cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing Web services by XML perturbation

The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is widely used to transmit data across the Internet. XML schemas are used to defile the syntax of XML messages. XML-based applications can receive messages from arbitrary applications, as long as they follow the protocol defined by the schema. A receiving application must either validate XML messages, process the data in the XML message without validation, or modify the XML message to ensure that it conforms to the XML schema. A problem for developers is how well the application performs the validation, data processing, and, when necessary, transformation. This paper describes and gives examples of a method to generate tests for XML-based communication by modifying and then instantiating XML schemas. The modified schemas are based on precisely defined schema primitive perturbation operators
Interframe predictive coding of images using motion estimation and vector optimization

A vector quantization (VQ) scheme is proposed for image coding to achieve high compression ratios in visual communication applications. For still images, an adaptive tree structured vector quantization is proposed, and the picture quality of the reconstructed image can be adjusted accordingly by changing the threshold value. For image sequences, motion compensation is employed to reduce the variance of input vectors. Then vector quantizers are designed for prediction errors and utilized to reduce bit rate and to improve the reconstructed image quality. Studies using subband VQ with motion compensation were conducted, and satisfactory results were obtained in terms of implementation complexity and compression ratios. >
Patients’ characteristics and outcomes of palliative care inpatient consults at a comprehensive cancer center

8524 Background: There is limited information about the characteristics and outcomes of inpatient palliative care consults in cancer centers. Two mobile teams (MT) each with a physician, fellow, an...
Influence of several hormones on erythropoiesis and oxygen consumption in the hypophysectomized rat.

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocortical extract (ACE), hydrocortisone (F), corticosterone (B), 11-dehydrocorticosterone and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T-3) induced a moderate to marked erythropoietic effect in the hypophysectomized rat as indicated by an increase in both Fe59 incorporation in RBC and total circulating red cell volume. A corresponding increase in oxygen consumption was also observed. Angiotensin increased red cell volume and radioactive iron incorporation in RBC of hypophysectomized rats and stimulated Fe59 incorporation in hypophysectomized-adrenalectomized rats, but did not exert a significant effect on oxygen consumption. Cobalt injections resulted in a significant increase in red cell volume and Fe59 incorporation in RBC of hypophysectomized rats, but produced a significant decrease in oxygen consumption. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Care Management Processes Used Less Often For Depression Than For Other Chronic Conditions In US Primary Care Practices

Primary care physicians play an important role in the diagnosis and management of depression. Yet little is known about their use of care management processes for depression. Using national survey data for the period 2006-13, we assessed the use of five care management processes for depression and other chronic illnesses among primary care practices in the United States. We found significantly less use for depression than for asthma, congestive heart failure, or diabetes in 2012-13. On average, practices used fewer than one care management process for depression, and this level of use has not changed since 2006-07, regardless of practice size. In contrast, use of diabetes care management processes has increased significantly among larger practices. These findings may indicate that US primary care practices are not well equipped to manage depression as a chronic illness, despite the high proportion of depression care they provide. Policies that incentivize depression care management, including additional quality metrics, should be considered.
Impact of Fluorinated Cobalt(II) Phthalocyanine Catalysts on Aerobic Thiol Oxidation Kinetics

Kinetic studies were conducted for the aerobic oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and 4-fluorobenzenethiol (4-FBT) catalyzed by cobalt(II) phthalocyanines: H16PcCo, F16PcCo, and F64PcCo, each exhibiting a metal center subject to increasing Lewis acidity and steric hindrance. The experiments were performed in a reaction-limited, isothermal, bench-scale, batch reactor, with thiol concentrations measured using GC/FID. Conversions of 2-ME to 2-hydroxyethyl disulfide and 4-FBT to 4-fluorophenyl disulfide in excess of 90% were achieved. Kinetic analyses suggest that the substrate binding and electron transfer are directly related to the Lewis acidity and steric bulkiness of catalyst molecules. Substrate binding was found to be the slow step for thiol oxidations catalyzed by H16PcCo. The rate-determining step for thiol oxidations, catalyzed by F16PcCo and F64PcCo, is the expulsion of the thiyl radical (RS•) from the catalyst molecule.
Role of Surgical Decompression of Lower Extremity Nerves in Painful Neuropathy (P06.152)

