cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme Y directly bundles actin filaments

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses a type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject cytotoxic effector proteins into host cells. The promiscuous nucleotidyl cyclase, exoenzyme Y (ExoY), is one of the most common effectors found in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. Recent studies have revealed that the nucleotidyl cyclase activity of ExoY is stimulated by actin filaments (F-actin) and that ExoY alters actin cytoskeleton dynamics in vitro, via an unknown mechanism. The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in numerous key biological processes and is targeted by many pathogens to gain competitive advantages. We utilized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, bulk actin assays, and EM to investigate how ExoY impacts actin dynamics. We found that ExoY can directly bundle actin filaments with high affinity, comparable with eukaryotic F-actin–bundling proteins, such as fimbrin. Of note, ExoY enzymatic activity was not required for F-actin bundling. Bundling is known to require multiple actin-binding sites, yet small-angle X-ray scattering experiments revealed that ExoY is a monomer in solution, and previous data suggested that ExoY possesses only one actin-binding site. We therefore hypothesized that ExoY oligomerizes in response to F-actin binding and have used the ExoY structure to construct a dimer-based structural model for the ExoY–F-actin complex. Subsequent mutational analyses suggested that the ExoY oligomerization interface plays a crucial role in mediating F-actin bundling. Our results indicate that ExoY represents a new class of actin-binding proteins that modulate the actin cytoskeleton both directly, via F-actin bundling, and indirectly, via actin-activated nucleotidyl cyclase activity.
Examine the impact of land use and land cover changes on peak discharges of a watershed in the midwestern United States using the HEC-HMS model

Economic development and urbanization can cause the increase of impervious surfaces, thus changing the hydrological processes in a watershed. To understand how land use and land cover (LULC) change...
Neutrophils Create an ImpeNETrable Shield between Tumor and Cytotoxic Immune Cells

Summary Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can promote tumor growth and metastases, but whether NETs impact the tumor immune microenvironment remains underexplored. In this issue of Immunity, Teijeira et al. discover that NETs shield tumor cells from cytotoxic immune cells, resulting in impaired tumor clearance.
Privacy-preserving Real-time Anomaly Detection Using Edge Computing

Anomaly detection on data collected by devices, such as sensors and IoT objects, is inevitable for many critical systems, e.g., an anomaly in the data of a patient’s health monitoring device may indicate a medical emergency situation. Because of the resource-constrained nature of these devices, data collected by such devices are usually off-loaded to the cloud/edge for storage and/or further analysis. However, to ensure data privacy it is critical that the data be transferred to and managed by the cloud/edge in an encrypted form which necessitates efficient processing of such encrypted data for real-time anomaly detection. Motivated by the simultaneous demands for data privacy and real-time data processing, in this paper, we investigate the problem of a privacy-preserving real-time anomaly detection service on sensitive, time series, streaming data. We propose a privacy-preserving framework that enables efficient anomaly detection on encrypted data by leveraging a lightweight and aggregation optimized encryption scheme to encrypt the data before off-loading the data to the edge. We demonstrate our solution for a widely used anomaly detection algorithm, windowed Gaussian anomaly detector and evaluate the performance of the solution in terms of the obtained model privacy, accuracy, latency, and communication cost.
Photoacoustic topography through an ergodic relay for functional imaging and biometric application in vivo

Significance: Photoacoustic (PA) tomography has demonstrated versatile biomedical applications. However, an array-based PA computed tomography (PACT) system is complex and expensive, whereas a single-element detector-based scanning PA system is too slow to detect some fast biological dynamics in vivo. New PA imaging methods are sought after. Aim: To overcome these limitations, we developed photoacoustic topography through an ergodic relay (PATER), a novel high-speed imaging system with a single-element detector. Approach: PATER images widefield PA signals encoded by the acoustic ergodic relay with a single-laser shot. Results: We applied PATER in vivo to monitor changes in oxygen saturation in a mouse brain and also to demonstrate high-speed matching of vascular patterns for biometric authentication. Conclusions: PATER has achieved a high-speed temporal resolution over a large field of view. Our results suggest that PATER is a promising and economical alternative to PACT for fast imaging.
Is Wide Excision Alone an Appropriate Therapy for DCIS

With the widespread use of screening mammography, the number of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases has increased dramatically. Current treatment includes wide local excision (WLE) and adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). The benefit of RT in decreasing local recurrence was established based on the results of four randomized trials and a subsequent meta-analysis. However, RT has a number of side effects and no demonstrated survival benefit in women with in situ breast cancer. This review explores the current literature on the management of DCIS with WLE alone. Although there is insufficient evidence to identify truly low-risk DCIS based on histopathological and immunohistochemical factors, emerging data appear promising in understanding the biological behavior of DCIS. In particular, the Oncotype DX DCIS Score, a multigene assay, predicts local recurrence in women treated with WLE. Risk stratification of DCIS to guide treatment decisions remains elusive, but one of great importance in tailoring therapies to the biology of this heterogeneous disease.
Outcome of Hypotensive Trauma Patients by Time and Day of Arrival

