cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data quality assessment of multi-attribute weighted algorithm

Thinking of the different importance between quality features and attributes in tables,a data quality assessment algorithm based on weight was proposed.This algorithm highlights the impact of the important attributes and quality features to the overall quality of system,and assesses the data quality of the existing system more scientifically.The algorithm in the actual data quality assessment system has been applied and the results show that the proposed algorithm can improve the accuracy of the assessment.
Mirrored continuum and molecular scale simulations of the ignition of high-pressure phases of RDX

We present a mirrored atomistic and continuum framework that is used to describe the ignition of energetic materials, and a high-pressure phase of RDX in particular. The continuum formulation uses meaningful averages of thermodynamic properties obtained from the atomistic simulation and a simplification of enormously complex reaction kinetics. In particular, components are identified based on molecular weight bin averages and our methodology assumes that both the averaged atomistic and continuum simulations are represented on the same time and length scales. The atomistic simulations of thermally initiated ignition of RDX are performed using reactive molecular dynamics (RMD). The continuum model is based on multi-component thermodynamics and uses a kinetics scheme that describes observed chemical changes of the averaged atomistic simulations. Thus the mirrored continuum simulations mimic the rapid change in pressure, temperature, and average molecular weight of species in the reactive mixture. This mirroring enables a new technique to simplify the chemistry obtained from reactive MD simulations while retaining the observed features and spatial and temporal scales from both the RMD and continuum model. The primary benefit of this approach is a potentially powerful, but familiar way to interpret the atomistic simulations and understand the chemical events and reaction rates. The approach is quite general and thus can provide a way to model chemistry based on atomistic simulations and extend the reach of those simulations.
Learning from Experience

Learning-directed leaders draw on their own experiences and the experiences of others as the basis for learning. Leaders have unique learning preferences that impact how they interact and make decisions at work. Learning from experience involves four interrelated processes: gathering experience, reflecting on the experience, generating theories about the experience, and taking action. Learning-directed leaders overcome limitations of learning from experience by understanding the structure of the brain and psychological defense mechanisms, their own unique preferences for learning, and the role of anxiety in learning.
Effects of bisphenol A on male and couple reproductive health: a review

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant with endocrine-disrupting properties and is suspected to affect human reproduction. The objective of this review was to summarize the potential effects of male exposure to BPA on markers of testicular function and couple reproductive outcomes. Five epidemiologic studies on BPA and reproductive hormones all found significant associations with at least one reproductive hormone; however, no consistent relationships were observed across studies. Six epidemiologic studies evaluated the relation between BPA and semen parameters, and although the majority reported negative associations with various parameters, there were few consistent trends across studies. Finally, three epidemiologic studies examined BPA and couple reproductive outcomes, and only one found an association. Overall, the evidence supporting an association between BPA exposure and adverse male reproductive health outcomes in humans remains limited and inconclusive. Reasons for the discrepancies in results could include, but are not limited to, differences in study populations (e.g., fertile vs. subfertile men), BPA urinary concentrations (occupationally vs. nonoccupationally exposed), misclassification of BPA exposure (e.g., using one urine sample to characterize exposure vs. multiple samples), sample sizes, study design (e.g., cross-sectional vs. prospective), and residual confounding (e.g., due to diet and lifestyle factors). It is also possible that some of the statistically significant findings were due to chance alone. Clearly, further studies are needed to further clarify the role of this ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemical on male reproductive health.
Combined Endoscopic Transoral and Endonasal Approach to the Jugular Foramen: A Multiportal Expanded Access to the Clivus

Background The expanded endoscopic endonasal (“far medial”) approach to the inferior clivus provides a unique surgical corridor to the ventral surface of the pontomedullary and cervicomedullary junctions. However, exposing neoplasms involving the jugular foramen (JF) through this approach requires extensive nasopharyngeal resection and lateral dissection beyond the boundaries of the endonasal corridor, limiting the extent of resection and restricting to use of this approach to expert surgeons. Here we describe a multiportal endoscopic transoral and endonasal approach to maximize surgical access to the JF and clivus. Methods A multiportal endoscopic transoral and endoscopic approach to the JF and lower clivus was simulated in 8 specimens. A transoral corridor was created through a soft palate incision. The JF and parapharyngeal space were dissected through the transoral trajectory under endoscopic endonasal view. The length of the corridor of the transnasal and transoral trajectories was measured. Results The JF was exposed intracranially and extracranially. The exposure extended superiorly to the sphenoid floor, inferiorly to the anterior atlanto-occipital space, and laterally to the internal acoustic meatus and parapharyngeal space. The cisternal parts of the cranial nerves VII–XII and C1 nerve bundles were accessible. Exposure of the JF contents and parapharyngeal space was possible using straight scopes, without Eustachian tube resection. The working corridor to the JF was significantly shorter through the mouth than through the nose ( P Conclusions This approach provides access to the JF from a ventromedial trajectory, enabling panoramic views, and outlines an expanded surgical exposure (superolateral intradural and inferolateral extracranial). It may provide optimal access for resection of dumbbell-shaped lesions of the JF.
A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup I

