cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concrete compressive strain behavior and magnitudes under uniaxial fatigue loading

Abstract Recent advances in concrete technology and construction have promoted an increasing utilization of concrete in fatigue-critical structures, such as wind turbine towers. While research into concrete fatigue is not a new topic and has been going on for several decades, a large majority of this research has primarily been focused on the determination of concrete fatigue capacity. However, understanding and advancing concrete fatigue behavior (e.g., fatigue stress vs. strain response) has received limited attention, even though this is also crucial, especially considering the inherently nonlinear behavior of concrete. To address this knowledge gap and further advance our understanding of concrete fatigue behavior, an experimental investigation consisting of uniaxial compressive fatigue testing of concrete cylinder specimens until failure was undertaken, and axial strains were recorded throughout the duration of fatigue loading. The behavior and evolution of concrete axial strains, including the rate of accumulation of strains, through the fatigue loading process were extensively analyzed and are reported. Additionally, the influence of key parameters, such as peak stress levels and number of cycles to failure, on peak strain evolution were investigated and are described. Magnitudes of peak axial strain at the end of the stable strain accumulation phase, as well as at failure, are also reported, and recommendations are made for estimating strain magnitudes at these critical junctures when conducting fatigue analysis and design. The results will help advance the understanding of concrete axial strain behavior under compressive fatigue loading. The results also provide guidelines for estimating the magnitudes of concrete strains under fatigue loads, which in turn will be beneficial to designers, as it allows them to also consider structural performance during the analysis and design of fatigue critical concrete structures.
Loneliness Among US Adults Aged ≥55 Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic : Findings From the COVID-19 Coping Study.

ObjectivesLoneliness is associated with increased risks of adverse health outcomes among middle-aged and older adults. We estimated the prevalence of loneliness and identified key sociodemographic,...
Manifold-based respiratory phase estimation enables motion and distortion correction of free-breathing cardiac diffusion tensor MRI.

PURPOSE For in vivo cardiac DTI, breathing motion and B0 field inhomogeneities produce misalignment and geometric distortion in diffusion-weighted (DW) images acquired with conventional single-shot EPI. We propose using a dimensionality reduction method to retrospectively estimate the respiratory phase of DW images and facilitate both distortion correction (DisCo) and motion compensation. METHODS Free-breathing electrocardiogram-triggered whole left-ventricular cardiac DTI using a second-order motion-compensated spin echo EPI sequence and alternating directionality of phase encoding blips was performed on 11 healthy volunteers. The respiratory phase of each DW image was estimated after projecting the DW images into a 2D space with Laplacian eigenmaps. DisCo and motion compensation were applied to the respiratory sorted DW images. The results were compared against conventional breath-held T2 half-Fourier single shot turbo spin echo. Cardiac DTI parameters including fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and helix angle transmurality were compared with and without DisCo. RESULTS The left-ventricular geometries after DisCo and motion compensation resulted in significantly improved alignment of DW images with T2 reference. DisCo reduced the distance between the left-ventricular contours by 13.2% ± 19.2%, P < .05 (2.0 ± 0.4 for DisCo and 2.4 ± 0.5 mm for uncorrected). DisCo DTI parameter maps yielded no significant differences (mean diffusivity: 1.55 ± 0.13 × 10-3 mm2 /s and 1.53 ± 0.13 × 10-3 mm2 /s, P = .09; fractional anisotropy: 0.375 ± 0.041 and 0.379 ± 0.045, P = .11; helix angle transmurality: 1.00% ± 0.10°/% and 0.99% ± 0.12°/%, P = .44), although the orientation of individual tensors differed. CONCLUSION Retrospective respiratory phase estimation with LE-based DisCo and motion compensation in free-breathing cardiac DTI resulting in significantly reduced geometric distortion and improved alignment within and across slices.
Pastoralism, nature and golf: in pursuit of the ‘Middle Landscape’ along the California coast

Dr Alister MacKenzie designed golf courses throughout Europe and the United States in the early twentieth century. As one of the sports early ‘golf architects,’ MacKenzie brought a particularly viv...
Evaluation of Tarsonemus bilobatus and Podosphaera xanthii as suitable resources for Proprioseiopsis mexicanus in cucurbit systems in the Southeast USA.

