Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serviceability Criteria for LRFD Composite Floors

Roberto T. Leon Author Roberto T. Leon is associate professor in the Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He teaches courses in structural steel design, construction materials, and earthquake engineering. He received a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a master of science in structural engineering from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, at Austin. He is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota and is active on technical committees of the American Institute of Steel Construction, American Society of Civil Engineers, Structural Stability Research Council and the American Concrete Institute. Dr Leon's research interests center on behavior of semi-rigid connections, behavior of composite joists, bridge rating and rehabilitation, and serviceability criteria for composite members. He has conducted extensive experimental research on composite and reinforced concrete members and connections under static and dynamic loads, as well as field tests on bridges, buildings and illumination towers. Summary
DIGITAL IMAGE WATERMARKING BASED ON A RELATION BETWEEN SPATIAL AND FREQUENCY DOMAINS

This paper presents a digital watermarking algorithm used for the copyright protection of gray-level images. The proposed algorithm is a blind, invisible-robust watermarking scheme and uses both frequency and spatial domain components of an image. The algorithm is novel in the sense of both embedding and extracting algorithms rely on the information gathered from the both domains. The energy and the frequencies of each block are calculated using Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). For each block, the selected frequency coefficients from middle-frequency band are modified by comparing the energy of the block with the sum of DC coefficient and selected AC frequency coefficient of the corresponding block. The watermark can be chosen as copyright information, owner information or a digital logo in the form of a bitmap image. The experiments showed that the watermark data embedded into digital image with the proposed algorithm was successfully recovered after various attacks; JPEG lossy compression, cropping and low pass filtering.
Viscoelastic Property of Honeycomb Paperboard and Dynamic Response Analysis

The creep experiment and the quasi-static are carried out to learn the properties of honeycomb paperboard roughly, the creep and hysteresis phenomena are important manifestations of honeycomb paperboard viscoelastic properties. In addition to the static and quasi-static effects, the viscoelastic property also influences the dynamic properties of honeycomb paperboard. A linear differential equation is adopted to account for the complexity of honeycomb paperboard dynamic properties. Base on the Laplace transform, the model for the honeycomb paperboard properties is formulated. The relaxation kernel is used to account for the viscoelasticity, and it is expressed as the sum of complex exponentials. The free response of the mass loaded honeycomb paperboard is analyzed based on the Laplace transform and substitution method, the free response of the viscoelastic system have multiple vibration modals. The forced response of the mass loaded honeycomb paperboard to general force function is analyzed based on the state-space approach. The simulation results indicates the viscoelasticity can provide more stiffness and damping forces than the equivalent single degree of freedom system.
STURM-LIOUVILLE EQUATIONS INVOLVING DISCONTINUOUS NONLINEARITIES

This paper deals with equations of Sturm-Liouville-type having nonlinearities on the right-hand side being possibly discontinuous. We present diﬀerent existence results of such equations under various hypotheses on the nonlinearities. Our approach relies on critical point theory for locally Lipschitz functionals. In particular, under suitable assumptions, an existence result of a non-zero local minimum for locally Lipschitz functionals is established.
NC STATE UNIVERSITY PROJECT SPOTLIGHT Jordan Cove Urban Watershed Section 319 National Monitoring Program Project

