cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanisms of postmating prezygotic reproductive isolation uncovered by transcriptome analysis

Little is known about the physiological responses and genetic mutations associated with reproductive isolation between species, especially for postmating prezygotic isolating barriers. Here, we examine changes in gene expression that accompany the expression of 'unilateral incompatibility' (UI)-a postmating prezygotic barrier in which fertilization is prevented by gamete rejection in the reproductive tract [in this case of pollen tubes (male gametophytes)] in one direction of a species cross, but is successful in the reciprocal crossing direction. We use whole-transcriptome sequencing of multiple developmental stages of male and female tissues in two Solanum species that exhibit UI to: (i) identify transcript differences between UI-competent and UI noncompetent tissues; (ii) characterize transcriptional changes specifically associated with the phenotypic expression of UI; and (iii) using these comparisons, evaluate the behaviour of a priori candidate loci for UI and identify new candidates for future manipulative work. In addition to describing transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression that accompany this isolating barrier, we identify at least five strong candidates for involvement in postmating prezygotic incompatibility between species. These include three novel candidates and two candidates that are strongly supported by prior developmental, functional, and quantitative trait locus mapping studies. These latter genes are known molecular players in the intraspecific expression of mate choice via genetic self-incompatibility, and our study supports prior evidence that these inter- and intraspecific postmating prezygotic reproductive behaviours share specific genetic and molecular mechanisms.
Joint decision model of pricing and ordering of perishable products under supply uncertainty

To solve the problem of pricing and ordering uncertainty for perishable products,the mathematical model based on the optimal method was established,and the condition of the unique optimal policy and the iteration method for the joint decision problem were provided.It was proved that the price was an increasing function of the probability of the wasters and the delivery delay,that the safety inventory was a decreasing function of the probability of the wasters and the delivery delay,and that when the price was given,the optimal order number and the expected profit was a decreasing function of the probability of the wasters and the delivery delay.The numerical analysis conforms to these results,and shows that the optimal profit is a decreasing function of the probability of the wasters and the delivery delay.Retailers should select a supplier with the greater capability of supply after consideration.
Shi‘ism and Revolution

In the 1970s and 1980s most of the Shi‘i movements that have been featured in the Western press seem to be ones of protest, revolution, political martyrdom, and sometimes leftism: for example, Twelver Shi‘i political movements in Iran and Lebanon; Shi‘i protests against Sunni governments in Arabia; leftist movements of the Shiizing Alevis in Turkey; and even the Baathist secular government of the Shi‘izing Alawis in Syria (both Alevi and Alawi refer to reverence for the first Shi‘i Imam or leader, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law ‘Ali). In various periods of history and even today, however, many Shi‘is have been quietist supporters of the political status quo. Like most religions, sects, and political doctrines, Shi‘ism in its different incarnations is seen by its adherents as essentially unchanging. When revolution and protest are in the air among many Shi‘is, as they are today, they will often stress Shi‘ism’s revolutionary antecedents, and when quietism and support for the powers that be are considered doctrinal, as was often the case, they will be considered to be the essential ideas of Shi‘ism from the time of its founders. Since Shi‘ism comprises a whole series of religious schools going back to shortly after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 AD, it is not surprising that a wide variety of politico-religious doctrines have been promulgated and followed under the Shi‘i name.
Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Bleeding from upper gastrointestinal lesions continues to be a common disorder in the elderly. Initial efforts should be directed toward stabilizing the patient and obtaining a history and physical examination. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is subsequently done to identify the site of bleeding. If a bleeding lesion or a lesion that has recently bled is seen, therapy can be applied with use of the endoscope to resolve the emergent nature of the illness. Endoscopic identification and treatment of bleeding upper gastrointestinal lesions in the elderly may lower hospitalization costs and mortality rates.
A new approach to detect and segment overlapping cells in multi-layer cervical cell volume images

Detection and segmentation of overlapping cell nuclei and cytoplasm in multi-layer Pap smear volumes are critical prerequisites for automatic screening of cervical cancer. The novel approach proposed here is an improved version of our top ranked method for the Segmentation of Overlapping Cervical Cells from Multi-layer Cytology Preparation Volumes Challenge — ISBI 2015. From the images provided of multiple focal planes through liquid-based Pap smear samples, nuclei within Extended Depth of Field (EDF) images are first located with an iterative approach and then clumps are segmented using a learned Gaussian mixture model by Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm from pixel intensities. The overlapping boundaries of cytoplasm on the multifocal planes are approximated using a new distance metric and then refined in two post-processing steps. Promising results with Dice Coefficient (0.861), False Negative object rate (0.352) and True Positive pixel rate (0.874) indicate that nuclei and their corresponding cytoplasm in highly overlapping cytology multi-layer Pap smear volumes can be effectively detected and segmented using this approach.
Utility of dynamics as indicators of stress in population models

