cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Operating characteristic and average sample number functions of truncated sequential probability ratio test

The operating characteristic (OC) and average sample number (ASN) characterize the performance of the sequential probability ratio test (SPRT). In this paper, the ASN and OC of the truncated SPRT (TSPRT) are examined in a general setting, in which the log-likelihood ratios are not necessarily identically distributed and the bounds for the test can be time varying. Two inductive integral equations are derived for the OC and ASN respectively, which can be solved analytically by backward induction provided the convolution involved can be evaluated analytically. The initial value for backward induction can be readily determined by TSPRT's truncation strategy. Due to the difficulty of analytically evaluating the convolution in the induction process, numerical methods may be necessary. Numerical algorithms based on the system of linear algebraic equation method and the finite element analysis are developed. Examples are provided to illustrate our algorithms.
Convulsive Effect of Hydrazides: Relationship to Pyridoxine12

Publisher Summary This chapter concerns with the pharmacology of the convulsant hydrazides and more specifically with their probable relations to pyridoxine (PN) metabolism. It is shown that PN can reverse the convulsant effect of semicarbazide (SC) and that pyridoxine antagonists would enhance the toxicity of SC. Convulsions produced by hydrazides are found to be accompanied by inhibition of vitamin B6-requiring enzymes in the brain. Hydrazide treatment is shown to produce xanthenmia, an indication of Pyridoxine deficiency, in tryptophan-loaded dogs. The failure of reasonable doses of a variety of other metabolites to antagonize SC and thiosemicarbazide (TSC) effects accentuated the specificity of the pyridoxine reversal. Despite certain anomalous observations, such as the failure of pyridoxine-deficient diets to enhance the toxicity of TSC and the failure of isoniazid (INH) to produce xantlienuria in rats, a relationship of vitamin B6 to hydrazide-induced convulsions seemed clearly indicated. The chapter also discusses parallel developments in the biochemical and clinical aspects of hydrazide action.
A sensitive and robust method for obtaining intermolecular NOEs between side chains in large protein complexes.

A method for measuring intermolecular NOEs in protein complexes based on asymmetric sample deuteration is described. 13C/1H-I,L,V-methyl, U-2H labeled protein is produced using the biosynthetic precursors [γ-13C]-α-ketobutyrate and [γ,γ′-13C2]-α-ketoisovalerate. The labeled protein is mixed with its unlabeled binding partner and a 3D 13C-HMQC-NOESY is recorded, yielding unambiguous intermolecular aromatic/methyl NOEs. A simple synthesis of the biosynthetic precursors via reaction of diethyl oxalate with alkyl Grignard compounds is reported. The method is demonstrated for a 35 kDa heterodimeric protein complex dissolved in a CHAPS micelle. This approach will facilitate the solution structure determination of protein/protein, protein/ligand or protein/nucleic acid complexes.
Cartan for beginners

Moving frames and exterior differential systems Euclidean geometry and Riemannian geometry Projective geometry Cartan-Kahler I: Linear algebra and constant-coefficient homogeneous systems Cartan-Kahler II: The Cartan algorithm for linear Pfaffian systems Applications to PDE Cartan-Kahler III: The general case Geometric structures and connections Linear algebra and representation theory Differential forms Complex structures and complex manifolds Initial value problems Hints and answers to selected exercises Bibliography Index.
Ultrastructure of the contraction-relaxation cycle of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle: II. The ultrastructure of glycerinated fibers relaxed in EDTA and ATP following ATP-induced contraction

Studies of ultrastructural changes of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle allowed to relax in an ATP-EDTA solution following ATP-induced contraction as well as of rigid fibers plasticized in the same solution have shown that the contraction bands found in tissue fixed during contraction are completely reversible if more than 1 minute is allowed for relaxation. With times less than 1 minute, contraction band disappearance occurs only in those sarcomeres which have been significantly reextended. It also was observed that fibers which were relaxed for as long as 15 minutes were able to recontract to as great an extent as those relaxed for 30 seconds, that is to a length less than or equal to that obtained in the first contraction. The ultrastructural pattern of recontracted sarcomeres is the same as that seen in tissue fixed during the first contraction, with contraction bands reappearing at the A—I-boundary or Z-line. The above observations further support the conclusion that the presence of contraction bands is the only ultrastructural feature peculiarly diagnostic of contracted tissue, while varying degrees of interdigitation can be found in sarcomeres fixed in all the physiological states: rigid, plastic, contracted, and relaxed.
Immune responses to transgene–encoded proteins limit the stability of gene expression after injection of replication–defective adenovirus vectors

