cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Image Denoising Method for SAR Images with Low-Sampling Measurements

In this study, an image denoising method for the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is proposed. When reconstructed from low-sampling-rate measurements using a compressed sensing (CS) based method, the reconstructions still suffer from noise and aliasing for the sampling rate is much lower than the Nyquist sampling rate (15%-25%). To in future improve the reconstruction, we proposed an imaging denoising method for CS-based reconstructed SAR image. In this proposed denoising method, the pending SAR image is treated as a level set function. We design a step curvature flow function using which the aliasing and noise are eliminated and the clarity of objects of interest in the SAR images are enhanced. Simulation and experimental results illustrated that only a 20% measurement is necessary in the SAR experiment to identify the objects of interest with the proposed method.
Event Identification in Social Media.

Social media sites such as Flickr, YouTube, and Facebook host substantial amounts of user-contributed materials (e.g., photographs, videos, and textual content) for a wide variety of real-world events. These range from widely known events, such as the presidential inauguration, to smaller, community-specific events, such as annual conventions and local gatherings. By identifying these events and their associated user-contributed social media documents, which is the focus of this paper, we can greatly improve local event browsing and search in state-of-the-art search engines. To address our problem of focus, we exploit the rich “context” associated with social media content, including user-provided annotations (e.g., title, tags) and automatically generated information (e.g., content creation time). We form a variety of representations of social media documents using different context dimensions, and combine these dimensions in a principled way into a single clustering solution—where each document cluster ideally corresponds to one event—using a weighted ensemble approach. We evaluate our approach on a large-scale, real-world dataset of event images, and report promising performance with respect to several baseline approaches. Our preliminary experiments suggest that our ensemble approach identifies events, and their associated images, more effectively than the state-of-the-art strategies on which we build.
Household Commuting: Implications of the Behavior of Two-Worker Households for Land- Use/Transportation Models

Single-worker households (and one worker’s commuting trade-offs) populate the world of urban economic theory. Alonso (1964) elaborated the locational choices facing “an individual”; it made no difference if that individual was a member of a multi-worker household because all individual workers would commute to the same city center. More complex models (e.g. White, 1977) assume two work sites (the CBD and a “suburban ring”) with all females commuting to the nearby suburban ring. Women’s worktrip times would tend to be longer if by transit (their value of time is less than that of men) but shorter if by private automobile (because they generally earn less, and here they tend to economize on the monetary costs of commuting). Alonso (1980) wrote about the rise of the two-worker household in the U.S. and speculated that, “… when there are several commuters rather than only one per household, and when non-working time is more valuable, … locational factors may play a stronger role, …. this factor may result in more concentrated development to reduce travel time. The most convenient point to two distant suburban work places may in many cases be a location more near the center.” (Alonso, 1980, p. 550). This view is challenged by Giuliano (1989) and Giuliano and Small (1993). Empirically, although the proportion of multi-worker households continues to expand, more concentrated development has not occurred.
Of Remixology: Ethics and Aesthetics After Remix

It should come as no surprise that there is currently a robust debate surrounding copyright and media content. (It is the age of cheap editing software and YouTube, after all.) In that debate, one ...
Current capabilities of the residual stress diffractometer at the high flux isotope reactor.

The engineering diffractometer 2nd Generation Neutron Residual Stress Facility (NRSF2) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s High Flux Isotope Reactor was built specifically for the mapping of residual strains. NRSF2 is optimized to investigate a wide range of engineering materials by providing the user a selection of monochromatic neutron wavelengths to maintain the selected Bragg reflection near 2θ = 90°, which is the optimal scattering geometry for strain mapping. Details of the instrument configuration and operation are presented, and considerations for experimental planning are also discussed. Selected examples of recent residual stress work completed with NRSF2 are presented to highlight capabilities.
Detection efficiency of acoustic biotelemetry sensors on Wave Gliders

Detecting tagged animals in coastal environments is often limited to stationary arrays of acoustic receivers that can decode transmissions from tags on animals. However, mobile autonomous platforms are becoming important tools that support the science of understanding biophysical relationships because they can concurrently detect tagged individuals and measure properties of their ocean habitat. To assess the effectiveness of these emerging platforms, proper validation and range detection studies are necessary. Here, we report on the deployment of a wave powered unmanned surface vessel, the Liquid Robotics Wave Glider SV3, equipped with a forward- and backward-facing acoustic receiver (VR2W) and transceiver (VR2Tx) at 4 m depth. Surveys were conducted around two stationary moorings equipped with receivers, transceivers or tags emitting signals with different power outputs. During our study, the sea state was mild with low wind speeds ( 0.5 km and the maximum range was 0.5–1.2 km. The forward-facing receiver had almost half the detection efficiency of the backward-facing transceiver, suggesting a backward configuration is optimal to reduce the influence of the moving platform. The higher power output transmitters had a 20% detection efficiency to ranges of ~ 0.5 km (153 dB) and ~ 0.8 km (160 dB). Distance between the receiver and transmitter was the main factor affecting detection probability, with background noise, receiver heading, angle between transmitter and receiver and wave height also being important. Wind speed, water temperature, mooring line tilt angle and vehicle dynamics were found not to be as important over the limited range of conditions over which our study was conducted. Wave Gliders equipped with receivers can provide useful data and can be an effective biotelemetry asset that could supplement stationary arrays of acoustic receivers or act as an exploratory technology to search for biologically important areas.
Neoplasia in captive Panthera species.

