cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Angel-echo: a personalized health care application

Technology is constantly pioneering new paths in health care by creating new outlets for medical professionals to care for their patients. With the development of wearable sensors and enhanced forms of wireless communication like Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication, health data can now be collected wirelessly without compromising the independence of patients. Interactive voice interfaces such as the Amazon Echo provide an easy way for individuals to access a variety of data by using voice commands, making interacting with technology easier for those of limited technological experience. Wearable sensors, such as the Angel Sensor, combined with voice interactive devices, such as the Amazon Echo, have allowed for the development of applications that provide easy user interaction. Here, we propose a smart application that monitors health status by combining the data collection capabilities of the Angel sensor and the voice interfacing capabilities of the Amazon Echo. We also present test results of the Amazon Echo speech recognition on different populations.
Evaluation of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with hepatobiliary scans

1022 Learning Objectives Demonstrate the facility of hepatobiliary scans for assessing GI function and complications in post operative Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients. The rate of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery has increased with the rising prevalance of obesity. While an effective treatment, RYGB carries substantial morbidity and subsequent GI complications, including very non-specific chronic abdominal pain. Swartz et al. has suggested bile reflux into the roux limb and gastric pouch, as an unrecognized possible cause for abdominal pain in RYGB patients using endoscopy. We propose using hepatobiliary scan as a non-invasive diagnostic option. Bile reflux into the excluded stomach is another process with unclear clinical significance. The presence of bile in the stomach is known to damage the mucosal layer leading to gastritis and metaplasia. With RYGP procedures being performed on younger patients with the goal to prolong life expectancy, concerns about future adverse effects of bile reflux into the excluded stomach have to be taken seriously. Sundbom et al. from Sweden demonstrated 8 of 22 (36%) RYGB patients had cholscintigraphic evidence of dudodenogastric bile reflux. Hepatobiliary scans provide an alternative to retrograde intubation of the biliopancreatic limb and excluded stomach. Hepatobiliary scan can also assess patency of the biliopancreatic limb which is not readily visualized by endoscopic or barium examinations. While biliopancreatic limb obstructions are rare, Sandrasegaran et al. suggests that the blindly ending loop generates higher pressures when obstructed leading to higher complication rates. Research Support Sandrasegaran K, Maglinte DD, Rajesh A, Lappas JC, Howard TJ. CT of acute biliopancreatic limb obstruction. AJR Am. J. Roentgenol. 2006 186: 104-9. Sundbom M, Hedenstrom H, Gustavsson S. Duodenogastric bile reflux after gastric bypass: A cholescintigraphic study. Dig Dis Sci 2002;47:1891-6. Swartz, E. Mobley and E.L. Felix, Bile reflux after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: an unrecognized cause of postoperative pain. Surg Obes Related Dis, 2009 5: 27-30
Optimized Cellulose Nanocrystal Organocatalysts Outperform Silica-Supported Analogues: Cooperativity, Selectivity, and Bifunctionality in Acid–Base Aldol Condensation Reactions

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are demonstrated as effective, ordered supports for cooperative acid–base heterogeneous organocatalysis, offering an alternative to typical silica supports. CNC cataly...
Grain Boundary Sliding and Slip Transmission in High Purity Aluminum

Despite its significance in polycrystalline materials, there have been few experimental investigations of the activity of grain boundary sliding (GBS) and the relationship between GBS and slip transmission at grain boundaries. The present work addresses this knowledge gap by the characterization of full-field strain and microstructural information in an experimental system of high-purity (99.99%) columnar aluminum subjected to uniaxial tension at 190 °C. High-resolution, full-gage strain fields were characterized on an unloaded specimen by distortion-corrected and stitched scanning electron microscope-enabled digital image correlation (SEM-DIC). Alignment between the lower-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and higher-resolution strain fields was significantly improved by clustering of strain data within an EBSD-defined boundary mantle. Grain boundary sliding was investigated at select boundaries, and it was determined that GBS magnitude profiles can have large gradients along a single boundary and vary significantly between boundaries. Using a geometric compatibility factor (m′) to quantify favorability of slip transmission, the two grain boundaries that exhibited the largest average GBS magnitude experienced contiguous slip on moderately well aligned slip systems, although the exact nature of this slip activity, whether transmission or nucleation, remains under investigation.
Utility of 3D Printed Cardiac Models for Medical Student Education in Congenital Heart Disease: Across a Spectrum of Disease Severity

