cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Multiple Moving Targets Edge Detection Algorithm Based on Sparse Matrix Block Operation

A multiple moving targets edge detection algorithm based on sparse matrix block operation is proposed in this paper. The algorithm uses background subtraction algorithm to obtain the foreground image contains multiple moving targets. After getting the ideal foreground image, active contour model is used for edge detection. Here, we improved the active contour model by introducing the sparse matrix block operation. Through the quad-tree decomposition of the foreground image, the proposed algorithm uses the sparse matrix block operation to calculate the corresponding regional seed position of multiple moving targets. Finally, it executes the active contour model in parallel to complete the edge detection. Experimental results show that edge detection of the algorithm similar to the human visual judgment, and the introduction of sparse matrix block operation to calculate regional seed for active contour model reduces the time, improves the convergence of the profile curve and edge detection accuracy.
Effect of electroconvulsive shocks on nest building in the male albino rat.

SummaryTwelve adult male albino rats were shocked once a day for 9 days after which they were placed in a relatively cold attic room and supplied with nest building materials. Nine, not shocked but otherwise treated like the others, served as controls. In the early post shock period the convulsed animals made no attempt at nest building whereas their controls built excellent nests. There was gradual recovery so that by the tenth day post shock, the convulsed animals built nests equal to those of the control rats.
Abstract 426: In-field head and neck irradiation radiosensitivity of FancD2-/- mice and bystander effect reduction of distant bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Background: Irradiation induced normal tissue toxicity limits effective radiotherapy of individuals with DNA repair defects including Fanconi anemia. We quantitated in-field head and neck tissue response in irradiated Fanconi anemia knockout mice, FancD2-/-, compared to wild type, FancD2+/+ & heterozygous FancD2+/- mice. We also assessed bystander effect of head and neck irradiation on distant bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cell numbers. Method: Adult 10-12wk old FevB background FancD2+/+, +/- and -/- mice were irradiated to the head & neck to 24Gy, 26Gy, 28Gy or 30Gy (n=3) shielding all tissue below the cervical spine. On day 2 or 5 post irradiation, mice were sacrificed and tongue tissue and one femur excised for histopathology. Bone marrow of the contralateral femur was plated for colony assay. Colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM), burst forming unit erythroid (BFU-E), and colony forming unit-granulocyte-erythroid-megakaryocyte-monocyte (CFU-GEMM) numbers were counted & each genotype compared to its unirradiated control. HE 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 426. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-426
The John Charnley Award: Redefining the Natural History of Osteoarthritis in Patients With Hip Dysplasia and Impingement

Background Structural hip deformities including developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are thought to predispose patients to degenerative joint changes. However, the natural history of these malformations is not clearly delineated.
56 AN ANALYSIS OF CURRENT ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES.

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) injury is an increasing and serious problem among US children and adolescents. Legislation, including child restraint and bicycle helmet requirements, has been successful in reducing injury mortality and morbidity to children for other injury mechanisms. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all ATV operators be at least 16 years of age and wear a helmet at all times. The purpose of this study was to document current state laws relating to ATV safety and use. Methods A Web-based survey was performed in August 2005 to examine the ATV laws in each state in the United States. Our Web search found no ATV-related law for 3 states. These states were recorded as not having any ATV-related laws. Results Most states prohibit ATV use on public roadways (n = 44) and require ATVs to be registered by the owner (n = 36). Half of the states (n = 25) require some training and certification for at least one segment of the population before operating an ATV. This certification is most commonly required for operators who are too young to have a driver9s license. Eighteen states have no age requirements for use of ATVs on public land. There are 27 states that allow 12-year-olds to ride a full-sized ATV (engine size greater than 90 cc) on public land without training. Nineteen of those states also allow a 10-year-old to ride a full-sized ATV without training. On private land, several states require that the operators simply be "under adult supervision. " Only 12 states require helmet use by ATV operators at all times, while 13 more states require that those Conclusions Use of ATVs is addressed in some form in the laws of most states, but great variability exists. Only a minority of states have laws regarding helmet use or age restriction in regard to ATVs. There are only 4 states that meet the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for ATV safety (16 years old and the use of a helmet). Strengthening ATV safety legislation may be an effective means in many states to curb the growing ATV injury problem in children.
Hostility and deal completion likelihood in international acquisitions: The moderating effect of information leakage

Abstract Examining a comprehensive sample of international acquisitions over the 1997–2013 period, we document that deal hostility negatively impacts the likelihood of deal completion, reinforcing previous research on domestic merger and acquisition activity in the United States. The negative relationship, however, is stronger in the presence of substantial information leakage about the deal. Substantial information leakage about the impending deal imposes an additional tangible obstacle that impedes the negotiations in hostile deals. Our results highlight information leakage prevention as being crucial in ensuring merger negotiation success.
Governance and disorder: neoliberalism and violent change in Jamaica