Summary This retrospective study identified the spectrum of neoplasia diagnoses, prevalence rates and the contribution of neoplasia to death or humane destruction within Panthera species housed at a large cat sanctuary. Biopsy and necropsy reports from January 2002 to December 2017 were examined and histological material from cases diagnosed with neoplasia was reviewed. One hundred and sixty-eight neoplasms were diagnosed in 108 large felids: 70 tigers (Panthera tigris), 26 lions (Panthera leo), three ligers (P. leo × P. tigris), eight leopards (Panthera pardus) and one jaguar (Panthera onca). Forty-four felids had multiple neoplasms. The overall neoplasia rate (animals with neoplasms/all Panthera spp. pathology accessions) was 50.2%. Neoplasms predominantly originated from the reproductive (n = 47), endocrine (n = 27) and integumentary (n = 24) systems, with mammary carcinoma the most common neoplasm (n = 28). Mammary carcinomas comprised 59.6% of the reproductive tumours diagnosed and commonly metastasized widely. Neoplasia was the cause of death or humane destruction in 50.9% of the animals diagnosed with neoplasms. All lymphomas (n = 16) were responsible for death or humane destruction. This study shows that malignant and benign neoplasms are present in approximately half of ageing, captive Panthera spp., and that half of these animals will die or be humanely destroyed as a result of their neoplasms.
Correction to: Updates in Minimally Invasive Approaches to Apical Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistake at Conflict of Interest. This section should be corrected and presented as follows:
Poincar\'e Constraints on Celestial Amplitudes

The functional structure of celestial amplitudes as constrained by Poincare symmetry is investigated in $2,3,$ and $4$-point cases for massless external particles of various spin, as well as massive external scalars. Functional constraints and recurrence relations are found (akin to the findings in arXiv:1901.01622) that must be obeyed by the respective permissible correlator structures and function coefficients. In specific three-point cases involving massive scalars the resulting recurrence relations can be solved, e.g. reproducing purely from symmetry a three-point function coefficient known in the literature. Additionally, as a byproduct of the analysis, the three-point function coefficient for gluons in Minkowski signature is obtained from an amplitude map to the celestial sphere.
Maladaptive mood repair predicts suicidal behaviors among young adults with depression histories.

Abstract Background As the rates of suicidal behaviors continue to rise, research is needed that can facilitate prevention. The present study therefore examined whether a modifiable process, dysfunctional regulation of sadness (maladaptive mood repair), predicts a range of suicidal behaviors and if its impact is affected by risk and protective factors. Methods Young adults with histories of childhood-onset mood disorder (COMD) (n = 173) or no histories of major psychiatric illness (controls, n = 96) were followed for approximately 3 years. Self-rated questionnaires and psychiatric evaluations were administered at study entry (T1) and across the follow-up (T2) and clinicians assessed the DSM-range of non-fatal suicidal behaviors. We hypothesized that the impact of depression on suicidal behaviors was mediated by dysfunctional regulation of sadness. Results At T1, 90% of the COMD group had histories of various suicidal behaviors; 63% had past suicide attempts. During follow-up, 40% exhibited suicidal behaviors; 7% reported suicide attempts. Controlling for prior suicidal behaviors, T1 maladaptive mood repair predicted suicidal behavior during the follow-up and differentiated recurrent thoughts of death from other forms of suicidality. Protective and risk factors lost their predictive power in the presence of maladaptive mood repair. Limitations Few control cases exhibited suicidal behavior during the follow-up and the high inter-correlations among several key variables constrained the models that could be fitted. Conclusions Programs to prevent suicidal behavior among high-risk individuals should include maladaptive mood repair as an intervention target. Further research is needed on whether recurrent thoughts of death constitute a valid index of suicidality.
A LABOR-BASED EXPLANATION FOR ACCOUNTING INNOVATION IN A LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICAN CORPORATION

In 1888, the Quincy Mining Company changed its payroll accounting practices. Although efficiency was almost certainly a contributing factor, the nature and timing of this accounting innovation cannot be fully explained by efficiency alone. Instead, this paper attributes the new procedures to the transformation of American labor that characterized the last part of the 19th century. It is argued that the accounting changes reflect a realignment of the organizational relationship between management and labor. Through a contextual examination of a 19th century accounting innovation, this paper provides insights to the social and cultural influences upon accounting processes.
Association of unhealthy dietary behaviors with renal function decline in patients with diabetes.