The most common modes of medical education for congenital heart disease (CHD) rely heavily on 2-dimensional imaging. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology allows for the creation of physical cardiac models that can be used for teaching trainees. 3D printed cardiac models were created for the following lesions: pulmonic stenosis, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, d-transposition of the great arteries, coarctation of the aorta, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Medical students participated in a workshop consisting of different teaching stations. At the 3D printed station, students completed a pre- and post-intervention survey assessing their knowledge of each cardiac lesion on a Likert scale. Students were asked to rank the educational benefit of each modality. Linear regression was utilized to assess the correlation of the mean increase in knowledge with increasing complexity of CHD based on the Aristotle Basic Complexity Level. 45 medical students attended the CHD workshop. Students’ knowledge significantly improved for every lesion (p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was found between mean increase in knowledge and increasing complexity of CHD (R2 = 0.73, p < 0.05). The 3D printed models, pathology specimens and spoken explanation were found to be the most helpful modalities. Students “strongly agreed” the 3D printed models made them more confident in explaining congenital cardiac anatomy to others (mean = 4.23, ± 0.69), and that they recommend the use of 3D models for future educational sessions (mean = 4.40, ± 0.69). 3D printed cardiac models should be included in medical student education particularly for lesions that require a complex understanding of spatial relationships.
Does a spinal implant alter dual energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition measurements?

BACKGROUND Most manufacturer manuals do not verify the use of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition analysis in subjects with a metal implant. This study aimed to quantify the effects of a spinal implant on body composition, and to determine whether unadjusted lean mass estimates are valid for patients with a spinal implant. METHODS A total of 30 healthy subjects were recruited. Three consecutive scans were performed for each participant, one with and two without extraneous spinal implant, without repositioning between scans. Lean, fat and bone estimates in the total body, trunk and limb were measured. RESULTS Precision errors for all total and regional body compositions were within the recommended ranges. Bone masses in the trunk and total body were significantly increased with spinal implant, and the increases exceeded the least significant change. For total and regional lean and fat estimates, the measurements between subjects with and without metal implants were in substantial to almost perfect agreement and the differences were not significant and did not exceed the least significant change. CONCLUSIONS Spinal metal artifacts significantly increased the total body and trunk bone mass but the differences in lean- and fat-related estimates at total and regional body levels and all estimates in the extremity remained within the clinical acceptable range. Thus, a spinal implant may not compromise screening of patients for fat and lean masses using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Application of image reconstruction or a filtering algorithm may help reduce the effect of metallic artifacts and further study is needed.
Average medical cost of fatal and non-fatal injuries by type in the USA

Objective To estimate the average medical care cost of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the USA comprehensively by injury type. Methods The attributable cost of injuries was estimated by mechanism (eg, fall), intent (eg, unintentional), body region (eg, head and neck) and nature of injury (eg, fracture) among patients injured from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015. The cost of fatal injuries was the multivariable regression-adjusted average among patients who died in hospital emergency departments (EDs) or inpatient settings as reported in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and National Inpatient Sample, controlling for demographic (eg, age), clinical (eg, comorbidities) and health insurance (eg, Medicaid) factors. The 1-year attributable cost of non-fatal injuries was assessed among patients with ED-treated injuries using MarketScan medical claims data. Multivariable regression models compared total medical payments (inpatient, outpatient, drugs) among non-fatal injury patients versus matched controls during the year following injury patients’ ED visit, controlling for demographic, clinical and insurance factors. All costs are 2015 US dollars. Results The average medical cost of all fatal injuries was approximately $6880 and $41 570 per ED-based and hospital-based patient, respectively (range by injury type: $4764–$10 289 and $31 912–$95 295). The average attributable 1-year cost of all non-fatal injuries per person initially treated in an ED was approximately $6620 (range by injury type: $1698–$80 172). Conclusions and relevance Injuries are costly and preventable. Accurate estimates of attributable medical care costs are important to monitor the economic burden of injuries and help to prioritise cost-effective public health prevention activities.
Therapeutic efficacy of environmental enrichment on behavioral, endocrine, and synaptic alterations in an animal model of maternal immune activation.

Abstract Maternal immune activation (MIA) has been identified as a significant risk factor for several neurodevelopmental disorders. We have previously demonstrated that postpubertal environmental enrichment (EE) rescues and promotes resiliency against MIA in male rats. Importantly, EE protocols have demonstrated clinical relevancy in human rehabilitation settings. Applying some of the elements of these EE protocols (e.g. social, physical, cognitive stimulation) to animal models of health and disease allows for the exploration of the mechanisms that underlie their success. Here, using a MIA model, we further investigate the rehabilitative potential of complex environments with a focus on female animals. Additionally, we expand upon some of our previous work by exploring genetic markers of synaptic plasticity and stress throughout several brain regions of both sexes. In the current study, standard housed female Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged with either the inflammatory endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ​μg/kg) or saline (equivolume) on gestational day 15. On postnatal day 50, male and female offspring were randomized into one of three conditions that differed in terms of cage size, number of cage mates (social stimulation) and enrichment materials. Spatial discrimination ability and social behavior were assessed six weeks later. Similar to our previously published work in males, our results revealed that a single LPS injection during mid gestation disrupted spatial discrimination ability in female rats. Postpubertal EE rescued this disruption. On the endocrine level, EE dampened elevations in plasma corticosterone that followed MIA, which may mediate EE’s rehabilitative effects in female offspring. Within the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus, MIA and EE altered the mRNA expression of several genes associated with resiliency and synaptic plasticity in both sexes. Overall, our findings provide further evidence that EE may serve as a therapeutic intervention for MIA-induced behavioral and cognitive deficits. Moreover, we identify some sexually dimorphic molecular mechanisms that may underlie these impairments and their rescue.
Small molecule-induced DNA hydrogel with encapsulation and release properties

