cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stereotyped behaviours as precursors of self-injurious behaviours: a longitudinal study with infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delay.

Background The notion that stereotypic behaviours may be precursors of self-injurious behaviour (SIB) has been considered in the past, but the available empirical evidence is still inconsistent and ambiguous. Method In a longitudinal study, we collected data on stereotypic behaviour and SIB from 160 infants and toddlers who were at-risk for developmental delay. Interviews were conducted with parents at three time points during a one-year span using the Behaviour Problems Inventory-01 which contains subscales for SIB and stereotyped behaviour. We used growth modelling to estimate linear trends in several models. Model fit was evaluated according to a combination of fit statistics as is recommended in structural equation or latent variable modelling approaches such as latent growth modelling. Results In examining the relationship between stereotyped behaviours and SIB across time, the model that represented earlier stereotyped behaviour as predicting later SIB fit the data better than the other models. Conclusions The findings corroborate the notion that stereotyped behaviour can be a precursor of SIB. If replicated by other studies, it makes a case for considering early intervening with stereotyped behaviour as a SIB prevention strategy.
Rehab Retrospect: Former Prostitutes and the (Re)construction of Deviance

In this study, in-depth qualitative interviews with former street prostitutes currently in an outpatient drug rehabilitation program are utilized to examine the transition out of prostitution and from a deviant to a non-deviant identity. Little extant literature explores the relationships between stigma management and desistance as prostitutes attempt to exit the industry. This research finds that while in rehab, the women activated meanings of their previous drug addiction both as a stigma management technique and as a cognitive process that distances them from the prostitute identity. They conceptually bundled their prostitution identity with that of drug addiction, ultimately reinforcing that they completed the transition out of deviance.
Segmented Mixture-of-Gaussian Classification for Hyperspectral Image Analysis

The same high dimensionality of hyperspectral imagery that facilitates detection of subtle differences in spectral response due to differing chemical composition also hinders the deployment of traditional statistical pattern-classification procedures, particularly when relatively few training samples are available. Traditional approaches to addressing this issue, which typically employ dimensionality reduction based on either projection or feature selection, are at best suboptimal for hyperspectral classification tasks. A divide-and-conquer algorithm is proposed to exploit the high correlation between successive spectral bands and the resulting block-diagonal correlation structure to partition the hyperspectral space into approximately independent subspaces. Subsequently, dimensionality reduction based on a graph-theoretic locality-preserving discriminant analysis is combined with classification driven by Gaussian mixture models independently in each subspace. The locality-preserving discriminant analysis preserves the potentially multimodal statistical structure of the data, which the Gaussian mixture model classifier learns in the reduced-dimensional subspace. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system significantly outperforms traditional classification approaches, even when few training samples are employed.
A new adaptive array algorithm for interference suppression in wireless communications

In the application of antenna arrays to wireless communications, a known signal preamble is used for estimating the array response at the beginning of each data frame. The estimated array response is then used in linear combining the array input for interference suppression and demodulation of the desired user's information data. Since the training preamble is usually very short, the conventional training methods, which estimate the array response based solely on the training preamble, may incur large estimation errors. We propose a subspace-based technique for array response estimation, which exploit the whole frame of the received signal. It is shown that as the length of the data frame tends to infinity, in the absence of noise, this method can recover the array response of the desired user exactly, given a small number of training symbols of that user. We also derive expressions for the subspace-based array combining weights based on zero-forcing and MMSE criteria. Simulation results show that the proposed method offers substantial performance gain over the conventional direct matrix inversion (DMI) method for adaptive arrays. The proposed technique can be readily extended to dispersive channels to combat both co-channel interference (CCI) and intersymbol interference (ISI).
Tail Approximations for Portfolio Credit Risk

Any simulation procedure has difficulty achieving accuracy for rare events that lie in the tails of the probability distributions one is simulating from. But that is where the outcomes that produce defaults in a credit portfolio occur, making pricing and risk management for CDOs and similar instruments difficult and (computer) time-consuming. In this article, Glasserman introduces several approximation procedures for estimating the tails of the distribution of default risk exposure for a credit portfolio. The technology appears somewhat daunting, but the results are impressive in terms of accuracy in fitting even the remote tails for a broad range of portfolios.
Other people's racism: race, rednecks, and riots in a southern high school

This article uses data drawn from nine months of fieldwork and student, teacher, and administrator interviews at a southern high school to analyze school racial conflict and the construction of racism. We find that institutional inequalities that stratify students by race and class are routinely ignored by school actors who, we argue, use the presence of so-called redneck students to plausibly deny racism while furthering the standard definition of racism as blatant prejudice and an individual trait. The historical prominence of rednecks as a southern cultural identity augments these claims, leading to an implicit division of school actors into friendly/nonracist and unfriendly/racist and allowing school actors to set boundaries on the meaning of racism. Yet these rhetorical practices and the institutional structures they mask contributed to racial tensions, culminating in a race riot during our time at the school.
Thoughts on Directions in Lynching Research

