cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Column experiment for assessing microbial behavior around radioactive waste repositories, including migration of potentially radionuclide-accumulating bacteria

Abstract To assess microbial behavior at anticipated repositories of nitrate-containing radioactive waste such as TRU waste, we set up an anoxic single horizontal column filled with Pleistocene sand with indigenous microorganisms as model samples. The column was supplied with artificial groundwater containing nitrate and acetate for 9 weeks (Run 1) or nitrate-amended groundwater from the same Pleistocene stratum for 6 weeks (Run 2). Bacterial communities, including culturable denitrifiers, were established in the sand bed, resulting in acridine orange direct counts per pore water of 3 × 108 cell mL−1 in Run 1 and 5 × 107 cell mL−1 in Run 2 and nitrate-reducing activity per pore water of roughly 13 mg L−1 d−1 in Run 1 and 1–4 mg L−1 d−1 in Run 2. Eh and hydraulic conductivity declined in Run 1, indicating microbial activity capable of retarding radionuclide transport. However, the ratio of bacterial cell concentration found in the effluent water (free-living bacteria) to the total bacterial concentration in sand (Rmobile) exceeded 2%. This finding is relevant to the increase in radionuclide transport associated with free-living cells. As a tool for quantifying this influence, we introduced an index, Kd,att (distribution coefficient for microbes on sand particles), and calculated this value from the Rmobile value. By sensitivity analysis using a numerical simulation model (MINT), we then demonstrated that higher Kd,att values would suppress the detrimental effects of the free-living bacteria. Quantification of microbial influences can be made more realistic by obtaining Kd,att values in a column experiment and incorporating this index into radionuclide transport models.
Membranes for Kraft black liquor concentration and chemical recovery: Current progress, challenges, and opportunities

ABSTRACTMembranes can significantly reduce energy consumption during concentration of black liquor (BL) in the Kraft papermaking process, but the harsh conditions (pH ~12, 80°C–95°C, ~15 wt% solids) make this challenging. We elucidate challenges and opportunities for membranes in BL applications. We critically review membrane materials, processes, and operational modes investigated in the literature. Future advances will involve fabrication of higher-rejecting (≥95% lignin and inorganics), BL-resistant, NF, and RO membranes. Opportunities exist for molecular sieving and electrically driven membranes to recover other valuable chemicals such as carboxylic acids. We also discuss the economics of BL concentration with a single-stage membrane process.
The Nitrogen Moieties of Dietary Nonessential Amino Acids Are Distinctively Metabolized in the Gut and Distributed to the Circulation in Rats

Background: Although previous growth studies in rodents have indicated the importance of dietary nonessential amino acids (NEAAs) as nitrogen sources, individual NEAAs have different growth-promoting activities. This phenomenon might be attributable to differences in the nitrogen metabolism of individual NEAAs. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare nitrogen metabolism across dietary NEAAs with the use of their 15N isotopologues.Methods: Male Fischer rats (8 wk old) were given 1.0 g amino acid-defined diets containing either 15N-labeled glutamate, glutamine (amino or amide), aspartate, alanine, proline, glycine, or serine hourly for 5-6 h. Then, steady-state amino acid concentrations and their 15N enrichments in the gut and in portal and arterial plasma were measured by an amino acid analyzer and LC tandem mass spectrometry, respectively.Results: The intestinal 15N distribution and portal-arterial balance of 15N metabolites indicated that most dietary glutamate nitrogen (>90% of dietary input) was incorporated into various amino acids, including alanine, proline, and citrulline, in the gut. Dietary aspartate nitrogen, alanine nitrogen, and amino nitrogen of glutamine were distributed similarly to other amino acids both in the gut and in the circulation. In contrast, incorporation of the nitrogen moieties of dietary proline, serine, and glycine into other amino acids was less than that of other NEAAs, although interconversion between serine and glycine was very active. Cluster analysis of 15N enrichment data also indicated that dietary glutamate nitrogen, aspartate nitrogen, alanine nitrogen, and the amino nitrogen of glutamine were distributed similarly to intestinal and circulating amino acids. Further, the analysis revealed close relations between intestinal and arterial 15N enrichment for each amino acid. The steady-state 15N enrichment of arterial amino acids indicated that substantial amounts of circulating amino acid nitrogen are derived from dietary NEAAs.Conclusions: The present results revealed similarities and differences among NEAAs in terms of their intestinal nitrogen metabolism in rats and indicated substantial entry of dietary NEAA nitrogen into circulating amino acid nitrogen, presumably primarily through metabolism in the gut.
Determination of selected metals in alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

