cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of thermal remote sensing indices to estimate crop evapotranspiration coefficients

Remotely sensed data such as spectral reflectance and infrared canopy temperature can be used to quantify crop canopy cover and/or crop water stress, often through the use of vegetation indices calculated from the near-infrared and red bands, and stress indices calculated from the thermal wavelengths. Standardized dual crop coefficient methods calculate both a non-stressed transpiration coefficient (Kcb) that is related to canopy cover, and a stress or transpiration reduction coefficient (Ks) that can be related to soil water deficit or other stress factors (e.g. disease). This study compares several remote sensing methods to determine Kcb and Ks and resulting evapotranspiration (ET) in a deficit irrigation experiment of corn (Zea mays L.) near Greeley, Colorado. Three methods were used to calculate Kcb (tabular, normalized difference vegetation index – NDVI, and canopy cover). Four canopy temperature based methods were used to calculate Ks: Crop Water Stress Index – CWSI, Canopy Temperature Ratio – Tcratio, Degrees Above Non-Stressed – DANS, Degrees Above Canopy Threshold – DACT. Crop ET predicted by these methods was compared to observation and water balance based ET measurements. Thermal indices DANS and DACT were calibrated to convert to Ks. Results showed that stress coefficient methods with less data requirements such as DANS and DACT are responsive to crop water stress as demonstrated by low RMSE of ET calculations, comparable to more data intensive methods such as CWSI. Results indicate which remote sensing methods are appropriate to use given certain data availability and irrigation level, in addition to providing an estimation of the associated error in ET.
Conformational Flexibility and Dynamics of the Internal Loop and Helical Regions of the Kink-Turn Motif in the Glycine Riboswitch by Site-Directed Spin-Labeling.

Site-directed spin-labeling (SDSL) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy provides a means for a solution state description of site-specific dynamics and flexibility of large RNAs, facilitating our understanding of the effects of environmental conditions such as ligands and ions on RNA structure and dynamics. Here, the utility and capability of EPR line shape analysis and distance measurements to monitor and describe site-specific changes in the conformational dynamics of internal loop nucleobases as well as helix–helix interactions of the kink–turn motif in the Vibrio cholerae (VC) glycine riboswitch that occur upon sequential K+-, Mg2+-, and glycine-induced folding were explored. Spin-labels were incorporated into the 232-nucleotide sequence via splinted ligation strategies. Thiouridine nucleobase labeling within the internal loop reveals unambiguous differential dynamics for two successive sites labeled, with varied rates of motion reflective of base flipping and base stacking. EPR-based di...
Imaging modalities for back pain.

A medical student outlines the different types of imaging technology used in diagnosing the causes of back pain. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Relationship between residual feed intake and digestibility for lactating Holstein cows fed high and low starch diets.

Abstract We determined if differences in digestibility among cows explained variation in residual feed intake (RFI) in 4 crossover design experiments. Lactating Holstein cows (n=109; 120±30d in milk; mean ± SD) were fed diets high (HS) or low (LS) in starch. The HS diets were 30% (±1.8%) starch and 27% (±1.2%) neutral detergent fiber (NDF); LS diets were 14% (±2.2%) starch and 40% (±5.3%) NDF. Each experiment consisted of two 28-d treatment periods, with apparent total-tract digestibility measured using indigestible NDF as an internal marker during the last 5d of each period. Individual cow dry matter (DM) intake and milk yield were recorded daily, body weight was measured 3 to 5 times per week, and milk components were analyzed 2 d/wk. Individual DM intake was regressed on milk energy output, metabolic body weight, body energy gain, and fixed effects of parity, experiment, cohort (a group of cows that received treatments in the same sequence) nested within experiment, and diet nested within cohort and experiment, with the residual being RFI. High RFI cows ate more than expected and were deemed less efficient. Residual feed intake correlated negatively with digestibility of starch for both HS (r=−0.31) and LS (r=−0.23) diets, and with digestibilities of DM (r=−0.30) and NDF (r=−0.23) for LS diets but was not correlated with DM or NDF digestibility for HS diets. For each cohort within an experiment, cows were classified as high RFI (HRFI; >0.5 SD), medium RFI (MRFI; ±0.5 SD), and low RFI (LRFI;
The future of high voltage transmission

One of the most controversial subjects in recent times in the electric utility industry has been that of transmission. More specifically, the controversy centers around the question of “transmission access.” That is the latest buzz word to describe a proposal that would make utility transmission lines common carriers for anyone wishing to move a block of power. This being a meeting that is concerned primarily with electrical insulation and dielectric phenomenon, I won't dwell on these institutional problems despite the fact that they may have considerable impact on the course of future transmission systems.
Evolving platforms for clinical mass spectrometry

