cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A note on “5×5 Completely positive matrices”

Abstract In their paper “ 5 × 5 Completely positive matrices”, Berman and Xu (2004) [3] attempt to characterize which 5 × 5 doubly nonnegative matrices are also completely positive. Most of the analysis in [3] concerns a doubly nonnegative matrix A that has at least one off-diagonal zero component. To handle the case where A is componentwise strictly positive, Berman and Xu utilize an “edge-deletion” transformation of A that results in a matrix A ∼ having an off-diagonal zero. Berman and Xu claim that A is completely positive if and only if there is such an edge-deleted matrix A ∼ that is also completely positive. We show that this claim is false. We also show that two conjectures made in [3] regarding 5 × 5 completely positive matrices are both false.
Regulation of the virC and virD promoters of pTiC58 by the ros chromosomal mutation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The virC and virD operons of the virulence region of the Ti plasmid are highly regulated, requiring a transcriptional regulator that is encoded by virG and is activated by the product of virA and plant phenolics such as acetosyringone. Full expression of virC and virD of octopine and nopaline Ti plasmids is also obtained by a mutation in the ros gene of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens chromosome. S1-nuclease analysis, in vitro transcription, and DNase I protection experiments with A. tumefaciens RNA polymerase revealed virD promoters tandemly arranged, both of which are functional in the Ros mutant, while only one is functional in the presence of acetosyringone. A third (overlapping) promoter appears to be responsible for transcription of virC. Expression of virC and virD appears to be modulated by factors within the bacterium by means of a mechanism that is independent of factors produced during infection of the host plant.
Control of ventilatory movements in the aquatic insect Corydalus comutus: central effect of hypoxia

. The influence of hypoxia and hypercapnia on the ventilatory rhythm of the hellgrammite Corydalus cornutus L. (Megaloptera) was studied. In intact animals the frequency of rhythmic retractions and protractions of abdominal gills is increased by hypoxia (10% O2, 90% N2) but no ventilatory response is elicited by hypercapnia (1–5% CO2, 20% O2, 75–79% N2). The ventilatory motor pattern was examined by recording extracellularly from the gill retractor muscle or its efferent nerve. In response to hypoxia (8% 02, 92% N2), there are decreases in the cycle-time, the interspike interval, and the burst length of the gill retractor motorneuron. In addition, previously quiescent motorneurons associated with gill protraction are recruited. Individual ganglia or small groups of abdominal ganglia can be isolated both from the central ganglionic chain and from the periphery by selective cutting of roots and connectives. When exposed to hypoxia, preparations that include the first abdominal ganglion show characteristic changes in the ventilatory motor pattern similar to those in intact animals. Thus sensitivity to oxygen appears to be located centrally and not peripherally. In small animals (head width 9 mm), chains of ganglia lacking abdominal ganglion 1 fail to respond. In larger animals oxygen sensitivity may thus be concentrated in abdominal ganglion 1, whereas in smaller animals the ability to initiate a ventilatory response to hypoxia is distributed among the abdominal ganglia.
Model-based segmentation of the facial nerve and chorda tympani in pediatric CT scans

In image-guided cochlear implant surgery an electrode array is implanted in the cochlea to treat hearing loss. Access to the cochlea is achieved by drilling from the outer skull to the cochlea through the facial recess, a region bounded by the facial nerve and the chorda tympani. To exploit existing methods for computing automatically safe drilling trajectories, the facial nerve and chorda tympani need to be segmented. The effectiveness of traditional segmentation approaches to achieve this is severely limited because the facial nerve and chorda are small structures (~1 mm and ~0.3 mm in diameter, respectively) and exhibit poor image contrast. We have recently proposed a technique to achieve this task in adult patients, which relies on statistical models of the structures. These models contain intensity and shape information along the central axes of both structures. In this work we use the same method to segment pediatric scans. We show that substantial differences exist between the anatomy of children and the anatomy of adults, which lead to poor segmentation results when an adult model is used to segment a pediatric volume. We have built a new model for pediatric cases and we have applied it to ten scans. A leave-one-out validation experiment was conducted in which manually segmented structures were compared to automatically segmented structures. The maximum segmentation error was 1 mm. This result indicates that accurate segmentation of the facial nerve and chorda in pediatric scans is achievable, thus suggesting that safe drilling trajectories can also be computed automatically.
Deficient post-error slowing in children with ADHD is limited to the inattentive subtype