The use of replication–defective adenoviruses (RDAd) for human gene therapy has been limited by host immune responses that result in transient recombinant gene expression in vivo. It remained unclear whether these immune responses were directed predominantly against viral proteins or, alternatively, against foreign transgene–encoded proteins. In this report, we have compared the stability of recombinant gene expression in adult immunocompetent mice following intramuscular (i.m.) injection with identical RDAd encoding self (murine) or foreign (human) erythropoietin. Our results demonstrate that immune responses directed against foreign transgene–encoded proteins are the major determinants of the stability of gene expression following i.m. injection of RDAd. Moreover, we demonstrate long–term recombinant gene expression in immunocompetent animals following a single i.m. injection of RDAd encoding a self protein. These findings are important for the design of future preclinical and clinical gene therapy trials.
Hydrophobic Chromophores in Aqueous Micellar Solution Showing Large Two‐Photon Absorption Cross Sections

A series of new hydrophobic two-photon absorbing (2PA) chromophores with varied electron-donating groups in quasi-linear and multibranched structures are synthesized to correlate their structure/photophysical property relationships. The feasibility of using these large two-photon absorption cross-sectional (δ, expressed in GM = 1 × 10–50 cm4 s photon–1 molecule–1) materials in aqueous solution is also explored. All four hydrophobic 2PA materials can be encapsulated into micelles generated by dispersing an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(methacrylic acid)-block-polystyrene (PMAA-b-PS), into water. The micellar nanostructures are characterized using dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. After these dyes are incorporated into micelles, they exhibit strong fluorescence in water. It is found that the quantum yield and δ values of these chromophores are strongly dependent on the diameters of the micelles, concentrations of the PMAA-b-PS, and molecular structures of the 2PA chromophores. One of the compounds that has a strong triarylamino donor and a multibranched structure exhibits a large δ value of 2790 GM and high quantum yield (0.56) in micelle-containing water. Although this value is smaller than the original value of 5300 GM in toluene, it is still substantially larger than the values of most water-soluble 2PA materials, which have δ values of less than 100 GM.
Somatosensory timing deficits in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is often accompanied by disturbances in motor behavior thought to result from abnormalities in the brain's timing mechanisms. Virtually all behavior has a motor component, and proper regulation of motor behavior is often dependent upon accurate registration of somatosensory input. This study uses the steady-state evoked response (SSR) to quantify the accuracy of timing of the neocortical response to rapidly presented tactile somatosensory stimuli in patients with schizophrenia compared to control subjects. We used magnetic evoked fields and source space projection to estimate the time course of equivalent current sources in somatosensory cortex. Wavelet-based time-frequency analysis was used to compute intertrial timing consistency and amplitudes. SSRs in schizophrenic subjects demonstrated decreased performance in both metrics to contralateral 25-Hz tactile stimulation. Previous studies have reported similar abnormalities in the SSR in both auditory and visual domains. The magnetic SSR to tactile stimuli is thought to reflect activation of layer 3 pyramidal cells in primary sensory cortex. Thus, these findings, as in other sensory domains, are suggestive of impaired GABAergic inhibitory interneuronal control of the timing of pyramidal cell activity. This deficit may be intrinsic to neocortex, or might reflect as well impairment of cerebellar and/or thalamic involvement. These findings reinforce the notion that abnormalities in the brain's timing mechanisms are a central component of the schizophrenia syndrome.
MO‐D‐201C‐03: Advances in MR: State of the Art Today and Future Directions — MR‐Guided Interventions

Image‐guidance of minimally invasive interventions for diagnosis and therapy has been a rapidly evolving field, particularly with respect to incorporation of increasing advanced imaging equipment for the planning, targeting, monitoring and assessment of procedures. Traditionally, these vascular, therapeutic and biopsy procedures have been carried out using fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT. MRI is an inherently 3D, non‐ionizing imaging modality offering multiple soft‐tissue contrast mechanisms as well as functional imaging in a single locale. Because of these unique properties, use of MRI for guidance of interventions has been of growing interest in recent years for a number of procedures requiring stereotactic localization and planning or real‐time image guidance and monitoring, such as biopsy and thermal therapy delivery. However, despite the recent proliferation of commercially available hardware and software solutions for MR guided procedures, integration of MRI into an intraoperative and interventional environment remains a challenge. Because of the cost associated with equipment acquisition and siting, careful attention should be paid to specifying the MR system as well as the location of the facility. The specification of hardware and software, as well as the layout of the suite, strongly influence workflow and domain of possible procedures that can be realistically performed in the suite. Last, but certainly not least, the safety of patients and staff working in the MR environment must be considered and programs put in place to continuously educate staff who work in these suites. This talk aims to provide an overview of MR‐guided interventional procedures which are currently performed clinically on high‐field (≥1.5T) cylindrical bore systems with an emphasis on the potential for guidance of thermal ablative therapies. Illustrations of the use of MRI for planning and targeting lesions as well as monitoring and assessing thermal therapy delivery (i.e., cryotherapy and laser ablation) will be presented and challenges associated with these procedures discussed. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand some of the enabling technology facilitating MR‐guided interventions as well as be able to identify challenges and safety concerns. 2. Understand some of the tradeoffs in MR imaging of tumors for treatment planning, targeting, real‐time monitoring and post‐therapy assessment of thermal therapy.
Aspergillus endocarditis of mitral prosthesis

Abstract We describe a patient with fatal aspergillus endocarditis after implantation of a mitral valve prosthesis. A thrombus that almost completely occluded the mitral valve prosthesis resulted in obstruction to inflow to the left ventricle. The area of valve attachment was not necrotic, and it appears that replacement of the prosthesis would have been beneficial.
Congenital anomalies induced in normal and adrenalectomized rats by amniocentesis.