This chapter highlights existing MS platforms and how their applications are evolving in clinical laboratories and also explores combinations of technologies utilized in clinical research, and additional aspects that will affect future clinical mass spectrometry, excluding software, and computational tools.
Abstract 2158: PDK1-dependent activation of RSK is an absolute requirement for PI3K oncogenic activity in the thyroid gland

Aberrant activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway plays a key role in thyroid tumorigenesis, particularly in follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Accordingly, conditional deletion of Pten in the mouse thyroid epithelium induces constitutive activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, and causes thyroid hyperplasia at birth that progresses to invasive and metastatic follicular carcinoma. This phenotype is dramatically accelerated by simultaneous deletion of Trp53, leading to the development of ATC, or activation of Kras, leading to poorly differentiated carcinomas. The PDK1 kinase plays a central role in the PI3K signaling cascade, acting as a master regulator of PI3K downstream effectors belonging to the AGC kinases family, such as AKT and S6K1. Additional AGC kinases are controlled by PDK1 independent of PI3K activity. PDK1 possesses a substrate docking site, the “PIF pocket”, required for the phosphorylation of most AGC kinases (including S6K, PKC, SGK, and RSK) but not of AKT. The L155E PDK1 mutant disrupts the PIF pocket and impairs AGC kinase activation, without any effect on AKT activation. Thanks to this differential mechanism of substrate activation, we are defining the relative contribution of AKT and other PDK1 targets to the neoplastic transformation process in Pten-/- thyrocytes. Surprisingly, in vivo disruption of the PIF-pocket completely abrogates neoplastic transformation of Pten-/- thyroids, even in the face of AKT constitutive activation. This finding supports the hypothesis that the linear PI3K-AKT pathway is not sufficient to drive thyroid transformation and that concomitant activation of additional PDK1-dependent pathways is absolutely required. We now show that RSK family members (RSK1-3) are essential components of this PDK1-dependent accessory pathway. Remarkably, RSK3 levels in the thyroid are increased in the absence of Pten, and RSK activity in thyroid cells is abrogated when PDK1 PIF-pocket is mutated. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of RSK drastically impairs [Pten,Trp53]-/- ATC cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, in syngeneic allograft models. Taken together, our data identify a new signaling cascade that is essential for neoplastic transformation of thyroid epithelial cells, and thus a new critical candidate for drug development. Citation Format: Arturo Orlacchio, Antonio Di Cristofano. PDK1-dependent activation of RSK is an absolute requirement for PI3K oncogenic activity in the thyroid gland. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2158. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2158
Pharmacogenomics of abused drugs

The pharmacogenomics aspect of abused drugs is an important aspect for clinicians when using narcotic analgesics in treating severe pain, as well as in using various drugs in the benzodiazepine class for treating anxiety disorders. Drugs related to amphetamine structure are used in treating attention deficit disorders and related symptoms. Polymorphism of CYP2D6 plays important role in metabolism of various opioids, while other polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 mixed function oxidase isoenzymes play an important role in metabolism of amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and other drugs that are also abused.
Bacterial Proteasomes: Mechanistic and Functional Insights.

SUMMARY Regulated proteolysis is essential for the normal physiology of all organisms. While all eukaryotes and archaea use proteasomes for protein degradation, only certain orders of bacteria have proteasomes, whose functions are likely as diverse as the species that use them. In this review, we discuss the most recent developments in the understanding of how proteins are targeted to proteasomes for degradation, including ATP-dependent and -independent mechanisms, and the roles of proteasome-dependent degradation in protein quality control and the regulation of cellular physiology. Furthermore, we explore newly established functions of proteasome system accessory factors that function independently of proteolysis.
Sources of information influencing the state-of-the-science gap in hormone replacement therapy usage.

Objective Medical reviews and research comprise a key information source for news media stories on medical therapies and innovations as well as for physicians in updating their practice. The present study examined medical review journal articles, physician surveys and news media coverage of hormone replacement therapy (HT) to assess the relationship between the three information sources and whether/if they contributed to a state-of-the-science gap (a condition when the evaluation of a medical condition or therapy ascertained by the highest standards of investigation is incongruent with the science-in-practice such as physician recommendations and patient actions). Methods We content-analyzed 177 randomly sampled HT medical reviews between 2002 and 2014, and HT news valence in three major TV networks, newspapers and magazines/internet sites in 2002–2003, 2008–2009 and 2012–14. The focus in both analyses was whether HT benefits outweighed risks, risks outweighed benefits or both risks and benefits were presented. We also qualitatively content-analyzed all 19 surveys of US physicians’ HT recommendations from 2002 to 2009, and 2012 to 2014. Results Medical reviews yielded a mixed picture about HT (40.1% benefits, 26.0% risks, and 33.9% both benefits and risks). While a majority of physician surveys were pro-HT 10/19), eight showed varied attitudes and one was negative. Newspaper and television coverage reflected a pro and con balance while magazine stories were more positive in the later reporting period. Conclusion Medical journal review articles, physicians, and media reports all provide varying view points towards hormone therapy use thus leading to limited knowledge about the actual risks and benefits of HT among peri- and menopausal women and a state-of-the-science gap.
An Innovative Classroom Approach for Developing Critical Thinkers in the Introductory Statistics Course