The recent recovery of ancient DNA from a growing number of human samples shows that mitochondrial DNA haplogroup I was introduced to Europe after the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. This paper provides a spatio-temporal analysis of the various subhaplogroups of mitochondrial DNA I. The study suggests that haplogroup I diversified into haplogroups I1, I2’3, I4 and I5 at specific regions in Eurasia and then spread southward to Crete and Egypt.
A Live Attenuated Chimeric West Nile Virus Vaccine, rWN/DEN4Δ30, Is Well Tolerated and Immunogenic in Flavivirus-Naive Older Adult Volunteers

West Nile virus (WNV) is a major cause of mosquito-borne illness in the United States. Human disease ranges from mild febrile illness to severe fatal neurologic infection. Adults aged >60 years are more susceptible to neuroinvasive disease accompanied by a high mortality rate or long-lasting neurologic sequelae. A chimeric live attenuated West Nile virus vaccine, rWN/DEN4Δ30, was shown to be safe and immunogenic in healthy adults aged 18-50 years. This study evaluated rWN/DEN4Δ30 in flavivirus-naive adults aged 50-65 years and found it to be safe and immunogenic. Outbreaks of WNV infection tend to be unpredictable, and a safe and effective vaccine will be an important public health tool.
Long-term outcomes of endolymphatic sac shunting with local steroids for Meniere's disease

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the long-term efficacy of endolymphatic sac shunt techniques with and without local steroid administration. Study design Retrospective case series and patient survey. Setting Tertiary university hospital. Patients Meniere's disease (MD) patients that failed medical therapy and subsequently underwent an endolymphatic sac shunt procedure. All patients had definitive or probable MD and at least 18-months of follow-up. Interventions Three variations on endolymphatic sac decompression with shunt placement were performed: Group A received no local steroids, Group B received intratympanic dexamethasone prior to incision, and Group C received dexamethasone via both intratympanic injection and direct endolymphatic sac instillation. Main outcome measure(s) Vertigo control, hearing results, and survey responses. Results Between 2002 and 2013, 124 patients with MD underwent endolymphatic sac decompression with shunt placement. 53 patients met inclusion criteria. Groups A, B, and C had 6 patients, 20 patients, and 27 patients, respectively. Mean follow-up was 56 months. Vertigo control improved in 66%, 83%, and 93% of Groups A, B, and C. Functional level improved for Group B (− 2.0) and Group C (− 2.2) but was unchanged in Group A. Pure-tone average and speech discrimination scores changed by + 22 dB and − 30%, + 6 dB and − 13%, and + 6 dB and − 5% in Groups A, B, and C. The long-term hearing results were significantly better with steroids (Groups B and C) according to the AAO-HNS 1995 criteria but did not meet significance on non-parametric testing. Conclusions Endolymphatic sac shunt procedures may benefit from steroid instillation at the time of shunt placement.
Epidemiology of ACE Inhibitor Angioedema Utilizing a Large Electronic Health Record

Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are a common cause of drug-induced angioedema in the United States. Most epidemiologic ACEI angioedema data are from large multicenter clinical trials. Objective The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of and risk factors for ACEI angioedema using a large integrated electronic health record (EHR). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all ACEI prescriptions in the outpatient setting of a large academic center between January 1, 2000, and September 30, 2008. We determined frequency, timing, and risk factors for ACEI angioedema within 5 years of prescription. All data were derived from EHR sources, with angioedema defined by EHR reactions of angioedema, swelling, edema, or lip, eye, face, tongue, throat or mouth swelling. Results Among 134,945 patients prescribed an ACEI, 0.7% (n = 888) developed angioedema during the subsequent 5 years. Sex was similar but patients who developed ACEI angioedema were younger (61.5 vs 62.7 years, P = .007). Patients with ACEI angioedema were more likely to have a history of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug allergy compared with patients who did not develop angioedema (7.1% vs 4.2%, P Conclusions The incidence of ACEI angioedema within a large EHR is consistent with large clinical trial data. We observed a persistent and relatively constant annual risk; however, angioedema risk factors and underlying genetic and pathophysiological mechanisms require further study.
PTHrP(12‐48) Modulates the Bone Marrow Microenvironment and Suppresses Human Osteoclast Differentiation and Lifespan

