Binding-time analysis for Standard ML

We present an efficient base algorithm for binding-time analysis based on constraint solving and the union-find algorithm. In practice it has been used to handle all of Standard ML except modules and we show the principles of how constraints can be used for binding-time analysis of Standard ML; in particular we show how to binding-time analyse nested pattern matching. To the best of our knowledge no previous binding-time analysis has treated nested pattern matching.The present work was conducted while the author was at DIKU.     

Effect of Hydrotropic Substances on the Complexation of Clotrimazole with β-Cyclodextrin

The phase diagrams of clotrimazole/β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in phosphate buffer, pH = 7.1, containing 0.5 M of various hydrotropic agents were constructed. The water structure disruptors, urea and nicotinamide, increased the intrinsic solubility of the antimycotic drug clotrimazole while the water structure forming agents, sorbitol and fructose, decreased the solubility. Concerning the complex constant between clotrimazole and β-CD, it was the other way around. The connection between the slopes of the phase diagrams, the intrinsic solubility of clotrimazole and the complex constant was discussed. Nicothamide decreased the solubility of β-CD in the buffer solution. The results reported in this study are in disagreement with the claim that addition of water structure forming agents to cyclodextrin solutions can be used to increase the total solubility of drugs     

Neonatal risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity--a population-based study

Nephrotic syndrome is a protein-wasting disorder affecting total body protein metabolism, often leading to reduction of lean body mass and changes of muscle cell composition. The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility to muscle cell damage in nephrotic patients following submaximal physical exercise, by detection of the creatine kinase (CK) plasma level changes. Fourteen patients affected by primary nephrotic syndrome, without chronic renal failure, underwent an exercise test on a cycle ergometer for 20 min at a constant speed (60 rpm). In each subject, the work rate (expressed as watts) was established as 70% of the maximum power theoretically calculated on a sex, age, weight and height basis. CK plasma levels (U/l) were determined before and 1, 3, 6 and 24 h after the exercise. Following exercise, CK plasma levels became higher in nephrotics than in normal controls. That is, the amount of CK increments was greater in nephrotics than in controls from the first hour after the end of exertion. These changes, both as absolute values and as percentage of the basal values, correlate positively to daily urinary protein losses; moreover, an inverse relationship was detected with albumin serum levels. However, no correlation was observed between the amount of plasma CK increases and age, body weight, plasma creatinine, plasma cholesterol or hemoglobin levels. These results demonstrate that a greater than normal increase of CK plasma levels occurs in nephrotics following physical exercise, and that this increment correlates with the severity of urinary protein wasting. This suggests an increased susceptibility to muscle injury in nephrotic patients probably related to protein depletion and/or to modifications of muscle cell metabolism. Further studies are needed to define the pathogenesis of our findings.     

Structural and electrical properties of perovskite ruthenate-based lead-free thick film resistors on alumina and LTCC

CaRuO₃ perovskite-based lead-free thick-film resistors (TFRs) were prepared on 96%-alumina and Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) substrates. The microstructure evolution, possible interactions, and electrical properties of resistors were investigated. The hot and cold TCR values of all the resistors were measured in the temperature range (+20 to +120 ^∘C) and (+20 to −120 ^∘C), respectively. TFRs with 25% by vol. of CaRuO₃ on alumina exhibit a sheet resistance R_s = 5kΩ/sq. with hot and cold TCR of 225 and 470 ppm/^∘C respectively, whereas the same composition gives 1.2 kΩ/sq., 16.5 kΩ/sq. and 0.7 kΩ/sq. for co-fired, post-fired resistors on LTCC and buried resistors, respectively. The hot (HTCR) and cold (CTCR) values were evaluated; HTCR = 190 ppm/^∘C and CTCR = 314 ppm/^∘C were found for co-fired structures; HTCR = 216 ppm/^∘C and CTCR = 205 ppm/^∘C for post-fired samples and HTCR = 520 ppm/^∘C and CTCR = 350 ppm/^∘C for buried in LTCC structures.     