Hydrogels are networks of polymers that can be used for packaging different payload types. They are proven to be versatile materials for various biomedical applications. Implanted hydrogels with encapsulated drugs have been shown to release the therapeutic payloads at disease sites. Hydrogels are usually made through chemical polymerization reactions. Whereas, DNA is a naturally occurring biopolymer which can assemble into highly ordered structures through noncovalent interactions. Here, we have employed a small molecule, cyanuric acid (CA), to assemble polyA-tailed DNA motif into a hydrogel. Encapsulation of a small molecule chemotherapeutic drug, a fluorescent molecule, two proteins and several nanoparticle formulations has been studied. Release of doxorubicin, small fluorescent molecule and fluorescently-labeled antibodies has been demonstrated.
Unified Voltage Balancing Feedforward for Three-Level Boost PFC Converter in Discontinuous and Critical Conduction Modes

This brief presents a unified voltage balancing feedforward (UVBFF) for three-level boost (TLB) power-factor-correction (PFC) circuit in discontinuous and critical conduction modes. In general, the topology in both modes puts emphasis on low-cost system. Thus, electrolytic capacitors with wide-tolerance are commonly used at outputs and voltage unbalance is inevitable even under symmetric operations of two boost cells. In this brief, three-level switching capability of TLB PFC is introduced and asymmetric on-time feedforward for main switches is proposed. The proposed UVBFF can be realized by a single equation and harmonized with conventional feedback voltage-loop so that easy implementation is the key merit. The effectiveness of UVBFF is proven by analyses and experimental results.
Sparse Sensing and Optimal Precision: An Integrated Framework for H 2 /H ∞ Optimal Observer Design

In this letter, we simultaneously determine the optimal sensor precision and the observer gain, which achieves the specified accuracy in the state estimates. Along with the unknown observer gain, the formulation parameterizes the scaling of the exogenous inputs that correspond to the sensor noise. Reciprocal of this scaling is defined as the sensor precision, and sparseness is achieved by minimizing the $l_{1}$ norm of the precision vector. The optimization is performed with constraints guaranteeing specified accuracy in state estimates, which are defined in terms of $\mathcal {H}_{2}$ or $\mathcal {H}_{\infty }$ norms of the error dynamics. The results presented in this letter are applied to the linearized longitudinal model of an F-16 aircraft.
High-bandwidth interrogation of optomechanical cavity sensors using electro-optic frequency combs

We use an electro-optic frequency comb system to measure the frequency shift of optomechanical cavity sensors with large dynamic range (> 2 GHz) and fast bandwidth (500 kHz).
How links are formed according to the distance in transaction network of 800,000 firms

We studied how links are formed according to the distance in transaction network of 800,000 firms. We investigated the inter-firm transaction network of $800,000$ firms in Japan. They are almost all firms in Japan. As far as we know, scale-freeness, hierarchy, and degree-degree correlation were discovered as fundamental characteristics in the network before the present paper. We discovered another fundamental characteristic as to distance. Distance plays an important role in the network. The number of transaction links between two regions is proportional to the product of the sales (degrees) of the two regions divided by the distance between the two regions. This is of a form of the gravity equation. It implies that the further the firms are, the less likely it is that they are linked in the network.
Regulatory involvement of the PerR and SloR metalloregulators in the Streptococcus mutans oxidative stress response

