Visualizing for the Non‐Visual: Enabling the Visually Impaired to Use Visualization

The majority of visualizations on the web are still stored as raster images, making them inaccessible to visually impaired users. We propose a deep‐neural‐network‐based approach that automatically recognizes key elements in a visualization, including a visualization type, graphical elements, labels, legends, and most importantly, the original data conveyed in the visualization. We leverage such extracted information to provide visually impaired people with the reading of the extracted information. Based on interviews with visually impaired users, we built a Google Chrome extension designed to work with screen reader software to automatically decode charts on a webpage using our pipeline. We compared the performance of the back‐end algorithm with existing methods and evaluated the utility using qualitative feedback from visually impaired users.     

Insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene associated with macroangiopathy and blood pressure in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the search for new risk factors for diabetic macroangiopathy the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene was studied in 237 consecutive patients (125 men and 112 women) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The female population showed an excess of ischemic electrocardiographic changes or definite myocardial infarctions in the patients homozygous for the deletion [D/D; odds ratio (OR) 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-5.3] and in the insertion/deletion heterozygotes (I/D; OR 1.8; CI 1.1-3.1) compared with the patients homozygous for the insertion (I/I). In the total series coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and claudication were more often observed in the patients with I/D (OR 1.5; CI 1.0-2.2) or the D/D genotype patients (OR 1.7; CI 1.1-2.6) than in those with the genotype I/I. The systolic blood pressure was lower in patients with genotype I/I (138 +/- 19 mmHg) than in those with the genotype I/D (149 +/- 22 mmHg) or D/D (150 +/- 21 mmHg; P < 0.02). The prevalence of hypertension and the median urinary albumin excretion rate also tended to be lowest in the I/I genotype patients. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that in women the angiotensin-converting enzyme D/D genotype is independently associated with coronary heart disease. Our findings suggest that variation at the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene locus is one of the factors involved in the predisposition of diabetic patients to the development of arterial disease and hypertension.     

Acromioclavicular joint cyst and rotator cuff tear

The role of a depressor factor, atrial natriuretic peptide, in the development of arterial hypertension in adolescents with pubertal hypothalamic syndrome was studied in 52 patients and 13 healthy males aged 13-24 years. The duration of disease was 2-11 years. Radioimmunological methods were used to measure plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, plasma renin activity, and serum aldosterone. Patients with borderline arterial hypertension were found to have a significant reduction in their atrial natriuretic peptide levels, and this correlated directly with the renin-aldosterone system, demonstrating insufficiency of the depressor system in patients with pubertal hypothalamic syndrome and the involvement of atrial natriuretic peptide in the development of arterial hypertension, along with disturbances in the functional relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide and the renin-aldosterone system.     

V antigen-polyhistidine fusion peptide: binding to LcrH and active immunity against plague

The structural gene for V antigen (lcrV) is known to be encoded within the lcrGVH-yopBD operon of the approximately 70-kb low-calcium-response or Lcr plasmid of Yersinia pestis. This 37-kDa monomeric peptide was reported to provide active immunity in mice, suppress inflammatory cytokines, and regulate expression of the low calcium response (Lcr+). Here we describe pVHB62, encoding a polyhistidine-V antigen fusion peptide (Vh) and linked LcrH. Vh underwent degradation from both the C terminus and N terminus during classical chromatographic fractionation but remained intact within two compartments during Ni2+ affinity chromatography. The first was homogeneous, capable of active immunization (mouse intravenous 50% lethal dose, > 10(7) bacteria), and stable at 4 degrees C. The second remained bound to the affinity column but could be eluted as a mixture of Vh, LcrH, and low-molecular-weight material by application of 6 M guanidine HCl. This mixture was dialyzed, denatured in 8 M urea, and again applied to the affinity column, which then hound Vh but not LcrH. The latter was recovered and renatured, and low-molecular-weight material was removed by biochemical fractionation. The resulting homogeneous LcrH bound protein AN antigen fusion peptide but not protein A in a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and this reaction was inhibited by Vh. These observations indicate that LcrH normally binds V antigen in bacterial cytoplasm and suggest that only free LcrH down-regulates expression of the low calcium response.     

Mental health supplement to the Ontario Health Survey: methodology

OBJECTIVE: To describe the methodology of a province-wide, cross-sectional, epidemiologic study of psychiatric disorder among those aged 15 years and over living in household dwellings in Ontario. METHOD: Respondents for the survey were drawn from households (N = 13002) participating in a province-wide health survey. One person per household was selected, and 9953 (76.5%) participated. RESULTS: Participants and nonparticipants were similar to each other. An extensive array of data, including measures of psychiatric disorder classified using a revised version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), are available for all respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The Ontario Health Supplement is contained in a public-use data file at the Ontario Ministry of Health and is available to investigators for study. A strong survey design, careful measurement, and acceptable levels of response provide the rationale for our inviting researchers to access and use the Ontario Health Supplement data base.     

基于EPP模式下的数据采集系统

介绍了一种基于并口EPP模式通讯的数据采集系统的设计方法,该系统以ADSP2 1 81、E PLD为核心器件,AD7331 1芯片为模拟信号输入输出接口,非常适合便携式数据采集系统     

Selective hydrogenation of oleic acid to 9-octadecen-1-ol: Catalyst preparation and optimum reaction conditions

A new catalyst, ruthenium-tin-alumina is found to selectively hydrogenate oleic acid to 9-octadecen-1-ol (oleyl + elaidyl alcohol) at low pressure with high yield. Catalyst preparation methods, catalyst raw materials and activation conditions have a significant effect on the activity of the catalyst. The optimum atomic ratio of ruthenium to tin is about 1:2. Catalyst prepared by an improved sol-gel method shows higher activity and selectivity than catalysts prepared by impregnation and coprecipitation methods. Chloride is found to have a negative effect on catalytic activity. The best catalyst is prepared from chloride-free ruthenium and tin raw materials. Under the optimum reaction conditions of 250°C and 5.6 MPa, the selectivities for 9-octadecen-1-ol and total alcohol (9-octadecen-1-ol + stearyl alcohol) formation are 80.9% and 97%, respectively, at a conversion of 81.3%.     

The significance of traumatic intraventricular haemorrhage in severe head injury

Since the advent of computed tomography (CT) traumatic intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) has been diagnosed more often. It has reportedly been associated with a poor prognosis, but pure or solitary IVH is rare, suggesting that other lesions occurring concurrently with it may contribute to the poor outcome. In a series of 65 patients with severe head injury (GCS < or = 8), 14 (22%) had IVH on initial CT. Death rate in these 14 was 21%, not significantly different from that in patients without IVH (14%), although a significantly higher proportion of patients without IVH had a good outcome. These results suggest that mortality is related to other lesions associated with IVH rather than to IVH alone and that the presence of IVH does not necessarily lead to a poor outcome.