RUSHES—an annotation and retrieval engine for multimedia semantic units

Multimedia analysis and reuse of raw un-edited audio visual content known as rushes is gaining acceptance by a large number of research labs and companies. A set of research projects are considering multimedia indexing, annotation, search and retrieval in the context of European funded research, but only the FP6 project RUSHES is focusing on automatic semantic annotation, indexing and retrieval of raw and un-edited audio-visual content. Even professional content creators and providers as well as home-users are dealing with this type of content and therefore novel technologies for semantic search and retrieval are required. In this paper, we present a summary of the most relevant achievements of the RUSHES project, focusing on specific approaches for automatic annotation as well as the main features of the final RUSHES search engine.     

Longitudinal sliding of the median nerve during movements of the upper limb

Repeated transfusion of small increments of blood are frequently required for the sick and premature newborn infant to correct endogenous hypovolemia and/or to replace blood obtained for laboratory monitoring purposes. Previously fresh group and type specific whole blood was used. To eliminate waste of fresh whole blood, maintain fresh red blood cell properties, eliminate the hazards of transfusing plasma and to provide a more efficient system, a pediatric frozen red cell pack (PFRCP) has been developed. Units of group O rr red blood cells are glycerolized using a high glycerol method. The glycerolized red blood cells are separated into three equal aliquots and frozen. When needed, the PFRCP are deglycerolized by a modified procedure using the IBM Cell Processor. During a six month period, 71 infants were given 153 separate transfusions of deglycerolized red blood cells using 102 PFRCP prepared from 34 units of red blood cells. Red blood cell recovery, hematocrit, white blood cell removal, residual glycerol, total protein, and supernatant hemoglobin levels were measured. Clinical response was followed and found to be excellent.     

Characteristics and stabilities of residues from the Wheal Jane constructed wetlands

The characteristics and solubilities of residues formed during effluent treatment at the Wheal Jane constructed wetland facility in Cornwall, UK are described. The constructed wetland treats an acidic (pH 3 to 4) mine discharge enriched in iron (<100 mg/l), zinc (<80 mg/l), manganese (<20 mg/l) and arsenic (<2 mg/l). The processing strategy adopted at the site is to remove elements selectively from the mine water in distinct unit process operations and concentrate the iron and base metals into residues within the circuits. Solubility tests conducted on the materials from the aerobic and anaerobic cells attempt to simulate future possible leaching processes within landfill sites used for ultimate disposal. The tests used in the evaluation included TCLP, MARG, washing and column leaching. The aerobic solids overall have very low solubilities which are well below the TCLP thresholds for As, Cd and Pb. The TCLP results for these toxic elements are supported by the washing and column test work. The anaerobic substrates are carbonaceous in nature, composed of straw, wood pulp and manure. They contain minimal amounts of toxic compounds and are considered to be less of a disposal problem. Ochre precipitated at a pH of 3-4 in the aerobic cells contains significant concentrations of arsenic (>0.1%). This element is carcinogenic, and such residues are classified as hazardous waste under current UK landfill regulations. This classification does not take into consideration the solubility of the material but is based solely on the bulk chemical composition.     

The importance of biological oxidation of iron in the aerobic cells of the Wheal Jane pilot passive treatment system

The passive treatment system designed to treat the mine water discharge of the abandoned Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall consisted of a sequence of artificial wetland cells, an anaerobic cell and a final series of rock filters. Three systems were operated which differed only in the pre-treatment of the mine water before discharge to the aerobic wetland cells. The aerobic cells were designed to promote aerobic oxidation and precipitation of iron which could exceed a concentration of 100 mg/l in the raw mine water discharge. The largest investment of land area was to the artificial wetland cells and it was important to understand the processes of oxidation and precipitation of iron so that the performance of this aspect the pilot passive treatment plant (PPTP) could be managed as efficiently as possible. The generally low pH of the influent mine water and inevitable trend of decreasing pH due to hydrolysis of Fe(III) meant that distinguishing between biotic and abiotic mechanisms was fundamental for further design planning of passive treatment systems. This paper describes these observations.     

Sacral reflexes: physiology and clinical application

Sacral reflexes consist of motor responses in the pelvic floor and sphincter muscles evoked by stimulation of sensory receptors in pelvic skin, anus, rectum, or pelvic viscera. These responses may be elicited by physical or electrical stimuli. They have been used in research studies of the pathophysiology of pelvic floor and anorectal disorders and many have been recommended for diagnostic use. These reflexes are described and discussed in this review. More rigorous evaluation of their value in the clinical assessment and care of patients with pelvic floor and sphincter disorders is required. Currently direct comparisons of the value of particular responses are generally not available, and few of these reflexes have proven validity for use in clinical diagnosis.     

