cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Condition-Based Maintenance for Repairable Deteriorating Systems Subject to a Generalized Mixed Shock Model

Based on reliability analysis for a system subject to $s$ -dependent competing risks of internal degradation and external shocks, we propose a condition-based maintenance policy considering imperfect repair for complex systems. The internal degradation (e.g., crack growth, erosion, or corrosion) can be modeled using a stochastic deterioration process. External shocks arriving at random times are divided into two classes based on their impacts on the system: 1) fatal shocks that can cause the system to fail immediately, if a shock belongs to any of three classic shock models (i.e., extreme shock model, run shock model, and $\delta $ -shock model), or the generalized mixed shock model; and 2) non-fatal shocks that can damage the system by randomly increasing the degradation level. Using the proposed condition-based maintenance policy, the system is inspected at fixed time intervals, and a decision for an appropriate maintenance action (i.e., no action, imperfect repair, preventive or corrective replacement) is made based on the actual health condition of the system detected through inspection. The imperfect repair restores the system by lowering the degradation amount to a certain level. The objective is to determine the optimal inspection interval that minimizes the expected long-run maintenance cost rate. A micro-electro-mechanical system example is used to evaluate the efficiency of the developed reliability and condition-based maintenance models.
The Knobe-Effect and the Law

The Simple View says that S intentionally does A if and only if S intends to do A. The Knobe- Effect shows that on surveys folk judgments appear otherwise. The folk appear to judge that one can intentionally do A as an unintended side-effect of something B that is intended. Recently, some legal scholars have argued that in some cases the law should follow the Knobe- Effect and not the Simple View. In this paper, I argue that it would be a mistake for the law to take this path. I also suggest that the data of the surveys of folk judgments may well be misleading.
CNTO 95, a monoclonal antibody against αv integrins, enhances the therapeutic efficacy of fractionated radiation therapy in vivo

C35 Purpose: Selective targeting of upregulated integrins on tumor cells is a novel therapeutic strategy for treating solid tumors. Interaction of tumor cells with the extracellular matrix via adhesion molecules is important for cell survival, and may play a role in resistance to therapy. We hypothesized that the combination of radiation and CNTO95, a fully human monoclonal antibody specific for human αv integrins, would enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy on established xenograft tumors. Experimental Design: First, the response of M21 melanoma cells to radiation and CNTO95 was studied in vitro . Next, nude mice bearing human melanoma, head and neck cancer, glioma, and colon cancer xenografts were treated with CNTO95 (10 mg/kg, 3x/week) or fractionated radiotherapy (250 cGy/fraction for 5-10 days) alone or in combination. Antitumor efficacy was assayed by measuring the tumor growth delay time. Results: In vitro , treatment of M21 cells plated on vitronectin with CNTO95 increased sensitivity to radiation and enhanced apoptosis. In mice, CNTO95 alone had only a moderate effect on tumor growth in the four models tested. Fractionated radiation therapy alone inhibited the tumor growth by 5-16 days. The combined therapy of CNTO95 and radiation significantly inhibited tumor growth and produced a tumor growth delay time of 11-30 days in multiple tumor models, irrespective of which αv integrin was most abundant. The combined treatment regimen was optimized in the M21 model, and the greatest effect was observed when CNTO95 was administered 1 hour before irradiation. Continued dosing of CNTO95 following irradiation further contributed to efficacy and was important for continued inhibition of tumor regrowth. Immunohistochemical analysis of M21 tumor sections demonstrated that the combined use of CNTO95 and radiation therapy significantly reduced the microvessel density and increased apoptosis in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. CNTO95 alone and in combination with radiation was well-tolerated and did not produce any obvious signs of systemic toxicity. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that CNTO95 can potentiate the efficacy of fractionated radiation therapy in a variety of human cancer xenograft tumor types in nude mice. These findings are very promising and may have high translational relevance for the treatment of patients with solid tumors.
Reducing Phobic Behavior Near Water and Increasing Water Approach Skills

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death worldwide, and the highest rates are among children. The purpose of this study was to utilize a multi-component intervention to increase water skills for three typically developing children, who had a history of fear of swimming, and to evaluate changes in both phobic behaviors and positive affect. The intervention, comprised of goal setting, self-monitoring, behavioral skills training and positive reinforcement, was used in community pools to teach basic water skills. Results suggest that the intervention was successful in increasing the participant's water skills and positive affect while intervals with phobic behaviors decreased. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social Media Use in Pediatric Oncology: Tweets, Blogs, and Boundaries

