cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions Between the Vegetative States of Phages λ and T1

Bacteria containing phage lambda in the vegetative state were produced either by induction of lambda lysogens or by infection of sensitive cells with lambda. These cells were superinfected with T1, and assayed for the production of lambda, T1, or both. Although most of the cells produced only lambda or T1, approximately 10% of the infectious centers were dual yielders. Examination of the progeny phage produced by the population of mixedly-infected cells showed that there was little, if any, phenotypic mixing, as determined by adsorption phenotype. T1am mutants in a variety of T1 genes were tested for their ability to exclude lambda, but none were defective in this ability. One gene of T1, gene 4, can be complemented by lambda.
Atomic oxygen effects on SiO/sub x/ coated Kapton for photovoltaic arrays in low Earth orbit

Commercially applied SiO/sub x/ was evaluated as a protective coating for the polyimide Kapton solar array blankets for Space Station Freedom. Three different rolls of coated material were tested in a plasma asher to determine their durability to attack by atomic oxygen. Mass loss data indicated that all of the coatings tested would structurally survive for 15 years in LEO (low Earth orbit), except for one which had several uncoated lines across the sample which were caused by ridgelanes in the Kapton. It appears that the size rather than number of defects alone effects the mass loss the most. Careful handling of the material after coating and during processing may be critical for array survival. >
Dedicated Cone-beam Breast Computed Tomography and Diagnostic Mammography: Comparison of Radiation Dose, Patient Comfort, And Qualitative Review of Imaging Findings in BI-RADS 4 and 5 Lesions

Objective: This pilot study was undertaken to compare radiation dose, relative visibility/conspicuity of biopsy-proven lesions, and relative patient comfort in diagnostic mammography and dedicated cone-beam breast computed tomography (CBBCT) in Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) ® 4 or 5 lesions. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients (37 breasts) with abnormal mammographic and/or ultrasound categorized as BI-RADS ® 4 or 5 lesions were evaluated with CBBCT prior to biopsy. Administered radiation dose was calculated for each modality. Mammograms and CBBCT images were compared side-by-side and lesion visibility/conspicuity was qualitatively scored. Histopathology of lesions was reviewed. Patients were administered a survey for qualitative evaluation of comfort between the two modalities. Results: CBBCT dose was similar to or less than diagnostic mammography, with a mean dose of 9.4 mGy (±3.1 SD) for CBBCT vs. 16.9 mGy (±6.9 SD) for diagnostic mammography in a total of 37 imaged breasts ( P Conclusion: Our experience of side-by-side comparison of CBBCT and diagnostic mammography in BI-RADS ® 4 and 5 breast lesions demonstrated a high degree of correlation between the two modalities across a variety of lesion types. Owing to favorable radiation dose profile, excellent visualization of lesions, and qualitative benefits including improved patient comfort, excellent field-of-view, and more anatomical evaluation of lesion margins, CBBCT offers a promising modality for diagnostic evaluation of breast lesions.
A potential role for the acid-sensing T cell death associated gene-8 (TDAG8) receptor in depression-like behavior.

Abstract Inflammation has been suggested to contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. The T cell death associated gene-8 (TDAG8) receptor is a proton-sensing G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed on immune cells in both the CNS and periphery. Previous work has shown modulation of inflammation by the TDAG8 receptor, with pro-inflammatory responses reported in the central nervous system (CNS). Given the link between depression and inflammation, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of TDAG8 in depression relevant behaviors. Mice deficient in TDAG8 (TDAG8−/−) were tested in the forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference paradigm. TDAG8 deficiency resulted in significant attenuation of immobility in the FST as compared to wild type TDAG8 (TDAG8+/+) mice. These differences were not due to alterations in motor activity evoked by TDAG8 deficiency as TDAG8+/+ and TDAG8−/− mice displayed similar activity in the home cage or in a novel context. TDAG8−/− mice showed significantly higher consumption of sucrose compared to wild type mice although sucrose preference was not significantly different between genotypes. Collectively, our results support the involvement of the TDAG8 receptor in behavioral response relevant to depression. Further investigation is required to validate TDAG8 as a novel target linking inflammation and depression.
Individual Difference Variables That Predict Response to Training in Phonological Awareness

The cognitive abilities that predicted growth in response to a 12-week training program in phonological awareness were investigated with a sample of 100 kindergarten children. The children were selected from two elementary schools with historically low achievement in reading. Sixty children received training in both analytic and synthetic awareness skills, and 40 children constituted a no-treatment control group. Pretest measures included assessment of phonological awareness, phonological memory and naming rate, letter knowledge, reading and spelling, and general verbal ability. Growth in phonological awareness was assessed during the middle and at the end of the training period. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to estimate individual growth curves in phonological awareness for children in both the treatment and control groups. Initial comparisons between children in the two groups indicated substantial overall training effects in phonological awareness for children in the treatment group. For children in the training group, the model that best predicted growth in analytic awareness included invented spelling and general verbal ability, while growth in synthetic awareness was predicted best by a combination of invented spelling and rapid automatic naming of digits.
Death Education: Do We Need It?:

To sample what is presently being done with the topic of death in the elementary schools, a survey of 100 elementary teachers in northeastern Iowa was conducted. Analysis indicates that the topic of death and dying is formally taught by less than one percent of teachers.
Electrochemical splitting of calcium carbonate to increase solution alkalinity: implications for mitigation of carbon dioxide and ocean acidity.

