Interesting faces: A graph-based approach for finding people in news

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In this study, we propose a method for finding people in large news photograph and video collections. Our method exploits the multi-modal nature of these data sets to recognize people and does not require any supervisory input. It first uses the name of the person to populate an initial set of candidate faces. From this set, which is likely to include the faces of other people, it selects the group of most similar faces corresponding to the queried person in a variety of conditions. Our main contribution is to transform the problem of recognizing the faces of the queried person in a set of candidate faces to the problem of finding the highly connected sub-graph (the densest component) in a graph representing the similarities of faces. We also propose a novel technique for finding the similarities of faces by matching interest points extracted from the faces. The proposed method further allows the classification of new faces without needing to re-build the graph. The experiments are performed on two data sets: thousands of news photographs from Yahoo! news and over 200 news videos from TRECVid2004. The results show that the proposed method provides significant improvements over textbased methods. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve

An improved method of supercharged transposed latissimus dorsi flap with the skin paddle for the management of a complicated lumbosacral defect

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of nonhealing wounds of lower back often poses a powerful challenge. We present one of the first report of treatment of a lumbosacral defect with a supercharged latissimus dorsi flap with the skin paddle. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 59 yearold man with myeloma of the sacral spine who underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and subsequently, laminectomies and placement of hardware for ongoing paresis and spine instability. Then, he developed an open wound and osteomyelitis of the spine with culture positive tuberculous granulomas. After multiple surgical debridement, he presented to our service and was treated with a single stage debridement followed by the performance of a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap based on paraspinal perforators and supercharged. RESULTS: This solution, allowed for augmentation of blood flow to the muscle with the inferior gluteal artery, provided coverage of the defect resistant to the pressure, and simplified post-operative management of the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Alternative treatment options, including free tissue transfer, posed difficulties in finding suitable recipient vessels near the defect, in inserting the flap so as to restore its original length without compromising blood flow, and in postoperative care of the patient. Treatment of a lumbosacral defect with a supercharged latissimus dorsi flap with the skin paddle may represent a milestone procedure for complicated lower spine wounds

Effects of pumping on entomopathogenic nematodes and temperature increase within a spray system

Exposure to hydrodynamic stresses and increased temperature during hydraulic agitation within a spray system could cause permanent damage to biological pesticides during spray application. Damage to a benchmark biopesticide, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), was measured after a single passage through three different pump types (centrifugal, diaphragm, and roller) at operating pressures up to 828 kPa. No mechanical damage to the EPNs due to passage through the pumps was observed. Separate tests evaluated the effect of pump recirculation on temperature increase of water within a laboratory spray system (56.8-L spray tank) and a conventional-scale spray system (1136-L spray tank). A constant volume of water (45.4 L) was recirculated through each pump at 15.1 L/min within the laboratory spray system. After 2 h, the temperature increase for the centrifugal pump was 33.6 degrees C, and for the diaphragm and roller pumps was 8.5 degrees C and 11.2 degrees C, respectively. The centrifugal pump was also evaluated within the conventional spray system, under both a constant (757 L) and reducing volume scenario, resulting in an average temperature increase of 3.2 degrees C and 6.5 degrees C, respectively, during the 3-h test period. When comparing the number of recirculations for each test, the rate of temperature increase was the same for the conventional spray, system (for both the constant and reducing volume scenarios), while for the laboratory spray system the temperature increased at a greater rate, suggesting that the volume capacity of the spray tank is the primary factor influencing the temperature increase. Results from this study indicate that thermal influences during pump recirculation could be more detrimental to EPNs than mechanical stress. Results show that extensive recirculation of the tank mix can cause considerable increases in the liquid temperature. Diaphragm and roller pumps (low-capacity pumps) are better suited for use with biopesticides compared to the centrifugal pump, which was found to contribute significant heat to the spray system

The accuracy rate of Alvarado score, ultrasonography, and computerized tomography scan in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in our center

Objective: In this study, we aim to compare the relationship between the Alvarado score, ultrasonography, and multislice computerized tomography (CT) findings used for the diagnosis of the patients who presented to our emergency unit with clinical features suggestive of acute appendicitis.Materials and Methods: Seventy.four patients operated with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis were included in the study. The demographic  characteristics of the patients, physical findings, blood parameters,  Alvarado scores, the radiological method used for the diagnosis, the  surgical methods (open or laparoscopic) and the pathology results wererecorded on the standard proforma. The collected data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 15 for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) computer program.Results: During study period, the sensitivity of ultrasonography was found to be as 71.2%, specificity as 46.7%, the positive predictive value (PPV) as 82.2%, the negative predictive value (NPV) as 31.8%, and the accuracy  rate was determined as 65.7%. The sensitivity of tomography was  determined as 97.2%, the specificity as 62.5%, PPV as 92.1%, and NPV as 83.3%, and the accuracy rate was determined as 90%. The sensitivity of  the Alvarado score was calculated as 54%, the specificity as 73.3%, the PPV as 88.2% and the NPV as 29.7%, and the accuracy rate was determined as 57.7%.Conclusion: In conclusion, computerized tomography (CT) was found to have higher specificity and sensitivity than Alvarado score and USG which are not sufficient on their own for taking the decision for surgery. We also found that CT scan had lower negative laparotomy rate when compared with the other two modalities.Key words: Alvarado score, appendicitis, computerized tomography, ultrasonograph

