cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Plasma Sprayed Mixture of Partially Stabilized Zirconia and Tungsten Carbide on Low Carbon Steel

Industries such as aerospace, automotive, oil and gas utilize various chemical, thermal, and mechanical techniques to improve the surface properties of engineering components. Deposition of metallic or nonmetallic materials on the surface of engineering components using different thermal spraying techniques is a common method to improve the mechanical properties of the surface of the components working at severe conditions. Thermal spraying techniques are capable of deposition of a coating layer with high corrosion, wear, erosion, and high temperature resistance. This technology can also be used for surface repair and treatment. Zirconia (ZrO2) based coatings are excellent candidates to serve at high temperature due to their tribological and insulation properties, and also high stiffness. ZrO2-based coatings are usually used in aircraft and gas-turbine engines as thermal barrier coatings. However, the relatively low wear and erosion resistance of Zirconia-based coatings limits their application. Among all coating materials, Tungsten Carbide (WC) based materials are commonly used to improve wear and corrosion resistance of the surface. It is speculated that combination of ZrO2 and WC follows by generating a coating with desirable thermal and mechanical properties, particularly at high temperature conditions. In the presented work, an innovative thermally sprayed coating material was proposed by depositing mixture of ZrO2-Y2O3 and WC-Ni (YPSZ/WC-Ni) powders on a low carbon steel substrate using Atmospheric Plasma Spraying (APS). As thermomechanical properties of coatings are under the influence of the microstructural features such as porosity, micro cracks, voids, and possible oxides, in this study microstructure and phase consistency of the resultant coating was briefly evaluated. To this end, Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) were used. The results indicated that deposited coating was well-bonded to the substrate with minimum observed separation line. Porosity amount of APS deposited YPSZ/WC-Ni measured by image analysis of the cross-sectional area Moreover, mechanical properties including hardness and elastic modulus of the coating were evaluated. Since thermally sprayed coatings exhibit anisotropic behavior, the Knoop hardness in the longitudinal and transverse directions were analyzed in this study. Elastic modulus of the coating was also evaluated, based on the measurement of elastic recovery of Knoop indentation in both directions using Marshal analytical model. Wear resistance of the coating was also investigated by pin-on-disk method, at room temperature. The friction coefficient of the consecutive coating was calculated and had a value lower than that of reported for APS deposited YPSZ.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Needs, acceptability, and value of humanitarian medical assistance in remote Peruvian Amazon riverine communities.

Abstract. Much debate exists regarding the need, acceptability, and value of humanitarian medical assistance. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 457 children under 5 years from four remote riverine communities in the Peruvian Amazon and collected anthropometric measures, blood samples (1–4 years), and stool samples. Focus groups and key informant interviews assessed perspectives regarding medical aid delivered by foreigners. The prevalence of stunting, anemia, and intestinal parasites was 20%, 37%, and 62%, respectively. Infection with multiple parasites, usually geohelminths, was detected in 41% of children. The prevalence of intestinal parasites both individual and polyparasitism increased with age. Participants from smaller communities less exposed to foreigners expressed lack of trust and fear of them. However, participants from all communities were positive about foreigners visiting to provide health support. Prevalent health needs such as parasitic infections and anemia may be addressed by short-term medical interventions. There is a perceived openness to and acceptability of medical assistance delivered by foreign personnel.
Induction of Tolerance to Skin Homografts in Rabbits by Alterations of Placental Permeability.

SummaryAdministration of hyaluronidase and/or histamine in high doses to pregnant rabbits from the 11th to the 30th day of gestation resulted in approximately 25% of the progeny being completely tolerant and an additional 30% partially tolerant to maternal skin grafts. Furthermore, complete tolerance to skin grafts of their progeny was induced in 28% and partial tolerance in an additional 34% of the injected does under these experimental conditions.
Quorum Sensing Is Not a Misnomer

The paper by Brinker, Gresham, and collaborators (Nature Chem. Biol. 6:41–45, 2010), and the commentary in the March 2010 issue of Microbe (p. 99–100) by science writer Carol Potera, are mistaken in asserting that the term quorum sensing is a misnomer. When first reported by Nealson et al. in 1970 (J. Bacteriol. 104:313–322) it was called autoinduction, and one of the first experiments was to show that it could be attributed to a substance (termed autoinducer) released into the medium by the cells themselves and did not require a dense population of cells. With the chemical identification and synthesis of autoinducer (A. Eberhard et al., Biochemistry 20:2444–2449, 1981), R. A. Rosson and K. H. Nealson (Arch. Microbiol. 129:299–304, 1981) showed that induction could be caused by added autoinducer at densities as low as 105 cells/ml−1 and that it is invariant with cell density over a 1,000-fold range. These key papers were not cited by Brinker et al., and may not have been known to them, since the key word “quorum sensing” had not yet been introduced.
Reconstruction of limited soft-tissue defect with open tibial fracture in the distal third of the leg: a cost and outcome study.

