cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multicore DIMM: an Energy Efficient Memory Module with Independently Controlled DRAMs

Demand for memory capacity and bandwidth keeps increasing rapidly in modern computer systems, and memory power consumption is becoming a considerable portion of the system power budget. However, the current DDR DIMM standard is not well suited to effectively serve CMP memory requests from both a power and performance perspective. We propose a new memory module called a multicore DIMM, where DRAM chips are grouped into multiple virtual memory devices, each of which has its own data path and receives separate commands. The Multicore DIMM is designed to improve the energy efficiency of memory systems with small impact on system performance. Dividing each memory modules into 4 virtual memory devices brings a simultaneous 22%, 7.6%, and 18% improvement in memory power, IPC, and system energy-delay product respectively on a set of multithreaded applications and consolidated workloads.
Magnetism and Magnetoresistance: Attractive Prospects for Point-of-Care Testing?

There is a strong consensus that an ideal diagnostic test should be rapid, noninvasive, reagentless, inexpensive, and suitable for application at the point of care. For most tests, this ideal is a distant prospect. One recent success has been reflectance spectrophotometry, which is now used for transcutaneous bilirubin measurements in neonates (BiliCheck™; http://bilichek.respironics.com). Another is the noninvasive measurement of blood oxygen saturation using red and infrared absorption measurements (e.g., 660 and 920 nm). However, early hope for a broad range of infrared-based noninvasive testing has been dashed. Although successful for oxygen saturation, the expansion of the scope of this technology to the main prize, namely blood glucose, has not been successful, and in fact has been the source of major controversy. In view of the slow progress in reagentless noninvasive technologies, efforts have continued in ways to reduce the number of steps, reagents, and manipulations in more conventional assays, particularly for disposable assays intended for point of care, where speed, error-free operation, and ease of use are paramount. In the current range of point-of-care tests, 2 endpoints dominate. The first and earliest point-of-care tests were portable tablet- and powder-based colorimetric assays that were available in the early twentieth century. The second generation of point-of-care test devices was based on electrochemical measurements using a meter. Many assays have been effectively reduced to a single-addition-and-read format; for multistep point-of-care assays, such as immunoassays, assay simplification has been achieved using self-contained cartridges that enable reagent and sample manipulations, as exemplified by lateral flow devices. Magnetism is emerging as a possible source of point-of-care assay innovation (1). The exploitation of magnetism in clinical assays is not new. Magnetic particles are commonly used as solid phases for immobilizing reagents to facilitate …
Testicular Regression in Response to Food Restriction and Short Photoperiod in White-Footed Mice (Peromyscus leucopus) Is Mediated by Apoptosis

Short day lengths or reduced food availability are salient cues for small mammals that breed seasonally. Photoperiod-mediated gonadal regression in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) is a slow, orderly process that involves testicular apoptosis. Testicular regression in response to restricted caloric intake is relatively rapid, and it is generally reversed quickly by ad libitum (ad lib) feeding. To determine the contribution of apoptotic cell death during food restriction, and to examine possible interactions with photoperiod, mice housed in long (16L:8D) or short (8L:16D) photoperiods were fed either ad lib or 70% of their average ad lib intake. Testes were removed at 2, 4, 6, or 8 wk of experimental treatment. Apoptotic activity was determined by in situ TUNEL labeling and assessment of DNA laddering. Significant (P < 0.05) gonadal regression in response to short days was first detected at 8 weeks in mice fed ad lib. Food-restricted, long-day mice also showed significant testicular regression at 8 wk. Combined exposure to short day lengths and food restriction resulted in significant testicular regression at 6 wk (P < 0.05). TUNEL labeling was slightly, though significantly, elevated in germ cells at 2 and 4 wk in long-day food-restricted mice (P < 0.05). TUNEL labeling was also elevated in short-day food-restricted males at these early times but then increased nearly 5-fold at 6 and 8 wk in these mice (P < 0.001). DNA laddering confirmed elevated apoptosis. Overall apoptotic activity negatively correlated with paired testis mass, plasma testosterone, and spermatogenic index measurements in both ad lib and food-restricted males. Few histological markers of necrotic cell death were observed in any group. Taken together, these results suggest that testicular regression in response to limited caloric intake or short days is mediated by apoptosis.
Microsomal N-Demethylation, by a Cotton Leaf Oxidase System, of 3-(4'-Chlorophenyl)-1,1-Dimethylurea (Monuron)

A cotton leaf microsomal oxidase system that N-demethylates 3-(4'-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (monuron) to 3-(4'-chlorophenyl)-1-methylurea has been partially characterized. The enzyme system is associated with a microsomal fraction separated by differential centrifugation and requires molecular oxygen as well as either the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as cofactors.
Bone age in children of diverse ethnicity.

