitant use of 2 biologic therapies or combination of biologic and tofacitinib in a refractory pediatric IBD cohort. Methods As part of an ongoing single-center observational cohort study of therapeutic outcomes in pediatric IBD patients (younger than 18 years), data were collected for patients receiving dual therapy. Primary outcome was 6 months of steroid-free remission. Secondary outcomes included time to steroid-free remission, change in serum biomarkers (C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and albumin between baseline and 6 months, and adverse events. Results Sixteen children (9 ulcerative colitis/IBD-unspecified, 7 Crohn's disease), with a disease duration of 3 (2.1-5.0) years, initiated dual therapy at an age of 15.9 (13.5-16.8) years after failing ≥2 biologic therapies. Nine (56%) were treated with vedolizumab/tofacitinib, 4 (25%) with ustekinumab/vedolizumab, and 3 (19%) with ustekinumab/tofacitinib. Twelve (75%; 7 ulcerative colitis/IBD-unspecified, 5 Crohn's disease ) achieved steroid-free remission at 6 months. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein decreased (P = 0.021 and P = 0.015, respectively) and albumin increased (P = 0.003) between baseline and 6 months. One patient on 30 mg of vedolizumab/tofacitinib and prednisone daily developed septic arthritis and a deep vein thrombosis. Conclusions Our data suggest that dual therapy may be an option for patients with limited therapeutic options remaining. Safety concerns should always be at the forefront of decision-making, and larger studies are needed to help confirm the preliminary safety data observed.
Alrededor de mí todo trocado: Vida de desterrado, historia literaria, memoria poética y extrañeza de la lectura

espanolAl poco de morir desterrado en 1939, cercano ya el fin de la guerra civil espanola, Antonio Machado se convirtio en una figura emblematica para intelectuales tanto republicanos como franquistas. En 1979, durante una lectura organizada en Me-xico para conmemorar su fallecimiento, Tomas Segovia critico la institucionalizacion de Machado y la reduccion de su poesia a un lugar comun del hispanismo. Repasar algunos hitos de la historiografia literaria espanola desde este punto de vista revela una tension entre relatos de discontinuidad y relatos de continuidad en terminos de (re)construccion nacional. Aproximarse a esta tension a partir del concepto de memoria poetica sugerido por Segovia en el marco de las culturas del exilio nos permite diluci-dar discrepancias textuales entre memoria poetica e historia literaria. EnglishShortly after passing away as an exile in 1939, near the end of the Spanish civil war, Antonio Machado became an emblematic figure for Republican and Fran-coist intellectuals. In 1979, during a reading held in Mexico to commemorate his death, Tomas Segovia criticized the institutionalization of Machado and the reduction of his poetry to a commonplace of Hispanism. Tracing some landmarks of Spanish literary historiography from this perspective reveals a tension between narratives of disconti-nuity and narratives of continuity in terms of national (re)construction. Approaching this tension on the basis of the concept of poetic memory suggested by Segovia in the fra-mework of exilic cultures enables us to elucidate textual discrepancies between poetic memory and literary history
A Novel Semi-Isolated Three-Port dc-dc Power Converter with Soft Switching Technique for Hybrid Energy Storage Applications

Tendency to achieve high power density in power converters brought multi-port converters into the center of attention. These converters, if designed properly, benefit from fewer active and passive components. Therefore, multi-port converters are expected to have higher power density and potentially lower cost compared to their counterparts. This paper presents a novel semi-isolated three-port dc-dc converter for hybrid energy storage systems. Moreover, a novel control method is applied to the proposed three-port converter to guarantee soft switching at different modes of operation. This control method uses both fixed and variable frequency PWM methods. Variable frequency PWM is employed to achieve boundary current mode operation for one port which enables optimum design for the inductor in the mentioned port. Furthermore, a 1.5kW model of the proposed converter, suitable for low power electric vehicles, such as electric motorcycles, bikes, and golf cats, has been simulated. Simulation results demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed three-port converter and effectiveness of the presented control method.
The role of the Cer1 transposon in horizontal transfer of transgenerational memory.

Summary Animals face both external and internal dangers: pathogens threaten from the environment, and unstable genomic elements threaten from within. C. elegans protects itself from pathogens by "reading" bacterial small RNAs, using this information to both induce avoidance and transmit memories for four generations. Here, we found that memories can be transferred from either lysed animals or from conditioned media to naive animals via Cer1 retrotransposon-encoded virus-like particles. Moreover, Cer1 functions internally at the step of transmission of information from the germline to neurons and is required for learned avoidance. The presence of the Cer1 retrotransposon in wild C. elegans strains correlates with the ability to learn and inherit small-RNA-induced pathogen avoidance. Together, these results suggest that C. elegans has co-opted a potentially dangerous retrotransposon to instead protect itself and its progeny from a common pathogen through its inter-tissue signaling ability, hijacking this genomic element for its own adaptive immunity benefit.
The Politics of Doubling in "Mortality and Mercy in Vienna"