Tritrophic relationships involving tarsonemids and predatory phytoseiids are common in a variety of agroecosystems, but due to the wide range of diets in both families, it is necessary to understand what food resources they are consuming to determine potential impact on crops. We investigated a frequent association of cucurbit powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii), Tarsonemus bilobatus, and Proprioseiopsis mexicanus in watermelon and pumpkin fields to determine whether P. mexicanus is consuming either or both of the other organisms. We also examined developmental and reproductive capability of P. mexicanus on these diets. If P. mexicanus is an effective predator of T. bilobatus, it may also be useful in controlling pest tarsonemids, such as broad mites. Proprioseiopsis mexicanus either starved or escaped from arenas rather than consume P. xanthii. When consuming T. bilobatus, P. mexicanus females developed from larva to adult in ca. 3 days. On this diet, the preoviposition period was ca. 2 days and P. mexicanus laid 1.7 eggs/day. These results are comparable to some of the higher-quality non-prey resources investigated in the literature. Starved female P. mexicanus consumed 6.5 T. bilobatus of mixed stages in 1 h. This study provides support for further research into the importance of non-pest tarsonemids as a resource to maintain the presence of generalist predatory mites as an early-intervention natural enemy. Further work should examine the efficacy of P. mexicanus as a natural enemy of economically important pest tarsonemids.
Legal Personality as a Fundamental Aspect of International Organizations under International Law

The article illustrates the fundamental aspects of international legal personality of International organizations (IOs) under international law. The work studies the concept and emergence of the international legal personality; analyzes theoretical approaches and impacts of court decisions regarding the legal personality.
The Ancient World

The proceeding section begins the treaties on the background and outline of the ancient world. In particular, the discussion and presentation focuses on Africa, Asia and Europe as they relate to the development of a canon. It begins with the common African origins of all human beings, and the development of cultural expressions and sacred bodies of literature, referred to as the canon, which have impacted social, religious and educational thinking throughout ancient and contemporary times.
A Review of “Globalizing City: The Urban and Economic Transformation of Accra, Ghana”

Richard Grant's book on the globalization of Accra, Ghana, represents a finely crafted, empirically nuanced study of contemporary urban restructuring in a major West African city. Framed around deb...
Pseudo-functional scan-based BIST for delay fault

This paper presents a pseudo-functional BIST scheme that attempts to minimize the over-testing problem of logic BIST for delay and crosstalk-induced failures. The over-testing problem is evident from the non-trivial number of structurally testable while functionally untestable (ST-FU) faults. Such faults can be detected by some scan/BIST patterns but not by any functional pattern. The goal of this BIST scheme is to allow only functional-like patterns generated from the BIST random test pattern generator (RTPG) as tests. This is done by inserting a Monitor at the output of the RTPG, which indicates whether the current pattern violates some pre-extracted functional constraints. In case of violation, the pattern is skipped. In our implementation, a SAT solver is used to analyze and extract a set of functional constraints from the functional logic. These functional constraints are then implemented in hardware as the Monitor. Even though the extracted functional constraints can not be exhausted, the proposed BIST scheme can detect and filter out, in real-time, a substantial subset of the nonfunctional patterns, and thus minimizing the over-testing problem. We present some experimental results to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed BIST scheme.
The pharmacokinetics and extracorporeal removal of N-acetylcysteine during renal replacement therapies.

Objective: Acetaminophen-induced fulminant hepatic failure is associated with acute kidney injury, metabolic acidosis, and fluid and electrolyte imbalances, requiring treatment with renal replaceme...
Trochanteric impingement: is it a source of pain after THR?

Abstract While uncommon, trochanteric-pelvic impingement may lead to significant lateral hip pain. We defined "impingement distance" as the radiographic distance from the medial aspect of the greater trochanter and the corresponding lateral edge of the acetabular bone or component and compared this to the contralateral normal hip. We present two painful total hip replacement (THR) cases, each featuring a patient with severe lateral hip pain when walking and sitting. Both patients had diminished femoral offset and trochanteric-pelvic clearance, compared to the contralateral normal hip. The impingement distance was increased an average of 10 mm with the exchange to a longer femoral head. Both patients had immediate and complete pain relief with operative treatment to increase the impingement distance.
Passerine migrants respond to variation in predation risk during stopover

During travel, migrants may encounter unfamiliar habitats and predators and visit sites for which they lack information on predation risk. Temporary stops during migration permit only limited opportunities to gather information about risk, and other priorities, such as the need to forage, may restrict these opportunities. Under these conditions, the extent to which migrants respond to variations in predation risk is unclear. We studied small passerine birds during migratory stopover to determine whether their behaviour was related to variation in risk of capture by migrating birds of prey. We used two approaches, observational and experimental. Observations revealed that blue-grey gnatcatchers, Polioptila caerulea, and American redstarts, Setophaga ruticilla, moved deeper into oak shrubs as the number of sharp-shinned hawks, Accipiter striatus, at the site increased. Furthermore, blue-grey gnatcatchers moved at slower rates as counts of hawks increased. The experiment revealed that blue-grey gnatcatchers had lower rates of both movement and foraging after exposure to a gliding model hawk. These results provide evidence that predator avoidance remains a priority during migration and that migrants are able to assess risk to some extent during temporary stopover. In addition, the results suggest that predator avoidance behaviour may limit foraging opportunities during stopover by restricting habitat use.
Polar solvation and solvation dynamics in supercritical CHF3: Results from experiment and simulation.