Post-error slowing (i.e., slowing of a response on correct trials following an error) is thought to reflect adaptive behavior that may be impaired in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The current study examined post-error slowing in children with ADHD and typically developing controls on two cognitive tasks. Fifty-one ADHD-Combined type, 53 ADHD-Inattentive type, and 47 controls completed a Choice Discrimination and Stop Signal Task with incentive and event rate manipulations. Linear mixed models were used to examine reaction times surrounding errors (trial-by-trial). Pre-error speeding and pre- to post-error slowing occurred on both tasks. Impaired post-error slowing was only present on the Choice Discrimination Task for the ADHD-Inattentive type. Post-error slowing is impaired in children with ADHD-Inattentive type, but not ADHD-Combined type, on a simple attention task. These findings highlight the importance of considering task demands and ADHD subtype when examining post-error slowing and also provide a novel approach to quantifying post-error slowing.
Dynamic urea bond for the design of reversible and self-healing polymers

Polymers bearing dynamic covalent bonds may exhibit dynamic properties, such as self-healing, shape memory and environmental adaptation. However, most dynamic covalent chemistries developed so far require either catalyst or change of environmental conditions to facilitate bond reversion and dynamic property change in bulk materials. Here we report the rational design of hindered urea bonds (urea with bulky substituent attached to its nitrogen) and the use of them to make polyureas and poly(urethane-urea)s capable of catalyst-free dynamic property change and autonomous repairing at low temperature. Given the simplicity of the hindered urea bond chemistry (reaction of a bulky amine with an isocyanate), incorporation of the catalyst-free dynamic covalent urea bonds to conventional polyurea or urea-containing polymers that typically have stable bulk properties may further broaden the scope of applications of these widely used materials.
Identification of a search object in a digital image

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between a bit map digital image and a given object, called the search object. In particular, to signal that it is likely, or not likely, that the search object appears, at least partially, in the image. Edge detection capability is assumed. Edges in the search object and in the digital image are represented as objects, in the object oriented programming sense, as Bezier cubic parameterized curves. The conversion from sequence of pixels to a Bezier polynomial representation is accomplished using least squares approximation techniques. In the event that two edges in the search object are matched with edges in the image, their relative orientation is checked using elementary vector analysis. The functioning of the algorithm is not dependent on scaling, rotation, translation, or shading of the image.
Interbreed matings in dairy cattle. V. Reproductive performance.

Abstract The reproductive performance of females of all possible two-breed combinations among Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, and Holsteins was evaluated in comparison to contemporary purebreds. Traits for Parities 1 to 4 were days from first breeding to conception and the proportion pregnant by 95, 120, and 145 days postpartum (cows) or these intervals following 380 days after birth (heifers). These measures plus time from calving to first estrus and days open in lactation were studied in Parities 2 to 4. Parity effects were significant (P
Smooth Muscle Relaxation: Effects on Arterial Compliance, Distensibility, Elastic Modulus, and Pulse Wave Velocity

Compliance, distensibility, incremental elastic modulus (E(inc)), and pulse wave velocity are all terms used to describe the mechanical properties of arteries. Previous studies assessing the effects of smooth muscle relaxation on each of these parameters have produced conflicting results. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that intrabrachial infusion of nitroglycerin in normal human subjects results in a large increase in brachial artery compliance without changing arterial wall stiffness as measured by E(inc). In the present study, the relationships among compliance, distensibility, E(inc), and pulse wave velocity under different levels of vascular tone are shown using data acquired by intravascular ultrasound as well as theoretical curves. We demonstrate that the effects of smooth muscle relaxation can be depicted as 2 separate steps: (1) a rightward shift to a new theoretical curve describing the relationship between 2 of the above elastic parameters that is solely due to changes in vessel geometry and (2) a shift along the new curve that is dependent on changes in wall stiffness.
Geomagnetic influence on aircraft radiation exposure during a solar energetic particle event in October 2003

[1] We present initial results from the Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation for Aviation Safety (NAIRAS) model during the Halloween 2003 superstorm. The objective of NAIRAS is to produce global, real-time, data-driven predictions of ionizing radiation for archiving and assessing the biologically harmful radiation exposure levels at commercial airline altitudes. We have conducted a case study of radiation exposure during a high-energy solar energetic particle (SEP) event in October 2003. The purpose of the case study is to quantify the important influences of the storm time and quiet time magnetospheric magnetic field on high-latitude SEP atmospheric radiation exposure. The Halloween 2003 superstorm is an ideal event to study magnetospheric influences on atmospheric radiation exposure since this event was accompanied by a major magnetic storm which was one of the largest of solar cycle 23. We find that neglecting geomagnetic storm effects during SEP events can underestimate the high-latitude radiation exposure from nearly 15% to over a factor of 2, depending on the flight path relative to the magnetosphere open-closed boundary.
Channel formation by serum amyloid A: a potential mechanism for amyloid pathogenesis and host defense

