Characterizing Deformation of Buildings from Videos

We have started to explore the feasibility of extracting useful data on the deformation of buildings and structures based on optical videos, (Taghavi Larigani & Heaton). In the beginning, we look at the characterizations and limitations of the hardware, which is composed of a high-quality digital camera, combined with its optical imaging system capturing a video-footage of the structure under test, and then introduce a straightforward targets-tracking algorithm that produces the time-series displacements of targets that we select on the video. We performed preliminary measurements consisting of testing our targets-tracking algorithm using high definition format videos displaying the structures that we wanted to test. The measurements pertain to a 1) finite-element software-generated video of JPL/NASA principal building, 2) YouTube-video of a seismic dynamic test of a building, 3) YouTube-video of the Millennium London Bridge “Wobbly Bridge”, 4) YouTube-video of a United Boeing 777, 4) YouTube-video of NASA space shuttle rockets during launch. So far, our tests are encouraging. If our approach proves viable, it can be transformative for the field of earthquake engineering and structural health monitoring. Hence, we consider the prospect of using our technique for surveying buildings and other civil structures in high seismic risk urban agglomerations. In parallel, the same technique could be applied for 1) real-time structural health monitoring of civil structures, 2) nuclear plants, 3) oil and gas infrastructures, 4) rail & road networks, 5) aircraft, 6) spacecraft, 7) etc., by simply analyzing the structure-facing camera recorded data

Exogenously cued attention triggers competitive selection of surfaces

AbstractIt has been reported that when an endogenous cue directs attention to a brief translation of one of two superimposed surfaces, observers reliably report the direction of that translation as well as the direction of a second translation of the cued surface. In contrast, if the uncued surface translates second, direction judgments are severely impaired for several hundred milliseconds. We replicated this result, but found that the impairment survived the removal of the endogenous cue. The impairment is therefore not due to endogenously cued attention. Instead, a brief translation of one surface acts as an exogenous cue that triggers an automatic selection mechanism, which suppresses processing of the other surface. This study provides a clear case of exogenous cueing of surface-based attention. We relate these results to identified competitive selection mechanisms in visual cortex

ON A GENERALIZATION OF NC-MCCOY RINGS

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Evaluation of apoptosis and angiogenesis in ectopic and eutopic stromal cells of patients with endometriosis compared to non-endometriotic controls

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic, painful, and inflammatory disease characterized by extra-uterine growth of endometrial tissues. Increased angiogenesis and resistance to apoptosis have been suggested to be involved in pathogenesis and development of endometriosis. The objective of this study was to examine apoptosis potential and angiogenesis contribution of eutopic (EuESCs) and ectopic (EESCs) endometrial stromal cells in patients with endometriosis compared to endometrial stromal cells from non-endometriotic controls (CESCs). Methods: Stromal cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion of ectopic (n = 11) and eutopic (n = 17) endometrial tissues from laparoscopically-confirmed endometriotic patients. Endometrial stromal cells of 15 non-endometriotic patients served as control. Following cell characterization by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry using a panel of antibodies, the total RNA was isolated from the cultured cells, and analyzed for the expression of genes involved in apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, and caspase-3) and angiogenesis vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by Real-time PCR. Results: Significantly higher gene expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were found in EESCs compared with EuESCs and CESCs (p < 0.01). The gene expression of Bax in EESCs, EuESCs, and CESCs was not statistically significant. Furthermore, EuESCs exhibited a significantly lower caspase-3 gene expression compared with CESCs (p < 0.01) or EESCs (p < 0.05). Regarding angiogenesis, VEGF-A gene expression in EESCs (p < 0.001) and EuESCs (p < 0.05) were significantly higher compared with those of CESCs. EESCs exhibited a significantly higher HGF gene expression compared with EuESCs (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest reduced propensity to apoptosis and increased angiogenesis potential of EESCs, which may be involved in pathogenesis of endometriosis. © 2020 The Author(s)

Firearm-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries in Adults: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Firearm-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) has emerged as a significant public health issue in the United States, coinciding with a rapid increase in gun-related deaths. This scoping review aims to update our understanding of firearm-related TBI in adult populations. METHODS: A comprehensive search of 6 online databases yielded 22 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies predominantly focused on young adult men who were victims of assault, although other vulnerable populations were also affected. RESULTS: Key factors in evaluating patients with firearm-related TBI included low Glasgow Coma Scale scores, central nervous system involvement, hypotension, and coagulopathies at presentation. Poor outcomes in firearm-related TBIs were influenced by various factors, including the location and trajectory of the gunshot wound, hypercoagulability, hemodynamic instability, insurance status, and specific clinical findings at hospital admission. CONCLUSION: Proposed interventions aimed to reduce the incidence and mortality of penetrating TBIs, including medical interventions such as coagulopathy reversal and changes to prehospital stabilization procedures. However, further research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of these interventions. The findings of this scoping review hope to inform future policy research, advocacy efforts, and the training of neurosurgeons and other treating clinicians in the management of firearm-related TBI

Mood, Dimensional Personality, and Suicidality in a Longitudinal Sample of Patients with Bipolar Disorder and Controls

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151828/1/sltb12529_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151828/2/sltb12529.pd