Visual scoring of clots in foremilk

The necessary unequivocal and generally accepted definitions of normal and abnormal milk are not available. A precise definition is needed in order for companies to develop sensors to detect and sort abnormal milk at the time of milking. Experts at a workshop defined abnormal milk to be that from cows whose foremilk had changed in homogeneity or was coloured by blood. The objectives of this paper were: firstly, to explore how different groups of people scored the appearance of foremilk; and secondly, to develop a method suitable as an objective reference for testing of manual and automatic detection systems. Consumers, farmers and advisors did not agree on the visual appearance of normal, watery, clotty milk, or milk with blood, and experience is needed to score the visual appearance of foremilk correctly. It seems reasonable to expect a sensitivity of at least 70% for detection of abnormal milk during foremilking. Filter sizes 0.05, 0.07, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm were used to filter milk from cows with visually abnormal foremilk. If clots appeared in the foremilk, clots appeared on all size filters, but the filter with pore size 0.1 mm was the easiest to read and work with. The filter method is not reliable in identifying quarters with watery, yellowish, or bloody milk, whereas the method seems consistent, and at least as good as scoring of visual appearance in finding clots in the milk. Clots should show clearly on the filter to be counted as abnormal milk. All clinical cases with clots in the foremilk can be found on the filter and such cases have high somatic cell count (SCC). Both trained and untrained persons using the filter method can score normal and abnormal foremilk with a high specificity (>90%) and a high sensitivity (>80%). The filter method is recommended as a reference for scoring the homogeneity of foremilk.     

Binding of properdin to solid-phase immune complexes: critical role of the classical activation pathway of complement

OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to assess the clinical and microbiological aspects of septic osteoarthritis in children admitted to our center from 1987 until July 1997 and to determine the sensitivity of ultrasound in this age group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 36 children diagnosed as having septic osteoarthritis of the hip were reviewed retrospectively. The diagnosis had been based on clinical criteria, along with synovectomy and drainage of purulent material from the affected joint. An X-ray and/or ultrasound had been performed when the diagnosis was suspected. RESULTS: Nineteen children were diagnosed during the neonatal period, 8 between the ages of 1 and 12 months and 9 older than one year of age. Mean age at diagnosis was 16.8 +/- 6.2 months (median 29 days, range 6 days to 13 years). The hip was involved in 32 children, the ankle in 3 and the elbow in 1. A microbiological diagnosis was achieved in 22 cases (61%) by culture from blood, CSF, and/or synovial fluid. The most common isolates were Gram positive cocci (S. aureus in 9 cases and coagulase negative Staphylococcus in 3). The diagnostic value of the X-rays was very low (18%). The ultrasound was initially considered abnormal in 64.5% of the patients, with a lower sensitivity in the neonatal period. After a mean follow-up period of 36 months, the outcome was good in 86% of the cases, although three children continue with sequelae. Two preterm infants died due to sepsis associated with the osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS: At the time of diagnosis of septic arthritis of the hip, the ultrasound is frequently normal. Due to the poor outcome when there is a delay in surgery, we suggest immediate synovectomy and drainage when there is clinical suspicion of septic arthritis despite an apparently normal ultrasound.     

Liquidus Temperature of SrO-Al2O3-SiO2 Glass-Forming Compositions

Despite the important role of strontium aluminosilicate glasses in various technologies, there is no available phase diagram for this ternary system in the ACerS-NIST Phase Equilibria Diagrams Database. Establishing the liquidus surface (liquidus temperature T_liq and primary devitrification phase) is crucial for glass composition design, because the liquidus temperature is intimately connected with the glass-forming ability of the melt. In this work, we have determined the liquidus surface by X-ray diffraction phase analyses of isothermally reacted samples from powder mixtures of 24 compositions. In the composition range of interest for industrial glasses, T_liq tends to decrease with increasing strontium-to-alumina ratio. We find that cristobalite, mullite, and slawsonite are the dominant devitrification phases for the compositions with high SiO₂, SiO₂+Al₂O₃, and SrO contents, respectively. By comparison with the phase diagrams for CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ and MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ systems, we have found that for the highest [RO]/[Al₂O₃] ratios, T_liq exhibits a minimum value for R = Ca. Based on the phase diagram established here, the composition of glass materials, for example, for liquid crystal display substrates, belonging to the SrO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ family may be designed with a more exact control of the glass-forming ability by avoiding the regions of high liquidus temperature.     

An optical flow-based method to predict infantile cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a perinatally acquired nonprogressive brain damage resulting in motor impairment affecting mobility and posture. Early identification of infants with CP is desired to target early interventions and follow-up. During early infancy, distinct motion patterns occur which are highly predictive for later disability. These motor patterns can be observed and recorded. In this paper, a method to predict later CP based on early video recordings of the infants' spontaneous movements, applying optical flow and statistical pattern recognition, is presented. We extract motion information from video recordings of young infants using a total variation related optical flow method. By using wavelet analysis features from motion trajectories of points initiated on a regular grid were extracted and classified using a support vector machine.