Misrepresented data and data taken out of context can be misleading at best. Statisticians present data to compel arguments, and they have a responsibility to be balanced and transparent in their u...
Alopecias and Disorders of the Hair Follicle

Human hair has commonly been classified based on ethnic origin, with three conventional subgroups recognized, including Caucasian, Asian, and African hair (Franbourg et al. in J Am Acad Dermatol 48:S115–S119, 2003; McMichael in Dermatol Clin 21(4):629–644, 2003; Loussouarn et al. in Int J Dermatol 46:2–6, 2007). These ethnic subgroups have compositional and structural variations, as well as distinct hair-grooming practices (Rook in Br J Dermatol 92(5):599–600, 1975). Such broad classification does not account for the great complexity of human hair but provides a basic framework for description. These ethnic differences are important to comprehend the pathophysiology of scalp and hair disorders in the context of ethnicity.
Micro-anatomical responses in periodontal complexes of mice to calibrated orthodontic forces on the crown.

Objective Correlating mechanical forces with quantifiable physical changes in the dentoalveolar complex. Setting and sample population Male 6-week C57BL/6 mice (N=3), micro X-ray-computed tomography; post-analysis software to extract physical changes in periodontal ligament (PDL)-space. Materials and methods Silicone-elastic bands were placed between maxillary molars for 1 week, with the contralateral side as internal control. Average displacements between crowns and roots, and changes in PDL-spaces were evaluated by registering X-ray tomograms of experimental and control hemi-maxillae. Histology illustrated mineral formation and resorption-related events within narrowed and widened volumes of the PDL-space. Results 3D maps of changes in PDL-space between molars illustrated coronal and root displacements of 640 μm and 180 μm, respectively, compared to 70 μm in controls. Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) specimens exhibited an average net change of -20 μm in narrowed and +30 μm in widened PDL-spaces. Bone and cementum were affected by the force on molars, and primary cementum was more affected than secondary cementum. Conclusions This novel approach illustrates the importance of 3D-imaging and analysing 3D alveolar socket subjected to OTM otherwise omitted by 2D micrographs. A measured force on the crown elicits a response related to narrowed and widened regions in the 3D complex. OTM that exceeds PDL-space can illicit biological responses that attempt to restore physiologic PDL-space via remodelling of the periodontium. Regenerated weaker bone due to aseptic inflammation caused by orthodontics could leave patients at a higher risk of bone loss or root resorption if they later develop periodontitis, a form of septic inflammation.
Effects of monensin on glucose metabolism in transition dairy cows

Eight multiparous periparturient Holstein cows fitted with ruminal cannula were used in a split plot design to evaluate the effects of monensin on plasma glucose metabolism. Diets were top-dressed daily with 0 mg/cow of monensin (control) or 300 mg/cow of monensin (MON) both pre- and postpartum. Plasma glucose kinetic parameters on d -13 ± 2.0 and 19 ± 1.6 relative to parturition were determined by using stable isotopes. Na-1-13C3-Propionate (labeled propionate) was infused into the rumen to measure glucose synthesis originating from ruminal propionate, and U-13C-glucose (labeled glucose) was injected into the jugular vein to determine total glucose kinetics. A sampling period of 480 min following labeled glucose injection was implemented. A compartmental analysis was employed to determine steady state glucose kinetic parameters. To develop a steady state glucose model, the Windows version of SAAM software (WinSAAM) was used. A 4-compartment model was adequate to comprehensively describe plasma glucose metabolism. The main model compartments consisted of propionate and plasma glucose. The time frame of the 480-min sampling period post-tracer glucose infusion allowed accurate quantification of glucose metabolism. The model estimated that glucose input from sources other than ruminal propionate decreased with MON, from 2.26 to 1.09 g/min postpartum. Gluconeogenesis, expressed as the propionate contribution to the plasma glucose pool, increased in cows fed MON (22 vs. 31%), whereas glucose oxidation, expressed as the glucose disposal rate, significantly decreased (1.67 vs. 0.92 g/min). In conclusion, MON may improve the energy status of transition cows by (1) improving the efficiency of propionate to produce glucose and (2) decreasing glucose oxidation in body tissues.
Bacterial Heme-Based Sensors of Nitric Oxide.