Objective: To assess the efficacy of surgical decompression of lower extremity nerves in painful neuropathy. Background Surgical decompression of peripheral nerves is being increasingly used as an alternative approach to treatment for painful neuropathy. The procedure is however unproven (Neurology 66:1805–1808, 2006). In this prospective study, 4 patients were evaluated for benefits of decompression surgery. Design/Methods: 4 consecutive patients (3W, 1 M; mean age 53), who had already agreed to undergo decompressive surgery for their painful peripheral neuropathy underwent the following evaluations prior to surgery and at 3- and 6 months after surgery: directed history including the 11 point numerical rating of pain scale (0-10), a directed examination, nerve conduction study and skin biopsy. Total neuropathy score (TNS) was calculated. Quality of life (QoL) questionnaire (SF36) form was also administered. Surgical procedure consisted of decompression of medial plantar, lateral plantar, and calcaneal nerves at the tarsal tunnel region, common peroneal at fibular head, and deep peroneal nerve at the dorsal foot. Results: All patients had documentation of small fiber>larger fiber neuropathy and had reduced intraepidermal fiber density on skin biopsy. Neuropathy was from diabetes (2), glucose intolerance (1), and idiopathic (1). Mean TNS scores before and after surgery (6 month follow-up)were as follows: symptom score (3.2/3.2), examination score (5.2/5.25), nerve conduction score (3.2/4.0), and total neuropathy score (11.7/12.5). The mean pain and QoL(SF 36)scores from baseline to 6 months after surgery were 10/6.7 and 34/64 respectively. Overall 3 of 4 showed subjective improvement in pain and QoL. Postoperative complications included: serous drainage (1)and wound Infection requiring antibiotics and admission (1). Conclusions: Subjective improvement in pain and QoL can occur after decompressive surgery in painful neuropathy patients despite lack of improvement in objective measures of neuropathy. Supported by: The Neuropathy Association. Disclosure: Dr. Chaudhry has received personal compensation for activities with Novartis. Dr. Chaudhry has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for the Neurologist. Dr. Chaudhry has received royalty payments from Abbott Laboratories, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Belzberg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rosson has received (royalty or license fee or contractual rights) payments from Aegeria, LLC.Dr. Rosson has received research support from Lifecell, Corp.
When Perspective Taking Creates a Motivational Threat The Case of Conservatism, Same-Sex Sexual Behavior, and Anti-Gay Attitudes

Taking another person’s perspective has generally been found to foster positive attitudes. We propose that perspective taking can lead to more negative attitudes when people imagine an experience that threatens their current motivations and goals. We test this idea by examining how taking the perspective of a male same-sex couple influences political conservatives’ attitudes. Across four studies, we demonstrate that (a) the extent to which conservatives (but not liberals) imagine same-sex sexual behavior predicts more anti-gay attitudes, (b) this effect is in part attributable to conservatives experiencing greater disgust, and (c) having conservatives reappraise disgust as not necessarily signaling the threat of disease eliminates this effect. These findings indicate that perspective taking can foster negative attitudes when the content of perspective taking threatens current motivations. The proposed ideas provide unique insights toward developing a more comprehensive framework of how perspective taking ...
On Relationship between Student loan and Low-Income Family Students with Undergraduate Degree

In view of literature research for student loans mode and students who acquired bachelor degree with low- income family,it summarized researchers' different opinions at the base of theory mode for learning permanence and economic factors,and also proved that student loans have something to do with education effect. Future research should be conducted to focus on student selection bias which including variables( e. g. variables related to students' motivation and aspiration) that play an important role in student degree completion when examining the association between student loans and low- income students' educational achievement.
Preparation and quality evaluation of microemulsion systems containing salicylic acid

Objective To prepare microemulsion systems containing salicylic acid and to evaluate its quality.Methods Twain-80 was chosen as the emulsifier and isopropyl myristate was used as the oil phase.The best ratio of emulsifier and coemulsifier was determined with pseudoternary phase diagram research.Different concentrations of salicylic acid microemulsion were made.The content,light-transmittance,pH value,density,viscosity and stability were used to evaluate the salicylic acid microemulsion.Results Twain-80 and 1,2-propylene glycol ratio was 15 :1,with biggest microemulsion area.Several concentrations of salicylic acid preparation all formed microemulsion and stable dispersion in the preparation.Conclusion Microemulsion can increase the solubility of salicylic acid in preparation,facilitate clinical application and improve the treatment effect.
[Study on the safety and immunogenicity of MF59-adjuvanted influenza subunit vaccine in Chinese elderly].