AbstractStructural adjustment policies (SAPs) facilitate the hollowing out of the traditional roles performed by states. As a consequence, private entities (some perverse) offer services the state is incapable of or unwilling to provide. Beginning in the 1980s, SAPs plunged neighbourhoods in Latin America and the Caribbean into socioeconomic, and political disorder. This paper assesses the relationship between neoliberal reforms to the Jamaican state and the metamorphosis of violence since the mid-1980s. Neoliberalism transformed violence in Jamaica by increasing inter-gang conflicts, shootings and gang-related murders in Kingston’s garrisons. It also transformed political enforcers into community dons who use violence as a tool for business transactions in the international drug trade, and as a method of gaining local respect and authority.
A Global Perspective on Transnational Curriculum

The inspiration and starting point for this study derived from numerous strands, which extended over the last two decades. Influencing those experiences were my concurrent roles as a researcher, a mother and an observer of major social changes taking place in both my home country of Sweden and throughout the rest of the world.
Evolutionary Origins and Functions of the Stress Response System

Evolution is the process in which traits such as physiological stress response systems (SRSs) are shaped by natural selection. A full understanding of any trait requires knowing its evolutionary history, how it has given a selective advantage, and the trade-offs and costs involved. Stress-related mechanisms emerged early in the history of life. Like all traits, they have costs as well as benefits. Because the stress response is so often associated with negative events, its utility has often been neglected. This chapter reviews the phylogeny and functional significance of the SRS, with a special focus on how selection has shaped the mechanisms that process environmental information to regulate the stress response, and how the stress response influences other traits such as risk-taking and sexual behavior.
Communication: Relationship between solute localization and diffusion in a dynamically constrained polymer system

We investigate the link between dynamic localization, characterized by the Debye-Waller factor, 〈u(2)〉, and solute self-diffusivity, D, in a polymer system using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and vapor sorption experiments. We find a linear relationship between lnD and 1/〈u(2)〉 over more than four decades of D, encompassing most of the glass formation regime. The observed linearity is consistent with the Langevin dynamics in a periodically varying potential field and may offer a means to rapidly assess diffusion based on the characterization of dynamic localization.
Nonnative Trout Invasions Combined with Climate Change Threaten Persistence of Isolated Cutthroat Trout Populations in the Southern Rocky Mountains

AbstractEffective conservation of Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lineages native to the Rocky Mountains will require estimating effects of multiple stressors and directing management toward the most important ones. Recent analyses have focused on the direct and indirect effects of a changing climate on contemporary ranges, which are much reduced from historic ranges owing to past habitat loss and nonnative trout invasions. However, nonnative trout continue to invade Cutthroat Trout populations in the southern Rocky Mountains. Despite management to isolate and protect these native populations, nonnatives still surmount barriers or are illegally stocked above them. We used data on the incidence of invasions by nonnative Brook Trout (BT) Salvelinus fontinalis and the rate of their invasion upstream to simulate effects on a set of 309 conservation populations of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT) O. c. pleuriticus isolated in headwater stream fragments. A previously developed Bayesian network model w...
Activation-Dependent Expression of an Interleukin-2 Transgene Mediated by Transduction with a Lentiviral Vector Enhances T Cell Functions.

Abstract Adoptive T cell immunotherapy (ATCI) is an evolving strategy that explores antigen-specific T cells manipulated ex vivo as therapeutic agents. Although the concept of ATCI has been tested clinically, with success in the treatment of post-transplant EBV induced lymphoproliferative disease, one of the major obstacles hindering its application to other malignancies is the procurement of tumor-specific T cells that possess potent anti-tumor functions even in the inhibitory environment at the tumor sites. This study aims to genetically engineer enriched viral specific T cells for improved immune functions. A self-inactivating lentiviral vector (SIN) CD69p-IL2 was constructed to encode the transgene interleukin-2 (IL2) under the control of a human CD69 promoter (CD69p), and this vector was tested in ex vivo cultivated EBV-specific T cells. SIN vector allows a high degree of autonomy for the internal promoter, and CD69 expression in the T cells is closely associated with T cell activation. Experiments showed that the SIN vectors efficiently transduced EBV-specific T cells, both CD4 and CD8. Furthermore, the newly cloned CD69p exhibited a higher degree of responsiveness to physiological antigen stimulation than the early promoter from the cytomegalovirus (CMVp). In response to stimulation by EBV-infected B cells, the percentage of IL2 expressing cells was 2 fold higher for the activated CD69p-IL2 transduced T cells than the non-transduced, or the CMVp-IL2 transduced, counterparts. In correlation with the stronger IL2 expression, 3 fold more T cells expressed the anti-viral cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the CD69p-IL2 transduced T cells than the CMVp-IL2 transduced, and the IFN-γ expression at the single cell level was 2 fold higher in the former, indicating an enhanced functionality. While the culture supernatant from the CMVp-IL2 transduced T cells contained IL2 at a concentration 2000 fold higher than the non-transduced T cells, the IL2 level in the media from the CD69p-IL2 transduced T cells was comparable to that in the control, suggesting the IL2 expression mediated by the CD69p more relevant to T cell functions than the CMVp. These results may serve as a foundation for the further development and clinical application of specific T cells engineered for enhanced immune functions.
Approximate local decoding of cubic reed-muller codes beyond the list decoding radius

