bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of methods for experimental and analytical determination of the contour area of the contact patch of a pneumatic tire with a support base
Authors: Lipkan' A. V. , Panasyuk A. N. , Godzhayev Z. A. , Lavrov A. V. , Rusanov A. V. , Kazakova V. A.
Published: April 2021

The results of experiments on the estimation of the error of methods of experimental and calculated determination of the contour area for the ecological assessment of a mobile energy device are presented. There was used the example of modern radial tires 360/70R24 of Bel-89 and 18.4R34 of F-11 agricultural tractor MTZ-1025.2. in modes of non-nominal loading at nominal load on tires and changes in tire pressure within the range recommended for field work. assess the possibility of improving the computational method for determining the contour area of the contact patch of the tire tread of a pneumatic wheel based on the mathematical model of V.L. Biederman. The assessment was carried out for four ways of determining the area of the tire contact patch: 1) directly measuring the area using a digital photograph of the tire contact patch in Kompas-3D V13 software with the determination of the scaling and method error using a square from 100x100 mm graph paper; 2) calculation by the formula of the area of an ellipse, using the length and width of the tire contact patch, measured with a tape measure directly from the obtained print; 3) by calculation, determined from the digital photograph in Kompas-3D V13 software; 4) by calculation, determined by calculation using the parameters of the universal tire characteristic (UTC).

As a result of the experiments, it was found that for modern radial tractor tires, the static deformation of which does not exceed 1822 %, the method of theoretical determination of the contour area of the tire contact patch using the UTC parameters can be applied with sufficient (for engineering practice) accuracy. Full convergence of the calculated and experimental contour areas of the tire contact patch can be provided by the coefficient of their ratio. The carried out assessment of the possibility of using methods for calculating the conditional contour area of the tire showed that these methods can be well used for a comparative assessment of the technogenic mechanical impact of propellers on the soil.
Features of the operation of engine oils in a combined lubrication system “engine-gearbox”
Authors: Krokhta G. M , Krum V. A , Usatykh N. A , Khomchenko YE. N
Published: April 2021

The paper presents the results of studies on the possibility of recycling part of the heat dissipated by the engine lubrication system into the environment. To increase the efficiency of using waste heat, a contact method of heat exchange is proposed. Studies showed that this method, despite the efficiency of heat and mass transfer processes, the simplicity of devices for its implementation can not always be applicable. With the contact method, there is a direct mixing of two coolants: hot and cold, as a result of which the circulation rate is reduced by more than three times. This contributes to a decrease in the severity of the oil operating conditions in the “engine-gearbox” system. The hot coolant in this case is the engine oil of the running engine, and the cold one is the same oil located in the tractor gearbox. Physicochemical analysis of oil samples taken during operational tests of tractors showed that when extending the service life of the oil in the integrated lubrication system, the main indicators do not go beyond the limit states. It should be noted a slight excess of the content of mechanical impurities relative to their amount in the gearbox of a serial tractor, which is much less than the limiting value of 3%.
Energy intensity of chopping fructified raspberry stems
Authors: Ozherel'yev V. N
Published: April 2021

The article analyzes the results of measuring the force required for the destruction of a dried raspberry stem by means of transverse action on it. There was used as a variant of the experiment the cutting of stem with support at one and two points, as well as breaking it with a distance between the supports of 30 and 54 mm. It was found that the force on the working body linearly depends on the diameter of the stem. The essential dependence of the required force on the method of action on the material was confirmed. It was revealed that the effort to cut a dried stem is significantly higher than the effort required to break it. To implement the breaking process, a working body in the form of a pair of horizontal twelve-blade rotors mounted with a radial overlap between them by an amount approximately equal to the distance between the outer edges of the adjacent blades is proposed. In this case, the rotors should have a diameter of about 200-210 mm. In addition, they must be equipped with a synchronous drive and shifted in phase by an angle of 150. As a result of modeling the phases of the destruction of the stem by transverse fracture, the force and energy parameters of the process were obtained. With a rotor length of one meter and simultaneous crushing of 25 stems, the average power required to drive is 9.3 kW, with a probability of peak values of 16.4 kW. When calculating the strength, it should be taken into account that a distributed load of up to 12,400 N acts on the rotor shaft in the vertical plane and a distributed load of 2,750 N acts in the horizontal plane. A prototype grinder was tested and proven to work.
CRYPTOCURRENCY MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN LATVIA AND THE BALTIC STATES
Authors: Alexander Masharsky  , Ivan Skvortsov
Published: April 2021