Abstract Background Although most studies of trauma patients have not demonstrated a “weekend” or “night” effect on mortality, outcomes of hypotensive (systolic blood pressure Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients from Pennsylvania Level 1 and Level 2 trauma centers with systolic blood pressure of Results After exclusions, 27 trauma centers with a total of 4937 patients were analyzed. Overall mortality was 44%. Compared with patients arriving during the day (Groups 1 and 3), those arriving at night (Groups 2 and 4) were more likely to be younger, to be male, to have lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores and blood pressures, to have penetrating injuries, and to die in the emergency room. Controlled for admission variables, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for Groups 2, 3, and 4 were 0.92 (0.72-1.17), 0.89 (0.65-1.23), and 0.76 (0.56-1.02), respectively, for mortality with Group 1 as reference. Conclusions Patients arriving in shock to Pennsylvania Level 1 and Level 2 trauma centers at night or weekends had no increased mortality risk compared with weekday daytime arrivals.
6 micrometer pulsed OP-GaAs OPO laser for unambiguous water ice detection on the Moon and other planetary bodies

NASA demands the special laser transmitter for the lidar system to detect water-ice on the Moon and other planetary bodies. Based on the data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument, the water ice was on the Moon has been claimed, but such a claim was disputed because OH- and/or H2O-bearing materials share the absorption line at the wavelength range of 2.8-3 μm. Lunar Flashlight, another mission to explore the surface of Moon (the launch date delays to this year), allows scientists map the minerals on dark side of the Moon, but it still has difficult to resolve the ambiguity mentioned above. The absorption line around 6.08 μm uniquely associated with the bending resonance of H2O has not any comparable vibration in confounding OH-bearing materials. However, a 6.08 μm laser in the gap between the atmospheric windows, middle-wave infrared (3-5 μm) and long-wave infrared (8-12 μm), has not been commercially available. Our approach is a Q-switched Ho:YLF laser pumped the orientation-pattern Gallium Arsenide optical parametric oscillator (OP-GaAs OPO) for generating high-energy laser pulses at the wavelength of 6.08 m. In the current design, a 1.94 μm Tm:fiber is used as the pump source of Ho:YLF laser. In the compact design, a 1.94 μm laser diode will replace the Tm:fiber laser as the pump source. The combination of proposed 6.08 μm laser and the latest HgCdTe avalanche photodiode (APD) array allow us to design a lidar capable of unambiguously identifying water ice on the Moon and Mars from their respective orbits, enabling novel science and in-situ resource utilization. Our instrument is an enabling technology for the Artemis program and future missions.
Ocular anomalies of incomplete albino Hereford cattle

Eye anomalies of 15 Hereford albino cattle were observed clinically and compared with those detected histologically. Iris colour ranged from blue and white to a combination of blue, white and brown or grey. The irides were thinner than normal and permitted trans-illumination. The tapetal fundi were usually a red-yellow, and the nontapetal fundi were incompletely pigmented. Optic nerve head and nontapetal fundi colobomata varied markedly in size. The typical colobomata of the optic nerve head and nontapetal fundi were divided into small and large types. In the small colobomata, the retina was thinned primarily by loss of photoreceptors, outer nuclear layer, and to a lesser extent the inner nuclear layer. There was no choroid in the coloboma, and the sclera was normal. In the large typical colobomata, changes of the optic nerve head, retina, choroid, and sclera were pronounced. The ventral optic nerve head was marked by irregular depressions of varying depths. The retinal pigment epithelial layer was incomplete and replaced with occasional irregular groups of cells. The choroid was absent in the colobomata and the sclera thinner than normal.
Racism and Bigotry as Grounds for Impeachment

Millions of Americans have taken to the streets to protest racism and demand racial justice. At least some of the protest has been directed at a president who was impeached, and whose words and actions have been racially polarizing. Yet issues of racism and bigotry were barely discussed as impeachable offenses. Were those considering impeachment wrong to dismiss racism as a reason for ending a presidency? Are racism and bigotry grounds for impeachment? In this article, I answer yes. My analysis addresses impeachment for racism or bigotry as a general matter, concluding with con sideration of the type of conduct which would warrant impeachment for those reasons. The article has five parts (following an introduction summarizing the contents and making observations about the politics of impeachment): 1) Study of the text of the Constitution’s impeachment provisions and the Framers’ debate about them, focusing on reasons and grounds for impeachment. 2) Review of the history of impeachment, primarily the presidential impeachment proceedings for Presidents Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton. I devote considerable detail to Johnson’s impeachment, which was driven by fierce debate over race, civil rights, and Johnson’s racism, as well as to Clinton’s, because the Clinton impeachment articles and arguments greatly emphasized civil rights. 3) Discussion of Constitutional and statutory civil rights law, and other Constitutional provisions, threatened by presidential racism and bigotry. Here I maintain that part of the danger of a racist or bigoted president is how such a president would assault what I call the “Second Constitution”—the post-Civil War equal rights amendments to the Constitution and the battery of laws inspired by the civil rights movement. I describe how these amendments and laws are now fundamental expressions of American national identity as a pluralistic society. I also warn that a racist President could not be safely trusted with the Constitutional obligations to enforce the law or to serve as commander-in-chief. 4) Argument that presidential racism or bigotry, considered generally, is grounds for impeachment. Here I address a series of impeachment factors and considerations taken from the history of impeachment and scholarship on the subject, applying them to conclude that racism and bigotry are impeachable offenses. 5) Examples of impeachable racism or bigotry. Appreciating that the election may render the application of these principles to the Trump presidency illustrative rather than operational, these examples include considerable discussion of the conduct of President Trump, whose racialization of discourse and policy I consider to be historically unique among post-Reconstruction presidents.
A User Study on the Feasibility and Acceptance of Delivering Physical Activity Programs to Older Adults through Conversational Agents