Electrochemical splitting of calcium carbonate (e.g., as contained in limestone or other minerals) is explored as a means of forming dissolve hydroxides for absorbing, neutralizing, and storing carbon dioxide, and for restoring, preserving, or enhancing ocean calcification. While essentially insoluble in water, CaCO3 can be dissolved in the presence of the highly acidic anolyte of a water electrolysis cell. The resulting charged constituents, Ca2+ and CO32−, migrate to the cathode and anode, respectively, forming Ca(OH)2 on the one hand and H2CO3 (or H2O and CO2) on the other. By maintaining a pH between 6 and 9, subsequent hydroxide reactions with CO2 primarily produce dissolved calcium bicarbonate, Ca(HCO3)2aq. Thus, for each mole of CaCO3 split, there can be a net capture of up to 1 mol of CO2. Ca(HCO3)2aq is thus the carbon sequestrant that can be diluted and stored in the ocean, in natural or artificial surface water reservoirs, or underground. The theoretical work requirement for the reaction is 266...
Some aspects of homosexuality in relation to total personality development

1. The physical and psychological aspects of the bisexuality of man were discussed. 2. Conflicts associated with the homosexual stage of psychosexual development and their therapeutic implications were considered. 3. Three case histories illustrative of the tendency of patients to develop toward psychosexual maturity were given.
Correction: Myoglobin-catalyzed intermolecular carbene N–H insertion with arylamine substrates

Correction for ‘Myoglobin-catalyzed intermolecular carbene N–H insertion with arylamine substrates’ by Gopeekrishnan Sreenilayam et al., Chem. Commun., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c4cc08753d.
Boundary commissions as tools to safeguard British interests at the end of empire

Abstract Despite the many differences between Britain's decolonization of South Asia in 1947 and its withdrawal from the Palestine Mandate in 1948, there were important similarities in the British approach to boundary commissions in the two cases. As imperial interests evolved, boundary commissions proved flexible tools to preserve British prestige in the face of limited policy options. They were particularly useful in the years before and after World War II, when, with the empire facing potential disaster, its leaders sought to preserve its prestige in the eyes of domestic audiences and international allies. With its power fading, it was all the more important that the empire appear to be firmly in control. In particular, an examination of the Peel, Woodhead, and Radcliffe commissions shows that British leaders intended them to contribute to a facade of power. This article demonstrates that in retrospect they reveal the decline of imperial sway and the rise of nationalist influence.
The role of iron metabolism as a mediator of macrophage inflammation and lipid handling in atherosclerosis

Iron is an essential mineral needed for normal physiologic processes. While its function in oxygen transport and other important physiologic processes is well known, less is understood about its role in inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Existing paradigms suggest iron as a driver of atherosclerosis through its actions as a pro-oxidant capable of causing lipid oxidation and tissue damage. Recently we and others have identified hemoglobin derived iron as an important factor in determining macrophage differentiation and function in areas of intraplaque hemorrhage within human atherosclerosis. Hemoglobin associated macrophages, M(Hb), are distinct from traditional macrophage foam cells because they do not contain large amounts of lipid or inflammatory cytokines, are characterized by high levels of expression of mannose receptor (CD206) and CD163 in addition to producing anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10. Despite the well-known role of iron as an catalyst capable of producing lipid peroxidation through generation of reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radical, we and others have shown that macrophages in areas of intraplaque hemorrhage demonstrate reduced intracellular iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) which triggers production of anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as genes involved in cholesterol efflux. These data suggest that manipulation of macrophage iron itself may be a promising pharmacologic target for atherosclerosis prevention through its effects on macrophage inflammation and lipid metabolism. In this review we will summarize the current understanding of iron as it relates to plaque inflammation and discuss how further exploration of this subject may lead to new therapies for atherosclerosis.
ADAM17_i33708A>G polymorphism interacts with dietary n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids to modulate obesity risk in the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network study.