Streptococcus mutans is a commensal of the human oral microbiome that can promote dental caries under conditions of dysbiosis. This study investigates metalloregulators and their involvement in the S. mutans oxidative stress response. Oxidative stress in the human mouth can derive from temporal increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) after meal consumption and from endogenous bacterial ROS-producers that colonize the dentition. We hypothesize that the S. mutans PerR (SMU.593) and SloR (SMU.186) metalloregulatory proteins contribute to the regulation of oxidative stress genes and their products. Expression assays with S. mutans UA159 wild type cultures exposed to H2O2 reveal that H2O2 upregulates perR, and that PerR represses sloR transcription upon binding directly to Fur and PerR consensus sequences within the sloR operator. In addition, the results of Western blot experiments implicate the Clp proteolytic system in SloR degradation under conditions of H2O2-stress. To reveal a potential role for SloR in the H2O2-resistant phenotype of S. mutans GMS802 (a perR-deficient strain), we generated a sloR/perR double knockout mutant, GMS1386, where we observed upregulation of the tpx and dpr antioxidant genes. These results are consistent with GMS802 H2O2 resistance and with a role for PerR as a transcriptional repressor. Cumulatively, these findings support a reciprocal relationship between PerR and SloR during the S. mutans oxidative stress response and begin to elucidate the fitness strategies that evolved to foster S. mutans persistence in the transient environments of the human oral cavity. IMPORTANCE In 2020, untreated dental caries, especially in the permanent dentition, ranked among the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide, disproportionately impacting individuals of low socioeconomic status. Untreated caries can lead to systemic health problems and has been associated with extended school and work absences, inappropriate use of emergency departments, and an inability for military forces to deploy. Together with public health policy, research aimed at alleviating S. mutans-induced tooth decay is important because it can improve oral health (and overall health), especially in underserved populations. This research, focused on S. mutans metalloregulatory proteins and their gene targets, is significant because it can promote virulence gene control in an important oral pathogen, and contribute to the development of an anti-caries therapeutic that can reduce tooth decay.
Neighborhood-based bridge node centrality tuple for complex network analysis

We define a bridge node to be a node whose neighbor nodes are sparsely connected to each other and are likely to be part of different components if the node is removed from the network. We propose a computationally light neighborhood-based bridge node centrality (NBNC) tuple that could be used to identify the bridge nodes of a network as well as rank the nodes in a network on the basis of their topological position to function as bridge nodes. The NBNC tuple for a node is asynchronously computed on the basis of the neighborhood graph of the node that comprises of the neighbors of the node as vertices and the links connecting the neighbors as edges. The NBNC tuple for a node has three entries: the number of components in the neighborhood graph of the node, the algebraic connectivity ratio of the neighborhood graph of the node and the number of neighbors of the node. We analyze a suite of 60 complex real-world networks and evaluate the computational lightness, effectiveness, efficiency/accuracy and uniqueness of the NBNC tuple vis-a-vis the existing bridgeness related centrality metrics and the Louvain community detection algorithm.
Analysis of Grain Yield Output Based on Support Vector Machine

In modern society, food shortage does not seem to be a very serious problem, because more and more countries have realized the pursuit of food and clothing. However, as the most populous country in the world and the largest developing nation, China faces many opportunities as well as challenges. Although China's current grain supply is ample, total grain production is still a concern because it is what people depend on to survive. Adequate food reserves can help a country cope with an unexpected crisis. For example, a number of countries have announced bans on grain exports because of the outbreak of Coronavirus. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relevant factors affecting grain yield and analyze the data using the SVM model After the optimal parameters are obtained, the forecast value of China's grain output in recent years is obtained by using the optimal parameters. Finally, through the comparison between predicted values and real values, this paper analyzes the results and puts forward relevant suggestions for China's future grain production.
Low-Latency In-Band Integration of Multiple Low-Power Wide-Area Networks

Today, industrial and agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) are emerging in very large-scale and wide-area applications (e.g., oil-field management, smart farming) that may spread over hundreds of square miles (e.g., $45\mathrm{m}\mathrm{i}\times 12\mathrm{m}\mathrm{i}$ East Texas Oil-field). Although a single Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) covers several miles, it faces coverage challenge in such extremely large-area IoT applications, specially in rural or remote areas with no/limited infrastructure, requiring an in-band integration of multiple LPWANs. To avoid the crowd in the limited ISM band and the cost of licensed band and infrastructure, SNOW (Sensor Network Over White spaces) is an LPWAN architecture over the TV white spaces. It offers high scalability through concurrent and bi-directional communication between a base station and numerous nodes. We consider a seamless integration of multiple SNOWs. Existing approach does not consider minimizing network latency and is less suitable for delay-sensitive or real-time applications. We propose the first scalable in-band integration of multiple SNOWs that minimizes network latency. By taking into account the impact of bandwidth on latency and base station power dissipation, we formulate lowlatency integration of multiple SNOWs as a constrained spectrum allocation problem. It is solved through a greedy algorithm by analyzing network latency and by adopting a latency- and traffic- aware bandwidth allocation along the links to achieve an integrated network. We have implemented the proposed integration both on SNOW hardware and in NS-3 simulator. Both physical experiments and simulations show a significant reduction (44% and 97%, resp.) in network latency under our approach compared to existing approach.
Kriging, Asymptotic Theory

The fixed-domain asymptoic theory regarding the impact of misspecified covariance structure on the optimality of spatial interpolation is reviewed. Conditions in terms of equivalence of measures, similar tail behavior of spectral densities, and the distance of variances after orthogonalization are provided to ensure the pseudo-BLP to be asymptotically optimal and the assessment of the mean squared error to be comparably accurate. Keywords: equivalence of Gaussian measures; fixed-domain asymptotics; kriging; mean squared error; microergodic parameter; Asymptotic optimality
IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL RAC1-INTERACTING PROTEIN INVOLVED IN MEMBRANE RUFFLING

