cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boron concentrations in milk from mothers of full-term and premature infants

Background: Boron is a bioactive element that satisfies several of the criteria for essentiality in humans. Objective: The objective was to establish the profile of boron metabolism in human milk. Design: Lactating mothers of premature (PRT; n = 10, 2500 g, 39 - 41 wk gestation) infants living in St John's, Canada, collected milk samples once a week for 12 wk. Samples were analyzed for boron, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc by atomic emission or absorption spectrometry after wet-ash digestion with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in polytetrafluoroethylene tubes. Results: A mixed-model analysis of variance indicated that boron concentrations were stable in full-term (30 and 28 μg/L milk; P = 0.5) but not in preterm (37 and 27 μg/L; P = 0.01) milk between weeks 1 and 12, respectively. As expected, there were reductions in the concentrations of copper (FT: 651 to 360 μg/L, P < 0.0001; PRT: 542 to 425, P = 0.05), iron (FT: 355 to 225 μg/L, P = 0.0003; PRT: 406 to 287, P = 0.002), selenium (FT: 26.9 to 18.6 μg/L, P < 0.0001; PRT: 28.7 to 20.4, P < 0.0001), and zinc (FT: 4060 to 1190 μg/L, P < 0.0001; PRT: 5970 to 1270, P < 0.0001) over time. Conclusions: The stable milk boron concentrations over time suggest that boron may be under homeostatic control. The patterns of change in copper, iron, selenium, and zinc concentrations in milk differ from those of boron. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism of milk boron secretion.
Battery Charge Equalization-State of the Art and Future Trends

High-voltage battery packs which employ large series strings of battery cells can be found in many applications including utility industry, power backup, wheelchairs, electric, and hybrid vehicles. As the battery pack is charged and discharged as a single unit, differences in cell capacities, individual cell temperature, internal chemical characteristics, internal resistance, and degradation can cause capacity imbalances in the form of voltage variations. Imbalanced cell voltages can cause cell overcharging and over-discharging damage, and decrease the total storage capacity and lifetime of the battery pack. While balancing the voltages of the batteries will prevent any problems stemming from capacity mismatch, there are many ways to instantiate the solution. This paper reviews, analyses, and classifies various existing charge equalization techniques including capacitive, inductive, and transformer storage methods.
Lesser Antilles Lines (B)

This case is a continuation of "Lesser Antilles Lines: The Island of San Huberto" (UVA-QA-0355), which describes the price competition between two duopolistic shipping companies facing inelastic demand for cargo volume. Customers have inelastic and time-sensitive demand, restricting their strategic possibilities. The fictional case introduces additional pricing instruments to this setup. The duopolists can now offer price guarantees and include most-favored-customer clauses and last-look provisions in their contracts. The case is linked to a Web-based simulation exercise that lets students explore the effects of these contractual instruments in a duopoly.
A new case of deficiency of the R binder for cobalamin, with observations on minor cobalamin-binding proteins in serum and saliva.

A patient presented at the age of 77 yr with a low serum cobalamin level. Subsequent study showed that he had persistently very low R binder (TC I) cobalamin-binding capacity in serum (less than 5 ng/liter versus 213 +/- 171 ng/liter in normal controls), and that almost all of his endogenous serum cobalamin was carried by TC II instead of TC I. His saliva also demonstrated virtually undetectable R binder (binding capacity of 31–38 ng/liter versus 41,690 +/- 23,820 ng/liter for control subjects). Unlike previous cases of R binder deficiency, he seemed to maintain normal serum cobalamin levels while receiving monthly cyanocobalamin injections. This and his normal serum unsaturated binding capacity were due to elevated TC II levels. TC II carried 72%-98% of his endogenous cobalamin, the rest being attached to minor binders. As incidental findings, the patient had a serum component of molecular weight of approximately 70,000 that carried 7%- 8% of his endogenous cobalamin and also had small quantities of TC II demonstrable in his saliva. Both these heretofore unappreciated minor peaks were identifiable because of the lack of R binder. The patient's clinical presentation supports the conclusion that R binder deficiency is a benign disorder. Whether his mild hypersegmentation of neutrophils and neuropathy were related to the R binder deficiency or, more likely, arose from coexisting folate deficiency and alcohol abuse, the overall picture contrasts dramatically with the severe clinical sequelae of TC II deficiency.
A Hybrid Tricopter/Flying-Wing VTOL UAV

This paper details 1.5 years of work toward creating a fully-autonomous robotic aircraft with the best qualities of both a xed-wing and multicopter vehicle con guration. The vehicle was designed from the beginning with the goal for it to become a fully open-source platform; the design being free to the public to modify and improve. It features a standardized mounting-hole grid pattern for future attachments and modules, a novel oating front cassette assembly, and other design features. The methodology used to design and build the vehicle is described, including planform and rotor con guration, motor and propeller selection, wing geometry and airfoil selection, and other design optimizations. PID controller topology, ight controller software architecture, and video telemetry electronics are also described. Flight testing results are given, and future implementation of a solar energy harvesting system, ground locomotion mechanism, and other advanced features are also described for further work.
Localized Doping Enhancement by Photon-Assisted Chemical Beam Epitaxy