Nonpoint sources are responsible for a large portion of the remaining water quality impairments in our Nation’s waters (USEPA 2000b). Urban stormwater runoff is one source of nonpoint pollution, and is responsible for contributing excess nutrients, bacteria, and toxic metals to receiving waters (USEPA 1994b). Additionally, runoff from urban construction and development is reported as a source of pollution for 14 of the 18 National Estuaries (USEPA 1994a). Urban development has been shown to increase runoff volume and peak discharge (Leopold 1968) and cause water quality degradation (Brabec et al. 2002, Klein 1979). Traditional stormwater controls used in urban areas were designed to collect, convey, and discharge water quickly and efficiently away from a site, causing on-site and downstream hydrologic impacts (USEPA 2000a). Recently, the concept of low impact development (LID) has been introduced to mitigate the problems associated with urban stormwater runoff (Prince George’s County 1999). LID is a design strategy to retain the hydrologic functions of storage, infiltration, runoff, evapotranspiration, and groundwater recharge that existed before development of urban areas (USEPA 2000a). The NWQEP NOTES is issued quarterly. Subscriptions are free. NWQEP NOTES is also available on the World Wide Web at http://www5. bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/issues/ Default.htm. To request that your name be added to the mailing list, use the enclosed publication order form or send an email message to wq_puborder@ncsu.edu. IN THIS ISSUE
Response of Callosobruchus chinensis L. to plant extracts and to the parasitoid Anisopteromalus calandrae

Present investigation was carried out to elucidate the extracts of botanicals i.e., Cichorium intybus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Trachyspermum ammi and Terminalia chebula, for their possible toxic effect against C. chinensis population. The results revealed that mortality was highest (94.649%) in case of T. ammi treatment, followed by T. chebula with mortality value 56.929%. Mortality was 52.363% where application of C. intybus was carried out. Minimum mortality (34.500%) was observed in G. glabra treated grains. A natural ecto-parasitoid, Anisopteromalus calandrae was used to manage C. chinensis population. A. calandrae male and female adults (5, 10 and 15 pairs) were released to analyze the parasitism efficiency. A. calandrae was reared in the laboratory on C. chinensis larvae. Honey was offered as a suitable food to parasitoid. The parasitism data was recorded after the adult emergence of brunchid beetles. The experiment conducted under Completely Randomized Design and results statistically evaluated using statistical software at 5% level of significance. A. calandrae parasitized both larval and pupal stages of C. chinensis and preferred 4th instar larvae of C. chinensis. Large amount of A. calandrae may efficiently control the C. chinensis population. As compared to control (1558.7 host adult), the minimum host emergence (699.00 host adult) was observed with high population density of A. calandrae. It was also obvious from the results, that mortality was increased with the increase in concentration so, a direct dosemortality response was observed.
Petrography and chemistry of SiO 2 filling phases in the amethyst geodes from the Serra Geral Formation deposit , Rio Grande do

The filling process of amethyst-bearing geodes from Serra Geral Formation basalts, Brazil, is investigated by different methods performed on the SiO2 filling phases. Image analysis of quartz–amethyst deposits suggests a single growing mechanism ruled by geometric selection of randomly oriented crystals. Microthermometry of fluid inclusions reveals formation temperature lower than 100 C, probably lower than 50 C, and fluid salinity as high as 3 mass% NaCl eq. Composition in REE and trace-elements measured by ICP-MS on acid-digested or laser-ablated samples indicates a common genesis for amethyst, quartz and chalcedony, as well as the absence of significant variations from one geode to another. Sr/Sr data on chalcedony shows that both the host basalt or the Botucatu sandstone are possible silica sources. These data, combined with thermo-kinetic considerations, permit us to discuss the filling process. We argue in favor of the contribution of a mineralized fluid of hydrothermal origin producing a regional silica source which decreased with time. The observed mineral sequence is related to the depletion of silica in the
Preying on the poor The impact of repressive violence on citizen behavior

