cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mobile App Development: Android or iOS? An Experience Report from Teaching Both Platforms

Despite student interest in mobile app development (MAD) and a rise in demand for mobile app developers, many computer science departments have not yet incorporated a MAD course into their curriculum. For such departments, barriers such as resource and curriculum limitations stand in the way of offering a MAD course. To elaborate, it can be difficult to find an instructor with the expertise to teach a MAD course. If such expertise is not available, it can be time consuming for an educator to train him/herself to gain the necessary knowledge to the teach the course. Furthermore, the instructor must decide which MAD platform to utilize, Android, iOS, hybrid, or web? Since MAD is a relatively new field, there are few resources in the literature that can help with MAD course preparation and design. In this poster, I present my experiences navigating these MAD course barriers at a primarily undergraduate institution. Recently, I have designed and taught a 300-level Android/Java course (Fall 2017) and a 300-level iOS/Swift course (Fall 2018). My experience report includes a summary of MAD course preparation, design, and implementation for both courses. To help guide choosing a platform, I include a detailed comparison of Android and iOS for supporting undergraduate CS learning outcomes. The comparison is based on resources required, maintenance considerations, software design principles covered (OOP and design patterns), and student work and feedback. The experiences reported in this poster offer guidance and insights for educators considering teaching a MAD course at their own university.
Impulsive and Switching Load Balancing Model and Stability Analysis

Load imbalance in a distributed system causes low efficiency. Aiming at the dynamics of resource and load running status, we propose an impulsive and switching load balancing model with time delay based on control theory. In order to describe various current states of a node, we construct corresponding subsystems according to the dynamics of a node’s resources. The sub-system switching is triggered by an impulsive signal which can decrease the communication overhead among nodes. The model reallocates loads in light of their real-time running statuses, which improves the efficiency of dynamic load balancing. We deduce the sufficient condition for asymptotic stability of the model by using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii function, and simulation by Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) to verify effectiveness of the model. Experimental results produced by a shared platform based on block chain demonstrate that the proposed model can make the balanced system speedy, which verifies its feasibility.
Effect of an Application-Based Laboratory Curriculum on Student Understanding of Societal Impact of Chemistry in an Accelerated General Chemistry Course.

Connecting chemical concepts with real-world applications has been demonstrated to increase persistence, student attitudes, and performance. In a one-semester general chemistry course, most laboratory exercises were designed to have direct implications on real-world issues, and students were asked to consider these implications. Students blogged about an issue related to one of the lab exercises and responded to classmates’ blog postings. Surveys after the implementation of the application-based laboratory curriculum suggest students were able to more clearly connect course material with the societal impact of chemistry.
THE EXISTENCE OF COMMUNITY SPACES OUTSIDE THE FLAT BLOCK AFFECTED BY ACTIVITIES OF LOWINCOME RESIDENTS

Culture as a system includes ideas, concepts, rules, and meanings. It underlies the expression of human life and a system of common sense as a result of the social process. It emphasizes an abstract thing rather than concrete ones. Behavior as cultural expressions deals with the relationship between one another. The resident's social activities cannot be implemented as desired which causes them to find new places that can meet the user's behavior and culture. If the behavior and community space used are appropriate, they will continue to develop their lives in the same place. Furthermore, they can attract people from other blocks to join. The process of utilizing existing facilities and treating nature according to the social system of low-income users need environmental adaptation. This study explores the existence of community spaces outside the building in a flat environment related to the behavior and culture of residents as users. This assessment is based on community togetherness in community spaces, either planned or unplanned. The research method used is Descriptive-Qualitative-Exploratory, with interviews of selected respondents. The number and the origin of residents who gathered in the community with various activities are the indications of the suitability of the community space. Low-income residents generally meet somewhere with a variety of diverse needs. The existence of planned community space is used maximally. This space is used by many people for various needs. For low-income residents, this place can meet their interests simultaneously. It means that the place will be used based on the functions, the fragmentation of togetherness, focused activities, consistency, the user's character, affordability, and environment order.
Special Report of the RSNA COVID-19 Task Force: The Short- and Long-Term Financial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Private Radiology Practices.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in widespread disruption to the global economy, including demand for imaging services. The resulting reduction in demand for imaging services had an abrupt and substantial impact on private radiology practices, which are heavily dependent on examination volumes for practice revenues. The goal of this report is to describe the specific experiences of radiologists working in various types of private radiology practices during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, the authors describe factors determining the impact of the pandemic on private practices, the challenges these practices faced, the cost levers leaders adjusted, and the government subsidies sought. In addition, the authors describe adjustments practices are making to their mid- and long-term strategic plans to pivot for long-term success while managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Private practices have crafted tiered strategies to respond to the impact of the pandemic by pulling various cost levers to adjust service availability, staffing, compensation, benefits, time off, and expense reductions. In addition, they have sought additional revenues, within the boundaries of their practice, to mitigate ongoing financial losses. The longer term impact of the pandemic will alter existing practices, making some of them more likely than others to succeed in the years ahead. This report synthesizes the collective experience of private-practice radiologists shared with members of the Radiological Society of North America COVID-19 Task Force, including discussions with colleagues and leaders of private-practice radiology groups from across the United States.
The Revelation Principle in Multistage Games

