cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mutation operators for testing Android apps

Context: Due to the widespread use of Android devices, Android applications (apps) have more releases, purchases, and downloads than apps for any other mobile devices. The sheer volume of code in these apps creates significant concerns about the quality of the software. However, testing Android apps is different from testing traditional Java programs due to the unique program structure and new features of apps. Simple testing coverage criteria such as statement coverage are insufficient to assure high quality of Android apps. While researchers show significant interest in finding better Android testing approaches, there is still a lack of effective and usable techniques to evaluate their proposed test selection strategies, and to ensure a reasonable number of effective tests.Objective: As mutation analysis has been found to be an effective way to design tests in other software domains, we hypothesize that it is also a viable solution for Android apps.Method: This paper proposes an innovative mutation analysis approach that is specific for Android apps. We define mutation operators specific to the characteristics of Android apps, such as the extensive use of XML files to specify layout and behavior, the inherent event-driven nature, and the unique Activity lifecycle structure. We also report on an empirical study to evaluate these mutation operators.Results: We have built a tool that uses the novel Android mutation operators to mutate the source code of Android apps, then generates mutants that can be installed and run on Android devices. We evaluated the effectiveness of Android mutation testing through an empirical study on real-world apps. This paper introduces several novel mutation operators based on a fault study of Android apps, presents a significant empirical study with real-world apps, and provides conclusions based on an analysis of the results.Conclusion: The results show that the novel Android mutation operators provide comprehensive testing for Android apps. Additionally, as applying mutation testing to Android apps is still at a preliminary stage, we identify challenges, possibilities, and future research directions to make mutation analysis for mobile apps more effective and efficient.
Excretion of chlordecone by the gastrointestinal tract: Evidence for a nonbiliary mechanism

Workers exposed to chlordecone (Kepone), a toxic organochlorine pesticide, excreted larger amounts of chlordecone in bile than in stool, suggesting that it may undergo enterohepatic recirculation. We found in a single subject that equal amounts of chlordecone and of its reduced metabolite, chlordecone alcohol, were excreted in bile at a rate four times as great as in stool. When biliary contents were diverted from the intestine through a T tube, fecal excretion of chlordecone alcohol was abolished, presumably due to interruption of its passage via bile to intestine. This change was not accompanied by disappearance of chlordecone from the stool. The amount of chlordecone in stool when bile was diverted was increased six- to tenfold over that when diverted bile was continuously infused into the duodenum. Analogous experiments with [14C]-chlordecone-treated rats in which bile flow was exteriorized through a plastic cannula showed that the excretion of radioactivity in feces was in the same range when bile was reinfused in the duodenum or was totally diverted. Moreover, in rats with bile diverted, cholestyramine, an anion-exchange resin which binds chlordecone in vitro, doubled the excretion of radioactivity in stool. A similar effect was observed in intact animals. We conclude that chlordecone enters the intestinal lumen from a nonbiliary source, probably the gut, and that net excretion of chlordecone from this source can be augmented by cholestyramine.
Vibration training improves disability status in multiple sclerosis: A pretest-posttest pilot study.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week vibration training program on changing the disability level in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty-five adults with clinically-confirmed MS underwent an 8-week vibration training on a side-alternating vibration platform. The vibration frequency and peak-to-peak displacement were set at 20 Hz and 2.6 mm, respectively. Prior to and following the training course, the disability status was assessed for all participants characterized by the Patient Determined Disability Steps (PDDS) and MS Functional Composite (MSFC) scores. The training program significantly improved the PDDS (3.66 ± 1.88 vs. 3.05 ± 1.99, p = 0.009) and the MSFC scores (0.00 ± 0.62 vs 0.36 ± 0.68, p
Polymer–Polymer Compatibility

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of polymer-polymer compatibility. The term "polymer compatibility" refers to the total miscibility, on a molecular scale, of homo-polymers and of random copolymers with each other in various combinations. In the chapter, no distinction is made between polymers in the rubbery or glassy state. The chapter discusses the crystallizable polymers in which the polymer remains at least partially amorphous and in which the miscibility with other polymers are investigated in the amorphous state. The chapter briefly reviews methods for predicting compatibility and presents a method for predicting compatibility along with its limitations. It explains the prediction schemes for polymer-polymer compatibility. The experimental methods for determining solubility parameters of polymers involve studies of the polymers in solution or swollen by solvent, that is, the thermodynamics of the situation involves the entropy contribution to the polymer-solvent interaction parameter and it complicates the theoretical treatment. It often turns out that experimental solubility parameters for the same polymer vary a great deal, depending both on the method used and on the experimenter. The two methods used are (1) swelling of a cross-linked polymer, where it is assumed that the solubility parameter of the polymer is equal to that of the solvent which swells it most highly and (2) intrinsic viscosity of a soluble polymer sample, where the solubility parameter of the polymer is equal to that of the solvent in which its intrinsic viscosity is greatest. For the same polymer, these methods often give different results depending on the nature of the solvents, which may be non-polar, polar, or hydrogen bonding.
Isostatic Rebound and Palinspastic Restoration of the Bonneville and Provo Shorelines in the Bonneville Basin, UT, NV, and ID