Objective Balanced nutrition is important for patients with diabetes, and nutrition might well influence diabetes-related complications, although there is limited evidence for this supposition at present. Consequently, we investigate the association between dietary behaviors and renal function decline among patients with diabetes. Research design and methods From 2011 to 2013, a total of 2797 patients with type 2 diabetes participated in the Diabetes Shared Care Program at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. All received nutritional consulting by dieticians and an eight-item list of unhealthy dietary behaviors, which included the excessive intake of carbohydrates, fats, protein, fruit, pickled foods, dessert and alcohol, as well as inadequate dietary vegetable. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline ≥40% was defined as a surrogate end point for kidney damage. Independent dietary risk factors predicting poor renal outcomes were assessed. Results Stable mean glycated hemoglobin (A1c) (7.78% to 7.75%, p=0.151), improved cholesterol (174.04 to 170.13 mg/dL, p In regression analysis, 625 stable renal patients (selected via propensity score matching) and 125 subjects with eGFR decline ≥40% demonstrated excessive pickled foods to be predictive of poor renal outcomes (OR 1.861, 95% CI 1.230 to 2.814, p=0.003). Conclusions Our study suggests that excessive pickled foods deteriorate renal function more than other unhealthy dietary behaviors in patients with diabetes.
Microbial Communities and Metabolisms at Hydrocarbon Seeps

Hydrocarbon seeps are common features of all oceans and are located mainly along the continental margins (Fig. 1). Seeps are locally restricted, yet highly productive hotspots of biodiversity that experience very different environmental conditions and energy regimes than the surrounding deep-sea sediments. Hydrocarbon seep ecosystems are mostly fueled by methane. Occasionally, seeps are found that emit the short-chain hydrocarbons ethane, propane or butane, and even oil and asphalt seeps have been described. Seep ecosystems therefore comprise ecological niches and microbial clades that are distinct from those found in deep-sea sediments, which are not fuelled by methane and other hydrocarbons. This chapter provides an overview of the communities thriving at marine hydrocarbon seeps and the microbial metabolisms that create these oases of life (with references to other chapters in this book). It highlights the current knowledge of the diversity and biogeography of seep microbial communities and presents possible mechanisms governing their community assembly. Open image in new window Fig. 1 Map of seafloor regions with investigated marine hydrocarbon seepage (orange dots). The map shows a selection of well-known seep areas. The total number of seeps worldwide is unknown, but estimated to be at least several ten thousand. The map was created using GeoMapApp
Homeownership attainment of adult children in urban China: parental attributes and financial support

Soaring homeownership and housing prices have made it more difficult for newcomers to climb the housing ladder without parental support. This study relies on China Household Finance Survey microdat...
Steroid-associated bradycardia in a newly diagnosed B precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient with Holt-Oram syndrome

Holt-Oram syndrome (HOS) (OMIM#142900) is a rare condition with upper extremity malformations as well as structural and conduction cardiac anomalies. There are sparse reports in the literature documenting malignancy in association with HOS. We report a pediatric patient clinically diagnosed with HOS (missing thumbs bilaterally, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and first-degree heart block), who also developed B precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. During induction of chemotherapy with steroids, she developed profound bradycardia without clinical symptoms. The bradycardia resolved without intervention, but this case highlights the challenges of managing chemotherapy side effects in a patient with congenital heart disease. A literature review pertinent to the associated findings in the case is also presented.
Proactive Recruitment of Older African-Americans for Alzheimer's Research with Brain Donation: a Cohort Case Study of Success.

Older African-American adults are under-recruited for Alzheimer’s-related research that includes brain donation. This article describes the Minority Aging Research Study’s brain donation challenges, processes, and successful procurement with older African-American adults (65 years and older). The recruitment and retention strategy of the Minority Aging Research Study Brain Gifting Program was developed in accordance with Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relationship and Swanson’s middle-range theory of caring. At the time of this submission, approximately 345 of 755 older African-American adults in the Minority Aging Research Study consented to brain donation to be completed at the time of death. Furthermore, the Minority Aging Research Study has had 33 successful brain donations with family amenability. Tailored caring behaviors are effective to achieve high donation rates with older African-American adults who have consented to brain donation within an Alzheimer Research Study. Changes in funding policy are needed to meet tailored active recruitment that is required to close the gaps in older African-American adults’ participation in Alzheimer’s-related research studies.
Genetic Characterization of the Giant Liver Fluke, Fascioloides magna (Platyhelminthes: Fasciolidae) From the Adirondack Region of Northern New York.

The giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, is an important parasite of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus), a commercially important game species in the northeastern United States. However, the parasite has never been genetically characterized from this region and so its genetic interrelationships with other enzootic populations on the continent are unknown. The purpose of this study was to genetically characterize F. magna from the Adirondack region of northern New York (NNY) and determine its relationship with its enzootic cohorts. Flukes were extracted from seven livers of O. virginanus at three localities in and around the Adirondack Park in northern New York. DNA was extracted from eight individuals using standard procedures, and a 440-bp fragment of the COI gene was amplified using species-specific primers. F. magna sequences generated from a previous phylogeographic study were obtained from the GenBank database and a mtDNA dataset was compiled, aligned, and edited for molecular analyses. Analyses based on eight mtDNA sequences included haplotype network reconstruction, along with hierarchical and pairwise (ФST) AMOVA tests. F. magna from the Adirondacks was found to be most genetically similar to specimens from Minnesota based on shared haplotypes and relatively low genetic differentiation (ФST = 0.331). East coast enzootic populations exhibited panmixia while their west coast cohorts were genetically distinct. Based on the strong genetic similarities between F. magna from northern New York and Minnesota, we propose that the GLR enzootic range of F. magna be extended to encompass the Adirondack region of NNY.
Quantifying Vegetation and Landscape Metrics with Hyperspatial Unmanned Aircraft System Imagery in a Coastal Oligohaline Marsh

Billions of dollars are projected to be spent on restoration projects along the northern Gulf Coast which will require efficient monitoring at both landscape and project-specific scales. Recent developments in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have sparked interest in the ability of these “drones” to capture hyperspatial imagery (pixel resolution < 10 cm) that resolves individual species and produces accurate data for monitoring programs in coastal landscapes. We present a case study conducted at Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) station 0392, a Spartina patens–dominated, oligohaline coastal marsh in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Results demonstrate the ability of UAS technology to collect hyperspatial, multispectral aerial images in a coastal wetland, and to produce very-high-resolution orthomosaics and digital elevation models. We then used object-based image analysis (OBIA) techniques to (1) delineate the land–water interface, (2) classify composition by dominant species, and (3) quantify average plant height by species. Model results were validated with traditional on-the-ground CRMS vegetation surveys. Results suggest that OBIA methods can overcome the spectral variability of hyperspatial datasets, quantify uncertainties in conventional techniques, and provide improved estimates of wetland vegetation cover and species composition. These methods scale conventional plot-level coverage values to data-rich landscape-level models and provide useful tools to monitor restoration performance, landscape changes, and ecosystem services in coastal wetland systems.
Healthcare Resource Utilization Following a Discharge Against Medical Advice: An Analysis of Commercially Insured Adults.

Background A discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is associated with adverse health outcomes. Its association with postdischarge healthcare resource utilization (HcRU) outside an inpatient setting is unknown. This information can help us understand how a DAMA may affect healthcare-seeking behavior following a hospital stay. We evaluated the relationship between a DAMA and 30-day postdischarge HcRU. Methods This retrospective cohort study uses a 10% random sample of enrollees in the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database. We included individuals aged 18 to 64 years with an inpatient admission during 2007-2015 and continuous insurance coverage. We defined comparison groups as DAMA and routine discharge. Both groups were matched on baseline covariates. We quantified the association between a DAMA and 30-day HcRU, as well as 90-day for sensitivity analysis, with use of generalized linear models for binary outcomes (inpatient readmissions, emergency department [ED] visits) and count outcomes (physician office visits, nonphysician outpatient encounters, prescription drug fills). Results Of the 457,530 individuals in the unmatched sample, 2,245 (0.5%) had a DAMA. In the matched sample, a DAMA was positively associated with an ED visit (adjusted odds ratio, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.90-2.72) but not with an inpatient readmission. There were no differences between groups based on the count outcomes. A DAMA was positively associated with 90-day HcRU (ie, inpatient readmission, ED visit, and prescription drug fills). Conclusion The relationship between a DAMA and HcRU varied with the HcRU category and postdischarge time interval. This examination of HcRU in the inpatient and outpatient settings provides important information about outcomes following a DAMA.
Hope versus reality: Parent expectations of genomic testing

Abstract Objective Genomics is increasingly used for diagnostic testing in children. This study describes the expectations of parents whose child received genomic testing and whether or not they were met. Methods A diverse stratified, purposive sample of parents of 22 children in New York City was interviewed using a semi-structured guide. Genomic test results were positive, negative, or uncertain. Results Parents expressed their expectations in narrative and numeric fashion. Parents expected that their child’s test would have a direct effect on their child’s diagnosis. Some believed that results would be definitive, while others recognized testing limitations. Expectations reflected parents’ hope to find a diagnosis and led to disappointment when results were uninformative or did not impact clinical management. Conclusion Results suggest pre-test genetic counseling emphasize the low likelihood of actionable results; however, parents’ expectations of genomics’ diagnostic capabilities are strongly rooted in their need to end the diagnostic odyssey and may be difficult to manage. Practice Implications Parents’ hope for a resolution and effective treatment for their child is a powerful context in which genetic counseling is heard. Clinicians who provide genomic testing should continue to acknowledge parents’ preconceptions. Additional research in other settings will help understand how to best address and manage parent expectations of genomic medicine.
The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Autoimmune Disorders