The implementation of evidence-based physical activity (PA) programs for older adults is limited in part due to the administration-related personnel costs. The rapid growth of the off-the-shelf sma...
Small Garden, Big Impact: Emotional and Behavioral Responses of Visitors to a Rooftop Atrium in a Major Hospital:

Purpose:To measure hospital visitors’ satisfaction with a rooftop atrium and its resultant impact on the visitors’ behavioral intentions toward the healing garden, the hospital, and overall satisfa...
High-throughput in vivo quantification of apoptotic induction in yeast liquid culture (762.5)

We have developed a novel technique that allows for high-throughput quantification of apoptotic induction in yeast cells growing in batch liquid culture. Our protocol combines cell permeable fluore...
Non-A, non-B hepatitis. I. Recognition, epidemiology, and clinical features

The concept widely accepted a decade ago that there are only two hepatitis viruses is now obsolete. Application of sensitive serologic tests for identifying infection with hepatitis A and B viruses unearthed hepatitis cases with incubation periods and modes of spread characteristic of an infectious disease, but without serologic evidence for infection with known hepatotropic human hepatitis viruses. Once the existence of these hepatitis agents distinct from hepatitis A virus (HAV)* and hepatitis B virus (HBV) became apparent, an exhaustive investigative effort was launched. As a result, progress has been made in characterizing the clinical and epidemiologic features of these newly recognized agents, convincing transmission of disease to experimental animals has been demonstrated, and methods have been identified that have the potential to reduce the frequency of infection with these agents after transfusion. Despite these advances, however, efforts to identify specific virus particles, antigens, and antibodies have met with limited, if any, success. Contemporary investigators, unsuccessful after a decade’s work, might appear impatient when measured
DO CITIES HAVE STANDING? REDRESSING THE EXTERNALITIES OF PREDATORY LENDING

The Connecticut Law Review originally published this article in its February 2006 edition. Please cite this article as 38 Ct L Rev 355 (Feb 2006). This article contains page numbers from that edition so the Connecticut Law Review may be properly cited, i.e., [355].
Development of psychological capital in an academic-based leadership education program

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of an academic-based, leadership education program on the development of psychological capital (PsyCap). Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from students at the entry-point (Time 1), mid-point (Time 2) and end-point (Time 3) of the leadership program, across all modes of delivery. Statistical analysis was performed to determine changes in psychological capacity. Findings – Results indicated PsyCap capacities (self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resiliency) may be impacted through leadership training and that online delivery appeared to have the greatest impact on student PsyCap development. Research limitations/implications – The paper concludes with a discussion of limitations and future directions of research that are needed. Limitations include non-individual tracking, and a somewhat small sample size in one of the samples. Implications include further research into a potential response shift bias among participants, research reg...
Chromium(VI) Oxide–Silica Gel

(CrO3) [1333-82-0] CrO3 (MW 99.99) InChI = 1S/Cr.3O InChIKey = WGLPBDUCMAPZCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N (SiO2) [60676-86-0] O2Si (MW 60.09) InChI = 1S/O2Si/c1-3-2 InChIKey = VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for oxidizing alcohols to carbonyl compounds) Physical Data: CrO3 mp 196 °C; d 2.70 g cm−3. Preparative Methods: the reagent is prepared by addition of silica gel to an aqueous solution of chromium(VI) anhydride.1 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: can be stored under vacuum in the dark and must be used within one week. Chromium(VI) anhydride is a highly toxic cancer suspect agent. All chromium(VI) reagents must be handled in a fume hood. The mutagenicity of CrVI compounds is well documented.2
Colonization of porcine intestine by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: selection of piliated forms in vivo, adhesion of piliated forms to epithelial cells in vitro, and incidence of a pilus antigen among porcine enteropathogenic E. coli.