We consider the question of decoding Reed-Muller codes over Fn2 beyond their list-decoding radius. Since, by definition, in this regime one cannot demand an efficient exact list-decoder, we seek an approximate decoder: Given a word F and radii r' > r > 0, the goal is to output a codeword within radius r' of F, if there exists a codeword within distance r. As opposed to the list decoding problem, it suffices here to output any codeword with this property, since the list may be too large if r exceeds the list decoding radius. Prior to our work, such decoders were known for Reed-Muller codes of degree 2, due to works of Wolf and the second author [FOCS 2011]. In this work we make the first progress on this problem for the degree 3 where the list decoding radius is 1/8. We show that there is a constant [Equation] and an efficient approximate decoder, that given query access to a function F : Fn2 → F2, such that F is within distance r = Δ − e from a cubic polynomial, runs in time polynomial in message length and outputs with high probability a cubic polynomial which is at distance at most r' = 1/2− e' from F, where e' is a quasi polynomial function of e.
216 Making workplace healthy & safe through innovative & sustainable cashe program (change agents for safety health & environment)

Introduction Reliance Industries Jamnagar Manufacturing Division is world’s largest refining hub. CASHe is an innovative program with a proactive preventive approach comprising team work of Medical, Safety, Environment and Technical department helps to bring positive change and continual improvement in occupational health practices. This helps to steer plant management in a focused way to look into the work place hazards and take appropriate control measures. Methods CASHe program has defined annual road map which comprises formation of CASHe Team, field visit, IH-OH survey, submission of project charter, monthly CASHe team meetings with progress reports, midyear project review, final survey with report submission and plant inter-site competition for evaluation. Multidisciplinary CASHe team continuously work on this road map to achieve project goals. Result In 2016 −17, Total 302 projects out of 408 were completed (74%). To inculcate best projects like Chemical Exposure reduction from 2.64 PPM to 0 PPM (close loop sampling system at benzene storage tank), dust exposure reduction from 13.21 mg/m3 to 0.26 mg/m3 (substitute with direct bulker unloading instead of manual bag unloading system), catalyst replacement activity to reduce nickel exposure from 33 mg/m3 to Discussion CASHe program at Reliance proves that team approach, creating awareness, positive attitude and implementation of innovative interventions are win-win prospect and makes good business sense. CASHe program is an endless journey of awareness and workplace improvements.
Food Poisoning Due to Ex Vivo Toxins

Abstract Toxin-mediated food poisoning commonly results from the accumulation of biological toxins in foods that, when consumed by humans, result in the relatively rapid onset of clinical syndromes. Severity of manifestations depends on the type and amount of toxin ingested. Among the more common but self-limited and relatively benign etiologies are Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning. Less common but more lethal causes include botulism and the large group of toxidromes linked to fungal contamination of grains and ground nuts (e.g., aflatoxins) or those linked to ingestion of poisonous mushrooms. With the exception of botulism, for which prompt use of antitoxin can be lifesaving, treatment for most foodborne toxic illnesses are generally supportive. Proper food storage, handling, and cooking can reduce the risk of some forms of food poisoning.
A kinematic hardening model based on endochronic theory for complex stress histories

Abstract While the field of soil constitutive modeling is rich, the availability of models that capture the behavior of different soil types under complex loading is limited. This study presents the development and validation of the Multi-Mechanical Model (MMM). The MMM is an elasto-plastic kinematic hardening model, which extends an earlier endochronic model by introducing the third stress invariant, accounts for shear-volumetric coupling in granular materials, and displays ratcheting behavior during stress reversals. A series of triaxial and isotropic consolidation tests are used to calibrate the MMM to materials found in conventional unbound granular materials and subgrades, such as crushed limestone, Leighton Buzzard sand, and Vicksburg Buckshot clay. The MMM is tested against resilient modulus test data that present complex stress histories. The study shows the MMM is straightforward in its calibration, while also displaying a robust capability in capturing the complex behaviors of the different soil types under various loading conditions. While positioned for applications in other areas, the MMM’s capabilities in capturing the short-term pore pressure response of fine-grained materials, the shear-induced volume change and stress-hardening effects of granular materials, and ratcheting behavior during repeated loading conditions make it well-suited for addressing pavement problems.
Enriching Students’ Combinatorial Reasoning through the Use of Loops and Conditional Statements in Python