The Rac GTP binding proteins are implicated in actin cytoskeleton-membrane interaction in mammalian cells. In fibroblast cells, Rac has been shown to mediate growth factor-induced polymerization of actin to form membrane ruffles and lamellipodia. We report here the isolation of a noval Rac1-interacting protein, POR1. POR1 binds directly to Rac1, and the interaction of POR1 with Rac1 is GTP dependent. A mutation in the Rac1 effector binding loop shown to abolish membrane ruffling also abolishes interaction with POR1. Truncated versions of POR1 inhibit the induction of membrane ruffling by an activated mutant of Rac1, V12Rac1, in quiescent rat embryonic fibroblast REF52 cells. Furthermore, POR1 synergizes with an activated mutant of Ras, V12Ras, in the induction of membrane ruffling. These results suggest a potential role for POR1 in Rac1-mediated signaling pathways.
The Role of Cortisol and Psychopathic Traits in Aggression Among At-Risk Girls: Tests of Mediating Hypotheses

Multiple etiological factors (e.g., biological and personality predispositions) have been linked to the development of aggression. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation between proactive/reactive aggression and biological (HPA-axis functioning) and personality characteristics (subdimensions of psychopathy) among girls at risk for aggressive behavior. Participants included girls (N = 158) admitted for acute psychiatric inpatient treatment (M age = 9.72; SD = 1.99). Parents completed a measure of proactive/reactive aggression and psychopathy upon admission. Fasting plasma cortisol levels were obtained the morning following the child's admission. Correlational analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between cortisol and the narcissism and impulsivity subdimensions of psychopathy as well as proactive/reactive aggression. A significant positive relation between proactive and reactive aggression and the three subdimensions of psychopathy was also observed. Path analyses revealed that only narcissism was uniquely and positively related to proactive and reactive aggression. Tests of indirect effects from cortisol to aggression through subdimensions of psychopathy indicated significant pathways via narcissism to proactive and reactive aggression. The findings support previous research linking narcissism uniquely to aggression for girls and suggest that the relation between cortisol and proactive/reactive aggression is mediated by narcissism. Aggr. Behav. 9999:XX-XX, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
Analytical model of voltage division inside stacked-FET switch

An analytical model of the voltage division inside a MOSFET stack is presented. The voltage division can be described by a simple closed-form analytical expression. This approach provides not only a much faster calculation, but also a more clear understanding of the influence of single FET parameters on the FET stack behavior. Analytical expressions for the off capacitance (C off ) and breakdown voltage (BV) of a FET stack are then derived. By increasing the number of the stacked FETs, a minimum C off and a maximum BV are predicted. The analytical model is validated against both numerical calculation and measurements.
Baker-Venkataraman rearrangement

Base-catalyzed acyl transfer reaction that converts α-acyloxyketones to β-diketones, which are substrates for making flavones (flavonoids).
Problems in Adhesion Measurement

Clinging of preformed films to other solids can be measured unequivocally, and the two most common causes of it are outlined. The real adhesion of films, applied as a liquid and then solidifed on the substrate, cannot be measured because mechanical separation of the film from the substrate exactly along their interface is almost impossible. Recent confirmations of this impossibility are reviewed. In the tests intended for measuring this adhesion, very often the tensile strength of the film material is determined, albeit in an indirect manner. In many other systems, the experimental breaking stress depends on a layer spread along the above interface. The use of the term adhesion for the strength of coatings is not advisable.
Adolescent Student Use of School-Based Salad Bars.

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity continues to be a public health problem in the United States. Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables (F/V) is one strategy for decreasing high consumption of energy-dense, high-fat foods, thereby improving weight status. Many Orleans Parish public schools were provided with salad bars (SBs) to augment school lunch with increased access to F/V. This study identified factors associated with student use of SBs. METHODS Surveys examining SB use, demographics, food preference, nutrition knowledge, and social support were administered to students in the 7th to 12th grades (N = 702) in Orleans Parish (New Orleans, Louisiana). Generalized estimating equations, which incorporate clustering at the school level, helped to determine associations between independent variables and SB use. RESULTS Sixty percent of participants were SB users. Non-African-American students were more likely to be SB users than African-American students (odds ratio [OR] = 2.35, confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-4.07) and students who had high preference for healthy food were more likely to use the SB than those who had low preference (OR = 2.41, CI: 1.44-4.01). Students who encouraged others to consume F/V were more likely to use the SB than those who did not (p = .015). CONCLUSIONS Individual and interpersonal factors related to SB use can provide guidance in the development of school-based interventions to increase SB use and F/V consumption.
NeTra-V: toward an object-based video representation