Abstract In contrast to K88-positive porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), K88-negative porcine ETEC strains did not adhere to isolated intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. However, they did adhere to intestinal epithelium in vivo. Growth of one such ETEC (strain 987) in pig small intestine consistently yielded a greater percentage of piliated cells than did growth in vitro. This increase was demonstrable by electron microscopy, by change in colonial morphology, and by agglutination in specific antisera against the pili of strain 987. In contrast to the stored stock culture (which contained very few piliated cells), richly piliated forms of strain 987 did adhere to isolated intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. A series of porcine E. coli strains was tested for agglutinability in antiserum against the pili of strain 987, and several K88-negative ETEC strains were agglutinated. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that pili facilitate intestinal adhesion and colonization by K88-negative ETEC strains.
METACOMPREHENSION AND COMPREHENSION PERFORMANCE IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS

On the basis of metamemory assessment research and theories of discourse comprehension, the Metacomprehension Scale (MCS) was designed to assess multiple dimensions of metacomprehension. In a sample of younger (n = 30) and older (n = 30) adults, we examined age differences in self‐assessed components of metacomprehension and the relation of the MCS to comprehension performance and general verbal ability. Younger adults reported greater use of strategies to resolve comprehension failures (i.e., regulation) and placed higher value on good comprehension skills than older adults. The MCS revealed a substantial amount of variance in comprehension performance and verbal ability, with the regulation dimension of metacomprehension being a reliable and consistent predictor of performance. The results provided support for domain‐specific assessment of metacognition and for the critical role of regulation in comprehension performance.
A method for estimating subdaily evapotranspiration of shallow groundwater using diurnal water table fluctuations

Diurnal water table fluctuations are a common feature of well hydrographs recorded in wetlands, riparian areas, and similar environments where shallow groundwater supports phreatophytic vegetation. Historically, this periodic signal has been used to estimate daily groundwater consumption by this vegetation and has shown that this is typically a very large component of the water budget. As interest in ecohydrology grows and the need for finer resolution estimates of groundwater consumption increases, new, cost-effective measurement methodologies must be developed. Here, a method is proposed that uses the observed rate of water table decline during the day to estimate phreatophytic groundwater consumption while using the nighttime records to account for other groundwater fluxes to/from the vicinity of the well at all times. Variably saturated groundwater flow modeling was used to create a synthetic data set to test the methodology, and results showed that accurate, sub-daily (15 min) estimates of phreatophytic groundwater consumption were obtained. The method was also applied to a preexisting data set to demonstrate the usefulness of the technique.
Sputtering of Al2O3 and LiNbO3 in the electronic stopping region

Because of recent interest in the role played by the thermal properties of materials that exhibit high energy sputtering, we have sputtered Al_2O_3 and LiNbO_3 with chlorine ions at energies between 3 MeV and 25 MeV. To detect the sputtered Al and Nb we employ thin carbon catcher foils, which are analyzed with Rutherford scattering in the forward direction. Al surface densities of 10^(14)/cm^2 and Nb surface densities of 10^(13)/cm^2 are easily measured. The sputtering yields for both Al_2O_3 and LiNbO_3 increase rapidly with increasing chlorine energy, and the Al and Nb yields are both approximately 0.2 at 20 MeV. Tests for dose, beam current, and contamination effects will be discussed.
Reactions at the polyimide-metal interface

Abstract Ultra-high-vacuum spectroscopic techniques are utilized to investigate the mechanism of the interfacial reactions of copper and titanium with polyimides. Ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy of in situ deposited Cu on polyimides suggests that covalent interaction between the metal and the polymer is absent. Model studies confirm this finding. Alternatively, deposition of Ti onto polyimides shows the presence of strong covalent interaction between the imide moiety of the polymer backbone and the metal. Solution model studies support a mechanism for the Ti-polyimide reaction involving initial TiO bond formation followed by TiC bonding at higher coverages of material.
Correlation between reticle- and wafer-CD difference of multiple28nm reticle-sites

Reticle critical dimension uniformity (CDU) is an important criterion for the qualification of mask layer processes. Normally, the smaller the three sigma value of reticle CDU is, the better is the reticle CDU performance. For qualification of mask processes, the mask layers to be qualified should have a comparable reticle CDU compared to the process of record (POR) mask layers. Because the reticle critical dimension (CD) measurement is based on algorithms like “middle side lobe measurement”, evaluation of the reticle CD-values can not reflect aspects like the sidewall angle of the reticle and variation in corner rounding which may be critical for 45nm technology nodes (and below). All involved tools and processes contribute to the wafer intra-field CDU (scanner, track, reticle, metrology). Normally, the reticle contribution to the wafer CDU should be as small as possible. In order to reduce the process contributions to the wafer intra-field CDU during the mask qualification process, the same toolset (exposure tool, metrology tool) should be applied as for the POR. Out of the results of these investigations the correlation between wafer measurement to target (MTT) and reticle MTT can be obtained in order to accurately qualify the CDU performance of the mask processes. We will demonstrate the correlation between reticle MTT and wafer MTT by use of multiple mask processes and alternative mask blank materials. We will investigate the results of four process-layers looking at advanced binary maskblank material from two different suppliers (moreover the results of a 2X-via layer as an example for a phase-shift maskblank is discussed). Objective of this article is to demonstrate the distribution between reticle MTT and wafer MTT as a qualification criterion for mask processes. The correlation between wafer CD-difference and reticle CD-difference of these mask processes are demonstrated by having performed investigations of dense features of different 28nmtechnology process layers (poly-, active-, contact-, 1X-metal-, 2X-via layers). Referring to the correlation between wafer and reticle MTT, the contribution of the reticle CD-difference to the wafer CD-difference can be used as an evaluation method for the transfer-process of different mask sites.
Coagulation of sea urchin egg cytoplasm by high salt concentrations.