In the past several years, advances in technology and the development of social media have drastically transformed the Internet from a place where individuals can not only obtain information and nurture existing social networks but also develop new relationships when forming or joining communities of interest. Within the realm of healthcare, these developments have created a wide range of opportunities and challenges for both patients and providers. Given the vast means by which patients utilize social media, it is our responsibility as psychosocial providers to better understand why and how social media are used on matters of health. This chapter highlights the various types of social media and provides discussion on how these different media can be used by pediatric oncology patients and their families. Within this framework we then discuss the opportunities and ethical challenges social media present to us as psychosocial providers.
Epidemiology and aetiology of heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a rapidly growing public health issue with an estimated prevalence of >37.7 million individuals globally. HF is a shared chronic phase of cardiac functional impairment secondary to many aetiologies, and patients with HF experience numerous symptoms that affect their quality of life, including dyspnoea, fatigue, poor exercise tolerance, and fluid retention. Although the underlying causes of HF vary according to sex, age, ethnicity, comorbidities, and environment, the majority of cases remain preventable. HF is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and confers a substantial burden to the health-care system. HF is a leading cause of hospitalization among adults and the elderly. In the USA, the total medical costs for patients with HF are expected to rise from US$20.9 billion in 2012 to $53.1 billion by 2030. Improvements in the medical management of risk factors and HF have stabilized the incidence of this disease in many countries. In this Review, we provide an overview of the latest epidemiological data on HF, and propose future directions for reducing the ever-increasing HF burden.
Independent control of selected insulin-sensitive cell membrane and intracellular functions - the linkage of cell membrane and intracellular events controlled by insulin. II. The influence of glutathione and N-ethyl maleimide on insulin binding, membrane hexose transport and glycogen synthase activation.

Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) markedly stimulated specific insulin binding, labelled glucose oxidation, and 2-deoxyglucose transport in rat adipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. Reduced glutathione was inhibitory. Insulin stimulated in the presence of reduced and oxidized glutathione, but the effect was markedly diminished or absent at the highest concentrations of reduced or oxidized tripeptide. Oxidized glutathione did not activate % glycogen synthaseI activity.
Comparative Survey of the Sebaceous and Sudoriferous Glands of the Oral Lips and Angle in Rodents

Serial sections of the oral lips and angle of rodents representing 10 families, 47 genera and 79 species were studied microscopically, and the occurrence and relative amounts of sebaceous, apocrine sudoriferous and mucous glands described. These closely adjacent glands differ in their taxonomic correlations, amount of individual variation and evolutionary trends within rodents. Oral sebaceous glands are ubiquitous in the haired areas, but show specialized enlargement in diverse rodent groups, especially in Aplodontiidae, Heteromyidae, Zapodidae, Dipodidae and in some genera and species of Cricetidae and Muridae. Oral apocrine sudoriferous glands, large and active in Spermophilus , are reduced, vestigial or lacking in other sciurids, microtines and North American cricetines. Other rodent groups ( Bathyergidae, Capromyidae, Aplodontiidae, Heteromyidae, Geomyidae, Old World cricetines, Gerbillinae, Muridae, Zapodidae and Dipodidae), representatives of which were examined, lack traces of these glands. Different compound tubular and tubulo-alveolar mucous and mixed sero-mucous glands extend into the angle and lip area in different rodent groups, and without obvious relations in regard to the quantitative development of the other gland types in the region. Variation and possible functional and evolutionary attributes of the glands are discussed.
Investigation of Health Communication Status of Prevention and Control knowledge of AIDS in Anhui Province

Objective To know the status and demand of health communication of prevention and control of AIDS and to learn correlative knowledge,attitude and behavior about AIDS of target population,in order to provide evidence for the best and targeted ways of health communication of AIDS.Methods Floating population,journalists,former blood donors,AIDS patients/HIV positive people,sex workers,drug users,STD clinic clients and high school students were sampled conveniently and anonymously administered face-to-face by uniform structured questionnaire.Results Overall awareness rate of the respondents was 81.2%.59.7% of the respondents had read newspaper,33.4% of the respondents had listened to radio and average 83.6% of the respondents had watched TV.Average 69.6% of the adults had spent above two hours on watching TV.Among the respondents,television,handbill and booklet,poster and wall map were the major channels of acquiring AIDS information and were also the channels which they preferred the most to obtain AIDS information.Conclusion It will be effective to take twll advantage of television by playing related program in prime time and carry out health propaganda face to face by health professionals with appropriate IEC materials.
Early nontumorous CT findings after irreversible electroporation of locally advanced pancreatic cancer

The use of irreversible electroporation (IRE) has been a relatively recent development in the palliative treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. With CT as a key modality in patient follow-up, recognition of nontumorous imaging findings is paramount after IRE. A retrospective review of patients having undergone IRE for locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma was performed. A total of 36 patients met inclusion criteria and their imaging studies were reviewed by two radiologists. Nontumorous abnormalities identified in the peri-electroporation bed on Computed Tomography (CT) during the early postoperative period (within 30 days) were characterized and classified into categories. Our results indicate that the most common nontumorous findings in the peri-electroporation bed were vascular, followed by changes involving the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneal cavity, and, infrequently, the biliary tree. Interpretation of CT imaging of the postoperative peri-electroporation bed is challenging. This review of CT findings allows the radiologist to recognize and anticipate significant nontumorous findings in the peri-electroporation bed during early follow-up after IRE.
Trends in Antihypertensive Medication Use Among US Patients With Resistant Hypertension, 2008 to 2014.

