cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents: An Initial Psychometric Investigation

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the psychometric properties of a newly developed clinician rating scale, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA). Method A total of 154 children and adolescents participated in an assessment consisting of a diagnostic interview, the LSAS-CA, and other measures of psychopathology and impairment. Sixty-one of these children also participated in a second LSAS-CA administration, by a different rater blind to diagnosis, within 7 days of the initial assessment. Results High internal consistency (α = .90–.97 for full sample and .83–.95 for social phobia group) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.89–0.94) were obtained for LSAS-CA total and subscale scores. LSAS-CA scores had stronger associations with measures of social anxiety and general impairment than with a measure of depression. Subjects with social anxiety disorder had significantly higher LSAS-CA scores than subjects with other anxiety disorders and healthy controls. A LSAS-CA cutoff score of 22.5 represented the best balance of sensitivity and specificity when distinguishing between individuals with social phobia and normal controls, whereas a cutoff of 29.5 was optimal for distinguishing social phobia from other anxiety disorders. Conclusion Initial findings suggest that the LSAS-CA is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of social anxiety disorder.
An educational Electronic Design Automation tool for high level synthesis and optimization

In this paper, we present an educational Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool to help undergraduate and graduate students better understand and implement fundamental concepts in digital electronic design and synthesis courses. The tool receives an intermediate format that represents the system behavior and a set of constraints as input; and generates the actual circuit in a net-list representation using the electronic components (functional units, memory and steering logic components) available in its library. A user is able to interact with the tool during the synthesis process and modify the intermediate representations before further execution. The effectiveness of the tool has been tested in a graduate level course.
A ‘city plan’ for design and research of computer integrated production planning and control systems

Abstract The planning and control of manufacturing systems is a complex activity involving a myriad of interrelated decisions and optimization algorithms. In a computer integrated manufacturing system (CIMS) these decisions and algorithms span several functions, require information from several sources, and have consequences in several sectors of CIMS. Building decision systems for such a complex environment requires an effective plan. This plan must identify information flows, decision modules, and relevant interrelationships. This paper presents an approach for the development of such a plan, for the production planning and control component of CIMS. The plan is based primarily on the integrated computer aided manufacturing (ICAM) definition models, and is developed using structured analysis.
Estimation of interfacial forces in time domain for linear systems

Abstract A structural path rank ordering process under transient excitations requires a good knowledge of the interfacial path forces, which are difficult to directly measure. Four time domain methods to estimate the interfacial forces are proposed and comparatively evaluated with application to linear time-invariant, proportionally damped discrete systems. First, the transient response is derived by modal analysis and a direct time domain technique to calculate the interfacial forces is outlined. Next, the frequency domain estimation methods, based on the sub-system concept are reviewed, and an inverse Fourier transform scheme is introduced. An indirect method of estimating interfacial force in transient state is then developed through an inverse procedure of modal analysis. The sub-system approach is employed to obtain the interfacial forces based on the forced vibration response of the original system and modal data of the sub-system. Finally, an approximate time domain scheme is suggested that could be used only if the system properties are known or precisely estimated. Although the proposed indirect methods are designed for eventual experimental applications, this article provides numerical feasibility studies via a simple source–path–receiver system (with parallel vibration paths) that has five translational degrees of freedom. The proposed methods are compared under ideal impulse force excitation input and a periodic sawtooth load (without and with Gaussian noise) to observe the starting transients as well as subsequent motions and interfacial forces. Preliminary comparisons with a laboratory experiment are very promising.
Production of strong, extracellular Cu chelators by marine cyanobacteria in response to Cu stress

Copper speciation in the upper marine water column is dominated b>, strong ligands thought to be of recent biological origin. Cultures of the marine cyanobacteria Synechococcu.? spp., a ubiquitous and important group of phytoplankton highly sensitive to Cu toxicity, were previously shown to produce chelators comparable in strength to those detected in the water column. Here we shoyw that cultures of Synechococcus exposed to toxic concentrations of Cu produce an extracellular ligand with a binding constant comparable to constants for ligands found in the water column. Coordination of Cu by this compound decreases the concentration of free cupric ion (the toxic form) in the culture media to le-rels that do not inhibit growth. A tight linear correlation between chelator and Cu concentration suggests l.hat production of this substance may be regulated by the concentration of free Cu in the media in a feeldback mechanism. Similarly, the concentrations of Cu and Cu-binding ligands in the water column are o?ten closely related. These results suggest that cyanobacteria modify Cu chemistry in seawater, creating conditions more favorable for growth.
A class of structured LDPC codes with large girth

A class of structured LDPC codes-turbo-structured LDPC (TS-LDPC) codes-composed of two subtrees connected by an interleaver is introduced in this paper. TS-LDPC codes with good girth properties are easy to design: careful design of the interleaver component prevents short cycles in its Tanner graph. A methodology to design TS-LDPC codes with arbitrary column weight j/spl ges/2 and arbitrary girth is also presented. In addition, a complexity reduced decoding algorithm is described. Simulation results demonstrate the good performance of TS-LDPC codes when compared to random LDPC codes of the similar size and rate.
Influence of Moisture On the Impact Behavior of Hybrid Glass/Graphite/Epoxy Composites