This study was conducted to analyze the cost and outcome of free-tissue transfers versus local muscle flaps for reconstruction of limited soft-tissue defects associated with tibial fractures in the distal third of the leg. Twelve adult patients underwent either free (n = 6) or local muscle (n = 6) flap reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed. Total operative time for local muscle flap reconstruction was 215 ± 47 minutes compared with 450 ± 90 minutes (P < 0.0002) for free-muscle transfer. Median length of hospital stay after reconstruction was 7 days for local muscle flap compared with 9 days for free-muscle transfer. Total cost of the local muscle flap procedure was $11,729 ± $4460 compared with $19,989 ± $3295 (P < 0.0004) for free-flap reconstruction. Five of 6 patients in each group had excellent soft-tissue contours. Fracture healing was evident in all patients of each group. Thus, a local muscle flap for reconstruction of a limited distal tibial wound appears to be more cost-effective than free-tissue transfer because of equivocal outcomes achieved but at approximately half of the cost.
The Portrayal of Blacks in Business Publication Advertising: A Late 90’s Extension

This paper extends, through 1997, a content analytical study of blacks in business publication advertising. The purpose of the study is to determine if the changing numbers and roles of African Americans in the industrial purchasing process are being reflected in business advertising. Results indicate subtle changes in frequencies and portrayals over the past decade.
Biomechanics of Tendon Transfers

The transfer of tendons in the upper extremity is a powerful technique to restore function to a partially paralyzed hand. The biomechanical principles of muscle tension and tendon excursion dictate motor function both in the native as well as transferred states. Appropriately tensioning transferred tendons to maximize the function of the associated muscle remains an area of focused research. Newer methods of tendon coaptation have proven similar in strength to the standard Pulvertaft weave, affording more options to the surgeon.
Modulation of apoptosis via the induction of Caspase 3, 8, and 9 in LNCaP cells by two Chinese medicinal herbs Scutellaria barbata and Oldenlandia diffusia

A135 Scutellaria barbata (SB) and Oldenlandia diffusa (OD) have long been used in Chinese medicine for treating various cancers. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer among men in America. LNCaP is a cell line established from a metastatic lesion of prostatic adenocarcinoma in a 50-year-old male. Our previous data demonstrated that SB and OD could delay in vivo tumor development in TRAMP mice. In vitro positive TUNEL assay results were also detected in LNCaP cells indicating significant apoptosis induction via DNA fragmentation. In this study, we investigated the extent of caspases (C) 3, 8, and 9 activation and necrosis of living LNCaP cells on chamber slides with 50 μl of distilled water as controls and the experimental groups with 50 μl of aqueous extract (1 mg/ml) of SB or OD for 2 and 8 hours separately, using a specific carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled peptide fluoromethyl ketone (FMK) caspase inhibitor (FAM-Peptide-FMK). Caspase positive (+) cells appeared green whereas necrotic cells were stained red by propidium iodide as revealed by fluorescence microscopy. Significant time-dependent induction of caspases and necrosis were observed. Both 2 hr and 8 hr treatments of SB and OD showed elevated activation of all three caspases in most cells in the chamber slides relative to the controls which had a few caspase activated cells and significantly more necrotic cells. After 2hr incubation, the extent of caspases activation of both herbs were: C9 >C3 >C8. In 8 hr treatments using both herbs, there were many more observable necrotic cells. These data show that 2 hr is the optimum incubation time for both herbs to activate these caspases in LNCaP cells. Our data indicated SB and OD might exert this function via up-regulating the apoptotic pathway of the cancer cells by the induction and activation of caspases 3, 8, and 9 cascades, thus suggesting their chemopreventive and treatment potential. Combination effects of the two herbs warrant further investigation.
Psychological Vitality in the Oldest Old

Population demographers categorize those women and men who survive beyond the average life expectancy for their age cohort as the oldest old. Entry to this age category begins between age 80 and 85. Much research on this age-category focuses on the challenges and declines associated with advanced age and fails to characterize the heterogeneity of psychological functioning in individuals who do not meet clinical thresholds. To shift this focus, we review research from the last 10 years about psychological vitality after age 80 in five domains: non-pathological cognition, personality, self-related functioning, social connections, and subjective well-being. We consider factors associated with positive profiles of psychological vitality, outline critical knowledge gaps, and discuss challenges associated with research on this population.
Protecting Trade By Legalizing Political Disputes: Why Countries Bring Cases to the International Court of Justice

