Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LIMITS ON HEAT TRANSPORT AND RESURFACING RATES DUE TO MOBILE LID CONVECTION BENEATH ENCELADUS’ SOUTH POLAR TERRAIN

Background & Motivation: Cassini CIRS data indicate that Enceladus’ south polar terrain (SPT) has a large endogenic power output PCIRS ≥ 5.8 ± 1.9 GW [1]. Spread over the ~70,000 km region of the SPT, PCIRS corresponds to a heat flux, FCIRS~ 55 mW/m to 110 mW/m. The terrain is dominated by extensional tectonics with a component of right-lateral shear and is bounded by cycloidal arcs with wedge-shaped regions of intense folding at their cusps [2]. The SPT has few craters, and none larger than 1 km, suggesting a < 0.5 Myr surface age [3]. In Barr (2008) [4], I hypothesized that the high heat flux and intense surface deformation indicate that the SPT is a location on Enceladus where the near-surface ice had become rheologically and mechanically weakened. This would permit convective plumes to reach close to Enceladus’ surface and for the surface ice to be “dragged” along by the underlying convective flow. Simulations of convection using the simplest possible representation of an ice shell with a weak upper surface were used to show that so-called “mobile-lid” convection could transport a heat flux comparable to FCIRS. The same rheological parameters for which the convective heat flux, Fconv, was comparable to FCIRS, predicted near-surface spreading velocities ~ tens mm/yr and an implied surface age for the SPT of ~ 0.1 to 1 Myr, comparable to the estimated age, 0.5 Myr [3]. In the last year, analyses of new CIRS data [5,6] suggest that PCIRS may be larger than originally estimated. Forthcoming crater counts on the SPT will also provide tighter constraints on the age of the terrain than the original analysis. Here, I summarize the results of Barr (2008) and show that mobile lid convection can transport a heat flux Fconv≥FCIRS. An upper limit on the convective heat flux for mobile lid convection is derived. Scalings between ice shell properties and velocities in the nearsurface ice are used to constrain the upper limit on the SPT age consistent with this style of convection. Finally, I discuss the requirements on ice physical properties for this style of convection to occur and suggest laboratory experiments that could help bridge the gap between theory and data. Convective Heat Flux: Rayleigh Number-Nusselt Number Relationship. To constrain the relationship between convective heat flux and rheological and physical properties of an ice shell with a weak surface, Barr (2008) performed numerical simulations of convection in a simple 2-dimensional, 1x1 Cartesian geometry using CITCOM [7]. The ice shell is heated solely from beneath and has thickness D and an effective surface Rayleigh number, ! Ra 0 = "g#$TD
MEF2B is a potent transactivator expressed in early myogenic lineages

There are four members of the myocyte enhancer binding factor 2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors, MEF2A, -B, -C, and -D, that have homology within an amino-terminal MADS box and an adjacent MEF2 domain that together mediate dimerization and DNA binding. MEF2A, -C, and -D have previously been shown to bind an A/T-rich DNA sequence in the control regions of numerous muscle-specific genes, whereas MEF2B was reported to be unable to bind this sequence unless the carboxyl terminus was deleted. To further define the functions of MEF2B, we analyzed its DNA binding and transcriptional activities. In contrast to previous studies, our results show that MEF2B binds the same DNA sequence as other members of the MEF2 family and acts as a strong transactivator through that sequence. Transcriptional activation by MEF2B is dependent on the carboxyl terminus, which contains two conserved sequence motifs found in all vertebrate MEF2 factors. During mouse embryogenesis, MEF2B transcripts are expressed in the developing cardiac and skeletal muscle lineages in a temporospatial pattern distinct from but overlapping with those of the other Mef2 genes. The mouse Mef2b gene maps to chromosome 8 and is unlinked to other Mef2 genes; its intron-exon organization is similar to that of the other vertebrate Mef2 genes and the single Drosophila Mef2 gene, consistent with the notion that these different Mef2 genes evolved from a common ancestral gene.
Temperature Depending Influence of the Martensite Formation on the Mechanical Properties of High‐Alloyed Cr‐Mn‐Ni As‐Cast Steels