Preceding studies have demonstrated a lack of tolerance for impact by graphite/epoxy composite materials. This is in marked contrast to the extremely good impact resistance offered by glass fiber reinforced plastics. The hybrid, or combination of two fibers, composites offers the means of alleviating some of the graphite/epoxy deficiencies while retain ing their higher stiffnesses and strengths.
Predicting Summertime Caribbean Pressure in Early April

A method to predict the June-September (JJAS) Caribbean sea level pressure anomalies (SLPAs) using data available the previous April is described. The method involves the creation of a multiple linear regression equation that uses three predictors. These predictors are the January-March (JFM) North Atlantic (508-608N, 108-508W) sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs), JFM Nino 3.4 (5 8N-58S, 1208-1708W) SSTAs, and the strength of the eastern Atlantic subtropical pressure ridge measured in March between 208 and 308W. The physical role of each of the predictors in determining the variations of Caribbean SLPAs is discussed. The forecast equation is developed using a training dataset covering the period 1950-95 (46 yr) and is tested upon independent data covering the period 1903-49 where the data availability permits (42 yr). Results suggest that skillful forecasts are possible. The method reduced the interannual variance of the JJAS Caribbean SLPAs by 50% in the developmental dataset and by 40% in the independent dataset. Separate forecasts for the June-July and August-September SLPAs are also developed, tested, and discussed.
A novel tracking framework using kalman filtering and elastic matching

A novel region-based multiple object tracking framework based on Kalman filtering and elastic matching is proposed. The proposed Kalman filtering-elastic matching model is general in two significant ways. First, it is suitable for tracking of both, rigid and elastic objects. Second, it is suitable for tracking using both, fixed cameras and moving cameras since the method does not rely on background subtraction. The elastic matching algorithm exploits both the spectral features and structural features of the tracked objects, making it more robust and general in the context of object tracking. The proposed tracking framework can be viewed as a generalized Kalman filter where the elastic matching algorithm is used to measure the velocity field which is then approximated using B-spline surfaces. The control points of the B-spline surfaces are directly used as the tracking variables in a grid-based Kalman filtering model. The limitations of the Gaussian distribution assumption in the Kalman filter are overcome by the large capture range of the elastic matching algorithm. The B-spline approximation of the velocity field is used to update the spectral features of the tracked objects in the grid-based Kalman filter model. The dynamic nature of these spectral features are subsequently used to reason about occlusion. Experimental results on tracking of multiple objects in real-time video are presented.
Expression and distribution of phosphorylated MAP1B in growing axons of cultured hippocampal neurons.

Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) interact with tubulin to modulate neurite stability and growth during development. The phosphorylated form of one of these MAPs, MAP1B (MAP1B-P) is hypothesized to be of particular importance for the regulation of neurite outgrowth. To investigate the mechanisms by which MAP1B and MAP1B-P contribute to this regulation, we used a new antibody against an isoform of MAP1B-P to determine its pattern of expression during neuronal development in vitro. We examined cultured hippocampal neurons because these provide a well-established system to evaluate the development of axons and dendrites. MAP1B, MAP1B-P and MAP2 colocalized to the cell bodies and minor processes during the first 24 hours of culture, but MAP1B-P also extended well into the growth cones. As neurite outgrowth and differentiation proceeded, MAP1B and MAP1B-P became localized to the cell bodies and axons, and MAP2 to the cell bodies and dendrites. After 3 days, MAP1B-P declined in the cell body and was segregated to the distal axon; MAP1B remained in the cell body, but was also concentrated in the distal axon. Over 5–9 days in culture, MAP1B-P levels decreased and became undetectable; MAP1B levels decreased later (19–23 days). MAP2 levels, however, remained high through the entire culture period in cell bodies and dendrites. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that MAP1B-P plays an important role in the initiation and elongation of axons by regulating the dynamics of microtubules near the growth cone: MAP1B-P expression is greatest during the period of active neurite extension, is particularly prominent in growth cones where axon outgrowth is most active, and decreases along with the decline in active axon extension. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Interventional Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer with Lipid Nanoparticle-Carried Rhenium-186 Radionuclide

