cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COMPARISON AMONG TECHNIQUES TO RETRIEVE KINETIC PARAMETERS FROM THERMOGRAVIMETRY DATA

Abstract A statistical comparison of methods used to retrieve kinetic information from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data was done. The objective of this work was to try to establish if there is a difference between the kinetic parameters predicted using: Coats and Redfern (1964), and its modifications: Fischer, el al. (1987), Chen and Nuttal (Nutall et al. 1983), Reich and Stivala (1980), and Horowitz and Metzger (1963). All these methods were tested using data obtained by numerical integration of a first order irreversible reaction under typical TGA conditions, and to study the effects of experimental error in parameter estimation these data were perturbed by introducing a random error variation in the numerical data. From the results, the first three methods are statistically similar, while the last two produce significantly erroneous values even with no error present in the data
On designing DNA databases for the storage and retrieval of digital signals

In this paper we propose a procedure for the storage and retrieval of digital signals utilizing DNA. Digital signals are encoded in DNA sequences that satisfy among other constraints the Noise Tolerance Constraint (NTC) that we have previously introduced. NTC takes into account the presence of noise in digital signals by exploiting the annealing between non-perfect complementary sequences. We discuss various issues arising from the development of DNA-based database solutions (i) in vitro (in test tubes, or other materials) for short-term storage and (ii) in vivo (inside organisms) for long-term storage. We discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each scheme and its effects on the codeword design problem and performance. We also propose a new way of constructing the database elements such that a short-term database can be converted into a long term one and vice versa without the need for a re-synthesis. The latter improves efficiency and reduces the cost of a long-term database.
Ospemifene for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy and dyspareunia in postmenopausal women.

Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and dyspareunia are common problems experienced by postmenopausal women, although few seek treatment. Symptom-based therapies include nonhormonal vaginal lubricants, vaginal moisturizers, low-dose vaginal estrogen, and systemic estrogen. The 2013 United States Food and Drug Administration approval of ospemifene, an estrogen agonist/antagonist for the treatment of moderate-to-severe dyspareunia associated with VVA, increased options available to women. Several studies have evaluated the effects of ospemifene on VVA and dyspareunia and indicate an improvement in subjective findings. Objective findings such as a decrease in pH and recovery of a premenopausal vaginal maturation index have been reported. Beneficial effects have also been demonstrated in bone. Evaluations of breast health support the safety of ospemifene, although data are limited to 1 year. Short-term risks appear to be limited and include the development of hot flushes. Until additional comparative studies of ospemifene and estrogens have been performed, ospemifene should be recommended for women with symptoms of VVA and dyspareunia who are unable to tolerate or unwilling to take local or systemic estrogens. In this review, current evidence for the safety and efficacy of ospemifene in the treatment of moderate-to-severe VVA and dyspareunia are evaluated.
Comparison of porcine pulmonary and aortic root material properties.

Background The pulmonary autograft remodels when subjected to systemic pressure and subsequent dilation can lead to reoperation. Inherent material property differences between pulmonary and aortic roots may influence remodeling but are currently unknown. The objective of this study was to determine stiffness across a wide range of strain and compare nonlinear material properties of corresponding regions of native aortic and pulmonary roots. Methods Tissue samples from porcine aortic and pulmonary roots—sinuses and supravalvular artery distal to the sinotubular junction—were subjected to displacement-controlled equibiaxial stretch testing. Stress-strain data recorded were used to derive strain energy functions for each region. Stiffness from low to high strains at 0.15, 0.3, and 0.5 strain were determined for comparisons. Results Aortic and pulmonary roots exhibited qualitatively similar material properties; both had greater nonlinearity in the sinus than supravalvular artery. The pulmonary artery was significantly more compliant than the ascending aorta both circumferentially and longitudinally throughout the strain range ( p p = 0.06). However, no differences in stiffness were seen circumferentially or longitudinally between pulmonary and aortic sinuses ( p ≥ 0.3) until high strain, when the pulmonary sinuses were significantly stiffer ( p Conclusions Differences in stiffness between porcine aortic and pulmonary roots are regionally specific, supravalvular artery versus sinus. These regional differences may impact the mode of remodeling to influence late autograft dilation.
Selective Targeting and Timing of Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition in Post-Myocardial Infarction Remodeling

Background— A cause-and-effect relationship exists between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) induction and left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Whether broad-spectrum MMP inhibition is necessary and the timing at which MMP inhibition should be instituted after MI remain unclear. This study examined the effects of MMP-1 and MMP-7-sparing inhibition (sMMPi) on regional and global LV remodeling when instituted before or after MI. Methods and Results— Pigs instrumented with coronary snares and radiopaque markers within the area at risk were randomized to MI only (n=11) or sMMPi (PGE-530742, 10 mg/kg PO TID) begun 3 days before MI (n=11) or 3 days after MI (n=10). Eleven weight-matched noninstrumented pigs served as reference controls. At 10 days after MI, infarct size was similar between groups (47±3% of the area at risk). Marker area increased from baseline in the MI-only group (10±3%, P<0.05) but was unchanged with sMMPi. LV end-diastolic volume increased in the MI-only group (82±...
The Behavioral Response to Personalized Genetic Information: Will Genetic Risk Profiles Motivate Individuals and Families to Choose More Healthful Behaviors?

