cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robot vision and video transmission

In this research paper we examine the problem of distance resolution using four cameras and a noninvasive laser light for robot vision. The cameras are placed in a cross configuration and the noninvasive laser is in the center of the cross. The system constitutes the vision part of a robot used for remote patient visits by physicians. The system enables physicians to perform between visit comparisons in order to assess health patient improvements. During the patient's hospital robot visits made with the help of a nurse, the cameras take the relevant patient images and transmit them wirelessly to a file server housed in the hospital where they are stored and from where they are also being transmitted to the Phycisian's office for real time examination, and comparison with the images of the previous visit. The ROY is compressed lossless and the remaining part of the image is compressed lossy. Each time the robot visits a patient positions itself on a fixed distance from the center of the ROY. Therefore distance resolution and distance tolerance interval estimation is very important. In this research paper we model the distance with a Gamma probability distribution and we compute the tolerance interval of the distance. Our system is part of a sophisticated system that includes personal patient networks, and radiological image -- video management, and secure network transmission.
Assessing the Performance of the De Novo Postoperative Stress Urinary Incontinence Calculator.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine the performance of a previously published stress urinary incontinence (SUI) risk calculator in women undergoing minimally invasive or transvaginal apical suspensions. METHODS Using a database of stress-continent women who underwent minimally invasive or transvaginal apical suspensions, we calculated 2 prediction risks for development of SUI within 12 months based on inclusion of a "prophylactic" midurethral sling at the time of prolapse surgery. Observed subjective and objective continence status was abstracted from medical records. Regression models were created for the outcome of de novo SUI to generate receiver operating curves. Concordance (c) indices were estimated for the overall and procedure subgroups to determine the calculator's ability to discriminate between SUI outcomes. RESULTS Analyses included 502 women. De novo SUI was observed in 23.5% of women. The mean ± SD calculated risk of de novo SUI if a sling was performed was 18.9% ± 13.9 at 12 months compared with 36.4% ± 8.3 without sling. The calculator's discriminative ability for those with a planned sling was moderate (c-index = 0.55, P = 0.037). The calculator failed to discriminate continence outcomes when a sling was not planned in the overall group (c-index = 0.50, P = 0.799) and individual apical procedures. CONCLUSIONS The SUI risk calculator is significantly limited in its ability to predict de novo SUI in our population of women planning minimally invasive apical suspensions. Refinements to the calculator model are needed to improve its utility in clinical practice.
Provider and patient perspectives on barriers to buprenorphine adherence and the acceptability of video directly observed therapy to enhance adherence.

Buprenorphine effectively reduces opioid craving and illicit opioid use. However, some patients may not take their medication as prescribed and thus experience suboptimal outcomes. The study aim was to qualitatively explore buprenorphine adherence and the acceptability of utilizing video directly observed therapy (VDOT) among patients and their providers in an office-based program. Clinical providers (physicians and staff; n = 9) as well as patients (n = 11) were recruited from an office-based opioid treatment program at an urban academic medical center in the northwestern United States. Using a semi-structured guide, interviewers conducted individual interviews and focus group discussions. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were independently coded to identify key themes related to non-adherence and then jointly reviewed in an iterative fashion to develop a set of content codes. Among providers and patients, perceived reasons for buprenorphine non-adherence generally fell into several thematic categories: social and structural factors that prevented patients from consistently accessing medications or taking them reliably (e.g., homelessness, transportation difficulties, chaotic lifestyles, and mental illness); refraining from taking medication in order to use illicit drugs or divert; and forgetting to take medication, especially in the setting of taking split-doses. Some participants perceived non-adherence to be less of a problem for buprenorphine than for other medications. VDOT was viewed as potentially enhancing patient accountability, leading to more trust from providers who are concerned about diversion. On the other hand, some participants expressed concern that VDOT would place undue burden on patients, which could have the opposite effect of eroding patient-provider trust. Others questioned the clinical indication. Findings suggest potential arenas for enhancing buprenorphine adherence, although structural barriers will likely be most challenging to ameliorate. Providers as well as patients indicated mixed attitudes toward VDOT, suggesting it would need to be thoughtfully implemented.
Evaluating the assumptions of population projection models used for conservation

Abstract Population projection models, such as matrix and integral projection models, are used increasingly to understand potential effects of anthropogenic stressors and inform conservation actions. However, vital rate and life history information needed to create robust population models is often missing or incomplete, making assumptions about parameters and population processes necessary. Understanding how assumptions affect results is critical, particularly if the study will be used to guide policy or management actions. I review published amphibian population projection models to determine whether model output is evaluated with population data, what assumptions are made, and whether sensitivity analyses are performed. I found that only 21% of published models were evaluated with population data, and most models (67%) were explored with sensitivity analyses. I then simulated the effects of four assumptions and varying population carrying capacities on model output and sensitivity results using existing matrix population models from three amphibian species with different life histories: Anaxyrus boreas, Lithobates sylvaticus, and Ambystoma maculatum. Simulations showed that changes in model output and sensitivity analyses under different assumptions depended more on the species examined than the assumption implemented. There were changes in which parameters model output was most sensitive to under all assumptions examined for all species, suggesting caution when using results if there is great uncertainty about model assumptions. Models and their parameterization should be regularly updated with new information to ensure conservation biologists are using the most robust information on potential outcomes of threats and conservation actions.
A Path Analysis of Patient and Social-Level Factors on Health Literacy and Retention in Care Among African Americans Living with HIV.