Abstract Background and aims The disintegrin and metalloproteinase ADAM17 , also known as tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme, is expressed in adipocytes. Importantly, elevated levels of ADAM17 expression have been linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association of six ADAM17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (m1254A>G, i14121C>A, i33708A>G, i48827A>C, i53440C>T, and i62781G>T) with insulin-resistance phenotypes and obesity risk, and their potential interactions with dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Methods and results ADAM17 SNPs were genotyped in 936 subjects (448 men/488 women) who participated in the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) study. Anthropometrical and biochemical measurements were determined by standard procedures. PUFA intake was estimated using a validated questionnaire. G allele carriers at the ADAM17 _m1254A>G polymorphism exhibited significantly higher risk of obesity ( P =0.003), were shorter ( P =0.017), had higher insulin ( P =0.016), and lower HDL-C concentrations ( P =0.027) than AA subjects. For the ADAM17 _i33708A>G SNP, homozygotes for the A allele displayed higher risk of obesity ( P =0.001), were heavier ( P =0.011), had higher BMI ( P =0.005), and higher waist measurements ( P =0.023) than GG subjects. A significant gene-diet interaction was found ( P =0.030), in which the deleterious association of the i33708A allele with obesity was observed in subjects with low intakes from ( n -6) PUFA ( P n -6) PUFA intake ( P >0.5) Conclusion These findings support that ADAM17 (m1254A>G and i33708A>G) SNPs may contribute to obesity risk. For the ADAM17 _i33708A>G SNP, this risk may be further modulated by ( n -6) PUFA intake.
Imaging control functions of optical scanners

For future printing based on multiple patterning and directed self-assembly, critical dimension and overlay requirements become tighter for immersion lithography. Thermal impact of exposure to both the projection lens and reticle expansion becomes the dominant factor for high volume production. A new procedure to tune the thermal control function is needed to maintain the tool conditions to obtain high productivity and accuracy. Additionally, new functions of both hardware and software are used to improve the imaging performance even during exposure with high-dose conditions. In this paper, we describe the procedure to tune the thermal control parameters which indicate the response of projection lens aberration and reticle expansion separately. As new functionalities to control the thermal lens aberration, wavefront-based lens control software and reticle bending hardware are introduced. By applying these functions, thermal focus control can be improved drastically. Further, the capability of prediction of reticle expansion is discussed, including experimental data from overlay exposure and aerial image sensor results.
Uptake of Technetium 99-Pertechnetate in a Primary Thyroid Carcinoma: Need for Caution in Evaluating Nodules

ABSTRACT The case of a 49-yr-old man is presented in which, on the scintiphoto, a primary thyroid carcinoma is seen to take up 99mTc-pertechnetate relatively better than the normal surrounding gland. This finding suggests significant trapping in the lesion. The 125I-iodine radioautograph, however, indicated decreased retention of iodine in the tumor. In man the association of intact trapping with poor retention of iodine in a primary thyroid carcinoma is unusual. The 99mTc-pertechnetate image in this case, when interpreted alone, can be misleading.
Dietary Goal Attainment Measures and Psychosocial Factors among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes education programs need improved measures of goal setting for dietary control of diabetes. Additionally, measures of patient experiences with dietary goal setting are needed to better prepare patients for diabetes self-management. Measures of dietary goals and strategies were investigated via survey of 100 Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites with type 2 diabetes at a community clinic. Analyses tested novel goal measures as stages of change and goal attainment with a food plan compared to a traditional measure of food plan adherence. Ethnic groups varied in some reported experiences with goal setting education and goal attainment, but did not differ in most clinical characteristics of diabetes. Results indicated that different measures of goal setting vary in their psychosocial predictors, suggesting changes in how health care providers use and monitor goal setting for patients. At the time this research was conducted, Dr. Briggs Early was a doctoral candidate in the Department of Food Scien...
Communing with nature, the ancestors and the neighbors: ancient ceramic musical instruments from coastal Oaxaca, Mexico

AbstractThe Mesoamerican Formative period (1600 bce–ce 250) saw the establishment of sedentism, dietary transformations and the development of ceramic technologies for subsistence, artistic representation and the region’s earliest preserved musical instruments. These instruments include aerophones such as whistles, ocarinas and flutes. In this paper, we describe sixty-three ceramic aerophones from mostly Formative period contexts in coastal Oaxaca, Mexico. We situate our analysis in the broader contexts of research on music and iconography in Mesoamerican archaeology, as well as of the anthropology of sensory perception. Through a consideration of archaeological context, artifact form and technical properties, we conclude that music was used in a wide range of social settings and carried multivalent meanings in ancient coastal Oaxaca. Specifically, we argue that instruments acted in both public and private settings, and that the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic imagery they bear indicates complex social pra...
Tissue-specificity of hemoglobin synthesis: Localization of heme synthesis in the subepidermal fat body of Chironomus thummi (Diptera)