Doping results from Ar+-laser-assisted chemical beam epitaxy with triethylgallium, tris (dimethylamino) arsenic and silicon tetrabromide as group-HI, group-V and dopant precursors respectively are reported. Enhancements in the n-type doping concentration are observed with laser irradiation in the investigated substrate-temperature range 390°C - 500°C. With a 300 W/cm2 irradiation power density, an increase in the carrier concentration by 70 times is obtained at 390°C substrate temperature. A numerical model developed by us for epitaxial growth and doping with the above precursors is used to assess the contribution of laser-induced thermal heating to the observed doping increase. A reaction scheme for photo-induced decomposition of physisorbed silicon tetrabromide is proposed. A kinetic rate equation for the photolysis is derived and used to estimate the absorption cross section required to reproduce the observed concentration enhancements resulted from laser irradiation. The possibility is established that dramatic increases in carrier concentration at low growth temperatures are due to photolysis of physisorbed silicon tetrabromide.
The association between β HaeIII polymorphisms located in the promoter region of β fibrinogen gene, plasma fibrinogen levels and coronary heart disease

Objective To study the association between plasma fibrinogen levels and the β HaeⅢ polymorphisms located in the promoter rigion of the β fibrinogen gene in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) Methods β HaeⅢ polymorphisms and plasma fibrinogen levels were simultaneously measured in 66 patients with CHD and 53 control subjects DNA was extracted using the phenol/chloroform method Plasma fibrinogen concentration was assayed with Follin phenol method Results (1) The frequencies of the genotype H1H2, H2H2 were higher in patients with CHD than in control subjects ( P 0 01) (2) β HaeⅢ polymorphisms are significantly associated with plasma fibrinogen levels ( r =0 65, P 0 001) The genotypes (H1H2,H2H2) which lost cutting site for β HaeⅢ enzyme showed that plasma fibrinogen levels were higher in this group ( P 0 01) Conclusion The frequencies of the genotype H1H2, H2H2 were higher in patients with CHD as compared with control subjects and plasma fibrinogen levels in CHD patients were significantly increased It may be one of the major factors of thrombosis in patients with coronary heart disease
Experimental study on interfacial structure and interfacial area transport in downward two-phase flow

Abstract In view of the importance of two-group interfacial area transport equation and lack of corresponding accurate downward flow database that can reveal two-group interfacial area transport, a systematic database for adiabatic, air-water, vertical downward two-phase flow in a round pipe with inner diameter of 25.4 mm was collected to gain an insight of interfacial structure and provide benchmarking data for two-group interfacial area transport model. Four-sensor conductivity probes were used to measure the local two phase flow parameters at high data sampling frequency to ensure the accuracy. Axial development of local flow parameter profiles including void fraction, interfacial area concentration, and Sauter mean diameter were presented. Drastic inter-group transfer of void fraction and interfacial area as well as the wall peaked interfacial area concentration profiles were observed and discussed.
Microbiological Criteria for Food in Military and Federal Specifications

Microbiological criteria in military and federal food specifications are presented. Approximately 10% of more than 600 specifications for food contain microbiological requirements which are applied in procurement of food for military and federal agencies. Foods were grouped into four categories which include dehydrated foods, milk and milk products, miscellaneous dairy products, and frozen foods. Microbiological requirements vary with the food item and include criteria for the aerobic plate count, coliforms, Escherichia coli, salmonellae, yeast and mold, proteolytic bacteria, lipolytic bacteria, psychrotrophs and direct microscopic count. Specifications may be obtained by writing to the U.S. Naval Publications and Forms Center, NPFC Code 1032, 5801 Tabor Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130.
William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist and Rhetoric–Dialectic Interplay

This article closely analyzes a partnership between the literary, rhetorical, and dialectical dimensions of William Blatty's The Exorcist (1971), a popular horror novel about a twelve-year-old girl...
Mapping the Binding Modes of Hemilabile Pincer-Crown Ether Ligands in Solution Using Diamagnetic Anisotropic Effects on NMR Chemical Shift.