This report describes the use of information emerging from genetic discovery to motivate risk-reducing health behaviors. Most research to date has evaluated the effects of information related to rare genetic variants on screening behaviors, in which genetic risk feedback has been associated consistently with improved screening adherence. The limited research with common genetic variants suggests that genetic information, when based on single-gene variants with low-risk probabilities, has little impact on behavior. The effect on behavioral outcomes of more realistic testing scenarios in which genetic risk is based on numerous genetic variants is largely unexplored. Little attention has been directed to matching genetic information to the literacy levels of target audiences. Another promising area for research is consideration of using genetic information to identify risk shared within kinship networks and to expand the influence of behavior change beyond the individual.
Smartphone based fall detection system

This paper describes the design of a smartphone based fall detection system and characterizes the preliminary efficacy of the proposed system in activities of daily living (ADLs). Using the embedded sensors available in a smartphone (i.e., accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer), kinematic analysis of movement can be performed in real-time, allowing for continuous monitoring of fall status. Fall sensing thresholds are defined based on angular rate of change (TH1), maximum acceleration (TH2), and maximum attitude change (TH3). TH1 is measured from the resultant pitch and roll angular velocity vector and defined as 3.1 rad/s (∼180°/s). TH2 is measured from the resultant acceleration vector and defined as 1.6 g. TH3 is measured from the resultant vector of the pitch and roll angles, and defined at 0.59 rad (39°). A proof-of-concept study was performed on five ADL tasks: 1) comfortable walking, 2) stand-to-seated posture, 3) seated-to-standing posture, 4) pivoting at the waist to pick up an object, and 5) stand-to-seated-to-laying transition. No trials violated the defined thresholds for fall detection, signifying no false positives. These results are important for the definition of machine learning algorithms, currently under development, to minimize false positive and false negative fall detection events.
Validating MRI Measures of Disease Stage and Progression in Alzheimer’s Disease

Currently no absolute diagnostic marker exists for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, better non-invasive methods are needed to identify the risk of developing AD, staging the disease, and measuring its progression. The ideal biomarker would be a direct in vivo measurement of plaque and tangle burden, and promising results toward this objective have been reported in nuclear medicine (Klunk et al. 2002; Small et al. 2002). Until such direct measures have been thoroughly validated, however, other approaches must be employed. This chapter will review the literature supporting the position that indirect measures of AD can be valid biomarkers of disease stage and progression. It seems logical that indirect measures of disease can be valid biomarkers provided that changes in the measurement are empirically proven to track with independent measures of disease stage and progression, and that a plausible biological link exists between change in the measurement and progression of the disease itself. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a highly flexible imaging modality capable of measuring a number of different biologic parameters, for example, anatomic structure, metabolite concentration, proton diffusion, tissue perfusion, etc. All these tissue properties have been evaluated to some extent with MRI as potential diagnostic features of AD. The most widely studied MRI parameter in AD, however, is anatomic structure. Brain morphometry — specifically volume — is arguably the most straightforward of all tissue parameters measurable by MRI. Measurements of tissue volume are highly reliable and also have a strong, plausible biologic link to the pathologic progression of AD. In fact, loss of neurons and synaptic pruning, which are the substrates of cerebral atrophy, are felt to be more closely linked with the clinical progression of AD than plaque and tangle density (Fig. 1).
Main and Interactive Effects of Mental Contamination and Tolerance of Negative Emotions in Relation to Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Following Sexual Trauma

Mental contamination, an internal sense of dirtiness that originates in the absence of physical contact with a stimulus, has been implicated in the exacerbation of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms following sexual trauma. In addition, evidence suggests that associations between PTS-related risk factors and PTS symptoms may depend on the degree to which one can tolerate experiencing negative emotions. To better understand the association between mental contamination and PTS symptoms, we examined main and interactive effects of mental contamination and tolerance of negative emotions in relation to PTS symptoms, including specific symptom clusters, in a community sample of women who experienced sexual trauma (N = 101). Tolerance of negative emotions moderated the association between mental contamination and PTS symptoms (total symptom severity, intrusion cluster, and cognitive/mood alterations cluster). These results indicate that difficulties tolerating negative emotions may be a necessary condition for mental contamination to relate to PTS symptoms following sexual trauma.
Was Daniel 7.13's ‘Son of Man’ Modeled after the ‘New Adam’ of the Animal Apocalypse (1 Enoch 90)? A Comparative Study:

1 Enoch (1 En.) has become a major site of discussion in contemporary biblical scholarship. Its evident use by the Qumran community, citation in Jude, and canonical status in the Ethiopian Church a...
Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Structures of 1,1-Disubstituted-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylgermoles That Exhibit Aggregation-Induced Emission

A series of 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylgermoles with different 1,1-substituents have been prepared, and their UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectral profiles in solution were determined. A thin-layer chromatography based method was used to measure their solid-state luminescence. Nine of the 11 new germoles have been characterized crystallographically. The aggregation-induced emission effect in these germoles was studied, and significant enhancement of the photoluminescence and quantum yield in mixed solvent–water systems was determined. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the formation of nanocrystalline aggregates in the mixed solvent–water systems and after exposure of the germoles to acetone, a volatile organic chemical.
On the consequences of certain modeling approximations in dynamics and control of flexible space structures

Some approximation issues for modeling dynamics of large flexible space structures are discussed. Two special discretization methods (assumed modes method and finite element method) for obtaining the finite dimensional differential equations of motion for large flexible structures are considered. We provide a careful numerical study of convergence, and show that extremely slow convergence can ensue for some commonly used basis functions and that Uapparent numerical convergence" is not reliably indicative of accuracy. Special attention is focused upon the consequences of neglecting coupling effects between the rigid body motion and the vibration of flexible appendages, for flexible structures having different degrees of flexibility. These results provide a basis for better understanding of the consequences of approximation assumptions upon the suitability of a dynamical model.
Process tracing of extensive and intensive processes

ABSTRACTThis essay briefly analyzes the introduction of process tracing to the political science and political economy methodological toolkit. It then proposes a theory-guided variant of process tracing and distinguishes between its application in extensive and intensive type of processes. It argues that the comparative advantage of process tracing vis-a-vis other social sciences research methods lies in its potential to uncover the causal mechanisms that link the constitutive events of intensive type of processes. It shows that theory-guided process tracing of intensive processes can be successfully applied to illustrate, test and produce theory.
Effect of Aspartate Supplementation on Athletic Performance and Testosterone Levels in Young Men

D-aspartic acid has been suggested to enhance athletic performance by regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis by increasing plasma testosterone. Aspartate supplementation may be useful t...
Protein kinase C: a potential pathway of endothelial cell activation by endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-1.

La proteine C kinase semble etre un mediateur commun necessaire de l'activation des cellules endotheliales par le lipopolysaccharide, le facteur de necrose tumorale et l'interleukine-1
297 Concurrent use of alcohol and marijuana and fatal motor vehicle crashes: a case-control study

Background About one third of fatally injured drivers in the United States test positive for non-alcohol drugs and 20% test positive for two or more drugs. Alcohol-marijuana is the most commonly detected poly-drug combination. The role of concurrent use of alcohol and marijuana in crash causation has not been well understood. Methods Using a case-control design, we assessed the individual and joint effects of alcohol and marijuana on fatal crash risk. Cases (n = 2613) were drivers who were involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes in the continental United States during specific time periods in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and controls (n = 7719) were participants of the 2007 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers. Results Overall, 53.3% of the cases and 8.9% of the controls had elevated blood alcohol concentrations (BAC ≥ 0.01 g/dL), and 6.0% of the cases and 3.0% of the controls tested positive for marijuana. Compared to drivers testing negative for both alcohol and marijuana, the estimated odds ratios of fatal crash involvement were 11.77 [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.78, 12.84] for those testing positive for alcohol and negative for marijuana, 2.16 (95% CI: 1.85, 2.54) for those testing negative for alcohol and positive for marijuana, and 25.46 (95% CI: 21.25, 30.51) for those testing positive for both alcohol and marijuana. Conclusions Alcohol and marijuana are each associated with a significantly increased risk of fatal crash involvement. When alcohol and marijuana are used together, there exists a positive interaction effect on the risk of fatal crash involvement on the additive and the multiplicative scales.
Catalyst-Controlled and Tunable, Chemoselective Silver-Catalyzed Intermolecular Nitrene Transfer: Experimental and Computational Studies

The development of new catalysts for selective nitrene transfer is a continuing area of interest. In particular, the ability to control the chemoselectivity of intermolecular reactions in the presence of multiple reactive sites has been a long-standing challenge in the field. In this paper, we demonstrate examples of silver-catalyzed, nondirected, intermolecular nitrene transfer reactions that are both chemoselective and flexible for aziridination or C–H insertion, depending on the choice of ligand. Experimental probes present a puzzling picture of the mechanistic details of the pathways mediated by [(tBu3tpy)AgOTf]2 and (tpa)AgOTf. Computational studies elucidate these subtleties and provide guidance for the future development of new catalysts exhibiting improved tunability in group transfer reactions.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes Are Characterized by Gene Expression Changes in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Alterations in Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Myeloid Progenitor Composition.