When Pynchon's short stories were collected in Slow Learner (1984), his first--and, I think, best--short story was unaccountably left out. "Mortality and Mercy in Vienna" (1959) deserves to be better known, for, even though it shows to a still greater degree than his other stories the kind of self-conscious literariness Pynchon found to be a major flaw in his early work, that very foregrounding of literary devices can help us see how style functions to convey Pynchon's critique of certain individuals and institutions. This essay examines the politics of doubling: the way Pynchon uses the double as a literary device to explain and to judge the complex relation between his protagonist and the institutions--family, college, army, government-which surround him. Although critics have often made passing mention of Pynchon's use of the double, no one has yet described its full complexity (Pynchon's doubles are also internally divided) or its systematic function in Pynchon's fiction. As I show here, the figure of the split double allows Pynchon to dramatize the force of hereditary and environmental influence upon character while at the same time insisting that that character is never without some remaining freedom of choice. Pynchon's use of the double may be self-consciously literary ("Doppelganger," "semblable"), but the device enables him to present both a fully realized world and a nuanced critique.
pVEE: A Personalized Virtualized Experimentation Environment for Education Based on Virtual Machines

With the development of teaching method in higher education, traditional computer labs cannot meet the needs and expectations of modern curriculum. This paper proposes a personalized virtualized experimentation environment (pVEE) which aims to provide VMs for the students as curriculum-oriented specialized experimentation environments. We layer virtualization technology (KVM/Xen) on hosts in the computer lab and implement management tools to construct the pVEE system. pVEE allows a teacher to customize a course related base image which contains dedicated operating systems and applications. A student’s personalized VM boots from the course specific base image combined with a private virtual disk image including his personalized applications and user data. pVEE supports VM accesses and uses for users inside and outside of the lab. We implement interfaces for users to access the pVEE services. pVEE has been deployed in Peking University to support the course projects of a system virtualization courses. Finally, surveys of pVEE users show that pVEE can meet students’ demands for personalized experimentation environments with high resource utilization ratio and manageability.
Cryoglobulins, Cryofibrinogenemia, and Pyroglobulins

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins (Igs) that precipitate out of solution below core body temperatures, either as a single isotype (simple cryoglobulins) or as immune complexes in which both antibody and antigen are Igs (mixed cryoglobulins). Mixed cryoglobulins are cold-precipitable rheumatoid factors (RFs), with the serum often being positive when standard assays for IgM antiglobulin activity are used. Although many clinical laboratories offer cryoglobulin determinations, rarely is testing rigorously carried out, and there is considerable interlaboratory variability. A search for cryofibrinogenemia may be dictated by unexplained thrombohemorrhagic coagulopathy or cold-dependent purpura; it may also be dictated by the finding of characteristic pathology, occurring in various affected organs, as for example an occlusive thrombotic diathesis due to eosinophilic deposits within vessel lumina, extending into the intima, which may be associated with a granulomatous vasculitic component. Cryofibrinogenemia can be screened by cryoprecipitating or freeze-thawing plasma collected in citrate that contains an inhibitor of thrombin generation and is most convincing in the absence of coexisting cryoglobulinemia. Recognition of the laboratory phenomenon of pyroglobulinemia has importance as a potentially confounding factor for heat-based assays used to inactivate complement or to measure fibrinogen levels. Proper identification of a pyroglobulin as being a monoclonal component may in turn lead to the diagnosis of macroglobulinemia or plasma cell dyscrasia.
Image Mission Overview

The Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission is the first mission in NASA’s MIDEX (Mid-size Explorer) program. It is the first satellite mission that is dedicated to imaging the Earth’s magnetosphere. IMAGE will utilize the techniques of ultraviolet imaging, neutral atom imaging, and radio plasma imaging to map out global distributions of the electron and proton aurora; the helium ions of the plasmasphere; the ionospheric ion outflow; the medium-energy ions of the near-Earth plasma sheet, ring current, and polar cusp; the high-energy ions of the ring current and trapped radiation belts; and the total plasma density from the ionosphere out to the magnetopause. The imaging perspective is from an elliptical polar orbit with apogee at latitudes from 40° to 90° in the northern hemisphere. For ultraviolet and neutral atom imaging, the time resolution is set by the two-minute spin period of the IMAGE spacecraft, which will be sufficient to track the development of magnetospheric substorms. An important feature of the IMAGE mission is its completely open data set with no proprietary data or intervals. All data, along with software needed for plotting and analysis, will be available within 24 hours of acquisition.
A comparative analysis of linear multiuser detectors for fading multipath channels