Abstract This study uses modern digital elevation models (DEMs) along with existing Bonneville and Provo shoreline elevation measurements to palinspastically restore the landscape to its vertical position at the times these two shorelines were forming. The new data products produced in the study include a raster portraying the magnitude of rebound associated with the Bonneville shoreline as well as DEMs with the rebound associated with the Bonneville and Provo shorelines removed and derivative contours that more accurately trace the paths of these two shorelines on the ground. These products are useful in not only making more accurate maps, lake-surface area estimates, and lake-volume estimates at discrete times, they can also be used to correct the elevations of dating samples and more confidently identify the locations of lacustrine deposits and landforms related to the Bonneville and Provo lake stands for further study.
The shape of biomedical data

Abstract Topological data analysis is a new method for the analysis and modeling of complex data sets, based on the mathematical notion of shape. It is particularly appropriate for problems arising in biology, due to the flexible representation of data sets as network models. In this paper, we show how the method works, give two examples, and discuss the modeling framework that can be constructed based on it.
Toward a Complex Concept of Sustainability

The purpose of this chapter is to present some contributions to a complex concept of sustainability. One of the most important is the idea of adding human nature to its variables, since this addition also includes the uncertainty (and hence the complexity) which inherent in all living beings. As for the evidence that human extractivist activities have been harmful to nature and thus to sustainability, Freud’s essay “Beyond the pleasure principle”, first published in 1920, adds further important elements to the study of the question. The work of the economist Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen is presented as a fundamental contribution to the study of the relations between complexity theory, economics, and the idea of sustainability. The same holds true for the ideas of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, especially those contained in their book A thousand plateaus, with emphasis on their concept of geophilosophy. Finally the complex concept of sustainability is presented. According to it, sustainability emerges from the interactions between ethics, politics and values, on the one hand, and knowledge, technology and science on the other.
Thread Data Sharing in Cache: Theory and Measurement

On modern multi-core processors, independent workloads often interfere with each other by competing for shared cache space. However, for multi-threaded workloads, where a single copy of data can be accessed by multiple threads, the threads can cooperatively share cache. Because data sharing consolidates the collective working set of threads, the effective size of shared cache becomes larger than it would have been when data are not shared. This paper presents a new theory of data sharing. It includes (1) a new metric called the shared footprint to mathematically compute the amount of data shared by any group of threads in any size cache, and (2) a linear-time algorithm to measure shared footprint by scanning the memory trace of a multi-threaded program. The paper presents the practical implementation and evaluates the new theory using 14 PARSEC and SPEC OMP benchmarks, including an example use of shared footprint in program optimization.
Radiographic disease progression in contemporary US coal miners with progressive massive fibrosis.

Introduction Among contemporary US coal miners, there has been an increase in the prevalence and severity of pneumoconiosis, including its advanced form progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). We examine radiographic progression in Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) participants. Methods CWHSP participants with a final determination of PMF during 1 January 2000–1 October 2016 with at least one prior radiograph in the system were included. We characterised demographics, participation and progression patterns. Results A total of 192 miners with a PMF determination contributed at least one additional radiograph (total count: 2–10). Mean age at first radiograph was 28.8 years, 162 (84%) worked in Kentucky, Virginia or West Virginia and 169 (88%) worked exclusively underground. A total of 163 (85%) miners had a normal initial radiograph. Mean time from most recent normal radiograph to one with a PMF determination was 20.7 years (range: 1–43) and 27 (17%) progressed to PMF in less than 10 years. Discussion Dust exposure is the sole cause of this disease, and a substantial number of these miners progressed from normal to PMF in less than a decade. Participation in CWHSP is voluntary, and these findings are influenced by participation patterns, so for many miners it remains unclear how rapidly their disease progressed. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends all working miners to participate in radiographic surveillance at 5-year intervals. Improved participation could allow more precise characterisation of the burden and characteristics of pneumoconiosis in US coal miners and provide an important early detection tool to prevent cases of severe disease.
An index for assessing the foraging activities of honeybees with a Doppler sensor