Why do countries use legal venues to solve disputes? In the absence of external enforcement, a court offers little leverage to change the underlying power distribution between states. Despite this lack of enforcement and a de facto requirement for mutual consent, 68 countries ranging in income and military capabilities have brought 134 cases to the ICJ since its inception in 1946. The literature suggests states are more likely to file cases when democratic leaders need political cover for difficult territorial concessions or when a state’s legal tradition supports the use of courts. We advance an alternative explanation that states use the ICJ to protect trade flows from disruption. The uncertainty arising from intense political disputes between countries can depress trade flows and give rise to issue linkage. Those states most vulnerable to such hold-up will seek legal venues as a means to avoid negative externalities for trade flows from the dispute. We assess this argument by analyzing how trade dependence shapes the likelihood of a state filing a case against another state in the ICJ. Using data on 190 countries from 1960 to 2013, we explain patterns of ICJ case initiation. Our findings show that countries are more likely to file ICJ cases against important trading partners than against states with low levels of shared trade. We conclude that economic interdependence changes the incentives for how states resolve their disputes.
Impact of self-reported data on the acquisition of multi-generational family history and lifestyle factors among women seen in a high-risk breast screening program: a focus on modifiable risk factors and genetic referral.

The phrase “high-risk for breast cancer” is used to identify various groups at elevated cancer risk, and the appropriate surveillance and risk-reducing strategies differ based on the etiology of risk. Here, we review the utility of patient-reported data to capture women with modifiable lifestyle risk factors and those suitable for genetic counseling referral. Patient-reported data from a web-based survey were used to capture personal history, multi-generational family history, and lifestyle factors (body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity). Responses were tabulated, and percentage of patients who met criteria for possible intervention calculated. 1277 women completed the survey from October 2014 to December 2015. Women were considered high risk for a combination of the following: family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (77%), history of atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ (35%), known breast cancer-related gene mutation (11%). Based on self-reported data, 65% qualified for genetic evaluation but 40% reporting no prior testing. Only half of the population met national physical activity recommendations, nearly 40% were overweight/obese, and 18% reported consuming ≥1 alcoholic beverage per day. Among women followed in a high-risk breast surveillance program, there is considerable opportunity for improved genetic referral and awareness of modifiable lifestyle factors based on self-reported data as 60% of respondents reported a possible area for intervention. While risk reduction associated with lifestyle changes is modest in comparison to chemoprevention or surgery, such changes are practically without risk, minimally expensive, and provide innumerable secondary health benefits.
Analysis of (π + , p) and (p, π + ) reactions

Abstract The reactions 12 C(π + , p) 11 C and 12 C(p, π + ) 13 C are analyzed assuming single neutron pickup or stripping in a distorded wave Born approximation framework. Qualitative agreement with experiment is obtained.
BRCA2 suppresses replication stress-induced mitotic and G1 abnormalities through homologous recombination

Mutations in the tumor suppressor BRCA2 predominantly predispose to breast cancer. Paradoxically, while loss of BRCA2 promotes tumor formation, it also causes cell lethality, although how lethality is triggered is unclear. Here, we generate BRCA2 conditional non-transformed human mammary epithelial cell lines using CRISPR-Cas9. Cells are inviable upon BRCA2 loss, which leads to replication stress associated with under replication, causing mitotic abnormalities, 53BP1 nuclear body formation in the ensuing G1 phase, and G1 arrest. Unexpected from other systems, the role of BRCA2 in homologous recombination, but not in stalled replication fork protection, is primarily associated with supporting human mammary epithelial cell viability, and, moreover, preventing replication stress, a hallmark of pre-cancerous lesions. Thus, we uncover a DNA under replication-53BP1 nuclear body formation-G1 arrest axis as an unanticipated outcome of homologous recombination deficiency, which triggers cell lethality and, we propose, serves as a barrier that must be overcome for tumor formation. BRCA2 mutations promote tumour formation while also paradoxically causing cell lethality. Here the authors generate conditional BRCA2 loss in a non-transformed human mammary cell line and see increased replication stress due to under-replication of DNA.
Reaching the MDGs: An Action Plan for Trade

Lack of integration into the global economy is a major factor in the continued underdevelopment of the poorest countries. The reasons for this include obstacles faced by exporters both abroad and at home: access to foreign markets is frequently limited by import barriers, while inadequate infrastructure and weak policies at home - including their own trade policies - often frustrate producers seeking to compete abroad.With many low-income countries (LICs) lagging in the global effort to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), there are calls for intensified action to spur growth and development. Trade is one key area where action can be taken. This paper suggests possible actions to foster trade integration for the LICs, substantially increasing their export potential and thereby helping them to progress toward the Millennium Development Goals.As the foundation for these ambitions, we emphasize the role of a secure, open global trading environment - strengthened further by concluding the WTO Doha Round. From this base, the poorest countries could also benefit from better trade preferences from the Advanced Market (AM) and major Emerging Market (EM) countries. Building the capacity to take advantage of trade opportunities will require support from the international community and policy reforms - including to their own trade regimes - by the poorest countries themselves. The Fifteen Point Plan of possible actions outlined in this paper could increase annual exports of the least developed countries (LDCs) by US$10 billion or more, with additional benefits for other LICs.
Reformas educativas en América Latina: un análisis crítico