In this paper, we compare two linear multiuser receivers for synchronous CDMA frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels. The first receiver consists of a bank of matched filters followed by a linear transformation and an optimal combiner for each user. The second consists of a bank of RAKE receivers followed by a linear transformation. We consider receivers for both coherent and differentially coherent PSK demodulation. While the conventional single-user receiver's performance is severely limited by near-far effects in the multiuser environment, both of these multiuser receivers mitigate the near-far problem and provide significant performance gains for moderate to high SNRs. It is shown that the second receiver has a uniformly lower error rate than the first and that its performance gains relative to the first increase as the number of users and received multipaths increases.
CD-ROMS in U.S. Depository libraries: A survey of hardware, software, staffing, and service☆

Abstract The distribution of government information on CD-ROM is having a significant impact on federal depositories as librarians attempt to adapt to the demands of CD-ROM technology. The U.S. Government Printing Office is urging depository libraries to meet minimum standards in integrating the CD-ROM format into depository collections. To determine what hardware, software, staff, training, service, and instruction are currently available for the CD-ROMs in depositories, a survey was distributed to all federal depositories in 10 southeastern states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Survey data indicates that many depository libraries do not have sufficient equipment, software, staff, or training to fully integrate the CD-ROM databases into their collections.
The Parameters of Bipartite Q -polynomial Distance-Regular Graphs

Let Γ denote a bipartite distance-regular graph with diameter i>D ≥ 3 and valency i>k ≥ 3. Suppose θ0, θ1, …, θi>D is a i>Q-polynomial ordering of the eigenvalues of Γ. This sequence is known to satisfy the recurrence θi>i − 1 − βθi>i + θi>i + 1 e 0 (0 i D), for some real scalar β. Let i>q denote a complex scalar such that i>q + i>q−1 e β. Bannai and Ito have conjectured that i>q is real if the diameter i>D is sufficiently large. We settle this conjecture in the bipartite case by showing that i>q is real if the diameter i>D ≥ 4. Moreover, if i>D e 3, then i>q is not real if and only if θ1 is the second largest eigenvalue and the pair (μ, i>k) is one of the following: (1, 3), (1, 4), (1, 5), (1, 6), (2, 4), or (2, 5). We observe that each of these pairs has a unique realization by a known bipartite distance-regular graph of diameter 3.
Prediction of Pulmonary Metastasis in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients with Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodules

Abstract Background Indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) are of uncertain significance in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Objective We sought to determine predictors of IPN progression to pulmonary metastasis and develop a tool for individualized risk stratification of patients who present with IPN on preoperative chest imaging in the setting of localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma. Design, setting, and participants We reviewed all patients who had radical nephrectomy with no evidence of distant metastases at a single institution from 2005–2009 who had ≥1 IPN on chest computed tomography that measured Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The primary objective of the study was to develop a prognostic model to predict pulmonary metastases among radical nephrectomy patients who present with IPN based on readily available preoperative imaging and postoperative pathological criteria. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the predictive factors for development of pulmonary metastasis. We developed a nomogram that predicted the 3-yr and 5-yr lung metastasis-free survival (LMFS), with assessment of discrimination and internal validation. Results and limitations Among 251 patients with IPN who underwent nephrectomy, 72 (29%) developed pulmonary metastases. Median follow-up for the cohort was 36.6 mo. Three-yr and 5-yr probability of LMFS for the overall cohort was 71% (95% confidence interval 65–77%) and 65% (95% confidence interval 57–72%), respectively. The nomogram developed included number and size of IPN along with postoperative pathological variables, and showed calibration with a concordance index (c-index) of 0.81 and a bootstrap corrected c-index of 0.78. Limitations include retrospective study with no external validation. Conclusions We developed a nomogram to predict the individualized risk LMFS for patients who underwent nephrectomy for localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma. Patient summary We reviewed outcomes among kidney cancer patients who presented with small lung nodules and developed a clinical tool to predict risk of developing lung metastases.
1,1′-Thiocarbonylbis(π-excessive N-Heteroaromatics)

Several symmetrical thioureas, in which the two amido nitrogens are incorporated into separate aromatic rings, are prepared by the action of thiophosgene on π-excessive nitrogen-heteroaromatic bases and/or their metallic salts.
Distinguishing intellectual humility and general humility

Two studies provide evidence for distinguishing intellectual humility (IH) from general humility (GH). Humility involves (a) an Accurate View of Self and (b) the ability to regulate egotism and cultivate an other-oriented stance; IH is a subdomain of humility that involves (a) having an accurate view of one’s intellectual strengths and limitations and (b) the ability to negotiate ideas in a fair and inoffensive manner. First, we present a theoretical framework for distinguishing these constructs. In Study 1, with a sample of undergraduate students (N = 1097), we used confirmatory factor analysis to provide empirical evidence for this distinction. We also found that IH predicted unique variance in openness to experience relative to GH. In Study 2, we examined additional evidence of discriminant validity with another sample of college students (N = 355). IH also predicted unique variance in need for cognition, objectivism, and religious ethnocentrism relative to GH.
Cryopreservation of Germplasm of Populus (Poplar) Species