Sprague-Dawley rats, which are not susceptible to the teratogenic effects of adrenalectomy, adrenal corticoids, and corticotropin noted in other species, were subjected to amniocentesis and to amniocentesis plus adrenalectomy. Amniocentesis was shown to be teratogenic when performed at any time between the fourteenth and eighteenth gestational days inclusive, but no malformations occurred either in control fetuses or when amniocentesis was performed on the thirteenth day of gestation. Fetal resorptions were increased following single amniocentesis on any gestational day from the thirteenth to the eighteenth inclusive. The predominant defects induced were cleft palate and limb deformity. Cleft palate occurred only after amniocentesis on the fourteenth, fifteenth, or sixteenth days of gestation, principally on the fifteenth day. However, limb deformity, consisting primarily of malrotation, syndactyly, and varying degrees of agenesis, occurred following single amniocentesis on any day of gestation from the fourteenth to the eighteenth inclusive, but principally on the fifteenth day. Adrenalectomy did not alter significantly either the nature or the incidence of the anomalies induced by amniocentesis. The data indicate that amniocentesis is teratogenic in the rat, and that the adrenal glands are neither essential for, nor do they exert any detectable influence upon the induction of those malformations.
Simple versus complex truncus arteriosus: neutralization of risk but with increased resource utilization.

This study examined simple versus complex forms of truncus arteriosus (TA) results in the current era with regard to mortality, reintervention, and resource utilization. From 1999 to 2008, 42 infants underwent primary repair of TA, including 22 simple forms of TA without associated anomalies and 20 complex forms with risk factors such as interrupted aortic arch (n = 8), coarctation (n = 1), significant truncal valve regurgitation (n = 6), discontinuous pulmonary arteries (n = 3), and truncal valve stenosis (n = 2). There were 4 early deaths (4/42, 9.5%), with no difference between simple TA (2/22, 9.1%) and complex TA (2/20, 10%). Early mortality decreased to 1 patient (1/23, 4%) in the most recent era: 2003-2008. Late mortality occurred in 4 (4/38, 10.5%). Reintervention was required in 12 patients, a median of 2 years postoperatively: for conduit reasons in 8 and combined conduit and truncal valve insufficiency in 4. Actuarial survival was 82% ± 7% at 5 years and freedom from reintervention was 52% ± 17...
Identification of a “glycine‐loop”‐like coiled structure in the 34 AA Pro,Gly,Met repeat domain of the biomineral‐associated protein, PM27

Fracture resistance in biomineralized structures has been linked to the presence of proteins, some of which possess sequences that are associated with elastic behavior. One such protein superfamily, the Pro,Gly-rich sea urchin intracrystalline spicule matrix proteins, form protein-protein supramolecular assemblies that modify the microstructure and fracture-resistant properties of the calcium carbonate mineral phase within embryonic sea urchin spicules and adult sea urchin spines. In this report, we detail the identification of a repetitive keratin-like "glycine-loop"- or coil-like structure within the 34-AA (AA: amino acid) N-terminal domain, (PGMG)(8)PG, of the spicule matrix protein, PM27. The identification of this repetitive structural motif was accomplished using two capped model peptides: a 9-AA sequence, GPGMGPGMG, and a 34-AA peptide representing the entire motif. Using CD, NMR spectrometry, and molecular dynamics simulated annealing/minimization simulations, we have determined that the 9-AA model peptide adopts a loop-like structure at pH 7.4. The structure of the 34-AA polypeptide resembles a coil structure consisting of repeating loop motifs that do not exhibit long-range ordering. Given that loop structures have been associated with protein elastic behavior and protein motion, it is plausible that the 34-AA Pro,Gly,Met repeat sequence motif in PM27 represents a putative elastic or mobile domain.
The cortical basis of true memory and false memory for motion

Behavioral evidence indicates that false memory, like true memory, can be rich in sensory detail. By contrast, there is fMRI evidence that true memory for visual information produces greater activity in earlier visual regions than false memory, which suggests true memory is associated with greater sensory detail. However, false memory in previous fMRI paradigms may have lacked sufficient sensory detail to recruit earlier visual processing regions. To investigate this possibility in the present fMRI study, we employed a paradigm that produced feature-specific false memory with a high degree of visual detail. During the encoding phase, moving or stationary abstract shapes were presented to the left or right of fixation. During the retrieval phase, shapes from encoding were presented at fixation and participants classified each item as previously “moving” or “stationary” within each visual field. Consistent with previous fMRI findings, true memory but not false memory for motion activated motion processing region MTþ, while both true memory and false memory activated later cortical processing regions. In addition, false memory but not true memory for motion activated language processing regions. The present findings indicate that true memory activates earlier visual regions to a greater degree than false memory, even under conditions of detailed retrieval. Thus, the dissociation between previous behavioral findings and fMRI findings do not appear to be task dependent. Future work will be needed to assess whether the same pattern of true memory and false memory activity is observed for different sensory modalities.
Focused Mining of University Course Descriptions from Highly Variable Sources (Abstract Only)