Most pollination of commercial blueberries is carried out by honeybees from hundreds of hives. An activity sensor for monitoring the health and productivity of beehives is presented. Honeybees flying near the entrance of a beehive were observed with a low-powered 5.8 GHz Doppler radar. Spectral moments, entropy, diversity, and root-mean-square (rms) power were evaluated to identify foraging bees and to quantify the level of foraging activity. Theoretical and experimental results are presented to demonstrate that entropy, diversity, and rms power are correlated and are equally valid indicators of bee activity. In particular, the rms power of the Doppler signal can be measured without a coherent receiver and without signal processing. This type of measurement lends itself to a second, considerably less expensive, implementation of a bee activity sensor.
340 Tlr8 activation in neutrophils impairs immune complex phagocytosis through furin-dependent shedding of fcgriia

Background and aims Neutrophils play a crucial role in host defense through mechanisms including phagocytosis and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a recently identified neutrophil cell death process in which DNA is extruded together with cytoplasmic and granular content to trap and eliminate extracellular pathogens. Although beneficial from a host-pathogen perspective, exaggerated neutrophil activation has been linked to autoimmunity, in particular the rheumatic disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) where nucleic acid-containing immune complexes (IC) drive inflammation. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, such as nucleic acids, are important components of pathogens, enabling enhanced phagocytosis by macrophages and dendritic cells, but the role of TLR signalling in processing of SLE ICs and downstream inflammatory neutrophil effector functions is not known. Methods Standard Methods. Results We observed that both FcgR- and TLR8-engagement were required for induction of NETosis, whereas TLR8 activation, through the RNA component of the ICs, suppressed further IC-mediated phagocytosis. Mechanistically, TLR8 ligation induced PI3K-dependent ROS generation through NADPH oxidase, and subsequent furin-dependent proteolytic cleavage of the N-terminal part of FcgRIIA shifting neutrophils away from phagocytosis of ICs toward NETosis. TLR8 activated neutrophils promoted cleavage of FcgRIIA also on plasmacytoid dendritic cells and monocytes resulting in impaired overall clearance of ICs and increased complement C5a generation. Importantly , ex vivo derived activated neutrophils from SLE patients demonstrated a similar cleavage of FcgRIIA that was correlated with markers of disease activity as well as complement activation. Conclusions Therapeutic approaches aimed at blocking TLR8 activation would be predicted to increase phagocytosis of circulating ICs while disarming their inflammatory potential.
Chitin and Chitosan: Sustainable, Medically Relevant Biomaterials

The polysaccharides chitin and chitosan are made up of monomer units of the amino sugars D-glucosamine and N -acetyl-D-glucosamine. The ratio of these two monomers dictates whether the polysaccharide is considered chitin or chitosan. Both polymers have unique properties and have uses in several diverse applications. In nature, chitin and chitosan primarily play a structural role. When purified from their producing organism, these polymers exhibit useful structural, chemical and biological properties. Chitin and chitosan have been used in several applications including biomedicine, food additives, cosmetics, and more. The charged chitosan polymer is especially effective in biomedical applications, as it has been demonstrated to possess antimicrobial properties. This review explores the properties of chitin and chitosan and how these biopolymers are used in a variety of healthcare and other applications.
The Low Temperature Thermal Conductivities of Glassy Carbons

Glassy carbon is a dense, black material with the appearance and mechanical properties of a glass. A comparison of glassy carbons with other more familar forms of carbon may be found in a review by Mrozowskil. Glassy carbons are used commercially for such diverse applications as sample supports in high-temperature furnaces and as electrical heaters in hair blow-dryers. The author has been interested in glassy carbons for two reasons, first, to determine if glassy carbons exhibit the low-temperature properties which are characteristic of amorphous materials and, second, to determine if glassy carbons would be suitable as a construction material in cryogenic apparatus.
A Comparative Guide to the Eastern Public Trust Doctrines: Classifications of States, Property Rights, and State Summaries

Public trust doctrine literature to date has displayed two distinct tendencies, both of which limit comprehensive discussion of the American public trust doctrines. At one end of the spectrum, articles focused on broader legal principles tend to discuss the public trust doctrine, as though a single public trust doctrine pervaded the United States. At the other end, articles focus on how one particular state implements its particular state public trust doctrine. Few articles have grappled with the richness and complexity of public trust philosophies that more comparative approaches to the nation's public trust doctrines - emphasis on the plural - can reveal. This Article seeks to begin to restore that sense of comparative complexity to the discussion of public trust principles. It focuses on the public trust doctrines of 31 eastern states - all of the states east of the Mississippi River, plus the five states - Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana - bordering the western bank of the Mississippi River. Moreover, it includes in an Appendix state-by-state summaries of the public trust doctrines in each of the 31 eastern states examined. These eastern states provide a particularly rich subset of states for public trust discussion purposes. At its most basic, a state's public trust doctrine outlines public and private rights in water by delineating five definitional components of those rights: (1) the waters subject to state/public ownership; (2) the line or lines dividing private from public title in those waters; (3) the waters subject to public use rights; (4) the line or lines in those waters that mark the limit of public use rights; and (5) the public uses that the doctrine will protect in the waters where the public has use rights. The history of the eastern states' public trust doctrines has led to multiple variations in how these states define and assemble these five components. In particular, far more often than is the case in the later-settled West, public trust use rights in the East intrude - and for practical purposes always have intruded - upon privately owned riparian and littoral property.
Superconducting Properties of Some Vanadium-Rich Titanium—Vanadium Alloy Thin Films

