cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cloning of Thermomonospora fusca genes coding for beta 1-4 endoglucanases E1, E2 and E5.

Thermomonospora fusca chromosomal DNA was partially digested with EcoRI and fragments in the size range from 4 to 15 kb were isolated, ligated into lambda gtWES.lambda B arms, packaged, and the recombinant phages plated on Escherichia coli. The plaques were screened for carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity by a gel overlay procedure, and 25 plaques were positive among the 15,000 plaques that were screened. Positive phages were amplified and used to prepare infected E. coli extracts which were assayed for CMCase activity before and after treatment with antisera prepared against five purified T. fusca beta 1-4 endoglucanases (E1-E5). One phage produced an enzyme that was inhibited by E1 antiserum, nine of the phages produced enzymes that were inhibited by E2 antiserum, 14 produced enzymes that were inhibited by E5 antiserum and the enzyme produced by the other phages was not inhibited by any of the five antisera. The DNA insert present in the phage coding for E1 was cut into a number of different fragments which were subcloned into E. coli first using lambda gtWES.lambda B and then plasmid pBR322. The smallest active subclone, pTE12, contained a 3.1-kb insert. The insert present in one of the phages coding for E2 was also subcloned and the smallest active subclone pTE23 contained a 2-kb insert. E. coli HB101 containing plasmid pTE12 or pTE23 produced enzymes that were identical to E1 and E2, respectively, in all the properties tested.
Hierarchical image feature extraction and classification

In the field of machine learning and pattern recognition, an alternative to conventional classification is hierarchical classification that exploits hierarchical relations between concepts of interest. To the best of our knowledge, all hierarchical classification methods in the literature are designed to reduce computation complexity without sacrificing too much on accuracy performance. In this work on image classification, we first propose a hierarchical image feature extraction that extracts image feature based on the location of current node in hierarchy to fit the images under current node and to better distinguish its subclasses. As far as we know, such node-dependent feature extraction has not been considered in the literature. Contrary to former hierarchical classification methods that only consider local structure of the hierarchy, we propose a novel cross-level hierarchical classification method that utilizes both global and local concept structures throughout the entire path decision-making process. Our experimental result on two datasets shows that the proposed hierarchical feature extraction combined with our novel hierarchical classification achieves better accuracy performance than conventional non-hierarchical classification methods, and hence conventional hierarchical methods as well.
Hindgut microflora from oil-polluted soft-shell clams

Abstract The natural microflora resident in the hindgut of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria appear to have no role in the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in oil-polluted estuarine sediments.
Histoplasmosis infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 1998-2009

Patients with rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for infections related to both the disease and its treatments. These include uncommonly reported infections due to histoplasmosis. Medical record review of all patients with a diagnosis of RA who developed new histoplasmosis infection in an endemic region between Jan 1, 1998 and Jan 30, 2009 and who were seen at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota was performed. Histoplasmosis was diagnosed in 26 patients. Most patients were on combination therapies; 15 were on anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents, 15 on corticosteroids and 16 on methotrexate. Most received more than 6 months of itraconazole and/or amphotericin treatment. Two patients died of causes unrelated to histoplasmosis. Anti-TNF treatment was restarted in 4/15 patients, with recurrence of histoplasmosis in one. In this largest single center series of patients with RA and histoplasmosis in the era of immunomodulatory therapy, we found that most patients had longstanding disease and were on multiple immunomodulatory agents. Most cases were pulmonary; typical signs and symptoms of disease were frequently lacking.
Variability in measurements of pancreatic cyst size among EUS, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging modalities

Background Cyst size is an important factor in the management of pancreatic cysts, both in predicting the need for surgery and the frequency of follow-up. Objective To determine agreement and precision of EUS, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities in the evaluation of pancreatic cyst diameter. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary-care center, January 2000 to June 2009. Patients This study involved 175 patients presenting for EUS evaluation of pancreatic cysts, with size measured by at least two of the aforementioned imaging studies within a 90-day period. Main Outcome Measurements Largest cyst diameter from EUS, CT, MRI/MRCP, and surgical pathology. Results A total of 175 patients underwent EUS. Seventy-three had CT plus EUS, 33 had MRI/MRCP plus EUS, 23 had MRI/MRCP plus CT, and 15 had all imaging studies, occurring within 90 days of each other. Median size differences between studies: EUS and CT (ie, absolute value of size determined by EUS minus size determined by CT) = 4 mm (range 0-25 mm), EUS and MRI=4 mm (range 0-17 mm), CT and MRI=3 mm (range 2-20 mm). Median size differences for surgical pathology specimens compared with results of 12 EUS, 13 CT, and 8 MRI/MRCP studies were as follows: EUS and pathology=9.5 mm (range 0-20 mm), CT and pathology=5 mm (range 0-21 mm), MRI and pathology=5.5 mm (range 2-44 mm). Limitations Interobserver variability and small sample of surgical pathology cysts. Conclusion There is considerable variation in size estimates of pancreatic cysts by different imaging modalities, which practitioners should take into account when making management decisions. Use of a single imaging modality is recommended during follow-up. The precision of imaging studies for measuring pancreatic cysts must be prospectively defined if change in size is to be reliably used for clinical management.
On glaciations and their causes