El analisis de las reformas educativas que se presenta a continuacion esta centrado en los discursos politicos que sirvieron de base a estos procesos de cambio y principalmente en los idearios referidos a calidad, equidad y descentralizacion que han sido considerados como objetivos prioritarios, o ejes fundamentales, de muchas reformas educacionales en America Latina, a partir de los anos 80 en adelante. Para ello, se hara una breve descripcion de las reformas educativas, con sus principales objetivos y mecanismos de accion, desarrollar para a continuacion un analisis critico de los discursos a la base.
Modeling a Community as a System of Systems: A Methodology For Data Integration

We live, work and play within interacting and embedded systems of systems. While systems of systems engineering may be perceived as primarily physical or “hard” infrastructure, we live in critical systems of systems that emerge within physical and social systems. One such example is the living community system, one that strongly impacts our health and the way we live. The complex interconnected living environment is becoming a central focus for improvement given its strong influence on health in general and on how chronic conditions arise and persist. Such a strong focus on our community living environment has prompted various level regions (i.e. cities, districts) to take action in their communities. Stakeholders have turned to national data sources to inform a region of the many factors that describe it. However, these multiple factor datasets should be analyzed holistically as a system rather than individually. Consequently, this work develops a system of systems community typology from national data describing types of factor value combinations within a region. This paper presents a method of integrating multifactorial community data using a clustering based method to determine holistic system of systems community typologies.
Push Grasping with Humanoid Hands

This paper contributes to the work of push-grasping by producing data-driven models on the effects of the chosen angle of approach for anthropomorphic hands. An overview of previous work on robotic grasping is first presented. Thousands of trials of push grasping experiments are then compared between rigid angled funnel configurations coupled with a Baxter Electric Gripper end effector and the anthropomorphic, 16 DOF Allegro Hand end effector, each at different approach angles of approach. Geometrical capture regions for each set of trials are gathered. Push grasping is then applied to the realm of ground vehicles by coupling a mobile manipulator robot with the Allegro Hand, gathering the capture region as the body of the mobile manipulator rotates in place.
Fracture Toughness of Modern 9% Nickel Cryogenic Steels

Storage tanks for liquefied natural gas must contain a highly flammable gas at 11IK with an ample margin of safety. The 9% nickel steels have served in more than 50 LNG tanks without failure for over a decade. The Gas Research Institute has sponsored an international cooperative program to demonstrate the capabilities of 9% Ni steels to resist fracture initiation and arrest propagation. One project has considered the enhancement of properties attained in the past 15 years by lowering impurity levels. A statistical study has shown the large gains in the notch toughness of production heats made by reducing P and S contents below 0.005%. In contrast to the ASTM minimum requirements of 27J Charpy at 77K, levels over 100J have readily been attained in recent production. Other phases of the GRI program have studied the crack arrest capacity of 9% Ni heats ranging from 35 to 200J Charpy at 77K, including the effects of welding. At 40J toughness level, 25mm thick plates can arrest cracks 100mm long, but at 250J Charpy, 25mm plates could arrest cracks over 750mm long. An important ingredient of crack-arrest is the large energy absorption by the surface layers of these relatively thin storage tank gages. While weld planar flaws and property alteration in the weld heat-affected zone may have adverse effects on welded joints the excellent fracture toughness of the austenitic weld metal used in tanks compensates for these effects.
3-D CFD-PBM coupled modeling and experimental investigation of struvite precipitation in a batch stirred reactor

Abstract A general model has been developed to elucidate the precipitation of struvite crystals in a batch stirred tank reactor. The model, which evaluates reactor performance, also predicts crystal size distribution (CSD) over time by considering the hydrodynamic, thermodynamic, and kinetic aspects of solution in the reactor. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was coupled with Population Balance Modeling (PBM) to model the growth of crystals in the reactor. A thermodynamic equilibrium model for struvite precipitation was consolidated with the reactor model. While the equilibrium model provided information on supersaturation development, the coupled CFD-PBM model captured the crystal growth kinetics and the influence of the reactor hydrodynamics on the overall process. Size distribution is crucial as it determines distinct grades of final struvite crystals, which are to be used as commercial fertilizer. In the simulation, the CFD flow field was solved through a Eulerian multiphase approach and RNG-k-ɛ turbulence model. The population balance equation was solved using a discretized form of the continuous partial differential equation, which transformed the continuous partial differential equation into finite ordinary differential equations as per size classes, which were then solved simultaneously. The growth rate, as a function of the supersaturation index (SI), was employed in the model through User Defined Function. The mean, standard deviation, and skewness of the model predicted CSD after 50 min were 20.81 μm, 9.61 μm, and 2.97, respectively and for the experimental CSD were 19.66 μm, 7.13 μm, and 2.46, respectively. The predicted peak-size percent fraction revealed a deviation from experimental results of 1.42%, 0.05%, 2.43%, 14.6%, 11.2%, 11.7%, 13.6%, and 14.2% at 0, 3, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min, respectively.
Using Communication Models to Teach ELLs Science