Low health literacy and poor retention in care may contribute to HIV health disparities among African Americans, but causal pathways have not been examined. We utilized an adapted health literacy model to examine the role of health literacy on racial disparities in retention in care. Retention in care for 699 participants was assessed 24-months post survey and operationalized as 100% visit adherence versus less than 100% visit adherence. Most participants were African American (60%) and virally suppressed (93%). Results from a path analysis revealed that non-African American race was related to greater health literacy (p = .023) and to 100% visit adherence (p = .024). Greater health literacy was associated with 100% visit adherence (p = .008), which was in turn related to viral suppression (p < .001). Findings indicate that health literacy partially mediates the relationship between race and retention in care and are among the first to suggest these causal pathways.
New Findings On Gender: The Effects Of Employment Status On Suicide

Background and objectives The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of gender and employment on suicide with the use of expanded unemployment statuses as covariates. Methods Data were obtained from release 5 of the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, a prospective study of deaths in the United States. Proportional hazards regression models were fitted to the data based on follow-up from 1990 to 2011. Results Unemployment was significantly associated with suicide (ARR=1.628, 95% CI=1.356, 1.954), and men had suicide deaths that were five times greater than women (ARR=5.104, 95% CI=4.565, 5.707), however when the sample was stratified by sex, the impact of unemployment on suicide was much higher among women (ARR=2.988, 95% CI=2.045, 4.366) than among men (ARR=1.393, 95% CI=1.131, 1.717). Conclusion Contrary to many findings and gender assumptions, unemployed women in the U.S. have higher deaths from suicide than unemployed men. Discussion focused on explanations for gender disparities in unemployment.
Emergency Management of an Eyelid Zipper Injury in a Child.

Abstract Background Zipper injuries are rare in the pediatric emergency department, with most reported cases involving the penile and scrotal skin. Knowledge of appropriate zipper release techniques is important to ensure safe and immediate removal of entrapped tissue to prevent complications. Case Report This case report describes a unique presentation of a zipper injury involving entrapment of the upper eyelid. We describe the successful removal of the zipper with gentle manipulation aided by mineral oil lubrication and by cutting fabric from the zipper system to release tension. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? While zipper injuries are rare, an emergency physician must be prepared to provide urgent intervention to prevent complications. This unique case report presents 1 example of successful zipper release in the case of a zipper injury to the eyelid in a child. We review other approaches for emergent zipper removal and discuss postprocedure care.
Estimating blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) larval release sites in the Gulf of Mexico using an oceanographic particle-tracking model

Small, widely-dispersing, pelagic larvae are difficult to monitor through direct observation, but biophysical models can provide greater understanding of dispersal patterns. Here, we used a technique of reversing time in a biophysical model to estimate larval release sites of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in the northern Gulf of Mexico by backtracking from known locations of postlarval settlement. We modeled surface ocean movement in reverse time from four settlement sites (Grand Isle, Louisiana; Ocean Springs, Mississippi; Dauphin Island, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida). In the Gulf of Mexico, blue crab fisheries are managed at the state level. We found on average 73% of the larvae were traced back to larval release sites in the same state as settlement. Barrier island release sites accounted for 11% of settlement at Grand Isle and 17% at Dauphin Island. Less than 0.1% of larvae that settled in Grand Isle were tracked back to a known blue crab spawning area located to the south west, Ship Shoal. The distance traveled by larvae was highest in Pensacola and Grand Isle. The coefficient of variation of distance traveled was highest in Dauphin Island. The average distance traveled to each settlement location ranged from 31 to 124 km. Distance traveled explained 24% of empirical settlement numbers (F 1,89 = 28.82, P < 0.001;R 2 = 0.24). Settlement success was higher at release sites predicted by this study than at randomly generated sites suggesting female selection of larval release sites.
37 Changes in patterns of mortality rates and years of life lost due to firearms in the United States, 1999 to 2016: a joinpoint analysis