Finding topically relevant content from disparate sources on the Web requires robust techniques due to the variability of sites. A focused web crawler is a type of crawler that attempts to make predictions about page relevance and traverse the web efficiently. In this work, we attempt to design a novel system of focused crawling tailored to identifying and extracting semantically similar topical information from disparate but known seed domains with highly variable structure that do not reference each other. We first extract rich predictive features from web pages. We then utilize Weakly-Supervised Machine Learning techniques to predict the link distance of current pages to target pages by employing two separate Random Forest classifiers that rank the current page and potential relevance gain of hyper-links. We use these page representations and rankings to efficiently tunnel through irrelevant pages and reach target pages with more optimal path traversals.
Information technology and white-collar productivity

Executive Overview Despite the hype and fanfare that has accompanied the introduction of the latest information technology, white-collar productivity has not shown appreciable improvement. This article addresses some of the main reasons for this and offers suggestions on how information technology may be used to improve organizational performance. Particular attention is paid to the differences between white-collar and blue-collar work and the problems inherent in the current definition of white-collar productivity. Improved effectiveness in serving internal and external customers is a better basis for judging most white-collar work and that too much emphasis on lowering costs and increasing output may prove counterproductive. A method called process management is described which can enhance internal customer relationships and improve the administrative systems on which an organization depends.
Damping at the lower hybrid resonance in a warm partially ionized plasma

Abstract The refractive index of a plasma in the vicinity of the hybrid ion-electron resonance is determined within a three-fluid model (ions, electrons, and neutrals) with collision and pressure terms included. The importance of collisions with neutrals in suppressing pressure effects is illustrated for conditions such as encountered in experiments recently performed by Schluter and Ransom in radio frequency discharges at the hybrid ion-electron resonance. Machine calculated refractive indices are given which indicate the transition from pressure dominated to collisional dominated cases.
Behavior of bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tunas within aggregations associated with floating objects in the equatorial eastern Pacific

The horizontal and vertical movements of bigeye (Thunnus obesus Lowe, 1839) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis Linnaeus, 1758) tunas within large multi-species aggregations associated with moored buoys or a drifting vessel were investigated, using ultrasonic telemetry and archival tags, along with sonar imaging, in the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean (at 2°S–95°W and 2°N–95°W). Four sets of observations, each consisting of the concurrent monitoring of pairs of skipjack and/or bigeye with implanted acoustic or archival tags, were conducted in May 2002 and 2003. Ultrasonic telemetry data were not collected until 24 h or more after the fish were tagged and released, to avoid any abnormal behavior as a consequence of tagging. The pairs of acoustically tagged bigeye and skipjack, and also the entire aggregations, were primarily upcurrent of the moored buoy and downcurrent of the drifting vessel during the day. At night the aggregations were observed to be more diffuse, and the fish were feeding on organisms of the deep scattering layer. The aggregations returned to positions upcurrent of the buoy or downcurrent of the drifting vessel at dawn, commonly breezing at the surface within cohesive monospecific schools. The bigeye and skipjack had concurrent changes in depth records, occupying significantly greater mean depths at night than during the day, in most cases. When associated with a moored buoy, bigeye depth distributions were deeper during the day and night than those of skipjack, but bigeye depth distributions were shallower during the day and night than those of skipjack when associated with the drifting vessel. Simultaneous depth records of a large and a small bigeye with archival tags associated with a moored buoy also indicated diel changes in depth. The mean depth at night was significantly less than during the day for the larger bigeye, but the mean depth during the day was significantly less than during the night for the smaller bigeye. The mean depths during the day and night were significantly greater for the larger bigeye than the smaller.
Influence of early estrus, ovulation, and insemination on fertility in postpartum Holstein cows☆☆☆