Michael J. Pfeifer provides a comprehensive overview of the history and current state of research on lynching and identifies areas in need of further study. Writing from a social scientist’s point of view, I will focus primarily on issues relevant to quantitative analysis in my response to his arguments.1 Pfeifer calls for scholars to keep the experiences of groups victimized by lynching “at the fore of their inquiry.” I believe that studying prevented lynchings is a powerful way to do this. The challenges to systematic data collection on these cases are formidable, but the collection effort is essential. Lynchings were not inexorable, although reading one account after another can make it seem that victims, perpetrators, and their respective communities were frozen in unchanging roles and that the outcome was inevitable. This illusion is quickly dispelled by examples of prevented lynchings. Those that were avoided through intervention or resistance reveal the complexity and contingency of mob violence and shift the focus to the strategies and efforts of those who resisted.2 Pfeifer states that “it is imperative that [scholars] collaborate to compile a central, accessible database of comprehensive, reliable lynching data.” I agree, while also recognizing that documenting all lynchings is an impossible task. If the unidentified cases differ in no systematic way from those identified, this is not an insuperable problem for statistical analysis. Unidentified cases almost certainly do differ from known cases, however; undiscovered cases probably occurred in earlier years, in more isolated areas, and perhaps were carried out more stealthily. Pfeifer’s caution that quantitative research is partly “an exercise in speculation” will remain true, even as the field makes advances in documenting cases and compiling a database.3 Good quantitative analysis demands consideration of methods as well as data. As Michael Trotti has lucidly explained, lynching scholars need to think carefully about whether research questions are best answered using raw numbers, which provide a count of documented lynchings within the bounds of a particular place and time, or rates, which can measure relative risk for those times and places. A refinement on these measures involves looking at “local sequential patterns,” recognizing that each lynching in an area had an influence on
Relocation of hopping sensors

Hopping sensors are a class of mobile sensors whose mobility design are inspired by creatures such as grasshoppers. Such sensors are able to maintain mobility in harsh terrains but may lack movement accuracy of those sensors that are powered by wheels. We examine the opportunities and challenges for utilizing the mobility of low cost hopping sensors to ensure coverage and maintain energy efficiency within a sensing field. We focus on the problem of transporting a number of hopping sensors from multiple sources to a destination. Probabilistic methods are used to contain the movement inaccuracies along the hopping course. We also consider the impact of wind under an aerodynamic setting. Two transport schemes are designed to minimize the number of hops needed while considering other constraints, such as sustaining the capability of relocating sensors within the whole network. In one scheme we use upper and lower hopping limits to apply the network mobility constraints. The other scheme uses a balancing coefficient to construct a new optimization target to meet the requirement of path optimality and network mobility dynamically. Simulation results show that both schemes work well regardless of the wind factors, while the dynamic scheme is also shown to be resilient to topological changes of the network.
Spectroscopic Identification and Direct Imaging of Interfacial Magnetic Spins

Using x-ray absorption spectromicroscopy we have imaged the uncompensated spins induced at the surface of antiferromagnetic (AFM) NiO(100) by deposition of ferromagnetic (FM) Co. These spins align parallel to the AFM spins in NiO(100) and align the FM spins in Co. The uncompensated interfacial spins arise from an ultrathin CoNiOx layer that is formed upon Co deposition through reduction of the NiO surface. The interfacial Ni spins are discussed in terms of the "uncompensated spins" at AFM/FM interfaces long held responsible for coercivity increases and exchange bias. We find a direct correlation between their number and the size of the coercivity.
Hayek: Good money

(2001). Hayek: Good money. Journal of the History of Economic Thought: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 99-104.
Effect of Gibberellic Acid in Broiler-Starter Rations

ABSTRACT Recent work has shown that gibberellic acid 2 causes added growth in numerous pasture plants and vegetable crops (Stodola et al., 1956; Wittwer, Bukovac and Lindstrom, 1957). Due to these promising results, there is a possibility that this substance may be employed commercially in the future in treating a great variety of plants. Since portions of some of these plants may be used for poultry feed ingredients, it is important to find out if gibberellic acid would be safe for poultry at levels that might be residues on plants. A spray application of 100 ppm. of gibberellic acid per plant has been shown to be effective in promoting growth in a number of plants. This may result in a residual level of about 630 micrograms per pound of sprayed plant material. Therefore, an experiment was designed in which broiler chicks were fed a level of gibberellic acid approximating this amount (2 . . .
Polymorphic Phase Transitions in Nanocrystalline Binary Metal Oxides