The Pleistocene, and possibly also other, older glaciations, are believed to have resulted from a combination of terrestrial and astronomical factors. Preceding glaciation, orogenesis and uplift increased the Earth's albedo and decreased temperature. Lowering of temperature below a certain threshold value permitted the astronomical cause to become operative. While smaller glaciations may have been largely or entirely patterned by the astronomical cause or causes, terrestrial factors had an important effect in determining the course of the larger glaciations. Two time-delay factors are believed to have been responsible for the oscillatory pattern of glaciation: these are plastic iceflow, and crustal warping.
Ultraviolet spectra of the narrow-lined Seyfert galaxies Markarian 573 and Markarian 1388

Ultraviolet spectra, obtained with the IUE satellite, are presented for the unusually narrow-lined Seyfert galaxies Mrk 573 and Mrk 1388. The data support class 2 identifications for both galaxies and also suggest the need for more energetic ionizing radiation in the most recently published Seyfert 2 galaxy photoionization calculation.
Reactive scattering of O+ on oxidized Si(0 0 1)

Abstract Thin silicon oxide films are grown on Si(0 0 1) through ion-beam oxidation (IBO), using hyperthermal O + ions. Within a steady-state oxidation regime, scattering of O + from these thin films yields both positive (Si + ,SiO + ) and negative (O − ,O 2 − ) ion products. The emergence of O − and O 2 − is investigated through isotopic labeling and angle-, mass- and energy-resolved detection. The O − signal comprises direct scattering and surface recoil components. Two distinct O 2 − formation mechanisms are operative, with different dependencies on incident O + energy: at low O + energies, O 2 − is created exclusively by abstraction of a surface oxygen atom by an incident oxygen; whereas for higher O + energies, a second channel involving a recoil abstracting a surface atom contributes. These studies represent the first investigation of the scattered reaction products formed during silicon IBO.
Dynamic Compressive Response of Intact and Damaged AD995 Alumina

The dynamic compressive responses of AD995 alumina have been determined as a function of loading rates and damage levels. To determine the dynamic properties under loading conditions simulating those encountered in ceramic armors subjected to impact, a novel dynamic compressive experimental technique modified from a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was employed to load the ceramic specimen by two consecutive stress pulses. The first pulse determines the dynamic response of the intact ceramic material and then crushes the specimen. Before the specimen disintegrates, the second pulse determines the dynamic compressive constitutive behavior of the ceramic rubble that is still interlocked. The results show that the compressive strengths of damaged ceramics are insensitive to strain rates once the damage level exceeds a critical value.
Nutrition and somatomedin XXI. Insulin-like growth factor-I and somatomedin inhibitor in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: Relation to ketogenesis and gluconeogenesis☆☆☆

Diabetes is associated with a fall in serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) and a rise in somatomedin inhibitor, a circulating factor(s) of ∼30,000 MW that is released by the liver and can antagonize both somatomedin and insulin action. Levels of inhibitor correlate with levels of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, and weight loss. To study pathways that could underlie the fall in IGF-1 and rise in inhibitor, the effects of metabolic inhibitors on circulating metabolic fuels, serum IGF-1, and serum somatomedin inhibitor activity were studied. Rats given streptozotocin exhibited weight loss of 14% ± 0.1%, glucose 457 ± 26 mg/dL, and β-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) 6.3 ± 0.5 mmol/L. Somatomedin inhibitor was separated from IGF-1 by size exclusion HPLC at pH 3; IGF-1 was measured by RIA, and somatomedin inhibitor by cartilage bioassay. Diabetic animals exhibited a fall in IGF-1 to 76% of normal (P < .02) and a rise in inhibitor to 270% of normal (P < .01). 3-Mercaptopicolinic (3-MPA) acid, an inhibitor of gluconeogenesis, lowered glucose to 68 ± 2 mg/dL and BOHB to 0.96 ± 0.09 mmol/L (both P < .01 v diabetic), but levels of inhibitor did not fall. Nicotinic acid, an inhibitor of lipolysis, did not affect glucose but reduced BOHB to 0.42 ± 0.02 mmol/L; somatomedin inhibitor fell 19% below diabetic levels (NS) but remained above normal (P < .01). In contrast, inhibition of fatty acid oxidationwith methyl-2-tetradecylglycidate reduced glucose to 191 ± 18 mg/dL but lowered BOHB to normal, 0.16 ± 0.02 mmol/L, accompanied by normalization of somatomedin inhibitor levels (152% ± 33% of normal, NS). Below 1.0 mmol/L BOHB, somatomedin inhibitor and BOHB were strongly correlated (r = .67, P < .001); no comparable relation was found with glucose. Despite the highly significant fluctuations in levels of somatomedin inhibitor, circulating IGF-1 was unchanged by inhibition of gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, or fatty acid oxidation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that ketogenesis and somatomedin inhibitor production are associated via common regulatory factors.
Trajectory options for the Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby mission

The Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby mission is strongly supported by the scientific community. Two major events during the past year have forced a re-analysis of the mission options, with the goal of selecting a baseline mission for launch in 1993. Venus and earth gravity assists can be used to allow rendezvous with comet Tempel 2 in 1996; the scientific potential of the resulting mission is excellent. Although backup mission opportunities have been identified, the significantly longer flight times weaken the scientific appeal of these missions.
Understanding Variability in Northwest Coast Faunal Assemblages: Beyond Economic Intensification and Cultural Complexity

ABSTRACT On the Northwest Coast of North America, animal resource intensification is central to many explanations for increasing cultural complexity. In this article, I show that such arguments are often decoupled from specific ecological contexts. Much of the variability in faunal assemblages can be explained by the spatial and temporal distribution of animal resources. Reconstructing how these distributions have changed over time is challenging, but critical to the analysis of long-term subsistence change. Since Northwest Coast societies are exemplars of “complex hunter-gatherers,” they are often employed by researchers elsewhere as a point of comparison. I argue that a single narrative of increasing Northwest Coast cultural complexity is no longer tenable. Explaining cultural complexity has resulted in productive research across the world's coastlines and islands, but it may be time to acknowledge some of the limitations of this explanatory approach.
Isolation and characterization of TNT and its metabolites in groundwater by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-computer techniques.

The isolation and characterization of TNT (trinitrotoluene) and its metabolites in ground water by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer computer techniques in which the water was contaminated by percolating wastes from explosives at an ammunition depot in Nevada, U.S., showed that TNT is subject to fungal and bacterial degradation by reduction in both aerobic and anaerobic systems.
Theoretical analysis of transitions between B- and Z-conformations in torsionally stressed DNA.

Recently, a new structure called Z-DNA has been proposed for alternating poly(dG-dC)·poly(dG-dC) sequences based on crystallographic analysis of the hexanucleotide1. The Z-form is a left-handed double helix containing 12 base pairs per turn. In contrast, the Watson–Crick B-form helix is thought to have 10.4 pairs per turn of right-handed helix2,3,8. A cooperative, salt-induced conformational transition has been observed in poly(dG-dC)·poIy(dG-dC)4, which has been interpreted as being between the B-form (low salt) and the Z-form (high salt)1. We now analyse the possibility that such transitions could occur in susceptible sequences in physiological conditions as a consequence of the torsional stresses imposed by superhelicity. As in vivo DNA commonly occurs in a negatively supercoiled, hence underwound, state, these transitions could serve important biological functions. Both thermodynamic and statistical mechanical theories of stress-induced two-state transitions have been developed previously5,6. Here we apply these theories to transitions between the B-form and the Z-form in regions of appropriate base sequence. Assuming that the unstressed duplex is entirely B-form, we show that when the molecule is constrained to be underwound, susceptible regions may transform to the Z-form, thereby absorbing most of the torsional deformation. Interestingly, this transition is relatively independent of temperature.
Minimal entangled states and modular matrix for fractional quantum Hall effect in topological flat bands

We perform an exact diagonalization study of the topological order in topological flat band models through calculating entanglement entropy and spectra of low-energy states. We identify multiple independent minimal entangled states, which form a set of orthogonal basis states for the ground-state manifold. We extract the modular transformation matrices $\mathcal{S}$ ($\mathcal{U}$) which contain the information of mutual (self) statistics, quantum dimensions, and the fusion rule of quasiparticles. Moreover, we demonstrate that these matrices are robust and universal in the whole topological phase against different perturbations until the quantum phase transition takes place.
SUPPRESSION OF A CFTR PREMATURE STOP MUTATION IN A BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL CELL LINE

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. While 70% of CF chromosomes carry a deletion of the phenylalanine residue 508 (deltaF508) of CFTR, roughly 5% of all CF chromosomes carry a premature stop mutation. We reported that the aminoglycoside antibiotics G-418 and gentamicin can suppress two premature stop mutations [a stop codon in place of glycine residue 542 (G542X) and arginine residue 553 (R553X)] when expressed from a CFTR cDNA in HeLa cells. Suppression resulted in the synthesis of full-length CFTR protein and the appearance of a cAMP-activated anion conductance characteristic of CFTR function. However, it was unclear whether this approach could restore CFTR function in cells expressing mutant forms of CFTR from the nuclear genome. We now report that G-418 and gentamicin are also capable of restoring CFTR expression in a CF bronchial epithelial cell line carrying the CFTR W1282X premature stop mutation (a stop codon in place of tryptophan residue 1282). This conclusion is based on the reappearance of cAMP-activated chloride currents, the restoration of CFTR protein at the apical plasma membrane, and an increase in the abundance of CFTR mRNA levels from the W1282X allele.
A historical note [Nils Gustaf Dalen]