Abstract Urbanization and the continued encroachment of human activity into green spaces often result in the decline of several animal species. Macroclemys temminckii (alligator snapping turtle) is particularly sensitive to human activity as it is an opportunistic scavenger and carnivore. The longevity of this species, as well as its dietary habits make it an excellent candidate for biomonitoring. In this preliminary study, twelve (12) shell samples were collected from individuals trapped at Fort Polk, LA and Sam Houston Jones State Park, LA. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was used to determine the presence of the toxic metals cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) in addition to other trace minerals and iron (Fe). The levels of the toxic metal were below the detection limit of the ICP-OES. This report represents the first study of this nature on Macroclemys temminckii.
The Index Form and the Bonnet—Myers Theorem

Let (M, F) be a Finsler manifold, where F is C∞ on TM \0 and is positively (but perhaps not absolutely) homogeneous of degree 1. Fix T ∈ T p M. Consider the constant speed geodesic σ(t) = exp p (tT), 0 ⩽ t ⩽ r that emanates from p = σ(0) and terminates at q = σ(r). If there is no confusion, label its velocity field by T also. Let D T denote covariant differentiation along σ, with reference vector T. This concept was introduced in the Exercise portion of 5.2.
Corporate Environmental Responsibility (De)Motivated by Status

Why do firms undertake corporate environmental responsibility (CER)? Most CER activities are legally obligated, and firms may fulfill their CER without going beyond legal obligations of CER activit...
Feeling the force: Integrating force and pose for fluent discovery through imitation learning to open medicine bottles

Learning complex robot manipulation policies for real-world objects is challenging, often requiring significant tuning within controlled environments. In this paper, we learn a manipulation model to execute tasks with multiple stages and variable structure, which typically are not suitable for most robot manipulation approaches. The model is learned from human demonstration using a tactile glove that measures both hand pose and contact forces. The tactile glove enables observation of visually latent changes in the scene, specifically the forces imposed to unlock the child-safety mechanisms of medicine bottles. From these observations, we learn an action planner through both a top-down stochastic grammar model (And-Or graph) to represent the compositional nature of the task sequence and a bottom-up discriminative model from the observed poses and forces. These two terms are combined during planning to select the next optimal action. We present a method for transferring this human-specific knowledge onto a robot platform and demonstrate that the robot can perform successful manipulations of unseen objects with similar task structure.
In the Beginning This Was Richard A. Easterlin

Remembering Richard Easterlin as a young uniquely focused teacher and researcher at the time when academic economics was making the transition to the style that now dominates it.
Adductor Strain (Groin Strain)

Adductor tendonitis is pain at the medial groin secondary to injury to the adductor muscle group or its insertional site. It is believed to be caused by inflammation and collagen dysfunction due to microtrauma during activities that require bursts of speed or quick directional changes. The most common exam findings include pain with resisted abduction of the lower extremity. Most common treatment options include relative rest, ice, NSAIDS, and physical therapy.
Reevaluating the Prehistoric Southwestern Disc Bead Industry

In the American Southwest, prehistoric artisans manufactured large quantities of high-quality disc beads. The sophisticated disc bead industry that developed between 300 BC and AD 1450 compelled ea...
Simulated Performance of In-Place Pervious Concrete under Varying Storms, Surface Areas, and Infiltration Rates

AbstractComputer model simulations were conducted of an existing parking lot with pervious concrete low-impact development (LID) controls using the U.S. EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). For...
Reconsidering Hedge Fund Contagion

A widely held view concerning hedge funds is that they act as a negative disruptive force in financial markets due to “contagion.” Hedge funds are often viewed as culprits in both the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the 2007 quant crisis, for example. The authors evaluate both existing and new evidence of: 1) hedge fund contagion, 2) hedge fund crowding, 3) hedge funds’ role in the 2007–2008 financial crisis, and 4) hedge funds’ role in the August 2007 quant crisis. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the popular press, and most academic work, the authors find little evidence to support the view that hedge fund contagion has widespread negative effects on markets and mispricing.
Klassifikation und medizinische Therapie von kongenitalen vaskulären Malformationen

Vaskulare Malformationen sind angeborene Fehlbildungen, die durch eine Storung wahrend der Embryogenese entstehen. Wichtig ist die Abgrenzung der Malformationen von vaskularen Tumoren (z. B. Hamangiomen). Zur Einteilung der vaskularen Malformationen stehen heute einfach zu handhabende Klassifikationen zur Verfugung. Mit der modifizierten Hamburg-Klassifikation wird die Lasion nach betroffenem Gefassystem als arterielle, venose, arteriovenose, kapillare, lymphatische oder kombinierte Malformation bezeichnet. Zusatzlich wird durch die Bezeichung extratrunkal oder trunkal der Ursprung der Fehlbildung in Bezug auf die embryonalen Entwicklung definiert. Daraus ergeben sich wichtige Hinweise auf den zu erwartenden Verlauf und Therapieoptionen. Die hamodynamische Eigenschaft der Malformation wird in der ISSVA-Klassifikation mit den Begriffen „low-flow“ und „high-flow“ umschrieben. Medikamentose Behandlungsoptionen bestehen bei vaskularen Malformationen, im Gegensatz zu den infantilen vaskularen Tumoren (Hamangiomen), nicht. Das medizinische Managment beschrankt sich auf Symptomlinderung und Pravention von Komplikationen. Die Kompressionstherapie ist meist die wichtigste Masnahme.
Smooth Bol Loops and Bol Algebras

