Vibration Characteristics of the Rotating Dental Instrument

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66747/2/10.1177_00220345500290050801.pd

Implementing and Evaluating a Gaussian Mixture Framework for Identifying Gene Function from TnSeq Data

The rapid acceleration of microbial genome sequencing increases opportunities to understand bacterial gene function. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of genes have been studied. Recently, TnSeq has been proposed as a cost-effective, highly reliable approach to predict gene functions as a response to changes in a cell\u27s fitness before-after genomic changes. However, major questions remain about how to best determine whether an observed quantitative change in fitness represents a meaningful change. To address the limitation, we develop a Gaussian mixture model framework for classifying gene function from TnSeq experiments. In order to implement the mixture model, we present the Expectation-Maximization algorithm and a hierarchical Bayesian model sampled using Stan\u27s Hamiltonian Monte-Carlo sampler. We compare these implementations against the frequentist method used in current TnSeq literature. From simulations and real data produced by E.coli TnSeq experiments, we show that the Bayesian implementation of the Gaussian mixture framework provides the most consistent classification results

Building a database for energy sufficiency policies

Sufficiency measures are potentially decisive for the decarbonisation of energy systems but rarely considered in energy policy and modelling. Just as efficiency and renewable energies, the diffusion of demand-side solutions to climate change also relies on policy-making. Our extensive literature review of European and national sufficiency policies fills a gap in existing databases. We present almost 300 policy instruments clustered into relevant categories and publish them as "Energy Sufficiency Policy Database". This paper provides a description of the data clustering, the set-up of the database and an analysis of the policy instruments. A key insight is that sufficiency policy includes much more than bans of products or information tools leaving the responsibility to individuals. It is a comprehensive instrument mix of all policy types, not only enabling sufficiency action, but also reducing currently existing barriers. A policy database can serve as a good starting point for policy recommendations and modelling, further research is needed on barriers and demand-reduction potentials of sufficiency policy instruments

Accuracy and Consistency of Radiographic Interpretation Among Clinical Instructors in Conjunction with a Training Program

There are inaccuracies and inconsistencies of radiographic interpretation among clinical instructors. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a training program could improve the accuracy and consistency of instructors’ ratings of bone loss. A total of thirty-five clinical instructors consisting of periodontal faculty (periodontists and general dentists), dental hygiene faculty, and periodontal graduate students viewed projected digitized radiographic images and quantified bone loss for twenty-five teeth into four descriptive categories. Ratings of bone loss were made immediately before (pretest) and after (post-test 1) initiation of the training program and then again three months later (post-test 2). Ratings were compared to the correct choice categories as determined by direct measurement using the Schei ruler. Overall agreement with the correct choice improved over time (from 64.5 percent to 85.2 percent) with the greatest change from pretest (64.5 percent) to post-test 1 (76.5 percent). Mean and absolute differences improved in three of the four categories, but worsened in one from pretest to post-test 1. This category returned to its original high value at post-test 2. The greatest improvement in consistency among instructors’ ratings was seen in one of the four categories, which was “none” (no bone loss). Extension of the training program may further enhance the accuracy and consistency of instructors’ radiographic interpretation

Accuracy and Consistency of Radiographic Interpretation Among Clinical Instructors Using Two Viewing Systems

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153540/1/jddj002203372006702tb04071x.pd

Accuracy and Consistency of Radiographic Interpretation Among Clinical Instructors Using Two Viewing Systems

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153540/1/jddj002203372006702tb04071x.pd

Calculation of nuclear magnetic shielding constants using variation-perturbation method with moderate size basis sets

Within a framework of variation-perturbation formalism of Karplus-Kolker, an algorithm and a program for the nuclear magnetic shielding calculations with ground-state wave functions were developed. The calculations of nuclear magnetic shielding σ in some diatomic molecules and also in methane, water and CH3F molecules with 6-311G ab initio wave functions were carried out. The results were compared with the experimental data and the results obtained by other theoretical methods. This method can be considered as an alternative approach for the calculations of the magnetic anisotropic effects on chemical shifts and can be used for predicting the tendencies in magnetic shielding alteration due to the different fragments in a big molecular systems. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

The consumption of protein-rich foods in older adults: An exploratory focus group study

Objective: Many older adults consume inadequate protein for their needs. This study explored the factors associated with the consumption of high-protein foods in older adults. Methods: Participants over the age of 65 years (n = 28) took part in 1 of 4 focus group discussions on meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and pulses. Discussions were audio taped, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Numerous and various reasons for the consumption and non-consumption of high-protein foods were reported. Many of these reasons result from reductions in chemosensory, dental and physical abilities, and changes in living situation in the older population, and have impact specifically on high-protein foods because of their often hard, perishable and need-to-be-cooked nature, and high cost. Conclusions and Implications: Further work is required to establish the importance of each of thesereasons in relation to protein intakes, to prioritize those of likely greatest impact for increasing intakes. © 2013 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior

Latent Stochastic Differential Equations for Modeling Quasar Variability and Inferring Black Hole Properties

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are believed to be powered by the accretion of matter around supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. The variability of an AGN's brightness over time can reveal important information about the physical properties of the underlying black hole. The temporal variability is believed to follow a stochastic process, often represented as a damped random walk described by a stochastic differential equation (SDE). With upcoming wide-field surveys set to observe 100 million AGN in multiple bandpass filters, there is a need for efficient and automated modeling techniques that can handle the large volume of data. Latent SDEs are well-suited for modeling AGN time series data, as they can explicitly capture the underlying stochastic dynamics. In this work, we modify latent SDEs to jointly reconstruct the unobserved portions of multivariate AGN light curves and infer their physical properties such as the black hole mass. Our model is trained on a realistic physics-based simulation of ten-year AGN light curves, and we demonstrate its ability to fit AGN light curves even in the presence of long seasonal gaps and irregular sampling across different bands, outperforming a multi-output Gaussian process regression baseline.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted at the ICLR 2023 Workshop on Physics for Machine Learnin

Phenotypic and functional analyses show stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells better mimic fetal rather than adult hepatocytes

Background & Aims: Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs), differentiated from pluripotent stem cells by the use of soluble factors, can model human liver function and toxicity. However, at present HLC maturity and whether any deficit represents a true fetal state or aberrant differentiation is unclear and compounded by comparison to potentially deteriorated adult hepatocytes. Therefore, we generated HLCs from multiple lineages, using two different protocols, for direct comparison with fresh fetal and adult hepatocytes. Methods: Protocols were developed for robust differentiation. Multiple transcript, protein and functional analyses compared HLCs to fresh human fetal and adult hepatocytes. Results: HLCs were comparable to those of other laboratories by multiple parameters. Transcriptional changes during differentiation mimicked human embryogenesis and showed more similarity to pericentral than periportal hepatocytes. Unbiased proteomics demonstrated greater proximity to liver than 30 other human organs or tissues. However, by comparison to fresh material, HLC maturity was proven by transcript, protein and function to be fetal-like and short of the adult phenotype. The expression of 81% phase 1 enzymes in HLCs was significantly upregulated and half were statistically not different from fetal hepatocytes. HLCs secreted albumin and metabolized testosterone (CYP3A) and dextrorphan (CYP2D6) like fetal hepatocytes. In seven bespoke tests, devised by principal components analysis to distinguish fetal from adult hepatocytes, HLCs from two different source laboratories consistently demonstrated fetal characteristics. Conclusions: HLCs from different sources are broadly comparable with unbiased proteomic evidence for faithful differentiation down the liver lineage. This current phenotype mimics human fetal rather than adult hepatocytes