Bone is a common site for metastasis in breast cancer patients and is associated with a series of complications that significantly compromise patient survival, partially due to the advanced stage of disease at the time of detection. Currently, no clinically-approved biomarkers can identify or predict the development of bone metastasis. We recently identified a unique peptide fragment of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), PTHrP(12-48), as a validated serum biomarker in breast cancer patients that correlates with and predicts the presence of bone metastases. In this study, the biological activity and mode of action of PTHrP(12-48) was investigated. Sequence-based and structure-based bioinformatics techniques predicted that the PTHrP(12-48) fragment formed an alpha helical core followed by an unstructured region after residue 40 or 42. Thereafter, detailed structure alignment and molecular docking simulations predicted a lack of interaction between PTHrP(12-48) and the cognate PTH1 receptor (PTHR1). The in silico prediction was confirmed by the lack of PTHrP(12-48)-stimulated cAMP accumulation in PTHR1-expressing human SaOS2 cells. Using a specific human PTHrP(12-48) antibody that we developed, PTHrP(12-48) was immunolocalized in primary and bone metastatic human breast cancer cells, as well as within human osteoclasts (OCLs) in bone metastasis biopsies, with little or no localization in other resident bone or bone marrow cells. In vitro, PTHrP(12-48) was internalized into cultured primary human OCLs and their precursors within 60 min. Interestingly, PTHrP(12-48) treatment dose-dependently suppressed osteoclastogenesis, via the induction of apoptosis in both OCL precursors as well as in mature OCLs, as measured by the activation of cleaved caspase 3. Collectively, these data suggest that PTHrP(12-48) is a bioactive breast cancer-derived peptide that locally regulates the differentiation of hematopoietic cells and the activity of osteoclasts within the tumor-bone marrow microenvironment, perhaps to facilitate tumor control of bone. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Emerging Breast Imaging Technologies on the Horizon

Early detection of breast cancers by mammography in conjunction with adjuvant therapy has contributed to reduction in breast cancer mortality. Mammography remains the "gold-standard" for breast cancer screening but is limited by tissue superposition. Digital breast tomosynthesis and more recently, dedicated breast computed tomography have been developed to alleviate the tissue superposition problem. However, all of these modalities rely upon x-ray attenuation contrast to provide anatomical images, and there are ongoing efforts to develop and clinically translate alternative modalities. These emerging modalities could provide for new contrast mechanisms and may potentially improve lesion detection and diagnosis. In this article, several of these emerging modalities are discussed with a focus on technologies that have advanced to the stage of in vivo clinical evaluation.
Methodology for understanding interactions between electrolyte additives and cathodes: a case of the tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphite additive

Use of electrolyte additives is a promising route to address surface destabilization issues of lithium transition metal (TM)-oxide cathodes (for example, lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxides (NMCs)) that occur as they are charged to high voltages (>4.3 V vs. Li/Li+). Despite the successful discovery of several additives, their working mechanisms are often vaguely understood. In this work, we provide a methodology to comprehensively understand additive/cathode interactions in lithium-ion batteries. A case of the tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphite (TTFP) additive is presented where its decomposition behavior was investigated at 4.6 V vs. Li/Li+ in a Li4Ti5O12 (LTO)/Li1.03(Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2)0.97O2 (NMC532) cell. Overall, we found that while some of the additive does modify the surface film on the cathode and binds at the surface, it does not passivate the cathode surface towards electrolyte oxidation. Rather, the majority of the TTFP forms stable, free tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate (TTFPa) molecules by removing O atoms from the charged NMC cathode surface, some of which then further react with the electrolyte solvents and stay in solution. Finally, we propose a stable configuration in which TTFP is bound to the cathode surface via a P–O–TM bond, with one of the –CH2CF3 side groups removed, leading to the formation of BTFPa (bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate). We anticipate that these techniques and findings could be extended to other additives as well, especially phosphite-based additives, allowing the effective design of future additives.
Polysyllabic shortening in speakers exposed to two languages

Polysyllabic shortening is used to maintain stress-timed rhythm in English, but used negligibly in Spanish. It is unknown how polysyllabic shortening is influenced when individuals are exposed to one language that employs it and one that does not. We calculated polysyllabic shortening for 35 functionally monolingual English-speaking adults and 19 relatively balanced Spanish–English bilingual peers who repeated English and Spanish nonwords. Results showed that speech motor patterns learned early in life might be sufficient to block cross-linguistic transfer of polysyllabic shortening despite limited language proficiency, and bilingual speakers appear to signal membership in the majority language by increasing polysyllabic shortening.
Glass Points of Polymer Networks

A model for a polymer network is developed to establish analytical relations between the glass point, T, and structural features of amorphous networks and to allow prediction of T with changes in chemistry. In this model the network is treaed as a ternary copolymer of branch points, chain segments and chain ends, each of which contributes a different amount of free volume to the total system according to rules similar to those used in ternary copolymers or mixtures. It is shown that changes in T due to plasticization, copolymerization, molecular weight, branchng, cross-linking, chain scission, etc. do occur as logical consequences of a well known free volume theory. Where possible, these calculated results have been corroborated with literature data.
Structure–activity relationship for adenosine kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: II. Modifications to the ribofuranosyl moiety