In this chapter we develop the theory of smooth Bol loops. See [L.V. Sabinin 91b], [L.V. Sabinin, P.O. Miheev 85b, 90]. Our interest in Bol loops was stimulated by their applications to differential geometry and the theory of homogeneous spaces. Our approach uses, in particular, the fact that any local C3-smooth Bol loop (and the corresponding homogeneous space) admits an infinitesimal treatment in terms of finite-dimensional symmetric Lie algebras (g,s) with g = g- +g+, where s ∈ Aut g, s2 = id, g- = {ξ ∈ g; s ξ = — ξ}, g+ = {ξ ∈ g; s ξ = ξ}, and additional subalgebras h in g such that g = g- + h.
Modeling Dishonest Behavior in Mobile Data Gathering Over Leasing Residential Sensor Networks

This paper considers a mobile data collecting problem in a wireless sensor network with private residual sensor networks for the scenario in which the owners of residual sensor networks may perform dishonest behavior. The interaction between the wireless sensor network operator and the owners of residual sensor networks is modeled by a Stackelberg game which has a unique Stackelberg equilibrium. The influence of the Stackelberg equilibrium caused by the dishonest residual sensor networks owner are analyzed. An algorithm and a theoretical analysis are provided for the corresponding strategies of the operator and owners. Simulations are conducted to illustrate the difference of network performance compared with the game without dishonest residual owners.
Visual perception, cognition, and error in dermatologic diagnosis: Key cognitive principles

Dermatologic diagnosis relies on vision primarily and auditory and verbal input secondarily. Accurate dermatologic diagnosis is predicated on seeing and perceiving a skin finding, categorizing and naming the finding correctly, and comparing the visual data and data obtained from the totality of the clinical encounter (ie, from other sensory modalities) with one's working mental database of dermatologic diagnoses. The baseline assumption—which is false—is that a dermatologist is an expert at each of the aforementioned steps and transitions sequentially between them seamlessly in an error-free fashion. Each of these steps has inherent challenges, and the transitions between steps can also be problematic. In part 1 of this 2-part report, we describe the pitfalls associated with visual recognition. In part 2, we discuss cognitive heuristics as they relate to the dermatologic diagnostic process and prevention of diagnostic error.
COMBINATION OF ANABOLIC STEROID USE CAN RESULT IN EXOGENOUS THYROTOXICOSIS INDUCED REVERSIBLE CARDIOGENIC SHOCK

Anabolic steroids and thyrotoxicosis are rare causes of cardiomyopathy. Occasionally presenting as cardiogenic shock, early recognition and supportive therapy is crucial. A 28 year-old Male body builder without any past medical history, presented with shortness of breath. He was noted to be febrile
Reinventing Realistic Mathematics Education at Berkeley—Emergence and Development of a Course for Pre-service Teachers

A central principle of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) is that learners experience guided opportunities to reconstruct cultural practices and artefacts in the course of attempting to solve engaging problems using emerging resources as structuring tools. The same principle plays out at the meta level, across ages, geography, and functions, where instructors experience opportunities to reinvent RME as they adapt its principles to satisfy specific design constraints and local needs. This chapter recounts a collaborative effort to create at the Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley, graduate and undergraduate courses for pre-service mathematics teachers that incorporates tenets of RME, while accommodating to prescribed and emerging constraints of local contexts, such as stipulation of federal funding, as well as the collective histories and prior schooling experiences of pre-service teachers, most of whom are encountering this didactical approach for the first time.
Variable Angle Locking Compression Plate as Alternative Fixation for Jones Fractures: A Case Series.

Introduction. Jones fractures pose many challenges for the treatingsurgeon and can cause significant disability for some patients. Theaim of this study was to review the results of using a variable anglelocking compression plate as an alternative fixation method in thetreatment of Jones fractures.Methods.xA retrospective chart review was conducted of patientswho had undergone fixation of Jones fracture with a variable anglelocking compression plate from September 2012 through February2016. Radiographs of the preoperative and six-week postoperativeand postoperative follow-up outcomes, including complication andhardware removal, were collected.Results. Twenty-three cases met the inclusion/exclusion criteria.The overall bony union rate was 96% at six-week postoperative and100% at 20-week postoperative. Mean age was 30 ± 16 years, andmean BMI was 30.7 ± 5.2 kg/m2. Three patients (13%) had plateremoval: two (9%) were due to irritation caused by shoe wearing andone patient (4%) had a skin infection (cellulitis) which was treatedwith intravenous antibiotics. One patient (4%) had developed deepvein thrombosis (DVT) that was resolved with anticoagulant withoutimplant removal. No fixation loss and no associated complicationsdeveloped from implant removal.Conclusions. Based on our limited experience, this study providedevidence that the variable angle locking compression plate may be analternative form of fixation for Jones fractures with a low complicationrate. This procedure seemed to provide a safe, reliable methodthat can achieve an anatomic reduction, stable fixation, rapid healing,and good results in the treatment of Jones fractures.Kans J Med 2019;12(2):28-32.
A concept analysis: Emotional regulation of nurses.