A fact of some historical interest to automatic control engineers, but one which is Swedish engineer Nils Gustaf Dalen was apparently not widely known, is that the awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1912 for the invention of an automatic control system. Dahlen's invention was an acetylene gas accumulator and a regulating valve which together formed a system for automatically lighting signal beacons and buoys. Dalen's system greatly reduced the cost of maintaining remote, unmanned lighthouses, and at thsea me time improved their lighting efficiency, thereby providing a significant improvement in the safety of maritime navigation. Further details of Dalen's engineering career and his inventions may be found in the book .Vobel Prize Winners in Physics 1901-1950, by Heathcote (New York: Schuman, 1953).
Nursing, therapy, and social control: Feminist science and systems‐based family therapy

This paper discusses the implications of the feminist critique of science for the treatment of women in the context of systems‐based family therapy (SFT). The issues raised are of special concern to nurses interested in women's health. As recent critiques of mainstream science have repeatedly demonstrated, there is no neutral, value‐free position from which to do science or to put science to work in clinical practice (Bleier, 1986; Keller, 1985; Cartwright, 1983; Habermas, 1971; Allen, 1985; Chinn, 1985; Ehrenreich, 1978). The theoretical position one adopts for research and practice carries important value implications. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of women's health, which was born out of dissatisfaction with current medical science and the clinical practice it spawned (Ehrenreich & English, 1979; Boston Women's Health Collective, 1976). Consequently, for a practice area like women's health, consciousness of feminist critiques of science and systems therapy is a necessity. The discussio...
Statin Therapy and Serum Transaminases Among a Cohort of HCV-Infected Veterans

Background We sought to determine the effect of statin therapy on serum AST and ALT levels in a cohort of HCV-infected veterans with well-characterized liver disease.
On Newton's method for solving equations containing Fréchet-differentiable operators of order at least two

We provide sufficient conditions for the semilocal convergence of Newton's method to a locally unique solution of a nonlinear operator equation containing operators that are Frechet-differentiable of order at least two, in a Banach space setting. Numerical examples are also provided to show that our results apply to solve nonlinear equations in cases earlier ones cannot [J.M. Gutierrez, A new semilocal convergence theorem for Newton's method, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 79(1997) 131-145; Z. Huang, A note of Kantorovich theorem for Newton iteration, J. Comput. Appl. Math. 47 (1993) 211-217; F.A. Potra, Sharp error bounds for a class of Newton-like methods, Libertas Mathematica 5 (1985) 71-84].
Toward high-throughput phenotyping: unbiased automated feature extraction and selection from knowledge sources.

Objective Analysis of narrative (text) data from electronic health records (EHRs) can improve population-scale phenotyping for clinical and genetic research. Currently, selection of text features for phenotyping algorithms is slow and laborious, requiring extensive and iterative involvement by domain experts. This paper introduces a method to develop phenotyping algorithms in an unbiased manner by automatically extracting and selecting informative features, which can be comparable to expert-curated ones in classification accuracy. Materials and methods Comprehensive medical concepts were collected from publicly available knowledge sources in an automated, unbiased fashion. Natural language processing (NLP) revealed the occurrence patterns of these concepts in EHR narrative notes, which enabled selection of informative features for phenotype classification. When combined with additional codified features, a penalized logistic regression model was trained to classify the target phenotype. Results The authors applied our method to develop algorithms to identify patients with rheumatoid arthritis and coronary artery disease cases among those with rheumatoid arthritis from a large multi-institutional EHR. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for classifying RA and CAD using models trained with automated features were 0.951 and 0.929, respectively, compared to the AUCs of 0.938 and 0.929 by models trained with expert-curated features. Discussion Models trained with NLP text features selected through an unbiased, automated procedure achieved comparable or slightly higher accuracy than those trained with expert-curated features. The majority of the selected model features were interpretable. Conclusion The proposed automated feature extraction method, generating highly accurate phenotyping algorithms with improved efficiency, is a significant step toward high-throughput phenotyping.
COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM GENETICS: A CONSEQUENCE OF THE EXTENDED PHENOTYPE