Abstract Abstract 1762 Poster Board I-788 The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by peripheral cytopenias due to impaired hematopoietic differentiation. To date, most data characterizing the immature hematopoietic compartment in MDS have relied on evaluation of CD34+ bone marrow cells, which are a heterogeneous population containing a predominance of oligo- and unilineage-potent progenitors and few hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). In this study we show that MDS are disorders of HSC, evidenced by the presence of recurrent cytogenetic alterations, including -5q, -7, and -20q, in highly purified HSC (Lin-CD34+CD38-CD90+CD45RA-) by FISH. Because MDS HSC harbor cytogenetic changes, we sought to better characterize the molecular basis of MDS HSC function by performing whole transcriptome analysis of highly purified HSC and committed myeloid progenitor populations from low-risk (n=8) and high-risk (n=2) MDS patients. When compared to control HSC from healthy patients (n=10), MDS HSC showed broad transcriptional changes. Using the significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) algorithm and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software, we identified 3,258 differentially expressed genes (FDR Disclosures Weissman: Amgen: Equity Ownership; Cellerant Inc.: Founder; Stem Cells Inc.: Equity Ownership, Founder; U.S. Patent Application 11/528,890 entitled “Methods for Diagnosing and Evaluating Treatment of Blood Disorders.”: Patents & Royalties.
Vacancies and Vacancy-Mediated Self Diffusion in Cr2O3: A First-Principles Study

Charged and neutral vacancies and vacancy-mediated self-diffusion in α-Cr2O3 were investigated using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) and periodic supercell formalism. The vacancy formation energies of charged defects were calculated using the electrostatic finite-size corrections to account for electrostatic interactions between supercells and the corrections for the bandgap underestimation in DFT. Calculations predict that neutral oxygen (O) vacancies are predominant in chromium (Cr)-rich conditions and Cr vacancies with −2 charge state are the dominant defects in O-rich conditions. The charge-transition levels of both O and Cr vacancies are deep within the bandgap, indicating the stability of these defects. Transport calculations indicate that vacancy-mediated diffusion along the basal plane has lower energy barriers for both O and Cr ions. The most favorable vacancy-mediated self-diffusion processes corresponds to the diffusion of Cr ion in Cr3+ charge state and O ion in O2– state, res...
Balancing Expert Opinion and Historical Data: The Case of Baseball Umpires

Many decisions benefit from situations where there exist both ample expert opinion and historical data. In cost modeling these may include the costs of software development, the learning curve rate...
Rewarding the introduction of multiparty elections

Abstract Do aid donors reward the adoption of multiparty elections? Are multiparty elections rewarded in both democracies and electoral authoritarian regimes? How do the rewards for institutional reforms compare to the rewards for substantive improvements in governance and political rights? These questions are of particular interest given both the spread of democracy and the emergence of autocracies with multiparty elections for the executive and legislature as the modal form of authoritarianism. To answer these questions, we examine temporal dynamics in aid flows before and after transitions to multiparty elections and the strategic allocation of aid rewards to specific sectors depending upon electoral competition and substantive improvements in governance and political rights. We find that, in the post-Cold War era, bilateral and multilateral donors reward the adoption of multiparty elections in both democracies and electoral authoritarian regimes while also rewarding substantive improvements in governance and political rights. Sector specific analyses reveal that multiparty elections are rewarded with greater democracy aid and economic aid in both democratic and electoral authoritarian regimes. Nevertheless, the quality of elections matters: the adoption of democratic elections receives greater aid gains than the adoption of authoritarian elections.
Rapid prototyping of GNC algorithms for gliding reentry vehicles

This paper outlines an approach developed to accelerate the conceptual design and analysis of alternatives phase while building guidance, navigation and control (GNC) architectures for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The rapid prototyping routine uses a commercial-off-the-shelf autopilot as a core around which an aircraft frame is built. The paper presents examples of applying the developed approach including GNC prototyping for a small wingspan glider resembling a re-entry vehicle which is deployed from a large Tier-2 UAV or multi-copter and autonomously navigates to a landing zone. The paper presents the overall concept, provides details on designing and manufacturing an airframe, and explains the processes of flight testing and controllers tuning.
Efferent modulation of pre-neural and neural distortion products.