Possible sites of heme synthesis in the fourth instar of Chironomus thummi were investigated by means of autoradiography of specific isotope incorporation. “Body wall” preparations, which include subepidermal and visceral fat body, oenocytes, muscle, epidermis, and cuticle, were cultured for 1 h in a medium containing tritiated-δ-aminolevulinic acid, a specific precursor to heme biosynthesis. Light-microscopic examination of autoradiographs of sections of the body walls indicates that the subepidermal fat body is the major site of incorporation of the precursor into heme. The visceral fat body shows few silver grains. Oenocytes, as well as muscle and epidermis, are characterized by absence of silver deposits. These findings indicate that the subepidermal fat body of Chironomus is the primary site of heme synthesis, and are discussed in relation to specific hemoglobin synthesis.
Global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of reconnection and turbulence in the plasma sheet

[1] Plasma sheet turbulence is examined by using a global MHD simulation. The simulation used idealized purely southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) driving conditions to eliminate the effect of solar wind and IMF variations. The results were compared with spacecraft observations of turbulence by computing power spectral densities and probability distribution functions. The fluctuations in the simulation were found to have properties characteristic of turbulence. The MHD simulation exhibited nested vortices on multiple scales, with the largest scales associated with reconnection outflows and the diversion of high-speed flows in the near-Earth region. The importance of strong localized reconnection regions in the simulation for driving the largest scale fluctuations supports the idea it is the main process driving turbulence in the plasma sheet. Interplay between turbulence and the reconnection process is probably present. Scaling arguments show that the scale at which turbulence is dissipated is consistent with the resistivity in the model.
The Identification and Elimination of Non-Independent Balance Planes in Influence Coefficient Balancing

The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first, to discuss the origin and symptoms of the non-independent balance plane problem and thus alert the balancing engineer to its existence; and, second, to provide a systematic method for identifying and eliminating this problem which is consistent with the general influence coefficient balancing procedure.Copyright © 1982 by ASME
Solid State 15N NMR Study of Pyridine Adsorption on Clay Minerals

A solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method is presented for spectroscopic adsorption studies of organic pollutant compounds on surfaces of powders under environmentally relevant hydration conditions. The applicability of the solid state NMR spectroscopy was investigated using pyridine as a model adsorbate and a clay mineral, hectorite, as an adsorbent. Solid state 15 N magic angle spinning (MAS) and cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR methods were used to study adsorption of [ 15 N]pyridine on fully hydrated and on dehydrated homoionic K-, Ca-, Mg-, and Al-hectorites. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the expansion of basal spacings and to confirm intercalation of pyridine into clay interlayers. With the exception of hydrated Al-hectorite, more intense signals were obtained with MAS than with CP/MAS, and cross-polarization was less efficient on dehydrated clay/pyridine samples than on hydrated ones, indicative of a higher mobility of pyridine in the interlayers of dehydrated clays compared to hydrated ones. Pyridine interacted primarily through hydrogen bonding to the interlayer water on the hydrated hectorites. On the dehydrated K-hectorite (d 001 = 10.7 A before pyridine adsorption), pyridine solvated the interlayers. Dehydrated Ca-and Mg-hectorites (d 001 = 12.9 and 12.8 A, respectively, before pyridine adsorption) retained one layer of hydration water to which pyridine hydrogen bonds. Intercalation of pyridine was facilitated by the presence of water, the extreme case being Al-hectorite where almost no intercalation was observed without water. Spinning sidebands were only observed for the pyridine resonance between -90 and -94 ppm. This anisotropic species is assigned to the pyridine keying into the ditrigonal hole, hydrogen bonded to the proton of structural OH. The results clearly show that 15 N NMR of an adsorbed N-containing organic compound is a powerful tool for identifying and distinguishing various surface complexes and adducts on hydrated mineral surfaces.
Improved measurement of pressure gradients in aortic coarctation by magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: This study evaluated whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance (MR) phase velocity mapping could provide accurate estimates of stenosis severity and pressure gradi...
C1q enhances microglial clearance of apoptotic neurons and neuronal blebs, and modulates subsequent inflammatory cytokine production