The use of digital money creates not only threats, but also opportunities for economic development, but in Latvia and the Baltic countries, they are not sufficiently researched and not widely spread. The paper aims to identify the reasons for the lagging behind of the Baltic countries and Latvia in the development of the cryptocurrency market and to develop recommendations for improving its regulation and functioning. Based on the methods of cross-country, statistical and sociological analysis, the national factors of differences in the functioning and regulation of cryptocurrencies in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have been identified and the risks of its use for illegal activities have been assessed. It is shown that the role of cryptocurrencies in the financial markets of the Baltic States is determined by the degree of their use for payments and investments, which depends on their recognition by the state and investors. It has been revealed that the definition of the concept of cryptocurrency in the EU and the Baltic countries, primarily in the money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) directives, does not stimulate the use of its positive features. A correlation between the restrained attitude towards cryptocurrencies in Latvia and its large-scale business relations with the CIS countries with a higher proportion of shadow economy, caused by the peculiarities of its history and geographical location, has been revealed. The Latvian banking system, under the influence of international regulators, has become less appropriate for operations of non-residents from the East, which increases the risk of using cryptocurrency for ML/FT purposes. The factors of motivation, advantages and difficulties of the businessmen of the Baltic countries they face when dealing with cryptocurrency have been identified, and a discrepancy in the regulation of taxation of transactions with cryptocurrency and the respective activities in Latvia has been revealed. Recommendations are given to the state and private investors pertaining to the integration of cryptocurrencies into the economic space, the implementation of which will contribute to the development of the digital economy and growth of wealth of Latvian residents. The results of the study can be used to improve government regulation and private investments in the cryptocurrency market, as well as in the study and further research of this problem
ENSURING FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF BANKS IN THE TRANSITION TOWARDS THE ECOSYSTEM
Authors: Tetiana Girchenko  , Nataliia Konovalenko  , Nataliia Cherikovska
Published: April 2021

Banks still play a key role in monetary transactions, but at the present stage their role for customers is declining. In the near future, many agreements may not require the involvement of an intermediary. Therefore, banks need to rethink their business models and find new ways to stay relevant to their customers. Despite the development of fintech companies, banking and, moreover, the financial market will not disappear, but we can conclude that the reasons for the preservation and, consequently, the direction of transformation of the financial market will be different. Banking institutions need to build a new model of customer relations to establish trusting relationships, on the basis of which continuous business growth is possible. The introduction of banking ecosystems is inevitable, and Ukraine has great potential in this direction. Efficient operation of its own ecosystem platform provides endless advantages of the bank over its competitors. Therefore, such a platform in the long run will allow customers to perform everyday operations conveniently and most importantly in an accessible format. The main advantages of the ecosystem of innovation banking activity include: expanding the list of innovative products and services for existing and new customers, reducing the cost of innovation; accelerate the introduction of innovations in the ecosystem through more dynamic feedback with all participants in the ecosystem and increase customer loyalty; formation of new principles of interaction between participants in the innovation process in order to provide a wider range of innovative banking products and services. Digital ecosystems are a promising business model for banks, as they can not only attract and retain customers, but also generate income beyond their core business. In addition, cooperation with other companies in the form of commercial partnerships creates an attractive income and synergy for banks
REFORMING THE ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL SYSTEM AS A BASIS FOR SUCCESSFUL DECENTRALIZATION OF POWER: FRENCH AND UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE
Authors: Vadym Balinskyi
Published: April 2021

This paper outlines the main approaches of the "decentralization" and "local self-government" concept understanding, it identifies the main features of the Ukrainian administrative-territorial system reform and its problematic aspects. It was found that as a result of the attempt to complete the formation of the UTC, the aspects due to which these territories had previously refused to unite were ignored. Among the key ones: the resistance of local authorities, protection of own interests by local elites, conflict of interests of communities, territorial or resource disparities. These problems have not been resolved and they can significantly impair the further effective operation of the newly established UTCs. That is why this issue is especially relevant today for Ukrainian researchers of public administration. To develop recommendations for a possible solution to these problems, it was proposed to study the experience of EU member states, which are the most relevant group in the process of Ukraine's integration into the EU. In the context of improving the administrative-territorial system, the most interesting for us is the experience of France, which has a similar territory and is a unitary state. We are also interested in the historical experience of decentralization in France due to its historical duration and the thorough approach of the French government to this issue. As a result of the scientific literature analysis, it was found that today there are two main aspects that experience of decentralization in France points to: - support and concentration on the development of small settlements to ensure their further independence – this is the approach of permission; - introduction of supervision and control over local self-government bodies of newly created UTCs through the legislative implementation of the institute of Prefects; The first point will allow developing the most vulnerable areas and solving several problems relevant to Ukraine: excessive urbanization, rural extinction, internal migration, lack of innovation and development in the agricultural industry. The second element will allow in the early stages to identify and solve the manifestations of the problems described above, which are due to the acceleration of the creation of UTC. All the above-mentioned facts demonstrate the continuing need to improve the modern administrative-territorial structure of Ukraine, due to the existing problems in this area and their impact on the prospects for further implementation of the decentralization reform in our country
ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BASED ON THE MODERN OBFUSCATION TECHNIQUE
Authors: Oleh Polihenko  , Roman Odarchenko  , Sergiy Gnatyuk
Published: April 2021