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important players in autoimmune diseases, both in disease pathogenesis and as potential treatments. EVs can transport autoimmune triggers throughout the body, facilitating the process of antigen presentation. Understanding the link between cellular stress and EV biogenesis and intercellular trafficking will advance our understanding of autoimmune diseases. In addition, EVs can also be effective treatments for autoimmune diseases. The diversity of cell types that produce EVs leads to a wide range of molecules to be present in EVs, and thus EVs have a wide range of physiological effects. EVs derived from dendritic cells or mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to reduce inflammation. Since many autoimmune treatments are focused only on symptom management, EVs present a promising avenue for potential treatments. This review looks at the different roles EVs can play in autoimmune diseases, from disease pathology to diagnosis and treatment. We also overview various methodologies in isolating or generating EVs and look to the future for possible applications of EVs in autoimmune diseases.
Application of optical sensor array in partial discharge signal location of GIS/GIL

The optical sensor array inside the high-voltage equipment can effectively realize the on-line measurement of the high-voltage switch operation state, significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of SF6 Electrical equipment fault diagnosis, and effectively guarantee the safety and reliability of equipment operation. Firstly, the structure and performance of the micro optical sensor are analyzed, and the system model and data processing unit of the optical sensor array are given. Furthermore, the influence characteristics of single sensor and array sensor Gaussian noise on signal are given, and the noise elimination strategy of observation signal based on Kalman filter is given. The results show that: the optical sensor has a good focusing ability for the optical signal, the light of the sensor array is reflected and propagated many times in the GIS/GIL of the high voltage switch-gear, and the internal partial discharge signal is located more accurately. The research results of this paper can provide important technical support for the GIS/GIL fault monitoring and early warning of the gas insulated electrical equipment on the transmission line.
Model-Based Requirements (TMBR) of a Satellite TTC Transponder

Accuracy and precision remains a challenge for capturing system requirements in general, space systems are no exception. Current research efforts continue to fundamentally rely on natural language (shall statements), which is inherently ambiguous, and thus unable to capture the problem space accurately and precisely. We suggest in this paper a model-based approach to requirements that avoids the use of requirements in natural language and leverages formal modeling and system-theoretic constructs instead. Specifically, the proposed approach extends behavioral and structural model elements of the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) with a system-theoretic definition of a solution space. Considering a system model to be a transformation of inputs into outputs, we model the problem space in this paper as a set of required transformations of inputs into outputs. We apply the proposed model-based approach to formulate a subset of requirements of a satellite's Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TTC) transponder. We use an existing set of requirements for such a system in natural language as a benchmark and evaluate precision, accuracy, and completeness aspects achieved by the proposed model-based formulation.
Endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial cancer is a common tumor of the female genital tract. The majority of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer present with early-stage disease. Although the optimal treatment for these patients requires hysterectomy, the use of lymphadenectomy is controversial. Growing scientific data support the use of lymphadenectomy in all patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer. When performed by an experienced surgeon, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is a safe and potentially therapeutic procedure that provides prognostic information to the patient and physician. This information allows appropriate, cost-effective treatment strategies to be created for all women with endometrial cancer.
Microbial synthesis of natural, semisynthetic, and new-to-nature tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids

Abstract The tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) moiety forms the backbone of several natural, synthetic, and semisynthetic drugs approved for the treatment of cancer, pain, gout, and various neurodegenerative diseases. Plants synthesize up to 3000 THIQ structures constituting the benzylisoquinoline, phenethylisoquinoline, Amaryllidaceae, and ipecac alkaloid classes. This review outlines the ongoing surge in activity surrounding the production of natural, semisynthetic, and new-to-nature THIQ metabolites in engineered microbial systems. These efforts have accelerated THIQ pathway discovery and engineering, unlocked new domains of chemical space, and spurred the development of highly productive microbial strains synthesizing unprecedented yields of THIQ precursors. Consolidating these advancements into a single bioprocess holds potential to outcompete crop-based manufacturing and total synthesis for the production of high-value THIQ pharmaceuticals at scale.
Case 29: Lead Apron

You are in the Congo working as an anesthesiologist in a medium-sized hospital. Today you are going to anesthetize a patient in the interventional radiology department. When you arrive, you are handed a lead apron and a thyroid shield. You note that they are both made in China. Nobody knows how old they are.
Image Reconstruction in Radiology