The expression of C1q, a recognition molecule of the complement system, is up-regulated following neuronal injury and is detected early in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. This multimeric protein triggers an enhancement of phagocytosis of suboptimally opsonized targets by microglia, the phagocytic cells of the CNS, similar to other phagocytes, enhances the uptake of apoptotic cells in peripheral phagocytes, and suppresses inflammatory cytokine production in human monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells in the absence of activation of the entire complement cascade. The goal of this study was to determine if C1q could influence the inflammatory response to injury in the CNS, using primary rat microglia and neurons. The data show that microglia preferentially ingest apoptotic cells in comparison to live cells, like other professional phagocytes, that microglial ingestion of apoptotic neurons and neuronal blebs is enhanced by the presence of normal serum and that these enhanced levels of uptake are diminished in serum depleted of C1q. In addition, purified C1q bound to apoptotic neurons and neuronal blebs in a dose dependent manner, and alone triggered a significant enhancement of uptake by microglia. Microglia added to C1q coated wells or fed apoptotic neurons or neuronal blebs coated with C1q suppressed the lipopolysaccharide-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, while the presence of C1q enhanced levels of the chemokine MCP-1/CCL2. The data are consistent with a protective role for C1q in the CNS during early stages of cell death by enhancing microglial clearance of apoptotic cells and suppressing proinflammatory cytokines.
Further observations on salt balance in the sipunculid worm Themiste dyscritum

Abstract 1. 1. Osmotic and ionic concentrations of centrifuged coelomic fluids of T. dyscritum were measured in worms adapted to a salinity range from 41 to 101 per cent of normal sea water. 2. 2. T. dyscritum is an osmotic conformer over this entire salinity range, and is iso-ionic with respect to Na + . 3. 3. There is an apparently greater concentration of K + in the coelomic fluid than in the medium; this may result from release of intracellular fluids after cellular damage during sampling. 4. 4. Worms freshly collected are iso-ionic with respect to Cl − , but the coelomic fluids of worms maintained in high salinities become hypo-ionic to the medium after a few days in the laboratory. Worms in low salinities in the laboratory are also hypo-ionic with respect to Cl − . 5. 5. It is concluded that all sipunculids so far studied are probably osmoconformers with limited powers of ion regulation at any salinity.
E-cadherin dis-engagement activates the Rap1 GTPase.

E-cadherin based adherens junctions are finely regulated by multiple cellular signaling events. Here we show that the Ras-related Rap1 GTPase is enriched in regions of nascent cell-cell contacts and strengthens E-cadherin junctions: constitutively active Rap1 expressing MDCK cells exhibit increased junctional contact and resisted calcium depletion-induced cell-cell junction disruption. E-cadherin disengagement activated Rap1 and this correlated with E-cadherin association with the Rap GEFs, C3G and PDZ-GEF I. PDZ-GEF I associated with E-cadherin and β-catenin whereas C3G interaction with E-cadherin did not involve β-catenin. Knockdown of PDZ-GEF I in MDCK cells decreased Rap1 activity following E-cadherin junction disruption. We hereby show that Rap1 plays a role in the maintenance and repair of E-cadherin junctions and is activated via an “outside-in” signaling pathway initiated by E-cadherin and mediated at least in part by PDZ-GEF I.
Comparative water-use efficiencies of three species of Peperomia (piperaceae) having different photosynthetic pathways

Summary Water-use efficiencies (WUE) were compared among three species of Peperomia (Piperaceae) selected for their diversity in photosynthetic pathways. Peperomia obtusifolia is a C 3 plant that exhibits a small degree of CAM-cycling; P. camptotricha is a C 3 -CAM intermediate, having relatively high rates of CO 2 uptake during both the day and the night; and P. scandens is a CAM plant. All three congeners have succulent leaves and share a similar ecological niche; they typically grow as epiphytes (occasionally as terrestrials) in tropical and subtropical forests. Thus, these species of Peperomia provide an ideal set of truly comparable plants to test the long-held, but recendy challenged, generalization that the WUE of CAM plants is substantially greater than that of non-CAM species. Although daytime values of WUE were lower in P. scandens than in P. obtusifolia and P. camptotricha , values of nighttime WUE and 24-hour WUE for the CAM species greatly exceeded corresponding values for the other two Peperomia species. Thus, the results of this study support past generalizations that a high WUE is a consequence of the CAM photosynthetic pathway.
Ovarian and tubal torsion: imaging findings on US, CT, and MRI

Accurate diagnosis of adnexal torsion is often challenging, as clinical presentation is nonspecific and the differential for pelvic pain is broad. However, prompt diagnosis and treatment is critical to good clinical outcomes and preservation of the ovary and/or fallopian tube. Ultrasound (US) imaging is most frequently used to assess torsion. However, as computed tomography (CT) utilization in the emergency setting has increased, there are times when CT is the initial imaging test. Additionally, the nonspecific clinical presentation may initially be interpreted as gastrointestinal in etiology, where CT is the preferred exam. For these reasons, it is imperative to know the findings of adnexal torsion on CT as well as US. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is helpful in cases where the diagnosis remains unclear and is particularly helpful in the young or pregnant patient with equivocal sonographic findings, as it provides excellent soft tissue contrast without ionizing radiation. This article will illustrate the findings of surgically confirmed ovarian and fallopian tube torsion on US, CT, and MRI, including those in the pregnant patient. Ovarian enlargement, adnexal mass, twisting of the vascular pedicle, edematous and heterogeneous appearance of the ovary, peripheral ovarian follicles, free fluid, uterine deviation towards the side of torsion, adnexal fat stranding, tubal dilatation, and decreased adnexal enhancement will be reviewed. Familiarity with the range of imaging findings across multiple modalities is key to improving the likelihood of timely diagnosis and therefore improved clinical outcomes.
Sustainable design of reinforced concrete structures through embodied energy optimization