Abstract Unfertilized sea urchin eggs exposed to hyperosmotic salt solutions in excess of 1.75 M undergo a form of intracellular coagulation known as black cytolysis, similar to that seen in eggs injured by freezing. The process can be simulated by the microinjection of hypertonic salt into the cell suspended in isotonic solution in the absence of volume reduction. Black cytolysis during hyperosmotic stress can be attributed to the entry of concentrated extracellular solution through a membrane made permeable by excessive osmotic stress.
The Direct Effects of Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, and Methoxamine on Myocardial Contractile Force in Man

The effects of 5 sympathomimetic amines on myocardial contractile force were determined with the Walton-Brodie strain-gage arch in 16 patients undergoing operations for congenital heart disease. Equal doses of norepinephrine and epinephrine produced almost identical increments in myocardial contractile force; equipressor doses of methoxamine resulted in little or no change in the force of contraction. Mephentermine and metaraminol produced increments in myocardial contractile force similar to those following norepinephrine administration but the duration of action was longer. The results of these studies indicate that there are no qualitative differences in the actions of these amines on cardiac contractile force of dog and man and provide a basis for the rational clinical use of these agents.
Fuel-Cycle Analysis of Fuel Cells for Combined Heat, Hydrogen, and Power Generation

The fuel-cycle energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the application of fuel cells to combined heat and power (CHP) generation and combined heat, hydrogen, and power (CHHP) generation are evaluated and compared with the combustion technologies of internal combustion engines and microturbines, as well as with the various technologies associated with hydrogen production and grid-electricity generation in the United States. Two types of fuel cells are considered in this analysis: a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) capable of following either heat or electric load and a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) that typically follows the electric load. Three types of facilities (hospital, large office building, and warehouse) are examined in two different climatic regions (Chicago and Los Angeles) to span a wide range of electric-to-heat load ratios. Two different approaches for fuel cycle analysis of CHP and CHHP applications are considered in this analysis: a total demand approach and a displacement approach. The total demand approach provides an accurate assessment of the impact of actual demand on total energy use and GHG emissions, while the displacement approach projects the potential for more energy savings and GHG emissions benefits relative to the supply of electricity from the grid generation mix. The fuel cycle results are primarily impacted by the efficiencies of hydrogen production and electric power generation, as well as by the utility factor of the co-produced heat. The energy use and GHG emissions associated with the electric power generation represent the majority of the fuel-cycle’s total energy use and emissions for all pathways. More energy and GHG emissions benefits are realized from fuel cell technologies with increased use of available coproduced heat. In general, CHHP systems exhibit more energy and GHG emission benefits than CHP systems for any of the investigated fuel cell technologies.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
A 3D Interactive Multi-object Segmentation Tool using Local Robust Statistics Driven Active Contours

Extracting anatomical and functional significant structures renders one of the important tasks for both the theoretical study of the medical image analysis, and the clinical and practical community. In the past, much work has been dedicated only to the algorithmic development. Nevertheless, for clinical end users, a well designed algorithm with an interactive software is necessary for an algorithm to be utilized in their daily work. Furthermore, the software would better be open sourced in order to be used and validated by not only the authors but also the entire community. Therefore, the contribution of the present work is twofolds: first, we propose a new robust statistics based conformal metric and the conformal area driven multiple active contour framework, to simultaneously extract multiple targets from MR and CT medical imagery in 3D. Second, an open source graphically interactive 3D segmentation tool based on the aforementioned contour evolution is implemented and is publicly available for end users on multiple platforms. In using this software for the segmentation task, the process is initiated by the user drawn strokes (seeds) in the target region in the image. Then, the local robust statistics are used to describe the object features, and such features are learned adaptively from the seeds under a non-parametric estimation scheme. Subsequently, several active contours evolve simultaneously with their interactions being motivated by the principles of action and reaction—this not only guarantees mutual exclusiveness among the contours, but also no longer relies upon the assumption that the multiple objects fill the entire image domain, which was tacitly or explicitly assumed in many previous works. In doing so, the contours interact and converge to equilibrium at the desired positions of the desired multiple objects. Furthermore, with the aim of not only validating the algorithm and the software, but also demonstrating how the tool is to be used, we provide the reader reproducible experiments that demonstrate the capability of the proposed segmentation tool on several public available data sets.
NMR relaxation and neutron scattering in a Fermi-liquid picture of the metallic copper oxides

Using a Fermi-liquid formalism in which the Cu {ital d} electrons are quasilocalized, we calculate the NMR relaxation for the Cu and O sites, the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility, and the neutron-scattering cross section. Our microscopic calculations of the dynamical susceptibility help to decouple narrow-band phenomena from spin-fluctuation effects. The former lead to a low (coherence) energy scale and considerable structure in the Lindhard function. The latter help to enhance these effects.
Reinforcement omission on temporal go-no-go schedules.

