cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-vitro near-infrared imaging of natural secondary caries

Secondary caries stands as the leading reason for the failure of composite restorations and dentists spend more time replacing existing restorations than placing new ones. Current clinical strategies, and even modern visible light methods designed to detect decay, lack the sensitivity to distinguish incipient lesions, are confounded by staining on the surface and within the tooth, or are limited to detecting decay on the tooth surface. Near-IR (NIR) imaging methods, such as NIR reflectance and transillumination imaging, and optical coherence tomography are promising strategies for imaging secondary caries. Wavelengths longer than 1300-nm avoid interference from stain and exploit the greater transparency of sound enamel and dental composites, to provide increased contrast with demineralized tissues and improved imaging depth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NIR transillumination (λ=1300-nm) and NIR cross-polarized reflectance (λ=1500-1700-nm) images can serve as reliable indicators of demineralization surrounding composite restorations. Twelve composite margins (n=12) consisting of class I, II & V restorations were chosen from ten extracted teeth. The samples were imaged in vitro using NIR transillumination and reflectance, polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and a high-magnification digital visible light microscope. Samples were serially sectioned into 200-μm slices for histological analysis using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR). The results presented demonstrate the utility of NIR light for detecting recurrent decay and suggest that NIR images could be a reliable screening tool used in conjunction with PS-OCT for the detection and diagnosis of secondary caries.
A Response to the Proposed Paradigm: Freedom Runs Through It

Freedom, conceived as self-determination, control, and agency, has been put forth as the central purpose of a paradigm to bring together the specialties of the counseling profession, integrate the many theories, and usher in a wave of potentially powerful techniques from Asian psychologies. It remains to be seen how the foci of the specialties would change, if at all, in this paradigm; however, the unique contributions of each theory may be better appreciated. Research should be undertaken to better understand the efficacy of these new but ancient techniques.
Shape-From-Silhouette Across Time Part I: Theory and Algorithms

Shape-From-Silhouette (SFS) is a shape reconstruction method which constructs a 3D shape estimate of an object using silhouette images of the object. The output of a SFS algorithm is known as the Visual Hull (VH). Traditionally SFS is either performed on static objects, or separately at each time instant in the case of videos of moving objects. In this paper we develop a theory of performing SFS across time: estimating the shape of a dynamic object (with unknown motion) by combining all of the silhouette images of the object over time. We first introduce a one dimensional element called a Bounding Edge to represent the Visual Hull. We then show that aligning two Visual Hulls using just their silhouettes is in general ambiguous and derive the geometric constraints (in terms of Bounding Edges) that govern the alignment. To break the alignment ambiguity, we combine stereo information with silhouette information and derive a Temporal SFS algorithm which consists of two steps: (1) estimate the motion of the objects over time (Visual Hull Alignment) and (2) combine the silhouette information using the estimated motion (Visual Hull Refinement). The algorithm is first developed for rigid objects and then extended to articulated objects. In the Part II of this paper we apply our temporal SFS algorithm to two human-related applications: (1) the acquisition of detailed human kinematic models and (2) marker-less motion tracking.
Release and extracellular metabolism of ATP by ecto-nucleotidase eNTPDase 1–2 in hypothalamic and pituitary cells

Hypothalamic and pituitary cells express G protein-coupled adenosine and P2Y receptors and cation-conducting P2X receptor-channels, suggesting that extracellular ATP and other nucleotides may function as autocrine and/or paracrine signaling factors in these cells. Consistent with this hypothesis, we show that cultured normal and immortalized pituitary and hypothalamic cells release ATP under resting conditions. RT-PCR analysis also revealed the presence of transcripts for ecto-nucleotidase eNTPDase 1–2 in these cells. These enzymes were functional as documented by degradation of endogenously released and exogenously added ATP. Blocking the activity of eNTPDases by ARL67156 led to an increase in ATP release in perifused pituitary cells and inhibition of degradation of extracellularly added ATP. Furthermore, the addition of apyrase, a soluble ecto-nucleotidase, and the expression of recombinant mouse eNTPDase-2, enhanced degradation of both endogenously released and exogenously added ATP. The released ATP by resting hypothalamic cells was sufficient to activate and desensitize high-affinity recombinant P2X receptors, whereas facilitation of ATP metabolism by the addition of apyrase protected their desensitization. These results indicate that colocalization of ATP release sites and ecto-nucleotidase activity at the plasma membrane of hypothalamic and pituitary cells provides an effective mechanism for the operation of nucleotides as extracellular signaling molecules.
Global Fields and Imperial Forms: Field Theory and the British and American Empires*