Abstract As the world struggles to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, much attention is focused on making buildings operate more efficiently. However, there is another, less recognized aspect of the built environment: the embodied energy of buildings, which represents the energy consumed in construction, including the entire life cycle of materials used. Architects and structural engineers extensively perform designs of buildings with steel and reinforced concrete–materials that, to different degrees, are energy intensive. This presents an opportunity to use structural optimization techniques, which have traditionally been employed to minimize the total cost or total weight of a structure, to minimize the embodied energy. With this in mind, an analysis is carried out to determine the implications, from the point of view of cost, of optimizing a simple reinforced concrete structural member, in this case a rectangular beam of fixed moment and shear strengths, such that embodied energy is minimized. For the embodied energy and cost values assumed, results indicate a reduction on the order of 10% in embodied energy for an increase on the order of 5% in costs.
Fouling of a ceramic microfiltration membrane by corn starch hydrolysate

Abstract The effect of operating parameters on fouling of a ceramic microfiltration membrane by corn starch hydrolysate of 95 dextrose equivalence was studied. Transmembrane pressures above 100 kPa had little or no effect on flux. Cross-flow velocity had a significant beneficial effect. The rate of flux decline was reduced significantly when the feed was adjusted from its natural pH of 4.2 to 10. However, this resulted in a dark brown clarified syrup (permeate). Scanning electron microscopy showed extensive fouling layers on the alumina surface with conventionally processed dextrose solutions and the least fouling layer with corn starch hydrolysate adjusted to pH 10. Maximum steady state flux for unconcentrated hydrolysate at its natural pH was 178 LMH obtained at low transmembrane pressures (103 kPa, 15 psi) and high cross-flow velocities (5 m s −1 ). Adjustment of the pH to 10 can increase the flux by 40%.
Low Velocity Inelastic Collisions

The probability that a low velocity collision be inelastic is shown to depend in a relatively simple manner upon three factors: the magnitude of the change in total internal energy, ΔE; the matrix element, with respect to the initial and final states, of the interaction energy at the closest distance of approach, W12; and the "time of collision," τ, a function of the relative velocity and of the sharpness of the collision. An approximation to this probability is P=[2πW12/h τ (1+e1βe2)e-e3β]2 where β=2πτΔE/h and e1, e2, e3 are nearly unity, their precise values depending upon the characteristics of the particular collision.
Identification of three new bovine T-cell receptor delta variable gene subgroups expressed by peripheral blood T cells.

To understand the biology of γδ T cells in ruminants, it is necessary to have a comprehensive picture of γδ T-cell receptor gene diversity and expression. In this study, three new subgroups of bovine T-cell receptor δ (TRD) variable genes were identified by RT-PCR and sequencing and homology with TRDV genes from other mammals determined. Previously unidentified TRDV subgroup genes described in this study include the bovine homologues of ovine TRDV2, TRDV3, and TRDV4 which were named accordingly. TRDV2 subgroup has two genes (TRDV2-1 and TRDV2-2) while we found the previously identified TRDV1 has at least eight genes corresponding to separate genomic sequences. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences for particular gene subgroups between cattle and sheep were more than 87% identical but identities among TRDV subgroups within a species were much less, with bovine TRDV4 having <45% identity to the other three bovine TRDV gene subgroups. Analysis of circulating bovine γδ T cells revealed that genes from all four TRDV subgroups were expressed in combination with TRDJ1, TRDJ3, and TRDC, although TRDV4 was the least represented, and all displayed a variety of CDR3 junctional lengths. Finally, some genes within the TRDV1, TRDV2, and TRDV3 subgroups recombined with TRAV incorporating TRAJs, suggesting dual use.
Patterns of use of vascular catheters for hemodialysis in children in the United States.