Determination of skeletal or bone age is often used in pediatrics and orthopedics. The most commonly used bone age standards in the United States, those published by Greulich and Pyle, were derived from white children of the upper socioeconomic class in 1931-1942. We examined whether these standards apply to the current assessment of bone age in children of diverse ethnicity.Hand radiographs of children less than 19 years old at our institution were evaluated for bone age using the standards of Greulich and Pyle. Differences between bone age and chronologic age were calculated, and the mean differences were compared among subgroups of children on the basis of sex, age, and ethnicity.In Asian and white girls, bone age approximated chronologic age throughout childhood, with the only significant discrepancy being in adolescent white girls, in whom bone age exceeded chronologic age by an average of 4 months. In black girls, bone age exceeded chronologic age except during middle childhood. In late childhood an...
Harsh environments and "fast" human life histories: What does the theory say?

A common belief among human life history researchers is that "harsher" environments - i.e., those with higher mortality rates and resource stress - select for "fast" life histories, i.e. earlier reproduction and faster senescence. I show that these "harsh environments, fast life histories" - or HEFLH - hypotheses are poorly supported by evolutionary theory. First, I use a simple model to show that effects of environmental harshness on life history evolution are incredibly diverse. In particular, small changes in basic but poorly understood variables - e.g., whether and how population density affects vital rates - can cause selection to favor very different life histories. Furthermore, I show that almost all life history theory used to justify HEFLH hypotheses is misapplied in the first place. The reason is that HEFLH hypotheses usually treat plastic responses to heterogeneous environmental conditions within a population, whereas the theory used to justify such hypotheses treat genetic responses to environmental changes across an entire population. Counter-intuitively, the predictions of the former do not generally apply to the latter: the optimal response to a harsh environment within a large heterogeneous environment is not necessarily the optimal strategy of a population uniformly inhabiting the same harsh environment. I discuss these theoretical results in light of the current state of empirical research.
β-γ (Circularly Polarized) Correlation Measurements in F 20 and Al 28

A new measurement of the asymmetry parameter $A$ characterizing the $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ (CP) correlation (CP \ensuremath{\equiv} circularly polarized) for the decays of ${\mathrm{F}}^{20}$ and ${\mathrm{Al}}^{28}$ is reported herein. The spin sequence of ${\mathrm{F}}^{20}$ was already known to be ${2}^{+}({\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}){2}^{+}(\ensuremath{\gamma}){0}^{+}$ from the work of Freiburg and Soergel. The purpose of the present experiment was to reduce the error on $A$ in order to get a more accurate value for the isospin impurity coefficient ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}(1)$ characterizing the 1.63-MeV state (${2}^{+}$, $T\ensuremath{\approx}0$) in ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{20}$. Our result is $A=0.174\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.014$. This agrees with Freiburg and Soergel, but represents an improvement in accuracy of a factor of 5. ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}(1)$ is found to be (1.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.9) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, using the present value for $A$. By methods described elsewhere, the effective Coulomb matrix element $|〈{H}_{c}〉|$ is found to be 14\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}28 keV. A comparison of this value with the values for four other states in ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{20}$ (${E}_{x}=7.2, 13.7, 14.1, \mathrm{and} 14.2$ MeV), computed by Wilkinson using the $E1$ prohibition rule in self-conjugate nuclei, indicates that $|〈{H}_{c}〉|$ tends to be \ensuremath{\lesssim}30 keV regardless of excitation (so long as the state is particle-stable). This result also lends support to the surmise expressed earlier that for mixing of states of the type being observed here this upper limit is independent of atomic weight; the bulk of other similar measurements have been made in the atomic weight range of 40 to 150 (with the single exception of ${\mathrm{Na}}^{24}$). The result for ${\mathrm{Al}}^{28}$ is $A=\ensuremath{-}0.315\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.024$. This establishes the ${3}^{+}$ assignment for the ground state of ${\mathrm{Al}}^{28}$ and corresponds to a pure Gamow-Teller $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay (${3}^{+}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${2}^{+}$). It also rules out the possibility of a Bouchiat-type comparison of the asymmetry parameters for ${\mathrm{Al}}^{28}$ and ${\mathrm{P}}^{28}$ (as has been done for the cases of ${\mathrm{Na}}^{24}$ and ${\mathrm{Al}}^{24}$) in order to check the conserved-vector-current hypothesis. In addition, the ${\mathrm{Al}}^{28}$ measurement was of important practical value in verifying the polarimeter calibration, since the single $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray of 1.77 MeV in the ${\mathrm{Al}}^{28}$ decay is so close in energy to the ${\mathrm{F}}^{20}$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ energy.
Anthropogenic Sulfur Perturbations on Biogenic Oxidation: SO2 Additions Impact Gas-Phase OH Oxidation Products of α- and β-Pinene