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a,faniily of closely related apolipoproteins associated with high densiy lipoprotein (HDL). Subclasses of SAA isoforms are dlfferentially expressed constitutively and during inflamniution. During states of infection or inflammation, levels of' HDI, bound, acute phase isoforms of SAA rise as much us 1000-fold in the serum, suggesting that it might play a role in host defense. Following recurrent or chronic inflammation, an ,Vterminal peptide fragment of SAA known as trmyloidA (AA) assetxrbles intoJibrils causing extensive damage to spleen, liver, and kidney, and rapidly progressing 10 death. In the present paper, we report the novel finding that a recombinant ticute phase isoform variant ofhuman MA 1. I (SAAp) readir'y forms ion-channels in planar lipid bilayer menibranes at physiologic concentrations. These channels are voltajge-independent, poorly selective, and are relatively long-jived. This type of channel would place a severe metabolic strain on various kinds of cells. Expression qf human SAAI. I in bacteria induces lysis of bacteriul cells, while expression of the constitutive isojorm (human SA'44) does not. Secondary structural ana1ysi.s ofthe SAA isoforms indicates a strong hydrophohiciy of the N-terminal of the acute phase isoform relative to the constitutive X4AI isoform, which may be responsible ,for the bactericidal activiQ of the former, in keeping with the notion that SAAI targets cell membranes andforms channels in them Channel formation mq thus be related to a host defense role of acute phase SAA iscforms and mq also be the mechanism of end organ damage in A,4 and other amyloidosec
Appearance of images through a multifocal intraocular lens

The appearance of images through a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) was simulated. The optical transfer function (OTF) of a model eye containing the multifocal lens was measured and divided by the OTF of the model eye with a monofocal IOL. This ratio was used to filter digital images, generating simulations that represent the retinal images seen through a multifocal intraocular lens when viewed through an eye with a monofocal lens. A dichoptic side-by-side display was used to present the original image to one eye, implanted with the multifocal lens, while the other eye, implanted with monofocal lens, viewed the simulations and variations on the simulations to derive a point of subjective equivalence. Four subjects with such bilateral lens implants were tested for near and distance vision. The results validate the test methodology and the simulations. Referenced to the nominal theoretical filter, the prediction was within a 0.25-diopter (D) blur for distance simulation and within a 0.50-D blur for the near-vision simulation.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ABERT'S SQUIRREL (SCIURUS ABERTI) CAVITY NESTS

Cavity nests are rarely used by Abert's squirrels (Sciurus aberti) in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests. Introduced Abert's squirrels in the Pinaleno Mountains of Arizona, how- ever, exhibit occasional use of cavity nests (ca. 10%). We examined characteristics of cavity nest sites in this introduced population. Cavity nests were located at two-thirds of the tree height and were found mainly in both dead and live aspen (Populus tremuloides). Aspen cavity trees were larger than aspen random trees. Aspen cavity sites had more large snags and less ponderosa pine and were less steep than aspen random sites. Abert's squirrels possibly use cavities in large aspen trees because thick trunks and older trees might allow larger cavities to form, might provide greater thermal and wind protection, or both. The greater use of cavity nests by the Abert's squirrels in our study could be due to the higher frequency of cavity-forming aspens or harsher winter con- ditions in mixed-conifer forests of the Pinaleno Mountains than in ponderosa pine forests where Abert's squirrels typically occur or both.
Improving network response times using social information

Social networks and discussion boards have become significant outlets for people to communicate and freely express their opinions. Although the social networks themselves are usually well-provisioned, the participating users frequently point to external links in order to substantiate their discussions. Unfortunately, the heavy traffic load suddenly imposed on these externally linked websites makes them unresponsive, leading to the “flash crowd effect.” Flash crowds present a real challenge as their intensity and occurrence times are impossible to predict. Moreover, most present-day web hosting servers and caching systems, although increasingly capable, are designed to handle a nominal load of requests before they become unresponsive due to limited bandwidth or the processing power allocated to the hosting site. In this paper, we quantify the prevalence of flash crowd events for a popular social discussion board (Digg). Using PlanetLab, we measured the response times of 1,289 unique popular websites and verified that 89 % of the popular URLs suffered variations in their response times. In an effort to identify flash crowds in advance, we evaluated and compared traffic forecasting mechanisms. We showed that predicting network traffic using network measurements has very limited success and cannot be used for large-scale prediction. However, by analyzing the content and structure of social discussions, we were able to accurately forecast popularity for 86 % of the websites within 5 min of a story’s submission and for 95 % of the sites when more social content (5 h worth) became available. Our work indicates that we can effectively leverage social activity to forecast network events when it would otherwise be infeasible to anticipate them.
Influence of urbanization on ant distribution in parks of Tokyo and Chiba City, Japan I. Analysis of ant species richness