Solvation dynamics of the probe trans-4-(dimethylamino)-4‘-cyanostilbene (DCS) have been measured in supercritical fluoroform at 310 K (1.04 Tc) and solvent densities over the range 1.4−2.0ρc using optical Kerr-gated emission spectroscopy. Steady-state measurements and computer simulations of this and the related system coumarin 153 (C153) in fluoroform are used to help interpret the observed dynamics. The solvent contribution to the Stokes shift of DCS is estimated to be 2300 ± 400 cm-1 and nearly density independent over the range (0.7−2.0)ρc. Spectral response functions are bimodal and can be fit to biexponential functions having time constants of ∼0.5 ps (85%) and 3−10 ps (15%) over the observable range ((1.4−2.0)ρc). Computer simulations based on a 2-site model of fluoroform and assuming an electrostatic solvation mechanism appear to properly account for the magnitude and weak density dependence of the Stokes shifts but predict much faster solvation than is observed. Possible reasons for the discrepa...
Endovascular repair of an aortoduodenal fistula.

Purpose:To demonstrate the utility of endovascular stent-graft repair for the management of an unusual aortoduodenal fistula.Methods and Results:A 23-year-old man with an aortoduodenal fistula secondary to tumor necrosis was treated with a Corvita endoluminal stent-graft after several failed surgical attempts to repair the defect. At 2-year follow-up, the patient was clinically and radiographically devoid of any evidence of occult stent-graft infection.Conclusions:This case illustrates the usefulness of endovascular repair for the treatment of a primary aortoduodenal fistula. Endovascular repair should be included in the armamentarium for the management of difficult aortoduodenal fistulas.
Differential Activation Profiles of Multiple Transcription Factors During Dendritic Cell Maturation

Immature dendritic cells (DC) at the environmental interfaces, such as the skin, constantly survey the tissue for the emergence of microbial products and pro-inflammatory mediators. Upon recognition of such "danger" signals, they undergo dynamic reprogramming of gene expression and functions, the process known as DC maturation, which plays critical roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Although DC have been shown to discriminate different maturation stimuli by expressing stimulus-specific signature genes and unique phenotypic and functional properties, underlying mechanisms for this extraordinary plasticity remain relatively unclear. We hypothesized that DC might activate unique sets of transcription factors (TF) upon sensing different stimuli. To test this hypothesis, we transduced a mouse epidermal-derived DC line XS106 to express the luciferase reporter gene under the control of each of 15 different cis-enhancer elements. The resulting DC panels were then exposed to 14 different microbial, endogenous, environmental, and pharmacological agents that produced unique maturational changes. This approach allowed systematic determination of TF activation profiles in DC. Our results revealed striking diversity, with different classes of stimuli triggering preferential activation of distinct sets of TF. We propose that differential TF usage represents a previously unrecognized mechanism regulating the direction of DC maturation.
Mentoring Highly Aggressive Children: Pre–Post Changes in Mentors’ Attitudes, Personality, and Attachment Tendencies

This study examined the degree to which mentoring highly aggressive children was associated with changes in mentors’ attitudes, personality, and attachment tendencies. Participants were 102 college students who each mentored an aggressive, high-risk child across three academic semesters (spring, fall, spring). We examined pre- to post-mentoring changes in attitudes about mentoring efficacy and future parenting, Big Five personality characteristics, and attachment tendencies. Mentors also rated the impact of the mentoring relationship in their lives, and both mentors and mentees rated support of the mentoring relationship. Results indicated a statistically significant decrease over time in mentors’ ratings of self-efficacy, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness. These findings held even when controlling for ratings of relationship impact. However, mentors who rated the mentoring relationship as supportive tended to experience increased openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness and less attachment-related avoidance over time. Child-rated support negatively predicted mentors’ post-mentoring attitudes toward future parenting. Discussed are the potential costs of mentoring highly aggressive children and strategies that could help increase benefits to mentors.
A hybrid-density functional cluster study of the bulk and surface electronic structures of PuO2

Abstract A hybrid density functional theory B3LYP (Becke's three-parameter exchange functional and the correlation functional of Lee, Yang and Parr) with relativistic effective core potentials has been applied to investigate the electronic structures of both the bulk and surfaces of plutonium dioxide. The bulk and the selected surfaces have been represented by a set of molecular clusters embedded in large arrays of point charges to simulate the crystal environment. The HOMO–LUMO gaps and the density of states of the clusters support the general belief that PuO2 is a semiconductor. The chemical bonding is found to be mostly ionic.
Multi-Detector Row CT of Acute Non-traumatic Abdominal Pain: Contrast and Protocol Considerations

This article discusses the critical protocol considerations in imaging patients with abdominal pain in the emergency department, specifically, the use of oral contrast, intravenous contrast, image postprocessing, and radiation dose. These considerations related to the use of computed tomography imaging of abdominal pain are reviewed in an evidence-based fashion.
Factors Affecting Daily Nest Survival of Burrowing Owls Within Black‐Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies

Identifying environmental parameters that influence probability of nest predation is important for developing and implementing effective management strategies for species of conservation concern. We estimated daily nest survival for a migratory population of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) breeding in black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in Wyoming, USA. We compared estimates based on 3 common approaches: apparent nesting success, Mayfield estimates, and a model-based logistic-exposure approach. We also examined whether 8 intrinsic and extrinsic factors affected daily nest survival in burrowing owls. Positive biases in apparent nest survival were low (3–6%), probably because prior knowledge of nest locations and colonial behavior among nesting pairs facilitated discovery of most nests early in the nesting cycle. Daily nest survival increased as the breeding season progressed, was negatively correlated with ambient temperature, was positively correlated with nest-burrow tunnel length, and decreased as the nesting cycle progressed. Environmental features were similar between failed and successful nests based on 95% confidence intervals, but the seasonal midpoint was earlier for failed nests (31 May) compared to successful nests (15 Jun). The large annual variation in nest survival (a 15.3% increase between 2003 and 2004) accentuates the importance of multiyear studies when estimating reproductive parameters and when examining the factors that affect those parameters. Failure to locate and monitor nests throughout the breeding season may yield biased estimates of nesting success in burrowing owls (and possibly other species), and some of the variation in nesting success among years and across study sites may be explained by annual and spatial variation in ambient temperature. Any management actions that result in fewer prairie dogs, shorter burrow lengths, or earlier nesting may adversely affect reproductive success of burrowing owls.
Temperature shifting of convergent flow measured effective elongational viscosity

The effective elongational viscosity data on a series of polyolefins as a function of temperature are shifted to a reference temperature using the approach for shifting shearing viscosity data. The temperature shift factors are obtained from complex and capillary shear rheology, and these are the same factors used for shifting the shear rheology. A Carreau rheological model was used to determine the zero shear rate viscosity at different temperatures, and an Arrhenius expression was used to determine the temperature shift factors. The same shift factors are shown to produce separate master curves for shear and elongational rheology at reference temperatures. The commercial grades of polyolefins studied include an extrusion grade of polypropylene and metallocene and conventionally catalyzed low and high density polyethylene materials. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1387–1396, 2003
Estimation of heritability and response to selection for cut-flower yield in gerbera

Heritabilities and responses to selection for cut flower yield were estimated for a population of gerbera. Broad-sense heritabilities averaged 42 percent, but may be as high as 66 percent. Narrow sense heritabilities averaged 68 percent when based on half-sib families, and averaged 60 percent when based on parent-offspring regression. These results suggest that most genetic variance for flower yield is additive.
Hexokinase redistribution in vivo.

Abstract Heterogenous stock mice in addition to mice selectively bred to maximally differ in their severity of alcohol withdrawal seizures (withdrawal seizure-resistant (WSR) and withdrawal seizure-prone (WSP)) were used to provide evidence in favor of the importance of the rapidly changing distribution of brain hexokinase (ATP: D -hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) (HK). An ischemic response at 15, 30, 60 and 120 s after killing showed a decreasing cerebellar cytosolic HK concentration of 31%, 15%, 14% and 10% while the cerebral concentrations were 23%, 13% and 14%, respectivetively. WSR and WSP mice given an acute i.p. dose 4 g/kg of alcohol showed opposite HK responses. Cytosolic HK in WSR mice decreased 18.5%, while WSP mice showed an increased of 20.3% over paired saline-injected controls. When ischemia was allowed to proceed in WSP mice following an in vivo alcohol treatment, cytosolic HK decreased in parallel to mice not given alcohol. These data suggest that alcohol can cause an HK redistribution in vivo which could play a role in the difering sensitivities of WSR and WSP mice to alcohol related seizures.
Biota and hydrology influence soil stability in constructed wetlands

Abstract The impact of hydroperiod and vegetation on soil stability was investigated in wetland swales that treat urban stormwater. Critical shear stress was measured as a proxy for soil stabilization using a Cohesive Strength Meter in three parallel wetlands. Despite efforts to create three replicate wetlands by uniform construction and identical planting, each developed a distinct hydroperiod (low, intermediate, and high water-recession rates) and vegetation (varied biomass of cattails [ Typha species]). Critical shear stress ( τ c ) was highest in the high-recession, fast-draining wetland (7.8 Pa), followed by the intermediate-recession swale (6.1 Pa) and the low-recession, inundated swale (4.1 Pa). These values correlated with differential development of moss and algal mats, both of which were highly resistant to erosion ( τ c of 8.6 and 7.4 Pa, respectively). These epibenthic mats were patchy and developed primarily in the wetlands with high and intermediate water-recession rates but were limited in the low-recession wetland, with cattail shade, anaerobic conditions, and substrates consisting of organic matter ( τ c of 5.6 Pa), bare soil (3.0 Pa), and muck (1.8 Pa). Small inflows sustained ponding and associated cattails, which promoted shade and destabilized the surface soil of the low-recession system, as well as subareas within the better-drained wetlands. Epibenthic mats played an unexpected, disproportionate role in soil stabilization compared to vascular plants.
Predictive value of cytologic atypia in indeterminate thyroid fine-needle aspirate biopsies.