Binary metal oxides occur in different polymorphic states under applied pressure and temperature. Structural changes occur due to polymorphic transitions in binary metal oxides. It is essential to theoretically predict the conditions of polymorphic transitions so that materials can be effectively used in engineering applications. Temperature and pressure are the two main factors affecting the bulk state phase transformation of materials. For nanomaterials, it has been observed that particle size and temperature are the main factors affecting the phase transformation, e.g., γ-Fe2O3 to α-Fe2O3, monoclinic to orthorhombic transformation in MoO3, anatase to rutile transformation in Titania, γ to α Alumina transformation. We compile from literature the main factors which affect the phase stability of a nanocrystalline binary metal oxide. A heuristic approach to formulate particle size is put forth. Factors like surface energy, surface tension, and particle shape are considered, and a value for critical particle size is formulated. The model fits well with the experimental results for nanocrystalline alumina, titania, zirconia, and Fe2O3. Such an approach can be applied to predict the particle size-dependent stability of a phase at known temperature range.
Electrical activation to the parasternal intercostal muscles during high-frequency spinal cord stimulation in dogs.

High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) is a novel technique of inspiratory muscle activation involving stimulation of spinal cord pathways, which may have application as a method to provid...
Langmuir Probe Diagnostics of Continuous, Electron Beam Produced Plasma in Argon, Nitrogen and their Mixtures

Summary form only given. Langmuir probe diagnostics have been carried out in the Naval Research Laboratory's Large Area Plasma Processing System (LAPPS), which is based on continuous, electron- beam produced plasma. The electron beam was extracted from a hollow-cathode discharge, accelerated using a high- voltage grid and a magnetic field was applied to confine the beam. The plasma was produced in a background of 5-65 mTorr of pure argon, nitrogen and their mixtures. The generated plasma had a high density 109-1011 cm-3 like the conventional discharges but a lower electron temperature (< 1 eV) which allows for the processing of energy sensitive materials. The effect of the operating parameters including hollow cathode and extraction voltages and currents on the plasma characteristics was examined. Further tuning of the plasma properties was achieved by adjustment of the magnetic field and the gas composition. This study also provides an analytical explanation of the low electron temperature observed in all experiments, highlighting the fundamental difference between conventional discharges and electron beam generated plasmas.
The Effect of Wind-Wave Growth on SAR-Based Waterline Maps

In this paper, we investigate an issue related to the use of synthetic aperture radar imagery to detect ocean and lake waterlines. In a previous publication, the waterlines indicated by Land P-band AIRSAR imagery of a tidal flat in South Korea were compared and found to be offset from one another by approximately 80 to 170 m. The authors postulated that the difference was due to depth-dependent dissipation or dispersion of surface waves and the subsequent modulation of the radar backscatter as described by the Bragg model. In this paper, we present an alternative explanation based on the growth of wind waves as a function of distance (i.e., fetch). This new explanation is more consistent with the environmental conditions, radar look geometry, and surface wave theory, while also explaining several finer-scale features observed in the imagery that are not addressed in the original publication. Our results indicate that the detected waterline position should be a sensitive function of radar frequency only under a restricted set of conditions, namely, when the body of water in question is cutoff from incoming swell and the only surface waves present are locally generated by a land breeze. While such conditions may occur relatively infrequently in the coastal ocean, they appear to be common when imaging the windward shores of inland lakes, as illustrated by additional AIRSAR imagery. The analysis also serves as a remote-sensing-based validation of the existing theory for wind-wave growth in a wavenumber regime not previously studied in the field.
Mandatory and binding arbitration: Effects on employee attitudes and recruiting results

This paper reports the results of two studies undertaken in the same Fortune 500 company as it adopted an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. Study 1 assessed employees' perceptions of fairness, trust, and turnover intentions regarding ADR options. Compared with other options for ADR, a program consisting of mandatory mediation followed by mandatory and binding arbitration (MMBA) resulted in significantly lower levels of procedural fairness perception, organizational trust, and intentions to stay with the firm. Contrary to previous research, no significant effects were found related to respondents' demographic characteristics and their reactions to ADR program characteristics. In Study 2, job-applicant flow data were evaluated and compared by corporate region to determine the effects of an MMBA program installed in one region. Results revealed no significant effects related to the MMBA program on the organization's ability to recruit and ultimately fill key positions. As in Study 1, no significant effects were found in Study 2 for the demographic characteristics of applicant race/ethnicity, gender, or age on applicant recruitment decisions. Although Study 2 results indicated job candidates are unaffected by the existence of an MMBA program, given Study 1's results, practitioners should be cautious about implementing such a program for current employees. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Solving Stiff Differential Equations with the Method of Patches

We introduce a new method for solving very stiff sets of ordinary differential equations. The basic idea is to replace the original nonlinear equations with a set of equally stiff equations that are piecewise linear, and therefore can be solved exactly. We demonstrate the value of the method on small systems of equations for which some other methods are inefficient or produce spurious solutions, estimate error bounds, and discuss extensions of the method to larger systems of equations and to partial differential equations.
Issues in the Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials

AbstractWith increases in knowledge about the design and conduct of clinical trials have come a host of concerns and potential problems. This review discusses a number of current issues pertinent to clinical trial research and management. Through a representative sampling of these issues, it becomes apparent that even though clinical trials, especially the randomized type, are the exemplar of medical research, they may not, as yet, be a perfected method.
Multibody Interactions, Phase Behavior, and Clustering in Nanoparticle–Polyelectrolyte Mixtures

We present the results of a computational study of the interactions, phase-behavior and aggregation characteristics of charged nanoparticles (CNPs) suspended in solution of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs). We used an extension of the mean-field polymer self-consistent field theory (SCFT) model presented in our earlier work ( Macromolecules , 2014 , 47 , 6095 - 6112 ) to explicitly characterize the multibody interactions in such systems. For dilute-moderate particle volume fractions, the magnitudes of three and higher multibody interactions were seen to be weak relative to the contributions from pair interactions. On the basis of such results, we embeded the pair-interaction potentials within a thermodynamic perturbation theory approach to identify the phase behavior of such systems. The results of such a framework suggested that the gas and FCC crystal phases were thermodynamically stable, whereas the fluidlike phase was metastable in such systems. To complement the parameters studied using SCFT, we used a recently developed multibody simulation approach to study the aggregation and cluster morphologies in CNP-PE mixtures. For low particle charges, such systems mainly exhibited clusters arising from direct contact aggregation between CNPs. However, for higher particle and PE charges and low PE concentrations, large regions of PE-bridged clusters were seen to form. We present a morphological phase diagram summarizing such results.
Emerging treatment mechanisms for depression: focus on glutamate and synaptic plasticity

Major depression is a chronic and debilitating illness that effects approximately 1 in 5 people, but currently available treatments are limited by low rates of efficacy, therapeutic time lag, and undesirable side effects. Recent efforts have been directed towards investigating rapid-acting agents that reverse the behavioral and neuronal deficits of chronic stress and depression, notably the glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine. The cellular mechanisms underlying the rapid antidepressant actions of ketamine and related agents are discussed, as well as novel, selective glutamatergic receptor targets that are safer and have fewer side effects.
Strategies and automaticity: Implications for part-task training

This research examined the role of strategic and automatic processing in the acquisition of cognitive skill. These factors were dissociated by manipulating the predictability of Consistently Mapped (CM) and Variably Mapped (VM) stimuli in a memory search task. In blocked CM and VM conditions, subjects could choose different strategies for each condition. However, in mixed CM and VM conditions, the subjects had no basis for choosing differential strategies. Subjects who received mixed training exhibited less skilled performance than subjects who received blocked training. Moreover, transfer conditions revealed what appears to be a critical interval for learning to use differential strategies. The implications for part-task training are discussed.
Nutrient-Reserve Dynamics of Breeding Male Wood Ducks

Studies of reproductive bioenergetics in Anatidae have focused primarily on females, but reproductive effort of males is significant and of critical importance to the breeding success of their mates. We studied dynamics of nutrient reserves of breeding male Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) in Alabama and Georgia to examine whether males used endogenous lipid and protein to help meet energy demands of reproduction. We also investigated variation in prebasic molt and testis mass of males in relation to breeding status. Carcass mass of males was greatest in February and declined during the laying and incubation periods of their mates. Reductions in carcass mass were due largely to changes in stored lipids, but carcass protein also declined. Lipids declined 123 g (79%) from February to late incubation; most of this loss (106 g; 86%) occurred from February to laying. The absolute amount and proportion of stored lipids used by breeding males were similar to that of breeding females (Drobney 1982). Protein declined from January (162 g) to late incubation (139 g) and remained low in late summer. Prebasic molt of males began while their mates were nesting, but timing and intensity of molt varied greatly among males. Molt score of males accompanying laying and incubating females was not correlated with testis mass. Testis mass peaked during laying and remained high through late incubation before declining in late summer
Physical Functioning Among Women Aged 80 Years and Older With Previous Fracture