A protocol for identifying ligand binding modes in a series of iridium pincer complexes bearing hemilabile aza-crown ether ligands has been developed using readily accessible NMR methods. The approach was tested on a collection of 13 structurally diverse pincer–crown ether complexes that include several newly characterized species. New synthetic routes enable facile interconversion of coordination modes and supporting ligands. Detailed structural assignments of five complexes reveal that the difference in chemical shift (Δδ) between geminal protons in the crown ether is influenced by diamagnetic anisotropy arising from halides and other ligands in the primary coordination sphere. The average difference in chemical shift between diastereotopic geminal protons in the crown ether macrocycle (Δδavg), as determined through a single 1H–13C HSQC experiment, provides information on the pincer ligand binding mode by establishing whether the macrocycle is in close proximity to the metal center. The Δδavg values for...
Switched-Mode-Control Based Hybrid LDO for Fine-Grain Power Management of Digital Load Circuits

Switched-mode-control (SMC) is a control methodology that allows instantaneous switching between controllers to extend the dynamic range of feedback circuits. A hybrid low dropout voltage regulator utilizing SMC is designed in 130 nm CMOS for fine-grain power management, fast droop recovery, and accurate voltage regulation of digital load circuits. The design provides an optimal tradeoff between performance and accuracy by switching between a digital and an analog control loop. Measurements from the test-chip show near-threshold-voltage operation, peak transient response of 0.71 ns/mA, and a peak current efficiency of 98.64%.
Angle-dependent magnetoresistance as a probe of Fermi surface warping in HgBa 2 CuO 4 + δ

We develop a model for the angle-dependent magnetoresistance of ${\mathrm{HgBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4+\ensuremath{\delta}}$ in the underdoped regime where the Fermi surface is thought to be reconstructed by an ordered state such as a charge-density wave. We show that such measurements can be employed to unambiguously distinguish the form of the Fermi surface's interlayer warping, placing severe constraints on the symmetry and nature of the reconstructing order. We describe experimentally accessible conditions in which our calculations can be put to the test.
Psychopathology of Stalking Offenders: Examining the Clinical, Demographic, and Stalking Characteristics of a Community-Based Sample:

This study examined the correlates of stalking behavior and psychopathology among stalking offenders assessed using a rigorous diagnostic tool. A total of 137 stalking offenders were interviewed an...
Do U.S. drone strikes cause blowback?: Evidence from Pakistan and beyond

Many analysts argue that U.S. drone strikes generate blowback: by killing innocent civilians, such strikes radicalize Muslim populations at the local, national, and even transnational levels. This ...
Genetic and Perinatal Factors in Violence

Aggressive and antisocial behaviors are persistent problems for our society. Understanding the etiology of such behavior has proved difficult at best. One of the issues currently facing researchers engaged in the etiological study of aggressive and antisocial behavior is the possibility that congenital factors may play a role in such behavior. These factors include genetic influences and pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal complications. If congenital factors are indeed an aspect in the etiology of some violent antisocial behavior, then the expectation arises that such factors, which affect children at the beginning of their lives, would result in individuals who would evidence persistent patterns of violent behavior. But are there individuals who are reliably violent? If not, then the search for congenital biological determinants of violence may be in vain.
Chapter 7 Multiscale Simulation of Membranes and Membrane Proteins: Connecting Molecular Interactions to Mesoscopic Behavior

Abstract Current progress in the field of the multiscale simulation of membranes is presented. A general survey of various simulation methods, and how they can relate to the overall multiscale spatial and temporal problem associated with membranes is given. An overview of our current simulation methodology in this area is summarized, as well as a set of selected research applications.
On Guenther Anders, Political Media Theory, and Nuclear Violence

Gunther Anders was a philosopher concerned with the political and social implications of power, both as expressed in the media and its tendency to elide the citizenry and thus the very possibility of democracy and the political implications of our participation in our own subjugation in the image of modern social media beginning with radio and television. Anders was particularly concerned with two bombs dropped on Japan at the end of World War II, and he was just as concerned with the so-called ‘peaceful’ uses of nuclear power, what he named our apocalypse-blindness and the urgency of violence. To make this case I draw on Baudrillard on ‘speech without response’ and Gadamer on conversation.
Abstract TP344: Extrahematomal CNS Barrier Disruption in the First 90 Days Following Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Introduction: Hyperacute injury marker (HARM) is extrahematomal CNS barrier disruption in ICH marked by enhancement on post-gadolinium FLAIR sequences. We sought to identify factors associated with...
Oxidation state of peroxiredoxin 4 in lungs from patients with pulmonary fibrosis and mouse models of fibrosis

Rationale Every year 34,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). The average survival time for these patients is only 3-5 years after diagnosis. Recently we have shown that the overexpression of the ER localized peroxidase, Peroxiredoxin 4 (Prdx4) attenuates murine type II alveolar cells cell death and decreases collagen deposition in mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis. The goal of this study is to understand the redox status of Prdx4 in IPF and experimental models of lung fibrosis. Methods C57B6 mice were oropharyngeal instilled with bleomycin. After the establishment of pulmonary fibrosis Prdx4 was overexpressed by instillation of Adeno-Peroxiredoxin 4 (AdPrdx4). Mouse lung tissue as well as samples from IPF patients were analyzed for Prdx4 content and redox status. Results The overexpression of Prdx4 in mice with bleomycin-induced fibrosis resulted in a significant decrease in collagen content in mouse lungs overexpressing Prdx4 compared to mice receiving AdCtrl. Lung tissue from mice with bleomycin-induced fibrosis and patients with IPF showed altered Prdx4 oxidation states, with a shift towards high molecular weight complexes. A dramatic increase in only high molecular weight Prdx4 protein was observed in the bronchoaveolar lavage fluid from mice with bleomycin-induced fibrosis, along with increases in overoxidized Prdx (Prdx-SO3), suggesting that overoxidized high molecular weight Prdx4 complexes are selectively released from cells in models of pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusion This data reveals that an altered redox status of Prdx4 occurs in IPF and mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis and that augmentation of Prdx4 has a potential positive therapeutic relevance in pulmonary fibrosis.
Effect of climate-smart agricultural practices on household food security in smallholder production systems: micro-level evidence from Kenya

Climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa has had a negative impact on agricultural production leading to food insecurity. Climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices have the potential to reverse this trend because of its triple potential benefits of improved productivity and high income, reduction or removal of greenhouse gases and improved household food security. Hence, we empirically find the determinants of choice and the effect of CSAs on household food security among smallholder farmers in Kenya. Primary data were collected in Teso North Sub-county, Busia County of Kenya, among smallholder farmers. CSA practices used by farmers were grouped by principal component analysis and linked to food security by multinomial endogenous switching regression model. With the application of principal component analysis, we clustered the CSA practices into 4 components: crop management, field management, farm risk reduction and soil management practices. We find that the greatest effect of CSA adoption by smallholder farmers on food security is when they use a larger package that contains all the four categories of practices. Adopters of this package were 56.83% more food secure in terms of HFCS and 25.44% in terms of HDDS. This package mitigates upon the impacts of climate change as well as enhancing nutrient availability in the soils for higher productivity. Further, adoption of this package was positively influenced by gender of the household head, farm size and value of productive farm assets. CSAs have the potential to alleviate food insecurity among smallholder farmers if used in combinations and to a larger extend. To enhance adoption, land fragmentation should be discouraged through civic education and provision of alternative income-generating activities for farmers to benefit when practiced on relatively bigger land. Farmers should be sensitized on the need to invest in farm productive assets in order to absorb the risks of climate change while enhancing adoption of CSA practices.
Impacts of Hurricane Irma on the Circulation and Transport in Florida Bay and the Charlotte Harbor Estuary

Hurricane Irma impacted the coastal ocean and estuaries of west Florida as it transited the Florida peninsula from 10 to 12 September 2017, after making landfall first at Cudjoe Key as a Category 4 hurricane and then again at Naples, as a Category 2 hurricane. The response to Hurricane Irma is analyzed using both in situ data and a hindcast simulation by the West Florida Coastal Ocean Model (WFCOM). During the Irma passage, a negative storm surge followed by a positive surge occurred along the west Florida coast, with a recorded water level fluctuation of 3.31 m (from trough to peak) within Rookery Bay, and the negative surge with sea level set-downs (> 1 m) caused drying in Florida Bay and the Charlotte Harbor estuary. Irma-driven currents in Florida Bay, estimated to be 1.50–2.00 m/s, were strong enough to damage benthic communities. The resulting ocean circulation patterns and water exchange pathways are revealed by simulated Lagrangian trajectories. Also investigated is the memory of the coastal system. Whereas sea level and currents restored back to their normal fluctuations within a day, water temperature and salinity required several days to stabilize, and by virtue of heavy rainfall, excess freshwater input from rivers resulted in lower estuarine and nearshore salinities that lasted for several weeks.
Backlash against human rights shaming: emotions in groups

Human rights advocates continue to use shaming as a central tool despite recognizing its declining effectiveness. Shame is indeed a potent motivator, but its effects are often counterproductive for this purpose. Especially when wielded by cultural outsiders in ways that appear to condemn local social practices, shaming is likely to produce anger, resistance, backlash, and deviance from outgroup norms, or denial and evasion. Shaming can easily be interpreted as a show of contempt, which risks triggering fears for the autonomy and security of the group. In these circumstances, established religious and elite networks can employ traditional normative counter-narratives to recruit a popular base for resistance. If this counter-mobilization becomes entrenched in mass social movements, popular ideology, and enduring institutions, the unintended consequences of shaming may leave human rights advocates farther from their goal.
Physical Therapists and Physicians Evaluate Nonarthritic Hip Disease Differently: Results From a National Survey.