Abstract Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and distortion product frequency following responses (DPFFRs) are respectively pre-neural and neural measurements associated with cochlear nonlinearity. Because cochlear nonlinearity is putatively linked to outer hair cell electromotility, DPOAEs and DPFFRs may provide complementary measurements of the human medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex, which directly modulates outer hair cell function. In this study, we first quantified MOC reflex-induced DPOAE inhibition at spectral fine structure peaks in 22 young human adults with normal hearing. The f1 and f2 tone pairs producing the largest DPOAE fine structure peak for each subject were then used to evoke DPFFRs with and without MOC reflex activation to provide a related neural measure of efferent inhibition. We observed significant positive relationships between DPOAE fine structure peak inhibition and inhibition of DPFFR components representing neural phase locking to f2 and 2f1-f2, but not f1. These findings may support previous observations that the MOC reflex inhibits DPOAE sources differentially. That these effects are maintained and represented in the auditory brainstem suggests that the MOC reflex may exert a potent influence on subsequent subcortical neural representation of sound.
Algorithms for Barrier Options

We consider barrier options that knock out the first time the price S t of the underlying asset crosses a predetermined knock-out barrier b. This is one flavor of barrier options; a timing feature is added in [29], where options loose a fraction of their value for every day they spend above (or below) b.
The Use of Intravital Two-Photon and Thick Section Confocal Imaging to Analyze B Lymphocyte Trafficking in Lymph Nodes and Spleen

Intravital two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TP-LSM) has allowed the direct observation of immune cells in intact organs of living animals. In the B cell biology field TP-LSM has detailed the movement of B cells in high endothelial venules and during their transmigration into lymph organs; described the movement and positioning of B cells within lymphoid organs; outlined the mechanisms by which antigen is delivered to B cells; observed B cell interacting with T cells, other cell types, and even with pathogens; and delineated the egress of B cells from the lymph node (LN) parenchyma into the efferent lymphatics. As the quality of TP-LSM improves and as new fluorescent probes become available additional insights into B cell behavior and function await new investigations. Yet intravital TP-LSM has some disadvantages including a lower resolution than standard confocal microscopy, a narrow imaging window, and a shallow depth of imaging. We have found that supplementing intravital TP-LSM with conventional confocal microscopy using thick LN sections helps to overcome some of these shortcomings. Here, we describe procedures for visualizing the behavior and trafficking of fluorescently labeled, adoptively transferred antigen-activated B cells within the inguinal LN of live mice using two-photon microscopy. Also, we introduce procedures for fixed thick section imaging using standard confocal microscopy, which allows imaging of fluorescently labeled cells deep in the LN cortex and in the spleen with high resolution.
Evidence on botulinum toxin in selected disorders.

Abstract Botulinum toxin (BoNT) is a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum that has become widely used for various neurologic indications. The four toxin formulations currently available for use in the United States (approved by the Food and Drug Administration) are onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®), abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®), incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®), and rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc®). While the FDA-approved labels indicate that potency conversions should not be done, literature supports relative dose equivalents of approximately 1:1:2–4:50-100, respectively. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence on the use of BoNT formulations available in the United States for specific neurologic disorders, including blepharospasm, cervical dystonia (CD), upper and lower extremity spasticity and chronic migraine. Data from the updated 2016 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guidelines are presented and the level of evidence for use of the four available preparations of BoNT are discussed (Table 2 in appendix). For the management of blepharospasm, the recommendations are for use of onaBoNT-A and incoBoNT-A injections with level B evidence. For the management of CD, the recommendations are for use of aboBoNT-A and rimaBoNT-B with level A evidence. For the management of upper extremity spasticity, the recommendations are for use of aboBoNT-A, incoBoNT-A and onaBoNT-A with level A evidence. For the management of lower extremity spasticity, the recommendations are for use of onaBoNT-A and aboBoNT-A with level A evidence. For the management of chronic migraines, the recommendations are for use of onaBoNT-A to help improve headache-free days, with level A evidence. It is important for the clinician to understand that BoNT is for use in symptomatic control for the underlying neurologic disorder and, at present, has not shown a role in disease modification.
Changes in t and non-t lymphocyte subsets following seroconversion to hiv-1: Stable cd3+ and declining cd3− populations suggest regulatory responses linked to loss of cd4 lymphocytes