Either a partial blackout, or the blackout plus a “feeder flash”, occurred in lieu of reinforcement on two procedures that produced opposite patterns of responding after reinforcement. Response rate was elevated after reinforcement omission on the procedure that produced a “pause-and-respond” pattern following reinforcement, but depressed after reinforcement omission on the procedure that produced a “respond-and-pause” pattern. The effect of blackout plus feeder flash was generally intermediate between the effects of blackout and the effects of reinforcement. These results are consistent with an interpretation of reinforcement omission effects in terms of the discriminative temporal control exerted by reinforcement and stimuli similar to it.
Demonstration of a wide dynamic range angular rate sensor based on frequency modulation

This paper reports a detailed characterization of a new rate gyroscope based on the mechanical frequency modulation (FM) of the input rotation. The FM approach tracks the resonant frequency split between two high-Q mechanical modes of vibration in a MEMS Coriolis Vibratory Gyroscope (CVG) to produce a frequency-based measurement of the input angular rate. The FM approach was implemented using a silicon micromachined Quadruple Mass Gyroscope (QMG) transducer. Structural characterization of a vacuum packaged QMG showed symmetrical Q-factors on the order of 1 million over a wide temperature range from −40 °C to +100 °C. High speed rate table testing of the FM angular rate sensor demonstrated inherent linearity up to 18,000 deg/s (50 revolutions per second, limited by the setup) with a dynamic range exceeding 125 dB. Interchangeable operation of the QMG transducer in conventional AM and proposed FM regimes provides a dynamic range above 155 dB (from sub-deg/hr to 18,000 deg/s).
Evidence for a bacterial mechanism for group-specific social odors among hyenas

Symbiotic microbes can benefit their animal hosts by enhancing the diversity of communication signals available to them. The fermentation hypothesis for chemical recognition posits that 1) fermentative bacteria in specialized mammalian scent glands generate odorants that mammals co-opt to communicate with one another and 2) that variation in scent gland odors is due to underlying variation in the structure of bacterial communities within scent glands. For example, group-specific social odors are suggested to be due to members of the same social group harboring more similar bacterial communities in their scent glands than do members of different social groups. We used 16S rRNA gene surveys to show that 1) the scent secretions of spotted hyenas are densely populated by fermentative bacteria whose closest relatives are well-documented odor producers and that 2) these bacterial communities are more similar among hyenas from the same social group than among those from different groups.
Entropy of the squeezed vacuum

We use the formalism of two-mode squeezed states and the theory of gauge invariant cosmological perturbations to calculate two-point correlation functions and the entropy of density perturbations. In particular we discuss modulation in the power spectrum of density perturbations. We also present a simple picture for entropy in terms of the quantum noise in the state. The relevance of the entropy of density perturbations for large-scale structures in the universe is examined.
Half-sandwich Rh(Cp*) and Ir(Cp*) complexes with oxygen atom transfer reagents as ligands

Abstract Rhodium(Cp*) and iridium(Cp*) complexes with bidentate ligands and a coordinated oxygen atom transfer reagent as the final ligand in the d6 coordination sphere are described (Cp* = η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). A Rh(Cp*) cation with a pyridyl-benzamide bidentate ligand resistant to insertion and a coordinated oxygen atom transfer reagent, 2-tert-butylsulfonyliodosylbenzene (sPhIO), was isolated in the solid state. In anhydrous solution, the sPhIO ligand was reduced over 24 h, and a solvent-stabilized, 16-electron rhodium complex was formed. Oxygen atom transfer either led to unobserved oxidative degradation of a small fraction of the rhodium species, or formed the iodoxyarene, sPhIO2, via a known disproportionation reaction. The reduced oxidant, sPhI, did not coordinate to rhodium, but the 16-electron cation was readily trapped by water. The organometallic Ir(Cp*) backbone with cyclometalated 2-phenylpyridine (phpy) formed stable complexes with the mild oxygen atom transfer reagents pyridine-N-oxide and 4-methoxy-pyridine-N-oxide. Oxygen atom transfer from the coordinated N-oxides was induced by thermolysis or photolysis and initially led to decomposition of a small fraction of the samples. The liberated pyridine derivatives displaced coordinated N-oxides and somewhat limited decomposition of the Ir(Cp*)(phpy) backbone. Neither oxygen atom insertion into the metal–carbon bond of coordinated phpy nor metal-oxo complexes were observed.
A Trial-Based Experimental Design for fMRI

