cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiresolution expectation maximization reconstruction algorithm for positron emission tomography using wavelet processing

The expectation maximization (EM) algorithm and its derivatives have been applied to the problem of image reconstruction in positron emission tomography (PET). The multigrid EM (MGEM) algorithm uses the EM algorithm on a set of reconstruction grids with different resolutions. This paper introduces a multiresolution EM (MREM) algorithm that extends the MGEM algorithm to both the image reconstruction and the detector space. The detectors comprising the ring are reorganized to form a multiresolution detector space. The algorithm begins iterating at the coarsest grid level using tube data that has been re-binned at the coarsest detector level. It switches both the grid and detector levels simultaneously until the finest detector resolution is reached. The algorithm iterates further for various multiresolution grid levels using the tube data at the finest detector resolution. This method provides faster convergence and better reconstruction than the conventional single-grid EM (SGEM) algorithm. The MREM algorithm uses a new transition criterion for switching the grid levels, which is developed using the high-frequency energy derived from the wavelet decomposition of the reconstructed image at each iteration. It also uses a wavelet spline interpolation method to project the intermediate reconstruction from a specific grid level to the next finer grid. The results of the MREM algorithm and the modified MGEM algorithm incorporating the wavelet decomposition-based transition criterion and wavelet interpolation method on simulated phantom data and actual PET camera data are presented.
Theoretical and experimental study of the inelastic neutron scattering spectra of β-5-Nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one

Abstract The inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra of β-5-Nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one (β-NTO) are presented to 1400 cm−1. The β-NTO vibrational frequencies observed differ considerably from the α-NTO vibrational frequencies and normal mode frequency calculations for the isolated molecule. The INS spectrum contains detail unobserved in the previous IR studies, including combinations and overtones of the phonon and internal modes of β-NTO. The INS spectra are compared with periodic DFT calculations to show that the periodic DFT results correctly predict the solid-state molecular vibrational frequencies.
Perceptual intrusion detection system

A simple intrusion detection system (IDS) with respect to perception of human experts is proposed. Its computational framework is designed based on concepts of computational theory of perceptions (CTP) and mass assignment theory (MAT). CTP provides a computational framework of representing and handling perception using linguistic terms and corresponding fuzzy sets. MAT provides that of representing and handling a bias consisting in between perception and observed intrusions through the consistency management between fuzzy sets and probability distributions. For the knowledge construction of this IDS, only linguistic descriptions extracted from organization policies and perception of human experts is expected. For the inference and refinement of knowledge, support logic, a truth functional logic for manipulating probability intervals, is used.
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Treatment Induces Ketogenesis, Sustains Mitochondrial Function, and Reduces Pathology in Female Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Previously, we demonstrated that mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits preceded Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in the female triple-transgenic AD (3xTgAD) mouse model. In parallel, 3xTgAD mice exhibited elevated expression of ketogenic markers, indicating a compensatory mechanism for energy production in brain. This compensatory response to generate an alternative fuel source was temporary and diminished with disease progression. To determine whether this compensatory alternative fuel system could be sustained, we investigated the impact of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a compound known to induce ketogenesis, on bioenergetic function and AD pathology burden in brain. 6-month-old female 3xTgAD mice were fed either a regular diet (AIN-93G) or a diet containing 0.04% 2-DG for 7 weeks. 2-DG diet significantly increased serum ketone body level and brain expression of enzymes required for ketone body metabolism. The 2-DG-induced maintenance of mitochondrial bioenergetics was paralleled by simultaneous reduction in oxidative stress. Further, 2-DG treated mice exhibited a significant reduction of both amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers, which was paralleled by significantly increased α-secretase and decreased γ-secretase expression, indicating that 2-DG induced a shift towards a non-amyloidogenic pathway. In addition, 2-DG increased expression of genes involved in Aβ clearance pathways, degradation, sequestering, and transport. Concomitant with increased bioenergetic capacity and reduced β-amyloid burden, 2-DG significantly increased expression of neurotrophic growth factors, BDNF and NGF. Results of these analyses demonstrate that dietary 2-DG treatment increased ketogenesis and ketone metabolism, enhanced mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity, reduced β-amyloid generation and increased mechanisms of β-amyloid clearance. Further, these data link bioenergetic capacity with β-amyloid generation and demonstrate that β-amyloid burden was dynamic and reversible, as 2-DG reduced activation of the amyloidogenic pathway and increased mechanisms of β-amyloid clearance. Collectively, these data provide preclinical evidence for dietary 2-DG as a disease-modifying intervention to delay progression of bioenergetic deficits in brain and associated β-amyloid burden.
Nonnegative matrix factorization with deterministic annealing for unsupervised unmixing of hyperspectral imagery

Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) technique and its extensions were developed to find part based, linear representations of non-negative multivariate data. They have been shown to provide more interpretable results with realistic non-negative constrain in unsupervised learning applications such as hyperspectral imagery unmixing, image feature extraction, and data mining. This paper extends the NMF method by incorporating deterministic annealing optimization procedure, which will help solve the non-convexity problem in NMF and provide a better choice of sparseness constrain. The approach is based on replacing the difficult non-convex optimization problem of NMF with an easier one by adding an auxiliary convex entropy constrain term and solving this first. Experiment results with hyperspectral unmixing application show that the proposed technique provides improved unmixing performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods.
Training of Inspectors and Engineers in Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD): The California Experience

This paper presents an overview of training academies on horizontal directional drilling (HDD) conducted for the education and training of 125 resident engineers and permit inspectors for the California Dept. of Transportation, 54 utility inspectors, 16 consultants, and 26 city/county Inspectors. Each of the four academies took place over a 3-day period during which the first and third days involved intense classroom preparation. The second day provided field experience through demonstrations of various equipment and construction methods used in HDD. A pretest was administered on the first day, prior to any instruction, followed by a final test administered at the end of the last day. A grade of 70% or better was required to pass the course. The overall average of all 221 participants was 75.27% with a standard deviation of 8.10%. Further analysis of the test results concluded that level of formal education did not have any significant effect on the final grade obtained in the course. In addition, the average grade of each academy increased slightly with each subsequent academy. The improved scores could be a function of the quality of the class as well as the quality of instruction with each academy.
The visual pulvinar in tree shrews I. Multiple subdivisions revealed through acetylcholinesterase and Cat-301 chemoarchitecture.

Tree shrews are highly visual mammals closely related to primates. They have a large visual pulvinar complex, but its organization and relation to visual cortex is only partly known. We processed brain sections through the pulvinar with seven different procedures in an effort to reveal histologically distinct compartments. The results revealed three major subdivisions. A dorsal subdivision, Pd, stains darkly for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and occupies the dorsoposterior one-third of the pulvinar complex. A ventral subdivision, Pv, stains darkly when processed with the Cat-301 antibody and occupies the ventroanterior fifth of the pulvinar complex along the brachium of the superior colliculus. Unexpectedly, part of Pv is ventral to the brachium. A large central subdivision, Pc, stains moderately dark for AChE and cytochrome oxidase (CO), and very light for Cat-301. Pc includes about half of the pulvinar complex, with parts on both sides of the brachium of the superior colliculus. These architectonic results demonstrate that the pulvinar complex of tree shrews is larger and has more subdivisions than previously described. The complex resembles the pulvinar of primates by having a portion ventral to the brachium and by having histochemically distinct nuclei; the number of nuclei is less than in primates, however.
The Profession of Learning Disabilities: Progress and Promises:

An earlier version of this paper was presented as the 14th Annual Distinguished Lecture at the 23rd International Conference on Learning Disabilities, October 21, 2001. It focuses on the status of the field of learning disabilities, including the accomplishments as well as elements of the unfinished agenda that are needed to move the field forward. Drawing on the contributions of the greatest generation of special educators, the paper discusses how these foundations provide a basis for future developments in the field.
Global optimization of a deuterium calibrated, discrete-state compartment model (DSCM): Application to the eastern Nevada Test Site

Summary As part of a larger study to estimate groundwater recharge volumes in the area of the eastern Nevada Test Site (NTS), [Campana, M.E., 1975. Finite-state models of transport phenomena in hydrologic systems, PhD Dissertation: University of Arizona, Tucson] Discrete-state compartment model (DSCM) was re-coded to simulate steady-state groundwater concentrations of a conservative tracer. It was then dynamically linked with the shuffled complex evolution (SCE) optimization algorithm [Duan, Q., Soroosh, S., Gupta, V., 1992. Effective and efficient global optimization for conceptual rainfall-runoff models. Water Resources Research 28(4), 1015–1031] in which both flow direction and magnitude were adjusted to minimize errors in predicted tracer concentrations. Code validation on a simple four-celled model showed the algorithm consistent in model predictions and capable of reproducing expected cell outflows with relatively little error. The DSCM–SCE code was then applied to a 15-basin (cell) eastern NTS model developed for the DSCM. Auto-calibration of the NTS model was run given two modeling scenarios, (a) assuming known groundwater flow directions and solving only for magnitudes and, (b) solving for groundwater flow directions and magnitudes. The SCE is a fairly robust algorithm, unlike simulated annealing or modified Gauss–Newton approaches. The DSCM–SCE improves upon its original counterpart by being more user-friendly and by auto-calibrating complex models in minutes to hours. While the DSCM–SCE can provide numerical support to a working hypothesis, it can not definitively define a flow system based solely on δD values given few hydrogeologic constraints on boundary conditions and cell-to-cell interactions.
Environmental Predictors of Seasonal Influenza Epidemics across Temperate and Tropical Climates