This article develops a global fields approach for conceptualizing the global arena. The approach builds upon existing approaches to the world system and world society while articulating them with the field theory of Bourdieu and organizational sociology. It highlights particular structural configurations (“spaces of relations”) and the specific cultural content (“rules of the game” and “symbolic capital”) of global systems. The utility of the approach is demonstrated through an analysis of the different forms of the two hegemonic empires of the past centuries, Great Britain and the United States. The British state tended toward formal imperialism in the 19th century, characterized by direct territorial rule, while the United States since WWII has tended toward informal imperialism. The essay shows that the difference can be best explained by considering the different historical global fields in which the two empires operated.
Mapping and Valuing Ecosystem Services as an Approach for Conservation and Natural-Resource Management

Current approaches to conservation and natural-resource management often focus on single objectives, resulting in many unintended consequences. These outcomes often affect society through unaccounted-for ecosystem services. A major challenge in moving to a more ecosystem-based approach to management that would avoid such societal damages is the creation of practical tools that bring a scientifically sound, production function-based approach to natural-resource decision making. A new set of computer-based models is presented, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs tool (InVEST) that has been designed to inform such decisions. Several of the key features of these models are discussed, including the ability to visualize relationships among multiple ecosystem services and biodiversity, the ability to focus on ecosystem services rather than biophysical processes, the ability to project service levels and values in space, sensitivity to manager-designed scenarios, and flexibility to deal with data and knowledge limitations. Sample outputs of InVEST are shown for two case applications; the Willamette Basin in Oregon and the Amazon Basin. Future challenges relating to the incorporation of social data, the projection of social distributional effects, and the design of effective policy mechanisms are discussed.
Remote points under the continuum hypothesis

We show that, under CH, (i) every ccc, non-pseudocompact space of weight at most ω2 has remote points, and (ii) if Xi, for i ∈ I, is a completely regular ccc topological space of weight ω1 and if X := Πi ∈ IXi is ccc and non-pseudocompact, then X has remote points.
Customized instruction-sets for embedded processors

It is generally believed that there will be little more variety in CPU architectures, and thus the design of Instruction-Set Architectures (ISAs) will have no role in the future of embedded CPU design. Nonetheless, it is argued in this paper that architectural variety will soon again become an important topic, with the major motivation being increased performance due to the customization of CPUs to their intended use. Five major barriers that could hinder customization are described, including the problems of existing binaries, toolchain development and maintenance costs, lost savings/higher chip cost due to the lower volumes of customized processors, added hardware development costs, and some factors related to the product development cycle for embedded products. Each is discussed, along with potential, sometimes surprising, solutions.
Effects of galanin on short circuit current and electrolyte transport in rabbit ileum

Galanin decreased short circuit current (Isc) and increased active Na+ and Cl- absorption in rabbit ileum. In the absence of calcium, the galanin-induced decrease in Isc was inhibited by approximately 60%. Tetrodotoxin significantly reduced the effect of galanin on Isc, and tetrodotoxin and EGTA totally blocked the effect, indicating that the nonneuronal mediator of the effect is Ca2+ dependent. Galanin binding to basolateral membranes prepared from ileal epithelial cells was specific and of high affinity. These results suggest the involvement of this peptide in the regulation of intestinal epithelial cell function.
Coordination of a tethered epoxide to a coordinatively unsaturated rhenium oxo complex

3,4-Epoxy-1-butyltetramethylcyclopentadienyltrioxorhenium(VII) is prepared via a multistep route from bromopentacarbonylrhenium. Reductive deoxygenation with PPh3 results in a species with NMR characteristics consistent with expectation for a rhenium(V)-epoxide complex.
Calcineurin Inhibitor-Free Immunosuppression in Pediatric Heart Transplantation Recipients: Sirolimus as a Primary Immunosuppressive Agent

Purpose Sirolimus may reduce the development of coronary vasculopathy and calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced nephropathy in adult heart transplant patients. We report our experience with sirolimus as a primary immunosuppressive agent in pediatric heart transplant patients. Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed records for all pediatric heart transplant patients for whom we attempted conversion to a CNI-free sirolimus-based regimen. Patients were treated routinely with an anti-metabolite medication in addition to sirolimus, with or without steroids. We examined records for demographics, episodes of rejection, and serum measures of renal function. Results We identified 18 patients (mean age at transplant 7.8 years, range 0.1–21 yrs, 45% female) for whom we attempted conversion to a sirolimus-based regimen an average of 39±46 months post transplant. Of these 18, 4 patients had to discontinue sirolimus due to side effects (pneumonitis, aphthous ulcers, proteinuria, and dactylitis). The remaining 14 patients (mean age at transplant 7.6 years, range 0.1–21 yrs, 43% female) were successfully converted over a period of 88±52 days to the CNI-free immunosuppressive protocol. Follow-up was available for an average of 2.7±2.6 years post-conversion. For these 14 patients, there was no significant difference between the rate of rejection while taking CNIs prior to conversion (0.21 rejection episodes per patient-year) compared to post-conversion (0 rejection episodes per patient-year). Serum creatinine was decreased from 1.0±0.6 mg/dL pre-conversion to 0.8±0.4 post-conversion, and 0.8±0.6 at latest follow-up, however this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions In this small cohort, a CNI-free sirolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen was not associated with an increased rejection rate or change in markers of renal function. The use of sirolimus as a primary agent in pediatric heart transplant patients warrants further evaluation.
Residues of compound 4072 in milk and meat of cattle held in barns treated with residual sprays.