Background Physical therapy and surgery are viable treatment options for nonarthritic hip disease (NAHD). Interdisciplinary collaboration can help patients make informed treatment decisions. Understanding how each provider can contribute is a critical first step in developing collaborative evaluation efforts. Objective The objective of this study was to describe the current evaluation of NAHD by both physical therapists and physicians, and evaluate national use of expert-recommended evaluation guidelines. Design A national survey study distributed in the United States was implemented to accomplish the objective. Methods A survey was distributed to 25,027 potential physical therapist and physician respondents. Respondents detailed their evaluation content for patients with NAHD across the following domains: patient-reported outcomes, patient history, special tests, movement assessment, clinical tests, and imaging. Respondents ranked importance of each domain using a 5-point Likert scale (not important, slightly important, important, very important, or extremely important). Odds ratios (ORs [95% CIs]) were calculated to identify the odds that physical therapists, compared with physicians, would report each evaluation domain as at least very important. Fisher exact tests were performed to identify statistically significant ORs. Results Nine hundred and fourteen participants (3.6%) completed the survey. Physical therapists were more likely to indicate movement assessment (OR: 4.23 [2.99-6.02]) and patient-reported outcomes (OR: 2.56 [1.67-3.99]) as at least very important for determining a diagnosis and plan of care. Physical therapists had lower odds of rating imaging (OR: 0.09 [0.06-0.14]) and special tests (OR: 0.72 [0.53-0.98]) as at least very important compared with physicians. Limitations This survey study did not include many orthopedic surgeons and thus, primarily represents evaluation practices of physical therapists and nonsurgical physicians. Conclusions Physical therapists were more likely to consider movement assessment very important for the evaluation of patients with NAHD, whereas physicians were more likely to consider imaging and special testing very important.
U–Pb ID-TIMS geochronology using ATONA amplifiers

We document the performance of new ATONA (‘aA to nA’) amplifiers installed on an Isotopx Phoenix thermal ionisation mass spectrometer (TIMS) at Princeton University and evaluate their suitability for high-precision analyses of Pb and U isotopes in pg- to ng-size samples characteristic for U–Pb geochronology. The new amplifiers are characterised by low and stable noise levels comparable to 1012 to 1013 ohm resistors, response time 10−14 A (1 mV relative to a 1011 ohm amplifier or ca. 60 kcps). As such currents are routinely achievable for major Pb peaks of interest (205–208Pb) in natural samples containing more than ca. 10 pg Pb* (radiogenic Pb), we expect ATONA-Faraday detection to find broad applications in U–Pb geochronology. Its practical use for low-blank, radiogenic samples continues to require ion counting for 204Pb, either with a fixed Faraday–ion counter gain or using a dynamic two-step (e.g. FaraDaly) method. Routine adoption of ATONA-Faraday collection in place of ion counting for most major Pb and U isotopes has the potential to increase sample throughput and precision, both improving the accessibility of isotope dilution (ID)-TIMS geochronology and pushing this technique towards better reproducibility.
Retail violations of sales to minors on e-cigarettes and cigars.

Abstract Objectives The finalized ‘Deeming Rule’ extended the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate e-cigarettes, cigars, and other newly deemed tobacco products. We seek to assess the neighborhood characteristics associated with retail violations of sales to minors (RVSM) by tobacco product. Study design We collected national inspection data on tobacco retailers during August 8, 2016, and May 31, 2018, from the FDA compliance check database. Methods A web scraping tool was applied to text mine the FDA decision letters and extract information on the tobacco product involved in RVSM. Separate logistic regression models with random effects were performed to examine the association between zip code-level neighborhood characteristics and RVSM by tobacco product. Results Of 268,317 minor-involved compliance inspections, 35,403 (13.2%) were identified as RVSM. Among 23,352 warning letters included in the final analysis, e-cigarettes, cigars, cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco accounted for 20.0% (n = 4673), 40.4% (9439), 35.6% (8303), and 4.0% (937) of RVSM, respectively. Flavored tobacco products were abundant among underage sales. For e-cigarettes, RVSM were more likely to occur in zip codes with a larger proportion of youth population aged 10–17 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.17 [1.02–1.34]). A larger proportion of African Americans was associated with a higher risk of RVSM for cigars (AOR = 1.09 [1.07–1.11]) but a lower risk of RVSM for e-cigarettes (AOR = 0.90 [0.87–0.93]). Conclusions Retail violations of underage sales for cigars and e-cigarettes are prevalent and neighborhood characteristics associated with violations differ by tobacco product. Continued inspections with tailored strategies to reduce RVSM of all tobacco products are needed.
Interventions to promote hotel workers' health: A scoping review

BACKGROUND The hospitality industry employs millions of workers and is a key contributor to the US economy. Despite being essential drivers in the industry's success, hotel workers, particularly hotel housekeepers, are exposed to occupational hazards and experience disproportionate rates of injuries and chronic health conditions. Thus there is a significant need for health promotion efforts directed toward these workers. However, little is known about existing interventions targeting their health. METHODS We conducted a scoping review to identify and appraise workplace health promotion interventions targeting hotel employees. We performed a scoping review following the framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Our literature search process was recorded using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Basic study information was compiled into a matrix table. Study quality was assessed using the template for intervention description and replication. RESULTS Eight unique interventions were identified, occurring at over 30 hotels with participants ranging between 16 and 1207 employees. Though many of the reported health outcomes were not statistically significant, studies reported results with clinical implications, including decreased numbers of injury claims, reduced anxiety, improvements in cardiovascular disease risk indicators, such as body mass index, and increased knowledge among participants. CONCLUSIONS This is the first review to interrogate the literature on existing workplace interventions targeting the health of hotel workers. While some studies found significant improvements in health outcomes, few conducted rigorous program evaluation. The results highlight the need for more and effective interventions targeting these at-risk workers.
Methods and materials and the durability of canvas paintings: a preface to the topical collection Failure Mechanisms in Picasso’s Paintings