Adenosine kinase (Ado kinase) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is structurally and biochemically unique from other known Ado kinases. This purine salvage enzyme catalyzes the first step in the conversion of the adenosine analog, 2-methyl-Ado (methyl-Ado), into a metabolite with antitubercular activity. Methyl-Ado has provided proof of concept that the purine salvage pathway from M. tuberculosis may be utilized for the development of antitubercular compounds with novel mechanisms of action. In order to utilize this enzyme, it is necessary to understand the topography of the active site to rationally design compounds that are more potent and selective substrates for Ado kinase. A previous structure-activity relationship identified modifications to the base moiety of adenosine (Ado) that result in substrate and inhibitor activity. In an extension of that work, 62 Ado analogs with modifications to the ribofuranosyl moiety, modifications to the base and ribofuranosyl moiety, or modifications to the glycosidic bond position have been analyzed as substrates and inhibitors of M. tuberculosis Ado kinase. A subset of these compounds was further analyzed in human Ado kinase for the sake of comparison. Although no modifications to the ribose moiety resulted in compounds as active as Ado, the best substrates identified were carbocyclic-Ado, 8-aza-carbocyclic-Ado, and 9-[alpha-l-lyxofuranosyl]-adenine with 38%, 4.3%, and 3.8% of the activity of Ado, respectively. The most potent inhibitor identified, 5'-amino-5'-deoxy-Ado, had a K(i)=0.8muM and a competitive mode of inhibition. MIC studies demonstrated that poor substrates could still have potent antitubercular activity.
The Loss of Ihsan

This chapter makes the case that Islamic legal corpus has developed in such a way that it eschews Ihsan and compassionate interpretations of divine texts and sources. The chapter employs two case studies to make the point. One case study is about a contentious and highly politicized issue of punishment for blasphemy in Pakistan, and the other a routine simple issue of how to make up for breaking a Ramadan fast. In both cases, it is apparent that the most obvious understanding of sources is also the most compassionate one and yet scholars and jurists have canonized the harshest of possible interpretations. The goal of this chapter is to show the absence of Ihsan in applied Islam. The chapter examines the politics and the historical narratives that systematically exclude perspectives based on Ihsan in the understanding of divine sources and their legal interpretations.
The POP Detector: A Lightweight Online Program Phase Detection Framework

Real-time phase detection enables dynamic adaptation of systems based on different program behavior. Many phase detection techniques have been proposed, with the most successful relating the phases back to application code. In the scope of online phase detection, techniques employ sampling to mitigate the overheads of the phase detection framework. When phase intervals are long enough, sampling approaches perform well. We reopen the question of phase interval length by performing in-depth analysis on the trade-offs between overhead and phase detector performance. We present a new metric which captures the statistical trade-off between phase interval length, phase stability, and the number of phases. We find that while shorter phases perform best in the context of online optimization, existing implementations suffer from performance degradation and overhead at shorter interval sizes. To address this gap, we present the Precise Online Phase (POP) detector. The POP detector utilizes performance counters to build signatures, which are virtually lossless at finer granularity. As a second order, the simplicity of the detector reduces the runtime overhead to just 1.35% and 0.09% at 10M and 100M instruction intervals, respectively.
Effects of antipredator training, environmental enrichment, and soft release on wildlife translocations: A review and meta-analysis

Abstract Wildlife translocations can have conservation value but results have been mixed regarding animal behavior and survival post-release. Practitioners have adopted antipredator training, environmental enrichment, and soft release as pre-release conditioning tactics to encourage adaptive behavior and improve post-release survival, but their utility has not been broadly quantified. We performed a formal literature review and conducted meta-analysis on 108 effects from 41 studies experimentally testing how these tactics affected survival, movement, or site fidelity compared to unconditioned animals. We further investigated how each conditioning tactic, animal source (wild-to-wild translocated or captive-released), age, and taxonomic group (birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles) influenced outcomes. Relative to unconditioned animals, conditioned individuals were 1.5 times more likely to survive, had reduced movement, and were three times more likely to show site fidelity. Each of the three conditioning tactics resulted in improved survival. Juveniles released from captivity derived the greatest survival benefit from conditioning. Across taxa, conditioning most benefitted survival of fish. Conditioning also had positive effects on survival of mammals and reptiles, albeit with less certainty than for fish. Estimates comparing survival of conditioned to unconditioned birds were much more variable, suggesting avian translocation programs using conditioning generally need improvement. Soft release consistently reduced movement and increased site fidelity; this was an especially viable technique for adult wild-to-wild translocated animals. We provide quantitative evidence that behavioral conditioning can aid wildlife translocations, and we encourage continued experiments to further elucidate how refined tactics could advance conservation efforts using translocation as a management tool.
Imaging Biomarkers of Adiposity and Sarcopenia as Potential Predictors for Overall Survival Among Patients with Endometrial Cancer Treated with Bevacizumab

