cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Worse Hospital Outcomes for Children and Adults with COVID-19 and Congenital Heart Disease.

The aim of the current study is to investigate hospitalization outcomes of COVID-19 positive children and adults with moderate or severe congenital heart disease to children and adults without congenital heart disease. Retrospective review using the Vizient Clinical Data Base for admissions of patients with an ICD-10 code for COVID-19 from April 2020 to March 2021. Admissions with COVID-19 and with and without moderate or severe congenital heart disease (CHD) were stratified into pediatric (< 18 years) and adult (≥ 18 years) and hospital outcomes were compared. There were 9478 pediatric COVID-19 admissions, 160 (1.7%) with CHD, and 658,230 adult COVID-19 admissions, 389 (0.06%) with CHD. Pediatric admissions with COVID-19 and CHD were younger (1 vs 11 years), had longer length of stay (22 vs 6 days), higher complication rates (6.9 vs 1.1%), higher mortality rates (3.8, 0.8%), and higher costs ($54,619 vs 10,731; p < 0.001 for all). Adult admissions with COVID-19 and CHD were younger (53 vs 64 years, p < 0.001), had longer length of stay (12 vs 9 days, p < 0.001), higher complication rates (8 vs 4.8%, p = 0.003), and higher costs ($23,551 vs 13,311, p < 0.001). This appears to be the first study to report the increased hospital morbidities and costs for patients with CHD affected by COVID-19. Our hope is that these findings will help counsel patients moving forward during the pandemic.
Preclinical evaluation of investigational radiopharmaceutical RISAD-P intended for use as a diagnostic and molecular radiotherapy agent for prostate cancer

BACKGROUND The androgen receptor (AR) plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. 5-Radioiodo-3′-O-(17β-succinyl-5α-androstan-3-one)-2′-deoxyuridin-5′-yl phosphate (RISAD-P) is an AR-targeting reagent developed for noninvasive assessment of AR and proliferative status of the AR-expressing tumors, and for molecular radiotherapy with Auger electron-emitting radionuclides. In this study, the preclinical toxicity and targeting potential of RISAD-P was evaluated. METHODS Effects of nonradioactive ISAD-P and RISAD-P labeled with 123I, 124I, and 125I were evaluated in male mice. Expanded-acute single dose toxicity studies, hematologic toxicity, liver and kidney function, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and imaging studies were conducted. Imaging and pilot therapy studies were conducted in transgenic mice. RESULTS RISAD-P is not toxic at doses projected for clinical use. Its tissue distribution compares favorably with the distribution reported for 18F-dihydrotestosterone derivatives. RISAD-P has excellent prostate cancer targeting properties. One hour after 125IRISAD-P administration, nearly 10% of the injected dose is associated with prostate tumor. The tumor clearance is biphasic and plateaus between 24 and 48 hr post-injection. The estimated radiation doses calculated for 1 g tumor using the MIRD convention are well within the therapeutic range with values of 170, 250, 1,240 Gy × MBq−1 × g−1 for 125I-, 123I-, and 124I-labeled RISAD-P, respectively. The transient uptake of radioactivity is observed in the genitourinary tract and stomach. Without the potassium iodide blockade, thyroid uptake is also observed. CONCLUSIONS Biodistribution, toxicity, and radiation dosimetry studies suggest that RISAD-P holds characteristics of a promising candidate for imaging of AR expression and tumor proliferation, as well as molecular radiotherapy for metastatic or locally, regionally advanced prostate cancer. Prostate 75:8–22, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection and isolation of the NADPH-binding protein of the NADPH:O2 oxidoreductase complex of human neutrophils.

Neutrophils assayed with nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) exhibit intracellular rather than extracellular superoxide-generating activity when stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate. Enzyme activity is stimu- lated by anionic detergents, reversibly inhibited by 2’,3’-NADPH dialdehyde, and present in equal levels in membrane fractions obtained from phorbol myris- tate acetate-stimulated and resting cell suspensions. Solubilized membrane shows enzyme activity co-elut- ing on molecular sieving columns with the cytochrome b redox component of the oxidoreductase complex. En- zyme activity was resolved free of the cytochrome b component following passage of solubilized membrane extracts through QAE-Sephadex anion exchange col- umns. Enzyme activity measured by the NBT assay appears to be that associated with the NADPH binding protein of the oxidoreductase complex. When exposed to NBT and NADPH this component of the oxidoreduc- tase generates superoxide independent of cytochrome b. The enzymology of the neutrophil NADPH:O* oxidoreduc- tase is poorly understood. Some of the properties ascribed to it are its apparent absence in resting neutrophils, its appear- ance within seconds of neutrophil stimulation, a specificity for NADPH, and its apparent association with the plasma- lemma of the cell (1, 2). Patients whose neutrophils lack oxidoreductase activity when stimulated suffer from chronic granulomatous disease, a serious genetic disease associated with recurrent life-threatening infections (3-6). The majority of patients with this rare genetic disorder have an X-linked form of the disease associated with a missing or abnormal b- type cytochrome in the plasmalemma of their cells. Charac- terization of the oxidoreductase has progressed along both genetic and biochemical lines and has led to the current view of the oxidoreductase as a multienzyme complex comprised of flavoprotein(s), lipid, cytosolic factors, and a cytochrome b component of unusually low redox potential (6-16). In order to test suspected redox components recovered from neutrophil extracts as to their role in the oxidoreductase complex an accurate assay for enzyme activity must be used. The oxidoreductase complex presents certain problems in this respect because of its multicomponent nature. Little work has
Artifacts in studies of protein synthesis with radioactive amino acids. Invalidity of alleged stimulation of protein synthesis by thyroxine in vitro in absence of mitochondria.