Statement of Purpose Firearm-related death rates and years of potential life lost (YPLL) vary widely between population subgroups and states. However, changes or inflections in temporal trends within subgroups and states are not fully documented. We assessed temporal patterns and inflections in the rates of firearm deaths and %YPLL due to firearms for overall and by sex, age, race/ethnicity, intent, and states in the United States between 1999 and 2016. Methods We extracted age-adjusted firearm mortality and YPLL rates per 100,000, and %YPLL from 1999 to 2016 by using the WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) database. We used Joinpoint Regression to assess temporal trends, the inflection points, and annual percentage change (APC) from 1999 to 2016. Results National firearm mortality rates were 10.3 and 11.8 per 100,000 in 1999 and 2016, with two distinct segments; a plateau until 2014 followed by an increase of APC=7.2% (95% CI 3.1, 11.4). YPLL rates were from 304.7 and 338.2 in 1999 and 2016 with a steady APC increase in%YPLL of 0.65% (95% CI 0.43, 0.87) from 1999 to an inflection point in 2014, followed by a larger APC in %YPLL of 5.1% (95% CI 0.1, 10.4). The upward trend in firearm mortality and YPLL rates starting in 2014 was observed in subgroups of male, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanic whites and for firearm assaults. The inflection points for firearm mortality and YPLL rates also varied across states. Conclusions Within the United States, firearm mortality rates and YPLL remained constant between 1999 and 2014 and have been increasing subsequently. There was, however, an increase in firearm mortality rates in several subgroups and individual states earlier than 2014. Significance Future interventions, programs, and policies should be created to address this shifting burden locally and should bear in mind the populations that are most affected.
Predicting respiratory failure after pulmonary lobectomy using machine learning techniques

Abstract Background When pulmonary complications occur, postlobectomy patients have a higher mortality rate, increased length of stay, and higher readmission rates. Because of a lack of high-quality consolidated clinical data, it is challenging to assess and recognize at-risk thoracic patients to avoid respiratory failure and standardize outcome measures. Methods The National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample for 2015 was used to establish our model. We identified 417 respiratory failure from a total of 4,062 patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy. Risk factors for respiratory failure were identified, analyzed, and used in novel machine learning models to predict respiratory failure. Results Factors that contributed to increased odds of respiratory failure, such as preexisting chronic diseases, and intraoperative and postoperative events during hospitalization were identified. Two machine learning-based prediction models were generated and optimized by the knowledge accrued from the clinical course of postlobectomy patients. The first model, with high accuracy and specificity, is suited for performance evaluation, and the second model, with high sensitivity, is suited for clinical decision making. Conclusion We identified risk factors for respiratory failure after lobectomy and introduced 2 machine learning-based techniques to predict respiratory failure for quality review and clinical decision-making settings. Such techniques can be used to not only provide targeted support but also standardize quality peer review measures.
Tolerance of pintoi peanut to PRE and POST herbicides

Pintoi peanut is a warm-season perennial legume that shows promise as a forage crop for the southeastern United States, however, little is known about the proper methods of weed management during establishment for this species. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of pintoi peanut to tolerate applications of PRE and POST herbicides during the year of and year after planting. The effects of herbicide treatments on percentage of visual estimates of injury and stand counts of pintoi peanut were investigated at Ona and Marianna, FL, in 2015 and 2016. All PRE herbicides did not result in significant injury or stand reduction. Pintoi peanut’s tolerance to POST herbicides was higher when plants were emerged for at least 2 wk prior to herbicide application. Stands of pintoi peanut that were planted the previous year appear to tolerate all herbicides examined in this work, except sulfosulfuron. Results of this study indicate that at the year of planting pintoi peanut is tolerant to PRE applications of pendimethalin, imazethapyr, and imazapic. Pintoi peanut appears to tolerate applications of 2,4-D, carfentrazone, imazapic and imazethapyr the year after planting at the rates utilized in this study. Future research should evaluate the effects of multiple herbicide applications and tank-mixes to obtain satisfactory weed control and selectivity in pintoi peanut swards.
Female Urethral Stricture Management: The Initial Experience of an Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery-Trained Urologist.

OBJECTIVE Given the rarity of female urethral strictures (the cause of <1% of female lower urinary tract symptoms), most trainees have little experience diagnosing and managing the problem as they begin practice. Presented are the female urethral stricture outcomes of an attending surgeon after the completion of a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship. METHODS With institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of all cases of suspected female urethral stricture through the first 7 years of practice was completed. RESULTS Over the study period, 13 women were treated for urethral stricture. One underwent simple meatotomy, 9 underwent vaginal wall flap (Blandy) urethroplasty, and 3 underwent urethral dilation only because they were not reconstructive candidates (1 due to severe radiation damage and 2 with panurethral strictures that included the bladder neck). Women undergoing urethral dilations (n = 3) have all required subsequent dilations, whereas those undergoing reconstructive procedures have not required further intervention (all with max flow rates greater than 17 mL/s at last follow-up [median = 35 months, range = 10-70]). CONCLUSION Over the course of 7 years, our limited experience suggests that (a) urethral dilation is not usually successful but surgical reconstruction is, (b) preoperative urethral rest before reconstruction may reduce failure rates, (c) staging a stricture in the operating room is the best route to confirm the diagnosis, (d) de novo stress urinary incontinence seems to rarely if ever occur after female urethroplasty, and (e) postoperative follow-up with simple uroflow and postvoid residual testing suffices.
Integrative analysis from the epigenome through translation exposes patterns of dominant nuclear regulation during transient stress