Objective To compare the safety and immunogenicity between a MF59-adjuvanted influenza subunit vaccine and a conventional non-adjuvanted influenza subunit vaccine.Methods A randomized, blind-designed controlled study was carried out, with 600 subjects (≥60 years of age)received MF59-adjuvanted influenza subunit vaccine (FLUAD(R), n=400) or conventional non-adjuvanted influenza subunit vaccine (Agrippal(R), n = 200) respectively. The local and systemic reactions were observed on 0-7 days after vaccination. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers of pre-and post-vaccination were detected by the HI assay. Seroconversion (4-fold increase) rate of subjects was calculated using baseline data when it was under naive level, and the protection rate when HI titer achieving the level of protection(≥1:40) after vaccination.Geometric mean titer(GMT) and its increasing folds were calculated.Differences between safety and immunogenicity were also calculated. Results The local and systemic reaction rates were similar between both groups, but the duration in injection site was frequent for Agrippal(R)(P＜0.05), while mild pain and fever in injection site were frequent for FLUAD(R). On immunogenicity test, for those subjects whose baseline was under naive level while the seroconversion rate against A/H3N2 viral strain after vaccination - FLUAD(R) was significantly higher than Agrippal(R) (P＜0. 001). Aside from A/H1N1 viral strain, the rate of protection on both groups were significantly higher than those from baseline data, but for A/H3N2 viral strain, FLUAD(R) was significantly higher than Agrippal(R) (P＜0. 001 ). GMT was higher than baseline (P＜0. 001 ) after both groups being vaccinated but FLUAD(R) group was significantly higher than Agrippal(R) group. Conclusion FLUAD(R) was well tolerated by Chinese elderly and its immunogenicity level induced by FLUAD(R) was higher than that of Agrippal(R), showing that it would benefit the elderly with hypoimmunity. Key words: Influenza vaccine; Immunogenicity; Safety; Elderly
Diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero and endometriosis in infertile females

Endometriosis was found in 39% and in utero diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure in 5% of 397 infertile women who had undergone laparoscopy and/or laparotomy among 750 consecutively evaluated infertile couples. Fifty percent of the DES-exposed infertile women also had endometriosis, similar to the 39% with endometriosis among non-DES-exposed women. Cervical stenosis was found in 25% of all DES-exposed patients and in 83% of those who had undergone cryocautery or conization. However, 40% did not have endometriosis. Thus, while the frequency of endometriosis and cervical stenosis is extremely high in infertile women exposed in utero to DES, a significant association beyond that found in non-DES-exposed patients could not be established. Some of the infertility may be associated with cervical stenosis alone.
Cavernous Malformations (Angiomas) of the Sellar and Suprasellar Region

Cavernous malformations, also known as cavernous angiomas or cavernomas, are true vascular malformations that may be located anywhere in the brain. This section focuses on cavernous malformations of the sellar and suprasellar region.
Abstract 13493: Intracellular Cholesterol Transport Proteins Enhance Hydrolysis of HDL-delivered Cholesteryl Esters and Facilitate Preferential Elimination of Resulting Cholesterol Into Bile as Bile Acids

HDL-associated cholesterol, >80% esterified (HDL-CE) entering the hepatocyte via SR-BI can have multiple fates: 1) re-secretion as nascent HDL; 2) re-esterification and either storage of resulting CE or secretion of CE as VLDL; 3) secretion of free cholesterol into bile; and 4) conversion to and secretion of bile acids into bile. While fates 1 and 2 will lead to recirculation of HDL-CE returning to the liver from the periphery including plaque associated macrophage foam cells, fates 3 and 4 will lead to final elimination of cholesterol from the body and would be anti-atherogenic. Although we earlier identified cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) as the hepatic enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of SR-BI delivered HDL-CE, intracellular factors affecting the directional movement of HDL-derived FC remain undefined. In the present study, we examined the hypothesis that intracellular cholesterol transport proteins (SCP-2 and FABP1) not only facilitate CEH mediated hydrolysis of HDL-CE but also enhance elimination of cholesterol into bile. Primary C57BL/6 mouse hepatocytes were used and expression of CEH, FABP1 or SCP2 was modulated by using respective adenoviruses; AdLacZ was used as control. Over-expression of SCP2 or FABP1 significantly increased hydrolysis of HDL-[3H]-CE (A) and reduced the re-secretion of HDL-derived cholesterol as nascent HDL (B). However, over-expression of SCP2 or FABP1 increased the secretion of cholesterol from HDL-[3H]-CE as bile acids (C). Flux of HDL-[3H]-CE into bile was monitored in vivo using C57BL/6 mice. Similar to the effects seen in vitro, adenovirus-mediated over-expression of FABP1 and SCP2 significantly increased the flux of cholesterol from HDL-[3H]-CE to bile acids (D). Taken together, these studies demonstrate that SCP2 and FABP1 facilitate the preferential movement of HDL-associated cholesterol to bile for final elimination from the body. Studies are in progress to establish the anti-atherogenic role of these proteins ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
A new EPMA method for fast trace element analysis in simple matrices