Abstract Significance: The molecule nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to regulate behaviors in bacteria, including biofilm formation. NO detection and signaling in bacteria is typically mediated by hemoproteins such as the bis-(3′,5′)-cyclic dimeric adenosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase YybT, the transcriptional regulator dissimilative nitrate respiration regulator, or heme-NO/oxygen binding (H-NOX) domains. H-NOX domains are well-characterized primary NO sensors that are capable of detecting nanomolar NO and influencing downstream signal transduction in many bacterial species. However, many bacteria, including the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respond to nanomolar concentrations of NO but do not contain an annotated H-NOX domain, indicating the existence of an additional nanomolar NO-sensing protein (NosP). Recent Advances: A newly discovered bacterial hemoprotein called NosP may also act as a primary NO sensor in bacteria, in addition to, or in place of, H-NOX. NosP was first descri...
Visual Interaction Networks: Learning a Physics Simulator from Video

From just a glance, humans can make rich predictions about the future of a wide range of physical systems. On the other hand, modern approaches from engineering, robotics, and graphics are often restricted to narrow domains or require information about the underlying state. We introduce the Visual Interaction Network, a general-purpose model for learning the dynamics of a physical system from raw visual observations. Our model consists of a perceptual front-end based on convolutional neural networks and a dynamics predictor based on interaction networks. Through joint training, the perceptual front-end learns to parse a dynamic visual scene into a set of factored latent object representations. The dynamics predictor learns to roll these states forward in time by computing their interactions, producing a predicted physical trajectory of arbitrary length. We found that from just six input video frames the Visual Interaction Network can generate accurate future trajectories of hundreds of time steps on a wide range of physical systems. Our model can also be applied to scenes with invisible objects, inferring their future states from their effects on the visible objects, and can implicitly infer the unknown mass of objects. This work opens new opportunities for model-based decision-making and planning from raw sensory observations in complex physical environments.
Assessing the High-Risk Patient for Revision Total Knee Replacement

Revision total knee arthroplasty poses risks of various local and systemic complications. Certain comorbidities are known to increase the likelihood of complications and/or a poor outcome. A concerted effort should be made to identify the presence and severity of these risk factors. Modifiable risks should be mitigated or eliminated if possible. If practical, revision should be delayed until the patient can be medically optimized.
Abnormal RNA splicing and genomic instability after induction of DNMT3A mutations by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.

Abstract DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) mediates de novo DNA methylation. Mutations in DNMT3A are associated with hematological malignancies, most frequently acute myeloid leukemia. DNMT3A mutations are hypothesized to establish a pre-leukemic state, rendering cells vulnerable to secondary oncogenic mutations and malignant transformation. However, the mechanisms by which DNMT3A mutations contribute to leukemogenesis are not well-defined. Here, we successfully created four DNMT3A-mutated K562 cell lines with frameshift mutations resulting in truncated DNMT3A proteins. DNMT3A-mutated cell lines exhibited significantly impaired growth and increased apoptotic activity compared to wild-type (WT) cells. Consistent with previous studies, DNMT3A-mutated cells displayed impaired differentiation capacity. RNA-seq was used to compare transcriptomes of DNMT3A-mutated and WT cells; DNMT3A ablation resulted in downregulation of genes involved in spliceosome function, causing dysfunction of RNA splicing. Unexpectedly, we observed DNMT3A-mutated cells to exhibit marked genomic instability and an impaired DNA damage response compared to WT. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated DNMT3A-mutated K562 cells may be used to model effects of DNMT3A mutations in human cells. Our findings implicate aberrant splicing and induction of genomic instability as potential mechanisms by which DNMT3A mutations might predispose to malignancy.
Flipping the (Surname) Script: Men’s Nontraditional Surname Choice at Marriage:

Using unique, nationally representative data that asks individuals about their surname choice in marriage, we explore heterosexual men’s nontraditional surname choice. We focus on how education—bot...
Liver fibrosis (cardiac cirrhosis) five years after modified Fontan operation for tricuspid atresia.

A 15-year-old girl was found to have severe liver fibrosis on liver biopsy at the time of cholecystectomy, 5½ years following a modified Fontan procedure (right atrial-right ventricular conduit) for tricuspid atresia. Postoperative right atrial pressures were consistently elevated above 13 mm Hg and this, in part, may have been due to progressive mild conduit stenosis. Because of increasing symptoms, the patient underwent successful revision of the conduit at the age of 15 years. It is suggested that sustained systemic venous hypertension caused the striking morphologic changes in the liver and that this serious complication may significantly affect the long-term prognosis of patients surviving the Fontan procedure.
Tax Policy in the United States: Was There a “Neo-Liberal” Revolution in the 1970s and 1980s?