There is a growing need for new representations of video that allow not only compact storage of data but also content-based functionalities such as search and manipulation of objects. We present here a prototype system, called NeTra-V, that is currently being developed to address some of these content related issues. The system has a two-stage video processing structure: a global feature extraction and clustering stage, and a local feature extraction and object-based representation stage. Key aspects of the system include a new spatio-temporal segmentation and object-tracking scheme, and a hierarchical object-based video representation model. The spatio-temporal segmentation scheme combines the color/texture image segmentation and affine motion estimation techniques. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can handle large motion. The output of the segmentation, the alpha plane as it is referred to in the MPEG-4 terminology, can be used to compute local image properties. This local information forms the low-level content description module in our video representation. Experimental results illustrating spatio- temporal segmentation and tracking are provided.
On rank-one convex and polyconvex conformal energy functions with slow growth

We make some remarks about rank-one convex and polyconvex functions on the set of all real n × n matrices that vanish on the subset K n consisting of all conformal matrices and grow like a power function at infinity. We prove that every non-negative rank-one convex function that vanishes on K n and grows below a power of degree n /2 must vanish identically. In odd dimensions n ≧ 3, we prove that every non-negative polyconvex function that vanishes on K n must vanish identically if it grows below a power of degree n ; while in even dimensions, such polyconvex functions can exist that also grow like a power of half-dimension degree.
THE CONFLICTING DEMANDS OF WORK, FAMILY, AND SCHOOL AMONG STUDENTS AT AN URBAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract The effects of perceived effectiveness of university support services and general satisfaction with the educational experience on conflicting demands of work, family, and school were investigated in a study of 375 undergraduate and graduate students at an urban university. Results demonstrated a negative relationship between perceived effectiveness of support services and the degree of work-school role conflict experienced by participants. Furthermore, satisfaction with educational experience was negatively related to work-school conflict. No other significant effects were found.
Cocaine, norcocaine, ecgonine methylester and benzoylecgonine pharmacokinetics in the rat

Abstract We have compared the pharmacokinetics of bolus dose cocaine administration with that of its three most important metabolites; norcocaine, ecgonine methylester, and benzoylecgonine and assessed whether kinetics are dose dependent at two equimolar doses equivalent to cocaine hydrochloride 2.5 and 5 mg kg respectively. Forty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 8 groups to receive iv either high (14.7 umol kg ) (HI) or low (7.3 umol kg ) (LO) bolus doses of cocaine or one of its metabolites. Arterial blood samples for cocaine and metabolite analysis were taken repetitively over the next 3 h. Equimolar bolus doses of these congeners showed biexponential plasma concentration decay curves which were fitted to a two compartment model and subjected to noncompartmental analysis. The plasma concentration time profiles were significantly different for the HI and LO doses administered for each congener. The elimination half-lives of cocaine and norcocaine were similar (28–33 min), that for ecgonine methylester (60–71 min) was approximately twice this and for benzoylecgonine was 40–44 min. Cocaine clearance (155–158 ml/kg/min) was found to be in the range found in other rat studies. Ecgonine methylester clearance and benzoylecgonine clearance were found to be one quarter and one eighth of this value respectively. The pharmacokinetic profile of these congeners was not dose dependent when the two doses administered were compared.
Reliability assessment using probabilistic support vector machines

This paper presents a methodology to calculate probabilities of failure using Probabilistic Support Vector Machines (PSVMs). Support Vector Machines (SVMs) have recently gained attention for reliability assessment because of several inherent advantages. Specifically, SVMs allow one to construct explicitly the boundary of a failure domain. In addition, they provide a technical solution for problems with discontinuities, binary responses, and multiple failure modes. However, the basic SVM boundary might be inaccurate; therefore leading to erroneous probability of failure estimates. This paper proposes to account for the inaccuracies of the SVM boundary in the calculation of the Monte Carlo-based probability of failure. This is achieved using a PSVM which provides the probability of misclassification of Monte Carlo samples. The probability of failure estimate is based on a new sigmoid- based PSVM model along with the identification of a region where the probability of misclassification is large. The PSVM-based probabilities of failure are, by construction, always more conservative than the deterministic SVM-based probability estimates.
Push‐pull angioplasty: ACE balloon‐facilitated stent passage technique

Improvements in interventional cardiology equipment have facilitated the treatment of more complex anatomies. Bulky stent transport systems and the inflexibility of stents have remained a limitation to the delivery of stents to distal, angulated, stiff, and calcified vessels. In order to provide the strongest guide backup, some vessel straightening, and a stiff rail over which the stent apparatus could be passed, an ACE balloon was advanced past the target lesion and used to trap the distal wire by gently inflating the ACE balloon at low pressure. Traction is then placed on the ACE catheter and the angioplasty guide wire at the touey valve insertion site. This procedure facilitates easy passage of angioplasty devices through challenging anatomies. In addition to the two case reports described, this technique has been used numerous other times with consistent success. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:93–95, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Construct Individuality, Cognitive Complexity, and the Formation and Remembering of Interpersonal Impressions.