In today's realities, with constantly developing information technologies (IoT, 5G, Big Data, Cloud technologies, etc.), software protection is an urgent issue in the field of information security for each small, medium, or big enterprise. The software is the intellectual property of both large corporations and small companies. The low reliability of software protection for enterprises is associated with a rather complex and time-consuming process, as well as with a number of technical limitations, which contributes to the thriving of computer piracy, inflicts colossal losses on IT companies and, of course, the state as a whole. Therefore, the development of a new effective method of software protection, for the moment, is a priority in the field of information security, and new methods and techniques of software protection are needed for specialized companies, which develop paid software. Nowadays there are many different approaches to solving this problem. These are encryption, watermarking, etc., but no one gives guaranteed results. That's why modern companies engaged in software development, should provide their customers with a more secure information product. In this paper, the authors have provided the improved, more effective obfuscation method, based on a new sequence of obfuscation transformations. This method allows providing software protection of the enterprises from reverse engineering. To ensure the effectiveness of the proposed method, the authors have developed a special software product, based on cycles of operation and the creation of pseudocode to protect other software products. In the process of writing this article, studies were conducted that showed the following results. The product has become approximately 1.4 times more secure, and the obfuscation rate has increased by 10 percent. Based on the foregoing, the developed method can be followed to complicate the decoding process of existing software products used in various enterprises. In the future, it is planned to implement additional obfuscation transformations, as well as a comparative analysis with existing obfuscation programs.
MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN THE COMPLEX TREATMENT OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Authors: Shanko Y.G. , Krivenko S.I. , Goncharov V.V. , Novitskaya V.V. , Zamaro A.S. , Tanin A.L. , Nekhai M.A. , Tokalchik Y.P. , Novikova L.A. , Kolyadich Z.V. , Kulchitsky V.A.
Published: April 2021

Relevance. The problem of effective prevention and treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) of various etiologies has not been resolved in all countries of the world. Primary brain damage from trauma initiates secondary damage to the nervous tissue. As a result, the interaction of brain neural networks is disrupted and the control of somatic and visceral functions of the body is weakened. The article is based on our own clinical observations and comparison of results with literature data and provides a discussion of the prospects for the use of cell technologies in the prevention of fatal disorders of vital functions control in traumatic brain injuries.

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of intranasal perineural implantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the complex therapy of patients with TBI.

Materials and methods. The technique intranasal perineural administration of MSCs was used in complex therapy of 15 patients with severe TBI. The patients were 19÷69 years old, 13 men and two women. A cell suspension was isolated from the adipose tissue of the patient's abdominal wall and centrifuged for 10 min at 1500 rpm. The cell pellet was washed in phosphate buffered saline and DMEM. Cells were cultured in plastic culture flasks in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2 content. The cell mass was trypsinized according to standard technique and resuspended in physiological saline on the day of implantation. Dynamics of culture growth, pluripotency, phenotyping of MSCs were monitored. MSCs were injected under general anesthesia into the submucosa of the nasal cavity 3-4 times with an interval of 3-7 days, depending on the growth rate of MSCs, in a single dose from 12.0×106 to 35.0×106 cells.

Results. The use of allogeneic and predominantly autologous MSCs of adipose tissue in the complex treatment of patients with severe TBI by intranasal perineural delivery to the area of traumatic brain injury does not cause complications and is a safe technique. 8 patients with severe TBI showed from 4 to 7 points according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended, with an average of 5.4±1.1 points after 6 months. The main result is that complex therapy, including intranasal implantation of MSCs in acute and subacute periods of severe TBI, contributes to the survival of patients and restoration of neurological – including cognitive – functions control.

Conclusions. The effectiveness of intranasal perineural implantation of MSCs in the complex therapy of patients with TBI has been demonstrated. The mechanisms of the beneficial effects of perineural implantation of MSCs in patients with TBI require further research.
MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN: DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS AND FEATURES OF PHARMACOTHERAPY
Authors: Кhaitovych M.V. , Voroniuk L.M. , Borisova G.Yu. , Diudenko N.V. , Miagka N.M.
Published: April 2021

Relevance. In 2020, children were hospitalized with fever and multisystem inflammation throughout the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, this condition is called MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children). This syndrome is thought to be similar to the severe course of COVID-19 in adults (cytokine storm).

The objective of the work is to evaluate the features of the course and pharmacotherapy of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

Materials and methods. The study included 17 children (10 boys and 7 girls) aged 3-16 years (on average – 9.5±3.4 years). Diagnosis of coronavirus infection was performed by polymerase chain reaction with real-time detection, determined the level of immunoglobulins M and G before coronavirus infection.