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that thyroid hormones in vitro stimulate microsomal protein synthesis in cell-free systems, but the effect was found to be indirect and dependent on the presence of mitochondria in the incubation system. The mitochondrial requirement has recently been questioned by Carter et al. ((1971) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 4973), who claimed to observe direct stimulations by thyroxine in cell-free liver systems lacking mitochondria. The system used by them contained higher Mg2+ concentrations, lower microsomal concentrations, and uniformly labeled l-[14C]valine of very high specific activity. We have examined this effect and confirmed the stimulation of 14C incorporation into protein but found that it bears no relationship to protein synthesis. The effect is not observed with tRNA-14C-amino acid as the source of 14C-amino acid. It is not inhibited by cycloheximide, puromycin, or ribonuclease, and is, in fact, enhanced in their presence. It exhibits no dependence on microsomes or ATP and is maximum in their absence. The effect is not diluted out by dilution of the l-[U-14C]valine with unlabeled l-valine. Chromatographic analysis of hydrolysates of the labeled protein reveals that the thyroxine stimulation is on the incorporation not of the 14C-amino acid but of a radioactive contaminant present in the l-[U-14C]valine. Purification of the 14C-amino acid by ion exchange chromatography before use reduces or eliminates both the base-line incorporation and the thyroxine effect. Similar spurious incorporation and thyroxine stimulations are observed with l- and d-[1-14C]valine, but they are almost negligible compared to those observed with l-[U-14C]valine. The thyroxine effect reported by Carter et al. is, therefore, not on protein synthesis but on the energy-independent incorporation of a radioactive contaminant of the l-U-14C-amino acid into cell sap protein. It is, in fact, obscured by protein synthesis and was unmasked by them when they reduced protein synthesis by lowering the microsomal concentration and compensated for the reduced 14C incorporation by using l-U-14C-amino acid of high specific activity.
Enacted Social Support on Social Media and Subjective Well-being

This study examines supportive interactions on Facebook to understand the role of social media use in obtaining social support and promoting psychological well-being. By assessing the amount of social support received through Facebook and by other means, this study ascertains a direct relationship between Facebook use and social support reception. Facebook use was the strongest predictor of social support reception, even stronger than the number of strong ties, although its link to life satisfaction was not significant. Findings also demonstrated that gender difference in social support reception was not found in the context of social media and that fixed Internet use had a negative association with life satisfaction, whereas mobile Internet use had no such relationship.
El polimorfismo de la /s/ explosiva en el Noroeste de México

L'espagnol du Mexique se caracterise par un consonnatisme tres marque et par une preference generale des consonnes sur les voyelles. L'A. propose une analyse de la prononciation, qui montre une disparition des voyelles, ce qui a amene certains phonologues a proposer l'existence de consonnes syllabiques dans l'espagnol mexicain
Protection of catheter surfaces from adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a combination of silver ions and lectins

A catheter surface was modified by coating a cellulose acetate polymer. Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 to the surface was investigated by exposing bacterial cultures to three treatments: polymer impregnated with silver ions (Ag+), polymer surfaces coated with lectins and a combination of Ag+ and a lectin coating. The effective concentration of Ag+ providing protection against bacterial biofilm development was 100μg/ml and higher. Lectins alone at 10% also showed inhibition of bacterial attachment. However, the best result was achieved against bacterial adhesion and growth on surfaces using a combination of 100 μg Ag+/ml and a lectin coating as a surface treatment. This surface treatment was also effective against both fresh culture and a two-week-old culture containing P. aeruginosa producing exopolymers. Our results suggest that Ag+impregnation combined with a lectin coating warrants further investigation as a potential means of protecting catheters.
Effects of repeated oral methamphetamine administration in humans.