The relationships between the dynamics of environmentally and chemically stressed populations and indicators of the effects of the stressor are explored in a model framework. The physiologically structured population, represented by a system of McKendrick–von Foerster hyperbolic partial differential equations, includes the dynamics of numerous individuals distinguished by ecotype. Chemical uptake of nonpolar narcotics is modeled by first order kinetics. Classical methodologies, frequency analysis and phase space reconstruction, are explored in a search for indicators of magnitude of stress. When these techniques proved generally unsuccessful for the objective of indicator selection in our model setting, summary statistics, as related to bifurcation diagrams, were constructed and appear more useful as indicators. It is concluded that physiological structures generally lead to more feasible measurable indicators of magnitude of stress than do specifics of population dynamics.
The Dialectics of Psychotherapy: Philosophical and Empirical Debates

How does the beginning therapist go about choosing a therapeutic approach when there are over 400 different systems available (Karasu, 1992)? Researchers have repeatedly failed to find consistent differences in client outcomes even with therapeutic approaches based on very different assumptions and using varied interventions (Luborsky et al., 2002; Shoham & Rohrbaugh, 1999; Wampold et al., 1997). Lambert and Ogles’ (2004) extensive literature review concluded: (a) therapy is superior to placebo or no treatment conditions and (b) all approaches are essentially equivalent when artifacts such as experimental demand characteristics and researcher’s theoretical allegiance are controlled.
A rapid assessment of coral reef community structure and diversity patterns at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

Ten shallow (<20 m) reefs at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, southeastern Cuba, were surveyed during July-August 1996 to evaluate topographic complexity and community structure with respect to depth-related zonation and potential sedimentation impacts from the Guantanamo River. While the methods employed were not novel, coral reefs in the study area had not been previously studied and, because of low human population density, may provide useful comparisons to more disturbed reefs in the Caribbean. On leeward and windward sides of the Bay, four shallow (5 m) and four deeper (10 m) spur-and-groove reefs were surveyed, along with two reefs within the mouth of the Bay. On each reef, four 25-m transects were oriented perpendicular to shore on four haphazardly selected spurs and used to randomly select 1 m x 1 m quadrat locations. Benthic coverage using point-intercept counts and topographic complexity using the chain-length method were quantified within quadrats. All sampled reefs were dominated by algae, especially algal turfs, and stony corals. Mean percent algal cover among reefs ranged from 50 to 78%, while coral cover ranged from 11 to 49%. Analysis of variance showed that depth was more important than location in explaining the variability in mean coral cover. Cluster analysis using percent coverage of all bottom types and relative coral cover confirmed that reefs at the same depth were more similar in benthic composition. Several species considered to be less tolerant of sedimentation, however, were more abundant on windward reefs, suggesting that differences in sedimentation between windward and leeward areas may affect relative species abundance, but not total coral cover. Percent coral cover estimates from 9 of the surveyed reefs were well above recent values reported for other wider Caribbean reefs. The predominance of corals on these reefs is surprising, given the low abundance of herbivores (due to mass mortality and overfishing) and possible disease outbreaks affecting acroporid corals. These disturbances appear to have had less severe consequences than for other wider Caribbean reefs such as those in Jamaica and the Lesser Antilles, potentially due to the relative rarity of destructive storm events.
Tissue Engineering and Transplantation in the Fetus

Abstract A number of properties and therapeutic applications of fetal cells/tissues have been explored to date, with variable results. A little over a decade ago, a novel concept in perinatal surgery was introduced, involving the harvest of fetal cells, which are then processed to engineer tissue in parallel with the remainder of gestation, so that an infant or fetus with a prenatally diagnosed birth defect can benefit from having autologous, expanded tissue readily available for surgical implantation in the perinatal period. More recently, fetal annexes such as the amniotic fluid, placenta, and umbilical cord have been shown to provide minimally invasive access to unique fetal progenitor cell populations conducive to tissue engineering. Despite promising results in large animal models, controlled clinical trials involving fetal tissue engineering have yet to be reported. At the same time, it has been shown experimentally that many of the complications of tissue engineering can be better managed, if not totally prevented, when fetal cells are used. Compared with mature cells, fetal cells typically proliferate more rapidly, are more plastic in their differentiation potential, frequently produce more angiogenic and trophic factors, tend to be less immunogenic, can survive at lower oxygen tensions, commonly lack strong intercellular adhesions, and display better survival after refrigeration and cryopreservation protocols. By the same token, the developmental and long term impacts of tissue implantations into a fetus or neonate are unmatched by most other age groups. This chapter offers an overview of tissue engineering as it relates to the fetus, along with general perspectives on fetal cell and tissue transplantation.
Using human resource activities to implement sustainability in SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how small- and medium-sized organisations that were already participating in recognised sustainability programmes in Iowa, USA, in how they were utilising activities normally associated with human resources (HRs) to implement sustainability – activities included communication, engagement, incentives and recruitment and retention. Design/methodology/approach – The authors were interested in how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were utilising HR functions to implement sustainability. This was an exploratory, qualitative research study utilised semi-structured interviews to obtain data. Findings – Based on the findings, some of the functions are being utilised more than others, with some activities not being implemented at all. Research limitations/implications – This research offers empirical research on how sustainability is achieved in SMEs. Practical implications – This paper outlines some practical methods that any SME could utilise to help imp...
Cambridge, Keynes and the Apostles