Results. The duration of fever in patients was 5-21 days (average 8.1±4.0 days), the duration of inpatient treatment – 7-35 days (average 15.7±7.0 days). Blood albumin levels were reduced in 53.8% of children; the level of fibrinogen was increased in 88.2% of children, the level of C-reactive protein, ferritin, and D-dimer – in all patients. 15 (88.2%) children had pathology of the digestive system, 13 (76.5%) – cardiovascular system (7 children were diagnosed with carditis, 2 – dilation of coronary arteries, 7 – cardiac arrhythmia). Acute respiratory distress -syndrome was found in a 13-year-old girl, shock - in an 11-year-old boy, 11 children (64.7%) were diagnosed with the pathology of the respiratory system (pleurisy, pneumonia), skin and mucous membranes, and 4 children (23.5%) there were manifestations of central nervous system disorders (meningism, decreased reflexes, ataxia), in 2 (11.8%) – renal failure. On average, each patient had lesions of 3.9 ±1.2 systems.

Conclusions. MIS-C was manifested by prolonged fever, high levels of laboratory markers of inflammation, hypoalbuminemia, hypercoagulation, often – pathological manifestations of the cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory systems, skin, and mucous membranes. The treatment included intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids, anticoagulant, and antibacterial therapy and was effective.
BODY SCRUB VIRGIN COCONUT OIL, COFFEE GROUNDS AND CARBON ACTIVE COCONUT SHELL AS A MOISTURIZER AND SKIN BRIGHTENING
Authors: Desi Eka Putri , Ratna Djamil , Faizatun Faizatun
Published: April 2021

Relevance. Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) contains a lot of medium chain fatty acids, combined with coffee grounds (Coffea Arabica Linn.) and activated carbon (Activated carbon coconut Nucifera L) into a preparation that can moisturize and brighten the skin.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to make cosmetic cleansing preparations containing three natural ingredients.

Methods. This study evaluates the organoleptic body scrub preparations, homogeneity, dispensability, and pH. The ingredients were tested using in-vivo and clinical irritation along with the effectiveness of the preparation (moisture and brightness).

Results. Organoleptic testing and homogeneity were confirmed to have dark black color, the distinctive smell of coffee, homogeneity, spreadability in the range of 4 cm, and the pH was at a safe pH for the skin so that irritation results also did not show edema and erythema both in-vivo divided into 3 groups (n = 3) and clinically (n = 30). In addition, this body scrub provides moisture and brightness to the skin for 2 months of use, p <0.05.

Conclusions. VCO body scrub preparations, coffee grounds, and activated carbon are preparations that have the potential to be cosmetic cleansers.
Osteometabolic profile: a possible tool in decision making for implant rehabilitation in patients under antiresorptive drugs
Authors: Colapinto Gianluca , Goker Funda , Del Fabbro Massimo , Testori Tiziano
Published: April 2021

This comparative study included 146 patients that are under risk of developing MRONJ and needed oral rehabilitation with implant-supported prosthesis. All the included patients had metabolic profile assessments and were divided into two groups: G1-normal osteometabolic profile (92 patients), G2- altered osteometabolic profile (54 patients). All patients in G1, regardless of gender and type of prosthetic rehabilitation, showed a regular osseointegration process without any complications. However, 42 patients in G2 (77%) were diagnosed with MRONJ within six months afterimplant insertions, which did not compromise implant osseointegration and prosthetic rehabilitation. In other 12 patients (23%) in adjunct to ONJ development, implants did not osseointegrate. All patients with ONJ were successfully treated according to the SISBO pharmacological protocol.According to the results of this study, osteometabolic profile assessment can be considered a useful tool in terms of decreasing the risk of developing ONJ in patients.
PHOTOBIOMODULATION VS PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AS ADJUVANT TREATMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH MEDICATION-RELATED OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAW (MRONJ): A PILOT STUDY.
Authors: Erovigni Francesco Maria , Cabras Marco , Gambino Alessio , Todaro Daniela , Carcieri Paola , Dell'Acqua Alessandro
Published: April 2021