This chapter examines whether or not there was a “neo-liberal” revolution in tax policy during the 1970s and 1980s. This chapter (1) defines “neo-liberalism,” (2) assesses the extent to which tax policies during the 1970s and 1980s, especially those of the Reagan administration, constituted a “neo-liberal” break, and (3) evaluates the impact of those policies on the American political economy. This chapter finds that (1) significant tax cutting began immediately after World War II and eroded of progressivity long before the 1970s; (2) the most significant peacetime tax increases in American history followed the 1981 tax cuts; (3) the most dramatic shift toward “retro-liberal” taxation came after 2000; and (4) expenditure policies after 1981 had a greater impact than did taxation in worsening wealth inequality.
Effectiveness of a 5-Day Summer Handwriting Camp for Children Ages 5 to 9 Years Old.

With handwriting being limitedly taught in schools; high intensity, summer handwriting camps may resolve the numerous handwriting rehabilitation referrals of school-aged children. To improve handwr...
The Reversion of Okinawa, 1969, Part 3

Satō was briefed on the unresolved nuclear question by Ushiba and Tōgō on 7 October. They could not give him a clear or definitive indication of the likely approach that the United States would take with regard to removing nuclear weapons from Okinawa. What they knew for sure was that the decision on this matter would be taken by the two leaders in private. Satō once more stressed the connection between the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Japan’s declared policy on the non-introduction of nuclear weapons. In particular he queried why the United States sought the right to introduce nuclear weapons into Japan if at the same time it wanted Japan to sign the NPT and disavow the development of an independent deterrent. Tōgō pointed out that under the Three Non-nuclear Principles, Japan had already announced its intention not to produce nuclear weapons, so the United States would find it puzzling that Japan would also rule out the option of America’s extended deterrence. Satō conceded that this had been a mistake in the Three Non-nuclear Principles.1 At this stage senior Japanese diplomats such as Tōgō, Tanaka and Chiba were aware from their contacts with State Department officials that the United States would likely insist on an agreement covering the reintroduction of nuclear weapons and that this matter would be handled between Nixon and Satō.
Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Monteverde, Costa Rica:

Essential oils from Calyptranthes pittieri (Lauraceae), Cinnamomum tonduzii (Lauraceae), Croton niveus and C. monteverdensis (Euphorbiaceae), Dendropanax arboreus (Araliaceae), Eugenia austin-smith...
Tribology of incoloy 800HT for nuclear reactors under helium environment at elevated temperatures

Abstract Nickel-based alloy 800HT is considered one of the main candidate alloys for nuclear reactors with gas cooled high-temperature environment and, therefore, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the alloy tribological response for obtaining optimum operating and loading conditions. The current study investigated the wear and friction behavior of alloy 800HT using a customized high temperature tribometer to simulate the environment of helium cooled reactor up to 750 °C. The effect of temperature, contact load, environment, sliding distance and sliding speed on the alloy friction and wear were studied. To generalize the study for other applications, an investigation is also performed in air environment. The friction and wear coefficients have the highest values at high temperature helium atmosphere where the formation and stability of the oxide scales play an important role. Optical and contact profiling, scanning electron microscopy, as well as energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques were utilized to study the surface oxide. The analysis showed the presence of Fe-Cr-Ni rich oxide both in air and helium. The protective glazed layer did not form in helium in any condition, whereas in air and under specific conditions a stable protective oxide layer was observed.
Assisting students with career decision-making difficulties: can career decision-making self-efficacy and career decision-making profile help?

Abstract Building on the counseling psychology literature, this study examined the effects of each dimension of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) and career decision-making profile (CDMP) on hospitality students' career decision-making difficulties (CDD). A sequential regression analysis with 273 valid questionnaires was performed while controlling participants’ demographic background information. CDMSE and CDMP explain 27.9% and 25.6% of the variance in CDD respectively. Goal selection in CDMSE, as well as locus of control, effort invested in the process, procrastination, and speed of making the final decision in CDMP are significant predictors of CDD. Specific practical implications that assist students with CDD are discussed.
In-Hospital Fall and Fracture Risk With Conditions in the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index: An Analysis of State Inpatient Data.

Objective In-hospital falls (IHFs) are a significant burden to the healthcare industry and patients seeking inpatient care. Many falls lead to injuries that could be considered a hospital-acquired condition (HAC). We demonstrated how administrative data can be used to quantify how many IHFs occur and identify what conditions increase the risk for these falls. Methods Iowa State Inpatient Database records from 2008 to 2014 for adults older than 50 years were used to quantify IHFs, falls resulting in an HAC (HAC IHFs), and fractures during in-hospital treatment. The medical conditions used in the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index were evaluated for the risk of the separate fall-related outcomes using Poisson regression. Results There were 1770 records that had an IHF for an IHF rate of 0.26 per 1000 patient days. Psychoses (rate ratio = 1.95, 95% confidence interval = 1.63-2.34) and alcohol abuse (rate ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval = 1.40-2.24) showed the greatest increase in IHF risk. These conditions also increased the risk of HAC IHFs and in-hospital fractures. Fluid and electrolyte disorders, deficiency anemias, and chronic pulmonary disease increased the risk for IHFs/HAC IHFs but did not increase the risk of in-hospital fractures. Conclusions Administrative data can be used to track various fall-related outcomes occurring during inpatient treatment. Several conditions of the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index were identified as increasing the risk of fall-related outcomes and should be considered when evaluating a patient's risk of falling.
Multi-scale characterization and simulation of impact welding between immiscible Mg/steel alloys