Beef calves and lactating dairy cows were held in rooms treated with 0.5, 2.5, or 5% Compound 4072 (2-chlaro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl) vinyl diethyl phosphate) at a rate of 1 gal/500 ft.2 No residues of Compound 4072 Were found in fat or tissue samples of animals exposed to the 0.5% spray or in the milk of cows held in any of the sprayed rooms. The small residues in the omental fat of calves exposed to the 2.5 and 5% sprays had disappeared at 32 days posttreatment.
Racial and ethnic differences in depressive subtypes and access to mental health care in the United States

Abstract Objectives Racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. underutilize mental health service for mood disorders. This study sought to identify depressive subtypes associated with low use of mental health services across racial and ethnic groups based on a large, nationally representative sample of adults in the U.S. Methods Based on latent class analysis, we identified the latent profile of depressive symptoms among those who endorsed lifetime depressed mood or anhedonia in the 2001–2002 National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Condition (302 Asian Americans; 8602 Whites; 2266 Blacks; 2254 Hispanics). Proportions and types of lifetime mental health service use across depressive symptom subtypes were assessed and compared across the racial and ethnic categories. Results A four class model of depressive subtypes was examined across race and ethnicity (“mild,” “cognitive,” “psychosomatic,” and “severe”). Asian Americans, blacks, and Hispanics with “severe” subtype of depression had significantly lower odds of mental health service use compared to whites with “severe” subtype of depression. While Asian Americans did not have higher proportion of “psychosomatic” subtype than other race and ethnic groups, Asian Americans with “cognitive” subtype of depression significantly underused mental health services compared to Asian Americans with “psychosomatic” subtype of depression (Odds ratio:0.34, 95% Confidence interval:0.13,0.91). Limitation We were unable to account for heterogeneity of the subethnic group compositions based on country of origin and other socio-demographic factors. Conclusions A targeted outreach intervention to raise awareness among Asian Americans, blacks, and Hispanics with “severe” subtype and Asian Americans with “cognitive” subtype of depression may reduce disparity in mental health service utilization across racial and ethnic groups.
Pharmacological evidence of a central effect of naltrexone, morphine, and β-endorphin and a peripheral effect of met- and leu-enkephalin on retention of an inhibitory response in mice

Immediate post-training administration of the central acting opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (0.01–1.00 mg/kg) facilitated 48-h retention of a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task. An inverted-U dose—response curve was obtained. In this dose range naltrexone did not significantly affect response latencies of mice not given a footshock during the training. However, higher doses of naltrexone (3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) increased latencies of both shocked and unshocked mice. The peripheral-acting opioid receptor blocker, naltrexone methyl bromide (MR 2263) (0.01–10.00 mg/kg), did not significantly influence retention latencies of either shocked or unshocked mice. Further, MR 2263 (0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 mg/kg) did not block the retention impairment produced by concurrently administered morphine (3.0 mg/kg) or β-endorphin (0.1 μg/kg). These findings indicate that the effect of these agonists on memory are not due to a peripheral influence. However, MR 2263 does prevent the memory-impairing effect of both met-enkephalin (1.0 μg/kg) and leu-enkephalin (0.3 μg/kg) on retention. Those results suggest that enkephalins affect retention through influences initiated peripherally. Thus, different sites and mechanisms of action for β-endorphin and the enkephalins are proposed.
Nutrition Attitudes and Health Practices of Patrons of the Dining Services at East Carolina University.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to report the gender differences regarding nutrition attitudes and health practices in the college environment. The sample consisted of a combination of 1001 university students, faculty, and staff who eat at East Carolina University dining facilities. Females comprised 53% of the respondents, while males constituted 47%. Participants were given a thirty-three-item survey regarding nutrition knowledge, satisfaction with current weight, exercise practices and nutrition topics of interest. The surveys were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) statistical software. When the sample was asked whether they were concerned about proper nutrition, 94% of the females and 86% of the males responded yes. When asked if they felt their current eating habits were healthy, 52% of the females and 52% of the males responded yes. More females (79%) than males (63%) knew what the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations were, yet females reported less compliance to the recommendations than males. Fifty-seven percent of the sample claimed to be unhappy with their current weight, with females making up the majority (65%). Of that 65%, 93% of the females wanted to lose 5-15 pounds, while 92% of males expressing dissatisfaction with their current weight wanted to either maintain weight or gain 5-15 pounds. More female respondents expressed an interest in both a weight management course and a low-fat cooking course than the male respondents. Female respondents were more conscious regarding fat, calorie and sodium content of food then their male counterparts. The females averaged less weekly meals at fast food restaurants and less grams of fat per day. Twelve percent of the sample reported to be vegetarian (seven percent were females and five percent were males). The most popular vegetarian type of both sexes was lacto-ovo. Over half of the sample claimed to participate in weekly exercise. Males made up the majority exercising, with a 64% participation rate versus a 54% female participation rate. Male respondents averaged more weekly exercise sessions per week then their female counterparts. Females choose fat replacements/fat substitutes as their number one nutrition topic of interest, while males choose sports nutrition as their number one nutrition interest. In conclusion, the female respondents of this sample claimed to be more interested in proper nutrition than the males studied, yet they dieted more, exercised less, and met fewer of the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations for healthy eating than their male counterparts. Clearly, this study supports the need for continued nutrition education in the college setting, especially within the female sample where weight loss is a big concern and, if done improperly, could lead to detrimental, physiological effects.
Oviposition by the banded sunflower moth (Lepidoptera: Cochylidae) in response to constituents of the bracts and leaves of Helianthus annuus