Abstract Objective To examine associations of body mass index (BMI), subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and density (SFD), visceral fat area (VFA) and density (VFD) and total psoas area (TPA) to outcomes among patients receiving chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (EC). Methods This was a multi-institutional, retrospective study of patients with EC treated with and without bevacizumab as part of front-line, platinum based chemotherapy. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected. SFA, VFA, SFD, VFD, and TPA were determined from pre-treatment CT scans using a deep learning algorithm. Data was compared with overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Results Seventy-eight patients were analyzed. The majority were Caucasian (87.2%) with a mean BMI of 34.7 kg/m2. PFS and OS did not differ between patients with BMI, SFA, VFA, SFD, VFD, or TPA ≥ the 50th percentile compared to Patients receiving bevacizumab had similar OS compared to those who did not (37.6 vs 44.5 months, p = 0.409). When stratified by adiposity markers, no subset demonstrated benefit from bevacizumab. Conclusion Obesity has been associated with increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the main target for bevacizumab therapy. Imaging measurements of VFA may provide prognostic information for patients with EC but no adiposity marker was predictive of improved response to bevacizumab.
High Burden of Associated Injuries Occurring With Major Fractures of the Talus.

Background:Talus fractures are severe injuries typically occurring after high-energy trauma. As a result, associated injuries to different anatomic sites and organ systems occur with high frequency...
An Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing Based Treatment in a University Addiction Counseling Training Clinic

The purpose of the pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a university-based addiction clinic where counseling students treat clients with Motivational Interviewing. Participants (N = 55) ...
Contextual, Cultural, and Sociopolitical Issues in Caring for Latinxs with Dementia: When the Mind Forgets and the Heart Remembers

Latinxs in the USA continue to be disproportionately impacted by dementia. Despite its prevalence within the Latinx community, there is a dearth of literature that explicitly addresses the unique cultural ways in which patients and families of Latinx descent experience, describe, understand, and manage brain-related diseases such as dementia. This chapter provides a nuanced and complex understanding of the contextual and sociopolitical factors (e.g., racial biases, xenophobia, institutional barriers) that impact the care of Latinx patients and their families. The central elements that characterize the Latinx culture are described, followed by a section about within-group Latinx differences, which underscores the heterogeneity (e.g., nationality, immigration, race) that exists within this population. Systemic challenges and their impact on diagnosis and symptom management of dementia are provided. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion on how Latinx culture and context impacts the caregiving of Latinxs with dementia.
The Catalytic Role of a Conserved Tyrosine in Nitric Oxide Reducing Non-heme Diiron Enzymes

Recent studies have identified several key intermediates of the nitric oxide reductase (NOR) cycle of flavodiiron proteins (FDPs). These intermediates include, sequentially, a μ-hydroxo diferrous s...
Single-Electron Currents in Designer Single-Cluster Devices.

Atomically precise clusters can be used to create single-electron devices wherein a single redox-active cluster is connected to two macroscopic electrodes via anchoring ligands. Unlike single-elect...
Does Nursing Shift Influence Adherence to Central-Line Maintenance Bundles?

Background: Proper care and maintenance of central lines is essential to prevent central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Our facility implemented a hospital-wide central-line maintenance bundle based on CLABSI prevention guidelines. The objective of this study was to determine whether maintenance bundle adherence was influenced by nursing shift or the day of week. Methods: A central-line maintenance bundle was implemented in April 2018 at a 1,266-bed academic medical center. The maintenance bundle components included alcohol-impregnated disinfection caps on all ports and infusion tubing, infusion tubing dated, dressings, not damp or soiled, no oozing at insertion site greater than the size of a quarter, dressings occlusive with all edges intact, transparent dressing change recorded within 7 days, and no gauze dressings in place for >48 hours. To monitor bundle compliance, 4 non–unit-based nurse observers were trained to audit central lines. Observations were collected between August 2018 and October 2019. Observations were performed during all shifts and 7 days per week. Just-in-time feedback was provided for noncompliant central lines. Nursing shifts were defined as day (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), evening (3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.), and night (11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.). Central-line bundle compliance between shifts were compared using multinomial logistic regression. Bundle compliance between week day and weekend were compared using Mantel-Haenszel 2 analysis. Results: Of the 25,902 observations collected, 11,135 (42.9%) were day-shift observations, 11,559 (44.6%) occurred on evening shift, and 3,208 (12.4%) occurred on the night shift. Overall, 22,114 (85.9%) observations occurred on a week day versus 3,788 (14.6%) on a Saturday or Sunday (median observations per day of the week, 2,570; range, 1,680–6,800). In total, 4,599 CLs (17.8%) were noncompliant with >1 bundle component. The most common reasons for noncompliance were dressing not dated (n = 1,577; 44.0%) and dressings not occlusive with all edges intact (n = 1340; 37.4%). The noncompliant rates for central-line observations by shift were 12.8% (1,430 of 1,1,135) on day shift, 20.4% (2,361 of 11,559) on evening shift, and 25.2% (808 of 3,208) on night shift. Compared to day shift, evening shift (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.62–1.87; P < .001) and night shift (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 2.07–2.52; P < .001) were more likely to have a noncompliant central lines. Compared to a weekday, observations on weekend days were more likely to find a noncompliant central line: 914 of 3,788 (24.4%) weekend days versus 3,685 of 22,114 (16.7%) week days (P < .001). Conclusions: Noncompliance with central-line maintenance bundle was more likely on evening and night shifts and during the weekends. Funding: None Disclosures: None
Signatures of exosolar planets in dust debris disks