Purpose Minimally invasive interventional cancer therapy with drug-carrying lipid nanoparticles (ie, liposomes) via convection-enhanced delivery by an infusion pump can increase intratumoral drug concentration and retention while facilitating broad distribution throughout solid tumors. The authors investigated the utility of liposome-carrying β-emitting radionuclides to treat head and neck cancer by direct intratumoral infusion in nude rats. Materials and Methods Four groups of nude rats were subcutaneously inoculated with human tongue cancer cells. After tumors reached an average size of 1.6 cm 3 , the treatment group received an intratumoral infusion of liposomal rhenium-186 ( 186 Re) (185 MBq [5 mCi]/cm 3 tumor). Three control groups were intratumorally infused with unlabeled liposomes, unencapsulated 186 Re-perrhenate, or unencapsulated intermediate 186 Re compound ( 186 Re-N,N-bis[2-mercaptoethyl]-N′,N′-diethyl-ethylenediamine [BMEDA]). In vivo distribution of 186 Re activity was measured by planar γ-camera imaging. Tumor therapy and toxicity were assessed by tumor size, body weight, and hematology. Results Average tumor volume in the 186 Re-liposome group on posttreatment day 14 decreased to 87.7% ± 20.1%, whereas tumor volumes increased to 395.0%–514.4% on average in the other three groups ( P 186 Re-liposome). The 186 Re-liposomes provided much higher intratumoral retention of 186 Re activity, resulting in an average tumor radiation absorbed dose of 526.3 Gy ± 93.3, whereas 186 Re-perrhenate and 186 Re-BMEDA groups had only 3.3 Gy ± 1.2 and 13.4 Gy ± 9.2 tumor doses, respectively. No systemic toxicity was observed. Conclusions Liposomal 186 Re effectively treated head and neck cancer with minimal side effects after convection-enhanced interventional delivery. These results suggest the potential of liposomal 186 Re for clinical application in interventional therapy of cancer.
The Nutrition Implications of Cardiac Cachexia

Weight loss is a frequent sequela in patients with congestive heart failure and is commonly referred to as cardiac cachexia. This weight loss is unlike that seen in simple starvation because it preferentially involves the depletion of lean body mass. In addition, the presence of cardiac cachexia can have profound clinical implications for patients in terms of complications, clinical outcome, and overall cost. The mechanism for the alterations in body composition is multifactorial, but a major cause may be the cytokine-mediated host response to the underlying disease. This article reviews the syndrome of cardiac cachexia in light of recent evidence regarding the role of cytokines, as well as potential therapies.
Quantitative assessment of in vivo HIV protease activity using genetically engineered QD‐based FRET probes

HIV protease plays a central role in its life cycle leading to release of functional viral particles. It has been successfully used as a therapeutic target to block HIV infection. Several protease inhibitors (PIs) are currently being employed as a part of anti-HIV therapy. However, the constant genetic drift in the virus leads to accumulation of mutations in both cleavage site and the protease, resulting in resistance and failure of therapy. We reported the use of a quantum dot (QD)-based protein probe for the in vivo monitoring of HIV-1 protease activity based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer. In the current study, we demonstrate the utility of this approach by quantifying the in vivo cleavage rates of three known protease and cleavage site mutations in the presence or absence of different PIs. The changes in IC50 values for the different PIs were similar to that observed in patients, validating our assay as a rapid platform for PI screening. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1082–1087. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Episcleral plaque 125I radiotherapy with episcleral LCF hyperthermia: A prospective randomized trial

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to search for an optimal radiation dose in the treatment of patients with uveal melanoma using 125 I episcleral plaque radiotherapy (EPRT) and episcleral hyperthermia (HT). Methods and materials From 1991–1998, 35 patients with uveal melanoma were enrolled in a phase II prospective randomized trial of 125 I EPRT combined with episcleral HT. Two groups were closely matched for pre-treatment patient and tumor characteristics. Group 1: N = 16, and Group 2: N = 19. The median dose to the tumor apex for Group 1 was 80.0 Gy and 60.8 Gy for Group 2. Episcleral HT was given once for 45 min immediately prior to EPRT with a median temperature of 44°C for both groups. The median follow-up was 5.5 years for Group 1 and 5.3 years for Group 2. Results The median tumor height decreased 1.7 mm for patients of both groups. The 5- and 8-year probability of local recurrence was 33% for Group 1, and 25% for Group 2, p = 0.73. The 5-year probability of DFS was 54% for Group 1 and 67% for Group 2, p = 0.51. The 5- and 8-year overall survival was 68% and 34%, respectively, for Group 1, and 83% and 50%, respectively, for Group 2, p = 0.60. The rate of distant metastasis at 5- and 8-years for Group 1 was 29% and 62%, respectively, and 17% and 17%, respectively, for Group 2, p = 0.18. The incidence of enucleation was 4 (25%) in Group 1 vs. 4 (22%) in Group 2. The incidence of late complications was similar in either treatment group. The ambulatory visual acuity (>5/200) at last follow-up was slightly better in Group 2 (80%) than Group 1 (64%). Conclusions Treatment outcomes were similar despite a 25% difference in radiation dose. In view of these findings and in an attempt to reduce the incidence of late treatment toxicity a still lower radiation dose in combination with HT needs to be studied. The reported outcomes need to be evaluated with caution due to the small number of patients in this study.
Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Studio Format in Introductory Undergraduate Biology