The temperature dependence of the martensite formation and the mechanical properties of three high alloyed Cr‐Mn‐Ni as‐cast steels with varying Ni contents were studied. The results showed that the Ms and Md temperatures of the steels decrease with increasing nickel contents. Therefore the strain‐induced martensite formation, the TRIP effect and the temperature anomaly of the elongations occurs at lower temperatures. The steel alloyed with 3% nickel shows a stress induced formation of martensite and a dynamic strain aging. Depending on the nickel content and the temperature a TWIP effect occurs additionally to the TRIP effect in the investigated steels. The study was performed by using static tensile tests, dilatometer tests, optical microscopy and the magnetic scale for the detection of ferromagnetic phase fractions.
Search for a Light Higgs Boson at BaBar

We search for evidence of a light Higgs boson (A{sup 0}) in the radiative decays of the narrow {Upsilon}(3S) resonance: {Upsilon}(3S) {yields} {gamma}A{sup 0}, where A{sup 0} {yields} invisible or A{sup 0} {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -}. Such an object appears in extensions of the Standard Model, where a light CP-odd Higgs boson naturally couples strongly to b-quarks. We find no evidence for such processes in a sample of 122 x 106 {Upsilon}(3S) decays collected by the BABAR collaboration at the PEP-II B-factory, and set 90% C.L. upper limits on the product of the branching fractions {Beta}({Upsilon}(3S) {yields} {gamma}A{sup 0}) x {Beta}(A{sup 0} {yields} invisible) at (0.7-31) x 10{sup -6} in the mass range mA{sup 0} {le} 7.8 GeV, and on the product {Beta}({Upsilon}(3S) {yields} {gamma}A{sup 0}) x {Beta}(A{sup 0} {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -}) at (0.25-5.2) x 10{sup -6} in the mass range 0.212 {le} mA{sup 0} {le} 9.3GeV. We also set a limit on the dimuon branching fraction of the recently discovered {eta}{sub b} meson {Beta}({eta}{sub b} {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -}) < 0.8% at 90% C.L. The results are preliminary.
Pathogenesis of Rinderpest Virus Infection in Rabbits I. Clinical Signs, Immune Response, Histological Changes, and Virus Growth Patterns

Rabbits were intravenously inoculated with an attenuated rinderpest virus (L strain), and general patterns of the disease were investigated. The rabbits developed fever with concomitant occurrence of diarrhea and lymphopenia. Early production of interferon was followed by a rise of neutralizing antibody. Histological examinations revealed an involvement of all of the lymphoid tissues, with primary lesions consisting of necrosis of the lymphoid follicles and formation of giant cells. Immunofluorescent examinations suggested that the virus growth was present in almost all of the lymphoid tissues. The possibility of application of this experimental system for the study of systemic infection by measles virus was discussed.
Demographic and Health Services Characteristics Associated With Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections Among a Commercially Insured Population of HIV-Positive Patients