The communication revelation principle (RP) of mechanism design states that any outcome that can be implemented using any communication system can also be implemented by an incentive-compatible direct mechanism. In multistage games, we show that in general the communication RP fails for the solution concept of sequential equilibrium (SE). However, it holds in important classes of games, including single-agent games, games with pure adverse selection, games with pure moral hazard, and a class of social learning games. For general multistage games, we establish that an outcome is implementable in SE if and only if it is implementable in a canonical Nash equilibrium in which players never take codominated actions. We also prove that the communication RP holds for the more permissive solution concept of conditional probability perfect Bayesian equilibrium.
Gender-Inclusive and Gender-Specific Approaches in Trans Health Research

The recent proliferation of trans health literature for the past 20 years has prompted a need to examine two contested approaches used in designing study protocols and analyses in trans health rese...
The Spectrum of Neuroimaging Findings on CT and MRI in Adults With COVID-19.

Neurologic involvement is well-recognized in COVID-19. This article reviews the neuroimaging manifestations of COVID-19 on CT and MRI, presenting cases from the New York City metropolitan region encountered by the authors during the first surge of the pandemic. The most common neuroimaging manifestations are acute infarcts with large clot burden and intracranial hemorrhage, including microhemorrhages. However, a wide range of additional imaging patterns occur, including leukoencephalopathy, global hypoxic injury, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum, olfactory bulb involvement, cranial nerve enhancement, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. The described CNS abnormalities largely represent secondary involvement from immune activation that leads to a prothrombotic state and cytokine storm; evidence for direct neuroinvasion is scant. Comorbidities such as hypertension, complications of prolonged illness and hospitalization, and associated supportive treatments also contribute to the CNS involvement in COVID-19. Routine long-term neurologic follow-up may be warranted, given emerging evidence of long-term microstructural and functional changes on brain imaging after COVID-19 recovery.
Management of Meniscal Injuries: Resection to Repair

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy remains among the most common procedures performed in the United States and in the appropriately indicated knee can lead to the rapid amelioration of symptoms and improvement in function. Meniscal repair should be undertaken whenever appropriately indicated with longer-term outcomes appearing to be better than with partial meniscectomy. The peripheral rim of the meniscus plays a significantly greater role in force distribution and should be preserved whenever possible.
Contributions of Glucose and Hemoglobin A1c Measurements in Diabetes Screening.

OBJECTIVES Given the long-term consequences of untreated diabetes, patients benefit from timely diagnoses. Payer policies often recognize glucose but not hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for diabetes screening. This study evaluates the different information that glucose and HbA1c provide for diabetes screening. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of national clinical laboratory testing during 2020 when glucose and HbA1c were ordered for routine diabetes screening, excluding patients with known diabetes, out-of-range glucose, or metabolic syndrome. RESULTS Of 15.47 million glucose and HbA1c tests ordered simultaneously, 672,467 (4.35%) met screening inclusion criteria; 116,585 (17.3%) were excluded because of diabetes-related conditions or the specimen was nonfasting, leaving 555,882 result pairs. More than 1 in 4 patients 60 years of age or older with glucose within range had an elevated HbA1c level. HbA1c claims were denied more often for Medicare beneficiaries (38,918/65,273 [59.6%]) than for other health plans combined (23,234/291,764 [8.0%]). CONCLUSIONS Although many health plans do not cover HbA1c testing for diabetes screening, more than 1 in 4 glucose screening patients 60 years of age or older with an in-range glucose result had a concurrent elevated HbA1c result. Guideline developers and health plans should explicitly recognize that glucose and HbA1c provide complementary information and together offer improved clinical utility for diabetes screening.
Social Determinants of Health: Insights from Location Big Data