Aim To explore the concept of emotional regulation in nursing. Background People are exposed to a variety of potentially emotion-provoking stimuli almost on a daily basis. The fact that these types of stimuli do not trigger full-blown emotions every time suggests that people are able to manage their own emotions through an internal process. The process is referred to as emotional regulation (ER). Nursing is a stressful and emotionally charged profession, yet the concept of ER is not well explored in the nursing literature. Design Concept analysis. Data source Electronic databases searched were CINAHL, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar. Forty-one articles were used in the review of this concept, of which six articles were used to review ER in nursing. Most of the articles on ER were from the field of psychology. Review methods Walker and Avant's eight-step to concept analysis. Data extracted from the articles were used in identifying the definitions, related concepts, uses of the concept of ER, and antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. Results Four defining attributes of ER were identified as self-awareness, control, emotional expression, and active thinking. Definitions, the uses of the concept of ER, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents are discussed. Model, related and contrary cases were developed. Conclusion The concept of ER has implications and significance to nursing as nurses are exposed to a variety of emotion-provoking situations when performing nursing tasks.
Representative Bureaucracy and Performance

The chapter introduces the book’s central themes: representative bureaucracy, the demographic transformation of the South African public service since 1994, and how racial and gender representation influence bureaucratic performance. Affirmative action to promote equity and proportional representation in the public sector is discussed, along with a summary of the main criticisms of affirmative action, including claims about its adverse impact on bureaucratic capacity and performance. Another view is also presented, one based on research suggesting representative bureaucracies are more effective at implementing public policies. The main research questions are then posed: can increased representation of blacks and women in the public service improve organizational performance, and if so, how or why? The methodological approach, data, and main empirical findings are summarized.
Assessing the prevalence, products, and pathways of dissolved organic matter partial photo-oxidation in arctic surface waters

In sunlit waters, photodegradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) yields completely oxidized carbon (i.e., CO2) as well as a suite of partially oxidized compounds formed from oxygen incorporation (i.e., partial photo-oxidation). Of these two groups of DOM photo-products, more studies focus on CO2 (a greenhouse gas) than on partially oxidized DOM, which is likely a diverse group of compounds with poorly constrained roles in aquatic carbon cycling or biogeochemistry. The objective of this study is to address knowledge gaps on the prevalence, products, and pathways of DOM partial photo-oxidation. Here we traced the photochemical incorporation of isotopically labelled 18O2 into DOM isolated from Alaskan Arctic surface waters using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Complete and partial photo-oxidation of DOM was also quantified as CO2 production and O2 consumption. The majority of 18O-containing partial oxidation photo-products were classified as carboxylic rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM) and overlapped in composition with previously reported photo-products known to result from the oxidation of DOM by singlet oxygen. These results support a previously proposed hypothesis that photo-oxidation by singlet oxygen may contribute to the formation of CRAM, a compound class of DOM ubiquitously observed in surface waters. The novel application of an isotopic tracer for oxygen incorporation with a mass balance approach to quantify complete and partial photo-oxidation of DOM revealed that less than one mol of O2 is required to produce one mol of CO2. A sensitivity analysis based on this new knowledge demonstrated that the magnitude of DOM partial photo-oxidation may be underestimated by up to four-fold. Consequently, partial photo-oxidation likely plays a more prominent role in shaping DOM composition in sunlit waters of the Arctic than previously understood. Therefore, partial photo-oxidation should be increasingly incorporated into the experimental framework of studies focused on DOM composition in surface waters.
High-Speed SRAM with Flexible Read/Write Data Width Tailored for Convolutional Neural Network

This paper discusses the design of a high-speed Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) which is tailored for convolutional neural network (CNN). Training process of CNNs requires memory to be accessed with different data widths, of which the most popular data widths are from 1 byte to 4 bytes. Traditional SRAMs have a set read/write data width and thus can only read/write one byte at a time. This slows down the training process of CNNs. SRAMs have become one of the bottlenecks of CNNs training speed. We proposed an SRAM with a new architecture that can read/write at flexible data widths. It can read/write any data from 1 byte to 4 bytes. This allows multiple bytes of data to be accessed each clock cycle and increases the memory access speed up to 4 times compared to traditional SRAMs. This can greatly improve the CNN training speed. A 1 KB traditional SRAM and another 1 KB SRAM based on the proposed architecture are also designed and simulated to further verify our design concepts. Power overhead and layout area overhead are also analyzed between the proposed SRAM architecture and the traditional SRAM.
Test pattern superposition to detect hardware trojans