Described in this chapter is how science teachers can use communication models to guide their design and implementation of science lessons for ELLs. Taking the form of diagrams that visually depict communicative processes underlying science content instruction, communication models provide instructors with an intuitive and accessible way of critically examining content-language integrated learning. More specifically, we show how two models – repair-and-accommodation and 5R – help science teachers with limited linguistic expertise infuse content learning with additional language acquisition.
Environmental Geopolitics and Outer Space

The cultural, legal, budgetary, infrastructural, and logistical processes through which the contemporary space race unfolds have measurable environmental footprints on Earth and in outer space. The...
The Relation Between Socioeconomic Characteristics and the Use of Physical Punishment in Bangladeshi Elementary Schools

AbstractCorporal punishment (CP) refers to the deliberate infliction of physical pain on children in response to an apparent disobedience or disapproved behavior. It is still used in educational se...
Treatment of Drug-Induced Parkinsonism

Drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) is a common movement disorder characterized by the rapid development of a most commonly symmetrical and akinetic-rigid syndrome weeks after initiation of a causative medication that resolves completely within months after withdrawal. Besides neuroleptics, the list of medications known to induce parkinsonism is long and includes, among many others, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and antiepileptics. Most have in common to alter dopaminergic transmission, more specifically D2 receptor-mediated motor modulation in the striatum. DIP and Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be virtually indistinguishable, yet some particular features may help to separate them. However, in a quarter of suspected DIP cases, the offending agent seems to have unmasked, rather than induced, a preexisting neurodegenerative condition. There is no specific treatment for DIP besides stopping the incriminated medication which, in the majority of patients, is curative.
Efficacy and Safety of Limited-Margin Conformal Radiation Therapy for Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma: Long-Term Results of a Phase 2 Study.

Purpose Our purpose was to assess disease outcomes and late toxicities in pediatric patients with rhabdomyosarcoma treated with conformal photon radiation therapy (RT). Methods and Materials Sixty-eight patients (median age, 6.9 years) were treated with conformal photon RT to the primary site on a prospective clinical trial. Target volumes included a 1-cm expansion encompassing microscopic disease. Prescribed doses were 36 Gy to this target volume and 50.4 Gy to gross residual disease. Chemotherapy consisted of vincristine/dactinomycin (n = 6), vincristine/dactinomycin/cyclophosphamide (n = 37), or vincristine/dactinomycin/cyclophosphamide-based combinations (n = 25). Patients were evaluated with primary-site magnetic resonance imaging, whole-body [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, and chest computed tomography for 5 years after treatment. Results Five-year disease-free survival was 88% for low-risk (n = 8), 76% for intermediate-risk (n = 37), and 36% for high-risk (n = 23) patients (P ≤ .01 for low risk/intermediate risk vs high risk). The cumulative incidence of local failure (LF) at 5 years for the entire cohort was 10.4%. Tumor size at diagnosis was a significant predictor of LF (P 20 Gy (P = .013). Orbital hypoplasia developed more frequently after a mean bony orbit dose of >30 Gy (P = .041). Late toxicity in patients with genitourinary tumors included microscopic hematuria (9 of 14), bladder-wall thickening (10 of 14), and vaginal stenosis (2 of 5). Conclusions Long-term LF rates were low, and higher rates correlated with larger tumors. Treatment-related toxicities resulting in measurable functional deficits were not infrequent, despite the conformal RT approach.
Proof That the Compulsion to Equal Innervation of Both Eyes Is Inborn

It remains to investigate whether the compulsion to equal innervation of both eyes proven above is inborn or is rooted in long-standing habit. In answering this question, one must take care not to permit certain general principles for which one is prejudiced to influence the judgement. Thus, for instance, Burkhard said in his valuable work on “The sensitivity of the two eyes for double images” (2): “Whatever I can get rid of through practice and observation, I can consider as acquired by becoming accustomed to it.” As I have already shown elsewhere (19), this sentence is as false as if one had said: “What I cannot get rid of through practice and careful observation, I can consider as inborn.” The fact that the assumed compulsion to common innervation of both eyes cannot be overcome in any important respect does not prove that it is inborn, as already shown. For just as a man can learn bad muscle habits until they become second nature, so that he cannot suppress them again in spite of the best efforts of will, so could the usually highly practical common innervation of the eyes rest on a habit which finally cannot be given up any more in the interest of seeing, and the strong establishment of those habits would be all the more plausible because there are no muscles in the entire body, except for certain involuntary ones, which are used as frequently as the eye muscles.
FlowTrojan: Insertion and Detection of Hardware Trojans on Flow-Based Microfluidic Biochips