Background:Presence of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can increase the likelihood of HIV transmission, and current treatment guidelines indicate that HIV-positive persons should be screened yearly for STIs. Therefore, we examined recent insurance claims data to determine whether private insurance beneficiaries who are HIV-positive were receiving recommended STI testing. Methods:We used data from the 2011 and 2012 MarketScan data sets, a longitudinal population-based database that collects claims from commercially insured persons in private insurance and is conducted by Truven Health Analytics. Over a 13-month period, we calculated rates of testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis among an HIV-positive population and determined the factors that contributed to differences in testing rates. Results:Overall testing rates were 22.2% for chlamydia, 21.9% for gonorrhea, and 51.1% for syphilis. Significant predictors of STI testing were sex, age, type of health plan, engagement with the health care system, and geographic location. Most notably, persons receiving viral load testing were more likely to receive testing for chlamydia [odds ratio (OR): 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63 to 1.81], gonorrhea (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.64 to 1.81), and syphilis (OR: 3.38; 95% CI: 3.25 to 3.53) compared with persons not receiving viral load testing. Discussion:Not all commercially insured HIV-positive patients are receiving recommended testing for STIs. Presence of STIs could affect the transmission of HIV and has deleterious effects on health outcomes of the patients. Targeted efforts based on demographics, health plan type, and other quality-of-care measures could help identify populations for whom testing rates for STIs among HIV-positive persons could be improved.
Impact of Patient Education on Compliance with Positive Airway Pressure Treatment in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background We addressed the impact of patient education followed by frequent visits on compliance with positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a Turkish sleep clinic cohort. Material/Methods This single-center, randomized, controlled study was conducted in Istanbul, Turkey between June 2014 and April 2015. Among 115 eligible OSA patients (mean age 51.0±9.3 years; 75.5% men), 63 were randomized to standard support (SS) group (general information about OSA and PAP treatment at baseline), and 52 to educational support (ES) group (additional polysomnography chart viewing from both diagnostic and titration nights). All patients were scheduled to five PAP control visits between two weeks and six months after the PAP prescription. Primary outcome was the PAP compliance (4 hours/night for 70% of all the nights) at the last visit. Results Average PAP usage was 4.2±2.5 hours/night in the SS group, and 5.2±2.1 hours/night in the ES group (p=0.027). PAP compliance was achieved among 68.3% in the SS group, and 86.5% in the ES group (p=0.021). In a multivariate analysis, ES strategy followed by frequent visits predicted PAP compliance (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–10.6; p=0.020). Other predictors were obesity (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2–9.7; p=0.019) and severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥30/hour) at baseline (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.2–17.6; p=0.023). Primary school education level was inversely related with PAP compliance (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.9; p=0.036). Conclusions Patient education with polysomnography chart view followed by frequent visits increased long-term compliance with PAP treatment.
Role of the H Protein in Assembly of the Photochemical Reaction Center and Intracytoplasmic Membrane inRhodospirillum rubrum

ABSTRACT Rhodospirillum rubrum is a model for the study of membrane formation. Under conditions of oxygen limitation, this facultatively phototrophic bacterium forms an intracytoplasmic membrane that houses the photochemical apparatus. This apparatus consists of two pigment-protein complexes, the light-harvesting antenna (LH) and photochemical reaction center (RC). The proteins of the photochemical components are encoded by the puf operon (LHα, LHβ, RC-L, and RC-M) and by puhA (RC-H). R. rubrum puf interposon mutants do not form intracytoplasmic membranes and are phototrophically incompetent. The puh region was cloned, and DNA sequence determination identified open reading framesbchL and bchM and part of bchH;bchHLM encode enzymes of bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis. A puhA/G115 interposon mutant was constructed and found to be incapable of phototrophic growth and impaired in intracytoplasmic membrane formation. Comparison of properties of the wild-type and the mutated and complemented strains suggests a model for membrane protein assembly. This model proposes that RC-H is required as a foundation protein for assembly of the RC and highly developed intracytoplasmic membrane. In complemented strains, expression of puhoccurred under semiaerobic conditions, thus providing the basis for the development of an expression vector. The puhA gene alone was sufficient to restore phototrophic growth provided that recombination occurred.
Idiopathic Short Stature: Conundrums of Definition and Treatment