We apply our recently elaborated, powerful numerical approach to the high-resolution modeling of the structure and emission of circumstellar dust disks, incorporating all relevant physical processes. Specifically, we examine the resonant structure of a dusty disk induced by the presence of one planet. It is shown that the planet, via resonances and gravitational scattering, produces (1) an asymmetric resonant dust belt with one or more clumps intermittent with one or a few off-center cavities; and (2) a central cavity void of dust. These features can serve as indicators of a planet embedded in the circumstellar dust disk and, moreover, can be used to determine its major orbital parameters and even the mass of the planet. The results of our study reveal a remarkable similarity with various types of highly asymmetric circumstellar disks observed with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope around Epsilon Eridani and Vega. The proposed interpretation of the clumps in those disks as being resonant patterns is testable -- it predicts the asymmetric design around the star to revolve, viz., by 1.2--1.6 deg/yr about Vega and 0.6--0.8 deg/yr about Epsilon Eri.
A study of modeling assumptions and adaptive remeshing for thermomechanical finite element modeling of the LPBF process

As-built metallic parts manufactured by the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process are usually associated with distortions and high residual stresses due to the high thermal gradients and cycles during the process. Finite element modeling (FEM) could be helpful in simulating the build process and predicting the thermally induced residual stresses and parts’ distortion during or after the process, or after the support structure removal. FEM is, however, computationally expensive without simplifying the boundary conditions and model assumptions. This paper addresses the thermomechanical modeling of the LPBF process in two aspects. Firstly, the effects of model assumptions such as the yield strength, material properties’ temperature dependency, and layer thickness are investigated using 2D models. Secondly, a framework that addressed the computational expense of this modeling problem from the meshing perspective is proposed. The study employed parts from different materials to highlight the importance of model assumptions and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Practical in-storage interventions to control foodborne pathogens on fresh produce.

Although tremendous efforts have been made to ensure fresh produce safety, various foodborne outbreaks and recalls occur annually. Most of the current intervention strategies are evaluated within a short timeframe (less than 1 h), leaving the behavior of the remaining pathogens unknown during subsequent storages. This review summarized outbreak and recall surveillance data from 2009 to 2018 obtained from government agencies in the United States to identify major safety concerns associated with fresh produce, discussed the postharvest handling of fresh produce and the limitations of current antimicrobial interventions, and reviewed the intervention strategies that have the potential to be applied in each storage stage at the commercial scale. One long-term (up to 12 months) prepacking storage (apples, pears, citrus among others) and three short-term (up to 3 months) postpacking storages were identified. During the prepacking storage, continuous application of gaseous ozone at low doses (≤1 ppm) is a feasible option. Proper concentration, adequate circulation, as well as excess gas destruction and ventilation systems are essential to commercial application. At the postpacking storage stages, continuous inhibition can be achieved through controlled release of gaseous chlorine dioxide in packaging, antimicrobial edible coatings, and biocontrol agents. During commercialization, factors that need to be taken into consideration include physicochemical properties of antimicrobials, impacts on fresh produce quality and sensory attributes, recontamination and cross-contamination, cost, and feasibility of large-scale production. To improve fresh produce safety and quality during storage, the collaboration between researchers and the fresh produce industry needs to be improved.
Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells into Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications

Synthetic grafts have been developed for vascular bypass surgery, however, the risks of thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia still limit their use. Tissue engineering with the use of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) has shown promise in addressing these limitations. Here we further characterized and optimized the ASC differentiation into smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by TGF-β and BMP-4. TGF-β and BMP-4 induced a time-dependent expression of SMC markers in ASC. Shortening the differentiation period from 7 to 4 days did not impair the functional property of contraction in these cells. Stability of the process was demonstrated by switching cells to regular growth media for up to 14 days. The role of IGFBP7, a downstream effector of TGF-β, was also examined. Finally, topographic and surface patterning of a substrate is recognized as a powerful tool for regulating cell differentiation. Here we provide evidence that a non-woven PET structure does not affect the differentiation of ASC. Taken together, our results indicate that VSMCs differentiated from ASCs are a suitable candidate to populate a PET-based vascular scaffolds. By employing an autologous source of cells we provide a novel alternative to address major issues that reduces long-term patency of currently vascular grafts.
Error bounds of the invariant statistics in machine learning of ergodic Itô diffusions