We investigated changes in lymphocyte subsets (total, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as non-T cells) associated with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) seroconversion in 321 homosexual or bisexual men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). These subjects had serial lymphocyte characterizations for up to 4 years before and 5 years after seroconversion. CD4+ lymphocyte levels declined rapidly in the first 18 months following seroconversion and less rapidly thereafter, while CD8 lymphocytes increased with similar kinetics. In contrast, total T (CD3+) lymphocytes declined only slightly in the first 18 months following seroconversion, and then remained stable. These results support the hypothesis of physiologic regulation of the total number of circulating T cells, such that lost CD4+ lymphocytes are replaced by newly generated CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes; over time, continued loss of CD4+ lymphocytes due to HIV-1 infection would result in net replacement of lost CD4+ lymphocytes with CD8+ lymphocytes. Non-T (CD3-) lymphocytes also declined after seroconversion, and this decline paralleled that of CD4+ lymphocytes. Thus, changes in both T and non-T lymphocytes after HIV-1 seroconversion may reflect the operation of homeostatic or regulatory mechanisms. Whether these mechanisms contribute to the development of immune deficiency requires further study.
Solute Leaching from Fly Ash Amended Soil Under Varying Degrees of Saturation

Most of the fly ash produced in the US is stockpiled or disposed of in settling ponds where solute leaching can pose an environmental and health concern. Therefore, a series of saturated and unsaturated column experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of saturation and pore solution residence time (i.e., equilibration time) on the leaching of solutes from fly ash when incorporated within surface horizon material from a loamy sand soil. Repacked soil columns were leached at various moisture contents using an Unsaturated Flow Apparatus (UFA), a modified centrifuge for conducting steady-state leaching experiments. Additional column experiments were conducted under saturated conditions to isolate the effects of residence time from that of water content. Addition of 10 percent fly ash (by weight) significantly increased water-holding capacity in the loamy sand. Leachate concentration of As and Se increased as residence time increased. Most Se leaching took place in the first few pore volumes, indicating that weathering the fly ash may help alleviate some of its phytotoxic effects. Since saturation was related to residence time in these experiments, the effect of water content could not be isolated, though there appeared to be a delay in the “leaching front” as the soil became desaturated. However, comparisons of unsaturated leaching studies to saturated leaching studies are difficult due to the variation in water content under unsaturated conditions.
Exploring the relationship between online discourse and commitment in Twitter professional learning communities

Abstract Educators show great interest in participating in social-media communities, such as Twitter, to support their professional development and learning. The majority of the research into Twitter-based professional learning communities has investigated why educators choose to use Twitter for professional development and learning and what they actually do in these communities. However, few studies have examined why certain community members remain committed and others gradually drop out. To fill this gap in the research, this study investigated how some key features of online discourse influenced the continued participation of the members of a Twitter-based professional learning community. More than 600,000 tweets generated over six years under the hashtag #edchat were gathered. Online discourse was deconstructed to the cognitive dimension, the interactive dimension, and the social dimension. Text-mining methods were then used to automatically identify these dimensions in the tweets. Finally, survival analysis was used to quantify the influences of these dimensions on users' commitment time to the Twitter community. The implications of the results and findings are then discussed. Wanli Xing is an Assistant Professor in Instructional Technology at Texas Tech University, USA with background in learning sciences, statistics, computer science and mathematical modeling. His research interests are educational data mining, learning analytics, and CSCL. Gao Fei is an Associate Professor at Bowling Green State University. Her current research involves examining the types of interaction and learning enabled by online social technologies, designing technology-mediated environments that encourage meaningful social interaction, and exploring pedagogical methods that promote deep learning in such environments.
Opportunistic Sensing with MIC Arrays on Smart Speakers for Distal Interaction and Exercise Tracking

In 2017, smart speakers (such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, etc.) became a commercial success. Most smart speakers have a circular microphone array to provide hands-free, voice-only interaction from a distance. In this work, we exploit this mic array for opportunistically sensing gestures and tracking exercises. To this end, we measure the Doppler shift on a pilot tone caused by a gesturing human body, and use beamforming of the mic array to extend the range of the detection. Data from 12 participants show that gestures can be detected with an accuracy of 96.8% up to a distance of 2.5 meters using an inaudible 20 kHz pilot tone. For exercise tracking, we train a deep neural network to recognize 10 different exercises, and count repetitions by peak-finding heuristics. Data from 17 participants show that exercise classification accuracy is 96% and count accuracy is 91.8%. To conclude, we discuss hardware enhancements to smart speakers to further increase their gesture sensing capabilities.
Identification and characterization of two new electronic states of PtF: Analysis of the (2,1), (1,0), (0,0), (0,1), (1,2), and (0,2) bands of the [15.8 + x] Ω = 5/2 − B 2Δ5/2 transition