In Chapter 1 we saw how the nineteenth century was the battlefield between the utilitarian values of Bentham and the humanistic values of Coleridge, Ruskin and others. In Chapter 2 we showed how the spirit of Eton, its organisation and curriculum, were inherently anti-utilitarian. In this chapter we shall trace the influence of King’s, its values and its organisation, on Keynes, who attended that college between 1902 and 1905.
Fault Sensing with an Artificial Reference Potential Provided by an Isolated Capacitance Effect

When an electric tool or appliance loses its safety ground connection (due to the ground pin being cut or due to the use of a three-to-two adapter), and an internal fault occurs, the metal housing may become electrically "hot" resulting in a safety hazard. This paper presents a Grounding Detector (GDT) circuit that could be used in conjunction with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). The advantage of the GDT over the GFCI is because the former monitors a voltage and the latter monitors a current. The GDT continuously monitors the voltage on the metal housing of the appliance. If the metal housing becomes electrically "hot", the GDT immediately detects this hazardous condition and takes corrective action, disconnecting the 120 Vac power from the hazardous appliance, and activating an alarm. A GFCI would take no corrective action until a human comes in physical contact with the hazardous appliance resulting in the flow of ground fault current. The authors have a United States patent on the GDT circuits.
Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn

Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a condition that results in varying degrees of hyperbilirubinemia and anemia. The diseases that produce this condition are broadly categorized as isoimmune (antibody mediated) or non-isoimmune. While Rh isoimmunization has historically been the most common diagnosis associated with HDFN, the appropriate use of Rh immunoglobulin (RhIG) during pregnancy and just after delivery has made it much less likely. Prenatal screening tests including maternal blood type, Rh status, and antibody screen can help to identify fetuses at risk for this disorder and therefore qualify for additional monitoring with middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) using ultrasound techniques. In severe cases, a fetus can receive intrauterine transfusions to treat anemia and prevent hydrops fetalis. After birth, neonates should be monitored for rapidly rising bilirubin or progressive anemia. Selected investigation may include a blood type, direct antiglobulin test (DAT), complete blood count, reticulocyte count, G6PD testing, and albumin measurement. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has provided a gestational age and hour of life-specific nomograms to guide treatment using both phototherapy and double volume exchange transfusion (DVET). In isoimmune hemolytic disease, infants may also benefit from IVIG treatment. In the most severe cases, a DVET is performed using reconstituted whole blood to replace twice the infant’s blood volume. There are risks associated with this procedure and may need to be performed more than once before anemia and hyperbilirubinemia are controlled.
Flow of Calculations for Quantifying Net GHG Reductions and Removals

Calculation of offset credits requires a chain of measurements, estimates, and modeling exercises. It requires measuring what did happen, estimating what likely happened, and modeling what might have happened. It requires dealing with uncertainty and risk. It differs importantly from conventional inventory processes in that it deals with some things that can be counted and some that cannot. And the California offset program deals with these calculations in a conservative way so that errors are on the side that credits are unlikely to be given for offsets not produced but there are likely to be offsets created for which credit is not given. This section describes the core details of what goes into the calculation process and indicates some of the ancillary data that are required. It does not discuss the physical measurements required to document the amount of carbon actually stored on site in the forest ecosystem as these have been widely discussed and the California requirements are consistent with popularly accepted procedures.
Influence of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use on Sexual Behavior

The prevalence and co-occurrence of adolescent alcohol and drug use and sexual behaviors are at disturbingly high rates. Higher levels of substance use during adolescence have been associated with an earlier sexual debut, more sexual partners, higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, and more unintended pregnancies. Furthermore, higher levels of substance use during adolescence have been associated with more dating violence, sexual coercion, and sexual assault. Whereas most sexual risk reduction intervention programs do not also target substance use reduction, a few small-scale studies with residential treatment samples have demonstrated reductions in multiple sexual risk behaviors among substance-abusing teens. Some school-based drug use prevention programs targeting general social skills competencies have also demonstrated some crossover effects in reducing risky sexual behaviors. Multi-targeted interventions that focus jointly on reducing substance use and sexual behaviors may prove better able to deter adolescent risk behaviors and promote positive health outcomes.
19F NMR Characterization of the Encapsulation of Emerging Perfluoroethercarboxylic Acids by Cyclodextrins.