BACKGROUND The oldest old are the fastest growing segment of the elderly population. Little is known regarding the associations of fracture history with physical functioning assessed after age 80. METHODS Among 33,386 women surviving to age 80 years (mean ± SD years 84.6 ± 3.4), we examined the relationship between history of incident fracture after entry into the Women's Health Initiative (follow-up 15.2 ± 1.3 years) and their physical functioning assessed using the RAND-36 instrument most proximal to 2012 end of follow-up. RESULTS Baseline mean (±SD) physical function score was 82 (± 18). After adjustment for demographic and medical characteristics, fracture at each site, including hip, upper limb, lower limb, and central body, was associated with significantly lower subsequent physical functioning (all p < .001). Hip, upper leg, spine, and pelvis fractures were particularly related with lower physical functioning scores, 11.7 (95% CI: 10.3, 13.1), 10.5 (8.8, 12.3), 9.8 (8.9, 10.8), and 8.7 (7.2, 10.2) units lower, respectively, compared with women without fracture (each p < .0001). Compared with women without central site fracture, women with central site fractures also had lower physical functioning scores (10.0 [9.3, 10.8] units lower]; p < .0001). In case-only analysis of fractures, older age, less than 1 year since fracture, one or more additional sites fractured, history of cardiovascular disease or cancer, higher body mass index, and no alcohol intake in the past 3 months also were independent predictors of lower physical functioning score (all p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Among women surviving to 80 years and older, prior fracture is associated with lower current physical functioning, regardless of anatomical site of fracture, independent of other major predictors of disability.
Surface Potential of DPPC Monolayers on Concentrated Aqueous Salt Solutions

The presence and exchange of electrical charges on the surfaces of marine aerosols influence their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei and play a role in thundercloud electrification. Although interactions exist between surface-active inorganic ions and organic compounds, their role in surface charging of marine aerosols is not well understood. In this study, the surface potential of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayers, a zwitterionic phospholipid found in the sea surface microlayer, is measured on concentrated (0.3–2.0 M) chloride salt solutions containing marine-relevant cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) to model and elucidate the electrical properties of organic-covered marine aerosols. Monovalent cations show only a weak effect on the surface potential of DPPC monolayers in the condensed phase compared to water. In contrast, Mg2+ and Ca2+ increase the surface potential, indicating different cation binding modes and affinities for the PC headgroup. Moreover, it is found that for divale...
[A cross-sectional study on iodine nutrition in general population from Zhejiang province, China].

Objective To understand the current status of iodine nutrition among the community residents to compare the level of iodine nutrition in different areas and groups of populations in Zhejiang province.Methods Stratified cluster sampling method was adopted and residents from twenty-two communities in Zhejiang province were selected.A cross-sectional survey was conducted,using questionnaires,laboratory tests,on urinary iodine,water iodine and the concentration of the iodine in salt,which had played positive roles in the calculation of the level of iodine nutrition.Results Results of the iodine nutrition in this cross-sectional survey were as follows:the median water iodine and salt iodine of Zhejiang were 2.42 μg/L and 28.8 mg/kg,respectively.The coverage of iodized salts was 79.54％,with the ingesting rate of qualified iodized-salt as 76.65％ and the median content of urinary iodine in the population of Zhejiang was 161 μg/L.The average iodine content among pregnant women was 138 μg/L,with the percentage of samples less than 100 μg/L as 25.92％,more than 300 μg/L as 15.30％.The proportions of iodine intake through water,salt and other foods were 1.70％,76.41％ and 21.89％,respectively.Conclusion The status of iodine nutrition in Zhejiang province in general seemed to be appropriate,but the level of iodine nutrition in pregnant women was less than the requirement,which should call for attention. Key words: Iodine; Nutrition; Cross-sectional study
MUSIC-Expected maximization gaussian mixture methodology for clustering and detection of task-related neuronal firing rates

Researchers often rely on simple methods to identify involvement of neurons in a particular motor task. The historical approach has been to inspect large groups of neurons and subjectively separate neurons into groups based on the expertise of the investigator. In cases where neuron populations are small it is reasonable to inspect these neuronal recordings and their firing rates carefully to avoid data omissions. In this paper, a new methodology is presented for automatic objective classification of neurons recorded in association with behavioral tasks into groups. By identifying characteristics of neurons in a particular group, the investigator can then identify functional classes of neurons based on their relationship to the task. The methodology is based on integration of a multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm to extract relevant features from the firing rate and an expectation-maximization Gaussian mixture algorithm (EM-GMM) to cluster the extracted features. The methodology is capable of identifying and clustering similar firing rate profiles automatically based on specific signal features. An empirical wavelet transform (EWT) was used to validate the features found in the MUSIC pseudospectrum and the resulting signal features captured by the methodology. Additionally, this methodology was used to inspect behavioral elements of neurons to physiologically validate the model. This methodology was tested using a set of data collected from awake behaving non-human primates.
Three new sauropod dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic of Colorado

From 1972 to 1982 three exceptionally large sauropod scapulocoracoids and other equally large sauropod bones were collected from the base of the Brushy Basin Member of the Upper Jurassic, Morrison Formation, in western Colorado. Two of the scapulae are conspecific, but the third represents a second genus and possibly a new family. The two conspecific specimens are described here as: Supersaurus vivianae ; the second genus is described as Ultrasaurus mcintoshi , and a large, robust anterior dorsal vertebra of unique form is described as Dystylosaurus edwini . Various miscellaneous elements are referred to the three genera.
Polarized beamforming for near-field wireless jamming attacks mitigation