This one-of-a-kind resource provides a very readable description of the methods used for image reconstruction in magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray computed tomography, and single photon emission computed tomography. The goal of this fascinating work is to provide radiologists with a practical introduction to mathematical methods so that they may better understand the potentials and limitations of the images used to make diagnoses. Presented in four parts, this state-of-the-art text covers (1) an introduction to the models used in reconstruction, (2) an explanation of the Fourier transform, (3) a brief description of filtering, and (4) the application of these methods to reconstruction. In order to provide a better understanding of the reconstruction process, this comprehensive volume draws analogies between several different reconstruction methods. This informative reference is an absolute must for all radiology residents, as well as graduate students and professionals in the fields of physics, nuclear medicine, and computer-assisted tomography.
Partial Discrete Vector Space Model for High-Resolution Beamforming

Beamforming has been an important branch of signal parameter estimation. It is widely used for direction finding in radar, sonar, infrared, and optical array systems. Because of the availability of the FFT, various versions of Fourier transformation are commonly used as the standard beamforming techniques. More recently, the ARMA method and Multiple Signal Characterization (often known as MUSIC) algorithm have also been applied to high-resolution beamforming.
A Review of Lindow Man: The Body in the Bog

The saga of Lindow Man begins like a story on the evening news: in 1983, two employees of a peat company working at Lindow Moss, Cheshire, England, unearthed a female skull with adherent tissue and hair. A local man then confessed to murdering his wife in 1960 and burying her dismembered body in the garden of their cottage, a spot not 300 m from where the skull was found. No other body parts were recovered. Though the skull proved to be nearly 2000 years old, the man was nonetheless convicted of his wife's murder, on the basis of other evidence.
Physical Chemistry of Bile

The sections in this article are: 1 Structural and Surface Properties of Bile Salts 1.1 Molecular Structure 1.2 Crystal Structure 1.3 Surface Chemistry 1.4 Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Balance 2 Aqueous Solution Properties of Bile Salts 2.1 Solubility in Water 2.2 Solubility in Organic Solvents 2.3 Ionization Behavior 2.4 Aggregation Behavior 3 Bile Salt–Lecithin Interactions 3.1 Composition of Lecithins in Bile 3.2 Bile Salt–Phospholipid–Water Systems 4 Cholesterol 4.1 Solubility in Aqueous Media 4.2 Cholesterol-Bile Salt Interactions 4.3 Cholesterol-Phospholipid Interactions 4.4 Quaternary System: Bile Salt-Phospholipid-Cholesterol-Water 5 Bile 5.1 Normal Bile 5.2 Metastable Bile 5.3 Cholesterol Crystal Formation in Bile 5.4 Secretion of Bile from the Hepatocyte
Matching neural and muscle oscillators: control by FMRFamide-like peptides

Stomatogastric nervous systems of the shrimp, Palaemon serratus, were stained with antisera raised against the peptide FMRFamide. FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was found in fibers in the input nerve to the stomatogastric ganglion (STG), in several STG somata, in dense neuropil in the STG, in the motor nerves that innervate the dilator muscles of the pyloric region, but not in the pyloric dilator (PD) motor neurons. FMRFamide and several FMRFamide-like peptides elicited sequences of rhythmic depolarizations and contractions of the pyloric dilator muscle. As peptide concentrations were increased, a discrete threshold for contraction was found, above which contractions were initiated with a decreasing latency in an all-or-none fashion. Muscles stopped rhythmically contracting after many seconds to several minutes of activity; the duration of spontaneous oscillatory activity in peptide was proportional to the concentration of applied peptide. In the absence of peptide, each motor neuron discharge evoked small graded muscle contractions. During peptide-induced oscillations, motor neuron activity did not always entrain muscle oscillations. After spontaneous oscillations had stopped, when the motor neurons were stimulated in the presence of the peptide, each motor neuron burst evoked large amplitude contractions as a result of the peptide-induced regenerative properties of the muscle membrane.
The Transformation of Gender into Conversational Advantage: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach

This article examines the relationship between gender and conversational power by treating as problematic the process through which a social position is transformed into conversational advantage. Using symbolic interactionism, it is argued that conversational power is exercised over the course of a role performance and is affected by the identities of the interactants and the context in which interaction occurs. This argument is evaluated by using conversational data from a same-sex dyadic role-playing exercise and by measures of gender identity. Findings indicate that regardless of a person's sex, the more “male like” his/her gender identity, the more likely he/she is to challenge statements made by alter. Concerning context, the more assertive alter's behavior, the more likely ego is to act in a similarly assertive manner. The relevance of these findings for the broader study of self, society, and conversational behavior is discussed.
Towards array bound check elimination in Java TM virtual machine language