Legacy perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are known environmental pollutants with serious adverse health effects. Perfluoroethercarboxylic acids (PFECAs), emerging PFASs now being substituted for legacy PFASs, have recently been detected in the environment. Cyclodextrins (CDs) have been proposed as agents for the remediation of problematic pollutants, including legacy PFASs. The current study uses 19F NMR spectroscopy to measure the complexation of mono-, di-, and triether PFECAs by CDs for eventual environmental applications. Eight PFECAs were characterized by 19F and 13C NMR. The change in chemical shift of individual fluorines upon complexation of CDs at various stoichiometric ratios was used to determine the host–guest association constants. All studied PFECAs were most strongly encapsulated by β-CD, with association constants from 102–105 M–1 depending on chain length and number of ether functionalities. 19F–1H heteronuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (HOESY) NMR experiments were performed for the...
Fetal and Placental DNA Stimulation of TLR9: A Mechanism Possibly Contributing to the Pro-inflammatory Events During Parturition

While there is evidence for a relationship between cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) and parturition, questions remain regarding whether cffDNA could trigger a pro-inflammatory response on the pathway to parturition. We hypothesized that placental and/or fetal DNA stimulates toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) leading to secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by macrophage cells. Four in vitro DNA stimulation studies were performed using RAW 264.7 mouse peritoneal macrophage cells incubated in media containing the following DNA particles: an oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN2395), intact genomic DNA (from mouse placentas, fetuses and adult liver), mouse DNA complexed with DOTAP (a cationic liposome forming compound), and telomere-depleted mouse DNA. Interleukin 6 (IL6) secretion was measured in the media by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and the cell pellet was homogenized for protein content (picograms IL6/mg protein). Robust IL6 secretion was observed in response to ODN2395 (a CpG-rich TLR9 agonist), mouse DNA-DOTAP complexes, and telomere-depleted mouse DNA in concentrations of 5 to 15 μg/mL In contrast, ODN A151 (containing telomere sequence motifs), intact genomic mouse DNA, and restriction enzyme-digested DNA had no effect on IL6 secretion. The IL6 response was significantly inhibited by chloroquine (10 μg/mL), thereby confirming the important role for TLR9 in the response by macrophage cells. DNA derived from mouse placentas and fetuses, and depleted of telomeric sequences, stimulates a robust proinflammatory response by macrophage cells, thereby supporting the hypothesis that cffDNA is able to stimulate an innate immune response that could trigger the onset of parturition. These findings are of clinical importance, as we search for effective treatment/ prevention of preterm parturition.
Methods for Increasing the Resolution of Holographic Interferometry

In general, an interferometer may consist of coherent source split into a’ signal’ beam and a ‘reference’ beam, with irradiances I1 and I2, respectively. The signal beam carries information about surface/thickness of the test object. By bouncing the signal beam off of the test object (highly reflective objects) or passing it through (transparent objects) the object, the phase of the signal beam is altered according to the surface (or thickness) variations of the object.
Effect of cryopreservation on the pre-hatching behavior in the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera, Tephritidae).

Abstract In a sampling of untreated embryos of the economically important fruit pest species, Anastrepha ludens, the cumulative hatch percentage in the lab was noted to be ∼85%. Approximately 70% of the larvae had eclosed through the posterior pole of the egg. This process is effected by the act of Pole Reversal (PR) of the fully developed pre-hatch larva from the wider anterior to the narrower posterior pole of the egg. Investigation of the effects of cryopreservation and various pretreatments prior to cryostorage on the PR behavior was prompted by the observation of significantly lower proportion of cryopreserved embryos exhibiting the PR behavior. Pretreatments (dechorionation and permeabilization) followed by vitrification resulted in delayed hatching, reflecting a slower embryonic development rate of ∼10 h. A smaller proportion of the treated embryos either eclosed from the anterior end of the egg or did not eclose at all despite complete development and prehatch gnawing activity. In the untreated controls, 24.0% of the embryos eclosed from the anterior pole. After permeabilization and cryopreservation, 83% and 55% (adjusted hatch) of the embryos were noted to hatch this way, respectively. An analysis of the hatch count after the treatments shows that factors contributing to the embryos' inability to properly invert polarity is not solely due to cryopreservation but also due to the pretreatment procedures including dechorionation and permeabilization. In fact, the permeabilization pre-treatment contributed the highest to this phenomenon lending support to the view that chemical toxicity rather than physical effects of cryopreservation play a major role in post-cryopreservation effects.
A Review of Mobile Applications for Facilitating EMDR Treatment of Complex Trauma and Its Comorbidities