In order to probe how anthropogenic pollutants can impact the atmospheric oxidation of biogenic emissions, we investigated how sulfur dioxide (SO2) perturbations impact the oxidation of two monoterpenes, α-and β-pinene. We used chemical ionization mass spectrometry to examine changes in both individual molecules and gas-phase bulk properties of oxidation products as a function of SO2 addition. SO2 perturbations impacted the oxidation systems of α-and β-pinene, leading to an ensemble of products with a lesser degree of oxygenation than unperturbed systems. These changes may be due to shifts in the OH:HO2 ratio from SO2 oxidation and/or to SO3 reacting directly with organic molecules. Van Krevelen diagrams suggest a shift from gas-phase functionalization by alcohol/peroxide groups to functionalization by carboxylic acid or carbonyl groups, consistent with a decreased OH:HO2 ratio. Increasing relative humidity dampens the impact of the perturbation. This decrease in oxygenation may impact secondary organic a...
Development of an HPLC Method for the Determination of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam in Biological and Aqueous Matrixes

Herein, we report the development and validation of an HPLC method to analyze ceftolozane and tazobactam simultaneously in human plasma, human serum, swine serum and saline matrixes. A reversed-phase column was used with a UV detector set at 260 nm and switched to 218 nm. The mobile phase consisted of methanol and sodium phosphate buffer at a flow rate of 1.1 mL/min. Cefepime was used as the internal standard. The standard curves were linear over a range of 0.4-50 μg/mL. This methodology represents a simple, reproducible approach to the determination of drug concentrations with sufficient accuracy and precision for pharmacokinetic studies undertaken with this recently FDA-approved antimicrobial therapy.
Transport and collision dynamics in periodic asymmetric obstacle arrays: rational design of microfluidic rare-cell immunocapture devices.

Microfluidic obstacle arrays have been used in numerous applications, and their ability to sort particles or capture rare cells from complex samples has broad and impactful applications in biology and medicine. We have investigated the transport and collision dynamics of particles in periodic obstacle arrays to guide the design of convective, rather than diffusive, transport-based immunocapture microdevices. Ballistic and full computational fluid dynamics simulations are used to understand the collision modes that evolve in cylindrical obstacle arrays with various geometries. We identify previously unrecognized collision mode structures and differential size-based collision frequencies that emerge from these arrays. Previous descriptions of transverse displacements that assume unidirectional flow in these obstacle arrays cannot capture mode transitions properly as these descriptions fail to capture the dependence of the mode transitions on column spacing and the attendant change in the flow field. Using these analytical and computational simulations, we elucidate design parameters that induce high collision rates for all particles larger than a threshold size or selectively increase collision frequencies for a narrow range of particle sizes within a polydisperse population. Furthermore, we investigate how the particle P\'eclet number affects collision dynamics and mode transitions and demonstrate that experimental observations from various obstacle array geometries are well described by our computational model.
Workstation Technology in Pathology: An Update

Powerful microcomputer hardware and software promise to increase the productivity of laboratories and improve the quality of laboratory services. To use the new and emerging technologies to their fullest extent, laboratorians need to understand basic concepts of personal computers and networked workstations. This article, the third in a continuing education update series on personal computers, reviews some developments in microcomputers and workstation technology that are important for laboratory medicine.
Classification of Regimes of Wave in Non-Conservative Random Media

In search of a criterion of Anderson localization applicable in random media with absorption or gain, we explore the parameter space of the system and identify different regimes in wave transport.
Furthering fingerprint-based authentication: Introducing the true-neighbor template

This paper introduces the True-Neighbor Template (TNT), a novel, minutiae-only, fingerprint representation and matching approach for authentication. The TNT representation approach overcomes consistency-limitations affecting many existing approaches that stem from relative distortion and spurious minutiae. The TNT matching approach maximizes exploitation of captured fingerprint complexity. A standard benchmark experiment, using the FVC protocol and FVC2006 and FVC2002 databases, is used for evaluation. TNT demonstrates generally-superior neighbor-selection-consistency regarding several established approaches, including: fixed radius, k-nearest neighbors, fixed sectors, and Voronoi diagram. TNT demonstrates generally-superior authentication performance regarding several well-known approaches, including: Bozorth, K-plet, and Minutia Cylinder-Code (MCC).
Handbook of clinical psychology in medical settings: Evidence-based assessment and intervention

INTRODUCTION.- PSYCHOLOGY AND POPULATION HEALTH.-CLINICAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY: HISTORY AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS.- PROFESSIONAL ISSUES.- TRAINING.- CORE COMPETENCIES: HOW TO SUCCEED IN MEDICAL SETTINGS.-ETHICS AND THE LAW.- EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE.- PRACTICE ISSUES.- MARKETING HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY.- BALANCING VALUE AND COST.- SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL PRACTICE MODELS.- POPULATION SPECIFIC CONSIDERATION.- COMPETENCY FOR DVERSE POPULATIONS.- Gender issues.- PEDIATRICS.-THE ELDERLY: RETIREMENT TO THE VERY OLD.- PRACTICE IN A RURAL SETTING.- MEDICAL SPECIALTIES AND SETTINGS.- PRIMARY CARE: THE HUB OF THE SPOKE.- WOMEN'S HEALTH: OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY.- HOSPITAL BASED CONSULTATION AND LIAISON SERVICE.- ENDOCRINOLOGY.- GASTROENTEROLOGY.- CARDIOLOGY: PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT AND REHABILITATION.- PULMONOLOGY.- SLEEP MEDICINE.- PAIN: ANESTHESIOLOGY AND RHEUMATOLOGY.- ONCOLOGY.-PHYSICAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.- NEUROLOGY AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGY.- PRE AND POST SURGICAL SERVICES.-DENTAL SERVICES.- CONCLUSION: THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITORS.
Limits of plasmonic enhancement: What if the metal becomes “lossless”?