Human influenza infections exhibit a strong seasonal cycle in temperate regions. Recent laboratory and epidemiological evidence suggests that low specific humidity conditions facilitate the airborne survival and transmission of the influenza virus in temperate regions, resulting in annual winter epidemics. However, this relationship is unlikely to account for the epidemiology of influenza in tropical and subtropical regions where epidemics often occur during the rainy season or transmit year-round without a well-defined season. We assessed the role of specific humidity and other local climatic variables on influenza virus seasonality by modeling epidemiological and climatic information from 78 study sites sampled globally. We substantiated that there are two types of environmental conditions associated with seasonal influenza epidemics: “cold-dry” and “humid-rainy”. For sites where monthly average specific humidity or temperature decreases below thresholds of approximately 11–12 g/kg and 18–21°C during the year, influenza activity peaks during the cold-dry season (i.e., winter) when specific humidity and temperature are at minimal levels. For sites where specific humidity and temperature do not decrease below these thresholds, seasonal influenza activity is more likely to peak in months when average precipitation totals are maximal and greater than 150 mm per month. These findings provide a simple climate-based model rooted in empirical data that accounts for the diversity of seasonal influenza patterns observed across temperate, subtropical and tropical climates.
Requirements for cosmological studies in radio astronomy

Two types of world models and their main properties are discussed briefly: the steady-state model and the simplest relativistic models. In some world models there is a horizon which principally limits any observation within a certain distance. The question investigated is what requirements must be met by observation (and theory) in order to distinguish between different world models. A comparison of various observational methods and their requirements shows that the most promising method seems to be observing angular source diameters and distances between double sources by lunar occultations of radio sources. (The resolution given by the edge of the Moon is better than 1 sec of arc.) This method requires a single, fully steerable dish of more than 300 ft diameter, and a fast calculating machine. Because of the traveling time of light, one must always look back into the past if one wishes to look out into space; one would see the most distant sources almost at age zero with a large antenna. Thus, a theory is needed to describe the formation and development of strong radio sources. Without it, no conclusions about world models could be derived from observations.
Serologic evidence for reactivation of cryptococcosis in solid-organ transplant recipients

Cryptococcosis is a significant infection with a high mortality in solid-organ transplant recipients. Nonetheless, the pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood. It has been hypothesized that cryptococcosis may result from either primary infection or reactivation of a latent infection. Sera were obtained from transplant recipients prior to transplantation and at the time they developed cryptococcosis. Control sera were obtained before and after transplant from patients who did not develop cryptococcosis. Sera were tested for antibodies against Cryptococcus neoformans by using an immunoblot assay. Antibody responses were also compared with those observed in sera from rats with experimental pulmonary cryptococcosis. In all, 52% of the transplant recipients who developed cryptococcosis exhibited serologic evidence of cryptococcal infection before transplantation. These patients developed cryptococcosis significantly earlier after transplant than patients without preexisting reactivity did (5.6 ± 3.4 months compared to 40.6 ± 63.8 months, respectively [P = 0.0011]). The results from our study suggest that a substantial proportion of transplant-associated cryptococcosis cases result from the reactivation of a latent infection. These findings also highlight the potential utility of serologic studies in identifying patients at risk for the development of cryptococcosis after transplantation.
Adaptive algorithm structure: impacts on stability and performance

The structures of adaptive algorithms are examined for their impact on input-output stability and performance measures. Three general algorithm structures are considered: the a priori form, the a posteriori form, and the proportional integral (PI) form. A parallel development is used to directly compare continuous- and discrete-time versions of the algorithms considered. The standard a priori and a posteriori algorithm forms are shown to be special cases of a more flexible proportional-plus-integral algorithm, which is implemented via normalization in the adaptive law. It is shown that this normalization can enhance algorithm stability and input-output performance of normalized errors, but the performance unnormalized errors may not be significantly affected. This direct comparison of simple algorithm structures serves to isolate the stability and performance properties due to these structures alone. It provides information for algorithm design, allowing the essential effects of design options to be traded off against the many other options. >
Calculation of Sensitivity Coefficients for Individual Airport Emissions in the Continental U.S. using CMAQ-DDM/PM