Kansas State University converted its introductory biology course, previously taught as an audio-tutorial (A-T), to a studio format in 1997. We share with others information about the process involved and present assessment data for the studio format course that address 1) student exam performance in A-T and studio; 2) student course grades in A-T and studio; 3) student and instructor perceptions and attitudes for A-T and studio; 4) student performance in subsequent biology courses for A-T and studio; and 5) gains in student learning for the studio course and other traditional lecture/lab courses. Collectively, these measures demonstrate that the studio format is as effective as or more effective (for some measures) than the A-T approach and traditional approaches in providing an effective learning environment. We discuss the issues involved in comparing course formats.
Fast estimation of area-delay trade-offs in circuit sizing

Appropriately sizing a circuit can improve its performance significantly. However, this is a time consuming transform, and it is therefore difficult to compare different implementations of a circuit in terms of the cost overhead required for a particular delay target. This paper presents a fast estimator of the complete area-delay trade-off curve of a given circuit, allowing a designer to choose the most appropriate implementation for a given delay. We observe excellent fidelity with the actual area-delay curves (94.13% correct comparisons), with an average error of 5.76% in the area differences predicted.
The Global South is dead, long live the Global South! The intersectionality of social and geographic hierarchies in global capitalism

AbstractThis article explores two critical approaches to the study of the continuing relevance of the North—South divide. One is based on a postcolonial politics of difference and stresses the fundamental geographic divergences between the North and South. The other, referred to as the global capitalism school, argues that the North—South divide is rendered obsolete by social divisions, represented by the rise of a transnational capitalist class. I criticize the former due to its dismissal of the idea of capitalism as a universal force. In regards to the latter, to determine whether the primary fault line in global capitalism revolves around transnationally organized classes, I conduct an interpretive analysis of the world views of capitalist elites in Latin America. My findings demonstrate the complex, intersecting nature of different axes of identity, and contradict this literature by suggesting the continuing relevance of a place-based North—South divide. In other words, neither position can by itself ...
Bacterial translocation in the portal-hypertensive rat: Studies in basal conditions and on exposure to hemorrhagic shock

Abstract Background: Portal hypertension is associated with altered intestinal motor and mucosal function. The aim of this study was to determine whether portal hypertension, per se, or in association with acute hemorrhagic shock, predisposes to the translocation of bacteria across the intestine. Methods: Translocation to both mesenteric lymph nodes and blood was compared in three groups of rats: portal-hypertensive (single-stage calibrated stenosis of portal vein), shamoperated, and unoperated controls. Half of the animals in each group were exposed to hemorrhagic shock. Results: In the basal state, translocation to both mesenteric lymph nodes (portal hypertension vs. sham vs. controls, 411.5 ± 119 vs. 151.1 ± 42.6 vs. 18.1 + 12.6 colony-forming units [CFU]/g; P P P Conclusions: Portal hypertension promotes bacterial translocation, especially in relationship to acute hemorrhage. These findings may, in part, explain the susceptibility of patients with liver disease to sepsis of enteric origin.
Interactions of bovine thyrotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin with adenylate cyclase in bovine thyroid membranes.

Previous studies have shown that crude preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin bind to bovine thyroid membranes, displace 125I-labeled bovine thyrotropin there from, and are weak agonists therein with respect to the activation of adenylate cyclase. The present studies reveal that concentrations of chorionic gonadotropin sufficient to elicit a maximal agonistic response of adenylate cyclase are strongly antagonistic to the stimulatory action of bovine thyrotropin in the thyroid membrane system. This effect is reminiscent of the inhibitory effects of crude human chorionic gonadotropin on other extragonadal tissues in vitro, and, like them, appears to be mediated by some factor(s) other than human chorionic gonadotropin itself, since highly purified human chorionic gonadotropin was without effect.
The Economic Impact of Reactor Transients

If there is one thing we know, it is that reactor transients have serious economic impact. If we number that point (1), I would like to suggest two more: (2) We cannot predict the cost of a transient. In fact, to calculate the actual cost of a transient that has occurred is difficult at best, and probably impossible without computerized records. Also, if we try to estimate the cost of a transient, we will guess wrong, because the simplifying assumptions we have to make will produce idealized but incorrect results. (3) Transients don’t cause accidents. Accidents cause transients.
Genetic Variation in the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 1 (VMAT1/SLC18A1) Gene and Alcohol Withdrawal Severity