To investigate how progressive urbanization influences the distribution of ant species in cities, I compared the ant species richness in urban parks of different areas and ages of Tokyo, the most intensively developed urban region in Japan, and its developing neighbor, Chiba City. A total of 43 ant species were found from 98 parks. Multiple regression analysis revealed that park area and age had a positive effect on the number of ant species in the parks and that the parks in Tokyo contained fewer species than did comparable parks in Chiba. Thus, the progression of urbanization reduces ant species richness in urban parks, most likely because it isolates the parks from the surrounding area. Next, in order to examine the relationships between the types of landform modification and the ant distribution in urban areas, I compared the ant species richness in urban parks of Chiba City among different landform types (upland + terraces, lowlands, cut and fill, banking, and reclamation). This study showed that the parks in the reclaimed lands and lowlands contained fewer ant species than did parks in other areas. The reason for this decline of ant fauna is discussed.
Do People Comprehend Legal Language in Wills

Summary: This study assessed the ability of laypeople to understand a document that most have read and signed: a last will and testament. We focused on concepts that are frequently included in wills, examined whether understanding can be enhanced by psycholinguistic revisions, and assessed comprehension as a function of age. Participants ages 32 to 89years read will-related concepts in (i) their traditional format, (ii) a version revised to increase readability, or (iii) a version in which, in addition to those changes, we explained archaic and legal terms. Results showed that increasing the readability and explaining terms enhanced participants’ abilities to apply will-related concepts to novel fact patterns and to explain their reasoning. We found no age-related effects on comprehension, consistent with well-documented findings that processing at the situation level of text comprehension is preserved in older adults. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest ideas for further research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regulation of TFEB and V‐ATPases by mTORC1

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) is an important, highly conserved, regulator of cell growth. Ancient among the signals that regulate mTORC1 are nutrients. Amino acids direct mTORC1 to the surface of the late endosome/lysosome, where mTORC1 becomes receptive to other inputs. However, the interplay between endosomes and mTORC1 is poorly understood. Here, we report the discovery of a network that links mTORC1 to a critical component of the late endosome/lysosome, the V-ATPase. In an unbiased screen, we found that mTORC1 regulated the expression of, among other lysosomal genes, the V-ATPases. mTORC1 regulates V-ATPase expression both in cells and in mice. V-ATPase regulation by mTORC1 involves a transcription factor translocated in renal cancer, TFEB. TFEB is required for the expression of a large subset of mTORC1 responsive genes. mTORC1 coordinately regulates TFEB phosphorylation and nuclear localization and in a manner dependent on both TFEB and V-ATPases, mTORC1 promotes endocytosis. These data uncover a regulatory network linking an oncogenic transcription factor that is a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, TFEB, to mTORC1 and endocytosis.
A force-reflecting teleoperated hand system for the study of tactile sensing in precision manipulation

The author describes a teleoperated hand system developed to study the role of tactile and fine-force sensing in telemanipulation. Both master and slave manipulators are two-fingered hands designed for precision tasks that humans typically execute with a pinch grasp. A direct drive parallel linkage configuration and brushless DC servomotors permit smooth, accurate control of contact forces and small motions, which is essential for effective tactile sensing and display. Initial experiments demonstrated that an operator can perform precision tasks using this system, and that the ability to convey small force levels to the operator required careful attention to the coupling between the operator's finger tips and the master manipulator. The system has been used to demonstrate that a tactile display can convey frictional information sensed at the slave manipulator. >
Sex and friendship in baboons

This work analyzes male-female relationships outside the context of mating in a troop of wild baboons. Barbara Smuts used long-term friendships between males and females, documented over a two-year period, to show how social interactions between members of friendly pairs differed from those of other troop mates, Her findings, now enhanced by 15 years of field studies, suggest that the evolution of male reproductive strategies in baboons can only be understood by considering the relationship between sex and friendship: female baboons prefer to mate with males who have previously engaged in friendly interaction with them and their offspring. Smuts suggests that female choice may promote male investment in other species, and she explores the relevance of her findings for the evolution of male-female relationships in humans.
Visual feedback in performer-machine interaction for musical improvisation

This paper describes the design of Mimi, a multi-modal interactive musical improvisation system that explores the potential and powerful impact of visual feedback in performer-machine interaction. Mimi is a performer-centric tool designed for use in performance and teaching. Its key and novel component is its visual interface, designed to provide the performer with instantaneous and continuous information on the state of the system. For human improvisation, in which context and planning are paramount, the relevant state of the system extends to the near future and recent past. Mimi's visual interface allows for a peculiar blend of raw reflex typically associated with improvisation, and preparation and timing more closely affiliated with score-based reading. Mimi is not only an effective improvisation partner, it has also proven itself to be an invaluable platform through which to interrogate the mental models necessary for successful improvisation.
Retrospective computed tomography mapping of intrapleural air may demonstrate optimal window for ultrasound diagnosis of pneumothorax.