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a federally-regulated air pollutant with well-known impacts on human health. The FAA's Destination 2025 program seeks to decrease aviation-related health impacts across the U.S. by 50% by the year 2018. Atmospheric models, such as the Community Multiscale Air Quality model (CMAQ), are used to estimate the atmospheric concentration of pollutants such as PM2.5. Sensitivity analysis of these models has long been limited to finite difference and regression-based methods, both of which require many computationally intensive model simulations to link changes in output with perturbations in input. Further, they are unable to offer detailed or ad hoc analysis for changes within a domain, such as changes in emissions on an airport-by-airport basis. In order to calculate the sensitivity of PM2.5 concentrations to emissions from individual airports, we utilize the Decoupled Direct Method in three dimensions (DDM-3D), an advanced sensitivity analysis tool recently implemented in CMAQ. DDM-3D allows calculation of sensitivity coefficients within a single simulation, eliminating the need for multiple model runs. However, while the output provides results for a variety of input perturbations in a single simulation, the processing time for each run is dramatically increased compared to simulations conducted without the DDM-3D module.Use of the XSEDE Stampede computing cluster allows us to calculate sensitivity coefficients for a large number of input parameters. This allows for a much wider variety of ad hoc aviation policy scenarios to be generated and evaluated than would be possible using other sensitivity analysis methods or smaller-scaled computing systems. We present a design of experiments to compute individual sensitivity coefficients for 139 major airports in the US, due to six different precursor emissions that form PM2.5 in the atmosphere. Simulations based on this design are currently in progress, with full results to be published at a later date.
Law School Instruction in Professional Responsibility: A Curricular Paradox

Legal ethics has recently become the focus of professional and public concern. One aspect of that concern has to do with the education and socialization of law students in professional responsibility. This study, using data from a sample of law students in diverse school settings, examines the influence of prevailing learning norms in legal education on student responses to courses in professional responsibility. The author also reviews the bases of ambiguous sentiments about the role of education in professional ethics and concludes with a discussion of the difficulties and dilemmas involved in attempts to alter the established mode of instruction.
Practical application of model-based programming and state-based architecture to space missions

Innovative systems and software engineering solutions are required to meet the increasingly challenging demands of deep-space robotic missions. While recent advances in the development of integrated systems and software engineering approaches have begun to address some of these issues, these methods are still at the core highly manual and, therefore, error-prone. This paper describes a task aimed at infusing MIT's model-based executive, Titan, into JPL's Mission Data System (MDS), a unified state-based architecture, systems engineering process, and supporting software framework. Results of the task are presented, including a discussion of the benefits and challenges associated with integrating mature model-based programming techniques and technologies into a rigorously-defined domain specific architecture.
Post-thienopyridine platelet response, cardiovascular outcomes, and personalized therapy: En attendant Godot.

In Samuel Beckett's tragicomedy “ En attendant Godot ” ([1][1]) (later translated to English from the original French version by the author as “ Waiting for Godot ” [[2][2]]), Vladimir and Estragon wait excitedly by a tree on a country road for Godot, who is quite late in arriving with news
A phase I study of everolimus plus sorafenib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC)

e16056 Background: Everolimus, a mTOR inhibitor and Sorafenib, a Raf kinase inhibitor had shown their efficacy in RCC, as single agents. Combining these two active agents could have potential addit...
Hyperperfusion and cardioplegia effects on myocardial high-energy phosphate distribution and energy expenditure

This study examines the hypothesis that high-energy phosphate (HEP) compound levels in unstimulated in vivo myocardium are defined by 1) the level of perfusion and 2) non-perfusion-dependent metabolic characteristics. This hypothesis was tested by determining 1) the effects of pharmacological hyperperfusion of functioning myocardium on transmural HEP compound distribution, contractile function, and myocardial oxygen consumption rate (MVO2) as well as 2) the effect of KCl cardioplegia on transmural myocardial HEP compound distribution. Creatine phosphate (CP) and ATP were measured across the anterior left ventricular wall using spatially localized 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). At baseline, the CP-to-ATP (CP/ATP) ratio was significantly lower in the subendocardium than in the subepicardium. This transmural HEP gradient was abolished by hyperperfusion without significant effects on contractile function or MVO2. Similarly, KCl arrest significantly increased CP and CP/ATP in all myocardial layers, and the transmural gradient of CP/ATP was abolished again. These studies indicate that in present experimental model 1) myocardial performance is not constrained by inadequate perfusion in any myocardial layer although modest oxygen limitation affects the kinetics of oxidative phosphorylation in the inner myocardial layers and 2) in all myocardial layers, submaximal activation of intermediary metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation reactions results in lower steady-state CP and higher ADP levels relative to their respective values when energy expenditure is markedly reduced by KCl arrest.
Discretizing a Process with Non-Zero Skewness and High Kurtosis

We develop and test a discretization method to calibrate a Markov chain that features non-zero skewness and high kurtosis.The proposed method applies the logic of Tauchen (1986) to a first-order autoregressive process with normal mixture innovations, which, as we discuss, can be calibrated to feature non-zero skewness and high kurtosis. We then illustrate an application of our method in an Aiyagari economy. We find that an idiosyncratic shock with higher kurtosis decreases the equilibrium interest rate, whereas higher left skewness increases it.
Local(eyes)ing signs in sequential bihemispheric strokes.