Background Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies are the most accurate method for diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Unfortunately, biopsies are indeterminate 15–30% of the time and surgery is thus required for a definitive diagnosis. We aimed to determine whether specific descriptors of cytologic atypia mentioned in indeterminate FNA reports were associated with malignancy on final histopathology.
Cell-to-cell transport of proteins: requirement for unfolding and characterization of binding to a putative plasmodesmal receptor

Summary Plasmodesmata and the nuclear pore complex (NPC) mediate the selective trafficking of proteins and protein-nucleic acid complexes. The events underlying the translocation of endogenous and viral proteins through plasmodesmata were investigated to further explore the parallels between these cell-to-cell and intracellular communication systems. Studies performed with crosslinked KNOTTED1 (KN1) revealed that a conformational change is required for the cell-to-cell movement of this protein. Microinjection of gold-conjugated KN1 established that, as with the NPC, a combination of protein unfolding and microchannel dilation appears to be involved in protein translocation. However, during this process the extent of microchannel dilation is much less than observed for the NPC, which may reflect a physical limitation imposed by the cell wall. Co-injection of KN1-gold with unbound KN1 or cucumber mosaic virus movement protein (CMV-MP) established that the KN1-gold probe is highly effective at blocking plasmodesmal transport of KN1 and CMV-MP. This result provided the foundation for competition experiments which demonstrated that KN1 and the viral movement proteins of CMV and tobacco mosaic virus likely utilize a common receptor in the pathway for cell-to-cell transport of proteins. A combination of biochemical fractionation methods, anin vitrobinding assay founded on the high affinity between KN1-gold and the putative common plasmodesmal receptor, and microinjection techniques were used to isolate plasmodesmal constituents involved in cell-to-cell transport. A model describing the steps involved in protein transport through plasmodesmata is presented.
The CDG1 Kinase Mediates Brassinosteroid Signal Transduction from BRI1 Receptor Kinase to BSU1 Phosphatase and GSK3-like Kinase BIN2

The brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway includes two receptor-like kinases (BRI1 and BAK1), a plasma membrane-associated kinase (BSK1), two phosphatases (BSU1 and PP2A), a GSK3-like kinase (BIN2), and two homologous transcription factors (BZR1 and BES1/BZR2). But the mechanisms of signal relay are not fully understood. Here, we show that a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase named CDG1 mediates signal transduction from BRI1 to BSU1. Transgenic experiments confirm that CDG1 and its homolog CDL1 positively regulate BR signaling and plant growth. Mass spectrometry analysis identified BRI1 phosphorylation sites in CDG1 and CDG1 phosphorylation sites in BSU1. Mutations of these phosphorylation sites compromised the BR signaling functions. The results demonstrate that BRI1 phosphorylates S234 to activate CDG1 kinase, and CDG1 in turn phosphorylates S764 to activate BSU1, which inactivates BIN2 by dephosphorylating Y200 of BIN2. This study thus demonstrates a complete phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cascade linking a steroid-activated receptor kinase to a GSK3-like kinase in plants.
Surface electromagnetic waves: A review

From the beginning of the 20th century, researchers have been interested in surface electromagnetic waves guided by planar interfaces of dissimilar mediums. Much initial research on surface-plasmon waves and surface-plasmon-polariton waves stemmed from theoretical curiosity, but the development of new experimental techniques propelled commercial exploitation for optical sensors of chemical and biological species. Additional surface waves called Dyakonov waves, Tamm waves, and Dyakonov–Tamm waves have emerged during the last 25 years. Experimental observation of Dyakonov waves was reported only in 2009, but the rapid development of experimental apparatus during the 1990s suggests that theoretical predictions will soon be evaluated experimentally, leading to further development of optical detection systems and optical circuitry.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 94

Abstract The 1960 version of the Nuclear DAta Sheets for A = 94 has bee revised on the basis of experimental data received prior to April 1, 1973. Information from approximately 165 papers and communications has been included in the present evaluation. Nine nuclei are well established for A = 94. Only the presumed ground states and their half-lives are known for 94Kr and 94Rb. The 94Sr decay scheme has recently been determined. Some discrepancies are found in the reported decay schemes for 94Y. Many spin assignments for low-lying levels in the stable nuclei 94Zr and 94Mo are firm. Many levels are known in 94Nb, but only a few spin assignments can be made independently of shell-model predictions. The decay schemes for the two 94Tc isomers appear well established. A few firm spin assignments are made for levels in 94Te and 94Ru. The two known branches in 94Ru decay are found to have unusully low log ft values ( The existence of the nucleus 94Rh has been reported for the first time, but details of the observations are not yet published.
Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and fibrin as indexes of clinical course in cardiac allograft recipients. An immunocytochemical study.

BACKGROUNDTissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) is the principal activator of plasminogen. Since hemostasis in the microcirculation of allografts is a well-recognized complication of transplantation, we asked (1) whether the distribution and amount of cellular TPA in biopsies of transplanted human hearts are associated with fibrin deposits in and around the microcirculation, (2) whether such changes involve the physiological inhibitors of TPA and plasmin, and (3) whether the presence of these activators and inhibitors of fibrinolysis in tissue is correlated with clinical outcome.METHODS AND RESULTSWe immunocytochemically quantified the presence of fibrin, plasmin, TPA, and the TPA inhibitor PAI-1 in 938 biopsies from 68 consecutive cardiac allografts over a 54-month period. The localization, distribution, and quantification of TPA in arteriolar smooth muscle cells revealed that 35 of the 68 allografts maintained vascular TPA reactivity consistent with time-zero biopsies of autologous donor hearts: this ...
What Is the Content of the World's Technologically Mediated Information and Communication Capacity: How Much Text, Image, Audio, and Video?

This article asks whether the global process of digitization has led to noteworthy changes in the shares of the amount of text, images, audio, and video in worldwide technologically stored and communicated information content. We empirically quantify the amount of information that is globally broadcast, telecommunicated, and stored (1986–2007) and assess the evolution of the respective content shares. Somewhat unexpectedly, it turns out that the transfer from analog to digital has not led to toward increasing shares of media-rich audio and video content, despite vastly increased bandwidth. First, there is a certain inertia in the evolution of content, which seems to stick to stable proportions independent of its technological medium (be it analog vinyl and VHS tapes, or digital CDs and hard disks). Second, the relative share of text and still images actually captures a larger portion of the total amount than before the digital age. Text merely represented 0.3% of the (optimally compressed) bits that flowe...
Charged particle mass identification by energy-time-of-flight technique

Abstract The energy-time-of-flight technique for charged particle mass identification has been succesfully used in the mass range from mass 1 to 12 and in the energy range from 0.5 MeV to 11 MeV. As an illustration of the usefulness of the technique, the results of the analysis of the reactions produced by 12 C nuclei bombarded by deuterons at 12 MeV are presented. The pulsed and bunched beam facilities of the Rice University tandem Van de Graaff were used, and particles resulting from the bombardment were detected with a silicon surface barrier solid state detector. The energy and time-of-flight parameters were processed using an IBM 1800 real time computer with an ADC resolution of 1024 channels for each parameter. Twenty-six energy peaks from the 12 C(d, y)Y reaction were identified, while, for comparison, the free energy spectrum provides only ten peaks.
17α-Ethinylestradiol decreases expression of multiple hepatic nucleotide excision repair genes in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Abstract Waterborne 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE 2 ) alters hormone-mediated biological indicators in fish. These alterations include increased plasma vitellogenin, increased intersex individuals, decreased egg and sperm production, reduced gamete quality, and complete feminization of male fish. Together, these observations implicate aquatic estrogens in a broad range of detrimental effects on fish reproduction and fitness. In addition to impairing reproductive processes, EE 2 is also a strong promoter of hepatic tumor formation. Since many ubiquitous, aquatic hepatocarcinogens form DNA adducts that are preferentially repaired by nucleotide excision repair (NER) processes, we hypothesized that EE 2 may exert co-carcinogenic effects by reducing an organisms ability to repair DNA adducts via this mechanism. The present study used fluorescence-based quantitative RT-PCR to examine effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of the semisynthetic estrogen, EE 2 , on hepatic nucleotide excision repair (NER) gene expression. Adult male and female zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) were exposed to 1 ng/L, 10 ng/L or 100 ng/L concentrations of EE 2 , or to a solvent control (0.05%, v/v ethanol), for 7 days with static water renewal every 24 h. Effectiveness of EE 2 exposure in the liver was confirmed by examining hepatic expression of two estrogen-responsive biomarkers, vitellogenin-1 and cytochrome P450-1A1 (CYP1A1). Quantitative analysis confirmed that exposure to 100 ng/L EE 2 caused significant decreases in transcript abundance of several hepatic NER genes in male zebrafish, including XPC (>17-fold), XPA (>7-fold), XPD (>8-fold), and XPF (>8-fold). Adult female zebrafish exhibited a four-fold decreased in XPC mRNA abundance at all exposure concentrations. Decreased mRNA abundance of NER genes was also seen to a lesser degree at lower concentrations of EE 2 . Adult male zebrafish showed greater reduction of hepatic NER transcript levels than their female counterparts, which is consistent with the sexually dimorphic incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in many species. Decreased transcript levels of NER genes have been shown to be an important epidemiological marker for increased cancer risk and decreased repair capacity in humans.
A Modal Interpretation of the Logic of Interrogation