Little is known of US trends in antihypertensive drug use for patients with treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH). We analyzed antihypertensive use among patients with TRH (treated with ≥4 antihypertensive drugs concurrently) from July 2008 through December 2014 using Marketscan administrative data. We included adults aged 18 to 65 years, with ≥6 months of continuous enrollment, a hypertension diagnosis, and ≥1 episode of overlapping use of ≥4 antihypertensive drugs; patients with heart failure were excluded. We identified 411 652 unique TRH episodes from 261 652 patients with a mean age of 55.9 years. From 2008 to 2014, we observed an increased prevalence, among TRH episodes, of β-blockers (+6.8% [79% to 85.8%]) and dihydropyridine calcium antagonists (+8.1% [69.1% to 77.2%]), and a decreased prevalence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (−12.5% [60.4% to 47.9%]) and nondihydropyridine calcium antagonists (−5.0% [15% to 10%]). The prevalence of most other classes changed by
What style of leadership is best suited to direct organizational change to fuel institutional diversity in higher education

Implementing diversity agendas within decentralized, loosely coupled, and change-resistant institutions such as colleges and universities is a global challenge. A shift in the organizational climat...
An Exploration of Clothing Selection Motivations and Meaning of Possessions for Children in Foster Care Homes

As clothing is a tool to express oneself and considered as an extended self to show one’s identity (Ahuvia, 2005), understanding the meaning of possessions related to clothing for children in the foster care homes can help us develop and provide necessary products or programs. Therefore, this study is designed to understand clothing selection motivations and the meaning of possessions for children in foster care homes.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) promotes spermatogenic regeneration from surviving spermatogonia after high-dose alkylating chemotherapy.

The lifesaving chemotherapy and radiation treatments that allow patients to survive cancer can also result in a lifetime of side-effects, including male infertility. Infertility in male cancer survivors is thought to primarily result from killing of the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) responsible for producing spermatozoa since SSCs turn over slowly and are thereby sensitive to antineoplastic therapies. We previously demonstrated that the cytokine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can preserve spermatogenesis after alkylating chemotherapy (busulfan). Male mice were treated with G-CSF or controls before and/or after sterilizing busulfan treatment and evaluated immediately or 10–19 weeks later for effects on spermatogenesis. We demonstrated that the protective effect of G-CSF on spermatogenesis was stable for at least 19 weeks after chemotherapy, nearly twice as long as previously shown. Further, G-CSF treatment enhanced spermatogenic measures 10 weeks after treatment in the absence of a cytotoxic insult, suggesting G-CSF acts as a mitogen in steady-state spermatogenesis. In agreement with this conclusion, G-CSF treatment for 3 days before busulfan treatment exacerbated the loss of spermatogenesis observed with G-CSF alone. Reciprocally, spermatogenic recovery was modestly enhanced in mice treated with G-CSF for 4 days after busulfan. These results suggested that G-CSF promoted spermatogonial proliferation, leading to enhanced spermatogenic regeneration from surviving SSCs. Similarly, there was a significant increase in proportion of PLZF+ undifferentiated spermatogonia that were Ki67+ (proliferating) 1 day after G-CSF treatment. Together, these results clarify that G-CSF protects spermatogenesis after alkylating chemotherapy by stimulating proliferation of surviving spermatogonia, and indicate it may be useful as a retrospective fertility-restoring treatment.
Automatic noise-removal/signal-removal based on general cross-validation thresholding in synchrosqueezed domain and its application on earthquake data

ABSTRACTRecorded seismic signals are often corrupted by noise. We have developed an automatic noise-attenuation method for single-channel seismic data, based upon high-resolution time-frequency analysis. Synchrosqueezing is a time-frequency reassignment method aimed at sharpening a time-frequency picture. Noise can be distinguished from the signal and attenuated more easily in this reassigned domain. The threshold level is estimated using a general cross-validation approach that does not rely on any prior knowledge about the noise level. The efficiency of the thresholding has been improved by adding a preprocessing step based on kurtosis measurement and a postprocessing step based on adaptive hard thresholding. The proposed algorithm can either attenuate the noise (either white or colored) and keep the signal or remove the signal and keep the noise. Hence, it can be used in either normal denoising applications or preprocessing in ambient noise studies. We tested the performance of the proposed method on s...
‘Parallel Games’ and Queer Memories: Performing LGBT Testimonies in Northern Ireland