In a standard Java implementation, a Java program is compiled into Java bytecode, which is then interpreted by Java virtual machine (JVM). We refer to the bytecode language as Java virtual machine language in this paper. for safety concerns, JVM performs run-time array bounds checking to detect out-of-bounds array access. Unfortunately, this practice can be prohibitively expensive in cases involving numerical computation.We propose a type-theoretic approach to eliminating run-time array bound checks in JVML and demonstrate that the property of safe array access can be readily captured with a restricted form of dependent type system and therefore enforced through type-checking. We focus on a language JVMLa, which is basically a subset of JVML with array access instructions, and prove that the execution of a well-typed JVMLa program can never cause memory violations.
The Supreme Court's Municipal Bond Decision and the Market-Participant Exception to the Dormant Commerce Clause

Does it violate the dormant Commerce Clause for a state to exempt interest earned on its own bonds, but no others, from income taxation? In a recent decision, the Supreme Court answered this question in the negative. Six members of the Court found the case controlled by the state-self-promotion exception to the dormancy doctrine's antidiscrimination rule. Three of those Justices, however, went further by also invoking the longstanding market participant exception to sustain the discriminatory state tax break. This Essay challenges that alternative line of analysis. According to the author, the plurality's effort to apply the market-participant principle: (1) invites a problematic reframing of basic market-participant rhetoric, (2) threatens ill-advised changes in longstanding Commerce Clause doctrine, and (3) injects far-reaching uncertainty into an already complex field of constitutional law. For all these reasons, a majority of the Court should reject the plurality's approach, and lower courts should refuse to follow it in the meantime.
Synthesis of Fluorescently-Labeled Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV) RNA and Its Interactions with Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP)

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been extensively used to investigate protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. Changes in fluorescence intensity provide vital information about these macromolecular interactions. Availability of extrinsic fluorophores became invaluable for researchers monitoring these interactions. Here, we successfully synthesize a fluorescent anthranioyl-m7GpppG-capped tobacco etch virus (TEV) RNA, and examine its properties pertaining to interaction with pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP). PAP is a ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) and is an RNA N-glycosidase that removes purines from the sarcin/ricin loop of large rRNA. This leads to the translational termination. PAP possesses antiviral properties, and it is thought to bind to the 5'-cap of viral RNA and depurinate it down the stream of the cap. RIPs are thought to play an important role in plant defense mechanisms. We employ fluorescence spectroscopy and HPLC techniques to investiga...
Optimizing Cotton Blend Costs with Respect to Quality Using HVI Fiber Properties and Linear Programming Part II: Combined Effects of Fiber Properties and Variability Constraints

In this part of the study, quality constraints in which HVI fiber properties are treated collectively are used in linear programming. These constraints are fiber quality index and yarn strength, and conditions associated with them are discussed. In addition, variability within cotton components in the blend is formulated into a variability constraint. Including such constraints enhances the optimization procedure and serves as a useful tool for controlling blend variability by including more of the less variable components in the blend.
Dose-response relationship between depressive symptoms and hospital readmission.

BACKGROUND Evidence suggests depression increases hospital readmission risk. OBJECTIVE Determine whether depressive symptoms are associated with unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge of general medical patients. DESIGN Secondary analysis of the Project Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) randomized controlled trials. SETTING Urban academic safety-net hospital. PATIENTS A total of 1418 hospitalized adult English-speaking patients. INTERVENTION The 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to screen patients for depressive symptoms. MEASUREMENTS Hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge. Poisson regression was used to control for confounding variables. RESULTS There were 225 (16%) patients who screened positive for mild depressive symptoms (5 ≤PHQ-9 ≤9) and 336 (24%) for moderate or severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥10). After controlling for confounders, a higher rate of readmission was observed in subjects with mild depressive symptoms compared to subjects with PHQ-9 <5, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-2.00). The adjusted IRR of readmission for those with moderate-to-severe symptoms was 1.96 (95% CI: 1.51-2.49) compared to those with no depression. CONCLUSIONS Screening positive for mild and moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms during a hospitalization on a general medical service is associated with an increased dose-dependent readmission rate within 30 days of discharge in an urban, academic, safety-net hospital. Further research is needed to determine whether treatments targeting the reduction of depressive symptoms reduce the risk of readmission. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:358–364. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Red blood cells augment transport of reactive metabolites of monocrotaline from liver to lung in isolated and tandem liver and lung preparations