Abstract This paper studies the theoretical underpinnings of machine learning of ergodic Ito diffusions. The objective is to understand the convergence properties of the invariant statistics when the underlying system of stochastic differential equations (SDEs) is empirically estimated with a supervised regression framework. Using the perturbation theory of ergodic Markov chains and the linear response theory, we deduce a linear dependence of the errors of one-point and two-point invariant statistics on the error in the learning of the drift and diffusion coefficients. More importantly, our study shows that the usual L 2 -norm characterization of the learning generalization error is insufficient for achieving this linear dependence result. We find that sufficient conditions for such a linear dependence result are through learning algorithms that produce a uniformly Lipschitz and consistent estimator in the hypothesis space that retains certain characteristics of the drift coefficients, such as the usual linear growth condition that guarantees the existence of solutions of the underlying SDEs. We examine these conditions on two well-understood learning algorithms: the kernel-based spectral regression method and the shallow random neural networks with the ReLU activation function.
Qualitative methods to ensure acceptability of behavioral and social interventions to the target population

This paper introduces qualitative methods for assessing the acceptability of an intervention. Acceptability refers to determining how well an intervention will be received by the target population and the extent to which the new intervention or its components might meet the needs of the target population and organizational setting. In this paper, we focus on two common qualitative methods for conducting acceptability research and their advantages and disadvantages: focus groups and interviews. We provide examples from our own research and other studies to demonstrate the use of these methods for conducting acceptability research and how one might adapt this approach for oral health research. Finally, we present emerging methods for conducting acceptability research, including the use of community-based participatory research, as well as the utility of conducting acceptability research for assessing the appropriateness of measures in intervention research.
Activity of Guinea Pig Liver Transglutaminase toward Ester Analogs of Amide Substrates

Abstract Calcium-activated guinea pig liver transglutaminase catalyzes the hydrolysis and aminolysis of γ-glutamyl methyl and ethyl ester analogs of a specific amide substrate, benzyloxycarbonyl(Z)-l-glutaminylglycine. Kinetic comparisons of amine incorporation into the γ-n-methylamide, and the γ-methyl and ethyl esters of Z-l-glutamylglycine indicate that the same aycl-enzyme intermediate is formed from each of these substrates. The differences in catalytic efficiency toward these substrates are due to differences in rates of formation of this intermediate, and may be a consequence of different orientations of the leaving groups (—OR and —NHR) at the catalytic site of the enzyme. An aliphatic ester, methyl acetate, and its amide analog, N-methylacetamide, are about equally effective, although poor, substrates for transglutaminase. This, together with the fact that the acyl-enzyme intermediate is formed from the γ-methyl ester of Z-l-glutamylglycine and from its γ-N-methylamide at approximately the same rate, is strong evidence that C—O and C—N bonds are about equally susceptible to cleavage by transglutaminase. The ability of an alcohol to function as an acyl acceptor in a transglutaminase-catalyzed amide transfer reaction and the reversibility of the ester to amide conversion has been demonstrated with the use of a fluorescent-labeled alcohol derivative, N-(5 - dimethylaminonaphthalenesulfonyl) - 5 - amino - 1 - pentanol.
Authorization and Obligation Policies in Dynamic Systems

The paper defines a language for specifying authorization and obligation policies of an intelligent agent acting in a changing environment and presents several ASP based algorithms for checking compliance of an event with a policy specified in this language. The language allows representation of defeasible policies and is based on theory of action and change.
Laser Transferred Sol‐Gel PZT Thin Films

In order to achieve the integration compatibility with silicon microelectronics, ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films have been prepared by combining a sol-gel process and a laser transfer process. PZT films with thickness ranging from 1 to 10μm are first deposited and annealed on sapphire substrates using an acetic acid based sol-gel method. Then they are bonded to silicon substrates and subsequently released from the sapphire substrates through excimer laser exposure from the backside of the sapphire substrates. These laser transferred PZT thin films have dielectric constants ranging from 526 to 1273, remnant polarizations of more than 32 μC/cm 2 , and maximum polarizations of more than 52 μC/cm 2 . The laser exposure induces a surface damage layer on the PZT films which shows a glassy phase structure, has a dielectric constant less than 67 and thickness less than 0.1 μm but the laser exposure does not induce electric defects in the films as the laser transferred films have very high dielectric strength. While the laser induced surface damage layer can significantly affect the measurement and calculation of the dielectric constants and coercive fields of the PZT film, it is not necessary to remove this surface damage layer to make sensor and actuator devices because we still can effectively re-orient the domains and thus pole the films even with the existence of the surface damage layer.
Paxillin Interaction Enhances MEKK2 Activity by Relieving Auto-inhibition