Rationale: Although methamphetamine use has increased over the past several years, few studies have evaluated the effects of repeated methamphetamine administration in humans. Objectives: Because methamphetamine is often taken in a pattern of repeated use followed by a period of abstinence, the present study sought to evaluate the effects of repeated methamphetamine administration in humans. The hypothesis was that tolerance would develop to methamphetamine's effects. Methods: Seven normal, healthy volunteers participated in a 15-day residential study. Participants completed subjective-effects questionnaires and psychomotor performance tasks repeatedly throughout the experimental day. Oral methamphetamine (5, 10 mg BID) was administered on days 4–6 and 10–12; placebo was administered on all other study days. Results: Relative to placebo baseline, only two "positive" subjective ratings ("I feel a good drug effect" and "I feel high") were significantly elevated, and only on the 1st day of methamphetamine administration. In contrast, numerous "negative" ratings, including "I feel..." "a bad drug effect," "dizzy," and "flu-like symptoms" were elevated on the 3rd day of methamphetamine administration. Total caloric intake decreased and sleep was disrupted after methamphetamine administration, relative to baseline. Conclusions: The pattern of methamphetamine's positive subjective effects were altered with chronic administration such that tolerance, or a decreased effect, occurred after repeated administration. In contrast, methamphetamine's negative subjective effects increased over days. These results suggest that in this population of normal volunteers, the abuse liability of oral methamphetamine is relatively low.
Lower bounds for matrices

Abstract In a recent paper [3], Lyons has discovered an interesting lower bound for the Cesaro matrix C . His result says that ∥Cx∥⩾(π 6 )∥x∥ for every xϵl 2 satisfying x 1 ⩾ x 2 ⩾⋯⩾0. The purpose of this note is to establish analogous lower bounds for arbitrary matrices (with nonnegative entries) acting on arbitrary l p spaces, 1⩽ p ⩽∞.
Chromosome instability in mutagen sensitive mutants of Neurospora

Four mutagen sensitive mutants of Neurospora (mus-7, mus-9, mus-11, and mei-2) are shown to increase mitotic chromosome instability in the duplication test developed by Newmeyer. Three other mutagen-sensitive mutants (upr-1, mus-8, and mus-10) do not increase chromosome instability. Previously three mutagen-sensitive mutants (uvs-3, uvs-6, and mei-3) were also shown to increase chromosome instability. The growth of all seven mutants that increase chromosome instability, is shown here to be more sensitive to hydroxyurea than that of wild type. Hydroxyurea, a compound which inhibits the enzyme ribonucleotide diphosphate reductase, is also shown to increase chromosome instability in the absence of any mutagen-sensitive mutation. These seven mutations are known to represent seven different genes in two epistasis groups. They have been shown previously to have four other properties in common: meiotic defects and sensitivity to y-rays, methyl methane sulfonate and the amino acid histidine. Their shared properties lead to the prediction here that all have reduced or altered deoxyribonucleotide pools.
In vitro incubation and study of kidney glomerular epithelial cells.

The kidney glomerular (visceral) epithelium is composed of very elaborate cells (podocytes) which wrap around underlying glomerular capillary loops. Evidence indicates that this epithelium is important in regulating hydraulic flux across the glomerulus [1–3] and in synthesizing and maintaining the integrity of the glomerular basal lamina [4, 5], and that it may be the primary site of lesion in some diseases [1, 2, 6, 7]. In response to some disease states (for example, the nephrotic syndrome), this epithelium undergoes dramatic morphologic changes which are valuable in distinguishing and diagnosing these diseases. A system which would allow for the in vitro incubation of isolated, fully differentiated glomerular epithelial cells would provide a valuable experimental model wherein the specific effects of various compounds and conditions on this important epithelium could be evaluated.
Nano-engineered alumina surfaces for prevention of bacteria adhesions

Nanoporous and nanopillared anodic aluminum oxide surfaces in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface conditions were engineered to examine for bacterial adhesions (S. aureus and E. coli K-12) under both stagnant and dynamic flow environments. The hydrophobic nanopillared surfaces showed the most pronounced effect to prevent the bacteria adhesions in both stagnant and dynamic flow conditions. It is attributed to the air layer entrapped on the hydrophobic surface due to the roughness-induced superhydrophobicity as well as the minimized contact area of the solid surface to the bacteria due to the pillared surface morphology.
Neural correlates of inhibitory control in adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Evidence from the Milwaukee longitudinal sample

Only a few studies have investigated the neural substrate of response inhibition in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using Stop-Signal and Go/No-Go tasks. Inconsistencies and methodological limitations in the existing literature have resulted in limited conclusions regarding underlying pathophysiology. We examined the neural basis of response inhibition in a group of adults diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and who continue to meet criteria for ADHD. Adults with ADHD (n=12) and controls (n=12) were recruited from an ongoing longitudinal study and were matched for age, IQ, and education. Individuals with comorbid conditions were excluded. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to identify and compare the brain activation patterns during correct trials of a response-inhibition task (Go/No-Go). Our results showed that the control group recruited a more extensive network of brain regions than the ADHD group during correct inhibition trials. Adults with ADHD showed reduced brain activation in the right frontal eye field, pre-supplementary motor area, left precentral gyrus, and the inferior parietal lobe bilaterally. During successful inhibition of an inappropriate response, adults with ADHD display reduced activation in fronto-parietal networks previously implicated in working memory, goal-oriented attention, and response selection. This profile of brain activation may be specifically associated with ADHD in adulthood.
The occurrence of coryneform bacteria in the leaf cavity of Azolla