The superconducting properties of Ti—V alloys have been reported in several publications for bulk material1-3 and also for thin films.4,5 The results of this study were obtained after the publication of our investigation for the complete Ti—V alloy system5 during the attempt to raise the transition temperatures of V and V-rich alloy films to the published data for bulk materials. Subsequently, we learned also that the heat capacity data of Cheng et al., 6 which were the basis for the calculated curve by Hulm and Blaugher,2 had been reviewed by the same authors6 and that therefore the calculated relationship of transition temperature vs. composition could be considered obsolete.
Effects of pre-exercise sucrose ingestion on thermoregulatory responses to near-maximal 5-km running.

Abstract Research has shown that carbohydrate consumption can increase body temperature at rest and, in some cases, during exercise. Most exercise studies, however, haven’t matched exercise intensity between carbohydrate and placebo conditions. The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to examine whether pre-exercise carbohydrate consumption independently accelerates the usual temperature rise with intense exercise. Twenty-eight runners self-reported 5-km performance (16–23 min) and were randomized, using a matched-pairs design, to 750 ml water containing 100 g sucrose or 0.8 g aspartame. Beverages were consumed 60 min before running at 93% of maximum 5-km speed in temperate conditions. Gastrointestinal temperature, Thermal Sensation Scale (TSS) and Feeling Scale (FS) were recorded before ingestion, every 10 min during 60 min of rest, and every 1-km during the 5-km run. Rating of Perceived Exertion was recorded every 1-km. Independent samples t-tests and two-way mixed ANOVAs with repeated measures assessed whether there were baseline differences or treatment effects. Gastrointestinal temperature didn’t differ between carbohydrate (38.7 ± 0.4 °C) and placebo (38.6 ± 0.4 °C) by the end of the 5-km (p = 0.49). No group x time interactions or main group effects were found, except for a modest interaction for TSS (F = 2.1, p = 0.02, partial η2 = 0.075). Time effects were found for all outcomes, with temperature, TSS, and RPE increasing, and FS decreasing, during the run. Ingesting 100 g of sucrose prior to intense running lasting
Doxorubicin-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis Involves the Neurokinin-1 Receptor and Direct Effects on Cardiac Fibroblasts

Background Cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy (Anth-bC) may experience early cardiac fibrosis, which could be an important contributing mechanism to the development of impaired left ventricular (LV) function. Substance P, a neuropeptide that predominantly acts via the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R), contributes to adverse myocardial remodelling and fibrosis in other cardiomyopathies. We sought to determine if NK-1R blockade is effective against doxorubicin (Dox – a frequently used Anth-bC)-induced cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. In addition, we explored the direct effects of Dox on cardiac fibroblasts. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised to receive saline, six cycles of Dox (1.5 mg Dox/kg/cycle) or Dox with an NK-1R antagonist (L732138, 5 mg/kg/daily through Dox treatment). At 8 weeks after the initial dose of Dox, LV function and histopathological myocardial fibrosis and cell apoptosis were assessed. Collagen secretion was measured in vitro to test direct Dox activation of cardiac fibroblasts. Results Rats undergoing Dox treatment (9 mg/kg cumulative dose) developed cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. NK-1R blockade partially mitigated cardiac fibrosis while completely preventing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. This resulted in improved diastolic function. Furthermore, we found that Dox had direct effects on cardiac fibroblasts to cause increased collagen production and enhanced cell survival. Conclusions This study demonstrates that cardiac fibrosis induced by Anth-bC can be reduced by NK-1R blockade. The residual fibrotic response is likely due to direct Dox effects on cardiac fibroblasts to produce collagen.
The Genus Cordyceps and Fries's Observationes

(1954). The Genus Cordyceps and Fries's Observationes. Mycologia: Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 248-253.
Mucociliary Clearance in Mice Measured by Tracking Trans-tracheal Fluorescence of Nasally Aerosolized Beads

