Abstract: This paper discusses a newly created platform of online courses covering a range of digital humanities methods and asks what the assortment of courses demonstrate about the nature of digital humanities (DH). The role of methods in defining the field of “digital humanities” is reviewed, followed by description of the educational platform itself – Digital Methods Platform for Arts and Humanities (DiMPAH) – before reflecting on what the ensemble of courses reveal about digital humanities in practice . Themes emerging from this reflection include: the division between research-driven and collection-driven initiative; the situatedness of methods; and the persistent role of…disciplinary knowledge matters. The paper concludes by what the platform – produced by scholars from across Europe – along with the methods and use cases presented therein suggest about future stories for the continent through DH.
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Keywords: Digital humanities, online education, resource development, digital methods
Abstract: The prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) facility at the Pakistan Research Reactor (PARR-I) has been used for elemental analysis of different kinds of materials. A high-efficiency, high-resolution gamma spectrometer based on a high-purity germanium detector is being employed in this study. The cadmium ratio of the incident neutron beam is 62 and the thermal neutron flux at the target position is about 1.5×106 n/cm2 /s. The system is usually operated in Compton suppression mode to enhance peak to background ratio in the lower energy region (<1.5 MeV). The gamma ray detector is calibrated with standard radioactive sources up to…1.5 MeV. The aim of the present study is to determine the quantity of boron in reactor grade steels as well as in some other materials containing boron. The results of boron assessment in SS-304L and amorphous (Fe0.99 Mo0.01 )78 Si9 B13 alloy are also presented.
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Abstract: Rebar cages are the skeletons of reinforced concrete columns formed by connecting the longitudinal to the transverse reinforcement with tie wire connections. The collapse of several bridge rebar cages recently showed the need to establish guidelines to enhance the lateral stability of these temporary structures. The results of experimental and analytical studies on the stability of bridge column rebar cages are presented in this paper. An experimental investigation was conducted on two full-scale rebar cages to determine their lateral behavior and to calibrate nonlinear computational models. Using these calibrated models, the effects of various cage parameters on the lateral stability…of rebar cages were investigated. Based on this investigation, it was concluded that the internal bracings provide the significant component of the cage lateral stiffness and strength. Guidelines to improve the lateral stability of column rebar cages are proposed.
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Keywords: Rebar cages, stability, tie wires, construction, columns
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Neurosensory impairment is a common complication following inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage. OBJECTIVE: To document and report the various causes, diagnosis, and management of IAN damage secondary to orthodontic treatment. METHODS: An electronic search for studies that reported IAN damage in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment was performed up to July 15, 2020 using MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases. Descriptive analyses and linear regression model were performed. RESULTS: A total of 15 case reports were identified including 16 patients with an overall mean age of 23.3. All the included studies reported temporary sensory alterations which manifested as anesthesia (19%, n…= 3), paresthesia (75%, n = 12), or combined (6%, n = 1). The majority of cases managed by stopping the orthodontic force (75%, n = 12), followed by appliance adjustments (19%, n = 3), providing a bite plate (13%, n = 2), and/or providing pharmacological management (38%, n = 6). Full recovery median duration reported in all cases following the aforementioned managements was 17.5 days. CONCLUSIONS: IAN damage secondary to orthodontic treatment is emerging in the literature in recent years. Identifying high risk patients with close proximity to the IAN canal is a must to formulate a proper treatment plan to avoid such complications.
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Abstract: Integral abutment bridges have certain advantages over conventional seat-type abutment bridges due to increased redundancy, higher damping, smaller displacements, and, thus, the elimination of unseating potential. However, there is a lack of information on their seismic modeling, system response, and seismic design. This paper presents the recommended guidelines for the seismic design of steel bridges with integral abutments. These guidelines are based on extensive analytical investigations as well as available experimental research. Contrary to the common assumption in analysis and design, nonlinear finite element analyses showed that the typical girder-to-abutment connection is not rigid and can influence the overall seismic…response of the bridge. A procedure for calculating the minimum required embedment length of the girder into abutment stem to achieve a rigid connection is proposed. A procedure to evaluate the steel pile ultimate lateral displacement capacity is also proposed. The use of the system-level damping due to yielding and inelastic response of the various components including the soil behind the abutments and around the piles is discussed.