Introduction:When a pneumothorax exists, free air should rise to the most nondependent region within the chest. Current ultrasound (US) examination methodologies may exclude visualization of these ...
Radar and data communication fusion with UWB-OFDM software-defined system

This paper describes the architecture, testing methodology and experimental results of the software-defined ultra-wideband system built at Miami University. To achieve broadband data communication capability, spectrum-efficient OFDM method of modulation was chosen. The radar functionality using the same OFDM-coded pulses was implemented as well, and tested in short-range experiments. The system operates in X-band with a total transmit bandwidth of 1 GHz. Range resolution of 0.30 meters and data communication capability at approximately 57 Mb/s were established and the system was shown to be able to operate in either mode without any hardware adjustments. This concept may prove extremely useful in high-resolution radar sensor network scenarios.
PRESCRIBED FIRE IN OAK SAVANNA: FIRE FREQUENCY EFFECTS ON STAND STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS

Although it is well known that fire can exert strong control on stand structure, composition, and dynamics in savannas and woodlands, the relationship between fire fre- quency and stand structure has been characterized in few of the world's savanna and woodland ecosystems. To address this issue in temperate oak-dominated ecosystems, we studied the effects of fire frequency on stand structure and dynamics in oak savanna and woodland stands that had been burned 0-26 times in 32 yr, in the Anoka Sand Plain region of Minnesota (USA). Seedling densities declined with increasing fire frequency, but differentially, for northern pin oak ( Quercus ellipsoidalis), black cherry (Prunus serotina), serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.), and red maple (Acer rubrum). Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa) seedling density was not sensitive to fire frequency. Frequent burning (at least three fires per decade) prevented development of a sapling layer and canopy ingrowth. Low-frequency burning (fewer than two fires per decade) produced stands with dense sapling thickets. Reductions in overstory density and basal area from 1984 to 1995 were observed for all stands burned two or more times during that period. Basal area declined by 4-7% per year, and density declined by 6-8% per year in stands burned four or more times. Mortality rates in burned stands were higher for northern pin oak (50%) than for bur oak (8%). Northern pin oak mortality was highest for small trees ( , 20 cm dbh) and lowest for mature trees (30-40 cm dbh); mortality increased with fire frequency. Bur oak mortality declined with increasing fire frequency. Attempts to preserve and maintain savannas as a viable ecosystem type in this region will require a long-term commitment to restoration-based management, with prescribed fire as a central tool. Burn frequency treatments with four or more fires per decade produce similar reductions in stem density and stand basal area but may lead to unsustainable oak tree populations. Within this general range, fire frequencies at a decadal scale should be chosen to address other management objectives, including suppressing shrubs and pro- moting increased cover of grasses and other herbaceous species. Fire management with a long-term view may also require periodic respites to allow for new cohorts of mature oak trees.
Teaching Research Methodology Using A Project-Based Three Course Sequence Critical Reflections On Practice

This article presents a reflective analysis of teaching research methodology through a three course sequence using a project-based approach. The authors reflect critically on their experiences in teaching research methods courses in an undergraduate business management program. The introduction of a range of specific techniques including student developed research projects, student-centered learning experiences, and public presentation of research projects are reflected upon. In 2001, the Department of Management reviewed the curriculum and established a research sequence linking major management course offerings. Three courses: Statistics, Research Methodology and Organizational Behavior were selected to be taught in sequence and designed to build research expertise. This article addresses the processes, procedures and practices for implementing and sustaining an undergraduate research sequence. Techniques are included for course design, development, and facilitation that emphasize product based learning strategies and interactive elements. Techniques for garnering student engagement and excitement for research projects will be presented.
Parent-informed test-control functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior related to combined establishing operations.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Analog functional analysis (FA) represents the gold standard practice in the functional assessment of problem behavior. In some cases, modifications to typical FA test conditions are required to isolate the environmental variables that evoke and maintain problem behavior. The purpose of the current study was to describe the development of an individualized FA test condition that included combined establishing operations (EOs). Methods: After an inconclusive standard FA, an individualized FA was conducted based on semi-structured descriptive assessment data collected by parents in the home setting. Results: The individualized test-control combined EO FA produced clearly differentiated results that informed a function-based treatment. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study and other similar lines of contemporary research on FA methodology, strategies are discussed for gathering data to inform individualized FA test conditions and derived treatments.
Outcomes of Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Are Combined Procedures Justified?