With the continued advancement in technology, there is a rise in the development and utilization of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) that claim to be using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) theory and techniques to facilitate the therapeutic process. However, there are concerns regarding the quality of these apps and the safety of clients who may be using them, particularly for those who may present with complex posttraumatic conditions and associated comorbidities. Hence, this study evaluates current EMDR apps to determine their purpose, potential benefits, and risks when used by clients and/or clinicians. Twelve apps were found to be eligible for evaluation and are rated on applicability, validity, accuracy, and usefulness. Currently, our review concludes that none of the EMDR apps are recommended for use by a client. Only 6 of the 12 apps would be recommended for use by a trained clinician as a tool to aid with EMDR treatment, provided the clinician were able to offer a safe environment that could adapt to the selected technology. Risks of using EMDR apps include safety concerns with unregulated use, particularly for clients with complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid conditions, such as dysregulated emotions or cognitions, and concerns regarding cyber security and data privacy. Clinical implications for the use of technology and mHealth apps are discussed, and recommendations for the development of an ideal EMDR app for the future are provided.
Driven water/ion transport through narrow nanopores: a molecular dynamics perspective

Atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations provide numerous insights into the process whereby water is driven through a narrow nanopore (diameter on the order of a few water molecules) by application of hydrostatic pressure. If there are ions in the water, e.g., from dissolved salt, these may be swept along with the flowing water. If the surface of the nanopore is charged, electrostatic interaction between the surface charges and the ions as well as with partial charges on the water molecules will influence the details of the water/ion flow through the channel. Water and ion permeability depend on the geometry of the channel and the degree to which it is charged. Interesting collective features of the water molecules such as water wires that form along the pore axis and rings of water molecules that can insert into the pore perpendicular to the channel axis strongly influence the permeation process, thus emphasizing the importance of molecular level interactions in the mechanism of water and ion flow through conduits with dimensions on the molecular scale.
Mechanisms of Na + , Cl − , and HCO 3 − Transport in the Proximal Tubule

The general purpose of this lecture/chapter is to provide an overview of the mechanisms mediating Na+, Cl−, and HCO 3 − transport in the proximal tubule of the mammalian kidney. Because this topic is so broad, attention will be focussed on four main issues concerning transport across the membranes of the proximal tubule cell: 1) mechanisms of acid secretion across the luminal membrane; 2) mechanisms of base exit across the basolateral membrane; 3) mechanisms of Cl− entry across the luminal membrane; and 4) mechanisms for Cl− exit across the basolateral membrane. For each of these topics, the properties of the major transport pathways determined largely (but not exclusively) on the basis of studies on isolated membrane vesicles will be correlated with the physiological roles of these same pathways as determined on the basis of studies on the intact tubule. Finally, a summary attempting to integrate these subcellular mechanisms into the overall functioning of the intact proximal tubule will be presented. Literature citations will be representative, rather than comprehensive, due to the time/space limitations imposed on this lecture/chapter.
Learning as Knowledge Integration

A fundamental challenge for Artificial Intelligence is developing methods to build and maintain knowledge-based systems. Knowledge integration is the task of identifying how new and prior knowledge interact while incorporating new information into a knowledge base. This task is pervasive because substantial knowledge bases must be developed incrementally: segments of knowledge are added separately to a growing body of knowledge. This task is difficult because new and prior knowledge may interact in very subtle and surprising ways, and unanticipated interactions may require changes to the knowledge base. Performing knowledge integration involves determining and effecting these changes. This research investigates knowledge integration as a machine learning task. Its contributions include formalizing knowledge integration as a machine learning task, developing a computational model for performing knowledge integration, and instantiating the computational model as an implemented machine learning program. The study of knowledge integration and methods that perform it is important both for pragmatic concerns of building knowledge-based systems and for theoretical concerns of understanding learning systems. By identifying subtle conflicts and gaps in knowledge, knowledge integration facilitates building knowledge-based systems. By avoiding unnecessary restrictions on learning situations, knowledge integration reveals important sources of learning bias and permits learning behaviors that are more opportunistic than do traditional machine learning tasks. REACT is a computational model that identifies three essential activities for performing knowledge integration. Elaboration assesses how new and prior knowledge interact. The system''s limited capacity to explore the interactions of new and prior knowledge requires methods to focus its attention. This focus is achieved by restricting elaboration to consider only selected segments of prior knowledge. Recognition selects the prior knowledge that is considered during elaboration. By identifying the consequences of new information for relevant prior knowledge, recognition and elaboration reveal learning opportunities, such as inconsistencies and gaps in the extended knowledge base. Adaptation exploits these learning opportunities by modifying the new or prior knowledge. KI is a machine learning program that implements the REACT model. Empirical studies demonstrate that KI provides significant assistance to knowledge engineers while integrating new information into a large knowledge base.
Detection, Diarization, and Transcription of Far-Field Lecture Speech