Mucociliary clearance (MCC) is the first line of defense in clearing airways. In genetically engineered mice, each component of this system (ciliary beat, mucus, airway surface hydration) can be studied separately to determine its contribution to MCC. Because MCC is difficult to measure in mice, MCC measurements are often omitted from these studies. We report a simple method to measure MCC in mice involving nasal inhalation of aerosolized fluorescent beads and trans-tracheal bead tracking. This method has a number of advantages over existing methods: (1) a small volume of liquid is deposited thus minimally disturbing the airway surface; (2) bead behavior on airways can be visualized; (3) useful for adult or neonatal mice; (4) the equipment is relatively inexpensive and easily obtainable. The type of anesthetic had no significant effect on the rate of MCC, but overloading the airways with beads significantly decreased MCC. In addition, the rate of bead transport was not different in alive (3.11 mm/min) vs recently euthanized mice (3.10 mm/min). A 5-min aerosolization of beads in a solution containing UTP significantly increased the rate of MCC, demonstrating that our method would be of value in testing the role of various pharmacological agents on MCC.
Noise propagation in feedback coupling between cell growth and metabolic activity

Size control is usually exerted in living cells by properly sensing the external inputs (like nutrients) and, accordingly, by activating the metabolic pathways in order to set and adjust their own growth rate. In this framework, experimental results have recently highlighted the role of metabolic noise, usually neglected because of its averaging over the great deal of reactions involved in metabolic networks. In this note, a basic model of the interplay among metabolic enzymes activity, resource allocation and growth rate is introduced. A noise source is supposed to affect the enzymatic activity. The model includes a feedforward action of the resource on the enzyme dynamics (modulated by growth), as well as a feedback of the enzyme on the resource production rate. A Stochastic Hybrid System formulation is exploited to investigate how the noise propagates through the metabolic pathway. Model-based results support the hypothesis that fluctuations in the enzyme production perturb cellular growth, and not vice versa, because of an apparent delay in the cross-correlation function. This result is coherent with single-cell recent experimental results.
Are You Ready for Gen Z in the Workplace

Gen Z (1997-2013) is just now entering the labor market and employers need to be prepared for their arrival. While Gen Z shares many traits with the Millennial Generation, they also bring in new pa...
Robust Operation of a Reconfigurable Electrical Distribution System by Optimal Charging Management of Plug-In Electric Vehicles Considering the Technical, Social, and Geographical Aspects

This chapter proposes a robust approach to study the optimal operation problem of a reconfigurable electrical distribution system while optimally managing the charging/discharging patterns of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) fleet considering their technical, social, and geographical aspects. Herein, it is assumed that the electrical system is highly penetrated by the renewable energy sources (RESs), and the total daily energy generated by the RESs is adequate for the daily electricity demand of system; however, an effective approach is necessary to reliably and economically operate it. The electrical distribution network includes the electrical loads, RESs, energy storage systems (ESSs), switches installed on the electrical feeders, and PEVs with the capabilities of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and grid-to-vehicle (G2V). In this study, the drivers are grouped in three different social classes based on their income level, that is, low-income, moderate-income, and high-income. The behavior of each social class of drivers is modelled based on the social and geographical aspects including the drivers’ distance from a charging station (CHS) and the value of incentive to provide the V2G and G2V services at the suggested CHS and recommended period. The proposed approach includes the stochastic model predictive control (MPC) that stochastically, adaptively, and dynamically solves the problem and handles the variability and uncertainties concerned with the probabilistic power of RESs and drivers’ behavior. The simulation results demonstrate that applying the proposed approach can remarkably decrease the minimum operation cost of problem and enhance the system reliability. It is shown that the behavior of drivers can affect the optimal configuration of system, optimal status of ESSs, and even optimal scheme of PEV fleet management (FM). It is proven that the application of proposed approach guarantees the robustness of problem outputs with respect to the prediction errors.
Perceptions of Surgery Residents About Parental Leave During Training

Importance To our knowledge, there has been little research conducted on the attitudes of residents toward their pregnant peers and parental leave. Objective To examine the perceptions of current surgery residents regarding parental leave. Design, Setting, and Participants A 36-item survey was distributed to current US general surgery residents and residents in surgical subspecialties through the Association of Program Directors in Surgery listserv and social media platforms. Questions were associated with general information/demographics, parental leave, having children, and respondents’ knowledge regarding the current parental leave policy as set by the American Board of Surgery. The study was conducted from August to September 2018 and the data were analyzed in October 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Main outcomes included the attitudes of residents toward pregnancy and parental leave, parental leave policy, and the association of parental leave with residency programs. Results A total of 2188 completed responses were obtained; of these, 1049 (50.2%) were women, 1572 (75.8%) were white, 164 (7.9%) were Hispanic/Latinx, 75 (3.6%) were African American, 2 (0.1%) were American Indian or Alaskan Native, 263 (12.7%) were Asian, and 5 (0.2%) were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. From the number of residents who had/were expecting children (581 [28.6%]), 474 (81.6%) had or were going to have a child during the clinical years of residency. Many residents (247 [42.5%]) took fewer than 2 weeks of parental leave. Many residents did not feel supported in taking parental leave (177 [30.4%] did not feel supported by other residents and 190 [32.71%] did not feel supported by the faculty). Only 83 respondents (3.8%%) correctly identified the current American Board of Surgery parental leave policy. Residents who took parental leave identified a lack of a universal leave policy, strain on the residency program, a loss of education/training time, a lack of flexibility of programs, and a perceived or actual lack of support from faculty/peers as the top 5 biggest obstacles to taking leave during the clinical years of residency. Conclusions and Relevance Most of the modifiable factors that inhibit residents from having children during residency are associated with policies (eg, a lack of universal leave policy and lack of flexibility) and personnel (eg, a strain on the residency program and lack of support from peers/faculty). These data suggest that policies at the level of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or Resident Review Committee (RRC), as well as education and the normalization of pregnancy during training, may be effective interventions.
The Impact of E-liquid Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin Ratio on Ratings of Subjective Effects, Reinforcement Value, and Use in Current Smokers.