We propose a novel interpretation of natural-language questions using a modal predicate logic of knowledge. Our approach brings standard model-theoretic and proof-theoretic techniques from modal logic to bear on questions. Using the former, we show that our interpretation preserves Groenendijk and Stokhof's answerhood relation, yet allows an extensional interpretation. Using the latter, we get a sound and complete proof procedure for the logic for free. Our approach is more expressive; for example, it easily treats complex questions with operators that scope over questions. We suggest a semantic criterion that restricts what natural-language questions can express. We integrate and generalize much previous work on the semantics of questions, including Beck and Sharvit's families of subquestions, non-exhaustive questions, and multi-party conversations.
Application of speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry to evaluate methods for efficiencies, recoveries, and quantification of mercury species transformations in human hair

Nine different analytical extraction methods commonly used for mercury speciation in human hair samples were evaluated by analyzing hair certified reference material (IAEA-085) certified for the content of monomethyl mercury and total mercury. Extraction efficiencies, recoveries, as well as their potential of species transformations during sample processing, were evaluated by applying speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SIDMS) as both a quantitative and diagnostic tool. The extraction methods evaluated in this study were based on acid leaching with HCl and HNO3. Detection of total mercury and mercury species from all extraction methods were carried out by inductivley coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography-ICP-MS, respectively. Microwave-assisted extraciton (4 mol l−1 HNO3, at 100 °C for 10 min) and mechanical shaking (2 mol l−1HCl, at room temperature for 24 h) were found to be the most efficient protocols that demonstrated approximately 100% mecury recovery with less species transformations (6% or less). Ultrasound-assisted extraction (2% HCl + 10% ethanol, at 60 °C for 7 min) or extraction with 2 mol l−lHCl in a water bath (at 100 °C for 5 min) resulted in the second highest extraction efficiency (∼90%) with little or no mercury species transformations. Demethylation as high as 22% using 5 mol l−1 HNO3 in a water-bath heating (at 100 °C for 2 h) and 90% with cold acid digestion using concentrated HNO3 and H2O2 (room temperature for 24 h) were observed, however, all the extraction methods tested produced accurate quantitation when corrected in accordance with the SIDMS method standardized in the US Environmental Protection Agency's method 6800.
Constraining inverse Stefan design problems

A new formulation possessing stable numerical characteristics is presented for inverse Stefan design processes. In such processes, the goal of the analysis is to design transient boundary conditions which produce the desired interfacial surface motion. This subclass of mildly ill-posed mathematical problems is amenable to the proposed solution methodology. This investigation presents a fixed-front differential formulation from which a weighted residual statement is developed. Orthogonal collocation is used to obtain numerical results illustrating the merit of imposing physical constraints in the mathematical model. These mathematical constraints can be viewed as design specifications and are available to the designer or experimentalist. The proposed methodology is flexible and can be generalized to problems involving continuous casting or crystal growth. Finally, symbolic manipulation is used for augmenting the computational methodology.
Transient heat conduction analysis in a piecewise homogeneous domain by a coupled boundary and finite element method

A coupled finite element–boundary element analysis method for the solution of transient two-dimensional heat conduction equations involving dissimilar materials and geometric discontinuities is developed. Along the interfaces between different material regions of the domain, temperature continuity and energy balance are enforced directly. Also, a special algorithm is implemented in the boundary element method (BEM) to treat the existence of corners of arbitrary angles along the boundary of the domain. Unknown interface fluxes are expressed in terms of unknown interface temperatures by using the boundary element method for each material region of the domain. Energy balance and temperature continuity are used for the solution of unknown interface temperatures leading to a complete set of boundary conditions in each region, thus allowing the solution of the remaining unknown boundary quantities. The concepts developed for the BEM formulation of a domain with dissimilar regions is employed in the finite element–boundary element coupling procedure. Along the common boundaries of FEM–BEM regions, fluxes from specific BEM regions are expressed in terms of common boundary (interface) temperatures, then integrated and lumped at the nodal points of the common FEM–BEM boundary so that they are treated as boundary conditions in the analysis of finite element method (FEM) regions along the common FEM–BEM boundary. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Approaches to neural tissue engineering using scaffolds for drug delivery

This review seeks to give an overview of the current approaches to drug delivery from scaffolds for neural tissue engineering applications. The challenges presented by attempting to replicate the three types of nervous tissue (brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve) are summarized. Potential scaffold materials (both synthetic and natural) and target drugs are discussed with the benefits and drawbacks given. Finally, common methods of drug delivery, including degradable/diffusion-based delivery systems, affinity-based delivery systems, immobilized drug delivery systems, and electrically controlled drug delivery systems, are examined and critiqued. Based on the current body of work, suggestions for future directions of research in the field of neural tissue engineering are presented.
Targeting FPGA-based processors for an implementation-driven compiler construction course