Speech processing of lectures recorded inside smart rooms has recently attracted much interest. In particular, the topic has been central to the Rich Transcription (RT) Meeting Recognition Evaluation campaign series, sponsored by NIST, with emphasis placed on benchmarking speech activity detection (SAD), speaker diarization (SPKR), speech-to-text (STT), and speakerattributed STT (SASTT) technologies. In this paper, we present the IBM systems developed to address these tasks in preparation for the RT 2007 evaluation, focusing on the far-field condition of lecture data collected as part of European project CHIL. For their development, the systems are benchmarked on a subset of the RT Spring 2006 (RT06s) evaluation test set, where they yield significant improvements for all SAD, SPKR, and STT tasks over RT06s results; for example, a 16% relative reduction in word error rate is reported in STT, attributed to a number of system advances discussed here. Initial results are also presented on SASTT, a task newly introduced in 2007 in place of the discontinued SAD. Index Terms: speech processing, speech recognition, speaker diarization, speech activity detection, lectures, smart rooms.
Autonomy, Omniscience and the Ethical Imagination: From Theoretical to Practical Philosophy in Kant

We all know that Kant held ethics and empirical science to be separate, incommensurable disciplines. He also claimed that his views about ethical and empirical knowledge fit together in a single “Critical” system. In the essay that follows I want to sketch a modern, “semantic,” interpretation of Kant’s philosophy which explains both the unity of the critical system and the unbridgeable gap between ethical and empirical knowledge. I believe that this interpretation can help resolve some exegetical problems that appear to plague Kant’s theories about ethics and empirical science. And I believe that it can also focus attention in a new way on some aspects of Kant’s moral theory that seem most troubling today.
Characteristics of some monoamine uptake systems in isolated cerebral capillaries.

It has been well documented that the biogenic amines do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) easily (1), however, little information is available concerning the mechanism of this barrier (2). As early as 1965, Hamberger and Masuoka (3) had suggested that the pericytes of the cerebral capillaries may play a role in the removal and inactivation of noradrenaline (NA or NE). They demonstrated NE uptake in pericytes and in the wall of capillaries by a histofluorescence technique when brain slices were pretreated with a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. The same function was attributed to the glia, cells that are rich in MAO and catechol-0-methyl transferase (COMT), enzymes present in the cerebral capillaries as well (4–6). Glia enriched cell fractions and mouse glioma have also been found to take up neurotransmitters (2,5). However, characterization of biogenic amine uptake in either the cerebral capillaries and/or glia has not yet been elucidated.
Lipid Peroxidation by Phagocytes

Professional phagocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, mononuclear phagocytes) are uniquely endowed with the capacity to manufacture large quantities of highly reactive oxidizing agents for use in the destruction of invading pathogens, both unicellular and multicellular. This capacity arises because of the presence in these cells of an enzyme known as the respiratory burst oxidase that catalyzes the one-electron reduction of oxygen to 02 at the expense of NADPH
The Evaluation and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Infections

Diabetic foot ulcers and infections are common complications of diabetic foot disease. Additionally, these complications are a common cause of morbidity and impose a substantial burden to the patie...
The relationship of elbow alignment and kinematics on shoulder torque during the softball pitch: a biomechanical analysis of female softball pitchers.

Background Female softball pitchers commonly throw more pitches per game and season than their baseball counterparts. The greatest stress to the shoulder during a softball windmill pitch is at ball release (BR). This study investigated shoulder torques at BR among female softball pitchers and identified relationships to the kinematics of the elbow and forearm and alignment of the elbow (carrying angle and elbow extension). Methods High-speed 3-dimensional biomechanical analyses were performed in 33 pitchers (25 high school, 8 collegiate). Elbow and shoulder biomechanics at BR during fastball pitches and goniometric measures of carrying angle and elbow extension were collected and analyzed. Results Carrying angle correlated positively with shoulder extension torque at BR (rs = 0.371, P = .048) and forearm pronation at BR (rs = 0.370, P = .048). During the windmill pitch, the greater the elbow flexion, the greater shoulder adduction torque at BR (rs = –0.522, P = .007). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the carrying angle, passive elbow extension, and elbow flexion/extension angle at BR predicted shoulder flexion/extension torque at BR (F3,24 = 3.463, R2 = .302, P = .032.) Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that shoulder torques during the softball fastpitch are influenced by the carrying angle and the kinematic elbow flexion angle at BR. Sports medicine clinicians and coaches should consider the role that the elbow carrying angle plays in creating shoulder stress when treating and training fastpitch softball players.
Consistency, Feasibility, and Optimality of Network Update in SDNs