Paintings experience chemical, mechanical and biological damage over time. Whereas chemical and biological alterations have been widely studied in the recent decades, the study of the mechanical behaviour of painted structures deserves more attention. Damage to paintings (such as cracks, flaking paints or delaminations) has been traditionally associated to humidity and temperature fluctuations. While such assumptions are not completely wrong, the environment is not always the reason behind the failure observed in paintings. A deeper insight into the interactions between pigment and medium, as well as between the different paint layers is crucial to interpret damage found in the painted surface, but also to take more informed conservation decisions to ensure paintings stability over time. The Failure Mechanisms in Picasso’s Paintings Topical Collection in the journal SN Applied Sciences brings together a series of papers aimed to understand this relationship between the composition of painting materials and mechanical damage. Results suggest that slight modifications introduced by the artist in his works can induce different vulnerabilities, whose effects can be seen over time.
Optimal Threshold of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction for Aortic Valve Replacement in Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background The optimal threshold of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) that should prompt aortic valve replacement (AVR) in asymptomatic patients with high‐gradient severe aortic stenosis (A...
Reflectometry based Cable Insulation Aging Diagnosis and Prognosis

This paper proposes a new diagnostic and prognostic approach that integrates joint time-frequency reflectometry (JTFDR), continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and particle filter to estimate the degradation of insulation and predict the remaining useful life of coaxial cables. In the proposed approach, the degradation process of the insulation is monitored by using an optimized JTFDR incident signal in an accelerated thermal aging test. CWT is adopted to obtain the time-frequency scalogram of the reflected JTFDR signals. The features are then extracted from the CWT magnitude scalogram to represent the degradation level of the insulation. A particle filter-based fault diagnostic and prognostic approach is developed. A series of experiments are conducted, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Consumer store experience through virtual reality: its effect on emotional states and perceived store attractiveness

Based on the stimuli-organism-response model, this study aims to examine whether consumers’ store experience through virtual reality (VR), compared to website experience, can attract them enough to perceive the online store as appealing. Two types of stimuli were developed for the experiments: consumers’ VR store experience (106 data) (i.e., having respondents experience 360-degree-based VR store videos recorded at a fashion retailer) and store website experience (107 data) (i.e., having respondents experience the same store’s website). The results revealed that relative to an ordinary store website, consumers’ VR store experience evoked positive emotions and increased perceived store attractiveness. This study also discovered that store familiarity does not moderate the relationship between the two store experience types and evoked emotions, implying that VR technology is effective regardless of consumers’ familiarity with a store. Text analytics were also utilized, providing additional insights about their VR store experiences. This study suggests an effective method for online retailers to emulate an attractive store environment and entice consumers through VR, regardless of the retailers’ fame. Specifically, it demonstrates the effectiveness of VR over website in enhancing store attractiveness, an under-studied area.
Exploring Preparation for the USMLE Step 2 Exams to Inform Best Practices.

Introduction The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 will transition to a pass-fail format in 2022. This is likely to result in an increased focus on Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores. Thus, academic advisors must provide evidence-based guidance for preparing students. While prior research has examined the utility of academic indicators to predict student performance on the USMLE exams, no significant scholarly effort has described or evaluated students' study approaches. The research study's goal was to understand what strategies and resources students utilized when preparing for the Step 2 CK exam and investigate the relationship(s) between these approaches and performance. Methods Students at a single US medical school were surveyed about their Step 2 CK preparation. We analyzed self-reported exam preparation strategies and the use of specific resources to determine their relationship with Step 2 CK score. Results Student performance on Step 2 CK was correlated with performance on previous exams, including school-specific examinations, National Board of Medical Examiners clerkship shelf exams, and Step 1. Two study strategies were positively correlated with Step 2 CK score in preliminary analyses: completing more working practice questions, and the proportion of a question bank completed. In hierarchical regression, only completing more working questions remained predictive, after controlling for demographic variables and Step 1 performance. Conclusions Faculty and staff can optimize students' Step 2 CK performance by encouraging them to work through case-based, clinically-focused questions. Further study is needed to describe optimal preparation strategies better.
Radiative corrections to antineutrino-proton scattering at low energies

