Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bearing capacity and settlement of circular shallow foundations using a nonlinear constitutive relationship

The design of shallow foundations is dominated by issues of settlement rather than bearing capacity per se. The ability to predict the settlement of foundations at a given factor of safety is hence of key importance in design. In this paper, the energy method for a linear-elastic, perfectly plastic method utilizing the von Mises' yield criterion with associated flow developed and reported by McMahon et al. in 2013 is extended to consider the nonlinear behaviour of soil. The energy method is used to investigate the load-settlement behaviour of shallow foundations by utilizing an ellipsoidal cavity-expansion mechanism and deformation fields within the boundaries of the classical Hill and Prandtl mechanisms. An elastic mechanism obtained from an analysis in ABAQUS was also investigated using this energy method. The upper-bound approach demonstrates that the cavity- expansion mechanism produces a better solution at small values of settlement, whereas at greater settlements the Prandtl mechanism is shown to produce a more optimal upper-bound solution.
Liposomal Conjugates for Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System

Treatments of central nervous system (CNS) diseases often fail due to the blood–brain barrier. Circumvention of this obstacle is crucial for any systemic treatment of such diseases to be effective. One approach to transfer drugs into the brain is the use of colloidal carrier systems—amongst others, liposomes. A prerequisite for successful drug delivery by colloidal carriers to the brain is the modification of their surface, making them invisible to the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and to target them to specific surface epitopes at the blood–brain barrier. This study characterizes liposomes conjugated with cationized bovine serum albumin (cBSA) as transport vectors in vitro in porcine brain capillary endothelial cells (PBCEC) and in vivo in rats using fluorescently labelled liposomes. Experiments with PBCEC showed that sterically stabilized (PEGylated) liposomes without protein as well as liposomes conjugated to native bovine serum albumin (BSA) were not taken up. In contrast, cBSA-liposomes were taken up and appeared to be concentrated in intracellular vesicles. Uptake occurred in a concentration and time dependent manner. Free BSA and free cBSA inhibited uptake. After intravenous application of cBSA-liposomes, confocal fluorescence microscopy of brain cryosections from male Wistar rats showed fluorescence associated with liposomes in brain capillary surrounding tissue after 3, 6 and 24 h, for liposomes with a diameter between 120 and 150 nm, suggesting successful brain delivery of cationized-albumin coupled liposomes.
Weighted Sum-Rate Maximization Using Weighted MMSE for MIMO-BC Beamforming Design

This paper studies linear transmit filter design for Weighted Sum-Rate (WSR) maximization in the Multiple Input Multiple Output Broadcast Channel (MIMO-BC). The problem of finding the optimal transmit filter is non-convex and intractable to solve using low complexity methods. Motivated by recent results highlighting the relationship between mutual information and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE), this paper establishes a relationship between weighted sum-rate and weighted MMSE in the MIMO-BC. The relationship is used to propose a low complexity algorithm for finding a local weighted sum-rate optimum based on alternating optimization. Numerical results studying sum-rate show that the proposed algorithm achieves high performance with few iterations.
Treatment of high-risk acute leukemia with T-cell-depleted stem cells from related donors with one fully mismatched HLA haplotype.

BACKGROUND In this study we tried to achieve successful transplantation in patients with acute leukemia with the use of hematopoietic stem cells from donors who shared only one HLA haplotype with the recipient (a "full-haplotype mismatch"). To prevent graft failure, large doses of T-cell-depleted hematopoietic stem cells were transplanted after a conditioning regimen of enhanced myeloablation and immunosuppression was administered to the recipient. METHODS Forty-three patients with high-risk acute leukemia who were scheduled for transplantation received total-body irradiation, thiotepa, fludarabine, and antithymocyte globulin. The graft consisted of peripheral-blood progenitor cells that had been mobilized in the donor with recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and also, in 28 cases, bone marrow. Bone marrow from the donor was depleted of T lymphocytes by processing with soybean agglutinin and E-rosetting. T-cell depletion of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells was achieved by E-rosetting followed by positive selection of CD34+ cells. No post-transplantation prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was administered. RESULTS In all the patients, full donor-type engraftment was achieved. In none of the patients who could be evaluated did acute or chronic GVHD develop. Regimen-related toxicity was minimal. Eleven of the 23 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia had a relapse, as did 2 of the 20 patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Transplantation-related mortality was 40 percent. After a median follow-up of 18 months (range, 8 to 30), 12 of the 43 patients were alive and free of disease. All surviving patients had a good quality of life. CONCLUSIONS The main limitations of transplantation of bone marrow from donors who are matched with the recipient for only one HLA haplotype GVHD and graft failure - can be overcome. Since most patients have a relative with one haplotype mismatch, advances in this method will increase the availability of hematopoietic-cell transplantation as curative therapy for acute leukemia.
THREE NATURAL ZIRCON STANDARDS FOR U‐TH‐PB, LU‐HF, TRACE ELEMENT AND REE ANALYSES