Efficacy and outcomes of resection for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) are well established; specific data on outcomes for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), either alone or with combined procedures, are limited. A retrospective review of PDs for pNET (1998–2014) at our institution was conducted. Patients were categorized into standard PD (SPD) alone or combined PD (CPD) defined as patients undergoing concurrent vascular reconstruction or additional organ resection for curative intent. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed. PD for pNET was performed for 95 patients. Tumors were functional in 11 patients (9 %). Twenty-six patients (28 %) underwent CPD. The 30/90-day mortality was 1.1/5.3 % respectively and similar between SPD and CPD (p = 0.61/p = 0.24). Five-year overall survival after PD for pNET was 85.1/71.9 % and similar between SPD/CPD groups (p = 0.17). Recurrence-free and overall survival for low-grade tumors was 74.7/93.9 % at 5 years compared to only 14.8/49.7 % for high-grade tumors (p < 0.001) and not predicted by extent of resection (SPD/CPD, respectively). PD with or without concurrent resection provides an acceptable, perioperative and long-term oncologic, outcome for pNET. CPD is justified treatment modality, particularly for patients with low-grade tumors. The need for combinatorial procedures during PD is not contraindication alone for otherwise resectable patients with pNET.
Advances in Fracture Toughness Test Methods for Ductile Materials in Low-Constraint Conditions☆

Abstract Fracture toughness is an important material property in the fracture mechanics methods, and often described with the fracture parameters of J -integral and crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) for ductile cracks. ASTM, BSI and ISO have developed their own standard test methods for measuring initial toughness and resistance curves in terms of J and CTOD using deeply cracked bending specimens. Such specimens are of high crack-tip constraints and give conservative toughness or resistance curves. Actual cracks in pressure vessels and welds are often shallow and dominated by tensile forces, resulting in low crack-tip constraint conditions and rising resistance curves. Thus the standard resistance curves could be overly conservative for a shallow crack in real structures. To obtain more reasonable fracture toughness for ductile cracks in low-constraint conditions, many experimental and analytical methods have been developed in the recent decades. This paper presents a critical technical review of fracture toughness test methods for standard and non-standard specimens, including (1) ASTM, BSI and ISO standard test methods for high-constraint specimens, (2) constraint correction methods for determining a family of constraint-dependent resistance curves, and (3) direct test methods for a low-constraint specimen: single edge-notched tension (SENT) specimen. This includes the basic concepts, basic methods, estimation equations, test procedures, limitations, historical effects, and recent progresses.
Accessibility tools

There is great interest in Microsoft in developing applications and tools that enable better accessibility to technology to non-traditional users. We will demonstrate a set of tools [http://herbi.org/default.htm] that have been developed by various people in MS who are passionate about accessibility. These tools are in developmental form, but we are anxious to have the computing community look at them, use them and provide us with feedback on how to make them better.
Critical Stresses for Twinning, Slip, and Transformation in Ti-Based Shape Memory Alloys

We investigate the effect of Nb and Ta contents on the (i) critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) for the β − α″ transformation, (ii) the CRSS for austenite slip, and (iii) the CRSS for twin nucleation in martensite (α″ phase) that govern shape memory and superelasticity in Ti-based alloys. The critical stresses for slip and twinning are achieved with a modified Peierls Nabarro formalism utilizing generalized stacking fault energy and the generalized planar fault energy (GPFE), respectively, obtained from first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. During the calculation of the twinning stress, we show the importance of the shuffling process in stabilizing and lowering the GPFE curve. Similarly, the transformation stress is obtained with heterogeneous martensite nucleation mechanism incorporating the energy barriers associated with the transformation process. Here, we point to the role of dislocations in the shuffling process during the early stage of transformation. We show that the increase of Ta content raises the CRSS more effectively for the case of slip compared to twinning or transformation. The slip stress and twin stress magnitudes increase with an increase in the unstable fault energy $$\left( {\gamma_{\text{us}} } \right)$$ and unstable twinning fault energy $$\left( {\gamma_{\text{ut}} } \right),$$ respectively. In summary, as the Ta composition increases, the difference between martensite/austenite slip resistance and the transformation/twinning stress widens showing the efficacy of Ta alloying additions.
On Trajectory Handover Error of Dual-Fighter Cooperative Guided Missiles

To solve the problem of cooperative guidance in information-based cooperative multi-fighter air combatthe handover error of trajectory aroused by navigation error in cooperative guidance was studied.Firstlythe disaccordance of target information provided by medium guidance platform and by seeker was analyzed.Then the handover error of trajectory was calculated out based on proportional navigationand the influence factors were analyzed by simulation.Finallythe favorable time of guidance handover was pointed out.The validity of the method was proved by the application example.
Screening the Suitability of Levee Protected Areas for Strategic Floodplain Reconnection Along the LaGrange Segment of the Illinois River, USA