Trees and shrubs of the family Salicaceae (poplars, aspens and willows) provide a wide range of industrial construction woods (sawtimber, peeler logs, pulpwood), fuel wood, poles, light packing material, plywood, matches, as well as being important in biomass and feedstock production. Furthermore, they are vital for protection of soil, crops, livestock and dwellings, and, as ornamental plants, they are used extensively in parks, gardens, streets and open spaces (Fig. 1). The species are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. Between the two genera forming the family, i e., Salix and Populus, the latter is by far the more important from an economic point of view and includes both poplars and aspens. The genus Populus is characterized by a chromosome number of 2n=38, although triploid (2n=57) and tetraploid (2n=76) individuals have occasionally been recorded. The 34 species of the genus are botanically divided into five sections (Turanga, Leuce, Aigeiros, Tacamahaca and Leucoides) and these have an extremely wide geographical distribution throughout the Mediterranean, temperate, and colder regions of the northern hemisphere. While two sections (Turanga and Leucoides) do not include species of commercial value, the other three include several species of great economic importance.
Quantum dynamics of spins coupled by electrons in a one-dimensional channel

We develop a unified theoretical description of the induced interaction and quantum noise in a system of two spins (qubits) coupled via a quasi-one-dimensional electron gas in the Luttinger liquid regime. Our results allow evaluation of the degree of coherence in quantum dynamics driven by the induced indirect exchange interaction of localized magnetic moments due to conduction electrons, in channel geometries recently experimentally studied for qubit control and measurement.
Comprehension through explanation as the interaction of the brain's coherence and cognitive control networks.

Discourse comprehension processes attempt to produce an elaborate and well-connected representation in the reader’s mind. A common network of regions including the angular gyrus, posterior cingulate, and dorsal frontal cortex appears to be involved in constructing coherent representations in a variety of tasks including social cognition tasks, narrative comprehension, and expository text comprehension. Reading strategies that require the construction of explicit inferences are used in the present research to examine how this coherence network interacts with other brain regions. A psychophysiological interaction analysis was used to examine regions showing changed functional connectivity with this coherence network when participants were engaged in either a non-inferencing reading strategy, paraphrasing, or a strategy requiring coherence-building inferences, self-explanation. Results of the analysis show that the coherence network increases in functional connectivity with a cognitive control network that may be specialized for the manipulation of semantic representations and the construction of new relations among these representations.
Technology scaling and performance limitations in delta-sigma analog-digital converters

The basic electric tradeoffs encountered in the design of switched-capacitor delta-sigma A/D converters are examined. Essential analog circuitry in switched-capacitor delta-sigma A/D converters and a representative circuit model are discussed. Simple bounds relating signal-to-noise ratio, time constants, capacitor size, and transistor feature size are developed. Delta-sigma system theory is incorporated with these results. >
TIME REVERSAL SYMMETRY AND THE RAMAN SCATTERING BY CRYSTALS

A survey of the effect of time reversal symmetry on the phonon spectra of crystals is presented. The linear wave vector dependence of the dispersion curves of the zone center polar modes as well as splitting of shear acoustic modes are accessible to observation in the Raman and Brillouin spectra of selected lines in suitable crystals.
Torsionally tuned cruciform and Z-DNA probes for measuring unrestrained supercoiling at specific sites in DNA of living cells

We describe the development and application of "torsionally tuned" Z-DNA and cruciform probes for analyzing the level of unrestrained supercoiling at specific sites in the DNA of living cells. This approach is applicable for the analysis of dynamic differences in supercoiled DNA in different parts of plasmid, bacterial, or eukaryotic chromosomes. Using a psoralen-based assay, we have shown that the Z-DNA forming sequence (CG)6TA(CG)6, cloned into plasmid pUC8, exists as Z-DNA in 30 to 40% of plasmid molecules in wild-type Escherichia coli. This level suggested an in vivo superhelical density of sigma = -0.034 at the site of insertion in the plasmid. A higher level of Z-DNA found in cells deficient in topoisomerase I (topA10) suggested an in vivo superhelical density of sigma = -0.048. We have constructed a set of torsionally tuned inverted repeated DNA molecules which require different superhelical densities for cruciform formation. Using these inverted repeats and a crosslink assay for cruciforms, we present quantitative evidence for the existence of cruciforms in living E. coli cells. Cruciform formation was dependent on DNA supercoiling in vivo and on the location of the inverted repeat within a plasmid. In topA10 cells cruciforms were detected in less than 0.5% of plasmids when cloned into two different transcriptional units: the lacZ and CAT genes. However, when cloned outside a transcriptional unit, cruciforms were found at levels up to 50% in topA10 cells. More cruciforms were found upstream than downstream from divergent promoters in pBR322. From analysis of the fraction of different inverted repeats existing as cruciforms in vivo and the levels of supercoiling required for cruciform formation in vitro, we estimate in vivo superhelical densities of sigma = -0.034 and -0.041 for the EcoRI site of pUC8-based plasmids in wild-type and topA10 cells, respectively.
Frequency analysis of the high SO2 and smoke concentrations over Athens