It is well known that trace element sensitivity in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is limited by intrinsic random variation in the X-ray continuum background and weak signals at low concentrations. The continuum portion of the background is produced by deceleration of the electron beam by the Coulombic field of the specimen atoms. In addition to the continuum, the background also includes interferences from secondary emission lines, “holes” in the continuum from secondary Bragg diffraction, non-linear curvature of the wavelength-dispersive spectrometer (WDS) continuum and other background artifacts. Typically, the background must be characterized with sufficient precision (along with the peak intensity of the emission line of interest, to obtain the net intensity for subsequent quantification), to attain reasonable accuracy for quantification of the elements of interest. Traditionally we characterize these background intensities by measuring on either side of the emission line and interpolate the intensity underneath the peak to obtain the net intensity. Instead, by applying the mean atomic number (MAN) background calibration curve method proposed in this paper for the background intensity correction, such background measurement artifacts are avoided through identification of outliers within a set of standards. We divide the analytical uncertainty of the MAN background calibration between precision errors and accuracy errors. The precision errors of the MAN background calibration are smaller than direct background measurement, if the mean atomic number of the sample matrix is precisely known. For a simple matrix and a suitable blank standard, a high-precision blank correction can offset the accuracy component of the MAN uncertainty. Use of the blank-corrected-MAN background calibration can further improve our measurement precision for trace elements compared to traditional off-peak measurements because the background determination is not limited by continuum X-ray counting statistics. For trace element mapping of a simple matrix, the background variance due to major element heterogeneity is exceedingly small and high-precision two-dimensional background correction is possible.
Aging and Changes in Cortical Mass and Structure

Publisher Summary In osteoporosis attention is centered on trabecular rather than cortical bone. Nevertheless, cortical bone is important in this context because osteoporotic fractures do occur in long bone cortices as well and because cortical bone surrounds and is integral with all cancellous bone. Perhaps the best case in point is the neck and femur, where osteoporotic fracture is common and often lethal. The virtual disappearance of cortical bone from the superior aspect of the aging femoral neck is likely to be a predisposing factor in femoral neck fracture. The mechanical significance of cortical bone modeling and remodeling have been surveyed with particular attention to the changes which occur at puberty and in old age. The differences between males and females are largely due to the effects of the principal sex hormones. In skeletal terms, the changes wrought by these hormones at puberty construct the bony frameworks peculiar to men and women and within which postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis may arise.
Transport in Carbon Nanostructures

Heat generation in one-dimensional structures such as carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers (CNF) has raised concerns regarding reliability in these structures under high-current conditions. This paper reports initial efforts to model the effect of heat generation on the I-V characteristics of CNFs. Experimental studies of carbon nanostructures to date have primarily focused on electrical properties. For on-chip interconnect applications in integrated circuits, both electrical and thermal properties must be considered when evaluating the reliability of carbon-based devices under high-current stress. While modeling studies of thermal effects on electrical characteristics have been reported, correlation between these two properties has not been investigated in detail. Annealing effects due to joule heating are observed at the contact interface in our study, resulting in a significant contact resistance reduction. Electrothermal modeling of carbon nanofiber-metal contact systems is presented, with specific focus on heat generation at the CNF-metal interface.
Officers and Their Families

Along with their association with their emperor and their fellow officers, Byzantine military men in the sixth century obviously had relationships with their own families. As with civilians, soldiers and officers had a variety of relatives that may or may not have impacted their careers. On one hand, male relatives might also serve in the army and might therefore be an important source of support or influence. On the other hand, wives and children could be seen as competing subjects of interest that might occasionally interfere with military duties and career progression. The family was therefore, not surprisingly, often a complication to the goal of running the army efficiently and on a meritorious basis. Because of their different potential impacts on the lives and careers of military men, this chapter examines male relatives in the service and dependent family members such as wives and children separately.
A review of biodiesel production from microalgae

As the search for alternatives to fossil fuels continues, microalgae have emerged as a promising renewable feedstock for biodiesel. Many species contain high lipid concentrations and require simple cultivation—including reduced freshwater and land area needs—compared to traditional crops used for biofuels. Recently, technological advancements have brought microalgae biodiesel closer to becoming economically feasible through increased efficiency of the cultivation, harvesting, pretreatment, lipid extraction, and transesterification subsystems. The metabolism of microalgae can be favorably manipulated to increase lipid productivity through environmental stressors, and “green” techniques such as using flue gas as a carbon source and wastewater as a media replacement can lower the environmental impact of biodiesel production. Through life cycle assessment and the creation of process models, valuable insights have been made into the energy and material sinks of the manufacturing process, helping to identify methods to successfully scale up microalgae biodiesel production. Several companies are already exploring the microalgae industry, offsetting operating costs through isolation of co-products and careful unit operation selection. With numerous examples drawn from industry and the literature, this review provides a practical approach for creating a microalgae biodiesel facility.
A Vine Copula Model for Predicting the Effectiveness of Cyber Defense Early-Warning