Rocketing hospitalization rates and costs call for a deeper understanding of the connection between health outcomes and individuals' social determinants of health, such as lifestyle and socio-economics. Such knowledge holds important implications for health marketing, policymaking, and policy communication. Building on the literature that has focused on either lifestyle identification or the association between health outcomes and limited behavioral features derived from small samples, we propose a novel framework leveraging the population-scale location data that capture granular individual behavior 24/7. This framework integrates unsupervised topic models and sequential deep learning models to characterize individual lifestyles and quantify their association with future hospitalizations while integrating other social determinants of health. Applied to 45 million location records from a major metropolitan region in the U.S., the framework successfully uncovers heterogeneous lifestyles. Several key findings then emerge. An individual's lifestyle choice turns out to be a more critical predictor of future hospitalization than his/her socio-economic factors or accessibility to healthcare facilities. Lower-income populations can present healthy lifestyles, while high-income populations can present unhealthy ones. Population with lower accessibility to healthcare or facilities can present healthy lifestyles; while a population with higher accessibility can present unhealthy ones. Individuals with busy, varying work routines and limited gym visits are 2.01 times likely to be hospitalized within a year, compared to the population average. Importantly, regularity, rather than total time spent, toward healthy or unhealthy activities, predict future hospitalization. Overall, an individual's lifestyle choice is more critical than the socio-economic, accessibility, and their community factors, consistent with a recent review on social determinants in EHR.
Effectiveness of automated connected shuttles (ACS) during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had significantly impacted the public transit system in most cities across the world. Factors including physical distancing, remote working, distance education, and COVID-risk perception due to exposure have contributed to reducing public transport ridership. Automated Connected shuttles (ACS) services can be an effective alternative to regular buses with substantially reduced break-out risks and efficient operations. Our goal is to assess the mobility and energy impacts of ACS deployments when deployed as a replacement of standard (human-driven) buses within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic accounting for adjustment in passenger demand and capacity. To accomplish this purpose, we used a traffic microsimulation tool---PTV VISSIM---to simulate the behavior of buses and ACS units. We designed and simulated hypothetical scenarios in a New York City, NY, network. The scenarios are designed based on different COVID-19 restrictions, and the performances are compared to measure ACS effectiveness over regular buses. The results showed that ACS units are more effective than regular buses when they operate at business-as-usual capacity. Further, ACS services are more energy-efficient during physical distancing restrictions than bus services based on the emissions and energy estimates using the EPA-MOVES tool.
From Slave Girl to Egba Rebel?: Ayebomi's Seventeen Year Struggle with the British

My paper will use court records, administrative documents, and other sources to reconstruct the life story of Ayebomi, who was enslaved near Owu in the 1810s. Following her capture, she was sold to a woman in Ijebu Ode, where she lived as a slave for most of a decade until redeemed and reunited with her mother around the time of the founding of Abeokuta in the 1830s. In the 1850s, Ayebomi and her mother reunited with Ayebomi’s older sister Louisa Ajatu, who had returned to West Africa after over four decades as a slave in Brazil. After Louisa was murdered, Ayebomi became involved in a seventeen-year conflict with the British over succession to her sister’s estate. My paper will investigate Ayebomi’s protest. It will scrutinize clues in the sources in an effort to better understand the woman’s motives. The British believed that, by the end of her life, she was being manipulated by powerful men in Abeokuta, who were using her to assert Egba autonomy in the face of encroaching empire. How is the former slave’s long conflict with the British to be understood? My paper will seek to answer this question, while simultaneously reconstructing the life history of an African slave.
Children’s Self-Perceptions of their Participation in Retail Store Patronage Decisions

The authors note the relative absence of studies of children’s perceptions of their participation in retail store decisions. A sample of 121 fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth-graders tested across four stages of three product decision areas revealed sex-, age-, product-, and subdecision-specific findings implying the operation of complex variables in the child consumer socialization process.
SU‐E‐T‐315: Dosimetric Effects of Couch Top Shift On VMAT Delivery in Absence of Indexing

Purpose: To investigate dosimetric effects of couch top shift for volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in absence of indexing of immobilization devices. Methods: A total of twelve VMAT treatment plans were selected from three regions (lung, abdomen, and pelvis) to account for the variation of the patient position relative to the couch top. The treatment plans were generated using the Varian Eclipse system. A pinpoint ionization chamber (PTW TN31014) was placed at the center of 16-cm solid water phantom and the dose was delivered using the Varian TrueBeam STx with BrainLAB ExacTrac couch top. To simulate the day-to-day variation of the patient position relative to couch top, the couch top was laterally shifted up to 50 mm, with an increment of 5 mm from 0 to 20 mm; and of 10 mm afterwards, and the phantom was moved back to 0 cm shift for measurement. The dose was also delivered using a Varian tennis racket grid insert at 0 cm shift to simulate the absence of couch top. The treatment plans were delivered with 6, 10, and 15 MV photons using the same leaf sequencing to investigate the energy dependence of couch top shift. The dose difference was normalized to 0 cm shift for the regular couch top for comparison. Results: The percent difference of dose was found to increase with lateral shift for all energies; however, the average differences were close to 0% and the maximum difference was within 1% along the lateral shifts. The differences with the absence of couch top were 2.2±0.5% (6MV), 1.7±0.3% (10MV), and 1.6±0.2% (15MV), respectively. Conclusion: The inclusion of couch top is recommended in treatment planning to minimize the dosimetric uncertainty between calculated and delivered dose even in absence of indexing of immobilization devices in VMAT delivery.
Inhibition of glucose trimming by castanospermine results in rapid degradation of unassembled major histocompatibility complex class I molecules.