This essay explores how the notion of ‘parallel games’ works to queer memory in two productions of Northern Ireland's first publicly funded gay theatre company, TheatreofplucK, led by artistic dire...
Lattice-Based DAPS and Generalizations: Self-enforcement in Signature Schemes

Double authentication preventing signatures (DAPS) is a mechanism, due to Poettering and Stebila, for protecting certificate authorities (CAs) from coercion. We construct the first lattice-based DAPS signatures, thereby providing the first post-quantum DAPS system. We go further and generalize DAPS to a more general mechanism we call predicate authentication preventing signatures (PAPS). Here, for a given k-ary predicate \(\phi \), a PAPS system for \(\phi \) is regular signature scheme. However, if the signer ever signs k messages \(m_1,\ldots ,m_k\) such that \(\phi (m_1,\ldots ,m_k)\) is true then these k signatures reveal the signer’s secret key. This self-enforcement mechanism incentivizes the signer to never sign conflicting messages, namely messages that satisfy the predicate \(\phi \). The k conflicting messages can be signed at different times and the signatures may be generated independently of one another. We further generalize to the case when the signatures are generated by multiple signers. We motivate these primitives, give precise definitions, and provide several constructions. These primitives are challenging to construct and give rise to many new elegant open research questions.
Design and experiments for a transformable solar-UAV

Aerial robotic platforms are an increasingly sought-after solution for a variety of sensing, monitoring, and transportation challenges. However, as invaluable as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been for these applications, fixed-wing and multi-rotor systems each have individual limitations. Fixed-wing UAVs are generally capable of high-altitude surveillance and long flight times, while quad-rotors are most effective when used for their maneuverability and close-quarters surveying. This paper improves upon the prototypes discussed in [1] by creating a series of three next-generation prototypes to isolate the aspects of solar powered fixed-wing flight, quad-rotor flight, and transformation modes of the SUAV:Q platform. Improvements to the transformation mechanism, airframe design, variable pitch propulsion system, and custom-designed power electronics are presented along with validation of the designs through empirical testing.
Detection of Early Stage Material Damage Using Thermophysical Properties

This paper presents a preliminary study on the effects of fatigue induced microstructural damage on the thermophysical properties of carbon fiber polymer composites commonly used for aerospace applications. The goal is to identify thermal properties that may serve as viable indicators of early stage material damage during structural health monitoring (SHM). A series of fatigue tests were conducted on multilayer composite specimens with peak stress σmax = 0.55σu (the static strength) and stress ratio R = 0.1. The cyclic load was paused periodically at predefined cycle intervals starting from 100 cycles through end of test at 150 k cycles. At each pause, the front side of the specimen is instantaneously heated with a high intensity flash followed by temperature measurements by two thermocouples attached at the front and back sides the rectangular specimen. Simultaneously, IR images are recorded using high speed camera. Changes in thermophysical properties including heat transfer rate (Q), thermal conductivity (k), heat capacity (c) were computed as functions of fatigue cycles. Preliminary data shows that the time-temperature (T-t) evolution is correlated to the number of fatigue cycles or consumed fatigue life of the specimens.
Update in Perioperative Medicine: Updates, Advances, Controversies in Perioperative Care

Perioperative care should involve a comprehensive evaluation of the patient, risk assessment of various complications, suggesting ways to reduce the complications, working on optimization of the patient’s chronic medical conditions and managing them through the perioperative period. Hospitalists have an important role to play as medical consultants in the perioperative period.
G4-Interacting DNA Helicases and Polymerases: Potential Therapeutic Targets