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a well-known potential side effect of antiresorptive treatment. A growing body of literature indicates photobiomodulation (PBM) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjuvant therapies against MRONJ. Aim of this pilot study was to assess and compare effectiveness of PBM and PDT. From September 2019 to January 2020, 18 patients with clinic-radiographic MRONJ were enrolled and assigned to 2 groups of 9 patients each. Group 1: 7 F, 2 M; mean age: 71.3 ± 12.76 years; 7 cancer patients and 2 osteoporotic patients; Group 2: 8 F, 1 M; age range: 53-87 years; mean age: 71.4 ± 11.52 years; 6 cancer patients and 3 osteoporotic patients. Group 1 was exposed to a two-week protocol of 4 PBM sessions (GaAIAs 810 nm laser; output power: 50 mW; energy: 3750 J, duration: 300 s). Group 2 was treated with a two-week protocol of 4 PDT session (GaAIAs 810 nm laser combined with blue-purple methylene photosensitizer output power: 600 mW; energy: 24 J, duration: 40s/cm2). Four parameters were investigated before (T0) and after (T1) end of protocol: NRS for subjective pain, Masse Healing scale, probing depth, and size of lesion. Statistical evaluation showed a quasi-significant reduction of Masse healing scale in Group 1 (p = 0.06), and a significant reduction in Group 2 (p = 0.01) after PBM and PDT treatment, respectively. Comparison between Group 1 and Group revealed a significant difference in probing depth at T0, and no significant differences for any of the 4 parameters in T1 (p > 0.05). Despite the limited number of patients enrolled, PBM and PDT displayed an overlapping therapeutic outcome, since both provided an objective improvement of MRONJ lesion appearance, without a significant pain relief. Further studies with larger samples, in a randomized controlled setting, are warranted for further evaluations.
DEVELOPMENT OF MRONJ IN A FEMALE PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE MYELOMA AFTER 10 YEARS OF IMPLANTS REHABILITATION: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Argiolas Lia Ester , Murgia Martina Salvatorina , Casu Cinzia , Garau Agostino , Garau Valentino
Published: April 2021

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an adverse drug reaction that affects the mandible and maxilla of patients exposed to bone-targeting agents (anti-resorptive and anti-angiogenic agents). Bone lesions in multiple myeloma require bisphosphonate treatment. Particularly, the aim of this abstract is to report a successfully treated case of type 2 ONJ in a patient with Multiple Myeloma (MM) undergone to intravenous (IV) Zolendronic Acid (ZA).
Ostenonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) after denosumab in patients with giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB): a single institution analysis of a prospective, international study 20062004
Authors: Palmerini Emanuela , Carretta Elisa , Bazzocchi Alberto , Cesari Marilena , Paioli Anna , Hakim Rossella , Abate Massimo Eraldo , Carella Antonio , Pierini Michela , Frisoni Tommaso , Donati Davide Maria , Marchetti Claudio
Published: April 2021

Background

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a progressive osteolytic tumor with proven response to denosumab when unresectable or at high surgical risk. We report on incidence of suspected (sONJ) and adjucated (aONJ) osteonecrosis of the jaw cases, from a single institution series of patients treated with denosumab within a phase 2 study

 Methods

Patients  were enrolled with unresectable GCTB (Cohort 1), resectable GCTB with planned high morbidity surgery (Cohort 2). Denosumab was given 120 mg SC every 4 weeks with loading doses on days 8 and 15. The primary endpoint was safety: aONJ and s ONJ rate; efficacy endpoints included proportion of Cohort 2 patients without surgery, and progression-free survival for all patients

Results

Baseline characteristics and ONJ results for 52 patients are shown in the Table 1. Median follow-up was 103 months (95%CI 55-126) in Cohort 1 and 105 months (95%CI 94-116) in Cohort 2. Overall response rate was 20% in all sample. Of 9 Cohort 1 patients, 1 ended denosumab for GCTB progression after 70 months of follow-up. Overall Kaplan Meier (KM) estimates (95% CI) for GCTB progression-free in these patients were 88% (39-98%). 23 Cohort 2 pts (53%) ended denosumab without GCTB progression, and 20 (47%) recurred with a KM estimate of 67% (51-79) at 24 months, and 52% (36-66%) at 60 months. Median time of denosumab therapy was 80 months in Cohort 1 and 14 months in Cohort 2. Within Cohort 2 patients with planned surgery, 88% underwent surgery and 12% continued with denosumab only. Following surgery, recurrence occurs higher after curettage than resection (47% vs 5%). ONJ rate is reported in Table 1.

 Conclusions

Denosumab was generally well tolerated with excellent long-term disease control in unresectable patients. A 47% recurrence rate following surgery was seen in this high-risk, selected, resectable population. Denosumab has major, long-lasting antitumor activity in unresectable or metastatic GCTB, with an aONJ and sONJ rate of 4% and 8%, respectively, in this series.
The design, instrumentation, and validation of a multiphase shock tube facility
Authors:   , Avgoustopoulos Constantine Gregory
Published: April 2021