The CMT-cKd1 cell line provides a system for studying the initial processing steps of N-linked oligosaccharides as these cells have been shown to produce major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules which, due to a defect in assembly, recycle between the endoplasmic reticulum and a pre-Golgi compartment, failing to reach the cell surface (Hsu, V.W., Yuan, L. C., Nuchtern, J. G., Lippincott-Schwartz, J., Hammerling, G. J., and Klausner, R. D. (1991) Nature 352, 441-444). In the present study we observed that when the MHC class I heavy chain of these CMT cells was pulse-radiolabeled with [35S]methionine in the presence of the glucosidase inhibitor, castanospermine (CST), it underwent a rapid degradation during a 60-min chase, in contrast to control cells in which it remained stable during that period. The CST-promoted instability of the MHC molecule appeared to be specific, as it did not occur when 1-deoxymannojirimycin, an inhibitor of mannosidase, was added to the cells. Although endomannosidase was found to be present in the CMT cells, the electrophoretic mobility of the MHC heavy chain produced in the presence of CST indicated that deglucosylation through the alternate route provided by this enzyme did not occur. Furthermore, gamma-interferon did not prevent the rapid disappearance of the MHC molecule, although it brought about entry of this glycoprotein into the secretory pathway in cells incubated without CST. The results of our studies suggest that retention of glucose on N-linked oligosaccharides may under certain circumstances provide a signal for pre-Golgi protein degradation.
Differential regulation of extrinsic and intrinsic cell death pathways by protein kinase C

The pathway of cell death depends on the apoptotic stimuli as well as on the cell type. In the present study, we have compared how extrinsic and intrinsic cell death pathways are regulated by the protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway in the same cell type. PDBu, an activator of PKC, potentiated cell death mediated by the DNA damaging agent cisplatin but it blocked tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-induced cell death in HeLa cells. Conversely, rottlerin, an inhibitor of PKCdelta, decreased sensitivity of HeLa cells to cisplatin but it potentiated TNF-induced cell death. Although both TNF and cisplatin caused activation of caspases, PKC modulators had opposing effects on caspase activation. Rottlerin inhibited mitochondrial or intrinsic cell death pathway by inhibiting cisplatin-induced processing of apical caspase-9 and its downstream caspases. In contrast, it potentiated receptor-initiated or extrinsic cell death pathway by enhancing activation of caspase-2 and/or caspase-8. These results suggest that PKC acts at distinct steps to regulate receptor-mediated and DNA damage-induced apoptosis.
Polysomal and non-polysomal messenger RNA in neuroblastoma cells: Lack of correlation between polyadenylation or initiation efficiency and messenger RNA location

Abstract Neuroblastoma cytoplasm was fractionated on sucrose gradients into polysomes (>90 S) and non-polysomal particles ( Fractionation of both RNA populations into polyadenylated (poly(A)+) and non-adenylated (poly(A)−) species indicated that specific, abundant non-polysomal mRNAs were not less adenylated than their polysomal counterparts. Furthermore, comparison of translation products from assays of subsaturating and supersaturating RNA concentrations demonstrated that no simple correlation could be made between the relative initiation efficiency of a specific mRNA and its distribution between polysomes and non-polysomal particles.
Two metal-dependent steps in the biosynthesis of Scenedesmus obliques plastocyanin. Differential mRNA accumulation and holoprotein formation.

The accumulation of the interchangeable electron transfer catalysts plastocyanin and cytochrome c6 (cyt c6) in Scenedesmus obliquus is reciprocally regulated by the amount of copper ions in the medium. In copper-deficient cells, plastocyanin levels are severely reduced, whereas cyt c6 levels are high. Western blot analysis indicates that neither pre-apoplastocyanin nor apoplastocyanin accumulate to significant extents in copper-deficient Scenedesmus cells, and time course studies indicate that upon provision of copper salts to copper-deficient cells, the accumulation of plastocyanin to the levels maintained in copper-sufficient cells takes about 12-24 h. By 1) Northern hybridization analysis of Scenedesmus obliquus mRNA and 2) in vitro translation of polyadenylylated mRNA followed by immunoprecipitation of a 19.2-kilodalton precursor to plastocyanin, we demonstrate that the regulation of plastocyanin synthesis by copper must occur primarily at the level of mRNA accumulation. These results suggest that copper-dependent stimulation of holoplastocyanin accumulation requires de novo synthesis of the pre-apoprotein and contradict the conclusion of Bohner, H., Bohme, H., and Boger, P. (1981) FEBS Lett. 131, 386-388 that high levels of apoplastocyanin and a precursor to plastocyanin accumulate in copper-deficient Scenedesmus cells. We note also that although metal ions other than copper (e.g. silver) insert into Scenedesmus obliquus plastocyanin in vitro, synthesis of holoplastocyanin in vivo is specific for copper versus silver or mercury as it is in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Finally, the very different electrophoretic mobility and immunoreactivity of apoplastocyanin compared with holoplastocyanin suggests rather significant differences in structure between the copper-protein and the metal-free protein.
Neuroscience and Psychology