INTRODUCTION Decerebrate posturing typically occurs in the setting of midbrain injury. However, it may also be seen as the result of massive bilateral forebrain lesions. The latter localization is supported when seen concomitantly with roving eye movements and normal brainstem reflexes. CASE REPORT A 61-year-old woman developed aphasia and right hemiparesis and was found to have a left anterior middle cerebral artery stroke from atrial fibrillation. The following day, her examination quickly deteriorated from mild aphasia and right hemiparesis to coma, right gaze preference alternating with roving eye movements, and decerebrate posturing. Electroencephalography showed bihemispheric dysfunction, and magnetic resonance imaging showed new scattered right middle cerebral artery territory infarcts. She was found to have right A1 and M1 occlusions, and recanalization was achieved with intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the localizing value of the constellation of coma, a gaze preference alternating with roving eye movements, and decerebrate posturing through a discussion of the relevant neuroanatomy and pathophysiology.
Constituting Co-Ethnic Exploitation: The Economic and Cultural Meanings of Cash-in-Hand Jobs for Ethnic Chinese Migrants in Australia:

This article asks two questions: for immigrants, how is an exploitative labor market constituted, and how do immigrant employees and employers understand exploitation involving co-ethnics? Taking ethnic Chinese immigrants (PRC-Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kongese) as an example, this article examines employer hiring strategies, employee economic rationales, cultural perceptions, and the work experiences of ethnic Chinese migrant workers who find work in the informal sector in Australia. This article argues that language barriers, relatively higher earnings than home countries, the flexibility of cash-in-hand jobs, and the low expectation that job-seekers have of co-ethnic employers increase the willingness of ethnic Chinese migrants to work in the cash economy. On the other hand, employers look for an ‘obedient’ employee and create the image of a ‘good boss’ to decrease the expression of hostile emotions from their employees. Considering how economic factors and mutual cultural perceptions are embedded and re...
An evaluation of postmortem cesarean section: A report of five patients with three survivors

Abstract The literature is reviewed and 5 new cases of postmortem cesarean section are presented. Three cases were successful and resulted in living children. One did, however, die at age 29 days. Another was followed until age 20 months and has demonstrated a normal pattern of growth and development. The other has been lost to follow-up since discharged from the hospital.
E-069 do bmi and and venous pressure measurements predict the need for revisions in venous sinus stenting?

Benign Intracranial Hypertension, also known as pseudotumor cerebri, is an uncommon disease manifest by increased ICP with headaches, papilledema, visual disturbances and blindness. Transverse Sinus stenoses has been associated with this entity in nearly 90% of patients. As such, treatment with transverse stents has been proposed as a possible treatment for this entity. However, while complication rates appear low, there is a retreatment rate, by either stent revision or ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. We assessed the prospectively maintained database of pseudotumor patients managed with stents and assessed recurrence rates as related to Body mass index and venous pressures as measured during procedure. 29 patients were analyzed, yielding headache improvements in 22/29 patients, improved papilledema in 28/29, improved LP pressures in 15/22. Tinnitus resolving in 18/19. Recurrent papilledema occurred in 5 patients, treated with either stent revision or shunt. Increased BMI trended towards a statistically significant association with recurrence with a p value of 0.084 Weight loss may be an integral part of treatment in these patients. Disclosures F. Hui: None. L. Lystad: None. S. Hussain: None. M. Bain: None. G. Toth: None. G. Kosmorsky: None. P. Rasmussen: None. N. Obuchowski: None. M. Luciano: None.
Combination of Evidence for Effective Web Search

Abstract : In this paper we describe Carnegie Mellon University's sub-mission to the TREC 2010 Web Track. Our baseline run combines different methods, of which in particular the spam prior and mixture model were found the most effective. We also experimented with expansion over the Wikipedia corpus and found that picking the right Wikipedia articles for expansion can improve performance substantially. Furthermore, we did preliminary experiments with combining expansion over the Wikipedia corpus with expansion over the top ranked web pages.
Taking the Heat: Women Chefs and Gender Inequality in the Professional Kitchen

Deborah A. Harris and Patti Giuffre set out to answer the question: How is it that women—the gender most commonly associated with food and cooking—have lagged so far behind men in professional kitc...
Investigation of imaging characteristics of rotating multi-segment slant-hole SPECT mammography using signal-to-noise ratio criterion