Levee-protected floodplains along the 125-km LaGrange Segment (LGS) of the Illinois River were screened for their abiotic suitability for alternative ecosystem services (ESs), including wetland creation, habitat, floodwater denitrification and flood-tolerant agriculture. The suitability framework developed for this study builds upon the Land Capability Potential Index and is informed by the current understanding of the linkages between river hydrology, hydraulics, floodplain soils, floodplain vegetation and floodplain nutrient cycling. In addition to screening these floodplain areas for alternative ESs, we demonstrate how this framework can be combined with economic assessments of current floodplain services to inform how strategic floodplain reconnection (i.e. restoration of hydrologic linkages between river and floodplain for the purpose of flood mitigation and provisioning of alternative ESs) could be used to work towards sustainable floodplain management. Results show that ESs increase with upstream distance from the LaGrange Lock and Dam. This is attributed to the operation of the lock and dam generating a water level that would result in the inundation of a substantial portion of floodplain (>70 km2) up to ˜60 km upstream if the levees were to be removed or set back. Comparison of the profits from current floodplain agriculture with the potential profits of flood-tolerant agriculture suggests that overcoming the economic costs of floodplain reconnection within the LGS will likely require both conversion of reconnected floodplain lands to flood-tolerant agriculture and payments for ESs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Family and Work Identities: Conflict or Compatibility?

The man or woman with a family who works outside the home for pay has a double identity. One identity is dominated by emotional commitments to the people who represent the objects of strong attachment. The other identity is one based on objectivity, professionalism, and productive labor in which human relationships are overshadowed in the ruthless bargaining for individual profit and success. However, the adult’s double identity is not quite so dichotomous as this. In Part II it was shown that the adult’s family identity includes preoccupations with the practical and monetary concerns of maintaining the home unit’s viability. The opposite was found to be the case in the adult’s work identity. In Part III it was shown that this work identity often is based upon humane considerations for the feelings and needs of co-workers, superiors, and subordinates. Therefore, both of these complementary concerns of individual enterprise and family relationships contribute to the adult’s identity in each of the two areas. However, it still stands that the adult’s family identity, even in the extrinsic domains of family life, is dominated by feelings toward family members. The adult’s work identity, even with its basis in intrinsic factors that determine competence, is still grounded in the facts of economic necessity. In the present chapter, direct connections are sought between the themes that jointly serve to define the integration of these two modes of human existence and adult identity.
Expression of scavenger receptor-AI promotes alternative activation of murine macrophages to limit hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

The liver maintains an immunologically tolerant environment as a result of continuous exposure to food and bacterial constituents from the digestive tract. Hepatotropic pathogens can take advantage of this niche and establish lifelong chronic infections causing hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Macrophages (Mϕ) play a critical role in regulation of immune responses to hepatic infection and regeneration of tissue. However, the factors crucial for Mϕ in limiting hepatic inflammation or resolving liver damage have not been fully understood. In this report, we demonstrate that the expression of C-type lectin receptor scavenger receptor-AI (SR-AI) is crucial for promoting M2-like Mϕ activation and polarization during hepatic inflammation. Liver Mϕ uniquely upregulated SR-AI during hepatotropic viral infection and displayed increased expression of alternative Mϕ activation markers such as YM-1, arginase-1, and IL-10 via the activation of Mertk associated with inhibition of mTOR. The expression of these molecules was reduced on Mϕ obtained from the livers of infected mice deficient for the gene encoding SR-AI (msr1). Furthermore, in vitro studies using an SR-AI-deficient Mϕ cell line revealed impeded M2 polarization and decreased phagocytic capacity. Direct stimulation with virus was sufficient to activate M2 gene expression in the wild type (WT) cell line but not in the knockdown cell line. Importantly, tissue damage and fibrosis were exacerbated in SR-AI-/- mice following hepatic infection and adoptive transfer of WT bone marrow derived Mϕ conferred protection against fibrosis in these mice. Conclusion: SR-AI expression on liver Mϕ promotes recovery from infection-induced tissue damage by mediating a switch to a pro-resolving Mϕ polarization state. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Infrared Analysis Technique for Determining Aluminum-Phosphosilicate Reaction

One of the major causes of semiconductor failure is inversion. This condition is frequently caused by the build-up of trapped charges in the vicinity of the silicon/silicon dioxide interface after the devices are reverse-biased at elevated temperatures. Inversion poses a severe reliability exposure, resulting in both junction and transistor leakage. A phosphosilicate layer (P2O5) introduced into the silicon dioxide structure has been found to substantially reduce the silicon dioxide structure has been found to substantially reduce the failure incidence due to inversion. However, aluminum interconnections deposited upon the oxide passivation and, therefore, on the phosphosilicate layer have been found to react chemically with the oxide effectively reducing the phosphosilicate layer. This, in turn, increases the probability of failures by inversion. Reflection infrared spectroscopy has been found to be a practical non-destructive technique in determining phosphosilicate layer thickness on oxidized silicon wafers. Using this technique, experiments have shown that depletion of the phosphosilicate layer occurs because of interaction with aluminum under various times and temperatures. The experiments prove the practical aplicability of this infrared method in the quantitative determination of the depletion of the phosphosilicate layer. The experimental findings discussed in this paper show that the reflection technique can be effectively used in process development and in production control of transistors and diodes utilizing aluminum as interconnection.
Remote sensing of spatial-temporal variations of Chlorophyll-a in Galveston Bay, Texas