Abstract Our objective was to determine the effects of early estrus and ovulation on subsequent reproductive performance in Holstein cows (n=80) first inseminated after 40 days postpartum. Blood for radioimmunoassayable progesterone was collected twice weekly between calving and day 85 postpartum to determine ovulation frequency. Changes in serum progesterone concentration and visual observation of estrus were used to estimate first and subsequent ovulations and duration of estrous cycles before first service. Reproductive performance was measured by first-service conception rates, days open, and total services per conception. Interval to first ovulation was 19±1 days (X±SE), whereas interval to first detected estrus averaged 45±3 days. Cows had 3±0.1 and 1.6±0.1 estrous cycles that were ovulatory, and 1.5±0.1 and 1.3±0.1 estrous cycles that were ovulatory and involved detected heats through first service and by 40 days postpartum, respectively. Intervals to first service were prolonged when: 1) first ovulations were delayed beyond 4 wk; 2) when first expressed heats were delayed beyond 60 days postpartum; and 3) when first estrous cycles were longer than 24 days. Intervals from calving to conception were extended when cows failed to show estrus before day 60 postpartum and when interval to first service was prolonged. Postpartum fertility was improved (higher frist-service conception rates) when cows had one or two heats by day 40 and when first inseminated before day 60 postpartum. Failure to express estrus was associated with uterine infection, persistent luteal function, and(or) prolonged anovulation. Estrus by day 40 postpartum appeared to be a good indicator of the reproductive status of the dairy herd because fertility and overall reproductive performance was improved by early reestablishment of ovarian cycles and estrous expression.
How to Think About Cyber Conflicts Involving Non-state Actors

A great deal of attention has been paid in recent years to the legality of the actions of states and state agents in international and non-international cyber conflicts. Less attention has been paid to ethical considerations in these situations, and very little has been written regarding the ethics of the participation of non-state actors in such conflicts. In this article, I analyze different categories of non-state participation in cyber operations and undertake to show under what conditions such actions, though illegal, might be morally defensible.
Arthroscopic-assisted allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients with symptomatic arthrosis

Abstract We reviewed the results of arthroscopic-assisted anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) allograft reconstructions in 40 patients who had advanced articular cartilage deterioration documented by arthroscopy during the reconstruction. A mean of 7 years had elapsed between the original injury and the reconstruction, and 102 prior operative procedures had been done in 34 of the 40 patients. A total of 64 articular cartilage lesions were noted; 34 knees had lesions in the medial or lateral tibiofemoral compartment. Postoperatively, all had immediate motion and early functional rehabilitation. The results were assessed using the Cincinnati Knee Rating System. At follow-up (mean, 37 months), significant improvements were found for pain, giving-way, and functional limitations with daily and sports activities ( P P
Prevention of arthropod-related disease

Arthropods of medical importance include vespids, ticks, mosquitoes, mites, flies, and fleas. They spread illness as disease vectors, are associated with lethal allergic reactions, and produce potentially deadly toxins. Strategies for prevention of illness include avoidance, vector reduction programs, chemoprophylaxis, and repellents. Strategies must be tailored to regional risks.
An operational manpower model for the nonwhite population in SMSA's☆

Abstract This paper presents an operational model for forecasting demand and supply of occupations for the nonwhite population in SMSA's. Demand is forecasted on the basis of rates of growth of employment and productivity of the different economic sectors and a measure that relates the penetration of nonwhites into desirable jobs to the proportion of nonwhites in the total population over time. Supply is determined by a demographic study of cohorts in the different occupations, migration, training and education. By comparing the targets set by projections of demand with the projection of supply of occupations it is possible to derive policies towards the elimination of the gap by affecting either supply or demand.
Luminescence and order-disorder effects in Eu(II)-β″-alumina

Abstract Eu(III)-β″-alumina was synthesized from the fast ionic conductor Na-β″-alumina by ion exchange. Fluorescence spectra and TEM diffraction patterns indicate that an order-disorder transition involving the Eu(II) ions occurs at 150°–300°C. This transition profoundly influences the optical, structural and ion transport properties of the material, effects largely undetected in previous studies of the divalent β″-aluminas.
On the Mechanics of Phonation and Fluid-Structure Interactions in a Three Dimensional Vocal Fold Model

It is hypothesized that the characteristics of vocal fold self oscillation is dependent on the nonlinearity of the solid structure i.e. the tissue. Studies of fluid structure interaction are conducted for three dimensional larynx models. Simulations were performed using the codes FLUENT and ABAQUS coupled by the code MpCCI. For the air an unsteady, laminar flow model was considered. Visco-hyperelasticity was used to characterize the solid domain representing the tissue structure. The computational model is used to conduct a parametric study on the self-oscillation response of the model with focus on the influence of the non-linearity in the hyperelastic response. Individual computations were compared by documenting the variation of the total energy of the structure. It is demonstrated that dissipation in the flow as well as the non-linearity in the elastic response all interact to stabilize or destabilize the vibration amplitude.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Efficient 3D rigid-body registration of micro-MR and micro-CT trabecular bone images