Mesoscopic model of nucleation and Ostwald ripening/stepping: Application to the silica polymorph system

Precipitation is modeled using a particle size distribution ~PSD! approach for the single or multiple polymorph system. A chemical kinetic-type model for the construction of the molecular clusters of each polymorph is formulated that accounts for adsorption at a heterogeneous site, nucleation, growth, and Ostwald ripening. When multiple polymorphs are accounted for, Ostwald stepping is also predicted. The challenge of simulating the 23 order of magnitude in cluster size ~monomer, dimer, . . . , 1023-mer! is met by a new formalism that accounts for the macroscopic behavior of large clusters as well as the structure of small ones. The theory is set forth for the surface kinetic controlled growth systems and it involves corrections to the Lifshitz–Slyozov, Wagner ~LSW! equation and preserves the monomer addition kinetics for small clusters. A time independent, scaled PSD behavior is achieved both analytically and numerically, and the average radius grows with Rave}t1/2 law for smooth particles. Applications are presented for the silica system that involves five polymorphs. Effects of the adsorption energetics and the smooth or fractal nature of clusters on the nucleation, ripening, and stepping behavior are analyzed. The Ostwald stepping scenario is found to be highly sensitive to adsorption energetics. Long time scaling behavior of the PSD reveals time exponents greater than those for the classical theory when particles are fractal. Exact scaling solutions for the PSD are compared with numerical results to assess the accuracy and convergence of our numerical technique. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. @S0021-9606~00!70123-1

Mechanical failure of cavities in poroelastic media

The stress-induced failure of cavities in poroelastic media is investigated using an analytical solution of the elastic matrix inclusion problem of Eshelby and a rock failure criterion. The elastic properties of the porous matrix surrounding the cavity are modeled using a self-consistent version of the theory of Berryman while the cavity collapse criterion is based on a failure condition calibrated as a function of matrix mineralogy, grain size and porosity. The influence of the latter textural variables as well as pore fluid pressure and cavity shape and orientation relative to the far-field stress are evaluated. The region of failure on the cavity surface is identified. These results are applied to the prediction of vug stability in a sedimentary basin in the context of vuggy reservoir exploration and production

Nitrogen and sulfur deprivation differentiate lipid accumulation targets of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) have inter-related and distinct impacts on microalgal metabolism; with N starvation having previously been reported to induce elevated levels of the biodiesel feedstock material triacylglycerol (TAG), while S deprivation is extensively studied for its effects on biohydrogen production in microalgae.1,2 We have previously demonstrated that N- and S-starved cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii display different metabolic trends, suggesting that different response mechanisms exist to compensate for the absence of those two elements.3 We used C. reinhardtii CC-124 mt(-) and CC-125 mt(+) strains to test possible metabolic changes related to TAG accumulation in response to N and S deprivation, considering that gamete differentiation in this organism is mainly regulated by N.4 Our findings contribute to the understanding of microalgal response to element deprivation and potential use of element deprivation for biodiesel feedstock production using microalgae, but much remains to be elucidated on the precise contribution of both N and S starvation on microalgal metabolism. © 2012 Landes Bioscience

Social science sequestered

Greenhouse gas removal (GGR) raises many cultural, ethical, legal, social, and political issues, yet in the growing area of GGR research, humanities and social sciences (HASS) research is often marginalized, constrained and depoliticised. This global dynamic is illustrated by an analysis of the UK GGR research programme. This dynamic matters for the knowledge produced and for its users. Without HASS contributions, too narrow a range of perspectives, futures and issues will be considered, undermining or overpromising the prospects for the responsible development of GGR (and threatening worse side-effects), and limiting our understanding of why and how policy demands GGR solutions in the first place. In response, we present policy principles for bringing HASS fully into GGR research, organized around three themes: (1) HASS-led GGR research, (2) Opening up GGR futures, and (3) The politics of GGR futures.We acknowledge funding from the UK GGR programme, under several specific grants: NE/P019838/1, NE/P019900/1, NE/P019951/1, NE/P019668/1, and NE/P01982X/1