Abstract Vaporizing foil actuator spot welding method is used in this paper to join magnesium alloy AZ31 and uncoated high-strength steel DP590, which are typically considered as un-weldable due to their high physical property disparities, low mutual solubility, and the lack of any intermetallic phases. Characterization results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of the weld interface indicate that the impact creates an Mg nanocrystalline interlayer with abundant Fe particles. The interlayer exhibits intact bonding with both DP590 and AZ31 substrates. To investigate the fundamental bond formation mechanisms at the interface, a finite element (FE)-based process simulation is first performed to calculate the local temperature and deformation at the interface under the given macroscopic experimental condition. Taking the FE results at the interface as inputs, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are conducted to study the interlayer formation at the Mg/Fe interface during the impact and cooling. The results found a high velocity shearing-induced mechanical mixing mechanism that mixes Mg/Fe atoms at the interface and creates the interlayer, leading to the metallurgical bond between Mg/steel alloys.
Thermal effects on the electronic properties of sodium electride under high pressures

Sodium is a simple metal at ambient conditions, while it transits to an electride phase at pressures above \ensuremath{\sim}160 GPa along the room-temperature isotherm. We explore the thermal effects on the electronic properties of the $\mathit{hP}4$ phase of sodium along the $\ensuremath{\rho}=5.872\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{3}$ isochore. We quantitatively classify this phase as an insulator based on the criterion of nearsightedness of the one-particle density matrix. Ab initio calculations suggest that the band gap of this insulator decreases with increasing temperature along the isochore, primarily because of ionic distortions, culminating in an insulator-to-metal transition upon melting at ${T}_{m}\ensuremath{\approx}2100\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. This transition is accompanied by residual electronic localization (in $d$ orbitals) in the form of dynamic electron bubbles and a change in hybridization from p-d to s-p upon melting. This transition is explored by tracking the electronic and electro-optical properties along the isochore under consideration.
Gingival Fibroma: An Emerging Distinct Gingival Lesion with Well-Defined Histopathology.

Gingival growths, barring a few are mostly reactive and seldom exhibit significant true neoplastic potential. The common etiology is local irritation from dental plaque/calculus, trauma as well as medication-related overgrowth. Such lesions are easily distinguishable and categorized into diagnoses such as pyogenic granuloma, peripheral ossifying fibroma, etc. We present a previously undescribed, but commonly encountered, reactive gingival growth with unique histologic features and suggest the diagnostic term “gingival fibroma.” An IRB approved retrospective review of the University of Florida Oral Pathology Biopsy Service encompassing years 2010–2019, was performed to select cases. Demographics, clinical data, and microscopic diagnoses were recorded and analyzed. Four board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologists agreed upon and established the diagnostic criteria. These are: a prominent fibromyxoid stroma, variable cellularity, a whorled or storiform pattern of arrangement of the cellular elements, lack of significant inflammation or vascularity, and complete absence of calcification, and/or odontogenic islands. A total of 60 cases met all criteria and were included in the study. Age range in years was 14–87 with the mean at 45.11 years. A striking female predilection (90%) was noted. Approximately 62% of cases were reported on the maxillary gingiva, followed by 38.3% in the mandibular gingiva. Majority, 66.7% were in the anterior incisor region followed by 11.7% in the canine/first premolar areas. All lesions were submitted as excisional biopsy, and 4 cases recurred within 2–3 years of excision. In all cases, lesional tissue appeared to extend to the surgical base of the specimen. We present 60 cases of a histologically unique entity occurring exclusively on the gingiva and introduce the diagnostic term “Gingival Fibroma” for these lesions. Further studies with adequate clinical follow-up may help understand the exact clinical behavior of these lesions.
Late neurosyphilis and VZV meningoencephalitis coinfection

The incidence of syphilis has increasing recently, largely attributable to improved screening that may result in the diagnosis of chronic untreated infections. These patients can develop severe or subtle neurologic symptoms that can be missed and, therefore, detected accidentally while a patient is evaluated for other mimicking neurological infections. A 58-year-old man with diabetes presented with 2 days of aphasia, headache, chills and confusion. He had an MRI brain with evidence of a prior cerebrovascular accident. Subsequently, he developed a fever and thoracic dermatomal rash consistent with herpes zoster. A lumbar puncture was performed, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a lymphocytic pleocytosis, a reactive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test and positive varicella-zoster virus (VZV) PCR. He was suspected to have both late neurosyphilis and acute meningoencephalitis from VZV. This paper will discuss how to approach the diagnosis of late neurosyphilis and possible associations with herpesvirus central nervous system infections.
Analog Joint Source-Channel Coding for Distributed Functional Compression using Deep Neural Networks