For the low-energy antineutrino reaction, ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}+n$, which is of great current interest in connection with on-going high-precision neutrino-oscillation experiments, we calculate the differential cross section in a model-independent effective field theory (EFT), taking into account radiative corrections of order $\ensuremath{\alpha}$. In EFT, the short-distance radiative corrections are subsumed into well-defined low-energy constants, the values of which can in principle be determined from the available neutron $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay data. In our low-energy EFT, the order-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ radiative corrections are considered to be of the same order as the nucleon recoil corrections, which include the ``weak magnetism'' contribution. These recoil corrections have been evaluated as well. We emphasize that EFT allows a systematic evaluation of higher order corrections, providing estimates of theoretical uncertainties in our results.
Engaging innate immunity in HIV-1 cure strategies

Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) can block multiple stages of the HIV-1 life cycle to prevent progression to AIDS in people living with HIV-1. However, owing to the persistence of a reservoir of latently infected CD4+ T cells, life-long ART is necessary to prevent viral rebound. One strategy currently under consideration for curing HIV-1 infection is known as 'shock and kill'. This strategy uses latency-reversing agents to induce expression of HIV-1 genes, allowing for infected cells to be cleared by cytolytic immune cells. The role of innate immunity in HIV-1 pathogenesis is best understood in the context of acute infection. Here, we suggest that innate immunity can also be used to improve the efficacy of HIV-1 cure strategies, with a particular focus on dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer cells. We discuss novel latency-reversing agents targeting DCs as well as DC-based strategies to enhance the clearance of infected cells by CD8+ T cells and strategies to improve the killing activity of natural killer cells.
ALES HRDLICKA'S ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY

Although Ales Hrdlicka (1869–1943) is widely recognized as a central figure in the development of American physical anthropology, his contributions to forensic anthropology are not well known. The record shows he: 1) had training in legal medicine; 2) researched and published on issues of broad medico-legal interest; 3) reported on autopsies; 4) analyzed skeletal cases; 5) researched and testified on ancestry issues; and 6) maintained contact with FBI officials on medico-legal matters. His efforts in research and building collections helped to build the foundation for modern forensic anthropology.
Risk Factors for Occult Uterine Sarcoma Among Women Undergoing Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.

Abstract Study Objective To determine factors that can identify a population at increased risk for uterine leiomyosarcoma. Design Retrospective case-control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting University teaching hospitals. Patients Seventy-two women who underwent minimally invasive gynecologic surgery for presumed leiomyoma. Patients diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma (cases) were matched with up to 4 controls on age, year of surgery, and surgeon specialty. Intervention Cases were identified through the pathology database, and the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma or leiomyoma was confirmed by gynecologic pathologists. The cumulative risk of leiomyosarcoma was calculated, and factors predictive of elevated risk for leiomyosarcoma were investigated using conditional logistic regression. Measurements and Main Results Fifteen patients with the diagnosis of inadvertently morcellated leiomyosarcoma were identified and matched with 57 controls. The cumulative risk of diagnosing uterine leiomyosarcoma on pathology after performing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery with morcellation was 0.19% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06%–0.56%). The presence of a hematocrit value Conclusion Anemia and myoma size >7 cm may be associated with occult leiomyosarcoma; however, these criteria are not sufficiently discriminatory to allow for preoperative identification of patients with uterine sarcoma. Future large multicenter studies are needed to further investigate these findings and the discovery of innovative ways to detect uterine leiomyosarcoma are urgently needed.
Ichnology of a Paleopolar, River-Dominated, Shallow Marine Deltaic Succession in the Mackellar Sea: The Mackellar Formation (Lower Permian), Central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica

Abstract The Lower Permian Mackellar Formation in the Beardmore Glacier Area of the Central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica, was deposited between 80 and 85°S paleolatitude. Previous studies suggest that Mackellar Formation strata were deposited in either a large glacial lake or inland sea. Our study identified 30 ichnogenera from Turnabout Ridge and Buckley Island of which: 1) none are exclusively freshwater forms; 2) 20 ichnogenera are found in freshwater, brackish, and marine settings; and 3) 10 ichnogenera are exclusively found in marine settings. Combining ichnologic evidence with sedimentologic observations suggests that the Mackellar Formation was deposited in a river-dominated delta in a fully marine to brackish-marine setting. Trace-fossil associations are grouped into the Arenicolites – Phycodes , Lingulichnus , Arenicolites – Planolites , Kouphichnium , Phycodes – Teichichnus–Arenicolites , and Planolites – Teichichnus – Phycodes ichnocoenoses of a mixed Skolithos–Cruziana ichnofacies. These associations are characteristic of epi- and endobenthic worms arthropods, and mollusks, with the vast majority of the traces being diminutive in diameter and length, and exhibit shallow (≤ 10 mm) penetration depths. These ichnocoenoses occur in paleoenvironments that include the prodelta, distal to proximal delta front including mouth bars, and subaqueous terminal distributary channels. The diminutive morphology, shallow penetration depth, low bed ichnodiversity, high overall ichnodiversity, and sedimentologic characteristics are indicative of benthic organisms in a marine deltaic environment with short-lived communities composed of small-bodied organisms stressed by high freshwater input and high sedimentation rates.
Optimal rectangle packing on non-square benchmarks