We propose FlowTrojan, the first systematic framework for insertion and detection of Hardware Trojans (HTs) on Flow-based Microfluidic Biochips (FMFBs). The FMFB is an emerging platform with critical usages in the medical field due to the handling of sensitive information. We discuss the attack model where the malicious foundry aims to compromise the on-chip control circuitry. FlowTrojan is designed to automatically extract the netlist for the control circuitry from the layout and explore the internal independence between regions on FMFBs for partitioning. We demonstrate that HT triggers can feature a low activation probability while placed on the non-critical timing path to stay clandestine during functional and parametric testing. To avoid such attacks, FlowTrojan provides a parallel regime of control-value (CV) based HT detection as the countermeasure. Experimental results corroborate the effectiveness and scalability of the proposed attack and detection schemes.
An Expert Patients-for-Patients integrated Biobanking-CRO Operational Model for Sustainable Personalized Oncology

Integrated cancer patients profiling using combinations of PDC-PDx-Omics technologies are receiving growing scientific interest as a strong approach for clinical decisional workflows leading to personalized treatment.
Sensitivity of soil manganese oxides : XANES spectroscopy may cause reduction

The examination of soils by x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy can provide valuable dues for determining the structure and composition of Mn oxides. XANES experiments can be conducted at ambient temperatures using field-moist samples. This feature is attractive in the study of soil Mn because of the well-documented effects of sample drying on reactivity. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the analysis of field-moist soils by XANES spectroscopy has an effect on the oxidation state of the Mn. Repeated scans were taken on the same spot using seven medium-to high-Mn soils. In all 10 experiments with untreated soils, the main absorption edge dropped in relative energy in successive scans, indicating reduction of Mn. The change in eV was as high as 1.7 eV after 150 min of exposure time. After a series of scans showing reduction, small movement of the sample in the x-ray beam and reexamination showed no reduction, indicating that the effect was limited to the x-ray spot. Modeling the change with Mn(II) was successful and showed increases in reduced Mn between 6 and 20% after three to five repeated scans. The slopes of eV change vs. exposure time were remarkably similar in most experiments, even with large differences in the density of photons between runs. Comparisons of initial moist scans with those of recently air-dried samples found little difference, suggesting minimal reduction in a single XANES scan under our experimental conditions.
The effect of local residual stress on the fractal dimension of silicate glasses

Abstract Local residual stress caused by impacts, machining and indentation results in a decrease in strength in most materials that fail in a brittle manner. The ratio of the critical crack size, c, and the fracture mirror size, r, also is affected by the existence of local residual stress. The global fracture toughness of non-R curve materials is not affected by the local residual stress. The fractal dimension of the fracture surface as characterized by the fractal dimensional increment, D*, is directly related to the square of the fracture toughness. This paper addresses the question of the effect of the local residual stress on the fractal dimension of the fracture surface. We derive a relationship between the fractal dimensional increment and the c/r ratio for materials fractured with and without local residual stress. We then compare the prediction with two cases of experimental results. We show the fractal dimension remains constant with the change in the c/r ratio for local residual stress conditions.
Uniqueness of ground states for pseudorelativistic Hartree equations

We prove uniqueness of ground states Q∈H1∕2(ℝ3) for the pseudorelativistic Hartree equation, − Δ + m 2 Q − ( x − 1 ∗ Q 2 ) Q = − μ Q , in the regime of Q with sufficiently small L2-mass. This result shows that a uniqueness conjecture by Lieb and Yau [1987] holds true at least for N= ∫ |Q|2≪1 except for at most countably many N. Our proof combines variational arguments with a nonrelativistic limit, leading to a certain Hartree-type equation (also known as the Choquard–Pekard or Schrodinger–Newton equation). Uniqueness of ground states for this limiting Hartree equation is well-known. Here, as a key ingredient, we prove the so-called nondegeneracy of its linearization. This nondegeneracy result is also of independent interest, for it proves a key spectral assumption in a series of papers on effective solitary wave motion and classical limits for nonrelativistic Hartree equations.
A Bioinformatic Pipeline for Improved Genome Analysis and Clustering of Isolates during Outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease.