We previously developed an OS-EM reconstruction method for rotating multi-segment slant-hole SPECT with compensation for non-uniform attenuation and collimator-detector response. In this study we performed simulations to investigate the imaging characteristics of RMSSH SPECT mammography using signal-to-noise ratio as a criterion. We varied the breast lesion size and the lesion to background uptake ratio in the 3D NCAT phantom, reconstructed RMSSH SPECT projection data using OS-EM reconstruction with and without various compensations, and calculated the SNR of the breast lesion from the reconstructed images. For comparison, we also calculated the SNR values using projection images from planar scintimammography. Our calculations showed progressive improvement in terms of SNR values when more compensation for image degrading factors were applied, and RMSSH SPECT offered higher image contrast and SNR values as compared to planar scintimammography. The results from this study may help to design an efficient and economical ROC study for further evaluating the performance in a lesion detection task for RMSSH SPECT mammography.
Detection of major ASL sign types in continuous signing for ASL recognition

In American Sign Language (ASL) as well as other signed languages, different classes of signs (e.g., lexical signs, fingerspelled signs, and classifier constructions) have different internal structural properties. Continuous sign recognition accuracy can be improved through use of distinct recognition strategies, as well as different training datasets, for each class of signs. For these strategies to be applied, continuous signing video needs to be segmented into parts corresponding to particular classes of signs. In this paper we present a multiple instance learning-based segmentation system that accurately labels 91.27% of the video frames of 500 continuous utterances (including 7 different subjects) from the publicly accessible NCSLGR corpus (Neidle and Vogler, 2012). The system uses novel feature descriptors derived from both motion and shape statistics of the regions of high local motion. The system does not require a hand tracker.
Merocyclophanes C and D from the Cultured Freshwater Cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. (UIC 10110).

Merocyclophanes C and D (1 and 2) were isolated from the cell extract of the cultured cyanobacterium UIC 10110. The structures were determined by one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and confirmed by 2D NMR techniques. The absolute configurations were determined using electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy. Merocyclophanes C and D represent the first known analogues of the merocyclophane core structure, a recently discovered scaffold of [7,7] paracyclophanes characterized by an α-branched methyl at C-1/C-14; 1 and 2 showed antiproliferative activity against the MDA-MB-435 cell line with IC50 values of 1.6 and 0.9 μM, respectively. Partial 16S analysis determined UIC 10110 to be a Nostoc sp., and it was found to clade with UIC 10062 Nostoc sp., the only other strain known to produce merocyclophanes. The genome of UIC 10110 was sequenced, and a biosynthetic gene cluster was identified that is proposed to encode type I and type III...
Statistical projections for multi-dimensional visual data exploration

When working with large, multidimensional and multivariate data, science users are frequently interested in understanding variation in data, as opposed to the actual data values. Our work focuses on exploring how a simple statistical metric, the Coefficient of Variation (or C v ), can be used in several different ways to facilitate understanding variation in large data. As a statistical measure, it offers a key advantage over more widely accepted measures like standard deviation, namely to its ability to capture local variation properties. As a multidimensional projection operator, C v is an effective way of reducing data size while preserving the key variational signal. Visualizations produced from C v that target conveying variation in data are highly informative, especially compared to those produced with more widely known methods. We demonstrate these ideas within the context of a two-part application case study focusing on understanding long-term trends in the the changes in precipitation and winds in large-scale climate model ensemble output.
Higher dimensional torsors and the cohomology of topoi : The abelian theory

If ~ is a topos with a natural number object, then the cohomology groups Hn(~;H) of ~ with coefficients in any abelian group object ~ may be defined as the group of Yoneda equivalence classes of "n-fold extensions of Z~ (the free group on the terminal object ~ of ~ ) by H " taken in the abelian category Grab(~) of abelian group objects of ~ . Moreover, if ~ is a Grothendieck topos, these groups are all small, for then Grab( ~ ) is a Grothendieck category and since
Metagenomic analysis of intertidal hypersaline microbial mats from Elkhorn Slough, California, grown with and without molybdate

Cyanobacterial mats are laminated microbial ecosystems which occur in highly diverse environments and which may provide a possible model for early life on Earth. Their ability to produce hydrogen also makes them of interest from a biotechnological and bioenergy perspective. Samples of an intertidal microbial mat from the Elkhorn Slough estuary in Monterey Bay, California, were transplanted to a greenhouse at NASA Ames Research Center to study a 24-h diel cycle, in the presence or absence of molybdate (which inhibits biohydrogen consumption by sulfate reducers). Here, we present metagenomic analyses of four samples that will be used as references for future metatranscriptomic analyses of this diel time series.
A Memoir of My Professional Life: What I Can Remember and What I Can Tell

In this memoir of my professional life, I focus on my research and scholarly writings. I not only present the substance of this work but also relate just how it came about. To round out the picture, I describe some of my teaching and service activities; in addition, I give some limited information about my family and personal life.
Hegel and Global Justice: An Introduction