Abstract Several new electronic transitions of PtF have been observed in the high resolution spectra recorded in absorption using Intracavity Laser Spectroscopy (ILS). The PtF molecules were produced in a current-regulated RF discharge operating with 0.30–0.80 A applied to a Pt-lined Cu hollow cathode in 0.50–1.25 Torr of 1–5% SF6 in an Ar/He sputter gas mixture. This hollow cathode was located within the resonator cavity of a tunable DCM dye laser operating over the 14,500–16,500 cm−1 range, and effective pathlengths of 0.4–2.0 km were utilized with the ILS method. Six band systems were identified as the (2,1), (1,0), (0,0), (0,1), (1,2), and (0,2) bands of the [15.8 + x] Ω = 5/2 − B 2Δ5/2 transition. Spectral features due to 194PtF, 195PtF, 196PtF, and 198PtF were identified, and the data were fit to mass-independent Dunham-type expressions using PGOPHER. A Pt-isotope field-shift correction to the electronic excitation energy was required to model the observed transitions to within experimental uncertainty. The results of this study indicate that the [0.4] 2Δ5/2 state reported by Ng et al. must be the A 2Σ+ state of PtF, and the experimental findings correspond well with the theoretical predictions of Zou and Suo (2016).
In vitro color stainability and relative translucency of CAD-CAM restorative materials used for laminate veneers and complete crowns.

Abstract Statement of problem Assessing the long-term stainability and durability of restorative materials is an important parameter for determining clinical success and longevity. Information remains limited regarding the color stainability and translucency of the recently introduced ceramic materials for restorative treatment. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the effect of cyclic immersion in hot and cold coffee on the color stainability and translucency of 6 computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) restorative materials at thicknesses which represent a laminate veneer and a complete crown. Material and methods CAD-CAM restorative materials including zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate ceramic (Celtra Duo), lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max CAD), polymerized resin nanoceramic (Lava Ultimate), integrated ceramic and acrylate polymer network material (VITA ENAMIC), zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (VITA SUPRINITY), and zirconia (VITA YZ HT) were studied in 2 thicknesses for laminate veneer (0.7 mm) and complete crown application (1.3 mm to 1.5 mm). For each specimen, color difference on a gray backing was calculated using a spectroradiometer between its baseline color and after 6000 cycles of coffee thermocycling. The colors of the specimens on the black and white backings were used to calculate the relative translucency parameter from the CIEDE2000 color difference formula. An ANOVA and the Bonferroni-corrected Student t tests were used for testing statistical significance (α=.05). Results No difference was found among the means of color change after coffee thermocycling between any 2 materials for the crown thickness (P>.999), and no difference was found among the means of color change between the 2 thickness groups within each material (P≥.187). However, the mean color change of the resin nanoceramic material in laminate veneer application (0.7 mm) was greater than that of every other material in the veneer thickness group (P Conclusions Color change after coffee thermocycling of the resin nanoceramic material was beyond the acceptability threshold. The lower translucency found for crown thickness compared with veneer thickness was verified.
Next-generation virtual metrology for semiconductor manufacturing: A feature-based framework

Abstract In semiconductor manufacturing, virtual metrology (VM), also known as soft sensor, is the prediction of wafer properties using process variables and other information available for the process and/or the product without physically conducting property measurement. VM has been utilized in semiconductor manufacturing for process monitoring and control for the last decades. In this work, we demonstrate the shortcomings of some of the commonly used VM methods and propose a feature-based VM (FVM) framework. Unlike existing VM approaches where the original process variables are correlated to metrology measurements, FVM correlates batch features to metrology measurements. We argue that batch features can better capture semiconductor batch process characteristics and dynamic behaviors. As a result, they can be used to build better predictive models for predicting metrology measurements. FVM naturally addresses some common challenges that cannot be readily handled by existing VM approaches, such as unequal batch lengths and/or unsynchronized batch trajectories. A simulated and an industrial case studies are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed FVM method. We discuss how to generate and select features systematically, and demonstrate how feature selection affects FVM performance using a case study. Finally, the capabilities of FVM in addressing process nonlinearity is investigated in great details for the first time, which helps establish the theoretical foundations of the proposed framework for the semiconductor industry.
Organotin Polymers as Antiviral Agents Including Inhibition of Zika and Vaccinia Viruses

The ability to inhibit two important viruses is described. Two groups of polymers exhibited ability to totally inhibit the Zika virus. These polymers are derived from organotin dihalides and camphoric acid and lamivudine. This is the initial report of complete inhibition of the Zika virus by simple drugs. The ability to inhibit vaccinia virus is also reported. The inhibition of the vaccinia virus is shown by a number of organotin drugs including those also derived from lamivudine and camphoric acid and additional drugs derived from 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, dicumarol, 4,6-diaminopyridine, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxcinnamic acid, and a variety of organotin polyethers including water soluble polymers derived from poly(ethylene glycol). All the drugs described in these studies are rapidly (< 30 s) synthesized using commercially available reactants at room temperature employing the interfacial reaction system that is employed industrially so that scale up to kilograms is relatively straight forward.
Genetic Variations and Polymorphisms of Metabolic Enzymes