When solving counting problems, students often struggle with determining what they are trying to count (and thus what problem type they are trying to solve and, ultimately, what formula appropriately applies). There is a need to explore potential interventions to deepen students’ understanding of key distinctions between problem types and to differentiate meaningfully between such problems. In this paper, we investigate undergraduate students’ understanding of sets of outcomes in the context of elementary Python computer programming. We show that four straightforward program conditional statements seemed to reinforce important conceptual understandings of four canonical combinatorial problem types. We also suggest that the findings in this paper represent one example of a way in which a computational setting may facilitate mathematical learning.
Oral Contraceptives, Lipoproteins, and Lipid Transport

More than twenty-five years have elapsed since the obvious sex difference in the prevalence of atherosclerosis before age 50 led to the widely held view that gonadal hormones might affect plasma lipids and hence influence the progression of atherosclerosis. Further understanding awaited the development of methods of analysis of the actual transport forms of lipid molecules in plasma, the lipoproteins. A major insight into the problem was provided by Russ, Eder and Barr (1) with the use of the precipitation method of fractionation of lipoproteins into two major classes, “alpha” and “beta” lipoproteins. By measurement of the cholesterol content of these fractions they found that plasma from young women contained more “alpha lipoprotein” and less “beta lipoprotein” than that from men of comparable age. They also found that estrogen treatment of males tended to eliminate this difference by decreasing the “beta/alpha ratio”.
The Next Generation Space Telescope

The Next Generation Space Telescope NGST is an 6-7 m class radiatively cooled telescope, planned for launch to the Lagrange point L2 in 2009, to be built by a partnership of NASA, ESA, and CSA. The NGST science program calls for three core instruments: 1) Near IR camera, 0.6 - 5 micrometer; 2) Near IR multiobject spectrometer, 1 - 5 micrometer, and 3) Mid IR camera and spectrometer, 5 - 28 micrometers. I will report on the scientific goals, project status, and the recent reduction in aperture from the target of 8 m.
The Impact of Calendering on the Electronic Conductivity Heterogeneity of Lithium-Ion Electrode Films

Electrical conductivity is a key metric in the performance of lithium-ion batteries. However, accurately measuring the electronic conductivity nondestructively is difficult. We have developed a micro-four-line probe that has been used to make this measurement and to demonstrate the heterogeneity of electrical conductivity of lithium-ion electrodes on a mm scale [1]. Such heterogeneity or non-uniformity can cause the lithium ion battery to degrade unevenly overtime, which is undesirable. The design of the micro-four-line probe has been improved into a flexible-four-line probe. This flexible measurement device is able to conform to the surface of the electrode, which improves the contact and the resulting electronic conductivity measurement. The flexible probe has been used to take accurate measurements of electronic conductivity and the contact resistance between the film and the current collector. The microstructure of lithium-ion electrodes is another important characteristic that determines the performance of lithium-ion cells, including electronic and ionic conductivity of electrodes. Calendering, an important step in the manufacturing process, affects the microstructure as the film is compressed to a uniform thickness. Prior to calendering there are more substantial variations in the thickness of the electrode film, which constitutes surface roughness, as illustrated in the included thickness profile (figure). The effect of calendering on the electronic heterogeneity of electrode films will be reported. The flexible probe will be used to measure the variation in electronic conductivity across the electrodes. A thickness analysis of the electrode films before and after calendering will complement the electrical measurements. This information increases our understanding of electrode manufacturing processes to allow for future optimization of these processes. References: Vogel et al., Electrochimica Acta 297, 820 (2019). Figure 1
Phenotypic reactions of 53 soybean genotypes to infection with each of 16 isolates of Phakopsora pachyrhizi

Soybean rust, caused by the fungal pathogen Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is an economically significant disease for soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production throughout the world. Genes for resistance ...
BLNK/BTK: Novel Components in the NF-kappa B Pathways of Endothelial Cells in Diabetic Condition