Coryneform bacteria were found associated with the nitrogen fixing blue-green alga, Anabaena azollae in the leaf cavity of Azolla caroliniana. Plate counts indicated ca. 7,400±1,900 bacterial cells per mature leaf cavity or approximately 1 bacterial cell for every algal cell. No other type of bacterium was found in these cavities.
On determining the social relevance of oceanography

Relevance to the public value and policy discourse is a test that no research agenda, including oceanography, can avoid at a time of limited resources and skepticism regarding the independence of scientific inquiry. Among the factors determining relevance, I focus on: (a) the determinacy of the scientific input; and (b) the sensitivity of this input to the dialectics of disagreement. With regards to the former, I discuss the appropriateness of relying on the scientific method to establish relevance and value. Regarding the second factor, I draw attention to the disagreements associated with institutional structures chosen to translate the social discourse into praxis. More specifically, I argue that: (1) the unavoidable persistence of factual, methodological, and axiological disagreements necessitates an internal dialogue within each discipline to determine what body of facts, methods, and research goals should be submitted to social discourse; (2) because disagreements are more critical within specific public policy contexts, the social merit of any research agenda and program should be established primarily with reference to specific ends (e.g., fishery management, crude oil transportation) and specific means (policies) for achieving them; (3) the value of any research agenda cannot be argued without proper attention being given to the way that: the social agenda is set, the participants in the public discourse are selected, the criteria of valuing ends and alternative means are chosen and the information is managed.
5 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

A clinical spectrum, varying from prenatal onset to postnatal onset of symptoms, exists in all hyperandrogenic forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Postnatal onset hyperandrogenic symptoms such as premature pubarche, clitoromegaly, hirsutism, menstrual disorders and infertility are well known manifestations of CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency or 11β-hydroxylase deficiency. These hyperandrogenic symptoms of CAH are clinically indistinguishable from other causes of hyperandrogenism. The molecular data has proven the genetic basis for the phenotypic variability of CAH disorders. Specific hormonal criterion(a) defined by the molecular proof of the disorder should aid in discriminating between symptomatic patients due to CAH and other causes, and between those with mild and severe CAH disorders. Prevalence of the hyperandrogenic forms of CAH, as well as pubertal maturation and reproductive function in women with hyperandrogenic forms of CAH, are discussed.
Allozyme Variation within and between Populations of Coreopsis intermedia (Asteraceae)

Enzyme electrophoresis was used to measure genetic diversity in two populations of Coreopsis intermedia of section Coreopsis, a rare species endemic to a small area of Texas and Louisiana. Genetic diversity is higher in C. intermedia than has been reported for many other geographically restricted species. C. intermedia contains levels of genetic variation comparable to those of other species in section Coreopsis, and a greater amount of diversity than either the rare congener, C. latifolia (section Silphidium), or the Florida endemic, C. leavenworthii (section Calliopsis). The two populations, although greatly different in size, exhibited similar levels of genetic diversity.
Methoxamine is an effective unconditioned stimulus for cardiovascular conditioning

New Zealand albino rabbits received classical conditioning training in which a 35-sec tone conditioned stimulus was paired with a bolus injection of methoxamine hydrochloride (Vasoxyl), an alpha 1-adrenergic agonist. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses were recorded. Methoxamine produced a precipitous rise in BP and bradycardia as an unconditioned response (UR); pairings of tone and methoxamine over a 5-day period resulted in a gradually appearing tachycardia conditioned response (CR) which occurred shortly following tone onset. On the other hand, the BP CR was a pressor response. Accordingly, the HR CR was opposite in direction and, thus, apparently compensatory to the UR, whereas the BP CR was similar in direction to the UR. Neither of these cardiovascular changes were observed in control animals receiving either unpaired presentations of tone and methoxamine or tones paired with physiological saline. Most animals receiving either paired or unpaired infusions of methoxamine also showed consistent elevations in baseline HR as training progressed, relative to their respective day 1 levels, thus suggesting the development of compensatory HR CRs to the contextual cues associated with training.
Permeability to cobalt ions and action of colicin K in a mutant that overproduces cardiolipin

A mutant of Escherichia coli that produces excess cardiolipin becomes less capable of transporting Co2+. Cardiolipin therefore does not act as an ionophore under these conditions. Colicin K brings about the typical increase in permeability to Co2+ in the mutant.
Children of divorce.

Each year over 1 million children are affected by divorce. Although usually considered a sociological problem, divorce is a major crisis for those involved, and the effects clearly have implication...
Poxvirus antigen staining of immune cells as a biomarker to predict disease outcome in monkeypox and cowpox virus infection in non-human primates.