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Keywords: Integral abutment bridges, seismic design, steel piles, seismic behavior
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Many novel biomaterials have been incorporated in toothpastes to promote remineralization of tooth structure. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to compare the discrepancies between declared and actual total fluoride (TF) or total soluble fluoride (TSF) concentration of two modern toothpastes containing bioactive glasses; these were also assessed for their remineralization potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The TF and TSF concentration were assessed using a fluoride ion selective electrode. Enamel remineralization was evaluated through micro-hardness analysis. Eighteen enamel blocks were divided into three groups: 1 (n = 6; control), 2 (n = 6; Novamin® toothpaste), and 3 (n = 6; BiominF® toothpaste). The…specimens were demineralized by 6 wt% citric acid (pH = 2.2). Subsequently, the specimens in group 1 were kept in artificial saliva (AS), while the specimens in groups 2 and 3 were stored in AS + Novamin® and AS + Biomin® , respectively. RESULTS: Both Novamin® or BiominF® showed less TF concentration than their label claims. BiominF® had more TF and TSF compared to Novamin® (p < 0.05). The BiominF® toothpaste presented higher micro-hardness values on remineralization. CONCLUSION: BiominF® toothpaste demonstrated more fluoride content and greater potential to promote remineralization of demineralized human enamel compared to Novamin® .
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Abstract: Weather prediction is paramount for many applications and scenarios, among them is agriculture. In order to efficiently irrigate the crops with the exact needed water amount, weather forecasting can be used to optimize the quantity of required irrigation water such that the crops are neither dried up nor over-irrigated. This paper proposes a Machine Learning (ML)-based weather forecasting model, which utilizes the Social Spider Algorithm-Least Square-Support Vector Machine (SSA-LS-SVM) algorithm. The simulation results are used to predict the prime weather and soil parameters such as the atmospheric temperature, pressure, and soil humidity for 24, 48, and 72 hours based on…previous 39 days’ hourly data for Amman city. The predicted values showed low relative mean square errors compared with the actual values and the LS-SVM predictor.
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Keywords: Weather forecasting, prediction, smart irrigation, artificial intelligence, social spider algorithm-least square support vector machine, least square support vector machine
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) prior to radical cystectomy (RC) improves overall survival in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but successful completion rates of NAC are low. A retrospective analysis was undertaken to determine the etiology of deviations of NAC administration for MIBC. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of MIBC patients in an institutional database who received NAC followed by RC from 2008 to 2016. Patients were characterized as having completed NAC without deviation (“No Deviation”) or with deviation (“Deviation”). Factors associated with “Deviation” were assessed with logistic regression models. RESULTS: 172 MIBC patients received NAC followed by RC; 49 were…excluded due to incomplete NAC data. Of the remaining 123 patients, 80 (65%) received Gemcitabine and Cisplatin (GC) and 25 (20%) received dose-dense MVAC (ddMVAC). In all, 85 (69%) patients had “Deviation” in planned NAC administration, while the remaining 38 (31%) patients had “No Deviation.” Twenty-six (33%) of GC patients experienced delays (mean = 21.5±17.0 days) and 6 (24%) ddMVAC patients experienced delays (mean = 10.5±9.5 days). Receipt of GC was associated with higher likelihood of “Deviation” in comparison to ddMVAC (OR = 15.4; 95% CI 4.43–53.72, p < 0.01), and administration of NAC at our institution was associated with lower likelihood of “Deviation” in comparison to receipt in the community (OR = 0.25; 95% CI 0.25–0.72, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Deviations in administration of NAC were common in our cohort (69%) and were associated with receipt of GC and administration of NAC at an outside institution.
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