Background Guanine-rich DNA can fold into highly stable four-stranded DNA structures called G-quadruplexes (G4). In recent years, the G-quadruplex field has blossomed as new evidence strongly suggests that such alternately folded DNA structures are likely to exist in vivo. G4 DNA presents obstacles for the replication machinery, and both eukaryotic DNA helicases and polymerases have evolved to resolve and copy G4 DNA in vivo. In addition, G4-forming sequences are prevalent in gene promoters, suggesting that G4-resolving helicases act to modulate transcription. Methods We have searched the PubMed database to compile an up-to-date and comprehensive assessment of the field's current knowledge to provide an overview of the molecular interactions of Gquadruplexes with DNA helicases and polymerases implicated in their resolution. Results Novel computational tools and alternative strategies have emerged to detect G4-forming sequences and assess their biological consequences. Specialized DNA helicases and polymerases catalytically act upon G4-forming sequences to maintain normal replication and genomic stability as well as appropriate gene regulation and cellular homeostasis. G4 helicases also resolve telomeric repeats to maintain chromosomal DNA ends. Bypass of many G4-forming sequences is achieved by the action of translesion DNS polymerases or the PrimPol DNA polymerase. While the collective work has supported a role of G4 in nuclear DNA metabolism, an emerging field centers on G4 abundance in the mitochondrial genome. Conclusion Discovery of small molecules that specifically bind and modulate DNA helicases and polymerases or interact with the G4 DNA structure itself may be useful for the development of anticancer regimes.
Feasibility and Safety of Intrathoracic Biopsy and Repeat Biopsy for Evaluation of Programmed Cell Death Ligand–1 Expression for Immunotherapy in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose To determine feasibility and safety of biopsy and repeat biopsy for assessment of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) status. Materials and Methods This retrospective analysis reviewed 101 patients who underwent transthoracic core needle biopsy for the KEYNOTE-001 (MK-3475) clinical trial of pembrolizumab, an antiprogrammed cell death-1 therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, from May 2012 to September 2014. Sixty-one male patients (mean age, 66.1 years; range 36-83 years) and 40 female patients (mean age, 66.8 years; age range, 36-90 years) were included. Data collected included population characteristics, treatment history, target location, size, and depth from pleura. Adequacy of the tissue sample for diagnostic testing and rates of biopsy-related complications were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by using univariate and multivariate generalized linear models to determine significant risk factors for biopsy complications. Results A total of 110 intrathoracic biopsies were performed, and 101 (91.8%) were performed as repeat biopsies subsequent to a previous percutaneous or bronchoscopic biopsy or previous surgical biopsy or resection. More than 84.5% (93 of 110) of biopsies were performed in patients who had undergone previous local or systemic therapy. Specimens were adequate for evaluation of PD-L1 expression in 96.4% of biopsies. Procedure-related complications occurred in 28 biopsies (25.4%); pneumothorax was most common (22.7%). Overall mean number of core needle biopsy samples obtained was 7.9 samples. Conclusion Image-guided transthoracic core needle biopsy is an effective method for obtaining tissue for PD-L1 expression analysis. © RSNA, 2017.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Interventions to Reduce Challenging Behavior Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder:

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is on the rise. In addition to the social communication skill deficits and restrictive repetitive behaviors and interests, many individuals with ASD engage in challenging behavior. Challenging behavior is associated with a multitude of negative outcomes. Challenging behavior may cause harm to the individual with ASD as well as limit opportunities for educational, vocational, and social participation and development. In addition, caregivers experience high stress and low quality of mental health. As a result, challenging behavior warrants intervention that is specifically tailored to the unique characteristics of individuals with ASD. The purpose of this Special Issue is to showcase recent research in the treatment of challenging behavior for individuals with ASD. This two-part Special Issue contains 12 studies that range from systematic and quality reviews of the intervention literature, to innovative treatment approaches, to studies that develop and evaluate treatments for restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests.
Modeling of the reliability degradation of a FinFET-based SRAM due to bias temperature instability, hot carrier injection, and gate oxide breakdown

Bias temperature instability (BTI), hot carrier injection (HCI), and gate oxide breakdown (GOBD) degrade the performance of circuits, such as FinFET-based SRAMs. In this paper, a unified modeling methodology is applied for SRAM reliability degradation due to BTI and HCI, which are implemented with a time-dependent threshold voltage model, and GOBD which is implemented with a comprehensive current model. The applicability of degradation models is verified through fitting and comparison with the measured results. SRAM cell lifetime due to different mechanisms is calculated with Monte Carlo simulations to determine the performance degradation. The combined lifetime distribution and failure probability of an SRAM is further analyzed while considering the effect of Error Correcting Codes (ECC). Based on the different degrees of sensitivity, the potential of designing optimal accelerated life tests due to different failure mechanisms is discussed.
Reclaiming Human Rights as a Politics of Resistance

Amnesty International reboots its legendary benefit concerts in 2014, bringing together familiar faces with newer ones, including Pussy Riot—a punk rock activist collective infamously imprisoned for their protests against Vladimir Putin. This attempt to embrace the radical, critical, and insurgent sensibility within human rights in the context of a mass benefit concert closes the loop and highlights the fundamental dilemmas inherent in this model of transnational advocacy. Reclaiming human rights as a subversive idea and unleashing the force of the individuality and creativity of its supporters can help reconnect the practice of human rights with the principles by which it is constituted will produce a movement of advocates and organizations bound to the radical spirit of human rights.
Aging and DNA-Repair Capability

The aging process is best defined as a general loss in biological competence for both the individual cell and the organism as a whole. At the cellular level, this loss is expressed as decreasing replicative ability in proliferating cells and decreasing functional activity in postmitotic cells (Little, 1976). For the organism, the aging process expresses itself as decreased viability and increased vulnerability to the normal forces of mortality (Goldstein, 1971a).
Technology for TeraFLOPS Architectures