We report here the results of a study to develop natural zircon geochemical standards for calibrating the U-(Th)-Pb geochronometer and Hf isotopic analyses. Additional data were also collected for the major, minor and trace element contents of the three selected sample sets. A total of five large zircon grains (masses between 0.5 and 238 g) were selected for this study, representing three different suites of zircons with ages of 1065 Ma, 2.5 Ma and 0.9 Ma. Geochemical laboratories can obtain these materials by contacting Geostandards Newsletter.
Ion Temperature Variations in the Daytime High-Latitude F Region

We improved our high-latitude ionospheric model by including thermal conduction and diffusion-thermal heat flow terms in the ion energy equation so that we could study the ion temperature variations in the daytime high-latitude F layer in a region poleward of the auroral oval for steady state conditions at local noon. From our study we found that (1) The variation of T/sub i/ with solar cycle, season, and geomagnetic activity closely follows the T/sub n/ variation. The general trend is for higher temperatures in summer than in winter, at solar maximum than at solar minimum, and for active magnetic conditions than for quite conditions. However, T/sub i/ changes by less than 600 /sup 0/K over the range of conditions considered; (2) Meridional electric fields act to heat the ion gas and electric fields greater than 40 mV m/sup -1/ can cause a larger T/sub i/ change than that due to solar cycle, seasonal, and geomagnetic activity variations; (3) In the presence of meridional electric fields, there is an upward flow of heat from the lower ionosphere that acts to raise T/sub i/ at high altitudes; (4) Zonal electric fields affect T/sub i/ indirectly through changes in the electron density, but themore » effect can be larger than that associated with solar cycle, seasonal, and geomagnetic activity variations; (5) Diffusion-thermal heat flow affects T/sub i/ by at most 500 /sup 0/K; (6) Typically, T/sub e/ has a much smaller effect on T/sub i/ at high latitudes than at middle and low latitudes. « less
Hybrid and Iteratively Reweighted Regularization by Unbiased Predictive Risk and Weighted GCV for Projected Systems

Tikhonov regularization for projected solutions of large-scale ill-posed problems is considered. The Golub-Kahan iterative bidiagonalization is used to project the problem onto a subspace and regularization then applied to find a subspace approximation to the full problem. Determination of the regularization parameter using the method of unbiased predictive risk estimation is considered and contrasted with the generalized cross validation and discrepancy principle techniques. Examining the unbiased predictive risk estimator for the projected problem, it is shown that the obtained regularized parameter provides a good estimate for that to be used for the full problem with the solution found on the projected space. The connection between regularization for full and projected systems for the discrepancy and generalized cross validation estimators is also discussed and an argument for the weight parameter in the weighted generalized cross validation approach is provided. All results are independent of whether systems are over or underdetermined, the latter of which has not been considered in discussions of regularization parameter estimation for projected systems. Numerical simulations for standard one dimensional test problems and two dimensional data for both image restoration and tomographic image reconstruction support the analysis and validate the techniques. The size of the projected problem is found using an extension of a noise revealing function for the projected problem. Furthermore, an iteratively reweighted regularization approach for edge preserving regularization is extended for projected systems, providing stabilization of the solutions of the projected systems with respect to the determination of the size of the projected subspace.
Pain Experiences of Children and Adolescents With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: An Integrative Review

Objective: Pain is a commonly experienced symptom for children and adolescents diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The purpose of this integrative review was to describe the pain experience of children and adolescents with OI as well as critically appraise the content and methods of studies assessing OI pain. Methods: Five electronic bibliographic databases were searched. Published quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-method studies assessing pain in children and adolescents with OI were included and appraised. Constant comparison of the extracted data was used to synthesize themes. Results: A total of 783 titles were identified, and 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in this review. Study appraisal scores ranged from 25.0% to 83.3% using the Quality Assessment Tool. The majority of studies included assessed pain as a secondary outcome (63%) and less than half used moderately established or well-established tools (42%). Two themes were uncovered: “Pain is Present and Problematic” and “Issues with Pain Assessment. ” Key findings under each theme include: (1) the negative impacts of pain and the substandard use of pain management strategies; and (2) the lack of multidimensional and consistent pain assessments, as well as difficulties in assessing pain in younger children. Discussion: Research on OI has focused very little on pain experience in children and adolescents, and there is no standard method of assessing pain. To better describe the pain experience of these patients, future research should focus on better characterizing OI pain with the use of age-appropriate valid, reliable, and multidimensional pain assessment tools.
Why Do Internet Users Stick with a Specific Web Site? A Relationship Perspective