Abstract Gene regulation is modulated from chromatin to translation. To better understand the integration of nuclear and cytoplasmic gene regulatory dynamics, we performed a multi-omic survey of the epigenome through the translatome of the response of Arabidopsis seedlings to hypoxia and reoxygenation. This included eight assays of chromatin (histones, accessibility, RNAPII and transcription factor binding) and three assays of RNA (nuclear, polyadenylated, and ribosome-associated). Dynamic patterns of nuclear regulation distinguished stress-induced and growth-associated mRNAs. The rapid upregulation of hypoxia-responsive gene transcripts and their preferential translation was accompanied by increased chromatin accessibility, RNAPII engagement and reduced Histone 2A.Z association. The more progressive upregulation of heat stress gene transcripts was characterized by early engagement of RNAPII and elevation of nuclear over polyadenylated RNA. Promoters of the rapidly versus progressively upregulated gene cohorts were enriched for cis-elements of ethylene-responsive and heat shock factor transcription factor families, respectively. By contrast, genes associated with growth including ribosomal proteins underwent distinct histone modifications, yet retained RNAPII engagement and accumulated nuclear transcripts during the stress. Upon reaeration, many of the progressively upregulated and growth-associated gene transcripts were mobilized to ribosomes. Thus, multi-level nuclear regulation distinguishes transcript synthesis, accumulation and translation in response to a transient stress.
Neural Correlates of Vocal Auditory Feedback Processing: Unique Insights from Electrocorticography Recordings in a Human Cochlear Implant User.

ABSTRACT There is considerable interest in understanding cortical processing and the function of top-down and bottom-up human neural circuits that control speech production. Research efforts to investigate these circuits are aided by analysis of spectro-temporal response characteristics of neural activity recorded by electrocorticography (ECoG). Further, cortical processing may be altered in the case of hearing impaired cochlear implant (CI) users, as electric excitation of the auditory nerve creates a markedly different neural code for speech compared to that of the functionally intact hearing system. Studies of cortical activity in CI users typically record scalp potentials and are hampered by stimulus artifact contamination and by spatio-temporal filtering imposed by the skull. We present a unique case of a CI user who required direct recordings from the cortical surface using subdural electrodes implanted for epilepsy assessment. Using experimental conditions where the subject vocalized in the presence (CIs ON) or absence (CIs OFF) of auditory feedback, or listened to playback of self-vocalizations without production, we observed ECoG activity primarily in gamma (32-70 Hz) and high gamma (70-150 Hz) bands at focal regions on the lateral surface of the superior temporal gyrus (STG). High gamma band responses differed in their amplitudes across conditions and cortical sites, possibly reflecting different rates of stimulus presentation and differing levels of neural adaptation. STG gamma responses to playback and vocalization with auditory feedback were not different from responses to vocalization without feedback, indicating this activity reflects not only auditory, but also attentional, efference-copy, and sensorimotor processing during speech production. Significance statement This unique study directly examined cortical activity during speech vowel sound vocalization and listening tasks in a deaf subject with bilateral cochlear implants and medically intractable epilepsy. Because the subject could not experience bone or air-conducted auditory feedback, unique insights into speech production were made possible. Our findings demonstrate that gamma activity in the superior temporal gyrus reflects a combination of auditory and non-auditory related activation of the auditory cortex during speech production.
Shareholder Coordination Costs and the Market for Corporate Control

Coordination costs among a firm's shareholders have an important impact on the market for corporate control. Using geographic distance among institutional investors to measure coordination costs, I find that target firms with lower shareholder coordination costs experience significantly higher abnormal returns around the takeover announcement. In a similar vein, acquirer firms with lower shareholder coordination costs are associated with better acquisition performance. These effects are particularly pronounced after the 1992 proxy reform which relaxes the restrictions on communication and coordination among shareholders. These findings suggest that the ease of coordination among shareholders plays and important role in the market for corporate control by raising the bargaining power of target shareholders and enhancing the monitoring role of both target and acquirer shareholders.
White Matter Hyperintensity and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes in the SPRINT MIND Trial