Introduction Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) vary on a wide range of characteristics that may affect reinforcement value and use. One characteristic is the ratio of two solvents commonly used in most e-liquids: propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). The goal of this study was to understand how PG/VG ratio affects subjective effects, reinforcement value, and tobacco use patterns among current smokers who try using ENDS. Aims and methods Current smokers with minimal ENDS use history (n = 30) sampled, in a double-blind fashion, three different e-liquids that varied in PG/VG ratio (70/30, 50/50, 0/100) while holding constant other aspects of the e-liquid and ENDS. Participants tried each e-liquid before rating the subjective effects on a modified version of the Cigarette Evaluation Questionnaire. Reinforcement value was assessed using a preference task where participants chose between the three e-liquids. The impact of each e-liquid on cigarette reinforcement was assessed using a modified version of the Cigarette Purchase Task. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one e-liquid to take home for 1 week. Results PG/VG ratio had minimal impact on most of the tested outcomes. Participants rated the highest PG concentration as having a stronger "throat hit" than the other two. There was no significant difference between the number of participants who preferred each of the PG/VG ratios in the preference assessment. PG/VG ratio did not affect cigarette or ENDS use during the sampling week. Conclusions These data suggest that PG/VG ratio has minimal impact on subjective effects and reinforcement value in ENDS naive current smokers. Implications These data suggest that PG/VG ratio, within the range that is commonly used, has minimal impact on subjective effects, reinforcement value, or uptake in current smokers with minimal ENDS experience.
Energy Norm A Posteriori Error Estimates

This chapter provides deeper insights into the verification part of the computational V&V strategy introduced in Sect. 1.1. To be more precise, we investigate the question whether the boundary value problems derived in Chaps. 2 and 3 are solved right by the Galerkin methods presented in Chaps. 4 and 5, i.e. the (mixed) finite element method (based on SCNI), the extended finite element method, and the meshfree element-free Galerkin and reproducing kernel particle methods. For the time being, we restrict our considerations to the linearized elasticity problem (3.28) because this linear problem allows for the development of verification strategies in a more convenient way. Verification strategies applied to the finite hyperelasticity problem will be detailed in Chap. 8.
Safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants compared to Vitamin K antagonists postpercutaneous coronary interventions in patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are commonly associated. Cotreatment with multiple antithrombotic agents can increase the risk of bleeding. We sought to evaluate patient-centered outcomes in patients with AF on double therapy with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared to patients with standard triple therapy, [a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) plus dual antiplatelet therapy]. Methods We performed a literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting outcomes of patients receiving double therapy with DOACs compared to triple therapy with VKAs in patients with AF undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patient-centered outcomes were the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNB), all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Results Four RCTs (9602 patients) met our inclusion criteria. Compared to VKAs, DOACs were associated with significantly lower ISTH major bleeding/ CRNB (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.67-0.82, P < .00001, I2 = 11%). There were no statistically significant differences in the efficacy outcomes, including myocardial infarction (RR: 0.99, 95% CI :0.79-1.25, P = .96), stent thrombosis (RR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.6-1.55, P = .89), ischemic stroke (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.5-1.15, P = .19), all-cause mortality (RR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.85-1.31, P = .61), and MACE (RR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.91-1.22, P = .97). Conclusion Compared with triple therapy with VKAS, double therapy with DOACs is associated with a reduced risk of bleeding and is as effective in patients with AF undergoing PCI.
Addressing reliability challenges in advance nodes for commercial and automotive application

Building in reliability is critical during technology development, as we continue scaling or incorporating additional functionality. In this paper Front End Of Line methodologies (FEOL) for DC and AC degradation with correlation to RO/SRAM/Logic degradation are presented. Self-Heating and Variability characterization together with inline monitoring are discussed for commercial and automotive applications.
Predictive Maintenance Information Systems