Background Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and grafts (AVGs) have been associated with improved clinical outcomes in children and adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy, but use of vascular catheters is high. Identifying the reasons for the high prevalence of vascular catheters in children on HD therapy is necessary to assess whether targeted interventions may increase the prevalence of AVFs/AVGs. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants Children younger than 18 years on HD therapy in the 2001 to 2003 ESRD Clinical Performance Measures (CPM) Projects followed up in the US Renal Data System transplant files through December 31, 2004. Predictor Vascular access type and reasons for use of a vascular catheter. Outcomes & Measurements Demographic/clinical characteristics, including the reason provided for use of a vascular catheter, and the association of type of vascular access and (1) patient size and (2) time to kidney transplantation. Results Of 1,284 prevalent pediatric CPM patients examined, 529 (41%) had an AVF/AVG and 755 (59%) had a vascular catheter. Of 755 children with a catheter, "small body size" was a commonly listed reason (N = 142); 49% of these children weighed 20 kg or more. Of 53 patients with catheters described as having an "AVF/AVG maturing" and present in the consecutive ESRD CPM project year, 64% had a functioning AVF/AVG the following year. For those with "transplantation scheduled" listed as a reason for a vascular catheter (N = 83), 69% underwent transplantation within 1 year, and median time to transplantation was 115 days. Of all children with vascular catheters (N = 755), 32.2% underwent transplantation within 1 year, and median time to transplantation was 264 days compared with 21.7% and 347 days for those with AVFs/AVGs, respectively (N = 529). Of the 445 incident children in this cohort, 89% had a vascular catheter at dialysis therapy initiation. Limitations Because of study design, only associations can be described. Conclusions Vascular catheter use in children on HD therapy is high. This is partially explained by expeditious transplantation and technical barriers to AVF/AVG placement in small children; however, only one-third of patients with a vascular catheter underwent transplantation within 1 year. Interventions to decrease vascular catheter use in this population may be necessary.
Bulbospinal and intraspinal connections in normal and regenerated salamander spinal cord.

The salamander is the only limbed adult vertebrate which can regenerate portions of cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spinal cord. While the salamander has been a popular model for regeneration of the spinal cord, it is still not known what portions of the nervous system participate in the regeneration process. In the experiments reported here we examine the bulbospinal and intraspinal projections to the lumbar spinal cord in normal and regenerated salamanders (Notophthalmus viridescens). HRP application to the lumbar enlargement of normal salamanders labeled cells in the ventral thalamus, the rostral tegmentum in the proposed homolog of the red nucleus, the reticular neurons of the rhombencephalon, and the midline regions of the rhombencephalon which are possibly equivalent to raphe nuclei of other vertebrates. In the brachial spinal cord HRP-labeled cells were located in dorsal, intermediate, and ventral regions of the spinal gray matter and tended to be located at the periphery of the gray matter. To examine the spinal circuitry of regenerated salamanders, animals received complete spinal transections at the junction of the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, abolishing all spontaneous coordinated hindlimb and tail movements. Animals exhibited walking and swimming within 60 days at which time a pledget of HRP was inserted into a gap in the spinal cord made by a transection 10.0 mm (six animals) or 5.0 mm (one animal) caudal to the first lesion. On average, the number of HRP labeled brain stem neurons in regenerated animals was 40% of that found in normal animals. The number of labeled cells in the brachial spinal cord was within the range of normal animals. Regenerated salamanders had HRP-labeled cells in all regions of the brain stem and spinal cord which were labeled in normal animals. These results demonstrate for the first time that spinally projecting descending axons have the ability to regenerate at least 10.0 mm past a complete transection.
Influence of Manufacturing Processes and Microstructures on the Performance and Manufacturability of Advanced High Strength Steels

Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) are performance-based steel grades and their global material properties can be achieved with various steel chemistries and manufacturing processes, leading to various microstructures. In this paper, we investigate the influence of supplier variation and resulting microstructure difference on the overall mechanical properties as well as local formability behaviors of advanced high strength steels (AHSS). For this purpose, we first examined the basic material properties and the transformation kinetics of TRansformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) 800 steels from three different suppliers under different testing temperatures. The experimental results show that there is a significant supplier (i.e., manufacturing process) dependency of the TRIP 800 steel mechanical and microstructure properties. Next, we examined the local formability of two commercial Dual Phase (DP) 980 steels during stamping process. The two commercial DP 980 steels also exhibit noticeably different formability during stamping process in the sense that one of them shows severe tendency for shear fracture. Microstructure-based finite element analyses are carried out next to simulate the localized deformation process with the two DP 980 microstructures, and the results suggest that the possible reason for the difference in formability lies in the morphology of the hard martensite phase in the DPmore » microstructure.« less
Examining Sustainable Development Policy in California Cities: 2011 Energy Sustainable California Communities Survey