Current methods for the detection of hardware Trojans inserted by an untrusted foundry are either accompanied by unreasonable costs in design/test pattern overhead, or return results that fail to provide confident trustability. The challenges faced by these side-channel techniques are primarily a result of process variation, which renders pre-silicon expectations nearly meaningless in predicting the behavior of a manufactured IC. To overcome this hindrance in a cost-effective manner, we propose an easy-to-implement test pattern-based approach that is self-referential in nature, capable of dissecting and understanding the characteristics of a given manufactured IC to hone in on aberrant measurements that are demonstrative of malicious Trojan hardware. By leveraging the superposition principle to cancel out non-Trojan noise, we can isolate and magnify Trojan circuit effects, all within a regime considerate of practical test and design-for-test infrastructures. Experimental results performed on Trust-Hub benchmarks demonstrate the proposed method provides a clear and significant boost in our ability to confidently certify manufactured ICs over similar state-of-the-art techniques.
Immediate Post-concussion and Cognitive Testing: Ceiling Effects, Reliability, and Implications for Interpretation

Objective The most commonly used computerized neurocognitive test in concussion assessment and management, Immediate Post-concussion and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), has demonstrated varying and sometimes concerning levels of test-retest reliability. This study aimed to further examine ImPACT's psychometric qualities and whether ceiling effects may suppress its reliability. Method A total of 300 consecutively selected ImPACT score reports for students attending a secondary school between 2010 and 2015 were reviewed. Test-retest reliabilities for composite scores and subscales were computed using Pearson product moment correlations (r) and intraclass correlation coefficients. To examine the potential influence of ceiling effects, we conducted frequency analyses of scores falling at, or near, the maximum possible score. Results A total of 92 score reports met inclusion criteria. Test-retest reliabilities ranged from 0.42 to 0.69 for composite scores and 0.19 to 0.71 for subscales. Subscales comprising the Verbal and Visual Memory composites evidenced the most prominent ceiling effects. Conclusions Obtained test-retest reliabilities were consistent with a large segment of the literature and add to concerns about ImPACT's reliability. Furthermore, at least in a select sample, this study identified sizeable ceiling effects that likely diminish the reliability of some composite scores. To mitigate the risk of false-negative errors on post-injury testing, ImPACT users should be cognizant of such ceiling effects. Supplemental, or alternative, approaches to protect against underestimating baseline functioning also warrant consideration.
CONSISTENTLY COMPUTING THE K → π LONG DISTANCE WEAK TRANSITION

First we extract the long-distance (LD) weak matrix element from K → 2π, K → 3π, KL → 2γ, K+ → π+e+e-, K+ → π+μ+ μ- and KL → μ+ μ- data and give compatible theoretical estimates. We also link this LD scale to the single-quark-line (SQL) transition scale βW and then test the latter SQL scale against the decuplet weak decay amplitude ratio / . Finally, we study LD KS → 2γ decay. All of these experimental and theoretical values for are in good agreement. We deduce an average value from 11 experimental determinations of = (3.59 ± 0.05) × 10-8GeV2, while the theoretical SQL values average to (3.577 ± 0.004) × 10-8GeV2.
The Underdetermination of Total Theories

This paper criticizes the attempt to found the epistemological doctrine that all theories are evidentially underdetermined on the thesis that all theories have empirically equivalent rivals. The criticisms focus on the role of auxiliary hypotheses in prediction. It is argued, in particular, that if auxiliaries are underdetermined, then the thesis of empirical equivalence is undecidable. The inference from empirical equivalence to the underdetermination of total theories would seem to survive the criticisms, because total theories do not require auxiliaries to yield observational consequences. It is shown that, nevertheless, underdetermination cannot be established for total theories.
A Clinical Perspective on the Automated Analysis of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy in Dermatology.

Author(s): Mehrabi, Joseph N; Baugh, Erica G; Fast, Alexander; Lentsch, Griffin; Balu, Mihaela; Lee, Bonnie A; Kelly, Kristen M | Abstract: Background and objectivesNon-invasive optical imaging has the potential to provide a diagnosis without the need for biopsy. One such technology is reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), which uses low power, near-infrared laser light to enable real-time in vivo visualization of superficial human skin from the epidermis down to the papillary dermis. AlthoughnRCM has great potential as a diagnostic tool, there is a need for the development of reliable image analysis programs, as acquired grayscale images can be difficult and time-consuming to visually assess. The purpose of this review is to provide a clinical perspective on the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) for the analysis and diagnostic utility of RCM imaging.Study design/materials and methodsA systematic PubMed search was conducted with additional relevant literature obtained from reference lists.ResultsAlgorithms used for skin stratification, classification of pigmented lesions, and the quantification of photoaging were reviewed. Image segmentation, statistical methods, and machine learning techniques are among the most common methods used to analyze RCM image stacks. The poor visual contrast within RCM images and difficulty navigating image stacks were mediated by machine learning algorithms, which allowed the identification of specific skin layers.ConclusionsAI analysis of RCM images has the potential to increase the clinical utility of this emerging technology. A number of different techniques have been utilized but further refinements are necessary to allow consistent accurate assessments for diagnosis. The automated detection of skin cancers requires more development, but future applications are truly boundless, and it is compelling to envision the role that AI will have in the practice of dermatology. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Evaluating Tesla’s Human Factors in the Wild West of Self-Driving Cars:

With self-driving vehicles no longer a pipe-dream of science fiction comes the growing pains of the new technology. Tesla Motors is the industry leader in implementing new self-driving technologies...
AI Fairness via Domain Adaptation.

While deep learning (DL) approaches are reaching human-level performance for many tasks, including for diagnostics AI, the focus is now on challenges possibly affecting DL deployment, including AI privacy, domain generalization, and fairness. This last challenge is addressed in this study. Here we look at a novel method for ensuring AI fairness with respect to protected or sensitive factors. This method uses domain adaptation via training set enhancement to tackle bias-causing training data imbalance. More specifically, it uses generative models that allow the generation of more synthetic training samples for underrepresented populations. This paper applies this method to the use case of detection of age related macular degeneration (AMD). Our experiments show that starting with an originally biased AMD diagnostics model the method has the ability to improve fairness.
VR-Spy: A Side-Channel Attack on Virtual Key-Logging in VR Headsets

In Virtual Reality (VR), users typically interact with the virtual world using virtual keyboard to insert keywords, surfing the webpages, or typing passwords to access online accounts. Hence, it becomes imperative to understand the security of virtual keystrokes. In this paper, we present VR-Spy, a virtual keystrokes recognition method using channel state information (CSI) of WiFi signals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that uses WiFi signals to recognize virtual keystrokes in VR headsets. The key idea behind VR -Spy is that the side-channel information of fine-granular hand movements associated with each virtual keystroke has a unique gesture pattern in the CSI waveforms. Our novel pattern extraction algorithm leverages signal processing techniques to extract the patterns from the variations of CSI. We implement VR-Spy using two Commercially Off-The-Shelf (COTS) devices, a transmitter (WAVLINK router), and a receiver (Intel NUC with an IWL 5300 NIC). Finally, VR-Spy achieves a virtual keystrokes recognition accuracy of 69.75% in comparison to techniques that assume very advanced adversary models with vision and motion sensors near the victim.
Mapping Crisis and Mapping Solutions: Uighur National Question

The article examines the current crisis and conflicts in the Xinjiang region among Uigurs. It mapping out fundamental questions attached to the Uighur national question and thus mapping out some solutions to the Uigur national question.
Is Peroxidation Important in the Cancer Process

Natural antioxidants such as selenium and vitamins C, E, as well as the phenolic antioxidants, BHA and BHT have inhibited several types of tumors.
Chapter 2 Control mechanisms in sterol uptake and biosynthesis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses control mechanisms in sterol uptake and biosynthesis. Cholesterol—which is largely insoluble in aqueous media—travels through the blood circulation in the form of lipoprotein complexes. The plasma lipoproteins are a family of globular particles that share common structural features. A core of hydrophobic lipid—principally triacylglycerols (triglycerides) and cholesterol esters—is surrounded by a hydrophilic monolayer of phospholipid and protein. Lipid–apolipoprotein interactions, facilitated by amphipathic protein helices that segregate polar from nonpolar surfaces, provide the mechanism by which cholesterol can circulate in a soluble form. In addition, the apolipoproteins modulate the activities of certain enzymes involved in lipoprotein metabolism and interact with specific cell surface receptors that take up lipoproteins by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Differences in the lipid and apolipoprotein compositions of plasma lipoproteins determine their target sites and classification based on buoyant density. The principal mechanism for cellular uptake of cholesterol involves receptor-mediated endocytosis of plasma lipoproteins.
Effect of ionic composition of suspending solution on virus adsorption by a soil column.

The effect of various electrolytes on the adsorption of poliovirus was measured in 250-cm-long soil columns with ceramic samplers at different depths. Viruses suspended in deionized water moved much farther through the soil than those suspended in tap water, whereas movement in sewage water was intermediate. The salt content of the tap water and sewage water promoted virus adsorption, but evidently the organic compounds in sewage retarded adsorption. When viruses were suspended in chloride solutions of K+, Na+, Ca+, and Mg2+, virus adsorption increased as the cation concentration and valence increased. The depth of virus penetration was related to the ionic strength of the solutions. Virus penetration data for NO3−, SO42−, and H2PO4− salts of K+, Na+, and Ca2+ indicated that other anions were more effective than Cl− in promoting virus adsorption. Also, NH4+ was more effective than other cations in limiting the penetration depth of viruses. It seems that ions composed of radicals are more effective than ions composed of single atoms in promoting virus adsorption. Al3+ was the most effective ion in limiting virus penetration, probably owing to flocculation of the viruses. Adding AlCl3 concentrations to secondary sewage effluent to provide an Al3+ concentration of 0.1 mM reduced the virus penetration depth to 40 cm. These studies show that the ionic composition of the suspending solutions must be considered in predicting virus penetration depths, and it may be practical to add low concentrations of a flocculating agent such as AlCl3 to sewage water to limit virus movement through very porous soils.
An investigation of factors affecting omani faculty members' adoption of information and computing technology