Registration of 3D images acquired from different imaging modalities such as micro-magnetic resonance imaging (µMRI) and micro-computed tomography (µCT) are of interest in a number of medical imaging applications. Most general-purpose multimodality registration algorithms tend to be computationally intensive and do not take advantage of the shape of the imaging volume. Multimodality trabecular bone (TB) images of cylindrical cores, for example, tend to be misaligned along and around the axial direction more than that around other directions. Additionally, TB images acquired by µMRI can differ substantially from those acquired by µCT due to apparent trabecular thickening from magnetic susceptibility boundary effects and non-linear intensity correspondence. However, they share very similar contrast characteristics since the images essentially represent a binary tomographic system. The directional misalignment and the fundamental similarities of the two types of images can be exploited to achieve fast 3D registration. Here we present an intensity cross-correlation based 3D registration algorithm for registering 3D specimen images from cylindrical cores of cadaveric TB acquired by µMRI and µCT in the context of finite-element modeling to assess the bone's mechanical constants. The algorithm achieves the desired registration by first coarsely approximating the three translational and three rotational parameters required to align the µMR images to the µCT scan coordinate frame and fine-tuning the parameters in the neighborhood of the approximate solution. The algorithm described here is suitable for 3D rigid-body image registration applications where through-plane rotations are known to be relatively small. The accuracy of the technique is constrained by the image resolution and in-plane angular increments used.
Smart subtitles for language learning

Language learners often use subtitled videos to help them learn the language. However, standard subtitles are suboptimal for vocabulary acquisition, as translations are nonliteral and made at the phrase level, making it hard to find connections between the subtitle text and the words in the video. This paper presents Smart Subtitles, which are interactive subtitles tailored towards vocabulary acquisition. They provide features such as vocabulary definitions on hover, and dialog-based video navigation. Our user study shows that Chinese learners learn over twice as much vocabulary with Smart Subtitles than with dual Chinese-English subtitles, with similar levels of comprehension and enjoyment.
An automated process for deceit detection

In this paper we present a prototype for an automated deception detection system. Similar to polygraph examinations, we attempt to take advantage of the theory that false answers will produce distinctive measurements in certain physiological manifestations. We investigate the role of dynamic eye-based features such as eye closure/blinking and lateral movements of the iris in detecting deceit. The features are recorded both when the test subjects are having non-threatening conversations as well as when they are being interrogated about a crime they might have committed. The rates of the behavioral changes are blindly clustered into two groups. Examining the clusters and their characteristics, we observe that the dynamic features selected for deception detection show promising results with an overall deceptive/non-deceptive prediction rate of 71.43% from a study consisting of 28 subjects.
NO3‐N Soil Test—approaches to use and interpretation

Abstract Nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N) soil tests have been instituted by several Great Plains States to aid in making nitrogen fertilizer recommendations. The NO3‐N soil test is useful in the Great Plains because climatic conditions are such that NO3‐N leaching is low and soil rooting depths are great. Essentially four basic approaches to the use and interpretation of the NO3‐N soil test have been developed and are discussed. They are: (1) total amount of NO3‐N extracted from a two foot soil profile is available to the growing crop; (2) only a portion of the extractable NO3‐N is available to the growing crop; (3) other mineral nitrogen, such as NH4‐N, is just as available to the growing crop and (4) some nitrogen becomes available from the soil organic matter. The NO3‐N soil test requires that deep samples (two feet or more) be taken and that they are air‐dried as rapidly as possible. Late fall or early spring soil samples are necessary for interpretation of the NO3‐N soil test.
Engaging celebrity? Measuring the impact of issue-advocacy messages on situational involvement, complacency and apathy

Using data from an experiment conducted in the fall of 2009, the study considers the effect of exposure to celebrity issue-advocacy appeals on situational involvement, complacency and apathy. The results suggest that receptivity toward celebrity involvement in issue politics has a negative impact on complacency but no effect on issue-specific apathy. In addition, situational involvement is negatively related to both complacency and issue apathy. Finally, the results suggest that exposure to celebrity issue advocacy messages can impact issue engagement, but this impact often depends on the prior perceived importance of the issue and favourability toward the celebrity advocate.
Complete Fourth Metatarsal and Arches in the Foot of Australopithecus afarensis

The transition to full-time terrestrial bipedality is a hallmark of human evolution. A key correlate of human bipedalism is the development of longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot that provide a rigid propulsive lever and critical shock absorption during striding bipedal gait. Evidence for arches in the earliest well-known Australopithecus species, A. afarensis, has long been debated. A complete fourth metatarsal of A. afarensis was recently discovered at Hadar, Ethiopia. It exhibits torsion of the head relative to the base, a direct correlate of a transverse arch in humans. The orientation of the proximal and distal ends of the bone reflects a longitudinal arch. Further, the deep, flat base and tarsal facets imply that its midfoot had no ape-like midtarsal break. These features show that the A. afarensis foot was functionally like that of modern humans and support the hypothesis that this species was a committed terrestrial biped.
New Species of Eimeria from Arizona Rodents