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems allow businesses to achieve high performance through distinctive capabilities and are one of the fastest growing areas within information systems. Many un...
Minimally modified A 4 Altarelli-Feruglio model for neutrino masses and mixings and its experimental consequences

We present a simple modification of the Altarelli-Feruglio ${A}_{4}$ flavor symmetry model using a minimal number of parameters congruous with the symmetries of the original theory. The resulting model is consistent with all presently known data on neutrino masses and mixings. Furthermore, it makes testable tight predictions for future experiments aimed at improving the measurements of ${\mathrm{sin}}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{12}$, ${\mathrm{sin}}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{13}$, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{\mathrm{CP}}$ and the neutrinoless double-beta decay parameter $|{m}_{ee}|$. Our model exploits the unique possibility of multiple allowed, yet qualitatively different, contractions of fields charged under the ${A}_{4}$ discrete symmetry.
In Utero Infection with Coxsackievirus-B is Associated with Congenital Pulmonary Atresia

Abstract The research for this study was undertaken to examine association between perinatal infection with Coxsackievirus B (CVB) and congenital heart defects (CHD). Suggestive, although inconclusive, data exists of an association between CVB infection during pregnancy and CHD. We present data from a clinical study showing that CVB infection in early pregnancy induces heart defects. In a prospective study of 123 pregnant women with pregnancies affected with CHD we found circulating CVB IgG and IgM in the serum. A significant number of the women were positive for CVB antibodies; 30.9% for IgG and 6.5% for IgM. Our data demonstrates not only an association of CVB with CHD in pregnant women but this is the first report showing significant association between in-utero CVB infection and Pulmonary Atresia (PA) and HLHS (AA/MS variant). Elevated levels of IgG were seen in 55.5% of women carrying babies with PA and 60% of women carrying babies with HLHS (AA/MS), with p-values of 0.01 and 0.03 respectively. To determine specific CVB serotypes involved, neutralizing antibody titers to CVB1, CVB3, and CVB4 were analyzed on samples with positive IgG/IgM levels, and showed a possible association between CVB4 and CHD in the cohort. Our study has broad implications for the future understanding and potential management of CHD as well as introduces a new avenue of research for cardiac defects.
Capturing the transient hydrological response in sandy soils during a rare cloudburst associated with shallow slope failures; a case study in the Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, USA

A cloudburst on 7 August 2018 in the coastal bluffs of the Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, induced flooding, erosion and multiple shallow slope failures that adversely affected the surrounding hillside residential area. Historically, short-duration deluges are rare in the New York Bay region, with only eight cloudbursts of greater magnitude documented since 1948. The coastal bluffs consist of a variably thick, sandy surficial material overlying flat-lying, mostly non-indurated Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments, including some low-permeability glauconitic units. The bluffs have been affected by both historical deep-seated and shallow landslide movement, the latter typically related to heavy, relatively long-duration rainfall associated with tropical cyclones and nor9easters. The shallow hydrological response during the rare cloudburst was captured at two hydrological monitoring sites and yielded insights into rapidly changing moisture conditions resulting in slope failure. Additional information is provided on historical cloudbursts that have affected the region, antecedent moisture conditions, and documented landslide types and processes. Supplementary material: A USGS ScienceBase data release of the time-series monitoring data that accompanies the publication of this paper is available at https://doi.org/10.5066/P9A601HC
Understanding Dizzy Patients a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Attitudes toward Diagnosis, Providers, and Treatment.

Objective:To evaluate patients’ attitudes regarding their dizziness, provider capabilities, and receptiveness toward treatment.Study Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:Tertiary care vestibular cl...
Reliability Assessment Framework for the Distribution System Including Distributed Energy Resources

This paper introduces a new framework for the reliability assessment of the distribution systems. The framework proposes three levels to include the effects of distributed generation (DG), energy storage (ES) systems connected to the distribution system and as behind the meter at the customer premises, coordination of resources, and cyber-physical systems. Methodology for level 2 reliability assessment that includes behind the meter DG and ES systems of the distribution system is proposed. A multi-state reliability model for behind the meter PV systems is developed along with the model for the ES system. The developed methodology is demonstrated on the RBTS bus 4 test distribution system with behind the meter PV and ES systems.
Improvement of Pediatric Advanced Airway Management in General Emergency Departments After a Collaborative Intervention Program.