Sunflower bracts that develop around the outer edge of the disk of a sunflower head have been reported to be the primary oviposition site for the banded sunflower moth, Cochylis hospes Walsingham, Experiments were conducted with the natural bract substrate, sunflower leaves, an artificial substrate, and sunflower extracts to look for the presence of chemical components or physical properties of bract and leaf parts that stimulated oviposition by the banded sunflower moth. In choice experiments with intact sunflower bracts or leaves, C. hospes oviposited on either sunflower part with about equal frequency. The moths oviposited on an artificial substrate of floral foam but they preferred the natural substrate over the artificial substrate in a ratio of 8.8:1. The moisture content of the artificial substrate significantly influenced oviposition. Extracts of sunflower bracts or leaves prepared with water or hexane significantly stimulated oviposition over that on the control. Bract extracts prepared with ether did not show significant activity. Results of this study indicated that the leaves and bracts of sunflower contain a combination of contact chemicals, volatiles, and moisture that enhanced, in varying degrees, oviposition by the banded sunflower moth.
Influence of Vagal Activity on the Neonatal Ventilatory Response to Hypoxemia

The sustained increase in ventilation (V1) that occurs during acute hypoxemia in adults is not characteristic of the neonate as V1 falls to or below baseline values soon after onset of the hypoxic stimulus. Associated with this decline in V1 is a decrease in tidal volume, lung compliance, inspiratory duration, and an increase in functional residual capacity and respiratory frequency. We hypothesized that hypoxemia induced small airway constriction and pulmonary time constant inequalities resulting in a frequency dependent fall in lung compliance and tidal volume and retention of lung volume. In seven newborn subhuman primates, responses to acute hypoxemia were measured prior to and after administration of atropine methyl bromide to prevent vagally mediated narrowing of peripheral airways. The increase in frequency and fall in inspiratory duration characteristic of the ventilatory decline during hypoxemia was eliminated by the drug but functional residual capacity and lung compliance were unaffected. Also, the initial rise in V1 was blunted or blocked in all subjects. Bilateral vagotomy caused V1 to fall significantly requiring oxygen supplementation but responses to hypoxemia were still biphasic in nature. These findings suggest that cholinergically mediated mechanisms in the airways do not alter effective lung distensibility related to respiratory rate. Acetylcholine may be important at the peripheral chemosensor since cholinergic blockade eliminated the initial ventilatory increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Wnt and EGF pathways act together to induce C. elegans male hook development

Comparative studies of vulva development between Caenorhabditis elegans and other nematode species have provided some insight into the evolution of patterning networks. However, molecular genetic details are available only in C. elegans and Pristionchus pacificus. To extend our knowledge on the evolution of patterning networks, we studied the C. elegans male hook competence group (HCG), an equivalence group that has similar developmental origins to the vulval precursor cells (VPCs), which generate the vulva in the hermaphrodite. Similar to VPC fate specification, each HCG cell adopts one of three fates (1°, 2°, 3°), and 2° HCG fate specification is mediated by LIN-12/Notch. We show that 2° HCG specification depends on the presence of a cell with the 1° fate. We also provide evidence that Wnt signaling via the Frizzled-like Wnt receptor LIN-17 acts to specify the 1° and 2° HCG fate. A requirement for EGF signaling during 1° fate specification is seen only when LIN-17 activity is compromised. In addition, activation of the EGF pathway decreases dependence on LIN-17 and causes ectopic hook development. Our results suggest that WNT plays a more significant role than EGF signaling in specifying HCG fates, whereas in VPC specification EGF signaling is the major inductive signal. Nonetheless, the overall logic is similar in the VPCs and the HCG: EGF and/or WNT induce a 1° lineage, and LIN-12/NOTCH induces a 2° lineage. Wnt signaling is also required for execution of the 1° and 2° HCG lineages. lin-17 and bar-1/β-catenin are preferentially expressed in the presumptive 1° cell P11.p. The dynamic subcellular localization of BAR-1–GFP in P11.p is concordant with the timing of HCG fate determination.
Clinical Update on Pentoxifylline Therapy for Diabetes-Induced Peripheral Vascular Disease