Abstract This paper presents the results from a statistical study of SO2 and smoke concentration data recorded by the urban Athens area network. For the study it was necessary to examine the frequency distribution and the return period of the high concentration cases alongside the prevailing meteorological conditions. This was necessary as there were significant differences in the pollutant concentrations between the warm and cold period of the year. Furthermore it was found that temperature inversions and rainfall played an important role for both SO2 and smoke. This paper focuses on SO2 and smoke concentrations only since there was a long and reliable time series of recorded data.
Improving appropriateness of blood utilization through prospective review of requests for blood products: the role of pathology residents as consultants.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of prospective review of orders for fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) and platelets in reducing blood-product use, and of the effectiveness of preparing pathology residents to serve as clinical consultants. Design: At our 572-bed tertiary-care hospital, we developed guidelines for the use of blood products in collaboration with a variety of departments. For patients whose condition(s) met generally accepted criteria, we identified trigger points to allow for quick release by blood bank staff of blood products. For patients whose condition(s) did not meet the applicable criteria, the on-call pathology resident reviewed the medical record of that patient to determine whether there were any extenuating circumstances; consulted with the ordering physician and attending pathologist, as needed; and advised the house staff on appropriate use of blood products. We evaluated the change in use of blood products between the years 2009 and 2012 to assess the effectiveness of the program. Results: We observed a decrease of 38.8% and 31.4% in the use of FFP and platelets, respectively (29.7% and 21.1%, respectively, when normalized for the number of discharges). If projected to the national level, this improvement would translate to an annual cost reduction of approximately $130 million. Conclusions: Prospective review of orders for blood products can significantly improve use of these products, thereby reducing risk to patients and avoiding unnecessary healthcare costs. The involvement of pathology residents in the prospective review process provides an excellent opportunity for their training as laboratory consultants. * RBC : red blood cell FFP : fresh frozen plasma EMR : electronic medical record TJC : The Joint Commission PCC : prothrombin complex concentrate SvO2 : mixed venous oxygen saturation
A low dimensional dynamical model of the initial pulmonary innate response to infection

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the onset and progression of pulmonary infections we present and analyze a low dimensional, phenomenological model of infection and the innate immune response in the lungs. Because pulmonary innate immunity has features unique to itself, general mathematical models of the immune system may not be appropriate. The differential equations model that we propose is based on current knowledge of the biology of pulmonary innate immunity and accurately reproduces known features of the initial phase of the dynamics of pulmonary innate system as exhibited in recent experiments. Further, we propose to use the model as a starting point for interrogation with clinical data from a new noninvasive technique for sampling alveolar lining fluid.
Role of cranberry on bacterial adhesion forces and implications for Escherichia coli-uroepithelial cell attachment.

ABSTRACT Previous clinical research has suggested that the consumption of cranberry products prevents the adhesion of Escherichia coli to uroepithelial cells by causing changes in bacterial fimbriae. Atomic force microscopy was used to probe the adhesion forces between E. coli (nonfimbriated strain HB101 and the P-fimbriated variant HB101pDC1) and a model surface (silicon nitride), to determine the effect of growth in cranberry products on bacterial adhesion. Bacteria were grown in tryptic soy broth supplemented with either light cranberry juice cocktail (L-CJC) or cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs). Growth of E. coli HB101pDC1 and HB101 in L-CJC or PACs resulted in a decrease in adhesion forces with increasing number of cultures. In a macroscale bacteria–uroepithelial cell adhesion assay a decrease in bacterial attachment was observed for E. coli HB101pDC1 grown in L-CJC or PACs. This effect was reversible because bacteria that were regrown in cranberry-free medium regained their ability to attach to uro...
Period estimate for the simple pendulum using optimization theory

An optimization technique has been applied to simple-pendulum measurements for improved period estimation. Preliminary experiments have demonstrated that the method is capable of precisions better than a few parts per million. State variables of the estimation process assume quadratic dependence of period on amplitude. The undriven pendulum is also assumed to decay exponentially from an initial amplitude which typically is about 5 degrees.
Seasonal Variations in the Circulation over the Middle Atlantic Bight Continental Shelf