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is atherosclerotic occlusion of vessel outside the heart that most commonly affects the lower extremities. The effects of PAD-related ischemia are exacerbated under diabetic hyperglycemic conditions. Under ischemic conditions, an adaptive induction of the NFkB pathways is in vascular endothelial cells is required for recovery. We have recently shown that prolonged exposure of cells to high glucose before ischemia resulted in impairment of the canonical NFkB pathway through decrease in IkBa degradation. However, the signaling pathways involved in hyperglycemia and ischemia mediated effects on the NFkB pathways are not well understood. Since the NFkB signaling pathways propagate through a cascade of phosphorylation events, we used arrays of antibodies to approximately 100 proteins known to participate in the NFkB pathway to identify the changes in their phosphorylation states in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cells grown for three days either in culture medium with normal glucose (LG) or high glucose (HG) were subjected to ischemia for 24 hours (LGI and HGI, respectively). Cell lysates were then incubated with the array of antibodies printed on glass slides (Full Moon Biosystems, Sunnyvale, CA) and fluorescent signals were digitally recorded and normalized. The change in protein phosphorylation was calculated by dividing the intensity of the phosphorylated spot by the signal intensity of the corresponding non-phosphorylated spot for each protein. Differential expression between LG and LGI samples, and HG and HGI were calculated by dividing the phosphorylation ratio of the LGI and HGI with that of the LG and HG controls, respectively. A threshold of 1.5-fold increase or decrease was used to determine changes. Compared to the LG, LGI samples had 26 protein sites with increased phosphorylation whereas 36 sites had decreased phosphorylation. Similarly, compared to HG, HGI samples increased phosphorylation of 25 protein sites and decreased phosphorylation of 40 sites. A Venn-diagram analysis of LGI and HGI sites revealed 8 sites with an increase and 12 sites with a decrease in phosphorylation were specific to HGI. Pathway analyses using bioinformatics tools on 65 modulated phosphorylation sites in HGI (represented by 35 genes) suggested involvement of B cell linker/adapter protein (BLNK)/Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) that are critical for B cell antigen receptor (BCR)-coupled signaling. BTK expression in EC was confirmed by immunoblotting. Inhibition of BTK by a specific inhibitor terreic acid restored IkBa degradation in EC grown in high glucose suggesting a critical role of BLNK/BTK in diabetic ischemia. Thus, we have identified BLNK/BTK as potentially new components of the NFkB pathway in endothelial cells that contributes to the poor recovery during hyperglycemic ischemia.
Case 19-2021: A 54-Year-Old Man with Irritability, Confusion, and Odd Behaviors.

A Man with Irritability, Confusion, and Odd Behaviors A 54-year-old man was evaluated in the neuropsychology clinic because of irritability, confusion, and odd behaviors. Nine months earlier, he ha...
Spin–spin interactions in defects in solids from mixed all-electron and pseudopotential first-principles calculations

Understanding the quantum dynamics of spin defects and their coherence properties requires an accurate modeling of spin-spin interaction in solids and molecules, for example by using spin Hamiltonians with parameters obtained from first principles calculations. We present a real-space approach based on density functional theory for the calculation of spin-Hamiltonian parameters, where only selected atoms are treated at the all-electron level, while the rest of the system is described with the pseudopotential approximation. Our approach permits calculations for systems containing more than 1000 atoms, as demonstrated for defects in diamond and silicon carbide. We show that only a small number of atoms surrounding the defect needs to be treated at the all-electron level, in order to obtain an overall all-electron accuracy for hyperfine and zero-field splitting tensors. We also present results for coherence times, computed with the cluster correlation expansion method, highlighting the importance of accurate spin-Hamiltonian parameters for quantitative predictions of spin dynamics.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the neonatal brain

Cranial US is an integral component of evaluating the neonatal brain, especially in the setting of critically ill infants and in the emergency setting, because cranial US can be performed portably at the bedside, is safe, and can be repeated whenever needed. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) involves intravenously injecting microbubbles to allow for improved visibility of large and small vessels to assess vascularity and is becoming a widespread technique to improve diagnostic performance of US across a broad spectrum of applications. CEUS has the potential to add value to routine brain US and become a useful adjunct to MRI in infants in need of bedside imaging. In this review we describe the basics of US contrast agents and CEUS technique, including safety considerations, and detail the potential clinical uses of brain CEUS.
Ari Linden. Karl Kraus and the Discourse of Modernity

Over a century has passed since the launch of Karl Kraus’s journal The Torch (Die Fackel), the forum for his witty and searing critiques of the Viennese press. One of the most well-known and widely...
Demonstration of a portable AOTF IR spectrometer for in situ exploration of planetary surfaces

We discuss the development of a portable NIR reflectance point spectrometer based on acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) technology for future in situ geologic investigations of planetary surfaces. AOTFs are low power devices that operate on the principle of diffraction in a birefringent crystal. We have demonstrated the efficacy of this technique in extreme subterranean environments using the Portable AOTF Spectrometer for Astrobiology (PASA) to detect spectral biosignatures consistent with microbial alteration of geologic samples. PASA measures the IR reflectance spectrum of geologic samples in the 1.6 – 3.6 µm range with a resolution of λ/Δλ ≈ 250 – 400. We present the development and specifications of PASA, results from these expeditions, and discuss potential applications of a portable NIR point spectrometer based on AOTF technology for future landed or roving missions to other Solar System bodies.
Observations on the Reactions of the Larvae of Ancylostoma canium and Ancylostoma braziliense to Various Drugs and Chemical Compounds Based on In Vitro Tests