SUMMARY. In a survey of 52 rodents of 25 species from Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona and its vicinity, the following species of Eimeria are described: E. tamiasciuri n. sp. from the red or spruce squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus; E. lateralis n. sp. and Eimeria sp. from the mantled ground squirrel, Citellus lateralis; E. eutamiae n. sp. from the cliff chipmunk, Eutamias dorsalis; E. thomomysis n. sp. from the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae; E. perognathi n. sp. from the rock pocket mouse, Perognathus intermedius; E. albigulae n. sp. from the white-throated woodrat, Neotoma albigula; E. operculata n. sp. from Stephens' woodrat, Neotoma stephensi; E. peromysci n. sp. and E. arizonensis n. sp. from the pinon mouse, Peromyscus truei; E. eremici n. sp. from the cactus mouse, Peromyscus eremicus; and E. onychomysis n. sp. from the northern grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster.
Preparation of Nanoscale Semiconductors through the Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solution (RESS) into Liquid Solution

The preparation of nanoscale lead sulfide (PbS) particles using a supercritical fluid processing technique is reported. The method is based on two simultaneous modifications to the conventional RESS (rapid expansion of supercritical solution) process. The first is to expand the supercritical solution into a liquid solution instead of a gas, and the second is to use a reacting system, in which one reactant is dissolved in the supercritical solution and one in the liquid receiving solution. Supercritical ammonia, methanol, and acetone solutions are used for rapid expansion, and the PbS nanoparticles obtained with the different solvents are rather similar. RESS experiments are also carried out under different experimental conditions, but the changes in processing parameters apparently have only marginal effects on the produced PbS nanoparticles. Mechanistic considerations on the RESS into solution method and issues concerning the use of the semiconductor nanoparticles in nanocomposite materials are discussed.
Utilization of methionine as a sulfhydryl source for metallothionein synthesis in rat primary hepatocyte cultures.

Abstract Metallothioneins (MT) contain a high concentration of cysteine which bind heavy metals. Exposure of liver cells to metals induces the synthesis of MT and thus causes the cells to draw upon their sulfhydryl (SH) pools. The utilization of methionine as compared with that of cysteine as a source of SH for the synthesis of MT has not been shown. Therefore, studies were designed to determine whether methionine, in addition to cysteine, serves as an SH donor for Zn-induced synthesis of MT in rat hepatocyte cultures. Hepatocytes were able to synthesize only low levels of MT when the concentration of both amino acids was extremely low; however, when either of the amino acids was present at a high concentration, production of MT was independent of the other amino acid concentration. Subsequently, induction of MT was compared in four media: complete (0.5 m m methionine, 0.5 m m cysteine), Met (0.5 m m methionine), Cys (0.5 m m cysteine), and SH free (−SH). Somewhat higher concentrations of MT were produced by the hepatocytes in the Met than in the Cys media and no differences were observed between the Met and the complete media. By contrast, GSH synthesis was much more dependent on methionine than on cysteine for its synthesis. Incorporation studies with 35 S-labeled cysteine and methionine indicated that lower concentrations of MT found in hepatocytes in the Cys media may be due to less accumulation of cysteine by the hepatocytes. Cellular accumulation of cysteine was initially rapid and then reached a plateau, whereas the rate for methionine accumulation was more constant and eventually obtained higher cellular levels. To provide additional evidence for the role of methionine in MT production, a known inhibitor of the cystathionine pathway, dl -propargylglycine (PPG), was added to each of the four media. Reductions in MT levels were not observed in the cells cultured in the complete and Cys media; however, a 95% reduction was observed in the cells cultured in the Met media. In summary, the present results suggest that both cysteine and methionine can serve as a SH source for MT synthesis, and that the availability of SH in most culture mediums would not limit the synthesis of MT. Whereas methionine is a much better SH source than cysteine for GSH synthesis in hepatocyte cultures, it is only slightly better for MT synthesis.
Evidence for an essential histidine residue located in the binding site of the cysteine-specific lysosomal transport protein

Abstract Previously, we observed that the activity of the cysteine-specific lysosomal transport system increases 7–10-fold between pH 6 and 7.3 to be maximally active in the neutral pH range. To understand what factors contribute to this pH dependence, different chemical modifying agents were used to probe the nature of amino acid residues residing in the transport protein binding site. Diethyl pyrocarbonate (1 mM) and N-ethylmaleimide (5 mM) each strongly inactivated lysosomal cysteine uptake ≥ 88%, whereas dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (2.5 mM), phenylisothiocyanate (2 mM), N-acetylimidazole (33 mM), and phenylglyoxal (2 mM) had a moderate to small effect. Maximal inactivation by DEPC occurs within 12–15 min upon exposure to DEPC concentrations ≥ 1 mM. DEPC inactivation is consistent with modification of a histidine residue, displaying no inactivation at pH l -cysteine (4 mM), fully protects the transport protein from DEPC inactivation suggesting that this histidine residue is located in the carrier's substrate binding site. Finally, part of the pH dependence of the lysosomal cysteine carrier appears to be due to responsiveness to the lysosomal transmembrane proton gradient as indicated by lysosomal membrane vesicles which display a 1.5-fold greater rate of cysteine uptake when pH 7.4out > pH 5.3in than when pH 7.4out = pH 7.4in.
Typing abstractions and management in a component framework

