Conditions under which adjustability lowers the cost of a robust linear program

The adjustable robust counterpart (ARC) of an uncertain linear program extends the robust counterpart (RC) by allowing some decision variables to adjust to the realizations of some uncertain parameters. The ARC may product a less conservative solution than the RC does but cases are known in which it does not. While the literature documents some examples of cost savings provided by adjustability (particularly affine adjustability), it is not straightforward to determine in advance whether they will materialize. The affine adjustable robust counterpart, while having a tractable structure, still may be much larger than the original problem. We establish conditions under which affine adjustability may lover the optimal cost with a numerical condition that can be checked in small representative instances. As demonstrated in applications, the conditions provide insights into constraint relationships that allow adjustability to make a difference

Influence Of The Margin Design On The Fracture Resistance Of Implant Supported Monolithic Zirconia Crowns

The purpose of this in vitro study was to test the influence of the margin design of implant supported monolithic zirconia crowns and test if monolithic zirconia crowns with extra fine finish line thickness cemented on zirconia implant abutments can bare the maximum masticatory forces on molars and hence be used in the posterior region. Fourteen identical monolithic zirconia crowns cemented on zirconia implant abutments mounted on titanium bases and fixed on implant replicas embedded in PMMA resin were divided into two groups: group I designed with a 0.5 mm CFL (CFL) and group II with a feather-edge finish line (FEFL) of 0.3 mm. All specimens underwent static load until fracture in order to determine the break force. Break forces in N were recorded for each group. The CFL group exhibited slightly higher fracture resistance (1879.14 ± 322.28 N) compared to the feather-edge finish line group (1685.00 ± 362.18 N). However, statistical analysis revealed that the observed difference between the two groups (194.14 ± 183.24; p = 0.310) was not significant. Within the limitations of this study, both monolithic zirconia crowns with 0.5 mm chamfer and 0.3 mm feather edge margins cemented on zirconia implant abutments can be used in the posterior region as their resistance to fracture is similar and surpasses the maximum masticatory force applied on molars

Preparing Students for Team-Based Care for Vulnerable Populations

Health professionals have an obligation to improve both the health of the individual and the public in a time of scarce resources. The Institute of Medicine (IOM), Healthy People Curriculum Task Force and professional education accreditation standards indicate the need for health care professionals to demonstrate competencies related to community engagement, basic health promotion skills and the ability to work effectively in interprofessional teams. An Interprofessional Course, IPE 413: Developing Care for a Vulnerable Population provides students the opportunity to collaborate to address health needs in cooperation with a community partner. Students work in teams to address the complex health care needs of an individual community member. The one hour elective course is open to students from nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, social work, and exercise science. Efforts are underway to explore the possibility of offering this course to medical students. Students are assessed on the knowledge and experience gained through this interprofessional experience using the Team Skills Scale and student reflections. Faculties from each of the disciplines utilize a collaborative model in the instructional design of the course. The content is co-taught and faculty not only role model interprofessional care, but also serve as mentors and resource personnel for the students as they work with their clients

In vitro evaluation of the color stability and surface roughness of a new composite flow

The aim of this study was to evaluate the color stability and the surface roughness of a bulk-fill composite flow (SDR® Plus) by comparison to an ORMOCER-based composite (Ceram.x® Universal SphereTEC?) in order to confirm the validity of using SDR® Plus

Multiple occurrences of king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) sexual harassment by Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella)

Sexual coercion is the use of force to achieve mating, while reproductive interference encompasses many forms of interspecific interactions during mating. We describe three new occurrences of the sexual coercion of king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) by Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. These recurrent observations follow a common pattern where the seal chases, captures and mounts the penguin, followed by copulation attempts. These observations are similar to a previously published observation from the same island and we suggest that this may be an emergent behaviour. Two hypotheses directed at possible drivers for these coercive actions are examined: it may be learned behaviour associated with some sort of reward or it may be an extreme case of reproductive interference that can be explained by the ‘mate deprivation hypothesis’, resulting from the continued growth of the A. gazella population on the island. Reporting of similar occurrences from a range of species may allow more robust inference towards the ultimate drivers of the behaviour.Supplementary material 1 (MPG 102966 kb) Online resource 1 Antarctic fur seal’s (Arctocephalus gazella) penis visible while coercing king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). (W.A. Haddad)Supplementary material 2 (MPG 79504 kb) Online resource 2 King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) tries to resist sexual coercion by Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella). (W.A. Haddad)Supplementary material 3 (MPG 258500 kb) Online resource 3 Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) sexually coerces king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). (W.A. Haddad)The Department of Science and Technology (DST), through the National Research Foundation (NRF) (South Africa).http://link.springer.com/journal/300hb2017Mammal Research InstituteZoology and Entomolog

"This House Is Now" (Desert In, episode 1)

Limited Series opera created for Boston Lyric's Opera streaming station, Desert In is a opera created for the screen, "shot" like a television series. It will feature actors from traditionally marginalized groups, and will be directed by James Darrah and Joy Kecken. It is schedule to premiered in late spring 2021.Othe

m6A RNA Modification Controls Cell Fate Transition in Mammalian Embryonic Stem Cells

N6-methyl-adenosine (m[superscript 6]A) is the most abundant modification on messenger RNAs and is linked to human diseases, but its functions in mammalian development are poorly understood. Here we reveal the evolutionary conservation and function of m[superscript 6]A by mapping the m[superscript 6]A methylome in mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Thousands of messenger and long noncoding RNAs show conserved m[superscript 6]A modification, including transcripts encoding core pluripotency transcription factors. m[superscript 6]A is enriched over 3′ untranslated regions at defined sequence motifs and marks unstable transcripts, including transcripts turned over upon differentiation. Genetic inactivation or depletion of mouse and human Mettl3, one of the m[superscript 6]A methylases, led to m[superscript 6]A erasure on select target genes, prolonged Nanog expression upon differentiation, and impaired ESC exit from self-renewal toward differentiation into several lineages in vitro and in vivo. Thus, m[superscript 6]A is a mark of transcriptome flexibility required for stem cells to differentiate to specific lineages