abstractInternet-based computer information systems play critical roles in many aspects of modern society. However, these systems are constantly under cyber attacks that can cause catastrophic consequences. To defend these systems effectively, it is necessary to measure and predict the effectiveness of cyber defense mechanisms. In this article, we investigate how to measure and predict the effectiveness of an important cyber defense mechanism that is known as early-warning. This turns out to be a challenging problem because we must accommodate the dependence among certain four-dimensional time series. In the course of using a dataset to demonstrate the prediction methodology, we discovered a new nonexchangeable and rotationally symmetric dependence structure, which may be of independent value. We propose a new vine copula model to accommodate the newly discovered dependence structure, and show that the new model can predict the effectiveness of early-warning more accurately than the others. We also discus...
Use of Computer Vision Tools to Identify Behavioral Markers of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Abstract Objectives: The clinical presentation of pediatric obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is heterogeneous, which is a stumbling block to understanding pathophysiology and to developing new treatments. A major shift in psychiatry, embodied in the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative of National Institute of Mental Health, recognizes the pitfalls of categorizing mental illnesses using diagnostic criteria. Instead, RDoC encourages researchers to use a dimensional approach, focusing on narrower domains of psychopathology to characterize brain–behavior relationships. Our aim in this multidisciplinary pilot study was to use computer vision tools to record OCD behaviors and to cross-validate these behavioral markers with standard clinical measures. Methods: Eighteen youths with OCD and 21 healthy controls completed tasks in an innovation laboratory (free arrangement of objects, hand washing, arrangement of objects on contrasting carpets). Tasks were video-recorded. Videos were coded by blind raters ...
Peer Instruction in Practice (Abstract Only)

Peer Instruction (PI) is an active learning technique with over 25 years of research supporting its efficacy in Physics Education. More recently, the CS Education community has found that the benefits of PI are true for CS as well, including lower WDF rates, higher exam scores, and improved retention in the CS major. One of the key differences between PI and traditional lecture is the use of a series of multiple choice "clicker questions" in class to challenge the students' conceptual understanding. Students discuss and answer these questions in small groups, then the instructor reviews why each choice was right or wrong with the entire class. The workshop is a practical look at the kinds of clicker questions used in PI. Attendees with see examples of some of our best and worst questions, and also work to design and improve some of their own questions. In addition, we will provide a demonstration of PI, and share our practical experiences in adopting PI in a wide variety of class sizes.
Affinity communities in United Nations voting: Implications for democracy, cooperation, and conflict

Abstract A network oriented examination of the co-voting network of the United Nations (UN) provides powerful insights into the international alignment of states, as well as normatively important processes such as democracy, defensive cooperation, and armed conflict. Here, we investigate the UN co-voting network using the tools of community detection and inductively identify “affinity communities” in which states articulate similar policy preferences through their voting patterns. Analysis of these communities reveals that there is more information contained in UN voting and co-voting patterns than has previously been thought. Affinity communities have complex relationships with some of the most normatively important international outcomes: they reflect transitions to democracy, have a feedback loop with the formation of defensive alliances, and actively help states avoid armed conflict.
The Reaction γ+γ-->ν+ν¯

In a current-current picture of the weak interactions, a coupling term of the form (ev)(ev) arises.
Analysis of emergent selection pressure in evolutionary algorithm and machine learner offspring filtering hybrids

When evolutionary algorithms are applied to problems with computationally intensive fitness functions a limited budget of evaluations is usually available. For these types of problems minimizing the number of function evaluations becomes paramount, which can be achieved by using smaller population sizes and limiting the number of generations per run. Unfortunately this leads to a limited sampling of the problem space, which means finding adequate solutions is less likely. Evolutionary algorithms (EA) can be augmented with machine learners (ML) to more effectively explore the problem space. However, a "well-tuned" evolutionary algorithm strikes a balance between its constituent operators. Failure to do so could mean implementations that prematurely converge to inferior solutions or to not converge at all. One aspect of such "tuning" is the use of a proper selection pressure. Introducing a machine learner into an EA/ML hybrid introduces a new form of "emergent" selection pressure for which practitioners may need to compensate. This research shows two implementations of EA/ML hybrids that filter out inferior offspring based on knowledge inferred from better individuals have different emergent selection pressure characteristics.
TCT-536 Bifurcation Coronary Artery Stenting: Impact of Access Site on Procedural Outcomes

Coronary bifurcation lesions are a complex subset of lesions commonly encountered in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Trans-radial (TR) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not replaced the trans-femoral (TF) PCI as the preferred approach for coronary PCI despite comparable outcomes
Towards a comprehensive online peer assessment system