Background Alcohol withdrawal (AW) can be a serious consequence of alcohol dependence and consists of various neurochemical adaptations in the brain. One such neuroadaptation occurs in the monoamine neurotransmitter system. Recently, a functional variant in the presynaptic vesicular monoamine transporter gene (VMAT1/SLC18A1—Thr136Ile—rs1390938) was found to significantly increase transport of monoamines into synaptic vesicles in vitro. We hypothesize that the alteration of magnitude of monoamine release contributes to severity of AW symptoms. Methods Alcohol-dependent individuals (n = 609; European American n = 340; African American n = 216; other n = 53) were administered the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, Revised (CIWA-Ar) questionnaire at the time of inpatient admission. Patients were subsequently genotyped for 12 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in VMAT1. Association analyses were conducted on the combined sample and separated by ethnicity. Results Single marker association tests revealed a significant association between 3 VMAT1 markers and CIWA-Ar scores in the EA sample. The minor alleles of rs1390938 (A) and rs952859 (C) were significantly associated with lower CIWA-Ar scores (p = 0.0006; p = 0.0007), whereas the minor allele of rs3779672 (G) was significantly associated with higher scores (p = 0.006). Additionally, these 3 SNPs were found in a haplotype block that was significantly associated with lower CIWA-Ar scores after haplotype analyses were run (p = 0.009). Conclusions This study shows that genetic variants in VMAT1, including the functional SNP rs1390938, contribute to the severity of AW in patients of European descent. Our data show for the first time a role of presynaptic neurotransmitter release in AW severity. This finding could contribute to identifying patients at risk for severe AW and shed light into the pathophysiology of AW and its treatment.
Temporal relationship of CDK1 activation and mitotic arrest to cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome C and caspase-3 activity during Taxol-induced apoptosis of human AML HL-60 cells.

Temporal relationship of CDK1 activation and mitotic arrest to cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome C and caspase-3 activity during Taxol-induced apoptosis of human AML HL-60 cells
A Taxonomic Study of Pythium Irregulare and Related Species

Positive identification of many Pythium species is a difficult task. When numerous isolates are examined, continuous series resulting from indistinct diagnostic characters and intermediate forms frequently can be recognized. Pythium spinosumt Sawada, P. irregulare Buisman, P. debaryanum Hesse, P. ultimum Trow, and P. pareocandrum Drechsler exemplify such a series. These species have spherical sporangia of approximately the same size. Morphological differences in the oospore, oogonium, and antheridium provide the diagnostic criteria separating these species. By definition P. spinosum with its plerotic oospore is readily distinguished from P. irregulare with its aplerotic oospore. Both species are characterized by an echinulate oogonium and a single monoclinous antheridium (5). Buisman (1) separated P. irregulare from P. debaryanum by its irregular oogonium which often has protuberances. Middleton (5) emphasized the presence of protuberances in P. irregulare as the principal difference between these 2 species. Conversely, Drechsler (4) reported a tendency for the development of protuberances in some cultures of P. debaryanum. Middleton (5) described P. debaryanum, P. ultimum, and P. pareocandrum as having an aplerotic oospore and a smooth oogonium. He rejected van Luijk's contention of synonymity based on the antheridial character of P. debaryanum and P. ultimum and distinguished P. debaryanum by its plurality of antheridia that originate some distance from the oogonium. Trow (7) characterized P. ultimum by its thickened oospore wall and one monoclinous antheridium originating adjacent to the oogonium. He sometimes observed 2 diclinous antheridia per oogonium in luxuriant cultures. Drechsler (2, 3) differentiated P. pareocandrum from P. ultimum by its non-thickened oospore wall, plurality of antheridia, and oospore suggestive of P. debaryanum.
Interpreting data in AML

Steady progress has been made in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia since the discovery of daunorubicin in the 1960s. Advances in new drug activity have contributed greatly to that and are responsible for curing about 20 percent of patients diagnosed today. Progress in supportive care has been equally important ; broad-spectrum antibiotics are now allowing patients to survive long enough to receive an adequate course of chemotherapy, to which most patients respond with a complete remission. More recently, the development of colony-stimulating factors and their safe use during induction therapy in high-risk patients has allowed greater numbers of patients to be adequately treated during the initial phase of therapy. The most significant recent advance in treatment for acute leukemia is the demonstration that certain leukemic syndromes respond dramatically to specific interventions that are substantially less active in other leukemic syndromes. The challenge for the near future is to understand the mechanisms behind these empiric observations and, for the long term, to learn to use such information to design molecularly targeted therapy for specific leukemic syndromes that are characterized by unique molecular features. Antisense oligonucleotide therapeutic research is one first step in that direction.
Review: atypical antipsychotic drugs increase risk for death in dementia.

Source Citation Schneider LS, Dagerman KS, Insel P. Risk of death with atypical antipsychotic drug treatment for dementia: meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. JAMA. 2005;294:1934...
Prolonged El Niño conditions in 2014–2015 and the rapid intensification of Hurricane Patricia in the eastern Pacific

Hurricane Patricia was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the eastern North Pacific or Atlantic, reaching a peak intensity of 95 m s−1 only 30 h after attaining hurricane status (33 m s−1). Here it is shown that exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs), a deeper than normal thermocline, and strong near-surface salinity stratification all aided Patricia's rapid intensification, combining to increase its Potential Intensity by 1–14 m s−1. Anomalous surface warming and thermocline deepening along Patricia's track were driven by prolonged El Nino conditions during 2014–2015 and punctuated by the buildup to the extreme El Nino of 2015–2016. In the region where Patricia intensified, SST was 1.5° C higher and sea surface height was 10 cm higher compared to conditions during the last extreme El Nino in 1997, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the 2015 anomalies.
Introduction to Time Series Analysis for Organizational Research Methods for Longitudinal Analyses