A wide assortment of eye tracking studies can be found in the increasingly related fields of neuroscience and psychology.
International Decisions: Prosecutor v. Lubanga

This casenote outlines and provides a brief commentary on the first verdict of the International Criminal Court, in which a former Congolese rebel leader was found guilty of the war crime of recruiting and using child soldiers. Discussed are investigative and evidentiary issues, charging decisions, and sentencing rationale.
Mistic: Cellular localization, solution behavior, polymerization, and fibril formation

Mistic represents a family of unique membrane-associating proteins originally found in Bacillus subtilis (M110). As a fusion partner, it has been shown to assist overexpression of foreign integral membrane proteins in E. coli. We have expressed shorter Mistic homologs from other Bacillus species and surprisingly, unlike M110, found them abundant in the cytoplasm. These Mistic homologs including the corresponding shorter sequence (amino acids 27 through 110 of M110) exist as multimeric assemblies in solution in the absence of detergent. Crystals of Mistic from B. leicheniformis (M2) diffracted to 3.2 A resolution, indicating that it exists as a multimer in the crystalline state as well. Moreover, we show that although M2 is mostly α-helical, it tends to polymerize and form fibrils. Such oligomerization could potentially mask the charged surface of the monomeric Mistic to assist membrane integration.
Fetal sex-related differences in maternal serum α-fetoprotein during the second trimester of pregnancy

Abstract In an analysis of data gathered from routine maternal serum α-fetoprotein screening, we determined that the sex of the fetus is significantly correlated with differences in maternal serum α-fetoprotein concentration during the second trimester of pregnancy. Between the fifteenth and nineteenth gestational weeks, the mean maternal serum α-fetoprotein level is significantly higher for the male fetus than for the female fetus. There was no difference, however, in the rate of increase in maternal serum α-fetoprotein concentration with time between male and female fetuses during the weeks of gestation that were studied. No apparent cause for these observations has been demonstrated.
Scientific contributions of Leo Khachiyan (a short overview)

On April 29, 2005, Leo Khachiyan passed away with tragic suddenness in the middle of his scientific career. He became famous for his polynomial time algorithm for linear programming (LP)[L. Khachiyan, A polynomial algorithm in linear programming, Soviet Math. Doklady 20 (1) (1979) 191-194; L. Khachiyan, Polynomial algorithms for linear programming, USSR Comp. Math. and Math. Phys. 20 (2) (1980) 51-68]. However, he contributed fundamentally to several other areas, as well. In this introductory paper, we would like to recall briefly his main contributions, and provide a complete (up to our best knowledge) list of his publications.
Light-dependent delay in the falling phase of the retinal rod photoresponse.

Using suction electrodes, photocurrent responses to 100-ms saturating flashes were recorded from isolated retinal rods of the larval-stage tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). The delay period (Tc) that preceded recovery of the dark current by a criterion amount (3 pA) was analyzed in relation to the flash intensity (If), and to the corresponding fractional bleach (R*0/Rtot) of the visual pigment; R*0/Rtot was compared with R*s/Rtot, the fractional bleach at which the peak level of activated transducin approaches saturation. Over an approximately 8 ln unit range of I(f) that included the predicted value of R*s/Rtot, Tc increased linearly with ln I(f). Within the linear range, the slope of the function yielded an apparent exponential time constant (tau c) of 1.7 +/- 0.2 s (mean +/- S.D.). Background light reduced the value of Tc measured at a given flash intensity but preserved a range over which Tc increased linearly with ln I(f); the linear-range slope was similar to that measured in the absence of background light. The intensity dependence of Tc resembles that of a delay (Td) seen in light-scattering experiments on bovine retinas, which describes the period of essentially complete activation of transducin following a bright flash; the slope of the function relating Td and ln flash intensity is thought to reflect the lifetime of photoactivated visual pigment (R*) (Pepperberg et al., 1988; Kahlert et al., 1990). The present data suggest that the electrophysiological delay has a similar basis in the deactivation kinetics of R*, and that tau c represents TR*, the lifetime of R* in the phototransduction process. The results furthermore suggest a preservation of the "dark-adapted" value of TR* within the investigated range of background intensity.
Western US streamflow and atmospheric circulation patterns during El Niño-Southern Oscillation