We present evidence that the heritable genetic variation within individual species, especially dominant and keystone species, has community and ecosystem conse- quences. These consequences represent extended phenotypes, i.e., the effects of genes at levels higher than the population. Using diverse examples from microbes to vertebrates, we demonstrate that the extended phenotype can be traced from the individuals possessing the trait, to the community, and to ecosystem processes such as leaf litter decomposition and N mineralization. In our development of a community genetics perspective, we focus on intraspecific genetic variation because the extended phenotypes of these genes can be passed from one generation to the next, which provides a mechanism for heritability. In support of this view, common-garden experiments using synthetic crosses of a dominant tree show that their progeny tend to support arthropod communities that resemble those of their parents. We also argue that the combined interactions of extended phenotypes con- tribute to the among-community variance in the traits of individuals within communities. The genetic factors underlying this among-community variance in trait expression, partic- ularly those involving genetic interactions among species, constitute community heritability. These findings have diverse implications. (1) They provide a genetic framework for un- derstanding community structure and ecosystem processes. The effects of extended phe- notypes at these higher levels need not be diffuse; they may be direct or may act in relatively few steps, which enhances our ability to detect and predict their effects. (2) From a con- servation perspective, we introduce the concept of the minimum viable interacting popu- lation (MVIP), which represents the size of a population needed to maintain genetic diversity at levels required by other interacting species in the community. (3) Genotype 3 environ- ment interactions in dominant and keystone species can shift extended phenotypes to have unexpected consequences at community and ecosystem levels, an issue that is especially important as it relates to global change. (4) Documenting community heritability justifies a community genetics perspective and is an essential first step in demonstrating community evolution. (5) Community genetics requires and promotes an integrative approach, from genes to ecosystems, that is necessary for the marriage of ecology and genetics. Few studies span from genes to ecosystems, but such integration is probably essential for understanding the natural world.
Structure and thermodynamics of ssDNA oligomers near hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces

A fundamental understanding of the behavior of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) on surfaces of varying chemistry is important for DNA-based materials assembly. We use molecular dynamics simulations to study short ssDNA oligomers on model hydrophilic and hydrophobic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to elucidate the molecular interactions between the ssDNA, the SAM, and water molecules. These ssDNA oligomers exhibit a favorable binding energy for ssDNA on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic SAMs. When the ssDNA is in the vicinity of the hydrophilic SAM, it forms attractive hydrogen bonds with the surface species, while facing a repulsive force from the dense, strongly adsorbed water molecules at the surface. When the ssDNA is in the vicinity of the hydrophobic SAM, it experiences weak hydrophobic attraction to the surface and a surprising repulsive force associated with a low-density region of water near the hydrophobic surface.
MODERNIZATION ON TRIAL

Once again, the United States is at war. Just as in the 1960s and 1970s, the battlefield is halfway around the globe in a third world country. The deployment of military force is again justified partly in terms of national interest, but also in terms of bringing modernity, freedom and prosperity to a people whose society can be described in terms such as “traditional,” “despotic,” “backward,” “undemocratic,” and/or “underdeveloped.” The exact meaning of the polar opposition signaled by the words “modern” and “traditional” is, like all politically charged terms, subject to debate and far from stable, but the polarity has figured importantly in international affairs ever since the end of World War II, and its salience was sharply heightened by the suicidal attack on New York's World Trade Center in September, 2001. That tragedy, together with the erratic bellicosity of the American response—directed not solely at the perpetrator, Al Quaeda, but also at Saddam Hussein's cruel dictatorship in Iraq—put modernization back in the headlines for the first time since 1975, when the United States pulled out of Vietnam in defeat. With the return of modernization comes the vexing problem of what to make of differences between “us” and “them.” What ethical obligations do scholars have in a world increasingly crowded with people who are eager to sacrifice lives—their own or others'—for the sake either of preserving tradition, or of hastening the triumph of modernity? Most pressing of all, given the potentially civilizational scale of the conflict, is another integrally related question: what does the future hold for ethnocentrism?
Prostitution Push and Pull: Male and Female Perspectives

Smith, Grov, Seal, and McCall's (2012) analysis, focusing on how young men become, and stay, involved in male escorting, is a welcome contribution to the still relatively thin male sex worker literature. For this study group, notably supportive working surroundings, effective coping strategies, and a growing sense of "self-efficacy" eventually turn sex work into an increasingly comfortable experience and viable moneymaking option. In this commentary, I add some reflections from a broader perspective to these insights. I also consider some evidence on the numbers of men and women in sex work and make some observations on male versus female positions related to push and pull factors, stigma, and the experience of sex work.
Lattice Theory, Measures and Probability

In this tutorial, I will discuss the concepts behind generalizing ordering to measuring and apply these ideas to the derivation of probability theory. The fundamental concept is that anything that can be ordered can be measured. Since we are in the business of making statements about the world around us, we focus on ordering logical statements according to implication. This results in a Boolean lattice, which is related to the fact that the corresponding logical operations form a Boolean algebra. The concept of logical implication can be generalized to degrees of implication by generalizing the zeta function of the lattice. The rules of probability theory arise naturally as a set of constraint equations. Through this construction we are able to neatly connect the concepts of order, structure, algebra, and calculus. The meaning of probability is inherited from the meaning of the ordering relation, implication, rather than being imposed in an ad hoc manner at the start.
Automated Planning and Optimization of Lumber Production Using Machine Vision and Computed Tomography