Organizational science has increasingly recognized the need for integrating time into its theories. In parallel, innovations in longitudinal designs and analyses have allowed these theories to be tested. To promote these important advances, the current article introduces time series analysis for organizational research, a set of techniques that has proved essential in many disciplines for understanding dynamic change over time. We begin by describing the various characteristics and components of time series data. Second, we explicate how time series decomposition methods can be used to identify and partition these time series components. Third, we discuss periodogram and spectral analysis for analyzing cycles. Fourth, we discuss the issue of autocorrelation and how different structures of dependency can be identified using graphics and then modeled as autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) processes. Finally, we conclude by describing more time series patterns, the issue of data aggregation, and more sophis...
Novel 89Zr cell-labeling method for PET imaging of cell trafficking

519 Objectives With the recent growth of interest in cell-based therapies and radiolabeled cell products, there is a need to develop more sensitive imaging methods for in vivo tracking of living cells. This study describes a novel cell labeling approach with 89Zr (T1/2 =78.4 h) for PET monitoring of stem cell engraftment for myocardial regeneration. Methods A cell labeling agent, 89Zr-desferrioxamine-NCS (89Zr-DBN), was synthesized. Mouse derived melanoma cells (mMCs), dendritic cells (mDCs) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were covalently labeled with 89Zr-DBN via the reaction between the NCS group on 89Zr-DBN and primary -NH2 groups present on cell surface membrane proteins. The stability of the label on the cell was tested by cell efflux studies for 7 days and in in vivo mouse model by serial PET scans and ex vivo biodistribution following intravenous and intramyocardial injections of 89Zr-hMSCs. For comparison, imaging experiments after intravenous injections of 89Zr4+- phosphate were also performed. The effect of labeling on cellular viability was tested by monitoring in vitro cell proliferation, trypan blue and cytotoxicity/apoptosis assays. Results The labeling agent, 89Zr-DBN, was prepared in 55±5% decay-corrected radiochemical yield measured by iTLC. The cell labeling efficiency was 30-50% in 30 min depending on cell type. Radioactivity concentrations of labeled cells of up to 0.5MBq/1x106 cells were achieved after 30 min labeling without a negative effect on cellular viability. No cellular efflux of 89Zr was seen out to 7 d. Myocardially delivered 89Zr-hMSCs showed retention in the myocardium, as well as redistribution to lung and bone, whereas intravenous delivery of 89Zr-hMSCs distributed primarily to lung followed by liver and bone. Free 89Zr4+- phosphate was primarily distributed in bone followed by liver. Thus, the stability of the radiolabel on hMSCs was evidenced. Conclusions We have developed a robust, general, and biostable 89Zr-DBN based cell labeling strategy with promise for wide applications of PET-based non-invasive in vivo cell trafficking. Research Support The work was funded by the Mayo Clinic Department of Radiology.
Lawyers about Mixed Tribunals: Do Croatian Professional Judges, State Attorneys, and Private Attorneys Share the Same View?

In this paper, I examine opinions about mixed tribunals, a form of lay participation used widely in the criminal justice systems across Europe. The distinguishing feature of mixed tribunals is the fact that professional and lay judges decide the guilt and sentence jointly. I explore the differences of opinion among lawyers about mixed tribunals in general and about lay judges in particular. Using the theoretical underpinnings of status characteristics theory, I study the impact of the lawyers' role in the criminal justice system and the type of court/office at which they serve or practice law on their opinion about mixed tribunals. The dataset I analyze in this paper consists of questionnaires filled out by Croatian professional judges, state attorneys, and private attorneys.
Non-orthogonal multiple access with sub-constellation alignment

A non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technique is presented where the information bits of a user are carried by the least significant bits (LSBs) of other users' symbols. It is shown that the user performance can be improved by a receiver combining that relies on the alignment of sub-constellation corresponding to the LSBs at user receiver. The rate outage analysis shows that the proposed technique exploits the full diversity of the system. Therefore, a significant performance boost is achieved despite the LSBs being allocated a small fraction of the transmit power. Error performance investigation under perfect and imperfect channel estimation is performed to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed scheme.
Decay Width of the Neutral π Meson

The cross section for the photoproduction of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mesons from complex nuclei at small angles has been measured at incident bremsstrahlung energies of 4.4 and 6.6 GeV. The data are fitted by a cross section calculated from a sum of Primakoff and nuclear-production amplitudes. A total decay width for the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ meson of 8.02\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.42 eV is obtained from the magnitude of the Primakoff amplitude.
What is “Healing”?: Reflections on Diagnostic Criteria, Nosology, and Etiology