Infection of non-human primates (NHPs) such as rhesus and cynomolgus macaques with monkeypox virus (MPXV) or cowpox virus (CPXV) serve as models to study poxvirus pathogenesis and to evaluate vaccines and anti-orthopox therapeutics. Intravenous inoculation of macaques with high dose of MPXV (>1–2×107 PFU) or CPXV (>102 PFU) results in 80% to 100% mortality and 66 to 100% mortality respectively. Here we report that NHPs with positive detection of poxvirus antigens in immune cells by flow cytometric staining, especially in monocytes and granulocytes succumbed to virus infection and that early positive pox staining is a strong predictor for lethality. Samples from four independent studies were analyzed. Eighteen NHPs from three different experiments were inoculated with two different MPXV strains at lethal doses. Ten NHPs displayed positive pox-staining and all 10 NHPs reached moribund endpoint. In contrast, none of the three NHPs that survived anticipated lethal virus dose showed apparent virus staining in the monocytes and granulocytes. In addition, three NHPs that were challenged with a lethal dose of MPXV and received cidofovir treatment were pox-antigen negative and all three NHPs survived. Furthermore, data from a CPXV study also demonstrated that 6/9 NHPs were pox-antigen staining positive and all 6 NHPs reached euthanasia endpoint, while the three survivors were pox-antigen staining negative. Thus, we conclude that monitoring pox-antigen staining in immune cells can be used as a biomarker to predict the prognosis of virus infection. Future studies should focus on the mechanisms and implications of the pox-infection of immune cells and the correlation between pox-antigen detection in immune cells and disease progression in human poxviral infection.
Toward chiral sum-frequency spectroscopy.

Chiral sum-frequency (SF) spectroscopy that measures both the real and the imaginary components of the SF spectral response was demonstrated for the first time. It was based on interference of the SF signal with a dispersionless SF reference. Solutions of 1,1‘-bi-2-naphthol (BN) were used as model systems, and their chiral SF spectra over the first exciton-split transitions were obtained. Chiral spectra are useful for determination of absolute configuration and conformation of chiral molecules.
Fructose-conditioned flavor preferences in male and female rats: effects of sweet taste and sugar concentration

Previous studies indicate that fructose postingestive reward for flavor preference learning is weaker than that of glucose. The present experiments explored the effects of several variables that modulate the response to fructose. In Experiment 1, ad libitum fed male rats were trained in 22 h sessions with one flavor (the CS+) paired with intragastric infusions of 7.18% fructose and another flavor (the CS-) paired with intragastric water infusion. Subsequent preference for the CS+ relative to the CS- was 90% with saccharin-sweetened flavors and only 67% with nonsweet flavors. Experiments 2 (males) and 3 (females) examined the effects of taste quality on conditioning with 16% fructose infusions. Males and females both preferred the sweet CS+ flavor (71-72%). In contrast, males avoided the nonsweet CS+ flavor (31%) and females were indifferent (47%). The different preference patterns were accompanied by differences in sweet and nonsweet training intakes and bout patterns, suggesting stimulation of intake with sweet flavor and 7.18% fructose, and satiating effects of 16% fructose. The sex difference in response to nonsweet flavors may reflect a greater sensitivity of male rats to fructose's postingestive satiating or aversive effects. Possible mechanisms for the sweet-taste enhancement of conditioning include increasing CS intakes in training, facilitating fructose metabolism and increasing flavor salience.
Insulinoma: A rare cause of hypoglycemia in a young female.

Insulinoma is an exceedingly uncommon pancreatic islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. The estimated incidence is approximately four cases per million individuals per year and accounts for 60% of islets cell tumors. It causes glycopenic symptoms which includes headache, feeling irritable, confused, seizure or coma and leads to catecholamine excess which includes rapid heartbeat, sweating, palpitations and feelings of hunger. Early detection of the tumor prevents recurrent episodes of lethal hypoglycemia. Keywords: insulinoma; lethal hypoglycemia; Pancreas tumor; neuroendocrine tumor; islet cell tumor (Published: 29 September 2014) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2014, 4 : 25093 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v4.25093
Corrigendum to “Quantifying SST errors from an OGCM in relation to atmospheric forcing variables” [Ocean Model. 29 (2009) 43–57]

AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for providing helpful comments which improved quality of the paper. Thiswork was funded by the Ofﬁce of Naval Research (ONR) under the 6.1 project, Global Remote Littoral Forcing via Deep Water Path-ways, and the 6.2 project, U.S. GODAE: Global Ocean Prediction with the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). It is also partiallysupported by grants from the Army Research Ofﬁce and the National Science Foundation. The paper is contribution NRL/JA/7320/08/8254 and has been approved for public release.
Autonomous color theme extraction from images using saliency