Abstract Background The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) randomized patients to a goal systolic blood pressure (SBP) Methods The primary outcome was the same as SPRINT, a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, decompensated congestive heart failure, or cardiovascular death. We fit Cox models to the primary outcome and report adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for log-transformed WMHv and quartiles of WMHv. Results Among 717 participants, the median (IQR) baseline WMHv was 1.62 (0.66–3.98) mL. The primary outcome occurred in 51/719 (7.1%). The median WMHv was higher in patients with the primary outcome (3.40 mL versus 1.56 mL, p Conclusions We found that the baseline volume of WMH was associated with future CVD risk in SPRINT MIND. Prospective clinical trials with larger sample sizes than the current study are needed to determine whether intensive BP lowering can reduce the high cardiovascular risk in patients with WMH.
Online Involvement for Georgia Student Teachers During Covid-19

As concerns about Covid-19 rapidly escalated in March 2020 in the United States, all levels of education were impacted. A unique population (student teachers) faced challenges from two perspectives: as students and as teachers forced to teach and learn from a distance. Student Teachers, or preservice teachers (PST), are university students finishing a degree and/or teacher certification program by serving as an intern in a school setting. As schools were closed, these PSTs may not have been given access to the online learning platforms of their cooperating teachers (CT) and were no longer included in classroom instruction. The purpose of this study was to examine how the sudden shift away from traditional face-to-face instruction, co-teaching, and mentorship affected the involvement of music PSTs and their CT mentors in one region of the United States. Specifically, the research questions were: (1) How and in what ways were PSTs involved in planning, instruction, and/or assessment synchronously and asynchronously after school closures? (2) In what subdomains (performance, music theory/ear-training, etc.) were PSTs engaged in instruction and learning activities? (3) What challenges and solutions did PSTs report related to Covid-19 closures? A survey was sent, via email, to PSTs attending teacher preparation programs at universities in the state of Georgia at the end of the spring semester. Thirty-seven participants responded to the survey questions representing about 32% of all PSTs in Georgia in Spring 2020. Twenty-one were not given access to the online teaching platform of their placement school. A thematic analysis of the open-ended questions identified common themes including whether experiences were perceived as negative or positive. Of the PSTs given access, the majority of their responsibilities and experiences were creating assignments, additional help videos, participating in Zoom meetings, and assessing student assignment submissions. Of these experiences, interestingly, most were classified as positive by the PSTs. However, the importance of face-to-face interactions for both PST and the P-12 students was mentioned throughout survey responses. Approximately 10 PSTs mentioned their CT relationship/interaction and four of the respondents noted that their CT never reached out for help; however, six noted collaborative meetings or teaching with their CT. Importantly, some PSTs reported a lack of knowledge related to the planning and implementation of music instruction in the online modality. Therefore, teacher preparation programs should consider incorporating technology including online solutions into the music curriculum so that future music educators may more flexibly incorporate both in-person and distance learning.
“Lame Doings”: Amputation, Impotence, and Community in The Shoemaker’s Holiday and A Larum for London

This chapter reconstructs sixteenth-century discourses of disability through Thomas Dekker’s play The Shoemaker’s Holiday and the anonymous A Larum for London. Previous criticism of disability in early modern texts has long focused on its perceived monstrosity. The chapter, however, demonstrates that the amputees in The Shoemaker’s Holiday and A Larum for London do not signify moral degeneracy or evildoing but rather demonstrate valor and the power of male communities during a time of war. It also argues that the impotence that the shoemakers and soldiers experience figures early modern disability as an everyday middle-class experience of powerlessness rather than (as commonly assumed) a monstrous exemplum of sin or evil.
Meeting students where they are: Trauma-informed approaches in rural Schools

Twenty-five percent of U.S. schoolchildren attend a rural school. Yet, rural school issues are typically subsumed by debates focused on urban problems and the misguided notion of ample resources available for their remediation. These assumptions belie the reality of the spatial mismatch that exists for rural schools, especially around mental health supports. Adverse childhood experiences and trauma disproportionately affect rural schoolchildren, putting them at greater risk of academic underachievement and other negative throughout the lifespan. Trauma-informed approaches in rural schools may mitigate the effects of childhood adversity and help close achievement gaps for rural students. Rural schools and students have needs and challenges distinct from those of urban and suburban schools, but only 2% of peer-reviewed publications address trauma-informed approaches or social-emotional learning in rural schools. More research is needed to help our 13 million rural schoolchildren develop the resilience necessary to overcome adversity and achieve healthy outcomes.
New Type III CRISPR variant and programmable RNA targeting tool: Oh, thank heaven for Cas7-11.

Ozcan et al. (2021) and van Beljouw et al. (2021) characterize a novel Type III-E CRISPR-Cas subtype, composed of a single polypeptide with crRNA processing and sequence-specific RNA cleavage activities, that provides a new RNA knockdown tool for mammalian cells with fewer off-target effects than current technologies.
Decreased phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages from BCG-treated mice: induction of the phagocytic defect in normal macrophages with BCG in vitro.