An experimental design for functional MRI (fMRI) is presented whose conceptual units of analysis are behavioral trials, in contrast to blocks of trials. This type of design is referred to as a trial-based (TB) fMRI design. It is explained how TB designs can afford the ability to: (1) randomize the presentation of behavioral trials and (2) utilize intertrial variance in uncontrolled behavioral measures to examine their functional correlates. A particular type of TB design that involves modeling trial-evoked fMRI responses with one or more shifted impulse response functions is described. This design is capable of discriminating functional changes occurring during temporally separated behavioral subcomponents within trials. An example of such a design is implemented and its statistical specificity, functional sensitivity, and functional specificity are tested.
Investigation of the fracture toughness of radio frequency magnetron sputtered Al-Cu-Fe films via white-beam synchrotron radiography/topography

A novel white-beam synchrotron radiography/topography substrate curvature technique has been used to study stress development in situ during annealing of Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystalline and approximant coatings, as well as to image their failure modes in real time. Single crystal Si and sapphire substrates were coated with a 2.55 μm precursor coating by RF sputtering from an Al 65 Cu 23 Fe 12 powder composite target and subsequently annealed at 585°C while stress and imaging data were acquired. After the initial ramp to the annealing temperature, a stress plateau was reached for coatings on both Si and sapphire substrates, although the magnitude of the stress plateau was different in each case. A tensile stress developed in the coatings during cooling due to differential thermal expansion between the coating and substrate, allowing for calculation of both the coefficient of thermal expansion and elastic modulus of the film. During cooling, the films exhibited different stress evolution above and below 470°C, a temperature of interest in Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal and approximant phase development. The Al-Cu-Fe coating on the Si substrate fractured at approximately 954 MPa, while the coating on the sapphire substrate fractured at approximately 431 MPa. From these values the fracture toughness was calculated to be 1.9 MPa m 1/2 and 0.76 MPa m 1/2 for the coatings on Si and sapphire, respectively.
Prison Overcrowding Cases in the Aftermath of Wilson V. Seiter

In 1991, the Supreme Court held in Wilson v. Seiter that in a prison conditions case, the plaintiff must prove that prison officials acted with deliberate indifference to the plaintiff's constituti...
Incorporation of D-[14C]galactose and N-[3H]acetylneuraminic acid into glycoprotein by particles from bovine retina.

Abstract 1. 1. A particulate enzyme preparation obtained from bovine retina transfers N-[ 3 H ] acetylneuraminic acid ([ 3 H]NANA) from CMP N-[ 3 H ] acetylneuraminic acid to an endogenous acceptor. It also incorporates [ 14 C]galactose. 2. 2. The evidence indicates a sequential addition of galactose and NANA to the same carbohydrate chain of the acceptor. 3. 3. The transfer of [ 3 H]NANA is stimulated by the addition of unlabeled UDP-galactose to incubation mixtures, but not by other sugar nucleotides. 4. 4. The [ 3 H]NANA transfer shows no metal requirement. The galactose transfer and the UDP-galactose-stimulated [ 3 H]NANA transfer both require Mn 2+ . Mg 2+ fails to replace Mn 2+ . 5. 5. The amount of [ 14 C]galactose transferred is always greater than the increment in [ 3 H]NANA tranfer caused by the addition of UDP-galactose. 6. 6. Labeled products remain bound to the particulate enzyme but can be solubilized with deoxycholate. Pronase digestion converts these products from trichloroacetic acid-insoluble proteins to trichloroacetic acid-soluble peptides. 7. 7. Neuraminidase releases most of the [ 3 H]NANA from the [ 3 H]NANA-labeled peptide. However, a NANA-substituted [ 14 C]galactose-labeled peptide resist β-galactosidase treatment unless first treated with neuraminidase.
Adult involvement in teenage childbearing and STD.

Many of the proposed counter measures to US teenage pregnancy childbearing and sexually transmitted diseases center on sex and abstinence education. A tabulation by the California Center for Health Statistics of 46511 marital and unwed births among school-age girls in 1993 showed that only 29% were fathered by school-age peers 10-18 years old; 71% or over 33000 were fathered by adult post high-school men whose mean age was 22.6 years. Even among junior high school mothers 15 and younger most births are fathered by adult men 6-7 years their senior. Studies of 535 pregnant and parenting teenagers (mostly Whites) by researchers in Washington state and of 445 teenage mothers (most nonWhites) in Chicago found that large majorities had histories of rapes and sexual abuse before age 12 inflicted mainly by adults who were at least 5-10 years older than their early adolescent girlfriends. 40% of US girls live near or below poverty income levels and this low-income population accounts for 6 out of 7 teenage births. US teenage pregnancy rates are 3-10 times higher than those found among industrial nations of western Europe but poverty rates among US youth are also higher by a similar magnitude. The sexual abuse and rape of young girls pregnancy during adolescent years and abandonment of women to raise or support children are overwhelmingly adult male behavior problems exacerbated by poverty. The claim that superficial pregnancy prevention programs emphasizing abstinence and contraceptive techniques can persuade young teenagers to enforce abstinence or contraception on their older adult partners is dubious. US prevention campaigns are likely to succeed only when they limit the emphasis on youth-targeted campaigns condescending attitudes and punitive approaches and forcefully confront the excessive economic attrition inflicted on US youth and the thoroughly integrated nature of sexual behaviors among adolescents and adults.
Managing Overweight and Obesity in Adults to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death and disability worldwide. Obesity increases the risk for clinically identifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as a host of other metabolic, sleep, and orthopedic disorders. Coordinated and systematic interventions are needed to manage obesity and reduce these risks. The Obesity 2 Expert Panel updated the previous guidelines and produced the “Guideline for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults.” The Panel used data from publications from years 1999 to 2011 to address five critical questions, provide evidence statements, and recommend creation of a treatment algorithm to guide decision making about clinical care. The current review discusses the evidence statements pertaining to CVD risk in the assessment and management of patients who are overweight and obese. We summarize the FDA-approved medications for the treatment of overweight and obesity and their impact on CVD risk and risk factors, as well as ongoing clinical trials which will further inform clinical practice.
Path-integral approach to the statistical mechanics of solitons