Color theme (palette) is a collection of color swatches for representing or describing colors in a visual design or an image. Color palettes have broad applications such as serving as means in automatic/semi-automatic design of visual media, as measures in quantifying aesthetics of visual design, and as metrics in image retrieval, image enhancement, and color semantics. In this paper, we suggest an autonomous mechanism for extracting color palettes from an image. Our method is simple and fast, and it works on the notion of visual saliency. By using visual saliency, we extract the fine colors appearing in the foreground along with the various colors in the background regions of an image. Our method accounts for defining different numbers of colors in the palette as well as presenting the proportion of each color according to its visual conspicuity in a given image. This flexibility supports an interactive color palette which may facilitate the designer’s color design task. As an application, we present how our extracted color palettes can be utilized as a color similarity metric to enhance the current color semantic based image retrieval techniques.
The role of international NGOs in promoting nutrition rights

This article presents non-government initiatives in addressing issues of nutrition rights. It argues that there is an urgent need for the non-governmental community to concentrate on the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights and uses the experience of Food First Information and Action Network (FIAN) in the promotion of nutrition rights as an example of how this can be done. The article also identifies a number of community-based, local and national NGOs that are involved in the struggle for the improvement of nutritional standards and access to food security and how these are important in the human rights struggle. The article discusses how international NGOs can and do support the work of the United Nations in its efforts to improve the respect for economic, social and cultural rights and, finally, dwells on the future role of international NGOs in this field.
Score reliability and construct validity of the Flinn Performance Screening Tool for adults with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

OBJECTIVE. We investigated the psychometric properties of the Flinn Performance Screening Tool (FPST) for people referred with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHOD. An occupational therapist collected data from 46 participants who completed the Functional Status Scale (FSS) and FPST after the participants’ nerve conduction velocity study to test convergent and contrasted-group validity. RESULTS. Seventy-four percent of the participants had abnormal nerve conduction studies. Cronbach’s α coefficients for subscale and total scores of the FPST ranged from .96 to .98. Intrarater reliability for six shared items of the FSS and the FPST was supported by high agreement (71%) and a fair κ statistic (.36). Strong to moderate positive relationships were found between the FSS and FPST scores. Functional status differed significantly among severe, mild, and negative CTS severity groups. CONCLUSION. The FPST shows adequate psychometric properties as a client-centered screening tool for occupational performance of people referred for symptoms of CTS
Application of technology roadmaps for renewable energy sector

Abstract Technology Roadmapping (TRM) is a growing technique widely used for strategy planning and aligning technology with overall business objectives. Technology roadmaps are extensively used in many diverse fields at product, technology, industry, company and national levels. An increasing number of articles published on TRM and technology roadmaps indicate that there is a growing attention for TRM among the researchers from academia, industry and government. In this article, an overview of the application of TRM in renewable energy sector has been provided. After survey of the relevant academic literature and industry roadmaps, we tried to group the roadmaps related to the renewable energy technologies into national, industry/sector and organizational level roadmaps. Research findings indicate that goals and objectives of renewable energy roadmaps are different at these three levels. At national level, roadmaps focus on future energy security, energy dependence, energy policy formulation and environment protection. At industry/sector level, roadmaps are used to identify vision, common needs and evaluate barriers, constraints and risks faced by the industry from technical, political and commercial aspects. Organizational roadmap focuses on evaluation and prioritization of R&D projects to achieve the business goals. Similarly different methods, tools and approaches are used to develop roadmaps at different levels. Various other characteristics of these roadmaps are also discussed and analyzed. Research findings also indicate that greater numbers of roadmaps are developed for those renewable energy technologies undergoing rapid growth. Moreover, most of these roadmaps are developed in the regions where more research, development and deployment activities of renewable energy technologies is taking place.
Recurrent Silent Thyroiditis as a Sequela of Postpartum Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis encompasses a group of disorders characterized by thyroid inflammation. Though clinically indistinguishable from silent thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis occurs in women within 12 months after delivery. Recurrent postpartum thyroiditis in subsequent pregnancies is common, but recurrent silent thyroiditis is rare. We reported a case of patient with recurrent episodes of thyroiditis, unrelated to pregnancy, after an episode of postpartum thyroiditis. It is of interest that postpartum thyroiditis and silent thyroiditis could occur closely to each other; however, the link between these disorders is not well established. This report is to remind physicians of the possibility of recurrent silent thyroiditis in women with a history of postpartum thyroiditis.
Evolutionary biology: animal personalities.