An automated system for planning and optimization of lumber production using Machine Vision and Computed Tomography (CT) is proposed. Cross-sectional CT images of hardwood logs are analyzed using machine vision algorithms. Internal defects in the hardwood logs pockets are identified and localized. A virtual in silico 3-D reconstruction of the hardwood log and its internal defects is generated using Kalman filter-based tracking algorithms. Various sawing operations are simulated on the virtual 3-D reconstruction of the log and the resulting virtual lumber products automatically graded using rules stipulated by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). Knowledge of the internal log defects is suitably exploited to formulate sawing strategies that optimize the value yield recovery of the resulting lumber products. A prototype implementation shows significant gains in value yield recovery when compared with lumber processing strategies that use only the information derived from the external log structure.
Face-to-face media sharing using wireless mobile devices

Advanced personal wireless mobile devices, such as today's emerging smart phones, are capable computers that have the potential to enable individuals to share personal content, such as photographs, music, and video. Face to face sharing can be a satisfying and even emotional experience, yet it is not well supported by existing digital technologies, which typically isolate media into separate collections or require that they be manually combined into a single collection on a single machine. Federating wireless mobile devices with fixed infrastructure, such as a digital home entertainment center, provides a lightweight, unified, and intuitive way to share media among friends and family. This paper looks at both technological and social issues that surround sharing media using federated devices, considering the relevant emerging technologies, media types, and usage contexts.
Alcohol consumption and risk of incident rheumatoid arthritis in women: a prospective study.

Objective To evaluate the association of alcohol consumption with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2 large prospective cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. Methods The NHS was established in 1976 and enrolled 121,701 female registered nurses in the US. The NHSII began in 1989, enrolling 116,430 female nurses. Lifestyle and environmental exposures were collected through biennial questionnaires. Alcohol consumption was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire, which was completed every 4 years. Incident RA cases were identified using a connective tissue disease screening questionnaire and a medical record review. Separate Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) after adjusting for potential confounders in the NHS and NHSII. The pooled HR from 2 cohorts was estimated using a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Results Among 1.90 million person-years from 1980 to 2008, 580 incident cases of RA were diagnosed in the NHS cohort, and among 1.78 million person-years from 1989 to 2009, 323 incident cases of RA were diagnosed in the NHSII cohort. Compared to no use, the pooled multivariable adjusted HR for alcohol use of 5.0–9.9 gm/day was 0.78 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.61–1.00). For seropositive RA cases, the association appeared stronger (HR 0.69 [95% CI 0.50–0.95]). In addition, women who drank beer 2–4 times a week had a 31% decreased risk compared to women who never drank beer. Conclusion We found a modest association between long-term moderate alcohol drinking and reduced risk of RA. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings in other populations.
Two-Level Hierarchical Approach to Unit Commitment Using Expert System and Elite PSO

This paper presents a two-level hierarchical approach that combines an expert system (ES) with an elite particle swarm optimization (EPSO) to solve the unit commitment (UC) problem. Existing UC solution methods have the problems of stopping at a local optimum and slow convergence when applied to large-scale, heavily constrained UC applications. In this work, an ES is developed to handle all constraints. The ES is initially used as a pre-dispatch tool to create a robust swarm. Then, the ES and EPSO are combined to seek the optimal solution. All constraints are incorporated and satisfied during the pre-dispatch and the evolution process. Hence, infeasible positions in the solution space will not be visited. The execution time of the proposed approach grows approximately linearly, rather than geometrically, with problem size. This feature is attractive in large-scale systems. The proposed approach is successfully applied to a popular test system of up to 100 units and the real Taipower 40-unit 168-h system. Both solution cost and execution time are superior to those of published methods. Total fuel costs of the proposed approach are several millions of dollars less than those of existing methods in the Taipower case.
An approach for combining airborne LiDAR and high-resolution aerial color imagery using Gaussian processes

Changes in vegetation cover, building construction, road network and traffic conditions caused by urban expansion affect the human habitat as well as the natural environment in rapidly developing cities. It is crucial to assess these changes and respond accordingly by identifying man-made and natural structures with accurate classification algorithms. With the increase in use of multi-sensor remote sensing systems, researchers are able to obtain a more complete description of the scene of interest. By utilizing multi-sensor data, the accuracy of classification algorithms can be improved. In this paper, we propose a method for combining 3D LiDAR point clouds and high-resolution color images to classify urban areas using Gaussian processes (GP). GP classification is a powerful non-parametric classification method that yields probabilistic classification results. It makes predictions in a way that addresses the uncertainty of real world. In this paper, we attempt to identify man-made and natural objects in urban areas including buildings, roads, trees, grass, water and vehicles. LiDAR features are derived from the 3D point clouds and the spatial and color features are extracted from RGB images. For classification, we use the Laplacian approximation for GP binary classification on the new combined feature space. The multiclass classification has been implemented by using one-vs-all binary classification strategy. The result of applying support vector machines (SVMs) and logistic regression (LR) classifier is also provided for comparison. Our experiments show a clear improvement of classification results by using the two sensors combined instead of each sensor separately. Also we found the advantage of applying GP approach to handle the uncertainty in classification result without compromising accuracy compared to SVM, which is considered as the state-of-the-art classification method.
The soft option [industrial PLC replication]