Children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) are statistically defined by height SDS for their bone age and should be distinguished from children with familial short stature for whom height SDS corresponds to mean parental SDS and from the most common explanation for short stature referred to pediatric endocrinologists, constitutional delay in growth and maturation (CDGM), in which there is normal height for bone age and predicted normal adult stature. Low IGF-I levels reported in ISS may be the result of subtle undernutrition or reference to standards appropriate for chronologic age but not osseous maturation in CDGM inappropriately labeled as ISS. While growth hormone (GH) treatment of ISS may add 4-5 cm to adult height, meta-analysis indicates that there is no documented evidence that such treatment improves health related quality of life or psychological adaptation. Thus, the estimated cost of US$52 000/inch gained is difficult to justify. Absence of data regarding efficacy of the use of IGF-I for treatment of ISS has been noted in a recent consensus statement from the North American and European pediatric endocrinology societies. This report further emphasizes the importance of discouraging the expectation that taller stature from GH treatment will improve quality of life.
Implicit context: easing software evolution and reuse

Software systems should consist of simple, conceptually clean software components interacting along narrow, well-defined paths. All too often, this is not reality: complex components end up interacting for reasons unrelated to the functionality they provide. We refer to knowledge within a component that is not conceptually required for the individual behaviour of that component as extraneous embedded knowledge (EEK). EEK creeps into a system in many forms, including dependences upon particular names and the passing of extraneous parameters. This paper proposes the use of implicit context as a means for reducing EEK in systems by combining a mechanism to reflect upon what has happened in a system, through queries on the call history, with a mechanism for altering calls to and from a component. We demonstrate the benefits of implicit context by describing its use to reduce EEK in the Java#8482; Swing library.
Optimizing Textile-Reinforced Composites for Pipe Connections

The use of multi-layered composite materials in the confection of industrial pipe connections (elbows, reduction pipes, flanges etc.) is often put off because of the high cost of manufacture. The aim of this study is to replace the multi-layer process (woven reinforcement-organic matrix) by sandwich process with a view to reducing the cost of manufacture. Validation is carried out on different structures: ring, cylinder with and without end effect, elbows and floating flanges.
A novel wavelet‐based thresholding method for the pre‐processing of mass spectrometry data that accounts for heterogeneous noise

In recent years there has been an increased interest in using protein mass spectroscopy to discriminate diseased from healthy individuals with the aim of discovering molecular markers for disease. A crucial step before any statistical analysis is the pre‐processing of the mass spectrometry data. Statistical results are typically strongly affected by the specific pre‐processing techniques used. One important pre‐processing step is the removal of chemical and instrumental noise from the mass spectra. Wavelet denoising techniques are a standard method for denoising. Existing techniques, however, do not accommodate errors that vary across the mass spectrum, but instead assume a homogeneous error structure. In this paper we propose a novel wavelet denoising approach that deals with heterogeneous errors by incorporating a variance change point detection method in the thresholding procedure. We study our method on real and simulated mass specrometry data and show that it improves on performances of peak detection methods.
Digital non-linear compensation for high-speed long-haul transmission

Thanks to coherent detection and digital signal processing (DSP), linear distortions such as chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) can in principle be completely compensated for in high-speed optical transmission. And indeed, effective algorithms have been devised and extensively investigated that allow CD- and PMD-resilient transmission of high-speed signals over long distances, leaving optical noise accumulation and non-linear impairments as the factors ultimately limiting reach. Considerable research has been dedicated in the last couple of years so devise methods to increase the non-linear tolerance of optical signals by means of digital signal processing. In this paper, we present an overview of the most promising techniques, show some examples of their application and outline the status of research on this important topic.
Current understanding of iberiotoxin-resistant BK channels in the nervous system