This chapter provides an introduction to the edited collection Hegel and Global Justice. Part I supplies a general rationale for the book, noting that Hegel has far more to offer the theme of global justice than is commonly appreciated. Hegel or Hegel inspired arguments are said to make innovative contributions to multiple features of the contemporary discourse on global justice, while instructively engaging many of the foremost participants in the current debate. Attention is given to Hegel’s dialectical method, his concept of recognition, and his existentially based modes of social analysis. Part II provides a taxonomy of the main themes of the book, including cosmopolitanism, political sovereignty, universal human rights, global poverty and its responsibilities, institutional responses to global poverty, global governance, global community, war, and reciprocal recognition. Part III summarizes the main argument of each chapter, noting connections among the various discussions and the place those discussions occupy in the wider discourse on global justice.
Exercise in Renal and Hypertensive Disease

Publisher Summary The sustained elevation of blood pressure results in significant vascular damage throughout the body and early death from the hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Lowering the blood pressure with pharmacologic agents is effective in reducing morbidity and mortality not only in patients with malignant and severe hypertension but also in patients with moderately severe and mild blood pressure elevation. Physical exercise is another method that helps in lowering hypertension. The acute isometric exercise increases diastolic pressure, but whether chronic static activity does the same and result in fixed hypertension remains conjectural. Exercise of the dynamic or isotonic variety—such as distance running—induces sufficient parasympathomimetic influence to decrease the neurogenic and/or adrenergic component of blood pressure control and to, thus, alter the evolution of fixed diastolic hypertension.
Changing Form and Function through Carotenoids and Synthetic Biology.

The diverse structures and multifaceted roles of carotenoids make these colorful pigments attractive targets for synthetic biology.
“We Need to Help the Russians Save Face”: The “Ivinskaia Case” in the West

Abstract Following Boris Pasternak’s death his lover and literary assistant Ol’ga Ivinskaia and her daughter Irina Emel’ianova were arrested and sentenced to eight years and three years of labor camp respectively. The “Ivinskaia case” became a cause celebre in the West but, notwithstanding reports in the international press, was mostly conducted as an unreported, hidden campaign to persuade the Soviet authorities to revoke or soften Ivinskaia’s and Emel’ianova’s sentences while at the same time allowing the authorities to save face. Using hitherto untapped archival sources, the author reconstructs the behind-the-scenes events of one of the major literary-political confrontations of the Cold War.
The role of government in agro-tourism development: a top-down bottom-up approach

A changing structure of government has led to an increase in research on the relationship between government and businesses. Whit this in mind, this study investigates the role of government in agr...
Immune correlates for VEEV replicon vaccine protection against Ebolavirus

The progress of filovirus vaccines has advanced greatly due in part to the urgent need to develop countermeasures for the unprecedented Ebolavirus (EBOV) outbreak in West Africa. While a variety of vaccination approaches have been moved into clinical trials, the understanding of what constitutes a protective response after vaccination is still under investigation. Our approach to addressing immune correlates has involved the use of various mouse models to first test whether or not protection is afforded in the absence of a cell population. To this end, wild type (wt), β 2 m−/− and μMT−/− mouse models were used to assess the protective efficacy of vaccination with a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus replicon bearing the EBOV glycoprotein (GP). Vaccinated β 2 m−/− mice, despite lacking CD8 T cells, enjoyed full protection against mouse-adapted (ma) EBOV exposure. Vaccinated μMT−/− mice, on the other hand, succumbed to maEBOV exposure, similar to unvaccinated control mice. A flow cytometry analysis of T cell responses in Wt, β 2­ m−/− and μMT−/− mice revealed all mice mounted CD4 T cell responses, whereas only wt mice generated CD8 T cell responses. Antibody responses to EBOV GP were predictably lacking in μMT−/− mice after vaccination, but were present at high titers in wt and β 2 m−/− mice. We were able to achieve protection in vaccinated μMT−/−, but not unvaccinated μMT−/− mice, given serum from vaccinated wt mice before and after maEBOV exposure. These data indicate that T cell responses in this model can contribute to protection when given antibody help. Ultimately, antibody responses appear to be the best protective correlate in this model, though we also provide evidence that T cell responses can be essential in certain conditions.
The physician of cinema: Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life

This article contends that, in contrast to the broadly metaphysical (or “transcendental”) reading with which he’s associated, Terrence Malick consistently makes nature, or physis, the subject of his films. Returning to the his critical reception, the essay begins by suggesting that Malick’s biography has been leveraged to credentialize philosophical approaches readily identified with Stanley Cavell and Martin Heidegger. By contrast, his directorial itinerary reveals a commitment to the natural world—to different milieus, habitats, ecosystems, and topographies—that culminates with The Tree of Life. Above all, the analysis turns on the latter’s “cosmobiogenesis” sequence, especially in light of an early draft of the film’s script. The article broadly considers the relation between cosmology and biology (i.e., an “anthropic principle”), singles out four biological concepts (symbiosis, predation, coevolution, and self-organization) that clearly inform the film, and analyzes the “evolution of empathy” ...
Characterization of Seedling Traits Associated with Early Vigor in Diverse Cotton Genotypes