The high seasonal incidence of creeping eruption in this Gulf Coast area invariably includes a number of extensive infections with multiple lesions involving large cutaneous areas. The therapeutic management of the patients, as brought out by Kirby-Smith (1) seventeen years ago, still remains a challenge. The use of ethyl chloride spray is both painful and tedious and the results following the administration of fuadin and hetrazan have been disappointing.
A Look Back to Look Forward: A Multidisciplinary Evaluation of an mHealth Service in Malawi

The application of human rights norms at the national policy level is largely codified but rigorous research on the field-level application of a human rights based approach (HRBA) to health programs is still in its infancy. The paper identifies human rights norms from international law and standards that are relevant to maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) programs and presents an example of how a HRBA has been previously applied in an MNCH project. It introduces a HRBA framework recently developed by Concern Worldwide and partners and conducts a document analysis of a previous Concern Worldwide project in Malawi. Discussion focuses on where and how the project could have benefited from incorporation of a HRBA in project design implementation and evaluation. The authors conclude by discussing how such inclusion could have impacted project outcomes and how such analysis can help inform future efforts to implement a HRBA to health.
Possible role of root-ethylene in Fe(III)-phytometallophore uptake in Strategy II species

All phytometallophores are derived from methionine through S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) via nicotianamine. Ethylene is synthesized from methionine via SAM and 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC). This close similarity in biochemical pathways suggests that root-ethylene may play a role in regulating Fe(III)-phytometallophore homeostasis in cereal (Strategy II species) roots as well as in the regulation of Fe(III)-chelate reductase activity in Strategy I species. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings were grown in chelate-buffered nutrient solutions with increasing levels of Fe (i.e., 5, 25 or 100 µM Fe) as Fe(III)-HEDTA. Seedlings at each level of Fe were treated with either an inhibitor or a promoter of ethylene action. Treatment with the promoter, ACC (1 µM), had no significant effect on phytometallophore root efflux or Fe uptake by 19-d-old barley seedlings at all Fe levels. However, treatment with the inhibitor, aminooxyacetic acid (AOA, 10 µM) repressed the ability of cereal roots to absorb sufficient Fe to meet metabolic needs, but surprisingly enhanced phytometallophore root efflux rates at all Fe(III)-HEDTA levels. These results support a possible role of root-ethylene in Fe(III) uptake in cereals, but the mechanism remains unclear.
Nondegenerate differential transmission of semiconductors: correlation-induced resonances

Summary form only given. It is well known that correlations between excitons strongly affect the optical properties of resonantly excited semiconductors. Few studies, however, have considered effects of correlations between excitons and unbound electrons or holes when a semiconductor is excited above the band gap. In this paper, we report the observation of a surprising correlation-induced resonance (CIR) that appears in differential transmission spectra of semiconductor quantum wells excited above the band gap. The properties of this CIR show that it is not due to biexciton formation, but instead may arise from correlations between excitons and unbound electrons or holes.
In Media Vita

In media vita.?No, life has not disappointed me! On the contrary, I find it truer, more desirable and mysterious every year,?ever since the day when the great liberator came to me, the idea that life could be an experiment of the seeker for knowledge?and not a duty, not a calamity, not a trickery!?And knowledge itself: let it be something else for others, for example, a bed to rest on, or the way to such a bed, or a diversion, or a form of leisure,?for me it is a world of dangers and victories in which heroic feelings, too, find places to dance and play. "Life as a means to knowledge"?with this principle in one's heart one can live not only boldly but even gaily and laugh gaily, too! ?Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science
Pediatric PET imaging: Fibromyosarcoma

1053 Purpose: To review the role of positron emission tomography (PET) in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of Fibromyosarcoma in a 15 year old female. The patient was followed over a course of two years. Methods: A 15 year old female diagnosed with fibromyosarcoma at the age of 13 underwent an initial PET scan at 15 years of age. Additional PET scans were obtained at approximately 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 month intervals to track disease progression and monitor response to therapy. All PET scans were performed after the patient had fasted for four hours. The patient was injected with 10-12 mCi of (F18)FDG. Forty-five minutes later whole body images were subsequently obtained from the base of the brain to the mid femur with tomographic reconstructions. Results: Serial positron emission tomography was used to monitor the progress of a 15 year old female with a known history of a left chest wall fibromyosarcoma. Correlation with multiple serial CT and MRI examinations was also performed. The purpose of this poster is to review how serial functional imaging (via PET) can aid in both the staging and assessment of clinical response to particular therapeutic approaches. These therapies include: surgical tumor debulking and response to chemotherapeutic modalities. Conclusion: The advent of functional imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET) has not only dramatically enhanced our ability to diagnose malignancies affecting the pediatric population but it has also allowed us to track disease progression and monitor patients’ response to therapy. In combination with anatomic imaging modalities, we can provide a more accurate analysis of the disease process and in turn, modify our clinical treatment accordingly. This educational exhibit reviews a case of fibromyosarcoma in a pediatric patient and demonstrates how these imaging techniques can best serve to direct patient care. We present our data with review of the literature.
Effect of CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25− T Regulatory Cells on the Generation of Cytolytic T Cell Response to a Self but Human Tumor-Associated Epitope In Vitro