Subjects differing in cognitive complexity formed impressions from either (1) three positive and three negative experimenter-selected traits, (2) three traits of each evaluation generated by the subject in a preliminary session, or (3) three experimenter-selected traits of one valence and three subject-generated traits of the opposite valence. Additionally, subjects reconstructed their impressions from memory after eight weeks. Impressions were dominated in content and evaluation by information tied to subjects' own constructs. The strength with which subjects attributed the stimulus qualities to the other was greater for self-generated traits. While all subjects organized inconsistency in their impressions at similar levels when receiving self-generated positive information, high and low complexity subjects differed in the organization of their impressions in the other conditions largely owing to the greater utility of negative information to high-complexity subjects.
Reliability of the assessment of dual diagnosis (ADD).

Abstract Emotional and behavioral problems are a major source of additional handicap for children, adolescents, and adults with mental retardation. To address these problems, clinicians need psychometrically sound instruments for assessing psychopathology in individuals with mental retardation. The initial psychometric properties of the Assessment for Dual Diagnosis (ADD), a new scale designed to screen for psychopathology in individuals with mild and moderate mental retardation, was examined. The authors conducted a preliminary evaluation of the interrater and test-retest reliability of the ADD. It was determined that the ADD had high stability across raters and high stability over time. In addition, good internal consistency was established with coefficient alpha. Potential uses for the scale and directions for future research are discussed. .
Rhythm annotation and interobserver reproducibility of measures of heart rate variability.

Abstract In summary, these data indicate that interobserver reproducibility is high for time domain and power spectral measures of heart rate variability, but that reproducibility is greater for the low-frequency measures, and especially for SDANN, than for the high-frequency measures. Overall interobserver variability of
Epidermal growth factor is critical for intestinal adaptation following small bowel resection.

The loss of small intestinal mucosal surface area is a relatively common clinical situation seen in both the pediatric and adult population. The most frequent causes include mesenteric ischemia, trauma, inflammatory bowel disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, and volvulus. Following surgical resection, the remnant intestine compensates or adapts to the loss of native bowel by increasing its absorptive surface area and functional capacity. Unfortunately, many patients fail to adapt adequately, and are relegated to lifelong intravenous nutrition. Research into intestinal adaptation following small bowel resection (SBR) has evolved only recently from the gross and microscopic level to the biochemical and genetic level. As understanding of this process has increased, numerous therapeutic strategies to augment adaptation have been proposed. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an endogenous peptide that is secreted into the gastrointestinal tract and able to influence gut ontogeny, as well as mucosal healing. Early studies have demonstrated its ability to augment the adaptive process. Focusing on a murine model of massive intestinal loss, the morphological, structural, biochemical, and genetic changes that occur during the intestinal adaptive process will be reviewed. The role of EGF and its receptor as critical mediators of the adaptive process will be discussed. Additionally, the ability of EGF to augment intestinal proliferation and diminish programmed cell death (apoptosis) following SBR will be examined. Enhancing adaptation in a controlled manner may allow patients to transition off parenteral nutrition to enteral feeding and, thereby, normalize their lifestyle.
Debussy’s Toy Stories

Research in Moscow, New York, Paris, and Stockholm uncovers the compositional and early performance histories of Debussy’s ballet pantomime for children, The Toy Box. Surprisingly, the first large-scale production took place in Moscow, not Paris, and Henri Forterre—in advance of Andre Caplet—completed the orchestration after Debussy’s death. Theater directors and choreographers variously interpret Debussy’s distinctive approach to creating music for children as having been influenced by the designs of his scenarist, Andre Helle. Although newly uncovered source materials might permit a reconstruction of The Toy Box , to do so would be to violate the spirit of the ballet, which embraces the imagined over the real and, paradoxically, the permanence of the ephemeral.
Analytical Study of Bifurcation and Nonlinear Behavior of Sandwich Columns

Buckling behavior of axially compressed sandwich columns exhibits a variety of interesting phenomena. The column can buckle in a long wave “overall mode” or a short-wave “wrinkling mode,” the latter involving severe bending of the facings and transverse deformation of the core. The full-range nonlinear behavior of these structures is investigated in the elastic range taking typical examples. Columns can be, though not always, imperfection sensitive when wrinkling is the principal mode of buckling. The columns buckling in the overall mode collapse by the formation of localized wrinkles in the postbuckling range. An interesting new finding of this study is that, for certain combinations of core compliance and facing thickness, there can be a bifurcation from the prebuckling path at a load smaller than that predicted by the linear stability analysis. In this scenario, if wrinkling is the dominant mode of buckling, the column turns out to be imperfection sensitive.
DECELLULARIZATION OF TISSUES AND ORGANS