This article examines the conceptual history and contemporary usages of the term "healing." In response to longstanding definitional ambiguity, reflections are offered on what are termed the diagnostic criteria, nosology, and etiology of healing. First, a summary is provided of how healing has been defined within medicine. Second, the dimensionality of healing is discussed. Third, healing's putative determinants are outlined. For biomedicine, healing mainly concerns repair of wounds or lesions and is unidimensional. For complementary medicine, by contrast, healing has been defined alternatively as an intervention, an outcome, and a process-or all of these at once-and is multidimensional, impacting multiple systems from the cellular to the psychosocial and beyond. Notwithstanding these usages, a review of medical texts reveals that healing is rarely defined, nor is its dimensionality or determinants described. Persistent lack of critical attention to the meaning of "healing" has implications for medical research and practice.
On the origin of energy barriers in the excited states of He2

Abstract The A 1 Σ + u and C 1 Σ + g states of He 2 have been examined using self-consistent (spatially projected) generalized valence bond (GVB) wavefunctions. We find both states to have humps (0.06 and 0.22 eV, respectively) at large R (3.1 A and 2.1 A, respectively). The repulsive nature of these states at large R results from non-bonding interactions between the singlet pairs of orbitals located on different centers. For R smaller than the size of the excited He orbital (2s or 2p), the state becomes attractive if the symmetry is such that the wavefunction can build in attractive He + 2 ( 2 Σ + u ) character.
‘I (do not) know what to do’: how ties, identities and home states influence Mexican-born immigrants’ return migration intentions

AbstractThis study examines the return migration intentions of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. by proposing three explanatory variables: (1) socioeconomic ties with the U.S. and Mexico, (2) ethnic i...
Intraoperative Cryoanalgesia for Reducing Post-Tonsillectomy Pain: A Systemic Review.

Objective:Summarize the effectiveness of intraoperative cryoanalgesia in the management of postoperative pain among patients undergoing palatine tonsillectomy.Methods:A systematic review of PubMED,...
Policing the Muslim Community in India

Muslims, the largest minority of India face discrimination and poor service from police in the country. The police tend to profile Muslim youth as terrorists in extremist-affected areas or involved in organized criminal activities in other regions. Examples of Muslims suffering from police action or worse, omission, are well documented. Muslims generally have low confidence in the Indian police and are unwilling to co-operate with them even when victimized. The chapter highlights the mutual suspicion that exists between the police and minority communities and points to its dangerous implications for internal security. However, the mistreatment of the Muslim community is also due to the internal problems of police administration. The chapter describes a variety of poor management practices debilitating the organization and prevailing indifference of the leadership towards performance appraisal. Even though it is well understood that the minorities are estranged, few systematic efforts are undertaken to address this problem. The alienation of Muslims can be removed by not only greater recruitment in the police services but also by addressing their specific problems. The police need to build greater trust among the community, which is linked to the provision of basic security to Muslims. Above all, the police need to become accountable to the people and involve them as coproducers of their own safety. A repressive, ruler-oriented police cannot serve the interests of minorities in a democratic society.
Design, construction, and testing of an inexpensive automated 68Ga-DOTATOC synthesis unit

1257 Objectives The interest in Gallium-68 labeled PET probes continues to increase around the world. One barrier to entry is the large cost of the automated synthesis units for relatively simple labeling procedures. We describe the construction and testing of an inexpensive automated synthesis unit for human use 68Ga-DOTATOC. Such inexpensive systems could help facilitate increase use around the globe, and in particular the US. Methods We provide a guide for construction, including part lists and synthesis timelists, to help with local implementation. The automated unit is comprised of three main modules: a fluid delivery system, heating system, and purification module. The individual modules were integrated and designed so they could be controlled through a single interface. Fluid delivery was primarily achieved by using nitrogen process gas to transfer solvents through Teflon tubing. A thermoelectric dry bath was chosen to house the reaction vial with the ability to heat, mix and cool the reaction solution. The purification module holds a single use reversed solid-phase extraction cartridge. A custom interface, controllers and timelists were developed with the software LabVIEW. The 68Ga-radiolabeling purification process was assessed with thin layer chromatography. AR42J xenografts were imaged by PET/CT using the final labeled product. Results All parts and components were purchased for less than $10,000. Six development runs were completed, with a decay corrected product yield of 71% ±8% and with a radiochemical purity ≥ 95% in a synthesis time of 25 minutes. Automated product yields were comparable to that of manual synthesis. Static PET scan results confirmed the affinity of the labeled DOTATOC to AR42J xenografts. Conclusions We demonstrate in-house construction and use of an inexpensive automated synthesis module for labeling DOTATOC and similar peptides with Gallium-68, which is capable of reproducible synthesis.
Coenzyme Q9/Q10 and the Healthy Heart