This paper investigates the experimental work in Shock Driven Multiphase Instabilities (SDMI). SDMIs occur when an interface consisting of a particle seeded gas is instantaneously accelerated and begins mixing. SDMIs have similar flow morphologies to the Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability (RMI), however, the driving force inducing this flow is very different. SDMIs occur when there is a relative velocity difference between surrounding gas and the moving particles. This results to a shear at the edges and ultimately leads to rollups that are similar to a RMI. To investigate this phenomena, a shock tube facility was designed, calibrated, and tested to perform experiments. The experimental data was qualitatively compared to simulations performed, as well as to literature of similar experiments. Quantitative data was analyzed using Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) to understand the flow of the instability. The flow morphologies observed in experiments have similar behavior to those performed in simulations. Additionally, the qualitative observations of experiments performed in this lab are also in agreement with experimental literature. Two different effective Atwood numbers are investigated in this study. The first case looks at a gas cylinder interface with an effective Atwood number of -0.01 and a gas Atwood number of -0.02, shocked with a Mach 1.66 shock wave. The observations show a dominating instability resulting in the gas Atwood number. What ends up happening is the smaller particles are pulled into the vortex and the large particles separate and trail behind. The second case looks at the same gas cylinder perturbation but with an effective Atwood number of 0.03 and a gas Atwood number of 0, shocked at Mach 1.66. The higher Atwood number was achieved by modifying the experimental apparatus slightly to deliver a greater number of particles to the shock tube. The experiments observed show that there is agreement with literature and simulations. Certain unusual filaments begin forming at late times, 4.0ms after shock. This was thought to only appear in a pure RMI. In the case of a SDMI, these filaments are a result of colliding particles.
Evidence-based treatment strategies in youth mental health treatment as usual : results from a national survey
Authors:   , Cho Evelyn
Published: April 2021

Despite widespread calls for the integration of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) into treatment as usual (TAU) for youth mental health problems, the success of such efforts is unclear. Existing survey research suggests that providers use specific EBT manuals infrequently, but whether providers use treatment strategies contained within EBT manuals without adopting the manuals themselves remains unclear. Further, given that use of EBTs as intended (e.g., focusing on prescribed strategies and avoiding nonprescribed strategies) may enhance treatment outcomes, it is important to understand how EBT strategies are typically implemented within TAU. Whether providers rarely use EBT strategies, integrate EBT strategies alongside other strategies regardless of empirical support, or selectively favor EBT strategies over those without strong evidentiary support, remains uncertain. Additionally, research is needed to move beyond assessing use of EBT strategies and to understand the conditions under which providers use EBT strategies in TAU. To address these gaps in the literature, we conducted a large national survey of youth-serving counselors', marriage and family therapists', psychologists', psychiatrists', and social workers' use of a variety of treatment strategies. Results suggest that providers use both EBT and other treatment strategies frequently in TAU but use EBT strategies more frequently than other treatment strategies. A multi-groups analysis also showed that organizational value of quality care, organizational training resources, positive provider attitudes toward innovation and evidence, more standardized measure and ongoing assessment use, fewer low income clients, less time since highest degree, and behavioral theoretical orientation predict provider use of EBT strategies.
Liquid metal heat sink for laptop computers
Authors:   , Gu Chengyi
Published: April 2021

With the rapid miniaturization of the electronic systems, heat generation in the components becomes a major concern for thermal management. The high density of heat generation can be a bottleneck to attain higher performance and reliability of computers. Because conventional cooling methods such as finned heat sink are often incapable of providing adequate cooling for sophisticated electronic systems, new systems like heat pipes or liquid cooling systems are being studied. This work focused on the novel design of a liquid metal and heat sink cooling loop targeted for laptop computer thermal management. The liquid metal was driven by an electromechanical pump, offering no moving parts and quiet operation. To better understand the design process, theoretical analysis for fluid flow and heat transfer performance of liquid metal and heat sink are conducted. Furthermore, in order to demonstrate the feasibility of this new concept, a series of experiments on the fabricated module under different heater powers and pump power are performed. A thermal resistance value of 0.53 ?/W was experimentally determined, making the performance similar to competing technologies. Performance was impeded by a low pump efficiency, a known impediment with electromagnetic pumps.
Estimating the rock mass modulus of Missouri shale using pressuremeter tests
Authors:   , Mathews Cassidy
Published: April 2021

Rock mass modulus can be a useful property in the design of foundations. Rock mass modulus is defined as the stress strain response of a rock mass in-situ. The stress strain response of the rock mass can be estimated by directly measuring the stress strain relationship via in-situ field tests, such as the pressuremeter, or it can be estimated from the results of laboratory intact specimen tests. Intact laboratory test results are often reduced to account for imperfections or discontinuities and other properties of the rock mass that may be present in the entire system, but are not easily replicated in the lab. The rock mass modulus can be used to design piles, drilled shafts and shallow foundations that are typically employed on Missouri Department of Transportation projects. Most current methods of estimating this modulus requires coring and sampling the material, transporting samples back to a lab with appropriate equipment, extruding and preparing samples and finally performing triaxial tests and estimating the modulus from the resulting stress strain curves. Shale formations found in Missouri are typically sensitive to changes in moisture content and disturbance from sampling and sample preparation. Generally lab tests are only performed on samples that can withstand the disturbances associated with sampling and preparation. Therefore lab tests generally yield values of intact modulus and the insitu rock mass modulus must be estimated or implied from these results. The pressuremeter test (PMT) offers a potentially better method to assess the in-situ rock mass modulus. The PMT allows testing of difficult to sample materials, e.g., shale, under in-situ stress and structure conditions resulting in a modulus more representative of the shale mass. Pressuremeter tests were performed at five sites in Missouri and the results were reduced to yield rock mass modulus. Intact samples of shale recovered from each site and returned to the laboratory for unconsolidated undrained and unconfined triaxial tests to yield intact modulus values. In general, the modulii from the intact specimens were equal to or less than the in-situ modulii measured using the pressuremeter. In these practical cases, the modulii from the intact specimens did not require any reduction to provide rock mass modulus. Rather, the modulii from the intact specimens could be used directly as the rock mass modulii. This result is surprising, but not unheard of.
The mass of solitude
Authors:   , McClellan Scott
Published: April 2021