Abstract Fits of an annual harmonic to depth-average along-shelf current time series longer than 200 days from 27 sites over the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf have amplitudes of a few centimeters per second. These seasonal variations are forced by seasonal variations in the wind stress and the cross-shelf density gradient. The component of wind stress that drives the along-shelf flow over most of the MAB mid- and outer shelf is oriented northeast–southwest, perpendicular to the major axis of the seasonal variation in the wind stress. Consequently, there is not a significant seasonal variation in the wind-driven along-shelf flow, except over the southern MAB shelf and the inner shelf of New England where the wind stress components forcing the along-shelf flow are north–south and east–west, respectively. The seasonal variation in the residual along-shelf flow, after removing the wind-driven component, has an amplitude of a few centimeters per second with maximum southwestward flow in spring ...
On parameter-dependent connected components of gray images

Abstract We introduce a new definition of the connected components of gray images which takes into account both the gray values of the pixels and the differences of the gray values of the neighbouring pixels and which depends on two parameters, e and δ. We may adjust the values of the parameters for different types of images or in different levels of image analysis. We analyse a gray image in an intermediate level through the inter-relationships of its (e, δ) components rather than only in the pixel level.
Effects of Folic Acid on Aminopterin Toxicity in the Immature Mouse

SummaryImmature male mice lost weight and failed to survive when fed a purified ration containing 1 mg of aminopterin per kg of diet. These effects were completely counteracted by folic acid during an experimental period of 20 days when administered at a level of 500 mg per kg of diet.
Modulatory role of serotonin on GABA-elicited inhibition of cerebellar Purkinje cells.

Abstract The present study was designed to directly examine the postsynaptic actions of serotonin on GABA-mediated inhibition of cerebellar Purkinje cells. The findings indicate that serotonin at currents that produced minimal effects on the spontaneous firing rates of Purkinje cells modified GABA effects in a biphasic manner. Serotonin initially decreased GABA-mediated inhibitions followed secondarily by either continued inhibition or, in the majority of cases, augmentation of GABA responses. When a comparison was made of the secondary effects of serotonin on GABA-mediated inhibition with the initial spontaneous firing rates of the Purkinje cells, the group in which serotonin augmented GABA actions had a significantly higher initial firing frequency than the group in which serotonin attenuated GABA-mediated inhibition. Furthermore, with increasing firing rates, the proportion of cells showing augmentation of GABA inhibition increased, and the proportion of cells displaying attenuation of GABA effects decreased. Serotonin affected β-alanine-mediated inhibitions in a manner similar to that seen with GABA, whereas glycine was differentially altered. This study identifies another neuromodulatory role of serotonin on Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Furthermore, the effects of serotonin on GABA inhibition seem to be governed by some intrinsic property of the Purkinje cell, which is apparently related to the firing rate of the cell.
Effects of dithiothreitol on the isolated rabbit mesenteric artery

Rabbit mesenteric artery strips exposed to 10−3M dithiothreitol (DTT) were contracted with a series of concentrations of histamine and 2-pyridylethylamine (PEA). DTT exposure increased the sensitivity to histamine 100-fold but increased the sensitivity to PEA only 4-fold. DTT did not reduce dimaprit-induced relaxations, but reduced histamine-induced relaxations. Following a high concentration of histamine (10−3M), DTT itself produced a sustained, slowly developing contraction (29±6.8% of the maximal contraction) relaxed by 7×10−6M mepyramine but not by 10−6M phentolamine. Metiamide (3×10−3M) potentiated DTT-induced contractions (29±6.8 before, 57±7.5% after metiamide, as a percent of maximal contraction). Changing the bathing fluid and repeating DTT exposure slowly relaxed previously contracted strips. DTT did not prevent the increase in sensitivity of relaxant histamine receptors on exposure to cold. We conclude that DTT, in addition to potentiating histamine H1-receptor responses, releases histamine presumably from non-mast cell pools when they are loaded with a high concentration of exogenous histamine.
The reaction of EEE virus preparations with sodium deoxycholate.

Abstract Treatment with deoxycholate destroys the infectivity of EEE virus and releases a principle which proves infectious only under assay conditions for infectious RNA. This principle is highly sensitive to the action of ribonuclease. It sediments at a rate very similar if not identical to phenol-extracted viral RNA and therefore is likely to represent free viral RNA.
THE MAXIMUM RESISTANCE OF TESTS

Summary The breakdown point of an estimator is the smallest fraction of contamination that can force the value of the estimator beyond the boundary of the parameter space. It is well known that the highest possible breakdown point, under equivariance restrictions, is 50% of the sample. However, this upper bound is not always attainable. We give an example of an estimation problem in which the highest possible attainable breakdown point is much less than 50% of the sample. For hypothesis testing, we discuss the resistance of a test and propose new definitions of resistance. The maximum resistance to rejection (acceptance) is the smallest fraction of contamination necessary to force a test to reject (fail to reject) regardless of the original sample. We derive the maximum resistances of the t-test and sign test in the one-sample problem and of the t-test and Mood test in the two-sample problem. We briefly discuss another measure known as the expected resistance.
The Impact Of MIL-STD-2179 ("SMPTE") On Recording Reconnaissance Data