The solutions of today’s foremost scientific challenges require order-of- magnitude increases in computing power (3). The route to TeraFLOPS computing lies in parallel multi-computers that exploit advances in microprocessor technology. The Touchstone program, a joint effort by Intel and the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), has led already to the development of one of the world’s fastest supercomputers — a mesh-interconnected distributed memory machine in the performance range of 100 GFLOPS. The fourth and final Touchstone prototype Sigma has been the base for Intel’s latest supercomputer product — the Paragon XP/S capable of performing up to 300 GFLOPS. Based on the Touchstone experiences, a new research and development program at Intel is on the way for approx. one year now to develop parallel supercomputer technologies required for TeraFLOPS computers. This paper gives an overview of the goals and the research activities of the TeraFLOPS program.
In situ oxidation and reduction of cerium dioxide nanoparticles studied by scanning transmission electron microscopy

Abstract Cerium dioxide nanocubes and truncated octahedra were reduced and oxidized in the scanning transmission electron microscope. The reduction process was stimulated by the electron beam and oxidation was supported by background gases in the microscope environment. High-angle annular dark field imaging is sensitive to local lattice distortions that arise as oxygen vacancies are created and cerium cations reduce enabling high spatial resolution characterization of this process with temporal resolution on the order of seconds. Such measurements enable us to differentiate and infer that the observed behavior between the nanocubes and truncated octahedra may be due to the difference in crystallographic termination of surfaces. In situ measurements taken with different partial pressures of oxygen reveal the cerium oxidation state and the dose rate threshold for the onset of beam reduction are influenced by the environment. Increasing oxygen partial pressure reduces the Ce3+ content and decreases susceptibility to electron beam driven reduction.
Optimizing a recombinant estrogen receptor binding assay for analysis of herbal extracts

Abstract Phytoestrogens may directly or indirectly affect the function of estrogen receptors. A method using human recombinant estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERα and ERβ) was adapted for pure isoflavone compounds: glycitein, glycitin, biochanin A and formononetin; and extracts from chaste tree, Queen-Anne’s lace, Cyperus rhizome, dong quai, flaxseed, black cohosh, Siberian ginseng, saw palmetto, hops, licorice, red clover and alfalfa. Estrogen binding equivalents (EBE) for extracts binding with ERα were: black cohosh glycitin > biochanin A > formononetin and at ERβ the RBA were: biochanin A > glycitein > glycitin > formononetin. The use of recombinant ERα and ERβ receptor binding assays offer a relatively inexpensive and rapid technique that can be used as a tool to screen and identify plants with receptor binding activity.
Phase Change Materials in a Domestic Solar Hot Water Storage Tank of the Lebanese Market

The availability of some kinds of renewable energy resources is un-continuous, for example the solar collectors can only produce heat when the sun is shining. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is crucial to match between the intermittent solar heat supply and the heat demand. In this paper, a Phase Change Material (PCM) is integrated in the Domestic Solar Hot Water Storage Tank (DSHWST) as a Latent Heat Storage (LHT). Based on the application requirements in Lebanon, a suitable PCM is selected. While this PCM solidifies, it releases its heat and keeps the water inside the DSHWST warmer than 55 °C along 10 hours. The needed mass of PCM was calculated and two types of containers were investigated: the tubes and the spheres. As well as, the comparison between DSHWST integrated with PCM (DSHWST-PCM) and the Conventional Domestic Solar Hot Water Storage Tank (CDSHWST) is introduced, in order to examine the performance of PCM heating against that with an Electrical Resistance (ER). Features are expressed in terms of system payback and CO2 emission. Due to the issue of electrical power availability in Lebanon, the PCM integrated in The DSHWST has the following two advantages: yearly, reducing the primary electricity power by about 6.5 MWh and get rid of about 5.5 tons of CO2.
The More Complex the Less Success in Online Library Services: Evaluating the User Experience for International Students

Website developers are in charge of creating usable, useful and satisfactory products for their target audiences. Library websites are a crucial asset to the students, faculty, and staff at the colleges. User experience and usability testing play a significant role in the successful delivery of services and user satisfaction of libraries’ online services. The goal of this research study was to determine the issues with the one of the Midwestern college’s library website and to come up with the design recommendations to enhance services for not only for the college but also all online library service developers. This study uses a mixed method to collect quantitative and qualitative data, to make the evaluation more reliable and evaluates three dimensions of User Experience (UX) which include effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction. The data were collected through multiple phases including demographics of participants, pre-defined task test, subjective satisfaction survey, and a semi-structured interview. The research results indicate that the complexity in design increases the task completion time and leads users to quit. Additionally, advanced search capability increases the success of the library’s online services. The results would be of great importance to the library web developers to create user-friendly services that provide more benefits to the students as well as the academic community. DOI:10.2458/azu_itet_v6i2_demir
A systematic review of validated suicide outcome classification in observational studies