Wireless communication systems are susceptible to jamming attacks and interference in general from other wireless signals. Beamforming is a technique that provide a scheme to counteract the impact of jamming attacks. However, for the situation when the direction of the desired signal is close in space to that of the jamming signal, the performance of the traditional anti-jamming beamformer that utilizes isotropic antenna array elements is significantly degraded because of the fact that signals are indistinguishable from interference in the space domain. Polarized beamforming has been proposed to solve this problem by filtering the interference from the desired signal in both space and polarization domain. However, existing work only considered far-field radiation region of the signal by assuming that the transmitter and the receiver are far apart while near-field wireless communications have been employed in more and more applications. In this paper, an enhanced countermeasure method for mitigating jamming attacks in the near-field radiation region has been proposed by using the polarized beamforming with a planar array. The analytical expression of the steering vectors is derived for near-field propagation. The steering vector for far-field is shown to be an approximation of that of near-field. The beamformer is designed by using the Linearly Constrained Minimum Variance (LCMV) criterion. Simulation results in terms of beam pattern and Bit Error Rate (BER) show a significant performance improvement of the proposed anti-jamming system even when the desired signals and interferences are propagating from the same direction. Simulation results also show that the proposed approach is more efficient in near-field wireless communications than the existing work that only considered far-field propagation.
Structure-Based Designed Nano-Dysferlin Significantly Improves Dysferlinopathy in BLA/J Mice

Dysferlinopathy is an autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy characterized by the progressive loss of motility that is caused by mutations throughout the DYSF gene. There are currently no approved therapies that ameliorate or reverse dysferlinopathy. Gene delivery using adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) is a leading therapeutic strategy for genetic diseases; however, the large size of dysferlin cDNA (6.2 kB) precludes packaging into a single AAV capsid. Therefore, using 3D structural modeling and hypothesizing dysferlin C2 domain redundancy, a 30% smaller, dysferlin-like molecule amenable to single AAV vector packaging was engineered (termed Nano-Dysferlin). The intracellular distribution of Nano-Dysferlin was similar to wild-type dysferlin and neither demonstrated toxicity when overexpressed in dysferlin-deficient patient myoblasts. Intramuscular injection of AAV-Nano-Dysferlin in young dysferlin-deficient mice significantly improved muscle integrity and decreased muscle turnover 3 weeks after treatment, as determined by Evans blue dye uptake and central nucleated fibers, respectively. Systemically administered AAV-Nano-Dysferlin to young adult dysferlin-deficient mice restored motor function and improved muscle integrity nearly 8 months after a single injection. These preclinical data are the first report of a smaller dysferlin variant tailored for AAV single particle delivery that restores motor function and, therefore, represents an attractive candidate for the treatment of dysferlinopathy.
The Future of Public Policy Engagement: Preparing Human Sciences Undergraduates for Emerging Roles

In the 21st century, the vast majority of bachelor’s degree recipients in the human sciences1 will be on the front-line working most directly with family issues and implementing policies that affect families. They will work with the steadily increasing numbers of children who live in families that have no fathers or in families that have no homes. They will serve individuals and families who face and will continue to face the ever increasingly complex challenges which the future holds. These novice professionals also will be asked to work in new ways to meet the needs of the clients they serve. Involvement with public policy will be a critical role for human sciences experts in serving families and the profession. While innumerable scholars have suggested what policies and foci are essential for the work of human sciences professionals (e.g., Fine, 1992; Jenson & Warstadt, 1990; Kellett, 1994; Wisensale, 1992; Zimmerman, 1992), fewer experts have addressed the means by which professionals are to gain levels of expertise to effectively engage in the public policy arena.
Psychometric Foundations of Behavioral Assessment

Previous chapters emphasized that clinical judgments are influenced by the validity of data available to the assessor. This chapter examines principles of validation—how psychological assessment instruments can be evaluated on the degree to which they provide valid and useful information.
Commentary: Academia: A Poetic Memoir

A sociological maxim is that one sees from a particular position. As my position in academia changed, I saw differently. In this piece, I offer brief descriptions of my experience in four positions—Untenured Professor, Tenured Associate Professor, Full Professor and Professor Emeritus—and illustrate those with poems written during each of those positions.
Online field experiments

Changes in information communication technology across the Asian region have altered our field substantively and methodologically. The rapid growth of digitized communications allows us to find new...
INFLUENCE OF MICROSTRUCTURE ON THE THERMOELASTIC AND TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF PARTICULATE AND SHORT-FIBER COMPOSITES