State of the art reconnaissance systems require and are "birthing" a new family of high data rate, high capacity, cassette magnetic tape recorder/reproducers. Standards delineating the requirements to guarantee the successful interchange of recorded tapes between recorders in different locations and of different manufacturers are being formulated. This paper considers these standards and their impact on the magnetic tape recorder/reproducers, and therefore on some aspects of the reconnaissance system.
LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND VENTILATORY PARAMETERS IN YOUNG CHILDREN DURING SEDATION WITH ORAL MIDAZOLAM AND NITROUS OXIDE. † 289

In its guidelines for monitoring and management of pediatric patients during and after sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, the AAP distinguishes “conscious” from “deep” sedation to determine needs for personnel and monitoring during painful procedures. The AAP states that the use of N2O in combination with other sedatives automatically constitutes “deep” sedation yet no data exists to substantiate this statement. We examined levels of consciousness and breathing patterns during sedation with increasing concentrations of N2O following oral administration of midazolam. Twenty healthy children, 1-3 yrs of age, received oral midazolam, 0.5 mg/kg 15-20 minutes before initiating N2O at concentrations of 15, 30, 45, and 60% in O2 for 4 min at each stage. Ventilation was assessed by pulse oximetry, capnometry, and respiratory impedance plethysmography. At the end of each stage, a sedation score was recorded (1=uncooperative; 2=verbalizes spontaneously; 3=responds to verbal command or gentle physical stimulation; 4=responds to painful stimulation; 5=no response to painful stimulation). Differences were assessed by ANOVA; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. No child demonstrated significant changes in SpO2, etCO2, or evidence of upper airway obstruction at any concentration of N2O. At 15% N2O, all children had sedation scores of 3 or less. At 30% N2O, 1 child was deeply sedated, as were 2 children at 45% N2O, and 8 children at 60% N2O (sedation scores 4 or 5). We conclude that levels of deep sedation may be achieved with the combination of oral midazolam and at least 30% N2O. Supported by the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research with a grant from the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia.
The Relative Importance of Probabilities, Outcomes, and Vagueness in Hazard Risk Decisions☆

This study investigated the joint effects of vagueness on both the probability and the outcome dimensions of hazard risk, using both pairwise choice and rating response tasks. Seventy-two subjects evaluated risk stimuli (concerning either environmental or health hazards), which varied in the level of probability of loss, the amount of loss, and the precision with which each dimension was specified. We found strong evidence of a consistent individual attitude toward vagueness on both risk dimensions and an almost equal number of vagueness-seeking and precision-seeking subjects. Choices were consistent with a decision rule based on dimension preference, but attitude toward vagueness significantly predicted choice in cases where a dimension preference rule was not appropriate. An asymmetric preference reversal pattern was also demonstrated, with many subjects choosing an option in a pair that they rated as more risky.
Andrology: Reconsideration of testicular biopsy and follicle-stimulating hormone measurement in the era of intracytoplasmic sperm injection for non-obstructive azoospermia?

To determine the possibility of finding motile spermatozoa and spermatids in patients with high serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and spermatogenetic disorders proven by pathology, 100 cases of male infertility were reviewed. Of these, 71 patients were found to have non-obstructive azoospermia or severe primary spermatogenetic disorders, and 20 had obstructive azoospermia. A prospective study of the most recent 51 cases was conducted. Multiple testicular tissue biopsies were examined by a pathologist and a well-trained gynaecological technician. The findings of spermatozoa, spermatids and serum FSH concentrations were compared among six different histological groups. It was concluded that 51.2% of the non-obstructive azoospermic and failed spermatogenetic patients had spermatids and even motile 'shaking' spermatozoa and should be re-evaluated. In the non-obstructive azoospermic patients here, almost all the motile spermatozoa and spermatids were found in patients with a serum FSH concentration of < 30 mIU/ml. It is suggested that a testicular biopsy should be conducted in every case of non-obstructive azoospermia and spermatogenetic disorder, even in those patients with elevated serum FSH concentrations.
Diel variation in element concentrations, Peru Creek, Summit County, Colorado

Abstract Two diel samplings, in early July and mid-August, and one along-stream sampling, in late July, were completed at Peru Creek, a mountain stream affected by acid mine drainage. Three different processes were found to control diel cycling of element concentrations. The concentrations of SO 4 2− , Mn, Zn, Si, Mg, K and Ca were primarily controlled by hydrology, particularly melting of snow. Diel Fe cycles were produced by photochemical reduction of Fe(III) species and reoxidation during the night. Nitrate cycling was controlled by its uptake by instream vegetation during daylight hours.
NEM switch technologies for low-power logic applications