That different people differ in their readiness to take risks is an obvious feature of human personality. Theoretical advances now help in making sense of observations of analogous behaviour in animals.
Formative evaluation in the development and validation of expert systems in education

Researchers developing and validating educational products often expect the same field-test activities to provide information on product improvement and product effectiveness. For effective and economical use of resources, these two goals, product improvement and product validation, must be stressed at different times and with different tools and strategies. This article identifies the difference in procedures and outcome between formative and summative evaluation practices and relates these practices to the development and validation of expert systems in education. Les chercheurs qui developpent et valident des produits educatifs attendent souvent des měmes activity ? experimentation sur le terrain qu'elles procurent des informations sur ľ amelioration du produit et ľ efficacite du produit. Pour ľ utilisation efficace et economique des ressources, ces deux buts, amelioration et validation du produit, doivent ětre mis en avant a differents moments et avec des outils et des strategies differents. Cet article identifie la difference au niveau des procedures et du resultat entre des activites ?evaluation constructive ou descriptive et relie ces pratiques au developpement et a la validation de systemes experts en education. Mots cles: systemes experts, developpement de produit, validation de produit, modeles de recherche.
The Carboxyl-terminal PDZ Ligand Motif of Chemokine Receptor CXCR2 Modulates Post-endocytic Sorting and Cellular Chemotaxis

Adaptor protein interaction with specific peptide motifs found within the intracellular, carboxyl terminus of chemokine receptor CXCR2 has been shown to modulate intracellular trafficking and receptor function. Efficient ligand-induced internalization of this receptor is dependent on the binding of adaptor protein 2 to the specific LLKIL motif found within the carboxyl terminus (1). In this study we show that the carboxyl-terminal type 1 PDZ ligand motif (-STTL) of CXCR2 plays an essential role in both proper intracellular receptor trafficking and efficient cellular chemotaxis. First, we show that CXCR2 is sorted to and degraded in the lysosome upon long-term ligand stimulation. We also show that receptor degradation is not dependent upon receptor ubiquitination, but is instead modulated by the carboxyl-terminal type I PDZ ligand of CXCR2. Deletion of this ligand results in increased degradation, earlier co-localization with the lysosome, and enhanced sorting to the Rab7-positive late endosome. We also show that deletion of this ligand effects neither receptor internalization nor receptor recycling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that deletion of the PDZ ligand motif results in impaired chemotactic response. The data presented here demonstrate that the type I PDZ ligand of CXCR2 acts to both delay lysosomal sorting and facilitate proper chemotactic response.
Ground states of spin- 1 2 triangular antiferromagnets in a magnetic field

We use a combination of numerical density matrix renormalization group calculations and several analytical approaches to comprehensively study a simplified model for a spatially anisotropic spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ triangular lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet: the three-leg triangular spin tube (TST). The model is described by three Heisenberg chains, with exchange constant $J$, coupled antiferromagnetically with exchange constant ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ along the diagonals of the ladder system, with periodic boundary conditions in the shorter direction. Here, we determine the full phase diagram of this model as a function of both spatial anisotropy (between the isotropic and decoupled chain limits) and magnetic field. We find a rich phase diagram, which is remarkably dominated by quantum states: the phase corresponding to the classical ground state appears only in an exceedingly small region. Among the dominant phases generated by quantum effects are commensurate and incommensurate coplanar quasiordered states, which appear in the vicinity of the isotropic region for most fields, and in the high-field region for most anisotropies. The coplanar states, while not classical ground states, can at least be understood semiclassically. Even more strikingly, the largest region of phase space is occupied by a spin density wave phase, which has incommensurate collinear correlations along the field. This phase has no semiclassical analog, and may be ascribed to enhanced one-dimensional fluctuations due to frustration. Cutting across the phase diagram is a magnetization plateau, with a gap to all excitations and ``up-up-down'' spin order, with a quantized magnetization equal to $\frac{1}{3}$ of the saturation value. In the TST, this plateau extends almost but not quite to the decoupled chains limit. Most of the above features are expected to carry over to the two-dimensional system, which we also discuss. At low field, a dimerized phase appears, which is particular to the one-dimensional nature of the TST, and which can be understood from quantum Berry phase arguments.
Trust, learning and a firm's involvement in industrial clusters: a conceptual framework

Purpose – The research of industrial clusters, trust, and learning can be traced back to early strategic management and organization theory. The purpose of this paper is to review past literature and offer a conceptual framework that is related to industrial clusters, trust and learning.Design/methodology/approach – This study incorporates a literature review to filter key factors of industrial clusters, trust and learning by using a deductive approach to conclude a conceptual framework.Findings – This study provides a conceptual framework which includes a firm's industrial cluster involvement, trust and learning. Based on the literature, inter‐organizational trust may be strengthened due to reduced proximity and better information flow within a cluster. Further, industrial clusters encourage co‐evolution and co‐adaptation that stimulates effective learning practices for clustering firms.Research limitations/implications – This study uses a literature review and offers a conceptual framework to examine a ...
Different Oxygen Consumption Rates by the Longhorn Sculpin Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus in an Apparatus Designed for Shipboard Use