In software defined networking, to maximize the network utilization, its control plane needs to frequently update the data plane via flow migration as the network conditions change dynamically. Since each switch updates its flow table independently and asynchronously, the network state transition may result in serious link congestion and packet loss if it is done directly from the initial to the final stage. Deadlocks among flows and links may also block the update process. In this paper, we pay close attention to elaborately resolving deadlocks with the help of spare paths during the network update. We prove that the feasibility of the consistent flow migration can be determined in exponential time. Furthermore, we demonstrate that even if there are multiple consistent migration plans, finding the optimal one that occupies the least leisure bandwidth resources is NP-hard. For the case in which no consistent plan is found, we introduce an efficient method to rate limit flows in order to reduce the packet loss. Extensive simulations show that our solution achieves a much smaller traffic loss rate at the cost of affordable spare link resource usage compared to prior methods.
The Utility of Preoperative Arteriography for Free Flap Planning in Patients with Chronic Lower Extremity Wounds.

Background In patients with lower extremity wounds, free tissue transfer is often the last option before amputation, making it crucial to optimize preoperative planning to prevent flap breakdown. No consensus exists regarding preoperative vascular workup before lower extremity free tissue transfer. In this study, the authors analyzed the utility of using arteriography for lower extremity free flap planning. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 57 patients who underwent lower extremity arteriography and 59 free flap operations for lower extremity wounds between November of 2014 and August of 2017. Findings were used to guide flap recipient vessel selection. Arterial abnormality was addressed by means of endovascular intervention, where appropriate. Encountered abnormality was described and patient demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were analyzed for correlation with abnormal angiographic studies. Results Angiographic abnormalities were observed in 40 patients (67.8 percent), including 23 (57.5 percent) with stenosis/occlusion, 20 (50.0 percent) with atretic/nonvisualized vessels, and 11 (27.5 percent) requiring endovascular intervention. Stenosis/occlusion was detected in nine patients (15.3 percent) with no previously known arterial disease, leading to a new diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease. The flap survival rate was 98.3 percent, six patients (10.2 percent) ultimately progressed to amputation, and 53 patients (89.8 percent) were able to continue community ambulation at a mean follow-up time of 15.1 ± 9.51 months (range, 1.67 to 35.2 months). After arteriography, two patients (3.39 percent) suffered contrast-induced acute kidney injury. No other complications were noted. Conclusion Preoperative lower extremity arteriography aids in the diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease, allows for timely endovascular intervention, and allows for optimal flap recipient vessel selection with a low complication rate. Clinical question/level of evidenc Diagnostic, IV.
Nanofiber-hydrogel composite–mediated angiogenesis for soft tissue reconstruction

Soft tissue losses from tumor removal, trauma, aging, and congenital malformation affect millions of people each year. Existing options for soft tissue restoration have several drawbacks: Surgical options such as the use of autologous tissue flaps lead to donor site defects, prosthetic implants are prone to foreign body response leading to fibrosis, and fat grafting and dermal fillers are limited to small-volume defects and only provide transient volume restoration. In addition, large-volume fat grafting and other tissue-engineering attempts are hampered by poor vascular ingrowth. Currently, there are no off-the-shelf materials that can fill the volume lost in soft tissue defects while promoting early angiogenesis. Here, we report a nanofiber-hydrogel composite that addresses these issues. By incorporating interfacial bonding between electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) fibers and a hyaluronic acid hydrogel network, we generated a composite that mimics the microarchitecture and mechanical properties of soft tissue extracellular matrix. Upon subcutaneous injection in a rat model, this composite permitted infiltration of host macrophages and conditioned them into the pro-regenerative phenotype. By secreting pro-angiogenic cytokines and growth factors, these polarized macrophages enabled gradual remodeling and replacement of the composite with vascularized soft tissue. Such host cell infiltration and angiogenesis were also observed in a rabbit model for repairing a soft tissue defect filled with the composite. This injectable nanofiber-hydrogel composite augments native tissue regenerative responses, thus enabling durable soft tissue restoration outcomes.
Innovations in Ethnographic Methods

This article reviews innovations in ethnographic methods that have developed over the past 25 years, specifically the emergence of multisited and short-term fieldwork, digital ethnography, various ...
Untethering and degradation of the polysaccharide matrix are essential steps in the dispersion response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