BACKGROUND: In general emergency departments, advanced airway management of pediatric patients who are critically ill has been associated with increased adverse events given the varying exposure to pediatric patients and limited resources. Previous studies have shown significant improvement of simulated pediatric airway management in general emergency departments. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the effect of an in situ simulation-based collaborative intervention program on the actual care of pediatric airway management in general emergency departments. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of pediatric subjects who were critically ill and required intubation at a diverse set of general emergency departments before referral to the academic medical center. The primary outcome was the quality of clinical care measured by adherence to best practices via a critical action checklist. Secondary outcomes included tracheal intubation associated adverse events and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 135 pediatric subjects (48 pre- and 87 post-intervention) who were transferred to the academic medical center from 9 general emergency departments between May 2014 and August 2019 were included in the analysis. The use of a cuffed endotracheal tube improved, from 44% to 72% (P = .001), whereas there was no significant change in the appropriate endotracheal tube size. Overall, severe tracheal intubation associated adverse events decreased, from 18.8% to 9.2% (P = .03), and post-intubation cardiac arrest events decreased, from 6.3% to 0% (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: A simulation-based collaborative intervention program led to improvement in pediatric airway management and subject outcomes in general emergency departments. This model demonstrated the transfer of improvement from a simulated setting to a clinical setting and may be targeted in other clinical settings.
Transport phenomena in chemical vapor-deposition systems

Publisher Summary Past two decades of research and the availability of increased computer power have significantly increased our understanding of the transport phenomena of chemical-vapor deposition for commonly used reactor configurations. For some deposition systems, such as SiH4—H2 and TMG—arsine—H2, detailed reaction kinetics and reaction pathways are coupled with the transport analyses. The chapter discusses that with the continuing rise in the use of CVD for growing films of new materials, there is a need for sustained research in understanding both the homogeneous gas phase and the heterogeneous surface reactions that might take place for different reactant combinations and reactor operating conditions. The requirements of deposition uniformity and precise dopant control in many microelectronic applications are becoming increasingly stringent. To meet these demands, the reactors are operated at pressures of the order of a few millitorr. Finally, to receive a wider acceptance in manufacturing, physical models must be tailored to the production equipment configurations and boundary conditions. Many of the idealized assumptions have to be relaxed. This, coupled with the demand for accurate and real-time process control, would see acceleration in the development of physiconeural network models discussed in this chapter.
Comparison of measured and predicted flows through conical supersonic nozzles, with emphasis on the transonic region.

Measured and predicted flows through conical supersonic nozzles compared, emphasizing transonic region
Towards a Design Theory for Process-Based Knowledge Management Systems

In today’s knowledge economy, organizations need to effectively manage their knowledge to support an increasing number of knowledge intensive business processes. Such knowledgeintensive business processes could be more effectively supported by Process-based knowledge management (PKM) systems that integrate knowledge management services with process management systems. However, currently there are minimal design guidelines for developing such PKM systems. In this research-in-progress paper, we highlight this research problem, and propose a preliminary framework that can be extended to serve as a design theory for developing process-based knowledge management systems. Specifically, we identify kernel theories governing the design and development of PKM systems, and propose a design process for developing PKM systems. We also identify future research opportunities for further extending the framework and its evaluation.
Adaptive control of an aircraft with uncertain nonminimum-phase dynamics

This paper investigates four control architectures that use adaptive control to follow step, ramp, and harmonic roll-angle commands for a linearized aircraft model with an unknown transition from minimum-phase to nonminimum-phase (NMP) dynamics. In particular, we consider retrospective cost adaptive control (RCAC) with 1) a command-feedforward control architecture; 2) an output-feedback control architecture; 3) a centralized control architecture that uses both command feedforward and output feedback; and 4) a decentralized control architecture that uses both command feedforward and output feedback. For baseline tests, we assume that the location of the NMP zero is known. The goal of this work is to improve the transient response and rate of convergence. Numerical testing shows that RCAC with the decentralized control architecture using command feedforward and output feedback gives the fastest convergence. Furthermore, resetting controller coefficients at the start of the transition improves the transient response.
Designing for audit: a voting machine with a tiny TCB

Thoroughly auditing voting machine software has proved to be difficult, and even efforts to reduce its complexity have relied on significant amounts of external code. We design and implement a device that allows a voter to confirm and cast her vote while trusting only 1,034 lines of ARM assembly. The system, which we develop from scratch, supports visually (and hearing) impaired voters and ensures the privacy of the voter as well as the integrity of the tally under some common assumptions. We employ several techniques to increase the readability of our code and make it easier to audit.
Beam-based Feedback Testing and Simulations for the SLC Linac

Beam-based feedback systems were a key element in the successful operation of the Stanford Linear Collider (SLC) but the performance was not optimal. Some limitations were incomplete communication between the feedback loops, slow correctors, and constraints on the placement of feedback devices. Recent beam experiments and simulations have improved understanding of feedback performance characteristics, and increased confidence in designing feedback systems for the Next Linear Collider (NLC).