Decellularized tissues and organs have been successfully used in a variety of tissue engineering/regenerative medicine applications, and the decellularization methods used vary as widely as the tissues and organs of interest. The efficiency of cell removal from a tissue is dependent on the origin of the tissue and the specific physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods that are used. Each of these treatments affect the biochemical composition, tissue ultrastructure, and mechanical behavior of the remaining extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold, which in turn, affect the host response to the material. Herein, the most commonly used decellularization methods are described, and consideration give to the effects of these methods upon the biologic scaffold material.
Single-particle Raman measurements of gold nanoparticles used in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sandwich immunoassays

The effect of particle size on the intensity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using labeled gold nanoparticles has been investigated. Two sets of experiments were preformed, both of which employed 632.8-nm laser excitation. The first entailed a sandwich immunoassay in which an antibody coupled to a smooth gold substrate selectively captured free-prostate specific antigen (f-PSA) from buffered aqueous solutions. The presence of captured f-PSA was then detected by the response of Raman-labeled immunogold nanoparticles with nominal diameters of 30, 40, 50, 60, or 80 nm. The resulting SERS responses were correlated to particle densities, which were determined by atomic force microscopy, by calculating the average response per particle after accounting for differences in particle surface area. This analysis showed that the magnitude of the SERS response increased with increasing particle size. The second set of experiments examined the response of individual nanoparticles. These experiments differed in that the labeled nanoparticles were coupled to the smooth gold substrate by an amine-terminated thiolate, yielding a much smaller average separation between the particles and substrate. The results revealed that particles with a diameter of ~70 nm exhibited the largest enhancement. The origin of the difference in the two sets of findings, which is attributed to the distance dependence of the plasmon coupling between the nanoparticles and underlying substrate, is briefly discussed.
Patient attitudes toward retention and perceptions of treatment success.

Abstract Objective: To discern patients' opinions regarding responsibility for orthodontic retention and to determine whether patient attitudes toward retention are related to perceptions of treatment success. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires regarding orthodontic retention were distributed to first-year undergraduate college students (n = 158), first-year dental students (n = 183), and retention patients at orthodontic offices (n = 214). Items included treatment satisfaction, perceived responsibility for retention, type of retainer prescribed, reasons for discontinuing use of retainers, and relapse experienced. Results: Four hundred twenty-eight of 555 participants indicated that they had received orthodontic treatment. Most indicated they were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their teeth, both at the end of treatment (96%) and currently (84%). There was a strong relationship between the perception of stability of tooth position and current satisfaction level (P < .0001). Most indiv...
Novel cellular determinants for reversal of multidrug resistance in cells expressing P170-glycoprotein

Abstract The newly synthesized calcium channel blocker, Ro44-5912, significantly potentiates doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cytotoxicity at non-cytotoxic concentrations in Dox-resistant human ovarian cell line, A2780/DX5, overexpressing P170-glycoprotein (Pgp). Induction of DNA single- and double-strand breaks (ssbs and dsbs) was measured using alkaline elution and constant-field gel electrophoresis (CFGE) assays. The results indicate that potentiation of the cytotoxicity of Dox by Ro44-5912 was accompanied by significant increases in both, Dox-induced DNA ssbs and dsbs in the resistant cells. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis showed that Dox induced DNA fragments in the 50–800 kilobase (kb) and 0.8–5.7 megabase (Mb) ranges. The majority of the newly synthesized DNA fragments were in the 50–800 kb range. Ro44-5912 treatment resulted in significant potentiation of DNA fragmentation in the 50–800 kb range with a minor increase in 0.8–5.7 Mb DNA fragments, suggesting that the modulator functions by potentiating nascent DNA fragmentation in the resistant cells. Exposure to Dox with Ro44-5912 was associated with a prolonged blockage of cells in the S-phase. In contrast, exposure to Dox alone resulted in temporary blockage of cells in G 2 /M phase (∼24 h) followed by restoration of cell proliferation and normal DNA histograms at 48 h after 2 h drug exposure. Incorporation of BrdUrd by flow cytometric analysis was inhibited by Dox in the presence of Ro44-5912, showing that there is a block of DNA replication. An increased damage in newly synthesized DNA could concur with a blocked DNA replication. Moreover, slowing progression through the S-phase in cells exposed to Dox in combination with Ro44-5912 is accompanied by increased sensitivity of Dox poisons, indicating a correlation of specific S-phase perturbation with the reversal of Dox resistance by Ro44-5912 in cells expressing Pgp. The results suggest that drug-induced augmentation of nascent DNA fragmentation and specific cell-cycle perturbation are potentially important molecular determinants for reversal of multidrug resistance in addition to restoration of intracellular drug retention.