The business of business education is rapidly evolving because of changing economic and social conditions. At many institutions, class sizes are growing, more curricula is being offered online and traditionally successful pedagogical standards are being threatened unless they are adapted to the emerging economic realities of the 21st century. In response to the economic threats and consumers' preferences, numerous IT artifacts are being created to facilitate online teaching in the hope that both quality and cost concerns will be ameliorated (albeit not always using the precepts of design science). The purpose of this ‘work-in-progress' paper is to apply design science principles to outline an algorithm for a computer-aided peer assessment system, named Double-loop Mutual Assessment (DLMA). The project's goal is to emulate the case method online, improve students' learning experience and increase grading efficacy. The DLMA yields two IT artifacts: a method and an instantiation. The DLMA method artifact involves two loops of assessment: 1) a summative and formative mutual peer assessment algorithm for essays; and 2) a summative peer assessment of the feedback's quality. An instantiation of DLMA system --- a prototype and a beta-version has been implemented and described. Future directions of researching behavioral and operational aspects of the system are outlined. Potential applications of the artifact's capabilities beyond the business necessity are discussed.
Surfactant-Enhanced Organic Acid Inactivation of Tulane Virus, a Human Norovirus Surrogate

Combination treatments of surfactants and phenolic or short-chain organic acids (SCOA) may act synergistically or additively as sanitizers to inactive foodborne viruses and prevent outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of gallic acid (GA), tannic acid, p-coumaric acid, lactic acid (LA), or acetic acid (AA), in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), against Tulane virus (TV), a surrogate for human norovirus. An aqueous stock solution of phenolic acids or SCOA with or without SDS was prepared and diluted in a twofold dilution series to 2× the desired concentration with cell growth media (M119 plus 10% fetal bovine serum). The solution was inoculated with an equal proportion of 6 log PFU/mL TV with a treatment time of 5 min. The survival of TV was quantified using a plaque assay with LLC-MK2 cells. The minimum virucidal concentration was 0.5:0.7% (v/v) for LA-SDS at pH 3.5 (4.5-PFU/mL reduction) and 0.5:0.7% (v/v) AA-SDS at pH 4.0 (2.6-log PFU/mL reduction). GA and SDS demonstrated a minimum virucidal concentration of 12.5 mM GA-SDS at pH 7.0 (0.2:0.3% GA-SDS) with an 0.8-log PFU/mL reduction and 50 mM GA-SDS (0.8:1.4% GA-SDS at pH 7.0) increased log reduction to 1.6 log PFU/mL. The combination treatments of AA or LA with SDS at pH 7.0 did not produce significant log reduction, nor did individual treatments of tannic acid, GA, p-coumaric acid, AA, LA, or SDS. This study demonstrates that a surfactant, such as SDS, aids in the phenolic acid and SCOA toxicities against viruses. However, inactivation of TV by combination treatments is contingent upon the pH of the sanitizing solution being lower than the pKa value of the organic acid being used. This information can be used to develop sanitizing washes to disinfect food contact surfaces, thereby aiding in the prevention of foodborne outbreaks.
Analysis of the connections between modules in the EB.

Over the last several years, calculations have been performed to find the forces that are acting between modules and on the support saddles in the EB. This paper examines these forces and calculates the stresses in the connections between modules. In the Tile Calorimeter, the modules are only connected at three points. First, at the inner radius there is a bearing connection to support the force in the phi direction. Second, at the outer radius there is a bearing connection in the phi direction and, finally, there is a bolted connection designed to withstand the radial load. Each of these connections will be examined separately.
The Nature of Soil Acidity and H+ Budgets

Many processes affect the acidity of soils and soil solutions. It turn, the acidity of soil solutions affects many processes. In this chapter, we review the nature of soil acidity, and synthesize the major processes involved in the net generation and consumption of acidity in forest. Two case studies of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forests provide examples of how H+ budgets are linked with rates of soil acidification.
A brief survey of health habits among childhood cancer survivors.

Using a survey, we assessed four health habits in 468 pediatric cancer survivors. Approximately 75% were at goal for ≥1 behavior-44% were active ≥1 hr per day, 40% engaged in ≤1 hr of screen time a day, 34% consumed sweetened beverages not often, and 4% ate >4 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Survivors' age was associated with being active (P < 0.001) and limited screen time (P = 0.001). Males were more likely to be active (P = 0.003). The most common combination of goal behaviors was activity and screen time. Encouraging healthy behaviors may decrease the burden of late effects in survivors.
Clinical Value of Tc99m-MIBI SPECT/CT Versus 4D-CT or US in Management of Patients With Hyperparathyroidism:

Localization of parathyroid adenomas for treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism can be challenging. This retrospective study compared single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), 4D-CT, and US studies in detection of adenomas prior to surgery. A retrospective chart review was performed on all consecutive patients with parathyroid adenoma presenting to an urban tertiary care medical center. A total of 58 patients (45 female, 13 male) underwent surgery for parathyroid adenoma. Patients aged 28 to 80 years (mean: 58.8) with parathyroid hormone levels ranging from 42 to 424 pg/mL (mean: 168). All patients underwent preoperative SPECT/CT with 20 mCi technetium-99m MIBI (99mTc-MIBI). Fifty-three patients had additional US imaging and 14 patients had 4D-CT scans. Additionally, 34 patients had injection of 20 mCi 99mTc-MIBI on the day of surgery. Pathological correlation was performed. Comparing SPECT/CT versus 4D-CT resulted in sensitivity (77% vs 80%), specificity (71% vs 75%), and accuracy (77% vs 79%). Ultrasound was less sensitive with similar specificity (44%, 86%, respectively). Combination of SPECT/CT and 4D-CT increased sensitivity to 88%, specificity to 100%, and accuracy to 89%. Combining SPECT/CT with US resulted in sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 83%, and accuracy of 85%. Intraoperative localization substantially improved in patients who received preoperative injections. The SPECT/CT remains the best imaging modality for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas with high sensitivity. Combining SPECT/CT with US resulted in increased sensitivity and accuracy. For suspicion of ectopic cases or suspicion of unidentifiable adenoma with negative scintigraphy, addition of 4D-CT is recommended. Intraoperative localization and adjunctive imaging may improve surgical management of patients with hyperparathyroidism.
Influence of salinity on relative density of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) in Everglades National Park: Implications for restoration of Everglades ecosystems

Abstract The status of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) has long been a matter of concern in Everglades National Park (ENP) due to its classification as a federal and state listed species, its recognition as a flagship species, and its function as an ecosystem indicator. Survival and recovery of American crocodiles has been linked with regional hydrological conditions, especially freshwater flow to estuaries, which affect water levels and salinities. We hypothesize that efforts to restore natural function to Everglades ecosystems by improving water delivery into estuaries within ENP will change salinities and water levels which in turn will affect relative density of crocodiles. Monitoring ecological responses of indicator species, such as crocodiles, with respect to hydrologic change is necessary to evaluate ecosystem responses to restoration projects. Our objectives were to monitor trends in crocodile relative density within ENP and to determine influences of salinity on relative density of crocodiles. We examined count data from 12 years of crocodile spotlight surveys in ENP (2004–2015) and used a hierarchical model of relative density that estimated relative density with probability of detection. The mean predicted value for relative density (λ) across all surveys was 2.9 individuals/km (95% CI: 2.0–4.2); relative density was estimated to decrease with increases in salinity. Routes in ENP’s Flamingo/Cape Sable area had greater crocodile relative density than routes in the West Lake/Cuthbert Lake area and Northeast Florida Bay areas. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that restored flow and lower salinities will result in an increase in crocodile population size and provide support for the ecosystem management recommendations for crocodiles, which currently are to restore more natural patterns of freshwater flow to Florida Bay. Thus, monitoring relative density of American crocodiles will continue to be an effective indicator of ecological response to ecosystem restoration.
Immunological aspects of allogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation: a comparison between mouse and human.

Pancreatic islet allotransplantation is a treatment for patients with severe forms of type 1 diabetes. As long-term graft function and survival are not yet optimal, additional studies are warranted in order to continue improving transplant outcomes. The mechanisms of islet graft loss and tolerance induction are often studied in murine diabetes models. Despite numerous islet transplantation studies successfully performed over recent years, translation from experimental mouse models to human clinical application remains elusive. This review aims at critically discussing the strengths and limitations of current mouse models of diabetes and experimental islet transplantation. In particular, we will analyze the causes leading to diabetes and compare the immunological mechanisms responsible for rejection between mouse and human. A better understanding of the experimental mouse models should facilitate translation to human clinical application. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Pyrolysis kinetics of live and dead wildland vegetation from the Southern United States

Abstract The fundamental combustion behavior of live wildland vegetation is not fully understood. Since the combustion process during wildland fire starts with pyrolysis, there is a need for better understanding of pyrolysis to develop improved wildland fire models. The kinetics of pyrolysis of live and dead wildland vegetation has not been explored in detail. In this study, the pyrolysis kinetics were determined for 14 different plant species (live and dead) which are all native to the forests in the southern United States. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) under inert conditions at 5 different heating rates ranged from 10 to 30 °C min−1. The iso-conversional and model-free method of KAS was used to calculate the activation energies and pre-exponential factors. The rates of pyrolysis as a function of conversion were calculated using the KAS method for all plant species (live and dead), and the results showed that during the sample decomposition, the highest rates were observed at the lower conversions. The dependence of activation energy on conversion fraction, type of plant species, and plant condition (live and dead) was investigated. For some plant species, an increase in activation energy with conversion was observed in the major pyrolysis zone for live samples. The effect of aging on apparent activation energy was studied by comparing the pyrolysis rates of live and dead longleaf pine foliage with longleaf pine litter (pine straw). The results showed that length of time since living increased the activation energy in the major pyrolysis zone. The average activation energy based on the KAS method for pyrolysis of abscised pine foliage (pine straw) was 183.4 kJ mol−1, while the activation energies were lower for live and dead longleaf pine foliage (167.3 and 167.4 kJ mol−1, respectively). Finally, the activation energies obtained in this study were compared with literature and the results showed that the average activation energies obtained in this study for palmetto, grass, broadleaf, and needle types are very close to the average activation energies obtained for different kinds of straw reported in the literature.
cvc4sy: Smart and Fast Term Enumeration for Syntax-Guided Synthesis