The abrupt switching characteristic of nano-electromechanical (NEM) switch devices is an attractive characteristic to design energy-efficient circuits. In this paper we report the optimization of an in-plane curved cantilever switch geometry for high robustness and low switching energy. The scaling potential has been evaluated, showing that sub-100 aj switching energy is possible. The curved cantilever design has been validated experimentally with good electrical characteristics and high mechanical robustness.
A novel approach for the determination of fast exchange rates

Abstract A novel technique is described to monitor fast exchange rates using NMR. This approach relies on the effects of partial saturation of the longitudinal magnetization with a saturation RF field at various offset frequencies on the observed resonance lines. A complete quantum mechanical approach for the two-site chemical exchange of nuclei is presented, which yields access to rate constants from slow to very fast exchange rates using the described technique. The model system evaluated using this approach was the hydroxyl proton exchange in water-ethanol solutions. Exchange rate constants from the intermediate range (about 170 liters/s) at pH 7.5 to very fast rate constants up to 106 liters/s at pH 5 were measured.
Biorobotic approaches to the study of motor systems

Biorobotics is a promising new area of research at the interface between biology and robotics. Robots can either be used as physical models of biological systems or be directly inspired by biological studies. A great deal of progress has recently been made in biorobotic studies of locomotion, orientation, and vertebrate arm control.
A TEMPORAL LIMIT ON THE EFFECT OF FUTURE FOOD ON CURRENT PERFORMANCE IN AN ANALOGUE OF FORAGING AND WELFARE

Rats obtained access to food twice each 24-hour period. The first session was a work session in which food was available on a progressive-ratio schedule. During the second session, which occurred between 1 and 23 hours after the work session, food was freely available up to a fixed total intake each 24 hours. The situation resembled elements of several real world circumstances, including the choice between continuing to forage in a rapidly depleting patch and waiting for a better patch, and between working now and receiving a guaranteed income later. The purpose of the experiment was to explore the time period over which future access to reward could affect current responding. Contrary to what might be expected from recent theorizing, anticipation of future food delayed by an hour or more after the start of the work session had no effect on current performance. Food intake was high and constant during work sessions except for a prefeeding effect that occurred when the free session closely preceded the next day's work session. Also, an increase in the difficulty of the work schedule increased the amount of work and the maximum price paid for food as if the work session were the only time food was available. The results indicate the importance of considering temporal limits in theories that require animals to integrate input over time to determine the allocation of resources among alternatives.
Time-Varying Risk and Return in Global Portfolio Management

This article examines the usefulness of an active portfolio strategy that uses time-varying parameters produced by a GARCH methodology. The results suggest that such a strategy outperforms alternative buy-and-hold strategies. When transaction costs are extended to include the bid-ask spread, investors can profit from adding low-cost levered positions, such as futures indexes, to their portfolios of equities.
Increased respiratory frequency and variability in high risk babies who die of sudden infant death syndrome.

Increased Respiratory Frequency and Variability in High Risk Babies Who Die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in oxygen damage.

Abstract Escherichia coli were damaged and killed by exposure to hyperbaric oxygen. Lethality was measured as the decrease in the number of colonies formed upon plating the exposed cells onto rich agar. Damage was assessed by plating onto both rich and minimal agar. Cells which gave rise to visible colonies on rich but not on minimal agar were considered to be damaged. That this differential colony count was largely due to reparable damage rather than to stable mutagenesis was shown by replica plating from the rich onto the minimal agar. Most of the cells which had been unable to grow when directly plated onto minimal agar regained this ability after growth upon rich agar. Repair of the damage imposed by exposure to oxygen was thus more readily accomplished on a nutritionally rich medium. The enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase appeared to protect against oxygen damage. It is thus likely that both O 2 − and H 2 O 2 are important agents of oxygen toxicity. In accord with this conclusion were the observations that augmented intracellular levels of these enzymes correlated with increased resistance towards oxygen damage, whereas increased respiratory capacity correlated with increased sensitivity towards hyperbaric oxygen.
Synthesis of a set of highly clustered monosulfated galactopyranosides.

Abstract There are several biological events that are known to involve certain sulfated saccharides. In many such cases, however, clustered ligands have been shown to be more effective than monovalent saccharides. A set of 6-aminohexyl glycosides of 2,3,4 or 6-monosulfated galactose have been synthesized and linked to polyglutamic acid. Because of the bulky aglycon employed, the 2-OH group of the key compound, 6-benzyloxycarbonylaminohexyl 4,6-O- benzylidene -β- d -galactopyranoside was markedly less reactive than 3-OH. Thus, sitespecific acetylation of 3-OH was readily carried out to obtain 2- O -sulfated galactosides, and even the direct sulfation of 3-OH afforded the 3-sulfate in a reasonable yield. On the other hand, the key compound was unexpectedly resistant to 2,3- O -dibenzylation or 2,3- O -dibenzoylation, both of which were meant for regioselective cleavage of 4,6-benzylidene to obtain the 4-sulfate.