ABSTRACT Legionnaires’ disease, a severe lung infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila, occurs as single cases or in outbreaks that are actively tracked by public health departments. To determine the point source of an outbreak, clinical isolates need to be compared to environmental samples to find matching isolates. One confounding factor is the genome plasticity of L. pneumophila, making an exact sequence comparison by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) challenging. Here, we present a WGS analysis pipeline, LegioCluster, that is designed to circumvent this problem by automatically selecting the best matching reference genome prior to mapping and variant calling. This approach reduces the number of false-positive variant calls, maximizes the fraction of all genomes that are being compared, and naturally clusters the isolates according to their reference strain. Isolates that are too distant from any genome in the database are added to the list of candidate references, thereby creating a new cluster. Short insertions or deletions are considered in addition to single-nucleotide polymorphisms for increased discriminatory power. This manuscript describes the use of this automated and “locked down” bioinformatic pipeline deployed at the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center for investigating relatedness between clinical and environmental isolates. A similar pipeline has not been widely available for use to support these critically important public health investigations.
Impact of Nasopharyngeal Specimen Quality on SARS-CoV-2 Test Performance

Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cycle of threshold (Ct) has been used to estimate quantitative viral load, with the goal of targeting isolation precautions for individuals with COVID-19 and guiding public health interventions. However, variability in specimen quality can alter the Ct values obtained from SARS-CoV-2 clinical assays. We sought to define how variable nasopharyngeal (NP) swab quality impacts clinical SARS-CoV-2 test sensitivity. Methods We performed amplification of a human gene target (β-actin) in parallel with a clinical RT-PCR targeting the SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab gene for 1311 NP specimens collected from patients with clinical concern for COVID-19. We evaluated the relationship between NP specimen quality, characterized by high Ct values for the human gene target β-actin Ct, and the probability of SARS-CoV-2 detection via logistic regression, as well as the linear relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and β-actin Ct. Results Low quality NP swabs are less likely to detect SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio 0.654, 95%CI 0.523 to 0.802). We observed a positive linear relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and β-actin Ct values (slope 0.169, 95%CI 0.092 to 0.247). COVID-19 disease severity was not associated with β-actin Ct values. Conclusions Variability in NP specimen quality accounts for significant differences in the sensitivity of clinical SARS-CoV-2 assays. If unrecognized, low quality NP specimens, which are characterized by a low level of amplifiable human DNA target, may limit the application of SARS-CoV-2 Ct values to direct infection control and public health interventions.
Personalized radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer patients with known disease

Radioactive iodine (RAI) 131I is a targeted therapy for patients with RAI-avid follicular cell-derived thyroid cancer. However, the responsiveness to 131I therapy varies among thyroid cancer patients mainly owing to differential RAI uptake and RAI radiosensitivity among patients' lesions. A personalized approach to maximize 131I therapeutic efficacy is proposed based on recent scientific advances and future opportunities.
The Importance of Diversity in International Courts - The United Nations Human Rights Committee as a Case Study

Diversity clauses exist in most of the statutes of international tribunals, and are seen as very important part of the statute. However, there is little evidence on whether the background of the judge actually influences the decision making process in international tribunals. This paper uses the United Nations Human Rights Committee as a case study for testing empirically how geographical origin, legal system, prior professional occupation and gender influence the decision making process of a tribunal. The paper finds certain voting patterns that are associated with geography, legal systems and prior legal occupation. This is especially true in cases where the Committee Members want to protect the interests of their states. For instance, the most significant voting pattern was found for Committee Members from Western countries voting in favor of countries from their regions in immigration cases. However, it is safe to say that on most issues the paper did not find that the background of the Committee Members had a significant influence on their voting patterns. The paper also discusses the importance to the legitimacy of international tribunals, beyond the practical implications on the decision making process.
“…this Brazilian venture…” A brief biography of Theodosius Dobzhansky before he arrived in Brazil

This paper describes life and career of Theodosius Dobzhansky (1900-1975) until he arrived in Brazil in 1943. During his years in Russia, Dobzhansky began his entomology studies and undertook research expeditions to Central Asia to study livestock, which focused on speciation biology. Once he arrived in the United States Dobzhansky began working with Drosophila melanogaster with Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866-1945) at Columbia University. Once Morgan relocated to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Dobzhansky started collaborating with his colleague, Alfred Henry Sturtevant (1891-1970), on studies of a wild cousin of Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila pseudoobscura. Dobzhansky and Sturtevant’s friendship and collaboration suffered due to several factors, including most importantly, their differing approaches to Drosophila pseudoobscura as influenced by their different conceptions of the purpose of their work. While Sturtevant studied the flies using the same techniques as his studies of the domestic Drosophila melanogaster, Dobzhansky studied Drosophila pseudoobscura in the field considering his broader dictum that “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.”
Critical Dynamics: A Field Theory Approach to Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium Scaling Behavior