Background Suicidal outcomes, including ideation, attempt, and completed suicide, are an important drug safety issue, though few epidemiological studies address the accuracy of suicidal outcome ascertainment. Our primary objective was to evaluate validated methods for suicidal outcome classification in electronic health care database studies. Methods We performed a systematic review of PubMed and EMBASE to identify studies that validated methods for suicidal outcome classification published 1 January 1990 to 15 March 2016. Abstracts and full texts were screened by two reviewers using prespecified criteria. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value for suicidal outcomes were extracted by two reviewers. Methods followed PRISMA-P guidelines, PROSPERO Protocol: 2016: CRD42016042794. Results We identified 2202 citations, of which 34 validated the accuracy of measuring suicidal outcomes using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes or algorithms, chart review or vital records. ICD E-codes (E950-9) for suicide attempt had 2-19% sensitivity, and 83-100% positive predictive value (PPV). ICD algorithms that included events with 'uncertain' intent had 4-70% PPV. The three best-performing algorithms had 74-92% PPV, with improved sensitivity compared with E-codes. Read code algorithms had 14-68% sensitivity and 0-56% PPV. Studies estimated 19-80% sensitivity for chart review, and 41-97% sensitivity and 100% PPV for vital records. Conclusions Pharmacoepidemiological studies measuring suicidal outcomes often use methodologies with poor sensitivity or predictive value or both, which may result in underestimation of associations between drugs and suicidal behaviour. Studies should validate outcomes or use a previously validated algorithm with high PPV and acceptable sensitivity in an appropriate population and data source.
Comparing three textbook choices for an introductory physics of music class

Wake Forest’s Physics of Music is an introductory science class focused on musical acoustics. It is commonly taken by music students or non-science majors seeking a science credit. The course has been taught using three different texts (Rossing et. al., Heller, and Berg and Stork) in the past few years. The texts vary in approach, focus, and breadth. I will describe some successes and difficulties I have experienced while teaching from these texts. I will also comment on additional texts such as Hall and Campbell & Greated which I regularly use to supplement the others.Wake Forest’s Physics of Music is an introductory science class focused on musical acoustics. It is commonly taken by music students or non-science majors seeking a science credit. The course has been taught using three different texts (Rossing et. al., Heller, and Berg and Stork) in the past few years. The texts vary in approach, focus, and breadth. I will describe some successes and difficulties I have experienced while teaching from these texts. I will also comment on additional texts such as Hall and Campbell & Greated which I regularly use to supplement the others.
Improving SMAP freeze-thaw retrievals for pavements using effective soil temperature from GEOS-5: Evaluation against in situ road temperature data over the U.S

Abstract Seasonal freeze-thaw (FT) affects over half the northern hemisphere and impacts many key processes of the Earth System such as energy exchange, hydrology and vegetation. Nearly all past studies using spaceborne FT retrievals have focused on characterizing FT specifically for natural environments. FT in the built environment is also routinely studied and a topic of great interest, especially with regards to transportation infrastructure. Whereas natural FT process are frequently investigated using spaceborne observations, FT studies of roads are often limited to local scales, using in situ or nearby weather station data only. Comparisons between FT retrievals obtained from NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite and roads in Alaska (AK) and the Contiguous United States (CONUS) showed that spaceborne FT retrievals had good agreement with road data. But those results also indicated that NASA FT retrievals in CONUS were relatively too warm compared to road data. If SMAP FT retrievals were to be used for identifying FT transition timing for applications by the transportation community, it is also important for frozen conditions to be identified more accurately. This work is primarily concerned with improving frozen retrievals made in CONUS by calculating new Normalized Polarization Ratio (NPR) thresholds as compared to those currently used in SMAP FT. We found that focusing on a temporal subset of October through May for comparisons greatly improved the correlation between NPR and effective soil temperature (Teff, one of SMAP's ancillary datasets), often from about zero to 0.6. We then applied linear regression between NPR and Teff to obtain new NPR thresholds resulting in the FT-Roads (FT-R) product. NASA FT and FT-R were evaluated against road data at about 1000 locations in CONUS and a battery of different tests indicated that FT-R performed better under nearly all conditions compared to NASA FT. Overall, NASA FT accuracies were 69% and 80% for 6 am and 6 pm SMAP retrievals, while FT-R achieved accuracies of 79% and 82%. We also investigated the potential for using Teff for road FT (6 am, only) and found that those comparisons were even more accurate (84%). We've also quantified inter- and intraregional differences of SMAP FT performance and found that accuracy metrics vary over twice as much between geographic subdivisions (9%) as compared to between the states within a subdivision (4%). Most importantly, the main goal of improving the detection of in situ frozen conditions in CONUS was realized, with FT-R accurately detecting frozen conditions >50% more frequently than NASA FT.
Genetics and evolution of tuberculosis pathogenesis: New perspectives and approaches