Weathering, metamorphosis, heat, and tectonics are forces that form and transform the earth. Over millennia, these methods of abrasion construct captivating structures out of ubiquitous materials. I reference rock landscapes by using the same minerals to create new metamorphic rocks. By stripping clay down to its basic nature, I exploit the rawness of the material. These craggy surfaces hold a presence of solemnity. The undulations and irregularities of these objects are what give them fortitude, encouraging contemplation in the viewer; a time to recognize the earnestness of life in comparison to the gravity of death. I have found myself in this capacity when hiking through desert landscapes. The massiveness of the rock formations combined with the expansiveness of the horizon, humbles me to a contemplative state. In these times of solitude, I have been able to resolve who I am and what is important to me. I replicate these experiences, evoking solemnity in the viewer interacting with my work.
A novel approach to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of canine histiocytic sarcoma
Authors:   , Menard Kimberly
Published: April 2021

This work provides a review of canine histiocytic sarcoma (HS) including background immunology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Given the poor prognosis of HS compared to other soft tissue sarcomas in dogs, the research performed focuses on diagnosis including immunohistochemistry (IHC), the use of a combination treatment protocol in cell culture, and potential use of serum biomarkers in monitoring response to treatment. The use of different IHC markers on formalin fixed tissue samples were evaluated in their ability to differentiate HS from soft tissue sarcomas. Initially a dendritic cell marker, CD206, was evaluated; however, due to lack of staining in canine formalin tissues, the study was continued with CD204 and Iba-1 compared to CD18 which is what is currently being used by most pathologists. The IHC stains were performed on 20 tissue samples from dogs previously diagnosed with HS and other soft tissue sarcomas. The results showed that there was only a significant difference in staining seen between these 2 tumor types when using Iba-1 or when combining the IHC scores together indicating that a panel of different IHC markers may be best for diagnosis of HS. Currently, the prognosis for dogs with HS is very poor with many dogs only living a few months even with chemotherapy treatment. In this study, we evaluated the potential use of combining currently used chemotherapy drugs (vinca alkaloids and lomustine) together to determine their effectiveness at killing canine histiocytic cells in culture. The results obtained in the first cell line studied did not show a difference in the effectiveness of these drugs when combined compared to when giving individually. Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is a marker of cellular proliferation and can be measured in the serum and used as a biomarker in both dogs and humans. In this study, we evaluated the use of TK1 along with Creactive protein in an algorithm called the neoplasia index in dogs diagnosed with HS. These biomarkers were measured in the serum at the time of diagnosis and then every few weeks during treatment. The results showed that dogs with HS consistently have a high TK1 at the time of diagnosis; however, no conclusions could be drawn as to the correlation with these biomarkers and response to treatment due to the small number of dogs enrolled. The findings here are important as the diagnosis of HS can often be challenging on biopsy, and an accurate diagnosis is crucial given the vast difference in prognosis between HS and soft tissue sarcomas. Additional studies need to be performed on more canine histiocytic cell lines before determining if a combination protocol including vinca alkaloids and lomustine may be useful in dogs with HS. Lastly, TK1 was increased in dogs with HS so may have a role in diagnosis or potentially screening in genetically predisposed breeds such as Bernese mountain dogs.
Can mindfulness meditation reduce the tendency to justify the status quo?
Authors:   , Price-Blackshear Mollie A.
Published: April 2021

System justification theory suggests that advantaged groups in society frequently express ingroup favoritism and outgroup bias, whereas disadvantaged groups express outgroup favoritism. These tendencies are likely to occur when individuals are motivated to perceive the system as legitimate. This motivation is driven by uncertainty regarding unstable systems. Mindfulness practices emphasize open acceptance and awareness of thoughts and experiences. Participation in mindfulness can engender, among other things, greater acceptance of outgroup members. The current study examined whether mindfulcompassion practice reduced system justification, and whether system threat undermined this influence. Unexpectedly, the results suggest that mindful-compassion lead to more favorable intergroup attitudes under high system threat (i.e., lower race-system justification, lower negative attitudes, and higher othergroup orientation). In addition, interactions for negative racial attitudes and othergroup orientation were qualified by internal motivation to control prejudice. This study was the first to experimentally test them impact of mindfulness on system justification. In addition, it is the first to examine empirically whether compassion meditation is associated with assessments of unjust social systems and attitudes toward ethnic outgroup members, and the extent to which system threat undermines this effect. Key words: mindfulness, compassion meditation, system justification, system threat, intergroup relations, outgroup attitudes
Local broadcast news and OTT streaming services: the institutional obstacles from an on-air to digital transition
Authors:   , Valero Dosal Maria Jose
Published: April 2021