ABSTRACT Model relationships are described which predict the thermoelastic and transport properties of short-fiber and/or particulate reinforced polymeric composites. These relationships contain structural parameters to account for processing induced variations in the microstructure; viz, (i) an orientation parameter to characterize states of fiber orientation between random and collimated, and (ii) an effective aspect ratio parameter to account for aggregation. Optical scattering techniques have been developed to provide quantitative characterizations for these structural parameters. The correlation obtained between the predicted and measured properties emphasizes the importance of conducting structural characterization experiments in conjunction with mechanical characterizations and suggests the need for more rigorous treatments to account for the influence of processing induced variations in microstructure on the properties of short-fiber and/or particulate reinforced composites.
Actinium-225 treatment of ovarian cancer metastases

557 Objectives: Ovarian cancer metastases are initially confined to the intraperitoneal (ip) space. This work examines the feasibility of targeting these tumors locally using immunoliposomal targeting of 225Ac. Methods: 225Ac was actively loaded into Herceptin-immunoliposomes (HIL) using the ionophore calcimycin. Stability and retention of 225Ac was determined by incubation at 37°C in growth media. Nude mice were injected ip with SKOV3-NMP2 ovarian carcinoma cells, an aggressive variant of SKOV3 cells that develops tumor nodules on organs in the ip space. Ten days post tumor inoculation 225Ac-HIL or 225Ac-Herceptin (H) was injected ip. Mice were sacrificed at 1, 6, 24, 72, 120, and 240h and blood, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, stomach, intestine, spine, femur, spleen, and tumor were extracted for gamma counting. Tumor-free mice were also injected ip with 225Ac-HIL or 225Ac-H to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD). Results: Active loading yielded 83±5% encapsulation efficiency, significantly higher than passive encapsulation. Stability studies showed 70-90% retention of initial activity over a 30 day period. 225Ac-HIL uptake was observed primarily in the tumor and spleen, with some uptake in the peritoneal organs (kidneys, liver, stomach, and intestine). The absorbed dose to kidneys and tumor was 1.4 and 0.25 Gy/kBq, respectively, for 225Ac-H and 0.90 and 0.11 Gy/kBq, respectively, for 225Ac-HIL-injected mice. The 213Bi dose contribution to kidneys from 225Ac-HIL was half of that from 225Ac-H. The MTD was >1 μCi and Conclusions: Immunoliposomal targeting of peritoneal disease with the α-emitter 225Ac provides advantages over antibody-delivery in terms of decreased toxicity, and greater delivery of α-particles to the targeted tumor. Efficacy studies are pending.
Postoperative complications decrease the cost-effectiveness of robotic-assisted lobectomy.

Abstract Background Cost of robotic-assisted (RATS) lobectomy remains a major concern. We sought to define variability in cost and factors associated with increased hospital expenses after RATS lobectomy for early stage non–small cell lung cancer. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent RATS lobectomy for stages I–IIIA non–small cell lung cancer at a single institution between 2012 and 2014. Clinical outcomes were linked to hospital financial data. Linear regression analysis was used to test the impact of patient factors and postoperative outcomes on cost. Results A total of 137 patients underwent RATS lobectomy, predominantly for stage IA (73%, n = 100). Overall in-hospital morbidity was 29.2% (n = 40), median length of stay was 5 days (range 1–27 days). Postoperative cost accounted for approximately 50% of total cost of hospitalization and varied significantly (mean $9,618.38 ± $10,779.65), resulting in an average total hospital cost of $19,565 (±$11,620.42). Male sex and upper lobe predominant disease were independently associated with increased cost, whereas higher preoperative diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was cost-protective. Hospital expenses associated with prolonged hospitalization were $2,376.23 per day (95% CI $2,178–2,573.60). The most common complication associated with increased cost was atrial fibrillation ($5,609.13; 95% CI $2,095.42–$9,122.84). Postoperative atelectasis requiring bronchoscopy, respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, and reoperation were seen less frequently in this cohort of patients but were associated with significant additional cost. Conclusion Hospital cost of RATS lobectomy can vary significantly. In addition to patient risk factors, differences in cost are mainly driven by postoperative events. Initiatives aimed to reduce common yet expensive complications have the potential to improve overall cost-effectiveness of RATS lobectomy.
Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of l-cyano-3,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)-l,3-dihydro-lλ3,2-benzoiodoxole, a stable cyanoiodolane

Stable, crystalline cyanoiodolane 3 has been prepared in two steps by sequential reactions of l-hydroxy-3,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)-l,3-dihydro-lλ3,2-benzoiodoxole 1 with trimethylsilyltriflate and then with cyanotrimethysilane; X-ray structure analysis reveals a distorted T-shaped structure for iodine with an endocyclic I-O bond distance of 2.117 A, which is significantly shorter than usual in C-substituted benzoiodoxole derivatives.
Using Virtual Digital Breast Tomosynthesis for De-Noising of Low-Dose Projection Images