HTLV-1 polymyositis

We previously reported that prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) activates phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D independently from the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, and reported that pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein (G-protein) is involved in the PGF2 alpha-induced phospholipase D activation. In this study, we examined the effect of retinoic acid (RA) on the phospholipase D activity stimulated by PGF2 alpha in these cells. The pretreatment of RA markedly inhibited the formation of choline induced by PGF2 alpha (10 microM) in a dose-dependent manner in the range between 1 nM and 0.1 microM. This inhibitory effect of RA was dependent on the time of pretreatment up to 8 h. However, RA had little effect on the choline formation induced by NaF, a G-protein activator, or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an activator of PKC. These results strongly suggest that RA suppresses the phospholipase D activated by PGF2 alpha in osteoblast-like cells and that the effect of RA is exerted at the point between PGF2 alpha receptor and G-protein.     

Removing and stabilizing as from copper refining circuits by hydrothermal processing

Experimental testwork has shown that arsenic can be removed from arsenic-bearing solutions by hydrothermal precipitation at temperatures in the 170–200°C range. The presence of Fe(III) is required for combination with As(V) to form the crystalline hydrated ferric arsenate known as scorodite (FeAsO₄·2H₂O). The contained arsenic is effectively immobilized by incorporation into a crystalline, low-solubility compound. Process options are suggested for disposing of arsenic in copper electrorefinery bleed liquors. For more information, contact A. J. Monhemius, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Royal School of Mines, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom; telephone 44-171-594-7329; fax 44-171-594-7444; e-mail j.monhemius@ic.ac.uk.     

Pelvic floor function in multiple sclerosis

The aim of this study was to define pelvic floor function in patients with multiple sclerosis and bowel dysfunction, either incontinence (MSI) or defecation difficulties without incontinence (MSC). Normal controls and patients with idiopathic neurogenic faecal incontinence without multiple sclerosis (FI, disease controls) were also studied. Thirty eight multiple sclerosis patients (20 incontinent, 18 incontinent) 73 normal controls, and 91 FI patients were studied. The FI group showed the characteristic combined sensorimotor deficit previously described in these patients of low resting and voluntary contraction and pressures, increased sensory threshold to mucosal stimulation, and increased pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies and fibre densities. MSI patients had significantly lower anal resting pressures (80 (30-140) cm H2O, median (range) v 98 (30-200), normal controls, p = 0.002) and both MSC and MSI patients had significantly lower anal maximum voluntary contraction pressures (65 (0-260) cm H2O, MSC and 25 (0-100), MSI v 120 (30-300), normal controls, p = < 0.0004) and higher external anal sphincter fibre densities (1.7 (1.1-2.6), MSC and 1.7 (1.1-2.4), MSI v 1.5 (1.1-1.75), normal controls, p < 0.006) compared with normal controls but pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies were similar and no sensory deficit was found. This contrasted with the idiopathic faecal incontinent patients who, in addition to significantly higher fibre densities (1.8 (1.1-3), p = 0.001) had increased pudendal latencies (2.5 (1.1-5.5) mS v 2.08 (1.4-2.6), p = 0.001) compared with normal controls. The idiopathic faecal incontinent group had significantly lower resting anal pressures (50 (10-160) cm H2O, p=0.02) than the MSI group. Comparison with the incontinent and continent multiple sclerosis groups showed that incontinence was associated with lower voluntary anal contraction pressures (25 (0-100) v 65 (0-260), p=0.03) but that there were no other differences between these two groups. Pelvic floor function is considerably disturbed in multiple sclerosis, showing muscular weakness with preservation of peripheral motor nerve conduction, providing indirect evidence that this is mainly a result of lesions within the central nervous system.     

Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity

Two cases of encephalomyelitis are described in which the major clinical manifestation was muscular rigidity and stimulus-sensitive muscular spasms. It is suggested, from pathological evidence, that this rigidity was of spinal origin, and that this disorder is a rare but recognizable entity. Comparison is made with previously reported cases of rigidity of spinal origin, including encephalitis lethargica, and with 'subacute myoclonic spinal neuronitis' and the 'stiff man syndrome.'