In this paper, we study Joint Source-Channel Coding (JSCC) for distributed analog functional compression over both Gaussian Multiple Access Channel (MAC) and AWGN channels. Notably, we propose a deep neural network based solution for learning encoders and decoders. We propose three methods of increasing performance. The first one frames the problem as an autoencoder; the second one incorporates the power constraint in the objective by using a Lagrange multiplier; the third method derives the objective from the information bottleneck principle. We show that all proposed methods are variational approximations to upper bounds on the indirect rate-distortion problem's minimization objective. Further, we show that the third method is the variational approximation of a tighter upper bound compared to the other two. Finally, we show empirical performance results for image classification. We compare with existing work and showcase the performance improvement yielded by the proposed methods.
Using TikTok in recovery from substance use disorder.

Abstract Background There are many effective treatment options for substance use disorder (SUD), yet most individuals with SUD do not seek formal treatment services. Given the rising popularity of TikTok and need to foster innovative means through which to attract and engage individuals with SUD with treatment, we sought to characterize how TikTok users in SUD recovery are using this platform to bolster their recovery support and/or give hope to others who are struggling with substance use. Methods Our sample consisted of 82 of the most liked TikTok videos related to attempts to cut down on or abstain from substances and/or strengthen SUD recovery. We employed an iterative process to codebook development resulting in codes for demographics, user-sentiment, video type, and mechanisms of recovery-related behavior change. Videos were independently double-coded and evaluated for inter-rater reliability. Results Video in this sample were heavily viewed, accounting for over 2 million views per video and 325,000 likes on average. Most common video themes were sharing a journey from active SUD to recovery (40.2%) and sharing/celebrating a recovery milestone (37.8%), followed by recurrence of substance use (12.2%). Commonly exemplified mechanisms of recovery-related behavior change included embracing a strong social identity as a person in recovery (81.7%), social support (45.1%), and participation in rewarding alternative activities (39.0%). Conclusion TikTok SUD recovery-focused videos can potentially reach millions with portrayed themes similar to established therapeutic mobilizers and mechanisms. More research is needed to better understand whether digital recovery narratives can effectively normalize experiences of addiction and help-seeking behaviors.
Developmental Cycle of Coxiella burnetii

Recent advances in the cloning of variant specific proteins has led to a new appreciation of the Coxiella developmental cycle. This chapter summarizes the current state of research in this area and draws upon several recent reviews to present a more defined and testable model of development for this unusual pathogen. The moderate relatedness of Coxiella and Legionella, revealed by 16S rRNA comparison, has proven consistent when sesuch as CbMveral cloned proteins, ip and LpMip, were compared and may prove valuable in understanding the similarities between C. burnetii and Legionella interactions with host cells. The first class of proteins that was identified consisted of basic DNA binding proteins. Heinzen and coworkers provide both single-and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of small-cell variants (SCV) and large-cell variants (LCV) proteins, noting several differences beyond PI, Hql, ScvA, EF-Ts, and EF-Tu. One of the observations that appear to distinguish a C. burnetii developmental cycle from that of Chlamydia is that a mixture of SCV and LCV appears in all vacuoles, whether newly occupied with a few organisms or containing hundreds of organisms. There are superficial similarities between the developmental cycles of C. burnetii and C. trachomatis, since both are obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens that undergo an infectious cycle inside a membrane-bound vacuole. Cellular differentiation in prokaryotes is an adaptive response that involves alterations in gene expression.
Does Identification with Virtual Model Making Shopping Experience More Enjoyable? The Case of Virtual Mirror

The advancements in 3D technologies provide a new presentation format for online products, namely virtual mirror, which transforms the traditional way of presenting products online. Previous studies have been focused on the utilitarian perspective of virtual mirror and largely ignored its hedonic effects. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a research model showing that virtual mirror exhibits higher levels of interactivity and model similarity than other presentation formats such as static pictures and videos. Virtual mirror enables consumers to adjust the virtual model to match with their own physical appearance, which enhances the consumers’ identification with the model and consequently their perceived reduction of self-discrepancy. Reduced self-discrepancy is argued to be positively associated with elation and enjoyment. The overall enhanced enjoyment leads to increased purchase intention and website retention. An experiment is proposed to test the research model. Findings from this research can have significant research and practical implications.
Health/Illness transition and telehealth: a concept analysis using the evolutionary method.