Stand establishment and early growth are important for successful cotton (Gossypium hirstum L.) production, but in comparison with other crops, cotton seedlings develop slowly after emergence. The objectives of this study were to compare and contrast early vigor of diverse cotton genotypes under greenhouse and field conditions. A total of 144 genotypes were grown in a greenhouse and destructively sampled 34 d after planting (DAP). A range of seedling characteristics including areas and weights of the cotyledons and first, second, and third leaves were determined, and leaf weight ratio, specific leaf area, and leaf area ratio were calculated. Of the 144 genotypes that were grown in the greenhouse, a subset of 40 were selected and planted in the field where plant characteristics were assessed at 17, 27, 35, and 48 DAP. Genotypes differed in shoot and stem dry weights, as well as cotyledon, first, second, and third leaf, and total leaf area, as well as dry weight. A positive correlation of seed weight and rapid early growth as indicated by shoot biomass was observed at 34 DAP in the greenhouse through 48 DAP in the field. Shoot biomass of field-grown plants sampled at 17, 27, 35, and 48 DAP was positively correlated with the size of the cotyledons and the first leaf measured at 17 DAP, as well as with the seed weight. Further characterization of high- and low-seedling-vigor genotypes identified in this study may provide insights into the physiological and genetic mechanisms associated with early vigor of cotton.
State of the art opioid-sparing strategies for post-operative pain in adult surgical patients.

Introduction: There are various important implications associated with poorly controlled postoperative pain in the adult surgical patient – this includes cardiopulmonary complications, opioid-relat...
The utility of length, age, liver condition, and body condition for predicting maturity and fecundity of female sablefish

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine if relative body condition and relative liver size (hepatosomatic index, HSI) could be utilized to predict maturity 6–8 months prior to spawning, when samples are readily available, and if these condition measures were related to fecundity. Female sablefish were sampled on four survey legs during a summer longline survey in July and August 2015 and during a winter survey in December 2015, which is 1–3 months prior to the spawning season in the Gulf of Alaska. The relative body condition and HSI of fish increased throughout the summer survey, reaching measurements similar to those observed during the winter. There were significant differences between immature and mature fish HSI and relative body condition and these differences increased throughout the summer, making these factors useful for predicting maturity on the last legs of the survey. On these later legs, models that utilized relative body condition and HSI, as well as length and age, to predict whether a fish was immature or would spawn produced maturity curves that best matched models based on histological maturity classifications. However, models without HSI may be the best choice for future work because liver weight is not regularly collected on annual surveys and on the last leg of the survey the addition of HSI to predicitive models did not improve maturity-at-age curves. Utilizing the winter data set, which is the time period when fecundity could be enumerated, fecundity was significantly related to relative condition and HSI. Increasing or decreasing these measures of condition by one standard deviation in a model of fecundity, which also included length, resulted in an estimated decrease in fecundity of 32% or an increase of 47% for an average size fish (78 cm). These results show the importance of incorporating fish condition into measures of population productivity.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of methamphetamine-associated intracerebral hemorrhage

Objective To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with and without methamphetamine exposure. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with spontaneous, nontraumatic ICH over a 3-year period between January 2013 and December 2016. Demographics, clinical measures, and outcomes were compared between ICH patients with positive methamphetamine toxicology tests vs those with negative methamphetamine toxicology tests. Results Methamphetamine-positive ICH patients were younger than methamphetamine-negative ICH patients (52 vs 67 years, p Conclusions Methamphetamine use is associated with earlier age at onset of ICH, longer hospital stays, and greater change in functional ability, but did not predict outcome.
Questions You Should Never Ask an Atheist: Towards Better Measures of Nonreligion and Secularity

As interest in the nonreligious has grown, attention has turned to how to measure both the growth of and variation within the nonreligious. This interest has also revealed that prior measures of religiosity are often problematic. In this research note, I detail some of these problems. For instance, some measures fail to contrast nonreligiosity with religiosity. Other measures are double-barreled or one-and-a-half barreled, making them impossible for nonreligious individuals to answer. Finally, I note that how questions are worded can result in very different estimates of how many nonreligious people and atheists there are in a population.
Die Auseinandersetzung with Heidegger’s Phenomenological Ontology: A Heideggerian Account of the Film Experience: Phenomenology of film: a Heideggerian account of the film experience, by Shawn Loht, Lexington Books, Lanham, Maryland, 2017, 220 pp., cloth, $95, ISBN-13: 978-1498519021

This review essay of Shawn Loht’s (2017. Phenomenology of Film: A Heideggerian Account of the Film Experience. New York: Lexington Books) new book, Phenomenology of Film: A Heideggerian Account of ...