Abstract Using principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and jackknife analysis, we investigated the spatial and temporal modes that dominate streamflow variability in the western US in response to El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Spatial variability was investigated with data only from ENSO years and with rotated PCA on 79 streamflow stations in the western United States. Eight regions, or clusters, were thus pinpointed as areas where streamflow tends to co-vary similarly following ENSO events; traditional cluster analysis confirmed the identification of these regions. The ENSO response in streamflow was then further evaluated by forming an aggregate ENSO composite for each region. Temporal variability of western US streamflow in the PCA-identified regions was evaluated with a ‘T-mode’ PCA that isolated the different responses in streamflow following ENSO events. The T-mode PCA breaks the 13 ENSO events that occurred from 1932 to 1993 into five subsets. It is interesting to note that the events in the dominant mode, PC1(+), occurred before 1976, and next mode, PC2(+), included events prior to 1976. Finally, we investigated the atmospheric circulation patterns over the North Pacific Ocean and much of North America that are associated with the various US streamflow responses. The circulation patterns vary according to the prescribed ENSO forcing. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the varied ENSO-streamflow relationship in the western US and the use of ENSO for long-range streamflow forecasting.
Application of centrifugation to the large-scale purification of electric arc-produced single-walled carbon nanotubes.

We report a further advance in the bulk purification of nitric acid-treated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by use of high-speed centrifugation. We have already shown that low-speed centrifugation is effective in removing amorphous carbon (AC). In these earlier experiments, the AC preferentially suspends in aqueous dispersions on low-speed centrifugation (2000g), leaving the SWNTs in the sediment. In a surprising reversal, we now show that high-speed centrifugation (20000g) of well-dispersed preparations is effective in sedimenting carbon nanoparticles (CNP), while leaving the SWNTs suspended in aqueous media. Taken together, these two techniques allow the bulk scale (10 g) purification of SWNTs by efficiently separating the two main contaminants, in an industrially viable process. We show that the mechanism of these separations is based on the differential charging (ζ-potential) of the AC, CNPs, and SWNTs that comes about during the chemical processing. Due to their more robust structure, nitric a...
SU-GG-J-109: A Study on Image Guided Radiotherapy Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for Head and Neck Cancer IMRT Patient Setup

Purpose: To use our CBCT shift results to determine how much of the CTV to PTV margin is necessary to compensate for the daily setup uncertainty inherent in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. Method and Materials: To accommodate the daily setup uncertainly, a 3–6 mm uniform margin is used for head and neck IMRT patients to expand CTV to PTV. In order to verify patient setup accuracy, CBCT is taken prior to the treatment. Our protocol calls for CBCT for the first five consecutive fractions, followed by two CBCT every week. Each CBCT is registered to the planning CT to determine the corresponding translational shift. The registration is based on the region‐of‐interest—the rigid bones near the tumor. On the days no CBCT is taken, the average of the previous three calculated translational shifts is used instead. No rotational correction is considered. Results: A total of 22 head and neck IMRT patients were studied with a Siemens Artiste linear accelerator using an MVision CBCTscanner. Each patient had approximately 14 sets of CBCTimages taken over the entire course of treatment. The average interfraction shift was 0.6±1.6, 1.4±1.5, 0.1±1.6 mm in the anterior‐posterior, left‐right, and superior‐inferior dimensions, respectively. These data indicate that in the absence of CBCTimage guided radiotherapy, a CTV to PTV margin of 2.5, 4.7 and 1.3 mm is needed in the anterior‐posterior, left‐right, and superior‐inferior dimensions, respectively. Conclusion: Our results have shown that asymmetric margins of 2.5, 4.7 and 1.3 mm can be used for CTV to PTV expansion for head and neck cancerradiotherapy if no IGRT presented. Our CBCT protocol will allow a reduction in the CTV to PTV margin. Further investigation needs to be done to find out the specific CTV to PTV margin with different CBCT frequency.
Video codec framework (VCF): Novel firmware architecture for video hardware

The ever growing need for higher computation power for video coding (e.g. MPEG2, H.264, HEVC) lead to hardware solution for video codec, which are controlled by local RISC controller in a typical chip. The firmware running on local controller uses simple sequential model for video processing from hardware due to lack of availability of real-time OS (RTOS) as well as tight on-chip memory budgets. This works well for simple video playback scenario. In case of video surveillance and infrastructure, which requires large number of video channels of lower resolutions or video conferencing market with higher number of slice processing results in much lower utilization of video hardware as inefficiencies becomes significant resulting in lower performance. The paper proposes novel approach by defining software based video codec framework (aka VCF) to enable multi-threading in local RISC controller in firmware. The proposed framework (aka VCF) defines model for controller firmware (in terms of software acceleration, static model for data flow, state diagram etc). The proposed VCF also defines simple primitive (e.g. threads, queues, semaphores, messaging, scheduling scheme etc) to enable it without using any RTOS. The proposed video codec framework (VCF) is independent of video standard. The C simulation of proposed framework shows large improvement (by reducing overheads by more than 80%) in overall performance at system level in complex use-case of multichannel, high frame-rate and high slice rate.
Prevalence of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Abnormalities Regardless of Symptoms Rise With Age: Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis

Background Triangular fibrocartilage complex abnormalities seem to be more common with age, but the degree to which this is so, and the degree to which the presence of an abnormality is associated with symptoms, are topics of controversy.
Long wavelength vibronic band analysis of the B 3Π(0+)→X 1Σ+ transitions of 79Br35Cl and 81Br35Cl

Abstract Long wavelength laser induced fluorescence (LIF) has been observed from the B 3 Π(0 + )→X 1 Σ + transitions of 79 Br 35 Cl and 81 Br 35 Cl at 650–1100 nm. Vibronic bandhead positions have been determined and assigned for transitions from ν′ = 0–6 to ν″ = 5–19. Vibrational constants and RKR turning points are reported along with Franck-Condon factors for the B-X transitions to long wavelengths. The validity of the molecular constants determined by Coxon has been verified for long wavelength transitions.
Thermal response to ozone fluctuations of the stratosphere

Correlations between stratospheric meteorological parameters and ozone amount are examined in terms of radiation absorption by ozone. Fluctuations of ozone concentration at subtropic latitudes in summer are analyzed on the assumption that local temperature is governed entirely by radiative equilibrium. The analysis suggests that the fluctuations of mean monthly temperature and ozone are not only correlated, but also follow the order-of-magnitude values expected if ozone heating dominates the temperatures. Most direct control of ozone on temperature exists in the lowest parts of the stratosphere.
Therapeutic Potential of Eschscholtziae Californicae Herba

(1963). Therapeutic Potential of Eschscholtziae Californicae Herba. Quarterly Journal of Crude Drug Research: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 413-416.
Potassium feldspars structurally intermediate between microcline and sanidine

Abstract Natural K-feldspars exhibiting all states that are structurally intermediate between sanidine (monoclinic) and microcline (with maximum triclinicity) are described. Data based on X-ray measurements are given for selected materials from a variety of geological occurrences. The possible modes of genesis of these triclinic K-feldspars are discussed. The relation of “orthoclase” to sanidine and microcline is also considered. The difficulty of using information on the polymorphism of KAlSi 3 O 8 , in geologic thermometry is pointed out.
Collaborative governance in theory and practice

Over the past few decades, a new form of governance has emerged to replace adversarial and managerial modes of policy making and implementation. Collaborative governance, as it has come to be known, brings public and private stakeholders together in collective forums with public agencies to engage in consensus-oriented decision making. In this article, we conduct a meta-analytical study of the existing literature on collaborative governance with the goal of elaborating a contingency model of collaborative governance. After reviewing 137 cases of collaborative governance across a range of policy sectors, we identify critical variables that will influence whether or not this mode of governance will produce successful collaboration. These variables include the prior history of conflict or cooperation, the incentives for stakeholders to participate, power and resources imbalances, leadership, and institutional design. We also identify a series of factors that are crucial within the collaborative process itself. These factors include face-to-face dialogue, trust building, and the development of commitment and shared understanding. We found that a virtuous cycle of collaboration tends to develop when collaborative forums focus on ‘‘small wins’’ that deepen trust, commitment, and shared understanding. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of our contingency model for practitioners and for future research on collaborative governance. Over the last two decades, a new strategy of governing called ‘‘collaborative governance’’ has developed. This mode of governance brings multiple stakeholders together in common forums with public agencies to engage in consensus-oriented decision making. In this article, we conduct a meta-analytical study of the existing literature on collaborative governance with the goal of elaborating a general model of collaborative governance. The ultimate goal is to develop a contingency approach to collaboration that can highlight conditions under which collaborative governance will be more or less effective as an
Adaptive clock distribution for 3D integrated circuits

Clock distribution in three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs) is faced with many challenges. In this work, we present new techniques for realizing highly adaptive and reliable clock distribution for 3D ICs. Firstly, an efficient clock distribution topology without need of balanced H-tree is proposed. Secondly, a robust tunable-delay-buffer (TDB) circuit and a novel active de-skew method are developed in order to handle the cross-die variations, thermal gradients, and wiring asymmetry. Moreover, a design optimization flow is constructed for improving the adaptive clock design based on the thermal profiles. Experiment results show that the clock skews are significantly reduced using the proposed techniques.
Thermal Fatigue Damage in Pb - In Solder Interconnections

Studies were carried out to determine the mechanism of thermal fatigue damage in Pb-In solder interconnections. Based on experimental studies, a model was developed to express the dependence of thermal fatigue life on the stress variables. The morophology of crack nucleation and propagation and the kinetics of crack growth during thermocycling were investigated from fractographic studies.
A comparison of the effects of cresol and eugenol on bovine pulp.