OBJECTIVE:To introduce readers to the use of pentoxifylline for diabetes-induced peripheral vascular disease. The article provides background on the pathophysiology of diabetic foot ulcers as well as a review of the literature on the therapeutic use of pentoxifylline for treating this disorder.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search was used to identify pertinent literature, including review articles and case reports. Key index terms included pentoxifylline, diabetic foot ulcer, neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and intermittent claudicationDATA EXTRACTION:Basic pharmacologic data regarding absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion were reported in normal subjects as well as in patients with renal impairment. Open and controlled clinical trials also were analyzed; subjective symptoms were reported. The economic implications also were reported. The pharmacist's role in patient education is discussed.DATA SYNTHESIS:Pentoxifylline 800 mg/d was found to be effective in improving the symptoms in patient...
Algorithm for estimating the attenuation slope from backscattered ultrasonic signals

In vivo attenuation slope measurements usually utilize the backscattered signal from pulse/echo ultrasound. In this work the down shift of the center frequency of an emitted ultrasound pulse with penetration depth is utilized to estimate the attenuation slope. A diffraction correction of the focused ultrasound source is performed by measuring the reflection from a planar surface positioned throughout the depth of focus. A focused single element transducer with a measured center frequency of 8.2 MHz and a fractional band width of 72% was used to interrogate four tissue mimicking phantoms. The scatterers in the tissue mimicking phantoms were glass spheres embedded in a gelatin/milk matrix. In one set of the phantoms, the backscattering strength was varied; in the other set of phantoms the attenuation slope was varied. The attenuation slope (AS BS ) was estimated using pulse/echo data obtained by scanning the phantoms. The “true” attenuation slope (AS Thru ) was obtained from two independent insertion loss measurements performed at two different laboratories. The relative error of AS BS was investigated for different regions of interest (ROI) for all phantoms. Three different axial and lateral ROI sizes were tested. It was observed that the average relative error (average over all four phantoms) changed by less than three percent when the lateral size of the ROI was decreased by seventy percent. The axial size of the ROI was changed by thirty percent whereas the average error changed by less then three percent.
Ranking search results for translated content

Translation Memory (TM) consists of a collection of previously translated units of text that may prove useful in the translation of new text. The main problem faced by translators who wish to take advantage of TM is that, although search tools do exist, there is no standardized way of effectively ranking search results. This paper proposes a method for effectively ranking TM search results together with a novel approach to efficiently finding common substrings.
New Instrumentation for Use in Excitation-Emission Fluorescence-Polarization Measurements

A fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) is an excellent way to determine a specific substance in a multicomponent sample. In the present investigation, a novel, rapid-scanning spectrofluorometer has been developed for measuring an EEM; the instrument employs a 0.35-meter monochromator for choosing the excitation wavelength and a continuously variable interference filter for selecting the emission wavelength. With the system, a 51 × 93 excitation-emission matrix can be collected in 3.2 min, and detection limits of 500 ng/L are obtained for fluorescein dye in ethanol. Fluorescence polarization measurements in the plane parallel and perpendicular to the polarized excitation light adds another dimension to the instrument for characterizing a sample. The instrument is controlled by an IBM XT computer although data analysis is performed on a Macintosh computer with Spyglass software. A series of two-dimensional contour plots and multidimensional excitation-emission-polarization plots can be rapidly generated.
Treatment Outcomes among Patients with Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. The treatment of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) presents a major challenge. Second-line antimycobacterial drugs are less effective, more toxic, and more costly than first-line agents, and XDR TB strains are, by definition, resistant to the most potent second-line options: the injectable agents and fluoroquinolones. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess XDR TB treatment outcomes and to identify therapeutic approaches associated with favorable responses. Methods. We searched PubMed and EMBASE databases to identify studies conducted through May 2009 that report XDR TB treatment outcomes. Results. The search yielded 13 observational studies covering 560 patients, of whom 43.7% (95% confidence interval, 32.8%‐54.5%) experienced favorable outcomes, defined as either cure or treatment completion, and 20.8% (95% confidence interval, 14.2%‐27.3%) died. Random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression showed that studies in which a higher proportion of patients received a later-generation fluoroquinolone reported a higher proportion of favorable treatment outcomes ( ). P p .012 Conclusions. This meta-analysis provides the first empirical evidence that the use of later-generation fluoroquinolones for the treatment of XDR TB significantly improves treatment outcomes, even though drug-susceptibility testing demonstrates resistance to a representative fluoroquinolone. These results suggest that the addition of latergeneration fluoroquinolones to XDR TB regimens may improve treatment outcomes and should be systematically evaluated in well-designed clinical studies.
Automatically detecting the small group structure of a crowd

