Grain Refiner Settling and Its Effect on the Melt Quality of Aluminum Casting Alloys.

Grain refiner particles, which are intended to induce the formation of fine equiaxed grain structure during the solidification of aluminum alloys, are prone to settling during the holding of the liquid metal, which phenomenon can affect not only the grain size but the spatial distribution of the double oxide films in the melt. In this study, the settling of AlTi inoculant particles, as well as its effects on melt quality and grain refinement, were studied. During the experiments, the Ti-concentration of a liquid Al-Si-Mg-Cu alloy was increased to 0.

Large-scale genome sequencing of mycorrhizal fungi provides insights into the early evolution of symbiotic traits.

Mycorrhizal fungi are mutualists that play crucial roles in nutrient acquisition in terrestrial ecosystems. Mycorrhizal symbioses arose repeatedly across multiple lineages of Mucoromycotina, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. Considerable variation exists in the capacity of mycorrhizal fungi to acquire carbon from soil organic matter.

Machine learning methods for automated technical skills assessment with instructional feedback in ultrasound-guided interventions.

Objective: Currently, there is a worldwide shift toward competency-based medical education. This necessitates the use of automated skills assessment methods during self-guided interventions training. Making assessment methods that are transparent and configurable will allow assessment to be interpreted into instructional feedback.

Cognitive load theory as a framework for simulation-based, ultrasound-guided internal jugular catheterization training: Once is not enough.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to use the principles of cognitive load theory to design a curriculum that incorporates a progressive part practice approach to teaching ultrasound-guided (USG) internal jugular catheterization (IJC) to novices. A secondary objective was to compare the technical proficiency of residents trained using this curriculum with the technical proficiency of residents trained with the current local standard of a single simulation session.

Methods: The experimental group included 16 residents who attended three 2-hour sessions of progressive part practice in a simulation lab.

Development and Evaluation of a Simulation-based Curriculum for Ultrasound-guided Central Venous Catheterization.

Objective: To develop a simulation-based curriculum for residents to learn ultrasound-guided (USG) central venous catheter (CVC) insertion, and to study the volume and type of practice that leads to technical proficiency.

Methods: Ten post-graduate year two residents from the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology completed four training sessions of two hours each, at two week intervals, where they engaged in a structured program of deliberate practice of the fundamental skills of USG CVC insertion on a simulator. Progress during training was monitored using regular hand motion analysis (HMA) and performance benchmarks were determined by HMA of local experts.