ABSTRACT Biofilms are multicellular aggregates of bacteria that are encased in an extracellular matrix. The biofilm matrix of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is composed of eDNA, proteins, and the polysaccharides Pel and Psl. This matrix is thought to be degraded during dispersion to liberate cells from the biofilms, with dispersion being apparent not only by single cells escaping from the biofilm but also leaving behind eroded or hollowed-out biofilm. However, little is known of the factors involved in matrix degradation. Here, we focused on the glycoside hydrolases PelA and PslG. We demonstrate that induction of pelA but not pslG expression resulted in dispersion. As Psl is tethered to the matrix adhesin CdrA, we furthermore explored the role of CdrA in dispersion. cdrA mutant biofilms were hyperdispersive, while lapG mutant biofilms were impaired in dispersion in response to glutamate and nitric oxide, indicating the presence of the surface-associated matrix protein CdrA impedes the dispersion response. In turn, insertional inactivation of cdrA enabled pslG-induced dispersion. Lowering of the intracellular c-di-GMP level via induction of PA2133 encoding a phosphodiesterase was not sufficient to induce dispersion by wild-type strains and strains overexpressing pslG, indicating that pslG-induced dispersion is independent of c-di-GMP modulation and, likely, LapG. IMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa forms multicellular aggregates or biofilms encased in a matrix. We show for the first time here that dispersion by P. aeruginosa requires the endogenous expression of pelA and pslG, leading to the degradation of both Pel and Psl polysaccharides, with PslG-induced dispersion being CdrA dependent. The findings suggested that endogenously induced Psl degradation is a sequential process, initiated by untethering of CdrA-bound Psl or CdrA-dependent cell interactions to enable Psl degradation and ultimately, dispersion. Untethering likely involves CdrA release in a manner independent of c-di-GMP modulation and thus LapG. Our findings not only provide insight into matrix degrading factors contributing to dispersion but also identify key steps in the degradation of structural components of the P. aeruginosa biofilm matrix.
Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells, Apheresis and Therapeutic Cells, T-Cells Collection: Instrumentation, Operating Parameters, and Troubleshooting

The collection of hematopoietic progenitor cells, apheresis (HPC[A]), and therapeutic cells (TC) can represent a challenge for the practitioner of apheresis medicine. There is a need to collect the “correct number and the right type of cells” in the hematopoietic graft without the presence of contaminating cells that may adversely affect product’s efficacy. In the United States, currently two Food and Drug Administration-cleared devices are available, the Fenwal Amicus and the Terumo BCT Spectra Optia, with the latter device able to perform two substantially different collection protocols utilizing different disposable sets and inserts. Both devices can produce high-quality products, but due to differences in the way that these devices operate, there are differences in the content of the products and differences in how the devices affect and are affected by the patient/donor. These differences are important considerations when evaluating and implementing the use of these devices. In addition, as with any complex medical device, the potential exists for instrument/process failure, in this case inadequate HPC(A) or TC content or the presence of cells in the product which are not desired. In many cases, such failures are a result of the biologic variability of the patient/donor and beyond the control of the apheresis practitioner, but in some cases, these failures represent either instrument failures or failures of the operators to adjust for unique patient/donor characteristics. Troubleshooting when these failures occur can be a challenging proposition but can be done if the entire content of the hematopoietic graft is properly evaluated and if the operator understands how the devices collect and harvest mononuclear cells. The focus of this chapter will be to discuss the current instrumentation used for the collection of cellular therapy products from the peripheral blood by apheresis methods, specifically hematopoietic progenitor cells, apheresis (HPC[A]), and therapeutic cells, T cells (TC-T).
Bias estimation for collocated sensors with a target of opportunity and measurement fusion

The sensor bias estimation problem is crucial in autonomous driving systems for perception and target tracking. This work considers the bias estimation for two collocated synchronized sensors with slowly varying, additive biases. The differences between the two sensors’ observations are used to eliminate the target state. Consequently, the bias estimation is independent from the target state estimation. The biases’ observability condition is met when the two sensors’ biases are Ornstein-Uhlenbeck stochastic processes with different time constants. A Maximum-Likelihood measurement fusion technique is introduced for the bias-compensated observations. Simulation results, for several scenarios with various bias model parameters, prove the consistency of the estimator. It is shown that the uncertainties of biases are significantly reduced by the estimation algorithm presented. The sensitivity of the proposed algorithm is also tested with mismatched filters.
Performance of screening MRI in high risk patients at initial versus subsequent screen.

Abstract Purpose To compare the characteristics, outcomes, and performance metrics in women undergoing initial breast MRI screening versus subsequent screening. Methods A retrospective database search identified screening MRIs performed at an academic practice from 2013 to 2015. MRIs were divided into two groups: (1) initial screens and (2) subsequent screens (interpreted with at least one prior MRI for comparison). Benignity was confirmed with pathology or >1-year follow-up. Malignancy was confirmed by pathology. Performance metrics were calculated. Comparisons were made using Binomial and Fisher's exact tests. Results We observed a higher rate of abnormal interpretations (52% vs. 19%; p Conclusions The higher rate of abnormal interpretations in the initial versus subsequent screen group in part reflects a prevalence screening. Although we observed more abnormal interpretations in the initial screen, this was likely justified by the significantly higher cancer detection. This evidence may be used to counsel patients and referring providers on the expected higher likelihood of recall from an initial screening MRI balanced with higher detection of malignancies. Findings also highlight the importance of having comparison MRIs to decrease false positives.