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) regulator MEK kinase 2 (MEKK2) has been linked to control of inflammation, gene expression, cardiac hypertrophy, and breast tumor metastasis. The regulation of MEKK2 is not well understood, thus a key objective in our research is to define the mechanisms that control MEKK2 activity. Previously, we have demonstrated that attachment of invasive tumor cells to fibronectin induces MEKK2 activation and translocalization to focal adhesions, where it associates with the scaffold protein paxillin in an interaction that requires the amino-terminal leucine-rich motif (LD1) of paxillin. In this work, we reveal that interaction with paxillin enhances MEKK2 activity in vitro. Utilizing targeted MEKK2 mutagenesis, we demonstrate that MEKK2 kinase activity is markedly enhanced in a truncated form of the kinase that includes the kinase domain alone, suggesting that a regulatory domain exists within MEKK2 peptide outside of the kinase domain. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the...
Structure and Properties of Electrocodeposited Cu-Al2O3 Nanocomposite Thin Films

Nanocomposite thin films which consist of 50 nm Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles in a copper metal matrix were deposited on a silicon wafer. The thickness of the nanocomposite thin films was about 3 microns and the volume density of the nanoparticles was between 3% and 5%. The films were synthesized using electrocodeposition. The grain size of the nanocomposite film was significantly smaller than the grain size of control films of pure copper. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) experiments indicate that neither the nanocomposite thin films nor the control films exhibits a crystallographic texture. Nanoindentation experiments show that the hardness of the nanocomposite thin film is approximately 25% higher than the hardness of the control films of pure copper. A prototype of a microchannel array in the nanocomposite thin film was made using standard microelectromechanical (MEMS) fabrication technology. It is expected that the enhanced mechanical properties exhibited by nanocomposite thin films have the potential to improve the reliability of various MEMS devices which rely on thin metal films. The results presented herein lay the groundwork for future studies in which the size, volume density, morphology, distribution as well as type of nanoparticle in the nanocomposite will be systematically and independently varied in order to optimize mechanical properties.
Protestos, participação e educação pública: discursos sobre o público nas mobilizações estudantis no Chile

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar os significados que estudantes universitarios chilenos atribuem as praticas de protesto e ocupacao do espaco publico que tem sido realizadas no marco das mobilizacoes estudantis no ano 2011. Para isto foi planejada uma amostra intencional composta por estudantes de universidades publicas e privadas da regiao de Valparaiso, Chile, utilizando-se como tecnica de producao de informacao o focusgroup e como tecnica de analise um procedimento de analise de conteudo. Os resultados foram organizados em cinco temas que expressam a maneira como os estudantes universitarios representam as formas de acao coletiva: "contra o modelo, tomando como referencia o proprio modelo", "protesto e espaco publico", "a transformacao da esfera publica: o individualismo e a mercantilizacao", "ocupacao dos meios de comunicacao e construcao da opiniao publica" e "conscientizacao dos alunos e da sociedade". Concluiu-se que o jovem universitario estabeleceu significados complexos a respeito de suas praticas de protesto e de mobilizacao social, que se expressam em formas de acao nao convencional e em tensoes com o modelo do qual sao tambem herdeiros.
Observation of orbitally excited hadrons in simulations of lattice QCD

Abstract We present a new technique for determining the masses and other properties of orbitally excited hadronic states using numerical simulation of lattice QCD, along with some crude calculations of the masses of the P-wave states. We have reconstructed Coulomb and Landau gauge wavefunctions for these states. We measure the mass difference between the center of mass of the P-wave multiplet and the S-wave multiplet, but are unable to resolve the fine structure of the P-wave multiplet. When extrapolated to zero quark mass and to charm the center of mass of the multiplet is in reasonable agreement with experiment.
An integrated performance analysis framework for HVAC systems using heterogeneous data models and building automation systems

More than 20% of the energy consumed by heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems is wasted due to undetected faults in these systems. In the past three decades, researchers have developed hundreds of computer algorithms to automatically and continuously analyze their energy performance. However, due to the complex information required by these algorithms, it is very difficult for facilities operators to deploy them in real-world buildings. This paper presents an integrated performance analysis framework (IPAF) that can be used to integrate heterogeneous data models of the building and HVAC systems and the dynamic data from embedded sensors and controllers. This framework facilitates the deployment of performance analysis algorithms in different buildings and HVAC systems by automatically providing the required information. We developed and tested our proposed framework using four different types of algorithms in a real-world facility. The IPAF is able to integrate three heterogeneous data models with 85% of precision and 91% recall. The precision and recall for retrieving data required by the four different types of algorithms are both 100%.