Tuberculosis is the most lethal infectious disease globally, but the vast majority of people who are exposed to the primary causative pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), do not develop active disease. Most people do, however, show signs of infection that remain throughout their lifetimes. In this review, we develop a framework that describes several possible transitions from pathogen exposure to TB disease and reflect on the genetics studies to address many of these. The evidence strongly supports a human genetic component for both infection and active disease, but many of the existing studies, including some of our own, do not clearly delineate what transition(s) is being explicitly examined. This can make interpretation difficult in terms of why only some people develop active disease. Nonetheless, both linkage peaks and associations with either active disease or latent infection have been identified. For transition to active disease, pathways defined as active TB altered T and B cell signaling in rheumatoid arthritis and T helper cell differentiation are significantly associated. Pathways that affect transition from exposure to infection are less clear-cut, as studies of this phenotype are less common, and a primary response, if it exists, is not yet well defined. Lastly, we discuss the role that interaction between the MTB lineage and human genetics can play in TB disease, especially severity. Severity of TB is at present the only way to study putative co-evolution between MTB and humans as it is impossible in the absence of disease to know the MTB lineage(s) to which an individual has been exposed. In addition, even though severity has been defined in multiple heterogeneous ways, it appears that MTB-human co-evolution may shape pathogenicity. Further analysis of co-evolution, requiring careful analysis of paired samples, may be the best way to completely assess the genetic basis of TB.
Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Part LXVI: Contributing Causes of Poor Well-being in Medical Students.

ABSTRACT Problems in the learning environment are the main contributing factors to medical student burnout. These issues include stresses from mistreatment, poor support, cynical supervisors, pressure to get good grades and learn a huge amount of information quickly, fatigue, lack of control, and so on. Personal risk factors include having been seriously ill recently, having a low grit score, being in debt, and having a job.
Standardizing Point-of-Care Ultrasound Credentialing Across a Large Health Care System.

Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming prevalent in the daily practice of bedside clinicians. As large health care systems standardize practice patterns, an organized approach of credentialing physicians in POCUS is paramount for quality and patient safety. This study describes a systematic approach of credentialing a diverse group of community emergency physicians (EPs) across a large health care system. Methods A multimodal POCUS credentialing initiative for EPs was implemented across 11 hospitals between January 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018, that included (1) standardization of POCUS credentialing for all hospitals in the system, (2) tiered POCUS credentialing (Basic and Intermediate) for manageable attainment of goals with a required POCUS course, (3) automatic privileges for EPs who completed residency or practice-based POCUS pathways prior to employment, and (4) implementation of a practice-based pathway for competency assessment for noncredentialed physicians. Key factors for implementation included executive administrative support, dedicated POCUS courses, equipment standardization, a robust electronic medical record capable of logging training scans, and competency assessment for attainment of privileges. Results Through the initiative, 78/106 EPs achieved Intermediate credentialing, and 28/106 were without POCUS privileges. All 28 noncredentialed EPs completed the required Basic POCUS course. Almost half (13/28) completed the initiative and became credentialed. From 2016 to 2018, the number of EPs performing scans increased from 52 to 112, and the number of POCUS scans increased from 928 to 3,007. Conclusion A standardized POCUS credentialing initiative can be successfully implemented in large health care systems. Other specialties can use this initiative to implement POCUS into their daily practice.
Decriminalizing practices: disrupting punitive-based racial oppression of boys of color in elementary school classrooms

In elementary schools, boys of color are punished more often and more severely, despite not engaging in infractions any more frequently than their White peers. Previous research has identified thes...
Elusive Roles of the Different Ceramidases in Human Health, Pathophysiology, and Tissue Regeneration.

Ceramide and sphingosine are important interconvertible sphingolipid metabolites which govern various signaling pathways related to different aspects of cell survival and senescence. The conversion of ceramide into sphingosine is mediated by ceramidases. Altogether, five human ceramidases—named acid ceramidase, neutral ceramidase, alkaline ceramidase 1, alkaline ceramidase 2, and alkaline ceramidase 3—have been identified as having maximal activities in acidic, neutral, and alkaline environments, respectively. All five ceramidases have received increased attention for their implications in various diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Farber disease. Furthermore, the potential anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of ceramidases in host cells exposed to pathogenic bacteria and viruses have also been demonstrated. While ceramidases have been a subject of study in recent decades, our knowledge of their pathophysiology remains limited. Thus, this review provides a critical evaluation and interpretive analysis of existing literature on the role of acid, neutral, and alkaline ceramidases in relation to human health and various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases. In addition, the essential impact of ceramidases on tissue regeneration, as well as their usefulness in enzyme replacement therapy, is also discussed.