We show that even in the perfect world where one could eliminate all “bulk” ohmic loss of any metal, the enhancement would never be “perfect”, but be limited by the surface damping.
Unstable splittings related to Brown-Peterson cohomology

We give a new and relatively easy proof of the splitting theorem of the second author for the spaces in the Omega spectrum for BP. We then give the first published proofs of our similar theorems for the spectra P(n).
Prognostic Value of Soluble ST2 After Myocardial Infarction: A Community Perspective.

Abstract Background Soluble ST2 (sST2) is a marker of cardiac mechanical strain hypothesized to adversely impact short-term prognosis after myocardial infarction. We examined the association of sST2 with longer-term outcomes after myocardial infarction in a geographically defined community. Methods Olmsted County, Minnesota residents who experienced an incident (first-ever) myocardial infarction between November 1, 2002 and December 31, 2012 were prospectively enrolled; sST2 levels were measured. Patients were followed for heart failure and death. Results We studied 1401 patients with incident myocardial infarction (mean age 67 years; 61% men; 79% non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction). Median sST2 (ng/mL) was 48.7 (25 th -75 th percentile 32.5-103.3). Soluble ST2 was elevated in 51% of patients. Higher values of sST2 were associated with increased age, female sex, and comorbidities. During 5 years of follow-up, 388 persons died and 360 developed heart failure. After adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities, Killip class, and troponin T, the hazard ratios for death were 1.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-2.45) and 3.57 (95% CI, 2.57-4.96) for sST2 tertiles 2 and 3, respectively ( P trend P trend Conclusions In the community, sST2 elevation is present in half of myocardial infarctions. Higher values of sST2 are associated with a large excess risk of death and heart failure independently of other prognostic indicators. Measurement of sST2 should be considered for risk stratification after myocardial infarction.
Association Between Endoscopist and Center Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Volume With Procedure Success and Adverse Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background & Aims Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become a predominantly therapeutic intervention with a resultant increase in complexity. The relationship between ERCP volume and outcomes is unclear. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the relationship between endoscopist and center ERCP volume with ERCP success and adverse event (AE) rates. Methods A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted from inception to January 2017. Studies providing outcomes stratified by endoscopist and/or center volume were included in the final analysis. Endoscopist/center volume was stratified as low volume (LV) and high volume (HV). The definition of ERCP success varied between studies. The overall AE rate was a composite rate including pancreatitis, perforation, and bleeding. Results A literature search resulted in 1264 citations. Of those, 13 articles (n = 59,437 ERCPs) met inclusion criteria. LV endoscopist ( Conclusions This study identifies a significant relationship between increasing endoscopist and center ERCP volume with overall procedure success. Increasing endoscopist volume also was associated with a decreased AE rate. Given these compelling findings, we propose that providers and payers consider consolidating ERCP to HV endoscopists to improve ERCP outcomes and value.
The Inescapable Relativity of Explicitly Represented Knowledge: An FCA Perspective

Knowledge models are supposed to capture knowledge of lasting value in a reusable form. However, reuse of these models is hampered by arbitrary and application-specific constraints; any constraints that conflict with a new application must be altered or removed before the models can be reused. This article explores seven facets of conceptual relativity that would impact the use of Formal Concept Analysis formalisms to represent knowledge, demonstrating that the capture of application-specific constraints is inextricable from the modelling process.
Chapter 13 – The Toxoplasma Cytoskeleton: Structures, Proteins and Processes

Toxoplasma gondii invasive forms or “zoites” are highly polarized cells with an elaborate cytoskeleton. Some components of the cytoskeleton, such as tubulin, are conserved throughout eukaryotes while others, such as the inner membrane complex proteins, are unique to the Apicomplexa or alveolates. The cytoskeletal protein complexes provide a structural scaffold that enables parasite motility and replication. This chapter reviews the structural components of the Toxoplasma cytoskeleton, what is known about their assembly and function, and the mechanisms by which these cytoskeletal complexes regulate biological processes essential for T. gondii survival.
Fast Infrared Exoplanet Spectroscopy Survey Explorer (FINESSE) prism spectrometer

The FINESSE spectrometer design (0.45 to 5 μm at a resolution of greater than 80 at f/12) is placed in context by reviewing history of unit magnification relays and spectrometers. Related imaging spectrometers are also described.
Effect of locus of control and consideration of future consequences on time tradeoff utilities for current health