The migration of legacy newscasts towards new delivery systems like OTTs has proven to be a slow process as both the legacy media institution and the new media institution face challenges in the ability to work together. The digital space is looking for lowcost, immediate, and evergreen content while legacy media newscasts produce high-cost, scheduled content that quickly expires. The study looks into the institutional norms in legacy media that stifle innovation and a quick migration into the new delivery systems. The research analyzes the discourse of fourteen interviews with different local news directors, general managers, and corporate representatives throughout the United States. The study examines the discourse used to legitimize legacy media and delegitimize new delivery systems through the use of tropes or myths that hold a belief as a set rule. The study aims to provide a window into the understanding of local news managers and corporate representatives vis-a-vis new media, how they perceive new media, and how (and if) they plan to set forth change in light of the viewership migration that is increasingly going towards the digital space.
Development of the human ex vivo split tissue osteoarthritis model
Authors:   , Walden Nicole L.
Published: April 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease characterized by loss of functional articular cartilage with associated whole-joint pathology and resultant pain and disability, which is projected to affect 59.4 million Americans by 2020. As such, our laboratory has set out to develop valid and clinically applicable models to unravel disease mechanisms and evaluate potential treatments for OA utilizing cartilage explants obtained from tissues discarded after standard-of-care joint surgeries. This translational modeling approach is leading to the identification of targets for prevention and treatment, as well as biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease staging, prognostication and treatment monitoring. Due to significant patient to patient and intra-joint variability in OA development, there is a need for more standardized sampling and culturing strategies for spontaneous OA ex vivo modeling. Therefore, osteoarthritic articular cartilage was obtained from total knee arthroplasty and osteochondral allograft transplantation patients. Cartilage explants were then cut into halves and cultured individually. The objectives of this study were to validate consistency of relevant biomarker production between halves of osteoarthritic cartilage explants, and to determine if candidate biomarkers can be detected in human osteoarthritic cartilage explant cultures for subsequent therapeutic screening studies. A secondary focus of this study was to evaluate the disease-modifying capabilities of two clinically used therapeutics utilizing this model. We hypothesize that this 'split!tissue' approach will control for variability in the development and progression of OA through validation of consistency between cartilage explant halves and subsequent therapeutic screening.
Computational analysis of tongue image for health diagnosis
Authors:   , Zhang Meng
Published: April 2021

Tongue, the primary taste organ in the mouth, can reflect the whole body's health conditions based on the Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) theories. Watching the tongue is one of the most common, essential and reliable methods for the TCM doctor to make diagnoses. In this thesis, a new health system is introduced based on tongue image analysis. The technologies adopted in this system ranged from tongue image processing algorithms to machine learning applications. The tongue image algorithms used in this work include image segmentation, tongue recognition and tongue image classification. Image segmentation was used to get rid of other unrelated parts, such as lip, face and neck, while keeping the tongue only. Then two recognition methods were applied to check whether the segmented result is a tongue or not. For different tongue patterns, the Support Vector Machine is applied to train a machine learning model and make predictions to classify the tongue into different labeled groups. An app named 'iTongue' is designed to monitor the body status by taking and processing tongue images in smart phones. The app provides a user-friendly, fast and powerful health tool based on TCM theories. The whole system is implemented in a webbased environment. An advanced portal was developed to connect the users and the TCM doctors. The users will not only obtain the analysis label of tongue images, but also get some life style recommendations based on the tongue image analysis. This portal helps the user understand more about his body status and guide him to adopt a more suitable diet and improve exercise.
Influencing electronic word-of-mouth communication: getting beyond the skepticism of social media
Authors:   , Murray Josh
Published: April 2021

This study addresses the uneasiness that public relations (PR) professionals are experiencing regarding word-of-month (WOM) communication and the growing phenomenon of electronic WOM. That uneasiness is based on the notion that companies and brands no longer control their message. Instead, consumers, who communicate with other consumers, have seized control. However, this study indicates that companies and brands can retain some control of the message if they properly engage their consumers. While eWOM communication is growing and evolving, this study finds that consumers remain skeptical about eWOM messages. They crave supporting information before deciding how to act or behave. This is where PR professionals come into play. If they can successfully engage their consumers and interact with them through avenues such as social media, they can be effective in influencing eWOM communication. The study finds that persuasive eWOM communication requires supporting evidence. It is the PR professional's responsibility to provide information that can influence the eWOM communication about their product. Several tactics outlined in this study can help PR professionals accomplish this objective.