Abstract Monocrotaline (MCT) is a pyrrolizidine alkaloid that causes pulmonary hypertension in rats by mechanisms which remain largely unknown. MCT is thought to be activated in the liver to a reactive intermediate that is transported to the lung where it causes endothelial injury. Our previous pharmacokinetic work demonstrated significant sequestration of radioactivity in red blood cells (RBCs) of rats treated with [ 14 C]MCT. To determine whether this RBC sequestration might be important in the transport of reactive MCT metabolites, we compared the effect of inclusion of RBCs in the perfusion buffer on the extent of covalent binding of [ 14 C]MCT to rat lungs in tandem liver-lung preparations. The potential effect of RBCs in stabilizing reactive intermediates was evaluated by preperfusion of isolated liver preparations with [ 14 C]MCT with and without RBCs, separation and washing of the RBC fraction, and subsequent (90 min later) perfusion of washed RBCs or buffer alone in isolated perfused lungs. Covalent binding to lung tissues was determined by exhaustive methanol/chloroform extractions of unbound label from homogenized lung tissue followed by scintillation counting of residual 14 C. Covalent binding was expressed as picomole MCT molecular weight equivalents/mg protein. Comparison of the relative capability of these isolated organ preparations for conversion of MCT to polar metabolites was done by extraction and HPLC analysis of perfusate at the end of the experiment. Isolated livers converted 65–85% of MCT to polar metabolites compared with less than 5% conversion in the isolated lungs. Inclusion of RBCs in the buffer of tandem lung liver preparations perfused with 400 m [ 14 C]MCT increased the covalent binding to the lung from 97 ± 25 (buffer alone) to 182 ± 36 (buffer + RBC) pmol/mg protein. At the end of these perfusions, RBCs contained 1552 ± 429 pmol/mg hemoglobin of which 333 ± 98 pmol/mg hemoglobin resisted exhaustive solvent extraction. After 90 min at room temperature, buffer with 400 μ m [ 14 C]MCT preperfused in isolated livers resulted in covalent binding to isolated perfused lung of 0.8 ± 0.4 pmol/mg protein while washed RBCs isolated from buffer of similar liver preperfusions preparations resulted in 53 ± 7 pmol/mg protein bound to lung. Control groups perfused with 400 μ m [ 14 C]MCT in buffer or buffer + RBCs through isolated lungs only resulted in covalent binding of 2 ± 1 or 1 ± 0.6 pmol/mg protein respectively. We conclude: (1) RBCs significantly augment the transport of lung reactive MCT metabolites from the liver to the lung, (2) The MCT-derived 14 C sequestered in the RBCs is capable of covalent interaction with lung tissue, and (3) RBCs stabilize a reactive metabolite of MCT which originates in the liver.
Use of atmospheric CO2-sensitive trees may influence dendroclimatic reconstructions

We examined recent radial growth increases in western juniper trees using an 11-site chronology dating from AD 1000–2006. By various measures, radial growth during the late 20th/early 21st centuries was exceptional, with increases occurring absent of regional climatic change. We found that 54% of annual radial growth variability was explained by June Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) values, but the inclusion of atmospheric CO2 values accounted for a 14% increase in explanatory power. We reconstructed June PDSI both including and excluding CO2, and found that PDSI values were overestimated at the end of the record with CO2 omitted from the model. We conclude that: 1) western juniper radial growth was associated with rising CO2 during the late 20th/early 21st centuries; and, the use of CO2-sensitive trees such as western juniper for dendroclimatic reconstructions may influence the results if the impacts of CO2 fertilization are omitted.
Terrorism, Myth, and the Power of Ethnographic Praxis

“Terrorism,” like “witchcraft,” is a concept that anthropology can aid in deconstructing. The mythos of “the terrorist” has become part of the political drama of our time despite a lack of concreteness in its definition. Drawing on a decade of ethnographic research with Sikh separatist militants, this article focuses on how the imagining of terror has replaced the reality of armed conflict among the Sikhs in Western legal and policy settings. Specific examples of anthropological intervention in this arena illustrate how face-to-face knowledge can contribute to greater accuracy in judicial and legislative decisions regarding terrorism. Given the life-and-death importance of these decisions, anthropologists of conscience are called on to offer the very special grassroots perspective they have as policies are developed nationally and internationally, bringing the concrete realism of ethnography into courtrooms, halls of parliaments, and executive offices around the world.
Ranking M.S. and Ph.D. Graduate Programs in Agricultural Economics

About 90 agricultural economists in eight fields of specialization were surveyed to identify the top Ph.D. and M.S. programs in the United States, as well as top departments in particular fields. The University of California at Berkeley and Davis (UC-Berkeley and UC-Davis, respectively), and Minnesota were considered best for Ph.D. programs. Minnesota and Montana State were the top-ranked M.S. programs. Historical rankings and current output in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics (AJAE) were identified as the best predictors of current rankings for Ph.D. programs.
Effect of Feeding Sodium and Potassium Bicarbonate on Milk Fat, Rumen pH, and Volatile Fatty Acid Production

Summary Sodium or potassium bicarbonates (1 lb/day) were added to the rations of cows fed grain to appetite and 2 lb. of long or pelleted hay. These bicarbonates prevented the decline in milk fat percentage frequently associated with such rations. The pH of the rumen contents was increased, but the molar proportion of the acids was not appreciably altered.