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) provides a quasi-3D impression of the breast volume resulting in a better visualization of mass. However, one serious drawback of Tomosynthesis is that compared to Mammography, each projection gets lower x-ray dose resulting into higher quantum noise which seriously hampers the visibility of calcifications. To solve this problem we propose a Convolutional Neural Network model based on Adversarial loss. We train the deep network using synthetic data obtained from Virtual Clinical Trials. Unlike earlier works which tested model on phantoms only, we performed experiments on real samples obtained in clinical settings as well. Our approach shows encouraging results in de-noising the projections. De-noised projections show higher perceptual similarity with mammograms and superior signal-to-noise ratio. The reconstructed volume also enhances calcification visibility. Our work shows the viability of utilizing synthetic data for training the deep network for de-noising purposes.
The Fate of the Young Generation and the Legacy of Criterion

In this chapter, Bejan traces the fates of the members of the Young Generation after WWII and the installation of communism in Romania. After examining those who escaped and had successful careers in exile (Eliade, Cioran and Ionesco), the chapter uncovers the diverse destinies of those left behind in Romania (Vulcanescu, Sebastian, Comarnescu, Tudor, Stancu, Noica and Sadova). The chapter explores what the Criterionists wrote about Criterion in their memoirs and correspondence. Then, the initial thesis question is considered, and the chapter addresses some general reasons fascism appealed to the Young Generation. Finally, this chapter states that the book can be a contribution to better understanding the complicated secrets of the intellectuals of Romania’s Golden Era.
Finite-state Optimality Theory: non-rationality of Harmonic Serialism

This paper analyzes the language-theoretic complexity of Harmonic Serialism (HS), a derivational variant of Optimality Theory. I show that HS can generate non-rational relations using strictly local markedness constraints, proving the “result” of Hao (2017), that HS is rational under those assumptions, to be incorrect. This is possible because deletions performed in a particular order have the ability to enforce nesting dependencies over long distances. I argue that coordinated deletions form a canonical characterization of non-rational relations definable in HS.
A United States Rectal Cancer Consortium study of inferior mesenteric artery versus superior rectal artery ligation: How high do we need to go?

47Background: The optimal level of pedicle ligation during proctectomy for rectal cancer, either at the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) or the superior rectal artery (SRA), is still ...
Clinical Reasoning: A young healthy woman with difficult-to-wean acute ventilator dependence

A 25-year-old woman with a history of occipital headaches and chronic smoking (2 pack-years) was found unconscious at home following a week of fatigue and drowsiness. She was intubated on-scene and admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) for hypercapnic respiratory failure. CT scan of the chest revealed bibasilar opacities, leading to empiric treatment of pneumonia despite absence of fever and cough. Pulmonary opacities and mental status improved with treatment, but the patient failed multiple attempts to wean from ventilation before ultimate extubation. The patient then experienced sleep apnea as witnessed by hospital staff and remained persistently hypercapnic, requiring biphasic positive airway pressure (BiPAP) support. Bedside ultrasound revealed severe bidiaphragmatic weakness, prompting neurologic consultation for apparent neuromuscular respiratory failure. On examination, cranial nerves were intact. The patient had normal muscle tone, 4/5 strength in the right deltoid and right intrinsic hand muscles, no fatigable oculobulbar weakness, diffuse hyperreflexia (3/4 in bilateral brachioradialis, biceps, and triceps, 4/4 in both patellars, with 5–6 beats of clonus in both ankles), and bilateral Babinski sign. The patient had no cerebellar signs.
Efficacy of local infiltration anesthesia versus interscalene nerve blockade for total shoulder arthroplasty

Background Optimal modalities for pain control in shoulder arthroplasty are not yet established. Although regional nerve blockade has been a well-accepted modality, complications and rebound pain have led some surgeons to seek other pain control modalities. Local injection of anesthetics has recently gained popularity in joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and complication rate of a low-cost local anesthetic injection mixture for use in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) compared with interscalene brachial plexus blockade. Methods A total of 314 patients underwent TSA and were administered general anesthesia with either a local injection mixture (local infiltration anesthesia [LIA], n = 161) or peripheral nerve block (PNB, n = 144). Patient charts were retrospectively reviewed for postoperative pain scores, 24-hour opioid consumption, and 90-day postoperative complications. Results Immediate postoperative pain scores were not significantly different between groups (P = .94). The LIA group demonstrated a trend toward lower pain scores at 24 hours postoperatively (P = .10). Opioid consumption during the first 24 hours following surgery was significantly reduced in the LIA group compared with the PNB group (P < .0001). There was a trend toward fewer postoperative nerve and cardiopulmonary complications in the LIA group than the PNB group (P = .22 and P = .40, respectively). Conclusion Periarticular local injection mixtures provide comparable pain control to regional nerve blocks while reducing opioid use and postoperative complications following TSA. Local injection of a multimodal anesthetic solution is a viable option for pain management in TSA.