Part I. Near-Equilibrium Critical Dynamics: 1. Equilibrium critical phenomena 2. Stochastic dynamics 3. Dynamic scaling 4. Dynamic perturbation theory 5. Dynamic renormalization group 6. Hydrodynamic modes and reversible mode couplings 7. Phase transitions in quantum systems Part II. Scale Invariance in Non-Equilibrium Systems 8. Non-equilibrium critical dynamics 9. Reaction-diffusion systems 10. Active to absorbing state transitions 11. Driven diffusive systems and growing interfaces Index.
Securitization in Emerging Markets

The object of this paper is to discuss the introduction of securitization in emerging markets and the lessons that can be drawn from the global financial crisis. In the first section of the document, Part I looks at the general advantages of securitization -- as perceived prior to the global crisis -- and the acceptance of U.S. (legal) institutions as role model. Part II explores the challenges faced by emerging markets in implementing the U.S. model. This pre-crisis assessment is based primarily on the analysis of the following three articles: DOUGLAS W. ARNER, Emerging Market Economies and Government Promotion of Securitization (2002); GEORGETTE CHAPMAN POINDEXTER & WENDY VARGAS-CARTAYA, En Rut Hacia El Desarrollo: The Emerging Secondary Mortgage Market in Latin America (2002); YUWA WEI, Asset-Backed Securitization in China (2007).In the second section of the document, Part III suggests several lessons that can be learned from the financial crisis. Part IV raises questions about the future of securirtzation in emerging economies.
Multi-methods Approach for Domain-Specific Grounding: An ITS for Connection Making in Chemistry

Making connections between graphical representations is integral to learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields. However, students often fail to make these connections spontaneously. ITSs are suitable tools to support connection making. Yet, when designing an ITS for connection making, we need to investigate what learning processes and concepts play a role within the specific domain. We describe a multi-methods approach for grounding ITS design in the specific requirements of the target domain. Specifically, we applied this approach to an ITS for connection making in chemistry. We used a theoretical framework that describes potential target learning processes and conducted two empirical studies – using tests, eye tracking, and interviews – to investigate how these learning processes play out in the chemistry domain. We illustrate how our findings inform the design of a chemistry tutor. Initial pilot study results suggest that the ITS promotes learning processes that are productive in chemistry.
Heterogeneous Prenyl Processing of the Heterotrimeric G protein Gamma Subunits

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the functional significance of heterogeneous prenyl processing of the heterotrimeric g protein gamma subunits in terms of the past biochemical characterization of the constituent reactions of the protein prenylation modifications. The heterotrimeric G proteins contain one member each from three small gene families with 16 Gα, 5 Gβ, and 12 Gγ genes coded for in the human genome. They mediate the cellular effects of many hormones, neurotransmitters, sensory stimuli, and other extracellular regulators, including the effects of many drugs. The small (7–9 kDa) Gγ subunits are all prenylated proteins. Prenylation is necessary for or a component of most membrane and protein–protein interactions required for signaling by these proteins. As sites of protein–protein interaction, in concert with amino acid sequences at the C-terminus of Gγ, these variations may lead to highly variable protein interaction sites that can interact with both upstream and downstream signaling partners in ways that are complex and, in the end, specific for each of the 12 Gγ isoforms found in the human genome. The chapter discusses some of the variation that can be observed for native proteins in each of the three constituent reactions associated with protein prenylation. A criticism of the significance of these observations is that these variant forms often represent minor components of the general population of G proteins observed.
Action Learning: Its Anticipated and Unanticipated Consequences.

ction learning is a recent trend in American A education that is helping redefine the school’s relationship to the community and forecasts a new educational mission and a new set of opportunities and problems for the school. Community-based action learning may involve youth participating in the work and life of the community in at least three ways. As an observer, often in the role of researcher, the student may study how community institutions such as the city manager’s office operates and functions to fulfill civic needs. As an apprentice, usually in an internship, the student learns about the world of the workplace by actually performing in a work role. Finally, in a servicelearning role, a student provides friendship and direct aid to the very young, the old or the infirm in day care centers, nursing homes or hospitals as he or she learns first-hand about the social needs and problems of diverse groups in his or her community. As a promising educational development, it is especially important to assess the costs and benefits of action learning and to weigh carefully its anticipated and unanticipated effects on the individual student, on the school as an institution, and on the larger community. Action learning must be seen in the light of larger societal issues: the relationship of schooling to the transition to adulthood and our nation’s deferred commitment to equal educational opportunity. At the heart of providing quality education for a diversity of students are these questions: What are the competencies-the skills, knowledge,
Temporal Query Languages: A Survey

We define formal notions of temporal domain and temporal database, and use them to survey a wide spectrum of temporal query languages. We distinguish between an abstract temporal database and its concrete representations, and accordingly between abstract and concrete temporal query languages. We also address the issue of incomplete temporal information.