Recent work on computer vision analysis of crowds tends to focus on robustly tracking individuals through the crowd or on analyzing the overall pattern of flow. Our work seeks a deeper analysis of social behavior by identifying the small group structure of crowds, forming the basis for mid-level activity analysis at the granularity of human social groups. Building upon state-of-the-art algorithms for pedestrian detection and multi-object tracking, and inspired by social science models of human collective behavior, we automatically detect small groups of individuals who are traveling together. These groups are discovered using a bottom-up hierarchical clustering approach that compares sets of individuals based on a generalized, symmetric Hausdorff distance defined with respect to pairwise proximity and velocity. We validate our results quantitatively and qualitatively on videos of real-world pedestrian scenes. Where human-coded ground truth is available, we find substantial statistical agreement between our results and the human-perceived small group structure of the crowd.
Neonatal Magnesium Levels Correlate with Motor Outcomes in Premature Infants: A Long-Term Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective Chronic neurological deficits are a significant complication of preterm birth. Magnesium supplementation has been suggested to have neuroprotective function in the developing brain. Our objective was to determine whether higher neonatal serum magnesium levels were associated with better long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants. Study Design A retrospective cohort of 75 preterm infants (<1500 g, gestational age <27 weeks) had follow-up for the outcomes of abnormal motor exam and for epilepsy. Average total serum magnesium level in the neonate during the period of prematurity was the main independent variable assessed, tested using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results Higher average serum magnesium level was associated with a statistically significant decreased risk for abnormal motor exam (p 0.037). A lower risk for epilepsy in the group with higher magnesium level did not reach statistical significance (p 0.06). Conclusion This study demonstrates a correlation between higher neonatal magnesium levels and decreased risk for long-term abnormal motor exam. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the hypothesis that higher neonatal magnesium levels can improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Implications of anthropogenic landscape change on inter-population movements of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

In the Sonoran Desert of North America, populations of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) occur in rocky foothills throughout southwestern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Although tortoise populations appear to be isolated from each other by low desert valleys, individuals occasionally move long distances between populations. Increasingly, these movements are hindered by habitat fragmentation due to anthropogenic landscape changes. We used molecular techniques and radiotelemetry to examine movement patterns of desert tortoises in southern Arizona. We collected blood samples from 170 individuals in nine mountain ranges and analyzed variability in seven microsatellite loci to determine genetic differentiation among populations. Gene flow estimates between populations indicate that populations exchanged individuals historically at a rate greater than one migrant per generation, and positive correlation between genetic and geographic distance of population pairs suggests that the limiting factor for gene flow among populations is isolation by distance. Life history traits of the desert tortoise, a long-lived species with delayed sexual maturity, may severely constrain the ability of small populations to respond to disturbances that increase adult mortality. Historic gene flow estimates among populations suggests that recovery of declining populations may rely heavily on the immigration of new individuals from adjacent mountain ranges. Management strategies compatible with the evolutionary history of gene flow among disjunct populations will help ensure the long-term persistence of Sonoran desert tortoise populations.
Decomposition of Vibrational Shifts of Nitriles into Electrostatic and Hydrogen-Bonding Effects

Infrared (IR) band shifts of isolated vibrational transitions can serve as quantitative and directional probes of local electrostatic fields, due to the vibrational Stark effect. However, departures from the Stark model can arise when the probe participates in specific, chemical interactions, such as direct hydrogen bonding. We present a method to identify and correct for these departures based on comparison of 13C NMR chemical shifts and IR frequencies each calibrated in turn by a solvatochromic model. We demonstrate how the tandem use of these experimental observables can be applied to a thiocyanate-modified protein, ketosteroid isomerase, and show, by comparison to structural models, that changes in electrostatic field can be measured within the complex protein environment even in the background of direct hydrogen bonding to the probe.
Kant and Kantian Themes in Recent Analytic Philosophy