Comments from subjects undergoing utility assessment suggest that personality traits may affect responses. We sought to describe the association between time-tradeoff utility for current health and measures of two personality traits: (1) perceived control over one's life and (2) concern over immediate vs. future outcomes. One hundred subjects were recruited from the cafeteria of a large tertiary care hospital. Time-tradeoff utilities were assessed for current health relative to perfect health and death. Subjects also completed two previously validated scales, the Locus of Control (LOC), and Consideration of Future Consequences (CFC) instruments. The interview failure rate was less than 3%. The correlation between LOC score and utility for current health was modest (Spearman's ρ =0.196, p=0.071), but increased substantially when subjects unwilling to trade were excluded (Spearman's ρ =0.33, p=0.0043). The CFC scale was weakly correlated with utility for current health (Spearman's ρ =0.12, p=0.2676). The Consideration of Future Consequences scale explains little of the variation in time-tradeoff utilities. In contrast, Locus of Control appears to partially explain the variation in time-tradeoff utilities for current health, even after controlling for health status.
The Biosecurity Continuum and Trade: Pre-border Operations

Pre-border aspects of the biosecurity continuum associated with trade are internal arrangements of the NPPO that address import and export needs of the country. In most countries, these programmes are evolving from historically protectionist designs to a post-SPS world where restrictions must be technically justified and trade arrangements follow principles, concepts, and internationally agreed guidelines. The adaptation begins with the structure of legal authority, including laws, regulations, and policies that are consistent with the international framework created by the SPS Agreement and the IPPC. Internally, NPPOs adjust their programmatic functions to focus more on analysis as a central aspect of decision making and collaborating both domestically and internationally to share critical information. Efforts toward transparency and evidence-based judgments on the level of pest risk and the strength of measures needed to achieve an appropriate level of protection are replacing the “when in doubt, keep it out” approach of the past. Important concepts and programmatic linkages in an SPS-consistent biosecurity system are highlighted. Variability across national systems due to differences in structure, authority, resources and priorities is increasingly mitigated by harmonization driven by the international regulatory framework of the SPS-IPPC. This evolutionary shift has likewise fostered a trend toward adopting safe trade as a constant objective over unpredictable programmes that are neither consistent for protection nor trade because they lack policy bases and analytical justifications. Considerably more care is therefore given to understanding different types of measures and being able to defend them as a result of their relationship to scientific evidence and accepted principles.
A Movie Recommendation System—An Application of Voting Theory in User Modeling

Our research agenda focuses on building software agents that can employ user modeling techniques to facilitate information access and management tasks. Personal assistant agents embody a clearly beneficial application of intelligent agent technology. A particular kind of assistant agents, recommender systems, can be used to recommend items of interest to users. To be successful, such systems should be able to model and reason with user preferences for items in the application domain. Our primary concern is to develop a reasoning procedure that can meaningfully and systematically tradeoff between user preferences. We have adapted mechanisms from voting theory that have desirable guarantees regarding the recommendations generated from stored preferences. To demonstrate the applicability of our technique, we have developed a movie recommender system that caters to the interests of users. We present issues and initial results based on experimental data of our research that employs voting theory for user modeling, focusing on issues that are especially important in the context of user modeling. We provide multiple query modalities by which the user can pose unconstrained, constrained, or instance-based queries. Our interactive agent learns a user model by gaining feedback aboutits recommended movies from the user. We also provide pro-active information gathering to make user interaction more rewarding. In the paper, we outline the current status of our implementation with particular emphasis on the mechanisms used to provide robust and effective recommendations.
Interactions of Silver Nanoparticles Formed in Situ on AFM Tips with Supported Lipid Bilayers.

A facile approach for functionalizing atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips with nanoparticles (NPs) will provide exciting opportunities in the field of tip-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy and in pr...
Effect of Bonding and Rebonding on the Shear Bond Strength of Two-Piece Implant Restorations.

Purpose To evaluate the rebonding strength of ceramics to titanium alloy after disassembling by heat treatment. Materials and methods A total of 40 titanium alloy (titanium-6 aluminum-4 vanadium) disks (4.0 × 6.6 mm) and 20 zirconia (Lava Plus) disks were manufactured using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. Twenty heat-pressed lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max Press LT) disks were fabricated and used as controls. Bonding protocol for each specimen surface was performed according to manufacturer's instructions. Specimens (n = 10) of zirconia/titanium alloy (ZR) and lithium disilicate/titanium alloy (LD) were bonded using adhesive resin cement (RelyX Ultimate) and then subjected to a heat treatment (HT, 320°C, 2 minutes) to disassemble the bonding complex, cleaned with aluminum oxide airborne-particle abrasion, and rebonded following the initial protocol, group ZRHT and group LDHT, respectively. After 5000 cycles of thermal cycling, a shear bond test was conducted. A universal testing machine was used at a 5 mm/min crosshead speed. Failed specimens were examined with stereomicroscopy at 10× magnification to identify the mode of failure. One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were applied for statistical analysis of the shear bond strength data, with statistical significance at α = 0.05. Results The mean ± SD bond strength values ranged from 28.3 ± 7.2 to 45.9 ± 9.7 MPa. Statistically significant lower shear bond strength values were obtained from the LD group (p = 0.002, F = 5.89), while no statistically significant differences in bond strength were observed between the ZR and ZRHT groups (p > 0.05). Failure mode was predominantly mixed-type failure pattern for all specimens. Conclusions Heat and abrasion surface treatment increased the bond strength of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics cemented to titanium alloy, but no effect was observed on zirconia/titanium alloy bonding.
Uma parceria de tempo e profundidade: conexões entre a Educação Artística na Jamaica e nos Estados Unidos