The mitochondrial respiratory chain consists of several coenzymes (CoQ), including CoQ1, CoQ2, CoQ4, CoQ6, CoQ7, CoQ8, CoQ9, and CoQ10. Q10 is the most prevalent form in humans and most of the mammals, and Q9 is the primary form found in rats, mice, and guinea pigs. On the other hand, Q6, Q7, and Q8 are found in yeast and bacteria. Most of the literature concerning the importance of CoQ10 in attenuating various health problems has been reviewed; it demonstrates the importance of Q10 nutritional supplementation to combat against various diseases. The safety profile of 100–200 mg of regular Q10 supplementation is quite promising, as no adverse effects have been reported from the clinical trials using daily supplements of up to 200 mg Q10 for 6–12 months and 100 mg daily for up to 6 years. In cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, the significantly low levels of Q10 in myocardial tissues proved the importance of nutritional supplementation of CoQ10 against various heart diseases. It is shown that, unlike CoQ10, the other coenzymes have not been extensively studied. So the purpose of this review is to highlight whether the other CoQs, especially CoQ9, are equally as cardioprotective as CoQ10 and provide similar health benefits.
Examining protective and buffering associations between sociocultural factors and adverse childhood experiences among American Indian adults with type 2 diabetes: a quantitative, community-based participatory research approach

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of select adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a sample of American Indian (AI) adults living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the associations between ACEs and self-rated physical and mental health. We also examined associations between sociocultural factors and health, including possible buffering processes. Design Survey data for this observational study were collected using computer-assisted survey interviewing techniques between 2013 and 2015. Setting Participants were randomly selected from AI tribal clinic facilities on five reservations in the upper Midwestern USA. Participants Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of T2D, age 18 years or older and self-identified as AI. The sample includes n=192 adults (55.7% female; mean age=46.3 years). Primary measures We assessed nine ACEs related to household dysfunction and child maltreatment. Independent variables included social support, diabetes support and two cultural factors: spiritual activities and connectedness. Primary outcomes were self-rated physical and mental health. Results An average of 3.05 ACEs were reported by participants and 81.9% (n=149) said they had experienced at least one ACE. Controlling for gender, age and income, ACEs were negatively associated with self-rated physical and mental health (p Conclusions This research demonstrates inverse associations between ACEs and well-being of adult AI patients with diabetes. The findings further demonstrate the promise of social and cultural integration as a critical component of wellness, a point of relevance for all cultures. Health professionals can use findings from this study to augment their assessment of patients and guide them to health-promoting social support services and resources for cultural involvement.
Families and Early Intervention Professionals in Rural Areas: Unique Challenges.

A review of literature was conducted to identify challenges faced by rural families with young children who have disabilities as well as those of early intervention professionals who live and work ...
Retention and Surface Pore Formation in Helium Implanted Tungsten as a Fusion First Wall Material

Single- and polycrystalline tungsten samples were implanted with 30 keV3He ions to fluences of 5e16, 4e17 and 5e18 He/cm2 at temperatures ranging from ˜850 - 1000 °C. After implantation tungsten’s ...
Smart Forwarding in NDN VANET

Routing solutions for NDN VANET that use location information can be inadequate when such information is unavailable or when the vehicles' locations change very fast. In this paper, we propose CCLF, a novel forwarding strategy to address this challenge. In addition to leveraging vehicle location information, CCLF takes into account content-based connectivity information, i.e., Interest satisfaction ratio for each name prefix, in its forwarding decisions. By keeping track of content connectivity and giving higher priority to vehicles with better content connectivity to forward Interests, CCLF not only reduces Interest flooding when location information is unknown or inaccurate, but also increases data fetching rate.
Sanitary Microbiology: Engineering Public Health Better Than the “Good Ol’ Days”

After an excruciating hospital experience that resulted in a hiatal hernia diagnosis, my late mother pined for the past in wishing that it was like the good ol’ days when doctors came to your home and knew your history. Her thought resonated in my mind for a long time. I almost had to agree with her; true “family” medicine is gone with the past. Yet, we know that medical advances and care centers today are the result of the better knowledge we have about disease treatment and cure as well as the universal fact that microbes shape our environment and our lives.
Comparing clinicopathologic feature and treatment outcome of patients who underwent surgical resection or liver transplant for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related and non-NAFLD related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

e16675Background: NAFLD associated HCC is rapidly increasing in frequency worldwide. In this study, we evaluated potential differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who under...
Auto/Ethnography and Tinsel Town: Nathaniel Kohn'S Pursuing Hollywood and How it Relates to My Own Experiences Chasing the Dream of Creating Culture Through Cinema

In Nathaniel Kohn's Pursuing Hollywood, auto/ethnography and interpretive interaction are discussed alongside postmodern sign theory and the machinations of making films in the Hollywood system. Interwoven into this review-essay of Kohn's book are auto/ethnographical elements of the reviewer's personal experiences making an independent film and doing business in what the reviewer refers to as La La Land. While Kohn's book is meant to be an insider's gaze onto a world few know first-hand, the reviewer has had similar experiences and reads the book as an identifying text and a launch point for his own experiential accounts.