CD4+ T cells naturally expressing CD25 molecules (natural T regulatory cells (Tregs)) have a role in maintaining self tolerance and in regulating responses to infectious agents, transplantation Ags, and tumor Ags. CD4+ Tregs induced from CD4+CD25- precursors (induced Tregs) also regulate immune responses in the periphery. However, which of these Tregs is a major impediment in generating antitumor CTL responses is not clear. We show that although the CD4+CD25+ subsets isolated from peripheral blood-derived lymphocytes do suppress the proliferation of CD4+CD25- effector T cells, they do not suppress the activation and expansion of the self but melanoma-associated, melanoma Ag-reactive T cell 1 (MART-1)27-35-specific CD8+ T cells stimulated by the respective peptide-loaded matured dendritic cells in vitro. The CD4+CD25- counterparts, in contrast, lead to the generation of CD25+ glucocorticoid-inducible TNFR+-Forkhead/winged helix transcription factor+ populations and efficiently suppress the activation and expansion of the MART-127-35 epitope-specific CTLs. Our data suggest that when CTL precursors are optimally stimulated, natural Tregs are not a formidable constraint toward generating a robust antitumor CTL response, but induced Tregs could be.
The metabolic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) affects the outcome of intra‐specific competition in a polyembryonic wasp

1. Polyembryonic parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera) have evolved a caste system consisting of morphologically and functionally distinct larvae called soldiers and reproductives. 2. Two selective pressures are thought to underlie the evolution of the soldier caste: defence against competitors and resolution of the sex ratio conflict. Previous studies also indicate that soldier development time strongly affects the outcome of intra-specific competition in the polyembryonic encyrtid Copidosoma floridanum Ashmead. This study builds on prior findings by showing that alleles of the metabolic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) differentially affect soldier development time and the outcome of competition. 3. Soldier larvae with the Pgi alleles 100 or 120 emerged on average 65 h post-parasitism, whereas soldier larvae with a third allele, 54, emerged at 67 h. In turn, C. floridanum broods homozygous for the 100 and 120 alleles outcompete broods homozygous for the 54 allele. 4. Pgi allelic diversity may be maintained through a life-history trade-off affecting female brood sizes with homozygous broods bearing the developmentally disadvantageous 54 allele producing more adult females than broods bearing alternate common alleles.
Multi-modal robust inverse-consistent linear registration.

Registration performance can significantly deteriorate when image regions do not comply with model assumptions. Robust estimation improves registration accuracy by reducing or ignoring the contribution of voxels with large intensity differences, but existing approaches are limited to monomodal registration. In this work, we propose a robust and inverse-consistent technique for crossmodal, affine image registration. The algorithm is derived from a contextual framework of image registration. The key idea is to use a modality invariant representation of images based on local entropy estimation, and to incorporate a heteroskedastic noise model. This noise model allows us to draw the analogy to iteratively reweighted least squares estimation and to leverage existing weighting functions to account for differences in local information content in multimodal registration. Furthermore, we use the nonparametric windows density estimator to reliably calculate entropy of small image patches. Finally, we derive the Gauss–Newton update and show that it is equivalent to the efficient secondorder minimization for the fully symmetric registration approach. We illustrate excellent performance of the proposed methods on datasets containing outliers for alignment of brain tumor, full head, and histology images.
Residual effect of poultry litter applied to cotton in conservation tillage systems on succeeding rye and corn.