Genetic polymorphism is a DNA sequence variation, which is common in human population. Genes involved in the biosynthesis of metabolic enzymes are subject to genetic polymorphisms. Enzyme polymorphisms play a critical role in xenobiotic cytotoxicity and carcinogenesis. Genetic differences in drug metabolism are the result of variations in alleles for genes that code for the enzymes responsible for drug metabolism. Genetic polymorphisms presented include cytochrome P450, flavin-containing monooxygenase, peroxidase, and carboxylesterase of activation enzymes, as well as glutathione S-transferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, sulfotransferase, N-acetyltransferase and methyltransferase of transferases, and quinone oxidoreductase and epoxide hydrolase of non-transferases of detoxification enzymes.
Chapter 66 – Dance Language

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses dance language in bees. The dance language of honeybees refers to patterned, repetitive movements performed by bees that serve to communicate to their nestmates the location of food sources or nest sites. The dance language is famous for a number of reasons. It is frequently cited as the premiere example of symbolic communication among nonhuman animals, and it is one of the first and best examples of such communication aside from human language. The discovery that mere insects could perform such a complex behavior led to a reassessment of the behavioral complexity possible among these animals with relatively small nervous systems, which had formerly been regarded as simple automatons governed by instinct and reflex. Finally, the dance language has provided a tool for studying the perceptual world and behavioral response of bees that has illuminated our understanding of their vision, olfaction, memory, orientation, learning, and social organization and has provided a model for understanding these areas about insects in general.
Taking Cartography into the Cloud

The Internet has become the major medium for maps but few resources exist that effectively brings the instruction of cartography into the cloud. In making this transition, the theory of cartography must be closely integrated with a practical knowledge of cloud resources including web hosting, scripting, programming, Application Programmer Interfaces (APIs), and online databases. In addition to knowing the principles of cartography, the modern cartographer should feel comfortable with the entire set of tools that constitute the cloud environment. A series of inter-connected concepts are described that are used to introduce the making of maps using cloud resources. The method alternates between theory and practice. The theoretical component includes such topics as the development of maps and the Internet and the role of cartographic communication. Practical aspects include HTML, JavaScript, php, SQL and the use of various APIs.
872-P: Improved HbA1c Estimation Using CGM Data

The Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) is the accepted method to estimate HbA1c from mean CGM glucose. We hypothesize that HbA1c estimation could be improved with machine learning (ML) methods that account for additional covariates. CGM, HbA1c, and demographic data were aggregated from five studies (3,550 HbA1c measurements, 1,095 participants). For each HbA1c, the following statistics were derived from all CGM data recorded up to 30 days before and 5 days after measuring HbA1c: mean, SD, CV, and % time in various ranges. Using HbA1c as the outcome and all CGM glucose statistics and demographics as covariates, the ML models LASSO, LASSO with all two-way interactions, and random forest were tuned via 5-fold cross validation (CV). Top performing models were compared to GMI via 5-fold CV and the paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Random forest performed best, with 20% lower estimation error than GMI (p Disclosure J. Grossman: None. A.T. Ward: None. D.M. Maahs: Advisory Panel; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S. Consultant; Self; Abbott, Sanofi. Research Support; Self; Bigfoot Biomedical, Dexcom, Inc., Roche Diabetes Care, Tandem Diabetes Care. P. Prahalad: None. D. Scheinker: None.
Compactness of the $\bar{\partial}$-Neumann problem on domains with bounded intrinsic geometry

By considering intrinsic geometric conditions, we introduce a new class of domains in complex Euclidean space. This class is invariant under biholomorphism and includes strongly pseudoconvex domains, finite type domains in dimension two, convex domains, $\mathbb{C}$-convex domains, and homogeneous domains. For this class of domains, we show that compactness of the $\bar{\partial}$-Neumann operator on $(0,q)$-forms is equivalent to the boundary not containing any $q$-dimensional analytic varieties (assuming only that the boundary is a topological submanifold). We also prove, for this class of domains, that the Bergman metric is equivalent to the Kobayashi metric and that the pluricomplex Green function satisfies certain local estimates in terms of the Bergman metric.
Differentially Private Imaging via Latent Space Manipulation.

There is growing concern about image privacy due to the popularity of social media and photo devices, along with increasing use of face recognition systems. However, established image de-identification techniques are either too subject to re-identification, produce photos that are insufficiently realistic, or both. To tackle this, we present a novel approach for image obfuscation by manipulating latent spaces of an unconditionally trained generative model that is able to synthesize photo-realistic facial images of high resolution. This manipulation is done in a way that satisfies the formal privacy standard of local differential privacy. To our knowledge, this is the first approach to image privacy that satisfies $\varepsilon$-differential privacy \emph{for the person.}