This paper examines whether a PC could replicate the control functions of a programmable logic controller. The author reviews the issues behind this big debate in the industrial control arena.
Reproducibility of SNV-calling in multiple sequencing runs from single tumors

We examined 55 technical sequencing replicates of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to ascertain the degree of repeatability in calling single-nucleotide variants (SNVs). We used the same mutation-calling pipeline on all pairs of samples, and we measured the extent of the overlap between two replicates; that is, how many specific point mutations were found in both replicates. We further tested whether additional filtering increased or decreased the size of the overlap. We found that about half of the putative mutations identified in one sequencing run of a given sample were also identified in the second, and that this percentage remained steady throughout orders of magnitude of variation in the total number of mutations identified (from 23 to 10,966). We further found that using filtering after SNV-calling removed the overlap completely. We concluded that there is variation in the frequency of mutations in GBMs, and that while some filtering approaches preferentially removed putative mutations found in only one replicate, others removed a large fraction of putative mutations found in both.
Deficiency of Glutathione Peroxidase Associated with High Levels of Reduced Glutathione in Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia

Abstract Six patients with documented defects in platelet function were screened for possible abnormalities in platelet energy metabolism and reductive capacity. Abnormalities found in the reductiv...
62 MYOSTATIN OVEREXPRESSION REDUCES HEART MASS IN THE MOUSE BUT DOES NOT AFFECT CARDIAC FUNCTION.

Myostatin (Mst) is an endogenous negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass in humans, rodents, cattle, and other animals. Mst has been found at low levels in normal sheep and cattle heart tissue, which increase considerably after infarction. Genetic blockade of Mst expression increases cardiomyocyte growth, but this also occurs in heart hypertrophy, possibly as a compensatory mechanism. We aimed here to compare cardiac size and function in young (7 weeks old) transgenic mice overexpressing Mst in the heart (Mst TG) under a muscle specific creatine kinase (MCK) promoter that is activated in both cardiac and skeletal muscle versus the Mst knockout (Mst [−/−]) mice, and to determine whether Mst modulation of cardiomyocyte growth occurs at the level of cell proliferation. Cardiac angiography revealed that the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) did not differ significantly between the Mst TG and the Mst (−/−) mice compared with their respective wild-type strains. This occurred despite a significant decrease in whole heart and left ventricular size in Mst TG mice as opposed to the respective increase observed in Mst (−/−) animals, associated with the expected higher or nil expression of cardiac Mst, respectively, estimated by RT/PCR and Western blot. Mst and its receptor, the ActRIIb, were found to be expressed in H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell cultures by RT/PCR, and transfections with plasmids expressing Mst full-length protein under muscle-specific MCK (pMCK/Mst), or general CMV (pCMV/Mst) promoters, enhanced p21 and reduced cdk2 expression, assessed by Western blot. This translated into a significant decrease in cell proliferation with increasing concentrations of Mst recombinant protein, as determined by the formazan assay, whereas anti-Mst antibody exerted the opposite effects. Transfection of H9c2 cells with the pMCK/Mst, or pCMV/Mst plasmids, inhibited cell proliferation more effectively. In conclusion, Mst does not affect directly global cardiac systolic function in TG mice overexpressing or lacking the active protein, despite Mst9s inhibitory effects on cardiac mass and cardiomyocyte proliferation.
Development of excitation system parameters verification platform based on Web

Aiming at achieving long-term management of excitation system parameters and their reliability when used in system simulation,this paper develops an excitation system parameter verification platform based on Web.This platform uses power grid database of Jiangsu province as its carrier.And it is supported by three background servers.Besides,it concludes perfect man machine interactive function.This platform can accomplish complicated work of excitation system parameters verification automatically.It can reduce the workload of dispatchers,improve the accuracy of the data and provide the reliable and efficient excitation system parameters for the actual simulation.This platform has been installed in actual systems and proved to be satisfactory.
An Observation of the treatment scheme of levofloxacin on the sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of levofloxacin combining with anti-tuberculosis drugs on patients with the sputum positive tuberculosis. Methods A total of 71 cases way were divided randomly into study group(n=36) and control group(n=35).The treatment measures were 3DRZEV/6DREV and 3DRZE/6DRE for the study and control groups respectively. Results The negative conversion rate and focus absorptivity in study group were better than that in the control group(P0.05). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of levofloxacin combining with anti-tuberculosis drugs is perfect for the treatment of sputum positive tuberculosis. It is valuable in clinical application.
Analysis of Embedded Linux Loader