DOI 10.1515/cjpp-2012-0026 Calif. J. Politics Policy 2013; 5(4): 711–730 Myungjung Kwon* Examining Sustainable Development Policy in California Cities: 2011 Energy Sustainable California Communities Survey Abstract: In order to enhance both marketability and sustainability of the commu- nity, California cities seek a sustainable development policy which attempts to inte- grate sustainability programs into an economic development strategy. The author examines sustainable development policy in California cities and explores four research questions. First, to what extent are California cities interested in the adop- tion of sustainable development policy which integrates sustainability programs into their economic development strategy? Second, what policy efforts do Califor- nia cities currently undertake for a sustainable development policy? Third, what obstacles do California cities face in pursuing sustainable development policy? Fourth, what additional efforts do California cities need to undertake for a better and smarter sustainable development policy? This research develops a framework from literatures in economic development policy and sustainability policy for descriptive analyses using the 2011 Energy Sustainable California Communities Survey data. The findings from the descriptive and explanatory analyses indicate that considerable numbers of California cities are interested in sustainable devel- opment policy and engage in various efforts related to the policy, but lack of funds and political will discourage California cities from pursuing the policy effectively. Keywords: climate protection and energy sustainability policy actions; economic development strategies; green industries; sustainable development policy. *Corresponding author: Myungjung Kwon, California State University, Fullerton, Politics, Administration and Justice, 800 N. State College Blvd. Fullerton, CA 92834, USA, Tel.: +657-278-3809, e-mail: mkwon@fullerton.edu 1 Introduction Pollution and climate change are significant problems that demand governmen- tal action. State governments have adopted climate protection policy to tackle environmental policy issues. These policies often require local governments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a result, considerable numbers of
Improvements in evaluating constant-head permeameter test data

Abstract The constant-head permeameter method has been used to determine the field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) of unsaturated soils in the vadose zone for many years. This method was developed based on steady-state flow under a constant hydraulic head. The calculated Kfs values based on the classic analytical solution are much lower than those based on a numerical solution, whereas Kfs values based on the half-source solution provide a closer approximation of numerical results. Both the classic and the half-source solutions produce errors in evaluations of Kfs because the pressures evaluated by both solutions are correct only for the bottom of the borehole. By forcing the estimated pressures at the water surface and at the bottom of the borehole to be consistent with the actual pressures, a new solution is developed. Because Kfs is proportional to the shape factor C, which depends on the ratio of H a , where H is the water height and a is the radius of the borehole, a comparison of the shape factors calculated based on different solutions was conducted. Results show that the proposed method is simpler and provides C values closer to actual numerical results than do the other solutions for the range H a = 1–10 , although the Philips method can provide a good estimation as well. To show the relative accuracy of the proposed solution, the total water pressure on the surface of the borehole is also compared using different solutions. Results show that the proposed solution agrees with the pressure distribution on the borehole surface better than do the other solutions for the range H a = 1–10 . The unsaturated effect on the calculated Kfs is significant, but the method developed by Reynolds et al. (Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 139: 172–180, 1985) and Reynolds and Elrick (Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 140: 292–302, 1985a) may provide an unrealistic negative parameter when soil heterogeneity is strong. To avoid tests conducted in strongly heterogeneous soils, equations to evaluate the maximum and minimum flow rate ratios are proposed.
Requirements and System Architecture Design Consideration for First Responder Systems

Recent large scale disasters have awakened governments domestically and overseas to their needs for preparedness to support homeland security and public safety. First responders of various agencies (e.g., fire department, police, EMS) are often on the front line to assist in managing these events to protect lives and property. The effectiveness of their mission is highly dependent on capability of communication systems available at incident scenes. The US Department of Homeland Security has among its top priorities the need for stronger information sharing and infrastructure protection, as well as interoperable communications and equipments. In this paper, we determine key requirements for first responder systems by examining various vulnerabilities and threats in such systems. We investigate implications of interoperable heterogeneous networking, horizontal/vertical communications and various applications on system architecture design. We also identify technical challenges in designing first responder systems with high quality of service and quality of protection, which are critical for supporting diverse multimedia first responder applications over reliable and trusted heterogeneous networks.
Characterization of high-photovoltage CuPc-based solar cell structures

Abstract Organic solar cells of the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CuPc/PTCBI/Al (Indium Tin Oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonic acid/Copper phthalocyanine/3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic bisbenzimidazole/Aluminum ) were investigated. A high open circuit voltage ( V OC ) of 1.15 V was obtained when the PTCBI layer was 7 nm thick. Lower V oc values were observed for the same structure with silver, copper and gold electrodes instead of aluminum. However, short-circuit current density ( J SC ) with these electrodes was much higher (4 mA/cm 2 ) than in the case of aluminum (0.12 mA/cm 2 ). Incorporating a 10 nm thick CdS interlayer between PTCBI and aluminum resulted in an increase in current density to 0.3 mA/cm 2 . Results were interpreted in terms of a modified CuPc/Al Schottky diode for the thin PTCBI case and a CuPc/PTCBI heterojunction for the thick PTCBI case. Also, the formation of a thin, protective aluminum oxide layer under the aluminum electrode was postulated. For devices with silver, copper and gold electrodes, absence of this protective layer was thought to be the cause of a relatively lower V oc and higher J SC .