This article presents a personal narrative of my critical engagement and partnership role in a longstanding international relationship between two higher education institutions that has deepened understandings of art education in both Jamaica and America and broadened understandings of cultural identities of each across and within the countries. As such, this article suggests that time and depth of a relationship across countries has significant impact to the learning and growing as well the variety of individuals involved in educationally giving and receiving, which has supported the duration of the partnership through developing multiple sustainable relationships. The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica is the premier arts college in the English-speaking Caribbean and has retained a fifteen-year partnership with the Art Education Department at The Ohio State University, which came out of the work of Ohio State doctoral students who were from Jamaica beginning in the 1980s. The budding relationship turned-partnership led to the development of a “mostly” online Master’s degree program in Art Education for art teachers in Jamaica and eventually to a study abroad program for Ohio State students to travel to Kingston. Sharing expertise across the countries and through a variety of social and cultural lenses has allowed participants to complicate notions and understandings of each country, and therefore reflect on their own cultural identities, realities and limitations as artists and art educators.
Challenge Course Activities and Orientation for Master’s Level Counseling Students: A Qualitative Exploration

Orientation is an important component of a student’s transition to beginning a counselor preparation program. In this study, the researchers conducted interviews with 16 students to explore the use...
Operation of Rougher Flotation Circuits Aided by Industrial Simulator

Abstract Today, large size mechanical flotation cells of 100 to 300 m 3 are used in rougher operation in different flotation industrial plants, in Chile and worldwide. However, in spite of the advances in fundamental research and the notable growing in equipment size, with more complete instrumentation systems, there are still a lack of reliable data for industrial flotation modeling and simulation to advance in better control systems design. In this work, a procedure for modeling and simulation of rougher flotation banks, based on operating variables and parameters fitted from industrial data, is presented. This simulator is used to develop a set of logic rules in order to aid operating decisions. Recently, a new methodology for describing the industrial flotation, separating the collection and froth zones, has been developed. This approach consists of using new apparatus for direct bubble load measurement below the pulp-froth interface in industrial cells, for estimating the froth recovery as well as the collection zone recovery, independently. The bubble surface area flux S B (m 2 /min/m 2 ) is determined by measuring the bubble size distribution and superficial gas rate. Metallurgical characterization is developed by plant sampling, adjusted mass balances and applying the short-cut method for kinetic characterization. Also, the effect of grinding is characterized using flotation models with distributed flotation rates and low number of parameters (e.g., rectangular distribution). A non linear distributed model to simulate rougher flotation circuits was developed, based on measurements of the main operating variables. The simulator was calibrated and tested using experimental data from the rougher operation at El Teniente Division, Codelco-Chile. The simulator was first used to sensitize the effect of changing the froth depth profile on target variables, and then to find out the best profile to reject common disturbances coming into the plant.
Influence of feedstocks and pyrolysis on biochar’s capacity to modify soil water retention characteristics

Abstract The incorporation of biochar has an effect on soil water retention characteristics due to rearrangement of soil structure and geometry. But information is very limited on how feedstock and pyrolytic processes influence biochar modification of soil water characteristics. A laboratory study was conducted to test if (i) biochar improves water retention capacity in selected soils, and if (ii) different biochar production methods and feedstocks uniquely influence water holding capacities. Two contrasting soil series, Maddock (Mixed, frigid Entic Hapludolls, sandy loam) and Langhei (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Eutrudepts, clay loam) were used in this study. Biochar materials were produced from two biomass feedstocks, corn stover and switchgrass, using fast pyrolysis and slow pyrolysis. Biochar materials were incorporated into soils at 40 g kg−1 soil. A fit of the van Genuchten equation to the water retention curve showed a significant difference in the water retention curve corresponding to the region associated with macropores and mesopores after adding biochar to the Maddock soil. Several of the biochar treatments increased plant available water holding capacity on both soils. These included the fast pyrolysis corn stover and switchgrass biochars. Assuming a transpiration rate of 5 mm d−1 the results indicate an extra 1.4 to 2.6 days available for crop water use if biochar were to be applied at study rates to a 0.2 m depth. This would extend the interval between precipitation events needed for crop growth and survival on severely eroded soils of low water holding capacity. These results will need to be confirmed under field conditions before recommendations can be made for use in rehabilitating eroded soils.
An assessment of outpatient clinic room ventilation systems and possible relationship to disease transmission.