Boot loader is a very important part of embedded Linux system. This paper analyzes the common key functions of different embedded Linux boot loaders and the main of porting these functions, it also describes how to select and port these loaders to specific target system.
Why Logic Must Be Transcendental

[The logic of the general use of the understanding] contains the absolutely necessary rules of thinking, without which no use of the understanding takes place, and it therefore concerns these rules without regard to the difference of the objects to which it may be directed.... Now general logic is either pure or applied logic. In the former we abstract from all empirical conditions under which our understanding is exercised.... A general but pure logic therefore has to do with strictly a priori principles, and is a canon of the understanding and reason, but only in regard to what is formal in their use, be the content what it may.... A general logic, however, is called applied if it is directed to the rules of the use of the understanding under the subjective empirical conditions that psychology teaches us.... In general logic the part that is to constitute the pure doctrine of reason must therefore be entirely separated from that which constitutes applied (though still general) logic. The former alone is properly science.... In this therefore logicians must always have two rules in view. 1) As general logic it abstracts from all contents of the cognition of the understanding and of the difference of its objects, and has to do with nothing but the mere form of thinking. 2) As pure logic it has no empirical principles, and thus draws nothing from psychology.... It is a proven doctrine, and everything in it must be completely a priori.
The beneficial role of extracellular reactive oxygen species in apoptosis-induced compensatory proliferation

Apoptosis-induced proliferation (AiP) maintains tissue homeostasis following massive stress-induced cell death. During this phenomenon, dying cells induce proliferation of the surviving cells to compensate for the tissue loss, and thus restore organ size. Along with wound healing and tissue regeneration, AiP also contributes to tumor repopulation following radiation or chemotherapy. There are several models of AiP. Using an "undead" AiP model that causes hyperplastic overgrowth of Drosophila epithelial tissue, we recently demonstrated that extracellular reactive oxygen species (eROS) are produced by undead epithelial cells, and are necessary for inducing AiP and overgrowth. Furthermore, hemocytes, the Drosophila blood cells, are seen adjacent to the undead epithelial tissue, and may secrete the TNF ortholog Eiger that signals through the TNF receptor to active Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the undead tissue and induce proliferation. We propose that undead epithelial tissue triggers an inflammatory response that resembles recruitment of macrophages to human epithelial tumors, and that these tumor-associated macrophages release signals for proliferation and tumor growth of the epithelium. This Extra View article summarizes these recent findings with a focus on the role of eROS for promoting regeneration and inflammation-induced tumorigenesis.
Spontaneous Rupture of the Uterine Artery in an Otherwise Normal Pregnancy

Spontaneous rupture of a uterine artery in pregnancy is associated with a high rate of mortality. Although uterine artery rupture has been associated with postpartum hemorrhage, it is rarely found during pregnancy. Unfortunately, clinical signs and symptoms are usually vague and nonspecific. We report a case of a 36-year-old woman at 20 weeks gestation presenting with abdominal pain who was found to have a spontaneous uterine artery rupture. To our knowledge, this is the first case report demonstrating imaging findings in a patient with this condition. Our patient underwent successful ligation of the uterine vessel with preservation of both mother and fetus. We will discuss possible etiologies of uterine artery rupture during pregnancy, associated imaging findings, and management options.
Adverse Reactions to Biologic Therapy.

Abstract Biologic therapies are emerging as a significant therapeutic option for many with debilitating inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. As expansion in the number of FDA-approved agents continue to be seen, more unanticipated adverse reactions are likely to occur. Currently, the diagnostic tools, including skin testing and in vitro testing, to evaluate for immediate hypersensitivity reactions are insufficient. In this review, management strategies for common acute infusion reactions, injection site reactions, and immediate reactions suggestive of IgE-mediated mechanisms are discussed. Desensitization can be considered for reactions suggestive of IgE-mediated mechanisms, but allergists/immunologists should be involved in managing these patients.
Silicon hydrogensulfates: solid acids with exceptional 25 °C conductivities and possible electrochemical device applications

Solid acids as a class are of much interest in areas such as acid catalysis, and exotic protonation chemistries. They include the strongest acids yet identified. A subclass exhibits very high protonic conductivity and its members have been investigated as possible fuel cell electrolytes, as first demonstrated by Haile's group in 2001 with CsHSO4. These superprotonic plastic crystals bring a “true solid state” alternative to polymer electrolytes, operating at mild temperatures (150–200 °C) without the requirement of humidification. However, they suffer from the narrow operating temperature range, and other problems. Here we describe a new class of solid acids based on silicon, which are of general interest. Its members have extraordinary conductivities, as high as 21.5 mS cm−1 at room temperature, orders of magnitude above any previous reported case. We discuss possible applications. Although the present electrolytes are not suitable for H2/O2 fuel cell applications due to hydrolizable components, a proof of principle short term fuel cell test is shown to produce a maximum (short circuit) current of 640 mA cm−2 at 87 °C despite a low open circuit voltage.