Universal features for the statistical mechanics of a general class of systems with a one-component field in one dimension have been obtained using path-integral techniques in a physically revealing and more direct way than was possible before from the transfer-operator method. Results are also extended to systems that can support more than one type of soliton. Spin-wave and soliton contributions are calculated simultaneously, thus enabling us to investigate the relative importance of spin-wave and soliton contributions in a given physical quantity. These general results are then applied to the double-sine-Gordon model. We discuss the statistical-mechanical properties of the model as the parameters are varied. Assessments of the validity of our results are also made.
Potential impacts of carbon taxes on carbon flux in western Oregon private forests

Abstract This study considers a carbon tax system as a policy tool for encouraging carbon sequestration through modification of management in existing forests and examines its welfare impacts and costs of the carbon sequestered. The simulated carbon tax leads to reduced harvest and increased carbon stock in the standing trees and understory biomass. Changes in the level of silvicultural investments vary by owner, depending on the nature of their initial inventory. In general investment under the tax is concentrated in regimes that establish faster growing plantations. Average rotation age increases, varying in extent across ownerships and site qualities. The carbon tax reduces both consumer and producer surpluses in regional timber markets. Producers are compensated by the carbon subsidies, except at low carbon tax levels. Not all rates of carbon tax will attract interest from private owners if participation is voluntary. Estimates of the marginal cost of sequestering carbon in western Oregon private forests are shown to be within the range of costs for projects considering afforestation alone in some eastern regions of the United States.
Signal classification of satellite-based recordings of radiofrequency (RF) transients using data-adaptive dictionaries

Ongoing research at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) studies the Earth's radiofrequency (RF) background utilizing satellite-based RF observations of terrestrial lightning. The Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) satellite provided a rich satellite lightning database, that has been previously used for some event classification. We now develop and implement new event classification capability on the FORTE database using state-of-the-art adaptive signal processing combined with compressive sensing and machine learning techniques. The focus of our work is improved feature extraction using sparse representations in data-adaptive dictionaries. We explore two dictionary approaches: dictionaries learned directly from data, and analytical, over-complete dictionaries. Discriminative dictionaries learned directly from data do not rely on analytical constraints or knowledge about the signal characteristics, and provide sparse representations that can perform well when used with a statistical classifier. Pursuit-type decompositions over analytical, over-complete dictionaries yield sparse representations by design and can work well for signals in the same function class as the dictionary atoms. We present preliminary results of our work and discuss performance and future development.
Order of Magnitude Sensitivity Increase in X-ray Fluorescence Computed Tomography (XFCT) Imaging With an Optimized Spectro-Spatial Detector Configuration: Theory and Simulation

The purpose of this study was to increase the sensitivity of XFCT imaging by optimizing the data acquisition geometry for reduced scatter X-rays. The placement of detectors and detector energy window were chosen to minimize scatter X-rays. We performed both theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations of this optimized detector configuration on a mouse-sized phantom containing various gold concentrations. The sensitivity limits were determined for three different X-ray spectra: a monoenergetic source, a Gaussian source, and a conventional X-ray tube source. Scatter X-rays were minimized using a backscatter detector orientation (scatter direction > 110° to the primary X-ray beam). The optimized configuration simultaneously reduced the number of detectors and improved the image signal-to-noise ratio. The sensitivity of the optimized configuration was 10 μg/mL (10 pM) at 2 mGy dose with the mono-energetic source, which is an order of magnitude improvement over the unoptimized configuration (102 pM without the optimization). Similar improvements were seen with the Gaussian spectrum source and conventional X-ray tube source. The optimization improvements were predicted in the theoretical model and also demonstrated in simulations. The sensitivity of XFCT imaging can be enhanced by an order of magnitude with the data acquisition optimization, greatly enhancing the potential of this modality for future use in clinical molecular imaging.