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors influencing information and computing technology (ICT) adoption for Omani faculty members from a framework of Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovation. Three hundred Omani faculty members from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) participated in the study. The survey consisted of five parts: (a) an 18-item questionnaire on ICT uses and skills, (b) a 1-item questionnaire on adopter category, (c) a 44-item self-constructed questionnaire on perception of barriers to adopting ICT, (d) a 50-item questionnaire on ICT attributes adapted from Moore and Benbasat, and (e) a 15-item questionnaire on demographic and job-related variables. Descriptive statistics indicated that the faculty members overall used ICT at the “Sometimes” level and had ICT skills at the “Intermediate” level. The most frequently used and skillful ICT functional areas were Website browsing, Internet search engine, and word processing. One-way ANOVAs found significant group differences of ICT uses and skills, perception of barriers, and perception of ICT attributes in the category of adopter. Early adopters used ICT more, had higher ICT skills, perceived fewer barriers in the adopting process, and recognized higher values of ICT attributes than later adopters did. Multiple regression analysis showed the level of ICT uses could be predicted by ICT skills, adopter category, perception of barriers, ICT attributes, and the selected demographic and job-rated background variables, to a large magnitude with an adjusted R2 value of .70. The level of ICT skills was the most salient predictor. Perception of ICT attributes and the number of traditional classes taught appeared to be important as well. Results supported Rogers’ theory at the macro level but not at the micro level.
Performance enhancement of a missile autopilot via genetic algorithm optimization techniques

The objective of this study is to demonstrate that genetic algorithm optimisation techniques can be successfully applied to enhance the performance of a typical linear quadratic missile autopilot controller design by incorporating several combinations of performance goals and constraints.
Low NOx emission combustion catalyst using ceramic foam supports

Catalytic combustion has the potential to lower NOx emissions in gas turbine applications, and BaMn hexa-aluminates have emerged as satisfactory high temperature catalysts. Ceramic foams offer advantages over monoliths as catalyst supports since the enhanced mixing avoids the formation of hot spots. This research demonstrates the feasibility of loading ceramic foams with washcoats of hexa-aluminate and confirms their superiority over monoliths.
Nearly Linear Time Algorithms for Permutation Groups: An Interplay Between Theory and Practice

We survey polynomial time algorithms (both deterministic and random) for computations with permutation groups. Particular emphasis is given to algorithms with running time of the form O(n log c |G|), where G is a permutation group of degree n. In the case of small-base groups, i.e., when log |G| is polylogarithmic as a function of n, such algorithms run in nearly linear, O(n logc' n) time. Important classes of groups, including all permutation representations of simple groups except the alternating ones, as well as most primitive groups, belong to this category. For large n, the majority of practical computations is carried out on small-base groups.
Photoelectron-photoion coincidence study of benzonitrile

The technique of photoelectron-photoion coincidence with variable ion source residence times has been applied to a study of benzonitrile ion fragmentation. The breakdown curve of the parent ions shows a strong dependence on residence time. Detailed analysis of this dependence shows that the ion fragments from its electronic ground state via a "tight" activated complex, in agreement with the conclusions of Chesnavich and Bowers. The rate-energy dependence agrees with that determined by Eland and Schulte, and the fragmentation threshold is in reasonable agreement with the threshold observed in electron impact at very long ion source residence times. The results lead to [Math] = 1321 ± 10 kJ/mol. The energetics of additional neutral and ionic C6 H4 isomers is estimated and discussed.
Role of the dentist in the management of orofacial pain

Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms as such [1]. Although acute pain has the benefit of protection and healing, chronic pain has less value and can become one of the most powerful distressing experiences of the human spirit. Chronic pain is a major healthcare problem costing the USA approximately US$635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity [2]. In a cross-sectional internet-based survey of more than 35,000 individuals, the prevalence of chronic pain, defined as chronic, recurrent or long-lasting pain, lasting for at least 6 months, was 30.7%. The prevalence was higher for females (34.3%) than males (26.7%) and increased with age. Half of respondents with chronic pain experienced daily pain and 32% of them reported their average pain intensity as severe (≥7 on a scale ranging from 0 to 10) [3]. In a screening interview in 15 European countries and Israel, 19% of 46,394 respondents reported suffering with pain for 6 months or longer and had experienced pain in the last month and several times during the last week. Of these respondents, 46% reported their pain as constant [4]. In another study, 90% of the individuals with chronic pain localized their pain to the musculoskeletal structures [5]. Similar findings are reported when only the orofacial regions are considered. Macfarlane et al. [6] found the overall prevalence of orofacial pain (OFP) in the general population to be 26%. According to specific anatomic sites, this study found the prevalence of pain complaints as follows: 6% pain in the jaw joints, 6% in front of the ears, 10% in and around the temples and 12% in the periorbital region. Professional consultation with a dentist or physician was only sought by 46% of the participants with OFP. Furthermore, 17% reported work absenteeism or were disabled from undertaking normal activities because of pain. In another survey of 45,711 American households, 22% of the respondents reported having experienced at least one of five types of OFP in the past 6 months. The most common was tooth pain at 12.2% followed by t emporomandibular joint pain in 5.3% [7].
Morphine, Hypotension, and Intraventricular Hemorrhage in the Ventilated Premature Infant

The article in this issue of Pediatrics entitled “Morphine, Hypotension, and Adverse Outcomes Among Preterm Neonates: Who’s to Blame?” is a reanalysis of a data set recently published.1,2 Before attributing blame and passing judgment, it is important to briefly review the data. Thus, the genesis of the study was based on pilot observations that suggest that morphine infusions decrease the frequency of early neurologic injury in ventilated infants.3 The authors extended these initial observations and conducted a multicenter, blinded, randomized trial to test the hypothesis that preemptive morphine, compared with a placebo group, would significantly reduce the frequency of early neurologic injury in ventilated preterm neonates. The primary outcome was neonatal death, severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (grade III/IV), or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) defined as cystic echolucency adjacent to the lateral ventricles on cranial sonography obtained at 4 to 7 days and at 28 to 35 days of postnatal life. Ventilated infants were stratified by gestational age (GA) at birth as follows: 23 to 26, 27 to 29, and 30 to 32 weeks. The principal findings were that both groups had similar rates of composite outcome, severe IVH, and PVL. Because open-labeled morphine was an option for both groups, when the data were reanalyzed the morphine as well as the placebo group of infants, who received open-labeled morphine, had significantly worse rates of severe IVH or composite outcome, respectively.2 Regarding adverse effects, infants in the group receiving morphine had an increased incidence of hypotension (defined as the need for vasopressor support or intravenous fluid boluses ≥20 mL/kg), particularly during the … Address correspondence to Jeffrey M. Perlman, MB, ChB, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10021. E-mail: jmp2007{at}med.cornell.edu
Collapse Arrestors for Deepwater Pipelines: Finite Element Models and Experimental Validations for Different Cross-Over Mechanisms

Using finite element models it is possible to determine the cross-over external pressure of different pipeline arrestor designs. In this paper these finite element models are discussed and validated by comparing their results with experimental determinations. The flipping and flattening cross-over mechanisms are considered in the experimental validation of the numerical models.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Integrin-like RGD-dependent binding mechanism involved in the spreading response of circulating molluscan phagocytes

Circulating phagocytic cells (hemocytes) of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate host of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, were treated with the tetrapeptide, arg-gly-asp-ser (RGDS), an integrin-specific adhesion inhibitor, and assessed for their ability to adhere and spread on uncoated and snail plasma protein-coated glass slides. Although cells were capable of adherence, RGDS significantly inhibited the spreading ability of hemocytes in both a time and RGDS concentration-dependent fashion regardless of plasma protein coating. The inhibition of hemocyte spreading by RGDS was a specific response, since treatment of cells with a glutamic acid-substituted control peptide (RGES) did not exert the same inhibitory effect. A comparison of RGDS-responses between hemocytes of two strains of B. glabrata, one resistant (R; 13-16-R1 strain) and the other susceptible (S; NMRI strain) to infection by S. mansoni, revealed several snail strain-specific differences. At concentrations of 0.5 mM RGDS, R snail hemocyte spreading was unaffected, whereas a significant depression of spreading was seen in cells of the S snail. Moreover, we observed that R strain hemocytes spread more rapidly on homologous plasma-coated surfaces than the S snail strain following peptide pretreatment and removal. These data suggest that hemocytes from S and R snails may differ either in the number of RGDS-binding receptors or in their affinity for the RGDS peptide. In order to identify the type(s) of integrin-like RGD-binding receptors that may be present on the surface of snail immunocytes, washed hemocytes were placed on various mammalian extracellular matrix proteins and evaluated for their spreading function in the presence of specific or non-specific peptides. Hemocyte aggregation or clumping was observed on all test protein substrates, and this aggregation behavior was specifically inhibited by RGDS. Thus, RGD-binding receptors appear to play a critical role in cellular motility on matrix-coated surfaces and/or cell-cell binding. Our data provide functional evidence for an integrin-like receptor on circulating phagocytes of snails, and for an RGD-binding mechanism involved in cell-substrate interactions.