Abstract Mice treated up to 31 weeks previously with intraperitoneal BCG yielded peritoneal macrophages with decreased phagocytosis of starch granules, latex beads, graphite dust and formalinized Listeria monocytogenes , with or without opsonin, compared to macrophages from untreated mice. These assays were selected to allow quantitative determinations of the rate or extent of particle uptake under nonrate-limiting conditions. Phagocytosis could be depressed to a similar degree by the prior addition of either starch granules or BCG to normal adherent peritoneal cell cultures in vitro . However, with these two particles, two different mechanisms of inhibition of subsequent phagocytosis appeared to be at work. Inhibition of phagocytosis by prior exposure to large amounts of starch granules appeared to consist largely of mechanical interference, as if through the preemption of intracellular space. In contrast, inhibition by prior uptake of BCG occurred with very small amounts of BCG and appeared gradually with time after uptake of BCG. The ability of a “macrophage activating agent” to inhibit selected functions of parasitized cells may help to explain some of the discordant results obtained by others studying phagocytosis by “activated” macrophages. Such agents may simultaneously enhance some macrophage functions and depress others.
Facial asymmetry: a new robust biometric in the frequency domain

The present paper introduces a novel set of facial biometrics defined in the frequency domain representing “facial asymmetry”. A comparison with previously introduced spatial asymmetry measures suggests that the frequency domain representation provides an efficient approach for performing human identification in the presence of severe expressions and also for expression classification. Feature analysis indicates that asymmetry of the different regions of the face (e.g., eyes, mouth, nose) help in these two apparently conflicting classification problems. Another advantage of our frequency domain measures is that they are tolerant to some form of illumination variations. Error rates of less than 5% are observed for human identification in all cases. We then propose another asymmetry biometric based only on the Fourier domain phase and show a potential connection of asymmetry with phase.
Machine-Learning-Based image categorization

In this paper, a novel and efficient automatic image categorization system is proposed. This system integrates the MIL-based and global-feature-based SVMs for categorization. The IPs (Instance Prototypes) are derived from the segmented regions by applying MIL on the training images from different categories. The IPs-based image features are further used as inputs to a set of SVMs to find the optimum hyperplanes for categorizing training images. Similarly, global image features, including color histogram and edge histogram, are fed into another set of SVMs. For each test image, two sets of image features are constructed and sent to the two respective sets of SVMs. The decision values from two sets of SVMs are finally incorporated to obtain the final categorization results. The empirical results demonstrate that the proposed system outperforms the peer systems in terms of both efficiency and accuracy.
Projecting Illusion: Film Spectatorship and the Impression of Reality

1. Althusser, Lacan, and film theory 2. The lure of metaphysics 3. Representation, illusion, and the cinema 4. Cinema, psychoanalysis, and the film spectator Notes Filmography Index.
East Mesa geothermal test site

The feasibility of using geothermal resources to increase the flow of the Colorado River and as a source of concurrent electrical energy is evaluated in the context of experiments conducted in Imperial Valley, Calif. The method of finding geothermal reservoirs, injection operations, and seismic and subsidence monitoring are described. One problem faced is the high salinity content of geothermal brines. Three types of desalting units were tested: a multistage flash unit, a vertical tube evaporator unit, and a high temperature electrodialysis unit. All three desalting systems have thus far been used successfully to desalt geothermal fluid, and the problems associated which each system have been identified, along with probable solutions. Productivity of geothermal reservoirs, injection capabilities, compatibility of fluids, environmental concerns, and the source of replacement fluid determine the economic feasibility of geothermal desalting. Tests to explore problems and to judge the possible use of concurrent power production in the desalting process are continuing. (5 diagrams, 2 photos, 5 references, 4 tables)
A unified approach to coordinated energy-management in data centers

Energy consumption has become a critical issue for data centers, triggered by the rise in energy costs, volatility in the supply and demand of energy and the widespread proliferation of power-hungry information technology (IT) equipment. In response, researchers are developing energy-efficient data centers by incorporating energy-aware systems both at the IT level (shutting down servers or temperature-aware workload placement) as well as at the facilities level (shutting down air-conditioning units, increasing temperature of air supplied to the plenum). In this work, we explore a novel approach to coordinated-management of IT systems and its cooling infrastructure to joint power and temperature objectives. In particular, for a given total IT workload, we present a method to determine the optimal settings of computer room air-conditioning units (CRACs) in a data center so as to minimize overall energy consumption in the data center while satisfying specified temperature constraints. Using potential fluid-flow theory, our approach identifies distinct thermal zones associated with each CRAC and then provisions cooling power to match the heat generated from the racks in that zone. We illustrate the resulting range in behavior and potential for energy savings in a large 10,000 sqft commercial data center with 10 CRACs and 186 racks.
A Sketching Interface for Freeform 3D Modeling