TOPIC. Telehealth as an alternative to hospitalization. PURPOSE. Exploring the health/illness transition that occurs when an acutely ill client may be discharged into the home with telehealth in place of hospitalization or in an effort to promote an earlier discharge from the hospital. SOURCE. Published literature. CONCLUSION. The concept of the health/illness transition using telehealth has not been researched. Qualitative methods of research using interviews could enhance the knowledge in selecting appropriate individuals and nursing interventions to enhance the clients’ transition from the hospital to the home with telehealth.
Title Generation Using a Training Corpus

This paper discusses fundamental issues involved in word selection for title generation. We review several methods for title generation, namely extractive summarization and two versions of a Naive Bayesian, and compare the performance of those methods using an F1 metric. In addition, we introduce a novel approach to title generation using the k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm. Both the KNN method and a limited-vocabulary Naive Bayesian method outperform the other evaluated methods with an F1 score of around 20%. Since KNN produces complete and legible titles, we conclude that KNN is a very promising method for title generation, provided good content overlap exists between the training corpus and the test documents.
Effects of alginase on the natural history and antibiotic therapy of experimental endocarditis caused by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The exopolysaccharide (alginate) of mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is believed to be an important virulence factor. The ability of an alginate-deploymerizing enzyme (alginase) to modify the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-directed and antibiotic-mediated phagocytosis and killing of mucoid P. aeruginosa was studied both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, pretreatment of a mucoid P. aeruginosa strain (144MR) resulted in a significant enhancement of PMN phagocytosis and killing of the organism (P less than 0.05), to levels similar to that observed with its nonmucoid mate, strain 144NM. Moreover, alginase treatment of the mucoid strain 144MR caused a substantial removal of bacterial cell surface alginate as assessed by immunofluorescence staining with a murine monoclonal antialginate antibody. The experimental endocarditis model was used to evaluate the in vivo effect of alginase in modifying the course of a deep-seated pseudomonal infection caused by mucoid strain 144MR. In right-sided endocarditis, in which PMNs normally mediate spontaneous clearance of the organism from cardiac vegetations (A. S. Bayer, J. Yih, C. Y. Chiu, and C. C. Nast, Chemotherapy 35:278-288, 1989), the presence of the alginate exopolysaccharide on strain 144MR was associated with an inability to reduce intravegetation pseudomonal counts over a 13-day postinfection period; in contrast, right-sided vegetations infected with the nonmucoid strain 144NM underwent significant reductions in bacterial densities over this same time (P less than 0.05). Administration of alginase intravenously (i.v.) (750 enzyme units per day for 7 days) to animals with right-sided endocarditis caused by the mucoid strain 144MR was associated with a significant reduction in intravegetation pseudomonal counts (P less than 0.05), to levels similar to that seen with endocarditis caused by the nonmucoid strain. In left-sided endocarditis caused by mucoid strain 144MR, animals received either no therapy, amikacin (20 or 40 mg/kg twice a day for 7 or 14 days), or amikacin plus alginase (750 U/day [i.v.]). The coadministration of alginase for 14 days with the higher-dose amikacin regimen rendered more left-sided vegetations culture negative than those in animals receiving the antibiotic alone for 7 or 14 days (P = 0.001 and 0.056, respectively). These salutary effects of alginase in vivo were paralleled by the ability of the enzyme to remove the exopolysaccharide from the surface of mucoid pseudomonal cells within cardiac vegetations, as assessed by transmission electron microscopy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Minority languages and multilingual education: bridging the local and the global, edited by D. Gorter, V. Cenotz, and J. Cenoz, Dordrecht

‘Bridging the local and the global’ is an aspiration common to many current works in language research; and as a subtitle for Gorter, Zenotz, and Cenoz's book Minority languages and multilingual ed...
Follow the leader? Strategic pricing in e-commerce

Conventional wisdom and current research suggest that the Internet will lower electronic commerce (EC) product prices by causing intense competition among vendors. However, this does not seem to be happening. This research presents a multi-industry investigation of pricing behavior using a customized data-collecting Internet agent that we call the Time Series Agent Retriever (TSAR). We use theories of information asymmetry and Stackelberg pricing to show how Internet technology increases the ability of firms to tacitly collude to keep prices higher than expected in the presence of intense competition. Our results are developed using an econometric technique called vector autoregression (VAR). They show that Internet technology creates the potential to lower information asymmetry among Internet-based sellers. Thus, it allows rapid reaction between competitors, thereby allowing firms to avoid the intense competition predicted by current theory. We find that fast competitor reaction to the price promotions of a firm minimizes any profit derived from increased market share that the firm hopes to achieve from the lower price. This short reaction time allows Stackelberg pricing, in contrast with Bertrand-Nash pricing, which is often discussed in research on pricing in Internet-based selling. _____________________________________________________________________________________
Lehmann-Symanzik-Zimmermann formalism in the Lee model with heavy bosons

The Lehmann-Symanzik-Zimmermann formalism is used as a calculational technique to solve the V+nN→(n+1)N+0(n=0, 1,2,...) sectors of the Lee model with heavy bosons.