This paper describes the adaptation of a modern compiler construction course to target an FPGA-based hardware platform used throughout our computer science curriculum. One of the significant challenges in teaching using modern hardware platforms is the inordinate complexity of commonly used systems. To avoid this, many compiler courses target a less complex platform implemented via a simulator or a higher-level virtual or abstract hardware platform. To avoid the complexity of a modern superscalar multicore architecture and to improve the kinesthetic experience of students implementing the course compiler, we have provided a framework and runtime support for using an FPGA-based RISC CPU as the target for the compiler backend. Using this system allows students to leverage knowledge gained in earlier organization and architecture classes using the same system, while also providing a hands-on active learning component at the completion of the compiler implementation.
Wisdom and Intelligence: The Nature and Function of Knowledge in the Later Years

Intelligence can be defined as the ability to think logically, to conceptualize and abstract from reality. Wisdom can be defined as the ability to grasp human nature, which is paradoxical, contradictory, and subject to continual change. These two constructs hold potential for highlighting positive and adaptive features of development in the later years. both are considered to increase with age, and both provide for life-long acquisition of knowledge. Despite these phenotypic similarities, this paper attempts to illustrate that the nature of wisdom and its function in the developmental process differs sufficiently from cognitive ability to warrant separate scrutiny. These two constructs are compared with respect to the domains of behavior they represent, the operational tasks used to assess them, and the relationship of logic and time in their development. The function of intelligence is characterized as focusing on questions of how to do and accomplish necessary life-supporting tasks; the function of wisdom Is characterized as provoking the individual to consider the consequences of his actions both to self and their effects on others. Wisdom, therefore, evokes questions of should one pursue a particular course of action.
Visualization of a slow, ATP-induced structural transition in the bacterial molecular chaperone DnaK.

Abstract Recent reports have shown that the binding of ATP to a 70-kDa molecular chaperone induces a rapid global conformational transition from a “high affinity” state to a “low affinity” state, where these states are defined by tight and weak binding to (poly)peptides, respectively. To complete the activity cycle, a chaperone molecule must ultimately return to the high affinity state. In this report, this return to the high affinity state was studied using a chemical cross-linking assay in conjunction with SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The basis for this assay is that in the absence of nucleotide or in the presence of ADP, conditions that stabilize the high affinity state, cross-linking of theEscherichia coli molecular chaperone DnaK yielded two monomeric forms, with apparent molecular masses of 70 kDa (77%) and 90 kDa (23%), whereas cross-linking yielded only the 70-kDa monomeric form in the presence of ATP. This ATP-dependent difference in cross-linking was used to follow the kinetics of the low affinity to high affinity transition under single turnover conditions. The rate of this transition (k obs = 3.4 (±0.6) × 10−4 s−1 at 25 °C) is almost identical to the reported rate of ATP hydrolysis (k hy = 2.7 (±0.7) × 10−4 s−1 at 22 °C). These results are consistent with a two-step sequential reaction where rate-limiting ATP hydrolysis precedes the conformational change. Models for the formation of two cross-linked DnaK monomers in the absence of ATP are discussed.
Interfacial Electronic Properties of Thiophene and Sexithiophene Adsorbed on a Fluorinated Alkanethiol Monolayer

X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS and UPS) have been used to study the interfacial electronic properties of thiophene and α-sexithiophene (6T) adsorbed at 130 K in ultrahigh vacuum on top of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol (PFDT) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. The binding energy of the F 1s XPS peak decreases following thiophene and 6T adsorption, indicating charge transfer to the fluorinated SAMs. UPS measurements substantiate charge transfer, with the valence features of thiophene and 6T in contact with the monolayer appearing at higher ionization energies compared to thicker layers. The energies of the UPS-measured vacuum levels of 6T deposited on PFDT/Au illustrate the absence of a common vacuum level between the organic layers at the PFDT-6T interface and the presence of a −0.9 eV interface dipole. Similar measurements performed for 6T deposition on self-assembled octadecanethiol (ODT) give a weaker interface dipole of opposite sign (Δ = +0.4 eV). The relatively larg...
Leveraging smart grid technology for home health care

Smart grid technology is emerging as a powerful method for managing home energy consumption and improving the efficiency of power delivery. Due to declining birth rates and advances in health care, the world population is aging and new technology can assist in care of elderly populations. Smart grid technology can be used to provide useful information on the activities of daily living and can be used to monitor both the short-term and long-term health of elderly individuals. This report outlines some experiments that demonstrate the concept.
The Brauer group of an affine cone

Abstract Let V be a reduced projective hypersurface in P v and C the affine cone over V in X = A v + 1 . We employ cohomological methods to study the Brauer groups of the varieties C , C - P , X - C and X ¯ - C ¯ , where P is the vertex of the cone, X ¯ = P v + 1 and C is the completion of C in X .