BACKGROUND: With healthcare shifting to the outpatient setting, this study examined whether outpatient clinics operating in business occupancy settings were conducting procedures in rooms with ventilation rates above, at, or below thresholds defined in the American National Standards Institute/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers/American Society for Health Care Engineering Standard 170 for Ventilation in Health Care Facilities and whether lower ventilation rates and building characteristics increase the risk of disease transmission. METHODS: Ventilation rates were measured in 105 outpatient clinic rooms categorized by services rendered. Building characteristics were evaluated as determinants of ventilation rates, and risk of disease transmission was estimated using the Gammaitoni-Nucci model. RESULTS: When compared to Standard 170, 10% of clinic rooms assessed did not meet the minimum requirement for general exam rooms, 39% did not meet the requirement for treatment rooms, 83% did not meet the requirement for aerosol-generating procedures, and 88% did not meet the requirement for procedure rooms or minor surgical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Lower than standard air changes per hour were observed and could lead to an increased risk of spread of diseases when conducting advanced procedures and evaluating persons of interest for emerging infectious diseases. These findings are pertinent during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, as working guidelines are established for the healthcare community.
Early Detection of Fake News with Multi-source Weak Social Supervision

Social media has greatly enabled people to participate in online activities at an unprecedented rate. However, this unrestricted access also exacerbates the spread of misinformation and fake news which cause confusion and chaos if not detected in a timely manner. Given the rapidly evolving nature of news events and the limited amount of annotated data, state-of-the-art systems on fake news detection face challenges for early detection. In this work, we exploit multiple weak signals from different sources from user engagements with contents (referred to as weak social supervision), and their complementary utilities to detect fake news. We jointly leverage limited amount of clean data along with weak signals from social engagements to train a fake news detector in a meta-learning framework which estimates the quality of different weak instances. Experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms state-of-the-art baselines for early detection of fake news without using any user engagements at prediction time.
Case 1: A Newborn with Hydrops.

A term, 2.9-kg male newborn with respiratory distress from birth is admitted to the NICU 4 hours after birth. He is born to a 30-year-old primigravida via cesarean section for prolonged labor. The antenatal period is uncomplicated by any obstetric illness. Scans for anomalies and growth are normal. There is no history of fever/rash in the antenatal period. She is diagnosed as having renal colic in the last trimester, for which aceclofenac, acetaminophen, and rabeprazole are prescribed. She has been taking these medications for 10 days before delivery. Her blood group is O positive. On examination, the infant has significant generalized subcutaneous edema (Fig 1). His heart rate is 155 beats/min with normal pulse volume and rhythm. His respiratory rate is 65 breaths/min and he is having mid-subcostal and intercostal retractions with a Silverman Anderson score of 3 out of 10. His noninvasive blood pressure is 65/35 mm Hg (mean 45 mm Hg) in the right upper limb. He is started on continuous positive airway pressure of 5 cm and is maintaining normal saturation fraction of inspired oxygen of 30%. There is no difference in pre- and postductal saturations. There is no evidence of growth restriction and his birthweight (2,900 g [28th percentile]), length (51 cm [77th percentile]), and head circumference (32 cm [9th percentile]) are all within normal limits. There is no obvious dysmorphism, syndromic features, or external congenital malformations. He has no pallor or …
Measurement ofV ub

The most recent experimental measurements of the weak mixing angleV ub are summarized. Inclusive and exclusive analysis techniques are described, including a new exclusive analysis by the CLEO Collaboration measuring the B → πlν branching ratio. Future prospects are discussed.
SLSS Gamification as an E-Commerce Model in China

Digital/virtual gift purchasing and giving (gifting thereafter) is a business model that has emerged in the context of the social live streaming service (SLSS). In this study, we argue that both SL...
Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Based on Constraint-Aware Particle Filtering/Smoothing

Nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) has gained widespread use in many applications. Its formulation traditionally involves repetitively solving a nonlinear constrained optimization problem online. In this paper, we investigate NMPC through the lens of Bayesian estimation and highlight that the Monte Carlo sampling method can offer a favorable way to implement NMPC. We develop a constraint-aware particle filtering/smoothing method and exploit it to implement NMPC. The new sampling-based NMPC algorithm can be executed easily and efficiently even for complex nonlinear systems, while potentially mitigating the issues of computational complexity and local minima faced by numerical optimization in conventional studies. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through a simulation study.
Mas Receptor Agonist AVE0991 increases surfactant protein expression under hyperoxic conditions in human lung epithelial cells.