To prevent users from switching to competitors, on-line companies in the B2C market are implementing various technologies and investing substantial resources to enhance the "stickiness" of their Web sites. The authors propose that users stick with a Web site through a process of developing a relationship with it. Thus, sticking with a Web site reflects a persistent Web site-user relationship. Theories from social psychology and relationship marketing are used to develop a model of Web site stickiness from the user's perspective. The model focuses on the relationship between user and Web site, with commitment and trust as key mediating variables. A total of 239 users responded to a survey concerning Web site stickiness. The survey results supported all the hypotheses generated from the model and explained 70 percent of the variance in stickiness intention. There was a significant association between intention to stick with a Web site and commitment to and trust in the Web site. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Measurement of adenosine concentration in aqueous and vitreous.

PURPOSE The release of adenosine by the ischemic retina may be an initial signal in the development of ischemic macular edema and neovascularization. The levels of adenosine have never been quantified in ocular fluids. In this study, a technique was developed for in vivo measurement of the concentration of adenosine in aqueous and vitreous. METHODS Aqueous and vitreous samples were obtained from bovine eyes after death and from live porcine eyes with the subject under general anesthesia. Samples from live eyes were immediately incubated in the sampling syringe with pentoxifylline, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine, and dipyridamole to prevent synthesis or degradation of adenosine during the collection procedure, filtered, and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. All samples were then filtered and purified on phenylboronate agarose columns and incubated with chloroacetaldehyde to convert the adenosine present in the sample to the fluorescent derivative 1,N6-ethenoadenosine. The 1,N6-ethenoadenosine was separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography and then measured by fluorometry. RESULTS Levels of adenosine as low as 0.5 pmole could be detected with this procedure, compared with 20 pmoles by UV detection. By using this technique to measure adenosine levels in the eyes of normal weanling domestic pigs, it was determined that the adenosine concentration in the aqueous was 321.3 +/- 164.9 nM and in the vitreous was 210.8 +/- 41.5 nM. CONCLUSIONS The conversion of adenine-containing compounds to fluorescent 1,N6-etheno derivatives offers analytical advantages of selectivity and sensitivity for the quantitative determination of these compounds, with the fluorometric detection providing substantially greater sensitivity than direct detection by UV absorption. The levels obtained in vivo from anesthetized but otherwise healthy pigs presumably reflected basal aqueous and vitreous adenosine levels under the described conditions. This method should be useful in investigating more directly the role of adenosine in models of retinal or ocular ischemia in vivo and in measuring adenosine levels in vitreous or aqueous samples from human patients.
Cardiac risk factors in TIA patients.

The occurrence of a TIA identifies that patient as being at increased risk not only for cerebral but also for myocardial infarction and premature cardiac death. We have reported the results of our longitudinal study of 225 patients with TIA (1). We have now followed some members of this cohort for 20 years and have lost only two individuals to follow-up. At the time of their entry, 55% had clinical evidence of ischemic heart disease. As of 1981, 66 (73%) of deaths had occurred from myocardial infarction but only 25 (11%) from stroke. This excess cardiac risk for TIA patients was first identified by our stroke registry group, and has since been confirmed by many others (2-7). We have compared this first cohort accessed from 1962 to 1971 with a second entered after 1975. The decline in cardiac mortality in the second compared with the first cohort has been dramatic (8) even though our TIA population continues to have an excess of cardiac disease (Table 1). It has also become apparent that the patient himself is a marker for families at excess risk for cardiac and cerebrovascular events (Table 2) which raises the possibility that interventions should be assigned not only for the symptomatic individual, but also for family groups identified by that patient. Acting upon these findings, we have initiated an aggressive program for identification of preclinical coronary artery disease among our TIA patient population, and it is this aspect that I will emphasize today. From June 1, 1982 to October 30, 1983 we entered 110 TIA patients into our TIA registry of whom ten had previously identified cardiac disease. Results of standard EKGs performed on a sample of this population are depicted in Table 3. Graded exercise tolerance test (GXT) was performed on 58 of these remaining 100 individuals, and of them, 16 were positive, 10 equivocal, and 32 negative (9-11). Because of this large yield of previously unidentified cardiac disease in our TIA population, we have initiated a plan for aggressive management
Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Potential of Paeonia emodi Royle against High-Fat Diet Induced Oxidative Stress

The present study was intended to evaluate the effects of Paeonia emodi rhizome extracts on serum triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), atherogenic index (AI), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The plant was extensively examined for its in vitro antioxidant activity, and the preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out using standard protocols. Male Wistar rats were induced with hyperlipidemia using high-fat diet and were treated orally with hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts at the dose of 200 mg/kg bw for 30 days. TGs, TC, LDL-c, and AI were significantly reduced while HDL-c, SOD, and GPx levels rose to a considerable extent. After subjecting to acute toxicity testing, the extracts were found to be safe. The observations suggest antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant potential of P. emodi in high-fat diet induced hyperlipidemic/oxidative stressed rats.
Use of data by hospitals in North Carolina to identify disparities in the care and outcomes of minority patients.