The rectangle packing problem consists of finding an enclosing rectangle of smallest area that can contain a given set of rectangles without overlap. We propose two new benchmarks, one where the orientation of the rectangles is fixed and one where it is free, that include rectangles of various aspect ratios. The new benchmarks avoid certain properties of easy instances, which we identify as instances where rectangles have dimensions in common or where a few rectangles occupy most of the area. Our benchmarks are much more difficult for the previous state-of-the-art solver, requiring orders of magnitude more time, compared to similar-sized instances from a popular benchmark consisting only of squares. On the new benchmarks, we improve upon the previous strategy used to handle dominance conditions, we define a variable order over non-square rectangles that generalizes previous strategies, and we present a way to adjust the sizes of intervals of values for each rectangle's x-coordinates. Using these techniques together, we can solve the new oriented benchmark about 500 times faster, and the new unoriented benchmark about 40 times faster than the previous state-of-the-art.
Exploring the Housing Pathways of Low-Income Women: A Biographical Approach

AbstractThis research explores the use of a housing pathways framework and a biographical method to improve our understanding of the long-term housing experiences of low-income women. Biographical methods have been employed in the study of vulnerable and special populations outside of the US; however, there has been limited application of the method to examine low-income households within the US. This study draws on interviews of 29 low-income women with children in a large Midwestern metropolitan area to examine the nature of low-income housing pathways. The wages provided in the jobs that were available to the women in this study were insufficient to afford even low-quality, low-rent apartments, suggesting that the ability to achieve stability in modest housing is predicated on achieving much higher levels of household income. Federal rental assistance provided through the Housing Choice Voucher programme, rather than increased job stability or wages, resulted in improved housing conditions and stabilit...
On the drag force on non-spherical dust grain

It is shown that the direction of the drag force imposed on non-spherical grain by plasma flow is not necessarily aligned with the flow velocity. The implications of this fact for a grain dynamics are discussed.
Sharp flat plate heat transfer in helium at Mach numbers of 22.8 to 86.8

Surface heat transfer rates were measured on a sharp flat plate at zero angle of attack with helium over a Mach number range of 22.8 to 86.8 in a hypersonic shock tunnel. The density and leading edge Knudsen numbers were varied to span the continuum to near free molecule regimes. The strong interaction parameter varied from 11 to 16,000 with leading edge Knudsen numbers from 0.56 to 17.1, respectively. For high unit Reynolds number the rate of change of the heat transfer coefficient with the strong interaction parameter agreed well with the strong interaction theory of Li and Nagamatsu (1953, 1955).
Photoluminescence, electroluminescence, and optically detected magnetic resonance study of 2,5-dialkoxy derivatives of poly(p-phenyleneacetylene) (PPA) and PPA-based light-emitting diodes

Abstract The photoluminescence (PL) (i.e., optically)-detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of the 2,5-dialkoxy derivatives of poly(p-phenyleneacetylene) (PPA) films and blends, and the electroluminescence (EL), conductivity (σ)-, and EL-detected magnetic resonance of PPA-based LEDs is described. The weak vibronic structure of the intense PL peaking at ∼1.95 eV and the broad tail extending beyond 800 nm are consistent with a relatively high degree of disorder. The ODMR spectra are similar to those of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3ATs) and poly(p-phenylenevinylenes (PPVs), and attributable to magnetic resonance enhancement of singlet exciton generation by either polaron-polaron or triplet-triplet fusion. The broad, nearly symmetric half-field triplet ODMR is also consistent with considerably greater disorder than in P3ATs or PPVs. The EL spectrum of PPA-based diodes also reveals considerable disorder. They yeild intense EL-quenching but σ-enhancing resonances at g ≈ 2.002, which are discussed in terms of polaron-to-bipolaron decay, and half-field EL- and σ-detected resonances, assigned to triplet-triplet exciton fusion.
A Preliminary Consideration for Underground Autocatalytic Criticality by Vitrified High-Level Waste in Water-Saturated Geologic Repository

A preliminary assessment is conducted for the autocatalytic criticality phenomena for the Japanese repository concept, where the vitrified high-level waste (HLW) from reprocessed fuel of commercial light-water reactors is assumed to be disposed of in fractured granitic rock saturated with water. By a static neutronic analysis, the mass of 235U in 12%-enriched uranium required to make the transition from an under-moderated to an over-moderated critical system in water-saturated granite of a porosity of 0.3 is obtained 35 kg in a spherical core with a radius of 90 cm. The radionuclide transport analysis indicates that in any case the only fissile nuclide of concern for the autocatalytic criticality scenario is 235U. Other fissile nuclides are too short-lived, or are accompanied with a strong neutron absorber. This preliminary study indicates that the transport model can be simplified for uranium isotopes, with which a statistical uncertainty analysis can be performed to finally determine whether or not the ...