Background Hyperoxia in pre-term neonates is a known risk factor of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Hyperoxia is known to cause oxidative stress, inflammatory changes that leads to surfactant deactivation, and decreased surfactant expression. The previous research has shown short term exposure to hyperoxia increases surfactant protein expression but decreased expression in long term exposure. Local tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is associated with tissue injury and repair and it may play a role in BPD. Endogenous peptide angiotensin 1-7 acts on the MAS receptor. The activation of the MAS receptor was previously shown to have protective pulmonary responses. However, the effect of MAS receptor activation on surfactant proteins in hyperoxic conditions has not been tested. Objective To determine the effects of hyperoxia with or without MAS receptor activation on Surfactant proteins. Methods Human epithelial cell line A549 and human primary alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) were cultured to sub-confluence (60-75%) and treated with hyperoxia (95% oxygen) and normoxia (21% oxygen) for 72 hours with or without the MAS receptor agonist (AVE0991) in serum-free F-12 nutrient media. Cells were lysed and cell lysates were collected for western blot. The statistical analysis was done using Student-Newman-Keuls Multiple comparison test. Results Surfactant protein concentration increased in AVE treated group under the hyperoxic condition when compared to the control group in both A549 cells and human primary AECs. Surfactant protein was in higher concentration in AVE0991 treated cells in both hyperoxic and normoxic conditions when compared to the non-treated control group. Conclusions MAS receptor activation via AVE0991 causes an increase in Surfactant protein concentration in both hyperoxic and normoxic conditions. As per our experiments, hyperoxic conditions decrease the production of surfactant protein when compared to normoxic conditions. These results may reveal a novel potential drug for BPD treatment and decrease its severity.
"Why You Putting This Drug in Your Body to Fight off Something that You Don't Have?" Perceptions about PrEP Use among Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men in the U.S. South.

PrEP use has steadily increased since its introduction, yet uptake remains slow among MSM of color in the U.S. South. Findings presented are from a qualitative study conducted in 2016 exploring factors related to remaining HIV negative among Black (n = 99) and Latino (n = 51) MSM in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Jackson, and Miami. One-hour in-depth interviews were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach. MSM perceived PrEP as providing relief from fear and as an insurance policy against HIV infection but were likely to consider themselves at low risk for HIV. Identified factors influencing PrEP use included side effects, medical mistrust, and stigma. Cost and access were not seen as major barriers. Findings suggest MSM of color in the South may view PrEP as too risky for their HIV prevention needs. PrEP providers can address medical mistrust, discuss side effects, and emphasize positive aspects of PrEP use to increase uptake. (150 words).
Geochemical and γ ray characterization of Pennsylvanian black shales: Implications for elevated home radon levels in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Abstract Radon ( 222 Rn) is a radioactive gas that results from the decay of uranium ( 238 U) in the Earth's crust. This study characterizes the presence and relative quantity of radon precursors in the Pennsylvanian black shales of southwest Indiana. Cores were drilled on the campus of the University of Southern Indiana to a depth of 237.7 m (780 ft) during exploration for coal-bed methane. Gamma ray logs were taken to measure radioactive activity as a function of depth in the bore hole. Activity readings of 270, 467, 555, and 388 GAPI (American Petroleum Institute γ ray units) were measured at depths of 124.3 m (408 ft), 154.0 m (505 ft), 187.1 m (614 ft) and 214.0 m (702 ft) in four separate shale layers of the Pennsylvanian stratigraphic column. GAPI units are used in the petroleum industry when drilling to represent the relative intensities of γ radiation from 40 K, 232 Th, and 238 U in bore holes (Belknap et al., 1959). For purposes of this study, the high activity readings on the gamma ray logs were used only to identify at which depths further gamma ray spectroscopy of the cores would be completed in the laboratory. Gamma ray spectroscopic studies of these cores were conducted with a large volume NaI crystal detector to observe γ rays of specific energies. Characteristic γ rays from various isotopes were identified confirming the presence and relative quantity of radon precursors in core samples. Geochemical analysis of cores was also conducted to measure presence and quantity of trace metals and radon precursors. Of 744 homes tested in Vanderburgh County from 2007 to 2013, 169 homes (22.7 percent) had elevated radon levels greater than 148 mBq L −1 (4.0 pCi L −1 ). Additionally, 246 homes (33.1 percent) had measured radon levels of 74–145 mBq L −1 (2.0–3.9 pCi L −1 ). About 80 percent of elevated radon levels greater than 148 mBq L −1 (4.0 pCi L −1 ) are located in proximity to depositional contacts between the Dugger and Shelburn formations, or the Shelburn and Patoka formations. These formational contacts are stratigraphically associated with Pennsylvanian black shales, which are interpreted to be the ultimate source of radon in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Moreover, high radon levels also occurred in homes built on alluvium, terrace deposits, and outwash adjacent to the Ohio River. These elevated levels are probably due to transmission of radon through soil gas in highly permeable sands and gravels sourced from buried bedrock exposures of Pennsylvanian black shales.