In order to estimate Chlorophyll-a concentrations at high spatial-temporal resolution accurately over bay systems in the western Gulf of Mexico, a 2-step remote sensing algorithm using observations from the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) is developed. Here, the approach is tested in Galveston Bay. First, atmospheric correction for the MERIS reflectance is performed to improve the quality and consistency of the satellite data. Second, an empirical relationship is generated by calibrating the MERIS reflectance ratio between band 7 and band 9 against Chlorophyll-a concentrations measured in-situ. This has enabled construction of Chlorophyll-a maps covering the entire bay area with 300m resolution. A time series of this research product is then compared with the Nino 3.4 index and river inflows, to analyze the effects of hydroclimate on the variation of Chlorophyll-a concentration in Galveston Bay.
Comparative Study on the Size Distributions, Respiratory Deposition, and Transport of Particles Generated from Commonly Used Medical Nebulizers.

Abstract Background: Medical nebulizers are widely and conveniently used to deliver medication to the lungs as an inhalable mist; however, the deposition of nebulized particles in the human respiratory system and the transport of the nebulized particles in the environment have not been studied in detail. Methods: Five medical nebulizers of three different types (constant output, breath enhanced, and dosimetric) were evaluated. The size distribution functions (SDFs) and respiratory deposition of the particles generated from the nebulizers were characterized. The SDFs were obtained with an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS; TSI, Inc., St. Paul) after data correction, and the respiratory deposition was calculated according to the model developed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The evaporation, Brownian diffusion, and convective movement are further calculated based on aerosol properties. Results and Conclusions: The SDFs measured by the APS indicated that most of the generated parti...
A case study of machine learning hardware: Real-time source separation using Markov Random Fields via sampling-based inference

We explore sound source separation to isolate human voice from background noise on mobile phones, e.g. talking on your cell phone in an airport. The challenges involved are real-time execution and power constraints. As a solution, we present a novel hardware-based sound source separation implementation capable of real-time streaming performance. The implementation uses a recently introduced Markov Random Field (MRF) inference formulation of foreground/background separation, and targets voice separation on mobile phones with two microphones. We demonstrate a real-time streaming FPGA implementation running at 150 MHz with total of 207 KB RAM. Our implementation achieves a speedup of 20× over a conventional software implementation, achieves an SDR of 6.655 dB with 1.601 ms latency, and exhibits excellent perceived audio quality. A virtual ASIC design shows that this architecture is quite small (less than 10M gates), consumes only 69.977 mW running at 20 MHz (52× less than an ARM Cortex-A9 software reference), and appears amenable to additional optimization for power.
No impact of under-correction and joint line obliquity on clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty for the varus knee

It has been hypothesized that under-correction of a preoperative varus deformity may be more natural and improve outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study’s purpose was to assess the impact of hip-knee-ankle (HKA) alignment and joint line obliquity on TKA outcomes for the varus knee. All patients with a preoperative varus deformity received both preoperative and postoperative standing, full-length radiographs from which two independent observers performed radiographic measurements including the HKA axis and mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA). Patients were categorized based on their HKA into neutral (0° ± 3°), mild varus (−6° to −3°), severe varus (≤ −6°), and valgus (>3°) cohorts, and separately categorized based on their mMPTA into neutral (90° ± 2°), mild varus (86°–88°), severe varus ( 92°) cohorts. Two hundred and fifty-six patients (mean age 63.8 ± 9.0 years, BMI 33.0 ± 6.2 kg/m2, follow-up 1.3 ± 0.6 years) were included. There was no difference in the postoperative SF-12 physical component, mental component, Oxford knee, Forgotten Joint Score, or incremental improvement in scores based on the postoperative alignment category for either the HKA or mMPTA. There was no correlation between the magnitude of change in HKA (r = 0.03–0.1) and mMPTA (r = 0.02–0.1) from preoperatively to postoperatively with clinical outcomes. In patients undergoing TKA for a preoperative varus deformity, a specific postoperative HKA or mMPTA alignment category was not associated with improved outcomes. Therefore, categorization of optimal postoperative alignment after TKA may not be possible as static, coronal alignment is just one of many variables that can impact clinical outcomes. Future investigations focusing on the combination of static images with dynamic examinations and ligamentous balancing may shed further insight into the controversy and importance of coronal alignment following TKA. III.