This chapter introduces Teddy, a sketch-based modeling system to quickly and easily design freeform models such as stuffed animals and other rotund objects. The user draws several 2D freeform strokes interactively on the screen and the system automatically constructs plausible 3D polygonal surfaces. Our system supports several modeling operations, including the operation to construct a 3D polygonal surface from a 2D silhouette drawn by the user: it inflates the region surrounded by the silhouette making a wide area fat, and a narrow area thin. Teddy, our prototype system, is implemented as a Java program, and the mesh construction is done in real-time on a standard PC. Our informal user study showed that a first-time user masters the operations within 10 minutes, and can construct interesting 3D models within minutes. We also report the result of a case study where a high school teacher taught various 3D concepts in geography using the system.
Termination and Cure Under the Common European Sales Law: Avoiding Pitfalls in Contract Remedies

Standard economic analysis of breach of contract has focussed on the remedy of damages, while largely ignoring competing remedies such as termination. The present paper aims at helping to fill this void. The major issue posed by the buyer's right to termination is its coordination with the seller's right to cure non-conforming tender. In this regard, the proposal for a Common European Sales Law (CESL) offers a bifurcated approach. For B2B transactions the buyer's right to terminate the contract is subject to the seller's offer to cure the defect, thus providing the seller with an option to hold on to the contract and earn the price. In contrast, the consumer-buyer shall be entitled to walk away from the contract immediately upon discovery of a defect, without allowing the seller to cure the conformity. The right to immediate termination is mandatory for B2C transactions so that the parties cannot provide for a right to cure by agreement. The present article presents an economic analysis of the bifurcated approach adopted by the CESL. It is argued that the exclusion of party autonomy is misguided and that an immediate and unconditional right to termination diminishes the joint gains of the parties from the contract. The buyer is put in a position to impose disproportionate costs on the seller and no incentive is provided for inducing the buyer to refrain from doing so.
Calcium absorbability from spinach

The absorbability of calcium from spinach was compared with the absorbability of Ca from milk in 13 healthy adults in a randomized cross-over design in which the test meal of either milk or spinach had 200 mg of Ca labeled with 45Ca. Absorption was measured by the standard double-isotope method in which both the test food and the miscible Ca pool are labeled with different Ca tracers. Measurement of both Ca and oxalate in our test spinach revealed a very slight stoichiometric excess of oxalate; hence it is likely that all of the spinach Ca was effectively bound. Absorption was higher from milk in every case, with the mean absorption from milk averaging 27.6% and from spinach, 5.1%. The mean within-subject difference between Ca absorption from milk and from spinach was 22.5 +/- 9.5% (P less than 0.0001). These results conclusively establish that spinach Ca is much less readily available than milk Ca.
The Nutritional Intake of Patients with Organic Acidaemias on Enteral Tube Feeding: Can We Do Better?

Background: Detailed nutritional intake data on children with organic acidaemias (OA) (propionic acidaemia (PA), vitamin B12 nonresponsive methylmalonic acidaemia (MMA) and isovaleric acidaemia (IVA)) remains unreported.
Aortic Stiffness, Ambulatory Blood Pressure, and Predictors of Response to Antihypertensive Therapy in Hemodialysis

Background Arterial stiffness is associated with elevated blood pressure (BP), but it is unclear whether it also makes hypertension more resistant to treatment. Among hypertensive dialysis patients, this study investigated whether aortic stiffness determines ambulatory BP and predicts its improvement with therapy. Study Design Post hoc analysis of the Hypertension in Hemodialysis Patients Treated With Atenolol or Lisinopril (HDPAL) trial. Settings & Participants 179 hypertensive hemodialysis patients with echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy. Predictor Baseline aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). Outcome Baseline and treatment-induced change in 44-hour ambulatory BP at 3, 6, and 12 months. Measurements Aortic PWV was assessed with an echocardiographic-Doppler technique (ACUSON Cypress, Siemens Medical), and 44-hour interdialytic ambulatory BP monitoring was performed with a Spacelabs 90207 monitor. Results Mean baseline aortic PWV was 7.6±2.7 (SD) m/s. Overall treatment-induced changes in ambulatory systolic BP (SBP) were −15.6±20.4, −18.9±22.5, and −20.0±19.7mmHg at 3, 6, and 12 months. Changes in SBP were no different among tertiles of baseline PWV. Aortic PWV was associated directly with baseline ambulatory SBP and pulse pressure (PP) and inversely with diastolic BP (DBP). After adjustment for several cardiovascular risk factors, each 1-m/s higher PWV was associated with 1.34−mm Hg higher baseline SBP (β=1.34±0.46; P=0.004) and 1.02−mm Hg higher PP (β=1.02±0.33; P=0.002), whereas the association with DBP was no longer significant. Baseline PWV did not predict treatment-induced changes in SBP (Wald test, P=0.3) and DBP (Wald test, P=0.7), but was a predictor of an overall improvement in PP during follow-up (Wald test, P=0.03). Limitations Observational design; predominantly black patients were studied. Conclusions Because aortic PWV is not a predictor of treatment-induced change in ambulatory BP among hypertensive dialysis patients, it indicates that among these patients, hypertension can be controlled successfully regardless of aortic stiffness.
Regulated expression of the human corticotropin releasing hormone gene by cyclic AMP