We consider the type inference problems in a compositional design environment where the components are automatically instantiated from pre-existing C++-based intellectual property (IP) libraries. We present a component integration language based on scripting for design specification. Our focus is the architectural aspects in the specification that use aggregation - as opposed to the more commonly used inheritance - for composition of components. Our approach simplifies architectural specification by employing a type inference and type management environment. We show that the type inference problem is NP-complete. We present a heuristic based on code generation and parameterization to solve the type inference for IP selection in our C++-based composition environment. We have implemented the composition and type management in the BALBOA framework. The results show the utility of our approach.
Population Health as a Fundamental Criterion of Social Ecology

This essay elaborates the common insight that “strong” communities respond more successfully to serious threats than “weak” communities and it claims that the successful communities will have better population health rates. It nominates an appropriate measure of population health as the criterion of success, and advances a universally applicable concept of strength, conceptualized as institutionalized problem-solving capacity, based on three components: the application of specialized knowledge, open debate on policy alternatives and mobilization behind reformers and reform movements. The relationship may be compressed into a threat-capacity ratio interaction formula: ph = C/t where ph is a measure of population health, C is problem-solving capacity and t is one or more existential threats. The community is the locus of causality and it is assumed that communities attempt to adapt to threats by problem-solving. The Threat-Capacity dynamic is explained by a combination of neo-Darwinian and neo-Durkheimian theory. Three kinds of applications support its plausibility.
Landscape Influences on Headwater Streams on Fort Stewart, Georgia, USA

Military landscapes represent a mixture of undisturbed natural ecosystems, developed areas, and lands that support different types and intensities of military training. Research to understand water-quality influences of military landscapes usually involves intensive sampling in a few watersheds. In this study, we developed a survey design of accessible headwater watersheds intended to improve our ability to distinguish land–water relationships in general, and training influences, in particular, on Fort Stewart, GA. We sampled and analyzed water from watershed outlets. We successfully developed correlative models for total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), organic carbon (OC), and organic nitrogen (ON), which dominated in this blackwater ecosystem. TSS tended to be greater in samples after rainfall and during the growing season, and models that included %Wetland suggested a “build-and-flush” relationship. We also detected a positive association between TSS and tank-training, which suggests a need to intercept sediment-laden runoff from training areas. Models for OC showed a negative association with %Grassland. TN and ON both showed negative associations with %Grassland, %Wetland, and %Forest. Unexpected positive associations were observed between OC and equipment-training activity and between ON and %Bare ground + Roads. Future studies that combine our survey-based approach with more intensive monitoring of the timing and intensity of training would be needed to better understand the mechanisms for these empirical relationships involving military training. Looking beyond local effects on Fort Stewart streams, we explore questions about how exports of OC and nitrogen from coastal military installations ultimately influence estuaries downstream.
Branching support structures for 3D printing

Most 3D printing processes can be modeled by an incremental stacking of thin, flexible layers. In this case, it is apparent that for complex shapes, some stacks will be "floating" in mid-air unless they are supported from below by additional material. Similarly if a slice is much larger than the one below it, it will droop unless supported. These areas are called overhangs [Evans 2012], and most 3D printing software provides automated generation of some kind of support structure. However, the support is waste, of both time and material, and this waste should be minimized.
Negative Regulation of Midline Vascular Development by the Notochord

The negative regulation of vascular patterning is one of the least understood processes in vascular biology. In amniotes, blood vessels develop throughout the embryonic disc, except for a midline region surrounding the notochord. Here we show that the notochord is the primary signaling center for the inhibition of vessel formation along the embryonic midline. Notochord ablation in quail embryos results in vascular plexus formation at midline. Implantation of the notochord into paraxial and lateral mesoderm inhibits vessel formation locally. The notochord-expressed BMP antagonists Chordin and Noggin inhibit endothelial cell migration in vitro, and their ectopic expression in vivo results in a local disruption of vessel formation. Conversely, BMP-4 activates endothelial cell migration in vitro, and its ectopic expression along the notochord induces vascular plexus formation at midline. These data indicate an inhibitory role of the notochord in defining an avascular zone at the embryonic midline, in part via BMP antagonism.
The attosecond nonlinear optics of bright coherent X-ray generation

The frequency doubling of laser light was one of the first new phenomena observed following the invention of the laser over 50 years ago. Since then, the quest to extend nonlinear optical upconversion to ever-shorter wavelengths has been a grand challenge in laser science. Two decades of research into high-order harmonic generation has recently uncovered several feasible routes for generating bright coherent X-ray beams using small-scale femtosecond lasers. The physics of this technique combines the microscopic attosecond science of atoms driven by intense laser fields with the macroscopic extreme nonlinear optics of phase matching, thus essentially realizing a coherent, tabletop version of the Roentgen X-ray tube.