BACKGROUND Hospitals are now called upon to use available data--information on the use of services, patient satisfaction, and core quality measures--to identify disparities in the use and outcomes of services for minority patients. This study assesses whether and in what ways hospitals in North Carolina use data to understand the experiences of minority patients. METHODS Semistructured telephone interviews were completed with chief executive officers (CEOs) and other administrators from a broad sample of North Carolina hospitals. Participants were asked about their hospitals' use of data to compare experiences of minority and nonminority patients and about any other minority-focused initiatives. Responses were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. RESULTS A total of 28 CEOs and administrators from 17 (77%) of 22 targeted hospitals participated fully in the interviews. Participating hospitals ranged in size from fewer than 60 beds to more than 700 beds and were equally distributed across the state's 3 geographic regions. Three hospitals (18%) reportedly analyzed data by patient race to assess satisfaction, specific clinical outcomes, adverse events, and/or use of services. Respondents cited barriers to analyzing hospital data by patient race and ethnicity as lack of resources, not knowing how to perform these analyses, and not seeing the need. Respondents for 10 hospitals (59%) reported other types of hospital programs targeting the needs of minority patients, including cultural-sensitivity training for staff and initiatives in local communities. LIMITATIONS Participating hospitals may not reflect all North Carolina hospitals in their minority-focused efforts, and respondents may not have known about all relevant programs in their hospitals. CONCLUSIONS Few hospitals in North Carolina are proactively identifying disparities between minority and nonminority patients by use of data.
Correlated UE impairments in ZF MU-MIMO transmissions

Applying Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) techniques in wireless communication allows the parallel transmission of several data streams, thus increasing the throughput while leaving the transmit power unchanged. However, the maximum number of parallel streams is defined by the minimum of transmit- or receive-antennas, where in the downlink the User Equipment (UE) is most likely the limiting factor. To overcome this situation, multiple UEs can be served in parallel by Multi User (MU)-MIMO. Zero Forcing MU-MIMO is a low complex technique that tries to cancel the interference between the streams already at the Base Transceiver Station and that requires only one receive antenna per UE. However, due to various transmission impairments, there exists some residual interference degrading the performance. In this paper we illustrate the negative effects of correlated UEs by providing measurement and simulation results. The measurements are carried out with the Vienna MIMO Testbed and not only is the channel estimation performed by measurements, but also the data transmission is performed over physical channels.
Heat-producing element enrichment in granitic rocks, the role of crustal composition and evolution

This study greatly enhanced our knowledge of the potential for geothermal energy development in Queensland as a viable clean energy source in the coming decades. Key outcomes of the project were understanding the first-order controls on the concentration of the heat-producing elements: uranium, thorium and potassium in granitic rocks, and constraining where rocks with the greatest heat-producing potential lie at depth in Queensland. Importantly, new temperature and heat flow maps for southwest Queensland were developed that will greatly assist future exploration efforts.
Atmospheric holes and small comets

Global images of Earth's ultraviolet dayglow as gained with an imaging photometer on board Dynamics Explorer 1 exhibit transient decreases, or atmospheric holes, in the dayglow intensities over areas with diameters ∼50 km. Features of these atmospheric holes include (1) preferential motion in the east-to-west direction across the sunlit face of Earth, (2) similar diurnal variations in occurrence rates as those for radar meteors, (3) correlation of the occurrence rates with the nonshower rates as determined with forward scatter radar, and (4) larger angular diameters for these atmospheric holes when the spacecraft approaches Earth during its perigee passes. A significantly less extensive series of images of Earth's ultraviolet dayglow with the Viking spacecraft also provides evidence of these atmospheric holes. The atmospheric holes are interpreted in terms of obscuration of the dayglow by water clouds from the disruption and subsequent vaporization of small comets at low altitudes above the atmosphere. Supporting evidences for the existence of these small comets are given by telescopic sighting of these objects at greater altitudes before disruption and the detection of water bursts in Earth's upper atmosphere. We summarize the current status of this small-comet hypothesis and its relationship to conventional wisdom concerning geophysical, lunar, and interplanetary phenomena.