We present cvc4sy, a syntax-guided synthesis (SyGuS) solver based on three bounded term enumeration strategies. The first encodes term enumeration as an extension of the quantifier-free theory of algebraic datatypes. The second is based on a highly optimized brute-force algorithm. The third combines elements of the others. Our implementation of the strategies within the satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) solver cvc4 and a heuristic to choose between them leads to significant improvements over state-of-the-art SyGuS solvers.
Elemental fingerprint of human amniotic fluids and relationship with potential sources of maternal exposure

Abstract Background The impact of nanoparticles we are increasingly exposed to remains largely unknown. Of particular concern is the exposure of pregnant women and potential impact on fetal development. Indeed, many in vitro and in vivo animal studies have shown that nanoparticles are able to cross the placental barrier and induce toxic effects to the fetus. However, little is known in humans. Objective The aim and originality of this study were to investigate the nanoparticle burden of amniotic fluids in pregnant women. Methods - To that purpose, 100 amniotic fluids collected for clinical purposes were used to determine the nanoparticle quantity and nature by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (NAMIOTIC, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02720887). Results - The prevalence of patients with a substantial concentration for the essential trace elements Cu, Fe and Zn was high, while that of patients with a substantial concentration of Al, Ag, Be, Co, Cr, Ni, Si, Ti and W was relatively low (under 20 %). It was generally higher in the fraction containing nanoparticles and ions than in the fraction containing micro- and submicroparticles. No correlation was found between the nanoparticle burden and the different potential sources of exposure to nanoparticles (smoking status of the patient, living area, heating source, mode of transport, leisure, use of hygiene products and cosmetics and occupational activities). Conclusion Our results showing low concentrations and low prevalence of most of the assessed elements in amniotic fluids are reassuring. Further research is needed to draw firm conclusions on the developmental toxicity of engineered nanoparticles in humans but the present paper can provide a useful basis for further evaluation of the fetal toxicity of nanoparticles.
37 – Fuzzy Logic Applications in Electrical Drives and Power Electronics

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on fuzzy logic applications in electrical drives and power electronics. The application of fuzzy reasoning to improve the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is evident in the research community today to build state-of-the-art control systems. A genetic-based hybrid fuzzy-PID controller, which employs a fuzzy-PID controller integrating a classical PID controller, is presented in this section. The fuzzy-PID controller consists of three parallel fuzzy sub-controllers, namely, fuzzy-based proportional controller, fuzzy-based integral controller, and fuzzy-based derivative controller. The same technique applied to the fuzzy-based proportional controller is applied to the fuzzy-based integral controller. The controller has two inputs and one output. Genetic optimization-based approach is used to ensure the best performance of the proposed fuzzy-PID controller. The genetic optimization imitates the natural evolution process in which the fittest survive and the best genes are propagated to the next generation. The next step in the design of the fuzzy-logic-based controller is the determination of the fuzzy IF-THEN inference rules. The number of fuzzy rules that are required is equal to the product of the number of fuzzy sets that make up each of the two fuzzy input variables.
Using NeuroIS Tools to Understand How Individual Characteristics Relate to Cognitive Behaviors of Students

NeuroIS tools have increasingly been used to examine cognitive behaviors in educational settings. Here we present results of ongoing work applying neurophysiological tools to examine the cognitive load of student learners in the context of chemistry education. In particular, we investigate how individual characteristics relate to the Pope Engagement Index for students interacting with an information system for visualizing molecules. Characteristics such as meditation, levels of athleticism, and medication affecting alertness were found to significantly and positively correlate with cognitive load.
Using the VA Framework to Teach Algebra to Middle School Students With High-Incidence Disabilities:

Algebra is considered by many to be a gateway to higher-level mathematics and eventual economic success yet students with and without disabilities often struggle to develop algebra skills. This stu...
Mass Media Advertising in a Developing Country

This paper examines mass media advertising in the developing country of Morocco, with a special reference to the relevance of standardized versus localized advertising strategies. The advertising infrastructure is described, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of local advertising agencies. Advertising budgets are discussed according to size and type of company, before presenting a detailed assessment of the advertising media. Five selected campaigns serve to illustrate current advertising practices and problems. The authors conclude that knowledge of the local environment and a willingness to address consumers in their own terms are essential for advertising effectiveness in Morocco, and recommend use of localized rather than standardized marketing strategies.