Abstract The burgeoning poultry industry in the southeastern US is presenting a major environmental problem of safe disposal of poultry litter (PL). In a comprehensive study, we explored ways of PL use in conservation tillage-based cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems on a Decatur silt loam soil in north Alabama, from 1996 to 1999. The study reported here-in presents the residual effects of PL applied to cotton in mulch-till (MT) and no-till (NT) conservation tillage systems in 1997 and 1998 cropping seasons on N uptake, growth, and yield of rye (Secale cereale, L.) cover crop and rotational corn (Zea mays L.) in 1999. Rye was grown without additional N, whereas corn was grown at three inorganic N levels (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1). Poultry litter was applied to cotton in 1997 and 1998 at 0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1. Residual N from PL applied to cotton in 1997 and 1998 produced up to 2.0 and 17.3 Mg ha−1, respectively, of rye cover crop and corn biomass (includes 7.1 Mg ha−1 of corn grain yield) without additional fertilizer. Therefore, in addition to supplying crop residues which reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, and conserve soil moisture, the rye cover crop was able to scavenge residual N left by the cotton crop, which would otherwise, be at risk of being leached and pollute groundwater resources. Poultry litter applied to cotton also increased corn grain quality as shown by up to 100% increase in grain N content compared to the 0N treatment. Using PL with a slower rate of N release compared to inorganic fertilizer to meet some of the N requirements of corn, will not only reduce N fertilizer costs for corn, but will also reduce the risk of nitrate N leaching into groundwater. The maximum amount of crop residues added to the cotton based cropping system by residual N from PL and inorganic N was 21.3 Mg ha−1. This will lead to an increase in soil organic carbon and soil structure in the long term and a reduction in soil erosion, thereby further improving soil productivity, while at the same time, protecting the environment from nitrate pollution and soil degradation. Our study demonstrates that cotton under conservation tillage system in combination with rye cover crop and rotational corn cropping could use large quantities of PL thereby avoiding serious potential environmental hazards.
Recent Results on Fatigue and Dispersion Modification in Optical Fibers

This paper reports recent results on two areas of optical fiber technology that, while unrelated, are of current interest. The first topic addresses dispersion limitation of transmission rates in optical fibers. This topic has increased in visibility in the last two years as optical amplification has minimized the importance of attenuation limits in the design of long transmission distance systems. Methods to minimize the dispersion limitation, such as dispersion shifted fiber, distributed amplification and dispersion compensating fiber, will be discussed. The second topic, that of the mechanical fatigue in optical fibers, has been a topic of research for many years, but new data continues to be gathered that is useful for cable design and system reliability calculations. Data is presented for two static fatigue tests of 3 years and 15 years duration.
Languages: An International Multidisciplinary Open Access Journal

Languages are an integral part of everyday life; they define our interactions with other people as well as the physical and mental spaces we inhabit over time. Since ancient times, languages have fascinated humans. [...]
Local temperature and wall radiant heat flux measurements in an industrial scale coal fired boiler

Abstract This paper reports measurements of local gas temperatures and wall incident radiant heat flux in an 80 MWe pulverized coal corner fired boiler. Spatially resolved gas temperatures were measured using a 4 m long, triply-shielded suction pyrometer and total wall radiation was determined with an ellipsoidal radiometer. The data include detailed wall radiant heat flux measurements made around the periphery of the boiler at six different elevations. Local gas temperature profiles were measured at four axial positions in the boiler, with special attention to the near-burner region. Boiler operational data and coal proximate, ultimate and particle size analyses are also reported. Local gas temperatures in the boiler reached a maximum of nearly 1800 K near the burners and decayed to 1250 K at a position just above the boiler nose. In the burner plane gas temperatures varied from 600 K near the wall to 1800 K at the centre of the flame. Wall incident radiant heat fluxes varied between 440 kW m− 2 in the near-burner region to 100 kW m− 2 near the boiler nose. The radiation transport to the wall was observed to vary substantially around the periphery of the boiler, especially in the near-burner regions.
Imaging gate oxide ruptures

As minimum feature sizes are reduced in MOS silicon devices, dielectric breakdown continues to pose a formidable challenge. A more complete understanding of the failure mechanism which induces oxide rupture has become an absolute necessity in order to meet the advancing yield and reliability requirements of today's complex integrated structures. This paper will present an interesting insight into the nature of dielectric breakdown in MOS transistors produced from a novel cross-sectioning TEM sample preparation method using a focused ion beam tool. By using deductive failure analysis, it was possible to determine the location of the leakage within a 1000 angstroms portion of the transfer gate of a one megabit DRAM. Once localized, a creative combination of conventional glass lapping and focused ion beam techniques were used to produce the thin TEM slice which contained the oxide breakdown. An image of the breakdown was then obtained on a 200 keV TEM. Interestingly, the image revealed that the origin of the breakdown was associated with imperfections in the form of voids in the surface of the silicon substrate. These results proved to be consistent over multiple samples. In this paper a complete description of these images will be presented along with possible theories describing the fundamental origin of these defects.
Linearized instability for nonlinear schrödinger and klein‐gordon equations

In this paper I am introducing a new technique for proving instability of bound states for Hamiltonian systems. There are already two disparate types of instability results in the literature. The approach developed by Strauss-Shatah [20] gave an instability criterion coming from the variational structure of the problem; on the other hand, Jones' approach [11] produced a complementary criterion related to the difference between the number of negative eigenvalues of two selfadjoint operators using quite different techniques. It turns out that with the methods developed in this paper these two criteria can be derived within a single framework that also leads to a generalization of the previous results. Finally in order to demonstrate how this method works I apply the instability criterion in some specific examples.