While most large-conductance, calcium-, and voltage-activated potassium channels (BK or Maxi-K type) are blocked by the scorpion venom iberiotoxin, the so-called “type II” subtype has the property of toxin resistance. This property is uniquely mediated by channel assembly with one member of the BK accessory β subunit family, the neuron-enriched β4 subunit. This review will focus on current understanding of iberiotoxin-resistant, β4-containing BK channel properties and their function in the CNS. Studies have shown that β4 dramatically promotes BK channel opening by shifting voltage sensor activation to more negative voltage ranges, but also slows activation to timescales that theoretically preclude BK ability to shape action potentials (APs). In addition, β4 membrane trafficking is regulated through an endoplasmic retention signal and palmitoylation. More recently, the challenge has been to understand the functional role of the iberiotoxin-resistant BK subtype utilizing computational modeling of neurons and neurophysiological approaches. Utilizing iberiotoxin-resistance as a footprint for these channels, they have been identified in dentate gyrus granule neurons and in purkinje neurons of the cerebellum. In these neurons, the role of these channels is largely consistent with slow-gated channels that reduce excitability either through an interspike conductance, such as in purkinje neurons, or by replacing fast-gating BK channels that otherwise facilitate high frequency AP firing, such as in dentate gyrus neurons. They are also observed in presynaptic mossy fiber terminals of the dentate gyrus and posterior pituitary terminals. More recent studies suggest that β4 subunits may also be expressed in some neurons lacking iberiotoxin-resistant BK channels, such as in CA3 hippocampus neurons. Ongoing research using novel, specific blockers and agonists of BK/β4, and β4 knockout mice, will continue to move the field forward in understanding the function of these channels.
Development of non-destructive small specimen creep testing techniques

Having knowledge of the current creep strength of service-aged components in high temperature installations such as nuclear power stations, oil refineries and chemical plants is essential for their safe and economic operation. Obtaining this knowledge may involve the use of small material samples. These small samples may be removed from weld regions or from component surfaces. Improving small specimens creep testing techniques, whereby a reliable uniaxial minimum strain rate and rupture data can be obtained, has been a major engineering concern for the last 20 years or so. This thesis includes the development of the small ring creep testing specimen in order to allow the ring specimen to be manufactured and tested with various shapes and geometries. The shape and size of the available small material samples normally dictates the ring shape, e.g., circular or elliptical. However, changing the ring shape leads to a change in the conversion factors, which are used to convert the ring data to the corresponding uniaxial data. Therefore, the effects of the ring geometry with different thicknesses, on the conversion factors, are described in this work. The finite element analyses have been used to assess the effects of shear deformation on the ring behaviour and also to determine the optimum ring ii geometry. Nickel base Superalloy 738 steel at 800oC and (Bar-257) P91 steel at 650oC have been used to validate the testing method. Two new small sized creep test specimens are also described in this thesis, i.e., (i) a small (Two-bar) specimen, which is suitable for use in obtaining the uniaxial MSR and creep rupture data and (ii) a small notched specimen which is suitable for obtaining the multiaxial stress state parameter. The specimen testing techniques, modeling, loading and manufacturing are described for both specimen types in this work. Finite element analyses have been used to assess the effects of the two-bar specimen (TBS) dimensions on the conversion factors, the failure time, the minimum strain rate, and to determine optimum dimension ratio ranges for the specimen. The two-bar specimen and the small notched specimen have been used to obtain a full set of material constants for two high temperature materials, i.e., (i) typical (as received) P91steel at 600oC and (ii) weak (Bar-257) P91 steel at 650oC. The results show remarkably good agreement between the data obtained from the two new small specimen testing techniques and the data obtained from corresponding uniaxial tests. The major advantages of the small ring specimen, the two-bar specimen and the small notched specimen testing techniques, over the existing small specimens testing techniques, are also included.
Does the perceived usefulness of search facets vary by task type?

This research addresses the need for faceted search systems that can support task-based searching. We report on a systems review carried out to identify the most prevalent facets in current use across three domains and an online questionnaire with 83 responses conducted to assess the perceived usefulness of search facets for different types of search tasks. Results include a ranked list of commonly used search facets. Facets are perceived to be more useful for search tasks motivated by learning goals than those with functional goals (doing tasks). Usefulness scores for specific facets were quite consistent across tasks, so findings do not support the concept of dynamic, task-based display of search facets.