Abstract The factors controlling the expression of the hypothalamic neuropeptide, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), are poorly understood. We have used a mouse anterior pituitary cell line, AtT-20, permanently transfected with the human CRH gene as a model for studying the regulation of the CRH gene by cyclic AMP. Previously, we demonstrated that in this system the CRH gene is correctly expressed and appropriately negatively regulated by glucocorticoids. Treatment of five CRH-producing cell lines with an activator of adenylate cyclase (forskolin, 0.1–50 μM for 24 h) caused a dose-dependent and specific increase in the amount of CRH mRNA and radioimmunoassay-detectable CRH peptide secreted into the medium. Ribonuclease protection analysis revealed that the CRH gene was transcribed from multiple transcriptional initiation sites located over several hundred nucleotides. Forskolin treatment resulted in a specific increase in the CRH mRNA transcripts initiating from one of these many transcriptional start sites.
Metastatic dormancy and progression in thyroid cancer: targeting cells in the metastatic frontier.

Background: Metastatic dormancy, or the ability of cancer cells to survive but not progress in metastatic environments, is now recognized to be a common occurrence in cancer. Summary: From a clinical perspective, this phenomenon is common in metastatic well-differentiated thyroid cancer, whereby patients often present with distant metastases that remain stable for years after removal of the primary tumor and subsequent treatment. Experimental data suggest that metastases can develop throughout the life of a cancer and that progression in the distant environment depends on the biology of the cancer cells that metastasize as well as that of the various microenvironments they encounter. A firm understanding of how thyroid cancer cell progression is regulated in different metastatic environments is necessary to devise effective therapies targeting progressive metastatic thyroid cancer. Conclusion: In this review, current models of metastatic progression and factors that regulate late-stage metastatic progress...
Effect of L-arginine supplementation on immune responsiveness in patients with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: L-arginine (L-Arg) is deficient in sickle cell disease (SSD) during vasoocclusion. We investigated possible causal relationship between L-Arg deficiency and immune dysfunction in SSD in steady-state. PROCEDURE: Fifteen patients with SSD in steady-state and 13 controls were studied. Plasma L-Arg levels were measured using liquid chromatography. T cell subsets and CD3zeta (CD3zeta) chain expression were analyzed using flow cytometry. Lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and production of IL-6 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were evaluated with and without L-Arg. RESULTS: SSD patients had significantly lower L-Arg levels than controls. CD3 and CD19 cell populations were comparable for both groups, but SSD patients had above normal numbers of natural killer cells (P = 0.06). Patients and controls exhibited significantly increased lymphocyte blastogenesis to PHA after introduction of L-Arg to cultures; response of patients was significantly greater than values for control individuals. Proliferative response to candida in SSD patients was significantly lower than in controls; L-Arg supplementation did not increase this response. L-Arg had no effect on blastogenic response to PPD and candida albicans. No effect was likewise seen in production of IL-6 and IFN-gamma after addition of L-Arg. CD3zeta chain expression increased after addition of L-Arg in both groups; differences were insignificant. CONCLUSION: L-Arg levels in steady-state SSD are significantly lower than in controls. L-Arg supplementation enhanced lymphocyte blastogenesis to PHA for both controls and patients, but not in response to antigen. There were no significant differences in CD3zeta chain expression although upregulation of expression occurred after L-Arg supplementation for both groups.
Rapid entry of infectious particles of southern bean mosaic virus into living cells following transport of the particles in the water stream

Abstract Infectious particles of southern bean mosaic virus moved upward in the water stream of Pinto bean stems, entered undamaged living cells, and multiplied. In some plants the time required to enter living cells several feet from the site of virus intoduction must have been 1 day or less. Introduction of virus directly into steamed regions of Pinto stems resulted in occurrence of virus infections far above the point of virus introduction. Local infections at site of virus introduction were therefore not prerequisite to the occurrence of remote infections. Introduction of the virus into an internode well above the hypocotyl also resulted in the frequent occurrence of necrosis in foliage above the inoculated area, but rarely in that below. Rapid upward transport of infectious virus particles in the water stream with a pathway for natural entry of these particles into living cells is indicated by the results obtained.