Bovine pulp was treated in vitro with saline, cresol, or eugenol and analyzed morphologically, histologically, and biochemically. Cresol caused considerable shrinkage and disruption of tissue compared to saline and eugenol-treated samples. Cresol also extracted more phospholipids, as determined chemically, and more phospholipids and neutral lipids as visualized by chromatography. The extraction of phospholipids by saline and eugenol was very similar. Neutral lipid extraction by eugenol was limited. It was concluded that cresol caused more dehydration of pulp tissue and considerably more dissolution of cell membranes than eugenol.
Perceived Stepparent–Child Relationship Quality: A Systematic Review of Stepchildren's Perspectives

Stepfamily scholars have emphasized the importance of including stepchildren in the analysis and discussion of stepfamily life. This systematic review synthesized recent research examining predictors/correlates of stepparent–child relationship quality from the viewpoint of stepchildren in the United States. Five bibliographic databases were searched, resulting in 631 potentially relevant studies for review. Manual searches of three prominent family studies journals were also conducted. Screening and eligibility assessment based on a priori inclusion criteria yielded a final sample of 23 studies, including published studies and reports found in the “gray” literature. Significant predictors/correlates associated with stepchildren's perceptions of stepparent–child relationship quality were grouped into the following conceptual domains: individual characteristics, family characteristics, features of (step)parent–child interactions, and stepcouple dynamics. Limitations, implications, and future research direct...
Rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses in clinical specimens by Light Cycler real time RT-PCR

Abstract Background: the influenza viruses cause morbidity and mortality annually among children and elderly. Surveillance and rapid diagnosis is imperative in the reference laboratory, as clinical symptoms are insufficient for proper diagnosis. Objectives: this study involved the design of a rapid detection method for influenza A and B viruses using real time RT-PCR from clinical specimens. Methods were specifically designed for use on the Light Cycler. The sensitivity and specificity were also to be determined. Study design: the identification and discrimination of influenza A and B viruses employs two dual probe systems based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. Following submission by physicians participating in the Florida sentinel influenza network, 58 specimens were chosen for testing using both tissue culture and Light Cycler methods. Results: of the 35 identified positive for influenza virus via tissue culture isolation, the Light Cycler results matched identification and typing with 100% agreement. However, the Light Cycler recognized 16 additional specimens that were positive for the presence of the virus. RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing confirmed the presence of influenza A virus in these specimens. Using tenfold serial dilutions, the sensitivity of the Light Cycler method was determined to be 0.01 TCID50. The lower limit of RNA detection was determined as 1.6×10−7 μg for influenza A virus, and 1.2×10−7 μg for influenza B virus. Specificity of the Light Cycler method was determined by testing specimens containing adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and echovirus, all of which yielded negative results with no discernible background. Conclusions: overall, this newly developed method of simultaneous detection and typing of influenza types A and B using the Light Cycler proves to be more sensitive than tissue culture isolation, with corresponding specificity. This technique may be valuable for surveillance and rapid identification of influenza for early diagnosis.
Comparison of whole blood, plasma and nails as monitors for the dietary intake of selenium

The measurement of dietary selenium intake in a free-living population using dietary recall techniques has been shown to be spurious. Consequently, in our laboratory, we have focused on the development of biologic monitors such as blood, nails, hair and urine. In this paper, we report on the neutron activation analysis of whole blood, plasma and nail specimens collected from 285 Caucasian subjects, all permanent residents of Hawaii, participating in a malignant melanoma trial. Correlations between monitors are presented and discussed in the context of selenium determinants and integration of selenium intake.
Outcomes After Heart Transplantation for Amyloid Cardiomyopathy in the Modern Era

s S51 (HR= 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6, p= 0.003, p interaction= 0.016). Amongst patients with RD, PRA was significantly higher in those with an elevated BUN/Creat (10.4 ± 19.3 vs. 4.4 ± 8.1 ng/ml/hr, p= 0.013). In the subgroup with PRA available, RD was not associated with increased mortality if PRA was below the median (HR= 0.14, 95% CI 0.02-1.2, p= 0.14). However, in patients with a PRA above the median, RD was strongly associated with reduced survival (HR= 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-5.9, p= 0.017, p interaction= 0.029). The risk associated with RD tended to be the greatest in patients with both high PRA and high BUN/Creat (HR= 3.5, 95% CI 1.1-11.3, p= 0.035). Conclusion: The risk associated with RD in patients with HF appears to be largely restricted to patients with renal neurohormonal activation evidenced by an elevated PRA or BUN/Creat ratio. Additional research is necessary to determine if renal function and outcomes can be improved with targeted therapy in these patients.
4-Hydroxythiophenol-Protected Gold Nanoclusters in Aqueous Media

Gold nanoclusters protected by a monolayer of 4-hydroxythiophenol (HOPhSAu MPCs) were synthesized and characterized by various analytical techniques. The particles were found to be soluble in alkal...