State repression is used in many countries by unpopular regimes to force citizens to speak or act against their preferences. It is often assumed that repression is effective in shaping citizen behavior; however, there is enormous heterogeneity in how citizens respond. I argue that repression is most effective against the poor, and that this effect may be driven by both psychological and physical vulnerability. I test my theory using data from the case of Zimbabwe and two empirical strategies at the constituency and individual level that draw on exogenous variation in economic scarcity and exposure to repressive violence. The results presented here show that repression is more effective in shaping the behavior of citizens living in a state of economic scarcity. These results are robust across three analyses using independent variation in repression and scarcity. I also rule out alternative explanations by showing that repression and scarcity are not accompanied by changes in preferences, differences in the type of repression, or differences in the effectiveness of clientelism. These results help explain why underdevelopment is associated with authoritarian, non-responsive institutions, and why we see less redistribution to the poor than we would expect in many poor democracies. ∗PhD Candidate, Columbia University Department of Political Science (ley2106@columbia.edu, www.laurenelyssayoung.com). Thanks to Sarah Berens, Daniel Berger, Graeme Blair, Christopher Blattman, Alexander Coppock, Macartan Humphreys, Albert Fang, Grant Gordon, Kimuli Kasara, Adrienne LeBas, Isabela Mares, Suresh Naidu, and Gabriella Sacramone-Lutz for comments on the design and analysis of this project, as well as seminar audiences in the Columbia Political Economy Breakfast, Columbia Graduate Seminar, Midwest Political Science Association, and the American Political Science Association. I am indebted to many anonymous political analysts and scholars in Zimbabwe who shared the data and insights that made this project possible. The author thanks the U.S. Institute for Peace, the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Political Science, the International Peace Research Association Foundation, and the National Science Foundation for support for her travel and time.
DKK 1 overexpression promotes the proliferation and cartilage differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells ( MSCs ) of antler

Wnt signaling plays multiple roles in mammalian mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This study aimed to examine the effect of Wnt signaling on the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs of antler. Antlers were harvested at 60 days of growth and MSCs were isolated. An adenovirus for DKK1 overexpression was constructed. Cartilage differentiation was evaluated using Alcian blue, alizarin red, and immunohistochemistry. MSCs were evaluated by qRT-PCR for DKK1, collagen I, collagen II, β-catenin, cyclinD1, c-Myc, and Runx2. On days 3 and 6, Alcian blue staining in Ad-DKK1 cells was positive, but disappeared from day 9. On day 9, collagen II immunohistochemistry was weakly positive. On day 11, alizarin red staining showed positive stain. On day 11, the expression of collagen I in the Ad-DKKI group was higher than that in the empty adenovirus group, and was higher than that on days 6 and 9 (all P<0.05); the expression of collagen II on day 11 was significantly higher (all P<0.05). The expression of the DKK1 gene was increased from day 9 (P<0.05 vs. day 6). The expression of the β-catenin gene was decreased from day 9 (P<0.05). The expression of the CyclinD1 gene was also declined on day 11 (P<0.05). The expression of the Runx2 gene was higher from day 6 (all P<0.05). Wnt signaling is involved in the proliferation and cartilage differentiation of MSCs of antler. These results provide a theoretical basis for the growth and regeneration of antler.
EFFICACY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF DIFFERENT ALLELOPATHIC PLANTS ON GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF WHEAT AND WILD OAT

To analyze the efficacy of aqueous extracts of different allelopathic plants on germination and growth of wheat and wild oat seeds, a lab experiment was conducted in the Department of Weed Science, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan in 2013. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized (CRD) design with three repetitions. Seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and wild oat (Avena fatua L.) were soaked with the exact concentration of their respective water extract (WE) for 24 hours before placing in the petri dishes for germination. Afterwards only distilled water was applied to keep the seed moist. There were eight treatments viz. sorghum WE, sunflower WE, parthenium WE, sorghum+sunflower WE, sorghum+parthenium WE, sunflower+parthenium WE, sorghum+sunflower+ parthenium WE @ 1:10 (w/v) each and a control treatment (distilled water only) for comparison. Data were recorded on germination (%), shoot length (cm), shoot weight (mg), root length (cm) and root weight (mg) at the 20 day of the experiment. All parameters were significantly affected by the all applied treatments. The data showed that highest wheat germination (100%) was recorded in sorghum+parthenium WE and lowest germination (80%) in sorghum+sunflower+parthenium WE. Lowest wild oat germination (60%) was noticed for sunflower+parthenium WE. In conclusion, the application of sorghum+parthenium WE was the most effective and economical treatment in reducing the germination and growth of wild oat.
Asphalt rubber versus other modified bitumens