Oxygen consumption of longhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus) from the Gulf of Maine (USA) was measured in an apparatus designed for shipboard studies, and increased with fish weight to a power of 0.7. Oxygen consumption by recently captured fish measured at sea and at 13°C was three times that measured in the laboratory at 10°C. This latter rate of oxygen consumption was four times that determined for fish in Stage III anesthesia under similar conditions. A description of the apparatus, designed to permit extended chamber familiarization time with minimal disturbance, is included.
REGULATION OF γ-GLOBIN GENE EXPRESSION INVOLVES SIGNALING THROUGH THE p38 MAPK/CREB1 PATHWAY

In response to sodium butyrate and trichostatin A treatment in erythroid cells, p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) mediates fetal hemoglobin (HbF) induction by activating cAMP response element binding protein 1 (CREB1). To expand on this observation, we completed studies to determine the role of p38 MAPK in steady-state γ-globin regulation. We propose that p38 signaling regulates Gγ-globin transcription during erythroid maturation through its downstream effector CREB1 which binds the Gγ-globin cAMP response element (G-CRE). We demonstrated that a loss of p38 or CREB1 function by siRNA knockdown resulted in target gene silencing. Moreover, gain of p38 or CREB1 function augments γ-globin transcription. These regulatory effects were conserved under physiological conditions tested in primary erythroid cells. When the G-CRE was mutated in a stable chromatin environment Gγ-globin promoter activity was nearly abolished. Furthermore, introduction of mutations in the G-CRE abolished Gγ-globin activation via p38 MAPK/CREB1 signaling. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIP) demonstrated that CREB1 and its binding partner CREB binding protein (CBP) co-localize at the G-CRE region. These data support the role of p38 MAPK/CREB1 signaling in Gγ-globin gene transcription under steady-state conditions.
Translational strategies in peripheral neuroinflammation and neurovascular repair.

Current therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory disorders in peripheral nerves are non-specific, and partly efficacious. Peripheral nerve regeneration following axonal degeneration or injury is suboptimal, with current therapies focused on modulating the underlying etiology and treating the consequences, such as neuropathic pain and weakness. Despite significant advances in understanding mechanisms of peripheral nerve inflammation, as well as axonal degeneration and regeneration, there has been limited translation into effective new drugs for these disorders. A major limitation in the field has been the unavailability of reliable disease models or research tools that mimic some key essential features of these human conditions. A relatively overlooked aspect of peripheral nerve regeneration has been neurovascular repair required to restore the homeostatic microenvironment necessary for normal function. Using Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) as examples of human acute and chronic immune-mediated peripheral neuroinflammatory disorders respectively, we have performed detailed studies in representative mouse models to demonstrate essential features of the human disorders. These models are important tools to develop and test treatment strategies using realistic outcomes measures applicable to affected patients. In vitro models of the human blood-nerve barrier using endothelial cells derived by endoneurial microvessels provide insights into pro-inflammatory leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions relevant to peripheral neuroinflammation, as well as potential mediators and signaling pathways required for vascular proliferation, angiogenesis, remodeling and tight junction specialization necessary to restore peripheral nerve function following injury. This review discusses some of the progress being made in translational peripheral neurobiology and some future
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and essential tremor.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to be inversely related to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, both of which may share common mechanisms with essential tremor (ET). Use of these medications has not been studied in ET cases vs. controls. Objective: To investigate the relationships between NSAID (esp. ibuprofen) and aspirin use and ET. Methods: Subjects were enrolled in a case-control study of the environmental epidemiology of ET at the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC; 2009-2014). We compared 92 ET cases to 107 controls (∼1:1 matching) in terms of self-reported NSAID (esp. ibuprofen) and aspirin use. Results: The proportion of NSAID or aspirin users (current or past) was similar in ET cases and controls (for current user, p = 0.66; for past user, p = 0.90). Among users, however, the total dosage of ibuprofen (frequency in past year × number of tablets taken at a time × typical average strength of tablets) was higher in controls than ET cases (p = 0.04). ET cases and controls did not differ with respect to aspirin use in the past year. Conclusion: The proportion of NSAID or aspirin users did not differ in ET cases or controls; yet interestingly, ibuprofen use was less in ET cases than in controls. The latter raises the possibility that ibuprofen use could have a potential protective role in ET.
A study of prior and intended catalog shopping

The present study provides an extension of the research which has focused on in-home shopping activity. Recent reviews of the extant literature are discussed, leading to the position that research must begin to examine a broader range of factors which prompt and sustain in-home shopping behavior. A framework representing an adaptation and extension of several retail patronage models is developed and tested. The results obtained generally support the advisability of this approach.
Another odd thing about unparticle physics

Abstract The peculiar propagator of scale invariant unparticles has phases that produce unusual patterns of interference with Standard Model processes. We illustrate some of these effects in e + e − → μ + μ − .
Freeon tensor product states and the unitary group formulation of the many-electron problem

The freeon tensor product basis provides a rapid method for the evaluation of matrix elements in the unitary group formulation of quantum chemistry. The method employs fast transformations between the Gel'fand and freeon tensor product basis.