This article notes six advances in recent analytic Kant research: (1) Strawson's interpretation, which, together with work by Bennett, Sellars, and others, brought renewed attention to Kant through its account of space, time, objects, and the Transcendental Deduction and its sharp criticisms of Kant on causality and idealism; (2) the subsequent investigations of Kantian topics ranging from cognitive science and philosophy of science to mathematics; (3) the detailed work, by a number of scholars, on the Transcendental Deduction; (4) the clearer understanding of transcendental idealism sparked by reactions to Allison's epi- stemic account; (5) the resulting need—prompted also by new studies of the thing in itself—to face up to the old question of the philosophical defensibility of such idealism; and (6) the active engagement with Kant's ethics and political philosophy that derives from Rawls's and others' work. In the view of many analytic thinkers, Kant remains the greatest philoso- pher since antiquity, and his ideas are an important presence in analytic and Anglophone philosophy today. The theme of our symposium echoes Kant, who investigated the "real progress" of metaphysics since the time of Leibniz and Wolff. In this spirit, I will focus on real advances in Kant studies over the past fifty years. Although the logical positivists' attacks on metaphysics owed much to Kant as well as to Hume, the positivists' rejection of the synthetic a priori and of other Kantian views led them to downgrade his work. Similarly, and though Wittgenstein's writings are imbued with Kantian themes, ordinary language philosophy attacked systematic thought of Kant's sort and its metaphysical underpinnings. The radical doubts that were raised about the analytic/synthetic, a priori/a posteriori, and necessary/contingent distinctions by American descendants of the prag- matists, such as W. V. Quine and Morton White, also did not favor Kant. bs_bs_banner
Detecting changes in soil carbon in CO2 enrichment experiments

After four growing seasons, elevated CO2 did not significantly alter surface soil C pools in two intact annual grasslands. However, soil C pools in these systems are large compared to the likely changes caused by elevated CO2. We calculated statistical power to detect changes in soil C, using an approach applicable to all elevated CO2 experiments. The distinctive isotopic signature of the fossil-fuel-derived CO2 added to the elevated CO2 treatment provides a C tracer to determine the rate of incorporation of newly-fixed C into soil. This rate constrains the size of the possible effect of eievated CO2 on soil C. Even after four years of treatment, statistical power to detect plausible changes in soil C under elevated CO2 is quite low. Analysis of other elevated CO2 experiments in the literature indicates that either CO2 does not affect soil C content, or that reported CO2 effects on soil C are too large to be a simple consequence of increased plant carbon inputs, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved, or that the differences are due to chance. Determining the effects of elevated CO2 on total soil C and long-term C storage requires more powerful experimental techniques or experiments of longer duration.
Balloon Focus: a Seamless Multi-Focus+Context Method for Treemaps

The treemap is one of the most popular methods for visualizing hierarchical data. When a treemap contains a large number of items, inspecting or comparing a few selected items in a greater level of detail becomes very challenging. In this paper, we present a seamless multi-focus and context technique, called Balloon Focus, that allows the user to smoothly enlarge multiple treemap items served as the foci, while maintaining a stable treemap layout as the context. Our method has several desirable features. First, this method is quite general and can be used with different treemap layout algorithms. Second, as the foci are enlarged, the relative positions among all items are preserved. Third, the foci are placed in a way that the remaining space is evenly distributed back to the non-focus treemap items. When Balloon Focus enlarges the focus items to a maximum degree, the above features ensure that the treemap will maintain a consistent appearance and avoid any abrupt layout changes. In our algorithm, a DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) is used to maintain the positional constraints, and an elastic model is employed to govern the placement of the treemap items. We demonstrate a treemap visualization system that integrates data query, manual focus selection, and our novel multi-focus+context technique, Balloon Focus, together. A user study was conducted. Results show that with Balloon Focus, users can better perform the tasks of comparing the values and the distribution of the foci.
Feedback Control for Penetrating a Downburst

Feedback logic is given that produces satisfactory penetration of an aircraft through a severe downburst. The logic has two parts: (1) A switch that calls for full throttle and tight climb-rate-hold feedback logic when the magnitude of headwind-rate exceeds a threshold level; this switch stays on until re-set by the pilot after penetration of the downburst. (2) A tight climb-rate-hold autopilot, using feedback of pitch-angle to angle-of-attack. After penetration, recovery to steady climbing flight is aided by using feedback of airspeed deviation to throttle. Insights on control strategy are gained from an analysis of energy changes during flight through a downburst. Closed-loop simulations are given for a 727 aircraft penetrating severe downbursts on take-off. Boeing's recommendation of constant pitch angle was confirmed as an excellent feedback control strategy.
A coherent acquisition method for a PN sequence using binary search and an auxiliary sequence

Direct sequence spread spectrum systems require a local replica of the pseudonoise (PN) sequence to be synchronized with the received signal's spreading code. A method is proposed to improve the PN sequence acquisition time and decrease the acquisition time variability. The proposed method is based on a binary search algorithm. At each stage of the algorithm, an auxiliary signal is used to formulate a new search region within the PN sequence, and at each stage the search region is reduced by half. The region containing the incoming PN phase is therefore obtained within O(log/sub 2/ (N+1)) steps. A closed loop coherent PN acquisition algorithm presented by Salih and Tantaratana (1996) motivated the use of the auxiliary signal, and the algorithm of Salih et al. is also used for comparison. Results indicate the algorithm presented in this paper can achieve a factor of two to three times improvement in the mean acquisition time with a significant decrease in the acquisition time variability.
Data network analysis using NOVA