Asphalt rubber and rubberized asphalt samples were produced using various available, public recipes and their properties were compared to different laboratory and bitumen terminal / refinery produced linear and radial type of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS), SBS-polyphosphoric acid (PPA), ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) and Elvaloy modified bitumen. The aging characteristic of asphalt rubbers was found to be always better than the unsaturated polymer contained modified binders, however the confidence range of standards testing methods showed higher variability due to inhomogeneity of the rubber modified binders. Asphalt rubber had the highest, while Elvaloy resulted the lowest viscosity at all tested temperatures. Elasticity of SBS modified bitumens were found to be the best, while cold performance were significantly improved by rubber modified binders due to the presence of crumb rubber particles. It was found that an appropriately designed and manufactured asphalt rubber binder can replace SBS, SBS-PPA or EVA, Elvaloy modified bitumen. However it should be considered that the main objective is probably not this but to increase utilization of rubber modified bitumen versus common non-modified bitumen.
Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields Induce a Mitochondria-Independent Apoptosis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells In Vitro

NANOSECOND PULSED ELECTRIC FIELDS INDUCE A MITOCHONDRIA-INDEPENDENT APOPTOSIS IN B16F10 MELANOMA CELLS IN VITRO Wentia Elissa Ford Old Dominion University, 2008 Director: Dr. Stephen Beebe Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are ultra-short pulses that induce direct electric field and biological effects that initiate apoptosis. Here the application of ten 300ns pulses ranging in electric fields from 12kV/cm-60kV/cm was administered to determine the effects on B16F10 melanoma cells evaluated by in vitro studies. Initial application of nsPEFs demonstrated apoptosis induction in an electric fieldand pulse number-dependent manner measured by caspase activation that correlated with decrease in cell viability 24hr post pulse. In addition caspase activity was shown to be independent of calcium mobilization though ions may play a part in other aspects of apoptosis. The use of additional apoptotic markers Annexin V and propidium iodide revealed no phosphatidylserine externalization and no direct electric field effects on membrane permeability, respectively. However, characteristic apoptotic morphological features of plasma membrane blebbing and F-actin cytoskeleton disruption were observed. In order to define apoptotic pathway, evaluation of mitochondrial function illustrated no intracellular release of mitochondrial proteins, cytochrome c, second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac), direct IAP-binding protein (DIABLO) and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF). Further examination of caspases with isozymes specific initiators indicated electric field-dependent increases in caspases -8 and interestingly -9 as well as executioner caspases -3, -6 and -7. NsPEFs activate signal transduction mechanisms that induce apoptosis through a mitochondria independent pathway that mimics an apparent membrane-dependent extrinsic type I apoptotic mechanism(s). Uniquely, nsPEF activate caspase -9 either via direct cleavage or an unknown mechanism without apoptosome formation in the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. Therefore nsPEFs induce apoptosis rapidly by mechanisms that are distinct and independent from those that are commonly mutant in the mitochondria pathway in melanomas and those same mechanisms frequently used by chemotherapeutic agents that result in resistant tumors. The short nsPEF treatment time (3 milliseconds) and rapid apoptosis induction (tens of minutes) is less likely to result in cancers that are resistant to nsPEF treatment. The therapeutic application of nsPEFs can provide a new and novel method to the arsenal for cancer treatment strategies. This dissertation is dedicated to my mother, Evangeline Ford, for her unselfish sacrifice, dedication and support throughout the completion of this degree.
Role of oral nicorandil in preventing contrast induced nephropathy in type 2 diabetics undergoing coronary angiography

Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) remains to be a potentially serious complication following coronary angiography. CIN has become the third leading cause of hospital acquired acute renal failure. This clinical trial was performed to assess the preventive effects of oral nicorandil against CIN in type 2 diabetics undergoing coronary angiography. A total of 150 type 2 diabetics were randomly divided into three groups, basic treatment group (n=51), standard nicorandil therapy group (n=49, nicorandil 5 mg, 3 times/d were used 2 days before and 3 days after angiography), and intensive nicorandil therapy group (n=50, nicorandil 10 mg, 3 times/d were used 2 days before and 3 days after angiography). Renal functions were assessed at the time of hospital admission and on days 1, 2, and 3 after angiography. CIN occurred in 13 of 150 patients (8.67%). The incidence of CIN was lower in the nicorandil treatment groups than in the basic treatment group (8.16% vs 11.76%, 6% vs 11.76%, P<0.05), and a more significant decrease in the incidence of CIN in the intensive nicorandil therapy group (6% vs 11.76%, P<0.01). Compared with the basic treatment group, a lower proportion of patients in the nicorandil treatment groups had an eGFR decrease of 25% or greater (10.2% vs 13.73%, 8% vs 13.73%, P<0.05); patients with an eGFR decrease of 25% or greater accounted for an even lower proportion in the intensive nicorandil therapy group (8% vs 13.73%, P<0.01). Multiple Logistic Regression showed that administration of nicorandil, advanced age, lower eGFR levels, and higher dose of contrast volume were independent risk factors of CIN. In conclusion, prophylactic treatment with nicorandil in type 2 diabetics undergoing coronary angiography could effectively prevent CIN, and intensive nicorandil therapy could be more effective.
Market Responses to Global Governance : International Climate Agreements and Europe ’ s Carbon Trading

This paper investigates how multilateral environmental governance affects private profits. Environmental agreements usually entail economic mechanisms and should receive attention from economic investors. However, the financial reaction to environmental agreements can be ambivalent, as firms may be more or less constrained by green regulation. I argue that global environmental cooperation hurts profitability if firms lack domestic economic protection that shields them from the costs of environmental adjustments. By contrast, if firms are protected with respect to international competitors, they can adjust to global environmental decisions and therefore raise market expectations on their profitability. Focusing on the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), I present an event study of 38 European firms at the time of the international gatherings of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The empirical analysis lends support to the view that financial markets carefully evaluate the climate change meetings. I find that EU ETS investors react positively to multilateral decisions that strengthen the purpose of green regulation and emission trading. This evidence suggests that international climate change decisions affect profit substantially, but that the repercussions are not related to compliance costs as long as firms are protected from the risk of competitive disadvantage. ∗fgenov@essex.ac. uk. I thank Thomas Bernauer, Nikhar Gaikwad, Thibaud Henin, Sascha Messmer, Stefan Renckens and Georg Zachmann for help and feedback. A previous version of this paper was presented at the ISA 2014. Comments are welcome
Assessing the performance of climate change simulation results from BESM-OA2.5 in comparison to a CMIP5 model ensemble

The main features of climate change patterns, as simulated by the coupled ocean-atmosphere version 2.5 of the Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM-OA2.5) are contrasted with those of other 25 CMIP5 models, focusing on temperature, precipitation and atmospheric circulation. The climate sensitivity to quadrupling atmospheric CO2 concentration is investigated from two techniques: linear regression (Gregory et al., 2004) and Radiative Kernel (Soden and Held, 2006; Soden et al., 2008) methods. Radiative kernels from both NCAR and GFDL are used in order to decompose the climate feedback responses of 5 CMIP5 models and BESM-OA2.5 into different processes. Applying the linear regression method for equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) estimation, we obtain a value for BESM close to the ensemble mean value. The study reveals that BESM has shown zonally averaged feedbacks estimated from Radiative Kernel within the ensemble standard deviation of the other CMIP5 models. The exceptions are found in the high-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and the ocean near Antarctic, where BESM shows values for lapse-rate, humidity feedbacks and albedo marginally out of the standard deviation of CMIP5 10 multi-model ensemble. For those areas, BESM also presented an strong positive cloud feedback being a outlier comparatively to all analyzed models. Moreover, BESM shows physically consistent changes in the pattern of temperature, precipitation and atmospheric circulation. Copyright statement. Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union