A flexible, model-based tool is presented for use in the analysis of telecommunication networks. The tool was designed and implemented using object-oriented principles. Through the use of software models, which can be modified or added, NOVA allows the analysis of data networks with arbitrary characteristics and topologies. We discuss specific models for a network node and a link, which are the main components of a network topology. A sensitivity analysis of various model parameters was performed using a sample topology. In addition, NOVA was used to analyze the performance of the telecommunication network of southern China. We evaluated the network for various air traffic loads using fixed background data traffic. We investigated the average number of packets, average waiting time for a packet, average total time spent for a packet, and the utilization at a given city node in the network. By exploiting NOVA's modularity and flexibility, we were able to gain insight into various trade-offs involved in a telecommunication network design.
Mobility and Stability Characterization of Model Food Systems Using NMR, DSC, and Conidia Germination Techniques

Mold conidia germination was used as a microbial probe of food stability in sucrose, starch, and sucrose/starch systems. A group of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) techniques were used to fully characterize the water and solid mobility and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the systems, respectively. Water content, a W , and 2 H NMR R 1 and R 2 relaxation rates did not predict mold germination time. We concluded that the self-diffusion coefficient, (translational mobility of water), the DSC Tg (overall system mobility), and to a more limited extent, the 2 H NMR R 2 * relaxation rate and the 13 C T 1p (solids mobility), could provide alternative measures to supplement a W for predicting food stability and safety.
Eosinophil localization to the basement membrane zone is autoantibody- and complement-dependent in a human cryosection model of bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease characterized by antibodies (IgG and IgE) targeting cell-substrate adhesion proteins. A variety of BP models suggest that autoantibody-dependent neutrophil degranulation is essential for blister formation. However, lesional biopsies reveal a predominance of eosinophils and few neutrophils. Our goal was to evaluate the role of antibodies and complement in eosinophil localization, degranulation and split formation at the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ) utilizing a human skin cryosection model of BP paired with a human eosinophilic cell line, 15HL-60. Expression of receptors for IgG (FcγRII), IgE (FceRI) and complement (CR1 and CR3) was confirmed on 15HL-60 cells using flow cytometry. 15HL-60 expression of granule protein [eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)] mRNA and their degranulation in vitro was confirmed using RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. For cryosection experiments, BP or control sera or IgG and IgE antibodies purified from BP sera were utilized in combination with 15HL-60 cells ± fresh complement. Both BP serum and fresh complement were required for localization of 15-HL60 cells to the DEJ. Interestingly, eosinophil localization to the DEJ was dependent on IgG, but not IgE, and complement. However, no subepidermal split was observed. Additionally, the 15HL-60 cells did not degranulate under any experimental conditions and direct application of cell lysate to cryosections did not result in a split. Our observation that eosinophil localization to the DEJ is dependent on IgG mediated complement fixation provides additional insight into the sequence of events during the development of BP lesions.
Ultrastructural Changes Induced by Sodium Pentachlorophenate in the Grass Shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, in Relation to the Molt Cycle

Intermolt (stage C) grass shrimp were exposed to 1.0 ppm Na-PCP for the duration of a molt cycle. Gills, hepatopancreas, midgut (portion of the digestive tract surrounded by hepatopancreas) and hindgut (portion of the digestive tract in the abdomen) from control and experimental shrimp at known stages of the molt cycle were examined at the ultrastructural level. Although signs of pathology were evident in late proecdysial shrimp, extensive pathological changes were not observed until after ecdysis. The extent of pathological changes varied with the tissue examined and the interval between ecdysis and the time of fixation for electron microscopy.
Host resistance to hemorrhagic shock. X. Induction of resistance by shock plasma and by endotoxins.

Summary and conclusionsRabbits made tolerant to bacterial endotoxin tolerate an otherwise lethal exposure to hemorrhagic shock. Whereas normal, i.e. non-tolerant, rabbits are dead after 6 hours of shock in spite of having received all the blood removed, tolerant rabbits are in satisfactory condition after 6 hours in spite of having received none of the blood removed. They respond promptly when transfused at the end of 6 hours and recover completely. The same results are secured in rabbits made tolerant to, i.e. pretreated with, shock plasma. Therefore, there is reason to consider the toxin in shock plasma an endotoxin. In the rabbit tolerant to endotoxin the blood taken after 6 hours in shock is free of the toxin causing irreversibility, which is in the blood of non-tolerant rabbits in shock. In the rabbit tolerant to shock the granulocytopenic response is distinctly different from that in the non-tolerant animal. The response is less intense and recovery to a normal or above normal count occurs while the...